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AND WELCOME TO THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD.
UM, ELECTRONIC MEETING OF THE BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL.
IF WE CAN, UM, CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER EVERYONE IS ACCOUNTED FOR ON COUNCIL.
UM, WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN THE IMITATION.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND TO THE REPUBLIC.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SO WHOMEVER WOULD LIKE TO PRAY, PLEASE JOIN ME, DEAR LORD HEAL.
THOSE WHO ARE SICK WITH THIS VIRUS, MAY THEY RECREATE GAINED STRENGTH AND HELP THROUGH QUALITY HEALTH CARE, HELP US HEAL FROM OUR FEAR, WHICH PREVENTS NATIONS FROM WORKING TOGETHER AND NEIGHBORS FROM HELPING ONE ANOTHER HEAL US FROM OUR PROD, WHICH CAN MAKE US CLAIM IN VULNERABILITY TO A DISEASE THAT KNOWS NO BORDERS.
BE WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED FROM THE VIRUS, BE WITH THE FAMILIES OF THOSE TWO ARE SICK OR HAVE DIED.
BE WITH THE DOCTORS, NURSES, NURSES, RESEARCHES RESEARCHERS, AND ALL MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO SEEK TO HEAL AND HELP THOSE AFFECTED AND WHO PUT THEMSELVES AT RISK IN THE PROCESS, BE WITH THE LEADERS OF ALL NATIONS, ESPECIALLY THIS TOWN, GIVE US A FORESIGHT TO ACT THE CHARITY AND TRUE CONCERN FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE WE ARE MEANT TO SERVE.
GIVE US THE WISDOM TO INVEST IN LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP PREPARE FOR OUR PREVENT FUTURE OUTBREAKS.
MAY WE KNOW YOUR PEACE AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ON EARTH IN THIS WE PRAY.
IS THERE ANY CHANGE, SMALL AGENDA, IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT YOUR SECOND, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING, AYE, ARE THERE ANY NOS? I KNOW I DIDN'T DO A ROLL CALL, BUT OKAY.
AND THE FORMAL ITEM THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY IS THE CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AN AFFIRMANCE FULL SUPPORT OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, SMALL BUSINESS, ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PLAN TO MITIGATE THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC FINANCIAL IMPACT TO SMALL BUSINESS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR SMOKER, MIRA COUNCIL, UM, AS WE, AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO PRESENT TODAY, THE SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC, UH, RESILIENCY PLAN FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
AS WE, AS WE STARTED TO THINK THROUGH THIS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, WE'VE REALLY SET UP AN OVERARCHING GOAL.
AND THAT OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO BE PREDICTIVE AND PROACTIVE IN OUR DECISION-MAKING TO PRESERVE TWO THINGS, BUSINESS CONTINUITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY.
SO, UM, WORKING WITH MIKE LEVINE, OUR DON RYAN CDO AND CHRIS SPORTSTER, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AMONGST A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER AMAZING FOLKS AND GREAT BUSINESS THINKERS, UM, STARTED TO REALIZE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF KEY ISSUES TO THINK THROUGH AND STEPS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE, UH, TO NOT ONLY REACT TO BUSINESS DISRUPTION AS WE'RE SEEING IT, BUT REALLY TO RESHAPE, UH, BUSINESS AND PLAN FOR RECOVERY.
THERE'S SOME BASIC PRIORITIES AND BASIC PRINCIPLES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE TODAY.
AS WE PRESENT THIS PLAN FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, ONE IS PRIORITIZING PEOPLE, SAFETY AND ENGAGEMENT, ALSO RESHAPING BUSINESS STRATEGY, HELPING BUSINESSES FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
HOW CAN THEY MAXIMIZE GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. AND THEN ULTIMATELY, LIKE I SAID, TO BUILD RESILIENCY AND PREPARE, WE KEEP HEARING THE TERM A NEW NORMAL.
I WAS TRYING TO NOT SAY THAT FOR A WHILE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A TERM THAT I BELIEVE WILL STICK.
UM, AND SO THE, THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROGRAM IS, IS, IS TO HELP WITH THAT.
SO OUR PLAN PRESENTED IS AN ATTEMPT AND WHAT I FEEL STRONGLY, UH, IS, IS TO ACHIEVE, EXCUSE ME, TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.
SO I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN WITH YOU ALL WITH ME FOR A QUICK SEC.
AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PLAN.
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WE ALL REALIZE THAT IN MARCH 13TH, THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA ISSUED HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER AND DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, UH, MAYOR SAKA.IT FEELS LIKE SOME TIME AGO, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN A MONTH AGO THAT YOU DECLARED FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ON MARCH 16TH AND A PROCLAMATION DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
UM, THE EXTENT OF THE LONG-TERM IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES IS STILL VERY UNCERTAIN.
AS WE LOOK INTO OUR BUDGET AND TRY TO MAKE A REALISTIC DATA-BASED PROJECTIONS ON OUR REVENUES.
UM, THAT'S STILL VERY, UH, VERY NEW TO US AND, AND SOMEWHAT UNKNOWN IN THE FUTURE.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PUT SEVERAL STIMULUS PROGRAMS AND, AND, AND OPPORTUNITIES IN PLACE THROUGH THE CARES ACT THROUGH THE SBA, UM, AND THROUGH DIFFERENT PAYROLL PROTECTION PLANS.
AND I'VE TRIED TO CAPTURE AS MUCH AS I CAN OF THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR STAFF REPORT HERE.
UM, BUT, BUT WHAT ISN'T HAPPENING IS THAT SMALL BUSINESS AT A LOCAL LEVEL, UM, ISN'T NECESSARILY AT THE FOREFRONT OF A LOT OF THE, OF THE, A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
AND SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE REACHED OUT TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND FOLKS THAT WE HAVE REALLY STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH THIS WITH IS THE BUFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OUR CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, UM, OTHER MUNICIPAL MANAGERS, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND OTHER FOLKS WE'VE PUT A PLAN IN PLACE AND I'M HAPPY TO PROPOSE IT TO TODAY, THE, THE, THE TEXT BELOW AND I'LL SCROLL THROUGH IT.
IT REALLY OUTLINES A FRAMEWORK OF A PLAN THAT WOULD BE PUT IN PLACE.
AND THAT WOULD BE LED BY OUR DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION TO EXECUTE AND IMPLEMENT.
AND SO HERE'S, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
WE HAVE SENT A SURVEY TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR BUSINESS LICENSE HOLDERS.
SO WE'VE SENT THEM A LETTER WITH A SURVEY LINK.
THE SURVEY WAS PREPARED IN PART BY THE DON RYAN CENTER, BUT REALLY BY JOHN O'TOOLE AND HIS TEAM AT THIS COOPER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, BUT ALSO TRYING TO HEAR WHAT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE INDICATING THROUGH THIS SURVEY THAT SURVEY'S NOT BACK YET.
THOSE RESULTS WILL BE SHARED WITH ALL OF YOU, INCLUDING OUR DON RYAN CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TODAY THAT WE PIVOT THE DON RYAN CENTER SLIGHTLY SO THAT THEY BECOME A, PRIMARILY A SMALL BUSINESS CONCIERGE.
WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS INCUBATION.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE COMPANIES IN THE CENTER, OUR HUBS READY TO OPEN.
I UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE SEVERAL MORE POTENTIAL INNOVATORS COMPANIES IN THE PIPELINE.
UM, SO IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF, OF TRUE BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION AT OUR COMMERCE PARK.
AND SO ADDING TO THOSE TWO DIFFERENT, UM, REALLY SIDES OF THE EQUATION, WE I'M ASKING THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER, UH, THE BE ADDED TO, TO BE A TRUE BUSINESS CONCIERGE, I CALL IT A WALK-IN CLINIC FOR ASSISTANCE.
AND SO HOW CAN WE USE OUR RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS, UM, TO SERVE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY? AND SO WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THIS PACKET TODAY, THAT RESOURCE GUIDE, UM, PROVIDES A LOT OF INFORMATION AND I'LL GO THROUGH THAT IN A SECOND.
BUT WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER TRULY ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH AN MOU WITH BUFORD COUNTY, EDC, SOUTH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THEIR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER, THE GREATER BLUFFTON CHAMBER, THE HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER, THE BEAVER COUNTY POTENTIALLY BE FOR COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER AND ANY OTHERS.
IT'S REALLY AN ALL HANDS ON DECK.
AND WE NEED AS MANY PARTNERS AND AS MANY SPONSORS AND AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS WE CAN TO BE THERE, IF A SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS ASSISTANCE, WHAT WOULD THEY DO? THEY WOULD HELP FOLKS NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM THROUGH THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE, POTENTIALLY SOUTH CAROLINA ASSISTANCE, RIGHT BEFORE WE HOPPED ON THIS CALL, I WAS READING A QUICK EMAIL FROM CHRIS FORRESTER THAT LET ME KNOW THAT THERE IS A STIMULUS PROGRAM PROPOSED THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY POTENTIALLY FUNNEL DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT WOULD AFFECT US OR PERHAPS EVEN AT A COUNTY LEVEL.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF REGIONAL NONPROFIT FUNDS AND PROGRAMS PUT IN PLACE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S NONPROFITS AS WELL AS PRIVATE FUNDS IN PLACE.
SO HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS? HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THOSE FOLKS TO HELP? AND THEN AS WELL, MUNICIPAL ASSISTANCE.
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UM, WE ALSO PROPOSE THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER BE A REFERRAL AND ADVISEMENT PROGRAM.SO AS I TRY TO EXPLAIN IT, OUR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
HOW CAN WE CONNECT THE DOTS FOR FOLKS? HOW CAN WE HELP THEM STRUCTURE AND ASSIST, UM, ASSIST THEM WITH FINDING APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT? OUR DON RYAN CENTER, UH, SEVERAL OF OUR DON RYAN CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS GOT TOGETHER WITH MIKE LEVINE AND HAVE PROPOSED AS PART OF THIS PLAN TO YOU AS A TOWN COUNCIL, COMPLIMENTARY DRC RESOURCES.
AND SO WHAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE A COST AND A SERVICE, UH, ATTACHED THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THEY WAIVE MEMBERSHIP FOR DON RYAN CENTER FOR 12 MONTHS, AND THAT THEY WAIVED THE COST OF THE WALK-IN HUB PORTION, NOT SO MUCH THE WAIVING, THE COST OF TRUE INCUBATION, BUT THE COST OF THE WALK-IN CLINIC AS I WOULD CALL IT.
AND SO WAIVE THE COST OF RENT FOR THE HUB FOR 12 MONTHS, PLEASE KNOW THE HUB'S READY FURNITURE IS BEING DELIVERED.
UM, THIS WEEK WE RECEIVED OUR CEO, OUR CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ON THE HUB LAST WEEK, AND IN LESS THAN UNTIL WE CAN MOVE IN, WE CAN STILL HELP THESE BUSINESSES ELECTRONICALLY AND DIGITALLY AND VIA PHONE, THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.
WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING THAT WE WORK WITH TERRY FINGER, OUR TOWN ATTORNEY TO SET UP A GROUP OF LOCAL ATTORNEYS TO PROVIDE, UH, PERHAPS A SMALL NETWORK, UM, FOR PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
NOT, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO REINVENT, UH, OURSELVES AND BECOME FOLKS ATTORNEYS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW OR PROVIDE SOME, SOME Q AND A WITH, WITH WELL-KNOWN OR, OR VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ATTORNEYS.
AND SO WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING IN THIS PROGRAM, WE SET THAT WE SET THAT, UH, SMALL NETWORK UP, AND THEN JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE PROGRAM WOULD INCLUDE THAT A NEW GROWTH PROGRAM.
AND SO HOW DO THEY MANAGE THEIR CASHFLOW? HOW DO THEY ADDRESS BUSINESS DEFICIENCIES? HOW DO THEY MANAGE STIMULUS FUNDS IF THEY RECEIVE THEM? AND THEN JUST AS IMPORTANT, HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN AND GROW DURING ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY? AND I, AND I OFTEN USE USE AN EXPLANATION OF, WE ALL KNOW A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN A RESTAURANT.
AND DURING A HARD TIME, THEY HAVE SOUGHT ADVICE, LOOKED FOR MONEY, SET UP, SET UP PRIVATE FUNDS TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND THEN SOME, BUT THEN THEY ALSO HAVE TURNED THEIR RESTAURANT INTO A CURBSIDE DELIVERY, BUT ALSO A GROCERY STORE.
AND SO THEY, THEY ARE STAYING IN BUSINESS AND CONTINUING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS.
HOW DO WE HELP THOSE COMPANIES PERHAPS EVEN THINK OF A NEW BUSINESS MODEL, UM, IN WHAT WE KEEP CALLING THE NEW NORM AND THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER ALSO BECOME A SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATE.
AND SO HOW DO WE HELP THEM WITH OTHER LOOP LOCAL UTILITIES? WE KNOW THAT PALMETTO ELECTRIC HAS SOME STRONG PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN PLACE.
UM, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THAT POTENTIALLY A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES MAY OR MAY NOT BE THAT FAMILIAR AT BUFORD JASPER OR DOUMANIAN OR OTHER, OTHER UTILITIES HAVE, HAVE SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
AND SO HOW CAN WE MAKE OURSELVES KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THEN HELP THOSE BUSINESSES WITH THOSE OTHER AGENCIES? UH, WE'VE ALSO PROPOSED AND YOU COUNSEL HAVE, HAVE ADOPTED THE DEFERRAL OF A TAX PAYMENT.
SO ABOVE AND BEYOND EVERYTHING I MENTIONED ABOVE, WHAT ABOUT TAX RELIEF? AND SO THE PROPOSAL IS TO VERT IS TO DEFER LICENSE AND TAX DEADLINES TO REDUCE FINANCIAL BURDENS TODAY.
AND SO THOSE DEFERRALS OF FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL LOCAL H TAX AND LOCAL A TAX HAVE BEEN DEFERRED UNTIL JUNE 14TH AND CURRENTLY THE BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL DEADLINE IS DEFERRED UNTIL APRIL 30TH WITH, UH, AND THAT'S, AND THOSE ARE ALLOWED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS AND MANDATES.
UM, AND, AND BASED UPON THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY BY MAYOR, SACA WHAT WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING IS THAT WE EXTEND THAT DEADLINE OF APRIL 30TH OUT TILL AUGUST 7TH, IN ORDER TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE.
OF COURSE, IT WOULD TAKE TWO READINGS.
WE COULD, WE COULD, UM, WE COULD SCHEDULE SPECIAL MEETINGS OR SIMPLY SCHEDULE THIS FOR ANY TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE AUGUST MEETING, KNOWING THAT WE WOULD EXTEND IT.
THAT'S THE VERY LAST DATE THAT WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH BASED UPON
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SEVERAL FACTORS, ONE OF WHICH IS OUR FINANCIAL AUDIT PREPARATION AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS SIMPLY A CASHFLOW ISSUE.UM, WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT GRANTS AND PERHAPS STIMULUS OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, CDBG, OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR STATE PROGRAMS WITH FEDERAL PASS THROUGH DOLLARS.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR THOSE PROGRAMS AND APPLY, UH, FOR ANYTHING APPROPRIATE THAT WOULD FIT WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK ONCE YOU ADOPT IT.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW IT'S IN YOUR PACKET, KIM'S PROVIDED THE LINK ONLINE.
YOU HAVE THE COVID-19 HANDBOOK PUT TOGETHER BY JOHN O'TOOLE, UM, PUT TOGETHER BY THE DON RYAN CENTER.
AND IT REALLY STARTS TO ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A ONE-STOP CONTACT.
AND SO THE GOAL AND THE TASK TO THE DON RYAN CENTER WOULD BE TO KEEP THIS AS UPDATED AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
AND SO TO BECOME THAT ONE-STOP CONTACT, WE NEED TO FAMILIARIZE OURSELF AND KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AT A MUNICIPAL LEVEL.
I'VE TALKED WITH THE MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATOR, AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE THINKING THROUGH, UM, ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE, REALLY BUSINESS ASSISTANCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, WHAT WE DON'T HAVE ON HERE.
AND IT'S AN OVERSIGHT ON MY END IS HARDY VILLE.
AND SO I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY ADD HARDY BILL BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE JUST AS FOCUSED ON THIS AS, AS THE REST OF US.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE RESOURCES.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE REGIONAL NON-PROFITS UNITED WAY OF THE LOW COUNTRY RELIEF FUND, THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, UM, THE ONESIE FUND.
WE ALSO KNOW, UM, THAT THE STATE RESOURCES ARE STARTING TO BUILD.
UM, AND SO I THINK THAT THIS GOOD RESOURCE GUIDE IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE FOLKS READING IT.
I WOULD, I WOULD EXPECT AND KNOW OUR DON RYAN CENTER AND ALL THOSE PARTNERS I LISTED UP TOP WOULD BECOME EXPERTS IN THE SENSE OF KNOWING WHERE TO SEND FOLKS.
SO WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMIC LOANS, THE CARES ACT AS THEIR MONEY RUNS OUT, PERHAPS NEW THINGS WILL, WILL SHOW UP AT A STATE LEVEL THAT THE PAYROLL PROTECTION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE RESOURCE GUIDE.
WHAT WE'VE ALSO DONE, UM, IS PUT TOGETHER A PEER REVIEW.
AND SO I ALWAYS LIKE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT EVERYONE AROUND THE COUNTRY'S DOING.
THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS TO WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, PERHAPS DIFFERENTLY THAN SEATTLE OR RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.
SO AS YOU READ THROUGH THE PEER REVIEW, NO, THAT WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE THE BEST OF THE BEST AS IT WOULD APPLY AND BE VALID IN BLUFFTON AND, AND PUT A PROGRAM TOGETHER.
WE'VE ALSO SOUGHT THOUGHT THROUGH SOME OF OUR OWN INITIATIVES, BUT, BUT THAT'S FOR YOUR, YOUR REVIEW.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS AND THIS LIST COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT WE TOOK, WE TOOK THE ONES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT, UM, RELEVANT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, A RESOLUTION THAT SIMPLY PREPARES A LOT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
UM, AND I ASKED YOU TODAY, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION TO ESTABLISH SMALL BUSINESS, UH, ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PLAN.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT LET'S IS EVERYONE TAKING NOTES? DO THEY HAVE QUESTIONS WE CAN KIND OF ROLL CALL THROUGH? I DON'T SEE EVERYONE ON THE SCREEN, SO THAT'S KIND OF TOUGH.
SO I'LL START WITH LARRY SINCE HE'S THE FIRST PERSON I SEE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW, LARRY? UM, YEAH, JUST A COUPLE.
I, NOT THAT I'M BASING MY OPINION ON THERE BE WITH OUR PARTNERS.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, YOU KNOW, JASPER COUNTY BEAVER COUNTY ARE, ARE WE OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO ALL REZ? I MEAN, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OR BUSINESSES, NOT WITHIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, SAY IF THEY COME TO US, ARE WE OPENING? ARE WE OPENED FOR THEM AS FAR AS THE ASSISTANT PROGRAM GOES? OR IS IT STRICTLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE BUSINESSES WITHIN OUR TOWN? AND IT'S JUST A YEAH, WELL, ONE, I WOULD ASK COUNCIL THEIR PREFERENCE.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY PRIORITIZE BLUFFTON, BLUFFTON BUSINESSES.
THAT'S WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS GOING INTO THE DON RYAN CENTER TO, TO, TO, TO PAY FOR THE DON RYAN CENTER STAFF AND OVERHEAD COME FROM, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE AND SUGGESTIVE
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COUNCIL THOUGHT DIFFERENTLY, AT LEAST, UM, THAT WE SUPPORT BLUFFED AND BUSINESSES.THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T QUICKLY GIVE SOME GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION TO SOME FOLKS THAT WALK IN.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY NO THANK YOU.
BUT I THINK OUR TIME, ENERGY AND DOLLARS, UM, FOR PAYROLL AND WHATNOT NEEDED TO BE SPENT IN BLUFFTON.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO CLARIFY.
ANYTHING ELSE, LARRY? NOT RIGHT NOW.
SO IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL JUST RUN THROUGH ANOTHER TIME JUST TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE DOESN'T COME UP WITH ON DAN YOU'RE NEXT ON MY LIST.
ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS? UM, MARK THE SURVEY.
WHEN DO YOU HOPE GET THE RESULTS OF THAT? I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM TODAY.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW THE BUSINESSES RESPOND.
CHRIS, REMIND ME, IF YOU PUT A TIMELINE IN THERE, A SUGGESTED TIMELINE, UH, THERE IS NO TIMELINE, UH, WEEKLY REQUEST FROM, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, RESULTS AT ANY TIME.
UM, SO WE CAN, WE CAN GET PRELIMINARY RESULTS, UM, WHENEVER WE REQUEST THEM.
AND SO, SO THE GOAL IS TO HEAR BACK FROM AS MANY PEOPLE THAT RESPOND.
AND I DO THINK THAT IN SOME TIME, PERHAPS 30 DAYS FROM NOW, WE RE SEND ANOTHER LETTER WITH A SECOND SURVEY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THE SURVEY IS AS MUCH AS WE CAN ACHIEVE ON THE FRONT END AND WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE PROMOTING IT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND TO OUR BUSINESSES.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT THOSE SURVEY RESULTS NEED TO EVOLVE OVER TIME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SURVEYING.
TWO OTHER QUESTIONS, UM, ON THE, UM, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S ADVISORY GRATIS.
THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE.
IT, IT, IT INDICATES IN THE PROGRAM OUTLINED PRO BONO.
AND THEN THE, THE, UM, THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE THAT WE'VE DEFLECTED BACK, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS WILL THAT, ARE THERE, ARE WE ALLOWED BY LAW TO HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN IF ANYBODY NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN A PAYMENT PLAN IN THAT SENSE? WELL, I MEAN, I, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO OBVIOUSLY BE STRUGGLING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE FUNDS LOOK LIKE, THE BILLS THAT THEY GET HIT WITH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE STACKED UP A FEW MONTHS LATER.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO, I WANT TO COMPLY, BUT I, I'M NOT ABLE TO, RIGHT.
THIS MOMENT, THAT'S THE INTENT OF DEFERRING UNTIL AUGUST.
AND SO IT WOULD, IT WOULD DEFER THE PAYMENT IN ANY PENALTIES UNTIL AUGUST POST, AUGUST THAT WAS NOT BUILT IN THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW, IS, IS ANY WAIVER OF LATE FEES OR ANYTHING.
WE CAN EXPLORE THAT IF THAT'S THE WILL OF COUNCIL IN TERMS OF PAYMENT PLANS AND, AND WAIVER OF PENALTY BEYOND THE DEADLINE.
CHRIS, I KNOW YOU WERE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING AS WELL.
UH, YES, WE, I MEAN, WE CAN REQUEST, UM, THE, THE, THE AUTHORITY TO OFFER PAYMENT PLANS.
UM, WE'VE DONE IT IN VERY LIMITED CASES IN THE PAST FOR BUSINESSES WHO HAVE GOTTEN BEHIND.
UM, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLORE WITH THEM.
I KNEW I WAS ON MUTE FRED, YOU'RE UP, UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK TO YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR LATER? UM, MARK, UM, I THINK YOU, UH, KIND OF, UM, WANT TO BE OPEN ENDED ON THAT QUESTION TO LARRY AS, BUT I'M SUGGESTING, UM, AS, AS, UM, MY ONE, UH, OPINION THAT WE MAINLY FOCUS ON BLUFFTON BUSINESS AND, UM, AND ALL LOCAL BUSINESS, UM, I DON'T THINK WE CAN BE, UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OFFER THAT LEFT AND TAXPAYERS.
SHOULDN'T BE, UM, SHOULDN'T BE HELPING SOMEONE FROM SAVANNAH OR FROM JASPER OR FROM HAMPTON, YOU KNOW, SO LET'S MAKE SURE WE TAKE CARE OF ABOUT HOME FIRST.
I UNDERSTAND TENDED TO SAY THE SAME THING.
ANYTHING ELSE, FRED? NO, THANK YOU, BRIDGET.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THE THIRD COMPONENT LISTED IN THE RESILIENCY ON THE AGENDA HERE IS IMPORTANT
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AS A LOT OF BUSINESSES WHO DON'T HAVE THE, UM, WILL AREN'T.WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BE RESOURCEFUL AND KIND OF REINVENT THEMSELVES WOULD NEED SUPPORT OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEIR UTILITY COMPANIES, EVEN LANDLORDS BE WILLING OR OPEN TO, UM, GIVING THEM SOME TYPE OF DEFERRAL OR EXTENSION AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT REPRIEVE TO THEM AS THEY'RE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH, UH, THROUGH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PANDEMIC.
UM, I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, UM, AS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO IN GOOD.
UM, LET ME ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, THEN I'LL RUN BACK THROUGH EVERY ONE AGAIN, CAUSE THEN MAYBE SOME QUESTIONS CAUSED OTHERS.
UM, AND NOW KIND OF LOOKING ON FACEBOOK TOO, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE LINDSAY OR DEBBIE RESPONDED TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS, BUT, UM, A LOT OF, SEVERAL OF OUR BUSINESSES AND I CAN RECOGNIZE SOME OTHER NAMES TO ASK WHO RECEIVED THE SURVEYS.
UM, SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE EXTENDED AFTER THIS MEETING, ESPECIALLY, UH, WE DID JUST POST ON SURVEY MONKEY, THE LINK ON OUR COMMENTS ON THIS MEETING.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE GET THAT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK IT ASKS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
SO WHEN, UM, HE COMES BACK, CAN WE GET REALLY KIND OF AN IDEA OF WHO DID THE SURVEY? AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN DO THAT.
THE OTHER THING MARK, YOU CAN'T, YOU SAID ABOUT EXTENDING THE DEADLINE, BUT WE PASSED AND MAYBE I'M READING.
CAN WE PASS LAST MONTH THAT WE WERE ALREADY EXTENDED UNTIL JUNE 1ST, NOT APRIL 30TH.
CHRIS, ARE YOU REFERRING TO BUSINESS LICENSES? WELL, YEAH, BUSINESS LICENSE, HOSPITALITY, PAYMENTS AND ACCOMMODATION AND WAIVING LATE FEES.
WE PASSED LAST MONTH, BUT THEN ON OUR END, MAYBE IT'S JUST OUTDATED.
I THOUGHT MARK'S PRESENTATION WAS TALKING ABOUT TO APRIL 30TH, SO I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO CONFUSE PEOPLE WHO WERE LISTENING OR CONFUSE ME.
SO THE, THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE FOR BUSINESS LICENSES IS APRIL 30TH.
THE ORDINANCE YOU PASSED EXTENDS THAT DEADLINE UNTIL, UH, JUNE 14TH, UM, IN THE BUSINESS PLAN.
UH, WE PROPOSE CONSIDERING EXTENDING THAT EVEN FURTHER TO AUGUST.
IF THAT'S JUST, I THINK IT'S OUTWARD.
I THINK IT'S JUST A LITTLE OUT, OUT, WELL, THERE IT IS.
I BELIEVE I MIGHT'VE CAPTURED THAT IN, IN THE STAFF REPORT.
CAUSE THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENT DATES, BUT OKAY.
AND THEN JUST AS AN FYI TO Y'ALL BUFORD YESTERDAY, MAYOR CANCERLINQ TOLD ME THEY PUSHED THEIRS TO JUNE 30TH.
SO I THINK WE'RE IN LINE WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO, UM, OF THAT.
SO THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS, I THINK REALLY GOOD.
I THINK WE GOT TO GET THE SURVEY OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW THAT PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT.
AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE ON FACEBOOK NOW, UM, LOOKING AND ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO THEM IS GET IN TOUCH WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND LOG ON TO THEIR SOCIAL MEDIAS AND EVERYTHING AS WELL AS OURS.
AND IF WE CAN GET THAT OUT, IT'D BE GREAT.
AND IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE THING, THE LETTERS WENT OUT, HOW MANY DAYS AGO, CHRIS? UH, THEY WENT OUT THE DAY AFTER A COUNCIL.
SO I THINK THAT WAS LAST WEDNESDAY.
SO WE'VE SENT LETTERS TO MORE THAN 3,400 BUSINESSES AND TO THE ADDRESSES THAT WE HAVE ON RECORD FOR THOSE BUSINESSES, WE'VE SENT THEM LETTERS, UM, WITH SOME INFORMATION AND IN THE LETTER IT PROVIDES THE LINK TO THE SURVEY.
SO THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECEIVING THAT SHORTLY.
BUT MAYOR TO YOUR POINT, WE'LL ASK LINDSAY TO DO A SPECIFIC SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, PRIORITY OF THAT SURVEY.
SO DO WE HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES ON ALL OUR BUSINESSES? UH, WE, WE DO HAVE EMAILS FOR MOST BUSINESSES.
WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO TRY AND GET AWAY TO, UM, IT'S A LOT OF BUSINESSES.
UM, SO IT'S, WE'RE WORKING ON A WAY TO GET THAT INTO A MASS, UM, EMAIL DISTRIBUTION OUT OF THE SYSTEM THAT WE USE, WHICH IS ENTER GOV.
UM, SO WE'VE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY GETTING THAT DATA OUT.
UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THAT AND MAKE THIS A LOT EASIER.
WELL, I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH ONE MORE TIME.
ANYTHING AFTER YOU'VE HEARD EVERYONE ELSE, UM, NOT PERTAINING TO THIS.
I, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY SOMETHING ON A DIFFERENT TOPIC IF I MAY, CAN WE WAIT TILL WE GET TO COMMUNICATION MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THAT IS THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA.
SO IT'D BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THIS WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH FROM, FOR THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, LARRY AND THAT IS LARRY DAN, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS PARTICULAR AGENDA ITEM? YEAH.
[00:30:02]
UM, MARK ARE THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, UM, DOING A SURVEY AS WELL? I'M NOT SURE.THE REASON I ASKED THE QUESTION IS, UM, AND, AND YOU'VE GOT SUCH A GOOD LIST OF PEOPLE HERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE CHAMBERS AND EVERYBODY, BUT, UH, SOMEBODY ALONG THE WAY WILL STUMBLED ACROSS SOMETHING.
I'M ASSUMING THAT COULD END UP BEING A BEST PRACTICE.
UH, MAYBE SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE HAVING SOME SUCCESS ON NAVIGATING THIS, THIS MINEFIELD FOR SOME OF THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, UH, ESPECIALLY THE, UM, ESPECIALLY THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY.
SO ANYWAY, I GUESS MY POINT, THE REASON FOR ASKING THE QUESTION WAS TO CAPITALIZE ON ANYTHING GOOD THAT OUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES MAY BE DISCOVERING THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IT.
UM, WELL I COULD ANSWER THAT IN.
AND, AND SO WHAT I'VE DONE IS DEFINITELY VERY REGULAR CONNECT WITH STEVE AND VAN AND BILL AND ASHLEY AND MIKE SYMBOL OR OUT OF, OUT OF HARDY BILL OF COURSE, UM, NOTES.
AND SO AS I PUT THIS IN DRAFT FORM AND EMAILED IT OUT TO ALL OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY, I ALSO SHARED IT WITH ALL THE OTHER MUNICIPAL MANAGERS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE BACK AND FORTH SHARING NOTES, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I'M AWARE OF WHAT HILTON HEAD'S DOING WITH SOME OF THEIR, SOME OF THEIR CDBG FUNDS AND SOME OTHER BEST PRACTICES THAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS DEFINITELY A TEAM SPORT.
AND I, AND I ASSURE YOU AND PROMISE COUNSEL THAT WE'LL STAY CONNECTED.
I DO THINK THAT ONCE THIS PROGRAM'S IN PLACE AND WE PROMOTE IT, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT MORE FROM FOLKS TOO.
AND MARK, I'D KIND OF AGREE WITH DAN ON THAT.
AND I'M LOOKING AT YOUR, THE DOCUMENT, YOUR INITIAL, UM, YOUR REPORT, MAYBE SOMEWHERE IN THERE ON YOUR TASK, OR MAYBE THERE IS A TASK FORCE FOR IDEAS OF OUR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND OUR, YOU KNOW, CLOTHING STORES AND NAIL SALONS, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST GET ALL THEIR IDEAS BEYOND GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, FRED, ANYTHING ELSE FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD? NO, I'M GOOD WITH, UH, WITH WHAT I'VE HEARD SO FAR.
AND, UM, I APPLAUD THE, UM, MARK AND CHRIS FOR, FOR THE WORK YOU GUYS DID TO TRY TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
UM, IT WAS, IT LOOKS, IT LOOKS VERY PROMISING.
IT IS CALLED PROACTIVE THINKING AND, AND WE GOT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY, UM, IT IN A FOCUS AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING TO DO AT THIS TIME.
ANYTHING ELSE, MARK? UM, ON THE SURVEYS AGAIN, HOW DID EDC DO THAT THROUGH EMAIL, INTERNET, SOCIAL MEDIA? THEY WEREN'T MAILED OUT AS, BUT THEY WERE MAILED AT AS WELL.
WHAT HELPED ME WITH THAT? THEY, UH, UH, ADC, UH, SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO BUSINESSES THAT THEY HAD EMAILS FOR.
UM, AND THEN WE INCLUDED THAT LINK IN THE EMAIL, UH, THE BUYER WE SENT THE BUSINESSES REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF THE DAY.
IT WAS JUST A QUESTION AND, AND I'LL, WE'LL RESPOND, BUT THEY'RE ONLINE.
SO THE LINK, IF YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE EDC, I'D FIND A WAY TO GET, TO GET YOUR INFORMATION TO THEM.
AND NOW YOU HAVE THE LINK, SO IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO DO THE SURVEY.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT THAT FAR BACK IN THE WORLD.
WE WERE A LITTLE MORE PROGRESSIVE ON LINK.
SO THAT CAN ANSWER THAT BUSINESS OWNERS QUESTION.
I WOULD, I CAN READ THE MOTION ON THIS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH AN AFFIRM ITS FULL SUPPORT OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, SMALL BUSINESS, ECONOMIC RESILIENCY PLAN TO MITIGATE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THEIR SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? AND I'LL JUST DO A ROLL CALL, UM, ALL IN FAVOR AND I'LL START WITH MYSELF.
I LARRY DAN FRED THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
NEXT WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO ANYTHING YOU'VE BEEN THINKING OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MAY MEETING JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
I DO EXPECT IT TO BE LIKE THIS.
UM, BUT I WILL JUST, I CAN START IT LIKE I DID BEFORE I START WITH LARRY.
YOU SAID YOU DID HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE GROUP, SO I'LL START WITH YOU.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO, TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
[00:35:01]
TO SUGGEST, UM, OPENING OF THE FLOATING DOCK BY THE BOAT RAMP.UM, UH, SEE WHERE, IN MY OPINION, IT'S A, IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
WHEN WE BUILT THE RAMP, WHEN PUTTING THE DOCK THERE, THERE WERE KIND OF LIKE TO HAVE ONE, ONE COMPLIMENTS THE OTHER, UM, WITH OUR AREA IN THE SIZE OF BOATS GROWING IT'S, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR BOAT IN AND CRAWL ACROSS THE BOW, INTO THE OYSTER SHELLS OR ONTO THE CONCRETE AND THEN GO PARK TRUCKS OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO.
AND THEN COME BACK TO THE SAME THING, YOU KNOW, AS THEY RETURNED FROM FISHING OR WHATEVER THEY MAY BE DOING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE AMOUNT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND, AND EVEN ELDERLY PEOPLE CLIMBING THE DAYS OF CLIMBING ACROSS THE BOW OF A 27 FOOT BOAT AND JUMPING OUT AND THEN CLIMBING BACK ON OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S DANGEROUS.
UM, I'VE WATCHED IT FOR YEARS AND IN MY OPINION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WISH YOU GUYS WOULD, UM, RECONSIDER.
IT'S JUST MY OPINION AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I COULD GO ON ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M AT WITH IT.
WE'LL SEE WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE SAYS.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK IS, UH, THE TOWN'S, UM, POSITION TO CLOSE THE DOCK.
UM, I KNOW WE PARTNERED WITH THE COUNTY, BUT WE OPENED THE, UM, WE OPENED THE DOC BECAUSE IT WAS A COUNTY DECISION.
AND SO, AND I ALSO AGREE WITH LARRY THAT IT IS, UH, A SAFETY ISSUE.
I, YOU KNOW, I GO DOWN THERE FREQUENTLY MYSELF.
UM, AND UM, AND I LIKE TO TAKE THAT, UM, FEAR OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT, TRYING TO, TO CRAWL ACROSS THE BILE, LIKE LARRY SAID, OR I'D FALLEN IN THE WATER AND ESPECIALLY A CHILD.
UM, AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE HAVE LOOKING FOR NOW THAT THE, I GUESS THE CAT IS OUT THE BAG THAT THEY CAN USE IT.
UM, WE GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, IT'S SAFE TO USE AND IT'S CONVENIENT TO USE ANYONE ELSE I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.
I'M NOT FOR IT, BUT MARK'S GOT THE FINAL SAY.
I THINK BEFORE THAT DOCK WAS BUILT, I PUT MY CHILDREN IN A BOAT WITH A RAMP AND IT WAS GOING IN THE MUD AND OYSTER SHELLS.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK, I DON'T AGREE THAT WE ARE HEADED IN A PLACE WHERE EVERYTHING'S SAFE AND I, I, I'M NOT FOR IT, BUT I'M ONLY ONE FIFTH OF A VOTE.
AND MARK ACTUALLY HAS TO SAY AT THE END OF IT, SO Y'ALL SPEAK YOUR MIND ON IT.
WE GET IT OUT AND HOW WE FEEL.
AND MARK CAN DECIDE, CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? OKAY.
YOU SAY THIS, THE PART THAT YOU FEEL LIKE IS, IS, IS NOT SAFE.
AND TRUST ME, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE DOCK BEING OPEN PERIOD, BUT, BUT IT IS, AND IT WASN'T OUR DECISION.
SO YOUR, YOUR FEAR OF NOT BEING SAFE.
CAN YOU SHARE THAT WITH ME SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION? YEAH.
I MEAN, THE RAMP WAS OPEN THE DOCK, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE DOCK IS CLOSED BECAUSE THE TOWN HAS AN OPEN THE DOCK.
NOW THE CALHOUN STREET DOCK HAS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING READY TO WORK ON IT.
THE OYSTER FACTORY RAMP WAS OPENED BY THE COUNTY.
MARK CLOSED THE DOCK WITH THE PARKS AND THE BATHROOMS. I THINK LARRY WANTS THE.TO BE OPEN ALONG WITH THE RAMP.
I, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT, IF PEOPLE DON'T FEEL SAFE, DON'T GO OUT ON THE WATER.
I MEAN, I HAVE FRIENDS ON THE RIVER THAT HAVE SEEN THE MOST DISGUSTING THINGS OVER THE WEEKEND AND WHERE THE RAMPS ARE BEING ENFORCED BY DNR, BECAUSE I AM TOLD THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERYONE TWO OR LESS AND THEY'RE MONITORING IT, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THE PARTIES AND THE BOATS THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE DOCS.
AND, UM, I'VE HAD PEOPLE ON THAT LIVE ON THE RIVER AND TELL ME, THEY'VE SEEN 15 PEOPLE ON A BOAT.
THE SANDBARS ARE PACKED, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, BUT THE GOVERNOR, NO ONE'S LISTENING.
IT'S JUST ONE THING I JUST FEEL, I BELIEVE IN IT.
I BELIEVE THE LEAST THE LESS BOATS ON THAT RIVER.
I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M NOT UPSET IF I'VE GET OVERRULED, BUT IT'S JUST MY PERSONAL THOUGHT.
UM, WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR BOAT OUT.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO ON A SANDBAR.
I'M NOT GOING TO CAUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT ADDED STRESS TO STOP ALL THESE PEOPLE.
AND, UM, I THINK THEY HAVE ENOUGH ON THEIR HANDS.
I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH ME.
[00:40:01]
AS WE WANT TO DO THAT? NO, I THINK THIS, WE CAN JUST KIND OF, IF YOU HEAR SOMEONE START TALKING STOPPED, WE'RE GOOD.SO TO, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LISA I, UM, WHAT, UM, MY MAJOR GOAL IS, IS TO MAKE THINGS AS SAFE AND AS ACCOMMODATING AS POSSIBLE, THE, THE BOATS FULL OF PEOPLE AND OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S TOTALLY JUST THE BUFORD COUNTY AND, AND DNR AND COAST GUARD.
YOU KNOW, OUR, WE HAVE STATE AGENCIES SHOULD, AND REGULATORS TO ENFORCE THAT.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE CAN.
UM, IF THE DOT BEING CLOSED IS ONLY TO DETER PEOPLE FROM USING OR GOING INTO THE RIVER, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN IT BEING CLOSED TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CORONA VIRUS.
UM, IF, IF IT, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM GOING IN THE RIVER, THEN THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT TOPIC.
THE, THE SAFETY OF, I MEAN, WE COULD PUT A SIGN UP, YOU KNOW, ONLY PEOPLE ENTERING AND EXITING BOATS ON THE DOCK.
IF WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THE, THE HANDFUL OF LOCAL PEOPLE WHO MAY GO DOWN THERE AND THROW A FISHING LINE OR, YOU KNOW, TO, TO PREVENT GROUPS, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE SPEAKING, UM, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
UM, IT'S IT'S IS THE ONLY ONE IN BUFORD COUNTY, EVERY OTHER BOAT RAMP AND EVERY OTHER, EVERY OTHER BOAT RAMP HAS A DOCK, JUST LIKE ALL JULIAN, UM, THE REST OF THEM AND THOSE DOTS ARE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THEY'RE THERE AS A COURTESY DOC TO MAKE IT SAFER AND EASIER FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING INTO RIVER, WHETHER THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL CRABBERS OR FISHERMEN OR, OR JUST A MOM AND DAD WANT TO TAKE THEIR KIDS ON A BOAT RIDE.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHERE I AM ON IT.
I JUST, I HATE TO BE THE, I WANT TO BE THE MOST CAUTIOUS, YOU KNOW, ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE'S WISHES, BUT I DON'T SEE BEING, I DON'T SEE THE FLOATING DOCK BEING BLOCKED BY REALLY HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CORONA VIRUS IS OUR, IS OUR EMERGENCY RIGHT NOW.
BUT THINK ABOUT THE BOATS NOW, THEY'RE NOT EVEN SOCIAL DISTANCING.
YOU HAVE TWO OR THREE BOATS AT THE DOCK, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE ALL USED TO DO.
A PRE DOCK, YOU FLOATED IN THE WATER, THE MOM OR DAD PUT THE RAMP IN, YOU PUT YOUR BOAT IN, YOU PULLED IT UP, PUT YOUR KIDS IN THE TRUCK.
WE HAVEN'T ONLY HAD THE DOCK FIVE YEARS, IF THAT.
AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MULTIPLE BOATS TAGGED UP ON THAT DOCK, WAITING FOR THE BOAT, THE TRAILER TO COME IN.
UM, AND I MEAN, WE'RE JUST DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO OWN THE BOAT.
I HAVE WAS NOT FAVOR FOR THE BOAT RAMPS OPEN.
AND I THINK THE MESS THAT'S GOING ON ON THAT RIVER RIGHT NOW IS DISGUSTING.
AND IT'S THE LOOPHOLE FOUNDERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T FOLLOW RULES.
AND IT'S HURTING ALL OF US WHO FOLLOW RULES AND RIGHT.
AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT, BUT YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE TOO, IF YOU'RE NOT TAUGHT TO AT THE DOCK AND A THUNDERSTORM COMES, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 20 BOATS SIDE BY SIDE ON THE OYSTER SHELLS OR BLOCKING THE RAMP, YOU KNOW, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'VE GOT TO GO, THEY'RE GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF, IF IT WERE WITHIN OUR POWER AND EVERYONE VOTED TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO CLOSE THE WHOLE THING.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THING, BUT HALF OPEN, HALF CLOSED IS NOT IN MY OPINION.
AND THE PEOPLE THAT I SEE AND WHAT I SEE DOWN THERE, I'M THERE MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S UM, IT'S NOT, WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE GOING IN THE RIVER ANYWAY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO, YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD ONES TOO.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVERYBODY, THAT'S 10 PEOPLE IN A BOAT AND, UM, DOING WHAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO.
THERE'S, THERE'S JUST MANY GOOD PEOPLE.
I DON'T AGREE, BUT I LOVE YOU.
SO ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COME IN AND CHIEF, MAYBE YOU COULD GIVE US YOUR ADVICE YOU'RE OUT THERE.
AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL AND ART CAN DECIDE, WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION FOR HIM TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
SO CHIEF BRIDGET, FRED, FRED'S ALREADY TAUGHT DIANE ANYBODY.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I CAN SAY IS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ON THE RIVER BASED ON DNR AND FROM COUNTY BEING OUT THERE.
I HAVEN'T GOT THE REPORTS THE PAST TWO WEEKS ABOUT THE SANDBAR.
I CAN SEE US BOTH WANTING TO BE CAUTIOUS, AND I CAN SEE THE SAFETY FACTOR OF LOADING AND UNLOADING THE BOAT.
UH, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE WHATEVER YOU
[00:45:01]
GUYS, UM, DIRECT US TO DO.BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT DNR HAS NOT REPORTED HUGE ISSUES.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT THOSE REPORTS.
SO, AND, UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE PUTTING IN PLANS TO GET OUR PEOPLE BACK ON THE RIVER IN MAY.
SO WE'LL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL BOAT OUT THERE, UH, PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
DO YOU HAVE THE POWER AT THAT DOCK OPENS AND YOU HAVE 20 PEOPLE OUT THERE FISHING, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO CITE THEM OR, WELL, I MEAN, OF COURSE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER IS STILL IN PLACE TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
SO, UH, YEAH, THAT IS, UH, A ENFORCEABLE ISSUE.
UM, AND I THINK, I THINK YOU COULD DO, UH, EXACTLY WHAT LARRY SAID.
IF YOU DEEMED NECESSARY TO USE IT AS A LOADING AND UNLOADING AND PREVENT, UM, THE FISHING, UM, AND THE GATHERING ON THE DOCK FOR OTHER SOCIAL PURPOSES.
BUT AGAIN, ONCE YOU GUYS MAKE THAT DECISION AND WILL ENFORCE ACCORDINGLY, BAM.
I THOUGHT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRED AT THE END OF THE MONTH FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT IS UNLESS IT'S EXTENDED APRIL 27TH, I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE APRIL 27TH, UNLESS IT'S EXTENDED.
NOW I CAN VERIFY THAT DATE FOR YOU.
THE REASON I ASKED THAT QUESTION, I WOULD SAY WE SEE THIS THING THROUGH TO ALLOW A PERIOD OF TIME TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR RECOMMENDS.
IF HE GOES BEYOND IT, HE MAY NOT.
IT EXPIRES, I THINK EVERY 15 DAYS WHEN HE PUTS SOMETHING IN MOTION.
AND SO I THINK YOU JUST IT'S, TODAY'S THE 23RD, LET IT PLAY OUT THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRES AND LET'S SEE WHERE WE ARE THEN.
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS INTERRUPTING COUNCILMAN FRAZIER AT ALL WITH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
I WANT TO JUMP INTO, SO COUNCIL ARE Y'ALL READY FOR MARTIN TO RESPOND AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO OTHER WORKERS ONE.
SO TO CLARIFY, AND THIS IS, THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HARDER DECISIONS I NEED TO MAKE, RIGHT.
UM, CAN I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.
THE DECISION MADE, UH, SOME TIME AGO BY THE GOVERNOR TO CLOSE THE RAMP IN ALL PUBLIC ACCESS, WATERWAYS SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED RAMPS, PLUS ANYTHING THING ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, WHETHER THAT BE A PARKING LOT, A DOCK, UM, A BATHROOM, WHATNOT.
AND SO AS GOVERNOR MCMASTER UNWOUND, THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER, HE DIDN'T UNWIND IT ENTIRELY.
HE SAID I WILL OPEN UP RAMPS UNLESS THE LOCAL JURISDICTION, UM, WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW, WANTS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN A FEW DAYS LATER.
HIS NEXT ORDER CAME BACK AND NOT JUST IN, IN NOT JUST INCLUDED RAMPS, BUT HE ADDED DOCKS TO IT.
AND SO THE COUNTY WE'RE IN AN INTERESTING SITUATION HERE, AS WE ALL KNOW, OYSTER FACTORY PARK WAS ACQUIRED THROUGH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM, ALONG WITH BUFORD COUNTY AND TOWN OF BLUFFTON FUNDS.
WE HAVE THROUGH AN OPERATING, UH, IN MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY.
AND I'M REMINDING US ALL OF THIS CAUSE IT'S BEEN SOME YEARS, BUT WE HAVE AN OPERATING AGREEMENT IN PLACE THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO MANAGE AND INVEST GRANT DOLLARS AND OTHER DOLLARS INTO THIS PARK AND AMAZING SILLY.
IT IS A COUNTY DOC UNDER AN OPERATING AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY, I'VE TALKED TO ASHLEY JACOBS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ON THIS YESTERDAY.
UM, BUT BY NO MEANS, AM I TRYING TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND NOT TALK TO HER AT THE END OF THE DAY COUNTY DOC AND OYSTER FACTORY DOC IS A COUNTY ASSET.
WE ARE TRUSTED WITH MANAGING THEIR ASSETS.
AND SO I'VE COMPARED SOME NOTES ACCORDING TO ASHLEY, UM, IT'S OUR CALL.
AND SO IF WE WANT TO CLOSE THE RAMP, WE CAN CLOSE THE RAMP.
IF WE WANT TO CLOSE THE DOCK, WE CAN CLOSE THE DOCK AND I'VE CONFIRMED ALL OF THAT LAST NIGHT.
UM, I DO THINK OYSTER COMPANY AND OYSTER FACTORY AREA IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OUR DOCS, WHICH IS WHY I MADE THE DECISION TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHERE MY HEAD'S AT, WHICH IS WHY I MADE THE DECISION TEMPORARILY.
KNOWING THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER WILL EXPIRE IN, UH, IN SEVERAL DAYS.
UM, SIMPLY MADE A DECISION TO JUST LEAVE, LEAVE IT AS IS.
I FEEL LIKE, AND I, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO WHAT'S GOING ON EVERYWHERE EVERY DAY, HAVING SOMETHING NEW, OPEN AND CLOSE, OPEN AND CLOSE IS NOT GOOD FOR STAFF.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE MANAGING AND, AND, AND ENGAGING WITH.
[00:50:01]
FOR A LITTLE BIT SIMPLY ALONG THE SAME LINES.WHAT MARISOL HAS SHARED IS THAT IT'S THE GATHERING SPOT, OYSTER FACTORY PARK WITH THE OYSTER COMPANY, THE SEAFOOD MARKET AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE GOING ON DOWN THERE IS EVERYONE'S FAVORITE PLACE TO GATHER.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS NOT STRETCH OUR POLICE RESOURCES SO THIN THAT THEY'RE CONSTANTLY DOWN THERE TELLING PEOPLE POLITELY, HEY, YOU CAN'T BE THAT CLOSE.
HEY, YOU CAN'T BE THAT CLOSE SAY.
AND SO OVER AND OVER, I'M TRYING TO NOT HAVE OUR OFFICERS ONE USE THEIR TIME, LET ALONE EXPOSE THEM.
SO I SIMPLY MADE THE DECISION TO LEAVE THINGS ALONE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RAMP, COUNCILMAN TOOMER, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON.
I RESPECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE, AND THE FREEDOM THAT, THAT, THAT THE RIVER PROVIDES.
I WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO PRESERVE OUR RESOURCES AND NOT ALLOW YET ANOTHER MASS GATHERING SPOT.
UM, AND SIMPLY TRYING TO GET THROUGH IT, SEE WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS AS HIS ORDER EXPIRES IN A FEW, IN A FEW DAYS.
SO, UM, IT'S A TOUGH DECISION.
I COULD EITHER LEAVE IT ALONE OR I COULD OPEN IT WITH ONLY UTILIZATION BY THOSE FOLKS GETTING ON OR GETTING OFF A BOAT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND NOT ALLOW GATHERING.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE MY, MY SENTIMENTS.
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S STAY AT HOME ORDER OF GOING TO WORK AND GOING INTO PLACES OF BUSINESS THAT YOU NEED TO THRIVE.
AND THOSE BUSINESSES NEED US THERE TO THRIVE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT FOODS, THAT ORDER FROM THE SHEER NATURE OF IT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES GATHERING ON PUBLIC SPACES.
AND SO, WHICH IS THE DECISION I'VE MADE.
LEAVE IT AS IS FOR A FEW, FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.
UM, I, I RESPECT THAT YOU ARE ALL POLICY MAKERS AND DECISION MAKERS, AND OFTEN WE'RE NEVER TASKED WITH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PANDEMIC, UH, ON THE GO LIKE THIS.
SO I DON'T NECESSARILY, UH, KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT DECISION IS.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR INPUT.
I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL TO, UM, BE UNANIMOUS IN YOUR POSITION, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU ARE.
AND SO I WILL THINK THROUGH IT UNLESS YOU ALL HAVE SOME DIFFERENT THOUGHTS.
UM, BEFORE WE END THIS MEETING, MARK, CAN I JUMP IN? UM, I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
UM, I REALLY WISH THE DOCK WAS STILL CLOSED THE RAMP.
I MEAN, I THINK THE RAMP ORIGINALLY THE RAMP WAS STILL CLOSED.
UM, AND, UM, NOW THAT I KNOW THAT IT WASN'T THE COUNTY DECISION, WELL, I FEEL A LITTLE, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE ONLY POSITION THAT I THINK THAT WE TOOK THAT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH.
AGAIN, I THOUGHT IT WAS A COUNTY DECISION TO OPEN IT, THE RAMP, SIR, TO HELP WITH THAT THE SEVERAL DAYS AGO WHEN THE GOVERNOR MAKES THE DECISION LATE NIGHT AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT IT NEXT MORNING IS A AND THINK THROUGH AND READ THE ORDER AND COMPARE NOTES WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
ACCORDING TO ASHLEY, SHE LED, SHE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT BECAUSE OF, I THOUGHT I LOST YOU ON THE INTERNET FOR A SECOND, BECAUSE IT IS OURS TO OPERATE UNDER A TRUE OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT THAT AUTHORITY IS OURS.
FRED SEVERAL DAYS AGO, AS THEY OPENED THE RAMP, THAT WAS THE DECISION TO COUNTY MATE.
AND I WENT ALONG WITH IT AND DIVIDED BY IT LEARNED A LITTLE MORE.
AND SO I WOULD SAY IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAS HIS ORDER AT A FOUR O'CLOCK OR FOUR 30 CONFERENCE CALL ALL AND THINGS.
AREN'T THE NEXT DAY, ESPECIALLY AS WE COMPARE NOTES WITH THE COUNTY AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE LEGALITY OF THE WRITTEN ORDER VERSUS HIS PRESS CONFERENCE THAT DOES TAKE A DAY OR SO TO UNWIND AND DIGEST SOMETHING.
UM, LEARN A LITTLE MORE SINCE THE RAMP OPEN.
SO IF YOU ALL COLLECTIVELY AND UNANIMOUSLY WANT TO CLOSE THE RAMP TO COMPLIMENT THE CLOSED DOCK, UH, I'D BE HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT AS WELL.
I MEAN, I WOULD URGE US ALL TO JUST WAIT UNTIL APRIL 27TH AND SEE WHAT HE SAYS, AND MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS THIS IN MAY, UM, OR WE CAN ALWAYS MEET Y'ALL.
THIS IS SO EASY TO GET A MEETING TOGETHER,
[00:55:01]
UM, IS MY FAULT.NOW WE KNOW, UM, HE MEANT, YOU KNOW, HE MAY OPEN UP THE WHOLE STATE WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO, BUT OKAY.
UH, I DON'T, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE APRIL 27TH TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS DOING.
IF THE DECISION IS STILL A MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY, UM, TO MAKE, BECAUSE, UM, IT'S STILL, WE STILL, IT'S STILL BACK TO THE SAME THING.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WHAT WORKS FOR US.
UM, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A, WE AT TIMES WHEN, UM, AND I HATE BEING IN THIS POSITION, BUT THERE'S TIMES WHEN WE, UH, INDIVIDUALLY AND NOT GOING TO AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION.
UH, AND, UM, AND, AND, AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER.
YOU KNOW, IF WHAT'S, WHAT'S WORKED FOR US WORST FOR US.
I RESPECT THAT AS MY DECISION TO MAKE.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR INPUT.
ANY LARRY, ANYTHING ELSE? DIANE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING GOOD? ALL OF US.
I WANT TO GET THIS LAST WORD FOR MYSELF.
THE REASON FOR ME PERSONALLY, TO LET THIS THING PLAY OUT WITH THE GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL ASKED TO STAY AT HOME SHELTER AND AS IS REASONABLY, AS WE COULD TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM COLLECTIVELY GETTING TOGETHER IN GROUPS AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE DOC, LOTS OF PEOPLE LOVE TO FISH AND SO FORTH.
AND SOME OF THESE GOVERNORS THAT HAVE BEEN OPENING UP THE STATES PRIOR TO THEIR ORIGINAL PROCLAMATIONS IS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING.
I THINK SO I, THAT WAS ONE REASON.
I'M LIKE, LET THIS THING PLAY OUT FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.
IT'S ORIGINALLY WHAT THEY INTENDED TO DO TO BEGIN WITH THAT BEING SAID.
UM, WHEN THE CHIEF FOR CLARITY TALKS ABOUT PUTTING OUR OATS BACK OUT THERE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE DO HAVE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY BECAUSE WE HAVE AN MOU THAT WE HAD SIGNED A YEAR AGO WITH, UH, WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
SO WE CAN DO ENFORCEMENT ON THE, ON THE RIVER.
AND MY FINAL COMMENT, UM, UNRELATED TO THAT IS I JUST WANT TO SAY A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR LOCAL CHARITIES.
THERE ARE MANY OF THEM OUT THERE DOING GREAT THINGS.
WE KNOW A LOT OF THE, THE, UH, THE USUAL PLAYERS YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT AME CHURCH, YOU'VE GOT BLUFF TO HELL.
WE'VE GOT VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE, WE'VE GOT HELP FOR HEROES.
UM, THERE'S A LITANY OF LISTS OF GREAT CHARITIES THAT ARE GOING TO NEED OUR SUPPORT MORE THAN EVER, UH, AT THIS TIME.
AND I WANT TO ALSO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BRIDGET.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT SHE'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHING AND, UH, SHE'S DONE A GOOD JOB AND SHE'S ANOTHER ONE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF MY OUT THERE DOING A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AND I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE US AND THE PUBLIC AND EVERYONE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, SO CAN I JUST SAY ONE MORE? UM, SO JUST WANT, OR I WOULD LIKE VERY MUCH SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN SEE WHAT I SEE AND HEAR WHAT I HEAR IF ANYBODY'S GOT ANY TIME THIS WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A GOOD SUNNY DAY, COME DOWN AND VISIT FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND HEAR WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING OR GOING TO BE SEEING, UM, ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK ON THE DOCK, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IF WE NEED TO MAKE IT WHERE THERE'S NO GROUPS, I'M ALL 100% FINE WITH THAT.
WE CAN SAY NO FISHING, NO CROWDING, NO MORE THAN SIX PEOPLE OR SIX FEET APART.
UM, I JUST THINK THAT IT, IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE SENSIBLE TO ALLOW THAT SMALL PART OF IT TO BE UTILIZED BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING IN THE RIVER ANYWAY.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A PUBLIC MEETING AND I JUST, I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO CATCH THE, THE, THE, MY YEAR IS GOING TO CATCH THE UNHAPPINESS OF ALL THIS AND BE QUESTIONED ABOUT WHY WE ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WITH A CLOSED FLOATING DOCK AND AN OPEN BOAT RAMP.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR, OUR RESIDENTS KNOW THAT I THINK THE FLOATING DOCK SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE USED BY OUR PEOPLE.
NO, I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL.
I THINK MARK HAS TAKEN ALL OF OUR ADVICE AND HE'S GOING TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT.
SO FRED, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD, HEY, BRIDGET, ANYTHING IN THE COMMUNITY? ANYTHING
[01:00:01]
YOU WANT TO GET OUT? ABSOLUTELY.UM, ANOTHER, A LOT OF PARENTS HAD MESSAGED ME ABOUT, UM, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE YESTERDAY AND SCHOOL IS STILL IN SESSION VIRTUALLY, BUT YES, SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, MEANING THAT WE WILL NOT BE GOING BACK INTO THE BUILDING, BUT STUDENTS ARE DEFINITELY STILL RECEIVING, UM, THEIR INSTRUCTION VIA VIRTUAL SCHOOL.
SO ANY PARENTS THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON OBTAINING PACKETS OR, UM, WITH THE GRADING IS GOING TO BE LIKE, I WOULD ADVISE THEM TO CONTACT THEIR SCHOOL.
UM, ALSO THE BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PAGE HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION DETAILS ON THERE FOR THAT.
AND MAYBE MARK, CAN WE GET SOMEONE TO GET THAT OUT BECAUSE I'M SURE THAT'S A LITTLE LOOPHOLE.
THE STUDENTS WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT, OH, SCHOOL'S CLOSED.
WE DON'T HAVE TO STUDY ANYMORE.
AND I SEE, I SEE OUR DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER, SCOTT MARSHALL, TAKING A NOTE.
SO HE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR A CLEAR MESSAGE AND POSTED ON FACEBOOK TODAY.
AND THEN IF ANYONE HAS ANY, HAS ANYTHING ELSE, I HAD TWO THINGS.
IF HE COULD TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ANY SIGHTINGS OR WARNINGS OR TICKETS, OR WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW THAT DRESS SHOPS ARE OPEN AND, UM, OTHER THINGS.
SO AFTER ME, I'D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING TO THESE STORES THAT ARE NOW OPENING.
AND I HAVE ASKED MARK, AND I'LL ASK TERRY TO, UM, WHAT CAN THE TOWN DO WITH REGARDS TO MASK FOR THESE EMPLOYERS? YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO, YOU SEE MOST OF THEM, AND IT'S THE SAME WITH THE DOC.
80% OF OUR PEOPLE ARE FOLLOWING EVERY SINGLE RULE.
SO IT'S JUST THAT PERCENTAGE, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT EMPLOYERS TO WEAR MASKS.
IF IT'S A DRESS SHOP, THEY NEED TO HAVE A MASK ON.
I MEAN, PEOPLE AREN'T TAKING IT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH.
AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE ARE GOING TO GET BRIGHT BACK IN THIS GROOVE AND NO ONE WEAR A MASK AND NO ONE WASHING THEIR HANDS.
SO I, I WOULD LIKE ON THIS TO BE KNOWN, I'M GOING TO SAY IT AND SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
I EXPECT BUSINESSES, EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS, PERIOD.
AND I THINK EVERYONE ON THIS FEED AND WHEN THEY HEAR IT, IF THEY GO IN AND THERE'S NOT A, IF YOU'RE IN A RESTAURANT OR IF YOU'RE IN A CLOTHING STORE AND THEY'RE NOT WEARING A MASK, YOU SHOULD ASK THEM WHERE THEIR MASK IS.
IF THEY NEED MASK, WE CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE ONE.
OR THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE ASKED TO DELIVER MASS TO US.
AND MAYBE CHIEF, MAYBE THERE'S A DROP-OFF POINT FOR MASK.
IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ONE AND YOU KNOW, THEIR HOMEMADE MASK, ANYWAY, I'M OFF MY SOAP BOX ON THAT.
AND IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
AND SO, UM, ONCE THE ORDER WAS LIFTED, OPENED UP THE SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES, OFFICERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO GO AHEAD AND START CHECKING THOSE ON A REGULAR BASIS, JUST LIKE WE WERE WITH THE BIG BOX STORES AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE OF THE, UH, FIVE PER 1000 SQUARE FEET OR THE 20% OCCUPANCY.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IN THE FIRST DAY OR SO, AND I THINK THEY'RE SLOWLY OPENING BACK UP, BUT A LOT OF BUSINESSES DIDN'T OPEN UP IMMEDIATELY.
