WEEKLY UPDATES, EVENTS AND MORE FROM MAYOR BILLY!
Your Weekly News & Updates
Calendar of Events 
in and around Beaufort!
Is it time to explore solar energy?

NEWS RELEASE: November 10, 2015
Contact: Bill Prokop, City Manager

Beaufort leaders promote solar power option

With an eye toward possibly tapping solar energy to help power municipal buildings, Beaufort joins three other South Carolina cities in encouraging residents and businesses to try solar power for energy needs.     

READ MORE HERE          

Public Art

Is it time to resurrect the Public Art Commission to work with The Arts Council of Beaufort County and USCB Center for the Arts who are contemplating National Endowment for the Arts grants for public art called "place making"? I think so...BK


City Manager Reports to Council 

November 10, 2015 REPORT ISSUED BY BILL PROKOP, CITY MANAGER
We have taken transparency very serious and have had all our financial information posted, and we hope people will take the time to look at the website to inform themselves.

Go to OPENGOV  on our website is up-to-date and makes it possible for any citizens to review  our revenue or expenses. Go to www.cityofbeaufort.org and then to the Finance section and click on OPEN Gov and get the reports in any format necessary to get questions answered.


Ethics Reform

I just do not understand why our state legislature cannot pass ethics reform.  If you have been following the series of stories in the Post and Courier over the past month or so you may find it is amazing what some members of the general assembly do with the money they raise for their re-election campaigns. Some hire each other as political advisors; some buy gifts for constituents from family and friends; some pay their gas bills even though they are given mileage and per diem; some but tickets and pay for travel to athletic events and more. 

I have been thinking about whether the city of Beaufort should have an ethics package that covers elected officials and senior staff. I am not aware of any abuses but sometimes guidelines and reporting help keep people strait.  Any thoughts?  BK

Check out the study by The Post and Courier on ethics: 



Flooding on the Crosstown near Bogard Street slowed cars to a crawl on Monday morning. (Prentiss Findlay/The Post and Courier staff)
How Long Will This Last

I am not a climatologist, but I do know that our community and state suffered severe damage from what some call nuisance flooding. It nothing else, it is a wake up call to better maintain and, as funds become available, improve our stormwater management systems.  Over the past few years the City has invested considerably more than we have received in storm water fees to fix our systems, most of which are owned by but not maintained by the state DOT. And they are old. We will soon start the projects on Southside Boulevard and Allison Road. Others are in the capital budget plan but yet to be funded.

That said, if the rains continue, and the tides continue to rise as we have seen even before the flooding, we need to plan for the future.  As I have said before, I am proud that Beaufort is currently the only city in SC that has an all volunteer task force exploring options.  Currently they are making presentations to neighbhorhood assiciations and would like to come to yours if you're will help them organize a gathering of your neighbors.  Let us know. BK

Right before our eyes, but not often seen and appreciated 

Thank you Island Packet for the inside story about the incredible test Marine recruits must endure. BK 

Recruits with November Company 4th Battalion methodically make their way through a pine forest during the Crucible on Sept. 25, 2015 at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Delayna Earley dearley_islandpacket.com
Another Hidden Beaufort Jewel 

Thank you Island Packet for the lesson in the important research done at Waddell Mariculture Center. BK

In this file photo_ a 1-year-old cobia raised at the Waddell Mariculture Center is shown before it was released into the Colleton River. Staff photo  
An Opportunity to Help Others

The Salvation Army is in need of volunteers for the Christmas season. Please help them find volunteers. BK

Message from The Salvation Army:
We have been blessed by being able to add more locations where we are able to have kettles and "ring our bells." This poses a small problem as we need LOTS of volunteers!!! 
Please contact Gail Lawton at (832) 524-3727
Graduate Students from NYU Helping Beaufort 

While attending the Mayors Institute for City Design over the summer, I met the US Conference of Mayors Associate Director who is also a part-time faculty member at New York University. As we spoke about a number of things, he told me about a graduate program where candidates do a real time pro bono assignment for an outside institution as their final project.  I asked if Beaufort might be eligible and he put me in touch with the professor of tourism marketing.BK

A Proud Day for Logan McFee, Eagle Scout

There are few honors a young man can achieve that measure up to climbing the ladder to become an Eagle Scout. We should all be very proud of Logan McFee. BK


Events!
Penn Center's 33rd Annual Heritage Days
November 12-14
Calling all artists to submit artwork for billboards
READ MORE HERE
 
Remember & Honor the Fallen

Sponsor a Wreath 
National Wreaths Across America Day

Make checks payable to:
Wreaths Across America TM
P.O. Box 392
Port Royal, SC 29935

Contact:  Ron Voegeli  843.812.2796 or [email protected]






Get Ready for Founders' Night

The Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to host and present a family-friendly grand fireworks display for our community on New Year's Eve. Make plans now to include this as part of your annual tradition.  
 
Last year's event drew more than 3,000 people to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park to enjoy live entertainment, hot chocolate, refreshments and of course, fireworks!

Rising Sea Level Presentation in Your Neighborhood? 

Would you like the Rising Sea Level Task Force to bring a presentation to your neighborhood? 

The Beaufort/ Port Royal Sea Level Task Force will make a presentation to the residents of the Point and Old Commons neighborhoods.  Our Task Force has gathered scientific data from the SC Sea Grant Consortium, USC Integrated Sciences and Assessments program and other sources to help us understand the area's vulnerability to sea level rise and identify adaption strategies to increase our resilience to future impacts caused by sea level rise.  We want to share this information with you.

Please let us know you would like a presentation in your neighborhood. BK
Contact: Billy Keyserling / [email protected]
Mayor Billy | City of Beaufort, SC  | Email | Website
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