[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH TO ORDER, UM, ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN TAKEN.
THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
WE HAVE AN 11 MEMBER COUNCIL FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WHO HAVE NOT SEEN US IN PERSON OR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ONLINE.
WE DO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLINE COUNCIL MEMBER, DAWSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER FLUE WELLING ARE ON ZOOM.
UH, THE OTHER NINE MEMBERS ARE HERE IN PERSON SO THAT WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL TO CONDUCT BUSINESS.
WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? AND THEN AFTER THAT REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION, MR. AND WOULD YOU LEAD US PLEASE? FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL RIGHT.
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US OPPORTUNITY TO MEET TODAY, LORD, UM, WE'RE HERE FOR ONE REASON, ONE OF THESE MOMENTS AND THAT CONTINUED TO SERVICE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT OUR DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE BE ON THAT PATH, WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE, ULTIMATELY, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.
WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LIFT UP THE, UH, A WAR RIGHT NOW AND UKRAINE AND RUSSIA.
UM, WE'RE BLESSED LORD TO GO LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON LIKE THAT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UM, WE HAVE FREEDOMS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
I PRAY THAT WE CONTINUE THROUGH YOUR MIND.
YOU'RE NOT TAKING FOR GRANTED.
I ALSO PRAY FOR US, SWEAT, SWEAT, AND PEACEFUL ENDING RESOLUTION OF UKRAINE.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO REMIND ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT YOU HAVE BRAND NEW MICROPHONES IN FRONT OF YOU.
IF IT'S UNREAD, YOU ARE MU MUTED.
PLEASE MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, YOU HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN IT.
GREEN PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA MOTION SECOND.HE WILL GET THE SECOND AND LARRY WILL GET THE FIRST.
SO WE HAVE IT DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTIONS AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS NEXT ON
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- FEBRUARY 7, 2022]
THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 7TH, 2022.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOVE.
MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND PLEASE.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION, SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
TURN TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR, MR. GREENWAY FOR YOUR REPORT.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN GOODIE.
GOOD EVENING, UH, TO THE, UH, RESIDENTS OF BUFORD COUNTY, UH, WHO ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT ARE WATCHING US, UH, ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL, UH, GOOD EVENING TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE ITEM OF ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I HAVE DENIED IS TO GIVE YOU ALL AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE ARTHUR HORN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
MANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT.
UH, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT ABOUT, UH, FIVE MONTHS AGO, I MADE A DECISION TO CHANGE, UH, THE ARRANGEMENT OF THAT BUILDING TO GIVE ADDITIONAL SPACE ON THE SECOND FLOOR FOR OUR LARGER JEWELRY, A POOL ROOM AND A COURTROOM THAT COULD ALSO BE A DUAL-PURPOSE ROOM FOR LARGE MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AS A RESULT OF THAT DECISION.
UM, AND COVID RELATED DELAYS ON SUPPLIES AND WORK AND THINGS IT HAS NOW PROJECTED AND STOOD OF THE BUILDING BEING COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, WHICH IS, UH, TODAY.
UH, IT'S GOING TO BE NOW COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER OF 2022.
UH, WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO THE SECOND FLOOR TO MOVE OUR ACCOUNTING CHANNEL AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT INTO THE SECOND FLOOR.
AND AGAIN, TO PROVIDE LARGER COURTROOM SPACE, UH, FOR THE MAGISTRATE ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, THE, UM, THE BUILDING IS NOW
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A LITTLE BIT OVER A BUDGET OF ABOUT $900,000, UH, BECAUSE OF THOSE MODIFICATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO EMPLOY AND DUE TO COST OVERRUNS BECAUSE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE ARE GOING TO BE FINDING THE MONEY TO FUND ABOUT HALF OF THAT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.AND WE'LL BE ASKING FOR YOU ALL TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAY ON, ON ARTHUR WARM SU SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, UH, AND THEN THE OLD BUILDING WILL BE DEMOLISHED.
PARKING LOT WORK WILL BE DONE, UH, AS A PART OF THE NEW BUDGET, UH, NEXT YEAR, UM, AS IS CUSTOMARY, UH, HAVE ABOUT FIVE EMPLOYEES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS EVENING, UH, AND HIGHLIGHT THEM FOR THE COUNTY.
UH, THE FIRST ONE ON OUR LIST TONIGHT IS, UM, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS, FELICIA LISA JENKINS.
UH, I'M ASSUMING SINCE HER NAME IS IMPRINT.
SHE HAS A REAL PROPERTY RECORDING TECHNICIAN.
SHE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR 15 YEARS.
UH, THAT'S UH, QUITE AN AMAZING TENURE, UH, AS AN ACCOUNT, AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, UH, LISA PROVIDES GENERAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.
SHE RESEARCHES INDEXES AND VERIFIES PAYMENT PROCESSING, AND SHE SCANS AND RECORDS ACCOUNT RECEIVABLES FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
SHE HAS WORKED WITH US SINCE WAS 2006.
SHE HAS ASSOCIATES AND ASSOCIATES DEGREE FROM TCL IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND USE UTILIZES HER SKILLS ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE GET MANY ACCOLADES FOR, UH, LISA IN HER PLEASANT PERSONALITY AND HER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
SHE IS A TEAM PLAYER AND MEETS HIGH STANDARDS FOR THE KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR HER JOB AS REAL PROPERTY RECORDED TECHNICIAN.
AND THEY TELL ME THAT RELIABILITY IS SYNONYMOUS, UH, FOR HER NAME.
LISA, UH, LISA IS A NATIVE OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BUT MOVED HERE WITH HER FIVE SIBLINGS.
WHEN HER PARENTS RETURNED TO THEIR HOMETOWN OF BUFORD, SHE GRADUATED FROM BUFORD HIGH AS A PROUD EAGLE IN 1989, SHE HAS THREE CHILDREN AND ENJOY SPENDING TIME WITH HER HUSBAND AND SIX GRANDCHILDREN.
SHE DOES NOT LOOK TO ME TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE SIX GRANDCHILDREN, BUT A JOB WELL DONE.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
LISA, IF YOU ARE ON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, UH, TO THE COUNCIL? OKAY.
OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE IS FROM OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UH, MANY OF YOU KNOW HER BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T WITH HER WHEN SHE WAS CLERK COUNSEL, MS. CONNIE SHIRE, UH, SHE'S THE SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPERVISOR WITH HUMAN SERVICES.
UH, SHE'S BEEN WITH US THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
UH, SHE OF COURSE PROVIDES, UM, SUPERVISOR SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE PROGRAMS AND PROCESSES OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, CONNIE, SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HER IS SHE'S A WORLD TRAVELER AND ALSO A MUSICIAN.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT ABOUT CONNIE.
I KNEW SHE TRAVELED, BUT I DID NOT KNOW SHE WAS A MUSICIAN.
CONNIE, ARE YOU ON? SHE'S NOT ON EITHER.
AND THEN OUR THIRD EMPLOYEE IS MYTHS.
SOMEONE ELSE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH.
AND SHE GOES ON, I JUST SAW HER POPPED UP THERE AND MISS BETH CODY WITH OUR DISABILITIES SPECIAL NEEDS DIVISION.
UH, SHE'S THE FISCAL OPERATIONS MANAGER.
UH, SHE WILL HAVE BEEN WITH US 11 YEARS IN JUNE, UH, COMING UP THIS YEAR.
UH, SHE CREATES AND MANAGES A $9 MILLION BUDGET, UH, ACROSS 24 OREGON CODES WITH MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES.
SO SHE HAS A BIG TASK, UH, AHEAD OVER FOR THOSE OF US IN THE BUSINESS, UH, ORG CODES OR WHAT WE HAVE TO CODE THINGS TO EITHER AS REVENUE OR AS, UM, OUR AS EXPENDITURES.
UH, AND 24 IS A LOT TO KEEP UP WITH.
UH, SHE OVERSEES DEPARTMENTAL EXPENDITURES TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES ARE UTILIZED AS PER MEDICAID, STATE AND COUNTY GUIDELINES PERFORMS FINANCIAL ANALYTICS.
UH, SHE DOES PROJECTIONS AND FORECASTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, AND SHE PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO, UM, COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT PROCESSES IN THE COUNTY, STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, LEVEL.
UH, BETH IS A THIRD GENERATION ST.
HELENA, ALLAN NATIVE FROM A SHEER SHRIMPING SHRIMPING FAMILY.
SO, UH, IT'S HARD TO SAY SHE HAS A THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE, AND IF SHE DOESN'T KNOW SOMETHING, SHE'LL GO FIND IT OUT.
YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH BEST WORK.
SHE'S PRESENTED YOU OFF SEVERAL TIMES.
BETH, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO COUNSEL NOW, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, UH, APPRECIATE YOU NOTICING ALL THE STAFF.
[00:10:01]
UH, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU ALL TO COME OVER TO OUR OFFICE OR TO ANY OF OUR HOMES.
WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO, UH, HELP YOU GET TO KNOW OUR INDIVIDUALS A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
LET'S GET BACK TO THE ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND ALSO CON UH, THE FINAL PERSON THIS EVENING IS SOMEONE THAT I KNOW OF IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY, BECAUSE I WORKED WITH HER, UH, FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE I BECAME COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UH, MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH HER AS WELL.
UH, THAT'S MISS AMANDA FLAKE FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S THE NATURAL RESOURCES PLANNER.
UH, SHE'S BEEN WITH US 14 YEARS.
UM, I HAVE A WHOLE LIST OF STUFF HERE TO SAY ABOUT HER.
SHE DOES, BUT I'M WANTING TO PART FROM THE SCRIPT A LITTLE BIT AND JUST TALK ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES DO.
UM, SHE, SHE MANAGES ALL OF OUR PLANS FOR NATURAL RESOURCES, UH, IN THE COUNTY RIVER BUFFER WAIVERS TREE REMOVALS ON PROPERTIES.
SHE DOES THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM WORKS WITH OUR OPEN LAND TRUST, OVERSEES THAT PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT, I AGGRAVATE HER A LOT ABOUT WHAT SHE DOES DO, UH, AND HOW SHE GOES ABOUT DOING THAT.
UM, BUT I AM TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THAT SHE DOES, UH, FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
UM, I COUNT HER TO BE BOTH, UH, A COWORKER AND A PERSONAL FRIEND.
UH, SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
UH, SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HER THAT I DID NOT EVEN KNOW, UH, IS THAT SHE IS A FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT AND SOMETHING CALLED CHIN COOK DOUGH, WHICH IS THE CHUCK NORRIS SYSTEM, UH, OF, UM, KARATE.
UM, AND SHE IS A MEMBER OF CLUB KARATE HERE IN BUFORD ARE IN BUFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO I BETTER BE CAREFUL IN THE FUTURE ABOUT HOW MUCH AGGRAVATE YOU HADN'T AMANDA.
SO ANYWAY, SO ANYWAY, LET'S GIVE A MAN TO A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND AMANDA, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? UM, SURE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS.
IT GOES BACK QUICK, BUT, UM, I ENJOY MY JOB.
I ENJOY WORKING IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
MY COWORKERS ARE AMAZING AND, UM, I ENJOY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, AS WELL AS COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAMS. SO THANKS FOR THE RECOGNITION.
[7. CHECK PRESENTATION FOR THE BEAUFORT BROADBAND EVERYWHERE PROJECT]
YEAH.UM, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
PATRICK, IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU.
THEY'LL PASS WHAT THREE AND A HALF, ALMOST FOUR YEARS FOR MYSELF, UH, WORK WITH US, UH, UH, JUST VERY BRIEFLY CHRIS OPRAH.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, UM, GOOD EVENING, UH, HARGRAVE IS THRILLED TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH BUFORD COUNTY AND THE BROADBAND BROADBAND EVERYWHERE PROJECT.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THERE ARE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES MARKETS ACROSS THE U S UM, SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE CALL TIER THREE, TIER FOUR TYPICAL COMMUNITIES, UM, SIMILAR TO, UH, MANY OF OUR COUNTIES OUT HERE IN BEAVER COUNTY.
UM, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HARGRAVE OVER THE PAST 70 YEARS HAS INVESTED AND PAVED THE WAY FOR FIBER RICH, UH, UH, AND FIBER RICH, UH, CABLE, UH, PLANT AS WELL AS CABLE PLANT IN MANY OF THESE COMMUNITIES, IT WAS JUST SEVEN YEARS AGO, AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT THAT LONG AGO THAT IT WAS JUST COPPER FACILITIES HERE.
AND EVEN TODAY UP ON THE ISLAND AND BLUFFTON AND, AND BUFORD, WE STILL HAVE, THERE'S STILL COPPER OUT THERE.
UM, HARGRAVE HAS JUST CONTINUED TO INVEST, UH, WITH, UH, CABLE ONE SPARK LIGHT NOW, UM, AND MAKING MUCH, MUCH MORE, A LOT OF INVESTMENTS INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND, UH, BUILDING OUT MORE FIBER FACILITIES WHEREVER WE CAN AND CONTINUE TO, UM, ADD ON WITH OUR CABLE PLAN AS WELL.
IT TAKES TIME, IT A LOT OF TIME TO INVEST AND, UH, IT'S NEVER AS FAST AS REGULAR AND WOULD LIKE, AND WITH SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, IT TAKES TIME TO GET THOSE FACILITIES OUT.
SO, UM, THIS PROJECT, UM, ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH OUR, OUR PURPOSE TO PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT AND THRIVE.
OUR GRAY PROUDLY SUPPORTS, UH, BUFORD COUNTY SCOLD ENSURE THIS ENTIRE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT
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HIGH-SPEED DATA SERVICES.AND WE'RE THRILLED TO PRESENT THIS CHECK TODAY FOR $20,000 TO HELP GET THIS, UH, STARTED A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
OH, THERE'S A PICTURE OF YOU GUYS.
[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS - (ANYONE who wishes to speak during the Citizen Comment portion of the meeting will limit their comments to no longer than three (3) minutes ( a total of 15 minutes ) and will address Council in a respectful manner appropriate to the decorum of the meeting, refraining from the use of profane, abusive, or obscene language)]
THIS TIME, WE ARE AT OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS.WE DO HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHED TO ADDRESS COUNTY COUNCIL.
PAULA, WILL YOU COME FORWARD? OKAY.
MY, MY REPRESENTATIVE, CHRIS, OVER HERE.
I AM HERE TODAY TO REQUEST THAT THE BUFORD COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL GET READ OF THE VOTER MACHINES AND GO TO PAPER BALLOTS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'VE VOTED ON A MACHINE, A DOMINION SMART MADEC R E S AND S THEY ARE ALL DEFECTIVE.
SINCE I AM ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEAK THREE MINUTES TODAY, I HAVE A SEVEN MINUTE VIDEO FROM AN INTEL SUMMARY VIDEO FROM SETH KESSEL CAPTAIN IN THE ARMY REGARDING BUFORD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA.
HOWEVER, I AM ABLE TO EMAIL THE VIDEO TO CHRIS IF, UM, HE WOULD LIKE ME TO DO THAT.
UM, IN ADDITION, UM, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, OUR OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN SELECTED, NOT ELECTED, THANKS TO THE VOTING MACHINES.
HOW DO I KNOW THIS? I CAME FROM WASHINGTON DC.
I WORKED FOR PRESIDENT FORD BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, AND I KNOW HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS, BUT ANYWAY, THIS ISN'T A DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN ISSUE.
THIS IS ISSUE FOR ALL OF US AND ANYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT VOTED FOR JOE CUNNINGHAM IN THE LAST ELECTION.
I HAVE TO ASK YOU, ARE YOU SURE THAT JOE LOST BY 11,232 VOTES? ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? THE BUCK STOPS ON YOUR DESK, NOT THE SECRETARY OF STATE, NOT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WHERE ALL THE BUREAUCRATS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH ALL THIS PORK FAT AND TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT IT'S JUST THE ROANE DOWN THE TOILET.
YOU WOULDN'T DRIVE A CAR DOWN THE ROAD.
THE BRAKES ARE DEFECTIVE KNOWING THAT YOUR VEHICLE COULDN'T STOP.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
NOW WE ARE IN THIS VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE STOPPING, AND IT'S ONLY PICKING UP SPEED AND BRAKE.
THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING.
WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE VOTING MACHINES AND GO TO PAPER BALLOTS.
NEXT IS ARNOLD BROWN, UH, GOOD EVENING.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY OF BEING HERE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYER FOR THE COUNTRY OF UKRAINE AND DARE LEADERS.
THEY WANT THE SAME THING THAT WE HAVE HERE IN AMERICA, AND LET'S CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEM THAT THEY WILL BE VICTORIOUS OVER A DICTATORSHIP COMPANY, A COUNTRY.
THE REASON I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON IS THAT, UH, DEREK, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE RESIDENTS AND THE, UH, PENN SCHOOL, PENN ST.
HELENA COMMUNITY ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE PATHWAY PROJECT.
AND, UH, WHAT I WOULD ASK, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, UH, BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION TONIGHT IS THAT THE COMMUNITY IS CONCERNED ABOUT OAK TREES BEING REMOVED.
20 TREES WERE TAGGED WITH A RED RIBBON AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, REALLY WENT UP IN ARMS CALLED A SPECIAL MEETING BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE RED TAGS ON THE 20 PLUS TREES WERE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY.
[00:20:01]
THE RESIDENTS ON, ON MLK ALSO IS CONCERNED ABOUT DRAINAGE.WHAT IS THE DRAINAGE PLAN? OKAY.
AND IN THE PENN SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AS YOU KNOW IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THERE'S ONLY THREE IN THE STATE AND THEY ARE, AND WE'RE INVESTIGATING THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THE REMOVAL OF SEVERAL TREES WILL AFFECT THEIR CERTIFICATION.
SO WE WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION AND WE NEED TO WORK.
AND WE ARE WORKING WITH, UH, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
AND THOSE ARE ONE OF OUR CONCERNS.
UM, WE MADE A SUGGESTION THAT THE MEETING THAT WAS HELD ON NOVEMBER 4TH OF LAST YEAR, THAT THE SIDEWALK BE LIMITED TO FIVE FEET AND THAT, UH, AND I CAN SHOW YOU A DIAGRAM.
THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A MEETING, MAYBE I BRING SOMETHING.
BUT IF FROM THE HIGHWAY, UH, WHICH IS WHAT, 20 FEET, I BELIEVE WHITE, AND THERE THERE'LL BE A GREEN SPACE, NO MORE THAN 12 INCHES OF FOOT SIDEWALK OF FIVE FEET.
THAT WOULD BE A DRAINAGE DISTRICT AREA HERE, AND THEN THE PERSON'S YARD OR LAWN.
AND, UM, THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT THE SIDEWALK IS PLACED AS CLOSE, AS CLOSE TO THE ROAD AS POSSIBLE AND NOT IN, UM, RESIDENTS YARD, 30 SECONDS LEFT, SIR.
AND SO FINALLY, WE ASKED THAT THE PROJECT TIMELINE BE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY.
IF IT'S NOT A CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT, THAT'D BE SENT TO A MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMUNITY, WHAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE? UM, SO WE'VE, SO THEY DON'T PANIC.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WE HAVE THESE QUESTIONS.
UH, YOU WILL SEND IT TO OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
IS HE HERE TONIGHT? CAN I GET A CARD? OKAY.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND ALYSSA KEEP UKRAINE IN OUR PRAYERS.
OKAY, ERIC, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET A REPORT ON THAT AS WELL? FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROJECT? YEAH.
SO, UH, I CAN GIVE YOU A BRIEF SYNOPSIS RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE NOWHERE NEAR THE DESIGN.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH THE MEETING PROCESS.
UH, WE ARE, WE WILL NOW GET WHAT WE CALL 30% DESIGN DRAWINGS DONE.
WE WILL HOLD ANOTHER PUBLIC MEETING OUT THERE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED AND ALL, BUT I'LL GET THIS SCHEDULED FOR YOU ON EMAIL IT OUT TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL.
UM, OUR FIRST CITIZEN COMMENTS SECTION IS OVER.
[8. PRESENTATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT]
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE PRESENTATION OF THE FISCAL YEAR, 2021 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND WHO WILL BE STARTING THAT I WILL GET, EVEN, EVEN WHEN I WILL.UH, BEAR WITH ME FOR A SECOND.
WELL AGAIN, UM, GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, UH, HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL AGAIN, MY NAME IS DAVID IRWIN AND I'M WITH MALDEN JENKINS.
I WAS THE PARTNER WHO OVERSAW THIS YEAR'S AUDIT OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S AUDIT ALL.
UM, YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME, BUT, UH, THE, THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE YOU ALL AN OVERVIEW OF OUR INDEPENDENT RS REPORT.
UH, TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE TWO COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT WE ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDIT HIT A FEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, HIGHLIGHTS, UM, DISCUSS SOME INFORMATION THAT THE AUDITING STANDARDS REQUIRES THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL.
AND TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE NOW, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES, THEY ARE, UH, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTIES MANAGEMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AS YOUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
UM, OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THESE THINGS.
UM, WE CONDUCT OUR AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS AND GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE'RE ISSUING A CLEAN OR UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THIS YEAR FOR BOARD.
THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE COULD PROVIDE IS YOUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR.
[00:25:01]
IN OUR OPINION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FAIRLY STATED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, AS PART OF THE AUDIT, THERE ARE TWO COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT WE ALSO ISSUE.UH, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPLIANCE AUDIT, UM, THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN AN ENTITY HAS OVER $750,000, UM, IN FEDERAL EXPENDITURES DURING THE YEAR.
AND YOU ALL HAD A PROSPIE $5.6 MILLION OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURES IN HAS, WAS THE CASE WITH THE FINANCIAL AUDITS.
UH, WE ARE ISSUING A CLEAN OR UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE SINGLE LAW AS WELL.
THE SECOND APPLIANCE REPORT IS, UH, SOMETHING WE CALL THE YELLOW BOOK REPORT, WHICH IS A REPORT ON THE COUNTY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS AND YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
AND, UH, I'M PLEASED TO REPORT TO YOU ALL THAT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY AUDIT FINDINGS THIS YEAR, MEANING WE NOTED, UH, NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN THE COUNTY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS OR, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH YOU ALL BEING ONE OF THE LARGER COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND HAS, YOU CAN SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S QUITE A BIT, UM, UH, FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FOR WHICH YOU ALL HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION WITH ALL THE NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND CHANGES THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED EACH YEAR, I MEAN, REALLY JUST HOW COMPLEX, UH, THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PROCESS HAS BECOME.
IT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE TO, UH, TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE THIS EVENING, UH, INFORM YOU ALL TO RECEIVE A CLEAN OPINION WITH NO WATER FINDINGS.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALL PROUD OF.
UM, I REALLY CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE TOP MANAGEMENT AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DID THIS YEAR.
UM, THIS WAS THE EARLIEST THE COUNTY'S AUDIT HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN NEARLY 10 YEARS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, ERIC, WHITNEY HAYES, UH, DENISE, THE ENTIRE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
UM, EVERYONE WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING OUR AUDIT TEAM AND, UH, AGAIN, WORKED HARD, UH, TO ADDRESS OUR QUESTIONS AND GET US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEEDED IN ORDER TO GET THE AUDIT FINALIZED.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF, OF BUILDING A STRONG FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
THEY'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALREADY SCHEDULING AND PLANNING FOR THE, UH, FOR THE JUNE 30, 20, 22 AUDIT.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF I'M IN YOUR SHOES, I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THINGS, UH, CONTINUE TO PROGRESS GOING FORWARD NOW FOR A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
YOU, AGAIN, YOU ALL PREPARE WHAT IS CALLED AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT FOR, AND I'M AN ACTOR REQUIRES THE INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BASIC FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
AND, UH, THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE GFR WAY, WHERE THEY PUT IT THROUGH A PRETTY STRINGENT REVIEW PROCESS, NOT ONLY BY THEIR FLAY PROFESSIONAL STAFF, UM, BUT ALSO A SPECIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S ACT FOR THEIR GOAL WAS NOT TO ASSESS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH CAMP, UH, WILL THEY WANT TO DO IS TO ENSURE THAT THE READERS OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, UM, HAVE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION AVAILABLE WITHIN YOUR REPORT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO, TO BE ABLE TO DO SO THEMSELVES.
AND, UH, THROUGH THIS REVIEW, THE GFF HAS A, IS ONCE AGAIN A WARD OF THE COUNTY, THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 AND A, THAT CERTIFICATE IS INCLUDED MR. FOR PORT.
SO I BELIEVE THIS IS THE 12TH YEAR IN A ROW, UH, THAT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE.
SO, UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON THAT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY IMPRESSIVE DOCUMENT AND ONE THAT YOU ALL SHOULD BE PROUD OF AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, ONE, THIS ONE SECTION I ALWAYS LIKE TO POINT OUT, UM, IS THE MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION ANALYSIS OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE MD AND A, UH, THIS BEGINS ON PAGE FOUR, IT'S RIGHT AFTER OUR AUDIT OPINION.
