Junk Removal in Hilton Head Island, SC

The U.S. 278 bridge project took one step forward Monday night, but a lack of resident input in the bridge review process could prompt future disagreements between the county and the town of Hilton Head.

The Beaufort County Council passed a memorandum of agreement, which will allow the county and town to form a committee to select a consultant for an independent review of the project. It also will preserve the town’s ability to give or refuse approval for the project contingent upon the results.

The memorandum will now go to the town of Hilton Head for consideration. The town is holding a special council meeting Tuesday.

If approved, the review committee would be composed of three Beaufort County representatives and three Hilton Head representatives, a change the town requested from the original three-two split.

However, the committee will not include someone representing the residents of Hilton Head, which S.C. senator Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, urged the county to consider on behalf of the town.

County Administrator Eric Greenway recommended keeping citizens out of the process in order to avoid delays, which is the county’s chief concern about the project.

“When the citizens get involved in this situation, we are going to be facing delays on selecting an independent consultant,” Greenway said. “So, I would recommend to the council that you allow the professional staff members that you have hired, both for the county and for Hilton Head Island, to select the appropriate consultant on this and trust that they will do that.”

The project, which aims to replace the bridge connecting Hilton Head Island to the rest of Beaufort County, is expected to cost $328 million, but is about $29 million short from being fully funded.

The county is responsible for starting the project by 2024 and finishing it four years later in 2028, because of an intergovernmental agreement signed with South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank. The county council also voiced concerns about increased costs as a result of delaying the project.

Tamara Becker, the representative for Ward 4 on the Hilton Head Town Council, voiced her displeasure about citizens not being included in the process to select a consultant.

“I find it amazing, the lack of respect given to 10,000 signatures of residents of this county who object to the manner in which you are performing your duties towards Hilton Head Island,” Becker said. “I’m asking for you to not only consider that the professionals are involved, but the people who live in the area that your bridge is going to impact mostly are involved.”

The town of Hilton Head will preserve municipal approval of the project, meaning that when the independent review is completed and the bridge’s design is finalized, the town can still decide whether it will back the project.

The U.S. 278 bridge project has had the county and town at odds for years with the main point of contention over how many bridges the highway needs. The town wants to see two three-lane bridges whereas the county insists that it must be one six-lane bridge.

Because the bridge will cross the intracoastal waterway and the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, there are federal guidelines that must be followed. As a result, two-thirds of the project’s design are “non-negotiable” according to County Council Chair Joe Passiment.

Last month, the county council’s public facilities committee voted to “narrow the scope” to get the project started. The current MOA is a modified version of the county’s final attempt to reach an agreement with the town over the issue, before starting work on the portion of the bridge that’s subject to the federal guidelines.

This story was originally published September 27, 2022 6:00 AM.

With Hurricane Ian’s track still uncertain, Beaufort County could see impacts of the storm as early as mid-week, according to the National Weather Service.

Starting Wednesday, high tides will increase the risk of coastal flooding in the area, Meteorologist Dwight Koehn said Monday. However, the greatest threat to Beaufort County will be moderate-to-heavy rainfall beginning Thursday evening and lasting through Friday. During that time, the county is expected to get from 5-7 inches of rain, however, he said to prepare for locally higher amounts.

Though it’s too soon to tell, the main concern is not the total amount of rainfall but how quickly it accumulates.

“It’s very, very tricky to figure out impact,” Meteorologist Ron Morales said during a Monday morning weather briefing.

Ian became a Category 1 hurricane Monday as it chugs through the Gulf of Mexico with Florida in its path. Once it hits landfall, the storm will begin to weaken but still could bring considerable rain and high winds as it makes its way across southern Georgia and South Carolina.

Preparations are already underway in Lowcountry towns and cities and Beaufort County.

Beaufort’s Public Works Department is inspecting generators at city buildings and filling sandbags and checking pumps, pond levels and major outfalls and tidal gates, said Kathleen Williams, a city spokesperson. It’s also inspecting drainage ditches, culverts and catch basins.

Port Royal also is doing what it can to prepare, Town Manager Van Willis said Monday, including clearing drainage boxes and removing drainage impediments. Boards also may be pulled in drainage ponds, Willis said, to increase outflow and capacity.

Heavy rainfall will likely end Saturday night, but a few showers may linger through Sunday, wrote severe weather liaison Frank Strait in a Monday news release.

Alongside heavy rainfall, gusty-to-tropical storm force winds are expected to rattle the county Wednesday night through Friday, with the highest gusts over coastal waters and the immediate coast. Winds are expected to whip around 20-25 mph, with gusts in the upper 30s. Strait noted “Saturday may also bring isolated gusts over 40 mph to much of the state.”

