May 09, 2022 County Council Regular Session

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

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COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, MAY 9TH TO ORDER A, THIS IS A HYBRID MEETING, WHICH MEANS WE DO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN PERSON AS WELL.

AS ONLINE AS I CALLED THE ROLE, WILL YOU PLEASE INDICATE THAT YOU ARE PRESENT IN COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON'S PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER FLUE WELLING.

I'M HERE TALKING TO MEMBER GLOVER, COUNCIL MEMBER VISHAAN, FROZEN COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON, MARK LAWSON HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKELLEN HERE, HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER RODMAN HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER SOMERVILLE READ.

NO PASSMAN IS PRESENT.

THEREFORE WE DO HAVE ALL 11 MEMBERS TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.

MR. MCKELLAN WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE AND DO THE INVOCATION MR. MCKELLEN.

THANK YOU.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AS TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL AND LOVING GOD.

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSING.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE ITSELF.

THE MEASURE OF HEALTH, GIVEN US TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES.

YOU THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK.

AND FOR THE HONOR OF AARON'S FURIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES, I ASK WE AS A BODY PROMOTE PEACE ORDER AND JUSTICE THAT YOU'RE GRACIOUSLY GRANT, THIS ASSEMBLED BODY WISDOM OF GOVERN KNIT, THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS AND ISSUES OF OUR TIMES TO HAVE A SENSE OF THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.

HAVE A KEEN FIRST JUSTICE.

WE UNDERSTAND AND CLEARLY SEE WHAT IS GOOD FITTING APPROPRIATELY.

HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT AND TO HAVE PERSONAL PEACE IN OUR LIVES, JOY AND OUR TASKS.

FINALLY, PLEASE HELP US TO ENSURE I WOULD GO LIBERATION YOUR TONIGHT, BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY IN YOUR NAME.

WE PRAY AMEN.

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

UM, I WOULD FIRST ASK A MEMBER OF

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

UH, MR. DAWSON MADE THE SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SEEING NONE OF THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.

THE AGENDA IS NOW AMENDED.

THEREFORE I ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED FROM WILL.

SECOND DAWSON MAKES THE MOTION AND MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE, THE AGENDA AS AMENDED IS APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

NEXT IS THE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MARCH 28, 2022]

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVEMENTS CHAIRMAN, MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION.

MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND ANY, UM, QUESTIONS REGARDING THE MINUTES, SAY NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

NEXT

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

MR. GREENWAY, THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

UH, THESE NEXT FEW ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE, UH, GIVEN THEIR SERVICE TO, UH, THE COUNTY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER SOME THINGS THAT YOU ALL ASKED ME ABOUT DURING CAUCUS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, UH, FILING DELLBOTS WILL COME UP TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE, UH, TO PROVIDE A BETTER PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

OUR FIRST, UH, ITEM TONIGHT IS TO INTRODUCE EMPLOYEES.

OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE WORKS IN OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

HER NAME IS JENNIFER .

SHE IS AN EXEMPTION SPECIALIST

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SO YOU ALL PROBABLY HAVE RECEIVED SOME EMAILS FROM SOME OF THEIR WORK, ARE FOLKS HAVING QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR WORK? UM, SO, UH, SHE ASSIST TAXPAYERS WITH THEIR LEGAL RESIDENCE APPLICATION PROCESS.

SHE DOES, THE RESEARCH IS RESEARCH.

SHE DOES THE REVIEW AND SHE APPROVES THE LEGAL RESIDENCE EXEMPTION APPLICATION.

THAT'S A IMPORTANT JOB FOR US.

IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL JOB.

UH, THEY IT'S A THANKLESS JOB FOR THEM.

UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW, UH, THAT THE REVENUE COMING IN IS APPROPRIATELY TIED.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO REFUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

MS. CONTE HAS A NEW JERSEY NATIVE.

SHE WORKED FOR MANY YEARS IN CORPORATE AMERICA BEFORE MOVING TO SOUTH CAROLINA AND JOINING THE, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

SHE'S BEEN WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.

SHE ENJOYS HELPING THE TAXPAYERS WITH THEIR QUESTIONS AND CHALLENGES AND LEARNING ABOUT MORE LEARNING, MORE ABOUT BUFORD COUNTY AND THE LOW COUNTRY FROM A NEW UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.

SO, UM, IT'S, UH, I GOT, I GUESS OUR CHAIRMAN CAN TESTIFY TO THE FACT OF HOW, HOW UNIQUE, UH, COMING FROM NEW JERSEY, SO MOVING TO THE LOW COUNTRY.

SO, UM, SO LET'S GIVE UP, MISCANTHUS RONALD WE'LL PLOT.

UM, I'M GONNA SKIP OVER ONE EMPLOYEE OF SOMEBODY THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HERE IN PERSON.

THEY HAVE NOT ARRIVED YET.

AND THEN I'LL GO TO THEM.

OUR SECOND EMPLOYEE IS AN EMPLOYEE THAT WORKS IN OUR BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OFFICE FOR COUNTY.

HER NAME IS TONYA HARRIS.

UH, SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 16 YEARS.

SHE IS A VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTION SPECIALIST.

UM, SHE DOES A LOT OF THINGS.

UH, SHE MAINTAINS THE DEPARTMENT'S ACCOUNT PAYABLE RECORDS ALONG WITH MAINTAINING AND ORGANIZING THE POLL WORKER SUPPLIES FOR 95 PRECINCTS AND NINE BOARD MEMBERS.

SHE PLAYED AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN THIS YEAR'S RE-DISTRICTING PROCESS BY ENSURING THAT THE VOTER REGISTRATION RECORD FOR EVERY VOTER IN THE COUNTY WAS UPDATED WITH THE NEW DISTRICT INFORMATION BEFORE THE MARCH 16TH, CANADA FILING PERIOD.

