NEWS BRIEFS

October LIBPA Meeting

Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders will be the featured speaker when the Lady’s Island Business & Professional Association meets at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10. The meeting will be held at the Beaufort Realtors’ Association Headquarters at 22 Kemmerlin Lane, Lady’s Island. Stop by for coffee and conversation concerning the community. 

Beaufort County State ATAX Grant Applications available

The Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Board has begun accepting State ATAX grant applications from organizations in Beaufort County wishing to receive grants from the 2% state accommodations tax fund.

South Carolina law allows for a 2% tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state.

As a result, individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2% in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost.

The current year application (2023/2024) is available online at https://bit.ly/3zzZLE4.

Applications will not be accepted or reviewed if received incomplete or after 5 p.m. on November 3.

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Brycen Campbell at atax@bcgov.net.

Beaufort County Legislative Delegation invites applicants for Boards and Commissions vacancies

Beaufort County Legislative Delegation encourages qualified citizens who are willing to serve on a board or commission to submit an application. All applicants must be a registered voter in Beaufort County to be considered for an appointment.

The following boards and commissions have legislative delegation-appointed vacancies:

  • South Carolina Commissioners for the Lower Coastal Area – Beaufort Maritime
  • South Island Public Service District
  • Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center
  • Lowcountry Area Resort and Island Tourism Commission

The application can be found at https://bit.ly/3I1iP0L.

All applications must be received by the close of business, Friday, Oct. 13.

For further information or to obtain an application, please contact the Beaufort County Delegation Office at 843-255-2260 or email cmaxey@bcgov.net.

County Assessor hosting events for Quadrennial Property Reassessment

Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding Quadrennial Reassessment Notices.

Each event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The dates are as follows: 

October
Tuesday, Oct. 3 – Bluffton Branch Library
Thursday, Oct. 5 – Hilton Head Island Branch Library
Tuesday, Oct. 10 – Lobeco Branch Library
Friday, Oct. 13 – St. Helena Island Branch Library
Monday, Oct. 16 – Bluffton Branch Library
Monday, Oct. 23 – Hilton Head Island Branch Library
Monday, Oct. 30 – Bluffton Branch Library

November
Tuesday, Nov. 7 – Lobeco Branch Library
Thursday, Nov. 9 – St. Helena Branch Library
Monday, Nov. 13 – Bluffton Branch Library
Thursday, Nov. 16 – Hilton Head Island Branch Library
December
Tuesday, Dec. 5 – Lobeco Branch Library
Wednesday, Dec. 6 – St. Helena Branch Library
Wednesday, Dec. 13 – Bluffton Branch Library
Thursday, Dec. 14 – Hilton Head Island Branch Library

In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling.

County Council hosting a ‘chat’

County Council is hosting one remaining Community Council Chat – Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in Council Chambers – for members of the public to get to know Council members and ask questions.

The chat is informal and registration is not required. There will be a sign up sheet for those interested in speaking however no minutes will be taken, the meetings will not be televised, nor will County staff be on premises. Council members are encouraging all members of the public to attend and ask questions on any topic of concern to them.

SCDNR seeks nominations for environmental award

The State of South Carolina is seeking nominations for an award to recognize individuals who are doing extraordinary work for the natural environment. Nominations will be accepted through October 24.

The S.C. Environmental Awareness Award, now in its 31st year, was established by S.C. General Assembly during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina’s natural resources.

Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment.

Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Forestry Commission, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

Nominees must be a South Carolina resident, possess upstanding moral character and exemplify extraordinary dedication to preserving and improving the environment and natural resources of South Carolina.

Areas of accomplishment include, but are not limited to:

  • Protection, conservation or improvement of soil, water or air
  • Protection or conservation of native plants, animals or their habitats
  • Improvement of natural resource management
  • Benefits to wildlife (game or non-game)
  • Increased recreational or aesthetic values

All nominations must include completed nomination forms as well as written responses to the information requests within the form. Completed nomination forms and materials should be emailed to stoneb@dnr.sc.gov no later than October 24.

Please contact Ben Stone at stoneb@dnr.sc.gov or 843-953-9062 for additional information.

The 2021 Environmental Awareness Award winner, James Frederick, was honored for his extraordinary work advocating for conservation of the state’s natural resources during his 33 years of service with Clemson University’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences.

View nomination forms and a list of previous winners at https://bit.ly/3PBA4JZ.

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