As of Monday, there was a less than 5% chance for hurricane force winds through Saturday, Morales said.

Isolated tornadoes and waterspouts are possible late Thursday and into Saturday. While Koehn said damage from the currently predicted winds could be “significant,” it’s not likely to cause “extreme damage.”

When Tropical Storm Elsa crossed Beaufort County in July 2021, thousands of people were without power and it spawned what was believed to be a tornado that roared through Port Royal and knocked down trees and power poles, damaged 40 buildings and caused a “wall of water” that hammered the waterfront. Back then, some rain gauges in the Mossy Oaks neighborhood recorded more than 7 inches of rain. When Elsa moved north of Beaufort County, the storm had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

In Hurricane Ian’s wake, winds coming in from the northeast have the potential to increase tides, which can cause high surf and dangerous rip currents. Tides could reach moderate-to major coastal flooding levels Thursday and possibly Friday, according to NWS predictions Monday.

Beach erosion is another concern, one that Morales said is particularly important because eroding-away dunes means less protection from increasing tide levels.

“Much of what South Carolina experiences will depend on where and when Hurricane Ian does makes landfall,” South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson said.

On Monday morning, Hurricane Ian was deemed a Category 1 storm and was headed northwest at 13 mph toward Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center. The 11 a.m. Monday update showed Ian had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was expected to rapidly strengthen.

Forecasters expected Hurricane Ian to hit Cuba as a Category 3 later Monday or early Tuesday, the Miami Herald reported.

Derrec Becker, SCMED spokesman, reiterated that until Ian’s track and landfall impact are known, it’s hard to say what kind of residual hit Beaufort County will take.

“Some tracks have it moving across Florida into the (Atlantic) ocean, which is the worst case scenario for us,” Becker said. “Some have it going into the (Florida) panhandle or into lower Alabama, which unfortunately for Alabama would be the best case for South Carolina.”

Despite the unknowns for the Lowcountry, meteorologists urged people to prepare. But Koehn’s first step is easy: “Don’t panic,” he said.

High winds means anything outdoors that could blow over needs to be brought inside. People who live in low-lying areas should consider purchasing sand bags to avoid yard flooding. And while is may be tempting to try drive through flooded areas, the National Weather Service always reminds people to “turn around — don’t drown.”

As of Monday, storm impacts in the Lowcountry are predicted to continue through Saturday morning.

Beaufort County will coordinate decisions related to evacuations, shelters, etc., if that becomes necessary, Beaufort’s Williams said. Check the county’s Storm Center page at https://bcso.net/storm-center/.

Maj. Angela Viens, a spokesperson for Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, said the office has regular briefings with the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center.

“As it stands right now,” Viens said, “we are monitoring the storm.”

This story was originally published September 26, 2022 1:22 PM.

For Savannah Morning News

If you’re a local living in Coastal Georgia or South Carolina Lowcountry, when Hilton Head Island comes to mind, likely you think of retired snowbirds, beach lounging, cocktails, fine dining, and of course, golf.

Lots of golf.

Chances are nature and outdoor adventuring aren’t among the first things you inherently associate with the popular island getaway. But outdoor adventures abound on the island, nearby as well — it’s just a matter of knowing where to find them.

Recent one tank trip:Put 'sibling rivalries' to bed — there's a variety of fun to have in Charleston

Other trip ideas:Augusta Canal provides amazing views, camping and kayaking. Just not in summer.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa offers a couple of unique room packages perfect for locals looking for an early or mid-week break from the nine-to-five grind.

One package includes an alligator wildlife voyage to Sea Pines Forest Preserve with boat captain and naturalist, Anthony Savarese. You’ll take an hour-long narrated tour through the preserve’s lakes and canals, learning about Hilton Head’s natural history as well as getting ample opportunity to see alligators and a range of coastal bird species.

You’ll also get acquainted with the preserve’s walking trails. Be sure to bring binoculars, a field guide or two and pack a picnic lunch because you can easily spend the better part of a day exploring the swamps and pine-shaded paths after the boat tour.

One tank trip:Share an apple with a donkey on the prehistoric grounds of Stallings Island

And if you’ve always wanted to ride a horse on the beach, the Westin has a great partnership with private island community, Haig Point, where you can hop on a ferry, and after a 40-minute boat ride, arrive at Daufuskie Island. There, you just might meet the steed of your dreams.

