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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
MONTHLY MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE HAVE A PROPERLY NOTICED THIS MEETING IN COMPLIANCE WITH FOYA CHECK, UH, NEED A MOTION
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA.WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND, UH, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, WE'LL APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS SEEING NONE? THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- January 3, 2022]
ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 3RD, 2022.UH, WE'LL APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 3RD, 2022 MEETING WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS? I HAVE A LITTLE TEENY PICTURE OF EVERYBODY, SO I HAVE TO REALLY SQUINT TO SEE YOU.
DID YOU HAVE ANY LOGAN? DID YOU HAVE AN EXCEPTION? OKAY.
WHY THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS CITIZEN'S COMMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS THAT HAVE ASKED TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING? OKAY.
AND THE VAST THRONGS AND THE, IN THE AUDIENCE, ARE THERE ANY OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, ENLIGHTEN US, REGALE US IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM? OKAY.
[7. DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ELEMENTS OF THE RULES AND PROCEDURES HANDBOOK]
TO ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE ELEMENTS OF THE RULES AND PROCEDURES HANDBOOK, UH, FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO ARE WITH US OR ON LINE TODAY, THAT, THAT BOOK, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IS COMPLETE AND YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT.YOU'LL HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST IT AT YOUR CONVENIENCE AND LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES YOU THINK WE NEED TO MAKE.
AND IF NOT, THEN SARAH, NOW WE'LL BEGIN TO LOOK AT FORMATTING IT, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PUT THE CAPTIONS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
BUT AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL WORK ON IT, WE'RE CONCERNED IS DONE.
[8. 2021-22 BUDGET AMENDMENT TO RECOGNIZE ARPA FUNDS]
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT IS A 2122 BUDGET AMENDMENT TO RECOGNIZE ARPA FUNDS.AND I BELIEVE OUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR IS GOING TO SPEAK TO US ON THAT GOOD AFTERNOON.
YOU HAVE, BEFORE YOU THIS AFTERNOON, A RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR EXPENDITURE OF OUR PRA FUNDS THAT HAS BEEN IN PART RECEIVED BY BUFORD COUNTY AND WILL BE RECEIVED BY BUFORD COUNTY.
THIS YEAR, THE TOTAL OF THOSE FUNDS IS A LITTLE OVER $37.3 MILLION.
YOU'LL RECALL THAT STAFF PRESENTED THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU AT FEBRUARY'S BUDGET RETREAT.
BASED UPON THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED FROM YOU ALL AT THE TIME, THOSE PROJECT LISTS WERE FURTHER REFINED AND ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
THIS AFTERNOON, THERE ARE TWO NOTABLE CHANGES THAT I'D LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FIRST IS THAT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A SPLASH PAD AND AQUATIC TYPE FACILITY ON ST.
HELENA HAS BEEN REMOVED, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH TWO ITEMS. NUMBER ONE IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GULLAH GEECHEE FARMER CO-OP AND THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.
THE OTHER IS JUST A MORE GENERIC USE OF THE REMAINING 1.2, $5 MILLION FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES OR IMPROVEMENTS ON ST.
SO WE KEPT THOSE MONIES IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE THERE.
THE OTHER MOST NOTABLE CHANGE HERE IS THE RECOMMENDATION BY ADMINISTRATION THAT WE UTILIZE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OF ARPA FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR PREMIUM PAY UNDER THE FINAL RULE.
THIS WOULD COMPENSATE EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED DURING THE PAY DIRT, REALLY DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN THE MONTHS OF APRIL, 2020 IN JANUARY OF 2022, THE TOTAL THAT ANY ONE EMPLOYEE COULD EXCEED WOULD RECEIVE WOULD NOT EXCEED $3,000.
NOW WE ARE STILL AWAITING FOR FINAL ESTIMATES BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GATHERING INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EACH OF THE FIRE DISTRICTS.
THEY WOULD ALSO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS PAY.
ONCE THOSE FINAL AMOUNTS ARE KNOWN, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT FOR NOW WE HAVE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE ARPA EXPENDITURE.
NOW, IF THE AMOUNTS COME IN AND EXCEED THAT IT IS ADMINISTRATION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT WE USE IN ORDER TO FUND THE BALANCE OF THOSE AMOUNTS, USE GENERAL FUNDS SURPLUSES FROM EACH OF THE TWO FISCAL YEARS THAT WE COMPLETED WHILE UNDER THE PANDEMIC.
