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CALL THIS, UH, MEETING[1. CALL TO ORDER]
OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR MONDAY, MARCH 11TH, TO ORDER LIKE TO EXTEND TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY, A VERY WARM WELCOME BOTH HERE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING US.THE THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING US ON TELEVISION EXTEND A WARM WELCOME.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION TO BE DELIVERED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GERALD DAWSON, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, FLAG, FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE WORLD.
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU AT THIS PRESENT TIME GIVING YOU THANKS OH GOD, FOR THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY PROVIDED US IN LIFE.
WE PRAY YOUR CONTINUED BLESSING ON ALL OF US.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT ASSEMBLY HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE COUNCIL THAT I'VE GATHERED HERE ON THE DEARS.
WE ACTUALLY, OH GOD, TO BLESS US AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DISPENSING THE BUSINESS THAT COME BEFORE US.
WE ACTUALLY OWE GOD TO GUIDE US IN OUR DELIBERATIONS AND OUR DISCUSSIONS, AND HELP US TO BE MINDFUL THAT EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE, WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT AFFECTS EVEN THE VERY LEAST AMONGST US IN THIS COUNTY.
I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL.
I'LL BE SERVING AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER THIS EVENING IN THE ABSENCE OF OUR CHAIR, JOE PASSMAN, WHO, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE TELEVISION, HAS JOINED US FROM AFAR.
YEAH, I'M TRYING TO BE QUIET,
UM, ITEM NUMBER THREE IS PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
IS THAT CORRECT, MS. PLA? YES, I DO.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO EITHER APPROVE THE AGENDA OR MAKE AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA? MR. CHAIR? I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA AND REQUEST THAT WE MOVE THE SECOND CITIZEN COMMENT UP UNDER THE FIRST, UNDER NUMBER EIGHT, SO THAT IF PEOPLE ARE NOT INCLINED TO STAY FOR THE WHOLE THING, THEY CAN SPEAK AND THEN GO.MR. KEVIN, DO I NEED TWO THIRDS OF JUST MOVING THAT? NO, THIS IS JUST A OKAY.
UH, ANY OBJECTION TO THAT BY ANYONE? NO.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA? I WOULD.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD AN ITEM, UM, TO RESEND AN AMENDMENT OF THE LAST RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
WHICH ITEM? WHICH ITEM? WHICH ITEM IS THAT, THAT YOU'RE ASCENDING? WELL, WHAT ITEM IS IT? IF I COULD, SIR.
I THINK WHAT COUNCILMAN BROWN WANTS TO DO IS TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD AN ITEM TO THIS AGENDA.
AND THAT ITEM WILL BE TO PLACE ON THE AGENDA FOR COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING.
UH, MOTION TO RESCIND OR AMEND THE RESOLUTION, THE LATS RESOLUTION THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED AT ITS LAST MEETING.
EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT I SECOND THAT.
AND SECOND, ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT ADDITION? IT WILL BE HEARING NONE.
IT WILL BE ADDED AS THE LAST ITEM PRIOR TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, DO YOU NEED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED? YEAH.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.
ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS? THE NEW AMENDED AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[5. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
YOU, MR. ROBINSON.UM, IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, STAFF AND I MET WITH, UH, TWO INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY GROUPS FROM DUSSE ISLAND.
UH, THE FIRST DUSSE ISLAND COMMUNITY GROUP MET ON FEBRUARY 16TH.
THE CONVERSATION, UM, WAS IN DISCUSSION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ISLAND SUPPORTED MARITIME SERVICES PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAD A, A VERY GOOD MEETING WHERE WE SHARED A LOT OF INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH.
UH, THE SECOND MEETING WAS JUST LAST WEEK.
WE MET WITH, UH, A RESIDENT GROUP AND SOME MEMBERS OF DFOS ISLAND COUNCIL.
OUR, DISCUSS OUR, THAT DISCUSSION WAS CONCERNING SOME IMPROVEMENT TO EXISTING SERVICES.
UH, BOTH OF THE CONVERSATIONS WERE VERY COLLABORATIVE IN NATURE, UH, WELL RECEIVED BY, UH, BY
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ALL, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY ACCEPTED SOME ACTION ITEMS FROM, FROM EACH OF THOSE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.UM, ALSO LAST WEEK, THE SOUTH CAROLINA EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSOCIATION HELD ITS SOUTH CAROLINA EMS SYMPOSIUM IN MYRTLE BEACH.
UH, THIS IS AN ANNUAL TRAINING THAT'S OFFERED FOR A MS PERSONNEL, UH, FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES, NETWORKING AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW EQUIPMENT, CAPITAL ITEMS IN SUPPORT OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IS, UH, DURING THIS, UM, SYMPOSIUM, UM, HIGH PERFORMING A MS PROFESSIONALS ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED DURING AN AWARDS BANQUET CANDIDATES FOR THESE AWARDS AND NOMINATED BY THEIR, BY THEIR PEERS.
UM, AND THEIR ACTIONS ARE JUDGED BY A PANEL OF EMS PROFESSIONALS, UH, FROM OUTSIDE SOUTH CAROLINA AWARD RECIPIENTS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM, THEIR ACTIONS, WHICH GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.
THIS YEAR, BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS STAFF RECEIVED ALL THREE AWARDS, PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR, ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN OF THE YEAR.
THOSE, AND THESE WERE ALL FOR 2023.
PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR WAS HEATHER JARRELL, THE ADVANCED EMT OR ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN FOR 2023 WAS, UH, JASON SCHROEDER, AND THE EMT OF THE YEAR WAS EDIE SCHROEDER OF 2023.
OF TWO OF THEM YOU'VE ALREADY HAVE, UH, BEEN, HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY COUNCIL.
UH, SO THAT HAPPENED, UH, LAST WEEK.
UH, I'LL BRING THEM FORWARD FOR SOME MORE FORMAL RECOGNITION, UH, WHEN THEY COME IN, BUT I GOT THAT NOTE THIS MORNING.
I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT, THAT YOUR STAFF IS DOING GREAT THINGS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UM, A FEW OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
UM, I, I THINK THAT'S AMAZING.
UH, I'M AT A POINT NOW THAT I'M OF AGE
I JUST, WE NEED TO PAUSE THERE AND JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE THAT RESPECT YOUR HAVING BEEN AN EMERGENCY RESPONDER FOR 23 YEARS, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO PERSONALLY.
UM, THEY, THEY ALWAYS DO A GOOD JOB FOR US.
UM, SO NOW, UM, OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION OF THE EVENING IS, UH, ELENA MILL BRANDAND.
UM, SO ELENA HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, SHE WORKS FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS.
SHE, WHERE'D SHE GO THERE? YOU'RE
UH, SHE WORKS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AIRPORTS.
UM, UH, ELENA, SHE'LL GET YOU
ELENA MANAGES, UH, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES AND ISSUES PURCHASE ORDERS BASED ON PROJECT CRITERIA, UH, FOR VENDOR DETAILS.
SO SHE DOES THIS FOR BOTH AIRPORTS.
OUR HILTON HEAD AIRPORT AND BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
UM, SHE ACTS AS THE LIAISON BETWEEN BEAUFORT COUNTY PROCUREMENT ON BEHALF OF THE AIRPORTS.
SO ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT GO ON, ELENA MAKES SURE THAT ALL THE DOCUMENTATION IS DONE PROPERLY, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT THAT PROCESS IS.
UM, SHE GENERATES MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, UH, AIRPORT ACCOUNT RECONCILIATION.
SHE ALSO ASSISTS WITH MONTHLY AND ANNUAL GRANT REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE.
UH, ELENA REGULARLY COMMUNICATES WITH VENDORS, UH, TENANTS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE COMPLY WITH AND SUBMIT MONTHLY MARKET SHARE REPORTS BASED ON TENANT INFORMATION.
A FEW YEARS AGO, ELENA AND HER DAUGHTER CHAMPIONED THE INSTALLATION OF CHESS TABLES IN HILTON HEADS PARKS.
HER DAUGHTER, UM, DID A PERS PER, UH,
WHAT, WHICH WAS WELL RECEIVED BY OFFICIALS AND LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL INSTALLATION OF CHEST TABLES IN SHELTER COVES, UH, ON HILTON HEAD.
ELENA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK MY, UM, MY DIRECT SUPERVISOR, UM, THE FINANCE MANAGER, BRIAN CRONIN, UM, WHO HAS BEEN AN AMAZING SUPERVISOR, AND, UM, ALSO TO, UM, THE AIRPORTS DIRECTOR, JOHN RAMBLE, AND HIS DEPUTY STEVE PERRY.
UM, UNDER BRIAN'S SUPERVISION, MY, UM, THE FINANCE MANAGER, I'VE GROWN A LOT.
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ALSO, WITH US THIS EVENING IS A, UM, 13 YEAR VETERAN OF OUR BUILDING CODES DEPARTMENT, CINDY COAN.
CINDY IS THE OFFICE MANAGER FOR BUILDING CODES.
UH, SHE HELPS TO MANAGE THE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, BILLING AND ASSIST WITH PERMIT PROCESSING.
UH, SHE MANAGES, UM, OFFICE SUPPLIES, UH, EMPLOYEES TIME SHEETS, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL EMPLOYEES, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
UH, CINDY LIVES ON A SMALL FARM AND SHE ENJOYS TAKING CARE OF HER HORSES.
CINDY, YOU'RE WELCOME TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.
UM, I'VE ACTUALLY ONLY BEEN WITH BUILDING CODES THREE YEARS, BUT I'VE BEEN WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER BEFORE I TRANSFERRED OVER, SO YEAH, THANK YOU.
BUT, UM, I DO REALLY ENJOY WORKING AT BUILDING CODES, HAVE A LOT OF GREAT NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS, SO, BUT THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, MR. BROWN, THAT'S YOUR TURN.
SO IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU TONIGHT OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, MR. ERIC BROWN.
SO I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HIM, AND THEN I'LL LET HIM TELL YOU ABOUT HIM.
MR. BROWN WAS AMONG 45 APPLICATIONS.
HE QUICKLY ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE SELECTION PROCESS DUE TO HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WITH PARK PROGRAMS AND HIS OUTSTANDING HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE.
MR. BROWN COMES TO US FROM SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE HE SPENT MORE THAN 35 YEARS WORKING FOR THE CITIES OF HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA, AND DANIA BEACH IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.
HE'S HIGHLY MOTIVATED, CREATIVE, AND WELL EQUIPPED WITH EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITIES.
HE GENUINELY LIKES WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND HE EMPHASIZES DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CUSTOMERS AND COLLEAGUES.
HE'S A NATIVE OF, OF HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA, AND HAPPILY MARRIED TO HIS WIFE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
UH, HE'S A FATHER OF TWO ADULT DAUGHTERS, PRECIOUS AND ERICA.
UH, HE BELIEVES THAT, UM, COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS MUST CONSISTENTLY ENDEAVOR TO PERFORM TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, TO HAVE INTEGRITY, TO CREATE STREAMLINED APPROACHES TO RESOLVING PROBLEMS, AND DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WHEN BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNTY BEGAN THIS, UH, THIS SEARCH PROCESS, UM, MR. UH, EDMONDSON AND MR. DALE BUTTS BOTH, UH, HEADED UP THIS PROJECT, I ASKED THEM BOTH TO FIND A LEADER.
I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
I BELIEVE THAT I'M CONFIDENT THAT THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB, AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY'VE MADE AN EXCEPTIONAL CHOICE WITH MR. BROWN.
ERIC BROWN, PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, I AM A NATIVE OF SOUTH FLORIDA.
MY PARENTS, MY MOM IS FROM CHARLESTON, SO SHE'S GULLAH.
AND, UM, SO SHE WAS EXCITED WHEN I CALLED HER TO GIVE HER THE NEWS THAT I'LL BE WORKING IN A STATE WHERE SHE ACTUALLY GREW UP.
UM, I WORKED IN PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE.
UM, MY FIRST YEAR HOME FROM COLLEGE, MY LITTLE LEAGUE COACH, UM, OFFERED ME A JOB AS A COUNSELOR.
AND MY WORDS TO HIM WAS, YOU'RE GONNA PAY ME TO PLAY
AND, UH, I'VE BEEN PLAYING EVER SINCE.
AND I, I LOVE PARKS AND RECREATION.
I WOULDN'T HAVE IT NO OTHER WAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF THE ADVENTURES THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING FORTH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE GREAT STAFF.
UM, ONE MORE THING, AND I'LL SIT DOWN.
