* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:15] BYE. HE WAS ON THE PHONE. CAN EVERYONE ELSE SEE IT OR DO WE NEED TO READ? OKAY. I'M JUST CHECKING. OKAY. SO WE NOW ARE GOING DOWN TO, THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS AT THIS TIME. SO WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR NEW BUSINESS, WHICH IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUDGET UPDATE. AND I DO WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT MEG JAMES CAME IN AT 10 0 2 AND JOHN NICOLE JUST CAME IN AT 10 0 3. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO FLIP SOME PAGES. SO AS OF MARCH 31ST, 2022, THE AVAILABLE BUDGET IS 90,509 1690 9,000 490 84 HAS BEEN PAID OUT ON THE ROOF REPAIRS, SEPTIC PUMP OUTS AND INCOME VERIFICATION INVOICES. AS OF MARCH 31ST, 2020 2 34 HOMES HAVE BEEN ASSISTED AS OF YESTERDAY, APRIL SIX, TWO HOMES ARE IN THE LINEUP FOR WORK ESTIMATES. AND TWO HOMES HAVE JUST BEEN APPROVED FOR REPAIR WALKTHROUGH WITH OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR. SO, UM, WHEN WE COME TO YOU AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE HOMES TO REPORT ON, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE FOUR HOMES, UM, IN THE LINEUP FOR REPAIRS. SO JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT TWO HOMES CAME IN FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL ON THE NEXT SCREEN. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR EXCEL SHEET WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THE NUMBER OF HOMES AND THE LAST COLUMN ARE ANY QUESTIONS THERE ABOUT OUR PRIOR MONTH, UH, OBLIGATIONS AND REPAIRS. YES, SIR. VICTORIA, UM, 34 IS A PRETTY BIG NUMBER. I MEAN, HOW DID WE, I MEAN, THAT'S A GOOD THING. HOW DID WE COME TO THAT NUMBER? SO I THINK WHAT IT IS, UM, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH IT, PUSH IT, PUSH IT THROUGH ALL SOURCES, WHETHER IT BE CHURCHES, WHETHER IT BE, UH, CAMPBELL CHAPEL HAS A SOUP KITCHEN. SO I MAKE SURE THEY HAVE APPLICATIONS AND FLYERS ON HAND FOR WHEN THEY DO FOOD DELIVERIES OR WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THEM. UM, I HAVE IT OVER AT GOODWILL. I HAVE FLYER AND APPLICATIONS AT GOODWILLS VIA AN APPLICATIONS AT BLUFFTON SELF-HELP. SO I THINK RIGHT NOW IT WAS JUST WORD OF MOUTH AND PUTTING OUT THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT THE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. SO WE'VE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE WORD OUT AND GETTING THE HELP THAT PEOPLE NEED. WELL, THAT BEST SPEAKS KUDOS TO YOU FOR PROACTIVE AND AGGRESSIVE. THANK YOU, SIR. UM, SO YEAH, WE'RE JUST KIND OF PUSHING AND GETTING THE DOLLAR SPENT SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DOLLAR COLUMNS THAT WE DON'T TOUCH, WHICH IS THE ABATEMENT AND DEMOLITION. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE RUN OUT OF SOMETHING IN ANOTHER FIELD, WE CAN MAYBE PUSH THEM THERE. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. SO YEAH, IF WE JUST BEEN PUSHING AND GETTING THE WORD OUT THAT THERE IS ASSISTANCE, ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS, IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS OUR, AS YOU ALL KNOW, APRIL IS FAIR HOUSING MONTH. SO WHEN WE HAVE OUR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 12TH, THERE WILL BE A PROCLAMATION RENT AND MAYOR LISA SOCO WILL SIGN OFF ON THAT. SO I JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, APRIL 22, APRIL, 2020 22 MARKS THE 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF TITLE EIGHT OF THE 1968, CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AS AMENDED, WHICH GUARANTEES FAIR HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL AMERICANS AT RESOLUTION WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE APRIL 12TH, 2022 TABLET BLOCKED IN TOWN. COUNCIL MEETING DECLINED APRIL AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON. THIS ACT IS TO AFFIRM THE CONTINUED DEDICATION TO FAIR HOUSING ON THE PRINCIPLES AND REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN THE UNITED STATES, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A COPY OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED, AND THAT IS WHAT MAYOR SAKA WILL SIGN NEXT WEEK DURING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ANY QUESTIONS THERE, NOTHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THAT. I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IT WILL BE PRESENTED NEXT WEEK AT TOWN COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS OF COMMENTS THERE? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE SEEING ANY HANDS, NO HANDS IS TAMMY HAWAIIAN OWEN. SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUR PRESENTER FOR TODAY. SHE DID NOT [00:05:01] SAY THAT SHE HAD ANY CONFLICT. SHE WAS ALL SET AND I DON'T SEE HER DOWN ON THE BOTTOM, UM, TO DO THAT, MAYBE IT WAS HER, BUT THAT'S NOT. SO, UM, WHILE WE WAIT FOR HER FOR ABOUT MAYBE ANOTHER FIVE OR 10 MINUTES, I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN UPDATE. MARCH 29TH, WE HAD OUR AS PROPERTY, UM, SEMINAR SLASH WORKSHOP. WE HAD NINE PARTICIPANTS NON-RESIDENTS THAT DID COME OUT. UM, WE HAD OUR THREE PRESENTERS FROM HEIRS PROPERTY. ONE SPOKE ABOUT THE, UH, WHAT FORESTRY AND THE OTHER ABOUT HEIRS PROPERTY, UM, KEEPING IN WILLS. YOU GAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A WILLS PRESENTATION AS WELL. AND IT WAS VERY WELL, UM, WELL GIVEN VERY WELL PUT TOGETHER THOSE NON-PARTICIPANTS I CAN SEE ON THEIR FACE THAT THEY DID GET A LOT OF THE PRIESTS OUT OF IT THAT ASKED QUESTIONS. UM, AND IT WAS VERY PUT TOGETHER. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING US PUT THAT OUT. WISH YOU WOULD'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT THE NIGHT THAT WE DID REACH OUT TO, LIKE I SAID, THEY GOT A LOT OF FROM IT. UM, THEY GOT LITTLE BAGS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UM, THAT DID GO OFF THERE. WELL, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS I'M GOING TO TRY? I'M GOING TO PUT MYSELF ON MUTE FOR, IF YOU GIVE ME TWO SECONDS, I CAN GET TAMMY ONLINE AND JUST EMAIL. YES. HEY, THIS IS STEVEN STEVE. UM, FRED ASKED ME TO HOP ON THIS MORNING TO JUST GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT CONVERSATION WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WITH THE RFP THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH. UM, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR HOPPING ON A FEW MINUTES LATE. I WAS IN ANOTHER MEETING AND HAD TO STEP OUT AND JUST REALLY, UM, BUT, UM, I SENT OUT AN UPDATE TO COUNCIL. I HAD A MEETING WITH OUR POTENTIAL CONTRACTOR ON FRIDAY, LAST WEEK, UM, TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE DEEP DETAILS AND CONCERNS THAT THEY HAD. IT WAS A POSITIVE MEETING. UM, I THINK WE HAVE A FEW DETAILS WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH. THEY HAD A LITTLE CONCERNS ABOUT MARKET CONDITIONS AND TIMING OF MATERIALS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IMPACTING THE ENTIRE HOUSING MARKET AS A WHOLE RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK THERE'S SOME WORDING AND LANGUAGE THAT WE CAN DO TO, UM, OUT LINE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS, HOW THAT MAY IMPACT THEIR PROJECT, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING THEIR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING COSTS. AND ONCE THEY GET THAT TO US, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK TO COUNT OUTSOLE. UH, STILL PLAN IS TO BRING IT BACK TO THE MAY COUNCIL MEETING, TO REVIEW, AND ALSO GO THROUGH THE PRICING AND TRY TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD AND LOOK TO HOPEFULLY AWARD TO THE CONTRACTOR TO DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. UH, WE'LL SAY THAT THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THAT WE'RE USING AS OUR PRIMARY IS 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD, WHICH IS OUTLINED TO HAVE SOMEWHERE AROUND 12 TO 14 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS. SO WE'RE, UM, USING THAT ONE AS OUR FIRST, UH, PROJECT. AND THEN AS WE START GETTING THAT ONE FINALIZED, WE CAN START MOVING FORWARD TO THE OTHER TWO PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE, WHICH ARE BOTH ON BLUFFTON ROAD. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION, STEVEN, UH, WHERE ARE THE 10 TO 14 SINGLE FAMILY UNITS GOING TO BE? UH, THE TOWN OWNS PROPERTY ON 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD. AND, UM, WHEN WE PUT IT OUT, WE PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A, KIND OF A, SOME SITE LAYOUT POTENTIALS, AND DEPENDING ON HOW THEY MAKE THEM ALL DETACHED OR THEY PUT A COUPLE TOWNHOMES, THEY CAN GET SOMEWHERE AROUND A DOZEN ARE PLUS OR MINUS ON THE PROPERTY. AND THE GOAL WOULD BE THOSE TO BE ALL OWNER OCCUPIED UNITS. GREAT. AND, UH, EVEN HAD SOME CONVERSATION AND WE CAN SEE HOW THIS CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD ABOUT MAYBE I'M TRYING TO RESERVE ONE OR TWO OF THOSE FOR SOMEBODY IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY, LIKE, UH, TEACHERS, POLICE, FIRE, NURSING, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, SO THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE FIRST PRIORITY AND APPLICATION TO SOME OF THOSE. THAT WAS JUST SOME, SOME CONVERSATION WE HAD OUTSIDE OF THE ENTIRE PROJECT. YES MA'AM. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANTED ME TO HIT ON, ON FRED OR DID I HIT EVERYTHING HE'S MUTED? I'M GOING TO, UM, I HAVE YOU HERE ON MY PHONE COUNCILMEN. SO IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK LOUDER, THEY CAN HEAR YOU FROM MY PHONE. GO AHEAD. UM, STUDENTS, THE MOST OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE THAT THE MOOD HAS SOME QUESTIONS WE CAN STAY ON FOR A FEW MORE MINUTES AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER [00:10:01] CONCERNS. YES, SIR. OKAY. WHAT ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN. THIS IS VERY HELPFUL FOR, TO HEAR FROM NEW EXEC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE TOWN TO GIVE US THIS UPDATE BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE IS STILL WORKING ON IT AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY REPORT FOR A FEW MONTHS. SO OF COURSE, AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK THE MEETING WENT WELL. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT THE INFORMATION OUT, THAT WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD AND, UM, HAVE HOPES THAT EVERYTHING WILL GET FINALIZED. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOU TOO. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS FROM ANYONE WE DID FIND OUT PRESENTER? I THINK SHE WAS GIVEN A LITTLE TIME FOR US TO GET OUR BUSINESS OUT OF THE WAY. SO I DID, UM, PRESENTED IS ONLINE IF YOU WANT, IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE TO THAT PART. OKAY. MS. TAMMY, MS. TAMMY IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE COMMUNITY WORKS OVER IN GREENVILLE AND SHE IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ERIC GREENWAY. SO SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US A, UM, SOME INFORMATION ON WHAT SHE DOES AND HOW SHE'S GOING TO BE HELPING THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND AS WELL AS IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER. UM, THERE'S MAYBE SOME ITEMS THAT WE CAN WORK ON HERE WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. MS. TAMMY. GREAT. THANK YOU. I HOPE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY, VICTORIA? YES, MA'AM. CAN EVERYONE HEAR? OKAY. OKAY, GOOD. GOOD. THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE. I WAS RUNNING LATE. I KNOW YOU GUYS WANTED TO GET SOME BUSINESS OUT OF THE WAY. SO I SAID I WOULD JOIN ON A FEW MINUTES LATER, SO THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED. I HOPEFULLY WILL MEET YOU ALL IN PERSON. AT SOME POINT, I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE TO COME DOWN TO THE TOWN AND MEET WITH VICTORIA AND SOME OF YOUR TEAM. AND, UM, SO WE ARE WORKING, SO COMMUNITY WORKS AS A NONPROFIT LOAN FUND. SO WE FINANCE A COUPLE THINGS. I'M GOING TO SEND VICTORIA PACKET THAT SHE CAN SHARE WITH YOU GUYS OF ALL OF OUR LOAN PRODUCTS AND ALL OF OUR, OUR PROGRAMS, BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, RON HOUSING. SO WE FINANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. WE WORK PREDOMINANTLY WITH NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS TO PRESERVE OR PRODUCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM LIKE A, A LINE OF CREDIT. THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY COME FROM THE BANKING WORLD, THAT YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU CAN ACQUIRE PROPERTY, YOU CAN REHAB IT AND RESELL IT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OR MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO DO A NEW CONSTRUCTION. SO IT COULD BE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. UM, IT COULD BE MULTI-FAMILY HOMES. IT COULD BE A LARGE TAX CREDIT DEVELOPMENT FOR LIKE MULTIFAMILY SENIORS. UM, SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH NONPROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT DEVELOPERS TO ACCESS, UM, UH, FUNDING SOURCES FOR, FOR HOUSING AND IN PARTICULAR. AND WE ALSO DO SMALL BUSINESS LENDING, MICRO LENDING AND SMALL BUSINESS LENDING AS WELL. AND, UH, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO REALLY KIND OF TALK ABOUT THAT HERE, BUT VICTORIA KNOWS THAT WE OFFER THOSE PRODUCTS AND WE ARE HEADQUARTERED IN GREENVILLE, BUT WE ARE STATEWIDE. AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AS WELL AS WITH BUFORD COUNTY AND THE CITY. AND OF COURSE, WORKING WITH VICTORIA ON UNDERSTANDING WHAT SOME OF THE NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE IN THE BLUFFTON COMMUNITY AND THE BUFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY AROUND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THERE'S NOT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE US CURRENTLY IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO BRING OUR CAPACITY AND OUR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE GOALS THAT YOU ALL HAVE THERE. UM, AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE BUFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. SO OBVIOUSLY A LARGE EMPLOYER IN THE AREA, VERY IMPORTANT EMPLOYER. UH, THEY OBVIOUSLY ALSO ARE STRUGGLING TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES IDENTIFY HOME OWNERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE COST OF HOUSING AND BECAUSE OF, UH, THE INCOMES THAT, THAT THEY EARN. SO WE LAUNCHED A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WORKING WITH THE HOSPITAL. UM, I'M EXCITED TO SAY BEFORE I HAVEN'T SHARED THIS, SEE WE CLOSED ONE ALREADY. SO ONE, UH, HOUSEHOLD HAS NOW BECOME A HOMEOWNER BECAUSE OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOSPITAL. AND THE GOAL IS THAT, UH, EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE HOSPITAL AND LIVE WITHIN A CERTAIN MILE RADIUS OF ANY ONE OF THEIR CAMPUSES, UM, COULD ACCESS HOMEOWNERSHIP THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE JUST LAUNCHED THAT PROGRAM, UM, AS IT RELATES TO OWNER OCCUPIED REHAB. SO WE, WE DON'T DO THAT. WE'RE NOT A DEVELOPER, WE DON'T DO REHAB OURSELVES, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT VICTORIA AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE, WHAT KIND OF FINANCING MIGHT WE BE CREATIVE ABOUT AND THINK ABOUT TO EXTEND AND EXPAND SOME OF THE COMMITMENTS THAT THE TOWN HAS MADE. UM, IN SOME CASES, MAYBE THERE'S, [00:15:01] THERE'S HOMEOWNERS THAT CAN AFFORD, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF A PAYMENT. UM, AND SO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THOSE OUTSIDE OF 80% OF AMI, MAYBE THOSE THAT COULD WITHSTAND A SMALL PAYMENT TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL REHAB WORK. AND SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF STARTING TO THINK ABOUT INNOVATIVE IDEAS OF HOW WE COULD HELP STRETCH AND LEVERAGE YOUR DOLLARS TO SUPPORT MORE FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. AND WE'VE LOOKED AT SOME DIFFERENT MODELS OF HOW WE MIGHT DO THAT, BUT JUST EARLY ON, WE JUST STARTED WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS. UM, AND BEEN TALKING WITH ERIC ABOUT ADMINISTERING THE LOCAL HOUSING FUND. UH, WE KNOW THAT PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE, FROM THE CONSULTANTS WAS TO PARTNER WITH A CVFI, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, WHICH IS WE, WHICH WE ARE ONE, UM, WE ARE CERTIFIED BY US TREASURY TO DO THIS TYPE OF LENDING, UM, TO THAT'S MISSION FOCUSED AROUND HOUSING AND, AND ASSET AND WEALTH BUILDING. SO, UM, I KNOW THAT'S A LOT IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE AGENDA ITEMS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TALK ANY MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT WE HAVE, UM, AND KIND OF GO FROM THERE, VICTORIA, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. YES. YOU JUST GAVE US A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. SO I THINK YOU, UM, IS ANYONE HAVING QUESTIONS FOR MS. TAMMY? CAUSE SHE'S FULL OF, YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT WE WANT TO TRY AND DO TO ENLARGE OUR PROGRAM. SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING SET IN STONE, OF COURSE, JUST KIND OF PUTTING SOME DRAFT IDEAS OUT SO WE CAN EXTEND WHAT WE DO ALREADY. SO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WHEN IS TAMMY, UM, TAMMY, DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE OR ANYTHING THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH? YOU DID GIVE US SOME GREAT INFORMATION, BUT IT WAS A LOT. YEAH, YEAH. I DO. I HAVE A WEBSITE AND I'LL ALSO RIGHT AFTER THIS CALL, I'M GOING TO EMAIL VICTORIA, UM, ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. SO IT'LL BE IN A POWERPOINT, BUT WE, WE DO HAVE A WEBSITE AND IT'S, UM, LET ME, I'M AN EXPERT. I CAN ALSO DROP IT IN THE, IN THE CHAT IF YOU'D LIKE IT'S COMMUNITY WORKS, CAROLINA, THAT ORG. UM, BUT I'LL JUST SAY AFTER THIS PHONE CALL, I'LL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT SHE HAS, UM, THIS POWERPOINT THAT HAS ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS AND DETAILS, UM, AND ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO. AND, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAD BEEN COMING, UM, OOPS, I THINK I CUT IT OFF ONE SECOND. UM, WE HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. AND SO I KNOW THAT YOUR CALLS ARE VIRTUAL. I DID. UM, WE CERTAINLY, WHEN YOU EVENTUALLY ARE IN PERSON, WE CERTAINLY CAN PARTICIPATE IN YOUR MEETINGS IN PERSON. SO, UM, WE ALSO, PART OF OUR GOAL, UM, IS TO ACTUALLY HIRE A PERSON THAT WOULD BE IN THE REGION. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, DARREN GOSS, AND, UM, MS. HEMINGWAY THERE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, UH, AROUND, UM, HAVING A PHYSICAL PRESENCE THERE. SO, UH, WE'LL BE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE THAT WOULD BE OUR EYES ON THE STREET, BOOTS ON THE STREET, UH, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH VICTORIA AND PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ON IDENTIFYING WHAT SOME OF THE HOUSING CHALLENGES ARE AND WHAT SOME OF THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ARE. UM, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR FINANCIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, BUT WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO BRING ON THAT ONE PERSON. SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR GOAL, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT IS, UH, A GOAL OF OURS TO HELP SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU. IT'S EXCITING. I'M A REALTOR. SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO ME. WELL, WE CAME, WE DID DO A COUPLE PRESENTATIONS, UM, TO THE REALTORS ASSOCIATION. AND IF YOU HAVE CONTACTS THAT YOU WANT US TO COMMUNICATE WITH, UM, PLEASE LET, UH, VICTORIA NOW, OR ME NOW WE DID A VIRTUAL, UH, LIKE LUNCH AND LEARN. UM, AND WE DID THAT FOR SOME REALTORS. AND THEN WE CAME DOWN, UM, ABOUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND DID A SESSION PERSON REALTORS, UM, AND BLUFFTON, UM, AT ONE OF THEIR LUNCHEONS. AND SO IF THERE'S SOMEWHERE YOU NEED US TO BE, OR YOU WANT US TO TALK WITH FOLKS, LET US KNOW. OKAY, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? AND, UM, ABOUT COMMUNITY WORKS OR THE TYPES OF PRODUCTS OR THE TYPES OF PROJECTS WE MIGHT WORK ON? NOPE. WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THERE'S VICTORIA MENTIONED, WE JUST GOT THE PLEASURE OF MEETING TWICE. SO ONCE AT ONE OF THOSE, UH, THE SOLO CO REGIONAL MEETINGS, AND THEN ALSO WE CAME DOWN TO VISIT WITH HER AND THE TEAM. UM, BUT AGAIN, SHE SHARED WITH US THE WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT YOU HAVE, WE KNOW, PRESERVATION OF EXISTING HOME OWNERSHIP IS SO IMPORTANT. AND SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE THINKING, HOW DO WE LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES THAT YOU GUYS HAVE COMMITTED WITH RESOURCES THAT WE MAY ABLE TO BRING TO THE MARKET? UM, AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH VICTORIA AND THE TEAM. I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW WE HELP SUPPORT THAT AS WELL [00:20:01] AS OTHER IDEAS THAT COME TO THIS COMMITTEE THAT MIGHT BE A PRIORITY FOR YOU. SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU, TAMMY, SAME HERE. AND IT IS EXCITING. ONCE WE GET SOME STUFF DOWN ON PAPER FOR UI IN THE STAFF HERE, WE SHARE IT OVER AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN JUMP BACK AND, YOU KNOW, EXTEND THIS PROGRAM THAT THE GREATNESS IS ALREADY DOING. SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE. UM, BUT WE'LL STAY IN TOUCH. SO AS SOON AS YOU SEND ME THAT POWERPOINT, I'LL SEND IT OUT TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND WE WILL STAY IN TOUCH WITH EACH OTHER. OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I'LL DROP OFF IN CASE YOU HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BUSINESS TO DO. AND, UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JAMIE. UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA THAT IT FOR TODAY, BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I LIKE TAMMY SAID, AS SOON AS I GET THAT FROM HER, I'LL SEND IT OVER TO YOU. SO YOU CAN FAMILIARIZE, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH WHAT SHE DOES AND HER AGENCY AS WELL. SO, UH, CHAIRMAN, ANYTHING FROM YOU? WELL, VICTORIA, BEFORE WE FINISHED, UM, ONE THING I'M CURIOUS ABOUT, I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR ALMOST SIX AND A HALF YEARS, AND YOU HAD MENTIONED THE, UH, THE HEIRS PROPERTY A WHILE AGO. AND, AND I KNOW WE, AND I, AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT WE TRY TO REACH OUT. AND I KNOW WE BROUGHT SOME SPEAKERS IN DIFFERENT CHARLESTON OVER THE YEARS IN PLACES. UM, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW AT THE LOCAL LEVEL HERE BEING BUFORD COUNTY, UM, DO WE HAVE ANY SUCCESS