Jan 25, 2021 Bluffton Strategic Planning Workshop

ON ITEM FOUR OF YOUR ACTION AGENDA, WHICH IF WE STAY ON TRACK SHOULD FOLLOW LUNCH.

OH, AND WE HAVE MIKE'S GREAT.

MR. HAMILTON, TELL EVERYBODY WHO YOU ARE.

FRED HAMILTON.

LISA SALKA, BRIDGET FRAZIER, LARRY SCOTT MARSHALL, INTERIM TOWN MANAGER, FINGER MARK ORLANDO AND LINDSAY HOUSEMAN WHO DIDN'T.

SO THIS WOULD BE GOOD.

Y'ALL WHEN YOU TALK, JUST TRY TO GET YOUR MICROPHONE FROM A CLOSE.

SO, UM, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO SCOTT AND SCOTT.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF YOUR COMMENTS, WOULD YOU GIVE US ALL A TIME OF MAYBE LONG LUNCH? JUST SO IF PEOPLE HAVE TO RETURN PHONE CALLS ARE ALL ABOUT ON THEIR DAY AND THEN I'M SURE WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BREAK IN BETWEEN, BUT WOULD YOU KIND OF GIVE A SET BALLPARK OF WHERE WE'LL BE? YES.

MA'AM.

I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT.

UM, LET ME JUST GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TODAY.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF, AND INVITE A GUEST.

THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING OF COUNCIL, WHERE WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THE SAME ROOM TOGETHER IN NEARLY A YEAR.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY.

YOU CAN'T SEE QUITE EVERY EVERYTHING OF EVERYBODY BECAUSE OF OUR MASS, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY IN THE SAME ROOM.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT WE'RE SPREAD OUT AND THERE ARE FAR FEWER PEOPLE IN HERE THAN WE NORMALLY HAVE DURING OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP, AS A PRECAUTION, EXCEPT FOR EATING OR DRINKING.

I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE, PLEASE, TO KEEP YOUR MASK ON AND BE MINDFUL OF OTHERS AND SOCIAL DISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AS YOU CAN, THOUGH, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT ABLE TO BE IN THIS ROOM WITH US TODAY DUE TO COVID.

WE ARE BROADCASTING LIVE ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL, AND WE'RE ALSO STREAMING LIVE ON THE TOWN'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

WE PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY CLERK.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE RECEIVED NO PUBLIC COMMENT TO READ THIS MORNING AT THE REQUEST OF THE MAYOR AND MARC ORLANDO REPRESENTATIVES FROM BUFORD COUNTY AND BUFORD JASPER, WORST WATER, SEWER AUTHORITY, UH, WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE WITH US.

AND WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE WITH US THIS MORNING, SARAH, MICHAEL, KENNETH AND BECCA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THEY'RE COOPERATIVE AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO SEVERAL PRIORITIES ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY COUNCIL.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO HAVE DEEPER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS LIKE THE STONY CREST AREA, BECAUSE CONTAMINANTS DON'T RECOGNIZE BOUNDARIES ON A MAP.

THEY GO WHERE THE WATER FLOWS AS WE GET STARTED.

I WANT TO SAY HOW HONORED I AM TO COUNCIL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS YOUR INTERIM TOWN MANAGER AND HELP WITH THIS PROCESS.

I WORKED CLOSELY WITH MARTIN FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS TO ALIGN THE ACTION AGENDA WITH THE BUDGET THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PROCESS THIS YEAR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT WITHOUT MARK.

HM.

MY JOB FOR THE TIME BEING, AS I SEE IT IS TO BE SURE WE STAY ON TRACK WITH OUR ACTION AGENDA AND THAT WE ADOPT OUR FYE 22 BUDGET.

MY PROMISE TO YOU IS THAT THE NEXT BLUFFTON TOWN MANAGER, WHETHER IT'S ME OR SOMEONE ELSE WILL BE CLEAR ON YOUR PRIORITIES AND WE'LL HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THAT SAID, I THINK OUR GOAL TODAY IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

THIS IS THE IN-BETWEEN YEAR WHERE WE CHECK IN, MAKE SURE WE'RE ON TRACK WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE STAFF A CHANCE TO UPDATE YOU WITH THE PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE ITEMS YOU IDENTIFIED AND YOUR FYI 2122 STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO DISCUSS ANY NEW PRIORITIES THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE AFTERNOON

[00:05:01]

THERE ARE NO TIMES SPECIFICALLY PUT ON THIS ACCIDENT AGENDA ON PURPOSE BECAUSE SOME DISCUSSIONS TAKE LONGER THAN OTHERS, DEPENDING ON THE ITEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ESPECIALLY THE ACTION AGENDA IS TRULY A LIVING DOCUMENT.

THE ACTION AGENDA NOW LIVES ON AND ON OUR WEBSITE FOR ANYBODY TO SEE.

AND WE'LL ALSO KEEP IT DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE WORKSHOP TODAY FOR REFERENCE TO GET US STARTED AS, AS THE HELPFUL PATTERN THAT MARK ESTABLISHED IN PREVIOUS YEARS, I'D LIKE TO TAKE YOU QUICKLY THROUGH A, BY THE NUMBERS TYPE OF STATION FOR WHERE WE ARE IN BLUFFTON.

LET ME JUST GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

HAVE YOU BEEN, ARE YOU GOING UNDER NUMBER FOUR? UH, WE ARE, UH, WE ARE NOT QUITE TO NUMBER FOUR YET.

SORRY.

UH, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

THE SWAB, I JUST WANTED TO DO IT FOR THE RECORD.

ARE WE AT PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE AT PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, JUST TO KEEP IT, KIM IS WE ARE AT PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS WE HAVE ASKED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO COME IN ON, UM, ELECTRONIC MEANS AND WE ARE DOING THAT AS WELL ON TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT ON TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE'RE ACTUALLY PULLING THE PEOPLE IN ON OUR ZOOM ROOM AND THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO SPEAK THEIR PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, THEMSELVES, BUT THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGENDA LAST SPRING HAS AMONG OTHER THINGS INTRODUCED MULTIPLE CODE EDITS, PURSUED AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES TO INCLUDE CONTRACTING FOR THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THREE TOWNHOME PROPERTIES COMPLETED OR INITIATED WELL OVER A DOZEN CAPITAL PROJECTS HIRED A NEW POLICE CHIEF WHO WAS REVIEWING POLICY AND ALREADY MAKING POLICY CHANGES, RESULTING IN SAFER CONDITIONS FOR OUR OFFICERS.

WE ARE STILL AT ABOUT 54 SQUARE MILES.

AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE A HIGHLY, UH, STRUCTURED IN TERMS OF OUR LAND MASS BEING 92%, UH, PLANNED WITH MPDS AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.

AND OF THAT 92% AREA, WE ARE 46% BUILT OUT ESTIMATED POPULATION.

SOUTHERN BEAVER COUNTY HAS INCREASED 5.79% SINCE 2015 WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT BEING IN BLUFFTON, AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBERS AND THE FOLLOW, OUR ESTIMATED POPULATION OF BLUFFTON RIGHT NOW IS WELL OVER 25,000, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 26 OR 27.

BY THE TIME WE GET THE CENSUS NUMBERS IN, WHICH IS QUITE AN INCREASE OVER 50% SINCE 2015, OUR MEDIAN AGE HAS ALSO CREPT UP A LITTLE BIT, UH, TO A LITTLE OVER 37.5 YEARS OLD.

OUR MEDIAN PER CAPITA INCOME NOW IS AT 38,007 78, WHICH IS A 38% INCREASE SINCE 2015.

AND OUR HOUSEHOLD INCOME MEDIAN IS 82,000 NOW, WHICH IS ROUGHLY OVER 28% INCREASE SINCE 2015.

REMEMBER THOSE NUMBERS, MEDIAN RENT 1747, WHICH IS OVER 28% INCREASE SINCE 2015 MEDIAN HOME VALUE IS UP 36.72% SINCE 2015.

IF YOU GO BACK AND COMPARE THAT WITH THE RISE IN INCOME, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE RISE IN THE VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY AS OUTSTRIPPING, THE RISE IN INCOME, WHICH SPEAKS TO YOUR, UH, PRIORITY OF LEADING AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.

THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

THIS IS, THIS IS AN INDICATOR OF HOW BUSY THE TOWN IS.

AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN IN A YEAR THAT WAS, UH, MARKED WITH, ARE WE STILL ISSUED 638 PERMITS FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES THIS YEAR? THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION THOUGH, THE NUMBER OF PERMITS IS DOWN.

THE VALUE OF THE CONSTRUCTION IS UP, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE NUMBERS WE JUST SAW PREVIOUSLY.

WE'VE HAD NO PERMITS ISSUE FOR MULTIFAMILY UNITS.

THIS YEAR, THE COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE CHART IS ALSO PRETTY TELLING OUR COMMERCIAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS DOWN FROM 2019, FROM 367,000 TO 340.

AND THE VALUE IS DOWN CONSISTENTLY WITH THAT.

AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBERS, WE JUST SHOWED YOU STAFF PRODUCTIVITY REMAINS HIGH.

THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN GOES ON.

EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC, WE'RE ABLE TO REMAIN PRODUCTIVE BECAUSE OF THE QUICK AND WISE DECISIONS MADE BY THIS COUNCIL EARLY ON, WHICH INCLUDED A SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCY PLAN, AND SEVERAL DECISIONS MADE THROUGH A SERIES OF EMERGENCY ORDINANCES BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THAT OF TOWN MANAGER, MARK ORLANDO, WE WERE ABLE TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE ELECTRONICALLY VERSUS IN PERSON, WHICH INCLUDES PUBLIC MEETINGS AND TELEWORK POLICIES.

WE ADOPTED A VERY ROBUST ACTION AGENDA LAST YEAR.

AND AS MARK MIGHT SAY, STAFF HAS CONTINUED TO SCORE GOALS AND MAKE IT RAIN THAT'S BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO GREAT LEADERSHIP, WE'RE BLESSED WITH A VERY TALENTED STAFF, A STAFF WHO SINCE ADOPTION OF OUR ACTION

[00:10:01]

AND THE PUBLIC STOOD UP A LAW ENFORCEMENT CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MOVED OUR DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION INTO THEIR PERMANENT HOME AT BUCK WALTER PLACE REFUND AT A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, WHICH SAVES THE TOWN $690,000 OVER THE LIFE OF THE BOND.

I ADOPTED A NEW EMPLOYEE POLICY MANUAL, CONTINUE TO DEVELOP INTERNS THROUGH SUMMER AND WINTER BREAK PROGRAMS. DESPITE BEING IN A COVID ENVIRONMENT AND OVERCAME MULTIPLE CYBER ATTACKS IN A FEW MINUTES, I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING FOR A WHILE AND I'M GOING TO LET YOU HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR SENIOR STAFF ON THE ACTION AGENDA ITEM, TOPICS OF INTEREST UNDER THEIR PARTICULAR PURVIEW.

WE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN GOING THROUGH THE ACTION AGENDA LINE BY LINE, AROUND THE NOON HOUR, WE'LL HAVE LUNCH BROUGHT IN AND WE CAN EITHER CONTINUE WORKING WHILE WE TAKE A SHORT BREAK OR WE CAN EAT WHILE WE TAKE A SHORT BREAK OR CONTINUE WORKING, WHATEVER FEELS RIGHT AT THE TIME.

FOLLOWING SENIOR STAFF PRESENTATIONS, THERE'S AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

THAT IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE ON YOUR AGENDA.

THIS IS MEANT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OPEN DISCUSSION OF TOPIC AREAS OF INTEREST TO COUNCIL IN THE LEFT POCKET OF YOUR BINDER.

I'VE INCLUDED A HANDOUT WHICH CONTAINS A LIST OF POSSIBLE DISCUSSION ITEMS IF NEEDED.

AND THEN BEFORE WE ADJOURN FOR THE DAY, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT OUR BUDGET CALENDAR.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START WITH STAFF PRESENTATIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT.

TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS AND OBVIOUSLY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS AN AGENDA ITEMS RELATED TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT IN YOUR PACKET, YOU HAVE A MEMO THAT OUTLINED SEVERAL OF THE AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED CODE AMENDMENTS.

HEATHER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US OFF? LET ME REAL QUICK.

IS SHE OKAY AT HER? YUP.

I'LL TRY TO BE REALLY TINY BIT LOUDER THAN YOU NORMALLY.

UM, JUST WANTING

[IV. Review of Current Strategic Plan Action Items ]

THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS APPEAR THROUGHOUT THE STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, UM, AND ARE REFERENCED IN THAT DOCUMENT JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT AND, UM, GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM.

ONE WAS THAT CALIBRATION OF LAND USES.

SO THIS WAS LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR DEFINED LAND USES REAL QUICK.

UM, CAUSE I'M LOOKING AT COUNCIL FOR THE MOST PART.

WE FOLLOW YOU IN OUR BONDER OR IN THE, IS THERE SOMEWHERE WE CAN FOLLOW YOU? UM, THERE IS, UH, IN THE WHAT'S THE MIND'S GRAY, I THINK YOU'RE S I'M NOT SURE YOUR BINDER, WHAT TAB WOULD IT BE? DO YOU KNOW, CONSULT BINDER TAB SEVEN.

AND THAT IS THAT'S HEATHER'S TAB.

SORRY.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT US TO BE, I WAS DOING THE SAME THING, JOHN SEVEN, SEVEN, THERE'S A MEMO FROM HEATHER.

UM, AND IT SAYS STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IN 2021 IN CODEX.

ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS, SOME THINGS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS, AS FAR AS THINGS THAT THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HAVE TYPICALLY RECEIVED COMMENTS FOR.

SO LIKE I SAID, ALL OF THAT IS CROSS-REFERENCED AS FAR AS THE DIFFERENT UDL AND CODE AMENDMENTS AND HOW THEY ALIGNED WITH THE STRATEGIC, UH, ACTION ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS COMPLETING THE FIRST ONE WAS THE CALIBRATION OF LAND USES.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE WENT THROUGH AND WE LOOKED AT BUILD THE DIFFERENT LAND USES AND ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY BASED ON, YOU KNOW, BUSINESS PRACTICES WE'VE SEEN.

AND THIS INCLUDED USES LIKE, UH, DISTILLERIES BREWERIES, UM, SMALL MANUFACTURING TYPE USES AS WELL AS THE ELIMINATION OF, UH, MANY WAREHOUSES AND SELF STORAGE FACILITIES IN ALL DISTRICTS, OTHER THAN PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

SO THOSE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AND WE ARE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION STAGES OF IMPLEMENTING THE EDITS AS THEY PERTAIN TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

SO THAT CERTIFICATION PROCESS THAT ALSO GOES WITH THAT ALSO SMALL CELL FACILITIES.

THOSE ARE THOSE WIRELESS BOOSTERS.

SO TO SPEAK AGAIN IN THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF THAT, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY APPLICATIONS AT THIS TIME, BUT OUR CODE IS ALIGNED TO ADDRESS THAT.

SHOULD WE RECEIVE ANY REQUESTS, UH, FURTHER GOING THROUGH WE'VE HAD SEVERAL AMENDMENTS RELATED TO HISTORY, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT,

[00:15:01]

SO GO AHEAD AND CODIFIED CHANGES SUCH AS LIKE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR SHUTTER, DOG DETAILS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, THAT ALSO INCLUDED ADDRESSING MINIMUM LOT SIZES.

SO, UM, WE HAD CHANGED THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE AND THE FORM-BASED CODE TO REQUIRE, UM, THAT NEW SUBDIVIDED LOTS LESS THAN 50 FEET IN WIDTH.

SO ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND APPROVED, ALSO CHANGES THE WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCENTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL NEW PDPS OR AMENDED PDS.

IT WAS INCREASED THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FROM A MINIMUM OF 10% TO 20%, AS WELL AS ADJUSTING THE AMI TO BE 3%, UM, TO RECEIVE ELIGIBILITY.

AND ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND ADOPTED, UH, CONTINUING ONTO THE SECOND PAGE CONSTRUCTION SITE PRACTICES AND INSPECTIONS AS THEY RELATE TO JUST SAFETY MEASURES OF KEEPING EVERYTHING NICE AND TIDY AND SECURED.

AND THEN ALSO WHEN AN EMERGENCY EVENT OCCURS.

SO THE SECURING OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, UM, YOU KNOW, NO REMOVAL OF TREES OR VEGETATION IN ORDER TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO, YEAH, UM, HAS BEEN APPROVED SOME OTHERS THAT WE ARE STILL WORKING ON, AND THAT WILL BE COME BEFORE YOU IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS ARE, UH, ITEMS RELATED TO UNSAFE UNINHABITED STRUCTURES OR WHAT HAD BEEN CALLED IN THE PAST DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT OR PROACTIVE PRESERVATION.

SO, UM, THAT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING DRAFTED AND ADOPTED AS WELL AS REDUCTION OF BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, ALIGNING THAT MASS AND SCALE AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS APPROPRIATELY SIZED AND REQUIRED FOR THAT HISTORIC DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, CENTER DISTRICT, WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING AND I BELIEVE I'M COMING BEFORE YOU, THE NEXT MONTH IS THE LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL STORMWATER ORDINANCE CHANGES.

AND THAT INCLUDES OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF CHANGES, UM, THAT WERE UNDERWAY WITH THIS.

SO LOCO COMMITTEE AND THAT REGIONAL EFFORT, WHICH BRIAN AND ENGINEERING HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, BUT ALSO RELATES TO VARIOUS UDL AMENDMENTS SUCH AS GRADING AND MAKING SURE THAT GRADING IS, UM, THAT GRADING REQUIREMENTS ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE TOWN CONTINUING ON.

SO THE NEXT PAGE, SOME OTHER ITEMS RELATED TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, GOING THROUGH THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, AS FAR AS WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, AND THEN GOING THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE ACTUAL CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE LIST, PRETEND COUNCIL'S DIRECTION.

SO THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE YOU AT NEXT MONTH AS WELL.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE THERE A AMENDMENTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON ARE RELATED TO TREE PROVISIONS.

AGAIN, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALIGNED AS FAR AS, UM, A TREE, A FEE IN LIEU OF THE MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS, UM, SPECIFIC TREE TREE COUNTS, UM, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE YOUR REQUIRED BUFFER AREAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT MINIMUM TREE COVERAGE.

SO I'M WORKING ON DRAFTING THAT AS WELL, SORRY, SIMULATIONS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN LINE WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES THAT HAVE COME ONLINE, UH, WHILE AGAIN, MEETING THAT BLUFFTON CHARACTER.

SO LOOKING INTO THAT AS WELL, ANOTHER ONE THAT IS BEFORE YOU FOR A SECOND AND FINAL READING, OR AT LEAST ANTICIPATED IN FEBRUARY IS CHANGES TO THE FLOOD PROTECTION ORDINANCE.

AND THIS IS TO ALIGN OURSELVES WITH THE UPDATED FIRMS OR THE FLOOD INSURANCE RATE MAPS, AND TO MAINTAIN THAT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CITIZENS FLOOD, UM, FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM.

SO THOSE THAT IS THAT'S A LOT OF THOSE, UM, ACTION ITEMS THAT ARE IN THAT STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN IN ONE MEMO OUTLINED AS FAR AS WORKING, WORKING TOWARDS COMPLETION OF THOSE ITEMS. SO WELL UNDERWAY.

UH, ANOTHER COUPLE THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS, AND THIS ISN'T SPECIFICALLY IN YOUR BINDER, BUT DID JUST WANT TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THAT IS AN ACTION AGENDA ITEM.

WE HAVE JUST ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH N K S K AND THEIR PARTNERS WHO INCLUDE SO TEAL.

AND SO TL FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION, A COMPONENT THOMAS AND HUTTON FOR ENGINEERING, AS WELL AS KIMBERLY HORN OR THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING PORTION OF THAT.

WE JUST HAD OUR KICKOFF MEETING LAST WEEK.

AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE WILL BE PUTTING TOGETHER A WORKING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS PRIMARILY STAFF, UM, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR TEAM.

AND THEN ALSO

[00:20:01]

A STEERING COMMITTEE THAT WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF APPROXIMATELY 15 OR SO REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS THE TOWN THAT REPRESENT EITHER, UH, VARIOUS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, AND JUST TO GET DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND REALLY, UH, WORK WITH US THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

UH, ONE REASON MKS K WAS SELECTED TO HELP US WITH THIS, UM, TASK IS THAT THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH PUBLIC INPUT DURING A PANDEMIC.

SO, UM, AS YOU KNOW, ANY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT TAKES A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC THROUGH TYPICALLY THROUGH IN-PERSON MEETINGS.

HOWEVER, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW.

SO IN CHALLENGING, I WOULD SAY, SO THEY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH SURVEYS, UM, AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER SMALL MEETINGS ONLINE, UM, INPUT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTH PROCESS TO GO THROUGH THE RESEARCH AND DRAFTING STAGE OF IT.

AND WE ANTICIPATE, UM, APPROXIMATELY AN 18 MONTH PROJECT FROM START TO FINISH.

SO, AND THAT IS LITERALLY JUST STARTED LAST WEEK.

SO, UM, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THE OTHER ITEM IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, WHICH ARE A COUPLE OF OUR ITEMS AS WELL.

WE ARE ABOUT WORKING WITH A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNER, UH, POTENTIALLY TO CONSTRUCT APPROXIMATE, TO CONSTRUCT AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING ON THREE DIFFERENT TOWN OWNED PROPERTIES.

AND THOSE INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 60 UNITS ON ONE 15 BLUFFTON ROAD, APPROXIMATELY EIGHT UNITS ON ONE 84 BLUFFTON ROAD AND 12 TO 14 UNITS ON MAY RIVER ROAD.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH, UM, AGAIN, A POTENTIAL PARTNER AND WORKING ON A CONTRACT, AND THAT WILL BE COMING BEFORE TOWN COUNCIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, UH, TWO OTHER ITEMS, ONE IS THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND OUR OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS ON WITH A CONSULTANT TO COME UP WITH A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT A REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST WOULD LOOK LIKE.

HOW WOULD IT BE COMPOSED? WHAT WOULD BE THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS? HOW WOULD IT WORK? SO WE'VE JUST HAD SOME KICKOFF MEETINGS WITH COUNTY IS THE LEAD.

AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE, UM, IN THE DATA GATHERING STAGE OF THAT PROJECT.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON, UM, GETTING THE CONSULTANT INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHERE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN OCCURRING, WHAT ARE THE PRICE POINTS, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN THEIR ASSESSMENT.

THE OTHER PROGRAM IS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING, UM, A LOT OF WORK CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND ACTUALLY EXPAND THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TREE REMOVAL.

SO, UH, IN THE PAST WHERE THE PROGRAM WOULD PAY FOR A HOLE IN YOUR ROOF SHOULD A TREE BILL THROUGH IT.

UM, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL WITH, UH, APPROVAL OF LAST YEAR'S BUDGET HAS BEEN MORE PROACTIVE TO SAY, OKAY, IF THERE'S DANGEROUS TREE, THAT THERE WOULD BE, UM, FUNDS AVAIL AVAILABLE TO MITIGATE THAT TREE.

SO THAT IS A CHANGE TO THAT PROGRAM TO FURTHER EXPAND IT.

AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER ONE I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS, UH, ANNEXATION POLICIES AND EDUCATIONAL, UH, INFORMATION AND MATERIAL THAT, UM, ITEM, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST OR WHAT I WOULD, UM, WHAT I WOULD ASK AS PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO SEE WHAT, WHAT INFORMATION COMES OUT OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT IT MAY CHANGE BASED ON FUTURE LAND USE MAP, UM, AND JUST THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

BUT AGAIN, UM, WE HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THAT ANNEXATION MANUAL TO INCLUDE THAT INITIAL STEP, WHICH WE DID HERE AT LAST MONTH'S TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.

SO AGAIN, ARE WORKING TOWARDS CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THAT PROGRAM.

AND AGAIN, AS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WILL COME OUT OF THAT COMP PLAN, I EXPECT, UM, SOME MORE CHANGES AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES RELATED TO THAT ITEM.

UH, SO THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT.

IF YOU HAD ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC ITEMS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER OR GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AT COUNCIL TO GO IN ANY MORE DETAIL TO ELABORATE ON ANYTHING SHE SAID ABOUT THAT.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION, HEATHER, THIS WORKLOAD, HOW DOES THIS FIT INTO YOUR CALENDAR TO KEEP IT ON THE SCHEDULE? YOU'VE PUT OUT THERE, HONESTLY, I MEAN, AND WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

SO WE HAVE SOMEONE TO TELL US, THIS IS YOUR LOAD.

WE CAN'T ADD IN ABCD.

I MEAN, I, I REALLY LIKE TO SEE THIS DONE.

I, I REALLY, WHAT, AND IT'S NO FAULT THE TREE PROVISIONS WHEN THAT WAS DISCUSSED, WE'RE STILL MEETING IN PUBLIC.

SO IT MUST'VE BEEN 2019 OR EARLY 2020 THAT, THAT ON ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE YOUR WORKLOAD LONG QUESTION I HAVE DONE.

AND THAT ONE IS ONE THAT WE HAVE, UM,

[00:25:01]

USED SOME RESOURCES TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND, UH, SERVICES AND, UM, FOLKS THAT WE'D HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT.

SO WE HAVE STARTED THAT.

UM, I DON'T WANT, I KNOW IT HAS, UM, BECAUSE OF OTHER PRIORITIES, SOME QUOTA AMENDMENTS HAVE SHIFTED THROUGHOUT, BUT WE HAVE, UM, FORWARDED OUR CURRENT REGULATIONS TO, UM, TO TWO DIFFERENT LAND PLANNERS WHO HAVE BASICALLY STARTED TO REVIEW THAT AND MAKE SOME SUGGESTED CHANGES.

SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT.

UM, IT'S, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET A TRUE ASSESSMENT SIMILAR TO WHAT I KNOW ENGINEERING HAS DONE WITH THE REGIONAL STORMWATER MODEL IS REALLY LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S THE RESULT OF THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

UM, IT'S AGAIN, GETTING MORE, IT'S MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THE APPROPRIATE CHANGES TO MEET TOM, TO MEET Y'ALL'S DIRECTION.

YOU'RE SIX, THE ITEMS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE CAN BE DONE WITHIN THIS TIMEFRAME.

I THINK SO.

AND I THINK IT IS FOR COUNCIL TO NOTE, I THINK THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE'VE THROWN THIS ON YOU THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, BUT IT MAY BE AN EXTRA ITEM ON AN AGENDA.

I MEAN, WE DON'T NEED TO MEET UNTIL 1130 AT NIGHT, BUT JUST KNOW THERE MAY BE MONTHS WHERE THERE ARE TWO OR THREE ADDED ITEMS, BUT I THINK FOR THE GOOD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT NEEDS TO BE ON THERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.

WE HAVE, UM, ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ONLY USE THE TERM AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT I KNOW THE STAFF IS USING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.

I LIKE TO KNOW WHY.

AND WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE? UM, THE RE THE REASON QUITE FRANKLY, THAT I USE TOO, IS THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE DOES REFERENCE BOTH AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A WORKFORCE HOUSING PROVISION.

SO, AND THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THRESHOLDS AS FAR AS THAT, UM, AFFORDABLE MEANING OR THAT MEDIAN INCOME, UH, LEVEL.

SO IT'S QUITE FRANKLY, I KNOW IT IS, UH, AT TRULY ALL IS AFFORDABLE.

I SIMPLY JUST USE BOTH TERMS BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE BOTH REFLECTED IN THE VIDEO.

SO, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS A CONNOTATION SOMETIMES NOT NECESSARILY AROUND HERE, BUT IN OTHER LOCATIONS THAT IT IS GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIZED, SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.

SO BY USING WORKFORCE HOUSING, IT KIND OF GIVES A LITTLE BIT BROADER DEFINITION.

I THINK THAT'S WHY WE ORIGINALLY PUT IT IN THE ORDER.

I'M NOT SURE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION, FRED, BUT THAT'S THANKS FOR TRYING, BUT THE PRO THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THAT IS THAT WE KEEP MOVING, KEEP MOVING THE, THE, THE, THE TARGET AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T CONVINCE, AND I'M GOING TO BE BLUNT WITH THIS.

YOU CAN'T CONVINCE EVERYBODY THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS RIGHT, BUT BLUFFING TO BE CONVINCED THAT IT'S RIGHT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO WHAT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES LET'S DO IT BLUFFTON WAY.

MARK HAD A COMMENT, FRED OR NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IT.

I AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILMAN HAMILTON SAYING A LOT OF TIMES.

BUT WE DON'T DO ATTAINABLE HERE.

SO A LOT OF TIMES, SORRY, I FORGOT HOW TO DO THIS WAS TALKING TO MY COMPUTER.

UM, A LOT OF TIMES WORKFORCE IS A HIGHER QUALIFIER.

SO TYPICALLY WHAT YOU FIND IN A LOT OF PLACES IN THE, IN THE TRUE DEFINITION IS UNDER 120% OF THE AREA.

MEDIAN INCOME IN AFFORDABLE IS, IS LOWER THAN THAT.

SO THOSE TWO TERMS, WHILE WE INTERCHANGE THEM, THEY DEFINE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE AMI IN MOST PLACES.

I THINK WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO HERE IS IN OUR CODE, WE REDUCED 120% UNDER 100 AT THE REQUEST OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND THE UNANIMOUS VOTE OF COUNCIL.

OUR DEFINITION NOW IS UP TO A HUNDRED PERCENT, NOT UP TO 120 IS IT REFLECTS OUR PURPOSE.

AND SO THE DEFINITIONS LIE NOW IN BETWEEN 80 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MARRY THOSE TWO WORDS, 60 AND A HUNDRED PERCENT, EXCUSE ME.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO MARRY THOSE TWO TERMS. PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS USE WORKFORCE HOUSING AT THE HIGHER AMI AND AFFORDABLE LOWER.

THAT'S JUST AN INDUSTRY STANDARD.

IT'S NOTHING WE MADE UP HERE, BUT I THINK THAT IF WE GET THE TERMINOLOGY RIGHT, AND STAFFS ONLINE AND ONBOARD, IT'LL HELP EVERYBODY AND FRED TO DO NOTE.

I MEAN, AND I WAS ACTUALLY OKAY WITH IT AT SO LOCO WHEN THEY WANTED TO SAY ANOTHER WORD, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF EDUCATION, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

I WANTED TO GIVE TO HEATHER, I HAD SEVERAL CALLS THIS WEEKEND,

[00:30:01]

YOU MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN BLUFFTON.

WE STILL CALL IT AFFORDABLE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE.

AT LEAST AT AFFORDABLE IS STILL IN THERE.

BUT I GOT A CALL THE OTHER DAY, THEN FOR PHONE CALLS, FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE ACROSS FROM 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD, THE WAY THE NEWSPAPER WROTE IT, IT SAID, TALKED ABOUT UP TO 14 UNITS, BUT THEN THE WAY THEY WROTE IT, IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU COULD DOUBLE THAT.

SO PEOPLE ARE UP IN ARMS OVER WHAT THEY READ.

AND I WILL TELL YOU, I SPENT MOST OF YESTERDAY WITH THESE PEOPLE SAYING, THIS IS IT'S 14.

I WENT UNDER OUR CAT PROJECTS.

I GAVE HIM THE LINK TO THAT MAP, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T THINK IT'S THE SAME MAP AS WHAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT LATE LATELY.

SO I NEED TO UPDATE THAT, THAT, UM, I, I DON'T, I'M SORRY, I DON'T WRITE FOR THE NEWSPAPER, BUT I DO KNOW WE DOUBLED IT TO 12 OR 14 BECAUSE OF OUR AFFORDABLE BONUS.

SO PEOPLE JUST ARE GONNA READ WHAT THEY WANT TO READ.

AND I AGREE WITH YOU I'VE, I'VE GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO, TRYING TO OVEREDUCATE.

SO I'VE RELAYED IT TO WALL STREET, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LOOK, HOW DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH WHARF STRIPS, THE SAME THING.

SO THANK YOU, MARK, FOR THE CLARIFICATION, ANYONE ELSE ON ANYTHING ELSE THAT HEATHER HAS MR. FINGER THROUGH THINGS, UM, AND TALKING TO HER A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE, ON THE REWRITE OF AN ORDINANCE, UM, YOU ALL SAID, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY END OF THIS CLEAR CUTTING BUFFERS ANYMORE.

SO WE START WORKING ON THAT TO REALIZE THAT IT IMPACTS TREES, BUFFERS, GRADING, SILVER CULTURE, AND PLANNING.

SO ONE LITTLE PROJECT MIGHT CUT ACROSS A BUNCH OF LINES.

AND THAT'S WHAT THAT'S, WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT, WE'RE GOING TO FIX IT THROUGHOUT.

AND THEN JUST A REAL BRIEF, UM, STATUS REPORT ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONTRACT WITH OUR, UM, I GUESS PARTNER, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.

UM, WE HAVE DIVIDED IT INTO FOUR DIFFERENT PHASES AT THE, AT THE REQUEST OF MARK AND SCOTT AND STAFF PHASE.

ONE IS GOING TO BE THE PLANNING PHASE.

UM, HOW MANY UNITS, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE END AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN THE SECOND PHASE IS GOING TO BE THE FINANCING PHASE.

THIRD PHASE WILL BE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION.

UM, AND FOURTH PHASE WILL BE HORIZONTAL CONSTRUCTION.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO, TO MAKE IT AS AS FACT INTENSIVE AND CRITERIA INTENSIVE AS WE CAN.

WE'LL HAVE A DRAFT OF THAT ON SCOTT AND MARK'S DESK PROBABLY LATE TODAY OR TOMORROW.

SO THAT CONTRACT IS ABOUT DONE REAL, REAL QUICK ON THAT TERRY WHAT'S THE TIMING FROM PHASE ONE TO PHASE FOUR, AND THEN I'VE GOT A FOLLOW UP.

OUR ORIGINAL DRAFT WAS WAY TOO LONG, IN MY OPINION, IT'S IT WAS PROBABLY 18 MONTHS.

UM, WE HAVE COMPRESSED IT DOWN TO TRY TO GET ONE THROUGH FOUR WITHIN ABOUT 18 FROM START TO FINISH.

IS WHAT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO AIM FOR RIGHT NOW? WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE REALISTIC TIMEFRAME THAT WE CAN IMPOSE, BUT THAT WILL BE ULTIMATELY THE DECISION FOR THE FIVE OF YOU.

NOT US OBVIOUSLY WAS, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

NOT THAT THE LINE OF SIGHT.

THEN WHERE DOES IT FIT IN AT TO QUALIFY? I MEAN, I VIVIDLY REMEMBER WAR STREET, SO WE'RE TAUGHT THAT QUALIFICATIONS.

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY WHERE'S, WHO RUNS IT THAT'LL BE DURING PHASE ONE PHASE ONE.

WHEN WILL WE FIND OUT WHAT COSTS ARE? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CONSTRUCTION COSTS THAT'D BE DURING PHASE ONE PHASE ONE, CORRECT? CORRECT.

DID YOU HAVE QUESTION MARK BANK MAY GO TO DAN REAL QUICK DURING PHASE ONE.

THAT'S WHERE THOSE ELEMENTS START TO GET DEFINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL AND BY AND BY THE TOWN.

SO THEY'RE NOT DEFINED FOR THAT PROGRAM YET, BUT PHASE ONE, WHEN WE'RE UNDER DESIGN FOR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION, TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PRICING OF IT ALL.

THAT'S WHEN THOSE QUALIFICATIONS OF WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE GET, GET DEFINED, JUST WANTED TO SAY, JUST FOR CLARITY ON THAT BUFFER COMMENT THAT YOU MADE TERRY, NOT ONLY TO PRESERVE THE TREES, BUT WE HAD DISCUSSED ABOUT REMOVING THAT PORTION FROM THE CALCULATIONS OF THE TREES THAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR PROPERTY.

AND ALL, IS THAT WHY THIS DATE OF JUNE OF SUMMER FOR THAT ONE ITEM IT'S IN COALITION, IT'S KIND OF IN PARALLEL WITH OTHER THINGS, IS THAT WHY IT GOT MOVED OUT IN YOUR OPINION, LARRY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING AND SPEAK IN HERE? KIND OF JUST TRYING TO CLARIFY,

[00:35:02]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING? HEATHER, TERRY SCOTT, MARK.

REALLY GOOD JOB.

HEATHER, YOU'VE GOT A LOT ON YOUR PLATE, BUT I THINK ALL OF THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY YOU THINK ABOUT THIS.

SO, UM, OKAY.

SCOTT, BACK AT YA, BRIAN, LET US KNOW THE TAB TOO, RIGHT? IF YOU FOLLOW ALONG IN TAB FOUR OF YOUR BINDER, UH, BRIAN IS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT ENGINEERING, UH, HE AWARD FOR A STAFF'S BUSIEST PERSON MOST DAYS.

SO, UH, AND HE AND HIS CREW ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

UM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THEIR FINISHED PROJECTS, RIGHT? FAMILY PARK IS A HUGE HIT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S, THAT'S VERY VISIBLE.

THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME OTHER HIGHLY VISIBLE PROJECTS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'LL SEE IN THE COMING YEARS LIKE THE, THE, THE BAR THAT NEW RIVERSIDE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO TURN INTO A PARK.

SO HE'S GOT A GREAT TEAM PUT TOGETHER AND HE'S GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO WELL.

AND BEFORE YOU START, I HAVE THE, UH, I MEAN, THIS IS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO LOOK THIS WAY.

I'VE ALREADY SEEN THREE PEOPLE RUN AROUND THIS TRACK THAT WAS PARTNERSHIP WITH ROTARY CLUB.

AND ON BEHALF OF THEM, I HAD, I'VE SEEN TWO LADIES STROLL, AND THEN YESTERDAY, THIS PARK WAS FULL, FULL, I THINK, PARTIES AND KICKING THE BALL AND EVERYTHING.

SO YOU'RE VERY CREATIVE AND SPEAKING, COULD YOU SAY TAB FOUR IS WHAT HE SAID, FOUR.

SO YOU PROVIDED, UH, THE EMAIL, UM, RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE PROJECTS, SOME OF THEM HAVE SUB PROJECTS WITHIN THE MAIN PROJECT.

I JUST WANT TO FOCUS ON A FEW OF THEM FOR YOU TODAY.

UM, THE FIRST IS A, THE GHOST ROAD ACQUISITION UPDATE.

UH, WE HAD THAT WORKSHOP IN OCTOBER AND YOU'LL RECALL THERE'S, UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S 11 ROWS THAT WE'RE GOING AFTER THE PRITCHARD STREET BRIDGE STREET, MAIDEN LANE, LAWRENCE STREET, COLD COCK STREET, WATER STREET, GREEN STREET, THE BOWS LING GIRARD AVENUE, STONE STREET, AND ROBERTSON STREET.

UM, COVID HAS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS, OBVIOUSLY AND GET, UH, RESIDENTS ALL IN THE SAME ROOM, UH, TO DATE WE HAVE RECEIVED, UH, I BELIEVE 15 SIGNED QUICKLY.

INDEED'S OUT OF 169 THAT WE NEED FOR ALL OF THOSE ROADS.

UM, WE'VE COMPLETED THE SURVEY FOR ALL OF THOSE ROADS AND WHICH PARCELS THAT WE NEED.

THOSE QUICK CLAIM, DEEDS, TERRY AND RICHARDSON ARE WORKING WITH US TO DEVELOP THOSE QUICK CLAIM DEEDS.

AND JOHN HUTCHINSON IS OUR ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER, AND HE IS GOING TO BE SENDING OUT LETTERS AND TRYING TO GO DOOR TO DOOR.

UM, COUNCILMAN WAS, UH, OFFERED TO HELP US WITH, UH, LAWTON STREET AND THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.

UM, I BELIEVE JOHN'S MEETING WITH COLDCOCKED STREET TODAY, SO WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS, BUT IT IS SLOW.

IT'S JUST HARD TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE SAME ROOM.

AND IT'S HARD FOR JOHN TO MAKE CONTACT WITH SOME FOLKS, UM, BRIDGE STREET, THOSE RESIDENTS ON THE GHOST ROAD, PORTION OF THAT ROAD.

THEY HAVE A LAWYER, I BELIEVE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THEIR ISSUES WITH THE QUICK CLAIM DEEDS.

UM, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM SIGNED FAIRLY SOON, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE SLOW RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU NEED OUR HELP OTHER THAN WITH DAN? I MEAN, CAN YOU, YEAH, PROBABLY YES, I WOULD.

I WOULD LOVE YOUR HELP.

UM, WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, WITH EACH I CAN EITHER SEND YOU LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO COLD COCK, OR WE'RE GOING TO WATER, YOU KNOW, DO YOU KNOW THESE RESIDENTS? COULD YOU HELP US WITH THAT? UM, BUT W WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU BECAUSE IT IS SLOW FOR JOHN TO DO ALL THIS.

UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S A QUICK UPDATE ON THE GHOST ROADS.

UH, THE NEXT ONE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS THE BIS NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATE.

UM, WE ARE IN THE LAST PHASE, THE SEWER, UM, THAT WOULD BE PHASE FIVE, A THROUGH E WE'VE COMPLETED PHASE FIVE E.

THAT WAS POSIES COURT.

AND THE CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON PHASES FIVE, EIGHT THROUGH FIVE D.

UM, WE EXPECT TO BE COMPLETE BY THAT BY JUNE.

UM, I BELIEVE THE WEATHER HAS MADE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.

THEY GOT INTO SOME, SOME WATER ISSUES WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO DIG THEIR TRENCH, BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION THERE.

UM, THE LAST PHASE OF SIDEWALK IS PHASE SIX.

WE'VE BROKEN THAT INTO TWO SUB PHASES.

PHASE SIX, A WILL BE IS UNDER A PERMITTING RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT OUT TO BID NEXT MONTH.

UM, PHASE SIX B IS UNDER DESIGN, AND WE HOPE TO BID THAT NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

THAT WILL BE THE

[00:40:01]

LAST PHASE OF SIDEWALK.

UM, I HAD SENT YOU AN UPDATE ALSO LAST WEEK ABOUT THE LIGHTING.

WE'VE REPLACED ALL THE LIGHTS OUT THERE, THE EXISTING LIGHTS WITH LED LIGHTS, BUT WE'RE HITTING A SNAG WITH SED, OT, AND ADDING MORE LIGHTS.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MEET THEIR, UM, THEIR REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED BY ADDING MORE LIGHTS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH PALMETTO ELECTRIC TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF HYBRID SOLUTION THAT CAN SATISFY EVERYBODY.

I DON'T THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING TO BE TOTALLY HAPPY, BUT IF WE CAN GET EVERYBODY TO BE SOMEWHAT HAPPY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE.

SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH, CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICK, JUST SINCE YOU LEFT THERE QUESTIONS ON WHAT HE SAID SO FAR? CAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LONG LIST, SO USED TO BE THE BIG PROBLEM WITH SAYING WITH TOO BRIGHT OR TOO HIGH OR TOO CLOSE TO IT'S ONE OF THE, IF YOU'LL RECALL MAY RIVER ROAD, WHENEVER YOU HAVE A LIGHT THAT, UM, ENCOURAGES INTO THE ROADWAY, IT HAS TO MEET THE UNIFORMITY THROUGHOUT THE CLARITY.

SO YOU HAVE TO LIGHT THE WHOLE ROAD.

SO WE WOULD HAVE LIGHTS GOING ON, BOTH SIDES ALL THE WAY DOWN, BOTH THOSE ROADS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE, UM, I DON'T THINK THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT LOOKING LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'D BE TOO BRIGHT.

IT DOESN'T REALLY FIT IN.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SO MANY LIGHTS ON MAY RIVER ROAD, BECAUSE ONCE THE LIGHT AND CURSES ON THE ROAD, YOU CAN'T HAVE LIGHT, DARK, LIGHT, DARK, LIGHT, DARK.

SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.

AND WE CAN'T MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS WITH, WITH THE PHOTOMETRIC PLAN THAT PALMETTO ELECTRIC GAVE US.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE IN THE, I THOUGHT WE DISCUSSED ALL THIS.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET EVERYONE'S MEMORY.

ARE THE LIGHTS THAT YOU PUT UP, THE LIGHTS THAT WE ALL ALL AGREED TO USE? YES.

SO THOSE ARE THE LIGHTS.

SO THE, THE EXISTING LIGHTS THAT WERE OUT THERE, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TYPES, BUT WE'VE REPLACED ALL OF THEM WITH A CONSISTENT LED LIGHT.

AND THE HEIGHT OF THE LIGHT IS WHAT WE ALL EXPECTED IT TO BE AS WELL.

ELECTRIC.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHO'S DRIVEN DOWN THERE AT NIGHT.

I IT'S DEFINITELY MORE LIGHT, I MEAN, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THAT LIVE ON THAT ROAD RIGHT NOW AND THEY PROBABLY SPEAK TO IT.

THERE'S A MORE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY INTENSE, BUT IT IS A HIGHER WATTAGE LIGHT AND LED PRODUCES A BRIGHTER LIGHT ANYWAY, COMPARED TO THE OLD KIND OF YELLOW.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE, WE'VE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE LIGHTING THAT WE ALL TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORKSHOP.

AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO GET WITH COMMENT ELECTRIC HOMEWORK.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS UP TO THIS POINT? YEAH.

CLARITY THAT LIGHTING IS FOR, FOR THE SIDEWALKS.

BUT IT'S STILL ENCOURAGING THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT COMES IN WITH THE STATE WE BELIEVE IS CORRECT.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE, BUT THE GOAL IS TO LIGHT THE SIDEWALKS, NOT THE MAIN ROAD.

UM, THOSE WILL BE INCLUDED THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH THOSE LIGHTS.

IT'S LIKE A FLASHLIGHT, RIGHT.

IF YOU FOCUS IT ON YOUR HAND, BUT WHEN YOU PULL UP, IT SPREADS OUT.

AND SO THE PROBLEM IS IT'S SPREADING OUT INTO THE ROAD AND WE'RE NOT MEETING THEIR STANDARDS WHEN IT DOES THAT.

UM, THE NEXT PROJECT I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT WAS PUBLIC SEWER INSTALLATION DOWN IN THE HISTORIC.

WE HAVE COMPLETED THE MAIN LINE, UH, CONSTRUCTION ON PRITCHARD STREET ON THE NORTH SIDE OF BRIDGE.

UM, WE ARE WORKING ON INSTALLING THE FORCE MAIN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIDGE ON THE, ON THE DIRT ROAD PORTION OF PRITCHARD STREET.

UM, AS WE SPEAK, I BELIEVE WE'RE GETTING THE, UH, PERMIT TO OPERATE FOR THE GRAVITY PORTION FROM BEFORE JASPER AND WATER AND SEWER.

AND THAT WAY WE CAN START TYING IN, UH, RESIDENTS TO THAT LINE AND MAKE IT OPERABLE, AT LEAST THE PORTION.

AND THEN WE'LL GET THE FOREST AND GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

UM, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

UH, THAT AGAIN, WE HIT A SNAG WITH BRIDGE STREETS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S THE, UH, THAT PROJECT ON PERJURED IS I WOULD CALL IT 75% FLEET, UM, RIGHT.

FAMILY PROPERTY COUNT NEW STREET DOCK.

AGAIN, THAT IS 99.9% COMPLETE.

ALL THE DO IS GET THE RIGHT BENCHES FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

THEY SENT US THE WRONG BENCHES.

UM, THE VENTURES THAT ARE THERE NOW, WE'LL, WE'LL SWAP THOSE OUT.

AND THEN ONCE THAT'S DONE, IT'S, THERE'LL BE COMPLETE.

SO HOPE YOU ALL ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT PROJECT.

I KNOW I AM.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL, UH, ESQUIRE POPE CARE TOUTS, WHICH IS IN THAT SAME PROPERTY, WE'VE COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS FOR THAT, UH, FOR THAT HOUSE.

WE ANTICIPATE SENDING THAT OUT TO BID, TO GET PRICES AND INCLUDE IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

UM, THAT'LL BE A REALLY GREAT IS GOING TO BE INTENSIVE TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT, UM, THE PLANS, IF Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THEM, I CAN SHARE THEM WITH YOU, BUT IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.

AND I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY HAPPY WITH THAT PROJECT.

UM, NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK, WE, UH, YOU ALL APPROVED THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I THINK TWO MONTHS AGO, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A CONTRACTOR TO WORK ON THOSE PLANS AND THE DESIGN DRAWINGS AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS FOR THE BARN OR INNOVATION.

[00:45:01]

AND THEN FINALLY THE MAY RIVER ACTION PLAN UPDATE.

WE, UH, KIM PRESENTED THAT TO YOU THAT LAST WEEK'S WORKSHOP.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALLY WANT ME TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT AGAIN, BUT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU.

UM, I BELIEVE NEXT MONTH FOR FIRST READING AND THAT'S IT.

I CAN TALK ABOUT ANY OTHER PROJECTS, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON FOR YOU, MR. WOOD, MR. WOOD.

I AM THE, UH, THE NEW RIVERSIDE BAR PARK, WHICH WAS, YES, SIR.

LOOKS FABULOUS.

PAPER'S ONE THING.

AND REALITY'S ANOTHER, WHEN WILL YOU BE BRINGING THAT CONCEPT TO THE COUNCIL? UM, ONCE WE GET LIKE PROBABLY 25% CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND THAT WAY WE CAN DO ANOTHER WORKSHOP, BRIAN, LET ME ASK YOU WHAT I JUST ASKED HEATHER.

ARE YOU, YOU HAVE A HEAVY WORKLOAD? YES.

AND I MEAN, SUPER HEAVY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN STAY SO CALM.

UM, CNX XANAX IS GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU ON THIS? I MEAN, YOU FEEL LIKE THIS IS IT'S, IT'S THE WORKLOAD.

IT IS.

UM, BUT W WE'RE DONE A GOOD JOB AGAIN.

COVID HAS MADE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT WHERE WE'RE NOT ALL IN THE SAME ROOM, BUT, UM, OUR PROJECT MANAGERS HAVE STAYED ON IT.

THEY COME OUT IN THE FIELD, THEY MEET WITH THEIR CONTRACTORS.

UM, BUT YEAH, WE'RE BUSY.

WELL, I APPRECIATE, I KNOW ALL THE COUNCIL DOES.

UM, THE ONLY COMMENT I'VE HEARD FROM THE PROPERTY ON THE RIGHT FAMILY PROPERTY.

UM, AND IT'S INTERESTING, YOU'RE CHANGING OUT BENCHES THERE.

PEOPLE SAID THEY'RE NOT ENOUGH BENCHES, BUT SO THERE'S ALWAYS NOT ENOUGH SOMETHING, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF THOSE ARE TEMPORARY.

YEAH, NO, THE MANUFACTURER, SO THE ONES THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ARE CONVEX, THE ONES THEY SENT US, OUR CONCAVE AND THE SHIPPING COSTS SO HIGH THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT.

THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THEM SHIPPED BACK.

SO THEY'RE JUST LETTING US KEEP THE ONES THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW.

AND THEY'RE SENDING US THE NEW ONES OR THE CORRECT ONES.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT.

SO WE'LL HAVE A VARIETY.

WE'LL DOUBLE UP.

THAT'S GREAT.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM BRIAN? NO, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TEAM AND ALL THEY DO BECAUSE THEY SURE DO A LOT.

SCOTT JUST WANT TO JUMP ON THE RIGHT FAMILY PROPERTY FOR THE MOMENT.

UM, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IT BRIEFLY AT COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONTH WITH REGARD TO THE USES AND RENTING IT OUT.

AND THAT KIND OF THING.

UM, STAFF IS PUSHING FORWARD WITH GATHERING INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC ON, ON, UH, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THAT PARK, WHETHER IT, YOU KNOW, TO BE USED, NOT TO BE USED, UH, TAKING A LOOK AT, UH, UH, PRICES, UH, FOR USING IT OR RENTING IT.

AND, UH, WE'LL BE COMING BACK WITH MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.

SO YOU CAN MAKE A WELL-INFORMED DECISION ON EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PARK.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, BANNED FOR USE OF THE PARK.

PEOPLE ARE CONTACTING LINDY ON A REGULAR BASIS, UM, ASKING TO RESERVE THE PARK AND, UH, WANTING TO USE IT FOR WEDDINGS AND, AND VARIOUS ITEMS. SO IT IS A PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, THAT IS IN AS MUCH DEMAND OR MORE THAN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THAT, AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU.

AND IT'S NICE THAT ALL OF US WILL BE TOGETHER.

I HAD A TALK WITH LARRY, UM, WHO WAS LARRY.

NOBODY KNEW IT WAS YOU TAKING THAT BOAT OFF THE SANDBAR, BUT I BET I HAD A DOZEN PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW NICE THAT PERSON WAS THAT TOOK THOSE PEOPLE OFF THE SANDBAR, BUT IT TOOK YOU AWAY FROM OUR WORKSHOP.

SO, UM, LARRY TALKED TO ME LATER.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD, WE NEED ALL OF COUNCIL BECAUSE LISTENING TO HIS COMMENTS REALLY MADE ME AGAIN WITH DAN'S CONCERN OF TAKING THE PARK AWAY FROM CITIZENS AND JUST, IT'D BE NICE FOR ALL OF US TO BE TOGETHER AGAIN AND DO THAT AND MAKE A DECISION.

I ANTICIPATE WE'LL BRING THAT BACK HERE IN WORKSHOP FORM AGAIN, FOR SOME THOUGHTS ON COUNCIL BEFORE WE FORMALIZE ANYTHING ON THE FEE SCHEDULE.

UM, SCOTT, I DO HAVE ONE THING.

JUST SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT LONG LAYER.

YOU GUYS SPEAKING OUT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THERE SEEMS TO BE WHERE WE HAVE ALREADY OBLIGATED THE PARK FOR WEDDINGS, OR AT LEAST ONE THAT I KNOW OF.

UM, THOSE PEOPLE ARE CALLING ME AND DEPENDING ON ME, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU SAID WE COULD, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE THERE, WE HAVE IT RESERVED TO GET THE WORD, RIGHT.

MAYBE YOU CAN.

SO THEY'RE IN A TIZZY ABOUT THEIR WEDDING AND GOT EVERYTHING ALL PLANNED.

AND SO SOMEHOW, OR ANOTHER, NO MATTER WHAT WE DECIDE TO DO MOVING FORWARD, WE GOT TO A PIECE OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE ALREADY SAID THAT THEY COULD PLAN THEIR WEDDING THERE.

WE GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE.

AND I, AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SPEAK TO THAT FOR ALL OF COUNCIL.

SO YOU HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION.

UM, WE HAVE STAFF THAT'S HARD-CHARGING AND WE HAVE STAFF THAT LEANS FORWARD.

AND, UH, I LIKED THAT ABOUT THE STAFF.

THAT'S HOW

[00:50:01]

UM, BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, UH, WE HAD STAFF THAT LEAN FORWARD AND ASSUME THAT THE PARK WOULD BE RENTED OUT BASED ON PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS THAT COUNCIL HAD HAD ABOUT THE PROPERTY.

AND SO, UH, WE HAD STAFF AND TAKING, UH, SOME RESERVATIONS FOR THAT PROPERTY AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT APPROVED.

AND I, I THINK, UH, IMPRUDENTLY, UH, PEOPLE WHO HAD CONTACTED STAFF FOR THOSE RESERVATIONS WERE TOLD, NO, PARK'S NOT ABLE TO BE RENTED OUT WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE WINDING THAT BACK A LITTLE BIT.

AND OUR RESPONSE TO THEM IS THAT, UH, IT'S NOT A MATTER OF THAT COUNCIL HAS DECIDED FINALLY YET, UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RIP UP YOUR RESERVATION REQUESTS THAT YOU GAVE US.

WE STILL HAVE IT IT'S TENTATIVE.

WE STILL HAVE A TIMESTAMP.

WE KNOW WHEN WE GOT WHICH RESERVATION, SO FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, AND WE WILL HONOR THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, UH, SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO FORMALLY PLACE IT ON THE FEE SCHEDULE AND ALLOW IT FOR RENTAL? SO THAT'S STILL PENDING.

UH, WE HAVE STAFF WHO ARE CONTACTING THOSE PEOPLE COUNCIL IN TUMOR AND LETTING THEM KNOW THAT, UM, ALL MAY NOT BE LOST, UM, AND EXPLAINING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

WELL, LET'S GET THAT ON THE SCHEDULE AND JUST TELL THEM IT'LL BE ON THE CALENDAR ON WHATEVER DAY.

I MEAN, I'M OKAY FOR A QUICK WORKSHOP ON ZOOM.

JUST TO GET, BUT ALL OF COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO CHIME IN ON THAT.

WE CAN SCHEDULE THAT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY.

SO WE'RE BACK AT YOU, RIGHT? WE'RE FINISHED WITH BRIAN.

SO SINCE, UM, OUR LAST, UH, WORKSHOP IN JANUARY LAST YEAR, WE HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF, UH, CHIEF STEPHANIE PRICE HAS JOINED US.

THIS IS HER FIRST WEEK PLANNING WORKSHOP WITH THE TOWN.

AND, UH, I'VE JUST ASKED HER TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON A FEW MONTHS.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE EMAILS THAT I FORWARD YOU WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE POLICY CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE, SHE'S BEING VERY PROACTIVE.

AND, UH, I, I WANTED YOU TO HEAR FROM HER FIRSTHAND, CAN I JUMP IN BEFORE SHE STARTS? I'M JUST THINKING IF I'M AT HOME ON, I HADN'T GOTTEN ON THE BEAVER COUNTY CHANNEL, THIS IS LIVE RIGHT.

SO WHAT ARE PEOPLE AT HOME SEEING LIKE RIGHT NOW, ARE THEY SEEING THAT ACTION AGAINST THE NEED TO PUT UP THERE, SCOTT, ON THAT? WHAT ARE THEY, WHAT ARE THEY SEEING? SO THEY'RE NOT SEEING WHAT WE SEE ON A SCREEN.

YOU'RE, THEY'RE JUST SEEING HER FACE.

SHOULD WE PUT THE AGENDA UP THERE THEN? JUST IN CASE YOU EVER GO OVER THERE BECAUSE, OKAY, SORRY.

AS A, AS A REMINDER, UH, JUST FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, UH, THE ACTION AGENDA THAT WE HAVE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW IS VIEWABLE BY ANYONE, UH, BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AND TYPING IN THE SEARCH TERM STRATEGIC PLAN.

AND IT WILL BRING UP OUR STRATEGIC PLAN PAGE AND THERE'S A LINK TO OUR RIGHT.

SO THEY COULD SEE ANY OF THESE ITEMS. IS THERE A DETAIL LIKE HYPERLINKS ON THINGS THAT WE'VE SEEN OR IS IT JUST THE AGENDA IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE HERE.

IF YOU CLICK ON THIS AND YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERS SURE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THAT YOU CAN GET ALL THAT.

SO GO ON MAP, SEARCH, STRATEGIC PLAN, STRATEGIC PLAN.

HEALTH AND SAFETY THAT WE ACT VERY QUICKLY ON NOT WAIT ON IT.

AND IT WILL BRING YOU TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN PAGE.

AND THERE'S A LINK TO OUR ACTION AGENDA ON THAT PAGE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? YOU'RE GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.

MARIN COUNCIL, TOWN STAFF.

I APPRECIATE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO REVIEW TODAY WITH THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO COVID AND WHAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO AND WHAT KIND OF RECAP, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

SO OF COURSE THEY, UH, REVIEWED AND AMENDED THE CURRENT PANDEMIC IN ANNEX.

THEY ESTABLISHED AND MANDAN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.

THEY HAD CONSTANT LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH COUNTY AND STATE EMERGENCY OFFICIALS.

ALSO WE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE, CALL THE STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE LOCAL HOSPITAL.

WE HAVE COORDINATED WITH THE BLUFFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT TO, UM, ESTABLISH THE DECONTAMINATION PROTOCOLS.

AND OF COURSE WE WORK CLOSELY WITH HUMAN RESOURCES, ALWAYS ESTABLISH QUARANTINE FACILITIES FOR ANY OF OUR OWN STAFF THAT GET, UM, POSITIVE TESTS.

WE'VE ALSO CREATED A COMMUNICATIONS GROUP AND A WORKING GROUP.

AND OF COURSE WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CENTERS, ORDERS AND INTERPRET THOSE.

AND WE, OF COURSE THE MASK ORDINANCE, UH, SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, WE HAVE ACTED QUICKLY TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE GETTING TESTED IN A RAPID MANNER THAT MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP OUR CITIZENS SAFE, AS WELL AS OUR TOWN STAFF SAFE IN ANY POSITIVE EXPOSURES OR POTENTIAL EXPOSURES.

WE HAVE QUICKLY VERY QUICKLY INTO ACTION TO DECONTAMINATE THOSE FACILITIES OR SCHOOLS THAT ANY OF THE TOWN STAFF MAY HAVE BEEN IN OR MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO.

AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME FOR THE

[00:55:01]

AND WE COME AS SOON AS WE CAN.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR COVID? YOU KNOW, THE BEST THING ABOUT IT IS WE HAVE REALLY LEARNED HOW TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS AS THEY COME ABOUT.

AND WITH THE ADVENT OF RAPID TESTING THAT HAS REALLY HELPED US OUT AND AGAIN, IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH HIM, I'M ON STAFF FOR THEM, OR I'VE GOT A QUICK QUESTION.

ARE YOU ARE ALL FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE COUNTY ON A LIST TO GET SHOT? AND WHAT IS YOUR PROTOCOL ON THAT? OR DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR OUR GUYS AND WOMEN? SO WORKING WITH HR, IT WAS VOLUNTARY TO GET THE SHOT OR THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS.

SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO GET THE SHOT, BUT IF THEY WANTED TO, IT WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH THE VACCINE PROGRAM, THE PORTAL ONLINE.

AND WAS THAT DONE ALREADY? HAVE THEY HAD THEIR FIRST AND SECOND FOR THOSE WHO VOLUNTEERED? OR WHERE ARE YOU IN THAT? YES, THEY'VE HAD THEIR FIRST AND SECOND FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT, BUT IT WAS ON THEM TO SCHEDULE WASN'T REQUIRED, STRICTLY VOLUNTEER.

WELL, SO THE OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT WERE KIND OF WAITING ON THE FIRST FOLKS TO SEE HOW THEY TURNED OUT, TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO GET, SO NOW THEY'RE SLOWLY TRICKLING IN, BUT I'D HAVE TO SAY THE PERCENTAGE THAT ACTUALLY WANTED TO DO IT AT FIRST, THAT SIGNED UP FIRST THAT SIGNED UP IMMEDIATELY WAS ABOUT 20%, BUT THEY'RE MORE AND MORE ASKING ME AND ASKING HUMAN RESOURCES THAT THEY CAN SIGN UP TO GET THE VACCINE.

WHEN YOU HAVE A, WHEN YOU HAVE A, UM, ANY, UM, INFECTION OR A CASE INSIDE YOUR OFFICE, HOW WAS WHO'S CLEANING THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE MATERIALS AND THE STUFF TO CLEAN IT THERE.

SO WE DO IT.

SO YOU DO IT IN THE HOUSE.

I HAVE A QUESTION TOO, FOR, UM, FOR CHIEF IN REGARDS TO, UM, OFFICERS, UH, TRANSPORTING SUSPECTS OR EVEN RESPONDING TO CASES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHAT, UM, SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE TO REDUCE THEIR, THEIR RISK OF COMING IN CONTACT WITH COVID LIKE, HOW DO THEY PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THAT? SO WE DO WHAT, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DOES.

WE TRY TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE, WE WEAR GLOVES.

WHEN WE'RE A MASK, WE FREQUENTLY WASH HANDS.

WE CAN SANITIZE THEIR VEHICLES AND THAT TAKES MINUTES TO DO.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY HOW THEY DO.

THEY HAVE A SANITIZER, A FUMIGATOR THAT THEY USE FOR VEHICLES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF THEY FEEL THAT THERE'S BEEN AN EXPOSURE, WE ALSO NOTIFY QUICK.

ARE THERE, UM, THAT LIKE, UH, HAVE CARS BEEN OUTFITTED DIFFERENTLY OR IS THERE LIKE A PROTECTIVE SHIELD AS THEY'RE PUTTING, IF THEY HAVE TO PUT SOMEONE IN THEIR VEHICLE, IF THEY HAVE TO PUT SOMEONE IN THEIR VEHICLE THERE THERE'S NO PROTECTIVE SHIELD, BUT THEY DO QUICKLY SANITIZE IT IF THEY WANT, AND WE CAN DO IT VERY RAPIDLY.

IF YOU PULLED UP TO THE SALLY PORT, WE CAN SANITIZE IT WITHIN JUST A FEW MINUTES AND THEN YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY.

AGAIN, THE ONLY REASON I'M MAD, CAUSE I'M THINKING LIKE IF, YOU KNOW, THEY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO WAS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS AND DOING WHATEVER AND THAT PERSON, YOU KNOW, MAY SNEEZE OR RELEASE SOME TYPE OF FLUIDS.

AND, UM, I THINK THEIR CAR JUST HAD LIKE THE MESH YES.

UP, YOU KNOW, THAT COULD, IT COULD EXPOSE THEM.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE SEEING AN UPTAKE IN THIS AREA TO GIVE THEM AN EXTRA SENSE OF PROTECTION OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES, UM, AT RISK, YOU KNOW, DOING THAT.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GETTING HAZARD PAY OR ANYTHING.

I WOULD JUST THINK IT WOULD BE A, AN EXTRA PRECAUTION AND MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM.

CAR SHIELDS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ABSOLUTELY LOOK INTO, BUT I KNOW IF THEY'RE EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OR SAY THAT THEY HAVE COVID, WE IMMEDIATELY CALL IT FOR THEM TO GET MEDICAL SERVICES.

I WOULD LOOK AT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

YOU KNOW, AND LET US KNOW WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE AND, AND, AND FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WOULD HAPPEN, SOMEONE IN THERE AND THEY'RE SIX FEET.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

SO IN MINE, WE'RE ONLY TRANSPORTING IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

BECAUSE THE JAILS ALSO ARE LOOKING FOR COVID PRECAUTIONS AS WELL.

SO IT HAS TO BE AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY NECESSITY TO TRANSPORT YOU, TO MAKE YOU SURE THAT YOU'RE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.

WELL, ONE MORE QUESTION.

UH, YOU WERE, YOU KEPT SAYING VOLUNTARY, IS THAT THE PROTOCOL FOR ALL FIRST RESPONDERS IN THIS COUNTY, EVEN IN THE COUNTY LEVEL, THAT THESE SHOTS ARE VOLUNTARY OR ARE SOME OTHER AGENCIES REQUIRING DONE, NONE ARE REQUIRING THEM THAT I KNOW OF.

TO HEAR THIS AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

ART.

DID YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN HAMILTON ASKED A GOOD QUESTION ABOUT CLEANING PROTOCOLS.

AND SO I WANT YOU ALL

[01:00:01]

AND IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PANDEMIC.

WHEN WE HAVE A POSITIVE COVID TEST, WE SHUT DOWN THAT AREA, THAT THOSE FOLKS WERE IN.

WE BACKTRACK AND FIND OUT EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN CROSSED, CROSSED THEIR PATH AND WE HAVE DONE IT OVER AND OVER.

AND EACH TIME WE GET BETTER AT IT, KATHERINE SENDS AN EMAIL OUT TO ALL STAFF JUST TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW.

I HAVE FIGURED OUT TO SEND IT TO YOU ALL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR BUILDING BECAUSE IT KEEPS HAPPENING DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, THERE ARE POSITIVE TESTS OR AT LEAST AN EXPOSURE TO SOMEONE WHO HAD A POSITIVE TEST.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WANT TO CLEAN THE BUILDING, CLEAN IT ALL DAY LONG.

SO THERE'S A STAFF MEMBER THERE, PROPER PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.

THEY CLEAN IT ALL DAY LONG.

AND IF THERE ARE ISSUES, THEY HAVE A FOGGER.

I FORGET THE NAME OF THE COMPANY AND THE FOLKS THAT WERE SO GENEROUS AND DONATED US, DONATED TO US THAT EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT AT THE TIME.

SO THEY DO THAT IN NOW, IF THIS IS STORMWATER BUILDING, THIS IS TOWN HALL.

IF THIS IS PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING CREW THAT COMES IN AND DOES THOSE THINGS, A POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WOULD JUST RATHER DO THIS EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.

AND THEN IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, THEY HAVE A SMALL TEAM THERE THAT, THAT HAS REALLY PERFECTED WHAT THEY DO.

SO JUST PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE'S, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.

WE, WE CLEAN IN THE BUILDINGS AND THE POLICE WOULD JUST RATHER NOT HAVE THOSE FOLKS, THE CLEANING CREWS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'VE BEEN BACKUP HOUSE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, THEY TOOK IT ON UPON THEMSELVES.

YOU JUST ONE QUESTION.

I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR EVERYONE.

I MEAN, I APPRECIATE WHEN YOU SAY THERE'S A, A CASE, BUT YOU'RE BORDERLINE, YOU'RE TIPTOEING ON YOUR FENCE WITH HIPAA.

UM, HOW ARE YOU CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE WHO CORRECT.

BUT IF IT'S, UH, THERE WAS AN INSTANCE OF SOMEBODY AND I DIDN'T ASK, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY IN TOWN HALL AND I CALLED YOU AND I WAS LIKE, I JUST WANT THEM, I DIDN'T CROSS PATHS WITH THAT PERSON WITH YOU ON THAT WITH US.

CAUSE I, I CAN GET TRICKY.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE CLOSED AN OFFICE DOWN.

SO WE ARE ALL WORKING REMOTELY AND LOTS OF US ARE WORKING ALSO IN OFFICE SPACE.

SO THERE WAS A POSITIVE CASE.

WE SHUT THAT OFFICE SPACE DOWN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE'S A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME WE GET IN THERE AND WE CLEAN, WE BACKTRACK, WE MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S OKAY.

AND THEN, UH, 24, 48, DEPENDING ON THE INCIDENT HOURS LATER WE REOPENED.

SO WHEN WE CLOSE THAT PIECE OF BUSINESS TO MAKE IT REMOTE, THAT'S WHAT I LET YOU KNOW ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THOUGH.

SOMEBODY WHO WASN'T IN THE BUILDING HAS NO EFFECT ON OUR OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND HOW WE'RE DOING OUR BUSINESS ON A DAILY WAS EXPOSED OR TESTED, LETTING YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS.

ONE LAST QUESTION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT STILL HAVEN'T BEEN TRAINED PROPERLY.

HOW TO DO THOUGH.

I'M GOING TO DEFER TO BRIAN AND CHIEF ON THAT.

I SEEK, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER.

I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM FOLKS TRAIN DOWN.

I DIDN'T DO IT ORIGINALLY AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT.

I'M SORRY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THE COMPANY DONATED THE MACHINE, TRAIN THE FOLKS ON HOW TO USE IT.

AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT STILL DO IT.

THE OFFICERS IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO USE EITHER JUST TO SEE.

AND I'M GUESSING WITH, TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE MY FIRST THOUGHT IS WHY AREN'T THEY DOING IT FOR ALL OF OURS, BUT THEY KIND OF LIVE AND BREATHE POLICE DEPARTMENT, LIKE FIREMEN LIVE AND BREATHE FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE IN YOUR OFFICERS 24 SEVEN, LIKE, LIKE THEY DO.

SO YOU HAVE A TEAM TOTALLY FOCUSED ON THE BUILDING THEY LIVE IN.

THE REST OF THE FACILITIES ARE OPERATING AT A VERY LIGHT CAPACITY OF PERSON IN THE BUILDING.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN'T FUNCTION LIKE THAT.

SO THEY DO HAVE THAT SMALL TEAM THAT CLEANS ALL DAY LONG.

AND SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING AND WHAT THE EXPENSE IS AND BRINGS FORWARD COUNSEL CHIEF SHAKING HER HEAD.

GOING BACK TO BRIGID'S COMMENT.

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPENSIVE, BUT THEY PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST EXPOSURE AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE PERCENTAGE UP, THAT'S A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE, THE VACCINE THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY FEEL SAFER NOT TAKING IT.

SO WE NEED TO DO MORE ON OUR SIDE, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO TO NEPAL CITY, OKAY, THERE'S A PLACE FOR GLASS BACK THERE.

AND YOU KNOW, SO THEY'RE DEALING WITH BELLIGERENT PEOPLE CONSTANTLY THROWING THEM IN THE BACK OF THE CAR AND IF THEY ARE SICK OR ON A SCREEN, SO IT MIGHT BE WORTH PURSUING THAT APPROACH

[01:05:01]

YES, DEFINITELY.

YOU SHOULD DO IT.

DON'T EVEN LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YEAH.

COMING BACK AS A, AS A COUNCIL, I WAS SAYING THAT WE NEED, WE CAN BE THE DEPARTMENT.

I STILL WON'T SNEEZE AND I CAN GO UP, BUT ANYTHING TO STOP IT AND WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, ARE DOING IT.

I THINK WE'VE GOT US THE SIMPLE YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK ABOUT THE KINDA SPIT THROUGH IT.

JUST TO BE MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO YOU HAVE BACK IN THAT SEAT AT ANY HOUR OF THE NIGHT, SO AT LEAST YOU MADE A POINT IS ALMOST TO CORRECT YOURSELF EARLIER.

WE SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING.

TRY THE RIGHT THING OURSELVES.

UM, AND SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY DOING IS MULTILAYERED A RESPONSE AND REEDUCATION FOR LET'S SEE, 43 THIS YEAR, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A TRAFFIC UNIT.

AND JUST ONE MORE FINAL THOUGHT ON THE CLEANING BY THE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

AND SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE TASKED WITH CLEANING IT AS WELL.

SO THEY CAN GO INTO EVERY AREA THAT A DEPARTMENT.

SO JUST THROWING THAT ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON THE CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH, UM, TOWN COUNCIL ESTABLISHED, AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS CREATED IN 2019.

AND THEY WERE TASKED WITH SERVING AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO COUNCIL AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THERE ARE 11 MEMBERS STRONG.

I'VE BEEN VERY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED WITH THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL.

AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PLEASED DIANE, THAT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED AND PLEASED THAT I CAN CONTINUE THIS.

THESE ARE VERY ACTIVE AND ENGAGED MEMBERS OF OUR CITIZENS, AND THEY REALLY WANT TO GUIDE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND REALLY HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE BEEN HOLDING MONTHLY MEETINGS ON FACEBOOK AND USING THE 21ST CENTURY POLICING MODEL AND PILLARS OF 21ST CENTURY POLICING AS A GUIDE THEY'VE ESTABLISHED SUBCOMMITTEES.

IF YOU'RE UNAWARE OF THE 21ST CENTURY POLICING, IT WAS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA.

HE GOT BECAUSE OF UNREST, CIVIL UNREST WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE CITIZEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTIONS.

HE GOT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER AND THEY CAME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CAN USE TO ACTUALLY BUILD TRUST WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE THINGS THAT THEY, THIS INCLUDES BUILDING TRUST AND LEGITIMACY POLICY AND OVERSIGHT TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA, COMMUNITY POLICING, AND CRIME REDUCTION, OFFICER TRAINING AND EDUCATION AND OFFICER WELLNESS AND SAFETY AS THE PILLARS.

SO THE CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN USING THOSE AS GUIDING FACTORS IN WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE ON AND HOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US.

SO THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE STARTING WITH TRAINING AND RETENTION AND HIRING.

AND SO WE HAD A OPEN HIRING EVENT THIS LAST SATURDAY AND ALMOST EVERY MEMBER OF THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COUPLE WAS THERE.

THEY WATCHED THE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING OR A COMPREHENSIVE TESTING GO ON AND THEY SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE COMING IN ASKING QUESTIONS AND ALSO THE OFFICERS THAT WERE THERE TO ENGAGE ALL IT WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.

AND I'M VERY PLEASED.

THEY WERE THERE AND CONTINUE TO HOLD MONTHLY MEETINGS AND GATHER THEIR INPUT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY.

MOVING ON.

SO WE'RE ALSO HAVING A POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND IT WILL BE ESTABLISHED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

SO JANUARY OF 2020, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TASKED AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TASKED WITH REVIEWING AND REVISING POLICIES, UTILIZING NATIONAL STANDARDS.

SO WE'RE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS AND WHAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE DOING.

IT'S JUST GOOD PRACTICE TO REVIEW YOUR POLICIES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ALL UP TO DATE.

AND THEY'RE IN LINE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE CULTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE HAVING FOUR SWORN MEMBERS AND TWO CITIZEN MEMBERS ON THIS HIGH PRIORITY.

CRITICAL POLICIES WILL BE FIRST EXAMPLES OF THOSE ARE VEHICLE PURSUITS, USE OF FORCE, ARREST PROCEDURES, CIVIL DEMONSTRATIONS, AND DISTURBANCES AND EVIDENCE.

WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE DO OUR HIGHEST LIABILITY POLICIES FIRST.

NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT TO THE CITIZENS, WE ALSO WANT TO BE EASIER FOR THE OFFICERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

AND SO WE'RE MAKING SURE TO MAKE THAT WE'RE UP TO STANDARDS ON THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE QUESTIONS EXCITED ABOUT THAT TOO.

OUR POLICIES I'M, I'M VERY MUCH A POLICY PERSON.

I JUST LIKE TO KNOW PEOPLE TO KNOW WHERE WE'RE HEADING, WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

SO I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, LET'S SEE, 43, EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT LET'S SEE, 43.

[01:10:01]

SO WE HAVE TWO TRAFFIC OFFICERS, CITIZENS OF BLUFFTON, AND THOSE WHO TRAVELED THROUGH LIFTED THAT'S OFFICER JEFF DIXON AND TERRY HARDEN.

AND SO WHAT THE NEW TRAFFIC UNIT COMES NEW EDUCATION AND REEDUCATION OF LET'S SEE 43.

SO WE'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN, LET'S SEE, 43 AND MOVED THAT PROGRAM TO OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION, WHERE OUR TRAFFIC UNIT IS AS WELL.

ALSO, OUR SRS ARE IN THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION WHO ARE GOING TO BE MORE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SEE 43.

WE HAVE A FULL ROLLOUT PLAN THAT MONTH BY MONTH TELLS YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOR LET'S SEE, 43 AND THE YEAR OF 2021.

AND WE'LL BE REPORTING ON THAT MORE BRISKLY TO YOU FOLKS.

ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SAY TOO, IT'S NOT JUST TIME EDUCATION, EDUCATION AND RE-EDUCATION AND REMINDERS, NOT JUST OF STUDENTS, BUT OF PEOPLE WHO DRIVE AS WELL.

PEOPLE WHO DRIVE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DRIVE.

AND SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE GOALS OF, LET'S SAY 43 ARE DISTRACTIONS, REDUCE ACCIDENTS, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HOST PRESENTATIONS AND WE ABSOLUTELY WILL BOTH IN THE SCHOOLS AND IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ALSO HAVING DRIVING CAMPAIGN THAT YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT WE'RE ROLLING OUT AND THAT COINCIDES WITH ALL THE GOALS AND SAFETY OF LET'S SEE, 43, WE NEED TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS.

