* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:22] GOOD MORNING. I GET EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION FOR JUST A SECOND HERE AND WE'LL GET STARTED. UH, I'M JOHN THOMPSON, I'M THE FIRE CHIEF HERE AT THE LOCAL TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT. AND, UH, THERE'S MS. SCOTT ONB. SHE IS THE EMS DIRECTOR. UH, THIS IS A SHARED STATION BETWEEN FIRE AND EMS. AND, UH, WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE. WELCOME EVERYBODY HERE. IT'S A BIG EXCITING DAY FOR US HERE IN BLUFFTON, ESPECIALLY IN A FIRE DISTRICT. AND I'M SURE IT ISN'T A COUNTY AMASS. AS WE EMBARK ON THIS NEW STATION. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, PASTOR PAUL HAMILTON, TO LEAD US IN AN INVOCATION. PLEASE LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER A WEEK. I'M GIVING YOU THANKS FOR THIS ANOTHER DAY. WE PRAISE YOU GOD, THAT THINGS ARE AS WELL AS THEY ARE. THEY COME NOW ASKING YOUR BLESSINGS ON THIS NEW FIRE STATION, THIS NEW EMERGENCY CENTER THAT WE ARE, HAVE THEM BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AND THE STEADY AMOUNT OF THAT WE HAVE. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST BLESS IT AND ALLOW US TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING, ALLOW EACH AND EVERY ONE TO STAY ON ONE ACCORD THAT THIS ENDEAVOR HAS. ALL OF THOSE. BE BLESSED, ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL OPERATE THIS AND ALL OTHER BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME. AMEN. GOOD MORNING. AS JOHN SAID, I'M DONNA OMB. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BEEF COUNTY EMS. AND AT FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK ASHLEY JACOBSEN COUNTY COUNCIL HEEL FOOT. AND OF COURSE THE TAXPAYERS THAT MADE THIS BUILDING POSSIBLE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS TYPE OF BUILDING TO BE DONE. FIRST RESPONDERS PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY. SOMETIMES THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER, BUT MOSTLY THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN A PLACE WHERE THEY GET REWARDING BY KNOWING THAT THEY'RE HELPING SOMEBODY IN TIMES OF NEED. SO AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS TYPE OF THING, BECAUSE THEY DO NEED, THEY DO NEED A PLACE THAT THEY CAN GO IN BETWEEN CALLS AND REST AND THIS NICE NEW STATION WILL BE ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT THEY'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GOING BACK TO. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT. AND HOPE WE'LL HAVE MORE TO COME AND FOLLOWING ON WHAT DONNA JUST SAID. UH, I DO ALSO HAVE SOME, SOME THANK YOU'S FIRST OFF. I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR FIREBOARD WHO, UH, SAW THE VISION THROUGH THIS TO HELP US GET TO WHERE WE ARE WORKING WITH COUNTY COUNCIL AND THANK ALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. JACOBS FOR HER SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE. UH, THE TOWN COUNCIL OF BLUFFTON. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS THERE, UH, BECAUSE THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY INVOLVES A LITTLE BIT OF BEAVER COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT, THE TOWN. SO IT'S BEEN A, A REAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OUT HERE FROM THE COUNTY. UH, I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO WEST CAMPBELL, WHEREVER, WHERE ARE YOU OUT THERE WITH WEST CAMPBELL, BEING THE PROJECT DIRECTOR THAT THE COUNTY'S ASSIGNED TO THIS? UH, WE'VE GOT, UH, WE'VE HAD TO WORK PRETTY CLOSE HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT AND WENT THROUGH, UH, UH, QUITE A BIT OF STUFF. BUT, UH, WE FINALLY GOT THERE. THANK YOU, DONNA, FOR YOUR INPUT, UH, FROM THE TOWN MR. ORLANDO MAYOR, SACA, UH, THE TOWN STAFF THAT, UM, HEATHER COLIN, RON MCELWEE, AND WILL HOWARD, WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN WHEN WE MADE SOME CHANGES ON THE SITE AND GOT US THROUGH THAT PROCESS. APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK WITH THAT. UH, THE CONTRACTOR FRAZIER CONSTRUCTION AND OUR ARCHITECTS COURT ATKINS, UH CORTECH AND FRAZIER KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK AGAIN, LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO OUR ENGINEERS, WARD, EDWARDS ENGINEERING, AND THEN MY STAFF, UH, AT THE, AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW FOR, TO SAY MY STAFF, OUR STAFF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, CHIEF KRAMER, WHO'S GOING TO BE THE PROJECT MANAGER FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIDE ON THIS, UH, FROM THIS POINT FORWARD DURING THE CONSTRUCTION CHIEF , WHO IS OUR DEPUTY CHIEF AND, UH, HANDLES ALL THE FINANCE AND THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES THAT COME ABOUT, UM, UH, LIKE TO THANK AMANDA CASANAVE OR ADMIN ASSISTANT WHO PUT TOGETHER THE LITTLE HANDOUT TODAY AND THEN RANDY HUNTER AND BOB PAYNE, WHO CAME OUT TODAY AND SET THIS ALL UP AND GAVE US THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OUT HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD. SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING ON EVERYBODY'S DONE IN FRONT OF THE FIRE DISTRICT, AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE TO BE ABLE TO [00:05:01] STAND HERE AS WE EMBARK ON ANOTHER NEW STATION FOR BLUFFTON, UH, AS WE TRY TO ADDRESS THE GROWTH THAT'S GOING ON OUT HERE AND APPRECIATE THAT AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. ASHLEY JACOBS, OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND SHE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE. THANK YOU, CHIEF THOMPSON. GOOD MORNING TO ALL OF YOU FIRST. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF DONNA OBEY AND BEAVER COUNTY EMS. THIS IS A VERY TALENTED AND DEDICATED GROUP OF PEOPLE. THEY PROVIDE OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS. ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THE RELATIONSHIP THAT THE COUNTY HAS WITH YOU. THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS US TO MAKE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES AND BUILD A STATION LIKE THIS ONE. THIS WILL BE A HIGH QUALITY WORK ENVIRONMENT, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT, THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE BEST PARAMEDICS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN THE BUSINESS. SO THANK YOU. IT IS NOW MY HONOR, AND PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU, THE CHAIRMAN WOULD BE FOR COUNTY COUNCIL, JOE PASSMAN. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. UH, ON BEHALF OF THE BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL, I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN NAMED AND UNNAMED HERE TODAY. SO I WANTED TO TELL YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FIRE AND EMS. WHEN I WAS BORN, MY PARENTS MOVED TO A BRAND NEW PLACE. IT SAT RIGHT NEXT TO THE FIRE STATION, ENGINE FIVE IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK FOR THE NEXT 17 YEARS, I BECAME THE MASCOT OF ENGINE FIVE. AS A LITTLE BOY, I WENT IN TO PLAY THERE. I GOT TO SIT IN THE FIRE TRUCKS. I GOT TO TALK TO THE FIREMAN. I SAT IN THE CHIEF'S OFFICE WHEN THE TICKER TAPE WOULD GO OFF, WHICH WOULD IDENTIFY ANY KIND OF CALL THAT WAS COMING IN. AND I GOT TO RIDE IN THE FIRE ENGINE ONCE WHEN I WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, UM, IN A BACKYARD ACCIDENT WHERE MY QUOTE-UNQUOTE BEST FRIEND DROPPED A BRICK FROM THE SECOND STORY WINDOW TO SEE IF I COULD CATCH IT. I DID, UNFORTUNATELY IN MY HEAD. AND, UH, I RAN INTO THE HOUSE. MY MOTHER NEARLY HAD A HEART ATTACK, WRAP ME IN A TOWEL, CARRIED ME NEXT DOOR. AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE FIRE ENGINE. SO I WAS VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM. ON THE EMS SIDE, IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE WITH THEM. 16 YEARS AGO ON APRIL THE EIGHTH, I GOT A CALL FROM OUR DAUGHTER SAYING THAT SHE WAS GOING INTO LABOR. SO WE RUSHED OVER AND THE WHOLE IDEA WAS WE WERE GOING TO EXCHANGE OUR CAR WITH THEIR CAR. THEY WERE GOING TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TWO MINUTES AFTER WE ARRIVED. MY SON-IN-LAW CAME IN AND SAID, SHE CAN'T GO. SHE'S GOING TO HAVE THE BABY NOW. SO WE CALLED NINE ONE, ONE EMS IS ON THEIR WAY AND THEY DON'T GET THERE IN TIME. MY WIFE DELIVERS OUR GRANDSON IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE. EMS ROLLS UP AND THESE TWO ROOKIE YOUNG EMS RESPONDERS COME OUT AND THEY'RE NERVOUS. THEY HAD NEVER DELIVERED A BABY SINCE MY WIFE IS NOW IN, UH, THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OR WAS IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND STILL IS, SHE KNEW EXACTLY THE KIT. THEY NEEDED TO HAVE TOLD THEM, GO GET THE KIT, WHAT TO DO. AND LO AND BEHOLD, 16 YEARS LATER, MY GRANDSON JOSEPH IS NOW SIX FEET, THREE INCHES TALL, THE TALLEST IN THE FAMILY. SO IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL RIDE WITH EMS AND THE FIRE TO BARTON. SO ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ANYONE WHO HAS EVER HAD THAT RELATIONSHIP, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. SO TODAY, NOT ONLY ARE WE BREAKING GROUND ON THE NEW LOCATION FOR STATION 31, WE'RE BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW TYPE OF COLLABORATION WITH BUFORD COUNTY, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THIS COLLABORATION TO BUILD THIS BUILDING, IT'S JOINTLY FUNDED. IT IS GOING TO BE AN EXCITING TIME IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS ON THIS SPOT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 10,000 [00:10:01] SQUARE FOOT STATE OF THE ART FIRE DEPARTMENT AND EMS STATION. IT WILL ACCOMMODATE SEVEN FIRST RESPONDERS TO M TO R MTS, AN EMS SUPERVISOR. AND FOR FIREFIGHTERS, IT'LL HAVE AN AMBULANCE, A FIRE DISTRICT ENGINE AND AN ONSITE CLINIC. THIS IS A PROJECT WE CAN TRULY BE PROUD OF. IT IS THE PROTOTYPE OF THE FUTURE. AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW. I DON'T NEED TO POINT OUT THAT CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING COSTS, UH, FOR THE TAXPAYERS IS A WHOLE HECK OF A LOT OF LESS THAN BUILDING TWO BUILDINGS AND OUR CONSTRUCTION BEING DONE BY JOE FRAZIER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DYNAMIC BUILDING BUILT. SO STATION 31 WILL BE A PHYSICAL MOON SYMBOL OF OUR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES WORKING TOGETHER. AND I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO STAND HERE AND SAY, IT'S ABOUT TIME. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. MR. LAWSON IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE GOING TO, UH, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. COVERT, MIKE COVERT TO COME UP. HE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING AS WELL, EVERYONE. AND THANK YOU, CHIEF. YOU KNOW, UM, EARLIER WHEN WE HAD, UH, THE GENTLEMAN GAVE THE INVOCATION, HE HAD MENTIONED THAT, UH, ABOUT COLLABORATION AS DID THE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND, UH, OUR CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL. AND THAT, THAT COULD BE THE, THE EPITOME OF THIS, OF THIS ACHIEVEMENT TODAY, UH, REAL QUICKLY TO TAKE YOU DOWN MEMORY LANE. UH, I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M THE LONGEST SERVING COUNCILMAN IN A GROUNDBREAKING, UH, BUT I REMEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UH, AND IF THE TOWN MANAGER MARK ORLANDO'S HERE, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM BECAUSE HE WAS IN THE CONVERSATION, UH, AND, UH, COUNCILMAN FROM THE TOWN, UH, HAMILTON, UM, WE WERE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT FIRE AND EMS SERVICES HERE IN THIS PARTICULAR AREA. AND, AND DID YOU KNOW, UH, NOT EXACTLY, BUT VERY CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE STANDING IS LIKE THE EPICENTER OF THE THREE CORNERS OF KEVIN COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT SIX, SEVEN, AND NINE. I BELIEVE IT IS, UH, ARE RIGHT HERE. AND DID YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALSO ONE OF THE, THE HIGHEST GROWTH BUILDING AREAS OF THIS COUNTY SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND COUNTY IN GENERAL. SO WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, THAT STATION 31, UH, IT WAS SERVES MY, MY AREA IN MY HOUSE, UH, IS GROWING AT THE SEAMS AND I'VE HAD THE FORTUNATE, THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN TO HAVE A TALK WITH, WITH FIREMEN AND EMS AT MY HOUSE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TURN INTO HOW DO YOU DO SO MUCH OUT OF SO LITTLE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS FACILITY MANAGER, ORLANDO, MYSELF AT HAMILTON, AND WHAT GREW FROM A FIRE DEPARTMENT BEING RELOCATED TO BRINGING INTO THE CONVERSATION OF OUR, OF THE COUNTIES, EMS INTO ONE, AND EVEN POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A CAMPUS POSSIBLY THAT THAT COULD SERVE SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART WITH, WITH, UH, I THINK IN THE CHIEF'S TERMS, CUTTING DOWN ON RESPONSE TIMES. SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE. I DO WANT TO THINK, UH, CHIEF THOMPSON, HE HAS BEEN, UH, SOMEONE THAT, UH, FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT I'VE KNOWN HIM, UH, HAS TAKEN, UH, HAS GIVEN ADVICE, LISTENED TO ADVICE, UH, BEEN A FRIEND, UH, AND I'M GLAD TO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM. UM, ALL OF THE COUNCIL, UH, OF BUFORD COUNTY, THE COUNTY COUNCIL, ALL 11 OF US AND ALL OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HERE IN BLUFFTON. UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY AGREES ON AND CAN WORK ON. FINALLY, ALSO WANT TO, TO, TO, UH, ALSO CONGRATULATE, UH, JOE FRAZIER, UH, I'VE KNOWN THIS GENTLEMAN FOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS, 20 YEARS OR SO, AND EVERY PRODUCT THAT HE HAS DEVELOPED HAS BEEN FIRST-CLASS, UH, EVERY JOB HE AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE DONE IS ALWAYS FIRST-CLASS, UH, I'M, I'M VERY PROUD OF, UH, FRAZIER AND COURT AKINS WHO HAVE BECOME TO ME A UNIT OF ONE PROVIDING THESE TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO [00:15:01] A COMMUNITY BUFORD COUNTY, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, THIS COMMUNITY, UH, HAS SECOND TO NONE. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, AND, UH, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, MR. COVERT. UH, NOW I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. MIKE RAYMOND, THE BTF BOARD CHAIRMAN HEY CHIEF, YOU KNOW, TODAY IS REALLY A CELEBRATION. WE HAVE MULTIPLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES COME TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, AND WE HAD A WHOLE LIST OF CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAD TO GET THROUGH FROM LAND ACQUISITION TO RIGHTS OF WAYS UTILITY SERVICES, COST SHARING. IT WAS A LONG PROCESS AND NOBODY GAVE UP THERE WAS COMPROMISE. AND IN THE END, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IS A FACILITY RIGHT HERE ON THIS SITE THAT WILL DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS. AND ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS OF OUR COUNTY THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, WE'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE THAT HAD A HAND IN MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. AND CONGRATULATIONS. . THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, MR. RAYMOND, UH, MAYOR SUCKLE. I DIDN'T FORGET YOU. UH, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MAYOR SAKA, SAY A FEW WORDS, PLEASE. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. AND I WON'T TAKE TOO MUCH TIME BECAUSE IT IS GETTING SWELTERING OUT HERE. I DO WANT TO THANK REVEREND HAMILTON AS ALWAYS FOR GIVING US SUCH A KIND BLESSING. HE'S ON OUR CHAPLAINS GROUP WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO THANK YOU, REVEREND ASHLEY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE LEADING US IN A GREAT DIRECTION AND WITH YOUR COUNCIL, WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER. THANK YOU TOO. UM, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMS, FIRE, AND POLICE IN THIS WORLD TODAY. YOU SEE THOSE ARE THE ONES GETTING ATTACKED, AND I DON'T HEAR ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU ALL DO. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE TOWN'S SUPPORT, EVEN THOUGH YOU FRIT COUNTY EMS AND FIREARM UNDER OUR BUDGET, BUT WE DO SUPPORT YOU. AND THAT'S WHY WE WORKED VERY HARD, ATTEND GROUNDBREAKING, SUCH AS THE ASSOCIATE CHIEF TOM THOMPSON. THANKS FOR INCLUDING US ON IT. THIS ALONG WITH THE REMAINDER OF 40 ACRES IS THE FOCUS OF A NEW AREA THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. YOU, YOU DO GET A FEW COMPLAINTS THAT WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO OLD TOWN. WELL, THAT'S OUR MAIN STREET, AND I THINK EVERY TOWN SHOULD FOCUS ON THEIR CORE, THEIR MAIN STREET. AND WE'VE DONE THAT, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A BIGGER PICTURE OF, OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WHO LIVE IN THE COUNTY, WHO ARE ALSO TOWN RESIDENTS. AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AN EVOLUTION OCCUR ON THIS SITE. OVER THE YEARS, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY AT THE MOMENT, BUT IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A FIRE DEPARTMENT NEAR A PARK. OUR PUBLIC WORKS SEE KIDS ALL THE TIME AT OSCAR FRAZIER PARK ARE. I TOOK MY KIDS TO THE FIRE STATION IN OLD TOWN, LONG AGO TO SIT ON THE FIRETRUCK. I SEE PICTURES OF OUR FARMING AND OUR EMS WITH KIDS IN OUR CR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH OUR KIDS. OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE OUR FIRST LINE OF INTERACTION WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR KIDS. I LOVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GIVING. UM, I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAY AT BLUFFTON HAAS GRADUATION AND THREE YOUNG HOSPITAL. SENIORS HAD JOBS THE DAY THEY GRADUATED AND IT JUST, IT WARMS MY HEART. THAT'S WHY I DO THIS. I WANT TO THANK DAN WOOD IS HERE. UH, HE AND I ARE HERE ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL TODAY. IT'S NOT ME. IT'S ALL OF US, RIGHT? DAN, WE'RE ALL FIVE EQUAL PARTNERS AT COUNCIL AND WE ARE HERE WITH NO AGENDA OTHER THAN TO KEEP BLUFFED IN BLUFFTON AND TO WORK FOR OUR RESIDENTS. THANK YOU STAFF FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SAY A FEW WORDS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE PROGRESS. OKAY. THAT BRINGS US TO THE EXCITING PART WHILE WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS IF I CAN GET THE, UH, THE AUDIENCE OUT HERE, IF WE CAN COUNT DOWN ONE, TWO, THREE, AND ON THREE, WE'LL GET THESE FOLKS BACK HERE TO TURN THE DIRT OVER. WE READY? ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, [00:20:01] THREE. ANYTHING ELSE I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY ON BEHALF OF THE FIRE DISTRICT AND, UH, BEAVER COUNTY EMS AND THE COUNTY, UH, FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING US OUT HERE TODAY. AND, UH, THAT CONCLUDES OUR CEREMONY AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. . THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND. GO TO BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM MELISSA CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM. AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL. ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PARTS OF A HURRICANE IS STORM SURGE. WHAT IS STORM SURGE? YOU ASK STORM SURGE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WINDS OF A COASTAL STORM PUSH WATER ON THE LAND. IN ADDITION, LARGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WAVES, RIGHT IN ON THE TOP OF THE SURGE, THESE WATER SURGES, THEN RECAPPING AND CAN CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE AND FLOODING MANY MILES FROM THE STORM. NOT LIMITED TO COASTAL PROPERTIES. STORM SURGES FROM SEAWATER, TRAVELING UP STREAMS AND RIVERS CAN FLOOD INLAND HOMES TOO. AND IS IT STRONG, ABLE TO CARRY AWAY CARS AND DEMOLISH ENTIRE COMMUNITIES? IT DOESN'T TAKE EXTREME WIND TO MAKE STORM SURGE HAPPEN. LOW END HURRICANE WINDS FROM SANDY CREATED A STORM SURGE THAT LEVELED PARTS OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY IN 2012 STORM SURGE IS WHAT OFFICIALS USE WHEN DETERMINING WHO TO EVACUATE. ONCE WATER STARTS TO RISE, THE DESTRUCTIVE RUSH CAN QUICKLY COVER A LOT OF GROUND HOMES, CARS, PEOPLE, PETS. IF YOU GET ANYTHING FROM THIS VIDEO, LET IT BE THIS. WHEN OFFICIALS SAY IT IS TIME TO EVACUATE, GO DON'T FALL VICTIM TO STORM SURGE. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAFE? DON'T PROVIDE EASY ACCESS, ESPECIALLY TO NARCOTIC MEDICATIONS, INVENTORY, YOUR MEDICINE CABINETS, ESPECIALLY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SAFELY DISCARD OUTDATED, OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS PROPERLY. DID YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY HAS MANY LOCATIONS FOR YOU TO DISPOSE YOU ARE OUTDATED OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY? YEAH. WE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO DO AN OPEN HOUSE OUT HERE AT ARW AND, UM, YOU KNOW, DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THE FIRST BIRTH YEAR. AND YOU REALLY NEVER KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TO EXPECT, BUT THE WEATHER COOPERATED ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS OUT OF HERE. AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, I WOULD SAY JUST A FANTASTIC TURNOUT. UM, AND THEY GOT TO WATCH SOME, UH, VINTAGE AIRCRAFT AND SOME BRAND NEW AIRCRAFT WITH A GULF STREAM DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A FLY OVER THOUGH PRETTY EXCITING STUFF. EACH YEAR SOUTH, UH, AVIATION ASSOCIATION DOES DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE A WEEK TO PROMOTE AVIATION. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO, UH, TO THE ECONOMY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. SO THEY ENCOURAGED ALL EACH OF THE 57 AIRPORTS WE STATE TO PUT ON SOME KIND [00:25:01] OF EVENT DURING THAT WEEK. AND WE PICKED THE 15TH, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS VICTORY OVER JAPAN. SO WE GOT JOHN RAMBLED AND THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD TO JOIN US ENTHUSIASTIC. SO, UM, I, UH, ARE SCHEDULED, YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, WHO'VE GOT 11 FLYBYS, GULF STREAM AND ALL DIFFERENT AIRPLANES. WE WERE ABLE TO STRUCTURE WITH THESE STATIC DISPLAY AIRPLANES. AND THERE'S 10 OF THOSE ALL UNIQUE, SOME HIGH WINGS, SOME LOW, SOME, UH, UH, GRASS, AIRPLANES, SEA PLANES TO SEAT PLANES. UH, AND WE SHOW THE DIVERSITY OF, UH, AIRPLANES IN OUR AIRPORT FOR CANDLES. WELL, FIRST WE'RE VERY HOT AT THE AIRPORT AND WHAT IS NOT JUST SPECIAL. SO THE COUNTY I'M IN THE AIRMAN, OUR CHAPTER, I KNEW WHAT TO DO SOMETHING IN RETURN. WE WERE RECOGNIZED WE WERE PUT OFF ON IT, GUESTS OF THIS ANNUAL EVENT, 75 YEARS, SINCE THEN TOO, IT DOESN'T GET MORE SPECIAL. SO WE NEED A TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION, BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN AIRPORT, BUT RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, WE JUST FIGURED LET'S OPEN UP THE GATES. LET'S LET PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT THE AIRPORT, TAKES SOME OF THE MYSTERY OUT OF THINGS AND SHOW THEM THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY JUST FOR THE RICHMOND. AVIATION CAN BE FUN FOR EVERYBODY AND THERE'S THERE'S JOBS AND ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF AVIATION. SO WE JUST WANT TO OPEN PEOPLE'S EYES, GIVE THEM SOMETHING FUN TO DO. AND WE DID THAT 5K THIS MORNING, TOO. AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO RUN A FIVE PANEL RUN AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY? GETTING THE FLU IS NOT FUN FOR ANYONE FLU PREVENTION AND RESPONSE. IT'S EASY AS ONE, TWO, THREE, YOU CAN PRACTICE PREVENTION BY WASHING THEIR HANDS AND KEEPING YOUR HOME CLEAN, KEEPING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG BY EATING HEALTHY AND BEING ACTIVE AND STAYING AWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK. IF YOU DO GET THE FLU OR GET SICK, THEN GO TO THE DOCTOR, STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL OR WORK, STAY HYDRATED. THE STRENGTH IN YOUR BODY TO FIGHT THE VIRUS. REMEMBER BLUEPRINT, ATTENTION AND RESPONSE IS EASY AS THAT ONE, TWO, THREE I'M SARAH ROCK CLERK TO COUNSEL FOR BEAVER COUNTY COUNCIL. DID YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY HAS 29 ACTIVE HOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN BUFORD COUNTY AND ALLOW CITIZENS LIKE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ADVISE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES. MEMBERS SERVE IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES FROM ADVISING COUNCIL REGARDING THE SELLING AND PURCHASING OF LAND HEARING APPEALS, ALLOCATING TAX MONIES, ADVOCATING FOR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING ON STORMWATER RELATED ISSUES, ZONING ISSUES, DESIGN REVIEW, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, YOU NAME IT. VISIT WWW DOT BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV/COUNCIL/BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TODAY TO SEE A LIST OF OUR ACTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION SIGN UP TODAY. SO YOU CAN HAVE A HAND IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY EVEN GREATER THAN IT ALREADY IS. CARS. ALL OVER BUFORD COUNTY ARE BEING TARGETED, BUT THESE, WE WANT TO REMIND YOU NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR AND TO KEEP YOUR DOORS HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT RECENT HOUSE. PLEASE CONTACT THE BEAVER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR CROPS. . * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.