Jan 22, 2024 County Council - Old

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

ONE TAKE THEIR SEATS SO WE CAN BEGIN PLEASE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY JANUARY 2ND. AND WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? PLEASE REMAIN FOR THE INVOCATION.

STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA BROWN WITH THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL DEAR LORD, WE PRAY THAT THIS COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT AND AND TO GIVE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE DELIVER ITEMS BEFORE US.

MAY WE HONOR ONE ANOTHER BY KEEPING AN MIND. MAY WE VOICE OUR TRUTH AND LISTEN WITH AN OPEN HEART AND WITH INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AMEN. AMEN. YEAH.

SEE YOURSELF. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DO HAVE ALL OF COUNSEL EITHER AT THE DAIS THERE. MR. MCKELLEN IS IN. WE DO HAVE A FULL COUNCIL TO CONDUCT THIS OF THE COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVED BY TITLE ONLY A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE. THIS WOULD BE ITEM 15. I'M SORRY.

I MOVE THAT WE APPROVED BY TITLE ONLY A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 15% OF STATE AID TAX FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE STATE 8/10 COMMITTEE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.

IS THERE A SECOND NOW SECONDED DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? SEE NONE. THIS BE APPROVED WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION. MR. CUNNINGHAM, I WILL TURN TO YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. YEAH, JUST TO MAKE ONE LITTLE UPDATE HERE ON NUMBER 12 SAYS THAT IT CAME FROM THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE BUT WE NEED TO MAKE THE AMENDMENT THAT THAT SAYS SENSITIVE ITEM FROM THE JANUARY 2020 SECOND PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE . OKAY.

IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT CHANGE ON SECOND? OKAY.

DULY MOTIONED AND SECOND IT IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NO ,THIS CHANGE WILL BE MADE WITHOUT OBJECTION. I NOW ASK FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA WITH THOSE CHANGES. SO AS MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.

MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- January 8, 2024]

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

NEXT WE TURN TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. MR. ROBINSON, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, SIR. EVENING, COUNSEL. I WANT TO START THIS EVENING WITH A FEW EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS AND THEN AND THEN A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS.

FIRST I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. NEECE CHRISTMAS ABOUT SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR I ANNOUNCED IN HIS CHRISTMAS WOULD BE OUR INTO INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. SOON AFTER THAT SHE ALSO BECAME OUR INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. SORRY I FORGOT WHAT THE SCENE WAS BUT SHE BECAME OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER SO SHE'S BEEN DOING DOUBLE DUTY FOR ALL THESE MONTHS. WE'VE MANY CONVERSATIONS AND AS OF LAST WEEK DENISE HAS ACCEPTED THE POSITION AS OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FULL TIME.

SHE FOUND THAT HER PROPENSITY FOR NUMBERS WHICH SHE ENJOYS AND HER ATTACHMENT TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS WHERE SHE CAN SERVE COUNTY THE BEST. SO I WANT MAKE SURE COUNCIL WAS

[00:05:06]

THANKS SO MUCH DENISE FOR WHAT YOU DO THIS EXPERI INSIDE KNOWLEDGE AND LEADERSHIP THAT DENISE BRINGS IT'S VERY RARE TO FIND ALL IN ONE PERSON SO SHE DOES A GREAT WORK FOR US.

HALLELUJAH. THANK YOU. WE ARE WE ARE VERY GLAD TO KEEP HER AS OUR CFO BECAUSE THEY ARE RARE PEOPLE THAT HARD TO FIND. DID YOU HEAR THAT? YEAH. YEAH. THERE ARE COUNTY STILL LOOKING FOR CFO AFTER YEARS OF WORK. SO FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS THIS THIS SATURDAY JANUARY 27TH AT 10 A.M. 1514 RICHMOND AVENUE. THIS IS AT THE PORT ROYAL CENTER.

THIS WILL BE THE GRAND OPENING FOR OUR PORT ROYAL PLAYGROUND. THIS IS THE INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND. IT'S A GREAT EVENT THERE. MISS HOWARD IS GOING TO SPEAK TO THE ATTENDEES THERE AND I'LL BE THERE AS WELL. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT EVENT AND WE WELCOME YOUR PRESENCE AS WELL. ALSO LATER IN THE MONTH, THE END OF THIS MONTH THE CHAIRMAN AND A FEW STAFF MEMBERS ARE GOING TO ATTEND A MEETING WITH OUR LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION UP IN COLUMBIA. SO WE GET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION ABOUT SOME INCENTIVES THAT MAY HELP HELP COUNTY. FOLLOWING THAT IN FEBRUARY THE 19TH THROUGH THE 20TH IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONNECT.

IT'S A LEGISLATIVE ACTION DAY SO THERE'LL BE SOME SOME MORE TRAINING CLASSES FOR STAFF MEMBERS AND SOME THINGS LIKE THAT GOING ON AND SOME MORE LEGISLATIVE AND DELEGATION MEETINGS. I'LL BE ATTENDING THAT ALONG WITH THE SEVERAL OTHER STAFF MEMBERS AND PERHAPS SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS AS WELL. ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S SEE LET'S INTRODUCE OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE TO RECOGNIZE TODAY IS MR. MARK SUTTON.

I SAW MARK IN THE BACK A LITTLE WHILE AGO. COME ON UP, MARK.

SO MARK HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS. HIS ANNIVERSARY WILL BE IN APRIL. MARK WORKS HE IS OUR SENIOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER PROJECT MANAGER FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. HIS DUTIES ARE OVERSEEING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ASSETS RANGING FROM PARKS TO BUILDINGS. SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS MARK'S HAS WORKED ON OR BEEN IN CHARGE OF INCLUDE THE BUSINESS CENTER AT FORT FREMONT WHITEHALL THE ENTRYWAY IN OUR DIOCESE BUILDINGS ON DUKE STREET. BLUFFTON LIBRARY REMODEL VOTER REGISTRATION BUILDING DOZEN AND HOMES AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROJECTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS AND ASSETS ALL OVER COUNTY. HE'S CURRENTLY WORKING ON A PORTABLE LIBRARY PROJECT RIVER OAK RIVER OAK PARK PROJECT POOL UPGRADES, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. OUR TEAM THERE REALLY WORK TOGETHER AND GET INVOLVED SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. MARK IS A GREAT ASSET TO HAVE SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT MARK.

HE WORKED AS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR MANY YEARS AT AGE 50.

MARK WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, EARNED HIS MASTER'S DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE AND BECAME A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT. THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT TO DO AN ELEVATOR THEY AGE YOU'RE SCARED. THAT'S RIGHT.

OH WHEN HIS DAD GRADUATE AS WELL. AWESOME.

THAT'S A NICE SCHOOL. I LIKE IT THERE. SO AS AN ART.

QUITE A FEW PROJECTS. CONSTRUCTION CITY. CONSTRUCTION CITY WAS A PROJECT THAT SUPPORTED CONSTRUCTION FOR A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN JENKINS VALE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT WAS PROJECT 20 BUILDINGS BOYO BEARINGS, COIL BEARINGS PLANT THAT IS IN COLUMBIA.

LARGEST IN THE WORLD, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. LARGEST BEARING MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD. SO MARK'S DIRECT SUPERVISOR WAS ERIK LARSON.

ERIK WROTE THAT. MARK HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT BENEFITS OUR COUNTY GREAT. OUR COUNTY GREATLY. HE'S NEVER SHIED OUR PATIENT ON AND TO HELP SOLUTIONS SO WE MARK VERY MUCH FOR YOUR I'VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS A LONG TIME. I DON'T SEE ANY THOUGH I JUST ENJOY WORKING WITH ZEN.

[00:10:01]

REALLY ENJOYING IT. THANK YOU FOR THANK. THANK YOU.

A LITTLE WHILE AGO WE HAD A PUBLIC FACILITY THAT NO TEEN SPECIFIC WAS ON THAT THE ENGINEERING TEAM WORKED HARD JARED'S TEAM INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM WORKED HARD GETTING ALL THE PAPERWORK DONE IN EARLY DECEMBER TO BRING ALL THOSE THINGS FORWARD.

MARK AND ERIC, THEIR TEAM TOOK A LOT OF THEM SOME OF THEIR OWN BUT IN BETWEEN THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE RECOGNIZE AND THAT'S OUR PROCUREMENT PURCHASING SEGMENT STEPPED THROUGH THROUGH CONSTRUCTION. THEY MOST OF TEAM TRACKS SO NOW YOU KIND OF HAVE A WHOLE PICTURE AND IT'S A BUSY. NEXT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE INTRODUCE YOUR NAME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST WITH HUMAN REECE. SHE'S WORKED ONCE BEFORE YEAR WAS A YES. AMBER HAS HELPED ME A LOT PERSONALLY FOR A LOT OF THINGS DOING SOME ISSUES WITH WITH THE GOOD ADVICE AS WE MOVE FORWARD IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO LISTEN.

WE KNOW I FIND GOOD PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO. IT'S VERY HELPFUL.

THE KEY IN LAUNCHING PROGRAM THIS IS NEW YOGA NEO GOF IS A REALLY INTERESTING TOOL TO HELP WITH TRAINING AND EDUCATION AS WELL AS OUR EVALUATION SYSTEM JUST SO SHE IS JUST A CERTIFIED FACILITATOR FOR DISC TRAINING. DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS? NO.

THE PERSONNEL ASSESSMENT TOOL THAT NORMALLY THE COUNTY WOULD PAY FOR AN OUTSIDE VENDOR TO PERFORM THIS ASSESSMENT. HAVING OUR IN-HOUSE VENDOR MEANS WE JUST PAY FOR THE SEND IT IN AND GET IT BACK AND WE HAVE OUR OWN ASSESSMENT AND SAY MONEY BY USING THAT PROCESS SINCE I THINK THIS THE SUM HELPS ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE THRIVING WORK EQUALLY WELL.

I'VE DONE A BUNCH OF THEY'RE THERE THEY PRETTY MUCH NAIL YOU PRETTY PRETTY WELL I THINK ANYWAY AMBER HAS PROVIDED THIS TRAINING OVER 200 EMPLOYEES TO DATE.

LET'S SEE. SO SHE ALSO WORKS SHE'S BEEN INTERIM INSTRUMENTAL IN ASSISTING DEPARTMENTS WITH CLIMATE SURVEYS PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR DEPARTMENTS AT DEPARTMENTS FOR THE AMBER LOVES DOGS. SO DO I.

I GOT YOU BEAT THOUGH SHE SAID SHE HAS TWO RESCUES RIGHT NOW I HAVE THREE PO PHARM IF WE IF I WOULD LET HER BUT NO MIKE THANK YOU SIR I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR ALLOWING US THE RESOURCES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THESE TYPES OF TRAINING PROGRAMS BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT IT HELPS RETAIN OUR CURRENT STAFF AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT HELPS WITH ATTRACTING NEW FOLKS TO COME ON BOARD WITH THE COUNTY.

SO I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

NOW I'D LIKE TO SPEND JUST A FEW MINUTES AND GIVE YOU A FEW UPDATES ON OUR THE HUSKY ISLAND

[00:15:05]

THE COUNTY SUPPLEMENTS THIS SERVICE BY ENSURING THAT OUR ISLAND RESIDENTS ARE QUALIFIED DISCOUNTED RESIDENTS TRAVEL CAN USE THIS FERRY SERVICE AT A LOWER RATE SO THE COST OF THE SEA IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE FOR OUR FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT HERE IS NOT TO COVER THE WHOLE COST OF THE FERRY. WE SUPPLEMENT THE COST OF THE RIDERS GOING BACK FORTH ON THE FERRY. SO THERE SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE CONFUSION ABOUT THAT. I'LL TALK ABOUT OUR CURRENT CONTRACT.

SO IN OUR IN OUR CONTRACT IT REQUIRES THOSE FOUR TRIPS PER DAY OR FOUR ROUNDTRIPS PER DAY AT SPECIFIED TIMES. THIS IS THE NEW CONTRACT IS IT IS IDENTICAL TO THE OLD CONTRACT THE SAME NUMBER OF TRIPS PER DAY THE SAME TIMES PER DAY THE LOCATION CHANGE FROM BUCKINGHAM LANDING OVER TO THE ISLAND WHICH IS A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY OR MAYBE A LITTLE FARTHER THAN THAT BUT PRETTY CLOSE JUST THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, THE CONTRACT A MINIMUM OF A 40 PASSENGER VESSEL WITH A CLIMATE CONTROLLED ENCLOSURE TO PROTECT FROM EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE TICKET SALE PRICES SET FOR FOR IT'S IN THE SCHEDULE.

