Running a Growing Town
Written by Charlie Wetmore
ell, it’s been almost two years since I was first elected to Town Council. I wanted to take the time this month to discuss some of the things involved in running our lovely town and where I believe we need to head from here. We are sitting at a crossroads in Bluffton’s development. We have some very pressing needs that we all need to focus on.
Especially in light of today’s economy, we need to make sure that we are getting value for every dollar we spend in town government. These dollars need to be effectively spent. We need to hold our town staff and Council accountable for how and when money is spent. And, probably most of all, we need to make sure that the burden on the taxpayer is as light as possible. Hopefully, this will translate into tax cuts in the near future to help everyone cope with the economic downturn.
Our environment continues to need our attention. Our rivers need to stay clean. Recently, Council enacted the new Stormwater Ordinance. This is considered by many to be one of the best anywhere. We need to make sure that the County and the State are on board and that they understand our unique need in this area. We need to continue to learn more in this area and to educate our citizens. For example, did you know that the simple act of turning the gutter drainpipe at your house so that it drains to your yard instead of your driveway can help lessen the pollutants that find their ways into our rivers? Yes, some of the things we can do are that simple.
We have a great town that has brought many people into it. Some estimate that we have grown from around 700 residents to around 15,000 residents in just ten short years. One common question is: Where do all of these people work? Many have been involved in the real estate and building industries, which have taken a hit lately. Many work in retail jobs, which tend to be lower paying. We have a need for higher paying jobs in Bluffton. We now have a Tech Park with its first tenant, Care Core. It is vital that we find other companies that can bring high paying jobs to this area. We need to work with area colleges and Bluffton High School to provide courses of study and majors that will enable our children to have a chance at these higher paying careers. We also need to work with the state as they develop the new Jasper County Port so that we can help our citizens with the opportunities that will be presented.
Also, with the rapid growth of the town’s population, many people have moved here from somewhere else. These people now live in our community along with families that have been here for generations. My family moved to this area 17 years ago so we were able to experience Bluffton prior to the massive growth. Many people have not. They need an understanding of the history and culture of the Town of Bluffton. For example, they need to understand why the May River is so special to so many of us. Meanwhile, the newer residents of this town have wants and needs too. We need to have a town government that understands this and that works hard to represent the whole town and its needs. This should be true whether it’s a Streetscape Project in the original square mile of town, a Sewer Project in the Buck Island/Simmonsville area of town, or needs in the Buckwalter Regional Park; they should all receive attention from the town’s government.
These are the major issues that need to be addressed as we move forward. These are issues that need the constant attention of the town staff and Council. These are issues that are critical to Bluffton becoming the best town that she can be. I look forward to the challenges ahead of us as we move forward.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at:
cwetmore@Townofbluffton.com
Charlie Wetmore
Council Member, Town of Bluffton
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