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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS BY THE FORT STEWART COLOR GUARD, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM AND OUR ARMED FORCES MEDLEY.
PLEASE STAND WHEN YOUR BRANCH OF SERVICE IS PLAYED.
ARE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ORDER.
ARMS, RIGHT, FAITH, COME LEFT.
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HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO OUR 27TH ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION.WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND, UH, WE'RE ALSO VERY, VERY HONORED TO HAVE OUR GUEST FROM THE FORT STEWART COLOR GUARD, ALONG WITH THE THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION BAND BRASS QUARTET.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THEY COULD JOIN US AND WE'RE ALSO VERY, VERY GRATEFUL TO ALL OF THOSE IN THE IN THE ROOM THAT HAVE SERVED AND WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY.
UH, WE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED IN HARM'S WAY.
THIS TIME IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE PASTOR, PASTOR HAY FROM HISTORIC FIRST AFRICAN BAPTIST CHURCH TO LEAD US IN OUR INVOCATION.
GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE AND LET US PRAY.
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ALMIGHTY GOD KEEPER OF OUR LIVES, LIGHT INTO OUR MINDS, FEED OF OUR SOULS, WE COME TO YOU QUIETLY CONTEMPLATING THE BENEFITS THAT YOU HAVE BESTOWED UPON US.AND WE CONFESS THAT WE TAKE MUCH FOR GRANTED AS WE FIND OURSELVES CAUGHT UP IN THE FRANTIC PURSUIT OF GOALS.
WE ASK NOW THAT YOU OPEN OUR EYES, WHICH HAVE SOMETIMES FAILED TO SEE THE BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED AND GIVE US A NEW SIGHT TO SEE THE WORLD AS YOU SEE IT.
POUR INTO OUR HEARTS THE WATERS OF GRATITUDE THAT WILL NOURISH THE SEEDS OF GROWTH SO THAT OUR SOULS WILL BE OF HOLINESS AND WILL BE IN YOUR PRESENCE WITH THE FRAGRANCE GRANT THAT AT THE END OF THIS DAY THAT YOU FIND US MORE ENTWINED WITH YOUR SPIRIT.
AND THEN, OH GOD, WE ASK THAT YOU JUST CONTINUE TO BLESS US AND KEEP US, CONTINUE TO BE RESTORE UPON US UNMERITED FAVOR AND GRACE.
BLESS THE FOOD THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR THE NOURISHMENT OF OUR BODIES AND ALLOW US SO HEAVEN AND FATHER, TO GO FORTH IN YOUR GRACE AND IN YOUR MERCY, THANKING YOUR GOD FOR ALL THINGS.
ALLOWING AND KNOWING THAT YOU GET THE GLORY IN ALL THAT WE SAY, ALL THAT WE DO, AND ALL THAT WE ARE.
WE JUST GIVE YOU PRAISE AND GLORY.
ALRIGHT, SO PLEASE ENJOY YOUR BILL NOW, BUT IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR, UH, PROGRAM GOING, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THINGS ALONG.
UH, WE'VE ALSO ASKED THE WAIT STAFF HERE AT THE MARRIOTT TO PLEASE PAUSE THERE, THERE, UH, A SERVICE AFTER LUNCH SO THAT WE CAN CON CONTINUE WITHOUT ANY INTERRUPTIONS WITH THE TABLES BEING CLEARED.
YOU KNOW, I CAN'T LET THE MOMENT PASS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT GIVING A, A GREAT BIG SHA SHOUT OUT AND THANKING OUR SPONSORS WHO HAVE HELPED, UH, BRING TODAY'S EVENT TO FRUITION.
OUR FIRST OF ALL, OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE SAVANNAH HILTON HEAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK WITH US ONCE AGAIN AS OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR SUPPORTING SPONSOR, AND THAT WOULD BE THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, OUR EVENT SPONSORS, ALLIANCE CONSULTING ENGINEERS, CENOVUS BANK AND PATEL'S LIQUORS.
ALSO, UH, A BIG THANK YOU TO TAYLOR'S LAND LANDSCAPE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECES.
IF YOU SPOT A TAYLOR'S CARD UNDER YOUR DESSERT PLATE, YOU'RE THE LUCKY WINNER TAKING THAT HOME TODAY.
SO CONGRATULATIONS IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE THAT.
AND AGAIN, THIS YEAR WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE MANY OF OUR ELECTED AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS ALONG WITH GOVERNMENT STAFFERS AND BOARD MEMBERS WITH US TODAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND AND RECOGNIZE SO YOU CAN, WHEN WE CALL YOUR NAME, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHO WON THE, THE, UH, POT TO TAKE HOME THE PLANT, BUT JUST STICK WITH US FOR A COUPLE MINUTES HERE.
AND FIRST OF ALL, LET'S RECOGNIZE SENATOR TOM DAVIS.
TOM, WELCOME, GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO SENATOR DAVIS, WHO WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SENATE LEGISLATOR OF THE YEAR FOR HIS PRO-BUSINESS VOTING RECORD AND STEADFAST SUPPORT IN COLUMBIA FOR BUSINESS PRIORITIES.
SENATOR, CONGRATULATIONS AND, UH, A SMALL TOKEN OF OUR APPRECIATION AND WE APPRECIATE, UH, EVERYTHING YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE LOW COUNTRY AND COLUMBIA.
WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO HAVE REPRESENTATIVE WESTON NEWTON IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY, ALONG WITH BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS, LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, LONGTIME MAYOR BLUFFTON, LISA SULCA, MAYOR ELECT, LARRY TUBER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND STAFF, HILTON HEAD ISLAND MAYOR ALAN PERRY, TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, HARDY MAYOR HARRY WILLIAMS AND CITY OF HARDY V.
LEADERSHIP AND STAFF REPRESENTATIVES FROM JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE BEAUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY AND THEIR LEADERSHIP AND STAFF.
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LET'S ALSO WELCOME BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIR DR.CHRISTINA QUADS, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT DR. FRANK RODRIGUEZ.
WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO HAVE LEADERSHIP FROM THE CITIES OF BEAUFORT AND PORT WENTWORTH WITH US TODAY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE CERTAINLY THANK FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, THEIR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE REGION.
YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS NOT HESITANT TO SHARE OPINIONS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.
AND EQUALLY, WE'RE STEADFAST AT OUR COMMITMENT TO ACTIVELY SEEK YOUR INVALUABLE INSIGHT AND INPUT.
SO WHETHER IT'S IN OUR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SURVEY DISTRIBUTED TO OUR 1300 PLUS MEMBERS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS, OR OUR QUICK HOT POLL TOPICS, WE'RE ALWAYS LISTENING TO YOU ALONG WITH OUR RESIDENT SBIT SURVEY IS THE LARGEST RESIDENT SURVEY CONDUCTED IN OUR AREA THAT PROVIDES INSIGHT ON HOW RESIDENTS FEEL ABOUT OUR TOP ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE SPIRIT OF STATE OF THE REGION AND GARNERING FEEDBACK, WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON KEY ISSUES FACING OUR REGION AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE QUICKLY AND WANT YOUR OPINION ON FOUR QUICK QUESTIONS.
IF YOU'LL JUST SIMPLY SCAN THE QR CODE ON THE SCREEN.
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE FIRST QUESTION IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.
SO IF YOU TAKE OUT YOUR PHONE, SCAN THE QR CODE AND YOU'LL BE INTO THE MULTIMETER.
AND FOUR QUICK AND SIMPLE QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE.
SEE MANY OF YOU SCANNING THE CODE.
GIVE IT JUST A, UH, FEW MORE SECONDS HERE.
ALRIGHT, LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE IT.
SO LET'S MOVE TO OUR, UH, FIRST QUESTION.
AND OUR FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING HILTON HEAD ISLAND? SO JUST TYPE IN ONE WORD, WHAT THAT COULD BE, WHAT YOU THINK THAT IS.
WE'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF THE UH, JEOPARDY MUSIC, SOME THAT ARE COMING RISING TO THE FOREFRONT.
WE SEE, UH, OF COURSE HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC, WORKFORCE TRANSPORTATION.
SO I THINK WE CAN PRETTY CLEARLY SEE WHAT UH, WHAT IS STICKING OUT FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND THAT BEING THE NUMBER OF PRIORITY CONCERNS BEING TRAFFIC, WORKFORCE AND HOUSING.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MANY OTHERS THAT UH, UH, MANY OTHER IDEAS, BUT THE TOP IN THAT WORD, WORD CLOUD WOULD BE THOSE ISSUES.
SECOND QUESTION TODAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON? LET'S SEE.
WHAT RISES TO THE TOP WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ARE CONTINUING TO COME IN.
WE'RE SEEING HOUSING, TRAFFIC, SCHOOLS, GROWTH INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD QUESTION AND THAT QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING THE CITY OF HARDY PORT? QUICKLY JUMPED OUT INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH, PRIMARY CARE, HOUSING COMING IN FAST AND FURIOUS FOR HARDY.
ALL RIGHT, PRIMARY CARE, INFRASTRUCTURE, SCHOOLS, GROWTH, HOUSING.
AND THEN OUR LAST ONE, OUR LAST QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY IS WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING BEAUFORT COUNTY?
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PRETTY CONSISTENT INFRASTRUCTURE, TRAFFIC GROWTH, HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.WELL, SOME OF THOSE WERE, UH, INTERESTING FEEDBACK.
SOME OF 'EM WERE CERTAINLY NOT SURPRISING.
BUT AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUABLE INPUT.
YOU KNOW, YOUR VOICES ARE IMPORTANT TO SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE REGION THAT WE ALL CALL HOME.
IT'S MY PLEASURE NOW TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AND WELCOME TO THE STAGE THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
STATE OF THE REGION HAS BEEN A CORNERSTONE EVENT OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR 27 YEARS.
THIS AND SO MANY OTHER WORTHY INITIATIVES ARE ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT LEADERSHIP OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SO IF YOU ARE A CURRENT OR A PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, COULD YOU PLEASE STAND SO THAT YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED? WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU PUT TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT IS OUR LEADERSHIP, HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, JUNIOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND MANY OF THE NEW WORKFORCE INITIATIVES.
YOUR CHAMBER IN COLLABORATION WITH MANY PASSIONATE LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS WORKS TIRELESSLY EVERY DAY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR REGION.
AND IN THAT VEIN, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY A NEW COMMITTEE THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD TO WORK WITH AND THAT IS THE GULLAH GEECHEE BUSINESS COALITION, WHICH IS CHAIR BY OUR BOARD MEMBER LOLA CAMPBELL.
SO WOULD ALL COALITION MEMBERS PLEASE STAND IF YOU ARE HERE SO THAT YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED? THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW TO INTRODUCE OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER TODAY, I HAVE THE HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BRING TO THE STAGE TWO OUTSTANDING STUDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY ARE GARRETT SIMMONS FROM HILTON HEAD HIGH SCHOOL AND MIKALA TORRES, ALSO A SENIOR FROM MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'LL BE COMING SHORTLY NOW.
BOTH OF THEM ARE SEMI-FINALIST OF THE US SENATE, VERY PRESTIG PRESTIGIOUS YOUTH PROGRAM.
SO GREAT REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR AREA.
AND GARRETT IS ACTUALLY ALSO A GRADUATE OF THE CHAMBER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, JUNIOR VERSION.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND WELCOME GARRETT AND MICKEL TO THE STAGE.
MY NAME IS MIKAYLA TORRES AND I'M A JUNIOR AT MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE ESTEEMED HONOR OF BEING ABLE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY AND TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE SUCH AN INFLUENTIAL INDIVIDUAL IN OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, LIKE MANY OF US HERE TODAY, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAS AN IMMENSE PASSION FOR POLITICS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, A DUTY TO MAGNIFY THE PEOPLE'S VOICES.
MY NAME IS GARRETT SIMONS AND I'M A SENIOR AT HILAND ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE SENATOR GRAHAM TODAY.
AND THANK YOU TO SENATOR GRAHAM FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE.
BEFORE BEING ELECTED TO CONGRESS, LINDSEY GRAHAM ACHIEVED A DISTINGUISHED RECORD IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ON ACTIVE DUTY AS AN AIR FORCE LAWYER.
IN 1995, LINDSEY GRAHAM BECAME A
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PART OF THE US AIR FORCE RESERVES AND LATER RETIRED IN 2015, HAVING SERVED HIS COUNTRY IN UNIFORM FOR 33 YEARS.PRIOR TO SERVING IN THE SENATE, SENATOR GRAHAM WAS ELECTED TO THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SERVED IN THAT POSITION FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT YEARS.
SENATOR GRAHAM IS THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR GRAHAM FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY IN THE AIR FORCE, AIR FORCE RESERVES, AND IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE HILTON HEAD BLUFF IN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE SENATOR GRAHAM TODAY.
LET'S GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO THE SENIOR UNITED STATES SENATOR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T RUN FOR MY JOB UNTIL YOU'RE 35.
YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT? SO, UH, HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE? THAT WAS AWESOME.
UH, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, BILL.
UM, I'M GONNA SAY BLUFF IN FIVE TIMES SO THEY WON'T GET THE BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD CHAMBER GOVERNMENT.
HOW ABOUT THAT? SO, UH, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.
UH, I GOT A QUESTION FOR MYSELF.
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING TODAY, LINDSAY? I HAVE NO IDEA.
UH, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON THE PLANET TO COME TO.
THE REASON I'M LEAVING MY NIECE IS GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW, SO GOTTA GO UP TO COLUMBIA.
UH, IT IS GREAT TO BE OUTTA WASHINGTON AND THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE OUTTA WASHINGTON THAN THIS PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND TO OUR FRIENDS IN GEORGIA, WE LIKE YOU TOO.
UH, IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO COME HERE.
I TRY TO COME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR TO PLAY GOLF AND ENJOY WHAT YOU YOU LIVE WITH EVERY DAY.
UM, THE, THE INTRODUCTION WAS AWESOME.
I APOLOGIZE TO YOU AND YOUR GENERATION FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT BEING SCREWED UP SO MUCH, BUT WE'LL WORK ON IT.
UH, MY GOAL IS TO BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.
I REPRESENT OUR STATE HONORED TO DO SO ALONG WITH SENATOR SCOTT IN WASHINGTON.
IF IT LOOKS BAD ON TV, IT'S EVEN WORSE IN PERSON, BUT WE WILL GET THROUGH IT.
SO I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REGION.
IT'S GOOD, LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED? UH, YOU NEED BETTER CELL PHONE COVERAGE.
SO BILL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO THE CHAMBER, TO THE COMMUNITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, THE INVITE.
I APPRECIATE HOW HARD YOU WORK TO MAKE THIS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
RAISE A FAMILY AND START A BUSINESS AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT THAT WAY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REGION.
WHAT DID I SEE? UH, TRANSPORTATION.
THE REASON YOU HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND HERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND LIVE AND THEY COME AND VISIT.
I VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILLS A BIPARTISAN BILL.
I'LL PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK A LITTLE BIT.
I WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN TO VOTE FOR IT.
I UNDERSTAND OUR FISCAL SITUATION IS NOT VERY GOOD IN WASHINGTON, BUT WE'RE NOT IN DEBT BECAUSE WE BILL ROADS.
WE'RE NOT IN DEBT BECAUSE WE HAVE A WELL ARMED MILITARY.
WE'RE IN DEBT BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, BABY BOOMERS ARE COMING INTO THE MEDICARE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IN LARGE, LARGE NUMBERS AND WE GOTTA DEAL WITH OUR GROWTH OF ENTITLEMENTS.
BUT THE REASON I VOTED FOR THE BILL, IT ALLOCATED $997 MILLION TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THEIR TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
IT INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR OUR STATE BY 27% OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD.
AND YOU'LL BEGIN TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF IT HERE PRETTY SOON.
ONE OF THE THINGS IN THAT BILL THAT REALLY DROVE ME TO VOTE FOR IT WAS PROVIDING BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS TO RURAL AMERICA.
YOU CANNOT START A BUSINESS, YOU CAN'T HAVE A QUALITY EDUCATION.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A SAFE COMMUNITY IN TODAY'S WORLD UNLESS YOU'RE CONNECTED, RIGHT? SO WE WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER OFF IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN EVERY RURAL COMMUNITY CAN BENEFIT FROM BEING
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CONNECTED.YOUR HOSPITAL SYSTEM, YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOUR POLICE, FIREMEN, THE ENTIRE GAMBIT.
SO ONE OF MY PASSIONS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S COMING AVAILABLE TO THE WORLD COMES TO RURAL SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHAT DO I LIKE ABOUT THE CHAMBER? THE IDEA THAT YOU COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT YOU WORK WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH THE CHAMBER TO MAKE THE PLACE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, RIGHT? I WISH WE COULD DO THAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU'RE ROTARIANS LOVE THE ROTARY CLUB? YOU KNOW THE FOUR OH WAY TEST IN WASHINGTON WE'RE OH FOR FOUR.
IS IT TRUE
ARE Y'ALL EXCITED ABOUT THAT? YEAH,
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CHOICE, UH, BETWEEN I THINK PROBABLY PRESIDENT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND BIDEN.
WE'LL HAVE A CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION IN 2024 TO THE PEOPLE AT THE STATE HOUSE.
I STARTED MY CAREER IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FIRST REPUBLICAN SINCE 1877 TO BE ELECTED IN OAK COUNTY COUNTY, UH, TO THE STATE HOUSE.
I GOT MY FIRST PAYCHECK AND I LEFT
I SAID, IS THERE A MISTAKE HERE? IT'S $10,400 TO THOSE WHO IN THE STATE HOUSE, TOM STATE HOUSE GUYS, WESTON, ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, IT IS NOT A PART-TIME JOB.
IT'S REALLY A FULL-TIME JOB AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO, UH, FOR THIS PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BUT I KNOW THIS, THE PROBLEMS OF THE NATION ARE NOT GONNA GET BETTER UNLESS WE WORK TOGETHER LIKE THE CHAMBER DOES.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? I AM TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND WHERE YOU CAN, I DON'T MIND FIGHTING.
THERE'S A TIME TO FIGHT AND THERE'S A TIME TO FUSS AND THERE'S TIME TO SAY NO.
BUT THERE'S GOTTA BE A TIME TO SAY YES IF ALL WE DO IS SAY NO, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE INTRODUCE ME ARE GONNA BE LEFT BEHIND.
SO THE REASON I VOTED FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ON COUNTY COUNCIL, TO BE A MAYOR, TO BE ON CITY COUNCIL, TO BE IN PART OF THE STATE WHERE YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OVERWHELM, YOUR BUDGETS, ROADS DON'T MAGICALLY APPEAR.
SOMEBODY HAS TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO BUILD THEM AND SOMEBODY ACTUALLY HAS TO BUILD THE ROAD.
SO WHAT HAVE I LEARNED IN MY BRIEF VISIT HERE? YOU HAVE A AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROBLEM.
DO Y'ALL AGREE WITH THAT? IF YOU'RE A NURSE, IF YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER, YOU'RE WORKING THIS HOTEL.
IF YOU'RE A MIDDLE CLASS PERSON, WHERE DO YOU LIVE IN A RESORT COMMUNITY? WHAT CAN WE DO TO GIVE YOU AFFORDABLE, DECENT HOUSING THAT'S PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.
YOU KNOW, I DO BELIEVE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WE HAVE TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT, BUT THERE'S A ROLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUGE ISSUE ALL ALONG THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
WHY DID I VOTE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL? BECAUSE ALONG THE COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA, PARTICULARLY THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES EXCEED THE SERVICES.
ANYBODY BEEN TO OCONEE COUNTY? YEAH, WELL I WENT TO CAROLINA BUT I LIVE IN CLEMSON AND THAT'S HARD.
UH, I WENT TO THE AIRPORT, IT'S A NICE AIRPORT, BUT MY DAD, WE OWNED THE LIQUOR STORE IN CENTRAL.
WE HAVE ANY CLEMSON GRADUATES HERE? YEAH, GO TIGERS.
SO THAT'S FIVE MILES FROM CLEMSON IS CENTRAL.
SO I MET JUST ABOUT EVERY CLEMSON FAN WHEN Y'ALL PLAYED AT HOME 'CAUSE WE OWNED THE LIQUOR STORE.
I WENT TO CAROLINA BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET IN CLEMSON.
LAST WEEKEND I WENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TO THE GAME.
UH, HE DID NOT GET BOOED BUT HE DID HAVE POOR TIMING.
HE WAVES TO THE CROWD UP IN THE BOX AND GETTING A GREAT RECEPTION.
THEY DIDN'T GET A GOOD RECEPTION IN COLUMBIA.
HE'S OUT ON THE THE FIELD GETTING A GREAT RECEPTION THEN TO INTRODUCE THE CLEMSON BAND.
SOMEBODY ASKED, WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND TRUMP? WE GOT OFF TO A HARD START.
I WAS ONE OF 16 PEOPLE AT RAM FOR PRESIDENT
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IN 20 UH, 16.IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER THAT, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
BUT I DID GET TO MEET TRUMP AND I HATED HIS GUTS EARLY ON.
I DIDN'T LIKE A LOT OF THINGS HE SAID OR DID, BUT NOBODY WAS PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ME.
UH, HE LET MY PHONE NUMBER OUT, REMEMBER THAT WHOLE THING? MY PHONE DID BETTER THAN I DID.
SO ONCE HE GOT ELECTED HE CALLED ME UP AND HE SAID, I'D LIKE TO MEET YOU AND I'LL SEE IF YOU COULD HELP ME.
I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU.
UH, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
YOU MAY OUTDRIVE HIM BUT YOU WILL NOT OUTDRIVE HIS CADDY.
AND PEOPLE ASK ME, WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU AND PRESIDENT TRUMP? WE FOUND COMMON GROUND AFTER GETTING TO KNOW HIM.
I CAME TO LIKE HIM AND HE LIKES HIM AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON,
BUT DURING THOSE YEARS I MADE MYSELF UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THE ELECTION IS OVER, IT IS A DUTY TO TRY TO HELP THOSE IN OFFICE.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? WE HAVE TO HAVE A DUTY TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE OR THINKING ABOUT POLITICS.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOUR AGENDA.
IT'S GOOD TO FIGHT FOR YOUR CAUSE, BUT YOU HAVE A DUTY TO TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND IF YOU CAN.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION, INFRASTRUCTURE IS GONNA BE ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST NEEDS.
I'M THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION OTHER THAN CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN, THAT EARMARKS MONEY.
I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS PROBABLY BETTER THAN SOME BUREAUCRAT YOU'LL NEVER MEET.
I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT I WILL PROMISE YOU THIS BILL TO THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO WILL INVEST IN THEIR OWN NEEDS.
IF YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT YOUR OWN MONEY UP, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME TO GET FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP YOU.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN INFRASTRUCTURE IS REAL.
THE MANDATES WE PUT ON YOUR CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE REAL.
A LOT OF YOUR BUDGET IS SPENT BEFORE YOU EVER GAVEL IN BECAUSE OF FEDERAL MANDATES.
ONE THING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU IS LESSEN THAT LOAD.
SO THE STATE OF THIS REGION IS GOOD, BUT THE STATE OF THIS REGION IS BEING CHALLENGED.
YOU'RE BEING CHALLENGED TO HAVE HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT THIS PART OF THE WORLD TO THE WORLD AT LARGE.
WITHOUT BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A HARD TIME EDUCATING YOUR CHILDREN, TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH AND GROWING YOUR ECONOMY.
THESE ARE THE THINGS OF GOVERNMENT YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT.
IF YOU WATCH CABLE TV, YOU'LL HEAR NOTHING ABOUT THIS.
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT WHO SUCKS AND WHO DOESN'T AND WHY.
SO THE REASON I ENJOY THIS EXPERIENCE OF COMING TO THIS COMMUNITY AND OTHERS IS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A COMMUNITY STRONG.
IT TAKES A CHAMBER THAT CARES THE PROBLEMS YOU PUT UP ON THE SCREEN.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM MOST BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO LIVE THERE? THINK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS. THERE ARE A BLESSING IN THE SENSE THAT YOU LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND VISIT, SPEND MONEY AND STAY.
YOU ARE GROWING AND THERE'S SO MANY PLACES IN OUR STATE THAT CAN'T FIND A WAY TO GO FORWARD.
MY GOAL IS TO TAKE YOUR GROWTH AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE WORKFORCE FROM? HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE A LABOR PROBLEM HERE IN BEAVER COUNTY? DO YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FINDING WORKERS? WELL, THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES AROUND HERE THAT WILL PROVIDE A WORKFORCE IF THEY COULD GET HERE.
SO WE GOTTA CONNECT THIS REGION TO THE REST OF THIS PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO MEET YOUR LABOR NEEDS TO GROW.
FROM A WORLD PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE A DECLINING POPULATION.
THE BORDER IS A COMPLETE DISASTER.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR 20 YEARS.
I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN JOBS IN AMERICA YOU CANNOT FIND PEOPLE HERE TO DO.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? SOME PEOPLE DON'T.
IT'S JUST HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO WANT TO DO CERTAIN JOBS IN AMERICA.
LET'S BRING PEOPLE INTO THE COUNTRY.
WHEN AN AMERICAN CAN'T BE FOUND BY THE BUSINESS AND HELP YOU RUN A RESTAURANT, HELP YOU WITH A LANDSCAPE SERVICE, HELP YOU WITH YOUR BUSINESS WHERE THEY CAN IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND YOU CAN PROVE THEIR BUSINESS, LEGAL IMMIGRATION IS GONNA BE MORE NECESSARY, NOT LESS.
[00:40:04]
WE'RE DECLINING POPULATION.YOU KNOW, THE ONLY PLACE WE'RE BEING 68 IS YOUNG IS THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
WE'RE OLDER, WE HAVE LESS CHILDREN.
IN 1935 WHEN WE CAME UP WITH SOCIAL SECURITY, THERE WERE ALMOST 30 WORKERS FOR EVERY RETIREE.
NOW THERE'S TWO, THREE WORKERS FOR EVERY SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENT.
WHERE DO WE GET PEOPLE TO PAY IN SOCIAL SECURITY? WE HAVE SMALLER FAMILIES.
WE HAVE A DECLINING WORKFORCE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR WORKFORCE WITH RATIONAL IMMIGRATION.
THAT MEANS I GOTTA SIT DOWN WITH A DEMOCRAT AND FIND A WAY TO GET A DEAL DONE.
WE ALL NEED TO UH, SECURE OUR BORDER.
I WANT MORE LEGAL IMMIGRATION.
PEOPLE ON THE LEFT WILL WANT A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR PEOPLE HERE FOR A LONG TIME NOT COMMITTING CRIME.
I'M WILLING TO MAKE A TRADE OFF.
I'M WILLING TO SAY TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN OUR COUNTRY FOR DECADES WITH NO OTHER PLACE TO GO.
WE'LL MAKE YOU RIGHT WITH A LAW.
LEARN OUR LANGUAGE, GET IN THE BACK OF THE LINE.
PAY A FINE FOR THE LAW YOU BROKE AND WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND STAY HERE.
THE BOTTOM LINE IN AGRICULTURE, 50% OF THE PEOPLE AT LEAST WORKING IN AGRICULTURE ARE UNDOCUMENTED, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO.
WE GOT CHAOS, RIGHT? LET'S MAKE IT ORDERLY.
IT'S GONNA TAKE A REPUBLICAN WORKING WITH A DEMOCRAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
I'VE BEEN TRYING SINCE 2006 AND I WON'T GIVE UP.
THE DAY I GIVE UP, I GIVE UP ON YOU.
IF I GET BEAT TRYING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, SO BE IT.
THE DEBT IS ENORMOUS, RIGHT? WHAT DRIVES IT? 75% OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ROADS, BRIDGES, THE MILITARY, THE VA, IT'S ENTITLEMENTS, IT'S MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY.
IT'S VA BENEFITS THAT YOU GET BASED ON YOUR STATUS.
IF YOU'RE 65, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO SOCIAL SECURITY.
YOU GET ONTO MEDICARE, I GUESS YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO 67 NOW, BUT 65 YOU GET MEDICARE, YOU'RE ENTITLED TO THIS.
YOU PAY IN AND YOU'RE ENTITLED TO GET YOUR MONEY BACK.
THE PROBLEM IS MOST PEOPLE LIVE LONGER THAN THEY PAY IN AND THEY'RE TAKEN OUT MORE THAN THEY PAY IN.
WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE AGE OF RETIREMENT AT LEAST ONE MORE TIME SO THAT THE BABY BOOMERS DON'T DESTROY THESE CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO HAVE A FUTURE TOO.
MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ARE LOOK LOOKING TO GO BROKE IN THE MID TH 20, 32, 35 RANGE.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO STOP THAT? IT TAKES A DEAL LIKE REAGAN AND O'NEILL.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADJUST THE AGE OF RETIREMENT PROBABLY ONE MORE TIME.
PEOPLE IN MY INCOME LEVEL ARE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE LESS AND PAY A LITTLE MORE.
WHEN I WAS 21, MY MOM AND DAD DIED WITHIN 15 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER.
I'M THE FIRST ONE IN MY FAMILY TO EVER GO TO COLLEGE.
UH, MY DAD WAS A WORLD WAR II VETERAN.
NEITHER ONE OF MY PARENTS FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD A RESTAURANT, A BEER JOINT AND A LIQUOR STORE, AND I LEARNED A LOT IN THE RESTAURANT, LIQUOR STORE AND BEER JOINT.
WHAT DID I LEARN? IF A GUY'S THREATENED TO CUT YOU A THROAT, DON'T BUY 'EM A KNIFE.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANNA GIVE IRAN ANY MONEY.
SO SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE SOMETIME NEEDS TO STEP UP THE PLACE, FIX A RAT, A BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, GET US BACK ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO INTRODUCED ME HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY WE DID.
IT'S GONNA TAKE POLITICAL COMPROMISE.
IT'S GONNA TAKE POLITICAL COVERAGE, COURAGE, THE CHAMBER.
YOU HELP PEOPLE LIKE ME AND TOM AND WESTON AND ALL OF US RIGHT NOW.
YOU GET REWARDED FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS. ALMOST ZERO.
YOU DON'T GET MANY AWARDS FOR TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND.
YOU'RE ALWAYS TOLD WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
THIS CHAMBER WOULDN'T EXIST IF YOU HAD THAT MENTALITY.
OUR COUNTRY IS AT A CROSSROADS ENOUGH WITH BEATING EACH OTHER UP ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T LIKE GIRLS, UH, BOYS PLAYING GIRLS SPORTS.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN FIGHT ABOUT, SOMETHING WE CAN ARGUE ABOUT.
BUT SOMEBODY HAS GOTTA GET US OUT OF THIS DEATH SPIRAL OF DEBT.
SOMEBODY'S GOTTA FIND A WAY TO MAKE MEDICARE MORE SUSTAINABLE SO IT DOESN'T CROWD OUT ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU SPEND IN TAXES, SENDING TAXES JUST TO DEAL WITH MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
BY 2035, ALL THE TAX MONEY YOU SEND WILL GO TO ENTITLEMENTS.
THERE WON'T BE A DIME LEFT FOR THE MILITARY.
SO THAT MEANS RESTRUCTURING THESE SYSTEMS IN A SOUND LOGICAL WAY, NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO GIVE WHAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO GIVE.
I'LL NEVER ASK ANY PERSON ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO GIVE UP MONEY YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE WITHOUT.
I COULD GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND I COULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT LESS AND I WOULD WOULD YOU IF THAT'S WHAT IT TOOK TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY.
SO HARD DECISIONS AWAIT AND I GOT A MINUTE AND 18 SECONDS TO TELL YOU ABOUT HOW THE WORLD SCREWED UP.
[00:45:01]
IS NOT DISCONNECTED FROM THE STATE OF THE WORLD.HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT? NEVER FORGET THAT.
ON NINE 11, 2001, AN ATTACK WAS PLANNED AGAINST OUR COUNTRY IN AFGHANISTAN AND NOBODY PROBABLY KNEW WHERE AFGHANISTAN WAS.
WE TOOK AN HOUR OFF THE BALL AND 18 PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO KILL A BUNCH OF US.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE TERRORISM'S ON THE RISE AND THE BORDER IS BROKEN.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THE LARGEST KILLING OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE OCCURRED.
SINCE THE HOLOCAUST, THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WARSAW GHETTO UPRISING WAS CELEBRATED THIS YEAR IN 1943.
80 YEARS AGO, THE JEWS IN THE WARSAW GHETTO STOOD UP TO THE GERMANS.
THEY ALL GOT KILLED, BUT THEY WENT DOWN FIGHTING.
I NEVER THOUGHT IN 2023, PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST WOULD WIND UP BEING KILLED.
THIS IS THE WORLD IN WHAT WE LIVE IN.
I TRY TO GET ALONG WITH DEMOCRATS.
I TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, BUT LET ME TELL YOU AS BRIEFLY AS I CAN, THIS IS A DANGEROUS PLACE.
AND IF YOU STOP ISRAEL FROM DEFENDING THEMSELVES AND DESTROYING HAMAS, YOU WILL BE NEXT.
THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DESTROY THE STATE OF ISRAEL WANNA COME AFTER YOU.
I'VE BEEN TO AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ MANY TIMES.
EVERYBODY IN THE ISLAMIC FAITH DOES NOT BELIEVE WHAT AL-QAEDA AND HAMAS BELIEVES.
THEY'RE THE BIGGEST VICTIMS MANY TIMES.
BUT WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR THE SAKE OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND GET THIS RIGHT.
WE CAN'T LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND DO HORRIBLE THINGS AND NOT PAY A PRICE.
I WISH THERE WERE MORE OF AN ALLY.
RUSSIA AND UKRAINE WILL NOT STOP UNLESS SOMEBODY MAKES THEM STOP.
THIS IDEA THAT YOU CAN GIVE UKRAINE TO RUSSIA AND ALL WILL BE WELL IS A FANTASY.
IF THE UKRAINIANS DON'T STOP HIM NOW HE WILL KEEP GOING.
SO I KNOW UKRAINE IS NOT POPULAR AMONG SOME PEOPLE.
WE HAVE NOT LOST ONE SOLDIER IN THE FIGHT IN UKRAINE.
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE SPENT IS 5% OF OUR MILITARY BUDGET AND FOR THAT INVESTMENT WE'VE DESTROYED 50% OF THE RUSSIAN MILITARY THE UKRAINIANS HAVE.
I'M GONNA GIVE THEM THE MONEY AND THE WEAPONS THEY NEED TO BEAT A COMMON ADVERSARY SO OUR MEN AND WOMEN DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT THE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED THE BAND.
THEY SHOOT AS GOOD AS THEY PLAY.
BUT IF THERE'S A WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND NATO, THEY WILL BE IN THE FIGHT.
SO IF YOU DON'T STOP HIM NOW YOU'RE GONNA PAY LATER.
HOW MANY OF YOU THINK TAIWAN IS IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF CHINA? WELL, THEY ARE 80% OF ALL THE CHIPS THAT GO INTO EVERY TECHNOLOGY AND THE DIGITAL ECONOMY COMES FROM TAIWAN.
IF YOU GIVE UP ON UKRAINE, THERE GOES TAIWAN.
THEY'LL BE IN TAIWAN REAL QUICK.
IF WE STICK WITH UKRAINE, THEY BEAT THE RUSSIANS AND PUTIN LOOKS AS A LOSER BECAUSE HE MADE A MISTAKE.
CHINA WILL BE LESS LIKELY, I THINK TO GO INTO TAIWAN.
IF WE GIVE ISRAEL THE TIME AND SPACE TO DESTROY HAMAS, MAYBE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WILL HAVE A BETTER LIFE.
I'LL MAKE ONE STATEMENT ABOUT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.
AS LONG AS HAMAS IS IN CONTROL OF THEM, THEY WILL NEVER HAVE A GOOD LIFE.
HAMAS WILL KILL ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO WORK AND LIVE WITH THE ISRAELIS.
SO YOU NEED TO DESTROY HAMAS NOT ONLY TO PROTECT ISRAEL YOURSELF, BUT TO GIVE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER CHOICE.
SO THE STATE OF THE REGION IS GOOD.
THE STATE OF THE WORLD IS NOT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY ON INFLATION.
IF WE DON'T DRILL FOR OIL AND GAS THAT WE OWN, WE'RE IDIOTS.
WE'RE SITTING ON TOP A LOT OF OIL AND GAS.
UNTIL YOU CAN FIND A LOWER CARBON ECONOMY, WE NEED TO FIND ALL WE HAVE HERE.
I DON'T MIND INVESTING FOR IN A LOWER CARBON ECONOMY, BUT WHY SHOULD WE BUY OIL AND GAS FROM PEOPLE? HATE OUR GUTS, DRIVES UP GAS PRICES.
SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE ONE OF YOUR VOICES IN WASHINGTON.
THE CHAMBER MODEL IS THE BEST MODEL FOR AMERICA WHERE PEOPLE WHO COMPETE STILL CAN GET ALONG AND BUILD UP THE COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE IN COMPETITION.
THAT'S WHAT'S MISSING IN AMERICA.
THE COMPETITION IN POLITICS IS OVERSHADOWING THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE NATION FORWARD.
THE STATE OF THE REGION IS GOOD.
THE STATE OF THE NATION NOT SO MUCH END ON
[00:50:01]
A POSITIVE.ALL THE PROBLEMS I DESCRIBED CAN BE SOLVED.
THERE IS NO PROBLEM I DESCRIBED THAT CAN'T BE SOLVED.
THERE'S ONE COMMON THING THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED.
THE WILLINGNESS TO SOLVE THEM, THE BELIEF IN COMMON GROUND AND THAT COMPROMISE IS NOT A BAD THING, BUT THE ESSENCE OF A DEMOCRACY IS FOR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO FIND COMMON GROUND WHERE THEY CAN.
THE STATE OF THE REGION IS GOOD.
WOW, VERY INSIGHTFUL, VERY CURRENT.
AND SENATOR GRAHAM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FROM ALL OF US HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY, SOUTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORD HARVILLE, HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOME.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING FROM OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM OUR REGION AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE GIVING US THEIR REMARKS ON THEIR COMMUNITIES AND OUR REGION.
WE WILL HEAR FIRST FROM BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN JOE PASSMAN.
IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY HILTON HEAD ISLAND MAYOR ALAN HARRY, CITY OF HARVILLE, MAYOR HARRY WILLIAMS, AND BL BLUFFTON MAYOR LISA SULCA.
UNFORTUNATELY, CHAIRMAN PAMAN IS NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US TODAY AS HE'S ATTENDING THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE.
HOWEVER, HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND US A VIDEO WITH WITH SOME REMARKS.
MY NAME IS JOE PASSIT, CHAIR OF THE BEAUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
I'M HONORED TO SHARE MY IDEA OF THE VIEW I HAVE OF THE STATE OF OUR REGION.
I BELIEVE THERE ARE FOUR CSS THAT WE ARE FACED WITH RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE CHANGE CHALLENGES, COOPERATION AND CHOICES.
WE'VE HAD A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON, PORT ROYAL IN BEAUFORT.
THAT CHANGE WILL BRING ABOUT THE OTHER SEAS AND HOW WE WILL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO FACE THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US, HOW WE WILL COOPERATE AND WHAT CHOICES WE MAKE TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY TO ASSURE THAT THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE REMARKABLE STRENGTH AND UNITY THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS DEMONSTRATED.
WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CONFRONT UNFORESEEN CHALLENGES AND I'VE WITNESSED THE RESILIENCE, DEDICATION, AND SOLIDARITY THAT DEFINE EUFOR COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE EVERYONE WHO IS LISTENING AND WHO IS IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY TO JOIN US AS A PARTICIPANT IN ONE OF OUR NEWLY IMPLEMENTED CHAT WITH THE COUNCIL EVENTS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS PUBLIC CONCERNS AND FOSTER OPEN DIALOGUE BETWEEN LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THE COMMUNITY TO TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TACKLE THE UNEXPECTED, EMERGING STRONGER AND WITH A NEW FOCUS ON ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, AND TRUST.
TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REGION, YOU NEED TO HAVE A STARTING POINT AND THAT STARTING POINT FOR ME WAS IN MARCH OF 2023 FOR THREE DAYS, A 27 MEMBER DELEGATION THAT REPRESENTED THE SEVEN COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP OUR REGION WENT TO WASHINGTON DC TO MEET WITH SENATORS LINDSEY GRAHAM, WHO IS HERE TODAY.
HELLO SENATOR AND TIM SCOTT AND SEVERAL CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR OUR REGION TO TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT AFFECT OUR REGION.
WE DISCOVERED THAT EACH OF US HAS SIMILAR NEEDS AND THAT BY COOPERATING WITH EACH OTHER WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO OBTAIN THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO DO THE PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP OUR REGION GROW.
AS A RESULT OF THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL THREE-DAY MEETING, WE CREATED WHAT WAS KNOWN AS
[00:55:01]
THE SCA SOUTHERN CAROLINA LEADERSHIP COLLABORATION.WE'VE HELD FOUR MEETINGS SO FAR.
THE FIRST ONE WAS BORN IN WASHINGTON DC TO DISCUSS SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES WE HAD AND PUT A PLAN TOGETHER SO THAT WE COULD MEET AS A REGION TO DISCUSS THESE.
WE FOCUSED ON MEETINGS THAT AFFECTED ALLENDALE, BARNWELL, BAMBERG, BUFORD, COLLETON HAMPTON, AND JASPER COUNTIES, WHERE WE SET A PLAN THAT WAS TO BUILD VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT COULD HELP THE REGION.
THE SECOND WAS BUILDING A JOINT DETENTION CENTER THAT WOULD SERVE FOUR OF OUR SEVEN COUNTIES AS A PILOT PROGRAM.
THE THIRD MEETING FOCUSED ON THE WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTERS IN OUR REGION AND HOW TO BETTER UTILIZE THE EXISTING PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES IN THE REGION AND WHERE EXPANSION OF FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED.
OUR LATEST MEETING FOCUSED ON ENERGY BRINGING IN ALL OF THE MAJOR UTILITY PROVIDERS TO UPDATE US ON THE PLANS TO EXPAND SERVICES AS OUR REGION CONTINUES TO GROW, ESPECIALLY THOSE PROVIDERS OF NATURAL GAS AND ELECTRICITY.
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW IN THE REALM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? BUFORD COUNTY CONTINUES TO SHINE AS A UNIQUE AND ATTRACTIVE ENVIRONMENT TO DO BUSINESS.
WE'VE EXPANDED ECONOMIC HORIZONS CREATING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND STEWARDSHIP ENSURES THAT OUR COUNTY RETAINS ITS NATURAL CHARM WHILE EXPERIENCING RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
WE ALL KNOW A DIVERSE RESILIENT ECONOMY IS A KEY TO A PROSPERING REGION.
WE BELIEVE THAT OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND OUR LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND SUPPORT OUR ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
OUR VISION IS TO RECRUIT NEW PRIVATE INVESTMENT, CREATE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY THROUGH A HEALTHY TAX BASE.
OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADING TO NEW CHALLENGES TO FIND QUALIFIED WORKFORCE TO FILL THE POSITIONS.
OUR LOCAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS CONTINUE TO BE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSES.
THIS YEAR, BEAUFORT COUNTY ENTERED ENTERED INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE MARINE CORPS, AIR STATION, PARIS ISLAND AND THE NAVAL HOSPITAL.
OUR VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES AND OFFERINGS ASSISTING OVER 20,000 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
TOURISM CONTINUES TO BE A DRIVING FOCUS IN THE COUNTY.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS BEEN VOTED THE BEST ISLAND IN AMERICA FOR THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR AND BEAUFORT HAS TOPPED THE BEST SMALL TOWNS LIST SEVERAL TIMES.
BEAUFORT COUNTY IS HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST VISITED STATE PARK AND OUR 30 MILES OF COASTLINE ATTRACTS TRAVELERS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THE BEAUFORT REGION BOASTS A DIVERSE LIST OF ATTRACTIONS AND WE'RE KNOWN FOR OUR HISTORY, HERITAGE, ART, WILDLIFE, AND NATURAL BEAUTY.
WITH OVER 3 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR, BEAUFORT COUNTY SAW $1.37 BILLION IMPACT IN 2020 ALONE.
TODAY'S VISITORS ARE TOMORROW'S RESIDENTS AND WE'VE SEEN THIS TREND CONTINUE.
EDUCATION REMAINS AT THE CORE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S PRIORITIES.
WE PROVIDE STUDENTS OF ALL AGES WITH ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, EQUIPPING THEM FOR SUCCESS IN THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD, BUFORT COUNTY VOTERS JUST VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF THE 2023 SCHOOL BOND REFERENDUM TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING IN SCHOOLS, POSTER SECURITY MEASURES, AND MODERNIZING OUTDATED FACILITIES.
OUR COLLABORATION WITH BUFORT COUNTY SCHOOLS, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BUFORT AND THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS EXEMPLIFIES OUR RESOLVE TO NURTURE THE TALENTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR YOUTH.
THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEMS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A WEALTH OF SERVICES TO OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON A SIXTH LIBRARY BRANCH COMING SOON TO PORT ROYALS PARIS AVENUE.
THIS IS THE STATE OF OUR REGION AND WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE FUTURE? BEAUFORT COUNTY IS GROWING AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
NEARLY EVERYONE CAME FROM SOMEWHERE.
I AM AN EXAMPLE, I CAME FROM THE NEW YORK NEW JERSEY AREA BACK IN 2007.
MY WIFE AND I WERE AT A CONFERENCE
[01:00:02]
IN SAVANNAH AND WE WERE THINKING ABOUT A RETIREMENT AREA AND SO WE CAME OVER AFTER THE CONFERENCE AND VISITED SUN CITY.I PURCHASED OUR HOME THAT DAY BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WAS THE PLACE TO BE AND I'M NOT ALONE IN THAT FEELING.
NEARLY 200,000 PEOPLE RESIDE HERE AND COUNTLESS VISITORS EVERY YEAR.
THIS SPECIAL REGION IS NO SECRET TO ANYONE.
BEAUFORT COUNTY MUST AND WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN AND CAPITALIZE ON CREATIVE WAYS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, THE BUFORT COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION IMPROVEMENTS BEGAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR RECENTLY COMPLETED MASTER PLAN.
NORTH OF THE BROAD WILL COMPLETE THE BUFORT TENNIS CENTER RENOVATION REFURBISH INTERIOR FACILITIES AT THE BURTON WELL COMPLEX CONSTRUCT, NEW RECREATIONAL PICKLE BALL COURTS AND DEDICATED THE ALVIN SETTLES POOL AT THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN RECREATION CENTER.
IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY, WE'LL HAVE EXPANDED OUR RECREATIONAL OFFERINGS TO CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND SENIORS.
THESE PROGRAMS HAVE SEEN WIDESPREAD SUCCESS.
BEAUFORT COUNTY, DIXIE BOYS AND BEAUFORT COUNTY, DIXIE JUNIOR BOYS BASEBALL TEAMS BOTH WON STATE TOURNAMENTS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS, ENGINEERS, AND MUNICIPALITIES TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR OUR INTERSECTIONS AND THE BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND ALONG 2 78.
THE 2 78 QUARTER PROJECT IS THE LINCHPIN TO SOLVING THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS IN OUR COUNTY.
WE'VE ALSO BEGUN THE NEAR TERM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT ADDRESSING PORTIONS OF STATE HIGHWAY ONE 70 AND A SALES TAX COMMITTEE WILL BE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL IN JANUARY FOR A PROPOSED REFERENDUM THAT WILL DETAIL THE PROPOSED PROJECTS TO BE PART OF THE REFERENDUM AND THE TIMEFRAME NEEDED TO RAISE THE FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT.
EXPANDING OUT FROM ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
LAST MONTH, THE HIL DEAD ISLAND AIRPORT OFFICIALLY MARKED THE START OF PHASE ONE OF ITS TERMINAL IMPROVEMENTS.
PROJECT AIM AT REDEFINING THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE WITH A STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD, OUR VISION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ENCOMPASSES PROGRESS AND RESPONSIBLE GROWTH BALANCE WITH OUR CITIZENS'.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR LOCAL WORKFORCE AND GROWING FAMILIES IS A KEY PIECE OF THIS AND IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE CURRENTLY FACE.
THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE BUFORD, JASPER HOUSING TRUST, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND DEVELOPERS WE'RE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF APARTMENTS AND HOUSES AVAILABLE.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL RECENTLY HELD AN AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING WORKSHOP TO EXPLORE AND IDENTIFY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO FUNDING AND SUPPORT.
IT IS A LONG ROAD AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, BUT WE ARE COMMITTED TO THIS INITIATIVE.
OPEN SPACE IS CRITICAL TO OUR AREA.
BUFORD COUNTY VOTERS A COUPLE YEARS AGO PASSED THE GREEN SPACE REFERENDUM THAT ALLOWED US TO OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD TIME AMASS A $100 MILLION FUND TO ADDRESS THE GREEN SPACE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE TO PROTECT CRITICAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO PROVIDE LAND FOR RECREATION.
THIS ALLOWS US TO PREVENT DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS ON THE LAND USE PATTERNS, TRAFFIC, PUBLIC SAFETY, STORM WATER ROLL RUNOFF, WATER QUALITY, AND OTHER CONSERVATIVE PROJECTS.
IN ADDITION TO THE GREEN SPACE, THE COUNTY HAS PARTNERED WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST, THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS BOARD, AND THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAD TO PROTECT OPEN SPACES, NATURAL HABITATS, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
OUR PASSIVE PARKS SYSTEM IS GROWING DYNAMICALLY.
AS YOUR COUNTY CHAIRMAN, I'M PROUD TO SERVE THIS EXTRAORDINARY COMMUNITY AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE BEAUFORT COUNTY A PLACE THAT WE ALL CAN LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND ACCOUNTABLE TO OUR CITIZENS AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO SERVE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR A FEW MINUTES TODAY ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE WE CALL HOME.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HILTON HEAD ISLAND MAYOR
[01:05:01]
ALAN PERRY.WELL THIS IS GONNA BE FUN TO FOLLOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ESTEEMED GUESTS AND FELLOW RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
THANK YOU FOR GATHERING HERE TODAY AS WE REFLECT ON THE REGIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR AND CAST OUR EYES TOWARDS THE PROMISING FUTURE THAT LIES AHEAD.
I STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE MAYOR OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, HUMBLED AND HONORED TO REPRESENT A COMMUNITY THAT I'VE CALLED HOME FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
BEFORE I DELVE INTO THE STATE OF OUR REGION, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO OUR STAFF, TEAM, AND LEADERSHIP.
OUR TOWN MANAGER, MARK ORLANDO, AND HIS ENTIRE SENIOR LEADERSHIP, AS WELL AS THE DEDICATED STAFF OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AS YOU ARE ALL DOING A WONDERFUL JOB, YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS, COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK ABSOLUTELY ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR SUCCESS AND WE ARE TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED TEAM STEERING OUR COMMUNITY AS WE REFLECT ON 2023.
I'M PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT ARE PRIORITIZED IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND SET US ON A PATH FORWARD TO A BRIGHTER TOMORROW.
TODAY MARKS MY FIRST STATE OF THE REGION ADDRESS AS AS YOUR MAYOR, AND THE WORD THAT RESONATES IN MY MIND IS PRIDE.
PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PRIDE IN THE WORK WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY UNDERTAKEN TO MAKE HILTON HEAD ISLAND A BEACON OF EXCELLENCE.
I EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE MEMBERS OF HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL MAYOR PRO TEM DAVID AMES, COUNCILWOMAN, TAMMY BECKER, COUNCILMAN GLEN STANFORD, COUNCILMAN ALEX BROWN, COUNCILWOMAN PATSY BRYSON AND COUNCILMAN STEVE ALFRED.
ALL INDIVIDUALS WITH CONVINCING POSITIONS AND ISLAND ISSUES, YET COMMITTED TO WORK TOGETHER, COMPROMISING WHEN NECESSARY TO CREATE A SHARED VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
TOGETHER WE BALANCE THE NEEDS OF OUR ISLAND'S FUTURE WITH THOUGHTS AND DESIRES OF THOSE WHO HAVE CALLED THIS HOME, THIS ISLAND HOME FOR GENERATIONS.
OUR ISLAND'S FUTURE IS PROMISING, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IN 2023, WE WELCOMED 120 NEW BUSINESSES A TESTAMENT TO THE ENTREPRENEUR, ENTREPRENEUR, ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT THRIVES.
HERE I EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS IN THIS ROOM WHO INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTING TO THE THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
FROM RICK PETERSON'S VENTURE IN HILTON HEAD, HARLEY DAVIDSON ON THE PALMETTO BAY ROAD CORRIDOR TO BILLY WATERS'S PHILANTHROPIC ENDEAVORS WITH THE BANK WHERE HE MADE A $1 MILLION DONATION TO THE HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE FREEDOM PARK.
IT IS GRATIFYING TO OBSERVE, TO OBSERVE BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTING TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND INVESTING IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS YEAR WE ALSO ESTABLISHED A SMALL MINORITY OWNED AND DIS OWNED DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS PROGRAM TO FURTHER OUR COMMITMENT TO FOSTERING INCLUSI INCLUSIVITY AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES, WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE CHALLENGES FACED BY OUR REGION'S WORKFORCE, PARTICULARLY IN SECURING AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
OUR FINDING HOME INITIATIVE IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN.
IT IS A COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND EXPANDING WORKFORCE HOUSING OPTIONS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THIS YEAR WE ESTABLISHED A HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED A CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER TO WORK TOGETHER TO DIRECTLY ADDRESS HOUSING ISSUES ENVISIONING A SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE HOUSING IS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE NORTH POINT PROJECT, A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE STREET RESIDENTIAL THAT WILL PROVIDE QUALITY LIVING SPACES AND A WORKFORCE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR THE BACKBONE OF OUR ISLANDS WORKFORCE IS A MORE THAN $40 MILLION INVESTMENT.
THIS INITIATIVE WILL CREATE 150 TO ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE TWO AND THREE BEDROOM APARTMENT UNITS ON THE NORTH END, OFFERING A HOME FOR FIREFIGHTERS, NURSES, NURSES, TEACHERS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND MORE.
THE TOWN ALSO ACQUIRED MORE THAN SEVEN ACRES FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING ON BRYANT ROAD AND WILL SOON EMBARK ON A COMMUNITY STABILIZATION PLAN THAT INVEST IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, RESIDENT SUPPORT, AND WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE AND RECOGNIZE THAT PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND LOCAL EMPLOYERS IN HILTON HEAD ISLAND ARE STEPPING UP TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE CHALLENGES EXEMPLIFIED BY PROJECTS SUCH AS PALAU VILLAGE BY THE SEA PINES COMPANY TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR SEA PINES HOSPITALITY WORKERS.
THE RICHARDSON GROUP'S AFFILIATION WITH THE HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR NURSES AND A PRIVATE LOCAL DEVELOPER
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INVESTOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE SURGE GROUP TO REIMAGINE AN OFFICE COMPLEX PROVIDING HOUSING FOR WORKERS, LIFEGUARDS, AND STUDENTS AND MORE INVESTMENTS ARE COMING TO TRANSITION, TO TRANSITION OTHER UN UNDERUTILIZED SPACES TO HOUSING FOR EVEN MORE OF OUR ISLANDS WORKFORCE.IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR, POSITIVE CHANGES ARE UNDERWAY.
DEVON HEALTH'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR ACQUISITION OF HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL AND COASTAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL.
ALONG WITH THE ADDITIONAL RECRUITMENT OF NEW DOCTORS AND NURSES, I'M TOLD IT'S OVER A HUNDRED.
BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HAS ALSO MADE AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ACQUISITION OF ISLAND IMAGING.
IN THE PAST YEAR, THE TOWN HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS TO ACQUIRE LAND, TO MANAGE GROWTH IN SENSITIVE AREAS TO PERVER, TO PRESERVE THE ISLAND'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, SPENDING CLOSE TO $20 MILLION LEGACY PARCELS.
WE ACQUIRED THE EQUESTRIAN BARN AND PADDOCKS ON JONESVILLE ROAD, WILD WING CAFE LAND ALONG WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY ON THE EDGE OF THE BROAD CREEK AND SEVERAL OTHER PARCELS.
THESE PARCELS WERE ACQUIRED AND FUNDED WITH OUR REAL ESTATE TRANSFER FEE AND ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO REINVEST REVENUES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING MEMORABLE AND HIGH QUALITY PARKS AND RECREATIONAL SPACES FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
WE RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED SIX NEW PICKLEBALL COURTS.
EVAN STOEKS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED PATHWAY AND TRAIL ALONG BROAD CREEK AND COMPLETED THE FOLLY BEACH, FOLLY FIELD, BEACH PARK, BOARDWALK BATHROOM RENOVATION AND ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS.
WE WILL PRESS FORWARD AND FURTHER EXPAND OUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES AND OFFER ENHANCED FACILITIES FOR SOCCER, BASEBALL, ROLLER HOCKEY, FOOTBALL, TENNIS, AND YES, OF COURSE PICKLEBALL AND ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE RENAISSANCE OF OUR PUBLIC REALM ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
WE ARE WELL UNDERWAY TO ADVANCE OUR NEWEST PARKS, PATTERSON PARK AND TAYLOR FAMILY PARK IN THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS AND WE'LL REIMAGINE REIMAGINE ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, CHAPLAIN CROSSINGS, AND WE WILL EXPAND AND COMPLETE SHELTER COVE PARK.
I'M DELIGHTED TO KNOW THAT THE VOTERS APPROVE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM, GIVING HILTON HEAD ISLAND $167 MILLION TO BUILD A NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS REST REPRESENTS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING.
IT SIGNIFIES A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING DIVERSE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR STUDENTS.
SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OUR ISLAND THIS YEAR ALSO MARKS SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARIES FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND 360 YEARS AGO.
SINCE WILLIAM F HILTON SPOTTED HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND 40 YEARS SINCE WE BECAME AN INCORPORATED TOWN.
WE CELEBRATED THESE MILESTONES WITH A MONTH LONG SERIES OF EVENTS SHOWCASING OUR VIBRANT CULTURE, MUSIC CULTURE AND ARTS.
THE SUCCESS OF THESE EVENTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE DEDICATION OF VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, BUSINESSES, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER ANGIE STONE AND DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, NATALIE HARVEY.
MY BROTHER REED BROUGHT BMI MUSIC TO THE TABLE WHO PARTNERED WITH THE TOWN, LOVED THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE PEOPLE SO MUCH THEY HOPED TO MAKE THE SINGER SONGWRITER ISLAND JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL, AN ISLAND EVENT WITH A NATIONAL AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE READY TO DESCEND ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND TO LISTEN TO EVERY NOTE, THE RBC HERITAGE, A CORNERSTONE OF OUR ISLAND'S IDENTITY, ACHIEVED EVEN GREATER HEIGHTS BY A BEING, A HIGHLY DESIRED DESIGNATED PGA TOUR TOURNAMENT, ATTRACTING TOP PLAYERS AND ENHANCING OUR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL VISIBILITY EVENTS LIKE THE 360 40 CONCERT JUNETEENTH AT MITCHELLVILLE ISLAND JAMS, CRESCENDO, THE LANTERN PARADE, SEAFOOD FESTIVAL, WING FEST, AND THE SIGNATURE RBC HERITAGE GOLF TOURNAMENT FOSTER OUR COMMUNITY SPIRIT, UNITY AND PRIDE IN OUR ISLAND AS WE NAVIGATE THE WILLIAM HILTON GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT.
A DECISION THAT WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE FOR GENERATIONS.
WE ARE PRIORITIZING COLLABORATION AND THROUGH CONSIDERATION OF ALL FACTORS.
WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCING TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS ONTO AND OFF OUR ISLAND, INCLUDING ACCOMMODATING, ACCOMMODATING A LARGE COMMUTING WORKFORCE AND VISITOR BASE WITH THE PRESERVATION AND SUSTENANCE OF OUR GULL GEECHEE PEOPLE AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND WITH THE BEAUTIFUL NATURAL BEAUTY THAT DEFINES HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
IT IS THE HOT TOPIC IN THE COUNTY AND THE REGION AND WE ARE TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS A DECISION THAT WILL HAVE IMPACTS FOR DECADES AND ON GENERATIONS TO COME.
ANSWERS TO A FEW REMAINING QUESTIONS STILL EXIST.
THEY WILL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY WITH CONFIDENCE.
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OF THE RIGHT CORRIDOR ALIGNMENT, UNDERSTANDING DETAILS ON PHYSICAL IMPACTS AND MITIGATION OPPORTUNITIES, DEMANDING THE RIGHT DESIGN SOLUTION FOR THE PARKWAY AND INTERSECTIONS AND CONFIRMING NEEDS AND PERFORMANCE BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVES.THIS IS NO TIME TO RUSH TO JUDGMENT.
IT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY OF US THAT WE CANNOT MAKE ANY.
ANY DECISION MADE WILL NOT BE MADE THROUGH A MOTION.
IT WILL BE ONE BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED BY ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
TODAY, I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE TOWN HAS COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF MAIN STREET.
WE WILL SOON BEGIN REPAIRS ON THE ROAD AND BEGIN PLANNING FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF MAIN STREET, WHICH WILL INCLUDE SAFER PATHWAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
CONNECTING WITH THE GULLAH COMMUNITY IS PARAMOUNT AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE RECENT APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS BOXLEY AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR PRIORITY AND DEDICATION TO PRESERVING GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE, FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'D BE REMISS IF I DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OUR BEAUFORT COUNTY CHAIR, JOE PASSMAN FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH MAYOR SALKA AND MAYOR WILLIAMS AND YOUR RESPECTIVE ELECTED LEADERS.
IT IS AN HONOR TO SERVE ALONG EACH SIDE OF YOU.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MAYOR SKO FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES.
THAT'S A LONG TIME ABOUT STANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
WE KNOW THE SACRIFICES AND COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE MADE TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND OUR REGION.
I ALMOST WORE ORANGE TODAY, BUT AFTER THAT WHOOPING LAST WEEKEND, I COULDN'T DO IT
SO AS WE APPROACH THE HOLIDAY SEASON, LET US COME TOGETHER TO ONCE AGAIN CELEBRATE UPON THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT THAT DEFINES HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I EXTEND A PERSONAL LIMITATION TO JOIN ME AND SANTA AT CELEBRATION PARK TONIGHT AT FIVE 30 AS WE KICK OFF THIS THEFT OF SEASON.
IN CLOSING, I EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY.
THE SHAPE, THE DESTINY OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
FIRST YOU, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN STAFF AND TOWN MANAGER, MARK ORLANDO.
ALLS WHO ENERGY VIS VISIONS INFUSE US WITH PRIDE AND HOPE.
HOWEVER, MY MOST HEARTFELT THING GOES TO MY WIFE KATHY, WHO STOOD BY ME AS I STARTED THIS JOURNEY OVER FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WHOSE UNWAVERING SUPPORT HAS BEEN MY ANCHOR THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.
IN THE GRAND TRADITION OF POLITICAL SPEECHES, IT MAY SOUND CLICHE, WHICH WE HEARD EARLIER, THE STATE OF OUR REGION IS GOOD.
THE STATE OF OUR ISLAND IS GOOD AND TOGETHER WE ARE ENSURING THAT IT ONLY GETS BETTER.
AND MAY HILTON HEAD ISLAND CONTINUE TO THRIVE AND SHINE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME HARVILLE MAYOR HARRY WILLIAMS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
IT IS A GREAT HONOR FOR HARDY V TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON METROPOLITAN AREA.
OUR PRIDE IN THIS ASSOCIATION CAN BE SEEN BY EVERYONE AS THEY TRAVEL THROUGH OUR CITY.
JUST DRIVE ALONG 2 78 AND YOU'LL PASS LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE HILTON HEAD, HILTON HEAD LAKES, AND OF COURSE SUN CITY AND HILTON HEAD.
WE WANT THE NAME BACK AND THEN IF YOU GO AROUND TO ONE 70, YOU'LL PASS CANTOR FIELD OF BLUFFTON.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK YOU HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AND THE CHAMBER FOR YOUR GENEROUS MARKETING FOR THE CITY OF HARDY
HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO ADMITS HE'S IN HARDY.
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I HAVE SAID WHAT HAPPENS IN HARDY, I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO WALK IN CHEW GUM.I HAVE SAID WHAT HAPPENS IN HARDY V DOES NOT STAY IN HARDY V.
THIS IS TRUER THAN EVER BEFORE.
AS HARDY V HAS GROWN OVER 300% SINCE THE 2010 CENSUS AND WILL MOST LIKELY REACH 30,000 RESIDENTS BY 2030.
BUT HARVILLE HAS MORE HAPPENING THAN JUST A FEW HOMES ALONG HIGHWAY 17, MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSES ARE RISING.
THE NEW EXIT THREE AND THE GEORGIA HYUNDAI PLANT WILL CONTINUE TO SPUR THAT GROWTH THROUGHOUT THIS DECADE.
AND WITH NEW INDUSTRY, WE'LL COME NEW AND BETTER PAYING JOBS TO A REGION THAT IS FAST BECOMING KNOWN AS THE CARTER OF OPPORTUNITY.
WE ALL WILL FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THAT GROWTH.
MORE PASSENGER CARS AND MORE CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES WILL CLOG OUR ONCE RURAL ROADWAYS.
WORKERS OF EVERY TYPE ARE NEEDED AND THEY NEED NEW SKILLS.
AFFORDABLE HOMES ARE NEEDED FOR NURSES, TEACHERS, FIRST RESPONDERS IN EVERY TRADE, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
CRIME, HOMELESSNESS AND EDUCATION CANNOT BE SOLVED WITHOUT REGIONAL STRATEGIES AND SUPPORTED BY OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS.
NOW LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOME BUILDING.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP OF OUR 58 SQUARE MILES, NEW HOMES ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION FROM OLD DOWNTOWN HARDY V ALL THE WAY NORTHEAST TO OLDFIELD.
SEE ALL THOSE LITTLE WHITE CIRCLES ON? THERE'S A LOT OF 'EM.
1200 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE BEING PERMITTED THIS YEAR AND APPROVED MASTER PLANS IN THESE SAME AREAS CALL FOR ANOTHER 15,000 YET TO SUBMIT.
MASTER PLANS ARE ANOTHER 35,000 HOMES IN OUR OTHER PLAN DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF ALMOST 50,000 UNITS, EITHER UNDER CONSTRUCTION MASTER PLANNED OR POTENTIALLY PLANNED.
DID I SAY ONLY 30,000 RESIDENTS? NOW, AS WE ALL KNOW, COMMERCE COMES LAST.
I DREAM OF THE DAY WHEN I CAN HEAD WEST ON 2 78 TO FIND A GOOD RESTAURANT.
PERHAPS DARE I DREAM A TRADER JOE'S IN THE COSTCO STOP FALLING ASLEEP.
HARRY, I WAS DREAMING, WASN'T I? BUT HARDY MUST BE GROWING BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE NOT ONE BUT TWO STARBUCKS AND A HAMPTON INN AND A NEW FAIRFIELD INN AT EXIT EIGHT PRIME COMMERCIAL SPACE NEAR THIS EXIT.
AND A ALONG 2 78, INCLUDING AT MARGARITAVILLE AND OKEE CROSSING, WILL SURELY BE DEVELOPED THIS DECADE AS THE ROOFTOPS KEEP MULTIPLYING.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS HOME BUILDING AND COMMERCIAL MEAN FOR OUR ROADS? SIMPLY PUT, IT MEANS MORE CONGESTION, MORE ACCIDENTS, AND MORE LOSS OF LIFE UNLESS WE MAKE THE ROADS ABLE TO HANDLE THE INCREASED VOLUME AND THE COST WILL BE HIGH.
THE TRIANGLE IS A CRITICAL PATHWAY FOR RESIDENTS, LOCAL BUSINESS AND THE WORKFORCE COMMUTING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION.
IT ENCOMPASSES JUST 11 MILES GOING FROM HIGHWAY ONE 70 AND 4 62 DOWN TO 2 78, 2 78 OVER TO ARGENT AND ARGENT BOULEVARD BACK UP TO ONE 70.
THE ESTIMATED COST TO MAKE THIS CARTER WIDE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE THE FUTURE TRAFFIC IS $200 MILLION.
AND THAT'S IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.
ON THE PLUS SIDE PHASE, ONE OF THE WIDENING OF I 95 WILL BEGIN SOON FROM THE STATE LINE TO EXUDATE AND EXUDATE WILL BE CONFIGURED INTO A SAFER CONVERGING DIAMOND.
NOW LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE, THE HEAVY TOURIST TRAFFIC HEADING TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, ALONG WITH THE ANTICIPATED GROWTH OF COMMERCE AND HOMES ALONG 2 78 WILL DEMAND WIDENING OF THIS CRITICAL ROADWAY FROM THE EXIT TO THE TRIANGLE, THAT $200 MILLION I MENTIONED, IT'S JUST A DOWN PAYMENT.
[01:25:03]
RIVERPORT IS TRULY AN INLAND INLAND PORT, A MERE 12 MILES FROM THE PORT OF SAVANNAH NORTH.SIGNAL CAPITAL WILL SOON HAVE 10 BUILDINGS TOTALING 4 MILLION SQUARE FEET.
NORTH POINT WILL STILL SOON EMBARK ON ANOTHER 6 MILLION SQUARE FEET.
IT'S JUST NORTH ON ON THE OLD SHERWOOD PLANTATION FROM THERE.
AND CLAUS IS CLEARING GROUND FOR ANOTHER 3 MILLION IN LEVY.
JUST SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, REED CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS BROKE GROUND CLEARING THE WAY FOR ANOTHER MULTI-USE INDUSTRIAL PARK RIGHT NEAR THE CLAUS SITE.
NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP, THE NEW EXIT THREE WILL MAKE ALL THESE AREAS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE MARKETABLE.
AND IF, IF YOU LOOK REAL CLOSE, YOU CAN SEE THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR A BUCKY'S
I KEEP DREAMING, I'M SORRY, UNLESS OF COURSE SENATOR GRAHAM, YOU KNOW THE CEAO OF UH, BUCKY'S.
NOW LET'S LOOK ABOUT AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF HARDY V'S 30 AND 30.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
THE MEDIAN AGE OF HARDY V IS 59.7.
I'M WAY ABOVE THAT BY THE WAY.
AND 55% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE NOT IN THE WORKFORCE.
THE MEDIAN INCOME HAS RISEN TO 68,000 BECAUSE OF ALL THESE RETIREES COMING.
AND THIS HAS INCREASED DEMANDS FOR RESTAURANTS, SHOPPING, PLUMBERS, ELECTRICIANS, HOME IMPROVEMENT, AND ESPECIALLY HEALTHCARE BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT WILL BE COMPETING FOR WORKFORCE.
AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ALREADY LOW AT 2.7%.
I AM UNABASHEDLY PROUD TO SAY THAT HARDY HAS NOT LAID BACK AND HOPE THAT THE NEEDS OF THE WORKFORCE WILL SOLVE THEMSELF IN 2020.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR NEIL PARSONS, NEIL RAISE, HARDY V OPENED A WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING, PROVIDING CERTIFICATES IN WELDING, OSHA, WAREHOUSE SAFETY, FORKLIFT DRIVING, AND COMMERCIAL DRIVING LICENSING.
SINCE OPENING THIS CENTER HAS GRADUATED MORE THAN 150 STUDENTS TUITION FREE AND PROVIDED JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT TCLS PLANS FOR A WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER BECAUSE AS WITH ALL OUR CHALLENGES, THEY NEED A REGIONAL SOLUTION.
WE ARE A FREE MARKET COUNTRY AND AS SUCH, WE CAN EXPECT THE PATTERN OF GROWTH IN THE LOW COUNTRY TO CONTINUE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
THE ANSWER TO GROWTH IS NOT TO CLOSE UP THE DRAWBRIDGE.
THE ANSWER IS TO BUILD A BETTER CASTLE.
AND WE ALL NEED TO HELP EACH OTHER GROUPS LIKE SO LOCO THE HOUSING TRUST AND THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GROUP KNOWN AS LATS ARE TESTAMENTS TO THE WONDERFUL COOPERATION ACROSS JURISDICTIONS.
MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED OUR FEDERAL AND STATE DELEGATIONS TO HELP US.
SENATOR GRAHAM CONTINUES TO PUSH FUNDS SOUTH AND WE THANK HIM AND ALL OUR WASHINGTON ELECTS AND OUR STATE DELEGATION HAS DONE WONDERS WITH FUNDING LIKE EXIT THREE TO BRIDGES TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND THE WIDENING OF I 95.
SENATOR DAVIS HAS HELPED WITH FUNDS FOR THE HOUSING TRUST AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, BUT WE NEED MORE AND WE MUST REMAIN UNITED.
NOW ALL OF THESE THINGS, ALL OF US ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY MUST BE FACED WITH A DRAMATIC CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.
THERE WILL BE NEW MAYORS IN BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT AND PORT ROYAL AS MAYOR PERRY FINISHES HIS FIRST YEAR.
SUDDENLY, I'M NOT THE NEWCOMER FROM NEW JERSEY, BUT THE SENIOR MAYOR IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD, UNFORTUNATELY,
SHE HAS BEEN A ALWAR CAPTAIN OF THE SHIFT, KNOWN AS BLUFFTON AND HAS GUIDED THE AMAZING GROWTH.
BUT WHAT'S MOST REMARKABLE IS THE PRIDE SHE HAS FOSTERED IN HER COMMUNITY THAT HAS MADE BLUFFTON NOT JUST THE FASTEST GROWING MUNICIPALITY, BUT A WONDERFUL AND DESIRABLE FAMILY COMMUNITY.
EVEN MY WIFE TELLS FRIENDS UP NORTH, SHE LIVES IN BLUFFTON.
[01:30:01]
SO LOKO WAS BORN OF HER INITIATIVE AND LAAS JELLED AS A TEAM UNDER HER LEADERSHIP.AND SHE HAS TAUGHT THIS GRUMPY OLD YANKEE.
THE SMART SOUTHERN BELL KNOWS HOW TO DO THINGS RIGHT.
WE WILL HAVE NEW MAYORS, BUT OLD FRIENDS WILL REMAIN ON SPEED DIAL.
AND MY FIRST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IN JANUARY, 2017, I COINED THE TERM STARSHIP PARTY BILL.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, OUR CREW LED BY ADMIRAL MICHAEL J ZIBO, MIKE HAS BUILT A WHOLE NEW WORLD NOW.
LET US ALL FLY TOGETHER AS A UNITED FEDERATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
HOW ABOUT THAT? WELL, AS I MENTIONED WHEN WE STARTED TODAY, THIS IS OUR 27TH YEAR FOR STATE OF THE REGION.
AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER HAS BEEN ON THE STAGE FOR THE LAST 15 OF THOSE YEARS AS MAYOR OF BLUFFTON.
WHEN SHE MADE THE DECISION NOT TO RUN AGAIN, SHE SAID TO HER FAMILY THAT ONE OF THE THINGS SHE THOUGHT ABOUT IS THAT HER TWO YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN WOULDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HER IN ACTION AS MAYOR, MAYOR SKA, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THOSE GRANDCHILDREN AND COUNTLESS OTHERS MAY NOT PHYSICALLY SEE YOU AS AS MAYOR, BUT THEY WILL DEFINITELY FEEL YOUR LEGACY AND THE PROFOUNDLY POSITIVE IMPACT YOU'VE HAD ON BLUFFTON.
EVERY TIME THEY STEP INTO WASHINGTON PARK, WHEN THEY SIT ON THE STEPS OF THE GARVIN GARVEY HOUSE, SHUCK OYSTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT OYSTER FACTORY PARK OR FISH OFF THE DOCK AT WRIGHT FAMILY PARK.
AND SO MUCH, SO MUCH, MUCH MORE.
YOU'VE HELD YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR GROUND WITH SUCH GRACE AND DIGNITY AND ABOVE ALL SHOWING AN EXTRAORDINARY PASSION AND A LOVE FOR BLUFFTON AND HER PEOPLE.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE STATE OF THE REGION STAGE ONE FINAL TIME, MAYOR LISA SULCA.
I AM SENATOR RAML, O TTT, R MIKE TIGER.
GOSH, JOE RAINED ON OUR PARADE, DIT ME, ALLEN AND HARRY.
I KNOW YOU WERE GLUED TO THE SCREEN AND GLUED TO THE SPEECHES OF HARRY AND ALLEN.
SO, UM, I TOOK A PICTURE OF THIS ON THE SCREEN.
UM, I'M GONNA FOCUS ON GO TIGERS AND NONE.
THERE MUST BE NOTHING WRONG WITH BLUFFING 'CAUSE IT'S ON THE SCREEN,
UM, BUT I AGREE, I AGREE WITH YOU.
IF I'D HAVE PUT IN 20 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OR HAVE SOME HOPE THAT YOUR TOWN OR YOUR COUNTY OR YOUR REGION IS PAYING ATTENTION TO, I WOULD'VE PUT THE SAME THINGS.
UM, TRAFFIC GROWTH, HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON TALKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THANK YOU FRED HAMILTON, WHERE ARE YOU BACK THERE THAT DON'T WANNA BE CALLED OUT? WHEN I RAN FOR COUNSEL IN 2004, IT WAS JUST GETTING THE REST OF Y'ALL TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO SPELL THE WORD.
UM, AND WE CAN CALL IT WORKFORCE, BUT Y'ALL, PEOPLE THAT SERVE US, PEOPLE WE SEE EVERY DAY, THERE ARE PEOPLE STRUGGLING.
IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO FIND A HOUSE.
UM, BUT I'M GLAD WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.
[01:35:02]
WE DID AN OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN BECAUSE THIS TOWN WAS GROWING AND SOME OF YOU, AND I CAN'T SEE Y'ALL 'CAUSE THE LIGHTS ARE SO BRIGHT, SOME OF Y'ALL ARE NEW HERE, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVED IN HILTON HEAD, WHEN I MOVED HERE IN 1981, MOVED TO BLUFFTON IN 1992, WE WERE SEEING THE GROWTH OF THE ISLAND COMING ACROSS AND SPEED FORWARD TO TODAY.LOOK AT MAYOR WILLIAMS. IT'S GOING WEST AND IT'S GOING FURTHER WEST.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T RIDDEN DOWN I 16 LATELY, 45 MINUTES FROM MY HOME IS THAT PLANT THAT IS A GOOD THREE EXITS LONG AND THREE EXITS DEEP.
AND THEY'RE GONNA HIRE 19,000 PEOPLE.
SO SENATOR GRAHAM'S LEANING OVER, WHERE'S THIS WORKFORCE COMING, WHERE IS IT GOING? SO WE GOT ALL, AND THEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE BRIDGES THAT THEY ARE BUILDING, THEY ARE BEING A LITTLE REACTIVE, BUT MOSTLY PROACTIVE.
SO EVERYTHING THIS GROWTH IS CAUSING TO PUT A FOCUS ON OUR TOWNS AND OUR COUNTY AND OUR REGION.
UM, YES, IT'S TOUGH, BUT WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TODAY CELEBRATING YOUR BUSINESSES, CELEBRATING YOUR FAMILIES IF WE WEREN'T GROWING IN SOME WAY.
UM, SO I I GET A LITTLE FRUSTRATED WHEN I HEAR GROWTH TRAFFIC, DAN WOOD, I'M GONNA CALL 'EM OUT INDIVIDUALLY RATHER THAN ALL AT ONE TIME.
HAS SAID IT FOR THE LAST YEAR.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING TO HILTON HEAD, RIGHT? TOURISTS, WE, I GUESS Y'ALL ARE ALL TOURISTS.
I GREW UP IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SO I WASN'T A TOURIST.
THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IS GROWING.
WE ONLY MAKE UP FOR 15% OF THIS GROWTH.
YET THE EMAILS AND THE, YOU KNOW, JUST THE FRUSTRATED PEOPLE TEND TO BLAME IT ON ONE OR THE OTHER.
BUT IT IS A REGIONAL ISSUE THAT HIGHEND PLANT'S GONNA BRING PEOPLE FROM HAMPTON COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY AND COLLETON COUNTY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY TO GO WORK THERE.
IT'LL BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUE, BUT IT'S GONNA BE GOING THAT WAY.
UM, SO WE CREATED THIS OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN AND WE DECIDED WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHO WE WERE GONNA BE.
AND THAT SMALL SQUARE MILE FROM 2004 TO 2023 HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BECAUSE OF THAT PLAN.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT US AS THAT ONE SQUARE MILE IN THAT ONE GYM.
WE'VE GROWN 54 SQUARE MILES AND WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERY SQUARE MILE IN OUR TOWN.
AND I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERY PERSON THAT LIVES IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE HOUSES AND EVERY CHILD THAT GOES TO OUR MANY, MANY SCHOOLS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT AND WE'VE USED IT AND WE'RE SPREADING OUT.
SO WHAT ARE OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS? WE, YOU GOTTA ADMIT WE DO GOOD IN PARKS, DON'T WE? ARE WE GOOD PARK PEOPLE? YEAH, THANK YOU.
UM, BRIDGET FRAZIER WON FOUR YEARS AGO.
SHE CAME KIND OF THE LAST MINUTE TO THE NEW RIVERSIDE BARN, UH, WORKSHOP WE HAD WHERE WE HAD EVERYTHING LAID OUT ABOUT THE NEW RIVERSIDE BARN.
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE LARGEST PARK I THINK IN.
I'D LIKE TO STAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT PROBABLY BEAUFORT.
UM, AND SHE COMES UP, I WANT A SPLASH PAD.
I'M LIKE, HONEY, YOU ARE TOO LATE.
WELL, GUESS WHAT WE'RE GETTING? SO THANK YOU BRIDGET.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A FABULOUS PARK FOR THAT PART OF BLUFFTON.
THE FASTEST GROWING PART OF BLUFFTON IN OUR TOWN IS WEST OF BUCK WALTER PARKWAY.
THAT IS GONNA BE A NEED FOR THOSE RESIDENTS.
SO, UM, WE'RE EXCITED, WE'RE UPGRADING, UM, UH, OSCAR FRAZIER PARK, BRIDGET'S FATHER'S NAMESAKE.
UM, WE'RE UPGRADING, WE'RE DOING WRIGHT FAMILY PARK.
WE'RE REHABBING HISTORIC STRUCTURES BECAUSE THAT'S OUR HEART AND SOUL IS THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE PEOPLE CAME FROM REALLY.
AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW YOUR HISTORY OF WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
I CAN'T SEE YOU BACK THERE, BUT THANK YOU.
WE ALL HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY.
SOME OF THE HISTORY IS PRETTY DARK.
SOME OF THE HISTORY TALKS ABOUT SLAVES.
YOU GOTTA HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND UNDERSTAND IT AND TALK ABOUT IT AND NOT BE AFRAID.
'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING UNLESS WE KNOW WHERE WE CAME FROM.
THE TALK OF A CULT, GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL COMMISSION WITH THIS CHAMBER.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE GULLAH CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER RIGHT THERE IN BLUFFTON, SPEARHEADED BY COUNCILWOMAN FRAZIER THAT'S GONNA TELL THAT STORY.
AND IT'S FINALLY GONNA CONNECT BEAUFORT TO HILTON HEAD ALL THE YEARS.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS CORRIDOR, BUT NO ONE EVER TALKED ABOUT BLUFFTON.
YOU GOTTA GET THROUGH BLUFFTON TO GET TO HILTON HEAD.
[01:40:01]
WE'RE DOING SEWER.WE WANT EVERYONE OFF OF SEPTIC.
WE BELIEVE THAT COUNCIL MAYOR ELECT TO THANK YOU WA HAS PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED.
HE, IF ANYONE KNOWS THIS RIVER, IT IS LARRY TOMER.
HE HAS BEEN PUSHING THE SEPTIC CONVERSION TO SEWER WITH HIS WORK AND ALL OF COUNCIL'S WORK.
WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR COUNTY, A LOT OF PARTNERS TO DO TO, TO, UM, CHANGE SEPTIC TO SEWER AT STONY CREST, WHICH IS THAT LARGE CAMPGROUND RIGHT BEFORE YOU GET THE BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE TO PALMETTO BLUFF.
SO YOU'VE BEEN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.
OLD TOWN REALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE BENEFITS OF NEWTOWN.
WE DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS THAT TAKE US TO BLUFFTON PARKWAY.
ALL OF OUR POWER LINES ARE STILL IN THE AIR.
WE, FOR THE MOST PART HAD A LOT OF SEPTIC.
SO IT'S JUST GETTING THAT OLD TOWN ALPHA SEPTIC AND ONTO SEWER TO JOIN THE REST OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE IN THE REST OF BLUFFTON.
WE'RE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND ON 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD WITH OUR SECOND AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT.
UM, EVERYTHING'S BEEN APPROVED AND MORE TO COME.
IT'S ONE OF THREE AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO SPREAD THE NEWS.
HOW DO YOU GET THE MESSAGE OUT TO ALL OF Y'ALL THAT SOME OF YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD VOTE IN THE ELECTION BECAUSE YOU LIVED IN A 2 9 9 1 OH ZIP CODE? UM, WE DO TWO NEWSLETTERS AND I BROUGHT ONE WITH ME TODAY BECAUSE IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE TOWN OR IF YOU LIVE IN THE TOWN, WE DO IT KIND OF THE OLD WAY AND WE MAIL OUT THIS NEWSLETTER.
THIS CAME AS AN IDEA FROM STAFF AND COUNCIL SUPPORTED IT.
AND IT IS A FABULOUS NEWSLETTER TO EDUCATE.
WE DO MOBILE TOWN HOMES, WE GO TO MOBILE TOWN HALLS, WE GO EVERYWHERE.
YOU ASK US IN THE TOWN LIMITS AND OUTSIDE, WE ALSO, I THINK WE WENT TO SUN CITY.
THEY REALLY WANT TO BE IN THE TOWN AREA,
UM, WE'LL TAKE OUR ME, I HEAR MY BLUFFING OVER HERE, BUT WE'LL TAKE OUR MESSAGE OUT.
WE WILL TAKE IT TO, TO PEOPLE IN THE TOWN TO ASK US.
'CAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
WHY WE CAN'T CONTROL STOP GROWTH.
WHY CAN'T WE PUT A MORATORIUM ON HOME BUILDING? YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES, WE HAVE A FABULOUS CHIEF, BY THE WAY, CHIEF BABITZ, THANK YOU.
WE DO SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE IN CRAZY AND THAT'S LED BY, BY DEBBIE SPANKER AND HER TEAM.
BUT REALLY OTHER THAN THAT, AND I'M GONNA BE QUICK, NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND RESPECT.
AND IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I HAVE SEEN MORE MUTUAL RESPECT FROM OUR COUNTERPARTS THAN I DID 15 YEARS PRIOR.
WE, THE COUNTY IS SAYING EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING, THEY CAN'T, NOR CAN WE DO A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS.
WE CANNOT BUILD ROADS WITHOUT THE STATE.
WE CANNOT BUILD ROADS WITHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, SENATOR GRAHAM, THANK YOU.
I MEAN WHAT YOU, YOU DON'T BRAG ABOUT IT, BUT YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR YOUR STATE, BUT SPECIFICALLY OUR REGION AND AND WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE.
WE HAVE HIM AND SENATOR SCOTT.
WE HAVE OUR CONGRESSMAN THAT EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT OUR CONGRESSMAN, YOU WOULD THINK JOE WILSON WAS OUR CONGRESSMAN AT HERITAGE BECAUSE HE IS ALL OVER THE PLACE,
BUT HE HAD, WE HAVE HIS NUMBER AND WE CAN REACH OUT TO Y'ALL.
AND YOU'VE BEEN A DEAR FAMILY FRIEND FOREVER AND I JUST LOVE YOU.
UM, THE STATE SENATOR DAVIS, WHERE ARE YOU? THERE YOU ARE, TALK ABOUT BRINGING HOME SOME MONEY TO THIS COUNTY AND THIS REGION.
YOU'RE SUPPORT OF THE HATE CRIME BILL, WHICH BLUFF AND PASSED ON ITS OWN 'CAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON YOU TO GET THOSE OTHER FIVE SENATORS TO GET IT TALKED ABOUT.
UM, THE MONEY YOU'VE BROUGHT INTO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALL SAID ARE IMPORTANT.
HERB KERMAN WESTON, WHERE ARE YOU? WESTON? THERE HE IS.
WE GOT A POWER TEAM IN COLUMBIA.
Y'ALL THANK THEM AND UTILIZE THEM.
YOU DON'T MAKE THE BIG BUCKS DOING THIS.
AND, AND WESTON THANK YOU AND SEND THAT ON TO BILL AS WELL.
UM, COUNTY, I TALKED ABOUT MUNICIPALITIES.
YOUR MAYOR ON HILTON HEAD IS NOW THE SECOND'S LONGEST TENURED MAYOR IN THE COUNTY.
WE ALL CAN HAVE OUR INDIVIDUAL
[01:45:02]
NEEDS BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND EVERYONE ELSE'S UM, NEEDS AS WELL.WHEN HARRY WILLIAMS BECAME HERE OF HARDY V IT WAS A GAME CHANGER FOR THIS REGION BECAUSE HE REALLY BELIEVES AND LIVES AND AND LOVES THIS AREA.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT OUR CHAMBERS ARE THE KEY.
YOU BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE THE KEY TO OUR SUCCESS.
YOU ARE THE ONES HOPEFULLY THAT SUPPORTED A FABULOUS SUPERINTENDENT.
DR. RODRIGUEZ, WHO SINGLE-HANDEDLY GOT THAT REFERENDUM PASSED.
HE WENT EVERY DAY SOMEWHERE TO TALK TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU WOULD SEE THAT HE WAS AT THE SCHOOLS TALKING TO STUDENTS.
I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL FOR SUPPORTING IT, BUT HE'S SINGLE-HANDEDLY TOOK THAT CHARGE BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN HIS KIDS.
HE LOVES HIS KIDS AND HE LIVES FOR HIS KIDS.
UM, WHO DID I MISS ON COUNCIL THAT I DIDN'T BRAG ABOUT? I TALKED ABOUT FRED AND BRIDGET AND DAN AND LARRY, RIGHT? WE HAVE AN OPEN SEAT.
I HOPE EVERY YOUNG PERSON THAT WANTS TO RUN SHOULD RUN.
'CAUSE WE NEED YOUNG PEOPLE ON OUR COUNCIL.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE A TOWN THAT YES WE HAVE TROUBLES.
I SAT WITH A DEAR LADY THAT ALL OF Y'ALL HAVE PROBABLY READ HER ARTICLES.
ANNA LAURA HARRELL AND I SAT WITH HER ONE DAY AND IF MAYOR JOHNSON'S LISTENING TO THIS, I'M SORRY.
UM, AND I SAID, DARN THAT COUNSEL, DARN THEM.
WE HAVE RULES AND STA WE HAVE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE LEGALLY BINDING AND WHAT DO WE DO? AND HERE WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE IT.
AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL MANAGES IT AMAZINGLY WELL.
SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHERE POOLER GEORGIA IS? AND I'M SORRY FOR MY SAVANNAH, GEORGIA FRIENDS HERE.
IF HE WOULD NOT HAVE SAT DOWN AND LOGISTICALLY LOOKED AT THE GROWTH OF OUR AREA AND WHERE IT WAS GONNA COME.
THE MAN SAW 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, FOR GOD'S SAKES, HE WAS VISIONARY.
WE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE EXITS OFF OF POOL GEORGIA.
SO DO WE WANT THAT OR DO WE WANT A LITTLE BIT OF A HECTIC TIME TO COME TO HILTON HEAD WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO, YOU CAN COME TO BLUFFTON
BUT THE TIMES WE HAVE STATE OF THE REGION, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE.
OKAY, WELL DON'T GO BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT AND FIVE AND SIX.
RIVER ROAD IS A BIT OF A MESS IN THE AFTERNOON.
FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOLD ME LAST WEEK, THEY DRIVE DURING THAT TIME 'CAUSE THEY LOVE BLUFFTON, BUT YET THEY LIVE IN HAMPTON LAKE.
UM, PEOPLE SAID ONE TIME HE WENT AND TRIED TO MANAGE IT ON HIS OWN, ON THE TRAFFIC AND HE JUST URGED PEOPLE TO START EARLY, START LATER, LEAVE EARLY.
SOUTH CAROLINA 19, WHO IS CLAPPING
THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE FROM PROSPERITY THAT MOVED HERE.
THERE ARE TOO MANY SECRETS COMING.
THE TAGLINE IN WHEN I CAME HOME FROM CLEMSON MY JUNIOR YEAR SAID, WE'RE SENIOR CITIZENS RETIRE.
AND I LOOKED AT MY MOM AND DAD, I SAID, NO WAY.
AND I BOLTED OVER HERE AND I WORKED IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND I NEVER LEFT.
SO BE HAPPY WE'RE GROWING, BUT LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER FOR SOLUTIONS.
WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER WITH IDEAS AND WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IN 2004, OSCAR FRAZIER AND BILL HERB KURTZMAN DECIDED I NEEDED TO HAVE THE SAME MISERY THEY HAD.
AND THEY TALKED ME AND PEER PRESSURED ME INTO RUNNING FOR COUNCIL.
I CAME HOME AND I TALKED TO MY HUSBAND AND MY CHILDREN WERE, WE WERE LITTLE, THEY WERE LITTLE, WHATEVER THEIR AGES WHERE THEY WERE LITTLE.
AND HE GOES, YOU DON'T WANNA DO THAT.
WHY DO YOU WHY WE HAVE CHILDREN.
AND SO I LEFT HIM AND THE VERY NEXT DAY, NO, I DIDN'T LEAVE HIM, HE'S HERE.
UM, THE VERY NEXT DAY I WENT AND SIGNED UP AND I DIDN'T TELL HIM.
AND I CAME HOME AND I SAID, I SIGNED UP TO RUN FOR COUNCIL AND YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW HIM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THAT.
SO FOUR YEARS LATER, MERECK JOHNSON PLANS ON RETIRING.
I WANTED TO RUN FOR COUNCIL AGAIN.
YOU HAVE TO, WHEN YOU RUN FOR AN ELECTED OFFICE, YOU HAVE A SERVANT HEART.
AND IF, IF YOU DON'T, DON'T RUN BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW YOU HAVE TO SERVE OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF.
CAME HOME AND I SAID, I'M GONNA SIGN UP FOR, UH, COUNCIL AGAIN, THREE KIDS AND JOHN, NO WAY YOU WERE RUNNING FOR MAYOR.
[01:50:01]
WAY REVERSE.SO FOR YOU GUYS WHO MAYBE HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, JUST GIVE IT TIME.
UM, IT WAS THE BEST DECISION THEY FORCED ME TO MAKE.
AND I AM, I HAD KIND OF A TEAR WITH MAYOR WILLIAMS AND WITH BILL.
THIS STAFF IS DYNAMITE AND THEY'RE RIGHT HERE.
CHRIS AND HEATHER, STEVEN STE IS OUR LEADER.
THANK YOU FOR GETTING THINGS DONE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE STAFF THAT DOESN'T COME.
THANK YOU TO OUR PD, OUR BLUFFTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I JUST LOVE THEM AND THEY DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE THIS TOWN BETTER.
UM, OH, I DO WANNA END ON ONE MORE NOTE SITTING AROUND THIS GROUP.
SO WE'RE SITTING AROUND ONE DAY I AM LIKE, CHRIS, WHY CAN'T WE GET AAA RATING? OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THREE OTHER PLACES IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE AAA RATINGS AND WELL, WHY CAN'T WE HAVE IT? GUESS WHAT? NUMBER FOUR, WE HAVE AAA BOND RATING IN OUR TOWN.
HILTON HEAD, MOUNT PLEASANT, GREENVILLE, HILTON HAD MOUNT PLEASANT GREENVILLE AND US.
MAYOR MCCRACKEN, HE GOT ME ON AT TAX.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS CAUSING.
TWO YEARS BEFORE I RAN FOR COUNSEL, HE WANTED TO BE ON AT TAX AND WE HAD ALL OF $1,600 TO GIVE OUT.
AFTER HE ASKED ME, THEY DIDN'T APPOINT ME AND HE HAD TO CALL ME.
WELL, SOMEONE ELSE GOT, SOMEONE ELSE GOT IN.
BUT THEN LIKE SIX MONTHS LATER, HE CALLED ME AND SAID, YOU'RE ON IT.
AND THAT REALLY, THAT CALLED THE BUG.
SO GIVE BACK TO YOUR TOWN IF YOU'RE IN BLUFFTON, LOVE BLUFFTON.
BELIEVE IN BLUFFTON AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN'T DO.
ALL RIGHT, HOW ABOUT THAT? FOR A WONDERFUL STATE OF THE REGION, LET'S GIVE A BIG RUN OF A PAUSE TO ALL OUR SPEAKERS TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS, FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE AND FOR FIGHTING FOR OUR REGION, FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SENATOR GRAHAM FOR MAKING A TRIP FROM WASHINGTON.
SENATOR DAVIS REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVE NEWTON, ALL OUR MUNICIPALITIES FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT FROM THE CITY OF HARVILLE, CITY OF UH, HILTON, TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
THANK YOU MAYORS FOR DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION AS WELL.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESIDENTS, AND ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FUTURE.
SO THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING THEM EVERY DAY.
AND OF COURSE, I COULD NOT END THIS TODAY WITHOUT THANKING OUR HILTON HEAD ISLAND BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
LET'S PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG RUN OF APPLAUSE.
WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS AREA, THE LOW COUNTRY.
IT IS OUR HOME AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL HOME AND WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE BILL MILES AND HIS TEAM REPRESENTED US AND JUST SHOWING THE WORLD HOW WONDERFUL WE ARE.
SO THANK YOU BILL AND THANK YOU TO YOUR ENTIRE TEAM FROM PUTTING YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL TOP-NOTCH EVENT, STATE OF THE REGION 2023.
TODAY MARKS THE FIRST DAY OF THE LAST MONTH OF 2023.
SO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THIS MONTH.
LOOK AT 2023, COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE MANY, WE ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE AND LIVE HERE AND, UH, ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS.
I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON.
HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL IN 2024.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
[01:55:47]
THE EARTH IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.NOT ONLY IS IT OUR HOME, BUT IT'S THE ONLY PLANET THAT SCIENTISTS KNOW OF WHERE LIFE EXISTS.
THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE ON EARTH IS AMAZING.
FROM MICROSCOPIC ALGAE TO CYPRESS TREES, FROM PROTOZOANS TO WORMS, TO EAGLES, MUSHROOMS, AND BACTERIA.
THE KEYS TO LIFE ON EARTH ARE THE CLIMATE AND THE PRESENCE OF LIQUID WATER ALONG WITH THE RIGHT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS.
EARTH IS NOT TOO HOT, NOT TOO COLD.
IT'S DISTANCE FROM THE SUN AND ATMOSPHERE, KEEP TEMPERATURES MODERATE, ALLOWING WATER TO REMAIN LIQUID, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR CELLULAR PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT LIFE TO TAKE PLACE.
RADIOMETRIC DATING INDICATES THAT THE EARTH IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 4.5 BILLION YEARS OLD.
IT'S CONSTANTLY UNDERGOING LARGE SCALE CHANGES DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF PLATE TECTONICS.
IT TAKES JUST OVER 365 DAYS FOR THE EARTH TO MAKE ONE REVOLUTION AROUND THE SUN.
AND IT TAKES 24 HOURS FOR THE EARTH TO ROTATE.
ONCE THE EARTH'S AXIS IS ALSO TILTED AT 23 DEGREES, WHICH CAUSES SEASONAL VARIATION IN WEATHER, PEOPLE HAVE LONG WONDERED IF THERE'S LIFE BEYOND OUR OWN PLANET.
OUR SEARCH FOR LIFE BEYOND EARTH FIRST REQUIRES SCIENTISTS TO FIND OTHER STARS THAT HAVE PLANETS REVOLVING AROUND THEM.
IN MOST CASES, THESE PLANETS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND AND SEE.
SO SCIENTISTS LOOK FOR EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A PLANET PRESENT WITHOUT EVER SEEING THE PLANET ITSELF.
ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO LOOK FOR STARS THAT ARE ROTATING IN A WAY THAT INDICATE THEY HAVE A PLANET REVOLVING AROUND THEM.
THIS IS A STAR THAT'S ROTATING WITHOUT A PLANET.
COMPARE THAT TO THIS STAR THAT'S ROTATING WITH A PLANET.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S MOVING VERY DIFFERENTLY, IT WOBBLES.
ANOTHER METHOD IS CALLED THE TRANSIT METHOD.
THIS REQUIRES THE PARENT STAR, THE EXOPLANET, AND THE EARTH TO LINE UP JUST RIGHT.
AS THE EXOPLANET ROTATES IN FRONT OF THE PARENT STAR, THE LIGHT WILL DIM JUST SLIGHTLY.
SCIENTISTS CAN LOOK FOR THIS SLIGHT DIMMING.
THE EASIEST PLANETS TO FIND ARE THE LARGEST AND SO FAR, MOST OF THE PLANETS DISCOVERED ARE LARGE JUPITER LIKE PLANETS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS FOR SUPPORTING LIFE.
SCIENTISTS ARE LOOKING FOR PLANETS IN THE HABITABLE ZONE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE.
WHAT IS THE HABITABLE ZONE? IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE AND TEMPERATURE OF THE STAR, BUT IT'S THE REGION AROUND A STAR WHERE IT'S NOT TOO HOT, NOT TOO COLD, SO THAT WATER REMAINS IN A LIQUID STATE.
NASA'S KEPLER MISSION IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO SEARCH OUR REGION OF THE GALAXY FOR EARTH-LIKE PLANETS USING A VERY POWERFUL TELESCOPE THAT'S FOCUSED ON SPACE AT A SMALL AREA WITHIN THE SUMMER TRIANGLE.
ALREADY THOUSANDS OF PLANETS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED.
ONLY A HANDFUL, HOWEVER, HAVE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS TO POTENTIALLY HOST LIFE GOING FORWARD.
SCIENTISTS MUST STUDY THESE PLANETS IN MORE DETAIL, LOOKING AT SPEED OF ROTATION, ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS, AND WHETHER THERE'S ANY LIQUID WATER PRESENT.
THE EARTH IS A UNIQUE PLANET AMONG MANY, MANY OTHER PLANETS THAT WE'RE ONLY JUST BEGINNING TO DISCOVER.
THE CONDITIONS HERE ON EARTH HAVE LED TO THE EXISTENCE OF A DIVERSITY OF LIFE THAT IS JUST AMAZING.
NEXT TIME YOU'RE OUTSIDE ENJOYING OUR LIVING PLANET, TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE PLACE WE LIVE REALLY MAY BE ONE IN A MILLION.