Twice a day, six days a week, the staff at Daufuskie Trail Rides leads groups of no more than five people to experience the mostly untouched beaches of the island. It’s a lot like summer camp but better because you’ll always be in a small group, easily able to speak to the riders around you, and the pine and palmetto-lined trails lead to some of the most pristine coastline you may ever see.

The only way on or off Daufuskie Island is by boat or helicopter. And so, on a bright, cooler than usual mid-August morning, I arrived at the Haig Point ferry dock to embark on the first leg of my equestrian adventure. But an emergency medical evacuation a few hours earlier had left the regular ferry schedule more than an hour behind.

Not a problem for me and the family I was joining on the day’s horseback ride but a major inconvenience for the collection of 70 women also assembled on the dock scheduled to compete in a golf tournament on Daufuskie.

90 minutes and two boats later, our horse riding crew finally hopped on a ferry along with a slew of workers also headed out. Among them I noted construction guys, a couple school employees, and a chef with a clutch of knives. All of them, like us, now running two hours behind.

But it occurred to me that when it’s all going smoothly, a 40-minute ferry commute is a pretty humane way to start the workday. As we pulled away, an osprey floated in the warming sunlight as a wedge of egrets flew above the pines along the shore. Easing through the No Wake zone, I glimpsed some of the construction workers tucking their chins, arms folded to catch a few extra moments of shuteye. Meanwhile, as we glided forward, dolphins intermittently jumped alongside us.

Once we arrived on Daufuskie, we were quickly ushered into an air-conditioned shuttle and taken about three miles to the horse barn. There, our guides and horses were patiently waiting, and soon enough we were atop them and venturing through the maritime forest.

I was riding with a family of four. The mother, who that day was celebrating her 51st birthday, had recently taken up riding near their home in New Jersey. Her two sons and niece who’d agreed to join, had never ridden before, and it was a treat to watch them quickly gain confidence directing their mounts. By ride’s end the newbie trio had no problem stopping their horses from eating grass along the path and urging them forward.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t ride on the sand because March 15 to October 15 is considered high season with many people wanting to ride, and this time span also overlaps in part with sea turtle nesting season.

So, locals take note: If you want to ride on the beach, book it between October 16 and March 14.

But we got close enough to take in some grand ocean views, and as we rode along, a volunteer turtle patrol happened to find a newly hatched clutch of 12 little loggerheads. They placed them in a bucket for us to have a look before releasing the cute critters into the Atlantic.

Back at the Westin, I snagged a quick nap then headed to View 32, the resort’s outdoor restaurant overlooking the pool and surrounded by levels of wooden terraces appointed with small tables, chaise lounges, umbrellas and covered nooks for two.

The light evening breeze made everything especially lovely. And I was happy to see on the menu a Beyond Meat burger, that, along with salad and small plate of eggplant hummus and pimento cheese dip made for a filling yet light enough dinner to cap off a perfect day of outdoor adventure on Hilton Head Island.

The National Weather Service issued storm surge and tropical storm watches Tuesday for Beaufort County as Hurricane Ian’s track has taken a shift eastward.

“It puts it closer to the water on the Atlantic side, which is more troubling for us, particularly for maybe some stronger winds ... and some higher storm surge,” said Ron Morales, meteorologist with National Weather Service’s Charleston office.

A storm surge watch means life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coastline has the possibility to hit the area within the next 48 hours, according to the NWS. Peak storm inundation has the potential for 2-4 feet above ground somewhere within surge prone areas. The window of concern begins Wednesday.

Storm surge is what officials use when determining who to evacuate. By NOAA

A tropical storm watch indicates that tropical storm-force winds are possible in the area within the next 48 hours. The peak wind forecast is 35-45 mph with gusts to 55 mph, and the most likely time for tropical storm-force winds is early Friday morning through Saturday morning.

While Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday, “a lot of uncertainty on (the storm’s) impact” on South Carolina remains, Morales said, adding that it’s “hard to pin down direct threats and timing.”

Currently, the storm is classified as a Category 3 hurricane. Ian is moving north at 10 mph with 120 mph winds, and is about 255 miles south of Sarasota, Florida, NWS officials said Tuesday afternoon.

“As it gets up into our area, where is it going to go?” Morales posed. “Is it going to slow down again or is it going to eject out? All of that matters with how much rainfall we’re going to get.”

It’s possible Ian could cross Florida into the Atlantic before turning north and directly impacting the coast, said John Quagliariello, meteorologist with National Weather Service’s Columbia office, during a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

“Whenever the tropical system is out over warmer waters, it has potential to at least maintain intensity or maybe even strengthen a little bit,” he said. “So that’s why we want to closely monitor for if it does make it into the Atlantic.”