THAT MEANT EVERY STREET AND BUFORD COUNTY HAD TO BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THE NEW DISTRICTS CHANGES WITHIN A TWO WEEK WINDOW.

UM, TANYA HOLDS A BACHELOR'S AND MASTER'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.

SHE IS ALSO THE PROUD MOTHER OF TWO TEENAGE SONS.

AND MANY OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT SHE'S ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF THE PERSON THAT TAKES CARE OF ME EVERY DAY, MS. CHERYL HARRIS, WHO IS THE MATRIARCH OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, SHE TAKES GOOD CARE OF ME.

SO ANYWAY, CHERYL DID A GREAT JOB RAISING TANYA AND LET'S GIVE TANYA, HM.

HOW ARE YOU? UH, SO I'M SHOWERING.

ROWING IS IN OUR BUILDING INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT.

SHE HAS A COMMERCIAL PLANS EXAMINER, AND HE'D BEEN WITH US FOR FIVE YEARS.

I COURSE SHE DOES A REVIEW OF COMMERCIAL PLANS AS SHE PERFORMS COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INSPECTIONS AS NEEDED.

UM, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY DID THIS.

WHAT WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT YOU? UM, YOU CROCHET WILDLIFE NEST FOR USE DURING REHAB REHABILITATION OF INJURED ANIMALS.

AND IN ADDITION, UH, SHE LOVES ALL ANIMALS.

YOU WERE NOT HERE EARLIER, SO I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THIS AND THAT'S OKAY.

BUT I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A FEW MOMENTS AT THE MIC HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

AS WELL.

SO, UM, ANYWAY, SO COME RIGHT HERE, IF YOU WILL NOT TO SAY, IF YOU WERE, THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS A REALLY NICE PLACE TO WORK.

UM, MY BOSSES HAVE BEEN AMAZING AND VERY, UH, MUCH MENTORS TO ME.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK HERE AND I REALLY HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, YOU KNOW, GREAT JOB OF COURSE, BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU.

LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND.

SO, UH, TWO ITEMS FROM EARLIER THIS EVENING, THE DATA BREACH THAT OCCURRED BACK IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.

UM, WE DID SOME WORK ON THAT.

UH, IN-BETWEEN CAUCUS IN THE COUNCIL MEETING.

UM, APPARENTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED THERE IS THE VENDOR THAT HANDLES OUR PRECINCT POLL WORKER APPLICATIONS.

UH, THERE WAS A DATA BREACH THERE OF

[00:10:01]

THEIR INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

UH, WE DO NOT THINK ANY, THE ONLY DATA THAT WE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED, UH, PUBLICLY IS FOR TWO WORKERS.

UH, BUT IN RESPONSE TO THAT, UM, CREDIT MONITORING SERVICES ARE BEING OFFERED TO ALL OF THOSE WORKERS BY EXPERIENCE FOR A YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT IF ANYTHING DOES GET OUT, THEY'RE NOTIFIED OF THAT IMMEDIATELY.

SO COUNCIL MEMBER THROUGH ELLEN HAD REQUESTED THAT EARLIER.

UH, UH, HE HEARD THAT, BUT THAT'S THE UPDATE ON THAT INVESTIGATION? THAT'S STILL ONGOING, UM, WITH REGARDS TO THE RIVER LODGE, UH, APPARENTLY THERE WAS AN EMAIL SENT OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH A LETTER ABOUT USING THAT FOR VOTER REGISTRATION OR VOTER, UH, UH, PLACE.

AND THERE WAS NO FOLLOWUP ON THAT.

SO CURRENTLY ALL OF THOSE FOLKS ARE BEING TOLD TO GO TO THE WOULD BE TOLD TO GO TO THE CHURCH AND THE PALMS, BUT WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THIS TOMORROW.

WE HAVE THE CORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION NOW, UH, TO GET THAT, UM, UH, TO TRY TO CORRECT THAT AND ALL GRAS IN, UM, OUR ACA THAT OVERSEES AND WORKS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE WILL BE HANDLING THAT TOMORROW TO SEE IF WE CAN ARRANGE THAT FOR COUNCIL MEMBER.

UH MCKELLAN WHO, WHO ASKED THAT QUESTION DURING CAUCUS? SO, UM, THE FINAL THING THAT I HAVE THE SEAT ON MY SNAIL BUCKS TO COME UP, HE'S GONNA UPDATE YOU ON A NEW SERVICES THAT WE'RE OFFERING OUR REGISTERED DEEDS OFFICE, UH, THAT, UH, GIVES FOLKS SOME MORE SECURITY ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS.

AND THEN THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY REPORT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. GREENWAY DID EVENING COUNCIL.

UM, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO THAT OUR PROPERTY FRAUD ALERT SYSTEM WENT LIVE AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE, UM, THAT IS A FREE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE PROVIDED TO OUR CITIZENS WHERE THEY CAN, UH, SIGN UP FOR, UH, ALERTS ANYTIME THAT THERE'S A TRANSACTION INVOLVING THEIR PROPERTY.

SO MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE GOING TO BE AWARE OF ANY TRANSACTION, BUT THEY'LL GET AN EMAIL REGARDLESS.

AND, UH, IT'S THOSE TIMES THAT, OF COURSE, YOU'RE NOT AWARE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO, UH, REACT.

AND SO THIS IS JUST A SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE, UH, FOR THE, UH, THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN OUR COUNTY, IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WERE TO BE, UH, SOME KIND OF FRAUD SITUATION THAT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO KNOW ABOUT IT, UH, QUICKLY AND CONTACT THE AUTHORITIES.

UH, SINCE WE WENT LIVE ON APRIL 16TH, 2021, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN A 1,942 USERS SIGN UP FOR THE SERVICE.