OTHER THAN THOSE TWO CHANGES, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU SAW AT THE BUDGET RETREAT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU MAY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL OR TO OUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR.
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A COMPLIMENT, THE WAY IT'S ORGANIZED NOW IS VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND.SO HATS OFF TO ADMINISTRATION FOR PUTTING IT IN THAT FORMAT.
I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. , IF YOU WOULD, UM, GO BACK OVER THERE, THE FIRST CHANGE THAT YOU ADDRESS WITH A SPLASH PLAT AND THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION.
SO INITIALLY THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO EXPEND 1.2, $5 MILLION ON A SPLASH PAD OR SIMILAR TYPE AQUATIC ACTIVITY ON ST.
UM, WE'VE RECEIVED FEEDBACK THAT RATHER THAN THAT VERY SPECIFIC RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY ON ST.
HELENA THERE, PERHAPS WE COULD REFINE THE FACILITIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, UM, AND ENHANCE THE PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE.
SO WE HAVE REMOVED THE 1.2, 5 MILLION THAT WAS VERY SPECIFIC IN NATURE, REPLACED IT WITH SOMETHING MORE GENERIC, JUST THE LOW THAT THE MILLION DOLLARS AND THE REMAINING $250,000 WOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE FARMER'S CO-OP.
AND THAT WOULD BE BASED UPON REIMBURSABLE EXPENDITURES FOR THINGS SUCH AS EQUIPMENT, STUFF LIKE THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? CLEARLY, MR. FLUE.
YOU'RE THE LITTLE TD PERSON ON MY SCREEN.
UM, HOW MANY, UH, ORGANIZATIONS MAKE UP THE CO-OP OUT ON ST.
NOLA OUT OF CURIOSITY? I THINK JUST ONE.
WELL, HOW MANY, HOW MANY MEMBERS MAKE UP THE CO-OP? I ACTUALLY DO NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO FIND THAT OUT FOR YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THAT MOVES US TO ITEM NUMBER 10 ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION SLASH ACTION ON MODIFICATIONS OF THE RESOLUTION, CREATING A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REFERENDUM.
[9. RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER 2 TO MYRTLE PARK COMMERCIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT (IFB 021121E)]
NINE, RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE CHANGE ORDER TO MYRTLE PARK COMMERCIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT.AND WHO'S GOING TO SPEAK TO THAT ONE.
WE HAVE DOING SPEAKERS HERE WORKS.
WE HAVE JARED AND APPROVED NUMBER NINE.
DID WE NEED A VOTE? DID WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND FINAL ACTION ON THE ARPA? IF IT WASN'T OKAY.
UH, WE NEED TO, WHAT DO WE NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
I STAND CORRECTED ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AMEND THE BUDGET FOR THE OPERA FUNDS AS EXPLAINED WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE NEED A SECOND.
I WILL SECOND THAT WE HAVE A SECOND, RIGHT? WE'RE IN DISCUSSION ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
I APOLOGIES FOR NOT BRINGING THIS FORWARD FOR A MOTION.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT NEEDED ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FROM, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, WITHOUT EXCEPTION BE MOVED OR OBJECTION, WE WILL APPROVE ITEM NUMBER EIGHT ON THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND MOVE IT ON TO COUNTY COUNCIL? THANK YOU, JOE.
MOVING ON TO COUNTY COUNCIL, HEARING NONE IT'S APPROVED AND WE WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
NOW BACK TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, UH, MYRTLE PARK COMMERCIAL SITE DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE JARED.
SO THIS IS A CHANGE ORDER TO EXISTING PROJECT THAT WE HAVE AT MYRTLE PARK.
THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WHERE THE COUNTY HAS TO SPIN INTUITY TAX CREDITS ON THE SITE WORK PRIOR TO US, UH, ENTERING INTO THE PURCHASE SALE AGREEMENT WITH A DEVELOPER.
SO HE CAN MEET HIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, GOALS AS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENTS.
ALL THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE IN PLACE, BUT WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS JUST TO, UH, WE DID THE INITIAL SITE WORK IN THE INITIAL BID.
UM, BUT WE DIDN'T GET UP TO THE FULL VALUE OF THE CREDITS, WHICH IS 577,000.
SO THIS CHANGE ORDER IS FOR 180,000.
