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1 day ago

Beaufort County council rejects criminal firearms‑discharge ordinance, advances civil penalty approach After debate and input from legal staff and law‑enforcement partners, the council voted down a criminal ordinance to prohibit unlawful firearm discharge and moved forward with a civil‑penalty ordinance that includes education incentives and a $500 maximum fine.

Beaufort County Council opts for a civil-penalty approach to tackle unlawful firearm discharges, prioritizing education and fines over criminal charges.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #BeaufortCountyFirearms #EducationIncentives

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1 day ago

Council advances housing measures: five‑parcel conveyance to BJHT, Habitat parcel transfer and ARPA reallocation for affordable housing Beaufort County amended and approved a conveyance ordinance to the Beaufort Jasper Housing Trust (five parcels) with a five‑year completion timeline, approved a separate parcel conveyance to Habitat for Humanity for one family, and approved ARPA reallocation to fund affordable‑housing and infrastructure projects.

Beaufort County is taking bold steps to tackle the housing crisis by approving key measures for attainable and workforce housing development!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #AffordableHousing #CommunityInvestment #BeaufortCountyHousing #WorkforceDevelopment

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1 day ago

Beaufort County backs $2 million for Chelsea conservation easement in neighboring Jasper County Council voted to contribute $2 million toward a conservation easement on the Chelsea tract in Jasper County, joining state grants, REPI funds and a Jasper County contribution to create a multi‑partner funding package.

Beaufort County just committed $2 million to protect the vital Chelsea tract in Jasper County, marking a significant step in regional land conservation efforts!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #RegionalHabitat #CitizenPortal #LandConservation #WaterQualityProtection

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1 day ago

Beaufort County council unanimously approves up to $200,000 in green‑space earnest money to hold Bluffton tract The council voted unanimously April 13 to allow the Green Space Committee to use up to $200,000 in green‑space funds as earnest money, if needed, to secure an option on a roughly 5,000‑acre tract adjacent to Palmetto Bluff while due diligence and negotiations continue.

Beaufort County Council just greenlit $200,000 to secure a massive 5,000-acre tract near Palmetto Bluff, paving the way for a major conservation effort!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #BeaufortCountyGreenSpace #PublicAccess #ConservationEfforts #CommunityPartnerships

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1 day ago

Beaufort County approves large Victoria Bluff conservation easement request The council approved a county contribution to a conservation easement on the privately held Victoria Bluff tract in Bluffton, citing long‑term public benefits and partnership with the Open Land Trust and landowner gift terms.

Beaufort County just took a major step towards preserving over 400 acres of pristine land with a new conservation easement that promises long-term benefits for the community!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #GreenSpace #ConservationEasement #PublicBenefits

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5 days ago

Regional transit authority seeks larger local match as northern Beaufort expansion and capital grants change funding mix Lowcountry RTA representatives told councilmembers Beaufort County accounts for about half of regional ridership and that a recent capital grant and shifting urban/rural grant allocations create a larger local match requirement; officials said the agency would trim optional services or routes if the county cannot provide requested match funds.

The Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority is at a critical funding crossroads, risking service cuts if Beaufort County doesn't step up its local match for expanding transit options.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #UrbanDevelopment #CitizenPortal #PublicTransit #FundingChallenges

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1 week ago

University of South Carolina Beaufort opens Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center to preserve Lowcountry maritime history The University of South Carolina Beaufort opened the Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center in Beaufort County, honoring artist Jonathan Green’s career and highlighting Gullah Geechee maritime knowledge, academic partnerships, and plans for exhibitions and community programming.

The University of South Carolina Beaufort just unveiled the Jonathan Green Maritime Cultural Center, a groundbreaking space dedicated to preserving the rich maritime traditions and cultural legacy of the Gullah Geechee community.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CommunityEngagement

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2 weeks ago

Beaufort County workshop narrows draft ordinance for abandoned manufactured homes amid enforcement and cost concerns At a Beaufort County Board of Commissioners workshop, staff and commissioners discussed draft Chapter 53 to regulate abandoned manufactured homes, focusing on definitions (utilities, 180‑day test), notice/appeal timelines (90/15/30 days), and enforcement costs estimated at $2,000–$3,000 per removal; board agreed to refine language and stagger adoption.

