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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
SO THIS IS OUR MARCH 10TH, 2021, UM, BUFORD COUNTY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING.
WE ARE DOING IT VIA WEBEX, OBVIOUSLY DUE TO COVID.
AND I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, UH, TRACY LET'S, UM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO LEAD US SYSTEM? BERNIE MAYBE? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
YOU COULD DO WHATEVER YOU WANT.
WE'RE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO, UM, THAT'S OUR CALL ORDER INTRODUCTION OF BOARD DEMONSTRATION.
SO FOR THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE WATCHING THIS AT MIDNIGHT CAN'T SLEEP, I'LL GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE PEOPLE.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE TRUSTEES GIVE JOE BOGUS, WHO IS COUNCIL DISTRICT 11, RAISING HIS HAND, BERNARD COLE, BERNIE COLE, AS WE CALL THEM COUNCIL DISTRICT THREE, LYNN MILLER COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10, UH, JANET PORTER COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT.
UH, ROSELEE RICHMOND COUNCIL, DISTRICT SEVEN.
I THINK TODAY SHE REPRESENTS DISTRICT FOUR.
LAURA STURKEY REPRESENTS DISTRICT NINE.
I FORGOT TO SAY THAT TERRY THOMAS REPRESENTS DISTRICT TWO AND JAMES MORRELL REPRESENTS DISTRICT FIVE AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A CORUM JUST BEAR.
THEN ALSO WITH US ON OUR SCREEN IS OUR FAVORITE COUNTY COUNCIL LIAISON.
SHE'S A DIEHARD ALWAYS WITH US, ALWAYS SUPPORTING US.
WE NOW HAVE CHUCK CHUCK ATKINSON.
WHO'S BEEN WITH US A COUPLE OF TIMES, ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES.
AND WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT CHUCK DURING OUR TIME OF RENOVATION AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY AND DURING BUDGET AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMING AT US.
AMANDA DYCKMAN IS OUR INTERIM DIRECTOR OF LIBRARY AND JUDGE GREER WHOSE FACE DOES NOT APPEAR OKAY.
IS OUR LIBRARY OPERATIONS MANAGERS.
SO THAT MAKES OUR COMPLETE TEAM.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALICE CHUCK FOR JOINING US BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR ASSIGNED DUTIES.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME YOU GET A CONTRACT, IT'S OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.
WE'RE ONE OF THOSE OTHER DUTIES.
SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HELP YOU OFFER AMANDA.
AND TO ALL WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
SO LOOKING AT OUR AGENDA, WHICH EVERYONE RECEIVED ELECTRONICALLY, UM, WE WOULD HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU RECEIVED ANY DIGITAL.
AND THE PUBLIC IS ALWAYS WELCOME TO COMMENT.
ANYBODY WATCHES THIS AFTER YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND IN EMAIL THROUGH THE, UH, BUFORD LIBRARY.
SO THE PUBLIC CAN ALWAYS REACH.
YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE INTERIM DIRECTOR, AMANDA DICKMAN.
YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ANY OF YOUR MEMBERS ON THE TRUSTEES.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT.
SO, UM, EVERYONE RECEIVED A JANUARY 13 MINUTES IN YOUR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTS.
SO, UM, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES? DID ANYBODY READ THE MINUTES? NO, I'M ONLY KIDDING.
UM, I'D LIKE A MOTION SIMPLY TO JILL.
I'D LIKE A MOTION FROM SOMEONE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, PLEASE.
UH, ANYBODY LYNN APPROVE SOMEBODY TO SECOND.
SAY I WOULD EVERYONE AND ANYBODY NOT IN FAVOR.
YOU'RE GOING TO REWRITE THE MINUTES.
SO THAT SHOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR.
UM, AMANDA, DO WE HAVE ANY CORRESPONDENCE? I DIDN'T SEE ANY.
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ALRIGHT.THE LIBRARY IS FROM DIRECT REPORT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO FIRST UPDATE YOU ON OUR CURRENT, UH, PERSONNEL AND STAFFING.
UH, WE HAVE NINE VACANT POSITIONS.
FIVE OF THOSE ARE CURRENTLY ADVERTISED.
UM, WE EXPECT TO ADVERTISE THE ADDITIONAL FOUR AS NEEDED IN TERMS OF PRIORITY, UH, TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE LIBRARY.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S NINE VACANT POSITIONS.
THAT'S THAT INCLUDES YOUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
UM, AND FIVE OF THOSE HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED AND WE HOPE TO ADVERTISE THE, THE REMAINING ONES AS IT BENEFITS THE LIBRARY.
AND AMANDA, WHEN DID THOSE, WHAT DID THE HIRING BECOME ON, UH, AROUND, UH, IN THE SPRING? ABOUT THE TIME WHEN WE STARTED TO REOPEN IN JULY OVER AROUND THE TURN OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO, UM, MOVING ON TO OUR PROJECTS UPDATE, UH, I WANT TO FIRST UPDATE YOU ON THE STATUS OF OUR BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY RENOVATION.
I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AFTER SOME LONG HOURS AND A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING, THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE IS NOW CLEAR.
SO THE BOOKS HAVE BEEN STORED, PACKED AWAY.
UM, SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF THEM ACTUALLY ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO US SO WE CAN, UH, DISTRIBUTE THEM ACROSS THE LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THROUGHOUT SE LENS AS NEEDED.
UM, WE, UH, HAVE REMOVED THE SHELVING AND WE'VE REMOVED FURNITURE, STORED WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP AND REMOVE WHAT WE INTEND TO REPLACE.
UM, BUT NOW THE, UH, CONSTRUCTION FROM JOHNSON LOCKS AS FREE REIGN TO START AS SOON AS THEY HAVE PERMITS.
SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT TO YOU.
WE ARE ON SCHEDULE, UH, ALSO, UH, STARTING ON MARCH THE FIRST IN ORDER TO AVOID THE CLOSURE OF THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY.
WE ARE NOW OPERATING IN A POP-UP OR A MINIATURE LIBRARY OUT OF THE LARGE MEETING ROOM AND THE ENTRYWAY SO INCLUDED IN THAT ARE TWO SELF-CHECKOUT STATIONS, TWO PUBLIC COMPUTERS, SOFT FURNITURE FOR PEOPLE TO USE THEIR OWN DEVICES, OR JUST SIMPLY SIT AND READ OUR MAGAZINES AND PERIODICALS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR HOLDS PICK UP OUR ENTIRE NEW BOOK COLLECTION.