THAT GETS US TO THE, TO THE THRESHOLD THAT WE NEED TO MEET.
UM, THIS WOULD INCLUDE THE ROCKING, UH, THE FIRST LAYER OF ASPHALT AND CURBING, NOT, NOT THE FINAL LAYER ASPHALT.
SO AFTER THEY GET DONE WITH THEIR BUILDING, THEY'LL, THEY'LL DO THAT ON THEIR DOLLAR, BUT THIS WILL GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN FINALIZE
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THE CREDITS AND THEN MAKE THE SALE AGREEMENT.AND ONCE IT'S ALL COMPLETE, IT WOULD TRANSFER TO THE DEVELOPER.
UH, DO WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS? YES.
ANY FIRST OF ALL, ANY QUESTIONS TO, UH, TO JARED, FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? OKAY.
I DON'T HEAR ANY, I DON'T SEE ANY, UH, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVED CHANGE ORDER TO, FOR THE MYRTLE PARK COMMERCIAL PARK TO BE APPROVED BY THIS COMMITTEE AND SENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND, THE MOTION WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL APPROVE ITEM NUMBER NINE ON THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS OR EXCEPTIONS SAYING NONE? ITEM NUMBER NINE IS APPROVED ITEM NUMBER
[10. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON MODIFICATIONS TO THE RESOLUTION CREATING A CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REFERENDUM]
10, DISCUSSION ACTION ON MODIFICATIONS TO THE RESOLUTION, CREATING A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REFERENDUM.I'LL, I'LL BEGIN SPEAKING TO THIS, THE REASON FOR THIS AND THE REASON FOR THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING OR THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING IS A RESULT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAD WITH A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, WHO HAS JUST ARRIVED.
AND, UM, BASED UPON THAT CONVERSATION, I FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR US TO CLEARLY DEFINE WHAT A CITIZENS COMMITTEE IS AND WHO SHOULD BE ON THAT CITIZENS COMMITTEE SO THAT, UH, THE DEADLINE WILL BE MET.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED CHANGES THERE.
YEAH, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON THIS? OBVIOUSLY THE, UH, THE ISSUE HERE INVOLVES WHETHER OR NOT, UH, WHETHER OR NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE TO THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'LL HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAS WANTS TO WEIGH IN ON THAT, THE CHAIRMAN'S POSITION IS THAT, UH, IT IS FOR CITIZENS ONLY, WHICH EXCLUDES ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I SHARE THAT VIEW, UM, COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF, UH, UH, SMOKING IN AN AMENDMENT THAT DEFINED, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT FOR THE JET, THE PASS SOUND, THE FREEDOM.
SO I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF US REVISITING THE ISSUE ABOUT WHO CAN, AND CAN'T BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
AS I UNDERSTAND, I MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE THAT, UH, IS IN THAT SITUATION.
UM, I GUESS THERE'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
I I'VE BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN SUPPORTER OF THE FACT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO A REFERENDUM GIVEN WHERE WE ARE FROM A TRAFFIC STANDPOINT.
THAT'S ONE THING I'M HAPPY TO BE INTERRUPTED ABOUT.
UM, I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE, WE'RE RUNNING WAY BEHIND WHERE WE, WHERE WE SHOULD BE ON THIS THING.
AND TIME IS SHORT WE'RE, WE'RE PROBABLY THE BETTER PART OF NINE MONTHS BEHIND WHERE WE WERE IN PRIOR REFERENDUMS AND ARGUMENT CARRYING THIS THING OUT, YOU KNOW, IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.
AND, UH, I'VE ASKED A COUPLE OF TIMES, HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT, MAYBE EVEN TODAY, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE A, UH, A SCHEDULE WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
CAUSE I, I, I VIEW THAT WE'RE OUT OF TIME AND MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT IT WOULD SEEM, SO THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD COMMENT ON IS THAT I THINK AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS AND AS I'VE BEEN DIALOGUING WITH JARED ON IT, UM, HE HAS A WONDERFUL CONCEPT ABOUT WHERE WE, WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH THIS TO MAKE THIS A WORLD-CLASS TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT, IT FALLS IN THE CATEGORY OF PROBABLY LONGER REFERENDUMS, MUCH LIKE CHARLESTON AND OTHER PLACES DO, UM, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY DONE IN THE PAST, WHICH WERE SHORTER TERM, UH, PROJECTS.
