Nov 16, 2022 Bluffton Strategic Planning Workshop

UM, IF I GO THEN YOU GUYS .

UM, SORRY.

I SAW TWO OR THREE LOOKING, SO I WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT NOBODY WAS SNEAKING BEHIND ME.

UM, THE, WE NORMALLY DID THIS IN FEBRUARY.

WE'VE NOW PUSHED THIS TO NOVEMBER, SO IT BETTER ALIGNS WITH OUR BUDGETING PROCESS BECAUSE AS WE COME OUT OF HERE TODAY, OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL AND STAFF ARE ALIGNED ON OUR, UM, ACTION ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS OVER THE NEXT YEAR AS WE GET THROUGH THE REST OF THE TWO YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED IN FEBRUARY.

UM, AND AS WE DO THAT WITH BUDGET PROCESS GETTING READY TO START IN DECEMBER, IT MAKES MORE SENSE FOR STAFF TO HAVE THE GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD THAT WE'RE GETTING THOSE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 BUDGET INSTEAD OF DOING 'EM IN FEBRUARY WHEN THE BUDGET PROCESS IS MOSTLY DONE.

BUT THIS IS REALLY AN UPDATE, UM, JUST TO KINDA GIVE YOU A GUIDE OF HOW IT'S GONNA GO.

UM, HEATHER AND KIM ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT KIND OF THE PROGRESS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

KIM.

JOHN IS GONNA TALK ABOUT KIND OF CIP WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE AWARDED QUITE A FEW OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS AND JUST GIVE, UM, SOME UPDATES ON THE C I P PROJECTS AND WE HAVE, UH, JOHN O TOOL TO TALK ABOUT EDC UPDATE.

AND THEN WE HAVE BE JACK WATER AUTHORITY HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME PROJECTS.

AND THEN THE AFTERNOON IS WHEN WE'RE GONNA REALLY GET INTO SOME OF THE KEY TOPICS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRACKING THAT COUNCIL SAYS THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT.

AND SO WE CAN GO THROUGH AND TALK ABOUT SOME RESEARCH, SOME GUIDANCE THAT STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER, AND THEN RECEIVE COUNCIL'S INPUT, MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT WHENEVER WE LEAVE OUTTA HERE, THAT STAFF HAS THE GUIDANCE AND THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE FOR ACTIONS WE WANT TO TAKE FOR THE, FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS BEFORE WE GET BACK FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING.

SO AGAIN, JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE.

UM, AND THEN THIS AFTERNOON, UM, I THINK WHEN WE WRAP UP END OF THE DAY WE'LL HAVE A GOOD SET OF GOALS AND PRIORITIES LEAVING, UM, FOR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING FORWARD, FORWARD TO ADDRESS FOR COUNCIL.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU STEVEN.

UM, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WE'VE DONE IT DIFFERENTLY EVERY YEAR, BUT YOU DO SEE A BREAK AROUND NOON.

SO IF ANY OF THE ITEMS BETWEEN NOW AND NOON WOULD BE ITEMS, UM, FOUR, FIVE, AND SIX, UM, WERE PRETTY ACCURATE.

ACCURATE.

WE MAY, WELL, LUNCH IS ONLY HALF HOUR, SO I DOUBT WE'LL DO A WORKING LUNCH.

WE NEVER EVER DO IT, BUT, SO WE'LL START BACK AROUND 1230 FOR THE REMAINING.

UM, COUPLE OF THINGS.

THIS IS VERY FORMAL LOOKING, BUT IT'S AN INFORMAL, UM, MEETING.

COFFEE, TEA, WATER, BATHROOM.

I KNOW BATHROOMS, BUT COFFEE AND TEA AND SNACKS ARE OUT FRONT WHEN YOU WALKED IN.

AND THEN BATHROOMS. COURSE.

OKAY, SO COUNCIL DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, WE'RE UP AND DOWN.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK TO TAKE A BREAK FOR A MINUTE.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SITTING HERE, I FEEL POOL, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY MORE RELAXED.

SO, UM, GET UP AND GET IT AS YOU NEED TO AND WELCOME EVERYBODY.

SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES.

UM, AND THAT IS WONDERFUL.

I SEE A LOT OF OUR COMMITTEE, UM, CHAIRS AND IF Y'ALL WANNA KIND OF MOVE UP TO THE FRONT ROW, THAT'D BE GOOD TOO CUZ WE'LL BE INCLUDING Y'ALL I'M SURE.

UNLESS Y'ALL JUST LIKE BEING ON THE THIRD ROW.

UM, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY NEW AND NEW AND REGULAR.

SO WE'LL GET MOVING.

UM, WE DO HAVE, LET SEE IF I MISSED ANY INTRODUCTIONS.

DO WE STEVEN? SO AT THE CHAIR OF HPC WE HAVE THE CHAIR OF PLANNING, UM, DAVID MES, HE'S SET A DIRECTOR OF DON RYAN AND THEN OUR AMAZING SOUTH, WHICH ALL SITS TOGETHER.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL JOHN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

PUBLIC COMMENT IS INTENDED FOR YOUR IDEAS OR YOUR THOUGHTS FOR OUR UPCOMING YEAR.

[III. Public Comment]

SO, AND ALONG THE WAY, IF ANYBODY HAS SUGGESTIONS, YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AND AS SOON AS COUNCIL OR STAFF GETS THEIR QUESTIONS ANSWERED REGARDING THAT PARTICULAR SUBJECT, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

CUZ WE DON'T DO THIS ALONE.

WE NEED OUR, WE NEED OUR RESIDENTS TO HELP.

GO GET YOUR COFFEE.

UM, WE HAVE ONE.

OH, YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP AND ARE WE, WE'RE ON.

YOU HAVE A CHILD? YES.

WE'RE THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

GREAT.

[00:05:01]

AND DR.

RODRIGUEZ, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COME TO THE FRONT.

, YOU GUYS JUST KEEP WALKING.

I SAW THE SEAT.

LOOK ALL YOU KNOW, STUDENTS ALWAYS SIT THE BACK.

WORKSHOP TODAY, YOU'LL HEAR RIGHT AFTER LUNCH PRESENTATION FROM, UM, STEVEN AS FAR AS TOPICS THAT WE'VE HEARD OVER THE LAST YEAR, UM, THAT WE WANNA ADDRESS TODAY.

NAME AND, UH, YES, TIM WOOD, ONE 10 BED STONE COURT.

IN, IN BLUFFTON.

UH, GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY.

UM, FIRST OFF, I WANNA COMMEND THE WORK PUT FORTH, UH, TO CREATE BLUEPRINT BLUFFTON.

UM, IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY COLLABORATIVE AND INCLUSIVE EFFORT AND, AND SELF-REFLECTION ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE THE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK, UH, FROM TOWN STAFF TO COUNCIL TO THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

I AM TRULY APPRECIATIVE OF THE EXHAUSTIVE WORK HERE.

I'VE LIVED IN MANY TOWNS AND CITIES IN PAST LIVES AND IT'S GIVEN ME PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT THIS IS.

CITIES WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS DON'T PUT THE TIME INTO EXERCISES LIKE BLUEPRINT BLUFFTON OR EVEN THE WORKSHOPS LIKE TODAY.

ONE AREA THAT I DID NOT SEE ADDRESSED, AND IT'S A, IT'S A BIG DOCUMENT, , SO I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT WAS THE POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF TOWN COUNCIL.

UH, WE HAVE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, BUT THE SIZE OF ELECTED REPRESENTATION HAS NOT GROWN WITH THE POPULATION.

I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO LEAD WITH FACTS.

SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT AMONG TOWNS AND CITIES WITH 20,000 RESIDENTS OR MORE, BLUFFTON HAS THE SMALLEST COUNCIL SIZE IN THE STATE.

WE DEAL WITH ENOUGH ISSUES AS IS OF FOLKS THAT FEEL LIKE BLUFF AND RESIDENTS, BUT ARE NOT ACTUALLY BEING COUNTERED OR ABLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

AS AN OFFICIAL BLUFF AND RESIDENT, THANKS TO ALL THE DONUT HOLES, UM, TOWN STAFF HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY TO PROPERLY SERVICE THE NEEDS OF OUR EXPLODING POPULATION.

THE WORK THEY PUT FORTH IS EXEMPLARY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, , AS IS THE WORK OF TOWN COUNCIL, CREATING PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT BECOME A ROADMAP FOR MUCH LARGER POPULACES AROUND THE STATE AND THE REGION.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE COUNCIL EVOLVES AND GROWS, UH, WITH THE POPULATION TO ENSURE THAT ALL CORNERS OF THE TOWN FEEL REPRESENTED AND THAT THEY FEEL THERE ARE AVENUES AND OPPORTUNITIES AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS ELECTED TOWN OFFICE OPEN TO THEM.

I, AGAIN, I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU PUT IN EVERY DAY.

I KNOW IT'S A THANKLESS JOB AND I JUST, I WANT TO THANK YOU AND I WANT IT ON THE RECORD FOR ALL MY EDITORS IN THE PAST.

THE ONE TIME I THINK I'VE EVER HIT TIME OR WORD COUNTS.

THANK YOU TIME.

ARE YOU THIS TIME ? UM, OKAY.

NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP.

PLEASE TRY TO KEEP THE SUGGESTIONS TO WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY.

UM, AND WE ABSOLUTELY TAKE NOTES.

AND THEN I GUESS IF ANYONE'S WATCHING ON, UM, UM, OUR ACCOUNTING CHANNEL ALL KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US, LIKE EMAIL COUNSEL, ANY OF YOUR CALLS.

OKAY, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

[IV. Review of Fiscal Years 23-24 Strategic Plan Action Agenda Progress Report]

IS OVER.

WE ARE REVIEWING OUR 2324 STRATEGIC PLAN ACTION AGENDA, PROGRESS REPORTS.

AND IF YOU'LL TELL US HAVE NUMBERS OR THERE'S A TAB THAT WE CAN FOLLOW, THERE IS A TAB.

IT SHOULD BE TAB SEVEN, OF COURSE, IT'S VERY MUCH.

SO I'M, UM, THIS IS ON THE SCREEN AND I CAN ZOOM IN.

BUT REALLY JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, THIS IS A WORKSHOP.

I DON'T WANT TO JUST SIMPLY PRESENT TO YOU WHAT'S IN THE PACKET.

YOU CAN READ THAT, THAT, UM, THIS TAB IS SEVERAL PAGES LONG.

IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN ACTION AGENDA ITEMS THAT RESULTED FROM OUR LAB, UM, WORKSHOP BACK IN FEBRUARY.

SO THOSE, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN ACTION ITEMS RELATE TO THOSE SEVEN STRATEGIC FOCUS HERE.

SO AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE, HOUSING, FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY, UH, ECONOMIC GROWTH, TOWN ORGANIZATION, COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE, INFRASTRUCTURE, MAY RIVER AND THE SURROUNDED WATERSHEDS.

SO THESE AREN'T THINGS THAT STAFF IS DOING STRATEGICALLY.

SO IT MAY NOT INCLUDE EVERYTHING WE DO.

LIKE YOU WON'T SEE ISSUE, BUSINESS LICENSE, ISSUE BUILDING PERMITS.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN STRATEGIC ABOUT THAT.

NOT TO SAY THAT WE CAN IMPROVE, UM, BY ANY MEANS, BUT THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS DOCUMENT IS THE, UM, THE ITEMS THAT REALLY REFLECT ON COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES AND THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AS FAR AS WHAT STAFF SHOULD BE WORKING ON, WHERE OUR RESOURCES SHOULD BE SPENT.

SO YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF, UM, OUR OF PUBLIC PROJECTS AND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH KIM JONES, I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO HER IN A LITTLE BIT TO GO THROUGH THOSE AND KIND OF LET YOU KNOW WHAT PROJECTS YOU'LL SEE COMING ONLINE.

REPRIORITIZE, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS MEANT FOR.

AFTER, UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE

[00:10:01]

SO AT THE CONCLUSION WE READDRESS THIS.

SO IF WE NEED TO CHANGE AND AMEND, DELETE, ADD, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.

SO THAT'S CLEAR.

SO LIKE I SAID, PLEASE, PLEASE, AS I GO THROUGH THIS, AND AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER, YOU ALL ARE SO, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF ROBERT SCH.

THIS IS VERY INFORMAL.

I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE FORMAL, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY ME LIKE WE WOULD DO ON A FORMALLY MEETING.

SO JUST TRY NOT TO RAISE BOTH HANDS AT ONE TIME.

WE'LL LET THE SPEAKER DECIDE WHO TO, WHO TO S**T .

SO, AND I WILL ALSO SAY TO THE PUBLIC, THIS IS THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE.

UM, I KNOW THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETINGS ON THE TOWN WEBSITE AND I, UM, WILL ASSUME THAT WE'LL WORK AND GET ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE IN THE BINDERS, UM, ATTACHED TO THE MEETING.

SO IS THIS, IS THIS NOT HYPERLINKED? UM, I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS HYPERLINKED AT THIS POINT.

SO WE'LL GET ALL OF THAT.

UM, FOR HELP.

IF EVERYONE WANTS A COPY OF, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

SO YOU'LL SEE THROUGH THIS.

UM, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT GONNA SPEND TIME TO HIGHLIGHT UNLESS YOU TELL ME TO FOCUS IN ON ONE OF THESE ITEMS, BUT A LOT OF THESE ITEMS ARE ONGOING.

SO, UM, YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE THINGS THAT THIS FIRST SESSION AND YEAR, THEY'RE STRATEGIC CAUSE WE'RE SETTING A POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

BUT EMPLOYEE RETENTION FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING.

IT'S NEVER REALLY GOING TO END.

UM, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA POINT DECIDE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE, BUT, SO THERE'S THINGS IN THERE THAT YOU WILL SEE FOR A TIMEFRAME ONGOING.

YOU WILL SEE SOME THINGS THAT SAY COMPLETED WITH A GREEN CHECK.

AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO, THERE'S, THEY'RE NOT HIGH IN NUMBER AND QUANTITY, BUT THEY WERE SOME BIG LISTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT BLUEPRINT BLUFFED YOU SAW ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN ON THIS LIST FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IT TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO GET IT DONE.

UM, AND YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN IN ANOTHER FIVE YEARS FOR A, UM, REASSESSMENT AND THEN ANOTHER 10 TO REDO IT AGAIN.

YOU'LL ALSO SEE ON THAT LIST OF COMPLETED PROJECTS, THE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER.

SO THAT WAS THE PAPER COPY OF OUR TOWN.

THAT WAS A NEW THING THAT WE DID THIS YEAR THAT WE HEARD THAT PEOPLE STILL LIKE PAPER, NOT EVERYONE USES, UM, THE COMPUTER AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO JUST TO REACH ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, UM, SOME NEW, SOME WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, JUST HIGHLIGHT THINGS THAT WE DO AND THINGS THAT UM, EACH DEPARTMENT DOES.

EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE HAD OUR FIRST ONE IN OCTOBER AND THAT WAS, UM, A BIG COLLABORATION AND SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL AND WAS EXCITED TO SEE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SO MUCH A TECHNICAL, UM, GOVERNMENT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT LANGUAGE AND LINGO.

SOMETHING THAT JUST SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE NOTES AND JUST TRY TO REACH, REACH MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO THOSE ARE TWO BIG THINGS THAT WE DID COMPLETE.

UM, GOING THROUGH THERE.

SOME OTHER THINGS, PUBLIC ART PROGRAM, UH, WE ESTABLISHED, OH SURE, YOU'RE STUCK ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SO OH, SURE.

I CAN GO THROUGH CAUSE I THINK THE PEOPLE I'LL GO THROUGH THIS GET TO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, I THINK, OKAY, WELL ACTUALLY I'LL GO THROUGH THIS.

SO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ONE THING I WAS GOING TO, UM, TOUCH BASE ON IS YOU'LL SEE THE GREEN TECH ON, UM, HOUSING ANALYSIS.

SO WE'VE ANALYZED, WE'VE RESEARCHED, WE'VE DONE, WE'VE DONE THAT QUITE A BIT.

SO, UH, WE'VE HEARD WE NEED ACTION AND WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD.

ONE OF THE ITEMS, LET'S SEE, IT'S THE VERY FIRST ONE UP HERE IS OUR PARTNERSHIP.

THIS IS NOT COMPLETE, IT'S A CARRYOVER, BUT WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT STEPS WHERE, UM, COUNCIL DID APPROVE, UM, THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT.

SO THIS YEAR WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THE DUE, WORKING WITH THE DEVELOPER FOR THE DUE DILIGENCE.

SO THE PLANNING AND PERMIT.

SO THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.

AND UM, SO NEXT YEAR HOPEFULLY WE MOVE EVEN FURTHER ALONG IN THAT.

BUT THEN AS A PART OF THAT, WE PUT TOGETHER, STAFF JUST COMPLETED THIS AND IT'LL BE COMING BEFORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE STANDARDS.

SO IT'S, I SHOULDN'T SAY IT'S COMPLETE, COMPLETE, BUT 99% THERE.

UM, AND INVENTORY AS FAR AS WHAT WE HAVE.

UM, AND THIS IS JUST TO BE USED AS SOMETHING TO KIND OF REALLY KNOW WHAT WE HAVE, HOW MANY HOUSING VOUCHERS, UM, WHAT'S IN OUR SURROUNDING AREAS THAT STILL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS FAR AS, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS THAT ALL STILL WORK TOGETHER.

UM, AND THEN NOW THE HOUSING, THE PARTNERSHIP.

SO MAKING, JUST KIND OF KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT WE HAVE AND MAKE SURE THAT ONE, IT STAYS THAT WAY LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO WITH THOSE DE RESTRICTIONS.

UM, SO THAT REPORT AND THAT TABLE IS COMPLETE AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT.

AND UM, MR. HAMILTON, YOU'LL SEE THAT SOON IN, UM, MR. COUNCILMAN WOULD, YOU'LL SEE THAT SAME WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND WE'LL PRESENT THAT TO YOU.

AND AGAIN, IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE BE A BIG LIFT AS FAR AS A RESEARCH PROJECT OR LET'S ANALYZE SOME MORE, BUT IT'S MEANT TO, OKAY, WHAT DO WE HAVE? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT, UM, AND CONTINUE TO BUILD

[00:15:01]

ON THAT.

SO THAT'S THE LAST IT SAID COMPLETE, BUT YOU SAID WE'RE GOING TO, WELL, IT'S NINE.

I DON'T WANNA SAY COMPLETE.

COMPLETE, IT HASN'T CHECKED BECAUSE WE'VE DONE, STAFF'S DONE OUR WORK, BUT WE STILL NEED, I STILL HAVE, WE HAVEN'T UNVEILED THAT TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

AND YOU ALSO, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

SO, UM, TRYING TO THINK FROM THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE IS IT'S DONE, BUT WE STILL NEED TO UNWRAP IT, SO TO SPEAK.

QUESTION.

THE, UM, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE THE TOWN OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

IS IT ALSO THAT YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE BUFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY? YES, IT IS.

AND THAT WILL, WE WILL BE PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

WHAT THIS IS, IS IT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.

SO IT IS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, HOW MANY VOUCHERS, WE COULDN'T NECESSARILY PINPOINT IT TO SPECIFIC LOCATIONS BECAUSE THEY FLOAT AND THEY CAN MOVE, BUT YES.

HOW MANY, WHAT RESOURCES AS FAR AS INVENTORY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON? INCLUDING THE HOUSING? INCLUDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY? YES.

AND THEN SINCE IT'S NOT COMPLETE, CAN YOU GET A TIMELINE? SINCE I'VE HEARD THROUGH GRAPE TIME, I THINK I'VE HAD TO CONFIRM THAT SOME OF THE, AND ALL ACROSS THE WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE, LOW MODERN INCOME, SUBSIDIZES EVERYTHING.

BUT THERE ARE LIKE HALLMARK HOMES IS, THEY'RE DONE AFTER THIS YEAR AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO ME THEY'RE GONNA GO TO MARKET VALUE.

SO ARE YOU KEEPING A CHECK OF THAT TOO? WE KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE HORIZON.

WE CAN, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO HEAR, SO THANK YOU.

SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE TIMEFRAMES AS FAR AS HOW LONG IT'S REQUIRED TO BE, UM, AFFORDABLE OR YOU KNOW, LIKE THE WORST STREET HOMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT HOMEWORK WAS GOING TO POSSIBLY DO THAT THIS YEAR.

WE WANT, WE, WHAT HEATHER AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IS WHETHER WE WANT TO KIND OF LOOK AMENDING HOW OUR ZONING WORKS SO WE CAN HANDLE 'EM AS LIKE OVERLAY DISTRICTS AND KEEP THE DEVELOPMENT, THE MASTER PLAN IN PLACE IS LIKE A OVERLAY DISTRICT WITHIN OUR OWNING ORDINANCE AND HOW ALL THAT WORKS.

SO IT, AND I KNOW KEVIN'S HERE, SO I'M SURE HE'S TAKING, COMING.

AND THEN I THINK JUST A BIG PICTURE IS AMAZING AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD UPDATE IT SOLO, BUT EVEN PROGRAM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE, BECAUSE WHILE THERE MAY BE WHAT SHE SAY ALREADY 17 OR 18 HOMES, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE AFFORDABLE AND IT'S KEPT THEM FROM SELLING.

SO I THINK SOMEWHERE THAT NEEDS TO BE, BE ON THERE AND I THINK WE'LL GET A GOOD PICTURE THAT WE'RE DOING MORE THAN JUST WAR STREET.

OKAY, PERFECT.

AND THEN ONE FINAL THING DAN HAD MENTIONED TO ME ABOUT THE VOUCHERS.

I HONESTLY, I DIDN'T KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT THEM AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN PARTNER TO OFFER WHATEVER THE DEMOGRAPHIC IS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY HAVE THAT AND THEY COULD, I DON'T KNOW, IT, IT COULD JUST BE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS TO GET MORE WORKERS AND PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THERE'S, UM, A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAT WE'LL BE SHARING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THIS AFTERNOON, UM, AS PART OF, OF THE OTHER TOPICS TO EXPAND ON.

BUT YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

AND SO YEAH, PLEASE KEEP GIVING ME COMMENTS AND IF SOMETHING COMES TO YOU LATER AFTER YOU LEAVE THIS, UM, THIS WORKSHOP TODAY, OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME, SO PLEASE, UM, WANNA MAKE THIS PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE.

SO WHAT I TRY TO DO IS, THIS IS SO MUCH INFORMATION IN HERE IS KIND OF CHANGE THE COLOR FACING WHEN WE GO TO THE NEXT, UM, FOCUS AREA IN SOME YOU NEED TO LIKE THE COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE AND INFRASTRUCTURES THAT KIND TOUCHED ON BOTH.

BUT THE OTHER COMPLETED ITEM WAS THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM.

WELL, THE PROGRAM ITSELF WAS ESTABLISHED, NOW WE NEED TO PUT IN THE LOGISTICS TO HOW IS IT ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK IN THE BOARD AND STAFFING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, WE ACTUALLY, I DID RECEIVE ONE INQUIRY OF SOMEONE WHO'S VERY INTERESTED ALREADY.

SO, UM, MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN STRATEGIC AND THAT RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

SO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

UM, WE'RE GONNA HEAR SOME MORE ABOUT HISTORIC DISTRICT, SO I WON'T FOCUS A LOT ON THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS HISTORIC DISTRICTS, THE NATIONAL DISTRICT, UM, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AMENDING DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, IT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT'S NEVER REALLY GOING TO END UNTIL I GUESS THEY ALL EXPIRE AND ARE COMPLETED.

UM, WHICH IS SEVERAL YEARS FROM NOW, .

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO IS YOU SEE US UP HERE WHERE KEVIN UP HERE, UM, AT TOWN COUNCIL DOING THAT AS THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER REALLY GOING TO END.

UM, AND IT'S COMMENT ON THAT.

I THINK, UM, KEVIN GO OUT, ALL OF US TALK TO GROUPS AND PEOPLE AND WE ALWAYS SAY THE SAME THING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.

IS THERE A POINT NEXT YEAR OR THIS YEAR OR FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT DATE COMES.

LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IN THE TODAY AND WE'VE HAD SOME THAT, LIKE AT THE VILLAGE IS, IT'D BE KIND OF INTERESTING TO, WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION THE OTHER DAY CAUSE WE HAVE THE FIRST ONES COMING UP TO 24, I BELIEVE.

SO THINK WE GOT ONE IN 24 AND LIKE ONE IN 25 OR 27.

SO WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE'RE GONNA HANDLE 'EM, WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER

[00:20:01]

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE WERE TALKING HOW WE NEED TO START PUSHING THAT BECAUSE 24 WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE KNOW IT.

AND THE FIRST ONE TO EXPIRE IS BLUFFTON PARK.

UM, SO, OR BLUFFTON VILLAGE.

NO, I THOUGHT BLUFFTON MILITARY EXPIRED.

BLUFFTON NOT YET.

NO, THAT'S THE FIRST ONE COMING UP.

SO WE, WE HAD CONVERSA, WE, WE'VE GOTTA START WORKING ON WHAT THAT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE AS WE TRANSITION.

OUR FIRST ONE COMES UP, THAT'S GONNA BE OUR, OUR FIRST ONE.

AND THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS I DO, UM, I PRESENT THE ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, UM, SUMMARY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING, IF WE CAN ADD THAT TO THAT, TO THAT PRESENTATION.

AND IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS YOU WANT, UM, STAFF TO FOCUS ON, UM, OTHER THAN JUST SIMPLY BUILD OUT WHERE THEY'RE AT, WE CAN INCLUDE THAT TO YOU AS PART OF THIS.

OKAY, THEN WE HEARD LEFT.

I WON'T FOCUS ON THAT UNLESS YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE, BUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND TALKED ABOUT, TALKED ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT'S THEIR COMPLETE CHECK.

UM, DEVELOPMENT REVIEW CRITERIA.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAY SEEM SIMPLE AND IT WAS A SIMPLE FIX, BUT WHAT WE HEARD LAST TIME WAS, IS TO, THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WAS AWARE AND ON THE SAME PAGE AS FAR AS THE TOWN'S MISSION, UM, VALUES.

AND JUST, AGAIN, JUST ON THE SAME, SAME PAGE AS FAR AS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

UM, AND WHY.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE SIMPLY, UM, ADDED ON OUR APPLICATIONS TO JUST JUST HIGHLIGHT WHAT OUR WRITTEN STATEMENT IS AND WHY, WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO ALL THE TIME.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DID INCORPORATE RIGHT HERE.

YOU SEE, FIRST WE, WE HAVE INCORPORATED THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S SOMETHING, UM, THAT EVERYONE KNOWS EXISTS AND THAT WE TRULY BELIEVE IT AND PUT THAT IN OUR REVIEW.

UH, LET'S SEE, THEN WE GET ONTO SOME THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT, UH, DIFFERENT.

THERE'S THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AGAIN, THEY STILL MEET, BUT THERE WERE SOME, UH, REVISIONS MADE AND APPOINTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THAT HAS, THAT WAS COMPLETED AND I'M SURE, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO, TO FOLLOW WITH THAT.

SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE WILL BE STARTING ON ZOOM REFORESTATION PLAN NOW THAT THE BLUEPRINT LEFT IS COMPLETE AND WE KNOW WHAT'S MERGED FROM THAT.

UH, SOME THINGS THAT WE WILL BE GUILTY ON YOUR, UM, AGENDAS COMING UP, UH, RELATED TO, LIKE I SAID, THAT REFORESTATION PLAN IS SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, UM, AS WELL AS REVIEW OUR PLANNING DOCUMENT REPORTS, THE OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN, BUCK ISLAND, VILLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO WORK ON.

UM, TO FOLLOW UP WITH, ARE YOU GONNA TALK MORE ABOUT THESE PLANS AND DATES OR COULD YOU TELL US THE BUCK ISLAND? I BELIEVE WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT DONE APRIL.

APRIL.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY ASSESS WHAT STAFF'S DOING RIGHT NOW IS ASSESSING THE PLAN, GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE ACTION ITEMS. I DON'T THINK THEY REFERRED TO, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THAT'S HOW THEY REFERRED TO 'EM THAT PLAN, BUT CAUSE OF THE CONNECTION ITEMS TODAY TO SEE WHAT'S BEEN ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT STILL IS APPLIC APPLICABLE AND THEN START TO HAVE THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS AND DO THAT.

BUT, UM, STAFF IS ACTUALLY PLANNING TO COORDINATE THAT AND LEAVE THAT, UM, OURSELVES RATHER THAN QUESTION.

AND THIS IS MM-HMM.

PRIOR TO THIS LAST STEP, UM, REALLY TOWN MANAGER, BUT YOU HAD, UM, WORKED WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE TO TRY TO GET THEM ON TRACK.

AND SO MAYBE AT SOME POINT WE CAN GET AN UPDATE, UM, FROM YOU WHETHER THE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON THEIR BEHALF, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO BE AN EFFECTIVE COMMITTEE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO HEAR.

THE SCHOOL ROAD ENDS AS YOU'RE GOING INTO.

ALSO, I HAVE A, A QUICK QUESTION.

WHILE WE'RE ON THE COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE WITH THE UPDATE TO NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, UM, PARTICULARLY WITH BUCK ALLEN AND SIMMONS, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, IS THERE A, UM, PLAN OR HAS AN ASSESSMENT BEEN DONE ON, UM, COMPLETING THE SIDEWALKS THERE OR IF THERE'S A NEED TO DO THAT? UM, I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE, WE HAVEN'T YET GONE THROUGH, IS THERE A NEED TO DO THAT? THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ENVISION US DOING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE RESIDENTS TO SEE WHAT, WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE OR WHAT THEY WANT.

UM, WE HAVE SIMPLY BEEN GOING THROUGH THE LIST AND STATING BEEN COMPLETED, YES OR NO.

UM, BUT AS FAR AS ASSESSING WHETHER OR NOT THAT NEED IS, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE RESIDENTS.

THAT WOULD, I'D DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THAT, UM, THAT HAPPEN OR GET A, A TIMELINE OF THAT IS RIGHT.

UM, RIGHT WHERE THE,

[00:25:01]

I THINK IT'S, IS IT THE SUGARY OR IT USED TO BE SUGARY AREAS? YEAH, THERE IS ONE.

AND THE KIDS THAT ARE WALKING HOME FROM THERE, IT'S LIKE I CRINGE SEEING THEM WALK SO CLOSE TO THE ROAD WITH NO BUFFER IN BETWEEN THEM AND VEHICLES.

I CAN INTERJECT ON THAT AND I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA COVER THIS WHEN I JUMP UP.

THAT'S PHASE SIX B OF THE SIDEWALK THAT HAD ALREADY GONE OUT TO BID.

LET ME COME UP HERE.

THAT HAD ALREADY GONE OUT TO BID AND WE RECEIVED NO BIDDERS AGAIN ON THAT ONE.

WE WENT TO GORDIAN, IF YOU REMEMBER, WE HAD COME TO YOU PREVIOUSLY.

SO GORDIAN IS GONNA GIVE US A QUOTE ON THAT ON FRIDAY.

IF THEIR QUOTE IS OUT OF BUDGET WORKING WITH FINDING IT A PROCUREMENT, WE CAN THEN GO TO THE NEXT STEP WITHOUT HAVING GOING OUT TO BED TO A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR TO GET IT DONE.

SO WE SHOULD KNOW BY EARLY NEXT WEEK WHETHER WE'RE GONNA GO TO GORDIAN AND WE'RE ALREADY LINING UP A THIRD CONTRACTOR IF THAT'S OUT OF BUDGET.

SO SIX B IS IN THE WORKS AND WE'LL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

SHOULD BE AT THE BEGINNING OF 23 CALENDAR YEAR.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

YES MA'AM, DEFINITELY.

UM, FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

AND LIKE YOU'LL SEE ONCE I GET TO ESPECIALLY THE INFRASTRUCTURE PORTION OF THIS, ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE LISTED IN HERE AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE 60 SOMETHING OF THOSE AND THAT'S WHEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KIM AND HER STAFF AND LET 'EM KIND OF HIGHLIGHT ALL THOSE DEADLINES AND UM, ANTICIPATED DATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, BUT, SO LET'S SAY GOING THROUGH HERE OR PLEASE LIKE IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT ME TO FOCUS ON? YOU SEE OTHER THINGS IN HERE, ORGANIZATIONAL SIGNS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT WILL BE, UM, THAT WILL PROBABLY BE, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL TURN THAT OVER.

UDO AMENDMENTS.

UM, SO WE JUST HAD OUR WORKSHOP, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA DO AN ANNUAL BASIS.

AND THEN FOR AS NEEDED, THAT'S SOMETHING TOO THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE THIS AFTERNOON AS FAR AS, UM, WHAT OTHER AMENDMENTS DO YOU WANT STAFF TO FOCUS ON, UM, RELATED TO HISTORIC DISTRICT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND WE DID JUST HAVE THAT WORKSHOP AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY WORKING ON, UM, RELATED TO THOSE UPDATED NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS, LIKE I SAID, JUST MENTIONED THAT KIND OF TOUCHED ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ONES, BUT I'VE JUST ABOUT THAT.

LET ME GET INTO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH HERE.

UM, WE'VE GOT THE JOHN RYAN CENTER PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND SOMETHING OR KPIS, KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT I KNOW CHRIS IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK A LITTLE BIT ALONG THIS AFTERNOON.

SO THAT IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON AS WELL AS THE, UH, BUCKLE PLACE, MULTI-COUNTY, UM, COMMERCE PARK AND CONTINUING TO, UM, WORK ON GETTING THAT DEVELOPED.

AND I KNOW JOHN TOOLS HERE AS WELL.

ANOTHER ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS, SOME THINGS THAT WE DID IN LATE WAS THE DMO MARKETING PLAN THAT WAS, UM, PRESENTED AND APPROVED BY, UH, TOWN COUNCIL, SOMETHING THAT WE'LL SEEK TO CONTINUE AND JUST SOME OTHER THINGS, GRANT PROGRAMS, MARKETING PLANS, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT A LOT ARE IN PART ONGOING.

BUT REALLY ESTABLISHING KIND OF THAT INITIAL, UM, THE INITIAL PLAN AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ONGOING AND DOESN'T, UM, KEEPS GOING FORWARD.

PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, UH, THIS SPECIFICALLY, UH, HIGHLIGHTS FINANCE AND THE DIFFERENT IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH AS FAR AS, UM, GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESSES AND REALLY MAPPING THEM OUT.

I KNOW THAT, UM, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS WATERSHED IS ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING THE SAME EXERCISE EARLIER THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW ALL OF THE STEPS OF THE PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK, WE KNOW, WE HAVE IT MAPPED OUT ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY, THIS PROCESS IS, YOU KNOW, MEANT TO USE YOUR POST-IT PADS AND YOUR THINGS IS LIKE, OKAY, WELL WHAT HAP WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN SOMEBODY COMES THROUGH THAT FRONT DOOR SINCE THEY NEED NEED A PERMIT? DO THEY SUBMIT A PAPER COPY? DO THEY DO IT ONLINE? AND HOW DOES THAT PROCESS GO THROUGH AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT? AND WE WEREN'T CLEAR FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND.

SO, YOU KNOW, CLEAR EXPECTATIONS MOVING FORWARD, WHAT APPLIES, WHAT DO YOU NEED? DO YOU NEED, UM, DO YOU NEED A BUILDING PERMIT, MEDICINE CERTIFICATE, APPROPRIATENESS A BUSINESS LICENSE? YOU KNOW, JUST HOW DOES ALL THAT WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, SO TO SPEAK.

SO FINANCE, UM, HAS ALREADY DONE THAT WITH SOME OF THEIR PROCESSES, UM, AND IT SEEMS TO, UH, BE VERY PRODUCTIVE AND EYEOPENING, SO TO SPEAK.

SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THAT.

SO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IT'S ONGOING.

HEATHER, BEFORE YOU GO ON, DO YOU WANNA GO BACK TO, UM, THE DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGY? GOT A QUESTION.

UM, WITH THAT, I SEE THAT, UM, TALK ABOUT WITH THE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER WITH THAT, UM, DEPARTMENT,

[00:30:01]

THIS MIGHT BE A STEVEN QUESTION.

WHAT THAT DEPARTMENT, IS THAT ALSO WHERE THE UM, OUR PIO HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO AS A DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER? CORRECT.

SO THAT'S, UH, DEBBIE, IT'S COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

THAT'S DEBBIE, LINDY AND TIA.

OKAY, SO THAT'S THEM.

SO I'M THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT TOO, UH, RETENTION AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, I KNOW THAT WE'VE EVOLVED A LOT IN TERMS OF HOW THAT'S OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS AND REACH IS GROWING.

UM, IN TERMS OF NEWSLETTER, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, YOU CAN SEE MORE WITH THE TAKING OVER THAT WITH THE TD AND UM, MANAGING THAT AS WELL.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE SEE IS GOING TO, UM, POTENTIALLY BE A NEED TO ADD SOMEONE ELSE IN? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UM, DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW IS, IS ABLE TO MANAGE IN LOOKING AT HOW MUCH WE ARE GROWING AND WHAT THE DEMANDS OF THAT IS? WE HAVEN'T HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT YET.

DOES IT MEAN THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN? UM, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME UP AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS EACH YEAR AS WE REVIEW THAT IS FOR THEM TO COME UP, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT WHERE IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT TRANSITIONS, UM, WITH THEM ALSO TAKING ON THE EVENTS.

WE'VE CONTRACTED A LOT OF THAT OUT FOR THE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE FOR THE EVENTS.

SO WE'LL NEED TO DO A REVIEW ABOUT ALL OF THAT AND SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY INTO THE STAFF THAT'S WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT.

CAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY JUST THE DIGITAL MEDIA, THEY'RE DOING ALL THE EVENTS AND COORDINATING EVERYTHING LIKE THAT AS WELL.

SO AS THOSE EXPAND AND AS WE PUSH MORE, UM, OUTSIDE OF JUST DIGITAL MEDIA, IT MAY ADD MORE DUTIES AND REQUIRE SOME ASSISTANCE OR MAY REQUIRE CONTRACTING OUT SOME OF THAT, RIGHT? SO WE'LL HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS DURING THE BUDGET PERIOD.

WE'RE DOING THE BUDGET PROCESS, SORRY.

SO THEN WE'LL SEE PAGE SIX AND SCREEN CHECK MARK AGAIN, WHICH WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IS, UM, PARTNERSHIP DONATIONS.

SO SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE DID OR STAFF PREPARED COUNCIL APPROVED IS SO A WAY AND A METHOD TO ACCEPT DONATIONS, WHETHER IT BE FOR POLICE BENEVOLENCE, UM, THE, LET SEE, 43 SCHOLARSHIP HISTORIC DISTRICT.

SO WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE OFTEN GET CALLS AND, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SERVICES AND DEREK'S GROUP TAKES CALLS.

YOU KNOW, WE WANNA DONATE A BENCH, UM, IN HONOR OF SOMEONE OR SOMETHING, OR PLANET TREE.

SO WE ARE ALWAYS KIND OF TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AS WE GO RATHER THAN FIGURE IT OUT AS WE GO NOW WE HAVE A POLICY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THOSE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S COMPLETE.

SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

I'M GOING TO, UM, SKIP OVER JUST WHILE I'M ALREADY UP HERE.

IF IT'S OKAY, I'M GONNA SKIP OVER THE CIP P UNLESS YOU'RE TIRED HEARING FROM ME AND WANNA HEAR FROM KIM C PROJECTS AND THEN I CAN JUMP BACK IN FOR RIGHT.

SO I'M JUST, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THIS RIGHT THROUGH HERE, BUT, WE'LL, LIKE I SAID, ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PROCESS IS A LOT.

AND I WILL ALSO SAY TOO, FOR THE, FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, WE HAVE A STORE NOW ALSO ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE PICTURES AND PLANS, UM, ON A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS.

WE TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN AND SOMETIMES THERE'S ALMOST, I DON'T WANNA SAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION, NEVER TOO MUCH INFORMATION, BUT THERE'S A LOT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, AND WHATEVER THAT IS THERE.

OKAY, SO BACK TO TOWN ORGANIZATION, UM, BOARD AND COMMISSIONS, UH, COMMITTEES ORIENTATION ONBOARDING WHERE, UM, CONTINUE TO REVISE THAT TRAINING AND MAKE SURE THAT VISION AND MISSION STATEMENT IS, AND THAT EVERYONE HAS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE AND VOLUNTEER ON THOSE BOARDS.

UH, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONTINUING.

WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

WE'VE GOT THAT ALL ELECTRONICALLY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO HAVE YOUR PAPER BINDER, BUT IF YOU WANT HAVE YOUR PAPER BINDER AND IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO WORKS BETTER FROM YOUR IPAD OR YOUR COMPUTER, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AT YOUR, UM, AT YOUR PARENT TIPS.

SOMETHING THAT WE DID DO, UM, AGAIN, TO MAKE SURE AS FAR AS THAT EVERYBODY'S ALIGNED WITH THE MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT AND THAT THERE'S, UM, ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH TOO MUCH COMMUNICATION.

I THINK THAT'S A, A POSITIVE THING.

SO TO HEAR FROM THE, UM, CHAIRMAN OR THE CHAIRPERSON OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AT TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS.

SO YOU HEARD FROM PLANNING COMMISSION AND AMANDA DENMARK A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, JUST TO GIVE A HIGHLIGHT.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF HER AND UM, BACK AND FORTH, JUST, YOU KNOW, A, A BRIEF, UM, REPORT TO COUNCIL.

SO WE'VE MAPPED OUT FOR THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, SO YOU'LL HEAR FROM THEM.

WE TRIED TO ALIGN THEM WITH WHATEVER MONTHS, YOU KNOW, HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONTHS.

YOU'LL HEAR FROM HVC IN, UM, MAY YOU'LL HEAR FROM WATERSHED.

SO AGAIN, JUST TO PROVIDE THAT REPORT TO COUNCIL SO THAT UM, EVERYBODY CAN KIND

[00:35:01]

OF STAY IN LINE AND COMMUNICATE.

SO, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING DIFFERENT YOU WANNA HEAR IN PRESENTATIONS OR REPORTS FROM THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, UM, YOU KNOW, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

WE'LL MAKE SURE TO INC IT BECAUSE I THINK, LIKE I SAID, RIGHT NOW WE'VE ONLY HEARD FROM COUNCIL, SO, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DID.

ANYTHING I, AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING ONGOING TRAINING, EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT, BENEFITS AND SATISFACTION.

UM, AS FAR AS, AND I KNOW WE'VE DONE SOME SURVEYS AND AGAIN TO COMMUNICATE AND UH, RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT THAT ENTAILS.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU WANNA HEAR FROM ANY OF THE DIRECTORS ABOUT THEIR SPECIFIC ITEMS, UM, I KNOW THEY'RE ALL HERE, SO ANNIE IS HERE, UM, RELATED.

SO THAT HUMAN RESOURCE, UM, ITEMS, LIKE I SAID, THE WELLNESS AND RECOGNITION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, GREAT BENEFITS THAT WE DO HAVE.

UM, THIS IS A BIG ONE.

IS, AND HOPEFULLY THIS GETS CHECKED OFF.

I DON'T KNOW HERE TRACY OR WE'LL SEE, BUT THE FILE MANAGEMENT AND RECORDS RETENTION.

SO WE ARE, UM, AND I SHOULD WE, BUT UH, IT AND TRACY'S DEPARTMENT IS TAKING THE LEAD ON MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PAPER FILES ARE SCANNED AND THEY'RE RETAINED.

SO IF YOU, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, IF YOU NEED TO GET ACCESS TO TOWN RECORDS, YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO IT.

SO, UM, STAFF HAS BEEN GOING TO OUR STORAGE UNITS AND GOING THROUGH BOXES OF PAPER SOMETIMES FINDING SOME THINGS, UM, OTHER TIMES FINDING ALL SORTS OF STUFF THAT UM, WE JUST KEPT BECAUSE WE CAN, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, NOW WE HAVE IT IN DUPLICATE.

SO WE, THAT IS ALL GETTING SCANNED.

UM, AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE GONE THROUGH A COUPLE DEPARTMENTS, I'M NOT SURE, THREE DEPARTMENTS.

THREE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS THINK, I THINK THEY STARTED WITH US EXECUTIVE.

I LOVE THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE GOES ON OUR MUNI CODE THE WAY I DO, BUT IT ELIMINATES ME FROM MAKING A CALL IN PORT.

KIM HEARS IT, KIM KNOWS, BUT PREKI PRE PROBABLY MOST EVERYONE HERE, SANDRA HAD CONNECTED TO A REALLY GOOD SITE KIT, SOUTH CAROLINA SITE AND YOU COULD TYPE A WORD AND THAT WORD WOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED.

HIGHLIGHTED IN DOCUMENTS THAT GO BACK TO 19 WHATEVER.

AND SOMEWHERE IT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS OR WE LOST ALL THAT.

AND I HATE IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME, MAYBE YOU'RE THE TECHIE, MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT IS.

BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING TO TRY TO FIND INFORMATION AND TO TELL PEOPLE TO GO THERE AND IT NOT BE THERE AND THEN BE TOLD THAT NOT FROM YOU.

IT SLOWS DOWN OUR SERVER.

I DON'T CARE.

LIKE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW.

AND IT'S SO HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BACK THEN.

SO THANK YOU.

AND, AND, AND SO MUCH OF THIS LIKE WAS SLOWING DOWN THE SERVER.

ALL THIS IS GONNA BE HOSTED.

THANKS.

SO IT WON'T DEPEND ON OUR SERVER, IT'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT HOST SAID GO OUT OF BUSINESS .

AND THAT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S GREAT.

UM, STAFF CAN TELL YOU THAT I LOVE GETTING ORGANIZED.

I LOVE IT WHEN I SEE ALL THE BOXES AND STUFF IS EITHER GETTING RECYCLED AND STAND IN AS THEY'RE LAUGHING.

LIKE I JUST, IT MAKES ME CURIOSITY.

IT FEELS VERY CLEAN AND TO GET ORGANIZED AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THE THE OTHER THING IS WITH OUR SPOT SHARED DRIVE, OUR P DRIVE THAT WE HAVE NOW, IT ENDS UP AS PEOPLE COME AND GO, PEOPLE STORE STUFF DIFFERENT WAYS AND IT GETS CLUTTERED AND PEOPLE, OH I COULDN'T FIND, FIND IT.

SO I CREATED ANOTHER FILE OVER HERE.

NOW YOU'VE GOT TWO SEPARATE FILES AND OR FOLDERS AND THIS IS GETTING EVERYTHING CONSOLIDATED AND WE'VE BEEN CLEANING UP AND, AND GETTING EVERYTHING DIGITIZED SO THAT THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

SO IT'S ALL SEARCHABLE AND WE CAN JUST GO THROUGH AND FIND WHAT WE NEED.

MAYBE TRACY COULD GIVE US A LITTLE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AT A COUNCIL MEETING, BUT ALL FOR US TO COME IN, GIVE US ALL THE LITTLE REFRESH COURSE ON HOW TO SEARCH BECAUSE I STILL GET, YOU STILL GOTTA TRAIN ALL OF US TOO WITH YOU.

BUT THAT'S UM, DON'T I MISS, I REALLY DO MISS GOING BACK A LOT OF PEOPLE.

LET'S JUST SPECIFIC OLD TOWN SAY WE USED TO BE ABLE TO GET OLD LONG AGO PACKETS WITH THE ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS OF BUILDING AND THINGS IN OLD TOWN AND A LITTLE SET.

I DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE.

AND I DON'T KNOW BRUCE, IF YOU'VE EVER DONE THE SEARCH, BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD WHEN YOU'RE BORED ONE NIGHT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WHERE, WHO DID IT AND ALL OF THAT.

SO GOOD.

YOU WANT, DO YOU WANT, YOU'RE KIND OF GOING OVER THE OVERVIEW A LITTLE BIT.

UM, EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND EMPLOY EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND RECOGNITION.

IS THAT YOU SPEAKER THAT YOU NO, COULD I DEFER THAT TO ANNIE? YEAH, ANNIE AND I CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS WE CAN GO IN MORE DETAILS.

I NEED MORE DETAILS.

[00:40:01]

DO YOU WANNA JUST MAKE HER MAKE SURE WHEN HER TIME'S UP? YES.

PAGE AND THAT'S, YEAH, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT DONE WITH HER AND THEN WE CAN CALL WHOEVER AND WE CAN SCROLL THROUGH.

UM, THE LAST PAGE IS UM, UH, SOME THINGS THAT ARE STILL ONGOING AND WE'RE CARRYING OVER BUT UM, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON AGAIN, UNLESS WE, WE HEAR OTHERWISE.

AND THERE ARE SOME, YOU'LL SEE TALENT AND ACQUISITION AND RETENTION, UM, IN HERE AS WELL RELATED TO HR, UH, CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM.

I WILL TOUCH ON BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THIS IS ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

ANYTIME YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF PLANNING DECISION, YOU ARE REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO GO THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION.

UM, NO CRITICISM OF THE STATE, BUT THE TRAINING IS UM, HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE IT FIRST STARTED BACK IN 20 YEARS AGO.

UM, AND IT'S JUST VERY BASIC.

WHAT IS ZONING? WHAT IS, WELL AS WE KNOW BLUFFTON ZONING IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY, EVERYBODY ELSE'S ZONING.

SO THERE IS AN UM, OPTION WHERE YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR OWN TRAINING PROGRAM PRESENTED TO THE STATE, HAVE IT APPROVED AND THEN THAT'S YOUR TRAINING.

SO THAT'S YOUR SIX HOURS RATHER THAN IN YOUR THREE HOURS A YEAR.

SO RATHER THAN JUST THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, WE CAN MAKE THAT BLUFFTON.

UM, WE CAN MAKE THAT MORE SPECIFIC TO BLUFFTON.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON AS FAR AS WHAT KIND OF COURSES CAN WE DO THAT ARE RELEVANT TO BLOCKCHAIN AND THE DECISIONS THAT OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE TO MAKE.

I'M NOT JUMP INTO THAT.

UM, JUST FOLLOWING IT, I'LL USUALLY COME BUT I DO THINK THE CHAIRS WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO TAKE WHERE THEY WANT.

CAUSE I SEE A LOT OF GETTING OUT OF EVERYONE'S LANE ALL THE TIME.

WE DO IT TOO.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU HELP THE CHAIRS RING EVERYONE BACK IN AND GET 'EM BACK ON FOCUS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR.

SO THAT'S ALSO CHAIRS THAT FOR YEARS IT WOULD BE GREAT.

I CAN'T WAIT CUZ THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAID, JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

THEY DON'T KNOW, EVEN WITH THESE TRAINING PROGRAMS, IF THERE'S ONE THAT'S SPECIFIC TO A HISTORIC PRESERVATION VERSUS PLANNING VERSUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

LIKE JUST SOME LITTLE PIECE OF IT.

UM, JUST SO THEY KNOW WHERE THE, THE PURPOSE IS.

FEEL VERY HELPFUL.

SOMETIMES YOU GET STUCK IN A MEETING IN SOME OF THESE MEETINGS AND IT'S JUST VERY AGGRAVATING CAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO, SO YEAH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I THINK IT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL BECAUSE THEN IT'S UM, PUBLICLY KNOWN THAT WE ARE TRAINING ON THESE THINGS AND THAT THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND OR YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE TRAINED ON SO THAT MAYBE IT'LL CLEAR UP SOME CONFUSION IN THAT REGARD AS WELL.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT AT LEAST IT'S OUT THERE AND THEY CAN'T SAY I DIDN'T KNOW.

SAY IT'S SHARING IT WITH THE YOUR COMMITTEE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

AND I WOULD SAY PART OF IT WOULD BE IS WE'VE DONE SOME TRAININGS WHERE WE INVITE ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET REPRESENTATION FROM HEAVY REPRESENTATION FROM ALL THE COMMITTEES IS WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT MAKING SOME OF THAT TRAINING PART OF THEIR ACTUAL MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE AND DO THAT SO THAT WHEN THEY'RE THERE A SET OF, AND AGAIN, INDIVIDUAL TRAINING MORE FOCUSED IS THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DID A ROCK TOOLS OF ORDER TRAINING TO TRY TO GO THROUGH HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE MOTIONS AND HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

AND SOME COMMITTEES MAY HAVE THREE SHOW UP, SOME MAY HAVE NONE.

SO WE NEED TO, WE CAN DO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC TO EACH OF THE COMMITTEES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE CAN DO PRIOR TO THEM ACTUALLY SERVING ON IT? LIKE GOING TO AN OFFICIAL MEETING, BUT WHEN YOU GUYS ELECT THEM, LIKE IT'S PART OF THE ONBOARDING PROCESS? YEAH.

AND LIKE HAVE THAT BEFOREHAND SO THEY KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IS BETTER.

AND THEN YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ALL ALONG THE WAY, BUT MAYBE JUST THE INITIAL JUST SO THAT THEY DON'T SHOW UP ONE DAY AND THEY HAVE NO CLUE AND THEN WE HAVE TO REPEAT WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE CAN INCLUDE THAT NUMBER.

WELL, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S UM, OTHER THINGS HERE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, HR, BUT WE MAY COME UP IF YOU WANT DONE TO EXPAND ON IT.

BUT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR ME BEFORE I SIT DOWN? BUT STILL CAN ASK LIKE, SAID WORKSHOP, NOT A PRESENTATION.

SO YOU NOT YOU NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

I'M NOT.

COUPLE THINGS I COULD BREAK IN AFTER THIS.

YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF CARRYOVER AND I WENT THAT CAPACITOR HEAT CAUSE I'M NOT SURE YOU'LL SCAN IT.

SO I KEEP IT ALL, IT'S A LOT OF CARRYOVER.

HOW MUCH MORE CAN YOU TAKE FROM TODAY? YOU KNOW? AND THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER YOU GOTTA GIVE IT.

PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE CARRYOVERS MEAN WE'RE

[00:45:01]

NOT GETTING THINGS DONE.

AND IS IT BECAUSE OF WHAT, SO I DON'T WANNA ADD 20 OTHER ITEMS. I'M, I'VE GOT TWO LAST TWO YEARS TO STILL DEAL WITH.

SO JUST A FAULT.

WELL, AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE SAY A LOT OF THE CARRYOVER YOU'LL SEE IS, UM, IT MAY BE ONGOING.

SO MAYBE CARRYOVER ISN'T ALWAYS THE RIGHT WORD BECAUSE LIKE I SAID AT THE START, A LOT OF IT WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP DOING.

SO WE GET TO PUT AN END DATE AND SAY IT'S DONE.

UM, SO IT IS SOME OF IT, UM, MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF RETHINK HOW WE CONTINUE FORWARD WITH IT AND WELL YOU HAVE ONGOING, SO MAYBE IT NEEDS TO MAYBE SCRUB IT AND WHAT REALLY IS ONGOING AND THEN PUT THAT COMING DOWN AT THE END HOW WE CAN GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT WE CAN SEE COMPLETED.

AND WE'LL GO AND AS WE GO THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON HERE TO CHECK OFF LIKE THE KPI, THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS CHRIS HAS PUT TOGETHER, LIKE HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE GOOD.

SO AS WE GO THROUGH BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT STRATEGIC PLANNING, WE HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE CHECK BOXES AND WE CAN REDUCE THAT DOWN AS WE CAN ADD, SO WE CAN ADD MORE STUFF.

I WANNA, REAL QUICK, DR.

RODRIGUEZ, HANG IN WHILE WE WERE, UM, STARTING, HE'S GOT TO LEAVE, GO TO , HE'S COMING BACK.

YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.

DR.

RODRIGUEZ, NOW THAT YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT WOULD BE BACK HERE AROUND TWO.

UM, BUT I DID WANT HIM TO HAVE A CHANCE TO ANSWER ANYTHING WE MAY WANT HIM TO THINK ABOUT, UM, CAPACITY.

JUST A BRIEF, I KNOW, NOT NOT NOT TOTAL NUMBERS OR ANY OF THAT STUFF, BUT WHERE ARE WE, YOUR OPINION WE'RE YEAH, OUR, OUR SCHOOLS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT CAPACITY IN, IN THE BLUFF AREA.

SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS YEAR IS WE'RE 2019 WAS THE BOTTOM RIGHT FRONT IN THAT PAST.

UH, SO THAT'S, UH, ESSENTIALLY FOUR YEARS, UH, RIGHT AROUND FOUR YEARS.

NEXT NOVEMBER WILL BE FOUR YEARS.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS, UH, IN, IN LOOKING AT, UM, THE SPECIFIC NEED AND, UH, THE POSSIBILITIES FOR, UH, FOR THAT NEXT REFERENDUM, UH, WHICH OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF IS TRYING TO BUILD A PLAN ON THAT REFERENDUM AND THEN BRING THAT TO OUR SCHOOL BOARD, UH, PROBABLY SOMETIME AROUND FEBRUARY OR MARCH.

UH, AND, AND, AND THEN THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD OR WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH ANOTHER BOND REFERENDUM AT THAT TIME.

THIS ONE'S BEEN GOING VERY WELL, UH, IN SPITE OF THE PANDEMIC, IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, UH, EVERYBODY FACES IN TERMS OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE MANAGED IT VERY, VERY WELL.

UH, AND WE HAVE A CITIZEN LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT HAS, UH, THE EVERY MONTH REVIEWS WHAT THE UH, WHAT THE, THE TEAM DOES IN TERMS OF OUR REFERENDUM PROJECTS AND ALL OF THAT.

UH, HAS HAD VERY GOOD REVIEWS FROM THE THAT COMMITTEE.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE CONTINUING TO FINISH UP THOSE PROJECTS AND PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PHASE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY OTHER SOURCE WE HAVE, UH, THAT IMPACT PIECE AND WE'VE BEEN DOWN THAT ROAD.

SO, UH, IS THE ONLY OTHER SOURCE WE HAVE IN TERMS OF, UH, OF EITHER BUILDING A NEW SCHOOL, UH, TO OFFSET SOME OF THAT, UH, THAT LEVEL OF, OF GROWTH AND CAPACITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE YOUR ONLINE OPTIONS STILL THERE OR WAS THAT COMPLETELY GONE NOW? NO, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED, WELL THE ANSWER IS YES, BUT IT'S A VERY LIMITED ONLINE OPTION THAT, THAT WE HAVE, UH, AVAILABLE.

IT'S, I WAS WONDERING, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT GOTTA FIND THE MONEY THEN YOU GOTTA DO THE CONSTRUCTION AND THIS AS YOU CAN SEE OUR PROJECTS.

IT'S, IT'S TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED, ELY.

UM, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE MORE AND MORE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER AND IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE, UM, YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM.

ADDITIONALLY, UM, I THINK WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME WHO WOULD CHOOSE THAT, I THINK THE MAJORITY, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE A SMALL NUMBER REALLY IN TERMS OF, OF THAT KIND OF AN IMPACT TO, TO NOT NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, SPACE OR CAPACITY.

WHAT DO WE DO? WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? YOU KNOW, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT MAYBE THERE'S GOTTA BE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD PREFER ONLINE LEARNING TAKE LESS CLASSROOM.

SURE, SURE.

I MEAN, I THINK WHAT WE FOUND DURING THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC IS GENERALLY SPEAKING, PARTICULARLY IN, IN, IN IN SOUTHERN BURE COUNTY, UH, OVER 80% OF FAMILIES, UH, DURING THAT, YOU KNOW, CRITICAL JUNCTURE WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AFRAID OF, OF THINGS OVER 80% WERE CHOOSING FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTION.

UH,

[00:50:01]

AND SO THE ONLY, THE ONLY REALLY WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF THAT ADDITIONAL SPACE AND CAPACITY UNTIL, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED WOULD REALLY BE, UH, YOU KNOW, MOBILE UNITS IS REALLY THE, THE, THE PARTICULAR OPTION THAT THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED.

UM, CAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH IN ORDER TO, UH, TO OFFSET THAT.

I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE WOULD BE, WHETHER IT BE 10% OR 20% OR LESS.

BUT, AND, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY THE MOST IDEAL, UH, MEDICAL INSTRUCTION FOR K12 UH, STUDENTS.

THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS, THERE ARE SOME RIGHT.

WHO, YOU KNOW, KNOW, UH, MANAGED QUITE WELL AND PERSONALIZED AND PREFER IT AND THAT SORT OF THING.

UH, BUT IN GENERAL IT WOULDN'T BE GOOD FOR ANY OF MINE EITHER.

YOU, MY GRANDKIDS AND I, I HAVE TWO KIDS OF MY OWN, TWO KIDS OF MY OWN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WENT THROUGH IT AND, AND THEY VERIFY FARED WELL, BUT, BUT, UH, THEY WON'T BE AT SCHOOL.

THEY WON'T SEE THEIR FRIENDS.

DON'T SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

THE ISOLATION PART OF IT IS, IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY CHALLENGED A LOT OF KIDS WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

I AGREE.

ISSUES.

SO I GO BACK MANY, MANY YEARS WHERE YOU KNEW WHERE BLUFF AND WAS AND FRED AND I WERE AT EVERY COMMUNITY MEETING PRE RIVER AND FRED SAID SOMETHING AND I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT'S HELPED.

UM, JOHN PAUL TOO WAS NOT EVEN OPEN.

REMEMBER HE SAID THAT WILL TAKE FIVE OR 600 KIDS OFF OUR ROLES.

WHERE IS THAT PARTNERSHIP? AND HE WAS RIGHT.

THEY HAVE A WAITING LIST.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HAS COME OVER, THEY HAVE A WAITING LIST.

IT, THEY'RE NOT TAKING THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST CAUSE ALL OF OUR KIDS ARE BRIGHT AND AMAZING AND I WOULD'VE DONE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IF THEY HAD BEEN HERE WHEN MOM WERE THERE.

BUT IT IS A PARTNERSHIP, SOME PARTNERSHIP.

SO IT'S A PARTNERSHIP AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF Y'ALL TO COMMUNICATE ON WHERE THE, THE WEIGHT CAN BE LIFTED OR DATED.

AND THEN IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY ON WHERE TRULY WHERE ARE WE WITH A BIG MAP? FOUR SEASONS, RETIREMENT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA IMPACT SCHOOLS, BUT WHERE THE AREAS WITHOUT CROSSING ETHICAL, YOU KNOW, FAIR HOUSING AND ALL OF THAT.

WHERE ARE THE BLURRED AREAS THAT YOU CAN REALLY GET A FEEL OF WHERE WE ARE.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THAT ROUND TABLE PEN TO PAPER HAS HAPPENED AND WE CAN BRING THE COUNTY IN CUZ I THINK IT'S OUR SIDE OF THE BRIDGE THAT'S RELEASING THE IMPACT.

SO REALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THAT QUESTION OR JUST A STATEMENT AND TO SAY FRED WAS HOLD UP TO, UM, TO LISA'S QUESTION.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ON THE SPOT, BUT HOW COULD WE BE BETTER PARTNERS TO WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AS FAR AS GROWTH? AS FAR AS GROWTH? YEAH.

I MEAN, I, I I THINK OUR, OUR TOWN IS A GREAT PARTNER WITH US.

I MEAN, WE, WE COMMUNICATE WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF ON A REGULAR BASIS.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST RECENTLY, UH, GOT OFF THE GROUND, I'D SAY RECENT, BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S COUPLE MONTHS.

UH, BUT, BUT WE HAVE THE EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THAT WE STARTED, UH, WE HAD ABOUT 11 SITES.

WE HAVE ONE SITE HERE, UH, IN BLUFFTON RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK IT'S AT THE AME.

AND, UH, WE SERVICE STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS.

SO, UH, NOT JUST AT AT SCHOOL, BUT AFTER, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

BUT WE, WE SERVICE THEM, UH, SOME THAT, THAT WOULDN'T STAY FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, BUT MIGHT MIGHT HEAD HOME OR CLOSER TO HOME.

UH, THE AME PARTNERS WITH US AS WELL.

YOU, THAT PERSONA DO IT AS WELL.

I I THINK THEY'RE GETTING STARTED.

BUFORD COUNTY, WHEN I LOOK AT, UH, THE, THE LITERACY RESULTS, RIGHT? WE HAVE, UH, NOT ONLY, WE'RE NOT ONLY BACK TO THE PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE AND LITERACY, BUT WE HAVE ACTUALLY SURPASSED, UH, THEM AND ARE ACTUALLY ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST SCORES AND LITERACY, UH, SINCE 2016, WHICH WAS WHEN THAT ASSESSMENT STARTED.

BUT WE HAVE AN EXTENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES WITH THEM THAT, THAT, UH, IS REALLY VALUABLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MANY CASES WE HAVE OUR EDUCATORS THAT, THAT COME, UH, WE HAVE RETIRED EDUCATORS THAT COME, UH, AND WE PROVIDED TRAINING FOR, FOR THOSE THAT PARTICIPATE IN IT, UH, FROM, FROM THE DIFFERENT EXTENDED LEARNING, UH, PARTNERSHIP SITES.

AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF ACADEMIC RECOVERY THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE, UH, AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

AND ONE THING, YOU KNOW, IN, IN, IN

[00:55:01]

SO IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MATH AND SCIENCE FOR A MINUTE.

MATH AND SCIENCE IS AN AREA THAT THE PANDEMIC REALLY AFFECTED TREMENDOUSLY NATIONALLY AND STATEWIDE SHOWING IT'S A DECADES IMPACT, DECADES IMPACT WHEN YOU LOOK AT STATE RESULTS.

UH, OVERALL IT'S THE SAME THING.

AND THEN, UH, FOR US HERE, WE, WE HAVE HAD AN IMPACT IN MATH AND SCIENCE, AND THAT'S ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO TRY TO PUSH OUT.

SO ANY PARTNERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OR WITH THE TOWN THAT WE CAN ZERO IN ON MATH AND SCIENCE RELATED, WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND, AND PARTNER BECAUSE THAT IS AN AREA THAT, UH, WE NEED SOME, UH, SOME ACCELERATION IN FOR, FOR ALL OF OUR KIDS.

THAT'S THE NATIONWIDE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT WE'RE NO DIFFERENT IN THAT AREA.

WE NEED IT.

I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE, UH, WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

YOU, UH, WHAT YOU JUST EDUCATED ME ON THE, UH, THE OUTREACH THAT YOU'RE PROVIDING AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM AFTER HOURS.

, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN.

FOR EXAMPLE, I WAS PAYING FOR FEEDS FOR MY GRANDSON IN NORTH CAROLINA.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT NEED THAT EXTRA WORK.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF FAMILIES CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE EVEN LEARNED HERE AS A, AS A TOWN, UH, THE PEOPLE DON'T COME TO YOU, GO TO THE PEOPLE.

AND WE'RE DOING THAT OUR OUTREACH THROUGH MOBILE TOWN HALLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND, AND THAT'S A VERY GOOD PROACTIVE APPROACH THAT YOU'RE TAKING THERE.

AND SO I, I COMMEND YOU FOR THAT.

AND, UH, BUT MY, IF I WOULD JUST SAY, UH, BEFORE YOU CONTINUE THAT, I WANT TO THANK, UH, UH, FRED HAMILTON.

CAUSE FRED, UH, MET WITH ME AND MY TEAM AND, AND, UH, UH, HE HAD A FEW OTHERS WITH HIM ON THAT DAY.

AND WE, WE SAT AND SPOKE AND HE, WE TALKED ABOUT EXTENDED LEARNING SITES, AND HE SAID, HOW DO WE GET ONE OF THOSE EXTENDED LEARNING SITES IN BLUFFTON? AND BOOM, WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING.

SO KUDA FRED DOESN'T TELL US ALL THE THINGS HE DOES.

KUDA FRED.

YEAH, FRED.

HE'S A SCARY, AND HE'S A DOER.

WELL, THE OTHER, THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY IS, AND I KNOW YOU'VE WATCHED THE TRENDS MM-HMM.

, YOU HAVE TO, AND OUR GROWTH MODEL WAS ACTUALLY SLOWING DOWN UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HIT.

, WE HAD OUR CURVE WAS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, AS, AS YOU GROW AS A COMMUNITY, THE CLOSER YOU GET TO, TO YOUR, OUR, OUR NUMBERS WERE AROUND 65,000 ORIGINALLY PROJECTED FOR THE GROWTH OF THE TOWN.

AND AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THAT, THE CURVE USUALLY COMES DOWN.

AND, UH, WE WERE HEADED THAT DIRECTION.

AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE WE'RE EVEN IN A SLOWER, YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY, THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING IMPACTED.

SO I KNOW ALL THAT.

LOOK AT ALL OF THAT AS YOU PLAN YOUR SCHOOLS OUT INTO THE FUTURE.

THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I WILL MAKE, AND THIS IS A MECHANICAL THING, IS I DON'T KNOW WHEN SCHOOLS ARE BUILT, DO THEY TALK TO THE STATE ABOUT TURN LANES? ABOUT TURN LANES? YES.

BECAUSE I'VE SEEN IT OUT AT OKEE ON ON TWO.

OH, YES.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

AND IN SCHOOL OFF OF, BETWEEN BUCK ISLAND AND SIMMONS, IT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES, IT SHUTS THE ROADWAY SYSTEMS DOWN.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DURING THE COURSE OF, OF THIS YEAR.

WELL, I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE A HIGH SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, UH, TWICE A DAY YOU'RE PUMPING IN, UH, PROBABLY A THOUSAND VEHICLES, UH, WITHIN A HALF HOUR PERIOD MOVING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR DROP OFF AND THEN MOVING THROUGH FOR, FOR, UH, DISMISSAL, YOU KNOW, SO, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN CERTAINLY, UH, LOOK AT AND SEE WHAT POSSIBILITIES THERE ARE.

PART OF THE CHALLENGE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LAND LEFT IN WEALTH.

RIGHT? SO, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME SPACE, UH, THAT, THAT WE HAVE.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS, UH, TO YOUR POINT, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN OVERBUILDING, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEN WE GOT ANOTHER PROBLEM YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, RIGHT? SO, SO, UM, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE RIGHT, UH, COMBINATION OF THINGS.

DOES IT MEAN, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND THEN A MIDDLE SCHOOL? DOES IT MEAN A K EIGHT? IS THAT ENOUGH TO, TO DEAL JUST ENOUGH WITH THE GROWTH ISSUE THAT IT DOESN'T OVERDO IT AND DOESN'T UNDERDO THE NEED? SO

[01:00:01]

SO YOU CAN TELL BY ALL OF US THAT, UM, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ENGAGED WITH THIS.

SO I WOULD LOVE, OKAY, I WOULD LOVE TO REACH OUT TO ANY, ANY OF US WHO'VE LIVED, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.

AND I DO BRING ONE THING JUST TO CONSIDER IT'S TRANSPORTATION ON DANCING.

I WOULD LOVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND SOME OF YOUR STAFF WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THESE ROAD PROJECTS THROUGH LA AND THROUGH THE COUNTY, IS WHERE DO YOU NEED TURN LANES? YOU NEED TO TELL US, BECAUSE YOU ALL LIVE IT, AND DAN JUST SEES IT IN THE AREAS HE DRIVES, BUT I'M SURE IT'S EVERYWHERE, LIKE YOU SAID.

SO HELP US WITH WHERE WE CAN SAY, WELL, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS THIS TURN LANE TO BE 50 FEET LONGER OR WHATEVER.

THE OTHER THING I WANT YOU TO REALLY HELP US ON, AND IT WAS ON THE PATH TO BEING DONE.

WE PASSED THE LAKES, THAT ADDITION, THAT MASTER PLAN AMENDMENT, AND I BROUGHT IT UP, PRITCHARD FARMS ROAD NEEDS TO BE READDRESSED TO GET SOME ENTRANCE SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO THE BACK OF Y'ALL'S NEW DEVELOPMENT AT MAY RIVER.

AND THE CAST, IT JUST GOT LOST WITH CHANGE AND TURNOVER, BUT THAT ROAD IS A GOOD ROAD, IF NOTHING ELSE NOT TO UPSET THOSE RESIDENTS, TEACHERS, OR SOMEBODY'S A STRAIGHT ROAD THAT'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT BACK TO THE BACK OF Y'ALLS NEW FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SO I'LL, I'LL HAMMER YOU ON THAT.

BRIDGET.

BRIDGET, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION GOING BACK TO, UM, THE CONVERSATIONS ON CAPACITY.

I KNOW, UM, PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL WHEN, UM, ONE OF THE LATEST SCHOOLS WAS BEING BUILT, UH, CERTAIN ATTITUDE DOMINATED THE CONVERSATION AGAINST, UM, LARGER SCHOOLS OR WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL MEGA SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF, UM, ITS EFFECT ON STUDENTS AND OTHER THINGS.

UM, YOU AND I BOTH WERE IN AN AREA WHERE THAT'S, THAT'S WASN'T THE CASE.

AND WE HAVE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, LIKE WADO WHO ARE DOUBLE THE SIZE OF SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE.

UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY LIKE, I HOPE THAT'S, UH, EXPERTISE YOU CAN ADD TO THE CONVERSATIONS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO IMMEDIATELY JUST ARE LIKE, WELL BUILD A NEW SCHOOL.

I THINK IF WE CAN LOOK AT AREAS WHERE, UM, YOU CAN FEASIBLY, YOU KNOW, ADD ADDITIONS, AT LEAST LET THAT BE A PART OF A, A CONVERSATION TOO, BECAUSE THEY DO, UH, WORK AND THEY DO, THEY DON'T BECOME SAFETY HAZARDS AS, AS, UM, SOME PEOPLE, UM, ASSUME.

UM, THE OTHER COMMENT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, STUDENTS WITH, UM, LEARNING DISABILITIES LIKE, UH, IEPS AND HOW THEY'VE BEEN IMPACTED SINCE THE, THE PANDEMIC.

I KNOW I, UM, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH A FEW OF MINE AND SOME HAVE DROPPED OUT SINCE, UM, BECAUSE THEY JUST GOT COMPLETELY LOST DURING THAT PROCESS IN TERMS OF IF THEY NEEDED A PARA AND RESOURCE OPTIONS AND BEING HOME AND NOT HAVING THAT.

UM, AND THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS DOES GET VERY OVERWHELMING.

UM, IS THERE A REACH OR A PROGRAM MAYBE TO, UM, BRING SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS BACK IN OR, UM, TOUCH BASES WITH THEM TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO AT LEAST GO TO ADULT ED? YEAH, WE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR GUIDANCE COUNCIL, THE SCHOOLS WORK CLOSELY WITH, UM, UH, WITH STUDENTS AND EVEN STUDENTS IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO THAT, UM, THEY DO HAVE THOSE OPTIONS.

WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, DURING, DURING BOARD MEETINGS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT STUDENTS THAT MOVE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE CREDITS TO MAKE THEIR, THEIR GRADUATION FEASIBLE AT THEIR AGE.

UH, BUT WE HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT DOES PUT THEM IN TOWARDS, UH, UH, GEDS TO ADULT DEDICATION.

UH, SO WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO STILL GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

UM, AND, AND WE DO TRY TO TAP INTO THOSE WITH, WITH OUR KIDS.

SO IF, IF YOU KNOW OF ANY, UH, THAT AREN'T DOING THAT, UM, IF YOU LET ME KNOW, I WILL.

PERFECT.

WE'LL, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO CONNECT.

HAVE SOMETHING ABOUT COUNSEL.

UM, JUST, JUST ONE MORE THING, I JUST WANTED TO NOT PUT YOU ON THE SPOT OR ANYTHING, TOBY, WE'RE ALL EARS.

UM, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS TO US? YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS, YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF WHAT'S, UM, BEING DONE AS WE SPEAK AND WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE AS FAR AS THE GROWTH.

AND, UM, WE CAN'T ALWAYS STOP OR SLOW, BUT SOMETIMES WE CAN POSSIBLY PUT OUR BRAINS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH WAYS TO TAKE A WARNING FROM YOU, OR A ADVICE FROM YOU SAYING, GUYS, I NEED YOUR HELP.

CHILL IT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, UM, SO THAT YOU CAN LET YOU'RE

[01:05:01]

SUPPOSED TO DO YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS PART OF MY QUESTION.

WELL, I MEAN, GROWTH HAS AN IMPACT ON ALL ASPECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT HAS AN IMPACT ON THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS A TOWN COUNCIL THAT YOUR STAFF DOES, UH, IN MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND OURS IS, IS NO DIFFERENCE AS PART OF THAT SERVICE, RIGHT? THE GROWTH HAS AN IMPACT ON, UH, ON A, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU, WHEN, WHEN THE SCHOOL SITES ARE, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY AT CAPACITY, RIGHT? SO EXACTLY.

SO ADDITIONAL, UH, STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY DO RE REQUIRE US TO PROVIDE, UH, UH, ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR IT.

SO THERE'S THAT, THAT'S GOES HAND IN HAND, YOU KNOW.

UM, SO I MEAN, TO THAT END, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE, OUR, OUR PROJECTIONS STILL SHOW GROWTH AT THE MOMENT, RIGHT? WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THOSE AT TREND LINES OVER TIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN LOOK AT WHAT OPTIONS WE HAVE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT.

GROWTH.

IMPACT FEES IS ONE OF THOSE BECAUSE IMPACT FEES PROVIDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO, TO, UH, UH, SUPPORT, UH, THE GROWTH TO SOME EXTENT, YOU KNOW? AND THEN, UH, UH, IN OUR CASE, REFERENDUMS IS THE ONLY OTHER OPTION REALLY, THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF, UH, ADDING ADDITIONAL SPACE, EITHER WITHIN EXISTING SCHOOLS OR NEW SCHOOLS, RIGHT? SO, UH, SO FOR US, THAT'S WHAT GROWTH DOES TO US.

AND, AND, AND THEN WE HAVE TO RESPOND, UH, TO THAT, TO THAT NEED.

SO WE SEE IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT GOES UP AND WE KNOW THAT THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE, UH, EVERY TIME.

IS, IS THERE, I'M A NUMBERS KIND OF GUY, TWO AND TWO IS FOUR.

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY WAYS TWIST, TWISTED AROUND, IS THERE A NUMBER, JUST WHATEVER IT MAY BE THAT, THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND FACTUAL NUMBER THAT SAYS, OKAY, NEXT YEAR WE CAN TAKE 1,217 MORE STUDENTS INTO WHAT WE HAVE, INTO WHAT WE HAVE OR WHAT WE COULD PROVIDE AS FAR AS TEACHING CAPACITY.

SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD NUMBERS THAT YOU SAID, OKAY, WELL, WE CAN HANDLE UP TO THIS, BUT ANYTHING OVER THIS IS REALLY GONNA PUT A BURDEN, UM, IT, IT WOULD JUST BE GOOD FOR US TO KNOW.

I THINK PART OF THE, THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT, UH, SO I DON'T HAVE A PARTICULAR NUMBER I CAN GIVE YOU TODAY, RIGHT? I CAN GO BACK WITH MY TEAM AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT JUST THINKING OFF THE CUFF, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THAT IS THAT AS GROWTH HAPPENS, IT, IT, THAT GROWTH ISN'T JUST AT ONE PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THAT GROWTH, YOU KNOW, SPREADS OVER A DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

SO THREE KIDS HERE, FIVE KIDS THERE, SEVEN KIDS THERE, 20 KIDS HERE, RIGHT? UH, SO, SO THOSE ARE ALL ASSIGNED IN DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, WHATEVER GRADE LEVEL THEY ARE, THAT THAT'S A DIFFERENT SCHOOL POSSIBLY, RIGHT? SO, SO I DON'T HAVE A MAGIC NUMBER THAT I CAN GIVE YOU.

I CAN GO BACK WITH MY TEAM, ASK THEM TO THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF THAT PERSPECTIVE.

UM, BUT, BUT THAT'S, UH, JUST THE FIRST, AND I'LL JUMP IN, AMANDA, HE ASKED THE QUESTION YOU HAD, BUT JUST THE PARTNERS PLANNING BEFORE WE SEE IT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY, IS WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT, UM, EVERY TIME WE ASK FOR A SERVICE LETTER, IT SAYS OUR SCHOOLS ARE CAPACITY.

AND SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENT PLANS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED YEARS AND YEARS AGO.

AND SO EVERYONE KEEPS SAYING, WELL, YOU CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

WHY? WHY? THE SCHOOL SAYS, WE'RE AT CAPACITY.

SO YOU CAN'T BUILD STOP BUILDING, STOP GROWING.

SO HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THAT AND HOW CAN WE HELP REMEDY SOME OF THAT? I THINK, I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS, IS THIS, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT EDUCATIONAL SERVICE FOR KIDS, RIGHT? SO WHETHER WE HAVE TWO KIDS, OR WHETHER WE HAVE A HUNDRED KIDS OR A NEW DEVELOPMENT BRINGS IN ANOTHER 50 OR ANOTHER 500 KIDS, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO PROVIDE REGARDLESS, RIGHT? SO, SO THAT LETTER REALLY JUST SERVES AS NOTIFICATION THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, OUR SCHOOLS ARE PRETTY MUCH AT CAPACITY, YOU KNOW, BUT IF MORE KIDS MOVE IN THERE, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE IN THAT CAPACITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO BRING IN MORE MOBILE UNITS OR WHAT WE HAVE TO DO UNTIL, UH, A NEW FACILITY IS, IS I THINK THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

THEY'RE SAYING NO MORE, NO MORE GROWTH, NO MORE DEVELOPMENT.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN NUMBERS AS FAR AS WHAT YEARS AGO BEAUFORT COUNTY SAID THEY COULD PROVIDE FOR SCHOOLS.

WELL, I MEAN, I, I, I, SO I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BALANCE OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE THAT'S BEEN,

[01:10:01]

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S AN ABUNDANCE NOW.

SO LIKE, THERE'S A WAY TO LOOK AT THAT AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND SAY, OKAY, WELL THESE DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT ARE ALREADY PRE-APPROVED, EVEN WITH ALL THEIR DIFFERENT PHASES, WE ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, AND WE ARE PROVIDING OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A PAUSE ON OUR PART AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN PAUSE A PRE-APPROVED, YOU KNOW, PHASE PLAN OR ANYTHING, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NEW ONES COMING OUT, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THAT AT THIS TIME.

, THERE'S A, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A TIMEFRAME TO BE ABLE TO SAY, IF SOMEONE BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND AND THEY WANNA DO A DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH ALL THESE HOUSES, DO WE SAY, OKAY, WE CAN'T DO THAT NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA CATCH BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THE CHALLENGE IS THAT ULTIMATELY THE SCHOOLS CAN'T BE THE REASON THAT YOU CAN'T DO A DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE, RIGHT? NO MATTER WHAT, WHENEVER THE DEVELOPMENT IS DONE, YOU KNOW? YEAH.

BUT WE'RE JUST SAYING IT IS A FACTOR FOR US, RIGHT? AND, AND, AND IT, IT DOES, UH, IMPACT THAT KIND OF THING.

MAYBE IN THOSE LETTERS IF IT CAN JUST BE CLARIFIED A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

BECAUSE WE, YEAH, EVERY SINGLE MEETING IT SAYS YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED, THE SCHOOLS THE CAPACITY YOU CAN'T DEVELOP, CAN'T DEVELOP.

AND IT'S, THAT'S NOT, THEN I HAVE TO CORRECT EVERY SINGLE TIME.

WE'RE ALWAYS THE BAD GUYS.

I UNDERSTAND.

WE ARE THE BAD GUYS BECAUSE WE EVEN GOT TO THE POINT OF HOW CAN WE NEED TO SIT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? CAUSE IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT, THAT'S OUR TOOL TO, TO STOP IT.

BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE LAWSUIT? EXACTLY.

BUT THEN YOU HEAR, WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO PUT 'EM IN BUFORD, RIGHT? SO JUST CLEAR, LIKE, YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND ABC, BUT WE'RE TELLING YOU THIS IS THIS IS THE FUTURE.

SO, AND LASTLY, IN FAIRNESS TOO, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, THE POWERS THAT BE, THAT ULTIMATELY CONTROL THINGS LIKE FUNDING AND SOME OF THE OTHER LEGISLATION THAT BLOCKS, UM, YOU KNOW, SCHOOL CAPACITIES AND BEING ABLE TO BUILD AND ADD ADDITIONS.

THEY WANT OUT ALL THE, UH, THE CUMBERS THAT COMES WITH IT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE PUBLIC EDUCATION DOESN'T GET THE LUXURY THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS DO TO BE ABLE TO TAILOR THEIR SIZES AND NOT ADMIT KIDS.

YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO ADMIT KIDS, YOU KNOW, IF A STUDENT SHOWS UP, UM, HERE TODAY OR TOMORROW, YOU KNOW, FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

AND IT'S UNFAIR THAT, UM, SOMETIMES YOU'RE THRUST WITH THAT AND, UM, IT'S JUST COMMENDABLE TO, TO STILL BE ABLE TO TRY TO MAKE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO, TO UNDERSTAND AND KIND OF WORK WITH THAT, AND A LOT OF MOVEMENT FACTORS AND PLAY HERE.

UM, BUT GIVE SOME OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS TOO, TO THOSE HIGHER UP TO HELP US.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE ACT 38 AND SOME OTHER, OTHER ISSUES IMPACTING IT.

WELL, THANK YOU, DR.

I THANK YOU ALL TWO.

WE'LL HAVE, WE'LL COME UP WITH MORE.

AMANDA DENMARK, CHAIR PLANNING COMMISSION.

BREAK ONE MORE MINUTE.

YOU CAN GO.

NO, WE'RE NOT, BUT I DO, UM, DIDN'T DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT SETTING, BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO SAY WHO THEY ARE WITH IN THE BACK WITH, AND THEN WE'LL GO AROUND.

I THINK .

OH, NATALIE MEZ, FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

YOU RIGHT.

UM, THAT BOWER WITH BJ.

WS A THANK YOU LINKER WITH BJ.

W S A, BRIAN CHACK WITH BJW.

S A JEFF LARO WITH BJ W S A, IT'S OFFICE DOWN TO, YEAH.

THAT'S WALTER.

WE'LL DO THIS.

WALTER NESTER WITH DON RYAN CENTER.

COUNSEL STEGER, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE HILTON HEAD AREA REALTORS.

BRUCE TRIMER, CHAIR OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

HEATHER COLE, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER.

YOU STEVEN, RIGHT? STEVEN STEVE'S TOWN MANAGER.

UH, TERRY FINGER .

TRACY.

SO, UM, IT, KIM WAUK JONES PROJECTS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT.

DEBBIE SPANGA COMMUNICATIONS.

DAVID ALLENS, DOUG RYAN CENTER, DEREK PUBLIC SERVICE.

ANNIE EVANS, HR LISA CUNNINGHAM COURT.

KEVIN, I LIKE OUR GROWTH MANAGEMENT CHANNEL TOOL.

BUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

BILL BOWER, WATERSHED MANAGER.

PAT BRUNY, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MANAGER.

I'M MICHAEL COTO WITH THE POST AND CARRIER, JOE WOODWARD, CITIZENS FOX 28.

WHAT

[01:15:02]

I WANT END WITH OUR KIM TOWN CLERK.

GREAT.

I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT IN.

WE STARTED BY SETTING OUT, STARTING OR SENDING OUT A SURVEY TO EMPLOYEES TO KIND OF GET A, A PULSE OF THE ORGANIZATION TO FIND OUT WHERE WE'RE AT.

WE'RE, WE'RE OFF TRACK OR WE'RE GONNA GET BACK WHO'S NEXT? UM, YOU WANTED ANNIE, TALK ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.

LET ME, AND IS THE RECRUITMENT AND SOMETHING EMPLOYEE WELLNESS, EMPLOYEE NEED ? YOU ? UH, DID YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU WANTED ME TO ANSWER OR DO YOU JUST WANT ME TO GO OVER WHAT WE'RE DOING? UM, FIRST YOU WANNA GO OVER WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

UM, SO PAGE 11.

SO I'LL START WITH EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND SATISFACTION.

SO WE STARTED THE YEAR OFF DOING, UH, AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT SURVEY, WHICH WE DID GET REALLY GOOD RESPONSES ON.

UM, WE FOUND OUT SOME STUFF THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING WELL ON.

WE FOUND OUT SOME STUFF THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON, AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN INTENTIONALLY WORKING ON THINGS THAT WE, UM, NEED TO WORK ON COMMUNICATION BEING ONE OF THOSE.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON OUR COMMUNICATION NETWORK.

UM, I THINK THE COMMUNICATION IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALWAYS WORK ON, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE WORKING ON THAT.

IT'S JUST KIND OF FINE TUNING HOW WE'RE DOING IT.

SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, UM, FIND NEW WAYS TO REACH OUR EMPLOYEES.

UM, AFTER THAT WE DID FORM A WELLNESS COMMITTEE, SO THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER BEEN HERE AT THE TIME OF FUNDING BEFORE.

SO WE FORMED, UH, A WELLNESS COMMITTEE.

WE SENT IN PATIENTS OUT TO TOWN EMPLOYEES AND, YOU KNOW, WE ASKED WHO WOULD WANNA BE A PART OF THIS.

SO THE WELLNESS COMMITTEE WAS FORMED.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ON THE COMMITTEE.

WE MEET ONCE A MONTH AND THEN WE START, WE STARTED DOING ACTIVITIES FOR EVENTS FOR THE TO OF LONDON EMPLOYEES.

SO WE STARTED OFF JUST DOING A LUNCH AND LEARN.

THAT WAS THE FIRST EVENT THAT WE DID ABOUT, UH, DAILY NUTRITION AND HOW TO TRACK FOOD AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE PROPER AMOUNT OF FOOD AND STUFF AFTER THAT, UM, WE JUST STARTED DOING MONTHLY ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS.

SO THE LAST EVENT WE DID WAS IN OCTOBER AND THAT WAS A STOP CHALLENGE AND THE WINNER OF THE STOP CHALLENGE AT A DAY OF VACATION.

SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN.

AND THEN WE HAD TWO RUNNERS UP AND THEY EACH GOT A HALF DAY OF VACATION.

SO I THINK WE WALKED A TOTAL OF OVER 5 MILLION STEPS.

SO WE DID, YOU KNOW, WE HAD REALLY GOOD PARTICIPATION IN THAT.

UM, I WOULD SAY THAT WE'VE HAD REALLY, REALLY GOOD PARTICIPATION IN OUR, UM, ALL OF OUR EVENTS.

SO I THINK IT'S VERY WELL RECEIVED.

MOVING ON TO EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING.

UM, SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED DOING THIS YEAR WAS AN HR DID, YOU KNOW, SERIES.

SO ON A BIWEEKLY ISH KIND OF BASIS, WE SEND OUT LIKE LITTLE POSTERS ABOUT, HEY, DID YOU, WERE YOU AWARE OF THIS PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO OUREMPLOYEES? SO SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

WHAT'S THE WELLNESS INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE? SO WE HAVE A WELLNESS REIMBURSEMENT THAT YOU CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, TURN IN RECEIPTS FOR THINGS THAT YOU'VE PURCHASED.

SO, UH, WALKING SNEAKERS, FIT FIT MEMBERSHIPS TO GINS.

UM, A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD YOU COULD DO THAT.

SO WE SENT OUT, YOU KNOW, AN HR WEEKLY, DID YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SUBMIT, UH, RECEIPTS FOR WELLNESS INITIATIVES THAT YOU DO IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND, AND GET REIMBURSED FOR THEM.

AND WE DID UP THE AMOUNT THIS YEAR, IT WAS A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER EMPLOYEE.

THIS YEAR IT'S $265 PER PER EMPLOYEE.

SO THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY GOOD, UM, BENEFIT THAT WE HAVE.

AND THEN OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, COMPUTER LOAN, GENERATOR LOAN, AND THEN JUST CERTAIN, UM, POLICIES IN THE HANDBOOK THAT EMPLOYEES MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT.

SO WE JUST PICK A TOPIC A COUPLE TIMES A MONTH AND SEND OUT A LITTLE POSTER.

HEY, DID YOU KNOW THIS? UM, ANOTHER THING THAT HR IS WORKING ON IS A WORKPLACE SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM.

SO ONCE A QUARTER I HAVE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HEALTH COMING OUT AND DOING A PRESENTATION.

SO WE STARTED OFF IN THE SUMMER.

WE DID, UM, WORKING SAFELY IN THE HEAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, UM, BUILDING SAFETY DEREK'S TEAM, UM, ANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE CROSSING DI ANY DEPARTMENTS THAT'S WORKING OUTSIDE, UM, TO, TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT VACANT SAFETY PROGRAM.

AND THEN THE SECOND ONE WE DID WAS EMERGENCY ACTION PLANNING.

SO, UM, DEPARTMENTS CAN KNOW HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE, UH, AN EMERGENCY IN THE WORKPLACE PLACE.

ANOTHER EFFORT THAT WE HAVE BEGUN THIS YEAR IS A DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION INITIATIVE.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW, UM,

[01:20:01]

SO WE CAN'T EFFECTIVELY START SOMETHING WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND THEN WE'LL START WITH TRAINING EFFORTS.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT WHO DID A PRESENTATION AT THE, I THINK THE A S C CONFERENCE, THE GENTLEMAN WITH MYRTLE BEACH, KEVIN THAT PRESENTED THAT MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION ABOUT DIVERSITY, ABOUT WHAT HE'S DONE IN MYRTLE BEACH.

I KNOW Y'ALL WERE IN THE TRAINING.

UH, MYRTLE BEACH HAS CREATED AN ENTIRE, UH, UM, HIRED A PERSON TO OVERSEE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION WITHIN THE TOWN OF MYRTLE BEACH OR CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH.

AND, UH, SO HE'S THEIR FIRST PERSON HE'S SETTING UP THE PROGRAM.

SO HE'S COMING TO DO SOME TRAINING ON HOW THEY SET THAT UP AND HELP GIVE US GUIDANCE ON OUR, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T MAKE SOME OF THE SAME MISTAKES THEY MADE WHENEVER THEY FIRST TRIED TO SET THE PROGRAM UP.

SO IT'S ROLLING OUT A LITTLE SLOW.

I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, WE'VE STARTED IT, WE'VE GOT A GOOD START ON IT.

WE WANNA BE VERY INTENTIONAL ON HOW WE ROLL IT OUT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE JUST WANNA KIND OF THROW OUT THERE AND HAVE IT BE LIKE A ONCE A YEAR CHECK THE BOX KIND OF THING.

WE WANNA BE INTENTIONAL IN OUR EFFORTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY EFFECTUATE MEANINGFUL CHANGE.

SO, UM, WE ARE BEING DELIBERATE ABOUT OUR ACTIONS AND WE'RE TRYING TO ROLL THIS OUT WITH, UM, WITH REALLY HEART AND MOTION AND NOT JUST KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, YEAH, WE DID A DEI THING, CHECK THAT BOX AND, AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.

SO, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD HEAD START AND I CAN'T WAIT TO, TO KIND OF DIVE IN AND, AND GO FORWARD WITH IT.

EXPLAIN WHO IS REQUIRED TO BE IN THAT TRAINING, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

YEAH, SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR SENIOR STAFF.

SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, AND THIS IS, UM, ON MR. WADE'S RECOMMENDATION.

THIS IS HOW HE DID IT AT MYRTLE BEACH.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING, WE'RE NOT JUST STARTING HOWEVER WE WANNA START.

WE'RE USING HIS RECOMMENDATION ON HOW HE THOUGHT IT WAS BEST TO PROCEED WITH HIS CITY AND HOW HE, UM, GOT GOOD RESULTS MOVING FORWARD WITH HIS CITY.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST KIND OF LIKE WILLY-NILLY DOING THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY THE FIRST TIME.

SO WE DON'T, THERE'S NOT A REDO HERE, RIGHT? SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH SENIOR STAFF.

WE NEED TO GET BUY-IN FROM LEADERSHIP AND THEN WE CAN ROLL IT OUT TO THE REST OF THE STAFF.

SO WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST START AND STOP WITH SENIOR STAFF.

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE WITH THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE START, I THINK, WITH LEADERSHIP SO WE CAN LEAD PROPERLY AND THEN WE CAN START, UM, ROLLING THAT TRAINING OUT TO EVERYBODY.

SO WE DO INTEND TO, TO REACH ALL OF OUR, UM, EMPLOYED POPULATION.

HOW IS IT? UM, NOTRE DAME LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, AND PART OF A GROUP THAT DID A TOUR OF THE WHOLE PLACE.

AND THERE'S A LADY THAT WAS HIRED FOR THE SAME EXACT THING FOR THE ATHLETES, UM, IN THE SCHOOL WHO'S GOT A LOT OF RULES, YOU KNOW, RELIGION TO EVERYTHING.

AND SHE, I MET HER AFTER, AND I'M GONNA EMAIL HER.

SHE'D BE A GREAT PERSON TO GET FEEDBACK FROM.

THEY HAVE SOMETHING CALLED TOGETHER IRISH.

AND IT'S NOT JUST TEACHING, BUT IT'S REALLY TRYING TO GET DOWN TO HAVING PEOPLE REALIZE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU SAY CERTAIN THINGS OR WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU MIGHT LOOK THE SAME OR ANYTHING.

UM, AND SHE, THEY WERE PRETTY, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S YOUR RETURN? WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? AND IT WAS PRETTY COOL.

HER TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS, BUT SHE HAD REALLY GOOD RESULTS OF UM, WHAT SHE IS HEARING NOW FROM DEALING WITH THAT.

SO I KIND OF CALL HER OUR TOWN'S LIKE A GROUP OF ATHLETES TOO.

OF THE FAMILY AND I THINK IT IS WE PUT A YOU TO THAT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE WANTING TO START WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS UNDERSTOOD, THAT THIS IS A VISION COMING FROM LEADERSHIP AND NOT JUST, LIKE SHE SAID, WE'RE JUST DOING THIS TO CHECK THE BOX AND WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE THIS SET UP SO WE WANT MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S ENCOURAGED FROM THE TOP DOWN.

SO I WOULD LOVE, I THINK ALL OF US NEED IT AND TAKE IT ON THE ROAD CUZ THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS THAN JUST STAFF.

SO JUST A QUESTION, I MEAN, JUST A COMMENT.

DID YOU GET YOUR ANSWERS, QUESTIONS ANSWERED ON THAT? MM-HMM , JUST TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE WILL COME OUT OF THIS, WE'LL HAVE A DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION COMMITTEE SO THAT WHENEVER CONVERSATIONS OR PEOPLE HAVE ISSUES THAT THEY WANT TO ADDRESS, THEY HAVE A GROUP TO GO AND HAVE THOSE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS ASKED TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE HANDLING THEM PROPERLY, THAT THEY'RE GIVEN GUIDANCE, THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THE MATTERS.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SET UP IS SO THAT WE MAY DO THE TRAINING ON THIS, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANNA TALK ABOUT, THAT THERE'S A SAFE SPACE TO GO AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND NOT FEEL LIKE, GREAT, WE'RE DOING ALL THIS TRAINING, BUT WHO, WHO DO I TALK TO? THEY WILL HAVE, THEY WILL HAVE A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

STEVEN, I THINK IT'S ON YOU TO ENCOURAGE THESE, YOU KNOW, 20 OUT OF 154 EMPLOYEES IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOOD.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GREAT.

UM, I THINK YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO PLEASE DO THIS, THIS IS, AND THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO BE PART

[01:25:01]

AND SO LIKE ALL THE OTHER THINGS, 20 PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT THERE WAS REALLY GOOD YOU DID, I SEE THAT AS A REASON THAT WE SENT OUT THE DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION SURVEY THAT WE SENT OUT, UM, TO START OUR EFFORTS WAS WE GOT OVER 60 RESPONSES AND I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THAT.

I THINK THAT A SUBJECT LIKE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE VIEWED AS ACHE, YOU KNOW, UM, TO GET OVER 60 RESPONSES FROM OUR STAFF.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY THAT PEOPLE FELT EVEN COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO RESPOND TO A SURVEY LIKE THAT.

SO I, I COME FROM A MUCH LARGER ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 400 EMPLOYEES AND I DON'T THINK IF I SENT OUT A SURVEY LIKE THAT TO THOSE EMPLOYEES, I WOULD'VE EVEN GOTTEN 60 RESPONSES.

SO TO GET 60 RESPONSES FROM A STAFF OF JUST OVER ONE 40, I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

I WAS REALLY ECSTATIC ABOUT THAT.

SO JUST FOR, I DON'T KNOW, REFERENCE, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT OVER 60 RESPONSES WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING.

UM, MOVING ON TO EMPLOYEE WELLNESS AND RECOGNITION.

WE'RE CONTINUING WITH THE STAR PROGRAM.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE A STAR PROGRAM, EMPLOYEES ARE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU FEEL LIKE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HAS REALLY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND IN THEIR NORMAL COURSE DUTIES, YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE THOSE EMPLOYEES TO BE RECOGNIZED.

UM, WE HAVE OVER 200 STAR NOMINATIONS TO DATE THIS YEAR.

UM, EMPLOYEE OFFICE EVENTS, WE'RE CONTINUING THOSE, YOU KNOW, WITH OUR FLU SHOT EVENT, WE HAD UM, WE HAD A BIOMETRIC SCREENING EVENT TO FOLLOW UP THE BIOMETRIC SCREENING EVENT THIS YEAR.

WE HAD A NURSE PRACTITIONER COME ON SITE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT EMPLOYEES HAD AT UM, YOU KNOW, YOU RECEIVED YOUR RESULTS FROM BIOMETRIC SCREENING, UM, YOU COULD ASK NURSES, YOU KNOW, THE PROFESSION ON THAT.

UM, AND WE ARE, WE CONTINUED OUR FINANCIAL SEMINAR THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE.

UM, WE HOSTED HEALTH AND WELLNESS VARIOUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UM, SO REALLY CAN I STOP YOU ONE SECOND? YEAH.

GIVE ME JUST A SHORT I I FINANCIAL OVERVIEW OR FINANCIAL TRAINING? YEAH, IT'S THE DAVID RAMSEY PROGRAM SO, OKAY, PERFECT.

CUZ IT'S MY GOD, EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THESE THINGS SO WE CAN, WE UM, YOU KNOW, WE CONTRACT WITH A CONSULTANT HERE IN BLUFFTON.

ONE OF OUR CHAPLAINS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY, UM, RUNS IT AND IT'S JUST A PROGRAM.

IT'S A SIX WEEK LIKE FINANCIAL CLASS THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEE AND THEIR SPOUSE CAN ATTEND.

SO IT'S HELD, I THINK ON THE EVENINGS LIKE ONCE A WEEK AND YOU GO FOR TWO HOURS AND YOU KIND OF GO THROUGH DAVID RAMSEY'S PROGRAM.

WHAT ABOUT FOR SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES RETIRE? DO WE DO ANYTHING, ANY TRAINING IN THAT FIELD? WE DON'T.

UH, I MEAN PPA HAS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY HIT THAT EMPLOYEES UP WITH P SO PPA HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.

THEY HAVE LIKE VIDEOS YOU CAN WATCH AND WEBINAR RECORDINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT THAT YOU CAN WATCH THAT WILL HELP YOU PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT.

I, I THINK THAT'S, IT'S DEFINITELY NEEDED.

I KNOW YEARS AGO I, OUR COMPANY, UM, FIVE YEARS OUT EVERYBODY GOT ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND THEN THEY, NOW THEY DO IT 10 AND FIVE CUZ WHAT WE HAVE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE RETIRED AND RAN THROUGH THEIR MONEY CAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO U UTILIZE IT.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO PEOPLE DOES, AND WE DO SEND THOSE, UM, RESOURCES OUT TO EMPLOYEES ON OCCASION.

UM, YOU KNOW, JUST SAYING, HEY, JUST SO YOU KNOW, P HAS THESE, YOU KNOW, RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN USE, PLEASE USE THEM.

SO I THINK YES, IT'S A GOOD TOPIC WE COULD PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BETTER ON, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

SO, UM, THAT'S IT FOR AS FAR AS UPDATES.

ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT I DIDN'T ANSWER? UM, YOU DID ANSWER THE QUESTIONS WELL.

UM, BUT I HAVE ONE MORE.

GRIEVANCE POLICIES AND GRIEVANCE.

UM, AND WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PROCESS? UM, WE HAVE A GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE SET UP.

SO THERE IS A, A POLICY IN PLACE.

THERE'S A NEW COMMITTEE SELECTED EVERY YEAR.

SO THERE'S A COMMITTEE IN PLACE, UM, FOR THAT.

AND IT WAS REAPPOINTED AND THERE'S NO, UH, SENIOR LEADERSHIP ON ANY OF THE COMMITTEE.

THERE'S A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LIKE EACH AREA OF THE TOWN ON IT.

THERE'S NO SENIOR LEADERSHIP YOU SAID THERE'S NOT I THINK THE HIGHEST CAN YOU TELL US WHO'S ON IT? YEAH, WE CAN SEND YOU THE LIST, BUT I THINK THE HIGHEST WAS LIKE, THERE'S LIKE A SERGEANT FROM THE FLEET DEPARTMENT THAT'S ON THERE, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IS PRETTY MUCH, UM, NOT WITHIN SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF THE TOWN.

WANNA SEND US LIST OF WHO? I'LL SEND YOU THE LIST.

I THINK THAT'S, I THINK SHE ONLY HAD ONE IN HER FULL TENURE HERE.

DO YOU FEEL BEING UTILIZE UM, WHEN ITS NEEDED? UH, HAVE IT HAD, I THINK WE HAD ONE GRIEVANCE LAST YEAR, BUT CATHERINE WAS A PART OF, NOT PART OF IT AND

[01:30:01]

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S UTILIZED PROPERLY WHEN IT'S NEEDED.

DOES, DOES ALL THE STAFF REALIZE WE HAVE THIS COMMITTEE? I THINK SO BECAUSE STAFF MEMBERS ON IT.

I THINK IT'S YOU TO GET IT OUT.

I THINK THEY'RE SAYING DO ALL WE TARGET.

YEAH, WE CAN DEFINITELY SEND OUT A LITTLE INFORMATION.

YEAH, I CAN DEFINITELY, UH, WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR SELECTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR HERE SOON.

SO, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD BE WELL AWARE OF THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WHEN WE SEND OUT OUR SELECTION, SO THANK YOU.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

UM, JUST JUMP IN.

TWO PEOPLE CAME IN AND EVERYONE HAS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

SO ASHLEY HI ASHLEY.

WHAT YOUR CALL TOOK A PHONE CALL YOU BJ WSA CLOSED FOR THE DAY.

SO YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

ER, CHIEF OF TECHNICAL SERVICES IF YOU SUGGEST AND IF PEOPLE COME UP, IF PEOPLE DO COME IN, I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT BUT THEY ARE WATCHING UM, THE COUNTY CHANNEL.

UM, NOT TO DO A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS ABOUT.

BUT IF I SEE SOMEONE, IF THEY HAVE A STATEMENT OR ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT THAT WE DISCUSSED, I'LL LET THEM KIND OF CHIME IN AFTER Y'ALL IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT OFF SCHEDULE.

PROBABLY LATER, EARLY.

ALL DEPENDS SEE AT.

NO, IF WE'RE HAVING LUNCH AT NOON, WE'RE ON SCHEDULE.

I THINK WE'RE DOING GOOD.

YOU'RE FINE.

UM, AND ADAM WON'T BE UP HERE TOO LONG UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

THIS WAS A, A DOCUMENT.

YES MA'AM.

SO YOUR HANDOUT THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU AND ON THE SCREEN, AGAIN, THIS HYPERLINKED WITH EVERYTHING SO THE PUBLIC HAS IT AVAILABLE AS WELL.

WE ASKED THE C I P TEAM TO COME, UM, COME UP AND GIVE US, UH, UPDATES ON WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN THE 23 BUDGET AND GIVE YOU ALL SOME AWARD DATES, CONTRACTORS BUDGET AMOUNTS AND A AND A SYNOPSIS.

AND SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS COME FORWARD TO YOU FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES.

A COFFEE I'LL.

THANK YOU KIM.

DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WANT A COPY? PLEASE ASK.

CUZ I KNOW THAT'S HARD TO READ.

SO I SEE ACTUALLY JOCELYN CHAIRS IS THAT I KNOW, BUT KIM.

OKAY, SO AS I I HAVE THIS UP HERE AND AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE IT IN ALL THE MINUTE MEETING NOTES AS WELL.

WHAT WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU IS A, AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION START DATE ON THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS THAT YOU HAVE RECENTLY APPROVED THAT WERE OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND.

SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO FOCUS ON OUR, OUR WATER AND SEWER AND LET YOU KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ISSUE WITH A CONTRACTOR ON BUCK ISLAND, PHASE FIVE FOR SEWER.

WE ARE OUT TO BID, WE ARE PUSHING FOR THE END OF THIS MONTH SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS GOING AGAIN AND FINISH UP THAT PROJECT THAT KIND OF GOES IN TANDEM ALONG WITH OUR SIDEWALK PROJECTS OUT THERE AS WELL.

WE HAVE THE ENGINEERING DESIGN IN HAND, WE'RE WAITING ON THE, THE D A PERMIT.

V A W S A IS JUST ABOUT SIGNED OFF ON IT AND IS READY TO SEND A LETTER UP THERE.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN OUR CONSULTANTS, OUR DESIGN ENGINEERS, AND THE FINAL APPROVAL WITH V A W S A.

SO WE AGAIN, ANTICIPATE THAT MARK HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH, WITH OUR, OUR PARTNERS BACK THERE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

HUM ARE THEY GOING TO HELP US ADDRESS THAT TODAY? I THAT I, I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION YOU CAN ASK.

I WOULD NICE FOR THEM TO HELP US ADDRESS THAT TODAY.

BUT THEY ARE WORKING, THEY ARE WORKING WITH US ON THAT AND ESPECIALLY WITH OUR DESIGN ENGINEERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE KRANZ IN ON THIS.

UH, ADDITIONALLY WE'RE IN THE FINAL, UM, FINAL PERMITTING PARTS OF BI OUR, UM, HISTORIC DISTRICT TWO AND THREE.

SO YOU CAN SEE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT OUR D A C PERMIT WHERE WE'RE WAITING TO BID AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY PUSHING TO GET THOSE OUT TO BID.

WE HAVE A CONTRACTOR WHO JUST EMAILED ME THIS MORNING ASKING ME WHEN THESE ARE COMING OUT.

HE'S EAGER TO BID THEM AND GET THEM STARTED.

SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT HURDLE THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST OF NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSES TO AN RFP THAT WE PUT OUT THERE.

UH, ADDITIONALLY IN TALKING MORE ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT SEWER WE HAVE IN DESIGN PHASE, THE FINAL FOUR, FIVE AND 6 4 5 AND FOUR FIVE AND SIX IS NOT THE END OF EXTENDING SANITARY SEWER WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

IF YOU RECALL, WHEN WE SET UP THESE PHASES, THIS WAS BASED ON WEIGHT PACK, THE WATERSHED ACTION PLAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO PRIORITIZE SEWER EXTENSION AND CONNECTION WITHIN A HUN UH, 500 FOOT BUFFER OF

[01:35:01]

ALL OF OUR WATERFRONT PROPERTIES, WHETHER THEY WERE THE RIVER PROPER OR THE COS.

SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE FUTURE PHASES STILL OUT OF THAT, OUTSIDE OF THAT 500 FOOT BUFFER.

SO THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE'RE DONE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.

YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE FIVE YEAR PROJECTIONS FOR C I P I'VE GOT MARK WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

HOW MANY MORE CONNECTIONS AND EXTENSIONS DO WE NEED? I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING DONE ON EXTENSION, BUT THEN WE'LL REALLY PUSH THAT SUBJECT TO SEWER CONVERSION POLICY AND PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE ASSIST IN CONNECTION OUTSIDE OF THAT JUMP.

I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT KNOW THAT'S AN OPTION.

MARK MAXWELL IS FABULOUS BY THE WAY, CUZ WHO I'VE SENT HIM TO IS JUST WONDERFUL AND HE, OH, I THINK HE ALMOST HAS TO GET HIS LIST IF IT'S 30, 40 OR WHATEVER, AND GET A TEAM TO GO DOOR TO DOOR AT LEAST TO LET THEM KNOW IT'S AVAILABLE.

YES MA'AM.

WE JUST HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON.

IT'S SO MANY GRANTS AND PROGRAMS. I THINK HE COULD KNOCK THAT OUT IN A TWO YEAR.

SO IF SOME VOLUNTEER INTERNS, I DON'T KNOW SOMEBODY TO REALLY EXPLAIN THAT.

EASEMENT, NOT THE EASEMENT PROCESS.

YEAH, SORRY.

MAKING A QUICK NOTE ON THAT.

UH, SO ANYHOW, WE'RE IN DESIGN ON THAT AND WE ARE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON ACQUIRING EASEMENTS AND AS AN UPDATE TO THAT, WE DO HAVE OUR CONTRACTS OUT FOR TWO FIRMS FOR EASEMENT ACQUISITION ASSISTANCE.

BOTH ARE BASED OUT OF COLUMBIA OFFICES.

WE HAVE THC INCORPORATED AND MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT WILL HELP EXPEDITE THAT PART OF THE PROCESS, NOT ONLY WITH SEWER EXTENSION, BUT THEN AS WE'RE MOVING INTO ROADWAY PROJECTS AND AND ADDITIONAL STREET STATE PROJECTS, WE KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED ADDITIONAL EASEMENT ACQUISITIONS THERE AS WELL.

SO, UH, WE'RE HAPPY THAT Y'ALL SUPPORTED THAT AND WE CAN GET THAT GOING AS WELL.

QUICK QUESTION, KIM, SIR, WHEN, WHEN DID WE DECIDE TO USE OUTSIDE HELP? YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME AS FAR AS THE RIGHT OF AWAYS AND STUFF ON THESE SEWER PROJECTS.

SO I DON'T REMEMBER THE FUNDING WAS IMPROVED IN THE BUDGET AND Y'ALL JUST, UM, IN THE CONTRACT JUST CAME THROUGH AND IT'S FOR INSTEAD DOING A PART-TIME.

WE COULD PUT THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET, EITHER DO A PART-TIME POSITION OR CONTRACT IT AND THE TOTAL IN THE BUDGET I THINK WAS ABOUT 40, 45,000.

IT'S LIKE 60,000.

60,000.

UM, AND SO WHAT THEY MOVED FORWARD WITH WAS TRYING TO FIND A CONTRACT BECAUSE TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY PART-TIME TO DO THAT WAS GONNA BE DIFFICULT.

SO THEY'D MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

AND WHAT WOULD BE NICE ABOUT IT IS WE'LL HAVE TWO PARTIES THAT ARE DOING IT SO WE CAN SEND THEM TWO DIRECTIONS AT THE SAME TIME.

INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE PARTY TRYING TO GET EVERYWHERE, WE CAN SAY, ALRIGHT, YOU FOCUS ON THE, YOU FOCUS ON VAULT AND SEND THEM OUT AND GET 'EM, TRY TO GET 'EM MOVING FASTER THAN JUST HAVING ONE PART-TIME PERSON FOCUSING ON, ON IT.

IT'S HARD.

WE DEAL LIKE STAFF, WE DEAL WITH SO MUCH STUFF THAT WE CAN'T REMEMBER AT ALL.

I DO REMEMBER THE CONVERSATIONS AND FRANKLY, WE'LL NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE IF WE DON'T GO DOWN THIS DIRECTION.

IT'LL TAKE FOREVER.

YOU NEED PROFESSIONALS TO GET THERE AS COMMITTED TO THE PROCESS TO GET THE I I I WASN'T KNOCKING THAT BECAUSE I'M, I'M STILL WONDERING WHY IT'S TAKEN SO LONG AND THAT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I'VE SAID THAT AND I'M NOT BEING RUDE OR ANYTHING.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTEN MONEY FOR THIS, PAYING INTEREST ON THE MONEY FOR THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING'S BEING BUILT AROUND US IN SOME OF THESE VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS THAT I'VE BEEN BUMPING MY HEAD UP AGAINST THE WALL FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THESE DONE BECAUSE OUR RIVER IS BEING DEGRADED EVERY DAY THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THEM DONE.

I MEAN, I'M A LOT MORE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE MAKING WHAT WE WANT.

PRETTY MM-HMM.

, IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM, UM, YOU KNOW, I I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE BIDDING OUT THE CONSTRUCTION ON, ON A SEVERAL OF THESE IN JULY.

SO NOW IT'S NOVEMBER AND CONSTRUCTION'S NEXT YEAR, FEBRUARY, IF ALL THE STARS ARE ALIGNED, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALIGNED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.

SO I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, I'M TRYING TO BE OPTIMISTIC, BUT YOU KNOW, THESE, IT JUST SEEMS, UM, HOW ABOUT AN UPDATE ON, ON ACURA RIGHT AWAY? ACQUISITIONS THAT WERE LACKING? I MEAN, I THOUGHT WE WERE ALMOST THERE A YEAR AGO OR I MEAN THERE A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT WITHOUT OWNING, OWNING THEM OUT, RIGHT? THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN SOME OF THE STREETS I KNOW THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ACQUIRED YET, WHO REALLY DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE UM, UM, WHAT THE

[01:40:01]

CAUSE WE'RE NOT ASKED FOR EASEMENTS ON WHAT THE, UM, STIPULATION WAS IN TERMS OF WE ARE TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THOSE ROADS.

AND SO WITHOUT HAVING PEOPLE SIGN OFF ON THAT, THIS IS WHY IT'S, IT'S BEEN SUCH A DELAY AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THERE'S STILL SOME PEOPLE PROBABLY LIKE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SIGN OFF ON IT.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, JURISDICTION JUST KIND OF LIKE OVERRIDE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

UM, FIRST WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNSEL, THE, THE STEPS THAT WE WERE TOLD TO TAKE IS TO TRY TO ACQUIRE THEM AS EASY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH CONDEMNATION, RIGHT? AND LAST STEP WOULD BE TO TAKE CONDEMNATION.

UM, AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH, WE ARE WORKING SO THAT THE ONES FOR PHASE TWO AND THREE THAT WE NEED TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE, WE'RE WORKING TO GET THOSE ACQUIRED.

AND IF WE REACH A POINT WHERE WE'RE READY TO GET THOSE PROJECTS DONE AND WE DON'T HAVE IT, THEN WE'RE GONNA COME TO COUNCIL TO SAY, HEY, WE MAY NEED TO CONDEMN THIS ONE TO MAKE IT WORK.

BUT WE WERE TOLD CONDEMNATION WAS A STEP THAT WAS TO BE SAVED FOR AND TO CLARIFY ON THIS, FOR TWO AND THREE, WE HAVE ALL THE EASEMENTS IN HAND, THEY'RE READY TO GO.

UH, AND AS WE ARE GETTING READY TO ACQUIRE EASTMANS, WHAT WE HAVE DONE ARE VERY SPECIFIC PUBLIC MEETINGS TO THOSE PROJECT AREAS TO DESCRIBE TO THE FOLKS WITHIN THAT SCOPE, THAT PROJECT SCOPE, WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING, WHAT IT IS WE NEED, WHY WE'RE DOING IT, WHAT DOES IT MEAN.

THOSE ARE WELL ATTENDED, ESPECIALLY FOR PHASE ONE, TWO, AND THREE WAS BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL, WAS MARK GOING OUT DOOR TO DOOR AND TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

SO WE DEFINITELY ARE DOING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS, RIGHT AS WE ROLL OUT PRITCHARD STREET DRAINAGE THAT WILL BE COMING UP, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG THE ROAD TO TELL THEM WHY IT'S, WHY WHAT'S HAPPENING, WHY IT'S HAPPENING, AND WHAT WE NEED FROM THEM.

BECAUSE THE OUTREACH PORTION OF IT IS CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY TO SET IT UP SO PEOPLE KNOW.

I THINK YOU NEED TO COME BACK AND GET A REFRESH ON HOW WE FEEL, UM, CONDEMNATION.

QUICKER WE GET THERE, THE BETTER THAT IT IS FOR THE RIVER, THE BETTER IT IS FOR BLUFFTON ITSELF, BUT DON'T JUST BYPASS IT AND LIKE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE IF IT'S THE RIVER, WHICH EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT LIVES IN THIS TOWN EITHER WORKS OFF THAT RIVER, LIKES THE RIVER, MOVED HERE FOR IT.

AND AGAIN, LIKE AMANDA THROWS US UNDER THE BUS AT EVERY PROJECT, THERE'S A POINT THE NIS GOTTA JUST UNDERSTAND, COME TO COUNSEL AND COMPLAIN THAT WE'RE DOING IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TAKING THEIR HOUSE, WE'RE TAKING AN EASEMENT MM-HMM.

AND THEY CAN STILL PUT PUSH US OVER ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN STILL, ANYWAY, JUST LET'S REFRESH BECAUSE I HEAR LARRY, I HEAR BRIDGING IT, COMMUNICATIONS REALLY NOT THERE.

IF I SEE THOSES I'M LISTENING NEXT YEAR I'M HAVE LIKE, WELL, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO GET THROUGH THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW? AND I, I THINK FOR THE MOST PART BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CALLING ME AND SAY, HEY, WHAT, WHEN, WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET OUR SEWER LINE? YOU KNOW, WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET IT? AND I'VE BEEN SAID, IT'S COMING, IT'S COMING, IT'S COMING.

YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS AGO WE GOT THE MONEY.

THAT WAS THE FIRST PROJECT, FIRST PROBLEM.

WHY IT WAS TAKEN SO LONG SECURED THE MONEY WE'RE PAID LAST YEAR WE PAID $165,000 IN INTEREST ON THE MONEY TO DO THE SEWER PROJECTS.

AND I'M A BUSINESSMAN.

THAT AIN'T SMART.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? GET THE JOB DONE BECAUSE THE COST OF DOING THE JOB IS GOING UP EVERY DAY.

UM, AND FOR THE MOST PART, THE PEOPLE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS, I DON'T KNOW WHO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, BUT FOR THE MOST OF THEM THEY, THEY'RE WANTING IT FOR THE SEWER.

WE GET THAT ONE OR TWO, THE GHOST ROAD'S NOT, IT'S NOT ONE OR TWO.

WE KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE BECAUSE WE, WHEN WE HAD UM, ONE OF THE RECENT STORMS AND THE TREE WENT DOWN, UM, THAT ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR ROAD, RESIDENTS ON THAT ROAD DID NOT WANT TO GIVE OVER RIGHTS TO THE TOWN FOR THAT PARTICULAR ROAD.

AND THE CONVERSATION ACTS BEEN MADE.

WELL WE'RE COMING AT TO DO THE, THE TREE, BUT TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT IN OUR, OUR THING TO DO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHTS.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES THAT EVERYONE IS NOT ON BOARD WITH TURNING OVER THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTICULAR ROAD.

AND IT COULD BE A COMBINATION OF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND NECESSARILY THAT THEY CAN GO BACK IN, LIKE LISA SAID, EVENTUALLY ONE DAY PLANT SOMETHING OVER IT.

IF FOR SOME PEOPLE IT DOES BRING UP, UH, MAYBE A FEELING OF WHAT IF WE ARE GIVING THIS UP AND THERE'S BEEN A HISTORY OF THE CLAIMING OF IMMINENT DOMAIN AND STUFF IN OTHER PLACES THAT FOR SOME PEOPLE BRINGS UP A LOT OF BAD UM, UH, TRAUMA OR WHATEVER FROM IT.

SO IT'S NOT JUST LIKE THEY'RE SAYING WE DON'T WANT SEWER.

SOME OF THEM ON THOSE STREETS DO HAVE IT.

SOME PEOPLE JUST UH, DON'T HAVE A GREAT HISTORY WITH WHAT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE IN THE PAST.

I THINK IT HAS TO BE AN APPROACH OF HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT AND GET THE ACCOMMODATION TO UNDERSTAND THAT YES, THE

[01:45:01]

THEY DO.

THERE'S JUST THE HISTORY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ALONG WITH THAT AS WE'RE MAKING THE, UM, A CLAIM THAT WE, WE NEED TO APPLY THESE ROADS TO DO THE WORK.

I AGREE.

ARE YOU SPEAKING OF ROADS THAT ARE WITHIN THE, THE BOAT ROADS, THE ONES THAT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE INLAND, THAT WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE ON THE WATERS EDGE, RIGHT? THESE PROJECTS ARE ADDRESSING THE CLOSEST TO THE RIVER FIRST, RIGHT? THE LIST THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.

YEAH, I, I AGREE WITH BRIDGET AND, AND WE'RE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP, WELL IN MY OWN, MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, I'VE TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND THEN THEY UNDERSTAND THE STORM DRAIN.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE SEWER AND THE WATER, BUT THEN THE LAST THING THEY DID IS WE NEEDED ELECTRIC EASEMENTS.

ELECTRIC UTILITY EASEMENTS FOR THE BURIAL LIVED OVERHEAD GROUND, UH, THE OVERHEAD BURIAL GROUND PROGRAM.

AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE THOSE.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD FOR EVERYTHING CUZ WE'RE DEALING WITH WATER SEWER, WE'RE DEALING WITH ELECTRIC, WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, STREETSCAPE, WE'RE DEALING WITH GHOST ROADS.

THERE'S A WHOLE LITANY OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH THAT WE HAVE.

I'M WITH THE MAYOR, WE HAVE TO JUST SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT YES, THE RIGHT OF WAY AGENTS WILL MOVE THE BALL THAT MUCH FASTER TO GET US THERE.

WE'LL DEFINITELY COME TALK TO YOU SOME MORE ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON COMBINATION.

WHAT IS YOUR, I THINK YOU'RE HEARING IT, BUT I THINK I'M PICKING OF WHAT IS THE, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE ON THIS IS TIMING UP THIS GROUP.

WHAT IS THEIR, WHAT IS THEIR TIMING OF GETTING 90% OF THIS DONE AND WHAT IS THE REMAINING, LET'S ALL TRY TO STAY ON TARGET WITH TIMING AND WE'LL GET THAT FROM THEM AS THEY'RE SIGNING THEIR CONTRACTS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'LL BE TURNING IN, TURNING IN THEIR SCOPES AND, AND WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM.

SO WE'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST WITH UM, BRIDGET, IT'S COMMUNITY AND THESE ARE GONNA BE OUT.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS, BUT I'M GUESSING THEY'RE NOT HERE.

SO LET'S INTRODUCTIONS HAND HOLDING BECAUSE IT'S GONNA COME AT PUBLIC COMMENT, IT'S GONNA COME IN, IT'S GONNA COME AT HPC, IT'S GONNA COME AT US.

SO, AND IF WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO.

IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH JUST TO GET IT UP.

I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

IS THE EASEMENT, ARE THERE UH, A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UH, REJECTING IT OR ARE THERE JUST A FEW AND IS IT THE FEW PREVENTING THE WHOLE THING FROM HAPPENING? AND CAN YOU, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW POLITICALLY YOU COULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE FEW AND MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SPECIAL, UH, MEETINGS WITH THEM, SOME UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TAKING YOUR PROPERTY, WE'RE JUST PUTTING AN EASEMENT IN FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.

WE'VE DONE THAT AND THEY REFUSED.

WE'RE HAVING NOW.

SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT JUST REFUSED.

WHY, BUT THERE'S JUST A FEW BUT THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PERCENTAGE WISE, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PROJECT IT IS.

SO I CAN'T, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH PROJECT, BUT IF Y'ALL HEAR THE QUESTION, CAN Y'ALL HEAR? IF YOU CAN'T HEAR A QUESTION, RAISE YOUR HAND.

I'LL REPEAT IT.

UM, SO TO THAT END, YES, UH, AT THAT POINT WHEN WE'VE WORKED AND WORKED AND WORKED IS WHEN WE COME TO THEM TO ASK FOR A CONDEMNATION AND THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT ARE THERE.

SO THERE'S JUST A COUPLE PERCENTAGE WISE JUST I'M JUST PLAYING PERCENTAGE USUALLY.

USUALLY JUST A COUPLE.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO HOLD IT ALL UP.

SO GET IT TO US.

BUT WHAT ARE WE, WHERE ARE WE NOW SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE TWO OUT OF 10 THAT ARE SAYING NO OR DO WE HAVE TWO? IT DEPENDS.

AGAIN, IT DEPENDS ON THE PROJECT.

SO FOR TWO AND THREE WE'VE GOT 'EM ALL.

WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THEM FOR THREE OR I'M SORRY FOR FOUR, FIVE AND SIX.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OUT THERE STILL THAT WE NEED ALONG LAWRENCE SPRING FALL WATER.

SO YOU KNOW, MARK'S BEEN WORKING, WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS AND REACHING OUT TO THEM, STANDING ON THEIR DOORSTEPS, EMAILING THEM.

MY SUGGESTION IS GET US THE NUMBERS AND IF IT'S FOR WATER, IF IT'S FOR SOMETHING THAT 28,000 PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, NOT LITTLE ON THE ROADS, WE'RE NOT TAKING, IT'S NOT TAKINGS.

AND I GET BRIDGET'S CUZ I HEAR IT TOO.

MM-HMM , IT IS A BLASTED EASEMENT THAT WE'RE NOT TEARING DOWN THEIR HOUSE AND WE'RE NOT PUTTING UP.

I MEAN IT AT SOME POINT I THINK BRING IT TO US AND LET'S MOVE ON.

UNDERSTAND.

LET ME UH, JUSTICE, UM, BEFORE WE HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE WITH WATER AND SEWER, GAVE COUNCIL A LIST OF NAMES AND ADDRESS THE PEOPLE THAT HAD SOME RESERVATIONS.

COUNCILMAN WOULD, HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE WE ALL GOTTA COMMIT TO THIS.

I DIDN'T GET ANY LIST OF NAMES SO I NEED THAT LIST.

IN A RESERVATION SOMETIMES, UM, STAFF, UM, NEEDS TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP THEM WITH, WITH THESE PROJECTS.

AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO SOME OF THOSE WHO MAY, UM, BE

[01:50:01]

APPRECIATE THAT.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.

YOU GOT A TOUGH JOB, BUT I TOTALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH LARRY'S FRUSTRATION CAUSE IT IS, AND I KNOW YOUR ISSUES, BUT THOSE ISSUES ARE SLOWLY GOING AWAY AND IT'S ONLY TAKEN AT ALL OF YOU BECAUSE HERE WE'RE GONNA SIT AND WE'RE GONNA ADD 10 MORE OR WHATEVER AND I JUST THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET OVERWHELMED IF WE DON'T ALL WORK TOGETHER, GET THIS CLEAN UP.

SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT.

YES, DEFINITELY.

UM, SOME OTHER PROJECTS I THINK THAT ARE ARE HIGH INTEREST.

WE HAVE THE ROAD DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.

THIS IS THROUGH JS CONSTRUCTION.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE JS UP HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND YOU'RE ALSO GONNA SEE JS CONSTRUCTION START DATES LINING UP.

JOHN IS GOING AHEAD AND, AND MASSING UP HIS, NOT ONLY HIS EQUIPMENT BUT HIS SUPPLIES.

AND SO THAT'LL HELP HIM KICK ALL OF THESE PROJECTS OFF SIMULTANEOUSLY.

THIS IS AT THE BAND OF BUCK ISLAND ROAD TO HELP UPGRADE THE CROSS PIPES UNDERNEATH THE ROAD AND HOPEFULLY ASSIST WITH DRAINAGE TO A CERTAIN STORM EVENT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE WE SURPASS, ONCE WE SURPASS A CERTAIN LEVEL, WE'RE GONNA FLOOD REGARDLESS.

UM, SO FOR INSTANCE, A TROPICAL EVENT, EVERY, EVERY PIPE IS ONLY DESIGNED TO SEW MUCH CAPACITY, BUT WE, WE ANTICIPATE FOR THE, THE MORE REGULAR 95 PERCENTILE STORM THAT WILL, THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE DRAINAGE IN THAT AREA.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT TO BE STARTING IN MID MONTH OF NEXT MONTH.

UM, ANOTHER ONE THAT'S OF HIGH INTEREST IN TALKING ABOUT SEWER AND PARTNERSHIPS AND BJW, S A THAT WE PARTNERED WITH THEM AND IT WAS FANTASTIC ALONG WITH THE COUNTY TO GO AHEAD AND PUT OUT UM, AN RIA SKIP GRANT, WHICH IS PART OF THE ARPA FUNDS FOR SEWER EXTENSION AND CONNECTION.

AND THE AREA WHERE WE CONTINUALLY GET MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACT POSITIVE HITS FOR HUMAN DNA, FUTURE DNA UP IN THE STONY CREEK AND PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD AREA.

UM, AND THAT IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS OUR COMMITMENT AS WE'RE WAITING FOR DETERMINATION ON THE GRANT SUBMITTAL.

SO WE ANTICIPATE, UM, THE, THE JANUARY FEBRUARY ON ALL THESE GRANT SUBMITTALS BEING NOTIFIED WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA BE FUNDED OR NOT.

HOW MUCH IS THAT GRANT? UM, UM, WELL THE TOTAL PROJECT THAT WE HAVE HERE WAS 341,000.

WE WENT FOR THE FULL PROJECT PRICE, WHICH WAS WHAT, FIVE 5 MILLION? DOES THAT SOUND? VERY, SO SO WHERE ARE WE WITH, WITH OUR AGREEMENT WITH BEAUFORT JAPER WATER AND SEWER, SINCE THEY HERE BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN DOING EQUAL THIRDS, WE'VE ALREADY, WE ALL APPLIED THAT WE WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO THAT.

SO INSTEAD OF WAITING ON A GRANT, LET'S GET THE WORK STARTED AND, AND GET THE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

SO WE FINALLY GOT THE LETTER COMMITMENT.

THE COUNTY WAS THE HOLDOUT, FINALLY GOT THE COMMITMENT LETTER FROM THE COUNTY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE PUT IN FOR THE ARPA GRANT BECAUSE UP UNTIL THAT POINT THE COUNTY HAD NOT COMMITTED THEIR PORTION OF THE FUNDING.

SO, SO THE COUNTY HAS NOW AGREED TO THAT.

UM, AND WITH THE ARPA FUNDS WE'RE, UM, TRYING TO GET THE CALLS FOR EVERYBODY REDUCED.

UM, CAUSE THEY PUT 900 MILLION FROM THE STATE INTO THIS PROGRAM.

AND SO WE ARE GOING IN TO TRY CUZ WE'RE WORRIED THAT WHAT WE INITIAL ESTIMATES WERE, WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH PROJECTS COMING IN OF BUDGET WAS WHAT THE INITIAL ESTIMATE WAS MAYBE HIGHER.

SO WE WERE HOPING THIS GRANTS WOULD HELP COVER THE COST FOR THAT PROJECT.

WELL, I'M, I'M, THAT'S GREAT.

BUT SOMETIME GRANTS END UP COSTING YOU MORE THAN WHAT THEY'RE WORTH WAITING ON WITH THE STRINGS THAT ARE ATTACHED AND ALL THE, THE YEAR OR TWO THAT PASSES WAITING ON, WE'VE HAD TO NOT EXCEL AT GRANTS BEFORE FOR THE VERY REASON OF D O T.

WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR STREET PROJECT OUT HERE, WHEN WE RAISED THE, THE STORM WATER UTILITY FEES, THAT MONEY WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE SEWER PROJECTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE TOLD THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S WHAT YOU, YOU GUYS PRESENTED TO US.

THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED ON.

THAT'S WHEN WE GOT THE BOND.

WAS A 4 MILLION BOND.

WAS IT $5 MILLION BOND THAT'S STILL SITTING THERE, THAT WE'RE PAYING INTEREST ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS JUST KEEPS GETTING KICKED DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER IT'S COUNTY OR WHETHER IT'S PUIT, JASPER, WHETHER IT'S OUR TOWN.

I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS AND BATTLING IT.

WE HAVE YEARS OF DOCUMENTATION SAYING THAT WE'RE GETTING HUMAN DNA IN OUR D RIVER.

WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO DO? SPEND THE MONEY.

IT'S THE PEOPLE'S MONEY THAT DON'T BELONG.

I MEAN, IT'S TAXPAYERS MONEY.

WE'RE DEVON WE'RE PAYING THEM FOR, WE'VE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A BATTLE TO GET ALL THAT DONE.

[01:55:01]

I MEAN, DEVELOPERS ARE BUILDING HOUSES HUNDREDS AT THE TIME, ALL AROUND US.

IT'S NOT TAKING 'EM FIVE YEARS, 10 YEARS OR 20 YEARS LIKE WE'VE BEEN BATTLING.

LET'S GET THE WORK DONE.

I, I DON'T MEAN TO SOUND FRUSTRATED, BUT I AM, YOU ARE FRUSTRATED.

SO LET, LET ME HELP YOU WITH THE FRUSTRATION.

IF WE HAVE FUNDS ALREADY, CAN WE, WE CAN'T GET STARTED WITH THOSE FUNDS UNTIL THE OTHER MONEYS COME IN.

IT DEPENDS ON THE GRANT.

WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR PARTNERS AND SEE WHAT THEIR COMFORT LEVEL IS, BECAUSE THIS IS A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN, THAN WE CLEARLY WERE HEADED.

UM, IF WE EXPEND FUND GRANT NOTIFICATION, NONE OF THOSE WILL COUNT TOWARD OUR REQUIRED MATCH.

IF OUR PARTNERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH EXPENDING FUNDS AND MAYBE NOT, NOT GETTING THEM REIMBURSED OR HAVING THEM COUNT TOWARD OUR REQUIRED MATCH, WE CAN TOTALLY GET STARTED ON THAT.

BUT WE HAD AT THE PARTNER LEVEL SAID, WE'RE GONNA WAIT FOR GRANT NOTIFICATION AND THEN WE'LL KNOW WHETHER OR NOT OUR EXTENDED FUNDS WILL HELP MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS.

JUST AS YOU BROUGHT UP COUNCILMAN TUMOR, EVERY GRANT HAS OBLIGATIONS WITH IT.

SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM.

SO PARTNERS, I THINK COUNCIL IS THE POLICY MAKERS ON BUDGET.

I DON'T REMEMBER US BEING ASKED ABOUT THE GRANT.

SO, SO I THINK FRED, I THINK LARRY WOULD'VE SAID THERE, LET'S NOT EVEN GET PEOPLE THINKING WHEN WE REALLY HAVE ALREADY COMMITTED, PROBABLY FOUR DIFFERENT ELECTIONS AGO.

I KNOW THE COUNTY'S TOTALLY CHANGED ABOUT, AND I, AND I THINK THE LADY AT STONY CREEK IS NOT EVEN, I REMEMBER SITTING WITH HER.

SHE'S REALLY DEDICAT CONNECT.

UM, BUT THAT, THAT'S 15 YEARS AGO.

SHE'S 15 YEARS OLDER AND SHE'S PROBABLY 75 OR 80.

BUT, UM, I WISH WE WOULD'VE KNOWN.

CAUSE THIS IS, THERE ARE FIVE OR SIX PROJECTS HERE THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE GONNA SEE THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE.

IF WE DON'T GET STARTED AND BEAUFORT CHESTER MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND.

BEAUFORT COUNTY MAY CHANGE THEIR MIND.

AND I, I JUST HATE THE GRANT GOT PUT IN THERE WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT.

BEFORE YOU HAVE EVERYONE THINKING THEY MAY HAVE, WHAT IS IT, 500,000 YOU JUST SAID WAS THE GRANT.

OH, FIVE AND A HALF MILLION.

FIVE AND A HALF MILLION TO COVER IT ALL.

WHY WOULDN'T PEOPLE WAIT? BUT YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO GET IT STARTED BECAUSE MADE A DATE FOR THE GRANT.

I'M SORRY.

IS THERE A DATE ANTICIPATED TO FIND OUT WHETHER WE, UM, BWS A IS CURRENTLY HERE JANUARY, FEBRUARY FOR NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS.

AGAIN, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO NOW TO BE READY, NOT JUST SAY ON HOLD BECAUSE IN JANUARY WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.

I I PERSONALLY, I I CANNOT SEE US NOT WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THAT.

I, AND I WAS GONNA SAY, WHAT YOU JUST ANSWERED IT FOR ME IS A PARTNERSHIP NOW.

IT'S NOT JUST US WORKING UNILATERALLY.

IT'S, IT'S TWO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND THEN THE TOWN MANAGER JUST LAID OUT AND I UNDERSTAND OUR FRUSTRATION.

THIS IS, THIS CONVERSATION STARTED SEVEN YEARS AGO.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT STONY ITSELF.

WE HAD FUNDING SET ASIDE AT ONE POINT AND WE, AND WE LIKE, WHOA, WE'RE NOT GOING UNILATERALLY HERE.

BUT, BUT ANYWAY, I, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S FRUSTRATING.

UM, I THINK WE HAVE TO SEE IT THROUGH.

UM, I DON'T THINK OUR PARTNERS ARE GONNA WALK AWAY FROM A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.

THAT'S JUST ME.

AND THEN THE TOWN MANAGER JUST OUTLINED THE FACT THAT WE WERE WAITING FOR BEAUFORT TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENT AND WHEN THIS GRANT CAME UP, THEY JUMPED ON BOARD.

SO, YOU KNOW, HERE WE GO.

BUT I, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST A MATTER OF A FEW MORE MONTHS AND THIS THING WILL UNFOLD THE WAY IT'S INTENDED TO.

CAN WE NOT START GETTING IT SHOVEL READY? I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT NOW.

AND I GUESS D JWS A IS THE ONE THAT APPLIED FOR THE GRANT.

IS THAT CAUSE IS THAT WHY THEY ARE GONNA LET US? UM, CAUSE ULTIMATELY THEY'LL BE THE ONE TO MAINTAIN THE SYSTEM.

THEY'LL BE THE OWNER OF THE SYSTEM.

NOW YOU SEE THE FIRST 10 PROJECT METERS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT AND IT'S ONLY, THE RIVER HASN'T STOPPED RUNNING.

I MEAN, THINGS ARE, THE BUILDERS HAVEN'T STOPPED BUILDING AND THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE LONGER THAN THAT.

IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE I FIRST 2008.

CUZ I REMEMBER SITTING WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE, THERE'S A MAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD.

THERE WERE PEOPLE SAYING WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN CERTAIN AREAS AND IT WAS FRUSTRATING.

AND THAT WAS 2000, IT WAS 14 YEARS AGO.

IMAGINE WHAT HE SEES OVER 14 YEARS.

WELL, AND WE'RE STILL ISSUING PERMITS TO PUT IN MORE SEPTA RATE FIELDS IN THESE CRITICAL AREAS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THERE, THERE'S COMMON KIND OF, IT'S FRUSTRA TO SEE.

IT'S FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE WRITING AND YOU SEE IT AND YOU SWIM IT AND YOU VOTE IT ESPECIALLY.

SO, UM,

[02:00:02]

SO YEAH, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THAT SPRING MARCH.

AND WHERE IS OUR REPRESENTATION IN COLUMBIA THAT CAN HELP US? WHERE IS ALL OF THAT? UM, BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM TOO.

OUR LEGISLATORS, THIS IS KEY TO THEM.

WE RECEIVE SUPPORT LETTERS FROM THEM AND THEY'RE AWARE THAT WE'VE APPLIED ON CALLS.

AND I TALKED TO BILL, UM, WHEN WE MET LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE FORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE SURE HE WAS AWARE THAT WE WERE STILL WAITING FOR THIS AND SEE IF HE CAN HELP PUSH IT THROUGH THIS FALLS.

IT FALLS UNDER HIS COMMITTEE.

AND I TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY AND, UM, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH HIM.

IT'S, WE'VE APPLIED FOR THE GRANT OR BE FOR JAPER.

CAN'T BE FOR JASPER.

APPLIED.

WE HELPED WRITE, WE, WE PRETTY MUCH LEAD, LEAD IN WRITING THE GRANT TO GET IT DONE.

UM, BUT WE ALL GOT, BUT BJ W S A IS TECHNICALLY THEY'LL OWN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S SEWER.

SO THEY ARE THE APPLICANT AND THEY ARE THE OWNER OF THE SYSTEM.

UM, AND SO THEY WILL MANAGE THE, THEY WILL BE THE PROJECT MANAGERS ON THIS MOVING FORWARD.

WE WILL JUST BE PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR OUR PORTION OF IT.

SO WILL THE COUNTY.

SO THIS IS TECHNICALLY A PROJECT WE'RE SUPPORTING, BUT THIS IS TECHNICALLY NOT OUR CAPITAL PROJECT.

THIS WILL BE, THEY WILL BE THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.

ONE, ONE LAST QUESTION FOR ME.

HOW MUCH WOULD THIS PROJECT COST? IT WAS LAST ESTIMATED AT FIVE AND A HALF MILLION LAST, AND THAT WAS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET YEAR.

THE PROJECT ESTIMATE'S UP TO 7.9 MILLION AND WE APPLIED FOR 5.925 WITH A LOCAL MATCH OF 1.975.

THAT WAS THE MAIN REASON WE APPLIED FOR THE GRAIN IS BECAUSE WE ASSUMED THAT WE ARE ASSUMING THAT THE COST IS GONNA BE HIGHER THAN WHAT THE COMMITMENT WAS BECAUSE CAN UNKNOWN WITH WHAT WE'RE INTO ITS DESIGN AND WE GET INTO IT.

IF WE WENT BACK AND WE HAD TO ASK FOR A COMMITMENT, RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S COMMITTED FOR ABOUT 1.8 MILLION.

IF THAT GOES UP TO TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, THEN WE MAY NOT GET THE COMMITMENT FOR THAT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT IN FOR THE GRANT BECAUSE IT WILL HELP MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GONNA, THIS PROJECT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE COST COMES IN AT, WILL GET COMPLETED.

JUST, JUST AN ADDITIONAL ON THAT, THE PROJECT DIDN'T HAVE A COMMITMENT, A WRITTEN COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY UNTIL WE STARTED THIS PROCESS FOR THE GRANT.

SO, UM, WE HAD NO MOVEMENT TO GO THROUGH WITH THE PARTNERSHIP ON IT UNTIL WE STARTED THE PROCESS FOR THE GRANT.

UH, WE GOT THE COMMITMENT LETTER FROM THE COUNTY AND EVERYONE'S ON BOARD.

IT'S A SIGNIFICANT GRANT THAT ACCOUNTS FOR A GREAT MAJORITY OF THE COST OF THE PROJECT THAT YOU'RE ALL AWARE THE COSTS OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ON, ON THE DOCKET TO BE DONE.

UH, WE'RE EXPECTING MANY OF 'EM TO COME IN, IN EXCESS OF WHAT WE'VE BUDGETED.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE AS MUCH OF OUR, UH, DEBT FUNDING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASED COST OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPY IN THE MARKETS.

WELL, I COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR LOOKING FOR OTHER MEANS TO HAVE TOOLS IN THE BOX, BUT JUST KEEP US INFORMED SO WE DON'T HAVE TO BE FRUSTRATED.

AGREED.

SO MOVING ON TO OUT OF THE, THE HORIZONTAL PROJECTS GOING VERTICAL, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR FACILITIES, I THINK SOME OTHER ONES THAT ARE, ARE HIGH INTEREST, OBVIOUSLY THE SQUARE POT CARRIAGE HOUSE AND BEGINNING THE RESTORATION, RENOVATION OF THAT PARTICULAR, UH, STRUCTURE THAT IS ANTICIPATED WITH A GROUNDBREAKING OF EARLY JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.

UH, ADDITIONALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SARAH RILEY HOOKS COTTAGE, WE ARE WAITING ON THE, UH, QUOTE FROM METS RIGHT NOW FOR THE STABILIZATION AND ANTICIPATE THAT THIS WEEK AS WELL.

UH, ADDITIONALLY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MASTER PLAN.

SO JK TILLER IS WORKING ON THAT CURRENTLY AND WE EXPECT AND HOPE TO BRING THAT TO YOU IN JANUARY'S TOWN COUNCIL, QUARTERLY C I P WORKSHOP TO GO OVER SOME IDEAS THAT, THAT HE CAME, THAT THEY'RE GONNA COME UP WITH, UH, THAT ALSO HAD PUBLIC INPUT THROUGH A SURVEY DURING THE ARTS AND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL.

AND BASED ON OUR LAST WORKSHOP DISCUSSION, SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT COUNCIL HAD TOO.

SO WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO YOU.

UM, ANY, I MEAN THAT'S A REALLY HIGH LEVEL, QUICK OVERVIEW ON THOSE.

THOSE, UM, WILL THAT BE BROUGHT TO US, KIM, DURING THE, UM, THE JANUARY MEETING WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, JK TILLER ASSOCIATES OR WILL YOU SHARE THOSE RESULTS WITH US PRIOR TO THAT? UM, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE AND SHARE THEM WITH YOU.

IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD LIKE THEM SOONER THAN LATER.

WELL, I BE IN, I REMEMBER THAT WE WERE SERVING AT THE PETER PUT 'EM IN YOUR REPORT PER COUNSEL.

THAT WAY PUBLIC HAS IT.

GREAT IDEA.

A COUPLE OF OTHER BIG ONES COMING FORWARD.

WE CAN DO THAT IN OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

UH,

[02:05:01]

OYSTER FACTORY PARK AND THE PARKING LOT EXPANSION THAT WILL START AGAIN, JS CONSTRUCTION THAT WILL START IN JANUARY.

WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW RIVERSIDE PART BARN SITE.

THIS IS THAT HORIZONTAL GROUNDWORK FOR DRY AND PUTTING IN DRY UTILITIES, PARKING, THAT KIND OF, UM, INITIAL GROUNDWORK, LITERALLY, UH, WITH JS CONSTRUCTION.

AGAIN, ALSO BEGINNING AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY FOR CONSTRUCTION.

UH, MOVING FORWARD WE ALSO, ALONG WITH TRACY AND HAS GOT SOME GREAT TRACTION GOING FORWARD ON ALWAYS EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY CAMERAS AND OUR IT CAPABILITIES AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S COMING UP EARLY 2023 FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SO I'M GONNA BE ON GRANTS AGAIN.

YOU HAVE LINEAR TRAIL THAT'S BEEN BUDGETED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT REALLY FOCUSED LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT NOW IT'S ON HOLD FOR GRANT FUNDING.

JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT WHOLE AREA UTILIZES, SO.

CAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE GONNA KICK IT TO 2324 AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ADD MORE PROJECTS.

AND IF WE HAD BUDGETED FOR IT OKAY.

AND WE ALL PROVE THE BUDGET, I WOULD SUGGEST LET'S GET SOME PROJECTS COMPLETED.

AND WITH THAT, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, SO I THINK YOU'RE GONNA GIVE US AN UPDATE IN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR, FOR SPEC.

YOU'RE GONNA GIVE US A LIST OF HANGING EASEMENTS FOR HISTORIC DISTRICT AND THOSE ROADS MM-HMM.

AND THEN GET SOME DATE TO US ON WHEN THIS COMPANY FEELS THEY'RE GONNA BE LEADING FORWARD IN THE PROCESS OF THEIR ALL.

OR WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT WITH CONDEMNATION AND IS THAT EVERYTHING I GOT? AND KIM HAVE A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO CT PROJECTS AND I HEAR NOTICE OF FRUSTRATIONS IN TERMS OF THE DELAY OR NOT STARTING CERTAIN PROJECTS.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PROJECTS GOING ON HERE AND KNOWING WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF, UM, EVERYONE POST PANDEMIC AND ISSUES WITH SUPPLY AND EVEN THE DEMAND, UM, OF THESE SERVICES.

ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING CREATIVELY TO KIND OF HELP OFFSET THAT IN THE SENSE OF WE KNOW THAT THE, THE PRICES ARE GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, AT MARKET RATE, THEY'RE GONNA BE HIGH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO, IF IT'S A PROJECT THAT REQUIRES PURCHASING CERTAIN THINGS, WHETHER IT'S PIPING OR WHATEVER ELSE, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PURCHASE CERTAIN THINGS IN ADVANCE AS WE'RE WAITING, MAYBE STORE THEM, UM, SOMEWHERE SAFE SO THAT AT LEAST WE CAN BEGIN OR START SOME THINGS IN PHASES OPPOSED TO WAITING TO GET THE ENTIRE FUNDING FOR IT? OR WAITING, UM, OR FOR CONTRACTORS WAITING ON, ON OTHER THINGS TO START, LIKE WE CAN START DOING THINGS INCREMENTALLY AT LEAST, AND THAT YES, MA'AM.

AND SO WHAT I'VE ASKED THE PROJECT MANAGERS TO DO, ESPECIALLY MARK, UM, CUZ HE'S GOT SIDEWALKS, HE'S GOT PIPING, UH, ANY OF THIS HORIZONTAL GROUNDWORK THAT WE HAVE DESIGNED ENOUGH TO THE POINT TO KNOW QUANTITIES IS TO PULL THOSE QUANTITIES TOGETHER.

B J W S A HAS OFFERED TO HELP US ACQUIRE IT.

WE'RE SUCH SMALL POTATOES THAT IN THE, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A HUGE PHASE DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE DROPPING THE BUCKET FOR SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

THE, THE, THE BIG PURCHASERS ARE GONNA GET THAT.

SO IF WE CAN PIGGYBACK ON ONE OF THEIR PURCHASES, THAT HELPS US.

AND, UM, JOE MAN, TUIT, WHO, WHO'S WELL REPRESENTED TODAY, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

UH, HE COULDN'T BE HERE HAS, HE'S NOT GONNA BE HERE, BUT HE'S NOT GONNA BE HERE.

BUT HE'S MADE THE COMMITMENT, AND I'M SAYING IT VERBALLY TO EVERYBODY ON PUBLIC RECORD, UH, HAS MADE THE COMMITMENT THAT YES, THEY WOULD HELP US, UM, IN PURCHASING OUR SUPPLIES.

SO WE'RE THAT'S IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW, RIGHT? I'M ASKING CAUSE I KNOW WE DECIDED TO LIKE, UM, LAST YEAR SOMETIME AT ONE OF OUR MEETINGS ON GOING AHEAD AND, UM, FULLY PUTTING THE PRICES OF THESE WITH THE, THE TIP BONDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE NOT PIECING PRODUCTS, I GUESS AS WE WERE RIGHT.

THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND JUST GO FOR THE FUNDING THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT AND START.

DO THAT WITH ASHLEY, BUT SHE CAME UP A FURTHER NICE TO SEE EVERYONE COMING.

WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT JUST CAME INTO THE ROOM BEHIND.

KENNETH, WOULD YOU GET UP AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF PLEASE? HI, I'M TIN WITH THANK YOU.

COME IN THE ROOM.

I'M UP IN THE ROOM.

YOU THE BACK WHEN YOU COME IN, LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT EVERYONE THAT YOU'RE HERE.

SO IT'S KINDA GONNA

[02:10:01]

IT'S THAT'S ENCOURAGED AND INTERESTED IN, IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I THINK IT'S VERY HEALTHY.

IT'S ALSO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

GWEN IS.

THANK YOU GWEN, FOR BEING ON THAT.

I'M JOHN, I'M SORRY I'M OVER.

WELL, Y'ALL KNOW THE QUESTIONS, SO COME ON FROM JASPER'S UP NEXT, RIGHT?

[V. Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation Update - John O'Toole, Executive Director]

I'M OVER WITH YOU SEAN.

O YOU'RE RIGHT.

I HAD MARK THROUGH HIM ALREADY.

UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

UH, UH, MAYOR, UH, IS ON OUR BOARD, UH, MY CHAIR PERSON, ASHLEY FEASTS HERE.

UM, IT'S REALLY OUR PLEASURE TO BE DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TOWN OF BOSTON.

AM I SHARING THIS? IM YOU GOT, OKAY.

I GRAB IT AND IT MOVES, SO THAT'S GOOD.

UH, THIS IS OUR, UH, OUR MANTRA.

I, UH, JUST CAME BACK FROM, UH, UH, NEW YORK, UH, YESTERDAY.

AND, UM, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN BLUFFTON, UH, PROJECTS REALLY WELL WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

UH, OUR FOCUS, UH, REMAINS IN THESE AREAS.

I THINK IT FITS REALLY WELL WITH, UH, BLUFFTON.

I WILL SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, WE WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT GROWTH AND, UH, WITH THE, UH, REACH RECENT ADVENT OF THE, UH, UH, OPEN SPACE, UH, REFERENDUM, UH, BEING SUCCESSFUL ON ELECTION DAY EIGHT DAYS AGO.

UH, THE PRESSURE, UH, IS ON COMMUNITIES LIKE BLUFF AND COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT BUFORD COUNTY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING.

AND SO, UH, I, UH, I, UH, WILL BE MOVING FORWARD, OR OUR BOARD WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH A REQUEST TO COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, TO CREATE, UH, SITES AND PRODUCT IN THE COUNTY, UH, THAT CAN, UH, HOST A BALANCE OF COMMUNITY, A SCALE OF COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE, UH, LOVE ABOUT THIS REGION TODAY.

AND, UH, IF PEOPLE CAN FIND EMPLOYMENT IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, THAT CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE PRESSURE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THAT YOU WERE JUST DISCUSSING.

UH, ALL OF OUR TARGETS, UH, REMAIN CLEAN, UH, AND WE THINK SCALABLE, COMPATIBLE WITH, UH, THE COMMUNITY.

I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE DONE, UH, OVER, UH, 45 PROJECTS AND TO DATE, WE HAVEN'T HAD, UH, AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP IMPOSE A PROJECT.

WE DO, UH, IN FACT, UH, WHEN WE GET A PROBLEMATIC OR QUESTIONABLE PROJECT, WE USUALLY BRING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS IN TO LOOK AT, UH, THE BUSINESS MODEL TO SEE IF IT'S COMPATIBLE, UH, WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE HAVEN'T, UH, HAD A, UH, NOT IN MY BACKYARD KIND OF SITUATION WITH ANY PROJECTS WE, WE HAVE DONE.

SO I, I THINK THAT'S, UH, UH, TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE OUR EAR TO THE GROUND AND KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S LOOKING FOR.

UM, I'LL, UH, GO THROUGH IT AS, UH, AS I, I SIT HERE OR STAND HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

UH, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS NOW FOR FIVE YEARS IN BEAUFORD COUNTY AND HAVE BOOKED OVER QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PROJECTS.

UH, SOME, UH, JUST OVER 1200, UH, UH, JOBS.

UH, UH, BOTH RETAINED IN, UH, UH, NEW JOBS TO THE AREA AVERAGING, UH, UH, 40, UH, 46,750, UH, DOLLARS A YEAR PER JOB.

AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING A LOT OF, UH, INCENTIVES, UH, BACK TO COMPANIES IN THE REGION, UH, UH, AND, AND ACTUALLY ARRANGE FOR FI THOSES AT THE, UH, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

SO THAT'S, UH, SOMETHING WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THOUGH.

IN INCENTIVES AND GRANTS.

SO THAT'S ACROSS THE COUNTY.

UH, OVER FIVE YEARS.

LEFTON PUT $115,000 INTO OUR ORGANIZATION.

AND, UH, UH, JUST LOOKING AT IT LAST NIGHT, WE'VE, UH, BOOKED OVER 23 MILLION IN, UH, OUR PROJECTS, 156 JOBS AVERAGING, UH, 55,833 A YEAR.

SO WE, UH, CHARLIE AND I, CHARLIE STONE AND I, UH, OUR, OUR REAL JOY IN DOING THIS WORK IS, UH, BELIEVING THAT WE TRANSFORM PEOPLE'S LIVES AND HELP FAMILIES, UH, REAL ESTATE.

UH, SOME HUNDRED AND 40, UH, 4,000, UH, UH, NEW AND ABSORB ABSORBED SQUARE FEET FOR THIS DIVERSE ECONOMY THAT OUR BOARD ASKED US TO FOCUS ON.

AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY TO BLUFFTON, UH, UH, JUST UNDER, UH, $700,000

[02:15:01]

UH, UH, THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE PLANE AS I WAS LANDING IN LAGUARDIA YESTERDAY.

UH, BUT, UH, BEING IN NEW YORK AND, UH, ON A FRIDAY, I WAS UP IN BOSTON.

UH, BLUFFTON IN PARTICULAR, UH, IS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD CONSIDER, UH, EXPANDING OPERATIONS.

UH, UH, ONE COMPANY, UH, IS LOOKING TO, UH, CREATE CALL CENTERS, WHICH MIGHT FIT INTO SOME, UH, AVAILABLE SPACE, UH, IN, IN BLUFF.

UH, ANOTHER COMPANY IS SECURITY COMPANY, HAS OPERATIONS IN NEW JERSEY.

IT'S MY THREE MINUTES , UH, BUT I'LL TRY TO SPEAK QUICKER.

UH, BUT, UM, UH, UH, IS A, UH, A COMPANY WITH OPERATIONS CENTER, NEW JERSEY, UH, ISRAELI, UH, UH, BASE TECHNOLOGY SECURITY COMPANY, UH, USING DRONES.

AND I, I ACTUALLY, WELL, WE'LL GET INTO IT A LITTLE LATER, BUT, UH, UH, IN, UP IN, UH, UH, TORONTO THE WEEK BEFORE THAT WITH OUR, OUR, UH, OUR ALLIES AT SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE.

AND I WILL SAY AFTER FIVE YEARS, UH, SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE, UH, AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WORK VERY WELL TOGETHER.

THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND THEY'RE RESPONSIVE.

UH, WE MET WITH SOME NINE COMPANIES UP IN TORONTO.

AND, UH, WHEN WE MEET WITH, UH, THE CEOS OF THESE CLOSELY HELD COMPANIES, UH, THE, UH, BUSINESS CLIMATE IN CANADA IS REALLY TOUGH.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UH, MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN CANADA.

UH, YET IN 2000, IN 2025, DRINKING STRAWS WILL BE ILLEGAL.

UH, SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S JUST A, A FUNNY WORLD, BUT THEY MAKE, THIS COMPANY MAKES LIDS FOR CUPS AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, UH, UH, ARE, MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR OUR REGION.

UH, BUT WHEN WE LISTEN TO CEOS DESCRIBE, UH, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S THE, UH, UH, PROFILE OF THE COMMUNITY, A GROWING COMMUNITY.

AND, UH, WHEN I HEAR THEM SPEAK, I THINK OFTEN, UH, WE WERE IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON, UH, OVER THE LAST TWO BUSINESS DAYS.

UH, I, I WILL SAY THIS AND, UH, I HOPE THE MAYORS NOT LEAVING, BUT I, UH, UH, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, YOUR, YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, YOUR TOWN MANAGER, UH, HEATHER, CHRIS, KEVIN, UH, UH, UH, UH, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE DEAL WITH IN BLUFFTON DISTINGUISH YOUR COMMUNITY QUITE WELL.

I'LL PUT A PROJECT TO SOME OF THE OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, IN BUFORD COUNTY, NOT TO PIT THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER, UH, BUT, UH, THE RESPONSE, UH, FROM BLUFFTON DISTINGUISHES, UH, YOU, UH, FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, I, I FELT LIKE OUR BRAND COULD BE SIMPLE, SWIFT, AND CERTAIN, EVEN IF THE ANSWER IS A NO, IF WE CAN GET TO THAT QUICKLY, UH, IT'S GOOD.

I WILL ALSO SAY, UH, NOT TO MAKE DAVID ELMS, UH, BLUSH, UH, BUT THE DON RYAN CENTER IS REALLY BECOMING A HUB OF, OF ACTIVITY.

UH, YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM THERE.

I'LL, UH, TRY TO GET THEM ALL RIGHT.

DAVID, PAUL, KIM AND KRISTEN, UH, ALL CREATE, UH, REAL EXCITEMENT THERE.

SO I THINK THAT THE DON RYAN CENTER IS A GREAT PARTNER FOR US.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE OUR OFFICE THERE.

UH, THERE WERE A TRUE PARTNER.

I CAN JUST, UH, SHARE IDEAS, BOUNCE IDEAS OFF OF THE TEAM THERE, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

I WILL SAY THAT, UH, UH, ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT WE ARE, AND, AND I BELIEVE GWEN WALKED IN, UH, JUST AS I WAS, SHE'S STILL THERE.

GOOD, GOOD.

UH, BUT, UH, WE, WE SEE BLACKWOOD AS A, A GREAT ALLY OF THE DON RYAN CENTER AND THE BURE COUNTY, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, RETURN.

AND, AND I DIDN'T, UH, DO THIS TO KISS UP TO YOU, BRIDGET, TO HAVE YOUR PICTURE UP THERE.

UH, BUT, UH, BRIDGET SPOKE AT THEIR GRADUATION AT THE BE CHURCH DISTILLERY.

BRIDGET'S COMMENTS WERE, UH, INSPIRING.

THEY WERE ON POINT FOR THE, UH, THE GROUP THAT WAS THERE.

UH, AND THE GROUP THAT, THE COHORT GROUP THAT GRADUATED THAT DAY IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

SO IT'S NOT A A FROM MY STANDPOINT, UH, YOU DON'T DO, YOU DON'T INVEST IN A GROUP.

AND I'M GONNA ASK OUR BOARD TO INVEST IN BLACKWOOD AT OUR BOARD MEETING TOMORROW AT 2:00 PM WHICH WILL BE MORE MONEY COMING BACK INTO, UH, UH, BLUFFTON.

BUT, UH, UH, GWEN CHAMBERS IS GETTING GREAT THINGS DONE THERE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A CHECK OFF KIND OF OPERATION, IT'S, IT'S MAKING AN IMPACT IN LIVES.

[02:20:01]

AND WE'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT RIGHT NOW WHERE ONE OF THE COHORT GRADUATES IS BEING PLUGGED INTO A PROJECT WITH ONE OF THE LARGER EMPLOYERS IN BUFORD COUNTY.

AND, UH, I'LL, I'LL EXPLAIN WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT I'M, I'M GLAD, UH, UH, GWEN IS HERE TO HEAR MY COMMENTS.

UH, CUZ IT'S TAKEN US A WHILE TO GET TO THE POINT WE'LL BE AT, UH, TOMORROW.

UH, SOMETIMES WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BATTLE, UH, BUDGET WISE, UH, WITH THE COUNTY.

AND WE RESOLVED THAT OVER THE SUMMER.

UH, THE LANDING PIT IS THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA LANDING PAD, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, UH, WE DID THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH COUNTY FUNDS AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORD.

BUT WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND, AND DAVID AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT, UH, TO, UH, DIRECTLY TAKE THIS, UM, IN BLUFFTON.

SO WE'LL HAVE, UH, A LANDING PAD REALLY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

UH, OUR FIRST COMPANY THAT, UH, THE LANDING PAD RESONATED WITH, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.

I DON'T WANT TO GO ON TOO LONG ABOUT THIS WAS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A PASSENGER DRONE COMPANY OUT OF JAPAN.

AND, UH, SO THEY ARE ESTABLISHING THEIR, UH, NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS IN BUTFOR COUNTY.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I GOT A CALL ON FRIDAY FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO IS A BLUFFTON RESIDENT.

HE, UH, UH, WAS IN THE AIR FORCE.

HE'S, UH, UH, DONE RESEARCH AT MIT, OFTEN RESIDENT.

HE GOES, I'M AN INVESTOR IN A, A DRONE PASSENGER DRONE COMPANY, AND I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING OUR OPERATIONS HERE.

SO THAT MIGHT BE A PERFECT, UH, COMPANY.

BUT THE LANDING PAD, UH, WHAT'S RESONATED WITH FOREIGN INVESTORS OR PEOPLE FROM AWAY IS THE IDEA THAT, UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MARRY A REGION.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ENTER A, A FIVE YEAR, UH, LEASE AND FIND OUT YOU WERE IN THE WRONG AREA.

OUR LANDING PAD GIVES COMPANIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE FOR 90 DAYS OR SHORTER OR LONGER, UH, FOR FREIGHT WHERE WE HAVE, UH, IN KIND, UH, UH, SERVICES.

I THINK, UH, ONE OF, UH, UH, WALT, UH, NESTER'S, UH, COLLEAGUES FROM UP IN COLUMBIA, UH, IS, UH, UH, DOING SOME, UH, IMMIGRATION WORK FOR THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S GONNA HEAD UP SKYDRIVE.

UH, BUT, UH, JOHN, THAT'S A CATCH DRIVE.

HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, CAUSE MY CURIOSITY THERE, WHAT, UM, TYPE OF TRIPS ARE THEY LOOKING TO, UM, TO DO IF THEY WERE TO BE BASED THERE? THE J DRONE COMPANY? YES.

THEY'LL, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE.

UH, IT'LL BE KIND OF A REGIONAL PROJECT.

THEY'LL PROBABLY BE THE MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND OPERATIONS AT, UH, CO, UH, COUNTIES AIRPORT OR IN WALTERBORO.

UM, BUT THEY WOULD, UH, THEY WOULD HAVE ALL THEIR ENGINEERS HERE, THEIR, UH, REGULATORY PEOPLE BECAUSE, UH, BE FLYING PASSENGER DRONES IS GONNA BE A, A LONG ROAD TO GO TO GET FAA APPROVAL.

SO, AND TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR AREA AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROJECT IS, IS THAT, UH, WHEN THEY FIRST CAME HERE, THEY, THEY, THEY WERE CALLING HOME TO JAPAN AT TWO 30, UH, IN THE MORNING TO UPDATE 'EM ON THEIR, ON THEIR EFFORTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND THEY SAID, WE'RE GETTING A REALLY REMOTE RECEPTION.

AND THEY, THEY GO, WELL, YOU'VE GOTTA LOOK AT OTHER AREAS.

THEY GO, THERE'S NO REASON TO LOOK FOR IN ANOTHER AREA IN THE US.

THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE.

AND, UH, THE MAYOR HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THEIR EXECUTIVES AT, UH, UH, RECEPTION AT BE CHURCH DISTILLERY.

BUT, SO THEN THEY SENT A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL BACK THREE WEEKS LATER TO MEET WITH US.

AND THEY, AND HE GOES, WELL, WHAT'S THE RECEPTION? HE GOES, IT HASN'T COOLED.

IT'S ONLY GETTING HOT.

OR, THEY REALLY WANT US HERE.

AND SO THEY'LL BE BACK IN JANUARY TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY'RE GONNA LAUNCH THEIR US HEADQUARTERS HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.

SO, UH, THEIR SERVICE WOULD BE REALLY, UH, THE ADOPTION OF IT.

AS YOU IMAGINE, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO GET IN A PASSENGER DRONE.

SO THEY'LL PROBABLY, THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE, UH, THEIR DAREDEVILS, YOU KNOW, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW TAKING TRIPS, YOU KNOW, UH, AROUND THE WORLD WITH, UH, VIRGIN ATLANTIC OR, UH, UH, BEZOS, YOU KNOW, THE EARLY ADOPTERS.

THEN IT'LL BE AN ENTERTAINMENT MODEL, THEN IT'LL BE A BUSINESS MODEL.

AND THEN IT WOULD BE GENERALLY USED.

SO, UH, BY 2035, THEY EXPECTED TO BE AN APP.

SO YOU WOULD JUST SAY, I AM HERE.

IT WOULD COME TO AVE PORT AND IT WOULD, UH, BE WITHOUT A PILOT AND THE APP WOULD GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

BUT I'M ASKING BECAUSE THAT, UM, IT'S DEFINITELY AWESOME TO SEE THAT BLUFFTON IS GONNA BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF, UM, OF THIS AS IT IS PROGRESSING.

BUT IT WAS JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOMETHING SIMILAR IN, UH, NEW YORK WHERE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE LIKE 10 MINUTE, UH, FLIGHTS ON SOMETHING SIMILAR FROM NEW YORK TO, UM, TO NEW YORK.

SO, AND, AND IT'S INTERESTING CUZ

[02:25:01]

THE GENTLEMAN CALLED ME WHO LIVES HERE IN BLUFFTON, WHO WANTS US TO CONSIDER SUPPORTING A, A COMPETITOR, UH, UH, I DON'T THINK ONE COMPANY'S GONNA WIN.

I THINK THEY'LL BE DIFFERENT NICHES THAT THEY FILL.

UH, AND, AND LIKE SOMEBODY MIGHT WANT TO DRIVE A HYUNDAI AND SOMEBODY MIGHT WANT TO DRIVE A TOYOTA AND SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO DRIVE A TOYOTA OR A DODGE OR A FORD.

UH, THERE'S GONNA BE ROOM FOR ALL OF THIS, BUT, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA WIN, BUT WE LOVE 'EM ALL.

BUT WHAT'S NEAT ABOUT THE LANDING PAD IS IT ATTRACTED THE FIRST COMPANY, WHICH PROVOKED THE SECOND COMPANY.

AND UH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, SHOULD WE REALLY, UH, UH, BE SUPPORTING COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES? BUT AS YOU KNOW, DETROIT HAS A FEW AUTO BUILT AUTO, SO IF WE COULD CREATE A LITTLE BIT OF A, UH, SECTOR AROUND THIS, IT COULD BE PRETTY INTERESTING.

JOHN, SORRY, GO AHEAD.

NO, NO.

ON, UM, SO THIS IS READILY COMPANY.

UM, WHAT SIZE OPERATION, WHAT SIZE? YEAH, HOW MANY PEOPLE? WELL, I DO, I DO NOT KNOW RIGHT NOW.

UM, I JUST DID THE INTAKE CALL WITH THE GENTLEMAN FIVE, FIVE O'CLOCK ON MONDAY.

SO WE'LL GET HIM A WORK, A SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WORKSHEET AND WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT THE SIZE OF THE OPERATION WELL, AND TO INDUCE HIM TO COME HERE.

I'LL NOMINATE FRED AS A TEST PILOT.

JOHN WILL, I'LL TAKE HIS NAME A LOT.

THE ISRAELI COMPANY IS INTERESTING BECAUSE, UM, AND, AND THEY HAVE OPERATIONS IN FLORIDA AND NEW JERSEY THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER MOVING THEIR NEW JERSEY OPERATION HERE.

THEIR BUSINESS MODEL.

AND, UH, IS THAT IF YOU FELT THREATENED, YOU COULD LET THEM KNOW AND THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY WALK TO YOU WITH YOUR CAR IF YOU FELT MORE THREATENED.

THEY COULD LAUNCH A DRONE TO FOLLOW YOU, UH, DOWN THE CITY STREET OR THEY CAN MOBILIZE 9 1 1.

THE GENTLEMAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT, UH, ON, AND NOT TO PICK ON UBER, BUT UH, UH, UBER HAS SOME HALF A MILLION, NO, I'M SORRY, 60,000 9 1 9 1 1 CALLS ON ON SIMILAR RIDES TO UBER.

PROBABLY NOT JUST UBER.

ONLY 500 OF THEM WARRANT A 9 1 1 CALL.

AND YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T DIAL THE 9 1 1 CUZ IT DOESN'T MERIT A 9 1 1 CALL, BUT THEY'RE NOT FEELING SAFE.

SO THIS KIND OF SERVICE PROVIDES PERSONAL SECURITY FOR PEOPLE.

TWO THINGS.

I THINK THEY ALSO CAN GET IN WITH ALL OF THESE, UM, HIGHER END CARS WHERE YOU PUSH A BUTTON LIKE THE, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

I'M SORRY, KIND OF THING.

BUT, UM, I THINK, AND MAYBE WE'LL TALK, HOW LONG ARE YOU, ARE YOU LEAVING AFTER THIS? CAUSE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND I CAN BRING IT UP THEN, UNLESS YOU'RE LEAVING.

I THINK I WAS PLANNING ON BEING HERE BRIEFLY AT NINE AND, UH, THAT GOT BLOWN UP.

SO I'LL, I'M GONNA STAY PROBABLY AND HAVE CHARLIE, UH, FILL OUT MY OBLIGATION SO I CAN YOU SUGGESTION, JUST SO YOU HEAR IT AND WE, AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DISCUSS IT NOW.

WE'VE GOTTA CONSTANTLY BE THINKING OUT OF THE BOX.

SO LAPS, LOW COUNTRY AREA, TRANSPORTATION STUDY, WE'RE AN NPO.

WE TALK ABOUT ALL FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.

ME PUSHING BLUE WAYS WAS LIKE, IT, IT WAS, IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS A HURDLE TO EVEN AT THE BLUE WAYS IN OUR TRANSPORTATION MODEL, BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER THAT'S GONNA BE AIRWAYS, AIRWAYS.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO, AND I KNOW STEPHANIE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN DISCUSS LATER.

BUT IN TRANSPORTATION, IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEW.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW SOUTH CAROLINA IS ABOUT NEW THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE ECOR WAS HERE, THAT WAS A NEW KIND OF BUSINESS, AND IT WAS A SQUARE THING AND A ROUND HOLE.

SO IF THIS A SQUARE PEG AND A ROUND HOLE, LET'S HIT IT NOW, THEN LATER WHERE THEY MAY SAY, WELL, OTHER STATES ALLOWED THIS, SO WE'VE GOTTA GET COMMERCE ON WHAT THIS IS.

I HAVE ANOTHER ONE I'M GONNA BE MENTIONING IN MY COMMENTS.

I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME WITH THIS, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO, THE LANDING PIT CAN BE REPLICATED, UH, IN, IN A PROJECT AND WE'RE WORKING WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP, UH, AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING WELL TO KIND OF GET A LANDING PIT ESTABLISHED HERE IN BLUFFTON.

AND, UH, SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

UH, WE HAVE A, A BUNCH OF LEADS, AND I WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.

I'LL TRY TO MOVE, UH, VERY QUICKLY.

IS SOME, IS THERE I THE LANDING PAD, WHAT, HOW MUCH SQUARE FOOTAGE YOU TALKING? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? IS IT SOMETHING YOU GUYS BUILT? IT'S, UH, A SECOND FLOOR OF THE BUFORD DIGITAL CORRIDOR.

IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 3,500 SQUARE FEET.

UH, UH, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IS ADVERTISING IT BROADLY.

THEIR FOREIGN OFFICES ARE AD ADVERTISING AT BROADLY ARE APPROACHED TO.

THE LANDING PAD IS, IT'S ONLY 3,500 SQUARE FEET.

IT'S ONLY A FEW

[02:30:01]

OFFICES.

BUT IF WE HAD PROSPECTS COME HERE, WE WOULD WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SATISFY ALL, ALL INQUIRIES IN ALL INTERESTS.

SO TO PUT ONE HERE IN BLUFFTON ALSO? YES.

AND IT WOULD ALL BE BRANDED AS A BEAUFORD COUNTY LANDING PAD AND PEOPLE THAT END UP WHERE THEY, UM, YOU WANT ME TO HUSTLE? JUST KEEP ON.

UH, MAYOR'S ACTUALLY PRETTY HELPFUL ON OUR BOARD TO KEEP ME MOVING.

SO, UH, CITY.

UM, SO, UM, I, I HAVE WOMEN'S INTUITIONS ON THIS, UH, UH, BUT, UH, EVERCORE LEADS, UH, WE HAVE, UH, UH, A HEALTHCARE COMPANY.

THEY'VE ALREADY, UH, UM, ARE ENTERING LEASE IN OT.

THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING, UH, A BIT OUTTA STATE, A CALL CENTER FROM, UH, IRELAND, UH, HAD AN INQUIRY.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A REGIONAL HEALTHCARE COMPANY.

SO WE TRY TO KEEP OUR EAR TO THE GROUND OR, OR RELY ON, UH, THE MAYOR AND OTHER FOLKS TO LET US KNOW WHEN THERE IS AVAILABLE REAL ESTATE.

UH, WE'VE HAD A, UH, ATLANTA, UH, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING INVESTOR POKING AROUND.

AND, UH, WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPORT THEM.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IS THAT WE, IF WE HAVE PRODUCT, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN MOVE, UH, UH, UH, WE CAN GET INTEREST IN IN THE TOWN BLUFFTON EASILY.

WE ARE WORKING WITH, UH, TOM TO TRY TO IDENTIFY SITES AT BUCK WALTER CROSSROADS.

AND, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES OUT THERE, UH, LISTED WITH THE, UH, PALMETTO SITES, UH, WILLOW RUN, WHICH HAS BEEN OUT THERE, I THINK, UH, DAN, YEARS AGO YOU BROUGHT THAT TO MY ATTENTION.

THAT HAS HAD, UH, A, A SERIES OF, UH, INQUIRIES AND OFFERS AND THE BIG DISCONNECT, UH, IS THE, UH, I'LL CALL IT THE 6 MILLION, UH, ROW.

UH, BUT INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS, ONCE YOU PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND THERE, I BELIEVE, UH, THAT WORKING WITH OUR UTILITY PARTNERS, WORKING WITH THE TOWN, WORKING WITH, UH, THE COUNTY, THAT MIGHT BE PROBABLY THE BEST, UH, DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT SITE THAT COULD SATISFY ISSUES OF WORKFORCE, HOUSING, JOB CREATION, UH, AND, UH, UH, AND SATISFY INDUSTRY NEEDS IN THE COUNTY.

UH, I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

I I KNOW EVERYTHING, UH, HAS, UH, UH, ISSUES.

UH, I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF FACILITATING SOME SORT OF, UH, UH, PATH FORWARD THERE BECAUSE THEY GET SO FAR AND THEN THEY GET NOWHERE.

AND SO THEY'RE LIKE PARTS AND LEISURE IN YOUR TALK WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

I JUST THROW IDEAS OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE, THE DIRECTION OF, UH, OF, OF THE TOWN IS, IS, IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT SITES IN YASSY, WHICH, UH, UH, MIGHT, MIGHT PROVIDE US A, UH, UH, A MEGA SITE FOR A, UH, A CLEAN, UH, INDUSTRY, PERHAPS ELECTRIC TRUCKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT VINCO, WHICH IS COMPLICATED AND, UH, HAS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

I I, I BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT ALL SITES IN BUFORD COUNTY, WILLOW RUN IS THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, BUFORD COUNTY, TOWN OF BLUFFTON FOR ALL OF US TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT YOU GET THERE AND, AND MAKE IT SOMETHING, UH, WORTHWHILE.

AND THERE MIGHT BE, UH, IN THIS ERA, FEDERAL FUNDS TO HELP, UH, MITIGATE SOME OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND IF WE CAN BRING THOSE IN, THEN YOU BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO DICTATE THE, OR NOT DICTATE, BUT, UH, HAVE A REAL STRONG VOICE IN THE USE OF THAT PROPERTY.

UH, THINGS THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON, UH, WE HAVE BEEN, UH, WE DID A SIX MONTH CAMPAIGN, DIGITAL MARKETING OF THE BUCKWALTER, UH, PAD SITE AND SC BIS.

AND AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, PROJECT KUA TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.

AND IT MIGHT, UH, ACTUALLY INVOLVE A, UH, A, A GRADUATE OF BLACK EQUITY IN TERMS OF CREATING A, UH, A CHILDCARE FACILITY AND A LANDING PAD.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO, UH, OUT AT PALMETTO BLUFFS SPONSOR.

SPONSORED SPONSOR.

WHAT, WHAT? IT'S NOT BLUFF.

IT'S BLUFF.

JUST, I'M JUST EDITING.

YOU HAVE A TIME CODE I'M SEEING.

OH, WELL, I GET IT RIGHT THE SECOND TIME.

IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.

I GET LIKE, UH, 20 MILLION A YEAR FOR BEING 50 50.

BUT I, I WILL, I WILL NOT USE THAT AS AGAIN, .

DON'T LIVE HERE, SO YOU DO THAT.

I APOLOGIZE.

WELL IMMEDIATELY KNOW YOU

[02:35:01]

SO FIVE YEARS I WOULD FIGURE IT OUT.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, UH, ONE INTERESTING, UH, COMPANY.

WE, UH, WE USE A, UH, INTERNATIONAL LEAD GENERATOR.

ONE COMPANY WE WERE TALKING TO, AND I THROW THIS OUT THERE, IT'S AN ESTONIAN, UH, AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY COMPANY, UH, THAT WE ARE, UH, IN CONVERSATIONS WITH.

WE HAVE THE SECOND, UH, PASSENGER, UH, DRONE COMPANY NOW INTERESTED IN COUNTY, UH, THE ISRAELI SECURITY COMPANY THAT ALSO USES DRONES.

SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE HAD MOMENTUM GOING INTO, UH, UH, COVID AND SOME OF THAT MOMENTUM WAS BROKEN, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY, UH, SENSING SOME MOMENTUM TODAY.

UH, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF TORONTO LEADS THAT, UH, SHOULD VOTE WELL FOR TOWN BLUFF.

AND, AND WE DID THAT TRIP WITH OUR, UH, OUR FRIENDS AT THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE AND THEN PROJECT CAMITA, UH, OUT AT, UH, UH, BUCK WALTER, UH, IS IN DESIGN AND WILL HAVE, UH, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO YOU, UH, UH, WITH, UM, THEIR, UH, DIRECTION.

THE POINTS THAT COUNSEL MADE IN TERMS OF, UH, USE OF THE PROPERTY WE'RE WELL RECEIVED BY, UH, THE INVESTORS THERE.

AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WORKING WITH, UH, DAVID AND STEVEN AND HIS TEAM.

UH, I, I THINK BLUFFED AND DISTINGUISHES ITSELF, UH, FOR, UH, JUST BEING STRAIGHT AND, UH, COMMUNICATING WITH US.

UH, AGAIN, THE BRAND.

WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A SIMPLE SWIFT AND CERTAIN, AND AT TIMES WE'LL HAVE, UH, INQUIRIES AND, UH, KEVIN I CARD'S VERY GOOD.

HEATHER, UH, CHRIS GETTING US ANSWERS.

SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

UH, JUST LOOKING FORWARD, UH, WE HAVE, UH, OUR CONVERGE SUMMIT'S GONNA BE THE, UH, MONDAY AND JANUARY 30TH.

UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, UH, FIG NEWTON GENERAL, FIG NEWTON AS HER KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

YOU SHOULD KNOW.

HE IS A FOUR STAR BLUFFTON RESIDENT.

AND, UH, HE'S GONNA TALK, UH, UH, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, OF, UH, GETTING, UH, EVERYONE ENGAGED IN OUR, UH, OUR ECONOMY AND THE, UH, INTERSECTION OF, UH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

JOHN, I HAVE, I HAVE A CONCERN IN TODAY'S, UM, WORKFORCE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE WORKING FROM HOME, WHICH, UM, I THINK, UM, IS A GREAT THING TO KEEP US, KEEP OUR TRANSPORTATION FROM BEING CLUSTERED.

UM, BACKING UP AS, AS WE DAY, SO IN YOUR FOCUS ON LOOKING FOR JOBS TO COME TO THE AREA, IS THAT PART OF YOUR IDEA THAT WE SHOULD, UM, TRY TO FIND JOBS THAT'S NOT IMPACTFUL TO OUR, OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM? YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, IT'LL BE INTERESTING CUZ RIGHT NOW, LIKE EON AND MUSK IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF GRIEF FOR, UH, UH, SAYING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD DRIVE TO WORK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF THE COMPANIES I MET WITH IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, GREATER NEW YORK AREA JUST IN THE, IN THE LAST UH, WEEK, ARE FINDING THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN DYNAMIC, THERE'S CERTAIN, UH, I'LL SAY INTROVERTS THAT WORK REALLY WELL, UH, AT HOME.

BUT THERE'S MOST EMPLOYERS I'M MEETING WITH THAT ARE ABLE TO GO VIRTUAL.

UH, I MET WITH ONE COMPANY IN BOOSTER MASSACHUSETTS, UH, LAST FRIDAY MORNING.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE FINDING THAT THERE'S A, A DYNAMIC OF BEING TOGETHER, UH, THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE THINKING THAT THEY CAN GO HOME.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER DYNAMIC, UH, WHERE, UH, APPARENTLY SOME PEOPLE ARE ACCEPTING TWO FULL-TIME JOBS CUZ THEY CAN WORK REMOTE.

UH, SO THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME ETHICAL ISSUES, UH, THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO RESOLVE, UH, OUR, OUR APPROACH.

THE PROBLEM, WELL, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA DRIVE, I GUESS THE, THE SHORT ANSWER IS A, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GONNA HAVE TO DRIVE TO MOSTLY, MOSTLY DRIVE TO WORK.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE WORK WE'RE DOING ON CYBER, UH, UH, A LOT OF THOSE JOBS CAN BE REMOTE AND, UH, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO ATTRACT THOSE COMPANIES.

WE, WE WILL SPEND ABOUT 30, $35,000 THIS YEAR ON, ON CREDITS WE HAVE WITH LEAD GENERATORS, UH, TO TRY TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THOSE JOBS

[02:40:01]

IN THE COUNTY.

BUT QUITE HONESTLY, UM, SOME OF THOSE FOLKS CAN WORK FROM ANYWHERE.

UH, AND THEY MAY JUST STAY WHERE THEY ARE, EVEN IF, EVEN IF THE JOB IS IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.

BUT OUR, OUR FOCUS, YOU KNOW, IS A, UH, A TE AN ENTITY THAT'S DRIVEN BY CREATION OF TAXES.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, SOME BRICK AND MORTAR INVESTMENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT PEOPLE DRIVE TO AND ARRIVE TO FOR WORK.

THANK YOU SIR.

OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T DRIVE TO HILTON HEAD.

WHAT'S ? YOU'RE NOT IN THAT TWO 70 IN TRAFFIC EVERY DAY.

I AM, I AM.

I, I LIVE ON HILTON HEAD.

I HAVE THE BLESSING OF ALWAYS BEING GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO.

WOW.

NOW WE'RE FOR RIGHT, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS CAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ANSWERS.

UM, WE DO HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH THE ECONOMIC CORPORATION ONCE A MONTH.

IF Y'ALL WANT TO GET ON THE CALENDAR, UM, I WOULD PROBABLY ENCOURAGE YOU, BRUCE HAS DOES MORE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.

HE'D BE A GREAT CONTACT AND JOCELYN IS AT IN CHARGE OF ALL THE REALTORS.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PRODUCT, THOSE ARE TWO PEOPLE I WOULD SAY GET IN TOUCH WITH.

PLEASE COME TO THOSE MEETINGS.

CAUSE ALL THIS IS TALKING ABOUT MORE DEPTH, MORE AND I WOULD HOPE WE ALL SUPPORT A LANDING PAD HERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

SO YOU TOMORROW AT TWO 30? AT TWO 30 AT, SO YOU CAN GET ON OUR AGENDA CALENDAR.

IT'S ON THE AGENDAS READY.

YOU CAN CHECK MONTHLY.

IT'S USUALLY THAT, THAT DAY OF EACH MONTH AT TWO 30 AT TCL.

SO, OKAY,

[VI. Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority Update – Brian Chemsak, Chief of Plant Operations]

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, ALL OF YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR DEDICATING SO MUCH TIME TO PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

I'M BRIAN ACK, I'M WITH YOU FOR JESS AUTHORITY.

I'M THE CHIEF OF PLANT OPERATIONS THERE, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR Y'ALL TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT BE J WE'LL GIVE YOU A STATE OF THE AUTHORITY, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO TODAY, TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, WHAT OUR CURRENT OBJECTIVES ARE, WHAT SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES ARE, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN.

SO JUST QUICKLY, IF YOU WEREN'T ALREADY AWARE, BE J WATER SEWER IS THE WATER SEWER PROVIDER HERE IN BLUFFTON.

UH, WE ALSO DO THE REST OF BUFORD AND JASPER COUNTY.

UH, IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE SERVICE AREA.

WE HAVE ABOUT 65,000 CONNECTIONS, UH, TOTALING RIGHT AROUND 171,000 SOUTH CAROLS IN OUR SYSTEM.

UM, THE AREA IS SERVED BY TWO WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AS WELL AS EIGHT WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. UH, WASTEWATER WAS TALKING ABOUT A LOT TODAY, SO YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE ON THE SCREEN, ONLY ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF OUR WATER CUSTOMERS ARE SEWER CUSTOMERS.

UM, SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE IN BLUFFTON AS WELL AS THE REST OF OUR SERVICE AREA.

UH, WATER IS OBVIOUSLY THE CHEAPER OF THE TWO INFRASTRUCTURES TO PUT IN.

UM, AND SEPTIC TANKS WERE VERY COMMON BACK IN THE DAY.

SO WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LEGACY WATER CUSTOMERS THAT WERE NEVER EXTENDED SEWER.

UM, SO VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT'S STILL THE TOPIC AND FOLKS ARE ADDRESSING IT BACK TO THE WATER SYSTEM.

LIKE I SAID, THE SAVANNAH RIVER IS OUR PRIMARY SOURCE WATER.

WE TREAT THAT AT ONE OF TWO WATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

CHELSEA WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS LOCATED ON HIGHWAY ONE 70 AT SNIP ROAD.

IT WAS BUILT IN THE SIXTIES, UH, AND CURRENTLY IT TREATS ABOUT 24 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

AND OUR NEWER PLANT IS OUR PERRYSBURG PLANT, WHICH IS LOCATED OFF OF PERRYSBURG ROAD, UH, PROBABLY ABOUT THREE, FOUR MILES FROM THE NORTH OF THE CITY OF HARDY BUILT.

UM, IT WAS BUILT IN 2008 AND CURRENTLY TREATS 15 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

BOTH THOSE PLANTS ARE INTERCONNECTED.

HOWEVER, THE CHELSEA PLANT PRIMARILY SERVES THE NORTH ABROAD AND PERRYSBURG EXCLUSIVELY SERVES THE SOUTH ABROAD.

LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE INTERCONNECTED THROUGH A VERY LARGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

SO AT TIME FOR ONE PLANT IS DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE OR AT LESS CAPACITY, WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE OTHER PLANT TO HELP OFFSET THAT.

IN ADDITION TO OUR SAVANNAH RIVER WATER SOURCE, WE ALSO HAVE GROUNDWATER WELLS, UM, PARTICULARLY HERE IN BLUFFTON.

WE STILL OPERATE THREE WELLS IN THE ROSE HILL BLUFFTON AREA.

UH, WE PRIMARILY USE THOSE IN THE SUMMERTIME.

WE HAVE PEAK DEMANDS, WHICH I'LL TOUCH ON A LITTLE BIT HERE, MAYBE THERE.

UM, ON THE SEWER SIDE, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE HAVE EIGHT PLANTS.

WE TREAT ABOUT 10 AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.

UM, UNFORTUNATELY THOSE SEWER BASINS ARE NOT INTERCONNECTED.

UH, SO EACH ONE OF THOSE PLANTS HAS TO STANDALONE, UH, WHICH CAN BE A CHALLENGE IN TIMES WHEN THERE'S OUTAGES OR MAINTENANCE FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.

CHERRY POINT IS THE PRIMARY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

IT'S LOCATED OFF OF ARGENT BOULEVARD.

UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT'S IN YOUR MIND.

PRETTY MUCH AS SOON AS YOU TURN LEFT ON THE FIRST RIGHT HAND TURN YOU CAN MAKE ON JASPER STATION ROAD, WE'RE DOWN THERE IN THE WOODS.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A

[02:45:01]

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON PALM BLUFF, UH, TO SERVE THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS BUILT AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN OF IT.

UM, AT CHERRY POINT WE USED TYPICAL ACTIVATED SLUDGE TREATMENT.

UM, AND ONE UNIQUE THING WE DO IS WE FINAL STEP, INSTEAD OF USING CHLORINE TO KIND OF KILL THE BACTERIA OFF, WE USE UV LIGHT.

UM, SO THAT'S A LESS IMPACTFUL THING TO THE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE THOSE CHEMICALS IN THE WATER.

UM, SO WHEN IT LEAVES, IT'S COMPLETELY STERILIZED AND IT IS DISCHARGED INTO THE GREAT SWAMP, UH, WHICH IS LOCATED OFF OF 2 78, UH, RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET TO HILL AND HEAD LAKES.

UM, SO WE HAVE A UNIQUE DISCHARGE AREA THERE.

UH, THE EFFLUENT FROM THE PLANT GOES IN THERE, IT HELPS REPLENISH THE WETLAND.

UM, IT KEEPS SOME AREAS THAT ARE DRY IN TIMES OF DROUGHT, A LITTLE BIT WETTER.

UM, SO THAT'S A UNIQUE THING WE DO WITH THAT.

WE ALSO TAKE THAT WASTE WATER THAT'S BEEN TREATED AND A LOT OF GOLF COURSES TAKE IT, THEY USE IT AS IRRIGATION.

UH, WE EVEN HAVE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD HILL NET LAKES WHERE THEY, EACH RESIDENCE HAS A IRRIGATION SYSTEM CONNECTED TO A REUSE SYSTEM.

UM, SO VERY BENEFICIAL IN MAKING A SECOND USE OF THAT WATER AND IT WILL HELP REDUCE WATER DEMAND.

UM, OUR FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD A LOT TODAY ABOUT THE, THE BALANCING OF BUDGETS AND PROJECTS AND, AND WE'RE NO DIFFERENT.

WE DO THE SAME THING.

UM, CURRENTLY TODAY, UM, OUR WATER, IF YOU HAVE WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES, YOU'RE RECEIVING THAT ACTUAL RIGHT AROUND A PENNY A GALLON.

UM, SO THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD VALUE IF YOU THINK OF THE PRICE OF A BOTTLE OF WATER AT A GAS STATION.

UM, SO WE'RE WELL BELOW THAT.

UH, BUT THINGS WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH OUR SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, INCREASING COST OF CONSTRUCTION, UM, HEALTHCARE CHEMICALS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO WE CONSIDER THAT YEARLY, UM, UM, AND TYPICALLY UPDATE OUR RATES TO REFLECT THAT.

IN ADDITION TO PLANNING FOR RATES, WE ALSO DO AN EXTENSIVE MASTER PLANNING EFFORT EVERY FIVE YEARS.

WE JUST WRAPPED ONE UP IN 2022.

UH, WE USUALLY TAKE ABOUT A 25 YEAR PLANNING HORIZON IN THAT.

UH, SO IT GOES OUT IN 2045.

IT HAS FIVE AND 10 YEAR PLANNING HORIZONS IN THERE AS WELL.

UH, FOR SHORT, SHORT TERM, MIDDLE TERM, LONG TERM PROJECTS THAT GET IDENTIFIED.

UM, OUR CURRENT CAPITAL PROGRAM THIS YEAR IS FUNDED FOR ABOUT 66 MILLION AND OVER THE THREE YEAR PERIOD IS RIGHT AROUND 170 MILLION.

UM, SO A LOT OF THE MONEY GOES INTO MAINTAINING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE CAPACITY AND EXTENDING IT INTO AREAS FOR NEW CUSTOMERS.

UM, SOME KEY PROJECTS HERE, I WON'T GET INTO TOO MUCH BECAUSE BE'S HERE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AFTER I COMPLETE THIS.

UM, BUT OUR PARTIES, BIRD WATER TREATMENT EXPANSION, 15 TO 30 MILLION GALLONS IS UNDERWAY.

WE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, BIDS OPEN YESTERDAY AND THANKFULLY CAME IN UNDER THAT 52 MILLION BUDGET MARK.

UH, THE BLUFFTON ELEVATED STORAGE TANK, WHICH I KNOW WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.

AND THEN CHERRY POINT, UM, WHICH AGAIN IS THE FACILITY THAT SERVES BLUFFTON.

IT'S CURRENTLY RATED FOR SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

IT RECEIVES ABOUT SIX TO SIX AND A HALF.

SO WE'RE IN THAT BEGINNING STAGES OF PLANNING TO UPGRADE THAT TO HOPEFULLY 11 AND A QUARTER.

SO ONE THING THAT'S AN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR US WITH JAPER IS MAINTAINING PRESSURE IN THE PIPES DURING THESE TIMES OF PRETTY QUICK GROWTH IN THE AREA.

SO WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 3000 NEW CONNECTIONS PER YEAR COMING IN.

UM, THAT DEMAND IS FASTER THAN WE CAN BUILD THESE NEW FACILITIES.

UM, LIKE I SAID, WE DO THOSE MASTER PLANS AND THEY IDENTIFIED THIS GROWTH AND THESE PROJECTS WERE STARTED DUE TO THINGS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD WITH SUPPLY CHAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND JUST THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.

WE'RE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A MIDDLE SPACE OF NOT HAVING QUITE ENOUGH CAPACITY, BUT HAVING THINGS IN THE WORKS THAT WILL ADDRESS IT.

UM, SO WHAT MAJOR DRIVER OF THIS IS IRRIGATION.

SO WE TYPICALLY SEE A WINTERTIME DEMAND ON OUR SYSTEM OF ABOUT 18 OR 19 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW AND THAT WE HAVE THIS COOLER WEATHER AND A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN.

WE'RE DOWN BELOW 20 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

UM, SO IF YOU RECALL BACK TO OUR WATER TREATMENT CAPACITY FROM THE TWO PLANTS, WE HAVE A COMBINED CAPACIT, EXCUSE ME, A COMBINED CAPACITY OF ABOUT 39 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

UM, SO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW WITH 20 MILLION GALLONS A DAY IS WELL WITHIN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO.

UM, HOWEVER, DURING THE SUMMERTIME WE SAW THIS YEAR, MULTIPLE DAYS IN A ROW WHERE WE WERE SEEING DEMAND OVER 30 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

AND WE HAD EVEN HAD A PEAK DAY OF 34.9 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

I REALIZE AS I TELL YOU THIS, YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING WE HAVE 35, OR EXCUSE ME, WE NEEDED 35.

YOU HAD 39.

SO THERE'S 4 MILLION GALLONS UNUSED DURING THE DAY.

THAT WOULD BE THE CASE IF YOU LOOKED AT IT DAY BY DAY.

HOWEVER, JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER WITH THE SCHOOLS, THERE'S A THOUSAND STUDENTS HEADING INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MORNING.

[02:50:01]

WE EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IRRIGATING THE LAWN AT THE SAME TIME IN THE MORNING.

SO WHILE ON A DAILY BASIS WE'RE PRODUCING ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND DURING THOSE PEAK TIMES, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP UP.

UM, WE CALCULATED IT, WE ROUGHLY SEE AN EQUIVALENT DEMAND OF 54 MILLION GALLONS A DAY DURING THAT PEAK HOUR IN THE MORNING BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S IRRIGATION SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING TO COME ON AT THE SAME TIME.

UH, LANDSCAPERS ALL USE THE SAME SCHEDULE.

UM, AND WHAT THAT CAN CAUSE IS IT CAN CAUSE REVERSE AND FLOW OF OUR PIPES AS WATER IS USED TO GO IN ONE DIRECTION AND THERE'S A LARGE DEMAND IN ANOTHER AREA.

UM, ALL THOSE THINGS CAN LEAD TO PRESSURE LOSS AT PEOPLE'S HOUSES, UH, DISCOLORATION OF THE WATER AS IT REVERSES IN THE PIPES AND SCOURS IT.

UM, AND ULTIMATELY THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS A BOWL OF WATER ADVISORY.

UM, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF THOSE IN OUR SYSTEM DUE TO THIS INCREASED DEMAND.

HOWEVER, WE MONITOR IT DAILY AND THERE, YOU KNOW, I THINK FOR US 20 IS WHERE WE 20 PSI AND THE PIPES IS WHERE WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT NOT DROP BELOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAIN MORNINGS WHERE IT'S AROUND 23, 24 IN PARTS OF OUR SYSTEM.

UM, A LOT OF FOLKS OVERWATER THEIR LINE.

AND FINISH UP, I'M GONNA ASK, WE BIT TO THE NEXT THING.

UM, SO AGAIN, UNTIL WE TALKED TO DR.

RODRIGUEZ, WHERE IS WHERE CAN WE PARTNER BETTER WITH AMANDA AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION? UM, DWELLS ARE, ARE KIND OF LIKE LA OR HILTON HEAD STEAD, LIKE THE COMMON AREA WHERE THEY REUSE WATER AND AND IT'S NOT AFFECTING YOUFOR JASPER.

I MEAN WE GOT A WILL A LONG TIME AGO CAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO PAY YOU A MONTHLY BILL TO WATER OUR YARD.

SO I KNOW THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THE COASTS AND ALL, BUT I KIND OF GO THERE.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU HELP US NOT GET THESE COMMENTS? CUZ I SPOKE TO PALM BLUFF LAST WEEK AND THAT THIS IS A COMMENT, YOU KNOW, ELECTRIC AND WATER AND I DON'T WANNA THROW YOU UNDER THE BUS, BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT? I HAVE A SLIDE COMING.

GOOD.

I DIDN'T LOOK.

I DID PROMISE.

SO, AND I WILL SAY WE SHARE OUT THEIR IRRIGATION ASKING PEOPLE TO DO ODD AND EVEN DAYS.

SO DAVID, GREAT.

LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND STOP DOING THAT.

IT'S FINE WAYS PROACTIVE.

WE, UH, WE HAVE OUR EXPANSION, SO THAT'S COMING UP.

LIKE I SAID, WE RECEIVE BIDS.

HOWEVER, IT'S ABOUT A THREE YEAR CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT PLANT WON'T BE ONLINE UNTIL 2025.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING UNTIL THEN, MIKE WAS JUST MENTIONED OUR IRRIGATION CONTROL STRATEGY HERE.

UH, WE'VE MET WITH LANDSCAPERS, WE'VE MET WITH BUSINESSES, TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THIS.

UM, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE HAVE STICKERS, WE HAVE MAGNETS.

UM, BUT IF EVERYBODY CAN HELP OUT AND ADJUST THE IRRIGATION CONTROLLER TO THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN THAT WE'VE SEEN AN IMPROVEMENT FROM ROLLING THIS OUT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

AND WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO SEE THIS BEING HOW WE HANDLE THIS GAP IN BETWEEN HAVING THIS NEW PLANT ONLINE AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

UM, LIKE IT SAYS, WE DON'T NEED CUSTOMERS TO WATER LESS.

WE JUST NEED THEM TO NOT DO IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

SO TAKE, IS THAT YOUR SLIDE FOR ME OR IS IT COMING OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP? HERE WE GO.

SO BE AWARE OF OUR CHALLENGE.

UM, HOPEFULLY I'VE GIVEN YOU A ROUGH OVERVIEW OF IT.

UM, WE'RE AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER, BUT HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT IT.

UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY MATERIAL THAT GOES OUT TO YOUR RESIDENCE AND YOU CAN INCLUDE KIND OF OUR GRAPHIC ON THE IRRIGATION SCHEDULE, WE'D LOVE TO GET THAT TOO SO IT CAN BE INCLUDED.

ALSO SHARING THE OPPORTUNITIES WITH US.

UM, MYSELF AND WE HAVE LOTS OF OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.

WE ATTEND FARMERS MARKETS.

NOW MEETINGS LIKE THIS, UH, WE'VE ATTENDED HOAS, BUT IF YOU SEE ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, GROUPS THAT ARE MEETING, UM, AND YOU'D LIKE US TO ATTEND, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME.

IT'D BE GOOD TO COME TO OUR MOBILE, MOBILE TOWN HALLS.

I MEAN, I KIND OF TELL ABOUT DR.

RODRIGUEZ TOO AND LET'S GET EVERYONE THERE CUZ THEY HAVE BEEN VERY WELL ACCEPTED.

I KNOW YOU'VE HAD QUESTIONS.

Y'ALL HAVE A QUESTION FOR US COMING? OKAY.

ONE OF THE, UM, CHALLENGES WITH IRRIGATING YOUR LAWNS IS THAT MOST OF YOUR COMMUNITIES DON'T ALLOW FOR SEPARATE, UM, WELLS.

IS THAT'S BECAUSE THE AGREEMENT YOU HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY? NO, SIR.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UM, STIPULATIONS IN PLACE, NOT ALLOWING WELLS.

UM, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE A BENEFIT IF FOLKS DID HAVE WELLS.

UM, BUT, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT.

THERE'S CHALLENGES WITHIN SOME COMMUNITIES TOO, JUST AROUND THE STANDARD OF THEIR LAWN.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, FOLKS CAN BE HESITANT TO REDUCE WATERING BECAUSE THEY MAY FACE FIRE FROM AN HOA, UH, FOR GRASS THAT DOESN'T MEET A STANDARD.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SPREAD THIS MESSAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.

THERE'S A LINK TO CLEMSON.

THEY HAVE A GREAT, UM, TURF WEBSITE.

[02:55:01]

THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER AREA CAN JUST HELP OUT, SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WATER.

AND IT SAVE WATER BILL IS ULTIMATELY HEALTHIER FOR YOUR LAWN AT THE END OF THE DAY.

CAN YOU HELP SPREAD THE NEWS TO THE WAYS THAT ALLOWING FOR WELLS FOR IRRIGATION MIGHT BE HELP TO YOU, TO YOUR CHALLENGES? YES, SIR.

WE, WE'VE MET WITH, UM, MANY HOA.

WE'VE MET PROBABLY ABOUT THE 10 LARGEST, UM, IN SOUTHERN BE COUNTY ALREADY.

I DON'T KNOW IF WELLS HAVE COME UP SPECIFICALLY.

I THINK WE'LL ADD THAT TO OUR AGENDA FOR SURE.

I, ONE, ONE OTHER QUESTION.

WHEN, WHEN I GET CALLS FROM COMMUNITY SAYING MY WATER IS BROWN, AND UM, AND THE ANSWER TO THAT IS WATER HEATER.

BUT TODAY IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A BACKFLOW OR IT'S A BACKFLOW PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT A BACKFLOW PROBLEM.

UM, THERE COULD BE SEVERAL CAUSES FOR DISCOLORED WATER AND HOT WATER HEATERS ARE NOTORIOUS AS A SOURCE.

SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY EXPERIENCING DISCOLOR WATER, PLEASE CALL BE FOR JASPER.

NINE EIGHT SEVEN NINETY TWO HUNDRED.

UM, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF HAS A A SCRIPT.

THEY'LL WALK 'EM THROUGH ONE, IS IT JUST HOT WATER? JUST COLD WATER? IS IT JUST IN YOUR BATHROOM, JUST IN YOUR KITCHEN? UH, THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN JUST DO OVER THE PHONE TO HELP NARROW IT DOWN.

IF IT'S, UH, PREMISE PLUMBING PROBLEM, THERE MAYBE SOMETHING OUT IN THE SYSTEM.

AND ONCE WE KNOW IT'S OUT IN THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN, UM, HIS SOLE JOB IS WATER QUALITY AND HE FOLLOWS UP WITH THE CUSTOMER.

HE WILL COME ON SITE IF NEEDED TO INVESTIGATE IT.

AND ULTIMATELY, IF HE FINDS OUT THAT THERE IS SOME DISCOLORED WATER IN THE MAINS, OUR CREWS WILL COME OUT AND THEY'LL FLUSH IT OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

, I QUESTION.

UM, SO YOU PROJECT OUT 25 YEARS AND YOU'RE PLANNING, UM, AND I REALIZE THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD WITH GLOBAL WARMING OR CLIMATE CHANGE, WHICHEVER TERMINOLOGY WE WANT TO USE, SOME AREAS GLOBALLY AND IN THIS COUNTRY ARE EXPERIENCING WATER SHORTAGES.

UH, WHERE DOES THIS PLAY INTO YOUR PLANNING? HOW DO YOU SEE IT? PLUS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT CITIES COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER, HAVING FOR MANY YEARS ATLANTA AND BLAH BLAH, BLAH.

YOU GOT NEW INDUSTRY TAKING PLACE AROUND THE REGION, UH, THE HONDU PLANT, OTHER PLACES SCATTERED AROUND, WHICH PERMEATES ALL, ALL THROUGH.

HOW DO YOU PROJECT THE WATER QUALITY OR THE WATER NEEDS FOR THIS AREA? WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SUPPLY IT? YES.

SO WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT, UM, THOSE, BEFORE I SET THE AUTHORITY THOUGHT OF THIS, SO OUR WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMIT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER IS 99 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

UM, SO RIGHT NOW, EVEN IN THAT 25 YEAR PLANNING HORIZON, WE'RE NOT AT THAT AMOUNT.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE INTERESTING TO DO AN EXERCISE TO SEE WHAT YEAR THAT MAY BECOME A LIMITING FACTOR.

UM, BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT RIGHT NOW IN ALL OF OUR PLANNING HORIZONS, THE, THE SUPPLY, THE SOURCE WATER IS NOT A FACTOR.

UM, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO OUR TREATMENT CAPACITY, UM, IS CURRENTLY WHAT OUR LENDING FACTOR IS.

WELL, I THINK TO THE MAYOR'S POINT A MINUTE AGO, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS LIKE PIVOTABLE OFF OTHER PLACES, OKAY, PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND SO THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE.

I I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

AND SO WE HEAR IT EVERY DAY IN THE DEVELOPMENTS OF ALL THE DEVELOPMENT TAKING PLACE IN, IN OUR REGION.

AND THAT IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

SO THAT'S A GREAT MESSAGE TO GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

I THINK THAT WE'RE OKAY AT LEAST FOR A WHILE, WHATEVER THAT TIME PERIOD IS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR I IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION GOING TO WHAT FRED WAS TALKING ABOUT, IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO AS A TOWN IN OUR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, APPLICATION PROCESS OR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, UM, REQUIREMENTS THAT STATES X AMOUNT PERCENTAGE HAS TO GO, YOU KNOW, USE THAT SYSTEM, WHATEVER USE IT HOME HEAD LAKES OR A WELL SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IS THAT SOMETHING WE AS A TOWN CAN SAY THAT THAT'S A REQUIREMENT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT? RIGHT? IT CAN, CAN THE TOWN REQUIRE THERE IN SOME REVIEW PERIOD THAT THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER FOR IRRIGATION TO DO A, B OR C? YEAH, AND MAYBE THAT'S A HEATHER QUESTION.

IS THAT A UDF? I KNOW IN OLD TOWN WE DID SOMETHING AROUND THE RIVER, YOU CAN'T HAVE A WELL WITHIN SOME NUMBER OF FEET, BUT THIS ISN'T WHERE THE ISSUE IS.

IT'S, AND JUST FOR NOW GOING FORWARD, I MEAN, NOT THAT WE CAN BACKTRACK, BUT TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE MASTER PLAN AMENDMENTS THE 8% THAT IS OUT THERE.

SO IS THAT A HEATHER OR A YOU QUESTION? IS THAT A PROBABLY WHAT WOULD BE BEST IS DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR JASPER IS, IS ONE OF THE REVIEWERS.

[03:00:01]

UM, AND THAT'S, AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS, THEY CAN, THEY CAN PROBABLY IMPLEMENT BETTER THAN WHAT WE CAN, UM, FOR, FOR THINGS LIKE THAT, FOR THEIR CAPACITY PURPOSES.

UM, SO IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE BETTER FOR E J W S A TO BE ABLE TO, TO UM, MAKE THOSE TYPE OF REQUIREMENTS AS THEY'RE REVIEWING THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, WATER SEWER PLANS.

AND THEN ALSO WITH IRRIGATION, THEY GONNA WRITE THE SAME LETTER THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WRITES.

IT SAYS WE WILL SUPPLY WATER TO EVERY RESIDENT IN COUNTY.

YEAH, I'M, I'M REFERRING MORE TO THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT SIDE OF IT AS OPPOSED TO THE HIGHER LEVEL.

WE CAN PROBABLY DO IT TOGETHER.

CAUSE I THINK WHAT KELLY'S REFERRING TO IS BJ WS A IS A REVIEWER ON ALL OF OUR, ON ALL OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PLANS.

SO THEY ACTUALLY, NOT SO MUCH THE WOO SERVE LETTERS, WHICH IS PART OF THE BIGGER DEVELOPMENT PLANS, BUT WRITE THE COMMENTS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU'RE ACTUALLY CONNECTING TO WATER AND SEWER.

UM, THEY CAN, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN UM, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PARTNER WITH THAT, GETTING THE, THE MESSAGES OUT WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT.

SO WE CERTAINLY CAN LOOK TO WAYS, BUT I WILL SAY THAT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO EXACTLY THE STAFF PERSON IS THAT COMMENTS ON THE PLANS NOW FROM BJW S A THAT RECEIVES 'EM, BUT UM, HE'S NOT HERE TODAY.

HE'S AT THE OFFICE.

HE'S OPEN OFFICE DOWNSTAIR THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY FOR US TO DO.

AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY NO, THEY SAID MAY OR THEY SAID SHALL WE SAID MUST.

AND THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT VERSUS A RECOMMENDATION.

I MEAN, SO ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER.

I DON'T WANT TO SCARE YOU OR MAKE ANYTHING OTHERWISE, BUT IT REALLY JUST COMES DOWN TO THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF IT AND, AND MORE FOLKS FOLLOWING THIS IRRIGATION SCHEDULE UNTIL WE CAN HAVE OUR IMPLANT ONLINE.

BUT THAT'S THE THING IS PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED TOO WITH AN IRRIGATION SCHEDULE.

SO IF IT IS ALREADY A REQUIREMENT WITH THESE DEVELOPMENT PLANS, THEN WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE SCHEDULE.

WE'VE, UM, JUST FROM A'S GOOD, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE'VE TALKED TO LANDSCAPERS A LOT ABOUT THIS AND UM, HILTON HEAD ACTUALLY THE TOWN THERE ADOPTED, UH, AN IRRIGATION SCHEDULE FOR THE HIGHLAND.

THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AT IS IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADOPT VERSUS, AND THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM LANDSCAPERS SAYING THEY SET IT TO THAT HOMEOWNER ASKS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN JUST SAY, THIS IS THE ORDINANCE IN YOUR AREA AND THAT IS ALL GOOD, BUT WE'RE 75% BUILT OUT RESIDENTIAL AND LET'S NIP IT AND BE PROACTIVE BECAUSE WITH ALL OF OUR OTHER ORDINANCES, WHO'S GONNA CONTROL IT? IS IT THE CATTLE TAILS? WHO'S GONNA GO BY THERE? AND LET'S JUST NIP FROM THIS POINT ON AND THEN FIGURE OUT THE REQUEST FOR THAT AT THE BOARD.

SO I'VE JUST GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS JUST FOR MY KNOWLEDGE.

UM, THE FIRST ONE, YOUR, YOUR SEWER PLANT THAT YOU HAVE AT P BLUFF TO SERVICE THAT AREA, IS THAT AN EXCLUSIVE PALM METAL BLUFF, PROPER ONLY PLANT? OR IS IT OWNED BY YOU GUYS? I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAVE SOME PROBLEM SPOTS RIGHT THERE THAT I WOULD IMAGINE BE A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER TO TREAT IT THERE.

IT'S NOT A HIGH VOLUME AMOUNT, BUT UM, CAN FLOW FROM NOT PALM METAL BLUFF, PALM METAL BLUFF PLANT.

WELL, I MEAN, I'M I'M SAYING EVEN AS CLOSE AS OLD P BLUFF ROAD, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ALMOST SEE IT.

IT'S AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT FROM ANYWHERE.

SO THERE, SO IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE THERE.

IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW FAR INTO THE DEVELOPMENT IT IS.

WE MAY HAVE AVAILABLE SEWER SOMEWHERE ELSE.

LIKE IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE FOR THE USE OF.

THAT'S THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW.

UM, AND MY SECOND QUESTION, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT Y'ALL HAVE A FEW WELLS, WOULD YOU SAY BEE OR ROSE HILL AREA? SO YOUR WELL WATER, WHEN, WHEN IT'S A NECESSITY TO USE THAT, DOES IT GO TO THE TREATMENT PLANT AND COME BACK INTO THE PUBLIC LINES OR DOES IT NO SIR.

IT'S TREATED AT THE, IT'S TREATED AT THE WELLS.

UM, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS.

I GREW UP ON WELL WATER, IT'S ALWAYS NICE AND COLD.

UM, THIS MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR BUILDERS AND JOCELYN, BUT DO YOU GIVE ACCESS TO THE TOWN OR TO PEOPLE WHO NEED TO KNOW IF THERE'S A SEWER LINE IN PLACE OR A WATER LINE IN PLACE? I HAVE LOOKED AND LOOKED AND LOOKED AND LOOKED AT IN MY PRIVATE WORLD AND I NEVER FIND IT, BUT IT'S DUE DILIGENT IN SO MANY PARTS OF FILTERS.

AND I'LL SAY REALTORS ARE PEOPLE BUYING LIKE DEVELOPERS ANYTHING? HOW DO WE GET OUR WEBSITE? UM, THERE'S A WATER SEWER AVAILABILITY REQUEST FORM.

I KNOW AND IT'S VERY HARD TO GET AN ANSWER.

WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK INTO THAT.

BUT CAN THE TOWN NOT GET SOMETHING FROM Y'ALL ON A REGULAR BASIS OF WHERE LINES ARE? I CAN TAKE THAT ONE BACK.

[03:05:01]

JUST A QUESTION.

I HAVE MULTIPLE, SO ANYTHING ELSE FOR MYSELF? I JUST, YOUD ME ONE MORE TIME HERE.

LAST YEAR, I GUESS IT WAS A YEAR BEFORE WHEN A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GILBERT JASPER WAS HERE, UM, Y'ALL'S POLICY, YOU HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS IF YOU RUN SEWER LINES TO CERTAIN AREAS THAT PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED TO HOOK UP IF THEY'RE A WATER CUSTOMER.

IF THEY'RE ONE CUSTOMER.

SO WHAT I WAS TOLD TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO IS SAYS Y'ALL HAVE THAT POLICY BUT YOU DON'T ENFORCE IT.

UM, I KNOW OF LOTS OF PLACES THAT ARE WITHIN REACH OF SEWER LINES THAT ARE STILL ON SEPTIC AND THEY'RE BUYING WATER FROM Y'ALL.

SO WITH THIS WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS, TRYING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND KEEP THE SEWER OUT OF THE RIVER OR NO, WOULD WE NOT NEED TO ENFORCE WHAT POLICY OR RULES, LAWS OR WHATEVER THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS? YES SIR.

THAT THAT'S CORRECT.

WE ALSO HAVE A SEWER USE ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THAT YOU'RE, I BELIEVE WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE SEWER IS REQUIREMENT.

AND I THINK THE TOWN MAY ALSO HAVE A SIMPLE ORDINANCE THAT, THAT MATCHES THE LANGUAGE.

SO, UM, YES, I WOULD SAY FOLKS OUT THERE ARE NOT CONNECTED AND THEY DO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS THEY SHOULD BE.

AND THE TWO STARS WITH THE OPEN CIRCLES ARE THE ONES THAT, UM, RANKED HIGHEST WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT THINGS.

DO YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT OR ANYWHERE THAT THAT CHECKS THAT STUFF? WE DO CHECKS THOSE BOXES, YES SIR.

DO ER D DOES WHEN PEOPLE COME IN WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLANS, WE CHECK THOSE.

NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT OLDER ONES THAT THE LINES HAVE BEEN THERE.

NO SIR, WE DON'T ACTIVELY DO THAT.

BUT IT IS POLICY.

IF YOU SERVICE SOME WATER, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HOOK UP THE SEWER, CORRECT? CORRECT.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, ARE YOU THE LAST PRESENTED FOR NO SIR.

YOU GOT A FEW MORES.

THAT WOULD BE ME.

I'M LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY.

SO YOU'RE AND DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING FOR B FOR DESK.

AND I'M THE ONE HOLDING YOU UP.

HOME LUNCH.

HERE WE GO.

YOU'RE A VERY IMPORTANT PARTNER.

SO I AM JUST SO APPRECIATIVE.

Y'ALL ALL ARE HERE FOR IRRIGATION.

IRRIGATION.

SO, UM, BASICALLY WE WANTED TO GO OVER OUR PROJECT, UH, THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY TRANSMISSION MADE AND THE BUTAL TANK PROJECT.

UM, I TELL YOU WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND KIND OF WHAT'S STILL LEFT TO DO ON THIS PROJECT.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, OVERALL OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO GET WATER OUT INTO THE SYSTEM.

AND OUR TRANSMISSION NAMES ARE THE INTERSTATE OF OUR WATER SYSTEM.

SO THEY'RE DESIGNED TO GET WATER FROM THE PLANT OUT TO THE USERS AND THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

UH, THE TANK THERE IS STORAGE.

SO AS RYAN DESCRIBED, WHEN EVERYBODY GOES TO USE WATER AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE STORAGE TANKS IN OUR SYSTEM HELP REPLENISH THINGS FASTER.

UM, SO THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT.

YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE WE GET HERE A COUPLE YEARS AGO FOR YOUR WORKSHOP.

UM, ALL IN ALL WE'VE GOT, UM, OVER 5,000 FEET OF PIPE THAT WE'VE PUT IN ALONG ONE 70, ABOUT 13,000 FEET OF PIPE ALONG, UM, BLUFFTON PARKWAY THAT'S ALL BEEN INSTALLED, IS PERMITTED TO OPERATE.

AND AS WE SPEAK, UH, WE ARE SLOWLY OPENING THOSE VALVES AND THE REASON WE DO IT SO SLOWLY IS TO PREVENT DISCOLORATION.

SO, UM, IF YOU OPEN THOSE VALVES QUICKLY, THAT WATER RUSHES IN.

AND LIKE BRIAN SAYS, CAUSE FLOW TO GO IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS SERVES UP SEDIMENT AND CAUSES PROBLEMS. SO, UM, THAT SHOULD BE DRINKING THE WATERS IN THE NEW PIPES.

JUST MIGHT NOT REALIZE IT YET, BUT, UM, THIS IS A GOOD THING.

UH, ALSO WE WENT OVER, UH, IN THE PAST THAT WE HAD FOUR TANK SITE OR TANK AREAS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.

1, 2, 3, AND FOUR HERE ON THE MAP.

WHAT WE SET ON WAS, UM, AREA NUMBER THREE, WE WENT THROUGH THIS EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF EVALUATION FOR HOW WE PICK THE TANK SITE AND TALKED ABOUT THAT IN A LOT OF DETAIL BEFORE.

AND BASICALLY AGAIN, WE CAME DOWN TO THIS AREA THREE, WHICH IS WHERE BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND BUGAL PARKWAY COME TOGETHER.

WE LOOKED AT CAR, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WHAT COLOR? YELLOW.

SO, UM, THESE ARE THE, THE FIVE PARCELS.

WHERE'S AREA THREE? THIS IS AREA THREE.

OH, ALL FIVE PARCELS IN AREA THREE.

YEAH, AREA THREE IS JUST THE BIG AREA.

SO WE STARTED, ONCE WE NARROW DOWN AN AREA, WE STARTED LOOKING AT PARCELS AND STARTED TRYING TO EVALUATE FURTHER WHICH OF THE BEST PARCELS

[03:10:01]

UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THE SITE WE BROUGHT TO YOU PREVIOUSLY.

WHAT COLOR? YELLOW NUMBER ONE.

SO IT IS, UM, OFF CAROLINA BLUFF DRIVE.

IT IS GOT SOME WETLANDS WITH IT.

UH, IT WAS DESIGNED AROUND THE EVENTUAL EXTENSION OF BLUFFTON PARKWAY ONCE THAT INTERSECTION IS REROUTED.

UM, SO FITS IN WITH THAT PLAN DEVELOPMENT AS WELL.

AND THIS WAS THE RENDERING WE BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS BEFORE.

THE SECOND OPTION, WHICH IS NUMBER TWO, UH, BLUE STAR.

UM, WE'VE BEEN RESEARCHING, UH, IT AS WELL IS LOCATED RIGHT OFF BUCKWALTER COUNTY BOULEVARD.

ESSENTIALLY IT SITS NEXT TO BUCK WALTER TOWN HOMES.

NO TOWNS OF BUCK.

WALTER, SORRY, I HAVE TO GET THE, THE NAME STRAIGHT.

THE TOWN'S OF BUCK.

WALTER, UH, WE MET WITH THEM, UM, TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THEIR FEEDBACK ON THINGS.

SO, UM, OVERALL THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACCEPTING OF THE TANK SITE THERE AS WELL.

UM, BECAUSE BOTH TANK SITES REALLY KIND OF ARE, ARE VISIBLE FROM THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS IS THE RENDERING THAT WE USE TO SHOW THE, THE TOWNS WHAT IT POTENTIALLY COULD LOOK LIKE.

SO WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO DO THE SITE ACQUISITIONS.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT THE TWO PRIMARY ONES THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON.

UM, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF FIRING THOSE, ACQUIRING THE SITE AT THIS TIME.

UM, WE HAD HAD, HAVE HAD SOME DELAYS TO THE PROJECT.

UM, BOTH SITES REQUIRED SOME DESIGN CHANGES TO THE PROJECT.

UM, CAUSE OF THAT CHANGES, PERMITTING, UM, WHEN YOU PUT THOSE DELAYS IN, IT INCREASES CONSTRUCTION COST, YOU KNOW, SO, UM, HAS A SNOWBALL EFFECT.

UM, BUT OVERALL WE'RE HOPING TO START UP CONSTRUCTION OF THE TANK.

THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WE ALREADY HAD THE TANK CONTRACTOR READY TO GO.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HAVING THE SITE PROCURED IN THE FINAL PERMITTING FOR THAT QUESTION ON THAT.

I THOUGHT WE WERE TOLD YOU'VE ABANDONED THE ONE YOU BROUGHT TO US AND THAT Y'ALL WERE LOOKING ELSEWHERE.

WHY DIDN'T WE GET I WHERE DID THAT CHANGE? WE NOT FINALIZED ANY SITE, BUT I THOUGHT IT GOT TO US THAT YOU WERE NOT GOING THROUGH THE ONE YOU PRESENTED TO US.

CAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THE LOOK OF THE TANK AND THE ONE BY PARKERS AND THEN WE HAD A LOT OF COMMENT FROM TOWNS AT WHO WEREN'T, WE'RE THRILLED ABOUT IT THERE.

SO I I'M JUST CONFUSED CUZ I, WE ALL WERE SHOCKED TO SEE WHERE WE ALL LIKE THE, THE ONE, SO JUST, I'M JUST, THAT THAT WAS OUR FIRST SITE.

WE HAD DIFFICULTIES ACQUIRING IT SO WE'VE NOT COMPLETELY MARKED IT OFF.

BUT WE'VE STARTED OR WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING OTHER SITES AS WELL.

WOULD YOU BRING THAT, I GUESS YOU BROUGHT IT TO US THE FIRST TIME.

WE, WE'VE TALKED TO STAFF AS WELL ABOUT THE SECOND SITE AND UM, WE, WE ARE BRINGING EVERYTHING FORWARD.

WE'VE TAKEN IT TO THE COMMUNITY.

LIKE I SAID, WE, WE MET WITH THE TOWNS THIS SUMMER.

UM, THEY PREFER THE SITE CLOSEST TO, UH, THEIR LONG BUCK OFFER TOWN BOULEVARD.

UM, AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE CLOSER TO THE PARKERS.

UM, UM OKAY.

AND JUST LOTS OF TRANSPARENCY OF IT WHEN IT HAPPENED ONCE AND IF IT GOES SOMEWHERE ELSE, I THINK IT'S JUST NOT GOOD FOR US.

AND IF YOU TALK TO STAFF, THEN WE CAN TALK TO STEVEN ABOUT, SO IF YOU MOVE FROM ONE AND TWO, WHAT, WHEN, WHO HERE KNOWS ABOUT THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE IF YOU MOVE OFF OF THOSE TWO AREAS? WELL WE KNOW WE, WE TRY TO KEEP THEM IN THE LOOP.

UM, THAT UM, BUT WITH THAT WE'LL START CONSTRUCTION, UM, HOPEFULLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND UH, HAVE A COMPLETION IN THE FALL OF 2023.

WE, WE HAVE TO GET PERMITTED THROUGH THE TOWN AS WELL.

SO WE'RE, IT'S A PUBLIC PERMIT PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH AS WELL.

SO WE'VE BEEN KEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP CUZ OUR PERMIT IS BASICALLY ON HOLD UNTIL WE CAN ESTABLISH A SITE AND AND ACQUIRE IT.

SO OUR OPTIONS ARE REALLY STILL COMPLETELY OPEN.

BUT WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO NARROW IT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE WITH THESE, UM, TWO TO STEVEN TO MAKE SURE, CUZ PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT IT FROM COUNCIL.

AND WE WERE, IT WAS A LONG MEETING AND HERE I WAS TELLING EVERYBODY IT WAS ONE ON ONE AND THEN I GOT .

IT WASN'T ONE ON ONE.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY OVER TOWARD UM, THE NUMBER THREE OR FOUR KIND OF BEHIND THE REGIONAL PARK.

SO, AND I'M ON THIS SO WE STILL DUNNO.

SO I JUST DOWN TO THAT AREA AND THOSE TWO I PARCELS, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE, THE PROPERTY OWNERS OR THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A SITE.

SO ONE IS STILL IN THE RUNNING WHEN I WAS TOLD ONE WAS OUT OF THE RUNNING.

IT'S NOT COMPLETELY OUT.

NOTHING IS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE RUNNING UNTIL WE, WE GET ONE ESTABLISHED.

[03:15:01]

SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT NINE MONTHS.

SO THE LATER IT STARTS, THE THE LAYER ENDS, UH, WE DO KEEP CONSTRUCTION UPDATES, UM, ON OUR WEBSITE AND WE HAVE A LIST THAT WE EMAIL EVERYBODY THE LINK TO.

UM, I THINK SEVERAL STAFF ARE ON IT AS WELL, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ANYBODY WHO'S RESPONDED THAT THEY'D LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS UPDATE, THEY GET IT.

IT COMES OUT EVERY TWO WEEKS.

SO I'M TRYING TO STAY INFORMED THERE AND WE ANSWER QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME ON THIS PROJECT.

UM, BUT BEFORE I OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FOR YOU GUYS, UM, CAUSE I NEED KINDA ASK ALONG THE WAY, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS YOU ASKED ABOUT BUCK, UM, BUCK VILLE ROAD PROJECT.

SO I GOT THIS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON SO IT COULD HAVE CHANGED UM, IN THE LAST 12 HOURS , UH, BUT EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE FOR THIS TO GO TO DEK EXCEPT FOR TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION FROM YOUR ENGINEER.

SO AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THAT, IT'LL GET SUBMITTED AND THEN IT TAKES ABOUT A WEEK TO TURN AROUND FROM D E OUR ENGINEERS.

DO WE KNOW THAT WHAT ELSE OUR DESIGN TEAM CRANSTON HAD? THERE WERE ADDITIONAL TWO LITTLE, TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION TO GO IN THE PACKET THAT GOES TO DEK AND THAT'S ALL WE'RE WAITING ON.

AND WHAT YEAH, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON OUR ENGINEERS, KEN, OUR ENGINEERS, MARK'S BEEN HASLING THEM EVERY DAY TO GET IT IN AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THEIR PERFORMANCE.

CAN YOU UPDATE WE LUNCH? I'M SORRY? CAN YOU GET AN UPDATE WHILE WE'RE AT LUNCH? YEAH, LET'S GET AN UPDATE BEFORE WE LEAVE TODAY.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THEY MAY HAVE IT ALREADY EXPECT TO HAVE IT FRIDAY.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO YOU ON FRIDAY.

PERFECT.

JUNE THEN TO US, AS SOON AS WE GET IT, THE PACKET'S READY, IT'LL GET EMAILED TO, IT GOES IN ELECTRONICALLY TO DCU AND THEN WITHIN ABOUT A WEEK WHEN THE PERMIT COMES BACK, SO I'M SURE AT THE HOLD UP, DOWN BED, HOPEFULLY OUR GOAL IS BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH OUT FOR FRIDAY, WHICH IS THE END OF THE MONTH, CLOSE TO IT.

WE GET THE INFORMATION FROM OUR ENGINEERS TO BE FOR JASPER FRIDAY.

BRING IT UP, WE GET THINGS MOVING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH, THIS A LITTLE.

UM, BRIAN MENTIONED THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY AFFECTING THIS AREA, WHICH WOULD BE THE PERRYSBURG PLANT EXPANSION AND THE CHERRY POINT WASTEWATER PLANT EXPANSION.

UH, BOTH OF THOSE ARE UNDERWAY.

CHERRY POINT, I MEAN PRAIRIE SHOULD START THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

SO WE'RE READY TO GO ON THAT CUZ HOPEFULLY WE'LL NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WHILE THESE PLANTS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

BUT JUST KNOW IN THE BACKGROUND THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP AHEAD OF GROWTH IN THE AREA AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THESE EXPANSIONS IS TO TO SAY ONE STEP AHEAD OF THINGS WE GO.

SO WITH THAT ONE THING ON THE UM, STONE PRESS, Y'ALL ARE THE LEAD.

DO YOU HAVE LOBBYISTS IN COLUMBIA THAT, THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT WE'RE GONNA GET THIS ARTHUR MONEY? OR HOW DO Y'ALL HANDLE GRANTS WHEN Y'ALL WRITE 'EM UP THERE? HOW ASSURED ARE YOU GETTING WHEN YOU WRITE IT? I GUESS MY QUESTION, SO OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH RIA, WE SUBMITTED FIVE GRANT APPLICATIONS, UM, FOR EACH YEAR WE'RE GONNA GET ONE OF THE FIVE.

OF THE FIVE.

AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE, YOUR BEAVER CASPER AREA.

SO WHAT WERE THE DOLLARS AMOUNT THAT YOU REQUESTED? ANOTHER FOUR ROUGHLY? UH, THE MATCH MONEY, THE 10 MILLION EACH.

SO WE'RE ONE FIFTH.

WE'RE GONNA GET THAT GRANT.

THAT'S NO, I APPRECIATE THE, I JUST, I JUST DIDN'T, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD FIVE SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

UM, DO Y'ALL HAVE, DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN COLUMBIA THAT, I MEAN ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR ONE OR THE OTHER? HOW GOOD DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HOURS GETTING IS? ARE THERE OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OURS? AND PLEASE BE HONEST, WE DID RANK THEM.

UM, THE TWO THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE EXISTING SYSTEM, WE RANKED THE HIGHEST, UM, PRIORITY WISE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THREE WE DID NOT RANK.

ARE WE IN THE OTHER THREE? YOU'RE IN THE OTHER THREE.

OKAY, YOU GO.

OUR MASTER PLAN, WHICH LOOKED AT GROWTH PROJECTIONS SO THAT WE COULD DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS WERE POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE.

UM, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION I SHOULD HAVE ASKED EARLIER.

THE, UM, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT ALL THE EXPANSIONS FOR THE WATER TREATMENT, YOU KNOW, THE DRINKING WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND EXPANDING THEIR CAPACITY, UM, WHAT'S Y'ALL'S SEWER TREATMENT CAPACITY LOOK LIKE? YOU KNOW, I MEAN ARE WE GOOD TO GO FOR ANOTHER FIVE OR 10 YEARS OR AS ALL THESE NEW CUSTOMERS WERE TREATING THE WATER ABOUT? HOW ABOUT THE CAPACITY OF THE SEWER TREATMENT? SO, UH, WE DID THE SAME THING UM, LAST YEAR.

WE CONDUCTED

[03:20:01]

UM, ARE OUT THERE.

UM, IT'S AT PERRYSBURG NEEDS THE EXPANSION STILL AND IT AT CHERRY POINT NEEDS ITS EXPANSION.

SO AGAIN, PERRYSBURG IS, WAS ALREADY DESIGNED, IT'S NOW GOING UNDER CONSTRUCTION CHERRY POINT, UH, WE GOT THE DESIGN CONTRACT ON IT EARLIER THIS FALL.

SO THEY START, THEY'RE STARTING WORK ON IT.

IT'S LIKELY TO BE EXPANDED, PROBABLY NOT THIS SPRING, BUT THE FOLLOWING SPRING PROBABLY START CONSTRUCTION ON THAT WASTEWATER PLANT EXPANSION.

SO THE, THE, THE WATER TREATMENT AND THE SEWER PLANTS ARE THE SAME PLACE.

THEY, BUT NO, NOT NECESSARILY.

UM, SO IT HAPPENS, THEY NEED TO BE EXPANDED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

UH, KIND OF LIKE BRIAN SAID.

AND DR.

RODRIGUEZ, UH, JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE THE GROWTH IS AS TO WHICH PLANT BECAUSE EACH SEWER PLANT IS SEPARATE.

SO WHEREVER THE GROWTH IS AND WHEREVER THE UM, SEWAGE TRAVELS, WHICHEVER PLANT IS MOST FEASIBLE TO GO TO, UM, IF THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH THERE, THEN THAT PLANT NEEDS BE EXCITED EARLIER.

BRUCE GOT A QUESTION, JUST CURIOUS IF YOU'RE RUNNING WATER LINES, ARE YOU RUNNING SEWER LINES IN PARALLEL TO THAT AT THE SAME TIME? SO IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO CONNECT CUZ THE WATER'S GOING THERE SO THEREFORE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE SEWER COMING THERE, RIGHT? SO IS THAT A IT FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS? THERE'S UM, THEY USUALLY TYPICALLY HAVE WATER AND SEWER.

UM, SO WHEN YOU'RE SHOWING THE, THE WATER MEANS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN, THERE'S SEWER LANES MEANS GOING INTO NO SIR.

THOSE ARE TRANSMISSION NAMES.

SO THOSE, UM, IT'S BASICALLY LIKE PUTTING AN INTERSTATE IN.

SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR ROAD SYSTEM AND IT'S CONGESTED, YOU PUT AN INTERSTATE IN AND TIE THE SECONDARY ROADS TO IT.

THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN TRAVEL FROM POINT A TO POINT B.

THAT'S WHAT THOSE TRANSMISSION MAINS ARE FOR THE WATER MAIN PROJECT THAT THEY WERE JUST SHOWING AND, AND 92% OF THE, NOT TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTY, BUT THE TOWN REQUIRES WATER AND SEWER.

SO I THINK, I THINK IF SHE WERE TO PUT WATER DOWN GOOD ROAD, BUT THEY DUMP WATER.

SEE WE GOT WATER A LONG TIME AGO.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS NOT THINKING ABOUT REQUIRING SEWER TO GO IN, BUT THAT WAS 23 YEARS AGO WITH SOME OF THE TOWNS, THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS PUT BOTH IN.

YEAH, NO ASK FOLLOW UP.

THEY HAVE NO MORE FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, LISTEN, WELL GO BACK TO BRUCE THE REQUEST AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'VE HEARD WHAT ISSUES WERE ABOUT RELEASING AND SO, AND I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, BUT AT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION LEVEL OR WITH OUR TOWN TO KNOW WHERE THESE LINES ARE NOW, SO WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL TO KNOW I'VE HAD SOME OLD MAPS FROM PAST, UM, FIRST REVIEW AND STAFF THAT I'VE HAD IT, SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORRY IS.

IS IT THAT, I MEAN I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEAK TO IT, BUT WHERE IS THAT MAP THAT SHOWS EVERYTHING? SO WE CAN KNOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S EXISTING BECAUSE WE, ANYTIME WE CAN TAKE IT AND LEARN FROM IT AND YOU KNOW, HELP YOU CUZ WE WANNA HELP YOU AND WE WANT YOU TO HELP US BECAUSE WE DOWN AS AN ITEM.

THE, UM, WE, WE SHARE IT WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, REQUEST IT.

OH GOOD.

SO THAT THERE IS A PRECEDENT ALREADY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL DATA IS SHARED, UM, IN THAT, BUT UM, BEING A MUNICIPAL ENTITY, WE, WE DO, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN PUTTING IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON A PROJECT.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SOME OFS, GHOST TRUCKS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET RIGHT AWAY IS TO PUT SEWER LINES ON.

THERE'S ALREADY WATER LINES THERE.

YEAH, I USING SAME.

WE'RE WHO, WHO'D THE WATER COMPANY GET A RIGHT AWAY FROM TO PUT THE WATER LINES? THAT'S INTERESTING.

CAN WE PUT SEWER THESE PLACES WE'RE TRYING TO GET SEWER ALREADY HAVE WATER.

CAN WE, IT'S A FLOW AND THE EASEMENT IS DEFINED.

SO IF IT'S A WATER ONLY EASEMENT THEN ONLY WATER CAN GO ON IT.

IF IT'S A ALL INCLUSIVE EASEMENT, WATER STORM, SEWER, EVERYTHING CAN GO IN IT TRAILS.

IT, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THE, THE CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT IS WRITTEN.

WHAT DO YOU USUALLY SEE AND THE DOCUMENTS Y'ALL GET, ARE YOU JUST ONLY, ARE YOU THINKING WAY OUT OR ARE YOU ONLY THINKING FOR THE CURRENT NEED? LIKE ARE THERE ALL INCLUSIVE EASEMENTS THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO? FOR US, UM, FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WE JUST GET WATER, SEWER EASEMENTS.

UM, A LOT OF OUR SYSTEM IS ACQUIRED.

SO IT WAS HOWEVER, IF WE ACQUIRED IT FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, HOWEVER IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE CONVEYANCE DOCUMENT IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.

INTERESTING.

BUT NO OTHER, NO OTHER ENTITY CAN USE IT.

YOUR EASEMENTS JUST TO BE ON THE

[03:25:01]

SAFE SIDE HERE.

YOUR EASEMENT IS, IS STRICTLY FOR YOUR BENEFIT.

NOBODY ELSE CAN GET INTO THAT EASEMENT.

IF A GOOD ADVANCED DOCUMENT SAYS THIS IS OF YOU FOR JASPER EASEMENT FOR WATER AND SEWER ONLY, THEN YES.

BUT THAT'S TYPICALLY THE WAY YOU'VE ALWAYS WRITTEN YOUR EASEMENTS.

CORRECT? RIGHT.

BUT IF WE'RE DOING IT SEWER AND THEY HAVE THAT WATER SEWER, THEY'RE PUTTING IT IN.

NO, I'M SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T PUT IN ELECTRIC, YOU CAN'T PUT IN GAS, OTHER UTILITIES CANNOT GET INTO THEIR EASEMENT.

THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

AND I WANNA GO BACK TO TO ONE POINT YOU WERE MAKING A MINUTE AGO.

UM, FOR CLARITY.

SO ON THE, ON THE SONY CREST, I THINK IT'S BEEN ILLUSTRATED, UH, THAT THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT THROUGH THE THREE ENTITIES WAS MADE COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT PRIOR TO JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THE GRANT, WHICH IS EXTRA FREE MONEY, UM, COMES THROUGH.

BUT IF THE GRANT DOESN'T COME THROUGH, YOU'RE STILL COMMITTED.

UH, I'M GUESSING THE COUNTY'S COMMITTED FINANCIALLY AND WE'RE COMMITTED.

SO EITHER WAY THERE'S A COMMITMENT LEVEL THERE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT PROJECT.

OF OUT OVERVIEWING THAT HERE.

I I JUST WANNA INTERJECT, I AM NOT SURE OF THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT.

I HAVE NOT SEEN IT OUTSIDE OF THIS GRANT PROCESS.

AND THE LAST FIVE CAPITAL PLANS WE'VE SEEN FROM THEM DID NOT INCLUDE THAT PROJECT OUT.

SO I WILL JUST PUT THAT CAVEAT IN.

SO I'LL PULL THE LETTER, I'LL FIND THE LETTER THAT THEY SUBMITTED, BUT IT SAID THAT THEY, OUTSIDE OF THE GRANT PROCESS, I WAS GONNA SAY IT WAS OFF THE GRANT.

I GIVE YOU MY GUT APPEAL.

WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT GRANT.

NOT IF THAT THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE GRANT DIDN'T EVEN PUT US IN THE TOP TWO AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T.

SO IF THEY'RE ONLY GONNA GET ONE AND THEY LISTED TWO AND WE'RE THE BOTTOM THREE, I MEAN DOES ANYONE THINK WE'RE GONNA GET THE GRANT? I DON'T.

THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING I'M NOTABLE THE COUNTY'S GONNA COMMIT FUNDS AND PRIORITIZE IT IF THE GRANT, SO STEVEN YOU SAID YEAH AND CHRIS, I'M PULLING UP THE LETTER TO MAKE SURE WHAT IT SAID.

WELL LET'S LOOK AT IT.

I HOPE YOU'RE WRONG THIS TIME.

I DO TOO.

YEAH, I THOUGHT YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL OF EXTRA MONEY.

I THOUGHT THERE WAS A AT ONE POINT.

SO THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE VERY EVERYTHING AND UM, ENJOY YOUR LUNCH NOW.

WELL YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY OR Y'ALL CAN RUN THAT TO WORK.

UM, WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE THAT SITS ON THEIR BOARD FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING OR HERE.

AND THAT'S MICHAEL BELL.

SO HE IS ALWAYS OUR POINT PERSON AND THEN WE HAVE, WE KNOW WHERE KENNETH LIVES SO WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WE CAN GO TO.

SO, UM, THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I HOPE YOU KNOW WE'RE HERE TO LEARN.

AND HERE'S LUNCH.

KIM, ARE YOU UP? THERE'S LUNCH.

DO YOU WANT UM, BREAK ROOM? SO WE'LL HAVE COUNCIL AND STAFF BREAK.

WE'RE GONNA BREAK.

IT'S 1230.

SO ARE WE GONNA BREAK UNTIL ONE NOON? THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO WE'LL BREAK UNTIL ONE IF Y'ALL WANNA RUN OUT OR WHATEVER OR CHAT OR THERE'S COFFEE AND WATER AND SNACKS UP FRONT.

UM, AND WE'LL ALL CONVENE.

SO IF ANYONE HAS TO LEAVE, LET'S JUST BE BACK HERE LIKE ONE OF FIVE.

IS THAT GOOD? GOOD.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A NICE BREAK

[VIII. Discussion of Key Topics]

AND LUNCH.

UM, WE ARE ON TO DISCUSSION OF KEY TOPICS.

YOU'RE UP STEVEN.

SO JUST TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT UM, WHERE WE'RE GOING THIS AFTERNOON AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH COUNCIL MEETINGS OR DIFFERENT MEETINGS WE'VE HEARD COUNCIL SAY, WELL LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT STRATEGIC PLAN.

LET'S TRY TO BRING THAT UP A STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAVE BROUGHT AND SAID AGAIN, LET'S DISCUSS THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO WE TRIED TO KEEP THOSE AND TRACK ON INSIDE OF A DOCUMENT TO HELP GUIDE THE CONVERSATION FOR THIS AFTERNOON.

UM, AS YOU SAW THIS MORNING, UM, WITH HEATHER GOING THROUGH AS YOU WENT THROUGH THE ACTION ITEM PLAN, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE'VE CHECKED OFF.

THERE'S A LOT THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE GONNA BE REFLECTED AND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

SO AS WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE AND WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING ITEMS TO COUNSEL, WE TRY TO ACCOMPLISH AND CHECK THINGS OFF.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION OR SAME WITHIN THE SAME GUIDELINES AS WHAT COUNCIL'S VISION IS.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING SYMBIOTIC TOGETHER SO THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH MATCHES THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL AND ALL COUNCIL'S VISION TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'M GONNA TRY TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THIS SOME TIME CAUSE I DON'T THINK SOME OF THE FIRST TOPICS ARE GONNA BE UM, MUCH DISCUSSION BUT TO MY SURPRISE THIS MORNING, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS THAN ANTICIPATED.

SO, BUT AS ALWAYS, PLEASE FEEL FREE AS TALK ABOUT BEING STRATEGIC PLAN AND KIND OF THE WORKSHOP FORMAT, INTERRUPT QUESTIONS, ANYTHING THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

SO KIND

[03:30:01]

AND AGAIN, GOAL TO RECEIVE GUIDANCE AND INPUT COUNSEL AND UM, THIS HELPS US KIND OF PRIORITIZE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE WORKING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND AGAIN, I'M SURE WE HAVE SHARED VISION ON PROJECTS.

SO AS YOU SAID IN THE AGENDA, WE'VE GOT SIX TOPICS WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH AND SOME OF 'EM I'VE HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU ABOUT SOME I'VE HEARD FROM ONE OR TWO.

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM ONE OR TWO IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL, UH, GOOD WITH AND THAT WE'RE MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE TRANSPORTATION.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WANNA TALK ABOUT IS, UH, TRAFFIC CIRCLES.

SO THIS IS OUR TRAFFIC CIRCLE AT BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND UM, BLUFFTON ROAD ROAD THAT WE MAINTAINED AND IMPROVE, WE IMPROVED AND MAINTAINED.

UM, WE'VE KIND OF EXPANDED A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF THAT TO PICK UP SOME OF THE, THE CURBS AND SOME THAT FIRST MEETING OR TWO BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NOTICED DURING THE SUMMER, D O T DOESN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB MAINTAINING IT.

SO WE GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS.

SO I'LL GIVE THOMAS CREDIT.

THOMAS HAS KIND OF TAKEN IT TO GO ABOUT ONE OR TWO MEDIANS TO MAKE SURE THE ARE COMING INTO THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

IT LOOKS BETTER, BUT AGAIN IT'S STILL D OTS RIGHT AWAY FROM MAINTENANCE.

WE'RE KIND OF EXPANDING BEYOND, BUT WE'RE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTRYWAY IN THE TOWN REPRESENTS WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE.

SO WE HAVE THE ONE OVER HERE AT THE INTERSECTION OF NEW RIVERSIDE, UM, OR MAY RIVER ROAD AND UM, NEW RIVERSIDE AND 1 71 TO HAVE CONVERSATION KIND OF WITH COUNCIL.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE AS WE DID WITH BLUFFTON, UM, PARKWAY AND BLUFFTON ROAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS ENTRYWAY IN A TOWN MIRRORS DIVISION THAT WE SHARE FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR TOWN HAS THE SAME FEEL THROUGHOUT.

UM, IN RESEARCHING WANTING TO MOVE TO LOOK AT THIS, WE ACTUALLY FOUND OUT THAT NEW RIVERSIDE LLC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING AT THIS ROUNDABOUT, WHICH RIGHT NOW THE LANDSCAPING IF YOU GO OUT THERE IS JUST WHEAT.

UM, BUT KIND OF MENTION THAT TO THEM WHENEVER, UM, MET WITH THEM ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THEY DID.

I DON'T THINK THEY WERE AWARE THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF IT AS WELL.

WHO ARE THEY? UH, WILL WILL, HOWARD STREET IS NEW RIVER, NEW RIVERSIDE LLC IS THEIR POA.

THING WILL BE, UM, IF THEY DON'T, WHAT WILL THEY LET US PUT THERE THAT MAY BE MORE NATURAL FITTING INTO THE CPI? UM, BUT YES, WE DID LOOK AT AN OPTION THAT HAD LIKE A WELCOME SIGNAGE AND WE DID NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE BREAKAWAY AND A STYROFOAM AND ALL THAT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

UH, SIDE OF THE OF COMMON BLUFF IN THAT, IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

UM, I APOLOGIZE ABOUT USING THAT.

IT'S ALRIGHT.

SORRY FOR SO, UM, BUT WILL HOWARD, UM, DEREK AND I MET AND KIND OF LOOKING AT SOME OF THE STUFF THEY WERE DOING OVER THERE AND WE KIND OF BROACHED THIS TOPIC WITH THEM AND UM, WILL DID NOT SEEM TO REAL UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE AGREEMENT WITH THE LAND TRANSFER.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE THINGS WE WANNA, WE WANT TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT AND SEE IF, IF WE IMPROVE IT, IF THEY'LL MAINTAIN IT, IF THEY WANT TO LOOK AT IMPROVING IT.

WE KIND OF HAVE THAT CONVERSATION JUST IN OUR INITIAL DISCUSSION.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY HAVE ANY DESIRE TO DO ANY UPFITTING, THEY'LL JUST MAINTAIN IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THEM BEFORE WE LOOK AT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

UM, AND THEN LIKE I SAID, IT MAY BE A PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE SPLIT COST OR WE INSTALL AND THEN THEY MAINTAIN.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME PARTNERSHIP HOPEFULLY THAT WE CAN HAVE THERE.

IF NOT STILL TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME SORT OF UNIFICATION.

SO PUTTING TOGETHER KIND OF A PRELIMINARY PLAN OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

UM, THIS IS WHY I KIND OF GAVE YOU THIS VIEW DOWN BECAUSE THIS KIND OF GIVES YOU WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE WITH THE CIRCLE AND WITH TREE PLANTING IN THE MIDDLE AND THE FLOWERS SURROUNDING YOU, YOU CAN SEE TO THE RIGHT SOME OF THE PLANTINGS THAT THEY, UM, ARE RECOMMENDING WITH SOME LOWER PET.

UM, SOME, SOME GRASS TYPE ITEMS THAT STAY GREEN ALL YEAR LONG.

BUT THEN THEY COLOR, UH, IF YOU'VE SEEN 'EM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY COLORING RIGHT NOW IN 2 78.

SO THEY PROVIDED SOME COLOR IN THERE AS WELL.

PAT'S WORKED WITH, UM, J TILLER.

J DIER PUT THIS TOGETHER AND UM, WE ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT, IT WAS ACTUALLY A BIGGER PLANNING AND WE ACTUALLY SHRUNK IT DOWN CAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE GUYS HAD, IF OUR, UM, STAFF HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT, THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE AREA TO STAND TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT.

BECAUSE AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY WE'D GIVE ABOUT THREE FOOT, UH, BUFFER.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO BE ABLE TO STAND IN THERE AND DO PROPER MAINTENANCE.

AND I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE GONNA GET A CLIP BY A CAR.

JUST THEY NEED TO N SOME COMMENTS ON THAT.

IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO PUT A ART AND WE WERE DOING THE 46 CIRCLE AND D O T WILL NOT ALLOW ANYTHING THAT'S NOT A BREAKAWAY.

SO I DOUBT THEY'RE GONNA LET US HAVE AN OAK TREE, BUT WE ALSO, I FELT LIKE WE KIND OF GOT AWAY WITH THE CRATE MYRTLES ON THE OTHER CIRCLE, BUT, AND, AND THAT'S WHY IT KIND OF SAYS WE ALTERNATE.

WE KIND OF WENT, THEY HAD DID ONE WITH UH, PALMETTO TREES AND I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CENIC BYWAY TO ME IF WE'RE GONNA HONOR THE CENIC BYWAY TO ME IN LIVE OAK SEEMS MORE OF THE SCENIC BYWAY, WHETHER THEY'LL LET US PUT THAT, THAT'S A QUESTION WE'LL HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THEN.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER

[03:35:01]

SO, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE'LL CONTINUE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH NEW RIVERSIDE LLC AFTER, UM, WE GET COUNCIL'S INPUT, WELL WE DID SOME ROUGH ESTIMATES FROM JK TILLER AND CAME IN ABOUT $50,000 FOR COMPLETION.

AND THEN, UM, IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO MOVE, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH, WE WOULD WORK WITH, UM, CHRIS AND I WOULD WORK TO LOOK TO PUT IT INTO OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

TRAFFIC CIRCLES HAVE SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS DRIVERS' ATTENTION AND, AND SO CAN, IF YOU GONNA DO ANYTHING, CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T BLOCK THE, THE VISION OR THE VIEW OF THE WHOLE CIRCLE? YES SIR.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WENT WITH THE PLANNINGS THAT ARE IN THERE.

AND I'M GONNA BLOCK THAT.

STICK ON THAT AGAIN.

EXCUSE ME.

, RIGHT.

WELL, UM, ESSENTIALLY EVERYTHING HAS TO BE UNDER 30 INCHES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THERE IS A SITE TRIANGLE, THERE'S A TRIANGLE FROM EACH INTERSECTION THAT LEAVES THE MIDDLE OPEN FOR SOME VERTICAL ELEMENT.

AND AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, AT BLUFFTON PARKWAY, WE HAD TO, THE ONLY THING WE COULD GET IN THERE WAS LIVE OR WAS, UH, CRATE MYRTLE TREES.

UM, THE DESIGNER OF THIS THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A MUCH LARGER CIRCLE IN THAT OPEN AREA FOR, UM, A VERTICAL ELEMENT MIGHT BE.

THEY, THEY WOULD GO IN AND SEE IF THEY COULD GET A LIVE OAK IN THIS CASE, BUT IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL GO BACK TO CRANK MYRTLE INSTALLATION, BUT STILL THINK THE LIVE CREEK BECOME VT ONE DAY THE LIVE OAK WOULD BE CRANK MYRTLE.

WE CAN KEEP DOWN, BUT IT'S AN ELEMENT WE CAN LOOK AT.

IF WE DON'T WANT TO INCLUDE A TREE OR SOMETHING IN THE CENTER, WE CAN ALWAYS JUST KEEP THE, JUST THE COLOR, THE PLANTINGS AND THE EVERGREENS IN THERE AND KEEP IT BELOW THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR D O T.

YOU WANT DT NOW ALREADY BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL.

OH, WE WOULD BRING BACK A FINAL DESIGN.

WE JUST KIND OF WANTED TO TELL YOU, SHOW AGAIN, SHOW YOU KIND OF WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANYTHING AND LOOK TO BRING BACK PART OF BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR OR FINALIZE THE DESIGN.

I UM, WELL I'M DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF, UM, BEAUTIFYING THAT, UH, ROUNDABOUT OR IMPLEMENTING ONE THERE BECAUSE, UM, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING EARLIER ABOUT UM, KEEPING THAT UNIFORMITY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN BLUFFTON.

AND I KNOW SOMETIMES THAT AREA CAN SEEM LIKE IT'S NOT BLUFFTON OR IT'S ANOTHER AREA.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE, UM, LIKE A UNIFIED UH, LOOK THERE I THINK WOULD BE GREAT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THAT, UM, THE BARN IS GONNA SEE A LOT OF TRAFFIC, A LOT OF, UM, RESIDENTS WILL UTILIZE THAT.

SO KIND OF BEING ABLE TO UM, TO TAKE THAT APPROACH I THINK IS GONNA BE GONNA BE GREAT FOR THE AREA.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE WERE LOOKING AT IT IS BECAUSE ONCE THE BARN GETS APPROVED AND WE MAKE THAT, AND THIS IS GONNA STAND OUT EVEN MORE OBVIOUSLY AGAINST THE, UM, BACKDROP OF THE BARN.

SOUNDS GOOD.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, UH, WE HAD ASKED, UM, WELL WHEN WE ORIGINALLY HAD THE FIRST DATE WE HAD, UM, STEPHANIE WITH LAST MY MIND JUST WENT BLANK, LAST NAME ROSS.

SHE WAS GONNA COME AND KIND OF GIVE AN UPDATE ON UM, SOME OF THE PLANS.

SHE'S NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY.

SO KIND OF PUT JUST SOME OF THE, JUST SO YOU ARE AWARE OF SOME OF THE LAST PROJECTS ON THE LONG TERM, UM, LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANS THAT ARE COMING UP.

THE, UM, YOU GOT KEVIN HERE, HE SITS ON THE ADVISORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

UM, AND THEN MAYORS THE CHAIR OF IT THAT WANTED TO KIND OF JUST GO THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

UM, THEY ARE APPROVING, UM, STUDIES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO PUT TOGETHER IS LOOK AT 1 70 46 GOING FROM THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE OUT THREE 15 AND DID THEY INCLUDE THE MOVED BLUFFTON PARKWAY WEST IN THERE AS WELL, KEVIN? OR NO, SORRY, FOR WHAT PART WAS THAT? UH, BLUFFTON PARKWAY GOING ACROSS THE SWAMP.

DO THEY INCLUDE THAT IN THE STUDY FOR THIS TIME OR THAT'S DOWN THE LINE? UH,

[03:40:01]

NO, THAT IS INCLUDED.

SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO RIGHT NOW IS THEY'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT WEST SIDE OF WHERE THE GROWTH IS GOING TO FOCUS ON, UM, 46 1 70, UH, 4 3 15 AND GOING OUT ON BLUFFTON PARKWAY OUT TO EXIT FIVE.

SO HERE'S YOUR SCHEDULE HERE IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, WE DID TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST, UM, QUARTERLY WORKSHOP.

THE QUARTERLY WORKSHOP ABOUT THE SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, THIS IS JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES IN THE OLD TOWN AND WE STILL, UM, IDENTIFY 56 CROSSWALKS AND INTERSECTIONS THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE TO MEET CURRENT ADA STANDARDS.

WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THOSE OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT'S BEEN DONE.

THIS IS, UM, JUST KIND OF SOME PHOTOS TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS WE GO THROUGH.

WE HAVE A FISCAL YEAR 2388 CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENT.

THE PHASE ONE INCLUDES SIX LOCATIONS ALONG ROAD, KIRKS BLUFF AND THE MC RILEY SPORTS COMPLEX.

UM, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN AND UH, THIS MONTH WE'LL ANTICIPATE TO START DATE DECEMBER, 2020.

AND THEN BEAUFORD COUNTY IS ALSO WORKING GOTHE ROAD AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO PUT TO DO THEIR IMPROVEMENTS THERE, UM, AT THE, THESE ARE THE LOCATIONS ALONG GOTHE ROAD AND THEN THERE'S THE, THAT'S THE SPEED HUM ON UM, THOMAS HAYWARD, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FOR GO ROAD FOR WHERE THE COUNTY'S LOOKING TO INSTALL.

JUST ONE QUICK THING.

WHAT, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO TAKE FIVE YEARS TO DO SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT FINANCIAL RESTRICTION? OR IS IT, I MEAN IT'S JUST BUDGET.

THERE'S RESTRICTIONS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT, SO IT'S, IT'S DIPPING IT UP SO MANY A YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT A HUGE FINANCIAL LIT IF YOU'D LIKE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IT IN A ONE YEAR PLAN, WE TOGETHER AND DO WE EVEN KNOW WHAT IT COSTS? UM, NOT UNTIL, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A COST ASSESSMENT FOR THE ONES THAT WE HAVE GOING OUT TO BID FIVE YEARS, THAT'S GONNA COST A LOT MORE.

I CAN GUARANTEE MAN , WHAT WE DID FOR THIS YEAR WAS TAKE THE FIRST SIX THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, UM, CROSSWALKS AND DO THAT.

AND WE PUT IN A BUDGET THAT WE CAME UP WITH OURSELVES AND WE'RE WORKING WITHIN THAT BUDGET WHAT WAS REMAINING 50 WE WOULD'VE TO COME UP WITH A ESTIMATE OR WHATEVER COST, PUT IT IN THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND, AND THEN WORK TOWARDS DOING ALL OF THAT ONCE AS OPPOSED TO SPREADING THEM OUT.

WELL THIS IS, WE'RE CONTRACTING THIS OUT, RIGHT? YES.

WE'RE NOT DOING IT IN HOUSE.

SO NO, IT WOULD JUST BE IF, DEPENDING ON THE COST AND WHAT FUNDING IS REQUIRED TO DO IT, WHETHER WE'RE GONNA PRIORITIZE WHATEVER SOMETHING ELSE OR WHETHER WE HAVE ACTUAL FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE, WE JUST ASKED THE SIX, WHAT WAS THE BUDGET? I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY CAN YOU GET BALLPARK PAD? YEAH, IT'S UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST SO IT IS, YES, IT IS EXPENSIVE.

I MEAN I'M TALKING ABOUT CONSTRUCTION COSTS, RIGHT? THERE'S, THERE'S PROBABLY A 10 $15,000 DESIGN COST THERE TOO.

PLUS WE, WE HAVE TO GET EASEMENTS BUT FORTUNATELY WE'VE GOT 'EM DONATED, SO, SO IF WE DID ALL OF THEM WE'RE OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EASY.

ALRIGHT.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT.

I WAS FOLLOWING LARRY AND I THINK IT THE SAME WAY HE WAS AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE SPREAD IT OUT.

I GOT THE C BOOK HERE IF YOU WANNA LOOK AND SAY EXACTLY HOW I JUST TEXT TEXTED CONSTANTS.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST SOME OTHER EXAMPLES, UM, IN OLD TOWN AND BLUFFTON PARK AND THEN THE BOTTOM ONE IS OVER AT BLUFFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL WHERE JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SPEED HOMES AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SLOW TRAFFIC AGAIN.

UM, SO THIS ARE, UM, A LIST AND YOU CAN SEE GOING DOWN COMPLIANCE RATING, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING TO HELP IDENTIFY AND, AND FOCUS ON ONES THAT ARE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.

SO THAT WAS IT FOR TRANSPORTATION.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THERE, WE CAN OR WE CAN GO THROUGH AND THEN CIRCLE BACK.

I, I, I WOULD HAVE A COUPLE IF I MAY, UM, UH, ONE THAT, AND I, I DUNNO WHETHER LISA BROUGHT IT UP OR WHOM, BUT, UH, SO AT IT POUND OF BLUFF, THE ENTRANCE, DO WE KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIGHT OR I EVEN HEARD MENTION ANOTHER TRAFFIC CIRCLE

[03:45:01]

POSSIBLY.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HOW OF BLUFF OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AT MIDPOINT? HOW OF BLUFF? KEVIN, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING? I'VE HAD A, A PHONE CALL ABOUT IT AND THAT'S ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW, A POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING THERE.

A TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

A LIGHT A LIGHT.

BUT OKAY, SO AGAIN, SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP A TRAFFIC CIRCLE OF MEDIA OTHER NIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S FEASIBLE OR NOT FEASIBLE.

I JUST, I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.

UM, AND THEN ONE THAT I, I, I ASK A GOOD BIT IS THE, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO TRY TO DO IS INSTEAD OF ASKING THE QUESTION EVERY YEAR, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO GET US TO A MORE DEFINITIVE PLACE.

BUT THE TIE IN ROAD, AND I KNOW Y'ALL GET TIRED OF ME ASKING IF THE TIE IN ROAD IN WASHINGTON SQUARE OVER TO WHERE THE KROGER SITE IS, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS REALITY IN, IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME? WHAT DO WE NEED? SO THEY HAVE DONE THE WORK TO MEET THEIR CORE, THE CORE ENGINEERS PERMIT, THEY JUST HAVE NOT PAID IT.

IF I'M, DO YOU KNOW KEVIN, THE ONLY WORK WAS THE EARTHWORK OF PUTTING, INSTALLING THE PIPES AND, AND THE, THE DIRT SO TO SPEAK, OVER THE WETLANDS PORTION OF IT.

UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE, UM, SOUTHEASTERN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT.

UM, AND WE'D HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THEM AGAIN TO FIND OUT FROM A TIMEFRAME WELL COULD, COULD WE DO THAT? BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP MANY TIMES AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE IN MY LITTLE MIND THAT I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND YES, THERE'S A TIMELINE ASSOCIATED TO IT.

WE'LL TRY TO GET IT DONE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS.

BUT TO MAKE THIS GO AWAY, I LET'S, WELL PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THEM WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON IMPACT FEES.

SO NOW THAT WE'VE APPROVED THOSE, BUT HEATHER TALKED WELL I, I I JUST, MAYBE I'M NOT MAKING MYSELF CLEAR, I WOULD LIKE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS TO WHEN.

THAT'S WHAT I'M AFTER AND WE'LL KEEP WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THAT ONE ANSWERED.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING NOW PRACTICALLY CUZ WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THAT IS WHEN DEVELOPMENTS COME ONLINE, WE REQUIRE THEM TO BUILD, EVEN IF IT'S A GROW TO NOWHERE SO TO SPEAK, OR LIKE WHEN WASHINGTON SQUARE, THEY HAVE TO BUILD TO THAT PROPERTY LINE.

SO, UM, UNFORTUNATELY THAT THOSE SPECIFICS WERE NOT SPELLED OUT IN THAT EXISTING AGREEMENT, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO, UM, FINALIZE THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR FINALIZE THAT PLAN UNTIL THAT'S DONE.

UM, THEY HAVE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH SOUTHEASTERN, THEY DO HAVE PLANS AND THEY'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

HOWEVER, THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT AS PART OF THE CONNECTING ROADS ON THE IMPACT FEE PROJECTS, BUT THEY CANNOT REIMBURSE THEM UNTIL ALL OF THAT'S APPROVED.

SO, UM, AND WE WILL, I'LL CONTINUE TO GET YOU AN UPDATE ON A DEFINITIVE, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE HOLD WAS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY WERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD IF THEY HAD THE MONEY AND THE COUNTIES, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE MONEY UNTIL, YOU KNOW, CHICKEN OR EGG KIND OF THING.

BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET UPDATES ON THAT AND YOU CAN CATCH, I'M SORRY I MISSED, IT'S ABOUT CALL ONE OF THE CONNECTING RECORDS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE, A DEFENDANT MAYOR, WHILE YOU WERE OUT, EXCUSE ME.

I ASKED A QUESTION AND YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ONE, YOU BROUGHT IT UP THE OF BLUFF ENTRANCE, WHETHER THERE WAS GONNA BE A FUTURE TRAFFIC LIGHT OR A CIRCLE THERE.

YES, KEVIN HAD HAD A CALL ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TRAFFIC LIGHT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSION AS TO THE REALITY OR THE POSSIBILITY OF WHETHER A TRAFFIC TRUCK WOULD APPLY THERE OR NOT.

AND I, THAT THAT CAME UP, UM, COUPLE OF THINGS.

I'VE BEEN THERE AND I'VE TOLD THEM TWO, THREE QUARTERS OF THE LAND'S, NOT EVEN THE TOWN, YOU KNOW, IF THAT AREA AND IT IS A CRAZY INTERSECTION BUT YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATE, I DON'T THINK IT'S US THAT CAN DO IT AND MAYBE IT'S TALKING TO THE COUNTY ABOUT THAT ROAD IMPROVEMENT, UM, IF AND WHEN THEY EVER GET MONEY BECAUSE I'M SURE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE MONEY FOR IT.

BUT, UM, THAT IS A CONCERN OF THEIRS IS TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

I THINK THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT HONESTLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE HE HELP WHEN WE DON'T EVEN OWN THE LAND ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.

ARE YOU TALKING ON MAY RIVER ROAD ON PINE BLUFF AT PINE ALL THE ROAD AND MAY RIVER ROAD.

SO ABOUT THE NEW ONE, THAT'S WHERE IT'S MORE TRAFFIC.

WELL THE NEW ONE IS CALLED THE OLD, THE OLD COMMENT OF EXPERIENCE.

NOT CONFUSING AT ALL.

NOT OF BLUFF.

UM, UM, BECAUSE I, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN, WE CAN HELP FACILITATE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO IF I'M

[03:50:01]

NOT MISTAKEN.

I THINK ONE OF THE LONG TERM UM, TRANSPORTATION PLANS TO STUDY IS MAYBE WE'RE A ROAD FROM THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE BACK TO OLD TOWN, BUT I THINK IT'S ON THE BOOKS FOR LIKE 24 OR 25, SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIME PERIOD THROUGH LAST CIRCLE THROUGH THROUGH LAST I BELIEVE BEFORE YOU MOVE ON, ON LAST QUESTION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S INCLUSIVE IN HERE OR NOT, BUT, AND I KNOW THAT UH, ANN COOK HAD SENT OUT AN EMAIL AND IT MADE ME REALIZE THE OTHER DAY WHEN I LEFT A FOUR-WAY STOP AND WENT TO OUR OTHER TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

WHEN YOU GET PAST A CERTAIN DISTANCE, THERE'S NO LIGHTS, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO STREET LIGHTS.

AND SO I THINK WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS, IS TIME, TO YOUR POINT WITH ANN, IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BIGGER HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE LIGHTING SITUATION THAT WE NEED THROUGHOUT THE OLD TOWN AREA.

AREAS THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE IT.

AND MAYBE LIKE THAT, THAT'S A GATEWAY TO US THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY LIGHTING AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD WARRANT IT DOWN THE ROAD AT SOME POINT.

AND WHETHER IT'S LIGHTING, WHETHER IT'S UM, SOME SORT OF TRAFFIC CONTROL THAT THAT, LIKE WE HAD MENTIONED WITH LOOKING AT THOMAS HAYWARD INTERSECTION, LOOKING AT FOURTH STREET, I THINK IT'S COME UP A COUPLE TIMES IS HAVING SOMEBODY COME IN AND ACTUALLY DO AN ANALYSIS AND GIVE US SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE TRAFFIC.

CAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, CAUSE THERE'S NOT A RED LIGHT AT THE FOUR-WAY STOP AND ONE, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE ONE AT PARKER'S BECAUSE THERE'S THAT, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO TIMING.

SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD TWO LIGHTS YOU COULD CONTROL THE TIMING TO ENSURE THERE WAS NO CARS MOVING SO THAT PEOPLE COULD PULL IN AND OUT.

BUT WITH IT JUST BEING THE ONE RED LIGHT, IT'S HARD TO DO THAT.

BUT WE WOULD NEED SOMEBODY TO COME IN AND GIVE US GUIDANCE AND ACTUALLY DO THAT STUDY OF THE TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER AND HELP US WORK, WORK THROUGH THAT.

YOU WANT, IF WE HAVE TOPICS LIKE UNDER COUNCIL IN DISCUSSION, THEY FALL UNDER ONE OF THESE, DO YOU WANT US TO BRING THOSE UP NOW, OR WAIT.

YEAH, YOU CAN BRING 'EM UP NOW.

SO, THREE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT, UM, PRITCHARD AND WHARF AND REALLY GET SPEED BUMPS ON THERE.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, AND I, WE OWN PRITCHARD AND I KNOW WE DON'T OWN WHARF, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS OF OUR RESIDENTS.

AND THEY'RE YOUNG AND THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND I'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

AND THEN, UM, I, I TOLD MRS. COOK, I WOULD BRING UP THE LIGHTING AND WE TALKED ABOUT LIGHTING ON, UM, LAWRENCE, IF THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE ADDED DURING YOUR BUDGET TIMES.

LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN PUT ALL THOSE TOGETHER TO REALLY DO, CUZ EVERYTHING HAS A SIDEWALK TO GET SOME KIND OF LIGHT FOR THE, FOR THE NIGHT.

THE OTHER THING, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

I HAD A CALL FROM SOMEBODY LIVED IN BLUFFTON PARK AFTER THE CAR, RAN INTO THE HOUSE AND RAN THE STOP SIGN.

HOW COULD WE HELP? I, THERE'S A LADY, SOMEONE THERE, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD PAY FOR THIS SPEED BUMPS AND I TOLD NOT OUR ROADS.

CAN WE FACILITATE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS FAMILY WHO WOULD PAY FOR THEM TO WORK WITH THE POA AND ALSO WORK WITH THE COUNTY? HOW COULD WE HELP WITH THAT? SO IF IT IS WITHIN ANYWHERE IN NEW RIVERSIDE, HOW ABOUT BLUFF? PRETTY MUCH ALL THOSE ARE IN PARK.

OH, BLUFF PARK.

SORRY.

WE CAN HELP FACILITATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

IF, UM, THEY'LL REACH OUT TO US, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN I OF TELL 'EM WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WITHIN THEIR POA.

WE CAN EVEN SHARE WITH OUR POLICY OF WHERE THEY MAY WANT TO GO THAT COUNCIL PROOF OR THEY MAY WANT TO GO AND GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND GET PEOPLE TO SIGN OFF AND LOOK AT 'EM AND HOW WE KIND OF DO OUR PROCESS.

AND WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH THEM.

IF YOU WANT TO DIRECT THEM.

DO GO DO ABOVE THE, THE, UM, PARKING SPACE ON THE ROAD THAT'S BLOCKING THOSE BILLS FROM OUT.

LOOK AT THAT.

YOU WANT TO WELL, ME AND KEVIN ARE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO MEET DOWN THERE NEXT WEEK I BELIEVE TO EXAMINE THAT AGAIN AND JUST SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, NEED TO BE MOVED.

AND REALLY FOR, THAT'S ON COUNCILMAN HAMILTON.

THAT'S ON ALL OF THE CONNECTING STREETS TO 46.

CUZ COMING OUT OF GERARD, IT'S THE SAME THING.

IF SOMEONE IS PARKED IN ANY ONE OF THOSE SIDE SPACES, IT OBSTRUCTS YOUR VIEW FROM THOSE, UM, WHO ARE COMING OUT.

SO YOU HAVE TO ALMOST BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, THAT ROW TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHO'S COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT TO DO YES, THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP WHEN WE FIRST DID IT.

I THINK WE DIDN'T REMOVE ONE GOING EAST.

WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT GOING WEST.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED 'EM ON BOTH SIDES TO LOOK, BUT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, BOOTS ON THE GROUND PARK, MAYBE TIRES ON THE GROUND AND TRY IT AND SEE WHAT'S BEST THAT MIGHT WORK US.

SO WE'RE DOING PAINT OF SPACES RIGHT NOW SO WE CAN GET THE CONTRACTORS OUT THERE AND MOVE THE I HAVE THE BUDGET.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT THE DAY AFTER.

[03:55:01]

SO FOR THOSE SIX SPEED OR FOR THE SIX IMPROVEMENTS ON GOTTI ROAD, THE BID OPENING IS TOMORROW, BUT WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ADA COMPLIANCE IS ROUGHLY $93,500 PLUS CONTINGENCY.

SO FOR THOSE SIX IMPROVEMENTS ABOUT ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SO THOSE ARE ALL WOULDN'T BE THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT THOUGH.

I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU YOU'LL BE DOING SOME OF THIS IN DIFFERENT EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

JUST, JUST THE ONE, TWO OF 'EM INSTEAD OF FOUR.

IT DEPENDS ON THE INTERSECTION.

RIGHT? EXACTLY RIGHT.

HI CHRIS.

YEAH, FINANCE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE FIRST TOPIC UNDER FINANCE IS, UH, TAKING A LOOK AT OUR, UH, VEHICLE TAG FEE CALL BACK IN THE FY 21 BUDGET, UH, COUNCIL ADOPTED A $25 ANNUAL VEHICLE TAG FEE, UM, IN 20, IN 21.

THAT GENERATED, UH, RULE OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UM, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT STATE SUPREME COURT PER CASE THAT QUESTIONED THE LEGALITY OF THE FEE AND HOW THEY WERE BEING USED.

UM, SO PUT A HOLD ON ANY MUNICIPALITY AND COUNTY FROM ASSESSING THAT FEE.

IN THE LAST SESSION IN 2022, UH, THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESSED THIS AND AMENDED THE LAW, UH, WHICH NOW RE ALLOWS THOSE TAG FEES TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

UM, THE USES OF THOSE DOLLARS CAN GO TOWARDS ROOM CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, UH, TRAFFIC OFFICERS AND ENFORCEMENT COSTS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, STREET SCAPING AND MAINTENANCE AND STREET LIGHTING.

UM, SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL AND OTHERS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, UH, RELATED TO GO STORE ACQUISITION AND THEN THE IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE OF THOSE ONCE WE ACQUIRE THEM.

UH, STREET SCAPING COSTS, WHICH A LOT ARE IN OUR CURRENT CIIP.

UH, WE ALSO HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE, UH, PARKWAY EXPANSION, UM, AND ALSO POTENTIAL, UH, IF THERE'S EVIDENT NEED FOR A NET SERVICE FOR NEW GROWTH INSTRUCTIONS IN THE FUTURE.

UM, SO THIS WAS JUST, UH, TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT IT, UH, TO TELL, TO SEE WHERE COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS APPROACH.

UM, WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST TIME I HAD PULLED THE, UH, COST OF THE CURRENT, UH, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, UH, ROAD COST AND OUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS WITH L RTA.

UM, AND IT WAS ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS HOW WE ARRIVED AT THE 25 FEE, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT THE TIME OF GENERATING FOUR 85,000, UM, ULTIMATELY GENERATED 5 46 YEAR.

YOUR A LITTLE MORE THAN YOU HAD TO REFUND, RIGHT? WE DID NOT, NO, BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE CAUSE WE, WE CANCELED IT AS SOON AS THAT, UH, DETERMINATION WAS MADE.

SO WE DIDN'T COLLECT AFTER THAT.

UH, THE, UH, AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WAS ISSUED, WE STOPPED.

THAT, UH, ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET.

WHERE IS THAT RIGHT NOW? ON THE BUDGET? IS IT KIND OF HANGING OUT THERE? IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.

THE MONEY WE COLLECTED.

OH, IT WAS ALREADY SPENT IN THAT BUDGET.

ARE YOU ASKED? ARE WE STILL INTERESTED IN IT? YEAH, IF IT'S LEGAL, WE PASSED IT BEFORE.

SO THE, THE OTHER REASON WE WANTED TO BRING IT UP WAS JUST THE FACT THAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE TOOK ON MORE ADDITIONAL ROADS IN THE OLD TOWN, UM, IF WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, TAKING ON ANY ADDITIONAL ONES IN THE, IN THE FUTURE, THE MAINTENANCE COST IS GONNA END UP ADDING UP OVER TIME AND, AND IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY CHEAPER TO MAINTAIN THEM.

BUT JUST MAKING SURE WE HAD FUNDS SET ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK WHENEVER A ROAD NEEDS TO BE DONE AND LOOK AT SACRIFICING CAPITAL OR AFTER A BUILDOUTS DONE LOOKING AT HAVING TO, UM, COME BACK AND RAISE MILLAGE OR ANY OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO WE WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WAS INTERESTED IN AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND UM, JUST GO FROM THERE.

AND AGAIN, WHAT CHRIS DID OUTLINE US WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE, IT WAS $25.

THERE IS NOT A AMOUNT THAT HAS TO BE PUT.

WE CAN MAKE THAT 10, WE CAN MAKE IT FIVE, WE CAN MAKE IT 50.

SO I MEAN, WE CAN MAKE IT AS, YOU KNOW, AS LITTLE AS WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST TO BE ABLE TO START, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDS TO DO ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ALONG THE, IN THE FUTURE.

WELL, I, UH, FOR ONE, I'VE HAD MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THAT TAG FEE.

AND I UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC THAT WE NEEDED FOR ROAD REPAIRS AND THINGS IN THE FUTURE.

I GET THAT.

UM, THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD IS THE PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT.

I KNOW $25 IS NOT A LOT TO A LOT OF US AND EVERYBODY IN THE TOWN WOULD BE PAYING THAT.

UM, ESPECIALLY THOSE

[04:00:01]

AND I DON'T KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S MY ONLY BIG ISSUE WITH IT.

I JUST, TO ME IT'S, IT'S A HARD PILL, UM, FOR THOSE WHO CAN AT LEAST AFFORD IT.

WELL SAID.

I GIVE YOUR PHONES HAVE CLEAR, CLEAR, I MEAN, I'M FOR THE, THE REASON SEEMS TO JUSTIFY THE, UM, THE NEED TO COLLECT IT, ESPECIALLY AS, UM, WE'VE ACQUIRED MORE, UH, MORE ROADS THAT DO REQUIRE MAINTENANCE ISSUES.

SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE, UM, THAT FUND TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO, TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE NEEDS, I'D BE, I'D BE FOR, I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW THE, UM, BULLET POINT FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

IS THAT LIKE OUR CONTRIBUTION THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS, UM, AN ENTITY LIKE BLUFF AND BREEZE OR THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS OKAY, GO AHEAD.

OH NO, I WAS GONNA SAY, BUT CAN WE HAVE INPUT AS TO WHERE IT GOES? CAUSE IF WE REALLY NEED TO DO IT TO OUR ROADS AND, UM, SORRY, BLUFF AND BREEZE GETS OUR LITTLE BIT THAT WE DO AND THEY GET A LOT OF MONEY FROM LAPS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO NOT RANK AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO PLACES.

WHAT IS OUR CONTRIBUTION TO, TO RT? UH, 77? YEAH, I'M, UM, AGAIN SUPPORTING LARRY, UM, ON THIS, I'M SORRY DAN ON THIS BECAUSE WHEN WE DECIDE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADOPT ROLES AND, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY, WE SHOULD ALWAYS KNOW THAT IT'S IN OUR BUDGET TO DO THAT.

SO WE CAN'T JUST SAY TODAY BECAUSE WE GOT THESE ROLES, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE FOR IT.

WE SHOULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT BEFORE WE ADOPTED THE RULES.

SO WHEN WE WERE INITIALLY TALKING ABOUT OUR INITIALLY TASK, THE CONVERSATION WAS AROUND, UM, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR REVENUE MACHINES AS WE APPROACH BUILD OUT THE NEXT 10, 15 YEARS AND BECOME LESS RELI ON PER REVENUE? SO IT WAS JUST A, IT WAS A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE APPLICABLE COSTS ASSOCIATED THAT YOU CAN USE FOR TAG FEE, UM, AND DIVERSIFY THE RECORD SOURCE.

UH, SO WE'LL THE BURDEN PULL IN ON ONE PARTICULAR PARTICULAR, SO THAT WAS THE CONVERSATION BACK THEN.

UM, BUT I'LL JUST ADD THAT.

OKAY, SO I THINK WE HAVE KIND A TWO, TWO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M AT ON THAT.

I'M SO TIRED OF PAYING TAXES ON THERE, , AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF AAX MONEY THAT WE COULD USE A GOOD BIT OF THAT FIX OUR ROADS.

CAN WE, UM, I THINK I'M GOING TO FOR THIS YEAR, FOR THIS CYCLE, I'M GONNA SAY WE, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MAKE A LIVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE COST OF EVERYTHING.

SO I, I DON'T THINK I WOULD SUPPORT ANOTHER TAX ON THE TAXPAYERS MAYBE NEXT YEAR IF, IF THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THINGS ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T.

UM, WELL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE I'LL JUST LEAVE IT LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S MY OPINION.

THAT'S WHAT WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE AS WE GO INTO BUDGET PREP THAT WE'RE NOT BRINGING SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE GONNA BE, WHY ARE WE BRINGING THIS AGAIN? SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED IN THE, THE NEWS SCORE CARD, UM, THAT I REVIEWED OVER THE WEEKEND WAS THAT, UH, THEY UPPED SOME OF THE, UM, THE AAA, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH OF THOSE, UH, RATING SUBCATEGORIES LISTED OUT TO THE RIGHT THERE.

SO THE NEXT ITEM IS, UM, THIS IS CALLED OUT A LOT RECENTLY, IS TAKING LOOKS AT OUR STATUS, UM, ON THE MOOD SCORECARD.

MOODYS IS THE RADIO AGENCY, ONE OF THE RADIO AGENCIES THAT RATES, UH, MUNICIPAL DEBT.

WE ARE IN ONE, WHICH IS RIGHT BELOW AAA.

UM, WE'VE CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS AND A LOT OF THE DATA WAS BASED ON PRIOR YEARS, UH, DATA.

AND SO WE WANTED TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD WE POTENTIALLY FALL IF WE WENT OUT TO A RATING AGENCY AND ASKED THEM TO REASSESS US FOR A, UH, AAA RATING.

UM, SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF AAA, OBVIOUSLY RATES WHEN YOU DO HAVE TO GO OUT FOR DEBT ARE, ARE LESS SO, SAVES YOU AN INTEREST LONG TERM.

UM, AND ALSO IT, UH, BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN, UH, THE ECONOMIC BASE AND THE TAX PAYER BASE IN YOUR, UH, FINANCIAL STATUS AT THE TIME.

UM, THIS IS THEIR SCORECARD AND THIS IS HOW THEY, UH, I'LL, I'LL EXPLAIN THIS AND THEN LET YOU KNOW THAT LAST THURSDAY THEY RELEASED A NEW SCORECARD.

SO I'LL BRIEFLY GO OVER SOME OF THE CHANGES THEY MADE, BUT, UH, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE, UH, ASSESSED ON PREVIOUSLY.

30% OF IT WAS BASED ON YOUR ECONOMIC BASE, 30% IS ON YOUR FINANCES, UM, 20% ON HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME.

AND THEN I 20 THAT ON DEBT AND PENSIONS.

[04:05:01]

UM, SO IN ORDER TO MEET THAT AAA CATEGORY FOR EACH OF THOSE, UH, IT INCREASED THE DEBT.

UM, FROM WHAT I LOOKED AT, WE STILL MET THE THRESHOLD ON THE ONES THAT WE, UH, ALREADY DID.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE WAS AROUND YOUR, UM, THE, THE LONG TERM LIABILITY.

SO YOU CAN SEE UNDER DEBT PENSIONS, IT'S REALLY SPLIT UP ON THOSE FOUR SUBCATEGORIES AND IT'S 5% EACH.

UM, IT'S NOW WORTH I THINK, 30% TOTAL, UM, RATHER THAN 20%.

UM, SO AS THE, AS WE LOOK AT POTENTIALLY CHALLENGING, UH, ECONOMIC TIMES COMING UP IN THE NEW YEAR, UH, THEY REALLY WANTED TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW OVER LEVERAGED COMMUNITIES ARE AND FACTORING THAT INTO THE RATING.

UM, AND WE RELATIVELY WELL AT, UH, COMPARED TO A LOT OF PLACES.

SO WHAT I DID IS I PULLED, THERE'S ACTUALLY, UH, FIVE OUT THAT ARE, UH, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CHI IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I PUT THE TUBE THAT I THOUGHT, UH, YOU SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR, I GUESS YOU'D SAY.

SO HEAD ON DID NOT PLEASANT AS FAR AS ACHIEVING THAT TRIPLE RATING.

THESE ARE THE CATEGORIES OUT TO THE LEFT THAT YOU SAW ON THE LAST SLIDE.

UH, THE WAY YOU SAW ON THE LAST SLIDE AND COLOR CODED HERE IS KIND OF WHERE WE FELL, UH, WHEN YOU COMPARED US TO THOSE, THOSE COMMUNITIES.

UM, THE TAX BASE, THE FULL VALUE TAX BASE, THAT TOP LINE RIGHT THERE IS REALLY WHAT'S HELD US BACK IN THE PAST.

I WILL SAY THAT IN THE NEW RATING METHODOLOGY, THAT IS NOT A MEASURE.

SO THE FULL VALUE TAX BASE IS NOT A MEASURE ANYMORE.

UM, THEY HAD US FULL VALUE IS AROUND 20 BILLION AND WE'RE LIKE 6.6 BILLION.

UH, SO THAT GIVES YOU IDEA OF HOW FAR OFF WE WERE ON THAT, THAT MEASURE.

UM, SO IF YOU GO DOWN THIS LIST, WE'RE PRETTY COMPARABLE ON A LOT OF THE CATEGORIES.

SOME OF THE CATEGOR, UH, OTHER COMMUNITIES WERE PRETTY FAR OFF ON.

IF YOU GO DOWN TO OPERATING HISTORY, THE FIVE GRAND OF OPERATING REVENUE, WHICH EXPENSES, UH, HE HEAD DOESN'T EVEN FALL IN IT AAA FOR THAT PARTICULAR CATEGORY.

UH, A LOT OF THAT IS DRIVEN BY WHAT THEY HAD TO DO, UH, TO RECOVER FROM, UM, MATTHEW.

UH, SO THAT KIND OF SKEWED THE RESULT THERE.

OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE.

UM, SO REALLY AFTER LOOKING AT THIS STAFF RECOMMENDATION, IF, IF COUNCIL IS WILLING IS TO, TO GO, UM, CONTRACT WITH THE RATING AGENCY TO SEE IF THEY COULD REASSESS US FOR A POTENTIAL AAA RATING BOND BOND RATING.

I WILL SAY I'VE TALKED TO OUR, OUR FA BRIAN NE AS WELL AS FRANK, HE, UM, THEY DID WARN ME THAT IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET RATING AGENCIES TO DO, UH, UH, TO UPGRADE YOU, UH, IN THE MIDDLE BEFORE GOING OUT FOR DEBT.

UM, THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF, UH, JUSTIFICATION, PERSUASION.

SO IT DID TELL ME THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, A CHALLENGING HELD BATTLE TO DO THAT, UM, COME FROM A VERY STRONG POSITION, UM, COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES GOING INTO, UH, POTENTIAL A TIMES.

SO WHAT, WHAT WILL THAT DO FOR US? WHERE WILL THAT, WILL THAT MAKE US MONEY? SAVE US MONEY LESS INTEREST OR? YEAH, SO IF WE GO FOR DEBT IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD SAVE US MONEY ON INTEREST.

UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE FAVOR INTEREST RATE, UM, TRACK MORE BIDDERS POTENTIALLY ON DEBT.

UM, AND AGAIN, IT IT REASSURES YOUR ECONOMIC BASE AS WELL AS YOUR RENT RESIDENTIAL BASE THAT YOU'RE A STRONG FINANCIALLY, UH, WELL RUN COMMUNITY, BUT IT WON'T AFFECT WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE OUT THERE NOW.

NO, UNLESS IT'S ONLY, IT WOULD ONLY BE ON FUTURE IF WE WANT, UNLESS SPRINGS ARE FAVORABLE ENOUGH TO DO OUR REFUNDING.

I WILL SAY THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ALONG WAYS AWAY FROM THAT CAUSE RATES ARE NOT FAVORABLE COMPARED TO WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO IT WOULDN'T BE A BIG ADVANTAGE TO DO IT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CYCLE.

DON'T WANT TO DO IT WHEN IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO.

I MEAN, JUST FOR THE, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT WILL WE GET OUT OF IT? JUST, JUST THE TROPHY TO SAY, OH THAT'S, THERE'S SOMETHING, UH, WERE OUT.

AGAIN, IT'S SHOWING SOMETHING TO POTENTIAL BUSINESSES COMING THAT COMING TO THE AREA.

YOU'RE REALLY COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S THE FUNDING? HOW MUCH IS IT TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND WHEN DO YOU SUGGEST FOR, THIS IS MY FAULT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ANYONE BROUGHT IT TO Y'ALL.

SO THE, THE ESTIMATE IS RIGHT AROUND 5,000, UH, TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO THROUGH AS SOON AS OUR ACT FIRM PUBLISHED, THAT'S OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.

SO IN JANUARY THAT GETS PUBLISHED.

UM, SO THE RECOMMENDATION GO RIGHT AFTER THAT CAUSE THE NUMBERS FRESH, UM, AND THEY HAVE LEVEL CONFIDENCE IN THOSE UN RESPECT YOU.

I JUST THOUGHT WE SHOULD BE RIGHT UP THROUGH WITH HILTON HEAD AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE BEAT EM IN EVERY GROUP, BUT I

[04:10:01]

SO WOULD YOU SUGGEST NEXT, LIKE YOU SAID THIS ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME.

WOULD YOU SUGGEST A RIGHT TIME TO DO IT IF IT'S SUCH A MINIMAL COST TO YEAH, I, ONCE I'M RUN THE ANALYSIS BASED ON NEW METHODOLOGY, AS LONG AS THERE'S NO MAJOR SHIFTS, I THINK IT'S WORTH GOING FOR IN THE JANUARY OF FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME, UM, AS WHAT WE ORIGINALLY WERE GONNA PROPOSE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE NEW METHODOLOGY THAT CAME OUT DIDN'T REALLY CHANGE A LOT.

SO I GOTTA GO THROUGH THAT ANALYSIS.

SO IT JUST CAME OUT LAST WEEK.

THE, THE ONE THING I WOULD SAY, AND THIS IS JUST KEEPING TIMING, IS IF WE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL WE WERE GETTING READY TO GO FOR ANOTHER GEODE OR SOMETHING, THEN WE WOULD HAVE IT DONE AND NOT BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE LIKE, HEY, WE'RE GONNA GO FOR A GEODE AND WE'VE GOTTA GO THROUGH THIS ENTIRE REEVALUATION PROCESS AGAIN, WHICH MAY TAKE 90 DAYS TO COMPLETE.

WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE ALL THAT COMPLETED IF WE WANTED TO GO FOR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE.

UM, CHRIS, HOW DOES, UM, OR, OR DOES, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE, WE'VE GOT SOME MONEY SITTING IN THE BANK THAT'S FOR FUTURE CIS.

HOW DO THEY, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR RATING? I MEAN IT'S, IT'S SITTING THERE BUT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED FOR IT TO BE SPENT.

WE'RE JUST WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO COME AND YEAH.

DO THE WORK.

SO WHEN THEY LOOK AT OUR OVERALL, I MEAN YOU WOULD INCLUDE THAT, RIGHT? YEAH.

SO THAT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A, A STRINGS THAT THAT BORROWED MONEY.

IT'S NOT REALLY OUR MONEY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

SO THEY WOULD LOOK AT, LOOK AT THAT AS PART OF THE DEBTS REVENUE AND THE DEBT VALUE, UM, CALCULATIONS, SOME OF THE MEASURES THAT ASSESSED.

AGAIN, I WOULD SAY THAT OUR DATA COMMUNITY IS EXTREMELY LOW COMPARED TO MOST COMMUNITIES.

SO, SO WHAT Y'ALL, ARE YOU INTERESTED ANY OBJECTION, ANY OBJECTIONS TO HIM DOING IT AT THE RIGHT TIME? I GOT, I GOT A QUESTION.

IT, THIS COMPARISON SHOT THAT, THAT YOU'RE SHOWING US, DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SHOW THEN THE THREE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO SHOW US, RIGHT? BASICALLY SHOWING THAT WE'RE VERY COMPARABLE AND THAT ONE OF THE MEASURES THAT THEY HELD A LOT OF, UH, COMMUNITIES BACK ON FROM MAKING THAT JUMP IS UH, THEY PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON, WELL TWO THINGS.

ONE IS THE FULL VALUE TAX BASE.

UM, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT FULLY HELD OUT YET AND WE SMALLER COMMUNITY FROM HILTON HAD HEAD CUZ THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESORTS AND WHATNOT.

UM, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS, IS CASH.

SO THEY LOOK AT CASH ON HAND, UM, AS WELL AS KIND OF ONE OF THE NON WEIGHTED MEASURES THAT THEY LOOK AT.

UM, AND WE WE'RE, WE HAVE A STRONG CASH POSITION AS WELL.

SO NOW THIS IS, I NORMALLY DON'T LIKE EVEN WHEN WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO PEOPLE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME DEMOGRAPHIC AS YOU DO, UM, BUT THIS TIME IS IT SHOWS US THAT WE UM, WE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE TO TO LARGER CITIES TOWNS.

AND IT REFLECTS COUNCIL'S PRIORITY IN BEING, UM, RESPONSIBLE IN HOW YOU'VE HANDLED FUNDS AND TAX DOLLARS MOVING FORWARD TO BE A POINT WHERE WE CAN SAY THAT WE WOULD BE ONE OF ONLY HOW MANY ARE THERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA? 10? WE WOULD BE THE 10.

I THINK THERE'S ONLY A FIVE.

SO WE WOULD BE ONE OF A HANDFUL AND ENTIRE STATE AND SAY THAT WE HAVE DONE THAT WELL ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR THIS.

SO LIKE I SAID, IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO KIND OF SHOWS LIKE HE SAID OTHERS THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY TO BE, WE ARE THAT THAT CLASS OF RATING.

SO ARE THERE OBJECTIONS TO HIM MOVING FORWARD AT THE RIGHT TIME? I DON'T HAVE AN OBJECTION.

UM, NO OBJECTIONS.

SO THE 12 BILLION, UM, TAX BASES, SO WE'RE THE SAME AS BOTH OF THOSE OTHER PLACES.

AM I READING THAT RIGHT ON THAT TOP? WE FALL INTO THAT 1.4 TO 12 BILLION RANGE, WHEREAS BOTH AS AND HEAD OR ABOVE THAT WILL SAY GREENVILLE IS NOT OUT HERE, BUT GREENVILLE HAS, THEY FALL IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS US IN OUR SOCIAL.

SO, OKAY.

WELL YOU DON'T HEAR ME.

SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

UM, NEXT ITEM UNDER FINANCE IS, UH, COUNCIL HAD ASKED ABOUT TAKING A LOOK AT THE, UM, DML ALLOCATION FROM THE LOCAL ATAC SIDE OF THINGS.

SO JUST TO REFRESHER, STATE LAW REQUIRES 30% OF STATE TAX TO GO TO A DMO.

OUR DMO IS ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER COMMERCE.

AND THEN WE ALSO PASSED TO MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, UM, THAT STATES THE TOWN MANUALLY SET ASIDE IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 8% LOCAL TAX REVENUE FOR THE DMO.

SO AS OUR CURRENT ORDINANCE, UH, LANGUAGE AROUND THAT AND DOWN HERE IS A HISTORY OF THE STATE PORTION OF LOCAL TECH PORTION.

AND THE TOTAL, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S GROWN

[04:15:01]

UH, FROM 85,000 TO OVER A HALF A MILLION IN UH, FY 22.

UH, UM, SO THE QUESTION THAT BECAME, YOU KNOW, SHOULD THERE BE, UH, A SECOND LOOK AT THE, UH, LOCAL SIDE THAT GETS CONTRIBUTED CAUSE THAT IS NOT REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

UM, AND SOME OF THE OPTIONS, OBVIOUSLY WE COULD CONTINUE IT ON THE, THE CURRENT METHODOLOGY AND NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES.

THE OTHER IS THAT THE ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW US TO ADJUST THAT ANNUALLY AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO WE COULD ADJUST THAT, UM, WITHOUT ANY CHANGES, UH, LEGALLY.

SO IT'S THE AMOUNT UP TO 8%, UH, THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED BASED ON ANNUAL ESTIMATES, UH, FOR THE COMING OF THIS YEAR.

AND THE THIRD OPTION WOULD BE ACTUALLY UPDATED THE ORDINANCE ITSELF, UM, WHICH IS A LITTLE MORE BINDING.

UM, YOU CAN REMOVE IT ALL TOGETHER OR YOU CAN REDUCE PERCENTAGE OR YOU CAN ADD A DOLLAR PACK TO LOOK, UM, GETS CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT SCREEN? YEAH, I MEAN I REMEMBER THIS DISCUSSION CUZ I BROUGHT IT UP, BECOMES A POINT WHERE THE DOLLARS TO ME EXCEED VALUE.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW EVERYBODY ELSE FEELS.

I, I UH, WHETHER WE DECREASE THE 8% TO SEVEN OR WHETHER YOU, YOUR OTHER OPTION ABOUT IT, A FLAT AMOUNT.

UM, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING 2021, WE WERE, WELL HELP, HECK, EXCUSE ME, 2020 WE WERE PAYING 1 77 AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER WHEN I SAY 1 77 AND COMBINED WITH THE STATE ALLOCATION AND THEN TWO YEARS LATER YOU'RE PAYING 5 39.

AND IT IS LIKE, IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.

AND A LOT OF WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING FOR US, WHICH THEY DO A GOOD JOB, BUT IT'S DIGITAL, UH, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S REINVENTING THE WHEEL.

AND SO I I JUST, I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS INTO US TODAY TO LOOK AT.

AND SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAYBE LOWER THAT ALLOCATION THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING, UH, TO BE THE DMO I WOULD SAY FOR THE, THE STATE ONE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL IT.

UM, IN TERMS OF THEY ARE OUR DMO, SO THE 30%, THERE'S, THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT.

BUT FOR THE 8%, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO CONTROL, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, OR I THINK WE COULD, UH, REDUCE THAT AS YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS THAT THOSE FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR IN TERMS OF GOING TOWARDS THE, UM, PROJECTS LIKE OUR QUI HOPE AND, AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND JUST, YOU KNOW, LIMIT SOME OF THAT TODAY AND JUST UNDERSTANDING THAT WE, WE SAW SUCH AN INCREASE WITH THEM BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, US BEING A DRIVABLE DESTINATION FOR SO MANY PEOPLE COMING AND STAYING IN OUR LODGING, UM, FACILITIES, THAT THAT AMOUNT WENT UP SUBSTANTIALLY.

AND SO, UM, AS THE STATE REQUIRES 'EM TO GET THAT 30%, IT'S NOT A JUST IN A FIXED COST WE'RE THROWING OUT THERE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE IT IS WHAT IT IS.

BUT FOR THE 8% WE DO CONTROL.

UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW REST OF COUNCIL FEELS, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT AND USE THAT TOWARDS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE.

WHAT'S, MAY, MAY I SUGGEST THAT, UM, CHRIS AND I REVIEWED THE DMO CONTRACT, UM, AND GET AN EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH YOU AT, AT THE FIRST, UH, AVAILABLE TIME ONCE WE'RE READY.

SO YOU CAN LOOK AT THIS, UM, IN UNDER THE, THE AUSPICES OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE WITH, UM, THE HILTON NET BLUFF AND CHAMBER.

HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

TERRY, WHY, WHY WOULD WE REVIEW THE CONTRACT IF IT STAYS CLEARLY TOWN, STATES, TOWN? MAY I, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT OUR CONTRACT SAYS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

THIS IS TRYING TO PROTECT US LEGALLY.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, COUNCILMAN.

WELL, IF THE CONTRACT SAYS MAY, I'M ALL ABOUT TAKING IT AWAY.

I'LL BE HONEST, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, LAST TWO YEARS, AND I THINK THE BULK OF OUR MONEY WENT IN DURING THE RECESSION TO BUILD OUR WEBSITE AND WE WERE FINE WITH IT AND WE WERE CAUTIONED ABOUT THE LACK OF HIS AND ALL OF THAT.

AND WE, WE'VE BIT THAT BULLET FINALLY.

WE HAVE OUR OWN, IF THE CONTRACT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY, I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR WHAT THE FIVE OF YOU ARE SAYING.

KNOW, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEIR BUDGET.

, AND I THINK CHRIS DOES ALSO, AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS IF, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT, LIKE WE DISCUSSED BEFORE, BUT JUST DROP THE BALL, YOU KNOW, I MEAN IF THEY'RE ALREADY COUNTING ON THIS MONEY, IT'S IN THEIR BUDGET, BLAH, BLAH BLAH.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, I MEAN IT IS, IF WE DIDN'T IN 2022, IF WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM ANY LOCAL RIGHT, THEY'D STILL BE GETTING MORE THAN WHAT THEY GOT OUT OF THE LOCAL AND STATE LAST YEAR.

THAT'S TRUE.

YOU KNOW, UM, YOU

[04:20:01]

I MEAN THEY'RE, WE'RE STILL AWARDING MORE EVERY YEAR, YOU KNOW, EVEN WITHOUT THE LOCAL.

AND AND I WILL TELL YOU BASED ON, UM, WHAT MR. FING JUST SAID IS I, DID I REACH OUT TO BILL AFTER THIS CONVERSATION TOOK PLACE AT THE, UM, DURING, I THINK IT WAS THE BUDGET CONVERSATION WHENEVER IT CAME UP.

UM, I, OR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE DMO AWARD.

UM, I DID MEET WITH BILL AFTERWARDS AT, AT AT THE CHAMBER TO LET HIM KNOW THE CONVERSATION CAME UP AND THE COUNCIL WOULD BE REVIEWING IT.

BUT WE, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, WE'D HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH HIM.

IT'D PROBABLY BE AS A BUDGET YEAR TRANSITION KIND OF PROCESS AND PROBABLY, AND SO HE'S AWARE THAT THE CONVERSATION'S GONNA TAKE PLACE.

UM, AND THAT THE CONCERN WAS THERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OUR UM, OUR THREE LODGING, UM, PARTNERS WHERE THE FUNDS COME FROM PALM ABOVE COMFORT IN AND THE BLUFF AND IN IS, UH, SHORT TERM, SHORT TERM LODGING ALSO INCLUDED IN THEY PAY THE, THE A TAX FEES SOON.

CAN HAPPEN THAT BEEN THERE TOO LONG CHANGED, NEVER COMES.

SO IT'S, IT'S KNOWING THAT THAT WHAT, AT THAT 30% RATE, THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO ACT IF THEY REMAIN OUR DMO AS THE DMO.

SO, UM, IF, YOU KNOW, LEGALLY WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE AWAY THE 8% OR REDUCE THAT, UM, I DON'T SEE IT PUTTING THEM IN A BIND WITH FINANCIALLY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO OPERATE IN A WAY THAT THEY, THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO.

WELL JUST THE UH, THE STATE ALLOCATION YOU CAN SEE THERE IS BEYOND A HUNDRED PERCENT RIGHT TWO YEARS.

THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER BY ITSELF.

AND THEN THE OTHER PART OF IT IS PROBABLY IN THE EARLY YEARS OF OUR COMMUNITY WE NEEDED TO, TO DO A LITTLE MORE ADVERTISING BUT NOT AS MUCH TODAY.

AND THEN FOR EXAMPLE, THE MONTAGE BLUFF, THEY ALL DO THEIR OWN ADVERTISING ON TOP OF WHAT WE DOING.

SO I MEAN THEY WON'T, IT WON'T BE BAD TO LOWER THESE NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT.

I'VE HEARDING YOU.

CAN I TAKE A TINY LITTLE CUT FROM HERE? CAUSE WE'VE HAD A FEW NEW PEOPLE COME IN, UM, AND I KNOW YOU'RE IN AND OUT FIRST OF ALL, UM, SHARON, YOU CAME BUT YOU DIDN'T INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

BUT DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON WHAT WE'VE GONE OVER? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO JUMP IN BEFORE CHRIS FINISHES AND THEN I KNOW BRUCE HAS QUESTION.

YES, I CAN TALK ON THAT DMO, BUT I CAME TO TALK ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

IS THAT INCLUSIVE? BUT I DIDN'T, I'M SHARING GROUND.

YOU CAN TALK FROM THERE.

I THINK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE HAD A COUNSEL SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE'RE CHANGING ON IT, BUT IF YOU HAVE HAVE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THAT'S WHERE WE YES MA'AM.

JUMP UP.

YOU CAN TALK FROM THERE.

YOU OKAY FRONT I UP FRONT HERE I CAN TALK.

WE DO HAVE A DIVERSE AGE RANGE HERE, SO OH, OKAY.

IT'S KIND OF CHALLENGE.

THAT'S OKAY.

SO MY NAME IS SHARON BROWN.

I IF THIS LIKE TIME COUNCIL.

OKAY, SO I DID REVIEW THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND I JUST HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS MEETING HERE IS FINE.

I DON'T KNOW IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR NOT THAT I IN PUBLIC, COULD IT BE ZOOM, YOU KNOW, FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T, EVERYBODY CAN'T LEAVE UH, HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY LIKE I DO ON MY JOB TO COME AND TO ADDRESS A FEW ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE.

SO MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN OFFER THE ZOOM FOR HARD.

PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO ALSO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN STRATEGICALLY PLANNED FOR THE NEXT HOW MANY YEARS AND DAN, WHEN YOU SAY THE NEXT 25 YEARS ABOUT THE WATER, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE NEXT 25 YEARS IN THIS COMMUNITY HERE, HOW, HOW WILL WE BE PORTRAYING PEOPLE OF COLOR? AND I'M ALWAYS ABOUT THE COLOR, OKAY, IT'S INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF US.

OUR STATEMENT, OUR MISSION STATEMENT SAYS INCLUSIVE, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL PEOPLE AND ALL LIKE THAT.

WHAT WILL WE LOOK LIKE WHEN WE ARE STRATEGICALLY PLANNING ALL THESE THINGS THAT I SEE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE US.

IT DOES NOT.

WHEN YOU GUYS SIT DOWN, I'M CERTAIN THAT ALL OF YOU GUYS DON'T THINK AND SAY, WELL WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OVER THERE? AND IF YOU DO, IT'S NOT WHEN IT COMES TO PUTTING IN MONEY, MILKING IN A LOT OF MONEY INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CUZ OF THE POOR COMMUNITY OR WHAT, BUT THIS IS SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE CAUSE I JUST WANT TO GET IT OUT THE WAY.

SO FOR THE UM, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU GUYS HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET.

UM, THE PRESERVING GREEN SPACE, ME AND ME TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR, FOR BUCK ISLAND, VILLE ROAD, WE SHOULD HAVE A PARK.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO THEIR LOCATION.

SO WITHIN THAT, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN PLACE, I SHOULD HOPE THAT IT DOES INCLUDE US.

WE NEED A PARK.

WE ARE BANGING FOR ONE.

WE NEED THAT.

AND SOMETIMES IF PEOPLE ARE IN THE PLACE THAT THINGS THAT

[04:25:01]

AND, AND THE UPDATING OF THE SIMMONS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, IT SAYS IN 2023, UH, WHEN YOU GUYS BE PUTTING A COMMITTEE TOGETHER, WE HAD ONE, THE PLAN SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN UPDATED, IT JUST TAKEN US SO LONG.

AND SOMETIME LONGEVITY PLANNING'S PROBABLY BETTER CUZ WE GOT A LOT MORE TO SAY.

NOW WE GOT A LOT MORE GOING ON.

AND ALSO ESTABLISH AN A POLICY FOR THAT UM, INTEGRATION OF ART.

THINGS THAT YOU HAVE YOU GUYS PUT IN THAT I WOULD HOPE THAT STRATEGICALLY PLANNING THAT YOU GUYS GUYS ALSO HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS THAT WILL BE PUTTING DISPLAYING ART AROUND OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE LOST THAT.

WE CAN'T EVEN SEE OURSELVES IN THERE.

OKAY? SO, UM, LET'S ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS AND THEN UM, WE NEED TO BE MORE MINDFUL WITH THE FOCUS WITH THAT UH, THE BLUFFING EVENTS THAT WE HAVE STRATEGICALLY PLANNING.

YOU GUYS HAVE THE 4TH OF JULY STUFF AND ALL THE OLD EVENTS AND WE HAD SOMETHING UH, WHERE WE HAD THE HISTORICAL PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLUFFING.

THAT WAS THROUGH ONE OF YOUNG PERSONS WHO HAD THAT THERE WAS NO AFRICAN AMERICAN THERE TO REPRESENT US.

SO THAT IT HAS TO BE MORE STRATEGIC PLAN.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF BLUFFTON, BLUFFTON HAD AFRICAN AMERICANS STILL HAVE AFRICAN AMERICAN DOING GREAT THINGS AND WE SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ALL OVER THIS PLACE BECAUSE THAT SMALL LITTLE ONE MONTERES IN TOWN, ALL OF US WERE HERE TOGETHER AND WE WERE SO HAPPY THEN AND NOW TO 54 MILES AND WE HAVE ALL THESE NEWCOMERS COME IN, DON'T GET REMIND THEY BELONG HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO COME.

BUT DON'T WIPE US OUT.

WE'VE GOTTA STAY HERE.

AND MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND OTHER FUTURE KIDS THAT ARE HERE, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL ONCE A PART OF HISTORY AND THEIR PEOPLE WILL ONCE A PART OF IT TOO.

AND WE STILL HAVE INCOMING STUFF GOING ON.

SO THE EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE AT THE 4TH OF JULY, THESE BANDS THAT YOU BRING IN AND ALL THAT STUFF AT THESE EVENTS, LET'S THINK ABOUT BRINGING IN SOME SOME DIVERSE CULTURALLY BANDS.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST AIN'T ONE SIDED WE WANT TO GET AND WHITE PEOPLE GET OFF ON BLACK PEOPLE MUSIC.

OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO ALSO WITH THE DEAL THAT DMO THAT UH, THE MARKETING COMPANY THAT YOU HAD, I WENT ON THE PAGE AND I LOOKED AT IT AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAD ON THEM? THEY HAD ONE, UH, PICTURE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND YOU KNOW WHO THEY WERE, THEY WERE OYSTER SHUTTERS.

COME ON.

THEY'RE NOT.

WE HAVE BUSINESS PEOPLE, BUSINESS OWNERS HERE WHO ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN.

THAT SHOULD BE THE ONLY THING ON THAT PAGE.

I SEE BLACK PEOPLE, SHING OYSTER, THAT'S AGRA.

CUZ THAT'S NOT WHAT ALL WE DO.

WE DO MORE THAN THAT AND JUST CHUCK OYSTER.

OKAY? SO IF ALL OUR DOLLARS ARE GOING TO JUST THE DISPLAY, THAT KIND OF STUFF, Y'ALL ARE RIGHT.

TAKE AWAY.

IT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT INCLUSIVE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT DEI MR. HAM.

SO WE HAD ONE BLACK CHURCH THERE AS WELL AND IT WAS JUST CAMPBELL CHURCH AND WE HAVE OTHER CHURCHES AS WELL THAT UM, PORTRAYED, YOU KNOW, OUR CULTURE.

AND I SAY THAT CAUSE AND I BRING, I ALWAYS COME TO YOU GUYS.

I'M ALL ABOUT THE ALL I'M AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL AND GOD KNOWS I LOVE EVERY CHILD, EVERY KID IN MY COMMUNITY.

I LOVE EVERYBODY.

LA DO.

BUT IT COMES A TIME THAT WE HAVE TO STAND THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB TO INCLUDE AFRICAN AMERICANS IN OUR TOWN.

IT'S JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE ANYMORE.

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMING UP.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR THEIR FOREFATHERS, THEIR GULLAH GEE CULTURE WILL BE HERE FOREVER.

OKAY, SO LASTLY OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO GO TO THAT MISSION STATEMENT.

IT SAYS WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CITIZENS LOOKED AT TIME AND EACH OF US ARE CONTINUOUSLY WHAT MADE OUR COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATION BETTER.

GUYS.

LET'S DO A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING INCLUSIVELY EVERYBODY, NOT JUST A PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, AGAIN, AND THANK YOU.

AND CAN BRUCE ASK THE QUESTION AND THEN I'LL RESPOND.

THIS THE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ATEX MONEY.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT, UH, BLUFFTON FOUNDATION, HISTORIC BLUFFTON FOUNDATION RECEIVES A CHUNK OF THAT.

UM, AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S GONNA BE CHANGING, BUT STILL THE CHUNK OF THAT MONEY DOES GO THERE.

AND THEY DO PROMOTE THE TOWN.

THEY DO PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS EVENTS.

SO LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT THAT SEGMENT.

THEY ARE NOT IN THIS THOUGH, BUT THEY'RE IN THE ATAC THEY'RE THEY'RE COLLECTING CORRECT? THEY'RE PART OF THE OR THE EIGHT, THEY'RE THEY'RE OUTSIDE.

THEY'RE THE, THEY'RE THE 62.

SO THEY'RE 62% THAT WE PUT BACK IN BLOCK TO WELCOME CENTER AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT AGREED, WE WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND.

WRITING A LETTER TO SENATOR DAVIS ON USING A TAX MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THE OTHER THING I LIKE ON THE 8% IS WHERE CAN IT GO, WHAT COULD IT BE YOU SPARK AND UM, I MAYBE THIS IS THE TIME TO JUMP IN.

I WATCHED THE HILL AND HEAD COUNCIL MEETING.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I WAS, DIDN'T SLEEP AND THAT'S COOL.

APPARENTLY, YOU KNOW WHAT, ITS DO THINGS DEEPER TO, TO DO THINGS.

I'M LIKE, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? AND I EVEN HAVE OUR ACCOUNT MANAGERS TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THEY DO CAUSE WE CAN LEARN AND THEY CAN LEARN.

THEY PASSED SOMETHING LAST MONTH ON

[04:30:01]

SO WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT? I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING YOU'RE NOT FOR A REASON, BUT PERHAPS WE CAN LOOK AND SEE WHERE MONEY WE HAVE THAT 8%, WHERE COULD IT GO TO ENHANCE OTHER THINGS IF IT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IF IT'S ROADS, IF IT'S WHATEVER.

THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION TOOK THIS UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND, AND I NEVER HEARD WHAT, WHAT THEY DETERMINED.

UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE A LOT OF PLACES WERE ASKING FOR OTHER USES, YOU KNOW, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEING ONE AND THERE WERE I THINK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR WHATEVER WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE A RULING ON WHAT, WHAT THE OTHER USES WERE OR IF IT COULD BE.

YEAH, BECAUSE WE TRIED TO USE IT FOR SEWER UM, AND STUFF.

WELL THEY VOTED TO AGREE TO HAVE THEIR ACCOUNT MANAGER TO WRITE A LETTER TO SENATOR DAVIS, WHICH I'M NOT SURE WHY TO ASK THAT THAT BE ADDED.

SO MAYBE THEY'RE OFF.

BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING.

UM, AND THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE SEE ALL THE PLACES WE CAN ASK, GET WITH MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, SEE WHERE WE CAN SPEND IT.

SO LET ME ASK YOU, MAYOR, SINCE YOU BRING IT UP, I MEAN IS THIS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY? LIKE IF, IF YOU REMEMBER THE UM, THE BUSINESS TAX, BUSINESS LICENSE I SHOULD SAY THAT WAS, THAT WAS DECIDED, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT A GROUP TOGETHER WITHIN THE COUNTY TO PUSH THAT BILL FORWARD AND MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER WHAT THEY JUST CONSIDERED ON HILTON HEAD TO JOIN INTO THIS DISCUSSION WITH THEM COLLECTIVELY THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OF THE MAYORS AND COUNCILS TO PUSH THE BALL UP THE HILL.

SO JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.

WELL IT'S ONE OF MY ITEMS THAT MAYOR WILLIAMS ON SOLO.

AT AND ALONG WITH FROM FINANCE, UM, WELL IT IS DIRECTLY ATTACHED IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THAT MANY OF THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND WORK IN HOTELS AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, THAT GENERATE THAT THE PEOPLE, THEY TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT PAY THE TAX SO TO SPEAK, AS FAR AS THE COMBINATION TAX, WHICH IS KIND OF THE MENTALITY THEY WERE ABLE TO JUSTIFY.

LIKE MYRTLE BEACH USES IT FOR POLICE AND FIRE FOR ALL THE, THEY USE HOSPITALITY I THINK AS WELL CAUSE OF ALL THE TOURISM THAT'S ASSOCIATED BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE AS MANY POLICE AND FIREFIGHTER IF IT WASN'T FOR RIGHT.

THE TOURISM THAT WAS THERE.

SO THEY'VE GOTTEN THAT KIND OF APPROVED NOW, BUT WE, IT'S THE SAME PATH.

SO YEAH, I'VE BEEN MORE GLAD TO ASK THE QUESTION ALONG WITH HILTON HEAD AND REACH OUT TO MARK AND GET A COPY OF HIS LETTER AND PIGGY BACK ON AND LET'S BRING IT TO ALL OUR COUNTIES AND SEE.

AND UM, FELICIA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND STEVEN AND I THE DMO CONTRACT AND I'VE JUST LOOKED AT IT.

THERE IS NOT A REQUIREMENT THAT THE 8% BE FUNDED.

GOOD.

THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US.

UM, THE OTHER THING, AND IT'S JUST NO DISCUSSION, BUT I WANT Y'ALL TO BE AWARE I ADDED IT ON SOLO.

UM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE, BUT HILTON HEAD IS THE ONLY TOWN IN THE STATE THAT GETS A ONE QUARTER, A 1% TRANSFER FEE CAPPED AT $6,000.

I AM A REALTOR.

THAT HAS NOT AFFECTED MY LIFE FOR A BUYER TO PAY THAT.

SO I KNOW THE LOBBYISTS ABOVE US ARE ALL AGAINST ANYTHING.

BUT I PERSONALLY THINK HOME RULE AND CAN WE START DISCUSSING THIS AND SO I'M PUT IT ON MY LIST AS WELL FOR SO LOCO UM, AND OUR DELEGATION CUZ THAT IS A RECURRING AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IF WE PUT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND THEY ALLOWED US TO PUT IT IN THE, IN AN AREA.

UM, CAUSE THE TOWN OF HI NET ALSO IS ASKING FOR EXPANSION OF WHERE THEY CAN PUT THAT MONEY.

YOU KNOW, GROWTH PAYS FOR GROWTH AND NEW PEOPLE SHOULD PAY FOR WHATEVER.

SO I DON'T KNOW, IT'S JUST ON FINANCE THAT'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

BUT I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO HEAR KIND OF WHERE I WAS THINKING AND FOR SO LUCK COMING UP WITH SOME MONEY SIDEWALKS.

I WAS GONNA SAY THAT THAT MIGHT BE A BETTER ARGUMENT, UM, THAN THE ONE WE JUST HAD.

IN OTHER WORDS, ACROSS THE STATE, IF, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM WITH HOUSING, IT'S NATIONAL.

THAT MIGHT BE AS IT AN ARGUMENT TO USE THAT TRANSFER FEE FOR HOUSING AS IT IS ANYTHING.

SO, AND THAT IS A CORE BELIEF OF THE LOBBYISTS WHO ARE GONNA LOBBY AGAINST IT.

SO, UM, ANYWAY, JUST TO FOLLOW UP, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE TO BENEFIT THIS SAME THING.

ME TO LET BILL KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

COME BACK WITH US WITH SOME OPTION FOR US TO SPEND THE E PERCENT.

SO, SO ARE WE THINKING WE ABOUT TO GET THROUGH THIS BUDGET YEAR AND LET THEM KNOW BEFORE THEY START PLANNING THE NEXT YEAR? CAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY DON'T KNOW FOR SURE THEY'RE GETTING.

IS THAT A JUNE OR JULY CONVERSATION? WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION NOW, OKAY FOR

[04:35:01]

SO IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, HE NEEDS TO ANTICIPATE X AND THAT WAY AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS, IT'S NOT, HE'S NOT CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND HE CAN MAKE THE, HIM AND HIS STAFF CAN MAKE THOSE ACCOMMODATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

UM, AND THEN WHAT WE COULD SIMPLY SAY IS THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THE 30 RIGHT NOW AND IF HE, IF THEY WANT TO ASK FOR ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, THEY WOULD JUST MAKE A SPECIAL REQUEST ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT FOR THE STATE A TAX.

AND Y'ALL COULD CONSIDER THE LOCAL YEAH, Y'ALL COULD CONSIDER THAT LIKE WHEN THEY DID THE WEBSITE, IT MAY BE SOMETHING SPECIAL THEY'RE WANTING TO DO AND THEY COULD SAY, HEY WE, WE NEED X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN ABOVE AND BEYOND.

AND Y'ALL SAY THEY COME TO NATALIE AND THE COMMITTEE.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

SO AS YOU'RE SAYING, WE'RE TAG TEAMING THIS.

SO I WANT TO START ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION, BUT WE GOT GLEN AND WE'VE GOT KEVIN IN THE BACK TO HELP, UM, WITH THESE CONVERSATIONS.

UM, CUZ WE'VE HAD A LOT OF THIS COME UP WITH COUNCIL, UM, TALKING ABOUT THIS.

SO WANTED TO GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD.

UM, THIS FIRST ONE IS A SINGLE BULLET, BUT IT HAS A LOT OF FAR-REACHING CONVERSATION THAT MAY TAKE PLACE.

UM, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE POTENTIAL ED U RELATED, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OR ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS.

TALKED TO COUNCILMAN FRAZIER YESTERDAY ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AND UM, I THINK THAT IS THOUGHT WE HAD IN THERE.

UM, SO, UM, THE, THE FOURTH BULLET POINT DOWN THERE, WHICH IS THE CRITERIA FOR RELOCATION AND WHEN IT COMES INTO DECONSTRUCTION VERSUS DEMOLITION AND, AND RELATED TO CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.

UM, WE'VE ALSO TALKED ABOUT ALIGNMENT OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, UM, WITH THE NATIONAL AND OUR LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICT.

AND THEN LOOKING IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND, UH, PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR DISTRICT THAT MAYBE WE WANT TO HELP RECOMMEND FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER, UM, OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE OTHER THING THAT COUNCIL'S TALKED ABOUT IS LOOKING AT OUR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE LIST AND LOOKING AT A, A WAY TO KIND OF CREATE A TIER STRUCTURE OF HOW, AND KIND OF LOOKING AT CRITERIA OF MAYBE WE HAVE 10 CRITERIA POINTS AND IF THEY MEET ALL 10 CRITERIA, THEN THEY ARE ONE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, HIGHEST LEVEL OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY EVER HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT EVER DISAPPEARING.

THESE MIGHT BE ALL OF OUR ELLA PROPERTIES THAT, YOU KNOW, SEVEN OAKS, THE CHURCH OF THE CROSS, PLACES LIKE THAT, THAT ARE GONNA BE, OR AME CHURCH, NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE'RE GONNA SAY THERE'S, YOU KNOW, DO NOT TOUCH, DO NOT TOUCH WHATSOEVER.

AND THEN SOME OF 'EM, AS YOU SEE, WE CAN GO DOWN.

IT MAY BE THAT THEY'RE NOT ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER, BUT THEY'RE CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OR THEY'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING, BUT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND GLENN, UM, AND KEVIN CAN TALK ABOUT THIS MORE, UM, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF PRIME THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE I KNOW JUST BASED ON WHAT'S COME THROUGH WITH THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND THREE OR FOUR PROPERTIES WE'VE HAD, AS, AS HEATHER LIKES TO SAY, WE'RE DONE WITH A LOT OF THE EASY STUFF.

SO A LOT OF THE HISTORICAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE COMING IN NOW ARE ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SIT FOR DECADES AND THEY'RE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE THAT AND MAINTAIN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO THERE'S SOME, SOME CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE THERE.

SO I'M GONNA ASK KEVIN AND GLENN IF THEY'LL COME UP AND WE WILL OPEN UP FOR YEAH.

AND BEFORE THEY, WHILE THEY'RE COMING UP, WHEN ARE WE GONNA SEE THIS TIERED BECAUSE WE ALREADY PASSED SO MUCH AND WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA SEE OUR CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES.

I KNOW ABOUT THE HPC FIRST, BUT WHEN WILL WE START SEEING THAT? WELL, WE WON'T AGAIN, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WITH WHAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, THAT THIS IS KIND OF WHAT COUNCIL IS ENVISIONING BEFORE WE, BECAUSE ONCE WE PRESENT IT TO YOU, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MIRRORING WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE.

SO IF WE DON'T END UP HAVING A, A PROPERTY IN TIER FOUR THAT YOU'RE LIKE, WHOA, WHOA, THAT SHOULDN'T BE THERE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIGHER.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THERE'S A LOGIC THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH MIRRORS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO RECEIVE.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PAGE WITH MOVING FORWARD IS THIS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A LOT OF, UM, ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO, UM, REHABILITATE THEIR PROPERTIES.

AND THAT'S WHY NO, I LOVE IT.

MEMORY OF OUR COUNCIL MEETING WHEN WE SAID WE WANTED TO DO THIS RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRACKING THIS SO WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACCOMPLISHING THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO BEFORE WE FINALIZE AND START BRINGING STUFF TO YOU, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE APPROACHING THE RIGHT THOUGHT PROCESS AND PUTTING THE DOCUMENTS TOGETHER CORRECTLY.

UM, AND KIND OF USING THIS AS A CHANCE TO GET YOUR BRAIN, MAKE SURE WE'RE, WE'RE ALL TAKING ABOUT THE SAME WAY BEFORE THEY STAFF THAT KNOWS ALL AS MUCH MORE DETAIL.

I THINK GLENN IS OUR PRESERVATION AS PLANNER, UM, KNOWS.

[04:40:01]

AND WE'RE JUST STARTING TO REALLY GET THAT MOVING FORWARD, HOW THIS WOULD AFFECT THAT.

SO WHICH TIERS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE? WOULD IT BE ALL TIERS? SOME OF THE TIERS, BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO THEORETICALLY ON A PLANNING STANDPOINT, THEY ALMOST LIKE A REZONING OF SOMEONE'S PROPERTY.

SO SOMEONE WHO'S CONTRIBUTING NOW, THEY FALL IN ONE GROUP, SO NOW THEY COULD FALL IN A DIFFERENT TIER.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO, UM, WE JUST HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO LIFTED AND BREATHED IT.

HOPE Y'ALL ASK QUESTIONS FOR THIS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STARTING.

HEY KEVIN.

SORRY.

UM, SO OBVIOUSLY I GO IN HERE, WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP FACILITATE A CONVERSATION.

UH, THERE'S, UH, MAJOR ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE, UM, THAT WE CAN START ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS FOR.

ARE WE ON THIS TIER AND CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE LIST? UH, YOU CAN, YOU CAN FLOAT BACK THROUGH ALL THE BULLET POINTS.

IT'S UP TO YOU.

SO I'M NOT A, UM, COMMENT AND SOME SUGGESTIONS.

SO ONE COMMENT IS, OUR FIRST COMMENT IS OUR, THE TOWN'S APPROACH TO PRESERVING HISTORIC STRUCTURES HAS BEEN PARADOXICAL IN A SENSE OF WE VALUE THESE STRUCTURES OR HAVE THESE STRUCTURES OF HIGH IMPORTANCE.

BUT THESE STRUCTURES, MANY HAVE REMAINED DILAPIDATED FOR DECADES.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW THEN YOU GET TO SAVE THEM, TO KEEP THEM SUSTAINABLE HAS TO CHANGE FROM WHAT OUR UDO HAS ALLOWED, UM, IN THE SENSE OF WE PUT CERTAIN BARRIERS AND RESTRICTIONS ON, UH, SOME STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE IT ON OTHERS.

AND SO WE SAW, UM, TO JOIN A PROPERTY RECENTLY WHEN IT CAME TIME TO THE BARBECUE STRUCTURE, THE STRUCTURE AND THE CRANE WERE BOTH SINKING IN THE GROUND.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO DECONSTRUCT, I'M NOT SURE THE METHOD THAT WAS USED, THE PARTICULAR HOME, THE HOME WAS THEN SEEN, YOU KNOW, LEFT IN SHAMBLES.

AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO JUST HAVE A ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SAY WE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD RECONSTRUCTION AS AN OPTION IN THE UDO.

AND SO IF THE BOARD GETS KIND OF, UM, STIFLED IN HOW THEY VOTE OR ADDRESS THOSE, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE SURE THE UDO IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE MEANS IN A MODERN TIME BECAUSE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT.

AND, UM, OWNERS WHO INHABIT THESE, UH, THESE STRUCTURES NOW ARE GONNA BE BURDENED WITH THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND IF THE TOWN ISN'T PUTTING UP THE FINANCES TO DO IT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO DONATE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES TO US, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT WITHOUT PEOPLE BEING DETERRED FROM PURCHASING PROPERTIES, UM, WITH THOSE STRUCTURES.

AND THEN IF THEY'RE ONES WE'RE GONNA KEEP LIKE A SARAH RILEY HOOKS PRODUCT OR WHATEVER ELSE, UM, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MITIGATE THESE THINGS AHEAD OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY, UM, WORK ON THEM? BECAUSE IF THAT HOUSE SITS ANY LONGER, IT'S GONNA, YOU KNOW, END UP IN RUBS TOO.

UM, I KNOW IT'S A LOT.

THAT WAS A LOT EXPERIENCE ON IT.

YOU NO ONE PERIOD.

SO I THINK WE, WE'LL KIND OF TAG TEAM ON THIS.

UM, I THINK SOME OF IT HAS TO DEAL WITH THE, THE REVIEW CRITERIA.

UM, FOR LIKE RELOCATION DECONSTRUCTION, LIKE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO, WE ONLY HAVE TWO OF 'EM LISTED OF THE POSSIBLE FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION.

1, 1, 1 LISTED OF POSSIBLE FOUR.

SO I THINK EXPANDING ON THAT, THAT'S ONE THING, UH, THAT'S DEFINITE AND THAT'S BECOME APPARENT.

UH, WE'VE REALIZED THAT.

SO THAT'S, UH, DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON.

I THINK A COMBINATION WITH THAT AND A TIERED SYSTEM, UM, WOULD BE HELPFUL.

UH, BECAUSE THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE SETTING A LEVEL OF, OF, OF IMPORTANCE ON, ON EACH OF THESE STRUCTURES AND THEN WHAT YOU CAN AND CANNOT DO WITH, WITH EACH OF THEM.

UM, I, I THINK PART OF MY CHALLENGE IS WE HAVE A LIST PUT TOGETHER IN 2008.

THE METHODOLOGY THEY USE IS PROBABLY NOT WHAT I WOULD USE TODAY, BUT THEY'RE ON THE LIST.

SO BECAUSE THEY'RE ON THE LIST, THEY FALL UNDER THE UDU REQUIREMENTS UNDER THAT SECTION THAT SAYS YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN'T DO THIS, YOU CAN'T DO THIS.

IF THEY WERE NOT ON THAT LIST, LIKE THE JOIN HOUSE FOR EXAMPLE, IF THAT WAS NOT ON THE LIST, WE WOULD'VE TREATED IT DIFFERENTLY IN FRONT OF HPC.

SO BECAUSE IT'S ON THE LIST, WE ARE FORCED TO USE THE CRITERIA THAT THE UDO SPECIFIES.

I THINK NOW LOOKING AT A TIER SYSTEM OR YOU KNOW, EXPANDING SOME OF THOSE, THOSE GUIDELINES IN THE UDO THAT'S GONNA MITIGATE SOME OF THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE

[04:45:01]

ISSUES.

WELL I THINK, I THINK ON THAT I'M ALL ABOUT THE TIER AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT.

SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE WAITING UNTIL NOW TO LOOK AT IT.

SO I THINK HOWEVER YOU WANNA DO IT, WE NEED TO REALLY VET EACH AREA AND TAKE, GET A CAR OR A GOLF CART.

IT'S NOT, NOT VERY BIG.

IT'S A SQUARE MILE AND RIDE AROUND AND LOOK AT THESE THINGS.

I KNOW, DAN, I'M NOT GONNA SPLIT UP THE LIST AND DONE A COUPLE OF 'EM.

UM, STORIES ARE IMPORTANT.

I REALLY BELIEVE THE HOUSE LIVES NOT SO MUCH BECAUSE ITS RAPTOR WAS DESIGNED IN 1,752, BUT THAT ALONG WITH THE STORY GOING BACK TO WHAT, UM, SHARON EVEN SAID, YOU KNOW, I HEARD JON TALK 50% OF THE TOWN WAS BLACK, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT LONG AGO.

SO HOW DO THE STORIES ARE SUPER IMPORTANT.

WHAT ARE THE, WHAT ARE THE FINES ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE WHO BUYS IT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN SURE DARN WELL RECONSTRUCT OR BE BOLD ENOUGH TO SAY THEY'RE GONNA DEMOLISH IT.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME FINES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TEARS THIS WEEK, UM, OVER SOME THAT MAYBE WENT ANOTHER WAY.

SO, UM, WELL THESE, AND DID I TWO QUESTIONS FOR GLENN ON THE FIRST ONE WITH, UM, OR SOME, WOULD IT BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IN THE, UH, CURRENT UDO OR THE CURRENT POLICY THAT, UM, YOU OR SOMEONE FROM UM, STAFF IS PRESENT WHEN ITS PROCESS STARTS IN TERMS OF DECONSTRUCTION TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THROUGH WHAT THEY THEY SAID AND FOR WHAT TO HAVE HAPPENED WON'T HAPPEN? YES.

SO SOMEONE WAS PRESENT FOR THE RECENT OR NO? NO, BECAUSE WE DON'T, WE HAVEN'T BECAUSE FOR SOMEONE WHO OBSERVED IT, IT DID NOT, IT DID NOT FOLLOW WHAT, WHAT WAS STATED THEY WERE GONNA FOLLOW AND IT WAS A NIGHTMARE WATCHING IT.

AND NOW WE'RE HAVING TO DISPLAY ON THE BACK END TO CATCH UP AND FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GONNA COMPLY TO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GONNA DO.

OTHER, THE NEXT PART OF IT IS WHEN YOU'RE GONNA DECONSTRUCT, OKAY? YOU CAN HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE BUILDING STAYS WHERE IT IS AND IT GETS DECONSTRUCTED.

SO WHAT BRIDGET SAID, AND I JUST ASSUME IS NEVER GOOD.

WHAT DO WE NEED AS A TOWN TO MAKE SURE THAT HAS DID HAPPEN? ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING? UH, NO, BUT WHAT SHOULD WE HAVE? WHAT SHOULD WE ALL KNOW? AND YOU'RE, WE ALL HAVE OUR LITTLE LOOK I LOVE, WE FOLLOW THE RULES, BUT FOR GLENN TO KNOW THAT WAS HIS PLACE TO GO OUT THERE, WE SAID SOMETHING NO MORE THAN THIS HAPPENS, IN MY OPINION.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE THREE GOING ON A DAY.

IF THE PERMIT'S ISSUED, WHY COULDN'T WE ADD SOMETHING IN THERE THAT, THAT THE DEMOLITION MUST BE OBSERVED WITH SOMEBODY FROM OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER AND, AND IF THEY'RE, THEY, YOU SEE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING BY THE BOOK AND WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THE PERMIT, UNFORTUNATELY, STOP WORK.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN JUST LIKE WE WOULD IF SOMEONE WAS BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION.

I MEAN, IF WE COULD WAX IN, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO WATCH ONE, UH, EVERY SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, I'D BE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT, I WOULD THINK, OR RIGHT.

WELL GLEN, IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL ANY BETTER, THE REASON THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THE TIER SYSTEM IS BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING RIGHT THIS MOMENT.

WE REALIZED YEARS AGO, COUNCIL THAT WE CAN'T SAVE EVERYTHING WE MAY WANT TO, THERE MAY BE PEOPLE WHO THINK WE SHOULD, BUT WE CAN'T.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A, AN ECONOMIC HARDSHIP ON THOSE JUST BECAUSE IT'S ON, ON THE LIST.

IT JUST SAYS YOU'RE HERE AS A CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE, BLAH.

SO THAT, THAT'S WHY THE TIER SYSTEM IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.

THE OTHER PART IS THE, THE HISTORIC COMPONENT OF IT ALL.

YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD THAT WE FIGHT THE WAY WE DO AS A COUNCIL AND AS A TOWN TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE CHARM OF, OF WHAT BLUFFTON IS, AND THAT'S WHAT BRINGS SO MANY PEOPLE TO US.

UM, YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR NUMBER ON THAT.

NOW, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND I'VE WANTED THIS, UM, I HAVEN'T ASKED FOR IT, BUT I'M ASKING FOR IT NOW.

I, I THINK THAT IT WOULD HELP COUNCIL WITH, IT'S IN A PARAGRAPH OR A HALF PAGE, BUT NOT VOLUMES.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S TAKE THE GRAVES HOUSE, OKAY? IT WAS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AT THE TIME THE GRAVES HOUSE GOT SHIFTED 15 FEET BACK.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WRITTEN THAT COULD BE GIVEN TO ALL OF US.

WHEN YOU MOVE A STRUCTURE FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? MM-HMM.

, IT LOSES SOME OF ITS AMBIANCE.

OKAY? RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THE

[04:50:01]

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE? THEN YOU CAN HAVE A BUILDING THAT MOVES, THAT GETS DECONSTRUCTED.

SO I THINK IF IT WOULD HELP US UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY WHEN WE START HAVING THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MOVING A BUILDING OR DECONSTRUCTING A BUILDING IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE? AND ARE WE SHOOTING OURSELF IN THE FOOT? YOU KNOW? SURE.

AND SOME, AND SOME THINGS, LET ME BE CLEAR.

SOME THINGS CAN'T BE PICKED UP AND MOVED NO MATTER WHAT YOU MAY WANT.

THAT ONE COMMENT FROM THE CHAIR.

YES, I AGREE YES TO BRUCE.

SO Y'ALL TAKE NOTES CHAIR.

I'VE HEARD ONE COMMENT FROM ONE OF THE STAFF THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THE EASY ONES ARE DONE AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING HARDER ONES.

AND WE DO HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND IS THE HARDER ONES.

IF WE PUT SO MUCH RESTRICTION IN NOT ALLOWING ANY DEVELOPER, ANY OWNER TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT PROPERTY, IT'S GONNA END UP MELTING THE GROUND AND BECOME A TERMITE HOLE.

THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, I, I HEARD A COMMENT MEAN MENTION ABOUT THE JOINER HOUSE AND I THOUGHT IF I RECALLED THE MOTION THAT WAS PUT REQUIRED THAT ALL THESE CHECK MARKS WERE BEING LOOKED AT, WHAT HAPPENED? IF I DO, I HEAR THAT THAT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THAT WAS THE MOTION THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE.

BUT WASN'T IT THE TOWN'S RESPONSIBILITY? THERE'S A KIND OF CHECK ON THOSE CHECK MARKS.

IF, IF I'M ON THE HPC AND WE'RE PASSING THESE MOTIONS, WHAT HAPPENED? RIGHT? I HAVE TO ASK THE STAFF WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED.

RIGHT? AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU KNOW, I STAFF WENT PAST THE BUILDING, I THINK IT WAS MONDAY AFTER BEING BORN, BEFORE AND IN STANDING WITHOUT THE SIDING, WHICH IS FINE.

THEY WERE ALLOWED TO REMOVE THE SIDING.

AND I THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO PHOTOGRAPH THE BUILDING WITHOUT DECIDING TO SEE HOW THE TWO PIECES WERE PUT TOGETHER.

BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW THE STRUCTURE WORKS.

AND THEN TO GET A CALL, YOU KNOW, TWO HOURS LATER AT MY DESK SAYING WE'RE GETTING CALLS AT THE BUILDING WAS DEMOLISHED.

AND LIKE, THAT'S NEWS TO ME.

UM, SO SOMETIMES IT'S A RELIANCE ON DOES THE APPLICANT ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OR IS IT SOMETIMES JUST I HAPPEN TO BE OUT AND I SEE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT.

UM, OR SOMEBODY CALLING ME AND SAYING, OH, WERE THEY SUPPOSED TO DO THAT? AND THEN WE'RE PLAYING, YOU KNOW, CATCH UP.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE CAN GO AND FIX, UM, TO MAKE SURE IT STATES SPECIFICALLY THAT THEY HAVE TO COORDINATE THROUGH US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON SITE WHEN THEY DO WORK.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, ONCE THEY GET THE PERMIT, IT'S NOT REQUIRED.

IT'S JUST WE KNOW.

ANYWAY, SORRY, BUT THE MOTION INCLUDED THAT, I MEAN, I THOUGHT, I'M JUST SAYING HOW, HOW DOES THE TOWN, WHAT ARE OUR, YOU MAKE THE, CAUSE IT DIDN'T COME TO US, BUT ANN SAID, AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN IT'S SITTING THERE POINTING THAT, WELL, HPC DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB.

WELL WAIT A MINUTE, WE, I THOUGHT WE PASSED A FAIRLY ADEQUATE MOTION.

WELL IF IT DIDN'T STATE THAT, IT MUST BE OBSERVED BY A TOWN INSPECTOR AND HE CAN SAY, WELL, IT WAS ALL ROT AND IT WASN'T WORTH SAVING OR WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? BUT IN CERTAIN DON'T HAVE 18TH, THERE'S CERTAIN CRITERIA THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWED IN TERMS OF YOU SUPPOSED TO PHOTOGRAPH EACH PIECE OF LIKE SIDING EACH 10 EACH EVERYTHING AND SHOW DOCUMENTATION.

UH, AND IF SOMETHING'S ROTTED, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DOCUMENT THIS PIECE WAS ROTTED, WHATEVER.

BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO GATHER ANY OF THAT INFORMATION OR VERIFY IF SOMETHING WAS ROTTED OR NOT.

CAUSE THEY TOOK IT ALL DOWN PRIOR, YOU KNOW, AND THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHED, WE CAN BE BETTER LEADERS WHEN WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WHAT WE DIDN'T DO.

RIGHT? SO LET'S JUST OWN UP THAT WE DIDN'T DO IT RIGHT.

WE CAN'T KEEP LOOKING LIKE WE KICKING IT UNDER THE RUG.

WE DIDN'T DO IT RIGHT.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE GOING FIX IT WHEN WE REALIZE WHAT WE DID WRONG.

SO WE DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN.

IF IT WAS, IF SOMETHING WAS DONE IN VIOLATION OF CONDITIONS, THEN YOU CAN ISSUE 'EM A, YOU CAN ISSUE 'EM A CITATION, INVITE HIM TO COME SEE JUDGE BUSH.

THOUSAND DOLLARS THOUSAND 88, 70 $8 FOR EACH VIOLATION.

MIGHT BE EACH COURT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M HAPPY TO TALK WITH, WITH STAFF ABOUT, ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY OF NEED BE.

AND, AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

BUT LET'S NOT PUT SOMETHING WHERE OTHER PEOPLE SAY, OH, IT'S WORTH THE 20,000 TO JUST DEMOLISH IT.

SO I AGREE WITH FRED, IT'S NO, WE KNOW BETTER.

SO WE DO BETTER.

DOES THAT NOT WORK IN EVERY, BUT LET'S DO BETTER.

[04:55:01]

HE'S GETTING THE HEAT, HIS, HIS COMMISSION IS GETTING THE HEAT AND I, I'M SORRY CUZ YOU DON'T GET PAID TO DO THAT.

BUT HOW THEY DO BETTER ON THE CONDITIONS RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY TO ADD THAT LANGUAGE IN EACH CONDITION THAT THE CONDITIONS MUST BE MET BEFORE GOING TO CONDITION TWO.

I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO.

YOU INITIATIVE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN YOU GOT NINE 19 INSPECTIONS BUILDING A HOUSE.

RIGHT? AND I, WITHOUT GETTING, SO I GUESS THAT GOES ALONG WITH WHAT FRED'S SAYING IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES OCCUR, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE, LET'S FACE IT.

AND WE HAVE CONCEPTS MADE SPELLED OUT.

SO IF IT DOES EVER REOCCUR AGAIN, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE COULD BANK ON OUR ATTORNEYS AND EVERYONE ELSE AND SAY, HEY, REMEMBER, REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF, REMEMBER, REMEMBER, UM, WHEN A CONDITION IS MADE ALSO, I KNOW, UM, YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T WANNA DETER PEOPLE FROM FOLLOWING THE PROCESSES MAYOR.

SO MAKE THEM THINK IT'S OKAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASIER TO JUST PAY SOME, PAY A SIGN OR WHATEVER AND BE DONE WITH IT.

I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOME TYPE OF THOUGH, UM, PENALTY AND NOT FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE, WERE SET JUST FOR THOSE COULD BE SOME TYPE OF THOUGH, UM, PENALTY AND NOT FOLLOWING THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE, WERE SET JUST FOR THOSE WHO DO DO THE RIGHT THINGS.

AND I THINK FOR THE MOST PART YOU DO AND WILL HAVE APPLICANTS WHO FOLLOW THE PROCESSES AND ARE DOING THE, THE RIGHT THINGS AND FINANCIALLY THEY'RE PAYING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS AND MEETING WITH STAFF TO ABIDE BY THOSE POLICIES.

SO SOMEONE WHO VIOLATES THAT SHOULD DEFINITELY, UM, HAVE CONSEQUENCES TO THOSE ACTIONS.

UM, ANOTHER NOTE WAS THE TIERED, UM, APPROACH THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE UM, HAVE SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR RE FOR RESIDENTS AND NOT THAT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT FROM THE COMMERCIAL USES OF HISTORIC PRESERVATIONS IN, IN THE SENSE OF, I KNOW GREAT MAJORITY OF THEM ARE STILL OWNED BY UM, GULLAH NATIVES WHO ARE IN THE AREA.

AND A LOT OF THEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS THAT COME ALONG WITH PRESERVATION IN TERMS OF, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS THE REQUIREMENT OF A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING REPORT.

AND SO IF THEY HAVE, UM, A RESIDENT THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING BACK UP, UP TO THOSE STANDARDS, UM, THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY GONNA BE INTIMIDATED CUZ THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS.

AND HOW ARE WE GONNA APPROACH OR ADDRESS THAT? BECAUSE FOR ME IT'S NEAR AND DEAR BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING ON RETAINING THAT POPULATION HERE AND NOT MAKING THEM FEEL LIKE, WELL I MIGHT AS WELL SELL IT CUZ I FINANCIALLY CAN'T TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BRINGING IT UP TO CODE CUZ IT IS STRENUOUS.

DON'T JUST DECAY FOR THREE, FOUR MORE DECADES? RIGHT.

AND I THINK IN THAT CASE, UM, THE TOWN NOW HAS THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION GRANTS BOTH FOR THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID NOT LOOK AT WHEN WE BUILT THAT PROGRAM WAS CAN WE USE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTIAL GRANT MONEY FOR, YOU KNOW, STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OR ENGINEERING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO YOU WITH, WITH THOSE CHANGES SO THAT SOMEONE IN THAT SITUATION CAN GET A GRANT FOR THAT MONEY.

I MEAN GET, YOU KNOW, GRANT MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, TO HELP YOU KNOW THEM STAY IN THAT HOUSE AND MAINTAIN THAT.

AND WE, AND THAT BE GREAT.

BUT IN ADDITION TO THE GRANT, IF WE COULD DO LIKE A HANDHOLDING PROCESS BECAUSE POLICIES MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL NOT, UH, GRAPPLE WITH.

SO IN THE SENSE OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING REPORT, BUT THEN YOU'RE ALSO ASKING THEM MAYBE TO CATALOG THIS PIECE OR THEY'RE EXPECTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE AN, AN ARCHITECTURAL DRAWING OF SOMETHING OR THEY HAVE TO, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO THAT ARE JUST FOREIGN TO THEM IN RIGHT.

YOU CAN'T JUST GIVE 'EM AN APPLICATION AND SAY, HEY, DO 30,000 COME BACK.

IT, IT WILL BE SOMETHING WHERE THEY WILL NEED GUIDANCE IN, IN DOING THAT.

BRUCE AND THEN AMANDA, THE, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE GRANT MONEY, BUT LET'S FACE IT IN ORDER AND I, I'M WITH BRIDGET CUZ THERE'S GONNA BE, AND I'M HEATHER WAS THE ONE THAT SAID, THESE ARE THE EASY ONES ARE DONE, THESE ARE GONNA GET HARDER AND THEY'RE GONNA GET HARDER.

AND FOLKS, LET'S FACE IT.

AND IF WE, I'M GONNA, I'M USING THIS TERMINOLOGY.

IF WE DON'T COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF A SOLUTION, THESE PLACES ARE GONNA BE TERMITE HOLES BECAUSE THEY JUST ARE GONNA MELT TO THE GROUND AND WE DO NEED TO COME UP WITH, WITH SOMETHING.

THE GRANT MONEY IS THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT A, I MEAN IT, IT'S COST, THE COST OF BINGO TO PLAY WITH ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES IS HUGE.

MM-HMM .

SO WE JUST HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WHERE'S THAT GONNA COME FROM? YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOME SPECIAL OTHER GRANTS? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD ASSIST? HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN AND KEEP SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES SO THAT THEY

[05:00:01]

AND IT'S REALLY KIND OF SCARY BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THIS FAMILY THAT OWNED IT AND THEY'RE GOING, WELL YOU GOTTA DO THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS.

WHAT'S THE PRICE OF BINGO? I MEAN HUGE.

SO HE'S TAKEN THAT NOTE AND THEN AMANDA'S GONNA CHIME IN AND THEN KEVIN AND GLENN CAN ANSWER.

I THOUGHT YOU HAD SOMETHING.

UM, KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND ALSO TO INCLUDE THAT THE GRANT IS GREAT AND ALL, BUT THERE ARE UPFRONT COSTS LIKE THE ENGINEER, YOU HAVE TO PAY 'EM NOW, YOU CAN'T WAIT, YOU KNOW, THE ARCHITECTURE FEES, YOU GOTTA PAY 'EM NOW.

YOU CAN'T WAIT.

SO HOW CAN THEY AFFORD TO DO THAT AND SAY THEY MIGHT GET MONEY BACK.

HELP THEM TAKE NOTES OR ADDRESS SO WE CAN KEEP YEAH, I THINK TO MAYBE KIND OF SUMMARIZE ALL OF THIS, JUST SO I THINK WE ARE HEARING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.

SO WE'LL KIND OF LOOK, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE TIER SYSTEM, WE'LL GET WITH THE TOWN MANAGER.

YOU CAN START BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UM, AND THEN IT'S ALSO SOUNDING LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE, THE GRANT PROGRAM, LOOKING BACK AT THAT AND SEEING IS THERE A WAY TO MAYBE INCREASE, UH, POTENTIAL FUNDING OR IF THERE'S CERTAIN, UM, ASPECTS OF IT, THE STRUCTURAL REPORT THAT COULD BE, COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF FOR A PROJECT.

UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE'LL, WE'LL START DOING THE RESEARCH ON UH, AS WELL AS THE UD EDITS, UM, AS IT RELATES TO THE DECONSTRUCTION RECONSTRUCTION.

UM, ASPECTS TO THAT.

WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GET US THAT Y'ALL, ARE YOU GONNA GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS OF TIER ONE THROUGH SIX? ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT BEFORE IT COMES TO COUNCIL? CAUSE I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO RIDE BY AND LOOK AND TALK TO PEOPLE AND GET PLANNING AND WE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO SIT WITH YOU KIND LIKE ONE ON ONE SO THAT WAY WE CAN GO THROUGH AND AND AND EXPLAIN.

CUZ LIKE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST LIKE LOOKING AT IT.

IT'S JUST LIKE ONE SENTENCE BUT LIKE GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ON IT.

WE HOUSES YOU THINK FOLLOW, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A METHODOLOGY I'D USED TO COME UP WITH EACH SIX YEARS.

I'D BE HAPPY TO, I DON'T MIND, I TRUST YOUR NOTHING TO YOUR MADNESS, BUT WHEN YOU GET A 22 SMITH STREET IN 84 SOUND STREET, I'M NOT USING ANG.

THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE YOU SEE THEY FIT IN YOUR TEAM.

THAT GIVES US A BASIS FOR SAYING, WELL WE DON'T AGREE OR YES, YOU'RE RIGHT ON.

I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US GONNA HAVE A CHANCE.

WOULD THIS TIER SYSTEM, WOULD THIS BE THE TIME TO ADDRESS A PERCENTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND 80% TERMITE EATON ROTTEN EXPIRED BEYOND REASONABLE AFFORDABILITY FOR REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCTION, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.

WELL THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO LIST THAT AS TIER SIX.

BUT THEN YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM THE LIST.

WE'RE IN CHARGE OF THAT.

WELL I, YES IT WAS GO HP.

I THINK IT GO TO HPC WITH A RECOMMENDATION.

BUT I MEAN IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? BUT I MEAN WHAT DETERMINES, I MEAN ARE WE, IF IT'S 50% ROTTEN, IS IT STILL I THINK 40 OR SIX? YOU KNOW, I MEAN I WOULD THINK IT WOULD NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF, THAT'S WHAT I ASKED HIM.

COULD HE PUT THE ADDRESSES TO EACH OF THESE TIERS AND LET US LOOK AT IT AND THEN SIT, THE ADDITION OF THOSE ADDRESSES MAY CHANGE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

SAY, OKAY, THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS ONE'S NOT GOOD, IT'S GOTTA BE A TIER WHATEVER OR IT NEEDS TO CHANGE BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO SEE THE CONDITIONS NOW, CUZ LIKE FOR 2008 THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED AND ARE NOT GOOD.

WHEN WE'RE GONE, THIS GONNA BE ON THE LOOK THIS CHANGE, RIGHT.

WE CAN EVEN WRITE SOMETHING IN THE CODE IF WE WANT TO KIND OF LIKE THE COMP PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT THIS EVERY YEAR, TWO YEARS OF POLICY.

SO, SO IT DEFINITELY IS SOMETHING AS WE CAN SEE FROM WHAT, 1996 WITH THE FIRST LIST, 2008 WAS A REVISED LIST AND NOW WE'RE BACK HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT 2008 LIST ISN'T QUITE WORKING AS WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD.

SO YEAH, I JUST WISH WE HAD A WAY OF MEASURING, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS EXEMPT FROM ALL THIS EXTRA STRUCTURAL ENGINEER INSPECTION AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, ALL THAT MONEY THAT HAS TO BE SPENT FOR SOMETHING THAT IS, IS JUST EXPIRED.

WE ALL EXPIRE SOMEDAY.

ACTUALLY, LET ME AND AMANDA ASK THAT QUESTION.

YOU ANSWER THAT TOO.

I'M JUST THINKING LIKE WITH JUST GONNA THROW, SO LIKE WITH GLEN'S CREDENTIALS, YOU KNOW, IS IT SOMETHING IF SOMEONE WANTED TO HAVE UM, TO DO SOMETHING TO THEIR HOME AND HE COULD ACTUALLY WALK IN THERE AND MAKE A DETERMINATION IF IT'S BEYOND, I MEAN YOU'RE SMART ENOUGH, YOU HAVE THE BACKGROUND IN THIS TO SAY IT'S BEYOND REPAIR OR LIKE WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT HAS A LOT OF ROT AND DAMAGE AND IT IS ON THE LIST AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT TO MAKE THIS A THING.

BUT IF, BUT THIS PERSON HAD TO SPEND MONEY ON ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGNERS BEFORE THEY COULD FIGURE CERTAIN THINGS OUT.

SO IS THERE A WAY THAT THE TOWN COULD HELP BY SENDING IN THE EXPERT TO

[05:05:01]

BUT I DON'T THINK, I THINK THIS COUNCIL AT A POINT THAT SEE TO BE THE PUBLIC ENTITY TO TAKE IT OFF THE LIST.

I DON'T WANT NO, NO I'M NOT SAYING THE HEAT FROM PEOPLE TO SAY THEY SAID, OH I TOOK IT OFF THE LIST.

WELL NO I DON'T SAY THAT THEY'RE THE ONES RESPONSIBLE.

I'M JUST SAYING GO IN THERE, GIVE AN OPINION FROM, YOU KNOW, THIS LEVEL A PROFESSIONAL OPINION FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION STANDPOINT.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HAD MENTIONED.

YOU GIVE US WHERE YOU THINK ALL GETS HOMESTEAD ON THESE TIER HE STARTED, HE'S DOING THAT.

YEAH, BUT SOME PEOPLE AREN'T GONNA LET YOU IN RIGHT NOW.

BUT SAY IN THE FUTURE SOMEONE SAYS, I REALLY WANNA GET MY HOME DONE, THEN COULD HE GO IN AND EVALUATE? THAT'S EVALUATING THE LIST ONGOING BASIS.

THEY'RE NOT, I THINK WHAT AMANDA'S SAYING IS SOMEBODY PHYSICALLY HAS TO GO INTO THE INTERIOR OR SOMETHING.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A REAL HARD REVIEW TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE BUILDING IS SALVAGEABLE OR NOT.

TO HIS POINT TO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING OR WHAT PERCENT OF IT.

SO WHO DOES THAT? WHO DOES THAT ALSO, WEREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKSHOPPING THIS ISSUE AS WELL TO DETERMINE WHAT'S THE CRITERIA TO MAKE THINGS, UM, HISTORIC OR NOT? AS IN THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT SOME OF THE STRUCTURES THAT WERE INCLUDED ORIGINALLY, SOME THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED PART OF THE TIER SYSTEM.

A SHARED HC WHO SEEMS VERY FRUSTRATED THAT WHAT THEY TO DO FAIL.

THAT'S OUR, SO REAL QUICK, WHILE YOU'RE WALKING SLOWLY, MY QUESTION IS PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

THERE COULD BE A LITTLE ASTERISKS EXTERIOR, NO INTERIOR VISITS SUBJECT TO WHEN THEY COME BEFORE US.

CAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

SO I THINK HE'S THE GUIDE TO AT LEAST GETTING US A TEMPLATE TO DISCUSS THAT WOULD ANSWER LARRY'S QUESTION.

ESPECIALLY ON WHAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE ON THERE.

SO, SO JUST KIND TRY TO WRAP THIS UP.

THERE'S LOT DISCUSSIONS.

THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC AND EVERYTHING'S VERY SPECIFIC AND IF IT WERE SO EASY AS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL AND YOU CHECK THE BOXES AND YOU MOVE IN THIS SECTION VERSUS THAT, IT WOULD BE GREAT.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS STRIVE FOR.

UM, I WILL SAY, I DO SAY THAT ALL THE EASY PIECES ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED AND THAT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WORLD OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH UM, I DON'T PROBABLY DATE MYSELF, BUT BACK WHEN SIM CITY WAS A THING AND YOU CREATE THESE CITIES ONLINE AND PLANNING AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THAT WELL LIKE ARM GAME YOU PLAY WHERE IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR PLOT AND THIS IS HOW YOU MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE ANYMORE.

WE HAVE PROPERTY WITH WETLANDS AND TREES AND HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND EASEMENTS AND GHOST STRIPS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SO IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND THEIR PROPERTY AND SO MUCH COMPLICATED THINGS THAT WE CAN WORK THROUGH AND WE DO.

WHAT I WANNA SAY TOO IS THESE GO THAT FOURTH BULLET AND THAT FIFTH BULLET KIND OF GO IN CONJUNCTION BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS IN UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO DO, LIKE YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU MUST SUBMIT A, UM, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING REPORT IF YOU WANT TO GO DOWN THIS PATH.

AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AND WE CAN LOOK TO REVISE TO MAKE IT MORE FLEXIBLE AND EASY, UM, AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

WE ALSO CAN DO SOME THINGS WITH WORKING WITH THE HPC OF COURSE AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO, IS THERE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE SHIFTED TO STAFF? WE HAVE A HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST NOW WE DIDN'T ALWAYS, WE HAD STAFF THAT WORKED IN CAPACITIES OF THAT, BUT WE HAVE AN ACTUAL HISTORICIST THAT IS HIS JOB TO FOCUS ON THAT.

SO CAN THERE BE SOME, CAN SOME THINGS BE EITHER RECOMMENDED TO YOUR STAFF OR EVEN APPROVED THROUGH STAFF TO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, BE MORE EFFICIENT MOVING FORWARD.

SO ALL OF THIS, UM, I JUST WANNA GET UP AND JUST SAY LIKE, ALL OF THIS WORKS TOGETHER AND EVEN THAT TIERED APPROACH, UM, THAT TIERED APPROACH.

NUMBER SIX, IF YOU'RE TIER SIX AND YOU'RE REMOVED FROM THE LIST, WELL THEN REMEMBER YOU HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF CRITERIA TO GO THROUGH AND YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A STRUCTURAL REPORT TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO, UM, WELL YES YOU DO.

IT IS, IS IT? I WELL THEN YES YOU DO ONCE YOU GET TO THE BUILDING PERMIT.

SO THERE IS THAT.

UM, BUT I'M JUST SAYING LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO IS TRY TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND MAYBE TO HAVE LIKE THAT INITIAL STEP AND WE HAVE TALKED WITH STAFF TO HAVE LIKE THE PRELIMINARY, UM, YOU KNOW, ALMOST LIKE THE PRELIMINARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND NOT TO BELABOR THE PROCESS BUT TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR BECAUSE REGARDLESS HOW MANY MEETINGS YOU HAVE WITH STAFF AND IT'S CLEAR, YOU STILL HAVE TO MEET THE UDO AND GO THROUGH HPC.

SO IF WE CAN MAKE THAT MORE EFFICIENT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE AND CLEAR WITH SUPPORT IN THE UDL, THE SAME WITH THE CONDITIONS THAT UM, HPC OR PLANNING COMMISSION PUTS ON, UM, PERMITS AND APPROVALS.

IF WE CAN GET THOSE CONDITIONS CODIFIED IN THE UDO, IT MAKES IT REAL EASY FOR US.

AND THEN THERE'S, SO ALL OF THIS WORKS TOGETHER.

I THINK IN THIS ROOM YOU HAVE

[05:10:01]

YOU HAVE AMANDA WHO'S DEALING WITH THE HATS AND HAVENOTS, UH, AND YOU HAVE BRIDGET WHO'S BEEN THERE AND YOU'VE GOT ALL OF US THAT JUST TURN IN ON OUR OPINION.

SO I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

I HOPE THERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE, UM, I WANNA SEE THE, I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS I'D LIKE TO, WHOEVER DIDN'T FOLLOW THOSE CONDITIONS TO PROVIDE 'EM AND THE PICTURES AND ALL THAT, THAT ONLY TELLS OTHER PEOPLE THEY CAN DO THE SAME THING.

AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME TO THIS LITTLE ONE DEATH OF COUNSEL, RIGHT? IN THAT SITUATION WE'RE STILL DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND WORKING ON MAKING SURE THAT THOSE CONDITIONS ARE MET AND HOW WE SHOULD ASK FOR THAT NEXT MEETING HONESTLY.

SO ANYWAY, I'M SORRY I JUST WANTED TO CONNECT, HELP ALL THESE WORK TOGETHER AND WE'RE ON MORE DO YOU AMENDMENTS FROM ALL OF THIS? SO, UM, DID WE HIT THE EDIT? SO YOU'RE GONNA GET THAT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUGGESTIONS.

I THINK WHAT I'VE HEARD IS U AUDITS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT RECONSTRUCTION DECONSTRUCTION WHAT YOU CAN DO THOSE THAT ONE, UH, SECRETARY INTERIOR STANDARDS TO THE FOUR TO UM, GET THAT THE VIDEO AND THEN BRING THAT TO YOUR APPROACH, UM, TO YOU ALL AS WELL.

AND THEN ALSO WHAT I HEARD IS WE WILL, UM, INVITE YOU ALL, UM, EITHER ONE ON ONE DO WITH US, UH, TO GO THROUGH A GOLF CART RIDE WITH GLEN AND GIVE YOU EXAMPLES OF WHAT UM, HE ENVISIONS WOULD FOLLOW IN OF THESE TIERS.

AND A DEFINITION OF HISTORICALLY YES.

A DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT IT MEANS DEMOLISHED RELOCATE.

ON UNANTICIPATED CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLY OR WHAT AND A REMINDER OF WHAT YOU HAD MENTIONED IT AT ONE OF HPC MEETINGS MAY BE AT A COUNCIL MEETING, A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IS UP TO US.

THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION HAS TO HAVE CERTAIN CRITERIA TO REMAIN A HISTORIC DESIGNATION.

SO I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO NEAR LOSING THAT PERSONALLY.

BUT IF WE STILL CO KEEP AT A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, ISN'T THAT A CRITERIA AS LONG AS WE KEEP IT A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, WHETHER IT GETS MOVED OR WHATEVER.

AND, UM, CORRECT ME PROMISE, EVEN IF IT'S DEMOLISHED, IT STILL IS.

COULD BE ON THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE LIST, WHICH IT'S JUST THE ASTERISK BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA LOSE THAT HISTORY.

SO, UM, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY LOOK AND ON THIS GETTING OFF, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA REWRITE THROUGH YOU PLEASE REVIEW A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF BECAUSE MATERIALS HAVE CHANGED, TECHNOLOGIES HAVE CHANGED.

OUR UDL WAS WRITTEN FOR WHEN WE WERE APPROVING, UH, LOWE'S PLASTIC SHUTTERS.

WE DON'T HAVE LOWE'S PLASTIC SHUTTERS.

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES MADE.

SO IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A REWRITE OF THE UDL, COULD WE PLEASE MAKE SURE WE'RE INCLUDING OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED PRIOR AND OTHER THINGS THAT COULD BE RECOMMENDED TO MAKE OUR JOB A LOT EASIER.

CUZ WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING TO DO EXCEPTIONS AND THIS AND THAT AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE UDL WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR TODAY.

AND ALSO I AGREE, TALK WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT MORE BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY REQUIRE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING FROM HPC STUFF AND THEN YOU HAVE TO RESUBMIT AND GO THROUGH PROCESSES THAT I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY CLEAR IT FASTER.

WE PUT A DEADLINE WHERE THE U LET'S SAY THAT'S QUESTION, WHEN WOULD THIS WORKSHOP? I DON'T REMEMBER.

WE, SO WE HAD A WORKSHOP AND WE ACTUALLY PROVED SOME CHANGES TO THE U LAST YEAR TO CHANGE THE CRITERIA FOR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.

ONE OF THEM, IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE WAS A LIST OF I CRITERIA AND WE TOOK IT DOWN TO FOUR AND, AND WE REMOVE THE ORS TO ANN'S.

UM, BECAUSE IN THE PAST, IF YOU JUST MET THAT YOU WERE 50 YEARS OLD, YOU WERE A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.

I CAN HELP CHANGE THAT.

CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES.

CONTRIBUTING RESOURCES WANTED TO TAKE ON THEIR HOUSE.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? THE OLD STRUCTURE AND UH, UM, OUR, OH GOSH, WHAT'S HER NAME? SHE WAS HERE.

UM, THAT WAS STAFF AARON WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS BEFORE I STARTED BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER I STARTED WAS WHENEVER THEY APPROVED THE DEFINITIONS AND CHANGE TO THE, UM, THE, THE CRITERIA WAS THEY WERE, Y'ALL WERE DOING THE FIRST AND SECOND READING RIGHT AS I STARTED.

I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME, BUT I REMEMBER GOING TO FRED'S QUESTION, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE ALSO ON, CUZ THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION AROUND PROPERTIES THAT WERE DESIGNATED AND ONES THAT WEREN'T.

AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, UH, WHETHER A WORKSHOP OR MEETING TO LIKE STREAMLINE THAT AND ADDRESS LIKE WHAT REALLY IS HISTORIC AND WHAT ISN'T ABOUT OUR DESTIN SINCE IT'S NOT LIKE A WASN'T A NATIONAL BASE THING, IT WAS OURS AND

[05:15:01]

HERE WE ARE.

SO GET A TIMELINE ON IT.

I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE BY PICTURES AND, AND, AND TELL AND UM, BECAUSE I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE WE WANT EVERYTHING THAT'S SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT THINK IS CONTRIBUTING, MAY NOT BE CONTRIBUTING TO, TO COUNSEL.

WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU ALL THAT INFORMATION AND PRESENT IT IN WHATEVER FORM WE CAN JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

OR WOULD YOU LIKE THAT WORKSHOPS AT A QUARTERLY MEETING OR, CAUSE I THINK WE HAVE IT IN A DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU PRIOR TO DOING THE ONE ON ONE OR TWO BY TWOS TO GO LOOK AT THE, THE TIERS AND, AND AND KIND OF DO THE TOUR OF THE PROPERTIES YES.

TO AND INCLUDE AND LET'S GET A TIMELINE ON IT AND LET'S FIGURE OUT, UM, I MEAN IF IT'S IN THE CRITERIA RE RELOCATION, WHERE DO WE FIT IN AND WHERE ARE THE STOCK WORK ORDERS AND PENALTIES AND REMINDERS BECAUSE WE SURE STOP HOUSING.

HE'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I SEE A LOT OF PAST IN INSPECT FAILED INSPECTIONS.

SO, UM, I'M SORRY, TERRY, MAY I ALWAYS LOOK AT THINGS FROM A TRIAL LAWYER'S PERSPECTIVE AND I LOOK AT THESE SIX TIERS AND I, I'M NOT SURE I COULD STAND UP IN FRONT OF A JURY AND SAY WHAT ALL THESE MEANT.

SO I'VE JUST HANDED GLEN KIND OF MY THOUGHT IS TIER ONE IS IF YOU'RE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OR THE BLUFFTON REGISTER, TIER TWO IS Y'ALL PUT 'EM ON AS CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, MAKE THAT DECISION.

AND TIER THREE IS YOU'RE NOT CONTRIBUTING.

AND I COULD EXPLAIN THAT TO A JURY.

YEAH, THIS WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A TRIAL LAWYER TO STAND UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND SAY, WELL THIS IS REALLY A TIER FOUR AND I'M GOING LIKE, THEY LOOK AT THAT AND GO, I DON'T KNOW.

SO I'M, I'M HAPPY TO, TO WORK WITH, WITH, WITH STAFF AND OUR OFFICE, JUST TIGHTEN IT UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND THEN GIVE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IF IT'S NOT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OR THIS 1996 BLUFFTON NATIONAL REGISTER.

AND MAYBE WE DON'T EVEN NEED TIER TWO.

MAYBE IT'S JUST TIER ONE, TIER TWO IS WHAT YOU PUT ON IT AS CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES.

AND TIER THREE IS NOT CONTRIBUTING.

MIGHT BE THAT SIMPLE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT A HISTORIC PRESERVATIONIST.

BUT, UM, EXPLAINING THINGS TO, TO JURORS OR TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS COMPLICATED THING, YOU EITHER ARE OR YOU'RE NOT.

IT'S KINDA LIKE BEING PREGNANT.

EITHER YOU ARE OR YOU'RE NOT.

SO I THINK WE SHOULD TIGHTEN IT UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

LET'S, THAT'S MY, YOU YOU HAVE TWENTYS OF INTERIOR.

I MEAN, LET'S KEEP IT SIMPLE.

YEAH, THAT, THAT'S GOOD.

LIKE I SAID, IT WAS A FEW BULLET POINTS, BUT I KNOW IT WAS GONNA BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION.

WELL, TO TRANSITION WHERE YOU'RE GOING ALSO THINK WITH THIS GRANT, I'D LOVE, YOU KNOW, THE GRANT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS WHAT WE PAID OUT, WHO'S APPLIED? IS IT WORKING? SHOULD WE BUDGET MORE? COULD IT WOULD, SHOULD HAVE, BUT ALSO HOW DO WE FIGURE OUT THESE HOUSES THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY PULL IN? VICKY WHO I SAW WALKING IN WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE TO ALSO BE ABLE TO SAY, HOW DO WE GET THIS HOUSE, THIS GRANT FOR THIS ON TOP OF WHAT SHE CAN HAVE BECAUSE SHE IS GONNA BE THE KEY TO KEEPING THE ROOFS ON THESE HOUSES UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO DO REPAIRS AND TO KEEP THE TURN MINES FROM COMING IN.

SO JUST KIND OF A GOOD CROSS POPULATION OF IT ALL.

YOU'RE WELL.

THE TRANSITION TRANSITION RIGHT TO YOU.

WE'LL GET ALL NINE BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED AND HAVE THAT READY TO MOVE FORWARD AS OF NEXT WEEK.

THANK YOU LYNN.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS, UH, DISCUSSED AND THINGS THAT WE WANNA LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD, ESPECIALLY WITH NEW PARTNERSHIPS AND PROGRAMS COMING UP.

UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME ACTIONS WE'VE TAKEN IN 2022, JUST I'LL GO THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.

YOU KNOW, ABOUT WORKFORCE, STATE OF MIND, THE CONTRACT WE'VE SIGNED THERE.

UM, DARREN DESIGN, UM, MET WITH THEM A COUPLE WEEKS, UM, JOE IN PREPARATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE AND GIVE AN UPDATE, BUT HURRICANE, UH, MARIE OR WHOEVER IT WAS, UH, CALLED, SHE TOOK CARE OF THAT FOR US.

UM, SO WE'LL, WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.

UH, REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.

WE APPROVED THAT.

THAT'S ONE.

UM, I THINK WE'RE STILL THE ONLY ONES I HAVEN'T HEARD OF THAT HAVE MADE THEIR APPOINTMENT AS JASPER COUNTY AS OF YET.

I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT REPRESENTATIVE'S GONNA BE, BUT THAT'S, WE'LL FIND OUT.

HOPEFULLY IT'S A LOCAL NEXT WEEK AND

[05:20:01]

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, CONTINUING CONVERSATIONS WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS TO LOOK AT FURTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE, NOT JUST THE TOWN BUT FOR THE REGION.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND KIND OF WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

AND VICTORIA'S IN HERE AND KEVIN, UM, JUST THAT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IT'S BEEN ACCESS TO THE POINT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA COME BACK AND ASK COUNCIL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT MORE, UH, PROJECTS WE HAVE, UM, I THINK WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ON FACE WITH WHAT WE'VE APPLIED, WHAT WE'RE APPROVED TO EXCEED THE BUDGET OR BE RIGHT AT THE BUDGET OF WHAT COUNCIL HAS BUDGETED FOR, UM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE, SO, UH, KUDOS TO VICTORIA FOR GOING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PROGRAM'S RUNNING EFFICIENT AND IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS PROGRAM AND THE LOOK TO CONTINUE IT.

SO, UM, CHRIS AND I HAVE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ON SOME ADDITIONAL, SOME LOCATIONS WHERE WE CAN HOPEFULLY TRANSITION SOME FUNDS OVER TO COVER THE REST OF THE YEAR.

BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA BE SOMETHING AS WE MOVE INTO THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, THAT UM, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE, WHICH COUNCILMAN HAMILTON WOULD SIT ON, ARE GONNA BE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF THERE'S NEED TO CHANGE IN THE PROGRAM, THE LIMITS, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, STUFF LIKE THAT SO THAT WE KNOW AS WE GO INTO BUDGET NEXT YEAR, WHAT KIND OF NUMBER WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT TO INCREASE SO THAT THAT PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE AND HAVE THE GREAT SUCCESS THAT IT'S HAPPENED.

HAVING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND TO MAKE SURE OUR HOMES ARE SAFE AND DRY.

SO SOME POTENTIAL PARTNERS THAT WE'VE MET WITH THIS YEAR AND I'VE HAD SOME COUNSEL THERE WITH ME AS WE'VE MET WITH SOME AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE SITTING ON BOARDS WITH SOME OF THESE, UM, TALKING ABOUT BLUFF, UH, SELF-HELP THINGS PROGRAMS. THEY OFFER RENTAL ASSISTANCE, MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, AND THEY CAME IN TO MEET CAUSE THEY'RE SEEING THEIR DEMAND GO UP BECAUSE OF THE COST THAT WE SAW THE INCREASE IN, UH, RENTAL AND, UM, THE RENTAL COST DURING COVID.

UM, JUST REALLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHEN WE SAW THE MARKET RATE GET TI MARKET FOR HOUSING AND RENTAL GET TIED AND THE COST THAT INCREASED THERE.

UM, THEY'VE ALSO IDENTIFIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND KEEP KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AS ONE OF THEIR TOP PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD.

UH, BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY, THEY MANAGE THE, UH, HUD VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY AND THEY ARE WORKING TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF THE VOUCHERS BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT MARKET.

THEY ACTUALLY GOT IT APPROVED AT ABOUT 120% OF MARKET RATES SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY PAY ABOVE TO, TO GET, UM, UNITS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED THAT PROGRAM.

UM, AND THEN THEY ALSO ENDED UP PARTNERING WITH CITY OF BUFORD.

I THINK YOU WENT BY AND LOOKED AT WHERE THEY DID IT ON, ON, WAS IT REVO ROAD, UM, TO ACTUALLY TAKE LAND AND PUT SOME RENTAL UNITS ON IT.

UH, ELCO, B J U C, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS TO HELP HOME RENOVATIONS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IS WE HAVE SOME CAP ON WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND AS PEOPLE COME IN AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT IT EXCEEDS WHAT WE CAN DO, THAT WE HAVE PARTNERS THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM ABOVE AND BEYOND OR ASSIST THEM IN AREAS WHERE OUR PROGRAM MAY NOT, UM, BE ABLE TO WORK.

UM, SOME OF THAT IS ALSO TALKING, UM, WITH THE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVE PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE.

UM, I THINK KEVIN AND VICKY MET WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THEN THEIR GOAL IS TO STABILIZE PROPERTY VALUES, SO THE REMOVAL OF LINE PROPERTIES AND ALSO PREVENT FUTURE FORECLOSURES.

SO AGAIN, ANOTHER POTENTIAL PARTNER IN A WAY THAT WE CAN TRY TO HELP, UH, KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING MORE POTENTIAL PRIVATE, UH, THERE'S SOME POTENTIAL AND ALSO PRIVATE NON-PROFITS THAT ARE WANTING TO POP UP TO ADDRESS THIS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, YOU HAVE, UM, THE HABITAT.

YOU ALSO HAVE, UM, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOW COUNTRY UNITED WAY, UH, NEW AND SAFE SHUTTERS AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

AND THEY AGAIN COULD BE POTENTIAL PARTNERS WHERE WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP SAY, REPLACE A ROOF THAT NEEDS TO BE REPL, UH, THAT THAT IS LEAKING OR IS UNDER, UM, RISK OF LAPSE OR SOMETHING.

THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GO IN AND ASSIST THEM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WHERE THE WATER MADE DAMAGE THE FURNITURE OR CLOTHING OR STUFF LIKE THAT TO TAKE IT BEYOND WHAT OUR PROGRAM CAN DO.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE IS THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.

AND ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS I WANTED TO HAVE IS TO LOOK AT SOME POTENTIAL PROGRAMS THAT WE MAY WANT TO TELL THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND WE WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BECAUSE AS THEY START MEETING, THEY'RE GONNA BE SETTING THEIR BYLAWS, THEIR PRIORITIES,

[05:25:01]

THINGS THAT THEY'RE GONNA WANNA FOCUS ON.

SO AS WE HAVE SOME PARTNERS OUT THERE, THEY NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THOSE PARTNERS AS WELL.

BUT AS THIS BEING A REGIONAL, UM, HOUSING TRUST FUND TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING REGIONALLY, A LOT OF THE THINGS THEY NEED TO BE OR THEY CAN GO AFTER GRANTS AND PROGRAMS THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO BY OURSELVES.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT 'EM TO KIND OF HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AS WE ARE SENDING OUR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD AND THEY'RE GETTING READY TO THE STEERING BOARD COMMITTEE IS STARTING TO TO FORM IS SOME PROGRAMS THAT WE MAY WANT TO REQUEST THAT THEY MAKE PRIORITIES FOR THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.

SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE HOME RENOVATION GRANTS.

THOSE ARE WHAT COME THROUGH, UH, ELCO AND THEY CAN USE THOSE TO, UM, RENOVATE HOMES.

THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE CAN DO.

THEY CAN DO, UM, I THINK THEY WERE CAPPED AT SOMEWHERE AROUND $30,000 PER PER HOME.

SO THEY CAN SPREAD THAT OUT OVER THE HOMES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

UM, REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND MAY BE ABLE TO GO AFTER AND APPLY FOR SOME OF THOSE FUNDS AS WELL.

SECURE RENTAL UNITS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WHEN WE MET WITH THEM IS IT'S TRYING TO FIND PARTNERS THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THEIR VOUCHER PROGRAM.

SO WE MAY HAVE APARTMENTS THAT ARE THERE, BUT THEY CAN'T GET THEM TO COME ALONG AND SAY, WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE YOUR VOUCHERS WHEN THE MARKET IS AS DEMANDING AS IT IS, WE DON'T NEED THOSE BECAUSE WE'RE AT FULL CAPACITY AND WE HAVE A WAITING LIST.

SO IT'S WORKING TO TRY TO FIND WHERE THOSE RENTAL UNITS MAY BE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY SO WE CAN HAVE ENOUGH UNITS TO COUNT TO COVER ALL THE VOUCHERS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

UM, THE OTHER IS THE VOUCHER PROGRAM ITSELF IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR WORTH ENOUGH TO COVER THE TRUE COST OF THE, WHAT A MARKET RENT IS RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY MAY AND THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.

ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, YOUTH HOUSING AUTHORITY IS THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GO UP TO SAY $2,000, BUT THE RENT MAY BE $2,200.

SO THEY NEED HELP COVERING THAT DIFFERENCE TO SECURE THAT UNIT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND MAY BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FUNDS AND HELP FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT, AGAIN, THAT THERE'S A UNIT FOR THAT VOUCHER TO BE GOOD FOR.

UM, ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL IS A DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

WE'RE WORKING ON OUR FIRST, UM, ON OUR, OR NOT FIRST, BUT THE, UM, MAY RIVER A ROAD, THE 14 UNITS THERE COMING UP WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NEEDED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT IS CAN BE A STRUGGLE.

UM, ESPECIALLY IF WE SEE INTEREST RATES GOING UP.

THEY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE MAY SEE THE, THE DOWN PAYMENT REQUIREMENT GO UP AS WELL, SO SOMEBODY'S GOTTA PUT 5% DOWN.

THAT'S A LOT OF CASH THEY HAVE TO HAVE UP FRONT.

SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE WANT THEM TO CONSIDER IT AS WELL.

UM, WHETHER IT'S A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, WHETHER IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE, SOME SOME PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST.

UM, THE OTHER THING IS TO MISS ONE THAT I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT WANT TO GET COUNSEL TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WOULD WANT TO HELP, UM, OR WANNA SEE THEM ADDRESS, IS LOOKING AT AN INTEREST RATE REDUCTION PROGRAM.

UM, JUST KIND OF THROWING UP WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH INTEREST RATES OVER THE LAST YEAR.

THE BEGINNING THERE IS, UH, YOU CAN SEE IT STARTS NOVEMBER 16TH.

SO FROM A YEAR AGO UNTIL NOW, INTEREST RATES WENT UP FROM ABOUT 3% TO ABOUT 7%.

THAT'S MORE THAN DOUBLE.

AND I THINK ON THE LAST I LOOKED, THEY WERE ABOUT 7.25 EARLIER THIS WEEK.

UM, SO AS THAT HAPPENS, THE AMOUNT OF HOME THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD IS DECREASING SIGNIFICANTLY.

SO JUST TO KIND OF SHOW YOU BACK HERE, IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT WHAT SOMEBODY COULD HAVE GOT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AT, UM, SAY A 390,000 LOAN, 1750 AT THREE AND A 5%, THAT'S WHAT YOUR PAYMENT WOULD'VE BEEN.

NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT SAME PAYMENT AT A $250,000 HOME AT A 7.5% INTEREST RATE.

SO WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IS WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD HAS DECREASED BY, UM, $140,000 IN VALUE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY COULD AFFORD TO PAY BASED ON AFFORDABILITY RATES.

UM, NOT ONLY THAT, THEY'RE GONNA BE PAYING A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER AMOUNT OF INTEREST OVER THE LIFE OF THAT LOAN UNTIL THEY GET TO A POINT THAT THEY CAN REFINE THEM.

SO IT KIND OF PUTS THEM AT A, AGAIN, WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO GET 'EM AT HOME, HOME, UM, OWNERSHIP, IT PUTS THEM AT A, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY THE STRONGEST POSITION POSSIBLE AS THEY ARE GETTING INTO THERE.

SO WITH THAT, THERE COULD BE A POTENTIAL OF LOOKING AT DOING A, UM, PROVIDING SOME CALLS TO HELP REDUCE THE INTEREST RATE.

UM,

[05:30:01]

USUALLY IT'S TYPICALLY ABOUT 1% OF THE LOAN VALUE.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOING A $300,000 LOAN, IT'D BE ABOUT THREE, $3,000.

BUT IF WE COULD REDUCE THE INTEREST RATES ABOUT 2%, YOU COULD SEE THAT IT WOULD RAISE ABOUT 25% FOR THE AMOUNT THAT COULD BE AFFORDABLE BASED ON THAT SAME INTEREST.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT, STEVEN? UM, YOU KNOW, ON A 30 YEAR BASIS LIKE THIS? DO WE, I MEAN I UNDERSTAND WHAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE TWO PERCENTS OFF OF THE, ALL THE INTEREST FOR THE 30 YEAR LOANS? SO YOU DO IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CLOSING, YOU CAN BUY A POINT DOWN AND USUALLY WHEN YOU BUY THAT POINT DOWN IT'S ABOUT 1% AND YOU DO THAT UP FRONT AS PART OF THE LOAN INITIATION.

UM, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD'VE TO ASK.

SO A $390,000 HOME, THAT'D BE 39,000 DOLLARS'.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IF YOU WERE TO REDUCE IT DOWN FROM, PART OF THE PROBLEM WE'RE RUN INTO IS THEIR HOME VALUES.

OUR HOME VALUES HAVE INCREASED FROM THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WANTING TO LOCATE HERE IN THE MARKET, UH, MEETING, TRYING TO MEET THAT DEMAND.

BUT ALSO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE BUILDING.

IF YOU TRY TO GO OUT THERE AND FIND A HOME IN BLUFFTON RIGHT NOW, THAT'S $250,000.

IF THAT'S WHAT THE INTEREST, THAT'S THE PAYMENT YOU CAN AFFORD, THEN YOUR SUPPLIES EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY LIFT.

IF WE CAN, IF IT COULD WORK TO HELP GET THAT INTEREST RATE DOWN AND OPEN UP WHAT YOUR VALUE THAT YOU COULD AFFORD IS.

AND EVEN AS US DOING OUR HOME, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL GONNA, PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA HAVE TO TAKE ON LOANS TO MOVE INTO, TO, TO, TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT OUR COST IS TO GET THOSE UNITS DEVELOPED, THEY'RE STILL GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A LOAN FOR THAT.

SO THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE WHAT THEIR COST IS AND HELP MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND THAT'S, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A PROGRAM THAT I THINK WE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING.

IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE ASK THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND TO TAKE ON AS A REGIONAL THING BECAUSE AGAIN, AFFORDABILITY IS NOT JUST US.

IT'S A A REGIONAL ISSUE AND WE'RE PROVIDING THE FUNDS AND EVERYBODY'S PROVIDING FUNDS TO CREATE PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO RECOMMEND TO THEM TO RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENT AS PART OF THEIR PRIORITIES MOVING FORWARD.

LET ME CHIME IN RIGHT THERE FOR THIS EXACT REASON WHY I'VE BEEN PREACHING AND TRYING TO, TO GET US TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAYING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WORKFORCE HOUSING.

BECAUSE IF WE REALLY TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE AND, AND DIVERSIFY OUR COMMUNITY WORKFORCE HOUSING IS THESE NUMBERS BE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, GIVES A WHOLE DIFFERENT DEFINITION TO WHY BLUFFING HAS CHANGED AND WHY WE NEED TO CHANGE WHAT, LET'S SAY WE NEED TO CHANGE WHAT IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE OUR HOUSING, UM, OPPONENT THAT DIVERSIFIES OUR COMMUNITY OR KEEP US DIVERSIFIED IF YOU WILL.

AND AS LONG AS WE KEEP SAYING OF WORKFORCE HOUSING SLASH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ALREADY BUILDING WORKFORCE HOUSING AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M WE GOING TO KEEP MISSING TOMORROW BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO USE, UM, THE TERM THAT IS GOING TO MAKE US, MAKE US BLUFF.

WE GOING TO, WE GOING TO LOSE OUR IDENTITY IF WE DON'T, IF WE DON'T, UM, VALUE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO NEEDS AFFORDABLE LIVING FOR THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

THROUGH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THAT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, HOW CAN WE PUT OF THAT INTO OR LOOK TO PUT SOME OF THEIR, UH, SOME OF IT INTO ACTION WITH THE REGIONAL HAVING TRUST FUNDS SINCE THAT'S GOING INTO PLACE NOW.

YES, SIR.

SEE, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE INTEREST RATE BUY DOWN, TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

WAS IT, WAS IT YOUR IDEA OR WAS IT ONE AN ORGANIZATION OR, I'M JUST, I CAN'T, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY'S PROBABLY DOING SOMEWHERE.

IT IS JUST, I'VE PROBABLY HEARD IT SOMEWHERE, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

CAUSE AS, AS WE, AGAIN, AS AS, AS HEATHER WENT THROUGH THIS MORNING, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WANTING TO WORK ON IN STRATEGIC PLAN.

ONE OF THEM WAS TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FRAMEWORK.

AND THIS IS SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AS WE'RE GOING

[05:35:01]

WELL, LET ME, LET ME SAY SEVEN YEARS I'VE SAT NEXT TO FRED ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

UM, IT'S BEEN FRUSTRATING TO THOSE OF US THAT SIT AT THAT TABLE, UH, TRYING TO MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WORLD.

LIKE IT IS EVERYWHERE.

I MEAN, IT IS EASY WE SAW BY NOW, BUT IT'S NOT EASY NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO.

AND, UH, AND I, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS RECENTLY ABOUT WE GOTTA THINK DIFFERENTLY.

WE GOTTA THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

WE GOTTA LOOK AT ALL THESE THINGS AND YOU'VE TAKEN ALL OF THIS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME AND YOU PACKAGED IT UP.

SO WHETHER IT'S THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND OR WHETHER IT'S VOUCHERS OR WHETHER IT'S INTEREST BUY DOWN OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THESE ARE THINGS WE WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.

SO I FEEL LIKE I NEVER, I FEEL MORE, UM, I FEEL MORE EXCITED THAN I HAVE IN A LONG TIME ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY BE STARTING TO DEVELOP TO HELP US SOLVE SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

THEY WEREN'T ON THE TABLE TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO.

NOW THEY'RE ON THE TABLE AND WE'RE DISCUSSING ALL KINDS OF FACTORS.

AND SO I I I THINK THE OPPORTUNITIES LIE AHEAD OF US AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE ALL OF THIS PACKAGED THE WAY YOU PACKAGED IT.

WELL, AND, AND I WILL SAY THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, AND I, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATION INTERNALLY, BUT IT'S JUST BEEN VERY RECENT, IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS, IS ONE OF OUR, OUR KEY PRIORITIES IN STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO RIGHT NOW WHERE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS KIND OF BEING HANDLED AS IT'S KIND OF A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN THIS JOB, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE IN THIS JOB I'M KIND OF DOING SOME, CHRIS IS DOING SOME, VICTORIA'S DOING SOME KEVIN'S DOING SOME, IS TO LOOK AT TAKING ALL OF THAT AND FINDING SOMEBODY THAT IS, IS THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS AND LOOKING AT THAT POTENTIALLY WITHIN THE STAFF TO SAY, WE WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME FOCUSED A HUNDRED PERCENT OR NOT MAYBE A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT FOCUS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, CAUSE AS WE AS, AS YOU SAW, THERE'S, THERE ARE TONS OF PARTNERS OUT THERE THAT WE COULD WORK WITH, BUT WHERE THAT'S GONNA FALL WITHIN, WE REALLY NEED SOMEBODY.

I FEEL THAT'S WORK BUILDING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, KEEPING UP WITH WHAT UNITS ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE AFFORDABLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS WITHIN OUR, OUR UDO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE APARTMENTS THAT ARE BUILT THAT HAVE TO KEEP AFFORDABLE UNITS.

WE HAVE UH, UH, MAY RIVER CROSSING THAT'S GETTING READY TO GO INSIDE, GO OVER THERE, MAY RIVER NEW RIVERSIDE VILLAGE, NEW RIVERSIDE BUILDING, IT'S GONNA HAVE AFFORDABLE UNITS.

THIS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT'S OUT THERE MAKING SURE THEY'RE THERE ACTUALLY HONORING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE, THEY'RE BEING USED PROPERLY AND ALL THAT.

SO INSTEAD OF SPLITTING IT UP 5% OVER 10 PEOPLE, I'D RATHER TAKE IT AND GET ONE PERSON WHO'S SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME FOCUSED ON THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE PRIORITY, PRIORITY THAT IT GETS.

SAME THING WE'VE KIND OF DONE WITH, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE SAW THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE TO RESPOND TO THE POLICE AND HANDLE CALLS AND BE ABLE TO FOLLOW UP AND DO, UM, KIND OF SOME CASE WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING TO.

WE PUT A POSITION THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

SO AS WE GET INTO THE BUDGETING AND WE MOVE FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU SEE COME FORWARD AS WE MOVE FORWARD, UM, THROUGH BUDGETING AND WE MEET IN OUR, UM, BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND I THINK KEVIN HELP FRED HELP ME HERE.

I, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, VICTORIA HAD THE STATE, I FORGET THE LADY'S NAME, A FEW MONTHS AGO.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, PARDON ME.

THAT WAS, THAT WAS EYEOPENING.

UM, THAT'S, I WAS BLOWN AWAY BY ALL THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID SAY TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

BUT IF I HELP ME HERE.

WERE YOU, YOU WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING ELSE AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT OR NOT? I CAN'T REMEMBER.

WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING IS, IS IS COMING IN FRONT OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE TO IN ESSENCE KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE, WORKSHOPPING, OKAY.

SOME OF THESE ITEMS TO THEN BRING BACK TO THIS BOARD, UM, MORE REFINED AS, UH, EVENTUALLY UPDATING THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.

UH, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE BUY DOWN, THE, THE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, YOU KNOW, THOSE WILL TAKE FUNDING.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED FUNDING SOURCES FOR THAT.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A STEP BY STEP PROCESS.

UM, AND THEN THE BUY-IN CAN BE FOUR COMMITTEE WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP.

YOU, YOU, YOU HAVE ALLOWED ME TO WORK CLOSELY WITH VICTORIA AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THIS NEW PERSON AND I, I TAKE SOME, SOME CREDIT FOR THE GOOD WORK THAT VICTORIA'S DOING, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT SHE PUT

[05:40:01]

HER HEART AND SOUL IN THIS.

SO THIS NEW PERSON WITH THE, SHE WORK WITH VICTORIA, UM, BECAUSE VICTORIA HAS REALLY BLOSSOM IN THIS, IN THIS PROCESS THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

SO THAT'S SOMEBODY GONNA WORK WITH HER CUZ I WOULD HIT TO REINVENT THE WHEEL AGAIN.

THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE WERE HAVING IS HOW THAT WOULD BE SET UP.

AND AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT IT TO DO ANYTHING CONFLICT WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

WE WANT IT TO BUILD AND SUPPORT AND GROW WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW AND ALSO WORK TO BUILD AND TAKE A FRAMEWORK THAT WE PUT INTO PLACE AND HAVE WITH THE PARTNERS, WITH THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, WE'RE DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AND SHE'S SAID IN THE BEGIN WITH, SHE'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT CHRIS HAS HAD TO DIG THROUGH AND TRY TO FIND MONEY TO HELP THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

UM, CONTINUE PAST, UH, I THINK FEBRUARY ONCE WE GET DONE WITH WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE NOW, UM, CAUSE THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REACHED THAT POINT WITH THIS PROGRAM.

SO IF I'M ASKING SOMETHING THAT WAS ASKED TO SHUT, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T FIND IT, BUT YOU SAID NOW SO MANY PEOPLE ARE KIND OF TOUCHING IN, ISN'T THERE THERE A SHORT TERM WHEN YOU HAVE TWO DEPUTIES? ISN'T THERE A SHORT TERM TO FIGURE OUT WHO THAT POINT PERSON IS UNTIL YOU DO IT? SO IT'S CHRIS DIGGING UP HER MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS YOU WOULD EVEN GO TO UNLESS YOU WANT US ALWAYS GO TO VICTORIA, WHICH WE KIND OF ALWAYS DO.

SO MAYBE THAT'S A SUGGESTION AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, UM, IS IT'S JUST BEEN LIKE I MET WITH, UM, HAMILTON AND COUNCIL WOOD WITH ELCO AND, AND THEY THEN HAD THE STATE COME IN AND IT JUST, I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE, YEAH, WE'VE GOT TO SPREAD, WE'RE SPREAD THIN MM-HMM.

SO, UM, ONE OF THOSE THINGS, AND THIS IS, THIS IS MY OPINION AND I'M, YOU KNOW, COUNSEL WILL TELL ME WHETHER IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG AS WE MOVE FORWARD MM-HMM.

IS THAT WHEN SOMETHING REACHES A CERTAIN PRIORITY AND WE HAVE IT SPREAD SO FAR OVER THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME YOU NEED ONE PERSON THAT'S THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS AND NOT JUST, UM, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THIS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

IT'S A PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON, IT'S GONNA CHECK OFF AND THEN WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

THAT'S SOMETHING AGREED LIKE YOU CAN DO IN THE INTERIM.

BUT MOVING FORWARD, I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GONNA TAKE ALL THESE PROGRAMS, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT MAKING THIS AS AS BIG OF A PRIORITY AS I THINK COUNCIL WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

THAT YOU'RE REALLY GONNA NEED SOMEBODY SERVING AS THAT POINT PERSON WHO IS, LIKE YOU SAID, WHO DO WE CALL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHO TO CALL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

IF YOU GOT TOO MUCH ON YOUR PLATE, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING GOOD.

WELL AND BARELY GET BY.

GET OVERLOADED.

GET RID OF SOME STUFF BEFORE YOU KEEP ADDING ON AND, AND IF AND, AND THAT'S LIKE IT'S HE.

THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND IS TO KIND LOOK AND SAY, OKAY, IF WE'RE, WHAT IS THAT GONNA COST? WHAT'S THAT GONNA LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD? AND ALMOST CREATE A WAY TO KIND OF DETERMINE THE VALUE FOR TRANSITIONING TO AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

AND YOU OVERLOAD 'EM.

AND THEN IF YOU TRY TO TELL PEOPLE TO DO 20 THINGS, 5%, THEY'RE GONNA BE DONE 5% VERSUS PUTTING THEIR TIME AND ENERGY IN FOCUS.

KINDA LIKE THE JOB OF THE TOWN MANAGER.

I KNOW THAT FIVE DEPENDS ON THE DAY.

SO THAT WAS REALLY PART OF THE CONVERSATION WAS REALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP AND REALLY KIND OF OUTLINE BETWEEN WHAT WE HAVE WITH WHAT REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND'S GONNA DO WITH KIND OF THE VISION OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS IS REALLY CREATING KIND OF OUR, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN THAT WE WANT TO PUT TOGETHER SO WE CAN BRING THAT AND SAY HERE'S OUR, OUR PLAN, OUR PARTNERSHIP, HERE'S THE PERSON TO LEAD IT AND KIND OF TAKE THAT INTO THE BUDGET YEAR AND THEN PUSH FORWARD NEXT YEAR.

ANYTHING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE DID NOT TOUCH ON BEFORE WE MOVE ON INTO GREEN INITIATIVES.

SPELL GREEN, RIGHT? BE PERMANENT.

GETTING HUNGRY.

I'M NOT SURE THE DAY IS IMPORTANT FORMAT.

SO, UH, GREAT INITIATIVES.

THIS IS A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH COUNCIL FRAZIER AND COUNCIL WOOD.

WE'VE SAT DOWN, WE'VE GONE, WE HAD, I WANNA SAY IT WAS A COUPLE HOUR CONVERSATION AND TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING AND I TRIED TO LUMP EVERYTHING UP UNTIL ABOUT THREE CATEGORIES.

THOSE CATEGORIES HAVE TO DO WITH OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS.

SO I'M GONNA START WITH OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT AND WHERE THIS COMES FROM IS, CALL IT GREEN INITIATIVES, BUT IT'S REALLY A WAY OF HOW WE CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, AS WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING, AS FRUSTRATING AS IT IS, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE SEWER PROJECTS AND WE'RE WORKING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAY.

WE HAVE WAY PACK AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE RIVER, BUT THIS HAS, THIS GOES BEYOND JUST THE WATERSHED INTO DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO, UM, TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO, OPERATIONALIZE ONE OF THE BIG ONES, UM, IS WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A TRANSITION INTO ELECTRIC FLEETS.

UM, WHETHER THAT IS ELECTRIC VEHICLES, ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLES.

UM, BUT ONE OF THE

[05:45:01]

UM, WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT THIS YEAR FOR PURCHASING TWO FOR UM, I THINK IT WAS INSPECTIONS.

AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE THAT WE CAN, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET ELECTRIC VEHICLE IS TO GO ON TO A LOT SOMEWHERE AND BUY IT.

THE ONES ON THE STATE CONTRACT, THEY WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO ORDER THEM AND THEY CAN'T, HOW LONG DID THEY TELL US IT WAS LIKE 12 MONTHS.

THERE IS NO TIMEFRAME ON STATE CONTRACT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE RIGHT NOW.

UM, SO WE CAN TRY TO GO ON THE MARKET AND BUY ONE AT A MARKET RATE.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS, IS WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING A SMALL SUV FOR LIKE $28,000.

WE'RE TRYING TO BUY ONE THAT'S ON MARKET RATE, THAT MAY BE 50 OR $60,000.

NOW THERE'S A REDUCED COST CAUSE WE CHARGE AND I HAVE TO BUY GAS AND THERE'S SOME REDUCED MAINTENANCE.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IF WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT, WE PROBABLY NEED TO MAKE A PLAN OF IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF WHAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT TRANSITIONING.

AND WE MAY BE ORDERING VEHICLES A YEAR OR TWO AHEAD OF TIME IF WE'RE GONNA TRY TO MAKE THAT.

BUT NOT TO SAY THAT THAT'S A BAD THING.

IT'S JUST THAT RIGHT NOW WITH BATTERIES, WITH THE TECH, AS YOU SAW WITH VEHICLES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET NEW VEHICLES.

IT'S JUST NOT THERE RIGHT NOW.

HOPING THAT CHANGES, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST NOT THERE.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER.

UM, AS PART OF THAT, WE GOTTA HAVE PLACES TO CHARGE THEM RIGHT NOW INSIDE THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON THAT THERE'S NOT A SINGLE PUBLIC ELECTRIC CHARGER.

THE CLOSEST ONE IS THAT.

UM, UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, AND I'VE SENT A COUPLE EMAILS, JUST KEEP IT ON YOUR THING, ON YOUR, UM, TOP OF THE LIST IS, UM, MEETING WITH DOMINION TO TALK ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THEM.

THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR, UH, REGULATIONS TO THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

AND ONCE THEY GET DONE WITH THAT, THEY'RE LOOKING AT, UH, PILOT PARTNERS AND WE SHOULD BE ONE OF THEM.

I'VE BUGGED THEM ENOUGH.

UM, AND THE GOAL IS THEY WOULD TREAT 'EM LIKE THEY DO THE STREETLIGHTS WHERE WE PAY 'EM A MONTHLY CHARGE AND THEY WOULD PLACE 'EM.

AND THEN IF SOMEBODY GOES AND USES 'EM, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD RUN THEIR CREDIT CARD AND THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE CHARGE ON IT.

AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A MONTHLY COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

UM, WE CAN ACTUALLY EVEN PUT AN EXTRA FEW PENNIES PER KILOWATT HOUR.

WE CAN PUT A FLAT CHARGE OF LIKE A DOLLAR FOR USE AND HELP OFFSET OUR COSTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR THAT MONTHLY RENTAL.

WHO PAYS FOR ELECTRICITY TO RUN? THEY DO.

WELL, THE PERSON WOULD PAY IT WHENEVER THEY, SO WHENEVER YOU GO UP AND YOU PLUG INTO IT, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU RUN UP AND YOU PUT YOUR CREDIT CARD AND YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT OR WHATEVER.

I, THERE'S GOTTA BE A METER THAT THEY'RE HOOKED TO AT SOME POINT.

THEY'LL BE THAT IT'S INSIDE THE MACHINE, THE END USER PAYS IT, THE END USER PAYS IT, TALKING ABOUT THE FLAT RATE.

THAT, OR HE'S CHARGING ALL OF US A LITTLE BIT MORE TO PAY FOR IT.

MONTHLY RATE, FLAT RATE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE JUST LIKE HE WOULD DO IT.

ANY, ANY LIKE WE WOULD DO WITH THE, SORRY, WITH THE STREET LIGHTS.

SO WE PAY THAT FOR THE STREET LIGHTS AND THAT, THAT COVERS THE MAINTENANCE, THE SOFTWARE COVERS EVERYTHING THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT UNIT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE ON.

CAUSE EVEN IF WE WERE TO WANT TO PUT 'EM IN OURSELVES, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO PURCHASE THE UNIT.

WE WOULD HAVE TO HANDLE THE PAYMENTS, PUT THE THE WIRELESS TO IT, PUT THE POWER TO IT SO IT MAKES SENSE TO PARTNER WITH THEM AND JUST GOT EYEBROWS.

SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE WE'D BE GETTING THE ELECTRIC SELLING BUSINESS JUST LIKE GAS.

THEY DON'T NEED TO METER EACH ONE OF THESE CUZ THEY'RE JUST TAPPING OFF THE LINE OFF OF THEIR LINE.

THEIR WELL, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAY PARK THERE AND WALK ACROSS TO MARSHAL MAY IS THAT WHAT'S CALLED A MARSHAL MAY, MAYO MARSH, THE ONE RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR, YOUR HOUSE.

SO THEY, THEIR LOCATION HAS TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY HAVE A BOX THAT THEY CAN TIE INTO.

AND SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND WE'VE ACTUALLY, UM, PAT'S TEAM DID A GREAT JOB.

THEY WENT THROUGH AND THEY ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THE BOXES AND LOCATIONS AND THEY IDENTIFIED LOCATIONS THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL LIKE BETWEEN DEOS AND MARTIN FAMILY PARK HERE AT TOWN HALL.

IF WE WERE GONNA TRANSITION TO SOME VEHICLES, WE'VE GOTTA HAVE A PLACE TO CHARGE 'EM.

SO WE COULD LOOK AT TOWN HALL PARKING LOT.

WE COULD LOOK OUT AT, UM, ME, ME, WE, ME AND CHAT.

WE COULD LOOK OUT AT BUCK WALTER AND PLACES LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WE, WITH THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, IT'S JUST, IT'S ALMOST BECOMING A, A SERVICE.

AND IF WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE 'EM IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT AWAY, IF NOT IT'S GONNA BE, UM, LEFT TO BE PUT IN THE PUBLIC OR THE PRIVATE, UH, PARKING LOTS.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S, THERE'S ZERO RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS WOULD JUST BE A WAY TO PROVIDE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY IF THEY WANT TO TRANSITION INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THAT THERE'S A PLACE TO CHARGE.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S, THERE'S NOT AND WE'RE NOT, MAN, WE'RE NOT MANAGING IT.

THEY WOULD BE, MAN, WELL JUST LIKE, I MEAN YOU SAID BETWEEN DUBOIS THE RIGHT FAMILY APART, THAT'S WHERE THE PEOPLE PARK TO GO.

I MEAN THAT'S WHERE MOMS PARK FOR THEIR KIDS TO PLAY ON THE PLAYGROUND AND STUFF, RIGHT? BUT YOU ALSO, PEOPLE WANNA DRAW TRAFFIC TO THERE FOR SOMEBODY DISCHARGING

[05:50:01]

GLORIA MAY HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WHO THAT'S A BUSY PLACE AND IF THEY'RE POPPING INTO TOWN OR POPPING FOR AN EVENT, IT'S JUST ABOUT HAVING THE CONVENIENCE TO OFFER IT AS TO RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS.

AND AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE, LIKE I SAID AS WE TALKED THIS MORNING, I'VE MET WITH TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE.

IF, IF IT IS NOT SOMETHING THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PURSUE AT THIS TIME, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT FROM THERE, LET ME JUMP IN THE CONVERSATION.

EXCUSE ME.

THE CONVERSATION IS DEFINITELY NEEDED BECAUSE IF EVERYBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NEWS BY 2035, A LOT OF THE MANU CAR MANUFACTURERS WILL NOT BE PRODUCING ANYTHING BUT ELECTRIC.

SO THIS, THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY.

IT'S ONLY GONNA BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED.

ANOTHER THING THAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS, UH, YOU'VE GOT THE, UM, FOSSIL FUEL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, LIKE PARKERS AND ALL, ANY GAS STATION AND YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE FACILITIES AT THE GAS STATIONS YET.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE.

AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE ASK AT SOME POINT.

I THEY'VE GOT TO BE DOING SOMETHING CUZ THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE SELLING GAS IN 30 YEARS.

MORE THAN LIKELY OR NOT A LARGE VOLUME.

WELL, IS IT, I'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THIS.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE GOTTA DO THAT WE WENT OVER EARLIER BEFORE WE HAD 20 MORE THINGS ON THIS POOR STAFF THAT'S WORKING NIGHT AND DAY.

I PERSONALLY THINK YOU NEED A FIVE YEAR PLAN OR A 10 YEAR PLAN, NOT GO BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WHEN WE HAVE NOWHERE TO CHARGE IT.

WHY DON'T WE DO SOME PILOT IN A COUPLE CENTERS FOR CHARGING STATIONS.

BUT I WOULD ALSO ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE PLACES THAT HAVE THEM.

AND I HAVE, AND I NEVER SEE CARS THERE CHARGING EVER TINDER.

I NEVER SEE A CAR IN AT THEIR HOUSE.

CAUSE THEY'RE CHARGING UP AT NIGHT OR THEY CHARGE IT THE REST STOP OR SOMETHING.

SO TINDER'S FREE.

UM, SO NO, AND YOU MIGHT WAIT.

SO MAYBE LOOK AT PLACES AND YOU TALKED ABOUT THOUGHT CULTURE.

WELL, DOMINION DOESN'T SERVE THOUGHT QU POUND OF ELECTRIC.

SO ARE WE BRINGING IN THAT UTILITY COMPANY? THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT IT YET.

SO, WELL, DOMINION CAN'T.

UM, SO I THINK YOU NEED TO GET A PLAN AND A BUDGET.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEND $60,000 ON A CAR THAT MIGHT RUN OUTTA GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF POUND BLUFF.

NO GAS.

I MEAN, I MEAN ELECTRIC GAS, THERE'S NO CHARGES HELMET TO CHARGE AND THEN THEY GOTTA LOOK AT CHARGE FOR AN HOUR AND THEY'RE NOT BACK IN THEIR OFFICE BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TO CHARGE CAR.

SO I, I'M LETTING IN ON THE CONVERSATION.

I, THAT'S WHY I, I HEAR FROM TWO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE SUPPORT FOR MAJORITY.

IF NOT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WIDE DAN, MAKE DECISION BY HIMSELF.

WHEN DAN AND I PRESENTED, PRESENTED US, BOTH OF US, UM, WERE HAVING, HAVING CONVERSATIONS AROUND GREEN ITEMS AND IT'S NOT JUST LIMITED TO, UM, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT IT'S MORE SO ADDRESSING NOT WHERE WE ARE, BUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE GOING AS A TOWN.

SO DEFINITELY STAFF HAS ENOUGH.

WE'RE NOT SAYING LIKE, LET'S GO OUT TODAY AND DO IT.

BUT AS WE ARE LOOKING AT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, JUST AS THE PUSH TO PROTECT THE MAY RIVER DIDN'T START TODAY.

THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON.

AND IT'S SIMILAR TO THIS.

WE HAVE TO START GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE WE DO REALIZE THAT CO2 EMISSIONS AND OTHER THINGS OR WHATEVER'S GOING ON IS NOT THE MOST EQUAL FRIENDLY THING THAT WE'RE DOING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

THAT LONG TERM COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE RIVER AND OTHER THINGS.

SO DEFINITELY HAVING SOME TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, PLAN TO ROLL OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD BE GOOD.

BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD JUST ELIMINATE.

LIKE WE'LL NEVER BE THERE.

WE HEARD A CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A A DRONE LAUNCHING PAD.

SO WE DO KNOW THAT WE'RE, THIS ISN'T WHERE WE, WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA BE 20, 30 YEARS AGO.

BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING ABOUT BEING PROACTIVE.

WE SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR THE, WE GOTTA CHARGE SPOT FOR HIM TOO.

BUT DOES GOVERNMENT, I'M JUST GONNA, CAUSE THE COUNTY REQUIRED THEM.

WHY AREN'T WE REQUIRING GAS STATIONS AND HOTELS AND BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THESE THINGS? CAN'T WE DO THAT NOW? WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S REGULATED AT STATE.

WELL, WE CAN'T, THE RETAINER, WE COULD HAVE A UDO AMENDMENT TO REQUIRE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS, UM, INSTALL AN EV STATION.

I WILL SAY MY PAST GLOVES, UM, THERE WAS A NEIGHBORING JURISDICTION THAT DID REQUIRE IT FOR, FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS THEY GOT AT THE HUDDLE HOUSE.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY.

AND WHY ARE WE SENDING MONEY FROM HOTEL PEOPLE? THEY'RE,

[05:55:02]

LET ME, LET ME TELL BACK IN HERE TO PUT YOU AT EASE.

MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHERS.

BRIDGET, PUT THEM AT EASE.

WE'RE NOT SAYING GO OUT AND BUY THE FLEET TODAY OR TOMORROW.

WE NEVER SAID THAT.

AND HE'S NOT INSINUATING THAT.

AND WHAT WE DID IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN BRIDGET AND I MET, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT.

AND WE'VE PREACHED IT FOR YEARS ABOUT THE RIVER, BUT WE'RE ONE OF THE LAST CITIES, OR NOT THE LAST CITY, BUT WE'RE ONE OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE.

AND WE WANNA BE LEADERS IN THE INITIATIVES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

JUST LIKE WHETHER IT'S A DRONE COMING IN OR HAVING ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE 'EM A FEW YEARS FROM NOW.

THAT'S ALL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST LIMITED TO ONE OR TWO ITEMS. WE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT ALL KINDS.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE'S GOT ELECTRIC CAN DRYERS.

THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO BE LOOKED AT TO PUT A PLAN TOGETHER.

THIS ISN'T HAPPENING TOMORROW OR NEXT WEEK.

AND, AND SO I GET YOUR POINT ABOUT WHO SHOULD BE DOING WHAT, BUT THESE ARE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD.

NOBODY'S SAID GO BUY A WE FLEET OF CARS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, IT'S KINDA WHERE IT STARTED.

YOU AND BRIDGES NEED TO STAY OFF TV OR TV.

I I MEAN A LOT OFT LET'S GET SOME OF THIS STUFF CLEARED UP AND THEN WE'LL GO ELECTRIC AND LET'S GET THESE WE GOT BEFORE WE TO, RIGHT.

WELL LET'S EVEN FINISH HIS THING ON GREEN INITIATIVES.

WELL, HE WAS SPENDING FRED, LISA, AND LARRY.

I WAS TELLING YOU WHY WE WEREN'T I M SORRY, ALL THE, LIKE, IF WE ALL WOULD'VE MET, WE WOULD ALL ALREADY DISCUSS THIS.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR TEAM.

UM, SO NEXT IS ENERGY EFFICIENT UPDATES TO FACILITIES.

THIS IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR FACILITIES ARE MORE EFFICIENT.

AGAIN, AS THEY'VE OUTLINED ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSS, PUT 'EM IN A FEW CATEGORIES.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WANT TO GET COUNCIL'S INPUT.

SO AS WE DO PUT A PLAN TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD THAT WE MAKE SURE IT'S ENCOMPASSING ALL OF WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE DONE.

UM, SO WE'RE ALREADY, AS YOU CAN SEE WHEN WE RENOVATED THIS BUILDING, WE WENT INTO FULL ELECTRIC.

WE WENT INTO ELECTRIC HAND DRYER SENSING, POOL SINKS, LIGHT SENSORS FOR OFFICES.

SO, YOU KNOW, DEREK AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE WERE OVER THERE THE OTHER DAY.

THEY HAVE STILL HAVE BULB LIGHTS LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN BE BETTER STEWARDS AND TRANSITION TO REDUCE OUR, UM, UM, ENERGY USE TRANSITION TO LEDS.

WE'VE JUST TRANSITIONED ALL THE BATHROOMS INTO AUTOMATIC DISPENSERS.

UM, SO, AND HAND DRYERS.

SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOOK AT OPTIONS LIKE THAT ON HOW WE CAN LOOK AT OUR FACILITIES AND MAKE THEM.

AND IT'S BENEFICIAL FOR US.

THAT'S BENEFICIAL FOR THE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE IT REDUCES OUR OVERALL COST FROM OUR MONTHLY BILL AS WELL.

SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, DAN HAD MENTIONED, SO OUR COUNCILMAN WOOD HAD MENTIONED WAS LOOKING AT, UH, OFFSET CREDITS FOR OUR OPERATION COST OF OUR CARDINAL FOOTPRINT.

UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE, UM, HERITAGE DOES TO OFFSET.

I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

Y'ALL OFFSET YOUR, UH, CARBON FOOTPRINT AND TRY TO YES, THEY DO.

STARTED ABOUT 10, 12, 15 YEARS AGO.

WE DO HERITAGE GOLF TERM.

THEY MET WITH PALMETTO ELECTRIC YEARS AGO AND WANTED TO OFFSET THEIR CARBON FOOTPRINT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD POLICY TO BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE IT BEING GREEN AS AS THEY DO FIRST TOURNAMENT TO DO THAT.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY I SO YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOUR TIME IS WASTED.

SO, UM, THE, ONE OF THE THINGS IS, THE WAY IT WORKS IS YOU, WE WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS FOR OUR OPERATIONS.

ELECTRIC GAS STUFF, HOW MUCH CARBON WE OFF PUT.

THERE'S DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT YOU CAN GO WITH.

I PUT A FEW HERE, THREE DEGREES HAIR PASS MY CLIMATE AND YOU CAN USE THOSE.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS THEY TAKE THE FUNDS THAT YOU USE TO PURCHASE THOSE CREDITS AND THEY SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE CLEANING, UH, CLEANING WATER SOURCES, PLANTING TREATMENTS, DOING, PUTTING SOLAR FARMS UP, THINGS THAT BECOME GREEN.

INITIATIVES TO REDUCE RELIANCE ON CARBON SO THAT YOU CAN USE, SAY YOU'RE OFFSETTING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT BY PUTTING TOGETHER INITIATIVES THAT REDUCE THE, THE REDUCE CARBON.

IS THAT KINDA CAR YOU WANT BUY FOR THE TOWN FOR ME, MY GRANDSON.

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE CAN AFFORD.

THAT'S IN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET OUR, OUR COMMUNITY DOWNTOWN OFFICER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING CIRCLE ON TOP.

WE'RE GONNA PUT CHRISTIAN IN THAT THE PICTURE.

ADAM THOUGHT IT WAS CUTE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT LITTLE KID'S CAR IT.

UM, BUT THE, UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S A PROGRAM LIKE THAT THAT WE COULD LOOK AT.

AGAIN, THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO IMMEDIATELY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT BECAUSE WE WOULD NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP US.

CAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE WHAT OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT IS.

LIKE DAN SAID, THEY REACHED OUT TO, UM, PUBLIC ELECTRIC.

WE COULD PROBABLY REACH OUT TO THEM FIGURE OUT BASED ON OUR POWER USAGE AND STUFF.

BUT JUST SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT POTENTIALLY BUILD.

DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? NO, I JUST, I

[06:00:01]

I HOPE THIS BODY UNDERSTANDS.

WE'RE TALKING LONG TERM GOALS HERE AND ASPIRE TO THAT AND I HOPE THAT THERE'S SUPPORT FOR THAT AT THIS TABLE TODAY.

WELL, AND AGAIN, WHAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY IS THAT THIS DOESN'T NEED TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITY, BUT BASED ON CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH COUNCIL, I'VE HEARD THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEED NOT COMPLETELY OUT OF THE REALM OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

PARTS OF THE ELECTRIC COMPONENT BULLETS IS 2023.

ESTIMATED THOUGHT TIME.

WELL THAT WAS FOR THE EV ELECTRICS.

SO THAT WAS, UH, THE COLLEGE PROGRAM.

SO, WELL I WOULD, THAT'S TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

SO FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, I THINK WE SHOULD START CELEBRATING ALSO IN ADDITION TO THIS THAT WE ARE DOING IT, WHEN OUR FORMER TOWN MANAGER REDID THIS, EVERYTHING WAS SUSTAINABLE.

WHEN STORM WATER WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, EVERYTHING WAS TO PROTECT THE RIVER.

AND I DON'T THINK WE BRAG ABOUT IT ENOUGH WHAT WE ALREADY DO.

SO I THINK WE'RE THERE.

THAT'S THE NEXT ONE.

AND I CAN'T URGE NOT TO LET GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THESE ELECTRIC THINGS AND LET'S SEE HOW IT WORKS.

AND THEN MAYBE PLAN AND BUDGET THAT OUT AND MAKE DOMINION PAY FOR IT.

NOT CHARGE US IN POUNDED ELECTRIC.

ALSO, GOING BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS, UM, SIDE, UM, STEVEN MARISO NA TO BE LIMITED JUST ON YOU GUYS DEFINITELY ARE ANTI ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

WE SEE THAT.

NO, BUT ON ONE OF THE ENERGY AND FISHING THINGS THAT HE TALKED ABOUT THAT WASN'T NOTED THAT WE WEREN'T DOING BEFORE, THAT SHOULD BE COMMENDED THAT THE TOWN IS DOING NOW IS MOVING FROM THE, UH, PAPER, UM, DISPENSERS THAT WE HAD IN OUR PUBLIC RESTROOMS TO GOING TOWARDS THE ELECTRIC CAN DRYERS, KNOWING THAT THOSE ARE BEING CLOGGED.

PEOPLE WERE STUFFING TOILETS AND STUFF WITH THEM.

SO WE'RE WASTING THOSE PRODUCTS AND CAUSING, UM, YOU KNOW, HOURS FOR THEM TO HAVE TO COME OUT AND REPAIR THOSE.

AND SO IT'S LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING GREEN AND BEING EFFICIENT THAT SEEM, YOU KNOW, UM, MINUSCULE.

BUT OVER, UH, THE, THE LONG TERM THEY ARE SAVING, THEY ARE, UH, BETTER, MORE ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY AND A MOVE AS TO, AGAIN, NOT WHERE WE WERE, BUT WHERE WE SHOULD BE HEADED.

LIKE WHERE WE'RE GOING.

TOTALLY AGREE.

YEAH, I AGREE WITH YOU.

AND I'M NOT SAVING CAR.

SO, AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S ONE THING AND TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

YOU WIN THAT ARGUMENT, HUH? YOU WIN THAT ARGUMENT.

WELL THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

GREEN IS NOT JUST GOING ELECTRIC.

IT'S LIKE WE BETTER BE THERE.

SO OUTSIDE OF OPERATIONAL, THE MARKETING AND OUTREACH SIDE OF IT, AND BASED ON LIKE WHAT THE MAYORS SAYING, WE'RE ALREADY DOING A LOT OF THIS WITH OUR WATERSHED DEPARTMENT AND STORM WATER.

WE'RE ALREADY DOING A LOT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PROTECT THE WATERSHED, TO REDUCE, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THEIR YARDS.

MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING RESPONSIBLE AND STORM DIRECT.

SO WE'RE DOING, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING TO DO A LOT OF, UM, THESE PROGRAMS. PART OF THIS IS JUST MAYBE DOING MORE MARKETING OUTREACH SO PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE WHO'VE COME INTO THE COMMUNITY.

UM, UH, EVEN TALKING, UM, WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS, LIKE REACHING OUT TO THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE USING PROPER CHEMICALS WHEN THEY TREAT AND WHEN THEY'RE CLOSE TO A WATERSHED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT REACHING INTO THE WATERSHED BECAUSE, UM, FUTURE ISSUES DOWNSTREAM.

UM, AGAIN, MAKING SURE WE'RE USING CHEMICALS THAT ARE PROPER WHENEVER WE'RE OPERATING CLOSE TO, UM, A, A PACK OF WATERSHED OR, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S NOT, AGAIN, SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING BUT ALSO, UM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO MARKET AND DO OUTREACH TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

UM, ONE THAT YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THEM, IS LIKE RECYCLING EDUCATION.

WE'RE PUSHING THAT AS WELL TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE.

UM, THEY'VE BEEN COMING TO OUR MOBILE TOWN HALLS AND HANDING OUT THE RECYCLING STICKERS FOR CANS.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HOPEFULLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE BEEN TOLD, HOPEFULLY START PUTTING THE STICKERS ON THE TRASH CANS PUT.

NO, THEY LEAVE THEM ON YOUR DOOR.

OH, THEY LEAVE THEM ON YOUR DOOR? THEY PUT IT ON MY CAN.

THEY STUCK IT IN MY DOOR.

LIKE THE, THE SPRAYING SOMETIMES IT COMES OUT AND MAKING SURE THOSE ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

AND I THREW AWAY THE FIRST ONE CAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A, IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A STICKER.

OH, THESE, IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY, WHEN DID YOU GET ONE? TWO WEEKS? AGOT HAVEN'T TWO OF THEM, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO, TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE OR RECYCLING MORE RESPONSIBLY SO IT'S ACTUALLY BEING RECYCLED AND NOT MAKING IT TO THE LANDFILL.

UM, SO, AND THEN AGAIN WE HAVE OUR REFORESTATION PROGRAM TO DO MORE, UH, EDUCATION ON THAT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING IT MORE, MORE.

UM, STEVEN, QUICK QUESTION ON ONE OF THE EARLY THINGS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT UM,

[06:05:01]

I KNOW WE SPOKE IN OUR MEETING TOO ABOUT, I THINK DOMINION CAME OUT AND THERE WERE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON WHAT THEY USE.

LIKE IT KILLED SO MANY PEOPLE'S, LIKE TREES AND PLANTS AND THINGS THAT DON'T EVEN GROW BACK NOW ANYMORE.

UM, WAS THERE EVER A FOLLOW UP WITH THEM ON HOW WE CAN PREVENT THAT? YEAH, I BELIEVE DEREK GOT THE LIST AND IT, IT'S AN EPA APPROVED HERBICIDE THAT IS EXACTLY TO DO THAT SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE UNDERBRUSH GROWING UP INTO THEIR LINES.

SO IF THERE'S OVER SPRAY THEN, UM, THAT, THAT HAS TO DO WITH APPLICATION.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY OVER THAT.

OBVIOUSLY WE CAN RECOMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

YOU'RE HAVING IMPACTS ON PRIVATE RESIDENCES.

BUT AS FAR AS REGULATING THE CHEMICALS THEY USE, IT'S EPA APPROVED AND IT'S EPA APPROVED AROUND WATER BODIES.

UM, AND THE PROPER APPLICATION IS, SHOULD BE THROUGH THEIR PESTICIDE APPLICATION LICENSE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING WE ALSO REGULATE.

SO WE, WE HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY, I THINK TO AFFECT CHANGE ON THAT ONE.

OUTSIDE OF IT GOES, I THINK RIGHT UP THERE AGAIN, LIKE, UH, THE TREE TRIMMING AND, AND ALL OF THAT EDUCATION ON BOTH SIDES AND ASKING DOMINION TO DO A BETTER JOB.

WELL I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE CONVERSATION OF BEING ABLE TO SIT AT A TABLE WITH THEM.

CAUSE I KNOW THOSE WHO LIVED IN COMMUNITIES, UM, THAT HAD WATERWAYS TOO, TALKED ABOUT SEEING THE DISCOLORATION OF THE WATER FROM THOSE CHEMICALS WHEN THEY SEE OUT INTO THE DRAINS AND STUFF.

JUST HOW, HOW TOXIC IT WAS.

WELL, I'M GONNA SAY THAT, UH, IT IS GONNA, MY FRIENDS WHERE I CAME FROM WOULD PROBABLY SHOOT ME CUZ I USED TO HAVE SPRAYERS AND TREE TRIMMERS AND ET CETERA.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT.

BUT THE ONE THING I, IN TODAY'S WORLD, I REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND.

AND I THINK I SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY ON THIS COMMENT.

UM, DIDN'T GET ANY.

BUT THE, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY SPRAY IN URBAN AREAS.

I MEAN, I KNOW THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO RECYCLE THEIR FIVE OR SIX YEAR PERIOD OF RIGHT AWAY CUTTING.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN AN URBAN AREA AND WE'RE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AND WE TALK AGAIN ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT, THEN YOU GOT ALL THIS DEAD DEBRIS EVERYWHERE THAT'S THERE FOR YEARS.

I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THAT.

SO I, I THINK AT SOME POINT WE MIGHT HAVE TO BRING THEM TO THE TABLE AND HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

MAYBE IT'S MORE POLICY YEAH.

DISCUSSION.

I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S, I DON'T THINK IT FITS.

WELL THEY HAVE TO BE LIMITED TO THEIR UTILITY RIGHT AWAY AS WELL.

IT IS.

BUT LIKE WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE A POLE, A POLE IN OLD OLD TOWN, THEY'LL ROLL AND SPRAY AROUND THAT POLE AND KILL AREA.

YOU CAN SEE IT AT THE CORNER OF UH, PRITCH BRIDGE AND YOU CAN SEE AT THE CORNER OF PRITCHARD DOWN HERE, HERE THEY JUST GO AND THEY, THEY SCRAP IT.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, I, I DID REACH OUT TO OUR COUNTERPART LUCKILY THERE AND EXPRESS HOW IT LOOKED.

HORRIBLE.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME RESIDENTS COMPLAIN CAUSE IT OVERFLOWED INTO UM, THEIR PLANS.

SO THEIR PERSON YARD AND GOT HER IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

BUT ONCE IT'S, IT'S IT'S, WE GET THE TIMING AND WHEN THEY HAVE IT SCHEDULED, LIKE WE DO THE FIVE YEAR CUT, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE NEED.

AND THEN WE ALL NEED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND HAVE SOMEONE, A COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING BE WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY SPRAY.

AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY'RE VERY RUDE DOWN BY COLIN.

THEY SPRAY SPRAY AND IT GOES 20 FEET INTO THE EASEMENT.

AND I JUST THINK THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.

NOT ON OUR PART.

I'M NOT MAD AT US.

BUT UM, SO DO WE GET A TIMING? DO THEY DO IT EVERY TWO YEARS? EVERY YEAR, EVERY SIX MONTHS WE AND GET THAT.

BUT WE, WHATEVER THEY DO TREAT TRAINING, THEY COME IN TO MEET WITH AND DO THE SAME THING ON SPRING.

HAVE GIVE US THE TIME TO WORK ON THAT LIKE AN APP.

CAUSE THEY GIVE SOME OF TREE MM-HMM.

LET'S GET SOME POWER.

THANKS.

UM, YEAH, LET'S GET 'EM TO BURY THEIR POWER LINES.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

MAY BE EVEN MORE INTERESTED IN IT THAN IT WAS.

OTHER ONE IS JUST SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

UM, IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING LIKE RAIN, RAIN BARREL PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO RECYCLE THEIR WATER AS WE HEARD THIS MORNING, THEY CAN USE IT FOR OUR GARDENS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO UM, USE THE WATER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO WATER GARDENS OR PLANTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT MAY, MAY HELP.

UM, AND I THINK WE DID OUR FIRST TEAM GRANT WE GAVE OUT OVER I THINK 150.

WE HAD A LOT OF EXTRA AND I HAD PEOPLE THAT ENDED UP GETTING TWO OR THREE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WAS AS POPULAR AS WE ALL WANTED.

THAT WAS NOT WORTH THE EFFORT.

THE OTHER THING IS TO TO THINK OF IS THAT WE ALSO HAVE, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO IT WAS, BUT JUST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAD FIVE, 4,000 RESIDENTS MOVE HERE AND THEY

[06:10:01]

SO, UM, NOT TO SAY THAT JUST CAUSE IT WASN'T SUCCESSFUL BEFORE DOESN'T MEAN IT WON'T BE.

I WILL PIGGYBACK ONTO THAT AGAIN THROUGH OUR LOWRY STORM WATER PARTNERS PARTNERSHIP FOR MS FOUR.

ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT CLEMSON EXTENSION WILL BE ROLLING OUT IS A COMMUNITY BASED BUILD OWN RAIN BARREL.

AND SO SHE'LL HOLD ELLEN KIMMO, STIR KIMMO IS OUR AGENT.

SHE'LL HOLD SEVERAL BUILDING EVENTS AND WE CAN ENSURE, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD HAVE ONE HERE.

SO FOR FOLKS WHO ARE INTERESTED, WE CAN GET IT DONE THAT WAY AS WELL.

SO THE EWAS RECYCLING THE COUNTY DOES THAT.

IT'S JUST MORE ENCOURAGING CAUSE PEOPLE ALWAYS WANNA KNOW WHERE THEY CAN DISPOSE MONITORS AND TVS.

AND ACTUALLY THE STATE JUST PASSED, UM, A LAW THIS YEAR THAT SAID FOR I THINK THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THEM BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATOR WAS GETTING COMPLAINTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TAKE THEM TO LANDFILLS OR ANYWHERE .

SO THEY KIND OF PUT THAT BURDEN ON THE COUNTIES.

SO, UM, HAVE A FILM WE'LL PROBABLY SEE MORE FREQUENTLY NOW.

UM, AGAIN WE TALKED ABOUT THE SAFE CHEMICALS AND PARTNERSHIPS THERE AND THEN, UM, ONE IS LOOKING AT WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MORE BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS.

WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THIS STRAW STUFF BUT THIS WOULD BE MORE ABOUT ENCOURAGING PEOPLE AND UH, TO GO AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO USE MORE BIO AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF SPACE IN LANDFILLS THAT OUR RESTAURANTS MAY TAKE UP.

AND AGAIN, UM, THIS WOULD BE THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT, NOT NECESSARILY IMMEDIATELY BUT LOOKING PLAN.

SO THAT'S ANYTHING ADDITIONAL THERE THAT MAY HAVE NOT SPEAK TO THE GROUND.

TALKED ABOUT.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT, THAT STARTED BEING DONE AND I'M GLAD THERE HE'S STILL HERE, IS JUST MAKING SURE WE POST THE COUNTY THINGS ARE DOING ALREADY AND DO SOME, GET SOME FREE SPEECH, SEND THE MESSAGE OUT.

AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB.

BUT JUST KEEPING LACK.

AND WHAT I'VE PROFOUND IS AFTER WE MET AND STARTED GOING BACK AND PUTTING SOME OF THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER IS, AND TALKING IS, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THESE THINGS ALREADY.

A LOT OF IT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, MARKETING 'EM AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S THERE.

AND, AND WE CAN, A LOT OF THAT MAY JUST BE MORE COMMUNICATION MARKETING AND MAKING SURE WE'RE CAPTURING, UM, OUR AUDIENCE.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE A PATH FOR US NOT TO BE ON A PLAN OF LOOKING AT WAYS WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT.

CUZ THERE, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING, BUT THEY'RE ALSO THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING.

SO, AND I WOULD ADD TO THAT, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE BLUEPRINT, BLUFFTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE RESILIENCY CHAPTER THAT'S IN THERE AS WE START TO LOOK AT THAT AND IMPLEMENT PORTIONS OF THAT, THAT'LL COME BACK TO YOU IN FUTURE STRATEGIC PLANS AS WELL.

WORKSHOPS FOR DECISION.

UH, WE HAVE ACROSS SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS HERE AT PUBLIC SERVICES COMMUNITY OUTREACH PLEASE.

BRIDGE.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE TAKING THAT SERIOUSLY.

I'M NOT.

I'M VERY SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

I JUST JUMP INTO SOMETHING IN 2023 AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VEHICLES.

I TAKE THE CHRIS.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS, THIS ITEM WAS ON OUR STRATEGIC ACTION ITEM, UH, PROBABLY BEFORE I EVEN CAME HERE.

UM, SO WE, WE SHOT AT IT DURING THE TRANSITION OF TIME MANAGER, UH, LISA AFTER DIFFERENT THINGS, LISA TO COME IN.

UM, SHE KIND OF LOVED THE EFFORT OF COLLECTING A LOT OF OUR PROPOSAL KPIS, PAR HEADS AT THE TIME, UH, DID A GREAT JOB.

AND SO WE MOVED IT FORWARD AND, UH, THIS IS THE PLAN FOR ROLLOUT, UM, NOVEMBER.

UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GREAT.

NOW WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL.

UM, THE HOPE IS TO HAVE THE, UM, THE, UH, THE KPI HAS DEVELOPED WITH THE CURRENT MEASURES KPI IN JANUARY WITH THEM.

PUBLISHED THE WEBSITE IN, UH, ON A DASHBOARD IN FEBRUARY.

FOCUS IS TO HAVE THIS ON A QUARTERLY UPDATE SO WE CAN UPDATE ON EACH KPI QUARTERLY FROM SENIOR STAFF AND UPDATE THE WEBSITE.

SOME OF THE MEASURES WOULD BE ANNUALLY TO WHOLESOME.

HOPEFULLY WE CORRELATE KPI.

SO I'M GONNA GO VERY BRIEFLY TO THIS.

I'M NOT GONNA GO THROUGH EACH OF THE MEASURES, UH, BECAUSE OF TODD.

UM, BUT THEY'RE IN YOUR PACKETS AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, ADDITIONS FOR ME, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW TO REACH ME.

UM, THE GROUP ON THIS, ON THE, UH, STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS.

SO WE HAVE THE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING FOCUS AREA.

AND AGAIN, WE DEVELOPING A KEY.

WHAT DO WE WANT TO MEASURE TO PRESENT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE ACHIEVING OUR GOAL OF IMPLEMENTING ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL, ALL DAY TO DAY.

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY MEASURE IT SUCCESSFUL? YOU CAN SAY THAT, BUT IS IT ACHIEVING OUR DESIRED OUTCOMES? AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE, UH, ALL THE DIRECTORS LOOKED AT WHEN, UH, PROPOSING THEIR, THEIR MEASURES.

AGAIN, COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE.

[06:15:01]

AND EXECUTIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THIS IS BCI.

UH, DAVID DEVELOPED THESE, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS BACK TO YOU ALL.

UM, PUTTING SOME GOLD MEASURES HERE.

UM, THESE ARE ALL FROM HIS OUTCOMES BASED, UH, MEASURES ON HIS, HIS DASHBOARD.

SORRY, WHAT IS THE MBE? UH, MINORITY BUSINESS OWNERS.

E E OWNERS.

UH, I HE WAS ENTREPRENEURS.

A LOT OF US, UH, FINANCE OBVIOUSLY.

SO WE HAVE PLEDGES AROUND BOND RATING AND KIND OF OUR, OUR CERTIFICATES FOR OUR PLANET REPORTING.

UM, WE ALSO HAVE A FOCUS HERE ON, UH, IMPROVING ELECTRONIC, UH, PROCESSING OF, OF, UH, PAYMENTS AS WELL AS THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PROCESS AND BUSINESS LICENSE PROCESS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE THE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY GOALS ON THERE AS WELL.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR POLICY THERE.

INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE ARE KIND OF HOW WE MANAGE OUR CIP P PROJECTS.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.

UM, I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE, AS PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VERY, UH, COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT HOW WE, UH, BUDGET AND PLAN THE PROJECTS SO THAT WE'RE NOT, UH, OVER COMMITTING OURSELVES, UM, IN, IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AS FAR AS TIME AND RESOURCES, THE WATER, WATER SETS, PROJECTS, AND UH, WATERSHED RESILIENCY PRIMARY, THOSE MEASURES FROM FROM KIM'S DEPARTMENT AND THEN THE TOWN ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE.

UM, THIS CROSSES HR, IT, MR. THE COURT PLANNING AND EXECUTIVE HERE.

AGAIN, I, WE TOUCHED ON SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT TODAY AS FAR AS EMPLOYEE, UM, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LIKE THE SURFACE.

CHRIS, BEFORE YOU GO BACK, I DON'T HAVE THIS IN OUR PACKET SO, AND THEN THE AGENDA DIDN'T HAVE A HYPERLINK TO ANY PRESENTATION.

SO CAN WE GET THIS PRESENTATION? THE FRONT OF THE BINDER OH IS SET.

THIS LITTLE ONE THAT SMALL? YEAH.

WE'LL WE'LL GET, WE'LL WE'LL GET IT TO YOU HERE.

UM, FINALLY FOR ME IS JUST KIND OF LOOKING TO THE BUDGET PROCESS HARDLY THAT WE'RE STARTING THE BUDGET PROCESS AGAIN.

I CAN'T EVEN READ THAT.

SO SORRY.

I KNOW IT'S, YEAH IT'S, MY SLIDES HAVE A LOT OF IT.

A LOTS BUT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SHOWING, WE'RE ACHIEVING, WE HOPING TO ACHIEVE WHEN THE .

[IX. Fiscal Year 23-24 Budget Calendar Review]

UM, BUT AS STEVE MENTIONED THE BEGINNING, WE MOVED THE PLANNING UP TO BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS, WHICH I THINK IS ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY BUDGET PROCESS AND IT HELPS ME A LOT UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, SO WE'LL BE GETTING IN MARCH WITH YOU ALL.

UM, THE, THE PROPOSED UH, BUDGET WORKSHOP DATES ARE MAY 25TH AND MAY 30TH, I BELIEVE.

KIM ALREADY FOOT FOLDED.

HOLD THE DATES ON ACCOUNTS FOR THOSE.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BUDGET? THAT'S SHEET.

OKAY, THANK YOU CHRIS.

I WILL SAY A LOT OF WHAT HEATHER'S GONNA TRY TO PROBABLY SUMMARIZE BUT KIND OF SUMMARIZE AFTER EACH TOPIC.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT THERE THAT, SO I WILL UM, WELL IF YOU WANT, I GUESS NEXT AGENDA IS TIME COUNSEL DISCUSSION.

I NEED TO SPEND DISCUSS ALL DAY.

BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE WANNA ADD OR I'LL WRAP UP WITH THE WHAT, UM, WHERE DO WE SEE UH, WHAT COMES FROM TODAY AND DO WE HAVE ANY NEW, AND I REALLY CAUTION TOO MANY NEW ITEMS BE PUT I WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF CARRYOVER.

UM, AND HOW MUCH MORE CAN STAFF TAKE? SO I GUESS THAT'S, THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS, BUT WHERE DO WE SEE IT UPDATED WHERE THINGS ARE SCHEDULED FROM CARRY OVER TO A DATE AND ARE THERE ANY NEW ADDITIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE ON OUR BUDGET? WE NORMALLY GET SOMETHING.

WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE IS, UM, TYPICALLY, SO THIS IS OUR, NOT MIDYEAR I'M THINK OF THE RIGHT TERM ANYWAYS, OUR MID STRATEGIC WORKSHOP NEXT YEAR'S THE BIG ONE.

UM, SO WE DON'T ALWAYS TYPICALLY ADOPT A PLAN OR AGENDA.

SO THERE'S REALLY NO ACTUAL

[06:20:01]

ACTION CAUSE WE'RE COMING AT MIDYEAR.

UM, I HEARD A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU SAID ABOUT UDO AMENDMENTS, HISTORIC DISTRICT, THINGS LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE ALREADY CAPTURED IN THE STRATEGIC ACTION AGENDA.

WE CAN REFINE THAT AND NOW WE KNOW, OKAY, WHAT MORE DO WE NEED TO DO? WHAT DIFFERENT DO WE NEED TO DO? SO, UM, I'LL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT AND JUST DESCRIBE THAT CUZ THAT ONE'S A LIVING DOCUMENT.

UM, SO I'LL MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND THEN ALSO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE NOTES.

UM, HAPPY TO GET THOSE OUT AND NOT NECESSARILY A MINUTE, YOU KNOW, A MINUTE FORM, JUST KIND OF LIKE REFLECT WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER THOUGHTS AND MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I DON'T THINK, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, I DON'T, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING NEW THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THERE.

UM, ALREADY.

AND I APOLOGIZE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS BOOSTER YOU, THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPEN UP, RIGHT? ARE WE ON THE RIGHT WAY? DO WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD OR DO WE NEED TO, RIGHT? AND AND WHAT WE WANT FROM Y'ALL, LIKE YOU SAID IS JUST THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT.

ARE WE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION? ARE WE TOO EARLY? WE NEED TO LOOK, WE NEED TO DO THIS AND PRIORITIZATION.

SO WE TAKE THAT AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK AND LIKE SHE SAID, IT'S ALREADY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS IN HERE AND WE'LL GO BACK AND WE WILL NOW KNOW WHAT DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD TO START CHECKING THOSE THINGS OFF AND IF THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED OR UM, ADJUSTED.

I TOTALLY FORGOT WHERE WAS, SO KIM, WE DO HAVE ANOTHER MEMBER THAT CAME IN.

UM, CHARLIE'S ON OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.

NO THANK YOU.

I DIDN'T MAKE HIM STAND UP CAUSE NO ONE WAS HERE TO HEAR HIM SAY WHO HE WAS.

SO THANKS FOR COMING.

ANYTHING HELPFUL FOR, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

UH, AND THIS MAY LISA HELP ME WITH THIS CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHERE, WHERE TO GO WITH THIS.

UM, AND AND THE COMP PLAN.

I KNOW WE'RE THOMAS TREATED WORKSHOP, THE COMP PLAN HAD MENTIONED MORE WATER ACCESS AND THIS TIES INTO THE TAX THAT JUST GOT PASS GREEN SPACE.

UM, ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT YOU'RE ALREADY MO MAKING MOVES TO BUY DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS IN SOME LOCATIONS.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING MORE ON OUR SIDE TO TALK WITH THE COUNTY? YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE ANOTHER, UH, PARK DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE IN THE TOWN.

UH, THE COUNTY WOULD BUY A PARK ON THE WATER SOMEWHERE WHERE ALL THE CITIZENS OF THIS AREA, UH, THE TOWN AND THE REGION RIGHT HERE, UH, LIKE WE HAVE AT THE WRIGHT FAMILY PARK AND THEN THE DEVELOPMENT STUFF.

HOW ARE WE GONNA HEAR FROM THEM? I, I DON'T KNOW.

THEY GOT THIS MONEY.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WHERE, WHAT, WHERE DO WE FIT INTO THEIR PIE? I KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T.

WELL, BUT YOU KNOW, STILL YOU TALK NOW BEFORE THEY GET IT, BEFORE THEY GO SPEND IT.

WELL THEY'RE ALREADY, WE MAKE PAST, PAST BONDING IN AND THEN COLLECT AND GOING OUT AND GETTING A BOND AND THEN PAY THE BOND WITH THE PENNY THAT WAS ON THE, ON THE UM, BALLOT.

SO THEY ARE GONNA GET THE MONEY PRETTY SOON.

SO AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND THEN THEY'LL PAY, THEY'LL GET A BOND FOR A HUNDRED MILLION, THEN THEY'LL PAY THE BOND WITH THE KIDS.

YOU SEE TAX? YEAH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.

I ALWAYS KIND OF, I WAS TOLD TO STEVEN LIKE, WHAT IS, WHERE DOES THE TOWN FIT IN? IT'S CLEAR THE TOWN ISN'T GONNA HAVE A MEMBER ON THE COMMITTEE.

IT'S GONNA BE THEIR DISTRICTS ARE GONNA PICK SOMEBODY LIKE MARK WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR DISTRICT.

IT'S THE WAY I THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO IT.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? YOU TALKED TO GARY.

WELL I, I'VE EMAILED HIM GONNA TRY TO FIND TIME TO TOUCH BASE WITH HIM AND ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

BUT, UM, THE, RIGHT NOW THE QUESTION I KIND OF HAVE HAD FOR HIM FOLLOWING UP WITH, SO WHAT, UM, COUNCILMAN WOOD REFERRING TO IS DURING THEIR, UM, ONE OF THEIR COMMITTEES, THEY MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS OF THE TARVER TRACK, WHICH IS A HUNDRED ACRES JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN ON MAY RIVER ROAD.

SO MY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS I HAD TO HIM WAS LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FROM THE TRACK? ARE THERE ANY, CAN THE OWNERS DO ANYTHING? IS IT GONNA, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT'S THAT GONNA LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD? IS THERE GONNA BE ANY COVENANTS ON THAT? STUFF LIKE THAT.

CAUSE I THINK CRITICAL LANDS ARE BUYING THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS.

UM, SO I'M GONNA FIND A TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.

THE OTHER THING IS I WANNA KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAYING FOR THEM SO WE CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT A DEVELOPMENT, WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO PAY OR WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS COST.

SO WE CAN START LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTY AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED PROPERTY THAT WE MAY BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING FOR SOME OF THESE.

THESE UH, LIKE WE KEEP A RUNNING LIST OF PROPERTY THAT WE MAY BE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING.

MAYBE SOMETHING WE CAN PASS TO HIM AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE THIS FOR IT REMAIN GREEK SPACE.

USE YOUR PROGRAM TO DO

[06:25:01]

SHOULD WE BRING, NOT JUST, IT'S A QUESTION.

SHOULD WE BRING OUR TWO LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES IN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR? UH, TO BE SURE THAT MESSAGE DOESN'T GET LOST.

MAYBE BECAUSE OUR TWO, OUR TWO REPRESENTATIVES LIVE IN THIS AREA AND THEIR HEART SHOULD BE WHERE OUR HEART'S AT AS FAR AS THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING NOW.

WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER WATER ACCESS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, NO, YOU KNOW, NO BOATS JUST ACCESS AND UH, ALL THESE OTHER ITEMS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE.

CAUSE I THINK MS. TABERNAC IS THE NORTH SIDE OF MAY.

RIVER ROAD RIGHT THERE AT NEW RIVERSIDE.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE HER YEAH, SHE HER AREA.

SO WE HAVE THREE, SHE REPRESENTS YOU REPRESENTATIVES THAT REPRESENT SOME PART OF LEFT AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO THE CHAIRMAN.

THAT WAS THE NEW AREA THAT WAS CREATED.

YOU AND THE TOWN MANAGER AND OR WE CAN BRING THEM IN AND HAVE A, I THINK WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.

MAYBE THEY COULD COME TO A WORKSHOP THAT'S JUST, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE IT'S A GOOD JOINT MEETING.

JUST TO CHAT KIND OF LIKE THIS NOTE OFFICIAL JUST TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS AND OUR THOUGHTS.

CAUSE I'D RATHER Y'ALL BE NO, I MEAN IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE BEST IF ALL OF US SIT, HEAR ALL THIS TOGETHER.

I AGREE WITH ALSO HAVE OUR FIVE MONTH MEETING COMING UP WITH THEM SHORTLY AND WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT MAY BE THE BEST WAY TO FINE FOR JUST AN ADDED WORKSHOP SOMEWHERE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE QUARTERLY ONE.

I MEAN NO, LET'S DO I THINK HAVING AFTERNOON BRINGING IN.

I THINK SO TOO.

I THINK THAT'S, WE GOT A SEWER ISSUE WITH THE STONY CREEK THING TOO THAT WE NEED TO GET DONE TO HELP US WITH BE DONE IN JANUARY.

WE HAVE A QUARTERLY WORKSHOP IN JANUARY.

AS LONG AS IT'S JUST NOT TAGGING ON TO OTHER THINGS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S LONG.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S, LET'S LOOK AND MAYBE THAT'S JUST A GOOD MEETING AND WE CAN PUBLIC, I'M, I'M PUBLIC HOMES.

I MEAN THEY'RE REPRESENTING ALL OF US.

WE JUST REPRESENT THE TOWN PORTION OF ALL OF US.

SO, UM, JANUARY.

I MEAN THEY WANT EVEN HAVE THEIR COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER BEFORE THEN.

WELL WE DON'T, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T NEED IT.

I MEAN WE'RE JUST TRYING TO LOBBY OUR THREE REPRESENTATIVES TO GET THEM ON THE, HOPEFULLY WE GO GET ON THE SAME PAGE WITH US IF, UM, TRAINING.

BUT IT WAS DAVID DAVID'S HAND RAISED RIGHT BESIDE YOU AND IT LOOKED LIKE YOUR HAND WAS RAISED.

UM, I'M JUST THINKING WE COULD ALSO DO IT MAYBE AFTER A SO LOCO MEETING.

I'M JUST TO KEEP YOU FROM ANOTHER NIGHT MEETING.

IF WE COULD ALL COMMIT AS MANY OF US COME TO SO LOCO ONE MEETING AND ASK THE THREE OF THEM TO COME AT SOME POINT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER.

I THINK I'M OUTTA TOWN FOR THE NEXT ONE, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.

NO, I MEAN JANUARY.

JANUARY, OKAY.

UM, ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOU STEVEN? I, I THINK THIS WAS GOOD AND HEALTHY.

I LOVED, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE HAD A JOINT WORKSHOP WITH PLANNING AND HPC CAUSE WE HAD BOTH THE CHAIRS AND I THINK IT, IT'S, AND UM, I THINK Y'ALL ARE DOING A LOT OF WORK, SO PLEASE KNOW WE'RE NOT ADDING MORE.

WE JUST WANNA START SEEING THINGS MOVE FROM, FROM GOING TO COMPLETE IT SO YOU HAVE LESS THINGS TO DO AND GET YOUR CHAIRS IN LINE TO STREAMLINE THINGS SO IT'S NOT AS FRUSTRATING.

AND REPEAT MEETINGS.

AND, UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR ALL YOU DO OUR HARD QUESTIONS AND FRUSTRATIONS, BUT UM, PLEASE KNOW WE GET ALL, WE GET IT BEAT UP AND WE'LL TAKE THE MEETING BUT WE JUST DON'T WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL DOING EVERYTHING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.

ONE FINAL THING, PROMISE IS POSITIVE THANKSGIVING LUNCH TOMORROW AT ROTARY CENTER.

IF YOU'RE COOKING AND BRINGING SOMETHING, MAKE SURE YOU GET IT THERE EARLY.

OH EIGHT TO NINE AND IF IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HOT, BRING IT HOT, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M NOT BAKING YOUR FOOD FOR YOU.

ALRIGHT.

BRING, BUT IF YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO BRING FOOD, IT NEEDS TO BE THERE BEFORE 9:00 AM BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE.

IF YOU DID VOLUNTEER TO BRING FOOD, BRING YOUR APPETITE.

CAUSE THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF FOOD TO EAT.