STORIES? BECAUSE I MEAN, THE HEIRS PROPERTY IS ALL AROUND US. I MEAN, I'VE ON THE STREET I LIVE ON, WE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND THIS MRS. HAMILTON AIR AND, UH, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THIS EVERYWHERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T DEVELOP THEIR LAND OR DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING IT. SO IF WE EVER TURN UP A SUCCESS STORY, IF YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING LIKE THAT, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE IT WITH US. I SRE. WELL, AND LIKE I SAID, WE, UH, THE NINE, UH, RESIDENTS THAT WERE AT THE MEETING ON THE 29TH, THEY HAD QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY HAD CONCERNS ABOUT KEEPING WHAT THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY. SO DEFINITELY IF THERE'S A SUCCESS STORY, I WILL CERTAINLY LET YOU KNOW. UM, AND WE DON'T DO IT HERE IN HALF. THE COURSE, WE SEND THEM OVER TO THE HEIRS PROPERTY PRESERVATION OF CHOCOLATE. SO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO RELEASE THAT INFORMATION OR JUST KIND OF GIVE US A HEADS UP, WE HAD TWO OR THREE FAMILIES FROM THE BEAVER COUNTY, BOSTON AREA. I WILL LET YOU GUYS KNOW OF COURSE. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND SUCCESS COULD BE, THEY WERE ABLE TO MARKET AND SALE THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO, OR SUCCESS COULD BE LIKE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO KEEP THEIR PROPERTY AND THAT WOULD HAVE A TIE UP WITH 20 OTHER PEOPLE. SO I'M JUST, I'VE JUST ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT, ABOUT IT. SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR HER HEAR ABOUT IT. OKAY. YES, SIR. OH, SORRY, SIR. UM, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I'D LIKE TO ADD, I, I ATTENDED THAT MEETING AND I WAS, UH, REALLY, I WAS REALLY, UM, I GUESS AMAZED ABOUT THE INFORMATION WE GOT ON FORESTRY AND, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO SELL THE TIMBER AND EVERYTHING ON THE LAND AND, AND THE PROCESS. I HAD SOME CLIENTS WHO SOLD THEIR LAND, UH, LAST JANUARY. AND THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE HAD, HAD, UM, SOLD THE TIMBER FOR THEM WHILE THESE ARE, WERE ABSENTEE OWNERS. BUT, UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, IT JUST WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. THEY DIDN'T REALLY MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF IT. AND THEY WERE DISAPPOINTED AND ENDED UP SELLING THE LAND. AND I KNOW NOW BASED ON THE, THE VALUES OF THE LAND NOW, I THINK THEY WISH THEY HAD KEPT IT, BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THAT THEY COULD MAKE MONEY ON IT. THAT'S, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT. I'M INVOLVED WITH A GROUP THAT MEETS ONCE A MONTH AT PENN CENTER RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO HELP, UM, BRING, UM, I GUESS, EDUCATION TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HEIRS PROPERTY, UM, SITUATION. AND MOST, MOST OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS EDDY EDUCATION, EDUCATION, AND EDUCATION, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO WHY HIS PROPERTY EXISTS IN SO MANY AREAS, ASPECT OF WHY THEY MAY BE, UM, IMPORTANT TO REMOVE IT OUT OF HIS PROPERTY. AND THEN THERE'S, ONCE YOU GET THAT, THERE'S THE INFO, THE EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS, IS IT WOULD BE SUCH AS INCREASE IN TAXES. SO MOST PEOPLE ARE IN THIS SITUATION. SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE IT'S A TAX BURDEN ANYWAY, BUT, BUT ONCE YOU REMOVE IT FROM HIS PROPERTY [00:25:01] AND PUT IT IN A SINGLE LOT, LARRY BECOMES ANOTHER TAX BECAUSE EACH, EACH PROPERTY WILL BE TAXED DIFFERENTLY. UM, SO, SO EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE VALUE, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT, UM, HOW YOU GOING TO MAINTAIN IT ONCE YOU DO THAT, OR IF YOU'RE GOING TO SELL IT, EDUCATING THEM ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT, UH, COULD BE INVOLVED IN THE, IN, IN THE SALE. THAT THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT YOU COULD HAVE IS THAT LIVES IN CALIFORNIA. AND DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE BLUFFTON IS. IT'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. ABSOLUTELY TRUE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. UM, NOW IS THERE ANY OTHER LINGERING, UH, CONCERNS, ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP US BE, UH, CAN HELP US MOVE IN A, IN A MORE POSITIVE WAY AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE EVEN THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY WITH, UM, OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE, UH, TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS CONTRACT WITH THE STATE OF MIND, ANY, ANY LINGERING CONCERN THERE? UH, FRED, THE ONLY THING THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT HIM, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS AS A COUNCIL IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, UH, PA UH, NOW PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. UM, AND ALSO I REMEMBER, UM, THE, UH, ST JOE CANDLER WHEN I MET WITH THEM SIX YEARS AGO IN SAVANNAH, THEY WERE OFFERING AT THE TIME TIME, UM, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO THEIR EMPLOYEES, LIKE A $5,000 DOWN PAYMENT, UM, TO HELP THEM FIND WORKERS TO STAY AT THEIR SITE. AND AT THE END OF A PERIOD OF TIME, THREE TO FIVE YEARS, THEY WOULD FORGIVE THAT. NOW, I THINK IT WAS LIMITED TO 5,000, BUT STILL THAT'S A GOOD NUMBER THREE. ANYWAY, MY POINT IS, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AS A COUNCIL AND MAYBE EVEN INVITE SOMEBODY LIKE THEM TO PARTICIPATE. UM, THAT'S FREE MONEY TO SOMEBODY THAT, UM, THAT PROBABLY WORKS THERE NOW, NOW THAT LIVES IN THIS AREA. SO ANYWAY, I I'M IN ABOUT ANOTHER WAY. I, IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. I'M GLAD THAT I HEARD EVERYTHING I HEARD TODAY. AND SO VERY POSITIVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, VICTORIA, MAKE NOTE OF THAT DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANT. UM, SO MAYBE, UH, YOU AND THE STAFF TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION. SO WHEN THE COUNCIL DO MEET, WE CAN HAVE, UM, THE BACKGROUND AND MAYBE FIND OUT WHO A PLAYERS FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. CAN YOU, CAN, CAN YOU DO THAT FOR US? YES. YES, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER THOUGHTS? ONE MORE THING. UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. UM, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT DEVELOPERS WHO, UM, CAN DO, UH, CONSTRUCTION LOANS FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR PROPERTIES? UM, DEVELOPERS, BANKS, I THINK THE BANKS, SO WE HAVE, UM, IT'S HARD TO FIND CONSTRUCTION LOANS FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN THEIR PROPERTIES. AND THEN, UM, ALSO DEVELOPERS WHO WILL HELP WITH BUILDING A HOUSE, UM, WHEN IT'S LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. OH, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY? OKAY. NOW I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. SO IS IT A TWO QUESTIONS OR ONE? OKAY. YEAH, I THOUGHT SO. OKAY. RIGHT. SO LET'S, I THINK THE FIRST ONE I HEARD IS, UM, DEVELOPERS THAT WOULD HELP WITH PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WANT TO BUILD ON THEIR PROPERTY. RIGHT, RIGHT. CORRECT. I KNOW I'M NOT POSITIVE, SO MAYBE YOU CAN, WE CAN RESOURCES, BUT I THINK IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY, YOU HAD TO FIND A CONTRACTOR AND THEN I THINK YOU HAD THEN FIND, UM, A BANK OR A LENDER THAT WILL, THAT WILL, THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE LOAN THAT, AND THEN CONTRACT, UM, WOULD BE YOUR, UH, BETWEEN YOU AND THE BANK WHO THAT CONTRACTOR WOULD BE. THAT'S HOW I THINK IT WORKS. THAT'S HOW IT WORKED FOR ME ANYWAY. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON THAT? YEAH. THAT'S HOW IT JUST ABOUT HOW IT WORKS. IT HAS A CONSTRUCTION LOAN FROM THE BANK. RIGHT. SO, [00:30:01] SO, SO GWEN FOR THAT YES. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN EXPLAIN IT, UM, FOR AFFORDABILITY, UM, AND HELPING INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT CURRENTLY HAVE PROPERTY, UM, THAT WANT TO, UM, BUILD ON THEIR CURRENT PROPERTY OR, UM, YEAH, JUST BUILD ON THE CURRENT PROPERTY. IS IT, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY FOR US, MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD, I'LL, I'LL CHIME IN A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE STARTED WORKING ON A STAFF LEVEL, UM, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES. UM, ONE OF THEM IS THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. UM, AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN START DOING SOME RESEARCH ON, UH, ANOTHER PROGRAM FOR, FOR THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION. UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE, UH, MONEY WILL HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. SO THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE THE SAME. UM, NO MATTER WHAT, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF DETAIL THAT'S PROVIDED IN THE, IN THE