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I WAS AN UNDERCOVER BOSS FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND, UM, WE GOT A GREAT STAFF AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.I'VE FIRST STEPPED DOWN HERE, UH, TO, UM, BECOME THE MASTER OF CEREMONIES FOR SOME PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPEND A WARM WELCOME TO YOU, ERIC, AND, UH, WELCOME YOU TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY FAMILY.
UM, I'M GLAD YOU'VE COME HOME.
YOUR MOM'S VERY HAPPY,
SO WELCOME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE HAVE SOME PROCLAMATIONS TO GIVE THIS EVENING.
A PROCLAMATION IS ALWAYS A RECOGNITION TO, UM, A GROUP OR TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERFORMED AN EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE HERE IN THE COUNTY, UH, WHO HAVE MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTY.
AND WE HAVE TWO PROCLAMATIONS TONIGHT.
[6. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH - Vice Chair Lawrence McElynn]
THE FIRST OF THESE IS, UM, A PROCLAMATION TO THE, UM, UH, SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES, UH, BRANCH OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.ARE THE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT WHO WOULD COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THIS? HI, HOW ARE YOU? HI.
OKAY, COME ON OVER HERE AND I'M GONNA READ THIS.
WHEREAS MORE THAN 500,000 SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE IMPACTED BY SEVERE LIFELONG DISABILITIES, INCLUDING AUTISM, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, SPINAL CORD INJURY, AND INTELLECTUAL RELATED DISABILITY WITHOUT REGARD TO COLOR, CULTURE, GEOGRAPHY, AGE, OR ECONOMIC CLASS.
WHEREAS PEOPLE WITH LIFELONG DISABILITIES ARE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS DESERVING OF RESPECT AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY, INDEPENDENCE, AND PERSONAL GROWTH.
AND WHEREAS WE RECOGNIZE WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION, THE CAREGIVERS WHO SELFLESSLY PROVIDE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO BEAUFORT COUNTY'S RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS THE 2023 OBSERVANCE OF DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH CELEBRATES THE SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WITHOUT, AS WELL AS THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH OF 2024 AS DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH WITH OUR CONGRATULATIONS FOR A JOB WELL DONE BY THIS BRANCH OF BUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
HI, I'M LYNN RUSSO, AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS ADVISORY BOARD.
AND UNTIL I GOT INVOLVED WITH THEM, I HAD NO IDEA HOW PHENOMENAL THE EMPLOYEES ARE AND WHAT THEY DO.
WE LITERALLY HAVE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS UNDER THEIR CARE WITH, UH, DOWN SYNDROME, UH, AUTISM, AND THEY ARE SO KIND AND THEY GIVE OF THEMSELVES.
AND I THINK EVERYBODY HERE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A REMARKABLE STAFF IS WORKING THERE AND APPRECIATE THEM.
AND I KNOW HAVING THIS PROCLAMATION IS GOING TO MEAN A LOT TO THEM TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS.
YOU HOLD IT SINCE YOU'VE EARNED IT.
[7. PROCLAMATION HONORING FRED E. LEYDA - Council Member Alice Howard]
PROCLAMATION IS FOR A RETIRING MEMBER OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, GOVERNMENT.THAT'S FRED LIDER, WHO IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
I'M SURE I HAVEN'T LOOKED AROUND.
UH, ALICE HOWARD IS GOING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION, SO IF YOU WANNA COME UP HERE AND JOIN HER, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
I SAID, IF WE DON'T READ THE PROCLAMATION, HE CAN'T RETIRE.
WHEREAS FRED E LDA BECAME HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN AUGUST OF 1996, AS A FACILITATOR OF THE COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION OF SERVICES FOR YOUTH.
AND WHEREAS SINCE AUGUST OF 2009, MR. LYDA HAS SERVED AS A COUNTY'S DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES, A ROLE THAT SAW HIS LEADERSHIP ENHANCE PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES, COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR VULNERABLE USE, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSECURITY,
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AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM, SUPPORTING NONPROFIT PARTNERS.AND WHEREAS MR. LEIDA WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK KNOWN AS TOGETHER FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS MR. LYDA FACILITATED THE COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION OF OVER 20 COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY WORK GROUPS THROUGHOUT ALL THE GEOGRAPHIES OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, REPRESENTING DOZENS OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND CROSS SECTION, UM, AGENCIES AND HUNDREDS OF PARTNERS, VOLUNTEERS, STAKEHOLDERS, AND PRIVATE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS MR. LIDA HAS BEEN A COUNTYWIDE LEADER IN COMMUNITY SERVICES WITH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS DURING HIS 28 YEARS OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, MR. LIDAR HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY WORKING WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND ITS AGENCIES, AND HELPING TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE RESOLVED.
THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY WISHES TO HONOR FRED E FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENT, SUCCESS, AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL HE HAS BEEN WITH US FOR ALL THESE YEARS.
UM, I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS WITHOUT CRYING
30 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO NAME EVERYONE WHO'S BEEN INVOLVED, BUT I GOTTA ACKNOWLEDGE MY TEAM, BEN BOSWELL, ANNA RAMIREZ, AND CONNIE SCHROER, THE DREAM TEAM, UM, AND ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH ALL THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, MORRIS AND FRED AND ANDREA, WHO I DIDN'T SEE HER HERE TODAY, BUT, UM, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, I CAN'T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, I, ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME, EVEN PERIPHERALLY, HAS FIGURED OUT THAT MY FAITH IS A BIG PART OF MY LIFE AND I'M BLESSED THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED MY CAREER TO BE A MINISTRY AND I CAN ACTUALLY DO WHAT I LOVE TO DO AND GET PAID FOR.
IT HAS JUST BEEN A, AN AMAZING HONOR AND A BLESSING THAT I HAVE TO GIVE THE PRAISE TO THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF ALL THINGS.
WHO HAS BEEN THE ONE WHO'S MADE THE THINGS HAPPEN.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SAT IN A ROOM WITH PEOPLE, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
AND SOMEBODY WILL SAY, WELL, WE NEED THIS.
AND EVERYBODY WILL BE LIKE, WELL, THAT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
AND TWO OR THREE DAYS LATER, SOMEBODY WALKS THROUGH MY OFFICE DOOR AND SAYS, HEY, DO YOU NEED THIS? AND IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.
AND THAT HAPPENED OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
IT BECAME VERY OBVIOUS THAT IT WASN'T ME.
IT WAS GOD MAKING THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF THAT.
SO, OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE, UH, DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT AND TO FRED, UH, ON YOUR, UH, SUCCESSFUL RETIREMENT.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, WHICH IS CITIZEN COMMENTS.I WILL SAY BEFORE, UH, INVITING PEOPLE UP TO SPEAK THAT, UH, THE LIMIT IS THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU, UH, UH, ADDRESS, UH, COUNSEL AND REFRAIN FROM THE USE OF ANY LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BE OFFENSIVE AND, UM, UM, ACT IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER APPROPRIATE TO THE ALL OF THE, UH, PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESENT HERE IN THE ROOM WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
WE HAVE MOVED, AS YOU KNOW, UH, ALL OF THE COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE FIRST PORTION AND THE SECOND PORTION TOGETHER.
UH, BUT THERE AREN'T THAT MANY.
UH, AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, SINCE THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK ABOUT FRED LIDAR, I'M GONNA ASK THEM TO COME UP.
HAS FRED, FRED, FRED DON'T LEAVE YET? THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE ADMIRERS OF YOURS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
SO, UH, UH, IS MAR CAMPBELL HERE? OH, THERE'S MARS MAR.
DID YOU COME FORWARD? MORRIS IS A FORMER MEMBER OF THIS, UH, OF THIS BODY AND HAS WORKED FOR, UH,
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UH, BUFORD COUNTY FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND IS NOW A PROUD MEMBER OF THE RETIRED COMMUNITY.IS THAT CORRECT? YOU'VE GOT IT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA MAKE ME CRY.
HE TOLD ME THAT
WHEN WE HIRED FRED, I GUESS ABOUT 25, 26, 27 YEARS AGO, UM, HE HIRED FRED NOT AS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, BUT FRED WAS BASICALLY, UM, TAKING ON A JOB WITH US AS PART OF THE, UH, COZY INITIATIVE.
AND THAT'S COLLABORATIVE OF ORGANIZATION FOR, UM, YOUTH SERVICES.
AND FRED TOOK THE JOB ON FOLKS, UM, NOT REALIZING THAT, UH, THERE WAS NO PAY FOR HIM IN INVOLVED
OKAY? I GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF FAITH THIS MAN REALLY HAS.
SO HE TOOK THE JOB ON AS A, AS THAT COORDINATOR, AND HIS JOB WAS TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY HIS SALARY AS WELL AS TO KEEP THE INITIATIVE GOING FORWARD.
AND, UH, HE, UH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, HE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND HE'S HAD 27 YEARS LATER STILL, UM, I THINK HE MAY BE GETTING PAID NOW, BUT, UM,
BUT LET ME JUST SAY THAT HIS IMPACT AND HIS CONTRIBUTION TO, UH, THE HUMAN SERVICES, UM, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, IT'S GONE UNNOTICED.
BUT, UM, FRED WAS SORT OF THE PERSON THAT, UH, PULLED OUR THINKING AS FAR AS A COUNTY TOGETHER AS, UH, IN THE TERMS OF HUMAN SERVICES IN THAT WE LEARNED TO WORK TOGETHER.
WE LEARNED TO USE PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND, UH, FAITH-BASED, FAITH-BASED, UM, UM, RESOURCES TO SERVE THOSE WHO ARE LEAST FORTUNATE AMONG US.
UM, HIS COMMITMENT AND THE COMMITMENT OF THE PEOPLE WORKING WITH HIM, UM, WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
AND DURING MY SHORT TENURE WITH THE COUNTY, CERTAINLY HE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE SUCCESS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS AS FAR AS PULLING THINGS TOGETHER.
SO AS FRED, UM, WONDERS OFF INTO RETIREMENT, HE'S NOT LEAVING US BECAUSE HIS SPIRIT IS STILL AMONG US, AND, UH, STILL A PART OF ALL OF US WHO ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, I SEE LEAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, FRED BELIEVED IN DOING SYSTEMATIC, UH, UH, SYSTEMS, AND THAT IS GOING MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE GOING FORWARD.
SO, FRED, YOU MAY BE RETIRED FROM GETTING PAID, BUT, UM, YOU'RE NOT RETIRED FROM WORK, RIGHT? YOU RETIRED AND YOU'RE NOT RETIRED FROM THE WORK.
AND WE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BUDDY.
HONOR YOU, APPRECIATE YOU, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO, TO SHARE.
FRED, AS ANOTHER SPEAKER, UH, FRED WASHINGTON IN THE AUDIENCE BROUGHT UP MR. WASHINGTON, THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.
WE SEE THE PRESENT, BUT WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE PAST, WE HAD A VERY FRAGMENTED SYSTEM WHEN IT CAME TO SERVING YOUTH AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL.
FRED, UH, THE CONCEPT WAS EVOLVED THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO TAKE THOSE SILOS AND START CONNECTING.
YOU NEED TO HAVE SPECIAL PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE PERSONS COMMITTED, PARTICULARLY IN HUMAN SERVICE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE, BECAUSE, BOY, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU RUN INTO SOMETIMES THAT WILL TURN YOUR GRAY HAIR GRAYER,
SO WE NEEDED A SPECIAL PERSON TO, TO TRY TO CONNECT.
I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE A PART OF THE GROUP THAT ELECTED FRED.
WE GOT TO A POINT THAT NORMALLY THE COUNTIES GO TO THE STATE FOR HELP.
WELL, FRED DEVELOPED SUCH A SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATING AND PROVIDING SERVICES THAT MET THE WHOLE CHILD, THE
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NEED OF THE WHOLE CHILD, THAT THE STATE CAME TO BEAUFORT.AND BEING THE DIRECTOR OF DSS, THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT IN A BATTLE BY YOURSELF.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD, RIGHT? FRED BROUGHT COMMUNITY TO OUR SYSTEM, SO I'M THANKFUL FOR HIM THAT THE TIME WE WORKED TOGETHER, I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
SITTING IN THAT CHAIR AT THE HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE FACED, IT BECAME, IT WAS A DIFFERENCE.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS A MODEL, THAT IT'S NOT JUST LIMITED TO HUMAN SERVICES, BUT AS GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO PULL RESOURCES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, COMES IN THOSE CHECKS, THEY'RE COMING FROM THE SAME SOURCES, COMING FROM TAXPAYERS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO DO WAS SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL AND DSS AT THE SAME TIME.
SO I KNEW WHAT IT WAS TO, ON THE ONE HAND, YOU'RE HAVING TO TAX FOLKS AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE TRYING TO SERVE THEM, PARTICULARLY THOSE, THE LEAST OF THESE.
SO WE HAVE A PERSON TO THAT SPIRIT THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN EXPAND THAT SPIRIT IN BEAUFORT AND THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT TRADITION OF BEAUFORD BEING AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO WORK TOGETHER.
SO FRED, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, FOR PERSONALIZING IT AND BRINGING HUMANITY BACK IN.
THREE MINUTES' WILL BE SHORTER THAN THAT.
I FEEL QUITE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I FEEL I'M PREPARED TO SPEAK AFTER FRED WASHINGTON AND MR. MORRIS CAMPBELL, BUT IT IS FRED, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I'VE WORKED FOR FRED FOR 18 MONTHS.
I WAS IN HUMAN SERVICES, AND THE ONLY COM COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE ON THE, UM, COUNCIL AT THAT TIME WERE MR. DAWSON AND MR. GLOVER.
ALL YOU OTHER GUYS WERE NEW FACES, BUT YOU'VE STEPPED UP TO THE, TO THE TASK NOW, AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE FIRING ZONE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT FRED AND THE, UM, HOT ISSUES THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AFFECT THE PEOPLE THAT FRED DEALT, EXCUSE ME, THAT FRED DEALT WITH FREE DAY.
AND IT REMINDS ME HOW IMPORTANT YOUR JOB IS TO LOOK OUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT FRED
WE HAVE, UH, SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 15 ON THE AGENDA.
ITEM 15 IS A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 IN TAXATION ARTICLE TWO, ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOARD DIVISION ONE, GENERALLY IN DIVISION TWO ACCOMMODATIONS, 3% TAX IS PAUL MORRISON.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? PAUL MORRISON.
HOW ABOUT PEACH? CAN WE, WE'RE WEARING DAVID'S GLASSES TONIGHT, THAT'S WHY.
I'VE BEEN CALLED PEARL BEFORE, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN CALLED PAUL
MY NAME IS PEACH MORRIS, AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOW COUNTRY TOURISM COMMISSION.
WE SERVE BEFORD HAMPTON, JASPER AND COLLIN COUNTIES AS A REGIONAL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.
UH, WE DO NOT APPLY FOR ANY ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, BUT I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE INDUSTRY AND, AND WHAT THE INDUSTRY DOES.
UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THAT TOURISM JUST HAPPENS.
IT DOES NOT HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF OF STUDIES THAT HAVE HAPPENED WHERE PEOPLE HAVE DECREASED THEIR AMOUNT OF MARKETING AND THEY HAVE DECREASED THEIR MARKET SHARE.
ALSO, IT'S A VERY FUN JOB, BUT IT'S ALSO LIKE A DUCK AND A SWAN ON THE TOP OF THE WATER UNDERNEATH.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW FAST THOSE FEET ARE GOING, AND WE WANNA MAKE IT LOOKING PRETTY AND NICE AND SWEET AND OFF ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH JOB, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH TAX DOLLARS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT YOUR CITIZENS, YOUR, YOUR, EXCUSE ME, NOT YOUR PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS, BUT THEY ARE THE TAX DOLLARS OF THOSE WHO COME TO VISIT US AND SPEND MONEY AND, AND NIGHTS IN OUR HOTELS.
UM, I DO APPLAUD STAFF FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX, I MEAN, THERE'S THREE LITTLE DIFFERENT PIECES HERE.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN LITTLE NUANCES, THEY'RE SEPARATE POTS, THEY'RE SEPARATE REGULATIONS ON ALL.
UM, UH, AND I DO, LIKE I SAID, APPLAUD YOUR STAFF COUNSEL AND ATTORNEYS FOR GOING THROUGH THAT AS THEY DID THE LAST FINANCE MEETING, UH, AND GOING THROUGH AND, AND MAKING THE VERBIAGE EXACTLY HOW IT IS IN THE STATE.
UM, I WOULD, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD, AS A INDUSTRY PERSON, AND, YOU KNOW, VERY,
[00:35:01]
VERY PROUD OF MY INDUSTRY, BUT VERY PROTECTIVE OF MY INDUSTRY, I'D BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT, UM, JOINING ADJOINING THE STATE AT TAX AND THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX IN THE, IN THE SAME EXACT EXACT DOCUMENT, BECAUSE THEY ARE, AS I SAID, TWO DIFFERENT POTS AND I THINK THEY'RE GONNA BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.UM, BUT ALSO I WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE MONEY THAT YOU DO PUT ASIDE FOR THE D OS AND WITH THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AS IT IS DONE IN THE STATE, IT IS REQUIRED IN THE STATE A TAX IT IS, UM, RIGHT NOW UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING CHALLENGED RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP THAT, UH, THAT SOLID FOOTING THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR PLANS BECAUSE THEY MAKE THEIR PLANS WELL IN ADVANCE OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA PUT IN THE MARKETING DOLLARS AND GET THAT ROI AND TO GET THOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, THE GEOGRAPHICS, ALL THE DEMOS, MSAS, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT GO BEHIND THAT ACT OF MAKING SURE TOURISM IS THERE, UM, FOR NOT ONLY TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT ALSO TO REDUCE THAT TAX BURDEN AND ALSO TO PROVIDE JOBS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
UH, WE ALWAYS WANNA DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS, AND WE APPLAUD LOOKING AT THE STATE A TAX AND THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS WITHIN THE, THE CODE OF THE LAW, WHICH CAN BE CONFUSING.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THANK YOU FOR, UM, WONDERFUL, UH, SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION AND THE TIME THAT WE'VE TAKEN TO TALK TO SOME OF YOUR FINANCE MEMBERS ABOUT EXPLAINING THAT IT'S A BIG ED EDUCATIONAL PIECE, SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
ROB WELLS, UH, GOOD EVENING, UM, ESTEEM MEMBERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND DISTINGUISHED STAFF AND FELLOW CITIZENS, EXCUSE ME, MY NAME'S ROB WELLS, AND AS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER BEAUFORT FORT ROYAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, THE PRIMARY DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION FROM NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A DEEP COMMITMENT TO OUR REGION'S PROSPERITY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.
OUR MISSION IS TO SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY, THE HISTORY, THE VIBRANT CULTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY.
MAKING IT A TOP DESTINATIONS FROM VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, YET FULFILLING THIS MISSION WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING UNDER THE CURRENT PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ORDINANCE.
TONIGHT, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE RESTORATION OF THE DEDICATED FUNDING FROM THE LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ORDINANCE, SPECIFICALLY SECTION 66.45.
THIS FUNDING IS NOT SIMPLY A BUDGETARY ALLOCATION, BUT THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR MARKETING AND PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES.
IT ENABLES US TO EFFECTIVELY COMPETE IN A GLOBAL TOURISM MARKET, DRAWING VISITORS WHO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
THE ABSENCE OF THIS FUNDING SEVERELY LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE, IMPACTING NOT ONLY OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT THE ECONOMIC HEALTH AND VIBRANCY OF NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS IMPERATIVE CONSIDERING THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY'S LOCAL ACCOMMODATION TAXES ARE GENERATED FROM NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY'S SEA ISLANDS.
THE WORK WE DO AT THE GREATER BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL CONVENTION OF VISITOR BUREAU GOES BEYOND JUST MERE MARKETING.
IT IS ABOUT FOSTERING COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVING THE UNIQUE CHARM OF OUR REGION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
BY RESTORING THE DEDICATED FUNDING AND EMBRACING A ROBUST PARTNERSHIP, WE CAN ENSURE THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY REMAINS TOP OF MIND TRAVEL DESTINATION IN THE SOUTH, ATTRACTING VISITORS AND PROSPERITY FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND LISTEN, I THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROPOSAL AND YOUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE WELLBEING AND SUCCESS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, IT'S NICE TO BE BACK SECOND TIME TODAY FOR SOME OF YOU.
I WAS HERE FOR FINANCE COMMITTEE EARLIER, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.
UM, AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A QUESTION OF, UH, KIND OF THE HISTORY OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND THIS, THIS ORDINANCE GOES BACK NEARLY 19 YEARS, AND IT WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN PLACE TO HELP NORTH AND, UH, SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH TO MARKETING OVER THAT 19 YEARS.
WE REVISITED THIS POLICY, ACTUALLY BACK IN 2018.
I REMEMBER WORKING WITH COUNCIL AT THE TIME, AND I CAME AND SPOKE AND, UH, AS THE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY HAD SHIFTED AND GROWN THE MAJORITY OF FUNDS THAT, UH, ACCOUNTED FOR THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES.
AT THAT TIME, MY CHALLENGES WERE FROM NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND AT THE TIME, THEY HAD STAFF RUN A REPORT, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT JUST ABOUT 53% OF ACCOMMODATIONS TAXES COME FROM THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY.
UH, MR. WELLS JUST STOOD UP HERE AND SPOKE, AND HE SAID, THE VAST MAJORITY, I'LL TELL YOU, BASED ON MY NUMBERS AND THE DATA, UH, THAT I'VE LOOKED AT, IT'S REPRESENTS NEARLY $68 MILLION, WHICH IS MORE THAN 75% OF ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COLLECTED BY BEAUFORT
[00:40:01]
COUNTY.SO THAT NUMBER HAS GONE FROM ROUGHLY 53% TO NOW 75 TO 85%.
SO YOU MAY WANNA REVISIT HOW THAT LOOKS, BUT THE UNIQUE PART ABOUT OUR CV BEING IN NORTHERN BEFORD COUNTY, IS THEY WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND THEY HAVE ONE SINGLE SOLE MISSION.
THEY'RE FOCUSED ON HOW TO SUPPORT OUR TOURISM ECONOMY.
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WAKE UP AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, WHETHER THEY WORK IN THE PLUMBING INDUSTRY OR IF THEY WORK IN HVAC AND WORK IN RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, AND THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THOSE BUSINESSES, AND MR. WELLS DOES NOT RUN A MEMBERSHIP BASED ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S PART OF THE REASON IN 2018, WE WERE LOOKING AT WHERE DOES ATEX COME FROM? THE CVB IN NORTHERN BEFORD COUNTY SPLIT FROM THE CHAMBER SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
AND SO THEY ARE FUNDED AND SUPPORTED THROUGH ACCOMMODATIONS TAX DOLLARS, HOSPITALITY TAX DOLLARS, OR THE GRANTS THAT THEY'RE PROVIDED.
THEY DO NOT HAVE MEMBERS, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO.
THEY'RE A 5 0 1 C3, AND THEY ARE CRITICAL DOLLARS THAT GO INTO THE CVB TO SUPPORT NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOURISM ECONOMY THAT BENEFITS OUR TAXPAYERS.
WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE OUT, THERE'S A VERY IMPORTANT KEY PART FOR ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT INVESTMENTS.
IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU, FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE ME, I WAS GONNA GIVE YOU ROUGHLY A DOLLAR 15 RETURN, YOU PROBABLY PUT A DOLLAR DOWN OVER AND OVER UNTIL YOU RAN OUT, WOULDN'T YOU? WELL, AS OF THIS, UH, LAST FALL, THAT'S WHAT THE CVB PRODUCES FOR NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU'VE INVESTED IN OUR DMO FOR NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, THEY HAD GIVEN BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS ROUGHLY $11 AND 50 CENTS.
THAT'S A PRETTY DARN GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
SO I ASK YOU TO PLEASE, IF YOU WANT A DESIGNATE DMO FOR A 3% ORDINANCE, LEAVE IT IN THERE FOR THE 3% TAX ELECTION.
MY NAME IS ASHLEY HOUK, I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE BEAUFORT AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE TIME TO SPEAK TODAY ON A MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS CONTINUED PROSPERITY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, OUR DISTINGUISHED DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, ALSO KNOWN AS OUR DMO, TO ADVOCATE FOR THE RETENTION OF THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, DMO, AND THE LOCAL AT TAX ORDINANCE AND THE CONTINUATION OF ITS FUNDING.
OUR DMO PLAYS AN INSTRUMENTAL ROLE IN NOT JUST PAINTING A PICTURE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AS A PRIME DESTINATION, BUT ALSO IN SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
THE FORMULA IS SIMPLE, YET PROFOUNDLY IMPACTFUL.
SMART SPENDING LEADS TO SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIC GAINS.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN MARKETING IN OUR BEAUTIFUL REGION, WE SEE A TENFOLD RETURN, MUCH LIKE JONATHAN SULLIVAN JUST STATED.
THIS IS NOT JUST A FIGURE, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PURPOSEFUL PROMOTION AND ITS TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO EVERY RESIDENT IN OUR COUNTY.