But Quagliariello said it’s still too early to have those answers, and despite knowing whether the storm will stay inland or move out into the ocean, the impacts are “generally going to be the same.”

Even with the ever-evolving storm track, the anticipated impact for Beaufort County still held Tuesday afternoon that heavy rainfall will be the primary threat to the area. NWS Charleston meteorologist Neil Dixon said Tuesday morning the most likely scenario “is going to have pretty heavy” effects on Beaufort.

On Tuesday, the National Weather Service’s alerts said 4-8 inches of rain is predicted to inundate the county, with some locally higher amounts. Most areas in Beaufort County will see 6 inches of rainfall, Dixon noted, with the culmination having the biggest impact on Friday.

Starting Wednesday, weather in the Lowcountry will begin to deteriorate, likely causing minor coastal flooding during the high tides, Dixon said. Thursday will be noticeably windy and gusty, and breakers could climb as high as 5 feet. Coinciding with high tide, those breakers could make their way up to or beyond dunes.

Tide predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show Wednesday morning’s high tide at about 8.8 feet and the evening’s around 8 feet. Thursday morning’s high tide is predicted to be nearly 9 feet.

Heavy rainfall is expected to begin as early as Thursday evening and follow into Friday, with peak amounts falling that evening.

On Friday, Hurricane Ian’s effect on Beaufort County will “add up,” Dixon said. The most likely scenario for the county pose what he called a “handful of hazards” that could have a “pretty significant impact.” Beginning Friday and into Saturday morning, there’s a window for possible tornadoes.

Expected tropical storm-force wind gusts combined with rainfall is likely to down trees and power lines. High winds can damage porches, awnings, carports, sheds, and unanchored mobile homes, according to NWS. Some roads may be impassable due to debris, and for high-profile vehicles, there could be hazardous driving conditions on bridges and other elevated roadways.

The high surf on beaches could lead to potentially “significant” erosion, Dixon said. Beach erosion is of particular concern as the dune system is a first-line defense to rising tides.

“If it was just one high-tide cycle, then that’s a much shorter window of ... the waves washing up and over and around the dunes, but we’re going have three,” he said. “That’s going to lead to greater and greater period of erosion.”

Storm surge impacts can cause minor to moderate damage to marinas, docks, boardwalks, piers and some small crafts can be broken away from moorings, the service said.

The potential impact of flooding could be significant, with moderate rainfall flooding prompting rescues. Rivers and tributaries could become swollen with swifter currents and overspill their banks in a few places, according to NWS. Small streams, creeks, canals and ditches could overflow.

Dixon said NWS Charleston is working with the National Hurricane Center and the Weather Prediction Center to gauge the impact Hurricane Ian could have on the Lowcountry.

“There’s ways for the storm to look worse for our area and also better, but right now we’re mainly concentrating on what’s most likely at this point and then adjust from there,” he said.

At some point Saturday, when cold front comes through the county, constant rain will let up and will become scattered showers and thunderstorms.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Gov. Henry McMaster assured that South Carolina is “fully prepared for whatever comes.”

“We know that we’re going to experience some rough weather, and we’ll be making announcements as necessary,” the governor said, adding that he didn’t think it was time to declare a State of Emergency.

Evacuation and road closure plans have not been activated, according to McMaster. Nanette Edwards, the Office of Regulatory Staff’s executive director, said sporadic power outages are anticipated. She added that fuel supplies are in good shape.

In the meantime, while officials get a firmer grasp on Ian’s track, the governor encouraged residents to go about their daily lives but also prepare for the worst.

“If you live in a low-lying area or a coastal area, you definitely need to have a plan,” said Kim Stenson, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director.

Stenson urged residents to do the following:

This story was originally published September 27, 2022 12:49 PM.

Hilton Head has taken another step toward addressing its affordable housing needs by becoming the third Lowcountry municipality to join a regional housing trust fund.

The unanimous approval by the Town Council on Tuesday marked a turning point for a group previously hesitant to participate in the regional fund. Why, some asked, should Hilton Head’s funds go toward housing projects as far outside town limits as the Town of Beaufort or into Jasper County?

“Hilton Head Island is perceived as being the wealthier community (in the region), so we should be able to take care of ourselves on housing,” Ward 6 Councilman Glenn Stanford told the Island Packet after the meeting. “But they’d still want us to make contributions to the region trust fund. That created some concerns for me that we wouldn’t get the benefit of that.”

Stanford said his mindset changed, though, when he reviewed a 2018 assessment of the island’s housing needs. According to the study, there were about 26,000 jobs on Hilton Head in 2016. Of those, 38% were held by island residents; the remaining 62% of employees commuted from surrounding areas.

