‘There is nothing permanent except change’
By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
As the Greek philosopher Heraclitus noted centuries ago, we must accept change. And as much as the Lowcountry is changing, why should we be surprised when a couple of community leaders change.
Take the Beaufort city attorney Bill Harvey for example.
A city-issued press release two weeks ago announced Harvey was “stepping down” to do other things. Most citizens probably couldn’t care less that Harvey, after 36 years, was “stepping down.” The somewhat surprising element, besides the fact that Harvey doesn’t usually come across as someone who would “step down” from a job he confesses he loves, but that the announcement was made with only seven months remaining on his contract.
And that it came while the ongoing legal battle between 303 Associates, the city and Graham Trask continues … and is likely to keep on continuing with appeals until one day that hotel and parking garage get built or the Beaufort River covers all of downtown and a new hotel or parking garage will not be needed.
Maybe not as surprising was the announcement coming out of city hall earlier this month about the department of Deputy City Manager Reece Bertholf.
Bertholf, who spent 23 years in the Beaufort ranks, initially as fire chief then assistant city manager, is heading to his home state of Minnesota to become city manager in New Hope.
There was a lot of speculation that Bertholf would replace former City Manager Bill Prokop when he retired at the end of 2022 but the City Council, after a nationwide search, chose former Beaufort County Human Resources Director Scott Marshall for the job.
Over in the world of housing where the call for more attainable housing has been an increasing campaign pledge of the politicians, Angela Childers, director of that agency for the past 12½ years, handed in her notice to the Board of Commissioners and headed north to Charleston.
She’s the new executive director of the Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
In the world of water … and sewer, the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority has a new face at the helm, the authority’s first female General Manager.
Verna Arnette from the Greater Cincinnati Water Works began work earlier this month, replacing Joe Mantua who retired from the authority after four years.
Arnette follows in the footsteps of community notables such as Dean Moss, who served as BJWSA General Manager for 25 years and Ed Saxton, who served 30 years with the authority.
But again, should we be surprised at these comings and goings, even if there is “more to the story?.” To quote Heraclitus again, no man steps in the same river twice and that Beaufort River is definitely running fast.
How ‘bout these ‘king tides?’
BEAUFORT – Speaking of water, it is good news that the city of Beaufort keeps getting grants to help deal with existing drainage problems in the downtown and Point neighborhoods, a prelude to dealing with the inevitable rising sea levels.
Whether you agree to call it “global warming” or just “Mother Nature,” there’s plenty of evidence to indicate communities built close to water are seeing changes.
A study last week that garnered its moment of media attention stated New York City is slowly sinking due to the weight of its buildings. The study, which we can bet will quickly by discredited by other researchers, could be used to support those who oppose Beaufort’s proposed four-story hotel and parking garage because of its impact on the downtown area, partially surrounded as it is by water.
City Council continues work on development code amid budget talks
BEAUFORT – The City Council continues to work on the proposed $30 million FY 2024 budget which includes an on-staff architect at the same time review continues of the 2017 Redevelopment Code.
The elected folks continued their third session with more discussion about creating a city planning board in lieu of the Design Review Board.
The on-staff architect is also being recommended in the budget. Currently architectural review is provided by Charleston-based consultants.
As Mayor Stephen Murray described the process at one point, “it’s sausage- making at its finest.”
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.
