X.1. Acceptance of the Presentation of the Town of Bluffton FY 2023 Audit by Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance

[X.1. Acceptance of the Presentation of the Town of Bluffton FY 2023 Audit by Mauldin and Jenkins, LLC - Natalie Majorkiewicz, Director of Finance]

GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO SKIP THIS THE TIME. OKAY.

WE'LL JUST MOVE THE FORMAL AGENDA ITEMS ACCEPTANCE OF THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AN AUDIT BY

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MARLIN AND JENKINS. WHAT IS NATALIE? YOU'RE UP.

ANYTHING. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES, WE DID.

WE EARNED THE BUDGET RECOGNITION AND WE ALSO RECEIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION WHICH WAS A GOAL AND WE RECEIVED IT SO IT WAS GREAT AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE AWARDS THAT WE KEEP EARNING AND ACHIEVING FOR THE TOWN SO THANK YOU.

I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 AUDIT MR. TRACE GOT THE MODEL AND JENKINS IS HAPPY TONIGHT. YES MR. SCOTT, YOU'RE NOW ONE OF US YOU'VE BEEN THROWN ON TO SAY I'M NOT SURE EVER BEEN MENTIONED IN PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE.

IF I CAN JUMP IN I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE STAFF THAT HELPED PUT IT TOGETHER.

STEPHEN OUR ACCOUNTING AND RISK MANAGER AND ALL THE THE REST OF THE TEAM WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO HELP PULL IT TOGETHER IT'S WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT THEIR SO GREAT THERE YES IT WORKS. GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL CERTAINLY HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH ALL THIS EVENING AGAIN MY NAME IS TREY SCOTT. I WAS THE PARTNER WHO OVERSAW AUDIT OF THE TOWN'S 2023 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PLEASED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THAT AUDIT REALLY QUICKLY. WHY I'M HERE TODAY JUST GIVE YOU QUICK INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE CHICKENS IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO WE ARE.

GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT YOUR COMPLIANCE REPORTS, YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS GO OVER SOME REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE REALLY QUICKLY ABOUT MAULDIN AND JENKINS.

WE WERE FOUNDED OVER 100 YEARS AGO. WE SERVE OVER 650 GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE SOUTHEAST. DO THAT ACROSS 13 OFFICES IN FIVE STATES AND THE OFFICE THAT SERVES YOU ALL IS OUR CITY OF SAVANNAH OFFICE BUT ENOUGH ABOUT US I THINK OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO YOU ALL IS OUR AUDIT OPINION.

I THINK AS YOU ALL KNOW YOUR YOUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OR YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS YOUR AUDITOR TO EXPRESS OPINIONS ON THAT FINANCIAL INFORMATION BASED ON OUR AUDIT AND WE DO THIS BY FOLLOWING ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS AND GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS AND PLEASED TO REPORT TO YOU ALL TODAY THAT WE ISSUED THE TOWN A CLEAN OR WHAT WE CALL AN UNMODIFIED OPINION AND WHAT THAT BASICALLY MEANS IS THAT YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PRESENT FAIRLY THE FINANCIAL POSITION AND THE RESULTS OF THE TOWN'S OPERATIONS AS OF JUNE 30, 2023 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CLEAN OPINION THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TO YOU AS YOUR AUDITOR ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE A COUPLE OF COMPLIANCE REPORTS. FIRST IS WHAT WE CALL OUR YELLOW BOOK REPORT.

IF WE HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO REPORT TO YOU SIGNIFICANT AUDIT FINDINGS IT WOULD BE REPORTED HERE. SO PLEASED TO REPORT TO YOU ALL AS WELL THAT WE HAD NO AUDIT FINDINGS THIS YEAR AS WELL, NO MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS AND I THINK THAT'S JUST A TESTAMENT TO THE HARD WORK THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT DOES ON A DAILY AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THEY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR. AND I THINK SOMETHING YOU ALL SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF .

THE OTHER REPORT IS A SINGLE AUDIT SO ANY TIME YOU SPEND MORE THAN $750,000 IN FEDERAL GRANT MONEYS YOU'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SINGLE AUDIT OF YOUR MAJOR GRANT PROGRAMS AND WE HAD TO PERFORM A SINGLE AUDIT THIS YEAR AND WISH YOU ALL A CLEAN OPINION ON COMPLIANCE WITH GRANT PROGRAMS SO THAT AGAIN ANOTHER VERY POSITIVE THING TO HEAR AS WELL YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE AWARE BUT YOU ALL GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REQUIRED REPORTING OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND YOU PRESENT AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OR ACT FOR AND IT HAS SOME ADDITIONAL SECTIONS IN IT AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION AND A STATISTICAL SECTION AND IT'S SUBMITTED EACH YEAR FOR THE GIVEAWAYS CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE OF FINANCIAL REPORTING WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE BUDGET AWARD THAT WAS WAS SPOKEN OVER A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND IT TAKES A WHILE TO REVIEW YOUR ACT FIRST SO THEY'LL REVIEW YOUR 2023 ACT FOR BUT YOUR 2022 CERTIFICATE IS INCLUDED IN THERE AND THAT'S THE 15TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR YOU ALL HAVE RECEIVED THAT AWARD. SO THAT'S SOMETHING AGAIN YOU ALL SHOULD BE PRETTY PROUD OF AS WELL. MOVING ON FROM THAT, JUST TAKE A KIND OF A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO THE NUMBERS IN YOUR ACT FOUR YOU PRESENT TWO SETS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS A GOVERNMENT WIDE SET OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TAKE ALL OF YOUR FUNDS, ROLL THEM UP INTO ONE COLUMN KIND OF GIVES YOU A BIG PICTURE VIEW OF THE TOWN AS OF JUNE 30, 2023 AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING HERE AT ON THIS SLIDE.

