[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[Call to Order]
ALL THE MEETING TO ORDER THE PLANNING COMMISSION.AND WE WITH OUR, UH, PLEDGE FLAG,
[Pledge to the Flag]
ANCE THE FLAG, BE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH STAND ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INVIS, LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL.REMEMBER TO ACTIVATE YOUR MICROPHONES IF YOU WANT.
[Adoption of the Agenda]
OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.EVERYONE'S HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT.
UH, HAD THERE BEEN ANY CHANGES SINCE THAT WAS PUBLISHED? SHAY, WITHOUT THE AGENDA FOR COMMISSIONER HENS SUPPORTED BY COMMISSIONER LOBAUGH.
ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT? ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.
[Approval of the Minutes]
YOU CAN'T HEAR US? TEST ONE, TWO, TEST ONE.WE'RE WORKING JUST BEYOND OUR CAPABILITY NOW.
WE HAD SOMEBODY CHECK THAT JUST BEFORE THE MEETING BEGAN.
SO LET ME FIND OUT THE STATUS OF IT.
LET'S, I'LL, I'LL TRY TO PROJECT HERE WHILE THEY TRY TO FIX THAT PROBLEM FOR US.
WE HAVE, UH, THE MINUTES FROM OUR MARCH 20 20TH, 2024 MEETING, UM, UH, THAT WE, UH, OH, THEY WILL BE APPROVED AT THE, AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY, UH, BUSINESS TO DO WITH THAT.
UH, AT THIS POINT, UH, NOW WOULD
[Appearance by Citizens]
BE A TIME FOR A COMMENT BY CITIZENS WHO HAVE COME TO SPEAK WITH US ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO FITS THAT CATEGORY? YES, MA'AM.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND COULD YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME AS YOU BEGIN? SHARON SCHERMERHORN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS THING ON
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY PROPOSAL, WHICH IS RELATED TO PROTECTING OUR DUNES AND EDUCATING VISITORS.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE ABOUT FEBRUARY 7TH.
WE LIVE IN PALMETTO DUNES, PART-TIME.
I WALK ON THE BEACH SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, AND I'VE BECOME AWARE OF A GROWING SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THAT I WISH TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF.
THERE IS A CLEAR NEED TO EDUCATE THE VISITORS TO OUR ISLAND ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE DUNES AND THE ECOSYSTEM SURROUNDING THE DUNES ON, ON A DAILY BASIS.
I SEE NO FEWER THAN THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE EITHER SITTING ON, LAYING ON, DIGGING, PLAYING, OR EVEN WALKING ON TOP OF THESE PRECIOUS STORM BARRIERS.
MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THESE NOT AWARE OF THE BEACH AND DUNES REGULATIONS, AND THAT THE GRASSES ON TOP OF THE DUNES ARE PROTECTED BY LAW.
I'M ALREADY SEEING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE DUNES SINCE ARRIVING FEBRUARY 7TH.
MY PROPOSAL IS TO EDUCATE EACH VISITOR BEFORE THEY EVEN STEP FOOT ON THE BEACH WITH THREE REFERENCE POINTS.
ONE, WHEN SECURING THEIR PARKING PASS AT SECURITY.
TWO AS A NOTICE INSIDE RENTAL UNITS OR HOTEL ROOMS, OR AT CHECK-IN THREE LARGE SIGNAGE AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END OF EACH BEACH ACCESS POINT, SUCH AS WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, WHICH ARE IN THE FORM OF SANDWICH BOARDS REGARDING BEACH BIKE PARKING.
ALONG THE BEACH, ACCESS A COMMON OPPORTUNITY SHARED BY ALL VISITORS IS WHEN A GUEST SECURES THE MANDATORY SECURITY PASS PARKING TAG FOR PALMETTO DUNES AND SEA PINES.
THESE PASSES ARE PRINTED ON PIECES OF PAPER.
CONSIDER PLEASE IF YOU WOULD ALSO, INCLUDING WITH A, WITH THE PASS, A SHORT, CONCISE DIRECTIVE IN LARGE, BOLD PRINT DIRECTING VISITORS TO STAY OFF OF THE DUNES.
AND THEN A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF WHY WE NEED SIGNS AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH BEACH, ACCESS.
AND ALSO AT THE END, WE NEED TALLER DUNE FENCING.
BEACH PATROL SHOULD NOT BE THE FIRST POINT OF REFERENCE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DUNE SYSTEM.
WHEN APPROACHING A VISITOR WHO IS ALREADY ON THE DUNE BEACH PATROL SHOULD BE PERHAPS ABOUT THE FOURTH.
THE FIRST POINT OF REFERENCE WOULD BE SECURITY AGAIN.
[00:05:01]
WOULD BE A NOTATION WITHIN THEIR RENTAL UNIT OR HOTEL, OR AT CHECK-IN.AND THE THIRD, HARD TO MISS SIGNAGE ON THE BEACH WALKS.
THESE TOUCHPOINT AFFORD THE BEACH PATROL THREE PRIOR MENTIONS WITH WHICH TO REFERENCE BEFORE WRITING A CITATION.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH BEACH PATROL AS THEY PASS BY.
THEY HAVE SHARED WITH ME THEIR DAILY STRUGGLE TO GET PEOPLE OFF OF THE DUNES EACH DAY.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE BEACH PATROL AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A DAILY REPORT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY HAVE HAD TO SPEAK WITH ABOUT SITTING ON THE DUNES.
THIS IS TANGIBLE DATA THAT THE TOWNSHIP CAN REFERENCE TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE.
I HAVE HEARD THAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AREAS ARE BY THE WE COCO'S, WHICH IS BEACH MARKER 94, A BEACH.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MY FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WAS TO PALMETTO DUNE SECURITY PASS OFFICE TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HAND OUT A DUNE EDUCATION FLYER ALONG WITH EACH CAR PASS.
I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD COMPLY WITH SUCH A DIRECTIVE ONLY AT THE DIRECTION OF HILTON HEAD TOWNSHIP.
THIS COULD BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY FOR THIS IMPENDING HIGH SEASON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WE'LL BE SURE THAT THAT'S DIRECTED TO THE APPROPRIATE TOWN STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK INTO IT FOR US.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO SPEAK US ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
MR. BABEL? UH, MY NAME IS FRANK BABEL.
AND UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, THIS IS NOT ABOUT BIKING.
WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LABOR ON THIS ISLAND.
WE ALL NEED IT REALLY BADLY, BUT IT, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL NOWADAYS TO HEAR ABOUT A THREE HOUR DELAY ON THE BRIDGE AND ON ONE 70.
AND A LOT OF THE TOWN'S FOCUS HAS BEEN SPENT ON THE LAST YEAR ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
NOW, NO ONE WILL DIMINISH THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE NEED TRANSPORTATION TO GET PEOPLE HERE TO GO TO WORK.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT IT'S, IT'S AS IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT TO GET THAT ACTIVITY REALLY ENGAGED AND THE REFERENDUM UNDERWAY.
I'M AFRAID THE OXYGEN'S GETTING SUCKED OUTTA THE ROOM WITH SO MUCH ATTENTION BEING PAID TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE'RE NOT REALLY CONCENTRATING ON THE TRANSPORTATION SITUATION WE HAVE HERE.
WE NEED TO GET THIS THING GOING.
I MEAN, DOES A BRIDGE JUST GET KNOCKED DOWN? HOW MUCH IS THAT GONNA TAKE AWAY FROM US? PERHAPS WE DON'T KNOW.
I JUST A PRIVATE CITIZEN JUST MAKING COMMENTS AND AN OBSERVATION.
OUR REAL PROBLEM IS WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY, GETTING PEOPLE HERE, NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IT'S AVAILABILITY OF PEOPLE HERE, TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRAINING A WORKFORCE HERE BETTER AND A LOT OF OTHER MEANS, IN MY OPINION.
AND I JUST WANNA REGISTER THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE WANTING TO SPEAK TO US ON A TOPIC? NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
[Unfinished Business]
OKAY.THERE'S NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[New Business a. Capital Improvement Program Fiscal Year 2025 Priority Projects]
BUSINESS.LET ME TEE THIS UP FOR JUST A MINUTE.
UH, WE'VE ALL BEEN GIVEN, UH, LOTS OF DOCUMENTATION ABOUT A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DIFFERENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF EITHER BEING DONE OR BEING CONSIDERED.
UH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING, UH, I'VE ASKED BRIAN MCELWEE WHO'S GONNA BE GIVING THIS PRESENTATION TO FOCUS ON THE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING SUGGESTED BY TOWN STAFF AS A PRIORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
THE ONE THAT STARTS IN JULY 1ST.
THE ONES THAT ARE SHOWN AS, UH, CARRY FORWARDS FROM FISCAL 24 ARE EITHER IN PROGRESS OR ARE WELL ALONG.
THE ONES THAT ARE SHOWING FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 THROUGH 29 ARE JUST FOR OUR REFERENCE TO SHOW US THAT THEY ARE BEING PLANNED AT SOME POINT.
BUT WE'RE FOCUSING TODAY ON THE 62 PROJECTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED, UH, FISCAL YEAR 25.
EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THAT? GOOD.
THEN, BRIAN, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD? AND GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, BRIAN MCWE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROJECTS AND FACILITIES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
IT SAVES ME FROM TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, SO WHY WE'RE HERE? I KNOW THAT WAS COMING UP TOO.
LIKE WHY ARE WE DOING THIS TODAY? SO THE STATE'S, UH, ENABLING LEGISLATION ASSIGNS THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS FOR, UM, THE TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERATION AND THEIR UPCOMING BUDGET.
UM, I THINK, I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE HISTORY OF THAT.
I THINK IT DATES BACK LONG AGO.
AND WHEN I WAS IN BLUFFTON, I KNOW WE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH HOW DO WE PRESENT THIS PRIORITY? WE'VE, WE'VE DONE IT HIGH, MEDIUM, LOW.
I THINK THAT'S HOW IT CAME THROUGH LAST YEAR.
THEN IT BECAME ONE A, ONE B, ONE C, TWO, THREE, UM, THIS YEAR.
TO AVOID ALL THAT, WE JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS IS WHAT STAFF IS PRESENTING AS A PRIORITY PROJECT.
[00:10:01]
WHAT WE WANT TO DO THIS FISCAL YEAR.UM, EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE ONE, TWO, AND THREE LAST YEAR, THEY STILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTS.
RIGHT? AND WE DON'T REALLY ASSIGN, WE, WE ARE, WE ARE ATTENDING TO ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS.
SO, AS YOU SAID, THE LIST THAT I HAVE HERE TODAY, LEMME SEE IF I CAN BROKEN DOWN INTO CATEGORY, UM, BEACH PATHWAYS, ROADWAYS, PARKS, FACILITIES, UM, FLEET AND, UH, STORM WATER.
AND SO, LIKE YOU SAID, ITEMS THAT SHOW THE STATUS AS FY 24 CARRY, CARRY FORWARD.
THAT WAS ALREADY IN THIS YEAR'S, UH, BUDGET.
AND IT JUST MEANS WE DIDN'T FINISH IT.
WE JUST, I JUST WANTED TO JUST SHOW YOU THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.
UM, ITEMS THAT ARE LISTED AS FY 25 IS WHAT STAFF.
UM, TALKING WITH OUR TOWN MANAGER, WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE THINK THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO DO IN FY 25.
AND THEN ITEMS AS FY 26 THROUGH 29, THAT'S PART OF OUR LARGER FIVE YEAR CIP PROGRAM.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THE, UH, PARKS AND RECOGNITION.
THEY IDENTIFIED ONE OF THOSE IN 26 AND 29 TO MOVE FORWARD.
THEY RECOMMENDED THAT TO YOU ALL.
I THINK IT'S THE SOUTH FOREST BEACH PATHWAY, UM, FOR CONSIDERATION TO MOVE THAT FORWARD INTO 25.
SO YOU ALL ARE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THOSE 26 THROUGH 29 YEARS AND YOU WANT IT TO COME UP IN 25, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO TO DO THAT.
UM, IF YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING IN 25 THAT SHOULD PUSH, THAT MAYBE ISN'T A PRIORITY RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN DO THAT.
BUT, UM, THIS IS JUST FOR COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION.
AND THEN THEY WILL GO AND MEET WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND FINANCE AND DEVELOP THE, THE BUDGET DURING THEIR WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS.
SO I'M GONNA HIT ON A REALLY HIGH LEVEL OF EACH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS AND JUST KINDA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE AT THE SAME TIME.
UM, THIS IS PROBABLY THE ONE TIME A YEAR WHERE I COME BEFORE YOU ALL, UNLESS WE HAVE A PUBLIC PROJECT REVIEW.
AND I CAN KIND OF GIVE YOU WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR CIP PROGRAM.
SO BEACH MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING, UM, THAT IS CURRENTLY ONGOING.
WE HAVE A PERMIT AND WITH, UH, ALL THE REGULATION AGENCIES, ARMY CORPS, FISH AND WILDLIFE, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT PERMIT WILL BE RECEIVED PROBABLY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, PROBABLY BY JUNE.
AND THEN THAT WORK WILL PROBABLY START IN JUNE OF 2025.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME BEACH RENOURISHMENT ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNICATION COMING UP SOON.
UH, BEACH MA, BEACH PARK MAINTENANCE, THAT'S JUST OUR ONGOING UPGRADES THAT WE DO TO THE PARK.
UM, UPGRADES TO RECYCLING AND TRASH IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW TRASH FENDER, UH, FOR OUR BEACH COLLECTION.
UM, SO UPGRADING TO WHAT YOU SEE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, INSTEAD OF THE, YOU KNOW, AS LITTLE BINS WITH THE PLASTIC, UM, TRASH CANS IN IT.
MAYBE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE SOPHISTICATED, UM, FOR THE ISLAND.
UM, AS WELL AS UPDATING SOME, SOME SIGNAGE.
SHE, SHE SPOKE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STAYING OFF THE DUNES.
WE COULD EASILY DO THAT WITH OUR SIGN UPGRADES, WAY FINDING LIGHTING, ET CETERA.
UM, ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, THAT IS ONGOING.
WE ARE IN PHASE ONE OF THAT PROJECT RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE INSTALLED A PATHWAY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE PARK, UH, THAT IS GOING TO BE OPEN PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
IT LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND, UH, SUPER EXCITING FOR WHAT'S TO COME IN THE NEXT PHASE, WHICH WILL BE THE LARGER PARK, A NEW PLAYGROUND, UPDATES TO THE, UH, RESTROOM, ET CETERA.
AND THEN I'M JUST GONNA HIT ON ALL OF 'EM AND YOU CAN STOP ME WHENEVER YOU WANT.
SO THIS IS JUST GIVING YOU A, A BROAD OVERVIEW OF OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM.
BUT CLICKY BEACH PARK, WE JUST DID A NEW, UH, BOARDWALK THAT OPENED ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO.
