Alljoy Project Updates and Notes from the Community Meeting on January 7th.

Alljoy Residents,

We’d like to thank everyone for coming out to the community meeting at the Bluffton library branch on the 7^th. It was very exciting to see so many residents in attendance! Continue reading to see the updates on the various projects and the highlights of the discussion on future boat landing upgrades.

Project Updates

Stormwater Drainage Study -

The Request for Qualifications (RFQ for short) were sent out, we got them back, and an evaluation committee reviewed the RFQs. Interviews were then held with the top three RFQ companies, the committee scored the evaluations, and the committee's recommendation has been forwarded to procurement for the issuing of a contract. In February the contract will go to Public Facilities and Safety Committee (PFC for short) for approval, and then to full council. Once council approves, we can move forward, starting in February or March. From there, the study will take 6 months to a year to complete. The drainage study will include possible options for improvements

Sidewalk project -

This project was delayed by the grants process. Obtaining a grant allows the county to leverage local funds towards obtaining state or federal dollars to pay for projects. The county was able to successfully apply for a $1.3M grant to help pay for the project. The project is currently in the utility coordination phase, which is when our Engineering depart reaches out to any utilities that would be affected by the construction, so that we can coordinate with them. We anticipate bidding this project for construction in the 1^st quarter of 2025 with construction beginning in the Spring. This schedule will vary dependent on SCDOT’s approval to proceed with construction activity.

Sewer Project -

Presently, BJWSA is working with Beaufort County, the State of South Carolina, and the Town of Bluffton to assemble funding for a future sewer project. Although early in this process, in September, BJWSA's board approved $4.6 M for a future Alljoy project. The County committed a $1 M set aside to a future Alljoy sewer project in October. Presently, the project is in the funding assembly phase and requires participation from other grants as well as State and/or Federal sources. BJWSA is actively working with the State to work towards closing funding gaps.

Bailey Memorial Park -

Bailey Memorial Park, purchased in 2019 via the Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Program, has a completed park plan. A General Obligation or GO Bond was approved by Council in December that would provide funding for construction once the Bond is obtained by the County CFO. Passive Parks is current working on the permitting requirements.

Ulmer Application to the Green Space program -

A landowner of property adjacent to the Bluffton Rec Center applied to the Green Space program, but they have since withdrawn their application.

Boat Landing Discussion Highlights

Residents would like to see the county focus on upgrades of existing amenities at the boat landing.
The highest priority should be the adding more boat trailer parking, with golf cart parking the next highest priority, and car parking last.
The house that the county purchased will be demolished. It may be possible to use the house’s existing septic field to add a restroom.
Building a fishing pier will help draw that activity away from the boat landing. Residents commented that a new pier should either not include cleats for boats or have the pier without a water-access float, to discourage boating use.
Residents reported that there is a significant drop off in the water at the end of the boat launching/recovery ramp.

The boat landing will next be discussed at the Public Facilities and Safety Committee (PFC) in Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 21st at 4 PM. Council Chambers are located in the Administration Building, 100 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29901.