Welcome to the City of Beaufort's monthly newsletter. Any feedback? Please send to Kathleen Williams, kwilliams@cityofbeaufort.org. Happy New Year to our residents, businesses, and visitors! | |
Council selects Marshall as city manager
Beaufort City Council has selected Scott Marshall as the new city manager for the City of Beaufort. The appointment was made at Council’s meeting on Dec. 13.
“I'm grateful to this Council for the trust they placed in me to work with them on behalf of the residents, businesses and stakeholders of the City,” said Marshall. “One of Bill Prokop's legacies is the incredible team he's assembled and I am eager to begin working with all of them."
Marshall comes to the City from Beaufort County, where he was director of Human Resources.
Press release on hiring of Scott Marshall
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McFee, Scallate sworn in to City Council | |
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Congratulations to Mayor Pro Tem Mike McFee and new City Councilman Josh Scallate! Both were sworn into office by Judge Ned Tupper on Dec. 13. McFee has served on City Council with one brief intermission since 2008. Scallate was elected in November.
At the same meeting on Dec. 13, we said goodbye to Phil Cromer, who retired after two terms in office. Below, he is with his wife, Amelie, and Mayor Stephen Murray. Thank you for your service to the City of Beaufort, Phil!
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Method of billing for trash pickup is changing | |
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The City of Beaufort is changing the method it uses to bill residents for trash and recycling services.
Beginning this month, Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority will no longer bill for those services. The City of Beaufort had contracted with BJWSA to bill customers for trash services monthly. That fee was $20 a month. So beginning in January, Beaufort residents will see their water/sewer bills decrease by $20.
The City of Beaufort will now work with Beaufort County to add a solid waste fee to its property tax bill. Residents will pay the fee retroactively. The fee will be established with the budget that will be approved for the new fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023.
Capital Waste Services is the vendor that provides the trash, recycling, and yard debris services for the City of Beaufort residents. It also provides free trash and recycling bins to each residence. Bulk and white goods pickups are also provided for City residents, free of charge. In other parts of Beaufort County, residents are charged extra for these services.
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New director named
for Community Development
Curt Freese, an experienced manager in municipal planning and development, will begin his tenure as director of the City of Beaufort’s Community Development Department on Jan. 9.
Freese, who is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, was most recently the director of community development for the Town of Berthoud, Colo., where he has worked since 2015. Berthoud is a town of 12,000 north of Denver. Freese managed building, planning, development review, water dedication, oil and gas permitting, and engineering for Berthoud. While there, he led and drafted a form-based update of the town’s development code.
Press release on Curt Freese
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Employees on path
for COLA adjustment
City Council approved at first reading on Dec. 13 a budget amendment that would give a cost-of-living adjustment to City of Beaufort employees. If approved at Council’s next meeting on Jan. 10, 2023, the 5% adjustment would go into effect in mid-January.
The adjustment was needed to keep City salaries competitive with other area and regional governments, City Manger Bill Prokop told City Council at a Work Session on Nov. 29.
Press release on COLA adjustment
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Applications open
for Htax funding
The City of Beaufort has opened its application process for Hospitality Fund appropriations. Nonprofit organizations in the City of Beaufort that focus on advertising to increase tourism to the City and support the local economy are invited to apply.
Press release on Htax application
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2022 Preservation Manual now on City website | |
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The City of Beaufort has taken another major step in its commitment to its National Historic Landmark District and the Northwest Quadrant with the publication of the new Beaufort Preservation Manual. The updated manual, often referred to as the Milner Report, after the architectural firm that put together the original manual and this latest version, is posted to the City’s website where it will be easily searchable.
Among its improvements, the new manual:
- Reflects current best practices in the preservation field
- Updates recommended materials for renovations, repairs, new construction
- Cross-references and ties into the Beaufort Development Code
- Makes recommendations for various repairs and treatments to buildings
- Includes pictures
The Beaufort Preservation Manual 2022
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Enjoy history? This museum has board openings
The Beaufort History Museum has multiple openings for board members.
The museum is looking for board members who are civic minded and share a passion for local history. The museum has a specific need for candidates with a strong business and marketing background, secretarial skills, finances, and/or grant writing.
The Beaufort History Museum manages the City of Beaufort’s collection of artifacts, and traces its roots to the 1930s. Its aim is to preserve and promote the 500-year history of the city and surrounding areas, for the education and enjoyment of both visitors and residents alike.
If you are interested, please send a brief summary of your qualifications and interest to board President Kathryn Mixon: kathryn.mixon@beauforthistorymuseum.com.
Beaufort History Museum website
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What did Stuartstown dig reveal? Find out Feb. 4
Last August, there was a week-long exploratory archaeology dig in The Point neighborhood, searching for signs of the lost 17th century Scottish colony of Stuarts Town.
For the past few months, all material found has been at the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA) at USC in Columbia -- being cleaned, examined, and analyzed.
On Saturday, Feb. 4, from 1-4 p.m., there will be a free symposium to review those findings. The seminar will be held at USCB’s Center for the Arts auditorium.
On Friday, Jan. 6, at noon, SC Public Radio will feature an interview with Dr. Peter Moore about his new book, “Carolina’s Lost Colony: Stuarts Town and the Struggle for Survival in Early South Carolina.”
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What's going on in January
What's ahead on galvanized main replacement projects and other ongoing projects for BJWSA.
Update on projects
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Digital Corridor offers
Kids Code Camp
Enrollment is open with a few seats remaining for BDC's winter Kids CODEcamp. Level 1 begins Jan. 6. We are a STEAM program. This means we integrate Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, and Math! Yep, art is important to video game development!
We will be exploring:
• How computers think
• What goes into a good character
• How to use drawing software to create a digital character
• How to label our character frames in a way that our computer can read them
The program runs from 4-6 p.m.
We suggest parents take this time to head downtown and enjoy a date night! First Friday will be happening downtown - full of art, music, food, and fun.
The BDC is located within walking distance of the First Friday event.
Sign up today!
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Pathway to fitness
Stop in to see how Beaufort Memorial's community fitness center can help support your wellness! The open house is from 3-7 p.m. Jan. 9 at 990 Ribaut Rd.
In addition to free group fitness demo classes, attendees can enjoy chair massages, stretching services, biometric screenings and facility tours. Door prizes, exclusive membership discounts and a drawing for a free 6-month membership will also be offered.
Group Fitness demo class schedule:
• 4:30-4:50: High-Intensity Intervals
• 5:00-5:20: Circuit
• 5:30-5:50: Spin
• 6:00-6:20: Stretch
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HBF kicks off history series
on Jan. 19
Learn more about Beaufort's history -- Dr. John McCardell, Dr. Larry Rowland, and Dr. Stephen Wise lead a five-part lecture series that begins on Jan. 19 and runs through Feb. 16.
Find out more and get tickets at HBF's website.
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Ring in 2023 with First Friday on Jan. 6! Come on downtown as we celebrate the New Year with our merchants from 5-8 p.m. The merchants are ready to fill their stores with some new inventory so they are having their semi-annual sidewalk sale. For each purchase, you will also be entered into a drawing for a gift card to one of our participating merchants.
Raffle entries need to be turned in to the clock tower. The drawing will be held at 8:15pm. You do not need to be present win. Winners will be called the following Monday.
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Beaufort Oyster Festival marks 3rd year! | |
The 3rd Annual Beaufort Oyster Festival – Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands Heritage Event for Greater Beaufort – will get 2023 off to a rousing start!
The full event features an 11-day festival coinciding with Tides to Tables, and culminating in a weekend of mini festival events throughout Northern Beaufort County.
Area businesses, agri-tourism and eco-cultural businesses, agencies and non-profits are invited to participate in the event throughout the week in educational, artisan and oystering programs and demonstrations.
The full event is scheduled Jan.12-22, with the Festival Weekend on Jan. 21-22.
The full list of activities including the Oyster Boogie 5K
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5 p.m. Jan. 10 Work Session
7 p.m. Jan 10 Regular Meeting
6 p.m. Jan. 17 Joint Coucil meeting
with Port Royal at City Hall
5 p.m. Jan. 24 Work Session
7 p.m. Jan. 24 Regular Meeting
Meetings will be held via Zoom and streamed on the City's Facebook page. You can find agendas closer to the date of the meeting on our website's Agenda Center.
City calendar
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Design Review Board, 2 p.m. Jan. 11
Historic Review Board, 2 p.m. Jan. 12
Zoning Board of Appeals, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23
Meetings are held in person and via Zoom and most are streamed on the City's Facebook page. You can find agendas closer to the date of the meeting on our website's Agenda Center.
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