WE NEED TO REDUCE THE SPEED.

WE NEED TO LEAVE SPACE IN BETWEEN AND NOT TRAVEL IN THE LEFT LANE UNLESS YOU'RE PASSING.

SO YOU'LL BE HEARING ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

AND OUR WHOLE GOAL IS KEEP BLUFFTON SAFER PLACE.

WE REALLY WANT TO SAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE WILL REDUCE THOSE ACCIDENTS.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? AND ON THAT, UM, I KNOW IN THE PAST WHERE ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO GET, UH, UH, STATEWIDE TEXTING AND DRIVING DISTRACTED DRIVING POLICY.

SO I'M JUST GONNA THROW THAT AT YOU.

AND THEN I HAD BEEN SEEING, AND I JUST PULLED IT UP YOURSELF.

SO OTHER SITE, MAYBE THAT COULD GO CONCERT WITH THIS CALLED STOP TEXT, STOP REX.ORG.

AND IT'S RE IT'S MORE WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO AND MAYBE IT'S COUNCIL THAT GOES TO THE ELECT OFFICIALS AT A STATE LEVEL, OR ARE JUST AID WITH THIS, JUST TO KEEP THE FOCUS AS WELL AS WE'D LIKE TO STATEWIDE DISTRACTED DRIVING, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, ABSOLUTELY MAJOR LEGISLATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH.

I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, POLICY, UM, UPDATES DOING, JUST SPEAKING TO THIS REAL, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, CHIEF KUDOS TO YOU ON, ON NOT LEAVING THAT.

UM, AND I HAD A QUICK COMMENT FOR A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT, UM, HOW WE MOVE COMMUNITIES FORWARD, WHEN IT COMES TO THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE CITIZENS AND THE, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT, A LOT OF PEOPLE FOCUS NOW ON JUST COMMUNITY POLICING, BUT IF YOU'RE DOING THAT AND THE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN, UM, AN EQUITABLE AND OTHER THINGS DON'T CHANGE, YOU'RE REALLY NOT AFFECTING IT TYPE OF CHANGE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.

SO, UM, AGAIN, KUDOS AND TAKING THAT INITIATIVE.

UH, MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE IN MIND OF, UM, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO SELECT THE REVIEW OR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HELP WITH THAT REVIEW, UM, THEN REWRITE THE POLICY AND THEN, UH, WHAT WOULD BE LIKE THE PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF IT? ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE A TIMELINE IN MIND.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE A TIMELINE IN MIND.

THE MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SELECTED FROM OUR CITIZEN ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT WE HAD THE COMMITTEE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

SO THE CIVILIAN MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED.

SO, UH, JUST KIND OF A GUIDELINE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN OR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THERE'S ABOUT 15 CRITICAL POLICIES THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT IMMEDIATELY.

THAT POLICY WILL BE TAKEN A LOOK AT, WE'LL GET MODEL POLICIES FROM AROUND ICP AND OTHER DIFFERENT JOURNALS AND PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS.

AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SUGGESTIONS OF HOW THAT POLICY NEEDS TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS TO DO THAT, IT'S GOING TO GO OUT FOR TWO WEEKS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT LARGE.

SO THEY CAN GIVE COMMENTS ON THAT, WHAT THEY THINK, BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, THEY'RE THE ONES GOING TO BE USING THIS POLICY DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS AND HAVING TO ANSWER FOR THE POLICY.

IT'S GOING TO COME BACK WITH ANY EDITS AND REVISIONS.

IT WILL GO TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND THEN IT WILL GO TO OUR CITIZENS AS WELL.

SO THEY CAN GIVE COMMENTS ON WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN WILL THE POLICY BE MADE TO DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT AND MADE PRACTICE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

DO YOU SEE THAT AS BEING SOMETHING TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR? SO THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROCESS.

[01:15:01]

IT WILL NOT GET DONE IN ONE YEAR BECAUSE IT WILL BE ONGOING.

I WANT TO START WITH THE CRITICAL ONES FIRST, LIKE VEHICLE PURSUITS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THAT WE'RE DOING A SINGLE POLICY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN OTHER POLICIES WON'T GET ATTENTION ALONG THE WAY.

IF WE KNOW SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING POLICY, THAT'S NOT WORKING EITHER LEGALLY, ETHICALLY, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF WAY THROUGH PROCEDURES, IF THINGS CHANGED, THEN WE WILL CHANGE THAT IMMEDIATELY.

ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY.

YOU'RE DONE.

IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS I'M FINISHED.

SOMETIMES THEY REQUIRE CONTINUOUS INTERACT.

ANY QUESTIONS OF CHIEF? THANK YOU, CHIEF.

IF YOU COULD PASS THAT TO DAVID, I SURE GET EIGHT BED.

DAVID'S GOING TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIANE RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATIONS UP TO SINCE THEY MOVED THEM INTO MORE.

AND WHERE IS, WHAT TAB IS HE FOR? I LOVE HOW WE JUST GO BACK.

HE DOES NOT HAVE A TAB.

YOU DON'T HAVE A TAB, BUT I'VE ASKED HIM TO JUST SPEAK TO HIS ITEMS. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.

SO YOU'VE BEEN SEEING ME, FIRST OF ALL, I AM HERE INSTEAD OF MICHAEL LEVINE, WHO HAS A FAMILY MEMBER, THIS ILL NON COVID ILLNESS.

SO HE'S ASKED ME TO STEP IN AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ON THINGS ON A PERSONAL NOTE.

IT'S NICE TO BE BACK AND SEE EVERYBODY BACK LAST FEBRUARY AND THREE WEEKS LATER, EVERYTHING SHUT OFF.

SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES ON, UH, WE'RE WORKING ON THE DON RYAN CENTER.

UH, THE FIRST IS THE SMALL BUSINESS RESILIENCY PLAN, AS YOU KNOW, UH, DUE TO COVID MAYOR AND COUNCIL INSTITUTED THE RESILIENCE LAST APRIL.

I BELIEVE THEREABOUTS.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WITH THE DON RYAN CENTER ON THE RESILIENCY PLAN WAS TO ENABLE THREE MEMBERSHIPS.

ONE THAT WANTED IT TO BE THE DON RYAN CENTER.

AND THAT STARTED BACK IN Q1 OF 2020.

THE OTHER THING IT DID, IT ENDED THE RAGE OF DON RYAN TO COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE NOT WHAT WE CONSIDER A PROGRAM COMPANY WAS NOT AN INCUBATED COMPANY.

UM, SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD 29 PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS CALL US FOR HELP REQUEST AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOMETIMES THESE REQUESTS ARE HANDLED WITH ONE TELEPHONE.

NOW LET ME BE CLEAR.

THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY READY FOR THE PROGRAM, LIKE THE INCUBATION PROGRAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THE CAESAR BY DEFINITION, SHORTER TERM TYPE OF INTERACTIONS.

AND THEY'RE NOT A GOOD FIT FOR A PROGRAM FOR WHATEVER REASON, BUT WE HAVE HAD 29 REQUESTS AND INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.

WE INTERACT WITH THESE PEOPLE EITHER DIRECTLY FROM STAFF, OR MOST OFTEN TIMES WE REFER THEM TO ONE OF THE DON RYAN MENTORS, UH, TO WORK WITH THEM.

AND WE DO HAVE FULL KPI AS AN APPRENTICE WORKFLOW.

SO WE KEEP WALKING WHO WE'RE TALKING TO, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO WE MAKE SURE THAT PROGRESS IS MOVING FORWARD.

SO AT THE DON RYAN CENTER, WE FEEL THE RESILIENCY PLAN HAS BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE CONTINUE TO, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT FORWARD.

UH, SOME GENERAL UPDATES.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, A MEMBERSHIP AS OF THIS MORNING, WE HAVE 125 MEMBERS THAT DON RYAN CENTER THAT IS A 360% INCREASE FROM THIS TIME A YEAR AGO, THE MENTOR PROGRAM, WE HAVE 47 MENTORS IN THE PROGRAM THAT IS 135% INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MENTORS SINCE THIS A YEAR AGO.

AND NICE TO KNOW THAT 44% OF OUR MENTORS ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED WITH A CLIENT RIGHT NOW, GETTING GOOD TRACK IN FRONT OF MENTORS.

WE'RE USING THEM MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST, AS FAR AS THE INCUBATOR PIPELINE.

LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT, UH, HOW OUR PROGRAMS ARE SET UP.

NOW, THE CORE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM THAT STARTED BACK IN 2012, WE'VE REVAMPED, REBRANDED THAT PROGRAM WITH THE NAME OF STARTUP.

IT IS THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO IS THE CLASSIC 12 MONTH INCUBATION FOR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE RUN 35 TO 40 COMPANIES THROUGH SINCE 2012 AND GRADUATED THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

UM, SO WE HAVE STARTUP, WHICH IS THE CORE.

WE HAVE RESILIENCY, WHICH IS, UH, COULD BE A PRECURSOR TO START UP.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER NEW PROGRAM WE INSTITUTED, UH, PROBABLY IN MAY OF LAST YEAR CALLED GROWTH GROWTH IS THE NEXT STEP ALONG THE CHAIN.

SO WHAT'S THE STARTUP HELPS THE COMPANY GET GOING GROWTH HELPS THE COMPANY CONTINUE.

AND WE USE THAT FOR ORGANIZATION, UH, THAT HAVE TRIED TO GO TO SOME NEXT LEVEL, TRYING TO SCALE OR DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT THESE ARE GROWTH COMPANIES ARE, UH, ONGOING BUSINESS CONCERNS THAT ARE CASHFLOW POSITIVE GENERATING REVENUE, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO SOME NEXT LEVEL.

SO WE HAVE RESILIENCY, STARTUP AND GROWTH.

RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE COMPANIES

[01:20:01]

IN THE STARTUP PROGRAM.

HERE WE GO.

WE HAD ONE PART-TIME COMPANY IN THE PROGRAM.

AND ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES THAT, UH, WAS IN STARTUP, ACTUALLY IT CAME THROUGH RESILIENCY AND IT KIND OF ACCELERATED PROCESS.

AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY GRADUATED.

UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FORMAL CEREMONY YET, BUT THEY GRADUATED THROUGH THE PROGRAM IN DECEMBER.

UH, SO SEVEN COMPANIES AND STARTUP.

WE DID HAVE TWO THAT DROPPED OUT.

SO WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN NINE ONE DROPPED OUT BECAUSE OF PERSONAL REASONS.

AND ANOTHER COMPANY DROPPED OUT JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT HARDER TO START A BUSINESS THAN THEY THOUGHT, EVEN WITH OUR HELP.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF TELL THEM THIS HAS GOT TO BE TOUGH, BUT IT WAS A LOT MORE WORK THAN THEY WERE REALLY READY FOR.

SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE SEVEN COMPANIES IN THE STARTUP PROGRAM AND WE HAVE TWO COMPANIES AND THE GROWTH PROGRAM GROWTH IS A MUCH MORE INTENSIVE, MORE EXP PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A MUCH DEEPER PROGRAM THAN STARTUP.

WE'RE PROBABLY ALWAYS GOING TO SEE FEWER PROGRAMS AND COMPANIES IN GROWTH THAN WE DO IN STARTUP.

BUT AS IT RELATES TO OUR PIPELINE TRACK, WHO COMES INTO A PIPELINE AS ALMOST LIKE A FUNNEL OF, WE TALKED TO AND THEY GO THROUGH STEPS THAT WE'VE DESIGNED TO DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE NEED AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE A GOOD FIT FOR US, 47% OF THE PEOPLE OR THE ORGANIZATIONS OR STARTUPS, IF YOU WILL, THAT GO THROUGH THE PIPELINE, INVITED TO PITCH TO OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMITTEE CAN THINK OF IT AS A NICE SHARK TANK.

IT'S ALL WOOD, BUT THEY PITCH, THEY GET 15 MINUTES TO TALK.

WE GIVE THEM 15 MINUTES WORTH OF QUESTIONS.

THEN WE KICK THEM OUT OF THE VIRTUAL ROOM AND WE TALK ABOUT THEM.

DECIDE, IS THIS A GOOD COMPANY FOR THE DON RYAN CENTER? CAN WE HELP THEM? CAN WE BRING VALUE AND CAN ALSO, CAN THEY BRING VALUE TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OF THOSE THAT ARE INVITED TO PITCH 89% GET INTO THE PROGRAM OR ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

SO A GOOD, A GOOD DILIGENCE PROCESS TO WEED OUT THE ONES THAT AREN'T RIGHT, BUT ALSO A GOOD, UH, METRIC OF 89% THAT GET INTO THE PROGRAM.

LASTLY, HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR 20, 21 STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

YOU ALL MAY BE AWARE OF THE HARDY VILLE EXPANSION.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE SIGNED ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OF HARDY BILL, UH, THAT WE HOPE WILL TURN INTO A MULTI-YEAR PAID PROGRAM.

EXCUSE ME, MY MASK IS CRIMINAL.

ALL HARDY BUSINESS OWNERS WILL BEGIN ROLLED AT DON RYAN CENTER AS MEMBERS.

THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE HUB WHEN WE OPEN IT AND THEY WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROGRAMS, BUT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE PROGRAMS, JUST LIKE A BLUFF IN ROSENDALE WOULD.

UM, SO THOSE CHARGES ARE THE SAME.

SO WE ARE EXPANDING OUR FOOTPRINT AND ADDITIONALLY GENERATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR THE CENTER.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO RELY ON THE TOWN AS MUCH.

WE HOPE TO TURN THAT INTO A, UH, AN ONGOING MULTI-YEAR PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF LAUNCHING THAT.

NOW IT JUST STARTED IN JANUARY.

SO IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE SOME MORE MEDIA AND SOME ADVERTISEMENT ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.

THE HEROES PROGRAM IS A NEW THING WE'RE DOING.

IT'S A NEW INITIATIVE.

DON RYAN CENTER AND WALLET OFFERS THE SAME STARTUP PROGRAM CONTENT.

WE'RE NOW WORKING WITH A DIFFERENT ARTICLE.

WE'RE WORKING WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AND MILITARY, THAT TYPE OF THING, A GROUP WE'VE CALLED HEROES.

UM, WE ARE, UM, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

LET ME SEE.

IT SAYS IT'S A VERTICAL THAT WE THINK SOMETIMES GETS IGNORED.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FIRST RESPONDERS THAT, UH, HAVE WHAT WE REFER TO AS SIDE HUSTLES WHEN THEY'RE NOT WORKING THEIR SHIFTS AND THEY'RE DOING OTHER THINGS.

NOW, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF HEROES IN THE RESILIENCY PROGRAM ALREADY.

ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY IS THE BOSTON POLICE OFFICER.

AND, UH, WE ARE GOING TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO PROMOTE AND MANAGE THIS PROGRAM.

THIS WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT HAS MILITARY OR FIRST RESPONDERS BACKGROUND THAT KNOWS THAT ECOSYSTEM.

THAT KNOWS HOW TO TALK TO THESE PEOPLE AND I'LL WORK WITH THEM VERY CLOSELY.

ONCE THESE ORGANISMS, ONCE THESE PEOPLE GET INTO THE PROGRAM FUNDING FOR THIS HEAD COUNT WILL COME FROM OUR RECENTLY AWARDED GRANT MONEY, STEVE FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING IT'S RIGHT NOW.

WE, I THINK WE'LL HAVE PROBABLY SOMEBODY IN PLACE IN THE NEXT, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

LASTLY, FUNDRAISING IS A BIG PUSH ON THIS, UH, THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS MAYBE NOT PAID ATTENTION TO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT, UH, WE'RE GOING TO USE FUNDING TO MAX THE PROCEEDS FOR THE GRANT, BUT WE'RE ALSO GONNA USE FUNDING, UH, TO, TO LOWER THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE TOWN NEEDS TO PAY FOR THE DON RYAN CENTER.

I CAN TELL YOU OVER AND OVER ONE OF MY, UH, LEVINE'S THINGS WE HEAR ALL THE TIME IS REVENUE, REVENUE, REVENUE RETURN ON INVESTMENT, THAT TYPE OF THING.

SO YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO HEAR THAT MIKE IS KEENLY FOCUSED ON, UH, MAKING THE DON RYAN CENTER EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE AND A GREAT RETURN ON INVEST FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

THAT'S A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE DOING

[01:25:01]

AND WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER THEM, COME ON.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A COMMERCIAL THAT WAS, UH, DAVID WITH, UH, IT'S JUST THE THOUGHT, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY AND TCL, IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOLL RIGHT OF CENTER AND TCL? UH, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS HERE PREVIOUSLY, WE DID WORK, BUT THEIR INSTRUCTORS IT'S MENTORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE LOOKED AT LATELY.

FRANKLIN, UH, WITH THE CULINARY INSTITUTE COME IN, LITERALLY RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE HUB HAVE HAD TALKS ABOUT, UH, WORKING WITH THEM MORE CLOSELY.

THERE IS ACTUALLY A WHOLE CATEGORY CALLED FOOD INCUBATION STARTUPS.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE, I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE OF THEIR PHYSICAL LOCATION, WE WOULD, WE WOULD LOOK INTO THAT MORE SERIOUSLY.

I ONLY MENTIONED THAT BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE MILITARY THAT RETIRED HERE, SOME OF THEM RE ENHANCED THEIR SKILLS THROUGH TCL.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM ACTUALLY START BUSINESSES IN BUFORD COUNTY AT SOME POINT.

SO THERE MAY BE, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY THERE.

THERE, THERE IS A WHOLE SECTOR.

WE HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO WORK OUT THE HERO SIDE, THE TCL SIDE.

THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, THERE JUST THREE OF US AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INITIATIVES AND I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB AND IT'S TIME TO REALLY FOCUS ON THESE NEXT THINGS NOW THAT WE'VE GOT STARTUP AND GROWTH AND RESILIENCY KIND OF RUNNING SOMEWHAT ON AUTOPILOT.

ANYTHING ELSE? THE QUESTION DAVID, JUST, AND FOR PEOPLE WATCHING, NOT SO MUCH HERE, UM, I SIT ON THE BOARD.

LARRY IS OUR LIAISON WITH COUNSEL TO THE DON RYAN CENTER BOARD.

UM, DO YOU, ARE YOU PLANNING TO GO THROUGH ANY KIND OF, AND I SHOULD PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT ANY KIND OF A BOARD UPDATE FOR THE YEAR, NOT A FULL STRATEGIC PLAN OR MAYBE WHEN DAN QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS, WE COULD BRING THEM TO YOU.

YES MA'AM.

WE DID HAVE A YEAR END REVIEW OF THE DECEMBER BOARD MEETING AND WE DO HAVE A WHOLE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.

AND THAT IS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD, UM, AS NECESSARY AS FAR AS HAVING A SPECIFIC PLANNING SESSION MAY AMOUNT.

I'M NOT SURE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING MIKE IS DOING, BUT, UH, MIKE, UH, KIND OF LETS ME BE A LITTLE HEAD DOWN IN THE PROGRAM SIDE AND I DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE BIG, QUICKER QUAD AS MUCH AS I USED TO.

WELL, MAYBE TAKE THAT SINCE WE ARE IN THIS, NOW TAKE THAT BACK TO MIKE AND Y'ALL DISCUSS IT ANOTHER THING.

AND, AND I TALKED TO ALL OF Y'ALL A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I NEVER GET IT TO THE REST ACCOUNT.

DAN AND I HAD REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION ON TWO TOPICS, ANNEXATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, AND IT REALLY SPURRED WITH THIS LATEST PROJECT, MERCURY W WHAT IS OUR MISSION AS AN EDC AND A DON RYAN CENTER.

IT SHOULD CARRY DOWN INTO TALENT COUNCIL AND, AND I'LL TAKE THE BLAME REALLY RELAY ON THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, RETENTION IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW AT AN EDC LEVEL, HOW DO WE PLUG THAT IN, YOU KNOW, A RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR GROUP ON ANYTHING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE NEED TO GET THAT PROCESS IN PLACE, AND THAT'S MORE SCOTT AND FUTURE, BUT WE'RE, WE NEED PROBABLY AN UPDATE LIKE THAT, OR AN EMAIL OR SOMETHING.

SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN WE GET TRIGGER POINTS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN I CAN MOVE ON TO ANNEXATION.

WHAT ARE THE TRIGGER? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE TRIGGER POINTS, NOT THE CAUSE ADDED WORK ON STAFF UPFRONT, RIGHT.

I THINK WE CAN CORPORATE SOME OF THAT INTO SOME REGULAR UPDATES FOR COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT SEGUE.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS I WANTED TO POINT OUT TO THE COUNCIL AND, AND ANYONE WATCHING IS THAT IN ADDITION TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT DAVID MENTIONED, THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER DOES TO DEVELOP BUSINESSES AND TO BE AN INCUBATOR AND, AND PUT THESE PROGRAMS AND COOPERATE WITH MUNICIPALITIES NEXT DOOR, THEY'RE ALL GREAT THINGS, BUT ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTIONS IS ALSO, UH, TO BE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM.

AND, UH, UNDER THAT UMBRELLA, UH, THEY ARE BUSY WORKING WITH THE BEAVER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

AND, UH, WE HAVE SOME PRIME REAL ESTATE AND OUR BUCK WALTER PLACE, COMMERCE PARK THAT THEY ARE WORKING VERY HARD.

UH, YOU MENTIONED PROJECT MERCURY, THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD, UH, TO TRY TO BRING THE RIGHT TYPE OF COMMERCE AND THE RIGHT TYPE OF JOBS TO, TO BLUFFTON AND SURROUNDING AREA.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTIONS THAT THEY ARE MAKING GREAT HEADWAY ON.

THANKS TO JOHN O'TOOLE AND HIS FOLKS AT THE COUNTY AS WELL.

UH, MIKE LEVINE IS ENGAGED WITH HIS BOARD ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND THEY HAD BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP ON THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN JUMPING INTO LARRY HAD TALKED ABOUT MCRP, WHICH I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A BIGGER DISCUSSION ON THAT.

UM, MARK AND SCOTT AND I MET, I THINK, I THINK IT WAS THE THREE OF US JUST TALKING ABOUT

[01:30:01]

THAT.

I THINK WE'RE LOOKING OVER OTHER PROPERTIES THAT BUCK WALTER REGENCY HAS.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE THOUGHTS OF YOU AND THE EDC START LOOKING AT ALL THE ALMOST INFILL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S, THAT'S SITTING RIGHT THERE.

I WAS THERE THE OTHER DAY AND I KIND OF DID A LOOK.

I'M LIKE MY GOSH, THERE'S SO MANY CORNER PADS.

WE HAVE CORNER PART THAT STILL IS PLANNING ON GOING THERE.

BUT READING NANCY WITH PUBLIX OWNS SO MUCH OF THAT LAND.

WE SHOULD BE HAND IN HAND WITH THEM ON PUTTING THE RIGHT BUSINESSES THAT ARE NOT JUST RETAIL BECAUSE THEY ONLY SHOW AND COMMERCIAL IS WHAT THEY MARKET.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE A GREATER FOCUS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM THE DRC ON THE WORKFLOW PROCESS AND THE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT ARE SET UP NOW THAT FOR EXAMPLE, DID THE PROJECT MERCURY, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT TYPE OF THING, THE MEETINGS WE HAD BEHIND THERE, THAT WHOLE WORKFLOW PROCESS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL, TO MAKE COUNCIL AND, UH, AWARE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THE CLOSE ALIGNMENT WITH JOHN O'TOOLE AND EDC.

I MEAN, PHYSICALLY BEING IN THE HUB I THINK IS NOTHING BUT A POSITIVE THING.

AND IT JUST BEING ABLE, WE HAVE THE DON RYAN CENTER TO FOCUS ON THAT, THAT PROMISE WE HAD YEARS AGO WHEN WE MERGED THE EAT THE PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE DRC TOGETHER, IT'S FINALLY GONNA ALL COME TOGETHER.

LIKE YOU'VE ALL WISHED IT WOULD.

WELL, YOU KNOW, UH, SO I THINK YOU'LL SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT THIS YEAR.

WELL, THOSE ARE THINGS REALLY TO TAKE BACK TO YOUR TEAM, BECAUSE I THINK THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT, WHAT THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING PAST ONE PROJECT.

SO WHERE'S DO WE HAVE MORE THERE? SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BOARD REALLY DISCUSS, LET'S TAKE, LET'S TAKE A STEAK.

LET'S SAY WE'VE MET WITH SOMEBODY THAT'S IN THAT BUCK WALTER PLACE, OR WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO? I MEAN, THOSE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS.

WE GET FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE GET SO MANY OF OUR OTHER COMMITTEES.

SO YOU'RE THE MESSENGER TODAY? YES.

MA'AM, I'LL BE THE MESSENGER.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF DON RYAN CENTER ONLY, ONLY TO FOLLOW UP ON YOUR COMMENT? UM, I THINK THAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE DO GET BACK TOGETHER AS A GROUP, JUST TO COUNCIL AND THAT COMMITTEE, UM, OR THAT BOARD, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS THING HAS EVOLVED FOR YEARS NOW AND THE ORIGINAL MISSION AND PURPOSE OF IT, ONE POINT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOOD OR BAD, BUT I THINK ALSO IN FAIRNESS TO THAT ORGANIZATION, THEY NEED REAL CLARITY FROM THIS COUNCIL ABOUT OUR LONG-TERM GOALS AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, LIKE YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH MCI PET PARK? ARE WE GOING TO DO ANY OTHER, UH, INVESTMENT IN PROPERTY? ARE WE GONNA LOOK AT THE UTILITY TAX CREDITS IF WE DON'T AND ALL OF THESE THINGS NEED TO COME AS A BODY FROM US TO GIVE THEM CLARITY TO HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD.

SO YES, WE NEED TO DEFINITELY HEAR BACK FROM THEM AS A GROUP.

ARE YOU SUGGESTING IN NAR TO MEET IN SOMALIA? I THINK A WORKSHOP WITH EACH COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING AT THE TABLE, THERE WON'T BE ANY CONFUSION OR DOUBT ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT IN THE FUTURE.

THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS, I'M WITH YOU, SCOTT.

I'VE GOT, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE HAVING A JOINT MATCH FOR BEING PART OF THIS.

AND ALL YOU DO 500 MEMBERSHIPS IS A HUNDRED PERCENT MORE LIKE A THOUSAND PERCENT MORE THAN WE'VE EVER HAD.

SO CHRIS WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES FROM OUR NATURAL WORLD.

UM, HE'S BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO THE STAFF.

I THINK THIS IS HIS SECOND STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION NOW, IS THAT RIGHT, CHRIS? UM, HE, HE DOES NOT HAVE A TAB.

HE, UH, NEXT YEAR WILL INCLUDE A TAB FOR EVERYBODY MAY OR A PROMISE.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN FOLLOW ALONG, BUT, UH, HE'S, HE'S GOT SOME UPDATES HE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME REMINDERS OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE AND, AND TO GET YOUR, UH, INPUT AS NEEDED ON SOME OTHER ITEMS. SO, AND BEFORE HE STARTS, WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR LIST OF, IS THERE A TIME FOR A BREAK MAYBE AFTER HIM 10 MINUTES OR YOU COULD BREAK FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES NOW, IF YOU'D LIKE, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE STARTED, LET HIM GET THROUGH AND THEN LET'S BREAK AFTER HIM.

NO PRESSURE, NO PRESSURE.

AS LONG AS YOU TALK IN THE MICROPHONE.

IN STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL THE TEAMS FROM DEPARTMENTS WHO INTERACT WITH THE PROCURE TO PAY.

SO, UH, FOR FINANCE, I'M GONNA GO OVER TWO BROAD THEMES OF OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND THAT'S A PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS.

AND THEN, UH, WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING AROUND OUR REVENUE, REVENUE ANALYSIS AND REVENUE STRUCTURE.

SO PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WE FOCUSED ON THREE AREAS, UM, IT'S, UH, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PROCURE TO PAY, UH, PAYROLL, AND THEN OUR PEAK, OUR PROCESSES.

SO WE STARTED LAST YEAR, LAST WINTER, UH, BY DOING A LEAN PROCESS IMPROVEMENT.

IT'S A WEEK LONG KAIZEN EVENT, UH, THAT WE LEAD.

AND WE BROUGHT

[01:35:01]

AND, AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ELENA EVENT, IT'S A WEEK LONG INTENSIVE PROCESS.

SO THEY ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR DEPARTMENTS FOR A FULL WEEK.

AND FROM EIGHT TO FIVE EVERY DAY, ALL THEY DO IS LIVE AND BREATHE, WHATEVER PROCESS YOU'RE WORKING ON.

AND, UH, THEY HAVE TO DISSECT THE PROCESS AS IT IS TODAY, IDENTIFY, UH, BENCHMARKING STAKEHOLDER THE FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE PROCESS.

AND I COME UP WITH A POTENTIAL, A NEW PROCESS THAT IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT TO IMPLEMENT IN THE FUTURE, AND THEY IDENTIFY TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES.

IT'S A GOOD STATE AND A GREAT STATE PROCESS.

THE GOOD STATE PROCESS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN IMPLEMENT RELATIVELY EASILY, UH, WITH A RESOURCE THAT YOU HAVE AT HAND TODAY AND IN THE GRAY STATE PROCESSES, SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU NEED TO ACQUIRE A SOFTWARE OR A TOOL OR SOMETHING, UH, TAKES IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO RIGHT BEFORE WE BROKE FOR, UH, THE COVID, UH, UH, PANDEMIC, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THE GOOD STATE, UH, PRETTY MUCH A HUNDRED PERCENT.

UH, WE HAD A MODIFIED, OBVIOUSLY A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAD TO CHANGE OUR PROCESSES ONCE WE WENT TO REMOTE WORK.

UM, WHAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO NOW IS, UH, DO ONGOING TRAININGS ON WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AROUND IT.

UM, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SHAKY BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO TO REMOTE WORK.

SO IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT IMPLEMENTING IT, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF, UH, THIS CALENDAR YEAR, WE'LL HAVE THE GREAT STATE IMPLEMENTED AND FURTHER IMPROVE THAT PROCESS.

THE, BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC WE PUT ON HOLD THE, UM, THE PAYROLL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AS WELL AS THE P-CARD PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THEY ARE ON OUR PROJECT HORIZON TO, TO WORK ON.

UH, AS SOON AS WE KIND OF GET BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY, UM, LOOKING AT REVENUES.

SO ONE OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, THE REVENUE STREAM ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF OUR SPECIAL FUNDS OR TOURISM REVENUES AND HOW WE ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS AND OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY.

SO, UM, LAST, LET'S SEE, WHEN WAS THE LAST MARCH, WE DID A, UH, REFUNDING OF OUR CURRENT GEO DEBT.

SO IT WAS ABOUT $4.4 MILLION THAT WE REFUNDED.

AND WE GOT A GREAT INTEREST RATE OF A 1.56.

UH, IT WAS ABOUT ANNUAL SAVINGS OF $60,000.

AND I BRING THIS UP BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT REVENUE IS HOW DO YOU BUILD CAPACITY AMONGST YOUR CURRENT REVENUE SOURCES? SO YOU'RE REDUCING YOUR ANNUAL EXPENSES AROUND THAT DEBT SERVICE.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID IS WE IDENTIFIED A HUGE NEED OBVIOUSLY, UH, IN STORM WATER PROJECTS AND SEWER PROJECTS.

AND SO WE EXPLORED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ISSUE GEO BONDS THAT ARE BACKED BY OUR STORMWATER FEES, UH, TO ACCELERATE THOSE PROJECTS AND ALSO INCREASE CAPACITY AMONGST OUR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE OTHER, UH, STRATEGIC NEEDS IN RCIP.

SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, LAST S UH, IN, WE ISSUED A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION IN BONDS AND, UH, GOT A, UH, INTEREST RATE OF 1.53, WHICH IS UNHEARD OF TO BE BELOW, UH, INFLATION LIKE THAT.

SO GREAT DEAL.

UM, AND, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF OUR CIP NEEDS BECAUSE OF IT.

UM, WHAT'S COMING TO IN YOUR MEETING, UH, WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEM IS A LOOK AT OUR SPECIAL FUNDS AND OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER WITH YOU.

SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT MYSELF AND MY TEAM HAS DONE ON THESE AND WHAT OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOR IMPROVING THOSE, UH, POLICIES GOING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.

SO I'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOUR FEEDBACK ON KIND OF THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO IN, UH, AS WE TALK THROUGH THOSE ITEMS. UM, AND THEN, SO THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IT IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET PROCESS.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, WE HAVE A GREAT GRANT PROGRAM.

UH, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT GRANTS.

UM, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT NOW KIND OF HOW DO WE MANAGE THAT PROCESS AS WE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GRANTS WE GET, HOW WE MANAGE THE COMPLIANCE PROCESS, UM, AND IMPROVE THE PROCEDURES AROUND IT.

UM, SO THAT GOES BACK TO THE BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PIECE OF IT.

UM, SO THAT'S JUST THE HIGH LEVEL, WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, UM, AND WHERE WE'RE GOING OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

I HAVE ALL, UH, STRATEGIC INITIATIVE ITEMS THAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT TODAY.

QUESTIONS ON WHAT SCOTT TALKED ABOUT.

I MEAN, NOT SCOTT, CHRIS ARE OTHER QUESTIONS.

I MIGHT TAKE JUST A FIVE TO 10 MINUTE KIND OF BREAK, AND THEN WE CAN SET UP FOR THE END OF THE MORNING AND I'M JUST KNOW BUFORD JASPER AND WATER SEWER ARE HERE.

DO THEY KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER THERE JUST TO BE HERE ALL DAY? WHAT'S THEIR PARTICIPATION.

THE, THE ANTICIPATION IS THAT IN THE AFTERNOON SESSION, YOU WOULD BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE, UH, MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL, UH, WATER QUALITY PROJECTS, AND THAT'S WHEN THEIR PRESENCE WILL BE HELPFUL.

WONDERFUL.

ANY, ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET BACK TO SCOTT? EVERYONE DOING WELL.

WE'LL JUST TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.

[01:40:03]

YOU'RE DOING GOOD, SCOTT.

UM, WAIT AND GET DAN.

GO SCOTT, SCOTT, OR RELAX.

UH, MAYOR, WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF WITH THE DATES AND, UH, NEXT IS CATHERINE TO TALK TO US ABOUT SOME HUMAN RESOURCES INITIATIVES.

I THINK SHE'S ALREADY GOT THE MIC IN HAND.

READY TO GO.

ALL YOURS.

GAVIN CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME.

VIRTUALLY INCLUDE INTERVIEWS, ONBOARDING, AND EXIT INTERVIEWS.

SO ALL OF US IS SMARTER THAN NOT ONE OF US.

AND THAT'S EVIDENCED BY THIS LEADERSHIP TEAM RIGHT HERE.

WHO'S COME TOGETHER IN THE LAST YEAR, OPERATING IN A WAY THAT NONE OF US EVER IMAGINED DIDN'T REALLY PLAN FOR, BUT GOT TOGETHER AND GOT IT DONE.

MARC ORLANDO SET THE PACE WARS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE KEEP THE LIGHTS ON AND WE KEEP EMPLOYEES SAFE.

AND THAT WAS ALWAYS HIS GOAL TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS AND ALSO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OKAY.

I JUST, WITH MY, MY ART FRIENDS HERE FROM BUFORD JASPER SEWER WATER AUTHORITY, I JUST WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION, I HAVE GREAT HR PEERS FROM BUPA, JASPER, SEWER, WATER AUTHORITY, ELENA LEE BROWN IS ONE OF MY DEAR FRIENDS.

I HAVE GREAT PARTNERS WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD WITH THE CITY OF BUFORD, BUFORD COUNTY, AND MANY OTHER HR DIRECTORS IN THE LOW COUNTRY IN THE CHARLESTON AREA.

AND WE COULD HAVE NEVER FIGURED ALL THIS OUT ON OUR OWN.

WE DID IT THROUGH PEER REVIEW.

WE TALKED TO EACH OTHER AND WE FIGURED OUT THINGS LIKE PANDEMIC POLICIES AND ROLLING OUT THE NEW LAW, THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT.

WE TALKED ABOUT A TRAVEL ADVISORY NOTICE WHERE EVERYBODY LETS US KNOW WHEN THEY'RE TRAVELING.

SO WE KNOW WHETHER THEY NEED TO QUARANTINE.

WHEN THEY COME BACK, WE WORKED WITH OUR, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR EMERGENCY DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAD PPE THE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT QUICKLY PUT INTO PLACE TELECOMMUTING POLICIES.

IN FACT, THERE'LL BE SOME EMPLOYEES WHO'VE PROBABLY WON'T EVER COME BACK IN THE WORKFORCE IN THE WORKPLACE.

THEY DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO VERY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY FROM HOME.

WE ALSO DID EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TRAINING WHERE LINDSAY DID A VIDEO THAT EVERYBODY WATCHED.

SO WHEN WE DO START COMING BACK MORE INTO THE OFFICE, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO TO COME IN OUR TABLE RIGHT HERE IS EVIDENCE OF WHAT OUR TRAINING DID TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CLEANING MATERIAL.

WE HAVE A THERMOMETER AND EVERYBODY KNOWS TO MAKE SURE YOU CHECK ALL THAT.

AND IF YOU'RE SICK, YOU SAY, WE LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE SICK, YOU STAY HOME.

THEY ARE ITEMS THAT ARE IN PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

I DON'T HAVE A TAB, SCOTT.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE SAID THAT, BUT I, I HELP WITH EVERYBODY HERE WITH ALL THE STUFF TABS BY OUR POLICIES, BY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE.

AND THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO MENTION, TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF.

WE SUPPORT WITH THE POLICIES AND WE GET YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

IN THE JANUARY MEETING, YOU APPROVED SOME CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK LAST SUMMER, WHEN WE EDIT ALL THOSE NEW PANDEMIC POLICIES, YOU ALL APPROVE THAT AS WELL.

SO WE MAKE SURE WE UPDATE THE HANDBOOK.

WE COMMUNICATE IT WITH YOUR APPROVAL.

OF COURSE, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE COMMUNICATION CERTAINLY HAS TO BE THERE WITH NOTIFYING STAFF.

IF SOMEBODY IS ILL, THE PROTOCOLS, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE, I ALSO MENTIONED A GREAT GROUP OF EMPLOYEES, SOME OF WHICH ARE HERE, THAT WE HAD THREE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZE AND PARTICIPATED WITH A TASK FORCE THAT WAS SET UP.

AND WE PUT TOGETHER A GUIDE, AN EMPLOYEE TRAINING GUIDE, AS WELL AS A REENTRY PROTOCOL.

SO WHEN OUR NEW EMERGENCY MANAGER STARTS THIS WEEK, I THINK IT'S THURSDAY.

HE STARTS, HE'S GOING TO REVIEW THAT TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL UP TO DATE AND IT FITS IN.

IT, IT, IT, IT MIRRORS WHAT WE NEED, BUT THAT TASKFORCE QUICKLY STEPPED UP AND QUICKLY GOT TOGETHER A GREAT PLAN AND UNDER MARK'S DIRECTION, WE ALL GOT THAT IN PLACE.

AND THEN GOT EVERYBODY TRAINED.

UM, THE, THE OTHER THINGS THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS THERE'S A HUMAN RESOURCES, STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I'M PUTTING TOGETHER.

AND MY, MY TEAM IS HELPING WITH THAT AS WELL.

SO PROBABLY IN JUNE ON COUNCIL AGENDA, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AND HEAR A PRESENTATION FROM ME ABOUT A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR HR AND THAT PARTNERS WITH SOME THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, DURING STRATEGIC PLANNING, NOT SUCCESSION PLANNING, THAT'LL BE A DOCUMENT THAT I CAN HAND ON TO THE FUTURE HR DIRECTOR FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, A BLUE PRINT OF WHAT WE DO, IF YOU WILL.