UM, AND IT WAS INTERESTING LAST FRIDAY I SAT IN ON THE LATS MEETING AND, UH, THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF FINALIZING THEIR LONGTERM PLAN.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT WAS THAT THEY TO VIEW THAT WE, WE HAVE A, NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF NEAR
[00:15:01]
TERM PROJECTS, BUT REALLY A LONGER TERM, LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS TO GO THROUGH.SO ANYWAY, UM, HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WE GOT SOME REAL POLITICAL HEADWINDS TO DEAL WITH ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THE TRADITIONAL THING, BUT THE GROWTH IS IN ONE AREA, BUT EVERYBODY HAS TO SUPPORT IT.
THE NEXT NOVEMBER IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF NATIONAL HEADWINDS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, UH, WOULD BE DEALING WITH.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE W THE CITIZENS ARE STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION AND THIS IS A REGRESSIVE TAX.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH ONE.
THAT'S GOING TO GET, GET DEBATED, YOU KNOW, W W UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE, UH, SEATS ON COUNCIL UP, AND MANY OF US ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN ELECTION.
SO THIS WILL BECOME PART OF WHATEVER, WHATEVER IS HAPPENING.
UM, W WE'VE GOT ISSUES LIKE, UH, 2 78 ON THE, ON THE ISLAND WHERE THERE'S, UH, THE BULK OF THE COMMUNITY IS VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND THERE'S AT LEAST THREE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT ARE, UM, ACTIVELY READY TO POST WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA OUT THERE, BIG TIME, YOU KNOW, WHILE ALL THIS IS GOING ON.
UH, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT CROSSWISE WITH SOME OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THINGS LIKE THE UNIFORM FI, UH, W W THEY GET IT PASSED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH IF THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, UH, DON'T ENDORSE IT, THEY, THEY BASICALLY CAME OUT AGAINST THE, THE LAST TWO THAT WE'VE PUT ON THE, ON THE TABLE.
SO WE, AS A COUNCIL, WE WE'VE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIBILITY, UH, BECAUSE THEY BOTH WENT DOWN BY ABOUT A THREE TO ONE.
NOW HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I STILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THE FACT THAT WE WE'VE GOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSPORTATION IN THE ROADS.
THE REFERENDUM IS THE, IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
I MEAN, MAYBE I'M A LITTLE BIT FOOLISH TO KEEP BELIEVING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WAS THAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT POLITICALLY, BUT THAT'S WHERE I AM.
UH, AND SO AS I THOUGHT ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT PIECE, UM, I KIND OF CONCLUDED THAT I WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PERSON TO REPRESENT MY DISTRICT.
I THINK I HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF BACKGROUND RELATIVE TO THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO THE COMMITTEE.
AND I THINK I'M GENERALLY FAIRLY GOOD AT, WITHOUT TAKING AN ADVOCACY POSITION, HELP GROUPS SORT OUT WHAT THE ALTERNATIVES ARE THAT THEY'RE THERE, THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE REACH, SOME KIND OF CONCLUSIONS.
UM, WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE VOTERS, PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, MY DISTRICT HAS RELATIVELY FEW KIDS, WHICH MEANS I'VE GOT A MUCH LARGER PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS THAN THE TYPICAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTY, AND THEY TURN OUT AND VOTE.
SO MY THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THAT, UM, IF THEY SAW THAT I WAS INVOLVED AND, AND, UH, SUPPORT AND SUPPORTIVE, I, THAT MIGHT HELP BRING TO THEM SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM ALONG.
SO, UM, WHEN I GOT THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT BETWEEN CAUCUS AND, UH, WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING, UH, WHERE IT WAS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I GUESS, UH, WHEN WE VOTED ON THE THING, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE MAYORS WAS APPOINTING HIMSELF OR WAS THINKING ABOUT POINTING HIMSELF.
SO THAT KIND OF TRIGGERED MY THOUGHT PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A CITIZEN ANYWAY.
SO I SAID, WELL, WHY NOT DO IT? BUT I, IF I DID IT, I WOULD TAKE ON THE ROLE THAT I WOULD NOT BE, UH, I WOULD NOT VOTE I'D ABSTAIN FROM ANY VOTING, AND I WOULD NOT ADVOCATE FOR ANY PARTICULAR PROJECTS, BUT THAT I, THAT I MIGHT BE USEFUL IN, IN, IN DOING THAT.
NOW, IF, UH, IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE WROTE THIS UP, UM, I'VE, I'VE GOT A PERSON IN MIND THAT IS AGREED TO GO AHEAD AND SERVE.
AND I THINK HE WOULD BE GOOD, KIND OF FUNNY ACTUALLY IS OUTSIDE MY DISTRICT.
UH, BUT HE, UH, I THINK HE WOULD BE, BE VERY GOOD.
SO I'M HAPPY TO DIVORCE MYSELF FROM IT, TOTALLY ABSTAIN FROM THE, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS, IF THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
UH, THE ONE EXCEPTION TO THAT WOULD BE THE C5 CIRCLE, WHICH IS WORTHY OF MENTIONED.
UM, I DON'T CARE WHETHER IT'S IN OR OUT OF THE, THE REFERENDUM.
AND I WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO THE COMMITTEE AND THE VOTERS.
HOWEVER, THE SOLUTION THAT IS ON THE TABLE IN THE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LATS, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE TO TAKE, IF ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH THE, UH, THE CIRCLE AT THE PARKWAY, BLUFFTON PARKWAY IN 46, WHICH MOST PEOPLE VIEW AS A, AS A DISASTER TYPE OF THING.
AND MANY OF US ACTUALLY ENDED UP GOING OUT OF THE WAY TO DRIVE AROUND IT.
UM, AND TH TH TAKE THAT CONCEPT AND SUPER IMPOSE IT ON THE SEAT PINE CIRCLE, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A DISASTER BECAUSE CEASEFIRE CIRCLE IS ALREADY THE MOST ACCIDENT PRONE, UM, CIRCLE ON THE, OR PLACE ON HILTON AT ANY INTERSECTION ON HILTON HEAD.
SO YOU ENDED UP WITH, UM, MAKING A SITUATION WORSE.
AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU GOT A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND THEN YOU GOT A LOT OF TOURISTS THAT HAVEN'T GOT THE FAINTEST IDEA, MAYBE THE FIRST TIME THEY EVER SAW A CIRCLE.
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TO A LOT OF ACCIDENTS.SO THAT'S THE ONE PLACE THAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, WOULD HAVE TO PERHAPS TAKE A ROLE.
SO, ANYWAY, I'M KIND OF INDIFFERENT AS TO WHETHER I'M SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY OR YOU TO DO IT IN SOME OTHER WAY.
UM, I DO THINK THOUGH THAT, UH, IT DOES GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE OF WHETHER COUNCIL SHOULD BE TELLING INDIVIDUAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, HOW THEY WANT TO, HOW THEY SHOULD BE REPRESENTED AND HOW THEY SHOULD REPRESENT THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
AND IT ALSO GIVES ME A LITTLE BIT OF PAUSE AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD BE TELLING THE MUNICIPALITIES HOW THEY SHOULD BE APPOINTING SOMEBODY, BUT IN ANY EVENT, UM, I ACTUALLY DO THINK THAT IT'S, UH, IT'S A TOUGH UPHILL, UM, AND IT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS AND I'M NOT TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
WE'RE SENDING SARAH GETS TO DO WHAT IS A POLITICAL JOB THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, BUT IN ANY EVENT, THAT WAS KINDA MY THOUGHT PROCESS.
I'M HOPE WE ENDED UP WITH WHATEVER MAKES SENSE AND I'LL SERVE EITHER WAY.
PAUL AND JERRY AND JOE, THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE, ONE OF MANY WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS AGREE TO DISAGREE.
WE OFTENTIMES HAVE MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE US WHERE WE DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE, ALL 11 OF US.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE, WE DISCUSS IT AND WE VOTED OUT AND YOU MOVE ON, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALL, A MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THIS VERY THING.
I WILL OFFER MY COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL ALLOW ANYBODY ELSE OR ENCOURAGE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON THIS, UH, INCLUDING FOLKS IN THE, UH, THAT ARE NOT PART OF THIS OR THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, I THINK THAT, THAT THIS, UH, REFERENDUM WILL HAVE A LOT MORE CREDIBILITY WITH THE VOTERS IF IT'S PROVEN BY CITIZENS, NOT, NOT POLITICIANS NOW THAT OBVIOUSLY MR. RODMAN IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
WHO KNOWS, BUT I HAVE, I'M ENTITLED TO MY OPINION.
SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE, UH, THE LANGUAGE PROPOSED BY OUR CHAIRMAN TO CLARIFY WHO CAN, WHO MAY AND WHO CAN AND CANNOT BE, BE PART OF THIS, UH, PART OF THIS COMMITTEE.
AND I'M GOING TO GO WITH, UH, WITH THE, UH, NON ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IF, IF I MIGHT, PAUL, UM, I, I AGREE WITH THE CHAIRMAN, THE CHAIRMAN MAY HAVE MADE A WISE DECISION IN NOT ALLOWING, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE THAT, UH, THAT'S DRAFTING A PROJECT SO THAT WE DON'T, WE DON'T INFLUENCE AND IN DRY, AND THEN DRIVE THE PROJECT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE WOULD WANT IT TO GO.
AND SO, UM, CITIZENS SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE, UM, HAVING AN IMPACT OF DRAFTING THE PROJECTS IS, UH, COMPLIMENTARY, I THINK, TO THE, TO THE CITIZENS, UH, THEIR CONCERNS.
AND THEN WE GOT TO BE MINDFUL THAT THE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS IS BEING, UH, PAID BY THE CITIZEN CITIZENRY AT LARGE.
AND SO THIS IS A WAY OF HAVING ALL THE CITIZENS DOORS, BUT SENSITIVE, JUST BIDDING ON THE, UM, ON THE COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS A CITIZEN SURIA AS A LAUNCH BUYING INTO THE PROJECTS THAT, THAT COMES OUT OF THE DRAFT.
WELL, THIS FALL, THIS COMMITTEE.
SO I I'M, I'M ON BOARD WITH IT.
UM, YEAH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE CHANGES.
UH, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO ADD TO IT THOUGH.
UM, COMMENT WISE, I DO APPRECIATE STILL COMING OUT AND SAYING THAT WE'RE BEHIND ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY ARE.
UM, BUT IF WE WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE HONEST, THE WHY WE'RE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING THAT'S THE MUNICIPALITIES WANT IT WITH LAST AND PUT THIS TABLE UNTIL THAT VOTE WAS DONE.
UM, I, I WANT TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.
I TOLD, I SAID THIS IN THE LAST COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING THAT I THINK IT'S THE WAY TO GO TO THE DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE WENT ALL ALONG.
UM, SO IF, IF WE WANT TO GET IN THE TRUCKS TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH MR. ROBBINS CLEARLY STATED MULTIPLE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE TRUST, THE PUBLIX, BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, THAT WE NEED TO BE UPFRONT.
I THINK THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE AS A WAY TO MAKE UP GROUND, UM, I DON'T DO NOT THINK ANY ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ON IT.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT ANYTHING ON IT AND LET THEM MAKE THAT DECISION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE WORKED THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT AND OUR DISTRICT GROUPS FOR THAT.
AND SO I CAN TELL YOU THE PERSON THAT I PICKED IN MY DISTRICT, A RETIRED COP THAT MOVED HERE FROM CAL, UH, FORNIA.
I DID NOT LIKE THE WAY THAT IT WAS BEING DONE OVER THERE, AND DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE, AND I'LL BE UP FRONT.
THAT'S WHY I PICKED THE PERSON I WANTED TO.
UM, SO I THINK AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, I THINK US AS ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO STAY OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE, UH, TO CITIZENS COMMITTEE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SEND A RECOMMENDATION TOWARDS US.
AND THEN WE REVIEW IT FROM THERE.
IT ALSO SAYS IN THIS THAT WE HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN THE VOTE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OR NOT.
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UM, I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, ALL 11 OF US ARE REMOVED FROM THE COMMITTEE AND LET THE FISH AND STRAPPED IT BASED ON THEIR DISTRICTS SO WE CAN GET AN INFLUX OF ALL 11.IT WOULD EITHER BE ALL OF US ON THE COMMITTEE TOGETHER AND US AS A COUNCIL DECIDING WHERE I THINK AS WE'RE COMING UP NOW, I THINK IT IS BEST TO HAVE A CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
AND I THINK LOGAN KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT, BUT, BUT OBVIOUSLY IN THE RESOLUTION ALREADY, UM, WAS UNDER THE OLD NUMBER 7,001, NUMBER NINE, THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION STUBBY SHALL BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION ADOPTION AND OR REVISION OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO WE, AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FINAL SAY OF WHAT HAPPENS OR WHAT GOES FORWARD.
