[00:00:01]
WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE BEFOR COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING.THANK ALL OF YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET ME RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE AND WE APPRECIATE THE, UH, HOSPITALITY USE OF THE FACILITY.
UM, WE HAVE WITH US THIS MORNING OUR VICE CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNSEL, LARRY MCALLEN.
GOOD MORNING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL, UM, PERSONS, DAVID BAR AND TAB TABERNAC.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
MR. ALWAYS PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.
HEY, AIN'T MORE SENIORITY THAN ANYBODY IN TOWN.
UM, ALSO, WE GOT A NEW MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION, UH, BILL HAGER.
BILL, WELCOME THIS MORNING, FIRST TIME, UM, HERE WITH US IN, UM, YOU FOR DELEGATION MEETING.
QUICKLY, WE, WE'VE GOT, AS YOU NOTE THAT THE AGENDA IS LISTED FROM 10 TO 1130.
WE GOT A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'VE GOTTA ACCOMPLISH THIS MORNING.
WE ALSO HAVE MEETINGS IN COLUMBIA THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, BUT RATHER THAN DO A NUMBER OF THESE APPOINTMENTS IN COLUMBIA, UM, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN, WE TRY TO HOLD MEETINGS, UM, HERE.
AND AMONG THOSE, UM, ARE ALSO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE VETERANS BAY, UH, DIRECTOR POSITIONS, UM, THAT WE CARRIED OVER FROM LAST FALL.
SO, WITH THAT, UH, I'M GONNA FIRST ASK, UH, MR. RIVERS, IF YOU'LL LEAD US IN, IN AN INVOCATION, AND WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO THE PLEDGE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS DAY.
EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL SUNSHINE, THE FATHERS WE GO IN THIS MEETING, LET US DO EVERYTHING DECENT IN AN ORDER.
REMEMBERING ALWAYS THAT WE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE NAME AND NATURE OF JESUS, OF CHRIST.
IN THE PLEDGE, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF OUR MEETING MINUTES FROM OCTOBER THE 13TH.
COPIES ARE IN YOUR PACKETS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE MINUTES? MOVE FOR ADOPTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
IN YOUR OPPOSED MINUTES ARE ADOPTED.
GOOD MORNING TO OUR NEW ELECTED OFFICERS AND OUR BEAUTIFUL BEAUFORD COUNTY DELEGATION.
I AM TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS DEAR TO ALL OF OUR HEARTS, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT SERVING OUR VOTERS IN A PROMPT AND EFFICIENT MANNER.
AND, UH, WE ARE HOPING THAT AFTER YOU HAVE HAD TIME TO READ OVER YOUR PACKET OF INFORMATION AND LISTEN TO ME, YOU WILL HELP US TO, UH, GET THINGS DONE THAT WE NEED TO GET THAT TO SERVE BUFORD COUNTY.
THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THE 2020 US CENSUS DATA.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEING PROPOSED BY ITS RE-PRESENTING COMMITTEE BE ACCEPTED.
THE COMMITTEE'S GOAL WAS TO IDENTIFY THE PRECINCTS WITH OVER 1600 VOTERS AND DIVIDE THEM INTO MULTIPLE PRECINCTS WITH ALTERNATIVE POLLING LOCATIONS WHERE POSSIBLE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY AND ARE THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN BUFORD COUNTY HAS INCREASED COUNTYWIDE.
MANY OF THE CHANGES BEING PROPOSED WILL MOSTLY AFFECT THE PRESETS AND BLUFFTON COMMUNITIES WHERE THE GROWTH HAS SKYROCKETED.
THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THESE PRESETS.
ONE IS TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF VOTERS REPORTING TO A LOCATION ON ELECTION DAY TWO TO REDUCE THE LINE AT THE POLLING PLACE, HENCE, MINIMIZING THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES A VOTER TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.
AND THREE, AN ATTEMPT TO CLOSER COMPLY WITH
[00:05:01]
SEVEN DASH SEVEN DASH SEVEN 10, REDUCING THE SIZE OF PRECINCTS WITH MORE THAN 1500 REGISTERED VOTERS.UH, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT, UM, AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE A PACKET OF THAT INFORMATION I JUST PRESENTED TO YOU.
AND, UM, THIS IS JUST WHAT WE WERE RECOMMENDING.
AND, UH, HOPEFULLY ONCE YOU LOOK OVER FRED, IT AND THAT ANY OF YOU I KNOW, UM, WHO LIVE IN BLUFFTON AND HAD TO VOTE LAST YEAR, AND YOU SAW THE LONG, LONG LINES, UH, DOING EARLY VOTING, UM, YEAH, WE DO NEED LARGER FACILITIES.
SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE, UM, ELDERLY OR ANYONE STANDING FOR HALF AN HOUR OR AN HOUR IN LINE IN ORDER TO VOTE.
SO WE ARE BRINGING THIS TO YOU, YOU, AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER.
IF NOT, UM, I HAVE OUR DIRECTOR HERE, UM, SMALLS, AND, UH, SHE WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST ME AS I'M A NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIR.
SO I LIKE DOING A GOOD JOB, AND IF I CAN'T DO IT, I WILL ASK FOR ASSISTANCE.
QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION IN THE PACKET.
LET, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
WHAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IS NOT ACTUALLY THE REPORT OF ALL OF THE PRECINCTS AND THE NUMBERS THAT ARE BEING BALANCED AND REDUCED OR THE NEW PRECINCT LOCATIONS.
THIS IS JUST THE, THE EMAIL INDICATING THAT THE BOARD, I THINK ALL BUT ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE TIME HAD REVIEWED AND APPROVED THIS.
THAT, THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S CORRECT.
HAS THAT, IS MR. WEDGWORTH NOW ALSO, UH, MR. WEDGWORTH, HE DID SUBMIT HIS LATE.
SO WHAT, WHAT, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T HAVE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO JUST, YOU CAN GIVE THAT TO MS. MAXEY AND SHE CAN MAKE SURE TO GET IT TO ALL OF US UNLESS OKAY.
BECAUSE IT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH.
SO THIS IS THE MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN, OR IT EITHER IS OR WILL BE SENT TO COLUMBIA.
DOES IT HAVE THE BEFORE AND AFTER? DOES IT HAVE, DOES THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ALL ARE SENDING UP TO US IN COLUMBIA HAVE THE BEFORE AND AFTER, WHAT THE PRECINCTS LOOK LIKE BEFORE, WHERE THEY WERE, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION? YES.
