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YOU.[1. CALL TO ORDER]
IT'S TWO O'CLOCK.THIS IS THE MEANING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
I'M CHAIRING THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE LOGAN CUNNINGHAM, WHO WAS THE VICE CHAIR AND ON THE AIR, CAROL DAWSON AND ALICE ALICE, AND THEY SEE NEW YORK.
UM, IS GERALD ON THE, UH, SMEAR? YEAH, HE'S JUST TURNING HIS COMPUTER ON MR. DAWSON AND CHAMBERS.
DAWSON IS ACTUALLY IN CHAMBERS.
UM, OKAY, SO I'LL CALL THIS MEETING WATER AND ASK YOU ALL TO A STANDARD PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]
ITEM.NUMBER THREE, INDICATE THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION ON APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA HEARING NONE.
I WILL MOVE THIS FOR APPROVAL.
ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.
UM, NOW I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 4TH
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- APRIL 4, 2022]
TO 22.I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES MR. CHAIRMAN.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND, PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY CHANGE IN ANY OF THE MINUTES HEARING NONE.
I WILL PASS THIS MOTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS, ITEM NUMBER SIX, CITIZEN COMMENTS.
OR DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS? I'LL EMAIL OR IN PERSON? NO, SIR.
UM, GENERAL MITCHELL WAS GOING TO LOG ON TO GIVE A COMMENT.
UM, IF HE DOES END UP GETTING ON THE CALL, I WILL LET YOU KNOW.
IF HE DOES JUST LET THEM KNOW THAT WE CAN COME BACK.
[7. UPDATE ON HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK, BRANDON GOFF, PARK MANAGER]
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.THIS IS AN UPGRADE ON ISLANDS, EIGHT PARK BY BRANDON BATH, THE PARK MANAGER.
UM, TODAY I WANTED TO BRING WITH US, UH, BRANDON GOLF.
WHO'S THE PARK MANAGER OUT AT HUNTING ISLAND.
UM, PLEASED TO BRING HIM UP FOR AN UPDATE OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING OUT OF HUNTING ISLAND.
BRANDON HAD, HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT, 17 YEARS, 17 YEARS.
ALL OF US BRINGS TO OUR CITIZENS HERE.
UM, IT SERVES WELL, CAN I STOP YOU JUST FOR A SECOND? I'M SORRY.
AND A LOT OF RINGING NOISES TAKING PLACE IS OFF.
OH NO, MINE, MINE, MY SPEAKERS OFF.
I JUST WENT THROUGH THE RED BIKES.
WELL, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE THE PARK MANAGER, UH, HUNTING ISLAND, UM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT HUNTING OUT PLAYS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO KEEP THE CAMPAIGN.
WHO'S NOT TALKING TO MUTE THEIR MICROPHONE SO WE DON'T GET THAT BACKGROUND CHATTER.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY.
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ALL RIGHT.SO WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I'LL QUIT TALKING AND MAYBE IT'LL QUIT REVERBERATING.
UM, I WILL BEARING, UH, BRANDON GOLF UP, UH, ALLOW HIM TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AND OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE WATCHING AND UPDATING ON HUNTING ISLAND AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT AT HUNTING ISLAND.
I'M SURE YOU'LL BE PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT A LOT OF THE NEW, UH, WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE OUT THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE OUT THERE.
UH, WHY DON'T YOU TAKE IT OVER? THANK YOU FOR COMING.
HEY BRANDON, BEFORE YOU START TALKING TO THE STAND BY A MINUTE, I'M GOING TO TRY ONE MORE TIME TO GET PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT SPEAKING FROM NUCLEAR MICROPHONES, AND THAT WOULD APPLY TO EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS, IS WHISPERING IN THE BACKROOM BACKGROUND, BUT YOU CARRY FORWARD YOUR VOICE.
HEY, BRANDON, WE'RE GOING TO TAPE THIS PRESENTATION AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE NOT IN ATTENDANCE TODAY AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO GO INTO OUR ARCHIVES, IF THEY'VE MISSED MEETING TODAY, SO THEY CAN GET YOUR UPDATE ON HUNTING ISLAND, STATE PARK, EXCEPT FOR YOU.
THAT, WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING ME OUT TODAY, UM, REACHING OUT AND KIND OF INTRODUCING ME AROUND, UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON ME.
UM, I STARTED WITH THE PARK SERVICE 17 YEARS AGO AND I'VE, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN SOME FANTASTIC PLACES FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE COAST, SPENT A LARGE PORTION OF MY CAREER ON EDISTO BEACH AND WAS BORN AND RAISED, UH, ON THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, JUST OUTSIDE OF MYRTLE BEACH AND CONWAY.
UM, SO I DO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE COAST IN PARTICULAR.
UM, I ARRIVED TO HUNTING ISLAND IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, UM, AND TO BE QUITE FRANK, IT, IT WAS RUNNING FULL STEAM AHEAD.
SO I JUST KIND OF HELD ON FOR THE RIDE FOR A BIT.
UM, AND PART OF THAT HAS BEEN SO MANY PROJECTS, UM, THAT HAVE KICKED OFF OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO HUNTING ISLAND EVER OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I'M SURE YOU'VE NOTICED THE ROAD WORK, THE PAVING THAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.
UM, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO OPEN, UH, THE PIER, WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR MANY YEARS SINCE HURRICANE MATTHEW.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO KIND OF RUN DOWN WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING AT THE PARK FROM A VISITATION STANDPOINT, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, NOT TO GET TOO DEEP INTO THE WOODS, BUT TO KIND OF SHOW OUR VISITATION AND THE POPULARITY OF THE PARK AND HOW I, I REALLY THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SUCCESSES OF BUFORD COUNTY AND THE SUCCESSES OF, OF HUNTING ISLAND OR ONE IN THE SAME.
UM, I THINK THAT, THAT WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT THERE COULDN'T BE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, FOR ME KIND OF STATE HAVING SOME TIME TO GET TO KNOW EVERYBODY AND ESTABLISH MY FAMILY IN THE, IN THE BUFORD COMMUNITY IS, UM, IT'S EXCITING.
SHE'S GOING TO BE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS AND I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'LL DIVE INTO SOME PROJECTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS AS I'M GOING THROUGH, YOU CAN INTERRUPT ME AND IT'S FINE.
UM, WE'LL KICK OFF WITH, UH, THE CAMP ROOM THAT HUNTING ISLAND.
SO THE PAVING IN THE CAMPGROUND IS COMPLETE.
