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IT IS THURSDAY WELCOMING ALL TO OUR HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
CAN WE GET ROLL CALL PLEASE? YES, SIR.
AND GOOD MORNING, CHAIRMAN, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON, FRED HAMILTON, COUNCILMAN DAN WOOD, JOHN NICKEL WHEN CHAMBERS, THE KNOLL IS POLITE GRAY STAPLES HERE AND MEG JAMES.
I AM LETTING, UH, THE LOLA'S POLITE IN NOW.
SHE HAS HER HAND RAISE AT WORK.
WE HAVE ALL HAVE THE AGENDA, UM, THAT WAS SENT OUT.
UM, CAN WE GET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR.
ALSO THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES THAT WAS SENT OUT EMAIL AS WELL.
WE DID A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM JULY THE SEVENTH.
ALL BUSINESS AND NEW BUSINESS.
WE WILL TURN OVER TWO MINUTES SMALL.
NEW BUSINESS OF COURSE IS OUR BUDGET.
SO I WILL SCREEN OVER TO THAT PAGE.
EVERYONE SEE WHERE WE ARE NOW.
THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS $190,000.
THE STAFF HAS PROCESSED APPLICATIONS TO ASSIST INCOME QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
WHEN THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED, SIX APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN VERIFIED TO RECEIVE HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE AND ARE CURRENTLY WAITING ON HOME REPAIR ESTIMATES.
TWO HOMES ARE SCHEDULED TO BE VISITED IN THE NEXT WEEK.
AND AS OF YESTERDAY, I WENT OUT WITH ONE OF OUR BUILDING INSPECTORS TO, UM, TO VISIT THREE ADDITIONAL HOMES.
SO, UM, WE'RE MOVING AND WE'RE WORKING OVER ON THIS SIDE, FISCAL YEAR 20 TO CLOSE OUT THREE HOME SERVICE DURING OUR LAST FISCAL YEAR HAVE RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.
AND THE FINAL BILL HAS BEEN PROCESSED WITH FISCAL YEAR OF 23 FUNDS.
THESE FUNDS ARE LISTED ON ATTACHMENT ONE, WHICH WE'LL SCROLL DOWN TO WHEN WE GET TO OUR EXCEL SHEET.
ANY QUESTIONS WITH THE MEMO? ALL RIGHT.
OUR EXCEL SHEET AS STATED, UM, THREE HOMES OR COMPLETED, BUT THE BILL OR THE FINAL INSPECTION INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT'S WHERE OUR, UM, ASTOR COMES IN.
SO ONCE WE GET MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, WE'LL UNDERSTAND THAT TWO, THREE HOMES CAME FROM LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO COUNT THAT IN OUR FINAL YEAR COUNT FOR THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, IF THAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU ALL.
THERE ARE DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND THERE'S THE NUMBER OF HOMES ASSISTED, UM, AS OF JULY 28TH, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
THAT IS THE END OF NEW BUSINESS AND THE END OF OUR 23 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, FISCAL BUDGET FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
UM, THE SMALLS, THANK YOU FOR A GREAT REPORT AND THANK YOU FOR WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING VERY, UM, COMMENTATING IN.
I CAN HEAR A LOT OF CHEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND KEEP, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, NEXT WE, UH, TRY TO ALWAYS HAVE
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YES, UH, TO HELP US TO UNDERSTAND OUR COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.SO TODAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WANT TO SELL US, WAS PHENOMENAL KNOWN AS THE, TO ALL OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
YOU WANT HER TO GIVE HER REPORT IF SHE WILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN, GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INCLUDED IN NOT ONLY IN, IN YOUR AGENDA, BUT TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT, UM, THE LOW COUNTRY GAWLER FOUNDATION AND OUR HISTORIC LAND PRESERVATION PROJECT, UH, PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND, UH, I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
SO I WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE MY SCREEN? UH, TOTALLY.
IS SHE ALLOWED TO SHARE, DID YOU GIVE HER ACCESS? YES, I THOUGHT I DID HOLD ONE SECOND.
UM, OH, UM, I'M SORRY, MISS LAURA, THAT WE DID THIS ALREADY.
SO WHEN YOU SEE, SEE IT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE YOU ANYMORE, TRYING TO MAKE YOU A CO-HOST THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO, SO YOU CAN SHARE YOUR SCREEN, BUT IT'S NOT ALLOWING ME ON THIS TECHNOLOGY.
WHEN IT WORKS, CAN YOU EMAIL IT TO ME? AND WE DO IT THAT WAY.
I DON'T WANT TO HOLD UP ANY MORE TIME, TRYING TO JUST FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET IT.
UM, IT'S ON ITS WAY TO YOU NOW.
ARE YOU ABLE TO SEE MY SCREEN NOW? YES.
SO, UM, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME OF THE WORK THAT THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION IS DOING IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION, THE MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS FOR GULLAH LAND ISSUES IN BUFORD COUNTY.
