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[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, AUGUST THE 14TH.UM, I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, EVERYONE IS IN ATTENDANCE.
SO WE DO HAVE A FULL COUNCIL TO CONDUCT THE BUS BUSINESS OF COUNTY COUNCIL.
WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE IMPLICATION BY COUNCILMAN YORK GLOVER.
I PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TWO, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
FATHER GOD, WE, FOR HOW YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS US, HOW YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS THIS COUNCIL, THIS COMMUNITY, UM, THE CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE, BUT ESPECIALLY LORD, HOW YOU CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO GO OUT EVERY DAY, UM, TO HELP US LORD, THOSE THAT ARE IN NEED CONTINUE TO PROTECT THEM.
FATHER, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL GIVE US PEACE WHERE THERE'S WAR.
WE ESPECIALLY PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN UKRAINE, THAT PEACE WILL COME TO THAT NATION.
YES, WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO LOOK OVER US, THIS NATION HERE, THAT WE CAN ALL UNITE US.
ONE, UH, THAT WE CAN BE THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN HEAVEN.
BE WITH US AND STAND BY US, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU THE GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE IN JESUS' NAME.
AND EVERYBODY PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
TO AMEND TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS FOLLOWS.WE CONDUCTED THE COMMITTEE MEETING JUST BEFORE THIS, AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE WANTED TO PUT ON THIS MEETING FAILED TO GET ON THIS MEETING.
AND THEREFORE, I'M GONNA ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO ADD ITEM 12 A TO RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE BOUNDARY STREET, UH, OPEN SPACE POCKET PARK, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT TO BE CALLED THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS PARK.
IT IS DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED FOR ADDING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM TO THE AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THE AGENDA WILL BE AMENDED.
NOW, I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.
DULY MOTION AND SECONDED FOR THE AMENDED AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THE AMENDED AGENDA IS APPROVED AS WE GO THROUGH.
WHEN WE GET TO ITEM NUMBER 19, WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT POSTPONING THAT PARTICULAR ITEM, BUT WE WILL DO THAT WHEN WE GET TO THAT ITEM.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - June 12, 2023, June 26, 2023, July 24, 2023, and July 28, 2023.]
AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 12TH, JUNE 26TH, JULY 24TH, AND JULY 28TH, 2023.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVED.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
MS. TABER MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINUTES? SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.MR. ROBINSON CHAIRMAN, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR, UH, TRUSTING ME AS, AS THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR, UM, FOR THE CARE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, I WILL LEAD WITH CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE PROFESSIONAL TEAM OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THEY'VE WORKED VERY HARD AND BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THIS PAST MONTH FOR ME.
UH, AND WE SHOULD ALL, UH, GIVE THEM A QUICK ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK SO WITH US TONIGHT IS ANOTHER TEAM MEMBER THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE.
LOOKS LIKE SHE BROUGHT A GUEST WITH HER.
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JEN.UM, JEN IS ONE OF OUR ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICERS.
AW, THAT'S THE ONE THAT DISTRACTED.
JENNIFER HAS BEEN WITH, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS.
SHE SERVES AS AN ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER.
JENNIFER FORCES HUMANE CARE REGULATION OF ANIMAL LAWS TO MAINTAIN, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND ASSIST WITH CONTROLLING POPULATIONS.
SHE ALSO PERFORMS VARIOUS TASKS THAT INCLUDE INVESTIGATING ANIMAL CRUELTY, RESCUING TRAPPED ANIMALS, AND CAPTURING STRAYS ARE DANGEROUS ANIMALS.
SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT, UM, JEN, UH, JEN STARTED AS, UM, AN OFFICE ADMIN.
UH, SHE THEN BEGAN WORKING AS A KENNEL TECH.
SHE WAS AN ASSET AS A KENNEL TECH BECAUSE OF HER ABILITY TO WORK WITH FERAL CANINES.
UM, SHE THEN MOVED TO ANIMAL CONTROL AND COMMUNITY CENTERED FIELD SERVICES.
UM, JEN WORKS MORE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE AND PETS THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH, SUPPLIES, FOOD, AND HELPING PET POPULATION AND PET RETENTION PROGRAMS TO KEEP PETS WITH THEIR PEOPLE.
THANKS SO MUCH, UM, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US.
DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO SAY HELLO? ADOPTION? HE IS.
SO TELLS ME DON'T BRING MONEY HERE.
I DON'T WANT ADOPT, BE ADOPTED BY THE END OF THE NIGHT.
TONIGHT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MS. MARILYN HARRIS.
MS. HARRIS IS THE, UH, NEWLY ELECTED DIRECTOR OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UH, SHE WAS APPOINTED IN JULY, JULY 3RD, 2023.
SHE HAS MORE THAN 35 YEARS OF SERVICE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE SPANNING THE MILITARY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SERVICE.
MS. HARRIS, MS. HARRIS IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY.
UH, SHE'S A BOARD MEMBER OF THE COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND A MEMBER OF WOMEN UNITED, WHICH IS A COMMITTEE OF THE UNITED, UH, WAY LOW COUNTRY.
SHE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE, UM, SHE'S ALSO SERVED ON BOARDS OF, UH, OTHER LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SE SECOND HELPINGS SCORE, AND THE, UH, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
IN ADDITION TO HER BOARD SERVICE, MS. HARRIS HAS SUPPORTED SEVERAL BEAUFORT COUNTY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, UM, SUCH AS COZY, THE COLLABORATION ORGANIZATION OR SERVICE TO YOUTH.
UM, MS. HARRIS IS GOING TO, UM, TALK TO YOU FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES AND INTRODUCE SOME OF HER BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S MY HONOR AND MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
IT'S AN EVEN GREATER HONOR TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I'LL BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT AUGUST IS BLACK BUSINESS MONTH.
WELL, NOW YOU CAN'T SAY YOU DON'T
IT'S MY HONOR TO, UM, RECOGNIZE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, THOSE, THESE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DECIDED THAT I WOULD BE THEIR CHOICE AND THEY'RE WITH ME TONIGHT.
WOULD YOU JUST SORT OF STAND OR RAISE YOUR HAND? THANK YOU.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'VE ALSO BROUGHT ALONG WITH ME, MY TEAM, MOST OF WHOM ARE BRAND NEW.
AND SO I'D ASK MY TEAM TO STAND.
SO I'M PROUD TO REPORT TO, UH, AN AN EXCELLENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TEAM THAT I'VE ALREADY BEGUN TO FORM TO SUPPORT THIS ORGANIZATION.
I PROMISE TO JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BLACK CHAMBER.
THE BLACK CHAMBER IS NOT A TRADITIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
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NOT TRADITIONAL IS BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE THINGS THAT THE YOUR, WHAT YOU RECOGNIZE AS A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE DO OTHER THINGS.WE TARGET THE AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND WHY DO WE DO THAT? WE DO THAT BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, THEY ARE THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OF EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES THAT DON'T TRADITIONALLY GET THE SUPPORT THAT OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES DO OR HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT.
SO WE PROVIDE TRAINING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF EMERGING BLACK BUSINESSES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PROVIDE, UH, UH, HOME LOAN TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR FIRST TIME HOME B BUYERS.
WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND OTHER SERVICES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SCORE FOR THESE EMERGING BUSINESSES.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PROVIDE MICRO LOANS THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, THROUGH U SS D A, WE ARE ABLE TO SUPPORT NOT JUST EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES, BUT WE MAKE PEOPLE'S DREAMS COME TRUE.
WE TAKE CARE OF, WE PROVIDE LOANS FOR THOSE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS ONCE THEY'VE TAKEN THE TRAINING.
WE PROVIDE EMERGENCY LOANS, WE PROVIDE HOME REPAIRS.
WE DO A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT TRADITIONAL BLACK CHAMBERS DON'T DO.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF THE BEAUFORT COMMUNITY, AND I CAME BY HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU.
I LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING AN EVEN GREATER INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ALONG WITH THE REST OF THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO DO TONIGHT IS TO PRESENT FOUR AWARDS THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS RECEIVED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, AND MANY OF YOU ATTENDED THAT, UM, WE, OUR SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION WAS, UM, TWO WEEKS AGO.
UM, WE ATTEND THOSE EVERY YEAR FOR ANNUAL TRAINING FOR STAFF AND FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO FIRST, THIS IS, UM, THE FIRST AWARD IS THE 2022 JAY MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD.
MR. FRA, UH, WAS THE PRINCIPAL BEHIND THE WORK ON THIS AWARD.
SO I'LL READ, UH, QUICKLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
IN 2022, BEAUFORT COUNTY, BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS THE WINNER OF THE JAY MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A CO CENTRAL DE OR COLLECTION CENTRAL DECAL SYSTEM AND THE BARRETT LO BARRANT LAMORE MEMORIAL REGIONAL AWARD FOR SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY STORMWATER DESIGN AT THE 2023 S C A C ANNUAL CONFERENCE, HELD AT THE IS OF PALMS, AUGUST 1ST THROUGH THE THIRD, BUFORT COUNTY RECEIVED THE PERMANENT CUP FOR THOSE AWARDS.
DO
THE PRINCIPLE FOR THE NEXT TWO WARDS WAS HANK EDMONDSON.
BEAUFORT COUNTY RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE JAY MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BEAUFORT M MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PATH PROGRAM.
THE PATH PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO RESPOND TO ASS SHORTAGE OF STATE HEALTHCARE WORKERS BY USING ARPA FUNDS TO MAKE BEAUFORT COUNTY'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM MORE RESILIENT.
PATH OFFERS ONSITE CLASSES, CAN CLINICAL SKILLS TRAINING AND TUITION SUPPORT TO HELP CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL STAFF ADVANCE AND SUCCEED.
AS OF APRIL, 2023, $105,338 IN SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN GRANTED TO TAKE ONSITE HOSPITAL COURSES FOR NURSING STUDENTS AND ENROLLED IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
THE NEXT AWARD THAT, UM, MR. SSON HAS IS THE, UM, BEAUFORT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THIS IS, UH, HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.
UH, BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTY'S PARTNERED WITH SIX LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR A LARGELY TOURISM BASED WORKFORCE THAT HAS BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE HEISEN MARKET.
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THE PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCERNS CAUSE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, LONGER COMMUTE TIMES, AND CHILDCARE ISSUES DUE TO EXTENDED WORK DAYS.THE BEAUFORT, JASPER COUNTY PARTNERSHIP HAS RESULTED IN THE FIRST REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND TO BE ESTABLISHED IN SOUTH CAROLINA WITH EIGHT JURISDICTIONS ACROSS TWO COUNTIES.
I FEEL GUILTY TO HOLD THESE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE PUT TIME IN SO TO BEFORE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, U S C B T C L, CITY OF BEAUFORT, AND OTHERS THAT PLAYED BALL ON THE PATH PROGRAM.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING GOOD REPORTS IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
OVER ALL THE GOOD NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING OUT AND ALL THOSE MUNICIPALITIES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE SOME GREAT FRUIT COMING FROM THAT AS WELL.
NEIL DESAI, OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THIS IS THE, UH, COOPERATION AWARD, UM, IN FOR THE BARNWELL COUNTY LANDFILL CAUGHT FIRE MAY 15TH, 2022, WITH SUPPORT OF STAFF ASSISTANCE AND EQUIPMENT FROM AIKEN, BARNWELL, BEAUFORT, DORCHESTER, AND HAMPTON COUNTIES, AS WELL AS LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND STATE AGENCIES.
THE FIRE WAS FULLY EXTINGUISHED AFTER TWO DAYS WITHOUT INJURY.
THIS EFFORT EXEMPLIFIES REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.
EACH ENTITY WORKED WELL WITH ALL TEAM MEMBERS LOOKING OUT FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS AS GIVEN BY THE LEADERS DEMONSTRATING AN EXEMPLARY REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP.
ALL RIGHT, TWO MORE QUICK, NOTABLE THINGS.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER RECENTLY HAD A, UH, D E C INSPECTION FOR THEIR HEALTH, HEALTH, UM, SER UH, HEALTH INSPECTION FOR THEIR, UM, FOOD PREP AREA FOR THEIR KITCHEN.
UM, THEY RECEIVED A 100% COMPLIANCE.
UH, SO THIS WAS A, THIS WAS A, A GOOD THING FOR THE DETENTION CENTER.
WE'VE INVESTED IN THE DETENTION CENTER AND THEIR, UH, KITCHEN FACILITY.
ALSO, UM, IN MAY OR APRIL, YOU COUNSEL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF AN AMBULANCE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY E M S.
UH, THAT AMBULANCE WAS DELIVERED LAST WEEK AND IS BEING OUTFITTED NOW AND SHOULD BE IN SERVICE SOON.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, FOR THAT EFFORT.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
UH, ONE FINAL THING BEFORE WE DO THE PROCLAMATIONS.
AS MR. ROBINSON SAID, THIS WAS A THREE DAY EVENT WHERE STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WENT FOR TRAINING, TOOK CLASSES, PARTICIPATED IN SESSIONS.
SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, BOTH STAFF AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THAT, WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SPENT THREE DAYS AT THE ISLE OF PALMS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE COUNTY WE CAN BE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
[7. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE BLUFFTON ALLSTAR SOFTBALL TEAM ON THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN - Council Member Larry McElynn]
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO HAVE MR. MCKELLEN READ A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE BLUFFTON ALL-STAR SOFTBALL TEAM ON THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN.I KNOW THIS IS A BIG DEAL, BY THE WAY,
IS EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT? IS ALMOST EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT? ALMOST.
WELL, I'M GONNA RE BRING THEM UP.
YEAH, I'M, I'M, I'M GONNA GET TO THAT
THESE TWO GENTLEMEN ARE REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED FROM BLUFFTON, BUT I WASN'T SURE WHERE THE BOUNDARY LINES WERE.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE THEM EACH HALF A RESPONSIBILITY HERE TO ISSUE SOME CERTIFICATES.
I'M GONNA READ A PRO A PROCLAMATION FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM.
AND THEN WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PROCLAMATIONS FOR EACH OF THE STAR BASEBALL SOFTBALL PLAYERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS TOURNAMENT.
SO LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS IN JUNE OF 2023, THE BLUFFTON ALLSTAR SOFTBALL TEAM WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE GIRLS
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EIGHT AND UNDER DIVISION.AND WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL CELEBRATES THE TEAM'S VICTORY AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT AND ALSO THEIR DETERMINATION, ENTHUSIASM, AND TEAM SPIRIT.
AND WHEREAS THE TEAM ENVISIONED THEIR OWN MISSION STATEMENT FROM THE START OF THEIR ALLSTAR SEASON, HARD WORK, TEAMWORK AND DREAM WORK.
AND WHEREAS THE TEAM IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH ZACH LEHAM AND ASSISTANT COACHES, LINDSAY GOODMAN, PATRICK MAHONEY, AND CATHERINE COOLER.
ARE THEY HERE TONIGHT? THEY'RE ALL HERE.
PATRICK, 'CAUSE WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME UP IN A FEW MINUTES SO WE CAN GET SOME PHOTOS.
UM, WHEREAS THE 2 0 2 3 SEASON IS A GREAT SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE PLAYERS, FOR THE COACHES, FOR THE FANS, FOR THE FAMILY, AND THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THE TEAM ENTERED THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AS THE RUNNERS UP FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, AND WHEREAS THE TEAM DOMINATED THE STATE TOURNAMENT WINNING EACH GAME THEY PLAYED IN SCORING A TOTAL OF 64 RUNS WHILE ALLOWING ONLY 22 RUNS AGAINST THEM 64 RUNS AND ALLOWING
WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THIS ENTIRE TEAM AND WISHES NOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL 12 PLAYERS.
WOULD THE COACHES COME UP AND JOIN US IN THE FRONT PLEASE? IF YOU WANT TO, I'M NOT GONNA FORCE YOU TO DO THAT, AND THEN I'M GONNA CALL THE GIRLS BY NAME AND THEN WHEN I DO, I'D LIKE YOU TO COME UP AS WELL.
THE FIRST NAME IS LUCY MAHONEY.
THE SECOND NAME IS TAYLOR LINE IS TAYLOR HERE.
SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TAYLOR.
TAYLOR WAS THE LEAD OFF HITTER AND IS A VETERAN ON THE ALL-STAR TEAM.
SHE EXCELLED AT HER BATTING POSITION AND WAS AN ALL-STAR TEAM EXPERIENCE FROM LAST YEAR.
SHE LED THE TEAM TO VICTORY OFFENSIVELY.
SHE WAS A LEADER IN THE DUGOUT AND WAS A COMMANDING PRESENCE AT SHORTSTOP.
HOW ABOUT BRIA? BECKMAN, ARE YOU HERE? BRIA, COME ON UP.
SHE GAVE HER ALL IN EVERY AT BAT, EVERY INNING, EVERY PLAY, EVERY PRACTICE.
SHE'S POWERFUL ON THE DIAMOND, ALWAYS AT 110%.
UH, THE HARDEST WORKER AWARD FOR THE SEASON.
THE HARDEST, UH, HARPER CROCETTA, ARE YOU HERE? COME ON UP.
HARPER HARPER WILLED THE TEAM TO WIN AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY.
SHE GAVE EXTREME EFFORT AT THE PLATE.
SHE TRIUMPHED ON THE FIELD, EXECUTING DIFFICULT DEFENSIVE FEATS AT THIRD BASE, AND SHE TRULY LEFT IT ALL ON THE FIELD.
KIRSTEN SHOWED UP FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT WITH A DANGEROUS SWING CAUSING CHAOS AND CONFUSION IN THE FIELD.
SHE IS A FIERCE, TOUGH, AND DETERMINED, NEVER QUIT TYPE OF PLAYER AND ALL AROUND ATHLETE.
LINE UP AUBREY, AUBREY DAZZLED AND AW AT THE PLATE WITH A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM TO SECURE A RUN RULE WIN IN GAME TWO.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS,
THIS MOMENT SET OFF AN ELECTRIC TEAM ATMOSPHERE AND WAS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO HER HARD WORK AND FORTITUDE DURING THE SEASON.
LAYLA LAYLA'S AMBITION TO WIN WAS ON SHOWCASE.
SHE LED WITH FORCE FROM THE PITCHER CIRCLE EXHIBITING IMPRESSIVE FIELDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, DOUBLE PLAYS, CAUGHT FLY BALLS, LINE DRIVES, AND TAGGED OUT TOO MANY RUNNERS
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TO COUNT.ELLA PLAYED A DYNAMIC FIRST BASE OR SNAGS, REACHES
FLEXIBILITY AND SQUEEZE WERE ALL ON DISPLAY AND ANCHORED DEFENSIVELY.
SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE HER SKILLSET AT FIRST BASE AND IT PAID OFF IMMENSELY.
ELLA, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS ELLA, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE BORN.
ELLA'S ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SPORT IS UNMATCHED.
SHE IS TEAM SPIRIT PERSONIFIED.