UM, WE ARE WORKING ON ROAD, SHOULDER BUILDUP RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT DROP-OFFS AFTER THE PAVING THAT WENT IN.
WE TRIED TO BUILD A ROAD UP TO AN ELEVATION SO THAT SOME OF THE TIDAL FLOODING THAT WE EXPERIENCED ON THE KING SIDES, AS WELL AS HEAVY RAIN EVENTS.
UM, AND PART OF THAT IS WE HAVE TO DO ROAD ROAD, SHOULDER BUILDUP.
SO WE'LL HOPE TO HAVE THAT DONE THIS WEEK.
FINGERS CROSSED DON'T HOLD ME TO IT.
UM, WE'VE GOT 125 CAMPSITES OUT THERE AND WE ABOUT 89% OCCUPANCY.
UM, OF COURSE, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KNOW HUNTING ISLAND IN THE CAMP ROOM, YOU KNOW, PRE MATTHEW, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOST MANY CAMPSITES AND THAT JUST DUE TO THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF WHERE THAT CAMP GROUND IS AT AND, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE LAYOUT OF HOW THE ISLAND IS SITUATED, THE AREA THAT WE CAN GROW OR REBUILD WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES TO BUILD ANOTHER CAMPGROUND IS LIMITED.
UM, SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TAKE THE 125 CAMPSITES THAT WE HAVE AND OFFER THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE WE CAN.
UM, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY.
OUR JOB NOW IS WITH FEWER SITES, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE STRIVING TO DO.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR PRICING STRUCTURE FOR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS THROUGH A SYSTEM OF DYNAMIC PRICING IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS IN PARTICULAR, THE HOTEL INDUSTRY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UM, AND THIS STRUCTURE IS SET UP TO, UM,
[00:10:01]
BASICALLY RISE AND FALL, GIVE AND TAKE WITH SEASONED, WITH DEMAND WITH OCCUPANCY RATES.UM, AND WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS FIND A SUSTAINABLE WAY THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ALL THE CAMPERS THAT ARE COMING IN WHILE ALSO TAKING CARE OF OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL SEEN COVID, UH, AS WE NAVIGATED THAT INSANITY, UM, ONE OF THE PLACES THAT THAT FOLKS WANTED TO FLOCK TO AS GREEN SPACE PARKS WERE BUSIER THAN EVER, UM, THE, THE STAFF AT THE PARK FROM OPERATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE TO, YOU KNOW, OUR MAINTENANCE DIVISION AND HOSTING VOLUNTEERS WERE ALL, YOU KNOW, FEELING THE BRUNT OF THAT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY TOOK THAT TIME TO, UM, KIND OF EVALUATE WHAT WE WERE DOING AND HOW WE WERE DOING IT.
AND AS WE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PROCESS THROUGH COVID AND KIND OF GOT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, AND WE FIND OURSELVES HERE TODAY, BUT THE DEMAND, THE POPULARITY, WE ARE STILL KIND OF RIDING ON THAT PLATEAU NOW OF, UM, INCREASED VISITATION.
SO FINANCIALLY OUR NUMBERS ARE UP LAST YEAR WAS A RECORD YEAR FOR REVENUE, UM, AND THE HISTORY OF THE PARK.
UM, AND THIS YEAR IT LOOKS VERY GOOD AS WELL.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO, YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY, OUR MARKETING EFFORTS, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MORE FOLKS ARE COMING OUT AND THEY'RE COMING BACK, RIGHT.
THEY COME OUT AND THEY EXPERIENCE HUNTING ISLAND AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND TAKE THEIR FRIENDS OUT.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF MAKES US FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, THAT MAYBE, MAYBE WE'RE NOT MESSING IT UP AND WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
UM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CAMPGROUND IN PARTICULAR, UM, WE, WE MENTIONED MOSQUITO CONTROL.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH BUFORD COUNTY RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY TO TRY AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MONITOR THAT AND QUANTIFY OUR EFFORTS THERE AND SEE IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE AND WHERE WE CAN KIND OF FOCUS OUR EFFORTS.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE, ABOUT WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GET.
UM, AND I TRULY FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THE CAMPGROUND GENERATING ROUGHLY 40% OF THE OVERALL REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THE PARK, UM, YEAH, THAT'S AN AREA WHERE IF WE'VE WE GET THAT ROD AND WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF MAKE THAT EXPERIENCE BETTER, UM, THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THE BENEFITS FROM THAT, BOTH FROM AN VISITOR EXPERIENCE STANDPOINT, AS WELL AS FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, UM, WITH THE PAVING PROCESS, UM, WE HAVE ADDED A NEW LANE IN THE CAMP ROOM, WHICH SHOULD HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THAT TRAFFIC BACK UP ON THOSE HEAVY CHECK-IN CHECK-OUT DAYS.
UM, WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, ENFORCING OUR CHECK-IN AND CHECK-OUT TIMES TO GIVE US TIME TO, YOU KNOW, GET IN AND CLEAN THOSE CAMPSITES AND, AND EVALUATE THAT CAMPGROUND TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS THINGS ON THE FRONT SIDE.
AND WE'RE PROACTIVELY MANAGING THE CAMPGROUND AS OPPOSED TO WAITING FOR CLIENTS TO CALL US AND SAY, WE HAVE AN ISSUE.
SO WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT TWO HOUR WINDOW.
THIS BUILDS INTO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS WITHIN STATE PARKS, UM, THAT GIVES US TIME TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
UM, SO NOW WHEN WE DO THE CHECK-IN WITH THE NEW LANE, WE CAN, WE HAVE MORE CAPACITY, MORE STACKING CAPACITY THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZE TRAFFIC BACKUP ON 21 FROM THE CAMPGROUND PERSPECTIVE, WE'LL GET INTO THE DAY YOU SIDE HERE IN A BIT.
UM, SO, UH, JUST TO JUMP OVER REALLY QUICK TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, UM, I KNOW THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN, UM, A POINT THAT'S ON A LOT OF FOLKS RADAR, AND IT CERTAINLY IS ON OUR RADAR.
I HAVE A MEETING THIS WEEK, UM, TO DISCUSS MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT.
IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, AN EXTENDED CLOSURE.
THE REASON THAT WE KNEW THAT A CLOSURE WAS COMING WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE, UM, THAT FACILITY BEING AS OLD AS IT IS LOCATED RIGHT ON THE OCEAN, MUCH OF IT IS MADE OUT OF CAST IRON.
UM, SO THERE WERE SOME SAFETY ISSUES, SOME SAFETY CONCERNS.
