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[00:00:01]

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY, OUR COUNTY

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH.

UH, WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING? VICE CHAIRMAN MCKELLEN WILL DO THE INVOCATION.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD.

DEAR WISE AND LOVING GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.

WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE ITSELF AND FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH GIVEN US TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES, I ASK THAT WE AS A BODY PROMOTE PEACE, ORDER, AND JUSTICE, AND THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY GRANT THIS ASSEMBLED BODY THE WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS AND ISSUES OF OUR TIMES, TO HAVE A SENSE OF THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS.

HAVE A KEEN THIRST FOR JUSTICE, TO UNDERSTAND AND TO CLEARLY SEE WHAT IS GOOD FITTING AND APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT, AND TO HAVE PERSONAL PEACE IN OUR LIVES AND JOY IN OUR TASKS.

FINALLY, HELP US TO ENSURE OUR DELIBERATIONS HERE TONIGHT BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

UH, THANK YOU FOR COMING, UH, ON A LOUSY NIGHT.

WE DO HAVE EVERYONE ON COUNCIL, ALTHOUGH NOT EVERYONE IS SEATED THERE.

TWO INDIVIDUALS.

MR. REE AND MR. DAWSON ARE ONLINE, BUT ALL COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE HERE, AND SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS. I WOULD ASK A MEMBER OF COUNTY

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

COUNCIL TO MAKE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

SO MOVED.

MR. MCKELLEN MADE THE MOTION A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

MS. BROWN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

NEXT, WE TURN TO OUR

[5. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. ROBINSON, FOR HIS ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN AND COUNSEL.

I'D LIKE TO START THIS EVENING WITH A, WITH A FEW NOTES.

UH, JANUARY 31ST, UH, COUNSEL, UH, CHAIRMAN, MYSELF AND SOME STAFF MEMBERS, UH, TRAVELED TO COLUMBIA TO MEET WITH OUR, UH, LOCAL LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.

UH, WE DIDN'T GET TO MEET WITH ALL OF THEM, BUT MANY OF THEM.

WE, UH, HAD THE, WE HAD SOME, UH, VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS CONCERNING, CONCERNING SOME LOCAL ISSUES AND SOME UP UPCOMING PRIORITIES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

I'D LIKE TO THANK THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION FOR, UH, TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH US.

IT WAS EARLY IN THEIR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

UH, THEY WERE OFFERED SOME GUIDANCE AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OR FOR, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY.

ON FEBRUARY 6TH, BEAUFORT COUNTY HELD OUR COUNTY COUNCIL RETREAT.

UH, THIS WAS FOCUSED ON OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR SHORT AND LONG-TERM GOALS FOR OUR FY 2025 BUDGET YEAR AND BEYOND.

UH, DRAFT REPORTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR COUNCIL'S REVIEW, UH, LATER THIS WEEK.

UH, NEXT WEEK, FEBRUARY 20TH AND 21ST, SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, MYSELF AND SOME STAFF MEMBERS WILL BE, UH, HEADED TO COLUMBIA FOR, UM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT CLASSES, AS WELL AS LEGISLATIVE WEEKS.

SO COUNCIL AND STAFF WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ONCE AGAIN TO THE STATE HOUSE AND MEET OUR LEGISLATORS.

UM, ALSO THIS WEEK WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS IS THE RECIPIENT OF A TAP AWARD.

TAP IS A TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. UM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS APPROVED BEAUFORT COUNTY'S APPLICATION FOR FUNDING, AND THE AMOUNT OF, IT'S ABOUT $1.2 MILLION, 1.77 MILLION FOR THE ALL JOY SIDEWALK PROJECT.

THIS WORK INCLUDES ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ADVERTISING AND HIRING

[00:05:01]

OF DESIGN CONSULTANTS, CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, AS WELL AS, AS WELL AS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE, UH, FUNDING APPLICATION.

UM, THIS, UH, ACCEPTANCE OF THE GRANT WILL COME FORWARD TO COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL IN THE, UM, FOLLOWING WEEKS.

UH, ANOTHER GRANT AWARD IS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION GRANT.

UM, THIS IS, UH, ALMOST $30,000, UH, GRANT AWARD.

THIS IS, UH, TO HELP US REPLACE THE LIGHTED SIGN, THE PANEL, UH, OR REPLACEMENT OF THE PANEL, UH, AT THE HILTON HEAD, BEAUFORT COUNTY'S HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.

UH, THIS WILL ALSO COME TO COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL LATER THIS MONTH FOR APPROVAL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER $30,000 FOR THE STREET SIDE.

SHOULD BE NICE.

ALRIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES FROM THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

UH, JOSHUA? YES.

ALRIGHT.

HOW ARE YOU, JOSHUA? DOING WELL.

ALRIGHT.

SO, JOSHUA HAS, UH, WORKED WITH, CAN YOU SAY YOUR LAST NAME? SDA MURKY.

SDA MURKY.

RIGHT.

I KNEW I WAS GONNA BLISTER IT.

SO , THANKS SO MUCH.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UH, SO JOSHUA HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR, UH, FIVE YEARS.

UH, WITHIN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS, UH, JOSHUA WAS PROMOTED TO THE, UH, DATA ANALYST ROLE, UH, SINCE THEN.

UM, HIS, UM, DAVID CAD SINCE THEN, DAVID SAYS THAT HIS, UM, WORK HAS, HE HAS FLAWLESSLY ASSIM ASSIMILATED INTO HIS NEW ROLE, AND HE'S HELPED TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE OFFICE.

HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING, UM, MONTHLY FILES FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SO DNR, OUR DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND ANNUAL FILES FROM THE COAST GUARD.

SO HE TAKES THESE AND HE PRODUCES, UH, ALL THE FILES NECESSARY FOR TAXES ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, FOR VEHICLES, BOATS, AND BOAT MOTORS AND WHAT ELSE? A LOT OF STUFF.

YES, SIR.

YES.

SO EVERY MONTH IT'S ABOUT 1700 WATERCRAFT AND BETWEEN 13 AND 15,000 MOTOR VEHICLE TAX BILLS EVERY MONTH.

THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.

UM, SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT HIM IS WHEN HE IS NOT WORKING, HE HELPS TO MANAGE A WEBSITE THAT CATALOGS, INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MOVIES.

BIG MOVIE BUS.

YEAH.

.

UM, HE ALSO, UH, RUNS A GAME RELATED, UH, YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL TOO.

I'M SURE ONE OF MY CHILDREN WATCH IT.

JOSHUA ONE.

I GUESS I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, I'M GRATEFUL EVERY DAY TO BE ABLE TO WORK FOR THE COUNTY AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO LEARN, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE SO THAT I CAN BENEFIT THE COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

EXCELLENT.

WAS THERE ANY QUESTIONS NOW? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

UH, WE'RE AT THE CITIZEN'S COMMENTS AND I DID NOT SEE THAT ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THE CITIZEN COMMENTS.

NOT FOR THE FIRST SESSION.

NOT FOR THE FIRST SESSION.

FOR THE SECOND SESSION, YES.

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE

[7. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

ON TO THE LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.

UH, MS. HOWARD, JUST A COUPLE THINGS.

