Town Administrator's E-Brief

 

From Town Administrator, Eric DeMoura           Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

December 2017
Dear Mount Pleasant residents and business owners,
On behalf of Mayor Haynie and Mount Pleasant Town Council, I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. 2017 has been a great year and we have accomplished much together. 
 
Most importantly, today, December 20, 2017 we celebrate the 180th Birthday of the Town of Mount Pleasant. For nearly two centuries, we have been working together as a community for the benefit of all who call Mount Pleasant home. On December 20, 1837, the South Carolina Legislature passed an Act to Incorporate the Town of Mount Pleasant.  Familiar names to our town were responsible for establishing our original city limits: Andrew Hibben, Joshua Toomer, Samuel Venning, and Elias Whilden.  The full text of the 1837 Act of Incorporation can be found under the Our History tab within the Town's website, as well as lots of great facts and additional information about the history of our community. Special thanks goes to the Town's Historical Commission for their hard work in preserving and promoting our history for all.
 
Here at the Town of Mount Pleasant, we believe that Public Service Matters, and we look forward to continuing to serve you and to working with you on behalf of our community in the new year.
 
There are several other upcoming meetings and events scheduled for the next month, so I invite you to sign up to our Notify Me module and stay updated on the latest Town news, projects, and events. For more information about all that is happening in the Town of Mount Pleasant, please visit us online, engage with us on Nextdoor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Best Regards,
 

 
Our Mission Statement
"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." 
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
 
Jan 2: Committees of Council meetings
Jan 3: Committees of Council meetings continued
Jan 3: Comprehensive Planning Plan Forum Subcommittee meeting
Jan 8: Old Village Historic District Commission meeting
Jan 9: Town Council meeting
Jan 11: Historical Commission meeting
Jan 23: Workforce Housing Committee meeting
Jan 24: Planning Commission meeting
Jan 29: BOZA meeting
Jan 30: Comprehensive Plan Open House 2
Jan 31: DRB meeting

Join Our Team- We're Hiring!
Apply today to join our team and help build the best community in the country. EOE
Volunteer Boards & Commissions Vacancies
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Apply today to serve on one of Mount Pleasant's volunteer boards or commissions. The following vacancies exist:
  • Old Village Historic District Commission (3 seats)
  • Historical Commission (1 seat)
  • Board of Zoning Appeals (2 seats)

Click HERE to learn more and to apply.

Street Sign Replacement Program
To meet Federal Highway Administration requirements, the Mount Pleasant Transportation and Public Services departments have partnered in a joint street sign replacement program. The capital improvement project will replace about 7,500 signs over the next five years. The Street Sign Replacement Program will include all street signs within the Town, with the exclusion of private roads and sideways. Existing signs will be removed if they are considered redundant or do not meet standards. Additional signs may be added where deemed applicable.
 Click HERE to learn more.
Visit the Riverwatch Café & Fishing Pier at Memorial Waterfront Park!
Part of the Memorial Waterfront Park complex, the 1250-foot long Mount Pleasant Pier stretches out into Charleston Harbor under the foot of the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge. The pier's foundation was created from pared-down pilings from the old Silas N. Pearman Bridge.
 Visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the bridge and harbor from the pier's bench swings and shade structures. The River Watch Café & Gift Shop is your one-stop-shop for fishing tackle, rod rentals, gifts and souvenirs; made-to-order sandwiches, ice cream, fruit smoothies, and more. Check it out today!
More Info
View the Latest on Transportation Projects!
Click  HERE for the latest on transportation projects throughout the Town of Mount Pleasant.
Online Sign-Up To Speak at Town Council Meetings
As part of the Town's ongoing efforts to increase public participation, an online sign-up is available for those wishing to speak at the upcoming Town Council meeting. Citizens may also sign up to speak in person immediately before the Council meeting begins. For more information, please contact the Communications Office.
Live Streaming & Podcasts of Town Meetings Now Available
Did you know that the Town of Mount Pleasant offers live streaming of the Town Council meetings and podcasts of both their Town Council and Committees of Council meetings? Catch up on our latest meetings by visiting our YouTube channel or our PodCast, which is available in the iTunes Store and online.

Be Informed!

Stay Engaged!
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!
Contact Mayor Haynie and Town Council

Want to know more about Mayor Haynie and Town Council? Click on the links below to find out more information about job responsibilities, bios, and contact information. Mayor Haynie
E-brief Archives

Did you miss last month's Administrator's E-brief? You can find it here.
Happy 180th Birthday Mount Pleasant!
 