I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THOSE A LEVEL ONE A LEVEL ONE RESIDENT IS A 4% TAXPAYER OWNER SO THEY LIVE ON THE ISLAND AND THEIR FEE IS $4 EACH WAY A LEVEL TWO IS A FULL TIME RESIDENT AND NON OWNER SO THIS BE SOMEONE WHO RENTS A PLACE ON THE ISLAND THEIR TICKETS ARE $5 EACH WAY AND THEN LEVEL THREE IS A 6% OWNER OR A NON FULL TIME RESIDENT BUT THEY OWN PROPERTY ON THE ISLAND AND THEIR RATE IS $8 EACH WAY AND EACH OF THOSE TYPES OF CATEGORIES HAS AN ACCOUNT WHEN FOLKS MAKE AN ACCOUNT THEY ALSO IDENTIFY THEIR DEPENDENTS OF THAT ACCOUNT AND IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO WHAT A DEPENDENT IS SOMEONE THAT LIVES WITH THEM FULL TIME.

YOU KNOW IF MY AND MY ADULT KIDS DON'T LIVE WITH ME SO MY ADULT KIDS WOULD NOT NECESSARILY GET A FREE RIDE ON MY PERSONAL FERRY ACCOUNT BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIVE WITH ME. IF THEY DID THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED MY DEPENDENTS FOR AN EXAMPLE THIS IS TO MAKE SURE OR TO ENSURE THAT OUR PROVIDER MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE SUPPLEMENT AND WHAT THE ACTUAL SERVICE COST. SO THE PROVIDER REALLY WILL ONLY START MAKING MONEY WHEN THE FERRY BECOMES IN THE SUMMERTIME, RIGHT? SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES AND LIKE I SAID THAT CONTRACT IS I WON'T SAY WORD FOR WORD BUT EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE 2021 CONTRACT WITH THE PREVIOUS PROVIDER NOT LOT OF CHANGES ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE IN THE OLD CONTRACT AND THE NEW CONTRACT TALKS ABOUT CARGO THE CARGO OFTEN WHEN YOU FLY ON AN AIRPLANE IT'S CALLED BAGGAGE AND RIGHT SO WHEN WE FLY AN AIRPLANE WE TAKE OUR BAGGAGE WE GET A CARRY ON WE GET A SUITCASE RIGHT.

ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT WE PAY EXTRA ON A MARITIME APPLICATION, ANYTHING CARRY ON A BOAT IS CALLED CARGO SO IT STILL ALL HAS THE SAME MEANING YOU GET A CARRY ON AND YOU GET YOUR YOUR PIECE OF LUGGAGE THE WAY BOATS ARE RATED THIS THESE BOATS IN PARTICULAR LET'S SAY IF WE HAD 40 TO PASSENGERS THE THE VESSEL WILL BE RATED FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CARGO SO 42 PASSENGER BOAT IS RATED FOR 20 #800 OF CARGO WHEN YOU DIVIDE THE TWO IT'S #66 PER PERSON OF CARGO THAT EACH SEAT HAULS IF THAT MAKES SENSE. SO WHEN WHEN A VESSEL TRAVELS ON THE WATER IT HAS TO BE BALANCED RIGHT? IT HAS TO HAVE THE RIGHT RATIO OF SEATS TO THE RIGHT RATIO OF CARGO, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT CARGO SO MUCH AS WE GOT A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CARGO AND

[00:20:03]

WE CALL THEM GROCERY WAGONS. SO A LOT OF RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND USE THESE KIND OF COLLAPSIBLE GROCERY WAGONS. THERE'S STILL AN EXPECTATION THEY CAN BRING THEIR CARRY ON AND BRING THEIR GROCERY WAGON JUST LIKE THEY HAVE BEFORE. RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME YEAR TO TO START SOMETHING NEW ALTHOUGH. IT'S REALLY COLD.

MR. LAWSON RODE OUT THERE ON SUNDAY AND THE WEATHER IS UNPLEASANT OUT ON THE WATER THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT THE RIDERSHIP REALLY LOW SO WHILE IT WE'RE WE'RE LEARNING TO DO A NEW PROCESS AND LEARNING TO MANAGE THE RIDERSHIP AND THE PRESSURE ON IS PRETTY SMALL I THINK A FEW RIDERS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TWO OR THREE OR FOUR RIDERS IN BACK WILL SEE THAT INCREASE AS WE GO ALONG. ONE OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IS ABOUT THE SPEED OF THE THE BOAT BACK AND FORTH. NOTHING IN OUR CONTRACT OUR OLD CONTRACT OR OUR NEW NEW CONTRACT IDENTIFIED ANY MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM LENGTH OF TIME FOR THE FERRY TO GET BACK AND FORTH. THE SPEED OF THE FERRY CAN HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE WEATHER OF THE DAY WITH THE MOOD OF THE CAPTAIN IT IS THE CAPTAIN'S VESSEL THEY'RE WHEN THEY'RE OPERATING THE VESSEL SO THEY WILL OPERATE THE VESSEL IN A SAFE MANNER. NOW THE OWNER OPERATOR OF THAT WANTS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE AND SOMETIMES OPERATING A VESSEL THAT SIZE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND GET FOLKS FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER BUT MAY BURN TWICE AS MUCH FUEL TO ACHIEVE THAT IT IS IT IS THE OWNER OPERATORS DISCRETION ON HOW TO OPERATE THOSE VESSELS SO THAT THEY'RE MAXIMIZE THEIR EFFICIENCY SO I THINK I'VE I'VE HEARD OR READ EVERYTHING FROM 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR AND A HALF. MR. LAWSON AND I TALKED AND I THINK HE EXPERIENCED AN HOUR OR AN HOUR AND 10 MINUTES OR IS THAT ABOUT THE AVERAGE TRIP? IT'S GOING TO DIFFER EVERY TIME THE FERRY GOES BACK AND FORTH BASED ON WHICH WAY THE WIND'S GOING, WHICH WAY THE TIDE'S GOING AND PERHAPS WHO'S DRIVING THE BOAT. I PROBABLY WOULD DRIVE FAST AND I'D GET IN TROUBLE BUT YEAH IT'S JUST ME. I HEARD SOME SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE OLD FERRY SERVICE PROVIDED A FIFTH TRIP ONCE A WEEK.

THEY CALLED IT THE FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER CRUISE OUR CONTRACT IS FOR THOSE FOUR ROUND TRIPS PER DAY. IF THE PREVIOUS PROVIDER WAS PROVIDING A FRIDAY NIGHT TRIP THAT'S AWESOME. THE NEW PROVIDER CAN DO THE SAME THING BUT IT IS AT THE PURVIEW OF THAT PROVIDER AND OF THE VISITORS OR RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO USE THAT.

I SPOKE TO THE TO THE OWNER OPERATOR THIS MORNING IS MORE THAN WILLING TO ENTERTAIN ANY OF THOSE KIND OF OPTIONS BUT THAT IS REALLY OF THE COUNTY'S PURVIEW AND NOT SOMETHING WE CAN WE WOULD WE WOULD NEGOTIATE A RESIDENT OF THE ISLAND OR A GROUP RESIDENTS COULD SAY HEY, WE WANT TO 20 OF US WANT TO GO TO DINNER ON FRIDAY NIGHT. I GUARANTEE IF THEY CALL THE OWNER OPERATOR AND ASK FOR THAT HE WOULD NEGOTIATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN NOT A PROBLEM. LET'S SEE I DON'T HAVE ANY THERE THERE ARE SOME THERE ARE MANY OTHER KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE THAT ARE GOING THERE ON IN THE MEDIA.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE A WELL QUALIFIED PROVIDER. HE'S WILLING TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY AND ACCOMMODATE AS BEST POS AS BEST AS POSSIBLE AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO CREATE A BIG DISCUSSION HERE BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TO ANSWER NOW I'M OPEN TO YOU. SURE ANYONE WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM MR. LAWSON. YOU KNOW, JUST HIS COMMON SENSE.

I WAS TOLD THAT HE GOING TO VISIT THE CHURCH ON YESTERDAY SO AND I DID GO OVER AND IT OBVIOUSLY THE BOAT THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING USED IS A IS A TEMPORARY BOAT UNTIL THEIR THEIR MAIN BOAT ARRIVES THIS WEEK AS AS MR. ROBERTS SAID IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR I THINK AN AND 5 MINUTES TO TAKE IT OVER THERE ONE TIME AND AN HOUR AND TEN TO COME BACK.

SO I THINK THAT IT IS A LITTLE SLOWER WHAT THE TIMES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY THEY HAD THE EIGHT POINT MEETING WITH THE THE RESIDENTS UP TO FOUR ACTUALLY THERE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS MAYBE TWO AND A HALF HOURS AND WE WENT THROUGH A LIST OF THINGS AND I'VE GOT A LIST OF THINGS THAT THAT WE'RE STILL GOING TO COVER . I KIND OF SENT THOSE TWO TO JOHN AND HANK TODAY TO GO BACK THROUGH AND AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE JUST THE PERCEPTION

[00:25:06]

WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN WORK THOSE OUT, FIGURE OUT THE DIFFERENCES WITH THE PROVIDER AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING A SIMILAR SERVICE TO WHAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY AND TRY TO OFFER SOME OF THE SAME SERVICES. BUT AGAIN IT WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AGAIN BECAUSE WE'VE MOVED LOCATIONS AND IT IS A DIFFERENT BOATS THAT THAT THAT HAVE GOING ON SO BUT AGAIN TO GET THERE AND GET BACK I THINK THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS IS NOT REALLY MOVING PEOPLE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE FIGURING OUT AS MR. ROBBINS SAID THE CARGO MATERIAL IS THAT THAT THE FIRST KEY SO MUCH RELIES ON THAT'S HOW IT GETS OVER A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE ONCE A WEEK, ONCE A MONTH THEY NEED TO TAKE THEIR THINGS WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO GET ON THE BOAT AND TAKE THEM. AND NOW IS A GOOD TIME FOR US TO FIGURE OUT THESE ISSUES BEFORE IS THE BUSY SEASON AND YOU HAVE SO MANY MORE TOURISTS THAT COME AND BRING EVEN MORE THINGS. SO THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THAT I WAS BROUGHT UP YESTERDAY A LOT OF THINGS THAT THAT WE'LL GO THROUGH AND TRY TO GET ANSWERS AND WE HAVE THOSE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS WILL SUPPLY IT TO EVERYONE HERE ON THE COUNCIL AND AGAIN EVERYONE ON THE FIRST YEAR I GUESS IT PROBABLY HAD 120 PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THAT MEETING YESTERDAY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST YEAR PROBABLY 400 FULL TIME RESIDENTS THERE 800 TOTAL 200 PROBABLY LIVING IN HAEG POINT.

SO I HAD OVER HALF OF THE FOLKS THAT THAT PROBABLY USE THAT SERVICE ON A REGULAR BASIS BE ABLE TO COME AND VOICE THEIR OPINION AND TELL ME WHAT THEY THOUGHT.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR THEM BUT BUT I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS THERE TO LISTEN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEEDED AND THEN GO BACK AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE EVEN BETTER WHAT IT WAS IN THE PAST AND SOMETHING FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE'VE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. I THINK IT WAS TO JUST ONE LAST QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YES. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE CONTRACTS BEING IDENTICAL.

HOW CLOSE QUESTIONS CAN WE HAVE IF THEY'RE EXACTLY THE SAME? I CAN'T ANSWER I CAN'T ANSWER THAT THE QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS ON WHY THEY WHY THEY QUESTION MOST OF THESE THINGS ARE THE SAME. I WILL SAY THAT WE DO WE DO HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HAGUE POINT PLAY THEIR CHAIRMAN AND THEIR DIRECTOR WE CONTINUE TO TALK THEY WERE PROVIDING A VERY GOOD LEVEL OF SERVICE BUT IT WAS WELL BEYOND THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO I THANK YOU FOR GOING OUT THERE.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT AND TALKING WITH THEM AND THE FOLKS FROM THE FUSCHIA ISLAND ARE LISTENING WE HEAR YOU WE ARE WE ARE LISTENING WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AND THAT WAS A GOOD TIME OF YEAR BECAUSE THE RIDERSHIP IS LOW.

SO BY THE TIME SUMMER COMES I THINK WE'LL HAVE A SMOOTH OPERATION.

JUST SO YOU ALSO KNOW THE MANATEE WHICH IS THE VESSEL OUR NEW PROVIDER PURCHASED OUT OF FLORIDA IS IN THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY RIGHT NOW.

I SPOKE TO HIM THIS MORNING AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A ONE DAY TRIP BUT IT'S A THREE DAY TRIP.

I LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES IN OUR ONE OF THE NOT ISSUES BUT THINGS ON OUR CONTRACT AS A CAPTAIN IS MUCH LIKE A A DRIVER OR A PILOT OF AN AIRPLANE OR DRIVER OF A SEMI-TRUCK. THERE'S ONLY SO MANY HOURS A DAY THEY CAN OPERATE SO THEY CAN ONLY OPERATE 12 HOURS A DAY. SO UNLESS YOU KNOW THEY PUT A BUNCH OF CAPTAINS ON THAT BOAT AND GET IT HERE IN A DAY AND A HALF DRIVING IT ALL DAY AND NIGHT. SO IT'S A THREE DAY OPERATION. SO WE EXPECTED TO BE HERE MIDWEEK AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES AND ALREADY HAS AC0Y WHICH IS A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE WHICH IS TRANSFERABLE. THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

SO AS SOON AS IT ARRIVES IT CAN GO IMMEDIATELY INTO SERVICE IN A LARGE VESSEL ENCLOSED AIR CONDITIONED HEATED BATHROOMS ON BOARD. SO IT'S A IT'S A BIG MACHINE.