UM, THE NEXT PHASE OF THAT IS IDENTIFY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHEN THAT'D BE BIGGER UPGRADES TO THE PARK, SIMILAR TO ISLANDERS, YOU KNOW, CHANGE THE RESTROOM, FIX THE PATH, THE, UH, THE PLAYGROUND.
RIGHT NOW THAT PLAYGROUND FLOODS.
UM, JUST PROVIDING A, YOU KNOW, UPDATING NEW SITE FURNISHINGS, UH, ADD A PLAYGROUND DOWN THERE, SOME ENHANCEMENTS TO THE, TO THE SITE OVERALL.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S IN FIVE YEARS OUT THE BEACH.
WHEELCHAIR STORAGE IS A NEW ONE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
THAT, UH, IS FROM A CHAMBER LEADERSHIP CLASS PROJECT.
UM, THEY ARE DEVELOPING, I THINK, SIX NEW WHEELCHAIRS THAT WE CAN HAVE FOR, UH, FOR RENT OUT ON THE BEACH.
AND SO OUR DIRECTOR OF, UH, BELT ENVIRONMENT, ZEUS MORRIS, HAS CREATED A, UM, KIND OF A STORAGE AREA AND A SEATING AREA SO PEOPLE CAN BE DROPPED OFF.
UM, AND THEN THE WHEELCHAIRS WOULD BE BEHIND IT SO THEY CAN SIT IN FRONT OF IT AND THE WHEELCHAIRS ARE STORED, SO THEY'RE AWAY FROM THE WEATHER.
AND THEN, UM, GO OUT TO THE BEACH FROM THERE.
SO WE HAVE FIVE LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE HARBORTOWN DREDGE, THAT IS JUST A LEFTOVER PROJECT, I THINK FROM FISCAL YEAR, LIKE 2021, UM, THAT IT'S JUST A PASS THROUGH.
UH, I'D TO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT BEACH BRIAN, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST,
[00:15:01]
UM, UM, WE'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THIS LIST PRETTY EXTENSIVELY.AND SO, UH, UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC ABOUT YOUR UPDATE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 24 PROJECTS MM-HMM,
I THINK I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO JUST FOCUS ON 25.
I CAN EASILY, IS THAT ALRIGHT WITH EVERYBODY? I CAN BE AS FAST AS YOU WANT.
SO, PATHWAY MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S, UH, JUST ONGOING PROJECT EVERY YEAR.
WE DO PATHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, FRANK AND BIKE WALK.
HHI HAVE REALLY BEEN, UH, HELPFUL WITH US IDENTIFYING ITEMS THAT THEY NEED REPAIRED.
SO THAT'S JUST AN ONGOING PROJECT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY BENJAMIN DRIVE, OH, JONESVILLE ROAD.
JONESVILLE ROAD IS ACTUALLY, UH, IT'S ALREADY A CARRY FORWARD.
WE ARE GONNA DO THE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT THIS YEAR AS THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET.
UM, BUT AGAIN, A CARRY FORWARD, I DON'T THINK ANY NEW PATHWAY THOUGH IN FY 25.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PATHWAYS? NOPE.
SO DIRT ROAD, BENJAMIN DRIVE IS THE ONLY NEW, UH, DIRT ROAD FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
UH, THE FAMILY OR THE, THE RESIDENTS ON THAT ROAD HAVE REACHED OUT TO US AND WE THINK WE CAN GET A HUNDRED PERCENT PARTICIPATION.
THAT'S THE BIG KEY ABOUT THE DIRT ROAD PROJECT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT, UH, DONATION OF OUR DRIVEWAY.
UM, AND NOW WE CAN BUILD THAT PROJECT.
SO THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO US AND I THINK WE CAN GET THAT, UH, CRANKED OUT PRETTY QUICK.
MAINTENANCE, YEAH, AGAIN, ONGOING MAINTENANCE TO, OR IT USED TO BE ON OUR OPERATING, UH, BUDGET, BUT THIS IS JUST REPAIR SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST DID ON MAIN STREET, WHERE WHEN WE TOOK THAT OVER, YOU KNOW, REPAIR, CURBING POTHOLES, SIGNAGE, UM, MARK TRUCK PAYMENT MARKINGS, ET CETERA.
UH, SAME WITH THE ADAPTIVE SIGNAL MAINTENANCE THAT USED TO BE IN OUR OPERATING.
WE'VE PUT THAT IN, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT SYSTEM, UM, IS VERY SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT.
WE HAD SOME ISSUES LAST WEEK WITH THE BIG THUNDERSTORM WE HAD IN THE MORNING WHERE IT, IT CAN REALLY AFFECT THAT EQUIPMENT.
SO WE, WE WANT TO INVEST SOME, UH, GROUNDING UPGRADES TO THIS TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND, AND MAKE THEM MORE RELIABLE HERE.
SO THE TOWN IS WORKING ON AN EFFORT CALLED THE MAJOR THOROUGH FAIR CORRIDOR PLAN.
UH, WILL BE PRESENTED TO TOWN COUNCIL NEXT, UM, TUESDAY, I BELIEVE, AT A WORKSHOP.
UM, SO IT IDENTIFIES SEVERAL CORRIDORS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND, MAINLY ON LONG WILLIAMSVILLE PARKWAY, THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY, AND THEN, UH, PALMETTO BAY ROAD DOWN THROUGH, UH, POPE AVENUE.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE EIGHT DIFFERENT CORRIDORS, UH, IDENTIFIED.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON CORRIDORS TWO AND THREE IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, INCIDENTS WITH PEDESTRIAN VE VEHICULAR CONFLICT AND SOME SAFETY IN THOSE CORRIDORS.
UM, AND THEN CORRIDOR EIGHT, WHICH IS SEA PINE CIRCLE AND POPE AVENUE ENHANCEMENTS, UH, DOWN THERE.
AND THEN LANDSCAPE LIGHTING AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AGAIN, JUST THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE ISLAND.
UPDATE, UM, THE AESTHETIC AND THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AT SOME OF OUR INTERSECTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS THERE? NO, WE'RE GOOD.
I THINK I'LL JUST TOUCH ON IT.
A LOT OF THE PARKS ARE CARRYING FORWARD, UM, MOVING FORWARD INTO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE PARKS CARRYING OVER FROM THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEARS.
THE ONLY NEW ONE HERE IS THE, UM, THE AREA IN FRONT OF KAL PLAZA.
THERE'S A SMALL, KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A MUD PIT SOMETIMES.
UH, IT'S A, A LITTLE RETENTION POND THAT THE WATER JUST DOESN'T HOLD ANYMORE.
UM, IT'S ON THE, THE SIDE WHERE THE COFFEE SHOP, I THINK IS RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE WANT TO CREATE THAT INTO LIKE A LITTLE PLAZA SEATING AREA AND FILL IN THAT, UH, POND AND CREATE A NICE LITTLE CORNER THERE RIGHT BY KIAN PLAZA.
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT QUADRANT POCKET PARK IS, WHAT NEED THAT FOR DRAINAGE.
WE ARE GONNA PUT IT UNDERGROUND UNDERNEATH IT AND THEN FILL IN ON TOP OF IT.
IT'S FULLY PAID FOR BY THE TOWN, OR PARTLY PAID.
EVERYTHING IN THE, THE RIGHT, RIGHT OF WAY.
'CAUSE THE TOWN IS THE LITTLE PARCEL.