SHE REFUSES TO BE DEFEATED OR TO BE BESTED.
I THINK THAT RUNS IN THE FAMILY A REMARKABLY FAST AND SMART BASE RUNNER, WHICH WAS CRUCIAL TO THE TEAM'S OFFENSIVE NUMBERS.
AND PAM CAMERON KOSINSKI NOT HERE.
OKAY, WELL, UM, I THINK EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN CERTIFICATE.
YOU CAN TAKE THEM HOME AND YOU CAN GET SOMEONE TO FRAME THEM FOR YOU AND YOU CAN PUT IT IN YOUR BEDROOM AND YOU CAN LOOK AT IT EVERY NIGHT.
AND REMEMBER WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU DID IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2023.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
CAN WE GET SOME PHOTOS BEFORE YOU ALL SIT DOWN TONIGHT? CAN YOU, HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS? UH, MAYBE IF WE GET Y'ALL JUST HERE'S YOUR BACKGROUND.
SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHY DON'T, WHY DON'T YOU GUYS FACE COME CLOSER TOGETHER AND THEN FACE OVER THIS WAY.
YOU GONNA GET IN, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT WAS A CUTE, I SURE YOU'VE GOT A GOOD ONE.
GARY, YOU GOT A COUPLE BEHIND YOU,
NEXT, IT'S LARRY'S FAVORITE THING.
WE'LL WAIT FOR THEM TO LEAVE FOR A MOMENT.
[8. PRESENTATION OF FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT 2022 ANNUAL REPORT]
ON OUR LIST IS A PRESENTATION OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT.WOULD YOU COME FORWARD FOR YOUR REPORT? THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR PRESIDENT AND ONE OF OUR, UH, DISTINGUISHED FOUNDERS, UH, WENDY WILSON.
I ONCE HAD A MENTOR TELL ME THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A PRESENTATION OR A SPEECH, ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE YOU NEVER FOLLOW THE GIRLS EIGHT AND UGLY
BUT I WILL, I'LL TRY TO DO MY VERY BEST.
IT'S, UH, IT'S ACTUALLY INTERESTING, UH, THAT TODAY WE ARE, UH, ON THE AGENDA WITH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND PRESERVATION TRUST.
THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE BEAUFORT COUNTY PURCHASED, UH, THE FORT FREMONT, UH, PRESERVE THROUGH THE RURAL, UH, UM, AND CRITICAL LAND TRUST.
AND SO IT'S NICE TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
UM, TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS THE MISSION OF THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT.
THE FRIENDS WERE, UH, FOUNDED IN 2009, UM, AS, UH, A INCORPORATED AS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF WORK, UH, BEGINNING IN 2007, UH, WITH THE MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM.
AND, UH, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT EVOLVED OUT OF THAT.
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I'M GONNA, UH, REMIND YOU ALSO THAT WE ARE PROUD TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY.UH, THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT AS A, UH, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION ARE HONORED TO PARTNER WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION OF PROMOTING AND PRESERVING FORT FREMONT, UH, HERE IN THE COUNTY.
AND I, I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT AS WE, UH, ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION, WE TRY TO TELL THE STORY OF FORT FREMONT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HISTORY OF PORT ROYAL SOUND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN GENERAL.
AND SO, UH, THE STORY OF FORT FREMONT DURING THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR ERA IS ANCHORED INTO THE OVERALL STORY OF BUFORT COUNTY.
I'M GONNA SPEND SOME, UH, TIME HIGHLIGHTING THESE POINTS VERY BRIEFLY, THAT ARE PARTS OF OUR, UH, ANNUAL REPORT TO YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, OUR HISTORY CENTER OPERATION.
WE, UM, WE HAVE 31 VOLUNTEERS WHO STAFF THE HISTORY CENTER.
I WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE HERE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, THEY'RE THE ONES WEARING THE RED SHIRTS.
UH, SO, UH, AND THANKS TO THEM, UH, THIS IS A 55% INCREASE IN VOLUNTEERS OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE, UH, IN 2022 STAFFED THE CENTER ON, UH, FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS AND LOGGED, UH, AS YOU SEE, UH, 1,384 VOLUNTEER HOURS JUST MANNING THE CENTER.
I WILL SAY THAT YEAR TO DATE IN 2023, WE'VE AL ALREADY LOGGED OVER A THOUSAND HOURS, SO WE'RE WELL ON TRACK.
LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 4,000, UH, VISITORS COME TO THE CENTER.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST UNDER 3,600 VISITORS, AND THAT'S THROUGH JULY.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE LOTS MORE VISITORS THAN WE DID IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DID WITH RESPECT TO, UH, TO THE CENTER AS WELL.
UM, AT THE END OF 2022, WE CONSIDERED WHETHER TO OPEN THE CENTER AND STAFF IT ON SUNDAYS.
AND SO NOW, UM, THE HISTORY CENTER IS OPEN FRIDAYS FROM 10 TO TWO, SATURDAYS FROM 10 TO FOUR, AND SUNDAYS FROM ONE TO FOUR.
SO WE, UH, WE'RE GETTING INCREASED TRAFFIC AS A RESULT OF BEING, UH, OPEN.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE IN THIS ROOM, WHO HELPED TO MAINTAIN THE GROUNDS.
LAST YEAR, WE LOGGED OVER 240 VOLUNTEER HOURS DOING GENERAL CLEANUP ON THE, UH, GROUNDS REMOVING, UH, VEGETATION, UH, CLEANING UP INSIDE THE BATTERIES.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS A, AN IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS.
AT, UH, AT BUFORT COUNTY, WE DEVELOPED, UH, THREE, UH, GRANTS, UH, TOTALING, UH, 12,800 UH, DOLLARS LAST YEAR THAT WERE PRESERVATION GRANTS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, THE SOURCES OF THOSE GRANTS, AND WE USED THOSE FUNDS, UH, TO, UH, STU DO AN ENGINEERING STUDY OF THE BATTERIES, UH, WITH A FOCUS ON, UH, UH, SAFETY ISSUES.
THAT STUDY RESULTED IN, UH, THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVING, UH, THE, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF A WAY TO SHORE UP, UH, THE OVERHANG IN GUN PIT THREE, UH, TO INCREASE THE SAFETY FOR THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
AND WE APPRECIATE THAT SUPPORT, UH, AND THOSE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.
UM, WE, UM, WE HAVE DONE A LOT TO IMPROVE THE INTERIOR OF THE HISTORY CENTER, AND WE HAVE USED AT TAX MONEY TO DO THAT.
WE BEGAN SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH DEVELOPING A 23 MINUTE VIDEO THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF FORT FREMONT, AND WE SHOW THAT VIDEO AS PART OF THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE.
OUR FOLLOW-ON EFFORTS USING ATEX MONEY WERE TO DEVELOP A, UH, SELF-GUIDED TOUR APP THAT APPEARS ON A SMART, SMART SMARTPHONE.
SO WHEN THE HISTORY CENTER IS NOT OPEN, UH, VISITORS CAN STILL USE THE SELF-GUIDED TOUR APP TO GO AROUND TO THE VARIOUS STATIONS, UH, AT THE CENTER AND GET THE WHOLE HISTORY AND THE WHOLE STORY OF THE FORD AS WELL.
AND OUR MOST RECENT, UH, ADDITIONS WERE THREE INTERPRETED PANELS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE PANELS THERE ON THE WALL, WHICH SUPPLEMENT THE STORY OF THE HISTORY OF THE FORT THAT IS TOLD THROUGH THE VIDEO AND THROUGH THE SELF-GUIDED APP.
SO THE, THE CENTER IS REALLY COMING ALONG IN THAT REGARD.
WE'VE BEEN, UH, FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE A SMALL NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS, WHICH, UM, WE HAVE ON DISPLAY IN THE CENTER.
WE DO NOT INTEND TO BECOME AUSE.
WE ARE A HISTORY CENTER TO INTERPRET THE HISTORY OF FORT FREMONT.
AND OUR MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACT IS IN FACT, UH, THE BATTERY'S BATTERY FOR NANCE AND BATTERY JESSUP THAT ARE THERE.
BUT WE HAVE, UH, RECEIVED SOME ARTIFACTS.
AND SO WE FELT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP A COLLECTION MANAGEMENT PLAN SO THAT WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE
[00:35:01]
PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATELY, UH, ACCORDING TO NATIONAL INDUSTRY STANDARDS.SO LAST YEAR WE DEVELOPED A COLLECTION MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT GUIDES US IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THOSE LIMITED NUMBER OF ARTIFACTS WE HAVE, YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN TOO.
ONE IS, UH, A PRACTICE ROUND THAT CAME OUT OF THE 10 INCH GUNS.
UH, THIS ROUND CAME TO US FROM, UH, THE MUSEUM IN DOWNTOWN, UH, BEAUFORT.
AND IT WAS FISHED OUT OF THE BEAUFORT RIVER.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A PRACTICE ROUND THAT WAS FIRED FROM, FROM FORT FREMONT.
THE OTHER IS, UM, WE BELIEVE A SHOE THAT WAS PART OF THE BASEBALL TEAM THAT FORT FREMONT HAD, THAT WAS FOUND IN THE ATTIC, UH, OF CECILE, UH, DO'S HOUSE.
CECILE AND HER, UH, HUSBAND, UH, OWN THE BUILDING, THE PROPERTY THAT WAS THE HOSPITAL OF FORT FREMONT.
SHE FOUND THIS IN THE ATTIC, AND WE THINK THAT'S PROBABLY AN ARTIFACT OF THE BASEBALL TEAM GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, WE ARE, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THROUGH A, UM, A INDUSTRY STANDARD COLLECTION MANAGEMENT.
WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN HISTORY, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE HISTORY OF FORT FREMONT AND USING FORT FREMONT AS A VEHICLE TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF PORT ROYAL SOUND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, WE HAVE GEARED OUR EFFORTS IN WORKING WITH, UH, YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE, UM, CURRICULUM, THE STATE CURRICULUM AND HISTORY FOR FIFTH AND EIGHTH GRADES.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE THERE IN PARTNERING WITH RIVERVIEW CHARTER SCHOOL, A NUMBER OF OTHER SCHOOLS.
JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE HAD A CUB SCOUT PACK THAT WAS OUT THERE AND PARTICIPATED, UH, IN A, UH, UH, MAP READING COMPASS COURSE.
AND, UH, TOURED THE BATTERIES AS WELL.
WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING A TRAVELING TRUNK THAT WE WILL TAKE TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS THAT HAS, UM, UH, VARIOUS, UH, SORT OF ARTIFACTS AND FACSIMILE OF THINGS, UH, THAT REPRESENT THAT PARTICULAR ERA THAT WE CAN HELP TEACHERS WITH, UH, AS THEY TEACH.
UM, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORY, WE'RE DOING A LOT OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
IN 2022, WE HAD AN OPEN HOUSE.
WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS THIS YEAR TO EXTEND THAT.
WE PARTICIPATED IN THE LANDS END 4TH OF JULY PARADE.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM THAT WERE IN PERIOD COSTUMES.
UH, GOING FORWARD, WE'VE HOSTED A NUMBER OF GROUPS FROM DTA ISLAND, UH, WITH, UH, SPECIAL TOURS.
NOVEMBER 5TH, WE'RE HOSTING A FALL FESTIVAL, UH, AT THE FORT.
AND THEN ON DECEMBER 2ND, WE ARE OFFERING A TOUR OF THE WHOLE, THE OLD HOSPITAL, UH, CECILE DOOR HAS KINDLY, UH, OFFERED TO, UH, HAVE TOUR OF, UH, OF THE OLD HOSPITAL THROUGH HER HOUSE.
WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING A SERIES OF LECTURE SERIES, UH, WHERE WE WILL GIVE LECTURES ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE HISTORY OF THAT PERIOD, THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR, UH, DETAILS ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORD, UH, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
AND STAY TUNED FOR, FOR MORE, UH, INFORMATION ON THAT.
UH, WE'RE ACTIVE IN SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, BOTH OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR WEBPAGE, OUR, OUR WAYS IN WHICH WE GET THE, THE WORD OUT.
WE ARE TRACKING AS VISITORS COME TO THE CENTER, HOW THEY FIND OUT ABOUT US.
UH, AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR WEBPAGE ARE IMPORTANT, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS TO, UH, TO LEARNING ABOUT WHO WE ARE.
WORD OF MOUTH AND LOCAL FOLKS WHO HAVE VISITORS COME IN IS ALSO ANOTHER IMPORTANT WAY IN WHICH WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT.
WE'RE ALSO DOING, UH, A NUMBER OF THINGS IN MARKETING.
YOU CAN SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE DID IN 2022.
UH, IN 2023, WE ESTABLISHED A NEWSLETTER, WHICH WE ALSO GIVE OUT TO ALL THE VISITORS WHO COME TO THE CENTER.
UH, AND ON NOVEMBER 30TH, WE ARE, UH, PARTICIPATING IN THE, UH, UH, EAST COAST CONFERENCE ON, UH, TOURISM.
AND WE'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF TOUR GROUP ORGANIZERS COME TO THE FORT SO WE CAN, UH, TELL THE STORY OF THE FORD AND ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO VISIT, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WHEN THEY COME TO BEAUFORT TO COME OUT TO THE FORT.
I WANNA GIVE A BIG SHOUT OUT TO YOUR PA PASSIVE PARKS MANAGER.
STEPHANIE NA NAJA HAS BEEN A FABULOUS PARTNER WITH US.
SHE'S A WONDERFUL ADVOCATE FOR THE FORD, AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB HELPING TO COMMUNICATE THE NEEDS AND THE INTERESTS OF THE COUNTY AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FRIENDS, UH, TO ADVANCE AND TO TELL THE STORY, UH, OF THE FORD AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, SUB SUBJECT TO YOUR QUESTIONS, I HOPE YOU ALL COME AND SEE US.
ANY COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? I HAVE ONE.
UH, WE ALL HERE AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT STEPHANIE
WE, WE THINK SHE IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC AND WE'RE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER DIRECTING THE PASSIVE PARKS PROGRAM.
[00:40:01]
YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH THAT OBSERVATION.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
I JUST WANNA GIVE MY HATS OUT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE FORT.
UM, I THINK Y'ALL DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB THERE AND JUST CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, TWO OF MY SISTERS, UM, VISITED THE FORT TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, AND THEY WERE BORN HERE ON, IN BEAUFORT, ON ST.
AND THEY VISITED THE FORT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO WE CAN SPREAD THE HISTORY OF THE FORT.
WELL, YOU APPRECIATE BEING IN YOUR DISTRICT AND YOUR SUPPORT TOO.
[9. RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND PRESERVATION BOARD ANNUAL REPORT (2022)]
IS FROM OUR RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PRESERVATION BOARD FOR THEIR ANNUAL REPORT.AND YOU HAVE A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW FOR THE, THE FIRST TWO I DO.
THIS IS JUST AN EXCITING, GOOD NEWS MEETING, SO I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND ADD TO IT.
UM, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING FOR THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD THIS EVENING AND SUMMARIZING OUR ANNUAL REPORT FROM 2022.
UM, BUT THAT MEANS I KIND OF GET TO COMBINE THE SUCCESSES OF 2022 AND THE YEAR TO DATE, UM, AS WE CONTEMPLATE CONTINUED GREEN SPACE INVESTMENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, SO YOU ALL HAVE, UH, THE ANNUAL REPORT IN YOUR AGENDA BACKUP AFTER TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION.
IT WILL, WILL BE AVAILABLE@RURALANDCRITICAL.ORG ON THE OUR AFFILIATED WEBSITE.
UM, AND I'M GONNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS FOR YOU.
UM, THE MAIN THING TO, TO START WITH IS THE MAP, UM, TO KIND OF ORIENT OURSELVES IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE.
AND SO THAT CAN JUST STAY UP ON THE SCREEN WHILE I'M TALKING.
UM, WE COMPLETED TWO PROJECTS IN 2022, UM, AND THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTED IN ORANGE ON THE MAP.
UM, ONE IS KNOWN AS VILLAGE CREEKSIDE AND ONE IS KNOWN AS LIKO FARMS. I'M JUST GONNA HIT SOME HIGH POINTS FOR BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS.
I KNOW Y'ALL REMEMBER THEM FROM YOUR APPROVAL VOTES.
UM, VILLAGE CREEKSIDE WAS 15 ACRES ON ST.
UH, FAMILY DONATED A CONS OR, UM, ENGAGED IN PURCHASED CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THAT PROPERTY.
UM, THE INTERESTING AND, AND UNIQUE THING ABOUT VILLAGE CREEKSIDE IS, UM, THAT IT IS JUST ADJACENT TO THE, UM, OR WITHIN THE COMMERCIAL FISHING VILLAGE ON ST.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM CAN COMPLEMENT OTHER COUNTY INITIATIVES, LIKE ENSURING THAT OUR COMMERCIAL FISHING VILLAGES ARE VIBRANT PLACES FOR WATER USERS.
UH, WE MET WITH THE LANDOWNERS ON THE PROPERTY SEVERAL TIMES, AND, UM, THEY TOLD STORIES ABOUT HOW CAST NETS WERE MADE HANDMADE ON THEIR DOCKS AND THEN USED IN VILLAGE CREEK, UM, FOR COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL FISHING.
AND IT'S REALLY A REMARKABLE PROPERTY TO ADD TO THE LAND PROTECTION THAT EXISTS ON ST.
UM, LICO FARMS IS IN LICO, UM, AND THAT IS JUST OUTSIDE THE COUNTY'S URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WHALE BRANCH RIVER.
SO WHEN YOU THINK AGAIN ABOUT HOW LAND USE POLICIES AND LAND CONSERVATION WORK TOGETHER, YOU HAVE A LAND USE POLICY TO ENCOURAGE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.
AND LAND CONSERVATION OFFERS THAT PERMANENT RURAL EDGE.
UM, SO REALLY SIGNIFICANT 115 ACRES OF FARMLAND IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE OF THE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY.
UM, A HUNDRED OF THAT 115 ACRES ARE PRIME SOILS, UM, OR SOILS OF STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE, AND, UM, HELPS FURTHER A COUNTY GOAL TO PROTECT ACTIVE AND WORKING FARMS. SO IN 2022, UM, THE COUNTY SPENT $877,000 ON THOSE TWO PROJECTS.
UM, BUT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE ALSO THROUGHOUT THAT TIME.
UM, IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM HAS PROTECTED OVER 28,000 ACRES, UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF, UH, PERMANENT LAND PROTECTION THAT ADDS TO THE COUNTY REGIONAL GREEN BELT AND PASSIVE PARK OPPORTUNITIES.
AND IF YOU OPEN YOUR ANNUAL REPORT, YOU SHOULD SEE A BIG INSET MAP, UM, IN THE MIDDLE.
AND I, I, I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND FROM KRISTEN AT THE OPEN LAND TRUST IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT I WANNA REITERATE THAT BEAUFORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER IN LAND CONSERVATION AND THAT, UM, BUT ALSO THAT PARTNERSHIPS ABOUND.
SO THE LAND PROTECTION THAT OCCURS IN THE BEAUFORT REGION COULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT PARTNERS.
THE COUNTY BEING A VERY SIGNIFICANT ONE IN THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM, AND THE VOTERS BEING A SIGNIFICANT PARTNER IN CHOOSING TO TAX THEMSELVES TO PROTECT LAND.
UH, AND SO WE, WE THINK, YOU KNOW, IN THE CONSERVATION SPACE, WE WON'T PROTECT ALL THE LAND, BUT WE WILL PROTECT THE MOST STRATEGIC PARCELS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, YOU SEE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE LINKED KEY CONSERVATION AREAS LIKE THE ACE BASIN IN PROPERTIES THAT HAVE ENHANCED COUNTY LAND USE POLICIES LIKE OUR TWO EXAMPLES FROM 2022, UM, PROPERTIES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED A MILITARY AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMY IN, UM, MILITARY MISSION AND OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY PROPERTIES
[00:45:01]
THAT HAVE ENHANCED WATER ACCESS.UM, THE BOUNDARY STREET, LINEAR LINEAR PARK DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF VISUAL WATER ACCESS THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR SENSE OF PLACE AND PROPERTIES THAT PROVIDE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION.
FORT FREMONT BEING A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE, UM, BECAUSE IT'S ADDITIVE WITH A HISTORIC RESOURCE THERE THAT CAN TELL A STORY THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY WITHOUT, UM, DAMAGING THE NATURAL OR CULTURAL VALUES OF THE PROPERTY.
UM, THE REPORT AND THE WORK THAT WE DID IN 2022, UM, ALSO INCLUDED MANY SITE VISITS TO OUR PROPERTIES TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK.
AND SEVERAL OF Y'ALL JOINED US FOR THOSE, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, WE HAD A FOCUS, UM, THROUGH OUR SITE VISITS ON THE OKEE RIVER, BOTH CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES LIKE THREE SISTERS FARM THAT WAS PROTECTED VERY PROACTIVELY IN 2004.
AND PASSIVE PARK PROPERTIES THAT WHEN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UM, WILL PROVIDE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION OR JUST BEING OWNED AND USED IN A CONSERVATION USE, PROVIDE PUBLIC BENEFIT BY PROTECTING THAT VULNERABLE WATERSHED.
UH, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL RETREAT DOWN IN BLUFFTON AT THE GAVIN GAR, UH, GAVIN GARVEY HOUSE IN OYSTER FACTORY PARK, GETTING TO USE SOME OF OUR PASSIVE PARK SPACE.
AND YOUR REPORT ALSO INCLUDES A HIGHLIGHT ON THE PORT ROYAL SOUND, THE WATERSHED THAT REALLY BINDS BEAUFORT, UM, COUNTY AND SERVES, UM, TO SHOWCASE THE REGIONAL IMPACT OF YOUR RURAL AND CRITICAL LAND INVESTMENT.
UM, WHICH IS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION AS WE THINK ABOUT, UM, THE GREEN SPACE PENNY BUILDING ON RURAL AND CRITICAL AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE THOSE OUT OF COUNTY INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT WATER QUALITY AND, UM, LAND CONSERVATION IN THE PORT RURAL SOUND AT LARGE.
AND THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM, YOU'VE HEARD ME SPEAK OF, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE U SS D A, UM, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
SO, UM, WE DO HAVE 2023 PROJECTS OF NOTE, IT'S AUGUST
WE'VE BEEN BUSY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
UM, COTTON HALL, WHICH YOU APPROVED IN JULY, IS EXPECTED TO CLOSE SOON.
WE HAVE ANOTHER, UM, PROJECT FOR YOUR APPROVAL COMING UP WITH A, WITH A, UH, NEAR TERM CLOSURE.
MARY'S PROTECTING IT AS A PASSIVE PARK AND SEVERAL MORE EASEMENTS AND FEE SIMPLE PURCHASES SCATTERED AROUND THE COUNTY.
UM, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND NEW TIME FOR RURAL AND CRITICAL AS WELL.
UM, BECAUSE I WOULD ARGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM IS REALLY FACED WITH EITHER FOUR DISCUSSIONS WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING LAND.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY VOTERS CHOSE THE VEHICLE OF THE GREEN SPACE PENNY SALES TAX, WHICH IS I THINK GOING TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE RURAL AND CRITICAL BOARD.
UM, DISCUSSED SUPPORT FOR THE GREEN SPACE PENNY.
UM, BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE DWINDLING FUNDS IN THE RURAL AND CRITICAL BALANCE TO BE COMPLIMENTED BY THE INCREASING FUNDS IN THE GREEN SPACE BALLOT BALANCE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE PASSING THE BATON, SO TO SPEAK, AND I THINK THE BOARD AND THE STAFF TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY, UM, TO STEWARD THOSE LIMITED FUNDS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BEST PROJECTS ARE PROTECTED WITH THE REMAINING DOLLARS SO THAT THE PROGRAM ENDS ON THE HIGHEST NOTE POSSIBLE.
AND, UM, OUR GOAL AS CONTRACTORS WITH THE OPEN, AS THE OPEN LAND TRUST AS CONTRACTORS IS NOT TO LINGER AS A CONTRACTOR, UM, BUT TO ENSURE THAT THE BEST PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD IN CONCERT WITH COUNTY GOALS.
UM, SO WE THANK YOU FOR THAT, UM, CONTINUED PRIVILEGE AND OPPORTUNITY AND LOOK FORWARD TO ENDING STRONG.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD A BIG THANK YOU TO THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THIS YEAR AND THE WORK THAT'S STILL TO BE DONE WITH THE REMAINING FUNDS TO STAFF AND TO, UH, BE O YES, ABSOLUTELY.
COULD I ASK WHAT'S THE FUND BALANCE? YES.
UM, WE HAVE 10 OPEN PROJECTS THAT REPRESENT ABOUT $13 MILLION.
IF ALL 10 OF THOSE PROJECTS CLOSE, THE FUND BALANCE IS AROUND A MILLION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
[10. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD]
COMMENTS FOR ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.UH, THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL WHO IS GOING TO ADDRESS US IS MR. MIKE MCSHANE.
MR. MCSHANE IS GONNA TALK ABOUT GREEN SPACE.
GREEN SPACE WAS GREAT SEGUE FROM HERE IN RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS.
YES, MR. CHAIRMAN? UH, MY NAME IS MIKE MCSHANE.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY AT 3 28 EAST BAY STREET.
UH, I THINK FOR MANY, UH, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE CHAIRMAN OF YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND SINCE EARLY MAY TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, IN 90 DAYS, YOUR COMMITTEE FORMED AND IS OFFERED TO YOU TONIGHT FOR CONSIDERATION ON APPROVAL OF RECOMMENDATION OUT OF YOUR, UH, LAND USE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE PROGRAM AND THE CRITERIA WITH THE PROGRAM.
AS IN MY DIFFERENT ROLES IN STATE APPOINTED ROLES, I CAN TELL YOU 90 DAYS IS A SHORT WINDOW OF TIME TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM
[00:50:01]
FORWARD.AND SO I GAVE GREAT APPRECIATION BOTH TO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED, BUT PARTICULARLY TO YOUR STAFF.
UH, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST HIGHLIGHT YOUR DIRECTOR PLANNING.
ROB MERCHANT, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, MARK DAVIS, CHUCK ATKINSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR STEPHANIE FROM PARKS WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THAT.
AND ALSO TO HIGHLIGHT TOM, KEVIN HAS ACTED AS GENERAL COUNSEL TO YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO STAY A POSSIBILITY IF THAT COULD BE TO HAVE TOM'S WISDOM THERE.
UH, WE AGAIN, WE STARTED IN EARLY MAY.
YOU HAVE A MID-AUGUST NOW PROGRAM TO LOOK AT CONSIDERATION AND WITH A GOAL IS TO APPLY THIS PROGRAM IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
SO IF YOU THINK LAST NOVEMBER, ACTUALLY GO BACK TO LA A YEAR AGO WHEN THE STATE STATUTE WAS APPROVED AND SIGNED INTO LAW AND YOU PUT A REFERENDUM TOGETHER IN NOVEMBER AND HERE WE ARE IN AUGUST, READY TO WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY APPLY THIS PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF THIS YEAR, THE LAST QUARTER.
YOU'RE THE FIRST COUNTY TO DO THIS IS NOTED EARLIER.
AND I SAY THAT IN MY PREVIOUS ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF D N R AND CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE BANK I UNDER, I APPRECIATE THE COUNTY WILLING TO PUT SKIN IN THE GAME AND YOU HAVE WELL DEMONSTRATED YOU'VE DONE SO AND I COMPLIMENT WHAT YOU'VE DONE UNDER THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM OVER THE LAST DECADE.
[11. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.ANY REPORTS FROM ANY OF OUR MEMBERS? MS. HOWARD? I'D LIKE TO GIVE A BRIEF REPORT WITH, UH, BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
THEIR BOARD DID, UH, THIS COMING UP WILL BE THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND PERHAPS THE COUNTY CAN SUPPORT THEM WITH SOME KIND OF FEATURE.
ABOUT 80 YEARS OF BE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
UM, THEIR FOUNDATION REPORT, THEY'VE EXCEEDED THEIR GOAL OF $2 MILLION FOR THE PAST YEAR.
AND THE SICKLE CELL PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN ADDRESSING AND GETTING PATIENTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PART OF THE PROGRAM AND THEY ARE NOW UP TO 60 PATIENTS.
UH, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SICKLE CELL, IF THEY'RE NOT IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, THEY OFTEN END UP IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING, THEY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF HARDY ON INCREASE THE DENSITY OF A P U D THERE.
AND, UM, THEY HOPEFULLY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE IN 2024 FOR THAT.
UH, THEY'RE STILL PLANNING ON BUILDING A LEARNING CENTER ON ALLISON ROAD TO SUPPORT THEIR PEOPLE, UM, WHO WORK AT THE HOSPITAL ON REBO ROAD.
AND, UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'LL SEND A LINK.
THERE WAS AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE ABOUT A SUCCESS STORY OF THE PROPERTY THAT WE, WE BOUGHT FROM T C L AND, UM, A PERSON THAT WAS AN EMPLOYEE WHO WON THE LOTTERY AND IS NOW RENTING A HOUSE THERE AND WITH HER AND HER SON.
AND SO, AND I'LL SEND A LINK TO THAT EXCELLENT TOWN OF PORT OIL.
ONE OTHER THING, TOWN OF PORT OIL AND CITY OF BUFORT ARE HAVING A JOINT MEETING, UM, THURSDAY AT SIX O'CLOCK AT THE TOWN OF PORT OIL.
SO, UM, AND I THINK JOHN ROBINSON'S GONNA BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT TOO, AND ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN ATTEND IT.
ANY OTHER REPORTS? SO, UM, THE LIBRARY BOARD MET IN JULY AND GIVEN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY HAVE REVISED THEIR CHALLENGED MATERIALS POLICY BECAUSE IT WILL GET TO THE LIBRARIES.
AND SO THEY'VE REVISED THE POLICY, UM, AND THE PROCEDURES, THEY GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, JUST ECSTATIC ABOUT THE, UM, NUMBER OF STUDENTS INVOLVED.
AND THE SUMMER LUNCH PROGRAM ALSO AT THE END OF JULY WAS THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
THERE WAS A LITTLE GLITCH IN THE BEGINNING WITH THE, UH, VIDEO, BUT THEY DID A ONE 70 TRIANGLE UPDATE.
UM, THE RESURFACING PROJECT IS IN YEAR SIX.
PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECT.
THEY GAVE AN UPDATE AND THEN WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS EVERY DISTRICT REP WAS TO BRING TO THIS MEETING ROADS THAT THEY BELIEVE NEED ATTENTION.
SO JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, DISTRICTS 2, 3, 4, 6, AND SEVEN HAD NO ROADS THAT NEED ATTENTION.
SOMEBODY DIDN'T MAKE YOU COULD TAKE THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
UM, IN DISTRICT ONE, POPPY HILL CIRCLE, DISTRICT FIVE CHEROKEE FARMS ROAD AND RACK ROAD AND SALEM DRIVE, DISTRICT 11, IBI STREET, DISTRICT SEVEN GIBB ROAD, UH, DISTRICT NINE, ALMER ROAD AND ALMER DRIVE AT DISTRICT 10 WILBORN ROAD.
SO THAT WAS A VERY INTERESTING DISCUSSION WHAT EVERYBODY BROUGHT FORWARD, BUT I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANNA KNOW IF YOU WERE 2, 3, 4, 6 OR SEVEN, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY ROAD PROBLEMS. YOU DIDN'T MENTION EIGHT.
WHAT? 'CAUSE THE CHAIRMAN'S AN
[00:55:01]
COMMENTS? OKAY, WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE NOW GOING TO DO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS. AND OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM[12. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
IS THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAY I HAVE SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION SECOND.
AND MR. MCCALLUM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THE ITEMS, THE ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
THE NEXT SERIES OF ITEMS CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE THAT MET JUST BEFORE HERE.
THEY HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY VETTED, BUT THEY ARE TIME SENSITIVE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE YEAR OR, UH, SOONER THAN THAT.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
[Additional Item ]
IS 12 A, WHICH I SAID WAS THE ADDITION.SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, MAKE, RECOMMEND THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE BOUNDARY STREET OPEN SPACE POCKET PARK LOCATED IN THE C CITY OF BEAUFORT AS THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEERS PARK.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, MR. BARTHOLOMEW MADE THE MOTION AND MR. REE MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED.
[13. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE AUGUST 14TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS FOR THE PLANNING, PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO RELOCATE THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY SERVICE (FISCAL IMPACT: No Impact)]
13, MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RELOCATION, THE RELOCATION OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, ALSO KNOWN AS ARPA FUNDS FOR THE PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO RELOCATE THE OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC DFU DUSKY ISLAND FERRY SERVICE.UM, MR. LAWSON, YOU MADE THE MOTION.
AND MS. BROWN, YOU MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
[14. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE AUGUST 14TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE - APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT OF AND FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN, PERMITTING, AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES NECESSARY FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING TO ACCOMMODATE THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY BY JANUARY 1, 2024 TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER (FISCAL IMPACT: Not to exceed $2,306,634 - ARPA Funds Infrastructure)]
14, I WILL ASK A MEMBER FOR THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT OF AND FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN PERMITTING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES NECESSARY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CROSS ISLAND BOAT LANDING TO ACCOMMODATE THE DUSKY ISLAND FERRY BY JANUARY 1ST, 2024 TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER.MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.
[15. TIME SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE AUGUST 14TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE - APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SC AERONAUTICS COMMISSION GRANT OFFER 23-025 FOR $378,044 FOR TAXIWAY F STRENGTHENING AND FOR PARTIAL ACQUISITION OF EXEC AIR PROPERTY AT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT (FISCAL IMPACT: This is a 100% grant with no local match)]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION GRANT OFFER 23 DASH OH TWO FIVE FOUR THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY $8,044 FOR TAX TAXIWAY F STRENGTHENING AND FOR THE PARTIAL ACQUISITION OF EXECUTIVE AIR PROPERTY AT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.AND, UH, MR. MCCULLUM MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[16. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE AUGUST 14TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE - APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE VII – GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, TO ESTABLISH SECTION 38-200 - GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (GSAC) PROGRAM CRITERIA AND APPLICATION PROCESS]
IS AN APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 38, ARTICLE SEVEN, THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH SECTION 38 DASH 200 GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROGRAM CRITERIA AND APPLICATION PROCESS.I WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE THE FIRST ONE? MR. CUNNINGHAM JUMPED IN.
OKAY, MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU WILL BE THE FIRST.
WHO WOULD BE THE SECOND SECONDED? MS. HOWARD WILL BE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'D, I'D JUST LIKE TO AGAIN, EMPHASIZE WHAT MR. MCSHANE SAID, THAT WE ARE AT THE CUSP OF THE COUNTY AND THE CUSP OF THE STATE ON THIS AND WOULD LIKE WE ARE THE LEADING AUTHORITY.
WE'RE WE'RE GONNA WRITE NEW GROUND.
AND, AND BY THE WAY, SEVERAL COUNTIES WHEN WE WERE AT THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CAME TO ME AND THEY MAY HAVE COME TO OTHER PEOPLE AND SAID, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH GREEN SPACE.
THEY ALL WANTED MR. MCSHANE'S PHONE NUMBER.
SO WE'RE WE'RE KNOWN FOR DOING THINGS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[17. TIME-SENSITIVE ITEM ORIGINATING FROM THE AUGUST 14TH COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE - FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A MODIFIED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2024, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.]
17.UH, MOTION FOR A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND,
[01:00:01]
AMEND ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A MODIFIED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE LEVY OF THE TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BUFORD COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2023 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.
MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WEREN'T HERE, UH, IT WAS STATED AND PRESENTED AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WE ESTABLISHED A MILL RATE FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT THAT WE COULD CHANGE THAT MILL RATE IF NECESSARY BECAUSE OF WE'RE IN THE REASSESSMENT YEAR.
AND THERE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A READ THE MILL RATE AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
IT WAS POSTED AND SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE, THE COUNCIL? I WOULD WOULD SAY, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN IS ADD TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, THE AMOUNT OF THE MILL REDUCTION? UH, YES.
THE AMOUNT OF THE MILL REDUCTION WAS 3.83.
MILL MILLS REDUCTION REDUCTION.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, THE OTHER THING I WOULD KNOW IS ALL THE THINGS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THE LAST SIX WE PRESENT IN VOTE ON IF EVERYONE WATCHES THE COMMITTEE MEETING BEFORE THIS, EVERY ONE OF THESE WAS EXPLAINED AND QUESTIONED IN DETAIL AND DISCUSSED YES.
BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE JUST, UM, APPROVING EVERYTHING, BUT WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF BEAT THEM TO DEATH.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THE COMMITTEES IS IS WHERE THE HEAVY WORK IS DONE HERE.
WE'RE JUST APPROVING WHAT THE COMMITTEES RECOMMEND.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, UH, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, READING OF, OF THE ORDINANCE.
ONE NEXT WEEK AND ONE ON THE 28TH TO COMPLETE THE FULL CYCLE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE FOR TAX PURPOSES BEFORE AUGUST 31ST.
[18. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ORDINANCE REGARDING A ROAD USE FEE Vote at First Reading on July 10, 2023- 11:0]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BUFORD COUNTY ORDINANCE REGARDING ROAD USE FEE.MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND PLEASE.
UH, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM? MR. OGLY? VERY QUICK.
I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THREE MINUTES, I PROMISE.
UM, IS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GONNA BE PART OF THE FORENSIC AUDITS THAT WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE MOVING FORWARD? OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING TO TAXPAYERS.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS ONE, BUT YOU CAN ASK THAT.
WELL, I'M JUST, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE, I'M SORRY.
I, I I I I MEANT THE LAST ONE AND THEN THE ONE BEFORE THAT WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE ASSOCIATION OF, UH, OF COUNTIES, UH, WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT'S A TRADE ORGANIZATION, THAT'S A, THAT'S THAT ORGANIZATION DOESN'T HAVE ANY OFFICIAL, UH, STANDING AS FAR AS, UH, MAKING LAWS.
THEY JUST MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OR AN ASSOCIATION THAT YOU JOIN THAT HAS NOTHING.
I JUST WANNA MAKE THOSE TWO POINTS, THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNSEL? SEEING, DONE NONE.
THIS WILL BE, UH, APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
YEAH, NO, WE HAD A MOTION AND SECOND.
[19. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS 34 ULMER ROAD (FISCAL IMPACT: $3,150,000 Purchase Price plus closing costs and to include all due diligence costs. Funding source is the General Fund- Fund Balance)]
I'M GOING TO ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO WHAT? 1920? OH YES.UH, I'M GONNA ASK A MEMBER OF COUNCIL TO MAKE, UM, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION TO POSTPONE A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF THIS ORDINANCE UNTIL THE COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2023.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.
I'LL SECOND MS. MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC, THE REASON BEHIND IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, REASON THAT WE ARE PURCHASING THIS LAND BEFORE WE USE $3 MILLION WORTH OF PUBLIC FUNDS, WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL IF WE CAN'T ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF HAS TIME TO TALK TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO SEE IF MAYBE THIS IS A LAND THAT THEY COULD USE, UM, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT TIMEFRAME.
SO WE WE'RE ASKING FOR A BIT OF AN EXTENSION ON THE EXACT SAME ITEM TO GIVE OUR STAFF TIME AND RURAL CRITICAL LANDS TIME TO DISCUSS DIFFERENT OPTIONS IF WE CAN'T FULFILL WHAT WE WANT TO DO AT THE LAND ITSELF.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT AND, AND AS WE JUST HEARD, THERE'S
[01:05:01]
VERY LIMITED FUNDS IN RURAL AND CRITICAL.SO YES, THIS WILL HAVE TO BE, UM, IF IT GOES TO RULE AND CRITICAL BOARD, I'M SURE THEY'LL TAKE THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION ON WHAT'S, WHAT'S LEFT AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
UM, SEEING NO OTHER COMMENTS, UM, IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO POSTPONING THIS? NO.
THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT ANY OBJECTIONS.
[20. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FRIPP ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA TO ISSUE NOT EXCEEDING $5,250,000 OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SUBJECT TO VOTER APPROVAL, PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF THE SAID FINDING AND AUTHORIZATION; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE FRI ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $5,250,000 OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SUBJECT TO VOTER APPROVAL, PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF SAID FUNDING FINDING AND AUTHORIZATION, AND PROVIDING OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.A MOTION AND MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION SECOND AND MR. BARTH MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED.
AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE C PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT? ARE THESE BONDS, UH, DO THEY INVOLVE, UH, BUR FOREMAN LAW FIRM? DO THEY THEY HAVE ANYTHING? DO THESE BONDS? I, I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT BUR WHAT BONDS BUR FOREMAN DOES DO.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF HOSPITALITY TAXES ARE USED TO RETIRE BONDS.
WE NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HOSPITALITY TAX TAXES THAT ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR AND DISAPPEARED, AND WE'RE GONNA NEED TO TIE THAT IN TO ALL YOUR FUTURE AUDITS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING THAT, NO OTHER COMMENTS.
WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[21. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ORDERING BOND REFERENDA TO BE HELD IN THE FRIPP ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON THE QUESTION OF THE ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING $5,250,000 OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF FRIPP ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA IN THREE SEPARATE QUESTIONS; PROVIDING FOR THE FORM OF THE BALLOTS TO BE USED; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE OF THE REFERENDA; AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO]
APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ORDERING BOND REFERENDA TO BE HELD IN TRIP ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT SOUTH CAROLINA ON THE QUESTION OF ISSUANCE OF NOT EXCEEDING 5,250,000 OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS OF FRI ISLAND PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT SOUTH CAROLINA IN THREE SEPARATE QUESTIONS, PROVIDING FOR THE FORM OF THAT BALLOTS TO BE USED, PROVIDING THE NOTICE OF REFERENDA AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS THERE TOO.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVE CHAIRMAN.
MR. GLOVER MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW MAKES THE SECOND CHAIRMAN.
ANY COMMENT? JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT THAT, UM, THIS IS THE PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT, FRI ALLEN, UH, THE CITIZENS OF FRI ISLAND WOULD BASICALLY DECIDE THEIR DESTINATION AS FAR AS BONDING.
UH, FUNDING, PAYMENTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO IT'S A PUBLIC SERVICE DISTRICT OR FRI ISLAND.
JUST WANNA MAKE THAT FOR THE RECORD.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[22. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]
TO THE SECOND CITIZEN COMMENTS.THERE ARE A FEW PEOPLE WHO WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT.
UH, I WILL CALL 'EM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY WERE ON THE COMMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE WILL BE MS. LYNCH.
I AM THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND A REGISTERED NURSE ON MAY 16TH.
I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE COUNTY AGAINST MR. ERIC GREENWAY UNDER TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 ON THE GROUNDS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ME AND TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT IT FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.
YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO OTHER WOMEN WITH COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE COUNTY, AND OTHER WOMEN HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SINCE I WENT PUBLIC.
I HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO RETALIATION AND I HAVE BEEN TERMINATED, WHICH IS ILLEGAL UNDER TITLE VII.
MY LIFE HAS BEEN DESTROYED AND I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO REMAIN SILENT.
I LOVED MY JOB AND I WANTED TO KEEP MY JOB AS THE WELLNESS DIRECTOR.
AS REASON AS 10 DAYS AGO, I ASKED TO BE REINSTATED TO MY JOB.
THIS COMPLAINT HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT MONEY.
AS FOR MY COMPETENCE TO DO THE JOB, I HAVE 31 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS A NURSE.
I HAVE OWNED MY OWN HEALTHCARE STAFFING COMPANY, EMPLOYING HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES.
I HAVE BEEN THE VICE PRESIDENT OF A NATIONAL HOME CARE COMPANY AND I SAT ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I WORKED AS A DIRECTOR OF NURSING FOR TWO MAJOR FACILITIES.
I WON BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR THE YORK COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
MY FIRING WAS UNJUSTIFIED MORE THAN MY FIRING WAS THE REPREHENSIBLE TREATMENT I HAD TO ENDURE FOR THREE MONTHS LEADING UP TO MY FIRING AT THE HANDS OF THOSE IN CHARGE.
THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO MAKE ME QUIT.
HOWEVER, I STOOD FIRM AND TOOK THEIR ABUSE.
[01:10:01]
THEY HAD TO RESORT TO FIRING ME.JUST ONE DAY AFTER MR. GREENWAY WAS PUT ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
I URGE YOU AS YOU GO INTO THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION TO KEEP TRANSPARENCY IN MIND.
MR. GREENWAY SHOULD HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING WAYS TO MAKE THAT A CLOSED SESSION, I ASK YOU NOT TO.
I ALSO ASK YOU TO CONSIDER MY COMPLAINT AND THE BAD ACTORS THAT HAVE HAD CONTROL OVER MY FUTURE.
IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO YOUR WIFE, YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR SISTER, YOUR MOTHER, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL? YOU SHOULD ALSO KNOW THIS.
I WILL NOT REMAIN SILENT, AND I WILL NOT SHRINK AWAY BECAUSE POWERFUL MEN ARE IN THE ROOM AND WOMEN WHO ENABLE THEM.
I DO THIS FOR MYSELF AND FOR ALL WOMEN WHO ARE TOO AFRAID TO COME FORWARD AND THEY HAVE NO VOICE.
THIS SYSTEMIC, PERVASIVE MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN AT THIS COUNTY HAS TO STOP NOW.
UH, SKIP HOAGLAND, WINDMILL HARBOR.
DAVID LAUDERDALE'S, EXCELLENT COLUMN, SLOPPY GOVERNMENT.
IN THE PACKET ABOUT THE LATEST BEAUFORT COUNTY GREENWAY SCANDAL SHOULD STRIKE FEAR INTO THE HEART OF EVERY CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT COUNTY EMPLOYEE, MAYORS, ATTORNEYS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT CORRUPTION IS.
IT'S INSIDER DEALINGS, IT'S BRIBERY, QUID PRO QUO NEPOTISM, PAY TO PLAY KICKBACKS AND MORE.
NOW IS THE TIME DURING THIS WHOLLY SELF-INFLICTED COUNTY DISGRACE TO SPEAK UP ON THIS ISSUE.
IT HAS SEVERELY DAMAGED OUR COMMUNITY AND CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT TO HONEST COUNCILMEN AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE.
WE MUST UNDERSTAND DISHONEST ACTS BY COUNTY OFFICIALS FURTHER DEGRADES THE SYSTEM.
IT'S A CURSE TO SOCIETY AND TOTALLY AGAINST DEMOCRACY.
CORRUPTION CONTINUES TO FLOURISH HERE.
WEAK LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THIS BEHAVIOR HAS GONE UNPUNISHED.
AND SYSTEMATIC ISSUES SUCH AS LACK OF, OF TRANSPARENCY FOR A COMPLIANCE FRAUDULENT AND INTERNAL AUDITS, FRAUDULENT BUDGETS THAT BOTH ONLY SHOW THE NUMBERS, THE INSIDERS LIKE GREENWAY, SULCA, GROOVER, ORLANDO, AND OTHERS, WANT YOU TO SEE HAS CREATED A MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE IMMORAL CRAVEN PEOPLE TO ABUSE THEIR POWER, WE MUST FOCUS ON ROBUST AND FORCED LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND FULL FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY.
REMEMBER, WE ALL HAVE THE POWER AND IT STARTS WITH OURSELVES.
LET US, LET US NOT SUPPORT CORRUPTION THE GREATEST EVIL IN OUR SOCIETY, AND LET'S REMOVE IT.
PEOPLE ARE SILENT IN SUCH SITUATIONS BE, BUT BEING SILENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
RAISING OUR VOICES TOWARDS EXPOSING WRONGDOING IS A FIRST STEP TO FIGHTING CORRUPTION.
COMBATING CORRUPTION IS CHALLENGING, BUT MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN.
FIRST, APPROVING THE COURT SYSTEM AND THE INSTITUTIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND WE CAN DO THAT BY THIS COUNCIL.
HIRING AN OUTSIDE FORENSIC AUDITOR, PREFERABLY SOMEWHERE, SOMEBODY OUTTA STATE WITHOUT ANY TIES TO THIS STATE OR LOCAL INSIDERS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH FORENSIC AUDIT OF THE ENTIRE BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ALL THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED TENS OF MILLIONS WITH ZERO OVERSIGHT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.
THIS INCLUDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OUR TREASURER, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IN BLUFFTON, AND THE NONPROFIT HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT CHAMBERS, BURR FOREMAN LAW FIRM.
AND THE BONDS AND MILLIONS OF HOSPITALITY AND A TAX FUNDS HAVE DISAPPEARED.
WE NEED TO GET TO GROUND ZERO SO WE KNOW HOW DEEP THE FINANCIAL VIOLATIONS AND THE SHENANIGANS ARE.
LET'S FIX THIS SLOPPY GOVERNMENT.
I DON'T WANNA COME AND CRITICIZE ANY OF Y'ALL BECAUSE I I I I RESPECT THAT YOU'RE DOING A COMMUNITY SERVICE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST YOU CAN, BUT IF, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
IF WE DON'T ALL MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE GOTTA WORK TOGETHER.
WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MY THREE MINUTES TO SKIP HOAGLAND? NO, I WILL DO THAT FOR YOU BECAUSE SHE FEARS NO, A LOT OF PEOPLE FEAR SPEAKING.
I'M GONNA SPEAK HER THREE MINUTES.
RIGHT NOW WE CAN DO IT WITH A, WITH A, WITH A, WITH A.
P O A OR NOT WE ARE IN RECESS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU, WE HAVE TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
UM, MS. SCOTT, CAN YOU COME FORWARD? GIRL SOFTBALL TEAM.
NOT WITHSTANDING
[01:15:01]
AND DEVELOPERS.WE HAVE THE GREATER GOOD IN MIND.
WE DON'T HAVE PERSONAL AGENDAS.
WE'RE WORKING FOR ALL THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
JULY 20TH, I HAD FINALLY HAD IT WITH THE PREVIOUS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND I SENT A LETTER TO FITZ NEWS AND THE POST IN COURIER OUTLINING WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE HIS INCREDIBLE COLLUSION WITH DEVELOPERS.
THEY HAD A LOT OF MEETINGS BEFORE WE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK FOR ME WAS WHEN HE WAS PLAYING, UH, GOLF ON FRIPP WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL FRIEND EL V O.
AND HERE THE COUNTY IS BEING FACED WITH LAWSUITS.
WE HIRED A MAN, APPARENTLY NOBODY CHECKED HIS BACKGROUND.
HE HAD BEEN CALLED BEFORE THE ETHICS COMMISSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA PRIOR TO COMING HERE.
HE'D BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF SHENANIGANS IN YORK COUNTY WITH JIM AND TAMMY FAYE BAKKER, AND YET HE BECOMES OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DISAPPOINTED IN A PERSON'S INCOMPETENCE OR ETHICS THAN I HAVE BEEN.
THERE IS ONE WHO'S AHEAD OF HIM, HOWEVER, THE KIND OF HUBRIS HE DISPLAYED AND HIS LACK OF FIDUCIARY DUTY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING HIM OVER $200,000 A YEAR TO REPRESENT THEM.
AND HE UNDERMINES OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OUR CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY.
THAT'S JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THEN I, I, I FIND OUT, I PICK UP THE NEWSPAPER AND I FIND OUT THAT OUR SHERIFF AND OUR COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAVE SAID, THIS MAN HAS GONE INTO SOME OTHER CRIMINAL REALM, WHICH IS GOING TO RESULT IN, IN HIS TERMINATION.
I WILL ALSO BE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR LAWSUITS BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK THERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS MAN LED THAT DEVELOPER DOWN A PATH THAT TOLD HIM HE COULD DO WHAT HE WANTED WITH PINE ISLAND AND THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
I APPRECIATE EVERY ONE OF YOU AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? ME? GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS MARILYN HEMMINGWAY AND I AM C E O AND FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
AND I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE THE GULLAH GEECHEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEAFOOD TRAIL.
UM, I'M ASSUMING EVERYONE HAS A COPY OF THIS AND I HAVE SOME FOR THE AUDIENCE ALSO, IF ANYONE WANTS ANY, I'M NOT GONNA GET DEEPLY INTO PAGE ONE AND PAGE TWO BECAUSE I THINK WE ARE THE GULLAH GEECHEE.
I STAND IN THE HEART OF GULLAH GEECHEE, SO I THINK WE KNOW THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS.
UM, WHEN I FOUNDED THIS GULLAH GEECHEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FIVE YEARS AGO, I DID NOT WANT A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BUILD MANY TABLES IN A HOUSE, UM, THAT WILL CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE, IF YOU'RE NOT BUILDING A NEW TABLE, YOU ARE ON THE MENU IS A QUOTE THAT IS ACTUALLY HEARD QUITE OFTEN.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I WAS TIRED OF BEING ON THE MENU.
ALRIGHT, SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH OUR CULTURE.
AND I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT WHO ARE THE GULLAH GEECHEE IN PARTICULAR.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT OUR ANCESTORS WERE BROUGHT HERE EXTRACTED FROM AFRICA BECAUSE OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO CONTROL THE WATER AND MANAGE THE LAND TO GROW THE INDIGO RICE, SUGARCANE, SEA ISLAND COTTON, AND TAKE BOUNTY FROM THE SEA.
IN THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING, WE WANT TO TAKE THAT CULTURE AND WE WANT TO CREATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, WE ARE STARTING WITH ORGANIZING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. AND WE SAY ORGANIZING BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY HERE.
THERE ARE MANY ITEMS AND MANY ACTIONS ALREADY TAKING PLACE THAT ARE HERE.
BUT OUR JOB HAS A CHAMBER IS TO ORGANIZE THOSE LOCAL, LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. WHY? BECAUSE IN 2021, THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE, HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION RELEASED A MARKET RESEARCH STUDY THAT SAID GULLAH GEECHEE TOURISM POTENTIAL IS $34 BILLION A YEAR.
$34 BILLION A YEAR IS A GAME CHANGER.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE PART OF THAT? WE ARE CREATING THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEAFOOD TRAIL, WHICH IS PART OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE
[01:20:01]
WHICH WILL TAKE POTENTIAL TO REALITY.WE ARE PARTNERING WITH THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION, GULLAH GEECHEE FISHING ASSOCIATION, SOUTHLAND SEA GRANT CONSORTIUM, COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, AND WE GO FOUNDATION.
THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEAFOOD TRAIL IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM NOAHA, SO SIX FIGURE GRANT FROM NOAHA THAT HAS ALLOWED US TO CREATE GULLAH GEECHEE UNIVERSITY, WHICH PROVIDES ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSES.
WE ARE ALSO DOING SPECIAL EVENTS RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST LAUNCHED LAST WEEK, BRING HARRIETT HOME IN GEORGETOWN FOR THREE MONTHS.
A SCULPTURE WILL BE VISITING GEORGETOWN AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON YEAR NUMBER FIVE OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CONFERENCE.
ALL OF THIS TIES INTO THE GALLAH GEECHEE SEAFOOD TRAIL, WHICH WILL BE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE FOR THE ENTIRE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO WE, AS PART OF THE GRANT, IT IS FOR US TO COME TO YOUR MEETINGS AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES, WHAT WE'RE DOING AND ALSO THE FUTURE FOR THE GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITY.
AND UM, JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON MERCHANDISE, T-SHIRTS AND UM, BOOKS, JOURNALS THAT ARE FOR SALE ON OUR STORES AND THIS WILL BE ALSO HAPPENING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
ALRIGHT, I WOULD LIKE A MOTION
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
AND SECOND FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE 30 DASH FOUR 70 A TWO AND A ONE.WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LEGAL ADVICE ON MATTERS COVERED BY ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
UH, ERIC'S GREENWAY'S REQUEST FOR A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE RETENTION OF AN OUTSIDE LAW FIRM TO CONDUCT REVIEWS AND AUDITS AS PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED.
AND A DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT OF A PERSON REGULATED BY COUNTY COUNCIL.
MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVED.
MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE MAY UNDERLINE MAY BE MATTERS RISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE IS NO ACTION THAT WILL BE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY COUNTY COUNCIL.