UH, WE DID SEE, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE STILL A LOT OF CLOSED DOORS AND SOME BUSINESSES HAD NOT OPENED BACK UP AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS THE MASK GOES, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE IT.
ABSOLUTELY OUR STAFF, AS FAR AS THE TOWN, UH, WE HAVE THAT POLICY IN PLACE AND I HOPE, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, UH, ALL, ALL EMPLOYERS TO DO THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S JUST THE SAFEST THING WE CAN BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES OUT THERE AND MORE RESOURCES ARE COMING ONLINE NOW THAN THERE WERE EVEN TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, TO ACQUIRE MASS EITHER THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS OR TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE.
SO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ACTUALLY OUT THERE NOW.
BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS REGARDING, UH, THE SITUATION AT HAND.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? I KNOW, HELL I THINK HILTON HAD ACTUALLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE IS AN URGING ORDINANCE TO WEAR FACE MASK.
IS THAT SOMETHING Y'ALL ARE INTERESTED IN? I'M INTERESTED IN THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE, IN THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY.
I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY THAT, THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE ON THEMSELVES TO, TO SHOW THE, UM, RECIPIENTS THAT THEY, THEY ARE PRACTICING, PRACTICING, UM, SAFE PROCEDURES AND, AND I WOULDN'T WANT SOMEONE BREATHING ON UP FOOD AND THIS TIME, SO, UM, AND I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD, UH, AT LEAST IF NOTHING ELSE ENCOURAGE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE ZONE, UM, INDUSTRY TO, TO SHOW US SOME KIND
[01:05:01]
OF RESPECT MARQUETTE, WOULD WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT IN SOME WAY? I MEAN, I THINK JUST DO IT OVERALL, BUT SHOUT OUT SOME OF THE MORE PERSON TO PERSON KIND OF PLACES, FOOD AND BEVERAGE CLOTHING STORES.I COULD, I COULD, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT HILTON HEAD'S ORDINANCE, COMPARE SOME NOTES WITH TERRY AND POTENTIALLY PUT SOMETHING ON AN AGENDA AS A SPECIAL MEETING, OR IF YOU ALL WANTED TO WAIT.
SO THE MAIN MEETING IT'S UP TO YOU.
WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER MEETING LIKE THIS AND IF TWO DAYS IS TO PASS IT, TAKE FIVE MINUTES.
I DON'T SEE ANYBODY SHAKING THEIR HEAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT AND HOW IT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, FOR ONE FOLLOWING, I MEAN, WE'RE ALL IN A NEW WORLD AND FOR EXAMPLE, MY LAST HAIRCUT I GAVE MYSELF, YOU KNOW, CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT SOMEBODY CUTTING MY HAIR ALL OVER ME.
A LOT OF US WILL END UP VOTING WITH OUR POCKET BOOKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S GOING TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN HOW BUSINESSES OPEN UP AND SAILED OURSELVES, WHETHER THEY'RE BEING, UH, YOU KNOW, STUDIOUS FOR THE PUBLIC AND TRYING TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR IS JUST TALKING ABOUT.
I'D LOVE TO, I'D LOVE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
I'M HAPPY TO, WE'LL BE HERE HAPPY TO, UM, SEE WHAT HILTON HAD, UM, HAS DONE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, MANDATE IT, BUT AS FRED MENTIONED, A MOMENT AGO, STRONGLY URGE, UM, WE'VE ISSUED SOME STRONGLY URGE PROCLAMATIONS, UM, WITHIN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO DO IT.
UM, BUT I WILL COORDINATE WITH CHIEF AND MARK AND TRY TO GET SOMETHING TO, UM, COUNSEL AT SOME POINT LATER TODAY, PERHAPS I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DOING IT.
I WOULD JUST WANT US TO NOT JUST JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON BECAUSE IT'S TRENDING AND LIKE MAKING SURE THAT IF WE'RE URGING THAT WE'RE DOING IT, LIKE IN A WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE THEY WERE SAYING, IF YOU'RE JUST GETTING A MASK, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE A PARTICULAR FILTER, THEN IT'S KIND OF FRUITLESS TO JUST BE WALKING AROUND WITH A COVERING BECAUSE YOU POTENTIALLY ARE STILL SUSCEPTIBLE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO RECEIVING IT IF SOMEONE DOES HAVE IT.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, SO IT BECOMES A MATTER OF, ARE WE GOING TO BE URGING FOR THEM TO JUST COVER THEIR FACES OR URGING THEM TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE MASS WITH THE FILTERS THAT WOULD, UH, ALLEVIATE THEM FROM, UM, FROM CATCHING IT IN THE EVENT, THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEONE.
NOW I WILL, I WILL ADD TO THAT THOSE TYPE MASKS, THE N 95 MASKS ARE STILL NOT COMING ONLINE.
THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AND BEING RESERVED PRIMARILY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE THINK THROUGH THAT, THE CLOTH MASKS ARE BECOMING MORE AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE.
THE SURGICAL STYLE MASH, THOSE MASKS ARE BECOMING MORE AVAILABLE, BUT, UH, COUNCILMAN FRAZIER'S POINT ABOUT THE N 95 MASK, THOSE ARE VERY LIMITED AND BEING PRIORITIZED FOR FIRST RESPONDERS RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE IN 95, THEY WERE SAYING EVEN THE MEDICAL SURGICAL ONES ARE, UM, EXCEPTABLE OR EVEN ONES WITH FILTERS.
I JUST KNOW LIKE I'VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO WILL DO THEM WITHOUT THE FILTERS AND THEY'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, PLAYING MATH.
SO I'M SAYING IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE, ARE WE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGING THEM BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO REMAIN SAFE? OR WE'RE JUST SAYING, BECAUSE EVERYONE'S DOING MASS, WHETHER IT'S A MASS, THAT'S GONNA PREVENT YOU FROM CATCHING IN, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON YOUR FACE IS ALL WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.
I'M JUST SAYING, I WANT WHATEVER THE MESSAGE IS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING IT OUT.
THAT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE IN NOT JUST FOLLOWING ALONG WITH WHATEVER THE TREND IS.
LET'S LOOK AT D HECK, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE SUGGESTING CERTAIN ONES, MAYBE WE FOLLOW THAT, THAT RICHARD WOULD THAT HELP IF D HECK SAYS THESE ARE OKAY.
CAUSE I KNOW THEY TAUGHT US HOW TO MAKE ONE.
DID I MISS ANYBODY? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING GOOD FOR ANYBODY THEN? CAN YOU TURN YOUR HEAD TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT FOR ME? AH, DONATE IT TO THE PAN TEAM.
WELL, MAYOR, MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST, UM, ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT MAYOR, IF I MAY, UM, THERE, THE, THE PLAN THAT YOU ALL PASSED TODAY IS A RESULT
[01:10:01]
OF LOOKING AT EVERY CONCEIVABLE, UM, OPTION OPPORTUNITY.UM, CHRIS WORKED REAL HARD, UM, ON WHETHER WE COULD DO A LOAN PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT GRANT FUNDS.
UNFORTUNATELY OUR HANDS ARE TIED, UM, AN AWFUL LOT ON DOING ANY TYPE OF LOAN PROGRAM WITH, UM, UM, FEDERAL OR WITH PRIVATE, WITH OUR DOLLARS GOING TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.
WE ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING THAT.
SO, UM, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WE LOOKED AT AND HAD, I THINK THIS IS EITHER OUR SECOND OR THIRD ZOOM CONFERENCE BEFORE THIS, ON THIS WHOLE STIMULUS PLAN.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT, THAT CERTAINLY THAT CHRIS, UM, AND MARK DID OUR OFFICE LOOKED AT A BUNCH OF ORDINANCES.
UM, I THINK WHAT YOU HAVE PASSED IS A REALLY GOOD USE OF THE DON RYAN CENTER.
UM, I THINK IT WILL MAKE IT, UM, STRONGER, NOT ONLY NOW, BUT PROBABLY OFTEN TO THE FUTURE.
UM, AND MIKE, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN AWFUL LOT, SO I APPRECIATE, UM, YOU AND, UM, UM, YOU ARE YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR HERE.
SO I THINK YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB TODAY, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, WE DID A LOT OTHER THAN JUST THIS, WHAT YOU SAW TODAY.
AND ALSO Y'ALL STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR SENATOR.
UH, ONE OF OUR SENATORS, TOM DAVIS, HE WAS ASKED TO BE ON THE ADVISORY TASK FORCE FOR THIS GOVERNOR'S ACCELERATE US.
SEE? SO WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THAT, BRIDGET, LIKE YOU WERE WANTING TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES THAT WERE FORCED TO CLOSE.
LET'S, LET'S ALL SEND OUR INFO TO HIM BECAUSE I THINK HE HAS THE EARS TO THE GOVERNOR ON, ON WHAT WE THINK IS IMPORTANT.
MAYBE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, THOUGHTS.
SO I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD THAT EMAIL.
HE SENT TO ME LATE, LATE YESTERDAY TO ALL OF Y'ALL I'LL SEND IT TO MARK AND HE CAN, HE CAN TRANSMIT IT.
ANYTHING ELSE? IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THIS SPECIAL MEETING WE'RE DONE.