AND, UH, IF YOU CAN, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THE SUCH A, THE PURPOSE OF THE NDNA IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR A BROADER AUDIENCE, UM, TO USE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND, UH, THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AND IT, UM, IT DOES THIS BY, BY WRITING A NARRATIVE EXPLANATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF MANAGEMENT.
SO AGAIN, UH, THIS SECTION IS A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SUMMARIZING THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND, UH, PROVIDING THE READER WITH A, WITH AN ANALYTICAL OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES THAT OCCURRED OVER THE YEARS.
SO, UM, AGAIN, IF YOU CAN, AS YOU LOOK THROUGH YOUR REPORT, UM, PLEASE THE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE MDNI NOW THE COUNTY'S BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY ARE BROKEN UP INTO THREE COMPONENTS.
THE FIRST OF WHICH BEING THE GOVERNMENT WIDE STATEMENTS, NOW, THE GOVERNMENT WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY PROVIDE, UM, A BROAD VIEW OF THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS, UM, IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO WHAT SHE WAS SEEING OF PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS.
[00:30:01]
ARE COMBINED UNDER EITHER GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES OR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, UH, DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE FUND.SO, UM, THIS SLOT HERE, IT SUMMARIZES THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ACTIVITY, UM, FOR THE YEAR FROM THE GOVERNMENT WIDE PERSPECTIVE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE THE COUNTY THE YEAR WITH ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES OF APPROXIMATELY $986 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT AROUND 581 MILLION, OR YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS, NET OF ACCUMULATE DEPRECIATION, UM, YOU ALSO HAD AROUND $415 MILLION IN LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS, UM, WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENDING NET POSITION OF A PROSECUTE $571.6 MILLION FOR THE YEAR, UH, LOOKING AT YOUR REVENUES, TOTAL REVENUES AROUND $278 MILLION, UM, AND EXPENSES WERE RIGHT AT 185 MILLION, WHICH RESULTED IN AN, IN, IN, IN AN INCREASE IN NET POSITION, UM, OF APPROXIMATELY $93.2 MILLION A YEAR.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT, UH, TO INCREASE AT 66.6 MILLION, UM, IT GOES THROUGH THAT SAYING THAT, UH, IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR YOU ALL, UM, FROM IT FROM A GOVERNMENT WIDE PERSPECTIVE, YOU HAVE REVENUES RUBBED ABOUT $16 MILLION AND EXPENSES WERE DOWN AROUND $10 MILLION COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW FROM THE GOVERNMENT WIDE PERSPECTIVE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY TIME YOU'LL SEE THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES REPORTED IN THIS MANNER, UM, IN THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE COUNTY, THE FOCUS IS MORE SO ON THE INDIVIDUAL FUNDS THEMSELVES, UM, WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND CONE OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, UM, WHICH AGAIN ARE THE FUND LEVEL STATEMENTS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT YOU ALL TYPICALLY SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, THIS COMPONENT FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IT REPORTS THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS IN MORE DETAIL THAN THAT, THE GOVERNMENT WIDE STATEMENTS.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDS OF THE COUNTY, UM, OF PRIMARY INTEREST, YOU ALL WOULD BE THE GENERAL FUND, YOU KNOW, MAIN OPERATING FUND, AND THEREFORE IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE REVENUES RECEIVED AND FUNDS EXPANDED.
SO, UM, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CHARTS IN THE NEXT, IN THE NEXT TWO SLIDES THAT, UH, THAT FURTHER BRIGHT DOWN THE GENERAL FUNDS REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES YEAR.
SO, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, TOTAL REVENUES TO THE GENERAL FUND WERE APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED FORTY FOUR HUNDRED FORTY $1 MILLION.
UM, AND THAT'S AN INCREASE OF A PROSPECT $3 MILLION COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THE VAST MAJORITY OF GENERAL FUNDS REVENUES ARE DERIVED FROM PROPERTY TAXES, UM, WHICH TOTAL AROUND $110.5 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.
AND IT REPRESENTED ABOUT 78% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES, THE GENERAL FUND, A COUPLE OTHER SIGNIFICANT SOURCES OF REVENUE WORTH MENTIONING, UH, CHARGES FOR SERVICES, UH, AROUND 14.2 MILLION AND INNER GOVERNMENT REVENUE, UH, WAS ABOUT 10 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE YEAR.
THIS NEXT CHART, UH, PRESENTS THE GENERAL FUNDS EXPENDITURES, UM, FOR THE YEAR BY FUNCTION, UH, TOTAL EXPENDITURES WERE APPROXIMATELY 116.6 MILLION, UM, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE ABOUT SIX AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS COMPARED TO AGAIN, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PUBLIC WORKS, GENERAL GOVERNMENT, UM, THOSE FUNCTIONS REPRESENT THE MAJORITY OF THESE EXPENDITURES.
UM, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS AROUND 43 POINT $43 MILLION, AND IT ACCOUNTED FOR APPROXIMATELY 37% OF THE GENERAL FUNDS TOTAL EXPENDITURE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ON THE LOWER END, UM, OF WHAT WE TYPICALLY FROM A PERCENTAGE STANDPOINT IS IT'S ON A LOWER END OF WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE, UM, WITH, WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS OF YOUR SIZE.
UM, PUBLIC WORST EXPENDITURES WERE JUST UNDER 16 MILLION FOR THE YEAR AND GENERAL GOVERNMENTAL EXPENDITURES, UH, WERE APPROXIMATELY 39.5 MILLION, UH, BOTH OF WHICH WERE COMPARABLE TO PRIOR YEAR.
UM, IN TOTAL, THE GENERAL FUNDS FUND BALANCE INCREASED, UH, BY PROXY 17.8 MILLION, UH, FOR AN ENDING BALANCE OF $71.6 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.
SO, UM, THE CHART ON THIS SLIDE, IT SHOWS THE FUND BALANCE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU KNOW, THAT THIS IS ALWAYS A, TO ME AN INTERESTING CHARTS T UH, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO KIND OF REFLECT BACK ON WHERE YOU WERE AND, UH, AND COMPARED TO WHERE THINGS CURRENTLY STAND.
AND, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CHART, UH, YOU ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF INCREASING YOUR FUND BALANCE, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.
SO, UH, AGAIN, HATS OFF TO YOU ALL ON THAT.
AND SPEAKING OF YOUR FUND BALANCE, ONE THING I ALWAYS LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE IS THAT A FUND BALANCE IS NOT WHAT YOU ALL HAVE IN THE FORM OF CASH, UH, FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING, UH, FUND BALANCE IS MERELY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
UM, ONLY A PORTION OF WHICH IS AVAILABLE CASH.
UM, ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, UM, IS THE GENERAL FUNDING CURVES EXPENDITURES OF, UH, JUST UNDER $10 MILLION PER MONTH.
SO YOU ALL ENDED THE YEAR, UM, WITH AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE EQUAL TO AROUND SIX MONTHS WORTH OF YOUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT MEANS
[00:35:01]
IS THAT IF, IF THE COUNTY CLOSES DOORS ON JUNE 30TH, UM, IT COULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE, UH, FOR PROBABLY SIX MONTHS WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES.SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN WITH YOU ALL HAVING A JUNE 30 YEAR IN, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THE, UH, THE COUNTY HAS A FUND BALANCE, UM, SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO COVER THOSE EXPENDITURES, UH, FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY THROUGH NOVEMBER, WHEN YOUR REVENUES ARE TYPICALLY DOWN.
UM, ONE FURTHER THOUGHT ON THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, THE GFR, WHICH IS AGAIN, UH, WHERE YOU SUBMIT YOUR ACT FOR, TO, UH, FOR CERTIFICATION, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR END, UM, THEY RECOMMEND THAT ENTITIES MAINTAIN A FUND BALANCE OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THREE TO SIX MONTHS WORTH OF GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENDITURE.
SO AGAIN, UM, YOU ALL ARE RIGHT IN LINE WITH ALWAYS RECOMMENDATION.
SO, UM, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YEAH, IN LOOKING AT THIS CHART, YOU ALL HAVE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB, ESPECIALLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, UM, OF GETTING YOUR FUND BALANCE UP TO THAT RECOMMENDED LEVEL.
COUPLE OTHER FUNDS I WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTIONED, OR YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, UM, WHICH ARE YOUR STORMWATER, YOUR PREFERRED EXECUTIVE AIRPORT AND YOUR HILTON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ENTERPRISE FUNDS, THEY'RE USED TO ACCOUNT FOR OPERATIONS IN A MANNER.
SOME OF THEM THAT HAVE A PROP SECOND BUSINESS, YOU HAVE THE, THE GOAL OF THESE FUNDS ARE TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND THEREFORE TO, UH, TO GENERATE DEGENERATE SUFFICIENT OPERATING REVENUES TO COVER THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES.
SO, UM, THE CHART ON THIS SLIDE, IT SHOWS THE REVENUES AND EXPENSES FOR EACH OF THESE THREE FUNDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE THE STORM WATER UTILITY FUND HAD A GOOD YEAR, UH, ENDED IN THE YEAR WITH OPERATING INCOME OF A PROSPIE 2.4 MILLION, UM, THE BUFORD EXECUTOR AIRPORT, IT WAS RELATIVELY FLAT.
I HAD A SLIGHT OPERATING LOSS OF AROUND $25,000 FOR THE YEAR AND THE HILTON HEAD, UH, THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT HAD OPERATING INCOME OF APPROXIMATELY $127,000, UH, FOR THE YEAR WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE NON-OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENSES OF THESE FUNDS HAVE.
AND, UM, AS WELL AS THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THE, UH, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT RECEIVES.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE NET EFFECT OF EACH FUND'S NET POSITION COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR.
AND, UH, SO HAS I MENTIONED THE BUFORD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, AGAIN, IT WAS FLAT FOR THE YEAR, UM, THE STORM WATER UTILITY HAD AN INCREASE IN NET POSITION OF $2.3 MILLION, AND THE HILTON HEAD OLINS AIRPORT, UH, ITS NET POSITION INCREASE ABOUT $3.4 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT, UM, CAME FROM FEDERAL GRANTS.
BUT AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH EXCEPTION OF THE BEEFIER EXECUTOR AIRPORT, WHICH I SLIDE OPERATING LOSS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER TWO FUNDS GENERATED, UH, AN OPERATING INCOME THIS YEAR, WHICH AGAIN, IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE OUT OF YOUR, OUT OF YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
UH, ONE FINAL ITEM DISCUSSING YOU ALL AGAIN, IT'S JUST CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUDITS THAT THE AUDITING STANDARDS REQUIRES THAT WE COMMUNICATE, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE COUNTY, UH, RECEIVING A CLEAN OPINION AND KNOW WHAT AUDIT FINDINGS AND THE INFORMATION, UH, ON THIS SLIDE IS ESSENTIALLY A FORMALITY, BUT, UH, WE HADN'T NEW DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING WITH MANAGEMENT.
UH, WE HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT.
WE HAD NO UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS.
AND, UM, AGAIN, WE ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY HAS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT LAW STATEMENTS AND WITH THAT, UM, UNLESS HE HAS ANY, ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION IN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
UM, WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IS JUST HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS.
WHAT I THINK IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE TO YOU ALL, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING HERE THAT I DIDN'T TOUCH ON THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO ASK.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE THIS YEAR'S AUTO WENT EXTREMELY WELL, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THIS YEAR.
UH, WE, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A SERVICE TO THE COUNTY AND, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE FUTURE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. HARVEY, SEAN, YOU GO FIRST.
DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR MICROPHONE ON.
GREAT JOB BY THE FINANCE STAFF, OBVIOUSLY, UM, QUESTION FOR YOU, DAVID, AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCEDURES USED TO TEST THE CAPITAL ASSETS BALANCE AND WITH THE MATERIALITY THRESHOLD IS ON THAT WE TEST CAPITAL ASSET ADDITIONS.
UH, WE ALSO LOOK AT YOUR, YOUR CAPITAL ASSET DISPOSALS FOR A YEAR.
UH, I, I DO NOT HAVE THE, UH, MATERIALITY THRESHOLD, UH, ON HAND.
I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION, UH, BUT WE ALSO, UM, WE ALWAYS TRY TO INCORPORATE A LEVEL OF UNPREDICTABILITY AUDIT, UM, OUTSIDE OF OUR MATERIALITY THRESHOLD, BUT, UM, WE ALSO REVIEW REPAIRS AND MINUS ACCOUNTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY, UM, ANY BALANCES, ANY TRANSACTIONS THAT WERE IMPROPERLY, UM, EXCLUDED FROM YOUR
[00:40:01]
CAPITAL ASSET ADDITIONS.IS THERE ANY PHYSICAL INSPECTION THERE'S NOT.
