[I. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
IT IS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2020 3:10 AM PASS
OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
MEG JANE AND GRACE STAPLES HERE.
[III. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA]
OKAY.BEFORE YOU HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA, YOU NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
[IV. ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
IT.AND THE SAME THING FOR SEPTEMBER 7TH.
[VI.1. FY24 Neighborhood Assistance Program Budget Update]
NEW BUSINESS FY 24.NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UPDATE, BUDGET UPDATE.
GOOD MORNING ALL, AND HAPPY OCTOBER.
I FELT LIKE I JUST STOOD BEFORE YOU
KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING, BUT IT'S MOVING.
SO AGAIN, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO OUR OCTOBER MEETING.
THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED AT $290,000.
TO DATE, 13 HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR REPAIRS SUCH AS ROOFING AND INTERIOR REPAIRS, TOTALING $124,934 AND 26 CENTS.
THREE HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR SEPTIC PUMP OUT TOTALING $1,200 AND ONE HOME FOR TREE SERVICE TOTALING, UH, $5,500.
WHEN THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED, IT WAS LAST WEEK 17 HOME 17 HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE LINEUP.
ONE HOME WAS SCHEDULED FOR TREE SERVICE.
IN THE NEXT WEEK, SIX HOMES ARE WAITING ON ESTIMATES AND THREE HOMES ARE WAITING FOR INCOME VERIFICATION RESULTS FROM ELCO.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MEMO? AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WITH THE SIX HOMES WAITING ON ESTIMATES, I'VE JUST PAUSED.
SO THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE FROM OUR LAST MONTH'S REPORT I'VE BEEN ON.
LIKE I TOLD YOU GUYS, I WAS GONNA DO A PAUSE AND JUST COLLECT WHAT WE CAN BE COLLECTING FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT I AM GOING TO START WORKING AGAIN AND, UM, SPENDING THOSE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
SO WE DID PAUSE FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE ARE GONNA PICK BACK UP.
SO THAT'S WHERE ALL THOSE SIX, UH, ESTIMATES IN AND THE THREE INCOME VERIFICATION RESULTS, ONE HAS COME IN ALREADY, SO THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SO WE CAN ADD ONE MORE INTO OUR LIST OF ESTIMATES.
HERE IS A BREAKDOWN, UH, OF WHAT WE HAVE LEFT OVER.
SO OUR TOTAL AVAILABLE BUDGET ALTOGETHER IS 158,276.
AND THAT'S INCLUDING ALL OF OUR LINE ITEM OF WORK.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, AND AS YOU ALWAYS KNOW, WE DO MOST OF OUR WORK OR ALL OF OUR WORK IN THE HOME REPAIR LINE.
THE SECOND LINE TO FOLLOW IS OUR SEPTIC PUMP OUT.
AND THEN WE HAVE A FEW SERVICE PROJECTS.
SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS THERE? UM, I DO WANNA SAY, UM, THE APPLICATIONS ARE BEING CALLED FOR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THEM LATELY.
UM, NO, NO DIFFICULT QUESTIONS.
IT'S JUST ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP FILLING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUBMITTING WHAT THE APPLICATION.
SO, UM, A LOT MORE APPLICATIONS.
I, I SUSPECT WILL BE COMING IN PRETTY SOON.
BUT, UM, MY CHURCH DID, UH, AN EVENT ON SATURDAY.
I WAS NOT THERE, BUT I DID SPEAK TO THE LEADER OF THE EVENT AND SHE SAID SHE DID GIVE OUT QUITE A FEW.
SO APPLICATIONS ARE MOVING OUT, UM, IN DIFFERENT THINGS.
LIKE I SAID, THEY ALWAYS ARE IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
I'M NOT A GO AND PUT IT ON YOUR DOOR.
YOU DO HAVE TO COME TO ME TO, TO SOLICIT SERVICES.
SO THE THE WORD IS OUT AS YOU KNOW.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS WHERE WE SIT FOR WHERE WE ARE IN OCTOBER.
FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP, IS THAT, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU GO OUT AND HELP THEM WITH OR THEY DO HAVE TO COME IN HERE? I DO ASK THEM TO COME HERE, UM, JUST FOR HEALTH REASONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT COVID AND, AND, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO WHEN RICHARD AND I GO OUT TO HOMES, WE KIND OF BE CAREFUL AND KIND OF BE MINDFUL.
SO WHEN THEY ASK FOR HELP, I DO ASK IF THEY COME HERE.
IF THEY CANNOT COME HERE, THEN I WILL GO.
BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THIS IS WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.
SO IT WON'T BE AN EXTENDED STAY.
AND SOME OF 'EM HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH TRANSPORTATION.
SO IF THEY CAN'T GET HERE, THEN I'LL DEFINITELY GO TO THEM AND JUST KIND OF HAVE IT ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THEN, UH, JUST, UH, I PROBABLY SHOULD KNOW THIS, BUT WHO DOES THE INCOME VERIFICATION? LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS.
THEY DO THE INCOME VERIFICATION, ONE OF THEIR, UM, SOMEONE IN THEIR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
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SIT ON THAT BOARD AND, AND, AND I JUST SAW THE REPORT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M ALWAYS AMAZED.I MEAN, DON'T GET ME WRONG, I, I, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS GREAT, BUT ON THE HOME PROGRAM, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED TO THE MINUSCULE NUMBER OF HOME REPAIRS.
AND THEY DO A FOUR COUNTY AREA, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY.
MAYBE, I GUESS 'CAUSE SOME OF THE MONEY'S FEDERAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T GET MORE MONEY.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE THE NUMBER OF HOUSES WE SERVICE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND OTHERS, THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH.
SO I CAN GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT, UM, THEY DON'T DO MOBILE HOMES.
AND THEY, THE HOME HAS TO HAVE INSURANCE.
A LOT OF OLD HOMES DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE.
SO THAT'S TWO OF THE DOWNFALLS THAT I KNOW OF WHY I SEND THEM QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S CERTAINLY CERTAIN THEIR CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF TIGHT.
SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOME INSURANCE AND THEY DO DON'T DO MOBILE.
AND WE DO A LOT OF MOBILE HOMES.
SO THAT COULD BE A REASON WHY.
UM, I KNOW THEY DO DO H V A C, SO I SEND A LOT OF H V A C THEIR WAY.
AND, UM, EVEN MOBILE HOMES, SOMETIMES I'LL SAY JUST CALL
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY'LL TURN A BUCKET AND SEE IF THEY CAN DO, BUT THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY FOR THAT SIDE OF IT.
WILL THEY DO H V A C IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE? THAT I'M NOT SURE I CAN QUESTION.
UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS TODAY.
I WAS TRYING TO GET US A PRESENTER, BUT SHE GOT BACK TOO LATE TO ME.
SO SHE WILL BE ON OUR AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH.
AND JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE NOT MEETING THE FIRST THURSDAY.
WE'RE MEETING THE SECOND THURSDAY.
NOT THE FIRST THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER.
WE'RE MEETING THE SECOND THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER FOR NEXT MONTH.
'CAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE STRATEGIC PLANNING.
I I'M USUALLY AT ALL YOUR MEETINGS, AT LEAST IF I WAS ONLINE AT ALL YOUR MEETINGS, JUST SO YOU KNOW.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP? UM, YEAH, THEY, I THINK WE KNOW YOUR FACE.
JUST SAY YOUR NAME FOR RECORD PLEASE.
I'M THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE HILTON HEAD AREA REALTORS AND THE BUFORD, JASPER COUNTY REAL.
AND, UH, I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE COMMITTEE FOR YEARS.
FRED AND DAN KNOW THAT, UM, IT'S NICE TO SEE SOME NEW FACES.
UM, AND IF I'M GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT, UM, I'M THE ONLY ONE HERE TO ASK A QUESTION IF THE CHAIRMAN WOULD LET ME.
SO WITH THE PASSING OF SS 2 84 AND THIS NEW FOUND REVENUE STREAM AND YOUR AT TAX, IS THIS COMMITTEE GOING TO BE, AND IF I MISSED THIS AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, I'M SORRY, IS THIS COMMITTEE GOING TO BE STEPPING UP MAYBE WHEN IT'S DOING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW THAT YOU HAVE A NEW REVENUE STREAM? UM, TOWN HAS, UM, PRETTY MUCH BEEN MONITORING THAT FOR A WHILE AS WELL.
BUT YES, WE THINK THAT THE TOWN, UM, IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT BECAUSE, AND I THINK STAFF, IF I'M IS LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN USE IT, UM, MAYBE EVEN FOR THIS PROGRAM, BUT, BUT ALSO, UM, FOR SOME OF THE, UM, UNITS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD.
YEAH, I MEAN, I WOULD THINK THIS IS, WAS LIKE GREAT NEWS FOR YOU ALL.
DAN, YOU WANNA ADD TO THAT? LIKE EXCITING NEW THINGS? YES.
I, I JUST WANNA SAY, UM, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 15%? YEAH.
I, I, UM, THAT'S A NEW REVENUE STREAM FIRST.
WELL, LET ME, LET ME JUST SAY, UM, AND I SAID THIS LAST NIGHT, ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA PAY THE CHAIRMAN A COMPLIMENT.
I WAS AT PALMETTO BLUFF AND, UH, CHAIRMAN HAMILTON HAS BEEN BEATING, THIS IS ALMOST MY WORDS PER VERBATIM.
HE'S BEEN BEATING THE DRUM FOR DECADES.
LONG BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE GOT SERIOUS, GOT GOT EVEN KNEW ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, PAID ATTENTION TO IT, I MEAN IN THE, THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
AND SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS, AND OF COURSE IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM, BUT IT'S A LOCAL PROBLEM.
SO WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT MESSAGE.
AND HE'S, AND HE'S HAD A GOOD PARTNER IN CRIME ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS UP HERE, BUT HE, THE MESSAGE HAS FINALLY GOT OUT.
AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THIS.
SO WE PICKED UP 10 UNITS AT MADISON APARTMENTS, WHICH HE DIDN'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY DO, BUT HE DID.
AND THEN THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND TOOK OFF THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE AWARE OF.
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL IN THIS COUNTY TO GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
THAT'S, THAT'S ALL OF THESE ARE AN OVERFLOW OF THE EFFORTS THAT FRED HAS DONE ALL THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
SO THEN THIS TOWN HAS SET MONEY ASIDE IN THE C I P PROJECT, A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO DO THE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO, WHICH SHOULD START AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
AND SO THE NEW 15% THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVEN'T HAD A DISCUSSION AS A
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COUNCIL YET ON HOW TO APPLY.BUT YES, WE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS WE'VE GONE YEARS WITHOUT HAVING TOO MUCH SUCCESS RECENTLY.
BUT I THINK THE TRAIN IS FINALLY IN GEAR AND STARTED DOWN THE TRACKS AND WE'RE GONNA GET MORE AND MORE MOMENTUM AS WE GO.
AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T MET ME BEFORE, I KNOW TOUTED THIS COMMITTEE, FRED'S EFFORTS, ALL YOUR EFFORTS FOR YEARS.
I'VE GONE, I AM ALL OVER THE, BOTH JASPER AND BUFORT COUNTY.
I'VE CONSTANTLY SAID THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S REALLY BEEN DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PREVIOUS SUCCESSES.
I WAS JUST EXCITED THERE'S A NEW REVENUE STREAM.
AND WHAT MIGHT THAT HELP TO DO NOW WITH SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE TRIED THAT HAVE FAILED, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN GIVING LAND WASN'T ENOUGH.
SO MAYBE WITH THIS NEW REVENUE STREAM, YOU CAN OFFER INFRASTRUCTURE OR OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD SWEETEN UPON TO MAKE IT EASIER ON THE DEVELOPER.
SO THANKS FOR LETTING ME ASK A QUESTION.
IT'S NICE TO MEET THOSE OF YOU THAT I HAVEN'T MET BEFORE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING THANK YOU YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE AND ATTENDING, UH, MEETINGS, UM, PRE COVID AND, UM, AND SUPPORTIVE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
NOT JUST, UM, SHOWING UP TO MEETINGS, BUT SHE'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE, UM, IN WASH, I MEAN IN, IN COLUMBIA AS WELL AS LOCALLY.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE ASSOCIATION COULD USE AN UPDATE ON THIS NEW PROGRAM AND STUFF.
MAYBE YOU COULD COME AND SPEAK TO OUR MEMBERS AT OUR LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
DAN AND FRED HAVE BEEN TO IT BEFORE.
UM, AND LET 'EM KNOW WHAT, GIVE US AN UPDATE ON, OKAY, SO YOU TALK ABOUT THIS INFORMATION HERE.
SURE, WHY NOT? I MEAN, ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE ALL DOING, WE'RE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN HEARING ABOUT, UM, AND TRYING TO PUSH IT IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WHEN THEY NEED TO FOLLOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
JOCELYN, ONE, ONE LAST COMMENT.
THE, THE TRUST, THE JA, WHAT IS IT CALLED? BUFORT, JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND.
NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, SENATOR DAVIS GOT HIS $3 MILLION TO GO WITH THE TWO PLUS MILLION THAT THE, THE JURISDICTIONS PUT IN THERE.
UM, I WOULD SAY ALSO, NOT ONLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN BLUFF THEM, BUT FROM YOUR POSITION, I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KEEP TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO FUND THAT ORGANIZATION BECAUSE $5 MILLION WILL NOT GO FAR.
SO YOU KNOW, NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE, THAT IT'S GONNA BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT SURVIVE BECAUSE THAT'S A REALLY BIG DEAL THAT WE DID FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE.
WE NEED TO FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS, WHETHER WE GET IT, SENATOR DAVIS GOES BACK TO THE TABLE AND THE STATE BUDGET OR WHATEVER WE DO.
WE NEED TO KEEP FINDING RESOURCES FOR THAT, THAT BODY.
AND UM, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I WENT TO, UH, THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD NOW HAS A HOUSING COMMITTEE, A HOUSING OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE.
AND IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING HILTON HEAD, IT ALL, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF STUFF GOING ON WITH AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING ATTEMPTS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, PRIVATE, ET CETERA.
BUT ONE THING, SOMEONE ALERTED, ANOTHER ALARMING THING, UM, THERE'S 50 UNITS, UH, THAT ARE OWNED BY A GROUP OF DOCTORS.
AND IN THOSE UNITS THERE HAVE BEEN PE THEY HAVE KEPT THE RENTS SO LOW AND REALLY WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE READY TO SELL ALL THOSE UNITS.
NOW, SOME ARE IN BLUFFTON, MOST ARE ON HILTON HEAD, THEY'RE READY TO SELL 'EM.
UM, BUT THEY WANT TO GIVE FIRST RIGHT OF, I GUESS YOU'D TECHNICALLY FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO LIKE, UH, A UH, HILTON HAD A GROUP ON HILTON HEAD FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR SOMEONE FROM BLUFFTON, UM, TO TRY TO NOT MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS HILTON HEAD'S WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS A DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMITTEE SAY THAT AGAIN.
SOUNDS LIKE, DID YOU ALL FOLLOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH CHIMNEY COVE ON HILTON HUNT? SO THEY NEED, THEY FIGURED THEY NEED A DISPLACEMENT STRATEGY.
NOW WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO LOSE THEIR HOMES? YOU KNOW? SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU ALL CAN LOOK AT AND FIND OUT ABOUT THESE 50 UNITS.
MAYBE YOU MIGHT WANNA LOOK AT THE ONES THAT ARE IN BLUFFTON.
AND THIS IS ALL JUST WHAT I'M HEARING.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ABSOLUTELY FACTUAL THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AROUND 250,000, UM, FOR THEM.
THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO GET MARKET RATES.
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OF SHAPE AT ALL.BUT THEY ALL HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM.
HOW DO WE GET THAT INFORMATION? YEAH.
UM, WHAT'S THAT MEANING RECORDED? YEAH.
DO YOU, UM, YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT AND IS WELL VERSED ON IT IS KIM LICHENS.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW KIM LICHENS? SHE GOT UP YESTERDAY AND REALLY KNEW A LOT OF THE INFORMATION, BUT SHE WOULD EITHER BE ABLE TO GIVE IT TO YOU OR TELL YOU WHO TO TALK TO.
BUT MAYBE I, I THOUGHT THE IDEA OF HAVING DISPLACEMENT PLACE WAS A REALLY FANTASTIC IDEA WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS, 'CAUSE WE'RE ALL GONNA GO THROUGH THIS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION AND WE'LL DO SOME, I'LL DO SOME DIGGING ABOUT THOSE 50 UNITS.
AND TO PIGGYBACK TO WHAT, UH, MR. WOOD SAID, I'M A PART OF THE LUTHER JACKSON HOUSING PRICE FUND BOARD AND WE DO HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT DOES FINANCING AND THE FUNDRAISING.
SO I'LL GET YOU CONNECTED TO THAT PERSON, OKAY? OKAY.
UH, JUST FOR THE RECORD, LES POLITE CAME IN AT 10 11.
BEFORE WE MEET AGAIN, I WILL BE DOING THE WHARF STREET ANNUAL HOUSING INSPECTION.
SO THAT WILL BE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26TH.
THAT'S OUR, UH, SIX HOUSES THAT WE HAVE OVER IN WHARF STREET.
SO, UM, WE'RE JUST GONNA BE MAKING SURE THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY TEARING DOWN THE WALLS OR DONE ANYTHING THAT THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO WITHOUT TOWN APPROVAL.
THEY'RE SENDING ME, UM, THEIR UPDATED INSURANCE BILLS, UH, ANY UTILITY BILLS, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE HOMEOWNER, IT'S IN THE HOMEOWNER'S NAME AND THE RIGHT PERSON THAT WE HAVE ON FILE IS IN THE HOUSE.
SO I'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT WHEN WE MEET IN NOVEMBER.
AND AGAIN, WE DO THAT EVERY OCTOBER.
AND THAT WILL BE, UM, PART OF OUR NEXT DISCUSSION.
SO WHEN THAT WAS BUILT, THAT WAS A 25 YEAR DEEDED RESTRICTION.
AND SO IT'S BEEN THERE HOW LONG? OOH, 2006 MAYBE? I'M NOT SURE.
SO MAYBE 2006 IS HINDSIGHT'S 2020.
IS THERE A WAY THAT LEGALLY WE COULD GO BACK AND EXTEND THAT PERIOD OF TIME LEGALLY? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT, UM, I JUST SAY LEGALLY GET TERRY QUESTION.
UH, THAT BEING SAID TOO, AS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT, UM, I, I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE MEETINGS, BUT I'VE HAD SOME ISSUES THAT PREVENTED ME FROM COMING.
BUT, UM, WE TALKED A WHILE ABOUT THE SAME THING, HOW LONG WE CAN KEEP, UM, THE HOUSING, THE HOUSES IN, UM, AFFORDABLE, UNDER THE AFFORDABLE STATUS.
HAVE WE EVER DECIDED ON WHAT THAT LENGTH OF TIME WOULD BE? 'CAUSE I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 30 YEARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT I KNOW I MISSED THE MEETINGS AND DIDN'T KNOW IF WE EVER CAME BACK AND ADDRESSED THAT OR MADE A DECISION ON THAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE ARE COMING TO NOW.
2006, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE HOUSES.
BUT IT'S COMING UP NOW TO WHATEVER THOSE HOMEOWNERS ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THOSE HOUSES AFTER THE, UM, 30 YEARS IS UP, WHICH IS NOT TOO LONG FROM NOW.
NOW WE WANNA GET A LEGAL ANSWER.
UH, RICHARDSON IS HERE TUESDAY.
SO I CAN TAKE IT TO HIM AND ASK IF WE WANT TO GET THIS TIME PERIOD EXTENDED AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WELL, I, I THINK ELLIS'S QUESTION, I I, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I GO BACK TO THE CHAIRMAN, UM, HE, UH, YOU KNOW, IT USED TO BE THESE WERE 30 YEARS AND WE JUST DID MADISON'S FOR 30 YEARS.
HE WAS GRACIOUS OF HIM TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT NOW SITTING HERE LOOKING, IF IT WAS 2006, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE ON THE BORDER.
I MEAN, YOU, YOU KNOW WHERE THE, WHERE IT COMES OUT OF THE DEEDED RESTRICTION.
AND SO TO HER POINT, I, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE THAT 50 YEARS IS A BETTER NUMBER OR IT MAY BE THAT IT'S IN PERPETUITY.
THE PERPETUITY WOULD BE PREFERABLE BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE SITTING HERE AGAIN LATER TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I WILL DO SOME RESEARCH ON MY END.
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KEVIN AND RICHARDSON A MESSAGE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SIT WITH HIM ON TUESDAY JUST TO PUT IT IN HIS EAR AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO OR IF IT'S FEASIBLE.UM, CONTRACTORS WAS ONE OF OUR DISCUSSION LAST.
YES, WE ARE HAVING A CONTRACTOR'S MEETING ON THE 11TH, I BELIEVE IT IS.
SO I WILL BE A PART OF THAT AGENDA AND I AM BEGGING AND PLEADING AND EVEN HAVE TO GIVE THEM A TREAT.
I WILL BE AT THAT MEETING, TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME CONTRACTORS, A DIFFERENT SET OF CONTRACTORS IN.
YOU SAID ON THE 11TH, I'M LOOKING RIGHT NOW, NO, EXCUSE ME, THE 24TH, SORRY.
OCTOBER 24TH, 6:00 PM HERE IN THE, UH, TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS IS THE QUARTERLY CONTRACTOR'S MEETING.
I WANT TO BE A A PART OF THAT MEETING PLEASE.
ANYTHING ELSE? ANY PRESSING ISSUES, CONCERNS, THINGS THAT YOU NEED ME TO WORK ON? YEAH, SO THAT MEETING IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH, 6:00 PM HERE IN TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
SO IN IN, HOW DO WE KNOW WHO WE WANT TO INVITE TO THE MEETING CONTRACTORS.
SO THAT'S HANDLED, UM, THROUGH CUSTOMER SERVICE.
LIZ, LIZ, THAT IS THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER.
AND, UH, CARRIE GUZMAN WHO IS OUR, UM, GROWTH MANAGEMENT ADMIN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NAMES THAT YOU WANNA ADD TO THE LIST? I CAN LET CARRIE KNOW.
ARE THEY LOOKING AT WHO IS, UM, SS IN THE AREA? HOW, HOW I BELIEVE SO.
THEY HAVE A DA A DATABASE OF THEIR CONTRACTORS WHO WORKS CURRENTLY AND I BELIEVE WHO IS STILL IN THE SYSTEM, PROBABLY HAVEN'T WORKED CURRENTLY, BUT WHO'S STILL IN THEIR SYSTEM.
I BELIEVE WHAT THEY DO IS JUST UPDATE THEM ON ANY PAPER CHANGES OR ANY, UM, INFORMATION CHANGES THAT THEY NEED TO GIVE TO THE CONTRACTORS THAT'S ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM OR, OR WORKING IN THE AREA.
SO IF THEY HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR THEM, SUCH AS THIS FORM HAS CHANGED OR YOU NEED TO GET THIS FORM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE MEETING ON WHAT THEY DISCUSSED, THAT MIGHT BE AN EASY WAY TO, UM, INVITE CONTRACTORS, PEOPLE THAT'S ALREADY AT LEAST LICENSED AND, UM, IN THE BLUFFING AREA.
AND IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT IT, I'M SURE I CAN LET CARRIE KNOW AND SHE CAN REACH OUT TO ME.
SAME THING FOR ANYONE ELSE ON THE DEFINITELY IF YOU KNOW OF THE CONTRACTOR.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK, JUST SO YOU GUYS REMEMBER, I THINK, UM, IN THE LAST DISCUSSION OUR UM, REPAIR NUMBERS HAS INCREASED AND I, I'M, I'M OF THE MINDSET THAT IT'S INCREASED BECAUSE NUMBER OF THINGS, EVEN THOUGH THE COST OF MATERIALS HAVE RISEN, BUT I THINK THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION, UM, IS GOING UP.
AND I THINK WHEN YOU ADD THE NAME BLUFFTON TOWN OF BLUFFING TO IT, IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE MM-HMM.
SO WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE KINDS OF, UM, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO HAVE A MEETING WITH SOME CONTRACTORS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT SOME OF THIS IS, IS TRYING TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND WE NOT TRYING TO BREAK THE BANK.
AND JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT LAST MONTH, I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I WAS SENDING A CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTION LIST THAT I GOT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSING.
UM, I HAVE THAT, I SENT IT OVER TO FELICIA, BUT SHE HAS NOT RESPONDED YET.
SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T BRING IT TO THE MEETING OR INCLUDE IT IN THE PACKET.
BUT I WILL SEND IT JUST TO THE COMMITTEE SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT LUMBER PER LINE ITEM COSTS IN DIFFERENT, HOW WE CAN MAYBE USE IT UNTIL OUR PROGRAM.
SO SHE HASN'T GOTTEN BACK TO ME, BUT I WILL INCLUDE IT IN THE NEXT EMAIL TO GO OUT.
SO YOU GUYS, JUST SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THE STATE, WHEN THEY DO DIFFERENT HOUSING, LIKE YOU SAID WITH ELCO AND, UH, BEAUFORT, JASPER, E O C, THEY GO BY THAT CONTRACTOR CONSTRUCTION LIST SHEET.
SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND I MENTIONED IT TO YOU LAST MONTH, BUT I HAVE NOT GOTTEN WITH FELICIA YET, BUT SHE DOES HAVE IT ON HER DESK.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN GO BY.
INSTEAD OF HAVING CHANGE ORDERS COMING IN AND OUT, WE STICK BY THAT ONE SHEET OF UM, LUMBER COSTS, NAIL COSTS, AND WE JUST USE THAT AND THEY WON'T BE BLUFFED AND WON'T SCARE THEM AND SAY, OH, WE CAN GET A MILLION DOLLARS JUST BY FIXING ONE FLOOR.
SO I THINK THAT'LL HELP US A WHOLE LOT ONCE WE, ONCE WE GET TO, UH, MAYBE IN THE COMFORTABLE PLACE WITH CONTRACTORS AFTER THAT, I THINK WE CAN GO TO SOME OF THE, UM, KOHL'S, HOME DEPOT, LOWE'S AND ASK THEM FOR
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SPECIAL RATE FOR JUST OUR PROJECTS.SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS A BLUFFING PROJECT VERSUS SOMEONE JUST SAYING, I WANT TO USE.
IT'S A, IT'S A SERVICE PROJECT.
I'LL PUT IT ON YOUR GUYS' CALENDAR.
I'LL PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR, SEND YOU AN INVITE.
CAN I ASK ONE MORE QUESTION? THE, UH, IN THE MINUTES WE TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT SE HOUSING MM-HMM.
UM, STAFF HAS INVESTIGATED THE TOPIC AND IS CURRENTLY WAITING FOR FINANCE TO RESPOND TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER FUNDS AVAILABLE SO THAT, THAT FALLS ONTO FELICIA AGAIN,
SHE DID NOT GET BACK TO ME, BUT I'LL PUSH HER AGAIN TO LET HER KNOW WE HAVE A BOARD THAT'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THESE FUNDS AND GET OUR LIST OF NUMBER HOUSES BIGGER.
SO I'LL, I'LL PUSH HER AND IF YOU GUYS SEE HER, PUSH HER FOR ME AS WELL.
UM, IS THERE ANY CHANCE WE CAN HEAR AGAIN FROM STATE OF, IS IT STATE OF MIND? THE, THE BUILDER FOR THE, OUR PROJECT? YES.
I THINK WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM HIM FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET THE GROUP IN.
DO I WHAT? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I DO WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE.
UM, OUR STAFF MEMBER THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD THAT WAS REPORTING, SHE STARTED REPORTING TO US IN JANUARY.
SHANNON GREEN, IF YOU REMEMBER, SHE'S TO PART OF OUR MEETINGS.
SHE WANTED TO BE HERE, BUT THEY GAVE HER SOMETHING ELSE THAT SHE HAD TO DO TODAY.
SO SHE STOPPED, STOPPED ME THIS MORNING AND JUST SAID THAT SHE'S STILL ON A GOOD TRACK.
SHE HAS HER LOAN APPLICATION OUT, BUT IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS BEFORE SHE'S HEARD SINCE SHE'S HEARD ANYTHING.
BUT SHE'S POSITIVE, SHE'S SMILING MORE THAN SHE DID WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO US IN JANUARY.
UM, THEY DID INCREASE HER RENT, BUT I THINK SHE SAID 5% JUST SO SHE CAN STAY.
UM, ASKED HER IF SHE'S SEEN ANYTHING.
SHE SAID SHE'S SEEN TONS OF THINGS IN THE BLUFFTON AREA, BUT SHE'S JUST WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM HER LOAN.
SO SHE'S IN GOOD SPIRITS AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN A YEAR THAT SHE CAME TO US.
HAS IT BEEN THAT LONG THAT SHE STARTED THAT? SHE STARTED HER REPORTS TO US.
SO SHE SAID THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
SHE WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND MISS, UM, GRACE HAS BEEN HELPING HER ALONG THE WAY.
SO SHE LEFT MY DESK WITH A SMILE THIS MORNING AND I TOLD HER MAKE SURE SHE, UH, PUTS US ON HER SCHEDULE FOR THE SECOND THURSDAY OF NEXT MONTH SO SHE CAN GIVE YOU AN UPDATE HERSELF.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO SAY.
ACTUALLY, HER APPLICATION HAS BEEN INTO U S D A.
THIS IS SO UN IT'S UNUSUAL TO ME, BUT IT'S TAKEN FOUR MONTHS AND I KEEP CALLING THEM.
THEY SAID, WELL, IT'S ON HOLD.
I MEAN, SHE IS TOTALLY, TOTALLY QUALIFIED.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING, ALL HER PAPERS IN AND DO YOU THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT'S THAT MANY APPLICATIONS IN IN THEIR HANDS? YEAH.
WELL, THEIR APPLICATION'S BEEN IN THEIR HANDS 'CAUSE I PERSONALLY DELIVERED IT.
DO YOU THINK IT'S JUST BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MANY MORE APPLICATIONS BEFORE HER? YEAH, IT LOOKED LIKE, UM, THERE WAS A, A REAL BOTTLENECK, BUT I'VE EVEN CALLED THEM AND I UNDERSTAND.
IN, IN THE PAST, I'VE GOT 'EM THROUGH IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
BUT THEY'VE SENT HER LETTERS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON OUR, OUR LIST.
WE JUST HAVE HAVEN'T ASSIGNED IT YET.
YEAH, SHE'S, SHE'S SMILING MORE THAN WHEN WE FIRST MET HER.
SO SHE
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU GUYS.
OKAY, WELL THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR YOU AS WELL.