UH, AND WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF OUR, FOR OUR KIDS TO BROWSE AS WELL.
EVERYTHING FROM BOARD BOOKS TO PICTURE BOOKS AND CHAPTER BOOKS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE A MINIATURE VERSION OF ALL THE, ALL THE THINGS OUR COMMUNITY LIKES FROM OUR BLUFFTON LIBRARY, UH, TO ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS WHILE THIS RENOVATION TAKES PLACE.
UH, AND THEN MY FINAL POINT REALLY IS OUR CURRENT STATUS OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL OPERATING UNDER COVID-19, UH, OPERATIONS IN OUR PHASE THREE OF OUR PANDEMIC REOPENING PLAN, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES AND BOOKMOBILES ARE OPEN FOR QUICK, UM, GRAB AND GO TYPE OF SERVICE, UH, HOLDS PICKUP.
AND WE STILL OFFER CURBSIDE SERVICE AS WELL.
OF COURSE, ALL EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE VACCINE ROLLOUT TO PHASE ONE B THAT ALL PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF ARE INCLUDED IN PHASE ONE B TO BE ELIGIBLE, TO REGISTER FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE AS A FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKER, I'VE SUPPLIED THEM WITH A VERIFICATION LETTER SO THAT IF THEY'RE ASKED FOR REASONS FOR WHY THEY ARE A FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKER AND WHY THEY ARE IN THE PUBLIC SETTING FOR LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES AND HAVE AN INCREASED RISK FOR EXPOSURE, UM, THEY HAVE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT IN, TO REGISTER FOR A VACCINE AT SOME POINT.
AND THEN FINALLY, IN TERMS OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS, WE CONTINUE TO SEE A GRADUAL INCREASE OF NUMBERS OF PEOPLE VISITING OUR LIBRARY FACILITIES AND BOOKMOBILES AS WELL AS A, AS A, SOME GRADUAL INCREASE IN OUR DIGITAL, PHYSICAL, UH, CIRCULATION USE.
AND SO THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT AS PEOPLE BECOME MORE AND MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS OF OUR PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS THE VACCINE ROLLING OUT THAT WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE RETURN TO OUR FACILITIES IN SERVICES.
AND IF THERE ARE NOT ANY, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR LIBRARY, OPERATIONS PERSONNEL OR PROJECTS, I WILL SET THE STAGE FOR OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
I SEE LYNN HAS A QUESTION, GO AHEAD, THEN YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO PRESS ON MUTE SO THAT I CAN HEAR YOU.
UM, UH, THE, UM, THE STAFF AT THE POP-UP LIBRARY, HOW ARE YOU ACCOMMODATING ALL THE STAFF AT THE POP-UP LIBRARY? IS THERE ENOUGH ROOM? SO WE ACTUALLY, SO WE'RE UTILIZING THE LOBBY, THE ENTRYWAY AS ONE STAFFED SERVICE POINT.
SO WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER THERE THAT'S, UM, FOR A REALLY QUICK ANALOGY, THAT'S OUR REFERENCE POSITION.
SO OUR REFERENCE TEAM ROTATES THROUGH, THROUGH THAT DESK IN THE LOBBY, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO STAFF,
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UH, SERVICE POINTS IN OUR LARGE MEETING ROOM.AND SO OUR CIRCULATION STAFF ROTATE THROUGHOUT MANNING THAT SPACE, UM, AS WELL AS A FEW, WHAT WE CALL RUNNERS WHO ARE BRINGING MATERIALS AS NEEDED IN IT TO BACKFILL, TO, TO RE, TO DO SPECIAL REQUESTS.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A STAFF WHO ARE WORKING IN THE STAFF AREA OF THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY, WHICH IS NOT A PART OF THE RENOVATION, UM, SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO ANSWER CURBSIDE REQUEST, PHONE CALLS, EMAILS, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO WE HAVE EVERYBODY EQUALLY SPACED AND ROTATING IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE ALL THE PLACES, UM, ARE COVERED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. BURNEY FOR A PHONE YOU'RE ON MUTE BERNIE ON MUTE.
THERE I GOT, ANYWAY, AMANDA, DO YOU STILL HAVE THE BOXES FOR DONATION OF BOOKS? NOT ONLY AT BLOCK TWO, BUT AT THE OTHER BRANCHES, BRANCH LIBRARIES ARE ACCEPTING DONATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY.
UM, WE DID INCLUDE A SPACE IN THE POP-UP FOR A SMALL VERSION OF THE FRIEND'S BOOK SALE, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AN INFLUX OF DONATIONS AT THIS TIME.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DONATIONS ARE AVAILABLE OR ACCEPTED AT ALL OF OUR BRANCH LIBRARIES WITH THE EXCEPTION TEMPORARILY OF THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY WHILE IT UNDERGOES RENOVATION.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU TO TELL YOUR TRUSTEES THAT AMANDA AND HER STAFF HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL WITH THE AAR P AND VITA TEXT PROGRAMS. UM, WE ARE MAKING YOU DO THE BROOKLYN LIBRARY, HILTON HEAD LIBRARIES OPEN, AND THEY INVITE, UH, ARE VERY HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE AND OFFER FREE SERVICE, BUT AMANDA AND HER STAFF MADE IT HAPPEN.
A QUESTION FOR AMANDA BEFORE WE GO TO JOE WITH THE FINANCES, JOE ASKED THAT I SET THE STAGE FOR HIM.
SO I WANTED TO JUST KIND OF PREFACE HIS REMARKS BY SAYING WE ARE NOW IN BUDGET SEASON.
SO WE ARE BEGINNING THE INITIAL BUDGET REQUESTS AND, AND STARTING TO TACKLE, UM, THAT, UH, PROJECT AS WELL.
UM, I WILL MENTION THAT THIS YEAR, UM, IT IS GOOD THAT CHUCK IS HERE AS WELL.
UM, FOR THIS YEAR, WE ARE MAKING THE MOVE, UH, TOWARDS PLACING NAMED MATERIALS LINE ITEM BUDGET, UH, FOR THE PURCHASE OF BOOKS, DVDS, ALL OF THOSE INFORMATION RESOURCES IN OUR GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET.
AND IN DOING THAT, THAT PROVIDES THE LIBRARY WITH A RELIABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING.
THAT'S NOT DETERMINED BY A BALANCE OF IMPACT FEES OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF FUNDING SOURCE.
SO WE'RE THIS YEAR, THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WE ARE TAKING THE RECOMMENDATION AND THE REQUIREMENT OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND PUTTING A MATERIALS LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET.