[7. APPROVAL OF THE 2023 ANNUAL AUDIT PRESENTED BY MAULDIN & JENKINS, LLC, CPA FIRM]

[00:30:05]

HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL AGAIN. MY NAME IS DAVID ERWIN AND I'M WITH MALDEN JENKINS. I WAS THE PARTNER OVERSAW THIS YEAR'S AUDIT OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND. I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THIS YEAR'S AUDIT. I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME BUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS EVENING'S PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE YOU ALL AN OVERVIEW OF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT HERE A FEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS TALK ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE TWO COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT WE ISSUE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AUDIT DISCUSSED SOME INFORMATION THAT THE AUDITING STANDARDS REQUIRES THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL AND OBVIOUSLY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE KNOW THE FINANCES THEMSELVES THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU ALL ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTIES MANAGEMENT. THE COUNCIL HAS YOUR INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL AUDITORS OUR RESPONSIBLE TO USE TO EXPRESS THE OPINION STATEMENTS WE CONDUCT OUR AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS AND GOVERNMENTAL AUDITING STANDARDS AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE ISSUING A CLEAN OR UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THIS YEAR'S REPORT AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT. THIS IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE YOUR EXTERNAL ORDER. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT IN OUR OPINION THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE FAIRLY PRESENTED IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.

AGAIN AS PART OF THE AUDIT THERE ARE TWO COMPLIANCE REPORTS THAT WE ALSO ISSUE THE FIRST WHICH IS A SINGLE AUDIT REPORT A SINGLE AUDIT AS A COMPLIANCE AUDIT THAT IS REQUIRED WHEN AN ENTITY HAS OVER $750,000 OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURE YEAR.

YOU ALL HAD A PROBABLY $14.6 MILLION OF FEDERAL EXPENDITURES THIS YEAR WHICH AGAIN RESULTED IN NOT HAVING A SINGLE AUDIT ON THE COVID RECOVERY FUNDS PROGRAM HAS THE CASE WITH THE FINANCIAL AUDIT WE ARE ISSUING A CLEAN, UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE SING ALONG AS WELL THE SECOND COMPLIANCE REPORT IS THE YELLOW BOOK REPORT. AGAIN THE SILVER REPORT IS A REPORT ON THE COUNTY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS AND YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH VARIOUS AND REGULATIONS AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY AUDIT FINDINGS FOR YOU ALL THIS YEAR MEANING WE NOTED NO WEAKNESSES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES IN THE COUNTIES CONTROLS DURING OUR AUDIT AND YOU AS I MENTIONED YOU ALL YOU ALL ARE OBVIOUSLY A LARGE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL ACTIVITY ACCOUNTED FOR AND IN ADDITION WITH ALL THE NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS THAT ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED EACH YEAR I MEAN REALLY JUST HOW COMPLEX THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PROCESS HAS BECOME IT MAKES IT ALL THE MORE IMPRESSIVE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOU ALL AUDIT OF THE NOT ONLY IS A CLEAN OPINION BUT WE KNOW AUDIT FINDINGS AND THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND YOU USE ALL YOUR TO TURN OVER AS YOU ALL HAD OF THE PAST YEAR IT'S USUAL TO SOME THINGS FROM AN AUDIT STANDPOINT OR IN ORDER TO BE DELAYED WE EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR DENISE CHRISTINE BRICE IN THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT REALLY DID A GREAT JOB OF GIVING YOU EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED ANSWER QUESTIONS AND AGAIN JUST PROVIDING US THE INFORMATION WE NEED IN ORDER TO MEET THE 1231 DEADLINE. SO AGAIN JUST JUST WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THIS YEAR BUT OUR REVIEW OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AGAIN YOU ALL PREPARE WHAT IS CALLED AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACTOR. WELL I KNOW ACT FOUR INCLUDES ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BASIC FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. THIS DOCUMENT SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION OR OTHERWISE KNOWN AS GIVE AWAY WHERE THEY PUT IT THROUGH A PRETTY STRINGENT REVIEW PROCESS NOT ONLY THEIR PROFESSIONAL STAFF BUT THEY ALSO A SPECIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE THAT LOOKS AT YOUR DOCUMENT AND WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S AG FOR THEIR GOAL IS NOT TO ASSESS THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF THE COUNTY. WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE NECESSARY INFORMATION IS IN THIS DOCUMENT SO THE READERS OF YOUR FINANCIAL CAN DO SO THEMSELVES AND PER THEIR REVIEW THE DU FOUR WAY HAS ONCE AGAIN AWARDED THE COUNTY THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING FOR YEAR 22 AND THAT CERTIFICATE IS INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S REPORT AND THIS IS THE 14TH YEAR IN A ROW THAT THE COUNTY'S THE CERTIFICATE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL ON THAT. IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE DOCUMENT AND AGAIN JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF YOU ALL RAISING THE BAR AND GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BASIC FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. YOU AGAIN AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU

[00:35:04]

IT'S RIGHT AFTER OUR ALL OPINION AND I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THIS SECTION THE PURPOSE OF THE INDIANA IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR A BROADER AUDIENCE TO USE AND BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IT DOES THIS BY PROVIDING A NARRATIVE EXPLANATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FROM MANAGEMENT'S PERSPECTIVE.

SO IF YOU EVER HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ANY FLUCTUATIONS IN FINANCIAL ACTIVITY, ANYTHING UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL THAT OCCURRED DURING THE YEAR OFTENTIMES YOU CAN FIND YOUR ANSWER WITHIN THE NDA. IN ADDITION, THERE'S QUITE A BIT TO COMPARE TO THE INFORMATION THE SECTION MEANING FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR NOT ONLY FISCAL YEAR 23 BUT ALSO IF WHAT 22 IS INCLUDED IN THIS SECTION AS. WELL, YOU KNOW, TO ME IT GIVES IT ADDS A LOT OF VALUE TO HAVE THAT COMPARATIVE INFORMATION GIVES YOU A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE COURIER ACTIVITY WHEN YOU HAVE PRIOR NUMBERS THEREFORE COMPARED TO PURPOSES. SO AGAIN IF YOU CAN, I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THE UNITED NOW THE COUNTY'S BASIC FINANCIAL TIMES THEY ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE COMPONENTS THE FIRST OF WHICH IS YOUR GOVERNMENT WATCH STATUS AND THEN THE GOVERNMENT WATCH STATEMENTS HOW THEY PROVIDE A BROAD VIEW OF THE COUNTY'S OPERATIONS IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS. YOU ALL TO 2 TO 2 COLUMNS YOU KNOW THE ALL THE FUNDS OF ACCOUNT YOUR COMMAND INTO TWO COLUMNS ONE FOR YOUR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND ONE FOR YOUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES AND WE HAVE A SLOT HERE OF THE SUMMARIZES THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ACTIVITY FROM THE GOVERNMENT WHAT PERSPECTIVE AND YOU CAN SEE HERE HOW THE COUNTY OF THE YEAR WITH ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS OF RESOURCES OF 1.1 BILLION OF THAT AMOUNT APPROXIMATELY 603 MILLION ALL YOUR CAPITAL ASSETS NET ACCUMULATE DEPRECIATION AND CAPITAL ASSETS THAT'S A LAND BUILDINGS MACHINERY EQUIPMENT ETC. THAT ARE OWNED BY THE COUNTY YOU ALL YOU ALL ALSO HAD AROUND FOUR OR $38 MILLION IN CASH AND INVESTMENTS ON HAND AS OF JUNE 30 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS OF RESOURCES AROUND 390 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT AROUND 305 ARE LONG TERM IN NATURE MEANING THEY'RE NOT DUE WITHIN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

LOOK AT REVENUES THEY WERE ABOUT $296 MILLION THIS YEAR MESSAGE INCREASE AROUND $8 MILLION COMPARED TO WHAT 22 EXPENSES HAD A PRETTY GOOD JUMP.

THEY INCREASED THE PROBABLY $53 MILLION FOR A TOTAL OF $253 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.

THIS RESULTED IN AN ENDING DEPOSITION OF A PROPERTY $702 MILLION WHICH JUST SAW AN INCREASE OF 42 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE YEAR AND AGAIN NET POSITION THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WILL HAVE IN THE FORM OF CASH FOR DISCRETIONARY SPENDING NET POSITION IS ESSENTIALLY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES .

SO AGAIN ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR THE COUNTY FROM AN INITIAL PERSPECTIVE IS YOU ALL WERE ABLE TO INCREASE YOUR NET POSITION 6%. SO IN LOOKING AT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ALL HAVE A STRONG BALANCE SHEET AND AND AGAIN ARE IN GOOD SHAPE FINANCIALLY.

THE SECOND COMPONENT OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE ALL THE FUND LEVEL STATEMENTS.

AGAIN THIS IS WHAT YOU ALL TYPICALLY SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND YOU THE FULL LEVEL STATEMENTS THEY FOCUS ON INDIVIDUAL PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REPORT YOUR OPERATIONS IN MORE DETAIL THAN THAT OF THE ENTITY. WHAT STATEMENTS AND YOU KNOW OF ALL THE FUNDS THAT THE COUNTY HAS IF I'M IN YOUR SHOES MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON THE GENERAL FUND AGAIN THE GENERAL FUND, THE MAIN OPERATING FUND OF THE COUNTY AND THEREFORE IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF REVENUES RECEIVED AND FUNDS EXPENDED.

AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CHARTS THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES THE FIRST SHORT BREAKS DOWN THE GENERAL FUND'S FOR THE YEAR TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND WERE PROBABLY $170 MILLION.

THAT'S AROUND $32 MILLION INCREASE COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR .

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS CHART, OBVIOUSLY THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE GENERAL FUND'S REVENUES ARE DERIVED FROM PROPERTY TAXES WHICH TOTAL AROUND $113 MILLION FOR THE YEAR AND THAT REPRESENT AROUND 66% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE GENERAL FUND. COUPLE OTHER SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF REVENUE WORTH MENTIONING YOU ALL HAD CHARGES FOR SERVICES OF JUST UNDER 50 MILLION AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE OR PROBABLY $10.6 MILLION FOR THE YEAR.

THIS NEXT CHART PRESENTS THE GENERAL FUND'S EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION TOTAL TOTAL EXPENDITURE IS AROUND 173 MILLION. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY $52 MILLION COMPARED TO DEATHWATCH 22 AGAIN AS YOU WOULD EXPECT PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL GOVERNMENT YOU'RE REPRESENTING A MAJORITY OF THESE EXPENDITURES.

PUBLIC SAFETY WAS AROUND $57 MILLION AND IT ACCOUNTED FOR AROUND 33% OF THE GENERAL FUND'S TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES WERE APPROXIMATELY $70 MILLION.

SO IN TOTAL THE GENERAL FUNDS FUND BALANCE HAD A SLIGHT DECREASE THIS YEAR OF A PROXY $4 MILLION FOR AN ENDING BALANCE OF $82.6 MILLION FOR THIS NEXT CHART IT SHOWS THE

[00:40:01]

THE INFORMATION ON THIS LOT IS OFFICIALLY A FORMALITY BUT WE DID RECEIVE FULL COOPERATION FROM COUNTY MANAGEMENT STAFF. THERE WERE NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT ON ANY KIND OF ACCOUNTING OR FINANCIAL REPORTING RELATED ISSUES. THERE WERE NO UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENT AND AGAIN WE ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE COUNTY AS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT LIVING STANDARDS AND WITH THAT UNLESS YOU BUY FSC SPECIFIC THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

BUT AGAIN AS YOU CAN WE LOOKED AT YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICES A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT. WHAT I'VE TRIED TO DO IS YOU HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS WHAT I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU ALL BUT AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOUR STAFF ONE MORE TIME FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THIS YEAR. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY SERVICE TO YOU ALL AND FORWARD TO WORKING IN THE FUTURE. RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBERS HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU DONE OUR AUDIT YOUR FIRM I THINK THIS IS OUR SEVENTH YEAR. WE'RE JUST CURIOUS FAMILY QUESTIONS.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOU SO SAVAGE. OH, YOU DON'T SEND THE SAME PERSON EVERY TIME. NO, WE WE ROTATE WE CAN ROTATE .

YOU KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE PART OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR FIRM SPEND 1% OF OUR TIME OR STATE GOVERNMENTS. WE ARE SOUTHERN OR SOUTHEAST. SO WHILE A LOT OF FIRMS AUDIT GOVERNMENTS AS A WAY TO KEEP THEIR PEOPLE BUSY OUTSIDE OF TAX SEASON THERE'S A CERTAIN SECTION OF OUR FIRM SPEND 12 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR AUDIT STATE LOCAL SO WE CAN WE CAN ROTATE PARTNERS WE CAN ROTATE STAFF WE ROTATE MANAGERS WE SEE FIT AND WE DO THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER YOU KNOW THANK YOU. IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF CONCERNS THEN I'M REALLY CONCERNED BUT I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME SOME SOME THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO PROPERTY TAX I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COUNTY HAVING LEANING ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX VERSUS RESIDENTIAL IT'S ALSO FUNDING FOR FOR THE COUNTY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU DON'T BREAK DOWN THE COMMERCIAL VERSUS RESIDENTIAL IN YOUR REPORTS, DO YOU? WE DO NOT BECAUSE IT'S JUST PROPERTY TAXES AND YOU JUST KIND OF PROPERTY TAX.

CORRECT? THE BIGGER THE NO, THE DIFFERENCE AND I GUESS WE COULD GET THERE FROM THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND STUFF. YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH.

SO THAT INFORMATION IS EASILY AVAILABLE IT'S JUST IT'S BROKEN DOWN YOU KNOW I JUST WANT TO

[00:45:01]

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'D BE GOOD TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT MARK OF DEMARCATION WHERE WE CAN HAVE LESS MONEY IN OUR FUND WAS MOVING FORWARD AND STUFF SO SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED TO HAVE. WELL WELL IT INCREASES LIKE YOU SHOWED ON YOUR SLIDE EVERY YEAR FOR LAST FIVE YEARS EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL I THINK I GO ON COUNCIL IT WAS $25 MILLION I THINK AND IT HELPED US WHEN MATTHEW WAS HERE TO BE ABLE TO FUND IT WITHOUT YOU KNOW, LEANING OR BORROWING TILL THE GOVERNMENT MONEY STARTED COMING IN AS WE HELP WITH THAT SO UNDERSTAND AND ALL THAT STUFF I JUST NEED TO KNOW BALANCING ACT WAS FOR ME WELL LIKE I MENTIONED THE GOVERNMENT OFFICERS FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER ASSOCIATION G-4 ALLOY WHICH AGAIN IS THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SUBMIT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FOR CERTIFICATION AGAIN THEY THEY RECOMMEND A FUND BALANCE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5 TO 7 MONTHS OF OFFSHORE EXPENDITURES AGAIN ALL HAVE AROUND FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS SO I MEAN YOU'RE RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF WHAT RECOMMEND YOUR FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO VARY FROM YEAR FROM MONTH TO MONTH IF YOU ALL WERE DECEMBER 31ST YEAR THEN I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT YOU'D BE TO JUNE 30 YOU'RE IN BUT AGAIN AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THE ZERO FUND AND EXPENDITURES OF $40 MILLION A MONTH SO IT'S A STRONG FUND BALANCE BUT AGAIN WITH YOU ALL YOU'RE JUNE 30 YOU'RE IN THE FUND BALANCE IS NEEDED TO GET YOU THROUGH THE MONTH OF JULY THROUGH NOVEMBER AND YOU ALLUDED TO SOMETHING ELSE EARLIER THAT I THINK IS WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN YOU KNOW FROM THE PANDEMIC A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN OF 15, 16, 20 YEARS AGO WHATEVER IT WAS TO WEATHER RELATED ISSUES THAT SOMETIMES ARISE DUE YOU ALL BEING ON THE COAST IF I'M IN YOUR SHOES IS COMFORT TO KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE A STRONG FUND AS OF YOUR END SO YOU JUST WANT KNOW RULING OUT A RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWER THERE BUT AGAIN I JUST KIND OF LOOP BACK TO WHAT GEOFFROY RECOMMENDS AND YOU ALL RIGHT IN THAT RIGHT. OKAY.

THANK YOU TOM. DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, SIR? OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL TO MAKE A MOTION TO NOW APPROVE OUR 2023 AUDIT AS PRESENTED I WOULD MAKE MOTION MR. LAWSON MAKES THE MOTION I'LL SECOND THAT MR. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND MOTION AND SECONDED ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION SAYING NONE THIS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AUDITORS FOR AGAIN DOING IT THE TIME FRAME AND ESPECIALLY TO OUR STANDS FOR 14 YEARS IN A ROW OF BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE AN AUDIT IT IS SIGNIFICANT. NOW I HAVE ONE LITTLE QUESTION WHAT GASB ARE WE HAVE NOW 100, 100, 100 OKAY. I STARTED WITH GASB 34.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

BUT I THINK THE STEPS YOU SAID THAT APPLAUD THE DILIGENCE THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE THEM THE STANDARD IS TO IT IS THEIR REPORT CARD. SO I NOTICE YOU CHALLENGED ME A LITTLE BIT WHENEVER I DO THESE HOW MUCH IS LEFT NOW AND I SAY EITHER EITHER STAY FLAT OR IT

[8. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

THESE ARE FOUR ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA. THE SECOND SESSION IS FOUR ITEMS OFF THE AGENDA. WE DO HAVE TWO LADIES FROM THE FIRST SKILLING THAT WISH TO

[00:50:01]

SO WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SPEAK. THE FIRST ONE I DON'T KNOW DEB OR DENISE WHO TO GO FIRST. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN. BUT FIRST YEAH I WAS GOING TO PLAY A NEWS FOR YOU ALL CUED UP THAT WOULD SHOW A MEETING. WELL OVER 100 PEOPLE WHO WERE TALKING TO MR. LAW IS GOING TO STOP YOU THERE. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE. WE WE ALL SAW OF THAT NEWS VIDEO.

YES SIR. I WAS ABOUT TO SAY I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT ANYMORE.

I DO. EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THIS YOU FOLKS HAVE SEEN ME HERE BEFORE.

I'VE COME BEFORE THE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO BE LEVELHEADED AND RESPECTFUL. I HONESTLY WANT TO CRY WHEN I SIT AND I'VE HEARD WHAT MR. LAWSON HAS TO SAY WITH WHAT MR. ROBINSON HAD TO SAY. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WERE NOT CORRECT MY PHONE IS BLOWING UP FROM PEOPLE BACK INTO FIRST WHO ARE SAYING TELL THEM THIS. TELL THEM THAT. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THIS VERY SYSTEM IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TINKERED WITH, THAT WE CAN DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS THAT BY THE SUMMER HAVE IT EVEN BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM AS IT IS BEEN TOLD, THIS VERY SYSTEM IS A DISASTER IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CATASTROPHE AND IT IS HURTING COMMUNITY. YOU GUYS YOU CAME A LOT OF YOU TO THE FIRST GUY THIS PAST YEAR YOU HAD TO LOOK AROUND YOU HAD TO SEE THAT THESE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT THIS AFFECTS ARE NOT WEALTHY PEOPLE. THESE ARE WORKING PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS ISLAND WORK. WE HAVE POOR PEOPLE. WE HAVE ELDERLY PEOPLE.

THIS THIS VERY SYSTEM IS NOT SAFE. WE HAVE A NEW FERRY PROVIDER WHO GAVE INCORRECT INFORMATION WHEN HE DID THE APPLICATION INCLUDING SAYING HE HAD TWO BOATS AND PICTURES CURRENTLY ARE USED BY HAIG POINT THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE WHERE ARE THEY DOESN'T HAVE IT HE HAS THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED HIM AND IN PART ON THE BASIS OF HAVING THOSE BOATS NO BOATS NOW WE'VE GOT A GLORIFIED PONTOON BOAT WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT ANOTHER BOAT IS GOING TO UP SOMETIME WE NEED TWO BOATS ANY NINE YEAR OLD UNDER FIRST YOU CAN TELL YOU YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE BOAT TO RUN A FERRY SERVICE. THEY CONSTANTLY BREAK DOWN.

THEY HAVE COAST GUARD INSPECTIONS. THEY HAVE INSURANCE INSPECTIONS. WE NEED TWO BOATS. ALL WE'RE HEARING IS SOMETIME WE'RE GETTING A SECOND ONE THAT'S BETTER THAN THIS THIS BOAT RIGHT NOW THAT'S NOT EVEN SAFE. THE COAST GUARD HAS HAD TO INTERVENE TWICE NOW BECAUSE THEY'RE OPEN AND PROPANE HEATERS TEN FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FOR GOD'S SAKES ON A ROCKY BOAT THE WHOLE COULD BLOW UP. WHY? WHO WOULD DO THIS? WHAT KIND OF PERSON RUNS? A FERRY SYSTEM LIKE THAT WHERE THEY HAVE THIS TYPE OF OF SAFETY CONCERNS. MR. LAWSON SAID HE HEARD A LOT OF PROBLEMS. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED WITH NOODLING AWAY AT THE ISSUE. YOUR CONTRACT HAS A 30 DAY OPT OUT CLAUSE OUR UNANIMOUSLY ASKED MR. LAWSON EXERCISE THAT CLAUSE. THIS IS A BAD CONTRACT.

YOU'RE HURTING PEOPLE. IT'S GOING TO KILL OUR ECONOMY ON THE ISLAND BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OF THE LACK OF RESOURCES THAT THIS CONTRACTOR HAS THE FEES ON THESE OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEING INCREASED BY $2,000 A YEAR THAT THIS CONTRACT HAS BE WITHDRAWN.

YOU MADE A MISTAKE A BIGGER MISTAKE IS LETTING THIS CONTRACT GO FORTH.

THANK YOU. I'M SORRY TO BE SO EMOTIONAL. IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S A TERRIBLE THING. THANK YOU, DEB YOU'RE DONE IS. IS DENISE GOING TO SPEAK? YES. OKAY, GOOD. MY NAME IS DENISE GILBERT AND I'M THE OWNER OF AN INCOME RENTAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 92 AVENUE OF THE OAKS ON DUSKY ISLAND. I'M SPEAKING AS A RENTAL PROPERTY OWNER TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME CONCERN THE RECENT CHANGE ON JANUARY 16TH AND FERRY SERVICE FROM THE FERRY OPERATED BY HAIG POINT TO SERVICE BY AN INEXPERIENCED AND UNPREPARED FERRY OPERATOR LOW COUNTRY FERRY FULL TIME RESIDENTS AND THE FIRST BUSINESS OWNERS GRAVE CONCERNS OVER THEIR SURVIVAL ON THE ISLAND GIVEN THE FERRY SERVICE CHANGE MIRRORS CONCERNS BY PROPERTY OWNERS. ADDITIONALLY WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT A LOSS OF RENTAL PROPERTY INCOME VALUE AND THE FUTURE OF THE FACILITY AS A VIABLE TOURISM DESTINATION.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OWNER OF LOWCOUNTRY FERRY NEIL TURNER EVEN AFTER SIGNING THE CONTRACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS WHO WOULD NEED A FERRY SERVICE.

THE MAJORITY OF GUESTS WHO HAVE THE PAST COME TO HUSKY HAVE USED THE PUBLIC FERRY AS THEIR SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION THE ISLAND. WE'RE COMING UP ON THE START OF WHAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY TOURIST SEASON ON THE FIRST KEY THING HUNDREDS

[00:55:01]

GUESTS WOULD HAVE TO GET TRANSPORTATION BACK TO THAT LOCATION, PICK UP EVERYTHING THAT THEY BROUGHT OVER. THE CHANGE WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO TOURISM WITH THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER LOW COUNTRY FERRY CAN EVEN HANDLE THE DEMANDS OF THE LEVEL OF TOURIST TRAFFIC THAT GOES OVER TO THE FIRST KEY TRAVEL TIME ON THE FERRY HAS INCREASED SINCE.

LOWCOUNTRY FERRY TOOK OVER AND THE SAFETY OF THEIR VESSELS IS IN QUESTION.

MARK LAWSON STATED AT YESTERDAY'S TOWN HALL MEETING ON THE FACILITY THAT THE FIRST FEW RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN SPOILED WITH THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED.

AS A PROPERTY OWNER I WOULD NOT CONSIDER IT SPOILED FOR ME TO WANT TO HAVE MY GUESTS HAVE SAFE CONVENIENT, EFFECTIVE AND TIMELY TRANSPORTATION FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND GOODS BROUGHT THE BASKET. I HAVE SPOKEN TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ALL ECHO THAT THEY WOULD LIKELY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUSINESSES IF THE LEVEL OF VISITOR TO DIVERSITY DECREASES. ALL THE HUSKY BUSINESSES ARE TOURISM INCLUDING RESTAURANTS, ARTISTS, TRANSPORTATION, RENTAL PROPERTIES, ACTIVITIES AND GOLF CART RENTALS.

THESE BUSINESSES EMPLOYED RESIDENTS OF THE FACILITY SO THE CASCADING EFFECT IS POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING. THE PROBABILITY OF LOSS OF REVENUE FOR BUSINESSES AND ISLAND RESIDENTS IS BY WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A STEEP DROP IN PROPERTY VALUES AND INCOME FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND A REDUCTION OF TAX REVENUE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.

EVERYONE'S LIVELIHOOD IS THREATENED BY THIS CHANGE. I'M SURE THAT ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT SEEMED LIKE CHOOSING THE CHEAPEST VERY VENDOR WERE NOT EVEN IMAGINED AND TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. RESIDENTS, OWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS ARE ALL ON THE PRECIPICE OF DEVASTATING FOR THIS ACTION. PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER CANCELING THE CONTRACT WITH LOCAL PREACHERS DURING THE 30 DAY CANCELATION PERIOD. THANK YOU.

MR. HOAGLAND, YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL ABOUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA SKIP HOAGLAND JENKINS ISLAND MR. OMIT REAGAN PRINCIPAL YOU AND A MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR THE ILLEGAL ISSUANCE OF MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDS THAT ALSO USED ILLEGALLY BY THE NONPROFIT CHAMBERS, THE KBS AND DEMOS THAT ARE ALSO VIOLATING MANY STATE AND FEDERAL IRS 5 TO 1 DESK SIX NONPROFIT TAX CODES AND LAWS. ALSO YOU FUND OTHER NONPROFITS AND DO SO WITH NO CONTRACTS SPELLING OUT THE LEGAL WITH PROPER TERMS AND CONDITIONS ZERO TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY IMPROVEMENT PERFORMANCE METRICS, NO FORENSIC AUDITS AND WORSE THESE REFUSE TO SHOW THIS COUNCIL HOW ALL THIS ILLEGAL MILLIONS OF TAX FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED. THIS IS NOT ONLY ABSURD IT'S A VIOLATION TO YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND YOUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TAXPAYERS PROXY WHO TRUSTED ALL OF YOU. MY LAWYERS AND TEAM HAVE PRESENTED ALL THE UNDISPUTED EVIDENCE YOU. WHY DOES THIS COUNCIL CONTINUE TO IGNORE NOT COMPLY AND ALLOW THESE LAW VIOLATIONS TO CONTINUE? DON'T YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO STOP THE TOWN LAWYERS AND EMPLOYEES CONTROL AND YOU TAKE BACK CONTROL AND HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS NEEDED TO CLEAN THIS. MASTER MR. PASSMAN, DO YOU AGREE YOU WERE ELECTED TO TO ALL LAWS NOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT SUITS YOU ALSO WHY DOES THIS COUNCIL ALLOW FRAUDULENT BUDGETS AND YEAR END TAX RETURNS TO BE HIRED AND CONTROLLED BY THE EMPLOYEES AND LAWYERS? THE FACT IS YOU ARE ONLY SEEING THE NUMBERS I WANT YOU TO SEE. NONE OF YOU ARE CPAS NOR UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE PRESENTED. THIS IS WHY THIS COUNCIL MUST HIRE A TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OUTSIDE AUDIT FIRM THAT FULLY UNDERSTANDS AND SPECIALIZES IN THE PROPER AND LEGAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND CONTROLS. I CONTEND THE MORGAN AND JENKINS CPA FIRM IS SUBMITTING A FRAUDULENT INCOMPLETE AUDIT AND DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE NUMBERS.

IT DID IDENTIFY WASTE IN CRIMES. IT WAS TOTALLY FRAUD.

WE NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT FIRM BETTER MADE UP OF FORMER FBI AGENTS TO GET THIS COUNTY BACK ON TRACK. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR TREASURER SUED.

YOU MUST UNDERGO A FORENSIC AUDIT IMMEDIATELY. THIS COUNCIL MUST BECOME A LEGALLY FUNCTIONING COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND. STOP BEING CONTROLLED BY THE TOWN MANAGERS AND LAWYERS AND THE CPAS THAT WORK FOR YOU AND TAXPAYERS.

WE DON'T WORK FOR THEM. DOES ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL OR ANY TAXPAYER THIS ROOM OR ANY LAWYER DISAGREE WITH MY FACTS? IF YOU CAN, THEN WHY DON'T YOU CLEAN IT UP? FOLKS, THIS FULL POWER EMPLOYS AND PART TIME COUNSEL POLITICAL SYSTEM IS IS NOT WORKING.

IT'S FAILING US. WE NEED A FULL TIME ON A CPA CEO TYPE CHAIRMAN WHO HAS THE

[01:00:01]

[9. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

AND THE SECOND THING THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON THROUGH THE AIRPORT BOARD AND OUR STAFF IS ON ST JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH. IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS AGAIN THAT PROJECT IS MOVING PRETTY WELL AS WELL AT THAT POINT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MS. TAVEN SO I'M TO REITERATE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT GERARD SAID. I ATTENDED THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AS A LIAISON. THEY HAD UPDATES FROM D.O.T.

TALKING ABOUT THE COMPLETED ROADS, THE RESURFACING. AND THEN GERARD WENT OVER IN THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING THE REJUVENATE OR THE SURFACING THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY KINDS OF THINGS. LOOKING AT A YEAR SEVEN TOTAL OF $5.1 MILLION.

THEY ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE INFAMOUS 170 TRIANGLE PROJECT. THEY'VE EXTENDED LEFT TURN LANES ON THE 462 FROM 170. IT'S NOT ENOUGH THEY STILL BACK UP IT DONE IT AND.

THEY ADDED A SECOND LEFT TURN LANE FROM MERGE AND BOULEVARD. THE NEXT FOCUS WILL BE 278 AND 170 RAMPS INTERSECT AND THAT ACTION WILL BEGIN SOON. AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS WE PARTNER WITH NCDOT JASPER COUNTY AND HARTSVILLE ON THAT. SO THAT'S A GOOD COLLABORATION.

HE TALKED ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER AND THE 278 BRIDGE.

WE'VE REQUESTED MUNICIPAL CONSENT FROM HILTON HEAD DO JANUARY 31ST.

WE DID GET THE COMMITTEE GOT KUDOS FROM NCDOT. THEY COMMENTED THAT THEY ARE THE BEST COMMITTEE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS FAR AS GETTING WORK DONE BEING RECOGNIZED.

THERE WERE ALL FORWARD THINKING SO IT WAS VERY GOOD FOR THEM. AND I'M GOING TO SEND ALL OF YOU THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE TRANSFER STATION PLAN FOR YOUR LIGHT READING WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO. AND THEN I DID THE LIBRARY BOARD AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THIS I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT CONVERSATION ON THAT. CURRENT IMPACT FEES ARE GOING TO BE USED FOR THE BLUFFTON LIBRARY 4.2 MILLION PORT ROYAL BRANCHES UNDER CONSTRUCTION. TO DATE WE HAVE SPENT $391,034 ON MATERIALS AND 60% OF THAT IS HOOPLA. HOW MANY HERE HAVE GONE ON HOOPLA? YES. IF YOU HAVEN'T GET ON IT YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT. WE ACCEPTED REVISIONS TO, THEIR BYLAWS AND THIS IS EXCITING.

THE PICKUP LOCKERS BE AT BURTON WELLS AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE EXTERIOR TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY IT IT'LL BE FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION.

THEY THINK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF MAY RIVER PROPERTY THAT'S ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. AND JUST FOR EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE 24,482 VISITORS TO OUR LIBRARIES DECEMBER OUR LIBRARY DIRECTOR IS SITTING RIGHT THERE.

RAISE YOUR HAND AMANDA. SHE DOES GREAT WORK FOR US. THEY HAD 88 PROGRAMS OFFERED 41,629 ITEMS CHECKED OUT AND A FIVE BRIDGE THAT'S REALLY GOOD. EIGHT 19,867 DOWNLOADABLE.

SO OUR LIBRARIES ARE VERY INTACT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AND MOVING FORWARD.

AND I HAVE ONE MORE. THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THEY ELECTED THEIR OFFICERS THEY SAID THE SAME THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE UPDATED PROJECTS AND APPROVED VENDOR CONTRACTS AND THEY HAVE FINISHED THE REVIEW OF . SO THEY ARE RETURNING SPEAK IN THE HANDMAID'S ARE GOING BACK TO CIRCULATION STAMPED THE LOVELY BONES WILL BE IN CIRCULATION FOR GRADES 612 ONLY AND THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER AND THE KITE RUNNER WILL BE FOR NINE THROUGH 12 AND THEN THEY'VE DIRECTED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO REEVALUATE THIS FORM. PARENTS CAN TO OPT OUT OF LETTING THEIR CHILDREN TAKE THINGS OF THE MEDIA CENTERS. AND THEN FINALLY A REMINDER TO CONSTITUENTS THIS WEDNESDAY WILL BE CHAT WITH COUNCIL ON THE SOUTH SIDE IT WILL BE 6 P.M. HILTON HEAD LIBRARY AND THEN ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20 9:06 P.M. WILL BE CHAT WITH COUNCIL RIGHT HERE ALL RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU. YES MA'AM.

I'D LIKE TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY.

[01:05:04]

AND I I ATTENDED THE AND COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MEETING LAST WEEK AND ASHLEY FEASTER I DON'T KNOW IF SHE SPOKE TO YOU AT THE CONVERGE SUMMIT BUT COUNCIL NEEDS TO POINT TO MORE PEOPLE TO SEE OR NOT BE AWARE OF THAT. WE ARE TAKING THAT UP.

ALL RIGHT. AND TRANSPORTATION I ALSO ATTENDED A WITH A TAB AND I FOUND AN ERROR ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. JOHN VERO.

HE'S IN DISTRICT TEN SO THERE'S STILL A DISTRICT 11 OPEN AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A MR. DIETRICH ADVOCATE FROM DISTRICT 11 SENT HIS APPLICATION LAST MONTH. HE'S EXTREMELY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION HE WAS WITH THE WORLD BANK INFRASTRUCTURE. HE WORKED WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY AND THE AIRPORTS IN NEW YORK, NEW. HE WAS A NEW YORK URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORP ALSO. HE DID PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS OVER IN EUROPE.

HE HAS A MASTER'S IN BUSINESS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I DO I NEED TO SEND A MOTION THAT WE ASK FOR HIS APPLICATION. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO WITH THAT? NOTHING. UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCEDURE IS GOING TO BE.

WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU. HE IS IN DISTRICT 11. YEAH, BUT YEAH BUT THAT'S AN EMPTY DISTRICT. MR. JOHN WHERE IS DISTRICT TEN? NOT 11.

THAT WAS ON THE SHEET THAT TOM HAD THAT SAYS THIS IS JUST AN ERROR.

IT JUST MEANS THAT CORRECT. ME IT WAS JUST IT WAS A SPY SWAP.

YOU KNOW THE COMMITTEE AT SOME POINT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN A SWAP SWAP? HE WAS APPROVED TO SERVE OUT THIS. OH, HE WAS APPROVED TO SERVE OUT OF HIS? YES. MISS BROCK, CAN I ASK THE QUESTION THEN? OH, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY IN THE DISTRICT THAT APPLIES.

WHY WOULDN'T THEY HAVE PREFERENTIAL LOOK THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THIS INDIVIDUAL.

YEAH. THIS WHAT HAS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.

SO DIETRICH DID NOT APPLY IN THE PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, RIGHT? OH, I DIDN'T KNOW. OH, BUT BUT IN ON A COMMITTEE WE COULD HAVE TWO PEOPLE FROM THE SAME DISTRICT THAT COMMITTEE IF THE CHAIR I GUESS THE CHAIRMAN APPROVES THAT THE DETERMINING HOW WOULD WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN THAT THOUGH I THINK IS ASKING TO GET THE DISTRICT CHAIRMAN BECAUSE THERE THERE WAS NO APPLICANT FROM DISTRICT 11 SOMEONE TO APPLY.

YEAH BUT THEY WERE FROM DISTRICT TEN AND THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT INDIVIDUAL WE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS AND APPROVED THAT BUT WHO WAS IN DISTRICT TEN BEFORE THAT? I'M SURE THIS CURRENT COUNCIL APPROVED THAT SWAP.

YEAH. YEAH. OH THEY CAN OH YEAH WE ALL VOTED ON THAT AT SWAP ALL RIGHT. AND IT A JUDGE WHO WASN'T INVOLVED AT THAT POINT THEN HE DIDN'T HELP BUT I'M SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW APPROVED THAT SWAP. YEAH SO THEN DISTRICT TEN IS OPEN NOW THERE'S THERE'S TWO FROM DISTRICT TWO FOR CHARLES PERRY'S DISTRICT TURNS THAT CRAIG SHOULD BE MADE JORDAN ONCE WE CAN GO OKAY OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION. MR. BOWMAN ONLY MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED . IS THERE ANY QUESTION SEEING

[11. TIME SENSITIVE ITEM FROM THE JANUARY 22ND SPECIAL CALLED FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING - 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]

ITEM NUMBER 11 CAME FROM TODAY'S SPECIAL CALLED FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC COMMITTEE. IT IS THE APPROVAL. SO I'M GOING TO ASK A MEMBER COUNCIL TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT OF TOMMY TOMMY HARMON JUNIOR TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A FIRST TERM OF FOUR YEARS THAT EXPIRES IN 2028 AND THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JUDGE EUGENE RICHARDSON LA BRUCE TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR A SECOND TERM OF FOUR YEARS THAT EXPIRES IN 2028 I'LL MAKE THE MOST OF THIS MISS HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION A SECOND I'LL SECOND THAT MISS BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED IS ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE THESE TWO GENERAL

[12. TIME SENSITIVE ITEM FROM THE JANUARY 22ND SPECIAL CALLED FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING - APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A 2024 TRANSPORTATION SALES AND USE TAX REFERENDUM (FISCAL IMPACT: If approved by Council and the electorate, the county will levy and impose a one percent (1%) sales and use tax throughout the entire county for fifteen (15) years or until the county raises $1.625 billion in revenue, whichever occurs first) - Jared Fralix, P.E., Assistant County Administrator, Infrastructure]

[01:10:02]

ITEM NUMBER 12 AS WE NOTED REALLY CAME FROM TODAY'S FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING.

IT IS THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE. I AM GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION BY A MEMBER FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE FOR 2024 TRANSPORTATION SALES AND USE TAX REFERENDUM SOME OF ITS CHAIRMAN MR. CUNNINGHAM AND MR. BERNANKE DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. NOW THIS MEANS THAT THIS WILL BE APPROVED AS A FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE WE WILL HAVE THREE READINGS AND A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THIS IS FULLY ADOPTED. THIS IS NOT CAST IN STONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

YES. LET ME GO THROUGH MISS HOWARD. WE DID MAKE TWO YES, WE DID MAKE TWO AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE THAT HAVE MOVED THAT WILL BE PART OF THIS AGENDA. OKAY.

WE'VE TAKEN CERTAIN WORDING OUT WE PUT CERTAIN MONEYS IN. CORRECT.

OKAY. NEXT MR. BEACH, YOU HAD A COMMENT.

OH, NO, I'M GOING TO IS ON THE OUTLINE NUMBER 12 IS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD BE THE PUBLIC SERVICE. IT WAS THE PUBLIC FACILITIES ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE WE REFERENCED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING ANYONE ELSE AS CHAIRMAN TO GO LAST OR JUST GO AHEAD? YOU CAN CERTAINLY OKAY. SO LET'S JUST CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE TODAY. I WANTED BRUSH UP ON A COUPLE OF THINGS I SAID IN THE COMMITTEE BEFORE THIS I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU THAT WERE HERE EARLIER.

IT SOUNDS A LITTLE REPETITIVE. JERRY GAVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE NUMBERS ON IT SO JUST SO FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD IT IS 15 YEARS 1% SALES TAX AT 1.6 TO 5 BILLION OR WHICHEVER ONE COMES FIRST. WITH THAT SAID, THIS ISN'T A RAISE OF A TAX BECAUSE THIS IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT AFTER OUR GREENSPACE REFERENDUM COMES TO AN END.

GREENSPACE REFERENDUM DOES NOT GO ANY LONGER THAN DECEMBER 31ST AND THIS WOULDN'T TAKE PLACE MAY 1ST IF IT PASSES IN NOVEMBER AND 2024 IT WOULDN'T TAKE PLACE TILL 2025 MAY 1ST.

IF YOU GUYS GO BACK REMEMBER ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO THIS IS A LOT OF THE DEBATE WE HAD WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THE GREENSPACE REFERENDUM WE ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT TRANSPORTATION TAX AND THEN WE SHIFTED TOWARDS GREENSPACE. THE WHOLE POINT BEHIND GREENSPACE WAS AT LEAST MY IDEA AND I'M SURE FEW OTHERS HERE AGREE WAS WE'VE BEEN I'VE SAID A MILLION TIMES BEFORE BETWEEN CHASING THE TAIL OR JUST TRYING TO FIX THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE CAN'T GET AHEAD OF IT.

THE GREENSPACE REFERENDUM WE PASSED TO HELP LOWER THE THE FUTURE DENSITY HERE COUNTY THAT WAS STEP ONE I ALWAYS SAID PUBLICLY DURING THAT THAT PLANNED TO COME BACK IN 2024 WITH THE TRANSPORTATION TAX BECAUSE THAT'S STEP TWO NOW WHEN WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE AND A TOOL THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN GROWTH. NOW OUR JOB IS TO CATCH UP ON ROADS. THAT'S WHERE THIS COMES INTO PLAY.

WE'RE CURRENTLY OUT OF 7% SALES TAX. IF THIS PASSES WE WOULD STAY OUT OF 7% SALES TAX. WHEN THAT DROP OFF HAPPENS THERE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A FOUR MONTH PERIOD OF 6% I BELIEVE AND THEY'LL KICK RIGHT BACK IN RIGHT BEFORE TOURIST SEASON. THE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT USUALLY IS COUPLE OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW, WE DEBATE BACK AND FORTH THAT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 40 TO 45% IS PAID BY TOURISTS, CORRECT? YES, IT'S USUALLY WHAT WE CALL THE RULE OF THUMB SO ALMOST 50% IS PAID BY TOWARDS THAT COME IN TO COUNTY. WHAT THAT SAID THE 15 YEARS IS DEFINITELY A A LONG NUMBER IT'S A BIG NUMBER TO TAKE IN BUT THERE IS REASONS BEHIND THAT IF YOU LOOK IN WHAT THE PROJECT LIST ENTAILS AND HOW WE HAVE BROKEN THIS DOWN TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW MANY BIG PROJECTS ARE PLANNING TO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET DONE TO PLAY CATCH UP FOR THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE TO THIS COUNTY COUNCIL.

I DO WANT TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT WITH THAT BEING SAID TO SECTION 2.3 JUST TO ADDING SOME LANGUAGE INTO THAT TO SECURE BASICALLY WHAT OUR OUTLINE IS FOR COUNTY COUNCIL AND HOW WE'RE WE HAVE THIS SCHEDULED TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS BEING USED THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THAT IT COMES COUNTY COUNCIL. SO IT'S TRANSPARENT FOR ALL OF YOU FOR COUNTY VOTERS BECAUSE IF YOU'LL LOOK THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS

[01:15:01]

WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE TEAM TO MANAGE THESE FUNDS.

SO WHAT THAT SAID I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2.3 AND ADD THAT ALL PROCEEDS OF THE SALES AND USE TAX I'M SORRY ALL PROCEEDS OF THE SALES AND USE TAX AND ALL PROCEEDS OF ANY BONDS PAYABLE THEREFROM SHALL BE HELD BY UNTIL THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE ALLOCATION AND EXPENDITURE THE FUNDS FOR THE PROJECTS AND PREPARATIONS OF THE PROJECTS AS FURTHER IDENTIFIED HERE IN THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE I SAID WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT BIG POTS THAT ARE PLANNING TO GO TO CERTAIN LOCATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE IF WE CAN PULL THAT UP FOR THE PUBLIC.

SARAH IF IT IS IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS AND ADDING THIS LANGUAGE INTO IT, MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AREN'T WASTED IN AREAS AND THAT WE ARE TRULY DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY WITH THESE FUNDS AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MONEY DOES GO TO THE APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS . SO WITH THAT SAID THAT IS THE MOTION THAT IS ENTERTAINED BY THE COUNCIL. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES MR. KEVIN I WOULD MAKE ONE POINT THE SENTENCE THAT COUNCILMAN LOGAN JUST REFERRED TO IS ADDED TO THE VERY END OF SECTION 2.3. YES, SIR.

YEAH. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SIMILARLY VOTED AGAINST IT SO SIMPLY BECAUSE I THINK I KNOW THE INTENTION HERE BUT I THINK THERE'S THERE'S IS THE BUY IN FROM COMMUNITIES INTO THIS REFERENDUM AND AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SUPPORT IN ALL ENTITY AND IN ALLOWING THOSE ENTITIES SOME INDEPENDENCE AND RECEIVING AND DECIDING WHAT THEY WOULD WANT FOR THEIR JURISDICTION.

SO I'M GOING TO NOT AT THIS TIME SUPPORT THIS MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.

MR. CHAIRMAN. I'M I'M OF THE SAME MINDSET AS COUNCILMAN GLOVER.

I THINK THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE THE BEST PLACE FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY REGARDING SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS AND OTHER DECISIONS FOR THE GREENBELT AT THIS AT THIS TIME I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THEM. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SECOND THESE TO HERE AS WELL WITH THE SAME PEOPLE FOR THIS. I THINK THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AMENDMENT, NOT THE REFERENDUM. NO, I KNOW YOU'RE RIGHT THERE TALK THIS WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE MOTIONS THAT ARE IN THERE.

THANK YOU. SO ONE OF THE THINGS STATED BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE, THE MANAGEMENT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG MR. KEVIN HERE MR. ROBINSON AND MUNICIPALITIES GO OUT FOR THEIR OWN REFERENDUMS TO RAISE MONEY WITHINSIDE MUNICIPALITIES I REFER TO DEFER OUR BOND COUNSEL BUT I THINK THEY CAN A SURE THEY DO SO MUNICIPALITIES COULD DO A REFERENDUM AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS.

THERE'S NOT A MECHANISM FOR THEM IMPOSE LIKE A SALES TAX WITHIN THEIR MUNICIPALITY BUT THE CERTAINLY DO YOU KNOW REFERENDUM SAY CITY ACTS APPROVING GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND MIGHT NOT EXCEED $50 MILLION TO DO SOMETHING FOR A PROJECT FOR A PROJECT IN THE CITY THAT'S RIGHT SO AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR WE'RE THE ONES TAKING THIS STEP AND PUTTING IT OUT FOR THE COUNTY. WE'RE THE ONES PUTTING IT ON THE LINE JUST LIKE WE DID ON THE GREENSPACE REFERENDUM WELL ON THE GROUND ADVOCATE AND PUT SOMETHING THIS BIG AND THIS LARGE OUT HERE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JOB'S DONE PROPERLY. I'VE NEVER SAID BEFORE I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE I'M NOT THE CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS NOT GOING TO TELL YOU HOW TO BUILD IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE WHERE WE PLAN TO TAKE THIS COUNTY AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE IS GOING TO AFFECT THAT AND WE'RE THE ONES MAKING THIS DECISION NOW TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT.

WE'RE THE ONES THAT WENT TO AND HIS TEAM IN FEBRUARY AND SAID WE WANT TO GET THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GET THIS STARTED TO BE DEBATED BY THE END OF THE YEAR WHICH THEY MET THAT GOAL AND NOW IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THIS IS FOLLOWED THROUGH. SO I'M SORRY I HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING MUNICIPALITY A IS GOING TO GET $40 MILLION TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT THAT GOES OUTSIDE THE GUIDELINES AND THIS VALLEY B IT'S $30 MILLION SO BE IT.

SO BE IT AND WE HAVE NO SAY SO ON THAT WHATSOEVER WHEN WE'RE THE ONES COMING UP HERE DEBATING FOR THAT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE WAY IT'S WORDED WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT IT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO POSSIBLY DO THAT THIS MONTH. MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WOULD BE A COMMITTEE SIMILAR SOMEWHAT BRINGS BASIS CORRECT TO OVERSEE IT AND I THINK I'M A NONPARTIZAN NON-ELECTED COMMITTEE BUT MAYBE PERHAPS OR

[01:20:06]

I WOULD JUST DISAGREE. I THINK A LOCAL MUNICIPALITY DECIDE BASED ON THIS OVERARCHING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I'M SURE WE'LL USE A COUNTY BEING THE DRIVER AND TRANSPORTATION COUNTYWIDE WILL USE THE COUNTY'S EXPERTIZE IN THE COUNTY'S TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING. SO ALL EVERY EXTENT THAT WE CAN INTERACT WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. MR. CUMMINGS CHAIRMAN THE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT COUNCILMAN HOWARD JUST REFERENCED IS IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE, CORRECT. THAT PROVISION IS NOT IN THE ORDINANCE.

WE CAN LOOK AT THAT WE COULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO TRY AND ADD THAT KIND OF A REQUIREMENT IN HERE. I WOULD THINK. FAIR TO SAY, MR. CHAIRMAN.

YES. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED BECAUSE I SAID IN ALL THOSE THEY RECOMMENDED AN OVERSIGHT A CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES. BUT I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM I THINK AND THE COMMITTEE CAN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION IN THEIR OVERSIGHT BUT THAT'S IT.

THEN THEY SEND IT TO COUNCIL AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.

THEY HAVE FINAL CONTROL. WE'RE NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DO HORRIBLE THINGS TO THE CITIES BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE FINAL CONTROL. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MONEY IN THE END I JUST I JUST WANT SOME CLARIFICATION IF YOU DON'T WANT MR. DEVANEY READING HERE 3.2 SECTION 3.2 ON PAGE 265 IT WOULD APPEAR THAT OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE MUNICIPALITIES IF THEY'RE SENT TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE SALES AND USE TAX THEY SUBMIT THE REQUEST TO FUNDING AS IF IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH SO THE BUDGET ORDINANCE PROCESS ANYWAY SO WOULDN'T THAT REVERT BACK TO THE TO THE CONTROL TO THE COUNTY ANYWAY WITH THIS LANGUAGE ALREADY IN HERE I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M READING THAT CORRECT AND I KNOW I SECOND THE LANGUAGE ON THAT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO SECTION THREE, POINT TO A PAGE TO 65 AND OUR MATERIAL I BELIEVE IS A 3.2 AND B IT TALKS ABOUT THE ALLOCATION OF THE FUNDS FOR OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS WHEN IT COMES TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND EVEN PRIOR TO US GETTING IT THE STATE TREASURER IS THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY COLLECTS THE MONEY AND THEN RIGHT NOW AGAIN INSTEAD OF QUARTERLY QUARTERLY TO US. SO THERE'S ALREADY OF LAYERS OF PROTECTION IN PLACE IT LOOKS LIKE IN MY READ OF 3.2 IS 3.2 PLUS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WORKED TOGETHER 3.2 SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE BUDGETING. SO I MEAN WE COULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE SOME MORE LANGUAGE FOR 3.2 AT SECOND READING IF WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE BOTH.

BUT TALKS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET SO I'M NOT SURE THAT'S AS CLEAR AS IT COULD BE IN TERMS OF ALLOCATION FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS HONESTLY FOR THOSE PROJECTS I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PUT THAT THAT'S RIGHT IN SECTION 3.3.2 A YES MA'AM, BUT OKAY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION SO BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE SUMMARIZATION IS THE AMENDMENT WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS THE FINAL SAY FOR THE DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO BE EXPENDED BY THE THE OTHER AGENCIES BESIDES COUNTY IS THAT A GOOD SUMMARIZATION AT THE END EXPENDITURE? YEAH THE AMENDMENT ACTUALLY WOULD APPLY TO ALL EXPENDITURES INCLUDING THE COUNTY SO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL IF IT'S A COUNTY EXPENDITURE OR EXPENDITURE BY A DIFFERENT POLITICAL THERE'S NOT A DISTINCTION DRAWN BETWEEN FOR EXAMPLE CITY EXPENDITURE AND A COUNTY EXPENDITURE SALES TAX REFERENDUM IS A COUNTY REFERENDUM AND THEN IN A CIVIL REFERENDUM. RIGHT EXCUSE ME AND THEN IF THE IF THE SECOND QUESTION THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND QUESTION PAST THOSE ARE GENERAL

[01:25:04]

OKAY. AND THE QUESTION IS YES, MAYBE YOU IT SEEMS FROM WHAT COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW SAID 3.2 DOES THE SAME THING IS WHAT THAT'S WHAT CUNNINGHAM MAYBE AMENDMENT THAT'S WHAT I YEAH I MEAN WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT A LITTLE BIT MORE QUITE HONESTLY I MEAN 3.2 SPECIFICALLY TALKS ABOUT THE BUDGETING SO I WOULD QUESTION WHETHER A PROJECT COULD HAVE THE BUDGET APPROVED BUT THAT THE PROJECT HASN'T BEEN APPROVED YET OR AT LEAST THE PRIORITY THE EXPENDITURE OF THAT FUNDS. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE RIGHT I'D LIKE TO LOOK ABOUT THE AMENDMENT IN THIS AND GIVE A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE SECOND READING IF IF UNLESS THE AMENDMENT WE WE CAN I WOULD LIKE TO TO WITHDRAW YOUR MOTION UNTIL THERE'S A LITTLE FURTHER RESEARCH ON THIS WHETHER 3.2 ACTUALLY ACCOMMODATES WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE THE OTHER THAT WE WANT TO DO IS TO ADD IN THE COMMITTEE WHICH WAS PART PARCEL OF THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED FOR THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE SO THERE STILL WORK TO DO. WE'VE DONE SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF IT ALREADY.

I THINK YOU NEED TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER BECAUSE THIS IS ADOPTING THIS WHICH WILL GO TO COUNTY COUNCIL NEXT MEETING FOR THE FIRST READING OF THIS OR IS THIS THE FIRST READ FOR THIS FIRST READING? THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST READING AND CERTAINLY WE CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES AFTER YOU SEE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED PUT TOGETHER AND CHANGE SO THAT WE HAVE IT ALL AT ONE TIME IF THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO MR. CUNNINGHAM AND THIS IS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DECLINE AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WE JUST APPROVED THIS EARLIER A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO WITH THAT DOCUMENT ALREADY IN THERE IF YOU GUYS BELIEVE THAT THAT DOES SATISFY THAN THAT THAT IT DOES NOT HURT US TO ADD IT AGAIN AND REITERATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS CONTRACT SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THERE CURRENTLY IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING THEN AS REITERATED AGAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CONTRACT TO MAKE IT CLEAR DOES NOT HURT US AT ALL.

YOU ALREADY SUPPORTED IT ONCE WITH IT IN THE CONTRACT OR THE SORRY NOT CONTRACT I WON'T SAY THE ORDINANCE SO ALL WE'RE DOING IS REITERATING IT. THAT'S FINE AT LEAST WHERE IT'S CUT IN THE OPEN AND DISCUSSED HERE PUBLICLY BUT WE JUST APPROVED THIS UNANIMOUSLY WITH THAT ALREADY IN THIS ORDINANCE SO IT'S DOUBLING DOWN ON IT IS MAKING IT CLEAR AND US OWNING UP OUR POSITION ON THIS IN THE PUBLIC SO I DON'T WITHDRAW MY AMENDMENT I THINK IT ACTUALLY STRAIGHTENED STRENGTHENS WHAT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN SO OKAY ALL RIGHT WELL WITHDRAW OKAY SO WE NOW HAVE STILL HAS HIS FOR SOMEBODY ONE TO SECURE THE SECOND ALL RIGHT SO IT'S DUTY MOTION SECONDED SECONDED OH HE'S SECONDARY SO I'M SORRY YOU SIR.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. SO YEAH.

ALL RIGHT WE STILL DULY MOTION DIDN'T SECONDED WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON ON THE AMENDMENT YES THE AMENDMENT IS TO HAVE THIS SPECIFICITY THAT HE STATED DO YOU WANT HIM TO STATE IT AGAIN? NO THAT'S OKAY EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT OKAY IT'S YES YOU WANT THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE? NO YOU BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE IS ALREADY THERE? COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM YES. COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. COUNCILMEMBER YES.

COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER BROWN.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER TAVERNIER YES. COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON YES.

COUNCILMEMBER GLOVER NO. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD NO. VICE CHAIR MCKELLAN YES.

CHAIRMAN PASSIM I'M GOING TO SAY NO. THE MOTION PASSES 38 YES.

THREE NO. OKAY, SO WE'RE BACK THE MOTION AS AMENDED NOW THERE WILL BE FURTHER THINGS THAT WE WILL WANT. OKAY? THE NEXT THING WILL BE DO WE WANT AS A MOTION TO INCLUDE THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE AS REQUESTED BY THE SALES TAX TO MAKE THAT MOTION? AND THAT WAS MS. HOWARDS THAT MOTION YEAH. BUT THEN JUST TO CLARIFY ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE THE TWO THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE COMMITTEE TO HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE

[01:30:03]

IT ALREADY CUT THEM OFF RIGHT. OH MY RIGHT. OKAY ALREADY SECONDED.

YEP SHE MADE THE MOTION OF SECOND MR. BATHROOM YOU MADE THE SECOND.

OKAY WE ALREADY DISCUSSED THE CHANGES, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THE OTHER ONE BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE. OKAY, EVERYBODY CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS A CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE. YES, IT IS A CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE. IT SEEMS LIKE YEAH YEAH THE LAST ONE WELL YEAH AND CAN ASK THAT WHEN THEY CHANGE IT IT'S RED LINES SO WE DON'T WE LOOK AT WHERE THEY MADE THE CHANGES IT'S A LITTLE EASIER. FANTASTIC. YES HIGHLIGHTED THAT YES MA'AM WELL DEFINITELY SO THEY'LL BE AMENDMENTS THE TWO THAT WERE TALKED TO COMMITTEE AND THE TWO THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT ALL OF WHICH WILL BE REVISED. SO YOU CAN SEE THE SECOND RETHINK. OKAY DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING I VOTED NO FOR THIS IN COMMITTEE BUT YES FOR THIS AFTER MR. CUNNINGHAM SAYING THAT WE WON'T BE TAXED UNTIL MAY OF 2025. RIGHT.

AND THE GREENSPACE TAX IS GOING TO GO AWAY. YES.

OKAY. AND YOU ACTUALLY DID VOTE YES AFTER YOU HEARD THAT.

YEAH. OKAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. DULY MOTION AND SECONDED. THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION ARE THEY READY? YES SIR. I DON'T MEAN TO ENTERTAIN BUT PEOPLE MAKING SCHOOL IN YOUR BACK AND HERE WITH ME IS THIS IMPLEMENTATION THIS NEXT HEY THERE ARE OTHER SECTIONS YOU JUST REFERRING TO SECTION SECTION I THINK SO JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE RIGHT. AND IF IT'S INCORRECT WILL WE HAVE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE? OKAY, SO THIS WILL BE APPROVED . OBJECTION.

AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS. OKAY SO NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL WITH THE AMENDMENTS.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR ITEM 12? OH NO WAS MOTION.

WELL I'M SORRY MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION MR. BURNETT MADE THE SECOND NOW WITH THOSE ADAPT OF CHANGES, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR SEEING NO DISCUSSION THIS ITEM 12 WILL BE ADOPTED AS FIRST READING WITH THE ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT WERE MADE.

MR. CHAIRMAN, WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL. YEAH, WE CAN DO ALL RIGHT.

DO ROLL CALL. THIS IS I JUST WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE AMENDMENT FOR THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT. NO, THIS IS NO, NO, NO. THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRE THING WITH THE FOURTH AMENDMENT WITH THE FOUR AMENDMENTS TWO FROM EARLIER TWO FROM THIS ONE.

YEAH SORRY. YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER TABACHNICK YES. COUNCILMEMBER REED NO.

COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON COUNCILMEMBER BROWN YES COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES.

COUNCILMEMBER DODSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER GLOVER YES. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD YES.

VICE CHAIR MCCLELLAN YES. CHAIRMAN PASSMAN YES. THE MOTION PASSES TEN ONE AS CHAIRMAN I HAVE 30 SECONDS. SURE, I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MADE A LOT OF AMENDMENTS BETWEEN THE LAST ONE AND THIS ONE BUT THIS EXACTLY WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD WANT.

THIS IS HEALTHY. THIS IS OPEN DIALOG IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND US TALKING ABOUT IT RIGHT HERE THERE MIGHT BE DISAGREEMENT BUT THIS THIS IS WHAT WORKING GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE. SO WHEN WE WE TALK ABOUT SOMETIMES WE GET CONFUSED ABOUT AMENDMENTS OR WHERE WE'RE AT THAT CAN HAPPEN BUT AT LEAST IT'S BEING DISCUSSED AND THE IDEAS PUTTING OUT THERE INSTEAD OF US JUST BEING A YES PERSON AND MOVING ON GOING OUT ABOUT OUR DAY. SO I SPENT THANKS MR. CHAIRMAN FOR TAKING THE TIME WORKING FOR A RESTAURANT TO GO ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. CORRECT.

SO IT'S GOING TO UP TO THE TAXPAYER AND THE VOTER WHETHER IT PASSES OR NOT SO THAT'S CORRECT. YEAH. SO I JUST WANT MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE OF THE THING I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATION THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR THAT SECOND READING WILL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING. SO THAT WILL BE FEBRUARY I THINK 2012.

[13. RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS LICENSE FEES (FISCAL IMPACT: minimal. In calendar year 2023, Beaufort County received $875.00 in hawkers and peddlers fees)]

[01:35:09]

YES, GOVERNOR WORK. OKAY. DULY AND SECONDED.

[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND 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) Vote at First Reading on January 8, 2024 - 10:1]

[15. RECONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL'S ACTION ON FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE 2% ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND AND FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE 2% ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND]

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I NEED A MOTION AND MR. CHAIRMAN, 15 I THINK THE IDEA IS 15 HAS TO BE REMOVED. NO, 15 NO.

YOU NEED TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO RESCIND COUNCIL'S ACTION AND AND TO BRING FORWARD THAT COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS A TWO PART MOTION AND ONCE THAT'S PASSED THEN YOU GO AHEAD AND GIVE FIRST READING TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEN YOU GO TO 15. OKAY. WHAT HE SAID SO EVERYBODY LET ME TRY TO MAKE THE MOTION. YES. SO IT'S A TWO PART MOTION.

FIRST I MOVE THAT WE RESCIND THE VOTE THAT COUNCIL TOOK ON DECEMBER 11, 2023 IN WHICH WE AWARDED 150,000 TO WORKFORCE HOUSING FROM THE STATE A TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.

SO MY IS TO RESCIND THAT RIGHT AND TO ADD TO THE MOTION WILL BE TO APPROVE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM STATE AID TAX FUND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE A TAX COMMITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOUTH CODE OF LAWS OKAY TABACHNICK MAKES MOTION I HAVE A SECOND TO MAKE THE SECOND MR. BARTHOLOMEW MAKES THE SECOND IT WAS DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I THINK WE OWE AN EXPLANATION OF WHY I CAN GIVE IT OUR MR. CAVANEY WELL IT'S SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS COUNCIL IS LOOKING BACK AT THE ACTION IT TOOK ON DECEMBER 11TH SO IT CAN THEN ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE STATE TAX COMMITTEE AS A SEPARATE ITEM. ITEM 15 A COUNCIL CAN TO APPROPRIATE 10% OF THE STATE AID TAX FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING SO THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. RIGHT. OKAY.

SO ON THE FIRST ONE I PUT ON THERE THAT WE WILL YOU KNOW IT'S A FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION.

I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD BECAUSE I MADE THE MOTION BUT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AND I'M SURE OTHER COUNCILMEN WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN. SO IT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MOTION OKAY SO IT'S DOING MOTION AND SECONDED YOU MAKE YOUR STATEMENT FIRST MR. BARTHOLOMEW YOU MADE THE SECOND . ANY COMMENTS? NO, IT'S JUST MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT. WE JUST GOT TO DO A PROPERTY BY STATE LOAN.

THERE'S A SUFFICIENT HOLD BACK ACCOUNT IN ORDER TO ALLOCATE 150,000 WHILE LEAVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS ALONE. RIGHT. OKAY.

SO FIRST WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE TAX AS IT EXISTS AND WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE A TAX COMMITTEE COMMITTEE TRYING TO GET THAT ON THE FLOOR COUNCIL SO THAT SOMEBODY CAN THEN MAKE A MOTION THROUGH. RIGHT. RIGHT.

OKAY. SO THAT'S APPROVAL OF THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE.

[01:40:06]

IF COUNCIL VOTES TO DO THAT THEN YOU GET A MOTION TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS OF COMMITTEE. CORRECT. OKAY.

SO WE DULY AND SECONDED IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE VOTE SEEING NONE WILL YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE NO. NO I'M GOING TO VOTE YES ON MOTION BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THERE'S GOING TO BE A MOTION. DO WE APPROVE THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND THERE IS MY NOTE. OKAY.

SO OKAY ANYONE ELSE ONE OF THE REASONS MAKE THIS A SO THIS WILL BE UNANIMOUS OKAY SO DULY MOTION SECONDED DISCUSSION IS AND THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION WITHOUT OBJECTION NOW MS. TABERNACLE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE AID TAX FUND AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.

SO THAT'S A BIG SHEET WE ALL GOT. OKAY MOTION ASSESSMENT MOTIONS MR. GLOVER SAID GOING TO OKAY TAB YOU MAKE THE MOTION SO YOU TO SAY SO WHEN YOU WANT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY 642 ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU GO BACK AND LISTEN TO THE FINANCE SPECIAL MEETING YOU'LL HEAR MY OPINIONS ON STATE TAX FUNDS AND I PUT IT ON HERE SO EVERYONE CAN WEIGH IN BUT WILL VOTE AGAINST THIS MOTION. OKAY SO QUESTION MR. MCGOWAN DOES THIS CANCEL THE OBLIGATION WE MADE TO PROVIDE $150,000 THE WORKFORCE DOESN'T KNOW THAT'S A SEPARATE MOTION. IT'S COMING. THAT'S COMING IS A YEAH THAT'S COMING UP 59 OKAY SO WE'RE FULLY FUNDING THE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE DONE BUT FULLY FULLY THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE CORRECT BUT WE ALL FOR MAKING A MOTION THEREAFTER TO FUND THE WORKFORCE HOUSING AT THAT AMOUNT THAT WE REQUESTED ON DECEMBER 11. CORRECT. RIGHT.

YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

AND THE OTHER SIX. YES. WHEN THE COMMITTEE MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THEY FULLY WERE THERE? ONLY THREE MEMBERS OF IT AT THE TIME WHEN THEY MADE THERE WERE THERE'S FIVE MEMBERS ON THE COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER WE APPROVED NEW BUT ONLY FOUR WERE THERE TO INTERVIEW THE APPLICANTS TO REVIEW IT AND SIX OF THE GRANTS ONLY THREE PEOPLE VOTED SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S AND IT'S ALL IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS THEY DID THE LITTLE WRITE UPS WELL I MEAN I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC.

YEAH. MY OTHER QUESTION IS IF WE VOTE NO, WHAT'S THE WHAT'S NEXT STEP IF WE TO THEM ANY OF THESE LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE TO START OVER AND MAKE NEW RECOMMENDATIONS AND RIGHT. OKAY.

ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS I DO BUT I WANT TO YOU KNOW THAT'S FINE .

OKAY, GOOD. WOULD YOU CALL THEM IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OKAY WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER TABACHNICK YES OH NO THIS IS A NO SORRY I WAS DISTRACTED BY MR. LOGUE I VOTE NO SORRY DON'T PUT YOUR CONFUSION ON MR. GLOVER.

THAT'S A NO. OKAY. THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBER READS NO. COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON? YES. COUNCILMEMBER BROWN NO. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM NO.

COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. COUNCILMEMBER DODSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD NO.

NICE TO HEAR MCGOWAN. YES CHAIRMAN PARSONS. YES.

MOTION IS APPROVED SIX YES. FIVE NO NOW 15 A 15 A I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE APPROVED BY TITLE ONLY A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING 15% OF STATE AID TAX FUNDS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE STATE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS. I'LL SECOND THAT DULY MOTIONED

[01:45:02]

SO WE'LL BE MORE THAN $150,000. BUT THE ACCOUNTING DIVISION SUGGESTION IS WE WAIT TO MAKE THAT ALLOCATION UNTIL ALL OUR STATE TAX FUNDS ARE RECEIVED. OKAY.

MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU WERE I'M A GOOD MR. CHAIRMAN. I THINK I'VE SAID ENOUGH TODAY, MISS HOWARD, ONE CLARIFICATION STATE LAW DOES IT SAY AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE? OH, SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS THIS WORKFORCE RIGHT NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO.

RIGHT. WE'RE NOT SPENDING ANY OF IT UNTIL EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. YOU GOT TO DO YOUR IMPACT STUDY ETC. THAT'S OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? EVERY QUESTION GOES TO THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY STRIP PERCENTAGE APPROVED WILL THAT REDUCE THE AMOUNTS THAT WERE GRANTED BY THE COMMITTEE IN THE MOTION? NO NO. THIS IS SEPARATE AND APART THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED AT THE MILLION DOLLARS. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM THAT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL 15%. SO THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FULLY FUNDED AND WE WILL GET 50% OF WHAT AMOUNT WHATEVER IS IS LEFT.

WELL, A MILLION AND A HALF WHATEVER IS LEFT. WELL, THE COMMITTEE HAD $1,000,000 TO WORK WITH BUT WHAT? YEAH, THE MILLION DOLLARS HAS ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED. THERE IS STILL MONEY LEFT. WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WAS COLLECTED. YES.

ONCE WE KNOW HOW MUCH WAS COLLECTED WE WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE 15% OF THAT AMOUNT WHICH COULD MORE THAN $150,000 YOU HAVE SOMETHING IS THAT A FAIR SUMMARIZATION? YES. YEAH. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL OFF WHAT YOU CALL THE ROLL CALL TO MAKE SURE THE COMMITTEE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE BROUGHT THE FORCE THE PROPOSAL THAT ALLOCATED A MILLION NO AND THEN ABOUT $1,000,000.

RIGHT. THAT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. YES, THAT'S ALREADY DONE.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. YES.

THIS IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY GOT THIS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

YEAH. OKAY. NO THANK YOU.

OKAY. ALL OF US SUPPORT MRS. MOTION. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER TABACHNICK YES. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM YES COUNCILMEMBER REED'S NO COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER BROWN YES.

COUNCILMEMBER DODSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. COUNCILMEMBER YES.

COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD YES. VICE CHAIR MCKELLAN YES CHAIRMAN PASSING IT YES.

[16. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE PASSIVE PARKS DEPARTMENT BUSINESS USE POLICY, APPLICATION AND FEE SCHEDULE ]

MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE SECOND DOOLEY MOTION THEN SECONDED IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION JUST THAT THEY DID A GREAT JOB BRINGING THIS BACK UP QUICKLY. RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY BROUGHT FORWARD WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE EASILY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE PUBLIC IS HAPPY WITH IT TOO. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT FOR US.

YOU GUYS DID A GOOD JOB. YEP. OKAY DULY MOTION AND SECOND NO

[17. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBER TMS R600-021-000-0078-0000 AND ALSO KNOWN AS BARRELL LANDING ORR ]

ITEM NUMBER 17 WILL ASK FOR A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TAPS TAX OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY. OH I DON'T WANT TO READ THE TUMOR'S NUMBER KNOWN AS BARROW LANDING OR SINCE MR. GLOVER MADE MOTION 22ND CIRCUIT HOUSE I GUESS THIS HOWARD MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION DIDN'T SECOND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION

[18. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

[01:50:05]

I'M COMING FORWARD TONIGHT BECAUSE OF ALL THE OVER THE BREAK IN OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL FUNERALS IN THIS COMMUNITY YOUNG BABIES TEENAGERS AND WE'RE NOT SEEING THESE YOUNG YOUNG KIDS MAYBE SOMEBODY MAYBE EVEN IN THEIR MAYBE MAYBE EARLY 19 TEENS AND TWENTIES OR WHATEVER. BUT BUT THE POINT IS THIS I'VE SAT HERE WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF EVERY 30 MINUTES TO 15, 20 MINUTES AND I'VE LISTENED TO THE AMOUNT MONEY THAT YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING AND PUTTING IN TO HELP DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND YOU I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE YOUNGER GENERATION BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR OUTLETS TO BE ABLE TO BE IN SAFE. WE HAVE NO MOVIE THEATER ON THE SIDE OF THE BRONX NO SKATING RINK I MEAN YOU BRING IN PLACES FOR THE FOUR TO EAT BUT WHERE WILL THESE KIDS BE ABLE TO GO IN THIS COMMUNITY OR YOUNGER OR A YOUNGER GENERATION AND BE ABLE TO BE FEEL SAFE AND WHEN WILL THE COUNCIL START FOCUSING ON THAT BECAUSE? I DON'T FEEL THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IT AND I'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME THAT AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FOCUS ON I BELIEVE IN THE YOUNG COMMUNITY HERE. YEAH WE GREW AND WE'RE GOING FOR THE RETIREMENT MONEY WE GO FOR CERTAIN AREAS FOR FOR THE THE PLANES THAT COME IN MAKE ALL THAT NOISE THAT WE'RE GO FOR THAT KIND OF STUFF. WE APPRECIATE THE FREEDOMS SO FREE SOMETIMES BUT I'LL BE DAD GOING WE CAN SIT HERE KEEP FORGETTING ABOUT THE YOUNG COMMUNITY WHO LIVE HERE BECAUSE WHAT THEY WANT IS ONE DAY SOON AND VERY SOON THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE SO BE REPLACING OUR SEATS SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE PLACES I MEAN THAT POINT THE CHILD THE CHILD IS ALL OVER HERE IT IS A MINIMUM OF $8,000 WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT NO MORE. IMAGINE IF WE TOOK $500,000 AND PROVIDED SOMETHING FOR THE YOUNG COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE FUNERALS AND STOPPING DID NOT SAY I WILL SEE YOU THERE. I DON'T BUT I'M HERE. THE FACT THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY AFFECT OUR KIDS SO I'M LOOKING I'M FOR KIND OF COUNSEL ONCE AGAIN TO COME FORTH WITH SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY FOCUSING DRIVEN ON THE YOUTH FOR THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE.

WE'RE NOT AND MAKE IT CLEAR I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT YOU'RE MAKING THE FUNDRAISING AND MAKING US GO BUT WE ALL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HOW OUR COMMUNITY MOVES AND HOW WE STRIVE FOR BRINGING IN A LOT OF IT. START WITH THIS COUNCIL SO DO YOU SEE SOME ANSWERS FROM YOU? THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE ADJOURN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.