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[I. CALL TO ORDER]
JANUARY THE 6, 20, 22 AND OH.TOWN OF BLUFFTON AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETINGS NOW.
AND IN SESSION, HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
YES, LET ME SWITCH MY SCREEN SO YOU ALL CAN SEE THE AGENDA.
YOU SEE THE AGENDA? WELL, NO, BUT I HAVE MINE, BUT NO.
AGENDA IS UP AND WE ARE READY FOR ROLL CALL CHAIRMAN FRED HAMILTON, COUNCILMAN DAN WOOD HERE.
WHEN CHAMBERS GREY STAPLES HERE, MEG JAMES I'M HERE AND THE NOLA'S POLITE.
[III. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA]
WE HAVE THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED ALL IN FAVOR, OPPOSE AS HABIT.[IV. ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
WE ALSO HAVE, UH, IN YOUR EMAILS AND POSSESSION THE MUNICIPAL DECEMBER 2ND, 2021.CAN I GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE MINUTES? SOME, UH, ALL IN FAVOR.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO.
SORRY, NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.
[VII.1. Neighborhood Assistance Program Budget Update]
TO YOU FOR ALL AND BUSINESS.WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, EXCUSE ME.
I'M JUST SEEING IF QUINN IS GOING ON.
GWEN GOT TRACK WITH THE TIME, THE TIME CHANGE WOULD YOU ADD BEFORE YOU IS OUR MEMO A BUDGET FOR THE LAST MONTH SPENDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 2022 WAS $190,000 AS OF DECEMBER 3RD, 2021.
WHEN THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED, THE AVAILABLE BUDGET WAS $126,000, 139, EXCUSE ME, $126,139 AND 16 CENTS.
60 3060 84 HAS BEEN PAID OUT ON ROOF.
MY PAYERS SEPTIC PUMP OUTS AND INCOME VERIFICATION INVOICES.
AGAIN, AS OF DECEMBER 30TH, 12 HOMES HAVE BEEN ASSISTED IN FOUR HOMES ARE CURRENTLY IN LINE TO STOP REPAIRS AND THREE ARE WAITING ON WORK ESTIMATES FOR SERVICES, SUCH AS ROOF REPAIRS, WET FLOOR REPAIRS, AND DOOR REPAIRS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT LAYOUT? AND AGAIN, THAT IS AS OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR, GOING DOWN TO OUR SPREADSHEET, OUR EXCEL SPREADSHEET IS KIND OF A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT YOU SAW TWO ASTERIX AND A HOME REPAIR LINE.
THE INVOICES THAT WE SEND OVER TO, UM, THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE SENT OVER TO EL COG THAT COMES OUT OF THAT, UH, LINE ITEM THERE.
SO THAT'S WHY TWO ASTERIX YOU'VE BEEN SEE THAT THAT HAS, UM, A THERE A BIT, NOT JUST REPAIRS ARE INVOICES FOR ALCOHOLICS.
UM, THAT WAS, YOU GUYS HAVE LAID OUT OF WHAT WE CLOSED OUT WITH LAST YEAR, NOT THE FISCAL YEAR, BUT HERE 2021.
ANY QUESTIONS WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT.
HEARING NO QUESTIONS AND SEEING NO HANDS RAISED.
[VII.2. FY 2023 Budget Review & Recommendation]
TO OUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023.UM, WE'RE JUST GETTING INTO THE NEW YEAR OF 20, 22, BUT AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE TOWN IS WORKING ON THEIR BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY, UM, OPS TO GO BIGGER, A PARTS TO DECREASE IN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THIS IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO WE DO NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS.
UM, IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHANGE ANYTHING OR, UM, YOU KNOW, PICK SOMETHING OFF, ADD SOMETHING NOW IS OUR TIME TO DISCUSS IT BEFORE WE SEND IT OVER TO FINANCE AND THEN IT GOES OVER TO COUNCIL.
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UM, I HAVE A QUESTION THAT, UM, BECAUSE OF ALL THE, UM, THE INFLATION OF, FOR MATERIALS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IS THAT COMPREHENDED IN OUR BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET.WELL, LAST YEAR WE DID SEE SOME INFLATION.
WE DIDN'T, UM, KNOW PRICES DID GO UP IN ALL OUR MATERIAL WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT DID NOT MESS WITH OUR BUDGET.
SO NO, MA'AM, WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE ANY DOLLAR AMOUNTS WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING.
WE DID SEE, UM, SEPTIC PUMP OPS WENT NOT LIKE I TOLD YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IN 2021 SEPTIC PUMP OUTS WENT UP A HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT BEING THAT OUR BUDGET IN OUR POD IS SO LARGE, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
SO I THINK WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE'RE GOOD WITH INFLATION.
UM, IF ANY HOME REPAIRS GO OVER OUR ALLOTTED AMOUNT, THEN THAT'S WHEN I'LL BRING IT TO YOU GUYS.
AND WE TALK IT OVER AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YAY OR NAY, OR LET'S FIND ANOTHER CONTRACTOR, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT CAN PROVIDE A BETTER INVOICE FOR US AND ESTIMATE FOR US.
SO, NO, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO TOP ANYTHING.
THAT'S ALREADY LISTED DOLLAR AMOUNT WISE.
UH, NOT PRETENDED TO THE BUDGET, BUT PRETENDED TO CONTRACT WORK AND WE HAVE AN, WE HAVE ENOUGH CONTRACTORS TO, TO ACCOMMODATE OUR NEEDS.
UM, SOMETIMES I HEAR YOU SAY WE WAITING ON ESTIMATES.
ARE WE WAITING ON, UH, WHERE TO GET STARTED? UM, SO I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TWO OR THREE MAIN CONTRACT CONTRACTORS THAT WE WORK WITH THAT JUMP ON THINGS RIGHT AWAY.
I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW ONES.
I KEEP SAYING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE TWO OR THREE.
UM, SO THEY ARE MOVING, UH, OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.
I ACTUALLY HAD THREE ROOF PROJECTS THAT WERE COMPLETED.
SO I THINK WHAT IT WAS COVID WAS KINDA BEING A DELAY, UM, SUPPLIES COMING IN, YOU KNOW, FROM CROSS THE BORDERS OR WHEREVER THEY WERE COMING IN FROM THAT WAS THE HOLD UP FOR QUITE A FEW OF OUR CONTRACTORS THAT DO RESPOND TO WORK THAT I GIVE TO THEM.
SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOOD.
LIKE I SAID, THREE HOMES WERE DONE OVER THE HOLIDAY BETWEEN NEW YEAR'S AND CHRISTMAS.
SO THEY WERE WORKING, I THINK IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, GETTING SUPPLIES IN AND THE SUPPLY SHORTAGE WAS THE MOST PART OF THE HANGUP.
SO WE DO NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THIS, UM, THIS BUDGET JUST SO WE CAN MOVE IT ALONG TO THE NEXT PROCESS.
THERE'S A MOTION TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED IN A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, OPPOSED.
[IX.1. Monthly guest presentations and/or topic discussions]
THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA, I'M GOING TO SKIP BACK A FEW SIDES UNDER DISCUSSION EARLIER IN 2021, WE DID SOME, I HAD SOME LITTLE PRESENTERS COME IN TO KIND OF GIVE US SOME UPDATES ON WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.UM, WE HAD SOME DIFFERENT PRESENTERS SUCH AS CHARLESTON, UH, COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBER, NICOLE BROUGHT IN SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT WE REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT AREAS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON, DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT THEY CAN GIVE ON THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT TOWARDS THE END OF 2021.
AND WE WANT TO KIND OF GET BACK INTO THAT.
SO UNDER DISCUSSION, I JUST PUT, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY, UM, IDEAS OF WHO YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE OR WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HEAR OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR 2022, ANY IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE THAT I CAN REACH OUT TO KIND OF GET THEM TO OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
I DID REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES ALREADY AND I WAITING FOR THEM TO RESPOND, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR IDEAS, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PERTAINING TO HOW WE COULD, YOU KNOW, UP OUR CHANCES OF GETTING, YOU KNOW, MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IDEAS AND MORE TOPICS THAT WE'D PROBABLY CAN BRING INTO TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SO THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD, OR YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL ME OR CALL ME, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, UM, VICTORIA, I HAVE A COUPLE OF CONTEXTS.
UM, ONE BEING COMMUNITY WORKS, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE ALREADY VISITED HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY AND BEGAN DISCUSSIONS AND BUFORD, THIS, UM, CITY OF BUFORD.
UM, THEY ARE OUT OF SPARTAN BIRD GREENVILLE AREA, BUT THEY COVER THE WHOLE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
I MISSED THE NAME OF THE GROUP ONE MORE TIME.
AND WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL SEND YOU THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND THEN THE OTHER, UM, PERSON TO REACH OUT TO THE MAYOR OF, UH, COLUMBIA, UM, RICHLAND COUNTY.
