Jan 08, 2024 County Council Meeting

MINUTES OF DECEMBER 11TH, 2023.

I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL TO APPROVE THE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - December 11, 2023]

I MAKE THE MOTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, MS. HOWARD MADE THE MOTION.

SECOND.

MR. MCKELLEN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ANY CHANGES? SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS.

I NOW TURN TO OUR INTERIM

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

MR. ROBINSON.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

WE HAVE, UH, ACCOMPLISHED

[00:05:01]

A LOT OF, A LOT OF THINGS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, TO DOING A LOT OF GREAT THINGS THIS COMING YEAR.

UH, I'D LIKE TO START OUT, UH, TODAY, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IN PORT ROYAL.

SO RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS, WE, UM, UH, ONE OF OUR CONTRACTORS GOT OUR SIDEWALKS IN FROM THE, UM, FROM THE PARKING AREA AND FROM THE BATHROOMS TO THE PLAYGROUND.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE SCHEDULING A WITH, ALONG WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROLE, A GRAND OPENING FOR OUR INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND ON, UM, JANUARY 27TH.

SO SOME MORE INFORMATION WILL COME ALONG WITH THAT.

AND, UH, AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, I'LL HAVE SOME GREAT PHOTOS ON THE 22ND.

SO IT'LL BE JUST A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THAT.

I'LL HAVE SOME PHOTOS FOR YOU AND I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN OF THAT, OF THAT GRAND OPENING.

AND THAT SHOULD BE, UM, A GOOD, A GOOD EVENT.

UM, ALSO I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE OUR COMPLETION OF THE, UH, DUSKY ISLAND FERRY SERVICE CONTRACT.

SO, UM, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN, UM, A CHALLENGE FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US AS WELL AS THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO DUSKY ISLAND.

UM, WE FINALLY, OH, FINALIZED THIS CONTRACT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

SO THE COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN WITHHOLDING INFORMATION.

WE'VE SHARED EVERYTHING WE CAN, UH, BUT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE DELICATE, AND WE CAME RIGHT DOWN TO THE, UH, WELL A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE.

SO OUR NEW, UH, UH, SERVICE PROVIDER WILL BE LOW COUNTRY FERRY.

UH, THEY WILL BEGIN OPERATIONS ON JANUARY, UH, 16TH, THE FIRST RUN IN THE MORNING.

SO THE, THE COUNTY STILL, UM, MANAGES THE FOUR RUNS PER DAY TO, UH, FUSCA ISLAND AND ITS RESIDENTS.

THE, UM, PRICE AND TICKETING FOR THOSE, UH, RESIDENTS, UM, OR QUALIFIED QDR THAT, UM, UH, HAS, WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

UM, WE WILL WORK ON, UH, TRANSITIONING THE, UH, RESERVATION AND TICKETING MODEL TO THE NEW PROVIDER, AND WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE, UH, INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH, UM, WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND RIDERS AS THAT, AS THAT'S AVAILABLE.

UM, RIGHT.

UH, SO THAT RESERVATION SYSTEM WILL COME OUT.

WE'LL, WE'LL BE AVAILABLE SOON, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT WITH THE PUBLIC.

UM, I HAVE THREE EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT, OR TO INTRODUCE TO YOU.

UH, THE FIRST EMPLOYEE THIS EVENING IS, UM, ALEX STEWART.

ALEX, UH, WORKS IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDING.

HE'S A REAL PROPERTY RECORDING TECHNICIAN FOR THE REGISTER OF DEEDS.

ALEX HERE.

THERE'S ALEX.

COME ON UP, ALEX.

UM, SO, UH, HERE YOU GO.

ALEX STEWART.

SO, ALEX WAS, UM, HIRED TO HELP WITH INDEX WITH AN INDEXING PROJECT THAT SPANS OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

SO THE REGISTRAR OF DEEDS OFFICE CHANGED DATABASE, AND THE OLD DATABASE WENT BACK TO THE EIGHTIES AND IS MORE MODERN NOW.

AND, UH, ALEX HAS BEEN, UM, VERY INVOLVED IN HAVING TO, UH, REALLY PHYSICALLY LOOK AT EACH ONE OF THOSE OLD ACCOUNTS AND MAKE SURE THEY TRANSFER PROPERLY INTO THE NEW ACCOUNT.

AND IT WAS SUCH AN OLD SYSTEM, WHILE SOME OF IT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED, THE DETAILS OF THOSE, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE REGISTER'S OFFICE WEREN'T ALL CAPTURED.

SO ALEX WAS INSTRUMENTAL AND HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN CAPTURING ALL THOSE DETAILS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE NEW SOFTWARE.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.

, THAT'S A LOT.

SO HE'S DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB FINDING ERRORS THAT EVEN HIS DIRECTOR WOULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT.

UH, ALEX, UH, ALEX'S DETAILED ATTENTION, UH, TO THE NEW VISION DATA INFORMATION, UM, UM, MAKE SURE IT'S MORE CORRECT AND MORE RELIABLE.

HE'S ALSO BEEN TRAINED AS A BACKUP SCANNER AND HAS UTILIZED, HAS BEEN USED MENTALLY MANY TIMES DUE TO, UH, OVERFLOW OF WORK.

SO HE'S REALLY BEEN MULTITASKING FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.

ALTHOUGH HE'S QUIET NATURED, WE WILL FIND OUT.

ALEX IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS, READING HISTORY, AND HIS CATS.

ALEX, YOU JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS OVER, UH, FEW YEARS, UH, YEARS BEFORE I HAD THIS JOB, I WAS REALLY, WAS LOOKING FOR ANY SORT OF PLA UH, PLACE OF WORKFORCE.

I WAS, WILL, UH, WAS WILLING TO FIND AFTER IT WAS GIVEN, UH, THE GREEN, UH, GREEN THUMBS FOR, UH, UH, TO WORK HERE.

OR I WAS, UH, VERY PASSIONATE AND ENCOURAGED TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO, TO KEEP IT AND TO ACTUALLY DO THE THINGS THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME.

UH, FOCUSED AND CONCERNED THOUGH FOR THE, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, THINGS THAT, UH, THERE WAS SOME ERRORS IN INCLUDING.

AND GIVEN THE, UH, PRIOR ASSIGNMENT THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME, I FEEL, OH, I, I WAS HEAVILY,

[00:10:02]

AND, AND, UH, IT WAS, UH, AND LOOKING BACK ON IT THOUGH, IT WAS, UH, SURPRISING FOR HOW MUCH I'VE BEEN DOING DESPITE HOW, UH, HOW FEW I WAS, SORRY.

IT WAS, IT WAS JUST ONLY IN THE SPAN OF A YEAR, OR I, IT'S SHOCKING FOR ME THAT HOW MUCH HAS BEEN DONE FOR HOW IT FELT.

SO LITTLE .

THAT WOULD BE REALLY MUCH IT.

THIS IT IS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ALEX.

MIGRATING A DATABASE IS A LOT OF WORK.

IT TAKES INCREDIBLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

SO THANK YOU, ALEX, FOR WHAT YOU DO.

UM, AMAZING.

UH, NEXT IS, UH, JENNIFER MCKENZIE FROM THE MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE.

SHE COULD NOT BE WITH US TONIGHT.

UH, SO I THINK THERE'S A PHOTO, UH, PERHAPS.

UM, SO JENNIFER ASSISTS THE, UH, TEAM LEADER AND COURT SUPERVISOR IN THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE BLUFFTON MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

SHE ASSISTS THE JUDGES OFFICERS AND STAFF AND OTHER PARTIES AND ALL COURT ACTIVITIES.

JENNIFER IS TASKED WITH TRAINING NEW EMPLOYEES AND ENSURING THAT ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE MAINTAINED AND UPDATED AS NEEDED.

UH, SHE PROVIDES EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE.

JENNIFER ALWAYS HAS A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND IS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE CITIZENS OF BUFORT COUNTY.

SHE'S ORIGINALLY FROM CALIFORNIA, MOVED TO BUFORT IN 2016, UH, WITH HER ACTIVE DUTY, UH, HUSBAND WHO WAS IN THE US MARINE CORPS, STATIONED RIGHT DOWN THE STREET OF PARIS ISLAND.

BEFORE COMING TO WORK, SHE WAS A STAY AT HOME MOM TO THREE BOYS AND A ZUMBA FITNESS INSTRUCTOR.

WOW.

UM, VERY BUSY.

SO NOWADAYS SHE SAYS THAT SHE SPENDS HER TIME, UH, ATTENDING SPORTING EVENTS FOR, FOR HER BOYS, UH, FOR, FOR HER FAVORITE PASTIMES, INCLUDE, UH, UH, GAME NIGHTS WITH HER FAMILY CRAFTING AND HAWAIIAN AND TA TAHITIAN DANCING.

UH, SEEMS LIKE AN INTERESTING PERSON.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO MEET HER.

ALRIGHT, UM, NEXT, UH, ALSO NOT, UH, ABLE TO ATTEND IS HAROLD GREEN.

HAROLD GREEN WORKS FOR OUR STORMWATER AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEPARTMENT.

UM, HAROLD IS A FOREMAN.

UH, HE'S A FOREMAN WITH THE STORMWATER DEPARTMENT.

HE'S WORKED, WORKED FOR US FOR 21 YEARS.

HE OVERSEES AND COORDINATES MAINTENANCE CREWS, BUSH HOGGING, UM, CREWS DAILY, AND ENSURES THAT, UM, ALL THE WORK, ALL THE CREWS WORKS WORK, ARE COMPLETED SAFELY IN A TIMELY MANNER.

SO HE CONDUCTS ROUTINE, UH, QUALITY ASSURANCE CHECKS, MAKING SURE HE GOES BEHIND ALL THIS ACTIVITY.

UM, BUSH HOGGING IS VERY IMPORTANT TO STORMWATER, KEEPING THE RIGHT OF WAYS CLEAR AND THE DITCHES CLEAN, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE SO IMPORTANT, UH, FOR THOSE, UH, STORMWATER, UM, SYSTEMS. UM, HE, UH, MR. GREEN IS ONE OF THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT'S READY TO HELP NO MATTER WHAT THE, UH, WHAT THE ISSUE OR PROBLEM IS ON THE JOB OR NOT.

HE IS A PERSON THAT HIS COWORKERS RELY ON TO HELP THEM SOLVE PROBLEMS, MAKE THEY MAKE A CALL, AND HE'S THERE TO HELP 'EM OUT.

SO HE'S A REALLY GOOD FOLKS.

UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT.

UM, SIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

VERY GOOD.

SHANNON, BEFORE WE GO ON, UM, YES.

UH, ALEX, UM, ACTUALLY WALKED AWAY, UM, AS HE WAS GRABBING, GETTING HI.

GETTING HIM NOTICE TO COME TAKE A PICTURE.

WOULD YOU GIVE HIM THAT CHANCE IF HE, HE'S STILL HERE.

ALEX.

ALEX, DO YOU WANT TO GET A PICTURE BEFORE YOU GO? LET'S GET A PICTURE.

WE HAVE MADE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STAFF MEMBERS THAT, UH, THAT MAY HAVE CHILDREN AT HOME OR SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

HE SEEMED READY TO GO.

SO 15 COULD ASK HIM IF YOU DIDN'T NOTICE.

SHE TURNED THE CAMERA SIDEWAYS.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE I ATE TOO MUCH OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

, MAYBE NOT JUST ONE.

YES, SIR.

IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, I KNOW THERE WAS A LATE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CAME OUT ABOUT THE STATUS TOMORROW CONSIDERING THE LETTER.

YES, SIR.

CAN YOU TELL ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING WHAT THE SITUATION IS? YES, SIR.

CERTAINLY.

SO WE HAVE A PENDING STORM THAT'S, UH, COMING OUR WAY TOMORROW.

UH, IT INDICATES THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, AROUND THAT 6:00 AM TO 10:00 AM IS WHEN THE MOST EFFECTS ARE SOME HIGH WINDS.

UM, THE, UM, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, UH, WENT TO, DID NOT CLOSE SCHOOLS, BUT WENT TO VIRTUAL LEARNING TOMORROW.

SO STUDENTS WILL STILL BE IN SESSION ONLINE.

UH, OUR, MANY OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES, UH, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO TODAY, UM, I BELIEVE, UM, HILTON HEAD IS GONNA CLOSE THEIR OFFICES AND THE REST OF THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE STAYING OPEN.

UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFICES WILL BE OPEN.

UH,

[00:15:01]

THEIR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR ACAS WILL WORK ON THOSE THINGS FOR US.

UH, BUT BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL BE OPEN TO, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY OFFICES WILL BE OPEN TO SERVE ITS CITIZENS.

WE DO HAVE, UM, OUR SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS.

WE'LL HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT OUT.

SOME OF OUR SOLID WASTE TRANSFER STATIONS WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW.

THEIR NORMAL CLOSED DAY IS ON WEDNESDAY, SO THEY'LL BE OPENED ON WEDNESDAY AND CLOSED TOMORROW.

SO THERE'LL BE REALLY JUST ONE DAY CHANGE IN SERVICE.

UM, THERE IS NO ONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, SO WE'LL REMOVE, WE'LL MOVE ON TO,

[8. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

UH, LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.

IS, ARE THERE ANY REPORTS FROM ANYONE, MS. HOWARD? UH, YES.

THE, UH, STORMWATER BOARD MET DECEMBER 12TH.

THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP FROM AJOY ATTENDED THAT MEETING.

UM, THE SHELL POINT COMMUNITY WILL HAVE A MEETING ON JANUARY 29TH REGARDING THEIR STORMWATER, UH, ISSUES AT SHELL POINT BAPTIST CHURCH ON JANUARY 29TH.

AND, UM, FORT OR ELSE WORE IN THEIR NEW MAYOR DECEMBER 13TH.

I GOT TO SEE THAT.

AND, AND HE HAD A BABY.

AND HE HAD A BABY.

HE'S DONE ALL THE FIRST, I'LL TELL YOU.

AND, UM, BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IS INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR THEIR BOARD VACANCY, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING A NOMINEE NAME FORWARD TO US FOR THAT.

AND, UM, I SPOKE TO THE CLEMSON YOUTH LEADERSHIP GROUP DECEMBER 14TH, WHICH WAS ALWAYS INSPIRING BECAUSE THAT'S OUR FUTURE.

UM, THIS YOUTH LEADERSHIP GROUP THAT CLEMSON LEADS.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ANYBODY ELSE? MS. I JUST WANNA INFORM THE PUBLIC THOSE HERE AND THOSE WATCHING.

WE'VE SET THE NE NEXT TWO CHAT WITH COUNCIL.

SOUTH OF THE BROAD WILL BE JANUARY 24TH.

THAT'S A WEDNESDAY WILL BE AT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND LIBRARY.

MR. REEDS AND MR. MCGILLAN DOWN THERE, 6:00 PM AND THEN NORTH OF THE BROAD WILL BE IN CHAMBERS HERE, FEBRUARY 29TH.

THAT'S A THURSDAY FOR, AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN ATTEND ALL OF 'EM, THAT'S FINE.

BUT THAT'S THE TWO WE HAVE SET SO FAR.

IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DIRECTED, EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURPOSE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBER, ALSO KNOWN AS 76 MAY RIVER ROAD.

ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE.

WE'RE NOW READY FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ACTION ITEMS. ITEM NUMBER NINE

[9. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBER TMS R600-036-000-0013-0000 AND ALSO KNOWN AS 76 MAY RIVER ROAD (FISCAL IMPACT: Southern Beaufort County Library Impact Fees; Balance - $4.2M)]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES, PLEASE.

I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THIS.

WE DON'T NEED A LIBRARY.

I KNOW WE, YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED IT, BUT I'VE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE.

I LIKE TO TAKE A SURVEY UP HERE.

HOW MANY, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ANY OF YOU WENT TO A LIBRARY? HERE'S THE LIBRARY.

I DID TOO.

I DID A, I WENT THERE A LOT DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND I ADDRESSED MY CHRISTMAS CARDS THERE.

'CAUSE IT'S SO QUIET AND THERE'S NOBODY THERE.

I JUST THINK THIS IS UNNECESSARY.

SO I'LL MR. I'LL TALK ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THAT.

HAVING SERVED ON THE LIBRARY BOARD FOR, I DON'T KNOW, SIX, SEVEN YEARS, AND LOOKING AT THE STATISTICS FOR LIBRARY VISITS, THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY FAR EXCEEDS EVERY OTHER BRANCH IN, IN FACT, PROBABLY DOES MORE THAN SEVERAL OF THE BRANCHES PUT TOGETHER AS FAR AS USAGE.

AND IT'S VERY WELL USED FOR CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, ADULT PROGRAMS, CONFERENCES, MEETINGS AND SO ON.

AND THAT AREA DOES NEED ANOTHER, ANOTHER LIBRARY.

I ORIGINALLY VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSAL TO PUT ON MAY RIVER BECAUSE OF THE, DUE TO THE CONGESTION IN THE AREA.

I DID GO LOOK AT THE SITE.

I UNDERSTAND IF WE DON'T BUY IT, SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA BUY IT.

I GET THAT.

I THINK A LIBRARY'S A MUCH BETTER USE THAN ANOTHER BUSINESS.

AND I SPOKE TO MR. ATKINSON, I ALSO SPOKE TO OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR.

THE LIBRARY BOARD IS TOTALLY IN FAVOR OF THIS, AND WE'D LIKE TO GET IT MOVING.

I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS.

AND TIME FLIES BY.

MR. HOWARD, MR. CHAIRMAN.

BUT WE DO NEED ANOTHER LIBRARY.

AND, UH, I MEAN, I DON'T LOVE THE LOCATION DUE TO THE TRAFFIC, BUT I UNDERSTAND SOMETHING'S GONNA GO THERE IF WE DON'T.

SO I WOULD SUPPORT THIS.

I WAS THE LIAISON TO THE LIBRARY BOARD.

UM, SINCE I, WELL, AT LEAST FIVE, SIX YEARS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

BUT, UM, TO THE POINT, SOMEONE ELSE WILL BUY IT.

IF WE DON'T, THAT'S NOT A REASON TO DO

[00:20:01]

IT.

THE, THE MAIN REASON IS THE PUBLIC NEEDS IT AND THE PUBLIC HELP PAY FOR THIS WITH IMPACT FEES.

SO IF WE DON'T USE THIS MONEY, IT'S GONNA GO BACK TO THE DEVELOPERS.

IT'S IMPACT FEE MONEY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT HOUSES IN THAT AREA PAY OR THEIR DEVELOPER PAY.

AND I FEEL WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC TO PUT IT THERE.

UM, LIBRARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE.

UH, ALSO I THINK THAT LIBRARIES DO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU JUST SEE IN THE FACILITY.

YOU KNOW, WHO PULL US FREE? YOU CAN, YOU GET ALL KINDS OF FREE SERVICES WITH ONE LITTLE CARD AS OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR LIKES TO SAY IS YOUR TICKET TO ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

AND I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA NOT ONLY DESERVE IT, BUT THEY PAID FOR IT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. CUNNINGHAM? I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN HOWARD HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THAT AREA IS BOOMING, UM, WITH RESIDENTIAL.

THAT'S WHY THE SCHOOL IS PLANNING ON PUTTING ANOTHER SCHOOL OVER IN THAT AREA BY MAY RIVER HIGH.

UM, IF ANYTHING THAT'S WILL INCREASE SOME TRAFFIC RIGHT THERE IN THAT CORNER, BUT HOPEFULLY IT DOES CUT DOWN ON SOME TRAFFIC.

OTHER PEOPLE TRAVELING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN THAT ARE TRYING TO USE THOSE SERVICES AS WELL.

SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RUB AND GIVE RIGHT THERE.

UM, AND AGAIN, THAT IS WHERE MOST OF THE GROWTH IS HAPPENING.

THAT'S WHERE THIS IMPACT FEES CAME FROM.

UM, THAT'S WHERE THE NEED IS FOR THIS TYPE OF FACILITY.

I SUPPORT IT.

MR. GLOVER? YES.

UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, STAFF CAME TO US FOR A SITE ON BLUFFTON AND PRITCHER AREA.

AND, UM, THEY WANTED TO USE SOME PROPERTY, UH, WITH THE RULING CRITICAL LAND.

WE TURNED THEM DOWN.

OH, I SAID WE, WE RULING CRITICAL LAND PROGRAM TURNED THEM DOWN AND WE ASKED STAFF TO GO OUT AND FIND PROPERTY FOR A LIBRARY THAT THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED AS NEED.

AND SO I'M SUPPORTING THIS MOTION BECAUSE STAFF IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

MM-HMM? .

ANY OTHERS? MR. LAWSON? YES.

AND, UH, THIS IS, UM, IN MY DISTRICT OR, OR RIGHT THERE, UH, AT MY DISTRICT.

AND, AND, UM, WE HAD LOOKED AT A SITE THAT WAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT THERE ON THE CORNER, WHICH THE PROPERTY WAS TOO SMALL.

THERE WAS NO PARKING.

AND THAT'S WHY AT THAT TIME WE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH, WITH THE, UH, WITH THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD THE LIBRARY.

THIS, UM, BEING, UM, ALMOST 10 ACRES GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND PUT A LIBRARY IN TO DO WHAT? UM, AS MS. HOWARD JUST SAID, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING IMPACT FEES FOR THIS.

UM, AND, AND EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE THINK LIBRARIES HAVE BECOME OBSOLETE, THEY ACTUALLY HAVEN'T.

THEY'VE EVOLVED WITH, UM, NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND NEW THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

AND IT, IT HAS BECOME A PLACE THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND GET WIFI SERVICE.

THEY CAN USE THE COMPUTER IF THEY NEED TO.

UM, AND IT'S NOT JUST GOING AND CHECKING OUT A, A HARDBACK BOOK ANYMORE.

UH, AND AGAIN, BLUFFTON HAS ONE LIBRARY AND THAT IS IN DOWNTOWN BLUFFTON.

UM, SO THIS WOULD GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CLOSER TO WHERE EVERYTHING'S HAPPENING.

UM, SO, UM, AGAIN, I'M ALL FOR THIS AND I THINK THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION.

UM, I THINK THE PROPERTY USE IS, IS WILL BE PERFECT.

UM, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT US MOVING FORWARD, UH, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THERE IS A SCHOOL.

SO I WAS GONNA SAY USE THIS LAND FOR SCHOOL, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S ALREADY A SCHOOL GOING.

COULD BE ON MAY RIVER.

IT'S RIGHT BY MAY RIVER.

IS THAT NEXT TO THIS? NO, DOWN THE ROAD.

MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL.

WELL, EVERYONE'S TELLING ME WE NEED ANOTHER SCHOOL.

I DON'T HAVE KIDS ON THIS ONE.

BE, IT'S NEW RIVERSIDE'S DOWN THERE WHERE ALL THE DEVELOPMENT IS.

AND THEY JUST PASSED THE REFERENDUM TO BUILD ANOTHER SCHOOL ON THERE.

RIGHT? OH, BUT IT'S NOT NEAR YOU.

NO, NO.

IT'S SORT OF DOWN'S IN THE ROAD.

10 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THIS WILL BE MOVED FORWARD WITH ONLY ONE OBJECTION.

I SEE NO OTHER OBJECTION.

SO THIS WILL PASS FOR FIRST READING WITH 10 YES.

ONE NO.

ITEM NUMBER

[10. PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT/REZONING REQUEST FOR 57 ACRES (R200 004 000 0301 0000, R200 004 000 0302 0000, R200 004 000 0300 0000, R200 004 000 0063 0000) LOCATED AT 1, 2, 3, 4 BENNETT POINT DRIVE FROM PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT (PUD) TO T2 RURAL (T2R) - Robert Merchant, AICP, Director, Beaufort County Planning and Zoning]

AMENDMENT REZONING REQUEST FOR 57 ACRES LOCATED AT 1, 2, 3, 4 BENNETT POINT DRIVE FROM A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PUD TO T TWO RURAL.

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? I A MOTION MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL SECOND IT.

UH, MS. HOWARD MADE THE MOTION.

DAVID MADE THE SECOND AND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

I WILL NOW OPEN THIS TO THE PUBLIC.

YES, SIR.

UM, COUNCILMAN HOWARD, CAN YOU STATE THE REASONS WHY APPROPRIATE TO BE REZONED? I DON'T ASK.

UM, OKAY.

LET ME THINK.

UH, THE, UH, PLANNING DEPARTMENT YOU GO, MAYBE THEY CAN COACH ME ON THIS.

YOU GOT IT.

WELL, OH, OKAY.

HERE.

UM, YES I CAN.

I I MAKE THE MOTION BASED ON THE, THE APPLICANTS ARE SEEKING TO AMEND THE ZONING

[00:25:01]

OF FOUR UNDEVELOPED PARCELS FROM PLEASANT POINT, UH, PUD TO T TWO R.

THESE PARCELS WILL MAKE UP THE TEXAS TRACK, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PLATTED AND APPROVED FOR 179.

SINGLE FAMILY LOTS.

THIS WILL REDUCE IT TO FOUR LOTS THAT WILL REMAIN IN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.

THIS WILL, UM, ENSURE THAT IT WILL NO, NO, CAN BE NO FURTHER SUBDIVIDED AND EACH PARCEL WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE DWELLING UNIT.

DOES THAT SUFFICE? WELL, THERE ARE FACTORS THAT THE ORDINANCE SETS FORTH THAT, UM, CRITERIA.

UM, UM, DO YOU WANNA COME UP HERE? DOES ROB WANT TO COME COACH ME THROUGH THIS ONE? YES.

? YEAH.

ROB, YOU WANT THE A IS? YES.

WELL, ACTUALLY, UH, NO.

THE, I MEAN, I COULD, I PRETTY MUCH HAVE A MEMORIZED.

THE, UH, THE, UM, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE OUTLINES SEVERAL CRITERIA THAT, THAT, UM, ARE CONSIDERED WHEN, UM, LOOKING AT A MAP AMENDMENT.

AND SO, UM, THE FIRST IS CONSISTENCY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

UM, THE SECOND WOULD BE, UH, THAT IT DOESN'T CONFLICT WITH ANY PROVISION IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.

UH, IT ALSO LOOKS AT COMPATIBILITY WITH, WITH SURROUNDING LAND USES, UM, THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SEWER OR I MEAN, OF, OF INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SERVICES, UM, TO SERVE THE SITE.

SO, OKAY.

FOR THOSE REASONS, FOR THOSE REASONS, I THEREFORE MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UM, AMEND THE CHANGE OF ZONING TO, UM, THAT FROM A PUD TO THE, UH, T TWO WORLD.

AND MR. BERT AND I SECOND THAT.

DULY MOTION DIDN'T SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNSEL WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? CHAIRMAN, I, I'M JUST GLAD THAT, UH, WE ELIMINATED ANOTHER PUD FORM.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND ANOTHER FORM OF DOWN ZONING? YES.

WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS CAME BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE 27TH ON, ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.

AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED IT, UH, UNANIMOUSLY.

THEY, THEY, THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO, UM, APPROVE THE ZONING.

SO I'M GOOD WITH IT.

THIS, UH, THE FIRST READING WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT TWO MULLET STREET S SURPLUS PROPERTY, AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE SALE OF RE PROPERTY OF REAL PROPERTY AND ALLOCATING THE PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY.

ITEM NUMBER 11 IS A

[11. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2 MULLET STREET AS SURPLUS PROPERTY, AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE SALE OF THE REAL PROPERTY, AND ALLOCATING PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY (FISCAL IMPACT: Proceeds from sale of real property to be used for expansion and improvement projects to the Alljoy Boat landing and surround area, any remaining funds to be allocated to the Capital Improvement Fund for other capital]

A MOTION PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM HAD HIS HAND UP FIRST.

12 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY.

DULY MOTION DID SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO WEIGH IN SEEING NONE? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AT SECOND READING.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER

[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH CINDY HOLLMAN (FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort Executive Airport will receive monthly income generated through lease revenue – Tenant shall pay $69.30 (42 sq ft x $19.80/12) in monthly base lease payments for premises located at the Beaufort Executive Airport terminal. Annual Expected Revenue increase: $831.60. These lease rates are in accordance with current Beaufort County lease policies)improvement projects in Beaufort County)]

LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH CINDY.

CINDY HOLMAN.

A MOTION AND SECOND, MR. CHAIRMAN.

SECOND.

MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION.

MR. BARAL MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

I WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC.

SINCE THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THIS, ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE.

PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY MEMBER OF COUNSEL? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

13 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY.

ITEM NUMBER

[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH MATT ARCHER (FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort Executive Airport will receive monthly income generated through lease revenue – Tenant shall pay $69.30 (42 sq ft x $19.80/12) in monthly base lease payments for premises located at the Beaufort Executive Airport terminal. Annual Expected Revenue increase: $831.60. These lease rates are in accordance with current Beaufort County lease policies)]

LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH MATT ARCHER.

I'LL MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN SECOND.

MR. GLOVER MADE THE MOTION.

MR. BARTHOLOMEW MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND, AND I WILL GO TO THE PUBLIC TO SEE IF ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT.

SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

ANY

[00:30:01]

MEMBER OF COUNSEL WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT.

SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

14 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE CONVEYING AN EASEMENT LOCATED ON A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY AT 55 GARDNER DRIVE TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.

ITEM

[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE CONVEYING AN EASEMENT LOCATED ON A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY AT 55 GARDNER DRIVE TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND]

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MS. TABER MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

AGAIN, WE GO TO THE PUBLIC.

ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

ANY MEMBER OF COUNSEL? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED ON SECOND READING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMIN INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY.

ITEM 15 IS A PUBLIC

[15. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH TIM VERROI(FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort Executive Airport will receive monthly income generated through lease revenue – Tenant shall pay $145.20 (88 sq ft x $19.80/12) in monthly base lease payments for premises located at the Beaufort Executive Airport terminal. Annual Expected Revenue increase: $1742.40. These lease rates are in accordance with current Beaufort County lease policies)]

LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH TIM VERO.

SO MOVE.

MR. BAR MADE THE MOTION.

MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ITEM SAYING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNSEL? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED ON THIRD READING WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM

[16. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH BEAUFORT FLIGHT TRAINING (FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort Executive Airport will receive monthly income generated through lease revenue – Tenant shall pay $437.25 (265 sq ft x $19.80/12) in monthly base lease payments for premises located at the Beaufort Executive Airport terminal. Annual Expected Revenue increase: $5247.00. These lease rates are in accordance with current Beaufort County lease policies)]

NUMBER 16 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR REAL PROPERTY.

LOCATED AT 39 AIRPORT CIRCLE WITH BUFORT FLIGHT TRAINING.

SECOND MOVE.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. BARAL, YOU MADE THE MOTION.

SECOND, MR. GLOVER MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO COMMENT? SEEING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION.

ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL? MR. CHAIRMAN? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COMMENT TO, UM, AND, AND THANK THE, UM, THE STAFF AT THE AIRPORT.

UM, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS, UM, I'VE ASKED THEM TO DO OVER THE YEARS IS BRING IN REVENUE SO THAT WE CAN EXPAND THE, UH, EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.

UM, HILTON HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF REVENUE.

UH, LADIES ISLAND DOESN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF REVENUE, SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR DOING JUST THAT.

UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AT OUR SECOND CITIZEN'S COMMENTS.

WE ARE

[17. CITIZEN COMMENT]

WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO ADDRESS COUNTY COUNCIL ABOUT VARIOUS ITEMS. MS. LAMARCA, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE OF THE YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

AND IT SAYS VARIOUS TOPICS.

BUT, UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY, I I DIDN'T WANT TO, UM, TELL YOU WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.

, I WANT TO, I WANNA THANK THE NEWBIES FOR THEIR FIRST YEAR.

YOU DID A FABULOUS JOB AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY.

'CAUSE WE DO APPRECIATE IT VERY, VERY MUCH.

AMEN.

UM, I WANT YOU TO STAY STRONG, STAY THE COURSE AND VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE.

I THINK IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH SOME OF WHAT YOU DISCUSSED WITH CHANGE AND CHOICES AND CONSERVATION.

AND THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL INVOCATION BY THE WAY.

I WE SHOULD START EVERY MEETING WITH IT.

IT PUTS US ALL IN A GOOD MOOD.

UH, SECONDLY TO YOU SENIOR MEMBERS, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND NOT TO UPSET YOU.

I WOULD LOVE FOR ALL OF YOU TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE NEWBIES AND MAYBE LISTEN TO THEM AND YOU MIGHT LEARN FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ENGAGING THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE ENGAGING THEIR CITIZENS, AND WE TRULY DO APPRECIATE IT.

SO, AS WE LOOK TO CHANGE AND NEW BUSINESS AND OLD BUSINESS, 'CAUSE IT'S COMING, IT'S COMING BACK.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS.

MY NAME'S IAN LESLIE.

I'VE BEEN A BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

I COVERED THIS COUNTY COUNCIL AS THE GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOR THE BEAUFORT GAZETTE.

BACK WHEN THE GAZETTE ACTUALLY COVERED LOCAL NEWS BEFORE ANYONE ON THIS DAY IS, OTHER THAN COUNCILMAN DAWSON, UH, WAS ON COUNCIL.

I THINK MS. COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD WAS STILL AT THE AIR STATION AT THE TIME.

THROUGH DOZENS, IF NOT MORE THAN A HUNDRED COUNSELING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TIME I'VE SPOKEN AS A RESIDENT, INCREDIBLY CONCERNED BY THE GUN VIOLENCE AND GUN DEATHS OCCURRING AMONGST OUR TEENAGE POPULATION.

UM, I SAT

[00:35:01]

ON JANUARY 1ST, A 14-YEAR-OLD BATTERY CREEK STUDENT WAS SHOT AND KILLED DURING A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, WHICH HE WAS NOT THE TARGET.

HE WAS SITTING IN HIS MOTHER'S HOME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES WHEN THE BULLET CAME THROUGH AND STRUCK HIM.

THE YOUNG MAN FROM ALL ACCOUNTS WAS A LIGHT AND A JOY TO ALL HIS FRIENDS.

AND THOSE WHO KNEW HIM, MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL ON SATURDAY.

THE YOUNG MAN CLEARLY IMPACTED SO MANY AROUND HIM DURING HIS SHORT TIME WITH US, BUT HE'S THE THIRD BATTERY CREEK STUDENT TO DIE FROM GUN VIOLENCE SINCE AUGUST, AND I BELIEVE THE FOURTH IN JUST THE PAST YEAR.

OUR LOCAL MEDIA DOES LITTLE TO REPORT ON THIS AND OFFER A LITTLE MORE THAN DETAILS THAT THEY SEE ON A POLICE REPORT IF THAT WE DISCUSS THESE TRAGEDIES IN OUR HOMES AND CHURCHES.

BUT I'M LEFT TO WONDER HOW OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS ON COUNCIL IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ADDRESSING THIS.

HOW ARE WE COMING TOGETHER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SOMETHING MUST CHANGE AND THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS TOO SMALL TO SEE SO MANY GUN DEATHS AMONGST OUR TEENAGERS? ARE WE DOING ANYTHING, ASKING ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS HAVE A SERVANT HEART AND WORK TIRELESSLY WITH THESE TEENAGERS.

YES, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS BRAVE AND PUT THE SAFETY OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITY FIRST EVERY DAY THAT THEY'RE IN THE FIELD.

BUT IT'S CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH.

WE CLEARLY NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL TO PREVENT ALL TRAGEDIES, BUT WE CAN BE DOING MORE.

WE CAN TALK TO THESE TEENAGERS AND TRY TO ADDRESS THE WHY.

TRY TO INTERCEDE.

I REMEMBER A TIME IN THIS COUNTY WHEN WE DID JUST THAT IN JANUARY, 2002, WHEN TWO SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, WE WERE SHOCKED, MOURNED, AND THEN TOOK ACTION IN MARCH, 2004, WHEN THREE SAILORS DIED IN A BUS CRASH NEAR GARDNER'S CORNER.

WE WERE SHOCKED, MOURNED, AND THEN TOOK ACTION IN FEBRUARY, 2019 WHEN A YOUNG WOMAN DIED IN A HORRIBLE BOATING ACCIDENT.

WE WERE SHOCKED, MOURN, AND THEN TOPPLED AN EMPIRE.

BUT TODAY, AS OUR YOUTH IN THIS COUNTY DIE FROM GUN VIOLENCE, YES, WE'RE SHOCKED.

YES, WE MOURN, BUT THERE IS NO ACTION.

BUT TODAY, OH, I'M SORRY.

REST ASSURED, HOWEVER, THIS YOUNG MAN WHO MOST RECENTLY PASSED WILL NOT DIE IN VAIN.

ON THURSDAY EVENING, DOZENS OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS GATHERED TO PRAY.

SOME OF THESE TEENAGERS WHO GATHER, NEVER SET FOOT IN A CHURCH BEFORE IN THEIR LIVES, NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL.

I'M EXPECTING THAT THE WORD WILL DO GREAT WORK IN THESE TEENS.

AS A RESULT MORE THAN 600 HEARD THE GOSPEL AT SATURDAY'S.

FUNERAL.

I EXPECT AM EXPECTING THAT THE WORD WILL DO A GREAT WORK IN THEM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO DO OUR PART.

WE HAVE TO HOLD YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL ACCOUNTABLE FOR ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS OR KNOWS THE MEDIA ISN'T HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

DO THE SCHOOLS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED? DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT HAVE THE RESOURCES IT NEEDS? WHO IS TALKING TO THE TEENAGERS FOR WHATEVER REASON? OUR ATTENTION SPAN SEEMS TO WANE IN THIS COMMUNITY LATELY.

WHETHER LACK OF MEDIA ATTACK, UH, OR LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, WE DON'T TAKE ACTION LIKE WE USED TO.

PERHAPS WE HAVE SO MANY NEW RESIDENTS WHO DON'T KNOW THE HISTORY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS COMMUNITY CAN BE EITHER WAY.

I ASK THAT YOU ACT TODAY AND LEAD TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

AND FINALLY, MR. SEMLER.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME'S BOB.

SIMILAR AS CHAIRMAN JUST SAID.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

I SPOKE AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND LAND USE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT.

PASSIVE PARKS.

I REPRESENT FRIENDS OF WHITEHALL AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS RIGHT NOW.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FRIENDS OF WHITEHALL SINCE 2018.

WE'VE GOT 6,000 SIGNATORIES ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

WE HAD A MILLION DOLLAR DONATION MADE TO US THAT WENT TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF THE PROPERTY.

AND WE'VE GOT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT IN THE BANK.

WE WISH TO DONATE TREES TO REPLACE THE ONE THAT FELL DOWN ON WHITEHALL.

WE WISH TO DONATE BENCHES.

WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THOSE BECAUSE IF THE MONEY COMES HERE, IT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.

WE CAN'T BE SPECIFIC ON WHAT IT'S DOING.

IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT.

LAWYERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW A CERTAIN TRACK.

AND THE PASSIVE PARK DIRECTOR IS FOLLOWING THAT.

WE HAVE TO SIGN A WAIVER FOR EVERY VOLUNTEER.

IF WE WANT TO GO PICK UP TRASH THREE PAGES, YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE TO SIGN THAT SAME THING WHEN YOU WALK IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

ANYWAYS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.

WE WANNA WORK ON IT TOGETHER.

WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF WHAT THE COUNTY DOES.

WE SUPPORT IT.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THE FRIENDS PROGRAM DISAPPEAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.

I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD LOOK INTO IT.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR.

JOE, GOOD TO SEE YOU DALE.

THAT CONCLUDES THE SECOND CITIZEN COMMENTS AND THE FIRST COUNTY MEETING OF 2024 IS NOW ADJOURNED.

[00:40:42]

GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.

UH, I WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT IN A ALL OF THIS IN A VERY SMALL KIND OF PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

UH, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR.

UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED.

UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHICH ARE IS, IS A SPECIAL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL CANDIDATE, UH, THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE AN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS.

UM, AND, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IT CREATES, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHAT OUR WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A MELTING POT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

SO HAVING THAT RIGHT PERSON IN THAT JOB AND THAT ROLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO OUR KIDS LEADERSHIP, TO OUR KIDS, UH, AND GIVING THE CONFIDENCE TO THE STAFF TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.

I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON.

SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A CLASS ONE OR IN A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.

AND WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY.

BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE.

UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE.

UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UH, AND WE WOULD TRAIN THEM HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

ALL OF THEIR TRAINING WOULD BE DONE RIGHT HERE.

UH, IT WOULD BE EIGHT WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.

UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO START THIS, UH, THE, OUR FIRST CLASS.

WE'D LIKE TO START IT IN JUNE.

UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET 'EM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.

UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.

WE, WE, WE SENT THE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO THE ACADEMY THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THEY APPROVED IT, UH, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRAINING COUNCIL.

SO WE ARE READY TO GET THIS THING MOVING AND GET IT STARTED.

AND I THINK FOR US, UH, WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF TELL OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UH, THE ROLE IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.

IT'S A CLASS THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT DESIGNATION.

UH, IT'S A UNIFORM POSITION.

IT'S AN ARMED POSITION.

UH, THEY HAVE ARREST POWERS, UH, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE, SHERIFF? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING LEAD ON THIS.

UM, WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BLUFFTON THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT STAFFED BY CLASS THREE OR HIGHER OFFICERS.

AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE MORE OF A SECURITY BLANKET FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.

SO THANK YOU.

DALE.

WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE.

AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE, WE NEED TO GET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAITED UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE.

THAT ARE ABLE TO RETIRE FAIRLY YOUNG AND MAYBE LOOKING FOR THAT JOB.

THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.

UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL.

[00:45:01]

SO I, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT.

I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN.

BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED, I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO.

AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM AND THEY'RE A RETIRED TEACHER OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKER IS RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.

AND STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND.

UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THAT STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT.

BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE.

IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN A RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND, AND YOU KNOW, TO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.

AND I, WE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN PORT ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.

THEY ARE.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.

AND I JUST THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DO IT KINDA LIKE NIKE.

LET'S JUST DO IT.

UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, THE TRAINING IS, I THINK THEY'LL ENJOY THEIR TRAINING.

AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.

THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN PILLOW, AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO TRAINING AND ONCE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, UH, THEN THEY'LL START THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

SO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW.

SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE YOU THINK THIS, UM, THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA DO IN TOTALITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? I THINK, I THINK THIS PROGRAM, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET US OVER THE TOP.

I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL IN BUFORT COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

A POLICE OFFICER AND I, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS JOB.

THERE IS, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER.

NO.

THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE WELL TRAINED, UH, IN THIS.

AND I, I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN TARGETING THE RETIREES, WHETHER THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHERS, RETIRED MILITARY IS IMPORTANT.

THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND TO GET THAT STARTED OFF.

SO HOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM? FOR THIS PROGRAM? WE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO CURRENTLY.

POSSIBLY A THIRD COMING ON BOARD.

I'VE GOT NINE JOE.

I HAVE FOUR.

SO I MEAN, IN TOTAL, AND HERE'S THE THING.

IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK AT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OR PORT ROYAL OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO WORK.

AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU'RE EMPLOYED BY.

THAT PAYS GONNA BE THE SAME TO WORK ENVIRONMENT'S, BASICALLY THE SAME.

THAT MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR AT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UH, THE PAY.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY THE SAME.

SO ALL WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN.

GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL.

AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, UH, THEN LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE? YEAH.

AND, AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND, AND REASON BEING IS NONE OF OUR KIDS SHOULD FEEL AFRAID GOING TO SCHOOL.

UM, THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

UM, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.

HOPE THE APPLICATION START POURING IN.

, UH, AS THEY'RE COMING UP THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SO, LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, IF YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, THIS IS A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

I JUST

[00:50:01]

AND IF YOU GET MORE THAN, THAN YOU NEED THEN AND, AND WE NEED TO GO TO BEAUFORT OR WE NEED TO GO TO, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR, OR PORT ROYAL, WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK.

WE NEED TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, UH, AND LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PROGRAM, THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRES, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.

IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO AND YOU HIRE FOUR AND YOU KNOW, AND I CAN FILL THE NINE THAT WE NEED, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TRAINING TOGETHER.