AND, AND NEW, ANY NEW POLLING LOCATIONS.
I MEAN, SO THEY'RE WAITING ON APPROVAL FROM YOU GUYS TO SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T APPROVE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY GIVES US A REPORT SO THAT WE SEE WHAT WAS BEFORE AND AFTER.
WHAT YOU HAVE IS WHAT IT IS NOW.
WE DON'T HAVE, SO YOU ALL HAVE NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THIS.
WHAT WE NEED YOU TO DO, BAPTIST CHURCH.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DONE WITH, FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO, UM, GIVE US THE MAPS PROPOSAL BASED ON THE, UM, MAKEUP OF THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS COMMUNITIES BEING SPLIT.
AND, AND I WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THEM, WITH WILL AND DREW ON THAT PROCESS.
SO WE HAVEN'T STARTED THE PROCESS YET.
THEY NEEDED APPROVAL FROM GOT IT.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.
YOU ALL ARE TRYING TO BALANCE TO THE 1600.
HOW MANY NEW PRECINCT LOCATIONS DO YOU ANTICIPATE? UM, OH, IT WAS 31, I BELIEVE.
31 NEW LOCATIONS? OR 31 SOUTH? NO, NO, NOT LOCA.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRECINCT? I'M TALKING, YEAH.
UM, I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT 15.
AND ARE ANY OF 'EM NEW LOCATIONS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN USED BEFORE? ONE, NOT, NOT PRECINCTS, BUT LOCATIONS, HOLDING PLACES? UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING NEW LOCATIONS.
WE ARE, RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS TO FIND A PLACE TO HOUSE OUR NEW PRECINCT.
BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IS, UM, SPLITTING THE PRECINCT AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO GO.
WE ARE DOING THAT INVESTIGATION AS WE SPEAK.
UH, WE ARE OUT IN THE FIELDS AND WE ALSO ASK HELP FROM THE DELEGATION.
UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPOSED PLACES, BUT WE STILL NEED PEOPLE TO SAY, YES, YOU CAN USE MY FACILITY TO, UM, AS A POLLING LOCATION.
SO WHAT THE BOARD HAS APPROVED IS JUST THE TOTAL, THE JUST THE, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS PER PRECINCT, CORRECT? RIGHT.
[00:10:01]
THE, THE, THE CHANGE IN LOCATIONS OR ANY OF THAT.WE JUST HAVE TO GET THE PROCESS STARTED.
ANYBODY GOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS WITH MY QUESTIONS, SIR? YOU TOOK MY QUESTION.
UM, WE HAVE A, UH, PARK AND REC DEVELOPMENT FUND REQUEST INFORMATION IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET.
LOOKS LIKE THE CARD, UH, COUNTY BALANCE IS $28,120 AND 44 CENTS.
LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ONE REQUEST FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
IT'S ACTUALLY A $60,000 REQUEST FOR A MATCHING RESTROOM FACILITY.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION, MOTION, THOUGHTS, CONSIDERATION? SO GIMME A NUMBER THAT YOU WANT.
OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR 60 GRAND.
WE ONLY HAVE $28,120 AND 44 CENTS.
YOU WANNA DO 25 OR 28? I MEAN, I'D HATE TO DO IT.
AND THEN BE AN ACCOUNTING ERROR.
MOVES THE ALLOCATION OF $26,000 TOWARDS, UM, THE TOWN OF IN'S NEW RIVER TRAIL RESTROOM.
SHELTER FROM PAR CLASS A FUNDS.
IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, MS. ERICKSON.
ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.
NEXT ITEM IS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO THE BLUFFTON FIRE DISTRICT.
1% BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT INFORMATION IS IN YOUR PACKET.
THERE ARE FOUR NAMES THAT HAVE BEEN ADVANCED FOR THE FOUR SPOTS.
UM, THIS IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF, UM, FIREMAN'S INSURANCE AND INSPECTION FUND AND UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES COMPOSED OF THE TREASURER OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH A GREATER PART OF THE COMMUNITY IS LOCATED, AND ANY RESIDENCE OF THE COMMUNITY AS MAY BE APPOINTED BY THE TREASURER ON RECOMMENDATION BY MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
THE APPLICATIONS FOR EACH OF THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS ARE INCLUDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? MOTION? I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE NOMINATIONS.
THAT'S RICK CRO, TERRY, SHERIFF THOMAS LAMB AND JASON, UH, BRAHE? YES.
ANY, UH, FURTHER DISCUSSION, COMMENT, HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, SAY AYE.
YOU GOT THE NOMINATION FORMS FORM, RIGHT? I DO, SIR.
WELL, THE NEXT IS MS. ERICKSON.
I'M GONNA ACTUALLY CALL ON YOU.
IT'S CONSIDERATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.
AND BEFORE I DO THAT, IF YOU ALL WILL RECALL AT OUR LAST MEETING, UM, IN OCTOBER, UM, MS. ERICKSON HAD INDICATED, UH, A WILLINGNESS TO, UH, GO THROUGH AND VET ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAD, CONDUCT SOME INTERVIEWS, AND BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO US, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THERE WAS, IT'S NO FORMAL, UH, SCREENING OR VETTING PROCESS BECAUSE ALL EACH AND EVERY APPLICANT IS STILL, UH, SUBJECT TO CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION.
UM, BUT MS. ERICKSON WAS WILLING TO, UM, SPEND HER TIME DOING THAT.
AND I THINK MAYBE ONE OR MORE OF YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.
SO, WITH THAT, MS. ERICKSON, DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT POSITION? I DO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, WE HAD 55 APPLICANTS, MR. CHAIRMAN AND, UM, MANY, MANY VERY GOOD COMMUNITY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY APPLICATIONS, UH, I DID GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS ORIGINALLY AND, UM, CHECKED REFERENCES AND, UM, WAS ABLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO TALK WITH SEVERAL OF THE CANDIDATES THAT HAD, UM, RELATIVE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND, UM, WORK EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS THEIR PROFESSIONAL, UM, SERVICE IN THE MILITARY IN, IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
MR. CHAIRMAN WERE VETERAN OF ARMED FORCES, BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM ACCREDITED INSTITUTION, EXCELLENT.
VERBAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS, COMPUTER SKILLS, VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE.
UM, ONCE I LOOKED AT THOSE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 30 APPLICATIONS THAT MET ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS, AND I WENT THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THOSE AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH
[00:15:01]
A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM.UM, I BELIEVE SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION DID IN FACT HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS.
AND I, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK HOW MANY, ALL THE, ALL THE FOLKS WHO APPLIED, WE HAD A VERY ROBUST, UH, INTEREST IN THIS POSITION.
AND WITH THE NUMBER OF VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITY, IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE THE INTEREST AND THE PASSION THAT SO MANY HAD.
UM, AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE PERSON IN MY OPINION THAT I WOULD LIKE, UM, TO DISCUSS WITH YOU WHO KIND OF ROSE TO THE, TO THE TOP.
AND, UM, SHE IS A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS, UM, WAS ACTUALLY, UH, RAISED HERE, WAS OFTEN THE MILITARY, UM, FOR A GOOD PART OF HER LIFE, CAME BACK INTO THE LOCAL AREA AND HAS HELD MANY POSITIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MOST OF THEM DEALING WITH VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES OR MILITARY ISSUES.
UH, HER DEGREES ARE, UH, SHE HAS A DOCTORATE OF, UH, AND, AND THREE MASTERS.
AND HER TO SAY HER COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE EXCELLENT WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
UM, SHE IS A RETIRED MAJOR FROM THE MARINE CORPS.
AND MS. CAROLINE, UH, EXCUSE ME, DR.
CAROLINE FURMAN, UM, IS PROBABLY, IN MY ESTIMATION, THE MOST PROMINENT CHOICE FOR THE POSITION.
UM, AGAIN, I'LL TELL YOU, WE HAD MANY, BUT CAROLINE'S WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND KNOWING THE VETERANS, UH, GROUPS ALREADY BEING PART OF THOSE VETERANS GROUPS, ALREADY KNOWING THE, THE COUNTY AND STATE GOVERNMENT PROCESSES VERY WELL, AND HER EXTENSIVE WORK WITH OUR BASIS HERE LOCALLY, KIND OF TIP THE SCALE FOR ME.
SO, UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND IF I COULD, THAT YOU WOULD ALL CONSIDER DR.
CAROLINE FURMAN FOR THE NEW VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE DIRECTOR.
UM, SHE COMES HIGHLY, UH, REGARDED FROM HER PEERS AND THE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH HER ON A DAILY BASIS.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, SIR.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION? YES, SIR.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS WITH MRS. ERICKSON, AND, UH, I CONCUR WITH WHAT SHE WAS SAYING ABOUT DR.
FERMAN AND JUST WANTED TO THROW THE 2 CENTS IN.
WE HAD, WE ACTUALLY BOILED IT, IT DOWN TO FOUR DIRECT INTERVIEWS, AND ALL FOUR OF THE PEOPLE WERE OUTSTANDING, BUT SHE DID RISE TO THE TOP, SO JUST THROWING THAT IN.
OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, OR THOUGHTS? AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE CURRENT, UM, DIRECTOR'S POSITION IS THE APPOINTMENT IS, UM, UH, UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS CH CHOSEN BY THE DELEGATION AND ASSUMED THE DUTIES, OR JUNE 30TH, 2023, WHICHEVER OCCURS EARLIER.
AND MS. ERICKSON, I THINK YOUR APPOINT YOUR IDEA IS THAT THIS WOULD BE A, THE, THE NEW TWO YEAR TERM BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023, TO ALLOW FOR THE YES, SIR.
UM, MISS MR. LER HAS WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY IN THAT OFFICE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE HE HAS AGREED TO STAY ON AND ALLOW FOR THAT TRANSITION TO GO SMOOTHLY.
WELL, UM, WITH THAT, UH, BEING OFFERED IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENT? UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DR.
UM, AND LET ME JUST NOTE THAT WHILE WE'RE HERE WITH THE UNANIM UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF DR.
FURMAN, AND I'M DELIGHTED OF HER WILLINGNESS TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY TAKING CARE OF OUR VETERANS IN BUFORT COUNTY, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS AS IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS A, A VERY IMPORTANT POSITION.
SO EXCITED ABOUT HER BEING THERE AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING, UH, PAUL LER HAS DONE DURING HIS TENURE.
FURMAN WAS A MEMBER OF OUR, UH, VOTER REGISTRATION BOARD.
WITH THIS APPOINTMENT AND DUAL OFFICE HOLDING, SHE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY RATHER THAN HAVE A SINGLE OPENING.
A NOTE THAT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES APPOINTMENTS OR REAPPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE TODAY, THE OPENINGS WERE NOT, THAT WERE ADVERTISED, WERE NOT IDENTIFIED SEAT SPECIFIC.
[00:20:01]
TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, UM, BECAUSE THOSE, A NUMBER OF VACANCIES WERE ALREADY NOTED.SO IT WOULD BE MY THOUGHT THAT PERHAPS WHEN WE GET TO THAT, MAYBE SOME THOUGHT OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED TO FILLING THAT SPOT FROM THE LIST OF INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AS WELL, SO THAT WE'RE NOT, AGAIN, LEFT WITH A BOARD THAT HAS LESS THAN A FULL COMPLIMENT.
SO, UM, BUT WE CAN GET THERE WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE GET THERE.
SO, NEXT, UH, ITEM, UH, IS CONSIDERATION OF BOARD'S, COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.
AND FIRST ON THAT LIST IS THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
THOUGHTS, COMMENTS? MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD, IF I, I COULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ELECTION, UH, HAVE THE SEAT HELD BY DR.
CAROLINE FURMAN, UM, COME TO US AT THIS POINT AS, UM, A RESIGNATION PENDING HER ACCEPTANCE OF HER NEW POSITION, AND ALLOW US TO PUT A ANOTHER SURE.
PPLICANT, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE, RATHER THAN, I MEAN, FOR TOO LONG, WE END UP WITH VACANCIES THAT GO UNFILLED UNTIL WE CAN TRY TO GET THIS GROUP TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE TO DO THIS.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU NEED A MOTION TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT, UM, IT'LL PROBABLY MAKES SENSE TO GO ON AND IDENTIFY THAT AS A, A VACANT POSITION OR A RESIG A RESIGNED POSITION EFFECTIVE, UM, AT THE POINT IN TIME THAT THE NEW ROLE ASSUME SO A DELAYED APPOINTMENT, SO, CORRECT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE END UP WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF VACANCIES.
UM, WE WOULD END UP WITH TWO VACANCIES, ONE RESIGNATION TO COME AND, UM, THREE POTENTIAL REAPPOINTMENTS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY SIX PEOPLE OR APPOINTMENTS? THAT'S CORRECT, YES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WITH THAT, I, I WOULD DUNNO IF YOU WANNA HANDLE EACH POSITION SEPARATELY OR IF YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN THAT I COULD, UH, SUBMIT TO YOU A SLATE.
I, I, THEN I WOULD, I'M OKAY WITH A SLATE.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU AS, WHERE'S THE SLATE? WELL, SHE HADN'T DONE IT YET.
I, I WAS GOING TO CONSIDER US DOING THE REAPPOINTMENTS FIRST, AND THEN SINCE THOSE THREE PEOPLE, UM, WE COULD DO THAT.
I'M GONNA SHOW THAT'S WHAT YOU MINE.
ALONG WITH THIS, AND THIS IS JUST MY SUGGESTION, UM, I SUGGEST, UH, THE VACANCY FROM THE RESIGNATION OF MS. JEAN FELIX.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE NOMINATION OF ELIZABETH LIZ JOHNSON.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE REAPPOINT MS. BEVERLY DOOR.
I WOULD MOVE THAT, UM, THE SEAT HELD BY MR. CLIFFORD.
HE BE REPLACED WITH MR. MATTHEW.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE REAPPOINT MS. BERNADETTE HAMPTON.
I WOULD MOVE THAT WE REPLACE MR. JIM ROWE WITH MR. DON LUCAS.
AND IN THE EVENT OF MS. CAROLINE'S, DR.
CAROLINE FURMAN'S RESIGNATION DATE, WE APPOINT MS. JAMES, MR. JAMES BACKER.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT FOR PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION? I'LL SECOND, BUT I JUST, I DO WANNA LOOK THROUGH THESE REALLY QUICK.
BUT THE MOTIONS MADE PROPERLY.
IT'S FROM NOW END THE DISCUSSION, MR. PEPPERS.
YEAH, I WAS HOPEFULLY GET US TO CONSIDER MR. JOHN AVENUE AS ONE OF THOSE, UH, SIX PEOPLE IN ADDITION TO, UM, BEEN EXCELLENT CHOICE.
HE'S, HE'S A FORMER MARINE AND I THINK WOULD BRING SOME BALANCE ON THIS SIDE.
I IF WE COULD PUT HIM THERE, EITHER, EITHER, EITHER FOR MS UM SHERMAN OR SOME SOMEWHERE JUST TO BRING SOME BALANCE.
I DON'T, HE WOULD BE A NEW APPOINTMENT.
UM, MR. ABNEY IS A, UH, A NEW APPLICATION.
AND THAT'S A NORTHERN, THAT'S, IS HE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY? SEABROOK, SOUTH SEABROOK AREA.
AND THERE, YOU KNOW, THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE ARE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, NOT LESS THAN FIVE, NOT MORE THAN NINE, AT
[00:25:01]
LEAST ONE APPOINTEE ON THE BOARD SHALL BE A MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY POLITICAL PARTY REPRESENTED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.AND AT LEAST ONE APPOINTEE SHALL BE A MEMBER OF THE LARGEST MINORITY POLITICAL PARTY REPRESENTED IN, UM, IN, IN COLUMBIA.
I, YOU KNOW, I I WILL SAY JUST MR. RIVERS, I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR, UH, COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THAT THE IDENTIFICATION OF FOLKS TODAY HAS BEEN, UM, WHAT APPEARS TO BE CLOSE TO A FIVE FOUR SPLIT, BUT HEAVY NORTHERN PARTICIPATION IN THE COUNTY WITH NOT A LOT, UM, THE, UM, IN FACT, ONLY A COUPLE OF THE NINE FROM THE SOUTHERN TIP OF HILTON HEAD.
I MISS, UM, UH, ERICKSON, YOUR, YOUR MOTION INCLUDED ONE FROM SIS.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTY, UM, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD TAKE THREE IN THE NORTH, THREE IN THE SOUTH.
AND THEN I GUESS WITH THE OTHER APPOINTMENT ON HILTON HEAD WOULD TAKE, UH, WOULD BE THREE, THREE AND THREE.
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF THE BASIS OF, OF MY RECOMMENDATION.
UM, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO, TO SUPPORT, UM, MS. ERICKSON'S PROPOSED SLATE WITH ONE, ONE EXCEPTION.
I, I NOTICED IN THE APPLICATION, UM, A GENTLEMAN NAMED HERBERT FORD ON HILTON HEAD HAS SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION.
UM, HE IS, UH, DEMOCRATICALLY AFFILIATED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
UM, HIS RESUME IS, IS IN YOUR, YOUR PACKET THERE.
AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S A, IT'S AN EXTRAORDINARY RESUME.
UM, HE HAD 29 YEARS OF SERVICE, UH, IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IN SENIOR LEVEL SECURITY, COUNTER INTELLIGENT RISK ANALYSIS AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE.
UM, HE'S GOT AN EXEMPLARY RECORD OF, OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN THAT HE HAS SERVED FOR THE LAST, I BELIEVE IT'S 12 YEARS ON THE HILTON HEAD PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
AND HAS NOT ONLY SERVED, UM, BUT HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN SOMEBODY WHO'S ENGAGED IN, UH, THE DISTRICT'S, UM, BUSINESS, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK WE WANT, IS SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO ENGAGE AND BE INVOLVED.
I'VE, I'VE ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH HIM IN REGARD TO SEVERAL MATTERS ON THE NORTHERN PART OF HILTON HEAD.
HE'S INVOLVED WITH, UH, MITCHELLVILLE, HE'S ALSO INVOLVED WITH, UH, THE ST.
UM, I THINK, UM, HE WOULD BE AN IDEAL, UM, MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
AND SO, UM, AND, AND IN TERMS OF MS. ERICKSON'S PROPOSED SLATE, WHERE I WOULD SLOT HIM IS, UM, INSTEAD OF HAVING BERNADETTE HAMPTON, UM, UH, BEING REAPPOINTED, I WOULD HAVE HER REPLACED, UH, WITH DR.
UH, MR. FORD COULD POSSIBLY, THERE'S SIX SLOTS HE COULD POSSIBLY TAKE, UH, MS. CAROLYN, UM, FURMAN PLACE LATER, BUT I THINK WOULD BE NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO UTILIZE THE SKILLS THAT MS. DO AND MS. HAMPTON IN PARTICULAR, MS. HAMPTON, THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REMOVING.
I THINK THAT'D BE A BIG MISTAKE, MR. CHAIR.
FORD'S QUALIFICATIONS, I, I NO WAY MEAN TO DENIGRATE MS. HAMPTON.
UM, I'VE LOOKED AT ALL THESE APPLICATIONS OF AN EYE TOWARD, YOU KNOW, ON BALANCE WHICH INDIVIDUAL DO I THINK WOULD BRING THE MOST TO THE BOARD.
UM, AND IT'S JUST MY JUDGMENT THAT FOR THE REASONS I'VE STATED, THAT, THAT DR.
FORD WOULD, UH, WOULD BE THE PREFERABLE CANDIDATE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I MAY, I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW MR. FORD.
I HAVE SPENT EXTENSIVE TIME LOOKING AT THE APPLICATION SENT IN, AND I DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BELIEVE HE IS ANYTHING BUT HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
AND THE GOOD NEWS IS HERE WE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
UM, THE ONLY THING I WAS TRYING TO MAINTAIN WAS A LITTLE BIT OF BALANCE THROUGH THE COUNTY, AND THE, THE TWO WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE, HAVE SERVED REALLY WELL.
UM, I BELIEVE THE THE KNOWLEDGE THEY BRING TO THE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE NEW MEMBERS COMING.
I THINK THAT OUR DELEGATION HAS BEEN TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD AT NEW BLOOD AND, AND NEW EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO WITH KEEPING SOME OF THE OLDER EXPERIENCE THAT WE, WE HAVE SO THAT MAYBE WE WON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES TWICE.
AND WHILE I CERTAINLY DO, DO NOT DISAGREE WITH
[00:30:01]
THE SENATOR ON ANY QUALIFICATIONS, I SIMPLY LOOKED AT A GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE AND THAT WAS THE, THE BASIS FOR MY SLATE AND MOTION CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.CAN I, THIS CHAIRMAN, I CAN'T ARGUE WITH ANY OF THE QUALIFICATIONS HERE.
WHAT I CAN, I CAN'T ARGUE WITH IS THAT, UH, AS MS. MITCHELL TESTIFIED TO, THE GROWTH IS IN THE SOUTHERN PART.
AND, AND AS MUCH AS WE TRY TO KEEP THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, UH, COAGULATED TOGETHER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.
NOW, WE DO HAVE PROPER REPRESENTATION FOR THE NUMBERS THAT ARE, ARE THERE.
THANK YOU, REPRESENTATIVE HERB KERMAN.
UM, SO MR. DAVIS, YOUR SUGGESTION IS THAT THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S, WHO SECONDED YOUR MOTION, UH, BILL.
BILL DID, UM, WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN, UM, A MODIFICATION OF YOUR MOTION TO CHANGE, UM, BERNADETTE HAMPTON FOR, UH, HERBERT FORD.
UM, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT, ON OUR WAY IN? UM, HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, CONSIDERING THE CONCERN, MR. MR. RIVERS, WE CAN DO WHATEVER THE MAJORITY OF THE DELEGATION DECIDES.
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO AVOID IS ANOTHER SCENARIO WHERE WE END UP WITH VACANCIES ON A BOARD, AND IT'S OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY.
AND WE TRY, CAN'T EVEN GET EVERYBODY PINNED DOWN AT THE SAME TIME AND PLACE, UM, HERE AT HOME, WHICH IS JUST DIFFICULT DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UM, TO, TO TRY TO NO, I WAS JUST, I WAS JUST SAYING BASED ON PROMISE, WIN-WIN SITUATION, EVERYBODY IT'S POSSIBLE ARE LARGE.
RIGHT? WELL, NONE OF 'EM ARE IDENTIFIED PRECISELY BY, UM, UH, BY, BY AREA.
THAT'S JUST BEEN, UH, THERE IS SOMETHING ON HERE THAT SAYS SEAT BUFORT SEAT AT LARGE SEAT BUFORT.
THERE, WE DO NOT HAVE IDENTIFIED CATEGORICAL SLOTS FOR THESE FOLKS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIST TODAY, UM, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BALANCING THE VARIOUS AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTY THAN WE HAVE DONE WITH THE CURRENT LIST.
IT, IT, IT, I MEAN, IT IS NOT INDICATIVE OF THE POPULATION IN THE COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO THE POLITICAL PARTY, UM, AFFILIATION.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES IS, UM, AT LEAST ONE FROM A MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY POLITICAL PARTY AND ONE FROM THE LARGEST MINORITY POLITICAL PARTY.
I THINK YOU, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE GOT THAT COVERED.
UM, AND, UM, SO Y YES, SIR, MR. OGAR? YES.
IS THIS A WEIGHTED VOTE OR IS THIS A, UH, ONE-MAN, ONE VOTE? EACH ONE OF WAIT, IT'S A, IT'S A WEIGHTED VOTE.
UM, WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THE MAKER OF THE MOTION WOULD ENTERTAIN AN AMENDMENT TO THE SLATE TO HAVE HERBERT FORD, UM, UH, BE APPOINTED IN REPLACEMENT FOR BERNADETTE HAMPTON, BUT I WOULD MAKE THAT INQUIRY TO SEE IF SHE BE WILLING TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
MS. ERICKSON, SENATOR DAVIS, I'M JUST FOR YOUR EDIFICATION.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 APPLICATIONS FROM, FROM BEAUFORT NORTH OF THE BROAD.
WE HAD 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 APPLICATIONS FROM HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND ONE APPLICATION FROM CENTRAL, UM, WHICH IS THE CHI CHASSIS AREA.
AND WITH THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD EARLIER, IT WAS MY GOAL TO TRY TO, UM, ADDRESS, AS THE CHAIRMAN SAID, THE NUMBERS IN THOSE CERTAIN AREAS.
UM, I WOULD ASK THE MEMBERS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO, UM, CONSIDER THAT
[00:35:01]
REMOVING, UM, MS. CAROLINE FERMAN, WHO WAS A NORTH OF BROAD PERSON IN AND PUTTING THE CHEI PERSON THERE AND MAINTAINING THE TWO NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH ONE.UM, IF, IF YOU INSIST SENATOR, I CERTAINLY CANNOT, UM, WITH YOUR WAITING OF YOUR VOTE, I WOULDN'T, AND, AND IN CONSIDERATION THAT YOU ALSO HAVE MR. KEMPTON'S PROP, I WOULD NOT, UM, BE SUCCESSFUL ON THE, ON THE MOTION AS IT STANDS.
SO IF YOU WOULD INSIST TO ME, THEN I WILL BE HAPPY TO YIELD
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF, IF IT, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE, WHY DON'T WE DO THE REMAINDER OF THE SLATE AND, AND VOTE ON THAT ONE LAST, AS, AS OUTSIDE THE SLATE? WELL, WE CAN DO, WE CAN DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
SO I, I MEAN, I GUESS, UM, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER WE'RE GONNA AMEND THAT MOTION.
UM, UH, MS. ERICKSON HAS INDICATED AS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION, SHE'S WILLING TO DO SO.
UM, AT THE REQUEST OF SENATOR DAVIS HOLDING, OBVIOUSLY HIS, UM, UH, PERCENTAGE WA HIS WEIGHTED VOTING AND THAT OF SENATOR STON, I GUESS MAYBE SPLITTING IT THERE, I, WE COULD GO, UH, REPRESENTATIVE HERB K'S PROPOSAL THAT WE, UM, ADOPT THE SLATE AS RECOMMENDED BY MS. ERICKSON, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE BERNADETTE HAMPTON, UH, REAPPOINTMENT ISSUE, AND HAVE THAT DEALT WITH SEPARATELY.
MAKE MS. ERICKSON AS THE MAKER OF THE MOTION.
ARE YOU OKAY THEN WITH A MOTION THAT INCLUDES, UH, LIZ JOHNSON FOR THE FELIX MS. DORE REAPPOINTMENT SWEENEY FOR CLIFFORD, UH, DON LUCAS FOR MR. ROWE AND, UH, AT THE EFFECTIVE DATE, UH, MR. BOCKER, UH, BECKER FOR MS. FURMAN? YES, SIR.
MR. BESMAN, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT AS A SECOND? YES, SIR.
WITH THAT SLATE OF FOLKS BEFORE US, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I CLARITY NOW, SO WHAT HAPPENS SINCE AFTER THIS, WE ALL VOTE, WE GOING GET, WE GONNA TAKE THAT VOTE UP SEPARATELY? SO YES, SIR, IT WOULD, THE, THE MOTION WAS MODIFIED TO INCLUDE JUST THE ONES THAT I LISTED, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE UP THE, UH, THE MS. HAMPTON AND THE REAPPOINTMENT OR, UH, FILLING THAT SPOT SEPARATELY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? NO, THE AYES HAVEN'T.
SO NOW THAT BRINGS US TO THE, UH, BERNADETTE HAMPTON, UH, CONSIDERATION FOR REAPPOINTMENT OR APPOINTMENT OF, UH, CHAIRMAN.
SENATOR, UM, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE, UM, HAVE, UH, DR.
HERBERT FORD, UH, BE, UH, APPOINTED, UH, TO REPLACE, UH, BERNETT HAMPTON ON THE COMMISSION.
IS THERE A SECOND? ONE SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION, CONVERSATION, COMMENTS? UM, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S UNFAIR, UM, INDIVIDUALLY TO MS. HAMPTON AS WELL AS COLLECTIVELY TO THIS COUNTY BECAUSE SHE HAS A, A GREAT AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE.
UM, I'M NOT SAYING THAT MR. MR. FORD DOES NOT, BUT I THINK CONTINUITY AND EXPERIENCE SHOULD MATTER IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO BOARD OF ELECTION.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, UH, HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UH, THE APPROVAL OF DR.
FORD? UM, FOR THE SEAT CURRENTLY HELD BY MS. HAMPTON, PLEASE INDICATE SO BY SAYING AYE.
AND IF YOU, UH, MR. RIVERS AND, UH, MS. ERICKSON, THANK YOU.
IF Y'ALL WILL OBVIOUSLY NOTE THAT ON THE ENDORSEMENT FORM THAT'S COMING AROUND? YES, SIR.
UM, NEXT IS BRET JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION GOT ONE VACANT POSITION.
UH, THE INFORMATION IN OUR PACKETS INITIALLY REFLECTED.
WE ONLY HAD TWO APPOINTMENTS, THEN I THINK THERE WAS A APPLICANT'S A LATE APPOINTMENT, UH, APPLICANT.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS IN MR. CHAIRMAN.
WHEN, HOW LATE WAS THAT APPLICATION, MS. MAXEY? SATURDAY.
[00:40:01]
THE, THE BLOOD APPLICATION.WELL, I THINK THAT PROBABLY TAKES CARE OF THAT THEN.
UM, THE, UH, SO THERE WERE TWO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHIN THE WINDOW, UH, LOOKS LIKE ONE IS A FORMER COUNTY COUNCILMAN, MR. TABER V, THE OTHER IS ROSE, UH, SWEETWOOD DISCUSSION.
UM, JUST A, JUST A BRIEF COMMENT, MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANNA, I DID WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I KNOW MR. BOM'S, UH, APPLICATION WAS LAID.
I WAS MADE AWARE OF THAT TODAY.
UH, AND I KNOW HE CAN'T, IT'S NOT IN THE RUNNING, BUT I DO WANNA SAY THAT MR. BEHEM HAS BEEN A, AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS, UH, UH, OF THE COUNTY.
HE'S HEADED UP THE, UH, LITTER CONTROL AND, UH, AND BEEN A VOLUNTEER IN, IN MANY THINGS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST GO ON RECORD TO SAY THAT MR. BOHAM IS A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, BUT IF WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT HE, UH, CAME IN TOO LATE.
WELL, I, I'M, UM, HOPEFULLY WE WILL, UH, ENCOURAGE HIS PARTICIPATION IN OTHER AREAS.
I, I AM AWARE OF HIS, UH, EXTENSIVE VOLUNTEERISM AS WELL IN THE COUNTY.
AND WE'RE LUCKY THAT SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO OFFER THEIR TIME AND TALENTS, UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A CHALLENGE TO BE ABLE TO BILL THOSE.
SO, UH, IS THERE A MOTION DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? MR. OB? YOU GOT A MOTION? YEAH.
MOVE THAT WE, UH, UH, ACCEPT ROBERTS TABLE BOX.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THAT'S FOR THE BEAUFORT JASPER HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION? YES, SIR.
COMPLETING A FOUR YEAR TERM THAT BEGAN JUNE 30 22, EXPIRING JUNE 30, 26 FOR THE VACANCY OF DR.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF I COULD PLEASE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK MS. BANNER.
SHE, SHE SERVED EXEMPLARY ON THAT COMMITTEE, AND I HATE TO LOSE HER FROM THAT, BUT I WANT, WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY SAY SHE WAS QUITE A DOMINEERING EVENT AND, AND, UH, ENTHUSIASTIC MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MR. TABOR VA'S APPOINTMENT WILL SAY AYE.
MR. MACKEY DOES NOT SEEK REAPPOINTMENT.
UM, WE HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS TO DATE MS. MARTIN FOR A REAPPOINTMENT.
JENNIFER COBB HAYES FOR, UH, APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANT SEAT.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS? MOTIONS.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I DID MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT, UH, THE APPLICATIONS OF MRS. MELISSA MARTIN AND DR.
JENNIFER COBB HAYES FOR THE FOSTER CARE REVIEW.
BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE, UH, DR.
HAYES WILL COMPLETE THE FOUR YEAR TERM OF HER PREDECESSOR, JIMMY MACKIE, THAT BEGAN ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2018.
DECEMBER 31ST, 2026 IT LOOKS LIKE.
FOUR YEAR TERM THAT WOULD'VE STARTED IN 2218 TO 2226.
AND THEN MELISSA MARTIN, FOUR YEAR TERM BEGAN DECEMBER 31, 22 AND EXPIRES ON ON 26TH IF REAPPOINTED CORRECT.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND.
DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
UH, MOVING ALONG, BEAUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ONE VACANT POSITION AND, UM, TWO EXPIRED TERMS. FIVE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
MR. HARPER, DO YOU HAVE THAT SLATE? HUH? DO YOU HAVE THAT SLATE? OH, YEAH.
UM, THANK MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS LOOKING AT THE, UH, SIGNATURE PAGE HERE.
UH, CHAIRMAN, I, I MOVE, I WOULD MOVE AS A SLATE THAT WE REAPPOINT, UM, MR. SCHULTZ AND MR. BELL AND ADD, UH, JEFF ACKERMAN AS THE, UH, NEW APPOINTEE.
[00:45:01]
NOMINEE ORIGINALLY WAS, UH, UH, PERCY BARRY.HOWEVER, WE GOT A, WE DID RECEIVE A SUBSEQUENT LETTER FROM MR. PASSMAN, UH, THAT THEY WOULD, UH, THEY WOULD ENTERTAIN, WOULD, UH, WELCOME MR. ACKERMAN AS THE, UH, DESIGNEE.
ALRIGHT, SIR, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UH, IS THERE A SECOND TO MR. HERMAN'S MOTION? SECOND.
SO THAT'S THE REAPPOINTMENT, MR. SCHULTZ REAPPOINTMENT, UH, MR. BELL, UM, AND APPOINT JEFF ACKERMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, PLEASE SAY AYE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS PRETTY EASY.
UM, WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY AND INDIVIDUALLY FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE WEALTH OF FOLKS IN OUR COUNTY THAT HAVE TIME AND TALENTS TO CONTRIBUTE.
UH, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION, AND I'M SAD TO SAY THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE APPLICATION THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED FOR FIVE VACANCIES.
I THINK THAT'S INDICATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FOR THE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AND LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, WE MADE IN THE HOUSE, UH, AND I BELIEVE IN THE SENATE, SENATOR DAVIS CON CONFIRMED THAT WOULD, UH, WE'VE MADE THIS THE YEAR FOR MENTAL HEALTH THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE YEARS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH I THINK IS CRITICALLY, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AFTER THE PANDEMIC AND JUST IN GENERAL.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO THE, TO SAY THAT WE, ONCE WE PASSED THIS, THAT WE WORKED SOME OF THE, UH, WORK ON SOME OF THE OTHER, UH, APPLICANTS, UH, FOR SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, BOARDS AND AUTHORITIES TO POSSIBLY, UH, SERVE ON THIS BOARD.
SO, UH, IF THE, UH, IF THE DELEGATION WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE APPRECIATED BY I THINK THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, NOTEWORTHY, THE GENTLEMAN WE SPOKE TO A MINUTE AGO, UH, RANDY BOEHM, THAT WHO'S SO INVOLVED, HE HAS A, A, A BACKGROUND IN THE, IN THE HEALTH ARENA IN SOME FORM OR FASHION ON THE BUSINESS SIDE, CERTAINLY.
AND, UM, HE MIGHT BE AN IDEAL, UH, CANDIDATE WHO MIGHT BE WILLING TO DO YES.
SO, AND WE CAN, WE CAN PROBABLY DO THAT IN AS A GROUP IN COLUMBIA.
SO WITH THAT, MR. HERMAN'S MOTION IS TO REAPPOINT DR.
TOM MILLER, THE LOAN, UH, APPLICANT RECEIVED TODAY.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE AYE HAVE IT, UH, LOW COUNTRY RESORT ISLAND AND TOURISM COMMISSION? WE HAVE, UH, ONE EXPIRED TERM, MR. JONATHAN SULLIVAN.
HE'LL BE COMPLETING A FOUR YEAR TERM.
THAT'S AGAIN, JUNE OF 22 AND EXPIRED JUNE OF 26 IF REAPPOINTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. DAVIS.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, SAY AYE.
THAT'S UNANIMOUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY AREA COMMISSION.
WE HAVE TWO EXPIRED TERMS. MR. JAMES BOOZER AND DR.
WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT TO NEW APPLICANTS.
IT'S KELLY LAMB, UH, AND ALSO MR. BOOZER AND DR.
TOOMEY HAVE, UH, SOUGHT REAPPOINTMENT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? MR. CHAIRMAN? I WOULD MOVE THAT WE REAPPOINT MR. BOOZER AND MR. TIMMI.
I BELIEVE THE BOARD IS FUNCTIONING QUITE WELL, AND WHILE I APPRECIATE, UM, MR. JOHNSON AND, AND MS. LAMB'S, UM, APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW, THIS BOARD IS AT A CRITICAL JUNCTION WITH SOME OF THE WORKFORCE ISSUES THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO OUR TECHNICAL COLLEGES.
AND THEIR EXPERIENCE MAY VERY WELL BE NEEDED IN SOME UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM.
I WOULD THOUGH, LIKE TO ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BECAUSE, UM, THEIR RESUMES ARE VERY STRONG.
UM, MS. ERICKSON AND SENATOR DAVIS.
UM, FROM HER INVOLVEMENT WITH LIBERTY LIFE CORPORATION OR LIBERTY IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA'S ALSO WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE, UH, LIBERTY FELLOW ASPEN INSTITUTE PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
[00:50:01]
GREAT TO HAVE HER IN THIS COMMUNITY.UM, UH, YOU KNOW, I, NOTHING THAT, UH, OR AGAINST MR. TOOMEY OR MR. BOOZER.
I THINK THEY'RE BOTH DOING A GOOD JOB AND THEY'VE BOTH BEEN THERE.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THEIR SECOND TERM.
SO, UH, I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE, UH, IS MUCH MORE THAN I COULD SAY OTHER THAN THAT.
UH, I HOPE MS. JOHNSON WILL STAY IN, UH, WILLING TO SERVE IN SOME, TO SERVE IN SOME OTHER CAPACITY, UM, IN THE COUNTY.
SO, WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MOTION, SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT AT ANNOUNCED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVING TAKEN CARE OF VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS ON OUR AGENDA, WE DO HAVE, UH, IDENTIFIED A BRIEF PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A COUPLE OF MINUTES OVER.
UM, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS US WHILE WE ARE HERE COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP? YES, SIR.
PLEASE COME FORWARD, GIVE US YOUR NAME.
WHY? I HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTY NEARLY 14 YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD.
I'M BEING REPLACED WHERE I COME FROM AND THAT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE.
HOW AM I GONNA BE NOTIFIED THAT I HAVE BEEN REPLACED? WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY.
I DON'T, I DON'T DOUBT THE AUTHORITY YOU HAVE THAT, AND I'M NOT QUESTIONING THAT.
BUT, BUT TO SHOW UP AT THIS SITE TODAY WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, A NUMBER OF THEM, IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH CALL.
BUT 14 YEARS OUGHT TO GET ME SOMETHING.
SO WHY AM I BEING REPLACED MR. ROW? I'M NOT GOING TRY TO SPEAK FOR ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION.
I I I WILL SPEAK TO THE, HOW WILL YOU BE NOTIFIED.
YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR ROLE IS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR BASED ON TRYING TO BALANCE THE CHANGE IN WHAT'S HAPPENED IN, WITHIN THE COUNTY AND POPULATION CHANGES IN THE GROWTH AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENT.
SO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WILL, WOULD NOTIFY YOU WHEN THEY GO THROUGH, THEY ACCEPT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OR NOT, AND THEY GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AS WELL.
AND THEN THEY WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.
AND I THINK IT'S CALLED INTEGRITY.
I SIT HERE AND I LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO, WHO CHANGED PEOPLE'S LIVES FOR REASONS THAT ARE COMPLETELY UNKNOWN.
AGAIN, THE MOST SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS BOARD IS BEING REPLACED AND ALL HE WANTS TO KNOW IS WHY I KNOW WHO DOES IT WESTON.
BUT I WANNA KNOW WHY MR. ROWE, AGAIN, I, I DON'T SPEAK FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE PROCESS AND TELL YOU THAT, THAT OBVIOUSLY THE DELEGATION MADE A DECISION BASED ON POPULATION CHANGES AND OTHERWISE, I, I WILL, WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE HEARD MORE THAN ONE, UH, OCCASION A MEMBER OF THIS ALLEGATION AND OTHERS SAY THAT WE NEED TO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO STAY FOUR, FIVE, HOWEVER, POTENTIAL TERMS COULD BE, WHETHER THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DISCUSSION, WHETHER GEOGRAPHY, WHETHER IN THE COUNTY.
I, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO, TO PARTICIPATE.
I I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN, IN SOME CAPACITY, UH, INTERVIEW.
MY LAST QUESTION IS ANYONE SITTING BEFORE ME WILLING TO TELL ME WHY I I CAN CHAIRMAN? UM, IN TERMS OF THE SLATE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY MS. ERICKSON, I LOOKED AT, UM, PARTY OBVIOUSLY.
CAUSE WE WANNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, A A A NOT ONLY A LEGAL BALANCE, WHICH WE DO, BUT I THINK A FAIRLY REPRESENTATIONAL BALANCE.
UM, I THINK WE ALSO, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN TRY TO ALIGN REPRESENTATION WITH WHERE GROWTH IS IN THE COUNTY.
UM, AND SO IN LOOKING AT THE SLATE PROPOSED AND IN LOOKING AT THE QUALIFICATIONS AS A WHOLE, THOSE ARE THE FACTORS THAT I USED.
I DIDN'T SINGLE YOU OUT INDIVIDUALLY.
I LOOKED AT HOW IT WAS IN RELATION TO THE OTHER SPOTS AND THAT'S HOW I ARRIVED AT MY DECISION.
TOM, YOU HAVE MS. ERICKSON, PLEASE.
I'M THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THE, THE SLATE AND IT REALLY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU PERSONALLY.
IT WAS ME LOOKING AT BRINGING SOME NEW BLOOD AND BRINGING IN THE, THE BALANCE OF GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
[00:55:01]
DO WITH ANY OF YOUR SERVICE OR ANYTHING YOU HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE ON THE BOARD.SO I WOULD THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AND APPRECIATE YOU SAW THE, THE WAY THIS WORKS.
YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN'T GET REAPPOINTED EITHER.
UH, MR. NEWTON, PERSONALLY SPEAKING, I REALLY WISH YOU WERE STILL HERE, UM, AS WELL AS MS. HAMPTON, BUT YOU SAW HOW THE VOTE WENT AND, UM, IF I WAS IN YOUR SHOES, I PROBABLY FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO CUZ THERE'S NO REAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.
UM, AND TO ME IT'S A LITTLE BIT DISRESPECTFUL.
THIS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A, A FINAL COMMENT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PROPOSED, UM, NEW PRECINCTS, THE NUMBER IS, UM, 32 VERSUS SIX 15.
SO WE ARE, WE, WE USED TO HAVE 15 PRECINCTS AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO 32.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL 32 PRECINCTS.
SO WHERE DID THE 16 COME FROM? WAS THAT NO, NO, I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ME HOW MANY NEW PRECINCTS WE WERE GOING TO HAVE.
AND THAT'S, THAT NUMBER IS 32.
ANY OTHER, UM, MATTERS COME BEFORE? YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAY, THIS MIGHT RENEWED AND ANNUAL MOVE TO COMPEL CINDY MAXEY TO, UH, CONTRACT FOR 10 MORE YEARS.
THE DELEGATION SECRETARY TO THE BEWICK COUNTY DELEGATION.
MY, MY ANNUAL, UH, AND RENEWED MOVE TO HAVE CINDY STAY FOR 10 MORE YEARS.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
HAVING, UH, HANDLED ALL MATTERS ON THE AGENDA, WE ARE ADJOURNED.