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OR THE THURSDAY, APRIL EIGHT, 2021
[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
RULE AND CRITICAL AND PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING.THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING HOPE EVERYBODY'S SAFE AND ENJOYING SOME OF THIS WARMER WEATHER, UM, TO BEGIN WITH, UM, WHEN WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, BUT, UH, BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE MEDIA, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SHE'S IN THERE IN THE ROOM THERE IN CRYSTAL LAKE, A A, A NEW BOARD MEMBER, MACK BENNETT, WHO'S GOING, GONNA REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE.
UH, MR. BENNETT HAS, UH, GO ON THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE.
HEY, RECOMMENDED HIS APPOINTMENT AND A TECHNICALITY.
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION WHERE YOU'VE COME TO A BOARD MEETING, WE'VE ENCOURAGE YOUR ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION, BUT AFTER THAT, AND SORT OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, BUT WE'RE WAITING FOR THE FULL COUNCIL TO, UH, MAKE A FORMAL APPOINTMENT.
SO WE WELCOME MR. BENNETT BEING HERE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK HIM IF HE COULD BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE HIS BACKGROUND.
SO WE GET A LITTLE SENSE OF WHO HE IS.
UM, MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO, UH, VIEW FOR THREE YEARS AGO AFTER OUR DAUGHTER GOT MARRIED DOWN HERE AND WE SAID, WHY HAVEN'T WE MOVED TO BUFORD SOONER? AND, UH, BEFORE THAT I, UH, SERVED MOSTLY IN THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR.
I SPENT 12 YEARS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NOT ALL THE TIME WORKING ON A DEGREE, I ACTUALLY WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.
AND, UH, AFTER THAT I RAN THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN COLUMBIA AND THEN THE UNITED WAY IN COLUMBIA, UM, PROBABLY MOST RELEVANT TO THIS WORK IS IN THE LATE EIGHTIES.
AND THROUGH THE NINETIES, I SERVED ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL COUNCIL BEFORE IT WAS MADE PART OF D HECK AND REPRESENTED THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON THAT BOARD AND TALKING WITH KAY AND KRISTEN, THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT Y'ALL LOOK AT ARE SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THE PERMIT AND, UH, PROCESSES THAT WE WENT THROUGH ON COASTAL COUNCILS.
SO, UM, HOPEFULLY I CAN REMEMBER SOME OF THAT AND, UH, BRING, UH, ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO, UH, TO THIS, UH, UH, GROUPS, UH, DISCUSSION.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE THE DAY.
UH, THANK YOU FOR, UH, PARTICIPATING YOURSELF AND JOINING US.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING YOUR COMMENTS AND AS I'VE ENCOURAGED YOU, AS WE GO THROUGH OUR BUSINESS TODAY, UH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN, ASK QUESTIONS, MAKE COMMENTS, WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, AND WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT.
SO THAT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AGENDA.
NUMBER TWO IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO FOR APPLE.
L I A M AMANDA? YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
[3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
NUMBER THREE.AND I, UH, AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? OKAY.
UH, MOVED BY WALTER SECOND BY OUR, CAN I SAY OUR SECOND? OKAY.
UM, ANY, ANY, NOBODY WANTS ANY CHANGES OR ANYTHING.
AND SO WE'LL BLOW BY, UM, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, IT'LL BE APPROVED.
SO ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVAL HEARING? NONE.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 11, 2021 ]
NEXT IN ORDER IS, UH, HOPE EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE MINUTES FROM THE MARCH 11 BOARD MEETING AND HAVING DONE THAT WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MINISTER IS CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MARCH 11, 20, 21 BOARD MEETING MINUTES? UH I'LL I'LL WAS AT GALEN.AND I SAW JOHN RAISED HIS HAND NEXT TO YOU.
WE'LL TAKE, JOHN HAS A SECOND.
UH, AGAIN, WE'LL DO IT BY, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
SO IF, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE'LL APPROVE THE MINUTES.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS HEARING THAT IT'S APPROVED, WHICH TAKES US NOW TO, UM, CITIZENS' COMMENTS IF THERE ARE ANY, SO AMANDA, DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S ANY STASIS COMMENTS OR IF ANYBODY BY SHOW? I DON'T KNOW.
I, I SEE SEVERAL CALL IS JUST BY NUMBERS.
WHY IS ANOTHER ONE? SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSIDE THIRD PARTIES, BUT IF THERE ARE AN, A ONE AND A MAKE ANY COMMENTS, NOW'S THE TIME.
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OKAY.[6. Ahmad Ward – Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park Update ]
WHICH BRINGS US NOW TO PRESENTATIONS.AND I'M PLEASED THAT MR. LORE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE, THIS STORE MITCHELLVILLE FREEDOM PARK IS BACK WITH US FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR AWHILE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF HEARING SOME OF THE EARLY PLANS AND VISIONS THAT, UH, MR. WARD WAS CRAFTING COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, I WAS TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY EXCITED ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, FROM MY FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT HE'S BEEN, NOT ONLY WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING, BUT WITH THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM HAS DONE AND THE ADVANCEMENTS AND THE OTHER FUNDING THAT HAS COME AND THE DEVELOPMENT THAT, UH, NOTHING BUT EXCITING THINGS ARE GOING ON IN THERE.
AND TODAY, UH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MR. WARD TO IN HIS OWN WORDS, TELL US HOW GOING AND WHAT THE VISION IS COMING TO BE.
UH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE COUNTY COUNCILORS ON THE CALL.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE ABOUT MITCHELLVILLE.
I HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO SHARE, UH, BUT WE'LL MOVE THROUGH THEM QUICKLY.
SO WE WILL RESPECT YOUR TIME HERE.
LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET TO THE RIGHT THING HERE.
UH, CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN? ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW I'M GETTING USED TO A WEBEX, SO I HAD TO SLAP SOME THINGS AROUND.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH, UM, HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE FREEDOM PARK'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND HONOR HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE.
THE FIRST SELF-GOVERN TOWN OF FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.
UH, AND, UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO THINK REAL CRITICAL AND LIKE WE WERE ABLE TO, TO PAY, UH, FOR OUR MASTER PLAN THROUGH SOME FUNDS FROM A REAL CRITICAL LANDS, COULD BE YEARS AGO.
UH, AND THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY AND APPROVED, AND IT'S ABOUT 204 PAGES OF, UH, SOME REALLY INTERESTING INFORMATION IF YOU EVER INTERESTED IN SEEING AS I'LL MAKE SURE I GET YOU THE LINK, BUT IT'S THIS BIG DETAILED BLUEPRINT FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THIS IS AN OVERLAY OF WHAT HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE WOULD LOOK LIKE, UH, OVER WHAT'S THERE.
NOW, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY RIGHT AROUND 500 HOMES IN MITCHELLVILLE AND AT ITS HEIGHT, IT BOASTED AT LEAST 3000 RESIDENTS.
EACH FAMILY HAD A QUARTER ACRE OF A LOT.
UH, THEY HAD THEIR OWN SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES.
AND SO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO IS CREATE A CULTURAL ATTRACTION, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYBODY.
WE JUST HAD THIS PLAN APPROVED.
UH, WE WERE GEARING UP STEAM TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, TO TRY THIS CAMPAIGN, AND THEN COVID-19 HAPPENED.
SO EVERYTHING KIND OF SCREECHED TO A HALT.
UM, SO WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO REALLY QUICKLY TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, SO WE DID PUT OUR BAR SOME OF OUR CAMPAIGN PROCESSES ON HOLD, BUT WE COULDN'T STOP OUR PROGRAMMING.
UM, AND SO TAT TO THAT, AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT WE DID WE'RE OFFERING, WE WENT DIGITAL.
AND SO WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED RIO'S CORNER, WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS A PRE-K TO THIRD GRADERS WHERE WE READ STORIES AROUND THE THEMES THAT GOVERN MITCHELLVILLE, FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, CITIZENSHIP OPPORTUNITY, UH, BUT ALSO MULTICULTURALISM SELF-ESTEEM SELF-AWARENESS.
AND SO WE'D HAVE LIKE MAYBE 25 KIDS IN THE PARK AT A TIME DO THIS.
SO WE WENT DIGITAL AND REACHED A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
I WAS GOING AS FAR AWAY AS TEXAS AND HAWAII AND MINNESOTA, UH, WITH THOSE, UH, STORIES.
AND THEY WILL BE BACK UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH FOR ANOTHER ROUND, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY OPEN YET.
UH, WE USUALLY HAVE ANY HUGE JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL THAT WE DO IN THE PARK.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT IN 2019 THERE ABOUT 1200 PEOPLE, THEN IT'D BE CITY ROAD LAST YEAR.
SO WE WENT BURNSVILLE WHERE THE COLLABORATION OF MUSEUMS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ABOUT DIFFERENT MUSEUMS, UH, MEMPHIS AND DETROIT, SEATTLE, UM, IN MIAMI AND ALSO CINCINNATI.
AND WE THOUGHT, OKAY, AT THE BEST WAY, WE WOULD REACH ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE FOR OUR EVENT.
UH, TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CHEWING TEETH.
WELL, WE REALLY GOT CLOSE TO 40,000 PEOPLE, UH, FOR THAT EVENT.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, IMPRESSIONS AND ALL THESE OTHER STATISTICS THAT GO ALONG WITH WEBSITES TO GET 167,000 IMPRESSIONS OVER SOMETHING WE DID ON A WIND WAS PRETTY GOOD.
UH, WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO CREATE A PARTNERSHIP WITH TIK TOK AND THEY PAY, YOU GOT CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN TIK TOK IS I DO NOT JUST SAY TAKE DART, BUT IT WAS POTLUCK.
SO WE WERE ON THEIR LANDING PAGE THE ENTIRE DAY.
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UH, AND THEY KIND OF A LOT OF REFERRALS TO THE PROGRAM.YOU CAN STILL SEE THAT PROGRAM, UM, BLK FREEDOM.ORG, AND WE WILL BE DOING SOMETHING AGAIN, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT MOMENTARILY.
UH, ONE OF THE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY TREMENDOUS THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO US, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR, UH, WAS WE RECEIVED $50,000 FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL HERITAGE ACTION FUND OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
THERE WERE 531 SITES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT APPLY FOR THESE FUNDS.
AND THEY GRANTED, UH, TWO 27 SITES.
AND WE WERE THE ONLY SITE IN SACRAMENTO TO RECEIVE THE AWARD AND ALSO THE ONLY ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OR PROJECT RATHER A TICKET FUNDED.
AND THIS WAS A MATCHING GRANT.
SO REALLY THIS PROJECT WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PROJECT.
AND WHAT IT DID WAS TO MAP OUT, UH, THE SECTION OF OUR, OF OUR PROPERTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING ON.
SO THERE, RIGHT, YOU SEE THE MAP OF THE GRID OF WHERE THEY DID THEIR GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH.
UH, AND THIS HAPPENED IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR, NOVEMBER THROUGH JANUARY, MID JANUARY ISSUE, CATHERINE SEEBRI AND THE YOUNG LADY WITH THE YELLOW, GO AHEAD, WHO'S DIGGING THE CORNER.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE ALL OF THE ELEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE, WHERE WE START TO BUILD ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AND SO TO THAT END, WE'RE MAKING SURE WE STAY AWAY FROM ANY REALLY SEVERE ARCHEOLOGICAL DEPOSITS, OR WE ABLE TO EXCAVATE THEM BEFORE TERMS WE CAN BUILD ON SITE AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE FULL MAP.
SO OUR MASTER PLAN TEAM WAS W LA STUDIO OUT OF ATHENS, GEORGIA, AND CROWN EXHIBIT DESIGN CONSULTING ON A, SOME OF THE MASSACHUSETS.
AND THEY PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY DECENT SITE PLAN FOR US.
UH, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ELEMENTS HERE.
I WILL NOT GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE, BUT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY UP TOP, WHERE THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING.
WELL, THAT'S JOINTLY OWN TOWN AND COUNTY PROPERTY, WHICH WE DO NOT OWN EVERYTHING HERE IS IN OUR LEASE AREA.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY TO TOWN TO GET AN AGREEMENT FOR THESE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY, UH, BETTER UP HERE.
NOW, THE REASON THAT WE'RE UP HERE IS BECAUSE ONCE UPON A TIME, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THERE WAS CONVERSATION OF ST.
JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH MOVING TO OUR AREA, AND THAT PLAN HAS CHANGED.
UH, BUT IN THE EFFORT OF DOING THAT, WE HAD TO COMPLETE OUR PLAN, WHICH INCLUDED A SWAB OF PROPERTY UP HERE.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO FINALIZE THIS, AND THIS WILL BE FOR PARKING AND FOR A CLASSROOM, UM, OPPOSITE ELEMENT RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR INTERPRETIVE SANDY RIGHT HERE IN A, UH, DESK.
WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT MAYBE PORTS OF MICHIKO AND HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOW.
AND THIS SECTION HERE WOULD BE THAT AS AN EVENT LINE, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO EVENTS AND OTHER THINGS ON THE EVENT LINE, BUT THOSE SECTIONS ARE A QUARTER EIGHT, GREW UP A LOT BECAUSE WE WEREN'T YOUNG PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME OUT TO THE PARK THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT QUARTER ACRE REALLY LOOKS LIKE.
AND SO THE SQUARES WILL BE TWO DIMENSIONAL DEMARCATIONS OF WHERE HOMES WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE PROPERTY.
UH, SPEAKING OF HOMES, WELL, LET ME GO BACK ONCE RIGHT HERE, WE'RE GOING TO RECREATE SOME HOMES HERE THAT ARE ONLINE WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE THE GRID IS ABOUT FOR THE PROPERTY WITH HOUSES.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT CLOSER HERE, JUST A SECOND.
THE INTERPRETIVE LENS FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE PROJECT, UH, IS HERE WITH FREEDOM IS THE CENTER POINT OF THIS, BUT THERE'S, SELF-DETERMINATION CITIZENSHIP OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE FOCUSING IN ON POLITICAL PARTICIPATION BECAUSE OF COURSE EACH FAMILY CAN ALSO VOTE AND MAKE LAWS ON THEIR OWN LIVES.
SO EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING WAS FOR THE GOOD, THE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, UH, MITCHELLVILLE, WOULD'VE BEEN THE, THE FIRST, UH, MANDATORY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT THIS TIME, UH, WHERE EVERY CHILD WHO LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY BETWEEN THE AGE OF 60 15 HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL, RELIGION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH, UH, WHERE THAT'S, WHERE EVERYTHING HAPPENED.
INITIALLY, THAT WAS TOWN HALL.
THAT WAS A CITY HALL, WAS THE CHURCH FAMILY, WHICH IS SELF-EXPLANATORY ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU GET ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE.
AND OF COURSE, SOMETHING WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF GULLAH CULTURE, HOME LAND OWNERSHIP.
SO HERE IS A MUCH CLOSER VIEW OF THAT SECTION THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW FROM THE ARCHEOLOGY AND FROM THE RECORDS THAT THERE WERE LINES OF HOMES IN THIS AREA.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO RECREATE THOSE HOMES.
THE FIRST THEY'LL START AS GHOSTED STRUCTURES.
SO THERE'S JUST THE SKELETAL ELEMENTS OF WHAT THE HOMELESS WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE.
SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO WALK THROUGH HISTORIC MITZVAH AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN, UH, AFTER A WHILE, THIS IS A PHASE ONE SITUATION.
SO PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE, WE WOULD ACTUALLY FEEL THESE IN SOME OF THESE WOULD ALSO, UM, BE CONTINGENT ON FUNDING TO MAKE THE PROJECT WORK
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HERE IS ANOTHER IMAGE OF THE INTERPRETIVE SITE PLAN, BUT THIS WOULD INCLUDE SOME OTHER ELEMENTS.SO WAYFINDING, UH, THE GHOST FACADE, BUT ALSO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A CORE SAMPLES AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHEN IT'S JUST A SECOND, UH, BOARDWALK PANELS, MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, BUT ITS CONNECTION TO GO TO CULTURE.
AND ALSO THE CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT, UH, VIRTUAL MICHIO HOTSPOTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR SMARTPHONE OUT AND GET MORE INFORMATION, WHETHER IT'S VIDEO AUDIO, OR SOME MORE MATERIAL WHERE YOU CAN SCAN A QR CODE OR SOME OTHER ELEMENT AND GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT MITCHELLVILLE HAS TO OFFER THERE.
THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE CORE SAMPLES THAT WE'VE MENTIONED EARLIER.
THERE ARE A LOT OF SPOTS IN THE SITE WHERE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ARCHEOLOGICAL WORK THAT CAN'T BE DONE.
IN FACT, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD 10 MORE YEARS WORTH OF ARCHEOLOGY THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE SITE, BUT IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY AND YOU GO THREE FEET DOWN AND IT PUTS YOU RIGHT AROUND 1860S WHERE IT MENTIONED THOSE STARTER, AND SO WE WILL HAVE THE SEVEN FOOT CORE SAMPLES COMING OUT OF THE GROUND.
SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE LEVEL TO WHERE THINGS ARE LYING AS FAR AS MITCHELLVILLE AND A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT.
A 4,000 YEAR OLD NATIVE AMERICAN IMPRINT THAT WE KNOW WAS ON THE SITE.
AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO INTERPRET THAT SPEAKING OF BED INTERPRETATION IN THE MAP, THERE'S A SECTION THAT WAS EIGHT.
THAT WAS WHERE WE BELIEVE A CHURCH IS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, OUR ST.
ARCHEOLOGISTS CAP RECEIVER, AS BEEN ABLE TO DO RESEARCH WHERE WE'RE ABOUT 85% SURE THAT WE'VE LOCATED ONE OF THE FOUR CHURCHES THAT WAS IN THE MICHIGAN PROPERTY.
SO OF COURSE MY INITIAL THING IS, HEY, WE'LL JUST PUT A BIG CHURCH THERE.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE ELEMENTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT CHURCH.
UH, AND THEN WE GET MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT 4,000 YEAR OLD NATIVE AMERICAN INFERENCE.
AND THERE IS A LARGE CONCENTRATION OF MATERIAL, RIGHT WHERE THE CHURCH IS.
WE DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S COINCIDENCE.
UH, ALSO IF YOU'VE BEEN TO, WE HAVE A PRAISE HOUSE REPLICA IN THAT AREA, AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT WE SAT THAT AND RIGHT ON TOP OF THE CHURCH IMPRINT, THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THAT WAS THERE.
UH, BUT ARCHEOLOGY HAS A BUILDER TO US.
AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS TALK ABOUT THE CONNECTION WITH, WITH THE CHURCH AND ALSO THAT NATIVE AMERICAN IMPRINT, AND ALSO THE LONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AFRICANS AMERICA AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WHICH OF COURSE IN THE SOUTHEAST, UH, GOES BACK CENTURIES.
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS EITHER A TABO THE LAST SEMESTER OR THE EDISTO NATCHEZ CUSO NATIONS.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHO ACTUALLY POPULATED THIS AREA, AND WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO THE FOLKS JUST TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN PLANNING FOR THIS PART OF OUR SITE.
THIS IS A ABSTRACT OF WHAT THE INTERIOR OF THE INTERPRETER CENTER WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO THIS IS NOT THE ACTUAL DESIGN, BUT THIS IS AN ABSTRACT LOOK OF WHAT THE INTERIOR BEING AN INTERPRETER SAID.
IT WILL BE, YOU'LL START WITH A THREE TO FIVE MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL AND ITS IMPACT.
AND THEN THAT MAYS, THE QUESTIONS LEADS YOU TO THE CELEBRATION AND UNCERTAINTY.
SO THE AMAZE, THE QUESTIONS ARE LIKE, OKAY, YOU'VE BEEN FREED.
UH, THE CONFEDERATES HAVE BEEN RUN AWAY.
SO NOW YOU'RE NO LONGER ENSLAVED.
WHAT DO YOU DO? NOBODY'S GIVEN YOU A, A FORMAT.
WHAT COMES NEXT? THERE'S NO BOOKLET FOR WHAT YOU DO AT THIS POINT, HOW YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY.
WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? SHOULD YOU LEAVE THE AREA COMPLETELY? AND SO WE'LL HAVE YOU WALK THROUGH THAT AND GET INTO THE CELEBRATION, INSERT FISHER NOW LIBERATED, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR NEXT STEPS ARE.
AND THE CENTER OF ALL OF THAT IS GULLAH CULTURE BECAUSE 95% OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ADMITTED TO WOULD HAVE BEEN A GUN WOULD HAVE BEEN GULLAH.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT INCLUDE THE MITCHELL TIMELINE.
LOOK AT MITCHELL'S ONGOING RELEVANCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND THEN WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CITIZEN, NOT JUST IN YOUR AREA, NOT JUST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT AS A NATION AND OF THE WORLD, WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CITIZEN? WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING AS A CITIZEN? AND SO, EVEN THOUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, WE'RE STILL NOT COMPLETELY OPEN.
AND SO WE'RE PROVIDING VIRTUAL ELEMENTS, UH, EVEN NOW, WHICH IS SUCH AS OUR FREEDOM DAY PROGRAM, WHICH HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY, WHERE WE LOOKED AT THE HISTORIC FAMILIES OF MITCHELLVILLE, THE DESCENDANTS ARE STILL THERE ON THE ISLAND.
AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THEM AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
I MENTIONED THAT OUR JUNE TEAM PARTNERS, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT DOING A VIRTUAL JUNETEENTH THIS YEAR.
I WENT TO THE 19TH, BUT ALSO AN IN-PERSON JUNETEENTH AT THE PARK IN A, IN A SMALLER REGULATED, SOCIALLY DISTANCE SITUATION, UH, BASED ON HOW THINGS ARE MOVING.
WE THINK IT OPENED UP EVEN MORE BY JUNE.
AND SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO SOME ELEMENTS IN THE PARK ON THAT DAY AS WELL.
PLEASE KEEP ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.
UM, THERE'S SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, WE RECENTLY WERE ADDED TO THE RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL HISTORIC NETWORK.
WE'RE ONE OF 67 SITES, UM, THAT NETWORK.
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WERE SIX OF US THAT JUST GOT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.VERY, VERY, UH, GREAT ADDITION TO THE THINGS THAT WE ARE OFFERING.
SO WE PLAN TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.
UH, WE HAVE OUR BLUES AND BARBECUE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER HAPPENING NEXT SATURDAY, UH, WITH ENTERTAINMENT BY MARLENA SMALLS AND GOING TO BED WITH TC.
SO THESE ARE ALL LOCAL TALENTS WHO ARE AMAZING.
UH, THE SIGN UP, PLEASE GO TO EXPLORE, DO.ORG, TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
UH, WE CAN'T EAT BARBECUE THIS YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DO THAT PERSONALLY, BUT WE CAN'T GIVE YOU SOME ENTERTAINMENT AND ALL PROCEEDS GO TO INSTALLING SOME, UH, BACTERIAL PANELS, WHICH WOULD BE SOMEONE BEING INTERPRETED PANELS IN THE PARK, WHICH WE THINK WILL HELP SPARK OUR CAMPAIGN, MOVE IN AND GET PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S TO COME TO HELP US RAISE THE DOLLARS THAT WE NEED TO RAISE.
