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This year, the economy and its impact on town revenues will be a major topic at the Town Council's retreat. The island -- historically flush with cash from tourism and real estate -- likely will have to make some tough decisions about which projects to pursue and which to delay.
"We'll arrive at some priorities," said Steve Riley, town manager.
No votes will be taken at the public meetings.
LAST CALL FOR LATE ALCOHOL?
A proposal to ban the after-hours sale of alcohol at island bars and nightclubs probably will be discussed during the retreat.
In a letter recently delivered to Mayor Tom Peeples, Sheriff P.J. Tanner recommended the town pass an ordinance that outlaws the serving of alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.
State law prohibits pouring liquor after 2 a.m., but allows bars to continue serving beer and wine. Tanner's proposal still would allow retail establishments such as convenience and grocery stores to sell
carry-out beer and wine around the clock.
The proposal is based on laws already on the books in Charleston, North Charleston and Mt. Pleasant, as well as in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.
Tanner said his recommendation is based on the number of incidents at bars and clubs after 2 a.m. and anecdotal evidence from living and working in Beaufort County most of his life.
Several high-profile violent incidents -- particularly on the island's south end -- prompted town officials to ask Tanner for data comparing the number of crimes at bars before and after 2 a.m.
Between May 16 and Sept. 12, a team of deputies put in overtime on Friday nights, patrolling south-end bars. Of 130 tickets written, 69 were issued before 2 a.m. and 61 were written after 2 a.m., according to Tanner's report.
Capt. Toby McSwain, who supervises sheriff's operations in southern Beaufort County, said the department already has spent more than $30,000 in overtime this year on aggressive patrols at bars.
It is unclear if the majority of Town Council members support curbing late alcohol sales, especially as island bars and restaurants face hard financial times.
"Just like the smoking ban, we will have members who will fall on both sides of the coin," said Anne-Marie Adams-Arrington, executive director of Hilton Head Area Hospitality Association. "We'll have some members who won't be impacted in any way, shape or form, but then we'll have some members who it would directly affect their bottom line."
