Update from Town Manager 10/28/2020

shipyard office0 Comments

An Update from Town Manager Steve Riley 10/28/2020

View the Video Update at https://youtu.be/brfuaoYJPyY

Here’s an update of what’s happening around Town.

Parking Master Plan Highlights
Walker Consultants, the firm we hired to conduct a study of our parking issues at our beach and community parks, shared a host of recommendations and possible actions with Town Council during its workshop on Tuesday.

Among the recommendations Walker Consultants suggested are:

  • Fee to park.
  • Resident beach access pass.
  • Coligny area on-street parking.
  • Implementation of a pay-by-cell program.
  • Resident parking district.
  • License plate permit credentials.
  • Consistent parking enforcement.
  • Municipal parking citation program.
  • Third party management for a parking system.
  • Wayfinding and guidance.

At this stage, these are just recommendations offered. These recommendations as well as others have been deferred to the Town Council’s Public Planning Committee for further review and discussion.

We have created a page on our website that contains the parking master plan report and a video recording of the workshop. You can access this page at https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/projects/parkingstudy/ or visit our home page and click on the related topic under the Major Initiatives section. If you have thoughts on the information presented, please share them with your Town Council representative.

In-Person Absentee Voting – Now through Monday, November 2
Next week on November 3rd, we will be headed to the polls to vote on national, state and local leaders. There are few more days left for citizens to take advantage of in-person absentee. Through the rest of week, you can vote from 9 am to 4 pm at the Beaufort County satellite election office at 539 William Hilton Parkway, located directly across the highway from the First Presbyterian Church and Hilton Head Fire Station #3. The office will be open from 9 am to 1 pm this Saturday, October 31. The last day for in-person absentee voting is Monday, November 2, from 9 am to 5 pm On November 3rd – Election Day – you will head to your normal voting precincts. We encourage you to check your voter registration cards so you are aware of your precinct.

Protect Yourself and Others on Election Day Using CDC Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put together a list of guidelines that voters can use to help limit the spread of COVID-19 while voting or while in the voting precincts. Election officials are taking precautions to help keep you and poll workers safe. You can take steps too. Here are suggestions from the CDC:

  • Wash your hands before entering and after leaving the polling location.
  • While in the polling location, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol frequently, especially after touching surfaces frequently touched by multiple people, such as door handles or voting machines.
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in lined trash cans. Wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Wear a mask. Children under 2 and anyone who has trouble breathing, is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance should not wear a mask.
  • Maintain at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) of distance from others.
  • Do not disinfect or wipe down the voting equipment yourself. Electronic voting equipment can be damaged by cleaners and disinfectants. If you use hand sanitizer before touching the voting equipment, ensure your hands are completely dry to avoid damaging the equipment. Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer after using the voting equipment.
  • Check your voting location and requirements in advance because they may have changed due to COVID-19.
  • Verify your voter registration information is correct in advance of reporting to the polling location.
  • Contact your local or state election office external icon for additional information for voters with disabilities.
  • Make sure you have all necessary documents to avoid delays at the polling location.
  • Where possible, review or complete a sample ballot at home to speed the process of casting your ballot at the polling location.
  • Bring your own black ink pen.
  • Bring a stylus or similar object for use with touchscreen voting machines. Check with poll workers before using.

ArborNature Transfer Station Feedback; Comments Still Being Accepted
SC DHEC extends its thanks to everyone that participated in the October 22 public hearing to accept comments on the proposed ArborNature Transfer Station in Beaufort County. DHEC’s webpage (www.scdhec.gov/ArborNature) has been updated to provide a recording of the public hearing teleconference in its entirety, as well as a link to a public hearing feedback survey (https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=iMQmMzN-G0KPWQmjnCa7qjpUGoJZhnJBjYg1Vxenp_RUMFY1UzdHOVNRSDk2SE8yOVBEMks2OTVBNiQlQCN0PWcu).

You’re encouraged to share your thoughts and suggestions about the public hearing teleconference and how SC DHEC can improve the way it communicates and share information with you. Please take a moment to complete this survey within the next couple of days. All answers are anonymous. Written transcripts of the public meetings held on September 10 and 24, 2020, and the public hearing held on October 22, 2020, will be posted on the webpage as they become available.
Also, written comments about the ArborNature matter may be submitted through November 5, 2020. All comments received during the public comment period will be considered before a final permit decision is made. Written comments on the draft permit may be submitted by email or US Mail to Justin Koon, SC DHEC-BLWM, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or koonjt@dhec.sc.gov.

National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month
Mayor McCann recently issued a proclamation declaring October has National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month and encouraging all residents to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. If you have unused or potentially dangerous medications that you need to get rid of, you can drop them off in the prescription drug drop-off box at the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, 70 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

COVID-19 Updates
Free COVID-19 drive-thru testing is available 8 am to noon, Monday thru Friday at Hilton Head Hospital, 25 Hospital Center Blvd. No appointment or doctor’s order is needed.

Recent data on COVID-19 cases in our community can be found at www.scdhec.gov or on our COVID-19 hub page at www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/COVID19.

The top three ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus is to wear a face covering, physically distance yourself from others, and wash your hands regularly.

Stay informed:
Website – https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov
Twitter – http://twitter.com/TownofHHI
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/TownofHiltonHeadIslandSC
Facebook (Public Meetings) – https://www.facebook.com/townofhiltonheadislandmeetings
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/TownofHiltonHeadIslandSC

For more information visit
https://hiltonheadislandsc.gov/publicsafety/coronavirus/