Jan 24, 2022 County Council Regular Session

IT'S A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO DELETE ITEM NUMBER.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THE AGENDA WILL BE AMENDED TO DELETE ITEM NUMBER 14.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTION.

THEREFORE I NEED A CHAIRMAN.

YES, SIR.

CHAIRMAN.

SO THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHY WE DELETED THAT.

UH, YES, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN DELETED BECAUSE IT, UH, AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, UH, THE ITEM IS NOT NECESSARY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UH, SO I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED MOTION.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION THE SECOND PLEASE.

UH, MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

IT, UH, IN DISCUSSION SAY NO DISCUSSION.

THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

WOULD BE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 25TH AND NOVEMBER 8TH.

UH, NEXT ONE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THOSE MINUTES PLEASE? MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION SECOND I'LL SECOND.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NO DISCUSSION.

THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

EMPLOYEE COMES TO US FROM OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

THEREFORE THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

WE NOW TURN TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

FOR HIS REPORT.

UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF BEAVER COUNTY WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

AND ALSO WHO ARE WATCHING, UH, EITHER, UH, AT HOME THROUGH THE COUNTY CHANNEL OR THOSE OF US, THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT ARE, UM, JOINING US BY AS SOON I HAVE THREE EMPLOYEES TO INTRODUCE TO YOU ALL, UH, THIS EVENING, OUR FIRST

[00:05:01]

ROBERT, COME ON UP, PLEASE.

THIS IS ROBERT WALTERS.

HE WORKS IN OUR ASSESSORS DEPARTMENT AS A SET.

HE IS AN APPRAISAL TECHNICIAN.

HE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 13 AND A HALF YEARS OR SO, A RATHER LONG SERVING EMPLOYEE.

HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR FIELD INSPECTION OF REAL PROPERTY, UH, TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF PROPERTIES TO DETERMINE QUALITY CONDITION AND OTHER CHARACTERISTICS I HAVE DOES FIELD MEASURING, UH, COMPLETE INSPECTION FORMS FOR ENTRY INTO THE COMPUTER ASSISTED MASS APPRAISAL SYSTEM.

HE DOES ONSITE INTERVIEWING THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS FOR GATHERING A REAL ESTATE, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FIELD INSPECTION, AND APPROVAL AND DENIAL OF AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS.

UH, LET ME TELL YOU THAT.

I CAN IMAGINE THAT ROBERT PROBABLY DEALS WITH SOME, A VERY INTENSE SITUATION WHEN HE'S OUT LOOKING AT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, UH, FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT 13 AND A HALF YEARS SPEAKS TO HIS CHARACTER AND HIS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC, UH, IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER.

SO ROBERT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'M GONNA LET YOU, UH, SAY A FEW WORDS HERE, UH, TO COUNCIL, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

I JUST LIKE TO SAY, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THIS WITH MY FELLOW TEAMMATES FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT.

I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO MY JOB.

DO YOU PROVIDE ROBERT WITH A WEAPON? IS HE NOT? NOT YET.

HOPEFULLY THEN THEY, THEY DON'T NEED THOSE AT THIS POINT.

UM, I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE THE NEXT TWO EMPLOYEES TOGETHER.

UH, SO COLT, UM, AND, UM, KAYLA, COME ON UP PLEASE.

I'M WONDERING, DO YOU SEE THESE TWO GUYS AND THEN I'LL READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.

UM, SO, UM, WE HAVE COLT MOSS WITH OUR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE CALEB, NAN KARMA'S WITH, UH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AS WELL.

UM, COLT COLT, RAISE YOUR HAND, ASK ALL OF US.

I CAN'T IDENTIFY YOU SAY, WELL, I'VE CALLED IT A PARAMEDIC.

UH, HE'S WORKED WITH A DIFFERENT COUNTY EMS FOR FOUR YEARS.

UH, TWO OF THOSE YEARS AS A PARAMEDIC, UH, HE HAS AN ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE FOR CRITICAL AND AN EMERGENT PATIENTS WHO ACCESS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM.

HE POSSESSES COMPLEX KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL NECESSARY TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND TRANSPORTATION PARAMEDICS FUNCTION AS A PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE EMS RESPONSE UNDER MEDICAL OVERSIGHT, PARAMEDICS PERFORM INTERVENTIONS WITH THEIR BASIC AND ADVANCED EQUIPMENT TECHNICALLY FOUND ON AN AMBULANCE.

UM, THE PARAMEDIC IS A LINK FROM THE SCENE OF AN EMERGENCY INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.

THAT THOSE, THAT, THOSE LAST WORDS THAT I READ THERE WAS FROM THE NATIONAL EMS SCOPE OF PRACTICE MODEL.

SO KAYLA EAR IS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, BASIC EMT.

UH, HE'S BEEN WITH US ONLY FIVE MONTHS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HIM.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS PROVIDE OUT OF HOSPITAL, EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE AND TRANSPORTATION WITH CRITICAL AND EMERGENT PATIENTS.

YOU ACCESS THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM, EMT, HOW KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NECESSARY TO STABILIZE AND SAFELY TRANSPORT PATIENT TRAINED IN FROM NON-EMERGENCY AND ROUTINE MEDICAL TRANSPORT TO LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES.

AND I'M GONNA GO OFF SCRIPT HERE A LITTLE BIT.

I'LL OFTEN SAY THAT THESE GUYS AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT WORK IN OUR EMS, UH, SYSTEM, THEY SEE SOME THINGS THAT MANY OF US AS NORMAL CITIZENS WOULD THINK UNTHINKABLE AND WOULD BE UNBEARABLE FOR, FOR US TO ENCOUNTER.

SO THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE FOR US.

THEY SEE A LOT OF THINGS THERE.

UM, THEY PLAY UP AREA IN PORT OUR ROLE, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR THEM PROPERLY, BOTH FROM A PERSONNEL STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO FROM AN EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT AS WELL FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN THE FIELD EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS, PERFORM INTERVENTIONS WITH BASIC EQUIPMENT, TYPICALLY FOUND ON ANIMALS.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ARE A CRITICAL LINK BETWEEN THE SCENE OF AN EMERGENCY AND THE HEALTH

[00:10:01]

CARE SYSTEM.

SO, UM, CHRIS, OUR CALEB IS ORIGINALLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, GREW UP BEFORE, UH, OTHER SIBLINGS AND HIS PARENTS WHEN HE'S NOT AT WORK, HE ENJOYS THE OUTDOORS AND WATCHING HOCKEY, UH, LIKE A GOOD PHILADELPHIA GUY THERE, I GUESS, UH, IN THE FUTURE, CHRIS, MY, UH, CALEB PLANS TO ATTEND SCHOOL, TO OBTAIN AS A PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION AND CONTINUE HIS CAREER IN EMS. UM, AND SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT COLT.

HE HAS EIGHT YEARS OF PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE OPERA WAS OPERATING AS A MEDIC FOR AN INFANTRY BATTALION.

HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM NEWBERRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND MOVED TO BUFORD ALMOST FIVE YEARS AGO WITH HIS FAMILY, WENT AWAY FROM WORK COAT AND POLK, ENJOYS BOATING, FISHING, AND SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.

AND COLT SAYS IT BEING A PARAMEDIC FOR BUFORD COUNTY.

EMS IS TRULY REWARDING.

THIS IS A LITTLE LENGTHY, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL ABOUT THESE TWO.

THIS IS WHY I HAVE THEM STANDING UP HERE WITH ME TOGETHER.

AND THIS IS A LETTER THAT WE RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM A CONTROL MOMENTS THAT JONES WITH THE CITY OF BUFORD, A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO DAWN ON ME THAT I WOULDN'T BE THE EMS DIRECTOR.

I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO BE COMPILING THIS LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR EMT AND THEN CARLOS AND PARAMEDIC MALLS OF EMS SEVEN, DUE TO THE EXTRA EFFORTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS GOING THE EXTRA STEP AND BEING MORE THAN JUST THE CALL TAKER, THE ACTIONS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SPORTED A POSSIBLE TRAGIC YOUNG SNAP FROM OCCURRING.

I WANT TO BRING LIGHT AS TO A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2021, EMT, NAN CARVINGS AND PARAMEDIC HALLS WERE DISPATCHED AT 2355 HOURS REGARDING THE REPORT OF AN EMS PAIN CALL FOR SERVICE.

I'M ASSUMING I'M A CIVILIAN.

AND I'M ASSUMING THAT SAID FIVE MINUTES BEFORE MIDNIGHT, IF I'M INCORRECT, THAT'S, UH, UH, YOU ALL CAN CORRECT ME.

UM, THE PAIN CALL FOR SERVICE THAT WAS DISCOVERED YOU HAVE, THAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE IN FACT, AN ALTERED MENTAL STATUS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM DEALING WITH AN INDECISIVE SUBJECT, EXERCISED EXTRAORDINARY PATIENCE AND COMPASSION UPON SEEING THE PATIENT WAS IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE AND HER SHOWING SIGNS OF DISTRUST AND APPREHENSIVENESS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, TO EASE THE PATIENT'S FEARS WHILE STILL CARRYING OUT THEIR RESPECT TO THEIR JOBS IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.

THESE INDIVIDUALS WENT ABOVE SIMPLY RESPONDING TO THE CALL AND THE STATE GAVE THE SITUATION THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT DESERVED TO PROVIDE THE PATIENT WITH OUTSTANDING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUR SPEAKING, WITH THE PATIENT OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GAINING THE PATIENT'S TRUST, ALLOWING THEM TO ASSIST HER WITH SEEKING ASSISTANCE FOR A CRISIS.

