Feb 01, 2021 Community Services Committee

[00:00:02]

CALL

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THAT? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

UM, WHO IS, UH, IS BRENDA TIFFANY OR SARAH COORDINATING THIS MEETING? WHO'S THAT? BRENDA? BRENDA.

OKAY.

BROWN IS SO

[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]

YES, SIR.

IT HAS.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THE MEETING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, I WILL, UH, MOVE THAT ALONG WITHOUT EXCEPTION, ANYONE TO TAKE EXCEPTION TO THAT APPROVAL HEARING NONE, THE AGENDA IS APPROVED AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HAVE A MOTION TO

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- DECEMBER 7, 2020]

SOME OF THEM IS THE CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I NEED A SECOND, SECOND MISS CHAIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I MOVE THAT ALONG AS WELL.

FOR APPROVAL, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE MINUTES BEING APPROVED DURING NONE? THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER 7TH MEETING ARE APPROVED.

WE HAVE TODAY, UH, BEFORE US, UH, SOME PRESENTATION ITEMS, SOME DISCUSSION ITEMS, SOME ACTION ITEMS AND SOME, UM, CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS MEETING, UH, WE'LL DEAL WITH THE PRESENTATION ITEMS AND BOTH OF THOSE WILL BE HANDLED, UH, AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENT.

SO A COLONEL FOOT, WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE US AN INTRODUCTION, UH, AND ALSO AN INTRODUCTION OF THE SPEAKERS PLEASE? GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, THANK YOU.

AND I'D BE HAPPY TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST

[6. ANIMAL SERVICES UPDATE 2020]

OUR SENATOR WILL BE TOLULA TRICE MCGEE.

HE IS OUR DIRECTOR OF OUR ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

AND WHAT IS SHE BE BRINGING FORWARD IS AN UPDATE OF OUR YEAR END REPORT FOR THE ANIMAL SERVICES.

IT WILL BE OPPOSITES.

IT WILL NOT BE A FULL REPORT.

UM, WE'LL BE KEEPING WITHIN A TIME LIMIT.

SO TILL THE LITTLE WE'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE, UH, HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR AND, UH, I HOPE YOU ENJOY HER PRESENTATION AND IT'S YOURS.

IT'S MINE NOW.

HELLO, TALULAH.

IT'S ALL YOURS.

HELLO? HOW ARE YOU? I GUESS, ARE THEY GOING TO SHOW THE PRESENTATION THAT YOU LIKE? MY POSTER, BRITTANY SEEMS LIKE THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

DID YOU DO THAT? NO.

THIS FRIEND OF OURS IS NOTED.

SPELL IS NEUTER SPELLED, RIGHT.

AND I GUESS WHO'S CHANGING THE PAGES.

UH, BRENDA IS PROBABLY DOING THAT.

I HAVE IT UP.

JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU READY TO START AND I CAN CHANGE IT FOR YOU.

OKAY.

OKAY.

WE, AND I'LL JUST SAY, OKAY.

NEXT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO OVERPOPULATION IS Y'ALL KNOW, I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, UM, THIS IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING.

AND IF Y'ALL, HAVEN'T BEEN HERE TO SEE THE SPAY-NEUTER FACILITY, YOU NEED TO.

SO WE CONTINUE TO SPAN NEUTER OVER 5,000 ANIMALS IN 2020 WITH COVID.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE.

NOT AS MUCH AS WHAT WE'D WANT, BUT WE ARE GAINING STRENGTH BACK AND THOSE NUMBERS, AND, AND AGAIN, WITH THE FERAL CATS, WE SPAY AND NEUTER, YOU KNOW, 2000 A YEAR WITH FERAL CATS.

SO THAT POPULATION IS ALSO DECREASING, WHICH YOU'LL SEE BY DOING SPAYING AND NEUTERING.

IT DECREASES EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE NEXT PAGE.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT, I JUST THOUGHT IT'D BE INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE 10 LOOK AT BACK 10 YEARS AGO, OUR INTAKE IN 2010 WAS 4,632, UH, 2020 WE'RE AT 2,502, AND THAT'S 2,130 LISTS ANIMALS ENTERING OUR SHELTERS.

THAT'S 54% DECREASE.

THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF SPAIN, NEW DRINK, ALL OF IT.

I MEAN, WE, WE RARELY SEE PUPPIES IN OUR SHELTER.

UM, IT'S RARE.

AND YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE, WHO STILL HAVE THE PIT BULL SITUATION PROBLEM, HIDDEN SEASON.

UM, WHEN IS BAD

[00:05:01]

SO IT'S, IT'S JUST AMAZING.

WHAT HILTON HAD YOU MADE IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS DOING WITH SPAYING AND NEUTERING THIS COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING IT? WE PICK THEM UP.

WE, UM, THE COST IS $25.

SO OUR JOB IS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY, UM, NET EUTHANASIA.

NOBODY LIKES IT, BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF IT IS AGGRESSION.

WE DON'T.

OUR FIRST THING IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

UH, 2010, THEY USE AN AS 286, 200 OR 2,862 ANIMALS.

AND IN 2020 WEEDS AND AS 330.

SO THEY USE, AND I WAS 62%.

WE SAID I WAS ABOUT 13%.

UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR JOB IS PREVENTION.

OKAY.

AND THEN LAB RELEASE LAB RELEASE MEANS THE ANIMALS THAT LEAVES THE SHELTER.

THEY'RE NOT HOUSED HERE.

WE'RE NOT HOARDING ANIMALS HERE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ADOPT IT ARE GOING TO RESCUES AND GETTING ADOPTED.

SO THE LAB RELEASED 10 YEARS AGO, WAS IT DAILY, 1,139, BUT 32% OF THEIR ANIMALS LEFT THE LAB OUT OF THE SHELTER AND BUFORD COUNTY.

AND NOW IN 2020, 89%.

AND WE TRY TO BE IN THE 90 PERCENTILE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF FERAL CATS THAT ARE TESTING POSITIVE FOR FIV PREVENTION, NOT THE GREATEST PICTURE, BUT WITH COVID WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN DOG BITES BECAUSE I THINK MORE PEOPLE ARE OUTSIDE JOGGING.

UM, MORE KIDS ARE RUNNING AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SO THAT'S INCREASED.

SO OUR JOB IS ANIMAL CONTROLS TO PREVENT NOT ONLY DOG BITES, BUT THEN PREVENT CRUELTY.

WE PREVENT DISEASE.

WE TRY TO PREVENT AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THAT IS AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING WE ALL HELP AND PREVENT HOARDERS AS WELL, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT IS ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS.

THE BEDS THING THAT WE DID, THE BRITTANY WOULD AGREE.

WE ARE SAYING AT A COURT, UH, OVER, SO GOING TO COURT, MOST OF THAT'S BITE CASES, UM, YOU KNOW, IN DANGEROUS DOG CITATIONS, BUT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF THAT WE WASTED, TAXPAYER'S TIME SITTING IN COURT, IT'S A PARKING TICKET, BUT WE'RE THERE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

FIRST, IF IT'S NOT FIXABLE, THEY GET A CITATION.

AND, AND SO AGAIN, THIS HAS MADE THINGS SO MUCH SMOOTHER AND ESPECIALLY DURING COUSIN, WE DON'T, I MEAN, COURTS ARE BACKED UP AS, AS WELL.

SO THIS HAS HELPED US OUT, JUST CONTINUE TO DO OUR WORK AND NOT JUST BUILD UP CASES NEXT.

AND THEY'RE EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE.

SO THEN I LEARNED WHEN I PLAYED VOLLEYBALL IN HIGH SCHOOL, HIS TEAM.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER, UM, WE'RE DOING AMAZING.

UH, HILTON HEAD TOOK OVER THE SHELTERING ASPECT.

THEY'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB.

UH, IT'S JUST, IT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP AND WE COULDN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY ELSE NEXT.

THE, AGAIN, WE'RE DEALING WITH DISEASE, WHICH IS HEARTWORM.

MOST OF OUR ANIMALS ARE COMING UP HEARTWORM POSITIVE.

THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO TREAT WHICH HILTON HEAD YOU MADE TO DOING.

ALSO, THE LENGTH OF STAY IS LONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR FOUR MONTHS TO GET TRADED.

SO WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP TO EDUCATE ABOUT DISEASE BECAUSE IT'S SO PREVENTIVE.

UM, YOU CAN GO NEXT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE, THE VIRUSES THAT ARE CONTAGIOUS, LIKE THE HORSES THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A POSITIVE HORSE IN THIS COUNTY.

OUR JOB IS TO WORK AND FIGURE OUT WHERE ALL THESE HORSES ARE AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY AGAIN, PREVENT IT CAUSE IT'S A VACCINE THAT CAN PREVENT THIS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S DEADLY TO HUMANS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED WORK ON NEXT BRAIN UP ALL THE TIME.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT RABIES IN THIS COUNTY WITH RACCOONS BECAUSE NOBODY'S IN, NOBODY'S HUNTING THEM.

UM, THE ONLY WAY RACCOONS ARE DYING IN THIS COUNTY AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY MUNICIPALITIES THAT DON'T ALLOW, YOU KNOW, A GUN FIRING AND HUNTING.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING THEM MULTIPLY, MULTIPLY.

THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE DYING IS RABIES AND DISTEMPER, WHICH IS NOT GOOD BECAUSE THEY'RE EATING WITH OTHER ANIMALS AND THEN THEY, THOSE ANIMALS COME IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE.

SO AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO GET ON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE NEXT.

AND THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT THAT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER, YOU PUT IT OUT AND, YOU KNOW, AND SHERIFF, UH, TANNER, YEAH.

HE SAID, HE'D HELP US, PJ TANNER AND HELP US DISTRIBUTE IT TO, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO, BUT COVID HIT RIGHT WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY MEETING, TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HOPEFULLY GET BACK INTO THAT.

YES, SIR.

IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY SOUTHERN.

YOU CAN DROP IT SAFE FOR PETS THAT THEY DO IT IN GEORGIA.

THEY DO IT IN ALABAMA.

UM, THEY'RE DOING IT ALL OVER AND THEY'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN RABIES AND IT'S REALLY TO TARGET THE WILDLIFE CAUSE OUR FOXES ARE POSITIVE.

OUR RACCOONS ARE POSITIVE ALL IN THIS COUNTY THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE NUMBERS.

YOU MIGHT SEE 20 POSITIVE RABIES, POSITIVE CASES AND BEAUTIFUL CAMP ON D HECK, BUT I ONLY TOOK IN 20 TO GET TESTED.

SO WE'RE LOOKING

[00:10:01]

IF I TOOK IN A HUNDRED, I GUARANTEED, YOU KNOW, 90% OF THOSE WILL BE POSITIVE AS WELL.

OKAY.

NEXT AND THAT IS IT QUICKLY? WELL, THAT WAS REMARKABLE.

UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE DO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING OVER THE DECADE TO REDUCE ALL OF THOSE TRAGEDIES WITH REGARD TO, UM, UH, EUTHANASIA AND, UH, UM, YOUR PROGRAM TO RELEASE LIVE ANIMALS BACK OUT REALLY REMARKABLE.

UM, I HA I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BITES, UM, THAT YOU SAY ARE INCREASING.

ARE THOSE FARM ANIMALS AT LARGE OR ARE THEY ANIMALS ON LEASHES, BRITTANY? HELLO, UNMUTE YOURSELF, BRITTANY, I GUESS SHE'S MUTED.

ANYWAY, MOST OF HER OTHER YOU ARE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO INTO OUR BITE CASES THAT HAVE GONE UP? UM, I BELIEVE THE BIKE CASES LIKE TO LIST THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN AT HOME.

SO, UM, I WOULD SAY WITHOUT ANY TRUE NUMBERS THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE WHEN SOMEBODY HAS OPENED A DOOR BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NORMALLY AT HOME DURING THE DAY, BUT THEY OPEN A DOOR AND THEIR DOGS GET OUT.

WELL, NOW THERE'S SO MANY GOING DOWN THE STREET ON THEIR BICYCLE OR WALKING WITH THEIR, THEIR KIDS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

UM, I, UNFORTUNATELY, I, I, I THINK IT'S MORE OF A COINCIDENCE THAN, UM, THE DOWNFALL OF EVERYBODY BEING AT HOME DUE TO COVID.

UM, I HAVE NOT SEEN AS MANY CASES PROVIDE AS SOMEBODY WHO IS WALKING A DOG ON A LEASH AND SOMETHING OCCURS.

UM, I THINK IT'S MORE SITUATIONAL AT THIS POINT DELIVERY DRIVERS, YOU KNOW, CAUSE NOW EVERYBODY'S ORDERING MORE.

SO WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT UPS DRIVERS, MALE LADIES ARE GETTING BIT.

SO, YEAH, BECAUSE THAT WOULD LEAD TO WHAT I SAYING, OPENING A DOOR.

I HAVE HAD TWO OR THREE CASES, WHICH I'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE WHEREBY DELIVERY ONE FEDEX, ONE UPS, IRONICALLY THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, BOTH HAD INSTANCES OCCUR BECAUSE SOMEBODY OPENED A DOOR TO RECEIVE A PACKAGE, WHICH TYPICALLY THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

UM, SO THAT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

ARE THESE A BITE INCIDENCES THEN PROGRESSING TO MAGISTRATE'S COURT FOR ANY REASON? YES THEY ARE.

AND IS THIS THE CASE WHERE A DOG IS THEN CONSIDERED TO BE A DANGEROUS DOG? IS THERE A HEARING ASSOCIATED WITH THAT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND BOY HAVE THE INCIDENCES OF DOGS BEING DECLARED DANGEROUS DOGS INCREASED AS WELL.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY INCREASED A LITTLE, YOU WOULD HAVE MORE THAN THE NUMBERS ON THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

I'VE ONLY BEEN HANDLING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

YEAH.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS MANY DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN DEEMED DANGEROUS.

IT BECAUSE IT'S A BIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME ESTIMATE.

UM, BUT YEAH, IT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY GOTTEN QUITE BUSY AND, YOU KNOW, DURING THIS, WELL, THAT'S TOO BAD BECAUSE THAT NEVER HAS A GOOD OUTCOME FOR ANYBODY WHEN, UH, THAT HAPPENS, PARTICULARLY THE DOG OWNER.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR CHOICES ARE WITH REGARD TO THE CONFINEMENT AND EXPENSIVE INSURANCE AND BOXING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THEY CHOOSE AN EASIER PATH FOR THEM AND NOT FOR THE DOG.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD ADD THOUGH, THE OFFICERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB AT USING DISCRETION ON WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURS AND, UM, WHETHER IT BE SOMETHING MINOR OR BETWEEN TWO DOGS, THERE HAS BEEN DISCRETION MADE, UM, THE CASES THAT HAVE GONE TO COURT.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE, UM, THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT INJURY.

THAT'S WHERE WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE THOSE.

YEAH.

OKAY.

UH, JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OTHERS, THE, UH, DISEASE PREVENTION ACTIVITY YOU HAVE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ENGAGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

UH, THAT SOUNDS REALLY IMPORTANT WITH REGARD TO REDUCING THE INCIDENTS OF RABIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, DO YOU NEED ANY THING ELSE FROM ANYONE ON COUNCIL OR THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO HELP YOU WITH THAT PARTICULAR PROGRAM? BECAUSE TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, IT IS INFILL.

YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF OF PHIL AND I MET WITH THE, UM, THAT THE DRUG COMPANY THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES US.

WE HAVE BROCHURES THAT WE'VE PASSED OUT.

AND I THINK AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE MONEY.

I THINK PHIL PHIL WAS SO THIN.

AND SO YOU CAN SAY, IF YOU'RE NOT, IS IT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH D HECK SHOULD.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM TO SPEARHEAD IT, CAUSE THIS IS THEIR, UM, WHAT THEY FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, BUT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO START THIS PROGRAM AND THEN MAYBE THE STATE WILL GET, UM, MAYBE CONTINUE

[00:15:01]

THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY.

LET ME TURN THIS OVER TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR TULA COLONEL FOOT? MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.

UM, UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE, UM, PREVENTION, UM, FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, INCLUDING THE RABIES, UH, BUT YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE HEARTWORM AND BESIDE VECTOR CONTROL THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING.

WHAT ARE THE METHOD OF, UH, CONTROLLING FOR HEARTWORMS? UM, DO YOU HAVE, OR IS NEEDED OR CAN BE DONE, UM, FOR PREVENTION? WELL, WE, YOU KNOW, ONE THING IS, AND I, I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO THIS, BUT I HAVEN'T IS THAT, YOU KNOW, PREVENTION WITH, UM, HEARTWORMS OF COURSE, MOSQUITO CONTROL IS A KEY COMPONENT IN THIS AND THEN AS WELL, THERE'S A, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT A VET, SO I CAN'T PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE, BUT WE DO HAVE A VET THAT HAS A MOBILE UNIT THAT IS WILLING TO GO OUT AND, UM, UH, TEST THESE ANIMALS TO SEE IF THEY AREN'T WORMS AND THEY GIVE THEM AN ALTERNATE ROUTE TO TREAT OR TO PREVENT IT.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT PREVENTED, IT'S VERY COSTLY.

IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD THAT THERE IS A CHEAPER ROUTE.

AND I CAN'T SAY THAT CAUSE I'M NOT A VET, BUT HE'S WILLING TO GO INTO THE RURAL COMMUNITIES AND HELP ME EXPLAIN HOW THEY CAN DO IT FOR FAR LESS, YOU KNOW, DOLLAR THAN THE HEARTGARD YOU BUY THE VET.

SECONDLY, WE DO HAVE PRIVATE MONEY THAT WE USE FOR BUILDING FENCES, UM, THAT GOING BACK TO THE BITE, WHICH I FORGOT TO DO, BUT WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BUILT A FENCE ON SPANISH MOSS TRAIL IS Y'ALL KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE HEARD THE, THE DIP BOWL SITUATION THAT WERE DOWN AT THE POPPY HILL.

I HAD A DONOR PAY FOR THE FENCE SCENE, UM, AROUND THE SPANISH TRAIL TWO LOCATIONS.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S ALSO HELPING PREVENT.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE GIVING MORE MONEY, UM, TO HELP PREVENT DISEASE AND TO PREVENT, UM, BITES.

SO BECAUSE WE'LL GET ENOUGH MONEY THROUGH PRIVATE DONORS TO GO OUT AND HELP THE RURAL COMMUNITY PREVENT HEARTWORM DISEASE.

THAT'S OUR GOAL.

THANK YOU.

ANYTHING ELSE, LOGAN? UM, HI.

HOW ARE YOU AT FIRST? I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER MET YOU.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

UM, AND I COULD BE OUT OF LINE WITH THIS QUESTION.

IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THE RIGHT MEETING.

SO FORGIVE ME IF IT IS, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT WAS MOSQUITO CONTROL.

UM, I KNOW THAT WE DO, UM, FLY OVER, UM, FOR LIKE MOSQUITO CONTROL.

DO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THIS YEAR AND THE UPCOMING YEAR AS WELL FOR THAT? UM, WITH IT SUPPOSED TO BE MORE OF A WET SEASON.

OKAY.

COLONEL FOOT, DO YOU HA YOU HAVE A MOSQUITO CONTROL SECTION WITHIN THE VINEYARD OVERSIGHT? WILL THEY BE COMING IN TO GIVE US A REPORT ON THEIR PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR? YOU'RE MUTED FELT FAILURE, MUTED IT'S OKAY.

NOPE.

HOPEFULLY IT'LL STAY MUTED THIS TIME.

UM, COUNCILMAN COUN, UH, WHEN THE DICK DID A LITTLE RESTRUCTURE, MOSQUITO CONTROL WAS MOVED OVER TO, UM, PUBLIC WORKS, BUT I CAN OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I CAN TELL YOU REAL QUICK THAT, UM, THERE IS, UM, ALWAYS A PLAN PLANET, MOSQUITO CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPRAYING THE COUNTY.

UM, FOR THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE NOT HAD A MOSQUITO CONTROL.

PILOT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I PROBABLY HAVE NOT HEARD MOSQUITO CONTROL FLYING, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ONE ON, ON BOARD HERE BEFORE THE SPRING STARTS AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE AIR, BUT THE GROUND SPRAYING CONTINUES AND, UM, ALL THE OTHER PREVENTATIVE MEASURES THAT WE TAKE WHEN WE'RE SPRAYING, UM, AND ALSO ROBBING, UH, THE TABLETS THAT GO INTO THE STORM WATER DRAINS TO, UH, STOP THE BREEDING OF THE MOSQUITOES BEFORE THEY COME OUT.

SO, YES.

UM, WE DO HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT.

OKAY, THANKS.

UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM, WE CAN GET, UH, THE MOSQUITO CONTROL PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY BACK TO A FUTURE MEETING AND THEY CAN GIVE US A VERY EXTENSIVE REPORT ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THEY EXPECT TO DO, BUT, UM, WE DIDN'T, UH, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT NORMALLY IS CONTROLLED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

WE CAN GET THEM IN, WE CAN GET THEM IN FOR ANOTHER MEETING.

ANYONE ELSE, ANYONE ELSE PRESENT ON THE MEETING THAT HAS A QUESTION FOR TALULA OR FOR A PHIL FOOT CHAIRMAN? YEP.

ARE WE JUST MISSING A PILOT OR THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR AIRCRAFT SOMERVILLE, DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO DO THE MOSQUITO CONTROL QUESTIONS THAT ARE MORE APPROPRIATE

[00:20:01]

THAT'D BE OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE ANIMAL CONTROL PRESENTATIONS, TALULAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS USUAL.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB.

UH, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY.

WHO'S LISTENING TO STOP BY AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE GROUP OUT THERE WHO DO EXTRAORDINARY WORK ON ROUTE TO A ONE 70 WITH THAT NEW FACILITY THAT'S OUT THERE.

AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO VISIT, BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO LEAVE WITHOUT TAKING A PET HOME.

SO I'LL WARN YOU ABOUT THAT.

OKAY.

THANKS.

THANKS PHIL.

BYE FELLOW.

WOULD YOU DO THE INTRODUCTION FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER POLICE? YES, SIR.

I'D BE HAPPY TO, AND AGAIN, TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.

UM,

[7. 14TH CIRCUIT COURT PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE UPDATE]

UM, SO I WILL ALLOW HER TO, UH, GIVE US THE PRESENTATION I CAN FEEL AND WELCOME.

STEPHANIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CARVING OUT SOME TIME TO SPEND THESE FEW MINUTES WITH US, GIVING US A SUMMARY OF HOW IT'S GOING OVER THERE.

WE'RE VERY ANXIOUS TO HEAR YOUR REPORT.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.

AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME LAST YEAR, YOU APPROPRIATED, UH, AN INCREASE OF 700,000.

WE TOLD YOU THAT WE WANTED TO HIRE A SOCIAL WORKER FOR A TERM ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE, AND ALSO WORK ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE DID, WE HIRED, WE RE CLASSIFIED THE POSITION FROM SOCIAL WORKER TO SENTENCING SPECIALIST.

AND I DID THAT UPON CONSULTATION WITH THE DORCHESTER COUNTY PUBLIC CIRCUIT, PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, AND ALSO WITH COLUMBIA.

SO SHE IS A SENTENCING SPECIALIST AND SHE HAS BEEN AT WORK NOW, UH, FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

I BELIEVE HER STAFF INCLUDES WHAT ACTUALLY DOES, UH, WHAT I CALL A MITIGATION ATTORNEY AS WELL, AND ALSO AN ADMIN INVESTIGATOR FOR WHAT WE LABELED OUR MITIGATION TEAM.

THAT TEAM GAVE ME A REPORT AND THEY NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 11 CASES, FOUR OF WHICH ARE MURDERS.

I'M SORRY.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE ARE MURDERS TO ARCH DRUG TRAFFICKING CASES TO CHILD ABUSE CASES AND BURGLARY CASES.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IS THEY'VE BEEN GOING IN THE COMMUNITY AND RESEARCHING AND INVESTIGATING AND TRYING TO GET INFORMATION TO MITIGATE THE SENTENCE THAT THEY, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE.

JUDGE MULLEN HAS, UM, REALLY APPRECIATED THE WORK THAT OUR MITIGATION AND SENTENCING TEAM HAS DONE.

AND SHE IS ACTUALLY, I THINK WE HAD A CLIENT THAT WAS LOOKING AT 45 YEARS TO LIFE, AND THAT CLIENT WAS ACTUALLY SENTENCED 20 YEARS ON A GUILTY PLEA.

WE ALSO ASKED YOU FOR FUNDS FOR WHAT WE CALL OUR BOND COURT TEAM.

WE HIRED TWO ATTORNEYS TO ASSIST IN BOND COURT.

SO EVERY DAY, WELL, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, THEY'RE AT THE MAGISTRATE OFFICE FOR BOND COURT TWICE A DAY.

THEY ALSO HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND, UM, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE OF 44% IN THE CASES THAT WE'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT CREATED THE PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO GO TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO BE APPOINTED.

SO THEY'RE APPOINTED ON THE SPOT BY THE MAGISTRATE.

A BOND TO BOND ATTORNEYS ARE AVAILABLE TO REPRESENT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO HAVE A PUBLIC DEFENDER DURING BOND HEARINGS.

WE'VE SEEN A REDUCE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN, UM, DETAINED PRETRIAL BECAUSE OF THESE TWO ATTORNEY'S PRESENCE.

AND THE MAGISTRATES HAVE HAD RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT HOW EASY THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN AND HOW MUCH EASIER IT IS FOR THEM TO SET A REASONABLE BOND FOR PEOPLE.

WE, UM, DUFFY'S NOT HAPPY WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, UM, I STOLE TWO OF HIS, THREE OF HIS ATTORNEYS.

SO I'VE HIRED, UH, TWO ADDITIONAL GENERAL SESSIONS ATTORNEYS TO WHICH I, UM, I HIRED FROM THE SOLICITOR AND, UM, ONE VIOLENT AND TWO VIOLENT CRIMES ATTORNEYS.

SO WE'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL WITH OUR CASE NUMBERS.

NOW ON THE ATTORNEYS AREN'T COMPLAINING ABOUT BEING OVERWORKED, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO RETAIN A FEW ATTORNEYS BY GIVING THEM RAISES.

SO WE HAVE DONE EXTREMELY WELL IN, IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, THE OFFICE OF INDIGENT DEFENSE DID TELL THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE LEGISLATIVE

[00:25:01]

AND THEY WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED AND WANTED ME TO PASS ON HOW APPRECIATIVE THEY WERE TO THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTY COUNCIL.

AND THEY ASKED ME TO SEND A STATEWIDE, UM, EMAIL OUT TO LET THE OTHER COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW WHAT BUFORD COUNTY HAS DONE.

SO YOU DID SET A PRECEDENT.

I BELIEVE RICHLAND COUNTY AND BUFORD COUNTY HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS WITH THEIR ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS FOR OUR OFFICE.

SO AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

WE DID.

UM, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PURCHASE EVIDENCE.COM, WHICH IS WHAT THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE USES, AND THAT HAS HELPED TREMENDOUSLY WITH US BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE DISCOVERY IN A TIMELY MANNER.

THE TRANSITION IS EASY.

I DID HIRE ONE ADMIN WHO RECEIVES ALL THE DISCOVERY FOR THE OFFICE AND SHE DISTRIBUTED, DISTRIBUTES THAT DISCOVERY TO THE OTHER ATTORNEYS IN THE OFFICE.

SO WE HAVE SPENT OUT OF THE 700,000, UM, ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE.

WE HAVE SPENT ALL EXCEPT FOR ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

I SAY THAT'S A REMARKABLE REPORT.

UH, I, UH, I WAS, UH, I'M SO HAPPY TO HEAR ALL OF THE THINGS YOU'VE SAID.

YOU'VE BEEN EXTREMELY BUSY AND I THINK NEED TO BE CONGRATULATED HEARTILY, PARTICULARLY FOR SOLVING WHAT I HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO IN A PREVIOUS LIFE WITH REGARD TO SOME DEFICIENCIES, WITH THE PRESENCE OF PUBLIC DEFENDERS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ANY WHERE THEY WERE OVERWORKED OR THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO BE WHERE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT ASSISTANCE.

SO I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE WITH THIS.

AND I OFFERED MY HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO QUESTIONS FROM ANY OF THE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, COMMENTS, OBSERVATIONS, YOUR, UH, YOUR MS. CHAIRMAN.

I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

UM, UH, STEPHANIE, I AM, IT WAS REALLY A PLEASURE HEARING WHAT YOU REPORT.

SO I WANT TO JUST ECHO WHAT, UH, THE CHAIRMAN SAYS, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

HEARING NOTHING ELSE.

UH, WE EXTEND OUR, THANKS TO STEPHANIE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME OUT OF I'M SURE WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY BUSY SCHEDULE TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH US, AND WE PROBABLY WILL NOT SEE YOU AGAIN UNTIL THE BUDGET SEASON STARTS AGAIN.

AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT YOUR PROGRESS THERE AS WELL.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

UM, WE'RE

[8. A DISCUSSION CONCERNING BEAUFORT COUNTY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY LIST]

YOU MAY ALL RECALL IT WAS A VERY LENGTHY PRESENTATION AT THE FULL COUNCIL MEETING WITH REGARD TO SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO CONSIDER WITH REGARD TO A PRIORITY LIST.

AND MR. ATKINSON IN COMMUNITY SERVICES HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE LIST THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH US HERE TODAY.

SO MR. ATKINSON, PLEASE GO RIGHT AHEAD.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE.

SO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY LIST IS UPDATED ANNUALLY, ANNUALLY COG AS A PREREQUISITE FOR A COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.

UP TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT HAD A FORMALIZED PROCESS TO ADD, TO, OR DELETE OR VET THIS LIST EVERY YEAR IT'S PUT TOGETHER LAST YEAR IN MAY, THERE WERE THREE VERY GENERAL ITEMS THAT CAME THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE, UH, THAT PROCESS WORKED.

BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO BY RECREATING THIS LIST IS FORMALIZE OUR PROCESS.

EVERY SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS READ THROUGH THE LIST.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE, UH, FOR THE COMMITTEE TO DO IS PROVIDE ME WITH FEEDBACK ON THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE LIST.

AND THEN MY PLAN IS TO, UH, VIA MEMO, SEND A FINALIZED LIST TO EL COG AND THEN CREATE A RESOLUTION.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR WE WOULD JUST MODIFY.

AND READOPT THE RESOLUTION EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT.

SO I'LL GO THROUGH THE LIST REAL QUICK.

AND I, THIS LIST SPECIFICALLY AFTER THE ITEMS THAT WERE ON THE PRESENTATION MADE BY HEALTH PROBLEM LAST MONTH, THE FIRST ONE IS PROVIDE NEW AND OR A QUANTIFIABLE PUBLIC SERVICE AND MATERIALS THAT WILL BENEFIT PRIMARILY BENEFIT AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME LMI VEGETABLES, AND ARE NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR RESPOND TO, OR PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COPE.

CORONAL.

THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PPE LISA FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, OTHER PROPERTIES NEEDED, UH, FOR PUBLIC SERVICE COVID-19 TESTING SUPPLIES, CONTACT TRACK, UH, TRACKING SOFTWARE, FOOD, PANTRIES, FOOD, DISTRIBUTION, AND DELIVERY FOR ELDERLY OR OTHER PRIMARILY LMI RESIDENTS, AFTERSCHOOL EDUCATION, ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, SENIOR SERVICES, ALTERATIONS, OR RETROFITTING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES

[00:30:01]

THIS INCLUDES HPAC AIR FILTRATION IMPROVEMENTS, EXPANSION TO OUR PUBLIC SPACES TO FACILITATE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND EQUIPMENT OR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO EXPAND OR IMPROVE INTERNET ACCESS.

THE SECOND ONE IS A DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS TO LMI NEIGHBORHOODS AS IDENTIFIED IN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OUR CAPITAL, THE CIP, UH, THREE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, AND SERVICES, OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT STRENGTHEN EXISTING QUALITY OF LIFE THAT COULD BE PARKING GARAGES, EVENT CENTERS, EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SAFETY, NUMBER FOUR, HOUSING PROGRAMS, UH, WATER AND SEWER HOOKUPS TO REPLACE FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND WELLS AND LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HOUSING REPAIR FOR LMI INCOME, UH, HOMEOWNERS, UH, FOR RENTAL UNITS OCCUPIED BY LOW AND MODERATE INCOME RENTERS PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE NEW AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING, UH, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO PROMOTE HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR LMI HOUSEHOLDS AND INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE INFILL HOUSING, NUMBER FIVE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY THAT CONTAINED LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND NUMBER SIX IS IMPROVEMENTS, UM, TO PUBLIC RECREATION FACILITIES THAT BENEFIT LOW AND MODERATE INCOME CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

UH, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR THESE ITEMS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR BASES ARE COVERED AND THAT WE CAPITALIZE ON ANY OPPORTUNITIES MOVING FORWARD.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SHARE NOW THAT YOU'VE TOLD US ALL OF THIS, UM, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THIS COMMITTEE TO DO WITH REGARD TO THAT LIST? OR WILL THIS LIST BE REWORKED FURTHER BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND BECOME A REALISTIC SUBMISSION, UH, FOR, UM, FOR GRANT PROPOSALS? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT DID YOU WANT, WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS LIST? WELL, I WANT YOUR INPUT THAT WHAT, YOU KNOW, TH THIS IS A LIST OF PRIORITIES AND NEEDS THAT IS ACCURATE TO THE COUNTY, AND THAT IS THAT THESE ARE PRIORITIES.

IF I AM MISSING ANYTHING, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADD IT.

UH, IF, IF YOU FEEL THAT ANY OF IT IS AN OVERREACH OR NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A PRIORITY TO THE COUNTY, I CAN REMOVE IT.

UM, JUST WANTING TO INCLUDE THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL IN THE DISCUSSION SO THAT WHEN WE SEND THIS LIST TO ELK HUB, UH, EVERYBODY GOT THEIR INPUT.

SO THEN WE WILL TAKE THIS ADVISEMENT.

WE WILL REVIEW IT AND CONSIDER WHAT WE CAN, HOW WE CAN, UM, IMPROVE IT OR LEAVE IT PRETTY MUCH THE WAY IT IS.

BUT I'M HEARING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE IT ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

SO THAT WOULD BE A RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO GET IT TO THEM IN THE FORMAT THAT YOU'VE PRESENTED IT TO US FOR THEIR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION AND FEEDBACK ON THEIR POSITION, ON THESE MATTERS.

WOULD THAT BE CORRECT? YES, SIR.

I WILL BE HAPPY TO, UH, TO DISTRIBUTE THAT.

WHAT, WHAT IS YOUR TIMEFRAME WITH REGARD TO THIS? SO THE DEADLINE FOR A FINALIZED LIST IS MARCH 1ST.

IT IS NOT A HARD AND FAST REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO DO TO FORMALIZE THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.

SO EVEN IF THE RESOLUTION TAKES PLACE AFTER MARCH 1ST THAT'S OF NO CONSEQUENCE, BUT THE, THE ACTUAL FINALIZED LIST IN THE FORM OF A MEMO, IT NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED AT ALCOCK BY MARCH.

OH, OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AT THE FULL COUNCIL, IS THIS THE COMPREHENSIVE LIST AND RESPONSE TO THAT, OR ARE THERE OTHER PORTIONS OF THIS COMING FROM OTHER SOURCES WITHIN THE COUNTY? SO THIS WOULD BE THE LIST.

THIS IS THE COMPREHENSIVE LIST IN RESPONSE TO ALCOHOL CONTRACT.

OKAY.

SO THEN I'LL DEFER THIS TO THE CHAIRMAN, UH, OF COUNCIL, MR. PASSMAN, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TO GO OUT? WOULD YOU LIKE THIS TO LEAVE THIS COMMITTEE AND THEN BE SENT OUT BY MR. ATKINSON TO THE FULL COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION? YEAH, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.

AND I THINK THAT AS PART OF OUR GOAL SETTING THAT BEGINS TOMORROW FOR OUR ANNUAL GOALS, THIS COULD BE ONE, ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, THAT'S PART AND PARCEL OF YOUR COMMITTEE SAYING THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH AND HOW WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.

AND THIS WILL BE PRIORITY NUMBER ONE, BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE BY MARCH 1ST.

OKAY, MR. UH, BUT I SEE A HAND UP SOMEWHERE FROM SOMEBODY ALICE NUMBER ONE REVOLVES AROUND COVID IS THAT HAVE SEPARATE FUNDING OR NOT, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, NORMALLY ALL THESE OTHER THINGS FIT UNDER THE CDBG

[00:35:01]

SO BASED ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS PROVIDED BY ELK CROP, THIS IS A NEW POOL OF MONEY WITH GAIN CDBG THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ON THIS LIST OF A LIST SO THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR IT.

IF, AND WHEN THOSE GRANTS BECOME A BID, THEN YOU WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT THIS COUNCIL WIDE AND SEE IF WE CAN ADD TO, OR, UM, UM, STREAMLINE, UH, SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE PROVIDED AND GET THIS TO YOU BY THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY AT THE LATEST, SO THAT YOU CAN GO OVER IT AGAIN.

YEAH.

SO I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.

SO TWO THROUGH SIX, HAVE, IT'S NOT A SEPARATE, IS THIS NEW MONEY BASED ON THE PRESENTATION, IT'S A FUND.

SO WHATEVER GRANTS COME OUT OF THE CDBG FUND FROM HUD, THESE WOULD BE THE, THE QUALIFIERS TO TAKE, TO GET MONEY FROM THAT FUND.

THEY'RE NOT, IT WOULD BE ALL THE SAME FUND.

OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

CHUCK.

WE WILL CLARIFY WITH DELL COG TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE TELLING IS CORRECT, BUT THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT IS, UM, PORTIONS OF THE CARES ACT AND SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WAS PROVIDED BY CONGRESS, UH, FREED UP MONEY FOR THESE PARTICULAR ITEMS. AND WE'RE DOING THIS LIST AS A RESULT OF THAT MONEY.

SO IN ADDITION TO GETTING THE LIST OF PRE I WOULD ASK, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHENEVER WE DO SEND THAT OUT, IF THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITHIN YOUR DISTRICT THAT FALL INTO ONE OR MORE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT THOSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE STAFF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH EVERY PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND THEIR PARTICULAR AREA OF THE COUNTY AS YOU ARE.

UH, IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC ISSUES, YOU WANT US TO RESEARCH AND PREPARE IN CASE GRANTS DO COME UP, THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT AS WELL.

SO WE WILL MAKE THIS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THE RETREAT DURING THE COMMUNITY SERVICES PRESENTATION.

UH, AGREED.

AND IN ANY TIME, UH, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEND I'M SURE SARAH OR WHOEVER'S ON HAS A COPY OF THIS ALREADY SO THAT WE CAN BRING THAT UP ON OUR SCREEN DURING THE RETREAT.

YES, YES, SIR.

MR. GLOVER.

YES.

MR. UM, WHEN YOU NUMBER FIVE, UM, STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS, UM, KIND OF HELPED ME WITH JUST STREET SCAPES.

UM, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THERE IS MY, MY CURVE, UH, GRASS CONSIDER A STREETSCAPE, MAYBE, UH, PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE CITY OF MEET FOR JUST COMPLETED A STREETSCAPE PROJECT ON GREENLAWN, UM, WHICH IS, UH, AT THE END OF BANNER STREET PROJECT.

AND BASICALLY THE STREETS, THE MAJOR COMPONENT IS TO FACILITATE THE AUSTRIAN ACCESS AND TO MAKE IT A SAY FOR HER SYMBOL PROJECT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY TOO? IS THIS SPECIFICALLY IN THE URBAN AREA? UH, WELL, THEY TYPICALLY LIKE TO HAVE, UH, A GROUP, UH, UH, A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT ARE GOING FROM ONE DESTINATION TO ANOTHER, SO IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A RURAL, RURAL DESTINATION, CATCH IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE JOE FRAZIER DRIVE OVER THERE WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING FORCED TO WALK IN THE ROADS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS.

SO THE STREETSCAPE IS INADEQUATE OVER THERE AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE GET SOME FUNDING TO ADDRESS THAT PARTICULAR NEED IN THAT COMMUNITY.

BECAUSE I THINK ALL OF US HAVE BEEN HEARING LATELY AND EMAILS FROM PEOPLE OVER THERE WHO ARE, UM, FREQUENTLY NOW TALKING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF JUST WALKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BECAUSE THERE IS NO SIDE OF THE ROAD.

SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND MR. ATKINSON, WOULD THAT BE A, AN APPROPRIATE THING TO CONSIDER? OKAY, THAT'D BE GREAT.

OKAY.

UH, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. ATKINSON? UH, UH, WE WILL MOVE THIS TO THE, UH, TO THE RETREAT AND, UH, WITH AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, AND THEN WE'LL ALL HAVE TO DIG IN AND DO SOME HOMEWORK ON THIS AND GET IT BACK TO, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE SO WE CAN ASSEMBLE WHATEVER EVERYONE'S SUGGESTIONS ARE AND GET IT BACK TO, UM, MR. ATKINSON, BY THE THIRD WEEK OF FEBRUARY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY NEED FOR A MOTION OR AN ACTION.

WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE AT THE RETREAT.

ANYONE DISAGREE WITH THAT? OKAY.

THANKS CHUCK.

THAT WAS A VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU SPENT ON THIS, UH, AS USUAL.

EXCELLENT WORK.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

UM, THE NEXT

[9. REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED WITH PRE-PURCHASE DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE PROPOSED NEW RIVERSIDE LIBRARY SITE]

[00:40:01]

WOULD YOU GIVE US THE INFORMATION ON THAT PLEASE? YES, SIR.

I'LL BE EITHER TO THE NUMEROUS SIDE LIBRARY PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE BUFORD COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN AND ON THE CIP RADAR FOR 11 YEARS, I THINK IT WAS ADDED IN 2010, A COMPLETE PRESENTATION ON THE PROJECT WAS MADE DURING THE AUGUST, 2019 COMMUNITY SERVICES MEETING.