AND I THINK SCOTT, YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS EARLIER, WHERE IT'S A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON

[01:45:01]

AND THAT WE HAVE HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THE HR STRATEGIC PLAN WILL BE A LIVING BREATHING DOCUMENT JUST TO KEEP MODIFYING, MAKING IT BETTER AND WORKING TOGETHER, HAVE, UM, OTHER, JUST OTHER POINTS OF HR THAT YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT.

WE, WE HELP THE TOWN ORGANIZATION.

THAT'S THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE UNDER.

SO WE DEFINITELY PARTICIPATE WITH RECRUITING.

I HAD AN HR TEAM MEMBER WITH THE CHIEF ON SATURDAY AT THEIR RECRUITING EVENT.

AND YOU ALL HAVE SEEN ME IN, IN, IN PLAY WITH WHEN WE RECRUITED OUR GREAT POLICE CHIEF AND WE'LL WORK TOGETHER.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THE TOWN MANAGER OF RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AS WELL, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH AN INTERN PROGRAM.

AND BRIAN MCALEESE TEAM IS ACTUALLY GOING TO PILOT A HIGH SCHOOL H OR INTERN PROGRAM.

WE'RE WORKING WITH MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL IN BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL TO HOPEFULLY PILOT PROGRAM THAT AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS.

IN ADDITION, YOU'LL SEE IN BUDGET THAT I'LL PROBABLY ASK FOR SIX INTERNS FOR THE SUMMER.

WE HAVE OTHER TEAM MEMBERS IN THE ROOM HAVE SAID, YES, YES, I WANT TO INTERN.

AND IT'S BEEN SO GREAT, GREAT.

IT'S BEEN SO GREAT TO HAVE THE YOUTH AND THE, UH, THE NEW EYES, THE NEW VISIONS.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTINUE THAT AS WELL.

THE OTHER THINGS WE DO IS, IS MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS TREATED FAIRLY AND THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN COME TO US IF THEY NEED SOMETHING.

IF THEY, IF THEY, IF THEY NEED HELP WITH SOMETHING, WE TALK ABOUT TRAINING, BUT WE ALSO TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEES GETTING FAIR PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THAT.

AND WE CAN HELP THEM.

MY TEAM PUT OUT A NEWSLETTER LAST YEAR AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT.

AND WE'RE ALSO KICKING AROUND AN, OF A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.

SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

SO THOSE THINGS WILL CONTINUE, BUT WE SURE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WE CAN TAKE THESE OFF.

WE CAN BE FACE AND, AND HUG PEOPLE.

WE MISS THAT TOO.

HR IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION, ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE AWARE OF, UH, WITH THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVE.

AGAIN, WE'RE ALL ABOUT THE TOWN ORGANIZATION AND TAKING REALLY GOOD CARE OF OUR STAFF.

DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE, UM, CATHERINE, AND YOU DON'T NEED A SUCCESSION PLAN FOR YOU.

SO YOU JUST PUT THAT BOOK IN YOUR HOMEWORK.

UM, INTERNS DO, AND I'M CURIOUS, UM, AND I'VE SEEN IT REALLY THROUGH OTHER BOARDS.

I'VE BEEN ON WHERE WE GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AND WE KEEP A GROUP GOING.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND SEE WHERE THESE INTERNS ARE GOING.

BUT I THINK WE'VE HAD THESE FOR WHAT, THREE YEARS NOW, A GROUP OF THEM, BUT WE'VE ALWAYS, I MEAN, YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD INTERNS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY COME IN TO WORK WITH THE TOWN.

SO IT'D BE GREAT TO SEE, DO WE KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM? IF NOT, I THINK WE SHOULD.

SHOULD WE HAVE SOME KIND OF A, JUST ONGOING DIALOGUE TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SOME AMAZING, AMAZING YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND I THINK WE HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW, SAVANNAH LITTLE JOHN, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW, BUT SHE WAS, IS KIND OF A CONTINUING INTERN.

THAT'S HELPING US WITH OUR COMP PLAN.

AND THAT JUST, JUST, WE MIGHT KEEP HER HERE.

NOW WHEN SHE GRADUATES, SHE JUST MAY COME BACK HOME, WHICH IS THRILL.

UM, THE TOWN COUNCIL OPERATING AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES MANUAL.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOUR, YOUR DEPARTMENT WORKS ON? THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE WORKING WITH THE TOWN CLERK TO BE SURE THAT'S ALIGNED PROPERLY WITH A TON OF BLUFFTON CODE ABOARD AND THAT'S, IT WAS SOUTH CAROLINA CODE AND THEY'RE ALL ON.

SO THAT'S UNDER YOU.

THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

THERE'S I LOOKED AT IT OVER THE PAST MONTH AND THERE EVEN SOME THINGS IN THERE DON'T EVEN UNDER, I THINK THERE WERE CUT AND PASTE.

AND IT WAS UPDATED IN 14.

ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

UM, ANYTHING ELSE, GUYS? THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD.

GREAT JOB, CATHERINE.

KEEPING THAT INFORMATION.

OKAY, SCOTT, NEXT UP IS TOMMY.

YOU WERE A CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, TOMMY.

GOOD MORNING STAFF, UH, STAFF AND COUNCIL, UH, TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE IT ACTION AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND THEN JUST GIVE YOU A HIGHLIGHT OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS WITH IT.

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS OUR ELECTRONIC RETENTION POLICY ON OUR ACCIDENT AGENDA ITEM THAT WILL BE TO CANCEL IN MAY.

IT'S JUST A, UM, POLICY TO GIVE US, UH, A TIMELINE FOR ARCHIVING, UH, IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, EMAIL, EVERYTHING, UH, FOLLOW THE STATE REGULATIONS, UH, FOR

[01:50:01]

AND LIKE I SAID, THAT WILL BE TO YOU GUYS IN A CONSENT AGENDA.

AND MAY THE SECOND ONE IS OUR CYBERSECURITY POLICY AND TRAINING THAT WAS ADOPTED THIS MONTH THING, CONSENT AGENDA.

UH, THIS IS A POLICY TO ENACT QUARTERLY TRAINING FOR EVERYONE THAT HAS A TOWN EMAIL ADDRESS.

UH, ANYONE THAT, UH, LIKE I SAID, IT HAS A TOWN OF BLUFFTON EMAIL ADDRESS IS, UH, ENROLLED IN A QUARTERLY TRAINING.

IT'S JUST TO HELP WITH, UH, RECOGNIZING PHISHING ATTACKS, UH, YOU KNOW, SPOOFING EMAILS, JUST, IT HELPS TO MAKE EVERYONE A LITTLE MORE AWARE.

THIS IS A, UH, CONTINUING BATTLE, BUT, UH, THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS OR TRAINING VIDEOS AND, UH, DIFFERENT TRAININGS THAT WE HAVE STAFF TO RECOGNIZE IT WE'VE, UH, I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF PHISHING EMAILS THAT WE DEAL WITH DAILY, BUT AS STAFF BECOME MORE AWARE OF RECOGNIZING THOSE, AND IT JUST, IT GIVES US MORE SECURITY INTERNALLY.

UH, THE OTHER ACCIDENT AGENDA ITEM IS, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERAS THIS YEAR, IT BECAME THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THAT.

UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO, UH, MAKE THAT SYSTEM MORE EFFICIENT.

WE'VE EXPANDED, UH, INTO OUR NEW PUBLIC PARKS VETERANS PARK, RIGHT FAMILY PARK, THE PUBLIC PARKING AREA, UH, ON MAY RIVER ROAD AT THE END OF DR.

MELLON CHAMP.

WE'VE ADDED CAMERAS THERE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, LIKE I SAID, WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, ADDRESSING THOSE, UH, EXISTING CAMERAS FOR SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT, MAKING SURE THE SYSTEMS UP RECORDINGS, UH, ARE IN PLACE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND, UH, LAST, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE YEAR.

WE'VE COVERED A LOT OF MAJOR PROJECTS.

UH, WE'VE MIGRATED TO HOSTED EMAIL TO MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT WITH HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS, UH, ANY, UH, POWER INTERRUPTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT WITH MICROSOFT BEING OUR EMAIL HOST IT'S ON A GOVERNMENT SECURE CLOUD.

LIKE I SAID, IF, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE DON'T, IF WE HAD A HURRICANE TO TAKE OUT POWER, UH, TAKE OUT OUR CONNECTION TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE WE WOULDN'T HAVE LOSS OF EMAIL.

SO NOW, UH, WITH IT BEING HOSTED BY MICROSOFT JUST MAKES US MORE EFFICIENT.

UH, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE INTERNET CONNECTION, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR EMAIL.

THE, UH, ONE OF OUR BIG PROJECTS, UH, IT WAS ORIGINALLY A 24 MONTH PROJECT.

AND WITH THE PANDEMIC, WE JUST, UH, WANTED TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE QUICKER, OUR CITIZENS, SELF SERVICE PORTALS.

SO WHAT THAT IS IS I GUESS, THE ABILITY TO ELECTRONICALLY SUBMIT PLANS, PERMITS, UH, REQUEST FACILITY RENTALS, GIVE STAFF BILL TO DO ELECTRONIC REVIEW ALL ONLINE.

SO YOU WITH, UH, THIS CUTS DOWN ON DROPPING OFF PLANS, YOU KNOW, INTO, UH, A BN AT THE FRONT WHILE WE'RE, WE'RE CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC.

UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, ENGINEERING, FINANCE, UH, IT WAS A PROJECT.

UH, IT, WE LIKED THAT ONE, THE PANTS THEY CUTE.

WE SPED THAT PROCESS UP, UH, INTO ABOUT A 14 MONTH PROJECT INSTEAD OF 24 MONTH PROJECT.

UM, WE ALSO, THIS YEAR UPGRADED PUBLIC WIFI TO ALL OF OUR PARKS.

UH, IT HAS THE DAYLIGHT TO DUSK ACCESS AND ALL OF OUR PUBLIC PARKS FOR PUBLIC WIFI IT'S CONTENT FILTERED.

SO YOU'RE NOT SITTING AT A PARK WATCHING INAPPROPRIATE THINGS, BUT IT GIVES, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC ACCESS.

UM, WE ALREADY HAD IT AT DEVOS AND OYSTER FACTORY, BUT THIS YEAR WE ADDED MARTIN FAMILY, FAMILY, AND VETERANS TO, UH, TO THAT LISTING.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SIT SURF THE INTERNET, WATCH, WATCH TOWN ON FACEBOOK OR ON THE INTERNET WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PARK.

BUT, UH, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BIGGER PROJECTS ALSO, UH, WITH, ON OUR GIS SIDE, WE HAD SOME, UH, MORE USER-FRIENDLY ABILITY WITH BLUFFTON EXPLORE AND OUR CDFI STORY MAPS.

OUR GIS DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

BLUFFTON AND EXPLORER IS A GREAT TOOL FOR ANYBODY THAT DOESN'T USE IT, HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

RYAN AND NATE DO A AWESOME JOB WITH, UH, DIFFERENT MAP LAYERS, SHOWING THE GROWTH, THE EXPANSION OF THE TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND JUST A LAST, UH,

[01:55:01]

COVERAGE WITH THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S, UH, I THINK IT IS BEEN STRETCHED AND GROWN A LOT THIS YEAR.

WE'VE WE'VE HAD POLICY, UH, UH, PROCEDURES IN PLACE WITH HURRICANES.

SO ON A SMALLER SCALE WITH REMOTE WORK, WE HAD VPN ABILITY.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO REMOTELY SUPPORT SOMEONE THAT HAD A COMPUTER PROBLEM INSTEAD OF BEING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

BUT IT WAS ON A SMALLER SCALE WITH, UH, WITH THE LAST 10 MONTHS WITH, UH, THE PANDEMIC AND, UH, MORE STAFF WORKING REMOTELY.

WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE GROWN WE'VE, UH, I THINK OVERCOME QUITE A FEW CHALLENGES.

UH, IT'S HELPED, UH, I THINK ALL OF MY STAFF MEMBERS IT'S, IT'S BEEN A STRESSFUL 10 MONTHS, BUT I THINK IT'S HELPED US TO GROW IN OURSELVES BIKING, YOU KNOW, WITH FINANCE, UH, WORKING FROM HOME OR EVEN WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE.

ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE POLICIES WE HAD WITH, UH, OR PROCEDURES WE HAD WITH, UH, HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WAS GIVING, UH, STAFF THE REMOTE ABILITY TO ANSWER THEIR DESK PHONE AT HOME WITH A TELEWORKER DEVICE.

SO, UH, WE IMPLEMENTED THAT, UH, AND JUST WITH OUR DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR OF 2020, WE HAD OVER 2200 HELP DESK REQUESTS THIS YEAR, WE HAD EVER 2200 HELP DESK REQUESTS.

SO THAT'S OUR, OUR HELP DESK IS OUR, UH, BEING SYSTEM TO HELP, UH, STAFF SUBMIT A REQUEST.

SO INSTEAD OF EMAILING ME AND I MAY NOT BE IN FRONT OF MY COMPUTER OR PHONE, IT GOES TO A HELP DESK, UH, PORTAL.

WE HAVE CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY WORK THROUGH AND IT AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO THEM.

SO, UH, IT'S UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR.

UM, IT, YEAH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN STRETCHED AND WE'VE GROWN, BUT, UH, REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR.

IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER TOMMY.

HOW BIG IS YOUR DEPARTMENT, TOMMY? SO, UH, ON THE IT SIDE, WE HAVE THREE, IT SUPPORT MEMBERS ON GIS.

WE HAVE TWO, AND THEN YOU HAVE MYSELF, SO SIX TOTAL.

YES, MA'AM GREAT.

YEAH, REALLY THANK YOU FOR GETTING US CONNECTED OUTSIDE OF TOWN HALL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, IF THE IT DEPARTMENT IS NOT SUCCESSFUL, NO DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN IS SUCCESSFUL, WE ALL RELY ON IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

IF THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, THEN, UH, EVERYTHING'S NORMAL.

SO IT'S, IT'S, THEY DON'T GET PATS ON THE BACK FOR DOING A GREAT JOB BECAUSE WE JUST THINK THAT'S NORMAL OPERATIONS.

SO I WANT TO SAY HATS OFF TO TOMMY AND HIS CREW FOR THE JOB THAT THEY'VE DONE TO KEEP US ALL IN BUSINESS THESE LAST 10 MONTHS.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK FORWARD.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO FIND NEW WAYS TO, UH, ERA THINGS PUBLICLY.

UH, WE'RE, WE'RE EXPLORING SOME OPTIONS WITH SCOTT GROOMS AND HIS PEOPLE WITH REGARD TO HOW WE CAN, UH, PERHAPS START BROADCASTING OUR MEETINGS DIRECTLY ON OUR WEBPAGE.

LIKE WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT PREVIOUSLY.

I KNOW YOU TALKED TO MARK ABOUT THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE OPTIONS AND HOW WE CAN DO THAT GOING FORWARD.

SO THEY'RE CONTINUING TO EVOLVE AS THE PANDEMIC EVOLVES AND, AND THEY HAVE HAD RISEN TO THE OCCASION AT EVERY TURN.

SO THANK YOU TO TOMMY AND CREW.

TOMMY.

I JUST WANT TO ADD TOO, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE WITH EVERYBODY, AND I LOOK OUT AT THE ROOM AND, AND I WOULD SAY TO EVERYBODY HAS, HAS BEEN FULL SPEED AHEAD, BUT HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR OUR IT DIRECTOR AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, TAKING CARE OF THE TECHNOLOGY, TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE AND CREATING THE, OR SETTING THE CONDITIONS FOR US TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE REPORTING ALL OF THESE GREAT THINGS TO YOU TODAY.

SO GREAT JOB TO BOTH.

COURT ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THEY GOVERN US AND THEY TELL US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.

THANKS, MARK.

OKAY, SCOTT LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST IS OUR MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK.

LISA, WHO'S GOING TO UPDATE YOU ON SOME, UH, VERY, UH, DIFFERENT YEAR FOR, FOR OUR COURT, BUT, UH, PLEASE THAT, UH, THE WAY THAT THEY OPERATED KIND OF LED THE WAY FOR THE OTHER COURTS IN THE AREA AND THEY, AND THEY WERE A GREAT EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.

SO THEY WERE, THEY WERE THE OPERATION TO BENCHMARK.

SO GOOD MORNING GRIEF.

CAUSE I SEE WE'RE CLOSE TO LUNCH.

UM, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT MY NOTES AND GOING OVER, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION WE HAD TO LOOK AT DURING THIS PANDEMIC IS WHAT DOES COURT LOOK LIKE? WE'RE USED TO COMING IN PERSON AND TALKING TO THE OFFICER AND GOING BEFORE THE JUDGE, BUT NOW HOW CAN WE DO THAT SAFELY? WE HAD TO RELY HEAVILY ON

[02:00:01]

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE CASES.

THESE ARE CASES THAT COULD STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING EMPLOYMENT OR HOUSING, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT CHARGE BE.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAYED IN TOUCH.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE STAYED IN LINE AND WE WANTED TO ALSO, LIKE KATHERINE SAID, COLLABORATE WITH OUR FELLOW IN OUR COUNTY.

WE MEET REGULARLY WITH PORT ROYAL AND BEAVER AT CITY AND BUFORD COUNTY TO SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE WEREN'T STALLED THAT LONG MARCH 27TH AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME HAVING COURT SESSIONS REGULARLY, UH, MAY 12TH SAFELY.

UM, GREAT IDEA.

WHAT ABOUT COURT OUTSIDE? WHAT ABOUT THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO WE, IN FACT, WE WENT TO WORK, UH, WE GOT EVERYONE'S APPROVAL OF COURSE, AND HAD TO COLLABORATE WITH A LOT.

I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT IT SUPPORT, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT AND ALSO OUR AND STAFF AND FACILITIES.

OH, THEY WERE WONDERFUL.

THEY SET UP FOR US WEEKLY SO THAT WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

WHENEVER PEOPLE CAME AND PLAYED, WE HAD A ZOOM STATION OUTSIDE SHE'S IN THAT OUR JUDGE AND OUR STAFF COULD ZOOM IN AND THE DEFENDANTS THAT OUR OFFICERS COULD STILL HAVE THAT ATMOSPHERE OF A COURT PROCEEDING.

UM, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT, UM, WITH DOING THAT, MOVING IT FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE, WE WERE ABLE TO DEVELOP VIRTUAL REALITY, UH, FOR THOSE THAT NOW, UM, THAT DID NOT DEVELOP THAT IN PLACE ARE, ARE SUSPENDED COURT HEARINGS.

NOW WE'RE ABLE TO STILL CONTINUE ON WHEN OTHERS, UM, ARE NOT ABLE TO, UH, WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD CLEAN AND SANITIZED HIGH TOUCH AREAS.

WE MADE SURE IT'S CLEAN BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY SESSION WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD SOCIAL DISTANCING SIGNS AND WE'RE SIX FEET.

WE WERE A FACIAL COVERINGS.

UM, ONE THING WE DID ADD, UH, WE PREPARE NEW SLIPS FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ADD TO DEFENDANTS THAT GOT, SO THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WHAT DOES COURT LOOK LIKE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT? SO NOW THEY HAVE THAT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, WHENEVER WITH EVERY CITATION THAT GOES OUT.

UM, WE ALSO, WHICH IS A NEW FOR US, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER THROUGH THE COURT ARE DONE VIRTUALLY, WHEREAS THEY NEVER DID THAT BEFORE.

SO THAT MAKES IT MORE CONVENIENT, ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT MAY GET A INFRACTION THEY'RE OUT OF STATE, OUT OF TOWN.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK, THEY CAN DO THAT IN THE CONVENIENCE OF THEIR HOME.

AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT.

ALSO AS OF JANUARY 11TH, WE ARE TOTALLY REMOTE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

THEY GO TO THE LAC, UM, EVERY TUESDAY FOR OUR COURT HEARINGS, UM, OUR DEFENDANTS AND VICTIMS AND ATTORNEYS DAYS ZOOM FROM THEIR LOCATION AND ALL OUR STAFF THEY'RE WORKING REMOTELY.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STILL HAVE TWO SESSIONS EVERY TUESDAY WITHOUT FAIL.

UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT ALMOST 2000 CASES FROM MARCH TO DECEMBER.

UM, THE BIGGEST FEAT THAT WE HAD AS AN MP AND IT'S NO FAULT OF OUR OWN IS OUR JURY TRIALS.

UM, THOSE PEOPLE DO HAVE A RIGHT TO REQUEST A JURY TRIAL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, WE CAN'T HAVE THEM.

IT'S JUST NOT SAFE.

WHENEVER WHAT A JURY CHILD LOOKS LIKE IS WE'RE SUBMITTING 200 PEOPLE TO COME IN TO SIT ON A PANEL AND WE PICK FROM THOSE, FOR THOSE JURY TRIALS.

SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, OUR JURY TRIALS HAVE GROWN FROM APPROXIMATELY FROM 32 PENNY TO NOW 135.

BUT WE DO HAVE EXPECTATIONS THAT ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT SAFELY, THAT WE WILL DO THAT.

UM, SOME TRENDS THAT OTHER COURTS ARE DOING THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE.

OF COURSE, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE DON'T HAVE JURY TRIALS.

UH, WE'VE SUSPENDED, TOTALLY IN-PERSON HEARINGS PER COURT ADMINISTRATION.

AND WE'RE USING TOTAL ROOM REMOTE COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH HAS HELPED TOO, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK.

THEY CAN DO IT FROM THE SAFETY OF THEIR HOME OR THEIR CAR OR THEIR LOCATION, WHEREVER THEY ARE.

AND ALSO WE'RE DOING ANOTHER THING AS FAR AS GRANTING EXTENSIONS FOR PAYING COURT FINES, OR IF THEY NEED TO RESCHEDULE FOR COURT HEARINGS BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT OR THAT NATURE.

BUT, UM, ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE SO FAR WITH WHAT I'VE SAID IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WE'VE DONE QUESTIONS FOR LISA, UM, WHO DICTATES JURY TRIALS IN A MUNICIPAL LEVEL, IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT AS WELL? I'M SORRY, WHO DICTATES WHAT TRIGGERS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE JURY TRIALS STATEWIDE? SO IS THAT SUPREME COURT STATE SUPREME COURT, THEY CAN REQUEST A JURY TRIAL.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THEM? DO YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM ON A FREQUENT BASIS? THEY ACTUALLY SEND US UPDATES REGULARLY THERE.

THEN IT COMES THROUGH COURT ADMINISTRATION, CHIEF JUSTICE, BATEY PREPARES ORDERS THAT TELLS US WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T

[02:05:01]

DO.

AND BECAUSE OF THE, THE UPTAKE, UM, THEY SUSPENDED US HAVING ANY IN-PERSON HEARINGS AT ALL.

SO IF YOU WEREN'T ALREADY DOING COURT CASES, REMOTE, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH PUTTING YOUR COURT CASES ON PAUSE UNTIL THEY RELEASED THAT.

UM, THANKFULLY FOR US, WE NEVER STOPPED DOING ZING.

SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO PUT A PAUSE IN WHAT WE WERE DOING, SO WE'RE STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN COURT.

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS SPEAKING TO THIS? SO THE COUNTLESS THAT'S OKAY.

DO YOU, UM, DOES IT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR JURY TRIALS NOW, I'LL BE HONEST IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO DELAY A PROCEEDING.

THEY DO HAVE THAT RIGHT.

TO REQUEST A JURY TRIAL.

SO YES, WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN THAT.

SO A LOT OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE MIGHT JUST COME BACK AND I WILL SAY, I WILL SAY THIS, UM, MY STAFF DOES A DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION ARE THERE.

IT MAY JUST BE THAT SOMEONE JUST NEEDS TO DELAY FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

SO WE BRING THEM BACK TO THE TABLE REGULARLY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY, ANY CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE.

AND, AND ANOTHER THING THAT I WANT TO ADD IS WE HAD TO, WE HAD TO CHANGE OF HOW WE DO COURT.

WHAT DO WE SAY USUALLY IS COME TO COURT TO DO THIS, COME TO COURT, TO DO THAT.

WHAT CAN WE DO BEFOREHAND? SO THAT'S ONE FORM OF COMMUNICATION THAT WE'RE DOING.

IF THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT TO DO, IS IT A REDUCTION YOU NEED? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP THE PROCESS MOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENTLY, MR. WOODS, TO GET THROUGH THAT BACKLOG WITH IT, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW FROM WHAT I MEAN? YES, IT IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

UM, WE HAVE MAINTAINED TO KEEP IT UNDERNEATH A THOUSAND, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT FOR SOME COURTS HAVE WAY OVER THAT AMOUNT.

SO I ONLY HAVE A BACKLOG OF 700.

AND LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF THOSE ARE JURIES, WHICH ARE OVER A HUNDRED.

SO A LOT OF THOSE CASES ARE JURY.

AND WE DO HAVE SOME CASES THAT ARE IN OUR PROGRAMS TOO.

SO THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT.

UM, THE PENDING NUMBER, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE A GREAT DEPARTMENT.

LISA, MS. C AND Y'ALL.

UM, AND HOW OLD ARE YOUR TWINS? THEY'LL BE 1520.

YOU STARTED HERE WHEN YOU WERE PREGNANT.

I WAS HERE.

IN FACT I HAD JUST HAD THEM.

AND YES.

AND THEY, THEY, THEY THERE'LL BE 15, SO YES, THAT'S AMAZING TO SEE THEM GROW UP AND YOU DO A GREAT JOB FOR US.

AND WE SO APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND KEEPING US SAFE.

ITEM WOULD BE ITEM FIVE, AND THAT IS A OPPORTUNITY AND A TIME FOR A TOWN COUNCIL TO DISCUSS STRATEGIC PRIORITIES.

SCOTT WELCOME MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR STAFF UPDATES, UH, UH, ITEMS ON THE ACTION AGENDA THAT YOU IDENTIFIED IN YOUR LATEST STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE NEXT

[V. Town Council Discussion – Strategic Priorities ]

THAT IS AN OPEN DISCUSSION TIME FOR YOU TO DISCUSS WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.

UM, AS A CONVERSATION STARTER, IF YOU NEED IT, I I'VE GIVEN YOU A LIST OF TOPICS YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TALKING ABOUT, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THESE ARE TOPICS THAT ARE ON YOUR MIND FROM TIME TO TIME.

SOME OF THEM, UH, WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE, UH, TO KNOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND AS WE HEAD INTO BUDGET SEASON AND BE SURE FEBRUARY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ALIGN WITH YOUR FISCAL RESOURCES AND THAT WE'RE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

BUT, UH, SIMPLY PUT, THIS IS YOUR TIME.

WE'LL HAVE A LUNCH DELIVERED AROUND NOON.

IS THAT RIGHT? KIM 1145.

SO WE ARE, WHERE ARE YOU IN A TAB WITH SUGGESTED SLIP, SLIP THAT INTO YOUR BINDER IN THE LEFT POCKET.

OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'D HAVE A DISCUSSION AND EVERYONE TAKE NOTES AND LET'S, LET'S START IT.

DO YOU WANT TO LEAD IT? DO YOU WANT TO JUST GO THROUGH YOUR LIST JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING, UM, SOME OF SCOTT'S NOTES FOR US TO TALK ABOUT OR THINK ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNEXATION, WHICH WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY, SCRATCH STRATEGY, MULTI JURISDICTIONAL PROJECTS, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, HISTORICAL TOWN, MASTER PLANNING, CODE ALIGNMENT, UTO EDITS, CHRISTMAS PARADE, BUDGET POLICIES, AND EXPECTATIONS.

SO MAYBE USE THIS TO WRITE YOUR NOTES ON OTHER TOPICS AND, UM, THROW IT OUT WHO WANTS TO BRING UP A SUBJECT AND LET'S DISCUSS BRIDGET.

SO I HAVE TWO, UM, TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO THE FOREFRONT.

UM, ONE IN BEING SOMEONE WHO GREW UP HERE AND, UH,

[02:10:01]

WHO LEFT THE AREA FOR THE SAME REASON, BUT CAN YOU, UM, WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN THIS TOWN OF, UM, CREATING, UH, PASSIVE PARKS AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, YOUNG FAMILIES ESPECIALLY CAN ENJOY.

UM, MY NEPHEW HAS TO COME OUT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO THE OSCAR FRAZIER PARK, CAUSE HE JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVES IT.

UM, BUT I SEE THERE'S A COMPONENT THAT WE'VE MISSED IN TERMS OF, UM, OUR PARKS AND, UM, THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE DON'T REALLY SPEAK OUR, UM, TEEN GROUP AND THAT GROUP AND LIKE THE AGE GROUP, MAYBE I WOULD SAY PROBABLY LIKE, UM, OUR HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL POPULATION.

AND IF WE COULD THINK OF, OR COME UP WITH SOMETHING, UM, THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR FROM, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR YOUTH, A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'LL SAY THEY DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT THERE'S ANYTHING HERE FOR THEM.

THERE'S NOTHING REALLY FOR THEM TO DO.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PARKS, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT A TEEN IS GOING TO BE DYING TO COME OUT TO GO TO.

SO JUST IN SEEING SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE HAD HAPPEN IN OUR TOWN IN RECENT YEARS WITH THEM, IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE AN OUTLET THAT THEY CAN COME TO, UM, AND BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERFECT RESPONSE IS FOR THAT, BUT WE COULD MAYBE, YOU KNOW, PULL A FEW OF THEM OR EVEN, UM, SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD LOOK INTO TO CREATE A PLACE THAT IS, IS FOR THEM TO SAY THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN OUR, UM, IN OUR, OUR THOUGHTS.

THE LET'S JUMP ON THAT REAL QUICK.

LET'S INCLUDE EVERYTHING COUNTY.

I HAVE A THOUGHT.

UM, AND THEN LET'S ALL JUST MAYBE DISCUSS IT ONE AT A TIME.

WE HAVE A TEEN YOUTH COUNCIL THAT IS COMPRISED OF STUDENTS.

IT CHANGES EVERY YEAR, BUT ALL OVER.

I THINK WE WITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HERE NOW, I THINK THERE ARE TWO STUDENTS FROM THERE.

WELL, I DON'T THE THOUGHT IS GET THEM TOGETHER.

THEY'RE THE HIGH SCHOOLERS THAT USED TO BE MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS A MINUTE AGO.

AND WHAT DO THEY SEE? MAYBE THAT'S ONE OF THE WRONG, JUST TO FALL ONE OF THEIR ISSUES THIS YEAR TO TACKLE AND GIVE US SOME ADVICE ON IT.

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR.

I THINK IT'S ALL SOMETHING I THINK THEY SHOULD SIT UP THERE AND READ A BOOK, BUT I'M NOT, BUT I'M NOT A HIGH SCHOOLER.

SO USUALLY YOU WERE DOING THAT.

I WASN'T, BUT I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN THAT HAD NOTHING HAD NO PARKS.

SO I HAD TO BE CREATIVE THOUGHTS.

WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK OF BRIDGET'S BRIDGET THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE? TOPIC? THE ANSWER IS, I WOULD THINK MAYBE, MAYBE SOME FORM OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THINGS HERE, LIKE A BUCK, WALTER, YOU KNOW, THE COMPLEX OUT THERE THAT THE COUNTY HAS.

UM, I THINK HE WOULD BE TO TRY TO DO MAYBE LIKE A LITTLE ASSESSMENT JUST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE, IN THIS AREA TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO.

UH, AND MAYBE IT'S A MATTER OF DIALING THEM IN TO WHAT'S ALREADY HERE, OR MAYBE THEY COME UP WITH SOMETHING TO ADD OR TWEAK SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE AND LOOK AT IT AND THEN SO LET THEM LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE ALL OVER, NOT JUST THE TOWN.

YOU THINK GOVERNMENT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT PLAYS TO BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS, STUDENT GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN, I CAN LIST FOUR OR FIVE THINGS WHERE WE CAN GET STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT'D BE GOOD.

MAYBE WE GO OUT AND GET THOSE TEACHERS, WHATEVER PRESENTATION, WITHOUT ADDING TOO MUCH ON THIS WORKLOAD, BUT MAYBE AT LEAST GET THEIR ADVICE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IT, LIVING IT AND BREATHING IT.

BUT I LIKE YOUR IDEA.

WHAT ARE THE ASSETS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR THOUGHTS ON BRIDGET'S.

SHE HAS TO, SHE WANTS TO GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT, BUT MAYOR, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.

IT'S PRETTY CHALLENGING TO ME.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THE PARK, HONESTLY.

I I'D NEVER SEE WHAT THE TEENS DO OTHER THAN MAYBE, MAYBE THOSE ONES, THE DANGEROUS, LIKE SKATEBOARDING AND BASKETBALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT BASKETBALL COURTS OR SKATING BLOG.

BUT IF I LOOK, IF I EVEN THINK ABOUT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THEY DO.

THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE LOOK LIKE MOST TIMES, KIDS THAT WANT TO GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY ON THAT.

TEENS, TEENS WANT TO DRIVE A CAR.

WELL, THAT'S, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD TO GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE, WE KIND OF FOLLOWED THAT THING.

LET'S LET'S DO US NOT DO THEM.

KIND OF THING.

AND UM, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST US TAKING IT ON AS OURSELVES.

WE COULD GET ONE OR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND KIND OF DO OUR, NOT TO ADD THE STRESS

[02:15:01]

ON STAFF.

THEY COULD GIVE US A GOOD, YOU KNOW, A MAP OF WHAT WE HAVE AND SAY, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT DO Y'ALL SEE? THERE WAS A, UM, LADY AND I'VE JUST LOST HER NAME.

I JUST LOST HER NAME, BUT SHE WAS, UM, SHE DID THE BOLD MCCRACKEN.

SHE DID THE, UM, THINK OUT OF THE BOX KIND OF THING WHEN MR. HENDERSON WAS THERE AND THEY, YOU WERE THERE, SOME OF US WERE ASKED TO PRESENT AND IT WAS REALLY COOL THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL WORLD, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE, UH, GOOD FOR THEM TOO.

LIKE WHAT IDEAS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

SO I COULD JUST JUMP ON THAT FOR JUST, YEAH.

OH MY MAYOR.

UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE IMPORTANT PIECES OF INFORMATION GONNA HAVE WITH, WITH AN ISSUE LIKE THIS IS WHAT ARE THE NEEDS? AND SO FIRST I THINK WE IDENTIFY THE NEEDS.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP IDENTIFY THOSE NEEDS IS WE ALREADY HAVE AN ITEM.

UH, ONE OF YOUR ACTION AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU ADOPTED LAST YEAR AS A COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY AND THAT'S, AND THEN WE HAVE PROGRAMS FOR AFLAC 22 TO MINISTER THAT, AND WE CAN HAVE A STRONG COMPONENT, UH, WORKING WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN FRAZIER AND OTHERS TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, TO ASK, TO, TO GET TO WHAT THAT NEED IS.

AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE THOSE NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN THE OUT YEARS, YOU CAN THEN GET TOGETHER AND YOU CAN PROGRAM WHATEVER, WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COUNTY THAT HAVE TO BE STRENGTHENED FOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OR WHETHER WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE MORE BUSINESSES THAT ARE, THAT ARE TEEN FOCUSED, UM, THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT WILL GIVE US THAT INFORMATION.

AND THEN I THINK YOU CAN, THE ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME, SOME GOOD DAYS.

AND, WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE.

I KNOW I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME, UM, AMENITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHERE CAN THEY GO AND WHERE CAN THEY LOOK? AND I THINK WE CAN ALSO INCORPORATE MAYBE THAT'S THE SO LOCO THING TOO.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN THE BLUFFTON.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE COULD HAVE A CIRCLE AROUND BUCHWALD FIVE MINUTES OUT AND YOU'RE INTO ANOTHER COUNTY AND TWO OTHER TOWNS.

SO MAYBE IT'S A KIND OF A, A GROUP THING.

THERE'S SOMETHING OPENING THIS WEEK AT BERKELEY PLACE.

I MEAN, IT'S THINGS WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT A WHOLE LIST BECAUSE THESE KIDS MAY REALIZE NOW, OH MY GOSH, THERE ARE THINGS FOR US TO DO.

WE CAN BOWL.

WE CAN GO TO THE, THE KIDS ZONE, WHICH LOOKED LIKE THE TWO ADULTS I SAW GO IN THERE.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS AS MUCH FUN WE'RE GROWNUPS AS IT IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT'S OPENING.

BUT, UM, I'M THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE 20, 22 NOW.

YEAH, NO I'M SAYING JUST IN, JUST IN GENERAL.

YEAH, JUST QUICKLY.

MY KIDS ARE POST-COLLEGE NOW.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT ONE POINT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS SAID WE HAD NOTHING AND I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF NOT DISCOUNTING IT.

WE ALWAYS SAY WE HAD NOTHING TO DO.

AND THEN WE REALIZED WE HAD A LOT TO DO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO TO THE RIVER, WE COULD WALK TO HERE, WE COULD START GETTING COFFEE AND IT, AND I'M CURIOUS THAT AGE GROUP, WHAT IT IS THEY FEEL THEY'RE LACKING AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T HELP THEM SEE IT'S OUT THERE OR IT'S COMING OR HOW THEY CAN BE ENGAGED AND HELP US LIKE WITH THAT SKATE PARK, THAT WAS 100% TEENAGERS.

WHAT WAS YOUR OTHER ITEM? YEAH.

UNDER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR DOES IT PARTNER WITH, BECAUSE WE, WE'RE NOT NAMING NAMES.

AND THEN, UM, MY OTHER ITEM IS A CONVERSATION I'VE HAD BEFORE WITH, UM, WITH CHIEF AND, UH, MARK AT ONE TIME.

I WOULD LIKE FOR US, WHEN WE, I SEE ON HERE, THE SUGGESTION ABOUT BUDGET POLICIES, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I DO LIKE IDEA OF MOVING INTO AND BEING ABLE TO FUND A, UM, LIKE A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.

SO FOR NON, UM, EMERGENCY, LIKE NON-THREATENING CALLS, LET'S SAY THAT THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH, UM, YOU KNOW, INQUIRY OR ISSUE GOING ON INSTEAD OF JUST DISPATCH IN AN OFFICER, BEING ABLE TO SEND OUT SOMEONE WHO CAN GIVE PROPER ASSISTANCE AND DO A FOLLOW-UP LIKE A SOCIAL WORKER OR A CRISIS RESPONSE, UM, UM, THERAPIST OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE, UM, AS WE TALK ABOUT WORKING ON PROVEN COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I SEE THAT AS BEING A TRUE, UM, WAY TO RESPOND AND LIKE SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND EVEN BE ABLE TO UNBURDEN OUR OFFICERS IN SOME WAY, BECAUSE IT NOW, LIKE IF THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH CALL, OUR OFFICER WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM USC TO DROP THAT PERSON OFF AND THEN COME.

AND THERE'S NO, FOLLOW-UP REALLY THAT.

SO I THINK AS WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY COULD CREATE.

AND I THINK THIS WOULD BE AN ISSUE THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY WITH THEM AND, UM, WITH US AS A COMMUNITY AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT SO THAT WE'RE JUMPING IN, IF ANYONE HAS ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, UM, CHIEF MAY HAVE A COMMENT OR TWO THAT SHE COULD OFFER FOR SOMEONE STANDING, STANDING THERE.

IT IS A BUDGET AS IT FALL

[02:20:01]

WE KNOW WE'RE NOT THE MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S KIND OF MORE OF IT.

WE'LL BE DOING IT.

WE HAVE TO DO A PARTNERSHIP.