UM, I AM REALLY, I'M INTERESTED IN THE FUND BALANCE AND THE RESERVE.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER HEARD THAT, UH, THE RESERVE IS NOT ALL CASH.
SO WHAT, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT FUND BALANCE IS ACTUALLY CASH OR INVESTMENT AND IS THE REMAINING OF IT IN PROPERTY ACID? WELL, AGAIN, THE DEFINITION OF FUND BALANCE IS REALLY WHAT'S LEFT OVER AFTER YOU NATURAL LIABILITIES WITH YOUR ASSETS, UM, IN, IN LOOKING AT YOUR GENERAL FUND CASH, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE ALL HAD CASH AND, AND PULL CASH AND INVESTMENTS OF $69 MILLION.
UM, BUT YOU ALSO HAD TOTAL LIABILITIES OF 14 MILLION TO COME TO GATE THAT, SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A COMBINATION OF RECEIVABLES, BUT YOU ALL HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED, UH, HAS OF YOUR END.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO HAVE A, AN $8.7 MILLION ADVANCE, UH, TO THE GENERAL FUNDS, UH, TO, TO THE, TO THE BEEF AT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IS AS WELL AS THE HILTON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, UH, THAT IS CURRENTLY RECEIVABLE ON THE, UH, ON THE COUNTY'S BOOKS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THOSE ARE RECEIVABLES THAT ARE NOT IN THE FORM OF CASH THAT, UH, TH TH HELPED MAKE UP THAT UNDERSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
AND YOU ALSO SAY THAT A GOOD RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THREE TO SIX MONTHS FUND BALANCE TO OPERATE.
AND WE HAD, UH, ROUGHLY OVER SIX MONTHS NOW YOU'RE RIGHT AT SIX MONTHS.
BUT ONE THING I WOULD KEEP IN MIND IS INCLUDED IN THAT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS YOUR ADVANCED, THE ENTERPRISE BONDS OF 8.6 MILLION.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE BEST ACTUALLY MANAGEMENT POINT ITEM THAT WE HAD, IT WAS NOT A FINDING, IT WAS JUST A RECOMMENDATION OF MANAGEMENT, UM, JUST TO, TO PERIODICALLY REVIEW, UM, THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES, ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THERE, AND REALLY THEIR ABILITY TO PAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE ADVANCED AS TO OTHER FUNDS, I REALLY SHOULD BE TRADED AS IS ANY KIND OF RECEIVABLE FROM AN OUTSIDE ENTITY.
UM, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEIR ABILITY TO PAY AND, UH, AND, AND COME UP WITH A GAME PLAN OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO, HOW'S THE GENERAL FUND GOING TO RECRUIT THAT $8.6 MILLION, UM, ADVANCED THE ENTERPRISE BONDS.
UH, THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE, BUT, UH, MY MIND SLIPS RIGHT NOW, SO THANK YOU.
WE HAVE A FAIRLY LENGTHY AGENDA NOW.
[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
UH, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH THE LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.UM, RECENTLY ATTENDED NEKO, PLEASE PUT YOUR, UM, I RECENTLY ATTENDED THE NEKO ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE AND, UM, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH SOME OF OUR LEGISLATORS.
IN ADDITION, I SERVE ON THREE OF THEIR COMMITTEES AND I WILL VERY BRIEFLY TELL YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS ONE COMMITTEE I SERVE ON IS THE, UH, ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND LAND USE COMMITTEE.
AND THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION'S INTERPRETATION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS.
AND PARTICULARLY THIS IS PARTICULARLY ONEROUS TO FARMERS, BUT ALSO TO BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
I SERVE ON THE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION, BUT NO SPECIFIC OR PARTICULAR OR RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT OF IT.
UM, THEY, UH, VETERANS COMMITTEE, UM, THAT I SERVE ON, I, UH, I RAISED MY HAND AND POINTED OUT THAT WE HAD THAT OUR CORONER'S OFFICE HAD, UH, NUMEROUS UNCLAIMED REMAINS AND, UH, SEVERAL SOMEBODY WHO DID A LOT OF INVESTIGATIVE WORK TO FIND OUT WHO, WHO THEY WERE, WHO THEIR FAMILIES WERE, COULD THEY BE CONTACTED AND SO ON? AND IT WAS, IT WAS FOUND THAT FOUR OF THEM WERE VETERANS.
AND WE HAD A REALLY LOVELY CEREMONY TO ENTER THE REMAINS OF THOSE FOUR VETERANS WITH A FULL MILITARY HONORS.
AND I MENTIONED THAT TO THE GROUP AND THEY, THEY, THEY WERE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA.
NOBODY HAD EVER THOUGHT OF THAT.
AND, UH, IN SPEAKING WITH, UH, THE CORONER, DAVID OD, HE, UH, HE SINGLED OUT CARLA ANDERSON SMITH FOR A SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
AND HE ASKED IF WE, AT SOME POINT COULD RECOGNIZE HER AT THIS COUNCIL.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE CAN TALK OUR CHAIRMAN AND WE'RE DOING THAT.
OTHER COMMITTEE REPORTS, MS. HOWARD BRIEFLY, I ATTENDED THE TCL MEETING.
THEIR DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND BE SUCCESSFUL
[00:45:01]
IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS.AND ALSO THEY'RE EXPANDING TO HAMPTON COUNTY WITH THAT PROGRAM.
I ATTENDED THE BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MEETING.
AND AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, RECRUITMENT IS AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY OF THE NURSING PROFESSION, BUT THEY ARE HOPEFUL WITH THEIR, UH, ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROGRAM FOR FIRST TIME, BUYERS OF HOUSES TO ASSIST WITH A REPAYABLE DOWN PAYMENT, THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO RECRUIT MORE PEOPLE IN THOSE NEEDED POSITIONS AT BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
AND THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE MET FEBRUARY 7TH.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS ON OUR AGENDA ARE FOLLOW-UPS TO THOSE THINGS, BUT I WON'T GO THROUGH THEM.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THIS, UH, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE'S SEVERAL ITEMS COMING OUT OF THE RECENT PUBLIC FACILITIES MEETING ITEM.
NUMBER NINE IS A, UH, ENGINEERING AND PERMITTING SERVICES, UH, FOR WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE BURNT CHURCH ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IT'S COMBINATION OF THE ROAD, AND IT'S PICKS UP THE PATHWAY THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE REFERENDUM BACK IN 18.
THOSE, THOSE FUNDS WILL COME OUT OF THE IMPACT FEES.
UH, NUMBER 10 IS THE FIFTH OF FIVE YEARS OF THE RESURFACING.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY A TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR EXPENDITURE.
AND I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT OUR CTC IS, UH, GAINS A LOT OF RESPECT FOR ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE WONDERFUL JOB THEY'RE DOING IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING AND GETTING ROADS DONE.
AND I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT NOW WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ROADS THAT ARE IN A, IN A POOR CONDITION.
I THINK THAT, UH, IN THE STATE BUDGETING IS TAKING PLACE.
NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY GET ANOTHER 6 MILLION FOR DOING, WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE STATE SECONDARY ROADS, UM, ITEMS NUMBER 11 AND 12, OR JUST WHERE WE'RE, UM, GRANTING PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR GRANTS.
UH, NUMBER 13 IS, UH, AN ADDITIONAL WORK AUTHORIZATION FOR WORK AT THE, UH, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT FOR OUR CONSULTANTS TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR US.
UH, IT'S A $200,000 APPROVAL, BUT THERE'S A RELATIVELY SMALL, PROBABLY 10% OF THAT THAT'S REALLY PLANNED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR WITH MOST OF THAT, UH, LOOKING TO WHERE THEY HELP US IN NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACTS WITH THE AIRLINES.
UM, UH, AND THEN, UH, I'M SORRY, KEEP GOING.
SOME OF THAT, THAT'S WHEN I SAID SOMETHING.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE 11 REAPPOINTMENTS, UH, TO THE, UH, KEEP BUFORD BEAUTIFUL BOARD, UM, TO THE STORMWATER BOARD AND TO THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
AND WE HAVE TWO FIRST-TIME APPOINTMENTS, ONE PAUL MANNING TO THE BUFORD COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND, UH, BRENDA MCPHEE TO THE KEY BUFORD COUNTY.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THEY ALL CAME OUT OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
UM, UNANIMOUSLY, I BELIEVE MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
CHAIRMAN, I'LL BE SUPER BRIEF, BUT I ATTENDED THE CTC RETREAT A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH COUNCILMAN RODMAN AND CASPIAN PASSMAN.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, SO KUDOS TO COUNTY STAFF FOR PUTTING THAT ON.
AND ESPECIALLY CRAIG GORDON WHO CHAIRS THAT COMMITTEE, IT WAS VERY, UH, INFORMATIVE, AND I'M SURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A WHOLE BUNCH OF ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT AT COUNCIL ALSO ATTENDED THE KEEPING BUFORD BEAUTIFUL MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING IS JUST WHAT A GREAT JOB COUNTY STAFF IS DOING ON LITTER CONTROL.
A LOT OF THAT COMMITTEE IS FOCUSED ON LITTER CONTROL AND THEY'RE REALLY DOING GOD'S WORK THERE, BUT APPARENTLY WE'VE HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH CAMERAS AROUND THE COUNTY IN HELPING TO CONTROL THE POPULATION OF LITTER.
AND APPARENTLY WE NEED SOME MORE RESOURCES FOR THAT.
SO I WOULD JUST URGE COUNTY STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, TO THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S A WORTHWHILE EFFORT.
UH, BEFORE WE PROCEED ON, I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW ON COUNTY COUNCIL THAT, UH, MR. SUMMERVILLE, MYSELF AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE STAFF, UH, WE WENT TO COLUMBIA FOR THE SCAC, THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES MID-YEAR CONFERENCE, WHERE SEVERAL OF US TOOK CLASSES AND WENT TO, UH, THE STATE HOUSE TO MEET WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE OF FUNDS COMING FROM THE STATE.
SINCE YOU MENTIONED COLUMBIA, I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DID GO UP TO, UH, COLUMBIA.
UM, I FORGOT LAST WEEK, I THINK, UM, TO APPEAR WITH
[00:50:01]
THE GOVERNOR AND SENATOR KIMPSON, UH, CONCERNING, UM, THE ECONOMIC, I MEAN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, UH, ACT THAT IS BEING BROUGHT FORTH BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.AND I BASICALLY WENT THERE TO SUPPORT THAT ENDEAVOR.
[11. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS. AND OUR FIRST ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, WOULD I, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ENTIRE CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH CONSISTS OF 18 ITEMS FROM THE EXECUTIVE FINANCE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEES.
NOW I HAVE SUCH A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND SECOND, SECOND SECONDED BY PAUL DULY MOVED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION HELLO? YES.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO BE, UH, SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON A PODCAST ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BUFORD COUNTY WITH LARRY ROLAND AND EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT AND PRESERVING AND IDENTIFYING HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN THE COUNTY.
DULY MOTION BY MR. MCKELLAN AND SECONDED BY MR. SUMMERVILLE.
UH, THESE WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION, AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS NOW APPROVED.
[12. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION]
IS MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION.I WILL CALL ON MR. SUMMERVILLE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BE DIRECTED TO REQUEST A LINE ITEM BUDGETS WITH SUPPORTING DETAIL FOR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TO INCLUDE PERSONNEL EXPENDITURES BY EACH DEPARTMENT POSITION FOR ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
MR. RODMAN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
IT, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NOTICE FOR OUR ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE? OKAY.
UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
THE MOTION WAS BY MR. SOMERVILLE.
AND THE CHAIR VOTES? YES, WE HAVE.
ONE, NO OF MR. LAWSON IS ABSENT.
[Additional Item 1]
IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? UH, YES.UM, EMOTION AT AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO SELL REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS OUR 700 0 3 6 0 0 2 C 0 0 0 0.
ALSO KNOWN AS SIX 16 PAGE POINT ROAD FOR $80,000 AND A PERMANENT CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE ENTIRE 10 ACRES TRACK.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION THAT WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION? NO, SIR.
I, I DON'T OBJECT, BUT I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.
I HAVE, WE HAVE QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE ASKING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I NEED TO HEAR THE ANSWERS BEFORE I VOTE.
