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Municipal Association of South Carolina honors Hilton Head Island with Achievement Award


Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover, left, presents an Achievement Award trophy for the Public Works Category to Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann during the 2021 Annual Meeting on Hilton Head Island. (download image)

The Town of Hilton Head Island has received a Municipal Achievement Award for its rehabilitation of storm water pump stations. The city won in the public works category. Twenty-seven cities and towns submitted their projects and initiatives for consideration in the annual awards.  

Stormwater pump stations serve as a vital part of flood control for barrier island communities such as Hilton Head Island that have low-lying watersheds influenced by tides. The town’s Jarvis Creek and Lawton Canal pump stations, the town’s two oldest stations, needed major system upgrades as evidence by service failures, including during Hurricane Matthew, and mounting repair costs. The town undertook a more than $4.2 million rehabilitation of the stations, replacing electrical control systems, installing new and refurbished generators, overhauling submersible pumps, and upgrading remote monitoring, among other upgrades.  

After identifying the stations’ deficiencies, staff worked with the original pump manufacturer and a contractor to create a cost-effective improvement plan to improve reliability and protect against flooding from storms. Upgrades to the power systems, gates, debris screens and sediment dredging also aimed to reduce the risk of failure. Funding for the $4.2-million effort came entirely from property-based stormwater utility fees. The Jarvis Creek project reduces the potential for flood losses for more than 1,700 properties in its watershed, while the Lawton Creek project does the same for 1,800 properties in its watershed. 

The projects are vital to the town’s strategic plans and efforts to protect the community from rising sea levels. The upgrades help protect more than 3,500 properties, providing long-term, efficient flood control and stormwater management. The town also implemented a new web-based asset management program that will help efficiently document maintenance work that will help it manage and plan for ongoing costs.  

“Hilton Head Island solved current problems in its stormwater system, but also planned for the future to protect residents, businesses and vistors,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association. 

These winning entries represent innovative projects undertaken by Municipal Association member cities and towns. Information and a video about the project are available on the Association’s website accessible by visiting www.masc.sc (keyword: Achievement Awards) 

The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.  

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