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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
READY? GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
WE ARE HERE ONCE AGAIN IN PERSON AND ON BUFORD COUNTY CHANNEL AND, UM, OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND OUR WEBSITE.
AND WE ARE DOING THE FIRST OF TWO WORKSHOPS ON OUR BUDGET.
UM, EVERYONE IS IN ATTENDANCE WITH COUNCIL.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR COMING.
AND WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
DO WE NOT NEED AN ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA? I GUESS FIRST KIM, CAN WE, WE DON'T REALLY.
UM, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO AGENDA ITEMS? PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED WORKSHOP ITEMS, CHRIS, GOOD EVENING, EVEN THE AND COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE IN OUR FIRST BUDGET WORKSHOP AND, UM, BY MY APPEARANCE, THIS IS A LITTLE MORE INFORMAL.
UM, AS I'M GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO STOP ME, SLOW ME DOWN.
UM, I TEND TO GO FAST SOMETIMES.
SO IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UH, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN.
YEAH, AGAIN, WE'LL TALK BRIEFLY ON OUR ECONOMIC FACTORS.
I WON'T SPEND MUCH TIME ON A BUDGET GOALS CAUSE I HAD DISCUSSED THOSE IN DETAIL LAST WEEK.
UM, I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AS WELL AS THE FUND OVERVIEWS AND THEN BRIEFLY GO OVER THE, UH, APPROVAL PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
SO LAST WEEK I TALKED ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR ECONOMIC FACTORS.
UH, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT WE CONSIDERED WHEN DEVELOPING A BUDGET.
SO THE FOUR LARGEST SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY LOCALLY IS ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD, UM, WHICH IS ABOUT 13% HEALTHCARE OR 12.8% CONSTRUCTION, 11 AND A HALF PERCENT IN RETAIL.
SO WE LOOKED AT THESE, UM, BOTH LOCALLY, AS WELL AS NATIONALLY.
IF THERE WASN'T LOCAL DATA AVAILABLE, UM, A COMBINATION AND, UH, FOOD, UH, HOSPITALITY AND ACCOMMODATION TAX REVENUES, WHAT WE LOOKED AT, UM, AND IT'S STABLE, UH, IT'S ABOUT $285,000 OVER THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
SO IT IS PERFORMING VERY WELL.
UM, SO IT WAS TURNING UP AND I EXPECT A VERY STRONG SUMMER AS PEOPLE COME OUT OF THEIR QUARANTINE AND LOOK FOR THINGS TO DO.
UH, HEALTHCARE NATIONALLY HAS, HAS BEEN SLOW GROWTH.
UH, SPENDING YEAR OVER YEAR IS FLAT.
UH, HEALTHCARE JOBS ARE STILL DOWN 3.1%, UH, SINCE THE END OF FEBRUARY, UH, VERSUS PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
UM, BUT AS, AS VACCINATION RATES INCREASE, PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY GET OUT MORE AND START DOING SOME MORE OF THE ELECTIVE PROCEDURES AND APPOINTMENTS.
UH, CONSTRUCTION IS EXTREMELY STRONG RIGHT NOW.
UM, WE HAVE A HISTORICALLY HIGH HOUSING MARKET INDEX.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A BOOM IN, IN LOCAL DOMESTIC IN MIGRATION.
UM, RECENT CONCERNS THOUGH, SHOULD, UH, UH, WARN US OR CAUTION US AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE.
SO OBVIOUSLY, UH, COST OF CONSTRUCTION, UH, MATERIALS AND LUMBER IS RISING.
UH, WE HAVE SERIOUS, UH, INFLATION CONCERNS, A MAJOR, UM, UH, BUSINESS LEADERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE CONCERNED AROUND INFLATION.
AND ALSO THE FED HAS JUST INDICATED, UH, RECENTLY THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE WILLING TO, UH, INCREASE THE RATE FED RATE, WHICH ALSO IMPACT THE COMMERCIAL.
THE CONSUMER RATES, RETAIL, UH, IS REALLY STRONG.
UM, WE ARE DEFINITELY EXPERIENCING THE BUMP FROM ALL THESE STUDENTS DOLLARS INTO THE ECONOMY.
AGAIN, THOSE, YOU KNOW, THE STARS TEND TO HAVE A SHORT TERM IMPACT ON YOUR ECONOMY.
UM, THE LONGTERM IMPACTS OF INFLATION, UH, COULD SLOW THAT DOWN, YOU KNOW, A YEAR FROM NOW OR SO.
UM, BUT IT IS STILL VERY STRONG AND RISING.
AGAIN, I WON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
I WENT OVER THESE IN DETAIL LAST WEEK, BUT OVERALL THE BUDGET APPROACH WAS TO ALIGN EVERYTHING WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND PRIORITIES.
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT WE WERE LOOKING AT GENERAL FUND STORMWATER FUND AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND, AS A RECAP, THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED BUDGET IS $40.1 MILLION.
UH, SIMILAR CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS.
IT SUPPORTS ALL THESE INTER-AGENCY AND, UM, UH, NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS, UH, PALMETTO BREEZE, $59,000 IN THERE FOR THE SOLICITORS CONTRACT.
UM, ALTHOUGH DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT, UM, WE MAY, UH, USE SOME OF THOSE DOLLARS FOR PART-TIME PROSECUTOR, WHICH I'LL TALK MORE, UH, AS WE MOVE ON THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AMOUNT IS IN THERE.
AGAIN, THOSE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH TERRY AND THEIR LAWYERS.
SO THAT MIGHT CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S IN THERE AT $47,000.
YOU STB, UH, THREE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THE WATER QUALITY LAB, 185,000 MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING 50,000 AND THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS 17 FIVE.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, WE CONTRIBUTE $25,000 TO THAT.THE CORNERSTONE CHURCH PARK PARKING AGREEMENT IS 12,007 50.
AND, UM, I'LL ADDRESS THAT THERE WAS A QUESTION ON THAT LAST WEEK AND I'LL ADDRESS THAT IN A MOMENT AS WELL.
THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX REQUEST, UM, THE HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION REQUESTED 169,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 21,000 LESS THAN THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THEN THE DMO BUDGET IS DRIVEN BY, UH, THE PROJECTED PERFORMANCE OF R EIGHT TAX REVENUE.
AND THOSE, THOSE BUDGETS WOULD BE PRESENTED TO YOU AS PART OF THE, UH, ATAC PRESENTATION AT THE JUNE MEETING.
SO AGAIN, THE, UH, ESTIMATE VALUE OF MILL IS 260,831.
UM, AND THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS FLAT AT THE 8.5.
THIS IS JUST A HISTORICAL GRAPH OF THE VALUE OF THE MILL OVER TIME.
UM, THE NEXT IMPACT REASSESSMENT, I BELIEVE WILL IMPACT THE FISCAL YEAR OF 24.
WHAT YEAR DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE THAT FLATTEN, UH, THE MILLAGE VALUE GROWTH? WELL, I MEAN THE VALUE OF THE MILL WILL NEVER GO DOWN.
IT COULD GROW UP IN ISSUE EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, IT'S, XPLAN MAY SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE BARRING ANY MAJOR ECONOMIC SHOCKS THAT WOULD CAUSE A DECREASE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT POSSIBILITY AS WELL.
SO BEFORE I GET INTO ALL THE DETAILS, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP AT FIRST READING.
UM, FIRST QUESTION WAS THE BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR THE PART-TIME SOCIAL WORKER THAT WE HAD IN THE PD BUDGET.
UM, WE HAD TO REQUEST FOR A POTENTIAL COST OF A FULL-TIME MENTAL HEALTH WORKER, A FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER, UH, THE COST TO INCREASE THE PART-TIME VICTIM ADVOCATE TO A FULL-TIME AS WELL AS THE COST OF A PART-TIME PROSECUTOR.
SO THOSE DOLLAR FIGURES ARE THERE, THE FULL-TIME AMOUNTS FOR THOSE, THOSE FIRST TWO BULLETS, UH, REFLECT NOT ONLY SALARY, BUT ALSO REFLECTS BENEFITS, UH, FOR EX UH, EQUIPMENT, UM, AND OTHER COSTS, UH, OF, OF BRINGING ON A NEW NEW POSITION.
SO THAT'S WHAT A FULLY LOADED COST THERE.
THE, UM, THE VICTIM'S ADVOCATE INCREASE, THE BUDGET IMPACT WOULD BE 34,700.
AND THE PART-TIME PROSECUTOR IS APPROXIMATELY $35,000 QUESTION.
YES, THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKER AND THE SOCIAL WORKER.
AND CHIEF MAY, YOU MAY ANSWER THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY NORMALLY REPORT TO IN THE REAL WORLD, WHAT IS NORMAL AND THEY REPEAT OR TO ACHIEVE WHATEVER REPORT TO SOMEBODY IN MANAGEMENT, WHO DID THEY? WELL, I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
LARGER ORGANIZATIONS WOULD HAVE LIKE A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, UH, IT WOULD BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THIS PERSON DEVELOP A PROGRAM THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE POLICING EFFORTS FOR, UM, ISSUES WITH, UM, MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH ISSUES CALLS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU NORMALLY, THEY WOULD REPORT TO THE LIEUTENANT FILE THROUGH AND FUNNEL ANY REPORTS THAT PATROL AFTER THE FACT, WHILE ALSO LOOKING FOR ANY INVESTORS WORKER AND THE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS TO DIFFERENT POSITION? RIGHT.
WELL, IT WAS REQUESTED OF ME TO PROVIDE THE, THE COST AMOUNT FOR THOSE TWO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
TO TRY TO FIND SOMEONE THAT HAS BOTH QUALIFICATIONS.
SO I'LL JUMP AHEAD AND DO REAL QUICK.
SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION, UM, UH, WAS WITH THE CHIEF AND, AND HER TEAM ABOUT WHAT THE APPROACH WOULD BE GOING INTO THIS FISCAL YEAR.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO PROGRAM LIKE THIS DEVELOPED.
UM, SO THE IDEA WAS TO, OR THE PROPOSAL TO YOU, UH, WAS TO, INSTEAD OF DOING JUST A PART-TIME SOCIAL WORKER TO, UM, INCLUDE A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE, THE IDEA IS THAT THEY WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CHIEF AND HER TEAM AND DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY HEALTH RESPONSE PLAN, UH, THE APPROPRIATE PROTOCOLS AND TRAINING, UM, AND BRING THAT PROPOSAL TO YOU DURING THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, UH MID-YEAR TO, UH, POTENTIALLY INCLUDE THAT PROGRAM IN THE NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL YEAR BUDGET.
SO THAT WAS THE IDEA THAT WE HAD AS FAR AS APPROACHING THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM QUESTION ON THAT.
I WAS WHEN I SAW IT ON THE SCREEN.
AND I'VE TALKED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT.
I, I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A FULL-TIME POSITION OF SOME SORT, BUT IF WE CAN CAPTURE BOTH NEEDS UNDER ONE STUDY, YOU KNOW, OF WHATEVER THEIR MAJOR IS AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE DEVELOPING A PROGRAM AND BE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BUT I WOULD SAY WHO, WHO IS THAT, THAT WILL WORK WITH THAT PERSON TO LISTEN TO US AND THE COMMUNITY ON WHERE WE MIGHT NEED THAT PROGRAM INSTITUTED
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PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS.I KNOW IT SHOULD BE WITH THE POLICE OFFICERS AND THE ARRESTS THAT ARE MADE IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE IDEA RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE CHIEF WOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN COORDINATION WITH THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHOEVER IT MAY BE.
SO I WOULD DEFER TO HER ON THAT APPROACH INTERJECT THERE TOO.
I WOULD, UM, SAY THAT I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT IF WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS ROUTE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE ONLY JUST TO GIVE BACKGROUND.
UM, SO LET'S SAY THAT A FULL-TIME SOCIAL WORKER COMES ON AND, UM, OUR OFFICERS OF THE CRISIS TEAM GOES TO A DOMESTIC SITUATION.
IF THAT, UM, THE VICTIM INVOLVED WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON HOW TO GO ABOUT THE PROCESS OF, YOU KNOW, ACQUIRING A GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND TRYING TO FIND, UM, YOU KNOW, HOUSING OR PLACEMENT OR WHATEVER THE SOCIAL WORKER WOULD INTERVENE IN THAT ASPECT OF GETTING THEM THE COORDINATION, YOU KNOW, WITH SYSTEMS LIKE THAT.
AND THEN BEHAVIOR MENTAL PERSON COMES IN AS A, AN, A DIFFERENT COMPONENT IN A SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, A PERSON WHO'S HAVING A SUICIDE, YOU KNOW, SUICIDAL EPISODE OR A MENTAL BREAKDOWN IS MORE SO TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THE DEESCALATION DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES IN THAT MOMENT, BUT ALSO DO A FOLLOW-UP AND PUTTING THEM IN TOUCH WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, A PSYCHOLOGIST OR PSYCHIATRIST TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO PUT THEM ON A PATH TOWARDS REHABILITATION, OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY JUST DECRIMINALIZING IT AND PUTTING IT ON THE PATH OF THEY GET WASHED IN THE SYSTEM, OR, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST GO DOWN THE ROUTE OF BEING A CRIMINAL WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF ADVOCACY OR FOLLOW-UP.
SO IT WOULD BE, I THINK THE TWO OF THOSE TWO POSITIONS IT'D BE IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE TWO SEPARATE FUNCTIONS IN TERMS OF, UM, WHAT THEIR LICENSINGS AND TRAINING IS, BUT E BUT DO ON THIS BRAND NEW PROGRAM IN OUR, I MEAN, SHE, SHOULD WE MOVE SLOWLY TO GET, MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.
I MEAN, MY, MY WORRY IS TWO DIFFERENT NEW PEOPLE COMING INTO A TOWN AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PROGRAM SET UP FOR IT.
SO I'M ALL ABOUT A, FULL-TIME NOT A PART-TIME CAUSE I DON'T THINK A PART-TIME GETS THEIR FEET WET, UM, THAT VICTIM'S ADVOCATE COULD BE A SOURCE TO HELP, I WOULD THINK.
AND, AND I, AND I HAD ASKED FOR THAT FULL-TIME BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE MISSING PEOPLE WITH THE VICTIM'S ADVOCATE ONLY BEING PART-TIME.
SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN OF ADDING TOO MUCH.
SO WHAT, WHAT SHOULD WE ADD SOMEONE WHO'S GOT THE FOCUS ON ONE, BUT WITH A, UH, SECONDARY STUDY AND THE OTHER, AND THEN WORK TO BRING SOMEONE ELSE PART-TIME FULL-TIME IN THAT NATURE.
I THINK YOUR LONGTERM VISION IS, IS ACCURATE.
UM, BUT I AGREE FOR, AT LEAST FOR THIS FIRST YEAR IS HAVING SOMEONE THAT HAS A GENERALIST BACKGROUND IN THOSE AREAS THAT CAN HELP DEVELOP IT.
UM, SO THAT WE GET OFF TO A GOOD START.
WE DON'T WANT TO TRIP OUR WARM FEET.
WHAT CURRENTLY DOES THE VICTIM'S ADVOCATE DO ADVOCATE, DOES ANY KIND OF NEEDS AS FAR AS SEEING, HEY, DO YOU HAVE OUT THERE, ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THEY ALSO DO ALL THE FOLLOWUP WITH THE VICTIMS AND IT COULD BE, AND WE HAVE A REPORT OR ANALYSIS CURRENTLY ON HOW, UM, ON HOW THAT ROLE HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS CASES OR WHAT THEY FUNCTIONED IN CURRENTLY, OR IN THE PAST, I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
UM, WE DID DISCUSS THAT, UH, POSITION, UM, A GOOD PORTION OF THE FUNDING FOR THAT POSITION COMES FROM THE STATE.
AND ANYTIME YOU REQUEST TO INCREASE THEIR HOURS, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MONTHS JUSTIFYING THAT THE THERE'S WORKLOAD TO JUSTIFY THE INCREASE IN HOURS.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE AS FAR AS MAKING THAT CASE.
UM, SO IT'S ON OUR RADAR, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHAT I'M HEARING AND SEEING IS THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH WORKLOAD TO JUSTIFY A JUMP TO A FULL FULL-TIME POSITION FOR VICTIM'S ADVOCATE.
THAT'S WHAT MY QUESTION WAS ALL ABOUT.
ANYWAY, KNOWING THAT 90% OF THESE THINGS NORMALLY HAPPEN AT NIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT OR WHATEVER.
SO WE HAVE THIS FULL-TIME PERSON.
HOW WOULD THAT WORK SCHEDULE WORK WITH THIS PERSON THAT THAT'S THEIR PRIMARY JOB? I MEAN, WOULD THEY BE BASICALLY ON CALL 24 SEVEN OR WOULD THEY HAVE THEIR REGULAR 40 HOUR WEEK, LIKE A TYPICAL OFFICER, AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO OR HOW DOES IT HELP YOU IF, IF IT'S ON THE OFF WEEK WHERE THAT PERSON'S NOT AVAILABLE TO GO TO ONE OF THESE SITUATIONS IN, YOU KNOW, MAKE MAGIC, WE'RE ATTACKING THIS ISSUE ON MANY LEVELS FOR RIGHT NOW,
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WHEN THEY VERY FIRST STARTED, IT PROBABLY WOULD BE A MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DAYS JOB BECAUSE WE NEED TO SET UP THE PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO MAKE THE CONTACTS, WE NEED TO WRITE POLICY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE WITHIN THE GUIDELINES OF SOCIAL SERVICES.HOWEVER, THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE THE ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY AS TO WHEN WE DID OUR CALL ANALYSIS FOR WHEN THEIR BUSIEST TIME ACTUALLY RESPOND DURING THOSE TIMES.
IT WOULDN'T BE IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL THE EVENING HOURS THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD BE WORKING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THIS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 50% OF OUR OPERATIONAL STAFF.
SEE OUR OFFICERS WILL BE CIT TRAINED, INCLUDING COMMANDS.
SO, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ON TRACK TO HAVE MORE THAN THAT.
SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THEY WON'T BE ALONE IN THIS ROLE.
OFFICERS WILL ALSO HAVE THOSE TOOLS IN THEIR TOOLKIT.
I HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE OR THEIR PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE, UM, WHICH I GUESS IS REALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.
UM, MAYBE WE CAN LEARN SOMETHING THERE, SORRY.
WELL, AND WHILE WE WERE TRYING TO, UM, PROGRAM PROCESS, WE ALSO NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE WE PARTNER WITH OTHER AGENCIES FROM THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
UM, NO, IT WAS JUST GOING TO DEFER TO THE, UH, CHIEF IN TERMS OF LIKE, UM, WHAT WOULD BE IN OUR SCOPE IF, AS WE BRING THESE, UM, POSITIONS ON.
BUT, UM, KNOWING THAT OUR SRLS CURRENTLY RESPOND TO, YOU KNOW, ISSUES INVOLVING STUDENTS AT THEIR DESIGNATED SCHOOLS, UM, AND WE GET THOSE REPORTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU WITH THE, UM, SOCIAL WORKER AND THAT, UM, FULL-TIME BEHAVIOR, MENTAL SPECIALIST BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP ON THOSE CALLS IN THOSE CASES AS WELL? ABSOLUTELY.
SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE, ARE WE JUST TALKING THROUGH THIS TO GET IT TO A CLEAR CORRECT PAGE? I WAS GOING TO RECAP, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE GONNA BRING IT ALL BACK.
SO REGARDING THE TOP HALF OF THIS PAGE, UM, THE APPROACH FOR US IS TO GET THAT FULL-TIME POSITION ON BOARD AND OFF THE PROGRAM THAT CAN BE POSED TO YOU DURING THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE, UH, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR IMPLEMENTATION THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PREPARED TO INCORPORATE INTO THE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD, UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER, UH, REQUIREMENTS OF US, DEPENDING ON THIS CONVERSATION, THE GOAL IS TO BE ONE OF THE ONES AS A FULL-TIME.
DO THE FULL TIME, UH, SORRY, HERE.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A HEALTH ADVOCATE? OKAY.
UM, ALSO AN UPDATE ON THE CORNERSTONE, THERE'S A QUESTION, UH, REGARDING THE POTENTIAL SALE OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THE AGREEMENT WAS RECENTLY AGREE RENEWED AND INCORPORATING THAT AGREEMENT WAS A 30 DAY EXIT CLAUSE.
SO IF THEY DO DECIDE TO SELL, UM, THEY HAVE TO GIVE US A 30 DAY NOTICE.
UM, THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT TRANSFER THE NEW OWNER.
IT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION WITH WHOEVER BUYS THE PROPERTY.
IF WE WANTED TO CONTINUE THAT, HOW DO WE PAY THEM, CHRIS? DO WE PAY THEM MONTHLY? OR DO WE PAY THEM ANNUALLY? MONTHLY? I THINK, UM, ONE THING WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF THAT SHOULD GO AWAY, ISN'T THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE ON US AND THAT FACILITY, PARKING ISSUES PRETTY MUCH GOT OVER THE PARKING UP WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DID, AND THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
SO SHOULD THAT GO AWAY, THEN WE NEED TO HAVE STAFF TO REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AND FIGURE OUT WHERE WE GO.
IF THERE'S ANOTHER NEED TO BE FITTING INTO THAT, IF I COULD, THAT, THAT COULD ALSO BE COMPOUNDED.
SHE HAD TO CATCH HER HOCKEY PARK COMPARED TO THIS CHURCH.
OH, I KNOW, BUT AS PRECIOUS AS
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PARKING SPACES ARE, I JUST WONDER HOW MUCH, SORRY.I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT WHEN I'M GETTING UTILIZED.
THERE'S DAYS THAT YES, A LOT OF EMPLOYEE PARKING PROBABLY FOR SOME OF THE BILLS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEES OR TOURISTS, LARRY, BUT I'VE SEEN TIMES THROUGHOUT, SINCE WE EVER FIRST SIGNED THE AGREEMENT THAT IT'S THERE'S DAYS THAT IT'S DEFINITELY FILLED UP AND THERE'S DAYS OF CVS.
SO HERE'S A OVERVIEW OF RESOURCES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS IS, UM, OUR, THE ESTIMATE IS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT COUNTY FILE.
UM, PLUS WE, UH, LOOK AT THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE GROWTH, UM, WHICH IS AROUND 4%.
UM, SO THE F Y 22 AMOUNT REFLECTS, UH, NOT ONLY THE GROWTH THAT OCCURRED IN, IN 21, BUT THE EXPECTED GROWTH FOR 22, THE BUSINESS LICENSES HAVE, UH, BEEN A LITTLE SLOWER TO RECOVER.
