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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.[1. CALL TO ORDER ]
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.WELCOME TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, MAY 22ND.
UH, WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING? FOR OUR INVOCATION, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
WATCH OVER US TONIGHT AND GUIDE OUR ACTIONS AS WE REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORD COUNTY.
HELP US TO ACCEPT THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR CONSTITUENTS WITH COMPASSION, ALWAYS PUTTING THEIR INTERESTS ABOVE OUR OWN, AND NEVER SEEKING PERSONAL GAIN, STATUS OR PRESTIGE.
GUIDE US TO ACT WITH CHARACTER, CONVICTION TO LISTEN WITH UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL, AND TO SPEAK WITH CHARITY AND RESTRAINT.
REMIND US ALWAYS TO MAINTAIN A COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY AND RELIABILITY.
FINALLY, ON THIS MONDAY BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY, LET US HONOR REMEMBER ALL THE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS. WE ASK THIS AS YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS CONFIDENT IN YOUR GOODNESS AND LOVE.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
NUMBER FOUR IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.AND I'M GOING TO ASK A MEMBER TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
AS AS FOLLOWS, WE'D LIKE TO ADD AN ITEM THAT CAME FROM THE PUBLIC FACILITIES MEETING, THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WERE NOT AT THE PUBLIC FACILITIES MEETING.
THE ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE PUBLIC FACILITIES.
IT IS RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HIGHWAY ONE 70 WITH A TMS NUMBER, ALSO KNOWN AS 20 ACRES OF LAND NEXT TO THE CURRENT COOLER TRACT THAT IS OWNED BY OLDFIELD COMMUNITY.
THE SECOND ITEM IS UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE AGENCY'S BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS, AND REAPPOINTMENTS THE REMOVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE AND DEFERRING THAT APPOINTMENT FOR A LATER DATE.
THE OTHER ITEMS TO THE LIBRARY BOARD, THE TOWNSHIP FIRE BOARD, AND THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT'S WORKFORCE BOARD WILL REMAIN.
SO I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION AND SECOND OF THOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA.
UH, MR. MCKEAN MAKES THE MOTION AND MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE WITHOUT OBJECTION, THOSE AMENDMENTS WILL BE APPROVED.
NOW I NEED A MOTION, UH, FOR THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
MR. MCCLELLEN MAKES THE MOTION.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THE AMENDED AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- April 10, 2023 ]
IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL 10TH, 2023.MS. TABERNAC MAKES THE MOTION SECOND.
AND MR. MCKEN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
ANY OBJECTIONS? SAY NO OBJECTIONS.
AND BY THE WAY, UH, MR. DAWSON IS NOT IN HOUSE TONIGHT, BUT HE IS ONLINE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DO HAVE A FULL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO TAKE ANY ACTION THAT WE NEED.
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT ]
TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR FOR HIS REPORT.GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THOSE THAT ARE WITH US HERE TONIGHT AND WATCHING US, UM, ON OUR COUNTY CHANNEL AND OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
UH, WELCOME, UH, TO THE, UM, COUNCIL MEETING.
UH, A COUPLE OF, UM, ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING.
I WANTED TO FIRST, UH, RECOGNIZE A NEW HIRE, UH, FOR YOU ALL.
UH, MR. THOMAS HUGHES, UH, WHO IS OUR DIRECT, OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF BROADCAST SERVICES.
SO THIS IS THE NEW MR. SCOTT GREENS.
UH, SARAH AND PATRICK HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB IN RECRUITING, UH, FOR
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THAT POSITION.I'M GONNA TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU FOR 30 SECONDS OR SO AND LET YOU BRIEFLY TELL THEM A LITTLE BIT BACK THE BACKGROUND.
AN HONOR TO SERVE THE CITIZENS AND COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'M A NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN.
I COME TO YOU AFTER, UM, ESCAPING THE OVERDEVELOPMENT RAVAGES OF MY BELOVED ORRY COUNTY.
UH, AND LOVE IT HERE IN, IN BEAUFORT.
SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER IN MEDIA, UM, LOCAL BROADCAST, AND ABOUT 15 YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD.
SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE BACK IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOME EXCITING CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS.
SO HOPEFULLY OVER THE NEXT, UH, BEEN ONE OF MY GOALS FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW, IS TO TRANSITION THE COUNTY CHANNEL INTO BEING MORE THAN JUST A, THIS IS WHERE YOU GO TO WATCH A MEETING TYPE THING.
I WANT US TO BE OUT DOING SOME PROGRAMMING.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT ASSETS IN THE COUNTY THAT WE NEED TO BE FILMING AND HIGHLIGHTING ON OUR COUNTY CHANNEL.
UH, JUST A COUPLE THAT COME TO MIND AS THE PORT LO SOUND FOUNDATION, WE NOW HAVE PASSIVE PARKS THAT WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING, UH, ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL SO THAT FOLKS CAN GET INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE.
SO I WOULD INVITE COUNTY COUNCIL, IF THERE'S ANY ORGANIZATION OUT THERE THAT YOU FEEL THAT WE SHOULD FILM AND DO STORIES ON, THEN, UH, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO SARAH OR PATRICK OR MYSELF OR WHITNEY, AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO, UH, GET THAT SCHEDULED SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE THINGS.
SO WE GOT NEW PROGRAMMING COMING.
UM, OUR TEAM THAT, UM, SARAH AND PATRICK HAVE ASSEMBLED ARE VERY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON SOME GREAT, UM, SHOWS AND SOME CONCEPTS AND GREAT IDEAS ARE FLOWING THERE.
AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE JOB THAT THAT TEAM, UH, IS DOING.
I'LL BRING THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION.
YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT TODAY, BUT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE, UH, THAT CAME OUT THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, SOME OF YOU RECALL THAT A FEW, UH, MONTHS AGO, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
NOW, I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY THIS IS EVEN A STORY.
UH, YOU ALL ENTERED INTO A LEASE WITH A VOLLEYBALL, UH, GROUP IN THE OLD WAREHOUSE AT, AT THE DEPOT BEHIND THE EMS HEADQUARTERS AND ALL MM-HMM.
I DO RECALL TELLING YOU ALL THAT WHEN I PRESENTED THAT ITEM TO YOU BACK THEN.
SO, UH, I ONCE AGAIN, UH, THE MEDIA DID NOT PORTRAY THAT STORY ENTIRELY ACCURATELY.
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED Y'ALL TO BE AWARE OF THAT.
WE, UH, ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH ANYONE WHO IS A VOLLEYBALL GROUP THAT NEEDS SPACE TO PRACTICE, TO TRY TO FIT THEM IN AND PROGRAM THEM INTO THAT FACILITY JUST LIKE WE DID WITH, UH, THE ELITE VOLLEYBALL GROUP.
AND NOW WITH, UH, HOLY TRINITY, HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL, WHO THEIR GMAS UNDERGONE SOME RENOVATIONS AND THEY NEEDED A PLACE TO PRACTICE AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE USING THE FACILITY ALSO IN WORKING WITH THE ELITE VOLLEYBALL GROUP.
SO, FINAL ITEM, AS I ALWAYS DO, I RECOGNIZE NEW EMPLOY OR I RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES, AND I'M GONNA ASK KIMBERLY RUMSEY, UH, TO COME UP NOW.
I'M GONNA READ A BUNCH OF GREAT STUFF ABOUT YOU HERE.
SO, UH, THIS IS KIMBERLY RUMSEY.
UH, SHE'S, UH, WITH OUR PROBATE COURT.
SHE IS THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR POSITION IS THE GO-TO PERSON FOR INTRA OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS, TECHNICAL ISSUES, AND PRIMARY STAFF INTERFACE WITH OTHER BUFORD COUNTY OFFICES.
KIMBERLY PERFORMS AND SUPERVISORS ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE COURT, INCLUDING OFFICE BUSINESS MATTERS, FINANCIAL RECORD KEEPING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COURTROOM LOGISTICS, AND RELATED FUNCTIONS.
SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MANAGING THE UPCOMING PROBATE COURT RENOVATIONS, WHICH WERE VERY MUCH IN NEED OF, OCCURRING A LOT SOONER THAN WE WERE ABLE TO DO.
KIMBERLY MOVED TO SOUTH CAROLINA EIGHT YEARS AGO TO HELP SISTER FAMILY WHOSE MOTHER IS DIAGNOSED WITH ADVANCED HALLS ADVANCED ALZHEIMER'S, AND SHE ORGANIZES AN ANNUAL ALZHEIMER'S WALK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN ADDITION, SHE HAS A RESCUE MOM TO FUR BABY TYSON, HER BOSTON.
SO, LET'S, UH, I'M GOING TO TURN THE MIC OVER TO YOU.
WE'RE GONNA GET A PICTURE AND THEN EVERYBODY'S GONNA CLAP FOR YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
I APPRECIATE YOU HONORING ME AND, UM, RECOGNIZING
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MY WORK AND WHAT I DO IN PROBATE COURT.UM, I AM, UH, UH, INVOLVED, UH, HEAVILY WITH THE, UH, RENOVATION THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR OFFICE, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.
AND I THANK JUDGE GALVIN FOR TIPPING, UH, MY NAME INTO THE, TO THE HAT AND WAS CHOSEN, UH, TO BE RECOGNIZED HERE THIS EVENING.
SO FOR HER, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR HER TO GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT.
UM, AS MR. GREENWAY SAID, UM, OUR OFFICE, BASICALLY THE 1970S CALLED AND THEY WANT THEIR FURNITURE BACK
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE THREE NEW EMPLOYEES THAT ARE STARTING, TWO THAT HAVE ALREADY STARTED, AND ONE THAT'S STARTING IN TWO WEEKS.
AND, UM, WE'RE ALSO GETTING A NEW CASE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AS WELL.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALSO, UM, THERE'S NO, I IN TEAM, UH, MOST OF MY TEAM'S HERE TODAY, SO I'VE NOT BEEN WITHOUT THOSE GUYS.
SO I APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THIS EVENING.
AN SO THIS IS ANASTASIA JENKINS, SHE'S ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST WITH THE REGISTERED DEEDS OFFICE.
YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH US A FEW MONTHS, RIGHT? LESS THAN ONE YEAR.
WELL, I MEAN, ALMOST A YEAR, RIGHT? JULY, 2022.
UM, SHE HAS CROSSED TRAINING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE REGISTERED DEEDS DEEDS OFFICE, UM, WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HUMAN SERVICES AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCING MANAGING BUDGETS, RESEARCH AND CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SHE'LL BE A GREAT CANDIDATE FOR A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE REGISTERED OF DEED'S OFFICE.
UM, ALTHOUGH SHE'S ONLY BEEN WITH THE REGISTERED DEED'S OFFICE FOR A SHORT TIME, SHE HAS PROVEN HERSELF TO BE INDISPENSABLE IN HER WORK ETHIC, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND SHE IS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE BURE COUNTY EMERGING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT IS, UH, THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT WAS, UH, INITIATED BY OUR ACA FOR ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE, MR. UH, UH, FRAK, UH, WHO SET THAT UP FOR A WAY FOR THEM TO WORK TOGETHER, UH, YOUNGER FOLKS THAT SHOW POTENTIAL FOR LEADERSHIP HERE TO BE FUTURE LEADERS IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
THEY DO, THEY MEET PERIODICALLY, THEY DO EVENTS TOGETHER, UH, THEY DO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS TOGETHER.
SO VERY PROUD THAT, UM, JARED HAS, UH, INITIATED THAT AND BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THAT OFF THE GROUND.
YOU ARE A MOTHER OF SIX CHILDREN? YES.
A 15 YEAR OLD, A 13 YEAR OLD, AN EIGHT YEAR OLD, AND A FOUR YEAR OLD NOW.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SHE HAS THREE DEGREES, A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN HUMAN SERVICES, A MASTER'S DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND IS COMPLETING AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN BIBLICAL STUDIES.
AND SHE SERVES AS A MINISTER AT LIFEHOUSE MINISTRIES CHURCH GUIDING AND SUPPORTING OTHERS IN THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.
I'M GONNA LET YOU SAY A FEW WORDS IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.
I'M CATCHING YOU COLD HERE, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GET A PICTURE AND PEOPLE ARE GONNA CLAP WHILE WE'RE GETTING OUR PICTURES.
I THANK MY OFFICE FOR, UM, NOMINATING ME, AND, UM, IT IS REALLY BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH BEAVER COUNTY SO FAR.
AND THEN OUR FINAL, OUR FINAL PERSON CANNOT BE WITH US THIS EVENING.
UM, MR. IAN WITH OUR GIS DEPARTMENT, HE'S A GIS ANALYST.
IAN WORKED FOR THE COUNTY FROM 2006 TO 2016, THEN LEFT THE COUNTY FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN CAME BACK IN 2019.
IAN SUPPORTS GIS, MOBILE APPLICATIONS AND WELL MAPPING APPLICATIONS.
HE HAS CREATED SEVERAL GIS FIELD COLLECTION APPLICATIONS MOST RECENTLY FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, LITTER CONTROL, AND MOSQUITO CONTROL.
HE WAS ALSO INTEGRAL IN SUPPORTING THE COUNTY COUNCIL REDISTRICTING EFFORT BACK WHEN WE DID THAT.
UH, ALSO IN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT TRACKING SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL WERE, UM, PRESENTED SEVERAL, UH, MONTHS AGO OR SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GO ON AND SEE WHERE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE IN THE PROCESS, IF THEY'RE, UH, UNDER REVIEW OR IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE OR HAVE BEEN CLOSED OUT OR WHATEVER.
SO, GREAT APPLICATION THAT IAN HELPED, UH, BUILD THERE
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ALONG WITH THE GIS TEAM.IAN, AND I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I READ THIS TODAY OR FOUND THIS OUT TODAY, IS GRANDPA TO THREE RAMBUNCTIOUS KIDS WHO MAKE LIFE SO ENJOYABLE FOR HIM.
UH, HE DOES NOT LOOK, UH, LIKE HE'S, UH, GRANDPA AGE, BUT ANYWAY, PLAYS GUITAR AS PART OF THE WORSHIP TEAM FOR COMPASSION CHRISTIAN CHURCH ENJOYS BEING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE PLAYGROUND, WHICH WE ALL CALL THE LOW COUNTRY.
HE LOVES THE HIKE AND KAYAK, ET CETERA.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND APPLAUSE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER GERALD DAWSON TO BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS RECOGNIZING MAY 22ND - MAY 27TH AS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK ]
AGENDA ARE TWO PROCLAMATIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESENTED BY MR. DAWSON, BUT MR. DAWSON COULD NOT BE HERE IN PERSON TO READ THAT, UH, PROCLAMATION.SO I HAVE ASKED COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM TO DO THAT INSTEAD.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM, WOULD YOU PLEASE DO THE PROCLAMATION FOR, UH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK? Y'ALL GOTTA COME ON UP HERE.
HOW ARE YOU? I'M NOT SURE I'M DOING FANTASTIC.
I'M JUST GONNA DO IT FROM HERE SO YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME FROM THE MICROPHONE.
WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY IS FORTUNATE IN HAVING A HIGHLY TRAINED AND WELL-EQUIPPED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, AND WHEREAS THIS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS STAFFED BY PROFESSIONALS, THEY EXPERIENCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND PARAMEDICS WHO ARE ON CALL DAY AND NIGHT.
AND WHEREAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IS VITAL PUBLIC SERVICE, AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TEAMS ARE READY TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING CARE TO THOSE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND WHEREAS ACROSS QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES THEIR SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY RATE OF THOSE WHO EXPERIENCE SUBTLE ILLNESS OR INJURY.
AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICES TEAMS, WHETHER CAREER OR VOLUNTEER, ENGAGE IN THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION TO ENHANCE THEIR LIFESAVING SKILLS.
AND WHEREAS IT'S APPROPRIATE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS BY DESIGNATING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK.
NOW, THERE BEFORE LET IT BE BESTOWED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL PROCLAIMS MAY 22ND THROUGH MAY 27TH, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WEEK, DATED 22ND DAY OF MAY, 2023, SIGNED BY MR. CHAIRMAN.
I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS.
UM, YOU GUYS HAVE HELPED MY AREA OUT A LOT AND I KNOW SOUTH BROAD, NORTH BROAD, YOU GUYS ARE ALWAYS ON CALL.
I COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB, SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF ALL THE EMPLOYEES AT BUFORT COUNTY.
MS. THANK YOU COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.
NEXT IS A PROCLAMATION THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE READ BY ME, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK MR. MACALLAN TO READ THAT PROCLAMATION AFTER I READ THIS SO YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AFTER I READ THIS, WHY IT'S BEING READ.
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2005, ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, MARTHA COCHRAN, A HISTORY TEACHER AT ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, DID SOMETHING NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, THE PRINCIPAL AND THE BUILDING SUPERVISOR, SHE REMOVED ALL THE DESKS IN HER CLASSROOM.
WHEN THE FIRST PAIR OF KIDS ENTERED THE ROOM, THEY DISCOVERED THERE WERE NO DESKS.
MR. CATHERINE, MS. CATHERINE, WHERE OUR DESK, SHE REPLIED, YOU CAN'T HAVE A DESK UNTIL YOU TELL ME HOW YOU EARN THE RIGHT TO SIT AT A DESK.
THEY THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE IT'S OUR GRADES.
SHE SAID, WELL, MAYBE IT'S OUR BEHAVIOR.
SHE TOLD THEM, NO, IT'S NOT EVEN BEHAVIOR.
THE FIRST PERIOD, THE SECOND PERIOD, THE THIRD PERIOD, STILL NO DESK IN THE CLASSROOM, KIDS CALLED THEIR PARENTS AND THEY TELL THEM TO TELL THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND BY EARLY AFTERNOON, TELEVISION NEWS CREWS HAD STARTED GATHERING AT THE SCHOOL TO REPORT ABOUT THIS CRAZY TEACHER WHO HAD TAKEN ALL THE DESKS OUT OF HER ROOM.
THE FINAL PERIOD OF THE DAY CAME, AND AS PUZZLED STUDENTS FOUND SEATS ON THE FLOOR OF THE DESK LIST
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CLASSROOM, MARTHA CATHERINE SAID, THROUGHOUT THE DAY, NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME JUST WHAT HE OR SHE HAS DONE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO SIT AT THE DESK THAT ARE ORDINARILY FOUND IN THIS CLASSROOM.NOW, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, AT THIS POINT, MARTHA CATHERINE WENT OVER TO THE DOOR OF HER CLASSROOM AND OPENED IT.
27 US VETERANS ALL IN UNIFORM, WALKED INTO THAT CLASSROOM, EACH ONE CARRYING A DESK.
THE VETS BEGAN PLACING THE DESK IN THE ROWS, AND THEN THEY WOULD WALK OVER AND STAND ALONGSIDE THE WALL.
BY THE TIME THE LAST SOLDIER HAD SET THE FINAL DESK IN PLACE, THOSE KIDS STARTED TO UNDERSTAND PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES, JUST HOW THE RIGHT TO SIT AT THOSE DESKS HAD BEEN EARNED.
MARTHA SAID, YOU DIDN'T EARN THE RIGHT TO SIT AT THESE DESKS.
THEY PLACED THE DESKS HERE FOR YOU.
THEY WENT HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD GIVING UP THEIR EDUCATION AND INTERRUPTING THEIR CAREERS AND FAMILIES SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE THE FREEDOM YOU HAVE NOW.
NOW IT'S UP TO YOU TO SIT IN THEM.
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LEARN TO BE GOOD STUDENTS AND TO BE GOOD CITIZENS.
THEY PAID THE PRICE SO THAT YOU COULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO GET AN EDUCATION.
BY THE WAY, THIS IS A TRUE STORY, AND THIS TEACHER WAS AWARDED THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF ARKANSAS IN 2006, AND SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF A WORLD WAR II, P O W.
SO IF YOU THINK THIS EMAIL THAT I GOT IS WORTH PASSING ON, I'LL BE GLAD TO SEND IT TO YOU BECAUSE LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR MILITARY AND THE RIGHTS THEY HAD WON HAVE WON FOR US.
[8. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION BY CHAIRMAN JOSEPH PASSIMENT RECOGNIZING MAY AS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH ]
MCALLEN, I'M JUST GOING TO READ THIS, UH, TO THE AUDIENCE.UM, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION SIGNED BY JOE PAENT, THE CHAIRMAN WE'RE ASKED FOR GENERATIONS.
THE FREEDOM AND SECURITY ENJOYED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE DIRECT RESULTS OF THE CONTINUED VIGILANCE AND SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES OVER THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT NATION.
AND WE ARE AS THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO SERVE THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING, AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT THEM HAVE PRESERVED THE LIBERTIES THAT HAVE ENRICHED BUFORD COUNTY AND THIS NATION, MAKING IT UNIQUE IN THE WORLD AND COMMUNITY.
AND WE'RE, AS TODAY, THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN BUFORD COUNTY EMPLOYS MORE THAN 21,000 PEOPLE AND HAS A TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER 2.5 BILLION ANNUALLY.
AND WHEREAS BUFORD COUNTY IS HOME TO OVER 50,000 VETERANS, AND WHEREAS IN 2004, THE US CONGRESS PASSED A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY AS NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY WAS SELECTED FOR THIS DISPLAY OF PATRIOTISM BECAUSE DURING THIS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY, MILITARY SPOUSE DAY, LOYALTY DAY, ARMED FORCES DAY, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND MEMORIAL DAY, WHICH IS UPCOMING.
WHEREAS ON THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, EUFOR COUNTY COUNCIL EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO BEAUFORD COUNTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR FREEDOMS. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED MAY, 2023 AS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH.
ARE THERE ANY VETERANS IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT? IF YOU ARE, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO WE CAN?
[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD ]
OKAY.WE ARE AT OUR FIRST CITIZEN COMMENTS.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE DO ONLY HAVE 15 MINUTES FOR COMMENTS.
WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON TWO SPECIFIC ITEMS. I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, BOTH INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 14 AND ITEM NUMBER 17 HAVE A CHANCE TO ADDRESS COUNSEL.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK MS. MARIA WALZ, OUR TREASURER TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK FIRST ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 17.
THE BUDGET COUNSEL IS CONSIDERING THIS EVENING WAS CREATED BY ADMINISTRATION.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FUNDING REQUESTED FOR
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THE TREASURER'S OFFICE THAT I DISCUSSED WITH ALL OF YOU IN MY APRIL 10TH PRESENTATION IN THE PAST MONTH, COUNSEL WAS ASKED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR A COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MERITS OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH WERE DENIED.I'M FORMALLY AND PUBLICLY ASKING YOU TO FULLY FUND OUR REQUEST, WHICH REFLECTS WHAT IS NEEDED TO CONTINUE OUR CURRENT STANDARD OF OPERATIONS.
THIS FUNDING WAS TO INCREASE THE STARTING SALARIES FOR THE ROLES IN OUR OFFICE SO THAT WE COULD RETAIN AND RECRUIT TEAM MEMBERS QUALIFIED AND CAPABLE OF SERVING OUR TAXPAYERS.
CURRENTLY, AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION ON OUR TEAM STARTS AT $17 AND 98 CENTS, AND REQUIRES A DEGREE AND MULTIPLE YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN FIELD, SIMILAR TO A BANK TELLER.
DESPITE OVER 150 PHONE INTERVIEWS IN THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO HIRE TWO TEAM MEMBERS AND AT A FAR HIGHER RATE THAN 1798.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT RETAIN OR ATTRACT QUALIFIED TEAM MEMBERS WILLING TO WORK FOR THAT AMOUNT.
IT IS RESULTED IN VACANCIES FOR MULTIPLE YEARS, REQUIRED SUPPORT FROM EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES AND A LOSS OF TENURED STAFF AT 54 CENTS.
ADMINISTRATION'S CURRENT BUDGET IS THREE.
A 3% INCREASE IS NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT PROVIDE THE QUALITY CARE OUR TAXPAYERS DESERVE WHEN THE CANDIDATES APPLYING ARE PREDOMINANTLY HOME HEALTHCARE AIDS AND WALMART CLERKS.
LET ME SHARE WITH YOU SOME CURRENT JOB POSTINGS.
A STOCK CLERK AT BUCKY'S STARTS AT $17 AN HOUR.
IF YOU WORK AT THE CAR WASH THERE, YOU START AT $20 AN HOUR ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS, IT'S S C D O T START AT $20 AN HOUR.
BEAUFORT COUNTY ITSELF HAS JOB POSTINGS RIGHT NOW FOR LIFEGUARDS, RECREATION AIDS AND ADMINISTRATION CLERKS PAYING UP TO 1856, ALL OF WHICH ONLY REQUIRE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY MY FAVORITE, K NINE RESORTS, A DOGGY DAYCARE ON ROUTE ONE 70 STARTS AT $18 AN HOUR.
OUR APPLICANTS CAN GET PAID MORE TO HUG A PUPPY THAN SERVE OUR TAXPAYERS.
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE CANNOT SUSTAIN THE TRAJECTORY OF OUR VOLUME WITHOUT IMPROVING THE SALARIES OF OUR TEAM.
THE SAME TEAM WHO HAS SERVED WITH DISTINCTION, THE SAME TEAM WHO TRANSITIONED OVERNIGHT DURING COVID CLOSURES, WORKED THROUGH HOLIDAYS AND OUTSIDE NORMAL PROCESSES TO SHIELD OUR TAXPAYERS AND BUFORD COUNTY.
FROM THE BILLING DELAYS CAUSED IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, THEY CALCULATED THE MILL VALUE, CAUGHT MILLAGE MISTAKES, ACHIEVED THE HIGHEST COLLECTION RATE ON RECORD, OR INTENSIVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR EVERY GOVERNMENT ENTITY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN INVESTMENT RETURNS AND WHO CONTINUE TODAY TO CONSTANTLY BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND SERVE OUR TAXPAYERS BETTER.
PLEASE RESTORE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR US TO KEEP BEING THE BEST WE CAN BE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY'S TAXPAYERS.
UH, NEXT I'M GOING TO CALL ON CADE YARBOROUGH.
HI, I'M CADE YARBOROUGH AND I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE FUSS ISLAND COUNCIL.
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE TOUGH TIMES MY FAMILY FACED DURING THE 2008 RECESSION.
UH, IT WAS MA WHEN IT WAS MAKING HARD FOR A LIVING.
MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NEVER HAPPENS TO THE ISLAND FAMILIES.
UH, AGAIN, THE STR R PROPOSAL YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING AT TODAY WILL HURT PEOPLE ON DE BUSK.
IT WILL, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO CAN AT LEAST AFFORD IT.
EVERYONE OF THE COUNCIL SURVEYS AND THE PUBLIC FORUMS HAVE SHOWN THAT OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ISLANDER SUPPORTS CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS.
I BELIEVE THAT COMPROMISE IS STILL POSSIBLE.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, COUNCILMAN LAWSON URGED US TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE AGAIN WITH OUR COUNSEL.
THAT NIGHT, THE DSKY COUNCIL MET AND I MADE A MOTION TO CHANGE OUR POSITION FROM SPECIAL USE PERMITTING TO CONDITIONAL USE, AND IT PASSED THREE TO ONE VOTE.
CHAIRMAN PICKNEY FALSELY ACCUSED ME AND ANOTHER MEMBER OF VIOLATING OUR BYLAWS AND CODE OF ETHICS AND REFUSED TO ACCEPT OUR ACTION.
MR. PICKNEY CONTINUES TO SEEK PUNISHMENT FOR BOTH OF US, FOR BOTH OF US, INCLUDING POSSIBLE REMOVAL FROM THE COUNCIL.
MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, BELIEVE HE IS OVERSTEPPING HIS POSITION OF AUTHORITY.
TWO WEEKS AGO, ERIC GREENWAY SAID, UH, OUR COUNSEL CAN'T HOLD TWO VOTES ON THIS ISSUE.
AGAIN, IT WAS MR. LAWSON WHO SUGGESTED THE ISSUE TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN.
THE FIRST VOTE MADE IN TW WAS MADE IN 2022 COUNCIL WHEN SEVERAL OF US WEREN'T EVEN SERVING.
MY MOTION HAD PASSED IN THE 2023 COUNCIL.
SO REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU WERE TOLD, THE OFFICIAL POSITION AT THE FUS GALLEN COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY IN FAVOR OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMANENT.
DURING THE MS HOWARD'S COMMITTEE MEETING, MR. LAWSON RECOMMENDED MOVING THIS PROPOSAL ONTO THE FULL COUNSEL, BUT ASKED THAT THE ISSUE BE DISCUSSED FIRST AT OUR COUNCIL'S MAY 16TH MEETING.
UNFORTUNATELY, CHAIRMAN PICKNEY DID NOT HONOR
[00:30:01]
HONOR MARK'S REQUEST EXPLAINING THAT SENIOR COUNTY STAFF PERSON TOLD HIM NOT TO BRING UP THE MATTER AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH MARK HAD REQUESTED IT.I DID NOT FOLLOW, OR I DID FOLLOW MARK'S GUIDANCE, HOWEVER, AND PROPOSED THREE DIFFERENT MOTIONS LAYING OUT VARIOUS COMPROMISES.
ALL THREE MOTIONS WERE DEFEATED BY THAI VOTES, I BELIEVE WE'RE VERY CLOSE TO A GOOD COMPROMISE, WHICH COULD SIMPLY SAY THAT ALL PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE GRANDFATHERING LANGUAGE.
THIS WOULD INCLUDE FOLKS THAT HAD ALREADY INVESTED IN THE DUSKY LAND BEFORE IT BECAME AN ISSUE.
OUR SIDE ON THE ISSUE ONCE TO WORK OUT A COMPROMISE, I ASK THAT YOU ENCOURAGE THE OTHER SIDE TO COME TO THE TABLE AS WELL.
HI, MY NAME IS LEANNE COULTER.