OKAY, LET ME ADD SOMETHING TO THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH DURING OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, NUMBER ONE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER ALL OF THE LINE ITEMS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET WITH AMANDA, BEFORE THEY WERE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY LOWN BUDGET DIRECTOR.
AND, UM, FOR AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I'M SATISFIED THAT THE, THAT THE, THAT OUR FORWARD A CONCERT GOING TO BE COVERED AND EVERYTHING LOOKS QUITE AN ORDER ON THE SUBJECT OF MATERIALS AND THE IMPACT PHASE.
UM, THIS IS, YOU COULD SAY THE REALIZATION OF, UH, OF OUR MANY, MANY, YOUR GOAL THAT THAT MATERIALS WOULD ACTUALLY BE, BE, BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE OPERATING BUDGET, AS OPPOSED TO IMPACT BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU KNOW, IMPACT FEES, WORRYING RESORT THAT WE TOOK TO IN ORDER TO GET ENOUGH BOOKS ON OUR SHELVES.
UM, AND, AND IF YOU GO REALLY BACK TO THE ENABLING LEGISLATION, IMPACT PAYS WERE REALLY DESIGNED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AS OPPOSED TO REALLY MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES LIKE BOOKS AND AUDIO BOOKS.
AND THE OTHER THING, AT LEAST FROM THE COUNTY POINT OF VIEW, I THINK THIS GIVES THEM A RELIABLE SOURCE OF CAPITOL FUNDS.
UM, AND IT ALSO RESOLVES AN ISSUE THAT THE LIBRARY STAFF HAS TO DEAL WITH, WHICH IS REALLY THE AGING OF THESE FUNDS AND THE GEOGRAPHIC ALLOCATION OF THESE FUNDS.
SO THAT RESPONSIBILITY GETS MOVED FROM OUR LIBRARY STAFF OVER TO OVER TO THE COUNTY, UM, BECAUSE REALLY THE USE OF MATERIALS WOULD NEVER DEPLETE THE FUNDS SUFFICIENTLY IN ORDER TO ACCOUNT FOR THE AGING ASPECT OF THESE PHONES.
AND THEN THE ITSELF, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THESE FUNDS BE SPENT WITHIN A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME AND MATERIAL EXPENDITURES ALONE WOULD NOT REALLY ACCOUNT FOR THAT.
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SO AT LEAST FROM SORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN REVIEWED, BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN DEPTH, AND WE'RE REALLY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT AS FAR AS WE KNOW SO FAR.ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS SUBJECT BEFORE WE MOVE INTO FINANCE ITSELF? NOW ALL THE DATA WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET? YES, YES.
SO WE GO INTO THE FINANCE SIDE.
UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IN THE COMMITTEE START OFF IN OUR NORMAL FASHION, WHICH IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR SPECIAL FUNDS AND WHERE I'D LIKE TO BEGIN.
AS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE WITH OUR, UH, FADE AID FUNDS SAVINGS.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER 181,000 AND MAY WEEK.
WE'VE ACCUMULATED THUS FAR THAT TIER 243,000 SPENT 107, WHICH IS LEAVING US WITH 141,000 IN FORWARD MONEY THAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR.
SO FROM A MATERIALS POINT OF VIEW, WE'RE PRETTY GOOD.
YOU'LL SEE THAT NUMBER REPEATED AGAIN WHEN WE GET INTO THE MATERIALS EXPENDITURE REPORT, BUT THEN HUNDRED, THE 41,000 IS GIVING US A CUSHION FOR UPCOMING, UH, UPCOMING BILLS FOR HER, UH, EBOOKS.
AND, UH, HOOPLA HAS A LIFE THAT MONEY HAS TO BE THERE.
IF YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, WE ARE AT $5 MILLION.
I CAN SIT BACK AND RETIRE AND WE REACH A FINANCIAL GOAL AT THIS POINT.
WHAT IS SURPRISING IN THE, AND THIS LAST TWO MONTHS IS THAT MOST OF THE IMPACT FEE REVENUE, HILTON HEAD ISLAND DISTRICT, THAT THE CLOSE TO THE BLUFFTON DISTRICT.
AND IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE NUMBERS OF 48% OF IT CAME FROM HILTON HEAD BOB BY 44% FROM BLUFFTON, AND THEN 8% FROM ST.
HELENA, UM, FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE, LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN MY OWN HUMIDITY, COMBAT A HALL, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE SOURCE OF IMPACT FEES.
UH, THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN AND CONSTRUCTION IS REALLY GOING AT A FAST PACE.
AND THEN LASTLY ON JOE, CAN I JUST SAY, I'M NOT AS SURPRISED BY THAT BASED ON WHAT GENE BACK THE HEAD OF THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION ON HILTON HEAD REPORTS, THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH, UH, AND, AND IN CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING AND TRANSACTIONS.
THERE ARE REAL ESTATE AGENTS WHO ARE REPORTING THE, TO THAT.
I TALKED TO A REAL ESTATE AGENT RECENTLY WHO WAS REPORTING THE 2020 WAS HER RECORD YEAR.
AND SHE BEAT THAT IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2021, ONE SIXTH OF THE YEAR, TELL YOU THAT.
UM, WHEN I FIRST STARTED FRIENDS, THAT WAS WHAT, 10, 15 YEARS AGO, THEY STAYED THE COUNTY KEPT SAYING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE IMPACT.
THESE HILTON HEAD IS ALL BUILT OUT.
THAT IS SURPRISING THAT I, AND I THINK IT PERFECTED WHAT THEY WERE SAYING LOCALLY HERE.
UM, AND LASTLY, THE SPECIAL TRUST, THERE'S ONLY BEEN A SMALL EXPENDITURE FOR THE BUFORD COUNTY DISTRICT COLLECTION, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT THERE ABOUT $240 BEING SPENT.
SO THAT REALLY WRAPS IT UP ON THE SPECIAL FUND SIDE.
AND THEN LOOKING OVER OUR BUDGET UPDATE AND LOOKING THROUGH THE APP AT THE VIOLENT HERE WE ARE EIGHT MONTHS THROUGH THE YEAR, TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY, 66% OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR, WE SPENT 59% OF OUR BUDGET.
SO YOU COULD SAY IN A NUTSHELL, FINANCIALLY, THE LIBRARY HAS UNDERSPENT AND WELL FUNDED, REALLY SORT OF PLEASED WITH THAT, TO AN EXTENT WHERE WE'RE SHOWING AN UNSPENT RESERVE A LITTLE LESS THAN $300,000 THROUGH THE YEAR PERIOD.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT SURPRISING AS AMANDA SAID, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NINE VACANCIES.
I THINK IT IS THAT YOU'RE REPORTED THERE.
AND IF WE ARE UNDERSPENT AT THIS POINT AND LASTLY CENTER BY FAVORITE REPORT IS REALLY THE MATERIALS EXPENDITURE REPORT EIGHT MONTHS THROUGH THE YEAR 364,000 BEING SPENT ON MATERIALS, WHICH IS A REALLY HEALTHY NUMBER.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE CAN ALL TAKE PRIDE IN.
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FUNDS THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR OF THAT 364, IS IT 204,000 COMING OUT OF IMPACT PIECE.SO THAT GIVES YOU SOME IDEA OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT PIECE AND WHAT, AND WHAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE NEXT BIGGEST SIDE IS REALLY THE 101,000 STATE AID THAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR.
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY COMING THIRD AT 56,000, WHICH IS A VERY HEALTHY NUMBER THERE.
UM, MOST OF THE MONEY BEING SPENT SO FAR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ON MATERIALS, WHICH IS REALLY THE, THE, THE, AGAIN THAT THE BEST SELLERS AND SUCH SAY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE GIANT MADE US GIANT GRETCHEN.
SO THAT'S AN INDICATION OF JUST WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT IS BEING SPENT HEALTHFULLY.
AND WITH THAT, I'M WRAPPING UP THE FINANCIAL SIDE AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE, OR COMMENTS, COMMENTS FROM TRUST.
OKAY, JOE, AS ALWAYS, WHEN YOU'RE DIGGING INTO THAT WITH YOUR COMMITTEE REPORTS FOUNDATION, PLEASE ADD THE FOUNDATION, MATT, UH, THEY ARE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH INSURANCE IN PLACE.
UM, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT AND THEY WOULD DO THEIR FINANCES AND THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL THAT WAS DONE.
SO I KNOW AMANDA GOES TO ALL THESE, BUT BUFORD, BRENDA'S NOT HERE, JAMES, DO YOU EVER REPORT IT? YEAH, SO, I MEAN, I, WASN'T UNABLE TO, UNFORTUNATELY LAST MONTH TO ATTEND THEIR MEETING, SO ANATOMY TO BE ABLE TO ADD ONTO THIS, BUT THE DEER FOR A LOT OF THEIR FRIENDS DID JUST END THEIR BOOKS SANDWICH IN, WHICH WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, UH, THEY ENDED, UH, THIS PAST MONDAY WAS THE LAST DAY THAT THEY HAD RAN FROM JANUARY TO NOW, UH, AND FROM, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, ALL OF THE SESSIONS THAT THEY'VE HAD WERE WELL-ATTENDED AND EVERYONE SEEMED VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF THE BOOK SANDWICH, THEN.
SO KUDOS TO, UH, THE, UH, FRIENDS OF THE PUPIL LIBRARY.
UM, THEY ALWAYS DO WONDERFUL THINGS AND, UM, HAVE CONTINUED AND ADAPTED, UH, IN THIS COVID, UH, VIRTUAL SPACE, UH, TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT THEY DO.
UH, THEIR NEXT MEETING ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE NEXT THURSDAY, THE 18TH, UM, OF WHICH OUR PARENTS WOULD ATTEND TO AT THAT MEETING, THERE'LL BE ELECTING A NEW BOARD.
UM, UM, SO, UM, THAT SHOULD BE EXCITING.
AND, UM, UH, AGAIN, AND ALSO WANT TO ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE.
THEIR WEBSITE HAS BEEN UPDATED, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON, LIKE TRIPLE SANDWICH AND, UH, HAS BEEN REALLY WELL, UM, WEBSITE HAS DONE WELL, BUT I TRY TO KEEP THAT UP TO DATE AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, KUDOS TO THAT TEAM FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN.
AND, UM, THAT'S WHAT I HAVE, AMANDA, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT, UM, WELCOME.
ROSELEE YOU EVER REPORT ON THAT FOR ME? NO, THERE'S NOTHING TO RESPOND ON THE BLUSTON LIBRARY, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
THE DESIGN, THE ARCHITECTURE HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THAT LIBRARY.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THERE WILL BE SPACE FOR THE ADULTS WHEN THEY ACCOMPANIED THE CHILDREN TO THE LIBRARY.
THAT THERE'LL BE ENOUGH EATING AREAS FOR THE ADULTS.
UH, THERE CERTAINLY WASN'T ENOUGH SEATING AREA IN THE PREVIOUS DESIGN.
CHAD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO RESPOND TO THAT NOW OR IN, UH, IN BERNIE'S, UH, FACILITIES REPORT? UM, LET'S WAIT UNTIL LET'S WAIT UNTIL FACILITY.
UM, DO WE HAVE A REPORT FROM HILTON FRIENDS THEY MET YESTERDAY? UM, THEY ARE TRYING TO RECRUIT, UH, VOLUNTEERS IN THE GIFT SHOP AT, TO GIVE SAID, BOOKS, THE BOOKSTORE THEY'RE HAPPY.
THERE'S A, UM, THEY'RE REALLY HAVING TROUBLE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING BACK.
THEY HAVE A LIST OF 20 SUBS AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE SUBBING.
SO THAT'S, THEY'RE GONNA TRY TO MAKE SOME, UH, UH, TRY TO ADVERTISE TO GET SOME MORE PEOPLE IN FOR THAT.
AND ALSO WE GIVE YOU SOME, A FEW BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL.
SO THIS COVID HAS TAKEN A LOT OF STEAM OUT OF THE VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES TO TELL YOU ABOUT INITIATIVE THAT I THINK IS KIND OF INTERESTING ON THE ISLAND.
A WOMAN NAMED
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UH, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF IT ANYWAY, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE, UH, OF THE TOWN.AND IT'S CALLED THE ISLAND BOOKSHELF, AND IT'S ALL A STANDBY, THE, UH, HILTON HEADS ISLANDS OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
AND THEY HAVE SET UP A LITTLE AREA OUTSIDE THE, UH, ART CENTER, CLOSE TO CAROLINA, AND SHE COMES OVER AND SHE BUYS BOOKS ON POETRY OR CULTURAL THINGS AND PUTS THEM THERE AND THEN RESELLS THEM.
AND I ACTUALLY STARTED CONVERSATIONS.
SHE HAS CONVERSATIONS GOING ON IN THIS LITTLE AREA OUTSIDE.
HE, UH, THE, THE, THE ROOM WHERE THEY DISPLAY THEIR ART.
SO SHE JUST STARTED THAT AND SHE'S PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WITH IT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING INITIATIVE AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT'LL GO.
UM, SO I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL, WE TALKED ABOUT AMANDA, THE FRIENDS CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW YOUR LIAISON REPORTED ACCURATELY.
UM, WE DON'T UPDATE THE GENDER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
I KNOW JANET, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVERY TIME.
DO YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS OR BE SURE AS, AS EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED KNOWS, BUT I WANT ANYBODY WHO'S LIKE ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT, UM, WE TAKE STRATEGIC PLANNING REALLY SERIOUSLY OUTSTANDING STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.
ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, WE INTENDED TO, TO RESTART AND RETHINK OUR STRATEGIC PLAN STARTING IN 2020 AND HAD THAT ALL READY TO GO INTO COVID.
AND BECAUSE WE SEE COMMUNITY INPUT IS SO VITAL TO THAT PROCESS, FOCUS GROUPS, TOWN MEETINGS, ET CETERA.
WE DECIDED TO DELAY IT, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE RECRUITMENT OF A NEW DIRECTOR.
SO ONCE WE GET AN IT DIRECTOR ON BOARD, WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, AND WE HOPE EVERYBODY WHO'S LISTENING.
WHO'S UM, INTERESTED OBVIOUSLY IN LIBRARY SERVICES, UM, PARTICIPATES FULLY AND GIVES US LOTS OF FEEDBACK.
I KNOW YOU'RE KICKED UP FRONT WITH CENTERS.
I BELIEVE WE DON'T HAVE ANY JOE.
WE WERE MAN ON CHALLENGE BURNING EXCITING PART COMMITTEE.
UH, BOTH THE, UH, THE BOSTON LIBRARY IS, UH, 19 YEARS OLD.
AND THE AD LIBRARY IS I'M GUESSING 30 YEARS.
AND ANY OF THAT THINGS ARE CHANGED IN TERMS OF THE POPULATION IN THOSE YEARS.
SO NOW WE ARE ADDRESSING THAT IN BLUFFTON, EXCUSE ME, WHERE 20 YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE AN AWFUL LOT OF CHILDREN.
NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A TON OF CHILDREN.
SO AS AMANDA HAS SAID EARLIER, WE ARE SWITCHING THE SPACES AROUND TO GIVE MORE SPACE FOR THE CHILDREN, FACILITIES, CHILLED HER MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES, AND TAKING AWAY SOME FROM THE ADULTS, BUT NOBODY'S BEING STARVED INTELLECTUALLY.
NOW, INITIALLY THAT'S OUR CURRENT RENOVATION PROJECT, WHICH IS NOW APPROVED, AS AMANDA SAID, IT'S WAITING FOR, UH, PERMITS.
UH, BUT WE WILL BE STARTING HOPEFULLY, UH, MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR, THE REVERSE REC, UH, RENOVATION FOR THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY, WHERE WE WILL TAKE SOME OF THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF WOOD TO BECOME ADULT SECTION.
AND, UH, THEN THE OTHER BIG ITEM IS A POSSIBLE NEW LIBRARY AT RIVERSIDE.
BUT FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ON THE END FOR HELPING TO GET LOTS OF PUBLICITY FOR THE CLOSING OF THE LIBRARY IS THE BUFORD GIVES THAT, IS IT SHOWING UP ON THERE? THAT'S THE FRONT PAGE FROM, UH, MARCH THE SECOND.
AND THEN TODAY IT IS BLOCKED IN PACKAGE INSERT FOR THE, UH, FOR THE, UH, BUFORD, IS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER FRONT PAGE ARTICLE, WHICH GIVES A LOT OF INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY HAVE A FAIR WAY OF KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT THIS TIMELINE, WHAT IS COST, STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT TO THE NEW RIVERSIDE BRANCH, THE BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, PUT IN, UH, PRE-PURCHASE MONEY OF, OF ABOUT IT SAYS GETTING THE 90,000.
BUT I THINK IT WAS ACTUALLY 30.
IS THAT RIGHT? AMANDA? IT WAS 30TH, SIR.
[00:30:02]
IN ANY FAST THEY'RE EXPECTING THIS TO BE DONE PROBABLY BY THE LATE FALL, I GUESS.AND OF COURSE THAT ALL DEPENDS ON THE PROBLEMS THEY RUN INTO, IF THEY HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL STRENGTHENING, THE AFTERNOON, STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO RIGHT NOW, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE LIBRARIES GROW INTELLIGENTLY WITH THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I THINK AMANDA IS DOING A GREAT JOB OVERSEEING THAT, UH, CHUCK ATKINSON HAS BEEN HELPING ALONG WITH IT.
UH, SO I HAD LUNCH TODAY WITH PAUL SOMERVILLE AND THEY'RE ON BOARD.
OF COURSE, PAUL IS AN OLD AVID FAN OF LIBRARIES.
I THINK HE'S LIKE FOURTH OR FIFTH GENERATION BORN AND RAISED IN BUFORD.
SO WE'VE GOT FRIENDS IN THESE POSITIONS.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER, GO AHEAD, MOSLEY, OR IS IN THE, UM, LOST IN LIBRARY RENOVATION, HAS WE PUT ENOUGH ROOM ASIDE AND ALSO A FURNITURE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIT BECAUSE ADULTS MUST ACCOMPANY CHILDREN IN THE LIBRARY.
AND IN THE SUMMER TIME, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHILDREN IN THE LIBRARY AND THERE'S A NEED FOR A LOT OF ADULTS TO HAVE A PLACE TO SIT.
WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TRIED TO MAKE SOME REASONABLE, UH, AMENDMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS.
UH, BUT I THINK AMANDA CAN PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT, UH, MORE ACCURATELY AND SUCCINCTLY.
YES, I'D LOVE TO, UM, THE DESIGN DRAWINGS THAT WERE PRESENTED BEFORE THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES IN WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON OUR RENOVATIONS PAGE, UH, ARE JUST AN ARTIST RENDERING A POSSIBILITY.
UM, SO THE, THE PLACEMENT OF SHELVING, THE PLACEMENT OF FURNITURE ON THERE IS AN IDEA ONLY, UM, I AM CURRENTLY, UH, WORKING TO GET, UH, QUOTES FROM LIBRARY FURNITURE IN, UM, WHAT WE CALL FFNE.
SO FURNITURE, FIXTURES, AND EQUIPMENT, UM, WORKING TO GET QUOTES FOR THAT AND A DESIGN PLAN TO ACTUALLY OUTFIT THOSE SPACES FOR THE, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE INTENDED TO.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU, UM, THAT I DO HOPE TO SEND TO THIS BOARD, AND WE'LL ALSO POST ON OUR WEBSITE PICTURES OF THE EMPTIED SPACES SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, THE ORIGINAL FOOTPRINT OF THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY HAS FOUR EQUAL SECTIONS ON EACH OF THE CORNERS.
SO THE NEW CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING SECTION IS EXACTLY THE SAME FOOTPRINT AS THE, THE NEW ADULT SECTION.
SO, UM, WE WILL, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOFT FURNITURE.
IN FACT, WITH EACH OF THE DESIGNERS THAT I TALKED TO, I TELL THEM, I WANT COMFORTABLE.
I WANT SOFT AND I WANT CLEANABLE AND I WANT PRETTY.
SO, UM, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A LOOK AND FEEL, BUT RON IS, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU ANY FUTURE UPDATES TO THE, THAT END LOOK AND FEEL OF THE INTERIOR OF THE, OF THE LIBRARY.
UM, AS WELL AS WHATEVER COLORS AND SWATCHES WE CAN PROVIDE, BUT IT IS A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL AGES ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, AND THAT THERE ARE SPACES FOR EVERYONE.
AND THAT EVERYONE FEELS THAT THE, THE, THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY BELONGS TO THEM.
UM, MY FEELING IS IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT COMFORTABLE AS LONG AS THERE ARE CHAIRS THAT ARE COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT FABRIC CHAIRS SOMEPLACE TO SIT, YES, WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE RELAXING, COMFORTABLE PLACES TO SIT.
THE DESIGN TERM IS SOFT FURNITURE, KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE LIBRARY, UM, EXISTING, BUT WE WANT TO UPDATE IT AND GIVE IT A FRESH LOOK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CUSHIONS ARE, ARE UPDATED AND THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY NEW AND RELAXING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO SIT AND BROWSE, READ, READ THE PAPER, OR WAIT FOR CHILDREN.
AND SO I AM EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU, UH, WHAT WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP WITH.
AND I THINK YOU'LL BE PLEASED WITH ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT WE'RE INCLUDING.
ALL RIGHT, CAM, I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL KIND OF UNRELATED COMMENT.
UH, YOU MAY KNOW, YOU MAY NOTICE WHEN I'M WEARING MY IRISH SCREENING SWEATER TODAY IN HONOR OF THE IRISH SIDE OF MY FAMILY AND ST.
PATRICK'S DAY, WHICH IS COMING UP A WEEK FROM TODAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HELLO EVERYBODY OUT THERE.
AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR ENJOYING ST.
I HOPE THAT WAS OKAY TO SAY THAT.
[00:35:01]
YEAH, SO YOU'RE OKAY.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BERNIE OR AMANDA ON THE RENOVATIONS OR ANY OF THE FACILITIES? OKAY.
ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT FOR THE FACILITIES WERE RENOVATION, UH, THE, UM, THE NEW RIVERSIDE LIBRARY, WE WERE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH A DEVELOPER.
WE HAVE RECEIVED THE PROPERTY PLATS AND WE HAVE RECEIVED THE PHASE ONE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, WHICH THE DEVELOPER COMPLETED BACK IN, WHICH WAS GOOD.
WE ARE WAITING ON THREE ITEMS. ONE IS THE BLUFFTON DEVELOPMENT PERMIT.
THE SECOND ONE IS WATER AND SEWER APPROVALS.
AND THE THIRD ONE IS, UH,
AND THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO CONTRACT AND PURCHASE, FREEZE A PROPERTY UNTIL WE ARE CERTAIN THAT WE HAVE ACCESS.
AND THEN ALL OF THE UTILITIES ARE AVAILABLE.
UH, AND THEN THINGS ARE, ARE GOING TO BE THERE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON.
ONCE WE, UH, CHECKED THE BOXES, WE WILL I'LL WORK WITH LEGAL TO GET A CONTRACT PUT TOGETHER MY PROPOSAL ON THE PROPERTY AND THEN MOVE INTO THE DESIGN PHASE.
UM, THE, THE DESIGN PHASE, THE PRELIMINARY RFP IS ALREADY BEEN PUT TOGETHER.
WE'RE DOING SOME OF THAT CONCURRENTLY.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PUSHING HARD TO MOVE THIS DOWN THE TRACKS.
NO, I DO APPRECIATE ALL YOU'RE DOING ON THAT.
AND I'M SO GLAD WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH STORM WATER AND THE DLT, ALL OF THAT.
THE PHASE ONE, DID ANYTHING SHOW UP? NO, MA'AM, EVERYTHING'S GOOD.
MA'AM THIS IS REALLY TO ALLEVIATE THE INCREDIBLY HIGH DEMAND.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS, WE'RE STILL VERY PRELIMINARY, BUT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WHO ARE LISTENING, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT WE THINK NOW IS OUR POTENTIAL OPEN DAY? SO A VERY LOOSE TIMELINE WOULD BE ASSUMING EVERYTHING.
I'M ASSUMING WE GET THINGS FROM THE DEVELOPER AND TIMELY MANNER WOULD BE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY WITHIN 90 DAYS, MAYBE 120 DAYS.
WE'RE CONCURRENTLY STARTING WORK ON THE, UH, THE DESIGN SHOW US POTENTIALLY INTO THE FALL.
THEN ONCE WE HAVE THE NAIL DOWN, WE CAN PUT THE DESIGN OUT FOR BID, UM, HOPEFULLY TO START CONSTRUCTION LATE SPRING TO MID, UH, 20, 22.
AND SO SOME WOULD TAKE A YEAR.
ARE WE THINKING JANUARY OF 2023? IT WOULD.
BUT AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPER.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE SITE.
THE ROADS ARE NOT CUT, SO IT'S A VERY LOOSE TIMELINE AND I'M TRYING TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUSHING IT OUT THAT FAR.
IF THE ROADS GET PUT IN, IF ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE'S IN, UH, IT COULD GO FASTER THAN THAT.
UH, BUT THE DESIGN PHASE AND GETTING IT MOVING IS SORT OF THE QUICKER PART.
UH, BUT A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON DEVELOPER THE DEVELOPER, UH, WHY I'M BEING SO CONSERVATIVE WITH THAT TIME.
WELL, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU ON OUR TEAM TO OVERSEE THAT CHECK.