I'M NOT GOING TO READ THESE NUMBERS TO YOU, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE NET POSITIONS OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR ASSETS AND YOUR LIABILITIES AGAIN ACROSS ALL OF YOUR FUNDS WAS JUST A SHADE UNDER 79 MILLION AND YOU INCREASE THAT NET POSITION THIS YEAR AS WELL SO YOUR REVENUES EXCEEDED YOUR EXPENSES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THAT BOTTOM BULLET POINT BUT I GUESS ONE OF THE MORE COMMON QUESTIONS I GET IS HOW HEALTHY

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WE AND AN AUDIT IS NOT REALLY DESIGNED TO YOU THAT YOU'RE HEALTHY BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN METRICS YOU CAN LOOK AT TO KIND OF GAUGE THAT HEALTH AND ONE OF THE PLACES I LIKE TO LOOK ESPECIALLY AT YOUR GOVERNMENT WIDE LEVEL IS ARE WE REINVESTING IN THE TOWN IS OUR OUR OUR IS OUR CAPITAL ASSET BASE NEWER OR IS IT OLDER WE LET THE THINGS AGE AND WHAT THIS GRAPH SHOWS ME IS THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO REINVEST IN THE TOWN.

YOU'VE GOT A PRETTY YOUNG LOOKING ASSET BASE THE OLDER THE ASSETS WOULD BE OR HOW YOU WOULD DETERMINE THE ASSETS ARE OLDER IS THAT GREEN BAR WOULD BE MUCH CLOSER TO THE HEIGHT OF THE BLUE BAR. SO CERTAINLY THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD LOOKING FIVE YEAR COMPARISON FOR YOUR CAPITAL ASSET ACTIVITY. WE ON FROM YOUR GOVERNMENT WIDE STATEMENTS REMEMBER I SAID YOU HAD TWO SETS OF STATEMENTS YOUR GOVERNMENT LIED AND THEN YOUR FUND LEVEL INFORMATION WHICH YOU'RE MORE APT TO SEE YOU KNOW MAYBE QUARTERLY, MONTHLY AND MORE SPECIFICALLY YOUR GENERAL FUND THAT'S USUALLY KIND OF THE BIG SIBLING FUND OF THE GOVERNMENT AND AGAIN A BUNCH OF NUMBERS ON THE PAGE BUT FUND BALANCE THERE YOUR THIRD BULLET DOWN ABOUT 29.6 MILLION 16.7 MILLION OF THAT IS UNASSIGNED AGAIN NOT THE CASH YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO SPEND. IT'S JUST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. AND THEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH A LITTLE WHILE AGO LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND YOU GOT NINE MONTHS APPROXIMATELY NINE MONTHS OF EXPENDITURES AND FUND BALANCE AND THAT'S UNASSIGNED BALANCE. THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE CONSIDERING WHERE YOU ARE ON THE COAST. YOU'RE A JUNE 30 YEAR END SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE COLLECTING PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS OR SO.

IT WAS FIVE OR SIX MONTHS SO. THAT'S A GOOD HEALTHY PLACE TO BE.

ANOTHER PLACE TO LOOK FOR HEALTH IS LIQUIDITY. MANY TIMES COULD WE PAY OUR CURRENT LIABILITIES OR OUR OUTSTANDING INVOICES OUR PAYROLL? HOW MANY TIMES COULD WE PAY THOSE THINGS WITH THE CURRENT ASSETS LIQUID ASSETS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AT JUNE 30, 2023 YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT ALMOST OR A LITTLE MORE THAN FOUR TIMES. SO THAT'S A VERY LIQUID POSITION AS WELL.

JUST KIND OF LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND GRAPHICALLY VERY GOOD TRENDS.

REVENUES HAVE BEEN INCREASING THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS SINCE THEY'RE LOW IN 2020 COVID YEAR EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN GOING UP AS WELL AND BALANCE CERTAINLY HAS RECOVERED NICELY AS WELL. SO THAT'S A AGAIN A VERY GOOD TRENDING TRENDING GRAPH FOR YOUR GENERAL FUND. JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I'M REQUIRED TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU ALL AGAIN CLEAN OPINION NO AUDIT FINDINGS, NO MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS, THOSE OTHER ITEMS THERE LISTED IN BULLET TWO. WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS THOSE ARE PARTS OF YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THEY'RE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT.

WE HAD NO DIFFICULTIES OR DISAGREEMENTS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF AUDIT, HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE OUR AUDIT AS WELL YOU KNOW THAT YOU GOT A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT GET US WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT AND THAT'S VERY REFRESHING FROM FROM MY STANDPOINT AS AS YOUR AUDITOR ALSO NO UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS. SO ALL WERE POSTED, NO PAST ADJUSTMENTS AND THEN SORT OF MAKE SURE YOU ALL ARE THAT WE'RE INDEPENDENT OF THE TOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE STANDARDS OUR PROFESSION NORMALLY THIS SLIDE IS FULL OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BUT THEY KIND OF GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A REPRIEVE THERE ARE ONLY THREE THAT WE'LL NEED TO IMPLEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND WE'LL WORK WITH WITH FINANCE ON ON THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR IMPLEMENTATION THOSE AND THAT PRETTY MUCH CONCLUDES WHAT I WANTED TO REPORT TO YOU ALL THIS EVENING IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE TOWN AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE READILY. WE WILL BE WELL THANK THAT'S THAT'S ALL GOOD NEWS AND WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT OUR STAFF AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING AS COUNSEL SO HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR YOU'LL SAY SAME THING OR HOW OFTEN DO WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

EVERY YEAR RIGHT. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

SIR. THANK YOU. SO DO WE DO ANYTHING WE HAVE VOTE TO ACCEPT ANYTHING FOR THE VOTE TABULATED? YEAH.

FORMAL YES. VOTE TO ACCEPT THE TABLE IS THERE A MOTION TO? ACCEPT THE PRESENTATION BY LORD AND JENKINS OH IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE FISCAL YEAR TO 2023 AUDIT FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON PRESENTED MODLIN AND JENKINS LLC AND ITS INCLUSION THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING IN JUNE 30TH 2023 OF THAT BOOK NEXT ON HERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHO WAS WAITING ON SHE'S GOING TO HAVE

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TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER ARE WE CLOSE TO SIX TO BE GOOD IT'S 5 TO 1.

WELL I'M PROBABLY GOING TO COUNT MINUTES AT SO YOU PROBABLY SAY SHE CAN DO A

[IX.1. Consideration of Town of Bluffton Needs Assessment for Housing, Public Facilities, and Economic Development – Michelle Knight, Community and Economic Development Director, Lowcountry Council of Governments]

PRESENTATION FOR YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FINAL READING CONSIDERATION OF TOWN OF BLUFFTON NEEDS ASSESSMENT HOUSING PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MICHELLE KNIGHT COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT GOOD EVENING GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.