WE'D HAVE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND HAVE ONE ON WHAT STAFF IS IT, POLICE FIRST RESPONSE NURSE WHO GETS A CALL.

I THINK THEY NEED TO STAY INVOLVED AND JUST HAVE THAT PARTNERSHIP.

BUT IT IS A BUDGET.

IT WOULD BE A BUDGET REQUEST FOR YOU BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY, UH, WITH SOME OF THEIR OWN DEPUTIES.

UH, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IF IT'S APPROACHED FROM ACCOUNTS, TIE INTO DUFFY ORGANIZATION, MAYBE SOMEBODY THERE MAINTAINS PEOPLE ON STAFF THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO, BUT THAT'S JUST THE THROWING.

IT'D BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE CITY OF SAVANNAH HAS RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED IT, BUT IT WOULD BE TOWN OF IT'D BE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND HOW YOU WOULD DO IT BECAUSE YOU WOULD, WE COULD PROVIDE THE FUNDING IN OUR BUDGET TO EMPLOY THE, WHOEVER THE PERSON IS FROM MIAMI OR THE, UM, THE CRISIS RESPONSE PERSON WHO WOULD, UH, COME IN.

IT WOULD BE JUST LIKE, NOW WE SEND OUT THE, UM, PASTORS TO GO ALONG WITH OFFICERS.

WE WOULD SIT DOWN, BE SENDING OUT THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO GO ALONG.

UM, IF IT, IF, IF, IF THAT WASN'T A PARTICULAR CALL THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE.

SO, SO YOU'RE OKAY NOW LET'S SEE WHAT WE GO ON.

BUT THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO RESIDENTS SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, Y'ALL ARE HELPING SOMEONE IN ANOTHER TOWN OR ANOTHER COUNTY.

HOW DOES, HOW DOES SHE MANAGE THAT? AND SHE'S STANDING UP AT THE MIC, BUT I HEAR YA.

SO DID YOU UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF A CHAPLAIN VERSION? ABSOLUTELY.

I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTOOD THAT.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THIS VERY THING.

HAVE LOST YOUR JOB, OR YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE A JOB AND YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE GETTING LUNCH, YOUR KIDS AREN'T AT SCHOOL, IT AFFECTED IT WOULD AFFECT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.

YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO BRING THIS.

SO, ONE THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS ONE OF THE GOALS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR IS TO MAKE SURE 50 OVER 50% OF OUR OPERATIONAL STAFF IS CIT TRAINED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ON TRACK TO GET THAT DONE.

WE RECENTLY HAD TO CANCEL A CLASS DUE TO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE COVID CONCERNS, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE.

AND OVER 50% OF YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, I'D LIKE TO SHOOT HIGHER THAN 50, BUT THAT SEEMED LIKE A REASONABLE NUMBER THAT ARE GOING TO BE CIT TRAINED.

WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING EXACTLY WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT HAVING A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PERSON IN PLACE AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

WE'RE IN TALKS WITH NAMI RIGHT NOW FOR THAT AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE EXPLORING ALSO NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY WITH WHAT HAS BEEN DONE LOCALLY, BUT WHAT'S BEING DONE REGIONALLY.

AND I KNOW THAT OUR OPERATIONS, ONE OF OUR OPERATIONS LIEUTENANTS IS IN CONTACT WITH A DIFFERENT POLICE AGENCY WHO WAS RECENTLY ON POLICE ONE'S WEBSITE THAT HAD DONE THAT VERY THING.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY TOO, WE'RE EXPLORING HAVING A SOCIAL WORKER WITHIN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ARENA BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH.

IT IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY STRUGGLES THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT AND THEY CAN'T AFFORD FOOD FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR CHILDCARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE A POLICE MATTER.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING IS REALLY TO THE ROOT OF PROBLEMS OF WHY YOU NEED HELP AND WHAT YOU'RE CALLING NINE ONE, ONE FOR, WE LOVE ANSWERING NINE 11 CALLS.

WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, BUT WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS HELP THE PEOPLE OF BLUFFTON AND HELP OUR CITIZENS IN BLUFFTON AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED AND GETTING THE HELP THAT THEY NEED WITH THAT.

SO YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS IN THE FUTURE.

YES, PLEASE.

MORE THAN JUST IN A CONSENT AGENDA.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE, WE SHOULD LET A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW I'VE SEEN MORE CALLS RECENTLY AND I'M, YOUR REPORTS ARE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN BEFORE.

AND I APPRECIATE IT.

UM, THEY'RE MORE CALLS OF SERVICE THAT YOU'RE SHOWING.

I'VE JUST BEEN SAD BY SEEING THE UNDERAGE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT AGE THAT IS, BUT I'M GUESSING HIGH SCHOOL.

COOL, UM, CALLS, SUICIDE CALLS THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SAID WHO IT IS OR WHERE IT IS, BUT THEN THEY'RE TAKING THE MUFC OR, UM, DOMESTIC ABUSE.

I'VE SEEN MORE THIS YEAR THAN I, I THINK I'VE EVER SEEN OR HEARD ABOUT.

AND OUR SRO OFFICERS PLAY A ROLE IN ALL OF THIS.

THEY HAVE TO BE THAT HIGH SCHOOL KID'S BEST FRIEND AS WELL AS AUTHORITY FIGURE, BECAUSE I THINK THEY, THEY PROBABLY WILL GET IT AT A HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

IT JUST, I THINK A LOT OF THIS, THESE ISSUES OVER THE LAST YEAR, HAVE ALL OF US HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

IT'S JUST BEEN, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTREME LEVEL WHEN YOU'RE STUCK AT HOME, OR YOU MAY

[02:25:01]

SO PLEASE, I THINK THAT'S, THAT IS PRETTY TO LET ALL OF US KNOW AND BE A PART OF THIS.

AND THERE'S FINAL COMMENTS.

I KNOW WE HAVE TO MOVE ON CHIEF, BUT IN, UM, THE NEED FOR THIS IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HEARD AND, UM, AND A DISCUSSION ON THIS WAS THAT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN TRAINED TRADITIONALLY IN THIS COUNTRY TO RESPOND TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

SO THEIR, THEIR RESPONSE IS ALWAYS TO COME IN AND BE ABLE TO, TO HANDLE TO MEDICAID.

YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING NOW AT THE DIFFERENT REASONS, PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN SOMEONE WHO'S FEELING SUICIDAL, WHO'S HAVING THOUGHTS OF THAT.

SHOULDN'T BE VIEWED AS CRIMINAL, OR HAVE SOMEONE RESPOND OR APPROACH THEM IN THAT MANNER.

WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ALSO STAFF AND EQUIP OURSELVES TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO GO IN TO GIVE THEM THE SERVICE THAT THEY NEED.

AND THAT JUST TAKES AWAY.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT DYNAMICS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS ON BOARD.

THANK YOU, BRIDGET.

AND I DO THINK WE'VE GOT TO DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP.

I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS OUT OF OUR WORLD OF BMI THAT'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED.

SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

AND CHIEF, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE YOU'VE READ HER MIND.

ANYONE ELSE ON A LIST OF THESE THINGS WE'LL GO AROUND AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND AGAIN.

I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT YOUR LUNCHES ARRIVED.

UM, ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK, WELL, LET ME ASK COUNSEL, DO YOU WANT TO GO? DO YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT? LET'S EAT IT UP.

I MEAN, I CAN, WE CAN EAT.

DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO EAT OR DO YOU WANT TO WORK? EAT, WORK? HOW DO WE LOOK WITH TIME? YOU'RE REALLY GOOD ON TIME RIGHT NOW.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GET TO THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

WHY DON'T WE SIT AT THE TABLE? LET'S SIT AT THE TABLE AND UM, YOU HAVE TO GET UNDER LIKE, LET'S KEEP GOING.

IF WE CAN GET UP BY TWO, TWO, I'M HAPPY.

ARE Y'ALL OKAY WITH THAT? OR DO YOU WANT YOUR OWN LUNCH? I'M GOOD.

THE MOMENT.

WE'RE ALL GONNA BE LOOKING AT YOU EAT AND GET TO WORK.

LET'S GET LUNCH, KIM, HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS? OR THEY'RE ALL THE SAME.

MANY OF OUR FOLKS ACROSS THE, THE NATION ARE GOING TO BE AGING OUT OF THE WORKFORCE SOON.

SO GET YOUR LUNCH AND LET'S SIT BACK DOWN AND YOU HAD ENOUGH FOR THE ROOM, THE WHOLE ROOM, EVERYONE WHO'S HERE HAS A BOX LUNCH, FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

IF Y'ALL CAN TAKE A BREATH, YOU DO THE BLESSING.

UM, DURING THE BREAK MICHAEL BELL, WHO'S OUR PERSON REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD OF BUFORD WATER SHORE AUTHORITY.

TELL ME ABOUT HOW BUFORD JASPER IS WORKING ON THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE FUTURE OF THEIR UTILITY, HOW THEY INCORPORATE KIDS AND INTERNSHIPS, OR HAVING ENOUGH FOR YOU FOR JASPER COLLEGE OF SORTS TO BRING IN YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND HE ASKED WHAT, WHAT WE WERE DOING AS A TOWN, A FUKO QUESTION, SUSTAINING WHERE WE ARE KEEPING OUR IN BRIDGET MENTIONED IT KEEPING KEEPING 37 FROM ONE TO 40 AVERAGE AGE.

UM, HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A YOUNG LADY THAT LIVES IN BLOCKED WITH THE MAY RIVER.

SHE WAS AN INTERN.

SHE WENT TO WAKE FOREST.

THEY'RE ALL WORKING CRAZY REMOTELY.

SO ANNA HAS AN INTERNSHIP NOW WITH US CONTINUOUSLY WORKING ON OUR COMP PLAN.

I THINK THAT RIGHT THERE COULD GET IN HER MIND.

I MIGHT HAVE A PLACE IN BLUFFTON GRADUATE BECAUSE SO MANY OF THESE KIDS THINK ABOUT WHERE THEY LEAVE, BUT EVEN IF THEY DO LEAVE, HOW DO WE GET THEM BACK? SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR, OF OUR TOWN, OF OUR MICHAEL.

YOU WANT TO MENTION KIND OF, YOU CAN TALK REALLY LOUDLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A MICROPHONE AND HOW WE DO WHAT THEY DO MAYBE, OR MIRROR IT.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

I, AS I INDICATED TO THE MAYOR, I'M, WE'RE SITTING HERE LISTENING AND WE'RE ABLE TO WRITE NOTES AND JOT DOWN THOUGHTS WHILE YOU GUYS THINK AND TALK.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO ONE THING, NOT MULTIPLE, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME IS THAT, UH, WE HAVE SIMILAR TYPE CHALLENGES AT THE WATER AUTHORITY.

AND AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, LABOR POOL IS A BIG ISSUE FOR US.

UH, WHEN WE SEE THE STATISTICS, THEY'RE SAYING THAT, UM,

[02:30:01]

SO WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER, AND THIS IS NOW BEEN IN THE FROZE FOR SOME YEARS.

NOW, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A BJ WSA UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO, WE BRING OUR ENTRY LEVEL EMPLOYEES IN.

AND THEN WE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR INSTRUCTORS WHO WORK WITH THEM TO GROW, TO GROW THEM, GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION.

WE TEACH THEM OUR SKILLS.

WE'RE GROWING OUR OWN WITH THAT BEING AS THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO, WE HAVE NOW EMBARKED UPON AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE ABOUT TO IMPLEMENT THAT.

BUT THE, THE, THE, UH, THE BONES OF IT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE ALREADY.

AND, UH, WE HAVE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL STUDENTS FROM ORIGINAL HARTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW OTHER STUDENTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN BUFORD.

AND, UH, THOSE, THOSE WHOM WE SELECT WILL BECOME AN INTERN AND THEY WILL LEARN ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND IN HOPES OF TRADING THEM, GETTING THEM INTO THE INTEREST LEVEL OF IT, AND THEN EVENTUALLY BECOMING AN EMPLOYEE FALL INTO RBJ WSE UNIVERSITY.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY HOPE TO DO WITH THAT IS THEY EXPAND THAT INTO A, A SCHOLARSHIP TYPE PROGRAM LATER ON, SO THAT THOSE WHO WANT TO, TO MOVE ON AND DO ADVANCE LEARNING, WE THEN WILL HELP THEM.

AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WERE, WE'RE CREATING AS A NEW WHEEL.

WE ARE JUST BUILDING UPON WHAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS DO.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE EMPLOYEE SIDE OF IT.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ORGANIZATION SCREEN, WE ARE WORKING TO LOOK AT OUR ORGANIZATION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND SEE THAT WE ARE, SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING, HOW WE'RE DOING IT AND HOW WE CAN DO IT.

AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY GOES, WHAT, WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY SUSTAINABILITY? WE KNOW THAT'S A BUZZWORD.

NOW WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, WE ARE WATCHING OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT PRINT.

WE'RE SAVING AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN FOR OUR RATE PAYERS.

AND WE'RE DOING IT IN A VERY EQUAL, SENSITIVE MANNER.

UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND MANY OF YOU MAY NOT, BUT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING OUT TO LOOKING FORWARD, TO DOCUMENTING WHAT WE DO DO AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE WATER REUSE PROGRAMS ALL AROUND THE COUNTY AND THE POOL GOLF COURSES.

WE PUT A LOT OF IT ON GOLF COURSES.

WE PUT, WE RECHARGED A WETLAND AREA.

WE DO A LOT OF STUFF THAT HELPS THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO DO MORE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND FROM THOSE THOSE ASPECTS.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR WORKFORCE, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.

AND, UH, SO WE WE'VE BEEN CONFRONTING A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES SIDE OF BLUFFING.

I JUST THINK THAT WE ARE ON A SIMILAR PATH.

AND WITH THAT, WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND GO FROM THERE.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THREW OUT TO THE MAYOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING.

AS I SAID, WE HAVE A STUDY COMMITTEE, OUR COMMITTEE, THAT'S LOOKING AT OUR, OUR ORGANIZATION FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

HOW CAN WE DO BETTER WHEN WE'RE FLEET STUDY, THAT'S TAKING A LOOK AT, AT ALL OF OUR VEHICLES AND THINGS THAT WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO, AS I SAY, GREEN, OUR ORGANIZATION.

THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

AND EVEN, I MEAN, I LOOK AT THIS ROOM, Y'ALL ARE ALL THE ONES THAT ARE KEEPING OUR AGE LOWER.

IF YOUR KIDS STAY HERE, LIKE KENNETH, YOUR SON, HE WENT TO MAY RIVER BECAUSE OF THE ENGINEERING PROGRAM, RIGHT? HE'S IN BLUFFTON.

YAY.

WELL, BOTH SCHOOLS ARE AWESOME, BUT THERE'S BECAUSE WAS IT SOME POINT IN ENGINEERING? RIGHT.

UM, BRIAN MENTIONED EARLIER, HE'S BRINGING IN AN INTERN, WE'RE DOING THE INTERN SIDE.

I THINK WE'VE HAD THE MOST INTERNS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD, BUT, UM, THAT THAT'S GREAT.

WE CAN'T FUND SCHOLARSHIPS.

THAT'S THE TOUGH PART OF TOWN.

CAN'T PAY A SCHOLARSHIP FOR AN INTERN.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO SPREAD OUT TO OTHER COMPANIES, TO GET THEM IN THE LOOP.

UM, AND THAT'S WHERE DON RYAN CENTER, I WANTED YOU TO STAY.

UM, DAVID, BECAUSE WHAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A DON RYAN CENTER INITIATIVE.

HOW DO WE ENGAGE? OUR YOUTH? BRIDGET KINDA WENT EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT AFTER SHE SPOKE.

SHE WAS THINKING MORE OF THE, OF OUR KIDS, OUR KIDS THAT ARE NOT HAVING OUR KIDS.

THEY'RE NOT HAVING BABIES AND FAMILIES QUITE YET, BUT MAYBE JUST MOVED BACK HERE.

I'M A SECOND DAUGHTER THAT JUST MOVED BACK HERE.

HOW DO YOU ENGAGE THAT COLLEGE TO 28 YEAR OLD? THAT TEACHER, UM, PEOPLE WHO GREW UP HERE THAT NOW WE'RE READY TO COME BACK.

HOW DO WE ENGAGE THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THERE ARE THINGS FOR THEM TO DO.

AND I DO THINK IF Y'ALL JUMP IN, IS THAT A DISCUSSION WITH OUR BUSINESS INCUBATOR OF, YOU KNOW, DO WE DO A VIDEO LIKE EPICOR? DID YOU KNOW THEY WERE DOING A RECRUITMENT VIDEO TO BRING IN YOUNG PEOPLE? THEIR AVERAGE AGE WAS LIKE REALLY YOUNG.

WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THE HIGHER EXECS, IT WAS LIKE 28 YEARS OLD.

[02:35:01]

SUSTAINABILITY KEEPING OUR YOUTH HERE, KEEPING THEM ENGAGED.

Y'ALL HAVE THOUGHTS.

KENNETH, YOU HAVE CHILDHOOD ABOUT BEING GOING TO COLLEGE SOON.

DO YOU THINK YOU'LL COME BACK TO HERE, BUT, BUT I CAN, I CAN SHARE MY OWN THOUGHTS WHEN I LEFT BACK WHEN I WAS 17.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WOULD BE BACK SO SOON.

UM, MY PLAN WAS TO GO OFF EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY AND RETIRE HERE.

SO I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WAS GOING TO BE HERE THIS YOUNG, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOKING FOR WHERE I AM NOW.

I'M GLAD THAT I'M HOME.

IS THAT WHAT THAT WAS THAT FROM THE BUDGET SIDE OR FROM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH IT.

SO WE'VE GOT TO HIT, WHAT DO WE MAKE OTHERS? THE COLLEGE AGE VERSION OF YOU REALIZE THAT THREE, FOUR YEARS OUT OF COLLEGE OR MAYBE RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.

THIS IS THE PLACE TO COME BACK TO, RIGHT? ARE YOU UNDER, I'M YOUNGER THAN YOU ARE? ARE YOU YOUNGER THAN OUR AVERAGE YOUNG DEER? THEY'RE YOUNGER THOUGHTS.

ANYBODY HAVE OTHER LOOK AT OUR LISTS? THANK YOU, MICHAEL.

I THINK ALL THAT'S WELL, SCOTT'S WRITING NOTES.

IT'S MY OPINION.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND YOU GO AND CHECK, CHECK SOME OTHER PLACES OUT AND AFTER YOU STAY, YOU MIGHT LIKE SNOW OR ICE OR MOUNTAINS OR WHATEVER.

I THINK AFTER A YEAR OR TWO, YOU PROBABLY BE ON YOUR WAY BACK TO BLUFFTON.

ANYWAY, IF YOU'RE FROM HERE AND YOU GREW UP HERE, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE BACK.

WELL, I DON'T DOUBT THAT MOST PEOPLE TO COME BACK IF YOU KNOW, WELL, I THINK THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN YOUR TOWN WORK EVERYDAY TO GET YOUR CHILDREN BACK.

BUT HOW ABOUT THE, I MEAN, I'D SIT ON THE HERITAGE BOARD IN ANOTHER AREA AS KENNETH DOES.

AND MY PART IS SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.

AND WHEN WE INTERVIEWED THESE KIDS, I ADD MY TO THEM.

IS, ARE YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING A 5,000 A YEAR DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP FOR EVERY FOUR YEARS OF YOUR COLLEGE COMING BACK HOME AND SHOCK ON.

AND ONE WAS TO A FAMILY, UM, VERY WELL KNOWN HERE.

AND HE DIDN'T QUITE KNOW HOW TO ANSWER IT, BUT HE'S LIKE, I DON'T THINK I'M COMING HOME.

MY CHILD WOULD NEVER SAID THAT.

YOU KNOW? SO I THINK WE'RE IN A BUBBLE CAUSE WE'RE IN IT.

AND WE KNOW HOW GREAT IT IS.

HOW DO WE SPREAD THE GREATNESS TO, YOU KNOW, NOW WE HAVE THREE HOT SCHOOLS, FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS COUNT JOHN PAUL, OH, WITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY.

HOW DO, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY LEAVE WITH THAT IN THE BACK OF THEIR MIND AND BEING, AND BEING, UM, COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT ENGAGED, YOU KNOW, HERE YOU'RE LOSING THEM TO THE GREENVILLES AND THE CHARLOTTES AND THEN WHEREVER ELSE.

AND, UM, IF WE, YOU KNOW, PULL OUR EVEN TEACHER RETENTION NUMBERS AS THOSE WHO WORK HERE OR MAY WORK IN HILTON HEAD OR BUFORD, BUT LIVE IN BLUFFTON, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT IS A BIG, A BIG GRIPE.

AND IF YOU GO OFF AND COME BACK, YOU STAY BECAUSE YOU DO LOVE IT HERE AND YOUR FAMILY'S HERE, BUT THERE IS THAT, THAT LACK OF ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO WE WANT TO KEEP YOUNG TALENTS IN BLUFFTON.

UM, WE WANT THEIR, THEIR TALENTS, THEIR ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP.

THAT'S GOING TO INVEST BACK INTO OUR ECONOMY.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO ELSEWHERE.

AND I JUST, WHEN YOU JUST SAID THAT, AND DAVID, UM, LOW COUNTRY WORKS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A SITE AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT IS NOW, BUT WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS SITE OUT TO THE STUDENTS AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT THEY COULD COME BACK TO.

NOT JUST THAT WE'RE SAYING, OH, YOU CAN'T DO A JOB.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWUP WE'LL WAIT HERE.

AND THEN I'LL BE LIKE, UH, HOLD ON.

YOU KNOW, BUT LOW COUNTRY WORKS.

MAYBE YOU CAN JUMP IN WHERE WE ARE.

SOMEONE TOLD YOU TO STAND UP.

YEAH, THERE WE GO.

UH, THE DECISION WAS MADE EARLIER THIS YEAR, UH, TO TABLE LOW COUNTRY WORK, TIME BEING, IT WAS A SERVICE WE HAD TO PAY FOR AND IT WAS NEVER REALLY GENERATING THE TRACTION AND GETTING THE AWARENESS WE THOUGHT, UH, UM, THAT'S WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.

I'M SURE IT COULD BE REVISITED.

OF COURSE.

UH, IT, IT WAS, AS YOU KNOW, YOU SAW IT, I NEED TO DO THINGS AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN IT, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE OFFERING, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT AGAIN.

IF COUNCIL DIRECTS US TO DO THAT,

[02:40:01]

AND IT'LL BE ON MY NOTE.

I BELIEVE IT WAS BASED ON BUDGET AND SOMEWHAT OF PRIORITIES AND PAST PERFORMANCE AND A LOT OF THINGS TOGETHER.

I THINK ALSO THE COMPANY THAT MANAGED IT, THE PLATFORM ONE DID TO RAISE THE PRICE.

AND DRC IS VERY FOCUSED NOW WITH MEANT OF RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND LOWER THE LOWERING THE COST CENTER SIDE OF DON RYAN.

SO I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER MADE THEM, MADE THEM GO, WELL, THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY RIGHT NOW, BUT IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING WE COULD REVISIT.

WELL, JUST, AND THEN IT GOES BACK TO, UM, CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH COUNSEL ON ALL OF US NOT BEING ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND IF THIS COUNCIL'S ON THE SAME PAGE TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES TO THAT COLLEGE CAREER PROFESSIONAL, WE NEED EVERYONE ON OUR PAGE.

SO I THINK THAT IF, AND I'M JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AND I THINK BRIDGET RIGHT NOW, BUT IF Y'ALL ARE OKAY TO LOOK AT THAT, I MEAN, THAT IS SUSTAINING OUR IT'S RIGHT HERE, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGIES.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

WE HAD TO HAVE TOOLS FOR THESE COLLEGE STUDENTS.

I HAVE A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE.

I'M LIVING THIS RIGHT NOW.

MY DAUGHTER MATS IS 24.

GRADUATED FROM AUBURN, GOT A VERY NICE OFFER TO WORK FOR REALLY LARGE, BUT SHE HAD THE MOST CHICAGO.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO CHICAGO.

SHE LOVES THE LOW COUNTRY.

SHE LOVES BLUFFTON AND SHE BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE FARM AND SHE GOES OVER THERE AND HAS A ROOMMATE TO MAKE EXPENSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SHE'S WORKING, UH, IN THE EQUESTRIAN DIVISION UP AT BRAYS ISLAND UP IN SHELTON, YOU KNOW, CAUSE SHE LOVES HORSES, BUT SHE'S, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO DO? CAUSE THIS IT'S A VERY, THE QUESTION ASIDE, IT'S VERY, VERY PUNISHING PHYSICALLY AND EARLY MORNINGS AND HORSES DON'T TAKE DAYS OFF THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND UM, SO IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR SOMEONE TO, I MEAN, SHE'S BROUGHT IN THE AGE GROUP, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 23 YEAR OLDS CAME BACK.

WHAT DO I DO NOW? YOU KNOW, WELL, KEEP LOOKING, SWEETIE.

THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU TOOK, I TELL HER, IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

IT PROBABLY TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, BUT SHE MAY BE AN OUTLIER IN THAT SHE REALIZED REALLY WHAT WAS HERE AND HAD BEEN AROUND A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GO.

THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO WHERE IT'S COLD.

I DON'T WANT TO GO WHERE IT'S ALL CITY.

SHE APPRECIATES THE ENVIRONMENT WE HAVE.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES ARE THAT PEOPLE HER AGE AND YOUNGER REALIZE, WELL, I DO WANT TO GET OUT WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE? AND THEN LATER ON THEY REALIZE, OH, I REALLY HAD IT GOOD.

BUT SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE TEACHES US BACK.

NOT LOGIC.

THAT KIND OF THING.

SOUNDS SO GOOD.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT LARRY SAID, BUT YOU'RE IN OUR BUBBLE TOO.

I WENT TO SOMEBODY WHO'S WE DON'T SEE ALL THE TIME AND ASK THEM, WE NEED TO HELP GUIDE THE OTHER 23,000.

PEOPLE'S FOCUS ON WHY TO COME BACK HOME THOUGHT, MARY I'M SORRY.

I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

IT'S IT'S REALLY, UM, QUALITY OF LIFE IS PART OF THE FOCUS.

YOU CAN'T FAKE IT, IT'S AUTHENTIC AND YOU CAN'T FIND IT IN MANY OTHER PLACES.

SO WHAT MAKES BLUFFTON AND THE LOW COUNTRY REGION SPECIAL, IT IS A QUALITY OF LIFE.

IT'S THE PEOPLE.

AND I THINK AS A, AS AN ORGANIZATION AND WHERE YOUR FOCUS HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN TO FOCUS ON INVESTMENTS THAT ARE GOOD FOR FAMILIES, RIGHT? SO WHETHER THEY'RE LIVING HERE FOR ONE YEAR OR BEEN HERE FOR FOUR GENERATIONS AND BEYOND, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM THE SENSE OF INVESTMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE, INFRASTRUCTURE, ROAD, WATER, SEWER, STORM, WATER, BUT THEN ALSO FINDING SOME, SOME NEW REVENUES AND INVESTING IN FAMILY-ORIENTED PARKS.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PARKS, THE REASON PEOPLE LOVE THEM.

AND WE USE MARTIN FAMILY PARK FOR A SECOND BECAUSE WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT RIGHT FAMILY, BUT LET'S GET BACK TO MARTIN FOR A MINUTE.

MARTIN FAMILY PARK IS A PARK NAMED AFTER A FAMILY, BUT IT'S FOR FAMILIES, EVERYBODY THAT GOES THERE AS SOMETHING AND NOW THE FARMER'S MARKET WANTS TO BE NEAR IT.

AND SO I THINK THAT THE GRAVITY OF IT IS CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAIL AS WITHIN YOUR SPAN OF CONTROL, OUR SPAN OF CONTROL, RIGHT? WHAT CAN WE CONTROL? WE CAN'T MAKE KIDS COME BACK.

WE CAN SET THE CONDITIONS FOR THAT.

WE CAN INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE CAN DEMAND THAT NEW RESIDENTIAL AND NEW COMMERCIAL FIT.

AND SO THAT QUALITY OF LIFE OVER TIME AND CHANGE.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT BLUFFTON VERNACULAR.

WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE TOWN THAT'S GROWING UP, BUT WE'VE NEVER, IT'S A LOT TO

[02:45:01]

YOU.

AND I'VE, I'VE THOUGHT THROUGH THIS A LOT LATELY, IT'S A LOT TO YOU AS A COUNCIL, HOLDING VERY TIGHT THAT BLUFFTON WILL REMAIN A SMALL COMMUNITY, NOT IN SENSE OF SIZE AND GEOGRAPHY, BUT IN THE SENSE OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US AS A STAFF, WHETHER YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER, PULLING SOMEONE OVER, WHETHER YOU'RE A PUBLIC WORKS PERSON, WHETHER YOU'RE A TOWN MANAGER, IT'S JUST YOU, THE MAIN THING THAT WE HOLD TRUE, THAT FAMILY VALUE IN THIS TOWN.

I THINK THE REST OF IT IS, IS RIGHT UP HERE ON THAT SCREEN.

WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE ELEMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, YEAH, AND I THINK THAT HITS ALL THE PEOPLE I'M SEEING WALK AROUND TODAY, OUT HERE, BUT WHERE DO YOU, WHERE DO YOU KEEP PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE TO RAISE A FAMILY? ARE THOSE THAT MOVED HERE BEFORE ALL THIS WAS HERE THAT HAD FAMILY AND YOU DESPERATELY NEED.

AND I TELL PEOPLE YOU'RE A TOWN BECAUSE OF YOUR FAMILY BRINGS BACK FAMILY.

THERE ARE AREAS AROUND US THAT AREN'T REALLY COMMUNITIES BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY LEAVES AND COMES BACK.

THERE'S NO LEGACY.

AND THAT'S THE PERSON WHO MOVED HERE LAST WEEK WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THEY WANT THEM TO COME BACK OR IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, OSCAR WHO HIS WISH WAS HIS FAMILY AND I'M DYING WISH WITH HIS FAMILY TO COME BACK HERE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM THINKING THAT.

SO IS IT, I'M KIND OF ON THAT LOW COUNTRY WORK THING THAT I REALLY FELT WE WERE WORKING ON THAT IS THAT AN EDC REQUEST THEN FOR THEM TO TAKE, THEY HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE NOW.

AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO PROMOTE QUALITY OF LIFE AND WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING HERE TO GET IN THESE HIGH SCHOOLERS AND COLLEGE KIDS LIKE, WELL, HAS EVERYBODY THOUGHT, WHY'S YOUR RADIO'S MOVING BACK HERE.

I WAS BORN HERE.

I'M GOING TO BE BACK KIND OF, I GET IT BECAUSE YOU'VE TALKED TO ME ABOUT LOW COUNTRY WORKS.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY HUNDREDS OF TIMES, BUT IT'S GETTING, IT'S GETTING CLOSE.

AND I WILL SAY, I'M NOT SURE THAT DAVID, 100% OF ALL THE INFORMATION FROM MIKE AND MIKE CAN'T BE HERE TODAY.

SHE'S GOT SOME FAMILY THINGS GOING ON.

AND I DON'T DO YOU KNOW ABOUT LOOK, COUNTRY WORKS.

JOBS ARE IMPORTANT.

LOW COUNTRY WORKS IS ON HOLD UNTIL THEY GOT A FEW THAT WEREN'T QUITE WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE IN THAT ORGANIZATION HUMMING.

AND I DO THINK THAT THEY'RE IN A PLACE NOW WHO HAS BEEN THAT THE COMPANY THAT WAS DOING IT FOR US, I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S THE MOST FEASIBLE.

UM, THEY WERE TRYING TO DO IT THEMSELVES AND IT JUST BECAME A HEAVY LIFT, BUT IT'S NOT OFF THE TABLE.

SO I THINK EVERYBODY HEARS YOUR, YOUR POINT TODAY ABOUT GETTING THAT AS THE NEXT PRIORITY TO GET DONE.

AND I'LL, I'LL GET WITH BRIDGET, YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, DAN I'M FAMILIAR WITH, OKAY.

I'LL SHOW IT TO YOU.

THE SITE'S STILL UP.

IT'S JUST NOT UPDATED.

IF THAT NUMBER KEEPS GOING UP, NOT A GOOD THING NECESSARILY.

I WANT TO SAY TO MARK AND IT'S FUNNY, I WAS MAKING MY NOTES AND THEN YOU JUMPED OUT THERE AND READ MY MIND TO, UM, THE, UM, I CAN'T COUNT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, YOUNG FAMILIES THAT I CAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS.

I TALKED TO EVERYBODY AND I DON'T HESITATE TO ASK YOU WHERE YOU'RE FROM AND HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP TWO QUESTIONS.

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT, BUT UH, THE SHEER NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT I HAVE SEEN HAVE MOVED HERE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

SOMETIMES THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A JOB.

THEY COME HERE AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

WE'VE CREATED THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE, WE MARKET AND WE MARKET IT WELL.

AND IT'S OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND IT'S ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING COLLECTIVELY TOGETHER.

I MEAN, WE HAVE OUR, WE HAVE OUR RIVERS, WE HAVE OUR, OUR PARKS ARE SECOND TO NONE AND THE NEW ONE IS GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER.

WE ARE CLOSE TO THE BEACH.

UM, OUR TOWN IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS SAFETY WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE HOLDING NUMEROUS EVENTS, EVERYONE, YOUNG AND OLD, UH, AND WE'LL EVENTUALLY GET BACK TO THAT.

AND, AND THAT'S PART OF OUR DNA.

PEOPLE KNEW US FROM THAT.

UH, THE, THE SURVEY THAT WE WILL BE DOING IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASK A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS, TO FIND NOT ONLY HOW THE TOWN PERCEIVES WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING, BUT HOW DID YOU GET HERE? WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT DO YOU NEED? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MILLION THINGS WE COULD ASK.

UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU GOTTA HAVE EDUCATION.

WE HAVE THAT HERE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AFFORDABILITY WITH HOUSING AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE JOBS.

AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR, AND YOU SAID IT YOURSELF A MINUTE AGO, AND I'VE ALWAYS MARKED OUR SUCCESS BASED ON OUR AVERAGE MEDIAN AGE IS 35 AND IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS 30 LAST YEAR IS 37 AND A HALF.

AND I'VE TOLD EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE WERE RUNNING FOR REELECTION, IT WAS LIKE, WHAT'S THAT ONE NUMBER.

[02:50:02]

NOT THAT WE'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE, BUT THAT'S THE IDENTITY TO KEEP US YOUNG AND TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.

SO WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD STUFF.

UH, AS MARK SAID, YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT TO FIND OUT THE RIGHT QUESTION, STACKS.

LARRY'S CHILDREN ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN.

AND I'M ABOUT TO ADD ONE.

WE GET A FEW MORE BABIES IN HERE.

EVERYBODY COMMITS TO MAKING THEIR SELVES BE GRANDPARENTS.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE THREE YEARS AGO ARE STILL HERE AND THEY'RE THREE YEARS OLDER, RIGHT? SO THAT'S A NATURAL INCREASE.

I KNOW FROM THE 20,000 THAT WERE HERE BEFORE OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER WAS.

UM, SO I THINK EVERYONE HEARS THAT SUSTAINABILITY IN ALL AREAS IS IMPORTANT.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NOW, DAN, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE TARGETS THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING, OR, AND EVEN ANNEXATION, WHAT ARE THE TARGETS? MAYBE WE CAN COMBINE BOTH OF THOSE.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST? YEAH.

AND WE TOUCHED ON IT EARLIER.

UM, I THINK IT'S PARENT THAT AND I SAID THIS AND WE AGREED WE WOULD GET WITH THEM.

UH, I THINK IT'S INHERENT THAT WE SIT DOWN WITH OUR, UH, DON RYAN CENTER.

I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIRMAN, UH, RURAL DAVIS HERE ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO.

AND HE, HE HIMSELF FELT LIKE THE MERGING OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WING AND THE DON RYAN CENTER WAS AN EXCELLENT MOVE ON THE COUNCIL'S PART.

UM, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR STRATEGY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

LONG-TERM I THINK THIS NEW PROJECT THAT'S COMING TO BUCK WALTER POTENTIALLY IS OPEN UP MY EYES.

AND, UH, ARE WE GOING TO FURTHER WITH THE MCI PART? UH, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A STRATEGY COUNCIL? DID WE, WE LOOK AT OTHER PLACES TO MAYBE GROW, WHICH MEANS SOME PRODUCTS, WHETHER IT'S LAND AVAILABILITY OR WHATEVER, TO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ATTRACT HERE, OR ARE WE JUST GOING TO TRY TO USE THE DON RYAN CENTER? HOPEFULLY WE CAN INCUBATE SOME COMPANIES OR JUST FIND A WAY TO KEEP THOSE THAT WE HAVE HERE STRONG.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT COLLECTIVELY AS A COUNCIL.

SO WE ACTUALLY SET OUR COURSE AND WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I KEEP MENTIONING UTILITY TAX CREDITS, NO PRODUCT, NO UTILITY TAX CREDITS.

IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE, THE OTHER NIGHT, IT WAS BROUGHT UP BETWEEN COMMA ELECTRIC AND OUR GREAT WE'VE RECEIVED ALMOST $4 MILLION OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO THAT'S NOTHING TO TURN YOUR EYES AWAY FROM.

UM, ANNEXATION, I, I PERSONALLY WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO CLOSE OUR DONUT HOLES.

IT'S NOT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

UM, BUT I WAS SITTING HERE A WHILE AGO AND STARTED THINKING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DISCUSSIONS WE'RE HAVING ABOUT THE, UH, ST GREGORY, WHICH IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE OUR ORIGINAL MASTER PLAN WAS FOR OUR GROWTH AREAS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S REALISTIC ANYMORE.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IF WE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WITH SOME COMMERCIAL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, LIKE THE KROGER BELFAIR AREA, ARE WE GOING TO JUST SAY NO? AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT ALL OF THAT MIXED IN TOGETHER.

THE ANNEXATION PORTION CAN TIE INTO THE ECO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VISION THAT WE NEED TO SET GOING FORWARD.

SO I AGREE.

WE NEED TO DO ALL OF THAT THOUGHTS ON WHAT DAN MENTIONED AND SCOTT YOU'RE DOING NOTES AND FIGURING OUT, OKAY, ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? I AGREE WITH DAN, YOU KNOW, I HAD IT, MAYBE MARTIN MARK ACTUALLY EXPLAINED SOMETHING TO ME.

UM, LAST WEEK WE HAD A CALL WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL, WHICH HE AND THE, AND, UM, WISHED THEY WOULD'VE BEEN HERE.

HE AND THE INTERIM WAS ASKED US ABOUT ANNEXATION AS THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND I SAID, WELL, NUMBER ONE, IN MY HEAD, WE SEND OUT A MONTHLY RECAP OF OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TO EVERY MEMBER OF BUFORD COUNTY HEALTH.

SO I DON'T THINK THEY READ ON, BUT, UM, ONE MEMBER, ONE PERSON MENTIONED, WHY ARE YOU GOING ABOVE TWO 78, MARK? YOU ACTUALLY SAID THERE WAS A REASON YOU DREW THAT LINE TO THE NORTH SIDE OF TWO 78.

IS THAT SOMETHING TO LET COUNCIL KNOW ABOUT? I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, SCOTT HAS THE ANNEXATION MANUAL WITH THEM, AND IF YOU ALL DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT, IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD TO READ.

MAP THAT WAS ADOPTED REALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE AS IT WAS OVERHAUL.

THANK YOU, ATTORNEY THING, WHEN YOU WERE REALLY LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THE WAY WE ANNEX, RIGHT.

