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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.[1. Call to Order]
LIKE TO CALL THIS, UH, MEETING TO ORDER.UM, I'D LIKE TO CALL THE JANUARY 17TH, 2023 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.
KRISTA, ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, SIR, WE ARE.
WILL YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? MR. BROWN? HERE.
IF YOU WILL STAND AND SET THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND CONTINUE STANDING FOR THE, FOR THE PRAYER PLEDGE ALLEG, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.
DEAR GOD, I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TODAY.
LORD, YOUR WORD SAYS THAT YOU ESTABLISH GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.
AND SO I PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR EACH OF THE MEN AND THE WOMEN WHO ARE BEFORE ME TODAY.
GOD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD BRING UNITY IN ALL OF THEIR DISCUSSIONS AND APPRECIATION FOR EACH OTHER'S DIVERSE TALENTS AND EXPERIENCES, AND FOSTER AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE.
I ASK THAT YOU WOULD PUT YOUR SPIRIT ON, IF NOT IN THEM, TO GRANT WISDOM AND GUIDANCE FOR THE BEST DECISIONS, THAT THEY WOULD STAND OUT FROM ALL OTHER OPTIONS UNDER THEIR SERVICE.
FURTHER PROSPER HILTON HEAD AS A WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION, AND A PLACE TO CALL HOME WITH AN EYE ALWAYS ON THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS.
I ASK THAT YOU PROTECT AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY CARE FOR US.
DEMONSTRATE YOUR GOODNESS TOWARD THEM IN THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR PRIVATE LIVES AS THEY DILIGENTLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY THIS TODAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
[6. Approval of the Minutes]
THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.WE HAVE THE REGULAR MEETING FROM DECEMBER 6TH, 2002, AND THE WORKSHOP OF JANUARY 3RD, 2023.
MOVE TO APPROVE AS, UH, SECOND, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[7. Report of the Town Manager]
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER, MARK.NOW, UH, I WAS GOING TO SAVE BOTH MINUTES AT THE SAME TIME.
ALRIGHT, THAT WAS THE INTENTION.
GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, JUST ONE ITEM OF INTEREST AND THEN WE HAVE A, A FEW UPDATES FOR EVERYBODY TODAY, JANUARY 24 AND 25, WHICH IS ALREADY NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BY MY MATH.
WE HAVE A TOWN COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP OVER A PERIOD OF TWO DAYS.
IT'S LOCATED AT THE WESTON CHRISTO.
THE STARTING TIME IS EIGHT 30 GATHERING AND A 9:00 AM SHARP STARTING TIME.
IT WILL BE, OF COURSE, IN PERSON AT THE WEST END AND ALSO, UH, AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING, UM, ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
SO, AND WITH THAT, I'LL CALL UPON LARRY FINNEY, PARTNER WITH GREEN FINNEY COLLEY, UH, TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2022.
THANK YOU, MR. ORLANDO, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SAY UPFRONT, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE, THE LAST YEAR OF OUR CONTRACT WITH WORKING WITH THE CITY.
UM, NOT ONLY HAVE WE SEEN IN THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THAT IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT YOU ALSO JUST HAVE SOME GREAT FINANCE STAFF.
THEY'VE BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH, UM, AND JUST HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
UM, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS, IS REALLY TWO THINGS WITH THIS BRIEF PRESENTATION.
ONE IS TO TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT AND THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT ITSELF, AND THEN ALSO TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW IN TERMS OF THE TOWN'S, UH, FINANCIAL CONDITION AFTER THE AUDIT.
SO, UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
SO THE, I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE IN JUST A MINUTE, BUT THE END RESULT OF OUR AUDIT IS THE OPINIONS THAT WE ISSUE.
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BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO THE NUMBERS AND LOOKS AT THE NUMBERS.HOW ARE WE DOING? THE OTHER THING THAT WE LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF AS A COUNCIL AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT, IS WHAT'S BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE.
AND THAT'S THE INTERNAL CONTROLS, PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, UM, THAT ARE REALLY JUST AS IMPORTANT.
UM, AND THE REASON IS THERE'S, THERE'S ALWAYS RISK CUZ THERE IS NO PERFECT INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEM.
AND SO THE IDEA OF MAKING SURE THAT ALL THOSE CONTROLS, PROCESSES, AND PROCEDURES ARE OPERATING AS WE PLAN FOR 'EM TO, TO REALLY REDUCE AND MINIMIZE THAT RISK IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHAT WE ENCOURAGE, NOT ONLY COUNCIL, BUT MANAGEMENT TO DO IS WHAT WE CALL REGULAR RISK RISK ASSESSMENT.
AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE OPERATING AND ARE, ARE THERE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT AND ASKING QUESTIONS.
SO WITH THAT, WHAT YOU THEN ASK US TO DO IS TO PERFORM OUR AUDIT.
THE RE THE PURPOSE, THE END PURPOSE OF, UH, OF OUR AUDIT IS THE OPINIONS THAT WE ISSUE.
UM, AND GOT A FEW COMMENTS THERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE AUDIT DOES, WHAT IT DOES NOT DO.
UM, BUT THAT OPINION IN THE END, WHAT IT'S DOING IS PROVIDING REASONABLE ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING IS MATERIALLY CORRECT.
AND SO FOR THE YEAR END OF JUNE 30TH, 2022, THE TOWN HAS RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, BUT THAT'S THE BEST OPINION THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF ENTITY YOU'RE, YOU ARE, YOUR GOAL IS TO RECEIVE THAT UNMODIFIED OPINION.
SO COUNCIL OUGHT TO BE VERY PLEASED WITH THAT.
UH, MANAGER ORLANDO, AS WELL AS THE FINANCE STAFF, AGAIN, THEY'VE, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
SO WITH THAT, LET ME KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHERE THE TOWN WAS AS FAR AS ITS FINANCIALS AT LAST YEAR END.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU WERE TO TALK TO ANYBODY THAT IS IN THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE WORLD, AND YOU WERE TO ASK THEM IF YOU COULD ONLY LOOK AT ONE THING FINANCIALLY TO SEE HOW A TOWN IS DOING, WHAT WOULD YOU LOOK AT? THEY WOULD TELL YOU GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE ALWAYS START WITH THIS.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE YOUR FUND BALANCE INCREASED ABOUT 3.4 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER 29 MILLION IN TOTAL.
MOST OF THAT 26.7 MILLION IS COMMITTED FOR YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THAT'S FANTASTIC TO BE AT THAT POINT.
IT REPRESENTS 55% OF WHAT YOU HAVE FOR THE 23 BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
SO YOU'VE, YOU'VE MADE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT, UM, TO BUILD THAT BACK UP.
SO WHAT THAT LEAVES US WITH IS AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF ABOUT 2.3 MILLION.
YOU KNOW, ABOUT 5.4% OF WHAT YOUR 22 EXPENDITURES ARE.
G F O A IS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND IT'S A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT MAKES SOME KIND OF GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU CAN SEE YOUR PERCENTAGE IS QUITE A BIT LOWER THAN THAT.
NOT A CONCERN ON OUR PART AT ALL.
AND THE REASON IS, IF YOU REALLY NEEDED MORE, YOU CAN GO TO THAT DISASTER RECOVERY FUND AND, AND MOVE IT BACK.
AND SO JUST HAVING EVEN A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS THERE IS VERY ADEQUATE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.
UM, AND JUST AS KIND OF A REMINDER ABOUT WHY A, A GOOD HEALTHY FUND BALANCE IS SO IMPORTANT, A NUMBER OF THINGS THERE.
