Mar 25, 2024 County Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

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IT'S MONDAY, MARCH 25TH OF IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE DAIS YOU WILL SEE TEN OF THE 11 OF US ARE HERE. MR. DAWSON COULD NOT BE WITH US TODAY HE HAS A FAMILY EMERGENCY . ALL OTHERS ARE WITH US. WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION BY COUNCILWOMAN ALICE HOWARD I ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE ALL IN GOOD EVENING I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING ABOUT BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK IN COUNTY AND JASPER REGARDING NATURE. FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE A QUOTE FROM GEORGE CARVER. I LOVE TO THINK OF NATURE AS AN UNLIMITED BROADCASTING STATION THROUGH WHICH GOD'S MEANS TO US EVERY HOUR IF WE WILL, ONLY TO IF YOU ABOUT YOUR HANDS.

HEAVENLY FATHER, YOU ARE THE MASTER ARTIST AND NATURE IS YOUR MASTERPIECE.

STANDING BEFORE YOUR CREATION AMAZED AT THE WORK OF HANDS AS I GO THROUGHOUT MY DAILY LIFE.

NOT ME. NOT TO FORGET THAT YOUR LOVE FOR ME IS DEMONSTRATED ALL AROUND. I JUST NEED TO OPEN MY EYES AND LOOK AT IT AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED POSTED DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. BEFORE I ASK FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA WHAT I'M GOING TO DO THIS EVENING WITH COUNSEL'S PERMISSION IS I AM GOING TO COMBINE THE CITIZEN THAT ARE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING AND THE END OF THE MEETING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A CONTINGENT FROM THE ISLAND WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US AND IF THEY HAVE TO WAIT TILL THE END OF THE THEY'RE GOING TO STAY OVERNIGHT.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DO SO. I'M GOING TO DO THAT. SECOND OF ALL, ITEM NUMBER 17 WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY IS HERE ABOUT. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT FIRST ITEM AND ACTION ON THAT ITEM. AS ITEM NUMBER 12 AFTER WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ALSO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO SO THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE TIME FOR THE OTHERS WHO WANT TO SPEAK IS THOSE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT FIVE FEET WHICH IS PART OF NUMBER FIFTH.

NUMBER 17 I'M GOING TO HOLD OFF ON YOUR SPEAKING UNTIL WE OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

YOU SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WE MAY BE ABLE TO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO.

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 26, 2024]

NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 26TH? MAY I HAVE THE MOTION? THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN MY PACKET SO SOME OF I CAN'T. MR. MCCALLUM WILL MAKE THE MOTION. SECOND PLEASE. I'LL SECOND IT DULY MOTION DIDN'T SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION SIR TODAY? YEP.

[6. INVESTIGATION REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY HAYNSWORTH SINKLER BOYD, P.A.]

THIS REPORT IS THE RESULT OF SEVEN MONTHS AND MORE THAN 800 HOURS OF INVESTIGATIVE WORK THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL HIRED SINCLAIR HAYNESWORTH, SINCLAIR BOYD AND ITS CONSULTANTS TO PERFORM ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL I WANT TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT TO THIS REPORT BEFORE WE RECEIVE IT DURING SPECIAL CALLED MEETING ON JULY 24TH OF 2023.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCED IT HAD BECOME AWARE OF THE FAILURE BY SOME COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COMPLY WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE BUDGETS, PICARD POLICIES AND, OTHER RULES AND REGULATIONS. AS A RESULT OF THIS INFORMATION COUNCIL RECEIVED IT PLACE THE COUNTY'S ADMINISTRATOR ON ADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF

[00:05:03]

FOUR DAYS LATER ON JULY 28, 2023 COUNCIL VOTED TO TERMINATE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FRUIT CLAUSE BASED UPON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COUNSEL RECEIVED RELATING TO THESE SAME.

DURING THE MEETING OF JULY 24TH COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY AND TO RECOMMEND TO AFFIRM TO CONDUCT SEVERAL INVESTIGATIONS AND THE FIRM WOULD BE ASKED TO DO THE FOLLOWING CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL PURCHASES THAT OCCURRED ON AFTER JANUARY 1ST OF 2023 CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL CONTRACTS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THE COUNTY ENTERED INTO AFTER JANUARY 1ST, 2023 CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODES, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND TO PROVIDE COUNSEL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UPDATES, NEW MEASURES AND ANY OTHER CHANGES THE FIRM ARE NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS INCLUDING THE PROCUREMENT CODE .

OUR POLICIES, OUR PROCEDURES AND FORTH CONDUCT AN AUDIT THE COUNTY'S P CARD SYSTEM FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2023 AND REPORT THE FIRM'S FINDINGS TO COUNCIL AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ANY NECESSARY CHANGES ON JULY 28 THE SAME DAY COUNSEL TERMINATED MR. GREEN COORS COUNTY BEAUFORT COUNTY ISSUED A REQUEST QUALIFICATIONS SEEKING QUALIFIED FIRMS TO CONDUCT A REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT I JUST DESCRIBED DUE TO THE URGE NATURE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS WAS OPEN FOR THREE WEEKS.

TWO FIRMS RESPONDED BR FOREMAN AND HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD ON AUGUST 28, TEN DAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE FOR THE FIRMS TO RESPOND FOR THE RFQ COUNSEL INTERVIEWED BOTH FIRMS. THAT SAME DAY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTED IN A SPECIAL CALL MEETING TO RECOMMEND THAT COUNSEL HIRE HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD TO PERFORM THE REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS.

THAT SAME AFTERNOON COUNSEL CONVENED A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

DURING THAT MEETING COUNCIL ACCEPTED AND RATIFIED THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO HIRE ANGLER SINCLAIR BOYD ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2023 HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SIGNED AN ENGAGEMENT. SINCE THEN HAYNESWORTH HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD AND THIS CONSULTANT HAVE SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS INVESTIGATING AND WORKING WITH STAFF ON THE REVIEW AND INVESTIGATIONS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE COMPLETE BUT HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD'S WORK IS NOT.

IT CONTINUES TO WORK WITH STAFF TO DEVELOP THE NEW PROCUREMENT CODE TO ENHANCE OUR PICARD POLICIES AND TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE ISSUES HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD FOUND IN THE CONTRACTS PICARD PURCHASES. THAT WORK WILL CONTINUE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

THIS BRINGS US TO WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY ALMOST SEVEN MONTHS TO THE DAY AFTER COUNSEL SELECTED HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD. COUNCIL HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE FIRM'S FINDINGS. THEY ARE NOT GOOD. WE DID NOT EXPECT THEM TO BE GOOD. WE EXPECTED HAYNESWORTH, SINCLAIR BOYD TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST AND FRANK SO THAT COUNTY COUNCIL AND BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT CAN LEARN FROM THE WEAKNESSES AND FRANKLY THE WILLFUL ABUSES AND REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH OF OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE THEM, TO IMPROVE COMPLIANCE WITH THEM AND TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE THOSE WHO VIOLATE THEM AND THOSE WHO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THEIR THEIR VIOLATION.

MR. NICHOLSON, A SHAREHOLDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WORKS SINCLAIR BOYD CONDUCTED AND PRESIDED OVER THESE. HE WILL PRESENT THE FIRM'S FINDINGS.

MR. NICHOLSON. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, MR. CHAIRMAN.

LADIES. IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU AGAIN.

SOME OF MY INTRODUCTORY WILL PARROT WHAT CHAIRMAN SAID BUT I THINK THERE IMPORTANT FOR THE TO GIVE FULSOME REPORT IN THE WAKE OF THE MUCH PUBLICIZED ISSUES SURROUNDING THEN CURRENT NOW FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ERIC GREENWAY BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ENGAGED HAYNESWORTH SINCKLER BOYD P.A. WORKING WITH SWIFT WATER STRATEGIES LLC PURSUANT TO A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS TO REVIEW THE COUNTY'S PURCHASES IN 2023 TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH PURCHASES COMPLIED WITH THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS WHICH COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS THE PROCUREMENT CODE TO IDENTIFY PURCHASES THAT NOT COMPLY WITH

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COUNCIL ALSO TASKS US WITH REVIEWING ALL PURCHASED OR PICARD PURCHASES FROM FISCAL YEARS 2019 THROUGH 2023 AND SIMILARLY ASKED FOR A REPORT ON THE PROPRIETY OF THESE PURCHASES AND FOR RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW THE COUNTY COULD IMPROVE ITS P CARD PURCHASING. AS A PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

WE REVIEWED OF DOCUMENTS INTERVIEWED AND DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY PAST AND CURRENT COUNTY EMPLOYEES OFFICIALS AND ANALYZED THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE .

ITS P CARD MANUAL AND THE PRACTICES OF COUNTY STAFF IN RELATION TO THESE GUIDELINES.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS COUNTY STAFF HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELP. THEY GATHERED AND MADE AVAILABLE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF DATA AND THEY HAVE WILLINGLY AND OPENLY ISSUES INVOLVING COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES.

MOREOVER, WHILE COUNTY COUNCIL WANTED A PROMPT END TO END REPORT OF OUR INVESTIGATION AT ,NO TIME DID COUNCIL TRY TO UNDULY RUSH OUR WORK AND AT ALL TIMES COUNTY COUNCIL HAS SUPPORTED OUR EFFORTS AND EXPRESSED US THE DESIRE FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO BECOME BETTER AS A RESULT. THIS PROCESS. NOW SOME FINDINGS.

FIRST PROCUREMENT ISSUES IN 2023 SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS COUNTY GOVERNMENT FAILED TO PROPERLY FOLLOW AND CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BLATANTLY DISREGARDED THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE . THESE ISSUES BEGAN AT THE TOP OF THE COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WITH OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT AT WORST WILLFULLY FLOUTED THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE OR AT THE VERY LEAST WERE WOEFULLY OF IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP'S FAILURE TO ADHERE TO PURCHASING GUIDELINES WAS A RESULT OF THEIR WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE LAW OR IGNORANCE OF IT OR SOME COMBINATION THEREOF.

THIS FAILURE LED TO AN OVERALL CULTURE OF LAXITY WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE PROCUREMENT CODE AND RELATED GUIDELINES. THAT HAS RESULTED NOT ONLY IN FLAGRANT OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE BUT ALSO IN MANY FAILURES TO FOLLOW DETAILS OF THE CODE AND TO LOOSELY ENFORCE THOSE GUIDELINES. WHILE IT IS EASY TO LOOK BACK NOW AND CRITICIZE THE ACTIONS AND IN SEVERAL CASES INACTIONS OF COUNTY STAFF RELATIVE TO THEIR PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING ACTIVITIES OVER THE LAST YEAR IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS CAME FROM THE VERY TOP OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT NAMELY THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

TWO CONTRACTS ONE INVOLVING WEIGHTED BLANKETS AND ONE INVOLVING CONSULTING SERVICES WERE ENTERED INTO BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITHOUT ANY FORMAL SOLICITATION OR A PURCHASE ORDER BOTH OF WHICH ARE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROCUREMENT.