I'M A FULL-TIME RESIDENT ON THE FOSS ISLAND AND SERVE ON THE COUNCIL.
HOLD THAT MICROPHONE CLOSE WITH LEANNE.
UM, TRYING TO, TRYING TO BALANCE THE, A BUSINESS, UM, UH, THE NEEDS OF A BUSINESS AND THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.
THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT, AMENDMENT THAT YOU CURRENTLY HAVE ON, UM, SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON DUFUS ISLAND WAS PASSED BY THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL IN DECEMBER OF 2022, WITH A VOTE OF FIVE TO ZERO WITH ONE ABSTENTION.
UM, MR. LAWSON HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL TRY TO FIND A COMPROMISE.
A CO A SIGNIFICANT COMPROMISE WAS MADE LAST DECEMBER ON THE REQUEST OF THE COMMUNITY, THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND COUNCIL ASKED BEAUFORD COUNTY TO GRANDFATHER ALL EXISTING SHORT-TERM RENTALS RATHER THAN USING THE GUIDELINES THAT THEY HAD SUGGESTED FOR GRANDFATHERING, WHICH WOULD ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS FROM 2019.
AND, AND PRIOR TO THAT TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL OR THE FULL-TIME RESIDENTS ARE TRYING TO CREATE A HARDSHIP FOR ANYONE.
THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS UNRESOLVED IS THE PROPOSED USE OF SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
ONLY THE WORDING OF THE PROPOSAL READS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE GRANTING OF A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT IN THE RESIDENTIAL TRANSECT ZONES ONLY.
NOT IN THE BUSINESS, NOT IN THE MIXED USE.
THIS WOULD ONLY APPLY TO THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES.
ONE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT A BUSINESS AND OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE DEF THE RESIDENTS OF DEOS ISLAND FEEL THAT THAT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TO ASK THE USE OF A SHORT TERM.
UH, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH OTHER UNINCORPORATED RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF BEAUFORD COUNTY.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT TRYING TO LIMIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON THE ISLAND.
SHORT-TERM RENTALS WILL BE ALLOWED IN ALL ZONES ON DAUFUSKIE ISLAND, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NATURE PRESERVE AND AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
COMMUNITY PLANNING IS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
IT'S ABOUT LOOKING FIVE 10 OR EVEN 20 YEARS OUT AND ASK AND ASKING, WHAT DO I WANT MY COMMUNITY TO LOOK LIKE? I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT NO ONE ON DUSKY ISLAND WANTS THE SITUATION THAT HILTON HEAD IS NOW FACING.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO BALANCE, UM, THE RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY.
I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT.
THANK YOU TO THE DSKY ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COUNCIL.
JUST BEFORE WE START, POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE, IF THAT'S ALLOWED, I WANTED TO JUST SAY WE, THE, THE PARAMEDICS AND EMTS WERE HONORED EARLIER TODAY, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT EVERYBODY ON DUFUS KNOWS THAT WE JUST REALLY COULDN'T SURVIVE THERE WITHOUT THE, THE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE WHO COME OVER THERE AND KEEP US SAFE.
I, I HOPE THAT WAS OKAY TO MENTION OH, MY TIME, I GUESS.
I'M FORMER CHAIR OF THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL.
I WAS CHAIR, I WAS ON THE COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS.
I WAS CHAIR FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I WAS CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT, UH, REWROTE THE DSKY ISLAND CODED PLAN, WHICH IS ONE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND OTHER UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF, UH, OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND CONTENTIOUS SITUATION WITH THE, UM, UH, ON OUR ISLAND.
UH, I WAS ASKED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO, UH, BY MARK DAVIS TO SERVE AS A LIAISON WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, UH, ON THIS ISSUE
[00:35:01]
WITH SHORT TERM RENTAL OWNERS.I HAVE NO FINANCIAL INTEREST, ALTHOUGH THAT'S, I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF THAT.
I USED TO OWN DUFUS RENTAL GROUP.
UH, I WON'T BENEFIT AT ALL ON THIS, YOU KNOW, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, HOWEVER, IT'S RESOLVED.
WE ARE FEELING A SENSE OF DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND THE COUNTY AND THE DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE ROLE OF THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL AND WHAT'S GOING ON BACK ON DUFUS.
BECAUSE ON DUFUS, THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE RIGHT NOW WHO THINK THAT THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND COUNCIL IS SERVING THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN THEY, AND THE LOGO, THE SLOGAN OF THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL IS, UH, THE VOICE OF THE ISLAND.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN THE VOICE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE ISLAND ON THIS ISSUE.
UH, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A LONG, LABORIOUS PROCESS OF HEARINGS AND SURVEYS AND THIS AND THAT, ALL SPEARHEADED BY MEMBERS OF DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL, AND PARTICULARLY MS. LEE, UH, MS. COULTER'S FRIEND OF MINE CODES COMMITTEE.
EVERY TOOL THAT THEY SET FORTH TO DETERMINE HOW THE PUBLIC VIEWED ON THIS SHOWED THAT BY A MARGIN OF TWO TO ONE OR BY TWO THIRDS, UH, THE PEOPLE ON DUSKY, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES, MS. CALDER WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE, BUT INCLUDING FULL-TIME OWNERS AND PART-TIME OWNERS SUPPORTED CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING AND FELT THE SPECIAL USE PERMITTING WAS TOO ONEROUS FOR, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO OVER ON A BOAT, UM, AND GO THROUGH MULTIPLE, UM, UH, MEETINGS AND CULMINATING WITH THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MEETING.
UM, THE, UH, UM, UH, THE BURDEN IS TOO BIG.
YOU DON'T SEE MORE DUSKY PEOPLE HERE BECAUSE TO DO, TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND TALK ABOUT IT, THEY'D HAVE TO STAY OVERNIGHT.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO SAY TO YOU TODAY IS TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THIS, WHAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM THE DEOS ISLAND COUNCIL IS NOT REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF THE ISLAND.
WE ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE AND, AND WE THINK WE'RE VERY, VERY CLOSE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY IN SUCH A SMALL ISLAND, WE CAN'T COME TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS MORE, UH, REASONABLE AND, AND DOESN'T HURT PEOPLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M ON THE FUSSIER ISLAND COUNCIL.
THIS IS MY 13TH YEAR STARTING.
UM, FOR THE PAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE, UH, STR UM, AND THE PROPOSAL, WHICH YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF GUTOWSKI.
UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE CODES COMMITTEE DID NUMEROUS PUBLIC MEETINGS, SURVEYS, AND, UM, THREE OF THEIR SURVEYS CAME OUT.
TWO THIRDS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE FUSI SUPPORTS CONDITIONAL PERMITTING.
THE PROBLEM WITH SPECIAL PERMITTING IS FOR US TO COME, COME UP HERE.
UH, I MYSELF HAD TO GO THROUGH, UH, FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS OF COMING UP HERE JUST TO GET A ZONING PERMIT TO DO SOMETHING ON MY PROPERTY.
SO I KNOW GETTING PERMITS, GETTING LICENSES IS NOT EASY.
UM, I WAS GONNA SAY THE, THE, THE COUNCIL VOTED ON WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND IT DID NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE FOSKEY ISLAND.
UM, IT JUST, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE, THE COUNCIL DID THAT.
BUT I'M HERE TO SAY THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF OF TOSKI FAVOR CONDITION.
CAN YOU ADDRESS COUNSEL IN TWO MINUTES? THAT WILL TAKE US TO THE 15 MINUTE MARK.
I'M THE SPOKES CITIZEN FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE RENTALS, REPRESENTING 120 ISLANDERS.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE DUFUS STR R PROPOSAL THAT IS BEFORE YOU, THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A COMPROMISE.
AFTER THE DUFUS ISLAND COUNCIL HAD BEEN ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT CAP OR LIMIT STR IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, ANTI STR R COUNCIL MEMBERS IMMEDIATELY STARTED ADVOCATING FOR SPECIAL USE PERMITTING AS A WAY TO DETER THOSE THAT WISH TO ESTABLISH SHORT-TERM RENTALS ON DUSKY.
WE BELIEVE THIS PROCESS WILL BE WEAPONIZED BY A MINORITY IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT TO TRY TO LIMIT STR AS THOSE THAT ADVOCATED FOR THIS PROCESS KEEP REPEATING THAT THEY WANT LIMITS IN AN AREA OF ROUGHLY FOUR SQUARE MILES THAT NOW CONTAINS APPROXIMATELY 24 ACTIVE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
CAPPING OR BANNING STR WAS NEVER AN OPTION.
SO SPECIAL USE PERMITTING IS NOT A COMPROMISE FOR DSKY.
SPECIAL USE PERMITTING IS AN EXTREME POSITION.
IT WILL STIFLE PROPERTY SALES AND BUILDING, AS WELL AS LIMIT LODGING FOR DSKY ISLAND EFFECTIVELY KNEECAPPING THE ECONOMY.
THE DATA COL THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE DSKY ISLAND COUNCIL IS CLEAR.
TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT WANT CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING AS A RESULT
[00:40:01]
OF THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE DEOS ISLAND COUNCIL.THE LATEST, THE LATEST ELECTION.
FURTHER CONFIRMS THE ISLAND WANTS CONDITIONAL USE PERMITTING BY THE VOTING TO A MARGIN OF FOUR TO ONE IN FAVOR OF SPECIAL OR CONDITIONAL USE CANDIDATES.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DUFUS ISLANDS TO, TO SEE HOW VASTLY UNDERDEVELOPED THE HISTORIC TRULY IS.
I'M SURE THAT YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED THAT, THAT THE MOST RESTRICTIVE STR R REGULATIONS AND BEFOR COUNTER ARE BEING IMPOSED ON THIS COMMUNITY.
LAST, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CLAIMS THAT THIS PROCESS WOULD BE DONE VIA ZOOM.
I'D LIKE TO ASK IF THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
IS THIS A GUARANTEE? HILLARY AUSTIN, THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF DUFUS ISLAND AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
IF THIS IS NOT, THE PROCESS WILL PLACE AN UNDUE BURDEN ON ISLANDERS.
THE ISLAND FAIR DUFUS ISLAND FERRY SYSTEM IS IN A STATE OF COLLAPSE.
YET WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD A PROCESS THAT REQUIRES SEVERAL VISITS TO DE TO BUFORD BY RESIDENTS.
WITH ALL THIS UNCERTAINTY, HOW CAN WE VOTE FOR A PROCESS THAT CONTAINS ELEMENTS? SORRY.
OKAY, WE WILL END THE, UM, CITIZEN COMMENTS.
[11. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
WITH, UM, PERMISSION OF COUNSEL.I AM NOT SURE THAT WE NEED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE WE DID AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THE MATTERS RISING OUT OF EXCEPTION SESSION CAME FROM THE MEETING.
UH, AND I WOULD ASK COUNCIL MEMBER TABERNAC TO READ WHAT CAME OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IN THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINT MR. PETER CHRISTIAN TO THE GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT THE SOUTHERN GEOGRAPHIC REGION.
AND THIS WOULD COMPLETE THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, MR. CHRISTENSEN WILL BE APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS THAT MATTER HAS PASSED.
[12. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS ]
TO OUR LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.ANY REPORTS FROM ANY COUNCIL MEMBER, MS. TABERNAC? SO I HAVE THREE.
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES, MATT AND MS. HOWARD.
PORT ROYAL LIBRARY DESIGN WAS PRESENTED, UM, BY THE ARCHITECTS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE ANOTHER BRANCH AND FOR EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND ONLINE.
SUMMER READING KICKS OFF JUNE 1ST AND GOES TILL JULY 31ST.
AND NONE OF US ARE TOO OLD TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR.
THE THEME IS ALL TOGETHER NOW.
SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS STOP INTO ANY LIBRARY TO PICK UP YOUR GAME BOARD, START READING, OR YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT, START READING, AND THEN YOU CAN WIN PRIZES.
AND LAST YEAR THERE WERE A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS THAT WON PRIZES, SO IT'S NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU, UH, PARTICIPATE.
IN ADDITION TO SUMMER READING, THE LIBRARIES WILL BE A SITE FOR SUMMER BREAK CAFE PROGRAM.
ANY BUER COUNTY RESIDENT AGES ZERO TO 18.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ZERO'S ABOUT, BUT WHATEVER.
AND THE PROGRAM RUNS JUNE 7TH TO AUGUST 4TH.
AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE WHEN THEY FEED THE CHILDREN, IT'S, THEY'RE JUST SO APPRECIATIVE.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD LIKE WHAT THEY EAT, BUT THEY LIKE IT.
MY SECOND REPORT WAS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND I RECOGNIZE WE HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE, COLONEL GEIER AND MR. SMITH.
THEY HONORED STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT, AS THEY ALWAYS DO.
THEY AUTHORIZED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO APPLY FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GRANT APPLICATIONS.
THEY DID, UH, MR. GAIA DID A GREAT REPORT ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND CONSTRUCTION UPDATES.
MS. CROSBY REVIEWED THE 2324 BUDGET AND ASKED THE BOARD TO CERTIFY THAT BUDGET, WHICH THEY DID.
AND SHE NOTED THE BUDGET WOULD BE PRESENTED TONIGHT.
RODRIGUEZ AND THE BOARD MEMBERS TOOK A MOMENT TO THANK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING A REQUEST TO THE LEGISLATOR TO GRANT BUFORD COUNTY SCHOOL'S FISCAL AUTONOMY.
AND THEY EXPRESSED DEEP APPRECIATION FOR OUR SUPPORT AND THEY'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH US.
AND MY THIRD ONE'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THEY MET, WE HAD AN UPDATE ON SC D O T PROJECTS AND, UH, THERE WERE SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUES WE COULDN'T HEAR VERY WELL.
UH, PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECT, AND JARED COULD CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
THE REJUVENATOR UPDATE WERE IN YEAR SIX.
THE PROJECTS ARE MOSTLY COMPLETED.
AND THEN WE MOVED TO YEAR SEVEN SCHEDULE.
[00:45:01]
THERE WAS THE INFAMOUS ONE 70 TRIANGLE UPDATE WITH NEAR TERM PROJECTS TO GO OUT TO BID THIS WEEK.AND LOOKING AT THE OLD FIELD AREA AS WELL, CHAIRMAN GORDON REPORTED THAT HE RECEIVED KUDOS AT THE STATE MEETING, UM, ANNUAL MEETING THAT OUR COMMITTEE IS THE BEST CTC IN THE STATE.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT.
AND HE ALSO REMINDED ALL MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE THAT AT THE JULY MEETING, THEY'RE TO PRESENT THE SECONDARY ROADS IN THEIR DISTRICTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF ATTENTION.
THERE IS MONEY TO SPEND THERE.
SO, AND, AND HE RAN IT LIKE LOGAN DID ONE HOUR AND DONE.
AND HE COMES FROM MY DISTRICT, BY THE WAY, MR. LAWSON
UM, OUT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, UM, WE DO HAVE THE THIRD READING, AND THIS IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE, UH, AUTHORIZING REDEMPTION OF OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH IS A, A TAX SAVINGS, UH, TO OUR, UM, CONSTITUENTS.
AND THEN OUR NEXT FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING IS JUNE 19TH AT 3:00 PM RIGHT HERE, MR. THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE, UM, BOARD, UM, APRIL 27TH, THEY HAD THE RIBBON CUTTING AT FROG BOARD.
THERE WAS OVER A HUNDRED PEOPLE THERE.
UM, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT, JUNE 7TH.
ALL THE BIDS ARE GONNA BE DUE FOR THAT BUILD OUT AND PEOPLE ARE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S TAKEN PLACE FOR THESE AIRPORTS IS ALL THESE BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
WE'RE GONNA, UM, COORDINATE A SCHEDULE OF INTERVIEWS AND HAVE THEM MEET HERE AT THE COUNCIL AS WELL.
SO, AND THAT'S THE AIRPORT BOARD.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. CHAIRMAN? I, UM, MR. GLOVER, I'M GONNA ATTEMPT TO MAKE A, A REPORT AND I'M PROBABLY GONNA NEED, UM, SOME ASSISTANCE, UM, IN ANNOUNCING THIS.
UM, I'M THE LIAISON FOR THE BUER JAZZ WATER, THE SIOUX AUTHORITY.
AND THEY HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
UM, AND I NEED TO KNOW HER NAME.
UM, SO I NEED SOME HELP WITH THAT.
I JUST WANNA ANNOUNCE HER NAME AT THIS TIME.
I, SHE'S A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR BUFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I WILL MEET HER, UM, THIS THURSDAY AT THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING.
SO I NEED TO INSERT THAT SARAH, HER NAME.
[13. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ]
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS. UH, OUR FIRST IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS AMENDED.MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION OBJECTION.
MR. MCKALEN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THIS.
SEEING NONE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED AS AMENDED.
[14. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE ("CDC") APPENDIX B:- THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, TO AMEND DIVISION B.3, SECTION B.3.20 (CONSOLIDATED LAND USE TABLE AND LAND USE DEFINITIONS), AND TO ADD A NEW SECTION B.3.30 (OTHER STANDARDS) AND A NEW SUBSECTION B.3.30.A (SHORT-TERM RENTAL) TO ALLOW THE USAGE OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS AS A SPECIAL USE IN D2 RURAL, D2R-CP (RURAL-CONVENTIONALLY PLATTED), D2R-GH (RURAL-GULLAH HERITAGE), AND D3 GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND A PERMITTED USE IN D4 MIXED USE, D5 VILLAGE CENTER, AND D5 GENERAL COMMERCIAL ]
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.APPENDIX B, THE DSKY ISLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE TO AMEND DIVISION B THREE, SECTION B THREE 20.
CONSOLIDATE LAND USE TABLE AND LAND USE DEFINITIONS.
AND TO ADD A NEW SECTION B THREE, THREE OTHER STANDARDS AND A NEW SUBSECTION B THREE THREE, A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO ALLOW THE USAGE OF SHORT TERM RENTALS AS A SPECIAL USE IN D TWO RURAL D TWO R DASH CP, RURAL CONVENTIONALLY PLATTED D TWO R DASH G H, RURAL GULLAH HERITAGE AND D THREE GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND A PERMITTED USE IN D FOUR MIXED USE.
D FIVE VILLAGE CENTER AND D FIVE GENERAL COMMERCIAL.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN, MOTION HAS BEEN MADE.
UM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE FIRST TO SPEAK SINCE YOU MADE THE MOTION? ALICE, YOU MAY SPEAK FIRST.
UH, I WOULD, I AM SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE THIS WILL MIRROR WHAT WE ARE DOING THROUGHOUT THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY WITH SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT DSKY IS, UH, AN ISLAND AND, AND ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY FERRY.
I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE AS A COUNTY, UH, WITH ASSURANCES FROM OUR ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCOMMODATE, UH, THOSE SH THOSE, UH, SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATIONS AS BEST WE CAN WITH TECHNOLOGY.
AND, UH, SO THAT IS WHY I'M IN FAVOR BECAUSE THIS MIRROR IS WHAT WE ARE DOING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I'M, I'M PROBABLY THE OPPOSITE OF HER AT THIS TIME, SO IT'S OKAY.
[00:50:01]
THAT I AM MOVING THIS FORWARD, BUT I AM HOPING THAT AS A COUNCIL SOMEWHERE, UH, WE CAN, CUZ THE HUSKY IS SPECIAL, UM, YOU, YOU GOT TO WANT TO GO TO THE FUSS AND THEY DO WANT TO COME HERE.BUT, UH, THE TRANSPORTATION IS, IS AN ISSUE.
BUT IF THIS COUNCIL CAN MOVE OR CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF SESSION THERE ON THE FUSS KEY, UH, TO ME IT IS LIKE GETTING HANDS-ON INFORMATION, HANDS-ON PRESENCE.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT BETWEEN NOW AND, UH, WHATEVER THE LANGUAGE IS IN THIS ORDINANCE IS DONE, THAT WE CAN AT LEAST VISIT THE FUSS KEY AND, AND, AND RESPECT THAT COMMUNITY AND SAY, WE'LL COME TO YOU.
UH, AND AS MANY PEOPLE, AS MANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO WOULD WANT TO GO.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD WANT TO SUPPORT AT THIS TIME.
UH, THIS IS MY DISTRICT, WHICH, UM, I, UH, APPRECIATE THAT THE FACT THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE, NOW THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR OF REPRESENTING THEM.
UM, AND, UM, THIS IS, THIS HAS BEEN A, SOMETHING THAT HAS DIVIDED THAT COMMUNITY.
AND LET ME GO BACK AND GIVE YOU SOME, SOME HISTORY, IS THE FACT THAT THE, THE, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, LEGISLATURE PASSED LAWS THAT MADE IT, THAT YOU HAD TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE TO DO SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THEN WE PASSED OUR LAW HERE AND COUNCIL THAT SAID, YES, YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
THERE IS NO HOTEL CURRENTLY OVER ON DUSKY.
LOTS AND LOTS OF SHORT-TERM RENTAL, LONG-TERM RENTALS HAVE BEEN GOING ON THERE.
BUT IT MADE IT SO THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE THEIR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
UM, IN DOING THAT, WE REALIZE THAT OUR ZONING OVER THERE IS, IS LACKING, UM, AND WOULD NOT ALLOW YOU TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE, UM, IN THAT ZONING.
AND THE THING WITH DSKY IS, IS EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK ABOUT IT BEING, UM, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WE HAVE SPECIAL ZONING OVER THERE FOR DUSKY.
IT IS UNLIKE ANY PLACE ELSE IN THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW IT'S ZONED AND WHAT IS THERE, UM, IN OUR, IN OUR CURRENT VERBIAGE.
SO WHEN WE SAY WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTY, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE, AS MR. GLOVER SAID, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, UM, I THINK A LOT OF US DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYONE'S FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS OVER THERE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS A, A, AN ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE SAYING, OKAY, WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
EVERYBODY IS FOR SHORT-TERM RENTALS OVER THERE CUZ IT'S A WAY OF LIFE.
I MEAN, WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT 10 YEARS AGO THAT WE WOULD BE DISCUSSING THIS, THAT AIRBNBS WOULD EVEN EXIST? WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THEY'D RENT OUT THEIR, THEIR LIVING ROOM TO SOMEBODY THROUGH AN AIRBNB? BUT THAT'S HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH IN, IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
UM, THE PEOPLE OF DUSKY, UH, THAT I'VE BEEN AROUND AND GOTTEN TO KNOW AND, AND GOTTEN TO KNOW MANY OF 'EM, THEY ARE, UM, THEY ARE RESILIENT.
UM, THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
THEY, UM, ARE, ARE, UM, PEOPLE THAT PUSH FORWARD AND, AND MOVE THROUGH ADVERSITY.
UM, AND ALL THIS TIME I'VE BEEN HOPING THAT THEY WOULD COME, THE PEOPLE OF THE HUSKY WOULD COME TO AN AGREEMENT WITHOUT US HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS UP HERE FOR THEM.
MY MY THOUGHT IS THAT, THAT THAT STILL IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
UM, ONE THING THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED IN, WE MOVED IT OUTTA COMMITTEE.
I KNEW THAT THEY HAD A DSKY ISLAND COUNCIL MEETING COMING UP AND I SAID, OKAY, GO BACK AND LET'S HAVE YOU TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE DSKY ISLAND COUNCIL, UM, MEETING.
AND WITH THAT, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT CAME FROM, BUT, BUT MR. PINKNEY, WHO'S THE CHAIRMAN, SAID THAT HE WAS ADVISED NOT TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC AT THAT MEETING, WHICH WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTING TO ME BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO BACK AND THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
UM, SO REPRESENTING DFOS AND TRYING TO REPRESENT BOTH SIDES, AND YES, THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, PEOPLE THAT, THAT, UM, AND AGAIN, NOT, NOT AGAINST REYNOLDS, THEY'RE AGAINST, AS YOU HEARD HERE, IS VERY DIFFICULT TO PICK UP, IS CONDITIONAL USE RENTALS AND SPECIAL USE RENTALS.
UM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WHETHER THEY'RE ALLOWED TO USE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
IT'S ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
WHO QUALIFIES, WHO DOESN'T QUALIFY, UM, AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, KNOWING WHAT I KNOW AND KNOWING THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE FROM THE LAST TIME, UM, I AM MAKING A MOTION THAT WE MOVE THIS FIRST READING TO OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO GIVE OURSELVES, I THINK THREE MORE WEEKS, UH, TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT THIS.
AND AGAIN, KNOWING THE PEOPLE OF DUSKY, I'VE WATCHED THEM MAKE IT THROUGH SO MANY, UH, ADVERSE THINGS IN THE PAST AND, AND COME TO SOLUTIONS AND THAT PEOPLE CAN, CAN WORK WITH.
UM, I THINK THAT IS, IS WHAT CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN.
UM, SO AT THIS TIME, AGAIN, TRYING TO REPRESENT BOTH SIDES.
I'M NOT TRYING TO, TO, TO, TO, TO, UH, PICK ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, BUT AGAIN, TO TRY TO GET US BACK TO THE TABLE AND, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
[00:55:01]
TO MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.THE FIRST READING SECOND MOTION COMMENTS PLEASE.
MOTION AND SECONDED TO, TO MOVE THIS ITEM.
WHO WAS THE SECOND? I APOLOGIZE.
DULY MOTION AND SECONDED DISCUSSION OVER THAT.
ALL MY COLLEAGUES ON COUNCIL KNOW I DON'T HAVE A STELLAR TRACK RECORD.
UH, HAVING SUCCESS ASKING FOR DELAYS, UM, WITH REGARD TO ANY PROJECTS.
UM, BUT AT THIS ONE, I, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, UH, I DON'T CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE SPECIAL DESIGNATION FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS AS OPPOSED TO THE CONDITIONAL, UH, NOT BECAUSE I'M A SLOW LEARNER, BUT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION I NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
WHEN I WORKED SOMEWHERE ELSE WITHIN THE COUNTY, IT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HAVE ALL THE FACTS THAT I NEEDED BEFORE I RENDERED A JUDGMENT AND A DECISION.
SO I SUPPORT MR. LAWSON'S, UH, MOTION FOR, UM, MOVING THIS ALONG.
UM, AND I SUPPORT HIS REQUEST FOR A DELAY AND I WILL SUPPORT THAT, UH, MOTION OF MOVING FORWARD.
UM, MR. MCKLELLAN AND I SHARE THE SAME, I GUESS DILEMMA I'LL SAY I WAS GONNA ASK FOR MYSELF, MAYBE IT'S JUST ME AND MR. MCKLELLAN, BUT JUST A POINT OF EDUCATION FOR US AND IF I MISSED IT IN ANOTHER MEETING, I APOLOGIZE.
BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO ON THE CHANGES, JUST SO IT'S ON THE RECORD FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR ME TO COMPREHEND BEFORE I VOTE ON SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I'M TALKING ABOUT, JUST TO MAKE SURE NO, YOU'RE NOT ALONE OF THAT
SO, UM, AND I'M ANSWERING THIS QUESTION.
ROB MERCHANT IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF ANSWERING THIS QUESTION, BUT I WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION CAUSE I'M THE ONE AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU ALL DO THIS BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
SO THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF APPROVALS AND A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OR ZONING CODE.
AND THAT IS, IF YOU KNOW, IF IT'S LISTED THERE AND YOU COME IN AND SAY, HEY, I WANT TO PUT A A, A FARM ON MY PROPERTY AND IT'S AGRICULTURALLY OWNED AND A FARM IS A PERMITTED USE, YOU CAN DO THAT WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE.
SECOND LEVEL OF THAT IS SAYING THAT, HEY, SOME PARTICULAR THINGS ARE APPROPRIATE IN GIVEN ZONING DISTRICTS AS LONG AS SOMEONE MEETS CONDITIONS.
SO LIKE AN AUTOMOBILE GARAGE IN A GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT MAY BE APPROPRIATE AS LONG AS THE GARAGE IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 300 FEET FROM A HOUSE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO CONDITIONAL USE, YOU MEET THE CONDITIONS, YOU GET YOUR PERMIT.
SPECIAL USE OR SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS ONE STEP BEYOND THAT.
IT BASICALLY SAYS THIS MAY BE ALLOWED IN CERTAIN ZONING DISTRICTS, THIS TYPE OF USE, BUT CAUSE OF THE INTENSITY AND THE DEGREE TO WHICH THESE THINGS TEND TO OPERATE, THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE A BODY.
AND THAT BODY IS THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO HEAR EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN UPON A PUBLIC HEARING AND HAVE THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT USE IS APPROPRIATELY SITUATED IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REASON I RECOMMEND SPECIAL EXCEPTION OVER CONDITIONAL USE IS THERE'S NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF CONDITIONAL USE ITEMS YOU CAN HAVE IN A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IF YOU GO THROUGH THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION PROCESS, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE FUS GALL CAN COME AND SAY, HEY, WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT OF THESE ON THIS ROAD, WE DON'T WANT ANYMORE ON THIS ROAD.
AND THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CAN DECIDE THAT, THAT THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND THAT MORE THAN EIGHT OR NINE OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER WOULD BE WOULD CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THAT ROAD FROM STRICTLY RESIDENTIAL AND BE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT.
AND THEN THEY CAN STOP ALLOWING THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
IF IT'S JUST CONDITIONAL USE, UH, THE WHOLE STREET COULD TURN INTO SHORT-TERM RENTAL AND THE FOLKS THAT LIVE THERE FULL-TIME, UH, COULD BE DEALING WITH SOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS DO CAUSE PROBLEMS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
AND ON DUFUS GALLON WHERE THERE'S NO POLICE OR NO, UM, THERE'S NO AROUND THE CLOCK POLICE FORCE, IF PROBLEMS START OCCURRING OUT THERE, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE PERMANENTLY ARE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING RELIEF FROM THOSE SITUATIONS.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I SAY SPECIAL EXCEPTION ON THE FUSS ISLAND.
YES, IT IS INCONVENIENT TO LIVE ON THE FUSS ISLAND.
THE COUNTY IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION
[01:00:01]
TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO LIVE OUT ON THE PUS ISLAND FULL-TIME.TO HAVE THE CONVENIENCES THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE MAINLAND ENJOY.
THERE'S A REASON WHY IT'S HARD TO GET THERE.
THAT LIMITS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT GO OUT THERE.
SO SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS THE BEST COURSE OUT THERE FOR THE REASON THAT IT'S ON REVIEW AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS REQUIRED.
AND TWO, IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IN ALL OTHER ZONING DISTRICTS ON THE MAINLAND OF THE COUNTY.
AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY IT CAN'T OCCUR BECAUSE WE DO THESE THINGS VIRTUALLY AT THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS A FEW MONTHS AGO.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA THAT OWN PROPERTY HERE.
THEY WERE ONLINE ON THAT TV SCREEN, ON THAT MONITOR, UH, DOING THEIR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THEIR SPECIAL EXCEPTION SHORT-TERM RENTAL ON THE MAINLAND IN BEAUFORD COUNTY.
I I APPRECIATE THE EDUCATION TO CLARIFY CUZ TO BE HONEST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND WE GET LIKE SOMETIMES A BIRD'S EYE VIEW, BUT WHAT YOU JUST DID WAS PERFECT.
UM, I WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH SUPPORTING THE POSTPONEMENT BASED ON THAT KNOWLEDGE.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? UH, MR. ADMINISTRATOR, IF THERE'S A SPECIAL DESIGNATION FOR A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND PEOPLE WHO GET THAT SPECIAL DESIGNATION THEN CREATE PROBLEMS IN THAT COMMUNITY, UH, THROUGH BAD MANAGEMENT OR BAD PRACTICES WITH WHOM THEY TO WHOM THEY RENT, CAN THAT SPECIAL, UH, PERMIT BE PULLED BY SOMEONE? AND WHO WOULD BE THAT AUTHORITY THAT COULD REVOKE THAT PERMIT? WE COULD, WE CAN PULL IT, BUT WE CAN'T PULL IT WITHOUT COURT ACTION.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO COURT WHERE WHICH COURT? IT WOULD GO TO MAGISTRATE AND THEM TO COURT OF COMMON, COMMON PLEA COURT.
COURT OF COMMON PLEA ON AN APPEAL, YOU MEAN? MM-HMM.
AND THAT ONCE THAT PERMIT IS ISSUED, EVEN IF THERE'S A BAD ACTOR, IT'S MAGISTRATE'S COURT AND COMMON PLEA.
SUPPOSE IT'S CONDITIONAL AND THERE'S A BAD ACTOR.
WHAT CAN HAPPEN THERE? WELL, THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CAN PUT THE CONDITION ON IT, ON THAT.
RIGHT? THAT IF THEY VIOLATE THE TERMS OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION, IT CEASES IMMEDIATELY.
SO THEN IF A SPECIAL CREATES A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS, WHICH COULD TAKE TWO YEARS.
IF IT'S A CONDITIONAL, THEN IT CAN BE REVOKED BY ACTION, BY SOMEONE ON THE EXECUTIVE STAFF.
WELL THAT, WAIT A MINUTE, IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RIGHT.
THE BOARD OF APPEALS, WHEN THEY'RE HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, AT THAT THEY CAN APPROVE THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION OUTRIGHT ACCORDING TO THE APPLICATIONS OR THEY CAN ADD ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.
IF THERE'S A CONDITION THAT SOMEONE'S NOT LIVING UP TO AND MEETING, THEN THAT WOULD NULLIFY THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
APPROVAL AND CONDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS HAVE TO GO TO COURT.
HOW COULD I HAVE HEARD IT SO BACKWARDS? I DON'T KNOW.
BY THE WAY, THIS IS NOT GERMANE TO WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING NOW, WHICH IS DO WE WANT TO POSTPONE? YEAH, IT'S GERMANE TO THE OVERALL, YEAH, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE DISCUSSING.
SO I WOULD REITERATE WHAT MARK AND, UH, MR. MCOW AND MR. CUNNINGHAM SAID, BUT I ALSO WANNA GO BACK TO MR. GLOVER.
I MEAN, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN MY DISTRICT, WE HELD A COMMUNITY MEETING, HUNDRED AND SOME PEOPLE SHOWED UP, WE LISTENED.
WHEN WE HAD THE CPO, PEOPLE SHOWED UP, WE LISTENED.
AND I LIKE THE SUGGESTION THAT WE GO AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS MORE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE DEAL WITH.
THIS IS BIG FOR THESE RESIDENTS.
SO YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE, SO, IF I MAY, I'M SORRY.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM ON BEHALF ISLAND WITH THIS.
AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
OBJECT YOUR TO WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, RIGHT? YEAH.
DO YOU WANT TO POSTPONE THIS? YES OR NO? YES.
UM, WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK TO.
I JUST HAVE, I JUST HAVE ONE THING.
IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT WHERE THE, THE FUKE ISLAND COUNCIL HAD GENERATED SOME FEEDBACK THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN OUR PACKET.
AND I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING CAUSE I WANT MORE INFORMATION TO IT WHEN I'LL MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SOMETHING.
UH, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? WHAT ARE WE, THIS IS ON WHICH POSTPONE POSTPONED TILL THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.
[01:05:01]
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? YES.COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
THE MOTION TO POSTPONE PASSES.
ITEM NUMBER 14 IS NOW POSTPONED.
SO WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU ALL LIKE FOR STAFF TO DO WITH US IN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS STANDSTILL AND STALEMATE FOR ALMOST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A COMPROMISED OUT THERE.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS FOR YOU ALL TO GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION AS TO WHAT YOU WANT DONE WITH THIS ITEM? CAUSE ONE SIDE'S DUG IN ON A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THE OTHER SIDE'S DUG IN ON CONDITIONAL USE.
SO TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO.
WELL, LET ME ASK THAT QUESTION, MR. AHEAD.
ONE THING YOU SHOULD DO IS GIVE US A VERY BRIEF OVERALL SUMMARY OF THE DIFFERENCES OF WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED TO US SO WE HAVE 'EM IN CLEAR, CONCISE TERMS SO WE'RE NOT GUESSING AT IT.
TAKE SOMETHING TO US IN THAT REGARD.
HE, HE, I THINK HE WAS VERY CLEAR.
AND IT WILL BE COMING IN WRITING.
CONDITIONAL USE HAS ITS OWN SET OF RULES.
AND IF YOU VIOLATE THOSE RULES, YOU DO NOT GET TO HAVE YOUR CONDITIONAL USE TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE, GO THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WITH A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, IT CAN BE DICTATED THAT IF YOU VIOLATE THE CONDITIONS OF THE SPECIAL USAGE, THAT PERMIT CAN BE PULLED IMMEDIATELY.
IS THAT A FAIR SUMMARY, MR. GREENWAY? THAT'S MY INTERPRETATION.
WELL, JUST THE LAST FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
SO LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A NEIGHBOR THAT COMES OUT AND SAYS YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG BASED ON THAT.
OR IS IT GONNA BE PULLED OR IS IT GONNA BE SOME GIVE AND TAKE? OR IS IT GONNA BE A MOB RULE?
AND WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE THAT THERE IS A VIOLATION.
SO ALL I'M ASKING IS GIVE US SOME GUIDELINES AS TO WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES OF EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES TO WE HAVE 'EM AND WE'RE COMING FROM THE SAME PLAYBOOK.
YEAH, WE CAN, WE CAN GIVE THAT TO YOU.
AND, AND I THINK INCLUDING THAT WOULD BE PROS AND CONS FOR BOTH.
AND THERE ARE PROS AND CONS FOR BOTH TO, FOR, FOR, FOR EACH OF THOSE.
I, I MEAN, I DON'T, WELL, I'M NOT GONNA PUT MY STAFF IN THAT POSITION CAUSE THAT, THAT'S JUST VERY SUBJECTIVE.
THEN I, I'LL WRITE THE PROS AND CONS FOR BOTH
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, UH, BASED OFF OF, OF ANY ADVICE THAT COMES FROM THE STAFF.
UM, SO I'LL BE HAPPY TO, TO PUT THAT, PUT THAT TOGETHER.
AND I GUESS A REQUEST NOT FOR YOUR, YOUR STAFF.
UM, THE QUESTION WOULD BE, FIRST OFF, WHAT I WOULD BE AFRAID OF HAPPENING AND THE SPECIAL USE IS ONLY TAKES A SMALL GROUP TO PUT A CAP ON HOW MANY, LET, LET'S SAY NINE ON A STREET.
IT ONLY TAKES ENOUGH OF PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER TO GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THAT TO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND PUT A STOP TO IT.
EVEN THOUGH THERE COULD BE 12, SOMEBODY COULD HAVE SOLD A HOUSE, SOMEBODY'S KID COULD HAVE TAKEN OVER THE HOUSE.
SO THAT KIND OF WORRIES ME BECAUSE NOW WE'RE DICTATING A LITTLE BIT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS.
UM, MY RECOMMENDATION ISN'T ACTUALLY ON US FROM THE INFORMATION THAT MR. LAWSON TOLD US.
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT IT DIDN'T COME UP IN THE, UM, DSKY COUNCIL MEETING.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CAME ABOUT, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT'S NOT ON OUR STAFF.
THAT'S NOT ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THAT'S, YOU NEED TO FIGURE THAT OUT WITH THE DSKY COUNCIL AND WHY THAT WASN'T ON THERE AND WHY THE PUBLIC DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT.
UM, CUZ WE CAN GET THOSE MINUTES.
WE CAN SEE THOSE MINUTES AND THEN THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO COORDINATE PUTTING TOGETHER A COMMUNITY MEETING ON DSKY AND DEALING WITH LOGISTICS.
IT'S THE COUNCIL'S JOB TO DO THAT.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT REPRESENT THEM AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT SHOULD HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, PREFERABLY TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK TO US.
I THINK THAT'S THEIR OBLIGATION TO THE PEOPLE OF DSKY.
JUST LIKE IT'S MARK'S OBLIGATION TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM RIGHT NOW.
AND LEMME SAY ERIC HAS BEEN GREAT CUZ WE ACTUALLY WENT OVER THERE TWICE NOW.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST, UH, NINE MONTHS OR SO.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME WE HEARD TWICE TO, TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS WITH, WITH THE PEOPLE OVER THERE.
WELL, THIS, THIS ITEM IS POSTPONED.
UH, AND THEY'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING, UH, IN THE NEXT TERM CUZ IT'S POSTPONED UNTIL THE NEXT COUNTY MEETING.
IF I MAY SPEAK, UM, I, UM, I'M DIRECTING THIS, UM, TO YOU, TO MARK, UH, AT THIS TIME.
SO, UM, HE MENTIONED THAT HE'S HAD HIS COMMUNITY MEETINGS THERE.
UM, HE'S DON'T PLAN TO HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC MEETING
[01:10:01]
ON THE FUSS.OH, SO DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH.
I WANT TO, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION.
BECAUSE, UM, IF YOU FOR ANY REASON DECIDE THAT YOU WILL HAVE ONE BEF BETWEEN NOW AND, UH, READINGS, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO, TO ACCOMMODATE YOU AT THOSE MEETINGS.
I'D LIKE TO JOIN AS WELL IF YOU DO.
[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE (CDC): DIVISION 4.2.20 (GENERAL STANDARDS AND LIMITATIONS) TO CLARIFY CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS FOR PRIMARY STRUCTURES REGARDING BUILDING CONNECTIONS; DIVISION 4.2.30 (ACCESSORY/SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT) TO MODIFY ALLOWABLE DENSITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR AREA OF UNITS; DIVISION 4.1.360 (SHORT-TERM RENTALS) TO MODIFY GENERAL STANDARDS TO ALLOW ONLY A PRINCIPAL DWELLING UNIT OR AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL ON A SINGLE PARCEL ]
TO ITEM NUMBER 15, WHICH IS FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE DIVISION 4.2 0.20.GENERAL STANDARDS AND LIMITATIONS TO CLARIFY CONNECTIVITY STANDARDS FOR PRIMARY STRUCTURES REGARDING BUILDING CONNECTIONS.
DIVISION 4.2 0.30 ACCESSORY SECONDARY DWELLING UNIT TO MODIFY ALLOWABLE DENSITY TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR AREAS OF UNITS.
DIVISION 4.1, 0.360 SHORT TERM RENTALS TO MODIFY GENERAL STANDARDS TO ALLOW FOR A PRINCIPAL DWELLING UNIT OR AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL ON A SINGLE PARCEL.
THIS CAME THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE.
I'LL, I'LL SEND, WE CAN EXPLAIN MORE IF WE NEED TO.
UH, MS. HOWARD MADE THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[16. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES. ]
IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES A MOTION PLEASE.
MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION, MS. TABERNAC MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
[17. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES/ USER FEE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIFORM CHARGES/ USER FEE; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO ]
17 IS A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSES DISTRICT FOR BEAUFORD COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024 TO LEVY TAXES FOR PAYMENT THEREOF TO ADOPT LAW ENFORCEMENT.UNIFORM SERVICE CHARGES, USER FEE TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID LAW ENFORCEMENT, UNIFORM CHARGES, USER FEE, AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.
MR. MCKEN MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.
A SECOND THAT MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
YOU KNOW, I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING.
UM, YEAH, I KINDA HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS AFTER OUR, UM, PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, LIKE I'VE LOOKED OVER THE FULL PRESENTATION OF MERIT BASED AND CERTAIN INCREASES AND I'M NOT SO SURE THERE'S ENOUGH TIME TO DISCUSS THAT AND IMPLEMENT IT TODAY OR IN THIS MEETING.
BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE COMPARISONS OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS REQUESTED FOR THIS YEAR, SPECIFICALLY FROM LAST YEAR AND HOW FAR WE ARE OFF.
WE'RE ONLY ABOUT A HUNDRED GRAND OFF FROM THE ACTUAL WHAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.
UM, SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MERIT, PAY MERIT OR ANY OF THE OTHER THINGS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DISCUSS AND HAVE MEETINGS ABOUT IN THE FUTURE.
AND I HOPE WE HAVE THOSE MEETINGS CUZ I I THINK IT'S NOTED TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS OPENLY, BUT I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND TO ADD THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND $47 TO THE TREASURER'S SECTION.
IS IT, IS THAT THE CORRECT FEE AMOUNT, SIR? UM, YOU, YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MOVE CERTAIN, UM, MONEY INTO WHAT WE CALL THE, THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND HAYES CAN COME UP HERE AND ELABORATE ON THE NUMBERS AND OFF, UH, THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY IS DESIGNED TO KEEP EVERYONE HOLD.
WE CANNOT KEEP HOLDING ON TO VACANT POSITIONS, UH, WITH OUR BUDGET BECAUSE WHAT THAT HAPPENED, WHAT THAT DOES IS WE HAVE TO FUND THOSE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.
MANY OF THOSE POSITIONS DO NOT GET FILLED DURING THE YEAR.
SO IT RESULTS IN, UM, LARGE SURPLUSES THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS FOR US TO RUN SURPLUSES.
SO I'M GONNA LET HAYES EXPLAIN THE NUMBERS TO YOU, AND I'M GONNA STEP ASIDE HERE.
BUT THERE IS MONEY, THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND IN THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY, AND HAYES CAN EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU ALL ONE MORE TIME.
[01:15:01]
ACTUALLY, IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.THERE'S THREE GAP POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THERE THAT ARE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THERE.
IT'S JUST ACCOUNTED FOR THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY.
IF SHE NEEDS THAT THOSE FUNDS AND HIRES THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY IT.
UM, I WOULD ASK, UM, IF, IF YOU DO DECIDE TO FUND HERS, THAT WE DROP THOSE THREE GAP POSITIONS OUTSIDE OF THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT.
SO SHE WOULD JUST STAND ON HER OWN.
AND ALSO PROB SHE CAN PETITION.
SO SHE, WE DROPPED THOSE, THOSE PAYROLL, THOSE POSITIONS OUTTA THAT PAYROLL CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT.
BUT, UM, WE ACRO, WE AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HAS TO LOOK AT THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE WHEN WE'RE DOING THE BUDGET AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES GET A 3% RAISE A COLA.
AND WE ALSO TRY TO GET A 3% LONGEVITY SLASH MERIT OR WHATEVER IT'S WILL END UP BEING.
AND PLEASE GIVE A LITTLE, TAKE A LITTLE, I MEAN, UH, BUDGETS WERE MOVED AROUND HERE AND THERE.
UM, LA LAST YEAR THERE WAS A $480,000 SURPLUS IN THE TREASURER'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
UM, WE DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
UH, IT WAS JUST PART OF GETTING THE BUDGET WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE TO GET IT BALANCED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO ANYWAYS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? IT HAS NOT BEEN SECONDED YET.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE DISCUSSION.
THE QUESTION IS NOW, BEFORE US, THERE IS MONEY SET ASIDE.
AS, AS THE TREASURER FILLS THOSE THREE POSITIONS, THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MOVE INTO HER BUDGET FROM WHERE THEY EXIST.
THE QUESTION BEFORE US NOW IS ON THIS MOTION IS NO, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THOSE SPECIFIC POSITIONS AND PUT THEM IN THE TREASURER'S BUDGET.
I EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS MM-HMM.
THAT'S YOUR MOTION WAY? THAT'S HIS MOTION IS TO GIVE HER THE MONEY IN HER BUDGET.
WELL, I HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT AND MAYBE HAYES CAN ANSWER THIS.
THE, THE QUESTION IS NOT JUST THOSE THREE JOBS.
IF I LISTEN TO MS. WALLS, THE ISSUE IS ALSO SHE WANTS TO, UH, WHAT'S LIKE INCREASE THE BASE PAY.
SO THE THREE JOBS IS ONE PIECE OF THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND, AM I CORRECT? MM-HMM.
IT'S, I MEAN, IT'D BE PART OF THE WHOLE, BUT THE, THE, SHE HAS THREE GAP POSITIONS THAT IF SHE WANTED TO FILL THAT, THAT'S WHAT WHAT WE TOOK OUT OF THERE.
IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS YOU TALKING ABOUT.
IT IS TWO DIFFERENT MONEY IF THEY'RE NOT HIRED, IT JUST SITS THERE.
WE, WE NOT SPEAKING WITH APPLES, YOU WANNA GO FIRST, MR. OR, UH, MR. MR. MM-HMM.
I, MY ARGUMENT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO DO THAT JOB.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN THAT OFFICE.
JUST LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN YOUR OFFICE.
THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THAT OFFICE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE JUST GOT DONE PRESENTING AWARD TO HER A COUPLE MONTHS AGO FOR HOW GOOD HER OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING.
UM, I'M NOT THE PERSON TO GO LINE BY LINE ON THESE NUMBERS.
SHE HAS PEOPLE THAT DO THAT WITH THE JOB THAT SHE'S DONE AND THE JOB OUR STAFF HAS DONE.
I HAVE TO PUT THE FAITH AND THE TRUST THAT THE NUMBERS THAT SHE'S PRESENTING FOR THE A HUNDRED THOUSAND HAVE TO BE ACCURATE.
THAT, THAT, THAT HAS TO BE THE JOB WE DO.
IF SHE'S, OR THE FAITH WE HAVE TO PUT IN THAT SHE'S DOING THE JOB THAT SHE'S DOING, IT IS ACCURATE.
SO I'M GONNA STAND BY MY MOTION AND DO THAT.
WE'RE NOT PUTTING IN AN IMPLEMENTATION FOR SOMETHING YEAR OVER YEAR, OVER YEAR.
WE HAVE ANOTHER 12 MONTHS TO DISCUSS THAT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR RIGHT NOW FOR THE JOB THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
IF SHE BELIEVES THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE HER AS SUCCESSFUL AS SHE HAS BEEN, THEN I WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT.
SO WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR HER SO FAR? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A 5% INCREASE FOR HER EMPLOYEE? A HUNDRED THOUSAND IF SHE BELIEVES HOW SHE NEEDS TO USE IT.
AND $47 THAT SHE'S REQUESTING FROM HER ORIGINAL REQUEST TO WHAT WE'VE OFFERED.
AND YOU, AND YOU ALL THINK THAT THAT'S A FAIR THING TO GIVE THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES A 3% MERIT POTENTIALLY OR LESS THAN THAT.
BUT TO ALLOW AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES MORE THAN WHAT THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WHO MANY OF THEM PERFORM THE SAME BASIC FUNCTION DAY
[01:20:01]
IN AND DAY OUT AS THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.THEY ARE JUST A PASS THROUGH ENTITY.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CALCULATE ANYTHING.
THEY LOOK AT NUMBERS ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
THEY COLLECT THAT PAYMENT, THEY PUT IT IN THE SYSTEM AND THEY ISSUE A RECEIPT.
WE'LL SAY, I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD GET A RAISE.
WHICH I'VE ADVOCATED FOR WHEN WE WERE ON BUCK WALTER.
AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT RAISE WE TALKED ABOUT.
I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT RAISE TO BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO THE BUDGET I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME IS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE THAT HAS COME TO ADVOCATE FOR, AND THAT'S THE ONE I'M LOOKING AT.
BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN AT BUCK WALTER PLACE TALKING ABOUT, I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE DONE ON PERCENTAGES BECAUSE PERCENTAGES ARE DONE BY YOUR BASE SALARY.
A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 3% RAISE AND A $30,000 EMPLOYEE THAN A 3% RAISE ON A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS EMPLOYEE.
I'VE ALREADY MADE THAT ARGUMENT BEFORE, BUT I DO STAND BY CHANGING THE NUMBER TO THE ACTUAL REQUESTED AMOUNT.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND $47.
MR. AND CHAIRMAN, HOLD ON A SECOND.
THE NEXT PERSON WAS MR. LAWSON AND THEN MS. BROWN.
AND, AND ONE POINT I DO AGREE WITH YOU, UM, MR. KINGHAM, IS IT, MARIA, YOU HAVE DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ON A COUNTY LEVEL.
UM, WE NEED TO TREAT EACH OF OUR, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS THE SAME.
WE CAN'T ALLOW ONE COUNTY, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL TO GET MORE MONEY AND PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES MORE THAN OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
IF NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WHICH WE DO HAVE A COUPLE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT AREN'T, THEY CAN PAY THEM HOWEVER THEY WANT TO.
BUT WITHIN OUR GUIDELINES, UM, WE'RE ALLOWING MS. WALLS.
AND AGAIN, IF THE, THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY IS GOING FOR IS THAT 5% INCREASE IS ALLOWING HER TO TWO PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY, THAT SAME, SAME POSITION, BUT IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, SHE'D BE GETTING, GIVING A RAISE FOR THE TREASURER'S DEPARTMENT AND THE OTHER, OTHER ONE WOULD NOT GET A RAISE.
SO AGAIN, YOU LOOK AT, AT, AT BEING, TRYING TO BE FAIR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, I HATE TO USE THE, I'M SITTING HERE THINKING, WHAT, WHAT EXAMPLE CAN I GIVE? BUT, BUT IT'S ME LIKE HAVING 13 CHILDREN, WHICH ARE THE 13 COUNTY, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND YET ONE IS DOING MUCH, MUCH BETTER AND DOING A GREAT JOB COMPARED TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO TREAT YOUR CHILDREN ALL THE SAME.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
NOW, THE ONE THING I'M NOT SURE ABOUT IS IF WE DO RAISE HER, UM, RAISE HER AMOUNT THIS YEAR, WHETHER THAT CAN EVER BE TAKEN AWAY AGAIN, CUZ WE'VE LEARNED THAT, THAT AS SOON AS YOU GIVE SOMEONE MORE MONEY, THAT MONEY IS THERE IN PERPETUITY.
WE, WE CAN'T LOWER SOMEONE'S BUDGET.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS NOT ABOUT MS. WALLACE DOING A BAD JOB.
SHE HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
IT IS TRYING TO BE FAIR TO ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT, THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, WHAT WE DO AND THE PAY RAISES WE GIVE IS GONNA BE COUNTYWIDE, NOT JUST FOR ONE PARTICULAR OFFICE.
BUT AGAIN, MS. WALLACE, YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU DO.
MR. GREENWAY, THIS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IS FOR THREE POSITIONS, THE SALARIES FOR THOSE THREE POSITIONS.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO THIS HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF IT IS BETWEEN TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
ONE IS $25,000 AND HER CREDIT CARD FEES LINE ITEM AND THE $75,000 IS IN SALARIES AND FRINGES.
AGAIN, WE DIDN'T TAKE THE $75,000 AWAY FROM HER DEPARTMENT.
WE MOVED IT TO THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT WHERE EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT'S VACANCIES ARE SITTING, NOT JUST HERS.
BUT THE MONEY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED SPECIFICALLY FOR SALARIES FOR THREE VACANCIES AND THE OTHER 25 WAS EXPENSES ON A CREDIT CARD.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY MR. CHAIRMAN, NO, YOU'RE NOT.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WHEN, UM, I MOVED DOWN BEFORE I MOVED DOWN HERE FROM VIRGINIA, THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA CUT, CUT ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT BROUGHT IN REVENUE.
AND I LEARNED FROM THAT THAT YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DON'T DO THAT.
YOU JUST, IF THEY NEED THE MONEY, IF THEY'RE BRINGING IN THE MONEY, THE REVENUE AND THE, AND THAT PERSON'S ASKING FOR EXTRA MONEY, THEN WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO 'EM.
BUT THAT'S JUST MY OWN PERSONAL BELIEF OPINION.
UM, YEAH, LET, LET ME SAY THAT, UM, AND I, I I ECHO WHAT MARK SAID ABOUT MRS. MS. WALLS.
UH, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UM, WE DID A STUDY SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THE QUESTION AT THE TIME WAS
[01:25:01]
WHETHER ELECTED OFFICIAL WAS IN THE COUNTY, UM, PAY PLAN OR THEY'RE GONNA BE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY PLAY PLAN.AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I THINK MS. WALLS, YOU ELECTED TO BE IN THE COUNTY PLAY PLAN, PAID PLAN.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL I REMEMBER BEING OUTSIDE OF THAT WAS THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT.
AND THE SHERIFF SAID THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF US.
THEY GOT THEIR OWN PAY SCHEDULE.
UM, AND SO WE, WE DID A STUDY INCREASE AND WE INCREASED ALL WAGES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, NOW I AM, I AM WITH YOU MS. WAL, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO, TO GET THERE.
I AM WITH YOU IN THAT THERE ARE STAFF WITHIN THE COUNTY SYSTEM THAT WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY EMPLOYING BECAUSE OF SALARY AND PAY BECAUSE OF PAY.
AND SO I WANT TO GET TO YOU, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME THAT WE CAN'T HIRE BECAUSE OF THE LOW PAY.
UM, A LOT OF THAT WORK IS IN PUBLIC WORKS AND DISHWASHERS ARE MAKING MORE THAN SOME OF OUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE BECAUSE OF THE AGREEMENT THAT WE ESTABLISHED SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT YOU WERE INSIDE THE COUNTY'S PAY PROGRAM.
SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU CAN HELP ME GET TO WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE I WANNA BRING UP SOME OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN THE COUNTY PAY PERIOD AS WELL.
THANK, CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING, KNOW ABOUT ANYBODY, ANYBODY ELSE HERE BUT CONFUSION IS THIS.
I HEAR THIS IS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS NUMBER.
OH, AND I'VE HEARD COUNTY PAY PLAN SALARIES FOR THREE POSITIONS, CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS AND MERIT RAISES.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES WITH A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS? NO, THESE, THE MERIT RAISE IS ALREADY BUILT IN.
I, BUT I'M SAYING, BUT IT'S BEEN DEEMED AS ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS FOR THIS $100,000 THING AND I'M, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WHERE IT IS AND WHERE IT'S BEING SUGGESTED TO BE MOVED TO.
WE HAVE TO MOVE IT FROM A COUPLE DIFFERENT LINES INTO HER ACCOUNT.
FINAL ARGUMENT, UH, LET'S MAKE SURE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS HAD A, A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I, I LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT MARK SAID AND I, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID, BUT ALSO TO THE HARD PART AND THE HARD PART.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID AT THE END? THAT'S THE HARD PART.
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE DOES A FABULOUS JOB, BUT WHAT YOU SAID AT THE END IS MAKES SENSE TO ME TOO, SO.
I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M NEW ON HERE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU'RE THE ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL IN HERE ADVOCATING FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU SUBMITTED.
SO I'M INCLINED TO SUPPORT YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR OFFICE NEEDS.
I'M, I'M GONNA BACK YOU ON THIS.
SO, YEAH, JUST MY FINAL POINT IS EXACTLY WHAT DAVID JUST SAID.
I'M NOT ARGUING WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PAY RAISES AROUND THE COUNTY.
I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE DONE BY PERCENTAGE.
I THINK IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, YOU DO IT ON THE FORM OF A BONUS, JUST LIKE WE DID FOR EMS. WHEN, WHEN WE DID FOR COVID, WE GAVE THEM A FLAT RATE.
IT WASN'T BASED BY THEIR PERCENTAGE.
WE GAVE THEM ALL THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE JOBS THAT THEY DO.
SO I'M NOT INCLINED TO SAY HOW SHE'S GONNA DICTATE TO SPEND THIS MONEY, BUT I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT SHE KNOWS THE BEST WAY TO SPEND IT.
LIKE SHE SPENT HER MONEY SO FAR IN THERE.
UM, SO I'M GONNA STICK WITH IT.
I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT AND I HOPE YOU GUYS DO AS WELL.
IF WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION IN THE MEANTIME THAT COMES ACROSS US.
WE STILL HAVE A THIRD READING ALONG WITH A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I THINK NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT IT IN THERE.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL CHAIRMAN APPOINTED.
CAN WE BE SURE WHAT THE MOTION IS IN TERMS OF DOLLAR AMOUNT? YES.
THE MOTION IS TO MOVE $100,047 THAT ARE IN TWO OTHER LINES OUTSIDE OF THE TREASURER'S BUDGET TO BE PUT INTO THE TREASURER'S BUDGET FOR THE TREASURER TO USE THAT MONEY AS SHE SEES FIT.
CONTINGENCY WILL BE REDUCED BY THAT AMOUNT? THAT'S CORRECT.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
[01:30:01]
MEMBER GLOVER? UH, I'M VOTING NO BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT PROCESS.COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? I'M SORRY.
OTHER DISCUSSION MS. TABERNAC? YEAH.
WE'RE STILL ON THE BUDGET, CORRECT? YES.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE ABOUT THE SUN CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT EMS FACILITY, WHICH THIS COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE.
SO, UM, I DON'T SEE ANY PROVISION FOR IT HERE.
AND RATHER THAN AMENDING THE BUDGET, IF WITH YOUR PERMISSION, CHAIRMAN, AFTER WE VOTE ON THE BUDGET, I'D LIKE THE PERMISSION TO MAKE A MOTION TO DO SOME APPROPRIATIONS FOR THAT FACILITY FROM ONE OF OUR BONDS COMING DUE.
BUT I DON'T WANNA MEND THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT.
IS IT, IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S NOT IN HERE? IT IS, IT IS, IT IS NOT.
IT IS NOT FOR THE FIRE STATION.
SO THIS WOULD BE A SEPARATE ITEM AFTER WE TAKE ACTION ON THE SECOND READING.
WE WILL NOW VOTE ON ITEM NUMBER 17, THE SECOND READING.
WE'RE VOTING ON THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE.
MS. BROWN, YOU WERE SECOND? YES.
SORRY, YOU DIDN'T SAY CALL THE ROLL
COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? HE SAID YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE AT ITEM NUMBER 18.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR ITEM NEXT.
[Additional Item ]
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, WELL, OKAY.I'LL MAKE THE MOTION THEN I'LL EXPLAIN IT, I GUESS.
OR YOU WANT ME TO EXPLAIN IT FIRST? NO, YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION.
AND WE WILL HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO COME ABOUT.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DO APPROPRIATION FROM A 2017 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND THAT'S COMING DUE NEXT YEAR TO FUND $5 MILLION OF DEBT BOND FOR THE SUN CITY HILTON HEAD, UH, FIRE STATION EMS FACILITY.
IT'S TOWARDS THE ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
THAT IS MOTION AND SECONDED DISCUSSION.
CAN I JUST, ANYBODY NEED DISCUSSION? OH, DO YOU NEED DISCUSSION? YEAH, I DO.
WE HAVE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT WERE ISSUED IN 2017 AND PROJECTS WERE NOT DONE.
WE HAVE, UM, NOTICED THAT THE FIRE STATION IN SUN CITY IS SOMETHING THAT IS NEEDED AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO GATHER THE IMPACT FEES NECESSARY TO BUILD THAT.
SO WE'RE LOOKING MAYBE THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE COULD BUILD THAT, UH, WITHOUT BEING DRAMATIZED.
WE'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION BECAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AT TIMES TO GET TO HOUSES WITHIN SUN CITY, BUT IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO SUN CITY.
THAT AREA IS GROWING SO FAST IT NEEDS ANOTHER FIRE STATION.
THE CHOICE IS TO PUT IT IN SUN CITY BECAUSE IT CAN GET TO VARIOUS PLACES SO THAT WE CAN DO IT NOW.
AND THEN WHEN WE COLLECT IMPACT FEES, THEY WILL ACTUALLY PAY BACK THOSE BONDS.
LET ME, LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND TOO NOW MM-HMM.
[01:35:01]
IS THE CHIEF, UM, WHEN CHIEF THOMPSON WAS HERE, HE DID AN ENTIRE PRESENTATION ON DATA AND YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT THAT STATION.I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER THAT SHOULD COME FROM THEM OR THIS COUNCIL.
I'M, THAT'S, ARE, ARE WE DIRECTING THEM THAT THEY WERE AB VILIFY STATION OR THEY'RE NO PREPARING TO DO THAT? SO I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT I CAN CLARIFY THAT, PLEASE.
SO, IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN CHIEF BOULWARE SPOKE ABOUT HIS BUDGET, I ASKED ABOUT THAT TIME.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL TO BUILD A FIRE STATION THERE.
AND I ASKED CHIEF BOULWARE WHERE WAS THE MONEY? AND HE SAID, WELL, WE COULD GATHER IMPACT FEES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
SO THIS IS SIMPLY SAYING, AS THE CHAIR SAID, INSTEAD OF WAITING TO COMPRISE 5 MILLION OF IMPACT FEES, WE COULD USE, UH, THIS GENERAL BOND THAT'S COMING DUE AND THEN THE IMPACT FEES CAN GO BACK.
SO THEY'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE FIRE STATION.
THE CHIEF HAS SAID WHY WE NEED IT, SO WE'RE NOT TELLING HIM TO BUILD IT.
THEY LITERALLY TOLD US TO BUILD IT.
CAN I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, MR. FRI? I'M SORRY.
UM, SO TO THE 5 MILLION, UM, THAT'S AN ESTIMATED COST, JUST BALLPARK RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO AS WE'VE DONE WITH OTHER FIRE DISTRICTS WITH OUR OTHER FIRE, UH, EMS CONSOLIDATED WITH BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP, WE SPLIT THAT COST.
UM, SO OUR COST WOULD BE TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS RIGHT NOW AVAILABLE.
SO THAT WOULD BE FRONTING THEM THE FUNDS MM-HMM.
UM, ANOTHER THOUGHT THAT COULD BE, UH, LOOKED AT IS RATHER THAN DO THE WHOLE FIVE, IT'S GONNA TAKE US A WHILE TO GET IT, UM, DESIGNED AND PERMITTED AND OUT TO BID.
SO POTENTIALLY AT LEAST OUR HALF, WHICH WOULD BE TWO AND A HALF OR MAYBE EVEN THREE JUST FOR SOME EXTRAS THERE, EXTRA ROOM, UH, AT THIS TIME OUT OF THAT GEO BOND THAT WOULD GIVE US ENOUGH MONEY TO GET STARTED ON THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN AND SEE WHERE THEIR COLLECTION IS.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTRUCTION, WE COULD COME BACK FOR THE FULL, UM, PLAN ON HOW WE'RE GONNA FUND THAT.
BUT THAT WOULD GIVE US ENOUGH TO GET THE PROJECT MOVING AS, AS SEEMS LIKE THE DESIRE IS.
UM, AND ALSO ENOUGH TIME TO GET A FINAL COST ESTIMATE.
SO MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD REALLY SUPPORT THAT EFFORT TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO BEFORE COMMITTING THIS COUNCIL TO DO THAT.
BECAUSE I CAN SEE CHIEF KLEIN COMING TO US TO DO THE SAME THING AND I DON'T THINK WE WANT GO SAYING THAT ALL OVER THE COUNTY, WE GOING TO COMMIT BONDS TO BUILD FIRE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH IT.
I, I THINK FOR ME, IT'D BE BETTER IF IT WAS DONE BY STAFF AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BRINGING IT FORWARD WITH SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL RECOMMENDATION AND MOVES THE THING FORWARD AND STUFF.
QUESTION NUMBER ONE IS HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING BACK FROM THE BOND THAT'S ABOUT EXPIRED? AND SECONDLY, WHAT ARE WE ALLOWED TO USE THAT MONEY FOR? ARE THERE LIKE LIMITATIONS ON IT? THERE ARE LIMITATIONS THAT, UM, IT, IT, IT, IT, IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UH, TO THE, OF THE COUNTY IS PROJECTS THAT WE HAD SLATED THAT DIDN'T, THAT HAVEN'T TAKEN OFF YET.
THEY'LL HAVE OTHER MEANS OF FUNDING SOURCES.
SO THE, WE WE HAVE THIS PRODUCT, IT'S, IT'S NOT UPON IT, IT IS, IT IS FROM BOND PROCEEDS FROM 2017 THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE AND WE'VE TALKED TO THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT.
THEY'RE TRYING TO BUILD UP THEIR FIRE, THEIR IMPACT FEES TO PAY IT BACK TO US.
UH, THEY GET, AND THIS IS, I'M I'M NOT TESTIFYING THIS NUMBER ABOUT 1.2 MILLION PER YEAR.
SO AS WE KNOW ANYTHING IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
SO IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE, UH, GETTING STARTED AND, AND IT'LL BE A YEAR TO TWO YEARS BEFORE IT'S COMPLETELY DEVELOPED AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, BUT WE'LL HAVE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUFFETT TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT TO SPLIT THE, TO SPLIT THE COSTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
SO I GUESS MY, MY NEXT QUESTION'S GONNA BE, SO IT CAN'T BE USED FOR SALARIES? NO.
HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MUCH THE BOND IS COMING DUE FOR.
WELL, THE, THE BOND'S NOT COMING DUE.
IT IS YOU, YOU TYP WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GET A BOND, YOU HAVE PROCEEDS AND WE PUT 'EM IN A CAPITAL FUND ACCOUNT AND THEN YOU HAVE PROJECTS THAT YOU GET DONE AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET 'EM DONE AND SOMETIMES POLITICALLY YOU CAN'T.
UH, AND WE'VE KIND OF HIT A POLITICAL WALL ON SOME OF THESE THINGS AND SO WE HAVE MONEY OUT THERE THAT IS A, IT IS NOT IT, IT IS FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE CAN USE IT FOR THIS PURPOSE.
UH, I I THINK IT'S A GOOD PURPOSE AND A GOOD WAY TO USE THE MONEY.
UH, THE WE'VE ALREADY BORROWED THE MONEY IS SITTING IN THE ACCOUNT AND IT'D BE GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS OF BUFORT COUNTY TO USE IT FOR THIS REAL QUICK QUESTION.
SO AS IMPACT MONEY COMES IN, THAT
[01:40:01]
WILL THEN OFFSET OFFSET, IT'LL PAY THAT BACK THEN THE MONEY BOSTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT PLANS ON.SO, SO THE IMPACT FEES WILL EVENTUALLY PAY FOR IT ALL AND PAY BACK WHAT WAS USED OUT OF THE, WELL, NOT ALL IT BE LIKE THE, THE OTHER ONES WHERE WE PAY 50%.
50 WHAT? WE'RE RESPONSIBLE, YES.
BUT WE'D BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 50%.
SO WE, UH, HAVE IT DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE? SEEING NONE, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER TABERNAC? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOME? YES.
[18. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 32 HUNTER ROAD WITH ACE HARDWARE OF HILTON HEAD ]
18, SIR, IS A PUBLIC HEARING MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.JUST LEMME ME MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION FOR COUNSEL WHENEVER YOU SEE THIS NEXT ON THE AGENDA.
IT WILL BE FOR FIRST READING IN AN ORDINANCE, CORRECT? UH, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3,200 ROAD AND ACE HARDWARE OF HILTON HEAD.
UM, BEFORE I GO TO A MOTION AND SECOND, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR ITEM AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NONE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING A MOTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. TABERNAC MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED.
AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NO DISCUSSION, THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED.
[19. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT AND COMMERCIAL OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 32 HUNTER ROAD WITH GITIBIN & ASSOCIATES, LLC DBA GO RENTALS ]
A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT AND COMMERCIAL OPERATING AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3,200 ROAD WITH GI GIEN AND ASSOCIATES, LLC, D B A GO RENTALS.IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE COMMENTS IN THE PUBLIC SECTION ABOUT THIS ITEM? SAY NONE.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC SECTION.
UH, DO I NEED A MOTION? AND SECOND, PLEASE SHALL MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CUNNINGHAM AND MR. BAR DULY MOTION THEN SECONDED FOR THIS ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[20. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH ENCUMBERING PROPERTY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY KNOWN AS A PORTION OF THE CHECHESSEE TRACT ]
20 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH IN CUMBERING PROPERTY OWNED BY BEAUFORD COUNTY, KNOWN AS A PORTION OF CHEI TRACT.IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION A MOTION.
I A MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[21. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE PAT CONROY LITERARY CENTER, INC. FOR A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1511 NORTH STREET ]
PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PAT CONROY LITERARY CENTER INCORPORATED FOR A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1511 NORTH STREET.I MAKE THE MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN, WAIT A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC.
NOW, MS. HOWARD, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR MOTION.
MS. TABERNAC MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION THEN SECOND IT.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[22. PUBLIC HEARING OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE YOUNG MEN’S SOCIAL CLUB AND SOUTH PINE LADIES UNION FOR A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 242 AND 228 SCOTT HILL ROAD ]
HEARING OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE YOUNG MEN'S SOCIAL CLUB AND SOUTH PINE LADIES UNION FOR A PORTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 24 2 AND 2 28 SCOTT HILL ROAD.ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT BEFORE MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION SEEING NONE, MR. GLOVER, YOU NOW CAN MAKE THAT MOTION.
I MAKE THE MOTION THAT WE WILL ENTER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE YOUNG MAN, SOCIAL GLOVER IN THE SOUTH, SOUTH PINE LADIES UNION AND MR. PAR FALLON MAKES THE SECOND DULY, SORRY, ORDER.
THE, THE ITEM IS ONLY ON THERE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
OH, IT'S ONLY ON THERE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.
YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS AS TO WHY IT'S ONLY
[01:45:01]
ON HERE FOR PUBLIC HEARING.WE SHOULD KNOWN ABOUT BUT DIDN'T
THE PUBLIC, OR EXCUSE ME, THE PARK CENTER FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, UH, THAT IT, WE WANTED THAT TO BE PRESENTED BEFORE WE VOTED ON THIS.
YES, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEIR CONSULTANTS AND OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE THAT, UH, ON THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING ON JUNE 26TH.
SO THAT WAY YOU HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
UM, I THINK YOU REQUESTED THAT WE HAVE THAT PRESENTATION.
NOW I I DID MAKE THAT REQUEST THOUGH, BUT I, UM, I SEE WHAT I HAS.
I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW YOU VERY MUCH, BUT NOT THAT THE DELAY.
SO WE'VE, WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING.
[23. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT-FUNDED PUBLIC SAFETY RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES POLICY ]
IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLANNED ACT FUNDED PUBLIC SAFETY RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES.MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION, MR. BARUM MAKES THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
NOW, BEFORE WE GO TO CITIZEN COMMENTS, UM,
[Additional Item ]
I MAY HAVE HAD BRAIN DAMAGE AT ONE POINT IN TIME.DID WE TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER EIGHT FROM THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING? WE AMENDED THE AGENDA TO DO THAT.
ME, IF YOU INTENDED NUMBER EIGHT TO BE PART OF YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, NOT NOT PART OF YOUR CONSENT AGENDA.
YOU NEED TO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, BECAUSE I HAD IT HERE AND I DON'T HAVE A MOTION IN SECOND.
SO THE, UH, HOUSE NUMBER BROCK, WHENEVER HE SECONDED IT, HE SAID TO INCLUDE THE AMENDED ITEMS THAT, THAT THAT'S WHAT I WROTE DOWN.
SO AS IF IT'S A SEPARATE ITEM NUMBER 24.
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS I NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HIGHWAY ONE 70.
AS EXPLAINED, IT IS NEXT TO THE COOLER TRACT, WHICH WE HAVE PURCHASED.
IT IS A 20 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY OLDFIELD WHO WISHES TO SELL IT TO OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO, UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU ARE MAKING THAT MOTION.
MR. GLOVER, YOU ARE MAKING THE SECOND.
IT IS DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THAT ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[24. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]
WE ARE NOW AT OUR SECOND CITIZEN'S COMMENTS, AND I HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS COUNTY COUNCIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.MR. TROPI, YOUR FIRST GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.
UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A QUIET NIGHT, SO, UH, APOLOGIES FOR ADDING MORE GAS ON FIRE HERE.
UM, UH, AGAIN, I LIVE AT ONE ST.
HELEN BILL ROAD, UH, AND I'M THE OWNER OF PINE ISLAND.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON AN ITEM THAT'LL BE ON FUTURE AGENDAS.
UM, AND DOING SO TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE RATIONALE AND THAT IT'S CRYSTAL, CRYSTAL CLEAR TO EVERYONE HERE IN THE ROOM, UM, AND THE BROADER PUBLIC.
SO THERE'S NO MIXED MESSAGING.
ON NOVEMBER 29TH, 2022, I APPLIED FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT TO REMOVE PINE ISLAND FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY BECAUSE IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THERE.
PINE ISLAND HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A NON-CONFORMING USE.
IT HAS BEEN A PRIVATE GATED RECREATION DESTINATION FOR OVER 150 YEARS AND IS ON THE HISTORIC REGISTRY AS SUCH.
IRONICALLY, PEOPLE HAVE LITERALLY PAID TO STAY THERE TO DO ACTIVITIES.
WE KNOW THAT NOW AS A RESORT, IT'S BEEN NOT, IT HAS NOT BEEN PART OF ST.
HELEN IN THE DAILY ACTIVITIES FOR THE BED PART OF TWO CENTURIES.
AND ITS PREVIOUS AND CURRENT USE IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER EITHER THE PREVIOUS OR CURRENT ITERATION OF THE CPO.
THERE'S BEEN NO AVENUE FOR MODULATION TO ALLOW IT, AND THERE STILL ISN'T.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUBMITTING OUR ZONING MAP AMENDMENT APPLICATION AGAIN LAST YEAR, THE COUNTY POLITELY ASKED ME TO TABLE IT SO THAT THE THEY COULD PURSUE, THE ADMINISTRATION COULD PURSUE THEIR OWN TEXT AMENDMENT TO PROTECT THE AREA.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, I NEVER PROPOSED ANY TEXT AMENDMENTS AND MY APPLICATION WAS NEVER DENIED.
WHAT STARTED AS A CLEANUP OF THAT ORDINANCE ENDED AS A FULL OVERHAUL RESULTING IN, IN MY OPINION, SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE AND STILL PROVIDES NO AVENUE FOR NON-PERFORMING USE.
BECAUSE OF THIS, I'VE REACTIVATED THAT ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM NOVEMBER, AND I SEEK TO RETURN THE PROPERTY TO THE BASE ZONING OF T TWO R.
I WANTED YOU GUYS TO HEAR THIS FROM ME BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE TOLD THAT I'M TRYING TO SKIRT THE RULES.
I'M NOT, WE JUST HAVEN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
PROPERTY SIMILAR IN SIZE, LOCATION, AND USE, WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE CPO IN 1999 AS WE'RE PROPERTIES WITH DEVELOPMENT PLANS REGISTERED
[01:50:01]
WITH BUFORD COUNTY, SUCH AS MY OWN.OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION OF A COMPROMISE IN THIS VERY ROOM.
THIS IS THE BEST AVENUE FOR COMPROMISE AND I'D LIKE TO GET TO IT.
THE CPO HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND NOW WE CAN MAKE IT A WIN-WIN WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COUNTY, AND FOR MYSELF AND MY PROPERTY.
WE'VE HAD SIX MONTHS OF PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT I'M WILLING TO DO, AND NOW LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I'M WILLING TO COLLABORATE AND I HAVE TRIED DESPERATELY TO COLLABORATE WITH EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM THOSE MEETINGS AS WELL.
SINCE JANUARY, I'VE HAD A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES TO SPEAK, BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS, I'LL BE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS THE REAL FACTS SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION THAT IS ACTUALLY INFORMED AND WE CAN ARRIVE AT A LONG-TERM WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
THE ITEM WILL BE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON MONDAY, JUNE 5TH, COMMUNITY WITH SERVICES AND LAND USE ON MONDAY, JUNE 12TH, AND THEN THREE READINGS OF COUNCIL THEREAFTER AS ONE OF THE LARGEST INVESTORS IN ST.
ELMA, I CONTINUE TO SEEK PARTNERSHIP WITH KERN AND FUTURE, FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALLEN RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE THRIVES IN PLACE THAT THEY CALL HOME.
I ENCOURAGE ANYONE TO REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR BUFORD COUNTY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR PRIOR NEXT MEETINGS.
UH, FRANK, UH, ELLI, HE LEFT, HE LEFT MARIA WALLS.
I WANNA BEGIN BY THANKING THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FIRST, COUNCILMAN, UM CUNNINGHAM AND THOSE WHO VOTED TO SUPPORT OUR BUDGET REQUEST.
I'M A PROFESSIONAL HERE IN THIS BUILDING, AND I'M DOING A GOSH DARN GOOD JOB WITH A GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE BEHIND ME.
AND IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM BEING SHORT STAFFED IN PUBLIC WORKS, LET ME TELL YOU HOW HARD IT IS TO BE SHORT-STAFFED IN YOUR REVENUE SOURCE OFFICE.
THE SURPLUS THAT WAS REFERENCED IN THIS ONE-SIDED CONVERSATION WAS DUE TO OUR INABILITY TO STAFF BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO WORK FOR 1798 AN HOUR.
OUR TAXPAYERS SHOULD KNOW THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED AND THEY SHOULD BE DISAPPOINTED IN THE MEMBERS WHO VOTED NO.
THIS EVENING AND ASHAMED OF THE PROCESS THAT COUNCIL HAS ALLOWED TO OCCUR OCCUR IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS OVER 12 YEARS IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, WE HAVE FOUGHT TO RESTORE CREDIBILITY TO AN OFFICE IN SHAMBLES 12 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE FOUGHT THROUGH CALAMITIES AND DISASTERS THAT HAVE BENEFITED EVERYONE AND SACRIFICED OURSELVES ON MANY OF THOSE OCCASIONS.
WE'VE DONE THESE THINGS BECAUSE I ONLY KNOW ONE WAY TO BE MY STANDARD OF MEASUREMENT IS TO BE THE BEST.
THE BEST PAST COUNCILS HAVE ALWAYS EQUIPPED THE TREASURER'S OFFICE WITH WHAT WE REQUESTED SO THAT WE COULD MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.
AND WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED TONIGHT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
ALTHOUGH YOU'RE PRIMARY IN LARGEST REVENUE CREATOR, I DO REALIZE THAT WE ARE ONE DEPARTMENT AMONGST OTHERS.
SO I'VE SAID TO MANY OF YOU ON OCCASION, JUST TELL ME NO.
BUT THIS IS WHERE THE NO SHOULD HAPPEN.
NOT IN PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE I'M NOT A PART OF ADMINISTRATION.
I REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED ALL OF US INTO OFFICE.
WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS SHOULD RESENT IS THAT BEFORE COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM'S MOTION THIS EVENING, YOUR DENIAL WAS MADE THROUGH SILENCE IN IGNORANCE OF WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES COULD BE.
I WAS NEVER ASKED WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS SHOULD TAKE ISSUE WITH, IS THE COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN A PROCESS THAT HAS HINDERED THEM FROM MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS, WHETHER ABOUT THIS BUDGET OR IN THE VOTING BOOTH, THE TREASURER'S OFFICE REQUESTED A BUDGET THAT REFLECTED WHAT IS NEEDED TO CONTINUE BEING THE BEST.
AND IT SHOULD, IT SHOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT IS DENIED.
WITHOUT TRANSPARENT AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION THAT OUR TAXPAYERS DESERVE, THEY WILL NOT FIND OUR TAXPAYERS.
THEY WILL NOT FIND A RECORD OF WHAT I REQUESTED OR ANY OTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL.
THE ONLY BUDGET THEY WILL FIND A RECORD OF IS THE ONE PRESENTED BY COUNTY ADMINISTRATION MUDDYING THE WATERS OF PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY.
THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT I VEHEMENTLY PROTESTED THIS SIGNIFICANT DEVIATION FROM PAST PRACTICES.
AND THE INAPPROPRIATE POWER COUNCIL IS SHIFTING FROM THE VOTERS WHO SELECTED THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU HIRED.
THE PROCESS THROUGH WHICH COUNCIL'S BUDGET HAS BEEN CREATED IS WRONG.
THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING MORE TRANSPARENT THAN THE TAXATION PROCESS.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, RATHER THAN BEING EQUIPPED TO BE THE BEST IN THE STATE FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS, YOU ARE FORCING THE TREASURER'S OFFICE SHOULD YOU VOTE FOR THIS EXACT BUDGET IN THE THIRD READING TO BACKSLIDE INTO LESS THAN WHAT OUR TAXPAYERS DESERVE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER ACTION TO COME BEFORE THIS COUNCIL? UH, YEAH, ACTUALLY, UH, YEAH, YEAH.
[01:55:01]
LET YOU KNOW.UM, YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING HERE REALLY JUST, UH, I'M KIND OF TAKING BACK ON, ON, ON MRS. WALLACE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE WAY HOW THIS COUNCIL TREAT PEOPLE IS JUST, IS AN ORTHODOX.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, COMING, COMING TO THESE, COMING TO THESE MEETINGS AND THE DOORS ARE LOCKED.
I MEAN, WHO'S, WHO'S YOUR, AND THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME SAYING THIS.
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? IF, UH, IF A, IF SOMEONE WASN'T LEAVING OUT, I COULDN'T EVEN GET IN TONIGHT.
JUST BY THE, BY THE, BY THE, BY THE GRACE.
THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WERE LEAVING WHO OBVIOUSLY HAD SOMETHING GOING UPSTAIRS.
I WAS BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM ON THE DOOR.
IS THIS, IS THIS A PUBLIC FACILITY WHERE WE ARE HAVING A PUBLIC MEETING AT BECAUSE THE DOORS OF THE DOOR WAS LOCKED? I MEAN, WHO'S AND WHO? I MEAN WHO, WHO RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? WHAT IF SOMEONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO COME IN THERE WITH THAT GUY WHO THEN WE JUST CALLED, WENT TO THE BATHROOM, WENT TO HIS CAR, HE COULDN'T GET BACK IN THE DOOR, IS LOCKED.
WHO'S RESPONSIBILITY IS THAT? YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES A LOT OF STUFF THAT THIS COUNCIL DO, E E EVEN IN, IN TERMS OF THE 15 MINUTE MARK OF, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY, WELL, YOU ONLY HAVE 15.
ONE GUY GOT UP HERE TONIGHT AND YOU TOLD HIM, WELL, YOU HAVE TWO, TWO MIRANDAS.
LISTEN ON, ON WHEN YOU COME TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, THANK, THANK, THANK, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
WHEN YOU COME, IF WE HAVE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR CONSTITUENT WHO WE WANNA SPEAK.
IF, IF SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND TO HEAR THE PEOPLE WHO PUT YOU IN OFFICE.
IT MAKES MY STOMACH SICK WHEN I COME IN AND YOU SAY, OH, WELL WE, WE ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE PERSON, OR WE ARE DONE.
AND, AND YOU CUT THE TIME OUT.
LIKE, LIKE, LIKE THIS IS A, LIKE, YOU'RE GOD, YOU'RE GOD, THAT HAS GOT TO STOP.
AND IT COMES AND IT COMES ACROSS TO BE N NOT CARING, NO EMPATHY.
IF THIS BODY, IF THIS BODY DON'T CARE THERE, ONE MESSAGE DOES, THIS BODY SENDS TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WE ARE BEARING EVERY WEEKEND, EVERY DAY.
THERE'S NOTHING FOR THE KIDS IN THIS COUNTY TO DO.
I'VE COME UP HERE AND I'VE SAID THAT SEVERAL TIMES, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TI, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE TIME, LISTEN, F FYI, LET'S MAKE, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT VIOLATING PEOPLE'S RIGHTS EITHER ON THIS COUNCIL WHEN THEY COME UP TO SPEAK.
WHEN ARE WE GONNA SUPPORT THINGS FOR THE KIDS THAT THEY'RE DO IN THIS COMMUNITY? WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, WE HAD BOWLING ALLEYS, WE HAD MOVIE THEATERS, WE HAD SEVERAL THINGS FOR, FOR THE YOUNG, FOR THE YOUNG COMMUNITY TO DO.
WE CAN'T JUST KEEP SAYING ORDER BECAUSE OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.
WE DON'T HAVE IT THE SAME WAY SHE WANTS HER OFFICE SUPPORTED.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT, WE SUPPORTING THESE NEW BUSINESSES THAT KEEP COMING IN TOWN AND BUILDING, BUILDING UP THESE BUILDINGS.
THE SAME SUPPORT WE GIVING THEM.
LET'S, LET'S, LET'S PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE TO SUPPORT SOME PEOPLE WHO WANNA COME AND OPEN THAT BOING ISLAND THAT SITS OVER IN PORT ROYAL.
THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT OPEN RIGHT NOW.
WE, WE GOT THE MONEY TO DO IT.
IT'S TIME FOR THIS CON FOR THIS, FOR THIS SAME COUNCIL TO SHOW LEADERSHIP IN THIS COMMUNITY CUZ WE'RE LOOKING TO YOU FOR IT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND, AND, AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO HEAR CON TO CONTINUE HEARING MY COMMENTS BECAUSE I'M LOOKING FOR THIS, FOR THIS, FOR THIS BODY TO STEP IT UP AND HAVE SOME EMPATHY.
MR. CHAIRMAN, LET'S START WITH YOURSELF.
MR. CUNNINGHAM, DID YOU WISH TO SAY SOMETHING? YES.
UM, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS, IS THERE ANY WAY ADMINISTRATION GET TO ME THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE EXCLUDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE THEY MAKE THEIR OWN BUDGET WITH THEIR OWN TAXING, UM, AND THE AVERAGE SALARY, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE TO DO SINCE I'M, I'LL JUST LET YOU KNOW, THE REASON I'M ASKING AND I'M PREPARING TO DO AT THE NEXT MEETING IS IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING BEING PERCENTAGE BASED, IT SHOULD BE PERCENTAGE BASED, THEN MAYBE WE FIND A FLAT NUMBER.
THANK YOU THERE BEING NO FURTHER ACTION.