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WELCOME TO THE, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.WE ARE A HYBRID GROUP THIS EVENING, WHICH MEANS AS YOU CAN SEE, SEVERAL OF US ARE IN THE CHAMBERS HERE, BUT WE DO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLINE.
UH, WOULD THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLE TO INDICATE THAT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM CHAIRMAN PASSMAN PRESENT VICE CHAIRMAN SUMMERVILLE PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HERAN PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER RODMAN PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON, MARK LAWSON, PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLEN HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON IS ABSENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FLEW ELLEN HERE.
UH, THIS EVENING WE HAVE, UM, QUITE A BIT ON THE AGENDA.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
UH, WE DO HAVE TWO TIMES THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN SPEAK THE FIRST CITIZEN COMMENTS, WHICH ARE ITEM NUMBER 10 WILL BE FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
THE SECOND IS AT THE END OF THE MEETING WHERE YOU CAN ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU WITH COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE DONE BY VICE CHAIRMAN SOMERVILLE.
WE ARE THEN GOING TO ASK YOU TO REMAIN STANDING, UH, FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
UH, MR. DAWSON IS NOT WITH US THIS EVENING BECAUSE TODAY WAS THE FUNERAL FOR HIS WIFE.
SO WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE ALLEG OF ALLEGIANCE STATES AMERICA.
AND JUST FOR ALL LORD, IF YOU BOW YOUR HEADS, PLEASE LORD MAKE US INSTRUMENTS OF YOUR PEACE.
WHETHER IT IS HATRED, LET US BRING LOVE WHETHER IT IS A FENCE, LET US BRING PARDON, WHETHER IT IS DISCORD.
LET US BRING UNION WHERE THERE'S ERROR.
LET US BRING TRUTH WHERE THERE IS DOUBT.
WHETHER IT IS DESPAIR, LET US BRING HOPE.
WHETHER IT'S DARKNESS, LET US BRING LIGHT.
WHETHER IT IS SADNESS, LET US BRING JOY HOME.
MASTER, LET US NOT SEEK AS MUCH TO BE CONSOLED AS TO CONSOLE, TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS TO UNDERSTAND, TO BE LOVED AS TO LOVE OR IT IS IN FORGIVING.
THAT ONE RECEIVES IT IS IN SELF FORGETTING THAT ONE FINDS IT IS IMPARTING THAT ONE IS PARDONED.
THAT ONE IS RAISED TO ETERNAL LIFE.
PLEASE REMAIN FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
I WILL ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA.MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND PLEASE.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND, MR. FLEW WELLING.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THAT, UM, MOTION FOR APPROVAL TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM REGARDING, UH, CHANGE OF ZONING AND MAP AMENDMENTS FOR SPRING ISLAND.
THE MOTION THAT HAS BEEN SENT TO US SO THAT THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT MR FLYWELL IS TALKING ABOUT.
HE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO DIRECT DRAFT STAFF, TO DRAFT APPROPRIATE CDC LANGUAGE REGARDING T TWO RURAL LOW ZONING TO ALLOW MULTIPLE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND TO CHANGE THE ZONING FOR SPRING ISLAND TO T TWO RURAL LOW AND TO FORWARD THESE CHANGES THROUGH THE NORMAL
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PROCESS.A SECOND, MR. THAT IS BRA, SORRY.
SO IT IS DUALLY MOTIONED BY MR. FLEW WELLING AND MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE NATURAL RESOURCE AGENDA MEETING.
UM, I DO NOT FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE.
I THINK EACH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNER SHOULD BRING THEIR REQUEST FORWARD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT SPRING ISLAND HAS VERY LARGE LOTS, BUT WE HAVE OTHER SIMILAR DEVELOPMENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, MAYBE NOT MANY BUT A FEW, BUT THIS ALSO HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN MY MIND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE VETTED PUBLICLY BY EACH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNER AND WHY THEY NEED THE ACCESSORY BUILDINGS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, AT THIS POINT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UM, THE AGENDA AMENDMENT AND WE WANNA GET INTO THE, THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THE MOTION.
I THINK WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS AS AN AGENDA ADD, ADD ON RIGHT NOW IN ORDER TO DISCUSS IT.
WELL, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION.
WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO APPROVE THIS AS AN AMENDMENT, IT HAS BEEN SECONDED.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I HAVE ONE.
I THINK THERE'S A PROCESS AND A PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO HANDLE THIS PROPERLY AND I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE CORRECT WAY TO DO THAT.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD, THAT, UH, THERE IS A MORE APPROPRIATE AGAIN.
AGAIN, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'RE YOU OPPORTUNITY THIS OTHER MEMBERS ARE ARGUING THE POINT OF THE MOTION, NOT THE AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA.
WE JUST WANT TO BRING THIS UP SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT.
THIS WILL REQUIRE TWO THIRDS OF COUNCIL TO BE APPROVED.
THERE ARE 10 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE.
IT WILL REQUIRE SEVEN OF THE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THIS AS A ITEM TO BE INCLUDED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE, UH, CLERK TO CALL THE ROLE ON THE AMENDMENT.
UH, WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. ING BECAUSE HE MADE THE MOTION.
HE MADE THE SECOND AND THEN THE REST OF COUNSEL WILL WEIGH IN.
I WROTE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO AMEND COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER.
FOR DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER HER ON YES.
WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.
THAT WAS THE MOTION PASSED, SIR.
WE'RE BACK TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
IT HAS BEEN DUALLY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS SEEING NONE? THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - AUGUST 8, 2022]
LIKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF AUGUST THE EIGHTH.SECOND, MR. MCCLELLEN MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES SEEING NO OBJECTION.
OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT WILL NOT BE DONE THIS EVENING SO THAT WE CAN GET TO THE BUSINESS THAT IS AT HAND.
[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS RECOVERY MONTH]
A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS RECOVERY MONTH.MR. MCKLELLAN, YOU WILL MAKE THAT PROCLAMATION.
I KNOW THERE ARE MEMBERS, UH, IN THE AUDIENCE HERE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? FIRST RESPONDERS? YES.
HAVE YOU STAND BEHIND ME AND THEN I'M GONNA MAKE THE PRESENTATION OF THE CONFIRMATION TO YOU.
UH, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION THAT STATES, WHEREAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ONE'S OVERALL HEALTH AND RECOVERY IS A PROCESS TO WHICH PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL WELLNESS, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY LIVE INCREASINGLY SELF-DIRECTED LIVES AND STRIVE TO FULFILL THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL.AND WHEREAS SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, INCLUDING OPIOID USE DISORDER AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS AFFECT ALL COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE, BUT WITH COMMITMENT AND SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH THESE DISOR DISORDERS CAN SEEK HELP AND TREATMENT.
THEY CAN RECOVER AND THEY CAN ACHIEVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND LEAD REWARDING LIVES IN RECOVERY.
AND WHEREAS THE FOCUS OF NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH IS TO COMBAT STIGMA AND RESOLVE MISCONCEPTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDICTION AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR JOURNEY WITH THE THEME, JOIN THE VOICES FOR RECOVERY, CELEBRATING CONNECTIONS, RECOVERY MONTH SPREADS THE MESSAGE THAT PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ARE EFFECTIVE AND PEOPLE CAN AND DO RECOVER EVERY DAY.
AND WHEREAS THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND OPIATE OVERDOSES IS APPARENT LOCALLY WITH AN ESTIMATED 20,000 PEOPLE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY AFFECTED BY A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
AND OVER 100,000 UNITED STATES, CITIZENS LOST THEIR LIVES TO AN OVERDOSE TO AN OPIATE OVERDOSE ALONE.
LAST YEAR THROUGH NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, PEOPLE BECOME MORE AWARE AND ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
AS PEOPLE IN NEED OF TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK HELP OR ARE PROVIDED OUTREACH BY THE BEAUFORT COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER TEAM WHO STANDING BEHIND ME, WHEREAS THE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH OBSERVANCE SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THOSE AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS BY A RAISING AWARENESS OF THESE DISORDERS AND EDUCATING COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT AVAILABLE RECOVERY SERVICES AND THE DANGER OF STIGMA FOR THE ABOVE REASONS, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER TEAM IS ASKING OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO JOIN PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE PALMETTO STATE IN CELEBRATING SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH AND AN OBSERVATION OF THE 33RD ANNIVERSARY OF RECOVERY MONTH.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AT BEAUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER, 2022 AS RECOVERY MONTH IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD A FEW WORDS TO THAT.
UH, WE ARE FACING IN THIS COUNTRY, UM, IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS COUNTY, A TERRIBLE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO OPIOID OVERDOSES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH FENTANYL IT'S AFFECTING OUR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG PEOPLE, PERHAPS MORE THAN OTHERS BECAUSE THEY MAY BE POLYDRUG USERS.
AND THEY MAY FIND THAT THEY'RE, UM, OBTAINING DRUGS THAT ARE THEIR PREFERENCE TO USE THAT ARE NOT BY THEIR KNOWLEDGE OPIOID, UM, CONTAIN OPIOIDS.
UNFORTUNATELY THESE DAYS, IF PEOPLE ARE USING MARIJUANA OR COCAINE OR METHAMPHETAMINE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PURVEYORS OF THAT SOMETIMES INCLUDE FENTANYL IN THERE, UH, SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S AVAILABLE AND THEY THINK PEOPLE ARE SEEKING IT.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE QUITE SURPRISED WHEN THEY DISCOVER THAT, UM, FENTANYL IS CONTAINED IN THE DRUG THAT THEY'RE USING.
AND SOMETIMES THAT SURPRISE RESULTS IN DEATH.
UM, A STATEMENT MADE HERE SAYS, HEY, I JUST WANTED SAY THANKS.
IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU TELLING ME YOUR STORY, I WOULD NOT HAVE GOT HELP.
NO ONE NEVER HAVE, BUT I COULD SEE IN YOUR EYES, YOU REALLY WANTED TO HELP ME.
YOU STRAIGHT SAVED MY LIFE AND I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR YOU IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
IN 2020, THERE WERE 30 DRUG OVERDOSE FATALITIES RELATED TO OPIOIDS IN 254 DRUG OVERDOSE HOSPITALIZATIONS INDIVIDUAL QUOTED ABOVE WAS ONE OF 29 COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO WERE HELPED RECENTLY BY THE BEAUFORD COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2021.
IT'S JUST ONE OF SEVERAL NOTES THAT THIS TEAM BEHIND ME RECEIVED THIS PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO HELP CURB OPIATE ABUSE AND OPIATE OVERDOSES AND SOUTH CAROLINA IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
LAST YEAR, MORE PEOPLE DIED FROM DRUG OVERDOSES THAN THEY DID FROM AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS IN 2020 1,734 SOUTH CAROLINIANS DIED FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE AND THERE WERE 1066 TRAFFIC FATALITIES OF THOSE 1,734 DRUG DEATHS, 1400 WERE RELATED TO OPIOIDS AND 1,100 INVOLVED FENTANYL.
SO I WANTED TO ADD THOSE COMMENTS AND TAKE A MOMENT TO
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU DO WITH, THERE WE GO.YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? GO AHEAD.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THANK YOU.
ON BEHALF OF OUR TEAM, UH, CONDUCT OUR PART BUILT IF YOU WILL, BY FIREFIGHTERS FROM BURTON LADIES, ALLEN ST.
HELEN FIRE DISTRICT, UH, PARAMEDIC FROM BEAUFORD COUNTY EMS AND SURELY OUR FRIENDS AND, UH, NEIGHBORS AT THE BEAU COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DIVISION.
UH, WE THANK THE COUNTY FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
WE ARE LEAP YEARS OF HEAD OF OUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE UNITED STATES.
IF WE TRAVEL TO LEARN HOW TO DO OUR JOB BETTER, WE FIND THAT, UH, WE HAVE SOME VERY FORWARD THINKERS IN OUR LEADERSHIP, BOTH AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL, AS WELL AS OUR STAFF LEVEL AND BECAUSE OF THAT, OUR TEAM EXISTS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE'RE PROVIDED BY BOTH OUR RESIDENTS AND SURELY OUR STAFF AND THE COUNCIL, UH, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COUNTY.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
[8. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING ELEANOR LIGHTSEY - COUNCIL MEMBER LARRY MCELYNN]
OCCASIONALLY I HAVE THE, UH, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THESE PROCLAMATIONS, WHICH I DUNNO IF YOU CAN TELL, I REALLY LOVE TO DO, UM, I, I REALLY LOVE TO DO IT.UM, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECOGNIZE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE DOING VERY IMPORTANT WORK FOR ALL OF US.
AND OFTENTIMES NO ONE BOTHERS TO SAY THANK YOU OR RECOGNIZE THOSE IMPORTANT EFFORTS TONIGHT.
IT'S UM, IT'S WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I BRING A FRIEND OF ALL OF OURS UP HERE TONIGHT SITTING RIGHT HERE, ELEANOR LIGHTSEY, WOULD YOU JOIN ME UP HERE, ELEANOR, FOR A MOMENT, EVERYONE IS SMILING AT, AT HER BECAUSE EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS HER.
UH, EVERYBODY IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOM KNOWS HER FOR SURE.
AND I'M GONNA READ THIS AS EMBARRASSING AS THIS MAY BE ELEANOR, I'M GONNA READ IT.
IT'S A PROCLAMATION TO YOU FOR A LIFE IN SERVICE.
WHEREAS ELEANOR LIGHTSEY RECEIVED AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FROM WINTHROP UNIVERSITY.
AND WHEREAS ELEANOR SERVED IN POSITIONS AS THE RECORDING CLERK AND THE BILL CLERK ON THE DESK IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR EIGHT SESSIONS AND AUTHORED SOUTH CAROLINA'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
MORE RECENTLY, SHE CO-AUTHORED SOUTH CAROLINA, REAL ESTATE PRACTICE AND LAW.
AND WHEREAS ELEANOR SERVED OUR STATE AS A PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF REAL ESTATE AND BUILDING CODE PROFESSIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LICENSING AND REGULATION.
BUT SHE WAS CALLED UPON TO ASSIST IN DRAFTING REGULATIONS FOR THE COMMISSION AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MANAGING EDUCATIONAL AND TESTING PROGRAMS FOR LICENSEES.
AND WHEREAS IN 2000 ILLINOIS BECAME THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HILTON HEAD AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.
DID YOU KNOW, YOU DID ALL THESE THINGS WHERE FOR EIGHT YEARS SHE HELPED GROW THE ASSOCIATION FROM 400 TO 1200 MEMBERS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING 42 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO AID THE MEMBERS.
NOW HERE'S WHERE WE ALL APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
WHEREAS UPON LEAVING THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, ELEANOR BECAME THE BUSINESS MANAGER FOR THE LOW COUNTRY INSIDE TRACK LIMITED, WHICH IS NOT A RACING ORGANIZATION.
AND WHEREAS ELEANOR CONTINUED TO SERVE THE LOW COUNTRY THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION ON VARIOUS BOARDS, SUCH AS THE SOUTH ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT BOARD PROGRAMS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE, THE FOREST BEACH OWNERS ASSOCIATION, THE BOARD OF OSPREY VILLAGE COMMUNITY VISION OF HILTON HEAD, THE LOW COUNTRY AUTISM FOUNDATION.
I MUST BE VERY TIRED, HILTON, HEAD HEROES, SAFE HARBOR AND TURTLE TRACKERS.
AND WHEREAS ELEANOR HAS SPENT HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND PERSONAL LIFE SERVING THE RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS OF THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITIES OF COLUMBIA HILTON, HEAD ISLAND AND GREATER BEAUFORD COUNTY.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES ELEANOR LIGHTSEY FOR HER COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION
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TO THE GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN PARTICULAR, THE LOW COUNTRY MAKING BEAUFORD COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, TO WORK AND TO PLAY.MY SON AND SOME OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS ARE HERE TODAY AND MY FRIEND MIRA EVIDENTLY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TELE CASTING.
THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION RECOGNITION.
IT HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL WORKING WITH DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS LIKE BAUER COUNTY HAS, AND I WILL MISS IT.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.
UM, WHERE'S THE CHECK
I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA GET THROUGH ALL OF THESE.
UM, I MUST HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER OVER THERE, GENERAL.
[9. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING THOMAS BARNWELL, KEVIN CARTER, AND JR & LESLIE RICHARDSON FOR THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS ATTAINABLE HOUSING]
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, UH, DISCUSSION, UM, IN GOVERNMENT AND OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT RECENTLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT WE MUST UNDERTAKE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED PRIVATELY IN PUTTING TOGETHER AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING, UH, FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, AS YOU WILL SEE, AS I READ THROUGH THIS, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE ARE PIONEERS, UH, IN THIS WORK, UH, THIS HAVE JOINED RECENTLY, UH, BUT HAVE JOINED JUST AS EFFECTIVELY AS OTHERS HAVE.
SO TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE, UH, A REAL PIONEER, UH, FELLOW BY THE NAME OF THOMAS BARNWELL.
WHO'S SITTING RIGHT OVER HERE, TOM, WOULD YOU JOIN ME UP HERE FOR A MOMENT? TOM IS A REAL PIONEER IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IN OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES ON HILTON HEAD, TOM BEGAN HIS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OP UH, UM, ACTIVITIES WITH PROGRAM PLANNING, FEDERAL PROGRAM, ORIENTATION AND IMPLEMENTATION WHILE HE WAS AT THE PENN CENTER.
HIS COMMUNITY SERVICE CONTINUED WHEN HE HELD POSITIONS AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUFORD JASPER HAMPTON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.
THEN HE WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEAUFORD JASPER HAMPTON, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES.
AND THEN HE WAS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE BANK.
THE CHARLESTON BRANCH THOMAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN SECURING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE NATIVES OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
HE'S A WELL RECOGNIZED LAND DEVELOPER AND A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER OF RENTAL PROPERTIES.
WHEN I SAY TOM IS A PIONEER, HE AND HIS WIFE, SUSAN
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HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE.SUSAN'S NOT HERE TONIGHT, VERY ACTIVE IN CONSTRUCTING AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING, TOM AND SUSAN'S FIRST PROJECT WAS SQUIRE POPE MOBILE HOME PARK, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED IN 19 SEVEN, EXCUSE ME, A SECOND.
HE THEN BEGAN ANOTHER PROJECT IN 1983 CALLED THE SBI TUB APARTMENTS.
AND THERE'S A GREAT STORY FOR THE NAME S TUB, BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
SO I ASKED HIM THE OTHER DAY ON THE PHONE, WHAT IS IT? AND HE TOLD ME AT LENGTH WHAT IT WAS AND AS A GREAT FETO OF HISTORY, WHAT HE TOLD ME ALMOST MOVED ME TO TEARS.
HE'S ALSO DEVELOPED THE CEDAR WELL APARTMENTS IN 1989 AND 1990.
HE ALSO DEVELOPED WITH SUSAN WILD HORSE COURT IN 1994 AND 96 AND COTTON POINT IN 1998 AND 2000 ALL AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE ON HILTON HEAD.
TOM HAS BEEN, AS YOU CAN TELL, VERY BUSY AND I DON'T THINK HE IS FINISHED JUST YET.
TOM, IF YOU WOULD STAY UP HERE WITH ME JUST FOR A MOMENT, I'M GONNA INVITE SOME OTHER PEOPLE UP, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THIS PRESENTATION, A PROCLAMATION THAT IS, UH, MADE OUT TO YOU FOR LEADING THE WAY AND SETTING THE EXAMPLE REGARDING SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
AND THERE IT'S BEEN RESOLVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOU FOR YOUR SELFLESSNESS, YOUR INGENUITY, AND THE RESOURCES YOU'VE USED TO PROVIDE ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
SO FOR THAT, I HAVE ANOTHER, UM, PROCLAMATION.
UM, THIS ONE IS FOR KEVIN CARTER.
KEVIN CARTER IS PRETTY NEW TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, KEVIN IS THE OWNER OF HILTON HEAD HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
HE, UM, CAME HERE IN 2016 AND WENT TO, UH, THE, UH, FACILITY, UH, AND THEN A YEAR LATER HE LIKED IT THERE SO MUCH.
HE BOUGHT THE PLACE AND, UH, HE HAS DECIDED THAT THERE ARE, UM, THERE'S A NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN PARTICULAR FOR HIS MEMBERS OF HIS OWN WORKFORCE.
SO HE HAS INVESTED 3 MILLION RECENTLY INTO HILTON HEAD AND HE HAS PUT TOGETHER 19 PROPERTIES THAT CONTAIN 26 BEDROOMS. UM, HE BELIEVES THAT ABOUT 35% OF THE EMPLOYEES AT HIS, UM, WORKPLACE ARE USING THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RESIDENCES AND PAYING, UH, APPROXIMATELY $600, UH, PER BEDROOM.
UM, UH, HE HAS PLANS TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
KEVIN IS NOT HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE WORKS PRIMARILY IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, BUT JILL BOY, WHO IS HERE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE JILL UP.
JILL IS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF, UM, HILTON HEAD HEALTH AND WELLNESS, THOSE SORRY.
UM, AND, AND THE, I THINK THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT IS HERE AS WELL SOMEWHERE.
THE GENERAL MANAGER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT.
YOU MAY REMEMBER JILL BECAUSE JILL WAS A PARTNER IN MICHAEL ANTHONYS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.
AND IF THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE EATEN THERE WENT TO THE DESK.
WHEN YOU WENT IN THE DOOR, THERE WAS JILL STANDING THERE EXTENDING A WARM WELCOME.
SHE LEFT THAT, UH, QUITE SOME TIME AGO AND HAS BEEN OVER THERE NOW ABOUT 13 YEARS, RIGHT? 10 YEARS, 10 YEARS, SORRY.
UH, 10 YEARS AT HILTON HEAD WEALTH WISHES, VERY HAPPY.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU KEVIN CARTER'S PROCLAMATION AND IT READS PRETTY SIMILARLY TO THE ONE THAT I JUST GAVE TO TOM BARNWELL.
IT SAYS THAT KEVIN CARTER IS LEADING THE WAY AND SETTING THE EXAMPLE REGARDING SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT THIS COUNCIL WISHES TO RECOGNIZE KEVIN CARTER FOR HIS SELFLESS SELFLESSNESS INGENUITY AND THE RESOURCES HE USED TO PROVIDE ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD ISLANDS.
UM, FIRST LET ME JUST SAY ELEANOR WAS A REALLY HARD ACT TO FILE
WHAT, WHAT AN AMAZING WOMAN, UM, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMAN, THE COUNTY, THE CITY, UM, UH, OFFICIALS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE.
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WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU DILIGENTLY TO GET OUR LICENSING AND TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR PERMITS AND MOVE FORWARD.AND WE ARE THRILLED TO BE PART OF THIS SOLUTION OF GETTING SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE.
SO WE NO LONGER HAVE TO COMPLAIN IN THE RESTAURANT ABOUT WHY THERE'S NO HELP.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO RESOLVING IT WITH ALL OF YOU.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH HILTON HEAD HEALTH IS REALLY PROUD.
THEY'RE GONNA STAY UP HERE FOR A TIME.
I HAVE ONE MORE AND THEN I'VE FINISHED.
I PROMISE THIS IS A, UH, AN AWARD OF PROCLAMATION TO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY WELL KNOWN ON HILTON HEAD AND WHO ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS OF MINE, UH, ACCIDENTALLY.
UM, I'VE KNOWN THEM FOR PROBABLY OVER A DECADE IT'S JR.
AND LESLIE RICHARDSON, WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO COME? AND I'M GONNA JUST READ THIS AND GIVE YOU THIS.
AND THEN CHRIS IS GONNA GO OVER AND TAKE SOME PHOTOS.
AND LESLIE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD SINCE 2019 TO HELP COMBAT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING SHORTAGE ON HILTON HEAD, THE RICHARDSON GROUP, WHICH IS RUN BY JR.
AND LESLIE CONVERTED A FORMER COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT ONE PARK LANE INTO SINGLE AND DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, RESIDENTIAL UNITS PREVIOUSLY HOME TO CARSWELL INSURANCE.
THE 8,800 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING HAS BEEN VACANT FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS WHILE SURROUNDING BUSINESSES STRUGGLED TO FIND HOMES FOR THEIR WORKERS IN TOTAL OF BUILDING CAN HOUSE 38 PEOPLE IN APARTMENTS THAT OFFER WIFI 55 INCH TELEVISIONS AND COMPUTER WORKSPACES, THE UNITS ARE FULLY RENTED.
THEY'VE ALSO PUT SOME ADDITIONAL UNITS OVER ON THE, UH, BUILDING THAT THE HILTON HEAD ORCHESTRA IS IN OVER A, BY, UH, LAGOON ROAD NEAR, UH, COLNEY CIRCLE.
AND I KNOW THAT BOTH JR AND LESLIE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON HILTON HEAD.
SO, UH, ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS PROCLAMATION THAT SAYS THAT, UH, JR AND LESLIE RICHARDSON ARE LEADING THE WAY IN SETTING THE EXAMPLE REGARDING SAFE, STABLE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL RESIDENTS.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BUFORD COUNTY.
THIS COUNCIL HEREBY WISHES TO RECOGNIZE JR AND LESLIE RICHARDSON FOR THEIR SELFLESSNESS, THEIR INGENUITY AND THE RESOURCES THEY'VE USED TO PROVIDE ATTAINABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ON HILTON.
I, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS QUITE UNEXPECTED, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
IT'S UM, UM, NOT OUR THING TO BE OUT FRONT WITH THESE KIND OF THINGS, BUT, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE OF THREE ACTION, THREE AND FOUR PROJECTS IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
AND, UH, IT WAS THE LAST THING WE EXPECTED.
SO IT'S OUR PASSIONATE BELIEF THAT, UH, PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, TO LIVE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WORK.
AND IN DOING THAT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ACCOMPLISH IT.
AND IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL OF US, BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND YOU CAN DO IN THESE SMALL PIECES, BUT WE HAVE LIKE 3000 UNITS OVER, OH, JUST ON HILTON HEAD THAT ARE SHORT AND IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF HELP TO HAVE MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT TOGETHER WE CAN GET IT DONE.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR.
AND THANK YOU ALL GONNA, UH, INVITE.
I WAS GONNA HAVE EVERYBODY SPEAK LATER, BUT IF I COULD HAVE TOM BARNWELL COME UP AND, UH, I DIDN'T GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ANYTHING TO TOM, COULD YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND MAKE SOME REMARKS? THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING, UH, GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, TO ALL PRESENT AND, UH, TO THE CHAIRMAN, AS WELL AS ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS, INCLUDING MY ALL OUR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE
AND OF COURSE IN THANKING, I WILL HAVE TO THANK THE LORD FOR LIFE BECAUSE I'M A VERY NEWCOMER.
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON HILTON HEAD NOW, 87 YEARS.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME NOW, YOU KNOW HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN HERE, MY, UH, PARENTS, UH, WERE FORTUNATE TO BOUGHT TO BUY LAND.
[00:35:01]
ESPECIALLY THANK MY GRANDPARENTS AND MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS.AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY LAND.
WELL, OF COURSE, MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS AFTER LEAVING MITCHELLVILLE, THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY LAND AND AREAS OF HILTON HEAD.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE, SUSAN, WHO'S NOT HERE WHO HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSE WITH ME IN THIS PROCESS, AS WELL AS I'D LIKE TO THANK MY THREE CHILDREN.
AND TWO OF THEM ARE HERE THIS EVENING, CURTIS AND PAULETTE, AS, AS WELL AS JASON, HE'S NOT HERE, BUT MY, ONE OF MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN, CHRISTOPHER RAMIREZ IS HERE OVER THERE IN THIS ROOM.
I'D LIKE ALSO TO EXTEND THE, THANKS TO THOSE ARCHITECTS, THE SURVEYORS, THE LAND PLANNERS, AND ESPECIALLY TO MR. WILLIAM FISH BORNE, WHO WAS THE CONTRACTOR FOR ME IN MANY OF MY LAND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE LEGAL FIRMS THAT I EMPLOYED.
AND I WOULD REALLY REALLY SAY THANK YOU TO COUNTY COUNCIL, BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT I, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY HAVE DEVELOPED 33 ACRES OF LAND ON HILTON, HEAD IN DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT HE MENTIONED IS A TOTAL OF 100 UNITS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND FOR THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE COUNCIL SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE, AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOUR ARCHIVE COULD REALLY, UH, SHARE WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND IT'S THE SYNOPSIS THAT I DID, UH, BACK IN MAY 20TH, 2014, THIS IS A SURPRISE.
HE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS GONNA DO THIS.
THIS IS THE WHITE PAPER THAT I DID FOR THE HERITAGE LIBRARY AND COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM IN MAY 20 20TH, 2014, THE HILTON HAD FISHING COOPERATIVE, B A S F CONFLICT.
BEFORE WE GO TO OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS, AS I SAID, THE FIRST PART OF OUR AGENDA CITIZEN COMMENTS WILL BE FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUE.
I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT HIGHWAY 2 78.
I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING TO YOU.
IT WILL BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
IT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE NEWSPAPERS AND ANY OTHER MEDIA THAT WISHES TO HAVE IT FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
BEAUFORT COUNTY AND HILTON HEAD HAVE GATHERED INITIAL THOUGHTS CONDUCTED MULTIPLE STUDIES, LISTENED TO COMMUNITY INPUT AND WERE PRESENTED WITH 17 ALTERNATIVES TO ADDRESS THE US 2 78 QUARTER.
THAT GOES BETWEEN MOSS CREEK AND BLUFFTON AND SPANISH WELLS ROAD ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AS A RESULT OF THE VETTING PROCESS, ONE ALTERNATIVE WAS CHOSEN THAT ONE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WAS THEN REFINED BASED UPON MORE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND INCORPORATED
[00:40:01]
MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A STUDY COMMISSIONED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.SO WHERE ARE WE NOW? BEAUFORD COUNTY IS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PRODUCT PROJECT AND HAS SIGNED AN IGA, WHICH IS AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT THAT HOLDS THE COUNTY RESPONSIBLE FOR STARTING THE PROJECT BY 2024 AND COMPLETING THE PROJECT BY 20 28, 2 THIRDS OF THE COUNTY PROJECT CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE CHANGED NO MATTER HOW MANY ADDITIONAL STUDIES WE DO, THE BRIDGE WILL START AT MOSS CREEK TRAVEL ACROSS THE INTERCOASTAL, WATERWAY TO PINKNEY ISLAND, CROSS SKULL CREEK, AND PROCEED TO WIN MILL HARBOR.
THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES ARE NONNEGOTIABLE SINCE THE PROJECT CROSSES THE INNER COASTAL WATERWAY AND THE PICKNEY ISLAND NATIONAL RI WILDLIFE REFUGE.
WE DO HAVE FLEXIBILITY FOR THE FINAL MILE OF THE PROJECT WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
WE BELIEVE THE CURRENT PLAN FOR THE ONE MILE STRETCH THROUGH THE STONY COMMUNITY IS GOOD.
AS THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD, WE ARE WILLING TO CONTINUE TO ACCEPT MORE FEEDBACK THROUGH THE DESIGN PHASE AND WE'LL WORK WITH LOCAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES TO SECURE THE EXTRA FUNDING FOR ANY CHANGES THAT WILL BE NECESSARY.
THE END TO END STUDY PROPOSED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN THE QUARTER FROM WINDMILL HARBOR THROUGH THE CROSS ISLAND EXPRESSWAY.
WE WELCOME THIS FEEDBACK FOR INCLUSION DURING THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE, INTO IDENTIFY FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE COMMUTE TIMES FOR ALL BEAUFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY ON HILTON HEAD.
HOWEVER, WE CANNOT HOLD THIS PROJECT UP ANY LONGER.
IT IS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND STAY ON THE CURRENT TIMELINE.
WE CANNOT RISK HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN BEAUFORT COUNTY VOTERS APPROVE THE PROJECT IN 2018, CURRENTLY 95% OF THE PROJECT APPROVES IS INDIFFERENT, OR JUST WANTS US TO BUILD THE BRIDGE.
AND THE WHOLE CORRIDOR, A FINAL ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE BY THE STAFF OF THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TO FINALIZE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WILL ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FEEDBACK FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
SINCE THE FINAL MOU WAS NOT COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE BEAUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION AT THIS MEETING, THERE IS NO ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THE BEAU FOR COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS THE MOU AT THE SEPTEMBER 19TH PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND IF APPROVED WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO THE FULL COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, I CALL ON THE ELECTED LEADERS OF HILTON HEAD TO READ EVERY LINE OF THE PROPOSED MOU AND SEE THAT THE COMPROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE.
AND THE PROPOSED MOU STRENGTHENS OUR RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO PROFESSIONAL STAFFS AND CREATES THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR ALL OUR RESIDENTS.
I HOPE TO SEE THIS M MOU ON THE NEXT COUNCIL TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION AND APPROVAL SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR ALL BEAUFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS, CITIZEN
[10. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
COMMENTS.I SEE FROM THOSE WHO, UH, HAVE SIGNED UP.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO DISCUSS THE AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE MELROSE LANDING AND OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE PATHWAYS.
THOSE SEEM TO BE THE TWO MOST PREVALENT ONES.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE PODIUM PODIUM, PLEASE BE AS BRIEF AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN STAY WITHIN THE THREE MINUTE TIMELINE.
IF THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WANNA SPEAK ON THE ISSUE AND THAT ONE PERSON HAS COLLECTIVELY SAID, WHAT YOU WANNA SAY, IT'LL GIVE US A CHANCE FOR THE OTHERS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE AGENDA.
AND I KNOW PEOPLE DON'T WANNA WANNA STAY HERE ALL NIGHT.
SO, UM, ABOUT THE FAIR FAIRY, UH, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FIRST ABOUT THE FERRY, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE, BETH LEAN, AND JOHN, YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY NAME IS BETH MCINTYRE AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DUFUS ISLAND AND THE SECRETARY OF DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL.
[00:45:01]
HERE TODAY AS A RESIDENT AND RIDER OF THE COUNTY FERRY.THE DISCUSSION OF CONDEMNATION OF MELROSE LANDING HAS GENERATED A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE ISLAND AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY OPINIONS.
TOFUS, ISLAND'S VERY SPECIAL PLACE SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY DEVELOPMENT.
AND YET WE REMAIN UNDEVELOPED.
OUR 450 YEAR ROUND RESIDENTS ARE DIVERSE WITH WIDE RANGING ORIGINS, AGES, RACES, AND POLITICAL LEANINGS.
THE LOGISTICS OF LIVING ON TOFUS ARE CHALLENGING WITH ITS LACK OF CRITICAL AMENITIES.
THE ISLAND CAN BE A DIFFICULT PLACE TO LIVE.
HOW YOU COPE WITH THE LOGISTICS OF ISLAND.
LIFE DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
IF YOU LIVE IN HA POINT, YOU PAY FOR 24 7 WATER TRANSPORTATION FOR THE REST OF THE ISLAND.
YOU EITHER BUY INTO HA POINT CLUB, WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
YOU EITHER HAVE YOUR OWN BOAT, YOU TAKE PRIVATE TRANSPORT OR YOU RIDE THE COUNTY FERRY.
MY FAMILY AND I RIDE THE COUNTY FERRY FOR THOSE OF, OF US THAT RIDE THE COUNTY FERRY, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FERRY SERVICE AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE IT IS DIFFERENT THAN IF YOU LIVE AT HA POINT FOR HA POINT RESIDENTS, THE FERRY IS A SERVICE THEY PAY FOR, AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RUN IT ARE THEIR EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS THAT RIDE THE COUNTY BOAT RELY ON THOSE SERVICES AND THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROVIDE IT AS A CRITICAL LINK IN THE ISLAND'S CHAIN OF LOGISTICS THAT ENABLE US TO LIVE HERE.
THIS INCLUDES OUR LINK TO HEALTHCARE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, FOOD, AND OTHER BASIC NECESSITIES.
IT ALSO PROVIDES A CRITICAL LINK TO EACH OTHER FOR RESIDENTS.
IT IS OUR TIME TO CATCH UP ON ISLAND INFORMATION AND CONCERNS.
I'M SURE YOU'LL HEAR FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE FOREIGN AGAINST CONDEMNATION.
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE YOU ARE HEARING FROM WHO WOULD HAVE YOU VOTE AGAINST COUNTY OWNERSHIP, ACTUALLY RIDE THE COUNTY FAIRY.
SOME OF THE MOST VOCAL OF THOSE AGAINST COUNTY OWNERSHIP HAVE ACCESS TO THE HA POINT VOTES AND WOULD NEVER, OR HAVE EVER RIDDEN THE COUNTY FAIR.
SOME HAVE FINANCIAL INTERESTS TIED UP WITH WHITESTONE.
MOST OF LOCAL ONES ARE NOT EVEN FULL-TIME RESIDENTS AND ARE NOT VOTING HERE.
AS YOU DEBATE ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT MATTERS, KNOW THAT FOR US WHO RIDE THE COUNTY FERRY, IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION THAT'S PROVIDED.
IT IS OUR CRITICAL LINK TO SERVICES.
WE NEED THE LINK FOR THE 200,000 VISITORS WHO CAME TO US LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS ALSO OUR LINK TO EACH OTHER.
BY ALLOWING THE SERVICE TO BE TAKEN OVER BY A PRIVATE OWNER, YOU ARE IN EFFECT ALLOWING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ISLAND LIFE TO BE AT THE WHIMS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.
AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DELIBERATIONS AND THOSE WITH FINANCIAL INTERESTS LOBBY FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
REMEMBER THAT FOR THOSE WHO RIDE THE COUNTY FERRY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TRANSCENDS ALL OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
IT IS ABOUT A WAY OF LIFE THAT FOR SOME OF US IS ONLY MADE POSSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS LEAN KOLTER AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE OPT DEFOE ISLAND COUNCIL ON AUGUST 5TH, 2022.
THE DEFOE ISLAND COUNCIL VOTED TO SUPPORT BUER COUNTY'S EFFORT TO OBTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE MELROSE LANDING IN ANY MANNER.
IT DEEMED EFFICIENT AND EXPEDIENT.
THE LANDING IS THE TRANSPORTATION CENTER FOR THE ENTIRE ISLAND.
IT IS CRITICAL THAT IT, THAT THE LANDING REMAIN PUBLICLY OWNED.
ANY FURTHER THINGS TO ADD? GOOD EVENING.
I'M ALSO WITH THE DE PASKY ISLAND COUNCIL.
I'M GONNA ASK THAT THE COUNCIL BE FOR COUNTY COUNCIL TO LAY THEIR DECISION ON THE APPROACHES OR THE COMBINATION OF THE FERRY DOCK.
I'VE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO THE COUNTY, UH, THROUGH MY REPRESENTATIVE, MARK LAWSON AND ERIC GREENWAY TO, UH, DEVELOP MY OWN EMBARKATION CENTER FOR THE COUNTY.
UM, I'M IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE PURCHASING, THE LAND, THE PERMITS ARE BEEN TALKED ABOUT THROUGH THE COUNTY AND THROUGH THE O OMC.
AND WE JUST NEED MORE TIME TO DO IT.
I THINK AS MY COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL HAVE SAID, THERE IS IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THIS MATTER, RIGHT? AND SO ASKING DELAY, I THINK, WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME.
AND ALSO IT GIVES WHITESTONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, COVER BASES ALSO.
NEXT, UM, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THOSE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, ITEM NUMBER 20 ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE,
[00:50:01]
UH, GOLF COURTS TO USE MULTI-USE PATHS.MY NAME IS FRANK BABEL AND I'LL GET RIGHT TO IT.
WHEN THE PATHWAYS WERE FIRST BUILT IN BLUFFTON AND I TALKED TO HANK JOHNSON TO VERIFY IT.
THE PATHWAY WAS BUILT FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION ABOUT GOLF CARTS BECAUSE THEY SERVE PEOPLE WHO PLAY GOLF.
THEN IN 2018, WHEN THE STEP WENT IN FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE LEFT AND PARKWAY AND THE OTHER PATHWAYS, IT ALSO CLEARLY SAID THAT WHAT WE WANT IS MONEY FOR PATHWAYS THAT ARE SERVED BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
SEVERAL OF US SERVED ABOUT 20 OF US SERVED ON A COMMITTEE THAT DEVELOPED A PLAN FOR PATHWAYS AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
IT WAS APPROVED BY EVERY MUNICIPALITY LOCOG AND YOU AS A COUNTY, IT INCLUDES BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS ONLY.
SO, UH, WE AND HILTON HAD ONLY HAVE, UH, WE DON'T ALLOW MOTORIZED VEHICLES ON ANY OF OUR PATHWAYS.
THEY ARE VERY DISRUPTIVE AND THEY AFFECT DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SOME OF OUR NATIVE ISLANDERS WHERE THEY HAVE GOLF CARTS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE RENEGADE'S KIDS HOT DOGGING, AND THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO ON THE PATHWAYS.
THESE PATHWAYS WERE BUILT AND DESIGNED FOR CYCLISTS AND PASTURES.
THEY WERE BUILT FOR PEOPLE TO WALK THEIR DOGS, TO WALK THEIR KIDS ON STROLLERS, THESE KIND OF THINGS.
AND BY ALLOWING A FEW PEOPLE TO RIDE HEAVY, FAST RIDING, EXPENSIVE GOLF CARTS ON FACILITIES BUILT FOR OTHER PURPOSES BASICALLY IS INFRINGING AND TRAMPING ON THE RIGHTS OF BIKERS AND THE PEDESTRIANS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY BUILT FOR ALL THROUGH THE HISTORY.
THE OTHER ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS SAFETY.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE ON A BIKE WITH PEDESTRIANS NEARBY AND A GOLF CART COMES AT YOU WHO YIELDS? I CAN TELL YOU THE GOLF CART DOESN'T YIELD.
AND VERY OFTEN THE GOLF CART COMES FROM A PLACE THAT THEY HAD A FEW POPS, SO THEY DON'T GET A DUI AND THEY'RE DRIVING THEIR GOLF CART.
I AM A PAST PRESIDENT OF SUN CITY CYCLES AND I FOUNDED A 5 0 1 C THREE ORGANIZ PRO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO THAT WE CALLED GREATER BLUFFTON PATHWAYS.
ITS PURPOSE WAS TO FIND THE FUNDING FOR MULTI-USE PATHWAYS THAT WOULD CONNECT SUN CITY WITH THE, THE GREATER BLUFFTON AREA, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SAFE PLACES FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO WALK AND BIKE TO SCHOOL, CHURCH OR SHOPPING FOR SAFETY REASONS.
I FEEL THAT MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND SPECIFICALLY GOLF CARTS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE OUR BLUFFTON PARKWAY, ROUTE ONE 70 AND BUCK WALTER PARKWAY PATHWAYS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT COUNTY ADOPT THE SAME MUNICIPAL CODE AS USED IN HI ON HILTON HEAD PATHWAYS WERE DESIGNED TO BE USED BY CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, NOT MOTORIZED VEHICLES WHEN PEACHTREE CITY, GEORGIA, WHICH IS A RESIDENTIAL SUBURB OF SOUTH OF ATLANTA BUILT 90 MILES OF MULTI-USE PATHWAYS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
GOLF CART OWNERS ASKED TO USE THE PATHWAYS, AND THIS WAS ALLOWED SOON THE PEDESTRIANS AND THE RECREATIONAL CYCLISTS STOPPED USING THE MULTI-USE PATHWAYS BECAUSE THE WALKERS AND THE CYCLISTS FELT UNSAFE SHARING A PATHWAY WITH 1500 POUND GOLF CARTS.
STUDENTS BEGAN TO DRIVE THE GOLF CARTS TO THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL.
THE PATHWAYS BECAME GOLF CART.
PATHWAYS USED ONLY BY GOLF CARTS DURING MORNING AND AFTERNOON RUSH HOURS.
WHEN CHILDREN ARE WALKING AND BIKING TO SCHOOL, THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT 1500 POUND GOLF CARTS THAT MAY BE TRAVELING 15 OR 20 MILES AN HOUR.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTES BRAIN AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
IT STIMULATES LEARNING AND CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVED ACADEMIC SUCCESS.
HUMAN POWERED TRANSPORTATION IS HEALTHIER FOR OUR SOCIETY,
[00:55:01]
FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, FOR OUR POCKETBOOKS AND FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.RIDING IN A GOLF CART TO SCHOOL WILL BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO THE NATIONAL SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS, PROGRAM OBJECTIVES.
IF TEENAGERS ARE ALLOWED TO DRIVE GOLF CARTS TO, AND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FIELDS AND SHOPPING CENTERS, THE GOLF CARTS MAY BECOME STATUS SYMBOLS AND LEAD TO A GREATER NEED FOR POLICE ENFORCEMENT.
NOW, YOU ALSO SAY THAT YOU SEE CYCLISTS ON THE ROADWAYS INSTEAD OF ON THE PATHWAYS THAT THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE A CYCLIST AND THE BICYCLIST IS A VEHICLE.
ACCORDING TO SOUTH CAROLINA LAW, THEY SHARE THE ROAD WITH CARS, BUT ARE NARROW PATHWAYS ARE NOT WIDE ENOUGH TO ALLOW GOLF CARTS NOR FAST MOVING CYCLISTS.
SO PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW MOTORIZED VEHICLES TO USE OUR PATHWAYS.
WE'RE JUST ABOUT OUT OF TIME FOR OUR FIRST 15 MINUTES.
IS THERE A WAY YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT? THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM CAME HERE, YOUR TIME, STOP THE BRIDGE.
WE CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE BRIDGE.
YOU'RE CUTTING OUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I CAME HERE TO HEAR ALL THESE PEOPLE AT TONIGHT AND I, SIR, I CANNOT YOU CRAFTED WAY TO ELIMINATE THIS DISCUSSION OF OUR BRIDGE AND, AND THE PROBLEM WE ALL FACE.
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING? WHAT YOU NEED IS YOU NEED TO BE BOOT WITH ROBIN.
I FIND IT OUTRAGEOUS WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
ALL THIS SIT DOWN, I'M HERE, EVERYBODY'S HERE.
I WANNA MAKE MY COMMENT AS WELL, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LET THIS MAN VIEW ALL, GET THIS ROOM.
YOU SAID AT THE END OF THE MEETING, EVERYBODY CAN TALK LIKE BOTH US.
DON'T WANNA SIT HERE ALL FOR HOURS.
WE WANNA GET IT OVER WITH AND TALK ABOUT THIS AGENDA ITEM AND HAVE OUR, OUR, IT IS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM.
DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT AGENDA ITEM? JUST A DISCUSSION ON THE BRIDGE, BUT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA.
DID I NOT EXPLAIN THAT CLEARLY? WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? JUST AS LONG AS WE'RE GONNA RESPECT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO SIT HERE ALL THAT TIME.
WE SHOULD GET IT OVER WITH NOW.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SIT HERE THROUGH OUR DINNER DINNERS, GO OUR FAMILY TIMES.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LET EVERYBODY GET UP AND START TALKING AND GET IT OVER WITH, WHY HAVE YOU DOING THAT? YOU PUT THE RESPECT.
YOU'RE DISRESPECTING BY PUTTING EVERYTHING LAST.
WHY.YOU PUT THE FIRE LAST, SIR.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ON THE LIST TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, GOLF CARTS ON THE BIKE PATH ISSUE.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEM OTHER THAN THE GOLF CART PATH? YES.
MY NAME IS LINDA AMMO HILLS AND MY CONCERN IS NUMBER 18.
THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE WORK ON THE PRIVATE ROAD.
MY CONCERN IS I NEED CLARITY ON THAT PRIVATE ROAD THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I OWN A PRIVATE ROAD AND I WANNA KNOW.
SO THAT IS MY CONCERN TONIGHT.
AND JUST LET ME KNOW, I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND I'M HERE, BUT YOU ALL HAVE TO SAY SO WHEN YOU GET TO NUMBER 18, PLEASE CLARIFY THAT FOR ME.
UM, SIR, YOU WILL BE THE LAST ONE FOR THE FIRST 15 MINUTES.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN PESSIN AND UH, OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MY NAME IS RAY CHIP AND I'M HERE REPRESENTING 250 MEMBERS OF THE SUN CITY CYCLERS BICYCLE CLUB.
AND I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN NOT ONLY CYCLING, BUT ALSO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND ADVOCACY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS.
UM, I WAS DUMBFOUNDED WHEN I READ IT.
THE PURPOSE OF MULTI-USE PADS AND TRAILS IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF VULNERABLE ROAD USERS, PEDESTRIANS, WALKERS, JOGGERS, CYCLISTS, ETC.
BY PHYSICALLY SEPARATING THEM FROM MOTOR VEHICLES.
THIS ORDINANCE DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF PROTECTING VULNERABLE ROAD USERS BY ADDING MOTOR VEHICLES AS DEFINED BY SOUTH CAROLINA CODE TO THE VERY SAME SPACE THAT KEEPS THESE USERS SAFE.
