1. Betsy Kerrison Property Acquisition
Town of Kiawah Island
Municipal Campus Site
October 28, 2014
October 30, 2014

2. Introduction
The Town has been evaluating the acquisition of real property since January 2014 given Municipal center congestion
Investigated on and off island properties
Purchase of property on Betsy Kerrison identified as solution
Key issue is sewer availability
Resolution required five month due diligence period ended October 20th
Confidentiality Agreement cancelled on October 21st
Public information meetings scheduled October 22nd

3. Town of Kiawah Municipal Center
The Town has grown in size and scope during the last several years
Kiawah’s Municipal Center is owned by the Town, was built in 1997 and is shared with KICA
It is significantly inadequate for current and future needs
Given limited space an expanded or new site is needed

4. Town of Kiawah Municipal Center
Town Hall has been expanded twice.
Houses Town operations, Kiawah Island Community Association and Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Addition of building services staff last year leaves no additional space for operations, service delivery, customers or meeting accommodations

5. Town of Kiawah Municipal Center
Half of the building is leased to KICA
Center was built as a low budget facility is outmoded and not ADA compliant
Town Hall is 13,462 sq. ft.; cost $550,000
Limited parking for both entities, visiting public and customers
Shortage of conference rooms
Lack of an elevator inhibits second floor use for public and staff

6. Municipal Operations
Over the past several years the Town’s scope and depth of operations has grown significantly:
business licensing
code enforcement
wildlife research & management
Municipal Court
Building Services (added in 2013)
Freshfields Annexation
Potential acquisition of KIU must also be considered
These new and expanded services have served to build the Town revenues.
Current Municipal reserves total $17 million

7. Town Council 2014 Strategic Objective
Town Property Acquisition
“Purchase property that will meet future Town needs which may include additional parking, existing building expansion, Town Hall annex or a new Municipal Center.”

8. Achieving Strategic Objective
Town has actively searched for property in on Island and off Island
Town Council discussed locations, price and negotiating strategy in executive session
Every executive session pertaining to property acquisition was duly noted on Council agendas
Town and owner were bound by a confidentiality agreement

9. The Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act, , provides for public business to be performed in an open and public manner.
The Act, makes it possible for citizens, or their representatives, to learn and report fully the activities of their public officials.
The Act also recognizes that certain matters, to be properly handled, resolved or negotiated are exempt from disclosure and may be discussed in executive sessions.
Council utilized these exemptions to negotiate and resolve matters related to the pending contract to acquire real property.

10. FOIA Exemptions
Documents of and documents incidental to proposed contractual arrangements and incidental to proposed sales or purchases of property:
these documents are exempt from disclosure until a contract is entered into or the property is sold or purchased;
contract for the sale or purchase of real estate remains exempt from disclosure until the deed is executed.

11. Expansion Options Expand Existing building
Purchase new site
Marginal Site size, 3.5 acres
Insufficient Land for Parking
Currently leasing property for overflow parking
Expanding building impractical
On island property available for purchase is very costly
Property adjacent to Kiawah is available for a fraction of cost but has no public sewer service
Cannot locate Town Hall behind gate to maintain privacy provided by gates

12. New Site Location
Property available on Betsy Kerrison Parkway adjacent to Roundabout
Contiguous to Town boundaries
Site is 21 acres with 18 acres of highland
Negotiated price is $2 million
Note: Property has been on the market since 2013 and we are aware of other potential buyers

13. New Site Purchase Process
Satisfy all contingencies of purchase through a due diligence period
Hold a series of Public Information Meetings
Execute a Purchase Agreement
Affirmative vote of Council to acquire property
Purchase property and record deed
Annex Property into the Town

14. New Site Evaluation Steps
Obtain acceptable Clean Phase One Environmental Study
Prepare topographical survey of site and roadway
Conduct traffic study
Identify all utility easements
Remove all encumbrances on the property
Design and locate an acceptable sewer system
Prepare DHEC application for septic system approval which requires satisfactory soil percolation test
Due diligence period took about 150 days, June – October.

15. DHEC Requirements DHEC application required the following:
site plan and footprint of proposed/existing structures
environmental study
proposed septic system loads, size and location
proposed or existing wells; (including wells on adjoining property)
proposed building location to road and property lines
copy of deed describing boundaries or plat
The property was staked and marked with a DHEC placard as a condition of their review

16. DHEC Required Site Plan

17. Next Steps Public Information Meetings October 28th at 7pm
Council Vote on Property Purchase
November 4th at 2pm
Transaction Closing
November 7th

18. Next Steps
With property ownership, the Town will proceed with evaluation of a new Municipal Center
The public will be kept apprised and provide input
KICA has expressed interest in continuing utilization of the existing Municipal site

19. Betsy Kerrison Property Acquisition
Questions and Answers