EVEN AFTER HAVING BEEN NOTIFIED, THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED BY OFFICERS FOR A SECOND CALL FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PATIENT.

THESE INDIVIDUAL RESPONDED ANYWAY, TO ENSURE THE PATIENT WAS PROVIDED THE ASSISTANT SHE DESPERATELY NEEDED.

IT IS IN MY OPINION, AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER EMT, NAN CARPUS AND PARAMOUNT MOSSMAN ABOVE WHAT WAS REQUIRED OF THEM TO TRULY HELP A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.

AND THE EMT, NAN CARVINGS AND PARAMEDIC MARSH SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND PROFESSIONALISM.

UH, YOU ALL KNOW THAT, UH, MENTAL ILLNESS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO ME.

I SPEND A LOT OF MY ENERGY ON DEALING WITH THAT AT SOMETHING THAT WE FACE HERE ALL THE TIME.

AND I THANK YOU.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT NIGHT AND, UH, FOR WHAT YOU ALL DID.

SO I'LL GIVE EACH OF YOU A BRIEF FEW MOMENTS HERE TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO THEM, AND THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE YOU A, I WILL DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR SERVICE.

COULD YOU ALL INTRODUCE YOUR FAMILY? UM, THIS IS MY WIFE, JESSICA.

THIS IS MY YOUNGEST SON'S NAME SON, ZACH, AND MY DAUGHTER, AMBER, LIKE YOU SAID, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS.

I'VE WORKED FOR BUFORD FOR FOUR.

UM, I DO HAVE PRIOR MILITARY SERVICE, UM, ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS I WANTED TO BECOME A WOMAN TO FINALLY GO THROUGH AND GO TO PARAMEDIC SCHOOL WAS BECAUSE I DID THE SAME THING IN THE MILITARY.

AND I ONLY FELT LIKE I COULD DO MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY BY, YOU KNOW, BRINGING THE KNOWLEDGE I ALREADY HAVE AND BEING ABLE TO PUT IT TO USE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT.

DIRECTOR ONLY, I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I'VE, IT'S BEEN A REALLY REWARDING EXPERIENCE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING MY CAREER WITH THE COUNTY.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US.

UM, I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT WORKING WITH PEOPLE LIKE THAT TO MAKE MOSS AND

[00:15:01]

SO THANK YOU.

AND THEN I JUST HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL BRIEF ITEMS THAT I NEED TO MAKE A OR TWO ADDITIONAL REFILES IN THE MEETING NEED TO MAKE YOU ALL AWARE OF, UH, TWO OF THEM RESOLVE AROUND OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARBOR.

SEAN WILL BE PLEASED TO KNOW, UH, IN ADDITION, JUNIOR, THE REST OF YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, TO THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 21ST, 2022, UH, THAT WAS IN ADVANCE OF THEIR EXTENDED DEADLINE OF DECEMBER 31ST.

SO I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME, UH, THAT THAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED, UH, HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT'S THE EARLIEST THAT AN AUDIT HAS BEEN DONE IN B FOR COUNTY AND SOMETIMES SO NEXT YEAR, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE DECEMBER 34, DECEMBER 31ST DEADLINE.

THE SECOND OUT OF REGARDS TO SOMEBODY WILL SAY, WELL DONE.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO GRADUATE FROM THIS PRESTIGIOUS PROGRAM MEANS YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF A POWERFUL CROSS SECTOR NETWORK OF SOUTH CAROLINA LEADERS.

THEN THE SECOND THING IS THE COUNTY RECEIVED THE, OF CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, UH, THAT ENDED ON JUNE 30TH, 2020.

SO WE WERE, YOU WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING AFTER THAT AWARD, WE DID RECEIVE IT.

AND THEN FINALLY, AS A RESULT OF THAT AUDIT, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT YOU ALL, UH, THROUGH PAST ACTIONS OF THE CHAIRMAN OF FINANCE, UH, MR. HARPER, SEAN AND MR. LAWSON, UH, THE PAST ADMINISTRATOR AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTY, UH, THREE OF THE STAFF THAT AUDIT REVEALED THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE CARRYING A LOT OF MONEY THROUGH ARPA, UH, AT THIS POINT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL $17.8 MILLION SURPLUS, UH, IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.

SO WE WILL BE BRINGING FORTH A PLAN TO YOU ALL, UH, TO ADVISE YOU ON HOW WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU HANDLE SPENDING THAT MONEY.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WILL BE HIRING AND RETENTION, UH, MONEY FOR CRITICAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, UH, FOR US TO HIRE PEOPLE, TO BEAT, TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR HIRING STRUCTURE RETENTION FOR, UM, EMPLOYEES IN OUR DEPARTMENTS, UM, YOU TO THE SERVICE, THE JOB THAT THEY DID AND HELPING US ACHIEVE THAT SURPLUS, THERE WILL BE SOME WHAT I CALL ANCHOR ANKLE BUYER, BUILDING PROJECTS THAT DO NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF FACILITIES, MASTER PLAN TYPE OF THINGS, BUT THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.

LIKE ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF LAWNMOWER EQUIPMENT THAT JUST SAID OUT IN THE OPEN IN THE RAIN AND THE WEATHER, AND WE NEED TO BUILD SOME OPEN SHEDS TO PROTECT THOSE FROM THE WEATHER.

WE HAVE META MOSQUITO CONTROLLED TRUCKS THAT SIT OUT IN THE WEATHER, AND THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO REPLACE THE NOZZLES ON THOSE AT A MUCH FASTER RATE.

AND THEN, UM, SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING FORTH TO YOU ALL IN THE PLAN.

SO MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

I APOLOGIZE THAT IT WAS A LITTLE MORE LEAKY.

THAT'S QUITE ALL RIGHT.

I NEED TO COME TO THE PODIUM NOW, MYSELF, MR. GREENWAY, WILL YOU JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM? THE PLACE WHERE EVERYONE WHO WAS HERE BACK SO THAT I CAN ANNOUNCE THIS SO EVERYONE CAN SEE US ON TELEVISION IN DECEMBER.

OUR ADMINISTRATOR, MR. ERIC GREENWAY WAS ONE OF 39 LOW COUNTRY LEADERS TO GRADUATE FROM THE RALLY INSTITUTE AWARD WINNING DIVERSITY LEADERS INITIATIVE OFFERED THROUGH FERMIN UNIVERSITY.

THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO EQUIP LEADERS WITH TOOLS AND PERSPECTIVES NEEDED TO LEVERAGE DIVERSITY AS A WAY TO IMPROVE ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOMES AND DRIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROCESS PROGRESS IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO COMPLETE THIS PROGRAM.

ERIC TOOK PART IN AN INTENSIVE DISCUSSION IN SCENARIOS THAT ALLOW HIM TO OPENLY EXAMINE, EXAMINE SENSITIVE ISSUES RELATED TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WHILE GAINING TOOLS TO HELP HIM DEVELOP A DIVERSITY STRATEGIST WITHIN OUR OWN ORGANIZATION, PARTICIPANTS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE SELECTED THROUGH A RIGOROUS APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS AND ARE ACCEPTED BASED UPON THEIR CAPACITY TO CREATE ANY ACT WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.

EACH CLASS IS CRAFTED TO REFLECT THE DIVERSE DEMOGRAPHICS

[00:20:01]

AND DR.

DON GORDON SAID NOW MORE THAN EVER LEADERS MUST COME TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO UNITE COMMUNITIES IN THE PURSUIT OF BETTER OUTCOMES.

FOR ALL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THE NEWEST RILEY FELLOWS CONTINUE TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR WORKPLACES AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE TOOLS THEY'VE GAINED IN DLI, EVEN IN THESE UNPRECEDENTED UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.

SO MR. GREENWAY, CONGRATULATIONS, WE'RE HONORED BY THE WAY, TWO OF THE GRADUATES ARE ALSO DR.

GOLF FROM TCL AND, UM, UM, SUPERINTENDENT.

YEAH.

SUPERINTENDENT BROUGHT GREETERS AND TWO OF OUR SITTING COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO GRADUATES OF THAT PROGRAM, MR. SOMERVILLE AND MS. HOWARD.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.

MR. MCDONALD'S, YOU WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

WE ARE AT OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS AND

[7. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MIKE MCDONALDS.

I'VE LIVED IN BUFORD COUNTY FOR 43 YEARS.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.

I'VE BEEN A CONTRACTOR SINCE 1988 AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS AND, UM, THEY'RE PROPERTY OWNERS IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND, UM, WE OPPOSED THE 90 $539,535 IMPACT FEE, WHICH BRINGS THE CURRENT IMPACT FEES TO AROUND $15,000 BEFORE THE PERMIT $9,535, UH, IMPACT FEE COULD PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A WELL AND A SEPTIC SYSTEM ON CERTAIN AREAS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER AS OF FRIDAY, UH, RESEARCH.

AND I DID THE ADDITIONAL FEE IS NOT COLLECTED BY HILTON HEAD OR BLUFFTON.

I BELIEVE $9,535 IS TOO HIGH OF A TAX FOR INFILL LOTS.

AND FOR CLARIFICATION INFILL LOTS AND MY BUSINESS, OR LOTS OF ROOM IN, UH, ALREADY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT NEW TRACK DEVELOPMENTS.

I THINK THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER REPEALING OR AMENDING THE $9,535 ADDITIONAL, UH, IMPACT THE, AND IF IT'S NOT REPEALED OR AMENDED, THEN PERHAPS THERE COULD BE SOME EXCLUSION FOR INFILL, LOTS PROPERTIES PURCHASED BEFORE THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW FEE SHOULD ALSO BE EXEMPT FROM THE SUBJECT, UH, SHOULD BE EXEMPT OR SUBJECT TO A REDUCED RATE.

PERHAPS THE TECHS SHOULD BE BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE HOME TO BE CONSTRUCTED MUCH LIKE THE COST OF A BUILDING PERMIT.

I KNOW, UH, THE VOTE WAS SEVEN TO FOUR TO PASS THE NEW IMPACT FEE.

AND, UH, THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT AND I JUST HEARD, UH, THE WORD UNITE.

AND I READ THAT DOWN HERE BECAUSE I THINK, I THINK BUFORD COUNTY NEEDS TO UNITE AND POSSIBLY FIND ANOTHER WAY TO COLLECT THE $89 MILLION FOR THE SCHOOLS SHARE THE BURDEN AMONG ALL THE CITIZENS AND NOT JUST PILE IT ON THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND THE, UM, THE BUILDING INDUSTRY SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR, THANK YOU.

THE CITIZEN COMMENTS AND TO THE COMMITTEE REPORTS, UM, UH, A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A COMMITTEE REPORT.

UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE

[8. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

NO.

OH, MR. RODMAN.

YEAH, WE GOT A COUPLE ITEMS THAT MR. CHAIRMAN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UM, THREE OF THEM RELATE TO APPLICATIONS FOR THE AMERICAN, UH, RESCUE PLAN.

UM, AND THE, YOU MAY REMEMBER, UH, W W WE AS A COUNTY ARE GETTING 37 MILLION AND WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT.

AND THAT'S GOING THROUGH IS KIND OF A BUDGETARY APPROVAL.

THESE PARTICULAR ONES KIND OF FALL OUTSIDE OF THAT.

UM, AND SO THESE ARE JUST PURELY APPLICATIONS.

AND IN FACT, UH, WE'VE BEEN TALKED INTERNALLY THAT, UH, W

[00:25:01]

WE MAY GET AWAY FROM APPROVING THE APPLICATIONS AND JUST LEAVE THAT UP FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

UH, WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT, UH, FOR J BRAG CONSULTING TO HELP WITH THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, UH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT RELATIVE TO ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE GOING ON.

UM, AND THAT'S FOR 410,000, BUT THAT'S KIND OF A BUDGETARY NUMBER.

IT'S ACTUALLY WAS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION AND IT'S, UM, THE PAYMENTS WOULD ACTUALLY BE BASED ON APPROVALS BY THE, UH, BY THE COUNTY AT THE AGREED UPON RATES.

UH, LASTLY THERE WAS A COUPLE OF, UH, APPOINTMENTS TO, UH, VARIOUS BOARDS.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. SPHERE, MR. CHAIRMAN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE IS AN ITEM OF FOUR THIRD READING ON THE REDISTRICTING OR BUFORD COUNTY FOR THE DIEFER COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, UH, AFTER A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT, WE FINALLY REACHED SOMETHING AND WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO SATISFY AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.

AND THIS WILL BE THIRD FINAL READING ON THAT TONIGHT.

ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SO NO OTHER COMMENTS, WE WILL MOVE TO THE

[9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? CHAIRMAN MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION AND WHO MAKES THE SECOND, SECOND, MR. LAWSON, YOU WILL MAKE THE SECOND, OKAY.

DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED FOR THE APPROVAL.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION.

SO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSION THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 10 IS

[10. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION]

MATTERS.

ARISING OUT OF THE CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THE FIRST ITEM WILL BE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, MR. SOMERVILLE, WILL YOU READ THAT MOTION? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A PROPOSED SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID SETTLED MENTAL ALLOCATION AGREEMENT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS, WHICH ARE NECESSARY.

ONE TO CONTINUE AND TO FINALIZE NEGOTIATIONS RELATIVE TO A SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOD SETTLEMENT ALLOCATION AGREEMENT, AND TWO FOR THE COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN SETTLEMENTS BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND CERTAIN DEFENDANTS NAMED IN CASE NUMBER 2 0 1 8 DASH CP DASH ZERO SEVEN DASH 0 1 2 4 5, INCLUDING MCKESSON CORPORATION, CARDINAL HEALTH, INC, AND AMERISOURCE BERGEN CORPORATION, COLLECTIVELY THE DISTRIBUTORS AND JOHNSON AND JOHNSON, JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC ORTHO MCNEIL, JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS, INC, AND JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICALS.

I'M SORRY.

JOHN JANSEN FARMACEUTICA INC.

COLLECTIVELY JANSSEN PROVIDED THE TERMS OF SUCH SETTLEMENT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE TERMS, WHICH WERE EXPLAINED TO COUNSEL TODAY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO LEAVE MOTION TO SECOND, PLEASE.

MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND MOTION.

DIDN'T SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE OF THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE SECOND ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 10, MS. HOWARD, WOULD YOU READ THAT MOTION PLEASE? AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT RATIO.

I MOVED AT COUNTY COUNCIL EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 16TH, 2022.

I BELIEVE IT'S MARCH 17, 16, 16, VERIFIED WITH OUR ATTORNEY, THE PRESCRIBED TIME TO APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATIO FOR TAX YEAR 2021, THAT IT AUTHORIZED AND INSTRUCT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO WEIGH TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE ANY IN ALL ADVERSE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES, WHICH COULD APPLY TO SUCH TAXPAYERS AND TO ALLOW THESE TAXPAYERS 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH A DETERMINATION IS MADE ON THEIR APPLICATION TO PAY THEIR TAXES.

DULY MOTION TO SECOND, PLEASE.

SECOND, MR. SOMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

IT ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

NUMBER 11, WHICH IS A PRESENTATION PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 2022 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT KNOWN AS CBDG LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO BE DONE BY MICHELLE KNIGHT.

WE ARE AT ITEM

[11. PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 2022 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CBDG)- LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, MICHELLE KNIGHT.]

GOOD EVENING.

UM, THE TRUCK SHARE MY SCREEN HERE.

[00:30:10]

UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

UM, IT'S GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYBODY.

WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT SETTING OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE 2022 FUNDING YEAR FOR CDBG FOR BUFORD COUNTY.

UM, THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE TO, UM, THE COUNTY SYSTEMS PARTICIPATION PLAN, WHICH ALLOWS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC AND PUBLIC HEARINGS IN PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROJECTS, COMMENTING ON PROJECTS AS WE APPLY FOR THEM AND COMMENTING ON PROJECTS AS WE CLOSE THEM.

UM, AS ART OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE TO DISSIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, UM, THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW FAIR HOUSING LAW.

THEN AS SUCH, WE JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE, UM, IN FAIR HOUSING PRACTICES IN THE SALE AND RENTAL OF HOUSING IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS OR THE PROVISION OF BROKERAGE SERVICES AGAINST THE PROTECTED CLASSES, UM, WHICH YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN.

UM, IF SOMEONE IN CONTACT, SHE WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER OR A STAFF MEMBER OF THE COUNTY, AND THANKS, THEY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, UM, RELATED TO THEIR HOUSING AND ACTIVITIES.

IF YOU CAN HAVE THEM CONTACT US AT ELKHART, WE'LL BE GLAD TO, UM, DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH THEM AND FORWARD ANY CONCERNS TO THE APPROPRIATE, UM, STATE GROUPS.

UM, JUST TO KIND OF SPEED THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY CURRENTLY FOR 2022, UM, ALL PROJECTS THAT WE SUBMIT FOR CDBG FUNDING HAVE TO MEET ONE OF THREE NATIONAL KEGS.

WE HAVE EITHER BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE ELIMINATE A SLUM OR BLIGHT ISSUE OR ADDRESS AN URGENT NEED FOR 2022 HOODS DATA INDICATES TO THAT OUR FOUR PERSON FAMILY, UM, TO BE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME IN THIS PROGRAM ANNUALLY, THEIR HOUSEHOLD WOULD HAVE TO BE EARNING LESS THAN $60,000 A YEAR.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT NUMBER GOES UP OR DOWN BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD FOR 2022, WE ARE ESTIMATING THAT THE STATE RECEIVED $20.1 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CDBG.

THIS MONEY WILL BE ALLOCATED AMONG THEIR REGULAR PROGRAMS. SO THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S CHANGED MUCH.

CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION IS UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOICE TO SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, UM, THIS IS THE EMAIL CONTACT FOR THE PERSON IN COMMERCE.

YOU'D NEED TO DISCUSS THAT WITH LISA ROSS AND THEIR MAILING ADDRESS AS WELL.

AND THEY'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROGRAM ITSELF ON THURSDAY, THE 27TH, THIS THURSDAY, AND I BELIEVE IT'S 2:00 PM.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO JUST FADE IN THAT VIRTUALLY, UM, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO THAT AT COMMERCE'S WEBSITE, THE THREE BROAD PROGRAM CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TONIGHT BRIEFLY ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND REGIONAL PLANNING, AND THE BREAKOUTS FOR THOSE, UM, PROGRAMS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

SO FOR COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH IS OUR SPRING RAIN, UM, THERE'S $11.3 MILLION.

SO THEY ELIGIBLE APPLICATION REQUESTS ARE DUE IN MID MARCH.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE DUE APRIL.

UM, THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OUR WATER SEWER DRAINAGE AND ROAD SET ASIDE.

THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDING HERE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE IS $750,000.

UM, THERE'S A 10% MATCH AND THERE IS AN ALLOWANCE FOR YOU TO WAIT THAT MAXIMUM FUNDING NOW FOR A LARGER AMOUNT.

UM, IF YOU CAN SHOW A SPECIAL NEED TO DO THAT.

UM, NEXT SET ASIDE UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.