A HUNDRED PERCENT PETITION METHOD, OR BY REFERENCE, REGARDLESS OF METHOD, I JUST REFERRED TO THE GROWTH FRAMEWORK

[02:55:01]

I THINK IT WAS IN 2011.

DOESN'T FEEL THAT LONG AGO.

HEATHER, LET ME, IF NOTHING ELSE JUMPED UP TO A SECOND, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRUGGLE.

JUST SIMPLY A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT BUYS A LOT OF THIS CASE.

THIS DASHED LINE THAT YOU SEE GOES AS FAR WEST, AS ONE 70 OUTSIDE SOUTH CITY, EAST, AS FAR AS THE INTERCOASTAL SELLING, AS FAR AS THE SOUTHERN VILLAGE AND NORTH, THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION DOES NORTH, THE DASH LINE IS ON THIS MAP.

THE LAKE WAS ADOPTED PAYBACK.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A LITTLE BIT ABOVE.

YOU CAN ARGUE THAT LINE.

THAT WAS AT THE TIME.

IN FACT, AT LEAST TO SAY A CLOUD THAT THE INTENTION PERHAPS IS THAT ANNEXATIONS COULD OCCUR A LITTLE NORTH OF THE US TWO 78, A LITTLE MORE MEANING THE COMMERCIAL STRIPS, BUT NOT BERKELEY HALL AND PARCEL OR TWO, BUT NOT FELT THERE YOU HAVE.

SO THAT'S REALLY EXPLAINED TO AEROSOL WHEN WE WERE TALKING.

OTHERWISE I BELIEVE BACK THEN, THAT'S THE LINES WOULD HAVE BEEN SO CLEAR THAT THE SELF OF TWO 70 YEARS.

SO REGARDLESS, THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CAME OFF ASSAULTED.

THAT, UM, I KNOW IS, UH, ON THE MIND OF, UH, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS TO INCLUDE MR. TUMOR WHO'S ON OUR WAY BACK COMMITTEE.

A TEAM LED BY.

AWESOME.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO DO RIGHT NOW THROUGH THAT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS RESET THIS BOUNDARY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WHAT IT IS, BUT SOME OF THE CONVERSATION HAS BEEN THERE'S DONUT HOLES AND BEAVER COUNTY.

DOESN'T LIKE WHEN WE SAY HOLES, IT'S JUST DECIDING ON WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN APPROPRIATE UNSAFE, AND WHAT IS IT, WHAT WE'VE STARTED TO LEAN ON WAS INSIDE THE GROWTH BOUNDARY.

AS LONG AS THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS WORKS.

AS LONG AS THE ZONING, DIDN'T GO FROM X TO X TIME FOR AS LONG AS IT WAS ALIGNED WITH THE TALENT PDS, FUTURE LAND MASS AND YOUR DIRECTION.

UM, CERTAINLY AS IT RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, WE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD OVER THE LAST LITTLE WHILE.

WE'VE DEFINITELY HEARD OF BRINGING ANNEXATION AS IT REALLY PLAN TO START THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT WITH LOCKTON'S BOUNDARY, PERHAPS RESET THIS.

IT COULD LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME, OR IT COULD LOOK DIFFERENT, BUT WHAT THIS TELLS THE WORLD, UM, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE PETITIONING FOR ANNEXATION, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO INVEST, INCLUDING YOUR STAFF, WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, RIGHT? THE CENTERS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, THE EDGES WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GREEN ON PURPOSE.

AND THEN WITHIN THE GROWTH BOUNDARY BECOMES A PUBLIC POLICY AS WELL.

ANY THOUGHTS ON ANY OF THAT? OKAY, SO WE HIT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ANNEXATION, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW THAT YOU'VE HEARD ASK FOR WATER SEWER HERE IS THAT MULTI JURISDICTIONAL PROJECTS IS THIS ONE.

IN FACT, THAT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THOSE PROJECTS, WHICH, UH, GO ACROSS BORDERS.

FOR INSTANCE, THE STONY CREST CAMPGROUND.

WE HAVE SOME CONTAMINANT ISSUES THAT, THAT, UH, THE WATER FLOWS DOWN AND GETS INTO OUR HEADWATERS AND, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT THE TOWN CAN SOLVE ON ITS OWN, NOT JUST WITH OUR, OUR WATERSHED ACTION PLAN COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL ALONE.

THAT TAKES COOPERATION FROM BUFORD JASPER WATER.

IT TAKES COOPERATION, UH, BEAVER COUNTY AS WELL.

AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A, A MULTI PARTNERED APPROACH TO SOLVING THAT ISSUE.

SO I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO BROACH THAT TOPIC.

AND, UH, BRIAN FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AT ANY TIME IN THIS, IN THIS TOPIC AREA.

THIS IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE, UH, WITH, WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM.

UM, IT'S SOMETHING

[03:00:01]

AND SO HE'S WELL FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE AS WELL, BUT, UH, WELL IN THE, IN THE JUMP CAN QUIT.

WE'D SAT RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM AFTER SO LOW CODE.

AND WE HAD THE MAJORITY OF COUNTY COUNCIL, IF NOT CLOSE TO IT.

AND WE LEFT ALL LEFT THINKING, IT WOULD ALMOST BE A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD THEN MONTHS WHEN ASKED.

AND WE NEVER HEARD THAT FROM THE COUNTY.

AND THEN WE WERE TOLD IN A MEETING OF SOME SORT, I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT IS.

THEY READ THEIR ORDINANCE OF USING STORY MURPHY'S DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THE TOWN DOES.

SO AT MY LAST CHAIR, MAYOR MEETING WITH THE COUNTY, WE ASKED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THERE'S A LIST OF ABOUT 15 THINGS ON THE LIST THAT WE JUST NEVER SEEM TO FINISH IT.

CHAIRMAN PASS MONTHS, VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE.

THEY STILL DON'T HAVE THAT SOLUTION.

THEY HAVE SOME ON COUNTY COUNCIL THAT DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY THINK EITHER DON'T WANT TO PURSUE IT, OR THEY DON'T KNOW THAT IT CAN BE PURSUED.

SO I WANT TO JADA KNOW THAT, I MEAN, WE'RE COMMITTED.

WE KNOW HOW WE CAN USE OUR STORMWATER FEES.

I NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION.

WE NEED THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION.

AND RIGHT NOW THEY SAY THEY CAN'T USE THEIR STORMWATER FEES TO BOND PROJECTS.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT FOR UPDATE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE HELP EACH OTHER I'LL JUMP IN AND I DON'T, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, AND TO DATE, HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED AN APPROPRIATE EXTRA FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP.

AND, YOU KNOW, REMEMBERING THAT THE PARTNERSHIP IS PUBLIC SEWER TO STONY CREST AND OLD PULLMAN PARTS OF BLUFF ROAD.

UM, AS THE MAYOR SET A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD, A TOWN AT THIRD, THE COUNTY, A THIRD WITH OUR PARTNERS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE HERE WITH US, WITH THE, FOR JASPER, WE HAVE, WHAT HAVE WE DONE SINCE THEN? WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROJECT, WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH BUFORD JASPER, MICHAEL AMAZING STAFF, JOE.

AND EVERYBODY'S BEEN GREAT TO IDENTIFY THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, IDENTIFY A PRELIMINARY PRICE.

AND WE ADJUSTED OUR STORMWATER UTILITY FEE AND LAST BUDGET CYCLE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY EITHER.

BUT WHAT WE DID IS WE ADJUSTED THAT STORMWATER FEE AND JUST PLEDGED IT TOWARDS A $500.

AND SO WE REFINANCED THE GEO BOND AND WE PLACED A SEPARATE $5 MILLION BOND.

AND SO WE HAVE OUR THIRD OF THE MONEY IF WE NEEDED TO START TOMORROW, THE YOUNG MAN IN THE BACK ROOM, IN THE NICE SUIT AND THE YELLOW TIE, HE KNOWS WHERE THE MONEY IS.

AND WE HAVE THE THIRD OF THE PARTNERSHIP DEAL THAT WE HAD, I GUESS, AS A GENERAL HANDSHAKE FOR DO FOR COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR THOSE DOLLARS.

COUNCILMAN TUMOR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE WAY OUR ORDINANCE IS REDID WAS READ READING READS WITH STORM WATER.

UTILITY FEES APPARENTLY IS DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY BUFORD COUNTY ADOPTED THEIR STORM WATER UTILITY FEE ORDINANCE.

SO OUR UTILITY FEE ORDINANCE ALLOWS US TO PLEDGE THOSE STORMWATER UTILITIES FOR WATER QUALITY TOWARDS PUBLIC SEWER.

ACCORDING TO CHAIR PASSED THEM OUT AT THE LAST MEETING, INDICATED THAT THEIR ORDINANCE OR THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, THEIR ORDINANCE DOESN'T READ THAT WAY AND THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY CAN ADOPT THE ORDINANCE DIFFERENTLY TO ALLOW FOR THOSE FEES REGARDLESS, THEY STILL HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED THEIR PORTION OF THE FEE.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S AT THE VERY TOP OF THE LIST THAT I'VE KEPT MEETING WITH MAYOR SACA EVERY SIX WEEKS WITH THEM.

AND I THINK THEY'RE COMING TODAY.

THEY THEY'VE BEEN INVITED.

I KNOW THAT CHER IN JOE, KIM HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY'LL COME THEY'LL, THEY'LL BE HERE, BUT, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.

WE'RE READY TO GET GOING.

IT'S OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION.

IT'S NOT IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON LIMITS.

UM, IT'S THE FUNDS ARE IN OUR FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU SAW THAT ADJUSTMENT AND FUND BALANCE, AND THEN IT WILL ALSO BE PICKED UP AND REITERATED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR CIP.

SO WE COULD HAVE A LIFE PROJECT IF THE PARTNER'S FUNDED IN THOSE FISCAL YEARS, WHAT WAS THE SUBJECT 1.8, OUR PORTION $1.6 MILLION CONTINGENCY RELIED HEAVILY ON, I THINK IT'S LIKE FIVE, 5.3 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THREE.

AND SO, NO, ACTUALLY WASN'T IT.

HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THIS? THIS WAS A SO LOCO INITIATIVE.

[03:05:01]

THROUGH THE STORM WATER UTILITY.

WHAT WAS THE MEETING THAT WE REFERENCED? WE HAD A JOINT COUNTY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AFTERWARDS, AND THERE WERE FIVE OF THEM HEARD JASPER WAS HERE.

THEN YOU'RE FREE TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

AND I'M SITTING HERE THINKING TO MYSELF THE WHOLE LIST, NOT JUST THIS ONE, THE OTHER PART WAS, UM, LET US NOT FORGET THAT BUFORD JASPER AT THE REQUEST OF LOCO DINNER, PRESENTATION, LISTING MULTIPLE VIP PROJECTS, CAUTIONED THEM ALL OUT.

I THINK 30 MILLION, $40 MILLION OUT THERE LIKE THAT, THAT'S ALL THE WAY AREA IN THE RIGHT.

SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS SO FORGIVE THE HEADWATERS, SAY IT'S OKA T AND BUFORD COUNTY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WATER QUALITY AND OT, NO DIFFERENT THAN MAY RIVER, OR ARE THEY SAYING THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? I MEAN, THAT'S THE PART IT'S GOT ME JUST, OKAY.

SAY THEY'RE THE USE OF THE FUNDS WE USE IS NOT WRITTEN IN THEIR ORDINANCE AND CHAIRMAN PASSED THEM ON.

SO WILL AT THE TIME ASHLEY WAS THE, UM, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HE SIT AND HE'S VERY COMMON.

I MEAN, HE'S GOT GREAT, COMMON SENSE.

WELL, DON'T DOESN'T COUNTY COUNCIL CHANGE ORDINANCES.

WHY CAN'T WE JUST CHANGE OUR ORDINANCE? AND WE WERE ALL EXCITED AND THEN IT JUST HUBBARD AND LINGERED.

SO I THINK WE GET A, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

WE FIND OUT, ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE THE COORDINATES FIVE MEMBERS OF YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL? WE'RE SITTING IN THIS ROOM, WE REALLY WANT TO JUMPSTART.

WE HAVE TWO OF THE THREE GO AND, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU NOT SPEND THIS ON ANY PR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT IS THE QUESTION.

I DON'T WANT TO SEND A LETTER OR MAKE A FORMAL LETTER AND PUT US ALL TOGETHER.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF WE'RE READY, I MEAN, THIS IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

MAYBE OUR STAFF CAN DO SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND WORK ON IT, AND WE CAN PREPARE A LETTER FOR YOUR SIGNATURE ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL OR FOR SIGNATURE FOR ALL OF COUNCIL, WHATEVER YOU, YOU DEAN, UH, AND SEND A NOTE TO THE COUNTY.

AND WE CAN BE VERY SPECIFIC AND OUTLINE WHY WE THINK IT CAN BE DONE AND WHAT CHANGES WOULD NEED TO BE MADE IN THEIR ORDINANCES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

WITH US AND HAVING A JOINT LETTER FROM THEM.

UH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE STRONGER, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR YOU FOR JASPER.

THAT'S HOW IT FITS MOST OF YOURS.

MAYOR COUNCIL.

SO HEARING IT VERY CLEAR, WE'VE SENT A LETTER.

I BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE TWO LETTERS.

AND THE THIRD LETTER WILL SAY THAT, UM, FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, MANAGER MANAGER REACHED OUT TO ME ON A FRIDAY AND HE AND I ARE SUPPOSED TO MEET, UH, FEBRUARY 4TH.

CAUSE WE SUBMITTED, UM, OUR, IS IT A THREE YEAR CYCLE THAT YOU'RE ON? WE SUBMITTED OUR PROJECT REQUESTS FOR THREE OR CIB THAT THEY DO.

AND IT INCLUDES THE, THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S ONE YEAR, A LETTER RIGHT THERE.

IT'S A, THOSE OLD PALMETTO BLUFF STONY CREEK AREA, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AREA, GASKELL AND BLUFF, ALL THE TOYS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET FEBRUARY 4TH TO TALK ABOUT THAT WOULD BE FOR JASPER, BUT AS FAR AS THE COUNTY, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM.

SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT OUR OWN PROBLEMS AND THE WAY THEIR GOVERNMENT WORKS.

WELL I THINK THEY NEED THEIR PARTNERSHIP.

I DON'T THINK THE TWO OF US CAN SPLIT ANOTHER THIRD.

WHEN WE SAT RIGHT AROUND THIS TABLE WITH, LIKE I SAID, THE MAJORITY OF THE AMOUNT OF ONE OF COUNSEL AND EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT COUNTY COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS WE'RE IN THIS HOLDING PATTERN ON EACH REACH OUT TO THE ONES THAT WE KNOW THE, WHAT'D THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE INTERESTED OR NOT INTERESTED OR FORWARD OR NOT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST REMIND THEM OF WHAT WAS SAID IN THE TRUTH.

I DON'T THINK THEY WANT THE PUBLIC.

IT'D BE TOLD THAT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN SAVING THE WATER QUALITY OF THE RIVERS, PURE OTT OR THE MAY RIVER.

THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THEM AND EVERYTHING THAT WE ALL STAND FOR, INCLUDING THE CASE PROJECT, THIS ONE'S RECORDING.

[03:10:07]

THEY HAVE A FEW REPRESENTATIVES FROM THIS SIDE, BUT THE MAJORITY IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SO THEY'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD IS WHAT IS, WHY ARE WE STILL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION KICKING? THIS CAN FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE, WE NEED TO PUT THE PRESSURE BACK ON THEM BECAUSE IT'S IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

YOU TRYING TO HELP SOLVE A PROBLEM DESTINY.

SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, AND MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE'RE DOING TODAY IS TRYING TO BE NICE.

AND, AND IF YOU WILL, UM, POLITICALLY CORRECT, WE NEED TO PUT THE BLAME WHERE THE BLAME IS, CALL A SPADE, A SPADE, IT'S THEIR PROBLEM.

WE WANT TO HELP NOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? I AGREE.

VERY TRUE.

WELL, I LOVE YES.

AND I LOVE MICHAEL'S IDEA.

UM, I THINK WE NEED TO, IT JUST REPRESENTS EVERYTHING AND WE CAN ALL SHOW UP.

CAN YOU IMAGINE I CAN, I WILL, UH, I'LL SPEAK TO THE, UH, ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND SEE HOW BEST TO, UH, APPROACH THAT, TO GET ON THE AGENDA, TO AGENDA, TO DISCUSS THAT.

BUT FIRST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY AREN'T MAKING MORE PROGRESS THAN WE THINK THEY MIGHT.

AND I THINK IT GOES THROUGH A COMMITTEE ACTUALLY, PROBABLY.

WELL, EVERYTHING GOES TO A COMMITTEE FIRST.

SO THE BALL DOESN'T GET DROPPED.

SO THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

UM, RIGHT NOW THE SPLIT IN THE COUNTY FOR REPRESENTATION ON, ON COUNTY COUNCIL IS SIX, FIVE, SIX IN THE SOUTH FIVE IN THE NORTH.

SO THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER.

NOW, UM, IF I HAD TO LOOK AT A CRYSTAL BALL AND PROGNOSTICATE, HOW THE DISTRICTS WILL SHAKE OUT AFTER CENSUS NUMBERS ARE IN MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT IT WILL, IT WILL BECOME SEVEN TO THE SOUTH FOUR TO THE NORTH.

AND I THINK THAT EXTRA DISTRICT WOULD PROBABLY BE PICKED UP IN THE BLUFFTON AREA DUE TO THE GROWTH THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO, UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THERE MAY BE MORE, MORE SWAY IN THE FUTURE WITH REGARD TO PROJECTS THAT AFFECT MULTI JURISDICTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN AREA.

WELL, THE TOUGH THING AT THAT MEETING AND A LOT, NO, WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT I'VE NOTICED MORE, UM, MR. GLOVER WAS HERE AND HE WAS 100% BEHIND IT, BRIAN , WHICH IS KIND OF IN THAT MIDDLE WAS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY SAID, LET'S KNOCK OUT EVERY PRODUCT LET'S BOND, EVERYTHING FITS FOR 30 MILLION.

LET'S JUST DO IT.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT UNDERSTAND WE'RE IN THIS PLACE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MILLION OTHER THINGS COUNTY-WIDE TO LOOK AT, NOT JUST THE MAY RIVER OR THE OTT, BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET BACK TO THEM AT THE TIME OF THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE OURS.

WE HAD A CHECK THAT WE COULD WRITE AT THE MOMENT EITHER.

SO WE HAD TO DO THESE OTHER THINGS TO MAKE THE FINANCIAL PART OF IT.

MARISOL RAISES A GOOD POINT.

WHEN I, WHEN I WAS ALWAYS TALKING WITH ASHLEY FOR A WHILE, WE WOULD GO OVER THESE ISSUES, JUST HER AND I, OR THEN WHEN I WOULD HAVE THE MEETINGS WITH MAYOR AND THE CHAIRMAN AND ASHLEY, AND I WOULD GO OVER THESE ISSUES.

THEY HAVE SO MANY, PERHAPS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT THAT MEETING.

ISN'T ANOTHER LETTER, BUT MAYBE IT'S A FIVE OR SIX SLIDE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT DOESN'T GIVE THE HISTORY OF EVERYTHING, BUT SIMPLY OUTLINES THE SCOPE OUTLINES.

AND BRIAN, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE NEXT VERSION OF THE LETTER, THAT WAS GOING TO BE AN OUTCOME OF TODAY, REALLY ALSO TO PUT IN THE LETTER OR PUT IN THE PRESENTATION.

WHY, WHY, WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS? WHAT ARE THE HOTSPOTS? HOW MUCH HAVE WE ALL MEASURED? THAT IT ISN'T JUST A, HEY, LET'S PUT SOME PUBLIC SEWER IN WHERE THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF MOBILE HOMES OR MORE RVS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.

BUT WHAT IS THE REAL ISSUE? AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THAT ISSUE? AND BRIAN AND KIM JONES TELL US THAT STORY BETTER THAN ANYBODY ON THE PLANET.

SO MAYBE BRIAN CAN HAVE KIM PUT A, PUT A SLIDE SHOW TOGETHER, SO YOU CAN SEND A ROOM AND SAY, HERE'S THE ISSUE.

HERE'S WHAT WE ALL SAID.

HERE'S WHAT WE DID IT'S TIME.

RIGHT? AND HERE'S OUR LONG-TERM INVESTMENT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

WE'VE BEEN DOING OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION.

, THAT'S WHAT I DO.

WELL, I THINK WE'LL WORK AROUND EVERYONE'S SCHEDULE TO MAKE IT FASTER, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

SO,

[03:15:02]

WHAT I JUST HEARD FROM YOU STAFF, WE'LL PUT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TOGETHER.

THANK YOU, BRIAN.

SCOTT WILL REACH OUT ON HIS SIDE OVER THERE AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE, THAT THIS ISN'T MOVING FULL.

AND IF IT IS NOT, THEN WE WILL REQUEST A PRESENTATION AND A FORMAL COUNCIL MEETING.

WE NOT COMMITTING COMMITTEE FIRST.

IT HAD TO BE A COMMITTEE MEETING FOR A MOVIE WITH TWO THIRDS OF THE PARTNERSHIP COMING TOGETHER.

THE FIRST OBSTACLE, OR FIRST QUESTION I THINK TO ASK HIM TO GET ANSWERED IS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT PROGRAMMING FOR FY 22 BUDGET? BECAUSE IF THEY ARE THEN WE'RE, WE'RE MOST OF THE WAY THERE.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

IT, MAYBE THEY HAVE OTHER FUNDS, RIGHT? MAYBE IT'S NOT STORMWATER WATER.

WE CAN, WE'LL EXPLORE THAT FIRST.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE PRESENTATION AND PURSUE THE OTHER MEETINGS.

I APPRECIATE Y'ALL AND YOUR DATA.

CAUSE I THINK A LOT OF OUR STORM WATER ISSUES OR INJURIES, OR DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE AND Y'ALL REPRESENT.

SO I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU BEING HERE COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND THEN WE'RE, WE'RE ENDING SOMEWHERE DOWN HERE.

ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR UTILITY FRIENDS? I DON'T THINK SO.

NO.

I USED TO MAKE EVERYONE GET UP AND MENTIONED THEIR OWN ISSUES.

SO I DIDN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR, TOO.

MARISOL, I WOULD ADD THERE'S TWO MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY ON ONE, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, AND THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUT LOUD IN PUBLIC SESSIONS AND THE OTHER, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN THERE YET, BUT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR IS A BIG YEAR FOR THE MAY RIVER MAIN LINE EXTENSION.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT FALLS UNDER, BUT WE'VE TALKED WITH ALL OF YOU.

I KNOW HEATHER'S WORK CLOSELY WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE LINE, THE ROUTE OF THE LINE, THE MITIGATION IS AS A RESULT, BUT THE OTHER REALLY LARGE ONE THAT MAY BE JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW ON IS THE, IS THE, IS THE WATER TOWER FORGIVE ME FOR NOT KNOWING THE PROPER SIZE AND EXACT NAME, BUT THAT'S A MASSIVE PROJECT IN OUR TOWN, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AS FAR AS THE , I'M SORRY IF THIS IS WORKING.

SO, UM, WE HAVE A DESIGN BUILD PROJECT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

UM, WE TIRED.

RUBY COLLINS IS THE CONTRACTOR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FAMILIAR YOU ARE WITH DESIGN BUILD, BUT IT SOMEWHAT COMBINES THE ENGINEERING DESIGN WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM DESIGN BID, BUILD YOUR TYPICAL METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO THEY HAVE STARTED ON THE DESIGN, UH, VERY, VERY, VERY PRELIMINARY, VERY CONCEPTUAL, BUT THE PROJECT ITSELF IS TO PUT IN A 36 36 INCH DIAMETER WATER MAIN FROM GIVE IT ROAD AND 70 UP TO SORRY.

I'M NEW TO THE AREA.

SO I'M MEMORIZING MY RHODES.

SO FROM GIBBET UP TO BLUFFTON PARKWAY, ACROSS BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND DOWN BUCK WALTER, BACK TO WHERE IT TIES INTO BLUFFTON PARKWAY AGAIN.

SO YOU'RE TALKING LIKE NOW IT'S ON ONE 70, STARTING ON ONE 70.

IT'LL GO NORTH TO WHERE IT GETS TO BLUFFTON PARKWAY GO WEST ON BLUFFTON PARKWAY TO WHERE IT TOSSED TO BUCK WALTER, YOU GO SOUTH ON BUCK WALTER SOUTHEAST WEST IT'S SEVERAL MILES.

WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

I KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO SOUTHEAST TENNESSEE, ONE 70 AT THIS CIRCLE.

SO, UM, YEAH, SO HERE'S THE CIRCLE.

HERE'S A BLUFFTON PARKWAY.

SO WE'RE STARTING ABOUT HALFWAY UP.

THERE'S ALREADY WATER MAINS HERE.

SO HERE WE'RE GIVE IT TO US AND WE'LL GO UP TO HERE, GO ACROSS BLUFFTON PARKWAY.

[03:20:01]

UM, ON THIS SECTION OF BOOK WALTER, IT WILL, YOU'RE CURRENTLY DOING THE OPPOSITE ROUTE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT GIBBET YOUR TURRET CARD LIKE ON DOWN MAY RIVER, RIGHT? THEY'RE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION RIGHT HERE ALREADY.

STARTS OVER HERE AND GOES RIGHT HERE TO THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

SO THIS ONE, THIS OTHER PROJECT HAS STARTED AS WELL.

IT'S IN THE DESIGN PHASES.

UM, THE WAY THE MODELING WORKS, WE NEED A TANK SOMEWHERE OVER IN THIS AREA.

SO AS PART OF THEIR WORK, THEY'RE FIGURING OUT WHERE TO PUT THE TANK.

IT'S A 1.5 MILLION GALLON TANK.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S CALLED A COMPOSITE TANK IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY WAY WE'LL GO KIND OF A SOLID BOTTOM SOLID CONCRETE BOTTOM WITH A STEEL BOWL ON TOP AND FOR VISUAL PURPOSES FOR ME, DO YOU KNOW WHERE HELTON HEAD LIKES WATER TANK YOU EVER BEEN OUT HERE? THAT THAT'S, IS THAT WHAT THAT SIZE IS? AND YOUR NEW, THE HILTON HAD LAKES, WATER TANK THAT WAS PUT IN, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT A SIMILAR SIZE AND HEIGHT, THE HEIGHT? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO OUR FIRST MILLION AND A HALF CREDIT.

SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

AND THEN AS FAR AS THE HEIGHT IS CONCERNED, UM, THE WAY THE TANKS ARE SET, ALL THE TANKS ARE SET WHERE WHAT'S CALLED THEIR OVERFLOW.

SO THE TOP OF THE TANK BASICALLY, IS IT THE SAME HEIGHT? SO DEPENDING ON WHAT THE GROUND IS, DETERMINES HOW TALL THE TANK IS, BUT THE HEIGHT OF ALL THE TANKS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE ALL THE SAME HEIGHT ARE ALL THE SAME ELEVATION.

WE HAVE THE OTHER TYPES, THE COUNTY, WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE TANK IN BLUFFTON.

SO ARE YOU WORKING WITH THE STAFF COUNCIL ON A LOCATION OR DO YOU GO IN AND CONDEMN LAND AND PUT LIKE, WHERE DID IT CAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH SPOT WHERE ALL OF OUR GROWTH, I MEAN, OUR COMMERCIAL GROWTH IS, SO WE'VE TALKED WITH BRIAN AND HEATHER THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT JUST TO GET SOME IDEAS OF WHERE THINGS ARE COMING UP, BUT THAT IS PART OF WHAT'S TASKED OF THE DESIGN BUILD TEAM IS TO DETERMINE WHERE THIS TANK WOULD BE BEST SUITED.

KNOW SOME OF THAT'S BASED ON THE MODELING, A TANK HAS TO OVERFLOW OVERTURNED WITH WATER.

YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST SIT AND HOLD WATER ALL DAY.

SO IT HAS TO BE USED.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE, UM, ASPECT OF IT.

UH, PART OF IT IS, UM, UH, LOCATION, UM, VISIBLE ASPECTS OF IT.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE IT SITS ALONG THE ROAD CORRIDOR WORK, UM, POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BACK, NOT ON THE STREET NECESSARILY, UM, LOOKING AT MORE COMMERCIAL AND, UH, TYPE USES THOSE, THOSE AREAS AS OPPOSED TO WITHIN SOMEBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD OR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRANCE.

SO WE WORK ON A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A SPOT AND THEN WE'LL START TALKING TO LANDOWNERS AND SEE WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND CONTINUE OUR TOWN STAFF ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING REZONED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YEAH, NOT USUALLY THAT BIG, USUALLY ABOUT A HALF ACRE.

AND IT'S GOT TO BE ON BUCKWALTER.

I MEAN, I THINK THAT LIKE PUBLIC SONG, UM, SENTENCE BUCK COLLIN.

SO THAT PUBLIX, THAT BOB COLLINS IS DOWN FROM OLD CAROLINA.

THERE'S A WHOLE WATER THING GOING ON BACK THERE.

CAN YOU, CAN YOU BE THAT FAR OFF WHERE YOU CAN USE EXISTING LAND THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE, OR IT NEEDS TO BE IN THAT VICINITY BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THIS LINE WILL TIE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HILTON HEAD.

AND THEY WILL KIND OF NARROW DOWN SOME AREAS.

I MEAN, ARE YOU LOOKING AT LAND? CAUSE DON'T SHOW OWN THAT WATER.

IT'S LIKE A WATER PROCESSING THING BETWEEN OKAY.

SO YOU KIND OF WENT UP THROUGH YOUR SKIS A BIT.

NOW YOU'RE IN A CONSULTANT, SAY IT'S GOTTA BE IN THIS PARAMETER.

AT LEAST YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT WHEN, WHAT IS IT, DO WE RELY ON STAFF COMING TO US TO GET FEEDBACK AND GO BACK TO YOU? IS THAT WE'D LIKE IT TO HAPPEN OR? YEAH.

SO, UM, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE, THE ENGINEER FOR THE RUBY COLLINS

[03:25:02]

THEY'LL TALK TO SOME OWNERS THAT THEY THINK, UM, WHERE THIS MIGHT WORK.

UH, WE'LL COME BACK AND GET WITH YOUR STAFF ABOUT HOW THAT THAT'LL BE PERCEIVED.

UM, IT HAS TO GO TO REZONING FOR PUBLIC USE AND, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT PROCESS.

AND IT'LL ALL COME BACK, BUT YOU ARE LOOKING AT OUR FUTURE ROADWAYS THAT WE HAVE ON EVERY MAP IN THE WORLD.

LIKE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT AREAS WHERE THEY'RE A ROAD MAKEUP ONE DAY, WAIT, UM, THEY'VE GIVEN UP SOME TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT WE WE'VE BEEN USING.

I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS.

SO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING OUT.

LARRY, CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE CAN CHECK OVER A STORAGE FACILITY? GOOD LUCK.

WELL, I WAS THINKING, IS IT THE TANK THAT YOU SEE ON SWEET HOME, ALABAMA? THAT'S 80 FEET TALL.

ARE, IS IT A TANK THAT YOU SEE AT HILTON HEADLIGHTS? IT'S ONLY ABOUT FOUR FEET AND THAT MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN CONSTRUCTION.

NOW SO ELEVATION.

MEANING IF WE'RE 26 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, AS OPPOSED TO IN ZERO, THE TANK'S DONE A BE EQUIVALENT, PROBABLY SHORTER BECAUSE AT THE TOP OF THE TANKS ARE ALL ONE 70, I BELIEVE IS WHAT THE OVERFLOW ELEVATION IS.

UM, SO THE TALLER THE LAND IS, SO IF WE'RE 30 FEET TALLER, THE SHORTER, THE STRUCTURE MAY NOT BE LIGHT AND YOU HAVE TO FALL UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF THE, I GUESS IT'S THE FAA.

I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT HEIGHT, UM, WINES AND SATELLITE THINGS BECAUSE OF THE SPRAYING OF THE, OF THE BUGS.

SO YOU CAN'T BE ANY HIGHER THAN EITHER.

THAT'S A COUNTY THING.

SO Y'ALL, DIDN'T NEED TO MAKE, BUT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO BE, CAUSE WE'RE HALF.

WE'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD A A HUNDRED FOOT TANG.

I MEAN, THERE ARE, I REMEMBER PASSING THAT HEIGHT OF, UM, SOME KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE POLES THAT WHOLE, ALL OF THE 20 WAY THE COUNTY SPRAYS.

AND THEY HAD TO HAVE EVERYTHING HAD TO BE A MINIMUM, A MAXIMUM HEIGHT.

SO THE PLANES DON'T RUN INTO THEM.

SO THE FAA HAS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR THINGS ABOVE A CERTAIN HEIGHT AND WITHIN CERTAIN FLIGHT ZONES AND PATTERNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT HIGH.

THE TANK'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT HIGH AND IT'S NOT, IT SHOULDN'T BE IN ANY FLIGHT PATTERN THAT IT WOULD BE INCLUDED, BUT WE AUTOMATICALLY THINK TALL.

SO YEAH, BUT IT WILL BE TALL.

IT WILL BE ABOVE THE TREE LAWN.

WE'LL SEE IT.

UM, AND TYPICALLY, UM, ARE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

BUT OUR STANDARD PROCESS IS TO PAINT THEM KIND OF AN OFF WHITE COLOR.

SO THEY JUST KIND OF GO AWAY.

UM, AND, UH, THAT HAS LOGO ON THE TOP.

THAT'S IT? MIDDLE.

WE PUT IT IN.

YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME, ONE THING FOR SURE.

I HAVE WATER UNLESS WE PUT THE TANK HERE.

OH, I KNOW.

I KNOW.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THE, REMEMBER WHEN THE LINES FOR A DOMINION THAT, I MEAN, IT'S JUST THE MORE WE KNOW WE MAY AS WELL GET PREPARED.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT SPOT FOR A HEART OF THE LOW COUNTRY LOGO.

WELL, EVERY SMALL TOWN HAS A WATER TOWER.

WE JUST DON'T.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM Y'ALL? SO THAT CUT DOWN ON ONE 70.

IT DOESN'T SEEM INVASIVE AS FAR AS I KNOW, HAVE YOU CUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CUT? YOU'VE MADE IT TO THE CIRCLE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CIRCLE YOU'RE IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN DO YOU FIGURE IT OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THE CIRCLE? UM, IS IT NEW RIVERSIDE? IS THAT THE DEVELOPMENT NAME WE NEED? I I'M LEARNING.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE MONTHS, SO I'M TRYING TO LEARN MY WAY AROUND.

SO, BUT YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE TOWNS LIMITS, RIGHT? HEATHER, I MEAN, WHAT I THINK

[03:30:01]

NO, THEY GO TO HERITAGE AT NEW RIVERSIDE HERITAGE AT NEW RIVERSIDE.

SO THEY'RE GOING, I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING FROM HERE TO THE CIRCLE AND THEY'RE ALMOST FINISHED FOREVER ACROSS THE TRAIL, LINEAR TRAIL ALL THE WAY UP, PAST, PAST THE CIRCLE A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN CUT ACROSS WHERE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENT IS AT SOME POINT OR ONE SEC.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

NEARBY RIVER CROSSING.

BUT THEY'RE, BUT THEY'RE CUTTING NOW.

I MEAN, I JUST WROTE DOWN THERE YESTERDAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ALMOST TO THE CHURCH WHERE THE, ON THE RIGHT SIDE COMING FROM SAVANNAH, IT LOOKS CLEARED ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CHURCH AND THEN IT'S OUR LAND AND IT'S A CIRCLE.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, THEY'RE NOT IN THE TOWN LIMITS ANYMORE.

DURING THE COUNTY, IT DOES GO BACK AND FORTH.

THE COUNTY CITY LAWN GOES BACK AND FORTH ALONG.

I FEEL LIKE THEY'VE CUT.

MOST OF THE TREES ARE GOING TO CUT IN THE TOWN LIMITS.

I MEAN, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS, IT WASN'T THAT MANY, BUT MOST OF THEM WERE ALONG THE SIDE.

SO YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE NOTICED TOO MUCH THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

SO YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN IT WAS TOO MUCH OF A, WHAT DO Y'ALL DO WHEN Y'ALL DO Y'ALL JUST RE LANDSCAPE OR LET IT GROW BACK NATURALLY.

YOU DO AFTER IT'S CUT, CUT THE GRASS.

ALL OF THIS IS WITHIN THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY, EXCEPT FOR THE ONE LITTLE PIECE THAT JUTS OUT ONTO THE BARN PROPERTY.

UM, SO EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE RIGHT AWAY WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE OT.

SO TYPICAL OVER IT'LL JUST GROW.

Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THANK YOU ALL.

AND THANK YOU, SARAH.

TWO OTHER PROJECTS THAT WHILE THEY'RE NOT DIRECTLY IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING ON AND KEEPING UP WITH GROWTH IS, UM, OUR APPROACH IS BERG WATER PLANT EXPANSION.

IT'S DOUBLING THE SIZE OF CAPACITY AT THE PLANT AS WELL AS CHERRY POINT IS OUR WASTEWATER FACILITY, UM, ON OFF OF ARGENT IS ALSO BEING EXPANDED, UM, TO KEEP UP WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.

SO SUR PRAYS FOR WATER PLANT.

UM, THAT'S UM, YEAH, THAT'S SERVING THIS WHOLE AREA.

SO IT'S ONE OF OUR TWO WATER PLANTS.

EXACTLY.

YOU SAID IN HARTSVILLE.

U R R Y SURE.

IS THERE TWO OTHER BIG, SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS GOING ON THAT ARE IMPACTING YOUR AREA? SO DO YOU MIND YOUR, YOUR ROLLING YOU GOT TALKING TO MIKE, AS I, AS I SAID, WE ARE REALLY BUSY.

WE WERE DOING ABOUT 130 BAYSWATER A MONTH.

WE ARE DOING ANYWHERE FROM 110 TO 180 WATER TAPS A MONTH.

AND THOSE ARE SOUTH OF THE BROAD NUMBERS.

AND WE ARE CLOSE TO DOING ABOUT 2 MILLION MAN HOURS, UH, SAFETY MAN HOURS.

WE ARE, UH, ACCIDENT FREE.

WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE CELEBRATING THAT VERY SOON.

AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT IS TREMENDOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE GUYS WHO ARE IN THE, IN HOLES AND DITCHES.

WE HAVE GUYS WHO WERE USING ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT AND THEY'RE BEING, THEY'RE DOING IT SAFELY.

WE WERE WORKING BREAKNECK SPEED, BUT WE'RE BEING SAFE WHILE WE DO IT.

YOU GOT TO SPEAK INTO MY AVERAGE AMOUNT OF WATER, THE SERVICE.

AND I WAS TAKING INTO EFFECT THE BIG HOUSES, THE SMALL WATER, JUST, UH, JUST LIKE THOUSANDS OF GALLONS PER BILLING CYCLE OR MONTH PER MONTH, THE AVERAGE RIGHT NOW, UM, IT WILL FLUCTUATE KIND OF YEAR TO YEAR, DEPENDING ON WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT IT'S SLIGHTLY UNDER 7,000 GALLONS A MONTH FOR YOUR AVERAGE HUSTLE.

[03:35:01]

FOR RESIDENTIAL.

AND I CAN'T URGE Y'ALL ENOUGH TO SIGN UP IN THOSE LISTENING, SIGN UP FOR THEIR, UM, ALERT SYSTEM.

IF YOU, IF YOU GO OVER IT, THEY LET YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOMEONE STAY IN OUR HOUSE AND, UM, THEY FLUSHED THE COMMODE AND IT RAN ONLY FOR TWO DAYS, A LITTLE TRIP TRIP TRIP.