UM, AND AS WE WERE CONDUCTING OUR MONTHLY INSPECTIONS, WE IDENTIFIED SOME, SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT HAD JUST KIND OF ARISEN.
WE BROUGHT OUR ENGINEERS DOWN.
WE WERE ABLE TO TIME TO, TO DO AN EVALUATION OF THAT FACILITY AND DECIDE THAT IT WAS THE BEST INTEREST FOR SAFETY, UM, OF BOTH THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC FIRST TO CLOSE THAT OFF.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT CLOSED OFF TO PUBLIC ACCESS, IT'S ALSO CLOSED OFF TO STAFF ACCESS.
UM, THERE ARE ONLY THREE INDIVIDUALS ON HUNTING ON THE HAVE, UH, THE INFORMATION OR THE KEY TO GET INTO THAT FACILITY, UM, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY COULD BE INJURED BY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE.
SO, UM, IT'S A LITTLE SOONER WE WERE THINKING IT WAS GOING TO BE FALL OR WINTER BY THE TIME THAT THE CLOSURE WENT INTO PLACE.
UM, BUT I'M ALWAYS WANTING TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, MY RULE OF THUMB IS, YOU KNOW, IF, IF I DON'T WANT MY FAMILY TO, TO GO IN THERE, IF I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO DOING THAT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EXCITING MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW ENGINEERS ARE DISCUSSING THAT.
SO FOLKS WITH, WITH, UH, BIG DEGREES AND LONG LETTERS AFTER THEIR NAME OR FIGURING THAT OUT, AND
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I WILL BE HAPPY TO KEEP YOU, KEEP YOU ABREAST OF THAT AS IT MOVES FORWARD.UM, OF COURSE BEACH RENOURISHMENT IS COMPLETED.
UM, WHEN I WAS ON EDISTO, UH, THERE WAS A SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE HEALTHY BEACH IS A WEALTHY BEACH.
UM, AND IT IS SO INCREDIBLE TO GO OUT ON THE BEACH OF HUNTING ISLAND RIGHT NOW, AND TO, YOU KNOW, TO SEE ALL THE FAMILIES AND THE FOLKS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND INTERACTING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME AND BEING ABLE TO ENJOY THE BEACH AND, UM, ACTUALLY HAVE A BEACH THERE FOR THEM TO ENJOY.
UM, SO AS OF NOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE RESPONSE TO, TO BEACH RENOURISHMENT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
UM, WE ARE CONTINUING WITH OUR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT WE HAD THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THAT PROGRAM, TO THAT, UH, BEACH RENOURISHMENT PROJECT, SUCH AS COMPACTION MONITORING.
UM, I THINK WE'RE JUST DOING OUR FOLLOW UP FOR THE SEASON, UM, SHOULD BE SCHEDULED AT ANY DAY NOW, AS WELL AS THE PIPING PLOVERS AND THE RED KNOTS.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THAT WITH AUDUBON AND WITH DNR.
UM, BUT IT REALLY, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING TO SEE WHEN YOU GO OUT AND YOU LOOK AT THE BEACH HUNTING ISLAND, IT'S A, IT'S A DIFFERENT BEACH.
UM, AND I W I, I VALIDATE THAT, UM, BUT IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT ISLAND AS WELL.
UM, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC PLACES THAT I'VE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT, BUT REALLY SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ON, UM, SO WHEN YOU WORK IN IT EVERY DAY AND YOU SEE THE, THE SAND SHIFT AND THE SALT PRINTING AND HOW ALL OF THAT HAPPENS, IT KIND OF GIVES YOU PERSPECTIVE AS TO, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU FIT AND HOW MUCH THE ISLAND HAS CHANGED.
THE BEACH HAS CHANGED JUST SINCE MY FIRST VISIT HERE WAS 17 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED WITH THE PARK SERVICE.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, I HAD TO STAND BACK FOR A MINUTE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE I WAS AT, UH, WHICH IS HOW MUCH THAT HAS CHANGED.
SO, UM, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST FOR BEACH RENOURISHMENT FROM ALL OF OUR PROJECTS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT NOT HOW TO MAKE HUNTING ISLAND, SOMETHING THAT IT WASN'T, UM, BUT HOW TO REALLY EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE ISLAND RIGHT NOW AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD SUSTAINABLY.
AND I THINK BEACH NOURISHMENT GIVES US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF USE THAT AS OUR ACID TEST TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.
WE BRING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND WE TRY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COMPROMISE.
UM, WHAT CAN WE LEARN? WHAT CAN WE TAKE FROM THAT? AND HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER PROJECTS, UM, AND DO THOSE BETTER.
SO IT'S, THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR HOPE.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A SECONDARY BENEFIT TO THE BEACH.
RENOURISHMENT NOT ONLY THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE VISITORS HAVE NOW, BUT OUR ABILITY TO KIND OF LEARN FROM THAT.
SO, UM, AND WITH A BIG BEACH, UH, NOW COMES AN EXACERBATED PROBLEM WITH PARKING.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN ON CLM PARKWAY IN THE SUMMERTIME IN PARTICULAR, ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, UH, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR TRAFFIC TO BACKUP BOTH WAYS, BOTH GOING BACK TO BUFORD, AS WELL AS HEADING BACK TOWARDS FRIPP.
UM, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE THAT MY PREDECESSORS HAVE FACED.
UM, THIS IS NOT NEW IT'S, IT'S, IT REALLY IS JUST GETTING WORSE.
UM, AS MORE FOLKS ARE MOVING DOWN, UM, WE'RE GONNA REALLY HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EVALUATE HOW BEST WE CAN.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP KIND OF MINIMIZE THE IMPACTS OF THIS BACKUP.
SO I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COMMUNICATE WITH BUFORD COUNTY.
AGAIN, THAT RELATIONSHIP IS, IS INCREDIBLE, AND TRULY WE COULD NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE ARE WITHOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP.
IT'S, IT'S INTEGRAL TO THE GROWTH OF THE PARK.
AND, UM, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE INVOLVEMENT WITH YOU FOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND, UM, EMS AND, AND ALL OF THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, FIRST RESPONDERS THAT COME OUT AND KIND OF HELP US ON A DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY BASIS.
UM, SO WE'RE TOSSING AROUND SOME IDEAS.
NOW I'M GOING TO TRY TO LEAN TO, YOU KNOW, OTHER AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS, UH, FACE THOSE CAPACITY ISSUES AND FACE THIS TRAFFIC CONTROL ISSUES AND SEE WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THAT.
UM, AND NOT TRY TO, TO KIND OF THROW A SHOT AT THE DARK HERE OR A KNEE JERK IT, UM, REALLY, REALLY DIG DOWN AND FIGURE OUT HOW BEST WE CAN DO THAT WITH THE ROAD PAVING.
UM, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, THAT SHE'D PROBABLY JUST KIND OF PUT OUT THERE ON THE TABLE.
ONE IS WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DROP-OFFS.
SO NOW AFTER THE, THE ROAD PAVING HAS HAPPENED, THEY'VE, THEY'VE KIND OF MILLED THAT ROAD UP.
UM, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SELF SOUL INSIDE OF THE ROAD.
SO PARKING ON THE SIDE OF, OF CLM PARKWAY ALONG THE PARK IS GOING TO BE LIMITED, AND WE WANT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAGE UP ON HIGHWAY 21 OR ON SEE ON PARKWAY ON BOTH WAYS.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.
UM, PART TWO IS GOING TO BE, UM, THE PEER PARKING LOT.
THE PIER HAS NOT BEEN OPENED SINCE HURRICANE MATTHEW.
WE ARE BUSIER THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN.
AND WITH LITTLE HUNTING ISLAND NOW KIND OF BEING ESTABLISHED AND FOLKS HEARING ABOUT THAT, WE'RE RUNNING INTO PARKING CAPACITY ISSUES AT THE PIER ON YOUR AVERAGE WEDNESDAY.
SO I FORESEE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS
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SOONER THAN LATER.UM, AND I'M, I'M TAKING KIND OF THE APPROACH OF, UM, LET'S EVALUATE AS IT HAPPENS, AND THEN SEE HOW BEST WE CAN KIND OF ADDRESS THAT FROM THERE.
I HAD A QUESTION, UM, I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THEY HAD, THEY TRIED HAVING A BUS TAKE PEOPLE OUT.
IS THAT, ARE YOU GOING TO TRY THAT AGAIN? OR I THINK THAT THAT PART OF THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE WERE REALLY EVALUATING EVERYTHING.
UM, NOW I THINK THIS SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE DISCUSSION IS ABOUT THE UTILITY STANDPOINT FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE LOST SEVERAL BATHROOMS, UM, RESTROOM FACILITIES DUE TO THE STORMS AND EROSION THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE PORTAL APPS THAT ARE STATIONED ALONG THE SOUTH BEACH SECTION OF THE ISLAND.
UM, AND IN, AND IN MY VIEW, AS LONG AS WE HAVE TO RELY ON PORTAL, LET'S CONSISTENTLY, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT PREPARED TO ACCOMMODATE MORE FOLKS BECAUSE WE WANT TO, AS STEWARDS OF THE PARK SERVICE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING 100% OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE 100% OF THE TIME AND NOT, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZING THAT, OR, OR KIND OF DILUTING THAT BY TRYING TO GET MORE FOLKS IN AND OFFERING 50% OF OUR, OF OUR TRUE VALUE OF WHAT WE CAN OFFER.
SO AS OF NOW, THAT'S ON THE TABLE, UM, WE JUST KINDA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE FOLKS.
UM, SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT.
UM, JUST SOME COMMON STATISTICS REALLY QUICKLY.
UM, THE NUMBER HAS BEEN TOSSED AROUND FOR YEARS, UM, THAT HUNTING ISLAND SEES ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE PER YEAR.
UM, I REALLY TRIED TO, TO GET SOME HARD NUMBERS ON THAT THIS YEAR AND GET A SOLID NUMBER.
AND THE, THE CHALLENGE TO THAT IS PASSPORTS.
SO IT'S SOUTH CAROLINA PARKS, SERVICE OFFERS PASSPORTS, UM, AND IT WILL ALLOW ANYBODY IN YOUR VEHICLE INTO THE PARK, UM, AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT TO COME.
SO TRACKING VISITORS THROUGH THAT IS DIFFICULT.
HOWEVER, IN, UH, ACCOUNTING FOR A DAILY ADMISSION PASSES, AS WELL AS THE PORTION OF OUR PASSPORT SALES AND THEN OUR OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS.
WE DO SEE ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.
UM, SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE, WE WERE RIGHT WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE WITH THAT ASSUMPTION.
UM, AND ALSO TO SAY THAT THAT NUMBER IS GROWING EVERY YEAR.
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND, WE'RE GETTING BUSIER AND BUSIER, UM, NUMBER OF CAMPERS AND DAYS VISITORS, WE SEE ABOUT 550,000 CAMPERS ANNUALLY.
UM, AND AGAIN, THAT'S AN 125 CAMPSITES, AND WE DO HAVE THREE PRIMITIVE SITES, UM, THAT ARE NOT INCREDIBLY BUSY, BUT THAT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT NUMBER.
SO FROM AN EVENT STANDPOINT, MOVING FORWARD, WE DO, UH, WE ARE PLANNING TO HAVE A PLEDGE OF THE PINK RUN AND OCTOBER.
UH, OF COURSE WE DO OUR ANNUAL, UM, PLED, UH, PELICAN PLUNGE WITH THE FRIENDS OF HUNTING ISLAND, INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION.
WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HIM IN OUR CORNER AND WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY WITH THEM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
THEY'VE GOT SOME INCREDIBLE INITIATIVES, UM, ON THEIR WEBSITE AND ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO STAY, TAKE A PEEK AT THAT CAUSE THEY'RE DOING SOME REALLY COOL THINGS THERE.
IT CHANGES ALL THE TIME AND, AND THEY ARE CERTAINLY ACTIVE AND ENGAGED AND I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
UM, SO SOME POLICY UPDATES, UM, THERE WILL BE A BIT OF A CHANGE IN HOW WE, UM, WE WORK WITH AN ENFORCEMENT, UM, OF RULES AND REGULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARK.
UM, WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH BUFORD COUNTY RIGHT NOW TO KIND OF COMMUNICATE OUR, OUR CONCERNS AND, UH, SEE HOW BEST WE MAY BE ABLE TO KIND OF NAVIGATE THOSE WATERS.
AND AGAIN, CERTAINLY APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, ANY AND ALL ADVICE.
AND THEN THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FROM BEAVER COUNTY ON THAT SIDE TO KIND OF HELP GUIDE US DOWN THAT PATH, UM, SO THAT WE CAN, WE CAN GET THERE AS BEST AS WE CAN.
UM, WE DO HAVE, UH, AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN IN PLACE.
