By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
Prior to the arrival last week of Winter Storm Enzo, local political leaders sat down together for a little brainstorming which generated something of a warm, fuzzy experience.
Not that the group of 10 elected municipal members plus staff accomplished much, but there was a feeling of comradery and hopefulness one doesn’t often get while watching their government at work.
The City of Beaufort and Town of Port Royal officials were joined by the Beaufort County female triumvirate – newly elected County Council Chairman Alice Howard and Vice-chair Tab Tabernick, plus Councilwoman Paula Brown who came all the way from her district south of the Broad River to participate in the talks and listen.
Also present was newly elected school board Chairman Dick Geier who expressed his appreciation for being included since municipal issues such as development impact school issues.
Again, the topics of conversation in the one-and-a-half hour session varied but it was, as these dinner meetings often are, an opportunity for each elected official to voice what’s on their mind, or troubling their souls.
A central topic, at this meeting, first of the year, was housing, both the “affordable” type and the homeless issue. The elected guys – and women – want to do something to relieve the need but they, like their counterparts across the country, know it’s not easy.
Beaufort, working with Jasper County, has established the Lowcountry Housing Trust which works with developers to bring more “affordable” homes into the area. And the Beaufort Housing Authority provides shelter for more than 800 families on fixed incomes with a waiting list of hundreds more.
The elected folks said all the right things about “working together” and “serving the people” knowing that budget sessions are looming and the need for money to fulfill the promises – and make repairs like the city’s Waterfront Park project – will be great.
But the Thursday night session, which included a fish and chicken dinner, “set the table” for the year’s actions, as Port Royal Mayor Kevin Phillips said.
Citizens asked to give their 2 cents
BEAUFORT – Speaking of projects, at least two governmental entities are currently asking the public to help plan for the future.
Beaufort County’s recycling division is asking residents and business owners to complete a survey outlining their thoughts on the 2018 plastic bag ban and the future efforts to reduce plastic pollution. The Council rejected a proposal to expand the ban last year to include plastic straws but supporters, including the Coastal Conservation League, are hoping that effort will be renewed this year.
Deadline for the survey, Help Reduce Plastic Pollution in Beaufort County; Survey Now Open for Comment Until March 1 is March 1 so you’ve got time to respond … and share it with your neighbors.
The Lowcountry Council of Governments, working with Palmetto Breeze, the area’s regional public transportation service once known as the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Agency, is updating the northern Beaufort County transit plan and likewise, wants public comment.
The survey, found at Northern Beaufort Transit Master Plan Public Survey, will, ideally, help secure funding for the expansion of public bus service, a project Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer has been advocating since taking office.
Survey deadline is the end of this month, Jan. 31.
Bravo, Dr. Rowland!
BEAUFORT – Kudos to Gov. Henry McMaster who had the good sense to recognize a citizen of merit when he saw one.
Local historian Larry Rowland was publicly recognized two weeks ago by presentation of the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor a South Carolina governor can bestow.
He joins the ranks of several hundreds who have received the honor since it was established by then-Gov. John West in 1971. His name is now listed alongside the likes of fellow Beaufortonians, state Sen. James Waddell, state Rep. Harriet Keyserling, author Pat Conroy, actor Tom Berenger, University of South Carolina football coach Lou Holtz, civil rights activist Septima Poinsette Clark, singer James Brown and tap dancer “Peg Legs” Bates.
In honor of his contributions to preserve and share the history of Beaufort, Rowland has also been honored by the University of South Carolina where the first endowed professorship has been established in his name at USC Beaufort, where he taught for years.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. Her goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
