A winter storm that’s expected to bring bone-chilling temperatures and possibly snow to the Lowcountry has postponed a three-day planning retreat in Beaufort.
The city’s five elected council members and City Manager Scott Marshall and his staff had been scheduled to tackle some of the toughest issues facing the city of 14,000 on the Beaufort River from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday at the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, 711 Bladen St.
The retreat is held annually to set planning, building and spending priorities, Mayor Phil Cromer said. The sessions help the city come up with a game plan for the coming year, he said, and marching orders for city staff.
“I hope it’s a very open, robust free-flowing of ideas,” Cromer said.
But Marshall said later on Friday afternoon that the city had decided to postpone the retreat because of a looming storm.
The National Weather Service said Friday the storm will bring extreme cold to the region on Tuesday and Wednesday with lows in the lower 20s. Windchill values as low as 15 degrees are possible Wednesday, the Weather Service said.
While the chance of snow Tuesday night was listed at 70%, the amount of freezing precipitation the area may receive still was uncertain as of Friday afternoon.
A new date, time, and location for the retreat will be determined and communicated as soon as possible, the city said.
Prior to the decision to postpone the retreat, Cromer noted that the predicted snow and sleet might make transportation to the retreat meetings difficult for some — “even for me” — because South Carolina drivers don’t encounter ice- and snow-covered roads very often.
During the retreat — whenever it occurs — current and emerging capital needs across the growing city known for its historic neighborhoods will be a major discussion topic, including stormwater drainage systems, which are a continual challenge for a city susceptible to storms and flooding.
One goal of the retreat will be coming up with a list of priorities for capital projects, Cromer said.
One high-interest issue with the general public that will likely be discussed as well is the future of Waterfront Park, Cromer said.
Last April, the city learned that the concrete pilings that support the park and the seawall are in tough shape. Repairs or even replacement of that infrastructure, which lies below the water line, are necessary with the cost expected to be in the millions.
“I think on most people’s minds is, where are we headed with Waterfront Park?” Cromer said. “That’s a biggie.”
The City Council also will discuss revisions to the development code; hear from department heads and partners such as Dominion Energy and the Historic Beaufort Foundation; and issues that are important to individual council members.
Time will be set aside for public comment at the close of each day’s meeting, which also will be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page.
The retreat will be facilitated by Bill Stipp, a Phoenix-area-based public sector consultant who specializes in strategic planning.
You can find the full agenda at cityofbeaufort.org.
Residents of Beaufort, brace yourselves for a snowstorm that is about to put a freeze on the city’s 3-day planning huddle. The anticipated storm has forced city officials to rethink their strategy and prioritize safety above all else.
The planning huddle, which was set to address Beaufort’s hot-button issues, such as housing affordability, transportation, and environmental sustainability, will now be postponed until further notice. The city’s top priority is to ensure the safety of its residents and employees during the impending snowstorm.
Despite the setback, city officials are determined to reschedule the planning huddle as soon as possible and continue their work on addressing the pressing issues facing Beaufort. In the meantime, residents are encouraged to stay informed about weather updates and take necessary precautions to stay safe during the storm.
Stay tuned for more updates on the rescheduled planning huddle and how Beaufort plans to tackle its hot-button issues in the coming days. Stay safe, Beaufort! #BeaufortSnowstorm #PlanningHuddle #SafetyFirst.
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