Beaufort County Council approves design‑build team to start designs for two community centers, promises community input

Beaufort County Council voted Nov. 12 to hire a design‑build team to begin planning work on two community centers — Agnes Major and Wesley Felix — and directed staff to use ARPA funds to initiate the design process.

The vote followed public comment from St. Helena Island residents who urged fuller community engagement. “If we're going to build anything on St. Helena Island, we need to have the community to say something about it,” said Carrie Major during the citizens' comments, arguing the planned footprint could be too small and asking for computer access, educational spaces and phased expansion.

County staff and council members described the contract as a first step designed to preserve ARPA funding and launch an intentional design process that will include public input. Project staff explained the work was bid as a single project to reduce mobilization costs and that hiring the team is primarily to “design a portion” now and leave room to expand later if funding allows. Staff noted conceptual construction cost estimates in the backup ranged near $1.2 million for Agnes Major and about $1.3 million for Wesley Felix.

Residents also pressed procurement questions. “What was the basis of them obtaining such an enormous contract? Was it a small business or a Black‑owned business?” asked Linda Green, who said she wanted transparency on whether the contractor is local and how taxpayer dollars will be spent. Council members responded that the selected firm is local to the Lowcountry region and that ARPA (federal) funds — not only local tax dollars — are being used for these contracts.

Council members who represent St. Helena expressed support for proceeding with design while committing to community engagement. One council member summarized the approach: hiring the firm now protects the ARPA funds but does not finalize a building’s program or footprint; the design phase is to be used to solicit and incorporate community input, and any larger build or phases would require future funding decisions.

The motion to approve the contract and begin design work for both sites passed without objection. Staff said community engagement sessions would follow after contract award and that future council action would be required to approve construction or expanded scope.

What happens next: the county will sign the design‑build contract to secure available ARPA funding, initiate the design and planning process and conduct community outreach to refine size, programs and phasing. Any additional construction funding or scope increases will require subsequent council approvals.