[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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. >> I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, APRIL 12TH. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AS I CALL THE NAME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER. WILL YOU PLEASE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT, COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM PRESENT AND IN PERSON. COUNCILMAN DAWSON HERE.
COUNCILMAN LLEWELLYN HERE. COUNCILMAN GLOVER. >> COUNCILMAN HERBERT.
PRESIDENT. COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON PARK LOST AND PRESENT COUNCILMAN MCKELLEN DEAR POSTMAN ROBIN PRESENT COUNCILMAN SOMERVILLE RESIDENT JERRY'S PRESENT ALL ELEVEN MEMBERS ARE HERE TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF COUNCIL WOULD YOU WILL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER OF LLEWELLYN MR. FURLONG VERY MUCH CHAIRMAN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH EXPERIENCE ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THESE BAT YOUR HEADS. HEAVENLY FATHER IN TIMES OF TROUBLE WE SEARCH FOR YOU.
WE SEEK ANSWERS TO OUR PROBLEMS . YOU SEEK COMFORT AND WE SEEK RELIEF. WE FIND OUR RELIEF YOUR TENDER MERCY COMFORT AND YOUR LOVING EMBRACE AND ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS IN YOUR HUMBLE SUBMISSION TO YOUR WILL WHILE BEARING WITNESS TO YOUR ALMIGHTY POWER. FATHER WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIFTS YOU'VE GIVEN US BUT ESPECIALLY FOR RELIEF FROM THE PRESENT TROUBLE THAT WE HAVE.
WE PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS ZIPPER SISTERS WHO ARE AFFECTED. THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
THOSE WHO ARE HUNGRY OR THIRSTY OR WITHOUT SHELTER TONIGHT. FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU BELIEVE THEIR SUFFERING. PLEASE BLESS THIS ASSEMBLY. WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE IN DOING YOUR WILL AND LEAD US SAFELY HOME. WE ASK THIS THROUGH YOUR HOLY
NAME AMEN. >> PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED,
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL TO AMEND YOUR AGENDA AS FOLLOWS. THE REMOVAL OF ITEM NUMBER 18 AS DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. MR. FLUE WELLING HAS OFFERED A MOTION TO ADD TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA. WHEN YOU ADD MOTIONS TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA THAT ARE NOT ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED ,IT REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY OF COUNCIL IN ORDER TO DO THAT. TO ADD THIS ITEM ON WILL REQUIRE EIGHT VOTES OF COUNTY COUNCIL. FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THIS IS A FINAL ACTION IT HAS TO BE OF AN EMERGENCY NATURE THAT IS SO PRESCRIPTIVE THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DO IT THIS EVENING. UNFORTUNATE LEE THIS PARTICULAR ITEM DOES NOT MEET THAT GOAL.SO WE CAN ADD THIS ITEM BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SUSPEND THIS ITEM TO A FUTURE AGENDA OR NOT HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA UNTIL THE TWENTY SIXTH. SO MR. FOLLOWING DO YOU WISH TO ALTER THE AGENDA? MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN YOU GIVE ME YOUR ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING? ABSOLUTELY.
NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE WILL HAVE IT ON THE NEXT
AGENDA AND I'LL MAKE THEM A REMOVE ITEM. >> WAS THAT 18 ITEM NUMBER 18 MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM 18 AND DELAY ACTION ON THE MOTION THAT I HAD CAUCUS MEETING
REGARDING THE LAWSUIT. >> OKAY, WELL WE WON'T EVEN YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE WILL HAVE NO ACTION TAKEN AT ALL. WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL JUST REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 18. THE NEXT ITEM WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
IT WILL BE PART OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 26 AND THEN IT WILL BE DULY NOTED.
OK. MAY I HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 18
SO MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND. >> WE HAVE DULY MOTIONED AND SECOND TO REMOVE ITEM NUMBER 18 FROM THE AGENDA. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO REMOVING ITEM NUMBER 18? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. THEREFORE ITEM NUMBER 18 IS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO APPROVING THE AGENDA. AS AMENDED.
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MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT PLEASE? SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN, MR RUDD THEN MAKES THE MOTION MR CHAIRMAN I'LL SECOND MISS HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND IT HAS BEEN DULY MOTIONED AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.>> ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE NEW AGENDA SEEING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION THE MOTION IS APPROVED I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. THEREFORE THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 25, 2021]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 25TH.TWENTY TWENTY ONE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN, MR RUDD MAKES THE MOTION I'LL SECOND MR LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DUELING MOTION AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THE
MINUTES SAYING NO OBJECTIONS? >> THE MINUTES ARE NOW APPROVED .
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
>> NEXT WE TURN TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT MR. GREENWAY.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> I REMOVE MY MOUTH SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME WHILE YOU'RE AT THE PODIUM. I WOULD ENCOURAGE ONE THAT COMES UP HERE BECAUSE WE'RE ON BOARD. CAST YOUR MOUSE, MARGARET AS WELL.
THE FIRST ITEM I'LL UPDATE YOU ON THIS EVENING IS AN EVENT THAT OCCURRED OVER SATURDAY AND SUNDAY OF THIS SO WEEKEND JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY OF BEAUFORT ON HIGHWAY TWENTY ONE.
IF YOU'RE TRAVELING FROM BEAUFORT AND YOU GO PAST AND YOU HEARD TALES OF WHAT MANY FOLKS CALL THE TRENT BELIEVE THAT RUNS PARALLEL TO THE SPANISH MARSH TRAIL.
THERE IS A SERIES OF BILLBOARDS RIGHT THERE IN THAT LOCATION AND THERE IS A BILLBOARD, A SINGLE BILLBOARD IN THE EDGE OF THE MARSH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TWENTY ONE AS YOU'RE LEAVING TOWN, SARA, YOU PEOPLE THOSE PICTURES FOR ME PLEASE. ADAMS OUTDOOR ADVERTISING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO GO OVER WITH YOU THIS EVENING ARE BASED ON APPEARANCE OF THE SITUATION AND ALLEGED ACTIVITIES. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THESE ARE IN ANY WAY VIOLATION BUT YOU ALWAYS SHOULD BE AWARE OF PURSUING THESE AS POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS AUDIENCES SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OTHERS LYING THERE ON AN ON THE GROUND.
SARAH, GO TO THE NEXT LINE. ALL RIGHT. THIS KIND OF COMMON SQUIRRELY HERE TO YOU'VE SEEN THAT PAGE. SO IT'S PRETTY STRIKING THOUGH FOR A NEW POST ON EXISTING SIGN. YOU CAN'T SEE THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SIGN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRUCK THERE. BUT THESE POST OR NEW POST THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY INSTALLED ,ADAMS WAS ISSUED A PERMIT OR APPROVAL BY DEPARTMENT TRANSPORTATION TO USE STORM REPAIR TO THESE TWO EXISTING SIGNS. THESE ARE MY OPINION DO NOT CONSTITUTE REPAIR. I THINK THEY MORE OR LESS CONSTITUTE DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF NEW BILLBOARDS AND WE FEEL AT THE STAFF LEVEL THAT THOSE VIOLATE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPING CODE BECAUSE YOU CANNOT STRUCTURALLY ALTER A BILLBOARD IN THE COUNTY. GO TO THE NEXT PICTURES THERE. I'M LOOKING MORE FOR AS SOON AS YOU CAN SEE THERE YOU SEE THE EXISTING BILLBOARD RIGHT BEHIND THE NEW POST THAT HAVE BEEN STOOD UP AND THERE HAVE BEEN A PROCESS OF GOING VERTICAL WHILE I WAS OUT THERE ON SITE.
YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER ONE KIND OF LEANING TOWARD HEALTHCARE. SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THIS IS WE HAVE ASKED WE HAVE ISSUED A STOP WORK ORDER EVEN THOUGH THE SIGNS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REBUILT BECAUSE ADAMS REFUSED TO STOP WORK AS EYE CONTACT WITH THE HUNDRED EVEN.
THEY CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE SIGNS AFTER THAT AND INTO SUNDAY.
AND WE ARE GOING AN ENFORCEMENT PROCESS AT CURRENT TIME WITH ADAMS AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE ANY OTHER REMEDIES THAT MAY SUGGEST FOR US TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR WHAT WE FEEL IS A VIOLATION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE AND DOING THIS BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT THIS CONSTITUTES REPAIR. I BELIEVE FRESH OPINION DIRECTOR. THAT IS A TOTAL RECONSTRUCTION OF BILLBOARDS ON THE PROPERTY WHICH WE DO NOT FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT WITH THE CDC. SO HAVING SAID THAT AT OUR POLLS HERE IN CASE YOU MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT OK, HEARING NONE WE'LL LEAVE TO THE NEXT PHASE OF MY OF MY PROCESS. AND ONE MORE CALL FROM MY FIRST
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EMPLOYEE HOLLY. WE WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING FIVE EMPLOYEES RECEIVING OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT IS MUSLIM MAN AND DOG AND SHE HAS BEEN RECENTLY APPOINTED AS OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR. AMANDA HAS JUST NAMED THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR FOR MUSIC COUNTY. SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY LIBRARY SINCE 2007 AND MOST RECENTLY SERVED THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM OF ACCORDING TO THE BOARD.THEY ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A MAN THAT HAND OVER OUR LIBRARIES PROVISION OF WHAT IS A COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND WE SHOULD OFFER TO THE COMMUNITY FOR TOTALLY ASSISTING WITH THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN. SHE HAS ESTABLISHED A SOLID RELATIONSHIP COUNTY STAFF AND SEES THIS AS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR OPPORTUNITY MOVING FORWARD.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN MY TIME AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND HOW MUCH WORK THE PROJECT THAT I WAS I FOUND THAT LAST STATEMENT REGARDING THE SOLID RELATIONSHIP WAS TO BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. SHE AS SHE HAS BEEN TOTALLY IMPRESSIVE TO ME AND I APPRECIATE HER. AMANDA IS A MARTIAL ARTS AND SPEECH COMMUNICATION.
SHE WAS VALEDICTORIAN AND SUMMA LAUDE GRADUATE OF CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
SHE WAS A MANDATORY A LIBRARY OPERATIONAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SHE SLEPT WITH PUBLIC LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND JUST PAID THEM A LOT OF AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S EMERGING LEADERS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND WAS AWARDED GUILFORD COUNTY LIBRARY OF THE YEAR IN 2016. CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M POISED TO NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO COUNSELING MEMBER HOWARD. YOU THINK AS IS MORE FAMILIAR WITH MISS DAMON AND HER WORK THAN I SO I'LL ALLOW HER IF YOU WEREN'T.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO SEE MR. HICKMAN ACHIEVE THIS GOAL OF HERS AND THE BOARD THAT I'M THE LIAISON TO THE LIBRARY BOARD. I JUST THINK THE WORLD OVER.
SHE HER LEADERSHIP AND HER COMMUNICATION SKILLS HAVE LED THE LIBRARY TO BE OF A GREAT SERVICE DURING THESE TRYING TIMES THAT WE HAD AND THE PUBLICITY THAT THEY DID WITH ALL THE PROGRAMS HAS BEEN JUST MARVELOUS. I'M SO HAPPY FOR HER AND I KNOWS A LIBRARY BOARD IS EXTREMELY HAPPY TOO. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S MY PLEASURE TO REPRESENT BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY AND FOR COUNTY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THE LEGACY MR. MCBRIDE LAID OTHER ADMINISTRATORS AND CONTINUE BRINGING EXCELLENT LIBRARY SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.
AS ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES BW JOINING US THROUGH THIS THING. OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE IS GARY DEWITT WHO WORKS WITH OUR MOSQUITO CONTROL DEPARTMENT. HE'S AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC.
HE HAS SERVED WITH US FOR 20 YEARS. GARY MAINTAINED THE AIR FROM FLYING AND TOLD THE PILOTS TO FLY SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY. I DO HAVE A PICTURE OF HIM HERE SOMEWHERE. I THINK THAT'S COMING UP. AFTER SERVING IN THE AIR FORCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, GARY HAS SERVICED FOUR DOZEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF MILITARY, COMMERCIAL AND CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT OVER ALL. HE IS PROUD TO POSSESS AN F A AIRFRAME AND POWER PLANT LICENSED FOR 40 PLUS YEARS AS WELL AS AN FAA INSPECTION AUTHORIZATION AUTHORIZATION FOR 20 YEARS. THERE HE IS THERE WORKING FOR
US HERE. >> GARY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND ALSO TO THE COUNTY. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
>> OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE IS ALSO UNABLE TO ATTEND AS WILLIAMS FAMILY RECORDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION. THESE ARE RECORDS MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN.
HE HAS BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 10 YEARS. HE IS AN ASSET TO RECORDS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. HE SERVES IN THE CAPACITY OF RECORDS MANAGEMENT TECHNICIANS. HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOCUMENT SCANNING, MICRO FILMING AND RECORD STORAGE RETRIEVAL. BUT HE ALSO HELPS WITH THE BACKUP MAIL CARRIER.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT JOB IN THE COUNTY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF MAIL. WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE GUYS GOING AROUND EVERY DAY WHO APPRECIATE THAT. THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS RECORDS MANAGEMENT.
I TEACH TECH GURU. HE IS THE GO TO PERSON WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO A SYSTEM WITH COMPUTER OR COMPUTER RELATED ISSUES IN THAT DEPARTMENT. WILLIAMS WROTE WITHIN RECORDS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HAS ALLOWED HIM TO PROVIDE BOTH SERVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO MANY
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DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT. HE CREDITS HIS COWORKERS AND SUPERVISORS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT WITH ALLOWING HIM TO WORK IN AN ENJOYABLE, PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDING HIM WITH CONTINUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT'S OVERALL SUCCESS. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUNDOF APPLAUSE. >> WELL, I DIDN'T SKIP OUT ON ONE THING SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HIM AS HE ENJOYS LISTENING TO MUSIC ON TRADITIONAL C.D. RATHER THAN A NEW FANGLED DIGITAL STREAMING MEDIA. HE HAD AN I WOULD GET ALONG FINE. I'M NOT TOO MUCH INTO THIS NEW FANGLED STUFF EITHER.
SO STARTING ARE MORE EMPLOYED AS OLIVER BRADLEY A SOLID WASTE RECYCLING.
HE'S A CONVENIENCE STORE ATTENDANT, A COFFEE CENTER AND ST. HELENA.
HE HAS BEEN PART TIME WITH US SINCE AUGUST OF 1994. HE'S ALMOST 27 YEARS.
HE HAS JUST PAID FRIENDS OF MONITORS DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE MATERIAL AND ACCOUNTING CONVENIENCE CENTERS. HE KEEPS THE CENTER CLEAN AND THIS DISPATCHES CONTAINERS FOR TIMELY PICKUP. I LOVE THE NEW DEAN SYSTEM. OLIVER SCANS PATRON DECALS AND KEEPS TRAFFIC TALENTS SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT HIM THAT HE'S WILLING TO SHARE PUBLICLY IS THAT HE DOES IT ALL. HE HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING FOR A COMPANY CLEANING THE LADIES ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR 17 YEARS. HE LIKES HIS JOB AND ENJOYS ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HE MEETS AND INTERACTS WITH AT THE COFFEE CONVENIENCE CENTER. SO LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND
OF APPLAUSE. >> OUR FINAL EMPLOYEE THIS EVENING IS ANGEL BASKIN KOSKI.
SHE IS PARTICIPATING VIA ZOOM THIS EVENING. TO SEE IF WE CAN GET HER UP ON THE SCREEN. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SHE'S ANTICIPATING BUZZING FROM HAWAII. HOPE SHE'S THERE. OWN PLEASURE.
AND I ADMIRE AN EMPLOYEE WHO RECOGNIZE IS WILLING TO GIVE UP BEING OUTSIDE IN HAWAII TO ALLOW THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SAY STUFF ABOUT HER. SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. SHE SAW THE WASTE RECYCLING. SHE IS THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR SOLID WASTE RECYCLING. SHE RECENTLY LEFT THE NATIONAL RECOVERY TO TAKE THAT POSITION . SHE BEGAN HER EMPLOYMENT WITH US IN 2017.
SHE FILLED A KEY ROLE AS PLAN FOR HURRICANE RESPONSES. SHE THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE WASTE RECYCLING DEPARTMENT IN 2020 AS A BUSINESS MANAGER AND SHE IS THE MAIN CONTACT FOR OUR NEW DECALS SYSTEM WITH 43 GREEN PATIENTS. SO SHE'S BEEN VERY BUSY.
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HER IS THAT AS A STRESSFUL RELIEVER SHE ENJOYS BAKING A LITTLE KNOWN FACT AS THE MANAGER WAS IN A UNIQUE PAGEANT AGE ONE FOR 19 HOWEVER WAS NEVER OWNED AND TODDLERS TIARAS. THAT'S ALL IN THE PAPERWORK SHOW.
SHE HAS NEVER HESITATED TO BE THE FACE FOR THE LOCAL MEDIA AND COUNTING CHANNEL UPDATE.
ANGEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION YOU DO WITHOUT OUR WONDERFUL SOLID WASTE RECYCLING DEPARTMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ENJOY HAWAII. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE POOR RESTROOM.
[7. PROCLAMATION TO HOPEFUL HORIZONS IN HONOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH - Council Member Larry McElynn]
THANK YOU. OKAY. >> OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN A PROCLAMATION TO LOCAL HORIZON'S IN HONOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.
AND THAT WILL BE DONE BY COUNCIL MEMBER LARRY MCGOWAN. MR MCGOWAN.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION IN THE RECORD AND TO HAVE IT PRESENTED TO A HOPEFUL HORIZON. WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT WEIRDNESS MIGHT CAUSE ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM IN ALL COMMUNITIES AND HAS PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS FOR EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. AND WHEREAS RAPE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY IS SEEN BY STATISTICS INDICATING 1 IN 5 WOMEN AND 1 IN 71 MEN WILL EXPERIENCE SOME SORT OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. AND WHEREAS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION MUST BE A PRIORITY TO CONFRONT THE REALITY THAT ONE IN SEVEN GIRLS AND ONE IN TWENTY FIVE BOYS WHO EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME.
AND WHEREAS HOPEFUL HORIZONS FOR A LOCAL CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RAPE CRISIS CENTER HAS SERVED MORE THAN 1300 PRIMARY VICTIMS AND MORE THAN 700 SECONDARY VICTIMS NEAR
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2020. AND WHEREAS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HOPEFUL HORIZONS URGES EVERY PERSON TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST HARMFUL ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS THAT LEAD TO VIOLENCE HOWEVER SMALL AND WE ARE AS WELL. PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED AND EMPOWERED TO REPORT ALL TYPES OF VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT SAFER.WHEREAS PREVENTION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS POSSIBLE. THEREFORE WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO INCREASE EDUCATION AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AS WELL AS SUPPORT SURVIVORS IN ORDER TO CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL JOINS. ADVOCATES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL 20 21 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH AND URGES ALL CITIZENS TO OBSERVE THIS MONTH BY BECOMING AWARE OF THE TRAGEDY SEXUAL ASSAULT SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TOWARDS AND PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY EFFORTS AIMED AT CHANGING THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE. DATED THIS 12TH OF APRIL 20 21 SIGNED BY JOSEPH SUMMIT CHAIRMAN BEAUFORT COUNTY, I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO HOPEFUL HORIZONS AND CONGRATULATE THEM ALSO FOR THE GOOD WORK THEY HAVE GONE OVER THE MANY MANY YEARS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY DEPARTMENT.
>> I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> YES. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
[8. PROCLAMATION TO BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DIVISION IN HONOR OF ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH - Council Member Larry McElynn]
THAT. AND YOU WILL ALSO BE READING THE PROCLAMATION UNDER ITEM NUMBER EIGHT WHICH IS A PROCLAMATION TO BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DIVISION IN HONOR OF ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH. IT IS THE RECIPIENT FOR HOPEFUL HORIZON STILL AT THE PODIUM. THEY ARE NOT HERE AND THEY ARE NOT ON LINE.>> BUT STEVE DONALDSON IS ON LINE WITH US. WE'LL GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SAY IF YOU WERE EXACTLY YOU READ THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. >> HOPEFUL HORIZONS ISN'T THERE BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE NEXT ONE. YES.
YES, YES, OF COURSE NOT. OK. >> OK.
THIS IS A.. >> ANOTHER PROCLAMATION FOR ALCOHOL AWARENESS.
WHEREAS ACROSS OUR COUNTY AND OUR STATE ALCOHOL ABUSE IS A MAJOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, RACES AND ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS WHEREAS ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ADDICTION ARE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR ALL SOUTH CAROLINIANS INCLUDING INCREASED COSTS TO THE HEALTH CARE, WELFARE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS AS WELL AS TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS ALCOHOL USE BY YOUNG PEOPLE A CRITICAL PROBLEM FOR OUR COUNTY IS A MAJOR CAUSE OF LOSS OF LIFE WITH PEOPLE UNDER 21 AND ALCOHOL RELATED CAR CRASHES ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF THOSE DEATHS.
AND WHEREAS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA 22 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ADMIT TO CONSUMING FIVE OR MORE DRINKS IN A ROW. MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IN THE PAST MONTH WHILE 53 PERCENT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ADMIT TO BINGE DRINKING ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS WITH SIX NINTH GRADERS INCREASING USE OF ALCOHOL, A TWELVE POINT FOUR SIX PERCENT TO 20 19 WHEREAS THE DANGERS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE GO BEYOND COLLEGE STUDENTS AS BEAUFORT COUNTY IS RANKED SOUTH CAROLINA'S HIGHEST COUNTY, THE HEAVY USE OF ALCOHOL BY ADULTS THIRD FOR BINGE USE OF ALCOHOL AND WHEREAS ALCOHOL WHEREAS APRIL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH GIVING PUBLIC HEALTH BODIES COMMUNITY CENTERS AND TREATMENT FACILITIES A CHANCE TO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS TO REACH PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT FULLY APPRECIATE DANGEROUS UNHEALTHY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
AND WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT USES THE MONTH OF APRIL LAUNCH CAMPAIGNS ON PORTUGAL AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL MEDIA TO DRAW ATTENTION TO ALCOHOL AWARENESS AND WORK TOWARDS DECREASING THE STIGMA PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS THROUGH EDUCATION DISCUSSION AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED FOR COUNTY COUNCIL PROCLAIM APRIL 20 21 IS ALCOHOL.
