Oct 09, 2023 County Council

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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.

UH, I'LL EXTEND THAT.

WELCOME AGAIN

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

THIS IS A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 2023.

I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

SARAH, WOULD YOU TAKE THE ROLE, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER REETS ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER TABER PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN IS ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON.

HERE.

VICE CHAIR MCKELLAN IS PRESENT.

PRESENT.

YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY NAME IS LARRY MCKELLAN.

I'LL BE PRESIDING AT THIS EVENING'S SESSION IN THE ABSENCE OF THE CHAIRMAN.

UH, WOULD YOU JOIN ME PLEASE? BY A RISING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION TO FOLLOW BY COUNCIL MEMBER CABERNET PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE CHAIR FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR RELIGIOUS STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SO FIRST, PLEASE.

UH, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE THROES OF WAR AND AGGRESSION.

THANK YOU.

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GATHER TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

MAY WE USE ONLY OUR BEST SKILLS AND JUDGMENT, KEEPING OURSELVES IMPARTIAL AND NEUTRAL AS WE CONSIDER THE MERITS AND PITFALLS OF EACH MATTER THAT IS PLACED BEFORE US.

GUIDE US TO ALWAYS ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

HELP US TO SERVE WITH HONOR.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

BE SEATED.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

I'D LIKE TO, UH, HAVE A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT FIRST.

EXCUSE ME.

I'LL SECOND IT.

OKAY.

HE DIDN'T TELL YOU YET.

WELL, WE CAN MAKE A MOTION.

HAVE SECOND, BUT YOU CAN AMEND.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, TO ADD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO THOSE ALREADY ON THE AGENDA, THE NEW ITEM WOULD BE TO DISCUSS PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROL CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30, 40 70 A ONE, EMPLOYMENT, APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINE OR RELEASE OF A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT? PLEASE.

SO, MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU.

ON A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OBJECTION TO THAT AMENDMENT? HEARING NONE THE UM, AGENDA IS AMENDED.

I'LL SEEK NOW, UH, APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AGENDA.

I HAVE A MOTION.

SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU.

I'LL SECOND.

THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

THE NEW AGENDA HAS BEEN APPROVED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 21, 2023; August 24, 2023; August 28, 2023 1st meeting; August 28, 2023 2nd Meeting.]

AUGUST 21.

AUGUST 24.

AUGUST 28TH.

FIRST MEETING.

AUGUST 28TH, THE SECOND MEETING.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

THANK YOU.

SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

THANK YOU, GERALD.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.

ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.

THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

ITEM NUMBER

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

MR. ROBINSON.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND COUNSEL.

FIRST I'LL START WITH A FEW, UH, A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS.

UM, THIS MONTH, OCTOBER 18TH AND 19TH, THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT FOR COUNTY OFFICIALS IS HOLDING SOME CLASSES.

UH, MYSELF AND A FEW ACAS WILL ALL WILL BE ATTENDING ON THE 18TH FOR SOME LEVEL ONE AND LEVEL TWO CLASSES.

SHOULD BE, UH, SHOULD BE A GOOD EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR US.

UM, ALSO TONIGHT I WANT TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UH, GINGER MARSHALL FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, EMS. SHE'S GONNA TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES WITH YOU ABOUT A, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER FOOD DRIVE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR PROVIDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AS HE STATED, MY NAME IS GINGER MARSHALL AND I WORK WITH BUFORT COUNTY EMS. I'VE BEEN WITH THAT DEPARTMENT

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I'VE ALSO WORKED WITH A COUPLE OF AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, SHORT-TERM, ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS THAT DURING THE CHRISTMAS TIME AND INTO THE NEW YEAR, A LOT OF THESE AGENCIES HAVE A SHORTFALL FOR FOOD DONATIONS TO KEEP THEIR FOOD MARKETS, THEIR FOOD PANTRY SHELF STOCKED.

SO THE MAJORITY OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE AREA, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND EMS, WE ARE CONDUCTING THEIR SECOND ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE.

IT'S RUNNING FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER.

AND WE ARE GONNA BE PROVIDING, UM, SPLITTING THE FOOD THAT GETS DONATED BETWEEN HELP OF BEAUFORT AND BLUFF AND SELF-HELP.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE HELPING APPROXIMATELY 8% OF THE RESIDENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WHO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF FOOD IN THEIR HOUSE AND, UH, RECEIVE DATA FROM BLUFF AND SELF-HELP THAT CURRENTLY MONTHLY THEY'RE PROVIDING ABOUT 40,000 POUNDS WORTH OF FOOD.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S DEFINITELY A NEED FOR ASSISTANCE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU GUYS ABOUT THIS REQUEST THAT IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO YOUR RESIDENTS, TO YOUR AREAS.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING A SOCIAL MEDIA BLAST.

THERE IS A BOX LOCATED UP BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING THAT WE WILL BE COLLECTING THE FOOD.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

YOU ALSO HAVE BOXES AT FIRE STATIONS? YES, THERE'S GONNA BE, UM, BOXES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AT VARIOUS, UM, LOCATIONS.

THERE IS A FLYER THAT I PROVIDED TO CHERYL, UM, AND IT WILL BE OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WILL HAVE THE ADDRESSES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

GINGER, JUST GIVE US THE DATES AGAIN.

IT'S GOING ON NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH.

UM, WE WILL COLLECT EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, AS THE BOXES FILL UP, AND THEN IT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN DECEMBER BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

OKAY.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR.

THANKS SO MUCH.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HELP OUT OUR FELLOW CITIZENS.

UM, SO NOW I'D LIKE TO, UM, INTRODUCE, UM, A FEW FOLKS FOR RECOGNITION.

UH, FIRST IS, UH, MILTON BOSWELL.

MILTON WORKS FOR OUR ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

HE'S SERVED THE CITIZENS OF BUFORT COUNTY FOR 34 YEARS.

NO, GEEZ.

HEY, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO MILTON IS THE, UM, DEPUTY COUNTY ASSESSOR.

HE, UM, IS OVER APPRAISALS AND THIS FANCY COMPUTER SYSTEM, UH, COMPUTER ASSISTED MASS APPRAISAL SOFTWARE.

UM, HE'S WON SOME AWARDS FOR MANAGEMENT OF THIS SOFTWARE.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, JOB THAT MILTON DOES FOR US.

AS THE, UH, DEPUTY COUNTER COUNTY ASSESSOR, HE ASSISTS THE COUNTY ASSESSOR IN DEVELOPING STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLANS, ACCOMPLISHING, ACCOMPLISHING DEPARTMENTAL GOALS, MANAGING BEAUFORT COUNTY'S 134,000 REAL PROPERTY REAL PROPERTY ACCOUNTS.

THAT'S A BIG JOB.

UM, AS, AS THE, UH, DEPUTY ASSESSOR, UH, HE'S OVER PROPERTY, UH, PROPERTY VALUATIONS, HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING OVERSIGHT OF THE ANNUAL REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS AND THE 2023 COUNTYWIDE REASSESSMENT PROCESS.

UM, UH, MILTON AND HIS APPRAISAL TEAMS UTILIZE THAT FANCY STATISTICAL SOFTWARE PROGRAM WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE VALUING ALL WHEEL PROPERTY ACCOUNTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, WHICH CURRENTLY HAVE A TOTAL VALUE OF OVER $74 BILLION.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT MILTON.

THE, UH, OF COURSE, UH, I I MENTIONED WAS RECOGNIZED IN 2010, UM, FOR THE, UM, I HAVE TO LOOK BACK TO THAT, UM, UM, TO THE COMPUTER ASSISTED MASS APPRAISAL SOFTWARE PROGRAM AS THE USER OF THE YEAR.

UM, AND HE LIKES TO SING KARAOKE ONLY ON SATURDAY NIGHTS.

WELL, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY WHAT IT'S A, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT HAS BEEN TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR CLOSE TO 35 YEARS.

I'LL HAVE MY 35 YEAR ANNIVERSARY ON, UH, JANUARY THE NINTH.

AND, BUT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, SEVERAL MORE YEARS SERVING CITIZENS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR MIL.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT, UH, WHAT YEAR DID YOU START? WHAT YEAR WAS THAT, THAT YOU STARTED IN 89? 1989? YES, SIR.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, THAT'S GREAT.

WOW.

IMAGINE THAT.

CAN'T IMAGINE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE HONORABLE JUDGE HEATHER GALVIN.

HEATHER.

UM, HEATHER IS OUR, UH, PROBATE COURT JUDGE, OR ONE OF OUR PROBATE COURT JUDGES.

UM, HEATHER HAS A, A LONG CAREER SERVING, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SHE STARTED AS AN ASSISTANT SOLICITOR IN 2006.

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UM, AND, UM, BECAME OUR PROBATE JUDGE, UH, THIS JANUARY IN TWO IN, UH, 2023.

AMONG HER RESPONSE OR WHAT AMONG HER RESPONSIBILITIES, ADMINISTRATION OF, UH, OF THE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION CONDUCTING HEARINGS INVOLVING MATTERS OF ESTATES, TRUST, GUARDIANSHIPS, CONSERVATORYS, POWERS OF ATTORNEY, UH, COMMITMENTS OF MENTALLY ILL AND CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS ISSUE AND PROCESS MARRIAGE LICENSES.

LOTS OF WORK TO DO, HEATHER AND HER SPARE TIME VOLUNTEERS ON SUNDAYS BEFORE CHURCH, UH, TO FEED REGISTERED FERAL CAT COLONIES AND BLUFFED.

HEATHER.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

I APPRECIATE IT ALL.

UM, I GIVE THANKS TO GOD AND TO THE VOTERS FOR PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN ME.

I ALSO APPRECIATE COUNTY COUNCIL SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND GUIDANCE, AS WELL AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LEADERSHIP TEAM WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL, NICE AND KIND.

AND I WOULDN'T BE ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY STAFF, SOME OF WHOM ARE IN THE BACK, AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO THEM AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, ONE MORE EMPLOYEE TO RECOGNIZE THIS EVENING SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US.

THIS IS, UH, LA TESSA CRAWFORD.

UM, LA TESSA HAS BEEN WITH, UH, RECORDS MANAGEMENT FOR FOUR YEARS.

LA TESSA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING DOCUMENTS OR SCANNING AND INDEXING DOCUMENTS.

SHE INCURS ENSURES QUALITY CONTROL BY INSPECTING DOCUMENTS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN SCANNED, AND THEN INDEXES THEM INTO AN APPLICATION EXTENDER SYSTEM, ANOTHER FANCY SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT WE USE TO GET OUR JOBS DONE.

IN ADDITION, LA TESSA IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT PROPER STORAGE, HANDLING AND INVENTORY OF RECORDS AND FULFILLS RECORDS, JOB REQUESTS ACCORDINGLY.

UM, SHE OCCASIONALLY ASSISTS AS THE COURIER AND METERING AND DELIVERING MAIL TO VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS ANOTHER BIG JOB.

UM, SO, UM, UH, LA TESSA IS ALSO AN AVID BOWLER, SO SHE MIGHT VISIT YOU.

I'M NOT SURE .

UM, SO ALTHOUGH SHE'S NOT HERE, LET'S GIVE LA TESSA A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND SAY THANK YOU FOR HER SERVICE.

THANK YOU MUCH SO, SO MUCH, SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

UM, WE'RE NOW WITH ITEM NUMBER

[7. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING BULLYING PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH - Council Member Anna Maria Tabernik]

UM, THANK YOU.

AND WE HAVE RECIPIENTS HERE.

YES.

COME ON UP HERE.

WE'LL JUST TURN THE MIC.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LONG-TERM EDUCATOR, SO ALL MY LIFE I DEALT WITH BULLYING WITH CHILDREN.

SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND ALL OF YOU.

THE PROCLAMATION READS, WHEREAS BULLYING IS A PERVASIVE ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS LEADING TO NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES SUCH AS DIMINISHED SELF-ESTEEM, ACADEMIC DECLINE, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS.

AND WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOSTERING SAFE AND NURTURING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT PROMOTE KINDNESS AND RESPECT AMONG OUR STUDENTS.

AND WHEREAS OCTOBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH, WHICH REALLY SHOULD BE EVERY MONTH, UM, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION TO UNITE IN RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT BULLYING PREVENTION, AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST THESE HARMFUL BEHAVIORS.

AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO COLLABORATE WITH ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY, TO COMBINE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES IN CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE AND IMPACTFUL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.

AND WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DEMONSTRATED DEDICATION TO ADDRESSING BULLYING THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROACTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES, AND SUPPORTIVE PROGRAMS, AIMED AT FOSTERING A CULTURE OF KINDNESS, RESPECT, AND COMPASSION WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND WHEREAS SINCE WE'RE ALMOST DONE SINCE 2012, THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COLLABORATED TO COMBAT BULLYING BY ENGAGING SIXTH GRADERS IN A BULLYING PREVENTION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM.

AND WHEREAS OVER 7,082 SIXTH GRADERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS, THIS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM TO DATE.

AND IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAM, A SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING APP WAS DEVELOPED TO FACILITATE EDUCATION, REPORT

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NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED.

BEAVER COUNTY COUNCIL JOINS ADVOCATES AND SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAMS IN THE BELIEF THAT ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS MUST BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO END BULLYING.

ALONG WITH THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE LOW COUNTRY AND BEAVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE PROCLAIM OCTOBER AS BULLYING PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH DATED THIS NINTH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023 BY JOSEPH PASSMAN, OUR COUNCIL CHAIR.

SO COME UP, INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND SAY A FEW WORDS.

SURE, SURE.

GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING.

I'M AL VEDA GRAHAM, I'M A STUDENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.

I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.

UM, WE DO THE WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT DOESN'T JUST STOP IN OCTOBER TO COMBAT BULLYING, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL THINGS THAT WE DO IS MS. FESS AND HER STUDENTS AT BUFORD HIGH BRINGING AWARENESS TO WHAT'S GOING ON TO OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND SHE'S HERE NOW AND SHE HAS ONE OF HER STUDENTS, AND THEY CAN TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE.

AGAIN, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

COME ON UP AND TALK.

HI, MY NAME IS LORRAINE FEST AND I'M THE THEATER TEACHER AT BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN PERFORMING FOR 11 YEARS.

IT ALL STARTED WITH, UM, MY SON BEING BULLIED WHEN HE WAS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF AND TO MY KIDS, MY STUDENTS, THAT, UM, I WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT STOPPED.

AND, YOU KNOW, BEING IN THE WORLD THAT WE ARE IN TODAY, IT PROBABLY WILL NEVER STOP.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I CAN GIVE THE KIDS WHAT THEY NEED TO FIGHT IT, TO STAND UP FOR IT.

I CAN GIVE THEM A VOICE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE AND THEY'RE NOT.

SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 11 YEARS.

WE'RE ACTUALLY IN REHEARSALS NOW TO GET READY FOR THE PRODUCTION, AND IT WILL BE OCTOBER 24TH AND 25TH, UM, WHERE WE PERFORM FOR THE SCHOOLS.

AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO PERFORM IN AN EVENING SHOW TO WHERE WE CAN START EDUCATING PARENTS BECAUSE PARENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND SOMETIMES THE KIDS ARE TOO AFRAID TO GO TALK TO THEIR PARENTS.

SO WE'RE, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA HAVE AN EVENING SHOW, PROBABLY STARTING IN JANUARY, WHERE WE'RE GONNA START, UM, REACHING OUT AND EDUCATING OUR PARENTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I'M SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT BEAUFORT HIGHWAY THEATER DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT REALLY STARTED IT.

AND OUR PLAY IS CALLED, WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

AND THAT'S WHY THE APP IS NAMED AFTER THAT.

SO THIS IS HANNAH AND SHE'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN REHEARSING.

HI, I AM HANNAH.

I'M IN 11TH GRADE AND I'M A PART OF THE BULLY SHOW.

THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR DOING IT.

SO I'M PROBABLY NOT THE MOST EDUCATED OF PEOPLE ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS, .

BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN REHEARSALS IS, UM, WE'VE BEEN GOING OVER TWO OF OUR BIGGEST SCENES CALLED Y AND, AND EVERYTHING NOW Y IS ONE OF OUR MOST HEART WRENCHING SCENES, AND IT DOES DEAL WITH SOME OF THE MORE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS OF BULLYING.

WE HAVE KIDS, MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS AND ELEMENTARY WHO WILL COME TO THE SHOW AND SEE WHY.

AND WE WILL SEE TEARS IN THE AUDIENCE.

'CAUSE THESE KIDS ARE FEELING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO PORTRAY ON STAGE, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY SEE THAT.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN REHEARSALS.

BUT, UM, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO BE A PART OF SUCH A LONG STANDING AND IMPORTANT SHOW THAT'S GONNA HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A NICE PHOTO TOGETHER.

THANK YOU.

GET MY ON .

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND WOULD YOU SEND AN INVITATION TO US SO WE KNOW WHEN THAT IS? OH YEAH.

ABSOLUTE.

WE WILL.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THANK YOU.

AND IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO COME WHEN WE PERFORM FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO SEE THEIR REACTION.

YES.

UM, WE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU GUYS TO BE THERE DURING OUR DAY SHOWS AS WELL.

THANK YOU.

IT WOULD BE GREAT HONOR.

I USED TO BE A MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.

OH, YES MA'AM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, IS, IS THIS ONE BE RECORDED? UM, YES.

YES.

SO WE CAN RECORD IT? YES.

YES.

NORMALLY THAT'S ONE OF THE, AND THE PLANNING PROCESS, I USUALLY FORGET TO BRING A CAMERAMAN, BUT WE'RE PLANNING FOR IT THIS YEAR TO HAVE A CAMERAMAN THERE SO WE CAN HAVE THINGS RECORDED.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

UM, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I, UM, WANNA CONGRATULATE YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THERE.

I WAS A TEACHER IN NEW YORK CITY BACK IN THE LATE SIXTIES, AND BULLYING WAS PRESENT THERE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE SPOKE TO ABOUT IT CONSIDERED TO BE A BENIGN RITE OF PASSAGE.

AND I'M NOT SO SURE THAT ANYTHING'S CHANGED IN THAT REGARD.

SO I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR STICKING TO IT AND PUTTING TOGETHER THE, THE THEATRICAL PROGRAM THAT YOU ARE, BECAUSE ALL WE EVER DID WAS TALK ABOUT IT AND NEVER REALLY SOLVED

[00:20:01]

BUT I THINK YOU MAY BE ON THE WAY TO DOING THAT.

SO NICE WORK, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE PROCLAMATION.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

GOOD JOB.

THANK YOU.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS TO GO ON WITH WHAT YOU SAID THAT, THAT I REALLY FIGHT FOR IS I'M INVESTED.

I'M A TEACHER, WHICH OUR KIDS, I'M NOT SOMEONE THAT THEY WILL PAY, YOU KNOW, MONEY TO, TO COME IN AND DO A LITTLE SPEECH AND WALK AWAY.

RIGHT.

LIKE, I'M INVESTED IN THE PROGRAM AND INVESTED IN OUR KIDS.

BE FOR TIME.

AND YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY.

I DO.

I KNOW.

.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UH, UH, WE'RE

[8. CITIZEN COMMENT]

WE HAVE TWO OF THOSE HERE IN COUNSEL.

THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, UH, PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, MATTERS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.

AND THE ONE AT THE END OF OUR MEETING, UH, PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO SPEAK ABOUT ANY TOPIC THAT THEY WISH TO ADDRESS.

THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT, THERE ARE TWO FOR THE FIRST SESSION, AND THEY WILL BE SPEAKING FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

UM, ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

YOU'LL HEAR A BELL.

UH, AT THE END OF THOSE 30 SECONDS, YOU'LL HEAR SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE BIG BEN IN LONDON.

, DON'T BE ALARMED.

IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO STOP.

IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE TO WRAP IT UP FOR US SO WE CAN MOVE ON.

SO, UH, COMING FORWARD, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. ROBERT NEW TO COME FORWARD.

HE'S GOING TO BE ADDRESSING ITEM NUMBER 11 ON THE AGENDA, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH A THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING, UM, FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS 34 ULMA ROAD.

MR. NEW, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC SERVICE.

THE OBVIOUS, UH, THIS MULTIMILLION DOLLAR LAND PURCHASE DEAL DOES NOT PASS THE SMELL TEST NOT BY A COUNTRY MILE.

THE FUNNIEST PART OF THIS DEAL IS THE SPECIAL DISCOUNT OFFERED IF YOU ONLY DO IT NOW, LIKE A CAR SALESMAN, THE PRIOR SELLER HAD THE PROPERTY ON THE MARKET FOR YEARS AND COULD NOT SELL IT.

WITH COMMERCIAL INTEREST RATES SKYROCKETING, THIS LAND WOULD BE EVEN HARDER TO SELL TODAY.

LIKE PINE ISLAND, THIS HAS THE OBVIOUS FEEL OF A BACK ROAD DEAL, MAYBE A PREARRANGED FLIP, A $1.1 MILLION PROFIT FOR A NINE WEEK FLIP.

YOU GO BACK TO MAKE SOMEBODY VERY, VERY RICH FOR A SEVEN FIGURE REAL ESTATE DEAL.

STANDARD BUSINESS PROCEDURE IS TO GET MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS, USUALLY THREE FULLY INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS.

MY BUSINESSES DO THAT.

FOR $10,000 OR SO, YOU PROTECT A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PURCHASE.

YOUR FIDUCIARIES ELECTED TO AN EVEN HIGHER STANDARD PROTECTING OUR PRECIOUS TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I UNDERSTAND THE SECOND APPRAISAL IS STILL SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE FIRST APPRAISAL RAISING EVEN MORE QUESTIONS.

A CONTROVERSIAL PURCHASE OF THIS NATURE NEEDS A MUCH MORE THOROUGH VETTING.

OH, AND I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THERE'S THIS HUGE CELL PHONE TOWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS LAND LEASED THROUGH 2046.

WOULD YOU BUILD YOUR HOUSE THERE? BALL FIELDS? REALLY? IT WOULD NOT BE A BALLPARK, BUT WITH ALL THOSE CELL PHONE TOWERS BLUE IN THE DARK PARK, FOR THOSE WHO RUN ON TRANSPARENCY, WHY IS THE ATTORNEY BLOCKING THE POST AND CORY REQUEST REGARDING THIS? WHY HAS SHE MADE THIS THE CRITICAL MISSION TO JAM THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH AS FAST AS POSSIBLE? THIS IS A MESS.

SLEAZY DEALS FOR GIRLFRIENDS, BLANKETS, LAY GROUND EQUIPMENT COMING, CREDIT CARD SCANDALS, COUNTY TREASURER.

NOW SEALING THE OPTICS OF THIS DEAL WOULD BE THE ICING ON THE CAKE.

ANOTHER GUARANTEED SCANDAL.

WHEN DOES THIS STOP? HOW ABOUT TONIGHT? TAKE THE FIRST BABY STEP TO RESTORE TRUST IN BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL.

A UNANIMOUS VOTE REJECTING THIS WILL BE A POWERFUL MESSAGE THAT THE NOTORIOUS BACKROOM DEALING DAYS WILL FINALLY END.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. NEW, UH, THE, UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. ROBERTS VOX.

MR. VOX, THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

I, UH, DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN THE BACKROOM DEAL.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT FOR FOUR YEARS.

UH, NOT NINE WEEKS.

YOU ALL CAME TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND ASKED US TO PASS A REFERENDUM FOR BUYING OPEN SPACE.

AND WE AGREED TO IT.

SOME OF US WORKED ON IT TO PASS THE REFERENDUMS MULTIPLE TIMES.

THEN YOU CAME TO US AND ASKED US TO SPEND A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ON BUYING DENSITY RIGHTS

[00:25:01]

AND WE ALL, MOST OF US WORKED ON IT AND AGREED TO IT AND PASSED IT.

NOW WE'RE COMING TO YOU AND WE'RE ASKING YOU TO USE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS THAT WE VOTED TO STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT AND STOP THE DENSITY.

I CAN TELL YOU REPRESENTED, UM, I'VE PRACTICED ON THE COUNTY FOR 53, 4 YEARS.

AND I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE A BACKUP CONTRACT TO SELL THIS PROPERTY TO A NATIONAL DEVELOPER.

WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR 38 39 HOUSES.

UH, THEY CAN TURN IT INTO THE PROFIT.

THE DEVELOPER HAS AGREED NOT TO DO THAT.

HE AGREED TO SELL IT TO THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY HAD IT APPRAISED.

THE COUNTY CAME BACK TO US AND SAID, LISTEN, WE WANNA BUY IT, BUT WE WANNA BUY IT THROUGH A CERTAIN FUND AND WE DON'T HAVE IT.

$2.5 MILLION IN THE FUND.

AND SO AFTER DISCUSSION, THE CLIENT SAID, FINE, WE'LL DO THAT.

BUT YOU ALL AGREED TO TO DO IT.

SO ON A TIMELINE THAT WE WOULD CLOSE IT IN IN OCTOBER, AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO.

NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY'S HAD IT APPRAISED THE SECOND TIME.

AND THIS APPRAISAL COMES IN THIS, AND THIS APPRAISER APPRAISES THE PROPERTIES FOR OPEN LAND PURCHASES.

AS I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME SPECIAL LIST AND THAT APPRAISAL CAME IN.

IT'S STILL MORE THAN WHAT IT, THE PURCHASE PRICE IS.

ALL WE ASK YOU TO DO IS MAKE A DECISION AND THE DECISION GOES FAR REACHING BEYOND THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.

IF YOU ALL WANT US AS CITIZENS TO CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR THE BUYING LAND, THEN WHY ARE WE GOING TO INSTANTLY BUILD ANOTHER 40 HOUSES ON A ROAD THAT'S ALREADY OVERBURDENED AND OVERBURDENED THE COMMUNITY WHEN THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T WANT IT AND HAS ASKED YOU TO STOP DOING IT.

THAT'S ALL WE'VE ASKED YOU TO DO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MS. DEVA.

THAT IS THE, UM, END OF THE CITIZEN COMMENTS FIRST PORTION.

WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO

[9. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

ARE THERE ANY LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS FROM ANY OF THE MEMBERS? MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. HOWARD? UH, I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE HOSPITAL.

THEY HAVE THEIR FINANCE MEETING IN THEIR REGULAR MEETING, THE 25TH.

UH, UM, THEY, THEY ARE DOING WELL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF OUTPATIENT.

THEY'VE SEEN A 11% INCREASE IN NUMBER OF OUTPATIENTS.

UH, THEY ALSO WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD TO US SOME NOMINATIONS FOR THEIR BOARD.

PROBABLY THREE CANDIDATES THEY'LL HAVE READY FOR US SOON TO CONSIDER.

THE PHARMACY IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH PATIENT'S EDUCATION ON VARIOUS DRUGS, ESPECIALLY ANTIBIOTICS.

AND, UM, THEY, AS WE HEARD IN COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE WORKING ON WORKFORCE HOUSING TOO.

JUST LIKE WE HEARD THE TALK FROM THE SURGE OTHER GROUP OF 71 UNITS AT THE IN OKES, WHAT THEY'RE HOPING TO DO WITH THE CITY OF HARVILLE AND NORTH OF THE BROAD, THEY WERE STILL WORKING WITH, UH, THE PROPERTY THAT THE COUNTY OWNS.

THEY HAD A, A GREAT, NOT A RIBBON CUTTING, BUT A WALL BREAKING FOR THE NEW SURGERY SECTION, WHICH, UH, OUR, THEY RECEIVED $17.9 MILLION OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.

AND, UH, SENATOR GRAHAM SPOKE AT THAT EVENT.

AND THE LEARNING CENTER WILL BE, UH, IS STILL PROGRESSING, WHICH WILL BE PUT, UH, AT, AT THE MAIN CAMPUS HERE NORTH OF ABROAD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND ANYONE ELSE WITH A REPORT THAT, SO I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

AND FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE YOU TO KNOW SAU ELEMENTARY HAS EARNED A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD, ONE OF 353 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

AND WE MIGHT WANNA HONOR THEIR PRINCIPAL, MRS. PRENDER AND ALSO THEY HAVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

HER NAME'S APRIL BRYANT FROM S ELEMENTARY.

THEY WERE HONORED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

UM, WE HEARD UPDATES ON THE BUILDING PROJECTS AS THEY'RE USING FUNDS FROM THE LAST REFERENDUM.

AND WE HEARD AN UPDATE ON THEIR FINANCIALS.

THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BORROW FUNDS TO COVER THEIR EXPENSES WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR DECEMBER TAX MONEY TO COME IN.

THERE WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION ON CAREER AND TECH EDUCATION SERVING AS A PIPELINE FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE AREA.

AND THEN THEY RETURNED SIX BOOKS BACK TO THE LIBRARY SHELVES OF THE 97 THAT WERE UNDER REVIEW.

THEY HAVE 23 LEFT TO REVIEW.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS.

AND I'D LIKE TO REPORT FROM LATZ LOWCOUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.

JARED COULD GIVE THIS ONE SINCE HE'S ALWAYS AN HONORED SPEAKER THERE.

BUT I ATTENDED IN, UH, ALLISON AND I ATTENDED IN JOE'S ABSENCE.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT S-E-D-O-T REPRESENTATIVES PROVIDED EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ON I 95 UPDATE.

THEY CALL

[00:30:01]

OKAY.

AND THE US 17 WIDENING, THEY ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON ABOUT $815 MILLION IN TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS FROM 2023 TO 2028.

AND THEY ALSO APPROVED THAT EACH, UM, GOVERNMENT ENTITY WILL NOW HAVE A VOTING MEMBER FROM THEIR TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON THE BOARD, ON THEIR TECHNICAL COMMITTEE.

THEY SHARED 20 20, 20 24 HIGHWAY SAFETY PERFORMANCE, WHICH WAS INTERESTING.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BUY AN ADA VEHICLE TO SERVE THE PROGRAM FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE.

AND THAT OUR OWN MR. FLIS GAVE, UH, A SUMMATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY WITH FUNDING AND PROJECT PROGRESS.

SO IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

ANYONE ELSE? UH, UH, TAB, IF YOU WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH RECOGNITION FOR THOSE ACHIEVEMENTS, THE, UH, CLERK, THE COUNCIL STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO GET WITH YOU AND DECIDE HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.

AND THEN WE CAN SCHEDULE IT FOR A COUNCIL MEETING.

THEY'RE SPECIALISTS IN RECOGNIZING.

YEAH, I GOT THAT PART .

OKAY.

AND THERE'S ONE OTHER THING, MR. MCKELLAN, IF I MIGHT, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE AUDIENCE KNOWS.

WE HELD OUR FIRST CHAT WITH COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 28TH AT THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY.

I THOUGHT IT WENT REALLY WELL.

YEAH, PEOPLE CAME, THEY EXPRESSED THEIR SUGGESTIONS, THEIR THOUGHTS.

MR. BROWN WAS THERE.

I SEE HIM SHAKING HIS HEAD.

AND THE NEXT ONE IS OCTOBER 24TH, RIGHT HERE AT FROM SIX TO 8:00 PM SO I HOPE WE GET A GOOD ATTENDANCE THERE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, THE NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER

[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

SECOND IS APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT AWARD TO BEAUFORT CONSTRUCTION, UH, PORT ROYAL PUBLIC LIBRARY CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.

AND THE THIRD IS APPROVAL OF A PURCHASE OF A 2023 PETERBILT 5 4 7 VACUUM TRUCK, WHICH IS RIGHT UP TABS ALLEY.

DO YOU HAVE THE PICTURE? YES, IT'S, WE HAVE THE PICTURE TO PUT UP THERE.

DRIVE IT THOUGH.

I JUST WANTED HER TO MENTION THAT IN CASE ANYONE WAS INTERESTED IN THAT PICTURE.

.

OKAY.

IT'S SO I'LL BE, I'LL BE SEEKING A MOTION, UH, SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT.

THANK YOU AGENDA.

SECOND THAT MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU MR. CUNNINGHAM.

ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO.

HEARING NONE.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA? NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER 10, APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA IS PASSED.

WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER

[11. THIRD 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]

THIRD, READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS 34 ALMA ROAD.

UH, BEFORE I SEEK A MOTION ON THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

UH, WE HAVE RECENTLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE CREATING A GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE CHARGED WITH EVALUATING LAND PURCHASES WHEREIN BUFORT COUNTY CONTEMPLATES BEING A PRINCIPLE OR A PARTNER IN WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY A CONSERVATION EFFORT THAT WILL ASSIST IN SMART GROWTH MANAGEMENT.

PRESENTLY, IT IS THE ONLY SUCH EFFORT ONGOING IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE HERE TONIGHT THAT THE MATTER PRESENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION BE REFERRED TO THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF PURCHASING 34 ULMA ROAD AND THE USES POSSIBLE IF BUFORT COUNTY WOULD BECOME A FULL OR COLLABORATING STEWARD OF THAT LAND.

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE PROSPECTIVE SELLER APPLY TO THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE FOR THE LAND TO BE EVALUATED.

ACCORDING TO THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED FOR PURCHASE OF LAND WITHIN THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.

IT MAKES NO MATTER TO ME WHETHER WE USE GREEN SPACE MONEY OR NOT.

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THE SELLER OF THE LAND MAKE APPLICATION TO THE COMMITTEE SO THEY CAN USE THE EVALUATION METHODS THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED TO DECIDE WHETHER THE LAND IS SUITABLE FOR PURCHASE AND WHAT THE LAND CAN BE USED FOR.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT, MEMBERS OF THIS DELIBERATIVE BODY TO DEFER THIRD READING UNTIL WE HAVE ALL THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ANSWERED WITH REGARD TO THIS PARTICULAR PURCHASE.

AS I BELIEVE THERE ARE STILL SOME OUTSTANDING MATTERS AND QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BEFORE WE ATTEMPT TO PROCEED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A VERY CLEAR PICTURE OF THE HELP THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.

I HAVE ASKED THE CHAIRMAN OF GREEN SPACE, MR. MIKE MCSHANE, TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE CAN PROVIDE IN EVALUATING THIS LAND FOR A PRACTICAL PURPOSE OR USE IF PURCHASED A CURRENT VALUE AND REALISTIC PURCHASE PRICE AND THE POSSIBLE USES OF THE LAND IN A SMART GROWTH

[00:35:01]

MR. MCSHANE, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND TAKE JUST A FEW MOMENTS TO LET US KNOW WHAT THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE QUALIFYING DATA IS AND HOW THIS MAY FIT INTO YOUR, UM, PROFILE OF EVALUATION FOR LAND THAT WILL BE PURCHASED BY THE COUNTY.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS MAYOR MCSHANE.

FOR THE RECORD, I'M A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, BUT I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SERVING AS YOUR CHAIRMAN OF YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE CHAIRMAN, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, COULD GREEN SPACE PLAY A ROLE AS A RESOURCE IN THIS MM-HMM.

.

AND THE ANSWER, WHAT I THINK THAT I'VE OFFERED AND WAS, UH, WITH ONE TWEAK TO MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU EARLIER IS THE COUNTY CAN BE THE APPLICANT TO GREEN SPACE FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY.

WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT YOU AFFIRMED UNDER THIRD READING ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, I BELIEVE.

AND WE WILL, UH, APPLICATIONS ARE NOW, UH, THE PRE-APPLICATION PROCESS IS UNDERGOING EVALUATION.

NOW APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER.

SO THEY GOT A COUPLE WEEKS THAT IT, THE COUNTY COULD PUT AN APPLICATION IN FOR REVIEW BY THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE, WHICH THEN WOULD BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL MOVING FORWARD IN THAT IT CAN BE AN EVALUATION ON WHAT FUNDING MIGHT BE AVAILABLE, EITHER WITHIN GREEN SPACE ITSELF OR OTHER FUNDING THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE GREEN SPACE ON THAT.

WOULD THERE, MR. CHAIRMAN? NO, GO AHEAD.

WOULD THERE BE A CONSERVATION APPRAISAL DONE? I BELIEVE THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

THAT THAT HADN'T HAPPENED YET.

YEAH, SO I HAVE NOT SEEN ALL OF THE DATA, BUT I UNDERSTAND ANOTHER APPRAISAL WAS DONE.

THAT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY THAT COULD BE SUBMITTED.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MY INITIAL THOUGHT THAT GREEN SPACE WOULD PROBABLY WANNA REVIEW THAT APPRAISAL BECAUSE PART OF THAT APPLICATION PROCESS IS GONNA HAVE A LOT OF THAT DETAIL COME.

AND SINCE IT WOULD BE A COUNTY ACQUISITION, WHICH IS FULLY QUALIFIED UNDER YOUR ORDINANCE, THEN THERE'LL BE SOME DILIGENCE THAT WE'LL COME BACK AND ASK FOR.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD REQUIRE A NEW APPRAISAL ON THAT, BUT THAT'S PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH ON THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST TO, OH, JUST TO CLARIFY THE APPLICANT, IF, IF THE COUNTY WAS THE APPLICANT, THEY WOULD NOT BE THE APPLICANT AS THE OWNER.

JUST AS A PERSPECTIVE YES MA'AM.

IT DOES.

UH, SO MAYBE TO BE CLEAR, THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO EITHER GO THROUGH WITH THE TRANSACTION.

IT'S JUST THEY'RE SEEKING THE FUNDING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I THINK THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND YOUR PROCESS HAS CREATED IS THAT FOR CONSERVATION LANDS, THIS IS THE MODEL BY WHICH THE COUNTY OUGHT TO GO THROUGH FOR THAT.

NOT EVERY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, BUT FOR CONSERVATION, FOR PASSIVE PARK, PARK, RECREATIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, ET CETERA.

THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WE'VE DONE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE THE COUNTY WAS LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S WHAT BRINGS CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER THIS EVENING ABOUT WHY YOUR TAXPAYERS, YOUR RESIDENTS VOTED TO, TO OFFER A REFERENDUM AND THIS EARLY IN THE PROCESS.

I THINK WE WANT TO BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND GO AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH THE LETTER.

OKAY.

UH, A COUPLE THINGS, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DELAY OR POSTPONEMENT ON THIS, DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR DISCUSSION TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT? WELL, I, THERE WOULD BE A MOTION, UH, TO REFER THIS AND THEN OPEN IT FOR DISCUSSION.

RIGHT.

BUT WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS MOTION.

'CAUSE THE MOTION WOULD BE DEFER THE THIRD READING NEED TO RIGHT.

BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS MOTION FIRST TO EVEN BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, CORRECT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY.

SO I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION FOR NUMBER 11 FOR SENSE OF DISCUSSION AND A POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'LL, I'LL SECOND, UH, I HAVE ALICE AND, UH, MR. MR. UH, AND THEN MR. DAWSON, YOU MADE A SECOND.

ALICE WAS FIRST.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU LOGAN.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, NOW, NOW WE HAVE DISCUSSION.

YES.

UH, SENTENCE OF DISCUSSION, A COUPLE THINGS.

UH, I DO THINK IT'S A SMART IDEA.

UM, IF YOU WOULD INCLINE ME FOR ABOUT 60 SECONDS TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE STATED ABOUT MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT WOULD, UM, BE REALLY APPRECIATED.

DISCUSSION IS OPEN.

FIRST OFF, UM, WE SIGNED UP FOR THIS.

SO WE ALL KNOW THINGS THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT US, WHETHER IT'S HERE IN THIS CHAMBERS OR IN THE PAPERS OR PEOPLE'S INTERPRETATIONS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS ARTICLE WAS QUOTED TODAY AND QUOTED MULTIPLE TIMES.

UM, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ANY MEETING WITH ANYBODY ABOUT THIS LAND.

NEVER PERSONALLY AND AND PERSON ON A PHONE, ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE INFORMATION WE'VE GOT HERE.

AND ACCORDING TO THIS, I'M THE ONE THAT'S CHAIR HEADING IT TO GET THIS LAND PURCHASED.

SO I CAN TELL YOU WHOEVER'S PUSHING THAT YOU'RE WRONG, UM, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP CHECKING YOUR FACTS.

SECONDLY, THE REASON THIS CAME

[00:40:01]

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL GOING FOR.

THE LOOK FOR LAND FOR REC FIELDS.

AND WE HAVE DONE THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR THIRD TRY AT LAND FIRST TWO FAILED.

UM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE I HAVE ON RECORD AT THE LAST MEETING SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT SUITABLE FOR BALL FIELDS, WHICH THIS ALSO HAS WRONG AS WELL.

UM, THIS IDEA THAT PEOPLE SAY THIS IS A BACKDOOR DEAL AND ALL THIS STUFF, I'M WITH YOU MR. BOX.

I WAS NOT A PART OF ANY OF THOSE MEETINGS EITHER.

SO IT'S NEWS TO ME, ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M THE ONE VOTING ON IT AND PUSHING FOR IT.

UM, LASTLY, I DO THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO SEE IF THIS WAS AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER AGENCY.

WE EVEN BACKED OFF PUBLICLY IN OPEN SESSION AGAIN FOR SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY THAT, THAT WE DID NOT THINK THIS WAS SUITABLE FOR BALL FIELDS, BUT WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD.

SO IF WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE DEADLINE, AT LEAST GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO BECAUSE THAT'S DOING DUE DILIGENCE WITHOUT WASTING TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS.

AND IN THE PUBLIC, WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHY WE WERE MOVING A FORWARD TWO THIRD READING, WHICH I STILL STAND BY.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE POSTPONEMENT.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH US APPLYING AS A COUNTY.

I'D LIKE FOR US TO SPEARHEAD THAT AND NOT TO NECESSARILY RELY ON ACTUAL OWNERS TO DO THAT IF IT IS POSSIBLE ACCORDING TO MR. CHEN.

UM, SO I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION, UM, FOR US TO APPLY FOR TO THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE FOR RECOMMENDATION AND THE POSTPONEMENT OF NUMBER 11.

LEMME CHECK WITH, UH, MR. KEVIN ON SOMETHING.

DO WE NEED A DATE CERTAIN FOR A POSTPONEMENT OR CAN WE PUT IN THE MOTION THAT IT WILL BE AT THE RETURN OF THE EVALUATION FROM GREEN SPACE? EITHER WAY, IT'S UP TO YOU.

OKAY.

SO I'D RATHER PUT IT IN THERE WITHOUT A DATE CERTAIN AND JUST SAY THE EVALUATION FROM GREEN SPACE TO BE CONTAINED IN THAT.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MAKING A MOTION THAT'S BEEN MADE TO POST TO, UM, DEFER A THIRD READING UNTIL WE REFER THIS TO THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR EVALUATION AND THEN HOLDING THE THIRD READING AFTER WE RECEIVE AND EVALUATE THAT EVALUATION.

DOES THAT THE SOUND CONTRADICTORY? NO, IT DOESN'T, BUT THAT'S FINE.

ANYTHING ELSE I NEED IN THERE? NO.

OKAY.

AND I'D SECOND THAT.

OKAY.

THAT MOTION? YEAH.

UH, ANYTHING FURTHER FOR MR. MCSHANE? NO.

MARK, I DO HAVE DISCUSSION.

YOU OKAY.

ON THAT, ON THAT ITEM? AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MUCH PEOPLE COMING FORWARD AND QUESTIONING WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT.

SO THIS PROPERTY IS, IS 40 ACRES.

UM, IT DOES HAVE A TOWER ON IT.

AND I THINK THE FIRST APPRAISAL CAME THROUGH AND HAD AN APPRAISED HIGHER 'CAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE LEASE WAS GOING TO BE UP SOONER THAN WHAT THE LEASE IS.

AND THE LAST THING THAT MY FOLKS WANT IN MY DISTRICT IS TO HAVE ANOTHER 40 HOMES BUILT ON THAT ROAD.

UH, AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT THE PROPERTY IS UNUSABLE, YOU CAN'T USE IT.

UM, BUT THERE IS PROBABLY 10 ACRES THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIRE TOWER IN THE DROP ZONE.

UM, AND I LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, OKAY, 10 ACRES, WHAT COULD YOU DO? AND I, WE JUST WATCHED THE WALK GO IN ON BURTON CHURCH ROAD.

IT WAS AROUND 10 ACRES.

UM, THEY SOLD IT OUT IN SIX MONTHS.

IT WAS 50 HOMES ON 10 ACRES.

SO I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT THIS PROPERTY CAN BE DEVELOPED AND THOSE 40 HOMES CAN BE DONE ON THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY, EXCLUDING THE WETLANDS, EXCLUDING WHERE THE TOWER IS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE LAST THING I WANT IS TO HAVE 40 MORE HOMES IN THAT AREA.

THE SECOND PART OF IT IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS A STRATEGIC PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WOULD CONNECT TO THE BLUFFTON REC CENTER.

UM, IT WOULD CONNECT THEN TO BAILEY'S PARK.