THESE CONTRACTS ALSO INCLUDED PROPER INVOLVEMENT OF COUNTY STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAD A PERSONAL STAKE IN THESE CONTRACTS. ALTHOUGH IMPROPER IMPRUDENT APPROVALS WERE MADE AT FIRST OF THESE CONTRACTS, EVENTUALLY THEY WERE TERMINATED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF COUNTY STAFF. ANOTHER PURCHASE OF ALMOST $800,000 WORTH OF PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND CARRIED OUT BY A FORMER COUNTY DIRECTOR TOOK PLACE WITHOUT COUNTY COUNCIL WHICH IS REQUIRED OF ALL PURCHASES OVER $200,000 AND WITHOUT THE COUNTY HAVING A FORMAL SOLICITATION EVEN A SIGNED AGREEMENT FOR THE EQUIPMENT AS THE OTHER TWO CONTRACTS DISCUSSED ABOVE. WHEN OTHER COUNTY STAFF OF THIS ISSUE ALBEIT AFTER THE EQUIPMENT HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED, STAFF ALERTED THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WHO ALERTED COUNTY COUNCIL. APART FROM THESE BLATANT VIOLATIONS THE REVIEW OF PROCUREMENT PRACTICES REVEALED SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES. WHILE NONE OF THESE ISSUES RISE TO THE LEVEL OF WILLFULNESS OR BLATANT DISREGARD PROCUREMENT CODE ALREADY DISCUSSED THEY DO ILLUSTRATE THE OF LAXITY MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY. EXAMPLES OF THIS LAXITY OVERUSE OF THE COUNTY SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT METHOD A LEGITIMATE PROCUREMENT METHOD THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE USED SPARINGLY AND A FAILURE TO COMPLETE IN MANY INSTANCES OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT THE PROCUREMENT CODE REQUIRES FOR COMPETITORS SOLICITATIONS OR LEGITIMATE EXEMPTIONS FROM COMPETITORS SOLICITATIONS SUCH AS SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENTS.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PEAK ART THE PEAK ARTS PURCHASING OR PICARD'S INCREASED 85% FROM 2019 TO 2013 WHICH IS $1,104,808 IN 2019 TO $2039467 IN 2023 APPROXIMATELY

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AUTHORIZATIONS AND APPROVALS ARE ALSO NOT ROUTINELY HANDLED APPROPRIATELY TO PROVIDE PROPER OVERSIGHT AS. SUBORDINATES OFTEN APPROVE THE PICARD PURCHASES OF THEIR SUPERIORS AND AT TIMES STAFF MEMBERS AUTHORIZE THEIR OWN EXPENSES, ACTIONS TAKEN AND FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. DURING THE COURSE OF OUR INVESTIGATION WE RECOMMENDED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPT A WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY AND COUNSEL DID SO.

WE HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPT A SUBSTANTIALLY REVISED PROCUREMENT CODE AND COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO THIS ALSO WITH THE FIRST READING OF A SUBSTANTIALLY REVISED PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE TO BE SCHEDULED WITHIN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS. IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING, WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO ADDRESS PICARD EXPENDITURES AND THE OVERSIGHT OF THEM. THESE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PICARD USERS CENTRALIZING PICARD PURCHASING AND REQUIRING A MUCH MORE ROBUST AUTHORIZATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS. WE HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED TO COUNTY THAT A DIRECT INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IMPLEMENT A ROBUST PROTOCOL FOR ALL RELEVANT COUNTY STAFF CONCERNING THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE PICARD MANUAL AND BEST PRACTICES FOR HOW TO COMPLY WITH THESE GUIDELINES AND BE EFFECTIVE STEWARDS OF COUNTY RESOURCES AS PART OF . AND IN ADDITION TO THIS TRAINING WE HAVE ALSO ADVISED THAT THE COUNTY EDUCATE ITS STAFF ABOUT THE COUNTY'S WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY. WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT STAFF FEEL PROTECTED AND EMPOWERED TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE PICARD MANUAL AND OTHER PURCHASING IRREGULARITIES. SO IN SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION SEVERAL OF YOU FOR COUNTY STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADHERE TO THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODE .

PICARD MANUAL AND RELATED GUIDELINES AND BEST PRACTICES. SOME OF THESE FAILURES WERE EGREGIOUS AND WERE MORE THAN LIKELY THAN NOT THEY WERE WILLFUL OTHER FAILURES AND INDEED THE MAJORITY OF THEM OUT OF A CULTURE EMANATING FROM THE TOP OF THE COUNTY'S ORGANIZATION THAT AT BEST LOOKED UPON PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING GUIDELINES MERE SUGGESTIONS AND NOT THE LAW. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT FOR EACH BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE PROCUREMENT CODE THAT OCCURRED, SOMEONE ON THE COUNTY STAFF RAISED THEIR HAND ALBEIT SOMETIMES TOO LATE TO PREVENT THE VIOLATION AND QUESTION WHAT HAD OCCURRED AND WAS OCCURRING EVEN THOUGH IT USUALLY QUESTIONING THE ACTIONS OF SOMEONE HIGHER AND OFTEN MUCH HIGHER ON THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. WHILE IT IS EVIDENT THAT MANY WITHIN COUNTY STAFF REALIZE THERE HAVE BEEN ISSUES FOR SOME TIME WITH PURCHASING PRACTICES ,IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT THESE SAME MEMBERS WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE TYPES OF ISSUES DO NOT OCCUR AND THEY ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING SEE THAT COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT IS RUN IN A PROFESSIONAL EFFICIENT MANNER. LIKEWISE, COUNTY COUNCIL HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO LEARN FROM THESE PAST ISSUES AND TO USE THEM IN ORDER TO IMPROVE UPON COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT.

THANK CHAIRMAN. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL NEED ANY OTHER CLARIFICATION OF INFORMATION? SEEING NONE. WILL YOU GIVE A COPY OF THAT TO

[7. ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS AS RESULT OF INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF HAYNSWORTH SINKER BOYD, P.A.]

OKAY NEXT I'M GOING TO CALL ON OUR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MR. JOHN ROBINSON TO NOT ONLY GIVE HIS ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT BUT TO INDICATE WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO DO AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE.

MR. ROBINSON THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD EVENING CHAIRMAN AND COUNSEL.

EACH OF YOU HAVE A COPY MY STATEMENT FOR THIS EVENING AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO ASK QUESTIONS PROBABLY TOWARDS I GET TO THE END BECAUSE I HAVE ABOUT FOUR PAGES TO READ.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY COUNTY IS GRATEFUL THE MONTHS OF HARD WORK AND COOPERATION FROM OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ,OUR CFO AND FINANCE TEAM, OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT RECORDS MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT, OUR

[00:20:05]

THE DOCUMENTS AND ACTIONS INVESTIGATED TO REACH THE CONCLUSION PRESENTED BY HAYNSWORTH SINCKLER BOYD REFLECT THE CULTURE OF THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.

CULTURE CHANGE BEGAN AFTER COUNTY COUNCIL TOOK ACTION TO REMOVE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATOR.

CHANGES CONTINUED THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE FUTURE.

CHANGING CULTURE IS ARGUABLY AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT AN ORGANIZATION CAN TACKLE.

BUT I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH. I WILL DESCRIBE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND OUR COUNTY TEAM TO CORRECT PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED BY STAFF AND HANDLERS THINK SINCLAIR BOYD. COUNTY HAS ADAPTED TO CHANGE QUICKLY.

WE BEGAN REBUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR PEERS, PARTNERS AND CONTINUED TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE PEOPLE WHILE SUFFERING WITH THE BURDEN OF OUR RECENT PAST.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT OUR COUNTY TEAM FILLED WITH WELL-INTENDED PROFESSIONALS WHO EXEMPLIFY CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY. THE ACTIONS ABOUT TO DESCRIBE ARE NOT THE RESULT OF MY INDIVIDUAL EFFORT. THEY ARE THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF OUR COUNTY TEAM.

I HAVE. I DO. HOWEVER ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HARDSHIP TO STAFF WHICH SOME OF THESE ACTIONS HAVE CAUSED.

COUNTY COUNCIL HAS TRUSTED AND EMPOWERED ME TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MEND MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND PAVE A WAY FORWARD. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF SEVERAL ACTIONS THAT COUNTY THE COUNTY STAFF HAS TAKEN. I MAY HAVE MISSED SOME THERE ARE SOME MINOR ONES. LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE.

THESE ARE THE MAJOR THINGS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED OR WORKING ON SINCE JULY 24TH, 2023.

SO ON MONDAY, JULY 24, 2023 I WAS THEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND WAS APPOINTED THAT AFTERNOON AS THE ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COUNTY COUNCIL. FOUR DAYS LATER AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

SO ON THAT MONDAY THE 24TH THE FOLLOWING DAY TUESDAY THE 25TH EXECUTIVE STAFF BEGAN COLLECTING DATA ON OUR PURCHASING CARD SYSTEM P CARDS. I REFER TO THEM AND INCLUDING OUR CURRENT POLICY THE NUMBER OF CARDS TO WHOM THEY WERE ISSUED AND THEIR USES.

TWO DAYS LATER, JULY 27TH I ISSUED A COUNTY WIDE DIRECTIVE ALL P CARD ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNT SPENDING LIMITS TO REFLECT THE POLICY. THIS MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED ALL COUNTY STAFF AND ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS REGARDLESS THEY OR THEIR DEPARTMENTS POSSESSED OR USED THE COUNTY P CARD SYSTEM. THIS MESSAGE INCLUDED A PDF COPY OF THE CURRENT THEN P CARD POLICY AND A QUICK QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO COUNTIES PURCHASING POLICY INCLUDING PURCHASING THRESHOLDS AND CONTRACT PROCESSES. TO BE CLEAR NOT ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PICARD'S SYSTEM AT THAT TIME.

THOSE WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE WERE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND HIS STAFF THE PROBATE COURT AND THAT STAFF AND ALL MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL. NONE THOSE OFFICIALS POSSESSED OR USED COUNTY PURCHASING AT THAT TIME. THIS THE POLICY REMINDER FOR ALL STAFF TO REVIEW R P CARD MANUAL WHICH WAS EFFECTIVE JULY ONE, 2021 TO ENSURE THAT ALL POLICIES PROCEDURES ARE FOLLOWED. A COPY OF THE MANUAL IS ATTACHED IN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL THAT I SENT TO STAFF ON THURSDAY, JULY 27 SO JUST A FEW DAYS LATER WE CONDUCTED SOME DOCUMENT PRESERVATION WORK SO I REACHED OUT TO OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION, PATRICK HILL ALONG WITH HIS DEPUTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR SHARKEY A POLITE THEY AND THEIR TEAMS WORKED TO VERIFY THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL ELECTRONIC FINANCE DATA PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT DATA INCLUDING P CARD STATEMENTS AND MUNIS ACTIVITY SO BACKED UP ALL OF OUR ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. THIS DATA WAS PROTECTED IN A CLOUD SERVER ENVIRONMENT WITH NIGHTLY PERFORMANCE OF DATA BACKUPS. THE DATA WAS RETAINED AND ARCHIVED FOR USE IN THE PENDING INVESTIGATION. THE FOLLOWING WEEK TUESDAY

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DURING THAT MEETING I INVITED ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAFF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND UP.

WE HAD 60 TO 70 FOLKS IN THE ROOM SO IT WAS PRETTY FULL. NOT QUITE AS FORWARD AS TONIGHT BUT THERE WAS A LOT HERE. DURING THAT MEETING I WANTED ALL OF OUR EXECUTIVE STAFF TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM ME. I OFFERED MY EXPECTATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE RULES AND WHEN I SAY RULES I SOUTH CAROLINA LAW. OUR COUNTY ORDINANCE POLICY AND ETHICAL OUR ETHICAL STANDARDS AS DESCRIBED IN OUR COUNTY HANDBOOK.

THIS WAS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGING THE CULTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION.

I SPOKE FURTHER ABOUT STRICT ADHERENCE TO OUR PICARD POLICY AND PURCHASING POLICIES.

I CONTINUED TO TALK ABOUT MY EXPECTATIONS OF PERFORMANCE AND MY WISHES FOR THE FUTURE CULTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION. DURING THAT SAME MONTH AUGUST OF 2023 WE CONDUCTED PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT TRAINING THE COUNTY DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING VICTORIA MOYER BEGAN A SERIES OF TRAINING SESSIONS FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS ACRES AND THEIR STAFFS WHO APPROVE CONDUCT PURCHASING ADMINISTRATION, SUBMIT REQUISITIONS AND OR NAVIGATE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS CONTRACTS. THESE SESSIONS AS WELL MANY ONE ON ONE SESSIONS WERE HELD TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PROCUREMENT ORDINANCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. FOLLOWING WEEK AUGUST 6/16 I HAD A WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY BRITTANY WARD. WE SPOKE A PROJECT SHE WAS WORKING ON WITH OUR I.T.

DEPARTMENTS WEB DESIGNER AND PROGRAMMER JOSH RILEY. THE PROGRAM THEY WERE THEY BUILDING BEGAN IN JUNE OF 2023 WAS AN ELECTRONIC LEGAL REVIEW PROCESS.

THIS CONVERSATION AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THAT PROJECT TO INCLUDE COUNTY CONTRACTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE VISION OF THE SYSTEM COULD ELIMINATE INTENTIONAL UNINTENTIONAL PROCEDURE ERRORS IN OUR PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING PROCESSES.

JOSH AND BRITTANY WORKED TOGETHER OVER THE FOLLOWING MONTHS WITH INPUT FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS. UNTIL A FUNCTIONAL SYSTEM BEGAN BETA TESTING IN NOVEMBER OF 2023. A SIMPLIFIED EXPLANATION OF THIS INTERNAL SYSTEM IS A DECISION TREE. IT REQUIRES DESIGNATED APPROVERS AT EACH STEP IN THE PROCESS TO CONSIDER THEIR CONSIDERATION FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THE DOCUMENT REVIEW SYSTEM CAPTURES NOTES, DOCUMENTS, OTHER DATA SPECIFIC TO EACH TRANSACTION. THE SYSTEM WAS ON JANUARY 1ST, 2020 FOR THE FIRST CONTRACT WAS PROCESSED THE FOLLOWING DAY ON JANUARY SECOND 2024 BY COUNTIES, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT IMPLEMENTATION HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES. HOWEVER SYSTEM HAS PROVEN TO BE EXTREMELY ADAPTABLE AND WE CONTINUE REFINE ITS CAPABILITIES.

JOSH RILEY HAS PROVEN HIS VALUE AS AN EXPERT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TOOL IN THE PAST 90 DAYS. REALLY I GUESS IT'S 85 DAYS SINCE WE DID THAT BUT IN THE PAST 90 DAYS THE SYSTEM HAS HELPED STAFF PROCESS 100 CONTRACTS.

LEGAL REVIEWS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS. THE DOCUMENT REVIEW SYSTEM HAS OFFERED A SMOOTH TRANSITION OF THROUGH PROPER INTERNAL REVIEW AND PREPARATION DOCUMENTS TO TRANSFER AS INPUTS INTO OUR MUNI CODE SYSTEM FOR PRESENTATION TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES DURING THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER OCTOBER , NOVEMBER.

OUR COUNTY PROCUREMENT DIRECTOR THOMAS INTRODUCED US TO A COMPANY CALLED CARD INTEGRITY. HE INTRODUCED THIS PROGRAM COUNTY STAFF AND COUNTY COUNCIL. THE SERVICE INTEGRITY IS A SERVICE THAT MONITORS THE EXPENSE DATA FOR P CARDS AND REQUISITIONS DATA CAPTURED FROM OUR MUNIS SOFTWARE.

THAT IS OUR GOVERNMENT FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE PROGRAM.

WE DATA CAPTURED FROM OUR MUNIS SOFTWARE IS FIRST ANALYZED BY THIS BY THE SERVICE AND THEN MONITORED BY INTERNAL STAFF TO EFFECTIVELY MITIGATE RISK OF MISUSE, DUPLICATE INVOICES OR FRAUD. OUR CFO DENISE CHRISTMAS TESTED THIS SYSTEM WITH 30 DAYS OF DATA WHICH IMMEDIATELY OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT IN COUNTY OPERATIONS.

COUNTY FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT STAFF HAVE WORKED WITH PROVIDERS TO CUSTOMIZE THIS MONITORING SYSTEM TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY. WE EXPECT TO ENTER THAT CONTRACT FOR SERVICE IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. THERE'S MORE.

JANUARY 1ST, 2024 OUR COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT LED BY ITS DIRECTOR KATHERINE MEAD

[00:30:09]

THAT HANDBOOK WAS IMPLEMENTED ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024 PER THE REQUEST OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND WITH THE HELP OF HAYNESWORTH BOYD COUNTY AUTHORED AND INCLUDED A WHISTLEBLOWER IN OUR NEW HANDBOOK. THIS POLICY OFFERS A CONFIDENTIAL PATH AND PROTECTION FOR ANY POOL EMPLOYEE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF WRONGDOING TO REPORT IT WITHOUT FEAR OF REVENGE, RETALIATION OR RETRIBUTION. NEXT IS OUR NEW PROCUREMENT AND PURCHASING POLICY. WORKING TOGETHER WITH HAYNESWORTH SINCLAIR BOYD COUNTY IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETION AND EXECUTION AN ENTIRELY NEW PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT POLICY. ONCE COMPLETED ALL APPROPRIATE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND TRAINING ON THESE POLICIES WITH REGULARLY PLANNED CONTINUING.

I'LL TALK ABOUT EDUCATION LITTLE BIT NEXT. ALSO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT HAS EXECUTED THE USE OF A NEW EVALUATION SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES A TRAINING SOFTWARE IT'S CALLED NEO GOV. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AMBER BLACK HAS ROLLED OUT REGULAR REQUIRED TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

THIS INCLUDES SPECIALIZED LEARNING PLANS, PATHS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DEPARTMENT OR SPECIFIC JOB REQUIREMENTS TRAINING CLASSES ARE DONE IN AN ONLINE ENVIRONMENT GIVING EMPLOYEES FLEXIBILITY TO COMPLETE TRAINING WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OF THEIR ROUTINE WORK. COMPLETED COURSES BECOME PART OF THE EMPLOYEE'S RECORD AND ARE STORED THE DATABASE OF NEO. ONE OF THOSE PROGRAM AIMS OR ONE OF THOSE EDUCATIONS WAS IN FACT THE WHISTLE BLOWER POLICY AN EXAMPLE OF CONTINUING INTERNAL REASSESSMENT MARCH OF 2023 WE TRANSITIONED THE OUR STATEMENT APPROVALS FROM A PAPER TYPE APPROVAL SYSTEM TO AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. DURING THAT TRANSITION WHILE THE TRANSITION GREATLY IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF PROCESSING OUR PICARD PURCHASING IT INTRODUCED THE UNINTENDED OPPORTUNITY FOR MISUSE BY REMOVING A LAYER OF MANAGEMENT APPROVAL OVERSIGHT.

THAT MISSING LAYER OF OVERSIGHT WAS RECENTLY IDENTIFIED AND CORRECTED.

THE FINANCE SYSTEM SOFTWARE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED REQUIRE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS MONTHLY APPROVAL PICARD USE FOR EACH DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THEIR PROCESSING OF PAYMENTS.

SO WE'VE DONE A LOT. I DIDN'T MENTION EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE.

INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALSO DONE SPECIFIC WORK RELATED TO THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT. I HAVE I LOOK AT THE CHANGES SO FAR IN PHASES PHASE. ONE IS THE COMPLETION OF THE FINAL REPORT FROM HAYNSWORTH ST CLAIR BOARD BOYD. ALTHOUGH THE FINAL REPORT VERY CLOSE FOR FOR US TO RECEIVE IT'S ONLY PART OF PHASE ONE. STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HANK HAYNSWORTH SINGLE BOYD TO IMPLEMENT NEW POLICY AND PROCEDURE AS WELL AS DEVELOP SYSTEMS TO ENSURE CONTINUED COMPLIANCE. PHASE TWO IS THE CORRECTIVE ACTION.

CORRECTIVE ACTION BEGAN IMMEDIATELY HOWEVER THE OBJECTIVE REPORT FROM HAYNSWORTH HAYNSWORTH BOYD HAS INSPIRED STAFF TO REVIEW IN FURTHER DETAIL ORDINATES POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE IN AREAS WHICH MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH BEST PATH BEST PRACTICES.

INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICES PHASE THREE IS AN ASSESSMENT OF POLICY VIOLATION WHICH MAY REQUIRE INVESTIGATION OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. BEAUFORT COUNTY EXECUTIVE STAFF COUNTY LEGAL TEAM WORKING WITH HAYNSWORTH BOYD WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON SPECIFIC DETAILS.

THEIR INVESTIGATION EGREGIOUS OR INTENTIONAL VIOLATIONS OF POLICY PROCEDURE OR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

FINALLY, PHASE FOUR IS COMPLIANCE AND REASSESSMENT. COMPLIANCE AND REASSESSMENT IS THE PURPOSE FOR ROUTINE EVALUATION OF ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE POLICY BEST PRACTICES AND PROGRAMS SUSTAINABILITY. I WANT THE PUBLIC, MY COLLEAGUES, COUNTY COUNCIL AND COUNTY STAFF TO KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE'VE TAKEN THESE INITIAL STEPS. THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO. I WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE A WORKPLACE CULTURE WHICH SUPPORTS COLLABORATION, COMMUNICATION AND PERSONAL DISPLAYS OF CHARACTER. EVERY MEMBER OF COUNTY MUST BE EMPOWERED TO RECOGNIZE WHEN

[00:35:02]

THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL EFFORT. PERMANENT CHANGE CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK. THANK YOU.

I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS OF COUNSEL. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE AND THOSE LOOKING ON SORRY THAT YOU HAD TO LISTEN TO ALL OF THIS BUT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WE NOT TAKE THIS LIGHTLY.

WE'VE SPENT AN EXPENSIVE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE AS TRANSPARENT AS WE CAN . MISTAKES WERE MADE.

WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MISTAKES AND WE'RE MOVING ON. OKAY IS THERE ANY OTHER REPORT?

[8. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

OKAY. YES, SIR. TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MARY BRANTLEY FROM OUR PLANNING AND ZONING. I DON'T THINK SHE IS HERE.

OKAY, I'LL KEEP GOING. SO MARY IS A ZONING ANALYST TOO.

SHE'S WORKED FOR COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS. SHE READ SHE REVIEWS PLANS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ZONING DISTRICT COMPLIANCE. ASSIST THE PUBLIC WITH QUESTIONS PERMITTING AND ZONING RELATED MATTERS. MARY WAS BORN IN ECUADOR.