THE WINNER IS AIDED THIS 12TH DAY OF APRIL 20 21. JOSEPH CASIMIR 74 DELEGATES.
>> THANK YOU. MR. DONALDSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? IF YOU'RE TALKING YOU'RE YOUR MUTE. I WAS ON MUTE.
>> THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY. >> ANYWAY, GOOD EVENING. AND I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL AS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH. ALCOHOL IS STILL THE NUMBER ONE
CENTERPIECE OF ABUSE AND THAT WE TREAT BACK. >> CURRENTLY 76 PERCENT
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OF PATIENTS HAVE ALCOHOL SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS DESPITE A OPIATE EPIDEMIC EPIDEMIC THAT MANY PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT CAN'T BE OVERLOOKED THAT ALCOHOL IS STILL A MAJOR SUBSTANCE OF ABUSE THAT CREATES HARDSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I MIGHT ALSO ADD THAT WE ARE OPEN AGAIN OR NO IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SERVICES. SO CITIZENS IF YOU NEED OUR SERVICES WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS ONE OF DUTY AND ONE SERVING THE BLUFFTON HILTON KIND OF AREA.PLEASE JUST GIVE US A CALL. AND STEVE, WHILE YOU'RE THERE I SAY THAT WE APPRECIATE THE
LEADERSHIP THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING. >> YOU KNOW YOUR ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE COMMUNITY ASSESSING THE SITUATIONS THAT YOU COME ACROSS.
AND PROVIDING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU ENCOUNTERED.
>> NO, I OFFER MICROGRAM RELATIONS AND THE CONGRATULATIONS OF THE ENTIRE BODY WITH A TERRIFIC WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF FORM IN ACCOUNTING ON A DAILY BASIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S OUR PLEASURE. THANKLESS.
[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OK. WE'RE NOW AT THE CITIZEN COMMENT PORTION. I SEE THE NUMBER OF CITIZEN COMMENTS.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUALLY AS BOARD MEMBERS BEEN EMAILED INDIVIDUAL .
EVERY ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED WHO HAS EMAILED THE INDIVIDUALS OR THE COUNTY IN GENERAL. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN IN PERSON TONIGHT WHO WANT TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS ISSUES. THEY ARE THE MASK ORDINANCE LOST THE NOISE ORDINANCE NAME RIVER AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
AND EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED SHALL LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. NOW THAT BECOMES PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE WITH THE 27 PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR OVER AN HOUR AND OUR MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED AND AT 8:00 P.M. SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO BE KIND ENOUGH WHEN YOU COME UP IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO ADD TO THE PRIOR INDIVIDUAL, THEN PLEASE SPEAK. IF YOU ARE AGREEING WITH THE PRIOR INDIVIDUAL, PLEASE. SO STATE THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS PRETTY RUDIMENTARY. WE THE COUNTY COUNCIL ARE REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH PUBLIC HEALTH. IT'S DEFINED AS US PROMOTING AND PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK AND PLAY OUR ORDINANCE.
>> OUR FACE MASK ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY SAYS IN ORDER TO PROTECT, PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE GENERAL HEALTH SAFETY WELFARE AND THE PEACE AND ORDER OF THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS TO TRY AND PROTECT CITIZENS.
EMPLOYEE ERS AND EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE COUNTY FROM AN INCREASED RISK OF EXPOSURE TO AND TRANSMISSION OF COVERED 19 . SO WE'RE GOING BEGAN WITH ERIC
LARSON LOSS OF ERIC WATSON. >> PLEASE STEP FORWARD. MY NAME IS ERIC.
I'M A FISHERMAN WITH DIFFERENT BRUISES AND HILTON HEAD. BUT TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO RESPECT THE SCIENCE FINE. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME CONFIDENCE THAT I CAN I CAN DO THAT. BASICALLY I WANTED TO MENTION I'VE WORKED 40 YEARS IN THE
PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY. >> I HAVE A DEGREE IN MODULAR BIOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. I WAS IN GRAD SCHOOL DURING THE AIDS ALFRED AND I WORKED FOR BAYER THE PEOPLE THAT INVENTED ASPIRIN TO STUDY AND TO DEVELOP DIAGNOSTIC TESTING FOR HIV VIRUS. YOU JUST GET HERPES AND HOW TO PRESERVE THE BLOOD SUPPLY AGAINST HIV INFECTION. AFTER THAT BRIEFING TO ENSURE THAT LAST AND THAT I DO KNOW THE SCIENCE AND WHAT KEEPS HE IS FOR I WORKED FOR IT AND I THINK MICROSYSTEMS I WAS A ENGINEERS SENIOR ENGINEER FOR GENE TECHNOLOGIES, HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES, GENERAL ELECTRIC. I WAS A MANAGER FOR REGULATORY AFFAIRS WORKING WITH THE FDA FOR GENZYME OPERATING IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. I WAS THE SENIOR MANAGER FOR
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ALPHA METRICS AND I WORKED AS DIRECTOR WAS ON LIFE SCIENCES, A EUROPEAN COMPANY BASED IN PARIS, FRANCE AND LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND AND I WAS A VISE PRESIDENT FOR MARKET GENETICS OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. SO I DO KNOW WHAT PPE IS AND I DO KNOW THAT MASKS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS AGAINST VIRUSES. I'D LIKE TO QUOTE A COLLEAGUE, DR. FOUCHIER QUOTE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT BE WALKING AROUND WEARING MASKSRIGHT NOW. >> PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE WEARING ANY MASKS.
HE EMPHASIZES THERE IS NO REASON TO BE WEARING A MASK WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OUTBREAK. WEARING A MASK MIGHT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.
IT MIGHT EVEN BLOCK A DROPLET BUT IT'S NOT. IT IS NOT PROVIDING THE PROTECTION THAT PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE GETTING. DR. DREW CONTINUED.
OFTEN THERE ARE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. SO SOMEBODY MUST STOP WORK AND THEY MIGHT EVEN QUIT. ANOTHER QUOTED SOURCE. WELL, IT IS THE FDA WITH WHOM I'VE WORKED FOR 40 YEARS. THEY SAY THAT COMMON CLOTH FIBER SURGICAL MASKS MUST BE LABELED BY THE FDA NOT FOR USE AGAINST VIRUS. A LAW REQUIRES AND THIS IS A LEGAL THING THAT THE 21ST CODIFIED FEDERAL REGULATIONS MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF AUTHORIZED PRODUCTS SHALL NOT LABEL THE PRODUCT AS AN ANTIVIRAL OR MEDICAL DEVICE.
PRODUCT LABELING MUST NOT INCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT WOULD MISREPRESENT THE PRODUCT OR CREATE UNDUE RISK. IN LIGHT OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THE LABELING MUST NOT INCLUDE ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CLAIMS FOR ANTI-MICROBIAL OR ANTI VIRAL PROTECTION OR RELATED USES THAT MUST NOT INDICATE INFECTION PREVENTION NOR INFECTION REDUCTION. AND IT MUST NOT QUOTE VIRAL FILTRATION EFFICIENCIES SUCH AS THE LAW. ACCORDING TO THE 21ST U CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, YOU ONLY HAVE THREE SECONDS LEFT. FEW SECONDS LEFT.
OK, YOUR TIME IS UP. VIRAL PARTICLES ARE ZERO POINT ONE MICRONS IN THE MASKS ARE OVER 100 MICRON PORES WHICH IS LIKE TRYING TO CATCH A MOSQUITO WITH A HURRICANE FENCE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON OUR LIST IS TO MARY. GOOD EVENING.
IT WAS GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. HOSTING THIS MEETING IN PUBLIC.
I'M JOINED WITH MAYOR LISA SILKE. WE'RE HERE REPRESENTING THE SIX LITTLE COUNTRY MAYORS. SHE'S THE LONGEST TENURED MAYOR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND I'M THE NEW GUY IN JUST FOUR MONTHS. SO WE THAT WE TACKLE HER MUCH OUTLINE IN DETAIL.
YES. SHE'S GOT HOPEFULLY BY SAY SOMETHING APPROPRIATE WHICH I DO FROM TOMMY TO SO WE'RE HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.
AND WE KNOW THAT YOU VOTED FOR FREEDOM AND TITLE ONLY EXPO 2020.
WE APPRECIATE THAT AFFIRMATIVE VOTE. AND WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT A LETTER LAST FRIDAY AND WE THOUGHT WE'D REALLY REITERATE SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THAT LETTER.
AND SO AT 388 GOING BACK TO 2008 AS MOST OF YOU KNOW HAS CREATED SOME REAL SORT OF STICKY WICKETS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND ONE OF THOSE IS HOW WE RAISE MILLAGE. AND SO EVEN IF OUR RESIDENTS COME TO US SAY WE'D LIKE YOU TO RAISE MILLAGE TO PAY FOR PARKS, ROADS OR SIDEWALKS, WE'RE UNABLE TO DO THAT, SAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IT'S ALSO PUT A GROWING BURDEN WHEN I'M ON A TINY NOOSE ON 6 PERCENT OF TAXPAYERS. AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT SECOND HOMEOWNERS AS BEING THE SIX PERCENTERS. BUT THE REALITY IS SIX PERCENTERS ARE ALSO OUR LONG TERM RENTERS WHICH MAKES UP A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR WORKFORCE OF OUR YOUNG WORKING FAMILIES. AND AS MOST OF US KNOW, THE WAGES AND COUNTY DON'T QUITE SUSTAIN THE QUALITY OF LIVING AND COST OF LIVING THAT WE HAVE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT THE TAX BURDENS THAT WE PUT ON OUR WORKFORCE AND FOLKS IN THE 6 PERCENT TAX CLASSIFICATION. IN ADDITION TO BUSINESS OWNERS SO I'M GOING TO. I WENT OFF SCRIPT ON WOULD GO BACK SCRIPT AND SAY IT'S IMPORTANT REMOVE THE 6 PERCENT PROPERTIES INCLUDE LONG TERM RENTALS.
WE BELIEVE THAT INCREASES WOULD PUT A SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON OUR LOWER INCOME POPULATION A BURDEN THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW LOST WILL PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT CREDIT ON ALL TAX BILLS INCLUDING SIX PERCENT PROPERTIES PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR ALL TAXPAYERS.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS REGARDING LOST BEING REGRESSIVE TAX AS MOST SALES TAXES ARE IN AN ISOLATION. WE MIGHT AGREE BUT GIVEN THAT 71 PERCENT ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF COLLECTED SALES TAX WOULD BE REBATED TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND SALES TAX ONLY APPLIES TO NON-ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN SOUTH CAROLINA WE BELIEVE LOSSES ACTUALLY A PROGRESSIVE TAX MORE EQUALLY PUTS THE BURDEN OF CAPITAL AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WHILE PROVIDING REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO ALL OF YOU FOR COUNTY TAXPAYERS. AND FINALLY, WHILE WE'D LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT LOST THAT THE
[00:35:05]
MAYORS HAVE HAD A LONG STANDING POSITION SUPPORTING LOST FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW IN ADDITION TO OUR SIX PRINCIPLE COUNCILS, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO SAY THAT YOU LIKE LOST TONIGHT.WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU GIVE YOUR FOUR COUNTY VOTERS THE OPPORTUNE TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES. WE BELIEVE YOU FOR COUNTY VOTERS ARE SMART ENOUGH THEY WILL TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THE PROS CONS OF THE LOCAL OPTIONS SALES TAX IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR. AND SO WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING YOU THAT STATES TO ACTUALLY GIVE YOU THE 40 OR PUT IT ON THE BALLOT OR NOT GET ON THE BALLOT.
IF WERE UP TO MARTINSVILLE GOVERNMENT'S WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT YEARS AGO.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT SUPER OR SIMPLY ASKING. AND TONIGHT YOU VOTE AFFIRMATIVELY TO PUT ALL SALES TAX ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2021.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD TONIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING THE CITIZENS OF YOU FOR. THANK YOU. AND I'M NOT I'D TAKE MY THREE MINUTES BUT IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME TO HAVE 10 SECONDS I SUPPORT THIS NOT THERE'S RARELY A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THE MAYORS AND THEIR COUNCILS AGREE ON SOMETHING AND WE DO SO IT ASK ALL OF YOU WHO REPRESENT US IN OUR DISTRICT TO PLEASE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
>> SECOND THING. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LAWSON BECAUSE WE DON'T GIVE THANKS
ENOUGH FOR HELPING ME WITH THE RED LIGHT. >> IT'S AWESOME.
THANK YOU. CALL YOUR ELECTED LEADERS WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES AND THE PLAID.
>> IT IS HERITAGE WEEK. IT IS. THAT IS A GIVING GIVING TOURNAMENT THAT GIVES BACK TO ALL OF NON-PROFITS AND OUR STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
SO I JUST WANT A SHOUT OUT TO THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION SO HAPPY HERITAGE.
>> THANK YOU. >> OK. NEXT IS GREG JOHN, HELLO.
YEAH. MY NAME IS GREG JOHN. I'M AN OWNER OF 122 MAY RIVER ROAD. THIS IS THE PROPERTY BEING REVIEWED FOR ZONING CHANGES.
A THIRD READING I BELIEVE. I CAN'T EXPRESS HOW THANKFUL I AM THAT THE COUNCIL IS SO CAREFULLY REVIEWED THIS SITUATION. WE'RE SO GRATEFUL THAT WHAT WE VIEW AS A DEEPLY TROUBLING AND DISTRESSING CIRCUMSTANCE IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY OUR COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I'VE THOROUGHLY EXPLAINED THE HISTORY BEFORE TO THE COUNCIL SO I WILL ONLY DO SO AGAIN IN A MORE CONDENSED VERSION TONIGHT.
SINCE MOVING HERE IN 1990 MY FAMILY AND I HAVE BEEN ARDENT SUPPORTERS OF A SUSTAINABLE GROWTH PLAN FOR SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY. WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED DECADES OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO INVEST IN THE AREA, ITS BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE EMPLOYED DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE AND PAID HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TAX DOLLARS LOOKING BEYOND HILTON HEAD AND EASTERN BLUFFTON IN THE EARLY
2000. >> WE KNEW DEVELOPMENT GROWTH WOULD MOVE OUT TOWARD THE
PRITCHARD HILL AREA AND BEYOND. >> WE STARTED TO LOOK FOR LAND TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS AND TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF BLUFFTON. WE WERE ECSTATIC WHEN WHEN LOT 122 MAY RIVER ROAD BECAME AVAILABLE THIS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FIT PERFECTLY INTO THE OUTLINE WE AND OTHERS PERCEIVED FOR THE AREA PERMITS HAD BEEN AVAILABLE FOR GAS STATIONS.
BUT WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS HERE. OUR PLAN WAS TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY, CREATE VALUE AND A LOCAL BENEFIT. LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, OUR PLANS WERE PUT ON HOLD WHEN THE RECESSION HIT AND IT HIT HARD.
>> AFTER THE 0 8 RECESSION THINGS STARTED TO LOOK UP. A FEW YEARS LATER WE DECIDED THERE WAS HOPE AGAIN FOR OUR PLANS ON THIS LOT FINANCIALLY. AT THIS TIME I REACHED OUT TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON OUR PLANS ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN DOWN ZONE TO 23 EDGE WHICH IS BASICALLY A RESIDENTIAL ONLY ZONING.
THIS WAS EXTRAORDINARILY SHOCKING AND DISTRESSING DISTRESSING TO US AS ONE WE HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THIS POTENTIAL AS THE COUNTY DID NOT DIRECTLY CONTACT PROPERTY OWNERS WITH THIS INFORMATION IN AN ATTEMPT TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE COUNTY AND TO AS A RESIDENTIAL ZONE LOT. THIS PROPERTY IS PRACTICALLY WORTHLESS.
NOBODY WOULD BUILD RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES ON THIS LOT ON THIS FRONTAGE.
IT WILL REMAIN AN OVERGROWN FIELD WHERE PEOPLE DUMP TRASH KIDS DRUNK AND KIDS DRINK AND GET HIGH AT NIGHT. THIS LOT WAS ZONED COMMERCIAL BECAUSE LENDS ITSELF PERFECTLY FOR A LOW IMPACT COMMERCIAL SPACE AS MR. HERBERT SINCE RIGHTLY STATED IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER CREATE OR DESTROY THE WEALTH OF ITS CITIZENS AND IN THIS CASE AT THE CURRENT ZONING THERE HAS BEEN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WEALTH DESTROYED.
>> LET ME ASSURE YOU YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH A DEVELOPER OR A VERY WEALTHY FAMILY BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. MANY OF THE FUNDS TIED UP IN THIS PROPERTY THAT HAVE NOW BEEN DECIMATED ARE RETIREMENT DOLLARS AND COLLEGE TUITION MONIES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN. MOST OF THE NEIGHBORS AND COUNCILMEN REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT HAVE SHOWN SUPPORT AND APPROVE REZONING THIS PROPERTY TO TEACH TO RURAL CENTER BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE AND IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO NOT JUST FOR US.
THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY WHO ARE SUFFERING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT
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FOR PRICHARD BILL AND IT IS BENEFICIAL FOR THIS PART OF BLUFFTON.ONCE AGAIN PLEASE ACCEPT OUR SINCERE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS PROCESS TO PLAY OUT AND TO REASONABLY WEIGH THE SITUATION TO DETERMINE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR EVERYBODY.
PLEASE REMEMBER THE COUNSEL REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE SURROUNDING THIS PROPERTY THAT LIVE THERE AND WORK THERE AND ARE RAISING FAMILIES HAVE UNEQUIVOCALLY STATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ZONING CHANGE. SIR, YOU'VE NOW GONE.
WE'VE PASSED. >> I HAVE HALF A SENSE. PLEASE FINISH.
AND SOME HAD ORIGINALLY EXPRESSED CONCERN HAVE SINCE CHANGED THEIR STANCE AND VOICED THEIR SUPPORT. THANK YOU AGAIN. I APPRECIATE.
SORRY FOR GOING OVER. I COULDN'T READ ANY FASTER. THANK YOU.
NEXT MR. OLD TOOL YOU HERE? WHAT WE'D LIKE YOU TO DO IS TO MEET WITH COUNSEL ON THE 2016 EXECUTIVE SESSION BASED UPON WHAT WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU. WE'D LIKE YOU TO BRING ASHLEY FEASTER WITH YOU AND ADDRESS COUNSEL AT THAT POINT IN TIME IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO YOU.
OK. >> NEXT ON THE LIST IS MICHAEL THOMPSON, THE CHAIR A MEMBER
OF THE COUNCIL BOTH HERE AND IN OUTER SPACE. >> THREE THREE YEARS WE WE HELD HANDS AND WE DEVELOP AND THE WAY THE AUDIENCE COUNTS. THANK YOU.
GOT MY CITIZEN GRAHAM MY CONCERNS ABOUT THANKING YOU FOR.
NOISE ORDINANCE AND THEN MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE NON ENFORCEMENT ARE AND IT'S GOTTEN TO BE AN EPIDEMIC HERE ON THE CONCERNS OF THOSE ON THE HONORING COOPERATIVE DR.
BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT ARE NOT HEADED HERE TO SPEAK UP. >> THEY HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS TO THE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HAS SEEN NO ACTION.
>> I'M HERE TO CARRY THE LOAD FOR THEM. THE CITY HAS DEVELOPED FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY'VE DEVELOPED A MEMBERSHIP AND IS EACH NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE THEM HAVE HAVE A MEMBER AND THEY MEET WHEN THEY MEET WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND A MAJORITY OF THAT MEETING IS SPEEDING, RUNNING RED LIGHTS, LOUD CARS, ROAD RACING THAT IS THE TOPIC OF MOST OF THOSE MEETINGS. I STARTED A GROUP CALLED OR NEXT GO OR I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU FOLKS READ THAT. NEXT DOOR BUT I GOT TONS OF PEOPLE WANTING TO KNOW HOW DO I DO THIS? HOW DO I CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT? HOW DO I GET SOMEBODY TO HELP ME WITH THE CLOWN CAR OF THE STREET RACING AND RUNNING THE RUNNING OF RED LIGHTS. SO I STARTED HELPING THOSE PEOPLE. WE NEED SOME SUPPORT FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SHERIFF TANNER NUMEROUS ABOUT MY CONCERNS ABOUT NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE NOISE ORDINANCE. THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH HIM HE ASSURED ME THAT HE HAD DV METERS AND HE WAS FINE IN HIS PHOTOS AND WE WERE GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF ACTION.
THE ONLY ACTION I'VE SEEN THIS FROM CITY CITY SHERIFF MCDORMAND CONTACTED ME.
THEY GAVE ME A LIEUTENANT DAY FROM HIS HIS OFFICE TO CALL WHEN I HEARD ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THE CITY ANY LOUD CARS THIS PAST WEEKEND. IT WAS LIKE EVERY LOUD VEHICLE AND BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS IN THE CITY COMING FROM KRAFT PARKWAY ,COMING FROM BROAD RIVER ROAD.
THEY WERE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE I WAS TOLD FROM COUNTERPARTY TO CALL THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER WHEN I CALLED THE NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER.
THIS PAST WEEKEND IT WAS LIKE IT WAS LIKE A BAND-AID FOR A GUNSHOT WOUND BECAUSE I GOT ABSOLUTELY NO NO RESPONSE, NO RESPONSE. AND THE NOISE JUST KEPT GOING OVER ALL DAY. I COULD NOT ENJOY MY PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THIS AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT THAT WE ALL DO. WHEN WE WERE RIGHT THIS THING THAT ENFORCEMENT WAS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF IT. AND AT THE END WHEN I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GET ENFORCEMENT TAKING. THANK YOU.