IT'S A WEIRD CONFIGURATION WITH THE RIGHT OF WAY IN THAT LITTLE TRIANGLE PIECE.
ISLAND RACK, THIS IS A ANNUAL THING THAT WE GET FROM FRANK, UH, UPGRADES TO HIS BUILDING POOL, UM, EVENT SPACE, OUTDOOR REC, ET CETERA.
UM, WE SHOW IT AS NEW, BUT IT'S JUST AN ONGOING, SIMILAR TO ALL THE MAINTENANCE.
UM, SAME WITH GENERAL PARK ENHANCEMENTS, JUST GENERAL UPGRADES.
THE ONE NEW ONE HERE WE HAVE IS JARVIS PARK, UM, THAT PARKING NEEDS A LITTLE LOVE.
WE WANNA DO SOME A DA UPGRADES, SIDEWALKS, UM, PROBABLY SOME NEW, YOU KNOW, SOME NEW PAINT.
UM, JUST SOME NEW WORK AT THAT PARK.
AND THEN AS WELL AS THE ROAD AND SAILING CENTER.
UM, JUST SOME UPGRADES TO THAT.
UM, JUST SO IT'S NOT ENLARGING JARVIS CREEK PARKING? NO, NO.
[00:20:01]
ADDING SOME A DA CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE, THE PAVILIONS.IF YOU COME OFF THE SIDEWALK, IT'S ALL GRASS UNTIL YOU GET TO THE PAVILION.
SO, UM, JUST CONNECTING THOSE AREAS.
WHAT ABOUT THE OLD SCHOOL HOUSE STILL IN THERE? OH, SO THAT'S JUST UPGRADES.
UM, CARRYING FORWARD FROM THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE, UH, DID WHAT WE COULD WITH THAT EXISTING PICKLEBALL OR THE, IT WAS A TENNIS COURT AND WE RESURFACED IT WITH THE PICKLEBALL COURTS, BUT WE WANT TO DO THE SAME WITH, UH, THE BASKETBALL COURT.
AND THEN WE WANT TO ADD SOME A DA CONNECTIVITY THERE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU PARK, IT'S ABOUT 30 YARDS TO THE, TO THE ACTUAL COURTS THEMSELVES.
AND THEN ADD SOME RESTROOMS. UM, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE SOME, UH, PORTA JOHNS IN THAT AREA.
YOU KNOW, LIKE A SIDEWALK TOO, FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE, WHAT'S THAT? THE SIDEWALKS TOO.
SIDEWALKS FROM THE PARKING AREA TO THE COURT AREA.
AND POSSIBLY FROM THE SIDEWALK OUT IN THE ROAD, INTO THE PARK TOO.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY CONNECTIVITY THERE.
AND IT JUST SAYS, SORRY, UH, SLOW YOU DOWN, UH, ROWAN AND SAILING JUST SAYS UPGRADES TO BE DETERMINED.
SO YEAH, WE DON'T
UM, BUT WE JUST KNOW WE WANT TO PUT SOME MONEY IN THERE.
WE'RE, UH, PUTTING A, A MURAL IN, I THINK IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO FOR THE OLD FISHING CO-OP AND JUST, UM, MAYBE UPGRADES TO THE PLAYGROUND AREA.
UM, MAYBE SOME SEATING ALONG THAT BLUFF AREA.
UM, THE, THE DECK PROBABLY NEEDS A LITTLE, OR THE DOCK ITSELF NEEDS A LITTLE LOVE.
THE LAST STORM THAT WE HAD IN THE, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF MUD THAT CAME IN UNDER THE KAYAK RAMP, AND SO SUPER LOW TIDE, IT ACTUALLY TURNS.
AND SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THAT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH, BUT THERE'S SOME LOVE THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT PART.
UM, FACILITIES, TOWN HALL, FACILITY ENHANCEMENTS.
THAT'S JUST EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO, UM, TO KEEP THIS PLACE STANDING.
UM, REPAIRS, PAINTING, SPRINKLER HEADS, ET CETERA.
UM, WILD WING BUILDING, DEMOLITION, THE TOWN PURCHASED THAT A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
UM, DEMOED THAT BUILDING IT IS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.
AND, UM, JUST FIX UP THE PARKING IN THAT AREA.
UM, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT HOW TO UTILIZE THAT WITH THE, WHETHER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK OR WITH THE KAL BEACH PARKING.
TREE PLANNING AND FOREST MANAGEMENT IS NEW THIS YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE STAFF NOW ON BOARD WHO CAN HELP.
SOMETIMES YOU SEE JUST A LOT OF OVERGROWTH, A LOT OF VINES, INVASIVE SPECIES, ET CETERA.
PLANTING NEW TREES, UM, JUST CONTINUING THAT PROGRAM THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
UM, THE NEXT, ALL THESE ARE JUST UPGRADES TO OUR FIRE STATIONS.
UM, THEY EITHER NEED PAINTING, A LOT OF 'EM NEED NEW DOORS, NEW BAY DOORS, UM, RENOVATIONS.
SO THEIR, UH, KITCHENS, THEIR RESTROOMS, ET CETERA.
IT'S JUST PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, WE HAVEN'T BUILT A NEW ONE IN QUITE A WHILE, SO IT'S JUST CONTINUING THE UPGRADES AND THE MAINTENANCE.
UM, AND THEN THEIR FIRE TRAINING CENTER IS, UH, IS UPGRADING THAT FACILITY.
THEY'RE WORKING ON A COMPONENT OF IT RIGHT NOW.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S THAT AREA RIGHT OFF FROM THE, UH, UH, CONVENIENCE CENTER.
MORE FIRE AND RESCUE, UH, UPGRADES TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS.
UM, UPGRADING THE LOBBY, KEEPING THAT BUILDING.
IT'S BASICALLY A GIANT WAREHOUSE AT THIS POINT.
UM, INSTEAD OF JUST PUTTING, PUTTING SOME ENERGY BACK INTO THAT.
AND THEN OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, UM, THE EOC REPAIRING THAT FOR WHEN WE HAVE, UM, EMERGENCY EVENTS LIKE HURRICANES, THAT'S WHERE WE ALL GO.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SECURITY ACCESS RIGHT NOW.
UCI WEARING A BADGE THAT GETS, UH, STAFF IN AND OUT THIS BUILDING WHERE WE WANT TO DO THE SAME AT, UM, ALL THE FIRE AND RESCUES LOCATIONS AS WELL.
THOSE ARE THE NEW REQUESTS THAT REX HAS GIVEN ME FOR.
UM, HONEY HORN COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM.
UM, IT'S JUST THE GENERAL UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE THAT HE DOES THERE.
UM, THIS IS MORE OF THE IT OR PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
UH, OUR DISPATCH CENTER UPGRADING THEIR WORK DESKS, UM, UPGRADING A LOT OF HARDWARE.
UH, ESRI IS OUR GIS SOFTWARE THAT WE USE.
UM, JUST UPGRADING ALL OF THIS, UM, AND KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY.
BASICALLY REPLACING OUT OF DATA EQUIPMENT.
UM, REPLACING EQUIPMENT, ET CETERA.
PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERAS, UH, INSTALLING SOME NEW CAMERAS AT CHAPLAIN PARK, JARVIS CREEK PARK, FORD, SHELL RING AND ISLANDERS BEACH PARK.
[00:25:03]
AND THE TWO NEW ONES FOR STORMWATER ARE THE PALMETTO HALL OUTFALL THAT GOES UNDER FISH HALL ROAD.AND THEN THE HOW TRACT, WHICH IS ACTUALLY THAT VACANT PARCEL BESIDE SB LUMBER.