SHE IS IN SPANISH SPEAKING AND READING. SHE'S LIVED IN BEAUFORT SINCE 2004 AND ENJOYS HELPING PEOPLE A MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU, MARY.

THERE'S MARY. ALL RIGHT. AND HAVE LOTS OF THAT OVER HERE FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE. SHE HAS. SHE A MOBILE HOME ASSESSING TECHNICIAN. SHE'S COMING UP ON SIX YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT WITH COUNTY.

SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR RECORDING ALL MOBILE HOMES. MOBILE MOBILE HOMES IN COUNTY FOR TAXATION PURPOSE. THERE SHE IS. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG LADIES AND ONE SON. OUR YOUNGEST DAUGHTER IS STUDYING TO BECOME A PHARMACIST AT U.S. COLUMBIA. HER SON, A FIRST SERGEANT IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND HER OLDEST DAUGHTER IS A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT. IN HER SPARE TIME SHE IS THE NANA FOR A BASKETBALL TEAM A CHEERLEADING AND SOCCER TEAM. SHE'S VERY BUSY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISS OBAMA. ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW THIS LAST RECOGNITION IS MARIA SMALL'S. OH, I'M SORRY.

SO A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING THE 48TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF REGISTRY REGISTRATION ELECTION OFFICIALS. IT'S CALLED SCARE.

AND THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN MYRTLE BEACH BETWEEN MARCH 4TH AND MARCH 9TH.

MARIA IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS, THE SQUARE ASSOCIATION AWARDED MARIE THE MOORE AWARD FOR HER YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO ELECT ELECTION IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION OF UPGRADED ELECTRONIC VOTING PROGRAMS AND ENSURING ON A HOLD THAT VOTERS AND CANDIDATES CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS IS EFFICIENT ACCURATE AND ACCOUNTABLE. THE MOORE AWARD IS PRESENTED EACH YEAR TO THE SQUARE ANNUAL AT THE SQUARE ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE TO A MEMBER OF SQUARE WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THEIR CONTINUED UNSELFISH OF TIME AND EFFORTS TO MAKE SQUARE A MORE CONCERN GROUP THAT PROMOTES TRAINING AND INDIVIDUALS IN COUNTIES. THE MOORE AWARD IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THE SQUARE ORGANIZED PRESENTS. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE MEMORY OF BETTY MARSHA MOORE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TIRELESSLY FROM A STATE ASSOCIATION OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTED. THIS AWARD IS FASHIONED AFTER THE J. MITCHELL GRAMMAR WARD OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND IS PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS WHO BEST EXEMPLIFIES THE SPIRIT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

[00:40:05]

I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU, ESPECIALLY COUNTY COUNCIL, FOR SUPPORTING THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS AND THE EFFORT TO BETTER ELECTIONS.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE GREAT TEAM. SOME OF THEM MAY BE OUT THERE MY STAFF AND MY BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL THE FOLKS FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE DO IN ELECTIONS. THE ELECTION IS IMPORTANT IN OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AND IT DEFINITELY TAKES A TEAM. IT'S NEVER JUST ONE PERSON. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR POLL WORKERS AND ALL OF OUR FACILITY DIRECTORS PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE ALLOWING THE BOARD VOTER REGISTRATION TO USE THEIR FACILITIES AS POLLING PLACES.

AND ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WHEN COMES DOWN TO VOTING. SO JUST REMEMBER GET OUT AND VOTE IS IMPORTANT AND WE ARE ALSO THIS IS A SHAMELESS PLUG. WE ARE LOOKING FOR POLL WORKERS. SO PLEASE PLEASE IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME ON YOUR HAND VOLUNTEER AND WE WILL GLADLY TRAIN YOU TO BE A POLL WORKER IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THE GREATEST SUCCESS OF FOLKS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. BEAUFORT COUNTY POLL WORKERS Y'ALL. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED BY ■THE AWARD THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY MY PEERS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THANK YOU, SIR THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[CITIZEN COMMENTS]

GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL.

I'M CADE YARBOROUGH, CHAIRMAN OF THE DIVERSE ISLAND COUNCIL. I'VE PROVIDED YOU WITH I'VE PROVIDED A PACKET WITH SEVERAL ITEMS RELATING THE SITUATION. THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT APPROVED BY A SIX ZERO VOTE AT OUR MARCH 19 MEETING.

THE FIRST YEAR ISLAND COUNCIL SERVES AS AN ADVISORY GROUP FOR VOICE OF THE BUS WITH THE COUNTY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. OUR COUNTY OUR COUNCIL HAS WELL AS MANY. OUR COUNCIL AS WELL AS MANY OF US RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS USED BY THE BY THE COUNTY IN CHOOSING THE CURRENT PUBLIC FERRY INCLUDING A DISREGARD FOR VESSEL AND OPERATOR INCLUDED IN THE RFP.

WE HAVE NOW SEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF INJURIES SUSTAINED BY FERRY RIDERS CAUSED BY AN UNSUITABLE BOAT. THE SITUATION FOR OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS FOR THOSE WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC AS THEY FACE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IN NAVIGATING THE EMBARKATION DOCKS AND THE BOAT. ON MARCH 14TH A FERRY RIDER FELL INTO THE WATER AS AFTER A BOAT RAMP COLLAPSED. THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION AS SHE WAS LEFT IN THE WATER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE HE WAS TOWED TO A DIFFERENT MARINA BY ANOTHER BOAT AND CREW. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SWIM ESPECIALLY SINCE SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE UNABLE TO DO SO AND WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THE WATER WAS CALM THAT DAY AND THAT HE WASN'T OR KILLED BY THE BOAT HITTING THE DOCK ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY THE DIVERSE ISLAND COUNCIL IS NOW SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. ACCORDING. ACCORDINGLY WE STRONGLY URGE THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE MISTAKE WAS MADE IN THE SELECTION AND THE INEXPERIENCE AND UNDERFUNDED FERRY PROVIDER. WE FURTHER CALL THAT THE TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE ANY ACTION AND ALL MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE FACILITY RESIDENTS AND VISITORS BE PROVIDED WITH A REGULAR RELIABLE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY SAFE FERRY SERVICE TO DO OTHERWISE WOULD BE A GREAT DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND COULD BE VERY WELL A RESULT.

IT COULD VERY WELL RESULT IN MORE MORE INJURIES OR EVEN THE LOSS OF LIVES.

[00:45:06]

LAST TUESDAY IS THE FIRST ISLAND COUNCIL MEETING SINCE WE APPROVED THAT STATEMENT WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DISABILITY RIGHTS DISABILITY SOUTH CAROLINA ORGANIZATION EXPRESSING STRONG CONCERN ABOUT OBSTACLES FACING OUR RESIDENTS WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES AS WELL AS SENIOR RESIDENTS. THIS ORGANIZED ORGANIZATION HAS REINFORCED CONCERNS WE ALREADY HAVE EXPRESSED TO YOU ABOUT THE VERY ISSUES ONCE AGAIN WE CALL FOR YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AND STRONG TO REINSTATE A SAFE, RELIABLE FERRY SERVICE. COUNCILMAN LAWSON, AS OUR COUNTY COUNCILMAN, WE PARTICULARLY ADVOCATE TO YOU TO FIGHT FOR OUR WELL-BEING OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHO ARE ALSO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU MICHAEL HUBBARD. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M MIKE. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE FUSCHIA ISLAND FIVE YEAR RESIDENT.

I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF , THE DIVERSE GUARDIAN COUNCIL. JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE ON A MEETING WE HAD BACK ON THE 5TH OF MARCH WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HANK EDMONDSON AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY BRITTNY WARD. IT WAS A IT WAS A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SIT DOWN. THERE WERE THREE MEMBERS OF THE DIVERSE COUNTY COUNCIL AND SEVERAL TIME ISLAND RESIDENTS WHO COULD ADD CONTACT TEXT A HISTORICAL CONTEXT TO THE FERRY SITUATION. WELL, WHEN THE FERRY CAME INTO BEING AND HOW THE FERRY HAS OPERATED OVER THESE MANY YEARS AND I THINK IT WAS AN FOR US TO KIND OF CALM THE SITUATION DOWN LITTLE BIT AND FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE AN OPEN DIALOG. WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO IS THAT IN THE FUTURE WILL OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND HIS STAFF.

ONE OF THE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IS WE NEED TO DEVELOP AN EVACUATION PLAN SHOULD HAVE BECOME NECESSARY. WE NEED TO WE ASKED FOR AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE CONDEMNATION OF THE MELROSE DOCK THAT'S STILL IN LITIGATION AND THERE WAS NO INFORMATION TO BE ADDED TO THAT. OBVIOUSLY THE ADA SITUATION IS A BIG FOR US AND I THINK IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH CURRENTLY WITH THE EXISTING FERRY SYSTEM. AND THEN ONE OF THE ISSUES CAME UP JUST A PRACTICAL ISSUE. THE CURRENT FERRY OPERATOR WAS GIVEN EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE TWO DOCKS THAT THEY GO INTO BOTH ON THE ISLAND AND ALSO ON PINCKNEY ISLAND.

OVER YEARS WE HAVE HAD RESIDENTS WHO OWN THEIR OWN BOATS GO TO PINCKNEY AND NOW THEY CAN'T DO THAT. AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT IS IN ONE CASE ONE OF OUR OUR ISLAND ELECTRICIAN WAS THERE. SO HE AND HIS WIFE BRING THE BOAT OVER. IT'S A LITTLE BIT INCONVENIENT. HE WILL LET THE WIFE OUT.

SHE WILL GET THE CAR AND THEN HE'LL GO ACROSS TO BUCKINGHAM LANDING.

THAT'S NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION BUT THERE'S REALLY NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BOATS TO BE ABLE TO GO AND AND TO THEIR CAR. ALSO IN YOUR PACKET TONIGHT WAS A SURVEY AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU IT'S A VERY PROFESSIONAL SURVEY THAT WAS DONE BY ONE OF OUR ISLAND RESIDENTS. SHE RECEIVED RESPONSES FROM 114 ISLAND RESIDENTS.

PUT THAT CONTEXT I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE CURRENT CENSUS IS OF THE FUSCHIA ISLAND BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THERE'S PROBABLY 3 TO 400 FULL TIME RESIDENTS MAYBE A FEW MORE.

AND HONESTLY THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT RETURN ON THE THE SURVEY.

SO THANK YOU. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND SINCE YOUR SUMMARY IS IN PACKETS.

THANK YOU, CARRIE. MAJOR, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR ALLOWING ME TO. I AGAIN SPEAK ON THE NEEDS OF ST HELENA ISLAND RESIDENTS.

OUR COMMUNITY A STATE OF THE ART COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR ADULTS AND YOUTH TO USE.

WHEN WE LOOK AT WALTER AND WE LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND SEE WHAT ALL THE AMENITIES THAT THEY HAVE SAINT HELENA HAS NONE IF YOU LOOK THEM UP WE HAVE NOTHING.

[00:50:02]

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL TO SPEAK WITH US AND HELP US TO BUILD A CENTER ON SAINT HELENA ISLAND, A STATE OF THE ART CENTER NOT A FIXER UPPER BUT A STATE OF THE ART SO THAT WE MAY USE THAT CENTER FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 16 ON OUR AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER 16 IS TALKING ABOUT PROCUREMENT OF A CONSERVED EASEMENT ON SEVERAL PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN JASPER COUNTY KNOWN AS GREGORY .