PLANS, BUT, UM, IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE SUBSIDIZED, THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN START RESEARCHING TO SEE WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON A FEDERAL STATE LEVEL. AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING ON A LOCAL LEVEL. UH, AND THEN THAT GETS BACK TO COUNCILMAN WOULD ABOUT, UH, BRINGING THIS IN FRONT OF TOWN COUNCIL, UH, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE, UM, THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THE INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN PLACE. UH, MAYBE WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM AS WELL, UM, FOR AFFORDABILITY STANDPOINT. SO DEFINITELY IT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF HAS BEEN, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, IN ORDER TO PUT TOGETHER, TO GET IN FRONT OF THE TOWN MANAGER, TO ULTIMATELY, UH, BRING TO TOWN COUNCIL, UM, PER POSSIBLE, UH, PROGRAMMING AND FUNDING IN THE FUTURE. SO WHEN YOU, YOU, YOU JUST BOUGHT A NEW ENERGY IN ME, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO, UH, WE NEED TO PROBABLY PUT ON OUR AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH. MAYBE WE CAN HAVE BREAKOUT COMMITTEES FROM THIS, FROM THE AFFORDABLE HOUSE COMMITTEE, SOMEONE THAT CAN, CAN CHAMPION A PROGRAM LIKE THAT. UH, UM, AND GWEN, LIKE FOR AN EXAMPLE, FINDING IN THAT COMMITTEE COULD BE EITHER HOME OWNERSHIP OR PRIVATE HOME OWNERSHIP, UM, ASSISTANCE. UM, AND I'M JUST THROWING OUT A NAME JUST, JUST TO, JUST TO TRY TO MAKE A POINT THAT MAYBE WE CAN HAVE, DON'T WANT IT AS WE COME UP WITH THESE DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF HOW WE CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. MAYBE WE CAN ASSIGN DIFFERENT ROLES TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO WORK WITH STAFF AND, AND, UM, AND, AND, AND, AND, AND GWEN, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING MAYBE THAT YOU COULD FOLLOW WITH STAFF TO SAY, HERE IS SOME RESEARCH THAT I'VE DONE AND, AND, AND YOU COULD CHAMPION THAT WITH WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING, AND THAT COULD, THAT COULD GIVE US, UM, A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY OF, OF FINDING DIFFERENT AVENUES AND, AND, AND EVEN SOMETIMES EVEN PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME MODELS THAT WERE IN THE UPSTATE ALREADY, BUT I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AND WORK WITH OKAY. LET'S, LET'S, LET'S DISCUSS THAT LOBO A LITTLE MORE DETAILS. THAT COULD BE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM FOR NEXT MONTH. OKAY. UM, UM, UH, IS THAT OKAY, STAFF? SURE. YES. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTEP, BUT, UH, YOU'RE DOING GREAT. YOU'RE DOING GREAT. MY STATEMENT. I'M SORRY, CHAIRMAN. I DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM MEG HER SERVICES IN AND OUT. SO SHE'S WRITING IN THE CHAT. UH, WILL YOU ASK THE 10 95 PROJECT STRESS MENTIONED DEED RESTRICTIONS OR INCLUDE IT? RIGHT. I FORGOT ABOUT, I FORGOT, BUT SOUNDED LIKE THE PARTICULAR ONE WAS SINGLE FAMILY AND HOME OWNERSHIP VERSUS SOME OF OTHERS THAT VARIED RENT AND OWN. SO, UM, DEED RESTRICTIONS IS WHAT SHE'S ASKING ABOUT FOR THE 10 95 PROJECT THAT MS. ALL ABOUT PROJECT GOING TO BE UNDER DEED RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS IF WE WANT TO. OKAY. OKAY. SHE'S SAID PERFECTO. OKAY. ARE WE GOOD? YES. I THINK THIS WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING. GOOD. 37 MINUTES OF MEAT AND [00:35:01] SOME BACKING. WE CAN PUT SOME STRONGER IDEAS TOGETHER AND COUNCILMAN CHAIRMAN WILL GET TOGETHER TO ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER AN AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH. EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND I'LL REACH OUT TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. UM, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE THE MONTHS GO BY FAST. SO IF I HOUND YOU JUST EXCUSE ME, THAT THE MONTHS ROLL AROUND REAL FAST. SO, UM, NO PROBLEM. UM, YOU NEVER HELPED ME DOING A GOOD JOB. I APPRECIATE IT. YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT. UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THIS MORNING AND I APOLOGIZE I'M OUT IN THE FIELD WORKING, SO I COULDN'T BE AS EFFICIENT AS I LIKE, BUT Y'ALL, DON'T, Y'ALL WANT TO HELP ME PAY MY BILLS SO I HAVE TO WORK. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR, FOR GOOD, FOR GOOD MEETING. AND PLEASE ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY. THE MUNICH IS NOW IN A JAM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.