THERE'S GOING TO BE BRIEF MEETING.
I WONDER TELL THE PUBLIC WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUES.
SO BROADCAST WE'LL STOP IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY VOTES ARE TAKEN WILL BE DONE IN PUBLIC.
SO IF YOU NOTIFY THEM, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND AMANDA, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU NOT JOIN US, PLEASE, AS WELL.
[00:43:26]
HAVE A GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
[00:45:06]
THIS IS LARRY ROLAND, AND THIS IS THE BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT.ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING ARTIFACTS IN BUFORD COUNTY TO TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE ARE THE RUINS OF THE OLD SHELDON CHURCH.
THE PROPER NAME IS THE PARISH CHURCH OF PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH.
SOUTH CAROLINA PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH WAS FOUNDED IN 1745 IN RESPONSE.
IT WAS THE SECOND ANGLICAN PARISH IN THE BUFORD DISTRICT.
HELENA PARISH FOUNDED IN 1712, THE ORIGINAL PARENT PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH IN 1745 WAS IN THE MIDST OF AN ECONOMIC BOOM BECAUSE THE RICE PLANTATION SURROUNDED THE SITE ON HOSPITAL NECK, WHERE THE CHURCH EVENTUALLY WAS BUILT.
AND THOSE RICE PLANTERS WERE VERY WEALTHY IN 1745.
THE COMMONS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ESTABLISHED PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH.
AND IN 1751, THEY LAID THE CORNERSTONE FOR PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH CHURCH.
THE CHURCH WAS FINISHED BY 1755 AND WELL-APPOINTED, IT HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST OR OLDEST TEMPLE FORM, GREEK REVIVAL BUILDING IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
SO THAT RUINED IT, SHELDON, WHICH FASCINATES PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD FASCINATE PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE OF A TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE THAT BECAME ASSOCIATED WITH AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND AMERICAN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH CHURCH, OR THE OLD SHELDON RUINS WAS BURNED BY BRITISH TORIES DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN 1779.
IT LAY IN RUINS UNTIL 1826, CHARLES FRASER, THE FAMOUS LOW COUNTRY ARTISTS PAINTED A PICTURE OF IT IN 1819 AFTER IT WAS RESTORED TO USE AND SERVICES IN 1826, HE CAME AND LOOKED AT IT AND HE SAID, MY GOD, THEY'VE TAKEN A BEAUTIFUL RUIN AND TURNED IT INTO AN UGLY CHURCH.
SO THE UNION ARMY AND THE EVENTS OF THE CIVIL WAR RESTORED IT TO A BEAUTIFUL RUIN.
WE THOUGHT FOR MANY YEARS, THAT PRINCE WILLIAM PARISH CHURCH HAD BEEN BURNED BY SHERMAN'S FORCES AS THEY MARCH THROUGH THIS DISTRICT.
THAT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.
THE CHURCH WAS INTACT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR AND WAS BY LOCAL FOLKS WHO USE THE PARTS OF THE CHURCH TO BUILD THEIR HOMES AND BARNS.
AND SO THE WOOD BASICALLY WAS TAKEN OUT.
THE ROOF, FELL IN THE CHURCH, BECAME A RUIN AND WAS IN DISUSE UNTIL MODERN TIMES.
IT HAS REMAINED AS CHARLES FRASER SAID A BEAUTIFUL AND ENTICING RUIN.
THIS HAS BEEN A BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT TO SEE MORE BUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ESTABLISHED AS A PILOT PROGRAM.
AND, UH, SINCE THEN IT'S EXPANDED TO 46 COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.
SO WE WERE FIRST ONE IN THE STATE TO UTILIZE THE ADOPT A HIGHWAY PROGRAM.
THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO BE AN OFFICIAL ADOPT.
A HIGHWAY PROGRAM IS FOUR LITTER PICKUPS A YEAR, BUT WE HAVE SUCH GREAT VOLUNTEER GROUPS THAT MANY OF THEM CHOOSE TO CONDUCT MONTHLY PICKUPS BECAUSE THEY REALIZED THAT LITTER IS LIKE A DOMINO EFFECT.
ONCE IT STARTS TO PILE UP, IT JUST CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND INCREASE.
SO THEY WANT TO STOP THE LITTER PILE UPS AND KNOW THAT IF THEY DON'T GET OUT THERE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, IT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT A THIRD OF OUR GROUPS GO OUT MONTHLY, PROBABLY THE REST OF THE GROUPS GO GO OUT FOUR TO SIX TIMES A YEAR.
WE PROVIDE ALL THE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE ADOPT A HIGHWAY PROGRAM, UH, BETWEEN DDOT AND THE COUNTY.
WE PROVIDE THE ORANGE LITTER BAGS THAT SAY ADOPT A HIGHWAY.
WE PROVIDE THE GLOVES AND WE PROVIDE GRABBERS.
WE ALSO PROVIDE LITTER PICKUP AHEAD SIGNS.
AND THEN THERE'S A SAFETY DVD VIDEO THAT WE OFFER TO ALL THE GROUPS PICKING UP.
[00:50:01]
WE TRY TO COVER ALL THE GAMBITS OF EVERYTHING.A VOLUNTEER WOULD NEED TO PICK UP FOR AN ADOPTIVE HIGHWAY.
FIRST OF ALL, THE GROUPS SELECT AN AREA THAT THEY'D LIKE TO ADOPT.
THEN THAT NEEDS TO BE A TWO MILE AREA.
AND THEN THE VOLUNTEERS ALL SIGN A FORMAL AGREEMENT, AND THAT IS A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT.
AND ONCE THAT'S THEN SENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND ONCE THEY, IT IN THE GROUP CAN GET CONDUCTS A LITTER PICKUP, THEY WILL THEN ORDER A SIGN IN RECOGNITION OF THE GROUP.
AND SO THEY DO NEED A TWO YEAR COMMITMENT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THAT KIND OF EXPOSURE.
AND THANK YOU FOR A GROUP TO HAVE AN ADOPT A HIGHWAY SIGN, WHICH MOST OF OUR GROUPS REALLY APPRECIATE.
WE'RE ALWAYS ADDING NEW GROUPS AND THEN SOME GROUPS WERE, ARE ALSO DROPPING OFF.
BUT I WOULD SAY OUR NUMBERS ARE INCREASING.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT LITERACY IS SUCH A CRITICAL PROBLEM AND THAT THE STATE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PICK UP LITTER.
SO THEY ARE NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TAKING ACTION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLEANING UP THEIR, FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN.