SO THE BAT HERE'S HOW YOU CAN FIND US EXPERIMENTS WITHOUT ORG IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO.
THERE WILL BE A UPDATED WEBSITE, UH, BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH.
SO WHATEVER YOU SEE RIGHT NOW WILL BE DIFFERENT AT THE END OF APRIL, BUT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO ANYWAY.
UH, MY EMAIL IS HERE AND ALSO WE'RE AVAILABLE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.
SO WITH THAT, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, AND I SEE THAT IN THE STOP STARING.
SO, UH, JUST REAL QUICKLY, THANK YOU.
THANKS FOR THE GREAT DAY AGAIN.
UH, EVERY TIME I SEE IT AS NOTHING BUT GOOD STUFF AND EXCITING STUFF HAPPENING OVER THERE, UH, THANKS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES AND HELPING YOU IN THE FRONT OF THE SCENES, HELPING YOU, BUT IT'S, IT'S A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE NATION.
AND WITH THAT, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARD? ALL RIGHT, GAIL, UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT OUR BOARD CAN HELP YOU WITH LAND THAT YOU WANT TO ACQUIRE? THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THERE, THERE, UM, WE, WE STILL, AND I KNOW THIS IS A KIND OF DOWN THE LINE OF, I'M TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, AS A NON-PROFIT EXECUTIVE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ALL TO HER.
WE WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS GETTING THAT, THAT TOWN, YOU KNOW, HAVING ACCESS TO THAT TOWN AND COUNTY, UH, PROPERTY THAT'S ADJACENT TO US.
UM, SOME OF YOU ALSO MAY KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION FOR THE LAST, PROBABLY SEVEN YEARS ABOUT THE HORSE PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND AS WELL, WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN A BID FOR A WHILE.
UM, I CAN, WE COULD DO ANYTHING WITH IT AT THE PRESENT MOMENT, BUT DOWN THE LINE.
AND, UH, THERE WILL BE SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE WITH THE BOARD.
SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO YOU, UM, WITH SOME IDEAS ABOUT HOW THE BOARD CAN HELP US TO EXPAND IN WAYS THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE PROJECT.
AND I, AND I THINK JUST FOR THE BOARD'S BENEFIT A LITTLE BIT IS THE, UH, I KNOW THE NRC COMMITTEE JUST RECENTLY, UH, I THINK, UH, APPROVED AND ADVANCE THE IDEA OF JOINING INTO A LEASE FOR THE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT WE CURRENTLY GO WITH, THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UH, PEOPLE SO THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE IN AND DO THINGS IN THOSE CONTIGUOUS PROPERTIES.
SO, I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD USE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE JUST LAID FELL.
AND AS YOU SAID, WE HAD SOME IDEAS THAT MAYBE THEY WERE GOING TO USE OR FOR THE, UH, THE CHURCH RELOCATION, WHICH IS NO LONGER, YOU KNOW, UH, VIABLE FOR THAT AREA.
BUT AGAIN, WITH KAY, ESPECIALLY YOU STAY IN TOUCH WITH KATE THAT, AND THEN SHE WILL BE SENSITIVE TO IF THERE'S THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY AND THE RIGHT, UH, LAND THAT FITS A LOT OF HELPFUL CRITERIA.
WE WOULD, WE, THE BOARD WOULD CERTAINLY LIKED TO BE ENGAGED IN AND DETERMINE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE HELPFUL TO YOU.
I WOULD APPRECIATE OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD OR ON ANYBODY.
I TOO, JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR ALL THAT YOU HAVE GOING ON.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING OUT AND PARTICIPATING IN YOUR EVENTS, ESPECIALLY CONTINUING IF POSSIBLE.
AND, UH, WHEN, WHEN DID YOU SAY THE BARBECUE WAS HAPPENING? UH, IT'LL BE NEXT SATURDAY, UH, APRIL THE 17TH AT 7:00 PM.
YOU CAN REGISTER ONLINE@EXPLOREMITCHELL.ORG.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU CLARIFY ONE THING IF I WERE TO DRIVE OUT TO THE, UH, THE FREEDOM PARK TODAY, I MEAN, AM I ALLOWED TO WALK AROUND THROUGH IT AT THE MONITORS? IS IT RESTRICTED BECAUSE OF COVID
[00:25:02]
IS OPEN? UH, WE'VE BEEN OPEN FOR A WHILE NOW.UH, SINCE LAST SUMMER YOU CAN WALK THROUGH IT AS MUCH AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE.
SO, SO, SO IF ANYBODY HASN'T GONE THERE AND TAKEN A NICE WALK, IT'S A PLEASANT WALK AND IT'S PERFECTLY EDUCATIONAL AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
NO, I THINK HE HAS IT IN HAND IN THE, UM, IN THE, IN THE ROOM.
UM, MR. WARD, ONCE THIS IS UP AND RUNNING AND YOU HAVE THIS, UH, UH, MITCHELLVILLE, UH, TOWNS SET UP TO YOU PLANT, IS IT GOING TO BE FREE ADMISSION? UM, HOW'S IT, OR DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THE, TO RAISE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO HELP SUPPORT, UH, THE ORGANIZATION AND IMPROVE THE FACILITIES? YEAH, IT WOULD BE AN ADMISSION.
UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY, UH, WORKING NOW TO, TO, WITH THE TOWN TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THAT ADMISSION IS AT THE GATE OR AT THE, UM, AT THE INTERPRETER CENTER, WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE FULL PROPERTY OPEN FOR PUBLIC ACCESS OR HABITS.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE A TRUE, YOU ARE PAYING AT THE DOOR.