NO, UH, MR. HARVEY, THANK, CAN WE CLARIFY THE MOTION ON THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ANY SORT OF BUILDINGS ON THAT PROPERTY? UM, THAT'S
[00:55:01]
THE THING WE CAN, RIGHT.A CONSERVATION EASEMENT RESTRICTS CERTAIN THINGS.
CAN I SEE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT? DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF IT? WE DO NOT.
NOW WE'RE JUST SEEKING APPROVAL FROM YOU FOR YOU ALL TONIGHT, AUTHORIZE US TO TAKE ADDITIONAL STEPS.
UM, UH, THIS WILL, UH, GIVE US THE RIGHT TO BRING AN ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU ALL, UH, FOR, UH, THREE READINGS FOR US TO DISPOSE OF THE PROPERTY AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, UH, WE WILL HAVE A DRAFT CONSERVATION EASEMENT, IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PROVIDE US DIRECTION OR MAKE IT A PART OF THE MOTION TONIGHT THAT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT SHOULD LIMIT, UH, ANY TYPE OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT ON THAT PROPERTY.
I'M HAPPY TO, UH, TO ENTERTAIN THAT, UH, THROUGH AN AMENDMENT OR A MODIFICATION OF THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UH, IMPRESSION THAT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE TRACK MEANS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, BUT IF YOU NEED THAT, I WILL MOVE TO INCLUDE THAT.
SOME, SOME CONSERVATION IS, DO ALLOW TO THE PROPERTY TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.
SO IF YOU ALL WANT US TO, UH, INSTRUCT WHEN WE'RE DRAFTING THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THE INDIVIDUAL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT NO, NO D NO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION OCCUR ON THE PROPERTY AS PART OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT TERMS. UH, THEN WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
I, AGAIN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE ENTIRE TRACK, UM, UNLESS YOU STIPULATE IN THE EASEMENT THAT I WANT ONE BUILDING ON THERE, THAT MEANS THAT NO BUILDING WOULD BE ON THERE.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSERVATION.
NO ONE HAS SAID THAT THEY WANTED ANY BUILDING, UH, ON THE PROPERTY.
SO THE PROPERTY WOULD BASICALLY REMAIN AS IS EXCEPT FOR TIMBERING OR WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO WITH IT, FARMING OR WHATEVER.
BUT THAT'S MY IMPRESSION OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
BUT IF YOU NEED THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO ADD THAT TO IT.
WELL, I DON'T THINK WE NEED IT AS LONG AS WE'RE CLEAR WITH THAT, THE COUNCIL DOES NOT WANT ANY BUILDINGS ON THERE.
WE WILL ADJUST IT ACCORDINGLY WHEN WE BRING THAT DRAFT BACK TO YOU.
JUST TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE AWARE OF WHY WE'RE EVEN HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
IT'S, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO SELL A PROPERTY FOR LESS THAN THE APPRAISED VALUE WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY, BUT ON EASEMENTS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, YOU CAN STILL BUILD HOUSES ON THOSE TRACKS.
SO THE REASON I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS, BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, UH, THIS GENTLEMAN SAYS HE WANTS TO KEEP THE LAND THE WAY IT IS, BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP HIM BASED ON, UM, THE EASEMENT OR THE CONSERVATION THAT HE CAN'T BUILD PROPERTY ON IT LATER ON, PUT MULTIPLE HOUSES ON IT AND SELL THOSE HOUSES.
UM, AND EVEN IF WE HAVE THIS EASEMENT IN PLACE, HE CAN STILL GO FORWARD TO IT.
AND WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO STOP IT AND SPEND THE MONEY IN COURT TO STOP IT.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC BEHIND IT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SELL THE PROPERTY FOR LESS THAN OUR VALUE OF IT.
WE HAVE NO NEED TO, WE'RE NOT PRESSURED TO.
UM, SO I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO VOTE AGAINST THIS UNTIL THERE'S AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE THAT NOTHING WILL BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH I HAVE NOT SEEN HOW THAT CAN BE DONE YET.
EASEMENTS FOLLOW THE DEED OF THE PROPERTY.
AND WE CAN HAVE THAT WRITTEN INTO A STRAW INTO THE LANGUAGE OF THE DRAFT ORDINANCE WHEN WE COME FORWARD WITH THE THREE READINGS.
SO THAT, THAT WILL BE ENSURED THAT THERE WILL BE NO BUILDINGS ON IT JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, AND IT WILL FOLLOW THE PROPERTY, NOT THE OWNER.
AND IT CANNOT, IT'S NOT CHALLENGEABLE THAT POINT.
SO I WILL BE VOTING YES FOR THIS TOO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, SURE.
YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT, UM, THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN BUFORD COUNTY, AND YET WE CONTINUALLY TAKE MEASURES TO MAKE LAND, UM, MORE VALUABLE, MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY TO US IS THE $100,000.
THAT IS THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY FOR US TO TAKE LESS THAN THAT TAKES AND PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT.
IT TAKES THAT PROPERTY OFF THE, OFF THE MARKET FOR AVAILABILITY, FOR PUBLIC HOUSING OR ANY KIND OF HOUSING, ANY LOW MODERATE INCOME, OR ANY KIND OF FAMILY HOUSING AT ALL THIS AREA IS NOT SUBJECT TO OVERDEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME.
IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY LOW DENSITY, RURAL AREA THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO HAVE ONE OR TWO HOUSES ON IT WITHOUT ANY REAL, UM, UM, PRESSURE ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO CONTINUE TO LEAD THIS ON THE MARKET.
AND IF THE, IF IT BECOMES, UM, A
[01:00:01]
VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY TO SOMEBODY VALUABLE ENOUGH TO PAY THE $100,000 THAT IT'S WORTH, WE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT IT AND PLACING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON IT WHEN THERE IS NO DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.THANK YOU, MR. RODMAN, AS I REFLECT ON THIS, I THINK THE ARGUMENTS ARE REASONABLY STRONG THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
ACTUALLY THE PURCHASER, I THINK, WOULD BE BETTER OFF TO PAY THE ADDITIONAL $20,000 AND HAVE THE RIGHT TO DEVELOP IT DOWNSTREAM, BUT HE GETS STILL PROTECT HIS VIEW FOR AS LONG AS HE WANTS TO.
UM, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UM, THE, THE BUYER, UH, IS INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE LAND IN FRONT OF HIM, WHICH IS THE WHOLE ENTIRE 10 ACRES.
SO, UM, HE'S OFFERED 80% DISCOUNT OR 20% DISCOUNT, UH, FOR THE PROPERTY TO PUT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
HOWEVER, IF THE BUYER PURCHASE IT FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE APPRAISE PRICE, WHICH IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND COME BACK TO THE RULE AND CRITICAL LAND PROGRAM AND ASK FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT, WILL WE NOT GIVE THEM, GIVE HIM THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT? IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE ARE GETTING A BARGAIN DEAL IN THIS.
THAT'S MY OPINION, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK TO US AT A HUNDRED GRAND, THAT HE'S STILL GOING TO COME BACK TO US AT A HUNDRED GRAND, WE MAKE AN EXTRA $20,000 AND WE FOUGHT AND ARGUMENTS OVER LESS THAN $20,000 ON OTHER PROPERTY ON THIS COUNCIL BEFORE.
SO IF HE REALLY WANTS THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, HE CAN OFFER THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND STILL COME BACK FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
IF I MIGHT ADD I'M, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF SELLING IT FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE $80,000 THAT THE, UM, BUY IS PROPOSING.
UH, I FEEL LIKE, UM, WE SHOULD SELL IT FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THEN IF WE WANT TO PUT AN EASEMENT ON IT, THEN SO BE IT.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SELL, UH, UNDER THE FAIR MARKET VALUE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL THE ROLL? OKAY.
MR. GLOVER, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
CAN I VOTE AGAIN? MS. HOWARD? YES.
WHICH MEANS THE ITEM FAILS BECAUSE IT IS FIVE, FIVE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A SPLIT VOTE ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO LET US, UH, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE, UH, TABLE DIFFER OR WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATE TERM IS.
LET BRITTANY GO BACK TO THE, UH, PERSON THAT PUT IN THE BED AND SAY, HEY, UH, YOU NEED TO PROBABLY UP YOUR OFFER TO ANOTHER 20 GRAND TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
AND LET US BRING THAT BACK TO YOU AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
WELL, WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE VOTE.
IF SOMEONE ON THE NO SIDE ASKED FOR IT TO BE RECONSIDERED NEXT TIME, BUT IT CAN'T BE RECONSIDERED NOW.
RIGHT? IT COULD BE RE IN THIS MEETING.
SAY MR. MAYOR, THE PHRASE VALUE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK THROUGH THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY2022 BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR RECEIPT OF ARPA FUNDS - FISCAL IMPACT: RECEIPT OF $37,317,446 TO BE HOUSED IN A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND]
WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THIRD READINGS, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 13, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR THE RECEIPT OF THE ARPA FUNDS EMOTION, PLEASE.CHAIRMAN MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND, UH, IS THERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT?
[01:05:02]
I SEE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, IS THERE A MEMBER OF COUNCIL WISHES TO ASK A QUESTION, MR. RODMAN, MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS IS THIS IS KIND OF A BUDGETARY, BUT THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS WITHIN IT WILL HAVE TO STILL COME BACK TO APPROVAL FOR US.
IT'S BEING PUT IN A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
THE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE YOU, UH, COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL APPROVAL WILL HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE COMMITTING ACCOUNT.
SO YES, THERE'D BE SOME THINGS THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CAN DO BASED ON THE PURCHASING.
THE DISCUSSION HAS TAKEN PLACE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BEAUFORT COUNTY ORDINANCE 2008/17 AND ADOPTING THE BUCKWALTER ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN]
NUMBER 14, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER TO APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 14, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUFORD COUNTY ORDINANCE 2008 SLASH 17 AND ADOPTING THE BUCK, WALTER ACCESS MANAGEMENT PLAN MOTION.PLEASE I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVAL, SARAH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. RODMAN WILL MAKE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT? SEEING NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? UH, WE'VE SATISFIED THAT ASPECT AND THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[15. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET (GRAVES ROAD)]
NUMBER 15, UH, ASK A MEMBER TO OFFER THE MOTION FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET GRAVES ROAD MOTION, PLEASE.IS THERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? NO MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. GLOVER MAKES AN OBJECTION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO MAKE THEM MAKE AN OBJECTION? SAME HERE.
MR. DAWSON MAKES AN OBJECTION.
MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES AN OBJECTION.
MS. HOWARD MAKES AN OBJECTION AND THE OTHERS SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED BY A SIX.
[16. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO PURCHASE THE BCSO DOWLING LOTS]
ITEM 16, ASK A MEMBER TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR, 2022 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO PURCHASE THE BC S OH, DOWLING LOTS MOTION.MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. HOWARD, YOU WILL GET THE SECOND.
ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT.
SEEING NONE PUBLIC PORTION IS CLOSED AND HE DISCUSSION BY COUNCIL.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, MR. KHAN.
WE HAVE TWO OBJECTIONS AND THE OTHERS MOTION WILL CARRY EIGHT.
[17. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING A TEXT AMENDMENT TO BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES: ARTICLE VII, DIVISION 4, SECTION 2-508; SECTION 2-509; SECTION 2-513; SECTION 2-517; AND SECTION 2-541 TO UPDATE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES, TO PROVIDE NECESSARY CONTRACT DOLLAR THRESHOLD CHANGES AND TO UPDATE EXEMPTION PROVISIONS AND PROCEDURES]
17 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE REGARDING A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE BUFORD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES.ARTICLE SEVEN, DIVISION FOUR, SECTION TWO DASH 5 0 8, 5 0 9, 13, 17 AND 41, 5 41 TO UPDATE THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY CONTRACT DOLLAR THRESHOLDS AND TO UPDATE EXEMPTION, PROVISIONS AND PROCEDURES.
SO MOVIES, THE CHAIRMAN, MR. MCKELLEN, YOU'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
YOU WILL DO THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
IS THERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? SEEING NONE? THE PUBLIC PORTION IS CLOSED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? THERE IS NO DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. VISHAAN OBJECTS ONE, OBJECTION.
ANY OTHERS SEEING NONE? IT WILL BE APPROVED NINE.
[18. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE IX: GOVERNMENT-OWNED PROPERTY AND FACILITIES, DIVISION 2 OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES TO INCLUDE A NEW SECTION: SECTION 2-675. CAMPING PROHIBITED]
ITEM, 18 PUBLIC HEARING.AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE NINE, GOVERNMENT OWNED PROPERTY AND FACILITIES DIVISION CODE OF ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE A NEW SECTION TWO DASH 6 7 5, CAMPING PROHIBITED MOTION.
[01:10:01]
MOVE.MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECOND, ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO COMMENT ON THIS? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC PORTION IS CLOSED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE MOTION.
UM, BECAUSE I THINK WE, WE GOT, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT I AM HOPING THAT, UM, UM, THE ISSUE OF, UM, HOMELESSNESS WOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
UM, DULY MOTION, DIDN'T SECONDED.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEING NONE? THE MOTION IS APPROVED.
[19. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE III, SECTION 2 OF THE 2020 BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ORDINANCE, SO THAT THE DEFINITION OF "BUSINESS" MEANS "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-DESCRIBED ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTING DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY, AN INDIVIDUAL OWNS AND RENTS TWO OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS (OR HOLDS A PARTIAL INTEREST THEREIN) WITHIN THE COUNTY, EXCLUDING THE MUNICIPALITIES THEREIN. THIS APPLIES TO (30 DAYS OR MORE) ONLY."]
NUMBER 19 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION THREE, ARTICLE THREE, SECTION TWO OF THE 2020 BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ORDINANCES.
SO THAT THE DEFINITION OF BUSINESS MEANS ANY BUSINESS CALLING OCCUPATION, PROFESSION, OR ACTIVITY ENGAGED IN WHICH THE OBJECT OF GAIN BENEFIT OR ADVANTAGE EITHER DIRECTLY OR IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE DESCRIBED ACTIVITIES, CONSTITUTING DOING BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY, AN INDIVIDUAL OWNS AND RENTS TWO OR MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS OR HOLDS A PARTIAL INTEREST THEY'RE IN WITHIN THE COUNTY, EXCLUDING THE MUNICIPALITIES THEY'RE IN IT'S APPLIES TO 30 DAYS OR MORE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THIS? SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC PORTION IS CLOSED AND HE FURTHER DISCUSSION SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[20. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF 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]
20 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CONVEYANCE OF PORTIONS OF THE RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS THE BOSTIK ROAD AND AUTHORIZES THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE IT'S NECESSARY.MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. MAKES THE MOTION.
IS THERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS SEEING NONE? UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION, AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM
[21. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND 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.]
21 IS A PUBLIC HEARING.AND SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND BASED UPON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, THE STATE 2% BOARD TO TOURISM RELATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000 A MOTION PLEASE WITH MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS? SEEING NONE? THE PUBLIC PORTION IS CLOSED.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? YES, SIR.
MR. UM, LIKE, UH, I BELIEVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCHES, UM, REQUEST FOR MONEY REGARDING THE HARRIET TUBMAN MEMORIAL THAT THEY'RE PLANNING AND CONTEMPLATING, RIGHT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[22. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2021-2022 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE BOUNDARY STREET TENNIS COURTS PROJECT, APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD IFB# 112221E CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS THEREFORE]
ITEM 22 PUBLIC HEARING, AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2122 BUDGET ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE FUNDING OF THE BOUNDARY STREET.TENNIS COURTS PROJECT PROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO AWARD IFB.
NUMBER 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 1 E CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS, THEREFOR MOTION PLEASE.
SECOND, MR. MCKELLEN MOTION, MR. GLOVER, SECOND, AND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS SEEING NONE.
THE PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HAS CLOSED ANY, UH, CONCERNS ABOUT COUNTY COUNCIL.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[23. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR NINETEEN (19) RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PRESERVATION PROGRAM PROPERTIES FROM VARIOUS ZONING DISTRICTS TO T1 NATURAL PRESERVE (T1NP)]
ITEM 23 IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR 19 RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PRESERVATION PROGRAM PROPERTIES FROM VARIOUS ZONING DISTRICTS TO T1 NATURAL PRESERVE.MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION MR. FLOORING, NEW.
[01:15:01]
DO THE SECOND.THIS WILL BE APPROVED FOR FIRST READING WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[24. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR 6.26 ACRES (R100 027 000 0387 0000) 186 CHEROKEE FARMS ROAD FROM T2 RURAL TO T4 HAMLET CENTER OPEN]
, WILL YOU, UH, MAKE THE MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER 24, WHICH IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REQUEST FOR 6.26 ACRES ALSO KNOWN AS 180 6 CHEROKEE FARMS ROAD FROM T2 OR RURAL TO T FOUR HAMLET CENTER OPEN.I'M VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE PROJECT.
HAVING SEEN IT IN VARIOUS PHASES, UM, THROUGHOUT ITS, UH, ITS INFANCY TO NOW.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT THIS IS COMING ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT'LL BE A GOOD, UH, ADDITION TO MY DISTRICT.
AND, UM, I'M ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT, SIR.
I ASKED FOR THE SUPPORT ALL MEMBERS COUNTY COUNCIL.
DULY MOTION MAY HAVE A SECOND PLEASE.
MR. SOMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND, UH, DULY MOTION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WAS THERE PUBLIC COMMENT, SIR? THERE ISN'T BECAUSE IT'S THE FIRST READING.
UM, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[25. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): SECTIONS A.2.40 (PERMITTED ACTIVITIES), A.4.40 (PERMITTED ACTIVITIES), AND A.5.40 (PERMITTED ACTIVITIES) TO REVISE THE LADY’S ISLAND COMMUNITY PRESERVATION, LADY’S ISLAND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY CENTER, AND LADY’S ISLAND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE DISTRICTS TO INCLUDE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS A SPECIAL USE.]
ITEM 25 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF A TEXT MENDHAM AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE SECTIONS EIGHT 2.40, UH, PERMITTED ACTIVITIES, UH, TO REVISE THE LADIES ISLAND COMMUNITY, LADIES ISLAND, NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITY CENTER, AND LADY ISLAND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE DISTRICTS TO INCLUDE SHORT TERM RENTALS AS A SPECIAL USE.MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[26. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 6.55 ACRES (R600 041 000 0172 0000) AT 28 BUCKINGHAM PLANTATION DRIVE FROM T4 HAMLET CENTER OPEN TO T4 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER]
ITEM NUMBER 26 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR 6.55 ACRES KNOWN AS 28 BUCKINGHAM PLANTATION DRIVE FROM T4 HAMLET CENTER.OPEN TO T4 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER.
MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION MR. HARVEY, SHAWN, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND WHEN THIS CAME BEFORE COMMITTEE, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS EARLIER THIS MONTH.
I HAD ASKED FOR SOME DATA AROUND THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO IN HERE, PLUS THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE ALREADY PLANNED AND IN THE AREA, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON IN THAT STRETCH OF BLUFFTON PARKWAY, AND IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE, UM, THE BRIDGE ON BLUFFTON PARKWAY AS WELL.
AND I'M JUST GENERALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF VOLUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING INTO THAT AREA.
SO I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE THAT DATA AVAILABLE.
AS I, AS I MENTIONED, UM, A COMMITTEE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CONTEXT.
SO WE'RE NOT JUST DOING THESE ONE-OFF TYPE OF THINGS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONTEXT AS FAR AS HOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT IS ACTUALLY GOING IN THERE AND WHAT THIS WOULD ADD TO IT.
UH, GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND I APOLOGIZE.
I, I HAD THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE FINDING IT RIGHT NOW.
UM, WHEN WE, UH, ANALYZED, UH, THIS REZONING, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE LOOK FOR IS TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T TRIGGER A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, AND WE ANTICIPATE, OR BY DOING AN ANALYSIS OF THIS PROPERTY, UM, THAT THIS WOULD RESULT IN ABOUT 40 ADDITIONAL W AND THAT'S AND THAT'S IS PERMITTED IN THE, UM, T4 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER DISTRICT.
UM, AND SO THAT REALLY IS, IS A PRETTY MINOR INCREASE IN WHAT THAT PROPERTY WOULD YIELD.
BUT, UM, THAT, BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING FROM T4 HAMLET CENTER OPEN, UM, WHICH ALLOWS TWO AND A HALF STORIES TO T4 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, WHICH ALLOWS FOR STORIES.
BUT MY REAL QUESTION IS THE PROPERTY TO THE WEST.
HOW MANY UNITS ARE PLANNED TO GO IN THERE, THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET? HOW MANY UNITS ARE PLANNING TO GO IN THERE? SO THIS IS 40 UNITS.
BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON IN THAT STRETCH OF ROAD, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN.
WELL, THERE IS A PROPERTY TO THE WEST THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED, WHICH IS ALMOST IDENTICAL IN SIZE, AND THAT WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL PLANS
[01:20:01]
FOR THAT PROPERTY, BUT NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN FORMALIZED, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT TWO AND 40 UNITS.THIS SITE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THAT, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A SIMILAR TYPE OF DENSITY, BUT TODAY IT'S, WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FORMAL PLANS.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH, YOU KNOW, ABOUT, CAUSE THEY'RE BOTH ODD SHAPE PROPERTIES.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER AREA IN OR PROPERTY WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IS THE, UM, THE GOLF COURSE.
I BELIEVE IT'S, UM, OLD SOUTH, UM, HAS A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT, BUT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN EXECUTED.
SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S JUST A GOLF COURSE WITH, WITH OPEN LAND BETWEEN THE GREEN.
SO THAT DOES HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL FOR, FOR SINGLE FAMILY.
UM, FRANKLY, I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HILTON HEAD NATIONAL, THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR, THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR TO THAT, WHICH IS THIS PROPERTY.
I THINK THAT THE COMPOUNDING EFFECT OF THAT, AND THEN BEING SO CLOSE TO THE BRIDGE, I FRANKLY JUST MAKES ME A LITTLE BIT UNEASY AND I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT AT THIS TIME, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE.
YEAH, IT WAS AT THAT SAME MEETING WITH CHRIS AND WE SORT OF SHARED THE SAME WITH, UM, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
PROPERTY NEAR THIS COME UP FOR THE SAME TYPE OF REZONING.
UM, I, I VOTED NO ON THAT AND IT'S THE SAME THING.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY IS TO MAKE TRAFFIC FLOW EASIER FROM HILTON HEAD TO THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT BEAVER COUNTY, UNTIL IT GETS DOWN TO ONE 70.
UM, ALL THIS DOES TO ME IS BOTTLE UP THE BRIDGE EVEN MORE THAN IT ALREADY IS.
UM, THERE IS ALREADY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES IN THAT AREA.
I'VE ALWAYS LIKED TO KEEP IT FOR ONE SIDE OF THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY TO THE OTHER.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO GET A LOT MORE THINGS FIGURED OUT BEFORE WE JUST APPROVE MORE ZONING FOR MORE RESIDENTIAL.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU, I GET MORE EMAILS ABOUT THIS AREA EXPLODING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO APPROVE, UM, MORE IN A MOMENT.
UM, AND JUST TO CLARIFY, ONE THING YOU SAID, I'M GOING TO GO, DID YOU SAY THAT THE PROPERTY NEXT TO IT WAS ABOUT THE SIMILAR SIZE OF IT? UM, AND IT WAS PLANNED FOR 240 DWELLINGS, BUT THIS ONE THEY'RE ONLY ESTIMATED TO BE 40.
I DON'T, IF THAT IS TRUE IN THE, THE SAME, I DON'T SEE HOW THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT THE 200 ON THAT ONE AS WELL.
SO THERE ARE TWO LONG NARROW PROPERTIES.
UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY TWO PROPERTIES.
ONE IS ZONED, UM, MAKING UP ABOUT 12 ACRES AND THEN THERE'S A PROPERTY NEXT TO IT, WHICH IS THE, UM, THE EXECUTIVE GOLF COURSE, THE OLD, THE OLD EXECUTIVE GOLF COURSE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE WITH THOSE TWO.
THE, WHAT WE CALCULATED IS THAT THIS PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY HALF OF IT IS ZONED T4 NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER, THE OTHER HALF ZONE, T4 HAMLET CENTER OPEN.
AND THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE TWO IS ABOUT 40 UNITS.
THAT WOULD 40 40 UNITS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROPERTIES.
SO ONE OF THEM COULD BE A HUNDRED AND THE OTHER ONE COULD BE 80 OR ONE 20 AND 80, OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO BREAK THAT UP.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY 40 UNITS IS WHAT I'M SAYING ON THE PROPERTY AND THE 40 UNIT, THE ADDITIONAL, THAT WOULD BE THE ADDITIONAL IMPACT.
IF THE ZONING AMENDMENT WERE APPROVED ON TOP OF WHAT THEY ALREADY ARE APPROVED COURT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 480 UNITS ON BOTH PROPERTIES.
I'M GOING TO INTEND TO VOTE NO ON THAT.
ANY OTHER KIND OF CHANGE? 42 AND A HALF STORY UNITS, 44 STORY UNITS.