THIS IS OUR FALL

[00:35:01]

RAIN.

UM, WHAT WE CALL OUR FACILITIES PROGRAM.

YOU HAVE AN AUGUST, UH, MID AUGUST REQUEST DEADLINE, UH, MID-SEPTEMBER APPLICATION DEADLINE IS PROP PROGRAM.

TYPICALLY DOES THINGS SUCH AS STREETSCAPE, UM, DEMOLITION PROJECTS, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO LIBRARIES OR OTHER PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITIES.

DIDN'T BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE.

UM, WE CAN DO FIRE SUBSTATIONS OR FIRE TRUCKS TO SERVE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREA.

WE CAN LOOK AT HEALTH CLINICS AND HERE, UM, WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT SIDEWALKS.

THIS IS WHERE ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN, UM, NEW SIDEWALKS, SUCH AS WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH, UM, DETOUR ROAD RIGHT NOW, AND WE'LL BRANCH, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

AND THIS SET ASIDE FOR A PROJECT IS $500,000 IN LESS.

YOU'RE DOING A STREET STATE PROJECT.

THEN WE CAN LOOK AT $750,000.

THE NEXT SET OF SIDE BRIEFLY IS SPECIAL PROJECTS.

THERE'S A MILLION DOLLAR SET ASIDE HERE.

UM, THIS AGAIN HAS A FALL, UM, APPLICATION REQUESTS AND DEADLINES, SAME AS COMMUNITY IN RICHMOND.

UM, IN THIS, WE CAN LOOK AT HISTORIC PRESERVATION, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY PROJECTS, TRAILS AND GREENWAY PROJECTS.

AND THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FUNDING HAS BEEN BUMPED TO $250,000 ON THE SET-ASIDE.

AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SET ASIDES ARE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION.

UM, THIS IS A AGAIN, A FALL ROUND, UM, PROGRAM WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, UH, ALL APPLICATION BEST IN DEADLINE.

THIS IS WHERE YOU TAKE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YOU BASICALLY DO WHERE THE AMOUNTS DUE ARE MANY COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING.

YOU LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, MEANING THE WATER, SEWER ROADS AND DRAINAGE.

YOU LOOK AT, UM, LIGHTING, UM, POLICE, SUBSTATION SECURITY ISSUES.

YOU LOOK AT OUR HOUSING, UM, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT HOUSING, AND YOU LOOK AT DEMOLITION OF ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE PROPERTIES.

YOU LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS AND YOU BASICALLY PREPARE A PLAN, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND YOU CAN RECEIVE ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO $750,000 FOR OUR PROJECT AIR.

BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE $750,000 MAX IS ONLY IF YOU'RE DOING, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT WITH THESE PROJECTS BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES.

UM, TYPICALLY MORTAR, SHE WERE, OUR ROADS ARE DRAINAGE, CAN CHEW UP A LOT OF A $500,000 BUDGET, THE READY TO GO SET ASIDE.

THE REMAINING ONE IN NEW DEVELOPMENT HAS A $600,000 SET ASIDE.

THESE ARE NON-COMPETITIVE PROJECTS WHERE HE BASICALLY DONE EVERYTHING IT'S YOU NEED, BUT FOR BIDDING A PROJECT TO BE READY TO GO, AND YOU CAN DO ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE LOOK AT IN COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.

UM, THERE'S A $500,000 MAX, BUT WE CAN THAT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THESE ARE TYPICALLY PROJECTS THAT CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE REGULAR COMPETITIVE FUNDING ROUND TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON.

UM, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ANY OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE PURSUE HAVE TO MEET A NATIONAL OBJECTIVE, AND WE DO HAVE A MATCH REQUIREMENT OF 10% ON ALL PROJECTS THAT WE GET.

UM, THE REMAIN CATEGORIES ARE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

UM, THIS IS ALSO A NON-COMPETITIVE PROJECT OR SET ASIDE WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND ACTUALLY RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, TO SUPPORT NEW OR EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE EXPANDING AND CREATING JOBS WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, UM, THAT CAN BE CATALYST IN A LOW INCOME AREA AND WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, HELPING DO PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, NEW OR EXPANDING LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL, GOOD OR SERVICE TO PREDOMINANTLY LOW INCOME AREA.

THE MAXIMUM HERE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE FOR A PROJECT IS CONTINGENT UPON THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN JOB CREATION.

THAT'S INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT FOR THE STATE STAFF CAROLINA.

MOST OF THE TIME,

[00:40:01]

THESE PROJECTS, UM, AVERAGE AROUND $5,000 PER JOB IS CREATED.

SO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A $500,000 GRANT, YOU'D BE LOOKING AT LEAST AT LEAST, UM, A HUNDRED JOBS.

THEN THE FINAL SET ASIDE IS REGIONAL PLANNING.

AND THAT IS, UM, THE SMALL $50,000 PLANNING GRANTS.

THEY'RE AWARDED TO EACH OF THE 10 COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE STATE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS LIKE THIS, AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF AND DISCUSS NEW PROJECTS IN POCKETS.

UM, SOME OTHER THINGS RELATED TO SCORING CRITERIA UNDER THIS PROGRAM NOW, UM, PROJECTS THAT WE DO THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN OPPORTUNITY ZONES, UM, GET EXTRA POINTS IN SCORING IN THE COMPETITIVE ROUNDS.

UM, ALSO AS FAR AS THRESHOLD IS CONCERNED, A COUNTY CAN HAVE OUR LOPEZ LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN HAVE UP TO THREE OPEN AND ACTIVE PROJECTS AT A TIME.

THIS EXCLUDES ANY PLANNING, REGIONAL PLANNING, GRANTS, OR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

SO THIS IS YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE COUNTY HAS TWO PROJECTS AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY COULD PURSUE ONE ADDITIONAL PROJECT, BUT AFTER THAT, IF IT'S FUNDED, THEN THEY HAVE TO CLOSE A PROJECT BEFORE PERCEIVING ANYTHING ELSE.

UM, ALSO WITH THRESHOLD, YOU CAN HAVE MORE, NO MORE THAN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT OR STREETSCAPE PROJECT.

ACCOUNTING HAS.

NONE OF THESE.

YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE READY TO GO PROJECT ACCOUNTING HAS NONE OF THESE RIGHT NOW, YOUR TWO PROJECTS ARE, UM, SIDEWALK PROJECTS THAT I THINK WERE FUNDED UNDER, UM, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.

SO YOU'RE GOOD ON WHERE THAT'S CONCERNED.

UM, AND THEN THERE CAN BE NO MORE THAN ONE PROJECT IN THE SAME GENERAL TARGETING AREA OPEN AT THE SAME TIME, UNLESS THE FIRST PROJECT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, WITH THIS, SINCE YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS ARE A DETOUR ROAD AND, UM, IN THE WHALE BRANCH AREA, YOU COULD NOT DO ANOTHER PROJECT IN THAT AREA OR APPLY FOR ANOTHER PROJECT IN THAT AREA UNTIL YOU GET THESE TWO PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

UM, THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT I WANT MENTION BRIEFLY WHILE WE'RE TALKING, UM, IS OUR HOME CONSORTIUM PROGRAM.

UM, EVERY YEAR, UM, ROBERT JOHNSON IN OUR OFFICE HAS TO PUT TOGETHER AN ACTION PLAN FOR OUR HOME CONSORTIUM FUNDING IN ORDER TO SET PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR FOR THE HOME CONSORTIUM.

CURRENTLY, OUR TOP THREE OBJECTIVES ARE REHABILITATION OF SUBSTANDARD HOUSING, INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY TO ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW, UM, SAFETY SIGNAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, ALONG WITH ASKING YOU TO SET YOUR RATE FOR THE YEAR FOR CDBG, WE DO ASK THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY, UM, DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH US ABOUT THE HOUSING PRIORITIES FOR THE CONSORTIUM, UM, THAT YOU ALSO GET WITH US ABOUT THAT IS A SEPARATE ISSUE TO SETTING YOUR PRIORITIES FOR CDBG.

UM, THAT IS THE END OF MY FORMAL COMMENTS RELATED TO, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, THE PROGRAM AS IT IS NOW.

AND I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT, UM, AFTER Y'ALL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS NIGHT, I THINK TYPICALLY IT'S BEEN THE COUNTY'S, UM, POSITION, THE JAW, PUT THIS TO COMMITTEE AND Y'ALL PRIORITIZE YOUR, YOUR NEEDS THROUGH COMMITTEE AND THEN BRING IT BACK AT THE COUNCIL.

UM, IF THERE'S ANY IDEA THAT Y'ALL, WON'T RECEIVE SOMETHING FOR SPRING ROUND, AND THAT RANKING NEEDS TO BE FORMALIZED BEFORE MARCH 14TH.

SO Y'ALL WOULD NEED TO GO TO COMMITTEE AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL WITH THE MARCH 14TH WHEN THOSE APPLICATION REQUESTS GO.

ROUND OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SHOW BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY MEMBER IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING THIS PUBLIC HEARING, SEEING NONE? IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT, ASK A QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON SEEING NONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MICHELLE, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT

[00:45:01]

[12. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET (GRAVES ROAD)]

12 IS THE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND FOR GRAVES ROAD.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SOME OF MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION AND MR. RODMAN, YOU WILL MAKE THE SECOND.

YUP.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

BOAT FOR THIS, BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY, ALTHOUGH I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR IT.

I WOKE UP.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOU HAVE A MINISTER FOR REASONS PREVIOUS.

THEY STATED VERY GOOD.

JOAN ON THE SIDE HERE ON THE RIGHT? UH, YES.