SO IF ANYONE, IF I COULD SHARE THAT WITH ANYONE, UM, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED WITH THAT, I DO HAVE AN SOP AND AN EOP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT, WAS REFRESHED IN 2021.
UM, AND IT DOES DETAIL THE ENTIRE PROCESS FOR PRE-STORM POST-STORM.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT IF, UH, COUNSEL WOULD LIKE SO, AND I'VE GOT SOME, UM, EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION THAT I'VE SHARED WITH THE COUNTY, I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE WITH ANYONE THAT HAD ANY QUESTIONS WITH THAT.
UM, AS WELL, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US.
WE, UH, WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN GIVE YOU GUYS A CALL ANYTIME AND, AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THAT AND WANT TO, UH, OFFER THAT OUT TO YOU AS WELL.
I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ANYTIME.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION.
OFFICER HAVE TO PREPARE A NOTICE TO BE SENT TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, TO INFORM THEM OF THE VIDEO OF YOUR PRESENTATION, AND ALSO ASK THEM TO SEND IT TO THE MEDIA, TO INFORM ANYONE WHO WAS ON OUR NOTIFICATION LIST, THAT THE VIDEO
[00:25:01]
WILL BE IN THE ARCHIVE AND THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT AT THE LEISURE.YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, MR. GOSLIN BEFORE HE RETIRES, I MEAN, BEFORE HE LEAVES SURE.
BUT WHEN WE VISITED WITH A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, ONE OF OUR INDIVIDUALS PHYSICALLY COULD NOT CLIMB ALL THE STAIRS.
WHAT WE DID IS WE TOOK A VIDEO, UM, YOU KNOW, SHOWING THEM THE INSIGHT, LOOKING UP.
AND THEN FROM THE TOP LOOKING OUT, IS THERE SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD, THAT COULD GIVE PEOPLE A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE WHILE IT'S CLOSED? I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT BRING THAT UP, IS THAT WE ACTUALLY, UM, WE DO HAVE A VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE PARK.
THE FRIENDS OF HUNTING ISLAND WERE, WERE KIND ENOUGH TO BUILD A SMALL, UM, LIGHTHOUSE REPLICA WITHIN THE VISITOR CENTER.
AND THAT OFFERS AN ADA ACCESSIBLE, UM, EVEN WHEELCHAIR, YOU CAN ROLL IN PANORAMIC VIEW OF A VIRTUAL HIKE TO THE TOP OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.
WE ALSO OFFER THE HEADSET VERSIONS OF THE ONES THAT YOU SEE EVERY DAY ON YOUTUBE.
THE FUNNY ONES WE WE'VE GOT THOSE AS WELL.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP BECAUSE I'LL GET IN TROUBLE IF I DIDN'T SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
UM, YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD POINT THAT I THINK THAT'S ONE, IF YOU DIDN'T MENTION THE FRIENDS WOULD BE UPSET WITH YOU ON THAT STUFF.
UM, YOU, YOU, UM, IN MS. HOWE TALKED ABOUT PARKING.
THAT'S W THAT WAS A CONCERN OF MINE, UM, ACCOMMODATION, BUT YOU ARE NOT AT A POINT NOW, UM, YOU WILL ACCOMMODATE MORE PEOPLE, SO YOU DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT THE PARKING RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT YOUR NUMBERS ARE STILL UP.
SO IT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL VISITING THE PARK.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR, UH, PLACES, UM, IN, AND THEY HAD A STUDY ON THE PARK.
SO THE BEACHES AND HUNTING ISLAND WAS NOT AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AND STUFF, BUT THAT WAS WONDERING WHY, BUT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
UM, WE PROBABLY DON'T WANT TOO MANY FOLKS OUT THERE NOW ANYWAY, UM, I DID HAVE A CHANCE TO PLAY IT ONE OR TWO SEEDLINGS, UH, AT THE PARK, DURING THE RENOURISHMENT.
UM, I REALLY, UH, LAST SATURDAY MC WAS THERE AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVE RIVERS AND, UH, UH, ERIC SO, SO I WAS THERE.
UM, SO I PROBABLY NEED TO GET MY FREE PASS FROM YOU, BUT, UM, TELL ME, UM, WHERE IS THE LITTLE, UM, LITTLE HONEY ISLAND? UM, SURE.
UM, SO A LITTLE HUNTING ALLY IS THE TERM GOING FOR THE SOUTHERN MOST END OF THE LAGOON.
UM, DURING HURRICANE MATTHEW AND THE LOGIN BREACHED, IT MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF FLOW THAT WAS COMING DOWN TOWARDS THE PIER.
SO IF YOU WALK OUT ONTO THE PIER, YOU GO ABOUT HALFWAY OUT AND YOU LOOK TO YOUR LEFT SEAT, YOU SEE THE BEACH RIGHT THERE, AND THEN YOU SEE A FOOTBRIDGE.
SO THAT FOOT BRIDGE IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY ACCESS THAT GETS ONTO THE LITTLE HUMP AS SOON AS GO A LITTLE HONEY OUT.
AND IT'S, SO THAT AREA IS 100% UNTOUCHED.
UM, SO THERE ARE QUITE HONESTLY, IT'S THE MOST HAZARDOUS AREA ON THE PARK THAT WE HAVE, UM, OYSTER SHELLS, LOTS AND LOTS OF DRIFTWOOD PITFALLS, UM, AT HOT TOD.
AND SO YOU DON'T SEE IT, LOTS OF CUTS AND SCRAPES RESPONSES FOR ISSUES OUT THERE.
IT'S A, IT'S A CONCERN, UM, BECAUSE IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AREA, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S RAW AND YOU GET TO DISCERN REAL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU GO OUT THERE, BUT HOW DO WE BEST? HOW CAN WE MANAGE THAT? YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE BEST INTERPRET THAT? HOW DO WE, UM, YOU KNOW, LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE, THEY'RE COMPOUNDED WITH THE FACT THAT IT IS A BEACH ACCESS THAT HAS A SEPARATE KIND OF PARKING RIGHT IN THE PERIOD, WHILE IT'S A HALF MILE WALK TO THE PIER OR TO THE BEACH, A LITTLE HUNTING ISLAND FROM THAT PARKING AREA, WE DID NOTICE AN INFLUX OF VISITATION DOWN THERE THIS YEAR.
SO BASED ON THE TRENDS I FORESEE THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.
UM, AND, AND HOW WE KIND OF ADDRESS THAT.
WE DO HAVE ANOTHER ACCESS POINT TO LITTLE HUNTING ISLAND.
