Legislative eNews
Government Affairs Update from the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- Aug. 8-12, 2005
Your Chamber of Commerce is the business community's source of information during hurricane operations: www.hiltonheadisland.org
Hurricane preparation tip: The Small Business Administration provides disaster loans. Non-farm businesses of any size and non-profit organizations in a declared disaster area can seek SBA physical disaster loans for up to $1.5 million to repair or replace damaged property, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc.
For more information, go to www.sba.gov or call 800-359-2227.
Topic #1 -- Broad Creek public boat landing now open -- A new Broad Creek public boat landing, located at the southeastern end of Hilton Head Island's Cross Island Parkway bridge, is now open, giving the town its second paved boat landing. The 2.5 acre-project cost $1.3 million and gives access to open water. The ramp was paid for -- and built by -- Beaufort County on land provided by the town.
Topic #2 -- County ATAX committee to deliberate on funding requests Sept. 19 -- Beaufort County Controller Tom Henrikson reported on Aug. 8 to the county's finance committee that more than $500,000 in state accommodations (bed tax) tax dollars are available to countywide organizations seeking funding for tourism-related needs. This includes $120,000 remaining from fiscal year '05, he said. Thirty-six organizations have made requests totaling $827,000. The county's ATAX committee meets Sept. 19 to consider the requests and to prepare funding recommendations for County Council.
Topic #3 -- Bluffton approves $49 stormwater utility fee -- Bluffton Town Council on Aug. 10 endorsed Beaufort County's new tiered stormwater utility rate structure, and, along with the endorsement, approved a $49 stormwater fee which is $9 over the county's proposed $40 base fee. The town also added two conditions: That the county, in a good-faith effort, revisit the subject of reimbursing the town for approximately $36,000 the town has spent on a water quality monitoring program and also that the county maintain drainage ditches flowing through Bluffton from developments in the unincorporated part of the county. The town's conditional endorsement of the new rate structure goes to County Council for consideration, along with expected endorsements from the county's other municipalities. Meanwhile, Town Council approved $38,600 to continue May River water-quality monitoring through July 2006.
Topic #4 -- Bluffton Town Council will meet Aug. 30 to consider annexation, prioritize capital projects -- Bluffton Town Council will hold a special meeting on Aug. 30 to review an annexation petition and a map of the properties included in the proposed annexation. The proposed annexation centers on the Buck Island and Simmonsville Road areas, and also includes U.S. 278 commercial properties Plantation Business Park, Westbury Park, Bluffton Commons, Sheridan Park and Belfair Towne Village. Along with reviewing the annexation proposal, Town Council will meet jointly with its planning commission to prioritize capital projects and seek input from the public. The time of the meetings will be provided at a later date.
Topic #5 -- May River Tech Park soon to become a reality? -- Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston said at the Aug. 9 town economic development committee meeting that "we're not over the goal line yet, but we can see it" when commenting about the town's anticipated success in being approved for a federal grant to help finance the May River Tech Park. The town hopes to receive word prior to the end of September about whether the Economic Development Administration will award $500,000. Meanwhile, the town is moving forward with architectural design of the first building for its first tenant CareCore National, a health insurance quality-assurance firm. Efforts are also underway to begin marketing the tech park, located on Buckwalter Parkway, to other companies.
Topic #6 -- Other Bluffton actions -- (1) Town Council conducted first reading on a tax increment financing district ordinance and also took a step toward forming a municipal improvement development district. Both initiatives would help finance infrastructure improvements; (2) the town is underway in selecting a consultant to assist in the Old Town Master Plan; (3) another committee is being formed to select a company to conduct the Highway 46 corridor management study designed to pursue designation of the roadway as a federal scenic highway; and (4) the town introduced its new web site www.townofbluffton.com
Topic #7-- Information from Aug. 8's Economic Partnership public forum -- The Greater Beaufort-Hilton Head Economic Partnership conducted a public forum Aug. 8 and provided the following information: (1) A Canadian, family-owned business has expressed interest in locating in the vacant Vanguard building in Burton (northern Beaufort County) and would bring 33 jobs to the county. The 60,000 square foot building is situated on seven acres which are zoned for light manufacturing; (2) the Economic Partnership continues to identify potential sites, along with water and sewer infrastructure, for a proposed corridor commerce park in northern Beaufort County near I-95; (3) the Partnership has forwarded a proposal to County Council to increase county business license fees. The additional revenue would fund future economic development incentives; and (4) the Partnership's proposal to locate areas of potential economic development in the county where a fast-tracked county permitting process could be applied has been assigned to county committees for consideration.
Topic #8 -- Sidewalk/pathway project includes Buckwalter Parkway -- Beaufort County Council on Aug. 8 awarded a $438,000 contract to REA Construction to build sidewalks and pathways in several areas, including Buckwalter Parkway where the Bluffton school complex is located.
Tim Bennett
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce