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT SHE'S WORKING ON.I'LL SEND YOU HER CONTACT INFORMATION AS WELL, AND JUST TO START DISCUSSIONS AND TO SEE WHAT SHE HAS GOING ON.
AND MAYBE SHE CAN TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, SHARE THAT WITH ME AND I WOULD DEFINITELY REACH OUT.
THIS IS TH THIS IS I THINK, UM, IMPORTANT FOR, TO GIVE OUT A MEETING, UH, MEETINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, I GUESS SUBSTANCE, AS WELL AS KEEP US, UM, AWARE OF HOW WE COULD BE A BETTER, UM, SERVING COMMITTEE FOR OUR, FOR, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT ALSO, UM, IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN BINDS AND, UM, BUILDERS OR CONTRACTORS ARE INTERESTED IN, IN PROJECTS AND, UM, HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO, UM, COLLABORATE WITH THEM WHEN WE HAVE FUTURE PROJECTS FOR THE TOWN.
SO ALL THOSE STUFF, JUST ALL THIS WISDOM JUST MAKES US GIVE US MORE TOOLS FOR OUR BOX SO THAT WE CAN BETTER SERVE.
AND, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SHARING WHATEVER, UM, CONTACT OR WHATEVER INTERESTS YOU THINK MIGHT, MIGHT LEND ITSELF TO THAT SO THAT WE CAN, UM, GET ON OUR AGENDAS.
WELL, I'LL MENTION AGAIN, HUMANITIES FOUNDATION, UH, IT'S, UH, IT'S A, UH, PRIVATE NONPROFIT, UH, THAT, UH, I THINK IS BASED IN CHARLESTON, BUT CERTAINLY HAS A HOUSING PROJECTS IN CHARLESTON AND HAS WORKED WITH THE TOWN OF CHARLESTON ON, ON, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, THEY ALSO HAVE A PROPERTY OVER IN SAVANNAH, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.
UH, WHAT HAS STRUCK ME, UM, THAT YOU CAN LEARN JUST FROM GOING TO THEIR WEBSITE AND THAT SORT OF THING ARE THE, UM, THE SOCIAL SERVICE ASPECTS, UM, IN THESE HOUSING PROJECTS WHERE THEY ARE, UM, THEY ARE PROVIDING, UM, EMPLOYMENT AND JOB COUNSELING AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROVIDING SOME MEDICAL, UH, SERVICES AND, AND, UH, SO IT, IT'S, UH, IT'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST, UH, COLLECTING A RENT CHECK EACH MONTH.
UM, AND SO I THINK IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HAVE ONE OF THE OPERATIONAL PEOPLE, NOT, NOT NECESSARILY AN EXECUTIVE OR A, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO'S, UH, UH, JUST SITS IN AN OFFICE SOMEPLACE ELSE, BUT SOMEBODY WHO IS OPERATING ONE OF THESE, UH, ONE OF THESE COMPLEXES, UH, APARTMENT AND THEIR, THEIR RENTAL UNITS, UM, UH, TO GET TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEIR, UH, WE'RE UP TO UP TO AND, UH, AND SOCIAL SERVICE ASPECTS AND THE OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE, TO THE RESIDENTS, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HEADED PROBABLY TOWARDS SOME RENTAL UNITS, I THINK WITH, UH, WITH, UH, UH, WITH, UH, THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE GOT IN NEGOTIATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA JUST SO THAT IT'S LIKE FULL BODY FULL CIRCLE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING TOWARDS HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS FOR.
SO I, I LIKE THAT I'LL DO SOME RESEARCH AND I CAN LOOK UP, LOOK FOR SOME, UM, SOME ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL TO HELP OUT.
YEAH, WE JUST WANT TO GET, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS, EXPAND WHAT WE'RE DOING, UH, NOT TO SAY COPYCAT, BUT JUST SEE IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, IF OUR TOWN IS KIND OF ON THE SAME LEVEL AS OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND US, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF DO THE SAME THING TO OFFER OUR RESIDENTS MORE IN 2022, JUST TO GET OUR, YOU KNOW, KICK OFF THE YEAR.
AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN IN FULL BLAST BECAUSE TRUST ME, I HAVE BEEN, BUT JUST TO KIND OF WIDEN OUT UMBRELLA AND ROD IN OUR BOX OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO FOR RESIDENTS.
ONE OF THE THING THAT I'LL THROW OUT, UM, IS NOT AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE, UH, BUT HOMELESSNESS.
UM, THERE'S A, UH, GENTLEMAN WHO IS THE, UH, DIRECTOR OF THE BUFORD COUNTY.
UH, I DUNNO, SOCIAL SERVICES, I THINK IS THE, THE NAME.
AND I, UH, HAPPENED TO RUN INTO HIM AT A, AT A MEETING WHERE HE WAS GIVING A PRESENTATION ON, ON HOMELESSNESS IN
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THE COUNTY.AND, UH, I THOUGHT HE, UM, HE HAD LIKE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT, UH, UH, THE PROBLEM AND, AND, UH, AND, UH, IT WAS A, IT WAS A VERY, VERY INTERESTING, UH, PRESENTATION.
SO, UH, IT MIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE, UH, IT'S IT AGAIN, IT'S NOT, UM, IT'S NOT DEALING DIRECTLY WITH HOUSING, BUT IT'S DEALING WITH THE, UM, THE, THE HOMELESS CHALLENGE.
I LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, BASED ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS TO JOHN TO JOHN'S POINT, ONCE WE DO GET INTO RENTALS OR, UH, EVEN PEOPLE THAT, UH, ARE GOING TO BUY A HOME, YOU KNOW, LOCALLY, WE HAVE TWO ORGANIZATIONS HERE, FRED IS ON THE BOARD OF THE BLUFF AND SELF-HELP, WHICH DOES A LOT OF OUTREACH TO A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING RIGHT NOW, AS FAR AS, UH, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY RETAINING SOME JOB SKILLS AND OTHER, AND OTHER MEANS, UM, THE OTHER ONE IS VOLUNTEERS AND MEDICINE, WHICH I SIT ON THAT BOARD, BLUFFED AND JASPER, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT AND WHO QUALIFY.
SO, I MEAN, SOME OF THESE SERVICES ARE HERE NOW, UM, AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES, IF WE WANT TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION FURTHER, WE COULD EXPLORE A PARTNERSHIP WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE EITHER JUST ROUTE THEM TO THE, THESE BODIES THAT ALREADY EXIST HERE LOCALLY.
UM, VICTORIA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED, BUT, UH, MS. POLITE HAS JOINED US AS WELL.
UM, IF THE HAMILTON ACT, UM, AND THIS IS THE NOLA'S, UM, ONE, SINCE WE'RE THROWING OUT IDEAS, WHEN WE START TO, UM, CONSIDER THINGS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, COULD OFFER A DIRECT PEOPLE TO OTHER SERVICES, MY CONCERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ABILITY TO GET THEM READY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP.
UM, THAT'S WHAT CREDIT, UM, AND, UM, FINANCES AND BUDGETING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, PLEASE PUT THAT ON THE LIST ALSO BECAUSE WE CAN TARGET, UM, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT SOMETIMES WE DON'T TARGET THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND WHEN WE DON'T DO THAT, UM, AND IN SOMETIMES WE DON'T, WE CAN'T ALL WE TARGET THEM, BUT THEY DON'T QUALIFY BECAUSE OF LACK OF EDUCATION IN CERTAIN AREAS.
SO IF WE CAN CONSIDER, UM, HAVING SOME TYPE OF INITIATIVE THAT DEALS DIRECTLY WITH, UM, BECOMING QUALIFIED TO BE AN APPLICANT WOULD BE SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN.
YES, MS. POLITE, I DID REACH OUT TO A CENTER FOR ASS PROPERTY PRESERVATION THAT'S OVER IN CHARLESTON.
AND LIKE I SAID, I JUST PUT OUT SOME DIFFERENT EMAILS AND DID SOME VOICEMAILS FOR DIFFERENT AGENCIES THAT DO, UM, MAYBE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAMS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, BUT I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE THAT I DID REACH OUT TO SEE IF WE CAN DO A WORKSHOP, IF WE CAN DO A ZOOM CALL, OR IF THEY'RE MEETING IN PERSON, I KNOW COVID NUMBERS ARE BACK UP.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN, UM, HOLD VIRTUALLY, HAVE A REGISTRATION AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT'S SET IN STONE.
I KNOW I NEED TO BRING IT TO YOU.
THERE'S A PROTOCOL WITH EVERYTHING, BUT I JUST PUT IT OUT THERE FOR HER FIRST TIME, HOME BUYERS, CLASS, AND SOME DIFFERENT, UM, WORKSHOPS THAT THE HEIRS PARK PRESERVATION OF CHARLESTON HOLDS.
