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|  Town Administrator's E-Brief
From Town Administrator, Eric DeMoura Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina |
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Dear Mount Pleasant residents and business owners,
Last month Mayor Page and Town Council unveiled their plan for a Growth Management Framework for Mount Pleasant. Since that time we have been busy meeting with residents, business owners and industry professionals to discuss the details of this framework. We have also been collecting feedback online through our website. The response from our community members has been tremendous and we hope that this level of engagement continues as we move forward with plans to protect the quality of life in Mount Pleasant. The timing of our discussions about balanced growth is appropriate as we are continuing with our annual budget process. Every year through this process, we study the anticipated growth and change in demand in the community. One of our goals with each annual budget is to maintain the current level of services provided by allocating sufficient funding based on demand. We are proud to have achieved this goal with the proposed Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Budget, which was given first reading at the April Town Council meeting. Included in this budget is final funding for the construction of the new Fire Station 6 in Carolina Park and additional firefighters needed to staff it. The budget also includes funding for improvements to recreational facilities and a new sanitation crew to meet the increase in demand for service. Learn more about how the Town of Mount Pleasant's Sanitation Division protects our community and promotes public health in the section below. Preserving the quality of life here in Mount Pleasant is paramount in any discussion on balancing growth. Every community member can agree on this notion. What we need to explore further is how the decisions that are made today impact not only the present quality of life, but also that of the future. This is why we need to hear from each of you. I encourage you to attend a public meeting, submit your comments online, or arrange a community roundtable meeting. No matter the way you choose to participate, I hope that you will share your thoughts with us. Finally, don't forget to attend the 28th Annual Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival presented by East Cooper Medical Center and Harris Teeter. This event features our local shrimping and fishing fleet, live music, food vendors, arts and crafts, and more. Please join us in celebrating the local seafood industry as an integral part of our local economy and culture. Best Regards,
Eric DeMoura, Mount Pleasant Town Administrator
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April 26: Blessing of the Fleet April 28: Special Planning Commission Meeting May 4: Committees of Council meetings May 12: Town Council Meeting May 16: Reading Patrol @ Barnes & Noble
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MOUNT PLEASANT
FARMERS MARKET
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April 7 - September 29
Tuesdays
3:30 until 7:00 p.m.
Farmers Market Pavilion on Coleman Boulevard (Moultrie Middle School)
The Mount Pleasant Farmers Market is where our community meets to share in the vibrant
array of locally grown and SC Certified produce and flowers. Stroll through the market to find a bounty of just-picked vegetables and fruits, stunning and fragrant flowers and local seafood plus fresh-cooked meals, baked and canned goods and locally produced snacks. Join us every Tuesday from April to September starting at 3:30 p.m. to mingle with neighbors and visitors alike while enjoying live music and family-friendly activities. Free parking.
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Sunday, April 26
Memorial Waterfront Park
11:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
The 28th Annual Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival presented by
East Cooper Medical Center and
Harris Teeter is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year! The festival pays tribute to Mount Pleasant's local shrimping and fishing industry, offering a boat parade, live music, craft show and lots of free activities with the picturesque Ravenel Bridge and Charleston Harbor for a backdrop!.
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Celebrate the importance of Lowcountry creeks at the Town of Mount Pleasant's SHEM DIG! In an effort to educate and bring awareness to the importance of our waterways, the Town of Mount Pleasant's Stormwater Division is teaming up with Charleston Waterkeeper, Mount Pleasant Waterworks and the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission.
Come to Shem Creek Park on Saturday, May 16th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a morning filled with kids' activities, inflatables, plein air artists and more. A mobile coffee shop will also be there serving fresh, locally-roasted brews. This free event will highlight local efforts to protect our waterways and how area residents and businesses can help improve our creeks today!
Learn More
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Congratulations to two Town offices who were recently recognized for their work. The
Community Development and Tourism Office won the
Sparks Award given by the Charleston Chapter of the American Marketing Association
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The
Communications Office won Honorable Mention in the
Ragan's 2014 Employee Communications Awards for Best Informational or Educational Video.
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| Be Informed!
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Public participation is at the heart of good government, but who has time to seek out information? Let us do this for you. Visit us online at
www.tompsc.com and subscribe to our calendars, notifications, meetings, job openings, and more!
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Contact Mayor Page and Town Council
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Want to know more about Mayor Page and Town Council? Click on the links below to find out more information about job responsibilities, bios, and contact information.
Mayor Page
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Did you miss last month's Administrator's E-brief? You can find it
here.
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Some Town Offices Have Moved!
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Please note that
the Fire Administration staff and Fire Marshal's Office have moved to their new modular units beside Fire Station 2 on Egypt Road. T
he Public Services Department, Building License Division and the Planning Department have moved to Six Mile Fleet Maintenance Facility on Sweetgrass Parkway, Pinckney Place. For more information about Town office and staff relocation visit the
Relocation Webpage.
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Our Mission Statement
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"To deliver superior performance in a manner that is distinctive and impactful to each person served and that establishes a standard for quality that endures for generations."
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News Update: Mayor Page and Town Council Proceed with Growth Management Framework
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At the April 14th Town Council meeting, Mayor Page and Town Council gave first reading to two ordinance amendments designed to further the goals of the Growth Management Framework, which was unveiled earlier this month. Click here to learn more about this framework. First reading on the two ordinance amendments comes after a well attended Special Economic Development Committee meeting hosted by Councilman Mark Smith on April 7th. This meeting included community stakeholders all representing varying interests and expressing multiple viewpoints regarding the proposed Growth Management Framework. An online form was also made available on the Town's website to solicit input from community members unable to attend the meeting.
The two ordinance amendments are as follows: 1. Elimination of bonus densities in development projects 2. Elimination of the recreation impact fee waiver for developers Town Council also voted to further study the implications of the two ordinances and set a time frame for this study. Second reading of these ordinances will be held some time in the next four to six months, during which the ordinances can be amended if necessary. A public hearing on the ordinance amendments will be held at the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, April 28. The online form will also remain available for citizens to submit their comments online. Following the result of the Town Council meeting, Mayor Linda Page issued an open letter to the community regarding the need to have balanced growth in Mount Pleasant. She urged all community members to voice their opinions on the Growth Management Framework so that decisions can be made moving forward that will maintain and enhance Mount Pleasant's unparalleled quality of life. Read Mayor Page's letter to the community by clicking here. |
|  A Productive Year
The 44-person Sanitation Division performs weekly curbside collection of garbage and trash. Curbside recycling is provided by Charleston County. Last year, staff collected 1.6 million garbage cans, 20,723 tons of garbage and 20,121 tons of trash. The Sanitation Division leads the way with a clean today for a healthier tomorrow. Collection Schedule
We schedule collection days by subdivision and areas of Town. All items for collection must be curbside by 7 a.m. We collect Garbage and Trash on the same day.
- Garbage
- Household Garbage is collected in your brown container.
- Trash
- Trash debris consists of bagged yard debris (grass clippings and small items must be placed in brown paper yard bags), tree limbs, household appliances, and household furniture.
- Used Oil/Oyster Shells
- The town offers drop-off recycling of used oil and oyster shells at our maintenance facility on Sweetgrass Basket Parkway.
Last year, the Town implemented a Same Day process to even out routes and plan for growth. View our Collection Schedule here. A Great Community Partner Over the past four years, the Sanitation Division has collected more than 45,000 pounds of canned/dry goods to benefit East Cooper Meals on Wheels. That is the equivalent of three filled school buses! Your Roll Out Container The Town issues one 90-gallon or one 65-gallon container at "no cost". The container must stay at your property. Do not take the container with you when you move. A second container may be purchased through the Public Services Department for an additional cost. Only two containers per property are allowed. Customers needing more than two containers should contract for dumpster services.
What We Cannot Collect
Landfill regulations prohibit our division from collecting the following items, however most may be disposed of directly by residents at the County's Landfill and Recycling Centers.
- Engine parts
- Hazardous materials - such as old pesticides;
- Oil (used oil can be recycled of at our Six Mile Facility)
- Tires
- Batteries
- Wet paint
- Tree stumps
- Contractor generated debris from construction, demolition, remodeling, or landscaping (these materials should be hauled away by your contractor and disposed of properly)
- Compact fluorescent light bulb
For more information, please contact our Sanitation Division Office at (843) 884-8518. |
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Government Outreach Activities
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Calling All Homeowners Associations and Civic Organizations!
The Government Outreach Office wants to speak with you about hosting a Community Roundtable Meeting with your HOA Board or civic organization.
What is a community roundtable meeting?
A community roundtable meeting is a small group meeting between citizens, elected officials, and senior staff members to discuss community priorities, preferences and opinions. The goal of these meetings is to strengthen community relationships, exchange information, and involve more people in their local government.
What can we expect?
Community roundtable meetings are informal meetings with no agenda other than discussing town government matters and getting to know each other better. After brief introductions, citizens are asked to share their thoughts on what is important to them. They are encouraged to ask questions and suggest ideas. Town officials share information about upcoming projects, major challenges, and opportunities for public participation.
This small group format allows for more in-depth discussion in an informal setting. It provides citizens with another opportunity to give their input and receive a response beyond public hearings and Town Council meetings.
Click here to schedule a community roundtable meeting today
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| Coffee with the Mayor Last month's Coffee with the Mayor took place at The Charleston Bagel Company where Mayor Linda Page met with residents to exchange information and discover ways to work together to improve Mount Pleasant. Our fourth Coffee with the Mayor will be held on Monday, May 14, 2015, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Atlanta Bread Company located in Towne Centre. The event is free and open to all! Contact the Mount Pleasant Communications Office for more information about this event.
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Town Administrator Mobile Office Hours
The fourth
Mobile Office Hours monthly public engagement initiative will take place on
May 19, 2015, at Fire Station 3, 355 7th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Each month, the Town Administrator holds open office hours at a different public facility and he invites you to stop by and discuss items of interest to you.
No appointment necessary. Call (843) 884-8517 for more information.
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| Please don't feed the stormdrain - minimize fertilizer and pesticides use
Spring is almost here along with the quest for yard of the month! Fertilizer and pesticides may be necessary to maintain a healthy yard. Excessive and improperly applied fertilizers can run off of your yard and into the drainage system . This polluted run off can cause health problems for local waterways and estuaries, contribute to excessive algae blooms in ponds, and push excessive nutrients into our wetlands. Here are some best practices to follow to have a Carolina Yard!
1. Always get a soil test before you apply anything. Soil tests can tell you what your yard really needs and how much.
2. Try to use organic and natural products - use compost (make your own or get it from Charleston County)
3. Only apply what you need - follow label directions.
4. Water in your applications - never apply before a rain storm. The rainfall may be more water than you need to soak in the application.
5. Use native plants in your landscape, they require less nutrients and watering.
Click here to learn more about Water Quality and how you can protect our local water resources. |
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Memorial Waterfront Park Phase 2 Underway
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Memorial Waterfront Park is community asset regularly enjoyed by both residents and visitors. Since its opening in 2009, the park has continued to grow in popularity as evidenced by the growing number of visitors and special events it hosts annually. To accommodate the increased use of the park and improve on the venue, funds were slated as a part of the current Capital Improvement Plan to design and construct Phase 2 of the park. Based on feedback received from a public input meeting held in August of last year, staff and local firm, Johnson, Laschober, and Associates, have begun the design of Phase 2.
"We are excited to begin phase 2 of this iconic park, which is enjoyed by so many residents and visitors daily," said Assistant Town Administrator and project manager Katherine Hendricks. "We will consider the elements that were collected from the public meeting, such as a new restaurant near the pier shop, an expanded playground, a walk-through water feature, access to the water for water taxis and the general public through floating docks or a kayak launch, and a possible site for an amphitheater."
"The design phase will last for several more months and will be presented to Mayor and Town Council for their consideration. The next steps will be to design detailed drawings for construction and bid documents," she added.
Click
here to learn more about Phase 2 of Memorial Waterfront Park.
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Produced by the Town of Mount Pleasant Government Outreach Office
Town of Mount Pleasant | 843-884-8517 |
http://www.tompsc.com
100 Ann Edwards Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
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