AND, UM, OF COURSE, AS WE SAID, IT, UH, THERE'S NOTHING, NOT ANYTHING THAT THE DEEDS OFFICE WOULD, WOULD DO IN THE WAY OF ANY ACTION.

IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU TO, TO CONTACT WHOM YOU NEEDED TO CONTACT, BUT AT LEAST IT DOES LET, LET YOU KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU MIGHT'VE HEARD US TALKING ABOUT, UM, SOME ACTION THAT THE REGISTERED DEEDS AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE, UH, JOINTLY WE'RE, WE'RE TAKING HERE WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

THAT IS, UH, JUST AS, UH, A PIGGYBACK ON THIS SYSTEM WHERE THEY ARE NOW CONTACTING THE SELLER.

UH, WHEN, WHEN THERE'S A DEED COMES ACROSS THE COUNTER, NOT PREPARED BY AN ATTORNEY HAS JUST A PROACTIVE MOVE ON THEIR PART TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SELLER INDEED IS CONVEYING THAT PROPERTY AND SOMEONE'S NOT PRESENTING A FRAUDULENT DOCUMENT TO THEM.

SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER AND KUDOS TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

AND THE REST ARE DEEDS FOR COMING UP WITH, UH, WITH THAT PROCESS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? SINCE IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON HOW THAT'S BEING USED.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, I GUESS.

YEAH.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US KIND OF BECOME AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE OF ADS ON TV, ABOUT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR HOMES.

UM, AND I, AND I'M, I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, I GUESS ONE QUESTION WOULD BE ON THE SECOND ONE THAT YOU DESCRIBED WHERE IT, IT ONLY IS DONE IF THERE'S NOT AN ATTORNEY DOING IT.

UH, IS THERE ANY LOGICAL REASON NOT TO DO IT FOR JUST EVERYBODY IN BUFORD COUNTY? BECAUSE IT WOULD SEEM LIKE THAT WOULD BE A, A FAIL SAFE THING THAT WOULD PROTECT SOME PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S JUST SHEER VOLUME ON THEIR PART BECAUSE, UH, BECAUSE THE OTHER SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE IS, IS IN PLACE.

AND BECAUSE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY TO PREPARE YOUR, YOUR DEED IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND YOU STILL GET THOSE THAT ARE QUOTE UNQUOTE HOMEMADE DEEDS THAT MIGHT COME IN, AND THAT COULD BE THE HIGHEST, COULD BE THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF POTENTIAL FRAUD.

THOSE THAT ARE NOT DONE BY AN ATTORNEY.

SO THAT WAS THE REASONING AND GOING THAT ROUTE.

NOW THERE'S TWO STEPS THERE.

SO THEY, THEY FILED THE DEED AND THE REGISTERED DEEDS OFFICE

[00:15:01]

WHO DOES THE OFFICIAL TRANSFER FOR TAX PURPOSES.

THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD STOP IN, IN THE EVENT THAT THE SELLER SAYS, NO, I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.

IT WOULD BE THE TRANSFER PORTION THAT YOU WOULD CUT IT OFF AND RETURN THAT YOU KNOW, THAT DOCUMENTS, AND DIDN'T LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN THE VICTIM OF FRAUD.

YOU KNOW? SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT VERIFYING THAT SOMEBODY THAT SAYS THEY'RE AN ATTORNEY IS REALLY AN ATTORNEY? WELL, THEY DON'T VERIFY THAT, BUT PART OF OUR ORDINANCE IN BUFORD COUNTY IS THAT, UH, ANY DEED HAS A PREP CLAUSE ON IT THAT SAYS PREPARED BY SO-AND-SO ATTORNEY AT LAW, UH, OR IT DOESN'T HAVE IT.

IT'S GOT, WHOEVER'S PREPARED BY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THERE.

SO IF IT'S JUST MY WHALE BUTTS, AND OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT IN IT, THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE NOT NOTIFIED IS IF IT IS DONE BY AN ATTORNEY, RIGHT.

AND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ATTORNEYS.

YEAH.

AND THIS IS A VERY HOT BUTTON ISSUE AROUND THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY, NOT TO HAVE TOO MANY INCIDENTS LIKE THIS, THAT WE'RE AWARE OF ANYWAY, BUT, UM, THAT'S THE REASON YOU'D SAW.

YOU WOULD SEE A LOT OF THOSE RADIO AND TV ADS ABOUT FRAUD ALERT.

THEY'RE AGAIN, THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE CAN PROVIDE IT FOR YOU FOR FREE HERE, THE SAME THING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AND WE THINK THE COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THAT A YEAR AGO.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE WITH ALMOST 2000 USERS SIGNED UP, IT'S BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL AT THIS POINT.

JOEL, LET ME, UM, SO I'LL PUT YOU ON A SPOT, DALE, HOW DO THEY SIGN UP? BECAUSE I JUST WENT THROUGH THE WEBSITE TRYING TO SEE WHERE IT IS AND DO, CAUSE YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP TO BE ABLE TO, YEAH, YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP.

IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING.

SO IF YOU GO TO THE REGISTER OF DEEDS PAGE, RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE, OF THE FIRST PAGE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A BIG BLUE BOX THAT SAYS, SIGN UP HERE OR REGISTER HERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND SARAH'S GOT IT RIGHT THERE.

PROPERTY FRAUD ALERT NOW AVAILABLE, OR YOU CAN GO TO ONE OF THE RESOURCE LINKS ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE AND ALSO CLICK ON IT AND JUST FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

ALL THERE IS TO IT.

UM, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

UM, AND IT IS A BIG THING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THE QUESTION NOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ALSO USE THE SAME TECHNOLOGY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REZONING, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD INSTANCES COME TO COUNTY COUNCIL WHERE PEOPLE SAY, I DIDN'T REALIZE MY PROPERTY WAS REZONED.

I DIDN'T KNOW.

IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD DO THE SAME TECH TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY WHERE PEOPLE CAN PUT THEIR PROPERTY IN THERE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL OR UNDEVELOPED SO THAT THERE IS THAT FORM OF NOTIFICATION.

SO PEOPLE DON'T COME TO US FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS DOWN THE ROAD SAYING, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW.

AND WE CAN'T TELL IF THEY DID OR DIDN'T.

UM, IS THERE SOMETHING LIKE THAT WE COULD DO AS WELL? IT IS SOFTWARE SPECIFIC.

UM, I WON'T SPEAK FOR THE ZONING OFFICE, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT, WHAT, UH, THEIR SOFTWARE VENDOR MIGHT OFFER, BUT, BUT THIS IS THROUGH THE, UH, THE COMPANY THAT DOES OUR, OUR REAL PROPERTY SOFTWARE, NEW VISION SYSTEMS. SO THEY PROVIDED THIS AND THEY'RE VERY WELL, MAYBE SOMETHING THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

YEAH.

WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK INTO THAT.

IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WITHOUT DUE DO OUR GIS, UM, OFFICE THAT WHENEVER A REZONING OR OUR PROPERTY ZONING CODE IS CHANGED, THAT WE WOULD SET THAT UP TO HAVE, UH, AN EMAIL SENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER.

SO THAT THEY'LL KNOW THAT AN ACTUAL CHANGE HAS OCCURRED, BUT WE, WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

UH, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WILL BE READ BY MR. MCKELLEN.

SO ITEM NUMBER

[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY 15TH - MAY 21ST AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK]

MR. MCKELLEN AT HERE, YOU HEAR ME? OKAY.

THERE ARE, UM, MEMBERS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES GROUP THAT WILL BE COMING TO, WE HAVE ASKED HER TO COME FORWARD.

UM, ERIC PROMOTE READING.

GOOD.

OKAY, GREAT.

OKAY.

HAVE A GREAT, GREAT.

OKAY.

I'LL WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO GET ASSEMBLE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO, UH, YOU, UH, READ THIS PROCLAMATION AT YOU IN YOUR HONOR TONIGHT.

WHEREAS BUFORD COUNTY IS FORTUNATE AND HAVING A HIGHLY TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THIS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE STAFF, A PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERIENCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS WERE ON CALL DAY AND NIGHT.

AND WE'RE AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS A VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE.

AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TEAMS

[00:20:01]

THOSE IN NEED 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND WHEREAS ACCESS TO QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THE SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY RATES.

THOSE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ILLNESS OR INJURY, AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE TEAMS OR THEIR CAREER OR VOLUNTEER ENGAGE IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS, SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION WILL ENHANCE THEIR LIFE-SAVING SKILLS.

AND WHEREAS YOU USE APPROPRIATE, YOU RECOGNIZE THE VALUE WHEN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDERS BY DESIGNATING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE IS WEAK.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED WITH YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL PROCLAIMS MAY 15TH, MAY 21ST EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE WEEK.

AND WE HONOR YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR SERVICE.

I HAVE SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, UH, CONNECTED TO THIS.

UM, I KNOW YOU DO A LOT OF RESPONSES, WORK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE TROUBLE WITH OVERDOSE.

UM, TOMORROW, TUESDAY, MAY 10TH IS DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL INTERNAL AWARENESS DAY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE COME IN CONTACT WITH THAT OFTEN IN THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE.

I THINK SOUTH CAROLINA, SOMEWHAT OF A CRISIS IN THAT REGARD, YOU'RE A 22 ON AVERAGE, 20 TO 20 DEATHS, PER HUNDRED THOUSAND STATEWIDE BECAUSE FENTANYL IS 50 TIMES STRONGER THAN HEROIN AND A HUNDRED TIMES STRONGER THAN MORPHINE.

AND ON OCCASION, PEOPLE ARE MIXING THIS DRUG WITH OTHER DRUGS, THINKING THE DRUG THEY ARE TAKING IS SOMEWHAT SAFE AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE FENTANYL, WHICH CAN CAUSE A FATALITY JUST BY MAKING SMALL AMOUNTS.

THERE ARE 10 COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE A HIGHER MENTAL OVERSOLD OVERDOSE DEATH RATE OF 22 PER A HUNDRED THOUSAND, UM, MCCORMICK AND CHARLES STUDENT KISHOR HAVE IN THE THIRTIES, GEORGETOWN GREENWOOD, ORIE COUNTY, LANCASTER LAWRENCE, AND DYLAN WILL HAVE, UM, RATES IN THE FORTIES AND ON IT FOR JASPER COUNTY ACTUALLY HAS 60 800,000.

SO IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM, BUT YOU NOTICE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN BUFORD COUNTY.

WE'RE NOT IN THE TOP 10.

AND I THINK THAT IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FIRST OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE, WHICH IS YOU IN COOPERATION WITH THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AND THE COUNTY.

AND CERTAINLY IN COOPERATION WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

I KNOW THAT YOUR EFFORTS ARE SINGULAR IN PREVENTING OVERDOSE DEATHS, NOOSE COUNTY.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK YOU DO IN THAT REGARD.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK.

ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME JOKE? YES.

OKAY.

UH, OKAY.

UH, THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE SOME PICTURES.

WE GOT THEM ALL.

READY? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR NEXT

[8. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MR. ROLAND GARDNER FOR HIS SERVICE TO BEAUFORT, JASPER, HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES]

SO I DON'T HAVE GOOD ITEM.

AUDRA STEPPED DOWN, TAKE MY GLASSES SO I CAN READ INFLAMMATION READS IF YOU HAVE HIS WHITE COME WITH HIM.

CAUSE SHE MUST'VE BEEN BY HIS SIDE OR I DON'T PAY THE PRICE LATER.

