Jan 22, 2024 Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee

[00:00:01]

ON THE NORTH SIDE. THERE'S ALSO HITTING RANGE. THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SO I'D LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA PLEASE SO MOOD. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.

SECOND I'LL SECOND THAT THIS BROWN ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA I OTHERWISE YOU HAVE TO LEAVE OKAY IT'S INTERESTING COMMENT DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS ISN'T IN SIGNED UP FOR COMMENT?

[6. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]

WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR REPORT BY DALE BUTZ.

HELLO, MR. BENSON. HELLO, MR. BERNANKE. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE EVERYONE WERE JUST GREAT THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT TIME FOR YOU GUYS TO GET A BRIEF UPDATE FROM OUR ASSESSOR MR. BERNIE SANDERS. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE REASSESSMENT. TAX BILLS HAVE GONE OUT. PEOPLE HAVE THEIR TAXES.

WE HOPE THEY HAVE SO I'VE ASKED HER TO COME AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND SHE CAN DO THAT BETTER THAN I CAN SO I WILL TURN OVER.

HAVE YOU TAKEN OFF YOUR TRAVEL SHOES? I MEAN BECAUSE DID SO MANY YES FORMS MA'AM. I HAVE A FEW MORE A COUPLE MORE SCHEDULED IN THE MONTH SO WELL MANY THANKS FOR DOING ALL THOSE FOR THANK YOU. THANK YOU APPRECIATE GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON SO THE REAPPRAISAL.

WELL, WE WENT THROUGH IT WE GOT THROUGH DECEMBER THE 11TH WAS THE LAST DAY FOR OUR TAXPAYERS TO APPEAL THEIR VALUATIONS AND A BIG KUDOS I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO MY STAFF.

THEY ARE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE TWO WONDERFUL DEPUTIES, A GREAT GROUP OF FROM ALL OUR STAFF MEMBERS OF THE 133,000 ASSESSMENT NOTICES THAT WE SENT OUT TO OUR TAXPAYERS THIS FOR THIS REASSESSMENT AND I WILL SEE THEM GIVE YOU A FIRST AND THEN I WILL TELL YOU WHY IT IS SO UNIQUE. YOU RECEIVED THOUSAND 63 APPEALS AS OF DECEMBER THE 11TH THAT'S HISTORICAL FOR COUNTY AND ANY COUNTY COUNTYWIDE QUADRENNIAL REASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT 2018 REASSESSMENT WE RECEIVED 11,763 APPEALS. SO I WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT'S A 17% INCREASE FROM 18 I KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IT'S WHAT THAT VOLUME LOOKS LIKE SO IT'S HISTORICAL AND I JUST I'M GLAD TO GIVE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY BY DAY ALL TO KIND OF SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE IN REGARDS TO OUR QUADRENNIAL REASSESSMENT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD ABOUT 1500 LEFT TO REVIEW MOST THOSE APPEALS CAME IN IN DECEMBER RIGHT BEFORE THE DEADLINE. SO OUR PRICES ARE DILIGENTLY GOING THROUGH THOSE SO WE RECEIVED 75% OF THE ASSESSMENTS THAT WE SENT OUT 75% OF OUR PROPERTIES RECEIVED A CAP.

SO MOST OF PROPERTY OWNERS WILL BENEFIT. THEY BENEFITED FROM THE CAPPING SO THAT THAT DOES HELP WITH THE THE NUMBER OF APPEALS WE DO RECEIVE.

SO ENSIGN'S TOLD YOU IN 12 SINCE 29TH OF 1998 IS WHEN LEGISLATION CHANGE AND THAT'S WHEN WE'VE HAD THAT'S A HISTORICAL AMOUNT THOSE THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY WE SEE TODAY WE DID 15 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS IS WHEN OUR STAFF WENT OUT TO THE DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY WE UTILIZE OUR COUNTY LIBRARIES AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR MAKING THOSE ACCOMMODATION FOR US.

WE DID 15 OF THOSE AND I'M PERSONALLY I'VE DONE 38 REASSESSMENT PRESENTATIONS SO FAR COUNTING THE COUPLE I HAVE IN THE THIS MONTH TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA ABOUT LEGAL RESIDENCY, I KNOW THAT'S A HOT TOPIC FOR A LOT OF YOU SO FAR WE RECEIVE 8500 APPLICATIONS IN THE WHAT WE'RE WORKING CURRENTLY IS THE ONES THAT WE RECEIVE IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER DECEMBER AND JANUARY THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING FOR LEGAL RESIDENCY WAS JANUARY THE 16TH.

SO JUST IN THOSE THREE MONTHS WE RECEIVED WE'VE SEEN ABOUT 15,000 LEGAL RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS OF THE 8500 GOOD NEWS ABOUT OUR TRANSFER DEPARTMENT WITHIN ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WE RECEIVED ABOUT 15 NO NO 12,000 SORRY 12,000 TRANSFERS THAT'S DOWN ABOUT 16% FROM LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED 14,000 TRANSFERS.

SO THAT CAN KIND OF GIVE YOU SOME IDEA WHEN WE START THOSE NUMBERS OVER FOR GROWTH WE'RE DOWN ABOUT 16% IN THE NUMBER TRANSFERRED TO AS AN APPRAISER WHAT APPRAISAL BACKGROUND CONTRIBUTED THAT TO WHAT WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH A MORTGAGE AND LENDING AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS SO IN OUR AREA WE HAD 12,000 OUR LADIES IN THE TRANSFER APARTMENT IN OUR IN

[00:05:03]

75% OF THE PROPERTIES BENEFITED FROM THE 15% CAP. YES, MA'AM, YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU'RE CORRECT. INTERESTING. ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION, MS..

SANDERS? I GOT TO COMMENT IS EVERYTHING YOU DID TO PRESENTATIONS IN MY DISTRICT AND I THANK YOU I APPRECIATE THEM. YOU'RE WELCOME YOU WELCOME.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WORKING THE PUBLIC WAS OUTSTANDING AGAIN APPRECIATION IS OBVIOUSLY A TRIBUTE TO THE FACT THAT WE ONLY HAVE YOU SAID A LITTLE OVER 3000 CHALLENGES TO WHAT THEIR ARE GOING THAT IS MONUMENTAL IS OUT OF THE 133,000 ASSESSMENTS THAT THAT WENT OUT WE A LITTLE 3063 TO BE EXACT AND YOU'RE STILL SMILING ON ALWAYS GOOD JOB THANK YOU I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HELPING TWO OF MY CONSTITUENTS OR YOU YOU KNOW LIKE THOSE WERE I HAVE A TEAM SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT OUR THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU THAT'S IT MR. TREMENDOUS I THINK YOU'RE ALL

[7. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF 2% STATE A TAX]

HELLO. FIRST I WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON SOME FINANCE ITEMS SINCE OUR LAST FINANCE MEETING WE PROVIDED TRAINING TO STAFF ON THE NEW ACCOUNTS AND, THE ACCOUNT CONVERSION AND ALSO IF ANY OF YOU WANT ANY ASSISTANCE OR ANY TRAINING ON THAT, JUST LET US KNOW AND GET SOMETHING. AND WE PROVIDED TRAINING OVER PROPER REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WHICH WILL HELP OUT A LOT FOR. THE NEW BUDGET COMING UP AND WE COMPLETED THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 EXTERNAL AUDIT ON TIME DECEMBER 31ST AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM OUR EXTERNAL AUDITOR LOREN JENKINS LATER ON AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

OKAY SO WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY AND WE ARE PROGRESSING AND IT'S A BUSY TIME FOR YOU.