Beaufort County is taking a bold step to tackle abandoned manufactured homes with a new ordinance that sets clear definitions and enforcement timelines—will this change the landscape of local housing?

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#BeaufortCounty #NC #CitizenPortal #CommunityEnforcement #PublicPolicy

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1 month ago

Beaufort County schedules SC 170 corridor public meetings to discuss safety and connectivity Beaufort County announced two public meetings to present the Lowcountry Council of Governments' SC 170 corridor study, with sessions March 11 in Hardeeville and March 12 in Beaufort to discuss proposed safety and connectivity improvements.

Beaufort County is calling all residents to join crucial public meetings about the SC 170 corridor study, where safety and connectivity improvements will be unveiled!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CommunityEngagement #TransportationImprovements #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety

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1 month ago

Bluffton council authorizes Bridge Street streetscape contract with 25% contingency Council authorized a $1,210,393.83 contract for Bridge Street Streetscape phases 2 and 3 and approved a 25% contingency, bringing the estimated fiscal impact to $1,512,992.29; work includes drainage, street lighting and sidewalk repairs with a notice-to-proceed expected in late April.

Bluffton Town Council just greenlit a $1.2 million contract to enhance Bridge Street, featuring new drainage, sidewalks, and lighting—what's next for this historic district?

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #InfrastructureImprovement #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment

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1 month ago

Beaufort County penny tax committee asks Bluffton to weigh in on top projects ahead of November vote Lisa Salt, chair of Beaufort County's Transportation Penny Tax Advisory Committee, briefed Bluffton council on a proposed 1% transportation sales-tax referendum to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot and asked the town to identify its top five local priorities from a countywide project list.

Beaufort County is gearing up for a pivotal November vote on a 1% transportation sales tax that could transform local infrastructure—are you ready to weigh in on the top projects?

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #TransportationInvestment #InfrastructureDevelopment

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1 month ago

Bluffton council backs USCB 'SandShark 2020' arena and sports-complex proposal Council approved a resolution expressing support for the University of South Carolina Beaufort's SandShark 2020 multipurpose arena and sports complex; presenters said the state has allocated $47 million and partners are working to cover remaining cost gaps.

Bluffton Town Council just backed an ambitious $47 million project to create a state-of-the-art sports complex at USCB, promising to transform the region's athletic landscape!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #EventCapacity #CitizenPortal #BeaufortCountySports #CommunityDevelopment

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1 month ago

Palmetto Electric, Dominion update Bluffton council on trimming, upgrades and local projects Utility representatives told Bluffton council their reliability work includes routine tree trimming, hundreds of transformer replacements, expanded broadband partnerships and completion of the Hardeeville–Bluffton transmission line; Palmetto Electric also highlighted a $1.2 million contribution to the Don Ryan Center.

Bluffton is gearing up for a brighter future as Palmetto Electric and Dominion Energy unveil major utility upgrades, including hundreds of transformer replacements and expanded broadband access!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #BroadbandAccess #CitizenPortal #DisasterResilience

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1 month ago

Bluffton opens 'The Cove' landing pad with county and cooperative grants The Town of Bluffton and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation held a ribbon-cutting for The Cove, a business landing pad in Buckwalter Place supported by a $130,000 grant from the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, $1,000,000 from Palmetto Electric Cooperative via the South Carolina Power Team, and $25,000 from the South Carolina Alliance.

Bluffton has officially unveiled 'The Cove', a dynamic hub for businesses in Buckwalter Place, backed by significant grants to fuel economic growth!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #InnovationHub #CitizenPortal #EconomicDevelopment #ChildcareAccess #BeaufortCountyBusiness

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1 month ago

Hilton Head beach renourishment continues; town posts tracker and press release Marinette’s construction is replenishing sand along central Hilton Head Island shoreline in 24-hour operations covering areas from North Forest Beach to part of Ocean Lane; the town has a tracker and press release with maps and schedules.