OK. WE'VE NOW COVERED ALL OF THE TOPICS AND I'D STILL LIKE TO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE BE ABLE TO SPEAK. AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO ADD THAT'S GREAT. IF YOU ARE HERE TO REITERATE
[00:45:07]
EVERYTHING SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, PLEASE ALLOW SOMEBODY WHO HAS SOMETHING NEW.OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT. AND WE HAVE MANY THINGS ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF SO KEVIN PHILLIPS DISCUSSING LOST.
IS THERE SOMETHING NEW TO ADD A MEMORY ABOUT? RIGHT.
THANK YOU, LISA. DO YOU WANT TO. OK.
AND BLISS. IS THERE SOMETHING NEW TO ADD TO THE MASK ORDINANCE? MY NAME IS EMERY UCLA'S PASSPORTS. RECENTLY I WAS TAKING MY HAS BEEN TO A MORAL HOSPITAL FOR RIBAUT TESTING AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE MASK WEARING A SHIELD. I DO THAT EVERY COURTESY ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE I AM.
HOWEVER, AFTER BEING IN THE HOSPITAL THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK WITH THE SHIELD I WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. I REGISTERED MY HUSBAND AND THREE DOCTORS UPSTATE AND THEN DEMANDED WHY CAN'T I WEAR A MASK? I EXPLAINED TO HIM SIR, YOU JUST VIOLATED THE ACT. THEN HE TURNED AROUND AND DEMANDED THAT I LEAVE.
I SAID SIR, YOU JUST VIOLATED THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES .
AFTER COMING DOWN WHILE I WROTE A LETTER TO THE CHIEF SURGEON AT THE MEMORIAL.
WITHIN 24 HOURS HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH ME APOLOGIZING PROFUSELY, REITERATING HIS STAFF AND SETTING UP NEW REGULATIONS FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF.
AT THIS POINT THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY ANYMORE. THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT EXTENDING EMERGENCY. THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE LEGISLATURE JUST PASSED LEGISLATION RESTRICTING HIS ABILITY TO EXTEND THE EMERGENCY.
I DO NOT SEE WHY THE COUNTY NEEDS TO EXTEND EMERGENCY AND MANDATE A MASS AT THIS POINT.
GEORGIA IS OPEN. FLORIDA'S OPEN. TEXAS IS OPEN.
WE SHOULD BE OPEN. IT SHOULD BE VOLUNTARY. IT SHOULD BE A PERSONAL INDIVIDUAL CHOICE AS TO THE COLOR OF OUR HAIR AND WHAT WE WEAR ON OUR FACE.
IF WE WEAR ANYTHING LIKE OUR MACE. SO AT THIS POINT THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS NOT AND I'VE ASKED SEVERAL TIMES FOR YOU TO DO THIS.
NOTIFY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND SERVICES ABOUT THEIR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE HIP ACT AND THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES. THIS ORDINANCE IF IT DOES NOT HAVE THAT IN THERE IS YOUR RESPONSIBLE AS SHOULD BE STATED THAT WHEN YOU GO TO A BUSINESS TO SERVICE YOU MAY REQUIRE IT BUT HAD NOT MANDATED BECAUSE IF YOU DENY ANY SENSE OF EQUAL PARTICIPATION IN GOODS AND SERVICES YOU AGAIN VIOLATE BOTH BEEN HIT AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ON THESE SHEETS I JUST PASSED THAT TO YOU IS THE SPECIFIC SECTIONS OF THOSE ADS AND THE PENALTIES THAT CAN RANGE ANYWHERE FROM ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO ONE POINT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AND UNDER THE HIP ACT UP TO TEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON IF YOU DON'T NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES YOU ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB.
>> DO NOT EXTEND THE EMERGENCY AND GIVE UP ON THE MANDATE. >> THANK YOU AS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS SO THAT WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME TO HAVE COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS.
>> THERE IS A SECOND PROCESS THAT WE HAVE AT THE END OF THE MEETING FOR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS TO BE MADE AND WHAT I WOULD ASK IS IF THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN THERE ARE PEOPLE OUTSIDE WHO WISH TO COME AND THEN SPEAK BEFORE US. SO WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE AND LET THEM COME IN. WE'RE GONNA TAKE A COUPLE MORE. ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO THE MEETING AND THEN COME BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN.
YES, SIR. I THINK BOTH AGREE THAT AT MOST THE COUNCIL THAT YOU KNOW, THE POINT OF OUR ASSISTANCE COMMENTS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAR VOICES BEFORE OUR AGENDA ITEMS. IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD MOVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR OPTION FROM THE END OF THE MEETING TO THE FRONT OF THE MEETING AND ADDED ON TO THIS SO WE CAN GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE BEFORE WE GO OVER OUR AGENDA ITEMS IF THEY PERTAIN ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA? WELL, WE DO 15 MINUTES AT A TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SHORTLY COMING UP ON 30 MINUTES FOR THIS FIRST SESSION AND WE HAVE AN EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR AND I'M NOT SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO PAST THE 8:00 HOUR .
WE WOULD DO THE 50 MINUTES AT THE END NO MATTER WHAT THOUGH, CORRECT? IF YES. SO MOVING IT TO THIS SIDE WOULDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF WE HAD TO EXTEND IT ANYWAYS BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO FEEL THAT MEETING WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO EXTEND FOR THAT PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE NOW AT 30 MINUTES NOW.
I'VE EXTENDED THE 15 IT'S ALREADY WAS. >> I WANT TO BE HELPFUL.
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I DID A MOTION TO EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENT ON 15 AND WE ALSO NEED TO EXTEND THE MEETING TIME FRAME WHEN WE GET TO 8 O'CLOCK IF SOMEONE MAKES A MOTION TO EXTEND.>> WE'LL SEE IF THAT ANSWERS ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AT THIS POINT IN TIME RIGHT NOW? I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD, MR. FLOWING.
>> YES. I MEAN YOU COULD DO THAT RIGHT NOW AS WELL.
EXTEND BEYOND THE BLACKOUT. >> YEAH. CAN'T HAVE ONLY PERMISSION TO EXTEND PAST THE HOUR. I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION AND SECOND ANY DISCUSSION WILL BE UNANIMOUS OR DO I NEED TO CALL THE ROLL OR
NANO? >> MR. SCHILLER, ROME'S CHAIRMAN I'M SORRY, SIR.
AGAIN ALL ROME. OK. MR. CHAIRMAN.
YES, SIR. I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE OPEN ENDED.
I WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT WE EXTENDED FOR NOT TO EXCEED ONE HOUR.
I WILL ASK TO AMEND THE MOTION NOT TO EXCEED ONE HOUR. OK, THERE HAS BEEN AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION TO GO PAST THE EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR TO EXTEND THE MEETING NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR. IS THERE A SECOND TO THE AMENDED MOTION?
>> SECOND MOTION? MR. CHAIRMAN, IS HOWARD SECONDS THE MOTION IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT SEEING NO DISCUSSION I WILL CALL THE ROLE AND THE AMENDMENT TO EXTEND FOR
ONE HOUR PAST 8:00 O'CLOCK. >> I WILL BEGIN WITH MR. RODMAN.
YOU MADE THE MOTION. YES. MISS HOWARD, YOU WERE THE
SECOND. >> YES. MR. CUNNINGHAM.
NO, MR. DAWSON. NO MR. FLOWING. >> YES, MR. GLOVER.
>> YES. MR. HERVEY SHOWN NO. MR. LAWSON.
>> MARK LAWSON. YES. MR. MCKELLEN.
YES. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX.
MR. SUMMERVILLE. YES. THE CHAIR SAYS YES.
WE WILL BE EXTEND. I'M SORRY. THE MOTION PASSES TO LIMIT IT TO ONE HOUR. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL NOW GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 9:00. I WILL CALL THE ROLL.
MR. FLEMING, YOU MADE THE MOTION THAT I THOUGHT THAT WAS MR. CUNNINGHAM BUT MR. NERVOUS I MADE THE MOTION I SECONDED. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. I'M SORRY.
YES, YES. GETTING IN. >> MR. DAWSON.
NOW MR. FLOWING. YES. >> MR. GLOVER.
MR. LAWSON. PARK AND YES. MR. MCKELLEN.
MR. SOMERVILLE. YES. CHAIR SAYS YES.
>> THAT MAN'S MOTION PASSES. WE WILL BE TILL 9:00. >> OK.
SO IT IS NOW 7:00 P.M. WE'LL GO ANOTHER HALF HOUR IN ORDER TO COMPLETE ALL THE AGENDA ITEMS IN TIME TO DO THAT. SO WE'LL NOW BE AT MIKE SPAULDING MOVING ON HELEN SPALDING. MELANIE COMBS BENJAMIN TALKING ABOUT LOST.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE MIGHT BE IN THE LOBBY WAITING FOR THE DELAY.
SO I GUESS OK, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE SMALL THINGS MELANIE COMBS BENJAMIN AND I CAN'T READ. GILMAN I THINK IT IS MUCH LONGER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN TO 730 NANCY THAT THE EXTENSION WILL GET OUR BUSINESS DONE.
THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, WE'RE DOING BOTH SESSIONS NOW SO THAT WE CAN GET THE TRIAL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL THE HOUSE ALL DAY BEFORE 9 O'CLOCK.
[00:55:01]
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANOTHER SESSION 8:00 P.M.. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.DEFECTORS FROM ME RIBAUT. OK. COME FORWARD PLEASE.
BUDDY AND JEANNIE DECKER LIVED IT. I'VE BEEN LAYING OUT THREE BENTON LANE WHICH ADJOINS THE PROPERTY ON A RIVER ROAD WHICH WAS ONLY WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL FOR IT OR EXTREMELY FOR IT SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE 20 SOME YEARS AND THAT AREA HAS REALLY CHANGED. THEY CLAIM IT'S RURAL.
IT'S NOT RURAL ANYMORE. IT'S JUST NOT. BUT WE ARE ALL FOR IT.
>> WE'VE TALKED TO THE OTHER NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND US. THEY COULDN'T BE HERE.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ALL FOR I DON'T I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN HERE WHO IS ON THE LIST TO SPEAK REGARDING THE MASK ORDINANCE? IS THERE ANYBODY OUTSIDE THERE? THE WANTS TO COME IN AND SPEAK ABOUT THE MASK ORDINANCE BREAKERS COMING IN AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SECURITY LIKE WHY ? I THINK THE THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I'M HERE FOR THE MARY RIVER IF YOU WANT ME TO.
PLEASE COME. I'M NOT SURE SHE CAN POST. WE HAD A PHOTO SUBMITTED OF WHAT WE'D LIKE TO YOUR NAME, SIR? BLAINE MCCLURE.
OK, THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HEARING WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH LOT 122 MAY RIVER ROAD. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US FOR THE REASONS THAT GREG JOHN MENTIONS AN INVESTMENT WE MADE IN THE COMMUNITY. IT'S RETIREMENT FUNDS CHILDREN'S COLLEGE EDUCATION FUND. SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US. I'M A FATHER FOR MY KIDS SMALL COMMUNITY AND SORRY USED TO THAT MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH DOWN THE STREET ON MAIN ROAD WE'RE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN
THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. >> I WANT TO FIRST SAY THAT I'M NOT A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER. I'M NOT ANY TYPE OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL FOR THAT MATTER.
I'M MERELY A STORMWATER ENGINEER WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THIS PROPERTY.
I LIVE IN THE VICINITY AND AS I SAID, WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN BEING PART BEING PART OF ANY DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD BE THE DETRIMENT OR THAT WOULD NOT SERVE AS A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS. FROM THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, HEARING, MEETING TO BE HAD AS GREG POINTED OUT, THE COUNTY MENTIONED THAT THE REASON WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT OUR PROPERTY BEING RISEN BECAUSE THIS WAS I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THIS IS RESOUNDING. >> THIS PROPERTY WAS COMMERCIAL.
IT WAS DOWN ZONED WHEN THEY CHANGED THE NAME AND CULTURE OF ZONING.
SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BEING MISGUIDED WHEN WE SAY WE'RE TRYING TO REASON SOMETHING.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK WHAT WAS ONCE PURCHASED. BUT THE REASON WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED PROPERLY AND ONE OF THE STATEMENTS IN THE PRIOR PUBLIC HEARINGS IS BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ADEQUATE FUNDING TO PROVIDE PROPER NOTIFICATION .
AND SO WE FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY THAT WE WERE THE ONES DAMAGED FINANCIALLY BY THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS AT THAT TIME AND PERHAPS WOULDN'T BE IN THIS POSITION TODAY. OUR DESIRE IS TO HAVE A SPACE ON THIS PROPERTY THAT SERVES THE COMMUNITY, ENHANCES OUR LIVABILITY. WE WANT THIS ZONING TO ALLOW FOR AN ACCOUNTING OFFICE LEGAL OFFICE DESIGN CENTER, A REAL ESTATE OFFICE INVESTMENT BROKERAGE FIRM JUST LOW IMPACT OFFICE SPACE FOR PROPERTIES PRIOR ZONING ALLOWED FOR MUCH MORE INTENSE COMMERCIALLY USES AND WAS ALREADY COMMITTED ON TWO OCCASIONS FOR GAS STATIONS.
AND THIS IS NOT OUR INTENT. I'VE HIGHLIGHTED THAT YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN MY FAVOR BUT WE DO
[01:00:03]
NOT HAVE ANY PLANS THAT I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY. WE HAVEN'T BEEN REINSTATED IF IT'S POSSIBLE I WE'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A PHOTO THAT WE SUBMITTED TO SCREEN A SIMILAR PROPERTY DOWN THE STREET. WE HAVE NUMEROUS LETTERS OF SUPPORT.WE HAD ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS JUST SPOKE BUDDY AND JEANNIE AND WE'VE GOT OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF LETTERS OF CONCERN THAT I THINK THE REPRESENTATIVE MENTIONED IN LAST MEETINGS AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE HAVE WRITTEN MORE UPDATED LETTERS RECENTLY THAT HAVE RETURNED THEIR POSITION. THEY'RE IN FULL SUPPORT.
THIS WILL BE A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, OUR NEIGHBORS IF WE SUPPORT THE ZONING CORRECTION AND I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A MAJORITY COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON HAS BEEN AN ADVOCATE VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HEARING OUR CONCERNS AND WE VERY MUCH VALUE AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT CREATING THE ZONING CHANGE TO T TO ROW CENTER.
THANK YOU. AND THIS IS AN IMAGE OF WHAT WE ARE.
ALL RIGHT. AND THAT'S NOT MY TIME'S UP. YES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. KEVIN HUFFMAN, PEOPLE ONLINE ON THE MAN WANTED A TIME WHEN THEY MAY NOT. OK.
>> DO YOU SEE I DON'T SEE WHO'S ON LINE. IS THAT LEO MCCARTHY THAT HAS HIS HER HAND UP? YES, I KNOW. ALL RIGHT, LEO, GO AHEAD.
NOW IT'S YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS. WHAT YOU ARE SPEAKING ON.
GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN. CAN YOU HEAR ME OK? I CAN.
OK. THANK YOU. MY ADDRESS ONE SABATINO CRESCENT IN BLUFFTON. I AM TALKING ABOUT THE MASS ORDINANCE AS WELL.
I'M A 34 YOUR RESIDENT HERE. BEAUFORT COUNTY AS WELL AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
I'M ASKING TODAY FOR YOU TO COORDINATE WITH ALL THE TOWNS AND COUNTY TO HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON THIS MASSIVE MANDATE ON OR BEFORE MAY 15 AND REPLACE A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE CDC RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DO ENCOURAGE BRAIN BASED PRIMARY UNABLE TO SOCIALLY DISTANCE FREQUENT HANDWASHING AND SANITIZING ETC.. MR. CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT JUST GOT VOTED ON IN ORANGE COUNTY AND IS GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 30TH. COUNCIL YOUR ELECTED POSITIONS AS PUBLIC SERVANTS IS TO MINIMIZE THE HARM TO OUR COMMUNITY BUT THAT TO STOP A VIRUS AT ALL COSTS THIS VIRUS MAY NEVER BE A ZERO CASE LEVEL. AND THEN WE CANNOT FORCED FACE COVERINGS INDEFINITELY.
WE DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE FLAT CURB ACCORDING TO THE W.H. OVER CDC AND LOCAL COUNCIL.
I'M SURE FOR EVERY STATISTIC AN ARTICLE THAT I HAVE FOUND STATING THAT WEARING THESE COVERING IS NOT PROVEN EFFECTIVE FOR REDUCING THE SPREAD OF THE 19 AND I CAN'T GO THROUGH THEM BUT THERE IS AN TIME I WON'T. YOU MAY HAVE WONDERED TO THE CONTRARY HOWEVER MANY OF US ARE RELYING ON HARD FACTUAL DATA OUT THERE THAT'S IT'S HERD IMMUNITY. HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND ANTIBODIES COUNCIL IF YOU IGNORE THE COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE TWO OF THE STATISTICS AND WHICH DO NOT SUPPORT THE USE OF MASS AND THE REDUCTION OF THIS VIRUS, YOU'RE EXPOSING YOUR BIAS ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS DOING A SERVICE TO A STRONG MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS HERE. YOU'VE RECOUNTED.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR GOVERNOR AS WE DO NOT HAVE ANY STATEWIDE MANDATE COUNCIL THE LEADERS OF OUR TOWN OF MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE EYES AND EARS ON ALL OF YOU TONIGHT ALTHOUGH YOU CLAIM IT'S TOO DIFFICULT OR TOO CONFUSING FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. IF YOU EXPIRE THIS MANDATE FOR OTHERS THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING FOR THE MAY 15TH DATE WHICH IS THE DAY BEFORE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD MEETS TO DISCUSS THE EXTENSION. AND I JUST SIMPLY BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE ALL LOOKING TO ALL OF YOU TONIGHT TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN ENDING THIS MANDATE THAT SEEMS TO BE NEVER ENDING. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, EVA. EVA, YOU'RE ON MUTE. YOU STATE YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS ? YES. THIS IS DON.
BILL, I'M SORRY. I THINK A MORTGAGE ON WITH MY DAUGHTER'S LOG IN DRESS.
>> YOU'RE NOT COMING UP AS A KID. ARE YOU?
>> HOPEFULLY NOT. I WAS BRANDED BRANDON IS 50 DAFFODIL FARM ROAD IN BOSTON AND SAME THING WITH A MASKED MAN LOOKING TO WELCOME YOU GUYS TO TAKE AWAY THE MANDATE.
AT THIS POINT I BELIEVE IT'S JUST IT'S UNNECESSARY. THE PEOPLE HAVE THE FREEDOM AND DESIRE TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEIR FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BUSINESS HERE AND IN BLUFFTON AND I THINK THE CITIZENS HERE ARE
[01:05:02]
WISE ENOUGH TO FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN COURSE. I THINK EVERYBODY HAS MOST MOST THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED DESIRE TO GET THE VACCINE HAS CHOSEN TO DO SO HAD THE ABILITY TO DO SO. AND I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME I THINK IT'S JUST OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THIS. THE BEST WAY WE SEE FIT AND TO NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT MANDATING THINGS TO BE DONE IN OUR LIVES THAT WE CAN MAKE OUROWN CHOICES. >> THANK YOU, BRIAN. BRIAN, GO AHEAD.
THAT'S OK. YOU'RE MY HUSBAND'S NAME SO I ALWAYS SAY MY MACHINE IS ALL SCRUBBED. I RESIDE AT 117 GREAT HERE AND ROAD IN BLUFFTON AND I AM ALSO COMMENTING THAT I AGREE WITH THE PRIOR INDIVIDUALS THAT SPOKE TO AND IMPLORE YOUR COUNCIL TO END THE MASKED MAN DAVE DESPITE THE CLEAR LACK OF CLEAR EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT.
MANY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MAKE A WHAT'S THE HARM APPROACH TOMASKY.
HOWEVER THERE IS HARD COUNTLESS STUDIES ILLUSTRATE THE HARMS AND MASK WEARING HEADACHES, LACK OF CONCENTRATION, DENTAL ISSUES, FACIAL RASHES, INHALATION DEEP INTO THE LONG ONES OF DAMAGING FIBERS AND BACTERIA THAT RESIDE ON THE MASKS JUST TO NAME A FEW.
STUDIES ALSO SHOW THAT ELEVATED CO2 AFFECTS BRAIN FUNCTION IN DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO LEARNING. IT IS TIME FOR THIS COUNCIL TO RETAKE ALL OF MEDICAL DECISION MAKING BACK IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY'S PUT IT BACK INTO THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS. AND PARENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AS YOU KNOW, MANY AREA SCHOOLS FOLLOW THE POLICIES SET BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEN IN THEIR CAPACITIES.
SO I ASK YOU AND YOUR COUNCIL SERIOUSLY DELIBERATE ON THESE HARMFUL EFFECTS AT THE MASK POLICIES ARE CAUSING YOUR CHILDREN OUR COMMUNITY AND PLEASE REVERSE COURSE REPEAL THESE MANDATES AND MAKE MASKING OPTIONAL. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IN THIS AREA AND GIVE OUR AREA USED IN OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE .
THE BEST CHANCE FOR SUCCESS. FURTHERMORE, YOUR COURAGE TO REPEAL THE MASK ORDINANCE WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR TOWNS TO COORDINATE IN THE COUNTY TO FOLLOW YOUR LEAD AND DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
ACTUALLY I'M HIS WIFE KATIE VERNON. WE LIVE AT 15 PECAN STREET ON THIS ISLAND. YOU SAY, CHAIRMAN, THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. WELL, IT SEEMS LOGICAL TO ME TO EXPECT THE COUNCIL TO PROVE THE NEED OF A MEDICAL BASED POLICY TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY CITING DATABASE PEER REVIEWED SCIENTIST OR MEDICAL STUDIES. WHAT STUDIES DO YOU CITE TO SHOW THE NECESSITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF GENERAL MASKING OF THE PUBLIC TO REDUCE THE DEATH RATE OF COBURN 19 AND SAY DEATH RATE BECAUSE CASE RATE HAS NO BEARING ON THE SERIOUSNESS ILLNESS. IF IT DID THE COMMON COLD WOULD BE CONSIDERED A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS. SO AGAIN WHAT STUDIES DO YOU CITE TO LEGITIMIZE SUBSIDY
OF THE MASK ENDING? >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. MOLLY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MOLLY SANDMAN. I LIVE AT 114 PINE CREST CIRCLE AND I JUST WANTED TO COME ONLINE TO AGREE WITH ALL OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BACKED EXPIRING MANDATE.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WOULD REALLY HAVE TO ADD TO THAT IS PURPOSE.
