Oct 23, 2023 County Council

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NO DRAMA.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

UH, WOULD YOU, UH, TAKE ATTENDANCE FOR US, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER RES HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER TABER PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW ABSENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM.

PRESENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON.

HERE, GLOVER.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD.

HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.

HERE, VICE CHAIRMAN MCALLEN IS ABSENT.

CHAIRMAN PASSIT, PRESENT.

YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE IMPLICATION, WHICH WILL BE DONE, UH, BY COUNCILWOMAN TAVERN, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

HOLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING PRESENT IN OUR LIVES AND FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS.

WE PRAY FOR YOUR OVERSIGHT OF THIS COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

GIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE DELIBERATE ON THE ITEMS BEFORE US.

MAY EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, BE RIGHTEOUS IN YOUR SIGHT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY, FOR YOUR GLORY, AND IN SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.

YOU KNOW BEST AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR WILL TO BE DONE.

WE ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION 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 COUNSEL

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.

MAY I? I'LL SECOND THAT.

AND MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION THEN SECONDED.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 11, 2023 1st meeting at 11:00 A.M.; September 11, 2023 2nd meeting at 1:00 P.M.; September 11, 2023 3rd meeting at 5:00.]

THE SECOND MEETING WAS HELD AT 1:00 PM AND SEPTEMBER 11TH, THE THIRD MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD AT 5:00 PM.

MOTION PLEASE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DUALLY MOTION AND SECONDED.

ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? SEEING NONE.

THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

NEXT IS OUR INTER COUNTY

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

MR. ROBINSON.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN AND COUNSEL.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH A, UH, LETTER WITH A, UH, LETTER OF APPRECIATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM, UH, FOR OUR STORM WATER DEPARTMENT.

UM, THIS LETTER CAME FROM COUNCILMAN YORK GLOVER ON BEHALF OF HIS CONSTITUENTS.

UM, SO IN THE LETTER HE DESCRIBES, UH, UH, A THANK YOU TO OUR STORM WATER, UH, DEPARTMENT FOR SOME DRAINAGE WORK THEY COMPLETED ON ETERNITY LANE.

UM, THIS WAS A A A, A LARGE DRAINAGE PROJECT, WHICH THEY COMPLETED SOME DRAINAGE WORK ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THEY HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO DO ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SHARE THEIR APPRECIATION AND THEIR THANKS FOR OUR STORM WATER DEPARTMENT.

UM, THEY'RE A BUSY GROUP OF FOLKS WHO HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN THE COMMUNITY SAYS THANK YOU.

SO AGAIN, MR. GLOVER, THANK YOU FOR, UH, RECOGNIZING REPRESENTING YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND, UH, UH, RECOGNIZING THE STORMWATER, UH, DEPARTMENT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I SINCERELY THANK THEM .

REALLY.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

UM, I, I I CAN TELL YOU, UM, BASICALLY IN THE LETTER IT TALKED ABOUT, UM, DRAINAGE AND THE MOVING OF WATER AND AFTER MAJOR, UM, UH, HURRICANE WE HAD RECENTLY, UM, IT MOVED.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING.

YES, SIR.

THEY'RE A BUSY GROUP TO KEEP A, A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF OUR, OUR PUBLIC, UH, DRAINAGE AND STORM WATER MOVING PROPERLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, NEXT ITEM I WANT TO, UH, TELL YOU ABOUT IS A GRANT, UH, GRANT THAT I ACCEPTED ON BEHALF OF BUFORT COUNTY.

UM, SO IN OUR BUDGET ORDINANCE, UH, SECTION SIX 16 AUTHORIZES THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCEPT GRANTS WHICH DO NOT REQUIRE MATCHING FUNDS OR THOSE WHICH TO WHICH FUNDS HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED.

SO THIS GRANT IS A SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, D E C GRANT.

IT'S AN E M S G I A GRANT.

IT'S A GRANT IN AID.

UH, THIS GRANT WAS A, IT'S $15,886, WHICH HAS A SPLIT BETWEEN BEAUFORT COUNTY E M S AND, UM, THE OTHER E M S PROVIDER, WHICH IS, UH, HILTON HEAD FIRE RESCUE.

UM, THE GRANT

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THERE'S A 5.5% MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE GRANT, WHICH WAS APPROPRIATED IN THEIR BUDGET.

SO THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL RECEIVE IS $12,000, AND OUR MATCH FOR THAT IS, UH, 600 6600 $60.

SO WE GOT A, A PRETTY GOOD BANK FOR OUR BUCK THERE.

UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY E M S INTENDS TO USE ABOUT $2,500 OF THOSE FUNDS, UH, FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE OTHER $9,500 TO PURCHASE, UH, SOME PORTABLE DOPPLER DEVICES.

SO THIS IS A PORTABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICE THAT, UH, E M SS, UH, OR PARAMEDICS IN THE FIELD CAN USE TO AID IN, UH, LOCATING SOME INTERNAL INJURIES AS WELL AS HELP THEM WITH PLACEMENT OF NON-INVASIVE, UH, OF DEVICES.

UH, SO, UH, A NON-INVASIVE WAY OF SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THE BODY.

SO I THINK THAT'S A, IT'S A REALLY GOOD, GOOD GRANT.

UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR NEXT TO NOTHING FOR US.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES OUR, OUR PARAMEDICS IN THE FIELD JUST ANOTHER TOOL TO USE.

ALRIGHT, NOW I HAVE A FEW, UM, UH, A FEW OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE.

UH, FIRST TONIGHT IS, UH, MR. BILL LOVE BILL HERE.

YES.

COME ON UP, SIR.

RIGHT HERE.

UM, SO WILLIAM, UH, WILLIAM IS THE, UM, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF D S N.

UM, D S N IS OUR DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT.

UH, HE HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND SERVED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.

HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

HE HAS, UH, 113 D SS N STAFF MEMBERS THAT SERVE MORE THAN A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHER CAREGIVERS.

UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, D S N PROVIDE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE LIFE WITH A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES SUCH AS AUTISM, CEREBRAL PALSY, SPINA BIFIDA, SPINA BIFIDA, AND, UH, DOWN SYNDROME.

D S N HELPS THESE RESIDENTS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AND, UM, AND MEANINGFULLY.

UH, SOME PROGRAMS THEY OFFER INCLUDE, UH, EARLY INTERVENTION, UH, FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, UH, DAY PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS, RESIDENTIAL LIVING, SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT LIVING, UM, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, RESPITE CARE FOR THEIR CAREGIVERS.

AND, UH, SUMMER CAMPING EXPERIENCE SERVICES ARE MONITORED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL, UH, DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.

UM, THE OUTSTANDING STAFF UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. LOVE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT.

UM, SOME UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT, UM, OUR DIRECTOR IS HE'S AN AVID READER.

HE TAKES WEEKLY PIANO AND SPANISH LESSONS AND STRONGLY BELIEVES THAT EVERYONE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN, UH, SOMEONE ELSE'S LIVES.

PERHAPS THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT BILL IS THAT HE SPENT 30 YEARS IN PRISON, NOT AS AN INMATE, BUT AS A COUNSELOR.

SO, I'M SURE OF ALL THOSE YEARS OF COUNSELING, HE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY, MANY THINGS.

UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I WAS THE DEPUTY SECRETARY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I, I WAS THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE UNDER THE GOVERNOR, TOM RICH.

UH, I LOVE WHAT I DO LOVE IT A LOT.

I HAVE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE, WE TOUCH PEOPLE'S LIVES AND IN REVERSE THEY TOUCH OURS.

WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

UH, AUDREY IS GONNA BE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ME SAYING THIS, BUT UNHEARD OF DIRECTION AND LEADERSHIP.

WE, WE CAN FEEL A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.

WE CAN SEE CHANGES, AND I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT SHE DOES FOR US.

I ALSO APPRECIATE YOU THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY D S N IS RECOGNIZED AS THE FLAGSHIP OF PROVIDERS IN THE STATE.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COMMITMENT FROM THE COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I JUST WANNA LET MR. LOVE KNOW THAT, UM, I GOT YOUR DATE OF THE 5TH OF DECEMBER.

I'LL BE AT YOUR MEETING, MA'AM.

.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, OUR NEXT EMPLOYEE TO RECOGNIZE IS STUART FOREST.

ALRIGHT.

STEWART IS AN IT ANALYST.

HE HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS, UH, 11, UH, ALMOST 12 YEARS WITH THE LIBRARY.

AND, UH, THREE YEARS AS IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS

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UM, STEWART LOOKS AFTER, AFTER AND TROUBLESHOOTS THE LIBRARY'S ONLINE CATALOG SYSTEM.

NO MORE DO WE DO, DO WE, UH, UH, DECIMAL SYSTEM, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER FROM A KID.

THE BIG FILE CABINETS FULL OF CARS.

.

YES.

UM, SO, UH, STEWART MANAGES AND TROUBLE TROUBLESHOOTS, THE LIBRARY'S ONLINE CATALOG AND THE LIBRARY'S, UH, MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

UH, THE LIBRARY RECENTLY MOVED TO A NEW SYSTEM.

UH, STEWART MANAGES THE, UH, CONFIGURATION OF THAT SYSTEM AS WELL.

HE'S, HE, UM, MANAGES OUR SHAREPOINT 20 20 20 10 MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROGRAM.

UH, AND SHAREPOINT IS A SYSTEM THAT WE USE INTERNALLY, UH, FOR STAFF DOCUMENTS AND, UH, WE PROBABLY USE IT EVERY DAY.

UM, I DO ANYWAY, UM, QUITE FREQUENTLY.

UM, SO SOMETHING UNIQUE IS STEWART LOVES COOKING AND TRAVELING.

STEWART, GOOD FOR YOU.

I JUST LIKE SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE RECOGNITION.

UH, I DO APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

NEXT IS A VERY SPECIAL PERSON FROM, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.

MS. ZETA GIBBS .

SO, MRS. GIBBS IS, UM, RESPONSIBLE FOR A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SERVICES FOR THE DETENTION CENTER.

SHE SUPPORTS INMATE REHABIL REHABILITATION AS WELL AS WELLBEING, UH, INCLUDING, UH, OVERSEEING OF, OF SEVERAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, UH, DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING, ADULT EDUCATION, BIBLE STUDY, JOB SKILLS, UM, UH, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.

UM, SHE MANAGES A GIRL'S CIRCLE, UM, COORDINATES WITH OUTSIDE TREATMENT AGENCIES ON BEHALF OF INMATES.

UM, HER REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, A TESTAMENT TO HER UNWAVERING DEDICATION.

SHE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH INMATE INMATES TAKING ON RESPONSIBILITIES, WHICH OFTEN REQUIRE A HIGH DEGREE OF COMPASSION AND PROFESSIONALISM.

UH, MS. GIBBS FOSTERS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH NUMEROUS VOLUNTEER AGENCIES AND MAINTAINS OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF.

UH, SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HER, SHE IS A LICENSED, UH, CLERGY.

SHE DEDICATES HER SPARE TIME TO VOLUNTEERING AT BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AS AN ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN.

SHE ENJOYS TAKING FIVE MILE WALKS.

I SHOULD PROBABLY COME WITH YOU ONCE IN A WHILE.

YOU SHOULD.

YEAH.

UH, SHE CONDUCTS WORKSHOPS AT HER CHURCH, HELPS WITH YOUTH EVENTS, AND ENJOYS SEAFOOD.

MRS. GIBBS WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE APPRECIATION.

AND I JUST WANNA SAY, I TRULY ENJOY MY JOB.

IT'S A PART OF MY CALLING, AND THAT IS TO WORK AND TO ASSIST OTHERS THAT NEED SUPPORT, AND THE INMATES NEED LOTS OF SUPPORT.

UM, AND I WANT TO THANK, UM, COLONEL GRANT AND, UH, MAJOR ROBINSON FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THE B C D C FAMILY.

AND THANK YOU ALL AS WELL.

THANK, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

EXCUSE ME.

OUR NEXT THREE ITEMS ARE PROCLAMATIONS.

[7. PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION TO THE YOUNG MARINES RECOGNIZING RED RIBBON WEEK - Chairman Passiment]

AND I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD TO DO THAT BECAUSE COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD WAS ON MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

, SHE'S NOT A MARINE, THOUGH.

WE HAVE A NAME REPRESENTATIVE HERE, YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.

I GUESS I'LL JUST READ IT.

YES, PLEASE.

OKAY.

AND THE, AND I SEE THESE YOUNG MARINES VOLUNTEERING AT LOTS OF EVENTS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WHEREAS COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY NUMEROUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ILLICIT DRUG USE AND THOSE THAT TRAFFIC IN THEM.

AND WHEREAS THERE IS HOPE IN WINNING THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THAT HOPE LIES IN EDUCATION AND DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION, COUPLED WITH THE HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION OF ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE YOUNG MARINES OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE.

WHEREAS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE YOUNG MARINE PROGRAM IS TO LEAD POSITIVE DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLES AND TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

AND WHEREAS YOUNG MARINE UNITS ARE MANDATED TO TEACH A STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM THAT FOCUSES ON GATEWAY DRUGS, BUT ALSO STAYS CURRENT WITH DRUGS THAT AFFECT OUR YOUTH.

AND WHEREAS YOUNG MARINES PARTICIPATE

[00:15:01]

AND WHEREAS GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS KNOW THAT CITIZEN SUPPORT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS IN THE EFFORT TO REDUCE THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE RED RIBBON HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A SYMBOL COMMEMORATING THE WORK OF AARI KIKI CAM ARENA, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT AS WELL AS LARRY COULD, BUT, UH, HE WAS A, HE WHO HE KNEW A DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AGENT WHO WAS MURDERED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND REPRESENTS THE BELIEF THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND WHEREAS THE RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN WAS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1988 TO ENCOURAGE A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE AND INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG PREVENTION AND REDUCE REDUCTION EFFORTS.

AND WHEREAS OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST HAS BEEN DESIGNATED NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK, WHICH ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO WEAR A RED RIBBON TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENT, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE YOUNG MARINES DURING RED RIBBON WEEK FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN EDUCATING THE YOUTH ALL YEAR LONG THROUGH VARIOUS EVENTS AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS DATED THE 23RD DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023, SIGNED BY, UM, JOSEPH PASSMAN CHAIRMAN, AND MAYBE AUDREY COULD COME UP HERE FOR THE PICTURE.

THEY'LL THEY WILL BE HERE.

THEY'RE JUST RUNNING BEHIND.

OKAY.

SO SHE WILL SPEAK AT THE LAST SEASON.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL GET A PICTURE.

HE STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

YEP.

[8. PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES / BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DIVISION RECOGNIZING RED RIBBON WEEK - Chairman Passiment]

IS THERE ANYONE THERE? OKAY, ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD WHILE I READ THE PROCLAMATION? GET MY GLASSES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING US.

WHEREAS ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE AFFECT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION, AND WHEREAS IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT VISIBLE UNIFIED EFFORTS BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE LAUNCHED TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE.

AND WHEREAS THERE IS HOPE IN WINNING THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THAT THE HOPE LIES IN EDUCATION AND DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION, COUPLED WITH THE HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION OF ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT TO FOSTER A HEALTHY DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE.

AND WHEREAS GOVERNMENTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS KNOW THAT CITIZEN SUPPORT IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS IN THE EFFORT TO REDUCE THE USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND OTHER DRUG MISUSE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE RED RIBBON HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS A SYMBOL COMMEMORATING THE WORK OF ENRIQUE, KIKI, UH, CAM CAM ARENA, A DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AGENT WHO WAS MURDERED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND REPRESENTS THE BELIEF THAT ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

AND WHEREAS THE RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN WAS ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS IN 1988 TO ENCOURAGE A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE AND INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG PREVENTION AND MISUSE REDUCTION EFFORTS.

AND WHEREAS OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST HAS BEEN DESIGNATED NATIONAL RED RIBBON WEEK, WHICH ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO WEAR A RED RIBBON TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR A DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENT.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY HEREBY PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST 2023, AND ENCOURAGES CITIZENS OF BUFORT COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN DRUG PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, NOT ONLY DURING RED RIBBON WEEK, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MAKING A VISIBLE STATEMENT THAT WE'RE STRONGLY COMMITTED TO A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE.

SIGNED THIS DAY BY MYSELF AS CHAIRMAN OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, PLEASE.

I'M WADE BISHOP.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION SERVICES FOR, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT.

AND WITH, UH, UH, YOUR COUNCILMAN LARRY MCGOWAN NOT BEING A AVAIL AVAILABLE THIS EVENING.

I KNOW I WOULD BE REMISS IN NOT ON HIS BEHALF, INDICATING THAT WE'RE HAVING THE D E A TAKE BACK MEDS EVENT IN BOTH BEAUFORT AND BLUFFTON THIS COMING SATURDAY MORNING FROM 10 TO ONE IN CONJUNCTION AND CO-SPONSORSHIP WITH, UH, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SO I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, PLAYS ON HIS MIND AS FAR AS RED RIBBON, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND DISPOSING OF DRUGS, UH, UNUSED, UNWANTED, OUTDATED MEDICATIONS

[00:20:01]

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I CAN, I'M KATIE GO DOWNS.

I'M A SENIOR PREVENTIONIST THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL.

UM, I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 11 YEARS AND I'M GRATEFUL TO GET TO DO WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I'M GALEN STAR KAMO.

I AM THE ONE OF THE OTHER PREVENTIONISTS WORKING FOR BUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT.

I SERVE SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER, UM, MAINLY HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON.

I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR BUFORT COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, FOUR YEARS OF MY LIFE.

AND I'M HAPPY TO GIVE 30 MORE IF THEY'LL HAVE ME.

.

WONDERFUL.

I'LL TELL YOU.

IT IS, IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

DID YOU ALL BRING SOME RED RIBBONS? THANK YOU.

DID YOU GUYS BRING SOME RED RIBBONS FOR US? , WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOLS, WE PASSED THEM OUT TO EVERYONE DURING WEEK.

I DIDN'T GO MAKE 'EM EARLIER.

I'M SORRY.

OKAY.

GOT RED RIBBONS.

OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION

[9. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE PENN CENTER'S 39TH ANNUAL HERITAGE DAYS CELEBRATION -Council Member Glover]

MR. GLOVER WILL READ THAT PROCLAMATION.

I I WILL.

AND, UM, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT ON HIS, BUT WOULD YOU SEE THIS ON BEHALF OF PENN CENTER? YOU ? HOPEFULLY .

UH, HOW YOU DOING? GOOD.

AND YOURSELF, SIR? OKAY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY.

OKAY.

UM, THIS IS ON.

OH, OKAY.

I GOT MORE THAN OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU .

OKAY.

UM, THIS PROCLAMATION IS, UM, DONE FOR THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY, UM, CELEBRATION OF PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY.

UH, IT BREEDS WHEREAS THE IDEA OF A PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION WAS BORN IN AUGUST OF 1981 BECAUSE MANY INDIVIDUALS IN INSTITUTIONS OF BEFORD COUNTIES, SEA ISLANDS, HAVE BEEN TOUCHED BY THE ACTIVITIES OF PENN CENTER, NOW PENN SCHOOL, NOW PENN CENTER.

AND BECAUSE PENN CENTER HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING THE SEA ISLAND CULTURE, AND WHEREAS PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAYS HAS BECOME A SIGNIFICANT EVENT DRAWING MORE THAN 12,000 VISITORS.

AND WHEREAS PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION IS AN EFFORT TO EXPOSE THE PUBLIC TO THE PUBLIC, UM, EXPOSE THE PUBLIC TO PENN CENTER SEA ISLAND'S HISTORY AND CULTURE AND VARIOUS AFRICAN TRADITIONS THAT CONTINUE TODAY.

AND WHEREAS PENN CENTER HERITAGE DAY'S CELEBRATION HAS GROWN FROM A ONE DAY EVENT TO THREE DAYS OF FESTIVE SONGS, FOOD PERFORMANCE, AND EXHIBITS.

AND WHEREAS IN 1983, THE HERITAGE DAY PARADE, UH, FROM ST.

HELENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THE PENN CENTER HISTORICAL LANDMARK DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED.

AND WHEREAS THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR IS HONORING OUR PAST, INSPIRING OUR FUTURE, STANDING FOR JUSTICE, AND CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF ST.

HELENA'S OWN SAM DOL.

AND WHEREAS SAM DOL WAS BORN IN 1906 IN WALLACE PLANTATION ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND PASSED AWAY IN 1985 IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND WHEREAS SAM DOL ATTENDED THE PENN CENTER SCHOOL, AND DESPITE HIS ARTISTIC TALENT, HE DROPPED OUTTA SCHOOL IN NINTH GRADE TO FIND WORK.

AND WHEREAS AFTER RETIRING AND DEDICATING HIMSELF TO PAINTING IN THE 1970S, SAM DOLL CAME TO NATIONAL ATTENTION WITH THE BLACK FOLK LLOYD FOLK ART IN AMERICA, 1930 THROUGH 1980, EXHIBITING IN 1982.

AND WHEREAS SAM DOLL IS KNOWN FOR HIS PAINTING ON PIECES OF ROOF TINS, UM, PAINTED MOSTLY IN ENAMEL HOUSE PAINT, DEPICTING ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE FIRST BLACK DOCTOR, POLICEMAN OR EMBALMER.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.

BEFORD COUNTY COUNSEL PROCLAIMED NOVEMBER THE NINTH THROUGH NOVEMBER 11TH AS PENN CENTER 39TH HERITAGE DAY CELEBRATION WEEK.

AND THIS PROCLAMATION IS SIGNED BY OUR CHAIRMAN JOSEPH PASSMAN OF BEFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

OKAY.

UM, ALL THREE OF YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING.

NO, I'LL COME ON.

MR. TIER ON BEHALF OF PENN CENTER, WE SAY THANK YOU AND WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PLANNING COMMITTEE, UM, PART OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE OF PENN CENTER FOR THE HARRISON DAY

[00:25:01]

WE DO APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT AND THE CITY, UH, CITY AND THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORD ALLOW US TO HAVE THOSE THREE DAYS.

I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF PENN CENTER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

PICTURE, YOU GOTTA GET YOUR PICTURE.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

NO, YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE IT? YEAH.

OKAY.

ARE WE OKAY.

NEXT ITEM ON OUR

[10. PRESENTATION BY THE COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CCDC) WORKFORCE HOUSING FUNDING - Alan Wolf, Chairman of the CCDC/President of the Serg Restaurant Group & Carletha Frazier, Program Manager for CCDC]

IT WILL BE DONE BY MR. ALLEN WOLF, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE C C D C, AND ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE SURGE GROUP, RESTAURANT GROUP.

AND CARLETTA FRAZIER, PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE C C D C.

MR. WOLF.

GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN PASSMAN, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU.

UH, CARLI FRAZIER WILL NOT BE JOINING.

FOOTBALL PRACTICE GOT CHANGED.

UH, THEY'RE PLAYING ANOTHER WEEK, FORTUNATELY FOR HER SON, SO I'LL TAKE OVER.

THANK YOU.

IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR ON HILTON HEAD, THE CHIMNEY COVE RESIDENCE OF 54 APARTMENTS, UH, WERE ISSUED 30 DAY EVICTION NOTICES BY A NATIONAL DEVELOPER THAT WANTED TO PUT NEW TOWN HOMES THERE.

AND THE COMMUNITY ON HILTON HEAD AND ACROSS THE COUNTY WAS REMINDED OF JUST HOW FRAGILE THE WORKFORCE HOUSING MARKET IS IN OUR AREA.

OUT OF THAT CRISIS CAME A DIALOGUE, WHICH SPARKED A VISION, WHICH HAS NOW TURNED TO REALITY, WHICH WOULD BE TO PURCHASE EXISTING HOMES, UH, THAT ARE ALREADY FOR SALE IN THE MARKET WITH THE INTENT OF THEM BEING MADE AVAILABLE FOR OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE.

OUR APPROACH COMBINES LOCAL AND REGIONAL BANKS PROVIDING, UH, MORTGAGES ON THE VILLAS AND HOMES THAT WE SEEK TO PURCHASE, ALONG WITH ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM BUSINESSES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE A TRULY COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY APPROACH.

THE COASTAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, YOU CAN SEE OUR WEBSITE LISTED ON THE SCREEN ABOVE, UH, WAS FORMED JUST IN FEBRUARY.

WE, WE RECEIVED OUR NONPROFIT APPROVAL IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, AND WE HAVE A BOARD OF SEVEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ALL UNPAID, JUST WORKING HARD TO SOLVE THIS CHALLENGE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UH, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE INCLUDING NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION ON THE BOARD, FINANCE, HOUSING, TAX, CREDIT PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATE AND REAL ESTATE LAW, AS WELL AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

AND I'M JOINED BY BOTH KEN CAMPBELL BEHIND ME AND MAYOR LISA SALKA, TWO OF THE SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE ARE ON, HERE WE GO.

OKAY.

SO, THE MISSION THAT WE ARE SEEKING, UH, TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF HOMES FOR OUR LOCAL AND REGIONAL WORKFORCE.

FIRST BY PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSING, AND SECONDLY, BY REDEVELOPING EXISTING PROPERTY.

AND LASTLY, BY DEVELOPING NEW PROPERTY TO MEET THE DEMAND OF OUR REGION WHILE SERVING THE WORKING RESIDENTS, WE HAVE RESEARCH AND IMPLEMENTED TOOLS TO ENSURE THAT OUR IMPACT ON WORKFORCE HOUSING WILL BE TARGETED TOWARDS THE AREA MEETING INCOMES FROM 50% ALL THE WAY UP TO 150%.

EXCUSE ME.

WE ARE, UH, PUTTING DEEDED RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR 99 YEARS ON THE UNITS THAT WE PURCHASED.

AND THE NONPROFIT WILL OWN THE UNITS AND TIE THOSE TO THE AMIS, UH, FOR THAT LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

AND WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR FAIR HOUSING LAW STANDARDS THAT WILL PRIORITIZE WORKERS WHO LIVE AND WANT TO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY.

OUR FOCUS ON LONG-TERM RENTALS AND PURCHASE OPTIONS FOR OUR RESIDENTS TIES, UH, SEAMLESSLY TO TWO OF THE TOP ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING.

OF COURSE, GROWTH MANAGEMENT BEING THE FIRST AND WORKFORCE HOUSING THE SECOND.

AND IN MANY INSTANCES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO RETURN SHORT-TERM RENTALS, I E FROM THE AIRBNB MARKET BACK TO THE LONG-TERM RENTAL MARKET.

SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? UH, SIMPLY WE BELIEVE THAT THE RESIDENT QUALITY OF LIFE IS AT RISK ACROSS THE LOW COUNTRY DUE TO THE LIMITED, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING AVAILABLE UNITS.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT HAVING HIGH QUALITY AVAILABILITY AND LOW COST SERVICES IS KEY FOR THE RESIDENTS, UH, BOTH OUR VISITORS AND OUR, AND OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE.

THANK YOU FOR FUNDING THE GIANT HOUSING STUDY BACK IN 2017, WHICH REALLY FRAMED UP EXACTLY THE CHALLENGE WE NEED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF BOTH FOR RENT AND FOR PURCHASE UNITS TO, UH, SERVE THE NEEDS THROUGH 2027.

THIS GIANT SCREEN REALLY HIGHLIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED IS OVER 5,000 MARYLAND UNITS NEEDED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY BY THE YEAR 2027.

WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPMENTAL LOAN CANNOT SOLVE THAT CHALLENGE, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RE, TO, UH, PRESERVE A LOT OF THOSE LONG-TERM HOUSING UNITS BY KEEPING THEM IN THAT MARKET FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

SO HOW WE ARE DOING THIS, UH, WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A HOST OF COST CURVE BENDING

[00:30:01]

THE FIRST IS THE PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.

WE LEARNED THIS FROM THE GREENVILLE HOUSING FUND.

THE BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ALSO TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE I R S SAFE HARBOR LAW, WHICH IS ALSO CODIFIED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATION, WHICH, UH, ALLOWS FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WHEN UNITS ARE PURCHASED AND KEPT BETWEEN 50 AND 120% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOMES.

WE'VE SOURCED LOW COST CAPITAL, UH, PRIMARILY THROUGH ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENT.

UH, THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD HAVE BEEN FAST AT WORK ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND ACROSS BLUFFTON, AND NOW IN UNINCORPORATED BUFORT GENERATING, UH, SUPPORT FROM ALTRUISTIC INVESTORS THAT WOULD INVEST WITH, UH, RETURNS OF UP TO 3% OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD TO HELP FINANCE THE DOWN PAYMENT CAPITAL THAT WE NEED TO PURCHASE UNITS.

AND THEN WE'VE ALSO SOUGHT OUT COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND HAVE HAD WONDERFUL SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE LOW COUNTRY, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL BANKS TO SECURE MORTGAGES, WHICH WOULD, UH, COVER 60% OF THE VALUE OF THE HOMES THAT WE PURCHASE.

WE'RE ACTIVELY PURSUING, OF COURSE, GRANTS AND DONATIONS, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY BEND THE COST CURVE FURTHER, AND WE'LL ENGAGE THE NONPROFIT AND THE CHURCHES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE LOW COUNTRY.

ON THE LOCAL AND STATE SIDE, WE HAVE STARTED TO WORK THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSING AND ARE WORKING ON ANY AVAILABLE INITIATIVES THAT WE CAN TIE INTO IN TERMS OF BONDING OR TAX CREDIT SOURCING.

AND THEN LASTLY, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS INITIATIVE, UH, JUST ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, WE WEREN'T SURE IF THIS WOULD BE A FOR-PROFIT OR NON-FOR-PROFIT APPROACH, BUT CERTAINLY THE NON-PROFIT APPROACH WAS THE FINAL BEND IN THE COST CURVE THAT WE WERE AFTER.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS, UH, AS CHEAP FOR RENTALS AS POSSIBLE, WE ARE PURSUING A PHASED APPROACH.

THE FIRST ONE WE HAVE, UH, PRESENTED AN OPTION TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

WE'VE ASKED FOR THEIR SUPPORT IN PURCHASING 13 UNITS OF CONDOS AND VILLAS THAT ARE ALREADY FOR SALE ON HILTON HEAD.

AND THANKS TO THE WORK OF ONE BOARD MEMBER AND HIS WIFE'S FOUNDATION, MR. AND MRS. CAMPBELL, UH, WE SECURED THE FIRST THREE UNITS OF THOSE 13 ALREADY AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY, UH, WORKING FOR WORKER, WORKING RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE SECOND PHASE HAS AN APPLICATION THAT WE PRESENTED THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE SUPPORTED, AND THAT WOULD, UH, ALLOW US TO PURCHASE 42 UNITS ACROSS BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTY.

AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER MODEL THAT WE CAN PURCHASE AND EXPAND ACROSS BEAVER COUNTY, WHICH ESSENTIALLY WILL ALLOW US TO PURCHASE 25 UNITS AT A TIME AT THE PACE OF ABOUT ONE A WEEK, UTILIZING THOSE ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENTS ALONG WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.

AND AS WE GROW THE BALANCE SHEET, AND SIMILAR TO THE MODEL OF THE GREENVILLE HOUSING FUND WAS ABLE TO TAKE AS THEY'RE 15 YEARS AHEAD OF US AT THIS POINT, WE SEE, UH, LARGER CAPITAL OPTIONS BEING AVAILABLE FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OR REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS WE GROW OUR BALANCE SHEET.

THIS IS A LITTLE, UH, SNIP OF THE EXCEL SHEET WHERE WE PULL THE M L S LISTINGS FROM AREAS OR PROPERTIES THAT ARE ALREADY FOR SALE ON THE MARKET.

THIS IS A DETAIL OF THE 13 UNITS THAT WE'RE PURSUING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

OVER 600 UNITS CHANGED HANDS LAST YEAR BETWEEN TWO AND $300,000 ON THE ISLAND.

SO THERE'S PLENTY OF AVAILABLE INVENTORY ALREADY TURNING, AND 13 IS CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO, UH, BEND THE, THE, THE COST TOO FAR IN TERMS OF THE MARKET.

BUT WE'VE DONE THE SAME THING IN ASSESSING PROPERTIES ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, AND CAN EASILY PUT TOGETHER 50 UNITS AT A TIME TO START SECURING FOR LONG-TERM WORKFORCE HOUSING.

WE'VE ENLISTED THE HELP OF FINANCIERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT HAVE FLUSHED OUT THE MODEL, WHICH ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS US TO CAPTURE THE RENTS, STILL HIT THE AFFORDABILITY METRICS THAT WE HAVE TO, AND THEN STILL BE CASH FLOW POSITIVE ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS WHILE RETURNING THE DEBT OF FIVE OR 6% ON THE MORTGAGES THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FROM THE BANKS, AS WELL AS 3% ON THE ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENT.

AND THEN OF COURSE, ANY GRANTS AND DONATIONS JUST SPEND THAT CURVE AND MAKE IT CHEAPER.

ON THE RENTAL SIDE, EACH ONE OF THE MODELS, AND IN THIS CASE THE 13 UNIT MODEL FOR HILTON HEAD HAS A LIST OF SOURCES OF CAPITAL AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE.

UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THE $592,000 REPRESENTED THEIRS FROM COMMUNITY, UH, ALTRUISTIC INVESTMENT, INCLUDING THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IN THE LOW COUNTRY THERE.

SO THIS PHASED APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH, UH, THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

WE BELIEVE IF WE TARGET A $15 MILLION BUDGET FOR ACQUISITION, WE COULD TAKE DOWN 50 HOMES AND WE WOULD REQUEST, YOU KNOW, 20% OF THAT THROUGH MUNICIPAL DOLLARS.

MEANING WE WOULD FIND ON THE NONPROFIT SIDE $4 TO EVERY $1 THAT COMES THROUGH PUBLIC FUNDING.

SO WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TO DATE, UH, FORTUNATELY WE WERE ABLE TO GET A MATCHING GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY OF $100,000 AS WE SECURED IT INTO OUR OWN $125,000 IN DONATIONS.

THAT GETS US UP AND RUNNING FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.

AS I STATED BEFORE, THE FIRST THREE UNITS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED.

TWO OF THEM WERE TWO BEDROOM UNITS AT WOODLAKE ON HILTON HEAD, AND ONE WAS A ONE BEDROOM UNIT ON MARSH SIDE.

IN THE FIRST TWO INSTANCES, WE ALREADY HAD WORKERS LIVING IN THOSE APARTMENTS, AND WHEN THEY WENT ON THE MARKET, WE WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THOSE WORKERS IN THE LONG TERM.

IN THE LAST ONE, THE ONE BEDROOM UNIT AT MARSH SIDE, THERE WAS A PERSON THAT WAS MOVING OUT OF TOWN AND IT WENT UP ON THE MARKET.

WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AND WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE A WORKER WHO WORKS FOR A LOCAL LAW FIRM THAT WAS LIVING AT THE, UH,

[00:35:01]

ONE OF THE CONVERTED HOTELS IS NOW LIVING IN A ONE BEDROOM ON HILTON HEAD.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS, UH, TESTIMONY OF VIDEO THAT REALLY SHOWS HOW WE WELCOME MADISON AS A TENANT.

THANK YOU.

I MOVED DOWN HERE FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

I WORK ON THE ISLAND AT ONE OF THE LOCAL LAW FIRMS. I'M A PARALEGAL AND GET MY LAW DEGREE EVENTUALLY BECOME AN ATTORNEY.

THERE WAS NOTHING AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

MOVED INTO THE ONLY THING THAT I FOUND, WHICH WAS OUT IN BLUFFTON.

AND RENT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE TO BE IN A STUDIO APARTMENT.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ON THE ISLAND.

HE QUALIFIED YOUNG, ENERGETIC PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE NOT MOVING TO HI HEAD BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD OFF ISLAND.

THEY'RE MOVING FURTHER AWAY.

LUPINS, YOU KNOW, JUST GET THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.

HOWEVER, EVERYONE'S COMING ONTO THE ISLAND AND LEAVING THE ISLAND AT THE EXACT SAME TIME EVERY DAY.

IT COULD BE AN HOUR TO TWO HOURS COMMUTE EVERY MORNING.

SO WHEN YOU START FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE SPENDING BACK FORTH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE DECISION.

SO THIS IS A WAY TO BRING SOME OF THE PEOPLE BACK AND TO HELP THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THRIVE.

HI MADISON, I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS.

WELL, MADISON'S AT A BRAND NEW UNIT FOR US.

IT'S ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH.

IT'S NOT OVERLY BIG, IT'S ABOUT 800 SQUARE FEET.

MADISON QUALIFIED FINANCIALLY, AND SHE'S THE QUINTESSENTIAL CANDIDATE WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S REALLY NICE.

IT'S A GREAT SPACE.

THERE'S A WALK-IN CLOSET, NEWER FURNISHINGS IN BOTH THE LIVING ROOM WITH THE BUILT-IN BOOKSHELVES AND THEN APPLIANCES IN THE KITCHEN.

IT'S JUST A GREAT SPACE TO LIVE IN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M MADISON, I'M NEIGHBOR.

LISA, WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

THESE GUYS ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER 40, 50 UNITS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT WHERE THE EMPLOYEE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE ON HILTON HEAD AND WORK ON HILTON HEAD.

I'M GONNA BE PAYING JUST THE FLAT 1600 A MONTH AND I'M MUCH CLOSER TO WORK.

SO GAS, I'LL BE SAVING ON TIME, I'LL BE SAVING ON TIME IS MORE VALUABLE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

BEING ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM IS SAVING ME SO MUCH MONEY THAT WAY I AM ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK AND NOT HAVE TO LEAVE HILTON HEAD.

I CAN STAY IN THIS AREA, UM, INVEST MORE IN THE COMMUNITY, GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND NOT HAVE TO PAY $3,000, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LIKE MYSELF.

SO I'M EXCITED TO JUST GET EVERYTHING UNPACKED, GET EVERYTHING WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.

AND JUST START FROM THIS NEW BEGINNING FIRST.

I WILL BE HONEST, I APOLOGIZE.

MM-HMM.

, THAT'S, OH YEAH.

NO, IT'S NOT EVEN THAT.

SORRY.

OKAY.

NO PROBLEM.

UM, ANY CHANCE OF GETTING THE LAST SLIDE OR IS IT TOTALLY FROZEN? I'M NOT PULLING THAT, THAT'S BEING PULLED FROM.

OKAY, GREAT.

YOU WANT LAST SLIDE? UH, RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S GOOD.

THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE, RIGHT? YEAH.

THANK YOU.

GREAT.

ALRIGHT.

SO WHERE DO WE FIT IN? UH, FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL LEVEL? WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE A LEADERSHIP ROLE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL, UH, IN SUPPORTING THE EFFORT TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES TO HELP US ON OUR MISSION.

UH, RECENTLY S 2 84 WAS PASSED WITH SENATOR DAVIS'S LEADERSHIP, WHICH ALLOW AN ALLOCATION OF A TAX FUNDS TOWARDS HOUSING PURPOSES.

UH, WE STAND AS A VIABLE CANDIDATE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT LEGISLATION.

WE CERTAINLY WOULD BENEFIT FROM BONDING CAPACITY, WHICH THE COUNTY HOLDS, UH, IMMENSE RESOURCES.

AND THEN OF COURSE, IN THE LONGER TERM, ANY LAND LEASEBACKS THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, WE'D BE, BEN, WE WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, OUR SOLUTION IS AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION AND WE NEED SOME IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS, UM, BECAUSE WE CAN GET TO WORK RIGHT AWAY IN SECURING HOUSING.

UH, IT REALLY TIES IN WELL, AS WE SAID WITH GROWTH MANAGEMENT, OUR 99 YEAR COVENANTS, UH, PROVED THAT WE WOULDN'T END UP LIKE ASPEN IN THE EIGHTIES.

WE HAD A 25 YEAR RESTRICTION, WHICH THEN WORE OFF AND EVERYBODY SOLD THEIR HOUSES FOR A BIG GAIN AND THERE'S NO WORKERS LIVING IN 'EM.

SO WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE OTHER MARKETS IN AMERICA, UM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PRIORITIZE HOME OWNERSHIP WHEN PEOPLE RENT WITH US FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO AN OWNERSHIP SPOT.

AND OF COURSE, IF THEY EARN OUT OF THOSE 150% A M I LIMITS, THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM AND THEY CAN BE ON THE HOME OWNERSHIP SIDE.

AND LASTLY, IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY SOLUTION WHERE WE'VE ALREADY GATHERED THE SUPPORT OF RESIDENTS, ALTRUISTIC, UH, SUPPORT BUSINESSES

[00:40:01]

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTY STEPPING UP AND JOINING US.

AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YEAH.

OKAY.

I'LL GO AROUND.

COUNSEL, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WOLF? I, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK HIM AGAIN.

UH, HE WAS AT COMMUNITY SERVICES.

YEP.

AND, UH, LAND USE.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO HEAR SOMETHING THREE TIMES AS, UH, ONE OF OUR ATTORNEYS SAID BEFORE IT SINKS IN.

SO THIS THANK TWICE FOR YOU.

THIS IS NUMBER TWO.

IT'S, UH, THE VIDEO WAS GREAT AT THE, UH, AT THE OTHER MEETINGS.

SO, YEP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MR. CHAIRMAN, JUST ONE THING.

YES, I WANNA THANK YOU MR. WOLF AND MR. CAMPBELL AND ALL, AND LISA, I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH THEM AND GO OVER A FEW THINGS.

AND I WANT TO, I THINK YOU'RE MANY APPROACHES ARE, UM, A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FORCE.

UH, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE EARNING OUT OF A M I YOU HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE THAT WILL WATCH AND KEEP AN EYE ON? YEAH.

AS WE HAVE RESIDENTS LIVING WITH US, THEY'D BE EARNING PHANTOM EQUITY TOWARDS DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

UM, OUR MODEL REALLY JUST PLANS FOR A 4% INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH IS THE 20 YEAR HISTORICAL AVERAGE.

SO IF THE PROPERTIES WERE TO APPRECIATE AT A HIGHER LEVEL, THEY'D STILL ONLY HAVE TO PURCHASE AT THAT LOW 4%, UH, INCREASE.

SO THERE'S A BENEFIT THERE AS WELL BETWEEN THE PURCHASE PRICE AND THE EQUITY VALUE.

UM, BUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THEY'D GET A THREE TO FIVE YEAR WINDOW TO RUN OUT INTO A PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY OR TO, YOU KNOW, JUST GO OUT AND RENT SOMETHING ELSE IN THE MARKET OR BUY SOMETHING ELSE IN THE MARKET.

CERTAINLY.

THAT'S A GOOD PROBLEM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YEAH, OUR PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

VERY NICE.

SURE.

MR. CUNNINGHAM.

THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I JUST WANNA APPLAUD YOU GUYS ON THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

THANK YOU.

THERE'S SO MANY TIMES WE HAVE DEVELOPERS COMING HERE JUST WANTING DO APARTMENTS OR THEY WANT TO SAY THEY WANNA DO WORKFORCE HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THEY WANNA THROW A 10 OR 15 YEAR COVENANT ON IT.

YOU PUT A 99 YEAR COVENANT ON IT, THAT'S ACTUALLY PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

SO I RESPECT THAT.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY THE DEVELOPERS TAKE NOTE TO THAT.

'CAUSE THIS COUNCIL'S NOT WAIVER OR NOT WHATSOEVER.

SO I LIKE THE IDEA.

UM, I LIKE YOU DOING SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE BOX INSTEAD OF JUST DOING IT FOR AN APP PROFIT OR TO PUSH YOUR OWN BENEFICIAL GOAL.

CLEARLY YOU'RE RESEARCH MM-HMM.

, YOU HAVE TONS OF EMPLOYEES HERE IN THE COUNTY.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, I GET THAT.

I KNOW THE STRUGGLE YOU GUYS HAVE WITH THE EXACT SAME THING.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, UH, PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS ON THAT AND ACTUALLY TAKING A STEP FORWARD AND NOT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.

QUICKLY, MR. OH, I'M SORRY.

NO, GO AHEAD MR. GLOVER.

YOU GO AHEAD.

I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU, MR. WOLF.

UM, I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE BECAUSE THIS IS MAINLY A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR BEFORD COUNTY WORKFORCE HOUSING, UM, OR PEOPLE JUST HAVING SOMEPLACE TO LIVE MM-HMM.

THAT'S CLOSE TO THEIR JOB.

SO IT'S MY QUESTION, I GUESS IS THE BIGGER PICTURE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF YOUR ORGANIZATION? UH, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIME I, I CAN SIT IN THE, UM, UH, IN A, ON A, IN A BOAT AND JUST SPIT IN THE OCEAN MM-HMM.

AND IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

MM-HMM.

, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A GOAL FOR, UH, MAJOR IMPACT AND HOW CAN COUNCIL THIS COMMUNITY HELP YOU GET THERE? UM, ARE YOU LOOKING AT MAJOR MAYBE TWO HOUSES A YEAR OR YOU LOOKING NO, NO.

ABSOLUTELY.

HOUSES A YEAR OR, YEAH.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE, UM, IN THE SHORT TERM IS, IS A 50 HOUSES A YEAR TO GET UP AND ROLLING AND START TO BUILD THE BALANCE SHEET A LITTLE BIT.

THE GREENVILLE HOUSING FUND, AGAIN, 15 YEARS AHEAD OF US, HAS 1500 UNITS UNDER THEIR MANAGEMENT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S A, A BARE MINIMUM GOAL, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THE MODEL CAN SUSTAIN ITSELF, UH, TO SUPPORT UP TO 500 UNITS A YEAR UNTIL THE PROBLEM SOLVED.

AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE NO LONGER APPLYING FOR WORKFORCE LEASES, THEN WE KNOW THAT WE CAN MOVE ON.

BUT, BUT OUR GOALS ARE VERY HIGH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHERS? TAB WAS ONE.

I HAVE A QUESTION IF I COULD AFTER MR. CHAIRMAN? YEP.

YOU CAN GO FIRST.

WE'LL GO IN ORDER.

YOU SURE? 'CAUSE I ALREADY RAN MY MOUTH ONCE.

.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL CHARGE YOU DOUBLE GO.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I DO LIKE THE OUT OF THE BOX IDEA.

ONE OF MY WORRIES AND QUESTION, AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IS HOW IS THIS GONNA IMPACT THE REST OF THE HOUSING MARKET? 'CAUSE IT DOES HAVE THE ABILITY TO POTENTIALLY DRIVE UP THE COST OF THE OTHER HOUSES ON THE MARKET IF THERE'S LESS HOUSES TO BRING DOWN THE COSTS AVAILABLE IN THAT PRICE RANGE.

YEAH.

UM, WE WERE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT AS WE STARTED PUTTING THIS MODEL TOGETHER.

AND ONCE WE SOURCE THOSE NUMBERS, 600 UNITS ON HILTON HAD TO TRANSFER BETWEEN TWO AND 300, UH, THOUSAND DOLLARS LAST YEAR.

WE FELT LIKE THAT OUR IMPACT WOULD NOT BE FELT FOR SOME TIME.

MY INITIAL CONCERN WAS THE OPPOSITE WAS WOULD WE BE LOWERING THE PROPERTY VALUES? BUT YES, TAKING THEM OUT OF THE INVENTORY WOULD THEORETICALLY DRIVE OUT THE PRICES HIGHER FOR THE, FOR THE RESIDENTS.