UM, WE USE THAT FOR OUR STORAGE AREA WITH OUR CONTRACTORS.
UM, THERE'S NO CONTROLLED ACCESS IN AND OUT.
YOU HAVE TO RELY ON SOMEONE TO SHUT IT AND LOCK IT OR ELSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC DUMPING BACK THERE, SO WE WANT TO PUT A CONTROLLED GATE WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE A CLICKER TO GET IN.
AND THEN, UM, MAIN STREET, JUST SEEING WHAT WE, UM, VIDEOING AND, UM, MAKING ANY REPAIRS THAT WE NEED ON THAT STREET SINCE WE JUST TOOK THAT OVER.
WE HAVE A FLEET MANAGER NOW WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, HE'S ON A, BEFORE, IT WASN'T REALLY KEPT UP THE WAY IT IS NOW.
WE JUST HAVE A ROTATING, HE HAS A PLAN TO ROTATE OUT THE OLD VEHICLES EVERY 10 YEARS.
UH, THIS IS THE, THE NEW VEHICLE IN THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS THERE'S A LADDER TRUCK, UM, OR ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN, AND THEN A, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ONE FOR, UM, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT A BOAT SO THEY CAN GO OUT, LOOK AT ABANDONED, UH, BOATS OR ANY MAYBE ILLEGAL THINGS THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING OUT ON THE WATER THAT THEY CAN'T GET TO NOW.
AND FINALLY, UH, LAND ACQUISITION, WHICH ISN'T REALLY A CAPITAL PROJECT, BUT IT SHOWS UP IN HERE AS THE FUNDING.
SO I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH ANY OF THOSE.
UH, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT IN A MINUTE.
AND BRIAN'S GONNA STAY TO ANSWER MORE QUESTIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE IN A MINUTE.
BUT I, EXCUSE ME, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, BRIAN.
UM, UH, SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE EXPRESSED SOME ANGST THAT WE'RE REVIEWING THESE PROJECTS WITHOUT ANY IN INFORMATION ABOUT COST.
UM, COULD YOU TELL US, UM, WOULD, IF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET WERE REPEATED IN 2025, WOULD ALL THE PROJECTS AT FY 25 ON THIS BE COVERED FROM A COST BASIS AS FAR AS THE TOWN IS CONCERNED? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ALL THE CARRY FORWARDS? DO WE STILL NO, THE, THE, THE, THE 62 PROJECTS YOU'RE RECOMMENDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 MM-HMM.
WOULD IT BE MORE OR LESS THAN THE FISCAL 24 CIP BUDGET? I DON'T HAVE 'EM BROKEN OUT BY, ON THIS LIST, AND I PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THE TOTAL, BUT LIKE THE MONEY THAT WE DON'T SPEND IN 24 ROLLS FORWARD, LIKE SO FOR MID ISLAND TRACK, RIGHT.
IF THERE WAS, LET'S SAY A MILLION THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THAT AND WE ONLY SPEND 500,000, 500,000 WOULD STILL CARRY FORWARD INTO THAT.
SO I DON'T HAVE A A 24 VERSUS NEW 25, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
NO, WHAT I'M ASKING IS IF ANYTHING GETS ADDED TO THAT LIST OR IF ANYTHING GETS SUBTRACTED, IS IT GONNA WILDLY INFLUENCE THE ABILITY, THE OTHER 50 61 TO, TO MOVE FORWARD IS WHAT I'M, I'VE GOT, WE'VE GOT SOME COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT, AND WE KNOW IT'S NOT A RESPONSIBILITY TO THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE NERVOUS ABOUT APPROVING SOMETHING WHERE THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE COST RAMIFICATIONS ARE.
RIGHT? I MEAN, THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT THE TOWN MANAGER AND OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAS TOGETHER, AND THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TOWN COUNCIL RIGHT NOW FOR THE PRIORITIZATION.
THAT'S ALL I'M REALLY FOCUSING ON.
BUT IF THEY DETERMINE IT'S TOO MUCH OF AN EFFORT, THEN THAT'S UP TO THEM TO, OKAY, THANK YOU.
NOW OPEN IT UP TO OTHER COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OF BRIAN.
UH, I ASSUME THAT WE HAVE THE STAFF TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THIS FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.
WE ARE, UH, WE WILL SOON BE FULLY STAFFED IN THE PUBLIC PROJECTS.
UM, DIVISION, WE HAVE SPLIT THE LOAD OF SOME OF THIS, LIKE, UM, PATHWAYS AND ROADWAYS FALL UNDER TRANSPORTATION NOW.
WE NEVER HAD A TRANSPORTATION DIVISION.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, FACILITIES, DIVISION AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE STAFF AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS WITH EVERYBODY.
UM, SOME PROJECTS TAKE A LONG TIME WITH PERMITTING AND THAT'S WHY IT LOOKS LIKE IT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
BUT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH THE EFFORT, WE GET IT DESIGNED, IT GOES UP TO THE STATE LEVEL, AND WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT IT FOR SIX MONTHS.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE WE CAN GET TO THAT LEVEL, BUT NOT ALL OF THESE WILL BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION ALL AT ONCE, ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEN IF THAT EVER HAPPENS, THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A STAFFING ISSUE TO KEEP IT, TO KEEP IT GOING.
BUT FROM A DESIGN STANDPOINT, GETTING THESE OFF THE GROUND, UM, I THINK WE'RE GOOD RIGHT NOW.
OTHER COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A SPECIFIC, I, I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF PROJECTS, BUT, UH, I, I, I LIVE AND WORK IN THIS AREA, SO I'M ATTUNED TO IT.
THE, THE BETWEEN SPANISH WELLS ROAD AT 2 78 AND JONESVILLE ROAD, THAT AREA WHERE THEY BUILT THE NEW BRIDGE HAS BECOME VERY PROBLEMATIC AND JAMMED UP WITH TRAFFIC ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, BECAUSE WHEN IT'S STILL ONLY ONE LANE AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE TRYING TO TURN LEFT TO GO OFF THE ISLAND, TURNED RIGHT TO GO
[00:30:01]
ON THE ISLAND OR GO STRAIGHT, AND THEN IT, IT HAS BEEN, IT WILL BE COMPOUNDED FURTHER WHEN THE JONESVILLE ROAD COMPLEXES ARE ALL COMPLETED.AND THEN ADDITIONALLY THERE HAS BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ADDED ON THE CORNER AT TWO SPANISH WELLS ROAD WITH THE FOOD TRUCKS AND THE RIGHT AND ALL OF THAT.
AND THERE ARE NOW PEOPLE PARKING ILLEGALLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD ON AN ALREADY NARROW SITUATION.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ON THOSE ROADS, THAT THE THOROUGHFARES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THAT THAT AREA IS INCLUDED BECAUSE IT IT IS IN IT IS BAD ALREADY.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE KILLED THERE ALREADY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS THE STREETS NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY'RE PARKING ILLEGALLY ON EACH SIDE OF THE ROAD.
AND SO IT'S JUST, IT'S A BAD SITUATION.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S IN THE LIST SOMEWHERE.
NO, THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT COMMENT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT CORRIDOR SEGMENT ONE.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, THAT PLAN IS COMING FORWARD TO COUNCIL IN A WORKSHOP NEXT WEEK.
UM, BUT THAT'S A GREAT, UM, THAT WE SHOULD LOOK FURTHER OUT TOO FOR, FOR SAFETY.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY PROBLEMATIC.
SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT, UM, I I GUESS THAT'S OFF LIMITS FOR US TO RECOMMEND MOVING THAT UP? NO, IT'S NOT RECOMMEND.
I MEAN, I, I WOULD LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD FOCUS TO THE SEGMENT ONE TO INCLUDE THAT AREA AND MOVE THAT UP IN PRIORITY.
'CAUSE I THINK IT IS, IT IS A PROBLEM TODAY.
IT'S NOT A PROBLEM FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU HAVE CARS LINING BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD, PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS CARS BACKED UP TO JONESVILLE ROAD.
UM, I, I, I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE, MAKE SURE THAT THE SCOPE OF SEGMENT ONE INCLUDES THAT AND THEN IT GETS RAISED UP IN THE PRIORITY LEVEL AND WE CAN DISCUSS THAT NEXT WEEK.
THAT, THAT WAS A COMMENT, UM, FROM YOU.
AND, UH, I THINK WE HAVE OUR OWN STAFF, UM, PRIORITIES THAT I KNOW WE'VE HEARD FROM COUNCIL ABOUT NUMBER THREE, ESPECIALLY D IN THE NORTHRIDGE AREA.
VICE CHAIR O'NEAL, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH.
COULD YOU HELP ME DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN MAINTENANCE AND CAPITAL AS IT PERTAINS TO THIS LIST? THERE'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE ITEMS, THERE'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE EXPENSE LEVEL THAT, THAT CUTS OFF.
IT'S JUST THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING FOR THAT MAINTENANCE, IF IT EXCEEDS A CERTAIN COST, THAT WOULD KICKS IT INTO THE CAPITAL.
HOW MUCH IS THAT? WELL, EACH ONE OF THEM, LIKE, I THINK THE LEAST MAINTENANCE.
OH, I, I KNOW WHAT'S THE 50? WHAT'S THE CUTOFF? 50 50,000.
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF THE MAINTENANCE.
I THINK THE LEAST ONE IS LIKE TWO 50 THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN.
SO A FOLLOW UP TO MR. UH, COMMISSIONER HEN'S QUESTION.
IF YOU HAD TO DETERMINE, JUST FROM YOUR, YOUR EXPERIENCE, I KNOW YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY DO IT YET, BUT IS THE LIMITING FACTOR HERE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE TO GET ALL THIS DONE? OR IS IT THE MONEY? THERE'S A LOT.
UM, A BIG FACTOR IS PERMITTING.
IT JUST TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THESE THINGS PERMITTED.
UM, WE HAVE HAD STAFF TURNOVER.
WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF STAFF TURN TURNOVER.
UM, THAT HAS SLOWED US DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
UM, SOMETIMES OUR, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS THAT COME TO THE ISLAND.
IT, WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM PAST, IF YOU WILL.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, GETTING SOMEONE TO BID ON A PROJECT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
SO YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A VARIETY OF THINGS.
NOW, WHAT IS THE QUALIFICATIONS TO BID ON A PROJECT? UH, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND IT'S ALL BASICALLY YOU NEED TO GET A TOWN BUSINESS LICENSE AND YOU NEED TO HAVE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE.
YOU NEED TO BUILD POST A BOND, LIKE A BID BOND.
NOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF USING A LOT OF THE SAME CONTRACTORS FROM LAST YEAR TO YEAR BEFORE IT'S THE SAME.
YEAH, WE HAVE A, A LOCAL GROUP, UM, JS CONSTRUCTION, CLEVELAND CONSTRUCTION MALICE, UH, ATLANTIC ASPHALT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK WE HAVE SOME NEW PEOPLE WHO KNOW SOME FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE AREA AND I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.
MR. MILLER, I GUESS FOLLOW UP QUESTION ALSO, ON THE PERMITTING, DO WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER ON, ON STAFF THAT SQUEAKY WHEEL GENERALLY GETS THE OIL
IF IT GETS TO THAT LEVEL, THEN I'M THE ONE GENERALLY MAKING THE CALL OR TRYING TO EXPAND.
YOU KNOW, IF WE GET, IF IT'S, WHETHER IT'S DOTI HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE, THE, THE DISTRICT ENGINEER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW HEAD OF DOT, JUSTIN POWELL.
UM, SEAN COLEEN, OUR ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN GREAT LATELY.
UM, THE STATE, AGAIN, YOU JUST KIND OF TRY TO KNOW WHO YOU KNOW AND YOU PUSH ON THEM AND, BUT EVERYBODY IN THE AREA IS STILL DEALING WITH THE SAME, THE WAY D HECK IS BROKEN UP.
[00:35:01]
THE COASTAL COUNTIES GO TO LIKE THE SAME PEOPLE.UM, WE'RE GONNA GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT NOW, BUT BRIAN, YOU'VE AGREED TO STAY ON SO THAT WHEN WE COME TO OUR FINAL DISCUSSION UP HERE, YOU'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE QUESTIONS.
SO NOW WOULD BE A TIME FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM LIST.
ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK TO US TODAY ABOUT THAT? MR. BABEL? I'M FRANK BABEL.
AND, UH, THIS TIME I WILL TALK ABOUT BIKING
THE FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF YOU FOLKS HAVE COME AND GONE.
THIS IS THE BEST STAFF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BIKING COMMUNITY.
WHO WE, WE'VE EVER HAD, YOU KNOW, THE LACK OF PROGRESS IN SOME OF THESE THINGS.
PEOPLE JUST AREN'T COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGE WHEN THEY CAN WORK OFF ISLAND A LOT EASIER AND A LOT CHEAPER AND DON'T HAVE TO WAIT AN HOUR TO GET ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND GO AN HOUR THE OTHER WAY.
AND THAT'S A BIG INHIBITOR FOR THESE POOR FOLKS.
AND THAT'S A PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND JUST THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE NOW, GETTING MATERIALS AND LABOR AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING, IT'S REALLY AN ISSUE.
SO SLACKING UP ON THEM, THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, IS ALL I'M SAYING.
OKAY? UH, I'M TALKING TO YOU AS A PLANNING COMMISSION NOW, NOT NITPICKING.
UM, FIRST THING IS THE BEACHES, SEA PINES LEARNED OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HOW TO GET TO THE BEACH.
AND IT'S UNCHARACTERISTIC OF THEM TO DO THAT.
AND THE WAY THEY GET TO THE BEACH AND SEA PINES IS BY BIKES AND BY TROLLEYS.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN BUILD ENOUGH PARKING SPACES FOR CARS TO GET TO THE BEACH.
AND SEA PINES, AND I WOULD SUBMIT THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR ISLAND.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH PARKING SPACE WE PUT IN, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ENOUGH OF IT.
SO WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT SEA PINES HAS DONE ON A SUNDAY.
GO UP THERE SOMETIME AND TAKE A LOOK AND COUNT THE 600 BIKES THAT ARE IN THE BEACH CLUB.
WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY COME FROM? I MEAN, THEY'RE THE PEOPLE.
HE USED TO SOMEHOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GOT TO THE BEACH, BUT NOW THEY ALL RIDE BIKES TO THE BEACHES.
AND WHAT SEA PINES HAS DONE IS THEY'VE PROVIDED, THEY'VE THOUGHT THROUGH HOW TO GET BIKES TO BEACHES AND PEOPLE TO BEACHES.