SO ONE THING THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING IS, UH, THE TRAIL THAT MOVES A LITTLE HUNTING ISLAND WOULD SHIFT OVER INTO THE PARK ITSELF, UM, ELIMINATE THE TRAIL COMING KIND OF FROM THAT NATURE CENTER AREA AND HIKING A HALF MILE IN AND COME DOWN VIA THE LAGOON INTO A LITTLE HUNTING ISLAND.
UM, SO WE'RE TOSSING SOME IDEAS AROUND RIGHT NOW, BUT AGAIN, BEFORE WE, WE ASSUME THAT WE'VE GOT THIS THING FIGURED OUT, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF SIT BACK AND
[00:30:01]
YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR 17 YEARS.UM, SOMEONE TOLD ME AT ONE, AT SOME POINT IN TIME AS THE OCEAN CURRENT BECAUSE OF THE OCEAN CURRENT, UM, THE DOOM IS BEING SHIFTED FROM THE NORTH SOUTH.
SO, UM, I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A PRETTY INTERESTING REPORT.
COASTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, WHO WAS KIND OF LED THE BEACH NOURISHMENT PROJECT.
SOME OF THEIR PRELIMINARY STUDIES ARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAPPING THE SHORELINE AND MUD MAPPING TO SEE WHERE THAT SAND IS SHIFTING TO.
UM, AND SO THEY KIND OF DELINEATE THE PARK INTO SECTIONS BASED ON THE EROSIVE NATURE OF EACH SECTION.
AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY, BASICALLY HOW IT'S BEEN GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO EGG BANK.
UM, AND YOU SEE THOSE WINDOWS OF THE SCALLOPING ACTION THAT THEY'RE MENTIONING WHERE YOU KIND OF HAVE THE STAND, THIS PULLING AND SHIFTING TO HERE.
INTERESTING SIDE OF THAT IS THAT IN SPEAKING WITH STEVEN TRAIN HIM IS A GREAT GUY, WORKS AT COASTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, KNOWING HIM FOR YEARS AND REALLY KIND OF TOP CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF SAND SHIFTING AND OCEAN CURRENTS IS THAT FOR YEARS WE CAN EXPERIENCE SAND PULLING FROM ONE AREA AND MOVING TO ANOTHER, AND THEN IT SHIFTS AND IT CHANGES.
AND SO WHERE WE HAD BEEN LOSING SAND WILL BEGIN TO A CREEK SAND, AND IT'S ALL PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, BANG, WHAT'S HAPPENING UP AT IT FOR THAT MATTER AT DEVEAUX BANK, UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING AT EDISTO AND HOW THAT CURRENT IS SHIFTING.
SO I SEE WHAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED OF THOSE EROSIVE POINTS.
IF YOU STAND DOWN THE BEACH AND LOOK AT IT FROM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A BIG PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE THE SCALLOPS.
AND I DO SEE THOSE, UM, IN PARTICULAR TOWARDS SOUTH BEACH WHERE WE, WE KIND OF STOPPED THE NOURISHMENT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE ON A, YOU KNOW, PRETTY BIG TOD FOR DECENT HIGH TIDE THAT THE TIDE IS COMING UP TO THE DUNE LINE.
UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GO A PORTION UP AND YOU WON'T SEE THAT YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY OF BEACH.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S A PRODUCT OF THE DYNAMICS.
I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE ANTICIPATED WAS GOING TO HAPPEN SOUTH BEACH.
AND ALONG THE LITTLE, AGAIN, THE AREA THAT WAS NOT TOUCHED BY A BEACH, RENOURISHMENT, THAT'S GOING TO BE A CASE STUDY AND, AND PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE CAUSE, YOU KNOW, UM, HOW WAS BEACH SWEEP LAST WEEKEND? DID THEY, DID THEY, WAS IT CLEAN OR DIRTY OR IN BETWEEN? YEAH, WE REALLY A GOOD THING THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCED.
ISN'T ONE OF THE LAST SWEEPS THAT WE DID.
WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TRASH THAT WE KIND OF CIRCLED BACK AND SAID, CAN WE WORK IN, WE GOT GO.
SO WE ACTUALLY DID A TRAIL SWEEP.
UM, WE'RE TRYING TO BE MORE PRESENT ON THE BEACH THIS YEAR.
WE'RE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO, YOU KNOW, REQUIRE RANGERS TO BE OUT THERE ON A RECURRING BASIS.
UM, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE CALLED OUT THERE, BUT REALLY LOOK AT OUR ENTIRE OPERATION.
I'M HOPING THAT THAT'S GOING TO KIND OF HELP, UM, WITH THE AMOUNT OF LITTER THAT WE'RE SEEING THERE.
ANYTHING FURTHER MR. BRIAN BROWN, HE WANTS TO MAKE A COMMENT.
LARRY, MY UNDERSTANDING, ALTHOUGH EVEN IN THE SHORT, SHORTER TERMS, IT CAN DO THE OPPOSITE THAT THE LONGTERM OVER THE COAST, THAT THE ISLANDS GENERALLY ERODE AT THE NORTH END AND IT CREATED THE SOUTH END.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD OVER TIME.
THAT MAY VERY WELL BE ACCURATE.
I WOULD, I, I COULDN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
IT'S UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FROM WHAT I SEE AND AT A PARK RANGER KIND OF LEVEL, UM, UM, THAT, THAT MAY BE THE CASE.
IT'S BEEN TRUE OF HILTON HEAD, I THINK, OVER THE RECORDED HISTORY.
BUT IT DOES DO THE OPPOSITE FROM TIME TO TIME.
IT'S DIFFERENT THAN DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, IT'S, I'M VERY FORTUNATE AGAIN, AS I SAID, TO HAVE LIVED AND SEEN SOME INCREDIBLE PLACES AND HAVING THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE FOLKS IN THIS AREA ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HUNTING ISLAND AND BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A PLACE LIKE THAT.
THAT IS SO DYNAMIC AND CHANGES SO QUICKLY.
I'M, I'M, I'M KIND OF PROUD TO BE HERE AND HONORED REALLY.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HAVING ME FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT ANYTIME AND, UH, COME BY AND SEE US AT THE BEACH.
GET SAND BETWEEN YOUR TOES, BUT JUST BRUSH IT OFF BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO NUMBER
[8. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR (MAT-PDOA) GRANT RFP 2022 MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT-PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ADDICTION: FISCAL IMPACT- GRANT IS UP TO $750,000 PER YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS. NO MATCHING FUNDS]
EIGHT.YOU'VE BEEN ASKED YOU CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOID ADDICTION.