AND IT WAS ALMOST THAT ON LITTLE TRIPS, MY WATER IT'S, I AM WATER, WATER.

IT'S EASY THAT YOU SEND YOU AN ALERT.

YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE WHAT YOU USE EVERY DAY.

AND, UM, IT'S A BIG BILL TO PAY IF YOU DON'T DO IT.

AND WE SIGNED UP RIGHT AFTER THAT.

YEAH, NO, IT'S AN EXCELLENT TOOL TO USE.

UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY, UH, CONSTANT USAGE, UM, CAUSE THERE SHOULD BE SOME POINT OF PERIOD OF TIME, UM, DURING THE 24 HOURS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NO USAGE IN THE MIDDLE OR WHATEVER.

SO YOU'LL GET LINK ALERTS.

UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS AT SECOND HOMES, UM, THAT ARE MONITORING IT FROM UP NORTH AND, UM, SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY ISSUES.

UM, ACTUALLY IT CAME IN HANDY WHEN SOMEONE NEIGHBOR WAS STEALING WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THEY WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, UH, EXACTLY AT 10 O'CLOCK WHEN THAT USAGE.

SO IT'S GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PURPOSES, BUT YES, WE ARE CLOSE TO, UM, WE HAVE ABOUT, I THINK, UH, 6,005,000 METERS LEFT, UM, FOR OUR WHOLE CUSTOMER THAT, CAUSE THIS HAS BEEN OVER THREE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THOSE TRANSPONDERS ON HOW MANY TOTAL CUSTOMERS DO YOU HAVE? LIKE A 60,060.

WOW.

SO LESS THAN A PERCENT.

AND WE DO WHAT WE ARE.

WE ARE, WE HAVE $576 MILLION ASSET BASE.

SO WE ARE FAIRLY LARGE ORGANIZATION.

YOU'RE A GREAT REPRESENTATIVE.

AND MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING US.

WE EVER HAVE THE ISSUES.

WELL, WE GOT NICK AND KENNETH, SO WE KNOW WHERE TO FIND KIN.

I KNOW WHERE HE LIVES.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY.

KENNETH, DO YOU HAVE TO, YOU'RE A RESIDENT.

YOU HAVE TO STAY DAVID.

WE'RE FINE.

IF YOU'VE GOT TO GO, UNLESS SCOTT WANTED YOU TO STAY, GIVE YOU A NOTE, MEL, MY BOSS IS HERE.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF MANAGEMENT OF SCHEDULES, THERE WILL BE, THERE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE A LOT MORE STEERING COMMITTEE SODA, SO TO SPEAK OR RATHER FOCUS GROUPS, I SHOULD SAY.

CAN I GO, WHERE ARE WE? ONE MORE ITEM MAYOR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF TROPICS YOU COULD DISCUSS WITH, UH, I TEND TO FOCUS MORE IMMEDIATELY ON ONES WHERE A STAFF NEEDS SOME DIRECTION FROM HIM.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUMPS OUT TO ME IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND HEATHER ALLUDED TO EARLIER, UH, NEEDING TO A POINT STEERING COMMITTEES TO HELP WITH THAT PROCESS.

AND SO I GUESS I WOULD JUST THROW THAT OUT TO COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND SOME DIRECTION FOR STAFF IN TERMS OF HOW FORMAL DO YOU WANT THAT PROCESS? DO YOU WANT IT LIKE A, YOUR COMMISSION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT TO GIVE US NAMES, TO JUST ESTABLISH AN AD HOC COMMITTEE FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY? OR HOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO APPROACH THAT? AND MAYBE I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HEATHER FIRST TO REALLY TELL YOU WHAT THE REQUIREMENT IS, HOW MANY BODIES, WHAT TYPE OF BODIES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WOULD BE HELPFUL? OH YES.

AND THAT'S, UM, THE CONSULTANT HAS REQUESTED, SO WE HAVE, WE'LL HAVE A WORKING GROUP WHICH IS TOWN STAFF AND THE, UM, CONSULTANTS IN THEIR TEAM.

AND WE WILL MEET WITH THEM EVERY TWO WEEKS JUST TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT IS STAYING ON TRACK.

WE'VE GIVEN THEM WHATEVER DATA AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO PROCEED.

AND SO THAT THAT'S TOWN STAFF, THE, UM, ITEM THAT WE NEED, SOME SORT OF ACTION ON AND, UH, DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL IS WHAT THEY REFER TO AS A STEERING COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A GROUP THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.

SO, YOU KNOW, AN 18 MONTH, MOST LIKELY COMMITMENT.

UM, I'M NOT SURE HOW OFTEN THEY WOULD MEET, BUT WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS THAT THAT GROUP WOULD BASICALLY BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO BUSINESS OWNERS, RESIDENTS, RESIDENTS FROM VARIOUS, UM, YOU KNOW, PARTS OF THE TOWN AND NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES, UM, MAYBE REPRESENTATIVES OF, UH, VARIOUS BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, UM, AND THE NUMBER THAT THEY'VE AT LEAST RECOMMENDED.

UM, OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S A COUPLE MORE, A COUPLE LESS, THAT'S FINE, BUT AROUND 15 PEOPLE JUST,

[03:40:01]

SO IF THEY THEN GET TO A TOPIC, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL IN THE MAIN RIVER, OBVIOUSLY WE WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, WEIGH PACK AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE CERTAIN MEETINGS, BUT THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS CALMING JUST AN OVERALL REPRESENTATIVE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO, AND THAT COULD BE A TOWN COUNCIL ACTION THAT WE COULD BRING FORWARD TO YOU.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT NO LATER THAN MARCH BECAUSE WE'RE READY TO GEAR REALLY, UM, GET STARTED.

BUT LIKE, UH, SCOTT SAID, IF YOU MAY THINK ABOUT IT, HOW, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PROCEED WITH THIS? IF THERE'S NAMES OR JUST REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES, FOR EXAMPLE, PLANNING, COMMISSION WAY PACK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION ON VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, OR HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WOULDN'T IT GO THROUGH PLANNING ANYWAY, EVENTUALLY IT WILL GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES HAVE TO GO TO PLANNING COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.

AND ULTIMATELY WE'LL COME TO, UM, OBVIOUSLY TOWN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

SO WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT? I MEAN, I'M FINE GIVEN NAMES, BUT DO Y'ALL WANT TO GIVE NAMES, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE AREAS AND NAMES? I MEAN, WE CAN'T HAVE A, YOU KNOW, FIVE PEOPLE FROM OLD TOWN, YOU KNOW, SO WE GOTTA BE GIVEN NAMES LIKE FROM THE NEXT RECIPIENT INCLUSIVE OF VARIOUS COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS, SO THAT IT'S REALLY GETTING AN AUTHENTIC, UM, VOICE FROM EVERYONE.

WELL, WE HAVE PROBABLY 45 OR 50 NEIGHBORHOODS, SO WE KNOW WE CAN'T PULL THEM FROM EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT DO YOU WANNA MAYBE GIVE US A REGION, RIVERSIDE, TAKE SOMEONE FROM ALL SUB-PAR AND WOULD JUST GET SOMEONE IN THAT YOU'RE THINKING, SHOULD WE BREAK IT DOWN INTO QUADRANTS AND DEVELOP DIFFERENT PDS OR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AREAS? IF I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, MAYBE IT'S A HYBRID, RIGHT? UH, STEERING COMMITTEE, YOU HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU SPEAK OF THAT YOU WANT TO BE SURE REPRESENTED, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE SOME REPRESENTATION FROM PLANNING COMMISSION.

YOU ASK SOME REPRE REPRESENTATION FROM HPC AND YOU DESIGNATE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SEATS ON THAT 15 MEMBER STEERING COMMITTEE, TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THOSE, UH, ENTITIES THAT KNOW THE TALENT BUSINESS AND ALREADY HELP YOU DO YOUR BIDDING.

SO, UM, SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT AS FAR AS THAT GOES, YEAH.

DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US, SEND IT TO US IN AN EMAIL AND GIVE US A DEADLINE AND THAT WE ALL HAVE TO SUBMIT AT LEAST A NAME, THESE NAMES THAT WE'RE SUBMITTING.

SHOULD WE HAVE SOMEONE WITH WHAT KNOWLEDGE IN HISTORICAL BUILDINGS OR MORE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT EVERYBODY TO, TO BE THE SAME.

WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOUR EXPERTISE COMES INTO PLAY FROM YOUR, YOUR APPOINTMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY ON YOUR BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS, JUST LET THAT PART BE HANDLED BY THOSE FOLKS.

AND THEN THESE PEOPLE WOULD JUST BE RANDOM PEOPLE THAT KNOW CAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW THE NEIGHBORS.

SO YOU'D WANT TO BE ABLE TO PULL, PULL IN, UM, PEOPLE, DIFFERENT OPINIONS, LIKE I'M GOOD.

RIGHT? AND LIKE I SAID, THIS, THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T HAVE LOTS MORE PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMENTS AND REACH OUT TO THE EXPERTS ON VARIOUS DIFFERENT.

I HOPE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, I REMEMBER DAVE JURASSIC DID OUR FIRST COMP PLAN WITH IT, TERRY AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK A COMP PLAN WAS, BUT I WENT TO EVERY SINGLE WORKSHOP.

WE MUST HAVE HAD A DOZEN OF THEM.

AND I REALLY, I HOPE WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THAT WE CAN MEET IN PERSON BECAUSE THAT WAS A GREAT, THE PUBLIC CAME AND THEY WERE LIKE ME AND AFTER YOU GOT INTO IT AND YOU WOULD HEAR PEOPLE LIKE EMMA MCCRACKEN THAT HAD THAT KNOWLEDGE, THAT HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GOT YOUR, YOU KNOW, I GOT MY NERVE UP TO SAY SOMETHING AND YOU REALIZE THAT IS THAT'S OUR BIBLE FOR OUR TOWN.

AND YOU PLEASE ANY, ANY INPUTS BETTER THAN NO INPUT.

SO I HOPE WE'RE OPEN IT UP TO MORE THAN JUST 15 PEOPLE UP.

CERTAINLY EVERYBODY.

AND I JUST WANT TO STRESS THAT.

IT'S PROBABLY VERY IMPORTANT TO THINK IN TERMS OF BROADER TERMS. AND A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T REALLY USE BECAUSE WE LOOK IN TERMS OF THE NEW RIVERSIDE AREA AND THE AREAS OF TOWN THAT ARE NEW AND DEVELOPING A LOT OF THAT CITIZENRY ARE NOT, UH, AS ENGAGED AS OUR FOLKS WHO ARE CLOSER TO OLD TOWN.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO PROBABLY MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ENGAGE THOSE COMMUNITIES IN THIS PROCESS.

SO I COMPARED SOME NOTES WITH, UH, WITH MY GOOD FRIEND THAT ACTUALLY MARY, YOU INTRODUCED ME TO ERIC DEMORA IN MOUNT PLEASANT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING OF POS OR THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.

IT'S SOME A POS, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY IN TUNE, WE'RE DOING THE WORK OF THEIRS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE ANYWAY.

[03:45:01]

IS THERE A TOWN MANAGER? AND HE'S BEEN AT THIS FOR A WHILE AND HE LET ME KNOW THAT THE, THE, THE COMMITTEE ARE SO TO SPEAK.

THE GROUP OF CITIZENS THROUGH THEIR COMP PLAN PROCESS WAS BY FAR THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT.

AND TO YOUR POINT, THEY SPLIT IT UP BY GEOGRAPHY, RACE, GENDER.

THEY WANTED A VERY DYNAMIC GROUP OF FOLKS AND THEY USE MORE THAN 15 PEOPLE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE WOULD COME SUNDAY.

SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T STOP COMING.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE ADDED.

SO IT'S GOTTA BE FLUID OVER TIME, BUT IT'S SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS PROJECT.

THAT REAL INPUT WILL LEAD TO REAL MEANINGFUL RESULTS.

AS IT'S PRESENTED TO YOU.

THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO REACH TO A YOUNGER AGE.

I MEAN, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THIS CAREER AGE INVOLVED.

I THINK WE'VE REALLY GOT TO LOOK OUTSIDE WHO WE NORMALLY PICK AND LET'S GET SOME FRESH FACES IN HERE AND FILLER.

MAYBE THAT GETS THEM ENGAGED.

WELL, SAVANNAH BE HERE FOR HOW MUCH LONGER WILL SHE BE HERE? UM, SHE'S HERE FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS, BUT I BELIEVE SHE HAD TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON COLLEGE.

SO SHE'S NOT PHYSICALLY HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE'S STILL WORKING WITH US AND SHE'LL BE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH US AS OKAY.

FOR TIME AND BUDGET.

THIS IS PROCESS 18 MONTHS.

SO YOU, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE DIRECTION DO YOU HAVE DIRECTION FROM US? UM, I'M GOING TO COME UP WITH AT LEAST SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON POS, UH, YOUNGER, MAYBE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR THROUGH THE SCHOOLS.

UM, BASED ON WHAT MARK SAID AND SEND AN EMAIL TO COUNCIL WITH A SPECIFIC TIMELINE AND DATE TO PROVIDE SOME NAMES AND WE'LL COMPILE THEM, THEN GO THE NEXT STEP.

SEE MAYBE SOMEBODY THINGS WILL BE MENTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE'LL MEET MORE.

GOOD.

SO SCOTT, WE'VE HIT EVERYTHING, HISTORICAL TOWN MASTER PLAN AND CODE ALIGNMENT.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF IN THE WORKS WITH WHAT, WHAT, UM, HEATHER'S DOING UTO ED, WE'RE EDIT, SHE'S DOING A LOT.

Y'ALL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROBABLY VERY LONGER THAT I REALLY DO THINK THEY'RE WORTHWHILE AND WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THIS TO GET EVERYTHING COMBINED, TO KIND OF SEE WHERE WE'RE GROWING AND SLOWING AND MANAGING ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT CHRISTMAS PARADE.

SO THE REASON IT SEEMS ODD TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN JANUARY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DID A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS BREAK THIS YEAR.

WE DID A, WHAT WE CALLED A REVERSE CHRISTMAS PARADE.

THE RESPONSE TO IT, UM, WAS OVERWHELMING.

IT WAS MUCH GREATER.

WE HAD FAR MORE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE PARADE THAN I THINK WE ANTICIPATED.

SO IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

UM, THERE ARE SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS PARADE THAT WE STILL NEED TO APPLY IF WE GO BACK TO A REGULAR PARADE FORMAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION TO SEE WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT IT, WHAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE REVERSE CHRISTMAS PARADE.

IF IT'S SOMETHING, A TYPE OF TRADITION YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE IF WE'RE STILL IN THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND IF SO, WHAT KIND OF MODIFICATIONS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE TO IT? GREAT.

I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK TO ME ABOUT IT.

SO I'VE GOT FAULTS, BUT I'LL GO TO COUNCIL.

DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON IT? THE CHRISTMAS PARADE? I THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME.

UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF SUGGESTIONS.

WE NEED SOME MUSIC WHERE, WHERE WE'RE STANDING IN A, SOME CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING, THEY GOT A LITTLE QUIET THERE AT THE TIME.

WAS AFFECTED BY IT GREATLY.

I, I HAD SOME COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING ON.

POSSIBLY WE COULD DO A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH THE TRAFFICKING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW BEFORE THEY GET IN, WHERE THEY CAN'T TURN RIGHT AND LEFT, WHAT'S GOING ON UP AHEAD, YOU KNOW, AND LIKE A DETOUR, MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE PARADE TRAFFIC ONLY.

RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK EVERYBODY, I TALKED TO THOUGHT IT WAS AWESOME.

AND I DID TOO.

I HAD PEOPLE SAY, CAN WE DO IT? I DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF THE PARADE THOUGH.

NO, BUT THERE WERE SOME, BUT THERE WERE SOME YOUNG FAMILIES THAT SAID THEY WENT, THIS IS WHY THERE WAS TRAFFIC.

THEY WENT LIKE THROUGH SIX TIMES, MULTIPLE PEOPLE DID THAT.

AND THEN THEY STOPPED AND JUST WALKED UP IN THAT BECAUSE THE KIDS REALLY, A LOT OF THEIR KIDS CAN'T SEE OVER A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE PARADE.

AND SO THAT WOULD HAVE LED PROBABLY ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE COME IN THE NEXT DAY.

SO IT MIGHT BE MORE MANAGEABLE OR NOT.

UM, YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND, AND JASON'S CIRCLE

[03:50:01]

SO MAYBE WE MOVE THE ROUTE FURTHER DOWN OR OFF THE CALHOUN STREET OR SOMEWHERE NOT TO REALLY, UM, THAT REALLY LOCKED THEM.

COULDN'T THEY CAN ONLY GO, RIGHT.

IT'S JUST NOT FAIR TO PUNISH THEM.

UM, YOU SAY PACKARD, NIGHTTIME, AND THEN HAVE THE MORNING PARADE.

WAS THE SUGGESTION, DO THAT AT NIGHTTIME, DO IT AT NIGHT, TOM.

HOURS, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CUT OFF THE NUMBER OF INSURANCE.

IS JASON NOT AFFECTED WHEN WE DO IT THE NORMAL TIME? OKAY.

THERE'S NOT THE CONSTANT AMOUNT OF CARS COMING IN AND THEY, I PROBABLY KNOW HALF OF THAT 30.

NOW IT MAY BE AGAIN, WE LIKE TO USE THE EXPRESSION.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

IT MAY BE THAT THE CHIEF AND EVERYBODY LOOKS AT THAT AREA, YOU COULD SET UP THEORY, SET UP COLUMNS ON ONE LANE TO LET THE TRAFFIC THAT'S IN THE PARADE.

ONE WAY NO LONG STREET PARKING NEAR DRAZEN CIRCLE THAT DAY.

AND THEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY HAVE TRAFFIC FLOW TWO WAYS FROM THERE TO RUN THE TRAFFIC.

THAT'S TRUE.

THEN TO LET THEM IN AND OUT AND LET OTHER CARS COME THROUGH AND MAKE IT TO THE FOUR-WAY STOP.

IF THEY NEEDED TO HAVE ANY IDEA, WE'D HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE.

DID ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA? WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE MEET ETHER, I GUESS THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE NIGHT BEFORE, SIMPLY FROM HEARING FROM SO MANY, BUT TO YOUR POINT, JUST SIGNS LIKE THIS LITTLE YARD SALE S SIGNS THAT SAY PARADE AHEAD FOR EIGHT TRAFFIC ONLY PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HELPED US.

I HAD A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ONLY FROM PEOPLE.

I KNOW FRIENDS OF MINE THAT WERE SAYING WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR DIDN'T READ THE PAPER.

IT'S JUST ADVERTISING.

IT'S PROMOTING THAT.

YOU COULD DEFINITELY TELL THE ONES WHO WERE TRYING TO GO TO SAVANNAH PERSONAL, THANK YOU TO COUNCIL BRIDGET, BECAUSE UNTIL BRIDGETTE AND I HAD LUNCH ONE DAY, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT A REVERSE PARADE WAS.

SIMPLY.

NO IDEA.

YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS HELD SOMEWHERE AND YOU SENT ME AN ARTICLE.

WE WERE THINKING OF GETTING TRUCKS AND CARS TO DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE LOGISTICS OF THAT, BECAUSE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THE PROWL OF OUR COMMITTEE TO THIS STAFF, THAT THAT REALLY ARE THE, THE, THE FOLKS THAT PLAN THAT EVENT, RIGHT.

THAT BY OURSELVES, DURING OUR JOBS, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WE KNEW THOUGH THAT MORALE AT THE TIME OF HOLIDAY WAS MORE IMPORTANT THIS YEAR THAN EVER.

UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, DID THE EASY THING I JUST SAID YES.

BEFORE I EVEN KNEW REALLY WHAT IT WAS.

AND, UH, AND IT WORKED OUT AND ANOTHER REASON WE NEED, WE NEED HER IN YOUNGER ON THESE, THESE GROUPS, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU TOLD ME.

I'M LIKE, WHAT'S THAT MEAN? THEN I GOOGLED IT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS.

THEN I KNEW THE OTHER THING TOO, IS ON OUR TRADITIONAL PARADE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD TALKED AFTER A TRAGEDY AND, UH, WE MAY, IT'S A GOOD TIME IN THE INTERIM THAT STAFF COULD BE REVIEWING THAT PROCESS.

WHETHER WE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WHETHER WE STILL WANT TO THROW CANDY OUT, HANDING OUT, I THINK IT WAS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MORE SECURITY ON THE STREET AND KEEP THE CHILDREN FROM RUNNING INTO THE VEHICLES, BUT A GOOD TIME TO EXPLORE THAT.

SO WHEN THE REAL PARADE COMES BACK, WE HAVE OUR GAME PLAN.

YEAH, WE HAVE, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT PROCESS.

LIP-SYNC THAT YOU CAN'T SEE ME.

SO WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE CANDY UNLESS Y'ALL GET RID OF ME, FRED.

AND I'VE SAT IN A CAR TOGETHER THE DAY THAT SHE WAY BEFORE YOU SAID NO CANDY AND FRED NOT STILL THREW CANDY OUT.

AND I GOT MY FAN.

REMEMBER THAT GUY TO FIGHT.

HE GRABBED MY HAND.

I'M LIKE, I BELIEVE YOU THREW CANDY AT THE CHIEF.

WHO SAID THAT I DID THROW CANDY AT THAT CHIEF, BUT SORRY, DAN, WHO'S JUST MAKING LIGHT UP.

JUST FIGURED OUT HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER.

I DO THINK WE NEED TO YES.

CHILDREN ON FLOATS GUIDANCE.

NO.

WHAT A GOOD TIME TO LEARN FROM.

YEAH, WE HAD, WE HAD ACTUALLY BEGUN THAT REVIEW PROCESS AND THEN COVID HIT AND WE, WE LESSENED THE NUMBER OF IN-PERSON MEETINGS WE'RE HAVING.

AND THEN IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR.

WE WEREN'T GOING TO HAVE A PARADE IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE, BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY, UH, REINVIGORATE THOSE EFFORTS, UH, TO LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN MAKE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THE, AND LIMITING THE NUMBER OF ENTRANCE.

OUR STAFF ISN'T GETTING ANY BIGGER, BUT THE IS GETTING BIGGER SO THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE'RE REALLY AT THAT BREAKING POINT, BUT THE PARADE HAS OUTGROWN THE STAFF.

AND SO WE HAVE TO THINK THROUGH THAT, WHETHER WE OUTSOURCE SOME OF IT OR WE HELP KEEP IT TO A POINT THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY MANAGE, WELL, DO WE NEED A THREE AND A HALF HOUR PARADE? I MEAN, THEY WRITE IT OFF AT TWO

[03:55:01]

YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FIRSTHAND.

RIGHT? ALL RIGHT.

ALL THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

FOR SURE.

ANY COMMENTS FROM THE CROWD ON THAT? OH, YOUR STAFF WAS AMAZING.

THAT WAS THE TIME YOU COULD REALLY POOR BRIAN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT BRIAN, BUT IT WASN'T, IT WAS MORE, IT WAS EVERYONE.

IT WAS PUBLIC WORKS, BUT IT WAS DEBBIE AND THEY REALLY HAD A FUN, THEY WERE THE MOST, THE BEST OF THE VIRTUAL PARADE.

THEY SAID TO LIKE STAFF CONSENT TOUTS, AFRICAN CENSUS WAS LIKE, THEY REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED, UH, THE SPRAY.

LIKE THEY GOT YOU ENJOY FROM A DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINT.

I GUESS THEY USUALLY THEIR WORK IN A MORE HANDS-ON OR THEY GOT TO SIT BACK AND ACTUALLY ENJOYED IT.

SO THEY WERE VERY, I LIKED IT BETTER BECAUSE ALL THE OTHER PARADES WE RIDE THROUGH THE BOAT, COME AGAIN.

WE NEVER SEE THEM, NEVER SEE IT.

WE JUST RUN THEM THROUGH MIKE.

THE TAIL END PUBLIC WORKS MAKES OUR TOWN MAGICAL AT CHRISTMAS.

I AGREE.

IT'S JUST MAGICAL WHERE THEY CHOOSE THE LIGHTS, WHICH WAS PUT UP HOW MANY .

AND I DID LIKE, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S CALLED.

IT WAS WHAT TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF EXPANDING THE DECORATIONS OUTSIDE OF OLD TOWN.

I LOVE SEEING THAT ON SOME OF THE BELT AND BUCKTOWN.

AND, UM, IT WAS DEFINITELY IN BOARD INCLUSIVE FIELD TO DECORATING OUR TOWN.

SO HOW WE KEEP IT GOING, LIKE THE ECHO, WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT STAFF.

I MEAN, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND FROM MY STAFF'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT WAS THE MOST FUN WE'VE HAD AT THE PARADE, BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY GOT TO BE INVOLVED WITH IT INSTEAD OF JUST CORRALLING THE CROWD, YOU KNOW? UM, WE, WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT.

IT WAS FUN.

THE LIGHTING THAT'S GOING UP ON ROADS OUTSIDE OF THE OLD TOWN, WILL IT EVENTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIGHT THESE LIGHTS TO LIGHT THESE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? LIKE OUR OLD TOWN STREET LIGHTS ARE THOSE LIGHTS.

THEY DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY.

AND I KNOW THOSE ORNAMENTS DIDN'T HAVE LIGHTS AROUND THEM.

THOSE POLES DON'T HAVE OUTLETS.

THEY DON'T HAVE OUTLETS THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST WOULDN'T.

I GOTCHA.

GOTCHA.

ANYTHING ELSE BE, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW THAT ENJOYED THE PARADE.

IT WAS AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO FOR OUR CITIZENS TO SHOW HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATED THAT CREW.

THEY SEE THEM EVERY DAY ON THE STREETS.

THEY SEE THEM BLOW UP AND THEY SEE A MOE AND THEY SEE THEM TAKING CARE OF OUR TOWN.

AND THAT'S THE TIME THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THEM ALL TOGETHER.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED WAS THAT SOMEONE CAME UP WITH A POSTER BOARD FULL OF PICTURES AND IT WAS PICTURES OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TRUE.

AND, AND THE POSTER HAD A THEME OF HOW MUCH THEY APPRECIATED, UH, OUR EMPLOYEES.

I THINK OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES REALLY, UH, GAINED A LOT FROM THAT.

SO I THINK IT WAS A GOOD THING.

UM, THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR WAS WE PUT THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND MARTIN FAMILY PARK VERSUS THE BOSE PARK.

I THINK THAT WENT FAIRLY WELL.

IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO CONTINUE IN THAT LOCATION.

SO FOR THE RECORD, THAT WAS LINDY'S IDEA ABOUT DERRICK'S SORRY.

WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS VERY TALK ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF THIS TOWN.

I WAS ASKED ONE OF OUR FINANCE TO COME OUT TO LIGHT THE MENORAH.

SO WE'RE THERE LIGHTING THE MENORAH TO BOTH PART AND ACROSS THE WAY WAS A RANDOM SANTA CLAUS AT THE TREE.

AND THIS MAN, AND I FOUND OUT WHO, IF SIENNA DECIDED TO COME EARLY AND DRESS UP AND FACEBOOK ME AND SAID, NEXT TIME YOU'RE HERE.

YOU NEED TO COME SEE SANTA CLAUS.

SO A LEGIT SANTA CALLS, BUT NOT ANYTHING WE ARRANGED.

AND HE JUST DECIDED TO GO AND STAND AT THE TREE AND TALK TO THE KIDS WHILE, WHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS SORT OF LIGHTING OF THE MENORAH.

SO IT SHOWS ALL BROAD.

WE ARE AN INTERESTING, SO I CALLED MARCUS WHO'S THE SANTA.

AND THEN I FOUND OUT WHO IT WAS SAMHSA TEXTED ME, TOLD ME ONE NIGHT.

AND, UH, DEBBIE WAS ASKING ME, AND THAT WAS HIS, THAT SAM SIENNA'S BEARD, NOT A PRETEND BEARD.

AND IN A WAY, THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE SAYING EARLIER, YOU KNOW, SET THE CONDITIONS FOR THINGS LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

YEAH, IT TRULY IS.

FISCAL 20, 22 BUDGET CALENDAR REVIEW.

SO WHAT DO WE DO? OUR NEXT AGENDA IS

[VI. Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Calendar Review ]

ARE WE DONE WITH OUR, SOME OTHER TOPICS WE COULD DISCUSS, BUT A GREAT LEAD IN TO THAT WOULD BE, UH, ANY KIND OF BUDGET POLICIES OR EXPECTATIONS YOU HAVE AS A COUNCIL.

UH, CHRIS AND I WILL, WE'LL SIT DOWN AND SOON AND, UH, LOOK AT THE REVENUES AND LOOK AT THE STAFF REQUESTS AND LOOK AT YOUR, UH, ACTION AGENDA AND YOUR PRIORITIES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED TO FIGURE OUT

[04:00:01]

HOW TO, HOW TO PUT THIS PUZZLE TOGETHER, RIGHT.

OR MAKE IT ALL FIT.

UH, BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL GOING INTO IT IF WE KNEW OF ANY SWEEPING CHANGES OR ANY, ANY NEEDS THAT WE MAY NOT BE THINKING ABOUT NOW THAT HAVEN'T BEEN PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DISCUSS THOSE.

AND FOR CHRIS AND, AND I HAD TO GET A TEMPERATURE READ ON WHERE YOU ARE WITH ANY OF THOSE, BEFORE WE GO ALONG INTO PUTTING TOGETHER A PUZZLE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLETELY TAKE APART AND PUT TOGETHER AGAIN.

SO, UH, JUST OPEN IT UP FOR GENERAL DISCUSSION EDUCATION IS THE NCIP AND THE REVENUE AND WHERE WE ARE ON THAT.

MCRP IF THAT CAN FIT IN THERE.

I THINK THAT ALL OF US NEED A RE-EDUCATION OF THAT.

AND WHERE DO WE FIT WITH WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GETTING FROM THE COUNTY? WHAT WE STILL ARE OWED WHEN IT EXPIRES, IT WOULD BE A NICE, WOULD YOU LIKE THAT ON ASH AND A SHORT, SUCCINCT WORKSHOP? I'LL ASK COUNSEL THAT.

DO YOU WANT TO WORK THE WORKSHOP ON JUST THAT? UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS TO BE, OR CHRIS SHEET ABOUT CHRIS IS PROBABLY PREPARED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

NOW, IF YOU LIKE, UH, I THINK WE NEED A PRESIDENT.

I THINK WE NEED A MAP PRESENTATION, MAYBE TWO, BUT MAYBE HE CAN DO A TWO BY TWO.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DO IT.

AND, AND JUST FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IT, W WE CAN DO THAT.

CHRIS KIRSTEN SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY TO IT.

NOW WITH REGARD TO THE REVENUE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ITEMS I ASKED HIM TO BE SURE HE KNEW BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS.

AND I THINK HE WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IF WE DIDN'T ASK HIM TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW, BECAUSE HE'S PUT HOURS INTO THE CORPORATION.

IT, IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME.

I CAN TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT IT AND THEN WE CAN GO, IT'S MORE DETAILED.

THERE ARE TWO BY TWOS.

THAT'S FINE.

UM, SO I'M NOT SURE WHO KNOWS ALL THE BACKGROUND, BUT THIS, THIS, UH, Y I GUESS NCIP GOES BACK WAY BACK TO LIKE 1999.

BUT IN 2008, WE ASKED THE COUNTY TO EXPAND, UH, COUNTY, UH, TOWN LAND INTO THE MTIP, WHICH IS NOW THE FOOTBALL TO AREA MTIP.

AND, UH, AND THEN IN 2013, I BELIEVE IT WAS, WE ENTERED AN AGREEMENT THAT, UM, STATED OUT THE FIRST THREE, UH, $1.3 MILLION OF THE FORM.

UH, THE FEE IN LIEU OF AVALOR ON TAX WOULD GO TO ESSENTIALLY THE TOWN TO, UH, DO INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WITHIN THE MTIP.

AND THEN AFTER THAT $1.3 MILLION THRESHOLD IS MET, THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO THE NORMAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.

UM, AND AT THAT POINT, UH, PROJECTS HAVE TO BE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN.

CHRIS, CAN YOU DO LIKE A LITTLE MORE LIKE THAT? I, IT'S HARD TO HEAR IT THROUGH THE MASK.

AND SO JUST WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, UH, THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT THE TOWN HAS EARNED, UH, BASED ON THAT 2013 AGREEMENT ARRANGEMENT, UM, THROUGH IT IS 1.2 MILLION.

SO WITH THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL REACH, UH, $1.3 MILLION EARNED REVENUE.

NOW I SAY EARNED BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THOSE PAYMENTS.

SO THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS, UM, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY SO FAR $330,000 OF AMOUNT.

AND THAT DATE WE'VE SPENT, UM, AROUND 400,000.

UM, AND SO A PORTION OF THAT WAS ON A LAND PURCHASE AGREEMENT BACK IN, UH, 13, AND THEN WE'VE SPENT A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND ON BOOK WALTER IMPROVEMENTS.

SO WE'RE AT TODAY IS, UH, THE AMOUNT DUE FROM THE COUNTY TODAY, UH, THROUGH IS A LITTLE OVER $900,000.

UH, WE'VE COMMITTED A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO THE CULINARY INSTITUTE.

UM, SO THE NET AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW WILL BE A LITTLE OVER 300,000, AND THEN WE PROJECTED OUT, UH, WHERE WOULD IT BE BY THE END OF THE MCIT? SO THROUGH, UH, F Y 28.

SO THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT WOULD BE EARNED BY FYI 28 BASED ON THE CURRENT TAXPAYERS WOULD BE AROUND $1.1 MILLION, 1.1 ADDITIONAL.

WELL, IN TOTAL INCLUDES WHAT WE HAVE, UH, EARNED TO DATE THE BALANCE OF THE EARNINGS DATE AMOUNT, PLUS THE AMOUNT WE EXPECT TO EARN OVER THE NEXT, UH, SEVERAL FISCAL YEARS.

SO ABOUT $1.1 MILLION THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO SPEND ON MTIP REVENUE, UM, BY THE END OF THE, THE, UH, OVER WHAT HAPPENED AFTER 2028, IF WE DON'T RENEW THIS TAX, IT'S JUST COME TO US IN A NORMAL WAY.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THE STUFF BEFORE THAT, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY COLLECTED BEFORE 2028, IF WE DON'T ASK FOR AN INCREASE.

SO ANYTHING WE EARNED AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT FROM BEFORE WITH THESE SUBJECT, TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND US.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, UP TO THE 1.3 MILLION, WE CAN

[04:05:01]

DIRECT HOW WE USE THAT.

AND THEN EVERYTHING AFTER THAT WOULD BE THE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND US.

GOTCHA.

AND TRAINEE ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.

IF, IF THE, SO THE COUNTIES AND THE, AND THE PARTNERS THEY'VE AGREED TO THE FIRST 1.3, USE ANYTHING AFTER THAT, WHICH ARGUABLY IS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS COMING OUR WAY.

IF THOSE MONIES ARE AGREED TO AND PLEDGED A BUCK WALTER PLACE AT THE EXPIRY OF THE, OF THE AGREEMENT AS THOSE FUNDS POOL, THEY'LL BE RELEASED AND DISTRIBUTED ACCORDING TO THE PERCENTAGE AGREEMENT.

SO WE'D GET OUR PORTION AKA AT A MILLION DOLLARS, AND IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE PUT INTO THE GENERAL FUND PROBABLY FUND BALANCE DIRECTLY.

GOTCHA.

SO WHY HAVE I HAVEN'T? SO THEY, THEY VOTED ON 1.3, WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED 300.

DO WE BUILD THEM? HOW DO WE GET UP THE REST OF THE NON THAT WE GOT IN 2014? THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY SOME, SOME PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO HAVE WITH NEW BUFORD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE UNKNOWN ON, ON BUFORD COUNTY'S END WAS THAT THE AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE WAS MADE BETWEEN BUFORD COUNTY AND BLUFFTON PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

AND SO WHEN BLUFFTON PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MERGED WITH DON RYAN CENTER, THE MERGER INCLUDED ANY ASSIGNS, IT INCLUDED BOARD MEMBERS, IT INCLUDED CHARTER, IT INCLUDED THE SAME BUSINESS MODEL, BUT I THINK THAT SOME CONVERSATION FOR COUNTY WAS, WELL, THE AGREEMENT WE'VE MADE ON THE 1.3 WAS WITH BLUFFTON PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, NOT THE DON RYAN CENTER.

SO THAT'S JUST FULL DISCLOSURE.

I DO KNOW THAT I'VE HAD SOME RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATOR.

CHRIS HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION, I'VE FORWARDED THE INFORMATION TO TERRY SCOTT'S AWARE OF IT.

AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO RESOLVE THAT, THE NAME ISSUE IN THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE ISSUE.

QUICK QUESTION ON THAT.

SO WHEN DID WE GET THE 300,000 PRE ALL OF THIS CHANGE IN CORPORATE STRUCTURE, OR WAS IT, THEY GAVE US 300,000 POSTS THEN THEY MUST HAVE, OKAY.

THAT, THAT AMOUNT, UH, WE RECEIVED IN THE FIRST, UH, FIRST FOUR YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT.

SO 13, 14, 15, 16.

SO RIGHT IN THERE ALL THE TIME.

WELL, THE NAME IS SEMANTICS, ISN'T IT? I MEAN, WE OWN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP AND WE OWNED ON RUSSIA.

WE LEGALIZED ALL THAT WHEN WE MERGED, I DON'T REMEMBER THE OTHER QUESTION, JUST THE 500,000 COME FROM THAT WE OBLIGATED OURSELVES TO TCL.

DOES THAT COME THROUGH THE COUNTY RICE TO CHECK BACK THE GCI? HOW'S THAT ONE? SO THE, THE EXPERT, THE, UH, THE COUNTY, OR THE WAY OUR AGREEMENT IS WRITTEN IS THE COUNTY IS, UH, ACTS AS THE FIDUCIARY.

SO THEY ACTUALLY MAKE THE TRANSFER TO THEM AND DEDUCT IT OUT OF THAT WAS FOR THE, IT'S HARD TO HEAR THE COUNTY ACTS AS THE FIDUCIARY FOR THIS AGREEMENT.

SO THEY WILL ACTUALLY DO THE TRANSFER TO THE SCHOOL ARTISTS TOO.

AND THEY DEDUCT THAT FROM WHAT'S OWED TO THE TOWN.

SO IT'S PART OF OUR 1.3, BUT IT DOESN'T GO FROM THEM TO US, TO THIS TCL, RIGHT.

IT GOES FROM THEM TO TCL WITH THE LITTLE DEBIT OF 500.

SO THAT WOULD LEAVE US 300,000 IN THE ORIGINAL ONE, BUT WITH OUR IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, UM, FOR THE NEXT BIG PROJECT OUT THERE, THEN THAT'S GONNA PRETTY MUCH WIPE ALL OF THAT OUT, RIGHT.

WITH THE PARKING LOT.

AND WHAT WOULD BE THE GOAL UTILIZATION OF THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN DERIVED AT BUCK WALTER PLACE OR BOX.

THEY HAVE TO STAY THERE ANYWAY, WE COULDN'T USE THAT IN A GENERAL FUND OR ANYTHING ELSE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO IT'S BETTER TO USE IT BEFORE EXTENDING IT OR SOMETHING.

WE NEED TO, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS FROM MARK OR OFF THE CUFF.

SO AFTER 2028, WHEN THE, WHEN OUR AGREEMENT IS DAWN, THOSE MONIES CAN COME TO US SO WE CAN USE THEM FOR ANYTHING WE WANT TO JUST LIKE REGULAR TAXES.