AND INITIALLY WE STARTED BY NOT ONLY TRYING TO PROTECT THE GULLAH CULTURE, HIS GREATEST ASSET, WHICH IS HISTORIC GENERATIONAL LAND FOR BUFORD COUNTY
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GULLAH LANDOWNERS BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND LITERACY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HEIRS PROPERTY SOLUTIONS TO FAMILIES WHO ARE AT RISK OF LOSING PROPERTY BY DIVISION OR AT THE ANNUAL TAX SALE.AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, OUR GOAL IS ULTIMATELY TO REMOVE ALL OF THE NAMES FROM THE DELINQUENT COUNTY TAX LISTS, BY ESTABLISHING SPECIFICALLY CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS THAT END THE CYCLE OF FINANCIAL INSECURITY AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR AREA, BUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? CURRENTLY? WE HAVE LANDOWNERS WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY WITH RISING ANNUAL TAXES BECAUSE OF EITHER HIGHER TAX RATES, BECAUSE THEIR PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN HOMESTEAD, UM, PLACED INTO HOMESTEAD STATUS BECAUSE OF INCREASING DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE VACANT LAND THAT IS NOT, UH, CREATING AN ECONOMIC, UM, FINANCIAL STREAM FOR THE LAND OR IN, IN A BASIC SENSE.
IN SOME CASES IT'S A LACK OF INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SO THE SOLUTIONS THAT THE LOW COUNTRY GOLA FOUNDATION WORKS TOWARDS IS PROVIDING SOME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR LAND USE OPTIONS TO HOMEOWNERS.
WE ALSO ARE WORKING TO ESTABLISH LAND GULLAH LAND AND TAX EXEMPTIONS EITHER ON THE MUNICIPALITY LEVEL OR ON THE COUNTY LEVEL, AS WELL AS ASSIST WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ULTIMATELY TO CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR THOSE FAMILIES.
SO HOW DO WE RESOLVE HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES, MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING ON HEIRS PROPERTY MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY ARE LIVING ON HEIRS PROPERTY UNTIL THERE'S AN ISSUE OR A POTENTIAL SALE.
AND MOST OF THE TIME IT COMES UP WHEN THERE'S A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, THE LIMITED INFORMATION OR GUIDANCE THAT IS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ON HOW TO FIGURE OUT THE PROCESS TO CLEAR A TITLE AND OR TO, UM, EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE RIGHT NOW, ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T EXIST.
WHAT THE OTHER PROBLEM IS IS THAT THEIR LAND USE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDEVELOPED LAND.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE TAX SALE REGULARS WHO ARE IN A CYCLICAL CYCLE OF FINANCIAL INSECURITY AND STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO MAINTAIN THE LAND, UM, THAT THEY HAVE.
AND SO WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE, EXCUSE ME, WHAT THE SOLUTIONS ARE, IS CREATING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, OFFERING GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES AS WELL AS COLLATERAL MATERIALS FOR INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT EXIST CAN BE ADDRESSED.
SO LET ME STEP BACK A MINUTE AND EXPLAIN TO YOU IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS HEIRS PROPERTY, BASICALLY HEIRS PROPERTY IS LAND.
THAT'S BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS FROM ONE FAMILY MEMBER TO ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WITHOUT THE PROPERTY, HAVING A DEED OR A CLEAR TITLE.
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER WHO MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE BEEN AN ENSLAVED PERSON THAT DID NOT KNOW, OR WAS UNABLE TO, UM, CREATE A WILL OR WAS UNABLE TO TRANSFER THE, THE ORIGINAL DEE TO THEIR DESCENDANTS OR BASED ON AFRICAN TRADITION.
LAND IS NOT MAN'S, IT'S, IT'S EITHER GOD'S LAND OR IT'S THE EARTH.
SO TRADITIONALLY THE ACT OF CREATING A WILL OR A PAPER TRAIL FOR LAND IS NOT OF GULLAH TRADITION.
SO THAT PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT PART IN IT AS WELL.
AND SO WITH THAT ORIGINAL PURCHASER DATING BACK TO SAY THE 18 HUNDREDS, AT SOME POINT, THEY TODAY MIGHT HAVE HUNDREDS, IF NOT, THOUSANDS OF HEIRS WHO ARE ENTITLED TO OWNERSHIP RIGHTS ON THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
AND SO, BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A CLEAR TITLE TO THE PROPERTY, EVEN IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE LAND FOR, FOR WHATEVER NUMBER OF YEARS, IF THAT LAND GOES UP FOR SALE,
[00:15:01]
THE DANGERS TO THAT PROPERTY COME INTO PLAY.AND SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A FURTHER EXAMPLE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN, IF THAT IS THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AT THE TOP, THEIR CHILDREN, AND THEN THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, AND THEN THEIR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.
AND SO AT THIS POINT, WE CAN BE SEVEN OR EIGHT GENERATIONS FROM THAT ORIGINAL PURCHASER AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
AND SO UTILIZING THAT SAME, UM, DESCRIPTION, IF THE GRANDFATHER WAS THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AND, UM, HE HAD A TITLE, BUT THE TITLE REMAINS IN THAT INDIVIDUAL'S NAME, THE HEIRS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE PROPERTY, DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS TO THE LAND, ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE IT IS IN THE NAME OF THAT ORIGINAL PURCHASER.