CAROLINE DE HACK, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF THAT STATE RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE NATIONWIDE IN VACCINE ADMINISTRATION SPEED AND EFFICIENCY. THOSE THAT ARE AT THE HIGHEST HAVE HAD ACCESS TO OBTAINING THE VACCINE AND THE ACTUAL PROTECTION THAT THEY NEED FOR THOSE YOUNGER AND AT FAR LOWER RISK LEVELS CONTINUING A MANDATORY MASS MANDATE IN PLACE AS BOTH EXHAUSTIVE AND UNWARRANTED CDC DATA JUST SIMPLY DOES NOT SHOW THAT THERE'S ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT TRANSMISSION RISK AMONG CHILDREN AND TEENS.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO ME TO THINK OF OUR CHILDREN BEING MASKED IN SCHOOL FOR EIGHT HOURS WHILE ONLY GETTING VERY BRIEF PERIODS OF REST FROM THEIR FACIAL COVERINGS AS ADULTS. WE CAN TAKE A BREAK. WE CAN WALK OUTSIDE.
WE CLOSE OUR OFFICE DOOR. THEY CAN'T. OUR CHILDREN ARE MENTALLY EXHAUSTED FROM THIS AND IT'S TAKING A TOLL. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE MASS MANDATE IN AND OF ITSELF IT'S SELECTIVE WHEN WE ENTER A RESTAURANT.
WE'RE ASKED TO WHERE A MASS ON THE TABLE THAT CAN REMOVE WHILE SEATED WITH VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND CEILING FANS BLOWING SHARED AIR ALL AROUND US. ARE WE IN A BUBBLE OF PROTECTION TABLE? OF COURSE WE'RE NOT. LIKEWISE AT THE GYM WE'RE ASKED
[01:10:05]
TO WEAR A MASK AS WE ENTER WHAT NOT WHILE EXERCISING SO OUR GERMS ONLY AT THE FRONT DOOR.AGAIN, OF COURSE THEY'RE NOT. FINALLY WE VISIT THE GROCERY STORE.
WE HANDLE OUR GROCERIES. THE CASHIER HANDLES OUR GROCERIES, THE BAG OR HANDLES OUR GROCERIES. WE TOUCH A WELL USED PEN PAD TO PAY LEAVE THE STORE AND WHAT'S THE FIRST THING WE DO? WE TOUCH OUR FACES TO TAKE OUR MASK OFF.
WE SCRATCH OUR NOSES AND WIPE OUR CHEEKS. SO DID THE MASS REALLY DO ANYTHING? ARE WE SAFER? NO.
WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS OF MASK WEARING SELECTIVELY.
SO DOES COUNCIL BELIEVE THEY WORK OR NOT? AS WE SEE OUR BIT OF POSITIVE CASES GOING DOWN, OUR HOSPITALS NOT BEING OVERWHELMED. ONE HOUSE ASKED THE QUESTION WHY? WHY WASN'T MASK WEARING WORKING LAST JUNE? IF THEY WEREN'T, WHY WERE THE NUMBERS GOING DOWN? SIGNIFICANTLY IN SEPTEMBER? HOW ABOUT NOVEMBER? WAS IT THE MASS WORKED FOR JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT OUR POPULATION IS GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO HERD IMMUNITY? THE USAGE OF MASKS SHOULD BE A PERSONAL CHOICE ONE THAT'S MADE BY THE INDIVIDUAL. OUR PARENTS WEIGHING THE PROS CONS OF USAGE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT'S BEING MANDATED BY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WASH YOUR HANDS. STAY AT HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, EAT GOOD FOODS AND EXERCISE.
PLEASE I IMPLORE YOU HELP THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GOVERN COME OUT OF THIS.
HELP US SEE ONE ANOTHER FACES AGAIN. HELP OUR CHILDREN EXPERIENCE SOME DEGREE OF NORMALCY. THANKFULLY GOVERNOR GOVERNOR RICK M. NEVER ISSUED A STATEWIDE MANDATORY MASS MANDATE AND HAS LIFTED THE MANDATE THAT HE DID PUT IN PLACE FOR STATE GOVERNMENT PROPERTIES. PLEASE FOLLOW HIS LEAD.
OUR TOWNS ARE LOOKING TO YOU TO LEAD THE WAY. EXPIRE THE MANDATORY MASS MANDATE FOR OUR COUNTRY ON MAY 15TH AND HELP US TAKE A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. YOUR SERVICE AND THE OTHERS NOT
IN LINE. >> ANYBODY HERE? NEEDED TO SPEAK.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO COME FORWARD? PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME ADDRESS . DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO
ADD ABOUT THE MASK ORDINANCE? >> MY NAME IS ILLICITLY NOW AND I LIVE IN HORIZON IN BLUFFTON AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MASS MANDATE ON THE POSITION OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
MY SON WHO HAS SEVERE SPEECH PROXIMA ALSO WHO HAS SINCE GRADE CROSSINGS DISORDER.
THE MASK IS JUST HE AN EXEMPTION. SO IN ORDER FOR HIM TO GO TO SCHOOL HE HAS TO WEAR MASK THAT ONE INHIBITS HIS SPEECH, SETS OFF EVERY SENSORY PROCESSING IN
HIS ENTIRE BODY. >> HE NEEDS TO GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE HE NEEDS SERVICES WITHOUT SERVICES. HE'S REGRESSED. IT'S BEEN 13 MONTHS AND I'VE TRIED TO KEEP THE MASK OFF MY CHILDREN'S SPACE AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN UNTIL THEY NEED TO ENTER INTO SCHOOL. SO I'M ASKING YOU PLEASE DROP THIS TODAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ONE SELECT GROUP. THERE'S OTHER CHILDREN. THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING AFFECTED THE MOST AT THIS POINT. AS MY 8 YEAR OLD SAID TODAY PLEASE MOM. HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GO AND THEY'LL GET THIS MASS MANDATE BECAUSE I WENT INTO A SCHOOL SUGAR SO AMASSED ON THIS CASE FOR SEVEN HOURS.
IT IS HE'S NOT DOING SCHOOL. MY OTHER SON WHO HAS THE SPEECH PRACTICING.
HE SAID WHY DO I HAVE TO COVER BOTH OF MY SPOTS WHERE I BREATHE? ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S WHEN IT NEEDS TO START GOING TO THE ADULTS LIVING THEIR LIVES.
THE CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO ARE IN SCHOOL SUFFERING. ASK A CHILD LIKE MINE.
MY SON IS IN SIXTH GRADE WITH THOSE PRACTICES. HE SAYS HE'S TERRIFIED TO PULL DOWN HIS MASK BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET YELLED AT BY THE SAME TIME.
IT'S OVERLOADING HIM SENSORY WISE AND HE'S COMING HOME AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MELTDOWN OF IT. NOBODY IS IN MY HOUSE. NOBODY'S TAKING CARE OF MY CHILD. NOBODY IS HELPING US. WE ARE A LONG AND AT THIS POINT AND REALLY I JUST OR WILL JUST TROPFEST THIS DAY BECAUSE LIKE EVERYONE SAID THE GOVERNOR IS NOT THERE'S NO MASS MANDATE. SO LEAVE IT UP TO THE PEOPLE YOU CHOOSE YOU TO.
YOU LIED TO ME. IF A CHILD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE MANDATE TO WEAR A MASK AND DOESN'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK THAT'S UP TO THEM. THE PARENT WANTS THEM TO WEAR MASKS THEN THAT'S THEIR RIGHT. THAT'S THEIR CHOICE. LIFE IS ABOUT CHOICES AND YOU ARE TAKING THOSE CHOICES AWAY FROM US AND I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE.
AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE US I THINK DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS CAN GET YOUR NAME
ONE MORE TIME PLEASE. >> THIS IS CLEANUP. THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE STATE MEN. JENNIFER GEIGER. YOU'RE AT US.
I'M SO SORRY ABOUT MY PARENTS. I HAD NO IDEA THAT WE WERE GONNA GET TO DO THIS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXTENDING THIS TIME TO ALLOW US TO SPEAK. SO I WORK IN A MINISTRY WITH
[01:15:02]
WOUNDED THAT ARE BROKEN AND HURT AND SOMETIMES ASK THEM KNOW THEY DON'T WANT TO GOPLACES. >> THEY'RE SCARED, RIGHT? THEY DON'T THEY'RE SCARED TO GO TO. THEY'RE SCARED TO GO BECAUSE OF CODE.
SO EVERYBODY'S SCARED. SO I ASKED HER ONE DAY. I SAID WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE
FOR YOU TO GO BACK OUT TO PROGRESS? >> GO TO THE STORE? DO THESE THINGS? AND SHE SAID WELL, I GUESS WHEN PEOPLE YOU KNOW, TAKE THE MASK OFF AND I WAS LIKE TAKE THE MASK OFF. WELL, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE YOU KNOW, WEAK THEY PROTECT THIS, RIGHT? AND SHE'S LIKE YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE TAKE THE PA. I WON'T BE SCARED ANYMORE SO THAT IT WE'RE
NOT LIVING IN FEAR. >> WE'RE NOT IN THIS CONSTANT PLACE OF FEAR WHERE WE'VE CREATED FEAR INTO EVERY HUMAN BEING AND EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND THE WORD OF GOD SAYS HE DOESN'T GIVE US A SPIRIT OF FEAR.
RIGHT. HE DOESN'T DO THAT. SO WE HAVE GOT TO STEP OUT OF THIS FEAR AND NOT LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE. WE'RE MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SCARED OF EVERYTHING. AND I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO LIVE LIKE THAT. BUT YOU'RE NOT CALLED TO LIVE IN FEAR.
THAT IS NOT WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO DO. SO THAT'S THAT.
I KNOW THAT YOU KIND OF WANTED SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT. YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT, RIGHT? SO CAN WE CAN WE THINK ABOUT THAT? CAN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS HAS DONE, WHAT COLBERT HAS DONE, WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS DONE? IT'S DONE NOTHING BUT CREATE FEAR AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET AWAY FROM THIS FEAR. JUST GET AWAY FROM FEAR.
RIGHT. OK, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OTHERS ON BOARD WAS MISS BONNIE MILLER. >> ELEVEN FORTY FIVE HER DRIVE IN BLUFFTON. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED BUT I DO KNOW THAT WHEN THIS MANDATE WAS PUT OUT THAT I FELT LIKE WHERE'S THE TRUST FOR PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS TO BE THE AUTHORS OF THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FUTURE? WHERE IS THE TRUST IN HUMANITY AND PEOPLE AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES THAT ARE SMART AND CAPABLE? IT'S LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE LOST THE TRUST FOR THE REGULAR EVERYDAY PERSON TO MAKE A DECISION FOR THEMSELVES WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK HAMAS WILL BENEFIT MEDICALLY MEDICALLY MAKE A BENEFIT TO THEIR BODIES AND SO IN THEY CAN CHOOSE TO GET EDUCATED BY THE MEDIA OR BY
DOING RESEARCH FOR THE CDC OR IN ANY WAY THEY WANT. >> BUT EACH PERSON HAS THE LIBERTY AND THE FREEDOM TO MAKE CHOICES THAT ARE THAT ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR BODIES. YOU GUYS TAKE THAT AWAY. SO I ASK PLEASE IF YOU WOULD GIVE THE FREEDOM BACK TO THE PEOPLE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
THANK YOU. >> CLASS PERSON MY NAME'S CHERRY NORA SULLIVAN SHIPYARD
IN HILTON HEAD MASS. >> DON'T WORK. I MEAN THEY JUST THEY'RE DIVISIVE. THEY'RE DESTRUCTIVE. THEY'RE DEHUMANIZING.
THEY MAKE US BREATHING OUR OWN BACTERIA. CARL'S MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
EVEN DR. FOWLER, SHE WROTE AN ARTICLE IN 2008 STATING THERE WERE MORE RESPIRATORY DEATHS FROM WEARING A MASK THAN THERE WERE FROM THE SPANISH FLU. THE CDC SAYS THAT MASKS ARE ONE POINT THREE TWO PERCENT EFFECTIVE. THE VIRUS HAS A NINETY NINE POINT SEVEN PERCENT CURE RATE. THOSE OF US LIKE MYSELF WHO'VE HAD COVE IT KNOW THAT IT IS NO MORE THAN A VERY STRANGE FLU. THOSE OF US WHO HAVE RESEARCHED BEYOND THE PROPAGANDA OF MAINSTREAM MEDIA NO MASKS ARE NOT ABOUT PROTECTING OUR HEALTH BECAUSE IF IT WERE PEOPLE WOULD BE LINED FOR H.S. Q IVERMECTIN VITAMIN D AND ZINC ALCOHOL AND CIGARETS WOULD BE BANNED. MCDONALD'S AND OTHER FAST FOOD CHAINS WOULD CLOSE TWINKIES, OREOS, SOFT DRINKS ETC. WILL BE REMOVED FROM OUR GROCERY SHELVES AND OBESE PEOPLE WOULD BE QUARANTINED TO FARMS WHERE THEY'D BE FORCED TO DIET AND EXERCISE MASKS ARE NOT ABOUT OUR HEALTH BUT THEY DO WORK AS A TOOL TO DIVIDE AND CONTROLLERS.
>> THEY ARE OUTWARD REMINDERS OF FEAR AND CONFLICT. THEY TURN US AGAINST FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND WHAT'S SHOCKING IS THAT NO ONE IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARENA OF THESE HOLDS OF THIS WHOLE AREA SEEMS TO DISPLAY ANY RATIONAL OR CRITICAL THINKING TO THIS
MANDATE. >> IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. WE ARE NOT A TYRANNY IN AMERICA. THE LAST I CHECKED IT IS ABOUT FREEDOM OF PEOPLE, FREEDOM OF CHOICE AND WE THE PEOPLE WANT OUR FREEDOM AND WANT OUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE.
THANK YOU. VERY GOOD ONE CAUSED THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION AND WE'RE
[10. LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS – Review Consent Agenda Items]
GOING TO MOVE TO THE ACTION ITEMS. FIRST ARE LIAISON COMMITTEE[01:20:05]
REPORTS. I WOULD ASK THE CHAIRS OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES WHO HAVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS TO SPEAK TO BEGIN WITH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE MR. MACALLANWHO STILL OWN MUNICIPAL I KNOW GETTING THERE. >> OK, THIS IS ITEM ORIGINATING FROM A COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO ACT ON THIS EVENING ACCEPTING A DONATION OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FROM THE DEFENSE THE ISLAND COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE DONATION. WE NEED THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE OF LIABILITY ISSUES RELATED TO
THE USE THIS EQUIPMENT ON BEAUFORT COUNTY PROPERTY. >> SHELL FOR US TO TO ACCEPT THIS GIFT WHICH HAS BEEN FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE ACTION ON US. WE HAVE TO PASS A RESOLUTION ALLOWING TO ACCEPT THE GIFT AND ACCEPT OF COURSE LIABILITY FOR ITS INSTALLATION AND USE THE NEXT ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A RESOLUTION. COMMISSIONER AND ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICER. AND THAT WILL BE IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY APARTMENT.
WE MET THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS GOING TO BE COMMISSIONED THIS EVENING AS A RESULT OF THIS RESOLUTION THAT WAS INTRODUCED TO US BY THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PHIL FOOTE.
WELCOME HIM TO SERVICE. OF COURSE HE CAN'T OR UNTIL THIS RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS FINANCE COMMITTEE MR. WATSON.
>> YES, WE HAVE A THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE 20 21 AWARDS OF LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY. I LIKE TO THANK HAYES WILLIAMS AND THANK YOU HEAR IT FOR THEIR HARD WORK OF THAT THAT WE HAVE A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO USE A FIVE MILLION
DOLLARS IN FUND BALANCE TO DEFEAT BONDS. >> WHEN YOU TURN THAT PERSON AROUND BACKGROUND USING WILL BUILD UP LIKE THAT ESPECIALLY TREATMENT FOR YOUR THANK YOU
MR. AND HOW ARE YOU FINISHED? >> I HAVE THANKS FOR BEING ELEGANT.
I KIND OF LIKE THE BACKGROUND MUSIC. I'LL BE HONEST.
MISS HOWARD, WOULD YOU DO NATURAL RESOURCES PLEASE? >> YES, CERTAINLY.
THE FIRST THING WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA FROM NATURAL RESOURCES IS A CONTRACT AWARD FOR THE SALE OF TIMBER. THIS IS ON. THIS WAS DRAWN UP BY OUR PASSIVE ART IN OUR CONTRACTING SECTION AND AS WE HAVE STATED IN THE PAST.
OUR GOAL IS TO THIN TIMBER ON SOME OF OUR PASSIVE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN TO BETTER AND ENHANCE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THESE PARCELS AND WE HAD ONE BIDDER.
SO THIS IS AWARD CONTRACT TO S.A. ALLEN TIMBER COMPANY. THE SECOND IS A RESOLUTION TO EXECUTE A JOINT OWNERSHIP AND OPERATING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE FORD SHOW RING PRESERVE. SO THIS IS BASICALLY AN INTER INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT. THE LAST ONE IS A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY.
HILTON HAD AN HISTORIC MITCHELL FILL FREEDOM CARD FOR THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE CITY ROAD PARCELS AND THIS WILL ALLOW THAT PROPERTY TO BE USED TO SUPPORT THE HISTORIC MITCHELL
FREEDOM PARK. >> AND THIS WILL HELP HELP MITCHELL HILL FREEDOM PARK AND THINGS LIKE PARKING AND OTHER THINGS. OF COURSE IT WILL BE ASSESSED AS TO HISTORIC AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL VALUE BEFORE IT'S TURNED OVER FOR USE BY THEM. THAT CONCLUDES WHAT WE DID A NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE JUST AGREEING ON THAT LAST ITEM WITH REGARD TO THE LEASE MITCHELL WILL PART TWO THINGS WITH THAT ONE WE'LL HAVE TO GET HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO AGREE TO THAT LEASE AS WELL BECAUSE OF PROPERTY AS JOINT OWNERSHIP. BUT TO WHERE WE'RE OKAY WITH YOU VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION WOULD NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL WE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WILL DO THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I THINK IT WOULD BE CONTINGENT ON THAT.
>> CARACAS. YES. AND FINALLY, MR. SOMERVILLE, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ITEMS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS COMING OUT
[01:25:03]
OF EXECUTIVE MARY. THE FIRST IS A RESOLUTION TO SET FORTH A UNIFORM POLICY FOR PROCESSING IS BINDING TO TRACKING REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC RECORDS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY CLARIFY AND AND MAKE CONSISTENT ALL RESPONSES WE GIVE TO REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION.>> SECOND ITEM IS A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO STEP FAA GRANTS. THIS IS KIND OF PERFUNCTORY. OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY HAS TO ACCEPT THEM AND WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE OUR ADMINISTRATOR. THE THIRD ITEM IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS RELATED TO TAKE CARE ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE DISPOSAL SITE. THIS IS A DISPOSAL SITE OR HAZARDOUS WASTE THAT THE COUNTY HAS USED ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER COUNTIES CITIES FOR A LONG TIME AND THERE'S NO LAWSUITS INVOLVED AND THIS RULE I BELIEVE LIMIT OUR EXPOSURE TO THOSE LAWSUITS AND ALLOW US TO RESOLVE IT. IN A REASONABLE MANNER THAT'S IT.
[11. CONSENT AGENDA (PAGE 3)]
>> THANK YOU. >> OK, SO THEN WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER ELEVEN WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. I WOULD ASK FOR EMOTIONS FROM A MEMBER OF COUNCIL.
SO MARY ELLEN, I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE REMOVE THE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. ITEM ITEM NUMBER EIGHT WILL BE MOVED.
OKAY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO. MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. ROBERT MAKES THE MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'LL SECOND MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION THAT THIS WOULD BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION FOR ITEMS 1 2 3 4 5 6, 7, 9 AND 10 SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWELVE IN THE ACTION ITEMS.
[12. AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM TWELVE WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE STATEOF EMERGENCY MOVE? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION THE SECOND MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION. YEAH.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M WAY AHEAD. >> MR. FLOWING IT WAS PROBABLY PREFER TO HAVE SOMEBODY SPEAK
IN FAVOR BEFORE I SPEAK. >> BUT I'M I MEAN ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT SO-CALLED STATE OF EMERGENCY AND CONTRARY MS. NORRIS SAID DURING PUBLIC COMMENT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF US THAT HAVE BEEN OPPOSED CONSISTENTLY TO BOTH THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE IMPOSITION OF THE MASK ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE THE MANDATE FOR FOR THE
MASKS. >> YOU KNOW, MY CONCERN WITH THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS WE HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE'RE NOT IN AN EMERGENCY. THIS IS UNKNOWN QUANTITY THAT
WE HAVE. >> WE KNOW THE INFECTION RATE OF THE HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE AND WE'VE DESIGNED AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THAT.
>> THERE'S IS CERTAINLY NOT AN EMERGENCY UNDER ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION ANYMORE AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS IS JUST A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR REGULAR RESPONSE TO. WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY AND WE DON'T NEED TO CALL THIS AN EMERGENCY ANYMORE . THANK YOU.
AND THE OTHER ONE. >> MR. LAWSON? YES.
I WILL ACTUALLY VOTE FOR EXTENDING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THE BIGGEST REASON IS BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO HANDLE AND HAVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
THERE ARE SOME OF US THAT THAT OBVIOUSLY AREN'T HERE TONIGHT THAT DON'T WANT TO BE HERE
BECAUSE OF THE EXPOSURE TO COBURN. >> THAT'S THE BIGGEST REASON THAT I WILL VOTE FOR THE STATE OF EMERGENCY. AND REMEMBER THIS EXPIRES AS SOON AS THE GOVERNOR LIFTS HIS STATE OF EMERGENCY WHICH HE STILL HAS IN PLACE.
THIS WILL AUTOMATICALLY EXPIRE. SO I WILL I WILL VOTE FOR EXTENDING THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY AND THE OTHER ONE WISH TO SPEAK OK. >> IN RESPONSE THAT MR. CHAIRMAN, I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD READ. ITEM NUMBER 14 ON OUR ACTION ITEM THAT ALLOWS US TO MEET ELECTRONICALLY IN ANY OTHER ISSUES.
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT OTHER THINGS THIS DOES. BUT IF I CAN RESPOND THEN MR.
[01:30:04]
FLOWING I AGREE. >> HOWEVER, WE NEED TWO MORE READINGS OF THAT ORDINANCE
BEFORE IT TAKES PLACE. >> OK, WE WILL BEGIN WITH MS. HOWARD.
YOU MADE THE MOTION. >> YES. >> MR. GLOVER.
YES. MR. CUNNINGHAM, I'M GOING TO SAY WHY DON'T THINK WE HAVE A STATE OF EMERGENCY LIKE MR. FOILING SAID SHE LIVES AND DOES MAKE A POINT.
YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I OPPOSE BEING VIRTUAL AND I OPPOSE THE 14TH THING ON JENNA.
BUT UNTIL THAT VOTE COMES FORTH I WILL VOTE YES FOR A STATE OF EMERGENCY ONLY IN THE REASON TO ALLOW THOSE THAT ARE VIRTUAL FOR OUR COMMITTEE AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE THAT. THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. YES, MR. FLOWING.
NO MR. HER VERSION? >> NO. MR. LAWSON.
MARK LAWSON. YES. MR. MCKELLEN.
MR. SOMERVILLE? YES. THE CHAIR VOTE YES.
THEREFORE THESE EXTENDING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS PASSED ITEM NUMBER 13 AN EMERGENCY
[13. AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES]
ORDINANCE REQUIRING THE WEAR WEARING OF FACE COVERINGS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE MOVE. THAT'S MR. DAWSON.
ABDULLAH I'M SORRY MR. MCCOLLUM DID YOU SECOND THAT OR WERE YOU THE FIRST?
I WAS THE FIRST. >> I'LL I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO. IF THERE WAS SOMEONE PROCEEDING
I ALSO LIKE AN WAS CHAIRMAN. >> OKAY. DISCUSSION.
I'LL START OFF AGAIN. YEAH. WHAT I WILL SAY I'VE BEEN VERY PUBLIC ABOUT MY BELIEF ON THIS AND WE CAN GO DOWN MANY DIFFERENT REASONS BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE'S VOTES. BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THIS TODAY SINCE FRIDAY WE HAVE HAD OVER 70 E-MAILS TO OUR COUNTY REGARDING THIS ONE ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. OF THOSE 70 THAT I'VE READ ONLY TWO OF THEM WERE OPPOSED TO ARE TWO FOR US TO CONTINUE THE MANDATE. THE OTHER 68 WANTED TO REMOVE IT. MY SON MYSELF PERSONALLY HAVE RECEIVED OVER 15 20 TO MY COUNTY EMAIL ALSO AND ONLY ONE OF THOSE WAS TO EXTEND. THAT'S ANOTHER 14 TODAY IN THIS ROOM WE HAD OVER 20 PEOPLE SHOW WE HAD ANOTHER 10 OUTSIDE AND ANOTHER FIVE AND A HOLDOVER ROOM. AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ONES THAT WE HAD ONLINE.
OUR JOB AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IS TO DO ONE THING AND THAT IS TO REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE.
WE HAD PEOPLE COME TO THIS PODIUM TODAY FROM HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON PORT ROYAL AND YOU'VE HEARD AND NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE CAME OUT IN SUPPORT OF MOVING FORWARD ON THAT NASCAR MANDATE. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE HAD A LETTER OR TWO LETTERS ABOUT EVEN EVERY ZONING PROPERTY THAT HINDERED YOU FROM VOTING TO APPROVE IT BECAUSE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WERE AGAINST IT. WELL, WE HAVE OVER 70 WE HAVE OVER 80 THAT ARE OPPOSED THAT HAVE SUBMITTED IN THE LAST 72 HOURS.
SO OUR COUNTY TO REMOVE THIS MANDATE. I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE THE FIRST STEP. MYRTLE BEACH HAS ALREADY STARTED TO LEAVE IT TO THEIR BUSINESSES AND I THINK IT'S OUR TIME TO DO THAT AS WELL AND THE TOWNS CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR DECISION. BUT IT'S OUR JOB.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP. HOWEVER THEY FEEL AFTER THAT THAT SHOULD BE UP TO THEM HOW THEY WANT TO GOVERN THEIR TOWNS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID TO ALL OF US. WE HAD A LOT OF THESE SENT TO US.
BUT I WANT TO READ ONE FROM A BUSINESS OWNER NAMED DAVE. DAVID MOFFETT.
SO I WOULD LIKE MY REPRESENTATIVES TO VOTE AGAINST THE MASS MANDATE AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, PEOPLE OFTEN BECOME ARGUMENTATIVE AND ALMOST COMBATIVE REGARDING OTHERS WEARING MASSIVE MASKS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT MY STAFF AND I HAVE TO PLAY REFEREE TO MANDATE THAT NO OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING ON THE COUNTY LEVEL OR TOWN LEVEL.
I PERSONALLY CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK AND TO HAVE CUSTOMERS AS A SIGN OF RESPECT TO THEIR BELIEFS. BUT YOU PUTTING SMALL BUSINESSES IN A HORRIBLE POSITION WITH THESE ORDINANCE IS ABSOLUTELY RECKLESS FOR THEM TO CONTINUE FOR US TO BE THE
POLICE FORCE ON THEM. THANK YOU. >> OTHER COMMENTS, MR. HARVEY SEAN. CHAIRMAN, I'LL JUST REITERATE WHAT I'VE SAID FOR EIGHT MONTHS NOW. I THINK IT'S WELL BEYOND TIME TO END THIS.
GUESS THE DATA ON THE EFFICACY OF THE MASKS IS NOT CONVINCING TO BE POLITE.
[01:35:02]
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I AM POSITIVE ON IS THAT WE'VE GOT SIX MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HERE TONIGHT FINALLY TO HEAR PUBLIC COMMENT. AND WE SAW A LOT OF I FIND VERY COMPELLING PUBLIC COMMENT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RELATES TO KIDS. I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR MONTHS TO I THINK WHAT HASN'T BEEN CONSIDERED BY THIS COUNCIL AT LEAST EFFECTIVELY IS THE IMPACT ON KIDS AND I THINK THAT THAT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW SOME LEADERSHIP.SO AGAIN, I'M GONNA BE OPPOSED TO THIS AND I'LL CONTINUE TO OPPOSE IT IF IT DOES PASS AGAIN. I APPRECIATE OTHER COMMENTS BY MIKE.
>> GO AHEAD. >> THANK YOU, MR. FALWELL. >> AND BY THE WAY, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T SEE YOU CAN'T. OH, SURE YOU CAN. FOR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, I'M I'M SURE THAT ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL HAS HEARD YOU BOTH YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR CONCERNS FOR AND AGAINST THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE STRUGGLED
WITH. >> I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF COUNCIL HAS STRUGGLED WITH THIS QUESTION. IN ONE KIND OR ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE MAY HAVE DISAGREED ABOUT IT BUT I RESPECT EACH ONE OF YOU. YOUR COMMITMENT TO LISTEN TO AND CARE FOR AND HAVE CONCERN FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC AS INTELLIGENCE AND WHEREWITHAL TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WEARING A MASK FOR THEMSELVES. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION OUR HISTORY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY THAT WE'VE REQUIRED EVERYBODY TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT A FEW INSTEAD REQUIRING FEW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. WE'VE TRANSFERRED THE BURDEN OF THIS CARE IN THIS DUTY ONTO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS OPPOSED TO INDIVIDUALLY.
>> AND YOU KNOW WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT KIND OF HAS THE EFFECT MAKING MAKING EACH INDIVIDUAL
FEEL A LITTLE LESS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS. >> AND SO I'M GOING TO OPPOSE THIS AS I HAVE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING AND I HOPE YOU ALL WOULD FINALLY UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE WE HAVE REACHED 50 PERCENT INOCULATION AND PRIOR OVER EXPOSURE THAT WE'RE WHERE VERY FAST APPROACHING HERD IMMUNITY AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTY
VERY MUCH LONGER. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF MY OWN ACCORD SINCE I WAS FULLY VACCINATED. I DISAGREE THAT WE HAVE REACHED HERD IMMUNITY. I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE DIFFERENT AGES AND STAGES OF THEIR LIVES.
WE'RE NOW FINALLY SEEING TEENAGERS COME IN WITH THEIR PARENTS AND THEIR PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET VACCINATED. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE REACHED HERD IMMUNITY. I THINK THE LAST NUMBER I HEARD FOR BEFORE COUNTY WAS 38 PERCENT. THAT'S GREAT. RELIEVING STATE.
>> WE'RE NOT THERE YET AND WE ARE BEING VISITED BY SO MANY PEOPLE FROM OUT OF STATE.
>> AND THE REASON I COME HERE IS I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A MASS REQUIREMENT THAT COULD GO TO FLORIDA THAT COULD GO TO THE BEACHES IN GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. BUT NO, THEY CHOOSE TO COME HERE AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM WERE COMING HERE FOR THAT REASON.
I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN 5 AND 7. THEY'RE NOT IN SCHOOL 8 HOURS. THEY'RE NOT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PARENTS YOU SAY THEY'RE SUFFERING FOR EIGHT HOURS.
THEY'RE NOT THERE EIGHT HOURS. THEY GET A BREAK. YOU GET TO GO OUTSIDE AND THEY GET TO PLAY OUTSIDE. SO I DISAGREE WITH A LOT OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAS SPOKEN UP AND I
WILL VOTE FOR THIS AGAIN. >> IF THE GERMANS MR MCGOWAN I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT RIBAUT ONE HUNDRED NINETY EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE LIVING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY EVERY TIME WE DISCUSS THIS TOPIC I'M REMINDED THAT WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID THE WORLD IS FRAUGHT WITH
OPPORTUNITIES TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. >> I ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF MY UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE. BUT BASED ON A KEEN EYE SURGEON IN THE PRESENT, I THINK SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE HERE TONIGHT UNDERVALUE PUBLIC HEALTH WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH THE UNKNOWN ABOUT A FOURTH WAVE.
IT APPEARS THAT WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR A COMBINATION OF EASING RESTRICTIONS OPENING THE ECONOMY AND AN ENHANCED VACCINATION SCHEDULE WE ARE TRYING TO OUTRUN THE SPREAD OF VARIANCE OVER 19 AND IN MY OPINION IT'S NOT LIKELY TO HAPPEN AS WE ENTER A VIGOROUS TOURIST USING VISITORS ARRIVING FROM ALL OVER. I THINK WE MAY HAVE A BROAD SCALE COMMUNITY SPREAD OF VARIOUS IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL.
[01:40:04]
I KNOW WE'RE CERTAIN WE ARE NOT FULLY VACCINATED. I THINK IT'S UNDER 50 PERCENT AND WE NEED 70 80 PERCENT LEVELS TO ACHIEVE HERD IMMUNITY.>> I'VE ALSO BELIEVE TESTING HAS FALLEN OFF THROUGH A VARIETY REASONS THUS RESULTING IN A LOWER REPORTED NUMBERS THAN ACTUALLY EXIST. SO I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS AND REDUCE EXPOSURE BY DISTANCING BECAUSE I THINK VARIANTS ARE CIRCULATING AT LEVELS WE ARE STILL UNSURE OF AND WE SHOULD AIR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
THIS IS NOT THEATER. IT'S NOT A POWER GRAB TO ME AN ISSUE OF OVERREACHING GOVERNMENT CONTROL. I THINK RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE SAFEGUARDS AND THE
RECKLESS AND MADE FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. >> PERSONALLY I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE PEOPLE MASS VACCINATED AND NOT VENTILATE UNTIL WE ARE CLEAR ON WHERE WE STAND WITH THIS NEW THREAT AS OUR VACCINATION PROGRAM ROLLS OUT.
>> IT WILL BE ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL AND A POWERFUL ADDITION TO ALL OF OUR INTERVENTIONS.
BUT WE CANNOT GIVE UP ON OTHER MEASURES PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING NEW STRAINS THAT ARE HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS INTERVENTIONS LIKE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL STILL BE KEY WAYS TO PROTECT AGAINST THOSE NEWER VARIANTS. OUR RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE AFTER VACCINATION IS GOING TO BE GRADUAL. IT WILL NOT BE LIKE TURNING ON OR OFF A LIGHT SWITCH AND HOW FAST IT HAPPENS IS GOING TO DEPEND HOW QUICKLY WE VACCINATE THE POPULATION TO REACH HERD IMMUNITY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC HEALTH VERSUS THE ECONOMY. THESE ARE NOT TWO OPPOSING ISSUES I SEE THIS EMERGENCY PRECAUTION PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AS NECESSARY AND I DO NOT CONSIDER THEM TO BE AN INFRINGEMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS NOR A VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS. IN CLOSING MAY I SAY I LIVE IN A MUNICIPALITY ARE RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL ACTION ON MASS OFFICE 40 THOUSAND RESIDENTS AND UNTOLD NUMBERS OF VISITORS ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION. I WILL VOTE YES WHICH THEN THAT ACTION FOR ANOTHER SIXTY ONE DAYS OR TO THE END OF THE EMERGENCY ORDINANCE FOR THE HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS ABIDING WORK RELATED BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH THE SINCERE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I WILL HAVE TO TAKE SUCH AN ACTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
>> I HAVE HAD COVERED AND MOST MY FAMILY IMMEDIATE FAMILY ALSO GOT COVERED .
I HAVE NOW HAD THE PFIZER VACCINE BOTH VACCINES. SO AS WE LOOK BACK A YEAR AND A MONTH AGO WE WERE ASKED TO NOT LET THE EMERGENCY ROOMS BECOME OVERWHELMED AND WE DID THAT.
>> WE THEN WERE ASKED TO PROTECT THE ELDERLY AND WE DID THAT.
>> WE WERE THEN ASKED TO PROTECT THE VULNERABLE AND WE DID THAT.
SO FOLLOWING ALL THE GUIDELINES WE HAVE WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND AND BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THIS THING IN AND BRING IT DOWN. I MEAN I DO BELIEVE MASKS WORK .
>> HOWEVER, THEY'RE NOT 100 PERCENT THERE IS THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY ARE 100 PERCENT.
I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU WEAR A MASK YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOU'RE ALSO THEN
PROTECTING OTHERS. >> AND AND WHENEVER WE START THIS I HAVE VOTED FOR THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE PAST THREE TIMES FOR US TO CONTINUE AND AS I'VE POINTED OUT EACH TIME I'VE DONE IT TO SUPPORT THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THERE IN OUR OUR AREA AND I'VE DONE IT FOR THAT
REASON. >> I THINK BRIAN WAS THE ONE THAT POINTED OUT THAT THAT PART OF IT IS NOT ALL RIGHT. IT IS IN OUR COUNTY AND THEY DON'T HAVE A MASK SO BUT AGAIN, ALL THE REST OF THE MUNICIPALITIES I HAVE SUPPORTED AT THIS TIME I THINK THE TIMING
IS CORRECT. >> I THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT THAT THAT WE NO LONGER NEED TO HAVE MASS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WEAR A MASK, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK AND YOU WILL HAVE PROTECTION FROM PEOPLE GIVING YOU THE VIRUS AND ALSO PROTECT
FROM GETTING GIVING THE VIRUS. >> YOU STILL HAVE SHOULD SOCIAL DISTANCE YOU STILL SHOULD WASH
YOUR HANDS ON A REGULAR BASIS. >> BUT BUT AS I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND REACHED OUT AND AND LISTENED TO WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID, I THINK THE TIMING IS RIGHT THAT I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE AND I WOULD ASK THE MINISTER PLEASE AS I HAVE SUPPORTED THEM. IF THIS DOESN'T PASS THAT THEY TURN AROUND AND SUPPORT ME OR
[01:45:07]
SUPPORT US IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE. >> I JUST HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS BACK AND FORTH POLITICALLY WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN ,WHETHER YOU'RE A CONSERVATIVE OR A LIBERAL.
THE LAST THING THAT WE NEED TO DO IS LET POLITICS BECOME OUR RELIGION WHICH I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN WHERE PEOPLE NOW ARE LOOKING TOWARDS POLITICS AS AS AS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING AFTER.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S NOT WHAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS CAN STAY ONE MORE THING. OTHERS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO LOGAN ONE MORE TIME, MR.
CUNNINGHAM. >> I JUST WANT SAY NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION THIS VOTE GOES INTO. WE STILL DO HAVE A JOB TO DO. BUSINESSES STILL HAVE A BUSINESS TO RUN. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT CONSTITUENTS AND BUSINESSES SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE THE WAY THEY WANT TO DO THAT. AND AS CONSTITUENTS WE SHOULD RESPECT THAT. THOSE GO HAND-IN-HAND. SO IF WE DO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REMOVAL OF THIS MASK. ASK ANYBODY THAT GOES TO THOSE BUSINESSES AND THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO CONTINUE TO TREAT THOSE OWNERS WITH RESPECT THE EMPLOYEES WITH RESPECT BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES THAT THEY WILL PUT IN PLACE.
THAT IS THEIR PRIVATE BUSINESS THAT A PRIVATE ENTITY. SO I CONTINUE ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RESPECT THAT AND MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT. AND THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND THE REST YOU GUYS FOR YOUR TIME ,OK? I HAVE ONE COMMENT, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TO MAKE ON WHAT WAS SAID THIS EVENING. WE HAD PEOPLE COME BEFORE US AS MR. CUNNINGHAM SAID FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BLUFFTON PORT ROYAL BEAUFORT EVERY MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS A MASK ORDINANCE TELLING US NOT TO HAVE A MASK ORDINANCE.
WELL, WE HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRE COUNTY BUT PRIMARILY THE UNINCORPORATED AREA. SO IF WE UNDO THE MASK ORDINANCE, THE UNINCORPORATED AREA IS AFFECTED ONLY WE CANNOT UNDO WHAT THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE.
THAT'S PROBLEM NUMBER ONE. MR. LAWSON SAID WE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME PROTECTED VARIOUS PEOPLE OUR ELDERLY FIRST RESPONDERS, PEOPLE WHO HAD MEDICAL ISSUES.
WE NOW HAVE A FOURTH WAVE THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT AND THAT IS THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED YET WHO ARE NOW HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE UK VARIANT AND IT'S SHOWING UP IN THE HOSPITALS. AND FINALLY PEOPLE ADDRESSED US AS IF WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GO INTO THE SCHOOLS TO TELL THEM HOW TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS. WE DO NOT.
WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THE CHURCHES. THE CHURCHES ARE EXEMPTED.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS OUR ORDINANCE IS A DESIGN TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WEARING A MASK TO PROTECT THEM SELVES FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND RECEIVING THE TRANSMISSION.
LET'S VOTE. THE MOTION WAS MADE BY MR. MCKELLEN.
YOU WILL GO FIRST. >> YES, MR. DAWSON. YES.
MR. CUNNINGHAM. NO, MR. FLEMING. NO.
MR. GLOVER. YES, MR. PURVIS. SHAWN.
NO. MISS HOWARD. YES, MR. LAWSON.
>> OUR CLASS? NO. >> MR. RUDMAN? YES. MR. SOMERVILLE? YES.
THE CHAIR SAYS YES. THE MOTION IS DEFEATED 7 4. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 14 MAY
[14. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE PERMANENT THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED EMERGENCY RESOLUTION ALLOWING FOR ELECTRONIC OR HYBRID MEETINGS, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]
HAVE A MOTION FOR THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE PERMANENT THE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED EMERGENCY RESOLUTION ALLOWING FOR ELECTRONIC OR HYBRID MEETINGS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THEIR TO MOTION. PLEASE.CHUCKLING STOP. >> COME BACK REAL QUICK. SEE THE MOTIONS DEFEATED? YES, IT NEEDED EIGHT VOTES TO PASS. OK, SO I MAKE SURE THAT'S WHAT I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING. OK, SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. MCCULLOUGH MAKES THE MOTION.
[01:50:02]
SECOND, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T GET TO SET THE SET. YORK MADE THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION FOR NUMBER 14? YES, SIR. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO START DISCUSSING EXEMPTING KING COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS FROM IT? WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BEING IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY MEANING WHEN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS REMOVED THAT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE IN PERSON? YOU CAN ASK. I WOULD LIKE TO FOR THAT I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE THAT WHEN THEY'RE EMERGENT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY ENDS THAT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE ATTENDED VIRTUALLY. I THINK MR. ROBBINS SAID IT BEFORE THAT STATE LEGISLATOR CONGRESS AND THE SENATE. ALSO IF THEY WANT TO VOTE THEY HAVE TO BE IN PERSON. I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND BOARD MEETINGS VIRTUALLY. I THINK IT'S VERY PRODUCTIVE. I THINK IT'S THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME. BUT I DO THINK OUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING SHOULD BE IN PERSON. I THINK THIS TODAY SHOWS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCOMPLISHED ON BOTH SIDES. MR. CUNNINGHAM, IS MEDIA AMOTION TO AMEND? >> IS THERE A SECOND TO HIS AMENDMENT? I SECOND THAT MOTION. MR. RUDMAN HAS MADE THE SECOND DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT.