MR. HILL ON THIS ONE.

THANK YOU, MR. .

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I, UH, I FOUND A POST OF THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE HERE.

UH, SINCE THE MA THIS MATTER HAS COME BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THIS ITERATION I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR IT AND WITH THE FINALITY, BUT I WOULD LIKE, UM, I WOULD LIKE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, UM, UH, ADDING MORE MONEY TO OUR ROADS, UH, OUR TAG FUNDS ANYWAY, AND TAKING ON SOME EXTRA PROJECTS.

WE'VE WE'VE UM, SHORT-CIRCUITED THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY IN THE BUDGET AND I, I WOULD HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED, UM, UH, AS GOOD AND, AND VALUABLE USE FOR THAT EXTRA MONEY.

ERIC THAT'S I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO COMMENT AND SAY, YES, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE A SEAT.

I THINK EVERYBODY WILL PROBABLY AGREE TO IT.

I JUST WANT TO TEE THAT UP.

SO WHEN IT COMES AROUND, IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR ADDING MONEY TO THE TAG FUNDS TO GET MORE DIRT ROADS PAVED IN BUFORD COUNTY AT A QUICKER PACE THAN WE WOULD OTHERWISE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF FUNDS, UM, AND THE TAG ACCOUNT ANYWAY, DUE TO OTHER MATTERS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. CHAIRMAN, YOU CAN COUNT ME AS A YES.

UH, ANY COMMENTS MR. DAWSON? YES.

MS. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST US AS WELL AT BORDER, UH, AGAINST IT AT THE LAST MEETING.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF US FUNDING THIS THROUGH THE MECHANISM.

THE MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE, UM, CHOSEN THE PACK LONZA WOULD HAVE SUPPORT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

MR. LAWSON.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

UH, AND THIS IS A COMMITMENT THAT WAS MADE BY COUNSEL PREVIOUSLY.

UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT, AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A COMMITMENT WE'VE MADE AND WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, I'M GOING TO CALL THE ROLE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY'S VOTE IS COUNTED AS THEY WISH TO VOTE.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM SINCE YOU MADE THE MOTION.

MR. DAWSON, I'M SORRY, MR. RODMAN.

SHAWN YOU'RE ON MUTE, MR. .

I THINK HE STEPPED AWAY.

SEAN, ARE YOU BACK ONLINE? YES, SIR.

I'M YES.

UH, THEREFORE WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

WHICH IS THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO PURCHASE THE BC S OH, DOWLING LOCK LOTS.

TWO, NO ONE ABSTENTION MOTION IS CARRIED.

WE'RE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 13,

[13. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO PURCHASE THE BCSO DOWLING LOTS ]

A MOTION, PLEASE MOVED MR. SOMERVILLE A SECOND PLEASE.

MS. HOWARD MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

DIDN'T SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NO DISCUSSION.

I WILL ACTUALLY VOTE AGAINST IT.

I CALL THE ROLE? SEEING NONE.

YEP.

WE'LL HAVE TO CALL THE ROLL.

UM, MR. SOMERVILLE, YOU MADE THE MOTION.

YOU WILL GO.

I'M SORRY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE

[00:50:01]

MR. SOMMERVILLE, YOU MADE THE MOTION.

YOU WILL GO FIRST.

UH, SOMERVILLE.

UH, THE SECOND WAS MS. HOWARD.

MR. HERB IS SHAWN? NO, UH, MR. LAWSON.

AND THE CHAIR SAYS, YES.

NUMBER 14 HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER

[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE IX. GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY AND FACILITIES, DIVISION 2. RESTRICTED ACCESS]

15.

UM, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION THAT READS AS FOLLOWS, UH, MOVE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL AMEND ARTICLE NINE, GOVERNMENT OWNED PROPERTY AND FACILITIES DIVISION TWO OF THE BUFORD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCLUDE A NEW SECTION, SECTION TWO DASH 6, 7, 5, CAMPING PROHIBITED AS SET FORTH IN TODAY'S AGENDA MATERIALS.

NOW I HAVE SUCH A MOTION, PLEASE.

MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION AS SECRETARIES, MR. .

YOU MADE THE SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM NUMBER

[16. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2020 BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE]

16.

I WOULD ASK THAT A MEMBER OF COUNCIL MOVE THAT COUNTY COUNCIL AMEND ARTICLE THREE, SECTION TWO OF THE 2020 BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ORDINANCE.

SO THAT THE DEFINITION OF BUSINESS NEEDS ANY BUSINESS CALLING OCCUPATION, PROFESSION, OR ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN WITH THE OBJECT OF GAIN BENEFIT OR ADVANTAGE EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, ABOVE DESCRIBED ACTIVITIES, CONSTITUTING DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY, AN INDIVIDUAL SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE IN BUSINESS.

IF THAT INDIVIDUAL OWNS AND RENTS TWO OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR HOLDS A PARTIAL INTEREST IN WITHIN THE COUNTY, EXCLUDING THE MUNICIPALITIES THEY'RE IN THIS APPLIES TO LONG-TERM RESIDENCE OF 30 DAYS OR MORE ONLY.

SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.

OH, I'M SORRY.

MR. DAWSON MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

IT, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM NUMBER

[17. AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CONVEYANCE OF PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS BOSTICK ROAD AND AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS]

17.

I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FOR AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CONVEYANCE OF PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS BOSTIK ROAD AND AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

AGAIN, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION, SIR.

MR. MAKES THE MOTION SECOND, PLEASE.

MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION, SAY NO DISCUSSION.

FOR THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE, APPROPRIATING THE FUNDS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX STATE, 2% BOARD, THE TOURISM RELATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000 EMOTION PLEASE.

AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.

I WOULD ASK FOR A MEMBER TO ASK, TO MAKE A MOTION

[18. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX(STATE 2%) BOARD TO TOURISM-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000]

MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION.

SECOND.

MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

DIDN'T SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NO DISCUSSION.

I ASKED FOR A MOTION FOR THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 20 21 20 22 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE BOUNDARY STREET TENNIS COURTS PROJECT, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS THEREFORE MOTION PLEASE.

NUMBER 19,

[19. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2021-2022 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE BOUNDARY STREET TENNIS COURTS PROJECT, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS THEREFORE]

MR. SOMERVILLE MADE THE MOTION.

SECOND, SECOND.

THE MOTION, SIR.

MR. FALWELL, AND MAKES THE SECOND ALRIGHT.

DULY MOTION.

DIDN'T SECOND IT, MR. FRAIL X, YOU HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION.

I APOLOGIZE.

UM, ON THIS ITEM, IN THE, THAT DOCUMENTATION, IT HAD BOTH THE ORDINANCE AND THE CONTRACT AWARD.

UM, SO I WOULD ASK THAT THAT BE CONSIDERED

[00:55:01]

AS PART OF THIS MOTION IS BOTH THE RECOMMENDATION AT FIRST READING, AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD, UH, FOR THE IFB NUMBER 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1 VIRTA BOUNDARY STREET, TENNIS COURTS.

AND DO WE HAVE A FIGURE FOR THAT? YES, IT'S A 750, 2000, $180.

UH, NOW DID THE MOTION OR IN THE SECOND, HEAR THAT AND ARE THEY WILLING? AND I HEARD THAT I WAS AWARE OF THAT ANYWAYS.

MR. CALLING, ARE YOU ACCEPTING OF THAT? YES, I READ THE BACKUPS ARE EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL JUST AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE AND TO INCORPORATE THAT, THAT LANGUAGE.

YEAH, THE SECOND DEGREES.

A SECOND DEGREE.

A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2022 METAL PRIDE LITTER CREW GRANT AWARD.

UH, DULY AMENDED AND AGREED TO, UM, AND DISCUSSION.

THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

SO THAT ITEM IS APPROVED AS AMENDED ITEM.

NUMBER 20 IS

[20. A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT 2022 PALMETTO PRIDE LITTER CREW GRANT AWARD]

UH, MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT RESOLUTION, PLEASE MAKE THAT MOTION.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND.

THE MOTION MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND JULIE MOTION AND SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION, MR. .

YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

UM, IT'S JUST A TANGENTIAL COMMENT AND THAT IS THAT THIS IS GREAT AS FAR AS IT GOES, BUT, UM, I THINK, I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONSIDER ADDING A LITTER CRUISE FROM EITHER ARPA FUNDS, POSSIBLY, OR A TAX OR H TAX FUNDS.

I THINK THAT'S A, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO STAY ON THE BURNER AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, SO.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO, YOU KNOW, FURTHER COMMENTS THIS WILL BE APPROVED FOR, I WANT TO SPEAK ON NUMBER 19.

THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE.

UM, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME FORWARD WHEN WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING? WELL, YOU DIDN'T ASK, I DON'T KNOW.

DID YOU ASK WHAT HE WANTS TO, HE WASN'T HERE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION, BUT IT, IT, SORRY HE GOT VOTED ON.

I MEAN, IT WOULDN'T, IT'S A DONE, IT'S NOT MATTER.

I MEAN, HE'S WELCOME TO SPEAK AT YEAH.

AT THE SECOND ONE YOU CAN SPEAK.

UH, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ITEM NUMBER 20, UH, HAS BEEN DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

UM, THERE WAS A COMMENT, ANY FURTHER ACTION.

WE ARE NOW AT

[Items 21 - 23]

ITEM 21.

I WOULD ASK A MEMBER TO, UH, UH, HAVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROPERTIES, ENCUMBERING THE ROAD RIGHT OF WAY FOR SCHOOL ROAD, MOTION.

AND SECOND, PLEASE.

21, 22 AND 23 TOGETHER.