SO AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL BE IN A SUPPORTIVE, UH, MAKING THE CHANGES.
UM, I AGREE WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID PRIOR TO ME AND IN CHANGING THIS SO THAT IT IS TRULY A CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
I THINK WE ARE AT RISK OF REFERENDUM IF WE'RE NOT THERE ALREADY.
AND I DO THINK IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT NEEDS TO COME FROM THE CITIZENS TOP AS OPPOSED TO THE POLITICIANS DOWN.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I'LL BE SUPPORTING US.
UM, ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL? UH, WE HAVE, UH, IN, IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, WE HAVE THE MAYOR OF BUFORD AND, UH, COUNCILMAN FLUE ELLING AND, AND SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UH, MAYOR MURRAY AND VOTE IN THE DIRECTION THAT I DESIRED FIRST.
I JUST WANT TO THANK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR STANDING UP THE COMMITTEE.
SO EARLIER IN THE YEAR, I THINK YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT GETTING AHEAD OF IT AND TRYING TO GET A CITIZEN COMMITTEE STRUCTURED, UM, TO REALLY PRIORITIZE THE LIST OF PRODUCTS.
AND I AGREE WITH ALL OF WHAT COUNCIL HAS SAID.
I ALSO CAN APPRECIATE COUNCILMAN RODMAN'S WILLINGNESS, UH, LIKE HIM.
I SHARE A PASSION FOR THIS WORK, A PASSION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE ELECTIVES IN THIS COUNTY PROBABLY HAVE A MORE SOLID HANDLE ON THE HISTORY OF THE FUTURE, WHERE WE'RE, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO.
SO I CERTAINLY CAN APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE THE MAYOR OF PORTLAND.
AND I, WE HAD A JOINT COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO AND DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC.
UH, WE ALSO HAD CONSIDERED APPOINTING OURSELVES, UH, FROM THE MINUTES OF HOWDIES TO THE COMMITTEE, UH, BUT, BUT FELT THAT REALLY CITIZENS OUGHT TO SERVE.
UM, AND AS COUNCILMAN LAWSON POINTED OUT, UH, JUST REMIND COUNTY COUNCIL THAT AFTER THE CITIZENS GET FINISHED WITH THE RECOMMENDATION LISTS, YOU GUYS GET BITES AT THE APPLE TO POLISH IT, UH, BEFORE IT ACTUALLY GETS, GETS PUT ONTO THE BALLOT.
UM, SO I I'M SUPPORTIVE OF IT BEING A CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
UH, I HAVE ON THE AGENDA TOMORROW NIGHT, IT'D BE FOR CITY COUNCIL FOR US TO CONSIDER, UH, NOMINEES.
AND WE INTEND TO GET YOU AN APPOINTMENT.
UH, TOMORROW EVENING AFTER OUR MEETING COUNCIL WILL VOTE, HOPEFULLY UNANIMOUS LATE.
UH, BUT FINALLY I'LL JUST SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE MUNICIPALITIES.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING THIS UP AND COMPLETELY AGREE.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WANTS TO, UH, COMMENT ON THIS? OKAY.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS.
IT'S ALREADY ON THE AGENDA FOR THE WE'LL VOTE ON THIS AT THE NEXT MOTION.
MOTION TO RECOMMEND IT TO COUNCIL.
THEN I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO RECOMMEND THE, UH, THE, UH, LANGUAGE THAT IS IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGENDA TO THE FULL COUNCIL IN APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES.
I GOT, I GOT MOTIONS TO MOVE COMING FROM EVERYWHERE, WHICH IS GOOD, INCLUDING MR. RODMAN.
SO I GUESS WHAT WAS THE SECOND IN THERE SOMEWHERE ARGUE, I'LL GIVE THE MOTION TO MR. RODMAN, THE SECOND TO MISS, TO MR. DAWSON THAT AREN'T WITH YOU, MR. DAWSON.
UM, WITHOUT OBJECTION, I'LL MOVE THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? UH, NO OBJECTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, MAYOR MURRAY FOR TAKING THE TIME.
SO, UH, SHUT UP AND SPEAK ON THIS THE DAY BEFORE.
DID YOU HEAR THAT MEMORY? OKAY.
THIS MATTER WILL MOVE FORWARD TO COUNCIL IN THE NEXT 10 MINUTES OR SO.
HAVING BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE THIS BODY WE'RE ADJOURNED.