Legislative eNews

Government Affairs Update from the Hilton Head Island-
Bluffton Chamber of Commerce -- May 23-27, 2005

Hurricane season begins June 1.

Your Chamber of Commerce is the business community's source of information during hurricane operations: www.hiltonheadisland.org

Topic #1 -- Proposed countywide admissions fee gains momentum -- Beaufort County's Finance Committee was advised on May 23 the county has the authority to impose a 2.5 percent countywide admissions fee on movie theaters, night clubs, golf courses, miniature golf, water slides and other "amusement" activities. Attorneys and county staff continue to craft the proposed fee ordinance. The Finance Committee will review the ordinance at least one more time before it goes before the full County Council. The revenue from the fee would go solely toward the county's transportation needs.

Topic #2 -- County awards contract for improvements at Hilton Head Island airport -- Beaufort County Council on May 23 awarded a $4 million contract to modify the blast pads at the Hilton Head Island airport. Ninety-five percent of the cost of the project is funded by the FAA; the remaining five percent is funded by airport revenue.

Topic #3 -- County awards contract to build phase one of Buckwalter Regional Community Park -- Malphrus Construction, Inc., was awarded a $1.5 million contract on May 23 to build three soccer fields, lighting, restrooms and equipment storage at the county park which will be located on Buckwalter Parkway. Bluffton officials have estimated a ground-breaking will occur in July.

Topic #4 -- S.C. 170 access management plan approved -- Traffic signals and connector roads, which officials hope will prevent S.C. 170 from becoming another gridlocked U.S. 278, were approved on May 23 by County Council. The new access management plan impacts that portion of S.C. 170 from approximately the Academy for Career Excellence to the roadway's intersection with U.S. 278. The access management plan also includes a western portion of U.S. 278 stretching to the Jasper County line.

Topic #5 -- County and School District budget deliberations continue -- Beaufort County Administrator Gary Kubic and School Board Finance Committee Chairman Stu Rodman presented their respective budgets to Beaufort County Council on May 23. Both budgets were approved in a first reading by title only. A tax increase looms as the county and school district try to cover the costs of services resulting from the county's population boom. Second reading of the budgets is scheduled June 13 at 5 p.m., at the county library in Bluffton, and third and final reading is scheduled June 27 at 5 p.m. in County Council chambers in Beaufort. Public hearings are scheduled June 8 at 6 p.m., at the county library on Hilton Head Island and June 9 at 6 p.m., at County Council chambers in Beaufort.

Topic #6 -- County Council approves Barton's Run development -- County County approved 70 units on 170 acres for a planned unit development called Barton's Run located near the intersection of S.C. 46 and Buckwalter Parkway. This is the first planned unit development to be approved under the county's new PUD ordinance. Without the PUD designation, the developer could have built up to 84 units. But with the PUD, the county was able to negotiate less density, buffers to preserve the scenic nature of S.C. 46, $900 per unit to defray the costs of building the Bluffton Parkway, and $63,000 to build tennis courts on the nearby Buckwalter regional park. The developer -- Craftbuilt Homes -- also agreed to build an access road to Buckwalter Parkway, in addition to an already-planned access point on S.C. 46.

Topic #7 -- County approves resolution to participate in regional housing consortium -- Beaufort County approved a resolution on May 23 signaling its willingness to participate along with Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties in a regional program to provide affordable housing. The resolution is the first step toward an overall agreement in which the counties would provide matching funds to the federal program. Beaufort County would be the lead agency and contribute $56,000 annually for three years. Colleton would contribute $19,000 and Jasper and Hampton $9,000 each.

Tim Bennett
VP for Government Relations
P.O. Box 5647
Hilton Head Island, SC 29938
Office -- (843) 341-8370
Email -- tbennett@hiltonheadisland.org