WHEREAS BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. BOLAND GARDENER FOR HIS SERVICES TO THE JUPITER COMING THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP AT BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS MR. ROLAND GARDNER HAS SERVED BUFORD JASPER HINTED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR 48 YEARS.

SEVEN YEARS AS

[00:25:01]

AND WHEREAS MR. ROLAND GARDNER HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF LOW COUNTRY RESIDENTS THROUGH INCREASED ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND HAS LONG BEEN INTEGRAL IN SPEAKING UP FOR THE UNINSURED, ISOLATED AND MEDICALLY VULNERABLE.

AND WHEREAS UNDER MR. ROLAND GARDNER'S LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE FREE JASPER HAMPTON, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES GREW FROM A STARTUP NON-PROFIT INTO A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CORPORATION THAT SPANS OVER THREE COUNTIES AND SERVES OVER 17,000 PATIENTS.

AND WHEREAS MR. ROLAND GARDENS AND BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES HAVE SUPPORTED AND COMMITTED PROVIDERS TO THE BUFORD COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT.

AND THAT WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

AND WHEREAS MR. ROLAND GARDNER AND THE BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES AS CERT AS A CRITICAL PARTNER IN MANY TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY COALITIONS AND WHEREAS BUFORD JASPER HINDU COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES WAS THE LEADING PARTNER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACCESS HEALTH, LOW COUNTRY, A DUKE FUNDED INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE UNINSURED RESIDENTS AND WHEREAS BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORTING TOGETHER TO REMOVE YOUR COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN, FINANCE, GROUPING, PRENATAL CARE RATES, AND PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN REACHING OUT TO THE UNDERSERVED LATINO POPULATIONS.

AND WHEREAS JUICER GESTURES, HANSEN, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT FOR THE BUFORD COUNTY, EARLY CHILDHOOD COALITION IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, BIRTH TO FIVE AND THEIR FAMILIES IMPROVING HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES AND HELP BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE SUCCESS FOR LOW COUNTRY CHILDREN.

AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR COUNTY.

THE COUNCIL HEREBY WISHES TO HONOR MR. ROLAND GARDNER FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENTS, SUCCESS AND LEADERSHIP DATED THIS DAY OF NINE MAY, 2022 SIGNED BY MYSELF CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNCIL THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU.

YOUR WIFE IS SEVEN YEARS 49 1ST OF JUNE.

UH, CONNIE.

THANK YOU.

UM, MY BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE.

MY STEPMOM WAS HERE.

CAN YOU, THEY MAKE MY JOB EASY.

I'VE DONE IT FOR, AS YOU SAID FOR 41 YEARS, BUT BEING HOME HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE COMING BACK.

I'M FROM ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

TOM MAMA BROUGHT ME BACK HERE AFTER GRAD SCHOOL.

UM, HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT AND I LEARNED FROM WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT I'M DOING NOW, BUT EVERY AGENCY IN BUFORD COUNTY AND JASMINE HAMPTON THAT ASKS FOR ASSISTANCE FOR, AND TRYING TO MAKE LIFE BETTER.

YOU HAVE COUNTY.

THEY DID IT FOR US.

WHAT HAS BEEN A BIG PLUS FOR ME IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE AS FAR AS CHANGING WHAT BUFORD COUNTY WAS 50 YEARS AGO.

MOST OF YOU WERE NOT HERE BACK THEN.

NO, THAT DUBIN COUNTY HAD ONE OF THE WORST MORTALITY RATES IN THE STATE AT 28.9 LIVE BIRTHS FOR 1000 JASPER COUNTY AT 48.

NOW BUFORD COUNTY IS CLOSE TO NINE AND JASPER'S LESS THAN 10, BUT THOSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE OF NOT WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

BUT THE SYSTEM THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM COUNTY COUNCIL, IT WAS PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, THE SOCK LAND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION.

AND IT WAS A PERMITTED ME OVER THE LAST 41 YEARS TO SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL SOCIAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH NOW IS SERVING MORE THAN 32 MILLION CLIENTS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE NOW SERVING MORE THAN 1200 HEALTH CENTERS WITH DIRECTORS, BUT WHEN BUFORD JASPER STARTED, BUFORD COUNTY WAS ONE OF THEM.

AT FIRST, IT WAS BUFORD JASPER, COLLISON AND CHARLESTON.

AND WHAT WE DID WAS JUST HAVE THREE HEALTH CENTERS.

AND THOSE THREE COUNTIES, THE GIRL WITH WHICH YOU HAVE ASSISTED US WITH IS NOW ACUTE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN EVERY COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WE'RE NOW SERVING OVER 400,000 SOUTH CAROLINIANS.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT I'M VERY PROUD OF

[00:30:01]

WHEN WE STARTED, WE HAD ONE OF THE WORST INSTRUMENTALITIES AND NOW TODAY FOR THE LEFT FOR THE SIXTH STRAIGHT YEAR, THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION HAS NAMED BUFORD COUNTY.

AS THE HEALTH IS COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I FEEL YOU ALL, BUT YOU HAVE HELPED ME ALSO, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NEXT ON OUR LIST.

[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

THE FIRST ONE IS I NEZ MILLER COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SMITH.

I'M A RESIDENT OF ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

CAN YOU ALL HEAR ME? OKAY.

I'M HEADING NIGHT WITH SOME OF MY YOUNGER SENIORS YOUNGER THAN I AM AT HER HAIR FROM THE ST.

HELEN, THE SENIOR CENTER.

AND I'M, I'M ASKING YOU TO COOK, SIT HER, NOT PUTTING US ON THE PALS OR LOVE HOUSE.

CHRIS CHRISTIAN CENTER LOVE HOUSE CENTER.

UM, BECAUSE WE'D LIKE TO STAY WE'RE WITH AT BUFORD JASPER COMPREHENSIVE CLINIC ON ST.