Hilton Head Island’s beach renourishment project is making waves as construction crews work tirelessly to restore the shoreline—find out what this means for your beach plans!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CommunityEngagement #EnvironmentalSustainability #CitizenPortal #BeachRenourishment

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1 month ago

Elizabeth Sanders introduced to Beaufort County Transportation Advisory Committee; cites safety and connectivity priorities At a Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, Elizabeth Sanders described her civil engineering background and said she would prioritize intersection safety, connectivity and congestion relief across Beaufort County; the committee emphasized transparency and pointed residents to beaufortcountypenny.com for information on the 2026 tax referendum.

Elizabeth Sanders is ready to transform Beaufort County's roads with a focus on safety and connectivity—discover the priorities she plans to champion!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #BeaufortCountyTransportation #CommunityConnectiveness #PublicSafety

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1 month ago

Beaufort County advisory panel outlines goals, urges clear outreach for 2026 transportation tax referendum The Transportation Advisory Committee said the proposed 2026 transportation tax referendum must deliver visible benefits to all parts of Beaufort County and emphasized transparency and local outreach; the panel pointed residents to beaufortcountypenny.com for details.

Beaufort County's new Transportation Advisory Committee is on a mission to ensure that the proposed 2026 tax referendum delivers real benefits to every district—are you ready to have your voice heard?

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal

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1 month ago

Beaufort County board introduces Jean Felix as new elections director; early-voting changes and poll-worker drives planned The county's board of voter registration introduced Jean Felix as the new director of voter registration and elections. Felix outlined outreach plans, poll-worker recruitment for three upcoming elections, and pending relocations of two early-voting centers.

Beaufort County's new elections director, Jean Felix, is shaking things up with exciting plans for early voting and a call for poll workers ahead of the critical 2026 elections!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #VoterEngagement #CitizenPortal #ElectionOutreach #PollWorkerRecruitment

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1 month ago

Council approves $1.545 million contribution for Simmons Tract green-space protection after debate over allocation rules Beaufort County Council approved a resolution to contribute up to $1,545,000 toward the Simmons Tract on Hilton Head as county green space. Debate focused on how referendum green-space funds are allocated across county quadrants and whether distribution is equitable.

Beaufort County Council has just approved a hefty $1.545 million for the Simmons Tract, but not without heated debate over fairness in green-space funding across the county.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #GreenSpaceProtection #CitizenPortal #BeaufortCountyGreenSpace #EquitableFunding

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1 month ago

Local officials press delegation for TriShare pilot and answers on paused childcare subsidies Beaufort/Jasper leaders urged state legislators to fund a voluntary TriShare childcare pilot and sought clarity after the Department of Social Services paused ABC scholarship dollars; Jody Levitt warned families and providers face imminent hardship if subsidies are not reinstated or replaced.

Local officials are urgently calling for a childcare pilot program as families face looming financial crises due to suspended subsidies.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #ChildcareSupport #CitizenPortal #FamilyWellbeing #LocalEconomy

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1 month ago

Residents urge county to pursue state acquisition after federal court dismissal of Pine Island lawsuit A U.S. District Court dismissed a developer's challenge to Beaufort County's Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) as moot, keeping the CPO in place for now. Public commenters urged the county to seek state acquisition of the property and warned of continued 'lawfare' by developers.

Residents are rallying for the county to acquire Pine Island after a federal judge dismissed a developer's lawsuit, citing the costly consequences of ongoing "lawfare."

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #LegalTransparency #PublicAquisition #BeaufortCountyCulturalProtection

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1 month ago

Delegation discusses data‑center impacts, energy pipeline routing and nuclear opportunities Rep. Bill Hager and Sen. Davis discussed legislation on data centers — including allocation of grid and water costs and siting incentives for brownfield reuse — plus energy infrastructure (pipeline routing using state property) and modular/nuclear developments.

Legislators are pushing for innovative policies on data centers and energy infrastructure that could reshape South Carolina's landscape—are you ready for the changes ahead?

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #DataCenterPolicy #BeaufortCountyEnergy #EnergyInfrastructure

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1 month ago

Delegation seeks DOT study, SIB support as Beaufort‑area leaders press I‑95 repairs and Exit 3 financing Sen. Davis proposed a $2 million DOT pilot study on waterborne transportation linking Beaufort and Jasper counties and discussed accelerating I‑95 improvements; he said the State Infrastructure Bank committed about $91 million for the Exit 3 interchange but questions remain about funding for the connecting parkways and security arrangements with the landowner.

