Eye on Hilton Head

The Town of Hilton Head Island
Special Town Council Meeting
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Council Chambers
6:00 PM
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge to the Flag
3. Invocation
4. FOIA Compliance – Public notification of this meeting has been published, posted, and mailed in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Town of Hilton Head Island requirements.
5. New Business
a. Consideration of a recommendation from the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee

THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND
REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
4:00 P.M.
AGENDA
AS A COURTESY TO OTHERS PLEASE TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS DURING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
1) Call to Order
2) Pledge to the Flag
3) Invocation
4) FOIA Compliance – Public notification of this meeting has been published, posted, and mailed in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Town of Hilton Head Island requirements.
5) Proclamations and Commendations
a. National Heritage Planning and Education Week – Todd Rhine
6) Approval of Minutes

Beaufort County Councilman and Hilton Head Island Ward 3 Town Council candidate Steve Baer issued a white paper Friday outlining questions and concerns over planned tree work and runway extension at the county-owned island airport.

The native-island congregation of St. James Baptist Church filed a lawsuit earlier this month to stop tree-cutting at the Hilton Head Island Airport. (You can read the full story here).

WARD 3 TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUMS
Hear the candidates vying for the Ward 3 Town Council seat vacated by Mayor Drew Laughlin discuss the issues.

A forum hosted by TidePointe starts at 3 p.m. Monday at 700 TidePointe Way.

The candidates are Steve Baer, Lee Edwards, Ryan McAvoy, David Warren and Peter Zych. Each candidate will have an allotted time to speak and answer questions, written in advance, from the audience. Thom Jones, executive director, will moderate.

Call 843-341-7200 for a pass into the gated community.

THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND
REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
4:00 P.M.
AGENDA

AS A COURTESY TO OTHERS PLEASE TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS DURING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG
INVOCATION
FOIA COMPLIANCE – Public notification of this meeting has been published, posted, and mailed in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and the Town of Hilton Head Island requirements.
PROCLAMATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Town Council Workshop December 9 thru 11, 2010

Newly elected Hilton Head Island Mayor Drew Laughlin gave his first “State of the Town” address Wednesday. The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Hilton Head Island.
The following are more excerpts from Laughlin’s remarks to the group.

GOALS THIS YEAR AND BEYOND
Laughlin said he and Town Council plan to follow through with recommendations made by the Planning Commission and the Mayor’s Task Force for the Island’s Future, including — but not limited to — the following:
• Develop and formalize an economic development strategy to revitalize the island economy

Hilton Head Island mayor-elect Drew Laughlin sent a letter Friday to out-going mayor Tom Peeples, whom he'll replace next month, stating his "irrevocable resignation" as Ward 3 representative on Town Council.

Laughlin said his resignation is effective upon being sworn in as mayor Dec. 7.

A special election will be held March 8 to fill the remainder of Laughlin's council term, which expires in December 2012.

Ward 3 includes Spanish Wells, Wexford, Long Cove Club, Indigo Run, Point Comfort and Shipyard Plantation.

Hilton Head’s two remaining mayoral candidates are using videos on YouTube and Facebook to make last-minute appeals to voters before Tuesday’s runoff.

Architect and town Planning Commissioner Tom Crews faces attorney and Ward 3 Town Councilman Drew Laughlin.

Laughlin received the most votes, with 31 percent, in the seven-way race Nov. 2. Crews came in second with 25 percent. A runoff is necessary because no one captured a majority of votes. The winner replaces Tom Peeples as mayor, who did not seek re-election after 15 years in office.

The following are responses from Hilton Head Island town staff to frequent questions asked about a proposed franchise agreement for island-wide residential waste and recycling collection.

For more information, call Sarah Skigen with the town at 843-341-4682 or sarahs@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

Q: Can I use my own waste cart?
A: Yes. Should you choose to rent one from the franchised hauler, that option will be available for a quarterly fee.

Q: Will the franchised hauler put a liner in my waste cart?
A: Yes, for a quarterly fee

The Hilton Head Island Town Council will vote Wednesday on whether to grant a franchise agreement to Republic Services to provide residential waste and recycling collection island-wide.

Recent concerns about price increases and harm to local hauling business has held up approval of the franchise proposal. The item was removed from the council’s Sept. 21 agenda by Mayor Tom Peeples. Peeples said more information was needed to clear up allegations the mandatory residential recycling program will lead to a substantial cost increase for condo and villa owners.