Eye on Beaufort County

The nonprofit ABLE Foundation has launched its annual ornament fundraiser in support of Camp Treasure Chest, a summer day camp for children with disabilities.

This year’s ornament was created by Buf’s, in Beaufort, using a design from Harbor Island resident Freda Schroeder. It features a tri-color heron standing beside palm trees. The design is the fourth in a series of Lowcountry scenes, according to a Beaufort County press release.

Each ornament, which also can be used as a medallion, costs $16.

What do stormwater fees have to do with flood insurance rates?

Turns out, quite a bit.

Since 2001, Beaufort County’s stormwater utility has raised about $50 million in stormwater fees charged to property owners.

The county has devoted about $13 million to construction projects that improve drainage while spending millions more to create comprehensive stormwater management studies, develop new regulations and educate the public.

State Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, received a perfect rating from the S.C. Business & lndustry Political Education Committee for the 2012 legislative session.

Erickson was one of just 19 S.C. House members to receive the “100” rating from the pro-business group and the only member of Beaufort County’s delegation to receive the perfect score. Last year, she received a “97” from the nonprofit, nonpartisan group, which has compiled the ratings since 1985.

For receiving a percent score, Erickson and the 18 other legislators have been deemed “Champions of Free Enterprise.”

Beaufort County officials say they're ready to consider landscaping improvements to medians along newly completed sections of the Bluffton Parkway, now that the entire three-mile section between Burnt Church Road and Buckingham Plantation Drive is finished.

County administrator Gary Kubic told County Council members Monday that maintenance costs could influence the approach to the project.

Meeting Agenda July 11, 2012

~ 2:00 p.m. ~
New Location: Beaufort Industrial Village
102 Industrial Village Bldg. 2
Burton, S.C. 29906

1) Call to Order: Don Smith
A. Approve meeting agenda
B. Approval of minutes from previous meeting: June 6, 2012

2) Introductions

3) Public Comment

4) Reports
A. SW/Form-based Code – Subcommittee report
B. Monitoring Update–Bob Klink
C. Upcoming Professional Contracts Report – Dan Ahern
D. Utility Updates – Dan Ahern
E. Maintenance Project Report – Eddie Bellamy

5) Unfinished Business

The Lowcountry created 1,400 new businesses between 1999 and 2007, and a new economic study released this week by the Lowcountry Economic Alliance suggests the region is primed for continued growth in the years ahead.

But to attract jobs and businesses to Beaufort and Jasper counties, the study suggests trying to attract businesses within certain types of industries, including healthcare & biomedical, back office & information technology, light manufacturing & assembly, and logistics & distribution.