The Town of Edisto Beach celebrated the opening of its new Town Hall and Emergency Operations Center. The event featured comments from town and county officials, the cutting of the ribbon, and self-guided tours of the state of the art facility.
Mayor Crawford Moore gave the opening remarks about the facility highlighting the emergency operations center commenting, “Finally, the town has an emergency operations center, a specific area where, when hit with an emergency of any type, particularly storms and hurricanes, our emergency management professionals will be able to gather and provide quicker and more relevant responses to any needs as they occur. We’ll be equipped to coordinate and manage all disasters and emergency needs from right here at Edisto Beach, this facility betters this facilitates better responses, communication, and quicker return for our residents.” Moore also thanked past and present council members, former mayor, town administrators, and to the voters of Colleton County, “who without a vote to this project, we would not be standing here today.” Moore continued by thanking the current staff for providing outstanding service to the citizens of the Town of Edisto Beach during construction and the transition to the new facility.
County Council Chairman Scott Biering gave additional remarks complimenting all the town’s government officials, administrators, and staff for their professionalism during this project from conception to completion. Biering also pointed out the project, which was funded by the penny sales tax, came in ahead of schedule and under budget. He concluded his remarks with, “God bless Edisto Beach, God bless Colleton County, and God bless America.”
Town Administrator Mark Aakhus spoke next, again thanking former Town of Edisto Beach mayor, Jane Darby and former town administrator Iris Hill, “who played a critical role in laying the groundwork to turn [this project] into a reality.” Aakhus also acknowledged Patrick Brown, Building Code Administrator who played a significant part “ensuring the project was successful, and of course, up to code.”
Mayor Moore then called for the South Carolina state flag and the United States of America flag to be raised in honor of the opening of the new facility and in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America. The raising of the flags was led by Edisto Beach Fire Chief Denney Conley and Assistant Fire Chief Ken Salinger followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the pledge Mayor Moore asked town council members, current and former town administrators, the former mayor, and anyone who played a role in the successful accomplishment achieved with the completion of the new facility to come to the front steps to cut the ribbon. At the completion of the ribbon cutting, the facility was opened to the public for viewing.