IT WAS REFERRED BACK TO EXECUTIVE STAFF OR RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO PROCEED AND THAT INCLUDED, UH, A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY HOW THE PROJECT WOULD BE FUNDED.

THE PROJECT WAS PUT ON HOLD DURING 2020, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS IN IS NOW BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO REESTABLISH THE PROJECT AND LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR, UH, THE, THE NEXT STEPS.

THE FUTURE STEPS, A STAFF IS REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT PRE-PURCHASE DUE DILIGENCE ACTIVITIES FOR THE RIVERSIDE LIBRARY SITE.

AND, UH, THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000.

THESE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE SURVEY APPRAISAL AND A PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT.

THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS WOULD BE THE LIBRARY IMPACT VISA ACCOUNT.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GET ALL THIS INFORMATION, IF EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND IT'S IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNTY, UH, ENSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE AMOUNT THAT WE WOULD GO TO CONTRACT IS WHAT'S ON THE APPRAISAL AND SO FORTH.

WE WOULD LIKE TO CONDUCT A LAND SOMETIME LATE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, UH, BEGIN THE BUILDING DESIGN, UH, AND HAVE THAT COMPLETED POTENTIALLY LATE FALL.

AND THESE ARE, THESE ARE VERY SOFT, UH, TIMELINES, AND THEN POTENTIALLY, UH, START CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME SPRING OF 2022.

UH, SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, SIR.

UH, HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE IMPACT FEE FUND AT THE MOMENT, APPROXIMATELY $3.2 MILLION IN THIS WILL SHOW THE $30,000.

SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM.

OKAY, WELL, UH, QUESTIONS, ALICE.

UM, NOW MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A MOTION IF WE NEED IT, WE WILL NEED A MOTION BECAUSE I THINK THIS AMOUNT IS WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL.

AM I CORRECT? HOW THAT DENTIST PASSENGER? YES.

IT'S WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW BECAUSE IT'S LESS THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

OKAY, ALEX, GO AHEAD AND MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE MOTION, CAN I ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS? OH, SURE.

SORRY.

OH, YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE.

UM, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO HAVE, UM, UH, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WHERE I STAND ON THIS PROJECT, YOU KNOW, I'M FOR MOVING FORWARD, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IN YOUR REPORT THAT WE GET BACK AFTER THIS MOTION, IF IT PASSES, UM, CAN WE GET A BREAKDOWN OF THE COST PER ACRE ON THAT LAND AND WHAT WE HAVE USUALLY SPENT AND WHAT IT SHOULD BE GOING FOR? UM, OUR REASON FOR THAT BEHIND IT IS, UH, WITH SOME OF THE NUMBERS I HEARD BEFORE WERE A LOT HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL AVERAGE, UM, FROM THE SELLER.

UM, JUST WANTED TO SEE WHERE WE, UM, GO WITH THAT.

AND THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO SEE ON THE REPORT COMING BACK, I KNOW IT'S A LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW, W WE KNOW THAT A HOUSE MORE THAN JUST BOOKS.

IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH WIFI AND OTHER OUTREACHES.

IS THERE A WAY WE COULD GET A LIST OF ALL THE POSSIBLE USES OR A FEW OF THE OTHER USES FOR THAT BUILDING FOR THE COMMUNITY? UM, SO WE CAN GET THAT TO THE PUBLIC OF WHAT ALL THIS BUILDING WILL BE USED FOR.

YES, SIR.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE IT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION, CHUCK.

UM, YOU SAID THAT, UM, UH, THE, THE PROCESS IS GOING TO BE, ONCE WE SECURE THE LAND, THEN WE'LL BEGIN DESIGNING THE LIBRARY FACILITY ITSELF.

IS THAT THE WAY WE HAVE TO DO IT, OR CAN THE DESIGN OF THE LIBRARY THE DONE BEFORE THAT? SO I THINK THAT IT CAN BE DONE CONCURRENTLY.

UH, WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE DO IS MOVE TOO QUICK ON THE LAND, UH, UNTIL WE MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, WHAT THE DEVELOPER SAYS THAT THEY WILL DO IS SOME VIABLE AND CAN BE APPROVED, UH, THAT THERE ARE NO SURPRISES ENVIRONMENTALLY ON THE SITE THAT THE, UH, TO MR. CUNNINGHAM'S POINT, THAT THE APPRAISED VALUE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT IS A REASONABLE IN REFERENCE TO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE PROPERTY.

BUT, UH, AS FAR AS, UH, STARTING THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING THE BUILDING, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE COULDN'T MOVE THAT AHEAD CONCURRENTLY.

OKAY.

THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT, UM, UH, WE, WE BEGIN THE DESIGN

[00:45:01]

UH, HE HANDLES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, BUT, UM, JARED, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD.

NO, THAT'S ACCURATE.

UM, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GRIP RQ FOR THE DESIGN SERVICES, UM, TO START THE DESIGN SERVICES BEFORE WE HAVE SOME INDICATION AS A LAND PURCHASE.

UM, BUT DEFINITELY BEFORE WE HAD IT TEED UP, READY TO GO.

SO IF THAT DOES COME THROUGH, THEN, THEN WE'RE READY TO START ON.

YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T MEAN FOR US TO START IT TOMORROW, BUT, UM, AS WE PROCEED ALONG ONCE WE KNOW THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PIECE OF PROPERTY.

I KNOW THE CONTOUR OF THE PROPERTY HAS A DETERMINING FACTOR ABOUT WHERE THE BUILDING IS PLACED AND WHAT IT MAY LOOK LIKE.

BUT ONCE WE'RE ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE KNOW THIS IS THE PROPERTY, WE CAN BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS AND IT TAKES US SEVERAL MONTHS TO HAVE A GOOD TRANSIT PROCUREMENT PROCESS.

SO POTENTIALLY ALL THE, UH, LAND ACQUISITION COULD BE SORTED OUT.

AND DURING THAT FOUR MONTHS, WHILE WE'RE SETTING UP THE DESIGN ARCHITECT AND ENGINEER.