I'VE ATTENDED THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING AND OUR, UH, DRUG AND ALCOHOL, A ABUSE CHAIR.

UM, DIRECTOR BRIEFED THEM AND TALKED ABOUT, UH, HOW WE'RE ALREADY WORKING TOGETHER WITH BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND GOT A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS FROM THEM.

AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE, UH, SINCE WE MET LAST TIME, UH, WERE THE TWO THINGS THAT I'VE PARTICIPATED IN AS A LIAISON.

THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM? , MS. TAB ORNICK.

YEAH.

WHAT A SHOCK.

I KNOW.

YES.

.

SO FIRST, FIRST OF ALL, UM, DISTRICT 5 6 7 8 9 HELD, UH, VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION FORMS ON THE FIFTH AND SEVENTH.

MS. BROWN HAS, UH, ACCOMPANIED ME.

MARIE SMALLS DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING INFORMATION AND I THINK HANDED OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION.

IT WAS NOT WELL ATTENDED, ALTHOUGH WE PUBLISHED IT EVERY WHICH WAY, BUT WE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE, THE WORD OUT.

I DID GO TO THE LAST COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 2ND.

AND WHAT WAS OF NOTE, THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON PLANS GOING FORWARD, AND THE ROOM WAS OVERWHELMED WITH RESIDENTS THAT ATTENDED TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT A FIVE B EXTENSION OF THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY.

AND I THINK TWO PEOPLE SAID THEY LIKED IT, AND PROBABLY THE OTHER A HUNDRED SAID NO.

SO I DIDN'T TAKE A TOTAL POLL.

AND THE THIRD THING IS, A SCHOOL BOARD MET LAST WEEK.

THEY APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR FIELD HOUSE RENOVATIONS AT HILTON HEAD HIGH

[00:10:01]

SCHOOL, 1.2 MILLION.

THAT'S PART OF THE BOND REFERENDUM.

THEY APPROVED A CONTRACT FOR SAFETY SECURITY TECHNOLOGY AND ATHLETIC SCOPE 6.15 MILLION, PART OF THE BOND REFERENDUM.

AND THEY HAD A REPORT FROM THEIR CITIZEN LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH I WAS JUST TELLING MR. CUNNINGHAM ABOUT.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT WITH OUR REFERENDUM.

SO IT'S REALLY A GOOD MODEL.

THEY APPROVED TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS, K 12 FOR LANGUAGE ARTS AND PRESENTED THEIR TENTATIVE CALENDARS FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THIS IS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK ION.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? UM, MS. BROWN, I ATTENDED THE CAPE BEAUFORD COUNTY BEAUTIFUL COMMITTEE MEETING, AND SO DID, UH, UH, MS. HOWARD AS WELL.

AND THEY DRAFT AN AMENDMENT FOR THE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE, WHICH IS, I BELIEVE IT'LL COME THROUGH COMMITTEE.

OH, IT'S GONNA COME TO COMMITTEE.

WE'LL SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEY.

OKAY.

IT GOES TO COMMITTEE FIRST.

WELL, WE'LL SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEYS FIRST AND THEN IT GOES TO, OH, IT'S GOING TO THE ATTORNEY'S FIRST.

OKAY.

I'LL BE, AND I ALSO WANNA PIGGYBACK ON MS. TAVERNA, UM, UH, THE LATS MEETING.

I WAS AMAZED HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOWED UP FOR THAT.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHERE, MY CONSTITUENTS TOO.

MM-HMM.

.

UM, AND ALSO I THINK THE VOTER FORUM THAT WE DID, THE LIBRARY WORKED REALLY WELL.

AND MARIE SMALLS IS WONDERFUL AND SHE, SHE'S STILL A DELIGHTFUL PERSON AND SHE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING REALLY WELL.

I KNOW.

I LEARNED A LOT THINGS I THOUGHT I KNEW.

I DON'T, I DIDN'T.

SO ANYWAY, YEAH, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE FUSION VOTE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, THAT WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THAT IS? IT'S ELIMINATED JANUARY, 2023.

BUT THAT'S WHERE MR. CUNNINGHAM COULD RUN ON THE GREEN PARTY AND ON THE WHATEVER PARTY AND HIS VOTES GET PUT TOGETHER.

IT'S BEEN ELIMINATED IN JANUARY, 2023, BUT I NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

SO WE LEARNED NEW THINGS LISTENING TO MARINE.

RIGHT.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, MR. MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

CAN I JUST TALK ABOUT THE PALMETTO POLICE? YES, PLEASE.

I WENT TO THE FIRST BOARD MEETING THAT I WENT TO LAST WEEK.

AND, UM, TWO THINGS.

ONE, THEY ARE LOOKING AT CREATING A COUPLE MORE ROUTES TO GET WORKERS FROM THE BLUFFTON AREA TO HILTON HEAD.

AND, UH, THE SECOND THING I WANTED TO BRING OUT, ANYBODY LISTENING TO THIS, IF YOU COULD REACH OUT TO ME WITH ISSUES AND THOUGHTS THAT YOU HAVE THAT WOULD HELP US WITH THE PALMETTO BREEZE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

BECAUSE THEY ARE A GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE, HARDWORKING, AND, UH, THEY WANTED TO DO BEST WORK THEY CAN FOR US.

SO LET US KNOW.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. CHAIRMAN, THIS IS CONSTABLE DAWSON.

MR. DAWSON? YEAH, I, I'D JUST LIKE TO REPORT THAT I HELD, UM, THREE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UM, WITH MS. MS. MARIE SMALLS AND HER STAFF COMING OUT AND MAKING THE PRESENTATION.

UM, UM, GIVEN THE DETAIL EXPLANATION OF HOW THE, UH, PRIMARY, UM, VOTER REGISTRATION WORKS.

AND, UM, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, HER AND HER STAFF, THEY ARE PHENOMENAL.

THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.

THE INFORMATION WAS WELL RECEIVED AND OUR TURNOUT IN BOTH, UM, ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE, UM, MORE THAN USUAL, I WOULD SAY.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY.

UM, I WOULD ASK FOR

[8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MS. TABER, I'LL MAKE THE SECOND.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MS. MS. HOWARD DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THE CONSENT AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

ITEM NUMBER

[9. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING 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) Vote at First Reading on January 22, 2024- 10:1]

NINE, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A 2024 TRANSPORTATION, SALES AND USE TAX REFERENDUM.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVED.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM MAKES THE MOTION.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? MR. GLOVER MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND IT, BEFORE I GO TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR INPUT ON THIS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE COMMENTS.

NUMBER ONE, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING US ON TELEVISION, SOME OF YOU MAY BE WONDERING WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME INPUT TONIGHT.

FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISH TO MAKE A COMMENT, UH, WE CERTAINLY WELCOME THAT BEFORE WE THE COUNCIL, MAKE, UH, COMMENTS AND TAKE ACTION ON THE SECOND ONE.

BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT THERE IS A GENTLEMAN IN THE AUDIENCE, MR. DEAN MOSS.