THEY HAVE SEPARATE PATHWAYS FOR THE BIKES THAT GO UP AND PLACES TO PARK 'EM AND SEPARATE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO WALK UP WITH ALL THEIR CRAP SO THEY DON'T INTERRUPT AND GO OVER THE BRIDGES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
OKAY? SO WE NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH BRIAN AND THOSE FOLKS TO JUST START THINKING ABOUT ISLANDERS BEACH AND ALL THESE, SOME OF THESE PLACES HAVE ONE PARK, ONE BIKE RACK, YOU KNOW, AND THE BIKES ARE STEWING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
WE GOTTA THINK IT THROUGH ONE BY ONE AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AND THINKING ABOUT SOME SORT OF TROLLEY SYSTEM.
GET PEOPLE AROUND THE ISLAND, THEY CAN GET TO THE REGIONS.
OKAY? SO THAT'S A COMMENT ABOUT BEACHES.
UM, AND THE PARKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT TOO.
WE'VE NEVER REALLY MARKETED OUR PARKS EXCEPT PERHAPS COASTAL DISCOVERY.
WE'RE GONNA START TELLING PEOPLE WHEN THEY GO OUT WHERE THE PARKS ARE AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ON BIKES, THEY ALWAYS SAY, WHAT DO WE DO? WE HAVE THESE AMBASSADORS OUT THERE LOOKING AT, YEAH, FAILED TO SAY THAT WE NEEDED TO THREE MINUTES, BUT GO SEE IF YOU CAN FINISH UP.
ANYWAY, WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING WITH PARKS.
OKAY? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH FACILITIES IN THE PARKS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE, CAN GO AND USE THEIR BIKE AND GET TO 'EM AND GO GET THERE ON THE PATHWAYS THEMSELVES.
MAINTENANCE IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE TRIED IT, WE'VE KIND OF TREATED THAT AS A LITTLE SIDE THING, BUT WE'RE, IT'S NOW COMING UP AS AN ASSET THAT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS TO, WITH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THE BIKERS THAT ARE ON THE BEACHES ARE ON THE PATHWAYS ALL THE TIME.
AND THE TOWN TO GO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AREAS AND TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TREAT THIS AS AN ASSET VERY FORMALLY.
SO PLEASE GIVE US A BREAK ON MAINTENANCE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET TIME.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFLUENCE WITH ANYBODY, IT REALLY MEANS A BIG DIFFERENCE.
WE GOTTA, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER PATHWAYS.
LIKE DON'T ASK ME PLEASE ABOUT JONESVILLE ROAD, ABOUT THE COST BENEFIT OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S MAINTENANCE.
WE'VE GOTTA GET SOME MAINTENANCE DONE AND WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING MORE ON ETIQUETTE AND SAFETY.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE AMBASSADORS WILL BE HANDING THIS STUFF OUT.
WE'VE DISTILLED ETIQUETTE AND SAFETY TOGETHER IN A SIX SIMPLE THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GET THIS AND SPREAD IT OUT UNIFORMLY THROUGHOUT THE POAS AND THE TOWN BECAUSE WE NOW NEED
[00:40:01]
TO START THINKING ABOUT ETIQUETTE FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CARE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND HOW THEY USE THE PATHS.AND THEY NEED TO KNOW THE LAW A LITTLE BIT.
THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, ITEM NUMBER, CODE NUMBER, THIS JUST A FEW KEY THINGS.
WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE AN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THEM.
WE JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT.
THAT GOES FOR YOU, MARK, WHEN YOU OUT THERE BIKING.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME? OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK WE'RE GOOD RIGHT NOW.
ANY OTHER CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS LIST? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, LET'S GO TO COMMISSION
[Commission Business]
DISCUSSION ON THIS.UM, YOU'VE HEARD THE TOWN STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION OF THE 62 THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO PRIORITIZE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025.
UH, WE'VE ALSO HEARD, UH, THAT, THAT THERE'S ONE ITEM THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD ADD IN THERE AS AN ADDITIONAL, AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THAT COMMISSIONER LOBA BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
DID ANYBODY ELSE SEE ANYTHING IN THE FISCAL 26 THROUGH 29 YEARS THAT THEY FELT NEEDED TO BE CONSIDERED EARLIER? THANK YOU ALL BY THE WAY, FOR SPENDING SO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT THE STUFF IN ADVANCE.
'CAUSE WE COULD BE HERE ALL DAY IF WE WERE GOING HERE LINE BY LINE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO ADVANCE THE FISCAL YEAR 25 PROJECTS TO TOWN COUNCIL WITH THE ADDITION OF, AND WOULD YOU RESTATE THAT, UH, CHUCK, UH, NEEDS TO BE MOVED UP? YES.
THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MOVE THE CORRIDOR SEGMENT ONE, UH, TO A HIGHER PRIORITY, UH, AND ADD TO THE SCOPE OF THE, THAT SEGMENT ONE, THE PIECE OF, OF ROAD THAT LIES BETWEEN 2 78 AND JONESVILLE ROAD AND THE INCREASED TRAFFIC BACKUPS THAT ARE BEING CAUSED ON THAT ROAD, AS WELL AS THE INCREASED PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC FROM THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AT TWO SPANISH WELLS ROAD.
AND ALSO TO ALLEVIATE THE ILLEGAL PARKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD, UH, AT THAT LOCATION, ALL OF WHICH WILL LEAD TO POTENTIAL, UH, HUMAN DANGER, UH, AND CONTINUED TRAFFIC, UH, PROBLEMS. OKAY.
SO ADDING, UH, MOVING QUARTER SEGMENT ONE TO A HIGHER PRIORITY, UM, WITH THAT ONE ADDITIONAL SEGMENT THAT YOU TALKED TO ABOUT AT JONESVILLE ROAD WOULD BE THE ONE SUGGESTION WE WOULD MAKE TO ADD TO THE FISCAL 25 YEAR.
IS THERE ANYBODY WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO ANY DEGREE? I WOULD MOVE, UH, THAT WE ACCEPT THE STARS, UH, WITH, UH, COUNCILMAN LOW BALL'S ADDITION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I A SECOND.
ANY QUESTION? ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF BRIAN? OKAY, THEN I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING THAT MOTION AS IT'S STATED, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[Chairman's Report]
UH, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY FURTHER COMMISSION BUSINESS OR CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.[Staff Reports]
ARE THERE ANY STAFF REPORTS TODAY, SHAY? NO, SIR.[Adjournment]
WANTING TO BRING UP SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS, WHICH I DON'T SEE, I WILL CONSIDER THE MEETING ADJOURNED.UH, I WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TALK ABOUT IN A, ALL OF THIS IN A VERY SMALL KIND OF PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
UH, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED.
UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHICH ARE, IS, IS A SPECIAL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY A SPECIAL CANDIDATE, UH, THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE AN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS.
UM, AND, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IT
[00:45:01]
CREATES, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHAT OUR WHAT WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A MELTING POT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.SO HAVING THAT RIGHT PERSON IN THAT JOB AND THAT ROLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO OUR KIDS LEADERSHIP, TO OUR KIDS, UH, AND GIVING THE CONFIDENCE TO THE STAFF TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON.
SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A CLASS ONE OR A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.
AND WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE.
UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE, UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WOULD BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, AND WE WOULD TRAIN THEM HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ALL OF THEIR TRAINING WOULD BE DONE RIGHT HERE.
UH, IT WOULD BE EIGHT WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO START THIS, UH, THE, OUR FIRST CLASS.
WE'D LIKE TO START IT IN JUNE.
UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET 'EM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.
UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.
WE, WE, WE SENT THE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO THE ACADEMY THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THEY APPROVED IT, UH, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRAINING COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE READY TO GET THIS THING MOVING AND GET IT STARTED.