WE HAVEN'T QUITE GOT THERE YET.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WE WANT TO GO.
AND THEN, AND ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, SEVERAL REVENUE STREAMS TO KEEP EVERYTHING BUYABLE, UH, AND THAT INTERPRETIVE CENTER IS ALSO GOING TO BE, UH, UH, ROUGHLY ABOUT 3000 SQUARE FOOT EVENT SPACE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO RENT OUT FOR PRICE FOR PROGRAMS, AND THEN ALL KINDS OF, UH, SITUATIONS INCLUDED THE EVENT.
UM, SO THERE'LL BE SOME, SOME AREAS WHERE WE'LL BE TO USE THE PROPERTY, TO RAISE SOME REVENUE ALONG WITH ADMISSIONS AND GRANTS AND DONATIONS IN LIKE, OKAY, NO PROBLEM, AMMAN.
WOULD YOU MIND TO EMAIL ME THAT YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'LL DO IT RIGHT AFTER WE GET OFF HERE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, THANK YOU TO GAIL FOR, UH, INVITING A MOD TO OUR MEETING TODAY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR PRESENTATION REALLY SHOWS THAT THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAMS CAN BE A FOUNDATION AND A PARTNER FOR SO MANY GREAT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS LAND PEOPLE CONNECTION IS SO ESSENTIAL AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIRST OWN AND PROTECT THE LAND AND THEN WORK WITH GREAT PEOPLE AND PARTNERS TO, TO TELL THAT THAT STORY AND, UM, YOU KNOW, REALLY PAY IT FORWARD.
I LOVE THIS THE THREE PILLARS THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING ON AND JUST REALLY EXCITED FOR HOW YOU AND TELL THE STORY OF MITCHELLVILLE.
UM, NOW IN, IN THE FUTURE, AS I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER.
UM, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARKS MONUMENTS AND WHAT RESOURCES THAT PENN BURNING, OR I'M SORRY, THE NATIONAL PARK, NOT THE NATIONAL MONUMENT ANYMORE, BUT THE NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION AND THAT HAS SPARKED NETWORK AND, AND WHAT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THAT CAN BRING TO OUR SHARED CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. WAR, GOOD LUCK AND SEE AROUND.
[7. R&C Program Monthly Notes and Updates]
THAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS RSE PROGRAM, MONTHLY NOTES AND UPDATES.AND I I'M KATE SORT OF USE THIS TERM AT THE LAST MEETING AND I REALLY LIKED IT.
AND SO I DECIDED TO ASK HER TO DO THIS EVERY MONTH AS A REPETITIVE, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO KATE, THIS IS YOUR TIME.
UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, UH, WE CAN BUILD ON THE GUEST SPEAKER JUST TO SAY, I AM CONSTANTLY COMBING THE WORLD FOR PARTNERS, UM, BOTH IN TERMS OF EXPERTISE AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND OTHER RESOURCES.
SO GRANT DEADLINES, PARTNERSHIPS, COOL PROJECTS THAT YOU HEAR ARE HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH ME ON THAT, BECAUSE IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE EXPONENTIAL THE WORK THAT WE ALL DO BY WORKING TOGETHER AS I WANT TO BE AWARE OF IT AND SEIZE IT WHEN WE CAN.
UM, SO WITH RESPECT TO FUNDING PARTNERSHIPS SPECIFICALLY, UM, THE CONSERVATION BANK, WHICH IS A STATE FUNDING RESOURCE HAS A DEADLINE AT THE END OF JUNE, FROM SORRY, AT THE END OF JULY OF JULY.
AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVELY WORKING WITH LAND TRUSTS ALL AROUND THE STATE TO SOLICIT GREAT PROJECTS.
SEAFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN AN APPLICANT BEFORE, AND WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT.
UM, THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP IS ONE I SPOKE ABOUT IN THE MARCH MEETING.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED THAT APPLICATION.
[00:30:01]
LAND TRUST SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION WITH OUR MILITARY PARTNERS AND WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMINO MOST, EVERY OTHER GROUP, UM, IN THE AREA THERE'S JUST SO MUCH POTENTIAL THAT PARTNERSHIP IS EXISTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE USDA, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.AND WE SUBMITTED A PRE-PROPOSAL.
UM, AND BASICALLY WHAT IT WOULD DO IS GIVE PRIORITY DESIGNATION TO THOSE AGENCIES ACTIVITIES HAPPENING WITHIN AN IMPORTANT PLACE.
SO, UM, W HOPEFULLY MORE GOOD NEWS ON THAT FRONT.
WE SHOULD KNOW, WITHIN A MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF, MAYBE THE MAIN MEETING, MAYBE THE JUNE MEETING, WE MIGHT HAVE AN UPDATE, UM, AND THAT WASN'T, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY A COUNTY ACTION, BUT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL TO KNOW THAT IT'S A, IT'S ANOTHER TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP THAT'S OUT THERE.
I JUST WANT TO SHARE THESE RESOURCES WITH Y'ALL.
UM, I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH, UM, INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, SCOTT MARSHALL IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ABOUT HOW BLUFFTON IS THINKING ABOUT LAND ACQUISITION AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEIR PRIORITIES CONTINUE TO BE PROTECT WATER QUALITY AND THE MAY RIVER, UM, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE SOME MUTUAL INTERESTS IN, UM, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, FOCUSING ON GROWTH IN THE RIGHT PLACES, UM, NOT NECESSARILY GROWING OUT OF CONTROL, UM, BUT GROWING WITHIN MEANS AND MAKING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON A LIVABLE GREAT PLACE TO BE.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M CONFIDENT THAT THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG PARTNER WITH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING AS MANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS I CAN WITH OTHER TOWN AND MUNICIPAL STAFF, SO THAT WE CAN ALL SHARE INFORMATION AND BE ON THE SAME PAGE, BUT WITH PLEASED WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAD TWO INQUIRIES SINCE WE LAST SPOKE, UM, IN, UM, DISTRICT FIVE AND DISTRICT EIGHT AND, UH, NOTHING TO REPORT, BUT JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT LAND PROTECTION ON THE GROUND.