 
Comprehensive Planning Forum Open House 2
The Town of Mount Pleasant will hold its second public Open House of this Comprehensive Planning process on January 30, 2018 from 5-7:00 pm. The public is invited to attend and comment upon draft goals and objectives prepared by the Plan Forum. LEARN MORE
Business Development Updates
Congratulations to Choate Construction on their recent groundbreaking for their regional headquarters expansion in Mount Pleasant. The Choate expansion is anticipated to result in the addition of 20 high-quality jobs and an approximate $1 million capital investment. The company will relocate to the Gateway Mount Pleasant office building which is being constructed at 235 Mcgrath Darby Blvd. Located at the base of the Ravenel Bridge, the Gateway Mount Pleasant is a 62,000 SF Class-A office building being developed by Landmark Enterprises and Durlach Associates. This new office building will provide Mount Pleasant with a prime location for its target economic development companies upon its completion in October 2018. LEARN MORE
Charleston County Community Development Urban Entitlement Funding Applications Now Available for 2018-2019
The Request for Applications (RFA) for Charleston County's and the City of North Charleston's PY2018 Urban Entitlement funding is now available online. Click HERE to learn more and to apply.
BCDCOG Park-And-Ride Study
The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) has kicked off a Regional Park-and-Ride Study which is intended to produce a comprehensive plan identifying suitable sites for permanent satellite parking locations in the region. Once the sites are selected, the study team will prioritize locations to identify short- and long-range programming based on cost estimates and available funding. The study is scheduled to be complete in summer 2018. LEARN MORE
Upcoming Recreation Events
Congratulations to Mount Pleasant Recreation Department's Volunteers of the Year!
  • Adam Johnson (Athletics Division - Baseball)
  • Bill Moss (Programs Division - Senior Center)
  • Jennifer Magwood Ray (Special Events)

Winter/Spring Sports Registration Starts Soon
 
Registration Dates
  • Instructional Track: December 24 - January 8
  • Little Bits: December 31 - January 15
  • Spring Sports (Lacrosse, Baseball, Soccer & More): January 7 - 22
Register Online HERE
Government Outreach Activities
Community Roundtable Meetings
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Town officials and staff are continuing to host informal roundtable meetings with community organizations, civic groups, and neighborhood associations. This small group format allows for more in-depth discussion in an informal setting. It also provides citizens with another opportunity to give their input and receive a response beyond public hearings and Town Council meetings. 

We want to meet with you! To schedule a community roundtable meeting with your organization or group, please contact the Executive Programs Office at (843) 884 - 8517. We look forward to meeting with you!
 
Coffee with the Mayor

Join Mayor Haynie for his monthly Coffee with the Mayor event on Monday, January 8, 2018 at Cracker Barrel (2183 Hwy 17 N). The event will be held from 7:30 - 8:30 AM. Hope to see you there!

Town Administrator's Mobile Office Hours
 

The next Mobile Office Hours event will be on  January 16, 2018 from 10 - 11AM at the Thomasena Stokes-Marshall Center (840 Von Kolonitz Rd.). Additional event details will be forthcoming. Each month, the Town Administrator holds open office hours at various locations around the community. All citizens are invited to stop by and discuss items of interest to them.  No appointment necessary. For more information about this program, visit the Mobile Office Hours webpage or call (843) 884 - 8517.
2018 Accommodations Tax Fund Grant Update
The application for Accommodations Tax Fund Grants are now available for qualified tourism and cultural arts projects occurring July 1 - December 31, 2018. Completed applications are due by
February 1, 2018, for consideration and will be reviewed by the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee on March 7-8, 2018. LEARN MORE

There will be an Accommodations Tax Fund Grant Application Workshop on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at Town Hall. The event will run from 10 - 11 a.m. Previous and prospective grant applicants are highly encouraged to attend to have their questions answered and gain a better understanding of the funding process. The workshop will cover the application process, funding eligibility and more information on Accommodations Tax. LEARN MORE
Now Accepting Local Artists' Submissions
Now accepting submissions for the Mayor's Office Art Program until January 8, 2018. Each selected Mount Pleasant artist will have his or her artwork showcased at Town Hall to be viewed for three months by citizens and community leaders. LEARN MORE
Only Rain Down The Drain
Stormwater runs off our properties and into local waterways. It can carry with it many different kinds of pollution and debris that can be harmful to our local creeks and marshes. This pollution can cause flooding and closures of shell fish beds. When this happens, property owners can be required to clean up polluted areas and habitats.  By minimizing the pollution that we generate, we can keep our waterways and our community healthy and safe.  Here are some simple tips you can adopt to protect the quality of our waterways:
  • Properly dispose of yard debris to the curb for collection
  • Minimize use of fertilizers and pesticides by using soil tests and following labels
  • Pick up pet waste every day and put it in the garbage or sewer system
  • Follow proper disposal procedures for household chemicals and commercial waste
  • Report illegal dumping, discharges or connections to the storm drainage system
Reminder for homeowners- Talk to your contractors about putting waste in its place (not the drain) for wash water from activities such as painting or concrete work.  LEARN MORE
Produced by the Town of Mount Pleasant Community & Government Affairs Office
Town of Mount Pleasant | 843-884-8517 | http://www.tompsc.com
100 Ann Edwards Lane
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464