IS THAT WHAT THE CHANGE? WELL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MULTI-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS.
UM, ROUGHLY, AND THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL KIND OF BALLPARK ESTIMATES BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN STORMWATER AND, AND OPEN SPACE, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT THESE SITES COULD ACTUALLY YIELD.
BUT WE'VE ANTICIPATED JUST BY DOING SOME ANALYSIS THAT THIS PROPERTY COULD YIELD WITH THIS REZONING, APPROXIMATELY 240 UNITS WITHOUT IT, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 200 BECAUSE IT'S A SPLIT ZONE PROPERTY.
SO THE, UM, INCREASE IN ZONING IS ONLY EFFECTING HALF OF IT.
AND IT ALLOWS US TO GO TO TWO AND A HALF, CORRECT FOR HOW MANY UNITS, UM, W THE UNIT NUMBER IS BASED ON LOOKING AT WHAT THE LAND COULD YIELD AND THE HEIGHTS OF THE BUILDING.
AND SO TWO AND A HALF WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY TAKING, DOING ALL MISS A MATHEMATICAL EQUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, TWO AND A HALF IS, LET'S SAY FIVE EIGHTS AND FOUR IS EIGHT, YOU KNOW,
[01:25:01]
AS A WHOLE.SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF DOING A COMPARISON OF WHAT THIS PROPERTY OF SIX ACRES HAVE TWO AND A HALF STORY, APARTMENT BUILDINGS VERSUS FOUR STORY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE GOT THE ADDITIONAL 40 UNITS.
THE REZONING GIVES IT AN ADDITIONAL 40, CORRECT.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN IF THEY DEVELOPED WITH THE CURRENT ZONING VERSUS WHAT WERE, WHAT DOES BEING PROPOSED THIS EVENING? AFFORDABLE HOUSING? NO, SIR.
ANY OTHER, MR. HARVEY, SEAN? YEAH.
I WANT TO BE SURE I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT CLEAR ON THIS.
UH, SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS VERTICAL DENSITY, AS OPPOSED TO JUST MORE HORIZONTAL DENSITY AT TWO AND A HALF STORIES, IS THAT, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? YES.
AND SO THERE'S THE DISTRICTS THEMSELVES DON'T HAVE A DENSITY CAP.
SO IT, YOU KNOW, THE DENSITY IS BASICALLY A RESULT OF WHAT THE LAND COULD YIELD IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, BUILDING PLACEMENT, PARKING, STORMWATER, OPEN SPACE.
AND SO WITH, YOU KNOW, FOUR STORY BUILDINGS VERSUS TWO AND A HALF, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE VERTICAL UNITS IN THERE.
AND SO THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE TWO AND A HALF STORIES AND THE FOUR STORIES IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 40 UNITS.
AND ON THAT SIDE OF BLUFFTON PARKWAY BETWEEN THE ENTRANCE TO HILTON HEAD NATIONAL AND THE ON-RAMP TO THE BRIDGE, AS IT IS CURRENTLY ZONED, WE'RE LOOKING AT 440 UNITS, UH, SIMILARLY 480 UNITS.
THAT'S ASSUMING CURRENTLY THE WAY THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
UM, NO, CURRENTLY FOUR 40 GOING TO FLORIDA WITH THIS FOUR 80.
AND THEN, UM, I'M TRYING TO GO FROM MEMORY HERE, BUT ON THE OPPOSITE CORNER, I FELT THAT NATIONAL ON MALPHURS I'D THINK IT IS MAYBE DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT.
IS THERE, UM, SOME UNITS GOING IN THERE AS WELL? CURRENTLY, THE ONLY DEVELOPMENTS THAT YOU KNOW, THAT IS HAPPENING IS THE RV PARK AT, AT HILTON HEAD NATIONAL.
THE, THE REMAINDER OF THAT SITE IS, IS A GOLF COURSE.
AND THERE IS NO, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY ADDITIONAL LANDS ON THAT SIDE OF BLUFFTON PARKWAY, BETWEEN MALPHURS AND, UH, BUCKINGHAM PLANTATION THAT HAS DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL.
THE ONLY OTHER PROPERTY I'VE MENTIONED IS, IS THE OLD SOUTH GOLF, UH, GOLF COURSE, WHICH HAS A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT THAT IS REMAINED UNDEVELOPED.
UH, I SEE THAT THERE ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE VOTING.
UH, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO VOTE? NO SOMERVILLE, MR. MCKELLEN.
IS THERE ONE ELSE? I, UM, I DON'T WANT TO VOTE NO AT THIS TIME, BUT I DO DESIRE THAT THE TWO REPRESENTATIVE FROM THAT DISTRICT HAVE A VOICE AT THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH THIS, WHICH MEANS THAT I MAY BE VOTING.
TO A PROJECT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S DISTRICT WITHOUT GETTING CLARIFICATION, BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE YES.
BUT I HOPE THAT AT OUR NEXT NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE, WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS AND SEE HOW THAT FLESH OUT.
UH, THE WAY I SEE THE VOTING, IT WILL BE SIX.
IS THERE ANYONE DISAGREE WITH THAT, MR. GLOVER? AND THAT IS ACTUALLY CHRIS DISTRICT WHO IS IN OPPOSITION OF IT, AND THEN IT AFFECTS MINE AND MARK LAWSON'S AS WELL.
WE WERE AT THAT COMMITTEE BEFORE.
YOU IN THE SAME NECK OF THE WOODS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SO 26 PASSES WITH SIX, FOR SOME REASON, WE CAN'T HEAR MR. YES.
TO MOVE IT ALONG TO SECOND READING, BUT I CAN TELL YOU I'M NOT GUARANTEED AT ALL TO VOTE FOR IT AT SECOND READING.
I HAVE TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT LET'S, LET'S MOVE IT ALONG.
[27. FIRST READING FOR AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH TMS NO. R200 010 000 0170 0000]
IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS, TO CONVEY A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BUFORD COUNTY WITH THE TMS NUMBER 200, UH, 0 1 0 TRIPLE 0, 0 1 7 0 4.[01:30:02]
MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[28. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE 2021-22 BUDGET TO RECOGNIZE ARPA FUND EXPENDITURES]
28 IS THE FIRST READING OF THE NORDEN INS TO AMEND THE 2122 BUDGET TO RECOGNIZE ARPA FUNDING EXPENDITURES.MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[29. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF FY 2022 LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS & LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX GRANT AWARDS - FISCAL IMPACT: RECOMMENDATIONS OF $2,149,808 TO BE PROVIDED OUT OF THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND AND THE LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX FUND]
29 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL YEAR, 2022 LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX GRANT AWARDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 2 MILLION, $149,808 TO BE PROVIDED ABOUT PROVIDED OUT OF THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOND AND THE LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX FUND.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? MR. SUMMERVILLE MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION MR. SOMERVILLE, THE CHAIRMAN IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN THIS COUNTRY ABOUT WHO DOES NOT DESERVE A STATUE, UH, HONORING THEM, UH, HOPE.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO ACTUALLY DESERVE A STATUTE.
AND I'M GOING TO, I'M GOING TO TEE THAT UP AND KICK THAT OFF BY SAYING I'D LIKE TO AMEND, UH, ITEM NUMBER 29 FROM A $2,149,808 TO 2 MILLION, $349.
AND I'M SORRY, THREE, 2 MILLION, $349,808, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 200,000.
THERE ARE A, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO PUT UP A STATUE OF HARRIET TUBMAN.
AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL AGREE THAT SHE IS CERTAINLY DESERVING OF A STATUE AND THEY'VE RAISED CLOSE TO 200,000, I THINK ALREADY.
AND, UH, THIS WILL GET THEM WELL ALONG THE WAY TO BEING ABLE TO PUT IN THAT STATUE.
WELL WELL-DESERVED SO I MOVED THAT WE INCREASED THE, THAT WE AMEND ITEM 29 FROM 2 MILLION, $149,808 TO 2 MILLION, $349,808, UH, FROM THE HAAS LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX FUND PROVIDED THAT THE STAFF AND OTHER PARTIES WITH INTEREST IN THE STATUTE SLASH MONUMENT ARE ABLE TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WHICH SATISFY THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THESE FUNDS.
UM, A SECOND FOR DISCUSSION, UM, MARVELL MADE THE MOTION TO AMEND MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND, MR. SOMERVILLE, SINCE YOU MADE THE MOTION, YOU CAN GO FIRST AND THEN FOLLOWED BY MR. GLOVER AND THEN WHOEVER ELSE WANTS TO COMMENT.
WELL, SIMPLY TO SAY THAT, UH, THAT HARRIET TUBMAN IS, HAS A STAMP NAMED AFTER THE, THE BRIDGE THAT THE COMBI RIVER IS NAMED AFTER HER.
SHE HAS A LOT OF THINGS NAMED AFTER, BUT I THINK THE STATUE WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE IN A LOCATION IN BUFORD COUNTY.
SO I'M OBVIOUSLY GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, MR. GLOVER.
UM, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
UM, MY, MY ONLY, NO, IT WAS A, UM, A QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED, UM, TO ME ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND IT ACTUALLY, UH, CENTERED AROUND, UH, ANY DOCUMENT THAT, UM, COULD PROVE THAT HARRIET TUBMAN AND ROBERT SMALLS ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION.
THEY WERE HERE DURING THE SAME TIME AND NO ONE EVER FOUND ANY DOCUMENTATION TO THAT.
UM, THERE IS THE BELIEF THAT, UM, THEY MUST HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF THE TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THE EFFORT THAT SHE WAS DOING, BUT THERE WAS NO WRITTEN DOCUMENT THAT JUSTIFIED, UH, TO INDICATE THAT, UM, SO HAVING THAT STATUE ON BOTH SITES, UH, AT LEAST, UH, WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER, UM, IN, IN APPEARANCE.
AND, UM, THE TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, UH, HAS TAKEN THIS ON, UH, AS AN EFFORT AND I APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, UM, TRYING TO RAISE THE MONEY TO DO THIS, AND THEY'LL JUST OVER $200,000.
AND SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH MR. SOMERVILLE, I WOULD LOVE TO AT LEAST INCREASE THAT TO HALF OF THE COST OF A $5 MILLION PROJECT, WHICH MEANS THAT BEEF COUNTY WOULD HAVE AT LEAST, UH, ATTRIBUTED A HALF THE COST
[01:35:01]
OF THAT.SO IT MISSES SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THEM ARE YOU AMENABLE TO RAISING THAT TO $50,000 MORE? YOU'RE AMENDING SANDMAN.
THE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE BY ANOTHER $50,000.
IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THAT ASPECT OF THE AMENDMENT? SO JUST, JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR ON THIS CHAIRMAN.
SO NOW THEY, THE, UH, THE REQUEST IS NOT NOW GOING TO BE FUNDED AT 250,000.
THAT'S THE FIRST, THAT'S THE AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDMENT.
SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT FIRST.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, IS THERE ANYONE OPPOSED TO RAISING THE AMOUNT FROM 200,000 TO 250,000? I SEE NO OPPOSITION, THEREFORE THE AMENDMENT TO RAISE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO $250,000 IS APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE'RE NOW AT THE AMENDMENT, WHICH WILL NOW BE RAISING THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO 2 MILLION, $399,808.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THEREFORE WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS TO NOW HAVE A FIRST READING OF THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATION TAX TO INCLUDE THE NEW AMOUNT OF $2,399,808.
IS THERE ANYONE WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS BEFORE WE VOTE SEEING NONE? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ONE THING FOR, UH, I THINK COUNSEL UNDERSTANDS THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE THAT MAY BE VIEWING, UH, AND IN ATTENDANCE HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT THE AWARD OF $250,000 TO TABERNACLE BAPTIST REQUIRES FURTHER WORK AND FURTHER DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE STAFF AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE CHURCH, SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT A LEGAL WAY TO DO THAT.
THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST READING.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IN TWO OTHER READINGS.
I IT'S 250,000 FOR THE MONUMENT STATUE PROVIDED THAT WE CAN SATISFY ALL THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THAT MONEY FOR THE PURPOSES.
IT'S OUR OPINION THAT, UM, A TAX PROCREATE STATUTE.
THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES IT GO? UM, WHO DOES IT GO TO? CORRECT.
SO IT'S NOT, THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO THE CHURCH.
THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE PROJECT, RIGHT.
WE NEED TO WORK OUT THE LEGAL DETAILS WITH REGARD TO THE LOCATION AND THE PARTY THAT RECEIVES IT.