SO I KIND OF DID, YOU KNOW, PUT SOME FOOT WORK IN ALREADY.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DO HAVE ON THE LIST.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, I WOULD BRING IT TO YOU ALL AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO, BUT I DID GO AHEAD AND PUT OUT SOME DIFFERENT, UM, FIELDS FOR SOME DIFFERENT, UH, WORKSHOPS.
THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER ORGANIZATION IN IT.
FRED MIGHT REMEMBER BECAUSE WE USED TO DEAL WITH THEM.
UM, IT'S SOUTH CAROLINA, UM, MINORITY AFFAIRS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEY, UM, DO A LOT OF THE EDUCATION PIECE FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO EITHER GET THEM IN BUSINESS OR GET THEM READY FOR HOME ON A SHIP, I THINK.
AND, UM, I DO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT AT HOME.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL WORK, BUT, UM, THAT ORGANIZATION REACH OUT TO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT, UM, LEGS ON UNDER WHATEVER PROGRAM THEY'RE UNDER THAT REACH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
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THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AND IT'S REALLY A GOOD PROGRAM.ANYONE ELSE ANYMORE, UH, SUGGESTIONS, PRESENTATIONS, TOPICS, DISCUSSIONS, OR ANY OTHER, UM, QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ABOUT THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR? I AM ALL EARS.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION, UM, WITH TALKING ABOUT ALL, UM, THE RE REVITALIZATION, UM, IN HOME, LIKE MAKING SURE THAT HOME BUYERS ARE PREPARED AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO PURCHASE A HOME AND WHAT THEY NEED, WOULD IT BE, IS IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD.
COULD WE OFFER HOME BY YOUR ASSISTANCE, UM, IN OUR BUDGET AS WELL, OR IS THAT, SO IF THEY COMPLETE THE CLASSES AND THEY DO ALL THE PROTOCOLS, WE CAN, WE HAVE A COMPONENT OF OUR BUDGET THAT OFFERS HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE.
I'M GOING TO LET OUR CHAIRMAN ANSWER THAT ONE AND STAFF AS WELL.
I KNOW WE HAVE OUR CHARLOTTE ON, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF HOME BUYER'S ASSISTANCE REQUIRES FUNDING.
MOST, MOST, MOST ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFERED HOME BIAS SYSTEM JUST REQUIRES, UM, THE, UH, POTENTIAL APPLICANT TO SHOW UP.
AND THOSE USUALLY ARE FREE, UM, OR FREE THAT, UM, IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT BACK IN THE DAY, UM, HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WOULD GIVE A, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED, BUT, UH, LIKE A, UM, SILENT MORTGAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND OVER THE YEARS, IT'S, UM, IT'S, UM, THERE'S THIS SECOND MORTGAGE OR SOMETHING ON IT.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU STAY IN THE HOUSE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN IT'S REDUCED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAYBE.
SO IT'S, IT BRINGS DOWN THE PRICE OF THE PROPERTY.
AND I THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MAYBE TWO WHEN I FIRST STARTED, BUT YOU HAD SOME TYPE OF MONETARY INCENTIVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAM, BUT I DON'T, I KNOW IT WASN'T MONEY IN HAND, BUT IT WAS MONEY TOWARDS WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING.
I'VE SEEN SOME BAD, I THINK THERE'S WHERE THERE'S PART OF THE MORTGAGE IS MAYBE CARRIED BY THE, THE TOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, AND LIKE $5,000 OR SOMETHING.
AND IF YOU STAY THROUGH LIKE A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD IN THE HOME AND DON'T TRY TO SELL THE HOME, I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE ALREADY GOT INCENTIVE TO STAY IN THE HOME, THEN THERE'S A DEBT FORGIVENESS PERIOD, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.
AND ALSO THERE ARE SOME ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE.
UM, THAT FOR EXAMPLE, ST GO CANDLER.
I KNOW WHEN I VISITED THEM YEARS AGO AND SAVANNAH, THEY, UM, THEY THEY'LL MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT OR, OR GIVE SOME FORM OF, UH, AN OPTION FOR A PAYMENT ON A MORTGAGE FOR SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
AND THE EMPLOYEE HAS TO STAY WITH THE COMPANY AND THE EMPLOYEE HAS TO STAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, SAME KIND OF SCENARIO, JUST A DIFFERENT TWIST.
SO THERE THERE'S POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE THAT WE HAVEN'T TAPPED YET THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY, MAY EXIST.
SO THAT, THAT MEANS THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD THE HOOK BECAUSE I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT, UM, HOME-BUYING ASSISTANCE.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT CLASSES, TALKING ABOUT IT.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT GOING THROUGH CLASSES, BUT THERE WERE SOME CLASSES BACK IN THE DAY THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH AND YOU GOT A HOME BUYERS ASSISTANCE.
SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS MERGED TOGETHER.
I WAS LOOKING THROUGH MY MAIL TO SEE IF I SAW THE NAME.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOUTH CAROLINA SOMETHING I CAN'T REMEMBER, BUT, UH, THAT GIVES, UM, HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE AND GIVES, UH, SOMETIMES DOWN PAYMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LENDER, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT, IT'S IT, THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS
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OF GETTING THE ASSISTANCE THROUGH A LENDER.AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE THEM FOR THE, UM, FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND I THINK THEY CALL IT HEAT, HEAL, UH, HEROES.
UM, BUT ANYWAY, THERE IS HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE THAT I KNOW ABOUT, BUT IT'S, IT, IT IS THROUGH GOING THROUGH A REGULAR LENDER WHO HAVE THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN OF COURSE, USDA HAS PROGRAMS. UM, WHAT I CONSIDER THE VERY BEST, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY MORTGAGES AT AROUND 2%, OR AM I GETTING TOO FAR OUT OF THIS? THE SUB THE TOPIC? NO, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON TOPIC.
UM, THE HOME BUYER ASSISTANCE TO THE, IF WE OFFERED IT TO THE TOWN WOULD JUST BE AN ADDITION TO THE USDA.
USDA LOANS ARE SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE CAN OFFER AS ONE OF OUR TOOLS AS WELL.
UM, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND TO, UM, MS. NOLA'S POINT EARLIER, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE, LIKE HELP BEFORE THEY MAY GET TO THAT POINT.
SO, UM, I WAS JUST SAYING, IF WE OFFER ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE TO, THEY GO THROUGH THE CLASS, THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY NEED, THEY NEED TO DO THEY HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AS WELL.
I BELIEVE THE NOTICE IS ALSO RIGHT.
THE TOWN HAD OFFERED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THROUGH A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE SMALL HOME SERIES.
UM, WE SAID NEVER REALLY COME TO FRUITION.
UM, THE SMALL ONES, STUDENTS THAT WE PRETTY MUCH HAD A PROGRAM IN THOSE SMALL HOME SERIES WITH THE LIGHT, NOT TO LOVE HOMES, SOMEHOW GOT AWAY FROM US, EITHER THE DEVELOPER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS OR THE PRICES DOUBLED, BUT, BUT THERE WERE A PROGRAM AT THAT POINT.
UM, I DO SOME MORE RESEARCH TO GET BACK TO YOUR NECK.
WE HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, CONCERNS.
I JUST HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION.
UM, MAYBE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CONTRACT WITH THE DEVELOPER.
YES, YES AND NO, UH, CONTACT, UM, THE DEVELOPER AND A TOWN MANAGER LAST WEEK ABOUT THE, UH, ABOUT THIS, THIS, THIS TOPIC.
AND, UM, IT APPEARS THE CONTRACT IS COMPLETED.
I DON'T THINK THE DEVELOPER HAS SIGNED IT YET.
THERE, THERE WAS STILL, UM, I GUESS WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THEM TO SAY THEY AGREE WITH, WITH OUR, UM, UH, CRITERIA.
IS THAT THE CONTRACT? AND THAT'S, LIKE I SAID, YES AND NO, AT LEAST THE CONTRACT FROM OUT WE HAVE FROM, FROM THE TOP PERSPECTIVE IS, HAS BEEN PRESENTED.
SO WHEN I, WHEN I TALKED TO, UM, THE DEVELOPER, HE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE VERY CLOSE TO ASSIGNMENT.
UM, I'M HERE TO TOWN TODAY, UH, FOR THE, FOR ANOTHER MEETING.
AND I PUT MY HEAD IN, IN THE TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE BEFORE I LEAVE THOUGHTS.
UM, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR GOOD MEETING AND, UH, PLEASE YOUR INPUT ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UM, INVITE
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GUESTS WITH SPECIFIC TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WOULD BE APPRECIATED TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH VICTORIAN OR YOUR CONTEXT WITH VICTORIA.AND, UM, AND WE CALL THIS MEETING, UH, ADJOURN.
THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.