UH, ABSOLUTELY WE CAN, UH, I WILL, I WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION FOR THE RIGHT OF WAY OF THE SCHOOL ROAD, CHURCH ROAD AND FRANCIS JONES ROAD.

MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION FOR, UH, 2122 AND 23.

AND MR. YOU WILL SECOND.

THOSE THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.

IS A RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PRESCRIBED TIME TO APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATIO.

DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE, SEEING NONE ITEMS 2120 JONES AND 23 WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM NUMBER 24

[24. RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PRESCRIBED TIME TO APPLY FOR THE SPECIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT RATIO]

WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS.

[25. A RESOLUTION CREATING A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND POSSIBLE 2022 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX PROJECT LIST AND/OR VALUE/DURATION LIMITATION]

UM, A RESOLUTION CREATING A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND POSSIBLE 2020 TO TRANSFER STATION SALES TAX PROJECTS LIST AND OR VALUE DURATION LIMITATION.

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MADE A SECOND PLEASE.

A SECOND.

MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND, IF YOU SAW IN THE DOCUMENTATION OF THAT IS ATTACHED, THERE ARE SEVEN ITEMS AS PART OF THIS RESOLUTION.

AND, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS THE APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN A CERTAIN DATE.

WHAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN THIS RESOLUTION IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CITIZENS COMMITTEE

[01:00:01]

THAT A MEMBER OF EACH COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT BE PART AND PARCEL OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT WE GO TO EACH OF THE SIX MUNICIPALITIES IN BUFORD COUNTY, HAVE THEM HAVE A MEMBER OF COUNTY COUNCIL THAT WE DO THIS IN A TIMELY FASHION.

UH, SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DISCUSS IS WHAT IS THAT DATE WE WANT FOR SUBMISSION TO THE CHAIR OF COUNTY COUNCIL? ANYBODY HAVE, UM, AN OPINION AS TO WHAT DATE WE SHOULD SET? WELL IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT SAYS APRIL 29TH, WELL, APRIL 29TH IS THE DEADLINE, RIGHT? IT'S THE SUBMISSION TO MYSELF TO CREATE THE COMMITTEE THAT WE NEED.

UM, SOME IDEA OF HOW LONG DO WE THINK EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE TO GO OUT AND FIND SOMEBODY IN YOUR PARTICULAR DISTRICT THAT COULD BE PART OF THIS COMMITTEE.

AND I RECOMMEND WE CHANGE THAT WORDING.

CAUSE NUMBER FOUR SAYS THE COMMITTEES COMPLETE ITS WORK BY APRIL 29TH, I'LL NUMBER FOUR OF THE PROJECT ITEM, NARRATIVE ON THE COVER PAGE.

IT SAYS THAT THEY WILL COMPLETE THE WORK BY THE 29TH.

NOT THAT, AND WE'LL HAVE IT'S NUMBER FIVE.

YEAH.

THAT WE WANT THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK BY THE 29TH.

SO THEN THAT'S NOT THE DATE OF US TO CREATE THE BOARD.

THAT'S NO, WE WANT TO CREATE THIS GROUP LONG BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IS IT A WEEK FROM NOW TWO WEEKS FROM NOW A MONTH FROM NOW? YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT FEBRUARY 11TH? UM, I'LL JUST THROW IT OUT THERE.

THAT'S THAT'S FINE.

YOU KNOW, WHAT DID YOU THROW OUT THERE? FEBRUARY 11TH? YEAH.

I MEAN TIME IS REALLY OF THE ESSENCE.

SO I THINK, UH, MS. HOWARD IS PROBABLY SPOT ON, SO, UM, SUPPORT THAT DAY.

SO IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE DATE TO EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL THAT, UH, THEY WOULD S YOU WOULD HAVE A TIME TO TALK TO SOMEBODY IN YOUR DISTRICT, GET THE NAME AND SUBMIT THE NAME TO MYSELF BEFORE NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 11TH, BUT HOPEFULLY WE GET EVERYBODY BEFORE FEBRUARY 11TH, MR. DAWSON, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS.

I THINK OUR TIMING IS, UH, IS OFF, UH, UM, WE HAD A REFERENDUM FOR, UH, UM, ROAD PROJECTS THAT JUST FAILED.

AND I THINK BY US COMING FORWARD NOW AND TRYING TO DO ANOTHER ONE IN 20 AND 10, 20, 22 IS A LITTLE BIT A RUSHING, UM, ARTICLE FOR US TO PUSH IT OUT TO 20, 24.

AND SO I'M, I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

WITH A DEFINED COUPLE OF PROJECTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE DID IN 2018.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A DATE, MR. GLOVER, YOU HAVE AN ANALYST TO ASK MR. DAWSON A QUESTION.

UH, IF THE RESOLUTION PASSES, UH, WILL YOU SUBMIT AN AGE? MOST CERTAINLY.

SO FEBRUARY 11TH WILL BE THE DATE.

THERE IS NO OTHER OBJECTION ON THAT.

THERE IS ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS WHEN THIS CAME ABOUT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TAG, WHICH IS THE BUFORD COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP.

THAT IS A SEPARATE GROUP.

UM, IT IS NOT IN THIS ORIGINAL RESOLUTION AND THE REASON IT'S NOT IN THIS ORIGINAL RESOLUTION IS BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE TWO GROUPS DOING THE SAME THING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO PRIDE OURSELF IN IS GETTING PUBLIC INPUT.

IF WE WERE TO HAVE A CITIZENS GROUP GOING DOWN PATH A AND B TAG GOING DOWN PATH B, I'M NOT SURE THAT THE PEOPLE ON PATH A WOULD SAY, WHY AM I DOING THIS? IF THIS GROUP IS GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.

SO B TAG MAY BE ESSENTIAL LATER ON ONCE WE GET THE INFORMATION FROM THEM, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS ESSENTIAL AT THAT TIME.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT PART OF THIS RESOLUTION.

ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? OKAY.

SO WE HAVE THE DATE SET IN THE RESOLUTION.

WE HAVE IT DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AS WELL AFTER MR. RODMAN.

GO AHEAD, MR. RODMAN.

OH, WELL, LET ME, LET ME BACK UP AND TELL YOU WHERE I THINK WE ARE.

UM, AS I LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES OF REFERENDUMS, HISTORICALLY, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS HAD A FOUR YEAR

[01:05:01]

I THINK IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT TYPE OF A REFERENDUM IN THE, IN THE TIME PERIOD THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT WE HAVEN'T SPENT VERY MUCH MONEY FROM THE 18 ONE.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES AROUND 2 78 AND SO ON.

UM, HOWEVER, UH, I'VE COME TO BELIEVE IN TALKING WITH STAFF THAT A LONGER TERM SERVICE FOR TALKING PURPOSES AND A 10 YEAR MAY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

CHARLESTON'S HAD SOME, A GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.

I THINK YOUR COUNTY HAS AND OTHERS.

UM, AND SO TO ME THAT THAT'S THE PATH THAT WE NEED TO GO ON.

AND INTERESTINGLY, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WAS GENERATED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THAT WAS ABOUT 1,000,000,002, AS I REMEMBER.

AND IF WE WERE TO LOOK OUT ROUGHLY 10 YEARS AND NOW WITH THE CURRENT RUN RATE, LOW INFLATION, WE'RE PROBABLY IN ABOUT HALF OF THAT AMOUNT, 600 MILLION TH THE BIG, BIG NUMBERS.

UM, AND I THINK IT MAY BE EASIER TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC TO SOMETHING LONGER, RATHER THAN A SHORTER, FROM A PURE DOLLAR STANDPOINT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE RISING MUCH FASTER THAN INTEREST RATES, IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO INITIATE MORE PROJECTS AND THEN PAY FOR THEM OVER A LARGER PERIOD OF TIME.

SO, UM, UH, I AM IN FAVOR OF A LONGER ONE RATHER THAN A SHORTER ONE.

UM, I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE, THE TABLE THAT WE'RE VOTING ON NOW, WHICH IS THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.

I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE PROPOSAL THAT'S ON THE TABLE IS THAT, UM, EVERYTHING WOULD BE DONE KIND OF, UH, SEQUENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA APPOINT THE PEOPLE.

THEN THEY'RE GOING TO ELECT THE CHAIRMAN.

THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THEIR RULES AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.

AND THEN, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH SOME KIND OF A RECOMMENDATION AROUND THE FIRST OF 1ST OF MAY.

AND, AND THEN AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WOULD GET INTO INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM D TAG AND WE'VE GOT PUBLIC FACILITIES AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THREE READINGS AND WE'RE ALREADY LATE IN THE GAME.

AND SO I PERSONALLY DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN ACTUALLY DIGEST SOMETHING.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST REFERENDUM IN THE HISTORY OF BUFORD COUNTY IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME NOW.

SO FOR THAT REASON, NOT AGAINST THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE, BUT I WOULD VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL THAT'S HERE.

AND I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THINGS.

UH, I WOULDN'T VOTE AGAINST THINGS WITHOUT HAVING AN ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION.

AND I THINK ACTUALLY THE, THE PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT WOULD BE ACTUALLY TO HAVE TO GET THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER, AND ACTUALLY HAVE THREE THINGS HAPPENING IN PARALLEL.

ONE WOULD BE THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE WITH THEIR INPUT.

AND THEY, I THINK PLAY AN IMPORTANT LONG-TERM ROLE IN THE SENSE THAT IF YOU'RE DOING A REFERENDUM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, WE CAN'T IDENTIFY ALL THE PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A METHODOLOGY OF HOW, UM, PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE APPROVED.