AND ONCE THAT PURCHASER DIES OR PASSES AWAY, THERE IS ONLY WITHIN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
THERE IS ONLY 10 YEARS OF TIME FOR THAT TITLE TO BE CHANGED.
AND IF IT'S NOT CHANGED IN THE, THE, THE WINDOW OF TIME NECESSARY, THEN IT IS CONSIDERED WHAT IS CALLED A CLOUDY OR UNCLEAR TITLE.
AND SO EVEN IF THE HEIRS ARE LIVING ON THE LAND, THE, THE T THE LAND IS, IS ESSENTIALLY BEING, UM, MAINTAINED.
THE PROPER OWNERSHIP DOES NOT EXIST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY ERRORS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE PROPERTY.
AND SO BASICALLY ALL OF THE ERRORS, AND LET'S USE A HUNDRED ACRES AS A, AS A NICE, EASY, UM, AMOUNT OF LAND.
IF IT'S A HUNDRED ACRES AND A THOUSAND ERRORS, THEY ARE ALL CONSIDERED TENANTS IN COMMON.
AND IN ORDER FOR ANY ACTIVITY ON THAT LAND TO BE, UH, DETERMINED EITHER BY SALE OR WHO'S LIVING ON IT, OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, EVERYONE THAT HAS A RIGHT TO, TO A VOICE IN THAT PROPERTY HAS TO BECOME WITHIN 100% IN AGREEMENT.
IF THERE'S ONLY ONE PERSON OUT OF SAY THAT THOUSAND NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT DISAGREES, THEN THE LAND BECOMES INFLUX.
AND BASED ON THAT SITUATION, IF THAT SINGLE AIR DECIDES THAT THEY WANT TO SELL, THEN ESSENTIALLY THAT THAT DECISION TRIGGERS WHAT IS CALLED A PARTITION BY SALE.
AND SO THE LAND, EVEN IF IT'S THAT ONE PERSON, AND THEY'RE 1% OF THAT, THAT, UM, HUNDRED ACRES, THEY CAN FORCE THE SALE OF THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S WHY, UM, LAND THE OWNERSHIP THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR TITLE IS SUCH AN ISSUE.
SO WHAT IS THE CRITICAL PATH TO UNTANGLING HEIRS PROPERTY AND CLEARING TITLES? CURRENTLY, THERE'S A LOT OF STRINGENT DEVELOPMENT RULES, AND MOST GULLAH DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO EVEN MEET LOCAL ORDINANCES.
AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS OPEN TO THIS KIND OF DIALOGUE, IS THAT CREATING SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS IN LOCAL ORDINANCES TO HELP UNTANGLE THE HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES IS A SIGNIFICANT, UM, DIRECTION THAT THAT COULD BE, UM, GONE INTO.
THE OTHER THING IS, IS A PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION, MOST GULLAH LAND OWNERS, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, ARE NOT EVEN AWARE THAT THEY'RE LIVING OR, OR, UM, HAVE, UM, HEIRS PROPERTY WITHOUT A CLEAR TITLE HEIRS PROPERTY.
IF IT'S NOT HOMESTEAD IS TAXED AT A 6% RATE VERSUS THE 4% RATE MOST PEOPLE UNTIL THERE'S AN ISSUE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHOSE NAME IS ON THE TITLE, OR IF THERE IS A WILL, OR IF THERE IS A CLEAR TITLE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS ISSUE COMES UP MOST OF THE TIME AT A FUNERAL WHEN THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN PAYING THE TAXES HAS PASSED AWAY.
AND MANY OF THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE A RIGHT TO THE TITLE, BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT GENERATIONS
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DEEP INTO THE FAMILY, MANY OF THE ERRORS NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED.SO THAT, THAT, THAT, UM, A UNIFIED DECISION CAN BE MADE AS TO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE PROPERTY.
AND OF COURSE, CONTACTING THOSE EARS IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE IN MOST CASES THAT MIGHT TAKE GENEALOGICAL WORK IN ORDER TO GET THAT DONE AND BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY IDENTIFY WHO ALL OF THE ERRORS ARE, BUT AS WELL AS CONTACT THEM.
AND SO WHY IS FUNDING THE ASSISTANCE OF GULLAH LAND IMPORTANT? BECAUSE GENERATIONAL LAND OWNERS ARE OFTEN OUT OF BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR TAXES BECAUSE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT AND CULTURALLY GULLAH LAND IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED AS PROPERTY.
AND BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN AND UNDOCUMENTED TO THEIR DESCENDANTS, EVENTUALLY THOSE LAND VALUATIONS MIGHT BE HIGH, BUT WITHOUT INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE ABILITY TO ECONOMICALLY DEVELOP THE LAND, MOST HONAN HOME OWNERS STRUGGLE TO HONE, HOLD ON TO THE ACREAGE THAT THEY HAVE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE A LOT OF GULLAH ARE LAND RICH, BUT CASH, POOR TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL LENDING IS NOT AN OPTION WITH HEIRS PROPERTY.