HELENA, THE SENIOR SON IS A PART OF THAT BUILDING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN THE WAY WE ARE AND NOT BE PUT ON THE PILES.

PILES IS NOT GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ST.

HELENA AND KEEPING UP THEIR BUILDINGS PARTICULARLY GO OVER YOUR POT CENTER.

UM, I'M A POLL WORKER DAY.

THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THAT CENTER SEEMS TO OPERATE.

I CAN'T EVEN WASH MY HANDS THERE BECAUSE THE STENCH THAT COMES FROM THE WATER, THEY GET A REPORT ON THIS.

I THINK FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS.

I ALSO ASK THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY MONIES TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU PLEASE CONSIDER THE SICK SENIORS AT ST.

HELENA CENTER OR SENIORS EVERYWHERE, PLEASE CONSIDER US KAZAKH MONIES, WHATEVER MONIES PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING US SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.

AND, UM, PLEASE AGAIN, DO NOT ALLOW PARKS AND LEISURE TO TAKE OVER OUR SENIOR CENTER OR LOVE HOUSE MINISTRY AND TRY TO, UM, UP GREAT ALL CENTERS TO WHERE THERE ARE NICE, BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.

LIKE THEY HAVE ALL BEEN BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

NEXT IS ANITA THERE OR PRATHER.

OKAY.

YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL THAT THE GULLAH, THE ORIGINAL GOVERNOR FESTIVAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS RETURNING AFTER TWO YEAR HIATUS FROM COVID.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A FESTIVAL THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF OUR, UH, CITIZENS AS WELL AS OUR VISITORS.

SO THIS YEAR THE FENCING IS COMING DOWN.

HOLLY, LOUIS, GLAD ABOUT THAT.

BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, INFLATION IS GOING UP.

SO, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THEY'RE, UM, THEY'RE, UH, INVITED TO COME IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND DECORATION DATE.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL FESTIVAL THAT BEGAN THE GULLAH FESTIVAL.

AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU COME OUT SUPPORT IT.

IT STARTS ON MAY 27TH THROUGH THE 29TH.

DON'T FORGET THE PARADE IS BACK THIS YEAR ON THAT MONDAY AND THAT'S MILITARY SERVICES IN THE CEMETERY.

BUT AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE WORD OUT TO EVERYBODY AND EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO COME.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP, WE'RE LOOKING FOR SPONSORSHIP.

UM, BUT ANYWAY, GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.

GET THE WORD OUT, PLEASE PASS IT, SEND IT ON ALL YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP FOLKS COME OUT TO BUFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

CAUSE THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND DECORATION DAY.

GOD BLESS.

THANK YOU.

UM, WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO THIS BIG COMMENT ABOUT SIERRA LEONE.

OH YES, YES, YES, YES.

WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, THE GOAL OF TRAVELING THEATER TO BE INVITED BY THE MAYOR OF FREETOWN IN 2019 TO COME AND BE PART OF THEIR CELEBRATION

[00:35:01]

AND WE MET SOME WONDERFUL YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO HAD COMPLETED THREE YEARS IN TOURISM.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF TOURISM MAJORS AND JUST, I MEAN, FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM.

THEY WERE OUR INTERNS ON AND OUR GUIDES AS PART OF THE 10 DAYS THAT WE WERE OVER THERE.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM HERE SINCE TO ME, TO ME BEFORE WE KNEW COVID OR COVID CAME AND THAT KIND OF PUT A STOP ON EVERYTHING, BUT WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH, UH, DR.

PANNU AT USC, BE ABOUT GETTING THEM HERE TO FINISH UP THEIR TOURISM, UH, PROGRAM AND TO REALLY WORK ON THAT INTERNATIONAL TOURISM BETWEEN SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA, UH, WEST BARBADOS IN THE WEST INDIES, UM, TRINIDAD AND NOVA SCOTIA AND BUFORD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

SO WE'RE FINALLY GETTING THEM HERE AFTER A LOT OF PRAYER AND SOME MORE PRAYER AS THE MORE PREGNANT THEY WILL BE HERE ON MAY 26.

AND THEY WILL BE OUR GUESTS UNTIL TELL JUNE THE NINTH.

SO WE WANT BUFORD THAT YOU ALL WILL GIVE THEM THE KEY TO THE COUNTY, TO THE CITY AND JUST OPEN YOUR EYES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WELCOMING TO US OVER THERE.

AND THEY LOOKING FORWARD TO US BRINGING OTHERS TO AND THEY'RE COMING.

AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT, UH, STEPPING STONE FOR US.

I NEVER SEEN YOUNG PEOPLE, SO EXCITED ABOUT LEARNING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO US.

UM, THE EDUCATION, A LOT OF THEM, SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT CANDLELIGHTS AND LANDINGS, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY LITERALLY, UH, STUDY FROM.

EVEN WHEN COVID STEPPED IN, THEY WENT ONLINE AND STARTED FINDING CLASSES AND MODULES THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO EVEN GET BREADS FOR.

THAT'S JUST HOW HUNGRY THEY ARE ABOUT THIS HISTORY.

AND SO I THINK IT'LL BE A GREAT INSPIRATION FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO TAKE SO MUCH FOR GRANTED HERE TO HEAR THE STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE CIVIL WAR OVER THERE AND STILL HAVE THIS THIRST FOR LEARNING THIRST FOR HERITAGE AND SUCH A PRIDE IN IT.

SO PLEASE COME OUT AND MEET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S GOBLIN, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

FIRST, I'M GOING TO DEVIATE A LITTLE BIT.

UM, I WOULD LIKE, WE JUST RECOGNIZE THE SQUASH JUST RECOGNIZE ROLAND GARDNER, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR BEEF OF JASPER HAMPTON, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH.

IF I DON'T INTRODUCE OUR NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICER DR.

FAITH.

OKAY.

SHE LOOKS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN A ROPE.