AND I THINK FOR US, UH, WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF TELL OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UH, THE ROLE IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
IT'S A CLASS THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT DESIGNATION.
UH, IT'S A UNIFORM POSITION, IT'S AN ARMED POSITION.
UH, THEY HAVE ARREST POWERS, UH, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE, SHERIFF? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING LEAD ON THIS.
UM, WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BLUFFTON THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT STAFFED BY CLASS THREE OR HIGHER OFFICERS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE MORE OF A SECURITY BLANKET FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.
WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE.
THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.
UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL.
AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE NEED TO GET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAIT UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE.
I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN, BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED, I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO.
AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM AND THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHER OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKERS, RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.
THEY'RE STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
YES, I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THEY STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT.
BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE.
IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE
[00:50:01]
AND, AND YOU KNOW, TO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.AND I, WE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN PORT ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO, DO.
AND I JUST THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DO IT KINDA LIKE NIKE, LET'S JUST DO IT.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, THE TRAINING IS, I THINK THEY'LL ENJOY THE TRAINING.
AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.
THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN PILLOW, AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO TRAINING AND ONCE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, UH, THEN THEY'LL START THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
SO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE YOU THINK THIS, UM, PROGRAM'S GONNA DO IN TOTALITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? I THINK, I THINK THIS PROGRAM, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET US OVER THE TOP.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL IN BEFOR COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
A POLICE OFFICER AND I, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS JOB.
THERE IS, AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER.
THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE WELL TRAINED, UH, IN THIS.
AND I, I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK WHAT THE YOUNG CHILDREN TARGETING THE RETIREES MM-HMM.
THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND, AND TO GET THAT STARTED OFF, SO HOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM? FOR THIS PROGRAM? WE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO CURRENTLY.
POSSIBLY A THIRD COMING ON BOARD.
I'VE GOT NINE JOEY'S, I HAVE FOUR.
SO I MEAN, IN TOTAL, AND HERE'S THE THING.
IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK AT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OR PORT ROYAL OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO WORK.
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY.
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT'S BASICALLY THE SAME.
THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR AT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UH, THE PAY.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY THE SAME.
SO ALL WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL.
AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, UH, THEN LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED.
AND, AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND, AND REASON BEING IS NONE OF OUR KIDS SHOULD FEEL AFRAID GOING TO SCHOOL.
UM, THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
UM, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
AND SO, LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, IF YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, THIS IS A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST HOPE THE APPLICATION START POURING IN.
AND IF YOU GET MORE THAN, THAN YOU NEED THEN AND, AND WE NEED TO GO TO BEAUFORT OR WE NEED TO GO TO, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR, OR PORT ROYAL, WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK.
WE NEED TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, UH, AND LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PROGRAM, THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRES, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.
IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO, YOU HIRE FOUR AND YOU KNOW, AND I CAN FILL THE NINE THAT WE NEED.
WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TRAINING TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE ONE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO BENEFIT, UH, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO START THIS AND INITIATE, YOU KNOW, THE SRO CLASS THREE POSITION HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW THE STATE IT WORKS.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE TRAINING TOGETHER, SHERIFF, IS YOU'RE CREATING A NETWORK BEFORE YOU EVEN GET STARTED.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHERE IF YOU CAN RUN INTO A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU CAN CALL AND GET SOME ADVICE OR TALK TO THEM ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR SCHOOL AND CURRENT TRENDS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY GETTING TOGETHER BECAUSE HAVING THAT NETWORK AND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN RELY ON FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE IS INVALUABLE.
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WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN, I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS OR GO ONLINE AND RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE CLASS THREE SRO, UH, THROUGH ALL AGENCIES.SO I THINK LINDSEY, IF WE CAN, I MEAN AT THIS POINT, I THINK IF WE PUT THAT INFORMATION ON THIS VIDEO FOR BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WEBPAGE AND PHONE NUMBERS, UH, I THINK WE'LL HOPEFULLY WE'LL START GETTING CALLS.
THAT SOUND GOOD TO Y'ALL? YES SIR.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED, UM, 10 NEW LUCAS' AND, UM, WE'VE GOT ONE OF 'EM SET UP HERE BEHIND US.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT WE'VE MADE.
THE LUCAS IS ACTUALLY A MECHANICAL DEVICE, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT PROVIDES COMPRESSIONS DURING CPR ANYTIME YOU'RE PROVIDING MANUAL COMPRESSIONS DURING CPR, IT, UM, ONLY TAKES ABOUT TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE RESCUER BEGINS TO BECOME FATIGUED.
AND THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS A RATE OF A HUNDRED WITH A DEPTH OF TWO INCHES IN THE ADULT ARREST PATIENT.
AND YOU'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE THAT RATE VERY LONG BECAUSE OF IT, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING LIKE THE HUMAN BEING AND TIRING IT CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THOSE COMPRESSIONS AT THE RATE AND DEPTH THAT YOU NEED.
IT CAN CONTINUE WHETHER YOU'RE BRINGING A PATIENT DOWN A SET OF STAIRS, WHETHER YOU'RE COMING DOWN A NARROW HALLWAY, A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WHEN WE LOAD THE PATIENT OUT OF THE HOUSE AND BRING 'EM TO THE EMS UNIT.
AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO STOP COMPRESSIONS FOR SOME REASON.
WITH THE LUCAS ONCE YOU APPLY IT, THERE'S NO REASON TO STOP UNLESS OF COURSE YOU HAVE RETURN OF, YOU KNOW, SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION.
ANYTIME THAT THE HANDS COME OFF THE CHEST DURING CPR, FOR EVERY 10 SECONDS THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING COMPRESSIONS, YOU HAVE A 50% DROP IN THE CHANCE OF RETURN OF SPONTANEOUS CIRCULATION.
AND THE SUCTION CUP ACTUALLY SERVES SEVERAL DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
IT SEATS ON THE CHEST WHERE YOU WANT THE COMPRESSIONS TO BE DELIVERED, AND IT ALSO PULLS THE CHEST BACK UP.
AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT ALLOWS FOR FULL RECOIL, AND WITH THAT FULL RECOIL, YOU GET THE COMPLETE FILLING OF THE HEART SO THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT CYCLE OF FILLING AND RELEASE WITH THE HEART.
INITIALLY, WITH THE TWO THAT WE HAD, WHAT HAPPENED WAS WHEN A UNIT HAD A CARDIAC ARREST, A SUPERVISOR WOULD RESPOND IN A QRV AND THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND THEN THE LUCAS WOULD BE APPLIED OR THE UNIT WOULD BE TRANSPORTING THE PATIENT.
THEY WOULD MEET UP WITH THE SUPERVISOR AND THEN THEY WOULD, YOU KNOW, PUT THE LUCAS ON AT THAT TIME.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A DELAY.
DURING THAT TIMEFRAME CPR WAS BEING PERFORMED, BUT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY NOT AS WELL AS IF THE LUCAS WAS BEING USED.
OUR DIRECTOR, DONNA OWENBY, SHE WORKED, UM, TIRELESSLY.
SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE WERE, WOULD BE A REAL ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE WENT AND SPOKE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SHE WORKED VERY HARD DURING BUDGET TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD GET THIS EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEEDED.
THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORD COUNTY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF EMS AND EMS PERSONNEL IS VERY DEDICATED, YOU KNOW, TO OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE TAXPAYERS AND OUR CITIZENS FOR SUPPORTING US.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.