FIRST ONE CATHERINE MCWILLIAMS . GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN AND TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE PORT ROYAL SOUND GREGORY NECK PROJECT.

MY NAME IS KATIE MCWILLIAMS I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. IN FEBRUARY WE PURCHASED THE 4400 ACRE GREGORY NECK PROPERTY RESULTING IN THE LARGEST TRANSACTION WE HAVE EVER DONE IN THE STATE IN 50 YEARS.

WE TOOK THE RISK BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY IS SO VALUABLE AS A WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

ITS FORESTS AND MARSHES ARE CRITICAL WATER QUALITY AND PORT ROYAL SOUND AND BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FLIGHT TRAINING ROUTES OUR RISK IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO PLACE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY WITH OPEN LAND TRUST AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE SENTINEL LANDSCAPE PROGRAM THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK AND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S GREEN SPACE PROGRAM. WE THANK FOR CONTINUING TO LEAD THE WAY AND CONSERVATION IN THE REGION AND IN THE STATE AND BEING WILLING TO THINK OUTSIDE THE LINES OF THE COUNTY AND THAT NATURE DOES NOT KNOW BOUNDARIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, A TRUE FRIEND OF OURS FROM CORPS AIR STATION, COLONEL MARK PORTMAN. MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M COLONEL MARK BORDEN, THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY TO HIGHLIGHT OUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE NECK PROPERTY. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED 2006 THE ENCROACHMENT PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COUNTY, THE OPEN LAND TRUST AND MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT HAS INVESTED OVER 69 MILLION PROTECTIVE TO PROTECT OVER 6300 ACRES IN PERPETUITY FROM POTENTIAL LAND USERS THAT COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR MILITARY OPERATIONS PREVENTING INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCING OUR RESILIENCY ON THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT THROUGHOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY WHERE OUR MARINES, SAILORS, CIVILIANS, EMPLOYEES, THEIR FAMILIES LIVE IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING AND PRESERVING MILITARY MISSION IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AND THE ASSETS THAT SUPPORT IT.

COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS STAND APART FROM OTHER MILITARY AND MILITARY COMMUNITIES BY BRINGING YOUR OWN MONEY TO THE AND COLLABORATION THE TABLE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CRITICAL PARTNERSHIP. THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM THAT PROTECTS LAND WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND NOW THE GREENSPACE PROGRAM THAT SCALES UP THIS INVESTMENT AND TAKES A PROACTIVE TO FULLY PROTECT AND ENHANCE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF BOTH OUR MILITARY AND CIVILIAN COMMUNITY ON A REGIONAL SCALE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND LIKELY EVEN IN THE COUNTRY. THE LAND AND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION BENEFITS AFFORDED BY THE PRESERVATION OF THESE 4400 ACRES IN THE HEART OF PORT OIL SOUND KNOWN AS GREGORY NECK WILL NOT ONLY SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTY OTHER REGIONAL CONSERVATION GOALS BUT WILL ALSO PROTECT LOCAL UTILIZED BY MARINE CORPS AIR STATION ITS F-18 F-35A AND F-5 SQUADRONS BY LIMITING INCOMPATIBLE THAT COULD DEGRADE TRAINING ENHANCING RESILIENCY

[00:55:01]

NEITHER DO OUR WORLD CLASS AIRCRAFT. IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS EMPHASIS AND THE COMMITMENT TO CONSERVATION AND THE MILITARY MISSION THAT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE READINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INTEGRATION PROGRAM NAMED AWARDED $6 MILLION TO THE PROTECTION OF GREGORY NECK. THAT'S 26% OF THE TOTAL FUNDING AWARDED BY THE RFP CHALLENGE PROGRAM ACROSS THE NATION LAST YEAR.

BEAUFORT IS UNLIKE ANY MILITARY COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY MAYBE THE WORLD AND WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS UNPRECEDENTED ACCOMPLISHMENT. WE HAVE LONG APPRECIATED WE ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR BEAUFORT'S UNWAVERING SUPPORT THE MILITARY MISSION. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE HERE IN THE HEART OF THE PORT ROYAL SOUND RICH WITH HISTORY CULTURE AND ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY WE ARE THE SEA ISLANDS HOME TO PARRIS ISLAND THE GULLAH CULTURE. PAT CONROY THE HERITAGE AND FOREST GUMP. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE THE MANY BENEFITS OF THE PROTECTING THE MILITARY. THE PROTECTING OF GREGORY NECK UP PROVIDES THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION TO BE A FRIEND. THANK YOU. NEXT IS TIMOTHY.

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU I AM TIMOTHY EVANS. I AM THE REPRESENTATIVE ON THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE FOR NORTH BEAUFORT COUNTY. MR. DAWSON IS NOT HERE BUT I SERVE A ROLE WITH COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD, SENATOR TOM DAVIS WITH CHAIRMAN MIKE MCSHANE ON THE COMMITTEE AND FOR CITIZEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM FOUR GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS OF THE COUNTY. AS SUCH TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY IN OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS PAID FOR BY THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS ON HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT.

BRINGING FORTH A PROPOSAL TO SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT MONEY IN JASPER COUNTY AS OUR VERY FIRST RECOMMENDATION DID NOT COME LIGHTLY, WAS NOT LOOKED AT AS A EASY DECISION.

BUT THE GREGORY NICK PROJECT WAS SO BIG, SO IMPORTANT WAS AT THE HEART OF THE SOURCE WATER FOR THE BROAD RIVER AND HAD SUCH A COLLECTION OF PARTNERS AT THE TABLE IN THE FORM OF TNC THE OPEN LAND, THE MARINE CORPS, THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK THAT THE BANG FOR THE BUCK THE BEAUFORT COUNTY RECEIVES INTEREST IN RECEIVES FOR THIS MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT FAR OUTWEIGHS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING PAID AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.

WE COULD NOT BE MORE DELIGHTED TO BRING THIS FORWARD AS OUR FIRST PROJECT AND WE HOPE TO SEE MANY MORE LIKE IT IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.

AND FINALLY KATE SCHAEFER AND I THINK I'VE EVER BATTED CLEANUP BEFORE BUT I'LL TRY MY BEST.

KATE SCHAEFER, DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION WITH THE LAND TRUST .

AND AS YOU'VE HEARD, GREGORY NECK IS AN INCREDIBLE PROPERTY AND WARRANTS CONSERVATION AS IT'S WELL-DESERVING OF INVESTMENT BY THE COUNTY GREENSPACE PROGRAM FOR ITS 13 AND A HALF MILES OF SHORELINE ALONG THE COAST AND TELEPHONY RIVERS 2000 ACRES OF UPLAND HIGHLANDS PINE FOREST, A THOUSAND ACRES OF MARITIME FOREST AND A VARIETY OF INTACT HABITAT TYPES. IT ALSO STRADDLES I-95 FOR OVER ONE AND A HALF MILES AND SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN ANYTHING INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL OR ALL OF THE ABOVE. INSTEAD IT WAS PURCHASED BY LANDOWNERS WHO INTEND TO PROJECT THE PROPERTY IN THE URBAN TRUST IS PROUD TO BE A PARTNER IN THAT AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY EMPLOY GREENSPACE FUNDS AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR THE CONSIDERATION.

I TO HIGHLIGHT THREE THINGS THAT CAME OUT WHEN THIS PROJECT PRESENTED WENT BEFORE THE LANDS COMMITTEE ABOUT WHY DOES THIS MATTER. SO DOES THIS MATTER TO THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM TO US AS CONSERVATIONISTS TO YOU ALL AS COUNTY COUNCIL AND TO THE HAPPILY FULL ROOM THAT GETS TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS MATTERS TO THEM TO START WITH WATER QUALITY BECAUSE TO ME THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL AND UNIVERSAL EXAMPLE FROM FOR ALL AGES, RIGHT? WHETHER YOU FISH OFF OF THE BALLOON HAUL BOAT LANDING OR, TAKE A BOAT FROM THE BROAD RIVER BRIDGE OR JUST EAT SHRIMP AND OYSTERS YOU SWIM OFF THE WATERS OF HILTON HEAD PLANTATION BEACH YOUR WATER QUALITY WILL BE BETTER FOR THE LAND PROTECTION THAT OCCURS HERE NO AMOUNT OF ZONING OR REGULATION CAN DO WHAT LAND PROTECTION DOES ON A PROPERTY LIKE THIS. AND SECOND, YOU'VE HEARD DESCRIBED FAR BETTER THAN I COULD AND THAT IS THE IMPACT THE MILITARY COMMUNITY AND THE AIRSPACE ABOVE. GREGORY NOW CONCLUDES MILITARY FLIGHT CORRIDORS BETWEEN MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEFORE IT AND TOWNS AND BOMBING RANGE. AND YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP THAT BEFORE IT HAS EMPLOYED THE MILITARY SINCE 2006 THIS ADDITIONAL 4000 ACRES

[01:00:02]

SO THIS IS AN INVESTMENT THAT MATTERS FOR POLICY AND FOR PARTNERSHIP.

PROTECTING GREGORY NECK ADDS TO A LARGE CONSERVATION CORRIDOR. IT PROTECTS INCREDIBLE HABITAT THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED NATIONALLY AS HABITAT OF SIGNIFICANCE.

IT RELIES ON PARTNER FUNDS HAVE SECURED A $6 MILLION GRANT FROM THE RUGBY CHALLENGE PROGRAM.

2 MILLION WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK.

THE LANDOWNER IS DONATING VALUE SO BEAUFORT COUNTIES INVESTMENT IS 7.4% OF THE WHOLE WHICH IS A REMARKABLE VALUE FOR THE TAXPAYERS. THIS ALSO COMPORTS WITH JASPER COUNTY'S LAND USE AND ZONING POLICIES AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE FOR PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD AND THE LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP WE CAN ACHIEVE WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.

[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? MS. HOWARD OKAY. A COUPLE OF THINGS WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IN THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE SO I'LL SKIP THAT ONE.

THE THE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MEETS WEDNESDAY. THEIR FINANCE COMMITTEE MET THIS MORNING. I ATTENDED VIRTUALLY ONE INTERESTING FACT BIRTHS ARE UP 22% FROM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL COMPARED BEFORE I ATTENDED THE CYBER OF SOUTH OF SOME CYBER SUMMIT LAST ALONG WITH CHAIRMAN PAT SUMMITT AND SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM I.T. DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS A GREAT MEETING FOR TWO DAYS LAST WEEK. PORT ROYAL, THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL CROSSING UNFORTUNATELY IS AT A STANDSTILL FOR NOW BASED ON SOME THINGS THAT THE SAFE HARBOR AND THE TOWN ARE TRYING TO WORK OUT SO THAT THAT CROSSING CAN BE PUT ACROSS ACROSS RIVER ROAD BUT ALSO THE PORT WORLD MEETING THEY RECOGNIZED THE EMS FIRE AND POLICE FOR SAVING A YOUNG MARINE'S LIFE WHO WAS SHOT AT SOME APARTMENTS IN PORT AND IT WAS A VERY MOVING AND TOUCHING RECOGNITION OF THOSE PEOPLE AND THE JOBS THAT THEY DO AND THAT'S IT. ANY OTHERS? I'M GOING TO GET VERY CONCISE ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT MINE BUT . I FIND THIS INTERESTING. WE WEREN'T INFORMED THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA OF TRANSPORTATION RECEIVED A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY REQUESTING THAT D.O.T. NAME THE NEW HARBOR ISLAND BRIDGE IN COUNTY, THE GEORGE J. GEORDIE MARVIN GERHARD THREE BRIDGE AND WE ARE TO RE ARE TO APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH CURRENT LAW. THAT'S MY FAVORITE PART EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE FABRICATION AND PLACEMENT OF DEDICATION SIGNS OR MARKERS MUST BE PAID FOR BY THE COUNTY FROM THEIR TRANSPORTATION FUNDS SO WE HAVE TO REMIT $500 AND THEN THE SIGNS WILL BE PLACED.

EXCELLENT. YES. ANY OTHERS? JUST ONE. ON LAST WEEK THE PALMETTO METAL BREEZE CAME TO THIS CHAMBER PRESENTED MARY LOU DID HER THOUGHTS ON IT'S SO INCREDIBLE FOR US TO KEEP ON FUNDING THEM FOR TRANSPORTATION. TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT TAVIS SAID ABOUT TRANSPORTATION AND LAST WEEK FRANK SAW THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND RICK CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT HIS NEED TO HELP A LOT OF FAMILIES AND WHAT THEY DO THE ISLAND WITH SCHOLARSHIPS AND ALL THAT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THAT. THIS ONE THING I JUST WANT TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

LOOK WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE HERE TONIGHT. WE STARTED THIS MEETING BY TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE COUNTY THAT MIGHT HAVE DONE SOME THINGS WRONG WITH THE WAY THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY. WHAT WE ENDED IT WITH THE GOOD COLONEL IN THIS LAND RESERVATION ON HOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A COUNCIL TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT AND PRESERVE WHAT WE LOVE. THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON COUNCIL.

NEVER BEEN IN POLITICS. YOU I'M PROUD WORK WITH THIS GROUP.

AND THE REASON WHY IT'S WORKING IS BECAUSE YOU. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. I MEAN IT'S AND ANYBODY ELSE. ONE FINAL THING.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TWO READINGS OF AN ORDINANCE FOR A 1% SALES TAX.

WE HAVE NOT HAD THE THIRD ONE AS YET. AND THE REASON WE DID NOT HAVE THE THIRD ONE WE WANTED TO HAVE A COUPLE OF MEETINGS. THE FIRST MEETING TOOK PLACE ON

[01:05:04]

HOW DOES THAT MEETING CAME THE FOLLOWING THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE WE HAVE OUR THIRD READING. ONE WE HAVE ESTABLISHED FIVE INFORMATION SESSIONS.

THEY WILL TAKE PLACE ON APRIL THE FOURTH. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND LIBRARY. THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD WILL HEAR ABOUT THE REFERENDUM AND HOW IT PERTAINS TO THEM. THURSDAY, APRIL 11TH. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO BLUFFTON, THE BUCKWALTER RECREATION CENTER. WE'RE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING. HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE CITIZENS IN BLUFFTON.

THEN ON THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE U.S. PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN ON TO 78 OF I'M SORRY NORTH OF THE BROAD FOR BEAUFORT AND PORT ROYAL.

FINALLY ON MONDAY THE 29TH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ST HELENS LIBRARY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AS WE PRESENT EXACTLY WHAT THIS REFERENDUM IS ABOUT. ONE OF SEVERAL OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT FIRST OF ALL, THE MAYORS WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A COUNTY MUNICIPAL VENTURE.

WE ARE COLAB 82. WE KNOW THAT IT IS A TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM.

WE CAN'T EMPHASIZE ENOUGH THAT THE FOCUS IS ON ROAD IMPROVEMENT AND ROAD SAFETY.

WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS AND ONE MAJOR CHANGE THAT WE'RE GOING ASK COUNTY COUNCIL TO APPROVE BEFORE THIRD READING IS WE HAVE AGREED THAT GREENSPACE IS GOING AWAY BUT WE DON'T WANT IT TO END. IT IS NOW GOING TO BECOME GREEN BELT. WE HAVE SET ASIDE $85 MILLION IN THAT.

WE HAVE AGREED THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT $150 MILLION. SO STAY TUNED PLEASE. YOU'LL GET ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. IT'LL BE POSTED ON OUR WEB SITE NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE IN THIS COUNTY. YOU WILL GET A CHANCE TO INTERACT WITH US TO HEAR EVERYTHING THE REFERENDUM WHY IT'S NECESSARY, HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOU.

[11. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

SO MOVE. MR. MCCULLEN MAKES THE MOTION. MR. LAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE.

[17. MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDING A PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION (RESOLUTION 2024/04) THAT AUTHORIZED THE PROVISION OF FUNDS TO THE LOWCOUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY (LATS) FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY’S PORTION OF LOCAL MATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING TRANSPORTATION STUDIES: (1) THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY TRANSIT STUDY, (2) THE SC 315/46 AND BLUFFTON PARKWAY EXTENSION STUDY, AND (3) THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY FROM SC 170 TO US 278 AT THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY FLYOVER STUDY; AND FURTHER TO AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGIONAL STUDIES (FISCAL IMPACT: The match for the Bluffton Parkway’s study will come from 2000 Bluffton impact fees professional services account 2300-30-0000-51160 with a balance of $7,331,998.85.The match for the SC315/SC 46’s study and the Northern Transit Study will come from Road Use Fee funds professional services account 2342-30-0000-51160 with a balance of $1,558,409.65)]

OKAY. WE ARE NOW TO BE ITEM NUMBER 17.

I WANT TO SET UP FOR YOU. THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE WATCHING US YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHO LANCE IS LANCE IS THE LOCAL AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY .

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO PUT UP FUNDING TO STUDY ROADS IN THE AREA.

THEIR PROPOSAL IN THREE SEPARATE STUDIES THE STUDY IS CALLED THE NORTHERN TRANSIT STUDY. IT'S GOING TO LOOK AT THE NORTHERN AREAS THE TRANSIT NEEDS THE OF POTENTIAL ROUTES URBANIZATION OF THE AREA NORTH OF THE BROAD THE CITY OF BEAUFORT, THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT AND THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL WILL INVEST MONEY INTO THAT STUDY. THE SECOND STUDY IS A STUDY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

315 SOUTH CAROLINA 46 AND THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY EXTENSION STUDY THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE BEAUFORT COUNTY CITY OF HARTVILLE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IN JASPER COUNTY.

NOW THAT PARTICULAR STUDY GOES FROM THE CIRCLE AT 46 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE JASPER COUNTY LINE. THE PROPOSED BLUFFTON PARKWAY EXTENSION IS ALWAYS BEEN AS

[01:10:01]

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANY LONGER BECAUSE THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD.

THIS STUDY IS GOING TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET PEOPLE OUT THE COUNTY SHOULD A HURRICANE OCCUR AS THEY APPROACH BLUFFTON PARKWAY 170 AND MOVING IN THAT DOWN 46.

THE LAST STUDY IS BLUFFTON PARKWAY FROM S.C. 172 TO 78 AT THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY FLYOVER.

SO IT'S THE COMPLETE EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING BLUFFTON PARKWAY.

NOW EVERYBODY IS HERE BECAUSE IT IS BELIEVED THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES A OF FIVE BEE AS PART OF THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR AS WE TAKE ACTION WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE COUNTY FROM ANY USE OF COUNTY FUNDS TOWARDS DISCUSSION OR STUDY OF FIVE FEET SO AFTER WE TAKE THAT ACTION I WILL ALLOW YOU TIME TO QUESTION US ON WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHAT IT MEANS GOING FORWARD.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CONSIDER AMENDING A PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTION WHICH IS RESOLUTION 2020 4/04 THAT AUTHORIZED THE PROVISION OF FUNDS TO THE LOWCOUNTRY LOWCOUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION'S KNOWN AS LANDS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY'S PORTION OF A LOCAL MATCH FOR THE FOLLOWING STUDIES ONE THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY TRANSIT STUDY TO THE S.C. 315 SLASH 46 AND BLUFFTON PARKWAY EXTENSION STUDY AND THREE THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY FROM S.C. 172 U.S. TO 78 AT THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY FLYOVER AND TO AUTHORIZE THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGIONAL STUDIES MAY HAVE SUCH A MOTION . YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.

I MOVE THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER AMENDING RESOLUTION 2020 4/04 BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF CONSTRUCTION AND STUDY OF FIVE.

THE SECOND THAT OKAY IT'S AND SECONDED BY MISS BROWN. OKAY IS THERE AN AMENDED AMENDMENT. ANYONE WANTS TO PUT UP? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM, I MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION 2020 4/04 TO EXCLUDE FUNDING TO EXCLUDE EXCLUDE FUNDING FOR ANY PORTION OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH STUDYING THE POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION OF FIVE B. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? 3 SECONDS.

OKAY. I THINK I HEARD MS.. BROWN AGAIN.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE AMENDED THAT. WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION THAT.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT? MR. CHAIRMAN.

MR. CUNNINGHAM. A LOT OF YOU WERE THERE IN FEBRUARY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE LAST MEETING AND IT STILL WAS WHEN PEOPLE CAME OUT AND EXPRESSED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT FIVE FEET OF YOU CONSIDERED.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP SINCE 26 LIVING IN BLUFFTON THEN MY ENTIRE LIFE FOR 23 YEARS NOW I'VE SEEN THE GROWTH HAPPEN THERE A LOT CHANGED SINCE 2006.

A LOT HAS CHANGED THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING WAS PASSED BACK THEN DOESN'T MEAN IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION TODAY THE DECISIONS WERE MADE TO CREATE THE OTHER PART OF THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND DEVELOPMENT HAS HAPPENED AROUND AREA WE KNOW THIS CONNECTION IS REALLY ONLY ABOUT 1.1 MILES FROM THE OTHER ROAD CONNECTING RIGHT NOW AND WE KNOW WHERE IT GOES THROUGH WON'T GET BOGGED DOWN INTO THAT BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE STOOD OUT AGAINST THIS FROM THE BEGINNING ON TIME I WOULD NEVER ADVOCATE IT ADVOCATE FOR IT AS YOU CAN ACTUALLY TELL US THAT IT'S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO 95 WHICH NOBODY CAN.

WE WERE JUST INFORMED THAT THE AREA THAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH WAS SOLD OFF SO THAT EVEN PUTS MORE HARDSHIP ON THAT AS WELL AS IF YOU THINK WE'RE THROWING A FIT IN OUR AREA, IMAGINE HOW MUCH SUN CITY IS GOING TO THROW FIT WHEN THEY REALIZE IT'S GOING THROUGH THEIR BACK YARD AS WELL . WITH THAT SAID, JUST KNOW THAT IF THIS DOES PASS TODAY WHERE WE DON'T DO THE FUNDING NOW THAT THIS WASN'T BROUGHT UP BY COUNTY COUNCIL SOMEBODY EITHER IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON OR ON LATZ IS THE ONE PUSHING FOR THIS TO CONTINUE TO COME FORWARD. I KEEP HAVING PEOPLE ASK ME WHY IS IT BACK? WHY IS IT WHY IS IT BACK? AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOBODY UP HERE IS IT FORWARD. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR ON THAT. IT WILL NOT BE SUPPORTED BY ME AND I KNOW IT'S NOT SUPPORTED BY MOST PEOPLE HERE ON BLUFFTON.

THEY ARE IN THE COUNCIL. THEY'VE OPENLY SAID THAT THERE'S NO NEED FOR THIS ROAD.

[01:15:03]

ALL IT'S DOING IS RAISING CONCERNS. SO AFTER TONIGHT I GUARANTEE YOU THERE WILL BE A TOWN OF BLUFFTON MEETING AT SOME POINT.

I HOPE YOU VOICE YOUR CONCERNS THERE. I HOPE THEY'RE IN THE AGREEMENT WITH US AT THE COUNTY. WE CAN ACTUALLY LEAD US TO REST AND FINALLY BE DONE WITH THE FIVE B NONSENSE. SO THANK IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION AND I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT MR. SAID AND I WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO MR. CUNNINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 26 WHEN WE SAT UP HERE AND WE TALKED ABOUT A RESOLUTION THAT WAS ON THE AGENDA.

IT WAS MR. CUNNINGHAM THAT POINTED IT OUT FIVE B WAS INCLUDED IN THAT WE TOOK A VOTE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST FOUR OF US VOTED TO US DID NOT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS AND MR. CUNNINGHAM BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TODAY . THAT'S MY BEING HERE THE. IS THERE ANY OTHER MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR, I DO I DO WANT TO EXPRESS THAT I DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE OF B BUT WE HAD A CHAT HERE IN THE SAME ROOM AND CITIZENS LIKE YOU CAME FORTH AND EXPRESSED YOUR DISPLEASURE AND IT OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT I WAS DOING.

BUT EVEN IF THAT TOOK THE VOTE THAT NIGHT I AND I APPRECIATE YOU COMING BUT I SAID TO SOME REPRESENTATIVES FROM COUNCIL HERE WHO DID NOT WANT THE INCLUDED I HATED VOTING FOR SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M REPRESENTING NORTH OF BROAD BECAUSE I LIVE NORTH OF WHAT I SEE SOUTH OF BROAD WAS I HAVE TO GO FOR AN EMERGENCY OR WHATEVER BUT I VOTED AGAINST WHILE VOTED FOR IT AND THEY VOTED AGAINST IT AND I FELT REALLY OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE THEY KNOW BETTER THAN I DO AND I SAID AT THE TIME OF THE CHAIR THAT I, I HAD SECOND THOUGHTS AND THAT I WILL SUPPORT THEIR EFFORT AND SO I RETRACT MY VOTE AND I WILL SUPPORT UNUSUAL FOR ME TO SUPPORT MR. CUNNINGHAM THIS MOTION OH OKAY. YES.

LET ME LET ME SAY THAT I ALSO HAD SUPPORT OF THE PAST AND LET ME JUST TRY TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT. I WILL SUPPORT MR. CUNNINGHAM'S AMENDMENT THAT HE HAS AGAIN TO TO TAKE FIVE OUT. BUT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 35 YEARS, HOWEVER SO LET ME GIVE YOU THE FLIP SIDE THAT I'VE SEEN WHERE WE HAD 278 THAT NEED WIDENING AND THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT WERE OPPOSED TO IT I'VE SEEN PEOPLE OPPOSE THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY.

I'VE SEEN WHERE PEOPLE OPPOSE THE BLUFFTON FLYOVER I'VE SEEN WHERE PEOPLE HAVE OPPOSED THE THE CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY. SO AGAIN THOSE ARE ALL THINGS IN THE PAST.

SO I'M JUST SAYING THIS AGAIN I'M SUPPORTING MR. CUNNINGHAM'S IDEA HERE TO DO THIS TO PULL FIBER OUT. BUT AGAIN WE NEED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING ALL GENERATIONS TO COME. I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE FOREVER AND AGAIN. I CAN'T IMAGINE EVER VOTING FOR FIVE B BUT AGAIN I WAS VOTING FOR STUDY ITSELF FOR US TO SPEND THE MONEY AND WE MIGHT HAVE FOUND IN THAT STUDY THAT FIVE WAS NOT NEEDED AND YOU COULD HAVE WON YOUR CASE THAT WAY AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE STUDY SAID SO AGAIN AS MOVING FORWARD THE STUDIES AS NECESSARY AND BACKING OUT THE PORTION OF 5BI THINK IS A VERY SMART WAY TO DO IT AND LET LET THINGS HAPPEN FROM THERE. BUT AGAIN WE DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THESE STUDIES DONE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TRAFFIC. WE SEE HOW THINGS ARE GETTING BUSIER AND BUSIER ON BLUFFTON PARKWAY AND THE BUCKWALTER PARKWAY ON 46 ON 170 ON 278.

SO AGAIN THIS IS ALL THINGS FOR THE FUTURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FOR THE STUDIES AND AGAIN I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT AGAIN PULLING OUT FIVE B FROM THAT STUDY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS IN TERMS OF JUST LAST THING I WANT TO SAY AND THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IS IF YOU CAME OUT AND DID WHAT YOU DID SO IN THE FUTURE STAY WITH US.

STAY ENGAGED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE APPRECIATE IT.

MR. HAPPENING I JUST WANT A COMMENT I MEAN MANY OF THESE PEOPLE CAME TO THE CHAIR WITH COUNSEL WHICH CAN CONVINCE MR. GLOVER AND I APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT HE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED MESS DOWN AT 170 ON HIS WAY TO THE HILTON MORNING SO I DO APPRECIATE HIS CHANGING

[01:20:01]

THEY KNEW WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THIS ACTION THIS EVENING AND THEY OH, THEY KNEW WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THIS THIS EVENING AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHY. OKAY.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE THE AMENDMENT IS TO REMOVE FUNDING FOR FIVE FEET.

THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. OKAY WE'RE NOW BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION WHICH IS TO DO THIS STUDY STUDY FOR ONE OR TWO AND THREE WITHOUT FIVE BE CORRECT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU THE REST OF COUNCIL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK THIS OVER AGAIN AND I APPRECIATE IT GUYS. IT'S IMPORTANT. OKAY, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION IS THERE ANY OBJECTION SEEING NONE. ITEM 17 IS APPROVED.

MANY OF YOU WISH SPEAK ON THE MATTER. YES SIR PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME MY NAME IS TONY LA MARTIN. I'M A RESIDENT ROSEHILL IN BLUFFTON.

MR. CHAIRMAN COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME TODAY. I WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT BEYOND JUST A STUDY AND TALK THE OVERALL DIRECTION THAT BLUFFTON IS MOVING IN FOR 18 YEARS. AS YOU KNOW THIS, FIVE YEARS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED EVEN WITHOUT STUDY IF FIVE BE OR ANOTHER AMENDMENT BRINGS IT BACK TO LIFE AGAIN, THE INCREASE IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION, THE DESTRUCTION OF WETLAND, NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE DISAPPEARING GREENSPACE, INCREASED CRIME NOISE AND LIGHT POLLUTION SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN PROPERTY VALUE AND INCREASED FLOODING DUE TO CHANGES IN AREA DRAINAGE.

THE U.S. EPA WATERSHED ACADEMY STATES A SUB WATERSHED WITH 10 TO 25% IMPERVIOUS COVER IS CLASSIFIED AS DEGRADED ANY STRANGE WATERSHED HAVING GREATER THAN 25% IS CLASSIFIED AS NONSUPPORT ADDING WITH FOUR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND HIGH LEVEL OF BACTERIA LEVELS.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT GOING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH FIVE BE THE STUDY IS NOT THERE AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BUILT ANY BUILDING THAT WE DO CONVERTING TO IMPERVIOUS CREATES THIS PROBLEM. THE OKATIE RIVER WATERSHED HAS 25% 25% OF LAND IN IMPERVIOUS IMPERMEABLE AND IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING BIOLOGICAL OR BIOLOGICAL CONDITION OF TIDAL CREEKS THE RHOSDDU WATERSHED WHICH IS THE RUNOFF WHERE RUNOFF WILL GO IS ALREADY CLOSE TO 25% AND IMPACTS THE MAIN RIVER. THE COLLETON FISH, WILDLIFE, OYSTER BEDS AND SHELLFISH WHICH IS A GREAT PART OF OUR ECONOMY. THE TOWN BLUFFTON AND THEY'LL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AT IT PARKWAY BLUFFTON FIVE B ALTERNATIVES WAS A PAPER THEY PUBLISHED OF IN THE BULLETS IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE UNREALIZED REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT A LINE INTERSECTIONS AND LAND ROADWAYS WHICH ALLOWS USE OF ADJACENT PROPERTY THAT'S ALL FOR THE BETTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF DEVELOPERS NOT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA RIGHT. THE COST OF FIVE B HAS HAS TALKED ABOUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL AREAS TO USE $62 MILLION.

SOME OF IT'S BEEN STATED A LITTLE WHILE AGO RESURFACE EXISTING ROADS CREATE MORE AND LONGER LINES TO MOVE VEHICLES OUT OF THE TRAFFIC, PAINT THE STOP EDGE TURN AND CENTER LANES TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY. THESE ARE THREE SAFETY AREAS THAT EXIST TODAY AND ALL OF OUR ROADS AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED THANK YOU SO AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE TIME TO TALK.

I THANK YOU AND I HOPE THAT WE LOOK FORWARD WE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES TONY CAN WE GET THAT

[01:25:02]

SCHAFER, DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT TONY IS ABOUT? I'M SO SORRY THIS WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE. ANYBODY ELSE ONE MORE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ENABLE ME TO CONDENSE THIS GREATLY THE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED IN LARGE AS YOU WERE INTENDED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW MOTORS PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE SAFETY FIVE B DOES NONE THOSE THINGS IT ACTUALLY OPENS FOR DEVELOPMENT HUNDREDS OF ACRES PROPERTY WHICH THEY WANT TO THEN TIE INTO TO 78 INCREASING TRAFFIC ON TO 78 WITH ADDITIONAL CURB CUTS AND THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO IN THERE ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT YOU ARE GOING TO DO NOTHING BUT ADD CONGESTION AT THE VERY INTERSECTIONS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CURE AND IT JUST NEEDS TO BE OFF THE TABLE FOR THAT REASON.

YOU ALSO NEED TO LOOK INTO IF IT EVER WAS OFFERED TO BUY YOU NEED TO LOOK INTO THE INFLATED VALUES THAT WERE PUT ON THOSE PROPERTIES BY PHONY ZONING THAT IT'S REALLY NOT AT THIS POINT BUT THE ZONING THERE WAS UP ZONING THEN THEY GET APPRAISERS TO COME IN AND SAY IF THIS WAS DONE WE HAD THAT ROSEVILLE HAPPEN TO US AND THEY WERE CONVICTED IN TAX COURT FOR FRAUD SO IT A AN YOU TO LOOK AT IF WE'RE EVER OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY THAT AND IT OUT OF DEVELOPMENT I APPRECIATE THE TIME THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK OKAY THANK YOU THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWS ON THIS WE HAVE HEARD YOU WE

[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY’S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 (ORDINANCE NO. 2023/22) TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER $250,000 FROM FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND (FUND 2546) TO COVER UNBUDGETED COSTS FOR THE DAUFUSKIE ISLAND FERRY OPERATIONS; TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER $3,600,000 FROM FUND BALANCE OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 333 AND 335 BUCKWALTER PARKWAY PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE 2023/14; TO INCLUDE THREE 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 $4,252,918. (FISCAL IMPACT: An increase in the County’s operating budget of $4,252,918)]

WE'RE GOING TO GO TO ITEM NUMBER 12 NOW WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 SLASH 2020 222 TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER 250,000 FROM FUND BALANCE MINUTE FOR THE YEAR JUST ENDED THEY'RE GOING OUT QUIETLY FROM FUND BALANCE TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY I'M SORRY BUDGET UNBUDGETED COSTS FOR THE FUSCHIA ISLAND FERRY OPERATIONS AND TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER 3,600,000 FROM FUND BALANCE TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY 333 AND 335 BUCKWALTER PARKWAY PURSUANT TO ORDINANCE 2023 SLASH 14 TO INCLUDE THREE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BUDGET FUNDS 2230 2252 AND 2255 IN AN AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF 402,980 WHICH WERE CONVERTED TO THE GENERAL DURING THE TURN OF THE COUNCIL CONVERSION PROCESS TOTAL AMENDMENT THE BUDGET ORDINANCE 2023 SLASH 2020 222 IS $4,252,918. MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION LIKE THE MOTION MR. BERNANKE MAKES THE MOTION SECOND MR. MACCALLUM MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION IN SECOND IS IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NONE THIS WILL BE ADOPTED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS BY THE WAY, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WHO

[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 TAXATION, ARTICLE V HOSPITALITY TAX OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES Vote at First Reading on March 11, 2024 - 11:0]

[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 TAXATION, ARTICLE II ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOARD, DIVISION 1. GENERALLY AND DIVISION 2. ACCOMMODATIONS (3%) TAX Vote at First Reading on March 11, 2024- 10:1]

ITEM 14 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ITS SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 66 TAXATION ARTICLE TWO ACCOMMODATIONS TAX BOARD DIVISION ONE GENERALLY AND DIVISION ACCOMMODATIONS 3% TAX MAY I HAVE SUCH MOTION? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION AGAIN MR. BERNANKE SECOND THAT MISS BROWN DULY MOTIONED IN IS THERE ANY BODY IN THE PUBLIC WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT SEEING NONE? IS THERE ANY MONEY ON COUNCIL MR. CHAIRMAN? I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS ONE PROBABLY A LONG ONE BUT I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST THIS WILL BE DONE WITH THE ONE OBJECTION. IS THERE ANY OTHER OBJECTION SEEING NONE.

[15. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE A-TAX FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE A-TAX COMMIITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.(FISCAL IMPACT: Funding will come from the State Accommodations Fund.)]

[01:30:04]

[16. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT OF A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON SEVERAL PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN JASPER COUNTY AND KNOWN, COLLECTIVELY, AS GREGORIE NECK (PIN# 087-00-09-022, 087-00-09-023, 087-00-09-025, 087-00-09-031) (FISCAL IMPACT: $1,000,000 from the Beaufort County Green Space Program Sales Tax Fund # 4706)]

I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS. I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THIS. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE COLONEL OMITS YOU AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN YOU ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE, THAT'S ALL. ANYONE ELSE? YES.

BRIEFLY I JUST WANT TO SAY WE PUSH FORWARD ON THIS GREENSPACE REFERENDUM.

IT NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM TO FIND PEOPLE TO BE ON THE BOARD AND THEN THAT BOARD THE COMMITTEE IT WAS SET OUT TO EVEN CREATE GUIDELINES AND OPERATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S TO GO BY IT'S ALL A CLEAN SLATE. IT'S BEEN A GRADUATE THEN THAT YOU GUYS DID ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CHALLENGED YOU GUYS WITH TRIPLING OR QUADRUPLING THE MONEY THAT WE TOOK IN FOR TAXPAYERS AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING WAY ABOVE MY HEAD AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE. SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND THE COMMITTEE AS WELL. MR. CHAIRMAN, AT THIS HOUR I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK TIM WHO'S SITTING IN THE BACK AND MARK DAVIS AND JULIAN STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DID TO GET US TIM'S ON THE COMMITTEE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. MARK DAVIS AND JULIAN SMITH.

I NEED TO USE YOUR LAST NAMES ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DID AND ALSO MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEFORE AND THE OPEN LAND TRUST FOR APPLYING FOR THIS MONEY. AND LIKE COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM ,YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T GET A BETTER RETURN ON YOUR MONEY THAN THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU, MR. LAWSON. YES. AND LET ME JUST SAY WHEN WE WERE DEBATING THE $0.01 GREEN SPACE WE TALKED ABOUT NOT ALLOWING MONEY RAISED IN BE FOR COUNTY TO GO FOR ANY PLACE ELSE OTHER THAN BLUE COUNTY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE DECIDED THAT WE'D LEAVE IT IN THERE THAT THIS MONEY WOULD BE USED AND AND USED ON A SELECT BASIS TO DO SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO AGAIN, THIS IS MONEY THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING RAISED BY FOR COUNTY TAXPAYERS, IT IS BEING USED TO HELP PURCHASE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT THAT IS AT OUR HEADQUARTERS ON BROAD RIVER. IT IS 44,000 EXCUSE ME 4400 ACRES THAT WE ARE PRESERVING.

AND AGAIN WE ARE A SMALL CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS AMOUNT BUT AGAIN THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM WAS MEANT TO DO AND WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN. AND AGAIN, I WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE FOLKS THAT WAS AGAINST IT BEING SPENT OUT OF OUTSIDE OF COUNTY.

BUT AGAIN, I'M GLAD THAT THAT THAT I CHANGED WE CHANGED OUR MIND SAID TO INCLUDE THAT.

SO MR. CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO COMMENT I LIKE THIS A LOT THEN YOU DID THE THREE REASONS WHY DOES IT MATTER MAYBE GIVE ONE TO EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER. OKAY WELL I REJECT FOR GRAMMAR LEAVE THAT ALONE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID TO THE GREENSPACE COMMITTEE WHEN THEY FIRST MET I SAID WE HAVE TO EDUCATE BECAUSE ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN WHY ARE YOU SPENDING IT IN JASPER COUNTY SO? I APPRECIATE THE EDUCATION PART AND MIKE WHAT SHAME DID IT MR. EVANS DID IT MISS HOWARD DOES IT ENTER OPPORTUNITY THIS IS REALLY A GOOD FLIER.

THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, MR. GLOVER? YEAH. BEFORE THE VOTE I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS IN JEST WHAT COUNTY IS REALLY BEFORE COUNTY AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE BROAD RIVER AND WE'RE PROTECTING 30 MILES I BELIEVE OF THE RIVER THAT'S A LOT OF PROTECTION FOR THE SEAL MEAN THE PORT ROYAL SO TO ME THIS IS IN BEAUFORT SO WHENEVER WE TRY TO KEEP CLEAN PRISTINE AND WE NEED TO CLEAN UP THE PORT ALSO THIS WILL HELP DO THAT 13 ANY FINAL COMMENTS TRULY THIS IS BEAUFORT COUNTY MAKING THE POSSIBLE GREEN SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SAID

[01:35:02]

WE HAVE NOW DONE SOMETHING SPECIAL. SO ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE I ITEM NUMBER 18 IS

[18. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT (IGA) WITH BEAUFORT JASPER WATER SEWER AUTHORITY, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION/INSTALLATION OF THE LOBECO/MORGAN ROAD WATERLINE PROJECT IGA WITH BJWSA FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A WATER LINE TO SERVE THE LOBECO COMMUNITY. WATER LINE TO BE INSTALLED ON MORGAN ROAD BETWEEN TRASK PARKWAY AND JOHN MEEK WAY (FISCAL IMPACT: $3,668,800)]

[19. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 FOR THE REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMERCIAL DOCK AND UPGRADING OF EXISTING PROCESSING AND GRADING BUILDINGS AT GAY FISH COMPANY]

ITEM 19 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000 FOR THE REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMERCIAL DOCK AND UPGRADING OF EXISTING PROCESSING AND GRADING BUILDINGS AND GAVE FISH COMPANY IF SUCH A MOTION ON THE MOTION MR. GLOVER THE MOTION MR. BARTHOLOMEW MADE THE SECOND DUELING MOTIONS AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION YOU JUST WANT TO SEE THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP ENHANCE AND CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE IN THAT AREA? THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YES IT IS. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE. THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT

[20. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING FEE SUBSIDY IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,765 REQUESTED BY LOWCOUNTRY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY (FISCAL IMPACT: $11,765 AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND)]

OKAY. DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED ANY DISCUSSION SAYING NONE OF THIS

[21. RECOMMEND THE APPOINTMENT OF THOMAS MIKE, SR. TO THE BEAUFORT JASPER SEWER WATER AUTHORITY BOARD (Once approved,this recommendation will be sent to the Beaufort County Legislative Delegation for further action)]

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH TWO OBJECTIONS.

SEEING IT IS APPROVED AND THE GENTLEMAN IS HERE. THOMAS MIKE SENIOR, WILL YOU PLEASE STAND? THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU.

[22. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

YOKO. THIS IS ABOUT 5BI DIDN'T GET TO SPEAK SO I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNTY COUNCILWOMAN PAULA BROWN FOR LISTENING TO HER CONSTITUENTS AND MAKING MOTION AT THE LAST COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING TO REOPEN THE RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE OF FIVE B. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL THE OTHER COUNTY COUNCIL WHO UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO REOPEN THIS RESOLUTION. THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THIS ROAD WAS TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND PROVIDE SYSTEM RELIABILITY FOR THE 2024 TIVE WHICH IS THE TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. HOWEVER THE PHASE FIVE ROADWAY WILL ONLY CONTRIBUTE INCREASED CONGESTION WITH ALL THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS SLATED TO BE DONE ALONG THIS ROAD SYSTEM RELIABILITY IS ALSO NO LONGER VIABLE AS A CONNECTION FROM HIGHWAY 170 TO I-95 IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE NOW FOR MR. PESSIMIST AT THE FEBRUARY 26 COUNCIL MEETING. I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF

[01:40:02]

HATS OFF TO THE FIVE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MR. GLOVER MRS..

MR. DAWSON MISS HOWARD MISS TAVERN IN THIS BAR THOUGHT MR. MYRTLE SORRY BARTHOLOMEW WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 TO LISTEN TO AND DISCUSS THEIR CITIZENS CONCERN. THE MEETING WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I HOPE THAT THERE ARE MORE OF THESE TYPE MEETINGS IN THE FUTURE. I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK MR. GLOVER, MR. BARTHOLOMEW AND MR. DAWSON WHO SAID THEY WOULD CHANGE THEIR VOTE AND VOTE TO REMOVE FACE BY BEE IF THE THREE STUDIES WERE SEPARATED. I ALSO HOPE ALL OF YOU GO ONE STEP FURTHER AND REMOVE BALATA AND THE YELLOW ONE FROM THE 2004 TRANSPORTATION AND PUT SEGMENTATION PROGRAM. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE SEEING NONE AND NO FURTHER ACTION TO COME BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL? THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.