Eye on Hilton Head

Bill Altstaetter will share stories about the amphibious invasion by Union Forces 150 years ago during the Battle of Port Royal at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Heritage Library.

Joining Altstaetter will be John Witherspoon, dressed as Capt. Percival Drayton of the U.S.S. Pocahontas, which fired more than 70 rounds in one hour into Fort Walker, commanded by Percival’s brother Gen. Thomas Drayton.

The library is on the second floor of the Savannah Bank Building at 852 William Hilton Parkway. Cost is $8 for library members and $10 for non-members.

For reservation, call 843-686-6560.

MONDAY, Nov. 7
Town of Hilton Head Island
Public Safety Committee: 10 a.m.; Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court
Agenda: Review 3rd quarter crime stats; consider recommendation to accept a federal port security grant for the purchase of a fire-rescue boat; speed limit treatment on the Charles E. Fraser Toll Bridge and Palmetto Bay Road
On the Web: www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov

Personnel Committee: 11:30 a.m.; Conference Room 1 at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court
Agenda: Interview three applicants for the town’s Planning Commission

The Town of Hilton Head Island will have a public hearing at 5 p.m. Nov. 15 and first reading of an ordinance adopting one of three proposed redistricting plans.

Town Council has recommended plan #3 as the preferred option for submittal to the U.S. Department of Justice for Consideration.

The meeting will be held in the Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court.

View the plans at http://1.usa.gov/utr3sd

TUESDAY, Nov. 1

Town of Hilton Head Island
Public Facilities Committee: 2 p.m.; Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court
Agenda: Telecommunications Task Force presentation, request for easement from Aurora Loan Services, LLC
On the Web: http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/boards/agendas/2011packets/pubfac-11-1...

Town Council: 4 p.m.; Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court

Though the election is more than a year away, one Hilton Head Island resident is hoping for a leg up over his would-be competitors for Town Council.

John McCann, former town Parks and Recreation Commission chairman and Port Royal Plantation resident, announced Thursday his candidacy for the island’s Ward 6 council seat held by Mayor Pro Tem Ken Heitzke.

Heitzke said he has not decided whether he will seek re-election, stating “there’s still plenty of time.”

Many have questioned and many have provided conflicting accounts about the finances of the county-owned Hilton Head Island Airport as officials, pilots and residents debate a proposal to charge a landing fee to general aviation aircraft.

Is the airport's cash flow positive? Does depreciation make the airport look unprofitable? What about the $3.1 million in advances from the county's general fund to the airport?

The fee, expected to generate about $100,000 a year, was proposed to make the airport more self-sufficient.

The Sea Pines Men’s Club will personally thank S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Hilton Head Island Mayor Drew Laughlin and Beaufort County Chairman Councilman Weston Newton for their efforts in securing the future of the Heritage Golf Classic — renamed the RBC Heritage, presented by Boeing— during a special luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

TUESDAY, Oct. 25
Public Safety Committee: 3 p.m.; Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers at Town Hall, 1 Town Center Court
Agenda: Consider a recommendation to Town Council accepting a $292,045 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to purchasing a fire-rescue boat and consideration of a cost-sharing agreement with Beaufort County
On the Web: www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov

Read More: http://bit.ly/nU2ly0

The Town of Hilton Head Island
Public Safety Committee
Special Meeting
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
3:00 p.m. – Benjamin M. Racusin Council Chambers
AGENDA

Heritage groups, re-enactors and Civil War buffs will gather Nov. 5 for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Port Royal.

Port Royal Plantation will host a community commemoration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fort Walker. The 1861 naval battle off the shores of what is now a gated community made Hilton Head Island an important supply base and headquarters for federal troops during the Civil War.

The commemoration will include Union and Confederate re-enactors, as well as displays of historic photographs, maps and artifacts.

Extending the Hilton Head Island Airport runway to 5,000 feet is more than four years away under a tentative timeline.

Beaufort County airports director Paul Andres and Judy Elder of airport consultant Talbert & Bright presented a five-year plan for airport improvements to the county’s airports board Thursday.

The airport has received more than $800,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration for a required benefit-cost analysis and environmental assessment.

That process is expected to take 18 months.