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JULY 4–10, 2024
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Beaufort City Council changes scheduling, conduct of meetings
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Transportation sales tax finalized; now it’s up to voters
By Delayna Earley The Island News The City of Beaufort has voted to change how it schedules and conducts council meetings going forward. During the June 25 regular City Council meeting, council members voted to approve an ordinance that changes number of times that council meets during the month. In the ordinance, a monthly work session at 5 p.m. and regular meeting at 7 p.m. are to be held on the second Tuesday of the month. Previously, meetings were held twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Additionally, the ordinance allows work sessions or other needed meetings to be held on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of the month. These meetings were also previously held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month with a third work session devoted to Beaufort Code changes, but the code work sessions have come to an end, according to a release from the City of Beaufort. During the June 11 meeting, City Council also adopted a manual of Standard Operating Procedures that changes how the council will conduct its regular meetings. Going forward, Council agen-
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BEAUFORT eaufort County Council has finalized details for the 10-year transportation sales tax ordinance which will be on the ballot in November. So with four months left before the voting, let the campaigning begin. The county engineering staff has set up an informational page on the county’s website – Referendums – Beaufort County One Cent Sales Tax Program (beaufortcountypenny.com) – outlining the proposed spending plan for the $950 million they project will be generated by the extra penny sales tax. But the county’s wish list has a lot of unanswered questions. There’s money for sidewalks and pathways, dirt road improvements. But what about that $75 million proposed for “Ribaut Road improvements,” … what specifically are those improvements? The Beaufort City Council members made it clear they didn’t like the idea of roundabouts and narrowed roadways for their section of the 5.5-mile Ribaut Road, but what would that $75 million buy? The wish list includes $60 million for the “Lady’s Island Corridor Projects” which include projects such as the Beaufort High access road realignment that didn’t get built in the 2018 transportation sales tax referendum. But “improvements to the U.S. 21 mainline,” … what are they? North of the Broad River (that would include the municipalities of Port Royal and Beaufort and the unincorporated areas such as St. Helena Island, Lobeco, and Dale) is designated to get $30 million to be split while the towns of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton each get $30 million to handle their massive transportation needs. Beaufort County certainly isn’t the only county to turn to the sales tax option for needed dollars
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A6
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
Crews paddle their boats into position for one of the many races during the DragonBoat Beaufort 2024 Race Day on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Bob Sofaly/The Island News
DragonBoats rule Beaufort River
DragonBoat Beaufort held its 2024 Race Day on Saturday, June 29, at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park and raised $83,087 for the DragonBoat Beaufort Fund, administered by Community
Foundation of the Lowcountry, more than its goal of $80,000, according to www. dragonboatraceday.com. The funds raised support cancer patients undergoing treatment in Beaufort County who are struggling
financially. Thirty teams, from various states, donned outrageous costumes to participate in the fun-filled race along the Beaufort River, the 11th of its kind in Beaufort. For results, see Page A4.
SEE COUNCIL PAGE A4
Shattered, covered and smashed
Runaway boat sails through window at Port Royal Waffle House
A small boat on a trailer crashed through the window of the Waffle House in Port Royal on Sunday afternoon, June 30. Photo courtesy of Ashlee Hiester
in Port Royal, a few more people have theirs. On Sunday afternoon, June 30, a boat on a trailer redefined “drivein window” and came crashing into Waffle House in Port Royal. Luckily, no injuries were reportBy Delayna Earley ed and the restaurant remained and Mike McCombs open for business. The Island News Apparently, the small boat If you’ve spent much time at Waffle House, you have a story. After Sunday at the Waffle House SEE BOAT PAGE A7
ARTS
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INSIDE
Tickets on sale for USCB Center For Arts 2024-25 season.
John Crangle: “Make convicted legislators pay cost of special elections.”
NMRTC recognizes MCAS Beaufort Audiologist Technician.
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