Lowcountry Lowdown: Rain, Politics, and A Boatload Of Problems In Beaufort
Beaufort, SC, we’ve got a couple of treats up our sleeve today – a surprise summer squall and local politics heating up. So, sit back, enjoy the pitter-patter of the rain against your window and let’s dive right into it!
Tropical Storm Debby Drenches Lowcountry
We’ve got ourselves wrapped up in some serious rain gear, folks, with Tropical Storm Debby deciding to swing by and pour down her waterworks on us. The forecast says she’ll be dropping a couple of feet (18 to 24 inches, to be exact) on the Lowcountry. So, if you’re one of those folks who jokingly say you need to build an ark every time it rains, you just might want to seriously consider it this time around.
Now, Beaufort City has been hustling to improve that ancient stormwater system of ours, but with Debby coming in hot and heavy, things aren’t looking too promising. A report by Davis and Floyd from 2022 identified a mind-boggling 28 projects and a whopping $28.3 million needed to fix this age-old problem.
Adding to the drama, plans for a fancy new pump station in the Point neighborhood have been put on the back burner, and quite a few folks are breathing a sigh of relief. Why, you ask? Well, who in their right mind would want a massive, 20-foot concrete structure popping up in the middle of a picturesque city park? Kudos to our community activists for switching the city council’s focus to improving existing stormwater pipelines and drains first.
And guess what? Plans are underway for a new drainage system at Charles/Craven Street project, without the controversial pump stations. Despite a small turnout at the public meeting, the online video has seen a massive amount of views, proving once again that we Beaufortonians care about what happens to our city.
Political Insider: Scallate for Mayor?
Now, who doesn’t love a bit of political drama? Especially when the issues at hand are as pressing as rising sea levels, problems at the waterfront park, and a string of court cases over construction projects.
With the filing deadlines looming, Mayor Phil Cromer along with Council members Neil Lipsitz and Mitch Mitchell have signed up to run for another four-year term. New faces on the political scene are Josh Gibson and Julie Crenshaw.
The real question though is whether Councilman Josh Scallate will be gunning for the Mayor’s seat. And, get this – there’s even talk of former Mayor Billy Keyserling swinging back into action! But hey, all that’s just talk until official announcements roll in. So let’s just sit tight and wait until Aug. 15 to see who’s brave enough to step up to the plate.
All in all, we live in exciting times, folks. Now, run off and grab some homemade cookies and a hot cocoa. Beaufort, settle in and enjoy the sounds of the tropical rain outside your window, knowing that we’re in this together, come rain or shine.