THE GRANT IS UP TO $750,000 A YEAR, FIVE YEARS, NO MATCHING FUNDS AUDRA.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE, LIKE YOU STATED THE ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPARTMENT, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT, A SEEKING APPROVAL TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL GRANT RFP 2022 MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND OPIOD ADDICTION.
THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR GRANT WITH NO MATCHING FUNDS REQUIRED.
[00:35:03]
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, TO HELP EXPAND AND OR ENHANCE ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS.AND I HAVE ASKED STEVE TO COME IN CASE YOU WOULD HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO THIS GRANT.
IT'S NICE FOR A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN OPIOID ADDICTION AND NOT METHADONE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AS A DIFFERENT KIND OF HIS PICTURES, SIR, I WILL HAVE STEVE ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOW ARE YOU? COULD YOU HEAR THAT QUESTION? UH, I HEARD PART OF IT.
I'M NOT WEARING MY HEARING AIDS TODAY, SO I FILLED, IN SOME WORDS, I JUST ASKED WHETHER THIS WAS PRESCRIPTION, UH, ASSISTED, UM, MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.
SOMETHING LIKE METHADONE, OR IS IT A NEW DRUG WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YET.
UM, SO PARTIALLY, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S OCCURRING RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE DO HAVE BENEFIT OF THE STATE OPIOID RESPONSE, HAVING MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE.
THOSE FUNDS ARE, UM, THEY, THE CURRENT FUNDING CYCLE ENDS, UH, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO GET RENEWED.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT ARE ON MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, PRIMARILY BUPRENORPHINE, NO METHADONE, BUT THE MENU OF SERVICES COULD EXPAND TO OTHER THINGS LIKE SUPPLICATE.
UM, OTHER SORTS OF, UM, MEDICATIONS FOR OPIATE USE DISORDERS.
UM, VIVITROL IS ONE, THAT'S ALSO AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION, UH, DR.
AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THAT MENU OF OPTIONS.
WE'RE ALREADY CONTRACTED TO DO THAT.
IF WE GET INTO THAT AND THIS FIVE-YEAR GRANT WOULD ENABLE US TO, UM, CONTINUE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT THAT WE'RE ALREADY PROVIDING TO CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND POSSIBLY, UM, AT THE STATE DOES NOT GET A RENEWAL AND WE GET FUNDED.
WE WOULD HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MR. RENEWAL EFFORT, OH, WE ALREADY RECEIVING FUNDING OR IS THIS NEW REQUEST? WE DON'T, UM, NOT DIRECTLY, UH, STATE DAY NOTICE, UH, THE SINGLE STATE AUTHORITY, THEY HAVE A FEDERAL GRANT.
AND SO THE PATIENTS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE ON MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, BASICALLY WE BROKER THE SERVICE WITH SOMEBODY LOCALLY AND THEY REIMBURSE US.
AND THIS PROGRAM WORKING THE PROGRAM IS WORKING.
UH, THE, THE OTHER THING TO, TO MENTION, UH, TO GO BEYOND YOUR QUESTION IS THAT WE ALSO WANT TO, UM, TRY TO STOP GETTING PEOPLE JUST TO COME TO THE BRICK AND MORTAR PLACES.
PEOPLE, PEOPLE WOULD RATHER, UM, HAVE US HAVE SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY, UM, THEY INTERFACE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO WANT TO DO IN THIS, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT IS WE WANT TO PUT, UM, PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE SOLICITORS MULTIDISCIPLINARY DRUG COURT, AND ALSO IN THE, OUR OWN DETENTION CENTER, IN ADDITION TO COUNSELING STAFF, TO HELP US TO BE ABLE TO DO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, MORE SMOOTH TRANSITIONS INTO THE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT WERE SERVICES HAVE ACTUALLY STARTED IN THE JAIL.
AND WHEN I SAY SERVICES, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT MEDICATION.
UM, I'M TALKING ABOUT SIMPLY WE MIGHT TEE IT UP IN THE JAIL AND THEN REFER THEM TO COMMUNITY PROVIDERS AND US AT THE BACK OF THAT OFFICE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER FOR US, IF YOU WILL, AUDRA? I JUST HAVE, UM, UH, NOT REALLY A QUESTION, BUT, UM, ONCE, ONCE YOU GET INTO THE PROGRAM AND YOU IN THE PROGRAM NOW, AND IF YOU GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING, UM, COULD YOU JUST KEEP US APPRISED OF WHERE THINGS ARE? UM, CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO YEAH, APPRECIATE THAT.
GIVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW THINGS ARE AT HOME, IF IT'S WORKING, IF IT'S NOT WORKING SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KNOW.
I MEAN, I'M GOING TO ADMIT THAT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WORK FOR EVERYONE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO DO WITH THIS IS INCREASE OUR SUPPLY OF NARCAN FUNDING TO ALSO, UM, PROVIDE FOR FOLKS THAT WHO HAVE OVERDOSED AS A FIRST AID, IF YOU WILL, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO, UM, OUR GOAL IS SAVING LIVES, UH, THAT, THAT DON'T NECESSARILY COME TO OUR OFFICE, BUT ALSO, YES, WE'RE HOPING TO GET A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, THROUGH OPIOID ASSISTANT, UM, MEDICATIONS, BUT ALSO TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS FOR THOSE THAT DON'T WANT THOSE MEDICATIONS, BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE FOLKS TOO.
SO THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO MAKE CONNECTIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER THEY WANT MEDICATION OR NOT, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE OUTCOMES WITH, OR WITHOUT MEDICATION.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, CAN WE GRANT THIS,
[00:40:01]
UM, CAN WE GIVE THIS APPROVAL OR CHOOSE, HAVE TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL BEFORE IT HAS TO GO TO FULL COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL? SO THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO AUTHORIZE IT, TO BE MOVED FORWARD FOR COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVAL, AND THEN I'LL BE SEEKING EMOTION IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A MATTER OF UNFOLDED WILLFUL FULL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION HEARING, NONE.
THIS MOTION WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT A CONNECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS HEARING ON THE MATTERS APPROVED? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
DO YOU APPRECIATE YOUR TIME COMING TO A NUMBER EIGHT? SHE, THAT MR. ATKINSON HAS ANTICIPATED YOU WERE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH CHARLIE ITEM NINE.