I APPRECIATE THE TO BE HERE AND TALK TO ALL ABOUT THE TOWN'S NEEDS FOR THE COMING YEAR.

THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR WITH THE PROGRAM OVERALL BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOU AS USUAL WE ALWAYS MAKE STATEMENT DURING OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WE NOT GOING TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PROTECTED CLASSES UNDER THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WE DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AND THAT IF EVER ANYONE TELLS YOU THAT THEY'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THE SALE OR RENTAL OF HOUSING IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION OR PROVISION OF BROKERAGE SERVICES YOU CAN HAVE THEM CALL OUR OFFICE AT 473399 NO NUMBER AND WE CAN TALK TO THOSE PEOPLE AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED ALONG TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION WE CAN DO THAT OR TO THE FAIR HOUSING COMMISSION.

WE CAN DO THAT AND TALK TO THEM AND LEAD THEM THROUGH PROCESS. THE STATE CDBG PROGRAM IS BASICALLY DESIGNED TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN 2020 OR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR PERSON FAMILY WOULD BE ANNUAL INCOME OF LESS THAN $73,450 A YEAR. THAT NUMBER GOES UP AND DOWN BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOME AND IT VARIES FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY DEPENDING ON THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF THE COUNTY THAT SO FOR THIS YEAR WE ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION IN CDBG FUNDS AT THE STATE LEVEL THE PROGRAM STATEMENT THIS ACTUALLY HAS AN END ON THEIR COMMENT PERIOD OF TODAY SO YOU'VE GOT UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY TODAY OR INTO THE EVENING THIS EVENING TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO LISA ROTH AT SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RELATED TO THE PROGRAM STATEMENT AND THE INFORMATION THAT'S IN THIS PRESENTATION THERE ARE THREE BROAD GRANT CATEGORIES FOR CDBG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL AND ON TO THE MEAT OF IT THIS YEAR IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UM THIS IS WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY IS ALMOST 17 MILLION OF THE 20 MILLION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS $9 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THIS IS OUR SPRING ROUND PROJECTS. WE HAVE A MARCH 22ND APPLICATION REQUEST AND A APRIL 22ND FULL REQUEST DEADLINE AND THIS IS WHAT WE CALL OUR WATER SEWER DRAINAGE ROADS SET ASIDE WE HAVE A MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION FOR A PROJECT IN THAT SET ASIDE THE OTHER SET ASIDE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ARE ALL FALL ROUND PROJECTS ARE ARE ALL ROUND SET ASIDES AND THEY ARE LOCAL PRIORITIES WHICH IS WHAT USED TO BE OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS SET ASIDE THIS HAS AN AUGUST REQUEST DEADLINE AND SEPTEMBER APPLICATION DEADLINE AND THIS IS A SMALL SET ASIDE WE CAN SHOP FOR UP TO $300,000 TO DO SMALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TYPOLOGY, TO DO PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH AND

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SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND RESILIENCY AND TO DO PROJECTS THAT WILL PROMOTE NARROWING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THAT'S MAINLY LOOKING AT AREAS WHERE WE LIMITED ACCESS TO INNER INTERNET OR BROADBAND SERVICE INTERNET. OUR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM HAS $7.1 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THAT IS A DOUBLING OF WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE IN THERE AND YOU'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ALONG THAT BECAUSE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROGRAM THAT WE USED TO HAVE THE STATE HAS DECIDED TO DO AWAY WITH SO THERE'S $7.1 MILLION IN THIS SET ASIDE AGAIN IN AUGUST REQUEST IN SEPTEMBER DEADLINE FOR FULL APPLICATION THERE'S THIS SET ASIDE IS DESIGNED TO THINGS LIKE DEMOLITION OF WHITE ELEPHANT BUILDINGS OR BROWNFIELD PROJECTS THAT ARE PUBLICLY OWNED DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE PROJECTS WHERE THERE IS A LARGE INVESTMENT ALREADY IN PLACE PLANNING FOR REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THIS HAS A $50,000 MAXIMUM FOR AN APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT BUILDING OF LIBRARIES PUBLICLY OWNED FACILITIES THAT HAVE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BENEFIT.

SO WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, WORK TOWN HALL OR JUST AN EVENT CENTER OR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT WOULD BE SERVING AN ALMA PURPOSE OR SERVING LMI CLIENTELE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME CLIENTELE. THERE'S ALSO TRANSPORTATION RELATED TYPE PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN DO UNDER THIS HEALTH CLINIC FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT WE ACTUALLY FUNDED THINGS AMBULANCES BEFORE AND EXPANDED SERVICES FOR DIGITAL HEALTH CLINICS THERE CAN BE PUBLIC FACILITY MODIFICATIONS TO MAKE BUILDINGS ACCESSIBLE FOR THE DISABLED IF IT'S A BUILDING THAT IS BENEFITING PRIMARILY A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME GROUP WE DO SIDEWALKS IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS AS WELL. THE MAXIMUM HERE THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR IS $750,000. AND THEN OUR FINAL SET ASIDE IS ARE READY TO GO SET ASIDE THIS HAS $500,000 IN IT SO WE'RE NOT DOING MANY PROJECTS. THE MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT IS $500,000 AND THIS IS BASIC FOR SHOVEL READY PROJECTS THAT CANNOT WAIT TO OUR REGULAR ROUNDS TO THAT WOULD QUALIFY UNDER COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME COMPELLING REASON YOU NEED TO DO THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW AGAIN OUR NATIONAL OBJECTIVES THEY'RE PRIMARILY THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES THAT YOU CAN MEET UNDER THIS PROGRAM ONE IS BENEFIT TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE AND THAT IS WHERE I DARE SAY 90% OF OUR PROJECTS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THAT THAT QUALIFICATION PAID IN THE PREVENTION OF SLUM OR BLIGHT THAT IS WHERE THE BALANCE OF OUR PROJECTS ARE FUNDED.

BUT TYPICALLY UNDER THAT NATIONAL OBJECTIVE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TOWN COUNCIL OR A CITY COUNCIL OR A COUNTY COUNCIL THAT'S WILLING TO IDENTIFY AN AREA AND CALL IT SLUM AND BLIGHT IN ORDER FOR US TO DO THAT. AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS WHAT WE CALL THE URGENT HEALTH SET ASIDE. THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE SOME NATIONAL NATURAL DISASTER THAT'S BEEN DECLARED AND WE COME IN AND WE DO WORK.

WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF PROJECTS LIKE THAT OVER THE YEARS. THE LAST ONE THAT I CAN THINK OF IS DURING COVID IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD THE TORNADOES GO THROUGH WE ACTUALLY DID A DEMOLITION PROJECT IN CLINTON COUNTY, A BUILDING THAT BASICALLY WAS DUE TO THE TORNADOES HALFWAY DOWN ALREADY. SO WE FINISHED DOING THAT WORK WITH A GRANT THE LAST GRANT PROGRAM CATEGORY WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND IN ANY DETAIL IS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

THIS IS WHERE WE PROVIDE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE COULD BE WATER SEWER ROAD TO SERVE AN INDUSTRY LOOKING TO EXPAND OR LOCATE IN OUR AREA AND TYPICALLY THAT INDUSTRY WOULD HAVE A JOB CREATION AND INVESTMENT COMMITMENT THAT THEY HAVE STIPULATED AND WOULD SIGN A

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PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN ORDER TO SECURE THAT FUNDING THE JOBS ARE CREATED THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE TO BE JOBS THAT CAN GO TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TO BE WHAT WE DESCRIBE AS QUALIFYING JOBS WHICH BASICALLY MEAN THAT YOU CAN DO JOB WITH A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND A YEAR'S TRAINING AND THEN REGIONAL PLANNING THERE'S $500,000 THERE THOSE THAT $500,000 IS USED TO GIVE EACH OF THE TEN COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE A $50,000 GRANT FOR CAPACITY BUILDING OUR COMMUNITIES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO WITH YOUR STAFF WHEN THEY HAVE POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT THEY WANT TO LOOK AT APPLYING FOR FUNDING FOR AN WORK ON PROJECT DEVELOPMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FINAL BALANCE THE MONEY THAT SAID ESTIMATED TO COME TO THE STATE IS FOR STATE ADMINISTRATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS OR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS COMPETE IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM CAN RECEIVE BONUS POINTS IF THEY'RE LOCATED IN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR AREA. ANY COMMUNITIES THAT APPLY FOR CDBG FUNDING HAVE NO MORE THAN TWO OPEN GRANTS EXCLUDING A PLANNING OR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GRANT AND NONE OF THEIR OPEN GRANTS CAN BE OVER 30 MONTHS OLD ALSO PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD FOR COMMUNITIES YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT WHICH THAT SEEM TO GO AWAY. WE WON'T HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS ANYMORE YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE READY TO GO PROJECT AND YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE PROJECT IN THE SAME GENERAL PROJECT AREA. SO YOU CAN'T HAVE TWO ACTIVE PROJECTS IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AT ONE TIME AND IN OUR LAST SLIDES OR JUST TO TALK BRIEFLY THE HOME CONSORTIUM AS YOU ALL KNOW LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MANAGES THE COUNTY LOWCOUNTRY REGIONAL CONSORTIUM. THIS IS DIRECT HUD MONEY THAT'S PASSES THROUGH COUNTY TO THE FOUR COUNTY REGION TO ADDRESS HOUSING ISSUES IN THE FOUR COUNTY REGION AND ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES ALL OF OUR COUNTIES, ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REGION PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSORTIUM. THE TOP THREE OBJECTIVES TO THE CONSORTIUM ARE TO REHABILITATE SUBSTANTIAL HUD HOUSING TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY TO ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAY AFFORDABLE AND DECENT, SAFE AND DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BASICALLY. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT BEFORE THE DARFUR COUNTY REGION HAS AREAS THAT ARE IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, REHABILITATION OF SUBSTANDARD HOUSING AND THE NEED WE NEED TO ELIMINATE OR ELIMINATE THE DILAPIDATED AND VACANT HOUSING THAT'S THERE AND REDEVELOP YOU KNOW IS OUR HOUSING STOCK AGES IF WE'RE NOT THE HOUSING STOCK IN THERE BECOMES A GREATER FOR US TO DESIGN NEW HOUSING STOCK THAT WILL SERVE COMMUNITIES WE WOULD ASK IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR NEEDS THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS IN THE BOSTON AREA FOR YOU TO CONTACT US PRIOR TO APRIL 26TH OF THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES AND AT THIS POINT I'D ASK YOU PROBABLY TO CONTACT MYSELF OR TIFFANY DANTZLER OF OFFICE NOW AS WE ARE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD WITH THE HOME CONSORTIUM DUE TO SOME UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN THAT I HAVE NO FORMAL I THINK THAT THE STAFF HAS A MEMO WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR PREVIOUS HAVE BEEN AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT CHANGING RANKINGS DEPENDING ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU RECEIVED I YOU YOU BEFORE BEFORE I GET TO THAT DO WE WANT TO OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FIRST BEFORE I GO DIRECTLY INTO THE PUBLIC HOUSING IS PUBLIC HEARING SO REALLY PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER I IT CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THIRD CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT COMMENT IS CLOSED SO WE'RE GOING TO GO

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HEY READY FOR ME? OKAY SO AS WE'VE DONE IN PREVIOUS YEARS WHAT TOWN ACTION IS NOW IS TO PRIORITIZE THE DIFFERENT NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY NOW THIS IS WHAT WAS PRIORITIZED IN PREVIOUS YEARS 2023 THAT FIRST COLUMN HERE THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY HIGH PRIORITIES BUT WE DO NEED TO PUT THEM IN A PRIORITIZED PRIORITIZED ORDER SHOULD THIS SUFFICE I DO HAVE A MOTION OR WE CAN ADJUST AS NEEDED SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO NEED FROM COUNCIL ACTION THIS EVENING AND AGAIN THIS THIS LIST THAT'S HERE IS WHAT WAS REFLECTED LAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC HEARING CONVERSATION. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR SO AND SPEAKING JUST ON THIS ISSUE AND THEN I HAVE COMMENTS TOO FROM THE SLIDE WHENEVER WE MAKE TIME FOR THAT BUT I PERSONALLY WOULD SAY THAT LOOKING THE NEEDS OF OF OUR RESIDENTS AND WHERE WE ARE I THINK THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONE SHOULD DEFINITELY SAY NUMBER ONE BUT SEEING HOW WELL-RECEIVED THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS IN ADDITION TO HOW MANY PEOPLE STILL NEED ACCESS TO THAT I WOULD WAIT THAT OVER TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY JUST IN THE SENSE OF YOU KNOW OUR APPROACH TO THAT IS MORE OF LIKE A REGIONAL CONCERN THAT WE DON'T HAVE FULL OVER YOU KNOW THE ROADS THAT ARE IMPACTING I.E. LIKE TO 78 WHAT HAVE YOU BUT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER LIKE OUR BUDGET IN BEING ABLE TO PRIORITIZE RESIDENTS WHO CURRENTLY ARE LMI NEED ROOF REPAIRS OR WHATEVER DONE. SO I WOULD SAY THAT HAVING FOLKS WHO LIVE IN BLUFFTON BE ABLE TO STAY IN BLUFFTON AND WORK HERE IS A GREAT PRIORITY WITH THE COST OF HOUSING AND A LACK OF ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY PEOPLE HAVE I'D BE THE ONLY ONE I WOULD I WOULD CHANGE SO YOUR SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO CHANGE SO ONE THREE THREAD AND COMMENT I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH BRIDGETTE. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THOSE TWO GOES HAND IN HAND IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IN-HOME REPAIR MEANS TO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE HERE AT THE TOWN. I HAVE A QUESTION ON SPECIAL VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES OR SPECIAL VALUE THE COMMUNITY AND HOW YOU HOW WOULD YOU GENTEFIED THAT FACILITY YOU KNOW SORRY I THINK WHAT THAT STEMS FROM IS IN PAST YEARS AND I MEAN THERE'S STILL A WAY TO DO IT BUT Y'ALL HAVE SOME STRUCTURE ERRORS THAT ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT SORT OF THING AND AT 1.1 OF OUR SET ASIDES WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO LOOK AT STABILIZATION OF THOSE FACILITIES AS A POTENTIAL PROJECT. THE TROUBLE THAT BLUFFTON IN GENERAL HAS WITH THAT IS THAT BECAUSE THE TOWN IS NOT OVER 51% LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, IT'S HARDER FOR US TO DO THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS WHICH WITH IT BEING AT THE BOTTOM IT BASICALLY SHOWS THAT Y'ALL STILL THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BUT NOT IN YOUR TOP THREE. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PUSH HARDER FOR YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES OR THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD BE MORE FOCUSED ON. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE MENTIONED IN RELATION TO TRANSPORTATION AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, I THINK THAT WAS MORE OF AN IDEA THAT WORKING ON YOUR SIDEWALKS AND WALKABILITY IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT KIND OF THING NOT NECESSARILY LARGER WHICH I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH CONTROL OVER WITH D.O.T. AND THE MPO AND ALL THAT BECAUSE IT'S A REGIONAL APPROACH TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE SHOWED THAT WITH THE CLASSIFY SO WHEN PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT WE CONSIDERED CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE PRIVATE PROPERTY IT WOULD HAVE TO BE

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PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY. I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED ABOUT THAT IN PREVIOUS YEARS WERE EAGLES EAGLES FIELD, THE BALL FIELD, BUCK ISLAND AND BUCK ISLAND SIMMONS VILLE NEIGHBORHOOD WE DISCUSSED THE BALL FIELD OUT THERE AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER STRUCTURE IN OLD TOWN THAT I THINK PAT ALREADY LEFT THAT HE AND I LOOKED AT CAN'T REMEMBER I WON'T CALL IT THE HAYWARD HOUSE AND I THINK I'M ABOUT THE NAME.

I THINK WE HAD LOOKED AT THE QUIAPO HOUSE THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANT DOLLARS.

RIGHT. WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT TOO TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING I WILL SAY THIS JUST JUST IN GENERAL JUST BECAUSE THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY OUT THERE NOW I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALLY NOTICED IT FROM THE SLIDES.

I THINK THERE'S NOT BEEN AS MUCH OF A TWEAK THIS YEAR IS KIND OF A TRANSITION YEAR BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION AND TO FOCUS MORE ON ALL ROUND PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT CDBG IN THE PAST HAS DONE.

I MEAN YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WATER AND SEWER OUT IN YOUR LOAD MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND A OF THAT THING BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT YOU'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SHIFT IN THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I AGREE WITH FRED WHO AGREED WITH BRIDGET WHEN YOU THEN LARRY YEAH GO AHEAD BRIDGET I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION WHEN YOU MENTIONED COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE PORTION IN THE FRONT OF THE PRESENTATION ABOUT LIKE THE SEWER AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WE CAN TAP INTO WHEN IT COMES TO THAT FUNDING IS IT ONLY RELATED TO INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD EXECUTE OR COULD THOSE FUNDS BE USED FOR LIKE ANCILLARY SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN TERMS LMI RESIDENTS WHO WOULD BE LOOKING FOR LIKE A WAIVER TO TAP LIKE A SEWER TO HAVE SEWER ITALIAN IN? WE'VE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED WITH THE ENGINEERING WHEN THE STATE WAS DOWN FOR A MONITORING FROM WHAT ONE OF YOUR CURRENT GRANTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FINISH UP THERE ARE SOME WE KNOW POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO NEVER CONNECTED TO THE SYSTEM AND I THINK THE STATE IS PROBABLY OPEN TO MAYBE DOING A INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT'S FOCUSED ON CONNECTING PEOPLE YOU KNOW, RUNNING THE LATERALS TO THE MAIN LINE THAT'S ALREADY THERE I THINK THERE ARE A FEW PLACES OFF OF THEM I WANT TO SAY OFF OF GROWTH ROAD THAT A FEW SPOTS LIKE THAT LIKE ME AND WAYNE MAYBE IN GRACE LANE OR I MIGHT HAVE THE WRONG STREETS BUT THEY'RE I KNOW I'M AWARE OF THE FACT THERE ARE SOME POCKETS LIKE THAT AND THERE HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION WITH OUR BRANCH MANAGER LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND ARE THEY ARE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN IT. THE QUESTION BECOMES ARE THERE ENOUGH OF THOSE TO GET US OVER THAT $50,000 THRESHOLD TO MAKE AN APPLICATION? SO WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THOSE STRUCTURES AND GO IN AND LOOK, ARE YOU SAYING THEY HAVE BE A $50,000 MINIMUM THE GRANT REQUEST THAT YOU MAKE THE SMALLEST GRANT REQUEST THAT YOU MAKE CAN BE $50,000. OKAY. BUT YOU CAN GO UP TO A IF YOU'VE GOT IT BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'LL HAVE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF LATERALS THAT YOU NEED TO CONNECT. BUT THE QUESTION IS DO YOU HAVE $50,000 WORTH THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT AND THE COST OF TAPPING IN WHICH BEAUFORT JASPER WOULD HAVE TO WAIVE THOSE TAP FEES FOR THOSE PEOPLE THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT, THE ABANDONING OF THE SEPTIC TANKS OR WHATEVER COST IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANY KIND OF IT SHOULDN'T BE MUCH BUT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF ENGINEERING THAT KIND OF THING IF IT WILL TAP YOU OVER THE $50,000 MARK TO BE ABLE TO APPLY. I KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. I KNOW I HAVEN'T DEPARTMENT WILL BE ABLE TO TO RESPOND TO WHERE WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE BUT I ASK THAT QUESTION IN PARTICULAR I'M GLAD KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF LMI RESIDENTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY WHO ARE IN THE PREDICAMENT NOW WHERE ARE ABLE TO BRING IN A STRUCTURE TO THEIR PROPERTY FOR INSTANCE AND YOU KNOW THEY GET KIND OF CAUGHT UP IN NOT BEING ABLE

[01:20:04]

TO AFFORD WHATEVER THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THE SEWER HOOK UP RIGHT AND THEN AND THEN THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE SEWERS AVAILABLE. THEY CAN'T DROP A SEPTIC TANK.

RIGHT. AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DROP A SEPTIC TANK SO IT'S LIKE OH BUT I'M GLAD THAT THE COUNTY DOES HAVE A WAIVER PROGRAM BUT I KNOW THOSE FUNDS TOO ARE LIMITED AS THEY ARE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY NOT JUST THE MUNICIPALITIES.

SO IF THERE WAS ANY WIGGLE ROOM I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THE SCENARIO THAT DESCRIBING THERE IS I MEAN WE CAN CERTAINLY SIT DOWN. I KNOW COLUMBIA'S EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO ACTUALLY COME TO BLUFFTON AND SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ABOUT AND THAT SORT OF THING AND GET SOME FEEDBACK ON SOME IDEAS FOR SOME NEW NEW TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT MAYBE WE COULD DO I THINK ON ITS FACE THE ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE WITH WHAT YOU'VE OUTLINED THERE IS THE FACT THAT THERE'S NOT ALREADY A STRUCTURE THERE PEOPLE THERE BECAUSE WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT A LATERAL PROJECT IS THAT YOU HAVE YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE MISSED FOR WHATEVER REASON EITHER YOU KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GET THAT FAR OR THEY WERE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE ROAD THAN WE THOUGHT.

OR MAYBE IT WAS THE TOWN DOESN'T HAVE A MANDATORY HOOKUP ORDINANCE EVEN THOUGH BEFORE JASPER DOES THAT THEY DON'T ENFORCE IT IN A SO THE PROBLEM THE PROBLEM IN THAT SCENARIO IS THAT THERE PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO BE A STRUCTURE ALREADY THERE BY NOW.

AND ONE LAST QUESTION WHAT THE PUBLIC FACILITIES PORTION THE $750,000 IS THAT EACH MUNICIPALITY IS ABLE TO REQUEST THAT MAXIMUM OR IS THAT FOR ALL OF OUR AID IS AN ELIGIBLE GRANT APPLICANT MEANING ANY MUSIC MUNICIPALITY WITHIN OUR REGION WITH THE EXCEPTION HILTON HEAD BECAUSE THEY'RE AN ENTITLEMENT AREA OR ANY COUNTY IF IT WAS FOR THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF AN INCORPORATED TOWN LIMIT COULD APPLY FOR THAT MONEY BUT IT HAS TO BE FOR A STRUCTURE THAT'S GOING TO SERVE A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME GROUP THE EASIEST I CAN THINK OF TO DESCRIBE OR THE EASIEST GROUP I CAN THINK OF TO DESCRIBE WHERE WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS IF AS A RESULT WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING A FACILITY ASSESSMENT FOR THE TRIPLE-A FOR SENIOR CENTERS IF THERE WAS A NEED AND DEMAND BASED ON WHERE WE HAVE SENIOR CENTERS LOCATED THAT YOU NEEDED TO BUILD ONE IN THIS AREA IF YOU'RE OVER 62 YOU'RE PRESUMED TO BE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. YOU'RE PRESUMED BE ON A FIXED INCOME.

NOW I KNOW THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE BUT YOU'RE PRESUMED TO BE THERE.

SO THAT FACILITY WOULD BE SERVING A LOW TO INCOME CLIENTELE SO YOU COULD PUT THAT MONEY THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE OR THE EXPANSION OF ONE. OUR SHELTERS INCLUDED IN THAT LIKE HOMELESS SHELTERS OR WARMING CENTERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR GUESS HOMELESS WERE MORE SO LIKE TEMPORARY LIKE TRANSIENT OR SHELTERS FOR TRANSIENT RESIDENTS.

I THINK RIGHT NOW THE TO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE NO BECAUSE THEY WOULD SEE THAT IS DUPLICATING THE EFFORT OF ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE BECAUSE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM IN THE STATE SO I THINK THAT PROBABLY I CAN CHECK BUT THE ANSWER WOULD PROBABLY NO ON THAT NOW MAYBE THERE'S SOME WAYS TO LOOK AT THAT IN FUTURE MIGHT BE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IF IT'S MAYBE A FACILITY THAT COUPLES MORE THAN JUST SHELTERING PROGRAMS OR THAT KIND OF THING, I WOULD ENCOURAGE DEFINITELY TO LOOK INTO IT BECAUSE IN OUR COUNTY WE NO SHELTERS AND THE ONE THAT WE DO HAVE AND WE SPOKE EARLIER THEY MOVE FROM HOTELS AND CHURCHES AND THINGS SO IF THERE ARE FUNDS YOUR ALLOCATIONS OUT THERE WOULD BE NICE THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN KIND OF PULL THEIR AND CREATE SOME I WILL SAY THIS THE THE HOME CONSORTIUM WE RECEIVED SOME ARPA FUNDING THAT'S ONE OF THE

[01:25:06]

THINGS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS BUT THEY HAD SO WHILE THERE MAY NOT BE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THIS PROGRAM THE OTHER PROGRAM THE LAST THREE SLIDES ON THAT PROGRAM THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE. I MEAN THE WIND THE ARPA FUNDING FINISH WELL TECHNICALLY I THINK WE'VE TO HAVE IT OBLIGATED I WANT TO SAY 2026 I MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER WINDOW BY WHICH WE CAN EXPAND IT AND WE AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS DONE SOME WORK WITH SOME DEVELOPERS TO UTILIZE OF THAT I THINK YOU'RE MAY RIVER PROJECT AT AGE THREE WE USE THE HOME SOME HOME ARPA MONEY FOR THAT I DON'T THINK IT WAS REGULAR HOME MONEY THE COUNTY YOU KNOW WELL IT MIGHT THAT'S THE HOUSING RIGHT AT THE END OF THE COUNTY WELL IT MIGHT IT TECHNICALLY BE IN THE COUNTY IN THE COUNTY LIMITS BUT I THINK YOU CAN SEE OUTSIDE AS THE TOWN MANAGER'S YEAH WINDOW DAVID BENNETT'S PROPERTY ON THE RIGHT ROAD RIGHT THE APARTMENTS RIGHT ACROSS FROM SHELL FROM WE SOME HOME BUT SHAME ON YOU MEAN I'M BREWIN SORRY BRUIN YEAH I FORGET IT AND EVERYONE AROUND BUT SO THERE MAY THERE BE SOME THINGS TO DO THERE WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT YEAH ONE THING I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN WHEN BRIDGET IS ASKING SOME QUESTIONS YOU'RE YOU MADE THE COMMENT SOMETHING ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY SHELTER THERE'S A THERE IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN OUT THERE FOR YEARS YEARS AND YEARS. I MEAN AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN WORKING IT'S VERY SMALL IT'S VERY SMALL. THEY DO A LOT OF A LOT OF WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HELP SUPPORT THE EXISTING SHELTERS BECAUSE THEY CAN USE THEIR FACILITIES. THEY QUALIFY THE VALUE OF THEIR FACILITIES IS MATCH AND THEN THEY USE THE FUNDING TO HELP, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN THE BUILDING AND PHONE AND AND THAT KIND OF THING. BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME MONEY THROUGH THAT AND THEN THERE'S I WANT TO SAY THERE'S SOME HARP WHICH IS THAT HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS THIS OUT THERE TOO. SO THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM THEIR POSITION HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THINGS THAT DUPLICATE OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE STATE WORK SO THAT HAS BEEN THE POSITION THAT THEY'VE HAD.

WE'VE GONE TO THEM A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS ABOUT TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

YOU KNOW THAT'S YOU KNOW THE IDEA IS THAT YOU THERE FOR 12 TO 18 MONTHS BUT YOU TRANSITION OUT INTO A HOME FROM THERE AND HAVING SERVICES INSIDE THE HOUSING BUT WE'VE BEEN TOLD ALL THAT SEVERAL TIMES THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE TO BE THE CASE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP THERE AS WELL. SO WE LOOK WE LOOK TO YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR NOT A WHOLE LOT CHANGE OTHER THAN THEM TAKING OUT A PROGRAM AND PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO ANOTHER PROGRAM. BUT WE EXPECT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF PROGRAM YEARS THAT THINGS WILL CHANGE CONTINUE TO CHANGE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY DISCUSSION OF IT JUST ONE QUESTION. IT WILL CLARIFY THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SHELTER FUND OR WHATEVER YOU REFERRED TO IT STILL WOULD HAVE TO BE OWNED BY THE TOWN RIGHT? YES, IT WOULDN'T BE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PUBLICLY ABILITY. OKAY.

ANYTHING THAT WANT TO CHANGE SO THE ORDER OF THESE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION AND CHANGE THAT, IF YOU PROBABLY IF YOU'RE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THE LATERAL CONNECTIONS YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUMP YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY UP TO THREE.

I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'VE GOT HOUSING IT AT ONE. YOU KNOW YOUR HOUSING PROJECTS AT ONE OR HOUSING ACTIVITIES AT ONE AND TWO IF YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUMP THAT.

SO SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING IT FOR UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO TAKE THREE TO NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER

[01:30:04]

FOUR TO NUMBER THREE AND I'M I'M SORRY YOU RIGHT NUMBER THREE TO NUMBER TWO AND THEN MOVE FORWARD NUMBER THREE YOU'RE RIGHT THAT MOTION I WILL MAKE IT I MAKE WANT ME TO BE DON'T IF I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE ITEM NUMBER THREE ON OUR LIST OF PRIORITIES RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATE OF HOUSING FOR SAFE AND DRY HOUSING TWO POSITION NUMBER TWO THAT WE MOVE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING WATER AND DRAINAGE OR TO NUMBER THREE IN THAT WE MOVE TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY UNDER THAT POSITION. NUMBER FOUR IN OUR LAST PRIORITY WILL BE RESTORATION PROPERTIES OR FACILITIES OF SPECIAL VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY THINKING AND DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR AND IF I COULD BEFORE WE MOVE ON I KNOW SHE HAS THE SIGN IN SHEET FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE.

IF YOU COULD SIGN IN FOR MICHELLE SO SHE CAN GET CREDIT FOR THIS IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE HERE YOU HAVE RELEASED THIS AT A. OKAY, MOVING ON.

[X.2. Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing an Economic Development Incentive Agreement between the Town of Bluffton and Solomon Property Holdings, LLC in support of the development of 15,000 square feet of a Health & Wellness Facility - Second & Final Reading - Chris Forster, Assistant Town Manager]

WE'VE A CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND SOLOMON PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC IN SUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF 15,000 SQUARE FEET OF A HEALTH AND WELLNESS FACILITY.

SECOND AND FINAL READING MR. CHRIS PASTOR ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

BEFORE I BEGIN SPECIAL RECOGNITION THAT WE GOT FOR THE BUDGET WE HAD THE BUDGET RECOGNITION AND THEN THEY GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL ALL OF THE AREAS WITHIN THE BUDGET AND THE ONE THAT WE GOT WAS FOR THE LONG TERM PLANNING WHICH IS A GREAT FIRST TIME I THINK WE GOT IT FOR THAT SECTION GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

SO KUDOS TO NATALIE HER TEAM AND SPEAKING OF LONG TERM PLANNING AND LOOKING AHEAD I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL KUDOS TO WHAT YOU DID BACK IN SEPTEMBER OCTOBER AND ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE COUNCIL DOES A GREAT JOB OF IDENTIFYING IDENTIFYING NEEDS AND BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO HOW WE CAN REMEDY THOSE THOSE SITUATIONS AND THIS ORDINANCE. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT LOOKING AT THE COMMERCIAL SERVICES NEEDS AS A REMINDER THESE ARE THE TWO AREAS THAT WE ARE TARGETING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM . SOLOMON PROPERTY HOLDINGS WAS OUR VERY FIRST APPLICANT FOR AND WE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM FIRST READING THAT I'LL GO OVER IN A MINUTE AND JUST REMINDER THIS IS WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE A DENTIST'S OFFICE IS THERE TO YOUR LEFT AND THEN THE REMAINING 10,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD BE RESERVED FOR HEALTH CARE RELATED BUSINESS.

A COUPLE OF CHANGES THAT YOU HAD REQUESTED AT THE FIRST READING WAS TO REMOVE THE IMPACT FEES THAT WERE RELATED TO COUNTY AND WE COULD FIND A SUITABLE SUBSTITUTE RELATED FOR THAT THAT COME FROM TOWN RELATED REVENUES. AND SO WE LOOKED AT THE BLUFFTON PROPERTY TAX WHICH WE AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT CHART THERE AND IT CAME OUT TO BE AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT 10,000 MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OVER THE FIVE YEARS BUT TAKING OUT THE COUNTY IMPACT FEES AND INCORPORATING AND IN THE BLUFFTON PROPERTY TAXES THE WHAT WE SHOW IS NET REVENUE OVER THE FIVE YEARS UP TO THE TOWN INCREASES FROM BASICALLY A BREAK EVEN TO ADDED $41,000 TO THE TOWN'S COFFERS SO THIS IS A BETTER REFLECTION OF WHAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY PAY TO THE TOWN WHAT WE CAN OFFER INCENTIVES RELATED TO OUR OWN REVENUE SOURCES. BEFORE I GO TO THE CONCLUDE WITH THE CONTRACT TERMS, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS INFORMATION THIS WAS THE ONLY CHANGE. YES. WELL AND THE NEXT ONE I WILL ALSO ADD THAT WE MET WITH THEM TO REFINE THEIR THEIR JOB NUMBERS.

SO THEY HAD ORIGINALLY PROJECTED 67 POSITIONS FULL TIME POSITIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR. AND SO WE TALKED TO THEM WHAT THEY HAD DONE IN THEIR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IS THEY INCLUDED JOBS RELATED THE CONSTRUCTION FACILITY AS WELL.

SO I TOLD THEM TO STRIP THAT OUT AND JUST GO TO THE JOBS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE BUSINESSES THAT WILL RESIDE THE FACILITY SO THAT YOUR ONE NUMBER OF 63 FULL TIME POSITIONS OR FOUR FOR THOSE THREE BUSINESSES HEALTH CARE RELATED BUSINESSES AND AGAIN

[01:35:04]

THESE ARE HIGHER PAYING JOBS AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE NUMBERS HERE? AND THESE ARE THESE ARE ESTIMATES THE GRANT TERMS ARE ACTUALLY BASED ON PERCENTAGES. SO THE ACTUALS WILL BE BASED ON THE PERCENTAGES BUT THOSE ARE ESTIMATES BASED ON WHAT WE HAD. SO THEY COULD YOU BACK ON THAT ONE TIME QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT AS WELL. SO IF I'M LOOKING AT THE WHOLE THING WE WILL RECEIVE $41,452 FROM THIS ADVENTURE OR DEVELOPMENT OR TECHNICALLY IN THE FIVE YEARS SO IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS RIGHT. SO OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS TECHNICALLY WE WILL TYPICALLY TAKE IN 148,982 AND THEN GRANT BACK AN EQUIVALENT OF 107,500. RIGHT.

SO THEN THAT WOULD BE 41. SO AS I MENTIONED IT'S 15,000 SQUARE FEET OF CLASS A HEALTH AND WELLNESS ESTABLISHED THE GENERAL OPERATION BIBLE FIRST AND COMMIT THE REMAINING 10,000 SQUARE FEET THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN TALKS WITH A PRIMARY CARE OPHTHALMOLOGY RHEUMATOLOGY, MEDICAL SPA ORAL SURGERY SO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY'RE TALKING WITH NO CURRENT COMMITMENTS YET BUT AS PART OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT THEY WOULD COMMIT TO LEASING TO AND WELLNESS RELATED TENANTS THE GRANT WOULD BE PAID ANNUALLY APRIL 1ST WITH PROOF OF PAYMENT OF ALL THEIR FEES AND TAXES AND THE PERCENTAGE BREAKDOWN IS THERE PERMIT FEES DOWN FROM A PIECE OF 50% BEFORE JASPER POSITIVE IS 100% BUSINESS LICENSE 50% OVER FIVE YEARS AND THEN THE BLUFFTON PROPERTY TAX EQUIVALENT TO 50% OVER FIVE YEARS.

ANY FINAL QUESTIONS ANY QUESTIONS WAY YOU COULD FIGURE THIS OUT WHERE IT MADE SENSE YOU KNOW ANYTHING IS THEIR EMOTION AND THEY CAN MAKE A MOTION I'LL MAKE IT MAYOR I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER ENTER INTO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND SOLOMON PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC THEIR SECOND IN FAVOR I SAID THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU CHRIS. GOOD JOB. OKAY.