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CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY[1. CALL TO ORDER]
IS THE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE JUNE 12TH.CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME PLEASE? WELL, GOOD.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE AGENDA AND THE MINUTES.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONES.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE PLEDGE OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION INVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]
MS. BROCK WAS PUBLIC NOTICED GUN OF THIS MEETING IN ACCORDANCE WITH, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF ACT.[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 10, 2023]
PACKET WAS THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 10TH.ANY COMMENTS? SEDITIONS DELETIONS.
IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THOSE MINUTES.
I HAVE A MOTION BY, UM, CHAIRMAN PK AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BROWN.
[6. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD- 15 MINUTES TOTAL]
ARE FOR CITIZENS COMMENTS.UM, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF PEOPLE.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES PER PERSON.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE PUBLIC IS RE UH, WILL BE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES AND THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN, AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL AND ANY PERSONALITIES.
PLEASE CONFINE YOURSELF TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS ON THE SIGNUP SHEET.
BE MINDFUL AND RESPECT OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TV.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE I WAS AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK.
IF YOU DISAGREE WITH WHOEVER'S MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ANY, ANY SOUNDS OR, OR OTHER, UH, OTHER THINGS LIKE YOU CAN CLAP AFTER THEY'RE DONE IF YOU WANT TO.
BUT DURING THEIR TALK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE REFRAIN FROM MAKING ANY COMMENTS BECAUSE WE ARE RECORDING THESE MEETINGS AND IT DOES INTERFERE WITH THE RECORDING.
UH, SO I HAVE FIVE PEOP I HAVE MORE THAN FIVE PEOPLE.
I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST FIVE, AND IF THERE'S ANYONE ON THIS LIST, UM, THEY'RE ALL FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR.
AND OF THESE PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF ANYONE OF THEM IS OF A DIFFERENT VIEW, UM, THAT WE'D LIKE TO HEAR AT LEAST TWO SIDES TO NUMBER 14.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA ASK EACH PERSON IF THEY ARE FOUR OR FOUR OR AGAINST, UH, THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
NUMBER 14, TIE O FARROW PRO OR CON, NOT NE, NOT YET.
JUST PRO OR CON AGAINST, OR FOUR AGAINST PINE ISLAND.
UH, DARYL OR, OR ORAGE OR ORANGE? LIKE AGAINST OR EXTRACTION, SORRY.
SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, WILLIAM, WILLIAM COOK.
SO THOSE WILL BE THE FIVE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE, NO, THAT'S SIX ARNOLD BROWN.
IT WAS CROSSED OUT AND THEN PUT BACK ON THE LIST.
SO, BUT YOU ARE STILL ON THE LIST.
SO WE WILL START WITH, UM, TY FERRELL.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UM, I LIVE AT ONE 12 CAPER STREET.
UM, I OWN A FARM ON, UH, TOM FRIPP, WHICH IS THE, PROBABLY THE LAST FARM YOU GET TO BEFORE YOU HIT PINE ISLAND.
I WANNA TELL EVERYBODY HEAR A STORY.
THE YEAR WAS 1947 AND THERE WAS A YOUNG BOY UP FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK THAT DECIDED THAT HIS PARENTS WANTED TO MOVE DOWN TO FLORIDA TO START A FARM.
THEY WERE SICK OF HOW COLD IT WAS.
THEY WERE DAIRY FARMERS IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 1947.
SO THEY PACKED UP THE FAMILY, HIS BROTHER, AND HIM AND THE DAD, AND THE MOM, AND THEY HEADED SOUTH TO FLORIDA.
UH, THEY STOPPED IN YAMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND HIGH SHERIFF MCTIER OF THE LOW COUNTRY
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STOPPED THEM AND SAID, Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE FROM AROUND HERE.WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING? AND THE DAD SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO FLORIDA.
MR. MCTIER SAID, NOW YOU DON'T NEED TO GO TO FLORIDA.
SO THE, UH, THE HUSBAND AND THE SON HOP IN THE PATROL CAR.
UH, THE MOM AND THE BROTHER STAYED PUT, AND HE TOOK HIM OUT TO ST.
THE DAD DECIDED THAT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW AS HENRY FARMS TODAY.
HENRY FARMS HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER.
UH, I WANNA FAST FORWARD TO PROBABLY 1999.
I GREW UP ON LADIES ISLAND, BUT THEN WHEN I WAS PROBABLY 12 YEARS OLD, MY FAMILY MOVED TO FRITZ POINT.
F POINT IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
WE LOOKED AT PINE ISLAND TO THE LEFT AT AOW ISLAND TO THE RIGHT AND MONKEY ISLAND FAR AWAY AS 11 YEARS OLD.
BOY, WHILE MY PARENTS WERE AT WORK, UH, WE WOULD GET DROPPED OFF BY THE BUS DOWN A DIRT ROAD AND ME AND MY BROTHER WOULD WALK DOWN FRE POINT, GET, GO DOWN TO OUR DOCK, AND WE HAD A 17 FOOT MOP.
TALL WHALER DIDN'T HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES, BUT WE HAD A 17 FOOT WHALER AND WE EXPLORED EVERYTHING.
WE WENT ON MONKEY ISLAND WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO.
WE'VE BEEN ALL THROUGHOUT PINE ISLAND.
I KNOW THOSE WATERWAYS BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
FAST FORWARD PROBABLY ANOTHER 10 YEARS LATER, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GIRL THAT HAD HENRY FARMS. I'M MARRIED LUCIA HENRY OF HENRY FARMS. AND UH, SO IT'S A SMALL WORLD.
HELENA PROBABLY BETTER THAN ANYBODY.
I'VE GONE TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT LADIES ISLAND ELEMENTARY.
I WENT TO LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND I WENT TO BEAUFORT HIGH.
MY WIFE WENT TO BEAUFORT ACADEMY.
SO WE ARE A HUGE MIX OF PEOPLE FROM BEAUFORT AND EVERYBODY THAT I'VE TALKED TO THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN AGENDA THAT TRULY FEELS RIGHT.
AND LIKE, HONESTLY, IF HE DEVELOPED, I'M NOT, IF SOMEBODY DEVELOPED IT, MY PROPERTY VALUES WOULD SKYROCKET.
THEY WOULD ABSOLUTELY SKYROCKET.
I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
I WAS TOLD THAT SOME, SOME, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONTACTING Y'ALL.
AND WHEN I CA WHEN I ACTUALLY CALLED PEOPLE THAT I KNEW, THEY SAID, THEY DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT UNLESS THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF IT.
SO THAT'S FOR Y'ALL TO DECIDE THE TRUTH.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL VERY MUCH.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF Y'ALL.
I'VE CALLED PEOPLE FROM SUN CITY THAT SUPPORT, THAT KNOW Y'ALL RESPECT Y'ALL.
AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO YOU OUTSIDE MY OFFICE AT FARM BUREAU INSURANCE.
SO I HOPE Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND THE PEOPLE, I FEEL LIKE I'VE SPOKEN.
OKAY, NEXT ON OUR LIST IS DARYL O OR O R A G E OR, OR, OKAY.
SO GENTLEMAN YOU MENTIONED HE IS A FARMER OR HAS BEEN A FARMER.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN A COMMERCIAL CRAVER.
AND I'M A RECREATIONAL FISHERMAN.
STILL TODAY I AM HERE, NOT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S NECESSARY THAT I SPEAK.
I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING HA HAS, HAS BEEN VERY ONE-SIDED.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE STUDIED INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN MATHEMATICS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
AND ONE OF THE CONCEPTS, ONE OF THE EARLY CONCEPTS THAT THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE INTRODUCED TO IS CALLED G I G O.
AND I WON'T SAY WHAT THE ACRONYM STANDS FOR.
GARBAGE IN GARBAGE, GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT, CLEAN CRACK, WHO'S ALSO STUDIED SIMILAR SUBJECTS, GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT.
MY POINT IS MUCH OF THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THE PUBLIC SPHERE HAS BEEN VERY ONE-SIDED.
IT'S BEEN MADE VERY SIMPLISTIC BY PATERNALISTIC ORGANIZATIONS SUCH IT, IT'S BEEN VERY SIMPLISTIC TO SAY THAT I, IT'S BEEN VERY SIMPLISTIC TO SAY THAT NO GATES, NO GOLF, NO GATES, NO GULF.
I DON'T WANT GATES, NO GOLF EITHER.
IF IT'S THAT SIMPLE, I WOULD SAY NO GATES, NO GOLF.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY WE'RE FACING WITH, WE'RE FACED WITH A CHOICE.
A CHOICE THAT SHOULD BE MADE THROUGH INFORMED INFORMATION, FULL DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION WHICH WE HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING.
SO IF YOU ASK ME IF I WOULD RATHER SEE A GOLF COURSE WITH MAYBE 50 OR 60 HOMES AND ONE DOT OR ANOTHER HAND, 166 HOMES, 90 DOTS, I HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE.
I THINK MY FOLKS HERE WHO ARE LOOKING AT ME ODDLY AND THINKING THAT I'M SPEAKING KIND OF CRAZY, THERE'S A CHOICE TO BE MADE.
WHAT WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE? YOU RATHER HAVE THAT GOLF COURSE OR 166 NEW HOMES MAKE? HOW MANY OTHER NEW RESIDENTS THAT ARE GONNA BE VOTING NOT NECESSARILY WITH YOU, WHAT CHOICE DO YOU ACTUALLY MAKE? SIR, COULD YOU PLEASE REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING? THANK YOU.
SO I AGAIN SAY THAT WITH MORE INFORMATION IN HAND, WE HAVE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
MY DECISION AFTER WEIGHING BOTH SIDES IS TO SAY, I AM IN FAVOR OF DISTRACTION OF PINE ISLAND FROM THE CURRENT ZONING DISTRICT.
I'M QUEEN QUT HEAD FROM THE BODY OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION.
AND THIS EVENING, I'M NOT ONLY PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION, BUT THE GULLAH GEECHEE FISHING ASSOCIATION, THE GULLAH GEE SUSTAINABILITY THINK TANK, AND THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION, WHICH I'M A FOUNDER OF.
NOW I CRACK MY TEETH LIKE IT'S PLENTY TIME WHEN I COME 400 CHILDREN CUZ WE HAVE, REMEMBER WHAT IT IS YOUR DISTRICT FOR?
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GULLAH GEECHEE.SO I'LL SPEAK THIS WAY CUZ I WANT IT CLEAR ON YOUR RECORD THAT THE POINT OF WHAT WE ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR WHAT I READ IS WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE FOR DENIAL OF THREE SIX HOLE GOLF COURSES ON PINE ISLAND.
AND WHETHER WE ARE HERE FOR A CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO CHANGE A PORTION OF WHAT IS UNDER THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH THAT PROPERTY IS PINE ISLAND AND ST.
I'M HERE TO STATE VERY CLEARLY THAT WE ARE CALLING ON YOU TO UPHOLD THE SAME VOTE THAT TOOK PLACE LAST MONDAY NIGHT BY THE BE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION AND TO UPHOLD WHAT OUR PLANNERS OF THE COUNTY PUT FORTH.
BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO NOT WANT SPOT ZONING TO TAKE PLACE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE DO NOT WANT THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, WHICH IS EMBODIED IN OUR 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO BE DENIED SIMPLY TO UPHOLD AN APPEAL FOR SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, UP TO THIS MOMENT WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AT RALLIES, THEY'VE SPOKEN AT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS, THEY'VE SPOKEN AT THE FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS, THEY'VE SPOKEN IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE AND WRITTEN MANY LETTERS ARE PRESENTED TO YOU.
12,000 PLUS SIGNATURES OF PEOPLE IN OPPOSITION TO ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO CHANGE THE LETTER, THE INTENT, THE HEART OF THE LAW OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT.
IT IS NOT AS SIMPLISTIC AS WAS WHAT WAS JUST STATED PRIOR TO ME GETTING UP HERE.
IT IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED TO THAT.
AND THE REASON WE HAVE THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT IS TO PROTECT THE CULTURAL HERITAGE.
AND THE THINGS THAT DO NOT DO IT ARE WHAT YOU ARE HERE BEING ASKED TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
AND I SENT YOU A LETTER ALREADY THAT'S FOUR PAGES LONG.
I HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE READ IT.
THAT POINTS OUT AGAIN AND ISOLATES THE WORDS FROM OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR THAT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR WHY THIS IS INCOMPATIBLE USES FOR ST.
HELEN ISLAND BECAUSE OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU WOULD VOTE IN FAVOR OF DENYING THE ZONING REQUEST CHANGE AND ALSO DENYING THE THREE SIX HOLE GOLF COURSES.
SO I HOPE THAT
OKAY, WILLIE TERRELL, PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.
UH, WILLIE TERRELL, ONE 14 FOLLY ROAD.
SO, UM, UH, I'M NOT FOR OR AGAINST PINE ISLAND.
UM, ACTUALLY THERE MIGHT BE AN ARGUMENT THAT I'M AGAINST PINE ISLAND INITIALLY HEARING THIS, UH, A GOLF COURSE OR A GATED COMMUNITY ON, ON, ON ST.
I DON'T THINK I'VE TALKED TO ANYBODY INITIALLY WHO SAID WE WANT A GOLF COURSE OR A GATED COMMUNITY ON ST.
NO, BUT AGAIN, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
NOW, IF YOU TALK ABOUT NOT WANTING A GOLF COURSE OR A GATED COMMUNITY, IT, IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND WHO DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE ISLAND.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND WHO HAVE A MINDSET THAT WHATEVER THEY BUY, WHATEVER THEY TOUCH, THEY CAN CHANGE.
SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK LVI IS THAT SAME TYPE OF PERSON.
IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING OUT AGAINST THAT.
SO WHY AM I FOUR? WHAT'S A GUARANTEE?
THERE'S NOT A DOCK THERE, THERE'S NOT A PERSON THAT'S GONNA VOTE THERE.
IT'S A GUARANTEE OF LESS, LESS OF WHAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I, I KEEP HEARING, PROTECT THE CULTURE.
I'M A FIVE YEAR TEACHER AT ST.
I'M NOT A COME HERE, I'M A BORN YEAR.
I HEARD SOMEBODY GET UP AND SAY, EVERYBODY'S PROMISED I GOT NOTHING TO GAIN EXCEPT FOR MY KIDS THAT I WAKE UP TO WHEN I'M TRYING TO CUT A PIECE OF ISLAND OUT FOR THEM.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THEY GOT A PIECE OF ISLAND TO GO TO.
A HUNDRED MORE PEOPLE WITH THE TYPE OF BUYING POWER TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ISLAND OR THE TYPE OF CULTURE OR, OR POLITICS TO CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF THE ISLAND IS NOT FAVORABLE TO ME.
SO I'M FOR THE ISLAND AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I'D RATHER HAVE A GOLF COURSE THAN A HUNDRED NEW RESIDENTS.
SO I'M VOTING, PLEASE LET THEM OUT AND NOT FORCE THE DEVELOPMENT.
NOW FOR THOSE WHO THINK OR WHO, WHO I'VE NEVER BEEN TO PINE ISLAND BEFORE, UNTIL I WENT TO PINE ISLAND.
FOR THOSE WHO THINK IT CANNOT BE DEVELOPED, THAT'S LUDICROUS.