SHE IS A LOW COUNTRY GIRL FROM CHARLESTON, SO SHE'S AT HOME, BUT BY REGION FOR, UH, APPEARING BEFORE YOU, IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AROUND, OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL CAN TELL I'M GRAY HEADED.

I'M OLD LOOKING AT THE, UH, I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT, BUT THEN A FEW PEOPLE UP, DID IT LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE ME? BUT THE FIRST PERSON THAT CAME UP WAS TALKING ABOUT THE SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER AT THE LEROY BROWN ON STATE HELL ON THE ALLEN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT CENTER TO OUR SENIORS.

MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER WAS ATTENDING THAT.

AND WHEN WE HAD TO SHUT THE CENTER NOW, BECAUSE OF COLBERT, I SAW WHAT IT DID IN TERMS OF THE DECLINE IN HER MENTAL STATUS.

AND A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SOCIALIZATION THAT WE HAD AT THAT CENTER.

PLEASE TRY YOUR LEVEL BEST TO KEEP THAT FACILITY OPEN, CONTINUE THE BOND THAT YOU HAVE WITH BUFORD, JASPER, HAMPTON, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH, AND UTILIZING THAT FACILITATE, OR THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY THAT NEED THAT AND NEED THAT SOCIALIZATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OUR LAST SPEAKER IS MITCH MITCHELL, MR. MITCHELL, GOOD.

THEN WITH SPECIMEN, UH, CONSTANT MEMBERS, UH,

[00:40:01]

UH, I'M HERE, UH, THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF, UM, THE READING OR THE NAMING OF THE CHILD'S LYNN BROWN AND COMMUNITY CENTER POOL, AKA GREEN SPEED CHAMP AND AUDIT OF MR. ALVIN SETTLES.

UH, WHILE THERE'S MUCH I COULD SAY ABOUT MR. SADDLES, I DID READ THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS SHARED WITH ME BY, UH, MR. CHUCK ATKINSON.

AND I THINK THAT COVERS IT VERY ADEQUATELY AND BEAUTIFULLY.

SO I'LL SAVE THE READING OF THAT.

UM, FOR LATER, WHEN IT COMES UP, I WISH TO THANK THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HIS ASSISTANT CHUCK ATKINSON FOR FAST TRACKING THIS, I THINK IT WAS FAST TRACK.

MAYBE IT'S JUST NORMAL BUSINESS HERE AT THE COUNTY, BUT IN ANY EVENT, WE HAD A CONVERSATION THAT ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.

UM, AND I ASKED, UH, UM, MR. GREENWAY AND MR. ATKINSON, UM, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, I DID NOT KNOW THE PROCESS.

HE SHARED IT WITH ME.

SO AT THIS TIME I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDING WHAT I UNDERSTAND WAS UNANIMOUSLY THAT THIS KIND OF BEFORE YOU, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU THIS EVENING IS THAT YOU DO THE SAME, UM, THAT YOU APPROVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.

UH, MR. SANTOS WAS A, WAS BORN IN AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT TRULY FOR TANYA, YOU SPENT 30 PLUS YEARS TEACHING ON THE DOD SCHOOL SYSTEM AT LAVA BAY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AND WHY I'M HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS THAT HE SPENT THE REST OF HIS TIME IN THE POOL, TEACHING LIFESAVING SKILL AND THE FUN, LOVING SKILL OF SWIMMING.

SO MUCH OF THAT TIME THAT HE SPENT ON THE POOL WAS OBVIOUSLY TAKEN AWAY FROM HIS LOVELY WIFE.

LAURIE IS SITTING RIGHT HERE BEHIND ME.

SO, UM, I HOPE THAT WE DON'T DISAPPOINT HER.

UH, I SPOKE WITH HER THIS MORNING AND SHE WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

VERY THANKFUL FOR THE WAY THE PROCESS HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD.

I THINK THIS WILL BE AN EASY ONE.

UM, SO AGAIN, I ASKED YOU A UNANIMOUS APPROVAL, I THINK, UH, MAYBE AFTER THE RESOLUTION THAT WE'LL SETTLE, UH, MAYBE YOUR DAUGHTER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS AND MY SENIOR MAMA, UH, DON'T DON'T TELL ME, I WRITE HERE.

UH, KRISTEN MAY WANT TO COME UP WITH MAYBE MARKS.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SPEAK TO THIS BRUISE.

THANKS.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SEEING

[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

YEAH.

YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE A PRETTY STATEMENT.

WE HAD A PRESENTATION AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES FROM THE NEW MANAGER OF HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK, AND IT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE AND DESCRIPTIVE YOUR DISCUSSION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE.

I THINK THAT EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN GOING TO THAT STATE PARK WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR THE REPORT AND IT MAY SERVE AS AN INVITATION TO OTHERS WHO HADN'T EVEN HAD NOT EVEN CONSIDERED GOING THERE.

SO I ASKED THE, UH, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY FAIR, THE PRESS RELEASE, WHICH I SLURRED THAT HE DID, AND IT WAS DISTRIBUTED.

AND WE ALSO ASKED THE COUNTY CATTLE TO VIDEOTAPE THE PRESENTATION.

SO IF ANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL WHO WERE NOT AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES MEETING OR ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT HERE AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, OR YOU FELT LIKE YOU WISH TO SEE THAT PRESENTATION ON THE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN HUNTING ISLANDS, TAKE PART, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THE COUNTY CHANNEL AND YOU WILL FIND THAT VIDEO IN THE ARCHIVES.

I HEARD YOU HAVE A LOOK AT EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE, A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE HAPPENED OUT THERE DURING THE SUMMER SEASON.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD.

YES, SIR.

UH, I ATTENDED THE TOWN OF PORT ROYALS BUDGET WORKSHOP AND THEIR WORKSHOP LAST WEDNESDAY.