THIS INVESTMENT INVITES TOURISTS TO OUR EAGER, NOT JUST TO EXPLORE, BUT TO SPEND INFUSING OVER 2 MILLION INTO OUR BUSINESSES THROUGH ACCOMMODATIONS ALONE LAST YEAR.
THESE VISITORS PROVIDE A STEADY STREAM OF REVENUE THAT BOLSTERS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESSES AND SUSTAINS JOBS ACROSS A WIDE ARRAY OF SECTORS.
BUT PERHAPS WHAT'S MOST CAPTIVATING IS THE BROADER IMPACT OF THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS.
BY SHOWCASING BEAUFORT COUNTY'S CHARM, THEY'RE NOT ONLY DRAWING TOUR TOURISTS, BUT ALSO ATTRACTING BUSINESS OWNERS AND INVESTORS WHO ARE KEEN TO BE A PART OF THE AREA'S THRIVING COMMUNITY.
THIS INFLUX OF NEW ENDEAVORS FURTHER DIVERSIFIES OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US.
HOWEVER, THE MOMENTUM THEY HAVE BUILT IS AT RISK.
IF WE DIMINISH THE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO THESE ESSENTIAL MARKETING EFFORTS, REDUCING FUNDING FOR THE GREATER BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HINDER THEIR ABILITY TO PROMOTE BEAUFORT COUNTY EFFECTIVELY.
IT WOULD NOT ONLY IMPACT TOURISM REVENUE, BUT COULD ALSO SLOW THE ECONOMIC GROWTH SPURRED BY NEW BUSINESS INVESTMENTS ATTRACTED BY OUR VIBRANT COMMUNITY'S VISIBILITY.
IN CLOSING, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE FAR REACHING BENEFIT THAT THE GREATER BEAUFORT PORT ROYAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OFFERS TO OUR REGION.
INVESTING IN OUR DMO IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND FUTURE PROSPERITY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE, UM, COMMUNITY CENTER ON ST.
HELENA, MITCH MITCHELL, COME FORWARD EVENING GENERAL.
SO, UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, ACTUALLY I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER, UH,
[00:45:01]
RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.I AM, UH, CITY OF BEAUFORT COUNCILMAN MITCH MITCHELL.
I'M HERE TO SHARE COMMENTS REGARDING THE CHARLES LYN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER, SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE GREEN STREET GYM, AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE FACILITY IN RECENT MONTHS SINCE THE FORMATION OF THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER TASK FORCE IN 2021 TO BRING ATTENTION TO NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CENTER.
SUBSTANTIAL RESTORATION AND REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE COMMUNICATIONS HAVE SOMETIMES BEEN CHALLENGING AND THE PATH TO THE PRESENT, SOMETIMES ROCKY.
I'M HERE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR THE PROGRESS MADE TOWARD RESTORING THE FACILITY TO A STATE WORTHY OF BEING CALLED OUR COMMUNITY CENTER.
ON BEHALF OF THE TASK FORCE, WHICH HAS NOW EVOLVED INTO THE MORE INCLUSIVE FRIENDS OF THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DEVOTED MEMBERS OF THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT AND OAK COMMONS NEIGHBORHOOD, I THANK YOU FOR THE INVESTMENTS YOU THE COUNTY HAVE MADE AND WILL MAKE IN OUR CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER.
I ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCIL PERSONS, ALICE, HOWARD, YORK GLOVER, AND DAVID UE FOR THE ATTENTION YOU HAVE GIVEN TO OUR CITIZENS CONCERNS REGARDING RETURNING THEIR CENTER TO AN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, PLEASANT, AND FUNCTIONAL PLACE TO GATHER, HAVE PROGRAMS, AND TO HOST EVENTS.
AND NOW I WISH TO THANK YOUR STAFF.
I THANK YOU, INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN ROBINSON AND HIS SPECIAL ASSISTANT HANK ABSON FOR THE MUCH NEEDED BREATH OF FRESH AIR.
THEY BOTH BROUGHT TO THE CITY COUNCIL COUNTY RELATIONSHIP IN 2021 AND 2022, WE CONDUCTED A SURVEY AND HELD A MEETING AT THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE OUR CITIZENS SHARED THEIR CONCERNS AND VOICED THEIR DESIRES.
WE INVITE YOU AND ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN US AT THE CHARLES LYNN BROWN COMMUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE THIS COMING SATURDAY, MARCH 16TH, FROM 11 TO 1:00 PM 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM THAT IS DOCENTS WILL BE PRESENT TO PROVIDE GUIDED TOURS.
COUNTY STAFF WILL BE PRESENT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE CENTER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO ASSIST CITIZENS IN SIGNING UP FOR PROGRAMS OFFERED AT THE CENTER.
SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO JOIN US.
THAT'S THIS COMING SATURDAY FROM 11 O'CLOCK TO ONE O'CLOCK, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU THERE.
CARRIE MAJOR, CARRIE MAJOR, THANK YOU, COUNSEL, FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UM, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY CENTER ON ST.
UM, AS I TOLD THE GROUP WHEN THEY HAD THE OPEN HOUSE, ONSEN, HELENA, UM, WE HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER OUR YOUTH.
UM, SOMEONE SAID, AND I HEARD THIS TODAY, YOUNG PEOPLE NEED PRODUCTIVE THINGS TO KEEP THEM BUSY.
SO THIS IS WHY I'M ADVOCATING FOR A COMMUNITY AND YOUTH CENTER ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND WHERE WE HAVE NOTHING.
UM, THAT CENTER SHOULD BE CENTRALLY LOCATED, SHOULD BE A STATE OF THE ART BUILDING, UM, WITH SOME MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY WITH ADEQUATE SPACE, UM, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGING IN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SOME SPORTS ACTIVITY AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUTH AS WELL AS FOR OUR ADULTS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
UM, AND AS I TOLD EVERYONE, I'LL BE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS UNTIL WE GET IT DONE.
UH, AGAIN, WE NEED SOMETHING ON ST.
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY YOUTH CONFERENCE, WE DO OUR WORK WITH THE YOUTH FROM ALL OVER BEAUFORD COUNTY AS WELL.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING ON SAINT HELENA, UH, SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR YOUTH OVER THERE AND SPECIFICALLY COVER THE AREAS THAT I JUST SAID.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, COUNSEL, HELPING US TO GET THIS DONE.
TOM'S IN WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE 2021 BEAUFORT COUNTY CONNECTS PLAN.
I APPRECIATE YOUR ALL, UH, ALLOWING ME TO TALK AND HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
UH, I'M GONNA SPEND ONE MINUTE TALKING ABOUT A PROJECT
[00:50:01]
ON, UH, ONE 70, AND THEN I'LL TALK HOW THAT RELATES TO THE CADETS PLAN, IF THAT'S OKAY, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OR SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT EVERY COUNCIL PERSON AND CONSTITUENTS, THAT EVERY COUNCIL PERSON HERE'S GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COMING DOWN THE ROAD.
THE, UH, IF YOU CAN SEE THIS OR NOT, BUT THIS IS, UH, BLACKWATER CROSSROADS.
IT'S BASICALLY A QUARTER OF ONE 70 IN THE BROOKLYN BUCK CONSISTS OF 90 ACRES.
UM, WE ARE SUCCESSFUL PROJECT TO BUCK WATER PLACE.
UM, WE, UH, IT, IT'S GOT IMP APPROVAL, MEANING INITIAL MASTER PLAN, APPROVALS BY SUBDIVISION APPROVAL, ALL THAT TYPE OF THING.
WE, UH, PUT SOME PROPERTY UNDER CONTRACT HERE, UM, IN DECEMBER, AND LO AND BEHOLD, OUT THAT THEY DID MASTER MONTHS OF BILLS AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
FOUND THAT THERE WAS A REQUIREMENT FOR THEM WITH THE, UH, REQUEST FOR AN AMENDED MASTER PLAN.
WE PUT IN A, UM, UH, 10 FOOT CONCRETE, UH, PATHWAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF, UM, ONE 70.
THERE'S ALREADY ONE ON THE WEST SIDE REGARDLESS.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THAT INSTEAD OF THE NEXT PLAN, WHICH PROVIDES US TO GET FUNDED BY THE PUBLIC IN OUT A POWER PAGE QUOTE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS, THIS WAS ACTUALLY PLACED ON THE DEVELOPER.
THIS AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE.
I URGE YOU ALL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AMENDMENTS TO ORDINANCES, AMENDMENTS TO PLANS NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS COUNCIL, NOT BY STAFF.
UH, UM, EXAMPLES ALONG THIS STRETCH, WE HAVE WETLANDS, WE HAVE, UH, BUTTON STATION BOULEVARD, WE HAVE ACCESSES AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
IT'S NOT ONLY A SEVEN FIGURE NUMBER, BUT IT'S BEYOND MY EXPECTED LIFETIME WHEN I CAN GET THOSE APPROVALS.
UH, SO IT'S THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
THE WAY IT'S BEEN INTERPRETED FOR THE LAST 15 MONTHS, IT WOULD IMPACT, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S 80 PROJECTS INSIDE THE CONEX PLAN, PROBABLY CLOSE TO 500 PLUS OR MINUS PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO WHERE THE INDEX PLAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED.
UM, THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED ARE WHO PAYS FOR IT.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S DIFFERENT IN THE PLAN VERSUS WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
UM, NUMBER TWO, WHAT IS GETTING PRIORI PRIORITIZED? THIS IS NOT A PRIORITY.
THIS IS A, UH, INTERMEDIATE, NOT AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY, BUT IT GOT PRIORITIZED.
UH, HOW IS IT DETERMINED WHEN IT APPLIES AND WHAT TYPES OF CONNECT CONNECT PLAN APPROVALS ARE INVOLVED? I SENT YOU ALL EMAILS.
UH, TAKE A LOOK AT THE EMAILS.
I THINK IT, THE DETAILS TO THAT IS, IS IN INSIDE THE TWO EMAILS THAT I SENT TO COUNTY COUNSEL.
THANK YOU, MR. DEBORAH SMITH, DFOS ISLAND FERRY'S.
OUR FINAL COMMENTS FOR THE EVENING.
I ACTUALLY, THERE, THE, UH, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE D FUZZY ISLAND COUNCIL'S FERRY COMMITTEE WAS GOING TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND HAD BOAT ISSUES.
SO HE, HE WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT.
AND I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT PRETTY QUICKLY.
I WANNA, I WAS PART OF THE COMMUNITY GROUP, UH, THAT MET WITH THE COUNTY OFFICIALS, UH, LAST WEEK.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY POSITIVE MEETING AND APPRECIATED.
UH, WE ALL APPRECIATED SITTING DOWN, HAVING A NICE RATIONAL, CIVILIZED DISCUSSION, AND, UH, LEARNED ABOUT WHAT AREAS THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US ON.
UH, AREAS THEY DON'T, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP US ON.
AND MAYBE SOME THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT, UH, IN THE MIDDLE.
I THINK, I THINK EVERYBODY DID, UM, THINK THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE AND PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION, AND WE HOPE ONE OF ONGOING DISCUSSIONS.
UH, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING BEFOREHAND, WHEN I CHATTED WITH A FEW OF YOU FOLKS, UM, TWO OF YOU ASKED ME IF THINGS HAD KIND OF SETTLED OUT, IF THINGS WERE WORKING OUT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, AND I, I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING BLASTED BY ALL THE EMAILS AND TEXTS AND CALLS AND SO FORTH THAT YOU WERE ORIGINALLY.
I MEAN, THAT JUST COULDN'T SUSTAIN ITSELF.
BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT THAT MEANS THAT EVERYTHING IS, IS GOOD.
UH, I THINK SOME GLITCHES HAVE BEEN FIXED, BUT THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES WITH THIS FERRY SERVICE THAT, THAT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE NOT GOING TO BE FIXED BY TWEAKING.
UH, I'LL JUST FOCUS ON ONE TONIGHT AND, UH, BRIEFLY.
UH, PEOPLE ARE GETTING HURT ON THIS BOAT, THE MANATEE.
WE'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THAT BEFORE.
UM, UH, IT'S NOT CONDUCIVE, CONDUCIVE AT ALL FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO RIDE ON.
UH, THE DOCK ASSISTANCE IS NOT THERE.
OR IS THERE SPOR SPORADICALLY.
UH, ANYBODY WHO HAS A WHEELCHAIR HAS A LOT OF DIFFICULTY GETTING ON THE BOAT.