AND AS A REALTOR, FOR THOSE WHO THINK PEOPLE WON'T BUY A WATERFRONT PROPERTY IN A DOCK, THAT'S CRAZY.
SO IF IT'S NOT 166 WITH A HUNDRED NINETY NINE NINETY NINE MORE AVIOS
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WHEN ONE'S A PROBLEM, IT WAS A CLEAR CHOICE FOR ME.OKAY, THE LAST PERSON ON OUR ON OUR LIST IS, UM, WILLIAM COOK.
AND IF YOU'LL GIVE YOUR ADDRESS.
THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN WOMAN, UM, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I AM A RESIDENT OF 34 A MOBLEY OAKS LANE AND OKEE.
AND I AM ALSO FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY AND GREW UP HERE AND HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE HERE.
THE ISSUE IS HAVE TO SAY, THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT WHETHER SOMEONE LIKES THE REZONING PROPOSAL OR DOESN'T LIKE IT.
THIS IS A LEGAL ISSUE COMING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL.
THE PROPOSED REZONING WOULD AMOUNT TO A LEGAL SPOT ZONING.
YOU'VE HEARD THIS LEGAL TERM BEFORE.
I USED TO BE A PROPERTY LAW PROFESSOR AND A CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR.
AND THE TEST IS REALLY SIMPLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A SPOT ON A ZONING MAP THAT'S TOTALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING ZONING TO THE BENEFIT OF ONE AND TO THE DETRIMENT OF SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS IN A WAY THAT'S INCONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE PROPOSED REZONING SATISFIES EVERY SINGLE ELEMENTS OF THIS TEST.
I SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS EARLIER TODAY OUTLINING CITATIONS TO SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT AUTHORITY THAT MAKE THIS ABSOLUTELY CLEAR.
AND FOR THESE REASONS, I ASK THAT YOU RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE PROPOSED REZONING.
[7. PRESENTATION ON B.E.A.D AND BROADBAND EQUITY- CHAD CHADWICK, FEDERAL PROGRAM OFFICER, SOUTH CAROLINA, NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION]
ON WITH OUR AGENDA.NUMBER SEVEN IS PRESENTATION ON B E A D, UH, AND BROAD VAN EQUITY.
FEDERAL PROGRAM OFFICER OF SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M ALSO A BUFORD COUNTY RESIDENT.
I LIVE IN OKEE, SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, WANTED TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT, UH, PROGRAM THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WILL BE ANNOUNCING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
BASICALLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
IT'S GONNA CONTINUE, UH, TO CREATE PROCESSES AND, AND BUILD OUT, UH, ADDITIONAL BROADBAND TO EACH ELEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
I'M JOINED VIRTUALLY TODAY BY MR. CEDRIC KIT, WHO IS THE BROADBAND DIRECTOR OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
UH, CEDRIC, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ON ZOOM.
UM, HELLO,
THEY'RE CHARGED WITH BUILDING OUT BROADBAND TODAY.
AND I JUST WANTED CEDRIC TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN GOING ON IN SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH ARPA, CPF, ET CETERA.
CEDRIC, YOU WANNA GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THAT AND THEN I'LL HOP RIGHT INTO B YEAH, YEAH.
JUST REALLY QUICK, UH, LAST MAY.
IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WAS GONNA BE SIGNED IN THE LAW.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE OFFICE OF REGULATORY STAFF AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AUTHORITY ALL RECEIVED MONEY, FEDERAL DOLLARS TO GO TOWARDS EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN PARTICULAR, WE, WE, OUR OFFICE WAS TASKED WITH EXPANDING BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY.
SO WITH THAT PASSING OF THAT LAW, WHAT WE HAD TO DO WAS ROLL OUT A, A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM WHERE WE WERE TO FOCUS ON K TWO 12 STUDENTS AREAS WITH HIGH K TWO 12 STUDENTS, DIFFICULT DEVELOPMENT, DEPTH DEVELOPMENT AREAS, AND AREAS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND, UH, THROUGH, THROUGH DIFFERENT ROUNDS, WERE ACTUALLY, UH, UH, AWARDING TO INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN SOUTH CAROLINA MONEY TO BUILD IN ACROSS THE, THE WHOLE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO OVER THE NEXT REALLY 24 MONTHS, YOU'LL SEE A LOT WORK COMPANY IN THIS STATE, UH, WHERE COMPANIES THAT, THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE HARD RAISE OF THE WORLD OR, OR THE COMCAST, I BELIEVE THAT'S DOWN IN BUFORD.
THESE TYPE COMPANIES WILL BE BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT ANYBODY WHO WANTS ACCESS TO HIGH SPEED INTERNET WILL HAVE IT.
IT DOES TAKE TIME TO BUILD TO THESE AREAS THOUGH, WHICH IS WHY WHAT MR. CHADWICK IS GONNA TALK ABOUT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO HIT EVERY HOME OR GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS.
WHO WANTS IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT WE GOTTA START BUILDING SOMEWHERE.
AND WHERE WE END UP, HE'LL COME IN AND YOU'LL TO FINISH UP WHAT WE NEED TO IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO, JUST, JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF, OF WHERE WE ARE.
AND NOW I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU, MR. CHADWICK.
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TO HEAR FROM YOU.UH, JUST A PAT ON CEDRIC'S BACK AND, AND HIS TEAM THERE IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA WENT FROM 31ST IN BROADBAND SERVICES TO NUMBER SIX IN THE NATION, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO IT'S NOT OFTEN WE'RE TOP 10 IN, IN SOMETHING.
SO IT'S SOMETHING TO BE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
UH, AS CEDRIC MENTIONED, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE COMING.
AND THE B PROGRAM, UH, IS THE LARGEST ONE, UM, THAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, UH, THAT WAS PASSED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
UM, THE OVERALL, UM, GOALS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TO GET TO UNSERVED HOMES, UNDERSERVED HOMES.
SO THOSE HOMES WHO HAVE SLOW INTERNET, IF YOU'VE GOT DSL OR YOUR SPEEDS ARE BELOW 25 3, YOU'RE GONNA GET FIBER, YOU'RE GONNA GET SOMETHING TO IMPROVE THAT.
AND THEN TO IMPROVE ACCESS AT COMMUNITY ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS.
SO SCHOOLS, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS, PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE WILL HAVE FIBER FOR CITIZENS TO USE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
GETTING TO UNSERVED AND SERVED.
IF YOU'RE GIVING A FAMILY A CHOICE BETWEEN FEEDING YOUR CHILDREN OR HAVING INTERNET, THAT'S NOT A CHOICE, THAT'S A FALSE CHOICE.
SO THERE'S ADDITIONAL MONEY COMING TO HELP IN AFFORDABILITY OF THOSE PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE WANT TO BUILD OUT ADOPTION.
SO THE WORST THING THAT WE COULD DO IS BUILD A HIGH SPEED SUPERHIGHWAY AND THEN PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO USE IT, OR THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT.
SO WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S COMING? WE DON'T KNOW YET.
WE'LL KNOW IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT IT'S ON THE MAGNITUDE OF AN ADDITIONAL 500 MILLION FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WHICH WILL BE DEPLOYED OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BRINGING BROADBAND ACROSS THE STATE.
AT THE END OF THAT FOUR YEARS, UH, WE WILL HAVE COVERAGE, UH, VIVIR TO EVERY HOME, IF NOT EVERY HOME.
UH, THE TIMELINE THOUGH, AS CEDRIC MENTIONED, IT DOES TAKE TIME TO BUILD.
UH, SOUTH CAROLINA IS CURRENTLY IN A PROGRESS RIGHT NOW OF DRAFTING A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH THEY WILL SUBMIT ON AUGUST 28TH.
UH, THEY WILL THEN, UH, DO AN INITIAL PROPOSAL TO MY DEPARTMENT, UH, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
AND THEN SOMETIME IN 24, THE FIRST 20% OF WHATEVER THAT ALLOCATION IS, WILL COME DUE.
SO ROUGHLY 125 MILLION WILL COME DUE AFTER A YEAR.
THEY'LL SUBMIT ANOTHER PROPOSAL SAYING WHAT THEY'VE DONE, AND THEN THE REST OF THAT MONEY COMES DUE.
SO THERE WILL BE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY FLOWING INTO BEAUFORD COUNTY AND THE OTHER 45 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
UH, I WANT TO COME IN AND, AND SHARE THAT GOOD NEWS WITH YOU.
UH, IF WE CAN BE OF ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOU AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS, IF YOU LIVE IN A PART OF THE COUNTY THAT IS UNSERVED OR UNDERSERVED, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US, LET US KNOW.
WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AND WE WILL WORK WITH THE ISPS HERE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY TO GET THAT FIXED.
BUT MADAM CHAIRMAN, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND, UH, IF I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO DO SO.
UM, WHEN YOU DELIVER THIS SERVICE TO THE DOORSTEP OF A HOUSE, WILL THERE BE ANY MONEY AVAILABLE IN THIS PROGRAM SO THAT ONCE THE SERVICE IS IN THE HOUSE, THE HOMEOWNER WILL HAVE THE ABILITY, IF THEY CAN'T PAY FOR IT BECAUSE OF A LOW INCOME, WILL YOU BE PROVIDING ANY ASSISTANCE TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER FUNDED IN THE HOUSE? AND WHAT ABOUT EQUIPMENT? YEAH, THERE, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS THROUGH THE DIGITAL EQUITY SIDE OF THIS THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR BOTH EQUIPMENT AND FOR SERVICES.
RIGHT NOW, THE FCC HAS A, AN AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM WHERE LOW INCOME PEOPLE CAN GET 30 BUCKS, UH, IN CREDIT TOWARDS, UH, INTERNET SERVICE.
EACH OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ISPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A INTERNET PROGRAM AROUND $30.
AND THEN FOR, FOR SERVICES, UH, OR EQUIPMENT? DEVICES OR TABLETS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S PART OF THE, THE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, UH, PARTNERING WITH COMPANIES ARE NON-PROFITS LIKE LAPTOPS FOR THE PEOPLE SO THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE INCOME SUFFICIENT TO, TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF, THERE'LL BE, UH, THERE'LL BE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UH, YES, MA'AM.
UH, YES, SHE'S DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU RECOGNIZING ME.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND APPRECIATE YOU SHARING, UH, WITH US.
UM, WHEN YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY, MR. CHADWICK, YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXCITED THAT THEY MAY BE GETTING BROADBAND, UM, UH, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE I'M GOING TO START SPREADING THE WORD THAT WE'RE GONNA GET BROADBAND IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
NOW, I SAY THAT TO SAY THIS, UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD, UM, BY STAFF, UH, AND I MAY NOT BEEN HEARING THEM CORRECTLY.
[00:25:01]
UM, BUT, UM, THE GENTLEMAN EARLIER SAID THAT, UM, YOU HAVE COMPETITIVE BIDS RIGHT NOW.AND BURE COUNTY SUBMITTED, UH, SEVERAL APPLICATION WITH OUR PROVIDER AND NONE OF THEM WAS AWARDED.
AND WE KIND OF SIT BACK AND SAY, WHY NOT? UM, IF WE ARE NOT, IF WE ARE NOT BEING AWARDED, BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS THAT BEAUFORT IS A WEALTHY COUNTY.
THERE ARE SOME POCKETS IN BEAUFORT THAT ARE NOT WEALTHY AT ALL.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MR. UH, MACEL, MCN, UH, ALLUDED TO.
UM, HOW CAN WE BE ASSURED? CAUSE WE ARE READY TO GO.
UM, WE HAVE A ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT THAT WE ARE READY TO GO, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE USING IS NOT ENOUGH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SERVE, UH, ALL THE RESIDENTS OF BURET COUNTY IN THE RURAL AREA, UM, AS WELL AS IN THE URBAN AREA.
SO HOW CAN YOU ASSURE US THAT? WE'LL, WHEN I'M, UM, UM, VENDOR CENTER APPLICATION IN, UH, WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT MONEY CUZ WE ARE NOT GETTING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.
WELL, THERE ARE, THERE ARE A SERIES OF PROGRAMS, AND I'LL LET CHIME IN ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S HIS DEPARTMENT THAT'S DOING THE PICKING, NOT, I KNOW HE TALKED ABOUT COMPETITIVE BIDS, RIGHT? EXACTLY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE, IF WE GOTTA COMPETE, WE'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY GET TO EVERY UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED HOME.
SO THAT, THAT'LL BE SIX, SEVEN YEARS UNDER, NOT SIX TO SEVEN YEARS.
CEDRIC, DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON, UH, AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, WE DID HAVE TO HIT SOME OF THE, THE HIGH LEVEL AREAS THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER.
SOME OF THE LOW INCOME AREAS FIRST, HOWEVER, WE'RE DOING IT, UH, DIFFERENT WHAT WE CALL, WE MAP IT, THEN WE INVEST AND INVEST.
AND SO NOW OUR SECOND ROUND OF INVESTMENTS IS ABOUT TO START RIGHT NOW.
IN FACT, WE'VE ALREADY MADE IN THAT SERVICE PROVIDERS AWARE AND WE JUST SWITCHED TO WHAT WE CALL A POINT LOCATION BEFORE WE WERE DOING CENSUS BLOCK.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO POINT LOCATION.
SO NOW IF YOU ARE UNSERVED, IT'S GONNA SHOW UP AS A DOT ON OUR MAPS.
AND NOW BEING THAT SERVICE PROVIDER CAN PUT IN NEW APPLICATIONS IN THE AREA.
AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL PROBABLY LOOK AT FUND SOME OF THOSE NOW.
BUT HERE AGAIN, WE HAD TO TRY TO HIT THE, THE WORST AREAS.
CAUSE THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE PERCEPTION WAS.
HOWEVER, THE GOALS IS WITHIN THE NEXT 24 MONTHS OR LESS TO HAVE SOME WORK IN EVERY PART OF THIS CASE.
UH, BUT BECAUSE, UH, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY PROVIDERS AND SO MANY WORKERS, YEAH, THE MAP THEN REINVEST AND THEN IS ENGINEERING WORK ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE THE RIGHT CONTRACT IN PLACE.
LUCKILY WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE IN SOUTH CAROLINA BECAUSE SOME OTHER STATES, UH, DID NOT PRIORITIZE IT, TO YOUR POINT, DID NOT PRIORITIZE THE BILLS WITHIN A, UH, REASONABLE TIMEFRAME.
BUT WHAT WE SAID THAT SERVICE ABOVE, WE WANT EVERYTHING TO BE 24 MONTHS OR LESS, WHICH MEANS THE CONTRACTORS WILL STAY HERE AND NOT GO TO ANOTHER STATE.
SO IT IS DEFINITELY WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR, OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS, OUR OUR COMMUNITIES TO, TO SOLVE THE INTERNET PROBLEMS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA AND BRIDGE THAT GAP.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NEXT.
UH, AND HERE AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE THAT NEXT ROUND OUT.
UH, BY THE FALL, UH, IT'LL BE AWARDED AND, AND COMPANIES WILL START BUILDING ACROSS THE STATE AND AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T HIT BEFORE.
SO YOU'LL PROBABLY BE ON THAT NEXT ROUND NOW.
AND THEN I'LL SAY THIS TOO, WE'LL PROBABLY AT LEAST HAVE, UH, TWO MORE ROUNDS OF INVESTMENTS OF THIS APA MONEY, WHICH HAS TO BE ALL USED UP.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, GIVEN OUT TO AN INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER BY THE END OF 2024, SO BY THE END OF 2024, ALL THAT MONEY, THAT 400 MILLION WE'VE GOT IN ARPA WILL BE GIVEN OUT TO AN SERVICE PROVIDER.
AND THEN ALL CONSTRUCTION HAS TO BE DONE BY 2026.
UH, WE HAVE PROVIDERS READY TO GO.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING TIME TO BE HERE TODAY.
[8. GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE]
WE ARE GONNA GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE, ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE, UH, GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE BY MR. MIKE MCSHANE.HE'S GONNA GIVE US SOME UPDATE ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UM, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA, GO AHEAD AND TELL HIM YOUR, YOUR OTHER HATS YOU WEAR.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
I'M ACTUALLY A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY.
WELL, MR. DAWSON, BUT I DO HAVE INTEREST LANDS, UH, UH, I SHOULD SAY INTEREST IN LANDS THROUGHOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH, UH, AS A REVIEW, I HAVE NOW BEEN THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING APPOINTED AND SERVING AS CHAIRMAN OF YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'M PLEASED TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT YOUR OWN COLLEAGUE, CHAIRMAN HOWARD, HAS NOW BEEN ELECTED VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
YOU HAVE FULLY SEATED YOUR FOUR RESIDENTS BASED ON YOUR GEOGRAPHIC DIVISION OF EAST, NORTH, SOUTH AND WEST.
AND OF COURSE, SENATOR DAVIS REPRESENTS THE COUNTY DELEGATION
[00:30:01]
ON THE COMMITTEE.THE COMMITTEE IS MET AND TODAY IS SIMPLY TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.
THE COMMITTEE IS NOW FULLY ESTABLISHED AND IS MET.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE DUE DILIGENCE OF THE PROGRAM IN, UH, WORKING IN CRAFTING THE APPLICATION SCORING PROCESS AND CONCERT WITH YOUR STAFF.
IT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE APPLICATION, APPLICATION SCORE, UH, SCORING, MACHINATION, MECHANIZATION AND SCHEDULING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHEDULING MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEVERAGING.
SO IN A HAT THAT I ALSO WEAR IS CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FACT THAT THOSE SCHEDULES COULD LA UH, OVERLAP AND WORK TOGETHER.
QUITE OFTEN OPPORTUNITIES ARE THAT WE COULD TAKE THE MID THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED BY WHAT THE COUNTY VOTERS HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND LEVERAGE THAT ON A MUCH HIGHER SCALE FOR THE RESIDENTS ON THAT.
THEY'RE UNLIKE THE STATE BANK, THOUGH, YOU ALLOW NOT ONLY FEE, SIMPLE ACQUISITION AND FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION, YOU ALLOW AN EXISTING PDS THE ABILITY TO BUY DOWN DENSITY AS WELL AS FOR COMPELLING REASONS.
WORK ON LANDS OUTSIDE YOUR COUNTY AND YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY.
THAT'S A VERY UNIQUE, THOSE ARE BOTH VERY UNIQUE ASPECTS TO YOUR PROGRAM.
WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S EFFECTIVE.
ANY RECOMMENDATION WE BRING TO YOU IN THE ORDINANCE NOW IT TALKS ABOUT EQUAL DISTRIBUTION THROUGH THE COUNTY.
WE'LL COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION THAT I THINK, AND THE STATE RECOGNIZES THE STATE LAW THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
EQUAL DISTRIBUTION DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AND THAT THEIR PRESSURES AND VALUES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY THAT ARE NOT EQUAL.
AND SO THAT WE'RE GONNA COME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL TO ADOPT THAT MAY REQUIRE AN ADJUSTMENT AND AMENDMENT SLIGHTLY IN THE ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS SCHEDULED NOW.
WE MEET AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND TWICE IN JULY WITH THE GOAL OF BRINGING A FULL RECOMMENDATION BACK TO THIS COUNCIL BY THE END OF THE SUMMER.
WE KNOW WE'RE EAGER TO GET THE PROGRAM OFF.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN OUR MEETINGS.
MS. TABBER, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION SINCE I'VE BEEN SITTING IN ON THE MEETINGS.
I JUST WANT TO TELL THE REST OF COUNCIL.
WE PICKED A GREAT, THEY PICKED A GREAT CHAIR.
MIKE MCCHAIN, I'VE NEVER MET HIM BEFORE, AND I WAS ON THE INTERVIEW TEAM, SO HE KIND OF BLEW ME AWAY.
HE'S GREAT ALICE AS THE VICE CHAIR.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I DID SAY TO THE COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA EMBRACE, IS WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC WHAT THE MONEY CAN BE USED FOR.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BUYING DOWN DENSITY.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT TOUCHING NEIGHBORING, UM, COUNTIES, I DON'T KNOW THAT BEFOR COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE GONNA UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THE PENNY TAX IN AND THEN WE'RE GONNA POSSIBLY GET SOMETHING FROM COLTON OR JASPER COUNTY.
SO THE EDUCATION PIECE TO ME IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY'LL HAVE TO DO A ROADSHOW.
AND THAT WAS IDENTIFIED VERY EARLY ON BY THE COMMITTEE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY THE FIRST COUNTY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS STATE ORDINANCE, THIS, UH, STATUTE.
AND SO WE HAVE THE EXTRA BURDEN OF SHOWING THE OTHER 45 COUNTIES REALLY HOW TO DO IT RIGHT.
AND FRANKLY, THAT'S THE HISTORY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
YOU'VE DONE THIS ALWAYS FIRST, YOU WERE FIRST WITH A RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM, AND YOU ARE FIRST WITH A, ACTUALLY WITH A LAND TRUST.
AND SO YOU HAVE THIS HISTORY THAT I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO, TAKING THOSE COMMENTS IN MADAM TO, UH, TO HEART.
COUNSEL, I'D LIKE TO, UH, JUST TAKE A MOMENT, UH, AND OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS ON BEHALF OF THIS BODY TO THE CHAIRMAN AND TO THE VICE CHAIRMAN, AND TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE OPERATING WITH OUR FULL CONFIDENCE AND WE EXPECT REMARKABLE RESULTS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THIS COMMUNITY HAS MADE QUITE AN INVESTMENT, UH, WITH THE PENNY SALES TAX TO RAISE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO FUND THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
AND PARTICULARLY, UH, HAPPY THAT, UH, BOTH YOU AND ALICE ARE LEADING THE CHARGE HERE.
SO, CONGRATULATIONS, MIKE, AND CONGRATULATIONS, ALICE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING BACK, UH, FULL RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE ADOPTED AND THEN EXCITING PROJECTS TO BRING FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL AS WELL.
IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, JUST TO ALSO ADD MY THANKS TO YOUR STAFF, UH, BOTH IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS ON COUNTY LEGAL STAFF TO HELP THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN OUR WORK AS WE DEVELOP THAT PROGRAM.
AND LASTLY, IF I MAY, JUST IN THE, IN MY ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE, OF THE CONSERVATION BANK, I'M EXCITED ABOUT, WHAT IS PROJECT 19 ON YOUR PROGRAM TODAY? THIS WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTY PARK IN THE ACE BASIN.
[00:35:01]
WILL FULL PUBLIC ACCESS TO BE DEVELOPED.I'D ASK THAT THE COUNTY RESIDENTS ALLOW THE STAFF TO WORK THROUGH HOW TO OPEN THAT UP.
BUT THIS WILL BECOME A UNIQUE GEM IN THAT PART OF NORTHERN BUFORD COUNTY OF OVER 500 ACRES THAT GIVES GREAT DIVERSITY IN TERMS OF USE, BOTH FROM, UH, THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN FISHING ANGLERS TO THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OTHER LAND USE THERE.
AND THIS, AGAIN, WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTY PARK IN THE ACE BASIN.
AND I THINK IT'S HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE, AND THIS WILL BE A GREAT SUCCESS STORY TO DO THAT.
IT SHOWED A BALANCE OF USING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS TO PROTECT THE LAND AROUND IT.
SO THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT IS PROTECTED AS WELL AS BALANCING IN THE PUBLIC ACCESS AND THEREFORE THE PUBLIC BENEFIT ON THAT, SIR.
AND SO I COMMEND THE COUNCIL, THE COMMITTEE, AND THE COUNCIL FOR MOVING FORWARD ON THAT.
AND LASTLY, IF I MAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, IS I'VE OFFERED TO YOUR ADMINISTRATOR IN MY FORMER ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF DNR, I WAS EXPOSED TO A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR COUNTY PARKS MM-HMM.
I THINK THERE'S SOME FEDERAL PROGRAMS TODAY UNDER THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT THAT WOULD BE QUALIFIED TO BRING SOME ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT.
AND ALSO THERE'S SOME WATER WRECK AND BUTTER ACCESS FUNDS THAT I BELIEVE I CAN HELP IDENTIFY TO BRING THAT.
SO THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT CAN BRING IN CERTAINLY WOULD BE AN ENHANCEMENT TO WHAT THE COUNTY PUTS INTO SOMETHING I KNOW HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO THIS COUNCIL FOR SOME TIME TO GET DEVELOPED.
THANK YOU FOR, WE WANNA LEVERAGE OUR MONEY THE BEST WAY WE CAN AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP IN GETTING THAT DONE.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, NO QUESTION.
UH, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU MR. MACHINE FOR, UM, WANTING TO UPSETTING, SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.
UH, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT WELL, I KNOW YOU AND I TRUST YOU.
WELL, UH, LIKE I DID NOT KNOW THESE MEMBERS, UH, AND I, AND I'M GETTING TO A DONE THEM VERY QUICKLY, BUT I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN WHAT THE CAPABILITIES THEY BRING TO THIS COMMITTEE.
I THINK THE INTERVIEW PROCESS THAT WAS ALLUDED TO EARLIER DID A REALLY MAGNIFICENT JOB.
AND I GIVE GREAT CREDIT TO THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STAFF, WHO REALLY HELPED MAKE SURE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA WORK WELL.
[9. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO UNDERTAKE DUE DILIGENCE AND DISCUSSION/NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY (2935 AND 2729 BOUNDARY STREET)]
UM, NUMBER NINE.THIS IS THE APPROVE RECOM APPROVAL TO UNDERTAKE DUE DILIGENCE AND DISCUSSIONS SLASH NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED FEE, SIMPLE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY AT 29 35 AND 27 29 BOUNDARY STREET.
AND MS. BLAKE IS GOING TO PRESENT GOOD AFTERNOON COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS AMANDA FLAKE AND I'M THE NATURAL RESOURCE PLANNER, AS WELL AS THE STAFF TO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD.
UM, THIS PROJECT BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A REQUEST FOR DUE DILIGENCE FOR A POSSIBLE PURCHASE IN THE FUTURE FOR FEE SIMPLE.
IT WAS APPROVED BY RULE AND CRITICAL ON MAY 11TH.
Y'ALL MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LOWER BOUNDARY STREET PROJECT WHERE THE WENDY'S USED TO BE.
THAT PROJECT WAS WITHIN THE VIEW SHED OF THE CITY OF, UM, BUFORD'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, THAT ENDED UP BEING SEVEN PARCELS TOTAL.
WE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF BEAUFORT AS WELL AS THE OPEN LAND TRUST BUYING ALL SEVEN PARCELS, UM, FOR THAT VIEW SHED DOWN THERE, THIS IS SIMILAR, IT'S JUST ON A, THE UPPER PART OF BOUNDARY STREET.
THIS IS ALSO WITHIN THE CITY OF BUFORD'S, UM, VIEW SHED FOR THIS UPPER SECTION OF BOUNDARY.
UM, THE LOT IN QUESTION OR TWO LOTS, UM, ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE SHEDS FOR SALE, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, THE FAMILY DOLLARS JUST UP FROM THERE.
AND, UM, THIS IS A ONE ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR DUE DILIGENCE MONEY TO LOOK INTO THIS.
UM, THE PROJECT IS JUST EXPLORATORY TO SEE IF WE CAN BUILD OUT ABU SHED WITHIN THIS AREA.
SO THE REQUEST IS JUST TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DUE DILIGENCE TO EXPLORE.
ANY, DID I HEAR A MOTION? AND THEN WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? THIS IS JUST FOR DUE DILIGENCE.
[10. RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO UNDERTAKE DUE DILIGENCE AND DISCUSSION/NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PROPOSED FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS BARRELL LANDING]
DOING THE NEXT ONE TOO? YES, MA'AM.THE NEXT ONE IS BARREL LANDING, OR THIS ALSO IS A PROJECT FOR DUE DILIGENCE WITH POSSIBLE PURCHASE IN THE FUTURE OF FEE.
IT WAS APPROVED BY ROOM CRITICAL ALSO ON MAY 11TH.
UM, THIS IS PROACTIVELY IDENTIFYING A PROPERTY THAT IS WHOLLY SURROUNDED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP ALL IN GREEN IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY OWN AS PART OF BEAR LANDING.
THE PIECE IN YELLOW IS THE ONLY PIECE THAT IS OUTLYING,
[00:40:01]
AND THAT IS THE PIECE UP FOR, UM, POSSIBLE PURCHASE.UM, THERE ARE A FEW HOMES DOWN IN THE BACK, BUT OTHERWISE, UM, IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, IT IS ALSO THE MAIN ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY, UM, AND IT IS A PRIORITY PARCEL FOR STAFF.
AGAIN, THIS IS DUE DILIGENCE JUST TO EXPLORE, TO SEE IF IT'S A POSSIBILITY DOWN THE ROAD.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DUE DILIGENCE FOR THIS.
I'LL SECOND AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY DISCUSSION? AYE.
NO QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
[11. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING PROCEEDS AND INTEREST FROM THE 2017 GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE TO DESIGN, ENGINEER, CONSTRUCT, AND EQUIP A JOINT FIRE/EMS STATION IN SUN CITY AND TO DEFRAY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT EMBARKATION LOCATIONS FOR THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]
RIGHT.AND WE HAD A, UH, THIS WAS A, A REQUEST.
WE HAVE A WRITTEN REQUEST TO OUR COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN THAT PEOPLE BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO NUMBER 11 AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF A FERRY SITUATION FROM DSKY.
UM, SO PROCEDURALLY, MS. BROCK, SHOULD WE LET THEM SPEAK BEFORE WE HEAR THE AGENDA ITEM OR, OR CHAIRMAN TESTAMENT? WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL TAKE A MOTION AND SECOND WE'LL HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON IT, AND IF THERE IS REQUIRED INPUT FROM THE DSKY RESIDENCE, WE'LL HAVE THEM SPEAK.
SO WE'RE GONNA FIRST ADDRESS NUMBER 11, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THAT.
SO JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, THIS IS A TWO-PART MOTION, RIGHT? OKAY.
DUFUS IS ONE PART, AND THE OTHER'S THE FIRE STATION AGAIN.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FIRE STATION FIRST, THEN.
WELL, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK ABOUT IT.
UM, I SPOKE ABOUT IT BEFORE THE CHIEF OF THE BLUFFTON BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT, UH, CAME TO SUN CITY AND SHOWED THAT THE RESPONSE TIMES WERE INADEQUATE TO SERVICE RESIDENTS.
AND SO HE PROPOSED THAT THEY WORK WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE HAVE SIGNED OVER THE PIECE OF LAND.
UH, ERIC AND THE STAFF HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT.
SO THIS OR THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE TO APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE DESIGN, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND THE EQUIPMENT FOR THAT STATION.
AND IF I COULD STAMP MY FINGERS AND GET IT TOMORROW, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
BUT THIS IS WELL NEEDED AS DOCUMENTED BY CHIEF THOMPSON AND CHIEF WARE AT THIS TIME.
THIS, UH, MR. THIS, THIS REALLY DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING MATERIALLY AFFECT THE FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION OR THE FERRY SERVICE.
THESE ARE JUST APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE ALL NEED YOU TO APPROVE AS A PART OF THE BUDGET.
YOU ALL VOTED TO DO THAT AT YOUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
SO WE'RE JUST MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION PROCESS HERE, UH, TO GET THIS NEW PROCESS STARTED.
UH, SO THIS WILL ALLOCATE MONEY FOR THE FIRE STATION, APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR THE FIRE STATION, AND APPROPRIATE MONEY THAT WE FEEL IS NECESSARY TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE FERRY LITIGATION THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
SO WE DO NOT NEED TO MAKE TWO DIFFERENT BOATS.
WE'LL, JUST, IT'S MAKE MONEY, BUT, AND YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS, THIS ONE ITEM COVERS? IT'S ONE ALL THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
AND DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THE DUFUS ISLAND FERRY SERVICE? I DON'T, I MEAN, THERE'S NO PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST TO APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR US TO CONTINUE WHAT COUNCIL IS AWARE THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING WITH THE FERRY SERVICE.
ANYWAY, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE THAT CAME OVER TO MAKE COMMENT.
UM, YEAH, AND IF Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE COMMENT, THAT'S FINE.
I JUST, I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THE, WHAT THE REASON IS.
I THOUGHT THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE HERE FOR THE ITEM FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL ITEM, SHORTTERM RENTALS ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO, THE ONLY, AT THIS TIME, WE'RE ONLY GONNA TAKE COMMENTS REGARDING THE FERRY.
UM, WE HAD THREE PEOPLE ON THIS NOTE.
K YARBOROUGH, DEBORAH SMITH AND JOHN SCHWARTZ.
MA'AM, THAT, THAT WAS FOR THE FULL COUNSEL MEETING.
I HAVE A MOTION REGARDING NUMBER 11.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION NO SECOND.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
[12. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH TMS NO. R600-009-000-0003- 0000, ALSO KNOWN AS CAMP ST. MARY’S, TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM]
MOVING ON.UM, THIS IS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY WITH, UM, TMS NUMBER R 600 DASH 0 0 9 DASH 0 0 0 3, UM, ZERO ZERO, ALSO KNOWN AS CAMP ST.
MARY'S TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
AND MR. ATKINSON WILL BE PRESENTING.
SO, AS ALREADY STATED, THIS INVOLVES THE PROPERTY THAT COUNTY OWNS AT CAMP ST.
UM, FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPERTY, IT'S EIGHT ACRES.
UH, IT SITS ON A HIGH BLUFF DEEP WATER PROPERTY.
UH, IT'S RIGHT OFF OF CAMP ST.
[00:45:01]
THREE MILES SOUTH OF THE LEMON ISLAND BRIDGE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIGHWAY ONE 70.BUFORD COUNTY ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THIS PROPERTY IN 1997.
THIS WAS PRIOR TO, UH, THE EXISTENCE OF THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
AS WE KNOW IT TODAY, THE COUNTY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FOR A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AND EFFORT MAINTAINING THAT PROPERTY.
UM, THERE ARE SOME BUILDINGS OUT THERE THAT ARE, UM, DILAPIDATED.
WE HAVE BEEN TARPING ROOFS, BOARDING UP BROKEN WINDOWS.
UH, WE'VE PUT A, A FENCE AROUND THE PROPERTY, AND IT'S, IT'S, AS TIME GOES BY, IT'S SORT OF REACHED CRITICAL MASS.
WE, WE NEED TO COLLECTIVELY DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PROPERTY.
UH, OVER THAT 26 YEARS THAT WE'VE HELD IT IN THE GENERAL INVENTORY, UH, THAT WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED WITH JUST, UH, GENERAL FUND MONIES, THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE PROPERTY VALUE GOING UP.
AND IN APRIL WE HAD A, UH, AN UPDATED APPRAISAL DONE, AND IT SHOWED THE PROPERTY BEING WORTH $2 MILLION.
SO STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT THIS PROPERTY BE SOLD TO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE NO DEED RESTRICTIONS.
THE PROPERTY IS NOT PROTECTED.
IT'S JUST HELD IN THE COUNTY'S, UH, GENERAL INVENTORY OF PROPERTIES.
AND OUR PROPOSAL IS TO SELL IT TO RURAL AND CRITICAL FOR $2 MILLION, CONSERVE THE PROPERTY AND REINVEST THAT $2 MILLION BACK INTO THAT PROPERTY BY DEVELOPING IT INTO A PASSIVE PART.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF DESIGNS THROWN AROUND OVER THE LAST 15 OR SO YEARS.
STAFF USE THIS AS A FRESH START.
WE WOULD LIKE TO START OVER WITH THIS MONEY, DO A COMPLETE DESIGN.
IF YOU THINK IN TERMS OF, UH, WHITE HALL, WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF, THAT'S WHAT STAFF WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, HAPPEN AT CAMP ST.
THIS PROPOSAL WAS PUT IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD LAST WEEK.
UH, VERY GOOD DISCUSSION CAME OUT OF THAT.
AND ULTIMATELY, THEY VOTED, NOT UNANIMOUSLY, BUT THEY VOTED, UH, TO DISAPPROVE THE PROPOSAL.
HOWEVER, I THINK THE CONTEXT OF THAT VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'D LIKE TO DO MY BEST.
I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER WERE THERE.
SO IF, IF MY PERCEPTION OF, UH, THE CONVERSATION IS IN, IN ERROR, YOU KNOW, PLEASE LET ME KNOW THAT.
BUT THE CONVERSATION WAS, WAS VERY BROAD.
UH, THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, UH, THEIR OPINIONS, THEY SORT OF RANGED FROM A COMPLETE SUPPORT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SUGGESTING THAT PERHAPS WE SELL THAT PROPERTY, UH, ON THE OPEN MARKET TO A DEVELOPER, LET IT BE DEVELOPED.
AND, UM, THAT, THAT WAS THAT ONE PERSON'S OPINION.
AND THERE WERE MULTIPLE OTHER CONVERSATIONS, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE WITHIN THAT BOARD MEETING.
THE VOTE, PRIMARILY BASED ON MY VIEW OF THE DISCUSSION, CAME DOWN TO THE SCORING SHEET.
AND IN PARTICULAR TWO PARTS OF THE SCORING SHEET.
ONE ASPECT OF THE SCORING SHEET IS THE DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE, UH, THAT IS ON THE PROPERTY.
THAT PORTION SCORED VERY LOW BECAUSE THE COUNTY OWNS THE PROPERTY.
AND IT WAS APPARENT TO ME THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTY, UH, ALREADY OWNED THE PROPERTY, THAT THE ASSUMPTION WAS MADE, THAT IT WAS PROTECTED.
THAT CONVERSATION SORT OF, UM, DEVELOPED.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RESOLUTION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT THAT CONVERSATION WAS HAD.
THE SECOND ONE WAS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, THAT THAT SECTION SCORED VERY LOW ON THE SCORING SHEET, AGAIN, BECAUSE THE COUNTY ALREADY OWNS THE PROPERTY.
UM, AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT, UH, IT, IT WENT TO THE VOTE AND THEY DID, THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED DISAPPROVAL.
UH, BASED ON MY PERCEPTION, IT WAS FOR THOSE, UH, TWO PRIMARY REASONS.
SO WITH THAT, UH, STAFF THINKS THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S, UM, IT WOULD BE A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON MONEY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, AND WE CAN REINVEST IT IN THAT PROPERTY AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE CAN USE AND BE PROUD OF.
SO I WILL, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
MARY'S MY FIRST DAY ON THE JOB HERE.
UM, WE WENT OUT ON FIELD TRIP.
ALL SOME OF US DID, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS IF WE COULD TAKE THAT PROPERTY AND PUT LIKE LITTLE CABINS ON IT, LIKE ETTO ISLAND HOUSE AND RENT THEM OUT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY PASSIVE PARK? I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PASSIVE PARK? YEAH, SO THE MODEL FOR OUR PASSIVE PARK IS THAT WE HAVE
[00:50:01]
AN IMPROVED ACCESS, GATED ACCESS.OUR PASSIVE PARTS ARE ONLY OPEN DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
WE HAVE, WE FENCE THE PROPERTIES OFF, WE PROTECT THEM, AND THEN WE PUT BATHROOMS, WALKING TRAILS, UH, IMPROVED PARKING AREAS, AND PERHAPS AN AREA, UH, NEXT TO THE BATHROOM THAT WOULD PERMIT PICNIC TABLES UNDER A COVERED PAVILION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THERE WOULD BE NO ACTIVE, UH, PROGRAMMING THAT TAKES PLACE THERE.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WOOD POINT, VERY SIMILAR TO, UH, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY.
DON'T I KNOW WHERE IT IS, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
AND IT WOULD BE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE DONE AT WHITE HALL WHERE YOU PARK, THERE'S A RESTROOM, WATER FOUNTAIN COVERED AREA WITH PICNIC TABLES, PERHAPS WALKING, UH, IMPROVED WALKING TRAILS AROUND THE PROPERTY.
UH, WE WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE DOCK, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THAT'S IT.
COULD YOU FISH AND CRAB THERE OFF THE DOCK? ABSOLUTELY.
I, UM, I WAS AT THE MEETING, SO I, I HEARD THE DISCUSSION AND, UM, UM, I FEEL AT THIS TIME THAT, UM, WE, WE HAVE A BODY THAT SAID, NO, AND YOU'RE BRINGING IT TO COUNSEL AND, AND I WANT TO BASICALLY SAY YES TO YOU.
UM, BUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT WE ARE TAKING, UH, MONEY AWAY FROM THE RULE AND CRITICAL LAND PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND THEY'RE VERY LIMITED RESOURCE AT THIS TIME WITH THE RULING CRITICAL LAND PROGRAM.
UM, SO WE, WE ARE TAKING THAT $2 MILLION FROM THAT PROGRAM.
UM, IT BECOMES A PASSIVE PARK.
UM, THIS COUNTY, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION HERE FOR ME.
UM, PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT MRS. BROWN JUST ASKED, UM, IF CABINS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ARE PLACED THERE AS A CABIN SITE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED BY SAY, YOUTH GROUPS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, UH, GIRL SCOUT, BOY SCOUTS, CAMPING, THAT SORT OF STUFF.
IS THAT A ACTIVE PARK OR IS THAT A PASSIVE PARK? PARK? THAT WOULD BE AN ACTIVE PARK.
THAT'D BE AN ACTIVE PARK, YES, SIR.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THIS COUNTY.
SO HAVE Y'ALL THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEING AN ACTIVE PARK LIKE THAT? UM, NOT THE BASEBALL FIELDS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
YOU KNOW, JUST CABINS OF FOLKS CAN, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE AND CAMP OUT, UM, AND HAVE THE SURE.
KAYAKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, THE FISHING WITH SOME GROUPS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THE LIABILITY IS GREAT AND THAT SORT OF STUFF, BUT I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION.
UH, OVER THE YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF OPTIONS PROPOSED FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I KNOW 2019, UH, A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER WENT OUT.
WE, YOU KNOW, STAFF MET WITH THE FOLKS WHO LIVE OUT THERE GETTING THEIR INPUT, AND THEY WERE PRETTY ADAMANT IN THAT AREA THAT THEY DID NOT WANT THE TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH AN ACTIVE USE.
UH, THE SHERIFF, YOU KNOW, IT WAS PROPOSED AT ONE TIME.
WE PUT A PLAN TOGETHER FOR PERHAPS A SPLASH PAD OR SOMETHING IN THAT AREA.
THEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER ACTIVE USES, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR 26 YEARS.
AND THERE HAS BEEN NO CONSENSUS ON ACTIVE USE BECAUSE OF HOW YOU GET TO IT, AND BECAUSE IT IS AT THE BACK OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, IN ESSENCE.
SO WE HAVE LOOKED INTO ACTIVE USES AND THERE'S BEEN VERY, THERE'S BEEN NO SUPPORT, UH, IN THAT AREA FOR THAT TYPE OF USE.
SO, UM, AND YOU, I HOPE, SEE THAT'S WHERE I KIND OF DIFFER WITH YOU IN THAT IF I SAW CAMPSITE CETERA, ET CETERA, I, I REALLY DON'T PERCEIVE THAT AS BEING THAT ACTIVE.
IS JUST CUB SCOUTS COMING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, LEASING IT FROM, OR RENTING IT FROM THE COUNTY TO DO THEIR POWWOW AND LEAVING.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER, IF THAT PROPOSAL WAS THROWN BEFORE THAT COMMUNITY, UH, WOULD THEY EMBRACE THAT ACTIVE? WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I'M THINKING ABOUT BASEBALL FIELDS, SOCCER FIELDS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
THAT'S WHAT I PERCEIVE AS BEING ACTIVE, THAT'S ALL.
AND I, I, I WILL SAY THIS AS A FOLLOW UP.
WE DO HAVE, UH, WIDGET POINT, WHICH HAS A BARN, AND WE DO RENT THAT BARN OUT.
UH, I WOULD GET IN TROUBLE, BUT, UM, SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AND SHE HAS A VERY DETAILED PLAN THAT SHE'S WORKED VERY HARD ON.
UM, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO IS LOOK AT USING DIFFERENT PASSIVE PARTS FOR PERHAPS THAT TYPE OF USE.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALLOWED FILMING COMPANIES TO COME OUT, FILM DOCUMENTARIES,
[00:55:01]
UH, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, ON CERTAIN PIECES OF PROPERTY AS LONG AS IT'S COORDINATED WITH STAFF.SO I DON'T WANT TO JUST COME ACROSS TO SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT A POSSIBILITY, BECAUSE IF THAT'S THE WILL OF COUNSEL, IT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE AN ALL IN FULL NON PASSIVE USE TO PERHAPS ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
YEAH, AND I, I'D SAY THAT TO SAY THAT, UM, IT'LL BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AT THIS TIME.
UM, AND WE CAN OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME, UM, UM, UH, CHAIRMAN IS TALKING ABOUT, UM, PLAY, UH, PLACE WHERE FOLKS CAN GO AND PLAY AND HAVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
UH, THAT'D BE ANOTHER AVENUE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ABSOLUTELY.
UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT BRINGING ON COTTON HALL IN THAT TYPE OF VENUE AS WELL.
SO IT MAKES BEER FOR THE DESTINATION POINT THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY COME AND HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THEMSELVES AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT THAT'S, I I RECALL THEY USED TO HAVE THE BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE OUT THERE ON THAT PROPERTY, I'M PRETTY SURE A LONG TIME AGO.
AND THERE ARE, THERE IS A LACK OF PRIMITIVE CAMPING FOR GIRL AND BOY SCOUTS AND OTHER YOUTH GROUPS IN THE COUNTY.
I THINK HUNTING ISLAND MAY WON'T BE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THEY ALLOW IT.
SO I'M KIND OF, JUST TO MAKE A COMMENT ON COUNCILMAN GLOVER'S COMMENT THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THOSE THINGS ALSO BE INCLUDED, BUT I WOULD LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT TO JUST BE, UM, TOTALLY NO USE OF IT.
ANY THOUGHTS ON, WE NEED A MOTION TO GO FORWARD TO FULL COUNSEL, CORRECT.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO PROPERLY OBTAIN THE PARK AS A PASSIVE PARK.
THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY VOTED A BOND REFERENDUM.
WE'RE GONNA BE USING SOME OF THAT PROCEEDS NOW TO REINVEST THAT MONEY INTO A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
HOW WE CREATE THE PASSIVE PARK IS SECONDARY TO WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
I DISAGREE WITH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THE REASON I'M DISAGREEING WITH YOU IS THAT, UM, UH, I'M NOT TOO CLEAR WHETHER, UH, CAMPSITE WILL BE PASSIVE OR CAMPSITE COULD BE ACTIVE, BE ACTIVE.
THAT'S MY ONLY DELIBERATE, UM, IN THIS RIGHT NOW, SO I AM GONNA GET STEPHANIE TO COME UP.
SHE IS THE AUTHORITY ON PASSIVE PARKS AND THEIR USES AND THE BOND REFERENDUM.
SO I WILL YIELD THE MIC TO YOU NOW.
AND COUNCILMAN TABERNAC, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THAT OR? WELL, MR. GLOVER NOTED THAT THERE'S LIMITED FUNDS IN RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND, SO I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT'S THE, UH, AVAILABLE FUNDS IN THAT FUND, HOW MUCH MONEY'S LEFT IN RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS.
UM, STEPHANIE NAJE, PASSIVE PARKS MANAGER, UH, THIS CHAIRMAN.
UM, SO THE TYPICAL PROCESS FOR CREATING A PASSIVE PARK INCLUDES, UM, PUBLIC SURVEY AND THEN CREATING A CONCEPTUAL PLAN AND GETTING THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BLESSED BY THE PUBLIC BEFORE THEN BRINGING IT TO, UM, THROUGH OUR COUNTY, UH, APPROVAL PROCESS THROUGH THE STAFF REVIEW TEAM.
UM, SO AS FAR AS CAMPING, THAT IS ACTUALLY AN I, UH, IT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF PASSIVE RECREATION.
AND ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT I DO HAVE A CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR IN NEW RIVERSIDE DOES ACTUALLY HAVE A CAMPGROUND.
UM, THAT PROPERTY IS KIND OF YEARS OUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
UM, SO CAMPING COULD BE SOMETHING.
UM, BUT TYPICALLY WHAT I DO IS I SEND OUT A SURVEY ONLINE AND THEN TO INTERESTED FOLKS, AND I LIST ALL THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN PASSIVE RECREATION AND ASK THEM TO RANK THEIR TOP, LIKE RANK THEM IN ORDER.
UM, CAMPING HAS NOT COME UP AS A HIGH PRIORITY IN PAST SURVEYS, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I WOULD PUT ON THE SURVEY.
UM, IT COULD BE DONE, BUT DUE TO THE, THE NEIGHBORING AND ADJACENT, UM, HOMEOWNERS, UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF THAT COMES UP AS A PRIORITY ITEM, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, UH, REGULATED VERY WELL SO THAT WE DON'T CAUSE AN INADVERTENT HAZARD.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE FUNDING FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL, UH, WE JUST WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK, UM, I TOOK WHAT'S IN OUR SYSTEM, MUNIS, UM, AS OF JUNE 2ND WAS THE DATE THAT I LOOKED AT IT, AND I TOOK WHAT WAS THERE AND THEN SUBTRACTED ALL OF OUR UPCOMING
[01:00:01]
PROJECTS.AND, UM, ALL, IF ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, WHICH DID INCLUDE THE 2 MILLION FOR CAMP ST.
MARY'S WERE ALL APPROVED AND WENT FORWARD WITH THOSE PRICES, UH, IT WOULD EXPEND THE FUNDS.
SO IT'S APPROXIMATELY 14 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
SO WE'D BE AT ZERO WITH CAMP ST.
MARY'S IS ACTUALLY, WELL, IT'S ONE, IT'S ONE OF 12 PROJECTS.
THAT IF ALL OF THEM WERE APPROVED AT THAT AMOUNT, IT WOULD EXPEND THOSE FUNDS.
AND, AND I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO TOO MUCH MORE INTO DETAIL CUZ THERE'S SOME THAT ARE IN THE WORKS THAT HAVE NOT COME FORWARD YET.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE HAVE A MOTION OR, OR COMMENTS? I DON'T RECALL ANYONE MAKING A MOTION.
WE NEED A MOTION NEED, BUT NO ONE HAS MADE ONE.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE.
SECOND WAS BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE AT RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD MEETING HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT WAS TWO NINE 2019 THAT WE HAD A LARGE MEETING.
BUT FROM HEARING MS. AED TALK, I THINK WE WOULD GET THE PUBLIC INPUT DURING CONCEPTUAL, UM, AND THERE MAY BE OTHER FUNDS THAT COULD SUPPLEMENT THIS.
IT MIGHT NOT BE 2 MILLION, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN GO FORWARD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMENTS? YEAH, JUST ONE ADDITIONAL THING.
FOR COUNSEL'S KNOWLEDGE, YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS, UH, AT THE PASSAGE OF THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO, TO DO THE PURCHASE.
SO THERE WILL BE A OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT TIME.
AND MADAM AND CHAIRMAN, DIDN'T I HEAR MIKE MC SHANE SAY THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS? YES.
AND THAT, THAT WILL BE A VERY WAY, A VERY GOOD WAY TO LEVERAGE MONEY FOR THIS PART.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[13. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 21 ACRES (R100 025 000 068A 0000, R100 025 000 068B 0000, AND R100 025 000 0068 0000) LOCATED AT LAUREL BAY ROAD AND ROSEIDA ROAD EXTENSION FROM T2 RURAL (TR2) TO INDUSTRIAL (SI)]
WE ARE AT 13 NUMBER 12.RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP, AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR 21 ACRES, R 100 0 2 5 0 0 0 0 6 8 A 0 0, 0 0.
AND R 100 0 2 5 0 0 0, UH, OH SIX EIGHT B 0 0 0 0.
AND R 1 1 0 2 5 0 0 0 6 8 0 0 0.
LOCATED AT LAUREL BAY ROAD IN ROSITA ROAD, EXTENSION FROM T TWO RURAL TWO INDUSTRIAL.
UH, WELL, KRISTEN'S GONNA PRESENT.
I JUST WANNA INTRODUCE HER TO EVERYBODY.
UM, THIS IS GONNA BE YOUR FIRST TIME PRESENTING IN FRONT OF YOU.
SHE'S NEW, SHE'S OUR LONG-TERM PLANNER.
AND SHE PRESENTED THIS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE HER A SHOT.
WELL, I'LL LET HER FOR THE RECORD.
SO THIS, UM, ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING TO REZONE THREE PARCELS.
UM, THE 21 ACRES ARE CURRENTLY UNDEVELOPED AND IN PROXIMITY TO SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED RESIDENCES.
UM, THE FUTURE LAND USE IS NEIGHBORHOOD MIX USE, WHICH IS MODERATE DENSITY, UM, RESIDENTIAL AS THE PRIMARY USE WITH SOME SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS.
NEW DEVELOPMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO BE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, HAVE A, UM, MIXTURE OF HOUSING TYPES, UM, AND A MIX OF LAND USES WITH, ALONG WITH INTERCONNECTED STREETS.
UH, ALTHOUGH LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE IS ONE OF THOSE DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THE PARCELS WITHIN THE ACUS, UM, A ZONING DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS HEAVY INDUSTRIAL IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THESE THREE PARCELS.
THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IDENTIFIES THE AREAS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE ACUS WHERE INDUSTRIAL WOULD BE MOST APPROPRIATE.
AND THESE THREE ARE NOT WITHIN THAT.
UM, THEREFORE, SO STAFF RECOMMENDS DENIAL.
UM, PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION AS THE MOVE, MADAM CHAIRMAN, THAT WE, UM, UPHOLD A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF? AND I'LL SECOND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
UM, THE, THIS IS APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
AND YOU'RE RECOMMENDING DENIAL.
I'M RECOMMENDING STAFF, STAFF RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF DENI HONING.
BUT THE WAY THIS FOR APPROVAL, RIGHT, RIGHT.
THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, THIS WOULD BE FOR APPROVAL, CORRECT? MM-HMM.
SO I CAN, I CAN, UM, COUNSEL, I MEAN LEGAL, BUT ALL I'M DOING IS SUPPORTING THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS CLEAR MM-HMM.
[01:05:02]
IF WE APPROVE THIS, IT MOVES ON.OR AM I READING THIS WRONG? IT SAYS RECOMMEND APPROVAL.
THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN, IT IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE.
SO IF YOU VOTE TO DO THAT, THEN IT WOULD GO ON TO COUNSEL.
SO IF YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO BE REZONED, THEN YOU DON'T MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE IT.
SOMEBODY WOULD NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO DENY IT.
SO, SO RECOMMENDING APPROVAL IS A CONTRADICTION TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, CORRECT? CORRECT.
DO YOU WANNA WITHDRAW? DO YOU WANNA WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY? AND THE CONTRADICTION TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION AS WELL? YES.
AS THE, UM, AS IT WAS STATED, THIS IS BASICALLY A RESIDENTIAL AREA, AND IT'S IN, AND IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO PUT, UH, AN INDUSTRIAL SITE IN THE MIDST OF A, A, A, A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY.
WE DENY, UH, THAT'S WHAT I, OF THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENT TO CHANGE IT FROM T2 RULE TO, UH, INDUSTRIAL.
I THINK HE HAS TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION.
HE HAS TO, THAT'S WHAT I WILL DO THAT.
UM, BUT I THOUGHT I WAS SAYING THE SAME THING, BUT I WILL WITHDRAW MY MOTION.
I THINK HE NEEDS TO WITHDRAW HIS MOTION.
EVERYBODY NEEDS TO WITHDRAW THEIR MOTION.
WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND SOMEBODY CAN MOVE IN.
AND COUNSEL DEFEATS IT, AND THEN IT'S DONE.
SO YORK, WOULD YOU WITHDRAW YOUR, UH, MOTION? UM, SURE I DID.
I WILL THEN I WILL DRAW A SECOND.
NOW I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO YES.
SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
I'LL NEED A SECOND AND THEN WE'LL VOTE.
AND IF WE DENY IT, IT IS THEN DONE.
WE'LL HAVE A, BUT GERALD MADE A MOTION.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOTION? MY MOTION WAS TO DENY THE REQUEST TO, UH, CHANGE IT FROM T2 RULE TO INDUSTRIAL.
BUT YOU WOULD NEED TO AMEND THIS MOTION.
THIS MOTION IS ON THE TABLE AS RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE THERE.
HEMAN, AM I NOT CORRECT? YOU WERE RIGHT.
IT NEEDS TO BE WITHDRAWN AND IT WAS WITHDRAWN.
SO IT'S ON THE AGENDA AS A RECOMMEND RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE AN, AN ORDINANCE.
BUT THE MOTION IS TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THE REZONING REQUEST.
AND IF THAT GETS SECONDED, AND IF THE VOTE MAJORITY VOTE CARRIES, THEN IT GOES TO COUNCIL AS A RECOMMENDATION.
[14. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 502 ACRES (R300-012-000-0001-0000, R300-012-000-0254-0000, R300-007-000-0002-0000, R300- 012-000-0255-0000, AND R300-012-000-0256-0000) LOCATED AT 288 DULAMO ROAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY (CPO) BOUNDARY]
ON.NUMBER 14, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REZONING, A REQUEST FOR 500 ACRES.
I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL THOSE NUMBERS OUT.
I HAVE A MOTION WHO'S GONNA PRESENT? ROB AL.
YOU'RE IT, IT'S MY HOT SEAT TONIGHT.
UM, SO I THINK A LOT'S BEEN SAID ON THE MATTER, SO I'M NOT GONNA DIVE INTO THE HISTORY.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION OF PINE ISLAND AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO I'M GONNA GET RIGHT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMING TO THE COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF TO DENY THE REQUEST? AND YOU HAVE UNANIM RECOMMENDATION FROM THE P PLANNING COMMISSION.
YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF TO DENY THE APPLICATION MM-HMM.
UM, A LOT OF THIS GOES INTO, YOU KNOW, WE WORK IN PLANNING.
WE WORK IN LAND USE POLICY AND LAND USE LAW, AND A LOT OF IT HIGHER.
A LOT OF IT IS BASED IN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE BRING TO YOU.
AND I JUST WANT TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THIS POLICY THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1999.
SO THIS HAS BEEN LAND USE POLICY THAT THE COUNTY HAS HAD FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS THAT YOU ALL HAVE USED, UM, TO, UM, ENFORCE THE, THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY IN 2010.
THE COMP PLAN, AGAIN, WAS ADOPTED AND REINFORCED THIS POLICY.
IN 2014, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS ADOPTED, CARRIED OVER THIS POLICY.
SO EVERY TIME THESE THINGS HAPPEN, THESE LAND USE POLICIES KIND OF STAND A LITTLE BIT OF A TEST, AND THEY KIND OF CARRY
[01:10:01]
OVER.IN 2021, YOUR MOST RECENTLY ADOPTED COMP PLAN, IT CARRIED IT OVER AND HAD VERY SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TO, UM, ADDRESS AND REINFORCE THE CPO AND THE LANGUAGE AND THE INTENT FOR WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO ACHIEVE.
MOST RECENTLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, YOU ALL THIS COUNCIL ADOPTED A LANGUAGE OF THAT TEXT THAT WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE CPO COMMITTEE, WHICH YOU ALL APPOINTED TO STRENGTHEN AND, AND KEEP THE WILL OF THAT MOST RECENTLY ADOPTED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF THESE THINGS UP, IT KIND OF STARTS TELLING A STORY.
AND THAT IS THE KIND OF HISTORY OF WHY WHEN YOU SEE THESE THINGS IN THE STAFF REPORT, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL READ, UM, THAT STAFF RECOMMENDED DENIAL, AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL OF THE APPLICATION TO REMOVE THESE LANDS FROM THE BOUNDARY.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, AND I'LL JUST TURN IT OVER TO WHAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TEXT AMENDMENT WAS THAT YOU ALL HAD VERSE WHAT A REZONING MAP AMENDMENT IS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM, I I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, SO I GET IT.
NO GOLF COURSE PERIOD AND THE STORY, NO GOLF COURSE.
BUT THE PERSON THAT OWNS THE PROPERTY, I WANNA JUST BE CLEAR, CAN BUILD 143 HOMES.
LET'S JUST SAY 143, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MR. GREENWAY HAD SAID AT ONE POINT.
SO HE CAN BUILD 143 HOMES, RIGHT? SURE.
IF THE QUESTION IS, IS, IS THERE A BUY RIGHT ABILITY FOR THE LAND TO DEVELOP AS A SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT WITH MANY HOMES? I, I DON'T WANNA PUT ON A RECORD THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT IT COULD BE CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER.
BUT HE HAS BY RIGHTS, WHICH IS IN OUR UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, CORRECT? THAT HE CAN BUILD 143 HOMES, NO GOLF COURSE, NO GOLF COURSE I DON'T WANT, BUT HE CAN BUILD A HUNDRED SOME CONSTITUTION INTO IT.
THEN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE HAS THE ZONING, THAT ZONING HAS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, AND THAT THOSE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS WOULD ALLOW HIM TO DO A RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION.
UM, AS LONG AS HE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT COULD REALIZE A NUMBER, CLOSE TO A NUMBER OF THAT.
SO, SO THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION IS YES.
RIGHT? HE CAN BUILD HOMES, NO GOLF COURSE, BECAUSE IT WAS IN 1999.
THE CPO SAYS NO GOLF COURSE, WE STRENGTHENED THE CPO, NO GOLF COURSE, BUT HE CAN BUILD HOMES.
NOW, AFTER SAYING ALL THAT, WHAT IS IT GONNA CAUSE THE COUNTY TO ANOTHER FIRE STATION OUT THERE? MORE POLICE OFFICERS, EMS, ANOTHER, SOME MORE ROADS.
COUNCILMAN BROWN? WHAT DOES THAT, I DON'T THINK, NO, HE CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
HE, HE'S NOT PREPARED TO ANSWER THAT KIND OF QUESTION.
I MEAN, I CAN DO HIGH LEVEL ANSWERS, BUT DETAILED STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT THOSE ARE USUALLY DONE THROUGH LIKE FISCAL IMPACT ANALYSIS, WHERE YOU REALLY CRUNCH THE NUMBERS ON THOSE THINGS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, I DO.
COUNCIL INVESTMENT DURING THE, UH, CITIZEN COMMENTS.
ONE WAS TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY SPOT ZONING.
CAN YOU ELABORATE ON, ON HIS CONTENTION THAT THIS IS SPOT ZONING? SURE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'VE, YOU KNOW, I'VE LISTENED TO THE CONVERSATIONS QUITE A BIT, UM, AS THIS HAS PLAYED OUT AND SPOT ZONING, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THE STATE DOES DEFINE IT.
IT'S USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A PARCEL THAT GETS ZONED, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM SURROUNDING PARCELS FOR SOMEBODY TO GET A PARTICULAR USE.
I MEAN, THAT'S, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT.
BUT IN THIS SITUATION, COULD, COULD THIS BE DEFINED AS SPOT ZONING? I, I WOULD SAY PROFESSIONALLY THAT IT COULD.
I, I'D JUST LIKE TO OFFER A MOTION.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO FOLLOW DARRELL, I MEAN GERALD GERALD'S MOTION, WHICH IS TO DENY, UM, REQUEST FOR THE REQUEST TO CHANGE REZONE 502 ACRES, UM, THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE OVERLAY CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, UM, AT 2 88 DEL LAMO ROAD.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
I THINK I HEARD COUNCILMAN DON.
I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
JUST QUICKLY, MR. CHAIR, MADAM CHAIRMAN, IF I WOULD, UM, SPOT ZONING IS NOT THE WORD I WOULD USE, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE, THE RIGHT DEFINITION.
UM, MOVING FORWARD, UM, IF YOU QUOTE UNQUOTE ALLOW SPOT ZONING
[01:15:01]
TO OCCUR HERE TODAY, UM, WHAT WILL STOP SPOT ZONING ANYWHERE ELSE ON ST.HELENA ISLAND WITH THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT IF YOU ALLOW SPOT ZONING NOW, YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW SPOT ZONING CUZ YOU COULDN'T STOP IT CUZ YOU SET PRECEDENT TODAY IF YOU VOTE TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S MY ARGUMENT MOVING FORWARD.
AND IS THAT A COMMENT OR A QUESTION? WAS THAT A COMMENT OR A QUESTION? JUST A COMMENT.
UNLESS YOU WANT, YOU WANT COMMENT, COMMENT.
MICHAEL, YOU, UH, BEFORE YOU DO, UH, THIS ISN'T DIRECTED TO YOU, BEFORE YOU DO A A ROLL CALL VOTE, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE MOTION SO THAT IT'S CLEAR WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON.
UM, COUNCILMAN GLOVER ANSWER IF, IF I AM THE ORDER, MADAM CHAIRMAN MM-HMM.
AND WE HAVE THE FIVE PARCELS LISTED IN THE DO IN THE, IN OUR BODY.
UH, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T LIST ALL THOSE.
I, I LIST THE ADDRESS WITH THE 502 ACRES, ACRES.
I, I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO MAKE YOUR FINDINGS A FACT AS A PART OF THE MOTION TO BE RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THIS VIOLATES THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
BECAUSE ONLY A COURT OF LAW CAN DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT A ZONING ISSUE IS SPOT ZONING.
SO I DO NOT WANT THAT TO BE THE BASIS FOR YOUR DENIAL.
CHAIRMAN, I, UM, IF YOU, UH, ALLOW ME TO AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE THAT I, UM, ADMINISTRATOR, ADMINISTRATOR JUST USED, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT THE FINDINGS OF FACTS, THAT IS, IT IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE OVERALL COMPREHENSIVE ALL RIGHT.
SO THAT WOULD'VE BEEN GONE BACK TO THE ITEMS THAT I DISCUSSED DURING THE PRESENTATION MM-HMM.
UM, YOU'VE HAD, YOU HAD THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CPO IN 99.
YOU HAD THE 2010 COMP PLAN, YOU HAD THE 2014 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH PULLED IT IN.
YOU HAD THE 2021 RECENTLY ADOPTED COMP PLAN, WHICH HAD LANGUAGE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THIS.
THAT'S WHAT LED TO YOU ALL APPOINTING A CPO COMMITTEE.
THAT CPO HAD LOOKED AT LANGUAGE, YOU ALL RECENTLY ADOPTED LANGUAGE THAT STRENGTHENED IT.
SO THOSE ARE, IT'S A HISTORY OF LAND USE POLICY THAT TELLS A STORY.
AND I, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT ERIC IS REFERRING TO, I BELIEVE IN REGARDING IN YOUR FINDINGS.
SO WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT WITH THAT LANGUAGE SURE.
WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL VOTE AT THIS TIME.
I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT TO MAKE OF MY GOODNESS.
I VOTED YES ON THIS IN THE BEGINNING UNTIL I RECEIVED EMAILS AT THE WASHINGTON DC ADDRESS FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS.
OUR CONGRESS, OUR US MEMBERS OF OUR US CONGRESS ALLOW SPECIAL INTERESTS TO KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THEY TELL 'EM HOW TO VOTE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
AND I FEEL THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE.
BUT JUST TO SAY ON THAT, I'M, WE'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF CONSERVATION GROUPS, AND THIS IS WHAT SOMETHING, ANOTHER, SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE DISCUSSED.
WHY IS THE CONSERVATION GROUPS AGAINST THE GOLF COURSE, WHEN THE GOLF COURSE IS, THEY'RE GONNA PRESERVE 250 ACRES OF THE 500.
THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE.
THEY'RE GONNA BUILD LIKE 60 HOMES VERSUS 160.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, AND I'VE TALKED TO, I'VE TALKED TO, UM, CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT FIVE, OLD OLDFIELD, BERKELEY HALL, SPRING ISLAND, KAWAI ISLAND, AND I JUST ASKED THEIR OPINION, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? HOW WOULD YOU VOTE? AND Y'ALL SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR THE GOLF COURSE, BUT I JUST WANNA BRING SOMETHING, EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.
BUT I JUST WANNA BRING SOMETHING UP THAT MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, MR. PAMA DISTRICT, UM, I THINK HE HAS THE COOLEST CONSTITUENTS AROUND.
THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID IN OLD FIELD.
THEY PROMOTE WILDLIFE LIFE, THEY PROMOTE BIRDS.
[01:20:01]
CONSERVATION GROUPS AND OTHER PRI, YOU KNOW, INTEREST GROUPS, BUT HOUSES DO NOT.SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, A HUNDRED AND SOME HOUSES VERSUS THEN I HEAR, WELL, HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE ANY MONEY IF HE BUILDS 143 HOMES.
WHAT PART OF $1 MILLION EACH DID YOU NOT GET? BECAUSE 1 43 TIMES 1 MILLION IS A 143 MILLION.
YOU ONLY PAID 18 MILLION FOR THE PROPERTY.
SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I'M SORRY, BUT I JUST DON'T GET IT.
AND A LOT OF EVERYONE I'VE TALKED TO AND I'VE TALKED TO OVER 150 PEOPLE, THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING.
WHY NOT THE GOLF COURSE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
[15. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO JOIN WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT TO CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (LATS) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) AND TO ADOPT THE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES]
15, WHICH IS RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF BUFORT COUNTY TO JOIN WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND THE CITY OF BUFORT TO CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP IN THE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY, METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, AND TO ADOPT THE GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES.AND MR. FRAK WILL BE PRESENTING.
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE US A LITTLE REASON WHY THIS IS COMING UP TO US SOON.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
THIS IS, UH, A RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE MEMBERSHIP WITH LATS OR LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSIT STUDY, THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION, UM, FOR THE REGION.
SO WHAT THIS IS, THIS IS A, EXCUSE ME, IF ANYONE WANTS TO TALK, PLEASE LEAVE THE ROOM CAUSE IT'S HARD TO HEAR WITH OTHER PEOPLE CARRYING ON CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS AS A RESULT OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
UM, WHAT TOOK PLACE IS BASICALLY EVERY CENSUS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REASSESSES, THE URBAN AREA DESIGNATIONS, UM, AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NATION, THERE'S A, THERE'S A MAKEUP OF URBAN AREA AND NON-URBAN AREA, AND THAT'S HOW FEDERAL FUNDING, FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDING IS, UM, DISTRIBUTED FROM THE FEDS TO THE STATES, TO THE LOCAL ENTITIES.
SO AS PART OF THAT, THE THRESHOLD IS 50,000, UM, FOLKS IN, IN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
UM, IN 2015 IS WHEN OUR FIRST MPO OF THE AREA WAS CREATED.
AND THAT'S LATS AS WE KNOW IT.
SO THAT'S THE BLUFFTON, UH, HILTON HEAD AREA, UH, AND GREATER PART OF UNIN UNINCORPORATED BUFORT COUNTY.
AT THE TIME, THERE WAS ALSO A SMALLER URBAN BEING DEVELOPED, WHICH IS NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, BUT DIDN'T MEET THAT THRESHOLD AS OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
SO IT'S A MAKE UP OF THE CITY OF BEAUFORT, TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND PARTIAL, UH, UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND SO BASICALLY AT THAT TIME, WHENEVER AN AREA REACHES THAT THRESHOLD, THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO SEPARATE AND MAKE THEIR OWN, UH, MPO OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO RETAIN INTO, IF THERE'S ALREADY ANY EXISTING MPO AS THERE IS IN OUR CASE.
SO THIS HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, UM, D O T IS THE ONE THAT IS FACILITATING THIS AND HAS A DO OUT IN BEHALF OF FEDERAL HIGHWAY.
SO THEY HAVE TO, UM, LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.
I THINK THERE'S ONE OTHER AREA, THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT HAVE TO ADJUST THEIR MPO BOUNDARIES BASED OFF THE CENSUS.
BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE NEW MPO IN THE STATE, WHICH IS THIS ONE THAT COULD BE.
SO, UM, THIS MAP HERE KIND OF ILLUSTRATES THE DARK BLUE LINE IS OUR EXISTING MPO BOUNDARY.
SO WHEN LATS WAS CREATED IN 2015, THEY PROVIDE FOR FUTURE EXPANSION AND URBANIZATION.
SO, UM, WHAT YOU SEE IN THE, IN THE LOWER PART IS THE DARK SHADED AREA THAT IS THE ACTUAL URBANIZED AREA PER THE FEDS.
AND THEN IN THE NORTH, THE, THE NORTHERN, UM, DARKEN AREA THAT IS THE NEW URBANIZED AREA.
SO ALREADY ENCAPSULATED IN THE EXISTING BOUNDARY IS THE URBANIZED AREA.
SO WHEN THEY ESTABLISHED THAT IN 2015, THEY DID A GOOD JOB LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE REGION.
AND SO, UM, THERE'S ALSO A DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF THIS, UM, THE FUNDING
[01:25:01]
FLOWS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE, AND THEN THE STATE APPROPRIATES IT INTO THE NPOS, HOWEVER THEY CHOOSE TO WITH SOME FORMULAS, POPULATION BASED FORMULAS.AND SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF QUESTIONING OF, OF HOW MUCH FUNDING WOULD THIS BE AN INCREASE OF FUNDING IF THERE WAS TWO NPOS OR, UM, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? AND AT THE END, THIS, THERE'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT ANSWER.
D O T DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE FINAL POPULATION NUMBERS TO ASSESS THAT AND PROVIDE THE FINAL ANSWER.
BUT IN GENERAL, THERE MAY BE SOME PRECLUSION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING AS WE ARE PLANNING COLLECTIVELY AND TOGETHER TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AT, UM, AT THE LATS MEETING ITSELF.
I DON'T THINK IT WAS DISCUSSED AS SOCO, BUT IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AT OTHER AREAS AT AT NORTHERN REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
AND THE, UM, DIS DISCUSSION SO FAR HAS BEEN FROM EACH OF THE DIFFERENT UNITS HAS BEEN TO REMAIN AS ONE.
REGARDLESS WHAT THE FUNDING IS, THAT PLANNING TOGETHER MAKES MORE SENSE VERSUS PLANNING AND OPPOSING EACH OTHER POTENTIALLY.
AND, UM, THAT WE WOULD ELECT TO STAY IN THE BOUNDARY.
THE BOUNDARY WOULD BE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT BASED OFF SOME OF THE, THE GROWTH THAT YOU SEE HERE, BUT IN ALL THE MPO BOUNDARY WOULD MOSTLY REMAIN THE SAME.
SO WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY IS A RESOLUTION, UH, PROVIDING JUST THAT, THAT GOES THROUGH THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS THAT I OUTLINED, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, UPDATED GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARY AS I'VE DELINEATED HERE.
THIS IN THIS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND WITH CITY OF BUFORT.
SO SHOULD THEY MAKE THE SAME, UH, APPROVAL, WE WOULD ALL READ FROM THE SAME RESOLUTION.
WITH THAT, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
LATZ DID APPROVE THIS AT THEIR LAST MEETING.
AND THE NORTHERN REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE DID YEAH, TOO.
SO LA UM, AND YOUR BACKUP IS A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM LATZ, AND THEN NORTHERN REGIONAL ALSO APPROVED IT, BUT THERE'S NO BACK.
UM, ADAM, CHAIRMAN, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM NUMBER 50 AS PRESENTED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
[16. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A TEMPORARY CUSTODY AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND FOR AN ORDNANCE DELIVERY TABLE TO BE INSTALLED AND DISPLAYED AT FORT FREMONT PRESERVE]
RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN ENTER INTO A TEMPORARY CUSTODY AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF SULLIVAN'S ISLAND FOR AN ORDINANCE DELIVERY TABLE TO BE INSTALLED AND DISPLAYED AT FORT FREMONT PRESERVE.SO, UH, AS YOU JUST READ, UM, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT HAVE, UH, APPROACHED ME REGARDING THE RELOCATION OF AN UNDERUTILIZED ARTIFACT FROM THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, UM, AT A FORT THAT IS OWNED BY THE TOWN OF SULLIVAN'S ISLAND ON SULLIVAN ISLAND.
UH, IT IS THE SAME SPANISH AMERICAN WAR ERA FORT THAT WE ALSO HAVE AT FORT FREMONT PRESERVE.
UM, IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE FORT HOUR FORT HAS A CONCRETE TABLE, AND ON THAT TABLE WAS THIS PIECE OF IRON WORK.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS, ON THE INSIDE OF THE FORT, THERE WAS AN ELEVATOR THAT BROUGHT UP THE ORDINANCE OR BULLET FOR THE GUN, AND THEN IT WAS ROLLED ONTO THIS TABLE, WHICH WAS THEN ROLLED ON A CART AND THEN DELIVERED TO THE GUN IN THE BATTERY.
UM, SO THE FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS AS AN AMENITY FOR INTERPRETATION TO FORT FREMONT.
THEY HAVE PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT FOR FUNDING THE REMOVAL, TRANSPORT, CLEANING, INSTALLATION, AND INTERPRETATION COSTS.
UM, OF, THAT'S PICTURE OF THE ITEM THERE, MOVING THIS PIECE OF IRON WORK FROM THE TOWN OF SULLIVAN'S ISLAND TO OUR PROPERTY ON FORT FREMONT.
WE DO HAVE CONFIRMATION FROM THE TOWN MANAGER, MR. BENKE, THAT, UH, THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT WE, THAT I OUTLINED IN YOUR BACKUP, UM, ARE AGREED UPON AND ARE BEING CURRENTLY FORMALIZED IN A FORMAL DOCUMENT BETWEEN OUR ATTORNEYS AND THEIR ATTORNEYS.
UM, SO IF THIS IS APPROVED, THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AGREEMENT, UM, WHICH DOES NOT COST THE COUNTY ANY MONEY.
UH, BUT THE FRIENDS ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THE INTERPRETATION, UM, POSSIBILITIES THAT THIS CAN ENHANCE ON OUR PROPERTY.
DO I, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IN A SECOND.
SOME MOVE, MADAM CHAIRMAN SECOND.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, UM, DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO, UM, I STEERED HER, I THINK WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS COMING FOR THE TOUR ON FORT MUL STREET.
[01:30:01]
FOR A NEGOTIATION.I, I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS OUT THERE NEGOTIATING AND STUFF.
SO, BUT I DID TAKE THE TOUR MM-HMM.
AND, UH, THEY ARE VERY EAGER, UM, FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE.
WELL, WHERE IS FOR FREMONT? ST.
SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
[17. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY OPEN LAND TRUST FOR MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE BLOCKER FIELD EXTENSION (R300 015 000 076B 0000)]
17, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ENTER INTO A MOU WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY OAK LAND TRUST FOR MAINTENANCE OF COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY KNOWN AS BLOCKER FIELD EXTENSION.ARE YOU DOING THIS ONE TOO? YES, MA'AM.
BEAUFORT COUNTY PURCHASED THE BLOCKER FIELD EXTENSION ON MAY 30TH.
AND PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THIS ACQUISITION, THIS ROLE IN CRITICAL LANDS ACQUISITION, WAS THAT THE OPEN LAND TRUST WOULD THEN MAINTAIN IT AS THEY DO A VERY NEARLY ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY KNOWN AS BLOCKER FIELD, WHICH IS ALSO ADJACENT TO THE, UM, UH, LOW COUNTRY CIDER COMPANY ON ST.
SO THE OPEN LAND TRUST OWNS THE LOW COUNTRY CIDER COMPANY, COMPANY, AND BLOCKER FIELD.
WE WILL NOW OWN WHAT'S WE'RE CALLING BLOCKER FIELD EXTENSION, AND THEN THEY'VE AGREED TO THE TERMS TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY ANNUAL MOWING AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN THE VIEW CORRIDOR ALONG HIGHWAY 21.
I'M TRY, DO I HAVE A MOTION COUNSELING GLOVE? YES, MA'AM.
MS. TABERNAC SECOND WAS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[18. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO INITIATE THE BE-CAT3 GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH BROADBAND EFFORTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY]
UM, RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR INITIATE THE BE CAT THREE GRANT PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH BROADBAND EFFORTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.UH, I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU, UH, OUR NEXT STEP IN OUR MISSION TO BRING HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO RULE PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, WE ANALYZED DATA FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT SOURCES, INCLUDING THE DATA FROM THE STATE, AND WE CREATED THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF UNDERSERVED AREAS IN BEAUFORT.
CATEGORY ONE WERE AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO EXISTING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.
CATEGORY TWO WERE AREAS WHERE THERE WERE UNSERVED POCKETS WHERE THE POPULATION OR RESIDENTIAL DENSITY WAS, UM, A RESTRICTION.
AND THEN CATEGORY THREE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, ARE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE RESIDENCES DOWN LONG DRIVEWAYS OR PRIVATE ROADS WHERE COST OF EXTENDING BROADBAND SERVICE TO THE HOME IS A BARRIER, UH, FOR THAT INTERNET, UM, SERVICE.
AND SO, TO SAY THAT, AGAIN, DIF IN A DIFFERENT WAY, THE COST OF BRINGING BROADBAND TO THE HOME IS MORE THAN WHAT THE PROVIDER HAS ALLOTTED.
AND TYPICALLY, WHEN THAT OCCURS, THE PROVIDER CHARGES OR EXPECTS THE RESIDENT TO PAY THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF THE SERVICE DROP.
SO WHAT WE DID WAS, IS, IS WE DECIDED TO DEVELOP A GRANT PROGRAM USING ARPA S SL F R F FUNDS MM-HMM.
SO WE DEVELOP THIS PROGRAM, UM, AND WE FEEL LIKE IT WILL PROVIDE, UM, ACCESS, UH, TO BROADBAND IN, IN THOSE SERVED AREAS, UM, THAT WE HAVEN'T BEFORE.
UM, TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, THE RESIDENTS MUST NOT HAVE ANY EXISTING BROADBAND SERVICE, UH, FROM ANY OF THE PROVIDERS IN THE COUNTY.
UM, THE BROADBAND PROVIDER MUST HAVE, UM, A PRIMARY NETWORK THAT RUNS ALONG THE PRIMARY ROAD, WHICH CONNECTS THE DRIVEWAY OR THE PRIVATE ROAD.
UM, AND THE PROVIDER HAS TO CONFIRM THAT THERE IS AN, AN ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION BARRIER THAT'S PREVENTING ACCESS TO THAT HOME.
UM, AND THEY MUST BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON THIS, THIS PROCESS.
THE SECOND I THINK WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED A MOTION OR YOU ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, ASKING FOR THE MOTION, THEN WE CAN HAVE QUESTIONS.
WILL YOU, OH, I HAVE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION AFTER.
QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT BROADBAND AND, UM, MANY, MANY OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THAT.
UM, UM, MIKE COVID, UM, CAME ON THE SAME TIME I DID, UM, IN 2017 AND MIKE CHARITY COMMITTEE CALLED THE, UH, TRANSPARENCY COMMITTEE.
[01:35:01]
AND THIS COUNTY MADE A GOAL TO, UM, UM, CONNECT EVERY RESIDENCE OF, OF THIS COUNTY, UH, TO A NETWORK SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE.AND IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IN RURAL AREAS LIKE GERALD'S, MR. DAWSON, IN MY, MY DISTRICT, UH, A LOT OF ERIC POCKETS WERE NOT CONNECTED, UM, TO ANY KIND OF INTERNET CONNECTION.
AND SO, UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT IN MY COMMUNITY TO BRING BROADBAND.
UM, CABLES ARE BEING LAID, UM, BUT THE LATERAL AREAS ARE NOT CONNECTED, AND I SEE THIS AS A START IN THAT DIRECTION.
UM, THE ONLY THING I WOULD JUST CAUTION THIS COUNCIL ON IS THAT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, UM, AND WE WERE TRYING TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR THIS ODDLY OPERA FUNDS, WE HAD KIND OF PUT ASIDE $2 MILLION TOWARD THIS EFFORT, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.
UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE, BUT I JUST REMEMBER $2 MILLION.
AND BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT CAME OUT, WE SORT OF, UH, REDUCED IT, FIGURED THAT WE WOULD GET MONEY FROM THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO HELP SUPPORT THIS.
ALL I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS SAY, YES, LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
LET'S GET IT STARTED, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT IT MAY COST US MORE.
AND IF WE HAVEN'T USED ALL OF THAT OPERA FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS, UH, KIND OF TABLE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST GET FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED.
I APOLOGIZE, COUNCILMAN DAWSON, I SHOULD CALL ON YOU FIRST.
UH, PATRICK, UM, AS I READ THE NARRATIVE, UM, FOR THIS PROGRAM, THIS GRANT PROGRAM, I, I SEE WHERE WE COVER A LOT OF TERRITORIES THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT, UH, ACTUALLY ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR THE EXTENSION OF BROADBAND INTO THE UPPER PART OF THE, OF THE COUNTY, UH, PARTICULARLY THE BIGGEST STATE COMMUNITY, THE JENKINS COMMUNITY, AND THE SHELDON COMMUNITY.
I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING LISTED.
UH, I, I SEE LISTS GOING AS FAR AS, AS SEABROOK, WHICH IS ON THIS SIDE OF THE WHALE BRANCH RIVER MM-HMM.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE, UM, FUNDS COMING FROM THE BEAD PROGRAM, UH, WHICH, UH, THE GENTLEMAN SPOKE OF EARLIER TODAY.
UM, SO THAT MIGHT HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE, THOSE POCKET AREAS.
UM, THIS PARTICULAR GRANT PROGRAM, UM, THAT WE JUST CAME UP WITH WAS USING THE REMAINING ARPA FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, UH, ALLOCATED FOR BROADBAND.
BUT REALLY, WE LOOKED AT, UM, WHAT, HOW THIS CAME FROM, FROM YOUR AREA, FROM HORIS, DAWSON LANE.
I THINK YOU REMEMBER THAT, WHERE THE GENTLEMAN, UM, COULDN'T GET BROADBAND INTERNET BECAUSE IT COST TOO MUCH TO CONSTRUCT.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO HELP HIM OUT.
SO WE SAID, HEY, WHEN WE TALKED TO THE PROVIDERS AND GAVE THEM THAT SCENARIO, THEY SAID, THERE ARE AREAS IN BEAUFORT WHERE THAT OCCURS.
AND SO WE CAME UP WITH THIS PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR BROADBAND EXPANSION IN OTHER AREAS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WITH THE STATE, UM, YOU KNOW, WRITING LETTERS, TALKING TO THE PROVIDERS, UM, AND TRYING TO GET THAT DONE.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ENOUGH ARPA FUNDS TO TAKE CARE OF THE REMAINING TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE, THAT YOU'RE SPEAKING OF.
UM, BUT WE CAN HELP FOLKS, UM, THAT, THAT ARE ON THESE PRIVATE ROADS OR LONG DRIVEWAYS THAT CAN'T GET BROADBAND.
OH YEAH, GO AHEAD, MS. KANICK.
FIRST OF ALL, FOR THE AUDIENCE, SOME PEOPLE LISTENING AGAIN, AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HARASS JARED ABOUT IT.
TELL THEM WHAT ARPA S SL F R F MEANS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT LANGUAGE PEOPLE SPEAK.
JARED STATE AND LOCAL FEDERAL RECOVERY.
AND PLEASE DO QUICKLY, WE'RE RUNNING OUTTA TIME.
YEAH, WE'RE RUNNING OUTTA TIME.
SO, ARPAS, AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN ACT.
F R F IS STATE LOCAL FEDERAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN UNDERSTAND
IS THERE ANY PREFERENCE GIVEN TO HOMES THAT HAVE CHILDREN, THIS WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT DURING THE SHUTDOWN WHEN KIDS HAD TO DO EVERYTHING ONLINE, AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET, HOW COULD THEY DO THEIR EDUCATION? AND IT'S STILL PREVALENT.
IS THERE ANY PREFERENCE GIVEN TO FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHILDREN? NO.
WE, WE, WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT.
SO IT'S A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.
SO AS SOON IF, IF THE GRANT IS APPROVED, WE'LL PUT IT ONLINE, FILL IT OUT, AND WE WILL GET THOSE ALLOCATED AND SENT TO THE PROVIDER SO WE CAN GET A STATEMENT OF WORK OF HOW MUCH IT'LL COST TO DO THE CONSTRUCTION,
[01:40:01]
ET CETERA, ET CETERA.WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND CORRECT.
[19. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBER R710 012 000 0001 0000 AND R710 012 000 0072 0000 ALSO KNOWN AS COTTON HALL]
NUMBER 19, OR RECOMMEND APPROVAL RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS COTTON HALL.AND ALL OF YOU ON, ON THE COMMITTEE GOT THIS MAP.
SOME OF YOU WENT ON A FIELD TRIP TO SEE IT.
UM, AND WHO IS PRESENTING? UH, I AM PRESENTING.
YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THIS A FEW TIMES, UH, IN THE PAST, UH, ONCE TO AUTHORIZE DUE DILIGENCE.
MANY OF YOU WENT OUT TO THE PROPERTY A FEW WEEKS AGO AND INSURED THE PROPERTY.
IT'S A KEY ACQUISITION FOR US, UH, THROUGH THE RURAL CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM, UH, FOR THE FACT THAT WE'LL BE THE ONLY COUNTY, UH, IN THE AREA THAT WILL HAVE A PUBLIC PARK, UH, ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, IN THE ACE BASIN.
SO FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, ENJOY THE ACE BASIN WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A BOAT, UM, OR BEING INVITED TO PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN, UH, CONSERVATION BANK, UH, THE OPEN, UH, SPACE INSTITUTE, UH, AND THE COUNTY.
SO I'M ASK, UH, MR. MCSHANE TO COME UP AND BRIEFLY SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP AND WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN MAKING THIS ACQUISITION HAPPEN FOR THE COUNTY.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, JUST VERY QUICKLY, THIS IS JUST A, A GREAT ILLUSTRATION WHERE OPPORTUNITY WAS PRESENTED.
WE WERE ABLE TO, TO UTILIZE ONE OF OUR NONPROFIT QUALIFIED PARTNERS TO MOVE QUICKLY AND THEN TO ALLOW STATE AND COUNTY TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, THEN BE ABLE TO TAKE THIS OUT.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD'VE LOST THAT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THIS IS JUST ILLUSTRATIVE OF GREAT COLLABORATION.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR BY THIS COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, THE ADMINISTRATION, ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS FOR A PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT IN THE A SPACE.
AND I THINK WHAT WE FOUND WILL BECOME A REAL GEM FOR THE PUBLIC IN THAT AREA.
SO I'M DELIGHTED TO WORK WITH THAT AND CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
COUNCILMAN DAWSON, THIS IS IN YOUR DISTRICT AND YOU ARE ON THE FIELD TRIP.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR, YEAH, THE ONLY COMMENT I WANNA MAKE IS A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND, UH, MS. TABERNAC, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM TO PAY FOR THE 4.5 MILLION? IS THAT COMING OUTTA THE GREEN SPACE? OH, NO, NO, MA'AM.
CRITICAL, CRITICAL, CRITICAL, CRITICAL LAND.
OH, OH, THE STATE'S GIVEN SOME TOO? YES.
LIKE, HOW MUCH CAN I SAY? THREE.
IT WOULD BE 4.5 MILLION FROM RURAL CRITICAL.
THE CONSERVATION BANK HAS ALREADY DONE 1.5 MILLION, BUT FROM RURAL CRITICAL, IT WOULD BE 4.5 MILLION FOR BOTH PARCELS, WHICH WOULD BE 500 AND, UM, 27 ACRES TOTAL.
AND THIS WILL GIVE PUBLIC ACCESS WITHOUT A BOAT FOR FISHING, WHICH IS GREAT.
THE PASSIVE OF, HUH? ACTIVE OR PASSIVE? THIS IS PASSIVE.
PASSIVE, BUT, UM, PASSIVELY ACTIVE.
UM, THERE, THERE IS THE, UM, THE THOUGHT OF THE, UM, UM, HORSE TRAIL ON THIS SITE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF POSSIBILITIES.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.WAS THIS APPROVED? I THINK, DID WE VOTE? WE DIDN'T VOTE TO APPROVE.
WE DIDN'T VOTE WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
SINCE STATES IS GONNA PUT IN SOME, MY, MY, MY, MY COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN SAYING, HURRY UP, HURRY UP.
WE NEED A MOTION TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YEAH, YOU GOTTA AS STATED TO TALK ABOUT PROPOSED SALE OF LAND.
SECOND TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
OR MAY NOT BE ANYTHING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO, UM, THE NEXT MEETING IS AT, AT FIVE O'CLOCK COUNTY COUNCIL CAND, BUFORD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT SPECIALISTS, LIBRARY ASSISTANCE, BUS DRIVERS APPLY TODAY@BEAUFORDCOUNTYSE.GOV.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR YOUR PT GEAR ANYMORE, RIGHT? IT'S COMFORTABLE.
[01:45:01]
CIVILIAN LIFE TREATING YOU.WHEN I GOT OUT, I DIDN'T WANNA ADMIT THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG BECAUSE I FELT LIKE A FAILURE.
AND THEN I REALIZED LIKE, THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.
SO I STARTED TALKING TO SOMEONE.
MAYBE YOU ARE FINE, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT, IT'S OKAY.
IF YOU OR A VETERAN, YOU KNOW, NEED SUPPORT, DON'T WAIT.
FIND RESOURCES AT VA.GOV/REACH.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION PLEA IF PLEASE, A MOTION TO BE ADJOURNED.
WE MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN, SO MOVE SECOND.
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE IS ADJOURNED.
THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO ON DEMAND.
SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.
AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM THE LIST.
IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
CHRISTINA PORTCO HAD AN ARGUMENT WITH HER PARENTS.
UH, THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, HER MOTHER REPORTED HER WERE MISSING.
UH, CHRISTINA WENT TO THE PAYPHONE AT THE BYLAW, WHICH IS A SUPERMARKET ACROSS THE STREET FROM WOODLAKE VILLAGE WHERE CHRISTINA LIVED CALLED A FRIEND TO COME PICK HER UP AND TOLD HER TO MEET HER AT THE POOL AREA OF WOODLAKE VILLAS.
WHEN THE FRIEND ARRIVED TO PICKED CHRISTINA UP, SHE FOUND A RED SWEATER.
UH, WE KNOW FROM THE INVESTIGATION THAT CHRISTINA HAD A STRAINED RELATIONSHIP AT HOME.
UH, SHE DID NOT TAKE ANY BELONGINGS WITH HER.
SO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING HER DISAPPEARANCE ARE EXTREMELY SUSPICIOUS.
THREE-YEAR-OLD PAUL BAKER WAS REPORTED MISSING BY A STEPMOTHER FROM THEIR SHELL POINT HOME IN 1987.
THE STEPMOTHER BECAME A PERSON OF INTEREST IN HIS DISAPPEARANCE.
EARLY ON, THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT, UH, SHE BEAT PAUL'S OLDER SISTER.
SHE WAS LATER CHARGED AND CONVICTED OF THAT, AND THEN MOVED TO FLORIDA.
AWARE SHE WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF ABDUCTING ANOTHER CHILD AND IS CURRENTLY SERVING TIME IN FLORIDA.
PAUL'S NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE 37 YEAR OLD.
APRIL VI WAS REPORTED MISSING FROM HILTON MID ISLAND.
IN 1991, SHE HAD A FIGHT WITH A BOYFRIEND.
SHE WAS LAST SEEN AT A CHURCH WHERE SHE RECEIVED MONEY FOR A BUS TICKET.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
KAY HAMILTON WAS REPORTED MISSING IN YEMENI BY HER GRANDMOTHER IN NOVEMBER OF 1995.
THE GRANDMOTHER REPORTED THAT SHE HADN'T SEEN KAY IN A COUPLE WEEKS AND BECAME CONCERNED.
KAY HAD SOME MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT NEEDED ATTENTION.
AN EXAMINATION OF KAY'S HOUSE REVEALED THAT A CRIME SCENE HAD BEEN CLEANED UP.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT HER DISAPPEARANCE IS EXTREMELY SUSPICIOUS.
SEAN JONES AND TOBY BING WERE REPORTED MISSING BY FAMILY MEMBERS IN 1999 FROM HILTON ISLAND.
IN THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS LEARNED THAT THEY WERE TO MEET WITH SOME SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS IN BE BLUFFTON.
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME ANYBODY SAW SEAN AND TOBY.
ALSO, IN THE INVESTIGATION, A CRIME SCENE WAS LOCATED AT A HIGH ON ROAD RESIDENCE.
IN BE BLUFFTON, BULLET HOLES WERE FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER IN A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF BLOOD THAT MATCHED TOBY BING WAS
[01:50:01]
FOUND BENEATH THE PORCH.ATM FOOTAGE FROM DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA REVEALED THAT SEAN JONES TRUCK HAD BEEN DROPPED OFF BY UNKNOWN SUSPECTS.
AT THE NIGHT OF THE DISAPPEARANCE, A SUBJECT WAS CHARGED IN THE MURDER OF TOBY BAIN.
BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, THOSE CHARGES ULTIMATELY WERE DROPPED, AND THAT SUBJECT WAS CONVICTED INTO FEDERAL COURT AND ACTUALLY IS STILL SERVING TIME TODAY.
OTHER PERSONS OF INTERESTS WERE ALSO CONVICTED IN A FEDERAL CONSPIRACY CASE.
BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE OBTAINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT IS CLEAR THAT, UH, SEAN AND TOBY, UH, MET A VERY VIOLENT END.
AS OF THIS POINT, WE HAVE NOT FOUND SEAN AND TOBY.
A MARCH 4TH, 2008, JOHN ELIZABETH CAL, WHO OWNED THE HARBORTOWN YACHT BASIN, WERE REPORTED MISSING BY ELIZABETH'S BROTHER IN ATLANTA.
IN INVESTIGATING THE CASE, UH, WE DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAD IN FACT HAD A MEETING WITH DENNIS GERING, WHO WAS THE ACCOUNTANT AT THE CLUB GROUP IN CUNS.
DENNIS GERING HANDLED THE FINANCES FOR THE CALVERS, AND THEY HAD DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD BEEN EMBEZZLING MONEY FROM THEIR ACCOUNTS.
ELIZABETH HAD A MEETING ON SUNDAY, WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN MARCH 2ND, 2008, AND THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A MEETING, UH, JOHN AND ELIZABETH WITH DENNIS GROWING AT HIS OFFICE AT THE CLUB GROUP IN C PINE CENTER ON MARCH 3RD.
AT ABOUT FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON, IT WAS LEARNED THAT DENNIS GROWING HAD RUN OFF HIS EMPLOYEES FROM THE OFFICE.
SO HE WAS ALONE WHEN JOHN CALVERT, UH, APPEARED SOMETIME AFTER 5:00 PM ELIZABETH WAS RUNNING LATE, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT SHE ALSO JOINED JOHN AT THAT OFFICE.
AND DENNIS, IN THAT MEETING, IN INTERVIEWING DENNIS GING, HE ADVISED THAT THEY HAD WENT TO DINNER WITHOUT HIM AFTER THE MEETING, AND THEY WERE FINE WHEN THEY LEFT.
IT WAS LEARNED THAT PRIOR TO THE MEETING ON MONDAY, MARCH 3RD, 2008, DENNIS GERING HAD WENT TO GRACO HARDWARE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND PURCHASED COMMERCIAL GRADE DROP CLOTH.
IT WAS ALSO LEARNED THAT AFTER THE MEETING WITH THE CALVERTS, THAT DENNIS APPEARED AT THE CS PHARMACY ON THE SOUTH END OF HI NET ISLAND AND, AND PICKED UP BANDAIDS AND LATEX GLOVES.
WHEN CONFRONTED WITH THAT INFORMATION, DENNIS GERLING SAID THAT HE HAD CUT HIS HAND ON A WINE BOTTLE, BUT THERE WAS NO BROKEN WINE BOTTLE AT HIS HOUSE.
DENNIS HAD AN INTERESTING CUT ON HIS HAND FOLLOWING KNEE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE COWS.
HE HAD WHAT'S CALLED SLIDE BITE.
IT'S A LACERATION THAT GOES ALONG THE WEB OF THE HAND, WHICH IS COMMONLY CAUSED BY AN A SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL.
A HOLSTER WAS RECOVERED IN DENNIS GO'S HOUSE, WHICH WE LATER FOUND OUT BELONGED TO A 22 CALIBER SEMI-AUTOMATIC BERETTA HANDGUN.
THAT HANDGUN HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND, NOR HAVE THE CALIBERS FAMILY MEMBERS OF MARGARITE AMAZON REPORTER ARE MISSING.
IN 2013, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS INDICATED THAT, UH, SHE HAD BEEN AT A PARTY THE NIGHT BEFORE, UH, HER, HER DISAPPEARANCE, UH, WITH HER LIVE-IN BOYFRIEND, WHO HAD ALSO DISAPPEARED SUSPICIOUSLY VICIOUSLY.
THERE WERE SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE IN THE HOUSE WHERE THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
THERE WAS ALSO JEWELRY FOUND OF MARAL AMAZON OUTSIDE OF THE RESIDENCE.
IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING HER DISAPPEARANCE, WE WERE ABLE TO TRACK HER BOYFRIEND TO SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.
HE HAD BOUGHT A PLANE TICKET, BUT FAILED TO RETURN.
TO GET ON THAT PLANE, WE FOUND A RESIDENCE HE STAYED AT IN THE GREATER SAVANNAH AREA, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE ADVISED THAT HE HAD A SCRATCH ON HIS FACE THAT WAS CONSISTENT WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
MARGUERITE'S VEHICLE WAS ALSO FOUND IN SAVANNAH IN THAT SAME AREA, ABANDONED NEAR THE CA FLEA MARKET.
MARGUERITE'S MOBILE TELEPHONE WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON HIGHWAY ONE 70 COMING OUT OF BLUFFTON INTO BUFORD.
WE BELIEVE THAT HER BOYFRIEND FLED THE COUNTRY AND WENT BACK TO GUATEMALA WHERE HE IS FROM.
WE ENLISTED THE HELP OF THE FBI'S LEGAL ATTACHE, ALSO KNOWN AS A LEAGUE AT WHO ATTEMPTED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE GUATEMALA AUTHORITIES WHO ADVISED THAT THERE'S CERTAIN PARTS OF GUATEMALA THE POLICE JUST WON'T GO TO.
AND IT JUST SO HAPPENS HER BOYFRIEND WAS FROM THAT AREA.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM MARGARITA SINCE IN 2017, KENNETH JENKINS WAS REPORTED MISSING BY HIS MOM FROM ST.
KENNETH WAS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
AND WE BELIEVE BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION, WHICH
[01:55:01]
WE CAN'T DISCLOSE, A LOT OF DETAILS THAT, UH, FILE PLAYS INVOLVED IN HIS DISAPPEARANCE.ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE MISSING PERSONS WE'VE DISCUSSED IS ENCOURAGED.
CONTACT THE BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR CRIME STOPPERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HE'S 23 YEARS OLD, WELL RESPECTED YOUNG MAN, HARD WORKER, COURTEOUS, WELL MANNERED, ALL AROUND, LOVELY KID.
ON OCTOBER 15TH, 2021, SHORTLY AFTER 11:00 PM MARLON LYONS, JR.
WAS RETURNING A MOVING TRUCK TO ALL MY SON'S MOVING IN STORAGE ON BLUFFTON ROAD.
MARLON WORKED THERE AND HAD JUST FINISHED A JOB BEFORE HE COULD LEAVE WORK FOR THE NIGHT.
HE WAS GUNNED DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEBODY I THOUGHT MINDED.
HIS OWN BUSINESS WASN'T OUT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.
THE GUNFIRE WAS HEARD AND REPORTED TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMMUNICATION CENTER.
DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE AREA AND LOCATED MARLON.
HE WOULD LATER DIE EN ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL.
YOU CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS TO YOUR CHILD.
A PARENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILD.
SINCE THE INITIAL CALL, INVESTIGATORS HAVE COMBED THROUGH EVIDENCE AND FOLLOWED UP ON NUMEROUS LEADS.
AT THIS TIME, A SUSPECT HAS NOT BEEN NAMED IN THE MURDER OF MARLON LYONS, JR.
YOU NEVER EXPECTED TO HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD.
AND IF AND ANYBODY KNOWS ANYTHING, YOU WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO COME FORWARD.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THE, THE STREETS, SO TO SAY, WHERE THEY THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE A SNITCH OR THE THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA RETALIATE AGAINST YOU.
BUT UNTIL IT HAPPENS TO YOU, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THAT FEELING.
SO, IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING OR KNOWS ANYTHING, SEEN ANYTHING, HEARD, ANYTHING, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE MURDER OF MARLON LYONS, JR.
IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT CORPORAL KALOI.
YOU CAN DO SO AT 8 4 3 2 5 5 3 4 1 1, OR CRIME STOPPERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY AT 8 4 3 5 5 4 1 1 1 1.
IF WISHING TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, LOOKING FOR A GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY, BUFORD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS IN AREAS THAT WILL MATCH YOUR SKILLSET.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DETENTION CENTER OFFICERS, STORMWATER AND GROUND CREWS, AIRCRAFT MECHANICS, ALCOHOL AND DRUG SPECIALISTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT SPECIALISTS, LIBRARY ASSISTANCE, BUS DRIVERS, AND MUCH MORE.
BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFERS COMPETITIVE SALARIES, BEST IN CLASS BENEFITS, AND A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
APPLY TODAY@BUFORDCOUNTYSE.GOV.