[30. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA ("COUNCIL") ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (“EMS”) DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE ("IMPACT FEE") TO BE IMPOSED ON ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY EXCEPT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND; TO ENSURE THAT EMS FACILITIES (EMS STATIONS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES) WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADEQUATE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEED EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY (EXCEPT WITHIN HILTON HEAD ISLAND) BASED ON THE COUNTY’S LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS FOR EMS FACILITIES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN (CIP), AND TO ASSIGN THE COSTS OF SUCH EMS FACILITIES ON A PROPORTIONATE SHARE BASIS TO NEW DEVELOPMENT]
ITEM.NUMBER 30 IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BUFORD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, ESTABLISHING AND ADOPTING AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE TO BE IMPOSED ON ALL NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY, EXCEPT FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, TO ENSURE THAT EMS FACILITIES, STATIONS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN ADEQUATE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEED, EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTY, EXCEPT WITHIN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BASED ON THE COUNTY'S LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS FOR EMS FACILITIES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND ASSIGN THE COST OF SUCH EMS FACILITIES ON A PROPORTIONATE SHARE BASIS TO NEW DEVELOPMENT.
MR. MCKELLAN MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.
MR. RODMAN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
WELL, WAIT A SECOND BECAUSE IT WAS DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
MR. MCKELLEN, DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT? NO.
I WAS LOOKING AT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FEES.
[01:40:01]
AND THEN IT GOES INTO NON-RESIDENTIAL.MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT THE RETAIL SPACE, IS THAT ONLY ONE IT'S BEING BUILT OR ARE THEY GOING TO HIT GET HIT WITH THAT IMPACT FEE? EVERY TIME A NEW BUSINESS GOES INTO A STRIP MALL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? SURE.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO IMPACT FEES ARE ASSESSED WHEN THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT IS MADE, BASED ON THE OCCUPANCIES OF WHATEVER IS IN THAT BUILDING COULD BE MORE THAN ONE FOR A STRIP MALL.
YOU MAY HAVE 10, RIGHT? SO EACH ONE IS ASSESSED BASED ON ITS OCCUPANCY, IF THAT OCCUPANCY CHANGES, AND THERE IS AN IMPACT FEE DELTA THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED THE IMPACT FEE DUE, THEN THEY HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY THERE WAS A SUBWAY IN A SHOP AND THAT OUT AND SOMEBODY DOWN THE STREET DECIDES TO OPEN UP THEIR OWN SANDWICH SHOP IN THAT SAME BUILDING.
IF IT'S POSSIBLE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THAT IMPACT FEE AGAIN.
OR NO, IF IT'S AT THE SAME SPACE.
SANDWICH SHOP FOR SANDWICH SHOP.
THERE'S NO DELTA BETWEEN THE TWO, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE SAME USED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I HAVE ONE, SIR.
I'M GOING TO CONDITIONALLY APPROVE THIS TODAY.
BUT, UH, I RESERVE, UM, MY VOTE AT SECOND READING TO, UH, TO CHANGE BASED ON ACCEPTANCE OF THIS PROPOSAL BY THE MUNICIPALITIES.
THIS IS THE SAME OBJECTS NOW AFTER THE NEXT ITEM AS WELL.
DIDN'T SECONDED WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[31. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 82: IMPACT FEES, ARTICLE I, IN GENERAL; ARTICLE II, DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE PROCEDURES; ARTICLE, III, PARKS, AND RECREATION FACILITIES; ARTICLE V, LIBRARY FACILITIES; ARTICLE VI, FIRE FACILITIES; AND EFFECTIVE DATES]
IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE TEXT BAN AMENDMENT TO THE BUFORD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 82, IMPACT FEES, ARTICLE ONE IN GENERAL TO DEVELOPMENT, IMPACT FEES, ARTICLE THREE, PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES.ARTICLE FIVE, LIBRARY FACILITIES, ARTICLE SIX, FIRE FACILITIES AND EFFECTIVE DATES.
MR. SUMMERVILLE MADE THE MOTION.
MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND AND ANY DISCUSSION BY YOU, MR. SUMMERVILLE.
I ACTUALLY WRITE JUST A GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT IMPACT FEES.
THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT IMPACT FEES, BUT PLEASE TURN ON YOUR MIC.
THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE ABOUT IMPACT FEES OR SOME DEBATE, BUT THE REALITY IS WHETHER IT'S EMS OR WHETHER IT'S SCHOOLS OR WHATEVER IT IS IT'S GOING TO BE, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF SOMETHING IS NEEDED, NEEDS TO BE DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE IMPACT FEES, THAT MEANS THAT THAT PEOPLE IN SIX PERCENTERS ARE GOING TO PAY A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE.
AND THAT INCLUDES SECOND HOMES, BUT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SECOND HOMES AND THEY THINK, OH GOOD, THEN, AND THEN IT WILL BE PAID FOR BY THESE RICH PEOPLE THAT COME DOWN HERE AND HAVE SECOND HOMES.
THERE'S ALSO EVERYBODY IN BUFORD COUNTY THAT LIVES IN AN APARTMENT IS PAYING A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE IF THERE'S NO IMPACT FEE TO PAY FOR IT.
AND IT'S DOUBLY TRUE WITH RESPECT TO SCHOOLS BECAUSE SCHOOLS, SCHOOL FEES, OPERATING FEES DON'T ARE NOT CHARGED ON A PRIMARY HOME.
SO AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IMPACT FEES, REMEMBER IF YOU, IF YOU SAY NO TO IMPACT FEES, YOU WERE SAYING YES TO LET'S RAISE RENTS.
LET'S LET GUYS THE COST OF BUSINESSES AND LET'S RAISE THE COST OF SECOND HOMES.
UH, MR. DAWSON, DID YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENT, MR. ? YES.
I HAVE THE SAME OBJECTION TO THIS.
I WILL MOVE VOTE TO MOVE IT FORWARD, BUT MY VOTE AT SECOND READING IS CONDITIONED UPON ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL BY THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT EVIDENCED BY A VOTE OR AT LEAST, UH, SOMETHING POSITIVE.
AND I HAVE DISAGREED ON THIS BEFORE, SO IT'S NOT AS SURPRISED, BUT, UM, SOME OF WHAT HE'S SAYING I DISAGREE WITH, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH IMPACT FEES.
WE PUT A SCHOOL IMPACT FEE IN THAT NO MUNICIPALITY OF IT THAT I'M AWARE OF HAS SIGNED ONTO YET THAT AGREED TO IT.
UM, AND THEN ACTUALLY DOES HER AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS $16,000 IN BUFORD COUNTY RIGHT NOW, JUST FOR THE IMPACT FEES.
YOU'RE BROUGHT OFF THE BAT AND WE KNOW THAT IT WAS BEING PASSED DOWN TO THE BUYER.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS ITEM 31 IS APPROVED AT FIRST READING IT'S NUMBER
[32. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR APPROVAL OF A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): SECTION 4.1.70 (DRIVE-THOROUGH FACILITIES) TO CLARIFY THE STANDARDS FOR DRIVE-THROUGHS IN TRANSECT ZONES AND TO ADD/AMEND STANDARDS TO MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRIVE-THROUGHS IN BOTH THE TRANSECT AND CONVENTIONAL ZONES.]
32 FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR THE APPROVAL OF[01:45:01]
THE TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE DRIVE THROUGH FACILITIES TO CLARIFY THE STANDARDS FOR DRIVE-THROUGHS IN TRANSECT ZONES AND TO ADD SLASH AMEND STANDARDS TO MANAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRIVE-THROUGHS IN BOTH THE TRANSECT AND CONVENTIONAL ZONES.MR. SOMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS BY THE MAKER OF THE MOTION OR SECOND? JUST ONE COMMENT.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST A QUICK COMMENT.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND ANYBODY WHO READS THE NEWSPAPER KNOWS THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OF LATE ABOUT DRIVE-INS COFFEE SHOPS OR WHATEVER IN A HIGHLY CONGESTED AREAS.
AND THIS GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF A, OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO BE MORE SELECTIVE IN WHO GETS TO DO WHAT, WHERE WITH, WITH DRIVE INS EVERY, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTY WHO HASN'T RUN INTO A BACKED UP SITUATION ON AN ARTERIAL ROAD WITH SOMEBODY WAITING TO GET A CUP OF, OF, UH, CAFFEINE AND SUGAR.
SO, UH, I'M GLAD IT'S HAPPENING.
AND, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S GOING TO GIVE US A REAL OPPORTUNITY.
I I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT LADY'S ISLAND RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE THAT'S WHERE THE GROUND ZERO IS TODAY, BUT TOMORROW'S GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS POSSIBLE? OKAY.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEING NONE? THIS IS NOW APPROVED.
[Items 33, 34, 36, 37,38, & 39]
I WANT TO GET OUT OF HERE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.I'D LIKE TO TAKE ITEMS 33, 4 5 6, 7, 8, AND NINE AS ONE.
I WILL READ THE RESOLUTIONS, HAVE A MOTION IN SECOND AND SEE IF WE COULD DO THEM ALL AT ONCE.
I AM SEEKING APPROVAL FOR A RESOLUTION IN NUMBER 33, TO ACCEPT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLANT GRANT FUNDS FOR THE HILTON HEAD AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,995,069 IN ITEM 30 FOR A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT, UH, THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ARPA-E FUND GRANT FUNDS FOR THE BUFORD EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IN THE AMOUNT OF $32,000.
THE APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZING THE RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO PROVIDE FUNDING, NOT TO EXCEED 25,000 FOR A DESIGN PLANNING, CHARRETTE TO DEVELOP A DESIGN CRITERIA AND DRAWINGS TO ENHANCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LADY'S ISLAND PLAN.
UH, 36 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2022 POUND METAL PRIDE LITTER PREVENTION GRANT AWARD 37 IS THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE 2022 PELL PELL METAL PRIDE KEEP S C BEAUTIFUL AFFILIATES SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM.
38 IS AN APPROVAL OF A RESTAURANT RESOLUTION FOR EMINENT DOMAIN FOR A PORTION OF PARCELS TO INSTALL THE 2018 1 CENT SALES TAX PROJECT, BLUFFTON PARKWAY, PATH, EXTENSION, AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ISLAND FERRY EMOTION FOR THOSE PLEAS.
MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.
SECOND, MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND, IS THERE ANY COMMENTS BY ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL ON ANY ONE OF THOSE? UM, I SEE NO COMMENTS.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE, UM, UH, SECOND PUBLIC CITIZEN COMMENTS.
UH, THIS, THESE WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
SO ITEMS 33, 4 5 6, 7, 8, AND NINE ARE APPROVED.
[40. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
AT CITIZEN COMMENTS.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE WHO, WHICH IS TO MAKE A COMMENT? OKAY.
MS. HOWARD, WOULD YOU READ THE COMMENT? SO IT WILL BE IN THE RECORD MICROPHONE.
THIS IS FROM MR. DENNIS NELSON.
UH, HE SOUTHERN BUFORD COUNTY CORRIDOR BEAUTIFICATION BOARD CHAIR, AND HE SAYS TO MEMBERS OF BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL AS THE NEWLY ELECTED CHAIR OF THE SOUTHERN BUFORD COUNTY CORRIDOR BEAUTIFICATION BOARD, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL COUNTY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE SBCC BB WILL SOON BE DISCONTINUED.
I WISH TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT FROM ALL THE POSITIVE STATEMENTS
[01:50:01]
CONCERNING THE IMPROVEMENTS OF THE VIEWS ALONG HIGHWAY 2 78, I AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS.I BELIEVE THIS IS A HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT FACTOR FOR BUSINESS PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT FOR THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
I DO REMEMBER NOT THAT LONG AGO WHEN THE GRASS WASN'T MOWED VERY OFTEN AND OTHER NOT SO WELCOMING TRASH WAS PRESENT.
I DO REALIZE THE INCREASED COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE AND DOD CHANGES IN PLANT SELECTION.
AND CERTAINLY THESE CHANGES MUST BE, BE CONSIDERED.
HOWEVER, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH FOR SHOWING A PLEASANT WELCOME TO ALL WHO VISIT US.
LASTLY, WHEN HAS THE COUNTY COUNCIL SURVEYED THE COMMUNITY TO GET THEIR EVIDENCE THAT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE SOUTHERN QUARTER IS NOT WORTH SUPPORT BY THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU HAVE THAT DATA, PLEASE SHARE IT SO THAT THIS CHOICE IS MORE THAN A SMALL NUMBER OF COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK MY VIEWS, DR.
DENNIS NELSON, A COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR 40 YEARS.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER ACTION TO COME BEFORE THE COUNTY COUNCIL SEEING NONE? THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.