[00:55:01]
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WHEELCHAIR THAT'S VERY, VERY NARROW TO GO THROUGH THE LITTLE PASSAGEWAY ONTO THE BOAT, AND PEOPLE KEEP HITTING THEMSELVES ON THE HEAD AS THEY'RE GETTING INTO THE BOAT OR GETTING INTO THE, INTO THE CABIN.UM, AND, UM, I MEAN, WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE I THINK, UH, WE MENTIONED, OR, OR MR. YARBOROUGH MENTIONED LAST, UH, AT YOUR LAST MEETING WHERE SHE HAD, SHE HAD TO GO GET HER HEAD STITCHED UP IN, IN MEDICINE.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE STANDARD OF CARE, YOU KNOW, TO MY MIND, HOW, HOW CAN, HOW CAN THIS BE THE STANDARD OF CARE THAT, THAT, THAT ANY OF US WANT FOR A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM? UM, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.
UH, BUT THE, BUT THIS ISN'T ACCEPTABLE TO DUSKY ISLAND PEOPLE.
AND, AND I, I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO YOU EITHER.
SO LET'S KEEP WORKING, LET'S KEEP TRYING TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT, AND AS ALWAYS, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
UH, ITEM NUMBER NINE, UH, ON THE AGENDA IS, UH, THE, UM, LIAISON COMMITTEE REPORTS.
ARE THERE ANY LIAISON ON COMMITTEE REPORTS? MANY MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, I WILL CONCLUDE.
[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
10 IS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.UH, I'LL NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.
THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON THE, UH, UM, CONSENT AGENDA.
ONE IS THE APPROVAL OF CISCO ENTERPRISE SUPPORT AGREEMENT RENEWAL.
THE SECOND IS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS.
THE THIRD IS THE APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO A GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN BUFORT COUNTY AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, BUT BUFORT COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROJECTS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO, MOVE MADAM.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING NO DISCUSSION? I'LL PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NO OBJECTIONS? CONSENT.
[11. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD 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]
IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED UNDER THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY ADJACENT TO THE BROAD CREEK BOAT, LANDING FI, NO FISCAL IMPACT.IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NO ONE? I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
READING SOME MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS MATTER WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SO NO OBJECTIONS.
ITEM 11 PASSES ITEM 12, PUBLIC
[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY WITH TMS NO. R510 005 000 0329 0000, LOCATED ON BEACH CITY ROAD, HILTON HEAD ISLAND (FISCAL IMPACT: Beaufort County will receive $30,250 from the Buyer. 70% of the funds from the sale will be deposited into the Rural and Critical Bond Fund (4500-80-0000-47010) to be used towards future acquisitions by the Rural and Critical Lands Preservation Program 30% of the funds will be reimbursed to the Town of Hilton Head)]
HEARING, SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY A PORTION OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BUFORT COUNTY LOCATED ON BEACH CITY ROAD.HILTON HAD ISLAND FISCAL IMPACT.
THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE $30,000 30,250 FROM THE BUYER.
70% OF THE FUNDS WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL BOND FUND TO BE USED TOWARD FUTURE ACQUISITIONS WHERE THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PRESERVATION PROGRAM, 30% OF THE FUNDS WILL BE REIMBURSED TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
HAS ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER IN THE PUBLIC HEARING? SEEING NO IN THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL CLOSE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE SECOND READING, PLEASE? MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION ON YOUR BEHALF.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS MATTER WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE THIS MATTER PASSES.
[13. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY BUDGET ORDINANCE 2023/22 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER $250,000 FROM FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND (2546) TO COVER UNBUDGETED COSTS FOR THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY OPERATIONS; TO INCLUDE THREE (3) SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS’ BUDGETS (FUNDS 2230, 2252, AND 2255) IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $402,918 WHICH WERE CONVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUND DURING THE CHART OF ACCOUNTS CONVERSION PROCESS; TOTAL AMENDMENT OF BUDGET ORDINANCE 2023/22 IS $652,918 (FISCAL IMPACT: An increase in the County’s operating budget of $652,918)]
IS FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BUFORT COUNTY BUDGET ORDINANCE 2322 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER $250,000 FROM FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND TO COVER UNBUDGETED COSTS FOR THE DUSKY ISLANDS FERRY OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE THREE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, BUDGETS, FUNDS 22 30 22 52, AND 2255 IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $402,918, WHICH WERE CONVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUND DURING THE CHART OF ACCOUNTS CONVERSION PROCESS.THE TOTAL AMENDMENT OF BUDGET ORDINANCE IS 6 5 2 9 1 8.
FISCAL IMPACT IS AN INCREASE IN THE COUNTY'S OPERATING BUDGET OF 652,918.
MR. CHAIRMAN, ANY AMENDMENTS TO THIS MATTER? I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO AMEND THIS PROPOSED BUDGET ORDINANCE, UH, TO INCLUDE THE TRANSFER OF $3.6 MILLION FROM GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF 3 33 AND 3 35 BUCKWALTER PARKWAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH AN ORDINANCE WE PASSED 2023 SLASH 14.
AND IF WE NEED EXPLANATION, MR. ROBINSON WILL CERTAINLY BE HAPPY TO GIVE IT.
IS THAT YOUR MOTION? THAT'S MY MOTION TO AMEND IT.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? I'LL
[01:00:01]
SECOND THE, THE AMENDMENT FOR THE AMENDMENT.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? YEAH.
WOULD WE LIKE, WE'D LIKE SOME COMMENT, MR. ROBINSON, ON THE $3.6 MILLION THAT WE'RE ADDING TO THIS, UH, TO THIS ITEM IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, AN ITEM CAME FORWARD TO COUNCIL FOR, UH, IT'S AT 3 33 AND 3 35 BUCK WALTER PARKWAY.
IT'S A 10 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY, UH, THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE, UH, WITH THE OWNER ON, UM, THAT, UH, $3.6 MILLION WAS APPROVED AFTER, UH, THREE READINGS AND A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, THOSE FUNDS WERE IN THE 2023 BUDGET AND THEY DIDN'T TRANSFER INTO OUR 2024 APPROPRIATION.
SO WE'RE JUST, AND THEY WERE THEN IN LAST YEAR'S FY BUDGET APPROPRIATED FROM GENERAL FUND FUND BALLOTS.
SO WE'RE ASKING TO INCLUDE THOSE, UH, FUNDS OUT OF 2020 FOUR'S.
UM, GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
THIS IS JUST THE MOST TRANSPARENT WAY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ALREADY APPROVED, UH, ORDINANCE.
AND FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PROPERTY THAT WAS, IS IN, OUT IN BLUFFTON THAT WE HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH, UH, THE OWNERS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
SO RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM PUBLIX AND NEXT TO I THINK ST.
ANDREW'S PROPERTY, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO ONE OF THE CHURCHES RIGHT THERE, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? UM, I HAVE A QUESTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I, I PLAN TO VOTE NO ON THE ORIGINAL, UM, VOTE TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO TAKE THESE AS TWO VOTES? I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, TOM, BECAUSE I SUPPORT BUCKWALTER.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING THIS FOR A WHILE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HAD IN THERE.
UM, BUT I DON'T SUPPORT THE INCREASE IN FUNDS TOWARDS THE, UH, DUSKY FERRY.
SO KIND OF STUCK BETWEEN A VOTE TO SUPPORT BOTH OR NOT TO SUPPORT EITHER HERE.
WELL, YOU CERTAINLY, YOU CAN BREAK THIS UP AND MAKE THIS A SEPARATE ITEM BY TITLE ONLY, BUT YOU WOULD NEED, UH, COUNCILMAN TABER NECK TO, UH, WITHDRAW HER MOTION.
AND ASSUMING IT'S BEEN SECONDED, THEN YOU COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AS WRITTEN.
AND THEN YOU GOTTA MOVE THREE 13, TREAT 13 AS IT IS.
BUT THEN YOU'VE GOTTA MOVE TO AMEND.
YOU'VE ALREADY, UH, MISSED THE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED APPROVAL OF AN AMENDED AGENDA.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU COULD DO THAT.
WELL, THIS WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE AMENDED AGENDA.
THIS IS JUST AN AMENDMENT TO THIS MOTION.
I KNOW, BUT IF WE WANT MAKE THIS A SEPARATE ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY YEAH, IT WOULD'VE HAD HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE BEGINNING.
WOULD IT HELP TO HAVE MS. CHRISTMAS EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT? WELL, IF, IF THE QUESTION IS SPECIFIC, CLUE THAT TO THE DUSKY ALLEN FERRY, I CAN ANSWER THAT.
I, I'LL, I'LL BE HONEST, THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH YOU GUYS CAN SAY TO CONVINCE ME DIFFERENTLY.
UM, I'LL, I'LL JUST LET IT MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M SURE IT'S GONNA PASS ANYWAYS.
BUT JUST NOW THAT I DO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF THE BUCKWALTER PROPERTY, I BELIEVE WE STARTED THIS NEGOTIATION IN NOVEMBER.
UM, BUT I'LL, I'LL STAND BY THAT SO WE CAN MOVE THAT FORWARD.
NOT ABOUT THE AMENDMENT, BUT I DO HAVE SOME QUESTION ABOUT THE BUS ISLAND, ACTUALLY.
JUST WANNA HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
WHAT'S THE CERTAINLY EXACTLY GOING FOR? SO THIS WAS AN ORDINANCE THAT CAME TOWARD TO COUNSEL, I BELIEVE IT WAS DECEMBER 11TH.
AND THAT WAS THE ADDITION OF $250,000 TO COVER THE, UM, THE NEW CONTRACT AFTER, MM, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE DATE EXACTLY DECEMBER 13TH OR DECEMBER 16TH.
UH, SO IT WAS ADDITIONAL FUNDING REQUIRED, UH, FOR THE DFU AND FERRY SERVICE TO CONTINUE AFTER DECEMBER OF 2023 THAT CAME FORWARD TO COUNSEL AND SOMETIMES AND HAD THREE RE OR THREE READINGS AND, UH, PUBLIC HEARING.
I THINK TOM WAS GONNA SOMETHING.
CAN, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED, UM, THAT YOU THAT COUNSEL, UH, IF IT'S SO INCLINED, APPROVE THE AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED BY COUNCILMAN TABER.
AND THEN IF COUNCILMAN LOGAN WISHES TO VOTE AGAINST THAT PART OF THIS, UH, ORDINANCE THAT INCLUDES THE FERRY THAT YOU MOVE TO REMOVE THAT FROM THIS ORDINANCE, THEN WE WOULD TAKE TWO VOTES.
AND THE 3.6 MILLION YOU WOULD NOT BE ACTED ON.
IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE MIX.
AT FIRST IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN I UNDERSTAND.
BUT IF HE, IF WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL VOTE TO REMOVE IT, THEN IT WON'T BE ACTED ON IN A POSITIVE WAY.
THE FERRY, THE FERRY WON'T BE, IF THAT MOTION SUCCEEDS.
[01:05:01]
FERRY, OH, SORRY.I THOUGHT YOU SAID REMOVE THE 3.6 MILLION.
IF THAT MOTION SUCCEEDS AT THIS POINT IN DECEMBER, YOU APPROVED, YOU APPROVED THE EXPENDITURE OF THE $250,000 TOWARDS THE FERRY.
THIS IS A, A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE THOSE FUNDS IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
TO MAKE SURE OUR FY 24 BUDGET IS BALANCED.
SO, SO THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED NOW? YES, SIR.
PUTTING IT IN THE BUDGET, SIR.
SO HOW CAN YOU VOTE AGAINST IT THEN? WELL, I, I'M GONNA MAKE A, I'M GONNA MAKE A SUGGESTION.
I CAN TELL YOU CLEARLY IF YOU WANT, TOM, BUT IF YOU DON'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD, WE CAN, WE CAN, I CAN MAKE A SUGGESTION HERE THAT WE, I MEAN, IF WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THIS AMENDMENT, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
AND IF THERE'S A VOTE, UH, IF IT'S A 10 TO ONE VOTE, THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
NO, THERE'S NO TELLING YET EXACTLY HOW THAT WILL WORK OUT.
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SAY THAT'S A DIFFERENT MOTION.
SO NOW WE'RE DEALING WITH, RATHER OR NOT, WE ARE STILL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AMENDMENT OF 3.6 AMENDMENT.
SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE ON INCLUDING THAT IN THIS AGENDA ITEM? HEARING NONE, I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS FOR A VOTE.
WILL YOU GIMME A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
SO WE NOW HAVE A NEW, UH, AGENDA ITEM TO INCLUDE THE 3.6 MILLION IN THE AMOUNT, UH, TO INCLUDE THE OTHER 652,918 QUARTER OF A MILLION OF THAT FOR THE FUND BALANCE TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE UNBUDGETED COSTS FOR THE DFU GALLON FERRY OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE THREE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BUDGETS IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF 402 918, WHICH WERE CONVERTED TO THE GENERAL FUND DURING THE CHARTER OF ACCOUNTS CONVERSION PROCESS.
THE TOTAL AMENDMENT 6 52 9 18 PLUS 3.6 MILLION FOR 4.2 5 2 9 1 8.
YOU ARE SAYS THE CFO VERY QUICK.
UM, I'LL NEED A MOTION TO, UM, FOR THAT AMENDED AGENDA.
I'M SORRY FOR THAT AMENDED AGENDA ITEM.
SO MOVE FOR THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? UH, YEAH, I GUESS JUST ONE LAST QUESTION FOR TOM.
SO, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO BREAK OFF THE 250,000 FROM THE DUSKY AS A 13 A? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED? BUT NOW THE AGENDA HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
I BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION, MOTION TO AMEND THIS ITEM AS AMENDED TO REMOVE THAT PART OF IT THAT YOU WANT TO, TO HAVE IT TAKEN SEPARATELY TODAY OR TO REMOVE IT ALL TOGETHER.
WELL, YOU BE, SO I STILL WOULD LIKE IT TO BE VOTED ON FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO BE ABLE TO VOICE IT.
YOU WOULD BE AMENDING THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE AGAIN, THIS TIME TO REMOVE, INSTEAD OF TO ADD.
AND IF THAT PASSES, THEN YOU WOULD VOTE ON THIS AS IT IS.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AMENDED AGENDA TO REMOVE THE 250,000 FROM THE DUSKY FERRY FROM ITEM NUMBER 13.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR THAT MOTION? I'LL SECOND IT FOR POINT OF DISCUSSION.
UM, YEAH, I, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR BEFORE, I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE IN THE FERRY BUSINESS.
UM, SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO SPEND MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I KNOW THIS WAS APPROVED ORIGINALLY BY THE COUNCIL IN DECEMBER, BUT WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO GO DOWN A WHIRLWIND HERE.
UH, I KNOW PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN INVESTMENTS IN LIFE AND OWN DECISIONS OF WHERE THEY DECIDE TO LIVE.
AND I, I'M JUST A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE MESSING WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
UM, AND HERE WE ARE SUBSIDIZING PORTIONS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY, UM, AND ACCESS TO THAT PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS JUST ME PERSONALLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I DO NOT SUPPORT.
UM, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR OTHER AVENUES AND OTHER WAYS TO DO THIS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY OF DUSKY TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO COME UP WITH, UM, THEM TO HIRE THEIR OWN COMPANY.
'CAUSE IT SEEMS WE ARE CURRENTLY IN A NO-WIN SITUATION FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
[01:10:01]
I BELIEVE, CURRENTLY THREE LAWSUITS BECAUSE OF THIS.UM, AND NOW WE'RE ON A SECOND FERRY COMPANY WITH IT.
SO THIS MATTER NOW, UM, AS WE TAKE A VOTE, WILL REMOVE THE $250,000 FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, MARK.
NO, I, I, UM, LET, AND LEMME JUST SAY THAT, UH, THE, THE EXTRA MONEY THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE FERRY WAS ACTUALLY TO HELP MOVE IT TO PINKNEY ISLAND, WHICH IS WHERE YOU, LOGAN, YOU HAVE STRESSED THAT YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE IT.
SO THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY HAS COME, BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD WE HAD TO MOVE THE FERRY SYSTEM FROM BUCKINGHAM LENDING AND MOVE IT TO PINKY ISLAND.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE EXTRA COSTS CAME FROM, IS, IS TO TAKE IT AND MOVE IT THERE.
AND, AND AGAIN, SO FAR, UM, IT, IT, UH, HAS BEEN WORTHWHILE FOR US TO SPEND THAT MONEY.
OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU WANNA STAY THERE, THERE'LL BE MORE MONEY THAT THAT HAS TO BE SPENT.
UM, SO GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION OF US BEING IN THE FERRY BUSINESS, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY ON DUSKY THAT THAT'S GONNA TELL YOU THAT, UM, THAT, THAT THEY DON'T NEED THE FERRY SYSTEM UNLESS THEY LIVE IN, IN HAG POINT.
SO THE FERRY SYSTEM IS DESPERATELY NEEDED BY, BY ALL THOSE FOLKS.
UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT, WE'VE TALKED, TALKED BEFORE, THAT WE'D LOVE TO BE OUTTA THE FERRY BUSINESS, BUT THERE IS NO STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT HANDLES ANY FERRY SERVICE.
UH, WE CANNOT GET ANY FEDERAL FUNDS UNLESS WE OWN THE LANDINGS.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S WHERE THE FEDERAL FUNDING WILL COME FROM.
UM, AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE ARE EXPECTING AND HOPING THAT THERE IS A, THERE COMES A TIME IF, IF, IF WE DO THE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND, AND WE PLAN THE RIGHT WAY, THAT THAT FERRY SERVICE WILL BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PAY FOR ITSELF AS THE FUSS SKI GROWS AND, AND THINGS HAPPEN.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING.
UM, AND TO NOT SPEND IT, YOU'RE ACTUALLY SAYING TO THE FUSS COUNTY PEOPLE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA FUND THE FERRY SYSTEM THAT THEY DESPERATELY NEED UNTIL WE COME TO A POINT WHERE WE SAY, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA GO PERMANENTLY TO PICK THE ISLAND, WHICH NOBODY OUTSIDE OF MYSELF HAS BEEN WILLING TO COME UP HERE AND SAY THAT, AND KNOW IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT, THEN IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO ADVOCATE AND CONTINUE TO SPEND DOLLARS ON IT WITHOUT ANY REASSURANCE THAT WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY GO THAT DIRECTION.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE'VE JUST BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT AND TALKING ABOUT IT, AND NOTHING'S ACTUALLY BEEN CONCRETE AND WE THROW OUT IDEAS.
AND THEN SUPPOSED TO GO TO JENKINS, MAYBE BUCKINGHAM LANDING CAN'T STAY THERE.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH NO SOLUTION IN HAND.
BUT AS STATED EARLIER, WE CONTINUE TO GET THE CALLS, THE TEXT, AND OUR, OUR STAFF CONTINUES TO GET IT ABOUT HOW THE SERVICE ISN'T UP TO PAR THAT THEY DESIRED, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EXACT SAME CONTRACT WE HAD FROM THE OTHER COMPANY.
SO IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE BEING PUT IN A SITUATION HERE AT THE COUNTY WHERE WE'RE BEING HELD LIABLE AND PUT IN A PREDICAMENT OR SOMETHING THAT'S TECHNICALLY NOT EVEN OUR DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT WE WE'RE IN THAT POSITION RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND IF I MAY HAVE A REBUTTAL SINCE LOGAN GOT A REBUTTAL.
SO, SO YOUR SOLUTION IS TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FOR A SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
UM, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE DOING THAT TO, TO JUST PROVE A POINT.
THAT'S KIND OF THE FEELING I GET RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED THIS MONEY IN DECEMBER.
WE SAT HERE AS A, AS A, AS A GROUP, AS A COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED THE MONEY, AND THEN KNOWING THAT THE MONEY WAS GONNA COME FROM GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR THIS.
AND THIS IS JUST THE, THE INSTRUMENT WE USE THEN TO, TO MOVE THE MONEY TO MAKE IT SO IT, IT'S AVAILABLE.
SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS ALREADY AND TALKED ABOUT THIS, THIS ALREADY, WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDING, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH US LOOKING AT PINKNEY ISLAND.
AND I THINK PEOPLE WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH SOME OF OUR, OUR, UM, REPRESENTATIVES TO GET AN ANSWER OF IF WE COULD DO THAT.
AND IT STILL SEEMS TO BE UNSURE 'CAUSE NOTHING'S COME BACK.
UM, THAT, THAT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE ISSUE WITH PINKNEY ISLAND, IS BEING ABLE TO BUILD FACILITIES THERE AND MAKE IT A PERMANENT LANDING.
AND THAT'S WHY IT HASN'T BEEN CHOSEN AS, AS THE SITE FOR THE PERMANENT LANDING.
'CAUSE THERE'S STILL THINGS THAT ARE UP IN THE AIR WHEN IT COMES TO FEDERAL.
UM, 'CAUSE IT'S A FEDERAL SITE.
UM, SO AS SOON AS I'M WITH YOU, AS SOON AS WE GET THE, THE APPROVAL, I'M ALL FOR.
IF THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO, I'D, I'D BE ALL FOR THAT.
BUT UNTIL THEN, WE STILL HAVE TO FUND AND TAKE CARE OF AND, AND MAKE THAT VERY, UM, AS BEST WE CAN FOR THE PEOPLE OF DUSKY.
AND TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THEM IS, IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CORRECT ANSWER.
CAN I JUST SAY ONE THING THAT'S WRONG, MR. CHAIRMAN? SURE.
WE WORK FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT.
IT, IT, IT MAY BE EASY SOMETIMES OR HARD, BUT I, I DON'T HEAR AND FEAR THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS OR WE SHOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OUR STAFF AND WE'RE FIELDING ALL THESE CALLS.
I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS EVEN A DISCUSSION POINT AT THIS POINT.
BUT WE DO WHAT WE SAID WE'D DO IN DECEMBER AND THEN WORK TO GET THAT ON ITS OWN.
I THINK KICKING THINGS DOWN THE ROAD LIKE WE HAVE FOR SO LONG IS PROBABLY WHY THAT WE'RE IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN.
BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SAY THAT.
UH, SO ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.
[01:15:01]
NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE ACTION THAT WE TAKE NOW WILL BE TO REMOVE THIS 250,000.IF THIS IS APPROVED, WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A, A MOTION AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
AND I'M GONNA ASK FOR A ROLL CALL ON THIS.
PLEASE, SIR, THIS IS TO REMOVE THE 250,000 CLARIFY.
IF YOU SAY YES, YOU'RE GONNA REMOVE THE 250.
IF YOU SAY YES, YOU'RE REMOVING THE TWO 50.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MEANT TO SAY.
SO NOW WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED.
ALL OF THE MONEY IS NOW INCLUDED.
AND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT AMENDED MOTION? I'D LIKE TO TAKE ANOTHER ROLL CALL FOR THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
[14. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 TAXATION, ARTICLE V HOSPITALITY TAX OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES]
14 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING HOSPITALITY TAX.CHAPTER 66, TAXATION, ARTICLE FIVE, HOSPITALITY TAX OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES.
UM, THIS IS TO HAVE US COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATE STATUTE AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM, UH, PAUL BROWN.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? HEARING NO DISCUSSION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS ON THIS MATTER? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS? THIS MATTER PASSES ITEM NUMBER 50 IN
[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 TAXATION, ARTICLE II ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOARD, DIVISION 1. GENERALLY AND DIVISION 2. ACCOMMODATIONS (3%) TAX]
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66, TAXATION ARTICLE TWO, ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOARD DIVISION ONE, GENERALLY IN DIVISION TWO ACCOMMODATIONS 3% TAX.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? THIS TWO BRINGS US IN COMPORTMENT WITH THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATE STATUTE.
UM, IN REGARD TO COMMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY, ALTHOUGH THIS IS FIRST READING, I AM GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.
BUT I WANT US TO LOOK AT THE SECTION ON THE ALLOCATIONS TO THE DMO CAREFULLY BEFORE I, BEFORE WE GO FOR FINAL, I MEAN, SECOND AND THIRD READING.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT WHEN? WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE DO THAT? UM, THE FI FINANCE COMMITTEE AND, AND THE, WITH, WITH, WITH OUR COUNCIL.
MR. ROBERT? DID YOU HEAR THAT, TOM? WELL, I DID, BUT COULD I ASK YOU, UM, NOT TO REFER IT BACK TO A COMMITTEE, BUT JUST TO ASK THE STAFF, JUST ASK STAFF TO CONSIDER THAT.
SO WE NEED THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE SECOND MEETING.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS ONE.
UM, I HEARD WHAT PEOPLE SAID TODAY, HOWEVER, I'M TRYING TO BRING US IN LINE WITH WHAT HILTON HAD AND BLUFFED AND DO WITH THEIR LOCAL ATEX FUNDS.
AND THAT IS, AND I GAVE YOU ALL THIS INFORMATION BEFORE IT BASICALLY SUPPORTS THEIR INITIATIVES INSTEAD OF GIVING THE GRANT OUT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T GRANT MONEY TO ENTITIES THAT APPLY, BUT WE, WHAT IT DOES IS TAKE OFF THE SPECIFIC DETAIL FUNDS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, COULD I ASK COUNCILMAN HOWARD, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE LOCAL AT TAX, WHICH IS THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE IN EXISTING SECTION 66 DASH 47 WHERE WE TALK ABOUT ALLOCATING YES.
THAT WANTED TO MAKE SURE 152 EACH.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, MR. GLOVER? YEAH.
I, I WANTED TO SPEAK TO, UM, A COMMENT THAT WE JUST MADE.
UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE ARE A COUNTY COUNCIL AND, UM, WE HAVE THE UNINCORPORATED AREA AND
[01:20:01]
PART OF THE, UM, MAKEUP OF, UM, OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM AN AREA THAT GETS RECEIVED OR GIVE US A LOT OF THE ACCOMMODATION TAX MONEY.I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADHERE TO THAT, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN GETTING REPRESENTATION ON THAT COMMITTEE THAT, UM, THAT, UM, GIVE CREDIT OR GIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO THAT AREA THAT WE RECEIVE A LOT OF TAXES FROM.
SO, UH, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.
UH, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE A COUNTY AND A LOT OF AREAS IN THE COUNTY HAVE MORE RESOURCES WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT, UM, THAN PARTICULARLY THE RURAL AREA.
SO IF I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING, I MAY WANT TO DO IT IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORD OR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE THOSE EVENTS AND STUFF.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I DO LIKE FOR REPRESENTATION TO COME FROM AREAS WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GIVING US A LOT OF THE TAXES AREAS.
THE OTHER VENUES ARE, YOU MEAN? HMM, YES.
AREAS WHERE THE OTHER VENUE IN THE INCORPORATED AREA? YES.
MR. CHAIR, POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I'LL ASK MR. SULLIVAN.
I BELIEVE THE CURRENT COMMITTEE IS ALL NORTH OF THE BROAD.
SO THE ISSUE IS WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE SOUTH OF THE BROAD AS MR. SULLIVAN TOLD US BEFORE, BUT THEY'RE ALL NORTH OF BROAD RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S THE LEGAL NUMBER ON THAT COMMITTEE? SEVEN.
SEVEN TO CLARIFY, THAT'S THE, THE 2% ACCOMMODATIONS TAX COMMITTEE.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT IS THE 3%.
SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, SO THE, THE LEGAL NUMBER IS SEVEN AND THERE'S FIVE, THERE'S CURRENTLY SIX, AND ALL SIX MEMBERS ARE FROM OKT TO FRE.
BUT MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE IS NO COMMITTEE FOR THE 3%, CORRECT? THERE'S ONLY A COMMITTEE FOR THE 2%.
THE 3% IS WHAT YOU GUYS DECIDE, CORRECT.
3% NUMBER IS WHAT COMES FROM THIS IS LOCAL COLLECTED BY BUFORT COUNTY, NOT THE STATE 2%.
THANKS FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? THE ONLY THING IS I'M GONNA SAY NO TONIGHT UNTIL I HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS AND LEARN, UH, FROM ALL THESE COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT.
BUT I APPRECIATE IT WITH, UH, ITEM NUMBER 15.
UH, I'LL HEARING NO DISCUSSION.
UH, WE TAKE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SARAH, COUNCIL MEMBER TABER? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
[16. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE SET ASIDE PROGRAM FUND GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION (FHWA) IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,177,868,.71 FOR THE ALLJOY ROAD SIDEWALK PROJECT (FISCAL IMPACT: The grant is an 80/20 match: 80% from USDOT FHWA and 20% Local Match. The grant award is for a total of $1,177,868.71 that will be refunded from the 2018 One Cent Transportation Sales Tax account 4705-80-0000-54500 to be used for the construction of the Alljoy Road Sidewalk Pathway project. With a total project estimated cost of $1,472,335.89, the County’s match is $294,467.18 from account number 4705-80-0000-54500)]
APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE SETASIDE PROGRAM FUND GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IN THE AMOUNT OF 1 MILLION 177 8 68 0.71 FOR THE ALL JOY ROAD SIDEWALK PROJECT.THE IMPACT IS THIS GRANT IS AN 80 20 MATCH, 80% FROM U-S-D-O-T 20% LOCAL GRANT.
THE AWARD IS FOR A TOTAL OF 1 1 7 7 8 68 0.71 THAT WILL BE REFUNDED FROM THE 2018 1 CENT TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX ACCOUNT TO BE USED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ALL JOY ROAD SIDEWALK PATHWAY PROJECT WITH THE TOTAL PROJECT ESTIMATED COST OF 1 4 7 2 3 3 5 0.89.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION.
THIS MATTER WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTION.
[17. REQUEST FOR PRIVATE ROAD ACCEPTANCE OF SCHEPER LANE INTO THE COUNTY ROAD INVENTORY]
17, A REQUEST FOR A PRIVATE ROAD ACCEPTANCE OF SHEPHERD LANE INTO THE COUNTY ROAD INVENTORY.WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? A REQUEST TO, WHAT DO THEY WANT THIS? JUST A VOTE TO ACCEPT IT INTO THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM.
YOU'RE REQUESTING US TO TAKE A VOTE? YES.
NO MOTION OR ANYTHING? WELL, THAT'S MOTION.
I WOULD BE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
DID YOU GET ONE, SARAH? THANK YOU.
ANY DISCUSSION? I WOULD JUST, YES, GO AHEAD.
NO, I WAS MAKING SURE THAT MR. DAWSON DISCUSSION FOLLOW UP MR. AS WE TALK ABOUT COMMITTEE? YEAH.
AT OUR, AT OUR LAST MEETING, THIS ITEM
[01:25:01]
CAME UP AND, UM, I, I ASKED STAFF, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS REQUEST, UH, MEETS OUR POLICY QUALIFICATION, POLICY STATEMENT 15 AND POLICY 17.AND WHICH I THINK 15 STATES THAT THE REQUIREMENT IS, UH, FOR PRIVATE ROADS, UH, WANTING TO BE GRANTED INTO THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM THAT HAD TO HAVE A MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF EITHER SIX OR SEVEN HOMES.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH, WHICH NUMBER THAT WAS, BUT THIS, THIS REQUEST IS, IS ONLY FOUR HOMES ON THIS ROAD.
SO I ASKED STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT VIOLATING OUR OWN POLICY BY ACCEPTANCE ROAD INTO THE COUNTY.
THE A IS STATES, UH, MR. DAWSON WROTE ACCEPTANCE PROCEDURES AND STATEMENTS 15 AND 17 HAVE BEEN MET TO EITHER ACCEPT OR DENY INTO THE COUNTY ROAD INVENTORY, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
SO THE QUESTION IS, DOES IT, UH, MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE? WELL, ACTUALLY I THINK IT'S POLICY NUMBER 17, COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
AND I THINK THERE IS, YOU ARE RIGHT THAT POLICY 17 SAYS THAT IT SHOULD SERVE THE ROAD, PRIVATE ROAD SHOULD SERVE AT LEAST SIX DWELLINGS, AND THIS ONE SERVES FOUR.
BUT STAFF IS ASKING COUNSEL TO APPROVE IT NONETHELESS.
WELL, SO THERE'S 15 AND 17 POLICY STATEMENTS.
POLICY 15 IS FOR WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND THEN FOR 17 IS THE SANCE OF A PRIVATE ROAD.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY DEALING WITH POLICY NUMBER 17.
UH, AND THE DIFFERENCE IS A PRIVATE ROAD AND A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.
SO THIS IS A PRIVATE ROAD, NOT A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.
IT IS AN ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC ROAD, AND IT DOES IT, ITEM THREE IS SERVE AT LEAST SIX DWELLING UNITS, ALTHOUGH FOUR DWELLING UNITS LIVE ON THIS SECTION OF THE ROAD.
THE ENTIRE ROAD OF SHEPP ROAD SERVES, UH, I BELIEVE 12 OR 13 HOMES.
SO IT DOES MEET AS FAR AS SERVICE.
THIS IS ALREADY AN EXISTING PAVE ROAD.
UM, A PORTION OF IT IS A DOT OWNED, AND IT'S SURROUNDED BY OTHER DOT OWNED ROADS IN THE MOSS OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND SO THIS WOULD BE THE LAST REMAINING PORTION OF THAT PAVED ROAD THAT CURRENTLY HAS A PRIVATE ROAD STATUS TO BE ACCEPTED AS A COUNTY ROAD.
SO IT TOO CAN BE MAINTAINED, UM, LIKE THE OTHER ROADS AROUND IT.
AND THEN THE LAST STATEMENT IS THE ROAD ACCEPTANCE APPLICATION.
UH, SO BASICALLY THE HOMEOWNERS MAKE AN APPLICATION, THEY PROVIDE THAT TO OUR COUNTY, RIGHT OF WAY, MANAGER, OUR RIGHT OF WAY.
MANAGER CHECKS THE DOCUMENTS AND THEN MAKES SURE THERE'S A HUNDRED PERCENT PARTICIPATION FOR, UH, PROVIDING THE RIGHT OF WAY.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE RIGHT OF WAY MANAGER TAKES IT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS, UH, DIRECTOR FOR THEM TO DO EVALUATION OF THE ROAD.
AND THEN THAT IS PROVIDED BACK AND RUNS THROUGH PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE AND THEN THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO, UM, THOSE ITEMS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWED IN, IN ACCORDANCE TO POLICY STATEMENT 17.
THERE ARE, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
THIS IS ADJACENT TO A MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHICH I THINK HAS FOUR TO 500 STUDENTS.
UM, IT'S NEXT TO PAUL DRIVE, WHICH IS HEAVILY USED BY STUDENTS WALKING TO AND FROM SCHOOL.
UM, THERE'S STUDENTS THAT LIVE THAT HAVE TO WALK DOWN THIS ROAD TO GET TO THEIR HOUSES.
UM, SO IT'S, YES, IT'S A SHORT ROAD, BUT IT'S HEAVILY USED.
UM, AND THE INTENTION HERE IS BY WALKER.
WALKER AND BUSES, SORRY, BY WALKERS AND BUSES.
AND IT APPEARS THAT IF THIS, UH, PASSES, THEY'RE GONNA RESURFACE THIS ROAD.
SO THE INTENT IS THERE'S A PORTION OF, UH, THE ROAD NEAR NEARBY HAS BEEN PAVED LAST YEAR.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PAVE PAUL ROAD AS PART OF CTC FUNDING.
SO, UH, IF THIS DOES GET APPROVED AND ACCEPTED THAT WE COULD DO A CHANGE ORDER TO THE EXISTING PAVING CONTRACT AND ADD THAT IN TO THIS YEAR'S PAVING PLAN.
ANY, YES? I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION IS, SHOULD IT BE PAVED OR SHOULD WE TAKE IT IN? UM, THE QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROVE IT? THE RULES THAT WE SET FORWARD BETWEEN US, WE DIDN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
I, I DO THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I MEAN, ESPECIALLY IF THE DAMAGE TO THE ROAD IS BEING DONE BY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, UM, THE, UH, BUSES AND PEOPLE GETTING INTO SCHOOL.
BUT IF THE, THE OLD GUIDELINES WE HAVE PUT IN FRONT OF US, WE DON'T MEET THEM.
HOW ARE WE AS THE PEOPLE HELD RESPONSIBLE BY THOSE GUIDELINES SUPPOSED TO VOTE YES ON IT.
SO WE AS STAFF ARE SAYING WE DO MEET THOSE GUIDELINES.
AND THE DIFFERENCE IS THE DIFF IS A PRIVATE ROAD AND A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, WHICH IS DEFINED IN THIS POLICY STATEMENT.
SO PRIVATE ROAD IS A, IS A ROAD THAT'S USED, UM, BUT IS HAS DIFFERENT LANDOWNERS.
AND A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY IS A VEHICULAR PATHWAY WHERE THE OWNERSHIP LAND OF BUTTING BOTH SIDES IS THE SAME AS THE PATHWAY.
[01:30:01]
DRIVEWAY.UH, AND THIS GETS TO POLICY NUMBER, STATEMENT 15, AND THE DRIVEWAY PORTION IS A LOT OF TIMES THERE MAY BE A DRIVEWAY THAT HAS ONE LANDOWNER, BUT HAS MULTIPLE HOUSES ON THAT DRIVEWAY.
UH, SO IN THAT, THAT'S REFERENCED AS A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.
THIS IS A ROAD THAT HAS MULTIPLE LANDOWNERS.
SO IT DOESN'T MEET THE PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THRESHOLD.
IT MEETS A PRIVATE ROAD THRESHOLD.
SO WE ARE ACCEPTING A PRIVATE ROAD, NOT A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY.
CAN WE PULL UP THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ROAD PORTION THEN INSTEAD OF THE DRIVEWAY PORTION? MM-HMM.
AND, UH, JARED, IF I MAY, WHILE THEY'RE LOOKING THAT UP, ACTUALLY, I ACTUALLY HAVE IT PULLED UP HERE.
IS THERE ANY DEFINITION FOR THE WORD SERVE? 'CAUSE IT SAYS SERVE AT LEAST SIX DWELLING UNITS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TO BE OWN IT, RIGHT? IT JUST HAS TO BE SERVICED OR UTILIZED BY MORE THAN SIX DWELLING UNITS.
THERE'S NO DEFINITION FOR SERVE.
THIS WAS A POLICY STATEMENT THAT COUNSEL MADE SEVERAL, MANY YEARS AGO.
SO WITHOUT ANY DEFINITION OF THE WORD SERVE, I, I THINK SERVE IF IT'S UTILIZED BY THOSE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
GLAD WE GOT A LAWYER ON, ON KELSEY.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T VIOLATING OUR OWN POLICY.
AND THAT'S WHY I ASKED FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP, MR. DAWSON.
SO THE MATTER STANDS AS A REQUEST FOR PRIVATE ROAD ACCEPTANCE OF SHELAN INTO THE COUNTY ROAD INVENTORY WITH THE MOTION ON SECOND DISCUSSION.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? UH, HEARING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THIS MATTER WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NONE THE MATTER PASSES.
[18. APPROVAL OF A $100 SUPPLEMENT TO POLL WORKERS FOR THE REMAINING 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR (FISCAL IMPACT: The request from the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County is a total of $80,000)]
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN.I THINK MS. HALL WOULD'VE, TO EXCUSE US, THIS, OH YEAH.
WE'VE ALREADY FILLED OUT OUR FORM.
YOU'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? NOT YET.
THIS IS APPROVAL OF THE POLL WORKERS.
UH, THAT'S THE ONE WE HAVE TO, OKAY.
I MEAN, AFTER THAT YOU GO, CAN WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO, NO, NO, NO.
THE, UH, ITEM THAT, UH, MS. BROWN BROUGHT IN FOR, UH, UH OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, I'M GONNA SKIP THIS, HOLD IT, HOLD IT IN.
UH, HOLD THIS APPROVAL OF THE, UH, A HUNDRED DOLLARS SUPPLEMENT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE.
AND THEN WE'LL DEAL WITH, WITH YOUR, UH, WITH YOUR ITEM.
MR. KEVIN, YOU'RE GONNA NEED A LITTLE REFRESHER ON WHAT THAT, UM, THAT ITEM WAS THAT WAS ADDED.
BRIAN, AM I OKAY DOING THAT TO MOVE THE AMEND AGAIN? HANGING OUTTA WORK? NO, LET'S NOT.
I'M GONNA HAVE SOME FOOD IN MY MOUTH WHEN I COME BACK.
OUR ITEM IS BACK ON THE APPROVAL OF A HUNDRED, I'M SORRY.
APPROVAL OF A HUNDRED DOLLARS SUPPLEMENT TO POLL WORKERS FOR THE REMAINING 2324 FISCAL YEAR.
I GOTTA RECUSE MY CELL PHONE, SIR.
THE, UM, FISCAL IMPACT ON THIS IS A TOTAL OF $80,000.
AND THIS IS A SUPPLEMENT THAT, UH, IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING SERVICE TO US DURING THIS ELECTION PERIOD.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO, TO TRAIN THEM.
EVERYONE DOES THAT THROUGH VOLUNTEERS, BUT I THINK THAT, UH, MAKING THIS, UH, ADDITIONAL PAYMENT TO THEM, I THINK IS A VERY WISE MOVE.
I'VE, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, I'VE BEEN THANKED IN THE COMMUNITY BY POLL WORKERS WHO BELIEVE THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED.
SO, UH, I THINK WE, I'LL MAKE THE, WE PROBABLY HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION I SECOND.
YES, MARK AND I, I THINK THAT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY, THIS IS JUST FOR THE UPCOMING JUNE ELECTIONS.
AND THE AMOUNT IS A LOT LESS THAN 80,000.
HOWEVER, WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT PUTTING THIS INTO OUR BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, 25.
THEY, THERE'S DOES IT CODE IN NOVEMBER? NO, NO, NO, SIR.
THIS GOES, THIS WOULD HANDLE THE, THE PRIMARY, PRIMARY THAT'S IN JUNE.
AND THE REASON IT'S $80,000, THERE'S POTENTIAL FROM 650 TO 800 POLL WORKERS.
SO THAT'S ENOUGH TO COVER, UH, THAT, AND THEN THE, THE FOLLOWING NEXT FISCAL YEAR WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THEIR BUDGET.
THAT'S A REMARKABLE NUMBER OF POLL WORKERS.
CAN'T BELIEVE THEY GOT THEM MANY.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A STRUGGLE.
[01:35:01]
IS IMPORTANT THIS YEAR.SO IT IS, WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THE OTHER YEARS WASN'T IMPORTANT.
360 POLL WORKERS, THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE NUMBER OF POLL WORKERS FROM THE PREVIOUS ELECTION.
I I, I THINK ACTUALLY, IF WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF, UH, POLL WORKERS ON THE ROLL CALL, THERE'S MUCH MORE.
BUT THEIR ESTIMATE FOR A LARGE ELECTION WAS THAT 650 TO 800 POLL WORKERS.
SO DURING A YEAR THAT WE'D HAVE POLL ELECTIONS, NO, THAT'S, NO, THAT'S IN NOVEMBER.
200 QUARTER A MILLION DOLLARS IN POSSIBLY.
IT COULD BE IT THAT, UH, THAT, THAT PORTION WILL COME FORWARD FROM THE, UM, UH, IN THEIR BUDGET REQUEST.
FOR NEXT, WE HAVE A, UH, DELICATE MATTER TO DISCUSS, UH, WITH YOU, MR. KEVIN, IF ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL IS ENGAGED IN A PRIMARY IN JUNE, SHOULD HE RECUSE HIMSELF HERE? IF ENGAGED IN A PRIMARY IN JUNE? YEAH.
IF THE PERSON'S PRIMARIED IN JUNE AT, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DON'T KNOW YET.
I, I DON'T THINK THAT IS AN INTEREST IN, IN THE SALARY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I WANNA ASK A QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH, IS ADMINISTRATION STILL INVESTIGATING, ALLOWING OUR EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE DAY TO BE POLL WORKERS? WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ASK THAT QUESTION.
NO, THEN THE PUBLIC CAN'T HEAR IT.
NO, I CAN'T STOP AN INQUIRY LIKE THAT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY IS NO, IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT WELL, WE HAVE DONE MORE.
UM, SO IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO BE PAID TWICE.
SO, AND IF AN EMPLOYEE IS WORKING AS A BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYEE CORRECT.
AND IS SERVING TO BACKFILL, UH, WHEN, IF THEY'VE DONE TRAINING AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO FILL IN AT, AT, AT A POLLING STATION.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
IF THEY WANT TO USE A VACATION DAY OR TIME OFF, AND SO THEY'RE NOT BEING PAID BY BEAUFORT COUNTY, THEN THEY CAN BECOME A POLL WORKER FOR THAT TIME.
AND RECEIVE THE A HUNDRED DOLLARS WELL, AND LOSE THEIR SALARY.
THEY WOULD NOT BE PAID BY BEFORD COUNTY.
THEY WOULD BE BEING PAID BY OKAY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING, HEARING NONE THIS MATTER PASSES THIS.
MR. KEVIN, WE'RE JUST GONNA NEED A REFRESHER COURSE ON THE AMENDMENT.
YOU WANNA WAIT UNTIL THE WOULD? YEAH.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE MOTION IS TO BRING BACK THE RESOLUTION, THE LATS RESOLUTION THAT COUNSEL APPROVED AT ITS LAST MEETING.
FOR, IT'S NOT A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION, BUT IT'S A MOTION TO CON TO REVIEW ITS DECISION TO EITHER RESCIND THAT EARLIER VOTE OR TO AMEND THE EARLIER VOTE TO TWEAK THAT LATS RESOLUTION IN SOME WAY.
SO AN APPROVE A YES VOTE AT THIS TIME WOULD BRING THAT RESOLUTION BACK TO COUNSEL ON ITS NEXT AGENDA.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? THERE ANY QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS? SO WE VOTE YES ON THIS TODAY.
IT BRINGS IT BACK UP A DISCUSSION ON 24TH TO MAKE EITHER ADJUSTMENTS OR CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL DECISION.
AND WE HAVE THE MOTION ON THE SECOND WHEN IT WAS AMENDED.
WELL, THAT'S JUST TO AMEND IT, BUT NOW YOU
[01:40:01]
NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND AND VOTE.I HAVE, I HAVE A, I HAVE A MOTION AND I HAVE A SECOND.
UM, AND NOW IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, I, IF I MAY, I MEAN, YOU MADE THE MOTION ORIGINALLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
REALLY, I, THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT STUDIES HAPPENING IN THIS AND WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
I MYSELF, PERSONALLY, UM, I DUNNO IF THERE'S LACK OF AWARENESS ON MY OWN OR MISTAKES, YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS.
I WAS EXPECTING A SECOND AND A THIRD READING ON THIS.
'CAUSE I DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS A RE RESOLUTION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY ON THE AGENDA, THAT FALLS ON ME.
UM, BUT THE DISCUSSION STILL NEEDS TO BE HAD IF WE NEED TO FUND ALL THREE UM, SECTIONS OF THIS OR IF WE NEED TO TAKE OUT DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF IT.
AND THAT'S THE DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD HERE AT COUNCIL.
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS REACH OUT TO US AND COME TO, UH, COUNCIL CHAT.
AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S EMAIL PROBABLY LOOKS LIKE MINE RIGHT NOW.
IF NOT, I HAVE, I'LL TAKE A COUPLE HOURS AND FORWARD THEM TO YOU GUYS IF YOU'D LIKE.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE ARE
AND I, I'M HOPING FOR SUPPORT TO GET THAT DONE.
SO LEMME ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID.
EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON? UH, FOR THE PUBLIC, I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE'S ADDRESSING.
UM, SHOULD THE FUNDING BE THERE FOR, TO DO THE STUDY FOR FIVE B AND BLUFFTON? UM, THAT'S THE TERM FOR IT.
IT'S A CONNECTOR OF BLUFFTON PARKWAY TO BUCKWALTER A MILE 1.1 MILES AWAY FROM A CONNECTOR THAT IT ALREADY IS LOCATED ON FOR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 50 TO $60 MILLION.
AND THAT'S PART THREE OF A THREE PART ITEM? CORRECT.
AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM ON THE 25TH, THAT DISCUSSION.
ANYTHING FURTHER? ANY DISCUSSION? DO YOU THINK THAT'S ADEQUATELY CLARIFIED IT? UH, MR. DAWSON? YEAH.
UH, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SO YOU NO OBJECTION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
NOW MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.UH, PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.
RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WITH LEGAL ADVICE RELATES TO MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE HAYNESWORTH SINKLER BOARD INVESTIGATIONS.
RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WITH THE LEGAL ADVICE RELATES TO MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, THE APPLICATION OF THE ROAD USE FAITH.
RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WITH THE ADVICE RELATES TO PENDING CLAIMS OR OTHER MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, BEAUFORT COUNTY VERSUS HATCHER HOLDINGS.
AND PURSUANT, UH, SORRY TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE WITH THE ADVICE RELATES TO PENDING LITIGATION MONDAY VERSUS BEAUFORT COUNTY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
ANY OBJECTIONS? NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'RE MOVING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'LL BE ANY ACTION.
IT'S HARD TO TELL JUST YET, BUT EVERY TIME YOU COME UP THE CHAIR, I WOULD SAY WE'RE GONNA BE 30 TO 45 MINUTES, THEN IT BE NEGATIVE.
CALL THIS, UH, SESSION TO ORDER.
[24. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]
SESSION AND I WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THERE IS ONE ITEM THAT WE WILL, UH, BE FOLLOWING UP ON AS A RESULT OF OUR MEETING.MAY I, UH, HAVE A MOTION? UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
UM, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE ROAD USE, UH, TAX AS FEE ORDINANCE.
OH, FEE ORDINANCE AS WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MATTER? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, NO DISCUSSION.
WE'LL PASS THIS MATTER WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT MOTION? NO OBJECTION.
SEEING NONE MATTER HAS PASSED.