AND SO WE ARE ADDING GROUPS AND WE JUST HAVE A WONDERFUL GROUP OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS STEWARDS IN OUR COUNTIES.
THERE ARE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FROM 1988.
THEY JUST REALIZED THE IMPACT IF THEY DON'T PICK IT UP.
FOR INSTANCE, WITHIN THIS LAST YEAR, WE PICKED UP OUR VOLUNTEERS DONATED 4,000 HOURS AND JUST WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, THEY PICKED UP 80,000 POUNDS OF LITTER.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, IF THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED, HOW MUCH LITTER WOULD BE PILED UP ON THE ROAD, MOST OF OUR CLEANUPS TAKE PLACE EARLY IN THE MORNING.
SO, UH, THAT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THESE ADOPTIVE HIGHWAY PROGRAMS PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN, BECAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY OUT THERE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND PEOPLE DON'T SEE THEM.
THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE VOLUNTEER WORK THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEERS.
IT INCREASES ECONOMICS ON MANY LEVELS.
SO VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF LITTER IN A VIABLE WAY TO BENEFIT ALL OF THE RESIDENTS.
PEOPLE
I'M ERIC MCCLELLAN COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER WITH THE BEAVER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NINE ONE ONE DISPATCH CENTER.
HOWEVER, CLOSURE TO THOSE CASES DOES TOO MANY ARE SOLVED WITH TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC THROUGH CRIMESTOPPERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
THE PROGRAM RECEIVES AND DISSEMINATES CRIME TIPS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ALL WHILE ALLOWING THE TIPSTER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY CRIME OR CASE IN BUFORD COUNTY, YOU CAN SHARE INFORMATION WITHOUT SHARING YOUR IDENTITY.
YOU CAN EASILY SUBMIT AN ANONYMOUS TIP BY CALLING CRIMESTOPPERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY AT (843) 554-1111 OR ONLINE@PTHREETIPS.COM.
TIPS THAT LEAD TO THE ARREST OF A SUSPECT OR RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY CAN RESULT IN THE CASH REWARD.
PLEASE HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT TAKE AND KEEP CRIMINALS OFF BUFORD COUNTY STREETS.
SO WE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON, I DON'T THINK IT'S, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.
IT'S A BIG FISH, WHATEVER IT IS.
LOOK AT, THIS IS THIS RED FISH.
YOU HEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT DRUMMING NOISE.
SO THESE THINGS MAKE UP FABULOUS.
DRUMMER NOISE, ANOTHER NAME FOR IT IS RED DRUM.
AND YOU CAN HEAR HIM JUST, JUST CROAKING AWAY.
AND YOU SEE, HE'S GOT THAT KIND OF REDDISH PINKISH COLOR.
THE SPOT TAIL BASS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR THIS GUY.
I MEAN, IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT WE HAVE HERE.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF FISH IS BECAUSE THIS AREA IS STILL IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE.
WE HAVE DEEP WATER, WE HAVE HIGH SALINITY, HIGH TIDAL AMPLITUDE, AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE A RECIPE FOR GREAT FISHING AND GREAT DIVERSITY OF LIFE RANT HERE.
JOIN ME FOR COASTAL KINGDOM ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
[00:55:02]
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY.SO WE HAD THE MONEY, WHICH WAS VERY NICE.
AND WE WERE TRYING TO THINK OF WHAT COULD WE DO? AND, YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT LIKE A BIG PROJECT THAT WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
AND WE SAW THAT THE FIRST BOOKMOBILE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AND BEING VERY WELL UTILIZED, BUT WE ALSO SAW THAT THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES THAT A BOOKMOBILE CAN GO BECAUSE THERE'S MANY ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING THAT CAN'T GET TO THE LIBRARY.
AND THEY'RE ALSO A LOT OF UNDERSERVED CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE EASY ACCESS TO GETTING TO A LIBRARY.
SO WE THOUGHT, AHA, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT WAY FOR US TO SPEND SOME OF THE MONEY AND GET SOMETHING THAT WE FELT WOULD REALLY BE OF USE.
AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD REALLY ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ACCESS NEWS MARKET PENETRATION OF GETTING LIBRARY MATERIALS TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MAKE THE TRIP TO THE LIBRARY OR THEY, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
AND, UH, WE WERE SO SUCCESSFUL WITH THE FIRST BOOK DEAL, BUT IT WAS STRETCHED SO THIN TRYING TO DO BOTH NORTH OF THE BROAD AND DOWN IN THE BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD AREA.
AND WHEN THEY CAME ALONG WHERE THE, UH, FRIENDS OF THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY GROUP DONATED 155,000, I THINK IT WAS TO BUY THIS, OH, WE, WE WERE HAPPY AS COULD BE.
AND WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, A DOUBLE PENETRATION.
GREAT, UH, A GREAT SUCCESS SO FAR, THE ONE HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.
AND WE WANT TO THANK THE FRIENDS AND LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT HERE COMES SOME MORE BASS RIGHT HERE AT THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY, AND IT WILL SERVE ONLY SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
SO BASICALLY IT'S THE HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON AREAS AND THE OTHER BOOKMOBILE, WHICH DROVE BY ME GOING THE OTHER WAY, WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN HERE, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT I'D MISSED THE PROGRAM, UH, THAT WILL STAY NORTH OF THE BROAD AND BE BASED AT THE SCOTT STREET HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY.
WE CLEARLY NEEDED A SECOND, BUT WE'LL BE ALL OUR STATISTICS FROM OUR FIRST BOOKMOBILE EFFORTS SHOWED THAT THIS IS A VIABLE SERVICE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S WANTED ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY.
AND THERE WAS A CLEAR NEED THAT WE NEEDED AN EXTRA VEHICLE TO COVER MORE AREA.
UM, IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, OUR FIRST BOOKMOBILE I THINK HAS, HAS FANS ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTY.
WE HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS AT ASSISTED LIVINGS, PRESCHOOLS.
WE ARE, UM, LIBRARIAN ROCK STARS, SO TO SPEAK.
AND OUR BOOKMOBILE IS, IS, IS THE, THE FAVORITE VISIT FOR, FOR MANY.
SO OUR ROUTE ROUNDS, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, WE RESERVE FRIDAYS AS A DATA TO RESET THE BOOKMOBILE FOR THE, FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
WE ALSO MAKE APPEARANCES AT COMMUNITY EVENTS AND FESTIVALS AS WELL.
SO YOU WILL SEE US ON THE ROAD ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BUFORD COUNTY.