AND THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE TO ME IS A VERY LOGICAL VEHICLE TO DO THAT.

SO THEY, THEY PLAY A ROLE IN THE SHORT TERM, ARE WE DOING THE REFERENDUM, BUT I THINK THEY PLAY A ROLE IN THE LONG-TERM IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING PROJECTS.

AND I THINK THEY CREATED A DEGREE OF COMFORT WITH THE, UH, WITH THE CITIZENS THAT IT'S NOT JUST GIVE US A BUNCH OF MONEY.

TRUST US, WE'LL SPEND IT WISELY, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MECHANISM TO DO IT.

SO THAT'S ONE LEG.

I THINK ACTUALLY THE, IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE THE BEE TAG ACTUALLY RUNNING IN PARALLEL BECAUSE IT'S MADE UP OF SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNCIL, FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES, THE SHERIFF CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

AND Y'ALL HEAR ME, BRIAN, I'M SORRY.

WE'VE KIND OF LOST AUDIO STU CAN YOU REWIND FOR LIKE 30 SECONDS? YEAH.

UH, TO GET EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO DO DONE IS ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK IN MY MIND.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT I HAD SAID WAS, UH, NOT OPPOSED TO THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE.

I'M OBJECTING TO THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON TO DO ALL OF THESE TASKS, SEQUENTIALLY.

AND PARTICULARLY IF WE GET TO THE APRIL 29TH,

[01:10:02]

AND SO I WAS SAYING, I THINK THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE IS TO DO THREE THINGS IN PARALLEL.

ONE IS TO CITIZENS COMMITTEE, WHICH I THINK IS PLAYS A VALUABLE ROLE IN INPUT TO THE REFERENDUM, BUT THEY HAVE A CONTINUING ROLE BECAUSE IF WE GO THE LONG-TERM ROUTE, WE NEED TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC THAT THERE'S A MECHANISM TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS AND NOT JUST LEAVE IT TO COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL.

OTHERWISE YOU HAVE A TRUST ME TYPE OF THING.

SECONDLY, I DO BELIEVE THE TAG WOULD BE USEFUL BECAUSE IT PROVIDES, UH, THE DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO, AND THERE'S A BIG POLITICAL ASPECT THAT CAN HAPPEN IN PARALLEL.

AND THIRDLY, I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE DEBATING THIS IN PARALLEL.

SO IN MY MIND, TIME IS SHORT AND WE'RE BETTER OFF TO DO THE THREE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN PARALLEL, AS OPPOSED TO DOING THEM IN THE END, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN GET THERE FROM HERE.

UM, AND I DON'T THINK WE WOULD, UH, I THINK, UH, THE REFERENDUM WOULD BE DOOMED IF WE GO DOWN THE SEQUENTIAL PATH.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, ANY OTHER, I'M GONNA MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT, I THINK, UH, YOU WERE FIRST F-ING YOU SURE? ABSOLUTELY.

OH, GOOD.

YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE WHAT I SAY, RIGHT? GIVE ME A THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

I GOT YOU JUST TO, THEY DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT BECAUSE, UM, WELL, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ACTUALLY, UH, THE VALUE OF A PENNY IN BUFORD COUNTY HAS INCREASED ALMOST EXPONENTIALLY.

I MEAN, FOR THOSE OF US, WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, 20 OR 30,000, I MEAN, 20, $30 MILLION WAS A LOT OF MONEY.

AND THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT OF IT AS MAYBE 30 MILLION ON THE UPSIDE IS NOW PUSHING $50 MILLION.

IT'S A LARGE, LARGE, LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ANNUALLY.

AND EVERY YEAR THAT WE GO BY WITHOUT A PENNY OUT THERE, THAT'S, UH, WHAT'S 40% OF 50 MILLION.

THAT'S $20 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT BEING PAID BY THE, BY THE VISITORS AND THE TOURISTS TO BUFORD COUNTY, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF S OF A SALES TAX, IS IT FALLS AT LEAST 40%, DEPENDING ON WHOSE NUMBERS YOU LIKE OR MORE ON THE VISITORS AND TOURISTS.

AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE USING UP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AS MUCH AS THOSE OF US WHO ACTUALLY LIVE HERE.

SO JUST EVERY YEAR THAT TICKS BY THAT'S 20,000 PLUS FROM TOURISTS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING TO HELP US WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE KNOW WE NEED.

SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT, UM, I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS AWARE THAT, UH, THE SENATE PASSED A, UH, UH, A, A BILL THAT AUTHORIZES COUNTIES TO, UH, TO USE A REFERENDUM FOR SALES TAX, TO, FOR PURPOSES OF LAND PRESERVATION, AND HERE TO FOUR, WE'VE HAD TO RELY ON OUR OWN CITIZENS TO PAY 100% FOR LAND PRESERVATION, FOR OUR, PARTICULARLY FOR OUR RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM, UH, THE SENATE PASSED IT.

IT'S NOW IN THE WAYS AND MEANS IN THE HOUSE.

AND THERE'S A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT IT MIGHT PASS.

AND IF IT DOES PASS, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A DISCUSSION TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO TAKE A PORTION OF, OF A PENNY AND USE IT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T, THERE'S NOTHING SACRED SACROSANCT ABOUT A PENNY.

IT CAN BE THREE QUARTERS OF A PENNY OR 0.8 OF A PENNY OR HALF A PENNY OR WHATEVER.

SO THERE'S, AND EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT A PENNY, WHICH SOUNDS SMALL, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT AT LEAST $50 MILLION A YEAR.

SO I'M A QUARTER OF $50 MILLION A YEAR IS A LOT, SO 10% OF $50 MILLION A YEAR, A LOT.

SO I, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS, BEFORE WE FINALIZE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS REFERENDUM MIGHT AT LEAST LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WE WANT TO INCLUDE PART OF THAT 10, IF IT, IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR, UH, FOR PURPOSES OF LAND PRESERVATION, ASSUMING THAT THIS, UH, THAT THIS LEGISLATION GETS THROUGH IT GETS THROUGH THE HOUSE.

AND I THINK IF IT'S GOING TO GET THROUGH THE HOUSE GOING TO HAPPEN FAIRLY QUICKLY.

SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A REFERENDUM THAT SAID FIND THE, THE ROAD PROJECTS, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND ALSO WHATEVER PERCENTAGE WE MIGHT DETERMINE FOR LAND PRESERVATION, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO PRESERVE OR TO PRESERVE OUR ROADS IS TO NOT BRING SO MANY PEOPLE DOWN HERE TO LIVE HERE, BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE THAT COME, THE MORE PRESSURE THEY'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN PRESERVE MORE LAND, OR EVEN UP TO THE POINT OF BUYING DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED PLACES LIKE BLUFFTON THAT ARE WHERE EVERYTHING IS ALREADY UNDER, UNDER A PUD IS FROM, FROM YEARS GONE BY, UH, WE CAN REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON THIS INFRASTRUCTURE JUST IN THAT WAY ALONE.

SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST PART OF THE DISCUSSION I HOPE WE CAN HAVE BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANYTHING HERE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

[01:15:01]

MR. CUNNINGHAM.

OH, I'M SORRY.

JUST TO, TO MR. SOMERVILLE'S EXCELLENT POINT.

THE TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX STATUTE ALLOWS FOR GREENBELTS TO BE ONE OF THE ALLOWED, UH, EXPENSE ITEMS IN IT.

SO IT'S ALREADY IN THE LAW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DIFFERENT PROJECTS BECOME MORE IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I WILL SAY THIS IS A FRUSTRATING SITUATION WE'RE IN BECAUSE MR. DAWSON AND MR. RODMAN ARE RIGHT.

WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING A CRUNCH ON THIS ENTIRE PROJECT.

UM, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX THAT WE TRY TO PUT IN THE LAST REFERENDUM.

UM, I WAS OPENLY AGAINST THAT FOR THIS EXACT REASON.

THAT'S THE EXACT ARGUMENT THAT I MADE WAS WE'RE COMING BACK NEXT YEAR TO TRY TO DO THE TRANSPORTATION TAX.

UM, AND I SAID, IT'S GOING TO PUT US IN A BIND, WHETHER IT PASSES OR DOESN'T PASS.

UM, AND HERE WE ARE TODAY TRYING TO CRAM THIS IN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

CAUSE I DO THINK 2022 WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO DO IT.

UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID SHORT, ARMED OR NOT, UM, I, I DO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.

I WANT TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE.

I WANT TO GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL MAKE IT KNOWN ON MY SIDE, UM, OF WHERE I STAND, IF FIVE B COMES UP ON THIS PROJECT AT ALL, I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT, UM, BECAUSE NOBODY CAN TELL MY AREA, MY DISTRICT OR THE REST OF BLUFF.

AND IF THAT ROAD IS ACTUALLY GOING TO CONNECT, THE 95 ARE NOT THE SAME SITUATION.

WE HAVE THE, UM, PEOPLE ON BUCK WALTER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE PEOPLE IN SUN CITY WHEN THAT ROAD WANTS TO CONNECT THE 95.

SO UNTIL THAT CAN BE RESOLVED COMPLETELY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE NEW EXIT.

I WILL TELL YOU IF IT'S ON THIS REFERENDUM, WHETHER I SUPPORT THE REFERENDUM OR NOT TO GETTING THAT FUNDING, I WILL NOT SUPPORT IT.

UM, THE ONE PART I DO DISAGREE WITH MR. RODMAN ON IS THE LENGTH OF IT.

UM, I'M FOR SOMETHING SHORTER, LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR WITH FOUR YEARS, I WANT TO HAVE AN END DATE.