WE RESTATE EXACTLY WHAT THE AMENDMENT IS. THE AMENDMENT IS THAT WE WILL PASS THIS TO ALLOW OUR COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETINGS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO MEET ANY OF OUR COMMITTEES TO MEET VIRTUALLY EVEN WHEN THE EMERGENCY IS OVER.
BUT NOT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS. YOU MUST ATTEND PERSON GET YOUR UNDERSTANDING WHEN THE STATE
OF EMERGENCY DROPPED. >> WHEN HAS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY DROPS? I THINK THAT'S A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND FOR US TO APPLY. I'VE LOOKED UPON ALL COUNSEL COMMITTEE AND. THAT'S WHY I'M EASILY EDITED TO SAY OK THIS GOES FOR EVERYTHING
LIKE THE COUNCIL MEETING WHICH BECOME. >> GO.
GO AHEAD. WELL, I WOULD SPEAK TO IT. ALL RIGHT.
WE ONLY HAVE 20 MEETINGS HERE. I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL BUT IN REALITY THERE'S VALUE TO BEING HERE. THE DOING IT VIRTUALLY THERE'S SOME IMPEDIMENTS TO IT DOESN'T GO AS SMOOTHLY AS AS WE WOULD LIKE AND WE KNEW AHEAD OF TIME WHEN WE SIGNED UP THAT WE WOULD HAVE THESE MEETINGS. WE SCHEDULED THE MEETINGS. BASICALLY IN THE EVENING FOR THE MOST PART. SO I DON'T REALLY SEE IT AS A IMPOSITION.
AND I THINK THERE'S A HIGH RISK THAT THEY'LL BE ABUSED AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US.
I'M IN FAVOR ALL OF IT EXCEPT FOR. WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE AND AS LOGAN SAID, OBVIOUSLY AT THE STATE LEVEL AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THOSE LEGISLATIVE BODIES MEET IN PERSON AFTER EVERYTHING . YEAH, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT THOUGH I DO THINK IS A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS INSTANCES LIKE WHERE WE HAVE A POINT WHERE WE HAVE ZONING MEETING THAT IS VERY WELL ATTENDED WITH A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PUBLIC BENEFIT TO HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT IN THOSE TYPES OF MEETINGS. SO I WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT WE WOULD ELIMINATE THAT WHEN WE HAVE LARGE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE COMMITTEES AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST IT THOUGH I DO APPRECIATE THE THE EFFORT TO FIND A MIDDLE GROUND I'M DEFINITELY AGAINST HAVING COUNCIL GO BACK TO THE VIRTUAL.
I THINK THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH BENEFIT TO HAVING THE PUBLIC HERE FACING THE PUBLIC HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK A GOOD PUBLIC POLICY IS ABOUT IN PUBLIC NOT BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN NECESSARILY. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST BOTH.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE MIDDLE GROUND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES. ALLOWING THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I FIND MYSELF IN A STRANGE SITUATION. I'M SURE I AGREE PHILOSOPHICALLY WITH TO MEET IN PERSON BUT BECAUSE OF MY PARTICULAR HEARING IMPEDIMENTS I FIND THAT I CAN HEAR SO MUCH BETTER ONLINE THAN I CAN IN PERSON. BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU I ABSOLUTELY AGREE. WE WOULD GET MORE DONE AND I THINK WE HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER WHEN WE MEET IN PERSON. AND SO I'M WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THE AMENDMENT AND FORCE OURSELVES TO CARRY ON IN IN UNITY.
LATER ON. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. LAWSON? I AM I AM PROBABLY IN A VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT AND ONLY BECAUSE I PLAN ON BEING AT
[01:55:02]
EVERY MEETING IN PERSON. HOWEVER, FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT FOR SOME REASON CAN'T BE HERE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE EVERY VOICE COUNT AND BE HERE FOR THAT MEETING WHETHER VIRTUAL OR WHETHER THERE IN PERSON IF THEY CAN BE HERE VIRTUALLY BUT THEY CAN'T BE HERE IN PERSON. I THINK THAT ADDS TO OUR TRANSPIRED AND ADDS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO IF WE'RE GIVEN THE OPTION TO MEET AT AND I THINK I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THAT I PLAN BEING HERE AND FOR SOME REASON IF I'M NOT I'M NOT REPRESENTING MY CONSTITUENTS ENOUGH BY BEING HERE AND BEING IN PERSON, WELL THEN THAT'S WHENEVER I WOULD BE REPLACED BY SOME OF THAT THEY CHOSE TO HAVE REPLACE ME SO I AM I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THE AMENDMENT BUT I WOULD VOTE FOR THE ORDINANCE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OK, MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU MADE THE MOTION FOR THE AMENDMENT SO YOU WILL GO FIRST VOTE YES. AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN WHO WAS THIS? I WAS, SIR. OH, YEAH.
YES. MR RUDD THEN YOU WILL BE. YES, OK.
MR. DAWSON, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION. I THINK WHEN THE NO THIS IS NOT ANNOUNCED THAT THAT'S WHAT I'M I'M SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT AMENDMENT IS TO HAVE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS RETURNED TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, WANTS THEIR GOVERNMENT JUST EMERGED TO.
OK. THAT'S WHAT I'M VOTING IN FAVOR OF .
MR. FOLLOWING AS PER USUAL, I'M WITH GERALD DAWSON. >> IS MR. GLOVER?
>> NO, MR. HER VISION? NO. MS.
HOWARD NO. MR. LAWSON. >> MARK LAWSON? NO. MR. MACALLAN. NO.
MR. SOMERVILLE. NO CHAIR SAYS NO. THE MOTION IS DEFEATED.
>> NOTE THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS DEFEATED. >> WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL
MOTION AND THE OTHER DISCUSSION. >> SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION WILL BEGIN WITH MR. MCKELLEN WHO MADE THE MOTION. YES, MR. GLOVER, YOU WERE
SECOND. >> YES, MR. CUNNINGHAM. NOW MR. LAWSON.
YES, MR. FLOWING. >> NOW MR. HERBERT SEAN. NOW MISS HOWARD.
>> YES, MR. LAWSON. >> MARK LAWSON. YES.
MR. RUDMAN. >> YES, MISS MR. SOMERVILLE. YES.
CHAIR SAYS YES. >> COUNCILMAN DAWSON SAYS YES. ALSO I DID HAVE YOU DOWN AS
YES. >> I THINK I ANSWERED FOR MR. DAWSON AND SOUNDS THE SAME KIND OF MOTION AS YOU CAN SEE. OK. WE WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER FIFTEEN
[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO CALL FOR A REFERENDUM TO ALLOW THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA TO VOTE TO RETAIN THE COUNCIL-ADMINISTRATOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT OR CHANGE TO THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT]
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO CALL FOR REFERENDUM ALLOWING THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA TO VOTE TO RETAIN THE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT OR CHANGE TO THE COUNCIL MANAGE YOUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.A MOTION PLEASE MOVE. MR. CHAIRMAN. THAT'S MR MCKELLEN.
>> YES. >> SECOND, NOTHING. MR. GLOVER DISCUSSION.
>> NO DISCUSSION. OH, MR. HARVEY SHINE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS AND THINK THAT IT CONSOLIDATES TOO MUCH POWER AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. AND I THINK IT'S A KNEE REACTION TO A SMALL PROBLEM THAT WAY THAT THE VOTERS CAN RESOLVE THEMSELVES. FRANKLY, SO FOR THAT REASON I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST MR REDMAN . I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR IT JUST TO EXPLAIN THOSE THAT MAY BE FAMILIAR. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TWO FORMS OF GOVERNMENT ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. AND THE ONLY CHANGE WOULD BE THAT THOSE TWO POSITIONS INSTEAD OF BEING ELECTED WOULD ACTUALLY BE WORKING FOR THE COUNTY ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY WOULD STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO ALLOW THEM TO BE ELECTED OR THEY COULD ELECT ONE AND THEN APPOINT THE OTHER. I THINK IT MAY IN THE OLD DAYS SEPARATING AND HAVING BALANCE OF POWER AND CHECKS AND ALL THOSE KIND THINGS THAT KIND OF MADE SOME SENSE. BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD WITH WITH AUDITS AND SO ON I THINK WE'RE
[02:00:01]
AT ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE BETTER PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WE AS A COUNCIL CAN HOLD TO A HIGHER LEVEL AS OPPOSED TO THERE'S REALLY NO REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYBODY THAT'S RUNNING.ANOTHER PUBLIC DOESN'T GET TO DECIDE THAT. BUT IN ANY EVENT I DO THINK THIS MAKES THEM MAKE SENSE. IN THE OTHER COMMENTS AND YES, I CAN.
>> MR. LLEWELLYN, CONTRARY TO WHAT'S BEEN STATED IT WOULD NOT ALLOW COUNTY COUNCIL TO HIRE
THOSE PEOPLE WITHOUT IT WOULD ALLOW THE ADMINISTRATOR. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND SO. SO I THINK AGAIN.
YES. THERE CONSOLIDATION POWER UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK IT'S WRONG. JUST ON THAT IT TAKES A CHOICE AWAY FROM THE VOTERS AND IT'S WRONG ON THAT. AND SO THE LAST THING IS IT DOES NOT ALLOW OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO HAVE THE KIND OF AUTHORITY AS SEPARATE THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE TO EXERCISE ANY KIND ANY OF THEIR VOICE OVER WHO IS CHAIRMAN, WHO IS TREASURER OR AUDITOR. AND SO I THINK HE FAILS. I THINK YOU SHOULD FAIL ON EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY OF CONSIDERATION AND SO I VOTE. I'M GOING TO VOTE NO.
>> MR. LAWSON. >> AND IT IS AS YOU MENTIONED OF THE TWO TYPES OF COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR FORM IS VERY, VERY SIMILAR. BUT FOR SOME REASON ALL THE EXPERTS SAY THAT THAT GOING TO THIS ONE IS IS THE BETTER OF THE TWO.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN ON THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA EVEN BACK AS FAR AS 2011 I THINK BACK WHEN WESTERN NEWTON WAS HERE BACK IN THE MID 2000S AND AS FAR AS I WHAT I'M READING THIS IS WE'RE ACTUALLY VOTING TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT TO HAVE THE VOTERS DECIDE WHICH I THINK IS BETTER THAN US DECIDING WHO'S ACTUALLY HAVING THE VOTERS DECIDE. SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR LET THE VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT US TO DO OR NOT AND WILL RELY ON VACATION TO DO A GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING EVERYBODY OF WHETHER WHAT'S GOOD AND
WHAT'S WHAT'S BAD AND WHAT WE NEED DO FOR THIS. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. MCKELLEN, POINT CLARIFICATION ROILING IS IT IS IT YOUR OPINION AND IS IT CORRECT TO SAY THAT ONLY THE HUNDRED THOUSAND RESIDENTS OF UNINCORPORATED P FOR COUNTY WILL HAVE THIS ON THEIR BALLOTS BE EVERYBODY THAT ISN'T WHAT I SAID, SIR.
>> NOR IS IT WHAT I INTENDED WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS THAT IN OUR CURRENT SITUATION THE AUDITOR AND THE TREASURER ARE BOTH RESPONSIVE TO THE MUNICIPALITY.
AND IN CASE WE APPROVE THIS AND THE VOTERS APPROVE IT, THEN THE AUDITOR AND TREASURER WOULD ONLY BE RESPONSIVE TO COUNTY COUNCIL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
WELL, I'M STILL UNCLEAR ON THAT LINE. >> ALREADY THE MUNICIPALITIES.
I DON'T GET THAT. SURE. >> IF I COULD EXPAND MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I HAVE YOUR FIRST GO? OK.
>> WELL, MY LINE OF THINKING IS THIS THAT AS WE SPEAK FOR A COUNTY COUNCIL WE REPRESENT ROUGHLY SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE EACH MORE OR LESS OR AT LEAST AS OF THE LAST
CENSUS. >> WELL, EACH OF THE MUNICIPALITIES ALSO ALL THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENT AND HAVE A VOICE TO EACH OF THE RESIDENTS OF THEIR DISTRICTS
AND THEIR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. >> AND SO WHEN I SPEAK TO MY CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE IN THE CITY OF NEWPORT, THEY HEAR THAT WITH AN EQUAL FORCE THAT THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE CITY OF BEAUFORT GOVERNMENT SPEAK TO THEM.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN IT IS SO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY WHO ARE IN THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE A REASON TO LISTEN TO BOTH ME AND THE MUNICIPALITIES. I THINK IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS THE TREASURER AND THE AUDITOR ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT THEIR BOSS THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO THE VOTERS ANYMORE AND SO THAT MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD THEY NOT GET THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OR HAVE THE LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TREASURY AND AUDITOR WOULD HAVE NO INPUT TO THE TO THE CITIZENS IN THEIR MUNICIPALITY TO TO COMPLAIN THAT THE TREASURER AND THE OWNER WERE RESPONDING TO THEIR THEIR PHONE CALLS OR THEIR CONCERNS AND AREN'T ADDRESSING THEIR I THINK IT'S IT'S CLEAR THIS JUST THESE PEOPLE WILL WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND THAT'S A MR RUDD AND TO THE TO THAT IS WE ALSO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF AGENCY IS THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE SENSE OF BEING ONE FOR EXAMPLE.
[02:05:02]
>> THEY ASSESS THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE COUNTY. THEY DON'T DO IT JUST IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. THIS IS ONE OF MANY AREAS THAT WE WOULD PROVIDE A SERVICE TO
THE MUNICIPALITIES INTERESTS MY FINAL TIME AS CHAIRMAN. >> I AGREE WITH MR. LAWSON IS PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT WITH ALL OF THE 200 THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE OR OF THE 200000 MORE QUALIFIED ELECTORS TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT FORM OF GOVERNMENT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COUNTY WIDE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT VOTING TO KEEP IT OFF OR OFF THE BALLOT AS A REFERENDUM IS THE WAY TO GO. I WOULD RATHER SEE THE VOTERS DECIDE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IN THE COUNTY. YOU KNOW I'M IN FAVOR OF PUTTING IT ON THE REFERENDUM
SO THAT THE VOTERS CAN MAKE A CHOICE. >> ANY FINAL COMMENTS? OKAY. MR. MCKELLEN, YOU MADE THE MOTION YOU WILL VOTE FIRST.
MR. CUNNINGHAM. NOW MR. DAWSON. YES.
MR. FLOWING. NO. >> MR. HERBERT.
NO, MISS HOWARD. YES, MR. LAWSON. >> MARK LAWSON.
MR. SOMERVILLE? YES. THE CHAIR SAYS YES.
[16. FIRST READING OFAN ORDINANCE TO LEVY AND IMPOSE A ONE PERCENT LOCAL OPTION SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-10-10 ET SEQ., OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS, 1976, AS AMENDED; TO DEFINE THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE TAX; TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS UPON THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAX; TO PROVIDE FOR A COUNTY-WIDE REFERENDUM FOR THE IMPOSITION OF THE TAX; TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONDUCT OF SUCH REFERENDUM; TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO.]
THE MOTION IS SUCCESSFUL. WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER 16. THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY AND IMPOSE A ONE PRESENT OPTION SALES TAX A USE TAX WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR DASH 10 DASH 10 AT SEC OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS 1976 AS AMENDED TO DEFINE THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THE TAX TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS UPON THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE TAX TO PROVIDE FOR A COUNTY WIDE REFERENDUM FOR THE IMPOSITION OF THE TAX TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONDUCT OF SUCH REFERENDUM TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO.MAY I HAVE A MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN? >> I LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO
MS. >> HOLLAND. >> BACK IN AND MR. SOMERVILLE
MADE THE SECOND DISCUSSION. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY A FEW WORDS.
YES. BACK WHEN WE MET WITH ALL THE ELECTED MUNICIPALITY MAYORS, WE MADE A PROMISE TO THEM THAT WE WOULD PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT. AND THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS. THEY WROTE US ANOTHER LETTER WE HEARD FROM THEM BEFORE AND I THINK YOU NEED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> CHAIRMAN, GO AHEAD. MR. MCCONE, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS LOST ALL IN ALL FORMS NO MATTER. I DON'T LIKE IT ONE BIT BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT SO THAT LET THE VOTERS DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT THIS. I DON'T LIKE THE LOST CONCEPT. THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT I LIKE ABOUT IMPOSING ANOTHER TAX BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE UP TO ME TO MAKE A DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE COUNTY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO VOTE TO PLACE IT ON THE BALLOT AS A REFERENDUM.
MR. SOMERVILLE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OR AN ADVOCATE OF THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTIES WHERE THEY REGULAR STREAM OF REVENUE TO DO THINGS THAT THEY OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE AND BELOW TAXES TO DO. AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS DEPENDING ON THE VALUE OF THE PENNY WHICH CONTINUES TO RISE THAT MANY SALES TAX IT'S NOW 40 40 MILLION OR MORE. I PROVIDES 12 TO 15 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ANNUAL REVENUE TO BE DIVIDED BETWEEN MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT THE CITIZENS POINT THEM TO DO. AND IT'S 100 PERCENT IN A DIFFERENCE THAT 12 TO 15 MILLION. THE BALANCE OF IT 70 PERCENT 65 PERCENT OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT OUR LOCAL CITIZENS PAY IN TERMS PENNY SALES TAX.
ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT IS REBATED BACK IN THE FORM OF PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED MANY TIMES IN THIS BODY ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH AK 388 WHICH WE WHICH ABSOLUTELY PUTS A HUGE TAX BURDEN ON ALL BUSINESSES AND ALL SECOND HOMEOWNERS.
[02:10:03]
AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE THAT THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR ECONOMY IS OUR BUSINESSES AND OUR SITE HOMEOWNERS. WITHOUT THEM WE'RE IN REAL TROUBLE BASICALLY TRYING TO FUND THE SCHOOLS AND THIS USE THEM THE LARGER THE LARGER ABATEMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES OF THE LARGER TAX REVENUE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE PAYING THE MUCH LARGER PROPERTY TAXES. SO IT GIVES A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF ON ACTUALLY 388 APPARENTLY IT GIVES MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE THINGS THAT THE CITIZENS WANT THEM TO DO AND HAVE THE VISITORS PAY FOR 100 PERCENT OF THAT MONEY.AS SOMEBODY MENTIONED, ALICE MENTIONED THE MAYOR IS UPSET AS A LETTER ALL SIGNED BY ALL SIX MAYORS. YOU HEARD THAT MAYOR MURRAY EARLIER AND AND MAYOR SOCA
SPEAK TO THIS. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHOW FOR COMING AND SHOWING UP. COUGH IT UP. YOU DON'T MIND THAT SHE'S GIVEN A LIGHT TO READ THE LETTER. MALL SIX MAYORS INTO THE RECORD I MAY WE HAVE THAT AND IT WILL
BE PART OF THE RECORD. >> OK. >> THAT'S FINE.
MR. WARMING IS NEXT. AND THEN MR. GLOVER AND THEN MR. DAWSON.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED WHEN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT POWER AND THE RIGHT TO ELECT AN ADDITIONAL TAXES ON GOVERNMENT POWER. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY WRONG FOR GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE ITS POWER. IT'S JUST THAT THE VOTERS NEED TO DECIDE THAT QUESTION AT. AND SO FOR THAT MATTER FOR THAT REASON I'M GENERALLY INCLINED WITH LETTING THIS GO TO THE VOTERS. HOWEVER NORMALLY VERY OPPOSED TO A NON ELECTION NON GENERAL ELECTION YEAR BEING USED TO DECIDE THIS KIND OF A QUESTION BUT BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE ONE ITEM JUST NOW APPROVED TO GO INTO A GENERAL ELECTION VOTER READ OFF REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE FOR THIS AS WELL.
>> OUT OF CHARACTER. THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. >> MR. SUPPORT THE THE LOCAL OFFICE SALES TAX. BUT I'M ALSO WONDERING IF IF THIS IS IMPOSED ON THE CITIZENS HERE YOU ANY CAN IT BE ANY EXEMPTION TO THE TAXES? NO, I'LL GO STRAIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD. STRAIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD. SO IS THERE IS NO EXEMPTION AT ALL? NO, SIR. OK.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE SOME EXEMPTION IF IT WAS POSSIBLE. BUT I THINK THE THE THE MUNICIPAL HAS BEEN ASKING FOR THERE'S SOME JEALOUSY PUTTING YOU ON THE BALLOT.
AND LET THE CITIZENS DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO SUPPORT IT.
THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. YOU WERE NEXT AND THEN MR. HERBERT SEAN.
YEAH, I I. I DIDN'T SUPPORT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING.
I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT ONCE WE PUT THIS TOKOLOSHE OPTION SALES TAX IN PLACE, IT'S VERY HARD TO RESCIND IT. AND SO NOW FOR A WE'LL PROBABLY BE NEVER ENDING TAXED ALL OF THE CITIZENS AND GIVE KIND OF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOWEVER.
I'M GOING TO TAKE THE LIBERTY TO GO HERE AND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T SUPPORT IT, I DON'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT, PUT IT ON THE ON THE BALLOT TO HAVE THE CITIZENS DECIDE THIS IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SUPPORT. BUT I'M I'M NOT IN FAVOR SIMPLY BECAUSE ONCE WE PUT IT IN PLACE IT'S VERY HARD TO RESCIND THE MR..
>> THANK YOU. I WAS JUST SITTING HERE THINKING IF THERE WOULD EVER BE A TIME WHEN I WOULD SUPPORT A NEW TAX AND I CAN'T CONSIDER THAT THAT WOULD EVER BE THAT WOULD BE A THING FOR ME AS SOMEBODY WHO'S IN THE TAX PROFESSION AND DOES THAT FOR A LIVING AND WATCHING HOW THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE ON A VERY PERSONAL LEVEL AND WATCHING HOW WE MAKE OUR LIVES. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE EVER SUPPORTING AN TAX IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE. I THINK SALES TAXES ARE GENERALLY PREFERABLE TO OTHER TYPES OF TAX PAYING INCOME TAX OR AT BORN TAX BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO PAY THAT TAX. OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM HERE ARE GATHERING DOLLARS FOR SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT'S POSITIVE IN THEORY. HOWEVER, LET ME CONSIDER PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM WHO LIVE IN NEW FOR COUNTY THEY'RE GOING TO
[02:15:07]
SPEND EVERY LAST DOLLAR OF THEIR INCOME PROBABLY FOUR COUNTIES EVERY LAST DOLLAR ALMOST OF THEIR INCOME IS GOING TO GET TAXED AN INCREMENTALLY HIGHER LEVEL.I THINK THAT THAT'S PROGRESSIVE . NOW THE OTHER END OF THE ARGUMENT TO THAT AS WELL WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PROPERTY TAX REBATES AND THAT'S GREAT.
BUT FOLKS WHO ARE RENTING ARE NEVER GONNA SEE THE THEY'RE RENTING FROM SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S A 6 PERCENT PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA PASS THAT ON.
I MEAN JUST AS A MATTER OF PRACTICALITY, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN. SO FOR THAT REASON THAT THOSE REASONS I THINK THAT IT'S HIGHLY REGRESSIVE. AND I'M AGAINST IT MORE BROADLY PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING.
I THINK THAT GOVERNING GOVERNMENT BY REFERENDUM IS PROBLEMATIC AND HAS TROUBLESOME . AND WE SHOULD YOU. WE SHOULDN'T DO IT.
VERY CAUTIOUSLY AND ON A LIMITED BASIS IT CONCERNS ME WHEN WE START PUNTING ALL OF THESE THINGS TO THE CITIZENRY BECAUSE WE ARE ELECTED AS REPRESENTATIVES.
WE REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENCIES . WE ARE HERE TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS. AND WHEN WE'RE SITTING HERE AND WE'RE PUNTING ALL THESE DECISIONS, I THINK THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. AND I THINK IT'S WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING ENOUGH FRANKLY. SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REDESIGN AGAINST THAT, I APOLOGIZE TO THE MARRIAGE. I TOTALLY APPRECIATE YOUR POSITION.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR NEED FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT BUT I JUST CAN'T SUPPORT IT. >> MR. CUNNINGHAM BEGGARS CHAIRMAN. I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT BOTHER ME WITH IT.
ONE OF THE BIG ONE IS THE TIMING. I KNOW EVERYONE SITS UP HERE AND SAYS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO THE VOTERS AND LET THE VOTERS DECIDE.
CAME OUT A PANDEMIC. A LOT OF PEOPLE UNEMPLOYMENT WILL STILL LET THE VOTERS DECIDE. AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT WE ALL KNOW NOBODY UP HERE CAN SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MASSIVE TURNOUT FOR THIS.
WE KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. IT'S AN OFF ELECTION CYCLE.
I BELIEVE THE LAST TIME WE DID A REFERENDUM WAS FOR THE SCHOOL BOND WHICH I EVEN CAME OUT SUPPORTED THINK IT WAS 17 PERCENT OF OUR VOTERS CAME OUT AND ACTUALLY VOTED.
WHICH YOU KNOW. YEAH, I'M THANKFUL I GOT PASSED .
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO LEVY SOMETHING THAT HAS NO EXPIRATION, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ON A A WIDE SCALE ELECTION THAT WE HAVE. WHETHER THAT IS PRESIDENTIAL OR AT LEAST TO THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE CYCLE, THAT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET BEHIND WHEN I BELIEVE THEY SAY WE HAVE TO HAVE 15 PERCENT OF THE SIGNATURES OF REGISTERED VOTERS TO EVEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL TO GET IT REMOVED. I CAN TELL YOU AND YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE TO GO DOOR KNOCKING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT DOES HAVE TO BE IN PERSON DOORKNOCKING WHICH MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS WILL NOT ALLOW ANYWAYS.
I CAN TELL YOU CAMPAIGNING YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE RULES THEY HAVE FOR NO SOLICITING IF YOU'RE HANDING OUT FREE INFORMATION. IT'S NOT CONSIDERED SOLICITING BUT THE MOMENT YOU ARE COLLECTING SIGNATURES, E-MAILS OR TRYING TO SELL SOMETHING, IT IS SOLICITING. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS I HAVE.
IT'S SOMETHING MAYBE I COULD GET BEHIND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THIS ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.
AND YOU WANTED TO PUT ON A WIDER ELECTION. THE OTHER THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS, YOU KNOW, IT DOES HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WHICH WE ALL KNOW MORE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES ARE EITHER GOING TO BE RENTING PROPERTY OR IN APARTMENTS SAME CONCEPT. THEY'RE NOT GETTING THOSE KICKBACKS.
THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING KICKBACKS. AND I'M RIGHT THERE IN BLUFFTON DISTRICT 7 AND I HAVE FOUR OR FIVE APARTMENT COMPLEXES RIGHT THERE MY AREA THAT WILL NEVER SEE A DIME AND I HEAR THE NASCENT MUNICIPALITIES I KNOW THERE HAS TO BE SOME TYPE OF REVENUE STREAM. I WANT TO MEET WITH YOU GUYS. I WANT COUNCIL TO MEET WITH YOU GUYS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT OPTION.
IF THIS DOESN'T PASS BECAUSE I WANT TO GET THAT DONE. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT HERE MEANS MORE TO ME THAN YOU GUYS EVEN KNOW SHOWING UP TODAY.
I TALKED TO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING. WE HAD THIS ACTIVE MEETING LAST WEEK. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
YOU GUYS CAN DO REFERENDUMS FOR SMALLER PROJECTS. IT CAN BE DONE BY YOUR COUNCIL.
THAT WAS CONFIRMED BY OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DURING THAT MEETING AND MAYBE THAT'S THE RULE. I DO WANT TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF MIDDLE GROUND.
I DO WANT TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THESE ISSUES WHETHER THE SPECIFIC ISSUES MAYBE IT IS A PENNY TAX WHEN OUR TRANSPORTATION TAX DROPS OFF AND WE COULD PUT ANOTHER ONE ON THERE WITH NO EXPIRATION DATE. BUT MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.
MY PHONE IS ALWAYS OPEN. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE. I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE COURTNEY MISS HOWARD THAT PROMISES WERE MADE TO YOU GUYS. UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NOT THERE AND THAT PROMISES MADE. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT ISSUE RESOLVE FOR YOU GUYS. SO I'D LOVE TO SET SOMETHING UP WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE THAT WANT TO JOIN SO WE CAN DO THAT. BUT UNFORTUNATELY I'M GOING TO
HAVE TO VOTE NO TODAY. MR. LAWSON. >> I AM GOING TO VOTE YES.
[02:20:04]
AND THE REASON IS AGAIN TO LET IT GO TO THE VOTERS OF THE COUNTY.THIS IS A TAX AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE. BUT WHAT BOTH MR. CUNNINGHAM, MR. SCHOTT HAD MENTIONED HOWEVER YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE UPSIDES OF THIS SUPPORT MAYOR SOCCER, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AS WELL AS THEY ARE MURRAY AND BEAUFORT BUT THIS DOES ALLOW A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO HAPPEN. WE LOOK AT THIS 71 PERCENT I THINK IS THE CORRECT NUMBER ACTUALLY GOES TO TAX REBATES. SEVENTY ONE PERCENT OF THE MONEY THAT COMES IN WE'LL GO BACK TO TAX REBATES THEN THE MONEY LEFTOVER OVER WITHIN WHAT WILL BE TAKEN UNUSED. I THINK IT'S THE BEST WAY TO BE ABLE TO TO GET REVENUE FOR THINGS THAT ARE NEEDED WITHOUT PUTTING IN A LOCAL TAX OR OR COUNTY TAX.
SO AGAIN, APPRECIATE EVERYTHING'S BEEN SAID BUT I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD.
THE BIGGEST THING IS LET LET THE VOTERS DECIDE WHAT THEY'D LIKE TO DO THIS FALL.
>> SORRY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR ROBB? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS. I'M SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT THIS BALLOT IS HAVE THIS CONCERNED. OF COURSE THEY'RE 40 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE UNINCORPORATED 60. SO WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE WHAT WE THINK IS BEST FOR THE. THE 60 AS PART OF PART OF DOING THAT.
I THINK THEY CLEARLY HAVE THE OPTION TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND DO REFERENDUMS FOR THINGS THAT THEY WANT PARTICULARLY IN THE IN THE CAPITAL AREA. I AM SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT THE THERE IS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BUT TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT PROBLEMATIC AND IT GOES LIKE THIS. LET'S SAY WE PUT IT IN PLACE AND CLEARLY THE MONEY GETS COLLECTED AND THERE THERE'S A DEDUCT ON THE KNOW THE TAX FOR THEM BUT AT THE SAME TIME 388 IS STILL IN EFFECT AND THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY THAT IS GOING TO NECESSARILY PASS THAT OFFSET ALONG TO THE PEOPLE NOW. SO IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING LOOK SEE WHAT THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING. A LOT OF COUNTIES DO THE LOCAL OPTION SALES BUT THEY TEND TO BE ALL THE SMALL COUNTIES AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BIG COUNTY ZONING TWO OF THE OF OUR SISTER COUNTIES, THE EIGHT LARGER ONES THAT ACTUALLY DO IT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT IT IS A FOREVER TAX IS THERE'S NO REALISTIC WAY THAT YOU'D EVER TAKE IT OFF BECAUSE OF THE GETTING 15 PERCENT OF THE PETITIONS. SO IT IS IT IS PERMANENT. AND IN THAT SENSE IT PROBABLY BECOMES THE LARGEST TAX IN THE HISTORY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ACTUALLY LARRY AND I SHOULD PROBABLY BE THE BIGGEST PROPONENTS OF THIS BECAUSE THE BIG WINNERS IN THIS ARE THE 6 PERCENT IN THE HIGHER HIGHER END HOMES AND IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT THE PEOPLE AT THE OTHER END OF THE ECONOMIC SPEND TO ACTUALLY DO A VERY, VERY REGRESSIVE TAX.
ANY ANY SALES TAX IS HERE'S THE PIECE THAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH. YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE CYCLE NOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THE CAPITAL AND THE ROADS ARE NEEDED.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN WHAT JARED SENT RECENTLY CALLED IT THE BEAUFORT BILLION BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ORDER MAGNITUDE. WE PROBABLY NEED ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO TAKE CARE OF THE ROADS AND THE GROWTH THAT'S COMING AND THE GROWTH IS ACCELERATING. I MEAN WE WE SEE THE LAND IS BEING BROUGHT UP.
THERE'S NO INVENTORY FOR THE HOMES OF THE PEOPLE COMING. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE THAT ARE PLOTTED SO IF WE TAKE THAT HUNDRED NODDED I THINK THAT BILLION AND WE SAY THAT'S 100 MILLION A YEAR. THERE ISN'T PROBABLY MUCH OF ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT OTHER THAN THE SALES TAX. AND IF WE EVEN DO THAT FOR THE 10 YEARS WE'RE STILL ONLY COVERING ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WE NEED AND WE DO NEED THE ROADS BEFORE WE WENT BACK 15 YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD TROUBLE EVEN PASSING THE SALES TAXES AT THAT POINT IN TIME FOR THE ROADS AND. AND WE WERE FAILING MISERABLY ON THOSE ROADS.
SO I THINK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER EXTENDING THE PENNY SALES TAX. SO IN REALITY IN MY MIND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WE WANT TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND SAY YOU WANT TO FANNIES ALREADY, RIGHT? DO YOU WANT ONE PENNY? BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY A REALISTIC OPTION TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO LET THE TRANSPORTATION ONE EXPIRE AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS PARTICULAR ONE. I ALSO KNOW CONCERNED WITH DOING IT OFF HERE. AND SO I WOULD I MIGHT THINK DIFFERENTLY IF WE WERE CONSIDERING BOTH TOGETHER. BUT THE TO CONSIDER ONE THIS YEAR AND THEN THE SALES TAX LATER ON, I THINK WE PUT THE TRANSPORTATION AT RISK FOR THAT REASON I'LL VOTE AGAINST IT.
OK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THREE POINTS BEFORE WE VOTE.
NUMBER ONE, WE THE COUNCIL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THIS A REFERENDUM.
[02:25:05]
>> THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS THIS EVENING. >> THE COUNCIL MAKES THAT A REFERENDUM ISSUE NUMBER TWO ONCE IT IS GOING TO GO TO REFERENDUM COUNTY COUNCIL IS OUT OF IT. WE NEITHER OPPOSE OR VOTE OR ENCOURAGE.
YES, THAT IS GOING TO BE UP TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO SELL. AND THREE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS GOING TO BE THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS OF THIS COUNTY. AND I'D LIKE TO THANK SCOTT MARSHALL WHO IS ON WHO WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER.
SO WE ARE NOW READY TO VOTE. AND WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. MACALLAN.
I'M SORRY. >> THIS IS HOWARD. YOU WERE THE ONE.
YES. OK. AND MR. SOMERVILLE, YOU WERE
NEXT. >> YES, MR. CUNNINGHAM. NO, MR. DAWSON HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY. WE'LL GO TO MR. FLOAT. YES, MR. GLOVER? YES. MR. HARVISON. NO.
MR. MACALLAN. YES. >> MR. RUDMAN?
NO. AND THE CHAIR SAYS YES. >> SEVEN YEARS THREE NO.
[17. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE INITIAL RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE FEE AS A UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGE FOR THE SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING ENTERPRISE SYSTEM FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TO FUND THE PLANNING, DESIGNING, CONSTRUCTING, AND MAINTAINING SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND FACILITIES; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]
MOTION IS SUCCESSFUL. ITEM NUMBER 17 SECOND READING OF THE NEW ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THIS INITIAL RESIDENT RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE FEE AS A UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGE FOR THE SOLID WASTE RECYCLING ENTERPRISE SYSTEM FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TO FUND THE PLANNING DESIGN CONSTRUCTING AND MAINTAINING SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING MANAGEMENT PROJECTS PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES AND ALL OTHER MATTERS THERE TOO. THIS IS THE SECOND READING WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THE THIRD READING MARK SO I SEEK A MOTION FOR THE SECOND READING LIKE THAT MOTION. MARK LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND PLEASE.>> SECOND MR. RUDMAN MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION ANY DISCUSSION? MR FERGUSON I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER COMMENTS. I GOT A QUESTION AND THEN SOME MORE COMMENTS. I THOUGHT THAT WE HAD AND PROMISED IN SECOND READING THAT WE WOULD SEE AN ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE TAX IMPACT OF HAVING THE GENERAL FUND VERSUS THE ENTERPRISE FUND. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT DELTA WOULD BE IF ANYTHING, RIGHT? I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME WORK DONE ON THAT.
MR. RUDMAN, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO THAT? ACTUALLY, I HAVE A I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDES THAT IN ANSWERING OTHER QUESTIONS.
SO I NEED TO DO IT NOW OR OTHER PARTS TO SILENTLY, YOU KNOW, DO THAT NOW.
THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THAT MAY ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
SARAH, CAN YOU FILL UP THAT PRESENTATION? IS IT A SHORT PRESENTATION OR
RUNNING OUT OF TIME? >> IT'S SHORT. I CAN GET IT ABOUT FOUR MINUTES. I PUT AN EXPECTATION ON IT. I KNOW I HAVE ONE TWO BY FOUR AND FIVE, SIX, SEVEN AGENDA ITEMS TO GO THROUGH. OKAY.
HERE YOU GO. OKAY. WHAT WE HAD BEFORE US ARE THE LEFT HAND SIDE. BEFORE WAS ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY NINE DOLLARS A YEAR AND I THINK THE INITIAL PASS THAT IT WAS LOOKING TRYING TO PROJECT OVER FIVE YEARS WHAT IT WOULD BE. THEY ACTUALLY HAD A LARGE CONTINGENCY IN THERE.
MATHEMATICALLY A SLIGHT OR SLIGHTLY HIGHER INFLATION THAN THAN THEY HAD ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT AND IT ACTUALLY INCLUDED PAYING FOR ALL OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS SO THEN HAD THAT PENCIL OUT TO ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY DOLLARS A YEAR. IF YOU NOW LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING IT WOULD BE REALLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR AND THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT 10 MILLION FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THAT'S ESSENTIALLY EQUAL TAKING WHERE WE HAD THIS YEAR ADDING 5
[02:30:05]
PERCENT AND THEN ADDING A 5 PERCENT CONTINGENCY. WE ARE WE PUT IN PLACE THE ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE ENTERPRISE FUND. AND SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY BOTH TO MANAGE IT AS A BUSINESS AND SECONDLY TO PROVIDE BETTER TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC.AND I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT WE WOULD ACTUALLY ONLY DO THINGS THAT HAD A GOOD PAYBACK FOR THE FOR THE CITIZENS. SO WHAT WE WOULD SEE IS OK, THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF COST SAVINGS IF SOME LEVEL OF DEBT SERVICE AND WE WOULD ONLY DO THE THINGS THAT PROVIDED NET SAVINGS TO THE TO THE TAXPAYERS .
SECOND SLIDE PLEASE. OK, THIS IS TO TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AS BEST I COULD BUT IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT A HOME THAT WAS A 250000 IN A RURAL PART OF THE COUNTY AND ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE USE THAT CAN CONVENIENT CENTERS AS OPPOSED TO THE RESIDENTIAL PICKUP ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING NOW IN PROPERTY TAXES WOULD BE ABOUT 50 DOLLARS AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER THIS SCENARIO IS THAT THEY WOULD BE PAYING A HUNDRED DOLLARS SO THEY WOULD BE THERE WOULD BE A 50 DOLLAR INCREASE. NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE HOME THAT WAS 750 MORE APT TO BE IN IN AN URBANIZED AREA NOT NECESSARILY THEY TYPICALLY USE MORE OF THE RESIDENTIAL PICKUP. THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAYING ABOUT 550 WHICH HAS THE COST CURBSIDE PICKUP PLUS THE PROPERTY TAX. AND SO IF THIS FEE GOES IN THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE HAVE A REDUCED 50. SO THERE'S TWO WAYS TO LOOK AT IT.
CLEARLY IT'S IT'S A SLIGHT BURDEN ON THE HOMES THAT ARE WORTHLESS BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING FROM PROPERTY TAX TO A FIXED FEE ON THE OTHER. AND SO THERE IS A GAME FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING FOR THE PROPERTY TAX NOW SO YOU CAN ARGUE THEY'RE GETTING IT SOME TAX RELEASE. THE OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS THAT YOU GOT TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE SUBSIDIZING THE ONE THIRD THAT TEND TO BE THE MORE HEAVY USERS OF THE CONVENIENT CENTERS AND YOU CAN ARGUE THAT BOTH WAYS. BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A LARGE
AMOUNT OF DOLLARS EITHER WAY. THE THIRD SLIDE PLEASE. >> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE ONE OF THINGS THAT PLAYED INTO REDUCING THE COST IS WHAT WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THE BETTER PART OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND IS THE REDUCTION THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE DECALS SYSTEM AND I THINK I THINK THERE'LL BE SOME MORE CLEARLY IT'S CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY ON WE'RE GOING TO TAKE DOING BETTER ENFORCEMENT ON THE RECYCLING BECAUSE REALITY WHAT'S HAPPENING SOME PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR RECYCLING AND THEN THE PERSON WHO PICKS IT UP THROWS IT IN WITH THE REGULAR RESIDENTIAL WASTE AND SO WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT.
>> AND SO THEY'RE PAYING TWICE AND I THINK THAT WE'LL FIND THAT THERE'LL BE SOME ADDITIONAL PEOPLE THAT WILL WANT TO OPT IN TO THE DEKALB SYSTEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO IF THEY HAVE A DUPLEX OR A TRIFECTA THEY CAN HAVE HERE IN POTENTIAL INVESTMENT SITTING OUT THERE.
KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE LARGE MURPH WHERE YOU COLLECT EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AND WHAT'S POPULAR IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IS WASTE TO ENERGY. SO EACH THOSE WOULD HAVE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT BUT THERE'D BE A COST REDUCTION AND WE ONLY DO HIM.
THE COST REDUCTION IS BETTER THAN THE INVESTMENT THAT WE WOULD HAVE.
SO OVER TIME WE WOULD HOPE TO SEE THAT THE ACTUAL COST MIGHT COME DOWN AS WE MAKE SOME OF THESE SMART INVESTMENTS SO ANYWAY THAT'S KIND OF A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT AND THE PROPOSED COST IS A HUNDRED DOLLARS. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, I SUPPORT THE THE EFFORT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE AND MORE SOLID AND BEING IN BETTER CONTROL OF SOLID WASTE. THE REVIEW RIGHT NOW ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT'S COMING OUT OF THE PROPERTY TAX IS NOT EQUITABLE IN COMING OUT AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A BETTER FEE SCHEDULE THAT WOULD BE MORE EQUAL TO WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
>> AS SO WHAT MR. RAHMAN HAS SHOWN US AND THE EQUITY IS JUST THAT THERE ARE MANY MOVIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE AVALON TAX VERSUS THE FEE. YOU'LL FIND MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THE LOWER ECHELON WILL BE PAYING A HIGHER COST IN THOSE IN THE UPPER ECHELON WE'LL BE
[02:35:08]
PAYING. TO GIVE IT A REALLY AN ADVANTAGE ON ON THAT FEE SYSTEM. SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME KIND OF BETTER EQUITABLE SCALE THAT WE COULD APPLY THIS FEE SERVICE TO AND GET A BETTER HANDLE ON WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH SOLID LEADS. THE PUBLIC IS RIGHT NOW ON BOARD.THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CERTAINLY A SOLID WASTE AND TO BE TRUTHFUL THEY JUST DON'T TRUST US AT THIS TIME. SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO WE CAN BASICALLY EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC AND AN AND NOT ONLY EXPLAIN TO THEM BUT IF WE SAY THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE.