Regional leaders are pushing for a $2 million study to transform transportation in Beaufort and Jasper counties, but will it be enough to secure vital I-95 improvements?

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #CommunityCoordination #InfrastructureDevelopment

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1 month ago

Beaufort County advisory committee weighs projects and a possible sales-tax referendum to pay for roads The Transportation Advisory Committee set a schedule and began prioritizing projects for a potential November referendum to raise funds for road work; the county engineer estimated tourists could pay roughly 60% of a proposed sales tax, and the committee will continue community outreach.

Beaufort County is eyeing a November referendum that could transform its roads, with tourists potentially footing 60% of the bill!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #PublicEngagement #RoadInfrastructure #TransportationFunding

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1 month ago

Beaufort County council advances ordinance banning firearm discharge within 500 feet of structures on first reading On first reading the council approved an ordinance to prohibit firearm discharge within 500 feet of residences, schools and parks in unincorporated Beaufort County, 7–4. Councilors debated enforcement challenges and refinements tying enforcement to negligence in state statute.

Beaufort County Council takes a bold step towards public safety by advancing an ordinance to ban firearm discharge within 500 feet of homes, schools, and parks—sparking heated debate on enforceability and community impact.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #LocalLawReform #CitizenPortal

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1 month ago

Nexus Care installs seven 24-hour naloxone kiosks across Beaufort County Nexus Care of Beaufort County has installed seven 24-hour naloxone kiosks funded by the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund. The kiosks provide free naloxone at multiple public locations to improve rapid access during overdoses.

Beaufort County is taking a bold step in the fight against opioid overdoses with the launch of seven 24-hour naloxone kiosks, providing life-saving medication for free at key locations throughout the area.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CivicAccountability #PublicHealth #LocalGovAI

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1 month ago

South Carolina bill would let local governments delay permits when infrastructure lags, with safeguards Sen. Tom Davis described a pending 'concurrency' bill that would let counties and municipalities limit or defer development permits where roads, water, schools or public safety capacity are inadequate, while requiring objective service benchmarks, plans to address deficiencies and legal 'safe‑harbors' for local governments.

Sen. Tom Davis is pushing a groundbreaking bill that empowers local governments to delay building permits when infrastructure can't keep up with growth, creating a balance between development and community needs.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #BeaufortCountyInfrastructure #UrbanDevelopment

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1 month ago

Gullah documentary debuts at Mitchellville Freedom Park; filmmakers, residents highlight cultural preservation Around 300 people attended the February 12 debut of 'The Spirit We Move,' a short documentary featuring Gullah residents; Omolola (Lola) Campbell, executive producer, said the film is intended to preserve and amplify Gullah stories, and director Andrew Maguire described the project as an effort to make the culture more visible.

The debut of 'The Spirit We Move' at Mitchellville Freedom Park captivated an audience of 300 as Gullah residents shared their vibrant stories and cultural heritage.

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #CulturalPreservation #IndigenousStories #CommunityVisibility

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1 month ago

Bay and Charles intersection reopens after $12 million storm‑drainage upgrade Beaufort reopened the Bay and Charles intersection after Gulfstream Construction completed a $12,000,000 storm‑drainage upgrade that had closed the intersection for roughly three months; the larger $11.9 million Charles Craven Street Stormwater Improvements project will continue north along Charles Street.

Beaufort's Bay and Charles intersection is back in action after a $12 million storm-drainage upgrade, reviving downtown access just in time for the busy season!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #InfrastructureImprovement #EconomicRecovery #CitizenPortal #CommunityResilience

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1 month ago

Southern Carolina Alliance marks 30 years as region records millions in investment The Southern Carolina Alliance celebrated its 30th anniversary and highlighted 2025 activity: the South Carolina Department of Commerce reported $9.12 billion in announced capital investment statewide and more than 8,100 new jobs in 2025; the SCA said its seven‑county region announced 16 projects totaling $531.7 million and 1,144 jobs in 2025.

The Southern Carolina Alliance celebrates 30 years of driving economic growth, with a staggering $9.12 billion in capital investment and over 8,100 new jobs created in 2025 alone!

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#BeaufortCounty #SC #CitizenPortal #EconomicDevelopment #JobCreation #BeaufortCountyEconomy