ANYTIME Y'ALL HAVE A QUESTION, UM, FROM YOUR IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO SHARE THE APPLICATION FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL, UM, TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES STRONG PROJECTS AND, UM, PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH ME AND I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THE THING THAT'S ALL.
ANY, ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR KATE ON THAT? THANKS, KATE.
[8. R&C Board Workshop ]
AGENDA ITEM IS EIGHT, WHICH IS A PROPOSED RURAL AND CRITICAL BOARD WORKSHOP.I THINK EVERYBODY RECEIVED A WORKING AND I'LL, AND I'LL EMPHASIZE A VERY WORTHY DRAFT AGENDA, UH, FOR SOME OF THE NEWER MEMBERS WHO HAVEN'T BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE.
WE LIKE TO TAKE ONE MEETING A YEAR WHEN WE USUALLY DO IT, MAYBE MARCH OR APRIL TO HAVE AN EXTENDED, UH, SORT OF A WORKSHOP DAY FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND.
WE GO THROUGH THE PAIN OF TIME WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FRONT OF US ANY GIVEN YEAR OR SOME OF THE URGENT AND, AND KEY PROJECTS.
SO WE, WE ARE BEGINNING TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO HAVE A WORKSHOP AGAIN THIS YEAR, UH, WE'RE TARGETING FOR THE JUNE 10TH.
UH, AND WHEN WE DO THIS, WE LIKE TO GO LIKE THE DRAFT TO GENESIS NINE 30 TO ABOUT THREE, UH, WE'RE PROPOSING.
AND WE THINK WE HAVE REASONABLE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS AT WHICH END POINTS.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH WIDGET POINT AND IT'S MOST RECENTLY BEEN, I GUESS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM UPGRADED.
UM, UH, SHE HAD SOME NEW INFRASTRUCTURE GOING, A LOT OF, A LOT OF NEW WORDS TO, UH, IMPROVE THE, THE TRAILS AND THE BUILDINGS AND RESTROOMS AND THINGS.
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL BE TARGETING.
I I'D ASKED EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, YOU PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDARS AND SQUEEZE IT INTO YOUR SCHEDULES, CAUSE IT IS A GOOD DAY FOR US ALL TO GET TOGETHER.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AGENDA, UH, UH, IF YES, SORT OF A FULL AGENDA, YOU GOT TO SKIP DOWN ABOUT ITEMS SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, AND 10 TO GET TO SORT OF THE TOPICS THAT HE AND I HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THAT WE THINK WOULD BE MOST INFORMATIVE TO THE BOARD AS A GROUP THAT WE CAN WORK ON AND DISCUSS AND GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GREEN PRINT AND HOW WE WANT TO WORK WITH IT IN THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD HISTORICALLY A BIT OF A CONVERSATION ABOUT WITH THE NEW GREEN FRIEND INTO OUR RANKING SHEETS, UH, DO SERVE THAT NEW GREEN PRINT.
[00:35:01]
WE BE LOOKING AT UPDATING THEIR RANKING SHEETS AND, AND HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS.SO IT'S JUST A GOOD TIME TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE TIME TO DEEP DIVE A DEEPER INTO SOME OF THESE TOPICS.
AND THE OTHER THING IS WE'LL HAVE, UM, A GOOD PASSIVE PARKS PROGRAM UPDATE.
UH, WHEN WE HAVE THESE ADDED TIMES, IT GIVES THE BOARD YOUR SENSE OF WHAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN DOING.
I ALWAYS PRONOUNCED SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT WRONG.
UH, SHE'S DOING GREAT AT WORK.
SHE'S GOT A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON.
SO, UM, UH, IT'S GOOD TO GET AN UPDATE FROM HER AS TO HOW SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE THE, UH, PROTECTIVE PROPERTY WE'VE PUT UNDER OUR, UH, PROGRAM.
SO WITH ANY INTRODUCTION, THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MENTION IS BAD BECAUSE I WANT THIS TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU AT THE MOMENT IS A WORKING DRAFT.
I REALLY DO WANT THE BOARD MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT THIS, LOOKING AT WHAT'S DOWN ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT SAYS, SEND ME, SEND KATE ANY OTHER TOPICS, IDEAS, COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE SPENDING SOME TIME ON, AND EITHER WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIT ON AN ORAL.
WE'LL AGREE THAT YOUR TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT AND PROBABLY A BETTER SUITED THAN THE ONES WE'VE PUT DOWN AT THE MOMENT.
SO IF YOU DO THAT INPUT BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING IN MAY, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL PRESENT AT THE MAIN MEETING, PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE FIRMED UP DEFINITE AGENDA.
I JUST WANT TO GET THIS IN FRONT OF US TODAY.
SO YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT AND REACT TO IT AND GIVE US SOME KIND OF FEEDBACK IF YOU WISH.
SO AT THAT, I'LL LET ANYBODY MAKE COMMENTS AT THIS POINT OR ASK QUESTIONS.
SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT SIDING CONCRETE, PLEASE COMMENT ABOUT IT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT IT, SEND SOME MORE COMMENTS AND THEN WE'LL WORK ON IT.
CHAIRMAN, CHAIRMAN, MATTHEW, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, UH, LAND SAVING, LAND PRESERVATION AND ALL THAT, UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE LACKING IS, UH, YOUTH INVOLVEMENT.
AND I DON'T, I KNOW THEY CAN'T BE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW TO GET, UH, CHILDREN OR YOUTH INVOLVED IN OUR PLANNING BECAUSE WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE.
SO IT'S, I THINK IT'S COOL THAT THEY HAVE SOME SAY, OR THEY HAVE SOME IDEAS OF WHAT THIS, UH, TAKE, UH, LAND PREPARATION WOULD BE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT WILL BE AFFECTING THEM.
