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amazing demos, free libations, fabulous door prizes
JULY 18 - 24, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Mossy Oaks flood plan unveiled at community meeting
Pete Goddey describes how his First Blvd. home was inundated with rain water during the storm on Friday, July 5. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
By Mindy Lucas Judy Teas remembers Oct. 8, 2016 well. Not only was it the day Hurricane Matthew blew through Beaufort, it was the day water came gushing into her Mossy Oaks home. “I had 8 inches in my house, and my neighbor had 18 inches,” she said, shaking her head. After Matthew, Teas moved out of her childhood home of
more than 50 years while repairs were made. She stayed out for nearly a year. It’s a hardship many of Teas’ neighbors in the community east of Battery Creek have become all too familiar with as hurricanes, rising sea levels and major rain events like the one that hit the area on July 5 have made problems with low lying areas around Beau-
fort, already prone to flooding, even worse. On Wednesday, July 10, Teas joined about 50 other mostly Mossy Oaks residents at Beaufort’s town hall for an update on the city’s flood plan. Headed by Neal Pugliese, members of the Mossy Oaks Drainage Task Force took residents through a slide presentation outlining the “9+
Challenged Areas” that need to be addressed. Mossy Oaks topped the list. “We’ve got the money to go ahead and get this done, we just have to go through the administrative steps now,” said Pugliese. While the projected cost for the city’s flooding projects
SEE FLOOD PAGE A2
OFF TO A GREAT START
Boy Scouts with Den 1 and Den 272, Troop 251 and 1712 all give the proper hand salute during the Posting of the Colors during the opening ceremonies for the 64th annual Beaufort Water Festival on Friday, July 12 at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Photo by Bob Sofaly. See pages A6-7 for more 2019 Beaufort Water Festival photos.
Beaufort County officials: Creation of County Council ‘Transparency Task Force’ not in compliance with law
By Mindy Lucas A task force formed by members of Beaufort County Council to study and recommend transparency procedures was not in compliance with state laws governing open meetings, county officials have said. County Administrator Ashley Jacobs said she and members of the county’s legal team were advised by Beau-
fort County Assistant Attorney Christopher Inglese in an email that the newly created subcommittee was not properly formed and “wholly violative” of state FOIA laws, or laws that relate to the Freedom of Information Act. Inglese advised the group after he and county council members received an earlier email from Council Chairman Stu Rodman announcing the
creation of the task force. In the email to Jacobs, Inglese referenced South Carolina’s Code of Laws, Section 30-4-60, which governs open meetings. He also stated that any communication by council members announcing the formation of such a subcommittee amounted to a meeting and as such would need to follow proper procedures if council members wished to form
the task force, Jacobs said. The formation of the task force was also announced in a press release sent to members of the media by Councilman Mike Covert’s office on the same day, Tuesday, July 9. The release stated that Covert, who is running for South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, was appointed by Rodman to serve as chairman of the “Communications and
Transparency Task Force.” Also serving on the task force are council members Gerald Dawson, Chris Hervochon, York Glover Sr. and Mark Lawson, the release stated. Jacobs forwarded Inglese’s email to council members on Thursday, July 11, informing them of the violation. As the county’s top executive, Jacobs said it is her job to advise council members and make
recommendations. “But it is up to them to follow that guidance and follow the law,” she said. “I imagine that what they’ll do is add it to the agenda for the next council meeting as a discussion item.” Contacted about the misstep, Rodman said he plans to follow the advice of the county
SEE FORCE PAGE A2 We are. Accreditation
A MARCH IN PROTEST
VICTORIOUS
INSIDE
League of Women Voters, Indivisible Beaufort march coincides with opening of Water Festival.
Beaufort County teams dominate at JTT state tourney.
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Water Festival A6-7 Sports A8 Food A9 Voices A10 Directory A11 Around Town A12
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