Construction to begin this week on Allison Road project
Construction will begin next week on the Allison Road stormwater and streetscape project.
Utilities have marked their work areas with flags, and silt fences have been installed to help protect the environment. Dominion Energy will begin putting utilities underground with conduit installations.
The Allison Road project is a pedestrian connector streetscape that will include an 8-foot sidewalk on the south side of the road to connect Ribaut Road and the Spanish Moss Trail. The project will include:
- Installing pipe in a ditch on the south side of the street;
- Adding a sidewalk to the south side of the road;
- Adding new curbs, gutters and catch basins;
- Putting utilities underground except for large transmission lines on the north side of the road;
- Resurfacing the road;
- Adding new streetlights and landscaping;
- Estimated cost: $3.02 million, funded through a Tap Grant, ARPA funds, a stormwater bond, and partnerships.
Most of the work will take place during weekday hours. Residents and others should be prepared for traffic interruptions. We hope to minimize any inconveniences caused by this project, and the City will post updates on social media as this project takes place. The construction is expected to be completed in the fall.
Paul endorses Mace in 1st District race for Congress
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has endorsed U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace in her bid for reelection as the representative for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
“Nancy Mace is the principled warrior we need to continue in Congress defending our freedoms against overreach, opposing endless wars and unchecked spending,” Paul said. “Nancy is a true champion for our constitutional values and civil liberties. I proudly endorse her re-election and urge everyone to support her vital work in Washington, D.C.”
Moms Demand Action honors Deford
Gun reform advocacy group Moms Demand Action has awarded Mac Deford the 2024 Gun Sense Candidate distinction.
South Carolina has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the country, and guns remain the leading cause of death among children nationwide.
“Amid a crisis where our state leads in one of the highest rates of gun-related deaths, our state legislature has irresponsibly passed permitless carry,” Deford said in a news release. “This law is indefensible, eliminating training requirements and essentially basing the public carrying of firearms on an honor system. It’s absurd — our regulations are stricter for liquor than for guns. You can purchase a gun on a Sunday, but you’re prohibited from buying liquor.”
Deford is the only candidate, Democrat or Republican, in the race for the 1st Congressional District to be awarded the distinction as a Gun-Sense Candidate.
Mace to speak at The Citadel graduation
Twenty-five years after she made history as The Citadel Corps of Cadets first female graduate, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC1) is set to make another milestone by becoming the inaugural female commencement speaker for the 2024 Corps of Cadets commencement ceremony.
Scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 9 a.m., the ceremony will take place in McAlister Field House and will be livestreamed. Following this event, The Citadel Graduate College commencement ceremony will commence at 3:30 p.m., also livestreamed from the same venue.
SCDOT to host public meeting for SC+EV Initiative
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will host one of 20 public open house meetings across the state on Monday, May 6 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the Beaufort Branch Library to provide an update on the state’s efforts to support the electric vehicle (EV) industry and ecosystem as it kicks off the SC+EV Initiative.
The SC+EV Initiative will position South Carolina for the future of electrified mobility through the creation of a reliable and accessible statewide network of EV charging infrastructure.
Attendees are encouraged to drop in anytime to the open house meetings; no formal presentations will be given.
A virtual public meeting will be held in tandem with the public open houses. Members of the public can view the virtual meeting at www.southcarolina-ev.com.
Public comments may be submitted either in person at the meeting, through the project email, connect@southcarolina-ev.com, or by mail to SC+EV C/O SCDOT, 1201 Main Street Suite 800, Columbia, SC 29201.
Free Naloxone and training
The Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department will be offering free five-minute Naloxone trainings Tuesday, May 7, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., at both County Alcohol and Drug Abuse locations:
- Bluffton — 4818 Bluffton Parkway.
- Beaufort — 1905 Duke Street.
The training helps people understand how to identify the signs of opioid poisoning and how to help someone who may be exposed to opioid toxification or illicit contamination.
