Feb 25, 2021 Finance Committee

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

. >> LET'S GO AHEAD AND CALL WE FINANCE ESPECIALLY FINANCE COMMITTEE TO ORDER. DOES EVERYONE IS PREPARED? THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2:00 P.M. AND IF EVERYONE CAN BE CALLING WORD MEETING TO ORDER, LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE. >> 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 PUBLIC PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED A COMPLIANT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM

OF INFORMATION ACT. >> IS THAT CORRECT? SARAH YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I WOULD ASK FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. AND AGAIN, VERY, VERY SHORT AGENDA RECOVERING ONE THING THE

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

MR. DAWSON IS OUR SECOND I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD . THE AGENDA HAS IS APPROVED. IS THERE ANY ONE THAT IS IN

DISSENT OF THE AGENDA? >> THE AGENDA HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED AND WHERE TO JUMP

[5. DISCUSSION OF 2020 AWARDS OF LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AND HOSPITALITY TAX]

RIGHT INTO THIS? >> AND I WANT TO HAVE HAYES KIND OF REAL QUICK FIRST BECOME OUR OUR RESIDENT EXPERT ON ALL THE TAX THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT. AND YOU HAYES IS ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR A YEAR OR SO. HE SAYS WE CAN OVER OVERALL THIS HAYES IF YOU COULD FIRST JUST SO EVERYONE I. MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE KNOW I HAD IT FIGURED OUT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENT POTS MONEY WHERE A TAX COMES FROM HERE.

TAX AS WELL. EXCUSE ME IF YOU COULD JUST REAL QUICK BEFORE WE DO EVERYTHING KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT SOMEONE HAS A BASIC UNDERSTANDING ANYONE'S ON LISTENING YET AT HOME. THAT'S THE SORT OF THING FALL HERE.

THEN YOU CAN HAVE A FLOOR AFTER . I'D BE HAPPY TO.

BASICALLY WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT WE ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD PORTED POTS OF MONEY BECAUSE WE HAVE ADMISSIONS FACTS TO DO WE HAVE TO STATE A COMBINATION STANCE WHICH IS GUIDED BY THE S GONE BAR MORE REVENUE AND THERE ADMITTED THE SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT IS THAT IS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THEY REVIEW ALL THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AND THE TO THEIR AWARDS THERE ON WHAT IS WHAT WE BELIEVED ON ON MONDAY FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL READING THAT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS AND THE ADDITIONAL 24 THEY HAVE THE LOCAL COMMON PROPERTY TAX AND THIS IS DERIVED FROM UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF B FOR COUNTY. THIS IS SUDDEN THIS HANDLED BY OUR OUR BUSINESS SERVICES DIVISION WITH MISANDRIST EVENS AND WE GET THE COLLECTION FROM THIS.

IT TOTALS ROUGHLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR AND THEN THERE'S A SEPARATE APPLICATION OR WAR PROCESS ON THIS. THIS ALSO HAS A COMMITTEE YOU SHOULD HAVE NOMINATED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE WHO WERE EVER STEVE SHANNON MILROY STEPHANIE JADED IN A PROPER BET TOLD THIS YEAR TO HELP ME REVIEW THESE WONDERFUL APPLICATIONS AND HELP MAKE AWARDS. SO THOSE ARE THE THREE BIG ONES AND THEN THERE'S ADMISSIONS FACTS WHICH HELP US BIG IN IT THERE.

>> THERE IT IS STATUTORILY IT GOES WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO. BUT FOR FOR TODAY WE'RE JUST ONLY COVERING THE LEVEL ACCOMMODATIONS WHICH IS GOVERNED BY FOUR COUNTY ORDINANCES SECTION SIXTY SIX FORTY FOUR LOCAL COUNTY TENANTS WHICH IS WHICH IS GOVERNED BY SECTION SIX FIVE THIRTY FOUR. THERE IS ALSO RESOLUTE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL PASS IN 2019 IT WAS TO NINETEEN SLASH THIRTY ONE IDENTIFIES POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS HOSPITALITY TAX . I HOPE ALL OF Y'ALL GOT THE DROPBOX LINK LAST FRIDAY. SHANE AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE SHANE AND MILROY SHEER CHANCE I CAN WAIVE HIGHER THAN THAT. I ONLY SAW YOU THERE YOU GET SHANE IS OUR GRANT'S ACCOUNTANT IN SHE TAKES ALL THE APPLICATIONS AND ALL THE REPORTING DOCUMENTS AND PUTS THEM TOGETHER FOR THE COMMITTEE AND THAT'S A GREAT JOB. COME UP HERE.

THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE DONE THIS WAY AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS THE ROOM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WE'RE SEEING WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.

[00:05:04]

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT GETTING A STAFF POSITION TO SHEPHERD THOSE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS AND LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND H TAX AWARDS AND PAYMENTS ON THE PAST WE'VE HAD TRANSPARENCY WITH THOSE. WE THINK IF WE HAVE A POSITION DEVOTED TO THAT WE COULD BE PAYING THEM FOR THE DIFFERENT FATHER ONCE A FREEZE A CUT MAN INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM A BOAT CHECK IN IT WOULD LEAD TO BETTER TRANSPARENCY TODAY IF YOU ASKED WERE THERE TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS WHEN I COULD GET THAT WE BASICALLY HAVE TWO PARTS OF THIS DAY ONCE WANT TO BE AND WE'LL HAVE SHANE AND GO OVER THE BOARDS FROM LAST HERE AND SHARE WITH YOU ALL WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH THE MONEY THAT SHOWS THAT SOME OF THEM WAR WORK DESTRUCTION PROGRESS PROJECTS WON'T BE DONE TILL 20 21 22 AND THEN I WILL GO OVER OUR RECOMMENDED AWARD FOR THIS YEAR WHICH I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING.

>> WE TOUCHED A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS THAT I THINK WILL BRING A LOT OF TERRORISM TO BE FORGET OTHER FACILITIES BUT I'LL LET SHANNON GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A Q AFTER SHANNON SESSION AND EVEN A AFTERMATHS LIKE THAT I THINK THAT WOULD BE TERRIFIC

AFTERMATH RIBAUT CAN YOU HEAR ME OK? >> YES, MA'AM.

SO WITH THE AGENDA PACKET THAT WENT OUT WE INCLUDED A SPREADSHEET THAT I'LL GO OVER RIGHT NOW I BROKE IT UP INTO TWO SECTIONS. THE TOP SECTION IS FOLKS THAT WERE AWARDED FUNDS LAST YEAR THAT DID NOT FLY THIS YEAR JUST TO GIVE SORT OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW BECAUSE THEY DID NOT APPLY AGAIN THIS YEAR THEY WON'T BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION LATER WITH PHASE. SO WITH THE B FOR COUNTY OPENLY AND TRUST THEY HAVE SPENT MOST OF THEIR MONEY SO FAR THEY'RE WAITING ON IS TO CLOSE ON THE SECOND TRACT THAT WE AWARDED THEM GREAT MONEY FOR LAST YEAR AND THEY ARE PURCHASING THAT TRACT FROM HIM CENTER AND THE PEN CENTER BOARD HAS MET IN PERSON YET DUE TO COVERED AND THE PEN CENTER BOARD TYPICALLY MEETS IN PERSON TO APPROVE LAND ACQUISITION SALE DISCUSSIONS. SO THAT IS THEIR HOLED UP ON THAT AND WHILE THEY HAVEN'T COMPLETED THEIR PROJECT YET. THE LEFT AND HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY HAS MOST OF THEIR MONEY AND EXPECT TO FULLY EXPAND IT BY JUNE 20 21 WHICH WILL BE WITHIN THE YEAR THAT THEY ARE THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY.

THE CAMPBELL CHAPEL HAS SPENT ABOUT A THIRD OF THEIR MONEY AND ARE STILL WORKING ON DESIGN. MOST OF THEIR EXPENDITURES SO THEIR PRESERVATION ARCHITECT IS TIED TO THEIR AWARD. SO THEY'VE JUST HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY WITH ENDEMIC ISSUES LIKE MY SPOKES. THE FRIENDS OF HUNTING ISLAND THEY ARE ABOUT 40 PERCENT COMPLETE. THEY HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE SUPPLYING THEIR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT TO VIEW THE VIRTUAL LIGHTHOUSE. ONCE IT'S COMPLETE AND I HAVE ALSO CONTRACTED WITH THEIR DESIGN FIRM IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THAT DESIGN SO THEY'RE GOING ALONG AS WELL. THE PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION THEY HAVE NOT STARTED YET BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL SORT OF SOME SOURCING AND WORKING ON GETTING THEIR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN DONE BUT THEY HAVE GUESSTIMATE THAT THEY WILL START CONSTRUCTION THIS COMING WINTER. SO EXPECT IT'S GONNA BE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE THEY'RE COMPLETE ON YOUR AWARD FROM LAST YEAR. AND THE LAST ONE IN THIS SECTION IS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. THEY RECEIVED FOUR AWARDS LAST YEAR AND THEY REAPPLIED THIS YEAR FOR THREE OF THOSE SAME EVENTS.

SO I HAVE THE ONE ADVANTAGE THAT THEY DID NOT APPLY FOR THIS YEAR IN THIS SECTION.

SINCE IT'S NOT UP FOR DEBATE THIS YEAR AND THE OTHER THREE OR IN THE NEXT SECTION, THEN I'LL GO OVER AND I THINK I'LL JUST GO OVER THIS ONE WITH THE OTHER THREE BECAUSE THEY'RE SORT OF TIED TOGETHER WITH THE WAY THEY'RE REPORTING WAS DONE .

SO IT MAY MAKE SENSE MAY MAKE MORE SENSE TO DO THAT. WITH THE OTHER THREE IF THAT'S OKAY WITH EVERYONE. OKAY SO THE NEXT FOLKS WHO DID APPLY FOR FUNDING THE FIRST ORGANIZATION IS A B FOR AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION. LAST YEAR THEY APPLIED FOR BOTH AND A TAX IN AN AGE TAX GRANT FOR TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH. THOSE WERE AWARDED AND THAT WAS

[00:10:03]

THAT WAS JUST HELD IN JANUARY. THEY HAD TO REPURPOSE IT JUST A BIT AND DOWNSCALE BECAUSE OF COVERED THAT THEY HELD PRETTY SUCCESSFUL PLANTS. THEY HAD TWO SEPARATE EVENTS.

THEY SOLD TICKETS FOR AND BOTH EVENTS SOLD OUT. ONE EVENT WAS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY TICKETS AND THE OTHER WAS TWO HUNDRED TICKETS. SO THEY SOLD 450 TICKETS TOTAL FOR THERE AND THEN THEY ALSO MARKETED AND WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOU FOR RESTAURANT WEEK TWO AND THAT ACCORDING TO THE CV BE ALL THE HOTEL ROOMS, THE RESTAURANTS, ALL THE NUMBERS AND TOURISM IMPACT FOR THOSE THAT WEEK OVER LAST YEAR WAS UP.

SO I THINK THEIR MARKETING DOLLARS WENT FOR A GOOD PURPOSE.

THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE GULLAH FESTIVAL.

THEY DOWNSIZED. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO SEVERAL WEEKENDS ACROSS THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND THEY WERE ONLY ABLE TO DO THREE WEEKEND EVENTS.

AND THEN THE SAME WITH THEIR SOUTHEAST REGIONAL BUSINESS SUMMIT.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HOLD THE EVENT IN PERSON DUE TO COVERED .

THEY INDICATED THEY HAD ONE VIRTUAL MEETING WITH THE US BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THEIR KENTUCKY DERBY EVENT WAS SHELVED ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THE KENTUCKY DERBY WAS CANCELED.

SO THEY ACTUALLY DID NOT SPEND ANY MONEY ACCORDING TO THEIR WORK FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY EVENT BUT THEY INTEND TO HAVE IT THIS YEAR AND THEY HAVE APPLIED AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR MONEY FOR RIBAUT EVENTS WHICH HAYES CAN DISCUSS WITH THEIR OTHER THREE THE AFRICAN FASHION WEEK, THE GALA CHRISTMAS AND THE BUSINESS SUMMIT. THEY INDICATED NUMBERS ON THEIR REPORTING BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO TIE THOSE EXPENDITURES BACK TO THE SPECIFIC EVENTS THEY WERE AWARDED MONEY FOR. FOR EXAMPLE, NOT ALL THEIR EXPENDITURES MATCHED IN THEIR REPORTING. THEY INDICATED ACROSS THE THREE EVENTS A LITTLE OVER 30 TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AND EXPENDITURES.

BUT WHEN THEY SET PAPERWORK ON PROOF OF EXPENDITURES LIKE INVOICE CHECKS, CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS, IT WAS ONLY TWENTY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN EXPENDITURES.

SO THERE WAS A GAP. SO I REACHED OUT TO THEM TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND I DID NOT GET THAT INFORMATION. THEY INDICATED SEVERAL FACEBOOK ADS WERE PURCHASED AND THEY HAD CREDIT CARD STATEMENTS SHOWING THE PURCHASE BUT NOT THE CONFIRMATION ON THE INVOICE.

SO JUST TO BACKTRACK A LITTLE BIT, A CONDITION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORTING IS TO INCLUDE BOTH AN INVOICE AND A PROOF OF PAYMENT FOR EVERY EXPENDITURE THAT YOU'RE INCLUDING ON THAT REPORT AND IT WAS JUST QUITE CONFUSING. IT WAS ALL LUMPED TOGETHER THAT DIDN'T DIFFERENTIATE. THEY ALSO HAD INCLUDED EXPENDITURES FOR LIKE WEB SITE TO FIX AND MAINTAIN THEIR WEBSITE AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE AWARDED MONEY FOR. TO THEM THIS YEAR. AND IN FACT ONE OF THE REPORTS INDICATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED A SMALL GRANT FROM GOOGLE IN ORDER TO WORK ON THEIR WEB SITE. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE IF THE GOOGLE GRANT COVERED THAT OR IF IT SHOULD COME FROM A TAX. THAT AGAIN WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY FOR WEBSITE PURPOSES AND IN GOING THROUGH THE EXPENDITURES THAT THEY DID SEND ME A TOTALED UP AND OF THE THIRTY TWO THOUSAND THEY REPORTED A LITTLE OVER FOURTEEN THOUSAND OF THAT WERE EXPENDITURES DATED BEFORE THE AWARD WAS MADE. SO I CAN'T EVEN VERIFY THAT THOSE ARE VALID BECAUSE THEY WERE MADE AND PAID BEFORE WE EVEN AWARDED THEM A GRANT LAST YEAR THE AWARD LETTERS WERE DATED APRIL 15TH AND THOSE FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND EXPENDITURES GO FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 20 20. SO THOSE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT I HAD ABOUT THEIR REPORTING. IT JUST WAS UNCLEAR LIKE IT WAS HARD TO TOP AT THE HOW A USEFULLY USED THE MONEY THAT WE WERE TO THEM LIVING ON TO BE FOR COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.

I HAVE A QUESTION. DID YOU INDICATE THAT THE KENTUCKY DERBY EVENT DID NOT TAKE PLACE BUT THAT MONEY HAD BEEN ALLOCATED AND NOT SPENT BUT THAT THE NEW KENTUCKY DERBY IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR AND THAT THERE'LL BE AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST FOR MONEY?

CORRECT. >> SO WE AWARDED THEM ELEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS LAST YEAR TO MARKETING THAT EVENT. RIGHT.

AND THEIR REPORTS INDICATED THAT THEY HAD TO CANCEL IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY DID NOT SPEND ANY ABOUT ELEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. AND THEN THIS YEAR IN OUR CURRENT GRANT CYCLE THEY APPLIED AGAIN FOR THE SAME AMOUNT FOR ELEVEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FUND THAT KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY FOR TWENTY TWENTY ONE.

SO THEY HAD MONEY FROM TWENTY TWENTY FOUR AND HAVE ASKED FOR MORE FOR TWENTY TWENTY ONE.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT REQUEST WISE GO OVER THAT IN FURTHER DETAIL.

[00:15:09]

>> THEY HAVE THE MONEY IN HAND AND THE MONEY FROM LAST YEAR YOU MEAN.

YES THEY HAVE 20 20 AWARD IN SPAIN. OKAY GOT IT.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT THEIR PROJECTS ARE STILL ONGOING ENGINEERING BASIS. THEY'RE COMPLETING PROJECTS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY WAS AWARDED FOR. SO THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THEY'VE SPENT IT TOWARDS. AND THE HISTORIC PORT ROYAL FOUNDATION MUSEUM.

WE GAVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO BUY RAC CARDS TO MARKET AND THEY SPENT ALMOST TO THE DOLLAR BOUGHT THEIR RED CARDS AND MAILED THOSE TO NINE DIFFERENT WELCOME CENTERS ALONG THE INTERSTATES. SO THAT'S A RECAP OF ALL OF THE REPORTING THAT I RECEIVED.

AND ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS? I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WE WANT ON THE NO QUESTIONS MARK THAT WE HAVE. DO WE HAVE A TOTAL MONEY'S NOT YET SPENT OUT OF THOSE OF THOSE GRANTS? YES. SO LAST YEAR THE TOTAL AMOUNT AWARDED WAS ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DATE ONE HUNDRED SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY THREE THOUSAND HUNDRED FORTY THREE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED FOUR DOLLARS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS BEING SPENT WHICH LEAVES NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX DOLLARS UNSPENT LARRY. THAT'S IN YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION. IT'S ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE. OK.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MISS. HOW DOES THAT I'M SURE THIS IS IT COMPARED TO OTHER YEARS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL. THAT AMOUNT NOT BEING SPENT.

IS THAT TRUE STATEMENT? CARLSON HOWARD, I'M IN THE PAST YES.

IT HAS BEEN ON A GRANT BY GRANT BASIS BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT MONEY HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT IS FOR THE PAVILION OF THE RULES DOWN FOUNDATION. AND AS WE KNOW IN GOVERNMENT IT IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THE PERMITS AND THE DROP HEARING DONE IN IN KIND OF THE SAME WEEK OR EMBARKED TOMORROW. MARCEL'S AT FAULT TOO FOR OUR PRAYERS.

THE S.S. HAIG REPAIR AND THE SPANISH TRAIL IS JUST IN. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO PUT ITSELF UP WITHIN A CALENDAR YEAR AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'RE PLANNING ON REPORTING THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR TO LET YOU ALL SEE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND SHOW YOU ALL THE PICTURES OF THIS IS WHAT THIS A TAX MONEY DID. THIS BUILT THIS PAVILION THIS THIS REDID THIS SECTION OF THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL. THIS IS WHAT THE LEANING LOOKS LIKE AND IT JUST YET.

AND BASICALLY THAT MONEY DIDN'T GET OUT I THINKING FOR GETTING RID OF LAST YEAR.

SO THEY STILL HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS TO DO TO THE FINALIZING THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

JUST TAKE MORE TIME. THANK YOU. YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, ALLISON. AND I THINK ALSO THAT WE HAVE WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS HERE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND THAT'S THANKS TO CHAIRMAN PARSON WHO WAS CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND CHRIS HIRSCHHORN WAS THAT WAS ON THERE.

WE PASSED OUR AUDIENCES BACK IN NINETEEN 2000 19 TO GET THIS STARTED.

WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW MORE OF A TRANSPARENT WAY. SO I THINK A LOT OF OUR ACCOUNTING YOU'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS ALL BRAND NEW THAT WE DON'T HAVE RECORDS FROM FOUR, FIVE OR SIX YEARS. SO ANY OTHER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

ALL RIGHT. >> WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO THE RECOMMENDED AWARDS A HAYES BACK TO YOU AGAIN PLEASE. HEY, GOOD, GOOD. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.

THE PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH BASICALLY THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS HAVE PURPOSES THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE EXCLUSIVELY USED FOR. AND THAT WAS IN THE BACK OF THE TAILLIGHT AND TO SHOW YOU WHAT THEY WERE. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GOING ON THIS YEAR. A LOT OF REALLY EXCITING STUFF THAT I THINK IT IS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING BOLSTER TOURISM AND GET PEOPLE IN HERE WE EAT. WE HAD A TOTAL BUDGET OF ABOUT FOUR THREE POINT SIX MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING AROUND THREE POINT FIVE THEY WERE ISSUING AWARDS THAT GO INCREASE TOURISM INCLUDING THE FUNDING OF TOURISM, CULTURAL AND

[00:20:06]

HOUSE IN THE GRAND ARMY HALL. >> THERE IS ANOTHER STOKES COTTAGE THAT WAS IN THERE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION PARK. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT WAS THAT IT WAS PRIVATELY OWNED AND WE COULD NOT GET THEM TO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONVEY THE PROPERTY OVER THE PARK AND I HAD VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH BILLY CONTROLING ABOUT THIS.

HE COULDN'T GET IT SOLD AND HE ACTUALLY EAT PULLED THAT BACK IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR A COMPARABLE SITE OVER THE NEXT YEAR AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL DO THAT.

THEY'LL FIND THAT THEY'LL FIND ONE IN THE NORTHEAST NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE ALSO DOWN THE BOTTOM THERE THE HIGHLIGHTED PORTION SHE'LL GO FREEDOM PARK WHICH GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION I THINK THAT FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT MONEY OUT TO THEM AND I'VE HEARD THAT THEY ARE DOING THAT. THEY'RE DOING GOOD THINGS FUNDRAISING THERE.

COUNCILMAN RODMAN WANTED TO UPDATE US WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

ANOTHER AWARD ANOTHER BIG AWARD IS THAT SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE GOES DISCOVERY MUSEUM. THIS WAS VERY INTERESTING. THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO WHERE THEY RAISED SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THEIR OWN IN AND THEN THEY THEY'RE ASKING THE COUNTY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 750 SO THAT THEY WENT OUT AND AND GOTTEN THEM GOT THE MONEY AND GOT THE PROJECT GOING. AND THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD A REALLY GOOD THING. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THAT MUSEUM.

WE ALSO HAVE AWARD FOR REPRESENT BEACH ACCESS AND ADVERTISING INFRARED FORMATIONS SPECIFICALLY THE COUNTING IS ABOUT ONE POINT ONE MILLION DOLLARS THAT INCLUDES MARKETING. THERE'S THERE'S A BOAT LEANING IMPROVEMENTS IN THERE AND A STUDY TO LOOK OUR 28 BAY LANDINGS THAT WE OWN AND SEE WHAT CONDITION THEY ARE IN AND START GETTING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS SCHEDULE GOING ON AT.

THERE'S ALSO THE SPANISH MARSHFIELD BRIDGE REPAIR WHICH IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL THERE ARE THREE TRESTLES ON IT. BETWEEN I GUESS IT'S 170 IN AN ALISON DRIVE. NO IT'S NOT THAT AS IT'S DOWN PAT OR YOUR TRESTLES THAT WE HAVEN'T HE'S BEEN ON THIS PROPERTY AND IT IS USED BY LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALIKE IS IS VERY NEAT. BUT ONE OF THE TRESTLES NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED VERY BADLY AND WE'RE AWARDING THAT WE'VE ALSO DONE AND WE'RE DOING MARKETING INFORMATION ON THE DIXIE USUALLY. THERE'S A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT AND A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AND ALSO THERE WITH A REQUEST IN THERE TO REDO THE BOUNDARY STREET TENNIS COURTS AND SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE FOR, YOU KNOW, STATE TOURNAMENTS. IN OTHER REALLY LAST BIG PROJECT WAS THE THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE BRIDGE TO WHITEHALL AND THIS WOULD BE COMING OFF THE BRIDGE FROM DOWNTOWN AND CONNECTING INTO OUR WHITEHALL PARK. THIS ORIGINALLY WE HAD THE AUDIENCE TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN SLASH 13. WE HAD ISSUED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THAT.

THEY SPENT ROUGHLY PROBABLY SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT THEY ARE IS IT WAS GROSSLY UNDER BUDGETED AND HAVE COME BACK FOR THE FOR ANOTHER 350 THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT AS TIME INTO OUR INTO OUR WHITEHALL PARK BUT ANYWAYS THAT'S KIND OF AN OVERVIEW. AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM. COUNCILMAN LLEWELLYN. YES, THANKS.

HAYES I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. THE FIRST IS THAT THE THE BRIDGE TO THE WHITEHALL PARK I BELIEVE THAT MONEY IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT OF RURAL AND CRITICAL BECAUSE THE PARK ITSELF IS A RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROJECT.

I THINK THE IMPROVEMENT FOR IT BETTER AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR IT SHOULD ALSO COME RURAL CRITICAL LANDS. AND COULD I GET THE SAY I GOT MY COPY OF IT RIGHT HERE REGARDING THE THE THE SPANISH TRAIL BATTERY BRIDGE REPAIR.

WHICH BRIDGE THAT WAS BECAUSE WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOUR OR INVESTED INTO THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL TO FIX THOSE BRIDGES AND BRING THEM UP TO SPEED QUITE QUICKLY IF THEY

[00:25:04]

SO WHICH BRIDGE WHAT IS JARED ON THIS LINE RIGHT NOW? I'M I NEEDED CLARIFICATION.

I THINK IT'S A ONE BETWEEN A HERMITAGE AND ALISON ROAD BUT I'M NOT SURE IT COULD BE THE OTHER ONE I THINK GET A CLARIFICATION ON YOU FOR THAT. LET ME LOOK RIGHT.

>> WELL, MY POINT IS THAT IF IT'S UPGRADES YOU KNOW, I'M I'M NOT SURE WE'RE IN A POSITION TO BE SPENDING THAT MUCH MONEY ON AN UPGRADE TO A BRIDGE IF IT'S A IF IT'S FALLING APART, THEN I THINK IT MIGHT BE INSURED. WE MIGHT WANT TO CHECK IN AND SEE IN FACT I'M VERY SURE IT'S INSURED. WE WILL. THANKS JOHN HOWARD.

JUST CLARIFICATION FROM OK. OK. PORTER'S CHAPEL TOWN OF PORT OIL THE NOVEL THE NOTES OVER THERE THAT WAS PUT IN LATER REQUESTS FOR SIXTY THOUSAND KNOWING THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. I'M NOT CONFUSED.

THE REQUEST FROM THE TOWN ROYAL IS TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND OUT OF GOING TO VAN LEWIS. THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE THE TOWN AFTER THEY GAVE THAT NUMBER CAME OUT OF POCKET AND THE ORIGINAL SIXTY THOUSAND DOLLARS WAS JUST OR JUST NEEDS KIND OF GOING IN THE COMMITTEE AND PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN

CLEARED UP. >> BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YES MA'AM.

THANKS. YOU KNOW I TALKED TO JOE DEVITO YESTERDAY AND HE CLARIFIED THAT FOR ME. HE SAID THAT THE TOWN HAD SPENT HUNDRED ALTOGETHER ON THE RELOCATE MISSION AND SHORING UP THE BUILDINGS AND THAT ALL THEY WERE ASKING FOR WAS TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY FROM THAT H H TAX BUND. THAT'S IRON SERVICE.

>> THANK YOU. HEY, CAN YOU REMIND ME? I THINK WE HAD A PRESENTATION OF THE BOUNDARY STREET TENNIS COURTS SOMETIME LAST YEAR AND I THOUGHT WE HAD ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THAT. BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THIS PROJECT AND THAT PROJECT AND IF WE EVER ACTUALLY DID ALLOCATE SOME FUNDS TO THAT.

I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE ALLOCATION. BUT THAT I THINK WAS BEFORE MY TIME. SHUT DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THAT AT ALL? SORRY I'M HAVING TROUBLE GETTING OFF HERE. SO SPECIFICALLY WHAT PART OF IT DO YOU. YOU ONLY KNOW PART OF CHRIS IS ASKING IF WE HAD THE ALLOCATED

FUNDS PREVIOUS TO THESE FUNDS FOR THE FOR THE TENNIS COURTS. >> THERE ARE NO ALLOCATED FUNDS FOR THOSE TENNIS COURTS THERE. THERE WAS SOME DESIGN MONEY WHICH IS EXPENDED.

BUT AS FAR AS THE REPAIR AND ALL OF THAT STUFF THERE THERE WERE NO FUNDS ALLOCATED AS FAR AS I KNOW. NO, SIR. JUST AS A FOLLOW UP.

WHAT ACTION DID WE TAKE AFTER WE RECEIVED THAT PRESENTATION? I THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD ALL AGREED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND AGREED THAT THE COURTS ARE IN DISREPAIR AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED. I JUST WONDER WHERE THAT KIND OF GOT LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

YEAH. I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN WHEN YOU START LOOK AT THE PARKS AND REC AND THE FACILITIES THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACILITIES IN THERE AND A LOT OF NEED. YOU LOOK AT THE PHOTOS, YOU LOOK AT DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

THERE WAS SOME MONEY PUT IN FOR POOLS AND IT WAS NOT THE TOTAL AMOUNT.

BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE HAD PROPERTY. BUT BUT THAT WAS THAT WAS A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION. AS FAR AS FAISAL GREEN IS CONCERNED.

SO I I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME OUT OF THAT CONVERSATION BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC MONEY PUT THOSE PUT TOWARD THOSE TENNIS COURTS AND THERE AND REALLY BASH THERE IN NEED OF REPAIR. ANYBODY ELSE THAT MR. WILL EVER GET? YEAH, I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THE CHRIS COMMENT. I REMEMBER THE SAME CONVERSATION. I'M THINKING THAT WE SORT OF RESURFACE ALL SUPPOSED TO RESURFACE THAT TENNIS COURT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CRACKS.

[00:30:04]

AND NOW THAT WE'RE KIND OF TALKING THROUGH IT, I'M WONDERING IF IT WASN'T THE PRESENTATION BY THE TENNIS CLUB. AND THEY SAID ARE THEY KIND OF DETAIL WHAT KIND OF DISREPAIR THE COURTS ARE IN? AND IN OUR RESPONSE WAS WHILE FILING A TAX APPLICATION I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT.

BUT I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE COURTS GETTING UPGRADED AND BROUGHT TO THE CONDITION THAT THEY SHOULD BE IN. I WAS JUST CURIOUS I CAN JUST REMEMBER TODAY WE'RE ACTUALLY WE JUST GOT THIS LIST HERE AND IN THE PAST WEEK OR LESS. SO A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE SEEING THIS FOR THE FIRST OR SECOND TIME. TODAY'S MEETING IS TO APPROVE THIS RECOMMENDATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL. SO THIS IS NOT A FINAL APPROVAL ON ANYTHING. THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP HERE ALREADY.

WE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AS MANY AS THOSE TODAY AS WE CAN WITH THE TIME WE HAVE.

SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TAKING YOU UP TIME IN OTHER MEETINGS LATER ON.

SO AGAIN, THIS IS THIS IS FOR US TO RECOMMEND WHATEVER WE HAVE TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND THEN THERE'LL BE THREE READINGS THAT WILL OCCUR AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHEN YOU SAW JUST LAST MEETING THAT WE EVEN CHANGED NO. THIRD READING AND THAT SOME THINGS TO THAT. SO THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE.

HAYES HAS BEEN THE EXPERT. HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS AND I HATE TO PUT HAYES ON THE SPOT BUT HE HAS HE HAS HE KNOWS THE PROJECTS BETTER ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT'S GOING ON. HOWEVER, SOME THOSE OBVIOUSLY OR MORE DETAILED OR IS MORE HISTORY THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY. ANY OTHER.

YEP. YORK GO AHEAD. YOU HANNAH? YES. YES. THANK YOU.

I WAS I THINK MY INTERNET WENT DOWN SO I MISSED MOST OF WILLIAMS INITIAL COMMENT BUT A COURT PIECE OF IT I BELIEVE ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND MAYBE HIRING A STAFF OR TWO OR SOME SORT TO HELP WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS OR FUNDING.

AND IF HE DID SAY THAT, I WILL SUPPORT THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE. WE AWARD AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FUNDING ACTUALLY GO TO WHAT IS DESIGNATED. SO IF THAT'S WHAT HE SAID, I DO EMBRACE THAT. THANKS, COUNCILMAN GRAYSON AMOUNTS.

>> I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON. YOU KNOW THE BILL THAT HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

ABSOLUTELY. NEW YORK. I THINK THAT I THINK THAT'S WHAT ALL OF US WANT AND I THINK THAT'S WHY AGAIN 19 2019 WHENEVER WE FIRST PASS THE ORDINANCE TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD AND GIVE PEOPLE A A RULES OF THE GAME OF HOW TO HOW TO PLAY AND MAKE SURE THAT PLAYING FIELD IS FAIR FOR EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE INVOLVED. AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO AS HAYES HAD MENTIONED.

I MEAN HAYES HAS BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME ON THIS AND HE HAS MANY, MANY OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO THAT WE NEED TO GET SOMEONE THAT WE CAN PUT IN THE PLACE OF HANDLING THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS HELP ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE THEIR PAPERWORK TO GET THAT PAPERWORK IN SO THEY CAN THEN REAPPLY AND AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED AND TO GUIDE THEM THROUGH. I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON YET WHERE HEY, THIS IS KIND OF A MURKY AREA BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT POTS OF MONEY 2 PERCENT TO 3 PERCENT. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REQUESTS THAT CAME IN TO FUND A VARIETY OF PROJECTS WITHIN THE RECONSTRUCTION OR PARK THAT WAS

DESIGNATED WITHIN THE COUNTY. >> AND THE LAST CONVERSATION I REMEMBER WAS THAT THE MONIES THAT WERE REQUESTED WERE NOT GOING TO BE CONSIDERED IN ONE POT OF MONEY BUT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ANOTHER POT OF MONEY. AND I'M WONDERING IF THE REQUESTS THAT CAME IN WERE CONSIDERED AND WHAT POT OF MONEY THEY WERE CONSIDERED IN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S MAKING A LOT OF SENSE BUT YOU COULD SAY THINGS ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A BIG DANCE GOING ON WITH WITH MONEY NOT BEING CONSIDERED OUT OF ONE POT. SO THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ANOTHER IF THINGS WERE BEING SHIFTED OVER THERE FOR A DECISION. AND I'VE I'VE KIND OF LOST TRACK OF WHETHER OR NOT THE RECONSTRUCTION PARK IS RECEIVING SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT IS REQUESTING. I SEE SOMETHING HERE TODAY THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING THROUGH THE

[00:35:01]

BUT I KNOW THERE ARE QUITE A FEW MORE AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT POT MONEY THOSE THINGS ARE COMING OUT OF . BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO ESCAPE NOTICE AND NOT RECEIVE CONSIDERATION WITH REGARD TO THE REQUESTS THAT THEY MAKE. OK, THAT WAS A LONG QUESTION AND I CAN GUIDE YOU ON POTS OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM.

THERE WERE ORIGINALLY FOUR REQUEST. THE ONLY ONE WAS NOT GRANTED IN FULL WAS THE STATE SCOTTISH BECAUSE IT WAS PRIVATELY AND IN THE COUNTY WE CAN'T IMPROVE SOME ELSE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT THE REST OF THE QUARTER WAS THE PORTER'S CHAPEL WHICH IS THE ONE IN THE TOWN OF RIBAUT AND THAT WAS TWO HUNDRED FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND IT'S COMING TAX. THERE IS BREAK BAPTIST CHURCH AND IT'S COMING OUT OF LOCAL A TAX AND IT IS TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. THERE IS ALSO THE GREEN ARMY HALL OF THE REPUBLIC WHICH HAS REQUESTED A HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN THOUSAND THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN FOR THERE'S IF YOU INCLUDE THOSE WERE THE FOUR THAT I THOUGHT MAYOR BILLY COUNSELING ABOUT AND THOSE ARE THE ONES

THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT SO FAR. >> BUT WE'VE ALSO FUNDED EIGHT HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND WITH THE PEN CENTER AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING A NEW ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT AND PROCEEDING WITH THAT PROJECT AND THEY'RE GONNA GO FORWARD WITH THAT. SO THAT'S LESS A PART A LEG OF IT.

AND THEN ALSO ALTHOUGH FREEDOM PARK WHICH I'LL HAVE ALREADY GENEROUSLY GIVEN FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. WELL THAT COSTS THAT ABOUT

COVERS IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> IN TO THE BRIDGE LOAN ON THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL I A CONFIRMATION FROM FROM ENGINEERING THAT IT IS THE ONE BEHIND PCL WHICH WOULD BE THE ONE BETWEEN HERMITAGE AND ALISON RHODES BETWEEN HUNDRED BONDS IN AND IN MOSSY OAKS IT IS IN NEED OF REPAIR IN THE WAY THAT WE DO HAVE AN EASEMENT FOR THAT SPANISH MOSS TRAIL. BUT ANY MAJOR REPAIRS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED BY THE COUNTY BUT THAT'S WHERE WE MIGHT LOOK INTO THE INSURANCE RESERVE AND SEE IF THEY WILL

COVER IT. >> ARE THERE IN ORDER AT THE THAT YOU MAY REMEMBER? WHAT WAS THAT THOUSAND I WAS ASKING MR. FLOWING IF THAT WAS THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT

HE REMEMBERS THAT WAS REPAIR. >> YEAH, I THINK IT WAS REPAIR. IT WAS SHORED UP I THINK IT WENT TO THE BARN TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN OR SIXTEEN I THINK IT SHOULD BE INSURED.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS BUT IT SHOULD BE. >> IS THERE NO OTHER KIND OF QUESTIONS COUNCILMAN ROMAN WANTED TO GIVE UPDATE ON THE ON THE HERITAGE TOURISM ALONE.

>> ROGER GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THESE. >> THANK YOU.

OK, GO ELSEWHERE. GOT SOME GOOD. YES.

I JUST WANT TO SAY TO HAYES I'M SHANNON THAT I THINK THAT DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ON AWARDING THESE FUNDS TO THE AFRICANS. BUT CERTAINLY I THINK WE ALL SHARE THE CONCERN OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF THESE FUNDS BEING AWARDED AND HOW THEY'RE SPENT AND HOW WE GET HOW WE TRACK THESE MONEYS GOING FORWARD. AND SO THAT HAVING BEEN SAID THEN I'M MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU ARE READY, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION .

I CAN HEAR YOU MARK. SORRY IT WAS ON YOU. >> YES.

I THINK AT THIS POINT I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE WITH QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN DORSEY, IF YOU WERE

[6. RECOMMENDATIONS TO FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR THE 2021 AWARDS OF LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY TAX]

DO WE DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT ONE? YEAH, THEY ARE BOTH THE

ORIGINAL BRIDGE MONEY. >> I VERIFIED WITH THE CRITICAL I UNDERSTAND FOLKS COMBINING AND ZONING BOTH THE ORIGINAL AWARD AND THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN THIS AWARD WAS ALWAYS SLATED TO COME FROM A TAX MONEY. NOT WRONG CRITICAL AS MONEY.

THANK YOU KOSSMANN YOU'RE GOOD. A GOOD COUNCILMAN. THAT'S FINE.

[00:40:03]

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE THE HERITAGE PARK EFFORT, WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THE PEN CENTER AND AND IN OTHER AREAS THE BRICK BAPTIST CHURCH DO DO WE? DO YOU INCLUDE CAMPBELL CHAPEL IN THAT AS WELL? ALL THOSE IN BLUFFTON COUNCIL? HONESTLY, I DID NOT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IS THE RICK BROKEN ARROW PARK. I MEAN IT WAS GOOD.

IT'S KIND OF SPLIT BETWEEN THE PENN CENTER WHICH IS OF ITS THIS BUSINESS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE RECONSTRUCTION AREA PART WHICH I THINK HAS KIND OF BEEN CHAMPIONED BY MAYOR CARS ROLLING IN AND SAY I'M I'M NOT SURE IF IT IS OR NOT. IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME BUT IT LOOKED LIKE A HISTORIC TOURISM RELATED TO THE SPORT FACILITY THAT WAS IN NEED OF HELP.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR. YEAH, I WOULD THINK SO.

BUT I WOULDN'T DO THAT UNLESS THEY AGREED. AND ED, IN TALKING TO THE PASTOR BLACK I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORICAL NATURE OF THE CHURCH ITSELF AND WANTING TO PRESERVE THAT AND USE THAT AS PART OF A PART OF THE TOURIST ATTRACTION INTERPRETIVE CENTER ETCETERA ETCETERA AT THAT CHURCH AND STUFF.

BUT I COULD SEE OUR WAY LIKE ANYTHING THAT'S. YEAH.

>> I WOULD INCLUDE IT AS IT BUT I WOULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION.

>> YES SIR. IS THERE ANY ADVANTAGE TO IT BEING CLASSIFIED AS A RECONSTRUCTION AREA? I THINK THE RECONSTRUCTION AIRPORT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TRY AND GET ON THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REGISTRY WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL WHICH WHICH WOULD HELP BRING TOURISM IN THERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE BUILDINGS.

I WISH I HAD THE MAYOR GOSLING ON HERE. COUNCILMAN RODMAN PROBABLY WILL BE SPEAKING THIS I GUESS WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE A LITTLE BIT FREE ALL THE GOOD.

THANK YOU. ANY OTHER OTHER QUESTIONS? BEFORE WE BRING THE QUESTION TO

YOU ABOUT ALL RIGHT. >> LET ME GO AHEAD AND ASK THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE TABLE. >> ANYONE ANYONE OPPOSED.

ALL RIGHT. >> THE MOTION PASSES. THIS WILL BE THEN RECOMMENDED TO COUNTY FOR THREE READINGS AND THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THE NEXT COUNTY MEETING.

THAT WOULD BE OUR ACTION ITEM. STU, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT.

[Additional Item]

MR. CHAIRMAN, I ASKED YOU EARLIER IF I COULD JUST GIVE YOU MAYBE HOPEFULLY NOT TO EXCEED FIVE MINUTE UPDATE ON SOME OF THE HERITAGE TOURISM THINGS BOB GOT GOT YOU ALL HERE AND I'LL BE THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO IN THE FUTURE.

BUT TO BE KIND OF QUICK, YOU KNOW, LARRY ROLAND, WHO'S THE ESTEEMED PROFESSOR FROM USCCB, HE'S ALWAYS SAID THIS IS BEAUFORT COUNTY IS WHERE AMERICAN HISTORY BEGUN AND YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBERS HAVE GOTTEN ENGAGED AND THEY'VE FIGURED OUT THAT IT'S REALLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IS MOST ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE COMING HERE. IN FACT, NUMBER TWO AFTER AFTER RECREATION AND WE HAD USC DO AN ECONOMIC STUDY AND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME GOOD DOLLARS THAT FLOW FROM IT. IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU LOOK AT THE QUARTER THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE CHARLESTON TO SAVANNAH QUARTER TWENTY FIVE MILLION VISITORS WERE DEAD CENTER IN THE MIDDLE OF IT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER HUNDRED MILE QUARTER THAT HAS AS MUCH HISTORY IN THAT HUNDRED MILES AS ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE IN THE COUNTRY.

SO OBVIOUSLY HOSPITALITY IS OUR BUSINESS AS IT IS A COUNTY AND A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE INCREASES CREATE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF JOBS. AND WITH WHAT YOU'RE APPROVING TODAY, I HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING TRACK BUT I WOULD GUESS WE'RE NORTH OF 5 MILLION THAT WILL BE AND THAT IS BEING SPENT ON HERITAGE TOURISM IN MY MIND THERE'S KIND OF FIVE BIG ITEMS THAT WE GOT IN FRONT OF US. ONE IS MITCHELL BILL. AND AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, COUNCIL APPROVED THE MONEY FOR THE MASTER PLAN TO 250. THAT TURNED OUT QUITE WELL.

THEY CAME AND PRESENTED IT TO US AND THEY'VE NOW LAUNCHED A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OFF OF THAT OFFER THAT WORK ON THE RECONSTRUCTION SIDE OF IT. MY ABILITY HAS JUST BEEN FANTASTIC IN TERMS OF LEADING THAT AND WE'VE TRANSITION FIRST TO A NATIONAL MONUMENT AND NOW

[00:45:02]

IS THE THEY PUT IN PLACE THEY TO LOW COUNTRY FAIRS AND A COUPLE VISITS BY REPLICA SHIPS TO DOWNTOWN GUILFORD AND I SAID WE SEE THOSE CONTINUING EFFECT THE SANTA MARIA SUPPOSED TO COME THIS YEAR BUT IT GOT WAYLAID IN THE WEST COAST BECAUSE THEY WERE USING IT IN A MOVIE. THE PEN CENTER OF COURSE. WE WE WE COVERED THE FIRST PHASE FOR EIGHT NINE HUNDRED THOUSAND THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSINESS PLAN IN TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE SELF-SUSTAINING AND SO THEY'LL BE COMING BACK FOR THE SECOND PHASE.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT A PORTION OF THAT MAYBE THEY'LL DO SOME NATIONAL FUNDRAISING.

ALSO THE LAST OF THE FIVE IS THAT THE GULLAH GEECHEE IN MY MIND AND I KNOW MITCHELL MILLS DOING SOME THINGS I KNOW KEN CENTERS DOING SOME THINGS. AND FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DESIGNATED OR CONGRESS DID AS A CORRIDOR AND HISTORICAL CORRIDOR THAT RUNS FROM BASICALLY JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA TO JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. AND I THINK SENATOR OR CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN SETTING THAT UP AND NOT A GREAT DEAL HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT.

THEY EACH INDIVIDUALLY PEOPLE DOING THINGS BUT WE'RE RIGHT DEAD CENTER IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT THING AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONSIDER SOME KIND OF A VISITORS CENTER. SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE FIVE FOUR OF THE FIVE HAVE A VERY STRONG AFRICAN AMERICAN FOCUS AND MY HOPE IS THAT OVER TIME IN THEIR FUTURE WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN PROMOTE TO A GREAT DEAL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT MAYBE THIS WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE OR ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY TO PROMOTE THAT. OF COURSE SOME OF YOU WERE AROUND WHEN DR. LONNIE BUNCH CAME AND VISITED WITH US IN THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM WHEN HE WAS HERE HE WAS DOING THE THE SMITHSONIAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM AT THE TIME AND HE IS NOW RUNNING THE ENTIRE SMITHSONIAN AND ACTUALLY HAS ROOTS HERE IN THE SENSE HE WORKED ON MITCHELL BILL AS A YOUNGER MAN AT ONE POINT IN TIME. AND SENATOR DAVIS HAS GAINED A LOT OF TRACTION AROUND THE STATE FROM THE OTHER LEGISLATORS TO THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE FOCUS ON. SOME LIKE TO COME BACK. SO FOUR OF THE FIVE.

THE FIFTH ONE INTERESTINGLY IS SANTA LATER WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS A SPANISH HISTORY AND WE HAVE A LARGE SPANISH POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY AND I THINK WE HAVE THE LARGEST PER CAPITA IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. AND SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE THE HERITAGE FOR THOSE FOLKS. I WOULD ALSO SAY I SPOKE ABOUT RAISING FUNDS NATIONALLY AND ONE OF THE PLACES THAT GOVERNMENTS CAN SERVE WELL AND I THINK IS HAPPEN WE CAN POINT TO IS THAT IF GOVERNMENTS PUT SOME SEED MONEY INTO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THEN THAT KIND OF OPENS UP FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE NATIONALLY TO SAY WELL AT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY IN, YOU KNOW, WE MAY PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN TEND TO RUN ACROSS PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEND A MILLION SPEND TWO MILLION TO DO SOMETHING. OF COURSE THE MATHER SCHOOL HAS BEEN PROTECTED UNDER PCL.

YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT THE AMY CHAPEL. WE VERY RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN PRESERVING THE PORT ROYAL BATTLEFIELDS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE LIBERTY TRAIL WHICH IS BEING FOUNDED. AND WE'RE COMING UP ON THE TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTRY AND ONE MAN ONE GENTLEMAN WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER THAT WE MAY WANT TO HONOR IN TIME. HIS NAME WAS JAMES CAPERS.

HE'S BEEN VERY HONORED IN ALABAMA. AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND HE WAS A LIKE THE DRUM MAJOR LEAGUE DRUM CORPS.

IT IS PROBABLY AS DANGEROUS A POSITION AS THERE WAS. HE WAS WOUNDED AND HE WAS A MULTIPLE BATTLES ALL THE WAY UP TO YORKTOWN. TWO OTHER ONES IS AT THE PARRIS ISLAND WITH THE ORIGINAL SPANISH SIDE IS THAT HAS ALL BEEN SURVEYED NOW WITH WHAT THEY CALL GROUND PENETRATING RADAR. SO THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA KIND OF WHAT'S UNDERNEATH AND YOU CAN DO VERY FOCUSED ARCHEOLOGICAL RECOVERY.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET A PERMIT TO OPEN THAT UP AT SOME POINT WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT ATTRACTION FOR PEOPLE COMING AND WE HAVE OFFSHORE A FRENCH BOAT THAT DATES ABOUT 400 YEARS

[00:50:01]

AND FEDS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GROUP HAVE PUT FUNDS IN FOR IT AND STATE NEEDS TO GET THE EQUIPMENT UPGRADED BUT HOPEFULLY TO DO THAT SHORTLY. SO ANYWAY, A LOT OF INTERESTING THING GOING ON LAST MAY I'D JUST LIKE SPEAK BRIEFLY TO THE HERITAGE TOURISM CORPORATION.

YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR SAID INITIATED THAT THE MAYOR'S TASK FORCE STEWARD CONTRIBUTED THE FIRST SHORE MARKETING GROUP. SO IT BECAME A FIVE ONE C THREE.

THEY IDENTIFIED SOME HUNDRED PLUS ATTRACTIONS THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THEY ALL GOT GRADED AS THEY WERE THEY WERE RED, YELLOW AND GREEN THAT WAS DONE BY CB.

AND SO IT'S VERY MUCH OF A KIND OF A COORDINATING EDUCATING TYPE OF ORGANIZATIONS.

WHEN WE SET IT UP WE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE A FUND RAISING ORGANIZATION IN THE SENSE THAT WOULD TAKE MONIES AND DISTRIBUTE IT ALTHOUGH I THINK IT WILL BE USEFUL WITH SENATOR DAVIS IN SOME OF THE NON-RECURRING IN THE FUTURE. AND IT WAS MANY YEARS AGO WHERE THEY HAD A PR CAPE PASSED RECREATION AND TOURISM AT THE STATE LEVEL CAME DOWN, SPENT A DAY WITH US AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO GO BACK AND UPDATE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME STATE FUNDS. SO LASTLY I WOULD SAY I KIND OF SEE THAT EVOLVING INTO MORE OF A MARKETING ORGANIZATION WITH THREE KIND OF THRUSTS. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO HEAR ABOUT 3 MILLION HEAVILY THAT THE NET OF COURSE BUT THE NEED TO MARKET TO THOSE FOLKS SO THEY COME OUT TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. THE GUY SPOKE TO THE 25 MILLION VISITORS IN THE. AND A SAVANNAH CHARLESTON. AND OUR THRUST THERE NEEDS TO BE TO GET THEM TO TAKE AN EXTRA DAY OR TWO DAYS ON THEIR VACATION TO COME SEE US.

AND LASTLY, WHEN WE GET ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER, I THINK WE'RE GONNA FIND THAT THERE IS A MARKET FOR MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF THING FROM BOTH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COME TO US. SO APPRECIATE THAT. JUST GIVE YOU A REAL QUICK KIND OF REPORT CARD ON WHERE WE ARE. SOME GOOD THINGS GOING ON. AND IF THERE'S ONE OR TWO OF YOU THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS, I'D LOVE TO HAVE A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE JOIN US IN THAT EFFORT. SO MR. CHAIRMAN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE. THANK YOU, SUE.

I THINK WE ALL FORGET ALL THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING WE HAVE IN PLACE AND WE HAVE FUNDED. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I WANT TO THANK OBVIOUSLY SHANNON WHO IS OUR GRANTS ACCOUNTANT MUST KNOW ROY, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND OF COURSE HAYS. MR. WILLIAMS, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO AND ALL THE FINANCE STAFF BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A TIME CONSUMING COMPLICATED ISSUE THAT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE LOOK AT THIS IT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US THAT WE CAN EASILY GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S GRANTS OF YEAR'S GRANTS.

IF WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. ARE THERE ANY CITIZENS COMMENTS BEFORE WE CLOSE TODAY?

>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M NOT I'M NOT A CITIZEN. >> I JUST I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

I THINK STU, YOU WRITE ON AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN A DIVERSE WAY. BUT I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON. THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ABSOLUTELY. >> RIBAUT ELSE WITH A COMMENT. ALL RIGHT.

MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. APPRECIATE IT.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT. SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY. THANK YOU

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.