Tom Barton covers breaking news for The Island Packet. He is a Davenport, Iowa, native and 2007 graduate of Iowa State University. Before coming to the Island Packet he worked as a reporter at The Des Moines Register. He moved to Bluffton in July 2010. | 
Brian Heffernan covers the Town of Hilton Head Island for The Island Packet. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. | The big drama from last week's Town of Hilton Head Island meetings was the Public Facilities Committee's support for $1 million in flyover beautification.
There were earnest pleas, speeches and changes of heart Wednesday - the kind of drama that makes town meetings worth showing up for week after week.
Town Council will get the final say next month about the town's financial involvement in the project, which would connect the Bluffton Parkway to U.S. 278 near Moss Creek.
On Tuesday, the Design Review Board looked at drawings and color swatches for the the 285,000-square-foot outdoor shopping center that will replace The Mall at Shelter Cove. No votes were taken, but some complained that the Belk store will not update its look. Belk will be the only retailer in the old mall that also will be in the new Shelter Cove Towne Centre.
This week, the Town of Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue Division's recommendations are on the docket again.
A few weeks ago, Chief Lavarn Lucas brought this 114-page new strategic plan to the town's Public Safety Committee. The document included 54 items for the committee to consider adding to plan.
The two groups are meeting twice this week - Monday and Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. - to discuss the suggestions in detail.
Follow reporter Brian Heffernan at twitter.com/IPBG_Brian.