AND SO FOR ALL OF THOSE REASONS, THAT'S WHY THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION DOES WHAT IT DOES.
AND IN ADDITION TO A PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE CREATED CALLED THE HISTORIC GULLAH LAND PRESERVATION PROGRAM, WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TO PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN HELP RESOLVE THAT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS PROVIDING TAX PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS WHEN THEY'RE THEIR PROPERTY IS LISTED ON THE DELINQUENT TAX LIST.
SO THAT THE LAND THAT DOES EXIST OR, OR THE SMALL AMOUNTS OF LAND THAT THAT DOES EXIST RIGHT NOW IS BEING PROTECTED AND MAINTAINED BY GULLAH PRO PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE PROGRAM ALSO, OR OFFERS TARGETED PROGRAMMING TO SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE INDIVIDUAL ISSUES THAT A FAMILY MIGHT BE FACING.
AND SO THE KEY SERVICES THAT THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES IS PRIMARILY PREVENTING THAT GULLAH LAND LOSS, THAT TAX ASSISTANCE THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
WE ALSO TRY TO ASSIST HEIRS IN RESOLVING THE PROPERTY THAT THEY HAVE OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAND USE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE PROPERTY MAY GO UP FOR SALE JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FINANCIAL LITERACY INFORMATION THAT COULD BE PROVIDED THAT WOULD HELP BREAK THE CYCLE OF, UM, FINANCIAL, UM, STRUGGLE AS WELL AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IF THERE ISN'T A WILL THAT EXISTS CURRENTLY CREATING A PLAN OF SUCCESSION IS IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
AND SO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT, UM, I JUST MENTIONED, IF I BROKE THEM DOWN, WE NOT ONLY HAVE THE TARGETED PROGRAMS, BUT WE HAVE THAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE A DEDICATED LOCATION SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE A TRUSTED LOCATION WHERE THEY COULD GO, UH, WE APPLY FOR GRANTS.
WE HAVE, UM, MARKETING CAMPAIGNS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO START INITIATING SO THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY COULD POTENTIALLY FACE PRIOR TO THE, THE POINT WHERE IT BECOMES A CRITICAL ISSUE, AS WELL AS, UH, DEVELOPING COLLATERAL MATERIALS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE, AND, UH, BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH, WITH ALL OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND, UM, FIND THE RESOLUTION THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO THE PATH TOWARDS RESOLUTION, THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE, AND IT NEEDS A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT THAT STARTS WITH COMM COORDINATION, TRUST, AND EDUCATION.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT
[00:25:01]
TO YOU BECAUSE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MUNICIPALITIES BEING ALL OF THE TOWNS AND THE COUNTIES, AS WELL AS THE COORDINATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS THE FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY, THE HERITAGE LIBRARY, WHO DOES, UM, EXCELLENT GENEALOGY WORK TO RESOLVE SOME OF THOSE HEIRS, UM, IDENTIFICATION ISSUES, AS WELL AS, UM, LOCAL FINANCIAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH SOUTH STATE BANK, UH, AND, UM, SCORE TO CREATE SOME ENTREPRENEURIAL, UH, OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE AS WELL.ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO TRY AND FIND A RESOLUTION FOR, FOR THIS SITUATION.
AND WHAT PART OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT INVOLVES ESTABLISHING A CREDIBILITY AND TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY, UM, THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO ON THE TOWN AND COUNTY LEVEL COUNTY LEVELS.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, CREATING FAVORABLE, FAVORABLE ORDINANCES THAT ALLOW THE, THE GULLAH FAMILIES THAT HAVE PROPERTIES TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH USER-FRIENDLY OPTIONS, TO RESOLVE THE SITUATIONS THAT THAT MIGHT COME UP FROM THIS SITUATION IS ALSO PART OF WHAT IS NECESSARY IN A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT AND SO IMPROVED AND DIRECT ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.
AGAIN, IT COMES FROM AN ORGANIZATIONAL COORDINATION, BUT IT'S ALSO NEEDS TO BE ON A GRASSROOT WAY OF DISSEMINATING THE INFORMATION.
WE ARE CONSTANTLY DOING EVENTS AND TRYING TO, TO, UM, MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE, UM, EITHER THROUGH LOCAL EVENTS OR CHURCHES.
UH, WE ARE STARTING TO INVOLVE LOCAL CHARITIES AND ALSO LOOK OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO, TO MAKE THIS A CONVERSATION THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING AND SHARING.
AND SO THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE CAN START TOWARDS A RESOLUTION AND AGAIN, UM, WITH A MARKETING CAMPAIGN SO THAT THEY CAN BE REACHED THROUGH A VARIETY OF VEHICLES, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, TV, RADIO, AND PRINT.
AND SO CURRENTLY WHAT LOW COUNTRY GALA HAS BEEN DOING IS, UH, WE HAVE BEEN MONITORING THE, THE, UM, ANNUAL TAX LISTS THAT COME OUT OF BUFORD COUNTY TAX OFFICE.
AND WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
AND, UM, AND THANK YOU AGAIN TO, TO, UH, CHAIRMAN HAMILTON FOR HIS ASSISTANCE IN GUIDING US TO, TO FAMILIES, UM, IN BUFORD, IN BLUFFTON THAT, UM, ARE IN NEED.
AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST FINANCIALLY, UM, SEVERAL FAMILIES IN BOTH OF THE TOWNS THAT, THAT, UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT HAS, UM, BEEN THE PROGRESSION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, UM, THIS HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN TO JUST HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON.
AND, UM, IN BLUFFTON SPECIFICALLY LAST YEAR, THERE WAS, UM, $1,600 IN PAYMENTS THAT WERE MADE, UM, FOR TWO PROPERTIES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST TO THE TAX, UM, TAX SALE.
AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 28TH OF LAST YEAR, THERE WAS $9,000 IN PROPERTIES THAT, UM, COULD HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
HAD THE FAMILIES NOT BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE FINANCIAL, UM, ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BUT THE TWO PROPERTIES THAT, THAT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THAT $1,600, WE WERE ABLE TO PROTECT THOSE LANDS AND KEEP THEM IN THE FAMILY.
AND SO THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UM, INCLUDES NOT ONLY CONTENT CREATION, BUT, UM, A SPECIFIC CURRICULUM, COLLATERAL MATERIALS AND OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION, AS WELL AS THAT MARKETING PROGRAM.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST, I MENTIONED IT EARLIER, WE DO HAVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE AIRS FOR SCENT, UM, HEIRS FOR CENTER, FOR HEIRS PROPERTY, THE HERITAGE LIBRARY,
[00:30:01]
AND, UM, LOCAL ATTORNEYS, AS WELL AS SOUTH STATE BANK.AND SEE THE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN FOUND IS THAT SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING WITH A SPECIFIC ISSUE, THEY MAY GO DIRECTLY TO THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY.
BUT IF THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED WHO THEIR HEIRS ARE, THE CENTER CAN HELP THEM, OR IF THEY GO DIRECTLY TO AN ATTORNEY, AN ATTORNEY CAN HELP THEM UNTIL THE HEIRS ARE IDENTIFIED.
AND SO THAT'S WHY LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION HAS REALLY BECOME A CLEARING HOUSE FOR THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.
SO THAT, UH, ONCE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT THEIR PARTICULAR ISSUES ARE, WE CAN THEN LET THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY, TAKE ON WHAT THEIR ROLE IS AND, AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY DO WELL, AND THE HERITAGE LIBRARY, THEY DO GENEALOGY WELL.
AND, UM, SOUTH STATE BANK, THEY DO FINANCIAL LITERACY WELL AND, UH, WHATEVER ATTORNEY, UM, UM, INTERVENTION AS WELL.
AND THESE ARE JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT, AND WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAVE TRACING YOUR LAND OWNERSHIP FROM THE BEGINNING, HOW TO GET A CLEAR TITLE, HOW TO STAY OFF THE ANNUAL TAX LIST, UM, HOW TO MAKE YOUR PROPERTY PAY FOR ITSELF.
UM, WHY ARE MY PROPERTY TAXES SUBTLY INCREASING ECONOMIC, UH, LAND USE OPTIONS, SUBDIVIDING PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS ADDING INFO TO YOUR PROPERTY.
AND SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS TO THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AS WELL AS ADDING A PHYSICAL LOCATION, ADDING STAFF AND DEVELOPING AN ONGOING PROGRAM SCHEDULE, AS WELL AS, UH, PRODUCING ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL MATERIALS FOR, FOR INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS, UM, WORKING WITH A MARKETING PLAN TO DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION.
AND THIS IS JUST OUR BUDGET, UM, FOR, FOR THE YEAR, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR TO, TO, UH, BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
SO, UM, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER FOR ANYBODY? I HAVE A FEW SURE.
THE, UH, W WHERE DOES YOUR FUNDING DERIVE FROM, FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN SOLELY OPERATING ON DONATIONS AND WE HAVE NO PRIVATE DURING THE PRIVATE DONATIONS, UH, WITHIN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR, FOR GRANTS.
AND THEN YOU HAD LISTED, UM, ORDINANCES IN THERE, I GUESS IT COULD BE FAVORABLE.
WHAT, WHAT KIND OF ORDINANCES WOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR? WELL, IT, IT ALL DEPENDS ON, ON THE SPECIFIC MUNICIPALITY, UM, THAT, THAT, UM, AS FAR AS, AS DEVELOPMENTAL ON YOUR PROPERTY OR, OR DIVIDING THE PROPERTY, THERE, THERE ARE SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT SOME OF THE FAMILIES HAVE FACED THAT ARE, HAVE BECOME A HINDRANCE IN ORDER TO DIVIDE THAT, UM, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, IS, IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT HAS SOME OF THEIR, THEIR LMO LANGUAGE IS NOT GULLAH FRIENDLY, SO TO SPEAK SO THAT SOME FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO MAKE THE, THE SUBDIVISIONS AND WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO, TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES.
SO IT IS A CASE BY CASE SCENARIO.
AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU BEING THE, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND, UM, CREATING A BETTER, UM, WORKING, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN SO THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME OF THOSE STICKING POINTS WITHIN YOUR PARTICULAR MUNICIPALITY AND, UH, USING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SOME CHANGES SO THAT, UM, IT, IT HELPS TO RESOLVE SOME OF THE SITUATIONS THAT EXIST.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I CAN
[00:35:01]
HELP WITH? I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT I'LL, I'LL THROW OUT THERE.UH, WHAT ABOUT THE INTERACTION OF, OF HEIRS PROPERTY AND SQUATTER'S RIGHTS OR ADVERSE POSSESSION? UH, DOESN'T SOUTH CAROLINA STILL HAVE SOME RULES ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE IN A LAND LONG ENOUGH, UM, YOU, YOU KIND OF, UH, CREATE A TITLE BY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE, UH, HAVE LEGAL TITLE OR NOT AVAILABLE TO SOUTH CAROLINA, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, TAKE THE SITUATION OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE SAY, 80 OR 90 YEARS OLD.
THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PAYING THE TAXES FOR HOWEVER LONG THAT THEY HAVE BEEN THERE.
BUT IF THE PROPERTY IS HEIRS PROPERTY, THAT FINANCIAL LET'S CALL IT INVESTMENT IN THE LAND DOES NOT ENABLE THEM TO HAVE FULL.
UM, AND, AND IF THAT PERSON IS LIVING ON THE LAND, THAT DOES NOT GIVE THEM FULL VOICE IN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LAND.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I AM WORKING WITH THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY ON THE STATE LEVEL TO RESOLVE.
UM, THERE IS NOW A COMMITTEE THAT, UM, WE'RE WAITING FOR IT TO, TO, UM, BE APPROVED ON THE STATE LEVEL THAT IS FOCUSING ON HEIRS PROPERTY.
AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED WITHIN THE, WITH THE, FROM THE STATE LEVEL.
UM, I HAVE A QUESTION AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY FOR THE CHAIRMAN IN THE, AND MAYBE IT'S FOR, UH, MS. CHARLOTTE, IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT BLUFFTON IS WORKING ON NOW THAT EVEN ADDRESSES GULLAH, UM, PROPERTY? UM, THIS IS, UH, CHARLOTTE.
UM, I AM NOT AWARE AND I'LL NEED TO CHECK THAT, BUT IF IT'S NOT, I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE SOMETHING RELATED TO THIS PRESENTATION.
THAT, UH, I'M, UH, I ATTENDED THE, THE PLANNING MEETING OR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, JUST A WORKSHOP LAST NIGHT.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT QUESTION.
AND NOW LISTENING, LISTENING TO MRS. SELLERS, UM, PRESENTATION, THAT WOULD BE THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE ASKED LAST NIGHT IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? IS THERE ANY WAY TO REPRESENT THAT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WERE, WERE THERE WERE THE, THE CITY THE TOWN IS WORKING ON? YES, MA'AM.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE SOMETHING RELATED TO THIS.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
IT WAS, IT WAS SO INFORMATIVE BECAUSE, UH, I'VE ONLY LIVED BACK HERE ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND I LIVED HERE TWO YEARS BEFORE, AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HOW DOES ANYBODY GET CLEAR TITLE AND HOW DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE HEIRS? AND JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU ANSWERED TODAY.
AND LIKE I SAID, I AM, I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR BEING INCLUDED IN THE MEETING.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS THE, THE LARGEST ISSUE THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR LAND IS, AND, AND TAKE, YOU KNOW, STARTING FROM 1 0 1, YOU KNOW, FORWARD AND INFORMING PEOPLE SO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET SOME RESOLUTION IS, IS WHAT'S NECESSARY.
IS THERE ANYTHING, UM, SIMILAR THAT IS GOING ON IN JASPER COUNTY? I, I SELL A LOT OF REAL ESTATE TO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE IN BLUFFTON, BUT I ENDED UP SELLING IT TO THEM IN RIDGELAND AND HARDY VILLE.
AND NOW YOU'RE MISSY, WE'RE JUST MOVING UP THE, UP THE A 95.
IS THERE ANY, A SIMILAR, UM, ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH THOSE COUNTY THAT COUNTY? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, UM, LOW COUNTRY GULLAH STARTED WITH HILTON HEAD.
UM, I'M BASED ON HILTON HEAD, UM, BECAUSE OF DIALOGUES THAT I HAVE HAD WITH, UH, CHAIRMAN HAMILTON, BLUFFTON, YOU KNOW, WAS INCLUDED, UM, THE FOSKEY IS GOING TO BE INCLUDED THIS YEAR.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE STARTED MONITORING, UM, AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, LOW COUNTRY GALA HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF INCHING THROUGH THE COUNTY.
AND, AND, UM, OBVIOUSLY IF SOMEONE FROM ST HELENA CALLED, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HELP
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THEM JUST LIKE WE WOULD HELP SOMEONE IN BLUFFTON OR HILTON HEAD.AND, UM, MY, MY, MY GOAL IS THAT IT PROBABLY WILL LEAD INTO JASPER AND MAYBE HAMILTON HAMPTON COUNTY, YOU KNOW, THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES WITHIN THE AREA, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A HILTON HEAD IN BLUFFTON PROBLEM.
UM, SO, SO, UM, ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE NEED THE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WITH FUNDING THEN WE CAN EXPAND AND BE ABLE TO, TO, UM, MAKE, MAKE, UM, UM, OTHER OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO, TO OTHER LOCATIONS.
UM, HOW DO THE FAMILIES, UH, QUALIFY FOR THIS, FOR THESE FUNDS? IS THERE AN APPLICATION, UM, DID THEY COME TO YOU DIRECTLY? HOW, IF SOMEONE COMES TO ME OR IF SOMEONE COMES TO STAFF, HOW DO WE CONNECT THEM WITH YOU? AND WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE TELL THEM? WELL, YOU NEED TO HAVE BOOM, BOOM, BOOM IN HAND.
UM, IN ORDER TO GET STARTED, WE HAVE A WEBSITE, UH, IT IS THE HISTORIC GULLAH LAND PRESERVATION.ORG, THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH, UM, UH, DOT COM IS ALSO A WEBSITE WHERE THE PROGRAM IS ACCESSIBLE AT THIS POINT.
UM, IT HAS BEEN WORD OF MOUTH THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO US AS WELL AS, UM, I DO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.
AND SO THE COUNTY SENDS ME THE DELINQUENT TAX LISTS STARTING IN APRIL OF EVERY YEAR.
AND SO WE'RE MONITORING IT AS IT GOES DOWN CLOSER TO THE OCTOBER 1ST, UM, SALE.
BUT AS WE GET INTO, UM, THE TAIL END OF AUGUST AND THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER, IF THERE ARE FAMILY NAMES THAT ARE ON THERE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE ON THE LIST UNTIL THE TAX SALE HAS HAPPENED.
SO WE ACTIVELY REACH OUT TO THOSE FAMILIES AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM AND, AND ASK IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING AND WHAT THE SITUATION IS, WHAT THEIR PLAN IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT FALLING THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE CRACKS.
SO WE'RE VERY PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT ARE ON THE LIST ARE POTENTIALLY NOT, UM, BEING LEFT ON THE LIST AND GOING ON TO, TO THE SALE.
AND, UH, AND JUST TO, TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO YOUR ANSWER, UM, ON THE COUNTY LEVEL, WHEN THEY AT THE TAX OFFICE, WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WHO IS EITHER STRUGGLING, THEY MAKE REFERRALS TO US.
AND AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, THEY ALSO MAKE REFERRALS TO US AND THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
UM, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE WELCOME TO MAKE REFERRALS.
IF SOMEONE CONTACTS YOU DIRECTLY AND IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT FROM THERE.
I HAVE LOCKED YOUR NUMBER AND EMAIL INTO MY CELL PHONE.
SO JUST IN CASE THAT COMES UP, I HAVE IT ON HAND.
AND, AND WE DO HAVE COLLATERAL THAT HAS BEEN MAILED OUT THIS YEAR AND, UH, THAT WE DO ALLOW TO, WE DID A MAILER TO ALL OF THE RESIDENTS THAT WERE ON THE LIST, UM, THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS GULLAH OR HEIRS PROPERTY BY THE, THE TAX OFFICE THAT MAILER WENT TO, UM, ABOUT A THOUSAND HOMEOWNERS ON HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON AND THE FOSKEY.
AND SO I DO HAVE COLLATERAL COLLATERAL MATERIALS THAT I CAN GIVE TO YOU THAT IN CASE SOMEONE COMES IN, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HAND OFF.
SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO, TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND SENDING THAT MY WAY.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, I LOVE THAT WE HAVE THIS RESOURCE NOW, AND I WOULD TOTALLY LIKE TO SNAG SOME COLLATERAL TO KEEP AT THE HBA FOR FOLKS THAT COME IN.
UM, IF VICTORIA CAN, CAN YOUR INFORMATION, SO THAT I'LL KNOW WHERE AND HOW TO GET IT TO YOU, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
THE OTHER QUESTIONS, REALLY GREAT SOURCE WITH YOUR PRESENCE AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND YOUR HARD WORK.
AND THAT REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR
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COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN THE CULTURE PRESERVE AS YES, IT'S, UNITY'S, UM, STATUS THAT'S THAT'S WONDERFUL WORK.THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND, UM, AND IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK TO IT, I THINK YOU FORGOT SOME THINGS YOU CAN COME BACK.
WELL, I TRY TO BE COMPREHENSIVE, BUT I OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND, AND YOUR INTEREST.
AND DO YOU WANT TO SHARE TODAY? UH, YES, SIR.
UM, I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO GET A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE MOST RECENT, UH, SO LOCA MEETING THAT WAS HELD THAT WAS ON, UM, JULY 26.
UM, AND THERE WAS THE DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING THE, UM, INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UM, THAT'S BEEN MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR THESE THINGS TO GO THROUGH, BUT, UM, I THINK, UM, I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PROGRESS IN IT.
UM, SO THERE'S AN INNER INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UH, IT'S BUFORD COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY, UH, TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TOWN OF BLUFFTON CITY OF BUFORD, TOWN OF PORT ROYAL CITY OF HARTSVILLE, AND THEN THE TOWN OF EMSE.
SO, UM, THIS AGREEMENT OBVIOUSLY IS TO, UH, WORK TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO CREATE THE HOUSING TRUST ONE, UH, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, SOME OF THE, UH, THE BIGGEST, UH, ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED WAS ONE WAS THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME, UM, THAT WAS GOING TO, UM, W UH, WE WERE GOING TO USE, UM, THE PREVIOUS MONTH'S DISCUSSION WAS AT A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI.
UH, THE MOST RECENT DOCUMENT SHOWED IT AS ONE 20.
UM, EVERYONE AGREED TO CHANGE THAT BACK TO THE A HUNDRED PERCENT AMI, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD, AS WELL AS FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT, EACH, UH, EACH COMMUNITY, UH, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PORTION, UH, FOR YEAR ONE, IT'S BASED OFF OF ARPA MONEY THAT COMMUNITIES ARE RECEIVING.
AND THEN YEARS TWO THROUGH NINE, UM, WAS BASED OFF OF THE POPULATION.
SO THERE WAS A CHART, UM, OF THE FUNDING AMOUNT.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO SHOW THAT BECAUSE IT'S INCORRECT INFORMATION.
SO I DON'T WANT TO JUST PROVIDE INCORRECT INFORMATION, BUT, UH, NEXT STEPS ARE ALL OF THE TOWN MANAGERS AND COUNTY MANAGERS ARE GOING TO BE, UM, GETTING THIS DOCUMENT UPDATED AND THEN BRINGING IT IN FRONT OF EACH OF THE TOWN COUNCILS OR COUNTY COUNCILS OVER THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, UM, TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND THEN ULTIMATELY, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD AND, AND BUFORD COUNTY HAS TAKEN THE LEAD WITH THIS AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY WORKS, UH, WHICH, UH, THEY'VE ACTUALLY COME AND TALKED WITH, UM, WITH THE, THE COMMITTEE, UM, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
UM, SO ONCE THAT DOCUMENT GETS SIGNED BY TOWN COUNTY FULL, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THAT AND THEN KIND OF THE NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS.
UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR EVERYTHING TO GET OFF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, OFF THE GROUND AND RUNNING, BUT ONCE IT DOES, UM, THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING POWER OF MORE MONEY WILL BE ENTICING FOR DEVELOPERS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF AN UPDATE ON, ON THAT, KEVIN.
DAN, DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT THEN? NO, SIR.
I JUST THINK THAT, LIKE, KEVIN, JUST EXPLAIN IT'S, IT'S A SLOW, ARDUOUS PROCESS.
WE'RE THREE YEARS INTO IT, I THINK.
AND, UH, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES IT'S JUST TO BE EXPECTED THAT IT'S SLOW AND TIME CONSUMING, BUT, UH, I THINK WE'RE NEAR THE END, HOPEFULLY.
UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, ADVICE FROM THE COMMITTEE, UH, ARE WE ON TIL THE NEXT SUBJECT NOW? OR ARE WE STILL ON THIS ONE? WE ARE WE ALMOST AT THE END OF THE OTHER ROAD.
THE ONE THING THAT I NOTICED LAST NIGHT IN THE, UM, IN THAT, UH, PLANNING WORKSHOP, UM, WHERE I WAS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, THERE SEEMS TO BE A, AS I WALKED AWAY, IT WAS, WE NEEDED A DEFINITION
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FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.IS THAT THE SAME THING THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD CHARLOTTE, BUT YES, MA'AM AND WE DO HAVE THAT DEFINITION.
IT JUST DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
WELL, IT WAS JUST SEEMED TO BE A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, UM, AS I JUST SAID, IT WAS JUST, I DIDN'T THINK WE HAD A DEFINITION OR THE COMMISSION DIDN'T HAVE ONE AND IT DOES NEED TO BE MADE CLEARER.
THAT'S A GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD POINT TO BRING OUT AND, UM, UH, WE HAVE LUNCH.
I'LL TELL YOU, I'LL TELL YOU MY DEFINITION TODAY.
UM, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.
AND AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SPECIAL GUESTS AND THE SELLERS FOR WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
AND THAT'S, UH, LET'S KEEP, LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.
THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US.
WE, UM, HOPEFULLY NEXT MONTH WE WILL COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE GROUP WE HAVE WITH THE, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
THAT'S IN THE QUEUE AT THIS POINT.
YOU WANT TO SAY AGAIN, THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY.