Sep 26, 2022 County Council Meeting

[00:00:12]

GOOD EVENING

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.

OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH.

TO ORDER WITH THE CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM.

PRESENT IN PERSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER FLEW WELLING HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON.

HERE.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLEN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON.

MARK LAWSON IN PERSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER RODMAN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER ON PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER HERE.

VICE CHAIR SOMERVILLE.

PRESENT CHAIRMAN PASS EVENT HERE.

WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, AN INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD.

TONIGHT'S INVITATION IS A PRAYER OF UNITY.

DEAR LORD, WE INVITE YOU TO GUIDE US DURING THIS MEETING, EVEN IF WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, GIVE US UNITY OF SPIRIT.

HELP US TO EACH LISTEN POLITELY AS OTHERS SHARE THEIR POINTS OF VIEW.

HELP US TO WORK AS A UNIFIED TEAM IN COMBINING IDEAS FOR A GREAT OUTCOME.

STRENGTHEN US AS WE MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

LET US BE EFFECTIVE AND DECISIVE.

HELP US TO WORK AS A WHOLE RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN AGENDAS.

MAY WE HAVE A SPIRIT OF COMRADERY IN THIS ROOM AND WORK TOGETHER ON OUR SHARED MISSION.

AMEN.

AMEN.

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]

MR. RODMAN MAKES THE MOTION.

MR. MCCLELLEN MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION.

AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? I SEE NO DISCUSSION.

THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT ANY OBJECTIONS.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

WE TURN TO ITEM

[5. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT ]

NUMBER FIVE, OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

MR. GREENWAY, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.

UH, CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF, UH, WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE WITH US THIS EVENING, THOSE OF US, THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING US ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL, UH, ARE ONLINE WITH US THIS EVENING.

UH, THE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME HURRICANE EFFECTS OR TROPICAL STORM EFFECTS.

UH, THERE'S A STATE CALL BEING SCHEDULED AND HELD EVERY DAY AT 12 O'CLOCK.

UH, I JOIN THAT CALL.

I LISTEN TO THE CALL, AND THEN I CALL CHIEF BRUCE KLEIN AND SAY, WHAT DID THEY SAY? AND WHAT DOES ALL OF THAT MEAN? BECAUSE THEY USE SO MANY ACRONYMS AND SUCH BIG THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S, UH, GOING ON WITH THAT REGARD.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT I WILL TELL EVERYONE IS THAT IF THERE WILL BE A, IF THERE IS GOING TO BE AN EVACUATION, THAT ORDER WILL BE MADE TOMORROW.

WE DO.

I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WILL BE THE CASE, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID TODAY, THAT THE STATE, UH, WILL MAKE THAT CALL TOMORROW FOR THOSE OF US ON IN THE COASTAL COUNTIES.

SO WE'LL SEE.

AND AS SOON AS I KNOW, I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW.

SO, MONITOR YOUR EMAILS, UH, TOMORROW, YOUR COUNTY EMAILS.

UH, SO THAT, THAT'S THE WAY I WILL GET THE WORD OUT TO YOU, UH, AS ANY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? OKAY.

UM, AS I TYPICALLY DO, I INTRODUCE EMPLOYEES.

I HAVE FOUR TO INTRODUCE TONIGHT.

CAUSE IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE WERE AT, UH, HILTON HEAD, I DID NOT, UH, DO THAT.

SO I HAVE AN EXTRA EMPLOYEE NIGHT, UH, TO DO THAT.

AND I'M GONNA START OFF WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL'S OFFICE.

UH, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME INTRODUCING ANYONE, UH, FROM THAT OFFICE, AND THAT'S THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

SO I'M GONNA ASK AMBER FERGUSON TO COME ON UP.

AND WHILE SHE'S COMING UP, I WANNA JUST, UH, THANK ALVIN AVERY FOR THE JOB THAT SHE HAS DONE, UM, IN HER MANAGEMENT OF THAT DEPARTMENT, UH, ON BEHALF OF

[00:05:01]

UM, IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A VERY SMOOTH OPERATION, UM, UH, UNDER HER WATCH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.

SO, UH, SHE DID A VERY GOOD JOB.

SO THIS IS, UH, AMBER FERGUSON.

SHE'S THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY AUDITOR.

SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR SIX YEARS.

UM, THE, UM, AUDITOR, THE DEPUTY AUDITOR, ASSISTS THE AUDITOR IN ALL AREAS RELATED TO THE OPERATION IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO OPERATIONAL STAFF, SUPERVISION, PLANNING AND PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING, LEGAL RESEARCH, AND RESOLVING PROBLEMS AND ISSUES RELATING TO DAILY ISSUES THAT MAY ARISE.

AMBER IS THE TRUE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP, WHICH IS SERVITUDE.

SERVITUDE IS BEING A SERVANT LEADER FIRST, WHICH IS NEEDED FOR AN ORGANIZATION TO RUN SMOOTHLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

AMBER FERGUSON FOCUSES ON THE GROWTH AND WELLBEING OF HER PEERS AND EMPLOYEES UNDER HER SUPERVISION, WHICH LEADS THE OTHERS TO SERVE AS WELL.

SO I SEE HER A LOT.

I DON'T GET TO INTERACT WITH HER A LOT, UH, BUT I CAN TELL, UH, HER DEMEANOR, UH, ILLUSTRATES WHEN SHE'S WALKING THE HALLS.

AND I DO SEE HER, HER, UH, DEMEANOR ILLUSTRATES THAT, UH, LAST PARAGRAPH VERY, VERY WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL.

THANK YOU.

AND, UH, LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

AND I'M GONNA, DO WE NEED A PICTURE? THEY ALWAYS LIKE IT FOR ME TO GET A PICTURE SO WE CAN, SO WE CAN POST YOU ALL OVER THE SOCIAL PLATFORM.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO OUR NEXT, UH, PERSON IS KIJA SMITH WITH OUR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, UH, DIVISION.

I DO NOT THINK SHE'S HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.

I THINK WE DO HAVE A PICTURE.

SHE IS A HUMAN SERVICES COUNSELOR.

SHE WORKED FOR EIGHT YEARS, UH, FROM 2004 TO 2012, AND THEN LEFT BUFORD COUNTY.

AND, UH, SHE HEARD HOW GOOD THE CURRENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS AND CAME BACK IN JULY, 2021.

.

SO THAT IS A JOKE.

SO I, I I DO NOT KNOW THAT THAT'S THE REASON SHE CAME BACK.

UH, SO SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES IS KJ WORKS WITH CITIZENS CONVICTED OF DRIVING OR BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.

SHE HAS A LICENSED AND NATIONALLY CERTIFIED MASTER'S ADDICTION COUNSELOR.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HER IS THAT SHE HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO LEARN TO PLAY THE GUITAR AND THE PIANO.

AND SHE RECENTLY STARTED TO, TO TAKE GUITAR LESSONS.

SO, VERY GOOD JOB FOR KIJA.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.

LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL.

OUR OUR NEXT PERSON COMES FROM MOST OF OUR BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND HE BROUGHT A FAN CLUB WITH HIM.

SO COME ON UP.

MICHAEL.

UH, MICHAEL, UH, HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ONLY ONE YEAR.

UM, I REMEMBER HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB.

UH, HE'S IN OUR, HE'S A BUSINESS LICENSE SPECIALIST IN OUR BUSINESS LICENSE DEPARTMENT.

HE ASSISTS CUSTOMERS WITH OBTAIN, WITH OBTAINING AND RENEWING THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE.

HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND HIS COWORKERS.

HE IS ALWAYS PATIENT AND KIND.

HE IS VERY PATIENT, VERY KIND.

DEMEANOR, UH, DOES A GREAT JOB FOR US.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

UM, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND I'M GONNA LET YOU SAY A FEW WORDS TO THEM, AND THEN I'M GOING TO GET A PICTURE WITH YOU.

OKAY.

I'M GOOD WITH THE, WITH A FEW WORDS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

UM, I PRIDE MYSELF ON CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 30 YEARS.

I HOPE TO DO IT, UH, FOR THE COUNTY FOR ANOTHER 30 .

THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT.

LET'S GET THE, SO I PROMISED WHEN I INTRODUCED THIS NEXT PERSON, WE DID NOT ORDER UP.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK HERE.

UH, THIS IS, UH, PAMELA COBB.

SHE WORKS IN OUR POET WORST DEPARTMENT.

UH, SHE IS OUR DISASTER RECOVERY MANAGER.

SO, UM, SHE'S BEEN WITH US FOR 15 YEARS.

UH, THERE'S A LONG LIST OF STUFF HERE THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO READ ABOUT, UH, ALL THAT SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED.

SO JUST BEAR WITH ME A, A LITTLE BIT.

PAMELA IS THE DISASTER RECOVERY MANAGER FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY.

HAVING BEEN INVOLVED WITH PLANNING AND DIRECTING DISASTER OPERATIONS AND TAKING A LEAD ROLE IN RECOVERY FOR MULTIPLE DISASTERS, SHE LEARNED WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF TRIAL BY FIRE MEANS.

AFTER HANDLING HURRICANE MATTHEW AFTER ONLY EIGHT MONTHS IN HER CURRENT

[00:10:01]

EMMITSBURG MARYLAND IS WHERE ALL A LOT OF THE FOLKS GO TO RECEIVE TRAINING IN VARIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, UH, THINGS.

SO IT'S, UH, IT'S A FEDERAL PROGRAM.

UH, PAMELA HAS BEEN AWARDED OVER 800,000 IN FEDERAL GRANTS AND PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY RECEIVING OVER HOW OLD IS YOUR 28 MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENT OF FEDERAL WORKSCAPE FOR FEDERALLY DECLARED EVENTS.

AS THE ACCREDITATION MANAGER, SHE SECURED ACCREDITATION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

SO THAT WAS MOSTLY HER WORK.

UM, SHE CONTINUES TO OVERSEE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS FOR RESPONSE OPERATIONS DURING DISASTER EVENTS AND PREPARATION FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS AND OPERATIONS.

EVERY YEAR, PAMELA FACILITATES TRAINING FOR THE PUBLIC WORK STAFF TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS PREPARED.

THIS IS NOW AN ANNUAL TRAINING THAT HAS EXPANDED OVER THE YEARS AND IS ALSO A THREE DAY TRAINING EVENT NOW THAT INCLUDES TEACHING STAFF HOW TO PROPERLY FILL OUT FEMA FORMS, A MOCK ACTIVATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATION CENTER AND EXERCISING AN EVACUATION OF COUNTY STAFF AND RESOURCES OUTTA THE COUNTY.

PRIOR TO HER CURRENT POSITION, PAMELA WORKED WITH THE BEAUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION AND PLAYED A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT BEAUFORD COUNTY'S SOCIAL MEDIA PREPAREDNESS OUT.

PAMELA IS A NATIVE OF BEAUFORT.

SHE EARNED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND OBTAINED HER MASTER OF SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP WITH AN EMPHASIS IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EXECUTIVE FIRE LEADERSHIP.

PAMELA AND HER HUSBAND MARK ON A FIREARM TRAINING BUSINESS.

LAST STAND DEFENSE IN WALTERBORO, WHERE PAMELA IS A LEAD INSTRUCTOR.

THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION.

I'LL KNOW NOT TO EVER CROSS YOU IN, IN HER FREE TIME, SHE MAKES MEMORY T-SHIRT, QUILTS, UH, FOR PEOPLE.

SO, UM, LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND THEN ALL THAT.

SO I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS AND SEEMS LIKE, WHICH IS JUST YESTERDAY AND SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE FOREVER .

UM, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY TOO, WE JUST, UM, SO WE JUST DID ACCREDITATION AND WE ACTUALLY JUST WENT, UH, QUITE A FEW OF OUR FOLKS JUST WENT TO CHARLOTTE FOR PUBLIC WORKS, UM, EXPO.

AND I DID NOT REALIZE WHEN WE ATTENDED THAT THIS WAS NOT ONLY NATIONAL, THIS IS INTERNATIONALLY CONFERENCE THAT WAS ATTENDED.

AND SO WE OF COURSE WENT FOR ACCREDITATION, BUT WE MADE IT A GOAL THAT NEXT YEAR EVERYONE IS GONNA KNOW BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, BECAUSE WE ARE GONNA TAKE OVER EVERYTHING.

SO, EXCELLENT.

SO THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

GEE, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[6. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE PENN CENTER]

MR. GLOVER, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT PROCLAMATION.

YES.

AND MR RIGHT IS HERE.

SO WOULD YOU COME UP, MR. UM, LET ME FIRST SAY MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, OH, IT'S HERE.

.

UM, MR. WRIGHT, UM, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION, UH, FROM COUNTY COUNCIL TO PENN CENTER, UM, AND IT READS, WHEREAS IN 1862, THE PENN CENTER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST ACADEMIC SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH, ESTABLISHED BY TWO NORTHERN MISSIONARIES, LAURA M TOWN AND ELLEN MURRAY TO PROVIDE A FORMAL EDUCATION FOR FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICANS.

AND WHEREAS FOR 160 YEARS, PENN CENTER, INC.

LOCATED ON ST.

HELEN ISLAND, HAS BEEN AT THE EPIC SEIC EPICENTER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION.

HIS HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR TENS OF THOUSAND OF DESCENDANTS WERE FORMERLY ENSLAVED AFRICANS LIVING IN THE SEA ISLAND, KNOWN AS THE GULLAH PEOPLE.

AND WHEREAS THE SCHOOL CLOSED IN 1948, PENN CENTER BECAME THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN SITE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHOSE PRIMARY PUR PURPOSE WAS TO SAFEGUARD THE HERITAGE OF A GULLAH COMMUNITY BY PRESERVING DISTRICTS AND LANDMARKS THAT

[00:15:01]

AND WHEREAS IN 1960S, IN THE 1960S, PENN CENTER, INC ASSURED, ASSUMED THE MANTLE OF SOCIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE BY USHERING IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND SERVING AS THE ONLY LOCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE INTERRACIAL GROUPS SUCH AS DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AND THE SOCIAL CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AND THE PEACE CORPS, COULD HAVE SAVED SANCTUARY IN AN ERA OF MANDATED DES U SEGREGATION.

AND WHEREAS IN 1972, PENN CENTER INC ESTABLISHED THE LAND USE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM TO ASSIST NATIVE ISLANDERS WITH ISSUES OF LAND RETENTION AND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES.

AND WHEREAS IN 1974, PENN CENTER INC RECEIVED RECOGNITION FOR NOMINATING ITS OWN CAMPUS OF 17 HISTORICAL STRUCTURE AND EIGHT OTHER SITES ON ST.

HELEN ISLAND AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT, ONE OF ONLY FOUR IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THE ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORIC DISTRICT SO NAMED.

AND WHEREAS IN 1970, IN 1994, PENN CENTER INK OPENED THE YORK W BAILEY MUSEUM, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM IN BEAUFORD COUNTY TO INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF PENN CENTER AS WELL AS THAT OF THE GULLAH COMMUNITY ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

AND WHEREAS IN 2008, PENN CENTER, INC DEMONSTRATED, DEMONSTRATED ITS RESPONSIVENESS IN MEETING THE ONGOING AND INVOLVING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY BY ENTERING A UNIQUE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEEF COUNTY LIBRARY AND THE BEEF JASPER HAMPTON COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

TO BUILD A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LIBRARY AND HEALTH CENTER COMPLEX.

AND WHEREAS IN 19 AND JANUARY, 2017, PENN CENTER INC.

THE ONLY HISTORIC SITE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY WHERE DE WHERE DEDICATED THE NATION'S, THE NA NATION'S FIRST RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL MONUMENT BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA.

AND WHEREAS PENN CENTER, INC.

COMMEMORATES IN 1960 AND ITS 1960 ANNIVERSARY IN 2022, IT HAS CONTINUED TO ENDURE BOTH AS A NATIONAL MONUMENT PROMOTING HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AS WELL AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY THROUGHOUT THE SEA ISLANDS.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF BEAVER COUNTY, THAT THIS COUNCIL HEREBY WISHES TO RECOGNIZE PENN CENTER AND ITS COMM AS IT COMMEMORATES ITS HUNDRED 60TH ANNIVERSARY DATED ON THE 26TH.

TODAY'S DATE, 2020 2ND OF SEPTEMBER, SIGNED BY, UH, CHAIRMAN MR. JOSEPH PA.

SECOND.

IT'S ALL YOURS.

FIRST THING I'M GONNA SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, THE COUNCIL, MR. GLOVER AND EVERYBODY PRESENT.

UM, WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO BE A PART OF PENN CENTER, AS WAS READ IN THIS PROCLAMATION, IT IS TRULY A JEWEL AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO, TO ACCEPT SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE.

I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PAST AND YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING FOR US IN THE FUTURE.

AND, UH, WE GONNA TRY AND CONTINUE TO MAKE YOU PROUD AND MAKE THAT A NICE PLACE FOR EVERYBODY, UH, PARTICULARLY WITH ALL OUR GUESTS COMING FROM ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.

[7. CITIZEN COMMENTS]

WE'RE NOW AT OUR FIRST CITIZEN COMMENTS SECTION.

I SEE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE.

YOU CAN EITHER TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AT WHICH TIME I WILL AGAIN ASK IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WISHES TO MAKE COMMENTS, YOU CAN MAKE THEM THEN IF YOU SO DESIRE.

UH, CHIEF KLEIN, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT PRIVATE ROADS.

SO LET ME HAVE YOU COME FIRST AND TALK ABOUT PRIVATE ROADS, I GUESS BECAUSE I AM, I'M THE INTERPRETER FOR ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATOR.

I GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT HERE.

SURE.

MY MAIN THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE THIS, SIR.

WELL, THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND, AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'M HERE

[00:20:01]

UM, WE NOT ONLY NEED TO FIX THE PRIVATE ROADS THAT HAMPER OUR HAMPER AND DELAY OUR RESPONSE, WE NEED TO PREVENT AND STOP ADDING TO THIS ISSUE, UH, AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

IT'S CONTINUES TODAY.

SOMEBODY BUYS A TRACK OF LAND, THEY CUT A PRIVATE ROAD IN, THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSE A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW, OVERGROWN RUTS ISSUES.

THEY CAN GET THEIR HONDA CORD DOWN THERE, BUT I CAN'T GET A FIRE TRUCK.

WE CAN'T GET AN AMBULANCE, AND THEN SOMETIMES WE CAN'T GET, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE.

THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

WE UNDERSTAND ALL THE DIFFERENT SIDES OF THIS, BUT THE FACT IS WE DEAL WITH THIS ON A DAILY BASIS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, PARTICULARLY MY FIRE DISTRICT THAT HAS MANY PRIVATE ROADS, 144 SQUARE MILES.

UH, WE HAVE MANY ISSUES WITH IT.

SO ANYTHING COUNTY COUNCIL CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE PRIVATE ROADS, YOUR EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL GREATLY APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THOSE OF YOU WHO LISTED YOURSELF ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE, DO YOU WISH TO ADDRESS COUNTY COUNCIL AT THIS POINT OR WAIT TILL WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION? IT'S UP TO YOU.

OKAY.

WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE, UH, ON THE LIST WHO HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

SO, UH, PAT, WILL YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? MR. CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

I'M PAT MCGUFFIN.

I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE SHEILA.

AND, UH, WE ARE NEW HOMEOWNERS IN BEAUFORD COUNTY SINCE, UH, FEBRUARY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE BEING KICKED OUT BY A SIMPLE MISAPPLICATION OF COUNTY CODE TO A 70 YEAR OLD COVENANT.

HERE ARE THE FACTS.

I BOUGHT MY HOME IN SHELL POINT FOR RETIREMENT IN A COUPLE YEARS.

THERE'S NO HOA.

NEITHER OF THE REALTORS TOLD ME THERE WERE ANY COVENANTS.

UH, MY CLOSING ATTORNEY DIDN'T, MY TITLE INSURANCE DIDN'T.

BUT AFTER THE PURCHASE, UM, A NEIGHBOR BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION A 1958 COVENANT, AND I'VE INCLUDED IT IN YOUR PACKS.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS WITH A NICE MS. LISA ANDERSON IN YOUR ZONING DEPARTMENT AND HAVE MY SHORT TERM RENTAL APPLICATION ALL DONE, SIGNED OFF BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.

ZONING TOLD ME TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO VERIFY THERE WAS NO COVENANT, UH, RESTRICTIONS.

I DID.

AND THE ATTORNEYS GAVE ME A GO AHEAD.

AND THEN I TALKED TO TWO MORE ATTORNEYS AND THEY WERE ALL SHOCKED BY THE CURRENT POSITION THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN.

THEN EARLY THIS MONTH, COUNTY ZONING SAID, STOP.

I AM NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

AND SHELL POINT, BECAUSE NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IS ALLOWED ACCORDING TO THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE COVENANT, BUT THE COVENANT DOES NOT SAY COMMERCIAL USE.

IT ONLY REFERS TO RESIDENTIAL USE, WHICH IS WHAT I'M USING IT FOR.

UNLIKE OTHER BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THEIR SHELL POINT HOMES AND SHELL POINT, YOU HAVE LONG TERM RENTALS.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE, UM, OPERATING BUSINESSES FROM THEIR HOME.

UH, YOU HAVE BUSINESSES LICENSES LISTED TO HOMES.

AND WHEN I'M NOT THERE, I'M USING MY HOME FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

MARINE FAMILIES USE MY HOME FOR COMING TO GRADUATION.

SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT, I FEEL SINGLE OUT.

THIS COVENANT ALSO DOESN'T ALLOW FOR CHICKENS, BUT THERE'S TONS OF CHICKENS AND ROOSTERS ALL THROUGHOUT SHELL POINT.

I LOVE THAT.

SO PLEASE, WE WANT TO STAY AND RETIRE HERE, SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

BUT UNLESS YOU INTERVENE QUICKLY AND REVIEW HOW YOU ARE LABELING SHORT TERM RENTALS IN SHELL POINT, I'LL HAVE TO LEAVE AND YOU WILL HAVE SELECTIVELY ENFORCED A WRONG APPLICATION OF THIS 1958 COVENANT AGAINST ME AND NOT OTHER, OTHER NON-COMPLIANT HOMEOWNERS IN THE AREA.

PLEASE LOOK AT MY PACKET.

PLEASE PUT A STAY ON MY OCTOBER 15TH DEADLINE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT UNTIL YOU GET A BETTER LEGAL OPINION ON THIS, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, UH, WENDY, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS WENDY ZARA, I LIVE IN PORT ROYAL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU ARE DOING FIRST READING OF THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST, AND WE HAVE BEEN WAITING AND WORKING ON THAT FOR 20 YEARS.

I THINK MR. SUMMERVILLE WOULD REMEMBER, UM, BECAUSE HE WAS CHAIRMAN AT THE TIME.

UM, WE'VE HAD AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSORTIUMS. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE LOW COUNTRY HOUSING TRUST, WHICH COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO DO.

SO HERE WE ARE FINALLY

[00:25:01]

SO I'M THANKING YOU ADVANCE FOR DOING FIRST READING, SECOND READING, AND THIRD READING AND VOTING.

YES.

AND, UH, ALSO THAT YOU'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE TWO RESOLUTIONS TO AUTHORIZE ERIC TO SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH COMMUNITY WORKS AS WELL AS FOR THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THIS IS REALLY, REALLY A BIG DAY FOR BUFORT COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ED ALLEN.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, UM, ED ALLEN, UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK PAM FOR THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE IN THE, IN THE PAST.

UH, THANK, HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR SHE WON'T BE CALLING ME, UH, BUT SHE WILL BE ADVISED ME.

I'LL BE LIKE THE REST OF THE CITIZENS TRYING TO FIND OUR WAY OUT.

BUT I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, TO ADDRESS THE, UH, NEEDS OF MAINTAINING SOME OF THE, UH, COUNTY ROADS.

REALIZE, REALIZED THAT, UH, SOMETIME AGO YOU, UH, ENTERED, UH, INTO THIS, YOU LOOKED AT THIS.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO READDRESS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF BROAD, THAT HAVE, UH, PRIVATE ROADS GOING INTO THEIR RESIDENCE, ANYTIME THAT THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, WHETHER IT BE, UH, EMS THAT TRYING TO GET IN OR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CHIEF CLIENT, HIS IS REFERENCE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, UH, THEY POSE A PROBLEMS GETTING INTO SOME OF THESE ROADS, NOT LOOKING AT ALL OF THEM, UH, BUT SOME OF THEM THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED SO THAT WE CAN GET IN AND RENDER AID TO OUR CITIZENS.

UM, WE HAVE HAD PASS, UH, CASES OF IT WHERE WE COULDN'T BE ACCESSIBLE, UH, WITHOUT EMS DIRECTOR RAN IN THAT PROBLEM AS CORER RAN INTO THAT, THAT PROBLEM.

AND IT, IT CURRENTLY STILL EXISTS.

UM, AS WE LOOK BACK THROUGH, UM, SOME OF THE PAST HISTORY AND SPEAKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS OR EMS OR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I'M QUITE CERTAIN THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE CONDITIONS, UH, OCCUR.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, ANGELA.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MY NAME IS ANGELA CHILDERS AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY.

I WANTED TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR ITS WORK ON THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.

THIS IS DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TOWARDS PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

I LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE TRUST FUND.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, KATHY.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

AND I AM KATHY MCCLELLAN.

AND IN THE INTEREST OF FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE.

UM, THE REASON I WANNA SPEAK ON ITEM 25 NOW IS BECAUSE I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

I WENT OVER THE MOU AND THE SUPPORT DOCUMENTS, AND MY CONCERN IS I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THE END TO END INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS, UM, BUT I KIND OF SEE THE BRIDGE PROJECT AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE MOSQUE CREEK TO SQUIRE POPE QUARTER AS INEXTRICABLY LINKED.

SO MY CONCERN IS YOU'RE GONNA DO THE REPORT.

WHEN WE GET THE RESULTS OF THE REPORT, YOU'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, UM, UH, IN THE BRIDGE PROJECT AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

AND SO WHEN YOU GET THE RESULTS OF THE REPORT, MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS THAT, UM, INDICATE THAT THE PATH, THE TRAJECTORY YOU ARE TAKING WITH THE BRIDGE HAPPENS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA HAVE A SIGNIFICANT, A REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND, AND DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON HILTON HEAD.

AND SO IF MAYBE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHEN YOU, WHEN THIS COMES UP ON THE AGENDA, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WILL BE THE OPTIONS ONCE THE, ONCE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY COME OUT, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE OPTIONS WE'D HAVE TO MAKE SOME CORRECTIONS AND TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO, AND TO, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON THE, THE HILTON HEAD NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT CORRIDOR.

SO, UM, THAT'S THE REASON I, I WANNA SPEAK ON IT NOW.

SO IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT AND ADDRESS THAT DURING YOUR CONVERSATION,

[00:30:01]

SO THANK YOU.

WELCOME AND LINDA.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS LINDA M MO HILLS, AND I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU ALL I WANT TO KNOW, HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO OWN PROPERTY BEFORE IT BECOMES UNDER THE GRANDFATHER LAW F B FOR COUNTY? EVER THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING ONE? AND I HAVE ONE THAT BEEN IN MY FAMILY SINCE 1860 AND THE SAME FAMILY CONTINUED TO LIVE ON THAT PROPERTY.

I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT FACTORY SAMS POINT ROAD.

I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 67 YEARS ON SAMS POINT ROAD.

I USED TO CALL SUNSET BLUFF, THE BACK ROAD, GO TO MR. WAFFLES STOVE BACK THERE.

AND I WANNA SEE THE PHYSICAL STUDY THAT YOU ALL USE TO WANNA APPROVE WHAT YOU ALL PRESENT TO US ON OUR LAST MEETING.

AND MY LAST ONE IS I QUESTION YOU ALL ABOUT THE PRIVATE ROAD, AND I NOTICED THAT YOU ALL HAVE IT DOWN NUMBER 14, BUT YOU ALL DON'T HAVE AN EXPLANATION.

YOU EXPLAINED TO ME WHAT IT WAS, BUT LIKE I STATE, I HAVE A PRIVATE RULE.

EVERY TIME YOU MENTION THE WORD PRIVATE, YOU PERTAIN TO ME.

SO THE NEXT TIME YOU ALL PRESENT THIS, GIVE US A GOOD DEFINITION OF WHAT YOU ALL CALL A PRIVATE RULE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS.

UM, AS I SAID, THERE ARE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT ARE PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS. YOU WILL GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUES WHEN WE COME TO THOSE.

[8. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

ARE THERE ANY REPORTS FROM ANY CHAIR OF ANY COMMITTEE, MR. RODMAN? AND THEN MR. CHAIR, UH, RELATIVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, THREE ITEMS. ONE'S CALLED BROAD RIVER FISHING PIER IN , PLEASE.

OH, YES, I'M SORRY.

UH, THREE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

FIRST IS THE BROAD RIVER FISHING PIER.

SOMETIME BACK WE LOOKED AT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT, UH, OPTIONS.

AND OVER TIME THAT'S BEEN NARROWED DOWN TO ONE.

AND THIS, UH, IT CAME OUT OF PUBLIC FACILITIES.

IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THAT DESIGN, IT WOULD THEN COME BACK TO US AGAIN, UH, AFTER IT'S, UH, BID FOR A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.

AND THOSE FUNDS WILL COME OUT OF, UH, UH, VISITOR, UH, TOURIST, UH, HOSPITALITY FUNDS.

UH, THE SECOND ONE IS AN ON CALL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

AND, UH, ESSENTIALLY WE'RE FOLLOWING A PATTERN THAT THEY USE AT C D O T WHERE THEY WILL HAVE ON HAND IN TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES LIKE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, A STABLE OF PRE-SELECTED CONTRACTORS SO THEY CAN CALL ON THEM AS NEEDED BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR PROJECT AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE CONSULTANTS.

AND THIRDLY, IT'S THE APPOINTMENT OF A MR. ARTHUR HAMMAN TO THE LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

THAT'S WHAT WAS THE THREE ITEMS, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I HAD TWO LADIES, MS. HOWARD.

UM, THE TCL MET LAST WEEK AND THEIR ENROLLMENT IS SLIGHTLY UP, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS FROM, UH, TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY COMPARED TO TWO YEARS AGO AND UP QUITE A BIT FROM LAST YEAR.

BEEF MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD IS HAVING THEIR RETREAT ON THURSDAY, IT STARTS AT SEVEN 30 AND IT IS IN THEIR BOARD ROOM AND WILL BE OVER ABOUT NOON TIME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? Y'ALL? OKAY.

[9. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

FIRST ITEM IS, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? AND SECOND.

SO MOTION SECOND.

MR. MCCULLUM MADE THE MOTION AND MR. RADMAN MADE THE SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS? THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION, AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

[10. SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE PROGRAM ORDINANCE AND SETTING FORTH THE METHODS BY WHICH COUNTY COUNCIL INTENDS TO PROCURE 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]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVE.

MR. MCCLELLAN MADE THE MOTION.

SECOND, UM, FOR SEAN? NO, I KNOW IT'S MR. HERAN.

I THINK I DID THAT CORRECTLY.

UH, WE CAN NOW HOLD THE PUBLIC HEARING.

[00:35:01]

GOOD EVENING.

EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS RAY WCO AND I AM A RETIRED CPA LIVING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND I'VE LIVED THERE FOR THE LAST 34 YEARS.

I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BLUFFTON, AND THAT COUNCIL DOES SUPPORT THIS REFERENDUM BY THEIR VOTE.

I SUPPORT IT.

I SUPPORT THIS REFERENDUM BECAUSE OF THREE DIFFERENT SIGNIFICANT REASONS.

TO ME, ONE 40% OF THE COLLECTIONS WILL COME FROM NON-RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORD COUNTY.

TO ME, THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER TWO, THAT THE SALES TAX DOES NOT APPLY TO FUEL GROCERIES OR PRES MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS.

AND THREE, THIS IS GOING TO BE ENACTED FOR ONLY A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS, OR THE COLLECTION OF $100 MILLION, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

SO I THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO BRING THIS REFERENDUM FORWARD.

SO LET'S GET THIS REFERENDUM PASS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT.

HEY, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

MY NAME'S GRANT MCCLURE.

I AM THE SOUTH COAST PROJECT MANAGER WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE.

AND, UH, PERHAPS I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THESE COMMENTS DURING THE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, BUT I'M GONNA START WITH THE 2 78 PROJECT, ADAM 25, AND THEN SEGUE INTO GREEN SPACE.

UH, IF YOU'LL GRANT ME THE LATITUDE, UM, I'M HERE, UH, TO, UH, RECOMMEND THAT THE, UM, I GUESS, UH, CONSTRUCTING A NEW, A NEW, UH, BRIDGE TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME PROJECT, WHICH WILL HAVE LASTING IMPACTS.

THE BRIDGE PROJECT IS TOO IMPORTANT NOT TO GET RIGHT, AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD WILL ABSORB THE TRAFFIC.

IF IMPACT ISSUE TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, THE COMPLETION OF A TRULY INDEPENDENT END TO END ANALYSIS IS NECESSARY TO ARRIVE AT THE RIGHT TRAFFIC SOLUTION AND THE BEST ULTIMATE PROJECT OUTCOME.

ADDITIONALLY, OBTAINING THESE RESULTS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT WILL FOSTER TRUST AMONG YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

FURTHER, THE COMPLETION OF THIS ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC STUDY IS NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH NEPA.

THE NEPA PROCESS IS ABOUT INFORMED DECISION MAKING AND TAKES A HOLISTIC VIEW AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, UH, MOVING FORWARD, MOVING THE PROJECT FORWARD IN THE NEPA PROCESS TOWARDS A FINDING OF KNOWN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OR FONZI, WHILE AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW IS STILL UNDERWAY, UNDERMINES THE INTEGRITY OF THIS FEDERAL REQUIREMENT AND OPENS THE COUNTY UP TO A POTENTIAL LEGAL VIOLATION.

UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD OF NEARLY ARRIVED AT A UNIFIED VISION FOR THE 2 78 PROJECT.

HOWEVER, UH, FURTHER COOPERATION IS NEEDED, UH, BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES TO GET THIS PROJECT RIGHT AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH NEPA.

UH, THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE ENCOURAGES YOU TO INCORPORATE THE MODIFICATIONS, UH, REQUESTED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD INTO THE, UH, MOA BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.

ALL RIGHT, AND THIS IS, UH, PART TWO, THE DOUBLE FEATURE.

UM, I'M JUST HERE TO, TO SAY THAT, UM, I SUPPORT BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, IN THEIR, THEIR PURSUITS OF THE GREEN SPACE, UH, REFERENDUM.

UM, THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE FUNDING FOR AC ACQUISITION OF GREEN SPACES, UM, WITH UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION.

UH, THIS GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, UH, WILL PROVIDE PLACES TO RECREATE, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY, SAFEGUARD THE AGRICULTURAL AND DEFENSE INDUSTRIES, AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

UH, WE RECOMMEND THE COUNCIL, UH, WE COMMEND THE COUNCIL'S DILIGENT CONSIDERATION OF THE ORDINANCE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE PROGRAM COME TO LIFE PENDING VOTER APPROVAL.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE? GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, KATE SCHAFFER WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO Y'ALL TONIGHT.

UM, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED GREEN SPACE PENNY ORDINANCE FOR, AS YOU KNOW, FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, THE OPEN LAND TRUST HAS SERVED AS A STAFF CONTRACTOR TO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM.

AND WE ARE PROUD OF THAT PROGRAM AND PROUD OF THE LEADERSHIP THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS PLAYED IN LAND PROTECTION.

UM, AT THE OPEN LAND TRUST, WE ARE ALSO ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS OF THE GREEN SPACE PENNY.

AND BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT LAND AT A NEW SCALE.

THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT WITH THIS NEW AND INCREASED FUNDING, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

[00:40:01]

WE BELIEVE VOTERS SHOULD HAVE HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE GREEN SPACE, PENNY, BECAUSE OF OUR TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND STATEWIDE, AS YOU KNOW, GROWING FROM A RECOMMENDATION IN 1999 IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM WAS BORN IN 2002 AND HAS BEEN APPROVED FIVE TIMES BY VOTERS WITH OVER 70% SUPPORT AT THE POLLS.

VOTERS HAVE EXPRESSED, AGAIN AND AGAIN, AN URGENCY TO PROTECT WHAT WE LOVE, THE LAND AROUND OUR RIVERS, OUR FARMS, OUR MILITARY BUFFERS, OUR SPECIAL PARKS AND WATER ACCESS POINTS.

AND THAT CRY HAS NEVER BEEN LOUDER OR MORE URGENT.

AND SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT SUCCESS, WHICH I HOPE YOU CAN VISUALIZE IN YOUR MIND, UM, ARE CERTAINLY ON YOUR DRIVE FROM THE LIBRARY TONIGHT, INCLUDE LEMON ISLAND, A HUGE GROWTH MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY, PROTECTED FIRST WITH PRE REFERENDUM DOLLARS, UM, 380 ACRES, PROTECTING UPLANDS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE MARSHES OF THE PORT ROYAL SOUND.

UM, BENDON, WHICH PREVENTED 500 DOCKS ON THE SMALL STRETCH OF THE POGO RIVER, AND WOULD'VE, UM, WOULD'VE DRIVEN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RURAL AREA, COSTING TAXPAYER MONEY TO SEND POLICE CARS AND SERVICE VEHICLES IN THAT DIRECTION.

UM, OVER 1500 ACRES IN THE OKEE RIVER WATERSHED, A WATERSHED WE HOLD DEER AND WHOSE UPLAND PROTECTION HELPS IMPROVE ITS WATER QUALITY.

THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF FARMLAND, INCLUDING ACTIVE FARMS RIGHT HERE ON ST.

HELENA, THOUSANDS OF ACRES AROUND MCAS, BEAUFORT, UM, PARTNERSHIPS WITH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, OUR TOWNS AND CITIES AND NUMEROUS HISTORIC SITES, INCLUDING FORT FREMONT, FORT FREDERICK, AND THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL.

IN THE NIGHT 20 19 20 20 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS CAME UP AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AS A PREFERRED FORM OF LAND PROTECTION, UM, WHICH OFFER THE POTENTIAL FOR LANDOWNERS TO CONTINUE TO OWN THEIR LAND AND REMOVE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES, REDUCE EX RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT EXPONENTIALLY, AND CONTINUE TO ADD TO THE PUBLIC GOOD.

ALL OF THIS HELPS CREATE A LIVABLE PLACE.

AND, YOU KNOW, MORE JUST AS WELL AS WE DO THAT, GROWTH PRESSURES ARE CALLING US TO CONTINUE THAT WORK NOW, BECAUSE LAND PROTECTION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPLIMENT TO THE WORK THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LAND PLANNERS ARE DOING ACROSS OUR REGION TO CREATE LIVABLE PLACES.

UM, THE HISTORY OF LAND PROTECTION IS MULTIFACETED AND NO PROJECT IS THE SAME.

SO THIS ORDINANCE ALLOWS FOR CREATIVITY, ENABLES PARTNERSHIP AND INNOVATION, AND ALSO INCLUDES SOME IMPORTANT SPECIFICS THAT SHOULD GIVE TAXPAYERS, UM, AND CONSERVATIONISTS TRUST IN THE PROCESS.

UM, THE, WHEREAS CLAUSES AND PURPOSE LANGUAGE ARE STRONG AND SPECIFIC, AND, UM, THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP WITH KNOWLEDGE AND LAND PRESERVATION CAN SET US ON THE RIGHT PATH.

UM, JURISDICTIONAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT MATCHING FUNDS THAT ARE ENCOURAGED, THESE ARE ALL BENEFITS TO THE LAND PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP THAT EXIST.

OKAY.

UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

I COULD GO ON AND ON.

Y'ALL ARE WISE TO LIMIT ME FOR THREE MINUTES.

UM, BUT I REALLY, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR STAFF'S WORK ON THIS ORDINANCE.

UM, AND THE STRATEGIC LAND PROTECTION, NOT HAPHAZARD LAND PROTECTION THAT IT ENABLES MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE A BENEFIT TO OUR REGION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.

UM, COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL? MR. MCLEAN, YOU MADE THE MOTION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YEAH, I, UH, I SUPPORT, SORRY.

I SUPPORT THIS, UH, AND HAVE SUPPORTED IT FROM THE BEGINNING.

UH, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING KATE SAID.

UH, SHE MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SHE ALWAYS DOES.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE GREAT MANY PROFESSIONALS HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT CAN HELP US IDENTIFY, UH, LANDS THAT WE SHOULD BE PROTECTING TO, UM, TO LIMIT GROWTH, UH, AND PERHAPS BUY DOWN DENSITY.

UM, I, UM, THINK THAT 1% FOR TWO YEARS, AS RAY WACO POINTED OUT, WILL BE CONTRIBUTED, UH, AT ABOUT A 40% RATE BY PEOPLE WHO VISIT THIS COMMUNITY AND WILL BENEFIT FROM COLLECTING THOSE DOLLARS AS WE APPLY THOSE FUNDS TO THE PROTECTION OF LAND AND BUYING DOWN DENSITY SO THAT WE CAN PERHAPS HAVE PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED GROWTH IN THIS AREA THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE.

SO, UH, I WILL, UH, I WILL SUPPORT THIS THROUGH TO THE END AND I, UH, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELSE ON COUNCIL TO DO THE SAME THING.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. HERAN, ANY COMMENTS? UH, THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UH, LIKE COUNCILMAN MCKLELLAN, I'VE SUPPORTED THIS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS.

I ECHO EVERYTHING THAT, UM, KATE AND MR. WORK I SAID, AND, UM, NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I DO OVER THE LONG TERM VIEW THIS AS A TAX REDUCTION POLICY AS OPPOSED TO A TAX INCREASE.

SO I ENTHUSIASTICALLY SUPPORT THOSE.

MR. DAWSON?

[00:45:01]

HOWEVER, I HAVE, UH, ONE CONCERN THAT I, I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION ON, AND THAT IS, IF I, IF I UNDERSTOOD THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN BY SENATOR DAVIS, UH, INITIALLY WHEN WE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION, UH, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, UH, THESE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RAISED, WHICH IS, UH, UH, $1 MILLION OVER A TWO YEAR TERM, THESE FUNDS, UM, WILL NOT ONLY BE SPENT IN BEAUFORD COUNTY, BUT IT CAN BE SPENT IN NEIGHBORING COUNTIES AS WELL.

SO, IS THAT, AM I CLEAR IN BEEN THAT OBSERVATION IS, IS THAT A FACT? WOULD SOMEONE VERIFY THAT FOR ME? I'LL LET MR. GREENWAY WEIGH IN ON THAT.

SO, WHAT YOU, UH, WHAT YOU ARE ADOPTING, UH, THIS EVENING IS THE METHOD BY WHICH, UH, IF THE REFERENDUM IS SUCCESSFUL, AND WE DO START COLLECTING THE PENNY ON THIS, UH, IT IS HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT.

AND THE METHOD ORDINANCE DOES INCLUDE A PROVISION FOR THE MONEY TO BE SPENT OUTSIDE OF BEAUFORD COUNTY, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT GIVES YOU ALL THE LATITUDE TO REQUIRE MATCHING FUNDS FROM THOSE OUTSIDE JURISDICTION BEFORE YOU ALL, UH, VOTED TO PURCHASE OR TRACK THE LAND.

THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT IS BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO OUR WATER WAGE, PARTICULARLY THE PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION IN BURY COUNTY, THAT MIGHT, UH, COME UNDER DEVELOPMENT THREAT THAT IS ALREADY BEGINNING TO OCCUR ALONG ONE 70 IN ASHBURY COUNTY.

UH, WHERE THERE RECENTLY WAS SOME PROPERTY GIVEN FOR ANNEXATION, AND ORIGINALLY, UH, THAT'S AN OLD PLANTATION, UH, THAT WOULD BE WAY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS.

ORIGINALLY, THESE FUNDS COULD BE USED IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES TO PURCHASE SUCH PARTIALS OR BUY DOWN THE DEVELOPMENT DENSITY OF THOSE PARCELS IN ORDER TO PROTECT HIGHER WATER QUALITY IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.

SO THAT IS THE INTENT, THE PURPOSE.

SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS, YES, THESE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT IN OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHERE DEVELOPMENT MIGHT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BEAUFORD COUNTY.

IF, UH, IF BY CHANCE THE NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, UH, CHOOSE NOT TO, UH, UH, SUPPORT, UH, THE MATCHING FUNDS, THEN DO WE STILL GO AHEAD AND SPEND OUT FUNDS? YOU, YOU, YOU'LL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION COUNCIL, MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HOW IMPORTANT IT'S FOR MATCHING FUNDS TO OKAY.

TO BE USED IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER.

ANY COMMENTS? UM, NO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

UM, OKAY.