IF THERE'S SOME, SOME OPPORTUNITIES STILL AT BUCK WALTER PLACE, RIGHT.

IF WE DO ANOTHER AGREEMENT, YOU KNOW, TO PURCHASE MORE LAND UP THERE OR WHATEVER, THEN WE'RE IN FOR ANOTHER TERM THAT WE WOULD, WE HAVE TO DEVELOP ANOTHER WHOLE AGREEMENT.

YOU KNOW, IF THE PROPERTY IS, IS IT A DIFFERENT SPOT FOR NOT CONTIGUOUS WITH WALTER PLACE? I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT FAMILIAR WITH THE AGREEMENT'S ABILITY TO EXTEND THEIR OR REVISE.

BUT IF, IF THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE PREVENTING IT, THE SIMPLE AMENDMENT TO THE MCI P THAT WOULD ALLOW AN EXTENSION OF THE AGREEMENT WOULD, WOULD MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, ESPECIALLY

[04:10:01]

KEEP FISHING IN THE SAME FISHING HOLE RATHER THAN GO FIND A NEW ONE.

JUST MIGHT TAKE YOU A LITTLE MORE TIME TOGETHER.

WELL, LIKE HE WAS JUST SAYING, I WAS THINKING THE SAME AS IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER EIGHT YEARS TO GO AS IT SITS TODAY.

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AT 1 MILLION AT 1.3 MILLION CUMULATION AND ADDITION, UM, THEN THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE SAYING EARLIER ABOUT, UH, POTENTIAL LAND ACQUISITION, MAYBE RIGHT THERE IN THAT AREA OR SOMETHING HAVE ANOTHER PRODUCT AVAILABILITY.

TWO IS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

RIGHT NOW YOU'VE, YOU'VE GOT TO TOWN ON PAD SITES AND YOU'VE GOT TO PAD SITE NOT OWNED BY THE TOWN, BUT STILL AVAILABLE FOR, FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCE.

AND SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY LEFT AT POPOFF PLACE.

WHERE ARE THE OTHER TWO? THE OTHER TWO ARE OVER, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BIG EMPTY LOT ACROSS THE, ACROSS FROM, UH, WHAT'S A SUB SANDWICH SHOP SUBWAY ACROSS FROM SUBWAY, WHERE, WHERE THE, WHERE THE CARS, WHERE THE CARS PARKED IN THE FIELD OUT THERE IN THAT AREA, YOU GOT HUGE PATCH.

YOU GOT THAT ONE.

SO IF YOU'RE LEAVING PUBLIX AND YOU'RE HEADED STRAIGHT TO STATION 300, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SIDE, WHICH IS HUGE.

THEN YOU HAVE THE LEFT SIDE NEXT TO SUBWAY.

AND I THINK WE WOULD EAT THAT.

I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A OWNERSHIP ASAP BECAUSE DOES IT NEED MORE RETAIL OR SHOULD WE BE PUSHING FOR OTHER EDC COMMERCE PROJECTS? YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT OVERALL.

LIKE THERE PLACES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, EVEN IN OLD TOWN THAT ARE SELL FOR SALE SIGNS HAVE BEEN UP FOREVER.

WHY AREN'T WE HELPING THEM FIGURE OUT WHAT PUT, YOU KNOW, HELP GET AN EDC OR DON RYAN TO COME IN AND TRY TO FILL UP OR BUY OR DO SOMETHING TO SOME OF THESE, THESE BUILDINGS? WELL, EDC, THE BUFORD COUNTY, EDC IS A GOOD PARTNER AND THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF, OF, OF ALL FOUR, UH, PAT SITES THAT EXISTED BY QUAD REPLACED.

AND AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE PROJECT MERCURY PROSPECT THAT WE HAVE NOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY PURSUING, BEING ABLE TO, TO FILL THOSE PATHS AND BRING THE TYPE OF BUSINESS TO BEAVER COUNTY INTO THE TOWN OF LA.

WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS GOING UP RIGHT NOW.

I DROVE DOWN BLUFFTON PARKWAY LAST WEEK AND I TOOK A SHORTCUT BECAUSE I HAD TO GO BY THE CANCER STOPS.

SO I CUT THAT WHOLE FRONT BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE CANCER.

THRIFT ARE THOSE SAME BUILDINGS THAT ARE AT RED CEDAR, WHICH ARE GREAT BUSINESSES THAT HAVE WAREHOUSE WITH FRONT DOOR, LIKE BOUTIQUE FRONT, BUT WAREHOUSE, THAT WHOLE STRIP IS NOTHING BUT THAT BY THE AX THROWING PLACE, DID Y'ALL KNOW HE HAD AN AX THROWING YEAH.

RIGHT IN THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST RIGHT TO, TO FILL UP WITH THE RIGHT KIND OF BUSINESSES.

ANYWAY, I GOT OFF THE BUFFALO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CHRIS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL MECHANISMS OF WATER PLACE? OKAY.

WELL THAT TAKES US BACK TO THE GENERAL BUDGET DISCUSSIONS IN ANY, ANY PARTICULAR POLICIES OR ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAMS OR ANY PARTICULAR DIRECTION YOU HAVE IN MIND TO PROVIDE CHRIS AND MYSELF WHILE WE'RE IN THE EARLY STAGES WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT LIKE INCREASE DECREASE IN MILLAGE SALARY INCREASES? NO, YOU CAN'T MAXWELL.

I DON'T THINK WE NEED, I THINK WE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S COME IN.

IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WAS DIRE.

I DON'T THINK I WOULD PUSH TO BE INCREASING MILLAGE.

I'D LOVE TO SEE A DECREASE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU, I, I DON'T ANTICIPATE A REQUEST TO INCREASE MILLAGE.

I REALLY DON'T.

UM, I ANTICIPATE TRYING TO RESTORE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NORMALLY HAD IN THE BUDGET THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS YEAR, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO HOW WE, UH, HOW WE TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE CITIZENS.

SO I THINK THOSE ITEMS WILL BE BACK IN THE BUDGET.

AGAIN, I CAN'T SEE, UH, ASKING FOR AN INCREASE, UH, TO, MIDDLE-AGED NOT AT THIS POINT ANYWAY.

WELL, I MEAN, I STILL WANT TO TAKE A HARD TO FIND BALANCE.

I BRING IT UP EVERY OPPORTUNITY I GET, IT'S GOTTEN RATHER LARGE AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH IT? YOU KNOW, I HAVE A LARGE ONE, HOW LONG HAS THIS TOO LONG? AND SO LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE, UTILIZE SOME OF THE OVERAGE, RIGHT.

TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WELL, AND THAT WOULD GET TO ADOPTION OF WHATEVER FUND BALANCE POLICIES YOU THINK WOULD BE MOST HEALTHY GOING FORWARD.

AND CHRIS AND I WILL WORK WITH YOU AND IN THE TWO BY TWOS AS WE GO FORWARD AND PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER AND GATHER YOUR INPUT ALONG THE WAY AS WELL, ANYTIME YOU, I WANT TO BE, I'M NOT ON THAT PAGE BECAUSE THAT I WENT TO EMMITSBURG, MARYLAND WHEN WE DID THE, THE HURRICANE THING AND THAT BIG PORTION OF IT WAS ON HOW TOWNS NEED TO BE READY FOR DISASTERS.

AND I THINK THE NUMBERS Y'ALL USE WHOEVER DID THAT PRESENTATION, ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, THEY CLEARLY SAID SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS,

[04:15:01]

A FUND BALANCE.

AND WE ARE IN THAT AREA OF DISASTER.

AND I JUST THINK WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

I DON'T, I'M USING A LITTLE, I JUST DON'T WANT TO WHITTLE IT AWAY.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR BOND RATINGS AFFECTED OR HURRICANE HITS US AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE WHERE WE LIVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THAN GREENVILLE.

SO I'M CURIOUS WITH DAN WHAT HE WANTS, BUT ALSO WANT TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE ON THAT.

WELL, I HAVE TO RESPECT THAT, BUT THEN WE HAVE OUR 15% EMERGENCY AND THEN WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL 25 THAT COULD BE USED WITH THAT, WHICH IS 40%.

AND WE'RE IN THE HIGH 70 PERCENTILE NOW.

AND WE ASKED A QUESTION AND PRESS BEFORE MOST PLACES, ANOTHER 20 TO 40% OR IN THE SEVENTIES, AND IT IS CONTINUING TO GROW.

AND WE'VE DONE THAT EVEN IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.

SO YEAH, I GUESS THE KEY IS, IS WHERE'S THAT BALANCE MAYOR JUST WHERE'S THAT LINE WHERE YOU SAY, UH, SOME OF IT SHOULD BE FLIPPED BACK, TURN BACK TO THE CITIZENS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, BUT WE NEED TO DETERMINE THAT.

JUST, JUST TO ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION AT COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.

UM, WE, WE CAN JUST DISCUSS THIS IN DEPTH.

UH, THIS IS ONE OF MY WORKSHOP ITEMS IS OVER ON THE REVENUES AND THE FUND BALANCE POLICY.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ON BEST PRACTICES.

UM, I'LL, I'LL PRESENT THE RISK ASSESSMENT THAT I WENT THROUGH THAT WAS RECOMMENDED VGF AWAY.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON WHERE, WHAT DIRECTION WE THINK WE SHOULD GO, BUT I WANT TO BOND RATING AND LIVING ON A COASTAL AREA IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

ANYTHING ELSE, GUYS? UM, WHAT WE NEED TO NOT THROW AT SCOTT AT THE LAST MINUTE WHEN HE AND CHRIS ARE GOING TO DO TWO BAT TWOS IN THE COMING MONTHS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO, THAT YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM A HEADS UP ON.

SO WE'VE HEARD FUN BALANCE, JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT.

UM, DON'T, DON'T PUSH TO INCREASE MILLAGE.

DO YOU WANT THEM TO TRY TO DECREASE THE MILLAGE? I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO GET FROM US.

I THINK EVEN THOUGH WE, WE FARED A LITTLE BETTER, THE WAY IT'S LOOKING THAN WE ANTICIPATED, YOU KNOW, GOING INTO IT THAT WE STILL HAVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION BECAUSE WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, WE DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN.

AND WE STILL DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS COVID AND THE ECONOMY AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE, FORTUNATELY THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD HAS BEEN GOING STRONG.

I'M ONE OF THE FEW THAT I COULD THINK OF.

UM, SO I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY, GIVE SOME OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, SO GOT TO HAVE THIS, BUT WON'T THIS AND SURE.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF GO FROM THERE AND WE'LL TRY TO, YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING CUT ANYBODY'S PAY OR ANYTHING AND POSSIBLY RACE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T BE REACHING THE MOON.

YOU KNOW, I'M SURE WITH OUR GROWTH, YOU'LL GET OUR CENSUS NUMBERS BEFORE OUR BUDGET.

SO WE'LL SEE IF WE NEED MORE POLICE OFFICERS OR IF BRIDGET SUGGESTION OF THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN ADDITIONAL STAFF.

I HOPE WE LE SEARCH VERY HARD AND LOOK FOR A TRUE, UM, PRESERVATIONIST PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE WORLD WE WERE IN, BUT I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY AND I THINK HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE YELLING IN MY EAR ABOUT THAT.

THROUGH THE 19TH, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL BUDGET MEETINGS WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS WHEN WE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST HEAR US TODAY THAT WITH REQUESTS, THAT'S GOING TO COME, YOUR BUDGET WORLD WILL BE AFFECTED.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

THE CENSUS NUMBERS WILL PROBABLY BE IN AROUND THE BEGINNING OF APRIL THAT'S THAT'S WHEN THEY ARE DUE TO BE RELEASED AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR REDISTRICTING PURPOSES.

AND THAT'S USUALLY WHEN THE LOCAL CENSUS NUMBERS ARE AT AS WELL.

SO WE'LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA BY THEN.

UM, BUT LOOKING AT THE BUDGET CALENDAR, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET, LOOKING AT THE BUDGET CALENDAR FORCE, UH, IT'S IN THE LAST TAB IN YOUR BINDER TAB EIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ALONG, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT SO WHERE WE ARE NOW IS THE PLANNING WORKSHOP TO BE SURE WE DON'T FORGET ANY OF YOUR PRIORITIES AND YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND, AND PUTTING A DRAFT BUDGET TOGETHER.

UM, EARLY FEBRUARY, WE'LL BEGIN THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WITH TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE TWO BY TWOS THAT WE NORMALLY HAVE THAT YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO.

UM, MARCH 9TH IS WHEN WE LISTS, UH, PRESENTED AT YOUR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING THAT COMES OUT OF YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, UH, MARCH 8TH

[04:20:01]

UH, WE ARE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THIS YEAR AND IT MIGHT BE, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE AMBITIOUS, UH, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO HAVE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET IN APRIL IF WE CAN, WHICH GIVES US MORE TIME TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY NEED TO BE MADE BEFORE FINAL READING, UH, IN JUNE.

SO, UH, WE'RE SHOOTING FOR APRIL FOR FIRST READING, UH, ALONG WITH THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE ACTION AGENDA AND FROM THE SOUNDS OF THINGS TODAY AND THE DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR ACTION AGENDA.

SO WE MAY NOT NEED TO BRING THAT TO YOU.

UH, AND THEN APRIL 13TH ALSO IS WHEN, UH, WE'LL BRING THE ASSESSMENT ROLE FOR TAX YEAR 2021 RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL, WE'LL HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP SOMETIME BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READING, UH, WHERE WE'LL ALSO BE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS WHO COME TO US WITH REQUESTS.

UH, EVERY YEAR WE'LL HAVE THOSE CAPTURED AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE INTEGRATED INTO THE BUDGET.

AND THEN JUNE 8TH, WE WILL HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET READY FOR FINAL READING AND APPROVAL.

SO THAT'S THE CALENDAR AS WE HAVE IT LAID OUT.

ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS WITH THAT SCHEDULE? WELL, SCOTT, JIM, YOU STARTED EARLY, WHATEVER TIME I LISTENED TO THIS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY IS SO BUSY.

YOU CAN START EARLY WHEN EVERYBODY'S SO, SO WOUND UP TRYING TO CATCH UP.

IS THERE A QUESTION IN THERE? YEAH.

SO, SO IT SOUNDS, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE BEING PRETTY AGGRESSIVE.

WELL, PERHAPS, SO THAT'S WHY I COME TO YOU WITH A SCHEDULE, UH, IN THIS FORMAT.

SO, UM, IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS, THERE ARE REASONS TO BE A LITTLE EARLIER.

I MEAN, THAT YOU HAVE SEEN OVER THE YEARS.

UH, HAVE YOU NOTICED, YOU WISH YOU HAD A LITTLE MORE TIME POST SECOND READING OR, WELL, I, I DO RECALL, UH, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING COUNCIL DECIDED THEY WANTED TO REDUCE THE MILLAGE.

AND WHEN COUNCIL DECIDED THEY WANTED TO REDUCE MIDDLE-AGED, UM, HAVE A BUDGET READY FOR PRESENTATION BY APRIL.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE HEALTHIER IN TERMS OF ANY ADJUSTMENTS WE NEEDED TO MAKE BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING, IF IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TOO AMBITIOUS ON THIS, WE CAN DO IT.

THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE.

WE CAN BRING FIRST READING IN MAY, BUT WE'LL KNOW BETTER AS WE PROGRESS AND HAVE THE TWO BY TWOS WITH COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO, WE STARTED THIS CAUSE I KNOW IT REALLY THREW ME FOR A LOOP WHEN WE SAID, I THINK WE NEED, I'VE HEARD LARRY.

WE DON'T KNOW THE FUTURE.

I'VE HEARD DAN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME EXTRA MONEY YOU'RE THINKING WE MIGHT BE GOING TOO FAST.

I THINK IF WE ARE ASKING YOU TO LOWER, IT SHOULD BE TODAY.

AND THAT WOULD BE MY REMIND US OF THIS IN MAY.

WE DIDN'T BRING IT UP TO THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, THE MOST LIGHTENED WAYS.

UM, AND YOU'RE NOT SHOCKED AS YOU'RE NOT SHOCKED BY IT.

I MEAN, WE CAN, WE CAN EASILY ADJUST THIS CALENDAR TO DO IT IN THE WAY THAT YOU'RE ACCUSTOMED TO DO WITH IT.

THAT'S FRUSTRATING MAY 2ND READING IN JUNE.

SO, UM, EITHER WAY, I'M FINE.

SO YOU CAN'T GET IT DONE AND, AND IT'S, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT YOUR DEPARTMENTS ARE UNDERSTANDING IT, THEN GO FOR IT.

THAT TH THIS IS, UH, CONSISTENT WITH THE SCHEDULE THAT WE PROVIDED TO THEM.

THAT OF COURSE HAS A LOT MORE DETAIL ON IT, UH, TO LEAD US TO THIS POINT.

SO, BUT IF WE, UH, IF WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE TWO BY TWOS AND WORKING WITH, UH, DEPARTMENTS THAT WE CAN'T MAKE AN APRIL 1ST READING, THEN WE WILL SURELY LET YOU KNOW, AS, AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE CAN ADJUST THAT TO ME.

2020, WHICH IS NOW AN ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 20, 20, JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER.

WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK FRED MADE US LOOK, FRED, GO LAST.

HE JUST WANTS TO GET US TO GOT TO GOTCHA.

FOR ME.

YOU THINK I'M GOING TO SAY, WE'LL JUST LET YOU HAVE HIM TO TELL HIM.

YEAH, IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

UH, THAT WAS LINDSEY, LINDSEY, LINDSEY.

TELL ME YOU'RE TEACHING LINDSAY.

WELL, THIS IS WONDERFUL.

UM, YES, THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS ON THE WEBSITE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE HAVE JUST RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

AND I SAY RECENT, I MEAN, LATE LAST WEEK, UH, OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR

[04:25:01]

AND I'M REMISS BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING MULTIPLE COPIES OF THIS.

UH, WE WILL GET THESE TO YOU AND WE WILL HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION, AND WE WILL PUT THEM ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL.

SO AGAIN, IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE MORE DETAIL THAN WHAT I DID THIS MORNING WHEN I OPENED UP, BUT, UH, GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE OPERATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWN AND THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING.

THAT'S IT.

ANYTHING ELSE, GUYS? ONE LAST THING I, I HAD READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

UM, IT WAS ABOUT A GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

I THINK IT WAS FOR $25 MILLION IF I READ IT CORRECTLY.

AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE SUFFERING WITH, UH, THEIR HOUSING PAYMENTS, RENT PAYMENTS, ET CETERA, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HOUSING.

SO I THOUGHT IT COULD BE A DILIGENT STAFF IF THAT BECAME A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR WITH IT.

SO IF WE FIND AN OPPORTUNITY, IF SOMEBODY CALLS OR SOMEBODY'S DESPERATE OR NEEDS HELP, AND WE CAN POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, NOT NOT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM, WOULD YOU BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT IT? WELL, IT SHOULD GO AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHOULD HEAR ABOUT IT.

AND DON RYAN'S, UM, PORTION OF THE, THE A HUNDRED PERCENT, THE BUSINESS HOUSING, WHATEVER THAT LITTLE PROGRAM IS, SHOULD ALSO HAVE THAT.

THAT'S AWESOME.

I SENT SCOTT A EMAIL ON MONEY THAT WENT THROUGH THE STATE CDBG ON A LOT OF THESE TRAILS AND PARKS AND BUFORD AND PORT ROYAL, FOUR OF THE 12 OR FROM BEAVER COUNTY AND NOT JUST TO SCOTT.

SO I WOULD SAY WHATEVER YOU FIND, GET TO HIM AND LET HIM DISSEMINATE IT, DISSEMINATE IT TO ALL OF US.

THAT'S GREAT.

I DIDN'T SEE THAT ARTICLE.

I'D LOVE TO READ IT.

DOES THAT ARTICLE FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO, TO DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY OR IS THIS FOR PROFITS IN GENERAL? I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S IN THE PACKET, LIKE I SAID, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER, I THINK IT'S DIRECTED.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER STEAK'S GOING TO DIRECT MONEY TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.

MAYBE THAT'S THE CASE.

I'M NOT SURE FOR IT TWICE.

WE NEED STAFF TO LOOK INTO AND JUST SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE THERE THAT WE CAN HELP OUR CITIZENS.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOW WHAT ALL OF US ARE SENDING YOU LIKE THAT BECAUSE WHENEVER I SEE SOMETHING COME TO ME, I USUALLY JUST FORWARD IT.

I'LL FORWARD IT TO MARK, BUT I DON'T THINK ABOUT INCLUDING ALL OF COUNCIL.

SO MAYBE YOU COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT TO GET TO.

I, I, MY, MY, MY STANDARD WILL BE, UH, WHEN I EMAIL ONE OF YOU, I EMAIL ALL OF YOU.

AND THEN SEND ANOTHER ONE WITH THE COUNTY, WHATEVER.

UH, SO YOU ALL HAVE THE SAME INFORMATION.

THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO OPERATE GOING FORWARD.

SO, UM, YOU NEED TO KNOW THOUGH THAT CHRIS AND HIS STAFF WILL, EH, AS WELL AS A CAPITAL PROJECT STAFF WILL, WILL SCOUR ALL FOUR CORNERS LOOKING FOR GRANT MONEY.

UM, I THINK WE ALL LIKE TO SPEND OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROJECTS.

AND I SAY THAT OFFHANDEDLY, BUT, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR PROJECTS, AND WE'VE HAD A GOOD RUN WITH THAT, THAT THE COUNTY AND WITH, WITH OTHER, UH, WITH OTHER STRATEGIC PARTNERS.

AND WE, WE WILL CONTINUE THAT.

WE'VE GOT SOME PROJECTS THAT, UH, DEFINITELY FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE, UH, BUFORD COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, UH, APPROACH THEM WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE WORTHWHILE TO DO THAT WITH, AND, AND STAFF WILL CHASE GRANTS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO FUND THESE PROJECTS.

ONE UPDATE ON THE COVID SIDE, STEPHEN MURRAY, WHICH IS OUR NEW MAYOR, MARIE I'M SO USED TO THINKING ABOUT SAM MURRAY.

WHEN I SAY MAYOR MURRAY CALLED THE MAYORS TO TALK ABOUT DOING A LETTER FROM ALL OF OUR TOWNS, KIND OF LIKE HOW SO LOCO, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTS TO GO TO D HECK, JUST TO TELL THEM THE FRUSTRATION WE'RE SEEING ON SOMEWHERE BETWEEN VACCINE AND GETTING A TREATMENT, SOMETHING'S FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS AND I'M HERE.

I BET I'VE A DOZEN PEOPLE JUST DRIVING THROUGH TOWN.

THIS WEEKEND.

ONE SPOUSE WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AND THE OTHER ONE NEVER HEARD BACK TRAD HAD A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SITUATION, HAPPENED FIVE MINUTES AFTER A SPOUSE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT, AND HE'S WRITTEN A LETTER FOR ALL OF US TO LOOK AT.

I'LL FORWARD IT TO YOU OF THE COUNTY, WANTS TO SIGN IT.

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE'RE HAVING TO STUDY AND STUDY AND STUDY AND STATE STREET, NICHOLAS.

THIS COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE WE GET THE LETTER.

SO HE WANTS TO REALLY GET TOWNS TO SEND THE LETTER

[04:30:01]

I THINK MULTIPLE LETTERS COULD HELP.

JUST LET THEM KNOW WE NEED HELP.

WE HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE COUNTY WIDE.

ONE OF THE HIGHER PERCENTAGES OF RETIRE ARE 70 AND OLDER THAN YOU DO ALL OVER THE STATE.

I THINK IT WAS LIKE 22% OR SOME NUMBER IN OUR, JUST OUR COUNTY, WHICH IS MORE THAN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS AND JUST GET THEM TO US, GET WHATEVER THE PROCESS IS TO MAKE IT WHERE THESE, THESE PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR VACCINES.

SO EVENTUALLY, MAYBE WE CAN GET ONE, ONE DAY.

SO JUST KNOW THAT OFF TO YOU.

WHEN HE CALLED ME LATE LAST NIGHT IS IMPORTANT, BUT LOCALLY WE DON'T HAVE THEIR CONTROL.

THAT'S THE GOVERNORS HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONTROL TO REQUEST MORE VACCINE AND TO HAVE A BETTER PLANNING TO DISTRIBUTED WHEN WE DO GET IT, I'VE BEEN, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS THING, UM, RELIGIOUSLY AND EVERY STATE IS HAVING THE THING ISSUE FLORIDA ISN'T IN WEST VIRGINIA IS VACCINATED.

I, WHAT 70% OF THEIR PEOPLE AT SOME, SOME STATES ARE HAVING VERY EASY TIME, BUT I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I DON'T THINK IT HURTS US TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE STILL EXIST DOWN HERE.

EVERY, EVERY AVENUE, EVERY THING WE DO, UM, HELPS GET, I GUESS, GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS.

BUT I THINK, THINK ABOUT SENDING THAT SAME LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT.

YES, I AGREE.

AND I KNOW THAT SENATOR DAVIS IS REALLY WORKING THAT HARD WITH THE, UH, THE GOVERNOR.

ALSO, I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD IN AMERICA COULD GO AND VOTE ONE DAY, TAKE THIS LONG PHOTO TO DEATH TO GET A SHOT.

AND THEN IT'S TAKEN HOME, TAKES A YEAR TO GET SAVED PEOPLE IN THE SHOT.

PHYSICALLY TO THOSE THAT ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE THERE.

BUT BRIDGET JUST ASKED, WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR WASN'T THE GOVERNOR HERE.

AND HE WAS, UM, BUT I TALKED TO STEVEN BUFORD MEMORIAL.

WASN'T PART OF THE, THE STOP AND BEAUTIFUL MAKES SENSE TO BRING ALL STAKEHOLDERS, LIKE THE LEAST IN THE COUNTY AND BE FROM MEMORIAL SAID, I'LL CALL FROM USC, M U S E HAD AN OVERRUN OF ABOUT 1,050 SHOTS.

AND THEY SAID, LET'S DO A PILOT.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY WE CAN HANDLE IN A DAY.

AND THEY SET UP AN IN AND OUT AT BUFORD HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT THROUGH THEM REALLY QUICK.

BUT THEY REALIZED FROM THAT EXPERIMENT, THEY COULD, IF THERE WERE EVER OVERRUNS, THEY COULD UTILIZE TO AT LEAST 2000 WITHOUT OVER JUST A LOT OF ISSUES.

SO THEY KNOW NOW THEY COULD DO 2000 SHOTS IF, IF THAT NUMBER EVER CAME BACK TO THEM.

BUT THESE, SO I HAD A COUPLE LIVES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'RE LIKE, AND THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S, THE PROCESS IS SO CONFUSING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE PRETTY OKAY IN OUR, IN, AT T WORLD, BUT YOU'RE GETTING TO THE AGE THAT NEEDS IT.

AND NOT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHEN YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL SITE AND IT TAKES YOU TO THE CDC SITE AND IT TAKES YOU TO THIS THING CALLED VAMS, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL SITE.

AND THEY JUST GET LOST WITH IT.

MIGHT'VE BEEN THREE PEOPLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WAS LIKE, THIS IS SO CONFUSING.

SO YOU ALMOST NEED SOMEONE, A TRIAGE SOMEHOW TO HELP THIS AGE GROUP, PERCENTAGE OF IT, TO UNDERSTAND EVEN, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY DOING IT RIGHT, RIGHT.

THEN DON'T USE EMAIL.

SO THEY DON'T HAVE A WAY TO GET THEIR VERIFICATION BACK FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS.

SO, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RURAL PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

A LOT OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE EMAIL.

SO IT'S JUST TOUGH BECAUSE THE PEOPLE, THE YOUNGER PEOPLE CAN'T GET IT UNTIL EVERYONE ELSE GETS IT AND WATCH US ALL GET IT.

ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY? IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

UM, YOU KNOW, SCOTT, I WILL SAY, WE DID TRY TO SAY WE WERE GOING TO MEET IN JANUARY AND OF COURSE NUMBERS WENT UP, RIGHT? UM, I'VE HEARD BRIDGET SAY, WE NEED KIND OF A PROTOCOL.

WHAT IS, WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT GET US TO, WE CAN HAVE THE OPTION.

WE ARE, WE ARE ON OUR WAY.

UH, WE HAVE ORDERED A PLEXIGLASS PARTITIONS FOR INSTALLATION ON THE DICE DESK WHERE COUNCIL SITS, UH, THAT WON'T GET US EVERYWHERE.

WE NEED TO BE WITH REGARD TO THIS, BUT WE HAVE A VERY LARGE, UH, ROOM TO MEDIAN.

WE CAN REMOVE THE CHAIRS.

WE CAN PUT BACK IN CHAIRS IN CERTAIN SPOTS TO BE SURE ANYONE WHO IS THERE SOCIALLY DISTANCE, WE CAN LIMIT THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY COME TO COUNCIL

[04:35:01]

UH, WE CAN DESIGNATE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CHAIRS FOR PUBLIC ONLY IF WE WANT TO ALLOW PUBLIC, OR WE CAN DO A MEETING LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE.

UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT WE CAN PURSUE AND WE CAN START LOOKING INTO WAYS THAT WE CAN AT LEAST ALL BE IN THE SAME ROOM, EVEN IF WE ARE AP TO PARK.

UM, I, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME VALUE IN THAT WITH REGARD TO DISCUSSIONS AND DECISION-MAKING AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS VERSUS LOOKING AT SOMEONE IN A TWO-INCH SQUARE ON YOUR, ON YOUR SCREENS.

SO, UH, WE ARE TAKING STEPS ON THE STAFF SIDE TO PUT AS MANY SAFEGUARDS AS POSSIBLE IN PLACE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN FACILITATE THE RETURN OF COUNCIL TO PHYSICAL PRESENCE MEETINGS IF THEY SO DESIRE.

AND I'M NOT GOOD HERE, FRED, HE WAS TELLING ME TO GET THE VACCINE.

WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S THE CRITERIA? LIKE, I LOVE YOUR GETTING IT READY, BUT WHEN DO YOU BRING COUNSEL TO SAY, OKAY, WE ARE UNDER A CERTAIN PERCENT OR A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE HAS HAD VACCINES OR THE COUNTY IS NOW.

I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE, WHAT'S THE LIST OF CRITERIA THAT YOU CAN LET US LOOK AT? SO IT'S NOT ONE PERSON THAT NEVER WANTS TO MEET AT ONE PERSON WHO'S DYING.

I MEAN, WHAT DOES IT MAKES US FEEL? OKAY.

WE'RE KIND OF FOLLOWING THE PROTOCOL, RIGHT? WELL, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF DATA POINTS YOU COULD LOOK AT.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

AND I CAN, UM, YOU GET THE COVID, UH, UPDATE EVERY COUNCIL MEETING.

NOW WITH REGARD TO THE, THE CASE INCIDENCE RATE AND THE NUMBER OF POSITIVES IN THE TWO NINE, NINE OH NINE TWO NINE, 900 ZIP CODES, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.

UM, BUT IT WILL BE A MATTER OF WHAT YOUR COMFORT LEVEL IS AS A BODY TO COME TOGETHER TO MEET.

THERE IS NO SPECIFIC, UH, CRITERIA OR THRESHOLD FOR RECOMMENDING THAT IT'S OKAY TO COME BACK AND SIT IN THE SAME ROOM THAT JUST, THAT THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE.

SO IT WILL BE DEPENDENT UPON YOUR COMFORT LEVEL, BUT WE WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN ON THE STAFF SIDE TO PUT AS MANY SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE AS POSSIBLE.

SHOULD YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND MEET IN THE SAME ROOM? YOU CAN SEE MY FACE.

YOU CAN HEAR ME CLEARLY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO THE MATH SOON, STILL WORKS FINE FOR ME, THEIR FRIEND, UNTIL YOU'RE 65 FOR FOUR MORE YEARS, REMIND COUNCIL THAT YOU DID, THAT YOU DID ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, UH, WHERE WE CAN HAVE, UH, ELECTRONIC MEETINGS.

WE CAN HAVE PHYSICAL MEETINGS.

WE HAVE A COMBINATION OF ELECTRONIC AND PHYSICAL MEETINGS.

IF, UH, IF WE HAVE FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANT TO MEET IN PERSON AND ONE, WHO'S NOT COMFORTABLE MEETING IN PERSON, WE CAN DIAL THAT PERSON IN ELECTRONICALLY.

AND IT'S PERFECTLY FINE IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR TOWN CODE.

SO WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT FOR COMMITTEES TOO? I MEAN, IF FOUR AND THREE OR WHATEVER, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT COUNCIL WOULD BE THE MODEL FOR THE OTHER BODIES TO FOLLOW.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO MEET OUTSIDE, LIKE FOR A GOOD DAY AND JUST MEET OUTSIDE, STAY SIX FEET APART AND TAKE YOUR MASK OFF.

AND YOU'LL BE JUST FINE.

JUST LIKE INSIDE THE DAY WE HAD TO EAT, TAKE THE MASK DOWN, DRINK, TAKE THE MASK.

YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING A MASS DOWN.

I THOUGHT YOU MENTIONED WORK, COMFORTABLE EATING.

I'VE GOT TO SAY YOU ATE THOUGH, BUT YOUR TUMMY'S FULL.

YOU HAD TO EAT WELL.

YOU SEE, IT'S A DIFFERENT ALL, EVERY WE ALL.

WELL, THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR US.

WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS.

LET'S THINK CREATIVELY.

AND MAYBE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT WANTS TO GET TO THAT AND DO THE HYBRID OX BOX ALTERNATIVE FOR WHAT? FOR EVERYONE'S COMFORTABILITY LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, SCHOOLS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO THAT TOO.

IF A KID TEACHER DOESN'T COME IN, YOU KNOW, NO ONE SHOULD BE SUBJECTED TO THAT.

CAUSE EVERYONE'S TALK FOR LEVEL IS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL SAFETY AND, UH, IT SHOULD BE RESPECTED.

BUT IF THOSE WANT TO MEET IN PERSON, LET'S SEE WHAT THAT BALANCE LOOKS LIKE.

HOW WOULD, HOW WOULD THAT SET UP? EASE OF TAKE THAT POLLING AND, AND GO FROM THERE FROM, I HAVE A JOB BALANCING THINGS IS SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE OTHER PEOPLE, TELLING THEM IT'S OKAY TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.

YOU GET, YOU GOTTA BE LEADERS FOR ALL, NOT JUST YOUR OWN PERSONAL VIEW.

WE'RE ABLE TO DO IT TODAY.

CAUSE I'M SURE THAT'S GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION TOO.

HOW CAN WE HAVE PERSONAL PAGES LIKE THIS OR LEAVE GOING TO ALLOW IN-PERSON AND DINING AND OTHER THINGS, BUT JUST US.

I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND EVEN LIMITED TO STAFF WHO DOESN'T NEED TO BE THERE, BUT IF WE CAN PUT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE, BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WE'RE GOING TO BE IN COVID FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WRONG RIGHT NOW? WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? THAT'D BE CAN'T WE BE MEETING YOU TALKING ABOUT RADIO TODAY.

FOR THE LAST YEAR WE WERE MEETING ON ZOOM.

DID WE LOSE ANYTHING? DID ANY WE LEFT? DID WE LEAVE ANYTHING UNDONE? I THINK YOU DO LOSE

[04:40:01]

SOMETHING.

UH, BUT AGAIN, I'M IN NO HURRY.

I THINK THESE NUMBERS, WE HAVE TO WATCH THEM THROUGH JANUARY THROUGH FEBRUARY.

I THINK WHEN MARCH AND APRIL ROLL AROUND, YOU KNOW, THE VACCINES BEING RAMPED UP WE'LL KNOW A WHOLE LOT MORE IN MARCH AND APRIL WHEN TO MAKE THIS TYPE OF DECISION.

BUT I DO THINK WE LOSE A LOT.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE BRAINSTORMING IS AS GOOD.

THE IDEAS ARE PITCHED OUT.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE FROZEN.

THEY DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO SPEAK UP AND TALK OVER EACH OTHER.

AND UH, THERE'S JUST A LOT LOSS.

YOU CAN'T SEE THE EMOTIONS.

UM, I, I FEEL LIKE I LOSE A LOT FROM THAT PROCESS MYSELF.

THAT'S JUST ME, BUT, UM, THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR, I DO AGREE.

I MEAN, I SAW A GROUP OF FOUR OR FIVE OVER HERE AND THERE WAS A GROUP, BUT SOME COUNCIL THAT ARE TWO FEET APART RIGHT THERE.

BUT IF WE ALSO, WE DON'T EAT DRINK.

AND I THINK I DO THE SAME THING FOR, I, I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO QUESTION WHY SOMEONE DOESN'T SHOW UP OR WHY SOMEONE DOES SHOW UP BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR PERSONAL HEALTH, UM, AT THE FOREFRONT.

AND, BUT I LOVE THIS.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

JUST AN EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, DAN AND I, AND HIM, AREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE ON THIS SONG RESERVE.

I WOULD'VE JUST IT OUT AND NOT LISTEN TO IT.

BUT THEN HERE I LOOK AT YOU AND I'LL LISTEN AND I'M TRYING, YOU KNOW, I'M UNDERSTANDING I I'D DO THE SAME.

I PERSONALLY LIKED THIS.

AND I LIKE TO BE MORE THINGS, MORE EXPEDIENT.

I MEAN, I DO KIND OF AGREE WITH FRED TOO.

WE CAN'T, WE'VE GOT TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH.

IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO DO ALL THE SAME THING AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN, THEN WE KIND OF HAVE TO PRACTICE IT TOO.

YOU KNOW WHAT I, NOW, IF THINGS STARTED GETTING, GOING DOWN AND YOU KNOW, THE, THE, WE SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I'D MUCH RATHER BE THIS WAY WITH NO MAP AND CLOSE, BUT WE JUST DID IT TODAY.

I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO BE AWARE.

WE JUST DID IT TODAY.

AND WE ALL ARE.

WE'RE A LITTLE NERVOUS NOW YOU DIDN'T SEE ME AROUND THE TABLE WHEN PEOPLE WERE SEEING THAT THERE WAS SOME STILL NOT GOING TO BE AROUND THEM, BUT WE DID.

WE DID DO IT.

LET'S JUST FOLLOW WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING.

UM, MARTIN, I'M FINE.

NEXT MONTH, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST START FOLLOWING.

I'LL TELL YOU, THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD JUST PASSED THEIR MASS COORDINATES ONLY FOR 30 DAYS.

I WANT Y'ALL WE HAVE THAT COMING UP ON FEBRUARY, THIS AGENDA AND WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.

IT ENDED MARCH 31ST.

SO WHAT WOULD THAT HAVE PUT IT FEBRUARY? SO THEY DO 60 DAYS.

SO THEY DID DO 60 DAYS.

SO THAT'LL, THAT'LL FALL WITHIN FEBRUARY.

HOW TO WE'RE MONITORING OTHER TOWNS ON THAT AS WELL.

SO JUST A THOUGHT.

I JUST LIKE TALKING TO Y'ALL ABOUT IT.

DID WE ADJOURN TERRY? THANK YOU.

WE GOT LEGAL ADVICE TODAY.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO GIVE US? STAY SAFE? STAY WELL.

WHERE ARE YOU HELPING EACH OTHER HELP EACH OTHER? AND THIS WAS OUR LAST SHOT WITH MARK.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND I'M NOT GOING TO NOT SEE YOU.

I KNOW THAT.

AND SO BECAUSE WE HAVE BETTER PARKS, SO I KNOW YOU'LL BE BACK OVER HERE WITH YOUR KIDS.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TALL.

VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT.