Nations Nuclear Dumping Ground . . . Again? Why does SC set such low standards for our future? 

 Fight Continues after more than 30 years.

Post and Courier, March 8, 2015

 "Here we go again. After 30 years of winning, then losing, then winning legislative battles to stop burying the nation's low-level nuclear waste in Barnwell, another battle looms. As with so many issues with huge economic stakes, this just won't die. Legislators and governors move on, but the industry and its high-powered lobbyists never go away."

The late Rep. Harriet Keyserling delivered those words in 2007 at a packed S.C. House Agriculture Committee hearing on a bill to extend the use of the Barnwell Low Level Radioactive Waste Site as the nation's dump. 

 Shortly thereafter, the committee killed the bill on a unanimous vote. On July 1, 2008, Barnwell closed its doors to all but the three member states of the Atlantic Compact: South Carolina, Connecticut and New Jersey.

 But, here we go again. Despite our sordid history of caving to the waste industry and the ticking time bomb at Pinewood, a proposed bill would re-open Barnwell as the nation's nuclear waste dump.

The Atlantic Compact resulted from the bipartisan Nuclear Waste Task Force, appointed in 1999 by Gov. Jim Hodges and charged with providing a "road map to discontinuance of S.C.'s role as the nation's nuclear dumping ground" and ensuring that "future needs of S.C. generators are met."

 That compromise included a number of provisions to soften the economic impact of site closure, including a "sweetheart deal" guaranteeing a 29 percent operating profit for the site operator and a $12 million Economic Development Fund for Barnwell paid by New Jersey and Connecticut. But, here they are again. Chem-Nuclear proposes to send its milder "A" waste to Energy Solutions' sister dump in Utah because it brings in the least revenues and takes up the most space. The law would be changed to substitute more dangerous and lucrative "B and C" waste from states outside the Compact.

 This is not an innocent swap. If just one large steam generator (graded as "A" with just 200 curies) were sent to Utah rather than Barnwell, room would be opened for 6,000 cubic feet, enough space for all the "C" waste generated in the entire United States in one year. That's equivalent to 500,000 curies, or 2,500 times the radioactivity of the steam generator.

 This is a bad deal for South Carolina, especially since the facility is ill suited to be a radioactive dump. Waste is buried in primitive, unlined shallow trenches and the site has already leaked radioactive tritium into Mary's Branch Creek, which feeds into the Savannah River. South Carolina's willingness time and again to prostitute itself to the corporate waste industry tests our credibility and our reputation. We have taken more than our fair share.

 It's time to say again: "Don't dump on South Carolina."

 Opinion piece by Ann Timberlake, executive director of Conservation Voters of South Carolina.

 

More Changes to City of Beaufort Redevelopment Commission?

When I became Mayor, the City Redevelopment Commission (RDC) was composed of members of City Council.  Not long thereafter, the Council decided to grow the RDC to include independent active and retired business people who had experiences that complemented the strengths of City Council to move Beaufort forward.

 For a number of reasons, not the least of which was some members felt that Council Members dominated the conversation, we not long thereafter removed all but one member of City Council, to serve as liaison between the RDC and City Council, and replaced City Council members with additional private sector participants. We were fortunate to find some very talented people who did a good job.

 Since, some citizens objected to the Council turning over the organization, which has very broad powers as permitted by state law, to individuals who were not elected by nor accountable to the public, City Council put tight reins on the Commission, requiring that City Council have the final say; had to okay projects and funding; and asserted the authority to remove members without cause.

 RDC members, under the new provisions, worked on the Civic Master Plan and achieved some very positive results for the people of Beaufort: negotiated the leasing and upgrades to the old City Hall by Lowcountry Produce; negotiated a lease agreement with the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce to occupy and put into shape the Visitors Center at the Arsenal and the Chamber's office in the retired Carnegie Library Building; negotiated a demonstration affordable housing model in Pigeon Point (that got caught up in a maze of State regulatory challenges but is finally moving forward); negotiated a land swap with the Baptist Church of Beaufort that permitted the Church to own an adjacent parcel with the result of saving an historic building while making room for three new houses on King street while at the same time getting the City reimbursed for the land swap. (One of the three is occupied and the construction of the final two is underway.)

 

Annual Council Retreat Suggests More Adjustments

 Just weeks ago at our annual planning retreat, City Council set "building revenue to keep up with (if not get ahead of) rising costs" as our principal goal.

We also reasserted that the Civic Master Plan sets forth the appropriate path forward (with review on a project by project basis) and that to ensure maximum transparency and accountability members of City Council should return to the RDC alongside volunteers with specific skill sets.

 Council passed on the first of two required readings an ordinance to accomplish this yet there remain some unresolved concerns about whether all or part of City Council should serve on the reconstituted RDC.

 Councilman Stephen Murray, a member of the RDC before being elected to City Council, makes a good argument that the majority of RDC members should be from the private sector so that Council does not overwhelm the private sector participants. 

 Since I have been and will continue working with the RDC, as a formal member or not, I offered that I was willing to not take a voting position on the RDC leaving room for an additional citizen.

 Councilman George O'Kelley, on the other hand, believes that if members of City Council serve on the RDC, all should serve.

Since we are talking about the "what" and not the "who", and the who is "The Mayor" who will not always be me, I understand what George is saying and am likely to agree that all members of Council should serve.  City Council is accountable, we were elected to make decisions for the city and should face up to that responsibility. 

 A More Active and Broad Based RDC Could Make Room for Many

I believe that each member of council should team up with a private sector member to focus on a specific set of goals and activities: Boundary Street Redevelopment; infill and redevelopment of the greater downtown; overseeing the commerce park and recruiting appropriate businesses; completing the Beaufort Code and making doing business in Beaufort less cumbersome are areas that come to mind.

 Furthermore, each of these partnerships would assemble a team of additional people interested in particular areas to serve on committees. When we recruited candidates for the Metro Planning Commission and Design Review Board, we found a number of very strong business minded active and retired professionals who would like to help the city grow the right way. Many of these are likely candidates for committees.

Please join me in casting your vote for HISP for the 10 Best 2015 Best Readers Choice award.

Hunting Island State Park should be # 1 in the nation!!   

link:   http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-park/hunting-island-state-park-s-c/

 Time is running out.... We are still 10th out of 20!  

Vote every day!!  

Voting ends March 31st!

Making Progress. One Step at a Time

South Carolinians unite against seismic blasting, offshore drilling

Charleston Post Courier

Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling has led the way in opposing oil and gas exploration and drilling in the Lowcountry, and Charleston . . .  read on

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150314/PC1002/150319609/1021/south-carolinians-unite-against-seismic-blasting-offshore-drilling 

The Stanford University Talisman to perform at Penn Center  to assist in fund/friend-raising for the historic Gantt Cottage and Civil Rights Museum

(St. Helena Island, Beaufort, SC); The Penn Center National Historic Landmark District welcomes the Stanford Talisman from Stanford University who will perform in concert on Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 p.m as a fundraiser for the historic site. 

The Talisman, founded over 25 years ago, is an exploration of substantive, cultural music. Composed solely of college students, this Stanford a cappella group brings together human stories of struggle, triumph, and solidarity through rich and vibrant song. The group has toured across California, the East Coast, and South Africa cultivating lasting relationships and sharing meaningful experiences with their audiences and collaborators. In addition to having the privilege of working with prominent South African gospel groups, such as the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Imilonji Kantu Choral Society, Talisman has also had the honor of performing at the White House, the Olympics, and Carnegie Hall. 

The concert will serve as a fund/friend- raiser event to support the renovation of Gantt Cottage which will serve as a Civil Rights Museum on Penn Center's 50-acre historic campus.  The original Gantt Cottage was named after formerly enslaved Hastings Gantt, who donated the original tract of land for the Penn School.  Hastings Gantt was a business man and politician, who served in the South Carolina Legislature as a representative from Beaufort during the Reconstruction era. Hastings Gantt was an inspiration to landowners and land toiler alike. The original cottage was destroyed by fire around 1940.  The current cottage, built by Penn School students, is a replacement.   

Two decades later, the Gantt Cottage was utilized as a residence and respite for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, during his numerous visits to Penn Center in the 1960's with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).  Penn Center was one of only two sites in the South where multi-racial groups could meet at a time of de facto and de jure segregation.  Dr. King found the Penn Center's campus a pleasant, suitable location to visit, rest, and work.

Recently, volunteers from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB) have committed to providing service to Penn Center and are assisting with much needed restorations to the exterior of Gantt Cottage.  Penn Center is grateful for the support from the UUFB and to the Stanford University Talisman for providing this wonderful fund/friend raising opportunity. 

The public is cordially invited to attend the Stanford University Talisman concert on Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 p.m. in Frissell Community House at the historic Penn Center located at 16 Penn Center Circle West,              St. Helena Island.  Admission for the concert is: $5/Adult, $3/Youth (Ages 17-13) and Free/ Ages 12 & Under.  Donations are greatly appreciated, can be made payable to Penn Center, Inc. and earmarked for the Gantt Cottage as Penn Center attempts to reach its goal of $25,000.  Penn Center, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to promote and preserve the history and culture of the Sea Islands.

For more information regarding the Talisman concert and ways to support the Gantt Cottage and the Civil Rights Museum at Penn Center, please contact Victoria Smalls, Director of History, Art & Culture (843) 838-2432 or email: vsmalls@penncenter.com. 

THE BEAUFORT COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NOON THURSDAY MARCH 26, 2015

BEAUFORT YACHT AND SAILING CLUB

30 YACHT CLUB DRIVE

LADYS ISLAND

AN OPTIONAL LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE SERVED

AT 11:30 FOR $10.00 PER PERSON

PLEASE RSVP BY MARCH 24TH FOR LUNCH

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

843.524.3942 OR HOFFMAKS@EARTHLINK.NET

FOR INFORMATION CALL PRESIDENT, MARY LOU BREWTON

AT 912.604.3634 OR MARYLOUBREW@AOL.COM

SUFFER & GROW STRONG

A TALK BY

AUTHOR CAROLYN CURRY

THE LIFE OF

ELLA GERTRUDE CLANTON THOMAS

In

Celebration of

Women's History

Month