SO SOME KIND OF WAY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN JUST INVITE THEM AT THE WORKSHOP TO LISTEN OR WHAT, BUT SOME KIND OF WAY IN ALL THOSE CONTEXTS ABOUT THIS, YOU GOT TO TRY TO GET CHILDREN INVOLVED.
AND I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU, UH, WALTER.
UM, I THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT I KNOWING KNOWING KATE SHE'LL BE UP TO THINKING ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD TRY TO DO SOMETHING AND NOT, NOT ONLY JUST A ONE TIME OFF, BUT I, I THINK IT'S A THREAD THAT WE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO SOMETHING MORE FREQUENTLY THAT MAKES SURE WE'RE HEARING AND HAVE SOME, UH, DISCUSSION WITH THE YOUTH, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T SIT AROUND OR IF WE DON'T KEEP RESOURCES AROUND FOR THEM TO ENJOY, THEY WON'T STAY.
AND WE CERTAINLY WANT THEM TO STICK AROUND.
ANYBODY ELSE AT THE MOMENT? OKAY.
[9. Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman]
OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE ONE WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS THE, UH, ELECTION OF A NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN FOR THE BOARD.SO THE WAY WE DO THIS IS I'M GOING TO OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR ANYONE TO WE'LL START WITH THE CHAIRMAN PHYSICIAN TO MAKE A, A NOMINATION FOR A SHARE PERSON.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? YES.
UH, UH, I NOMINATE MICHAEL MATTHEWS FOR CHAIRMAN.
I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB SO FAR AND, UH, UH, UH, NOMINATE YOU
[00:40:01]
FOR IT AGAIN.WELL, YOU SAY I DID A GOOD JOB SO FAR, SO YOU GAVE ME ANOTHER YEAR TO FAIL.
ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS WE HAVE ONE NOMINATION IN FRONT OF US TO VOTE ON, UH, BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE, I GUESS WE CAN DO IT WITH, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
SO DOES ANYONE HAVE AN OBJECTION FOR MICAH? MATTHIA SERVING ANOTHER YEAR AS CHAIRMAN ARIE? NO.
UH, PEOPLE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR CONFIDENCE AND YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, UH, I, UH, THIS IS IMPORTANT WORK.
I'M GLAD YOU'RE WITH ME DOING IT.
LET ME GO NOW TO THE VICE CHAIRMAN POSITION.
DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIRMAN? ANYONE SOMEBODY GOT NOW, MAY SOMEBODY, ALL RIGHT.
I, IN A SPEAR, THE SAME KIND OF THING.
UM, WHAT I WOULD NOMINATE WALTER MAC TO THE EGG, UH, CONTINUE ANOTHER YEAR AS VICE CHAIRMAN.
UM, I, HE, YOU KNOW, HE HE'S ENGAGED AND I LIKED HIS NEW IDEAS, SO THAT'S MY NOMINATION.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? ALL RIGHT.
AND HEARING NO OTHER NOMINATIONS AGAIN, WE CAN DO A VOTE, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION ACTIONS FOR WALTER MAC BEING VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
CONGRATULATIONS, WALTER, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR.
AND I, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.
IT'S SO EASY, BUT YOU GOT OUT MR. MATTHEW, WHO WAS THE CHAIR? I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING.
WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON IT THEN, WALTER.
WE NEED YOU TO GO THROUGH A GOOD CHOICES, APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S ENTHUSIASM AND YOUR HARD WORK WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THIS.
SO WITH THAT, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM
[Items 10 - 12]
IS ACTUALLY EXECUTIVE SESSION.SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT FOR ACQUISITION OF 29 PROJECTS, 2019 DALE PDR PROJECT.
WHEN THE PDR AND PROJECT BERMUDA BLOCK ROAD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION? YEAH, I THINK, WELL, I THINK WALTER YOU'RE, YOU'RE SAYING YOU, YOU DIDN'T MOVE.
I'LL ACCEPT THE SECOND FROM VEECK.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE'LL GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? VERY NONE.
WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AMANDA, YOU CAN LET US KNOW WHEN IT'S GOOD TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM WOULD BE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO I THINK WE DO HAVE TWO MATTERS THAT, UH, WE SHOULD, UH, ADDRESS OUTSIDE OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND SO I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND BOARD TO APPROVE DUE DILIGENCE FUNDING FOR PROJECT WHEN BEING A PDR PROJECT AND TO FORWARD THE BOARDS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE DUE DILIGENCE FUNDING.
IS THERE A MOTION FOR THAT OR AGREEMENT FOR THAT MOTION? YES.
UH, AND I SAW A HAND FROM ARDOCH SUB-DEBT AS A SECOND.
SO IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS MOTION HEARING NONE, THE MOTION, UH,
[00:45:01]
PASSES AND WE'LL MOVE THIS RECOMMENDATION ON TO NRC.SO THE SECOND PROJECT IS, IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE RURAL AND CRITICAL AND BOARD TO APPROVE DUE DILIGENCE FUNDING FOR PROJECT REVIEWS TO BLUFF AND TO FORWARD THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR THEM TO APPROVE DUE DILIGENCE CONTINGENT ON THE, UM, BOEHNER OF THE LAND TO COMPLETE AN ADEQUATE APPLICATION FORM BEFORE APPROVALS.
THEY'RE GOING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
ARE YOU, ARE YOU MAKING THE MOTION? OKAY.
SO AGAIN, WE'LL VOTE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT EMOTION HEARING THAT IS APPROVED? OKAY.
THEN THEREFORE WE HAVE DONE OUR JOB FOR TODAY.
ANY ANYBODY HAVE ANY LAST MINUTE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
WITHOUT THAT, UH, MR. BENNETT, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FULL PARTICIPATION AT OUR NEXT BOARD MEETINGS AND EVERYBODY STAY SAFE AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.