UM, YOU'LL SEE, IN THE, THE STAFF REPORTS THAT COME MONTHLY, THAT THE REVENUE FOR, UM, UH, RENEWALS HAS, HAS PERFORMED VERY WELL.
UM, BUT I WANT TO CAVEAT THAT WITH THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THAT IS CATCH-UP FROM LAST YEAR.
SO A LOT OF BUSINESSES, UH, WERE NEVER ABLE TO, UH, DO THEIR BUSINESS LIVES SLASH LAST YEAR.
SO THE RENEWING, THE BUSINESS LICENSE OF PAYING LAST YEAR'S AND THIS YEAR, SO THE REVENUE LOOKS HIGHER THAN THE NORMAL, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL COUNTS, UM, IT'S COMPARABLE.
SO WE'RE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE ON THE BUSINESS LICENSE ESTIMATES, FRANCHISE FEES AND INSURANCE TAX HAS A PRETTY STEADY AVERAGE GROWTH.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THAT BASED, UH, BASIS IS ON.
UH, IT'S A FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE, UH, BUILDING PERMIT.
SO THIS IS A, THIS IS A BIG ONE.
UM, SO WE, WE PROJECTED GOING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, 2.1 MILLION IN BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE.
AND THAT WAS A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE BASED ON THE UNKNOWN IMPACTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC.
UM, WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IS THAT WE EXPECT BY THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, UH, TO A BUILDING PERMIT REVENUE OF AROUND, UH, 3.3 OR $3.4 MILLION, WAS IT SIGNIFICANT SWING AGAIN, LOOKING AT FYI 22, UH, WE WANTED IT TO REFLECT THAT CONTINUED GROWTH GOING INTO THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT ALSO BE CAUTIOUS GIVEN THE OTHER CONSTRAINTS ON, UH, BUILDING MATERIALS.
YEAH, HOSPITALITY TAX, UH, INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE TRANSFER, UH, THIS REFLECTS, UM, SOME ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT, UH, ADDED, UH, HOLIDAY CELEBRATION, UH, MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES.
UH, THE IDEA IS TO GROW THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION A LITTLE MORE, PUT MORE INTO OUR PARKS, UM, IN THE HOPES OF ATTRACTING MORE EX UH, OUTSIDE RESIDENTS TO COME IN AND SPEND THEIR TIME WITHIN BLUFFTON OFTEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS, UH, VEHICLE FEE DIFFERENCE, UH, GOING INTO THIS YEAR, IT WAS A NEW FEE AND, UH, WE CALCULATED IT BASED ON A 99 TO 98% COLLECTION RATE, WHICH IS WHAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE.
WHAT WE FOUND IS, IS ABOUT 86% COLLECTION RACE.
WAS WE ADJUSTED IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO REFLECT THAT IT PROPERTY TAXES GO DOWN THAT MUCH TOO.
PROBABLY TASKS COLLECTION RATE IS PRETTY STEADY AT 98 90.
I PROCEEDED IN THIS, ON THE PROPERTY TAX BILL.
THAT'S ON THE VEHICLE TAX BILL.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE THE USE OF A PRIOR FUND BELLS, AND THAT IS FOR A ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES, UH, INCLUDES THE NEW, UH, UH, VEHICLE HES PROGRAM, UH, TRANSFER TO CIP FOR IT PROJECTS.
UM, SOME ONE-TIME PURCHASES SUCH AS THE ACCOUNT PLAN, AS WELL AS LINCOLN LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS OVER TIME, UH, KIND OF WHAT'S HAPPENED.
UM, HERE, I'VE ALREADY RECAPPED KIND OF WHERE WE'RE PROJECTED FOR 20 TO WAIT.
THE, UH, THE 22 OVER 21 ESTIMATE.
SO BETWEEN THE PROPERTY TAX PROJECTED INCREASE, THE BUILDING PERMIT PROJECTED INCREASE IN THE LICENSE AND PERMIT INCREASE DOLLAR INCREASE IN GROWTH.
THANK FOR, WELL, THIS, THIS RIGHT HERE IS BASED ON, UH, THE ESTIMATES VERSUS PROJECTED.
IF YOU, IF THE PREVIOUS SLIDE ON THE, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS ONE, YOU HAVE THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BUDGET CHANGE OF ONE POINT, ALMOST 1.4 MILLION
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OTHER, UH, UH, FINANCING SOURCES OF, OF 1.5.THE SUMMARY LEVEL OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.
UM, A COUPLE THINGS ON HERE, UH, THE CAPITAL OUTLAY REFLECTS THE, UH, VEHICLE LEASE PROGRAM AS WELL AS, UH, THREE NEW GENERAL FUND VEHICLES.
TWO OF WHICH WERE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS AND, UH, ONE FOR THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT, UH, INSPECTOR.
AND I'LL DISCUSS THE POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT LEVEL DETAIL, THE, A DECLINE IN PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST THERE IS THE VEHICLE FINANCING.
THERE ARE SOME VEHICLES THAT WERE PAID OFF, SO THAT PRINCIPAL INTEREST GOES DOWN.
UM, AND OF COURSE THE, ON THE CAPITAL OUTLAY SIDE, IT GOES UP FOR THE VEHICLE, THESE PROGRAM.
WELL, I REVIEWED WITH YOU LAST WEEK.
THESE ARE THE TOWN-WIDE, UH, S UM, SUMMARY CHANGES ON OR HIGHLIGHTS ON GENERAL FUND.
UM, I WOULD GO DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT TO GO OVER IN SOME MORE DETAIL APPLE OF LAST WEEK.
THESE ARE THE, UH, THE POSITIONS PERSONNEL AND THE BUDGET.
UH, SO WE'RE GOING, UH, PROPOSING AN INCREASE OF SEVEN FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND A NET INCREASE OF ONE PART-TIME POSITION AND THE POSITIONS THAT ARE LISTED OUT TO THE RIGHT.
AND AGAIN, I'LL GO OVER EACH POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, DETAILED HERE'S THE HIGH LEVEL RECAP OF EXPENDITURE BY DEPARTMENT AND THE YEAR YEAR-OVER-YEAR BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE IN HERE, THE MID-YEAR INCREASE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS IS THE FIRST INCREASE IN EIGHT YEARS, UH, INCLUDES YOUR, UH, TRAINING AND, AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE, OF THE COUNCIL AND THE JUDGES.
IT SUPPORTS THE, UH, UH, ELECTION THAT WE HAVE ELECTION THIS YEAR, AND ALSO HAS MONEY IN THERE FOR A POTENTIAL RUNOFF IF IT'S NEEDED STRAIGHT FORWARD QUESTION ON THAT.
UM, AND I WAS AT A LUNCH WITH SOME RESIDENTS AND THEY SAID, UM, WELL, MORE THE INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT END OF IT, THAT THE ELECTION, THIS YEAR, SINCE THERE'S A REFERENDUM, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.
I HAVE TO PAY FOR OUR SHARE IF WE BUDGET FOR THE FAIR SHARE OR THE FULL AND HOPE WE SEE, UH, UH, DID THAT, OKAY.
WE, SINCE WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE SHARED, SHOULD WE ADJUST THAT? OR WHERE DOES THAT EXTRA? AND I MIGHT DIP, YOU KNOW, PENNIES AND ALL OF THIS, BUT WE COULD I'LL WORK WITH KEN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE DOLLAR DIFFERENCES.
UM, WE WILL HAVE TO, UH, UH, NET SOME OF THESE CHANGES OUT WITH THE ADDED COST OF THE FULL-TIME POSITION PD.
SO I MAY NET OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, BUT WHAT, YES.
BEFORE SECOND READING, AND WE'LL GIVE YOU A SUMMARY OF ALL THE CHANGES FROM FIRST TO SECOND.
I HAVE A QUESTION FROM, UM, PREVIOUS LODGER ON, IN TERMS OF BUSINESS LICENSES.
UM, I KNOW LAST YEAR WE GAVE, UM, EXTENSIONS AND TALKED ABOUT REPRISE FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESSES.
UM, IF WE WERE TO MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE, UM, THE NUMBERS THAT WE SEE OR WOULD THAT ALTER THE BUDGET NUMBERS? NO, IT'S NOT INCORPORATED.
AND ACTUALLY THE DEADLINE FOR THIS YEAR HAS ALREADY PASSED.
SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GIVE A REPORT EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
WE HAVE, UH, INCLUDED IN HERE A PART-TIME ADMIN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
UM, CURRENTLY THERE ISN'T, UH, AN ADMIN, UH, A PART-TIME ADMIN IN THERE.
IT CONTINUES THE, UM, PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM WITH THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, UH, THE TIME WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS PLAN, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF THE, UH, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR AND, AND HIS EFFORTS.
AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE PART-TIME ADMIN IS BUDGETED AT 27 TO 30.
LIKE HOW MUCH DID THE POD TIME? UH, 27 TO 30, $27,230
[00:30:03]
RESOURCES.UM, THERE IS AS PART OF THE FYI 21 BUDGET, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, UH, TAKEN OUT FOR EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS AND WELLNESS AND TUITION REIMBURSEMENTS, ALL THAT HAS BEEN RETURNED BACK TO THE BUDGET, THE PRE PANDEMIC LEVEL BUDGET LEVEL FOR, FOR HUMAN RESOURCES.
UM, AND AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEE, UM, PROGRAMS IN TOWN CELEBRATIONS, THERE ARE NO POSITIONS REQUESTED, ALSO INCLUDES THE, UM, UH, HAVING A PLANNED RETIREMENT IN HR AND THEY INCLUDE SOME, SOME OVERLAP TIME FOR THAT TRANSITION PERIOD.
HE SUPPORTS A FULL-TIME IT SUPPORT COORDINATOR.
UH, THIS POSITION HELPS WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT, UM, FOR THE TOWN.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST NEW POSITION IN SIX YEARS FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND IF YOU CAN THINK BACK TO WHAT THE IT STRUCTURE OF THE TIME, IT WAS SIX YEARS AGO, COMPARED TO DAMN SURE IT'S INFINITELY BIGGER, A BIGGER FOOTPRINT, UH, NOT TO MENTION THE EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED OVER THE SIX YEARS.
SO THIS SUPPORTS THEIR EFFORTS, UH, THAT DO A GREAT JOB, BUT THEY ARE, UM, VERY BUSY.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US SAFE, CALMING.
UM, IT MAINTAINS ALL OF OUR LICENSING AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS FOR, UH, SOFTWARE, UM, SOME UPGRADED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH TRAINING AND, UH, UH, CONTINUES THE, UH, COMPUTER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM ALSO ADDED IN HERE IS THE, UH, THE BEAVER COUNTY CHANNEL, A BUDGET AMOUNT AS WELL, LACK OF COURTS.
THIS ONE'S VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UM, AND IN ALL THESE, ALL THESE DEPARTMENTS, ALL THE TRAVEL AND TRAINING HAS BEEN RETURNED, UH, THAT WAS TAKEN OUT AS PART OF A, UH, UH, PART OF THE FY 21 CUTS, THE SUPPORTS, THE, UH, PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS FOR STAFF AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER FOR MISDEMEANOR CASES.
AND AGAIN, UM, TERRY IS CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS REGARDING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER CONTRACT.
UM, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CURRENT CONTRACT, UH, STRUCTURE WILL BE IN PLACE FOR PUBLIC DEFENDER REGARDLESS IT'S AN ADMINISTRATION IS INCLUDES A ONE-YEAR FTE IMPACT, UH, OF A FULL-TIME SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST.
UH, FINANCE ALSO HAS A RETIREMENT HAPPENING AT THE END OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
UH, THIS POSITION, UM, HELPS THAT TRANSITION PERIOD.
UM, SO IT'LL BE A, ONE-YEAR BUMPING UP T FOR, FOR FINANCE, AND THEN WE'LL BE BACK DOWN TO THE, UH, CURRENT FT NEXT FISCAL YEAR ALSO HAS THE CONTRACT WITH HOST COMPLIANCE FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MONITORING, UM, AS WELL AS OUR, UH, RESTORES THE FULL BUDGET AMOUNT FOR THE GRANT RESEARCH CONSULT THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM.
IS THAT ANY BUMPS IN THAT? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT, WE BOUGHT SOFTWARE, I TAKE IT TO TRACK THINGS AND OKAY.
AND SO EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE JUST WORKING PERFECTLY.
IT WAS, UM, UH, WE GOT SOME FEEDBACK FROM, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS WHEN IT WAS FIRST ROLLED OUT.
UM, AND WE, WE DID, UH, UH, UH, UH, ADDITION TO OVER THE RELEASE OF THE ONLINE REGISTRATION PLATFORM.
UM, SO IT'S AN IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE AND IT'S BEEN WELL RECEIVED SO FAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING OUR SECOND NOTICES OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED, UM, IT'S ON TRACK AND IT'S GOING WELL SO FAR, UH, GROWTH MANAGEMENT, YEAH.
IN THE BUDGET, AS YOU ALL REMEMBER AN FYI 21, WE FROZE TO GROWTH MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
THIS IS A HISTORIC PLANNER AND A PLANNING INSPECTOR.
SO THOSE BUDGETS AMOUNTS ARE BACK IN FOR
SO INCLUDES THE CONFERENCE, THE PLAN, THE, THE, THE COMPLETION THAT, UM, THERE'S A PART OF THAT THAT CARRIES OVER IN FY 22 THAT MAINTAINS THE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES AND WORK PLAN.
AND I'LL GO OVER THAT IN A FUTURE SLIDE ALSO HAS THE, A NEW TOWN VEHICLE FOR THE PLANNING INSPECTOR POSITION.
THAT'S A NEW POSITION, THE PLAINER WE'RE INTERVIEWING FOR NOW.
UM, AND THEN THE PLANNING INSPECTOR, THE IDEA IS THAT HEATHER WOULD LEVERAGE THAT, UM, FOR BOTH REVIEWS, AS WELL AS SITE INSPECTIONS, HERE'S YOUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORK PLAN? UM, THE, UM, SO IT'S STILL $119,000 FOR
[00:35:01]
ABUT WHERE ARE WE? WELL, THEY THEY'RE ASSUMING HERE THAT IT'LL ALL BE SPENT.
UM, I'LL SAY REALISTICALLY, IT WILL PROBABLY BE AROUND, I DON'T KNOW, 40 THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING ENGINEERING.
SO THIS INCLUDES A, UH, A FULL-TIME CIP ADMINISTRATOR AND THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, UH, DIVISION, UH, THIS SUPPORTS THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES OF THE, THE, THE DIVISION.
AND THIS IS NETTED OUT OF A, THERE WAS A PART TIME PROJECT MANAGER, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER WHO, UH, RETIRED AND THAT PART-TIME POSITION WILL NOT BE FILLED.
SO IT'S, UH, EVERYTHING'S THERE TO HELP SUPPORT THE NEW CIP ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, THERE'S A RECLASSIFICATION OR PROMOTION FOR A PUBLIC WORKS WORKER TO A TEAM LEADER.
THAT, AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.
UM, IT ENHANCES THAT, THAT PROGRAM AROUND THE HOLIDAY TIMES, IT MAINTAINS THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE WORK PLAN, WHICH I WILL TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, AND OF COURSE IT MAINTAINS A MAINTENANCE ENHANCEMENTS ON FACILITY MAINTENANCE, CONTRACTS, AND UTILITIES CLICK ON THAT, THE TEAM LEADER, I LIKE THAT IS THAT JUST GIVEN ANOTHER LEVEL WITH WORKERS TO FILL, THERE'S A WAY TO MOVE UP.
AND THERE'S ALSO THE, A NEW POLAR WORKS WORKER THAT HELPS SUPPORT THE, UH, UH, THE GROIN, UM, MAINTENANCE NEEDS AROUND, AROUND TOWN, GIVEN THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND PARKS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED ONLINE.
HERE'S OUR POINT OF CURIOSITY.
WHERE DOES THE CHRISTMAS PARADE EXPENSE FALL AS MOST OF THAT'S IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET? YEP.
SO THE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE WORK PLAN, UM, THERE THERE'S A, THIS IS SHOWN AS A $5,000 DECREASE.
UM, I WILL SAY THAT THE, THE BUDGET AMOUNT FOR THE SEASONAL PLANTINGS IS NOT GOING AWAY IS JUST INCORPORATED INTO THE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS LANDSCAPE BUDGET.
IT'S JUST NOT SHOWING UP IN THIS COMMITTEE WORK PLAN.
I ASKED THAT QUESTION AND YOU WOULD RESPOND.
BUT IS OUR, OUR MASTER GARDENERS ARE NOT PLANNING OUR POTS.
NOW I CAN SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN IT'S POINTED.
WELL, I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO BRIAN.
I CAN ASK BRIAN WHEN HE COMES IN, BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE.
CAUSE I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT BRIAN, OUR MASTER GARDENER NOT PLANNING OUR PLANTERS ANYMORE, THAT YOU OUT THERE PLANNING THOUGH, Y'ALL NEED SOME TRAINING.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE MASTER GARDENERS THAT ARE PLANNING.
WE'VE CONTRACTED THAT OUT WITH A SOUTHERN PALMETTO PLANET.
THE LAST ROUND OF PLANNING, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE PLANTERS FOR OUR PLANTERS OR AS I'VE BEEN HERE, I DON'T, WE ONLY HAVE TWO PEOPLE OR I THINK TWO PLANNERS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED.
SO IT'S STILL A SMALL, I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE LESS ROBUST.
YOU PROBABLY HEARD FROM THE SAME PERSON.
WELL, I HEARD SOMEBODY ON THIS TOPIC AND THEN THEY'RE A LITTLE LESS ODD AND NOW, AND I KNOW I'VE SEEN GARDENERS OUT.
MAYBE THEY WORK UNDER THEM AT OTHER TIMES.
AND, UM, IT IS JUST SUCH A DIFFERENCE AND RS AND IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S OKAY.
MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET ON THERE AND WE'LL TALK WE'LL THEN TIGHTEN THEM UP AND TALK TO THEM AND PULL YOUR GREEN COMMENT AT THE THRILL AND SPILL BACK TO THE PLANNERS.
SO IN THAT WHAT'S THE, THE COMMENT WAS, OH, IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? I THINK THEY WANTED IT TO SPILL OUT OVER AND IT'D BE BRIGHT, SO.
SO THERE'S ONE, ONE OTHER WOMAN.
SO IT HAS TWO FULL-TIME SWORN OFFICERS.
AND AGAIN, THIS CURRENTLY REFLECTS THE ONE-TIME PART TIME SOCIAL WORKER, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT, UM, INCLUDES ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES FOR THE, UM, TWO NEW OFFICERS, UH, CONTINUES OUR CONTRACT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND CROSSING GUARDS.
UM, AND AS IN THE JUNE, UM, AGENDA IS THE AGREEMENT FOR THIS.
AND IT INCLUDES, UH, VEHICLES AS PART OF THAT 75, 25 SPLIT.
SO THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO THAT.
SO FOR ME, ALL THE SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE SROS AND THEY WERE
[00:40:01]
LOOKING AT DOING THAT, BUT THEN THEY DECIDED AGAINST IT.WELL, THEY WERE, THEY WERE GOING, THERE'S A STATE GRANT THAT THEY WERE GOING AFTER THAT THEY DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET.
UM, SO ANYWAYS, THEY, THEY ASKED US TO PULL THAT OUT FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO INCORPORATE AN SRO IN EACH SCHOOL.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MIDDLE AND HIGH.
THEY WANT TO PUT THEM IN ELEMENTARY.
IS THAT THE CASE? NO, THAT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ELEMENTARY WANTED TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT A DECISION THEY MAKE YOUR SUGGESTION OF THIS NEW TITLE YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS WORDING, RIGHT? YES.
UM, SO REALLY QUICK, UH, A NEW PROGRAM IN HERE IS OUR, OUR, OUR FLEET LEASE PROGRAM.
AND WE HAD A PD BROUGHT TO US, UH, CONCERN AROUND THEIR CURRENT FLEET CONDITION AND A PLAN FOR, FOR THE FUTURE.
SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE CONDITION.
UH, THEY HAD 75 VEHICLES AT THE TIME AND THE, UM, ABOUT 78% OF THEM WERE OLDER THAN FIVE YEARS.
A THIRD OF THEM WAS HAD MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES ON IT.
UM, MAINTENANCE COSTS WERE INCREASING.
THE SCREEN AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE COSTS, INCREASE, UH, FUEL COSTS, UM, WERE SIGNIFICANT AS WELL.
THE GOAL WAS TO TRY AND GET THE VEHICLES ON A FIVE-YEAR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
UM, BY DOING THAT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY DECREASE MAINTENANCE COST BY $28,000 ANNUALLY AND FUEL COST SAVINGS OF FOUR MILES PER GALLON.
ALSO WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE THE EQUITY REPLACEMENT VALUE OF OUR CURRENT VEHICLES AS WE CYCLE THEM OUT.
WE DID A PEER REVIEW AND WE LOOKED AT COLTON COUNTY, PORT ROYAL AND BEAVER CITY, UH, COLTON COUNTY, 71 OF 92 VEHICLES ARE AT LEAST, UM, AND THEY'RE GOING TO A HUNDRED PERCENT PORT ROYAL, UM, HALF IS LEAST.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING TO A HUNDRED PERCENT DIFFERENT CITIES ABOUT THIRD, UH, PERCENT LEAST LOOKING AT THE BUDGET IMPACT AND FY 20, WE HAVE 350,000 BUDGETED FOR THE, UH, THE COST OF VEHICLES FOR 21.
UM, THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD NO NEW REPLACEMENTS OF VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE BUDGET.
THE DECREASE THERE WAS THE AS, UH, VEHICLES ARE PAID OFF THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THE PRINCIPAL INTEREST DECLINES, AGAIN, FYI 22 WITH THE INCORPORATION OF A LEASE PROGRAM.
UH, WE'RE BACK UP TO ABOUT, UH, THREE 13, SEVEN 91.
AND THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY THE LEASE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO THE CURRENT P AND I ON EXISTING VEHICLES THAT WE'RE STILL I PUT IN HERE.
THIS WOULD INCLUDE UP TO 16 REPLACEMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, THE BUDGET IS THE BUDGET.
UM, IF COSTS CHANGE FOR VEHICLES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO STAY WITHIN THAT BUDGET.
SO IT COULD BE 16, IT COULD BE 14 TO VEHICLES, INCREASED COSTS, INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON THIS QUESTION.
YES, THERE THERE'S A BUDGET AMOUNT, BUT THAT'D BE IN A MESS.
THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES THAT THEY REQUEST, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET CONDITIONS OF THE, OF THE VEHICLES AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT PRICES ON THE RISE OR KNOWN.
TH THEY'RE TRACKING THAT, BUT W YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T EXECUTE THE CONTRACT UNTIL THE BUDGET IS APPROVED, SO WE'RE STAYING IN TOUCH WITH THEM, BUT AT THIS TIME, UH TOWN-WIDE SO IT CONTINUES OUR GARBAGE SERVICE.
UM, AND HERE IS THE, UH, CONTRACT COSTS FOR THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE AS YOU ALL, WHERE TERRY IS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM.
SO THERE MAY BE ADJUSTMENT BEFORE SECOND READING, UH, SOME MORE SUPPORTS ALL THE, UH, THE PALMETTO BREEZE, LOCAL MATCH, INCLUDING HERE, THE TOWN WIDE SURVEY THAT WAS REQUESTED, UM, ALSO MAINTAINS ALL OF OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICES AND LEGAL, UH, HISTORIC, UH, DISTRICT BIKE TAXI, AND THE, UH, FORESTATION PLAN ON RYAN.
WHAT ARE THEIR BUDGET REAL QUICK? SO THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT THEY SUBMIT COLOR CODED FOR YOU.
THEY, ANYTHING IN BLUE HERE IS TALENT SUPPORTED.
UH, THE GREEN IS ACTUALLY THE CITY OF HARTSVILLE, WHICH I'LL DISCUSS, UH, THE GRAY AREA IS A GRANT.
UM, AND THEN THE WHITE AREAS DRC I SUPPORTED.
SO THEIR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY GOING DOWN 5,000 FROM THE TOWN SUPPORTED AREA.
AND THE TOWN SUPPORTS, UH, EMPLOYEES AS, AS, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD COSTS AND UTILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THE PROGRAM COST OF GRC, I, OUR GRANT SUPPORTED, BUT THE BASIC, UH, UH, POISON AND OVERHEAD IS SUPPORTED BY THE TIME CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOWN, SO THEY, THEY UP AND THEY GET THIS CALCULATOR.
SO THIS TOP PORTION HERE F Y 21 WAS 400, 5,000 AND PROPOSING FYI
[00:45:01]
22, LOOK AT THE DETAIL ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE IS WORKING ON THE RESILIENCY PLAN THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE.I DO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AND MAYBE SPEAK TO THAT WITH BRIDGET WAS ASKING ABOUT THE BUSINESSES AND ARE SOME STILL STRUGGLING.
AND MAYBE OUR BUSINESS LICENSE DEPARTMENT IS THERE SOME WAY WE CAN GET TO THEM TO SEE HOW WE CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THEM TO SEE WHAT THE HELP COULD BE FOR.
SO, UH, AS FAR AS FAR AS BUSINESS LICENSE GOES THIS PAST A YEAR, WHEN WE SEND OUT THE NOTICES FOR BUSINESS LICENSES, UM, THEY INCLUDED, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT DRC AND THE, THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE AND THEIR PROGRAMS. SO THAT WENT OUT WITH THE BUSINESS LICENSE NOTICES.
UM, THEY, UH, AS PART OF THE RESILIENCY PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN APRIL LAST YEAR, UH, ACCORDING TO THEIR NUMBERS, THEY S UH, SUPPORT IT'S 36 COMPANIES, UM, WHO CONTACTED THEM FOR, UM, SUPPORT OR ASSISTANCE IN NAVIGATING ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND, UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE STILL OFFERING THAT SERVICE.
THERE'S BEEN NEW PROGRAMS THAT WERE JUST CAME OUT, THAT EVERYONE'S KIND OF DIGESTING WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE.
UM, SO THOSE, THOSE PROGRAMS THAT, UH, RESOURCE GUIDE WILL BE UPDATED WITH THAT INFORMATION.
THIS IS KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE RSI D RCI OVER TIME.
UM, YEAH, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE HUB OPENED THIS PAST YEAR.
UH, WE HAVE MIKE LEVINE, WHO'S ON CONTRACT AS THEIR CEO.
WE BROUGHT, UH, DAVID NOLAN'S BACK TO SUPPORT THE INCUBATION SIDE OF THE DRC.
THEY HAVE THREE MAIN, UH, INCUBATION PROGRAMS, WHICH IS THE PRE-START STARTUP AND GROWTH.
AND THIS ASSIST THE NEW BUSINESSES IN THE VARIOUS PHASES OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
ALSO A BIG PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR IS THE HEROES PROGRAM.
SO, UH, MIKE LEVINE AND HIS IN SUPPORT OF THE GRANT CONSULTANT, THEY WENT AFTER A GRANT AND, UH, AND WERE AWARDED IT AND HE MASHED IT WITH PRIVATE FUNDS.
SO THERE WAS NO TOWN FUNDS THAT WERE USED FOR US IS ALL PRIVATE MATCH AND, UH, ASSIST VETERANS WITH, WITH THEIR STARTUPS.
I BELIEVE YOU ALSO MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO PROVIDE SOME LEASED OFFICE SPACE TO THEM, FOR THEIR OPERATIONS.
UH, THEY IMPLEMENTED A, AN AGREEMENT WITH HARTSVILLE TO SUPPORT THEIR COMMUNITIES, UH, DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS INCUBATION NEEDS.
AND, UH, SO OVERALL, SINCE 2002, THEY HAVE IMPACTED 120, 140 COMPANIES, EXCUSE ME, 92% OF WHICH ARE IN BUFORD COUNTY AND, UH, OVER HALF, UH, ARE BLUFFTON BUSINESSES.
UM, DID THEY PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF LIKE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE BUSINESSES IN THOSE PERCENTAGES THAT DID NOT, BUT I COULD ASK THEM FOR THAT.
UM, THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF WHAT, UH, SUPPORTS THERE'S A HALF A MILLION FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION.
UM, THERE'S HALF A MILLION FOR THE BOOK AUTHOR PHASE TWO.
AND THAT IS IF WE, UH, GET ANY PROCEEDS FROM THE LAND SALE OF THE TWO TOWN ON PADS, AND THEN THEY HAD THE IT PROJECTS AS PART OF CIP, IT'S JUST, JUST THE VISUAL OF BREAKDOWN OF WHERE OUR RESOURCES GO.
SO YOU HAVE A GENERAL FUND BUDGET OF $22.4 MILLION.
THE OPERATING EXPENDITURES IS 21.1.
AND THEN THE TRANSFER TO CIP OF ONE POINT ALMOST 1.3 MILLION.
HI, CAN WE JUMP IN MAYBE ON QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THAT PARTICULAR SECTION OF WHAT HE'S GOING OVER.
I JUST HAVE MAYBE SO EVERYONE CAN KNOW WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN WE MET.
UM, AND I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WHEN THIS ONE COMES UP, I HAVE TO RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER ON THEIR BOARD, BUT YOU AND I, AND LARRY TALKED ABOUT THE HAYWARD HOUSE AND OUR FUTURE PLANS AT WRIGHT FAMILY PROPERTY AND THE DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL ON MAYBE NEXT STEPS OF LETTING THEM KNOW THERE'S A POSSIBLE WEANING AWAY.
IS THAT A DISCUSSION? ARE YOU WAITING UNTIL THIS? DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT WITH US OR IS THAT HAPPENING, OR WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT? THERE'S DISCUSSION HASN'T STARTED YET.
IT'S REALLY, UH, WAITING FOR THE CONSENSUS OF YOU ALL ON THE APPROACH THERE.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE PAST WAS THE IDEA OF A
[00:50:01]
THREE-YEAR PLAN THAT WOULD KIND OF WEAN THEM OFF OF TOWN SUPPORT, BUT THE IDEA OF THE EVENTUAL SQUIRE POKER HOUSE BECOMING THE TOWN WELCOME.I DON'T KNOW, THE REST OF COUNCIL KNOWS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING IT UP.
I JUST WONDER, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND I, AND IT'S THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION, BUT I JUST WONDER IF WE GOT MR. STEVE'S COMING SOON AND LET STAFF, AND MR. STEEZE TALK ABOUT THIS AND UPDATE HIM TO THIS SITUATION.
THEN WE START MOVING THE BALL FORWARD NEGOTIATION WISE, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A THREE-YEAR.
IT COULD BE A TWO YEAR WEENING, THREE YEARS IS PRETTY GENEROUS.
I WANTED Y'ALL TO KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND KNOW THAT POPS UP, BUT IF IT'S EVER SOMETHING ON A VOTE, I CAN'T BE PART OF IT WELL TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION TOO.
IF, IF WE DO KIND OF LEAN TOWARDS THAT, WE WON'T BE READY FOR TWO YEARS OR THREE YEARS.
AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND THREE YEARS.
IT WAS ACTUAL TIMELINE BEFORE WE COULD, EVEN THEN THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS THE SOLICITORS THING.
NOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A PART-TIME PROSECUTOR, UM, AND MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO CHECK WITH TERRY, AND I KNOW THIS IS GOING BACK AND FORTH, BUT I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT IF WE HIRED SOMEONE LIKE THAT, THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STILL HAS TO SIGN ALL PHONE ON THAT.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE QUESTIONS TO ASK TERRY AND, UM, I, BEFORE FINAL READING ON THAT ONE, WE THAT'S ALL I HAD.
ARE YOU ALL GOOD ON THE GENERAL, CHRIS? OKAY.
STORMWATER, REALLY PURPOSE OF THE STORMWATER PHONE.
AGAIN, WE ARE KEEPING OUR SINGLE FAMILY UNIT RATE AT $115.
SO THE, A UTILITY FEE GENERATES A ESTIMATE OF 1.9 MILLION.
WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR, THE PLAN INSPECTION FEE, AND THAT GENERATES APPROXIMATELY $365,000.
AND THAT PORTION IS USED TO THE OFF THE DEBT SERVICE OF THE STONEWATER BONDS HAVE A OPERATING EXPENDITURES OF THE STOREFRONT OF $1.3 MILLION.
AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE OTHER FUNDING, UH, USES.
SO THE TRANSFER OUT TO CIP THERE, THE 161,500, THAT IS FOR EXISTING PROJECTS THAT WERE CARRIED FORWARD.
UH, SO THAT'S NOT ANY OF THE NEW PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING FUNDED BY THE BOND.
THE TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND IS FOR THE, UH, THE INDIRECT ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS THAT GENERAL FUND SUPPORTS OF THE STORM WATER FUND.
THAT'S FLAT AT ONE 30, UM, THE DEBT SERVICE TRANSFER, AGAIN, THAT IS TO PAY OFF THE DEBT SERVICE OF THE STORM WATER BONDS GOING INTO 21.
WE HAD TWO MAIN, UH, CONCERNS OR ISSUES THAT WE'RE HOPING TO ADDRESS THE STORM REFORMS VERSUS WE HAD A LOT OF STORM WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS AS A TOWN.
UM, AND THEN ALSO, UH, HOW DO WE GET THE FUN TO A POINT WHERE IT'S SELF-SUSTAINING AND BECAUSE WE HAD, UH, SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW WHERE WE WERE DRAWING DOWN FUND BALANCE AND STORM WATER FOR ALL THESE OTHER CAPITAL AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS.
AND SO YOU ALL APPROVE THE INCREASE TO THE STORMWATER RATE.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE THE BOND, UH, TO START GETTING ON THE, ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED.
AND WE GOT THE FUND TO A POSITION WHERE THAT THEY'RE NO LONGER DRAWING DOWN A FUND BALANCE EVERY EVERY YEAR.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY IN A POSITION NOW THAT WE'RE ADDING FUND BALANCE THAT CAN SUPPORT THE MAINTENANCE CAPITAL NEEDS AS THE BOND DOLLARS ARE SPENT OFF.
SO THAT'S THE CONDITION OF OUR STORMWATER BUDGET.
UM, THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, THERE'S A FULL-TIME STORMWATER PERMIT ADMINISTRATOR INCLUDED THE $60,789 IMPACT, UH, SUPPORTS THE MS. FOUR PROGRAM, 113,008, 11, USC B WATER QUALITY MONITORING, $185,000 CONTRACT, AND THE MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING OF 50,000.
AND THAT INCLUDES THE NEW VEHICLE FOR THE NEW PERMIT ADMINISTRATOR OR THE, THIS IS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE.
THERE'S A 2007 FORD RANGER WITH OVER A 72,000 MILES.
DEALING WITH HIGHLIGHTS, UM, MAINTAINS ALL THE OPERATIONS, UH, DITCH MAINTENANCE.
UM, THE PLAN REVIEW PROGRAM IS PART OF DEBT SERVICE AS DISCUSSED THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM AND WATER SHED, UH, FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COMPREHENSIVE DRAINAGE PLAN IMPROVEMENTS, AND ALSO THE CONTRIBUTION OF FUND BALANCE.
[00:55:01]
WE DISCUSSED ANYTHING ON STORMWATER BEFORE I MOVE ON, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE NEXT BIT LAST PAGE? YEP.IT'S RIGHT THERE WAITING, LIKE HE'S JUST WAITING.
THAT'D BE PROVIDES A REPLACEMENT SUV VEHICLE FOR WHAT IS IT WHEN $6,000 AND FOR THE VEHICLE? CORRECT.
WHAT WAS THAT VEHICLE WITH? THE CURRENT IS ALL IN, OR JUST THE VEHICLE ITSELF WITH INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING, OR JUST THE BEADS? WELL, THE INSURANCE IS NOT THAT NUMBER, BUT IT'S INCLUDED.
SO IT'S A WHOLE PACKAGE INSURANCE AND EVERYTHING OUTFITTING, INCLUDING THAT AS WELL.
OUTFITTING, WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE? IT'S AN SUV? I DON'T KNOW THE, I KNOW THE ONE THAT'S BEING REPLACED AS A FORD RANGER, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, I DON'T, OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS A FORD RANGER.
AND I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT FRED, BUT IT GOES ALONG WITH IT, TOP DOLLAR ON OUR CARS ARE SELLING.
I MEAN, CAUSE YOU CAN'T FIND A CAR TODAY, ARE Y'ALL LOOKING AT KNOWING WE MIGHT SIX MONTHS OUT FOR, WE GET A CAR.
FRED BROUGHT THAT UP WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE LEASE PROGRAM SO THAT THE FLEET IS MANAGED BY A CHIEF.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.
UM, AS FAR AS, UH, SELLING OFF OF CURRENT VEHICLES AND THE PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE FOR THAT.
SO THE COMPANY THAT, UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT GOING WITH OF COURSE ACTUALLY HAS COMPUTERIZED PROGRAMS AND WHAT IT DOES AT CALCULATES COMMON CAR VALUES AS TO WHAT THE MILEAGE IS AND WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE WE HAVE.
AND THEY ACTUALLY TELL US WHEN THE BEST TIME TO SELL IS TO GET THE MOST ACCURATE WELL IT'S TODAY.
SURPRISE WAS STILL AN AWFUL OLD CAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE, THERE'S A NATIONAL CRISIS.
WE'RE GETTING RENTAL RENTAL VEHICLES.
SO I NOTICED, I KNOW I'M JUST SO PEOPLE DON'T STAY TOO LATE.
I KNOW BRIAN WAS WAITING FOR QUESTIONS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS OR BRIAN, CAN HE LEAVE? WE SHOULD ALL START THINKING SOME AND WE ALL THINK OF A QUESTION.
I JUST DON'T WANT HIM TO STAY.
BRIAN, ARE THERE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD ASK? YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE ASKED YOU A LOT OF QUESTIONS, CAN HE LEAVE YET? IF YOU HAVE NO QUESTIONS FOR HIM? OKAY.
SO THIS ONE IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UM, AGAIN, OUTSTANDING DEBTS, 12.6 MILLION.
THE REVENUE IS PRIMARILY THE PROPERTY TAX.
UM, WE HAVE A TOTAL PROFIT TAX REVENUE ESTIMATE OF 2.9 MILLION.
THE DECIMAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FEE OF 347.
UH, THERE'S SOME INTEREST INCOME.
SO A TOTAL BUDGET OF ALMOST TWO, 3.3 MILLION OF REVENUE.
UM, WE HAVE THE TRANSFERS IN THE SUMMER UTILITY FUND AND SOME USE OF THE PRIOR FUND BALANCE FOR THAT'S TIP DOLLARS FOR THE CIP BREAKDOWN OF EXPENDITURES.
THERE, THERE IT IS BY, UH, UH, UH, UH, DEBT SERVICE BY ISSUE BY SERIES AND THEN TRANSFER OUT TO CIP OF $2.2 MILLION.
THERE IS THE DEBT SERVICE FOR TIF, THE LAC, AS WELL AS A STORMWATER GIOVANNI.
A BREAKDOWN OF THE TRANSFER TO CIP INCLUDES THE BUCKEYE IN CENTERVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD SIDEWALK AND LIGHTING GOES ROADS.
THE LAC IMPROVEMENTS, UH, PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS, BURGLARY RECENTER IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE BACKWATER PHASE TWO.
AND AGAIN, EACH OF THESE PROJECTS WE'LL GO OVER IN DETAIL NEXT WEEK AT THE CIP WORKSHOP ONE BELT.
SO AGAIN, INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AS A REVISION OF THE FUND BALANCE POLICY, UH, FOR THE EMERGENCY RESERVE FUND, 15% OF ALL BUDGET EXPENDITURES ON ASSIGNED 35% OF GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, A TRANSITION OF THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT RESERVE TO A CAPITAL ASSET RESERVE FUND.
AND ALL OF THE, UH, CENTRAL LEVELS OF FUND BALANCE, UH, WILL BE MET.
HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF WHERE WE WERE IN 20.
WHAT THE ESTIMATE IS THIS YEAR AND WHAT THE PROJECTED IS FOR FY 22.
[01:00:02]
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE.SO WITH THE NEW POLICY, WE'RE PROJECTING THAT AT THE END OF FY 22, THE EMERGENCY RECOVERY RESERVE WILL BE ABOUT $5.4 MILLION UP FROM 2.8 CAPITAL ASSET RESERVE WOULD GO UP TO 1.4 MILLION, UH, RESTRICTED USES I'LL GO OVER IN A MINUTE.
THE UN-DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE WOULD INCREASE TO $7.8 MILLION.
AND THEN THE REMAINING UN-DESIGNATED FROM BALANCE WOULD BE 1.8.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PRIOR YEARS, WE HAD THAT SIGNIFICANT REMAINING UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE.
UM, AND THE QUESTIONS YOU ALL BROUGHT TO ME WERE ARE WE SETTING OUR RESERVES AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS? ARE WE COMMUNICATING TOO MUCH RESERVES? WE WENT THROUGH WORKSHOPS AND BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, AND THIS IS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED TODAY, UM, AS PART OF THE BUDGET FOR, FOR GOING FORWARD, THE, UM, BREAKDOWN OF THAT RESTRICTED AMOUNT.
THERE'S THE, UH, UH, VICTIM, THE VICTIM'S ADVOCATE RESTRICTED, A PORTION OF 42,000, UH, KEN STATE LEISURE TRAIL, 28,000 VILLAGE OF VERDE OR 42,000 AND TREE FUND OF 38,007.
WHAT WAS THE SECOND THING? THESE ARE TRUE.
I DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT.
THE OTHER ISSUE IT'S BEHIND NHC IS THE OLD BANKRUPT.
WONDER IF WE NEVER GET IT SAID SOMETHING, WE WORKED A QUESTION MAYBE ON THE COUNTY WITH WHEN THEY DO THAT ON OCA TI TRAIL SYSTEM, I GUESS IT CONNECTS TO THAT, CHRIS.
DON'T HAVE TO WRAP YOUR BRAIN AROUND THAT EXCELLENT JOB.
AS WE HAD MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION, HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES IN THE EVENT OF A CATASTROPHIC EVENT, UH, PROACTIVE IN THAT BEING SAID.
SO A LOT OF THE, UM, AND DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE OBVIOUSLY HAD KEPT GROWING.
SO THAT'S TAKEN A LARGE PORTION OF THAT.
AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THE REMAINING AND DESIGNATED FUND BALANCES AT ABOUT 1.8 RIGHT THERE.
SO WHAT, WHAT DO YOU PROJECT, IF THAT WILL INCREASE AS TIME GOES? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THAT? THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT COULD IMPACT IT.
I MEAN, THE PROJECTION FOR FYI 22 A YEAR END IS THAT 1.8.
UM, BUT YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S ALL DRIVEN BY A REVEREND PERFORMANCE AND, AND WHAT THE EXPENDITURES OF THE, OF THE FUTURE ARE.
UM, WE DO AS PART OF THE, UH, COMPLETED BUDGET BOOK, WE INCLUDE A, A FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
UH, SO THERE WILL BE SOME MORE ESTIMATES AS FAR AS THAT GOES.
AND THAT WILL BE, UH, PROVIDED TO YOU AT THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND READING IN THE, UM, JUST AS A POINT OF INTEREST, THE 35% THAT WE'RE INCREASING ON THE END, UNDER THE END DESIGNATED, I MEAN, THAT MONEY IS ALWAYS AT THE, THE, UH, AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL AT ANY TIME.
SHOULD WE NEED IT RIGHT? UM, IT, YES.
IS THAT AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL? THERE IS A, IF YOU SPEND DOWN, UH, BELOW THAT POLICY LEVEL, UM, THERE IS A PROCEDURE FOR BRINGING IT BACK UP TO THE POLICY LEVEL.
I THINK IT'S A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO WHERE YOU WERE.
IF IN CASE OF EMERGENCY IS THERE FOR OUR USE HAS TO BE AN EMERGENCY OR JUST, WELL, I MEAN, TECHNICALLY IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR AN EMERGENCY.
UM, BUT ALSO ON THE POLICY, IT SAYS THAT IF YOU USE IT, IT SHOULD BE FOR ONE TIME EXPENDITURES, NOT FOR WELL HILARIOUS.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF PURCHASE PIECE OF LAND, THAT WAS MORE THAN THE $500,000 WE HAVE ALLOCATED TO IT, WE COULD TAP THAT I NEEDED TO WRAP UP.
THE OTHER FACTOR IS IF THERE'S A MAJOR ECONOMIC DEPRESSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND JUST EXPECT REVENUES TO GO DOWN, WE CAN ALSO TAP IT FOR THAT PURPOSE AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S EASIER TO THANK YOU THERE AGAIN.
RECAP OF THE TOTAL BUDGET, $40.1 MILLION.
ANY FINAL QUESTIONS? GOOD JOB.
AGAIN, OUR NEXT WORKSHOP IS MAY 25TH NEXT WEEK, AND THAT WILL BE A CIP WORKSHOP.
AND OUR SECOND AND FINAL READING AND PUBLIC HEARING IS ON JUNE 8TH.
I KNOW WE'VE SAID IT AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S SHAKING THEIR HEAD.
AND, UM, WE JUST APPRECIATE IT.
ARE CHRIS REALLY QUICK? TWO MINUTE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[01:05:01]
THERE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS RELATING TO TOWN MANAGER, CONTRACT 34 71 AND RELATING TO NAMING AN INTERIM TOWN MANAGER, WHICH IS 34 78 ONE.IS THERE A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING, AYE, I OPPOSE IT'LL BE A MINUTE.
UM, HEY GUYS, I'M ADAM FARBER WITH BEAVER COUNTY LIBRARIES, AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR NEW STREAMING SERVICE CALLED PULL UP.
IT'S A FREE SERVICE FROM BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARIES.
ALL YOU NEED IS A LIBRARY CARD AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON IOS, ANDROID, AND DESKTOP COMPUTERS.
I HAVE AN IPAD AND WE'LL DOWNLOAD THE HOOPLA APP.
YOU CAN GET UP TO 10 TITLES PER MONTH FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US@BUFORDCOUNTYLIBRARY.ORG.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAFE? DON'T PROVIDE EASY ACCESS, ESPECIALLY TO NARCOTIC MEDICATIONS, INVENTORY, YOUR MEDICINE CABINETS, ESPECIALLY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, SAFELY DISCARD OUTDATED, OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS PROPERLY.
DID YOU KNOW BUFORD COUNTY HAS MANY LOCATIONS FOR YOU TO DISPOSE YOU ARE OUTDATED OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS YOU'RE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
WE DO HAVE TWO ITEMS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION TO, UM, BRING TO THE PUBLIC.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE AND ACCEPT THE CONTRACT FOR OUR NEW TOWN MANAGER, UH, STEVENS, STACE WHO WILL BEGIN, UM, WORK ON JUNE 14TH, 2021 FOR A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO NAMED CHRIS FORRESTER, INTERIM TOWN MANAGER BEGINNING MAY 19TH UNTIL THE START DATE OF SIX 14 FOR THE TOWN MANAGER.
SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I THINK WE ALL COULD SAY CHRIS.
I SAID THAT WHEN WE AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT NEVER HURTS TO SAY IT MORE THAN ONCE.
UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR STATE BY SAYING AYE.
UM, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND, GO TO BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM MELISSA TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THIS IS THE BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT.
THE SUBJECT OF THIS MOMENT IS THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY LOST TO FOLKS TODAY, BUT THE ARTIFACTS, THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY ARE AROUND US.
IF WE LOOK FOR THEM, PHOSPHATES WERE KNOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR.
THEY WERE FIRST DISCOVERED UP AROUND SOMERVILLE AND NORTH OF CHARLESTON.
IT'S KNOWN AS MORAL AND BENEATH THE MORROW WAS THE PHOSPHATE ROCK GEOLOGISTS AND SCIENTISTS KNEW ABOUT IT.
PHOSPHATE WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE AGRICULTURE OF THE SOUTH BECAUSE IT IS THE BASIS OF MOST FERTILIZER AND MANY OF THE COTTON LANDS OF THE OLD SOUTH, WHERE MUCH EXHAUSTED
[01:10:01]
BY THE COTTON INDUSTRY BEFORE THE WAR.SO AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY WAS INTRODUCED FIRST IN CHARLESTON IN 1867, AND THEN LOOKING FOR BEDS OF HIGH CONTENT PHOSPHATE ROCK, THESE PHOSPHATE EXPLORERS AND ENTREPRENEURS DISCOVERED BUFORD COUNTY.
THE NEXT 30 YEARS, BUFORD COUNTY BECAME THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF PHOSPHATE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND ONE OF THE RICHEST SOURCES OF PHOSPHATES KNOWN IN THE WORLD BETWEEN 1870 AND 1900.
THIS BECAME THE CENTER OF THE MINING.
PART OF THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
MANY OF THE FERTILIZER FACTORIES WERE IN CHARLESTON, BUT THE MINING AND THE PHOSPHATE WORKS AS THEY CALL THEM WHERE THEY BROKE THE ROCK DOWN INTO POWDER AND THE PURE PHOSPHATE AND SHIPPED IT OUT.
THOSE INDUSTRIAL CENTERS WERE MOSTLY IN BUFORD COUNTY AT THE HEIGHT OF THIS INDUSTRY IN THE 1880S, 3000 BUFORD TONES WERE EMPLOYED IN THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS.
IN MANY CASES WAS A RULE OF THUMB WHEN THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS BEGAN IN THE 1870S, THAT THE RICHEST VEINS OF PHOSPHATE WERE UNDERWATER UNDER THE COOSAW RIVER UNDER THE BUFORD RIVER UNDER BATTERY CREEK.
SO INITIALLY LOCAL SEA ISLANDERS WOULD DIVE DOWN FOR THE ROCK AND FILL UP BASKETS AND THEN GET PULLED UP IN A ROPE, NOT ONLY LIMITING THE DEPTH TO WHICH THEY COULD MINE AT, BUT LIMITING THEIR HEALTH AS WELL, GOING UP AND DOWN, BUT VERY QUICKLY IN THE 1870S ENGINEERS DISCOVERED THAT THEY COULD BUILD VERY LARGE UNDERWATER STEAM POWER DREDGES ON FLOATING BARGES.
AND SO THEY BEGAN TO MECHANIZE THE INDUSTRY AND RATHER THAN EMPLOYING FEWER PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY EMPLOYED MORE, MORE THAN HALF OF THE PHOSPHATE PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES AND 80% OF THE PHOSPHATE PRODUCED IN SOUTH CAROLINA CAME FROM BUFORD COUNTY.
THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY BETWEEN 1870 AND 1900 WAS THE LARGEST INDUSTRY IN THE HISTORY OF BUFORD COUNTY AND THE LARGEST MINING INDUSTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND PEOPLE HAVE PRETTY MUCH FORGOTTEN ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS THE SOURCE OF GREAT PROSPERITY IN BUFORD COUNTY, BETWEEN 1870 AND 1890.
THE POPULATION OF BUFORD COUNTY GREW BAY STREET BECAME A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL CENTER.
PHOSPHATE WORKS IN OTHER WORDS, FACTORIES WHERE THEY BURN THE PHOSPHATE ROCK AND BROKE IT DOWN INTO POWDER.
WE'RE LOCATED ON SPANISH POINT.
WE'RE LOCATED, UM, LUCY CREEK AND THE LARGEST WAS LOCATED FIRST ON COOSAW PLANTATION.
AND THEN OUT AT THE END OF CHISHOLM HIGHLAND ON SUMMERHOUSE POINT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE COOSAW RIVER, SMALLER PHOSPHATE COMPANIES AND PHOSPHATE RIDGES AND THE TUGBOATS AND THE SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT HAD TO SUPPORT THIS INDUSTRY FOR 30 YEARS WERE AN ENORMOUS BOOM TO BUFORD COUNTY.
EVENTUALLY THE SMALLER PHOSPHATE COMPANIES WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE VERY LARGE COMPANY CALLED THE COOSAW MINING COMPANY.
THE COOSAW MINING COMPANY BY 1892 WAS THE LARGEST PHOSPHATE MINING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES.
BUT IN THOSE SAME YEARS IN 1888, RICHER VEINS AND PHOSPHATE WERE DISCOVERED DEAR TAMPA, FLORIDA.
AND DURING THE 1890S, THE PERCENTAGE OF PHOSPHATE EXTRACTED FROM BUFORD COUNTY DECLINED AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PHOSPHATE DISCOVERED AND EXTRACTED FROM FLORIDA AND OTHER PLACES LIKE NEAR NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE WAS RICHER PHOSPHATE.
AND EVENTUALLY IT PUT THESE PHOSPHATE MINES OUT OF BUSINESS PHOSPHATE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
THE RIVER ROCK AS IT WAS CALLED IN THOSE DAYS WAS 60% PURE PHOSPHATE, WHICH IN 1870 WAS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
BY 1888, THE FLORIDA ROCK WAS 80% PURE PHOSPHATE.
AND THE ECONOMICS OF THAT SIMPLY PUT THE RIVER COUNTY PHOSPHATE BUSINESS OUT OF BUSINESS.
COOSAW MINING COMPANY STOPPED MINING IN 1905.
THE VIRGINIA CAROLINA COMPANY TRIED TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THE OLD WORKS AND FINALLY WENT BANKRUPT IN 1914.
AND THAT WAS THE BITTER END OF THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS CONSEQUENCE OF THE END OF THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT EXODUS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION OF THE SEA ISLANDS WITHOUT GOOD WAGE JOBS BEGAN TO MOVE NORTH AND DEPOPULATED MUCH IN BUFORD COUNTY.
BUT THE OTHER EVENT WHICH HASTENED THE DEMISE OF THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY IN BEAVER COUNTY WAS OF COURSE THE GREAT HURRICANE OF 1893, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE 10 LARGEST HURRICANES AND MOST DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANES EVER TO HIT THE UNITED STATES KILLED AS MANY AS 2000 PEOPLE ON THE SEA ISLANDS AND WRECKED THE PHOSPHATE FLEET.
SO THE INVESTORS IN PHOSPHATE FLEET MOVED THEIR CAPITAL TO FLORIDA AND THE PHOSPHATE BUSINESS DECLINED B FOR COUNTY.
THIS HAS BEEN A BUFORD COUNTY MOMENT TO SEE MORE BEAVER COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BUFORD COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.
[01:15:18]
DR.TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THE RECONSTRUCTION SERIES.
WHY NOW 12 YEARS OF BLACK FREEDOM FOLLOWED BY AN ALT-RIGHT ROLLBACK PRESIDENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ABRAHAM LINCOLN, WHO REFUSED TO RENOUNCE WHITE SUPREMACY, A CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT THAT EFFECTIVELY UNDID THE POWER OF THE 14TH AND 15TH AMENDMENTS.
WHAT'S IT SOUND LIKE CONTEMPORARY TIME, CONTEMPORARY TIMES.
SO IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT WE COULD TEACH OUR FELLOW CITIZENS IN AMERICA ABOUT THE PERILOUS MOMENT IN WHICH WE'RE LIVING BY ANALOGY, THROUGH TELLING THE STORY OF RECONSTRUCTION IN ITS ROLLBACK.
AND I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT AFTER THE HORRIBLE MURDERS OF, UH, REVEREND CLEMENTA PINCKNEY AND THE OTHER INNOCENCE AT MOTHER EMANUEL CHURCH, BECAUSE JUSTIFICATIONS THAT DYLAN ROOF, UH, SUMMONED FOR HIS ACTIONS, UM, WERE VERY REMINISCENT OF RACIST RHETORIC ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR AND FOLLOWING RECONSTRUCTION.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A HORROR MOVIE WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE VAMPIRES DID AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY COME UP OUT OF THE CASKET AND HE THINK, DAMN, I THOUGHT I PUT A STAKE IN YOUR HEART.
I THOUGHT THAT THE WORST AND MOST PERNICIOUS HEINOUS ASPECTS OF ANTI-BLACK WHITE SUPREMACY WERE LONG GONE.
AND THAT I WAS NAIVE ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN HATE SPEECH, ANTISEMITISM, ANTI-GAY ATTITUDES AND PEOPLE WHEN PEOPLE CAN BECOME FRIGHTENED PARTICULARLY ABOUT THEIR ECONOMIC FUTURE.
THEY LOOK FOR SCAPEGOATS AND ESCAPE CODES TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN JEWISH PEOPLE, WOMEN GAY PEOPLE, AND OF COURSE IN THIS COUNTRY, PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO IT'S A, A MORAL, UH, LESSON, UM, LET'S STOP AND GO BACK TO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ROLL BACK TO RECONSTRUCTION.
RECONSTRUCTION IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AND YET IT IS SO MISUNDERSTOOD.
WHY IS THAT? WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PERIOD AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY MEANT? WELL, W E W E DUBOIS WROTE A BOOK IN 1935 CALLED BLACK RECONSTRUCTION.
AND ONE CHAPTER IS CALLED THE PROPAGANDA OF HISTORY AND HE ANALYZES HOW WHITE HISTORIANS HAD WRITTEN ABOUT RECONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT WAS PART OF THE BACK TO CREATE A MYTH MYTHOLOGY OF BLACK INCOMPETENCE THAT BLACK MEN HAD BEEN ELECTED TO OFFICE.
AND COULDN'T PROPERLY SERVE THAT BLACK VOTERS HAD BEEN MANIPULATED BY NORTHERN SCALLYWAGS AND BAGGERS THAT BASICALLY THEY WERE TOOLS AND PAWNS THAT THEY WERE DISHONEST OF ROBERT SMALLS.
IT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST, UM, HEROES OF THE CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION SERVED FIVE NON-CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN CONGRESS BECAUSE HE WAS CONSTANTLY BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING MONEY AND MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THE WERE, UM, THERE WAS A MYTHOLOGY SANCTIONED BY THE DISCIPLINE OF HISTORY, LOCATED AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CALLED THE DUNNING SCHOOL LED BY HISTORIAN PROFESSOR DUNNING.
AND THEY FOUND EVERY WAY TO INTRODUCE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF BLACK PEOPLE.
AND THAT HAS ONLY BEEN UNDONE BY HISTORIAN SINCE DUBOIS PUBLIC'S BLACK RECONSTRUCTION AND MOST NOTABLY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ANOTHER COLUMBIA PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR ERIC FONER WITH WHOM WE MADE A RECONSTRUCTION SERIES.
PLUS WE HAVE OVER 40 HISTORIANS DOING MODERN, UM, CUTTING EDGE SCHOLARSHIP ON RECONSTRUCTION THAT WHOM WE FEATURE IN THE SERIES.
SO IT'S VERY MUCH A COLLECTIVE, UM, SERIES, AND IT'S VERY MUCH A COUNTERPOINT TO THE RECEIVED INTERPRETATIONS OF RECONSTRUCTION FABRICATED BY THE DUNNING SCHOOL
WHY IS THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS SO PIVOTAL TO AN UNDERSTANDING
[01:20:01]
OF RECONSTRUCTION? SOUTH CAROLINA WAS GROUND ZERO FOR RECONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT WAS A MAJORITY BLANK STATE.THE, UM, THERE'S A FAMOUS 1872 LITHOGRAPH OF THE FIRST COLORED SENATOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THREE OF THOSE MEN IN THAT LITHOGRAPH WERE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHEN RICHARD T GREENER GRADUATED FROM HARVARD, THE FIRST BLACK MAN TO GRADUATE FROM HARVARD AND THE CLASS OF 1870.
WHERE WAS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY? WAS IT IN NEW YORK? WAS IT IN BOSTON? WAS IT IN PHILADELPHIA? CHARLESTON CAME TO CHARLESTON AND WENT TO, UH, COLUMBIA AND SERVED ON THE FACULTY, UM, AND TOOK LAW CLASSES THERE.
THE, UM, A BLACK MAN FROM ENGLAND, FROM LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, ROBERT BROWN ELLIOTT CAME TO, TO BOSTON IN 1867.
THE BRITISH NAVY COULD SMELL THE OPPORTUNITY HEADED STRAIGHT TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND WORKED FOR RICHARD HARVEY.
CANES NEWSPAPER THEN WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS, VERY ELOQUENT, MAN.
AND, UM, THIS WAS WHERE IT WAS AT, THIS IS WHERE IT WAS HAPPENING.
AND WHEN I INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVE CLIBURN HIS OFFICE IN THE, IN THE CONGRESS, HE'S LONG BEEN A STUDENT OF RECONSTRUCTION.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A MUSEUM YOU GO IN THERE AND ALL THESE BROTHERS ARE ON THE WALL.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA HAD A BLACK MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THAT NOW SOUTH CAROLINA, EVEN IN THE 18TH CENTURY, IT WAS CALLED NEGRO COUNTRY.
UM, AND VERY SOON THAT WAS DISMANTLED.
SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT MANY OF THE MOST VICIOUS BATTLES OVER RACE OCCURRED HERE BECAUSE IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL THIS BLACK MAJORITY.
I WENT TO CALHOUN COLLEGE AT YALE UNIVERSITY AND JOHN C. CALHOUN WAS AN INTELLECTUAL RACIST.
HE NOT ONLY WANTED SLAVERY TO CONTINUE, HE WANTED TO RESURRECT THE SLAVE TRADE.
HE WAS, HE WAS A ROUGH BROTHER.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST SIGNIFICANT, UH, ASPECTS OF RECONSTRUCTION? THE REAL POSITIVES, THE ESTABLISHMENT, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACK SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS, UM, PARTICULARLY THE CHURCHES, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THE SLAVES WANTED TO GET MARRIED AND LEGALIZE THEIR LOVE RELATIONSHIPS.
THE, UM, THE TAKING OUT OF ADS IN NEWSPAPERS TO REUNITE FAMILIES AND THE FACT THAT 80% OF THE ELIGIBLE BLACK MEN IN THE SOUTH HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE.
AND WHAT I CALL THE FIRST FREEDOM SUMMER, THE SUMMER OF 1867 AND 500,000 OF THEM CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1868 FOR ULYSSES S GRANT.
AND PEOPLE FORM SCHOOLS HISTORICALLY BLACK.
WHAT WE NOW CALL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES LIKE SHAW AND HOWARD, BUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ALLEN AND BENEDICT AND CLAFLIN, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, JUST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT THE SLAVES HAD A HUNGER FOR LEARNING BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT HAD BEEN KEPT FOR THEM WAS KNOWLEDGE OF READING AND WRITING.
AND THEY KNEW THAT WAS THE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.
ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION GREW OUT OF THIS PERIOD AND PARTICULARLY, UH, WAS SPEARHEADED HERE IN OUR STATE, BY ROBERT SMALLS, RIGHT THERE WEREN'T PUBLIC STATEWIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THE RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNMENTS, PARTICULARLY, UM, IN SOUTH CAROLINA IN PARTICULARLY AS DESIGNED BY ROBERT SMALLS, UM, ESTABLISHED STATEWIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WHICH HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE, WHICH IS A SHOCK TO PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING THOUGH, THAT THINGS LIKE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND CERTAINLY, UH, ENFRANCHISEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALL THESE POSITIVES THAT GREW OUT OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD ARE STILL UNDER ASSAULT IN MODERN TIMES.
AND IT'S, WE HAVE TO, UM, ANY SOCIETY IS JUDGED BY THE QUALITY OF ITS PUBLIC EDUCATION.
AND WE, AS AMERICANS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED AND HOW WE'VE ALLOWED OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE POPULATED BY BRILLIANT TEACHERS ARE SO MOTIVATED, BUT THEY'RE UNDERPAID AND UNDER-RESOURCED, AND, UM, WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE, UM, A GENERAL IDEA THAT THE COLLAPSE OF RECONSTRUCTION WAS SOLELY IN THE HANDS OF THE SOUTH.
IT'S NO, THE COLLAPSE OF RECONSTRUCTION WAS A CONSPIRACY BETWEEN ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND POLITICAL INTERESTS IN THE NORTH.
AND IN THE SOUTH, THEY SAID 12 YEARS IS ENOUGH.
[01:25:01]
OF 1873, WHICH WAS CALLED THE FIRST GREAT DEPRESSION.AND PEOPLE LOOKED AROUND AND SAID, WHY ARE WE SPENDING ALL THE MONEY ON THESE NEGROS IN THE SOUTH? LET THEM DRIVE.
AND THEY ACTED BARREL AS IF 200 YEARS OF SLAVERY COULD BE WIPED OUT WITH NO REPARATIONS WITH, WITH, WITH, UM, NO BENEFITS GIVEN NO 40 ACRES AND A MULE, NO HELP.
UM, THAT EACH OF THESE PEOPLE WERE ON THEIR OWN.
NOT ONLY THAT NEW FORMS OF OPPRESSION WERE INSTITUTIONALIZED, THAT PNH SHARECROPPING THE RISE OF THE KLAN, THE RISE OF THE COOK TERRORISM.
AND SO VERY MUCH A RECONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT ISSUES THAT STILL ROYAL OUR SOCIETY TODAY, WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO BE A CITIZEN WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO BE AN AMERICAN.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY? AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF TERRORISM IN THE HEALTHY FUNCTIONING OF A DEMOCRACY? WHAT'S THE ROLE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN, IN THE FACE OF THE MANIFESTATIONS OF TERRORISM? HOW CAN WE HAVE THIS VERY BLATANT REMINDER FROM 150 YEARS AGO AND NOT BE MINDFUL OF ITS IMPACT TODAY? WHY DYLAN MCGEE AND I MADE THE SERIES AND WITH PBS, WE'LL GET AN, I AM ON THE ROAD.
YOU KNOW, I FLEW DOWN TO BUFORD FROM HARVARD.
UH, I DID MY OFFICIAL DUTIES ON JUMPED ON JET BLUE AND CAME DOWN HERE BECAUSE I'M WANTING TO SOUTH CAROLINA SCREENING TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS GROUND ZERO, THAT THEN IS NOW, AND I WANT TO DO ONE IN CHARLESTON, AND I WANT TO DO ONE AT THE PENN CENTER, UH, AS WELL.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNTRY UNDERSTAND THAT WE MADE THIS SERIES ABOUT THE CURRENT RACIAL CLIMATE IN THE UNITED STATES, THOUGH IT'S THROUGH THE MIRROR AND THE ANALOGY OF RECONSTRUCTION AND IT'S ROLLED BACK CALLED REDEMPTION.
WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS FOR YOU FOR THIS SERIES? UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT RECONSTRUCTION MODULES.
I WANT RECONSTRUCTION MODULES TO BE CREATED IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO THAT RECONSTRUCTION IS AS CENTRAL TO A COURSE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AS A CIVIL WAR IS OR WORLD WAR ONE AND WORLD WAR II RECONSTRUCTION WAS OUR FIRST EXPERIMENT WITH INTERRACIAL DEMOCRACY AND IT WAS CRUSHED.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE AS A SOCIETY IS IF WE FASHIONED FORUMS OF INTERRACIAL DEMOCRACY AND COLLABORATION THAT ALLOW A MULTIPLICITY OF VOICES, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, ET CETERA, GENDER IDENTITIES, TO THRIVE AND LIVE IN HARMONY AND PEACE.
THAT'S MY GOAL IN CREATING THIS SERIES AND I HOPE PEOPLE WILL WATCH IT.
THANK YOU, Q I CAN TALK TO YOU ALL DAY, ALWAYS IN PLEASURE.