That number convinced Stanford that, even though Hilton Head might not benefit locally from the fund as much as other towns, it will still be an economic boon for the island.

“While sure I’d love to see us get a share of the funds, and we may indeed do that as we move forward, we would benefit from having workforce housing provided to the workers coming to Hilton Head Island,” Stanford said.

Ward 5 Councilman Tom Lennox said he came to the same conclusion.

“I don’t think there’s any question about it,” Lennox said. “The employees coming across the bridge to work on Hilton Head Island will live in [a] development, in part, funded by the regional housing trust fund on the mainland. ... To the extent that we can participate in an effort to create affordable housing on the mainland, I think we are enhancing our businesses’ ability to attract a qualified workforce.”

Urgency to provide affordable housing for islanders in need was heightened in August after the near-eviciton of around 300 residents at Chimney Cove, one of the few remaining affordable housing options on the island.

Hilton Head follows the towns of Hardeeville and Yemassee in approving the trust. Other partners expected to join include Beaufort and Jasper counties, and the towns of Beaufort and Port Royal.

Lennox said the trust fund would be an almost unprecedented cooperation between local governments in the U.S.

“This is the first regional housing trust fund that we have found outside of the state of Washington,” Lennox said.

The initiative was originally pushed by the Southern Lowcountry Regional Board, or SoLoCo, Lennox said. The trust aims to build housing priced for families or individuals whose yearly earnings are near or below the area median incomes for the various municipalities. Priority will be given to projects serving 60% or below the AMI.

Lennox said the money can be used in various ways as long as it’s paid toward affordable housing, from providing extra funding a municipality might need to complete a subsidized project, paying for a private-public partnership, or assisting tenants with down payments if the project is meant to be owned instead of rented.

In the initial year, members will contribute 3% of their American Rescue Plan funding, according to trust documents. For Hilton Head, that would be $156,815.

After the first year, members will contribute based on their population. That first contribution will then increase 3% each year — for example, Hilton Head is projected to pay $86,559 in Year 2, and $89,206 in Year 3, based on its population.

Hilton Head is projected to be the second-highest contributor of funding behind Beaufort County in the initial 10-year term of the trust.

Members are given flexibility in how to fund their contribution, with options including but not limited to donations, bonds, state or federal grants, and state or federal loans.

Participation in the trust is optional.

Lennox said Hilton Head has yet to decide precisely how to fund its contributions, but the town is examining its options.

Projects that receive funding will be decided on by a board comprised of a representative from each of the participating municipalities, each representing a single vote.

Stanford said the town is also still pursuing other housing solutions on the island.

“I believe that we will develop our own local housing trust, because we see the crying need for workforce housing here,” Stanford said. “It’s in the idea stage right now I would say, but I’m confident that my colleagues on the council would support that.”

Because Hilton Head Island’s area median income is significantly higher than surrounding communities in Beaufort and Jasper counties, local solutions will have to take a different tact to determining who is eligible for the housing and keeping the shelter affordable, Lennox said.

“The good news is that the AMI for Hilton Head is $96,000, and the bad news is the AMI is $96,000,” Lennox said. “If you take a look at what 60% of our AMI is, it’s almost $60,000. And $60,000 doesn’t touch a lot of the people that are working on the island.”

According to the 2018 housing assessment, the two fastest-growing economic groups on the island are people making under $25,000 and over $150,000.

The town is also experimenting with public-private partnerships to provide affordable housing, which if successful, could serve as a repeat model for local developments in the future, Stanford said. The results of the current project near the North End post office will be key to determining whether similar arrangements could work for Hilton Head.

Private entities are moving to address housing need as well, Lennox said. Sea Pines resort recently finished construction on housing for its employees in need, and one island businessman spent $3 million to provide affordable homes for his own employees.

Hilton Head Town Manager Marc Orlando said with a comprehensive outline for a housing strategy due to the council by Nov. 1, councilors should have more clarity on policies geared to address Hilton Head’s specific needs, with land at a premium and construction more limited than mainland municipalities.

Until then, town leaders agree a united approach to the regional housing issue is needed. Orlando said at the regional level, the collaboration has also led to examination of transport issues and solutions that pair with housing needs.

Stanford said as the Lowcountry continues to grow, these cooperative efforts will pay off for future issues as well.

“I think long term into the future, the distinctions between some of these communities are going to be blurred,” he said. “We are going to have more of the same problems. Because we’re seeing the same problems, we ought to be talking to each other and working with each other to solve those problems.”

This story was originally published September 23, 2022 4:46 PM.