OKAY. OKAY. SO WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY TAX AND I'M CHRISTINE WEBB, DIRECTOR OF COMPLIANCE AND THIS WAS CREATIVE PRICING CAMPBELL OUR SENIOR ACCOUNTANT OR IT I THEN OKAY SO HERE IS WHERE I PUT LINKS TO THE STATE STATUTE OR STATE PERCENT BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAN BE VERY CONFUSING BETWEEN THEM BETWEEN ALL OF THEM THAT THE STATE 2% AND LOCAL 3% AND THE LOCAL 2% HOSPITALITY A TAX HOSPITALITY TAX. OKAY.

OKAY FOR THE STATE 2% SOUTH CAROLINA OF REVENUE PROVIDES 2% ALLOCATION TO COUNTIES FROM THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES BASICALLY THE SECTION IS 1235 720 SPECIFICALLY STATES HOW MUST ALLOCATE SO THE FIRST 25,000 IN GENERAL ONE IN THE 5% TO GENERAL FUND AND 30% TO DMO WHICH ARE GREATER BE FOR PORT ROYAL CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU AND HILTON HEAD BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND 5% REMAINING BALANCE MUST BE USED FOR TOURISM RELATED EXPENDITURE AND WE MUST APPOINT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE NOT LESS THAN FIVE MEMBERS WHICH WE NEED TO HAVE SEVEN OKAY SO THE STATE 2% EIGHT TAX BALANCES AND HERE'S THE CURRENT STATUS THE CURRENT CASH BALANCE IS ABOUT 1.08 MILLION AND THE COMMITTEE HAS BROUGHT A MOTION FOR APPROVAL AWARDS AN AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION AND IF APPROVED THE BALANCE WILL BE 87,000.

THE FIRST QUARTER OF REVENUE HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN ABOUT OR 177,000 AND THE SECOND QUARTER IS DUE TO BE RECEIVED NEXT WEEK AND THE SECOND QUARTER REVENUE WILL BE ADDED TO THE CURRENT BALANCE LESS AWARDS THAN 150 COULD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF YOU CHOOSE TO ALSO.

AND SO HERE'S THE LOCAL TAX WHICH COUNTY IS ALLOWED TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL 3% FOR THE

[00:10:01]

SO HERE'S WHERE WANT YOUR OPINION AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW USE THESE LOCAL TAX AND TAX ARMS SO THE FIRST ONE IS DISCONTINUE THE WAR PROCESS AND UTILIZE FUNDS INTERNALLY FOR COUNTY PROJECTS WILL BE PROGRAMED INTO THE COUNTY BUDGET AND THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS WOULD ENSURE OUR FUNDS ARE USED IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE TO BENEFIT ALL OF COUNTY RESIDENTS OR DISCONTINUE THE NEW GRANT CYCLE FOR THIS 2024 YEAR TO ALLOW FINANCE TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND APPLICATION FOR AWARDS OR THREE OTHER OPTIONS OR PURPOSES FROM COUNCIL HERE WE JUST REALLY NEED YOUR INPUT AND NEED A DECISION ON HOW YOU WANT GO ABOUT USING THESE LOCAL TAX AND TAX FUNDS. THANK YOU.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR CHRISTINE. YES.

SO BOTH THE LOCAL TAX AND TAX CAN BE CORRECT. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG THEY CAN BE HELD OVER A YEAR LONGER THAN A YEAR. OR DO THEY HAVE TO BE EXPANDED WITHIN A FOR THE AVERAGE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO SPEND IT? RIGHT.

WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO YEAR PERIOD AS WELL AS WHAT WE HAVE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE OPTIONS IS OTHER QUESTIONS COME WHY ARE WE DISCUSSING THIS CONTINUING TO AWARD PROCESS? OKAY YES THAT AWARD BRYSON AND I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TRYING TO GET IT ALL TOGETHER

[00:15:04]

YES IS DIFFICULT PROCESS. SO THE MAIN THING IS THE GRANT AWARDS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN FISCAL YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN ALLOWING IT TO GO BEYOND THE AWARD DATE ON THE LETTERS WHICH IS ONE YEAR OR TWO FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND THAT WAS ONLY GIVEN AT A LAST CYCLE LAST FISCAL YEAR 2023. SO BEFORE THEY WERE ONLY TO BE ONE YEAR BUT THEY WERE GOING BEYOND THAT AND IT'S MESSING WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET AND IT IS A HALF YEAR OUR BUDGET PROCESS HAD THESE AWARDS BEEN IN LINE WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR IT WOULDN'T BE SO CONVOLUTED.

IT IS KIND OF CONVOLUTED BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE. WHAT WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THIS MONEY TO GO TOWARD COUNTY PROJECTS, PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE GRASP ON GO FIND THE MONEY, GO FIND THE MONEY, GO FIND THE MATCH MONEY FOR THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT CAN'T COMPLETE. SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO USE THE LOCAL TAX OR COUNTY PROJECTS AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IN PERPETUITY MAYBE JUST FOR A YEAR OR TWO.

I THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON USES THEIR LOCAL TAX DOWN HILTON AND THERE SEVERAL COUNTIES WHO ALSO USE THEIR LOCAL TAX IN-HOUSE AS WELL AS A FUNDING MECHANISM WHENEVER THEY CANNOT FIND THE FUNDING CERTAIN PURPOSES THAT ARE SPECIFIC FOR THIS MONEY AND ALSO IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO GET AWARDEES TO SUBMIT PROGRESS AND FINAL REPORTS AS REQUIRED AND SUBMITTING PROPER DOCUMENTATION LIKE INVOICES PROOF OF PAYMENTS AND IT'S JUST IN THE LAW TO GO MORE THAN LIKE A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT ON THE GRANT AWARD AND THEN THEY MAY NOT COMPLETE A PROJECT THEN THEY WANT AN EXTENSION AND THEN WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK AND IT IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC IN THAT PHONE BACK AND FORTH AND DECISIONS TO BE MADE.

WE'LL DO WHATEVER YOU GUYS GO AHEAD. MR. JOHNSON, I UNDERSTAND FROM YOUR EXPLANATION THE DIFFICULTIES THAT USED AND FINANCES INCURRED BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES RELY AND DEPEND UPON SOME THESE FUNDS TO CONTINUE THEIR OPERATIONS, THEIR BUSINESSES. SO IF WE ORDER FROM THEM FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS I DON'T GET IT MR. NELSON I DON'T THINK THESE ARE REPEAT AWARDEES THOUGH THESE SO THESE FUNDS WHEN WE AWARD THEM OUR FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO AND THEY REALLY SHOULD NOT SUPPLEMENT THEIR OPERATIONS THEY SHOULDN'T BE USING LOCAL TAX PLANNING TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR OPERATIONS. THEY SHOULD BE USING THEM FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO TOURISM AND ATTRACTING PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE AND JUST JUST ABOUT UNDERSTAND TO THE DEMOS WILL WE STILL GET THEIR FUNDING BECAUSE OUR LOCAL ORDINANCES WE WE WOULD GIVE THEM MONEY.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. THE DEMOS WOULD STILL BE SO THE CHAMBERS OH THREE AND WOULD STILL GET THEIR MONEY FROM THE LOCAL TAX MONEY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE SPECIAL PROJECTS YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

I'M TRYING TO PICK ONE OUT. YEAH. LIKE ON AT THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD AND I LIKE A LOT OF THEM GO WITHOUT BEING COMPLETED AND THEY NEVER TURN IN THEIR PAPERWORK. YEAH AND THEY'RE TAKING A VERY LONG TIME TO USE THE MONEY ALSO BUT WE COULD LIKE WE COULD USE THE MONEY THINK SOMEONE BROUGHT THIS UP LIKE WE DID ONE YEAR TO WORK DO MORE WORK ON OUR BOAT LANDINGS AND HAVE THERE BE MORE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR THE BOAT OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OKAY SO ONE COMMENT FROM MR. DAWSON'S IS SHE'S TALKING HERE ABOUT LOCAL TAX NOT STATE. SO WHAT'S GOING TO COME UP AT COUNTY COUNCIL LATER IS THE STATE RECOMMENDATIONS THIS IS LOCAL AND IF YOU ALL IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING A RABBIT HOLE I'VE BEEN GOING DOWN JOHN WILL LAUGH.

DENISE WILL LAUGH. TOM CAVANEY I'VE BEEN GOING DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE FOR TWO MONTHS SO I WANT TO JUST EXPRESS MY COMMENTS. I WANT TO SAY THAT FIRST OF ALL I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK OF THE TEXAS I GET IT THEY REVIEWED THE APPLICATIONS.

THIS IS FOR TAX AND THEY MET WITH THE APPLICANTS AND THEY LISTENED THE REQUESTS AND ALL OF THAT. AND I ALSO KNOW THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF WORTHY CAUSES WHICH IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, TO THE COUNTY FOR FUNDS.

[00:20:02]

WE HAVE GREENSPACE NOW AND THAT'S A GREAT USE MONEY I BELIEVE WE CAN AND SHOULD USE SOME OF OUR STATE AND LOCAL TAX MONEY FOR SOME OF THESE PURPOSES AS WELL.

WE PRESERVE THE NATURE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY COUNTRY WHICH MAKES US A SITE FOR TOURISM PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL I VISITED I HAVE ANYTHING ANY IDEA OF SOUTH CAROLINA I'M FROM OHIO SO WE NEED TO START USING OUR ACCOMMODATION TAXES TO SUPPORT TOURISM WHICH WE CAN DO. HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE AND MISS HOWARD JUST SAID IT WE CAN PUT MONEY INTO OUR MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS OF THE BOAT LANDINGS OR PARKS AND REC.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A CONSULTANT WE HIRED AND GAVE US A FULL OF THE BOAT LANDINGS AND WE KIND OF DROPPED IT WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT HOW TO FUND IT. IT'S SITTING THERE HANGING OVER OUR HEAD AND EARLY IN THE YEAR CHUCK ATKINSON BROUGHT TO US A CONSULT AND HE TOLD US TEN YEARS OF $100 MILLION TO FIX OUR PARKS AND REC AND THAT ONE KIND OF SITTING ON TOP OF OUR HEAD. SO I WE SPEND MONEY ON THOSE REPORTS WE SHOULD LOOK AT HOW TO FUND THEM IN 2012 AND 2022. WE'RE PUTTING GREEN SPACE. WE'RE THE FIRST ONE IN THE STATE. IT'S GREAT. WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF IT AND THINK PEOPLE REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD EXPENDITURE OF MONEY.

WE PAY THE DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS AS CHRISTINE SAID THE DEMOS LARGE SUMS OF STATE AID TAX FUNDS YEAR TO ADVERTISE EVENTS COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE STATE SLIDES? I THINK IT'S SLIDE TWO AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT USE REMAINING FUNDS TO DO MORE MARKETING. WE ARE PAYING THE DEMOS MONEY AND YOU'LL SEE IT ON THERE AND THE MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD SUPPORT THEIR TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN THEIR BOUNDARIES AGAIN I MEAN ASKING US TO DISCUSS HOW TO KEEP NEXT SLIDE THERE WE GO HOW TO KEEP A TAX FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR COUNCIL PRIORITIES IN UNINCORPORATED COUNTY IF YOU LOOK HERE UNDER THE SECOND SET OF BULLETS WE THAT'S HOW THE STATE CODE DESIGNATES WE HAVE TO GIVE 25,000 GENERAL FUND 5% GENERAL FUND THEN 30% TO THE DEMOS THAT'S IN CODE SO WE CAN'T PLAY WITH THAT BUT THE 65% IS LEFT TO US SO AGAIN. I APPRECIATE THE COMMITTEE'S HARD WORK AS THIS IS COMING UP AT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING AND I CAN APPRECIATE I'M NOT SAYING ANY OF THE GROUPS WORTHY BUT MY PHILOSOPHY IS I BELIEVE THESE FUNDS SHOULD BE CAPPED IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT TO FUND PRIORITIES WE HAVE. SO I MY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND AS CHRISTINE ,IF YOU GO TO THE LAST SLIDE WITH THE OPTIONS THERE ARE OPTIONS MAYBE OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE AND DEVELOP GUIDELINES. BUT YOU CAN SPEND THESE TAXES IN OTHER WAYS TO BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS OF UNINCORPORATED COUNTY. SO I'M ASKING ALL OF OUR PEOPLE TO KIND OF THINK OUT OF THE BOX IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S THE AGENDA LATER IN COUNTY COUNCIL, THAT'S A LIST OF THE ONES THE COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING. IF YOU LOOK BACK TO 21, 22 AND 23, YOU'LL SEE MANY OF THE SAME ENTITIES AND THE QUESTION IS THIS WHAT OUR RESIDENTS WOULD WANT IS TO USE THESE TAXES FOR. SO WITH THAT SAID WOULD YOU BRING UP MY OTHER INVESTMENT BECAUSE THIS ANSWERS MR. DYSON'S QUESTION I SAID THIS HAS SENT ME DOWN A RABBIT HOLE SO WORK WITH ME ON THIS. IT'S REALLY AN ANNOYING RABBIT HOLE.

YOU HAVE TO BLOW THAT UP A LITTLE. SO THIS WAS JUST IN THE ISLAND PACKET BEAUFORT CITY GAVE THEIR A TAX AWARDS LOOK WHO THEY GAVE ANYTHING IN YELLOW THAT'S WHAT WE'RE OUR IS PROPOSING SO THERE'S THE DMV FOR BEAUFORT PORT CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU AND THEN YOU SEE THEY DID A GULLAH FESTIVAL WATERFRONT AND THAT'S PROPOSED THE NEXT TO OUR PROPOSED BY OUR COUNTY COMMITTEE THE KINFOLK TRAVELING THEATER THEY'RE GIVING 25 NINE WE'RE PROPOSING 30,000 BUF BLUFFTON IS PROPOSING 18 NINE ON THAT ONE TO THEN YOU SEE

[00:25:01]

LOOK, HILTON HEAD AGAIN THIS IS STATE TAX, NOT LOCAL. HERE'S HILTON HEAD.

LOOK HOW THEY WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR STATE AID TAX AND YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THIS UNLESS YOU ARE LIKE ME REAL ANIMAL BUT I'M GOING TO FIND IT. SO LOOK WHAT THEY PUT IN GENERAL CAPITAL PROJECTS, LAND ACQUISITION AND THEY ANNOUNCES THAT THEY'RE MEETING.

I SAID THEY'RE MEETING AND THEN THEY GO TO THE DISCRETIONARY SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

EVERYONE YOU SEE HERE IS WHAT THEY'RE GIVING THEM AND THEN WE ARE IN YELLOW MEANING WE ARE GIVING AS SO WHEN I SAY I'D LIKE TO KEEP THE FUNDS IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY SOME THESE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE UNDER WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND YOU CAN SEE LIKE IN NOT TO PICK ANY OF US NOT TO PICK ANY PARTICULAR BUT THE SYMPHONY SCROLL BACK UP A MINUTE THEY'RE GETTING 330,000 FROM HILTON HEAD AND WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE TO GIVE THEM 25,000. OKAY. YOU CAN SCROLL AND WE CAN SEND THIS OUT. IT'S IN THE I CAN SEND IT TO THOSE EVERYWHERE THAT'S YELLOW.

WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT AS WELL AS HILTON HEAD YOU CAN KEEP GOING AND THEN THESE ARE ALL THAT HAVE NO YELLOW THOSE ARE HILTON HAD WE THEY DIDN'T APPLY FOR US OR DIDN'T GET A RECOMMENDED OKAY KEEP GOING DOWN SO THEY HAVE MILLION DOLLARS GIVE OR TAKE IN STATE AID TAX MONEY WE HAVE 1.5, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.

OKAY SCROLL DOWN NOW. SO THEN THEY ALSO GAVE SOME PARTIAL HILTON HEAD LAND TRUST AND THEN THERE WERE SOME THEY DIDN'T MONEY TO. SO YOU CAN SCROLL FURTHER AND THERE'S NO YELLOW SO WE'RE NOT EITHER SO MR. DUSTIN'S QUESTION LOCALLY TAX FUNDS WHICH IS WHAT CHRISTINE SAID YOU KNOW CONSIDER OPTIONS LOOK WHAT HILTON HEAD DOES THEY CURRENTLY USE 100% OF THEIR LOCAL AID TAX TO SUPPORT THOSE SERVICES IN THEIR CITY.

OKAY SO IT'S GENERAL FUND MONEY THEY'RE NOT GIVING IT TO ANYBODY AND NOTE FOR FISCAL 24 BLUFFTON USES ALL THEIR LOCAL AID TAX TO SUPPORT CITY FUNCTIONS.

THEY'RE NOT GIVING ANY AWAY AND LAST YEAR BEAUFORT CITY USE THEIR AID FUNDS TO PUT CAMERAS UP SO NONE OF THEM DID AWARDS GRANTS THAT'S CHRISTINE'S TALKING ABOUT TAKING THE AWARDS AWAY SO AND BY THE WAY, I NOTICE LOCAL ACCOMMODATION TAX CAN PUT SOME FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE ALL THAT STUFF AS MR. GAFFNEY WOULD SAY.

SO THEN I JUST HAD SOME QUESTIONS. ONE WE WERE REMISS NOT TO HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS ON OUR COMMITTEE. WE SHOULD WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE ONE TODAY.

SO OUR COMMITTEE WE HAD FIVE MEMBERS ONLY FOUR WERE PRESENT AND THEN OF THESE AWARDS ONLY THREE PEOPLE VOTED. AND THEN MY QUESTION IS WILL YOU ANSWER THIS ALREADY IF THEY DON'T SPEND THE MONEY. DO WE KIND OF CLAWED BACK? WHAT DO WE DO? AND THEN I NOTICE BLUFFTON HAS A SCORING SHEET. DO WE USE ONE FOR STATE? I KNOW MR.. THEY DO HAVE A SCORING I KNOW THEY GIVE US A PARAGRAPH I'VE NEVER SEEN A SCORING SHEET OH THAT'S GOING TO BE WE GET A PAPER WITH NUMBERS ON IT I'M SURE ABOUT THAT. OKAY SO JUST SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT BUT AGAIN I'M SUGGESTING WE LOOK AT HOW TO USE THESE FUNDS IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT TO FUND OUR PRIORITIES . MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION JUST SO I'M CLEAR.

SO BACK IF YOU SCROLL BACK DOWN TO LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION.

SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE TOWN OF HILL MAD IS THAT RIGHT SCROLL UP.

YEAH I'M SORRY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD GETS $100,000 FROM OLD COUNTRY GOLF COURSE.

I'M SORRY. THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY'RE GIVING FROM THEIR ATTACKS.

OKAY, THAT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING WITH THEM THEN THEY GO BACK DOWN UP SOME MORE UP.

OH GOD IT'S A KEEP GOING TO SOMEWHERE. YEAH SO I'M CLEAR ON MY OWN.

OKAY STOP THERE. OKAY SO SO $100,000 GOES TO LOW COUNTRY GOLF COURSE HOURS, CORRECT? RIGHT FROM HILTON HEAD FROM HILTON HEAD AND THEN WE THE COUNTY WANTS TO GIVE 70 $500 IN ADDITION TO THE 100,000, CORRECT?

[00:30:02]

TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT. I'M JUST ASKING IS THEY HAVE DISCUSSION I CAN'T PROPOSE ANYTHING FRANKLY BUT ANYWAY I PUT THIS TOGETHER YOU CAN ALL READ IT LIKE COURSE THEY'LL HAVE GUNS. THEY'RE FUNDING IT TO 362 AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM 38,000 MORE AND I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S GOT A BUDGET AND EVERYBODY'S GOT MORE MONEY BUT THE QUESTION IS WHERE'S BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK AS A COUNTY? SO THERE YOU GO.

QUESTION COMMENT SOMEBODY ELSE MAY HAVE TO COME IN THE I SAW SOME IN THE ATTACHMENTS THERE WERE SOME FUNDS HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPENDED YOU YEAH I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REASON TO OF TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND YOU KNOW SOME OF THEM ARE FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NEVER HAPPEN YOU WANT TO SHOW THERE RIGHT I MEAN IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE SO IT COULD BE PULLED BACK IT COULD BE REAPPROPRIATED . YEAH.

AND IS THERE A TIME LIMIT WHERE OUR ATTORNEYS WERE REDRAFTING OUR ORDINANCE? WELL BUT THEY'LL NEED GUIDANCE FROM YOU ALL FOR THAT BEFORE THEY REALLY DRAFTED THE DOCUMENT. WHATEVER YOU GUYS DECIDE TO DO WE NEED TO BE CONVEYED TO THEM.

THEY COULD REWRITE OUR YOU KNOW WE'VE STARTED DRAFTING THAT AND WE ARE CIRCULATING IT INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY CIRCULATED TO COUNCIL OR INTO REVIEW BEFORE WE EVEN START THE PROCESS IS GIVEN FIRST READING AND THEN WHAT IS THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO BE AND THEY'RE DOING THEY'RE DOING THAT FOR VARIOUS REASONS BUT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT REALLY STICKS OUT IN MY HEAD IS THE LOCAL TAX PART OF OUR ORDINANCE. THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY AREAS IN THERE AND THERE'S NO DEADLINES . THERE'S NO SPECIFICS LIKE YOU KNOW, SUBMIT YOUR ANNUAL REPORT TO WHO SAYS THE COUNTY WELL WHO THE COUNTY YOU KNOW SO THESE ENTITIES COULD BE SUBMITTING REPORTS TO THE COUNTY BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY'RE GOING SO THERE'S A LOT OF GRAY IN THAT ORDINANCE AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT THE STAFF HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK THROUGH IT AND THAT'S GOOD. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU KNOW HOW YOU WE HAVE TO GIVE SO MUCH TO THE DEMOS IN THE CHAMBERS THEY'RE NOT ON THE LIST WE GET FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR STATE TAX.

THE DEMO IS BUT NOT THE CHAMBERS AND THEY'RE NOT LISTED ON THERE.

WHY ARE THOSE IN HERE? BECAUSE THIS IS JUST LOCAL. THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IS IT BECAUSE? WE HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THEM. THIS IS NOT LOCAL AND THIS IS LOCAL. THIS IS LOCAL THAT THESE SPREADSHEETS WERE LOCAL STATE.

I DIDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE ONE THE COMMITTEE GAVE US.

THERE WAS NOTHING LISTED FOR THE CHAMBER OH NO THEY DIDN'T PROBABLY LISTED BUT I DID WE DID GIVE THE MONEY TO THE DEMOS. OKAY.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ON COMPREHENSIVE LIST BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT I DON'T SEE THE CHAMBER. I'M HERE I WANT COME THE CHAIRMAN SOME OF YOU KNOW YOU SAID USE ONLY UNINCORPORATED COUNTY WHICH I AGREE BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT THE BRIDGE FROM SPANISH MILES TRAIL IS A GOOD EXAMPLE SOMETHING BENEFITS ALL THOSE IN THE CITY AND GAVE THEM IN THE CITY YOU'VE YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS SO THERE'S SOME THINGS WHICH I KNOW CROSS BOUNDARIES HAVE SOME DISCRETION . SURE. I JUST PRESENTED FOR DISCUSSION. THEY PUT THE OPTIONS UP THERE FOR DISCUSSION AND AS WE ALL KNOW THAT IT'S SORT OF LATE NOW BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE MET AND MADE RECOMMENDATIONS STATE TAX BUT LOCAL TAX IS A DIFFERENT STORY. SO ANY OTHER QUESTION COMMENT ANYBODY? I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU LADIES. APPRECIATE IT.

AND WE'RE CURRENTLY RECEIVING APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND I THINK WE HAVE 14 APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW SO WE WOULD NEED YOUR GUIDANCE WHETHER WE NEED TO AWARD OR TO HOLD OFF. SO WHENEVER YOU GUYS AND DECIDE ON THAT LET US KNOW BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD OFF FOR ANYONE 25 BECAUSE I NEED TO CREATE A MORE ROBUST POLICY PROCEDURES IN BRADFORD OR YES SURE WE HAVE DEADLINES IN THERE DO TO SUBMIT THE REPORTS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IF WE AWARD RIGHT NOW FOR LOCAL IT'S JUST YOU KNOW THEY THEY WOULD HAVE NO GUIDANCE AS SO WE WOULD HAVE TO SEND ALL THE STATE A TEXT HAVE A COMMITTEE AS WE SAW LOCALLY TEXAS DOES NOT HAVE COMMITTEE THAT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THOSE ARE DIFFERENT. SO COUNCIL COULD WE'RE NOT GIVING ANY AWARDS RIGHT AND MR. ROBERTSON PROBABLY WOULD FROM BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE SO THE DISCUSSION REALLY IS IS ABOUT

[00:35:02]

IT'S OUR JOB TO FOLLOW THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS PRESENT IF WE CHOOSE TO CHANGE THAT ORDINANCE UPDATE THAT ORDINANCE OR DELAY THIS PROCESS AT YOUR DIRECTION, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO YES THIS WILL BE ALL PART OUR DISCUSSION NEXT MONTH AS WE BEGIN TO PREPARE THE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD THIS YEAR SO IT'S VERY APROPOS THAT WE DO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE IF THERE ARE CHANGES IT'S ONE OF THE CS I TALKED ABOUT CHANGE IF THERE ARE CHANGES WE WISH TO MAKE NOW IS THE TIME MAKE THOSE CHANGES. SO THE QUESTION THINK THEY'RE ASKING YOU MR. ROBINSON'S ASKING IS WHAT TO DO WITH THE APPLICATIONS YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW FOR LOCAL TAX AND THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD SAY ALTHOUGH I DO NOT AWARD ANYTHING UNTIL THE COUNCIL MAKES THE DECISION AS TO HOW IT WANTS TO PROCEED IN THE FUTURE ANYBODY ELSE OTHER THAN THAT THAT I ACTUALLY DO IS THERE A WAY WE CAN SEE A LIST OF THE APPLICANTS OR WE MAKE DECISION ? I WOULD BE INCLINED STARTING OUT TO DO A HYBRID HYBRID OF STARTING TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT WE THAT WE AWARD WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AND ALLOCATING IT TOWARDS PROJECTS HERE AND THEN 2025 OKAY REALLY HAVE A GOOD SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. YOU HAVE OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD OF HOW MUCH MONEY THE REQUESTS AMOUNT TO THAT MAY NOT EVEN BE TO THE 14 APPLICANT.

I DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT ON MY HEAD I WILL HAVE PEOPLE CALLING ME LIKE LIKE WE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE FOR THE APPLICATION AND I THINK PEOPLE WILL LAUGH UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO PROCEED. AND SO OUT OF THOSE 14 I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T APPLIED THIS I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S LOOKING AT ALL THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE IN THERE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM US AND ANYBODY OH YOU DON'T WANT THAT AND GO FOR IT.

I'M ALL FOR GETTING OUR PROJECTS DONE THAT WE'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF.

I MEAN SOMETIMES I SEE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE THROW OUT. SOMEBODY SENT AN APPLICATION WE HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IT GOES TO, WHAT IT'S USED FOR WHEN IT GETS THERE AND THAT DRIVES ME ABSOLUTELY INSANE. SO I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT. WE START WITH A HYBRID APPROACH OR WE PUT A CAP ON IT OR WHATEVER IT IS AND WE HAVE MORE STRINGENT STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS TO EVEN APPLY BY JUST SEEING SOME OF THOSE THINGS ON THERE.

TO BE HONEST, FOR A BACKLOG LACK OF BETTER WORDS KIND OF MAKES ME SICK THAT WE CAN GIVE MONEY TO SOME OF THOSE THINGS BUT THAT'S JUST ME SO I'M ALL ON BOARD WITH TAKING A LOOK AT IT AND SEEING THESE FUNDS CAN BE BETTER USED. I WITH THAT SAID I DO NOT BELIEVE WE ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS SO I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET IN THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OR HOUSING BUSINESS BUT IF THERE IS A WAY WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR THE RIGHT PROGRAM THAT APPLIES THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D BE OPEN TO DO BUT I'M NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF USING THOSE FUNDS TO BUILD IT OURSELVES.

WE'RE NOT A LANDLORD BUSINESS. WE NEED LESS GOVERNMENT FOR US TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK SO AGAIN THEY WANT DIRECTION LOCAL TAXES, THEY HAVE APPLICATIONS.

WE WANT THEM TO HOLD THEM. WE WANT THEM TO TELL THEM NO. ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT UNTIL WE CAN MAKE A DECISION WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL HERE. OKAY, I HOLD AND THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WILL ADD THE DMS TO THAT SPREADSHEET WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPREADSHEET FOLKS IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DEMOS ON THERE SO IT'S REALLY NOT AN ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF THE MONEY WE'RE GIVING OUT.

RIGHT. WHICH IS CONCERNING TO ME AND WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM SOME OF MADE ME CRINGE. YEAH. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE FINAL COMMENT ON ATX OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO MOVE I JUST HAVE ONE THING REAL QUICK. SURE. SO I ALWAYS FIND INTERESTING YOU KNOW WE GET STUFF FROM THE PUBLIC ALL THE TIME. THEY'RE LIKE I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAD THIS HAPPEN.

BUT SOMETIMES THE PUBLIC DOESN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH STUFF REALLY ACROSS THE DESK OR WHAT DOESN'T COME ACROSS OUR DESK BECAUSE IS BELOW A CERTAIN THRESHOLD.

SO UNLESS YOU GO DOWN A RABBIT TRAIL AS YOU SAID, SOMETIMES THAT INFORMATION IT'S EASY FOR IT TO SLIP BY US. THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS IN THESE MEETINGS TO SEE WHERE CAN WE FIX SOME GRAY AREA REAL SOME THINGS AND SO KUDOS TO YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT. RETIREMENT MUST BE NICE AND I DID IT BEFORE SEASON SO I'M GOOD BUT REALLY ONCE YOU GO DOWN IT IS A RABBIT HOLE. I'VE TALKED TO GINES AND HE'S DONE IT'S A RABBIT HOLE TO GO DOWN AND WE NEED TO TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE TO BENEFIT OUR

[8. RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH BRYX TO PROVIDE A UNIFIED STATION ALERTING SYSTEM (FISCAL IMPACT: $2,318,680.50 The initial ARPA ordinance allocated $2.5 Million to this project. This proposal is under budget. The current proposal is valued at $2,318,680.50 this includes 4 years of service and maintenance. This leaves $181,319.50 remaining for contingencies, our request has been for 2.5 million from ARPA)]

ITEM EIGHT AND THIS IS RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THE INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER

[00:40:04]

WE'VE GONE THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC POSTING AND RFP, RFQ AND THEN RFP PROCESS WITH MULTIPLE PROVIDERS. WE REALLY DUG DEEPER ON DETAILS IN EACH STATION AND HOW WE CAN DO THE BEST AND WE FEEL THE BRICKS PRESENTATION IS THE BEST WITH TECHNOLOGY PRICE WARRANTY ETC. AND SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF KLEIN. WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM HILTON HEAD AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. WE'VE HAD ALSO SOMEBODY FROM BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP WE HAD FOUR FOOT AND THEN A JOHN ROBINSON AND ON THE GROUP AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THIS WELCOME GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU IF I MAY I'M GLAD I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THIS TECHNOLOGY TO DEAL WITH AND SO COUNTY FIRE SERVICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM FOR OVER FOUR YEARS. INITIALLY IT WAS SUBMITTED AS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IN MARCH OF 2020 AS INDICATED YOUR GENERAL SUMMARY IT WAS THE FIRST PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE ARPA TASK FORCE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT WAS THE FIRST BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE FIRST MEMBERS ON THE ARPA TASK FORCE AND I'VE ALREADY HAD IT PREPARED JUST PLAYING IT ACROSS THE TABLE. OUR FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 2020 WE FORMED A PROJECT COMMITTEE AND STARTED THE RFQ AND RFP PROCESS. AS YOU CAN SEE IT HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY THOROUGH PROCESS AND WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE WHY DO WE NEED A NEW STATION SYSTEM? CURRENTLY WE HAVE A FRAGMENTED SYSTEM.

SOME ARE USING YOUR PAGERS WHICH I AM WEARING TO ALERT ON DUTY AND OFF DUTY PERSONNEL.

SOME ARE HAVE AN OLD ALERTING SYSTEM THAT IS DUE FOR UPGRADE OR REPLACEMENT AND SOME ARE USING CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY. THAT'S A FRAGMENTED SYSTEM WHICH IS SLOWING OUR OVERALL CALL PROCESSING TIME AND RESPONSE TIME TO EMERGENCIES THE CURRENT SYSTEM IS NOT INTEGRATED WITH OUR COMPUTER AIDED SYSTEM OR CAD SYSTEM AND IT'S A STANDALONE THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STEPS AND IT COULD HAVE HUMAN ERROR IN THAT PROCESS.

THE CURRENT SYSTEMS DO NOT ALLOW STATION ALERTING SPECIFIC STANDARD ALERT STATION ALERTING AND WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE IS IF I HAVE 20 PERSONNEL ON DUTY ALL 20 HAVE TO BE ALERTED WHEN WE ONLY REALLY NEED FOUR TO RESPOND AND THAT'S DAY OR NIGHT IN MANY CASES ARE LEARNING 20 PERSONNEL IT ONLY REQUIRES FOUR AND OUR SYSTEM TODAY DOES NOT MEET CURRENT STANDARDS IT IS NOT FRIENDLY IT IS IMMEDIATE FULL STRENGTH AUDIO WAKING EMERGENCY PERSONNEL IN FULL STRENGTH AUDIO RESULTS IN RESTING HEART TO ABSOLUTE CHAOS MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SO ENOUGH ABOUT OUR OLD AND WHAT WE DON'T HAVE WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING? WE'RE PROPOSING A FULLY INTEGRATED SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM IS FOR FIRE AND EMS AND THIS SYSTEM IS FOR UNINCORPORATED FIRE DISTRICTS. THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT RIVER COUNTY EMS AND HILTON AT AIRPORT FIRE 38 FIRE STATIONS AND TOTAL AND TWO DISPATCH CENTERS. THIS NEW SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE AN ENHANCED LEVEL OF SERVICE ALL CITIZENS AND VISITORS TO BEAUFORT COUNTY. THIS SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL WITH ACCURATE TIMELY ALERTING INFORMATION THROUGH A VARIETY OF DEVICES STATION PAGERS, CELL PHONES AND SO ON. THIS SYSTEM IS FULLY INTEGRATED WITH OUR COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM AND I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN A RABBIT HOLE BUT WAY WORKS IS WHEN THE CALL TAKER ENTERS THAT DATA INTO THE CAD SYSTEM.

THIS SYSTEM TAKES OVER AND ALERTS THE APPROPRIATE STATION ONE STATION INSTEAD FIVE AND THOSE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE AWARE A CALL ARE WOKEN IN MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

IT IS ZONE SPECIFIC. IT MEETS CURRENT STANDARDS TO INCLUDE SLOWLY RAMPING UP OF THE AUDIO SO WE DON'T FROM RESTING HEART THE CHAOS IT PROVIDES NIGHT VISION THE FIREHOUSE THE NEW NFPA STANDARDS FOCUS ON THE FIREFIGHTERS HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELLNESS IN SYSTEM MEET THOSE STANDARDS THE NEW SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE RESPONSE TIMES

[00:45:07]

THANK YOU CHIEF. THAT WAS REALLY VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECOMMEND PLEASE GO SECOND THAT MOTION.

OKAY. DISCUSSION I HAVE A QUESTION. OKAY.

I KNOW YOU WORK WITH THE MILITARY ALL THE TIME. HOW IS THIS GOING TO INTEGRATE WITH THEIR SYSTEM SO IT WILL NOT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM AND THAT'S A THAT'S A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK THERE WITH THE MILITARY OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS DISPATCH NOTIFIES MARINE CORPS AIR STATION AND PARRIS ISLAND ANY TIME THEY ARE IN AUTOMATIC SITUATION OR A MUTUAL AID SITUATION LIKE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RADIO SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

MR. CUNNINGHAM YEAH. SO I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS ACTUALLY.

ONE, YOU WERE LISTING OFF A COUPLE DIFFERENT TOWNS IN THIS IS BLUFFTON A PART OF THAT? YES. OKAY. SPONTANEOUS YES.

SO WHEN I SAY UNINCORPORATED, BLUFFTON IS TRULY AN UNINCORPORATED FIRE DISTRICT THOUGH THEY THEY ARE PART OF THE TOWN TO WHAT THE SET UP TIME TO GET THIS ACTIVE SO THE CONTRACT STIPULATES YEAR BUT WE FEEL WE HAVE ONE YEAR YES FROM THE TIME TIME WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT THEY HAVE ONE YEAR WE THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH QUICKER THAN THAT AND THEN IN HERE STATES THAT IT'S FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE OF . YES.

SO I'M GUESSING IF THERE'S ANY PROBLEMS THAT'S FOUR YEARS OF IT.

WHAT IS THE COST AFTER THAT FOUR YEARS IS UP. SO WE NEED TO DO ON OUR END TO MAKE SURE THAT FUNDING IS THERE. WELL, SO OUR PLAN IS SO WE WORK VERY HARD TO PUT AS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE ON THE AND OUR PLAN FROM THAT POINT FORWARD EVERY FIRE DISTRICT EMS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES WILL HAVE FOUR YEARS TO PLAN IN THEIR BUDGET TO PICK UP THE COST THE COST IS YOU KNOW STARTS PROBABLY LET'S JUST SAY 140 SOMETHING IT KIND OF ESCALATES TO 153 GOING OFF OF MEMORY.

WHAT WILL IT BE AT YEAR FIVE PROBABLY IN THE ONE 5160 RANGE IT'LL BE A PRO-RATA SHARE.

SO IF I HAVE FIVE FIRE HOUSES I WILL PAY MY PORTION RIGHT AND IT'LL AN INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT WITH BRIDGE NOT A COUNTY CONTRACT AFTER A FIVE YEAR AND THEN THAT GIVES TIME FOR THEM TO BUILD IN THEIR MILLAGE TO THE BUILDING SO THEN WE CAN PROBABLY SHARE AS OPPOSED TO SHOCKING IT IN YOUR WANT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET ALL THESE THINGS WORKED OUT WHEN WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS WE'RE PLANNING ON TWO MORE STATIONS COMING IN. ARE WE GOING TO BE ADDING THIS TO THOSE AS WELL? HAS THAT BEEN FIGURED THIS SO NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRICKS IS BASICALLY AND I MAY USE THE PROPERTY IN PROPER TERM THIS CONTRACT WILL SET THE STAGE FOR ANY NEW STATIONS.

OKAY. I WANT YOU TO PROCESS UNIT PRICES AND SO IF YOU ADD A NEW STATION COST ON THAT THAT IN THAT ORDER WAS A SELLING COST THAT WE APPROVE.

YES, SIR. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE SYSTEM THAT WE SELECTED IS IT'S THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED. IT'S NOT FULLY HARDWIRED. IT'S NOT CAUSING US TO RUN FIBER DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO ALL THE STATIONS IT IS CLOUD BASED. IT IS REALLY WHAT IS TO COME IN THIS WORLD SO IT'S EASIER TO FIT STATIONS WHETHER THEY'RE EXISTING OR NEW.

MR. CUNNINGHAM SO A COUPLE OF MY QUESTIONS BECAUSE WELL I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU YOU SAID 38 STATIONS SO 39 IS FOR SUN CITY SO THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED AND THEN THE NEXT WOULD BE INCLUDE PEOPLE WHERE IS AWARE OF THE IMPACT. SO MR. CUNNINGHAM TOOK MY QUESTIONS ANYBODY ELSE GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE I KNOW IT'S GREAT EXCEPT FOR WHEN YOU'RE YOUNGER. OKAY THANK YOU CHIEF. SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE HAD IT SECONDED. WE'VE SO ALL IN FAVOR OF MOVING THIS FORWARD. I KNOW I OKAY PASSED UNANIMOUSLY MOVES TO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL FOR FEBRUARY 12. OH OKAY.

SO CHIEF YOU CAN PLAN FROM THERE. OKAY ITEM 11 19 I'M SORRY 1910

[9. DISCUSSION OF RESPONSE TO RFQ SEEKING EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS]

[00:50:04]

ANYBODY ELSE COMMENT QUESTION? I'LL MAKE THE COMMENT. OKAY.

AS I AM ALLOWED TO SET UP A SUBCOMMITTEE AND I AM GOING DO THAT THERE WILL BE FIVE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE. I WILL HAVE TWO FROM THE NORTH, TWO FROM THE SOUTH AND MYSELF.

THE TWO FROM THE NORTH ARE GOING TO BE ELLEN HOWARD AND DAVID BARTHOLOMEW.

THE TWO FROM THE SOUTH ARE GOING TO BE LARRY MCGOWAN AND TIM AND I'M GOING TO BE THE FIFTH PERSON WILL THEN HAVE THREE PEOPLE THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE AND TO BRING NEW PEOPLE THAT COULD BRING A PROSPECT. WE WILL REVIEW ALL 12 OF THE RESPONSES. WE WILL FIGURE THEM DOWN TO WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE THE BEST TWO, THREE, FOUR, WHATEVER BASED ON THE RESPONSES THEY GIVE US BRING IT TO COUNCIL SO COUNCIL CAN DO THE FINAL INTERVIEWS SO WE CAN START THE PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A FULL TIME COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY JULY ONE. OKAY.

ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT DISCUSSION FOR OKAY. WELL YOU HAVE YOUR AGENDAS

[10. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF STATUS OF INVESTIGATIONS BEING CONDUCTED BY HAYNSWORTH SINKLER BOYD]

NUMBER TEN THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT COUNCIL INITIATED LAST SUMMER.

THE LAW FIRM OF HAYNSWORTH SINCLAIRE BOYD WAS SELECTED BY COUNCIL AND BEEN CAPTAINED BY NICK NICHOLSON OF THE GREENVILLE OFFICE OF HAYNSWORTH HAYNSWORTH WINKLER BOYD THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. THEY PUT A LOT OF WORK IN TO THEIR REVIEW.

I KNOW THAT THEY ARE MOVING THINGS ALONG. THEY'VE HAD TO EVERYTHING SINCE OCTOBER DIRECT ACCESS TO OUR SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE AND SO THERE'S REALLY BEEN NO IMPEDIMENT TO THEIR INVESTIGATIONS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE I WANT TO SAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH WE RECEIVED A DRAFT PROCUREMENT CODE FROM MR. NICHOLSON STAFF INTERNALLY TO GO OVER THAT AND THEN WE MET WITH MR. NICHOLSON LAST THURSDAY AND DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED CODE WITH HIM AT SOME GREAT LENGTH. THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR THOMAS IS HERE AND OF COURSE THE CFO THE NIECE IS HERE AND THEY WERE BOTH INVOLVED IN THE INTERNAL MEETINGS AND IN THE MEETING WITH MR. NICHOLSON I UNDERSTAND THAT MR. THOMAS'S FORWARDING TO MR. NICHOLSON STAFF'S COMMENTS FOLLOWING UP ON THE THURSDAY MEETING WITH EVERYBODY AND THAT MR. NICHOLSON WILL THEN BRING THAT FORWARD AS A PROPOSED CODE THE THOUGHT IS THAT HE WILL BRING THAT PROPOSED CODE WE WILL BRING THAT PROPOSED CODE TO YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND HAMMERING OUT AND THEN ONCE THAT IS DONE WE WILL START THE ORDINANCE PROCESS THREE READINGS PUBLIC HEARING AND ALL THAT BUT WE DON'T EVEN WANT TO FORWARD A DRAFT OR A DRAFT ORDINANCE IN THE ORDINANCE FASHION UNTIL THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TERMS ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE AS YOU RECALL COUNCIL HAD ASKED

[00:55:04]

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT AND MR. NICHOLSON CAN COME DOWN AND APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL AT ANY TIME I THINK HE WAS HERE MONTH SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS FOR HIM THINK RIGHT NOW TO COME TO COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE SESSION BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE PROBABLY NEED YOU GUYS TO DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. WELL THE PROCUREMENT CODE IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER THINGS? WHAT'S THEIR TIMELINE EXACT. I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO FOREVER ON THIS.

RIGHT. WELL IS THE KIND OF DISCUSSION WE NEED FOR YOU GUYS TO GET I DID ASK THIS TO BE PUT ON THIS AGENDA FOR US TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.

I AM GOING TO PROPOSE THAT THE FINAL PRESENTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL WILL BE DONE ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING ON FEBRUARY 26 BE CHARGED THEM BACK IN OCTOBER IT WAS THINGS THEY HAVE SPENT THAT TIME RESEARCHING THEM AND THEREFORE IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO GIVE US THEIR FINDINGS THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THEIR PROPOSALS AND ANY OTHER THING THEY FEEL IS PERTINENT TO COUNTY COUNCIL. AT THE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 26 AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL BECAUSE WHEN WE MET HIM THE LAST TIME WE WERE HOPING FOR THE END OF THE YEAR AND HE SAID COULDN'T BE SO NOW HE'S GOT TWO EXTRA MONTHS RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE WE NEED TO WRAP IT UP WITH THEM.

YES. YEAH. THIS GIVES THEM SPECIFICITY OF EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT BASED UPON WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO AND HAVE IT DONE BY THE 26TH.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL GET IN TOUCH WITH MR. NICHOLSON.

THANK YOU. IS THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING AND WHERE WE ARE. THANK YOU, MR. CAVANEY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION IN THAT.

[11. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TOMMY HARMON, JR. TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A FIRST TERM OF 4 YEARS WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF 2028 & THE REAPPOINTMENT OF EUGENE RICHARDSON LABRUCE, TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A SECOND TERM OF FOUR-YEARS WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF 2028]

I WILL MAKE THAT SECOND READING MOTION AND SECOND ANYONE HAVE A DISCUSSION POINT.

OTHER THAN I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE WORDING WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF 2028 IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE GOING EXPIRE. GONNA BE OKAY. LET'S THINK OF THOSE.

THIS IS GOING TO GO TO COUNTY COUNCIL THIS THIS THIS EVENING. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL SO THAT WE APPROVED THIS EVENING NUMBER 12 AS WELL.

YEAH IT CAN ALL GO THIS EVENING . OKAY, LET'S VOTE ON 11.

EVERYONE IN FAVOR. I? ALL RIGHT.

IT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND 12. YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF APPOINTMENTS THE BOARDS AND

[12. AGENCIES, BOARDS, AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS & REAPPOINTMENTS]

ALL RIGHT. MOVE BY, MR. CUNNINGHAM SECOND. SECOND BY MR. DAWSON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS THAT THEY'RE MOVING ON. TELL ME COUNCIL.

THESE ARE JUST APPROVED RIGHT THERE. QUESTION ON THIS ONE.

WHAT I WANT POINT OUT IS AND I NOTICE THIS PROBABLY BECAUSE I KNEW I'M NOT NEW ANYMORE I'M A YEAR OLD. BUT IF YOU NOTICE THE THERE ARE DIFFERENT VOTES NEEDED.

SO LIKE THE COMMISSION, THEY NEED EIGHT YESES OUT OF 11. BUT SHELDON VOTED TEN OUT OF 11 . SO JUST BE AWARE OF THAT. ALL RIGHT.

SO CAN WE HAVE A VOTE ON THIS ONE? HOW MANY ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS TABLE? I'D SAY THE WHOLE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS.

YEAH. WELL, IF THERE'S DISCUSSION ON ANY ONE PERSON, THROW IT OUT NOW. LET ME ASK A QUESTION THEN. YOU JUST SAID NEEDED TEN VOTES.

WE ONLY HAVE NINE TODAY. THAT'S A FULL HOUSE THAT'S CALLED COUNCIL.

YEAH, WE'RE JUST MOVING INTO COUNCIL. WHAT WHAT DATE WITH THE MEETING THEY EVER WERE AT 12 FEBRUARY 12. SO IT'S NOT TONIGHT.

WE'RE JUST WE'RE RECOMMENDING IT TO COUNT. PERFECT.

AND THEN YOU NEED A MOTION? NO, WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION. ANYONE AGAINST MOVIES?

[01:00:01]

NO. NO OBJECTIONS. OKAY IF THAT ONE MOVES THE COUNCIL. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? THE BILLS ARE AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL.

AND WE WILL TAKE A BREAK. YEAH, IT'S THE SAME SET OF MINUTES LIKE THREE THREE.

PERFECT. THREE DOWN 3/10 BY 310.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.