[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAVER COUNTY.
BUT ARE YOU LIKE CALL THE MEETING
[1. Call to Order]
TO WATER? UH, CHRIS YOU'RE.ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF NATION ACT? YES, SIR.
CAN YOU MAKE THE ROLL CALL PLEASE? CERTAINLY, SIR.
UH, MR. BROWN PRESENT MR. HARKINS HERE.
MR. LENNOX, MR. STANFORD HERE, MAYOR MCCANN HERE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? YOU HAVE VACATION TONIGHT WILL BE GIVEN BY THE PASTOR WHILE THEY'RE COMBS.
PLEASE BEAR WITH ME PRAYER OR GOD.
WE ARE THANKFUL, THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF THIS PLACE THAT WE'RE BLESSED TO BE FOR OUR HOMES, FOR OUR FAMILIES, FOR OUR FRIENDS.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR, JOHN, FOR OUR TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN COUNCIL FOR EMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS FOR ALL WHO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY DOMESTICALLY AND ABROAD.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND INCLUDING THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES AND OUTREACH THAT WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE.
AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVE LORD, WE'RE THANKFUL EVEN FOR THE TOURISTS LORD WHO BLESS US, UH, AND HELP OUR ECONOMY AND LORD, ESPECIALLY TODAY, BLESS ALL OF US ON THE ROAD WITH, UH, THEM DRIVING AROUND AND THE RAIN PROTECT THOSE ON THE ROAD.
LORD, UH, IT'S A BLESSING AND A CHALLENGE AT TIMES, AND WE PRAY THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO LEARN PATIENCE AND BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE GIFTS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO US.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR LEADERSHIP FACES, THE DECISIONS, THE ISSUES, THE TENSIONS, LORD, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE CLARITY AND WISDOM, AND THAT PEACE WOULD COLOR ALL DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTRY THAT THEY WOULD SEEK YOU AND YOUR WISDOM, YOUR DIRECTION AND STRENGTH, YOUR PEACE AND SEEK YOUR WAY IN WORKING OUT ANY ISSUES OR DISAGREEMENTS.
AND LORD, WE ESPECIALLY PRAY FOR THIS MEETING TODAY, FOR ALL WHO ARE PRESENT FOR YOUR GRACE, AS THEY DELIBERATE AND SHARE AND SEEK TO BE WISE WITH GOOD COUNSEL AND MAKE HELPFUL DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ASK THIS ALL IN JESUS NAME.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU, YOUR FATHER.
[6. Approval of the Minutes]
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES MOST IN THE SECOND, ANY CORRECTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS TO ME BE OVERFED WITH, PLEASE RAISE THEIR RIGHT HAND.ARE WE GOING TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THE AGENDA? YES, SIR.
UH, YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHICH ONE IT IS? I WOULD MOVE THAT WE, UM, ELIMINATE THE DISCUSSION ON E-BIKES AT, FOR THIS AGENDA.
AND I SECOND THAT, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[7. Report of the Town Manager]
YES, SIR.MAYOR COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I'M EXCITED TO GIVE A COUPLE OF QUICK UPDATES AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO A FEW OTHERS.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION TO SHARE TONIGHT.
SO I'LL TALK FAST AND DIVE RIGHT IN.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, AND AS I'VE HEARD OVER MY LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HERE, UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS AND A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE HELPING US WITH OUR BEACH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
I HAVE, UH, WORKED WITH JEFF BUCKALEW IN OUR HR DEPARTMENT AND, AND OTHERS, UM, TO SELECT A BEACH PROGRAM MANAGER MORE THAN 80 APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED.
UM, AND WE HAVE HIRED OUR BEACH PROGRAM MANAGER, UH, AS OF MONDAY HE STARTED, UM, HIS NAME IS MARK ROBSON AND THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY IN OUR, IN OUR FUTURE TO SEE HIM MEET HIM AND TALK WITH HIM AS PART OF THAT PROCESS.
I'VE ALSO CREATED AN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR THE BEACH.
AND SO I INTEND TO MOVE A FACILITY MANAGER AND TWO TEXTS OVER TO THE BEACH WITH HIM.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO START FOCUSING RIGHT AWAY ON ISLANDERS BEACH.
I THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE BEACH PASS PARKING SPACE PROGRAM WE HAVE THERE.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT COLIGNY AS WELL, LOOK AT THE PARKING AND THE WAYFINDING BURKE SPEECH ACCESS.
AND SO WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT THEY'RE HOUSED IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE
[00:05:01]
SERVICES AREA IN OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION.UM, BUT THEY'LL FOCUS ON THE BEACH 24 7 THEY'LL HAVE ENFORCEMENT, UM, RESPONSIBILITY AND CAPABILITY, AND THEY WILL WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS.
THEY'LL HELP ENFORCE THEY'LL OVERSEE CONTRACTS, UM, AS WELL AS THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
AND OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LIAISON WITH OUR PDS AND BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO STAY TUNED ON SOME MORE GOOD NEWS.
UM, LASTLY, UM, UH, MY, UH, ITEMS OF INTEREST
THIS WEEK AT ISLAND REC TWO O'CLOCK TILL SIX O'CLOCK, THERE'S AN OPEN HOUSE.
AND AS SOON AS THE OPEN HOUSE ENDS AT SIX, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, ON THE GATEWAY PROJECT.
AND SO I THINK, AND I URGE YOU ALL TO, TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DOD PLAN.
UM, THERE'S FLYERS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.
SOMEBODY PUT SOME FLYERS BACK THERE, SO THEY'RE THERE.
WE DIDN'T, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HE WAS GOING TO BE THERE.
UM, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE, UM, ON AUGUST 16TH AND 17TH, THERE'LL BE A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ON AUGUST 16TH, ONE OF ISLAND REC 9:00 AM TO 11, ONE FROM 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM TO ALLOW THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE AT WORK TO, UH, COMMUNICATE TO US.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE, AUGUST 17TH AT TOWN HALL FROM NINE TO 11, UH, AT THAT COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE, WE'LL LOOK AT LOCAL CONCEPTS, GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND COLLECT ALL THE INPUT THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL TASK FORCE AND, AND OTHER FULL FOLKS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ALONG THE WAY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CALL UPON JENNIFER RAY, WHO WHO'S OUR INTERIM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND ALSO THE HEAD OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SHE HAS ONE BUSINESS CARD IT'S DOUBLE-SIDED.
SO FOR NOW, THANK YOU, JEN AND JEN, WE'LL INTRODUCE THE MID ISLAND TRACT PROJECT AND THE PROGRESS MADE TODAY.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN HERE AS CAPITAL PROGRAM MANAGER, AND I'M SO EXCITED AND I APOLOGIZE.
I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO ALL MOST OF THE DAY TODAY.
WE GOT IN RIGHT BEFORE THE RAIN STARTED, BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD STUFF HAPPENING HERE AT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
ONE PARTICULAR BIT OF GOOD NEWS.
I WILL BE DOING REGULAR UPDATES FOR YOU ALL.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO DO NEW THIS YEAR, UM, FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, JUST SO THAT YOU KNOW, WHERE THINGS STAND, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR TWO MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
TODAY I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH MKS K LED TEAM.
THEIR TEAM ALSO INCLUDES DOVER COLE FOR URBAN DESIGN, KIMBERLY HORN, DOING RESILIENCY AND MARKET ANALYSIS, HDR WITH TRANSPORTATION, CONNECTIVITY, PLANNING, LSVP FOR PARK ARCHITECTURE AND CRANSTON FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE MID ISLAND PROJECT.
THAT'S BOTH THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND THE PARK PLANNING THAT WE'LL BE DOING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGY BETWEEN THE TWO.
AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE BACK IN AUGUST, KICKING THAT OFF.
THAT WILL INCLUDE A WORKSHOP WITH Y'ALL WITH TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP, WITH PARKS AND REC COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE.
SO EVERYONE STAY TUNED, LOTS OF GOOD STUFF COMING UP ON THAT PROJECT.
IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT ALSO WANT TO, JUST TO SPEND A LITTLE MINUTE TO TELL YOU THAT WE ALSO ARE UNDER CONTRACT NOW WITH THE WOODEN PARTNERS LEAD TEAM FOR CHAPLAIN AND CROSSINGS, THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THOSE TWO IMPORTANT PROJECTS WE HAVE BROUGHT TO YOU BEFORE THE BIG THREE, I WAS CALLING IT THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE TOGETHER.
IT'S TWO SEPARATE TEAMS, BUT THE TEAM LED BY AND PARTNERS INCLUDES DESIGN WORKSHOP.
AND THEN THE OTHER CONSULTANTS THAT WERE PART OF LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK, OUR BIG WIN.
UM, LAST YEAR WE BROUGHT THAT TEAM BACK TOGETHER INCLUDES, UM, THOMAS AND HUTTON FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING AND THE SAME ARCHITECTS, WATSON TAPED SAVORY.
LIKE I SAID, DESIGN WORKSHOP AS AN ADVISOR LED BY WOODEN IN PARTNERS WHO HAPPENED TO LOOK AT YOUR AGENDA TODAY AND SEE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE CHAPLAIN AREA AND JUST TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO BE HERE, TO HEAR THAT CONVERSATION.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, GREAT SIGN.
AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, UM, MKS K HERE TODAY, BROUGHT A BIG TEAM DOWN TO SPEND TIME WITH ME OUT AT THE SITE AND JUST GETTING THE SCHEDULE AND GETTING READY TO GO.
SO HOPE YOU CAN TELL I'M EXCITED.
IT'S A LOT OF GOOD STUFF GOING TO BE COMING IN FRONT OF YOU THIS YEAR, SO GET READY.
UM, UH, SO I'LL ALSO ASK FOR THE SEMI-ANNUAL UPDATE FOR THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD FROM OUR DESIGN REVIEW BOARD CHAIRMAN.
[00:10:01]
HERE, HERE.UM, I'M MICHAEL DENTON AND I'M NOW THERE, THE RETIRED OR FORMER, UH, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD CHAIRMAN.
UH, I'M GIVING THIS BECAUSE THESE WERE DONE UNDER MY PURVIEW FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR.
SO I PUT MY SIX YEARS IN AND THEN THEY LET ME GO.
SO, UH, SO, UH, I, I'M JUST HERE AS A REPORTER TODAY.
UM, I'M GOING TO REPORT TO THE, UH, COUNT COUNCIL TODAY, THE, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS AND SIGNAGE, UH, FOR THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR, JANUARY TO JUNE, 2021.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR ME, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
UM, NEW DEVELOPMENT, WE HAD A, UM, EVEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, UH, WE HAD A VERY BUSY, A LOT OF GOOD ACTIVITY THE YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC.
WE WERE PRETTY WELL EVEN WITH THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND THE FIRST PART OF THIS YEAR, WE WERE, UH, AGAIN, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE WITH THE NUMBER OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT CAME THROUGH.
SO, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WE HAD THE FERN EM'S RESTAURANT, UH, FINAL APPROVAL, 85 CAPITAL DRIVE, CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL, A QUARTER DECK RESTAURANT FINAL APPROVAL, UH, APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, UH, MOUNT CALVARY, FINAL APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, PALMETTO, COASTAL COMMERCIAL, FINAL APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, BENNY HUDSON SEAFOOD, FINAL APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, A NEW STARBUCKS ON POPE AVENUE, UH, FINAL APPROVED, BUT CONDITIONS, ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS WHERE THE HARD BUILDING, UH, BUILDING F REPAINT APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS.
UH, THE GRAY CO EDITION APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS.
HOLY FAMILY, CATHOLIC CHURCH REROOF APPROVED, UH, CHARLIE'S RESTAURANT APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS.
CAPITOL DRIVE STORAGE BUILDING, UH, ALTERATIONS TO AN EARLIER APPROVAL WAS DENIED.
UH, TROPICAL SMOOTHIE APPROVED THE CONDITIONS SMOKEHOUSE RESTAURANT ALTERATIONS TO AN EARLIER APPROVAL WERE APPROVED MCDONALD'S RENOVATION ON PLANET PLAZA DRIVE APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, LIONS REPAINT, APPROVED DINO'S RESTAURANT APPROVED THE CONDITIONS I UNDER SPEECH PARK OVERLOOK APPROVED, BUT CONDITIONS AND SIGNAGE, UH, W THE SANDBOX CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ASSIGNED FOR THAT WAS APPROVED.
UH, HAMP EXTRACTION STORE WAS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS, CONDITIONS, AND THE CHILD ADDIE'S RESTAURANT WAS APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, IN APRIL, UM, THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DRAFTED A LETTER TO THE LMO COMMITTEE, UH, REQUESTING THAT THE LMO COMMITTEE LOOK INTO, UM, UH, S UH, SETBACKS, UH, BUFFERS AND ALLOWABLE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS CURRENTLY BEING ALLOWED ON HILTON HEAD.
IT WAS AT THE TIME THE, UH, UH, DRPS CONSENSUS THAT WE WERE FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD BEING FORCED TO APPROVE BUILDINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE TOTALLY OUT OF SCALE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN WHICH THEY ARE BEING PROPOSED.
AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU MEMBERS ON THE BOARD REACHED OUT TO ME AT THAT TIME.
UH, BUT THAT IS WITH THE ELMO COMMITTEE.
I BELIEVE THEY, IN FACT, I KNOW THEY HAD VOTED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THAT, UH, AND IT WENT TO THE PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, UH, AND ALSO IN APRIL, UH, SAME THING.
I, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU ON WHERE THAT IS WITH THOSE COMMITTEES.
UH, BUT THIS WAS ALL ORIGINATED FROM A LETTER I DRAFTED TO TOWN COUNTY.
SO BACK IN MARCH OF, UH, MARCH OF THIS YEAR, STATING OUR CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE CURRENT BUILDINGS THAT ARE BEING APPROVED, AND MOSTLY IT WAS A SCALE ISSUE, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LIST, ANYTHING THAT'S APPROVED WITH CONDITIONS IS USUALLY SOMETHING THAT THEY SUBMITTED AND THE DRB COMMENTED ON AND GAVE THEM APPROVAL BASED ON THESE THREE OR FOUR CONDITIONS.
AND GENERALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, THINGS RUN WELL THAT WAY, MOST PEOPLE THAT SUBMIT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US, US AND VICE VERSA.
UH, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T, UH, GO NO AGAINST IS THINGS THAT ARE ALLOWED BY THE LMO, WHICH ARE A NUMBER OF STORIES, HIGH TO BUILD LINKS, ET CETERA.
SO IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS FOR US, THE END OF MY REPORT, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
UM, IT'S NOT A QUESTION IT'S JUST, I WANTED
[00:15:01]
TO THANK YOU FOR SIX YEARS OF, UM, REALLY I WATCH, AND I SIT IN ON THOSE MEETINGS AND THE DESIGN REWARD REVIEW BOARD DOES AN AMAZING JOB AT MAKING SURE THAT ISLAND CHARACTER REMAINS INTACT.AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CHALLENGES AND WE LOOK FORWARD, AT LEAST I LOOK FORWARD.
I'M SURE OTHERS DO TOO INTO, UM, NOTING THOSE POINTS THAT YOU SENT TO US AND MAKING SOME, UM, SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU, MIKE WEIRD AND PUBLIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE MASS SEAM AND HEIGHT ISSUES WITH A STAFF REPORT TOMORROW.
I'M GLAD THAT IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
UM, BUT IT WAS A GREAT SIX YEARS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPE I HELPED YOU DID A GREAT JOB.
NEXT IS A PRESENTATION FROM DARYL OWENS, THE PROJECT MANAGER FROM THE ANTIOCH EDUCATION CENTER, AND WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ANTIOCH EXPRESS PROJECT.
THANK YOU FOR AFFORDING ANTIOCH EDUCATION CENTER.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU ON TODAY, THERE IT IS.
I'M GOING TO HAVE A PASSION ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMETHING I HAVE A TENDENCY OF, OF JUST GOING OFF.
SO TO KEEP ME ON TASK, I'M GOING TO REFER TO AND STICK TO THIS ACTION.
THIS POWERPOINT NOW ANTIOCH EDUCATIONAL CENTER IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE HOUSED IN ORIGINALLY IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 7 5 5 7 WEST MAIN STREET.
ANTIOCH EDUCATIONAL CENTER HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
UH, WE PRIDE OURSELVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, JOB PERFORMANCE, OR JOB PREPAREDNESS HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
WE PROVIDE, UH, WE ARE A RESOURCE TO HELPING THOSE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LOW INCOME CONSIDERED TO BE LOW INCOME, AND TO HELP THEM TO BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT AND MOVING FROM A STATE OF DEPENDENCY TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY ANTIOCH ORGANIZATION OPERATES IN BOTH BUFORD COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY, AND ALSO HAMPTON COUNTY AREAS OF SERVICE.
ANTIOCH SPONSORS, THE BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM, WHERE WE FEED OVER A THOUSAND STUDENTS IN JASPER COUNTY SCHOOLS, WHALE, BRANCH ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN BUFORD COUNTY, AND ALSO ESTEL ELEMENTARY IN HAMPTON, THE SUMMER YOUTH WORKERS PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM WHERE WE ACTUALLY, UM, WORK WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS AND WE PLAY 16 TO 18 YEAR OLDS ON JOBS TO PREPARE, PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE AND JOB PREPAREDNESS.
AND WE PAY THEM A VERY COMPETITIVE WAGE.
THIS IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS, UH, GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS RANGING FROM THE FIRST GRADE INTO 12TH GRADE.
AND WE FOLLOW THESE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL YEAR IN SCHOOLS AND TAKE THEM ON MANY TRIPS AND EXPOSE THEM TO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IN FACT, WE TOOK THE LAST GROUP OF SCHOLARS.
WE TOOK TO SEATTLE WASHINGTON AND INTRODUCED THEM TO WHAT YOU WILL SEE COMING IN.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY AS THE PIKA PROGRAM, THE PIKA PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY A VIRTUAL REALITY PROGRAM, A LEARNING PROGRAM THAT'S THAT USES THESE GOGGLES, THESE, UM, TECHNOLOGY TYPE GOGGLES, AND IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND THAT THEY WERE INTRODUCED TO THAT PROGRAM IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UH, FAMILIES IN TRANSITION, THE FIT PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHERE THAT GROUP IS, UH, MEETS ONCE A MONTH.
ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT OUR FACILITY, WE HAVE ABOUT 30 BUSINESS PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES THAT SITS AROUND THE TABLE.
AND WE GET A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR SERVICES AND AT JOIN OUR FIT MEETINGS THAT AFFORDS THAT COMMITTEE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS AND ALSO GIVE CONSIDERATION TO WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT, UH, THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE REQUESTED SUCH AS HELP WITH THEIR MORTGAGE OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UTILITY AND SO FORTH, ANY TYPE OF CRISIS THAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING THAT AT TIME THEY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AND WE REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS AND TAKE ACTION ON THOSE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BACK TO SCHOOL UNIFORMS PROGRAM WHERE WE PROVIDE SCHOOL UNIFORMS FREE OF CHARGE TO THOSE PARENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF SCHOOLS UNIFORMS. SO WE'RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT IN ADDITION TO OTHER AREAS OF SERVICE THAT THE ANTIOCH OR AEC THAT I REFER TO OPERATES, ONE OF OUR PROGRAM OF IS A NURSING ASSISTANT PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY MY OBJECTIVE HERE BEING HERE TODAY IS
[00:20:01]
TO LET YOU ALL KNOW IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT AEC IS A RESOURCE.WE ARE A RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE PROVIDE CNA TRAINING NURSES, ASSISTANT TRAINING.
WE HAD OUR LAST GRADUATION CLASS, UM, ON LAST FRIDAY, UM, THE CLASS CONSISTS OF 110 HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.
66 CLASSROOM HOURS, 44 CLINICALS.
OUR CLINICAL SESSIONS ARE HELD AT THE HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL AND HC IN BLUFFTON AND COASTAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL.
SO WE PUT OUT VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED NURSING'S NURSES.
NEXT MONTH, WE WILL BE AGAIN, EKG TRAINING AND PHLEBOTOMY.
WE PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES, FREE LEGAL SERVICES.
EDUCATION CENTER IS THE HOST, AND WE HOST LEGAL CLINICS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF LAW PRO BONO PROGRAM, THE LITTLE COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS EACH MONTH AC PROVIDES OFFICE SPACE FOR A GROUP OF LEGAL VOLUNTEERS TO COME IN, TO PROVIDE FREE LEGAL COUNSELS AND CLINICS TO QUALIFY AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF BUFORD HAMPTON AND JASPER COUNTIES SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS IN THE AREAS OF WILL WILLS HEALTH, POWER OF ATTORNEY LAW, FAMILY LAW, AND LANDLORD TENANT AREAS.
UH, WE WERE FORTUNATE ON FRIDAY, PASS ON THE 12TH TO HAVE THE BUS THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT THERE, THEY SOUTH CAROLINA, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF LAW BUS TO COME DOWN.
WE HAD SEVERAL, UH, VOLUNTEERS, ATTORNEYS FROM CHARLESTON AND COLUMBIA.
THEY CAME DOWN AND OF COURSE WITH THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL SERVICES, THEY ALL CAME IN PROVIDED SERVICES TO THOSE RESIDENTS THAT, THAT SIGNED UP FOR ASSISTANCE.
THE LATEST PROJECT, WHICH I'M EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR WORK EXPRESS SHUTTLE.
IT'S AFFORDABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO HELP, TO REMOVE ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT FACE THIS LOW INCOME NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S THE COST OF BEING ABLE TO GET TO WORK OR BEING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES.
THESE SHUTTLE ROUTES DROP OFF LOCATIONS INCLUDE COASTAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL IN HARTSVILLE, THE NEW RIVER CENTER, ANYTHING ALONG THE CORRIDOR OF 2 78, WE WILL ACCOMMODATE THE WALMARTS SHOPPING CENTERS, THE SUPER SUPERMARKETS, HILTON HEAD, REGIONAL HOSPITAL FIDDLE, AND OTHER LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE ACQUIRED TWO BRANDS, THE NEW AIR CONDITION, 25 PASSENGER BUSES, AND THESE BUSES MAKE DAILY TRIPS ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAYS.
AND WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING WHERE OUR WRITERS FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS ARE NOT PAYING A DIME THEY RIDE FOR FREE.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS SHUTTLE IS TO GET THEM THE WORKERS TO WORK WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT HOW WILL I PUT FUEL IN MY CAR OR EXPERIENCING SOME TYPE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR.
THEY PARK AND RIDE THE PARK AND GET ON THE BUS AT OUR HUB AT ANTIOCH EDUCATIONAL CENTER.
AND WE TRANSPORT THEM OVER HERE TO HILTON HEAD, THE SOUTHERN AREA.
I CALL IT FROM LOWER, UH, JASPER COUNTY IN HARTSVILLE, BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD.
WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED ON THE 15TH OF JUNE.
AND SO WE'VE HAD, WE'VE BEEN ON A ROAD FOR A MONTH AND A FEW DAYS RIGHT NOW, UH, WHERE OUR RIDERSHIP IS INCREASING DAILY.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF INQUIRIES, UM, FOR, UM, FOR SERVICE AND AFFORDS THEM ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND NOT BE AWAY AS LONG AS THE FIRST BUS LEAVES OUT AT SIX 15 IN THE MORNING.
AND THEN WE HAVE AN EVENING BUS THAT GOES OUT AND PICKS THOSE WORKERS AND BRING IN, RETURNS THEM BACK TO THEIR HOME OR THEIR PLACE, THEIR STARTING POINT.
UH, IF WE DO NOT RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, OF COURSE, THEN THE MOST THAT THEY WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH IS THAT HAVING TO PAY $5 A DAY ROUND TRIP.
SO THAT IS VERY AFFORDABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
UH, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE RECEIVED OR QUIET FUNDING FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY WHO FUNDED THE PURCHASE OF THOSE BUSES.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO THEM AND THE WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY WHO SPONSORED THE FREE RIDERSHIP FOR THE FIRST 90 DAYS.
SO, UH, WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE HERE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CHAMBERS, WE, A MEMBER OF THE HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON CHAMBER, JASPER CHAMBER, AND BUFORD CHAMBER.
WE ARE SPONSORING OR HOSTING A JOB FAIR, HOPEFULLY A TENTATIVELY ON THE 26TH OF AUGUST.
I'M REACHING OUT TO A LOT OF THE RESTAURANTS AND THE HOTEL INDUSTRIES, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE CORRIDOR OF 2 78 IN EFFORTS OF HAVING THEM COME OVER AND TAKE PLATE, TAKE APART OF BEING A PARTICIPATE IN THIS JOB FAIR IN EFFORT TO RECRUIT WORKERS.
AND IF THEY CAN RECRUIT THE WORKERS, THEN AEC WILL PROVIDE THE TRANSPORTATION.
[00:25:01]
OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO BE A PARTNER, TO BE A RESOURCE WITH THE COMMUNITY, TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CAN I GET THERE OR HAVING A CAN THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE RIGHT HIGH ROCKET, UH, THE SKYROCKET COST OF PINK PUTTING FUEL IN THE CARS TODAY.SO THAT'S WHAT WE, THOSE WERE SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL AND THE COMMUNITY.
I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF, IF THIS TIME, IF YOU'D LIKE QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT I, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, JUST, UH, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
UM, I APPLAUD YOUR EFFORTS, UM, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR DIALOGUE.
I WANT TO SAY OUT LOUD THAT, UM, YES, WE CAN VIEW THIS AS A PARTNERSHIP, BUT I DEFINITELY DO.
BUT I WANT US TO BE AWARE THAT AS, UH, AS WE START TO EXPERIENCE MORE AND MORE GROWTH OUT IN JASPER COUNTY, UM, THE ABSENCE OF US HAVING THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM OR EXPERIMENT ON HILTON HEAD ALSO BECOMES A THREAT.
UM, THE SECOND THING IS, UM, THE JOB FAIR.
WE ARE IN A CRISIS ON HILTON HEAD WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, THE LABOR FORCE.
UM, WOULD YOU PLEASE, UH, ATTEMPT TO DO IT IN THE FIRST QUARTER THAT WILL HELP US ON HEALTH NET, PARTICULARLY SINCE WE, UH, UH, MOBILE HOSPITALITY, UM, ECONOMY HERE, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THOSE WORKERS MORE THAN ANY, UH, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR.
SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU KNOW, BOYS AND GIRLS, A PLACE BULLETS USUALLY CARRY WITH THEM THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.
AND WHEN MARK MENTIONED ME THIS MORNING, WHEN I COME IN ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THIS GROUP HERE, I JUST REMEMBERED.
I JUST GOT BACK BEFORE DAYS OF SEEING BASEBALL IN PITTSBURGH AND WASHINGTON DC, AND IT NEVER GETS OLD.
IT BECOMES BETTER AS YOU GET OLDER AND YOU SEEN A PITTSBURGH BY THE METS OVER THE WEEKEND, BUT IT'S BEEN GREAT.
AND THE HONOR, UH, TO RECOGNIZE THE HILTON HEAD ON OZONE ALSO IS WHO RECENTLY WON THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAMPIONSHIP.
THEY ARE NOW HEADED FOR THE DIXIE YOUTH TOURNAMENT WORLD SERIES IN MISSISSIPPI.
WILL THE CLERK READ THE NAMES OF THE BOYS PLEASE? THE YOUNG MEN? YES, SIR.
UM, WE'VE GOT PHOENIX SHAPIRO UP, PLEASE RECOGNIZE ALAN WOLF, BRENT, BRANDON ESPINOSA, TY AMES, JOHNNY CARR, AND PETER FESTER MAKER ALLERGIES.
UM, AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO JOINED BY THEIR COACHES, JEFF RILEY HERE, KIRAN RODRIGUEZ, AND CHRIS FELTNER YOU TO GIVE THEM ALL A BIG HAND, PLEASE.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH MAYOR.
I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT THAT 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO, THIS SAME TEAM WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THE DIXIE LEAGUE? UH, I THINK THERE'S FIVE OF THESE KIDS THAT ARE ON OUR TEAM.
UM, THEY'VE FINISHED RUNNER UP THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE EIGHT.
[8. Reports from the Members of Town Council]
OKAY.WE PUT THAT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL GENERAL REPORTS, ANYBODY HAVE A GENERAL REPORT TO MAKE ALEX OKAY.
UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS, UM, AND I'LL TRY TO SPEAK QUICKLY.
ONE IS, I THINK WE ALL RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE CHURCH MOUSE AND, UM, I WAS PLEASED TO RECEIVE IT AND TO SEE THE GOOD NEWS THAT THEY HAD TO REPORT IN, UM, WHAT THEIR SUCCESS THROUGH COVID AND, UM, HOW THEY'VE COME OUT OF IT.
AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO HERE ON THE ISLANDS IS A MEASURABLE AND THANK THEM FOR SENDING THAT TO SECONDLY, I WANTED TO THANK JEFF BUCKALEW AND HIS TEAM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING IN TO HELP US RESOLVE SOME ISSUES OVER, UM, IN MY WARD.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT'S COME UP THAT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY.
UM, OUR TROLLEY OR HILTON HEAD
[00:30:01]
TROLLEY, UM, IS WE HAVE A NEW ROUTE THAT IT TAKES AND IT BRINGS IT THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, OVER ON FOLLY FIELD.AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS OVER THERE HAVE EXPRESSED SOME, UM, DISCOMFORT AND, UM, WITH THE AMOUNT OF NOISE FROM THE DIESEL TRUCK, AS WELL AS THE SMELLS AND THEY'VE ASKED FOR SOME HELP AND ELIMINATING THAT THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AND WITH, UH, MARY LOU FROM, UH, FROM THE BREEZE, IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A SECOND DAIRY TRUCK THAT, UH, BEST THAT CAN BE USED.
IT DOESN'T USE THE SAME TYPE OF DIESEL.
I THINK ACTUALLY IT'S A GAS RUN TRUCK.
IT'S SMALLER, IT'S LESS NOISY.
AND THAT SEEMS TO BE, UM, A SOLUTION TO THE RESIDENTS PROBLEMS OVER THERE.
AND SO I'M ASKING, UM, COUNCIL SUPPORT, UM, IN ASKING OUR TOWN MANAGER TO ASK ANOTHER, ASK, UM, MARY LOU, UM, TO SWAP OUT THAT TRUCK, UH, DIESEL TROLLEY FOR THE CUTAWAY, SMALLER CHARLIE, AND SEE IF WE CAN TAKE AWAY THOSE ISSUES FOR THOSE RESIDENTS AND RETURN THEIR QUALITY OF THE PIECE OF LIFE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH US ASKING THEM ALL TO DO THAT? NOT AT ALL.
MR. STANFORD FROM THE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION.
AND MS. BECKER AGAIN, THE LOCAL COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, OUR LAST MEETING WAS A REORGANIZATION MEETING.
WE WILL BE MOVING THE GOOD NEWS, UM, GOING FORWARD IS WE'RE MOVING FROM ZOOM MEETINGS BACK TO IN-PERSON.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND HAVE MORE TO SAY AFTER OUR NEXT MEETING.
GOOD, MR. BROWN, YOU TAKE, CAN YOU TELL, OH, RICHLY, COULD YOU SEND MR. BROWN, THE FLOOD COASTAL BOARDING WATER INFORMATION SO HE CAN READ IT AND HE'S LOOKING FOR HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
HE TOLD ME TODAY REPORTED THESE SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD.
MR. LENNOX, BECKY JOHN SILICO MET ON TUESDAY, JUNE 22ND AT 10 O'CLOCK.
AND THE TOPIC WAS HOUSING TRUST FUND AND ERIC GREENWAY, AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ESKER ROBINSON.
THE CONSULTANT, UM, MADE A PRESENTATION.
THIS WILL HEAT UP, UH, OVER THE COMING MONTHS.
AND I THINK, UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE SOME DETAILED REPORTING TO COUNCIL ON THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BEFORE THE END OF FALL, THE NEXT MEETING IS JULY 27TH.
IT WILL BE IN-PERSON IN BLUFFTON AND, UM, ROBERT MERCHANT, WHO IS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BUFORD.
CONNIE WILL GIVE AN UPDATE ON COUNTY WIDE BIKE AND PET TRAILS.
THANK YOU, MISS ALANA, MS. AMES, THE COUNTY EDWARD, THANK YOU, MAYOR.
UM, AS LIAISON TO THE COUNTY AIRPORT BOARD, I ATTEND THE AIRPORT BOARD MEETINGS AND I'M AWARE OF THE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AND THE ADJUSTMENTS BEING FACED AND MADE BY AIRPORT DIRECTOR, JOHN RAMBLE ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT'S I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND THE MAYOR THINKS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION.
SO THE MAYOR INVITED, UH, JOHN RUMBLE TO SPEAK TO JOHN HAS BEEN AIRPORT DIRECTOR NOW FOR, UH, SEVEN PLUS YEARS AND RUNS A VERY PROFESSIONAL OPERATION IN AN EVER-CHANGING AND EVER IMPROVING SITUATION.
MR. MAYOR, MEMBER OF COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I MET WITH, UM, MR. ORLANDO AND THE MAYOR, AND WE ALL KIND OF AGREE.
THAT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO COME BACK AND START GIVING QUARTERLY OR SOME KIND OF PERIODIC REPORTS TO TOWN COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT I ALWAYS REFER TO AS YOUR HOMETOWN AIRPORT.
CAUSE EVEN THOUGH I HAPPENED TO WEAR A, A COUNTY BADGE, UM, I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE THE AIRPORT AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THIS UPDATE.
SO I'M GOING TO BREEZE THROUGH KIND OF WHAT THE WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON RECENTLY AT THE AIRPORT.
I LIKE TO START OUT WITH THIS SLIDE BECAUSE IT SHOWS PEOPLE HOW THREE REGIONAL JETS CAN FIT AT THAT A TINY AIRPORT.
I DID GET A CHANCE TO SEE THE MAYOR GO THROUGH SECURITY VERY QUICKLY, SMOOTHLY LAST FRIDAY.
SO HE GOT OFF ON HIS TRIP AND IT WAS, IT WAS PERFECT.
SO GLAD THAT THE I'M GLAD YOUR PRE-CHECK IT'S GOOD.
SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW, WE DO A PRE-CHECK THERE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PRE-CHECK PASSENGERS TOO, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE IT HELPS
[00:35:01]
THE, THE LINE MOVE.I LIKE TO START OUT WITH WHAT I CALL THE VITAL STATISTICS.
UM, AND THIS JUST TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AIRPORT.
UH, WE'VE ONLY GOT 15 STAFF AT THE AIRPORT OF, OF MY FOLKS.
MY TEAM ONLY 11 ARE ACTUALLY ON DUTY AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
SOME OF THOSE ARE SHIFT WORKERS.
UM, SO I ONLY HAVE TWO OF THOSE ON, AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
WE DO HAVE THE THREE MAJOR NETWORK CARRIERS THERE, WHICH YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE OF.
UM, AND WE'VE GOT THIS YEAR 144 WEEKLY DEPARTURES DURING THE SEASON.
TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD 65 AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE PRETTY BUSY.
UM, SO IT'S PICKING UP THE LANDSIDE LESS THAN 200 ACRES.
SO IT'S A PRETTY SMALL AIRPORT AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE.
SMALL TERMINAL IS ABOUT JUST FOR A, UH, IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE THAT WE'RE ABOUT ONE 12TH, THE SIZE OF THE COLUMBIA AIRPORT, JUST UP THE ROAD AT THE, UH, THE CAPITAL, OUR ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT IS UPWARDS OF 410 MILLION.
AND I WOULD DARE TO SAY MOST OF THAT STAYS ON THIS SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
SO DEFINITELY A GOOD CONTRIBUTOR.
AND THIS, WE WORKED WITH OUR STAFF RECENTLY TO DEVELOP A VISION AND A MISSION.
AND THESE ARE SOME THINGS WE WANT TO LIVE BY THE VISION, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S GOTTA BE OUT THERE.
IT'S GOTTA BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WORK TOWARDS IN YOUR GRASP AT, BUT IT MAY BE JUST OUT OF REACH.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE WANT TO BECOME THE MOST DESIRED DESTINATION AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP EACH OF YOU UP AND THEN OUR MISSION.
HOW DO WE GET THERE EACH DAY, EACH DAY, WE WORK TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND EFFICIENT AIR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT CONVENIENTLY CONNECTS PEOPLE TO PLACES.
WE ACHIEVED THIS THROUGH TEAMWORK, PROFESSIONALISM, AND WARM SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY.
YOU CAN'T BE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND WITHOUT WARM SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY.
WE THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY KEY ADDITION TO THE MISSION STATEMENT.
IF WE DON'T, YOU CAN CALL US ON THAT.
THIS IS A ONE OF OUR JETS ATLANTA JUST THE OTHER DAY.
AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT JUST A FEW CHANGES.
WE'VE MADE THIS SUMMER SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO TRY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE CONGESTION AND TRAFFIC WE'VE HAD AT THE AIRPORT.
THIS AIRPORT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEING PILOTED BY ONE OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS.
AND SHE HAPPENS TO BE A FORMER USER EMPLOYED WITH TSA AND AT THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE.
SO I FELT VERY CONFIDENT WHEN SHE OFFERED HER SERVICES DURING THE BUSIEST PART OF A SATURDAY.
SO WE'VE GOT ABOUT SIX HOURS OF AN ABSOLUTE RUSH ON SATURDAYS.
AND SHE SAID, WELL, LET ME GO IN THERE AND LET ME KIND OF WATCH THINGS AND, AND TRY TO HELP FOLKS OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHEN TO BE THERE.
AND SHE'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE BLESSING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT DURING THE BUSY DAY, BUT SHE ALWAYS COMES BACK WITH ABOUT A THREE PAGE REPORT ON SUNDAY MORNING TO ME.
SHE HELPS PEOPLE KNOW WHEN TO GO THROUGH THE SCREENING CHECKPOINT, WHAT TO EXPECT, YOU KNOW, WHERE BAGGAGE IS.
AND OF COURSE WE POINT TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH CONCOURSES AS MAY FIT WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO GO.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE YOUR ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES BOARD AND AIRPORTS THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS RELATIVELY NEW IN THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE NEVER NEEDED TO SHOW SO MANY FLIGHTS, BUT WE ADDED TO THAT ANNOUNCED SCREENING BOARD.
AND THE REASON WE DID THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY SMALL AREA, YOUR AREA BEHIND SECURITY.
SO ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH THE SCREENING CHECKPOINT, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM BACK THERE.
SO WE TRY TO SCREEN ONLY ABOUT ONE AIRPLANE WORTH OF PASSENGERS FOR EACH AIRLINE.
AND SO THAT THIS BOARD, THE NOW SCREENING BOARD HELPS PEOPLE IN THE TERMINAL, IN THE LOBBY TO UNDERSTAND WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET IN LINE.
SO IF YOU GET THERE THREE HOURS EARLY, THAT'S GREAT.
CHECK IN, PUT YOUR BAGGAGE THROUGH, BUT DON'T GET IN LINE.
DON'T STAND THERE FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS.
FIND YOURSELF A CHAIR, GET A COAT, READ THE PAPER.
AND THEN WHEN YOUR FLIGHT COMES UP IN THAT NOW SCREENING BOARD, IT WILL SHOW UP WHEN YOU'RE WITHIN 60 MINUTES OF DEPARTURE, THAT GIVES YOU MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO GET THROUGH THE LINE AND GET BACK TO THE WHOLE ROOM.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, REDUCE SOME OF THAT CONGESTION, POST SECURITY, AND ALSO REALLY EASE PEOPLE'S TENSIONS.
BECAUSE IF, IF YOU REMEMBER BACK A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE HAD THE PIPELINE ISSUES.
WILL EVERYBODY DRIVING HOME, PROBABLY SAW EVERYBODY GO TO THE GAS STATION.
AND WE PROBABLY ALL SAID, I BETTER GO TO THE GAS STATION TOO.
AND BEFORE YOU KNEW IT WERE ON A GAS, UM, WE REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO DO THAT.
BUT MOST OF US PROBABLY DID THAT.
SO WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT LINE GET LONG, THEY SAID, WELL, I BETTER GET THERE BEFORE IT GETS ANY LONGER.
WELL, THEY DON'T REALLY NEED TO DO THAT.
AND THIS IS ONE WAY WE HELP THEM.
ALSO THE AIRPORT AMBASSADOR HELPS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME EXCELLENT IMPROVEMENTS COMING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT TO YOU, BUT LET ME SUM IT UP BY SAYING, WE HAVE A NEW PIECE OF TSA EQUIPMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
SO IF YOU USED TO PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND HAVING A THING SPIN AROUND YOU, THAT MIGHT RING A BELL.
SO THAT'S COMING, IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE THE PROCEDURE.
IF YOU'VE GOT ANY SPARE PARTS IN YOUR BODY THAT MAKE YOU GET A PAT DOWN, HOPEFULLY THOSE DAYS WILL BE OVER.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE EASIER OVER THERE.
AND THEN FINALLY CONCESSIONS AND CAFE AREA WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, YOU'LL SEE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.
WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY WHO'S BILLING ALL OF THEIR APPARATUS NOW TO MOVE INTO THE TERMINAL.
THAT WAY, WHEN YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUR FLIGHT TO COME UP ON THE NOW SCREENING BOARD, YOU CAN
[00:40:01]
GO GET A HOT CUP OF COFFEE.YOU CAN GET A COAT AND GET A SMOOTHIE, MAYBE WINE OR BEER AT SOME POINT, BUT YOU CAN RELAX.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'VE MADE OVER THE SUMMER.
THAT'S REALLY, SINCE MEMORIAL DAY, WE'VE DONE THAT, UM, AIRPORT PROJECTS.
THESE ARE KIND OF THE THREE BIG ONES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THE AIRCRAFT PARKING RAMP IS GOING TO ADD A WHOLE BUNCH OF, UH, PARKING AREA FOR THE AIRPLANES, BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO PROVIDE SOME CONSTRUCTION SURFACE AND LAY DOWN AREA.
SO TO SPEAK WHEN WE GET BUSY WITH THE ACTUAL PASSENGER TERMINAL PROJECT.
SO THAT'S THE NEXT BIG OF ON THE LINE, THAT ONE WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH.
IT'S JUST ABOUT COMPLETE WITH DESIGN, AND THEN WE'LL BE IN, UH, FINISHING UP ON THE PERMITTING STAGES.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO WRAP THAT DESIGN AND PERMITTING UP BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, MAYBE SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME AND THEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY STRENGTHENING.
YOU JUST HAVE TO DO MAINTENANCE, JUST LIKE WE DO ON THE ROAD.
SO WE HAVE TO UPGRADE THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT ENOUGH BEARING CAPACITY FOR THE, THE TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE AT THE AIRPORT.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT ABOUT 150 INTERNAL PROJECTS.
WE'RE WORKING ON TWO AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A REAL QUICK EVOLUTION OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO, THIS IS WHAT OUR ROUTE MAP LOOKED LIKE AT THE AIRPORT.
THIS WAS IN 2019, AND THEN IN MARCH UNITED CAME AND THEY BROUGHT THE THREE HUBS AND BROUGHT NEWARK DALLAS AND CHICAGO O'HARE.
AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, DELTA CAME IN AND THEY BROUGHT ATLANTA AND THEY BROUGHT LAGUARDIA AND AMERICAN ADDED REAGAN NATIONAL BACKEND.
AND THEN IN MARCH OF 2020, WE HAD AMERICAN AD DALLAS FORT WORTH PHILLY AND CHICAGO AS WELL.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAD TWO CITIES THAT ARE BEING SERVED BY TWO AIRLINES.
THEN IN APRIL OF THIS PAST YEAR, WE HAD AMERICAN AD BOSTON.
AND THEN OF COURSE, UNITED CAME IN WITH ALL OF THEIR BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS PAST YEAR.
AND THEY ADDED THESE POINT TO POINT, UM, UH, ROUTES CITIES.
I'LL JUST DECIPHER THESE FOR FOLKS WHO MAY NOT KNOW YOU'VE GOT ST.
NEXT ONE OVER I AND D IS INDIANAPOLIS.
CMH IS COLUMBUS, OHIO, CLEVELAND IS, OR CLE IS CLEVELAND.
AND THEN YOU SEE PITTSBURGH THERE AND LET'S SEE.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD YOU SEE ANOTHER LINE UP TO BOSTON THAT'S BECAUSE DELTA KIND OF SNUCK UNDER THE RADAR THE SAME DAY, UNITED ANNOUNCED ALL THESE DELTA CAME IN AND OUT OF THE BOSTON.
AND ONE THAT'S NOT ON HERE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED KIND OF ON THE RADAR AS WELL AS AMERICAN ADDED LAGUARDIA.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR MAJOR HUB CITIES THAT ARE SERVED BY MULTIPLE AIRLINES.
SO WE WENT FROM ONE AIRLINE SERVING THE ONE CITY THREE TIMES A DAY, ABOUT 26 MONTHS AGO TO THREE AIRLINES, SERVING 16 CITIES WITH 144 WEEKLY FLIGHTS IN THE SAME BUILDING.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TERMINAL PROJECT, IT'S, UH, IT'S VERY MUCH NEEDED.
SO THIS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE ARE ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
WE HAD OUR AIRPORTS BOARD MEETING AND I JUST HAPPENED FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY CLICK ON FLIGHTAWARE, UM, WHICH IS AN APP THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT TO SEE THE CURRENT AIR TRAFFIC.
I JUST WANT TO SEE HOW MANY AIRPLANES WE HAD IN THE AREA THAT LEAVING OUR AIRPORT OR COMING TO OUR AIRPORT.
SO EACH AIRPLANE UP ON THIS SCREEN THAT YOU SEE THAT'S EITHER IN GREEN OR BLUE IS EITHER ARRIVING ON ITS WAY TO THE AIRPORT OR DEPARTING OUR AIRPORT.
THERE'S AT LEAST SEVEN COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES UP THERE, THE BIGGER ONES.
AND THEN THERE'S A FEW OF THE SMALLER JETS THAT ARE PROBABLY THE, UH, THE UNITED CRJ, FIVE 50.
SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE COMMERCIAL.
SO IT WAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN EIGHT AND 10 COMMERCIAL JETS UP THERE.
THEY'RE EITHER LEAVING HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AIRPORT, OR COMING TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT AT TWO 40 IN THE AFTERNOON ON JUNE 17TH.
THIS ALSO SHOWS YOU JUST HOW BUSY IT UP ABOVE IT IS A POST.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT ALL GOING ON, BUT THAT'S NO KIDDING.
THAT'S ONLY A SMALL PICTURE OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE SKY.
THE PRIVATE GUYS LIKE DAVID FLYING AROUND UP THERE MAY NOT NECESSARILY FILE AND BE PICKED UP ON THIS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF AIR TRAFFIC GOING ON.
AND IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE THIS MANY AIRPLANES COMING TO THE ISLAND OR LEAVING THE ISLAND WITH HAPPY FOLKS ON BOARD REAL QUICKLY.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE WITH PROJECTS THAT KIND OF TANNISH YELLOWISH OUTLINE IS WHAT THE CURRENT BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.
THE CURRENT TERMINAL BY 18,000 SQUARE FEET, ALMOST 20,000 SQUARE FEET.
WITH THAT MODULAR BUILDING THAT WE HAVE, THAT'S ABOUT THE FOOTPRINT OF WHAT THE NEW BUILDING LOOKED LIKE.
IT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
AND THEN THIS SHOWS YOU THE ADDITIONAL RAMP AREA THAT WILL ADD SOME OF THAT PARKING SPACE AND MANEUVER SPACE FOR THE LARGER AIRCRAFT, WHICH HELPS OUT.
AND NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW BUILDING.
THIS IS KIND OF THE FIRST PUBLIC SHOWING IN THIS NEW BUILDING.
SO KIND OF HILTON THAT ISLAND.
IT'S FUN TO WORK ON THESE PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, ARCHITECTS WHO COULD PUT TOGETHER THE AMAZING RENDERINGS LIKE THIS WITH THE YOUNG LADY, WITH THE DOG AND EVERYTHING, AND WALKING DOWN THE WALK.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY SPECTACULAR THERE.
[00:45:01]
LIKE.WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LEFT DRB REP.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH DRB AT A CONCEPTUAL STAGE, AND WE'VE GOTTEN EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.
WE STARTED PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OVER A YEAR AGO WITH CONCEPT REVIEW.
AND A LOT OF THAT'S ALL INCORPORATED HERE.
WE MAY HAVE SOME MINOR TWEAKS AS WE GO, BUT THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU'LL SEE.
THERE'S A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
YOU CAN SEE MUCH, MUCH MORE OPENED UP, UH, TRAVEL OUT FRONT FOR THE VEHICLES, A FULLY COVERED.
DROP-OFF THE FULL LENGTH OF THE FRONT OF THE TERMINAL.
IT'S HARD TO SEE IN THAT PICTURE, BUT IT'S FULLY COVERED.
THIS IS KIND OF THE MAIN AREA.
IF YOU WERE STANDING IN THE TSA CHECKPOINT, LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE MAIN DOORS, THIS WOULD BE YOUR VIEW.
YOU SEE HOW MUCH BIGGER IT GETS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND BE PUSHED OUT ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CURRENT FIRST DRIVE LANE.
IT WAS GOING TO ADD ABOUT 30 TO 35 FEET ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING.
SO THAT'LL OPEN IT UP AND WHAT I KIND OF ENVISIONED THERE.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND COUNCILMAN NAMES PARTICIPATED IN THIS IS A GREAT PLACE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR SOME MAYBE ROTATING EXHIBITS, ART CULTURE, THAT SORT OF THING THAT YOU KIND OF EXPECT TO SEE IN AN AIRPORT, BUT MORE CHANCES TO ADD KIND OF SOME HILTON THAT ISLAND FLAVOR TO THE AIRPORT.
THIS IS WHAT TICKETING WILL LOOK LIKE.
IT'LL BE GENERALLY IN THE SAME AREA THAT IT IS NOW THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC IN THIS NEW TERMINAL.
WILL THAT BE, WILL BE THAT WHEN YOU CHECK INTO TICKETING, YOU'LL TURN TO THE RIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD BE AS A STRAIGHT LINE TO YOUR RIGHT.
SO THERE'D BE NO CROSSING OVER A TRAFFIC, NO COMPLICATED BACKDROP OPERATIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING.
ALL THE BACKDROP GOES BEHIND THE DESK AND THERE'LL BE A HIGH SPEED SYSTEM THAT GOES OUT BACK.
THIS IS IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXITING THE SECURITY CHECKPOINT, AND YOU GO UP A SHORT LITTLE RAMP THERE UP INTO THE BOARDING GATE AREA.
THERE'LL BE GIVE OR TAKE ABOUT 300 SEATS IN THE BOARDING GATE AREA, AND THEN CAPACITY FOR FOLKS TO, TO MOVE AROUND AND STAND AND THAT SORT OF THING SO MUCH, UH, ENLARGE CAPACITY IN THAT AREA.
THERE'LL BE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR CONCESSIONS UP THERE AS WELL.
AND THEY'LL ALSO BE A SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREA.
SO AS PART OF THE, ALL THESE NEW ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS THAT COME OUT, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THAT.
THERE ARE THREE BOARDING GATES, EACH ONE OF THOSE WOULD JET BRIDGES.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT KIND OF A FOURTH CONTINGENCY GATE THAT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE RIGHT OVER THE GENTLEMAN'S SHOULDER.
THAT'LL BE A WALKOUT GATE THAT JUST GIVES US FLEXIBILITY.
IN CASE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL AIRCRAFT, OR WE NEED TO IMPLANT OR DEEP PLANE, AN ADDITIONAL FLIGHT OF PASSENGERS.
THIS IS ANOTHER VIEW OF THAT BOARDING ROOM.
THIS WAS LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE TSA SECURITY CHECKPOINT, AND YOU SEE THAT LARGE WINDOW AT THE FAR END THAT PROVIDES FOR US KIND OF A SEMI OPAQUE, UH, SCREEN THERE.
SO IT ALLOWS FOLKS TO, TO ENJOY THE AMBIENT LIGHT OF THE BUILDING WITHOUT A SOLID WALL THERE, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES A VISUAL SPRING THAT YOU CAN'T SEE INTO THE CHECKPOINT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE TOWN WITH, WITH JEN Q1 ON PUTTING UP MAYBE SOME TOWN OF HILTON THAT ISLAND ART OR CULTURE ON THAT AS A PERMANENT DISPLAY IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, SOME MORE LOCAL FLAVOR THERE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE PRESERVING WHAT'S IN THE, THE TERMINAL AS IT IS NOW WITH THE HIGH CEILINGS, WITH THE EXPOSED, UM, SUPPORTS THERE.
AND THEN WITH PLENTY OF AMBIENT LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE ROOFTOP, THIS IS BAGGAGE CLAIM.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH BAGGAGE CLAIM AND RENTAL CAR AREA, UM, RECENTLY THIS WILL BE A RELIEF TO YOU.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO, UM, WITH A FLAT PANEL, THE BAGGAGE RECOVERY SYSTEMS HERE, MUCH ENLARGED, UH, WHAT YOU'D NORMALLY EXPECT, UH, MORE ROOM TO SIT AND REST HERE.
IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR CABS OR UBER'S OR ANYBODY TO COME PICK YOU UP, AND THEN KIND OF OVER TO THE LEFT, IT'S OUT OF THE SHOT HERE, BUT THAT'S WHERE ALL THE RENTAL CAR COUNTERS WILL BE.
SO ALL THE MAJOR FRANCHISES WILL STILL BE REPRESENTED THERE, BUT MUCH MORE ROOM INSIDE THIS BUILDING, AS YOU CAN SEE, I THINK THAT'S OUR LAST SHOT OF THE BUILDING.
AGAIN, I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AT YOUR PLACE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOHN ALEX? YOU READ MY MIND.
UH, THANK YOU, JOHN, FOR THE, UH, THE REPORT.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, THERE'S I GUESS A $410 MILLION IMPACT WITH THE AIRPORT CURRENTLY, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT'S AFTER THE EXPANSION, DO WE HAPPEN TO KNOW THE FIGURE BEFORE THE EXPANSION? YES.
THE, UH, THE FIGURE THAT IS A FIGURE FOUR ACTUALLY LAST YEAR, JUST AS COVID WAS STARTING, THAT WAS THE IMPACT.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY WELL NORTH OF THAT AND CONTINUING NORTH OF THAT, BUT DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPARE IT TO AFTER THE EXPANSION OF THE AIRPORT WE DON'T YET.
AND ANOTHER EXCELLENT QUESTION.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I JUST TALKED TO WITH SOME OF THE SENIOR STAFF TODAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO THE FOLKS WHO DID THIS ANALYSIS AND SEE IF THEY'LL ENTERTAIN PROJECTIONS AS WELL.
SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AFTER THE EXPANSION.
AT LEAST FOR ME, I'D LIKE A BASELINE WHERE WE STARTED, SO
[00:50:01]
I KNOW THE IMPROVEMENT, UM, AND THE, UH, THE NEW TERMINAL.UM, ANY IDEA OF WHEN IT WILL BE, UH, BROKEN GROUND AND COMPLETED, SOMEBODY HAD TO ASK, THAT'S WHY HE CALLED ON ME.
I DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE YET, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, WE'RE FINISHING UP THAT DESIGN AND PERMITTING.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT AND CAN SET DOWN THE BID SCHEDULE PROJECT OUT WHEN THE WILL BE THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT IS PROBABLY A TWO AND A HALF TO THREE YEAR FULL DURATION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE PARTS OF IT WON'T OPEN BECAUSE THIS WILL BE BUILT AS THE AIRPORT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION.
AND THE ARCHITECTS ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO EARN THEIR MONEY IN THE PHASING PLAN AND ALSO IN THE WAY-FINDING PLAN TO MANEUVER PASSENGERS THROUGH THE BUILDING AS OTHER PARTS ARE BEING WORKED ON.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT BOARDING AREA THAT I SHOWED YOU IN THE NEW TSA CHECKPOINT, BEING THE FIRST AREAS TO GET BUILT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FOLKS OVER THERE AND THEN WORK ON THE RENOVATIONS AND THE ADDITIONS TO THE OTHER PART OF THE BUILDING.
UM, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE FROM START TO FINISH SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND A HALF TO THREE YEARS.
UM, AS FAR AS THE PERMITTING PROCESS IS CONCERNED, DO YOU SEE ADDITIONAL, UM, I GUESS HOOPS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH OUTSIDE OF PERMITTING THAT YOU'D HAVE TO RECEIVE FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO ACHIEVE, UH, COMPLETION? I DON'T THINK SO.
UH, SO FAR EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE MOVING ALONG PRETTY SMOOTHLY.
UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF CONCEPTUALS WITH DESIGN REVIEW BOARD.
UH, SO THEY'RE, THEY SEEM TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY GAVE US A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION THAT WE, UH, INCORPORATED ALREADY BY.
WE HAD CERTAINLY DON'T MEAN ME.
UM, SO I THINK THAT WE'LL HAVE A FAIRLY SMOOTH FINISH TO THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
I WOULD JUST SAY THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT TWO TO THREE YEARS OF, UH, OF THIS, UH, WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BEST EXPERIENCE AS YOU'RE COMING INTO HILTON.
AND SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP MITIGATE IT, I WOULDN'T BE SHY AND ASKING AS WELL.
I ATTEND THE MEETINGS, UH, MOST OF THE MEETINGS OF THE AIRPORT BOARD AS WELL BECAUSE THE AIRPORT IS IN MY WARD WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH JOHN AND HIS COLLEAGUES TALKING ABOUT NOISE, AND I COULD REPORT THAT THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CONTROL AIRPORT NOISE, PRIMARILY DOING, WHAT'S KNOWN AS MAINTAINING RUNWAY HEADING UNTIL THEY'RE OVER THE WATER.
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO LIMIT THE IMPACT.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, ASSISTANCE ON THAT TWO THINGS FROM THE LAST REPORT THAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY.
JOHN FIRST ONE IS THE CHANGE IN PASSENGER NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE AS A RESULT OF HAVING THESE AIRLINES AND THESE WONDERFUL ROUTES.
AND THEN SECONDLY, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE CONFUSION OF THE NAME, SAVANNAH HILTON, HEAD AIRPORT, AND PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HILTON HEAD AND THEY WIND UP IN SAVANNAH.
THE SECOND ONE, I'LL TRY TO TAKE FIRST.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT ONE FOR YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF US, UH, AS WELL AS COUNTY COUNSEL TO ATTACK THAT ONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON FOR WHY THAT CHANGE TOOK PLACE IN THE NINETIES.
AND THAT WAS REALLY BEFORE HILTON, THAT ISLAND AIRPORT HAD APPRECIABLE AIR SERVICE AND FOLKS NEEDED TO FIND THEIR WAY TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND BY AIR.
AND THAT WAS THROUGH SAVANNAH.
UH, BUT NOW THEY'VE GOT A DIRECT OPTION RIGHT HERE TO YOUR HOMETOWN AIRPORT.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK ON THAT AND PROBABLY BRAINSTORM A LITTLE BIT AND BRING INTO THAT DISCUSSION.
SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW, WHEN, HOW QUICKLY THAT HAPPENS.
UH, THERE IS, UH, A SLIGHTLY SIMILAR CASE.
IT JUST HAPPENED AT FLORIDA WITH, UH, ORLANDO AND MELBOURNE AIRPORT, UM, A LITTLE BIT THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE HAVE, BUT, UM, MAYBE THAT'S A DECENT ONE TO STUDY AND GET SOME IDEAS, UH, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WE'LL WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, A LOT OF, A LOT OF FOLKS INVOLVED IN THAT ISSUE.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK INTO WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT, RIGHT.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE PASTURE NUMBER GOES, UM, IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY, UH, ROBUST RETURN, I WOULD SAY FROM THE PANDEMIC.
UM, I RECENTLY GAVE A, AN ADJUNCT CLASS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND CHARLOTTE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT COVID EXPERIENCES AND THE AIRPORT ACTUALLY WAS LIKE MOST AIRPORTS DROP DROPPED BY 96% IN APRIL OF 2020.
I MEAN, NOBODY'S EVER SAID THAT BEFORE THAT YOU'VE LOST 96% OF YOUR BUSINESS IN A MONTH, BUT WHAT HAPPENED INCREDIBLY, IT WAS IN MAY.
IT STARTED TO COME RIGHT BACK UP.
NOW IT DIDN'T COME UP QUICKLY, BUT BY THE END OF THE SUMMER, LAST YEAR, WE ARE ALMOST AT OUR NORMAL ANNUAL NUMBERS.
AND THERE WERE FOLKS WHO WERE TRAVELING ALREADY.
AND I REALLY ATTRIBUTE A LOT OF THAT TO THE DRAW OF THE ISLAND.
I'M ALWAYS GRABBING BILL MILES AND TELLING HIM, THANK YOU BECAUSE
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YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS ISLAND MARKETS ITSELF.SO IT'S A FANTASTIC ASSET TO HAVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE A KIND OF GUIDING THIS ONE.
UM, THE NUMBERS THIS YEAR THOUGH HAVE, HAVE REALLY BEEN TREMENDOUS.
UM, WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE MEETING AND WE, WE HAD AS MANY FOLKS GO THROUGH THE TERMINAL IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OF THIS YEAR, AS WE DID IN THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2017.
THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS NOW, BIGGER AIRPLANES, MORE CITIES, MORE FLIGHTS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES, MORE CHOICES, UM, A LITTLE BIT MORE ELBOW BUMPING INSIDE THE TERMINAL AND MAYBE TOO.
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE TERMINAL IN THE NEED FOR THAT ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE, IT'S A REAL ISSUE.
AND TO COUNCILMAN BROWN'S POINT, YES, WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THIS FOR A COUPLE OF MORE SEASONS AND SOME OF THE PHASING AS WE IMPLEMENT THE CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S GOING TO HELP WITH THAT.
UM, BUT WE'RE ALSO CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR IDEAS.
COUNCILMAN NAMES HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL, UM, ON HELPING US BRAINSTORM SOME OF THIS, BUT IT TAKES, IT TAKES IDEAS FROM THE OUTSIDE SOMETIMES TO SAY, HEY, I, I TRAVEL BECAUSE I SEE THE AIRPORT IN AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT WAY THAN, THAN A TRAVELER MAY BECAUSE IT'S WHERE I WORK.
UM, SO I LIKE TO HAVING THAT INPUT, SOMETIMES WE DO GET A LOT OF CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND FROM TIME TO TIME, THERE'S A REAL GOLDEN NUGGET IN THERE.
SO WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, COULD YOU COMMENT ON THE DECIBEL LEVEL OF TODAY'S PLANES COMING IN VERSUS THE, THE TURBO, THE TURBO PROPS THAT WERE HERE BEFORE I CAN TRY IT.
I'M NOT PREPARED TO TELL YOU EXACT DECIMAL LEVELS.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE NEWER, THE AIRPLANE, UH, THE, THE LOWER, THE SOUND SIGNATURE,