Apr 04, 2022 Community Services Committee

NUMBER THREE, INDICATES THAT PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED.

UM, ITEM

[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]

AND IN COMPLIANCE, SOUTH CAROLINA, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

I DON'T REMEMBER FOR US APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA BEFORE WE APPROVE THAT END, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA, REMOVE ITEM 17, WHICH IS THE, UM, RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF A MEMBER OF THE BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD UP TO ITEM NUMBER SEVEN AND MOVE ALL OF THE OTHERS IN SEQUENCE.

AFTER THAT, I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT.

I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, TO MOVE ITEM 17, DO ITEM SIX, WHERE YOU READ NUMBER ALL OTHER ITEMS, ITEMS. I'LL SECOND.

THE MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION HEARING NO DISCUSSION.

I WILL MOVE THAT FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTIONS OR ANY OBJECTION FOR MENDING THE AGENDA HEARING NONE.

THAT MOTION IS APPROVED.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.

NOW I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

THANK YOU, ALICE.

THANK YOU, SCOTT ECKERD, SOMERVILLE SCIENCE.

WAIT A MINUTE, MR. PASSMAN, DID YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? I DID.

ALICE SECOND.

DID IT FALL? WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OH, OKAY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION HEARING? NONE WE'LL MOVE THAT, UH, APPROVAL FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.

THAT MOTION IS APPROVED AND THE AGENDA IS AMENDED.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 7, 2022]

MARCH 7TH.

I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT, PLEASE.

SO MOVED.

ARE YOU A SECOND? I WILL.

SECOND THE MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION HEARING? NONE.

WE'LL MOVE THAT FORWARD FOR APPROVAL WITHOUT OBJECTION.

HEARING NO OBJECTIONS.

THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM MARCH SEVEN, UH, HAS BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM NUMBER SIX IS CITIZEN PERMIT STIR.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ONLINE OR IN THE AUDIENCE? NO ONE PRESENT.

NUMBER SEVEN RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF DR.

THEN WE WILL CLOSE OUT.

ITEM NUMBER SIX, ITEM

[17. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF DR. WILLIAM JESSEE, OR JERRY ESTENSON, PHD. TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD]

WILLIAM JESSIE OR DR.

JERRY ESTENSON THE BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD.

I'LL CLARIFY AND SAY, TALK TO JESSE IS A MEDICAL DOCTOR AND DR.

ESSELSTYN IS A PHD WITH A CAREER IN CORPORATE AND ACADEMIC ENDEAVORS.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF ONE OF THOSE MS. NOMINEES? I LIKED THE MOTION THAT THE WILLIAMS, DR.

WILLIAM F JESSE BE NOMINATED AS A MEMBER OF THE DIEFER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD.

I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD.

THANK YOU, MR. SOMMERVILLE.

UM, I'LL OPEN THIS UP TO DISCUSSION.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL? LASTLY, JESSE, TO JOIN THE BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HERE, NO DISCUSSION MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO, UH, TELL OUR AUDIENCE, UM, WHO DR.

JESSE IS AND WHY THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.

SURE, DR.

JESSE IS A HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED PHYSICIAN.

HE'S ALSO BEEN AN EXPERT ON HOSPITAL BOARDS.

HE GOT HIS TRAINING AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN DIEGO.

HE'S DONE, HE'S DONE, HE'S DONE WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA AND HE SITS ON MANY BOARDS AND PERMISSIONS, AND HE'S ANNOUNCED STANDING CANADA FOR THE MEMORIAL HALL BOARD.

HOSPITAL BOARD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS IN REGARD TO YOU? DR.

JESSE? OKAY.

HEARING NONE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE ON RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF DR.

JESSE TO THE VIEW FROM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HOARD.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO OBJECTS THAT NOMINATION HEARING? NO OBJECTIONS, DR.

JESSIE'S NAME, WHERE WE FORWARD IT TO FULL COUNCIL.

WERE THERE CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL TO JOIN THE BUFORD MEMORIAL

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU, MR. SOMERVILLE.

UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A, UH,

[7. HUMAN SERVICES OUTREACH SPECIALIST INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION]

INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION, INTRODUCTION OF HUMAN SERVICES, OUTREACH SPECIALIST, AND A PRESENTATION BY THAT PERSON.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE HANDLING THAT? YES, SIR.

GO RIGHT AHEAD.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE.

I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS HIRED THE OUTREACH COORDINATOR.

UM, ANNA RAMIREZ, I THINK ACTUALLY THIS IS HER SECOND WEEK WITH THE COUNTY.

SO WELCOME.

ANNA HAS A WEALTH OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND BUFORD COUNTY.

AND I HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH A MINOR IN SPANISH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS HER MASTER'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK AND THE COMING MONTHS, AND WILL RECEIVE AN ORIENTATION TO THE DEPARTMENT'S INITIATIVES AND WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE ONGOING EFFORTS COMMUNITY-WIDE TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.

AND WHAT I HAVE DONE IS I HAVE ASKED BEN TO DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON A MORE DETAILED ROLE OF ANNA'S POSITION.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE ANNA ON BOARD WITH US, UM, AS I'M SURE MANY OF, YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE MANY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO ALSO KNOW THE MANY HUNDREDS OF HOURS WE'VE SPENT OVER THE YEARS, DISCUSSING ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE ANNA ON BOARD, UM, TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN REALLY DEDICATE THEMSELVES 40 HOURS A WEEK TO, UH, BECOMING A SPECIALIST IN ALL ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS, UM, AND TO DEVELOP A REALLY DEEP UNDERSTANDING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND THE REGION AND THE STATE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US SAID POWERPOINT PLEASE.

BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO, UM, SINCE WE POSTED THIS POSITION, UH, ALMOST A YEAR AGO, UH, AS WE WERE ADMITTED COVID, AND IT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SAME CHALLENGES EVERYBODY ELSE HAS IDENTIFYING FOLKS, UM, WANTING TO RETOUCH, UH, TOUCH BASE WITH YOU GUYS AGAIN ON WHAT THOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE.

UM, DO I HAVE A CLICKER? ARE YOU GUYS OKAY? THANK YOU.

SO, UM, THERE WOULD BE FOUR PRIMARY ROLES FOR THIS POSITION.

UH, INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICES IS TO BE PROVIDED BOTH, UM, INTERNALLY TO OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, UM, COLLEAGUES, UM, MEMBERS OF THE NONPROFIT COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT CALL INTO OUR OFFICE, EITHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ADVOCATES ON BEHALF OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS OR, OR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

UM, SHE WILL BE INTERACTING ONE-ON-ONE WITH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY, UH, OR OTHERWISE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY TO TRY TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS.

UH, SHE'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING THE, UH, US HUD HOMELESS LISTS, UH, HOMELESSNESS HUGHES, ME MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM TO HMES.

UM, THIS IS A SYSTEM THROUGH, UH, THE U S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BY WHICH WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRACK DATA.

UM, AND THAT WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE FEDS IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT HOMELESSNESS LOOKS LIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT THOSE TRENDS, UH, LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF DRESSING IT.

AND THEN LASTLY, DEVELOPING THOSE COUNTYWIDE AND COMMUNITY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AND THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AS WELL AS REHOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFORMATION REFERRAL.

UH, OUR VISION IS THAT SHE WILL BECOME A COORDINATED ENTRY POINT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, WE SAY COORDINATED ENTRY IN THE SENSE THAT WE WANT ALL PEOPLE, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY TO CALL OUR DEPARTMENT, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HELP COORDINATE, UM, INTERVENTIONS RESPONSES OR MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS.

THIS LETS US COLLECT BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, WILL HELP US DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE OF, UH, THE HOMELESSNESS OR THE EPISODE OF HOMELESSNESS.

UM, AND THEN WILL LET US GENERATE REFERRALS AS NECESSARY, UM, MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THAT INDIVIDUAL ON THE RIGHT TRACK SINCE DEPENDING ON WHATEVER THAT ROOT CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS IS, WILL, UH, INFLUENCE THE APPROPRIATE TRACK FOR THEM TO ACHIEVE STABILITY FROM THEIR ENGAGEMENT.

UM, SHE'LL BE WORKING WITH A LOT OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS, AS WELL AS, UM, UH, MUNICIPAL AND STATE PARTNERS, UM, ASSESSING THOSE ROOT CAUSES, IDENTIFYING NEEDS AND PERSONAL GOALS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UM, AND THEN PRIORITIZING THOSE INTERVENTIONS BECAUSE DEPENDING ON, UH, WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE, UM, WILL DEPEND ON, UH, HOW QUICKLY WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT.

UM, HOW WILL WE ADDRESSED AND SO ON AS WELL AS PROVIDING A WARM HAND OFF TO PARTNERS.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO JUST SAY, GO GIVE A CALL OVER TO SO-AND-SO AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ANNA SAYS, HEY, LET ME GO AND TALK WITH, UH, THIS PARTNER WITH YOU.

WE'LL WALK OVER THERE, WE'LL GO, UH, INTRODUCE EACH

[00:10:01]

OTHER.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME SOLUTIONS TO MOVE YOU ON TO THE NETWORK, UM, DATA COLLECTION.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT, UH, CONSISTENT COUNTY-WIDE DATA.

UM, WE WANT TO LEVERAGE THOSE EXISTING RESOURCES.

WE HAVE SUCH AS TREE TRACKER AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE, UM, AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTING THAT HMI SYSTEM WE TALKED ABOUT, AND THIS WILL HELP US REALLY, UH, GET A TAMP DOWN ON ALL THE DIFFERENT, UH, TRENDS, ROOT CAUSES, UM, FIGURE OUT, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE WE SAYING A PREVALENCE OF ONE SCENARIO OR ANOTHER, OR IS IT MENTAL HEALTH? IS IT ADDICTION? ARE THERE OTHER ISSUES GOING ON? AND THEN, UH, ULTIMATELY IDENTIFY RECOMMENDATIONS AND SOLUTIONS.

UH, WE WANT OUR RESEARCH, COMPARABLE COMMUNITIES FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, IDENTIFY GAPS, OUR LOCAL SERVICE ARRAY, FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MISSING.

UM, OF COURSE THE COORDINATE WITH OUR MUNICIPAL PARTNERS.

AND, UH, WE WANT TO REALLY IMPLEMENT A HIGH TOUCH APPROACH WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH FOLKS ONE-ON-ONE, UM, BUT ALSO LEVERAGING OUR EXISTING NETWORKS AND OTHER SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE BEST SUPPORT POSSIBLE.

SO ULTIMATELY, UM, YOU KNOW, HER ROLE IS GOING TO BE TO ADDRESS NEEDS, BUILD CAPACITY, COORDINATE INTERVENTION, DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ESTABLISHED PROTOCOLS.

AND IF THINGS GO AS WE PLAN WITHIN A FIVE OR SO YEARS, WE'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE WHAT WE'LL CALL FUNCTIONAL ZERO, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ENTERING HOMELESSNESS AND EXITING HOMELESSNESS AT ROUGHLY THE SAME RATE, WHICH MEANS WE CAN PROCESS PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND HOPEFULLY ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS IMMEDIATELY AND GET THEM BACK INTO HOUSING.

EXCELLENT.

YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.

I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, THE HEAD SYSTEM.

YES.

IS IT CONNECTED WHERE PEOPLE FROM OTHER MUNICIPAL, OTHER LIKE SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON, ARE THEY USING THAT SYSTEM TOO? I MEAN, IS THERE AN, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, THIS IS A 1981, THEY SAID, OH, WE JUST SHIPPED OUR HOMELESS OFF TO SAVANNAH.

THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THAT'S, BUT I MEAN, ISN'T THAT HOW IT IS THAT INTERCONNECT COMMUNITY.

IT IS A FEDERALIST SYSTEM.

SO I PRESUME THAT IT IS, I HAVEN'T USED IT SPECIFICALLY MYSELF.

UM, BUT, UH, THE GOAL, I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIG, BIG GOALS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE FOLKS COMING FROM, WHERE ARE THEY MOVING TO? CAUSE THIS IS A TRANSIENT POPULATION.

UM, THEY DON'T ALL EXIST IN BEAVER COUNTY ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.

UM, SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE DO WANT TO ADDRESS.

AND IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY FLOAT BETWEEN SAVANNAH HERE, CHARLESTON, OTHER COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, IF IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT FUNCTIONALITY, I WOULD PROBABLY WORK WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THIS.

AND IN 40 HOURS SHE'S GOT A HUGE JOB.

WELL, I MEAN, THERE IS NO MS. WE UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF WHAT THIS IS GOING TO TAKE.

UM, BUT WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT.

THIS IS GOING TO BEAR FRUIT.

CAPACITY, HOPE YOU HAVE PART OF YOUR GOAL IS TO LOOK AT, UM, SOME TYPE OF, UM, SHELTER OR SOME SORT HERE, UH, AND WORKING WITH PARTICULARLY THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.

EXCELLENT.

AND FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE.

OR WE MOVE ON IN THE AUDIENCE OR WATCHING ON TELEVISION AND THIS YEAR I DON'T LET ME, UH, LET ME EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO YOU.

YOU'LL BE JOINING YOUR DEDICATED, TALENTED AND FOCUSED GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND IT'S A TEAM THAT WE HIDE.

WE HOLD IN VERY HIGH ESTEEM, SO WE'RE HAPPY THAT YOU'RE JOINING THEM AND WE WILL STAND BY AND SEE THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU DO AS YOU JOIN THIS TERRIFIC TEAM.

SO WELCOME TO, UH, EMPLOYMENT, THE BUFORD COUNTY.

JIM, COULD I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION? SURE.

I THANK YOU.

UM, YOU TALK ABOUT BUILDING CAPACITY.

CAN YOU EXPOUND ON THAT A LITTLE? UM, YOU SAID YOU'RE GOING TO GET, SO A LOT OF OUR AGENCIES RIGHT NOW, EVERYBODY WHO IS ALREADY DEALING WITH ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, UM, ON SOME LEVEL, UM, IN SOME FASHION, UM, BUT IT IS A VERY OVERWHELMING ISSUE AND BE A PARENT SOLUTION, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS HOUSING, UM, IS SIMPLY NOT ON THE TABLE.

UM, THERE ARE, UH, YES, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ON THE TABLE.

UM, THERE ARE SHELTERS, YOU KNOW, SAVANNAH CHARLESTON, BOTH OUR SHELTERS, THEY'RE ALWAYS FULL GIRLS ON WAITING LINES.

SO IT'S, IT'S, UM, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO HOUSING.

SO IN TERMS OF BUILDING CAPACITY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR AGENCIES ALSO ARE EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

UM, BUT WE'RE HOPING, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THIS IS PROBABLY MORE IMMEDIATE ANSWER THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS AS HELPING THEM BE MORE EFFICIENT, EFFICIENT, AND EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING ISSUES WITH HOMELESSNESS, IDENTIFYING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UH, FUNDING AND FOR RESOURCES TO HELP FOLKS.

I DO HAVE THE SAME CONCERN THAT MS. HOWELL HAD HAS, UM, UM, THAT WE HAVE A TENDENCY OF SHIPPING PEOPLE OUT.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE SOLUTION.

SO AS YOU BUILD

[00:15:01]

UM, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE MOST SEVERE RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND IF YOU CAN FIND SOLUTION, THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE AND WE JUST WANT THEM TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE, UM, AS YOU BUILD CAPACITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, AND THIS MAY BE, UM, WISHFUL THINKING, BUT I'M HOPING THAT AS WE WORK ON OUR DATA COLLECTION METHODS, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME MORE, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE FEDS AND SAY, UM, GUYS WE HAVE IN THE HMI IN SYSTEM, WE'VE RECORDED.

CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.

CAN WE ASK FOR MORE FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY? UM, CAUSE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUNDING DOES COME DOWN, BUT, BUT THE LION'S SHARE GOES TO CHARLESTON.

UM, CHARLESTON HAS 180 PLAYS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER RESOURCES UP THERE.

UM, AND SO YOU GOTTA GOTTA GET LIKE A CATCH 22 WHERE THEY HAVE THE SHELTER.

SO, AND THIS IS WHERE THE, THE SHIPPING PART COMES IN.

THEY HAVE THE SHELTER.

SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING PEOPLE UP THERE WHERE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SHELTERED.

BUT NOW THAT PERSON IS IN CHARLESTON'S FOOTPRINT, WHICH MEANS THEY RECORD THEM.

THEY GET FUNDED FOR THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S WHY THE DATA PIECE IS SO IMPORTANT.

IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE TRACK THOSE TRACK, THOSE TRENDS, FIGURE OUT WHERE FOLKS ARE COMING FROM THAT MAY GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRAW SOME MORE FUNDS DOWN TO OUR COMMUNITY TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

ABSOLUTELY.

MAKE SURE YOU KILLED THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE THE SPECTRUM.

NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE INTRODUCTION VINCI SALLY, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AUDRA.

AND WELCOME AGAIN, ANNA.

AND

[8. INTRODUCTION OF ANGIE SALLEY – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (CECMHC)]

STIGMA PREVENTION AND PROMOTING AWARENESS WITHIN ALL OF HER ATTACHMENT AREAS, ALL OF WHICH IS NECESSARY TO LINK PATIENTS TO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT WHILE THEY RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INTRODUCE ANDY SALLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COASTAL EMPIRE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, MRS. SALLY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN WALTERBORO, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SHE IS MARRIED TO FRANKIE, SALLY, AND THEY ARE PROUD PARENTS OF TWO SONS, NICHOLAS AND CHRISTOPHER, MRS. SALLY EARNED HER UNDERGRADUATE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND A MASTER'S IN REHABILITATION COUNSELING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY.

HER WORK HISTORY INCLUDES EMPLOYMENT WITH THE CHARLESTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS A DETENTION OFFICER AND A WEALTH OF TRAINING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY AND CHARLESTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

SHE HAS ALSO WORKED AS A SERVICE COORDINATOR FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE EMOTIONAL DISORDERS WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DIVISION OF CONTINUUM OF CARE.

IN THAT ROLE, SHE WORKED IN BUFORD COUNTY, WHICH ALLOWED HER TO BUILD MANY COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS MANY YEARS AGO.

MRS. SALLY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO DEVELOPING NEW AND REBUILDING SOME OLD PARTNERSHIPS IN HER CURRENT ROLE.

THIS IS SALLY HAS ESTABLISHED CAREER OVER 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

MRS. SALLY HAS ESTABLISHED CAREER WITH OVER 28 YEARS OF SERVICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND IN THOSE YEARS SHE HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SINCE JANUARY OF 2001, HER FIRST POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S DIVISION WAS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH WITH THE COASTAL EMPIRE AND WALTERBORO.

INITIALLY SHE WAS A FRONTLINE CLINICIAN SLASH MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROVIDING DIRECT THERAPY AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

THEN IN MAY OF 2006, SHE WAS PROMOTED TO THE ROLE OF CLINIC DIRECTOR AND THAT POSITION MRS. SALLY SUPERVISED BOTH ADULT AND CHILD, CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND ADOLESCENT STAFF PROVIDED CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND OVERSIGHT OF OPERATIONS OF THE OUTPATIENT CLINIC AND A VERY ACTIVE OFFSITE PSYCHO SOCIAL REHABILITATION DAY PROGRAM.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDED OVERSIGHT OF RESOURCES, ENSURING THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO ALL PATIENTS SERVED AND COORDINATING WITH THE CENTERS, TREATMENT TEAM AND CENTER WIDE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

IN 2000 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2001, SHE TRANSITIONED INTO HER ROLE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR COASTAL EMPIRE.

AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE SOUND OPERATIONS AND OVERSIGHT OF THE CENTER FROM FIVE COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THOSE COUNTIES INCLUDE ALLENDALE, BUFORD, COLLAGEN, HAMPTON, AND JASPER.

SHE IS VERY PRIVILEGED TO SERVE OUR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS ALL THE GREAT COMMUNITIES WE REPRESENT IN THE COASTAL EMPIRE.

THIS IS SALLY'S VISION ALIGNS WITH COASTAL'S MISSION TO FULLY SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

SHE IS COMMITTED TO RECRUITING AND MAINTAINING AN ACCOUNTABLE PROFESSIONAL, COMPETENT AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

SHE HAS MADE A PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING STRONG COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH A FOCUS ON INCREASING ACCESS TO CARE, DECREASING

[00:20:01]

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. SALLY TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK.

THANK YOU, AUDRA.

I DON'T THINK, UM, AND THAT INTRODUCTION, THERE MIGHT BE MUCH MORE FOR ME TO SAY, BUT GOOD AFTERNOON TO ALL OF YOU AND TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU, MS. AUGER FOR THE INVITATION.

I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG BIO.

UM, IT WAS PROVIDED FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

AND SO I ASKED MS. AUDREY, PLEASE, UM, CURTAIL IT TO WHAT SHE NEEDED, BUT AGAIN, I THANK YOU.

SO, UM, I'M ANGIE SALLY, I'M THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.

UM, AND I AM AGAIN AND VERY PRIVILEGED TO SERVE NOT JUST BUFORD COUNTY, BUT THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OUR CATCHMENT AREA.

UM, I AM MAKING IT A HIGH PRIORITY OR IT IS A HIGH PRIORITY TO, UH, BE MORE INVOLVED AND TO HAVE OUR CENTER MORE INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY TO WORK TOWARDS, UH, EXPLORING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE ARE ANSWERING TO THOSE NEEDS.

WE HAVE A BIG FOCUS RIGHT NOW ON COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, OUTSIDE OF JUST WHAT WE DO IN THE CLINIC, WHICH ARE OUR NORMAL CLINIC BASE, UM, SERVICES, WHICH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW, COASTAL EMPIRE IS AN EXTENSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

WE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.

AND SO WE PROVIDE, UM, REHABILITATIVE SERVICES TO THOSE.

UM, WE GIVE PRIORITY TO THE SEVERELY OR THOSE IMPACTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS THAT MAY BE MORE PERSISTENT.

UM, AND WE ALSO FOCUS ON A LOT OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT WE NOW HAVE THE OFFER, UM, THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE DID NOT HAVE IN THE PAST, SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SERVICES, UM, WHICH HELPS OUR PATIENTS TO BE ABLE TO FIND, OR TO PREPARE THEM TO BE WORK READY AND ALSO CONNECT THEM WITH VOCATIONS AND CAREERS OF THEIR CHOICE.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR MOBILE CRISIS PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING, OR I WOULDN'T SAY REDEVELOPING, IT WAS COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE INTERVENTION.

AND NOW WE MOVED TO MOBILE CRISIS, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY DIFFERENT OUR SCHOOL, MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, CARE COORDINATION, WHICH LINKS PATIENTS TO RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, JUST AS A FEW AND ALSO LIKE A PEER SUPPORT SERVICES.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, IS, IS REALLY A HIGH PRIORITY, AS I SAID IN THE COMMITMENT IS TO RESTORE, UM, SOMETHING THAT I DO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO ADD IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND IT IS TO, UM, GET US BACK TO DOING THE BUSINESS OF, OF HAND OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY, TO OPEN DOORS, FOR ACCESS, FOR TREATMENT, TO BE INVOLVED AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHEN WE HAVE REQUESTS TO PROVIDE IN-SERVICES OR ANY TYPE OF EDUCATION THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UH, TO WORK TOWARDS PREVENTION, UM, BEING A PART OF ANY COALITIONS AND COMMUNITY, UM, PROCESSES THAT WE CAN HAVE ALREADY STARTED, UM, WORKING WITH, UM, BOTH PHIL FOOT AND FRED LIGHT UP MEETING WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT SOME OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY HAVE KIND OF RANT THAT'S SITTING BACK THERE.

AND SO WANTING TO DO A LOT MORE OF THAT, UM, AND HAVING OUR TEAM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT WE ARE RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY HERE.

ANY QUESTIONS, SALLY, COULD I ASK A QUICK QUESTION ON YOUR ESTIMATE OR DO YOU WORK WITH ADULTS AND THE YOUTH? YES, WE DO.

YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE, UM, IN BUFORD COUNTY, IN PARTICULAR ON THE, UM, NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN BOTH THOSE CATEGORIES MAY NEED YOUR ATTENTION SO DISTURBING, BUT THE TOTAL POOL THAT MAY NEED YOUR ATTENTION.

SO CURRENTLY COASTAL IS SERVING OVER 2200 PATIENTS AND OF THOSE 2200, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 11, I WOULD WANT TO SAY 1100 WAS THE LAST COUNT THAT I HAD THAT'S BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT IS A VERY LOW NUMBER FOR US.

UM, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH STAFFING, OUR SCHOOL, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY IS NOT WHERE WE WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE.

UM, I JUST HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DR.

WHITE FROM BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, IN, IN OUR PLANS TO MEET, TO TALK ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF SCHOOL, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, ON OUR BEHALF, OR TO SERVE THE COUNTY PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH STAFFING.

WE'RE NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ANY DIFFERENT FOR US THAN IT HAS BEEN FOR ANYONE ELSE, AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

[00:25:01]

OF STAFF.

UM, QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE PRETTY UNDERSTAFFED RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE ABOUT, I HAVE 78 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND FOR US TO BE FULL STAFF, REALLY, WE SHOULD BE AT AT LEAST 120.

AND SO THAT IMPACTS, UM, SERVICES AND SERVICE PROVISION.

BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS A RESULT OF COVID, UM, IN THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SERVE ACROSS COUNTY LINES VIA TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

AND SO THAT DOES ASSIST, UH, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT WILL OPEN CASES AND PROVIDE THERAPY SERVICES TO PATIENTS IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND THIS HAS BEEN WHERE WE'VE HAD MORE OF A REQUEST TO DO THAT FOR OUR BUFORD COUNTY ADULT SERVICES AND FOR SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

HOW MANY COUNTIES DO YOU COVER? FIVE ALLENDALE BUFORD COLLEGE IN HAMPTON AND JASPER.

UH, DO YOU HAVE ACTUAL PHYSICAL FACILITIES IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES? YES, WE DO.

WE HAVE OUR MAIN CENTER, WHICH IS AT 10 50 REBOUGHT RULED.

OKAY, THANKS.

UH, I'LL OPEN IT UP OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR ITEMS WORTH DISCUSSION FROM ANYONE ONLINE OR IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS? THIS IS A QUICK ONE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, MS. SALLY, UM, YOU, YOU, YOU, SHORT-STAFFED YOU SAY THAT THIS TIME, BUT THE BUDGET IS DUE TO SUPPORT THE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING.

YES.

WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE BUT CURRENTLY FURTHER.

AND THAT IS WITHHOLDING BECAUSE WHEN THOSE 120 POSITIONS THAT STILL WOULD NOT REALLY PUT US AT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF, WE NEED TELLS ME GLOVER, IT REALLY WOULD NOT.

UM, AND SO THE BUDGET IS THERE BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONLY STATE AGENCY.

UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW THIS, THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING ABOUT 50% OF OUR REVENUE FROM THE BILLING THAT WE DO.

SO THE LESS STAFF YOU HAVE, THE LESS REVENUE IS COMING IN THE HOPES WITH REPLACING THOSE PHYSICIANS THAT ARE PROVIDING SERVICES, THEN THAT WOULD INCREASE REVENUE.

AND SO WE HAVE A FORMULA THAT HELPS OUR STAFF TO SEE BASED ON WHAT THEY DO AS FAR AS PROVIDING NEEDED RECOVERY ORIENTED SERVICES.

THAT, THAT PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY'RE, THERE'S A PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY DO THAT SUPPORTS THEIR POSITION, UM, AS IT DOES OTHER POSITIONS THAT MIGHT BE IN MORE OF A SUPPORT ROLE FOR THE CENTER THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE.

AND SO THE 120 STILL WOULDN'T GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

SO I PROBABLY WOULD CHANGE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION AND SAY, NO, WE HAVE NOT.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS TOO.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COLLABORATION WITH HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE CENTERS, ET CETERA.

UH, AS YOU WERE BUILDING YOUR CAPACITY.

UM, OTHER, UH, HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, HOSPITALS, OUTPATIENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, DSS, PROBATE, UH, DJJ.

WE, WE'VE TRIED TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH EVERY AGENCY, EVERY SERVICE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE OPERATING BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, UM, THE LIVES OF OUR PATIENTS ARE TOUCHED BY A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN, IN DEVELOPING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR PATIENTS.

WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DO HAVE A MENTAL PERSON, UH, ARE YOU THE CONTACT PERSON AGENCY FOR THAT? OR HOW IS THAT? WE ARE MOST OF THE TIME, OF COURSE THERE ARE PRIVATE PROVIDERS THAT ARE IN, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE ED STANDPOINT, FROM EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, IF THEY ARE ENCOUNTERING SOMEONE WHO IS IMPACTED BY OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS, UM, DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, UM, AS FAR AS FINDING A BED OR FINDING RESOURCES OR MAKING A REFERRAL, MOST OF THE TIME, THOSE DO COME TO COASTAL EMPIRE.

SADLY, WE ARE, UH, STARTING RANDOM PANICS INITIATIVE TO FOCUS MORE ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

AND AS WE MOVE INTO A MORE ADVANCED STAGE OF THAT INITIATIVE, UH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH YOU FURTHER ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY TO, UH, TO TELL US WHAT YOU DO.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

AND I EXPECT THAT WE, I HOPE, UM, I'M SURE WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF YOU IN THE FUTURE.

UH, NEXT I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PATRICK HILL FORWARD FROM THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO GIVE US A BRIEFING ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND YOU WILL THANK YOU ALL.

[9. UPDATE FROM ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PATRICK HILL, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & COMMUNICATIONS]

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING AFTER.

[00:30:01]

AWESOME.

MY NAME IS PATRICK HILL AND I'M THE ACA FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS AND IT DIVISION.

UH, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON WITHIN THE DIVISION.

UM, FIRST OFF, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS WE RECEIVED THE RESULTS FROM OUR 2021 NATIONWIDE CYBER SECURITY REVIEW.

AND THIS IS A KIND OF A LENGTHY QUESTIONNAIRE THAT'S SENT OUT BY HOMELAND SECURITY THAT CAN KIND OF GAUGE OUR OVERALL CYBER MATURITY.

UM, AND WHEN WE COMPARE IT TO OTHER COUNTIES AND TO OTHER PEER ORGANIZATIONS, WE WERE ABOVE AVERAGE.

UM, ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WAS IDENTIFIED WHERE WE WERE, THE WEAKEST WAS IN HOW OUR USERS THAT INDICATE TO THE NETWORK.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IS CHANGING OUR AUTHENTICATION METHOD.

UM, AND THIS WAS ALSO ECHOED, UM, PRETTY STRONGLY DURING THE, UH, THE FIRST ANNUAL SOUTH COAST CYBER SECURITY CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS LAST MONTH.

THEY ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT UPGRADING THE WAY WE AUTHENTICATE, UH, REALLY ALL ACROSS THE NATION.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT.

AND, UH, WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO YOU ALL INTO TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STUFF.

UM, AS TIME GOES ON, AS WE IMPLEMENT THIS SYSTEM AND, UM, SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED, MEANING THIS ARE HERE TODAY, AND THESE ARE SOME NEW FACES, UH, IN THE IT DEPARTMENT THAT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE TO YOU BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY COMES UP AND ASKS YOU, CAN I BORROW YOUR CELL PHONE SO I CAN UPDATE IT, OR CAN I BORROW YOUR SO I CAN UPGRADE IT.

YOU SHOULD AT LEAST KNOW WHO THEY ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT A MALICIOUS ACTOR.

SO, UM, I GOT THREE ROOMS CLOSE HERE THAT YOU MAY SEE, YOU GUYS WANT TO COME UP HERE REAL QUICK.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE IVAN, LEON, HE'S A EXTERNAL CANDIDATE FROM, UH, GE ELECTRIC.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE TARA GRANT.

SHE IS AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE, A NEW HIRE FROM VOTER REGISTRATION, AND WE HAVE TINA RIGHT ALLEN FROM ZELIE.

SO YOU MAY SEE THESE, THESE SPACES, UH, CONTACTING YOU ABOUT UPGRADING YOUR CELL PHONE, UPGRADE OF YOUR LAPTOP AND, UH, UH, AS WELL.

SO THEY'RE FRIENDLY SO, WELL, LET ME EXTEND A WELCOME, UH, TO YOU ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE STAFF.

THEY ARE HAPPY WE ARE THAT YOU HERE.

AND LET ME ALSO SAY, WE NEED YOU SO PATRICK, DOWN TO WORK AS SOON AS YOU CAN, BECAUSE WE NEED THEM TO BRING US UP TO SPEED IN OUR TECHNOLOGY.

SO, UH, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY IT ISN'T, BUT I'M SURE THEY CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANKS ABOUT ALSO, UM, WE HAVE MICHIGAN, YOU COME UP REAL QUICK FOR A SECOND.

UM, HE HAS BEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR QUITE A WHILE.

I'M SURE MANY OF YOU RECOGNIZE HER FOR, PROBABLY FOR ABOUT THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

SHE'S BEEN OUR IT PROJECT MANAGER.

UM, SHE HAS A PMP CERTIFICATION.

SHE HAS ADVANCED DEGREES AS WELL.

AND, UM, SO SHE IS ASSIGNED TO HELP US OUT BY ACTING AS THE INTERIM INTERIM DIRECTOR UNTIL WE CAN PERMANENTLY FILL THE POSITION.

SO YOU MAY BE GETTING SOME EMAILS OR SOME CORRESPONDENCE FROM HER AS WELL AS SHE'S TAKES ON THIS NEW ROLE TO KIND OF HELP US OUT AND KEEP THE SHIP GOING FORWARD.

RIGHT.

EDUCATION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND EVERYWHERE.

UM, REAL QUICK, JUST, UH, JUST A FEW MORE THINGS.

UM, THE MAPPING AND APPLICATIONS TEAM HAVE COMPLETED THEIR NEW CITIZENS TRANSPARENCY PORTAL, UM, AND, UH, WE HOPE TO BRING THAT LIVE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE A FOYA PORTAL THAT'S IN PRODUCTION, UM, AND WE SHOULD, EXCUSE ME, THAT'S BEING, BEING ROLLED OUT.

UH, SO WE HOPE WE CAN HAVE THAT DONE BY THE END OF THE MONTH BECAUSE WE WANT TO ROLL OUT THOSE TWO ITEMS TOGETHER BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT NEW STORY PER OUR PIO AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR.

UM, IN ADDITION, UH, THE MAPPING AND APPLICATIONS DEPARTMENT, UM, THEY'VE UPGRADED THE, THE BC CONNECT MOBILE APP.

UM, THEY'VE ALSO CREATED A LITTER CONTROL APP AS, OR EXCUSE ME, A LITTER CONTROL TICKETING APP.

AND THEY'VE ALSO CREATED A ANIMAL SERVICES, MOBILE TICKETING APP.

UM, SO THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME GREAT THINGS, UH, WITH SOME CODE ON THE BACK END.

UH, THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IS CONTINUING TO ROLL OUT A GAS STATION TV WITH NEW CONTENT.

UM, CURRENTLY IT'S RUNNING, UM, THE LIBRARY SUMMER BOOKMARK CONTEST.

IT'S ALSO RUNNING A FREE TAX HELP, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT SOME OF THE LIBRARIES.

IT'S ALSO RUNNING LIVE WORK AND PLATE B FOR COUNTY AND BUSINESS LICENSE, RENEWAL INFORMATION.

SO GAS STATION TV HITS ABOUT 200,000 VIEWS PER MONTH.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY COST-EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF VIEWS.

IF WE WERE TO PUT IT ON A TELEVISION STATION WOULD PROBABLY COST ABOUT 75% MORE.

UM, THEY'VE ALSO HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP THAT'S GOING ON WITH, UH, W HHI AND 8 43 TV.

SO THE NEW 8 4, 3 TV THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT IS THE PARKS AND REC FOCUS.

UH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ALSO ON SKEETO CONTROL

[00:35:01]

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE, UM, 10 MINUTE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT ON 8, 4, 3 TV.

FINALLY, WE HAVE, UM, BROADCASTING THEY'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON UPGRADING HARDWARE.

THEY'VE RECENTLY UPGRADED THEIR CAMERAS.

UM, THEY REPLACE THEM TEN-YEAR-OLD CAMERAS, SO WE SHOULD HAVE SOME BETTER QUALITY BROADCASTS, UM, FOR WHEN THEY GO OUT INTO THE FIELD.

UM, THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON A SPOT THAT IS GOING TO GO THAT IS GOING TO PLAY, UH, DURING THE HERITAGE GOLF, UM, TOURNAMENT.

AND THEY'VE ALSO, UM, KIND OF REVAMPED ON AIR SCHEDULE SO THEY CAN, THEY CAN SHOW MORE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES, UH, BROADCAST AND DO SOME MORE WORK WITH THEM.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY IT IN A NUTSHELL, UM, I HAVE ALL THE, ALL THE SUPERHEROES ON THE LINE AND FIND THIS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING WE'RE DOING ABOUT ANYTHING I MENTIONED.

HMM.

SO GOING TO BE A TWO-STEP PROCEDURE FOR AUTHENTICATION.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

AND OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU PUT YOUR INFORMATION IN, AND THEN THEY SEND IT TO YOUR CELL PHONE WITH A CODE THAT YOU PUT BACK IN, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU GET IN.

YES.

AND, UH, AND IT HELPS.

IT REALLY DOES.

UM, UM, THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CYBER THREATS, YOU KNOW, UM, GOING KIND OF OFF SCRIPT HERE FOR A SECOND.

THE, UH, WE HAD SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

WE HAD A, UH, UH, AN EMAIL WENT OUT TO TWO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTY AND IT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC, VERY MALICIOUS EMAIL AND OUR SYSTEMS CAUGHT IT, RIGHT.

WE CAUGHT IT AND, UH, WE ANALYZED, IT REALIZED IT WAS BAD AND IT DIDN'T LET IT PASS.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT THE REASON I EXAMINED THIS ONE, BECAUSE IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

UH, NORMALLY WHEN WE SEE MALICIOUS EMAILS, THEY GET SPREAD OUT TO THE ENTIRE DOMAIN OR TO A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT THIS ONE JUST WENT TO TWO AND IT WENT TO CHAIRMAN PASS SUMMIT, AND THE ABSENTEE VOTER EMAIL ADDRESS THAT'S PRETTY TARGETED.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, WE ANALYZE THE CODE, UH, AND, UH, YEAH, IF IT, IF IT WOULD HAVE MADE IT THROUGH, UM, AND IT, AND IT WAS CLICKED ON BY THE RIGHT PERSON WITH THE RIGHT CREDENTIALS, IT WOULD HAVE, WOULD HAVE STARTED ENCRYPTING.

SO THAT'S SCARY STUFF.

SO YES, THOSE AUTHENTICATION METHODS WOULD, WOULD REALLY HELP.

