The Beaufort County Council met Monday. Below are some agenda highlights from each meeting.

County Council Workshop

Presentation on Public Information vs. Advocacy Guidelines Related to the Sales Tax Referendum Process

Megan Dayson, from the State Ethics Commission was the guest speaker and her presentation was entitled Ballot Measures & Ethics Reform Act. She reviewed the guidelines on the difference between education and advocacy when discussing the upcoming Transportation Sales Tax Referendum. Information can be presented to educate the public, however Council members are not allowed to advocate in one direction or the other. Government resources are not permitted to be used in anyway: equipment, staff, mailers or social media are not allowed. 

Watch the Ballot Measures & Ethics Reform Act workshop presentation here. 

County Council Caucus

There were two matters arising from County Council Caucus Executive Session.

• Legal advice related to negotiation discussions incident to proposed contractual arrangements or other matters covered by attorney client privilege (discussion of offer to purchase land for stormwater purposes on Lady's Island)  Council voted authorize the County Administrator to not accept the offer from Brickyard Commons LLC, to purchase land parcels for stormwater purposes. This vote was unanimous.

• Legal advice related to discussion of negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements or other matters covered by attorney client privilege (discussion of a request to amend a fee arrangement for legal services) Council voted authorize the County Administrator to increase the hourly rate according to the terms discussed in Executive Session. The vote was 8-3.

Watch County Council Caucus here.

County Council Meeting

Several proclamations were presented recognizing:

June as Forging Strong Fathers and Families Month
June as Trails Month
July 25-August 1 as Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week

Watch the presentations here.

Agenda Items:

Business license appeal to Council: St. Francis Center
An evidentiary hearing was required according to ordinance. There is no disagreement under statutes however due to an appeal of a determination as to whether a license is required, a hearing is required. Business License Director Brandi Hussman, Deputy Attorney Dylan Kidd and Sister Pamela Smith from the St. Francis Center on St. Helena gave brief presentations. Council was asked to provide guidance on how business licenses for charitable organizations are to be issued. To keep in line with the municipalities, Council voted unanimously that the center be exempt from having to obtain a business license and sign permit.

Watch the discussion here.

Resolutions

• Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to contribute to the procurement by the applicant, the Town of Hilton Head Island, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located on Hilton Head Island, known as the Broad Creek Marina Tract and not to exceed the requested amount. 
  
  Council voted to send this back to Green Space Committee for further due diligence including zoning determination, the number of planned units, and three land appraisals. Once the information is sent to Council it will be reconsidered at the June 22 County Council meeting.
  
  

• A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds for the procurement by the applicant, The Nature Conservancy, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located in the Town of Bluffton, known as the New River Forest not to exceed the requested amount
  
  Council requested additional information on the property to make sure all due diligence is conducted before the purchase. This will be postponed until the June 22 County Council meeting. The vote passed 6-5.
  
  
  

Ordinances for Third Reading

• An ordinance amending Chapter 38 Environment Article VI Single Use Plastic Bags. The ordinance was amended to state that events on County properties in unincorporated areas had to abide by the ordinance and the penalty was amended from misdemeanor to a civil violation with a citation. The vote passed 7-4.

Ordinances for Second Reading
These ordinances passed unanimously:

• An ordinance to provide for the levy of tax for school purposes for Beaufort County begin July 1, to make appropriations for said purposes
  
  
• An ordinance amending Beaufort County Ordinance Chapter 102 Waterways, definitions, purpose, penalties, dock rules, landing rules, penalties
   
• An ordinance to make appropriations for County Government and Special Purpose Districts for Beaufort County for FY 26/27; to levy taxes for payment, to adopt service and user fees, to provide for the expenditure of said taxes and other revenues coming into the County.
  • Trishare childcare program is $12,000 and will be funded by a transfer from the vehicle and equipment fund to Council funds-Professional Services. The vote passed 9-2.
  • Motion to reinstate the budget for Human Services Department. Estimated current year budget of $465,000; amount would be funded out of CIP. The vote passed 8-3.
  • Motion to fully fund the Treasurer's Office budget request by transfer from the vehicle and equipment fund. The amount is $309,000. The vote passed 6-5.
    
    
• An ordinance providing for a 2026 Transportation Sales Tax Referendum as amended. Two changes were included in the amended ordinance: to extend the length of the tax collection from 8 years to nine and to remove prepared food as a taxable item. Discussion included prioritizing paving roads especially SC 170 and Hwy 278.
  
  
• An ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Parks and Recreation ordinance to change the boards authority to set fees and rates
  
  
• An ordinance authorizing a lease agreement between Beaufort County and the General Services Administration for TSA use within the Hilton Head Island Airport terminal
  
  

To watch the full County Council meeting, click here.

Note: this is a selection of items from the Council Committee Meeting Agendas. To watch the meeting in its entirety, download the agenda and packet, view minutes and more, please visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov. 

County Administrator's Report

County Administrator Michael Moore recognized several County employees. Watch the County Administrator's presentation to Council here.

Nathan Steese, Intern
Clerk to Council's Office