UH, HE WAS THE HEAD OF THE SALES TAX

[00:15:01]

ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED LAST JUNE WITH A CHARGE TO COME FORWARD TO BRING US WHAT THEY THINK SHOULD BE ON A REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER.

WE ACCEPTED THEIR FINDINGS AND INCLUDED THEM IN THE DOCUMENTS.

YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT.

THAT WAS DONE IN JANUARY.

WE HAVE HEARD THE FIRST READING.

WE ARE NOW HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING.

AND I WANNA ENSURE EVERYONE, THIS IS NOT A RUSH TO JUDGMENT.

THIS IS OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN EDUCATE EVERYONE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.

THE OTHER DAY WE HELD A, UM, RETREAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT WAS THIS DOCUMENT HERE.

NOW YOU CAN'T SEE THAT, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I TOLD EVERYBODY IT'S THE YEAR OF THE SEAS.

ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT BE CREATIVE, ALL THE CHALLENGES WE'RE GOING TO FACE, THE CHOICES WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE COOPERATION.

WE HAVE TO DO.

I ALL SURROUND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE WANT HERE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WE WILL HAVE FOR THE FUTURE.

THE REFERENDUM IS A $1.625 BILLION PROJECTS.

PROJECTS.

IT WILL LAST 15 YEARS.

AND SO I NOW ASK MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE HERE IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE MATTER.

ANYONE, MR. MOSS? THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

THERE'S A COUNCIL.

UH, I'M HERE, UH, TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY I CAN.

IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I CAN ANSWER, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

UH, MY MAIN POINT IS TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR TAKING THE MATERIALS WE PROVIDED YOU AND, UH, CRAFTING IT INTO AN OPERATING PLAN.

AND SO, UH, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO ALL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL FOR THIS.

AND I'M AVAILABLE.

UH, IF YOU NEED ME, I WON'T BE LEAVING UNTIL YOU'VE FINISHED WITH THIS ONE, .

WELL DONE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION.

WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

WHEN WE DID THE FIRST READING, THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT WE PUT IN HERE BASED UPON INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THAT WE FELT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN HERE.

I WILL NOW ASK, IS THERE A MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FIRST? MR. CHAIRMAN? MS. HOWARD? I, I MOVE TO AMEND THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO DELETE THE LAST SENTENCE IN SECTION 2.3, WHICH CURRENTLY READS ALL PROCEEDS OF THE SALES AND USE TAX AND ALL PROCEEDS OF ANY BONDS PAYABLE THERE FROM, SHALL BE HELD BY THE COUNTY UNTIL THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE ALLOCATION AND EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS FOR THE PROJECTS OR PORTIONS OF ALL THE PROJECTS AS FURTHER IDENTIFIED HEREIN.

IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL, UH, SECOND THAT FOR DISCUSSION.

ALRIGHT.

IT'S DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE? WELL, SO YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THAT WHOLE PART? THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

BUT THE COUNTY WILL STILL HOLD FUNDS? THAT'S CORRECT.

WHICH JUST WON'T BE APPROVING EVERY PROJECT.

OKAY.

'CAUSE YOU'RE TAKING ALL OF IT OUT.

YES.

OKAY.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I THINK, I DON'T THINK THAT CLAUSE IS NECESSARY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

RIGHT.

BUT THE ADDITION OF THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I, I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF YEAH, I THINK IT TAKES CARE OF IT.

YES.

AND I SPOKE WITH, UH, MAYOR OF FORT ROYAL AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF, UH, THE CITY OF BUFORD'S COUNCIL, AND I HEARD Y'ALL LOUD AND CLEAR, SO REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GOOD PARTNERS IN THIS MOVING FORWARD.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THIS WILL BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE, MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CHAIRMAN, ON THE FIRST READING, I OBJECTED TO IT AND SAID NO.

AND I'M GONNA SAY NO HERE AS WELL FOR THE ORDINANCE? NO.

NOW WE'RE GONNA VOTE.

NOW THIS IS FOR THE AMENDMENT.

OKAY.

UNDERSTOOD.

AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU.

UNDERSTOOD.

OKAY.

THE AMENDMENT WILL BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

AMENDMENT WILL BE REMOVED.

YES, IT'S OKAY.

THAT BEING REMOVED.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, MR. GLOVER? UH,

[00:20:01]

YEAH.

UH, I REALLY WANT A, UH, A DEFINITION ILLEGALLY, UM, ON, I GUESS IT'S, UM, ON A MAJOR PROJECTS IN AMOUNTS AND IS THE LADIES ISLAND CORRIDOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT? $40 MILLION.

AND, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT IMPROVEMENT FROM THE WOODS MEMORIAL BRIDGE TO THE CHOWING CREEK.

AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THAT WORD.

TWO CHOWING CREEK.

UM, IS IT GOING JUST IMPROVEMENT TO, TO THE CREEK OR IS IT GONNA BE THROUGH THE CREEK? .

, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, BECAUSE I, I DON'T, I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME JUST TO THE BRIDGE.

I WANT YOU TO GO THROUGH THE BRIDGE ON THE OTHER SIDE AS WELL.

IS JARED HERE? NO, JARED'S? YEAH, I'M ONLINE.

I'M ONLINE.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

GARY.

YES, SIR.

SO WHAT THE INTENT, WHAT THE INTENT WAS PUT THROUGH THE CHILD IN CREEK OR YOU YOU HAVE IN HERE? YEAH.

YOU, YOU CAN, YOU'RE FREE TO, TO MAKE WHAT A RECOMMENDATION YOU CHOOSE.

I THINK THE INTENT IS TO, UH, TAKE THE 2018 SALES TAX PROJECT THAT WAS FOR LADIES ISLAND AND TO MAKE THAT PROJECT WHOLE.

SO WE USED THE PARAMETERS FROM THE 18 SALES TAX AND AGAIN, JUST ADDED THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO MAKE THAT PROJECT WHOLE.

THAT WAS WHAT WAS, UM, I UNDERSTAND DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMITTEE.

MY, MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS, UM, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE AT THE CHOWING CREEK IS THE, UM, ONE LANE AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT MOVE INTO A THREE LANE.

UH, BECAUSE, UM, A YEAR OR SO AGO WHEN A, A WRECK HAPPENED, IT ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN ST.

HELENA TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A A, AN EMERGENCY LANE THERE.

SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY IMPROVEMENT GOING FORWARD WOULD BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CHOWING CREEK, UM, WHICH WOULD BE CONNECTED TO THE WARSAW ROAD.

YES.

SO AS JARED WAS STATING, UH, IT'S TO FULLY FUND THE 2018 ONCE IN SALES TAX REFERENDUM.

AND IN THAT REFERENDUM, IT DEFINED THE TERMINUS OF WHAT THE ROAD PROJECT IS.

SO THAT'S FROM THE WOODS MEMORIAL BRIDGE TO THE CHOWING CREEK.

AND THEN ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM A POSSIBLE NEW REFERENDUM COULD LOOK AT A FUTURE PROJECT TO WIDEN THE CAUSEWAY.

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO FULLY FUND THE REFERENDUM THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE, AND IT'S A $40 MILLION DEFICIT.

UM, THE COUNCILMAN LEVY, YOUR, YOUR COMMENT, UM, THERE IN THE PROGRAM PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE SALES TAX, UH, FROM THE COMMITTEE, UM, ONE OF THEM, UH, PROVIDES FOR RESILIENCY AND EVACUATION ROUTES.

AND SO THAT TYPE OF PROJECT TO TAKE THAT BRIDGE FROM A TWO LANE SECTION TO A THREE LANE SECTION THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED UNDER THAT PROGRAM.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

OKAY.

OTHER COMMENTS? MR. CUNNINGHAM? THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, ONE I GUESS WOULD BE FOR PROBABLY TOM, QUESTION FOR YOU.

UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAD LAST TIME WAS THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE, THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

WE JUST GET A DEFINITION OF WHAT THEIR JOB WOULD BE FOR US AT THE COUNTY.

WELL, I WORKED ON THAT WITH JEREMY, SO I'M GOING TO, UH, DEFER TO JEREMY ON THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S AS SET FORTH IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORDINANCE.

JEREMY, GOOD EVENING.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK WITH Y'ALL AGAIN.

UM, I, I THINK IT'S WORTH KINDA LOOKING AT THE LANGUAGE IN THE, IN THE ORDINANCE, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL LOOKING AT THE SAME LANGUAGE.

AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, THIS WAS A RECOMMENDATION OF, OF THE PRIOR COMMITTEE TO HAVE, HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, UM, OF, OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS.

SO THIS, THIS CARRIES FORWARD THAT RECOMMENDATION OF A SEVEN MEMBER, UH, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

UM, SO THIS IS 2.15, UM, WHICH IS ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS.

UM, MR. CHAIR THAT YOU, YOU WERE REFERENCING.

UM, AND AGAIN, SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE IS STRAIGHT FROM THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE, OF THE PRIOR COMMITTEE, BUT TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE PROJECTS, UM, DESCRIBED IN THE ORDINANCE, UH, TO GATHER INPUT FROM ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY REGARDING THE GENERAL PROJECTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE SALES AND USE TAX, AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL ON MATTERS RELATED TO THE SALES AND USE TAX, UM, INCLUDING, UH, THE GENERAL PROJECTS AND THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE PROJECTS.

UM, IT THEN SETS FORTH THE SEVEN MEMBERS AND HOW THEY'RE APPOINTED.

UH, I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THAT FOUR FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THREE FROM THE COUNTY.

UM, WHO, UM, EACH MEMBER

[00:25:01]

CAN SERVE TWO TERMS. SO IN THE CASE OF THE INITIAL MEMBERS, THAT WOULD BE SEVEN YEARS FOR THE, THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES AND EIGHT YEARS FOR THE MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVES.

'CAUSE THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES HAVE A SHORTER FIRST TERM.

UM, AND THEN WE DO GO ON TO SET FORTH SOME MORE OF THE, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMITTEE.

UM, IT INCLUDES, UH, ELECTING OFFICERS PRODUCING MINUTES, WHICH ARE TO BE PROVIDED, UM, TO ALL THE PUBLIC BODIES THAT APPOINT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.

SO IT'D BE THE FOUR CITY COUNCILS AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

UM, AND, UM, UM, FILED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOUTH COUNTY FREEDOM INFORMATION ACT AND TO MEET NO LESS THAN, UH, QUARTERLY, BEGINNING THE FIRST QUARTER IN 2025.

SO DOES, DOES THAT ANSWER OR DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS? NO, THAT WAS COUNCILMAN CUNNING WAS PERFECT.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE ADDED IT ON LAST TIME.

IT WAS SORT OF WORKING THROUGH WHEN WE WERE UP HERE THAT WE JUST HAD THE LANGUAGE IN THERE CLEAR AND TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT IT IS UPDATED IN THERE.

UM, THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION.

UH, MY ONLY STATEMENT WOULD BE, UH, MR. BARAL, YOU SAID THAT WE HEARD THE TOWN OF POOR ROYAL AND BEAUFORT, LOUD AND CLEAR.

UM, I JUST HOPE THAT WHEN, IF THIS DOES GET PASSED TO GO ON THE VOTERS, THAT THE EFFORT THAT PUT IN TO VOICE CONCERNS, THE SAME EFFORT IS PUT IN TO GET THIS PASSED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION MR. MR. CHAIRMAN? UM, ONE THING, THIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, HOLD ON.

MR. DAWSON.

GO AHEAD.

THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

I WOULD LIKE THEM TO REPORT OUT TO COUNCIL QUARTERLY.

I DON'T WANT A WRITTEN REPORT.

I WANT THEM TO REPORT, REPORT TO THE PUBLIC, AND I'M SURE THEY WILL.

SIMILAR TO WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES, IT'S VERY POWERFUL WHEN PEOPLE STAND UP AND TALK TO THE PUBLIC.

MM-HMM, .

SO READ REPORT'S FINE, BUT I WANT A VERBAL, I WANT THEM TO COME TO COMMITTEE.

MR. DAWSON? YES.

UM, WHEN THIS, UH, REFERENDUM WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO US, UH, I HAD SOME KEPT SKEPTICISM AND I VOICED MY CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, THE FACT THAT, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIRT ROADS IN THE COUNTY THAT STILL YET HAVE BEEN PAVED COUNTY DIRT ROADS.

AND, UM, I'M TRYING TO GET SOME INSURANCE IN THIS REFERENDUM THAT ACTUALLY THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SUPPORT, UH, US, UM, PAVING ALL THE DIRT ROADS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, UH, I, I I MADE IT CLEAR THAT HERE WE ARE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND, UM, IN THE RURAL PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

WE STILL HAVE YET TODAY WHERE A LOT OF THE RURAL RESIDENTS, UH, TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH, UM, MUDDY, MESSY, FOGGY ROADS DURING RAINY SEASONS, LIKE WHAT WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW.

UM, I'D LIKE, I'D LIKE TO TAKE SOME OF YOU OUT IN MY COMMUNITY TO LOOK AT FRICKEN HAM ROAD TO LOOK AT, UH, BAILEY CIRCLE ROAD.

AND, AND YOU'LL SEE EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND I'M, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS MADE TO THIS, UM, UH, REFERENDUM TODAY.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION, UM, THE, THE TODAY.

BUT ON THE THIRD READING, UNLESS I CAN GET SOME ASSURANCE AND SOME GUARANTEE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THESE DIRT ROADS PAVED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE FOR THIS REFERENDUM.

I I'M NOT GONNA LET THIS REFERENDUM SLIP BY MYSELF AND MR. GLOVER, LIKE WE WERE SHAFTED WITH THE, UH, OPERA MONEY.

AND, AND SO THAT POINT, I WON'T GO INTO ANY DETAILS, BUT TO THAT POINT, I WANNA GUARANTEE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET THESE DIRT ROADS PAVED.

FINALLY.

SO COUNCILMAN DAWSON, UH, CURRENTLY AS PROPOSED THERE IS $50 MILLION SET ASIDE FOR THE DIRT ROAD PAVING PROGRAM.

UH, THAT IS A BUCKET OF FUNDS THAT WE WILL BE USING TO ENHANCE THE DIRT ROADS TO PAVED ROADS.

UH, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THE COUNTY HAS, , JARED, ARE YOU ON? CAN YOU MUTE ? THANK YOU.

UM, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AS A COUNTY IS THOUGH IT'S A COUNTY OWNED, UM, DIRT ROAD, IT'S ESTABLISHING THE, UH, OFFICIAL RIGHT OF WAY.

AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING AHEAD OF OURSELVES ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE 50 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY TO PAVE THE DIRT ROADS.

SO WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM THAT'S WORKING ON THAT THREE YEARS IN ADVANCE OF OUR ACTUAL PAVING PROGRAM.

AND HOPEFULLY YOU'LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT TWICKINGHAM IS IN LINE FOR ITS PAVING, UH, WITHIN THIS YEAR TO THE POINT THAT $50 MILLION IS SET ASIDE FOR DIRT ROAD PAVING.

UH, I ASKED JARED AT THE, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THIS REFERENDUM, UM, WHAT TIMEFRAME, UH, WERE WE LOOKING AT, UM, GETTING ALL THE ROADS PAVED

[00:30:01]

UNDER THE CURRENT, UM, UH, FUNDING THAT WE HAVE? AND, AND, UM, TO JARED'S POINT, IT'S, IT IS GONNA TAKE A WHILE NOW TO SAY THAT $50 MILLION IS GOING TO GET ALL OF 'EM PAVE.

I, I COULD BELIEVE THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

SO IF SOMEONE, JARED, OR, OR WHOEVER THAT WAS THAT WAS SPEAKING THIS NOW CAN SPEAK TO THAT, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO ANNUALLY WE SPEND ABOUT, UH, $3.5 MILLION IN ORDER TO PAVE OUR DIRT ROADS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT THREE TO FOUR ROADS ANNUALLY.

UH, THE, THE FUNDING FOR THAT IS COMING OUT OF OUR TAG FEE, WHICH WAS RECENTLY INCREASED.

SO WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT ABOUT $5 MILLION IN REVENUE ANNUALLY.

SO THE MORE COLLECTION THAT WE HAVE, THE MORE MILES THAT WE CAN PAVE THE DIRT ROAD PROGRAM INSIDE OF THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO EXPEDITE, UM, EXPEDITE THE DIRT ROAD PAVING PROGRAM, BE BEFORE THE THIRD READING IF SOMEONE ON STAFF WOULD PRESENT ME WITH, UM, SOME, UH, EVIDENCE AND, UM, SOME NUMBERS TO SHOW THE NUMBER OF DIRT ROADS STILL YET TO BE PAVED AND THE FUNDING THAT IT, THAT WOULD TAKE TO COVER TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO ACTUALLY GET, GET THE WORK DONE.

YES.

MAKE SURE WE GET THAT TO YOU.

I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

NOT A PROBLEM.

THANK YOU.

MR. CHAIRMAN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES.

MR. RE, UM, DURING THIS PASSED, AFTER THE FIRST READING, I HAD A COUPLE CONSTITUENTS REACH OUT TO ME WITH SOME QUESTIONS THAT I SENT TO MR. ROBINSON AND MR. RELIC.

UM, I TOO, AS COUNCILMAN DAWSON SAID BEFORE THE THIRD READING, WOULD LOVE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU GENTLEMEN ON THOSE TWO, A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT THE CONSTITUENTS GAVE US, UM, BEFORE THAT THIRD READING.

IS THAT FAIR? IS THAT, DO YOU THINK THAT COULD HAPPEN? AND IT WAS ACTUALLY 2.3, UM, PART OF THAT AMENDMENT I BELIEVE THAT LOGAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

BUT AGAIN, I DON'T, I, WITH THIS ZOOM THING UP ON MY SCREEN, I CANNOT CALL THAT UP AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT I HAD SENT TO MR. ROBINSON AND, UM, MR. FICK.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES.

WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, I WANNA GO BACK TO THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

UM, AND THE QUESTION I HAVE HERE IS, IS THAT, UM, THE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE ON THERE FOR THREE YEARS.

EXPLAIN THAT MATH TO ME.

UM, IF WE ARE LOOKING AT A STAGGERED TERM CONCEPT, UM, THREE YEARS, THAT'S SEVEN TO ME.

SO IT SAYS THAT, UM, IN EIGHT YEARS YOU COULD HAVE A NEW WARD COMPLETELY, WHERE IF YOU HAD MORE OF A STAGGERED TERM, YOU HAVE HALF GOING OFF IN TWO YEARS, HALF GOING OFF IN, IN FOUR YEARS.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE THIS THREE COME IN.

SURE.

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE AN ODD NUMBER FOR ME.

SURE, YEAH.

YEAH.

SO THERE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, I, I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THERE WAS MAGIC IN, IN, IN THE FORMULA, AND IT'S NOT A MAGIC FORMULA.

THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS ENOUGH TO GET ITS ARMS AROUND TO IF THE INITIAL TERM WAS TOO SHORT, KIND OF RIGHT WHEN THEY'RE GETTING SOME MOMENTUM, PEOPLE STARTED ROLLING OFF.

'CAUSE ONE POSSIBILITY CERTAINLY COULD BE YOU COULD DO A TWO YEAR INITIAL TERM, UM, OR HAVE PEOPLE KIND OF ROTATE OFF AT THREE DIFFERENT PLACES.

THE THOUGHT WAS THAT LONGER WAS BETTER IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPES OF THE PROJECTS.

SO TO YOUR POINT, UM, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY THE COUNTY WOULD APPOINT THREE PEOPLE FOR THREE YEAR TERMS AND THEN WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REAPPOINT THEM AT THE END OF THREE YEARS FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS OR REAPPOINT NEW PEOPLE.

SO, UM, AND THE MUNICIPALITIES WOULD APPOINT FOUR PEOPLE, UM, ONE EACH FOR FOUR YEAR TERMS FROM THE START.

SO TO YOUR POINT, FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS, IT'D BE THE SAME SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE.

AFTER YEAR THREE, THE COUNTY HAD THE OPTION TO REPLACE ONE OR MORE OF ITS THREE PEOPLE OR CONTINUE FORWARD.

AND THEN THE SAME WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES.

SO, UM, SO YOU, YOU COULD CERTAINLY STAGGER THEM MORE, BUT WE WERE TRYING TO ALSO HAVE FOLKS HAVE, HAVE SOME TIME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE OF WAS WHAT WAS BEING DONE.

SO IN, IN TERMS OF STAGGERED THAT YOU NEVER HAVE ONE YEAR WHERE MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE COULD GO OFF THE COMMITTEE.

SO THE MOST WOULD EITHER BE THREE YEARS, THREE PEOPLE IN SOME YEARS, FOUR PEOPLE IN SOME YEARS, AND THEN NO PEOPLE IN SOME YEARS.

UM, AND, AND WITH A 15 YEAR TERM, IT WOULD ALLOW IF PEOPLE KEPT THE SAME APPOINTEES, UM, YOU COULD, YOU WOULD HAVE KIND OF TWO ROUNDS OF PEOPLE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU'D HAVE AN APPOINTEE IF YOU WERE THE COUNTY FOR THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU DECIDED, AND ANOTHER APPOINTEE FOR THE NEXT EIGHT

[00:35:01]

YEARS, WHICH WOULD TAKE YOU TO YEAR 15.

OKAY.

DOES THAT, BUT YOU COULD, YOU COULD CERTAINLY STAGGER MORE.

NO, NO, JUST I WAS, BUT THAT'S, THAT WAS THE THOUGHT BEHIND IT, YOU KNOW, SO YOU EXPLAINED IT.

I JUST NEVER SAW A THREE IN THE MIDDLE OF STAGGER TERMS THAT WAY.

SO YOU COULD SHORTEN THAT FIRST ONE.

BUT WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE THEM LONG ENOUGH AND THEN WE ALSO HAD TO MAKE A, A CALL ON HOW TO DIVIDE SEVEN.

OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T DIVIDE SEVEN EVENLY.

SO THE COUNTY GAVE ITSELF FEWER REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COMMITTEE SO THAT EACH OF THE MUNICIPALITIES COULD HAVE ONE.

NO, I MEAN, I REALLY LIKE THE WAY, UM, IT'S BEEN, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN HOW THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE WAS ON THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, TWO MUNICIPALITIES HAD A JOINT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE ORIGINAL COMMITTEE.

RIGHT.

BUT, BUT IT RECOMMENDED A SEVEN INSTEAD OF SIX.

IT WAS EVEN, RIGHT? YEAH.

RIGHT.

SO IT ALLOWED FOR TO DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THIS TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A RECOMMENDED SEVEN INSTEAD OF SIX.

OKAY.

DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? YOU EXPLAINED WHY THAT'S IT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

UM, YEAH.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION WE HAVE THAT PULLED UP? UM, VERY FIRST SENTENCE, EXCUSE ME, UH, SAYS CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THAT DOES RESTRICT FOR ANYBODY HOLDING A PUBLIC OFFICE BEING ALLOWED TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE, CORRECT? OR DOES THAT NEED TO BE ADDED? SO, SO IN TERMS OF LIKE CONCERN ABOUT LIKE A DUAL OFFICE HOLDING KIND OF CONCERN, OR FOR EXAMPLE, UM, ONE OF US IS NOT ALLOWED TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ON BLUFFTON TOWN COUNCIL OR HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL, IF THEY HOLD A PUBLIC OFFICE, THEY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM BEING ALLOWED TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.

I, I, I DON'T READ THAT RESTRICTION INTO WHAT'S HERE NOW.

SO I THINK EITHER THAT WAS WHERE MY NEXT THING WAS GOING, RIGHT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT THEN.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT DOES RESTRICT ANYBODY FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE FROM BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE.

I'LL SECOND, I'LL SECOND THAT.

TWO.

YEAH.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED THAT, UM, WE WILL ADD INTO HERE LANGUAGE THAT SAYS A NO MEMBER WHO SITS ON A COUNCIL, EITHER COUNTY TOWN OR CITY COUNCIL SHALL BE APPOINTED TO THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.

IS THAT A FAIR YES SIR.

STATEMENT.

PERFECT.

OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? OBJECTION APPOINTED? NO.

OKAY.

SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION, UM, CAN YOU BRING UP THE TWO GENTLEMEN SO THAT, SO THAT WHEN WE VOTE, GENTLEMEN, DID YOU HEAR AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE, UM, AMENDMENT IS? WE GOT IT.

I HAVE IT, YES.

GOOD.

THIS AMENDMENT WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW HAVE A VOTE ON, UH, THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH IS TO APPROVE THAT SECOND READING THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT WITH THE TWO AMENDMENTS.

MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

DID, DID, DID DID YOU CALL FOR THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT? WE DID.

WE PASSED THE AMENDMENT.

BOTH OF THEM.

OKAY.

WE'RE NOW VOTING WITH THOSE TWO AMENDMENTS INCLUDED.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

OKAY.

UM, THIS, THIS WILL BE APPROVED AT SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE FOR A 2024 TRANSPORTATION AND SALES USE TAX REFERENDUM WITHOUT OBJECTION AS AMENDED.

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA VOTE NO FOR THIS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, PLEASE COUNT.

I JUST ASKED, ARE YOU GOING TO OBJECT? I, I ABSOLUTELY WILL.

THANK YOU.

NO, I OBJECTIONS.

OBJECT AS WELL.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED.

NINE YES TO NO.

NOW WE WILL BE HOLDING A THIRD READING OF THIS HONOR JUST TONIGHT WITH SOME VALIDITY INVOLVED IN READING THE DOCUMENT.

IT WAS, DID WE MEAN THIS? SO I AM GOING TO, UM, PUT TOGETHER A MEETING OF ALL OF THE MUNICIPAL REPRESENTATIVES, OUR LEGAL TEAM, AND CERTAIN MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN

[00:40:01]

THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

THIS IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING, COMPLETE ENTHUSIASM, COMPLETE BUYING IN TO THIS REFERENDUM.

IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

IT IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE AND PLAY HERE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA.

NEXT ITEM IS A PUBLIC

[10. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FIFTEEN PERCENT OF FY24 GROSS STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX REVENUE TO DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING (FISCAL IMPACT: If approved, Council will be appropriating and committing fifteen percent of fiscal FY24’s gross state accommodations tax revenue to the development of workforce housing. The County and Council will need to satisfy, by subsequent action, all the requirements of the South Carolina Code of Laws before these funds are expended)]

HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATELY, 15% OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

24 GROSS STATE ACCOMMODATION TAX REVENUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.

MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

MS. TABER NECK DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND IT.

SARAH.

SARAH, CAN YOU MUTE THE, UH, PARTICIPANTS UP ON THE SCREEN? IT'S NOT LETTING ME BE.

OKAY.

COULD WE ASK THE PEOPLE ON THE SCREEN TO MUTE THEIR MICROPHONES PLEASE? WE'RE GETTING SOME, UH, NOISE COMING IN ON YOUR MICROPHONES.

HE JUST DROPPED OFF.

YEAH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAIRMAN, MR. RATES, LISTEN, I'M GONNA VOTE, BUT I WAS JUST TOLD TO MUTE THAT, SO I'M COMING BACK ON TO LET YOU KNOW I'M GONNA VOTE.

NOTE OF THAT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO OBJECTS? THIS WILL BE APPROVED AS 10 YES.

ONE NO.

ITEM NUMBER 11 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE.

BEFORE YOU GO, UM, COULD I, COULD I ASK MR. MR. RES WHY HE VOTED IN THE, HE'D TELL YOU AFTERWARDS.

I APPRECIATE THAT HE VOTED NO.

YEAH.

OKAY.

YORK ON THAT 15%, I WILL ODDLY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT LATER.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING

[11. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE A-TAX FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE A-TAX COMMITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF SC CODE OF LAWS Vote at First Reading on January 22, 2024- 6:5]

OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE AAX AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE AAX COMMITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.

MR. CHAIR, I'D LIKE TO, UH, WAIT A SECOND.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE.

OKAY.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTIONS.

I'LL SECOND MR. CHAIRMAN, THEN I'M GONNA MESS WITH IT.

YES, MS. TABER AND MR. CUNNINGHAM.

NOW WE JUST WANNA HAVE A LITTLE FUN TODAY.

YES.

NOW YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT.

OKAY.

I'D LIKE TO REFER ITEM NUMBER 11, WHICH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ABOUT THE STATE, A TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUNDS.

I'D LIKE TO REFER IT BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR FULL DISCUSSION OF FUNDING AND AWARDING OF THESE, UM, UH, AMOUNTS BECAUSE WE SHOULD GO THROUGH EVERYONE AND WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.

SO I'M PUSHING, I'M RECOMMENDING IT GOES BACK TO FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD BE FEBRUARY 26TH.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.

DISCUSSION? YES.

UM, I COMMEND THAT AMENDMENT TO HAVE IT GO BACK.

I THINK WE NEED TO FULLY VENT EVERYTHING AND HAVE A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECTS LIKE WE'VE DONE WITH OTHER AT TAX MONEY IN THE PAST.

SO, UM, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.

AND THE OTHER COMMENTS, CHAIRMAN, I'M GONNA VOTE AGAINST THIS.

I THINK WE, UM, WE, WE HAVE COME FORWARD WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND, UH, THESE, UH, GROUPS, UH, BEEN WAITING FOR, THEY WANT TO KNOW SO THEY CAN PLAN.

UM, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY VETTING WHAT THAT WILL SHOW AT THIS TIME.

UM, I THINK COMMITTEE HAS, HAS DONE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE WANT TO ADD SOME OTHER THINGS TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE.

THAT'S ONE THING, BUT, UM, THIS CAME BEFORE US IN DECEMBER.

AND, UM, HERE IT IS IN APRIL, AND I MEAN, UH, NOT APRIL, BUT HERE IT IS FEBRUARY, AND THIS WILL PROBABLY BE DONE, FINISH UP THE THIRD READING BY IN MARCH.

AND I THINK WE NEED OWE IT TO THOSE GROUPS TO LET 'EM KNOW THAT THESE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO I'M GONNA VOTE NO TO THE AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, MR. CUNNINGHAM? THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FINANCES ASPECT OF THIS.

PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING MULTIPLE FUNDS FROM US OR OVER FUNDS THAT THEY ASKED FOR, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

BUT MR. GLOVER, BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO NOT SUPPORT THAT, I WOULD JUST WANNA REMIND YOU, THE LAST VOTE WAS SIX FIVE.

UH, IT BARELY PASSED.

IF THIS GETS REJECTED, THEN THEY WILL NOT GET ANY MONEY WHATSOEVER WHERE AT LEAST THIS GIVES US TIME TO BRING THIS BACK TO US, UM, IN THE FUTURE AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THESE FUNDS IRONED OUT.

BUT THERE IS A, UH, VERY REAL POSSIBILITY THAT IT

[00:45:01]

COULD GET TURNED DOWN TONIGHT ALTOGETHER, AND THEN NONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD SEE ANY FUNDS FROM THAT.

AND IF I COULD TALK ABOUT WHY I PUT THE MOTION, UM, I'VE BEEN DIGGING INTO THIS, THIS COMMITTEE MADE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN NOVEMBER PRIOR TO THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES GRANTING A TAX FUNDS.

NOW, THE OTHER, AS I SHOWED YOU AT THE LAST MEETING, THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE GRANTED FUNDS.

AND I BELIEVE, AS MS. HOWARD SAID, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS IN HERE.

I STARTED LOOKING IN THE DROPBOX.

I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS HERE.

AND REMEMBER, I I'M NOT DISMISSING THE COMMITTEE, THEY DID THEIR JOB.

HOWEVER, THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US AND WE REPRESENT OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND ARE WE SPENDING THIS MONEY IN THE BEST WAY TO BENEFIT THE CONSTITUENTS OF UNINCORPORATED BUFORT COUNTY? THAT IS WHY I ASKED YOU DEFER THIS.

OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? MR. LAWSON? UM, AND I'M ACTUALLY GONNA AGREE WITH, UM, MR. GLOVER.

I MEAN, I THINK IF WE WANT TO CHANGE THINGS, I THINK I MENTIONED THIS LAST TIME WHEN WE FIRST VOTED ON THIS, THAT THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

UM, AND WE'VE HAD SINCE NOVEMBER TO LOOK AT THIS, AND NOW HERE WE ARE BACK LOOKING AT IT AGAIN, SENDING IT BACK TO FINANCE.

UM, MY RECOMMENDATION AGAIN AS MR. GLOVER SAID, WOULD BE TO US MOVE FORWARD LIKE WE'VE DONE FOR THE PAST YEARS.

UH, AND THEN, UM, UH, AND I CAN SAY THAT, UH, WHEN MR. UH, PASSMAN CAME ON AS, AS FINANCE CHAIR, WE MADE CHANGES BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT WAS BEST AND WE KEEP TWEAKING AND MAKING CHANGES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO AGAIN, UM, I WILL VOTE NO TO IT, BUT I'M THE AMENDMENT.

BUT AGAIN, I'M, I'M ALL FOR US MAKING CHANGES IN THE FUTURE FOR THINGS COMING UP.

ANY OTHERS? UH, JUST ONE MORE STATEMENT.

SINCE NOVEMBER, WE HAVE GOTTEN NEW INFORMATION OF MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO THE SCOPE HAS CHANGED BY NEW INFORMATION.

I GENTLEMEN ON THE LINE, ANYTHING? OKAY.

THE AMENDMENT IS TO, UH, REFER THIS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I PROBABLY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THE ROLE ON THIS ONE.

COUNCIL MEMBER TAVER? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER REEDS? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON.

MARK LAWSON? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.

VICE CHAIRMAN.

MCALLEN? YES.

CHAIRMAN PASSMAN? I'M GOING TO SAY YES.

THE MOTION PASSES.

NINE TWO.

OKAY, WE MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER

[12. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (SCDOT) FOR PROPERTY LOCATED UNDER THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY ADJACENT TO THE BROAD CREEK BOAT LANDING PARCEL 552 010 000 0650 0000 (FISCAL IMPACT: N/A)]

12.

FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ALSO KNOWN AS S-C-D-O-T FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED UNDER THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY ADJACENT TO THE BROAD CREEK BOAT.

LANDING A MOTION PLEASE.

SO MOVED.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM.

SECOND JOE, WE, WE JUST VOTED ON THE AMENDMENTS.

WE NOW AMENDMENT.

WE NOW NEED TO VOTE ON THE ACTUAL, BUT THE AMENDMENT WAS TO POSTPONE.

YEAH, THE AMENDMENT WAS POSTPONED.

SO IT'S POSTPONED.

NEVERMIND WE DON'T HAVE TO, UH, MOVE.

EXACTLY.

SORRY.

UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION.

I NEED A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

MS. HOWARD MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION.

DID SECOND IT.

ANY DISCUSSION? JUST REAL QUICK.

IT'S JUST CLEARING UP ITEMS FOR, UH, FAIR USE.

WE CAN'T PURCHASE THE LAND UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE, SO WE ARE GETTING, I BELIEVE IT'S 30 YEARS AT NO COST.

UM, AND JUST PUT THIS OUT THERE FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE ON COUNCIL.

MAYBE IT IS TIME THAT WE SHOULD START DISCUSSING THE OPTIONS OF PINKNEY ISLAND.

AGAIN, THE FUTURE.

I KNOW I BROUGHT THIS UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT AS IRONIC AS IT IS, WE ARE CURRENTLY THERE ANYWAYS, SO MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO.

I'VE RECOMMENDED THIS YEARS AGO TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY DOING THE LAUNCHING, BEING DONE THERE FOR THE FERRY SYSTEM AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE DISCOVERY CENTER FOR HISTORY OF PINCKNEY ISLAND AND FUGE.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOLS, BUT OUR TOURISTS THAT COME HERE.

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. UH CUNNINGHAM.

DID YOU INDICATE THAT THAT WAS A LEASE, UH, A NO COST LEASE, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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

ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE.

ITEM NUMBER 12 IS APPROVED AT FIRST READING.

ITEM NUMBER

[13. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT PLAN FUND GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS FOR THE AMOUNT OF $3,392,328 FOR THE LAUREL BAY ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT (FISCAL IMPACT: The grant is an 80/20 match: 80% from SCDVA and 20% Local Match. The grant award is for a total of $3,392,328 that will be deposited in the 2018 One Cent Transportation Sales Tax account 4705-80-0000-43765 and used for the Laurel Bay Road Pathway project. With a total project cost, plus contingency equaling $4,950,940.79, the County’s match is $1,558,612.79 from account number 4705-80-0000-54500)]

13, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT PLAN FUND GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR THE AMOUNT OF $3,392,328

[00:50:02]

FOR THE LAUREL BAY ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION.

I'LL SECOND IT.

UH, MR. BARAL MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

WE'RE NOW READY FOR AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE HAVE MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION,

[20. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

IS IT, UM, WOULD IT BE PRUDENT FOR US TO HAVE THE CITIZEN COMMENT? UM, I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION SO THEY HAVE TO STAY.

OKAY.

I WAS THINKING THE EXACT SAME THING.

WELL, WE, WE DO HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.

UH, THAT'S DEB SMITH.

UH, WE CAN GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES NOW, MS. SMITH, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE, WE MAY HAVE ITEMS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION ANYWAY, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA HOLD YOU UP ON UNNECESSARILY.

OF COURSE.

I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE DUSKY ISLAND FERRY.

UM, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH A LOT OF THE COUNTY OFFICIALS, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED TO US THAT WE NEED TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND TO DEVELOP SOME FERRY OPTIONS BEYOND WHAT'S, UH, PROVIDED BY THE CURRENT PUBLIC PUBLIC FERRY.

AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT WE DO THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

UH, WE HAVE HAD, UH, THAT WE KNOW OF AT LEAST THREE COMPANIES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN ALSO PROVIDING FERRY SERVICE OR WATER TAXI SERVICES TO FILL THE GAPS THAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOESN'T, UH, UH, DOESN'T PROVIDE.

UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONE, THERE'S ONE COMPANY THAT WANTS TO PROVIDE TWO ROUND TRIPS A DAY TO HILTON HEAD DUSKY IN SAVANNAH.

UH, THIS WOULD BENEFIT NOT JUST DUSKY, BUT HILTON HEAD AS WELL.

UH, ANOTHER WOULD FILL THE, THE GAP THAT, UH, THE TIME OF DAY WHEN THE FERRY DOESN'T RUN IN THE EVENING, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING SO PEOPLE CAN GO OVER TO HILTON HEAD AND HAVE A JOB AND SO FORTH.

BUT ALL OF THESE PROVIDERS HAVE RUN INTO AN OBSTACLE AND THAT SECTION 12 OF THE CONTRACT WITH THE CURRENT FERRY PROVIDER.

THIS IS NEW LANGUAGE.

IT WAS NOT IN THE CONTRACT WITH HAGUE POINT.

AND IT SAYS THE COUNTY COMMITS TO RESTRICT OTHER COMMERCIAL USERS FROM UTILIZING OR OPERATING FROM THE DESIGNATED EMBARKATION SITES.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IT MEANS THAT PINKNEY ISLAND, UH, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, MORE TOURISM SITES WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO THE CURRENT FERRY OPERATOR AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNERS.

UH, IT WOULD MEAN THAT MELROSE'S LANDING, WHICH YOU FOLKS HAVE A LAWSUIT TO, TO TAKE OVER, UH, WOULD ALSO ONLY ALLOW THE CURRENT FERRY OPERATOR AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNERS AND HE CAN BLOCK ANY COMPETITORS NO MATTER HOW LARGE AND HOW SMALL.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS CLAUSE.

WE UNDERSTAND WHY IT BENEFITS THE CONTRACTOR.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT BENEFITS DUSKY ISLAND.

AND, AND I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS BENEFITS THE COUNTY.

UM, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AND HONESTLY IT JUST, IT JUST DOESN'T SMELL VERY GOOD.

MAYBE WE'RE MISSING SOMETHING, BUT RIGHT NOW WE, WE REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

IF THE CURRENT FERRY PROVIDER IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS WITH HIS OPTIONS TO RENEW CONTRACT, WE ALL MAY LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT WE REMEMBER WHEN DUSKYS FRAGILE ECONOMIC SYSTEM COLLAPSED.

THAT WE REMEMBER THAT WE WERE THERE WHEN TOURISM DECREASED, WHEN SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSED, UH, WHEN RESIDENTS LEFT THE ISLAND, UH, WHEN PROPERTY VALUE, UH, AND WHEN THE ISLAND'S WORKING PEOPLE, THE ELDERLY AND LOW INCOME RESIDENTS SUFFERED, UH, SUFFERED.

AND LIFE WAS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT IS FOR NOW.

IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO STAYING THE COURSE WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM WORTH THE PRICE THAT THE DUSKY COMMUNITY IS PAYING AND COULD BE PAYING FOR 15 YEARS? ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT WE HOPE YOU WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE THINK THE SMART THING BY DIS BY SUPPORTING THE DUSKY ISLAND.

THANK YOU.

UM, I WOULD ASK FOR

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

A MOTION AND SECOND TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE FOLLOWING THINGS PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 DASH FOUR 70 A TWO RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WHERE THE ADVICE RELATES TO PENDING CLAIMS OR OTHER MATTERS, UH, COVERED BY ATTORNEY CL UH, ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE THAT WOULD BE COVERED.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 14, UH, RELATING TO PENDING LITIGATION IS ITEM NUMBER 15, HELMSMAN WAY CONDEMNATION.

UH, ITEM 16 IS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE REGARDING HILTON HEAD ISLANDS AIRPORT.

ITEM 17 IS CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND POTENTIAL LITIGATION.

AND ITEM 18 IS MATTERS COVERED BY ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

MAY I

[00:55:01]

HAVE A MOTION FOR THOSE ITEMS? SO MOVE.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

UH, MR. MCKELLEN MADE THE MOTION.

UH, MS. BROWN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED, UH, ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NONE.

WE WILL BE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

THERE MAY BE ITEMS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION IF ANYBODY WANTS TO STAY.

WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.