UM, OUR SCORE OVERALL WAS REALLY GOOD COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES, BUT IT CAN BE BETTER.

WE COULD BE, WE SHOULD BE IN THE 90% RANGE OR 95% RANGE FOR OUR OVERALL CYBER MATURITY.

AND THIS WOULD PUT US INTO THAT BUCKET.

SO ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR PATRICK, FROM ANYONE ONLINE OR IN THE AUDIENCE? HEY, HEARING NOT BAD.

THE, UH, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING.

ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US.

[10. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH]

ONE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THAT? YES, SIR.

APRIL IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH.

SO I AM SEEKING APPROVAL FOR A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FAIR HOUSING MONTH, WHICH IS REQUIRED YEARLY BY ALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT GRANTEES.

CAN WE GET THAT AUTHORITY FROM COMMITTEE OR DOES IT GO FROM COMMITTEE TO FULL COUNCIL? WHATEVER.

DO YOU KNOW COUNCIL, SIR.

FOR STANDBY PAY FOR THE DESIGNATED EOD PERSONNEL, UH, TO GOING UP FROM $2 TO $3.

THEN I'LL BE SEEKING A MOTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK MS. LOGAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION HEARING, NO DISCUSSION ALL ALONG WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.

THIS MATTER WILL BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL, EVEN FACT, THANK

[11. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY EMERGENCY DISASTER POLICY & PROCEDURES A.9]

YOU, SIR.

I REMEMBER 12 IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION CAN REVISE THE DIFFERENT COUNTY EMERGENCY DISASTER POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

UM, A DECIMAL NINE NEIL NEIL TO THAT.

GOOD.

THANK YOU, NEIL.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UM, PRESENTING TODAY, RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE EXISTING BUFORD COUNTY EMERGENCY DISASTER POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

UH, IN PARTICULAR SECTION 8.9, UH, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE HR DIRECTOR, SCARP MARSHALL, UH, FOR SOME OF THESE REVISIONS, SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A QUICK HIGHLIGHTS OF SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE INCLUDED WAS NEW DEFINITION OF THE OP CONS.

UM, THIS IS A FEDERAL CHANGE.

THEY NOT WENT FROM THREE TO FIVE.

UM, AS FAR AS LEVELS ALSO, WE DID A BETTER OUTLINE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR UPPER ADMINISTRATION MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS IN PARTICULAR, HOW IT RELATES TO OUR CURRENT COUNTY STRUCTURE.

UH, WE ALSO DID A DEFINITION OF IOTS, WHICH IS OUR EMERGENCY OPERATION TEAMS THAT GET DEPLOYED DURING AN EMERGENCY EVENT.

AND THEN FINALLY, WE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OR PROPOSED INCREASE

[00:40:01]

UH, WE DID A COMPARISON WITH CHARLESTON DORCHESTER AND JASPER COUNTY TO COME UP WITH THAT INCREASE.

UM, THIS INCREASE IS ONLY GOING TO BE IN EFFECT IF THE EOC IS ACTIVATED AND IT IS A POTENTIALLY REIMBURSABLE EXPENSE THAT COULD BE REIMBURSED BY FEMA OR OTHER AGENCIES.

SORRY, I WAS ON MUTE.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE DISCUSSION.

HEARING NONE.

UM, $2 TO $3.

I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT AT ALL FROM $2 TO $3 ONCE.

SO ONCE THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IS ACTIVATED, UH, CENTRAL PERSONNEL ARE PUT ON STANDBY.

AND SO FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING ON STANDBY, GET A STANDBY PAY, AND THIS IS INCREASE THAT FROM $2 TO $3, THAT'S IT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAD A QUESTION FOLLOW UP TO THAT THAT'S PER HOUR AND THAT, AND THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T LEAVE THE COUNTY, IS THAT CORRECT? AND YOU'RE ON STANDBY, BUT YOU COULD, YOU COULD BE AT HOME OR YOU COULD BE AT THE, AT THE OPERATION CENTER, EITHER ONE.

YEP.

YOU'RE ON STANDBY.

AND THIS IS DIFFERENT IF, IF, IF THE EOC WAS ACTIVATED AND YOU WERE DEPLOYED FOR A MISSION OR, OR WHATNOT, AND THIS IS JUST PRE-STORM OR DURING STANDBY, AND THIS IS ADDITION TO THEIR ANNUAL, THEIR HOURLY WAGE, OR IS THIS THE ONLY PAY THEY RECEIVED IN ADDITION? SO IF THEY'RE ON STANDBY, THEY'RE GETTING OUT IN NATURE AND THIS UPS, THE HOURLY WAGE $3 INSTEAD OF TWO.

BUT IT'S AN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY WOULD, WHAT THEY WOULD BE GETTING IN THEIR, IN THEIR NORMAL WORKDAY, IF THEY'RE ON STANDBY.

SO IF THEY'RE GETTING $9, IT GOES UP.

WELL, WHATEVER THE NUMBERS ARE.

ALL RIGHT.

NO, THAT MAKES SENSE NOW.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER, ANY FURTHER, OKAY.

PAYING $3.

I GUESS EVERYBODY, IF THEY'RE ONLY GETTING $3 MORE, THEY REALLY BE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

YOU STAND BY AN ASSIGNMENT.

THANKS, NEIL.

UM, I WILL, UH, TAKE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION TO REVISE THE BUFORD COUNTY EMERGENCY DISASTER POLICY AND PROCEDURES.

I'LL MOVE.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

LOGAN MAY HAVE A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND IT, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD, OR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HEARING NONE AND MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS HEARING? NO OBJECTIONS.

THIS MATTER IS APPROVED.

THAT WILL BE FORWARDED TO COUNCIL FOR A FULL VOTE ON A RESOLUTION.