THE, THE MAIN THING I LIKE TO POINT OUT IS JUST REMEMBERING THAT WHEN WE MEASURE THIS AT JUNE 30TH, UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT GOING ABOUT FIVE TO SIX MONTHS BEFORE YOU'RE GONNA RECEIVE ANY MORE SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
SO THAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER REVENUES IS WHAT, WHAT HELPS CARRY YOU THROUGH.
SO HOW'D WE GET THERE? UM, YOU CAN SEE YOUR, YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES WERE ABOUT 44 MILLION LITTLE 5.7 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU HAD IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND 8.8 MILLION BETTER THAN BUDGET.
AND PROBABLY THE, THE MAIN THING I WANT TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF THAT'S RELATED TO THE BUSINESS LICENSES AND FRANCHISE FEES, AND IF YOU REMEMBER, YOUR OLD CODE JUST REQUIRED TO LICENSE IF THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE RENTAL UNIT.
NOW THE NEW ONE, EVEN IF THERE'S ONE RENTAL UNIT.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A, A GOOD PIECE OF WHY THERE WAS A, AN INCREASE THERE.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT GOING FORWARD AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, UM, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU CAN SEE ABOUT LITTLE OVER 43 MILLION, UH, ABOUT 2 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHERE YOU WERE IN THE PRIOR YEAR, BUT ABOUT A MILLION LESS, UM, THAN WHAT YOU'D BUDGETED.
SO END RESULTS, REALLY THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, RIGHT? REVENUE'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN BUDGET EXPENDITURE'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER THAN BUDGET, SO ANOTHER GOOD YEAR.
UM, WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF YOUR FUNDS TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY GENERAL FUNDS THE MAJOR FUND, THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER FUNDS, BUT YOU CAN SEE YOUR TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER FINANCING SOURCES WERE ALMOST 114 MILLION.
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YOUR EXPENDITURES WERE QUITE A BIT LESS, AND PART OF THE REASON THEY WERE QUITE A BIT LESS IS BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT GOT DELAYED.UM, AND YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE THOSE CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE.
UM, STORM WATER FUND, YOU CAN SEE HAD AN INCREASE IN YOUR NET POSITION OF ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, 10.5 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENED AS FAR AS OPERATING REVENUES WERE PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIOR YEAR.
UM, YOUR EXPENDITURES DECREASED QUITE A BIT BECAUSE OF SOME REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE DECREASES.
UM, THE ONE THING I WOULD MENTION HERE, AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY REAL RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HAVE, UM, FOR COUNCIL MANAGEMENT TO CONSIDER, IS MAYBE LOOKING AT DOING A RATE STUDY WITH THE STORM WATER FUND.
AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE REASON THAT THAT COULD REALLY BE HELPFUL IS THAT WHAT A RATE STUDY'S GONNA DO IS THIS.
GONNA LOOK AT SHORT TERM, IT'S GONNA LOOK AT MEDIUM TERM AND IT'S GONNA LOOK AT AT LONG TERM.
AND IT'S GONNA LOOK AT NOT ONLY YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA LOOK AT YOUR, YOUR SHORT TERM, MEDIUM TERM, AND LONG TERM CAPITAL NEEDS AS WELL.
AND THAT ALL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR RATES.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS AS YOU GO FORWARD.
UM, JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CAPITAL ASSETS, NOT, NOT A, A LOT OF ACTIVITY, BUT YOU CAN SEE YOU'VE GOT NET OF ABOUT 290 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR THE YEAR.
AND IT WENT DOWN THIS YEAR JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR DEPRECIATION EXPENSE WAS HIGHER THAN, THAN WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU ADDED TO YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS, YOUR LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS.
YOU CAN SEE 110 MILLION WENT DOWN PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF YOUR ONGOING, UM, TYPICAL PRINCIPLE PAYMENTS.
UM, THE ONE THING I ALWAYS LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT NET PENSION LIABILITY, YOU CAN SEE IT'S, IT'S ALMOST 16 MILLION WHEN YOU FIRST OPEN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
ONE OF THE FIRST, IN THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT YOU WILL SEE, YOU'LL GONNA, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT LIABILITY OF $16 MILLION SAYING, WHAT IS THAT? HOW, HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GONNA PAY THAT? AND IN REALITY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
UM, WHAT THAT REPRESENTS IS YOUR NET PORTION OF THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT EXISTS AT THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
IT'S THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT UNFUNDED PIECE.
SO AS LONG AS YOU ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS TO THE SYSTEM JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS HAVE, YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN AND SHOULD BE, JUST KNOW AS HISTORICALLY THEY'VE DONE, ONE OF THE PRIMARY WAYS THAT THEY'RE GONNA DEAL WITH THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE RATES, UM, THAT YOU AS A TOWN PAY IN.
SO THAT JUST HAS A BUDGET IMPACT GOING FORWARD.
UM, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT REALLY TO DEAL WITH EITHER THIS YEAR OR WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT YEAR.
THERE WAS A NEW GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS ON LEASES THAT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE TOWN.
THERE'S SOMETHING SIMILAR NEXT YEAR WITH, UM, SOFTWARE RELATED, UM, IT ARRANGEMENTS.
UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN WILL LOOK AT ADDRESSING THE YEAR, THE FISCAL YEAR WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
BUT THAT'S REALLY IT GOING FORWARD.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, IF THE TOWN RECEIVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY ASKED US TO PERFORM SOME WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN IS COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THIS YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF THE FUNDS YOU RECEIVED, WE LOOKED AT YOUR COM CORONAVIRUS, STATE AND LOCAL, UM, FUND ACTIVITY, NO ISSUES, NO COMPLIANCE MATTERS.
UM, EVERYTHING'S, EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT IN THAT REGARD.
UM, WE ALSO, THE OTHER DOCUMENT THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM US IS WHAT WE CALL A MANAGEMENT LETTER ON OUR LETTERHEAD.
AND IT BASICALLY, IT IS TWO THINGS.
ONE IS SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATION FROM US TO YOU.
UM, IN TERMS OF WERE THERE ANY DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT, ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF, OF WHICH THERE WERE NONE.
UM, AND IF WE HAD ANY MATTERS THAT WE FELT LIKE NEEDED TO BE PUT IN WRITING, THEY WOULDN'T BE INCLUDED AS WELL.
BUT THERE WERE, THERE WERE NO MATTERS TO REPORT.
AND AGAIN, THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IS RELATED TO CONSIDERING THE, THE STORMWATER RATE STUDY.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL JUST SAY, UM, GOOD STRONG FINANCIAL CONDITION, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.
UM, AND YOU RECEIVE THAT GOOD OPINION.
I AGAIN, WANT TO THANK JOHN AND JEFF AND THE STAFF FOR THE GREAT JOB THAT THEY DO.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY.
UH, YOU MENTIONED THE STORMWATER RATE STUDY.
SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU THINK IT IS, IS OUT OF SYNC WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE? NO, I'M GONNA EVALUATE IT.
IT'S, WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD PROCESS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE JUST TO EVALUATE IT, TAKING IN, AGAIN,
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SHORT TERM AS WELL AS LONG TERM NEEDS.WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT KRISTA SENDS THIS PRESENTATION OUT TO ALL OF TOWN COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, PATSY? YES, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UH, REPORT TO US TODAY.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE GOOD REPORT CARDS.
YES, IT IS, ISN'T IT? CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR, OUR TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF FOR, UH, GOOD REPORT CARD.
UM, JUST A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
UM, ONE IS THE FUND BALANCE SLIDE THAT YOU SHOWED MM-HMM.
UH, IS THAT COMMON IN SOUTH CAROLINA OR IS THIS UNCOMMON? ARE WE UNUSUAL FOR HAVING THAT, UH, THAT MUCH LOWER THAN WHAT G F O A RECOMMENDS? WELL, WHAT, WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IS WHEN WE HAVE A MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS OVERALL A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, BUT THEY'VE GOT IT IN DIFFERENT PIECES, THEY PROBABLY TEND TO KEEP A LOWER UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AS OPPOSED TO A TOWN THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ALL THOSE OTHER PLACES THAT THEY CAN GO, THEN YOU'LL TEND TO SEE A LITTLE HIGHER FUND BALANCE.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR DISASTER RECOVERY PLUS THIS, YOU'RE AT, AT ABOUT 60%.
OVERALL, SO VERY, VERY HEALTHY COMPARED TO THAT 16.7.
I WAS GONNA ASK IF WE ADD THAT DISASTER FUND AND DO WE GET ABOVE THE 16.7 SOUNDS LIKE? WELL ABOVE THE ACCESS, YES.
UM, THEN, UM, YOU ALSO MENTIONED, UM, THAT THERE'S NO INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTION.
UM, AND, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR AN INTERNAL AUDITOR
THAT I NOTED THAT, BECAUSE YOU'VE MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY IN YOUR REPORT.
UM, THE, UH, THE LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM, OUR BOND RATING.
UM, AND SO IN, IN YOUR REVIEW OF OUR FINANCIAL RECORDS, DO YOU MAKE ANY NOTES? DO YOU DO ANY CONSIDERATION OF ANY IMPACT ON OUR BOND RATING? UM, WE REALLY DON'T.
I MEAN, WE, WE LOOK AT IT TO SEE, BUT UM, WE, WE KNOW THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR WORLD AND, AND ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE INCLUDING WHO THE TOWN WORKS WITH, AND SO THAT'S REALLY MORE OF THEIR FOCUS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, STEVE, WITH REGARDS THE, UH, UNFUNDED PENSION LIABILITIES, UH, WHO ARE WE PAYING FOR? IS IT THE BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE? UH, IS IT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICES, OR IS IT JUST GENERALLY ROCK ACROSS THE STATE? YEAH, IT'S FOR, IT'S FOR EVERY, EVERYBODY REALLY THAT WORKS IN THE TOWN.
YOU HAVE BOTH THE, YOU HAVE BOTH THE POLICE OFFICER'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM, P R S AS WELL AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, S C R S, AND IT'S BOTH OF THOSE TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THERE, THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, THAT'S NOT A PART, BUT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS.
I'M, I'M ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE OPINION YOU'RE GIVING IS REFERRED TO AS UNMODIFIED AS OPPOSED TO THE PRIOR STATUS YES.
TAMMY, JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, WITH THAT UNFUNDED, UH, FUNDED LIABILITY, THAT AS RATES ARE INCREASED, WE'RE LED TO BELIEVE CORRECT, THAT ANY OF THE INCREASE OR A PORTION OF THAT INCREASE IS BEING DIRECTED TO AN ACCOUNT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY IT SOMEDAY CATCH UP SO THAT THAT DOESN'T REMAIN A CHRONIC SITUATION.
YEAH, AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE, IF YOU, IF THAT'S REALLY THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS MM-HMM.
UM, SO THEY'RE, AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR INVESTMENT STRATEGY.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY CAN DO IT.
AND I, I KNOW SOMEBODY THAT'S PRETTY INVOLVED WITH ALL THAT, AND THEY DO LOOK AT ALL THOSE OPTIONS MM-HMM.
AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH A GREAT PRESENTATION.
IT WAS VERY DETAILED AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
MAYOR, IF I MIGHT HAVE ONE MORE FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO UNFUNDED LIABILITY, THAT ALWAYS SCARES FOLKS.
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COMMON, UH, THROUGHOUT STATES THAT, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF UNFUNDED LIABILITY FOR PENSION? WELL, ACTUALLY, EVERY, EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THEY HAVE THE SAME UNFUNDED LIABILITY BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S A STATEWIDE ISSUE AND IT'S ACTUALLY A NATIONWIDE ISSUE.ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE'S TRYING TO TALK OVER THERE, TRYING TO, APOLOGIES, UH, MR. MAYOR, FOR PURPOSES OF, UH, CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY, UM, WHAT MEMBERS OF STAFF DO AND DO NOT PARTICIPATE, DEPART.
UM, YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE, UH, RETIREMENT, AND THAT'S FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS EMERGENCY WORKERS AND NORMAL TOWN STAFF OR THE REST OF TOWN STAFF IS ON A 401K SYSTEM.
UM, AND SO THAT'S HALF, AND SO THERE'S JUST TWO DIFFERENT WAYS.
NEXT, I'LL CALLING SEAN TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR.
IT READS END-TO-END ANALYSIS, BUT I KNOW SEAN WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION, AN OVERVIEW ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE RECENTLY ADOPTED MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUFORD COUNTY ONE, UH, UH, A REMINDER OF WHAT WE'RE AIMING TOWARDS AND, AND MAYBE AN OVERALL BRIEFING OF, OF WHERE WE ARE.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AND AS WE'RE GETTING THIS UP HERE TO RUN THROUGH.
UM, IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I THINK, SINCE WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THIS.
SO I WON'T GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT, UM, FOR, UH, FOR TIME SENSITIVE REASONS, BUT, UM, I'LL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE STARTING ON OCTOBER 4TH WHEN, UH, TOWN COUNCIL AGREED TO ADOPT AN MOU OR MOA WITH THE COUNTY, UM, WHICH OUTLINED THE PROVISIONS AND STEPS NEEDED TO TAKE TO COMPLETE THE EVALUATION AND PUT TOWN COUNSEL IN A POSITION TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE PROJECT.
UM, I'M GONNA WALK THROUGH EACH OF THE PROVISIONS WITH AN UPDATE, UM, AND THEN PROVIDE SOME, UH, SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY THAT'S OCCURRED SINCE THE OCTOBER 4TH DATE.
UM, AND THEN ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
UH, PROVISION NUMBER ONE, COUNTY AND COUNTY AGREED TO WORK, UM, TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT WE'RE ADVANCING, AS AGREED THROUGH THAT PROVISION.
UM, NUMBER TWO, THE TOWN AND COUNTY MUTUALLY AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH TO ADDRESS THE FEASIBILITY AND MERITS OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2021.
UH, THOSE WERE THE 26 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT RESULTED FROM OUR WORK, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH CONSULTANTS.
UM, AND THAT TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTED, UM, AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNTY AND THE STATE FOR CONSIDERATION FOR PROJECT ENHANCEMENT.
UM, AND THERE WAS ONE PROVISION THAT WILL AGREE TO WORK FORWARD WITH THE ACCEPTANCE THAT THERE'LL BE ONE BRIDGE DESIGNED FOR THE PROJECT, UM, RATHER THAN, UM, TWO, THREE LANE BRIDGES AS DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
THAT'S ADVANCING IS AGREED AS AGREED.
THE TOWN TOWN IS ALSO INVOLVED WITH CONSULTANTS TO DEVELOP FLY THROUGHS OF THE CORRIDOR TO HELP, UH, REPRESENT BOTH IN 3D, UM, AND MORE THAN PLAN VIEW OF THE PROJECT DESIGN AND CHARACTER.
UM, WE'RE ALSO EVALUATING THE ADDITIONAL PROJECT COSTS THAT WE'RE OUTLINED IN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE'LL, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PROCEED AS THIS PROJECT ADVANCES.
UM, NUMBER THREE IS PROBABLY THE KEY PROVISION WHERE WE'VE DONE A LOT OF, HAD THE MOST ACTIVITY SINCE OCTOBER 4TH.
UH, BUT THIS PROVISION, UM, OUTLINED AT THE COUNTY WOULD PROCURE THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, AGAIN, ONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONTACT OR ANY, UH, RELATIONSHIP WITH SOUTH COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BEAUFORT COUNTY, OR THE TOWN OF HILTON AND ISLAND TO DO THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
UM, THAT INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT WOULD DO THE END-TO-END SIMULATION, UM, WHICH INCLUDED STUDY AREA BEYOND WHAT WAS DEFINED IN THE CURRENT PROJECT.
UM, THE STUDY AREA ON THE CROSS ISLAND ROUTE GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CINE CIRCLE ON THE BUSINESS ROUTE THROUGH HOOPING CRANE AND, UM, UM, WAY THE ENTRANCE INTO HOLAND PLANTATION.
AND THEN ON THE MAINLAND, IT WENT THROUGH THE SIGNAL AT MOSS CREEK AND ON THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY THROUGH THE SIGNAL,
[00:25:01]
UM, AT THE BUCKINGHAM, UH, LANDING, A BUCK BUCK PLANTATION DRIVE.UM, AND THERE WAS A SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE MOA, AND THE, THE PROJECT WAS TO BE PROCURED USING THAT SCOPE OF WORK, UM, MATERIALLY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WAS IDENTIFIED.
SO THE UPDATE ON THIS BEAUFORT COUNTY DID SOLICIT AND RFQ, UH, WITH INPUT FROM THE TOWN SELECTION TEAM MEMBERS FOR THE SERVICES OUTLINED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK.
RFP WAS POSTED ON OCTOBER 26TH.
THERE WAS A MANDATORY PRE-BID AS PART OF THE RFQ SOLICITATION, UM, THAT WAS REQUIRED FIVE DAYS LATER ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
THERE WAS SEVEN FIRMS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE MANDATORY PRE-BID RESPONSES WERE DUE NOVEMBER 23RD TO THE COUNTY PROCUREMENT OFFICE.
AND THE RESULTS OF THAT SOLICITATION WERE ONE RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED FROM A FIRM, UM, TO THAT BID.
AND THE INFORMATION BELOW, I'VE TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT SITE, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE, THE TITLE, THE DEADLINE, AND THE, AND THE INFORMATION THAT WAS INCLUDED ON THE TITLE FOR THE PROCUREMENT.
UM, SOME MORE INFORMATION, UM, AS A RESULT OF ONLY HAVING ONE RESPONDENT.
TOWN STAFF, UH, CONTACTED FOUR FIRMS, UM, THAT WE HAD BEEN IN CONTACT WITH PREVIOUSLY AND ASKED WHY THEY DIDN'T SUBMIT PROPOSALS.
UM, I'VE LISTED THE STATED REASONS WHY, UH, THEY DIDN'T RESPOND.
ONE MISSED THE PRE MANDATORY PRE BID MEETING.
AGAIN, THAT WAS FIVE DAYS AFTER THE SOLICITATION.
AND THEY ALSO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MEETING THE LICENSING REQUIRE SOUTH CAROLINA LICENSURE LICENSING REQUIREMENT.
UM, ANOTHER FIRM WAS NOT SURE IF THEY COULD STAFF THE PROJECT IN SOUTH CAROLINA DUE TO VOLUME OF OTHER PROJECTS.
UH, THIRD FIRM WAS CHALLENGED TO FIND A NPA EXPERT THAT HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL, UH, ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO PARTNER WITH.
UM, AND THEN ONE FIRM SAID THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SECURE WORK IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND WITH S C D O T, AND THEY CHOSE NOT TO SUBMIT THE BID.
SO THOSE WERE THE RESPONSES THAT WE GOT TO, AGAIN, GAIN UNDERSTANDING WHY MOORE FIRMS DIDN'T RESPOND TO, UH, THE COUNTY SOLICITATION.
UM, THE FIRM THAT DID RESPOND DOES NOT HAVE AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH S C D O T, WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, OR THE TOWN OF HILAND ISLAND.
UM, THE SELECTION TEAM HAS REVIEWED THE RES THE PROPOSAL, UM, AND THE FIRM DID DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROJECT, UH, THAT IT IDENTIFY COLLABORATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO APPROACH, UM, WHAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK AND, AND, AND THEIR PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD AND EVALUATE THE END-TO-END.
UM, THEY, THEY ALSO INDICATED IN THEIR, UM, IN THE PROJECTS THAT THEY PROVIDED, THAT THEY LOOK BEYOND JUST TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DNA OF THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.
AND I WANNA MAKE SURE I JUST POINTED THAT OUT.
UM, AS, AS A POINT, UM, THE RESPONSIVE FIRM DOES HAVE A NUMBER OF, UH, TECHNICAL EXPERTS AND QUALIFIED STAFF, INCLUDING ENGINEER, TRANS TRAFFIC ENGINEERS, TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS, DESIGNERS, UM, THEY HAVE, UH, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, UH, AND OTHER, UM, PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF THAT WOULD SUPPORT, UH, THE EFFORT.
UM, THIS SLIDE IS TO REMIND, UH, COUNSELING COMMUNITY OF THE, OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MOA.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE INITIAL PART OF THIS WAS TO GAIN INFORMATION AND COORDINATE WITH A TOWN IN THE COUNTY WITH, THROUGH INITIAL, UH, MEETINGS, UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT WORK DONE, DONE DATE TO COME AND DO A SITE FIELD VISIT, AND THEN TO DEVELOP A REGULAR SCHEDULE FOR REPORTING, UM, TO THE TEAM THAT WORK THAT'S WORKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, AND THEN ALSO UPDATES TO THE TOWN MANAGER AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UM, ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE SECOND TASK WAS TO EVALUATE THE MODELS THAT WERE USED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, UH, FROM BACK FROM 2017 AND ON, UM, AS LONG AS THE RECOMMENDED CONCEPT REVIEW.
SO THE, THE FULL RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES, UM, THE REDUCTION TO REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES, PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, MODIFIED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVES, KIND OF REVIEW ALL OF THAT CONCEPTUAL, UH, REVIEW AND THE MODELING THAT WAS USED, UM, TO DE TO GENERATE, GENERATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE HAD IN FRONT OF US, UH, HERE IN THE PAST.
TASK THREE WAS TO UPDATE THE MODEL, RIGHT? UM, AND THE OPERATIONAL UPDATE.
SO THERE'S BEEN, UM, SOME CHANGES TO, UH, GROWTH RATES, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS SINCE THE INITIAL MODELING WAS DONE.
[00:30:01]
THE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY TRAVEL DEMAND MODEL, WHICH IS A REGIONAL MODEL, AND ALSO THE VISTA MODEL UPDATE, UH, TO LOOK AT MORE LOCALIZED OPTIONS.UM, IT WAS ALSO TO LOOK AT THE STATE MODEL AND TO LOOK AT CALIBRATION BETWEEN ALL OF THOSE TO, TO GENERATE THE BEST, UM, PROJECTION FOR, FOR FUTURE, UH, CONDITIONS.
UM, LOOKING AT PROPOSED INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE PROJECTS BEYOND JUST THE DEFINED CORRIDOR, UH, TO INCLUDE AREAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SEA PINES ON THE CROSS ISLAND ROUTE, POA, BAY ROUTE, AND THEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH HOOPING CRANE, UH, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUSHING THINGS DOWNSTREAM AND IF, AND IF IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED.
THAT WAS PART OF THE EVALUATION ASSESSMENT, AND THEN RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY TO DRAFT, UM, A FINAL REPORT FOR REVIEW CONSIDERATION DISCUSSION, UM, AND THEN ADVANCEMENT OF ANY RECOMMENDATIONS AS NEEDED.
THAT WAS AN AWFUL LOT ON NUMBER THREE OF THE PROVISIONS.
BUT, UH, MOVING ON, UH, TO NUMBER FOUR WAS THAT THE TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD E ESTABLISHED.
THIS, UM, SELECTION COMMITTEE COMPRISED JOINTLY OF THREE MEMBERS, UH, REPRESENTING BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THREE MEMBERS REPRESENTING TOWN OF HILTON ISLAND.
UH, THAT SELECTION SELECTION COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED FROM THE TOWN STANDPOINT.
IT IS ME AS ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER AND THEN PROJECT MANAGER ON THE TOWNSEND FOR THIS FOR, UM, ALMOST A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
UH, JEFF BUCKALOO, OUR TOWN ENGINEER, UH, AND THEN BRAD STRADER WITH OUR MK, SK, UH, TEAM, UH, TRANSPORTATION EXPERT.
AND HE'S BEEN, UM, RODNEY SHOTGUN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT AS WELL AS PART OF THE, UM, OUR CONSULTANT TEAM AND THEN REPRESENTING BEAUFORT COUNTY, JARED FRAK, WHO WE'VE, WHO'S BEEN HERE MANY TIMES.
AS YOU KNOW, THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, ERIC CLAWSON, TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, UM, STAFF MEMBER AT BEAUFORT, UH, COUNTY, AND THEN JENNIFER BA, JENNIFER BRAGG, WHO IS THE, UH, COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM CONSULTANT THAT THEY HAVE.
SO WE DID CONSTITUTE THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.
AND THAT SELECTION COMMITTEE IS THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN MOVING THROUGH IN COORDINATION ON THE PROCUREMENT, UH, EFFORTS THAT THE COUNTY HAS LED.
UM, NUMBER FIVE, ALL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW FOR AREAS WITHIN THE PROJECT BOUNDARY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROJECT.
THE COUNTY AND TOWN WILL AGREE TO PURSUE THE FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, WHICH IS THE FONZI FROM FEDERAL HIGHWAYS, CONCURRENT WITH THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
AND THEN IF ANY FINDINGS FROM THIS INDEPENDENT REVIEW WOULD AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, UM, THEN THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE SUBMITTED, UM, TO MODIFY THE EA DOCUMENTS TO UPDATE AND TO RESUBMIT, UM, A AGAIN, TO, UH, FEDERAL HIGHWAYS FOR REVIEW.
THE, THE PATH HERE WAS THE TOWN AND COUNTY WOULD AGREE THAT ONCE THE PROJECT HAD RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL FUNDING, SO THERE WAS A GAP, AND, UM, AND, UH, BACK IN, UH, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, THAT GAP HAD TO BE MADE UP IN ORDER FOR THE PROJECT TO BE FULLY FUNDED OR SUBSTANTIALLY FULLY FUNDED.
ONCE THAT HAPPENED, AND THE TIMEFRAME WAS SOMETIME IN JANUARY, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPPENED YET, BUT ONCE IT HAD SUBSTANTIAL FULL FUNDING, THEN THE COUNTY COULD SUBMIT THE, THE REQUEST TO FEDERAL HIGHWAYS BASED ON THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT THAT IT HAD, THAT IT TO GET A TERMINATION OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
UM, NUMBER SIX, THAT THE TOWN OF COUNTY AGREED AS PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UH, TO DO A VALUE ENGINEERING, UM, ELIMINATE UNWANTED COST, IMPROVE FUNCTION OF QUALITY, AND THEN OPTIMIZE THE, THE INVESTMENT SEEKING THE BEST BUY FOR LOWEST COST.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UM, AND IT WAS EXPLAINED AT THE MEETING BACK IN OCTOBER, BUT THAT WILL ADVANCE AS PART OF THE NEPA PROCESS, UM, AS, AS THIS PROJECT REVIEW ADVANCES.
UM, NUMBER SEVEN, THE COUNTY AND TOM MUTUAL AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH S C D O T AND LATZ TO DESIGN, IMPLEMENT, MAINTAIN A CONNECTED AND SYNCHRONIZED SIGNAL SYSTEM ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF WILLIAM PARKWAY, US 2 78 CORRIDOR FROM I 95 TO CINE CIRCLE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL DETAIL ABOUT FIBER, FIBER CONNECTIVITY, ADAPTIVE SIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES, AND OTHER TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE FLOW, UM, AND THAT WE'D WORK TOGETHER TO SEEK FUNDING.
UM, THE TOWN IS CURRENTLY ADVANCING AN ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL THROUGH AT CIP P PROGRAM.
UM, I'VE JUST SIGNED OFF TODAY ON ROUTING, SO IT SHOULD GO TO THE NEXT PERSON, I THINK IS JOHN TROYER, AND THEN BE IN THE TOWN MANAGER'S, UM, UH, DESK HERE VERY SHORTLY.
UM, IT'S TO REPLACE ALL SIGNALS ON ALL 25 SIGNALS ON HILTON ISLAND WITH THIS, UH, BEST IN CLASS ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY,
[00:35:02]
THE TOWN IS ALS.UH, AND, AND AS PART OF THAT PROCUREMENT, UH, FOR THE RFP, WE INCLUDED, UH, COUNTY STAFF IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS SO THAT WE HAD SOME CONSISTENCY, UM, IN THE, IN THE PRODUCT, IN THE SYSTEM AND THE TECHNOLOGY SO THAT WHEN THE COUNTY ADVANCES THE SIGNAL UPGRADES ON THE MAINLAND, THAT IT'S ALL COORDINATED, SPEAKS TOGETHER, IT'S INTELLIGENT.
SO WE MADE SURE TO INCLUDE THE COUNTY AND THE PROCUREMENT, UM, PROCESS.
UH, WE'VE ALSO ASKED THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING, UH, FROM THEIR TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE FUNDS.
THERE IS A HILAND ISLAND DUFUS BENEFIT DISTRICT, AND THEY HAVE TECH OR TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES THAT NEED TO BE PROGRAMMED WITHIN THAT BENEFIT DISTRICT.
AND WE'VE ASKED FOR FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $3.1 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY TO PUT TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT, WHICH WOULD AGAIN, FREE UP MONEY THAT WE PROGRAMMED IN OUR C I P TO ADVANCE.
UM, NUMBER EIGHT, ANY SIGNAL, UH, IMPROVEMENT, NOT, UH, WELL FROM THE SYNCHRONIZATION PROJECT THAT'S NOT ALREADY INSTALLED WHEN THE PROJECT F AND WHEN THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD WOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE PROJECT.
SO, UM, FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WINDMILL HARBOR, IF THAT, IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE A SIGNAL THERE, IF IT'S NOT INSTALLED, THEN THAT WOULD BE THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL WILL BE INSTALLED AT THAT.
UM, SO THAT WILL ADVANCE HIS AGREED, UM, REMINDER AT NUMBER NINE, THE AGREEMENT DID NOT PRO DID NOT PROVIDE THE TOWN'S MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
UM, THAT WAS, UM, RESERVED FOR, UH, ONCE THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW WAS COMPLETE, UH, THAT WAS JOINTLY WITH THE TOWN OF COUNTY, BUT BEFORE THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION, ACQUISITION PHASE OF THE PROJECT WERE TO BEGIN.
UM, AND SO ACTION PENDING RESULTS OF THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, UH, AND END, END END ANALYSIS AND COUNCIL DIRECTION AT THAT TIME.
AND THEN NUMBER 10, THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED THAT THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW WOULD BE THE LAST AND FINAL STUDY NEEDED FOR THE TOWN TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S, UH, THAT'S RESERVED TO TOWN COUNCIL ACTION PENDING RESULTS OF THE EA UH, AND, AND, AND ANALYSIS TO, TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
UM, AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, UM, BEFOR COUNTY CONTINUES TO COORDINATE THE PROCUREMENT, UM, OF THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
UM, THERE'S A MEETING OF THE SELECTION TEAM SCHEDULED FOR, LET'S SAY, TWO THURSDAY AT 2:00 PM TO TO DISCUSS PROJECT SCOPING WITH THE RESPON RESPONDING FIRM.
UM, THE, THE SELECTION TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE AND, UH, WORK TOWARD MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT THROUGH THAT JOINT EFFORT, AND THAT ONCE A FIRM IS UNDER CONTRACT, THE TOWN WILL CONTINUE THE PARTICIPATION, UM, UH, MUTUALLY WITH A COUNTY, UM, TO WORK, TO GO THROUGH THE WORK THAT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE SCOPE OF WORK IN THE MOA, AND TO EVALUATE FINDINGS, PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TOWN AND COUNTY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
UM, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THERE'S BEEN EX, UM, BEEN EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR THE PRO FROM THE PUBLIC, THE FACT THAT ONLY ONE RESPONSE WAS RECEIVED TO THE RFQ.
UM, AND I'M HERE BEFORE COUNSEL TODAY TO UNDER, TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CURRENT PATH AROUND WITH PROCUREMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO PERFORM THE AGREED UPON WORK.
UM, IF COUNCIL IS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, UM, TO DO AN INDEPENDENT, UM, REVIEW AND END TO END ANALYSIS, UM, OUTSIDE OF THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE TOWN TO DO THE PROCUREMENT, UM, I RECOMMEND, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE ADVANCE WITH THE COUNTY ON THE JOINT EFFORT, AND THEN IT'S A DECISION TO COUNSEL.
IF THEY ALSO WANT TO DO AN IN A TOWN LED, UM, END-TO-END ANALYSIS THAT THE TOWN WOULD PROCURE, UM, WE CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION.
UM, SO I'M, I'M READY TO ADVANCE WITH THE COUNTY AND, AND HEAR COUNSEL'S DIRECTION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OKAY WITH THAT OR WOULD NEED TO ADVANCE A TOWN LED EFFORT, UH, IN ADDITION.
SO AT THIS POINT, I, I'M GONNA ASK COUNSEL, UH, WE WILL START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION, IS TOWN COUNCIL OKAY WITH MOVING FORWARD THE CURRENT PROCUREMENT TO PERFORM AGREED UPON WORK? SO IF WE'LL TAKE THAT TO DISCUSS FOR A MOMENT, STEVEN, I, I ASSUME THAT THERE'S BEEN EXTENSIVE DUE DILIGENCE DONE ON THE ONE RESPONDENT TO KNOW, UH, CHECKING WITH THEIR PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE WORKED WITH BEFORE AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
HOW COMFORTABLE DO YOU FEEL WITH, WITH THEIR OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS? WELL, ME, TO
[00:40:01]
BE COMPLETELY HONEST, I WISH WE HAD MORE THAN ONE RESPONDENT.UM, IT'S HARD TO EVALUATE OR COMPARE WHEN YOU GET ONE.
THEY'RE THE BEST AND THE WORST, RIGHT? THAT WE GOT.
UM, HOWEVER, WE HAVE EVALUATED THE, THE RESPONSE AND THE FIRM AND THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THE REFERENCES, UM, AND THEY ARE A QUALIFIED FIRM THAT CAN DO THE WORK.
SO I DON'T WANNA TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE.
SO I DO, I DO WANNA POINT OUT THAT THE COUNTY IS GONNA MOVE FORWARD, UM, TO ADVANCE SELECTION OF A, UH, OF A FIRM TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING IF, IF THAT, IF THE COUNCIL'S COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, WE CAN ADVANCE IN THAT MANNER, OR IF NOT, WE CAN.
IS THERE A, UH, POSSIBILITY FOR OUTSIDE FUNDING OF A SECOND, UH, TRAFFIC CONSULTANT? YES, SIR.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T READ MY FINAL BULLET THERE, BUT, UM, YES, I'VE REACHED OUT TO SENATOR DAVIS AND, UM, UH, THE COST OF COMPLETE ONE, IF THE TOWN WERE TO CHOOSE TO GO THAT ROUTE IS ABOUT 250 TO 300,000 AS THE ESTIMATE, AND THAT THE FUNDING, UM, WOULD BE PROVIDED BY OR REIMBURSED BY THE STATE TO COMPLETE THAT EFFORT.
AND I, I ALSO ASSUME THAT, UH, IF THE WE PROCEED IN THE SECOND PATH AND THE ADVICE WE RECEIVE IS NOT FAVORABLE, UH, THAT THAT WOULD BE A REASONABLE BASIS FOR NOT GIVING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
I THINK THAT DECISION IS ULTIMATELY WITH TOWN COUNCIL, BUT BASED ON THE, THE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTS, YEAH, IT WAS, IT SAID WE WILL NOT BE UNREASONABLE NOT GIVING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PROVISIONS, SIR.
WELL, OVERALL, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION.
I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT, AND I AM IN FAVOR OF, OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO GO WITH THE FIRST ONE AND GET A SECOND OPINION ON OUR OWN AT OUR EXPENSE, OR IF SENATOR DAVIS CAN HELP.
SO, UM, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SEAN, I APPRECIATE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
GOING BACK TO NUMBER THREE OF YOUR, UM, OF YOUR PRESENTATION, THE CONCERNS THAT I HAVE AS WE, AS I UNDERSTAND HOW THE RFQ WENT OUT, WAS THAT THE COUNTY DRAFTED IT AND SENT IT OUT WITH A FIVE DAY RESPONSE.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY, AND I'M, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE REASONABLENESS IN TALKING ABOUT REASONABLE OF SENDING OUT SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND REQUIRE LIMITING OR REQUIRING THAT IT'S BACK WITHIN FIVE DAYS.
MOREOVER, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE THAT CONCERNS ME.
UM, AND IT'S RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF THE TOWN, AND THANK YOU FOR DOING SO TO OTHER ORG, UH, COMPANIES THAT HAVE, UM, BEEN WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND WONDERING WHY THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN INTEREST.
I REMEMBER, NOT VERBATIM, BUT I REMEMBER READING THAT PARTICULAR LINE IN THE COUNTY'S PAPERWORK WHERE IT SAID THAT THAT, UM, PRE-WORK MEETING WAS MANDATORY, BUT THEN THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THAT SAME BULLET POINT SAID THAT IT WAS OPTIONAL.
AND SO I WOULD WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS EXPLAINED TO THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY.
UM, I'M BOTHERED THAT, UM, BY A NUMBER OF THINGS, THOSE BEING JUST TWO THAT I'LL MENTION HERE NOW, UM, WITH REGARD TO HOW THE, THE COUNTY PROCEEDED TO, UM, TO BRING IN THOSE, UM, BIDS AND THAT INTEREST.
UM, I THINK THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD STEP BACK AND PERHAPS REDO THEIR, UM, THEIR WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE IN A WAY THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE THAN ONE, UM, COMPANY TO COME FORWARD IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO DO SO.
I THINK THAT, UM, TWO QUESTIONS.
YOU HAD, UH, YOU HAD OUR COST TO BE ESTIMATED BETWEEN 250, $300,000.
WHAT IS OUR PORTION OF THE COUNTY'S, UM, COST TO RUN ANALYSIS? WHAT ARE WE CONTRIBUTING? WELL, THE AGREED UPON, UM, WORK FROM THE MOA WAS ALL GONNA BE COVERED UNDER THE PROJECT COST.
SO NO, THERE WAS NO COST TO THE TOWN.
IT WAS GONNA BE BUILT INTO PART OF THE, THE OVERALL PROJECT COST, WHICH LONG RUN IS DEFINITELY A COST TO THE TOWN, UM, JUST HIDDEN.
UM, SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS, UH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, IF SENATOR DAVIS HAS GIVEN US ASSURANCE THAT THERE'S MONEY FOR REIMBURSEMENT, I THINK THIS TOWN HAS
[00:45:01]
AN OBLIGATION TO OUR RESIDENTS, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS DONE, UM, WITH ALL TRANSPARENCY AND WITH AN OPEN BIDDING PROCESS, UM, THAT ELICITS MORE THAN ONE, UM, TEAM TO EVALUATE.AND SO, UM, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE AS A COUNCIL, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, ENLISTING OUR OWN END TO END, UM, PROJECT ANALYSIS, HIRE OUR OWN INDEPENDENT, UM, COMPANY TO DO THAT WORK AND TO ASK, UM, SENATOR DAVIS FOR HELP IN GETTING THAT REIMBURSED COST.
UH, SEAN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS AND FOR YOUR DETAILED REPORT.
UM, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SELECTION COMMITTEE AND THAT THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF EXPERTISE HAVING TO DO WITH, UH, THESE TYPES OF MATTERS.
BUT I, I'M WONDERING YOU, YOU OUTLINED A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT THIS CONSULTANT HAS DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS LACKING THAT YOU SOUGHT INFORMATION ABOUT? IN OTHER WORDS, DO THEY SHOW ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE NEEDED EXPERTISE AND PRESENTATIONS? UM, IN, IN EVALUATING AGAINST THE CRITERIA, THERE WEREN'T ANY GLARING, UH, WEAKNESSES THAT THIS FIRM HAS, UM, THAT WOULD DISQUALIFY THEM FROM DOING THE WORK.
I THINK THE IDEA OF HAVING A BACKUP, UH, AS BEEN SUGGESTED HERE, MAKES SOME SENSE.
UH, WE NEED TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? JUST POINT OF CLARIFICATION, MR. MAYOR, ARE WE STILL ON QUESTION NUMBER ONE AS FAR AS YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT FURTHER.
I'M, UH, I'M UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT BECAUSE THE MOA HAS ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED, THAT MOVING FORWARD ALONG WITH THE COUNTY IS SOMEWHAT OF A DONE DEAL.
SO THE DISCUSSION AROUND HAVING OUR OWN IS PROBABLY MORE PERTINENT.
UM, A FEW THINGS STICK OUT TO ME.
UM, I, I, I SHARED THE APPRECIATION, SEAN, WITH YOU ALL FOLLOW UP WITH, UM, THE FIRMS THAT DID NOT RESPOND AND, UH, I TOO AM CONCERNED ABOUT ONLY ONE, UM, COMING BACK.
UM, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU LEARNED THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY PECULIAR TO ME IS THAT, UH, THERE WAS A FIRM THAT SAID THAT THEY DID NOT FEEL AS IF THEY COULD ACQUIRE A SOUTH CAROLINA EXPERT IN THE NEPA PROCESS.
AND THE NEPA PROCESS IS A FEDERAL
UM, SO THAT, THAT, THAT GIVES ME A LOT OF ANGST.
UH, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, BE MOVING FORWARD IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE ARE GETTING A TRUE INDEPENDENT, UH, LOOK AT THIS, AND IF IT TAKES SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE TO HELP US WITH THAT, I'M DEFINITELY OKAY WITH IT.
UM, YOU, YOU MENTIONED THE, UH, THE SIGNAL PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, JUST QUICK TIMELINE AS TO ABSOLUTELY COMPLETE ON THAT.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT ARE WE THINKING? YEAH, GO AHEAD, SIR.
THAT, THAT WILL HAVE MY SIGNATURE ON IT BEFORE TUESDAY'S STRATEGIC PLAN WORKSHOP.
SO IT GIVES US A COUPLE MORE DAYS.
TODAY, THE, THE BIG SIGN OFF WAS SEAN AND SEAN'S WORKED WITH BRIAN MCY AND, AND, AND JEFF BUCKLEY AND, AND A FEW OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DETAILS OF THE DELIVERABLES MADE SENSE, BUT NOW THAT HE'S SIGNED OFF ON IT, THE REST IS JUST MR. TROY OVER THERE MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE MONEY.
I HAVE ASKED, UM, POLITELY AND RESPECTFULLY IF WE COULD USE SOME OR ALL OF THOSE IMPACT FEES WITH THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE FUNDS IN A BACKUP ACCOUNT, WE'VE APPLIED FOR A GRANT, WE DIDN'T GET IT.
SO IT'S JUST UP TO MR. TROY TO SAY, WE HAVE THE MONEY OR THE FUNDS AND WE, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE IT BAKED INTO THIS, THE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
SO IT'S HIS SIGNATURE AND MY SIGNATURE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
THE REASON I ASK BECAUSE THAT, THAT IMPROVEMENT YES, IS GOING TO PLAY A HUGE PART IN WHAT THE OVERALL PROJECT, UH, DEMANDS.
UH, SO THAT, THAT PIECE IS, IS DEFINITELY, UH, SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE, UH, CONSIDERED.
AND YOU'VE GOT A 250 TO 300 K PRICE TAG UP THERE.
UH, ARE WE, UH, USING THOSE NUMBERS AGAINST THE CURRENT SCOPE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED FOR THE CURRENT PROCUREMENT? YES.
UM, I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF US GETTING, UM, OUR OWN, UH, INDEPENDENT, TRUE, INDEPENDENT, UM, STUDY ON THIS.
[00:50:01]
WE LOOK AT THAT SCOPE, UM, THE, THE, UH, THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, LEAN MORE TOWARDS FINDING THIS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.AND I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANT TO INCLUDE THAT IN OUR SCOPE.
UM, I'D ALSO ADD THAT THIS PROJECT, ALTHOUGH WE, WE DON'T SEE IT, UM, RIGHT AWAY, IT ALSO AFFECTS ALL OF OUR INTERSECTIONS WITHIN AND THE INS AND OUTS THERE.
AND I THINK THAT PIECE HAS TO FALL INTO CONSIDERATION FOR US ALSO, KEEPING IN MIND WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON THE BRIDGES.
UM, ONCE YOU OPEN THAT VALVE WIDE OPEN, UM, IT WILL HAVE SOME ADVERSE EFFECTS ELSEWHERE.
UH, SO I, I'D LIKE FOR US TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME ON, ON OUR OWN SCOPE, UM, IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY.
FOLLOWING UP ON MR. BROWN'S QUESTION ABOUT THE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM.
I, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
WHAT'S OUR TIMELINE ON INSTALLATION AND BEING ABLE TO COLLECT DATA? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WAS GOING TO AN ANSWER IN RESPONSE TO, TO MR. BROWN.
UM, COUNCILMAN BROWN, UH, END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PERFORMANCE PERIOD WOULD BE NOW JANUARY THROUGH SOMETIME IN JUNE, JUNE 30TH, WOULD BE SORT OF THE, OUR EXPECTATION FOR FULL COMPLETION.
AND THEN BEING ABLE TO COLLECT DATA AFTER INSTALLATION IF IT OCCURS BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 30.
UH, HOW SOON CAN WE COLLECT DATA ON ITS PERFORMANCE? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
I'D HAVE TO, UM, GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT TO UNDERSTAND, UM, ROLLOUT AND THEN, UM, AVAILABILITY THROUGH THE TECHNOLOGY TO, TO PULL THAT INFORMATION.
AND, AND WITH OUR OWN, UH, I ALSO SUPPORT GETTING OUR OWN STUDY DONE, UM, WITH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO THE COUNTY AND IT IN ITS INTEREST, UM, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE TOWN RESIDENTS AND THE WORKFORCE AND THE BUSINESSES ON THE TOWN.
UM, AND I, I WANNA CONTINUE TO HAVE DIALOGUE WITH COUNTY, UM, AND KEEP WORKING ON PROJECTS TOGETHER.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE OUR OWN, UM, AND, UM, I, I HOPE THAT WE CAN PROCEED EXPEDITIOUSLY TO DO THAT.
I HOPE WE'LL HAVE BETTER RESULTS WITH OUR PROCUREMENT METHOD
UM, BUT, UM, I, I, I'M ALSO, UH, AND I WANTED TO, UH, SAY A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT REACHING THIS DECISION.
WHENEVER I CONSIDER ANYTHING TO COME BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL, I'M GOING TO START USING SOME DECISION STANDARDS, AND THOSE STANDARDS ARE FIVEFOLD.
THE FIRST THING I'M GONNA ASK IS, DOES THIS HELP OUT WITH THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, WORKFORCE INVESTORS? AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING GOOD DATA ON THIS KIND OF SYSTEM WOULD DO THAT.
SECONDLY, DOES IT PROVIDE FOR RESPECTFUL AND PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH THE IMPACT OF THIS PROJECT ON OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, UM, THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, AND ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
WHICH LEADS ME TO ANOTHER POINT, AND THAT IS, DOES THIS HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR INHABITANTS? AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING GOOD DATA TO LEAD US TO A GOOD DECISION ABOUT THIS, CARTER WILL DO THAT.
ANOTHER DECISION POINT IS ARE WE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES, OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES, ALL OF OUR RESOURCES, AND NOT FINALLY THE DECISION POINT, BUT AMONGST ALL THE DECISION POINTS, BECAUSE I CONSIDER THESE TO BE OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE, IS ARE WE GIVING RESPECT FOR AND PROTECTION OF OUR HERITAGE, ESPECIALLY THE HISTORIC GULLAH COMMUNITIES? AND I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT OF UTMOST CONCERN IN THIS PROJECT.
I APPRECIATE THAT SENATOR DAVIS IS GOING TO HELP US AGAIN WITH PROVIDING FOR SOME FUNDING.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PROCEEDING WITH OUR OWN ANALYSIS AND HIRING OUR OWN CONSULTANT, I WANT US TO REVISIT HAVING A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE DATA THAT THIS CONSULTANT PROVIDES.
AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT WE CONSIDER INCLUDING ON THAT COMMITTEE, AT LEAST ONE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE ENGINEER FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STONY COMMUNITY.
AND I WOULD ASK THE TOWN COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT, THAT THIS COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED SO THEY CAN WORK IN CONCERT WITH OUR OWN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT.
NOT TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT, BUT TO FACILITATE IT AND TO BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE TOWN COUNCIL ABOUT THIS WORK AS IT PROCEEDS.
MS. MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST JUMP IN RIGHT AFTER THAT, BECAUSE I WANNA SECOND THAT LAST COMMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
[00:55:01]
PUT IT BEAUTIFULLY AND, UM, I WANT TO SECOND IT AND ENCOURAGE IT AND, UH, MOVE OUT EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.SEAN, UH, REFRESHED MY MEMORY.
WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THE ORIGINAL R F P THAT RESTRICTED THE CHOICE OF CONSULTANTS FOR THEIR OWN ELIGIBILITY? IN OTHER WORDS, DID WE RESTRICT THE CHOICES THAT THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY COULD MAKE BY WORDS THAT WERE IN THOSE RF, THE RFP, THE, THERE WAS A RESTRICTION THAT COULDN'T HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH D O T AT THE TOWN OR THE COUNTY.
UM, THERE WAS SOME CONFLICTING INFORMATION IN THE MANDATORY PRE-BED THAT IT WAS MANDATORY, BUT ALSO ENCOURAGED.
UM, NO GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTION? NO, SIR.
GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAD ONLY ONE, UM, RESPONSE, WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION THAT THE TOWN IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT TEAM TO DO THE WORK THAT WE'RE PROPOSING? I'M AN AN OPTIMISTIC PERSON.
I THINK WE WOULD GET MORE THAN ONE CAN'T, I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT.
UM, I, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE, WE WOULD BE, UH, MINUS ONE IF THE COUNTY PROCURES.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA DO THE JOINT ONE WITH US AND THE COUNTY.
AND SO I THINK WE'VE REDUCED THE POOL A LITTLE BIT.
I, I, I SHARED THE RESPONSES FROM THOSE THAT WE TALKED TO.
UM, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WOULD GET MORE THAN ONE.
I DON'T KNOW, ONLY FI ONLY SEVEN TO, UM, ATTENDED THE MANDATORY PRE PREBI AND ONLY ONE WAS RESTRICTED.
I'M, I'M SORT OF RAISING AN ISSUE THAT IF WE GO DOWN THE PATH AND WE FIND THAT ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A BONAFIDE OFFER, OR SECONDARILY, IF WE DO GET A CONSULTANT, WHAT'S THE TIMING COORDINATION WITH A COUNTY TOWN, UH, EFFORT? DO WE CREATE AN ISSUE IF THE TOWN CONSULTANT IS MUCH SLOWER IN DOING ITS WORK, WHAT DOES THAT CREATE WITH OUR TOWN COUNTY RELATIONSHIP? AND DO WE CARE? UM, I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN, UM, THAT ONE WOULD FINISH EARLIER.
UM, BUT CAN THE COUNTY MOVE AHEAD OR IS ARE, DO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PROVIDE OUR AGREEMENT ON THIS, DO WE HOLD THE TRUMP CARD TO WAIT? YEAH, I BELIEVE UNTIL YOU ISSUE ADMISSIBLE CONSENT, IF YOU ARE EVALUATING, UM, INDEPENDENTLY OR IN PARALLEL WITH A JOINT EFFORT AND YOU NEED THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE THAT DECISION, THEN YOU ARE UNREASONABLY WITHHOLDING THAT CONSENT UNTIL YOU HAVE IT AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
UH, GETTING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION IS GREAT.
UM, I, I AM AT THE POINT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION AND, AND I'M WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS DECISION TO HAVE A INDEPENDENT TOWN LED CONSULTANT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO COORDINATE THE TIMING OF THAT WITH THE COUNTY SO WE DON'T GET INTO THE BIND OF HOLDING UP A PROJECT THAT NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE, WE'VE GOT AN MOA WITH THE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE TO ADHERE TO.
UH, I, I WANTED TO BE CLEAR THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT, NOT WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UM, THAT WE ARE STILL IN THIS TOGETHER.
AND IF WE DO OUR SEPARATE END-TO-END STUDY, IT IS FOR US AND IT'S BECAUSE OF US HAS NOTHING AGAINST THE COUNTY AND THEIR DRIVE TO GET THIS FORWARD.
UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM A COUNTY STANDPOINT, THAT WE'RE NOT GOING AGAINST ANYONE ON THE COUNTY WITH THIS.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT CONCERNS AND GREAT QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE LOCAL CONSTITUENCY IN THE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
WE ALL KNOW IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST, UH, PROJECTS OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL EVER SEE.
I AGREE WITH PATSY THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE THE CITIZENS' VOICES TO, TO HEART IT IS IMPORTANT.
UM, I AGREE WITH DAVID THAT I WILL FOLLOW ALONG WITH THIS IN SUPPORT OF IT AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TIMELINE AND THE, AND THE FUTURE PROJECT
[01:00:01]
AT HAND.JEREMY
SO, UM, IF YOU CAN GET US A ROUGH IDEA OF THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, WE WILL, WE WILL COMPILE SORT OF THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE AND THE ABILITY TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY ONCE IT'S INSTALLED.
UM, AND I THINK FROM A HIGH LEVEL, WE'LL, WE'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU ON THE 25TH AS WE REVIEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMING AT 9:00 AM IN STRATEGIC PLAN.
NEXT WEEK WE'LL SHARE THAT SCHEDULE WITH YOU, BUT WE'LL ALSO THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE, BUT WE'LL ALSO BETWEEN NOW AND