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|  Town Administrator's E-Brief
From Town Administrator, Eric DeMoura Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
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Dear Mount Pleasant residents and business owners,
It is hard to believe that Fall is already here. The leaves are turning, football is on TV, and pumpkin-flavored everything is now available in stores and restaurants. With the change in season, we here at the Town are gearing up for our busiest time of the year (with pumpkin- flavored coffee in hand). Our staff is working diligently to finish capital projects, launch new outreach initiatives, and roll out the next series of special events.
We are also preparing new educational campaigns to share information with the community about critical topics such as fire safety and emergency preparedness. During the month of October we will be promoting fire safety and fire prevention tips in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, October 4 - 10, 2015. Be on the look out for new videos and information from our Fire Department online and in local movie theaters.
Our commitment to providing superior publics services is stronger more now than ever. In addition to the important work our departments are all doing, we continue to identify gaps in our community where there is a need to be met. We are pleased to announce that we have recently added a Business Development Officer to our staff in response to a need identified by residents and business owners alike. Mayor Page and Town Council deemed it critical to add a business support position to the staff team in order to provide assistance to Mount Pleasant businesses. Community members have all asked for Council to continue to foster additional employment options, business expansion opportunities, and workforce development initiatives in Mount Pleasant. Town Council agrees that these items are important to the long term success of the community and therefore made it a priority to recruit top talent for the Business Development Officer position. We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Amy Livingston to the Town staff and I invite you to read more about her new position in the sections below.
And businesses aren't the only part of the community that we are supporting. The citizens of Mount Pleasant have made it known that our infrastructure needs improvements. We agree and that is why Town Council has authorized a Capital Improvement Program to fund critical infrastructure projects. Through this program we are continuing to complete major road projects, stormwater systems upgrades, and public facility up-fits. We have completed several large projects, such as Billy Swails Boulevard Phase 4-A, already this year. Most recently, we also began construction on the Shem Creek Park Extension and the Long Point Road & I-526 on-ramp and turn lane projects. We will also be starting construction on the Park West/Bessemer Rd. roundabout in the next month. Please continue reading below to learn more about these public improvements.
For more information about all that is happening in the Town of Mount Pleasant, please visit us
online, like us on
Facebook, or follow us on
Twitter.
Best Regards,
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Sept 28: Board of Zoning Appeals meeting Sept 30: Commercial Design Review Board meeting Oct. 5: Committees of Council meetings Oct. 8: Historical Commission meeting Oct. 12: OVHD Commission meeting Oct. 13: Town Council meeting Oct. 18: Children's Day Festival Oct. 21: Planning Commission meeting Oct. 26: BOZA meeting Oct. 28: Commercial Design Review Board meeting
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Applications Now Available for the 2015 Christmas Light Parade
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Apply now to be part of one of the Lowcountry's favorite holiday traditions, the 20th Annual Town of Mount Pleasant Christmas Light Parade on Sunday, Dec. 13. Entry is open to Mount Pleasant entities only until Oct. 1 and then opens up to the entire Lowcountry. The event typically goes to a wait list status by late October. Applications are available
online.
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New Online Sign-Up To Speak at Town Council Meetings
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As part of the Town's ongoing efforts to increase public participation, a new online sign-up is available for those wishing to speak at the upcoming Town Council meeting. Citizens may also sign up to speak in person immediately before the Council meeting begins. For more information, please contact the
Communications Office.
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Live Streaming & Podcasts of Town Meetings Now Available
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Did you know that the Town of Mount Pleasant now offers live streaming of the Town Council meetings and podcasts of both their Town Council and Committees of Council meetings? Catch up on our latest meetings by visiting our
YouTube channel or our
PodCast, which is available in the iTunes Store and online.
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Do you know what to do if you encounter a coyote? The Town of Mount Pleasant has produced a document outlining the various steps you should take if you see or encounter a coyote within the town limits. All residents are encouraged to read this document fully and learn how to protect yourselves, your family, and your pets from coyotes. Click
here to read more about coexisting with coyotes.
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| Be Informed!
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Public participation is at the heart of good government, but who has time to seek out information? Let us do this for you. Visit us online at
www.tompsc.com and subscribe to our calendars, notifications, meetings, job openings, and more!
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Contact Mayor Page and Town Council
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Want to know more about Mayor Page and Town Council? Click on the links below to find out more information about job responsibilities, bios, and contact information.
Mayor Page
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Did you miss last month's Administrator's E-brief? You can find it
here.
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Some Town Offices Have Moved!
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Please note that
the Fire Administration staff and Fire Marshal's Office have moved to their new modular units beside Fire Station 2 on Egypt Road. T
he Public Services Department, Building License Division and the Planning Department have moved to Six Mile Fleet Maintenance Facility on Sweetgrass Parkway, Pinckney Place. For more information about Town office and staff relocation visit the
Relocation Webpage.
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Our Mission Statement
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"To deliver superior performance in a manner that is distinctive and impactful to each person served and that establishes a standard for quality that endures for generations."
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Download the Experience Mount Pleasant Mobile App
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Experience Mount Pleasant using our latest mobile app launched by the Cultural Affairs and Tourism Office. The new app is free to download and it offers residents and visitors with quick, easy access to hospitality, accommodation, and local event info.
Developed by Wholly App, Experience Mount Pleasant provides detailed information such as directions and telephone numbers for every hotel, eatery and attraction in the town. Special events are also spotlighted in the consistently updated calendar located within the app.
Other features of the app include weather updates, contact information for inquiring visitors and direct access to the town's social media sites.
For more information, visit us
online or click
here.
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| Town Hires New Business Development Officer |
This past month, the Town of Mount Pleasant welcomed Ms. Amy Livingston as the new Business Development Officer. Ms. Livingston is charged with advancing the Town's quality of life by fostering an economic environment that is vibrant, favorable to job creation, and that promotes the general prosperity of the community.
The Business Development Officer is responsible for implementing the goals and objectives of the Town's Economic Development and Business Development Plans. Ms. Livingston is also coordinating the Business Outreach meeting series designed to strengthen communication and relationships with local businesses.
For more information about the Business Development Office or about hosting a future business outreach meeting, please contact Ms. Livingston at (843) 884-8517.
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Long Point Road Improvements Underway
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This month. the Town of Mount Pleasant kicked off a capital improvement project to implement a much-needed right turn lane on Long Point Road to access the westbound entrance ramp to I-526. As motorists' driving patterns change, they are asked to exercise caution within the construction zone.
The work will include the shifting of the two westbound traffic lanes and realignment of the westbound traffic signals. The lane shifts will require the temporary elimination of left hand turns from Long Point Road into Belle Hall Parkway. Left turning traffic will be detoured to Belle Point Parkway. Once established, the lane shifts and detour will remain in effect until the completion of the I-526 West bound on ramp scheduled for completion in early February 2016.
Questions during construction may be directed to Ed Barbee at
[email protected] or via phone at (842) 640-2422. Click
here to read more about this critical road project.
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Property Tax Calculator Now Available
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In preparation for the upcoming November elections, Mayor Page and Mount Pleasant Town Council are urging all citizens to fully inform themselves of the proposed ballot referendum for a five mil tax increase. The approved referendum language is provided below.
Additionally, a property tax calculator has been added to the Town's website. This calculator is a tool citizens can use to calculate their estimated property taxes based upon the current millage rate, along with their estimated property taxes with a proposed five mil increase. This tool enables citizens to better understand the financial impact the five mil increase will have should the referendum pass. The calculator can be accessed by clicking
here.
Simply insert your information into the orange boxes to generate your approximate property tax. Next change the millage rate from 41.3 to 46.3 to calculate your approximate property tax should the referendum pass.
2015 Referendum Language
"Must a five mil tax be imposed in Mount Pleasant with the revenue of the tax used to pay, directly or indirectly, the cost of the following public projects in Mount Pleasant:
- Improvements to or acquisition of open space for the benefit of the public;
- Construction of recreation amenities, to include, trails and passive park space at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park;
- Construction of recreation amenities, to include, athletic fields at the Carolina Park Recreation Complex;
- Construction of recreation amenities, to include, athletic fields and trails at the town owned recreation property off of Rifle Range Road;
- Construction or lease of building space for an additional senior center;
- Construction or lease of building space for a community arts center."
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Government Outreach Activities
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Community Roundtable Meetings
Town officials and staff are continuing to host informal roundtable meetings with community organizations, civic groups, and neighborhood associations. This small group format allows for more in-depth discussion in an informal setting. It also provides citizens with another opportunity to give their input and receive a response beyond public hearings and Town Council meetings.
To schedule a community roundtable meeting with your organization or group, please contact the Government Outreach Office at (843) 884 - 8517. We look forward to meeting with you!
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Coffee with the Mayor
Last month's Coffee with the Mayor took place at Page's Okra Grill where Mayor Linda Page met with residents to exchange information and discover ways to work together to improve Mount Pleasant. Stay tuned for more information about the next Coffee with the Mayor. The event is free and open to all! Please contact the
Mount Pleasant Communications Office for more information.
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Town Administrator's Mobile Office Hours
The next monthly
Mobile Office Hours event will take place on
October 20, 2015, at
Fire Station 5 (3001 Dunes West Blvd.) in Mount Pleasant from
10 - 11 a.m. Each month, the Town Administrator holds open office hours at various public facilities around the community. All citizens are invited to stop by and discuss items of interest to them.
No appointment necessary. For more information about this program, visit the Mobile Office Hours webpage or call (843) 884 - 8517.
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What's my watershed?
How can you protect your creek from pollution? Properties in Mount Pleasant drain into one of 19 local waterways. If the water does not run off, it soaks into the ground and becomes part of our groundwater system. The types of pollution we allow to get into these waterways can impact the long term health of our environment and our community. Even if you do not live directly on a creek, what you do at your homes can eventually impact the waterways. One property's pollution may not be a problem, but consider the impact of about 5,000 homes or 1,200 acres worth of pollution.
The more we understand about our local watersheds, how we may impact them, and what we can do to prevent pollution run-off, the better we can protect our local water resources. Learn more about what you can do, by visiting us online.
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Construction Begins On Shem Creek Park Extension
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| Shem Creek Park Extension will realign the existing boardwalk and construct a pedestrian bridge over Jones Creek. |
The Town of Mount Pleasant is enhancing Shem Creek Park by extending the boardwalk to Coleman Boulevard. The project will transform two privately held fixed piers into a continuous public boardwalk that will join and add to the Shem Creek Park experience. Upon completion the park will be a special waterfront park that will extend from Coleman Boulevard to the existing park terminus near the Charleston Harbor.
The construction began on September 14, 2015 and is scheduled to be completed by May of 2016. Hours of operation by the Contractor (Cape Romain Contractors, Inc.) will be between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Click
here to read more about this exciting project completed through the Town's Capital Improvement Program.
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| 2015 Children's Day Festival |
Old and new traditions delight at the 28th Annual Town of Mount Pleasant Children's Day Festival presented by
Cinebarre! East Cooper schools will host carnival games centered on this year's theme: Lights, Camera, Action! Families will enjoy carnival rides, enormous inflatable slides, live entertainment, wall climbing, face painting and many other activities! Admission and all activities are free. Free parking is available at Cario Middle School and Charles Pinckney/Laurel Hill - shuttles run all day or simply use the cut-through and enjoy a nice short walk! Food concessions are offered by East Cooper schools for fundraising.
Event Details
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Park West Recreation Complex
Noon - 5:00 pm For more information, visit
www.ComeOnOverMP.com
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Produced by the Town of Mount Pleasant Government Outreach Office
Town of Mount Pleasant | 843-884-8517 |
http://www.tompsc.com
100 Ann Edwards Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
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