I INTEGRITY HAS TO BE THERE. SO I JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW MOVING FORWARD. BUT I DO SUPPORT MOVING THIS COUNTY INTO SOMETHING THAT HANDLE PROBLEM WAS SOLID WAYS THAT WE KNOW IS COMING. THANK OTHER COMMENTS AS TO OUR VISION. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. ROBINETTE, OFTEN I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW IS WHERE MR. GLOVER IS AND I SEE THE NEED FOR THE ENTERPRISE FUND. I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. I THINK WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE A GREAT JOB OF IS EXPLAINING HOW THAT WORKS RELATIVE TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE IN MY MIND ANYWAY THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS IT'S JUST AN ACCOUNTING MOVEMENT OF DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND NOBODY SHOULD DIRECTLY SEE AN INCREASE IN TAX. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE FEE SCHEDULE AT THIS POINT . I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE PERFECT A ONE TO ONE FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE ENTERPRISE FUND WHERE NOBODY SEES AN INCREASE. MY SENSE IS THAT WE'RE PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO GET THERE.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THAT GAP. FIFTY DOLLARS ON THE LOW END FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GOT A PROPERTY VALUE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND A HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND AND A LOT OF MONEY ON A LOT OF MONEY. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THAT ALREADY AND ABOUT THAT. SO I SUPPORT THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING IN BUT FOR ME THE FEES GUYS WELL IT'S JUST NOT IT'S NOT FULLY BAKED YET. CHAIRMAN HOWARD, I'VE SPENT SOME TIME TALKING TO CITY RESIDENTS AND TOWN OIL RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS AND THEY STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE PICTURE. AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR RESIDENTIAL PICK UP EVERYTHING AT THEIR DOORSTEP EVEN THOUGH THEY WANT TO USE A CONVENIENT CENTER WHEN THEY WANT TO.
SO I THINK THEY THEY UNDERSTAND CONVENIENCE CENTERS, CITY AND TOWN RESIDENTS WANT TO USE THEM. THEY DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE COSTS OF DISPOSAL AND HOW THE COUNTY IS ABSORBING THAT COSTS. SO YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE CAN ELABORATE THAT I'M I THINK THE ENTERPRISE FUND IS A GOOD IDEA. HOW HOW WE HOW WE DIRECT THAT AND THE AMOUNT FEES WE NEED TO GIVE SOME CONSIDERATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING ON THEIR WATER BILL THE WAY WE MISS POLITIES A TELEPORT ORALS BEAUFORT.
HOW DO WE EXPLAIN WHERE THOSE OTHER COSTS ARE? AND ALSO I LIKE STU'S POINTS ABOUT ORGANIC WASTE. NOBODY'S DOING A GOOD JOB OF THAT.
IT'S IN MUNICIPALITIES IS ALL GOING INTO THE LANDFILL. NOT A GOOD NOT A GOOD THING.
WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER WITH THAT. IN RECYCLING FREE FLOWING.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU KNOW, I'M I'VE STRUGGLED WITH THIS BECAUSE LIKE MR. GLOVER, I SEE ABSOLUTELY THE NEED FOR FOR THE PROGRAM THAT WE'VE DESIGNED AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT IT COULD LEAD TO IN OUR RESPONSE TO OUR VORACIOUS NEED TO GET RID OF OUR TRASH. BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THE SCHEDULE IS CORRECT. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUGGEST AND I JUST SEE CHAT MESSAGE FROM OUR CFO THAT MILLAGE RATE DEDICATED MILLAGE WHICH WOULD THEN GO ON TAX BILL ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSED VALUE OF EACH PERSON'S PROPERTY. I THINK WE FIGURED OUT WHAT THAT WHAT THAT ACTUAL MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE AND THEN WE COULD RAISE IT AND LOWER IT AS THE NEEDS OF THE PROGRAM AS OUR SEPARATE BUSINESS ENTERPRISE HAS A NEED.
WE COULD EITHER RAISE THE MILITARY OR LOWER THE MILITARY IN RESPONSE TO NEEDS TIME.
AND SO YOU KNOW I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, SIR, THAT WE CHANGED THE MODEL TO REFLECT A
[02:40:02]
MILLAGE RATE THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE PRESENT NEED OF OF THE SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE.I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION . >> OKAY.
SO WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE SECOND READING AT THIS TIME FROM A SOLID WASTE FEE AS A UNIFORMED SERVICE CHARGE TO A MILLAGE RATE CALCULATION, CORRECT? IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? THAT'S CORRECT. YES.
OK. OK. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE AMENDMENT. I WANT TO ECHO. I SUPPORT THAT.
OKAY. MR. HERBERT JOHN. I LIKE THAT A LOT.
YES, IT DOES SEEM TO BE A FAIR WAY TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN THE VISUALS IT WOULD BE BASED UPON THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY. SO A LOWER END VALUE PROPERTY WITH A MILLAGE RATE WOULD BE PAYING LESS THAN A HIGHER END PROPERTY FOR THAT REASON.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THAT WOULD BE A REASON WHY WE THAT WOULD DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW MR. GREENWAY WELL
. >> A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER ONE, WE CAN PRIOR TO 30 RADIO IF YOU DO THIS DO TWO THINGS FOR YOU. ONE, WE CAN CALCULATE THE MILLAGE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DO THIS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE VALUE OF HOUSE PER HOUSEHOLD. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY AS WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE THE CONSULTANTS THAT DID THE ORIGINAL STUDY THE RATE STUDY RATE METHODS STUDY FOR THE PRICE TO CALCULATE IT. AND THAT MAY TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL TIME SO YOU MAY NOT SEE IT FOR THIRD READING ON THE TWENTY SIX THAT MAYBE THE LATER SAID THAT WE COULD TALK WITH THE CONSULTANT ABOUT WHAT THIS AMENDMENT MIGHT DO TO VERIFYING THE NUMBERS THAT WE OUGHT TO
PROVE IN ORDER TO SET UP THE ENTERPRISE. >> SO IF WE WE COULD PASS THE SECOND READING WITH THE AMENDED RIGHT AND THEN WE COULD HOLD THE THIRD READING WHEN WE GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE STRUCTURED IN THIS RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.
I'VE GOT SEVERAL QUESTIONS. I THINK WE JUST SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA GO TO A MILITARY WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING. THAT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND.
IT SEEMS GOT SOMETHING THAT OUR COUNTY CFO CAN READ OUT IN HIS MATH AND THAT'S A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD THING. MY QUESTION IS OR NOT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SET MILLAGE RATE IN THE AUDIENCE WHEN WE PASS AND THEN HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? BETWEEN THE AUDITOR CONFIRMING THAT AND WHAT WE'VE CALCULATED HAD SOMEBODY ELSE CALCULATE HOW WAS THAT DYNAMIC? NO WAY THAT I CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK I SPEAK
MUCH BUT WE CAN NOW. >> THOSE ARE COMPLICATED THINGS BUT WE CAN DEFINITELY HAVE THOSE ANSWERS PROVIDED TO YOU ALL IF YOU WANT A MINUTE NIGHT TO PROVIDE FOR MILLAGE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO PERSONALLY FROM AS FAR AS WITNESSES AND OTHER COUNTY AND AS A AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RIGHT NOW. SO WE WILL PROVIDE TO YOU AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN AFTER THIS MEETING IS NOT ON THE SPOT BECAUSE I KNOW I DID ALL THE TIME BUT ON TOP OF YOUR GUIDE. CAN YOU THINK OF ANY REASON WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT? I CAN'T THINK OF ANY REASON. GERARD, YOU'VE HAD YOUR HAND UP .
I CAN GIVE A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO REALLY THE MILITARY IS AN APPROPRIATE METHOD.
WHAT MILLAGE DOES IS IT'S BASED OFF TAX VALUE AND YOUR HOUSE VALUE IS NOT NECESSARILY CORRELATE TO THE AMOUNT OF CASH POPULATED BY RESIDENTS. SO THERE'S BASICALLY THREE WAYS TO PAY FOR THIS ENTERPRISE ON THE GROUND. ONE IS THE FIXED FEE THAT HAS BEEN TABLE TWO IS THE MILITARY OR AT DELIVERING THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW.
AND THEN THREE IS THE IDEA THAT WE HAVEN'T CLOSED YET IS A PAY FOR LEASE.
SO IF YOU USE TWO BAGS OF YOU PAY FOR THOSE TWO BAGS USED IN BACK TO THE TRASH BAGS, WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA AT THIS TIME. THAT IS OUR FLEET.
WHAT THE DISCOUNT SYSTEM IS HELPING US IDENTIFY THAT IS THE STATE THAT IS NOT IS THAT DEAL.
SO THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR BILL TO PAY FOR IF YOU USE THREE GALLONS IN YOUR HOME VERSUS MY USES GO GALLON, YOU PAY FOR WHAT HE NEEDS. SO THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL STATE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT DATA. BUT AS FAR AS WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK UP IF WE MOVE THE MILLAGE OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND JUST FOR WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET THEN THAT'S A SIMPLE MOVE AND THERE'S REALLY NO INCREASED RATE. HOWEVER WE MOVE A MILLAGE OUT FOR WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY THOSE
[02:45:01]
16 MILLION DOLLARS THEN THAT WOULD BE A INCREASE OF MILLAGE TOWARDS THE ENTERPRISE.SO THAT WOULD BE A NUMBER THAT WE HAVE TO RIBAUT IT CAN ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION.
ARE WE MOVING JUST THE TIN MAN BASICALLY WHAT THE BUDGET WITHOUT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT PART OR ARE WE MOVING THE PROPOSED 16 MILLION THAT WAS PROPOSED THIS DAY?
>> I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A FURTHER DISCUSSION THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BECAUSE IF YOU SET THE MILLAGE RATE TOO HIGH YOU DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF WHAT COUNCIL IS TRYING TO DO. SO QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED AND I DON'T THINK
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. >> ONE COMMENTS YES.
LEAVE IT THAT QUESTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY THREATS DURING BUDGET DISCUSSION.
YEAH. BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS. OKAY.
WE ONLY HAVE EIGHT MINUTES LEFT. WE PASSED A RESOLUTION.
I MEAN WE WE PASSED SOMETHING THAT SAID WE WERE NOT GOING TO GO PAST 9 O'CLOCK.
WE STILL HAVE SEVEN ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA TO TAKE PLACE. SO LET'S DETERMINE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE TO RECESS THIS MEETING AT 9:00. MR. SOMERVILLE, YOU'VE GOT TO ADD ONE TO THAT, MR. CHAIRMAN, BECAUSE WHEN WE DID THE THE CONSENT AGENDA WE WERE MR. WELLING I THINK WE EXCLUDED ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. WE AND ARE JUST SEPARATE ITEMS
AND THAT'S ALL I KNOW THAT'S THAT'S GOT TO BE UNTIL. >> MR. MR. CHAIRMAN.
YEAH. I KNOW I WAS THE ONE THAT PUSHED US TO NINE.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ZONING SINCE THESE GENTLEMEN ARE HERE TODAY AND WAIT PATIENTLY THEY'RE ALL MEETING THAT'S THE NEXT AGENDA .
YES, SIR. SO WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF THIS ONE.
WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR TO BE ACTED ON. IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AS EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON FOR THE AMENDMENT? DO I HAVE TO REPEAT THAT SEEING NONE? OK, MR. FLOOR WALLING YOU MADE THE AMENDMENT MOTION. YOU GET TO GO FIRST.
>> YES, SIR. MISS HOWARD, YOUR SECOND. YES, MR. CUNNINGHAM.
YES, LET'S SEE. >> MR. GLOVER. YES.
MR. HARVEY SHOT JEFF. MR. LAWSON PARK LOST AND YES. MR. MCKELLEN.
MR. SOMERVILLE. >> YES. CHAIR SAYS YES.
THERE IS UNANIMOUS. WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED.
NOW WE BEGIN WITH UNLESS THERE IS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MOTION AS AMENDED SEEING NONE. MR. LAWSON, YOU MAKE THE MOTION ORIGINALLY.
I DOUBT THERE'S ANY OBJECTION. YES, MY CLASSMATES. WELL, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY.
>> IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO DOING THIS UNANIMOUSLY? I SEE NO OBJECTION.
SO THIS WILL BE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. OKAY.
[19. THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 1.96 ACRES (R600 036 000 015E 0000) AT THE INTERSECTION MAY RIVER ROAD AND BENTON LANE FROM T3 EDGE TO T2 RURAL CENTER.]
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER 19. THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR ONE POINT TO NINETY ONE POINT NINE 6 SIX ACRES AT THE INTERSECTION OF MAY RIVER AND BEN LANE FROM SEASON 3 EDGE TO T TO RURAL MAY HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLAYED SOME OF MR. CHAN MR. LAWSON MADE THE MOTION A SECOND. AND MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND WITHOUT OBJECTION, SIR.
NO, I'D LIKE A ROLL CALL. YEAH. OKAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? I'D LIKE TO MAKE ONE REALLY QUICKLY. I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT WE DID GET LETTERS FROM RESIDENTS FROM THE INITIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE WERE FORWARDED OUT TO ALL COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM THEM. OKAY.
>> IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MR. RIBAUT FIRST RIGHT AFTER THIS IS IMPORTANT.
I THINK A MOTION TO EXTEND THE 9 15. I'LL SECOND OKAY.
>> THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SIR.
WE'LL WAIT A SECOND. WE HAVE WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WE'RE AMENDING THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING. IS THAT AN APPROPRIATE MOTION? WILL ARE. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO DOCUMENTARIAN WEIGH IN ON THAT
. >> I THINK WE CAN DENY ANY TIME WE DO THAT AT ANY TIME UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE. MR. CHAIRMAN.
IT'S REALLY A MOTION TO LIMIT OR EXTEND DEBATE WHICH WOULD BE AN ORDER IF IT WAS ONLY BEING
[02:50:04]
APPLIED TO NUMBER 19 AND GIVEN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO HANDLE IT RIGHT NOW. OK. SO WE HAVE DUELING MOTIONS IN THE SECOND TO EXTEND TO NINE 15 . THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUTOBJECTION. ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? >> MR. GLOVER OBJECTED.
THEREFORE I HAVE TO CALL THE ROLL UNLESS WE CAN JUST SAY IT IS EVERYBODY ELSE IS VOTING.
>> OK. OK. ALL RIGHT THEN WE ARE EXTENDED TO 950 DEAN. THAT IS A VOTE OF 9 YES 1 NO. OK.
BACK TO BACK TO THE THIRD READING OF THE ORDINANCE. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION I'D LIKE? JUST REAL QUICK AGAIN. GO BACK AND SAY THAT THESE FOLKS BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY IN THE MID 2000S AS A COMMERCIAL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
THEY WENT AND ACTUALLY GOT A BUILDING PERMIT AND NEVER PICKED IT UP FOR COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY. >> THE ZONING THEN CHANGED AND AGAIN IT'S NOT LIKE THESE FOLKS ARE BUYING IT TO DEVELOP IT. THEY'VE HELD ONTO IT FOR 15 YEARS.
IF THIS WAS MY PROPERTY I WOULD HOPE AND EXPECT THAT MY COUNCIL PERSON AND THE COUNCIL WOULD VOTE TO GO OUT AND GIVE THEM ZONING AND THEN ON ASKING FOR THE FULL ZONING THEY HAD
PREVIOUSLY. >> SO AGAIN THIS IS THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT IS A BUSY ROAD THAT IS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY IN MY MIND EVEN THOUGH OUR I THINK OUR ZONING STAFF WAS AGAINST IT. THEY CAME BACK AND SAID NO. THIS WAS ACTUALLY NOT SPOT ZONING WHICH WAS THE ONLY REASON I HEARD EVERYONE VOTE AGAINST IT PREVIOUSLY WAS BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS SPOT ZONING AND TO GET OUR OWN STAFF IS NOT SPOT ZONING.
SO I VOTED FOR IT OFF. EVERY TIME HAS COME UP AND I WILL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR IT.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD KEEP THESE THESE FOLKS WHAT THEY DESERVE GOOD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOU KNOW, SUE, YOU KNOW. VERY QUICKLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT ON PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER.
>> AND I FULLY EXPECT THE OWNERS TO DO THE RIGHT THING INTERCONNECTOR TO YOU FOR
JASPER WHEN IT BECOMES. >> OK. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SAYING NO OTHER COMMENTS? MR. LAWSON, YOU MADE THE MOTION YOU GET TO MARK FOR.
YES, MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU VOTED SECOND. YES.
MR. FLOWING YES. >> MR. GLOVER NO. >> MR. HER VISION? YES. MS. HOWARD.
MR. RUDMAN. YES, MR. SOMMER. BILL?
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 6. YES. I WILL BE THE SEVENTH.
YES. THAT MOTION CARRIES SEVEN THREE ,OK.
[BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS]
WE'RE AT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. WITH THE PERMISSION OF COUNSEL I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM ALL AT ONCE SO MUCH. MR. CHAIRMAN.ITEMS 20 21 THROUGH 20 5. OK. I HAVE A MOTION FOR ALL OF THOSE MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN. MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION SECOND, SIR.
MR. FULLER WILLING MAKES THE SECOND. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WITHOUT OBJECTION. WE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
WE WILL APPOINT INDIVIDUALS TO THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SEEING NO OBJECTIONS. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL IN FACT BE APPROVED.
THE THEN TAKES US TO THE END OF THIS MEETING AND I THANK YOU ALL.
[ Additional Item]
NOW WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. >> WELL, WHAT IS RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. THANK YOU. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA IS A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH THE UNIFORM POLICY FOR PROCESSING RESPONDING TO AND TRACKING REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC RECORDS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS 30 DASH FOR DASH 10. MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION
PLEASE? MOVE. >> MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. MCCLELLAN. GOD, MR. SUMMERVILLE DISCUSSION I GUESS I'LL GO FIRST ALONG.
>> THANK YOU. >> I INTEND TO OPPOSE THIS. I THINK THAT IT PLACES AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON US ELECTED OFFICIALS AND INDEED THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTY
[02:55:02]
TO COUNTY HAS THE STAFF TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF THING AND WE DON'T INDIVIDUALLY HELP STAFF DISPLACED AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON US. I THINK THAT'S A BURDEN THAT ACTUAL TRACKING AND CALCULATION AND THE OTHER MATTERS FOR FREEDOM OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE A MATTER OF ACCOUNT FOR THE COUNTY TO ADDRESS NOT FOR US AS INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF AND THE OTHER GOVERNMENTS. >> OK.
I WILL CALL THE QUESTION THEN BECAUSE MR. MCCLELLAN YOU BOTH YOU MADE THE MOTION YOU WILL
VOTE FIRST. MR. SOMERVILLE. >> YES.
MR. CUNNINGHAM. NOW MR. LLEWELLYN NO. >> MR. GLOVER.
YES. MR. HARVEY SHINE NO. MISS HOWARD.
YES, MR. LAWSON. >> MARK LAWSON. YES.
MR. RUDMAN. YES. AND THE CHAIR SAYS YES.
AND SO WE HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN YES. THREE NO.
THE MOTION PASSES. WE ARE NOW NOW AT THE END OF THE MEETING I HAVE A
QUESTION RELATING TO PREVIOUS VOTES. >> YES.
SYRIA. THE EMERGENCY ORDINANCE REGARDING MASS.
>> WHEN DOES LEARNED ORDINANCE EXPIRE? >> THE EMERGENCY ORDINANCE EITHER GOES FOR SIXTY ONE DAYS OR IF THE GOVERNOR SO CHOOSES AND THAT THEIR 16TH.
NO, SIR. >> WHAT IS THE CURRENT CURRENT DAY THAT IT'S DUE TO EXPIRE 61
DAYS AND THE PREVIOUS READING? IT'S THE 16TH OF THE 19TH. >> NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS BUT IT IS THIS WEEK I BELIEVE IT'S THE FIFTEENTH I THOUGHT BECAUSE IT MARCH 15TH I BELIEVE IT'S THE 15TH. YEAH IT'S THE FIFTEENTH SO IT'S SIXTY ONE DAYS FROM THE FIFTEENTH OR IF THE GOVERNOR ENDS THE MASK ORDINANCE AND THERE IS THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE THAT THE LEGISLATURE TOURS ARE PROPOSING A BILL TO TAKE THAT POWER AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR AND I'M NOT SURE THAT HAS THAT HAS BEEN ENACTED AS YET.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST JUST I THINK IT'S A NINETEEN. KURT, YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN I THOUGHT IT WAS THE 15 I'M RELYING ON WHAT THE CLERK WAS COUNTING DOES SHE'S GOT THE
NINETEEN BUT I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW. >> OKAY WHATEVER.
IT'S SIXTY ONE DAYS FROM THERE. OKAY SO OUR OUR ORDINANCE EXPIRES ON THE NINETEEN OUR RELEASES DEMANDING THERE IS EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OR THANK YOU.
>> WAIT FOR CLARITY OUR MOTION FOR THE MASS MANDATE DID NOT PASS.
THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. SO THE ALL LAST MINUTE THEY DID NOT PASS THAT ENDS ON THE 15TH ON THE 19TH. THAT'S THE QUESTION MR. BOILING IS ASKING ABOUT THAT MOTION FAILED TO EXPIRES THE NINETEEN CORRECT.
>> I DON'T THINK SO BUT I COULD BE WRONG. I THOUGHT THE LAST TIME WE CALCULATED IT WAS SIXTY ONE DAYS FROM THE LAST TIME WE PASSED THAT WHICH WAS THE FIFTEENTH Y THAT'S WHY WE TOOK IT UP TODAY. RIGHT BUT WE'RE JUST FEELING
IT'S ENDING THIS WEEK ENDING THE 15 FIFTEEN. >> THAT'S WHAT I SAID WAS THE FIFTEENTH. ALL RIGHT. OH COME I THINK I SAID THE NONSENSE FIFTY. OKAY. THERE BEING NO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.