[9. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE LIND BROWN RECREATION CENTER OUTDOOR POOL IN HONOR OF MR. ALVIN SETTLES]
UM, WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION NAMED MELINDA BROWN RECREATION STAR OUT TO A POOL IN HONOR OF HIS ALVIN SETTLES KETCHUP.IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE LYNN BROWN RECREATION CENTERS, OUTDOOR POOL IN HONOR OF MR. ALVIN SETTLED, UH, MR. SETTLES, A NATIVE OF BUFORD COUNTY, UH, AND EXCUSE ME, A NATIVE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, SPENT HIS ENTIRE ADULT LIFE INVESTING IN BUFORD COUNTY'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE, OUR CHILDREN.
UH, HE STARTED BEAVER COUNTY'S FIRST, PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SWIM LESSON FROM SCRATCH IN 1981.
HE TAUGHT SWIMMING LESSONS ON THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FOR 32 YEARS.
AND AT BUFORD COUNTY IS LYNN BROWN CENTER, OR A LOT OF US KNOW IT IS THE GREEN STREET GYM.
UH, FOR 30 YEARS IN MAY OF 2015, HE WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WE HAVE A RESOLUTION SPONSORED BY KENNETH HODGES, A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND MR SETTLES, A PASTOR AND THE RESOLUTION RED, WHEREAS MANY OF MR SUTTLE STUDENTS WHO NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD EXPOSURE TO SWIMMING OR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM HAVE EXCELLED.
SOME OF THEM EVEN BECOMING LIFEGUARDS IN JUNE OF 2015, THE BUFORD CITY COUNCIL PROCLAIM JUNE 23RD OF THAT YEAR AS ALVIN SETTLES DAY IN HONOR, OF HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY STAFF AND THE PARKS AND REC BOARD, I BELIEVE IT IS FITTING TO RECOGNIZE MR SETTLES AND HIS YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE, AND, UH, THAT HE PROVIDED TO THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
IF THIS IS APPROVED TODAY, WE WILL FORWARD IT TO FULL COUNCIL.
CHAKA IN THE AGENDA MEETING, WE HAD AN ISSUE THAT WE STILL HAVE TO RESOLVE.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD BE MENTIONED THAT THE, UM, UH, WHETHER OR NOT A HORRIFIC ENDING BE STOWED, UH, SO SOON AFTER SOMEONE'S PASSING, CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT? YES, SIR.
SO IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A COUNTY COUNCIL RULE THAT IN ORDER FOR A FACILITY TO BE NAMED AFTER SOMEONE, THEY HAVE TO BE DECEASED FOR 10 YEARS.
UH, IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONS TO THAT RULE.
UM, MR. SUTTLES PASSED AWAY APRIL OF 2021 AND IN MAY OF 2021, THE PARKS AND REC BOARD BROUGHT IT FORWARD AND ASKED IF WE COULD, UH, ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THAT RULE.
UH, WE HAD BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR A YEAR.
NOW, THE FRIENDS OF LYNN BROWN BROUGHT THIS BACK UP IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND, UH, MR. GLOVER WAS INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION.
AND SO WE HAVE PUT THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER AND BROUGHT IT FORWARD, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHEN WE SEND THAT FORWARD, WE'VE SENT OUT FOR WORD THAT WE HAVE A COMPLETE, UH, PRESENTATION TO MAKE EVERYONE, SO THEY'RE ALL FULLY INFORMED ON THE FACT THAT WE WILL BE ASKING FOR AN EXCEPTION.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. ATKINSON WHILE HE JUST BROUGHT HIM? MR. CAN YOU HEAR IT GLORIA ANSWER QUESTION.
I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I, UM, WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND TO KEPT FULL COUNCIL NAMING OF THAT SWIMMING POOL.
UM, ALVIN SETTLED SWIMMING POOL, UM, WITHOUT ANY OBJECTIONS.
SO I PUT THAT ON THE TABLE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
SO I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND THERE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER, MR. CHAIRMAN, ON THIS CHART, WE DO THAT.
UM, I'M NOT TOO SURE WHETHER, UM, GENERAL MITCHELL IS ONLINE.
UM, HE DID HAVE A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT AND HE, BUT HE SAID IF HE COULD, HE WOULD BE ONLINE.
UM, JOEL MITCHELL HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS, UH, ENDEAVOR AND AS BROUGHT IT FORWARD TO, TO ME AND AFFORDED TO, UH, MR. ATKINSON.
[00:45:01]
SORT OF THE, UM, THE ARM BEHIND THIS.AND, UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT HONOR TO, TO, UM, TO DO THIS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UM, KNOWING MR. SETTLES MYSELF AND HE HAS BEEN A, UM, A TRAINER FOR MY GRANDKIDS.
AND I THINK MR. SOMMERVILLE ALSO TALKED ABOUT MR. SILVER WAS ACTUALLY, UM, TRAINING ALL OF HIS KIDS, UM, UH, IN, IN, UM, SWIMMING.
UM, AND SO IT COULD NOT BE A BETTER HONOR THAN TO, UM, RESTORE THIS UPON, UH, A GENTLEMAN, UM, A REAL TRUE GENTLEMEN, UM, AS THE IRISH WOULD CALL HIM.
AND, UM, I THINK IT'S, UH, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF THIS.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT HIS WIFE IS VERY, I'M THRILLED THAT THIS IS BEING DONE AND BEING, UH, IN HIS HONOR.
AND SO, UM, IF THIS GOES FORWARD, UM, MISS GENERAL MITCHELL WILL ASSURE YOU THAT SHE WILL BE HERE, UH, UM, DURING THE PRESENTATION.
AND I DID THAT ON BEHALF OF GENERAL MITCHELL.
IS THERE A GENERAL METRIC AVAILABLE OR AVAILABLE MOMENT IS NOT OKAY.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION YOU SEND TO THE FULL COUNCIL AND THEN THE LYNN BROWN RECREATION CENTER OUT TO A POOL AND OUT OF MR. ALVIN SHUTTLES, UH, THAT WILL PASS ABSENT ANY OBJECTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS HEARING ON THE MATTER PASSES AND THE, UH, REASONABLE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION SHALL GO TO THE FULL COUNCIL? PECKY MR. RASKIN, IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER FROM ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OR ANYONE ON COUNCIL ADD ANYTHING TO THIS, UM, SESSION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE? YOU'RE ON MUTE.
YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE GONE A LITTLE HAYWIRE HERE, LIKE COMPUTER, UM, OKAY.
HEARING NO MATTERS, NEEDING FURTHER DISCUSSION.
THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING OF MAY.