No appointment is required, and everyone who takes the five-minute training will receive free supplies of Naloxone. For more information visit www.beaufortcountysc.gov/alcohol-and-drug.
Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club to meet
The Beaufort Sportfishing and Diving Club’s May meeting will be held Thursday, May 9, 2024 at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club located on Lady’s Island off of Meridian Road. The social begins at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7 p.m.
Well known local Captain Brian McCaffree of Holden On Charters will give a presentation on King and Spanish Mackerels. He will discuss near shore and artificial reef fishing for King and Spanish Mackerels. This will include live baiting, baits of choice, setups, rods and reels. Captain McCaffree will also explain the use of fishing planners.
Guests are welcome. Reservations are not needed. For additional information, please contact Captain Frank Gibson at 843-521-7340 or email fgibson@islc.net.
USCB’s Skees to speak to Indivisible Beaufort
Murray Skees, Professor of Philosophy and Interdisciplinary courses at USC Beaufort, will be the featured speaker when Indivisible Beaufort meets next at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 11 at the Beaufort Library at 311 Scott Street.
Skees will speak on “Technology’s Influence On Our Attitudes And Behavior: Do We All Live In Our Own Echo Chamber? Skees has researched and written extensively about how social media, technology, and media consumption trends influence our attitudes and behavior and will share his findings and insights.
The event is free and open to the public.
County invites feedback on stormwater manuals
The Southern Lowcountry Technical Sub Committee is seeking feedback on the jurisdictional Southern Lowcountry Stormwater Manuals. All stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments, suggestions and improvements.
Implementing jurisdictions are working on draft changes, and would like input on any additional proposed edits from residents, developers, engineers and other individuals with technical expertise.
Comments on all manuals will be received through Friday, May 31. Comments may be submitted to wstormwater@bcgov.net.
For more information on current manuals, plans and studies, visit https://bit.ly/3PNgb3r.
For questions and more information, contact Beaufort County Stormwater Department at 843-255-2813.
City of Beaufort taking a survey
Take a quick survey to share your insights about downtown Beaufort
Beaufort is looking for ideas on how to make the city better. The City of Beaufort’s Downtown Operations Department has been working with a committee to explore ways to increase the vitality of downtown.
The team has created a survey asking residents and visitors a number of questions to get a better sense of how often they visit downtown, what activities they engage in when you are downtown, how convenient are shopping hours, and more.
Those who visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J7R8NB5 to fill out the survey will be automatically entered to win a prize.
Committee seeks feedback on stormwater manuals
The Southern Lowcountry Technical Sub Committee is seeking feedback on the jurisdictional Southern Lowcountry Stormwater Manuals. All stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments, suggestions and improvements.
Implementing jurisdictions are working on draft changes, and would like input on any additional proposed edits from residents, developers, engineers and other individuals with technical expertise.
Comments on all manuals will be received through Friday, May 31. Comments may be submitted to wstormwater@bcgov.net.
For more information on current manuals, plans and studies, go to https://bit.ly/3PNgb3r.
For questions and more information, contact Beaufort County Stormwater Department at 843-255-2813.
PSC to hold hearings abour Dominion’s rate hike request
The Public Service Commission has scheduled customer public hearings in Docket No. 2024-34-E, involving Dominion Energy’s application for authority to adjust and increase its retail electric rate schedules, tariffs, and terms and conditions.
This filing includes a request for an increase to retail electric rates, and the Company’s application can be reviewed at https://bit.ly/3xoFKSg.
The public hearing scheduled for Beaufort County will be held Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m., in the Bluffton Town Council Chambers at 20 Bridge Street. Customers who want to speak must pre-register.
In its application, Dominion proposes an increase of $18.86 or 14.21% for residential customers, an
increase of $2,002.25 or 12.32% for commercial customers, and an increase of $57,486.40 or 12.68% for industrial customers.
More details can be found in the Notice of Filing and Public Hearings at https://bit.ly/3VHAa7i. For more information, please reach out to the Public Service Commission at contact@psc.sc.gov or at 803-896-5100.
