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County staff outline fee restructure timeline, design-manual edits, buyout planning and dashboard for stormwater projects
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Summary
Beaufort County stormwater staff told the board they expect a fee restructure implemented before the 2027 tax run, a revised design manual draft in May, several imminent capital and maintenance projects and a public dashboard to track work and outreach.
Beaufort County stormwater staff delivered a broad operations update at the April 8 meeting, covering an in-depth fee study, regional design-manual edits, ongoing capital projects, an emerging buyout program and a new public dashboard.
On the fee study, staff said Wolpert is conducting the analysis and that the new fee structure is planned "prior to tax run of 2027." Staff emphasized thoroughness: additional departmental analysis is underway to ensure the restructure addresses service-level needs before implementation.
Staff said a revised Silocco design manual draft will be ready by May for review and eventual submittal to county council for regional adoption. The utility is also moving forward on several projects: Bay Pines crossline-pipe upsizing (easements secured; bids due April 14), Shellpoint maintenance and outreach, and Rivers End (contract awarded to Gulfstream Construction Company). The Okeetee River Park pond-dam design is advancing; staff expect stamped plans within three to six months before moving to construction.
For Royal Pines, staff said they are framing a buyout program for repeatedly inundated private properties and intend to bring the program outline to the next board meeting for input and council coordination. Staff described different buyout-management approaches used elsewhere (return-to-nature versus managed mini-parks) and said specific program requirements will be developed before seeking council approval.
Staff also previewed a dashboard prototype that will list major and maintenance projects, show project phases, include photos and community meeting documents, and provide maintenance metrics (linear feet of ditch cleaned, culverts jetted, etc.). The dashboard is an example now; staff plan to go live later this summer and will solicit board and partner feedback.
Other operational items: staff noted the Clemson Extension Carolina Clear contract expires in June and the county will transition relevant outreach under a newly staffed position (Valentina) starting July 1; the county has posted a GIS stormwater specialist position and received 12 applications as of March 30.
What happens next: staff will finalize materials for municipal partners, continue the Wolpert fee analysis, circulate Silocco manual edits to the technical subcommittee and schedule community meetings for AllJoy and other priority areas.