UH, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A 5.9 COLA FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR NEXT YEAR.

ALSO THE SANS BOAT LANDING, THE PARKING AREAS BEING RE STRIKED.

IT WOULD PROBABLY BE DONE MAYBE BY THURSDAY AND ALSO, UM, I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT THE SANDS WILL, WILL REMAIN OPEN.

UH, THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHO OWNS THE BOAT LANDING ITSELF, BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE WORKED OUT.

AND WE MET TODAY ACTUALLY WITH, UM, THE PARTIES INVOLVED AND WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THAT SOLVED, BUT THE SANDS WILL BE MAINTAINED AND WILL BE OPEN UNTIL AS LONG AS IT AS LONG AS NECESSARY UNTIL WE GET ALL THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

[00:45:01]

UM, PROBABLY AROUND FOUR O'CLOCK IT'S TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THAT.

SO I THINK THAT'D BE IMPORTANT OF INTEREST TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO EVERYBODY TUNING IN.

THANK YOU, MR. LAWSON.

YES.

THANK YOU.

MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL MEET BEFORE PUBLIC, UM, UH, FACILITIES, UH, NEXT TUESDAY NEXT MONDAY, UM, AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK, UH, WE'LL HAVE OUR NORMAL PRESENTATIONS.

I THINK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS PRESENTING AT THAT TIME, WHICH EVERYONE LIKES TO SEE THAT, UM, AS WE GET CLOSER TO OUR FISCAL YEAR 23, UH, APPROVED, UH, UH, BUDGET.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHERS SEEING

[17. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE LIND BROWN RECREATION CENTER OUTDOOR POOL IN HONOR OF MR. ALVIN SETTLES]

UH, SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER 17.

SO I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE LYNN BROWN RECREATION CENTER, OUTDOOR POOL IN HONOR OF MR. ELVIN SETTLES.

WELL CHAIRMAN, I'M PROUD TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MCKELLEN.

I'LL SECOND, MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND, IS THERE DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THIS HAS SETTLED.

DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S HERE, BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME, BUT I CANNOT SAY IT'S JUST ME.

MY APP, MY DAUGHTER IS HERE, BUT, UM, SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UM, SUPPORTED ALVIN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS WHO HAVE GONE THERE, PUT THEIR CHILDREN ARE, HAVE TAKEN THE CLASSES THEMSELVES ARE HERE AS WELL.

HE HAS BEEN IN THE POOL MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

HE LOVED IT, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A JOB THAT HE LOVED.

I THINK IF SOMEONE WAS, HE COULD WORK YEAR ROUND AT THE POOL WITH THE CHILDREN AND, AND THE, AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, HE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS HIS HEART.

HE LOVED IT FROM BEGINNING BEFORE, UH, BEFORE WE GOT MARRIED, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SWIMMING AND HE ALSO LOVES SWIMMING HIMSELF.

AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

SO JUST HAVING THIS DONE IS JUST WONDERFUL.

HE, I KNOW HE LOVES TO SING AND HE LOVES TO TALKS.

I KNOW HE'S JUST REALLY JOYFUL TODAY FOR THIS HAPPENING.

SO I JUST REALLY WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL.

I WANT TO THANK CATHERINE HERE, BUT ALSO ALL OF YOU AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, BECAUSE IT IS A REAL, REAL BLESSING, BUT I AM SO, SO, SO HAPPY ABOUT IT.

AND I THANK ALL THE PEOPLE AND WHOEVER YOU BROUGHT TO THE POOL WHEN HE WAS STILL WORKING, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL FUN FOR HIM.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE THE WORK DONE BECAUSE NOW EVERYBODY WILL KNOW OF MY HUSBAND ALVIN SETTLES, AND IT WAS A YEAR IN APRIL THAT HE PASSED.

SO IN CASE SOMEBODY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW WHERE HE IS, IF HE DID NOT KNOW BEFORE, BUT HE IS EVEN MORE HAPPIER NOW BECAUSE I AM AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, HOLD ON A SECOND, MR. SOMERVILLE, MR. MR. SOMERVILLE, GO AHEAD, MR. SUMMERVILLE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S JUST GOTTA BE PERFECT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER TRIED TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN HOW TO SWIM? I DID.

AND I WAS A MISERABLE FAILURE.

I WAS A LIFE OF THAT.

I'M A PRETTY GOOD, I DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER.

I WAS A MISERABLE FAILURE AT TEACHING MY CHILDREN.

SO SOMEBODY INTRODUCED ME TO ALVIN SETTLES AND HE WAS A GODSON.

HE TAUGHT BOTH OF MY DAUGHTERS SYSTEM.

ONE OF THEM WENT ON TO BE A LIFEGUARD FOR TWO YEARS, AND BOTH OF THEM SCREAMED LIKE ORTHOSIS.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU, GREAT TEACHER.

I, YOU, UM, WHERE HE HAD HIS CHILDREN, ALVIN I'M ACTUALLY HAD MY GRANDKIDS AND, UM, AND MY NEPHEW AND, UM, THEY, UH, TRUE SWIMMING'S TODAY

[00:50:01]

SO I JUST WANT TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO YOUR DAUGHTER, CHRISTIAN, AS WELL AS JIM DAWSON, MS. SETTLES.

UM, WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME, THE SERVICE, THE LOVE THAT ALVIN, UH, SHOWED TO, UH, THE BUFORD, UH, CITY, UH, COMMUNITY.

UM, UM, WE THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT HE SPENT AWAY FROM YOU AND HIS DEDICATION TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY, TO CHILDREN IN GENERAL.

AND, AND I, I JUST REGRET THAT, UH, WE DIDN'T GIVE HIM SOME RECOGNITION BEFORE HE EXPIRED, BUT ON HIS OWN BEHALF OF CONSOLE, WE SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BELATED HUSBAND, ALVIN.