I WANT TO HAVE A CAP, UM, FINANCIALLY, WHICHEVER ONE COMES FIRST.

UH, THE REASON I'M FOR IT SHORTER IS BECAUSE WE ARE GROWING AS FAST AS WE ARE.

UM, AND THINGS CHANGE.

THINGS CHANGE A LOT, JUST LIKE FIVE B WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED IN 2004, AND NOW PEOPLE WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

UM, DIFFERENT AREAS GROW RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF GROWTH IS HAPPENING AT ONE 70 AND 10 YEARS AGO.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT WHATSOEVER THAT IT WAS GOING TO ONE 70.

UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I AM SUPPORTED THIS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT SHE DOES SAY ON NUMBER FIVE, THAT WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOR REVISIONS, UM, ON OUR LEVEL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, BEFORE IT GOES TO A VOTE AND SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ON THE REFERENDUM.

SO I DO LIKE TO SEE THAT ON THERE.

I THINK JARED, HAVING HIM ON THIS COMMITTEE IS MORE VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING ELSE WE HAVE IN THIS ROOM, HONESTLY, BECAUSE HE IS WELL VERSED IN EVERY SINGLE AREA IN THIS DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO THE ROADS I'VE WORKED ON THE OTHER PROJECTS.

UM, AND I THINK HIS OPINION ON THAT AND SHOULD DEFINITELY BE HEARD BY US.

UM, I, I WILL SUPPORT IT LIKE I SAID, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, UH, WE, WE DO HAVE TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THE SUPPORT, THE COMMUNITY BEHIND IT.

AND I THINK THIS GROUP, THIS COMMITTEE GROUP IS THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT SUPPORT ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.

UM, WELL WE HAVE TO HEAR OUT FROM ALL DIFFERENT LIKES AND EVERY ORGANIZATION THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN TO TRY TO GET THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY, TO GET IT PAST.

I HAVE ONE LAST COMMENT.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING IT'S SIX O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE, IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK AND THEN MAKE TO YOUR BRIDGES DOWN IN.

AND THAT IMPACTS NOT ONLY EVERYONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER AND IT'S DOWN BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT.

IF IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK, THERE'S AN ACCIDENT AT MCTEER, IT IMPACTS EVERYONE ON ST.

HELENA, EVERYONE ON LADY'S ISLAND.

AND THEN EVERYTHING GOES DOWNTOWN TO BAY STREET AND IN NORTHERN BEAVER COUNTY.

IT'S I KNOW THERE'S SOME MORE PLACES IN SOUTHERN BUFORD COUNTY.

IF IT'S FOUR O'CLOCK, THERE'S AN ACCIDENT.

IF IT'S SIX O'CLOCK, THERE'S GOING TO BE ACCIDENT SOMEWHERE.

AND, UM, I THINK JARED FELIX KNOWS HOW WE NEED TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND, UM, THE GREENWAYS AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS SUCH AS MORE SIDEWALKS, WE'LL GET LESS CARS ON THE ROAD, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED TO.

I MEAN, I WASN'T ON THE SAME THING.

I DO SUPPORT THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO COMMENT, UH, AND ECHO WHAT MRS. HOWELL JUST SAID.

UM, 7:00 AM IN THE MORNING IS AN ACCIDENT, THE CHILD AND CREEK BRIDGE, AND FOUR HOURS LATER, PEOPLE ARE GETTING TO WORK.

SO THERE IS A NEED ALL OVER THIS COUNTY, UM, ABSOLUTELY ONE WHEEL OFF.

AND WHEN THERE'S AN ACCIDENT, THEN THAT'S MAJOR.

THAT STOPS OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMMENTS, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE ROLL ON THIS.

UM, THE, THE DATE IN ITEM NUMBER ONE IS FEBRUARY 11TH, ALL OTHER THINGS.

ARE THERE ANY EMOTION OR WAS MS. HOWARD? YOU WILL GO FIRST.

AS HOWARD SAYS.

THE SECOND WAS BY MR. GLOVER.

[01:20:01]

NO, MR. .

OH, MR. .

CHAIR SAYS YES, THERE ARE SEVEN.

SECOND CITIZEN COMMENTS, SIR.

FOUR.

NO.

THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE RESOLUTION HAS BEEN APPROVED.

THAT TAKES US TO THE

[26. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

DID YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING THE TENNIS COURTS? GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOE MAC MAC.

LAST NAME, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE ME.

MAYBE I WAS SUPPOSED TO SIGN UP.

I THOUGHT YOU ALWAYS ASKED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M FORGIVING YOU.

AND DO WE HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE ACTION? AND AFTER WE TAKE CARE OF, CAN I SAY, FORGIVE ME? UM, UH, I SPEAK AS A RESIDENT ON THE CITY OF BUFORD.

UM, I PLAYED MY HIGH SCHOOL MATCHES AT THOSE COURTS ON BOUNDARY STREET DOWNTOWN WHEN IT WAS FIVE COURTS.

NOW IT'S SEVEN.

UM, I HIT TENNIS IN 14 STATES.

I COACHED TENNIS.

UM, I DON'T PLAY MUCH NOWADAYS.

UM, THANK, THANK THE LORD.

I HAVE MORE THAN ONE HOBBY.

UM, THOSE COURTS OUT OF THE 14 STATES, I PLAYED TENNIS IN THE COURTS THAT WERE CLOSEST TO A ROW WITH CAR TRAFFIC IS RIGHT THERE ON BOUNDARY STREET.

UM, YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM THAT TRAFFIC NOISE.

I HAVE GOOD MEMORIES THERE, BAD MEMORIES, UH, AND I HATE TO BE SO JUDGMENTAL, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR LONGER THAN 20 YEARS.

AND APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS AGO, YOU HAD YOUR RESOLUTION.

I SEE SOME NEW FACES.

YOU HAVE THE RESOLUTION TO BUILD A TENNIS CENTER AT BIRDWELLS.

IT NEVER WAS BUILT.

I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

I HATED BEING PITCHED NO WAY, SHAPE OR FORM HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

UM, THOSE COURTS ON BOUNDARY STREET, UM, FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME, THEY'RE ALWAYS CRACKED PLACES TO DOCK, UH, THE WINDSCREENS AREN'T LOOKING TOO GOOD.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO, FROM THE DOCUMENTS, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND 750 K IF IT LOOKED LIKE WHAT I SAW WAS 59,000 FOR JUST THE DEMOLITION.

AND THEN THE REST WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER COURT, ROUGHLY THE SEVEN COURTS THAT INCLUDES THE COURTS AND THE FENCE.

AND I'M NOT SURE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S NEW LIGHTS.

I GUESS YOU'RE GOING TO USE EXISTING LIGHTS.

IF ANY COURTS NEED WIND SCREENS.

THOSE WERE THE ONES.

SO THE WIND SCREEN IS NOT FOR THE WIND.

IT'S MORE FOR THE AESTHETICS OF THE CONTRAST, EXCUSE ME, IN THE BALL WHEN YOU PLAY ANY TEST.

SO, UM, UH, AND LIKE I SAY, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE JUDGMENTAL, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR EONS WITH THIS RECREATION.

AND YOU REMEMBER, UH, SOME OF YOU REMEMBER GARY KUBIK.

HE SAID, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T EVEN DID A STUDY.

I, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE I TOLD YOU, SO THE MUNICIPALITIES TO DO THE, AND THIS IS THE OLD GOLD SONG BAN, SO THAT MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD DO THE ACTIVE RECREATION.

YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST REMEMBER TO SEND A CHECK TO THE MUNICIPALITIES IF YOU WANT THEM TO DO IT.

SO THE BIGGEST, THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THESE TENNIS COURTS, UM, UH, AT LEAST MY 2 CENTS THAT YOU HAVE, YOUR THOUGHTS IS IF YOU DO THIS TO TENNIS, BECAUSE ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAD TEAMS, AND THERE'S NO SAYING THERE'S NOTHING FOR KIDS TO DO IN THIS TOWN FOR YEARS.

THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU DO THAT TO TENNIS, I MEAN, YOU'LL DO IT, YOU'LL DO IT TO ANOTHER RECREATION ACTIVITY.

SO, I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT YOU NEED TO UP YOUR GAME, UP YOUR GAME OR GET OUT OF THE GAME.

UM, UH, THOSE SEVEN CHORDS, YOU CAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH TORMENTS.

THERE THERE'S NOTHING TO GROW ON.

YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH COURTS IN THE EARLY ROUNDS.

UM, OTHER TOWNS, SMALL, AND THIS HAD PUT COURTS IN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, TENNIS IS, IT REFLECTS LIFE.

IT MIRRORS LIFE.

AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME TODAY IT IS LIFE.

UM, SO, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU DO YOU AND, AND WE'LL, AND I'M GOING TO DO ME.

SO THIS IS ON YOU.

IT'S NOT ON US.

SO THAT IF I WAS IN THE CITY OF BUFORD OR I WORKED FOR THE SECRET, EXCUSE ME, IF I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF BUFORD, I WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT CRAP IN MY TOWN.

I WOULD SUE, I WOULD SUE THE COUNTY AND THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON.

I FIRST SIT THERE AND AT LEAST 1985, IF NOT EARLIER.

AND HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON FOR? AND SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING TO TEAR IT UP TO REPAVE IT WELL, SO NOW THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THEY WON'T CRACK AFTER 12 MONTHS, 18 MONTHS.

AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS AT NEW CRACK? CAUSE I THINK, I THINK IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEIR HEX.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO TEAR IT ALL UP AND DO IT, DO IT RIGHT.

SOUNDS LIKE THIS FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHAT THREE WEEKS.

[01:25:01]