THEREFORE WE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
[01:00:01]
OF ISSUES WITH IT, BUT I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT JUST FOUR OF THEM.AS A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, IS THE ELEPHANT IN A ROOM IS NOT THE ELEPHANT IN A ROOM.
SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
ALL RIGHT, THE PETS WERE NOT BUILT FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN PEDESTRIANS.
NOW I DID SOME MEASUREMENTS AND THESE PETS ARE SEVEN FEET WIDE UP TO NINE FEET, FOUR INCHES.
THE AVERAGE GOLF CART IS FOUR AND A HALF FEET WIDE.
DO WE WANT GOLF CARTS, PASSING PEDESTRIANS, BIKE RIDERS AND MOTHERS PER PU PUSHING THEIR STROLLERS WITH ONLY THREE AND A HALF FEET BETWEEN THEM.
IT ALSO GOES THE AGAINST THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF CREATING THE BIKE PATHS AS DEFINED BY PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
THE SPEED ISSUES WHICH WAS BROUGHT UP IS ACTUALLY ADDRESSED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ADVISES CYCLISTS WITH THE ABILITY AND STRENGTH TO RIDE AT 18.6 MILES AN HOUR, TO STAY OFF OF THE MULTI-USE PADS AND USE THE EXISTING ROADWAY.
ALL RIGHT, NOW YOU WANNA INTRODUCE HALF TON MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.
AS FAR AS TRANSPORTATION FOR THE GOLF CARTS IT'S ALREADY ADDRESSED.
THEY CAN RIDE ON SECONDARY ROADS.
THEY CAN RIDE ON ANY ROAD THAT HAS LESS THAN 35 MILE AN HOUR OR 35, AN HOURS OR LESS.
SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED.
THE OTHER ISSUE OBVIOUSLY IS COSTS.
THE ADA RAMPS AT EACH INTERSECTION ARE APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET WIDE.
NOW A GOLF CART IS FOUR AND A HALF FEET WIDE.
ARE YOU GONNA WIDEN THESE? THAT'S A REAL COST AS A TAXPAYER.
ALRIGHT, THE OTHER COSTS, ARE YOU GONNA WIDEN CAPA THEMSELVES? WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THESE COSTS ARE AND WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU DISCUSS THIS ORDINANCE.
CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? SURE.
CAN REPRESENT A GROUP, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME WITH YOU TONIGHT FROM THAT MEETING? OKAY, GREAT.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION AS WELL? SURE.
I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THE GOLF CART ORDINANCE FORWARD.
SO CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION AS WELL IN, IN SUN CITY, DO YOU GUYS TAKE YOUR GOLF CARTS TO THE SHOPPING COMPLEX THROUGHOUT IT LIKE FOOD LION? WE USE THE ROADS CORRECT UNDER 35 MILES AN HOUR, CORRECT.
DO THOSE ROADS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THOSE ROADS OF 35 MILES AN HOUR AND UNDER WHICH ROADS ARE YOU DISCUSSING? THE ONLY ROADS THAT ARE UP FOR IT RIGHT NOW IS BLUFF AND PARKWAY AND BUCKWALTER, THEY ARE 45 AND HIGHER THEY'RE 45 ABOUT ROADS VERSUS PATHWAYS THERE.
BUT THE STATEMENT WAS GOLF CARTS CAN GO ON ROADS 35 MILES AN HOUR BELOW, WHICH YOU GUYS CAN TAKE YOUR PARTS ON, CORRECT? YEAH.
WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SAME 35 MILE AN HOUR ROADS.
THAT'S WHY THE DISCUSSION THAT'S SAYING THAT YOU CAN DRIVE ON A, I WAS JUST SAYING IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE ISSUE OF 35 MILE AN HOUR.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO 35 MILE AN HOUR ROAD.
SO YES, THAT IS A LAW AND, BUT IT, THERE'S NO ACCESS TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THOSE 35 MILE MILE ROADS.
CAN I ASK YOU THIS THEN? ABSOLUTELY.
YOUR MAJOR ISSUE AND USING GOLF CARTS.
SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME IS THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE.
YOUR BIG ISSUE IS ALLOWING GOLF CARTS ON BIKES FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND LET'S LET'S WE'LL WE'LL SAFETY MUST COME FIRST COMES UP ON THE AGENDA.
THE STATEMENT YOU JUST MENTIONED IS NOT ALLOWED TO GO FROM HOMES.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO END THE FIRST CITIZEN'S COMMENTS WHEN WE COME BACK FOR THAT IT'S WIDE OPEN.
YOU CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH US.
[11. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
UM, ITEM NUMBER 11 IS LIAISON IN COMMITTEE REPORTS.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO, UH, WISHES TO REPORT SERVICES? NO, SIR.
MR. CHAIRMAN, A COUPLE THINGS.
UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA AT A PUBLIC FACILITIES.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE, UH, ONE 70 SECTION BETWEEN 2 78 AND 4 62 IS VERY COED, VERY UNSAFE.
UM, OUR COUNTY COUNTY HARVEY, ANDT ALL COME TOGETHER TO WORK ON A SHORT TERM PROBLEM.
AND THAT IS NEARING COMPLETION IN TERMS OF DESIGN.
AND, UH, AND THIS THERE'S A AMENDMENT CHANGE ORDER FOR $500,000 TO ACTUALLY ADD SOME ADDITIONAL WORK TO THAT.
[01:05:01]
THE DESIGN SERVICES FOR PATHWAYS.UH, WHEN THE REFERENDUM ENDED, THERE WAS AN EXTRA 15 MILLION THAT WAS COLLECTED AND COUNTY COUNCIL IS DIRECTING THAT TO THE PATHWAY PROJECTS.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A 3 MILLION, UM, CONTRACT TO INCREASE, INCREASE THE DESIGN FOR ALL OF THOSE PATHWAYS THAT WE WILL BE ADDING TO THAT THERE'S ONE FOR $200,000 TO ACTUALLY PUT A NEW PATHWAY IN ON THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY.
UM, THERE'S A, UH, ONE FOR ABOUT $300,000 FOR, UH, IN, UH, BEAUFORD FOR, UH, DOING MASTER PLANNING ON REBO ROAD.
UM, THERE'S A, UH, ROAD PROJECT OVER IN THE AREA OF LADIES ISLAND NEAR THE AIRPORT FOR ABOUT 2.4 MILLION TO REPAVE.
AND LASTLY, UM, THE THERE'S A APPROVAL FOR A PROCESS THAT WE'VE STARTED TO USE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO D O T WHERE WE, WE END UP IDENTIFYING A GROUP OF ENGINEERING FIRMS IN A PARTICULAR SPECIALTY, SO THAT INSTEAD OF GOING QUOTE BY QUOTE, WE CAN ACTUALLY CALL ON THOSE A AS WE NEED THEM.
SO THOSE ARE THE SIX ITEMS FOR MR. CHAIRMAN THAT ALL CAME OUT OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.
FROM THE, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE, UM, WE HAVE THREE ITEMS, UH, APPROVAL OF AWARD FOR FIRST TRY AND ADVISORS FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORY FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY DEBT ISSUES.
UM, SECOND IS APPROVAL AWARD, UH, TO BUY, UM, UH, REPLACEMENT AMBULANCES FOR $817,220.
AND THAT'S FOR FOUR AMBULANCES AND APPROVAL, UH, FOR THE APA GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM, UH, MUNICIPALITY FUNDING REQUESTS, UM, IMPACT TOTAL IMPACT $950,000.
THE CITY OF B FOR 250,000 TOWN OF PORT ROW 500,000 IN TOWN OF MSC, $200,000.
AND THEN OUR NEXT, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING IS NEXT TUESDAY AT, UH, 2:00 PM.
[12. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE APPROVE THE CONSENT.
MR. MCALLEN MAKES THE SECOND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE, THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS GONE THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.
THEY VETTED EVERY ONE OF THE ITEMS. THEY USUALLY APPROVE THEM TO MOVE ON TO COUNTY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY, AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE ARE 12 ITEMS, UH, DUALLY MOTION AND SECONDED.
UH, THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
ITEM NUMBER 13 ARE MATTERS ARISING
[13. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION]
OUT OF THE CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION.MR. GLOVER, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN LIKE TO OFFER A MOTION, UM, THAT WE MOVE TO APPROVE.
WE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO SELL, TO PARCEL OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE COUNTY.
THOSE PROPERTIES ARE 1407 KING STREET AND 600 WILMINGTON STREET IN BEAUFORD.
AND THIS IS IN AN EFFORT TO, UM, FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY, TO LOOK AT, UM, WORKFORCE HOUSING, AS WELL AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORD.
I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THIS, UM, AGENDA ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS MR. HERAN? YES, SIR.
IS THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTION, MR. CHAIRMAN? I, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
UH, COULD, COULD SOMEBODY REFRESH MY MEMORY? WHAT WAS THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THIS PROPERTY THAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING ITSELF? UM, DOES ANYONE HAVE THAT ANSWER? WE'LL HAVE TO GET THAT FOR YOU AND SEND AN EMAIL.
I I'LL I'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE.
I'M LIKELY TO SUPPORT THIS IN THE LONG RUN.
I JUST, WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION, I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK IT IN
[01:10:01]
MY MIND.I'VE LOST IT SOMEWHERE IN MY MIND.
UH, MS. WARD JUST WALKED BACK IN, SHE MAY KNOW THE ANSWERS, SO, UH, WE'LL TRY TO, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE THAT ANSWER.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE CHANGING YOUR OBJECTION, MR. AL? UH, YEAH, I'M GONNA CHANGE MY VOTE TEMPORARILY, SIR, IF WE COULD, MAYBE MS. WARD WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION AT THE TIP OF HER FINGERS AND OKAY.
UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL APPRAISALS THAT WERE COMPLETED ON THIS PROPERTY.
UH, THE APPRAISALS FOR KING STREET RANGED FROM 60,000 TO 900,000 AND WILMINGTON STREET, WILMINGTON STREET.
ONE APPRAISAL CAME IN AT 610,000 AND THE OTHER ONE CAME IN AT 1.7 MILLION.
I INDICATED THAT WE WOULD DO THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WE DO HAVE ONE OBJECTION ON THE FLOOR.
UH, AND MR. FLYWELL YOU ARE NOW GOING TO BE YES, I A YES.
I WANNA GET RID OF THIS PROBLEM.
SO THE, UH, MOTION IS SUCCESSFUL WITH NINE.
[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY WITH TMS NO. R800 021 000 006C 0000 AND R800 021 000 006B 0000 COLLECTIVELY COMMONLY KNOWN AS MELROSE LANDING. FISCAL IMPACT: Funds from use of General Fund – Fund balance account. Funding not to exceed $900,000 plus closing costs and legal fees]
14, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF THE REAL PROPERTY WITH THE TMS, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS MELROSE LANDING.MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND, PLEASE.
MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION.
AND SECOND, BEFORE WE GET INTO DISCUSSION, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS NOW YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE THAT PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL I'M ROBERTS VOX.
WE HAVE WORKED RATHER DILIGENTLY FOR THE LAST SIX WEEKS WITH MEMBERS OF STAFF TO TRY AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM.
AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE SO THE COUNCIL HAD A STUDY DONE AS TO HOW TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF A COUNTY LANDING.
THAT PROPERTY IS SOME SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE WEB TRACK, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE MELROSE TRACK.
YOU NEED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS BEST WE CAN TELL TO GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE OFFERED TO CONTINUE LEASE TO THE COUNTY, THE MELROSE DOCK.
UM, I AGREED ON ALL THE TERMS, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.
IF YOU PROCEED WITH THIS AND I'M, I'M HESITANT, UM, IN, IN SAYING THIS, CUZ I DON'T MEAN IT AS A THREAT, BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO, TO SIMPLY STAND BY IDLY AND ALLOW YOU TO TAKE THIS PRIVATE PROPERTY, THIS PRIVATE BUSINESS AND PUT US OUTTA BUSINESS.
UM, MY CLIENT HAS HAD THIS PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT.
BEFORE YOU, YOU GOT INVOLVED IN THIS, WE'RE PERFECTLY WILLING TO ACCOMMODATE THE COUNTY, UM, MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO YOU AT THE SAME TIMES.
IF YOU WANT, ADDITIONAL TIMES, WE'VE SAID THAT WE'D MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE TO YOU, UM, TO TAKE PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, PUT A BUSINESS OUT OF BUSINESS, UH, PUT A COMPANY OUTTA BUSINESS IS SIMPLY WRONG.
IT'S AGAINST THE AMERICAN WAY YOU HAVE ALTERNATIVES.
WE THINK THE LAW IS AGAINST YOU ON THIS AND JUST UNDERSTAND IT.
I DON'T, I MEAN THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
I'VE KNOWN SOME OF YOU GENTLEMEN FOR YEARS.
UM, AND I DON'T MEAN IT AS A, AS A THREAT.
I JUST SIMPLY MEAN THAT, THAT I HAVE TO REPRESENT MY CLIENT AND I WILL CONTEST THIS, UH, AS LONG AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SUPREME COURT.
IF NECESSARY, WE ASK THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, SIMPLY ENTER INTO THE LEASE.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THE LEASE.
YOU'LL HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU'LL HAVE THE TIME TO DEVELOP YOUR OWN PRO PROPERTY IN YOUR OWN DOC.
IS THERE ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE COMMENT SEEING NONE? WE WILL, UH, CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? MR. HERAN I'LL GO FIRST, UH, AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPAL, AND I'VE SAID THIS AT SEVERAL OTHER MEETINGS, I DON'T BELIEVE IN CONDEMNATION UNLESS IT SAYS AN ABSOLUTE POSITIVE LAST RESORT, WHICH THIS CLEARLY IS NOT.
UM, SO FOR THAT REASON I'M AGAINST IT.
BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS
[01:15:01]
ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION THAT WE COULD GO THROUGH.AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I MOST DEFINITELY DO NOT SUPPORT THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. CUNNINGHAM BRIEF.
UM, WITH CHRIS, I SHARE SOME OF THE SAME, UM, BELIEFS.
I THINK CONDEMNATION SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE LAST RESORT FOR US.
WE HAVE BEEN ELECTED INTO A POSITION TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND TO GO WITH THE ROUTE OF CONDEMNATION.
TO ME, THERE HAS TO BE NO OTHER OPTION.
UM, I DO BELIEVE THERE IS OTHER OPTIONS.
I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH OTHER OPTIONS.
UM, I ALSO THINK THIS IS WILDLY EXPENSIVE TO QUOTE CHRIS, UM, WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE BETWEEN THIS PROPERTY AND ANOTHER PROPERTY, WE'RE EASILY LOOKING BETWEEN 15 TO $20 MILLION TO GET IT COMPLETED, WHICH I'M SORRY.
THAT IS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW FOR TAXPAYERS.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS MR. LAWSON.
UM, YES, I, I AM ACTUALLY FOR THIS.
UM, AND I WAS HOPING THAT, UH, THERE WOULD BE, UM, AN AGREEMENT AS MR VOX SAID, BUT AGAIN, IT IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, WILL CONTINUE TO, TO LOOK AT, UM, ANY OFFERS THAT THEY HAVE, BUT, UH, WE'VE BEEN USING THIS MELROSE LANDING, I THINK FOR EIGHT YEARS AS THE, AS THE PUBLIC LANDING FOR, UM, FOR, FOR THE FERRY GOING TOFUS.
UM, AND THE REASON THAT YOU WOULD DO A CONDEMNATION LIKE THIS IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE PUBLIC USE, AND THIS IS FOR THE GOOD OF PUBLIC USE.
THIS IS A TIME WHENEVER, AGAIN, I DON'T LIKE THE CONVENT NATION AS WELL.
UM, HOWEVER, THIS IS A TIME THAT IT IS FOR THE BEST, UM, FOR THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ON DEVOSKEY ISLAND, ANYONE THAT'S, THAT'S GOING OVER THERE FOR WORK OR, OR BACK AND FORTH.
SO, UM, AGAIN, UM, NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT I LIKE TO DO, AND NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE, ARE FUN DECISIONS TO MAKE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S A DECISION THAT IS GONNA BE FOR THE BEST OF THE HUSKY ISLAND FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH US.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL FOR A VOTE, SEEING NONE WILL THE CLERK, UM, CALL THE RULE PLEASE, UH, BEGINNING WITH MR. LAWSON, WHO MADE THE MOTION AND THEN MR. MADE THE SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON.
HIS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER FLEW ELLEN, NO COUNCIL MEMBER MC ELLEN.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAR ON NO VICE CHAIR.
[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 99/10 TO FURTHER ACCEPT DETAILS OF THE CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM THE CITY OF BEAUFORT BY THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY]
A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AN ORDINANCE 99, 10 TO FURTHER ACCEPT DETAILS OF THE CONDUCT OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS FROM THE CITY OF BEAUFORD, BY THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND LECTIN ELECTIONS OF BEAUFORD COUNTY.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
AND SUGGEST THAT IT IS, UH, BY ACCLIMATION, UH, MS. HOWARD MADE THE MOTION AND YOU WILL BE THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[16. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): SECTION 4.1.330 (ECOTOURISM) TO CLARIFY GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISH BASE SITE AREA CALCULATIONS FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT]
A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT, THE, TO THE CU COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR ECHO TOURISM, TO CLARIFY GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ECHO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISH BASE SITE AREA CALCULATIONS FOR ECHO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, A MOTION, PLEASE.MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE, UH, ACCEPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION FOR FIRST READING AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[17. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOCATE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE MYRTLE BUSINESS PARK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE AND JOB FUND. FISCAL IMPACT: $631,376.19]
17 IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ALLOCATE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE MYRTLE BUSINESS PARK TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE AND JOB FUND.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVE MR. I SECOND, MR. ROBIN MADE THE MOTION.
MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND, AND WE DID HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, UH, ABOUT A CHANGE HERE THAT WE NEEDED TO MOVE THIS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR CLARIFICATION
[01:20:01]
BASED UPON SOME THINGS THAT WERE DONE BY ADMINISTRATION.IS THAT NOT CORRECT? THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL TO AMEND THIS MOTION, TO REFER THIS ITEM TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SIR.
MR. HARON MAKES THE MOTION SECOND.
MR. MCLEAN MAKES THE SECOND, UH, DISCUSSION.
UM, MR. GLOVER, NO, I, I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHY WE ARE MOVING INTO FINANCE AND NOT APPROVING IT AT THIS TIME.
UH, WE'VE DONE A FISCAL ANALYSIS THAT HAS TO BE PRESENTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL BEFORE WE TAKE THIS ACTION, BUT IT CAME OUT OF FINANCE, DIDN'T IT? YEAH, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
OH, MR. GARMAN, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN PROCEED WITH FIRST READING TONIGHT AND HAVE IT REVIEWED AT FINANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE THE SECOND READING? UM, WELL, THE, UM, THE, THERE IS A, AN AMENDED MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IF THE MOTION SECOND WAS, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN AN ACTUAL AMENDMENT AMENDMENT FOR THE MOTION YET, SIR.
I THINK WE JUST HAVE THE MAIN MOTION.
MR. HERON MADE THE AMENDMENT WHO SECONDED IT? UH, LARRY, UM, MR. MCCLELLEN DID.
AND THIS IS A MOTION TO REFER IT BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
COULD HE SPEAK TO THIS? I'M I'M NOT TOO SURE.
I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING.
MR. O TOOL IS NOT CLEAR ON THE ACTIONS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS THIS EVENING.
SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND WE FEEL THAT IT NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR US TO CLEARLY INDICATE THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE SO THAT THE COMMITTEE CAN POTENTIALLY RECONSIDER ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL IN LIE TO THAT NEW INFORMATION RECONSIDER RE YES.
IF I MIGHT, I MEAN, FINANCE IS GONNA MEET ON MONDAY AND WE CAN TAKE THIS BACK UP ON 26, WHATEVER, WHATEVER DAY THAT IS THE 26TH.
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS ITEM IS TERRIBLY, UM, PRESSING, SO YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE THE ISSUE WITH SENDING THIS BACK TO FINANCE AND DOING IT RIGHT.
I THINK IT'S PRESSING IN THAT, UM, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, UH, NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY, UM, WHETHER THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, BUT RECONSIDERING.
AND I THINK BRIAN ASKED THE QUESTION, COULD THIS GO FORWARD AS FIRST READING? UM, AND STAFF SAID NO.
AND SO THERE'S RECONSIDERATION TO ME MEANS THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
WE'RE WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL, BEFORE YOU TAKE ANY ACTION ON THIS HAS THE CORRECT NUMBERS AND A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HAS THE HISTORY OF THIS TRANSACTION.
AND THAT IS NOT CLEAR FROM THE PRESENT PACKAGE AND THE MATERIALS THAT WAS PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY.
AND WE'VE DONE ADDITIONAL WORK IN DEPTH, WORK ON THAT.
AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE COUNCIL AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, NEXT MONDAY, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.
WE WILL, UH, VOTE, UH, WOULD THE, UM, CLERK COUNCIL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE, MR. HERAN WILL GO FIRST.
AND THEN MR. MCKEN AND THEN THE REST OF THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE.
UM, THAT MOTION PASSES 8 2 8 2.
[18. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE WORK ON PRIVATE ROADS]
18 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE WORK ON PRIVATE ROADS.[01:25:01]
MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVE US CHAIRMAN.MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.
MR. SOMERVILLE MAKES THE SECOND DISCUSSION.
UM, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN A, UM, AN ISSUE, UM, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IN RURAL PARTICULAR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
AND, UM, IT'S ONE WHERE, UM, EMERGENCY ACCESS AT THIS TIME IS IMPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD.
AND ALTHOUGH IT'S A PRIVATE ROAD AND IN SOME CASES, UH, RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA PREFER TO BE A COUNTY ROAD BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE EVERYBODY IN CONSENT TO HAVE IT AS A COUNTY ROAD.
UM, THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY HAVING MAINTENANCE THERE AND IS ONE WHERE, UM, FOLKS REALLY CAN'T AFFORD AT THIS TIME, UM, TO REALLY REPAIR THEIR ROADS AT ALL.
HOWEVER, THERE'S VERY LIMITED ACCESS AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE EMERGENCY AND THE FIRE EMS, UH, REFUSED TO GO DOWN TO SERVICE.
UM, AND SO THIS HERE IS A ONE TIME EMERGENCY EFFORT TO BASICALLY BRING THE ROAD UP TO, TO A POINT WHERE AT LEAST EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN GET THERE.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT THIS WILL ALLOW, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNTY TO GO IN, FIND A NEED THAT EXISTS.
AND PEOPLE REALLY CANNOT HAVE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD.
THE COUNTY WILL THEN GO IN THERE AND MAINTAIN THAT AT A MINIMUM, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE VEHICLES TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
IT ALSO WOULD ALLOW FOR, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS, UM, WHO HAVE, UM, CEMETERIES, UH, IN, UM, ISOLATED AREAS, UM, AT LEAST HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN, TO BURY THEIR LOVED ONES.
UM, AND, AND SO IT IS REALLY BEING CONTROLLED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, IS, UH, DONE IN A WAY THAT IT REALLY EMPHASIZE EMERGENCY EMERGENCY EMERGENCY.
THE MR. GREENWAY, YOU WANNA SPEAK SOME MORE TO THAT? YOU DID, YOU DID VERY WELL.
YEAH, IT IS NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR WHO HAVE PRIVATE ROADS, UM, WHO COULD ACTUALLY FIX THEIR ROADS.
UH, IT IS NOT ONE WHERE THE COUNTY WOULD ACTUALLY GO INTO A PRIVATE ROAD AND START MAINTAINING IT'S ONLY FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS ONLY.
THAT NOW ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF THIS.
HOWEVER, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST THIS.
UM, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS MISSING IS THE, UH, THE LIMIT, UM, OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE SPENT IN A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE.
IT IS LIMITED IN THE FACT THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE GONNA SPEND EVERY YEAR, WHETHER THAT'S GONNA BE 10,000, A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR A MILLION DOLLARS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, CUZ THIS IS ON, UM, ENDING OR OPEN, UM, AMOUNT.
UM, AND WE SHOULD BE, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE SHOULD BE CHARGING THE HOMEOWNERS THAT LIVE ON THAT STREET, CUZ I'M SURE SOME OF THEM CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD.
UM, IF FOR, FOR SOME REASON THEY CAN'T AFFORD, WELL, THEN WE CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE THAT THEY COULD ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
UM, SO THOSE FOUR THINGS, BUT EVEN IF YOU MADE THOSE CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE, UM, I DO NOT THINK THAT, UM, PUBLIC MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON PRIVATE ROADS.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST NO-NOS THAT IN THE GOVERNMENT THAT WE SHOULD DO IS, IS TAKE PUBLIC MONEY AND SPEND IT ON PRIVATE ROADS.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE OPENING UP A, A CAN OF WORMS OPENING UP PANDORA'S BOX WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTAINING AND FIXING PRIVATE ROADS, WHICH IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS MR. HER BHAN? THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
I, I SHARE COUNCILMAN LAWSON'S CONCERNS AS FAR AS THE GOVERNMENT GOING INTO, INTO PRIVATE PROPERTY AND SPENDING PUBLIC FUNDS.
THE OTHER THING, IN ADDITION TO WHAT COUNCILMAN LAWSON SAID THAT I DON'T SEE IN HERE AND SOMEBODY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT JUST THE RED LINE OF WHEN DO WE GO
[01:30:01]
IN, WHEN DO WE NOT GO IN? WHAT'S THAT DEMARCATION LINE? WHAT'S TOO MUCH.HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, SO I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST THIS AT FIRST READING, BUT IF WE GET THAT CLARIFICATION AND IF IT SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE, I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE MY MIND, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. JIM, GO AHEAD, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT THAT I THINK THIS HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR A LONG TIME.
IT USED TO BE A HANDSHAKE IN THE COUNTY.
I CAN REMEMBER THAT AND ROADS WERE WORKED ON, BUT STAFF HAS WORKED REALLY HARD ON THE CONDITIONS.
UH, THERE'S SEVEN THINGS OUTLINED, I THINK TOTAL ON WHEN THEY WILL AND WILL THEY, WHEN THEY WILL NOT DO IT.
AND SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT THIS CUZ I THINK THIS IS, UH, AS ABOUT AS SPECIFIC AS WE CAN GET AND STILL PROVIDE A SERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO, UH, IN AN EMERGENCY ARE GONNA NEED IT.
UM, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS, I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS FAIRLY COMPELLING.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, HOWEVER, AS I CONTINUE TO RESEARCH IT AND, AND TALK TO THE, THE LEGAL STAFF, ESSENTIALLY, THIS VIOLATES SOUTH CAROLINA LAW, WHICH SAYS YOU CAN'T SPEND THE MONEY ON PRIVATE AREA.
UM, AS MUCH AS I WOULD, WOULD LIKE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO THIS AND MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT.
I THINK STATE LAW TR TRUMPS WHAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I'M GONNA HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT AS MUCH AS I AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT.
AND I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE EXPENDITURE, BUT BELIEVE THAT, UH, STATE LAW COMES, UM, MS. MCKELL YOU HAVEN'T WEIGHED IN.
NO I HAVEN'T, BUT UH, I KNOW THAT THE STATUTORY PROHIBITION EXISTS AND I DON'T SEE ANY EXCEPTION THERE FOR ANYTHING IN THE STATUTE.
AM I WRONG ABOUT THAT TO IT'S THE CONSTITUTION? YOU CAN'T USE PRIVATE PUBLIC FUNDS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
YOU CAN'T USE IT FOR EMERGENCY OR ANYTHING.
PUBLIC PURPOSE, MR. SUMMERVILLE, DO YOU WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, I, I DO.
UH, THIS HAS BEEN A, A PROBLEM FOR AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
THAT IS TO SAY THERE ARE ROADS THAT ARE PRIVATE FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS.
UH, SOME, BECAUSE SOME, SO RESIDENTS DON'T WANT 'EM TO BE, UH, TO BE PUBLIC ROADS.
UH, OTHERS ARE JUST BELONG TO SOMEBODY, BUT THE, BUT THE QUESTION IS WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT IS OUR OBLIGATION? IF, IF, IF THAT PERSON NEEDS AN EMERGENCY SERVICE, WHETHER IT'S A POLICE CAR, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE TRUCK OR WHETHER IT'S AN AMBULANCE, UH, DO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT VEHICLE GETS TO THAT PERSON, REGARDLESS OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE ROADS? I THINK THAT'S THE REAL, THAT'S THE ISSUE IN MY MIND.
AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE THAT OBLIGATION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I DON'T WANT TO PASS ANY ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS A PRIVATE ROAD TO USE PUBLIC MONEY, TO DO WHAT THEY SHOULD DO TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN ROADS.
SO THERE HAS TO BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND, AND I THINK WE'VE FOUND IT.
I'VE READ THIS ORDINANCE AS PROPOSED CAREFULLY SEVERAL TIMES WITH A HIGHLIGHTER OF MY HAND.
AND I'M CONVINCED THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH FAIL SAFES IN THIS ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY CAN'T GAME THIS ORDINANCE AND JUST COME AT AT A WHIM AND SAY, HEY, COME OUT HERE AND GRADE MY ROAD, BECAUSE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CLEARLY AGAINST THE LAW AND ABSOLUTELY CLEARLY NOT THE INTENT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT, UH, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT.
AND, AND I THINK IF ANYBODY READS THIS CAREFULLY, AS I HAVE, I THINK YOU'LL AGREE.
I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH FAIL SAFE SIN HERE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT IT CAN'T BE GAINED.
SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT ON THAT BASIS.
THANK YOU, MR. ING, YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP, THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN RELATION TO THE PREVIOUS IT, I'M SORRY.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THAT.
UM, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, UM, I THINK IN DRAFT DRAFTING, THIS ORDINANCE, UH, STAFF ACTUALLY OBTAINED LANGUAGES FROM AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO THEY'RE DOING IT IN OTHER COUNTIES.
UM, IT'S THE SAME STATE, SAME STATUE, SAME CONSTITUTION, BUT IT'S FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSE ONLY.
I'M IF I MIGHT ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT, EVERYONE THAT HAS SPOKEN ON THE ISSUE REGARDING STATE LAW IS TECHNICALLY CORRECT.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THE STATE LAW, THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THAT LAW IS TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM DOING THINGS THAT ARE EGREGIOUS LIKE THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, SYDNEY, THE PUBLIC WORKS CREW OUT TO PAVE HIS
[01:35:01]
PRIVATE DRIVEWAY TO HIS HOME AND THINGS LIKE THAT.OR ANOTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEE REQUESTING THAT THE COUNTY COME AND DO WORK ON THEIR PROPERTY OR VARIOUS OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIAL ABUSES THAT WE ARE ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH.
COUNTY COUNCIL IS CHARGED WITH ADOPTING RULES AND REGULATIONS, ORDINANCES, AND POLICIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY ALLOWS PEOPLE THROUGH OUR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO THROUGH THE USE OF FAMILY COMPOUND PROVISIONS AND OTHER MECHANISMS TO PLACE MULTIPLE DWELLINGS ON THE SAME PIECE OF PROPERTY, WITHOUT ANY REGARD TO ACCESS TO HOW THOSE FOLKS THAT MIGHT LIVE ON THOSE PROPERTIES, UM, MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO AND FROM, OR IN THE CASE OF A FIRE, HOW A FIRE TRUCK MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, SERVICE TO PUTTING OUT THAT FIRE.
IN ADDITION TO THAT IN THE LOW COUNTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WE ALSO HAVE THE COMPLICATIONS OF PROPERTY WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OWNERS AND CHAIN TITLE, UH, AND EVERYONE HAS, MIGHT HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT HOME.
AND AGAIN, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODES AND ZING REGULATIONS MAKE SPECIAL PROVISIONS IN CONSIDERATION TO ONCE AGAIN, ALLOW MULTIPLE DWELLINGS ON PROPERTY WITHOUT ANY PROVISION FOR PUBLIC ROADS TO BE DONE.
SO I'M COMFORTABLE IN RECOMMENDING THIS POLICY TO YOU ALL.
IT WILL HAVE LIMITED APPLICATION.
IT WILL BE USED INFREQUENTLY AND IT'S A ONE TIME, UM, OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY TO BRING UP CERTAIN ROADS TO, UH, A PASSABLE STANDARD, UH, TO WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF A FIRE TRUCK AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROAD IS AS SUCH, THAT WE CAN GET AN AMBULANCE, WHICH IS RELATIVELY LOW TO THE GROUND FOR VARIOUS REASONS, UH, DOWN THAT ROAD TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE IN EMERGENCY WAS TOLD YOU ALL AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, WE HAVE ONE SITUATION WHEREBY IF WE GET CALLED AND THERE IS A LADY, UH, OR A PERSON THAT LIVES ON THAT ROAD THAT, UM, IF THEY CALL, UH, THE AMBULANCE, THEY HAVE TO BRING THAT PERSON OUT TO THE NEAREST PUBLIC STREET.
UH, CAUSE WE CAN'T GET AN AMBULANCE, UH, BACK TO THE ACTUAL HOUSE.
SO THIS WILL HAVE LIMITED APPLICATION.
AND AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, OTHER JURISDICTIONS, UH, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE SIMILAR PROVISIONS IN THEIR CODE.
AND WHO KNOWS IF THOSE WERE TO BE CHALLENGED, UM, WHAT, UH, WOULD HAPPEN IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES? IT'S WHETHER OR NOT, UH, YOU COULD WITHSTAND THE CHALLENGE, BUT, UM, I'M WILLING.
CAUSE I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD, UH, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, TO TAKE THAT CHANCE IN A COURT OF LAW, IF WE HAVE TO UNDO THE ORDINANCE LATER ON OR THE POLICY LATER ON, THEN WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT IF WE EVER GOT A CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE IN MY CAREER, MY 28 OR 29 YEAR, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAREER.
ARE YOU CHALLENGED IN COURT FOR TELLING SOMEBODY YES.
WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THAT ISSUE.
IT'S USUALLY WHEN YOU TELL THEM NO.
SO THAT THAT'S MY LITTLE, UH, THREE MINUTE SPEECH MM-HMM
AND THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
WE WILL HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS.
THERE MAY HAVE TO BE SOME REFINEMENTS, BUT WE'LL GET THROUGH THAT.
UM, DO I NEED TO CALL THE ROLE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT AGENDA? NO, SIR.
UH, I WILL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLE MR. GLOVER MADE THE MOTION AND MR. SOMERVILLE MADE THE SECOND.
NO COUNCIL MEMBER FLEW WELLING.
I'M GONNA VOTE UH, YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE MORE EDUCATED AS WE GO FORWARD ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DISCUSSION COUNCIL MEMBER HAR ON NO CHAIRMAN PASSMAN.
[19. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS 16TH STREET EXTENSION AND A RELATED DRAINAGE EASEMENT TO THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL]
19 IS FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY KNOWN AS 16TH, 16TH STREET EXTENSION AND A RELATED DRAINAGE EASEMENT TO THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? I'D
[01:40:01]
LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PASS THIS ORDINANCE.MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND PLEASE.
MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION IN SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[20. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AUTHORIZATION FOR GOLF CARTS TO USE MULTI-USE TRAILS AND PATHS]
NUMBER 20 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AUTHORIZATION FOR GOLF CARTS TO USE MULTI-USE TRAILS AND PATHS.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION PLEASE? STILL MOVE.
MR. MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.
THERE'S I'LL MAKE THE SECOND FOR DISCUSSION.
MR. HERAN MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTIONED AND SECOND, UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
UM, SO FIRST OFF WHY THIS CAME ABOUT, UM, TWO YEARS AGO I STARTED RUNNING A CAMPAIGN, UM, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I PUT OUT THERE.
WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I REPRESENTED WERE INTERESTED IN SEEING, UM, I OVERWHELMINGLY HAD POSITIVE FEEDBACK OVER 80%.
UM, SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT I SAID I WOULD BRING FORWARD AND IT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT I SUPPORT AS SOMEBODY THAT USES THIS, THIS WALKWAY TO WALK AND CYCLE ON.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
I UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE AREA, UH, TO CLEAR UP A COUPLE THINGS.
IT IS ONLY THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND, UM, BUCKWALTER, WHICH MEANS ONE 70 IS NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE.
SO IT DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO SUN CITY, UM, TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.
SAFETY IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT, UM, OBVIOUSLY CAME TO THE MIND OF ME WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD.
UM, JUST LIKE THE SAFETY OF WHEN GOLF CARTS ARE DRIVING ON THE ROAD OR WHEN BICYCLES ARE RIDING ON THE ROAD, YOUR GROUP RIDES ON THE ROAD.
AND I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE ACCIDENTS BEFORE.
UM, WE'VE ALSO HAD ACCIDENTS OF CYCLISTS ON SIDEWALKS AND WALKERS.
AND RECENTLY, UNFORTUNATELY WE EVEN HAD A GOLF CART IN OLD TOWN, BLUFFTON THAT WAS ON THE ROAD THAT IS LEGALLY ALLOWED TO BE THERE THAT GOT SIDESWIPED THE OTHER DAY.
UM, THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN PREVENT THINGS YOU CAN'T PREVENT.
UM, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT BREAK THE LAW AND THERE ARE TIMES YOU CAN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM BREAKING THE LAW.
BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS WE DO TAKE SAFETY AS ONE OF THE ISSUES.
UM, GOLF CARTS DO GO BETWEEN 15 AND 15 AND 20 MILES AN HOUR.
SOME OF 'EM YES, PEOPLE HAVE 'EM SOUPED UP AND THEY GO 25.
UM, THE AVERAGE CYCLIST WHO WOULD USE THAT SIDEWALK AS WELL OR THE STREET CAN GO 15 TO 25 MILES AN HOUR, DEPENDING ON THEIR DISTANCE AS WELL.
UM, SO THAT CYCLIST ON THAT GOLF CART PATH IS THE SAME SPEED THAT, THAT, THAT GOLF CART COULD BE ON THAT PATH IF THEY CHOSE TO USE IT.
UM, AS FOR THE QUESTION ABOUT SCHOOLS AND DRIVING GOLF CARTS SCHOOLS, UM, HIGH SCHOOLS DICTATE WHO GETS A PARK IN THEIR PARKING LOT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PARKING PASS AND APPROVED BY THEM.
TECHNICALLY MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL HAS THE ABILITY CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW TO HAVE GOLF CARTS IN THEIR PARKING LOT WITH ALL OF THOSE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES ON A STREET UNDER 35 MILES AN HOUR, UM, WHICH IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT I'VE SEEN THEY HAD.
AND I'M SURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COULD EASILY PREVENT GOLF CART PARKING ON THEIR SCHOOL, JUST LIKE THEY PREVENT OTHER CARS AND THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT ARE ON CARS FOR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL.
UM, THE AVERAGE SIDEWALK FOR WALKERS AND BIKERS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOUR FEET ON THE RECOMMENDATION SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR AND FOUR AND A HALF OURS, AS YOU CORRECTLY STATED ARE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, OUR SEVEN TO NINE AND A HALF.
THE AVERAGE RECOMMENDATION FOR GOLF CARTS IS SEVEN.
UM, SO THAT IS WHY THIS IS, THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO TRAILS THAT EVEN MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN BEAUFORD COUNTY, OUTSIDE OF ONE ON, UH, IN BEAUFORT THAT WE'VE EXCLUDED FROM THIS.
THESE ARE THE ONLY PATHWAYS THAT ARE ACTUALLY EVEN ACCESSIBLE TO THESE GOLF CARTS.
UH, THE REASON BEHIND ME PUSHING THIS WASN'T TO PUSH A SAFETY ISSUE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT'S MORE ABOUT CONNECTIVITY.
UM, IN BAUER PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR GOLF CARTS ON THE ROAD, UM, IN OLD AND DOWNTOWN BAUER, UM, IN DOWNTOWN BLUFFTON, THEY DRIVE THEIR GOLF CARTS THERE.
UM, HILTON HEAD INSIDE YOUR GATED COMMUNITIES, YOU GUYS DRIVE YOUR GOLF CARTS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IS DONE BY THE SPEED LIMIT.
I UNDERSTAND HILTON HEAD DOES NOT ALLOW THEM ON THEIR CART PASS, WHICH WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PUSH THAT AT ALL.
UM, THESE ARE THESE TWO ROADS.
IT IS THE FASTEST GROWING DISTRICT IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
UM, TO SHOW THAT 10,000 RESIDENTS WERE JUST MOVED OUT OF MY DISTRICT IN THE REZONING BECAUSE I WAS 9,000 RESIDENTS OVER ANY OTHER DISTRICT TO BRING DOWN TO THE SAME PAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMERCIAL SPACE.
UM, WE HAVE WASHINGTON SQUARE, THAT'S GOING UP.
WE HAVE THE MOVIE THEATER COMPLEX, WE HAVE BUCK WALTER PLACE.
UM, THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE, IF YOU WANNA GO DOWN FOR THEM BLUFF AND PARKWAY, YOU HAVE OVER BY RED, CEDAR ELEMENTARY, MULTIPLE USES OVER THERE.
[01:45:01]
TO OLD TOWN, BLUFFTON CUZ YOU'RE CORRECT.THREE MILES IS THE LIMIT, BUT IT'S TO GIVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT ACCESS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE SAME TYPE OF LIVING AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE IN DOWNTOWN BEAUFORD OR THE DOWNTOWN BLUFFTON, OR EVEN IN SUN CITY.
I GO TO CRACKER BARREL EVERY SINGLE WEDNESDAY MORNING AND I PARK RIGHT OVER THERE BY THE GOLF CART PARKING.
I, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I WILL TELL YOU, PEOPLE ARE BREAKING THE LAW RIGHT NOW AND ALREADY DRIVING THEIR GOLF CARTS ON THERE.
UH, THEY'RE PARKED OVER WHERE I WORK ALL THE TIME.
UM, BUT WITH THIS MOVING FORWARD, IF WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THIS TO THE SECOND READING, WHICH WOULD BE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ALL SIDES OF PEOPLE FOR AND AGAINST CUZ PUBLIC COMMENT WASN'T NECESSARILY TODAY.
BUT THANKFULLY WE DID HAVE PEOPLE THAT MADE THE DRIVE OUT TODAY TO SPEAK ON IT, UM, THAT THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO AT LEAST PUT IT ON THE TABLE FOR PEOPLE, UM, TO HAVE THAT CONNECTIVITY, IF PEOPLE WANT TO DROP THEIR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL, THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL USING THEIR GOLF CART OR IF HAMPTON LAKE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE RIGHT OVER, UM, TO THE GROCERY STORE.
KROGER'S RIGHT THERE, THE MOVIE THEATER, UM, IT, IT GIVES US THE CONNECTIVITY IN THE ACCESS TO ENJOY THE SAME TYPE OF BENEFITS THAT OTHER PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE, UM, LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT TO 35 DOESN'T SEEM LIKE AN IDEAL OPTION ON THAT ROAD.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME REQUIREMENTS FOR EVERY GOLF CART HAS TO BE REGISTERED.
EVERYBODY DRIVING THAT GOLF CART HAS TO BE A LICENSED DRIVER.
IT MUST HAVE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS TO EVEN OPERATE ON THESE.
UM, BECAUSE SAFETY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO DISCUSSED THAT WE, UM, IF WE GET THIS MOVING FORWARD AND GET ENOUGH SUPPORT IS I WOULD LOVE TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM AND THE FILM TEAM.
AND WE MAKE AN EDUCATIONAL VIDEO OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY TO DRIVE ON THAT GOLF CART ON THAT PATH WHO YIELDS, WHO DOESN'T YIELD.
UM, AND THEN EVENTUALLY IF WE DO SEE, WE NEED TO HAVE ENHANCEMENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D BE WILLING TO SUPPORT.
UM, SO MY ARGUMENT TODAY IS TO MOVE TO SECOND READING, TO GET IT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, SO WE CAN HAVE A FULL PUBLIC COMMENT AND DISCUSSION ON IT AND GET ALL THE INFORMATION OUT.
THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS.
THERE'S PLACES IN GEORGIA THAT DO IT.
UM, ONE THAT I'VE LOOKED A LOT ON RIGHT NOW IS, UH, FAYETTE, GEORGIA.
UH, THEY HAVE AN ENTIRE GOLF CART SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE COUNTY.
UM, AND MAYBE THIS IS STEP ONE.
BUT I THINK GIVEN THE OPTION TO GO TO DISCUSSION IS WHERE WE HAVE TO START WITH IT, TO SEE WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY OF GOING ABOUT GOING ABOUT DOING THIS WITH THIS CONNECTIVITY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS MS. HOWARD? UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, UM, EVEN THOUGH OUR PACKAGE HAD SPANISH MOSS TRAIL STILL IN IT, IT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM IT, BUT I GOT A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOT ONLY SPANISH MOSS TRAIL, BUT ANY TRAIL BECAUSE OF SAFETY INTO THE PERSON WHO SPOKE UP ABOUT PEACHTREE CITY.
UM, THAT WAS WELL SAID BECAUSE THAT IS NO LONGER USED MY UNDERSTANDING BY BICYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS OR PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN IN STROLLERS.
UH, I MEAN A GOLF CART, UM, PATH.
I, I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK MORE AT LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT, UM, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN OPTION.
AND I HAD A QUESTION FOR COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM, UH, HAS LAW ENFORCEMENT REVIEWED THIS AND WHAT WERE THEIR COMMENTS? AS FAR AS I KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS NOT REVIEWED IT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BEING USED FOR YEARS AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM TO THIS POINT.
UM, ACTUALLY PINE CRASH USES OUR BIKE TRAILS THAT THE COUNTY PUT IN PLACE TO GET FROM ONE PART OF THEIR GOLF COURSE TO THE OTHER SIDE ON THE BACK NINE.
UM, THEY HAVE PARTIALLY IT'S THEIR OWN UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE THAT THE COUNTY PAID TO GO UNDERNEATH.
BUT THE REST OF THE ROAD THEY USED IS OURS TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE OTHER SIDE.
AND IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE TO THIS POINT CAN MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT.
UH, I LIVE IN MOSSY OAKS AREA AND WE ARE ALLOWED TO USE GOLF CARTS WITHIN THREE MILES, BUT IT IS A 35 MILE HOUR, UM, AREA JUST AS DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT IS, AND IT WORKS WELL, BUT AGAIN, IT'S 35 MILE AN HOUR LIMIT.
UM, AND, UH, LOGAN, I LOVE YOU LIKE A BROTHER.
I DON'T WANNA SAY SOME BECAUSE I'M NOT THAT OLD, BUT ACTUALLY I GIVE A DOG OF YOUR AGE, BUT, UM, UH, LET ME JUST SAY THAT, THAT I WILL VOTE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I AM A AGAINST IT, UH, BUT AGAIN, I'LL MOVE IT FORWARD SO WE CAN GET TO THE DISCUSSION WHAT'S GOING, GOING ON.
I, I APPLAUD YOUR ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THIS AND, AND ABOUT TRYING TO GET MORE GOLF CARTS OUT THERE.
UM, HOWEVER, UH, AFTER DRIVING UP AND DOWN BUCK WATER AND DRIVING UP AND DOWN THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY, THERE ARE PLACES THAT
[01:50:01]
THERE'S BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR ONE GOLF CART TO GET BY TWO GOLF CARTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE.THAT'S NOT EVERY PLACE, BUT JUST THOSE FEW BOTTLENECKS, UM, WOULD HAPPEN.
BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IS, UM, ON THE WAY HOME TODAY.
UM, TOMORROW, IF YOU GO AND LOOK AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS WHERE YOU'VE GOT THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND BUCK, WHILE WE'RE COMING TOGETHER, THERE IS NO WAY THAT A GOLF CART CAN USE THE CROSSWALK.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL CURBS THERE.
YOU HAVE SIX INCH CURBS, THEY HAVE TO COME DOWN.
THE, THE, UM, HANDICAP RAMP, THOSE HANDICAP RAMPS ARE SET UP AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE.
SO IF THEY COME DOWN OFF THAT 45 DEGREE ANGLE, THEY'RE RIGHT OUT IN TRAFFIC, UM, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
SO WITHOUT FIGURING OUT HOW TO REWORK THOSE INTERSECTIONS WITHOUT, UH, FIGURING OUT HOW THEY'RE GONNA GET AROUND THE BLUFFTON CIRCLE THERE AT THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY IN BLUFFTON ROAD, UM, THAT THAT IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED UNLESS WE HAVE SAFETY THINGS IN PLACE BEFORE THIS IS PASSED, NOT AFTER WE PASS IT TO SEE IF IT WORKS, ALL THOSE THINGS, UH, MUST BE DONE BEFORE WE PASS THIS.
UM, AGAIN, THOSE INTERSECTIONS SCARE ME DEATH AND I I'VE GOT LOOKED AT IT.
AND, AND AGAIN, TOMORROW I, I, I ASK YOU ALL TO, TO LOOK AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR A GOLF CART TO COME OFF THAT CURB AND TRY TO CROSS OVER.
BUT AGAIN, I'M WITH YOU FOR US TO FIND A SOLUTION TO GET MORE GOLF CARTS ON THE ROAD ON PATHS OR WHATEVER.
BUT I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE, THE RIGHT PLACE OR THE RIGHT TIME, UH, FOR, UH, BLUFFTON PARKWAY OR THE PARK WATER PARKWAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. RAMAN, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE WEIGHT AND SPEED OF THE GOLF, UM, THE IT'S HARD TO OVERCOME THE SAFETY ARGUMENT, CAUSE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
THERE IS SOME SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND PERHAPS FATALITIES.
SO FOR THAT REASON, I WOULD FIND DIFFICULT VOTE FOR THIS.
UM, MR. RAM, WOULDN'T THAT SAME ARGUMENT BE ABLE TO MAKE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT USE THEIR CARTS ON THE ROAD AGAINST CARS IN OLDTOWN, BLUFFTON AND DOWNTOWN BEAUFORD? I THINK THE STATE LAW IS 35 MILES AN HOUR, RIGHT? SO YOU CAN USE THAT CORRECT.
BUT A GOLF CART AGAINST A CAR IS, IS AN OWNER IN SITUATION.
BUT THAT IS THERE IS STATE LAW ALLOWS THAT AND BOTH MOTORIZED, UH, VEHICLE.
UM, I, I, I DO UNDERSTAND THAT A CAR IS HEAVIER AND YOU GO FASTER THAN A GOLF CART.
UM, BUT THAT'S THAT ARGUMENT DOESN'T LEAD YOU TO THE POINT TO SAY, OKAY, IT'S SAFE ON PATHS AND THEY BOTH BE UNSAFE, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S SAFE ON TRAILS AND PATHS.
MR. CHAIR, MR. GLOVER, I MIGHT HOLD ON A SECOND.
MR. FLEW WELLING, MR. GLOVER IS SPEAKING, THEN I'LL RECOGNIZE YOU.
UM, MR. I, UM, I VOTED TO SUPPORT, UM, GOLF CARTS ON THE FUKE AND I FIGURED THAT IF ANY PLACE IN THE COUNTY, UM, COULD MAKE IT WORK, IT'D BE THE FUKE.
SO I SUPPORTED THAT, UM, RIGHT NOW I'M QUESTIONING, OR I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES ON THE FUKE, THE GOLF CARTS, UM, SAFETY BEING ONE OF THEM, UH, CHILDREN, UM, AND, UM, UM, THE I'M NOT GONNA EVEN CALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE REASONS, BUT ALL THE REASONS FOR THE SAFETY ISSUE ON THE FUSS.
UM, I, I'M GONNA STICK WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME.
STAFF BASICALLY ADVISE US NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT REALLY PLANNED FOR GOLF CARTS.
SO I'M JUST GONNA STICK WITH STAFF RECOMMENDATION GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU NOW, MR. WALLING, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
I THINK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UH, GOLF CARTS USING ROADWAYS AND GOLF CARTS USING PATHWAYS IS THAT THE CAR WHICH HAS THE, THE MASS AND WEIGHT AND SPEED, UM, IS THAT ROAD IS DESIGNED FOR THEM.
AND THE GOLF CARTS ARE USING THEM KIND OF LIKE AN ADD-ON.
AND SO THEY'RE THE, REALLY THE OWNER OF THE GOLF CART.
THE OPERATOR IS TAKING, TAKING THE RISK AT THEIR RISK.
I THINK WHEN YOU USE THE PATHWAYS, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS, THEY HAVE THE PREEMINENT USE, AND YET THEY'RE THE ONES AT RISK WHEN THE GOLF GUARDS COME ON.
AND SO FOR THAT REASON, I THINK I'M GOING TO, I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST THE SLOGAN, ALTHOUGH I, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM AS WELL AND, AND GOOD LUCK.
UH, BEFORE MR.
[01:55:01]
TO JUST, OH, REALLY AS OUR AGENDA ONLINE.I'M LOOKING AT, UM, I'M LOOKING AT A MEMO RIGHT HERE FROM MR. GREENWAY, BUT ANYWAY, YEAH.
UH, MR. HERAN YOUR FINAL COMMENT BEFORE WE HAVE TO TAKE ACTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING.
AND I'LL, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WHEN I'M DONE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
UM, I THINK THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING ISSUE AND I CAN SEE BY THE SIDES OF IT, I VERY MUCH RESPECT COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM'S STANCE ON THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE'S DONE HIS HOMEWORK OVER SEVERAL YEARS AT THIS POINT WHERE I AM AT THE MOMENT IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS, GET TO SECOND READING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF IT.
I WOULD LIKE FOR STAFF TO REACH OUT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GET AN OPINION, THEIR OPINION, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH IS A LIMITED, UM, PART OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE I THINK IT COULD BE INSTRUCTIVE IN INFORMING THE CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD IN THIS AREA AND IN OTHER AREAS.
SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE EXERCISE FOR US TO, TO DO, BUT I HEAR THE, THE SAFETY ISSUE LOUD AND CLEAR.
SO AT THE MOMENT, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS JUST TO GET AT THE SECOND READING AND, AND HEAR SOME MORE.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND PAST THE EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR.
MOTIONED AND SECONDED TO GO PAST THE EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR.
THE MEETING WILL CARRY ON AFTER THE EIGHT O'CLOCK HOUR.
UH, DO I NEED TO CALL THE ROLE FOR MR. CHAIRMAN? I'VE HAD MY HAND UP FOR A GOOD WHILE.
WELL, I'M SORRY, MR. SUMMERVILLE.
WHEN THIS FIRST WAS FIRST INTRODUCED, UH, FOR THE TRAILS TO ALLOW THE TRAILS PLURAL TO ALLOW GOLF CARTS.
MY, I REACTED VEHEMENTLY AGAINST IT, AND I SAID IT, IT DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE IN MY VIEW OF, OF A WALKING OR, OR, OR BICYCLING PATH.
BUT SECONDLY, IT'S VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
UH, WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME, I ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL.
I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THESE OTHER PATHS SPECIFICALLY.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW WIDE THEY WERE, BUT SOMEBODY HAS VERY KINDLY TOLD ME THAT TONIGHT SPANISH MOS TRAIL IS 10 FEET WIDE.
AND THESE SOUNDS LIKE THESE ARE NARROWER THAN THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL.
SO I'M GONNA ABSOLUTELY VOTE AGAINST, UH, AGAINST THIS MOTION, THE, THE MOTION TO ALLOW GOLF CARTS ON THESE PATHS.
UH, WILL THE CLERK CALL THE RULE? MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION AND MS. HOWARD MADE THE SECOND.
I DIDN'T PUT, I PUT HO COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM.
ELING NO COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLEN.
I DON'T THINK THIS HAS A CHANCE OF PASSING EVER, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE IT ALONG FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO FIND OUT THE PUBLIC WANTS US TO DO WITH REGARD TO THIS.
SO I I'LL VOTE TO MOVE IT TO A SECOND.
UH, SECOND, SECOND YEAR COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE IT TO PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GOING TO SAY YES, BUT IN SAYING YES, WE HAVE A TIE.
AND A TIE DOES NOT MOVE IT FORWARD.
[21. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE PROGRAM ORDINANCE AND SETTING FORTH THE METHODS BY WHICH COUNTY COUNCIL INTENDS TO POCURE OPEN LANDS AND GREEN SPACE FOR PRESERVATION SUBJECT TO A REFERENDUM WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-10-1010 ET SEQ. OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976 AS AMENDED]
NUMBER 21.FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE PROGRAM ORDINANCE AND SETTING FORTH THE METHODS BY WHICH THE COUNTY COUNCIL INTENDS TO PROCURE OPEN LANDS AND GREEN SPACE FOR THE PRESERVATION SUBJECT TO A REFERENDUM WITHIN BUFORD COUNTY PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR DASH 10 DASH 10 10 AT SEC OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976 AS AMENDED A MOTION, PLEASE.
SO MOVE MR. MCLELLAN MADE THE MOTION WHO MADE THE SECOND, SECOND, MR. HERAN MADE THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I HAVE AN OBJECTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF WE WOULD, PLEASE, I'D RATHER, I'D RATHER VOTE INDIVIDUALLY ON THIS.
WILL THE CLERK, UH, READ THE ROLE PLEASE? BEGINNING WITH MR. MCCLELLEN AND THEN GOING TO MR. HERAN VOTE.
[02:00:01]
YES.THANK YOU, MR. HER MACHEN YES.
[22. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE HIRING OF AN ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO SERVE COLLETON COUNTY]
APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE HIRING OF AN ADDITIONAL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE IN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE TO SERVE COTON COUNTY.MR. MCCLELLAN MADE THE MOTION.
MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND DUALLY MOTIONED IN SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NO DISCUSSION.
JUST TO CONFIRM THIS IS GONNA BE COEN COUNTY FUNDS.
AND IT'LL ONLY, IT'LL ONLY BE IN PLAY AS LONG AS COTON COUNTY FUNDS FUNDS IT.
SO THE BACK MATERIAL, RIGHT? YES.
ARE YOU ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT THIS? UH, MR. CHAIR? MY HAND IS UP BECAUSE I HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW TO LOWER IT.
I, I WILL HAVE THIS PASSED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[23. CITIZEN COMMENTS]
COMMENTS.UH, WE WILL ALLOW 20 MINUTE TIME FOR YOU TO LET US KNOW WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.
MY NAME IS MARY MO AND I, I LIVE ON SAM'S POINT ROAD ON LADIES ISLAND.
UM, IT'S NOW CALLED SAM'S POINT ROAD IS NOW THE ABAN OF LADIES ISLAND.
I, I, I, WHEN THAT WAS PUT UP IN, WHEN OYSTER BLUFF OYSTER COVE WHATEVER'S CALLED WAS PUT THERE, THERE WAS NO CONSIDERATION TAKEN FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY.
I LIVE IN MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS MOY LANE.
WE HAD TO MOVE THE MAILBOX BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE ON THAT HIGHWAY, THE LADY WAS AFRAID TO STOP AND PUT THE MAIL OUT THERE.
NOW I WENT TO A MEETING LAST WEEK AND FROM SUNSET, SUNSET BLUFF, ALL THE TRAFFIC, THEY THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WITH THE TRAFFIC ON LADIES ISLAND.
AND IT'S ALL POINTING TOWARDS SAM'S POINT ROAD.
AND IT'S RIGHT BETWEEN FACTORY CREEK ROAD AND WALLACE ROAD.
AND WHERE DO WE LIVE? I LIVE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THAT.
MY FATHER FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO HAVE THEM TO NOT PUT ALL THOSE HOUSES OVER THERE.
NOW THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TWO INTERESTS IN ENTRANCE, OFF OF SUNSET BLUFF THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
AND WHERE DID THE GAS STATION COME FROM? AND WHERE DID YOU PUT IT? YOU FORCED THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE TO HAVE TO TAKE A CHANCE COMING OUT.
IT TAKES ME ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 17 MINUTES ON A DAILY BASIS TO GET OUT.
I'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT I HAVE TO TURN RIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING LEFT.
AND THEN YOU PUT A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.
AND NOW YOU GOT ALL THE TRAFFIC FROM SUNSET COMING TOWARDS SAM'S POINT ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE ARCHITECT WAS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE MY HAPPY FACE UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE.
I LOOK, I, I, IT, IT IS VERY UPSETTING.
AND I KNOW THAT I, I, I CAME HOME.
I RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY, CAME HOME 24 YEARS AGO, AND I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT ALL OF THIS, BUT I GOT TIME NOW AND COUNTER COUNCIL, I'M GONNA HELP YOU.
I'M I'M NOT GONNA BE A THORN IN YOUR SIDE, BUT YOU GOING KNOW THAT I'M HERE AND SAM'S POINT ROAD NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
I'LL SEE YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I LIVE AT A WE 11 WEERS CREEK WAY ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
FIRST, MR. RODMAN, I NEED TO INFORM YOU THAT
[02:05:01]
THE PROCESS HAS BEEN STARTED BY THE ACTION OF CONTACTING THE ASSUREDY BOND COMPANY THAT GUARANTEES YOUR BOND OF FILING A CLAIM AGAINST YOU.THE COMPANY SHOULD BE CONTACTING YOU SHORTLY WITH THE PARTICULARS OF OUR COMPLAINT.
SECOND, I NEED TO INFORM THE REST OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT HERE THAT ANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU SEE HERE COULD EXECUTE THE SAME FILING OF A COMPLAINT AGAINST YOU.
THIRD, AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE ATTENDANCE HERE TONIGHT, THERE HAS BEEN A VERY SIZEABLE REACTION AMONG WE, THE HILTON HEAD RESIDENTS TO THE PROPOSAL MADE DURING THE COUNTY COUNCIL PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING TO SPLIT OFF THE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION PART OF THE PROJECT AND DUMP FOUR OR FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC ONTO EASTBOUND 2 78, RIGHT? AS IT APPROACHES WINDMILL HARBOR, THIS IS ILL ADVISED AND VERY POSSIBLY ILLEGAL.
AND THE PROPOSAL SHOULD GO NO FURTHER.
I LISTEN TO THE RELEVANT PORTION OF YOUR PUBLIC FACILITIES MEETING ON AUGUST 22ND.
THERE WAS NOT ONE WORD GIVEN TO ADDRESS THE AESTHETIC CONCERNS OF HAVING A CURRENTLY BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE ENTRANCE TO ONE OF THE MOST SINGULAR AND ECOLOGICALLY SPECTACULAR ISLANDS ON THE EAST COAST REPLACED WITHIN AN 11 LANE AIRCRAFT CARRIER LOOKING UNIT BRIDGE BRIDGE, NO CONSIDERATION WHATSOEVER GIVEN TO THE VERY REAL CONCERNS OF WE, THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD AS TO THE AESTHETICS AND FUTURE.
INDEED, EVEN THE FUTURE OF TOURISM.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT ON OUR ISLAND AND YOU CLAIM TO REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, SURELY NOT THE ONES ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, YOU DON'T.
WHY WOULD YOU EVEN ENTERTAIN THE POSSIBLE HUGE ALTERATION IN THE 2 78 CORRIDOR PROJECT? WHEN THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HAVING AN 11 LANE WIDE SINGLE SPAN BRIDGE THAT DUMPS ALL THE TRAFFIC ONTO HILTON HEAD WILL DO ANYTHING BUT SIGNIFICANTLY MAKE THE CURRENT PEAK TRAFFIC FLOW PROBLEM.
GEOMETRICALLY WORSE, EVEN SC DST SAYS THAT THE BEST RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED AFTER THE EXPENDITURE BETWEEN A THIRD AND A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS IS TO MOVE THE PEAK TRAFFIC RATING FROM AN F TO A D MR. RODMAN'S PROPOSAL IS LIKELY TO MOVE THE RATING FROM AN F TO AN F MINUS.
WE, THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND ARE VERY ENCOURAGED WHEN OUR TOWN COUNCIL AGREED TO THE TWO SIGNIFICANT STEPS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC LIGHT SYSTEM AND THE HIRING OF A TRULY FINELY INDEPENDENT TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTANT AS SENATOR DAVIS HAS TOLD YOU TIME.
AND AGAIN, CHRISTY HALL HAS ASSURED HIM THAT HILTON HEAD CAN TAKE ALL THE TIME.
IT NEEDS TO GET THIS INDEPENDENT STUDY DONE, RIGHT? AND THAT THE MONEY WILL BE THERE WHEN IT IS TIME TO DO THE PROJECT THE RIGHT WAY.
TRULY FROM END TO END, PLEASE GET BACK TO THE BOARD WITH THE, GET IT BACK ON BOARD WITH THIS APPROACH, AS YOU WERE AT ONE TIME AND ACCOMPLISH THIS PROJECT WITH ALL THE PROPER EXPERT INPUT AND DON'T SUBJECT HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO A GIANT OVER OVERBUILT BRIDGE STRUCTURE THAT WILL DESTROY FOREVER, THE UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE WE ALL NOW ENJOY.
THOUGHT WE ALL SIGNED UP, BUT YOU'RE NOT JUST CALLING US AN ORDER.
NO, BUT WE, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU PLEASE LINE UP AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S INFRASTRUCTURE NIGHT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, I'M CHUCK NEWTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE, UH, SEATTLE ISLAND CORRIDOR COALITION.
UM, I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE DOING, UH, I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE SEA ISLAND PARKWAY, UM, PROPOSAL BEFORE PUBLIC FACILITIES, UM, UH, COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 22ND AND THIS PROPOSAL TO FOUR LANE THAT PARTICULAR, UH, THOROUGHFARE.
UM, I WANTED TO GET HERE EARLY, UH, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEING UNDERTAKEN.
AND I, WE WANNA BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE OPTION, AS OPPOSED TO TALKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT IMPLEMENT THE OPTION, WHICH IS THE CASE.
IF THINGS GO TOO FAR, TOO FAST, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL, UM, OUR GOAL OF THE COALITION IS TO ADVOCATE FOR SMART DEVELOPMENT.
SO LADIES ISLAND DOESN'T END UP AS ANOTHER PLAIN VANILLA COMMUNITY WITH TRAFFIC WHIZZING THROUGH IN FACT, A FUNDAMENTAL GOAL OF THE LAZY ISLANDS LADIES ISLAND STRATEGY IS TO CHANGE THE PLACE FROM A PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME TO RATHER THAN THROUGH AND DEVELOP THE PARKWAY TO A MORE WALKABLE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD, WIDENING THE PARKWAY AS PROPOSED WOULD KILL ANY CHANCE WE HAVE TO ACHIEVE THIS.
WE KNOW WHAT FOUR LANES LOOK LIKE.
SAM'S POINT ROAD AND LADIES ISLAND DRIVE THOSE THAT ARE MAILING OR CALLING YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
UH, WE HA THERE'S A PETITION OUT THERE CURRENTLY.
THAT'S GETTING CLOSE TO 700 SIGNATURES, UM, ARE NOT JUST A THOUSAND OR SO CONCERNED RESIDENTS.
WE'VE SPOKEN WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE BUSINESSES,
[02:10:01]
THE BUSINESS OWNERS, ALONG THE PARKWAY FROM HERB GRAY AT GRACO TO CHRIS BUTLER, BUTLER MARINE TO TOM DANIELS AT THE LADIES ISLAND MARINA, NOT ONE OF THEM IS IN FAVOR OF THIS PARTICULAR PROPOSAL, NOT ONE.NOW I'M HERE TONIGHT TO UNDERSCORE THE GRAY OUTPOURING OF OPPOSITION, THIS WIDENING PLAN.
UM, BUT YOU'LL HEAR MORE FOR US AS THIS PROPOSAL WORKS IT WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND WE HOPE IT COMES BACK TO PUBLIC FACILITIES LATER THIS MONTH.
UM, BUT I WANTED TONIGHT TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL.
I WANNA EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THOSE OF YOU, YOU FROM THE SOUTH OF BROAD, WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE ON LADIES ISLAND TO COME OUT AND TAKE A TOUR WITH US, UM, WE'RE GOING TO SCHEDULE A BUS AND WE'D LIKE TO ISSUE AN INVITATION FOR YOU TO COME OVER AND TAKE A RIDE AROUND LADIES ISLAND.
SO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE AREA THAT THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HERE.
UM, HOPEFULLY WE WILL TRY AND COORDINATE YOU INDIVIDUAL IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WITH THE SPECIFICS, WE'LL TRY AND MAKE IT CONVENIENT FOR YOUR SCHEDULES.
AND WE HOPE YOU'LL TAKE US UP ON THIS OFFER.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND LADIES ISLAND BEFORE YOU MAKE LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS FOR THAT PLACE.
GO, BEFORE I START MY THREE MINUTES, CAN I HAND YOU SOME STUDIES THAT I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON? DO YOU MIND FINE? CAN I, CAN I READ IT TO WHAT IT IS? EVERYBODY GOES WITH THESE STUDIES, OR? SURE, GO AHEAD.
SO WHY, UH, WHY ONE RESORT STOP MARKETING TO TOURISM? WHY TOURISM CAN ACTUALLY HARM THE COMMUNITY, UNSUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND GROWTH, BIG CITY PROBLEMS FOR SMALL COMMUNITIES.
WHY ONE ROAD I, 95 INCREASED OUR OUTTA CONTROL DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS WHY, WHY NO MASTER LAND PLAN WAS NEVER DEVELOPED BY OUR 30 YEAR TOWN MANAGER.
AND THEN BASICALLY TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, OFFICIALS AND MAYORS WHO WERE ALSO BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, LAWYERS, AND REALTORS IN CONFLICT WITH THEIR OWN HORSES ON THE RACE HAS CONTINUED TO CAUSE OUR PROBLEMS. SO I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT VERY INTERESTING.
WE DO HAVE 45,000 RESIDENTS, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MILLION, 2 MILLION TOURISTS COMING IN HERE, BUT WE'RE OUTTA CONTROL ON THIS.
SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND, UM, READ MY SPEECH IF I COULD.
SO MY NAME IS SKIP POLAND, WINDMILL HARBOR PAST PRESENT, AND FUTURE.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 47 YEARS AND LIKE MANY, WE CHOSE HILTON HEAD FOR THE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND THE CHARLES FRAZIER VISION OF LOW DENSITY, HIGH END RETIREMENT AND TOURISM DESTINATION, NOT THE MYRTLE BEACH AND CHARLESTON, BIG CITY LIFE YET NONSTOP OVER DEVELOPMENT.
TRAFFIC NEVER ENDS SELFISHNESS AND GREED ALWAYS FINDS AN EXCUSE THAT JUSTIFY PROFIT OVER PEOPLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WHAT WE DON'T NEED IS MORE TRAFFIC ON A SINGLE ROAD, ONE BRIDGE ALL THE WAY TO I, 95, THIS 300 MILLION BRIDGE WILL MIMIC WHAT I, WHAT A STENT DOES FOR YOUR HEART YET WILL DO NOTHING BUT INCREASE TRAFFIC ISLAND WIDE.
ALONG WITH MORE RUNOFF POLLUTION, THAT'S ALREADY CHOKING OUR CREEKS, OUR RIVERS, OUR ESTUARIES POLLUTING THE OYSTERS.
IN 30 YEARS, IT TOOK MILLIONS TO CREATE, JUST FIX THE BRIDGE AND END THE INSANITY.
THE POWERS TO BE THAT HAVE HAD HAD, HAVE NOT HAD THE HORSE SENSE, HAD DEVELOPED A PROPER HILTON HEAD LAST MASTER LAND PLAN THAT WOULD'VE STOPPED ALL THIS, INCLUDING BLUFFTON, BEAUFORD, AND HARDY.
THIS WOULD'VE MADE LIVING HERE MORE EXCLUSIVE ISLANDS, SIMPLY CAN'T OPEN THE FLOODGATES TO ALL WITHOUT A CONTROLLED AND ENFORCED MASTER LAND PLAN.
I REPEAT, WE ARE HEADING FOR 10 POUNDS IN A FIVE POUND BAG.
WE'RE ALREADY AT FIVE OR SIX POUNDS.
HAS ANYBODY SEEN THE TRAFFIC? AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
I BLAME THE KICK, THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD, ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHO HAVEN'T A CLUE ON HOW TO BALANCE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH WHILE MAINTAINING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT DREW THEM HERE.
AND NOW THEY HAVE FO OFF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REMEDIATE THE DAMAGE ON THE FOLKS AT SOUTH CAROLINA, D D O T, AND BLAME OTHERS.
THE TRAFFIC AND OVERDEVELOPMENT HAS ALREADY CAUSED SOME LONG TIME RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND TOURISTS TO LEAVE THIS PLACE.
WE ARE ALL KEEP ELECTING PART-TIME MAYORS WHO ARE BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, LAWYERS, AND INCOMPETENT, BIG SPENDERS, RETIRED EXECUTIVES WHO HAVE MASTERED REVOLVING DOOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THAT STROKE THEIR OWN EGOS WHILE DOING AS MUCH HARM AS POSSIBLE TO ONCE TO ONCE WAS A MUCH, A MUCH, UH, MAJESTIC LANDSCAPE.
THESE SAME ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE AIDED AND ABETTED BY IN SCRUPULOUS DISHONEST LAWYERS WHO RATHER LINE THEIR POCKETS BY OVERCHARGING TAX PAID LEGAL FEES, GOOGLE OVERCHARGED LEGAL FEES ON HILTON HEAD.
AND THESE TOWN LAWYERS HAD THE SAME HORSES IN THE DEVELOPMENT RACE.
AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, CREATING HUGE CONFLICTS WHERE THEIR REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT CLIENTS, THESE UNETHICAL LAWYERS INCLUDE FINGER COLD TRAIN, ALFRED AND SERIAL ETHICS, VIOLATOR, JOSH GRUBER.
WE ALSO HAVE DISHONEST COMPROMISED, HOW MANAGERS AND CPAS WHO, WHO AVOID FORENSIC AUDITS THAT WOULD CONFIRM THEIR ILLEGAL TAX USE.
WE HAVE IDENTIFIED NOW WITH A MASS EXODUS OF
[02:15:01]
MANY, FROM BIG CITIES TO OUR AREA.IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE AND WE'RE GONNA BE ASSURED 10 POUNDS AND A FIVE POUND BAG.
SADLY, IF WE HAD DEVELOPED A MASTER LAND PLAN 45, 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN I MOVED HERE, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THIS TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM.
WE COULD HAVE, WE COULD HAVE CONTROLLED IT.
IT'S JUST LIKE A, ANY GATED COMMUNITY, ANY GATED COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE A MASTER LAND PLAN.
AND WHEN IT'S, WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE FULL, YOU'RE FULL AND YOU DON'T BUILD ANYMORE.
THAT'S IT AGAIN? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HI, MY NAME'S FRANK MANGAN, I'M A, I LIVE HERE ON HILTON NET ISLAND.
WHEN YOU READ THAT STATEMENT BEFORE, AFTER YOU REFERENCED THE FOUR YEARS OF PLANNING, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THIS WHOLE THING.
I WONDER IF I COULD ADD ANOTHER STATISTIC.
ANOTHER FACT TO THAT, I CALL IT 50 DAYS UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
YOU WERE GONNA COME HERE TONIGHT AND VOTE ON THE PLAN, THE PROPOSITION THAT STUART RODMAN AUTHORED AND PUT BEFORE YOU YET IN 50 DAYS, THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR IN 50 DAYS.
THERE'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENT LOOK TO THE TOWN COUNCIL, TO THE CITY, THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO I REALLY WONDER WHY ARE YOU RUSHING AHEAD TO JAM DOWN SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BE VOTED ON NOW TO SEPTEMBER 26TH? I UNDERSTAND BEFORE THE NEW TOWN COMMIT, I'M SORRY THE NEW COUNTY COUNCIL TAKES PLACE.
WHY ARE YOU GOING TO BIND THEM TO SOMETHING THAT, THAT COUNCIL HAS NOT HAD INPUT IN? WE ALL KNOW WE CAN GUARANTEE SEVERAL POSITIONS ARE GONNA BE DIFFERENT IN THE NEXT 50 DAYS.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE.
I, SO I'D LIKE YOU TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
I ALSO FIND IT VERY, VERY, VERY DISHEARTENING TO USE THE PHRASE THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE PROPOSAL WHO IS NOT GOING TO BE AN INCUMBENT IN 50 DAYS WAS THE PERSON WHO AUTHORED IT, PRESENTED IT TO YOU AND GOT PEOPLE TO, TO SIGN UP FOR IT.
I'M NOT GONNA DEMEAN THIS FELLOW.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN THAT HE'S BEEN TAKEN FROM POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP AND DEMOTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
HE'S ALSO BEEN, UM, NOT, NOT, LET'S JUST SAY HE HASN'T BEEN FULLY, UH, UH, UH, UH, ACCREDITED WITH HIS, WITH, WITH SOME OF THE THINGS HE'S DONE BY A WHOLE RAFT OF PEOPLE WHO IN THE LAST FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS, FORMER EXECUTIVES DOWN HERE IN POLITICS, MAYBE HE'S NOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO BE AUTHORING THESE KINDS OF THESE THINGS.
AND IF SO, WHY ARE YOU FORCING THIS DECISION ON A TOWN? I'M SORRY, ON A ACCOUNT COMMITTEE THAT IS NOT GONNA BE IN OFFICE IN 50 DAYS.
IT'S NOT WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.
WHEN I TOLD YOU IN HERE, THERE IS AN M O U ON THE TABLE BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TOWNSHIP AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD, ACCEPTING WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PROJECT GO TOGETHER, HAND IN HAND.
IT DOESN'T STOP TOWN COUNCIL FROM GOING AHEAD AND DOING THEIR END TO END STUDY IT DOESN'T STOP TOWN COUNCIL FROM MAKING ANY AESTHETIC THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE PART AND PARCEL OF MOVING FORWARD.
THERE ARE FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
THAT'S WHY THE BRIDGE IS PUT UP THE WAY IT IS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DICTATES THAT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THAT.
AND WITH NO DISRESPECT INTENDED, I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT I BELIEVE WHAT SENATOR DAVIS TELLS US, AND IT'S TALKING TO US OPENLY IN VARIOUS MEETINGS RATHER THAN I'M GONNA ACCEPT WHAT YOU PUT INTO YOUR THAT'S FINE.
JOHN CASEY, SIX 13 COLONIAL DRIVE, UH, HILTON HEAD.
I APPRECIATED THE SYNOPSIS THAT THE CHAIRMAN GAVE ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, UH, AT THE OUTSET OF THE MEETING, BECAUSE
[02:20:01]
IT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT SIMPLY STANDING UP HERE AND TELLING YOU NOT TO PROCEED WAS NOT GONNA HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON THE COMMISSION THAT THEY HAD VERY MUCH MADE UP THEIR MIND.BUT I WILL ALSO TELL YOU THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE CORE OF ENGINEERS MAY SAY NOW IS WHAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WHEN, UH, A PROJECT TOUCHES UPON A NATIONAL WILDLIFE AREA.
AND WHEN IT TOUCHES UPON THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES AND INDEED THE ATLANTIC INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY THAT THE CASE BOOKS, I, I HAD OCCASION IN ANOTHER LIFE IN A VERY DIFFERENT STATE TO DEAL WITH SOME VERY LARGE HIGHWAY EXPANSION PROJECTS, WELL PLANNED, READY TO GO.
AND THE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE VERY CONSISTENTLY UNDER NEPA THROWN THESE PROJECTS BACK BECAUSE AN OBJECTOR AND THEIR COMMENTS, UH, A STAKEHOLDER WAS NOT PROPERLY CONSIDERED.
UH, I UNDERSTAND THE CHAIRMAN IS SAYING THAT HE BELIEVES THAT'S HAPPENING.
I THINK THIS IS SUBSTANTIAL DISAGREEMENT IN THAT REGARD, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE RUNNING FORWARD RAPIDLY WILL ONLY PUT US BACK BOTH IN TIME AND MONEY, AND THEN PUT THE PROJECT AT A GREATER RISK.
ANYONE ELSE BEFORE PLEASE COME UP, LET IT GO A LITTLE LONGER.
I LIVE IN WWA HARBOR AND, UM, I, I GUESS I JUST DON'T, I JUST MOVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO AND I LOVE IT.
AND I CAME DOWN HERE BEFORE I RETIRED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WANTED, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL HERE.
AND I WANTED TO HAVE A GREAT, YOU KNOW, LIFE EARLIER THAN COMING DOWN AT RETIREMENT.
AND SO I BOUGHT A HOUSE AND WEMI HARBOR WITH MY HUSBAND AND WE'RE ENJOYING IT.
UM, BUT WHEN I SIT OUTSIDE, I CAN HEAR SOME OF THE TRAFFIC COMING DOWN.
AND THEN WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE THIS 10 LANE BRIDGE AND ON OUR SIDE AND TAKING UP PART OF ONE, THE HARBOR AND THE JAKE BREAKING, THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH A LIGHT THERE, WITH ALL THE TRUCKS COMING DOWN.
IT'S REALLY GONNA RUIN EVERYTHING IN WINN HARBOR.
I MEAN, YOU CAN HEAR IT BECAUSE OF THE WATER, YOU KNOW, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW CUZ WE'RE NOT HILTON HEAD.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU GUYS DON'T CARE, BUT IT'S,
AND WHEN I ASKED SOMEBODY ABOUT IT, I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS WHEN IT WAS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY SAID THAT, OH, DON'T WORRY.
WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT STAMPED CONCRETE.
AND IT'S LIKE GOING TO BUY A CAR.
OH, THEY ALWAYS SHOW THE WOMAN.
UH, ANY FURTHER ACTION FROM COUNTY COUNCIL? OUR MEETING IS ADJOURNED.