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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
EVERYONE, A GREAT CROWD, PROUD GROW AS WE GO.
WELCOME TO USB CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
UM, A GREAT HELP FOR COMMITTEE RIGHT HERE, DOWNTOWN BEFOR.
GRATEFUL, REALLY GRATEFUL TO BONNIE AND USCB AND EVERYONE ELSE FOR HOSTING US HERE TODAY.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FORUM OR ELSE YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE.
INTERIM, I'M CEO OF PRESIDENT OF THE BE REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
UM, I HAVE THE HONOR OF MODERAT THE 2023
UH, THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S FORUM IS TO INTRODUCE YOU, THE VOTERS, TO THE CANDIDATES THAT ARE VYING FOR THE ONE YEAR TERM OF CITY OF BUFORD MAYOR.
AND THE ELECTION DAY IS ON DECEMBER 12TH.
WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THE CANDIDATE'S THOUGHTS ON TOP OF LOCAL ISSUES.
TONIGHT'S FORUM WILL LAST APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR, AND WE'LL USE THE SAME FORMAT THAT WE JUST USED FOR THE BOYLE ELECTION, UH, JUST OVER A MONTH AGO.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE 90 SECONDS TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION ASKED BY ONE OF OUR PANELIST MEMBERS.
THEY'LL ALTERNATE WHO GOES FIRST WITH EACH QUESTION.
SO CANDIDATES ARE ASKED NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OR SPEAK DIRECTLY TO EACH OTHER.
IF A CANDIDATE, IF A CANDIDATE IS NAMED IN RESPONSE, THEY HAVE UP TO TWO 32ND RESULTS.
ALL QUESTIONS THIS EVENING WILL COME FROM OUR PANEL.
UH, WE ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO CONTINUE LEARNING EVEN AFTER TONIGHT ABOUT THE CANDIDATES AS YOU APPROACH THE DATE OF VOTE.
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE ASKED TONIGHT WERE SET BY THE PANEL JUST A SHORT WHILE AGO, RIGHT BEFORE WE WALKED ACROSS THE STREET.
NO QUESTIONS WERE SHARED IN ADVANCE WITH ANY CANDIDATE OR ANY CAMPAIGN.
TONIGHT'S FOUR PANELISTS SITTING HERE ON THE FRONT ROW REPRESENT CROSS SECTION.
WE WORK TOGETHER AND IS A VERY ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE LADIES ISLAND BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ASHLEY H SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BUFORT AREA HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION.
SO MY JOB TONIGHT AS MODERATOR IS JUST TO DO ONE THING, AND THAT IS TO KEEP US ON TIME AND ON TRACK.
WE'RE GONNA START WITH EACH CANDIDATE TO HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENT.
AND AT THE CONCLUSION THEY'LL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES, AGAIN FOR THEIR CLOSING REMARKS.
THE ORDER FOR OPENING STATEMENT AND CLOSING STATEMENT WAS JUST DETERMINED BY A COIN TOSS.
IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THAT, UM, WE HAVE ASKED CANDICE TO KEEP THEIR RESPONSES BRIEF WITHIN THAT MANY SECOND FRAME SO THAT WE CAN COVER MORE TOPICS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE, YOU HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY TO TONIGHT.
NOW TO WELCOME THESE TWO GENTLEMEN TO THE, TO THE STAGE, PHIL FROMER AND MIKE.
QUESTION, COMMENTARY OR OUTBURSTS.
UH, WE WON'T KEEP THIS PROFESSIONAL AND MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
UM, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE, MR. RUMER AND MR. SUTON.
UM, MR. RUMER, WITH THE FLIP OF A COIN TOSS, YOU MAY START YOUR OPENING REMARKS.
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PUTTING THIS FORM ON.I ALSO WANT THANK ALL OF YOU WHO TURNED OUT THIS EVENING.
UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
UH, I'M A NATIVE OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.
I MOVED TO BEAUFORT IN, UH, 1980.
UH, SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I MET MY FUTURE WIFE, AMELIA AMAR.
AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I ASKED HER TO MARRY ME THE FIRST DAY I SAW HER
WE'VE BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
WE HAVE, UH, TWO MARRIED DAUGHTERS AND FOUR GRANDCHILDREN, AND ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS AND THREE GRANDCHILDREN LIVE HERE IN
UM, I'M A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
WENT IN, UH, ENLISTED IN THE, UH, PROACTIVE SERVICE.
THEN I WENT INTO THE ARMY RESERVES.
I FINISHED MY SERVICE AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN A MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS.
AFTER THAT, UH, I WENT TO COLLEGE.
I GOT MY, UH, DEGREE FROM UNDER UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
I ALSO HAVE A JOINT MASTER'S DEGREE FROM THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.
I WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEFORE GOING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
I WENT AND WORKED FOR LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS SOUTH.
AFTER THAT, I BECAME THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR IN RIDGELAND.
FOLLOWED THAT BY GOING TO PORT WALL TO BE THE TOWN MANAGER THERE.
AND THEN IN LATE 1990, WENT TO WORK FOR MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE I WAS A RISK MANAGER, UH, AND WORKED WITH THE CITIES AND TOWNS AROUND THE STATE.
I RETIRED IN JANUARY, 2014, MOVED BACK TO BUFORT, OFFERED MYSELF FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE AS A, FROM THE COUNCIL.
UH, RAN A SECOND TERM UNOPPOSED AND FINISHED THAT TERM LAST YEAR.
UH, WITH RECENT EVENTS, UH, THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE MAYOR, RESIGN, I DECIDED TO STEP BACK IN AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
UH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ENSURE THE CITY GOVERNMENT BECOMES GOOD STEWARDS, UH, WHAT WE HAVE IN ESPECIALLY THE UNIQUE CITY.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY GRANDCHILDREN FOR BEING HERE.
'CAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITY IS GONNA BE THE SAME FOR THEM, THAT THEY'LL ENJOY THE SAME, UH, THINGS THAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CHAMBER AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR HOSTING THIS.
UH, WE WEREN'T SURE WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HAVE FORUMS IN THIS SHORT ELECTION CYCLE, BUT I GREW UP ON TRIP ISLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS, THE TIME WHEN I REMEMBER BEAUFORT BEING A TWO LANE ROAD ALL THE WAY OUT THE FRI.
AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN IN THESE NUMBER OF YEARS.
UH, GROWING UP THERE AND GOING TO LOCAL SCHOOLS.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY MY FIRST SCHOOL IN BEAUFORT.
I REMEMBER ACTING ON THIS STAGE AS A THIRD GRADER.
UM, I WAS LATER TAKEN OUT TO ST.
HELENA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND WENT THROUGH, UH, AND GRADUATED BEAUFORT HIGH IN 1977.
SO, UH, I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AFTER GRADUATION AND THAT TIME IN HISTORY, THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
I WAS ONE OF SEVEN FAMILY MEMBERS, THE YOUNGEST SON IN A FAMILY.
THE EDUCATION WAS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY, THE COST OF EDUCATION, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE UNIVERSITY HERE WORKING LIKE IT IS TODAY, SO THINGS WOULD'VE BEEN FAR AWAY.
SO I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITIES OF MY CHOICE AT THE TIME.
I ENLISTED IN THE US COAST GUARD.
I I SERVED 21 YEARS AND I RETIRED AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WITH THE COAST GUARD.
AND MY MAJOR RESPONSE AND TRAINING, UH, LED ME DOWN TO BOTH POLAR REGIONS ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE WORK.
I WAS A CHEMICAL RESPONSE CHIEF FOR THE FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY FOR A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM HANDLING, SHIPPING, EMERGENCIES AROUND THE, THE COUNTRY.
OLD SPILL WAS THE LAST OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO DO WORK WITH THE COAST GUARD, BUT THE REALITY IS, THEY, THEY GAVE ME AN EDUCATION I'VE NEVER WOULD'VE GOTTEN HAD I NOT LEFT BEAUFORT.
BUT UPON LEAVING BEAUFORT, COMING BACK TO BEAUFORT, I WAS ABLE TO FIND MY WIFE, NAN NANETTE BROWN, UH, WHO WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER EARLIER IN LIFE, UH, AND BOTH DEPARTED AND CAME BACK TO OUR HOMETOWN.
UH, AFTER RETIREMENT HERE, I JOINED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND SERVED TWO YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND MY PRIMARY DUTIES WERE ON ST.
HELEN ISLAND, WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RE, UH, CONNECT WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OUT THERE THAT I'D KNOWN THROUGH SCHOOL.
UM, I LATER BECAME INVOLVED ON A CIVIC BOARD WITH A HISTORIC REVIEW BOARD, WHICH LED ME TO CITY COUNCIL SEAT, AND I BELIEVE IN TERM LIMITS.
I SERVED A TOTAL OF TWO TERMS FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WHEN I GOT OFF THE, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL I SET IN MOTION SOME WORK THAT I HAD BEEN DOING IN PASSION, UM, RESTORING HISTORIC HOUSES AND DEVELOPED THE COMPANY SUTTON CONSTRUCTION, WHICH YOU SEE BY TRUCKS AROUND TOWN.
WE PRIMARILY FOCUS ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORK.
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT PENN CENTER, RESTORING THOSE BUILDINGS.
UM, MY WHOLE CANY IS REALLY BASED ON BRICK AND MORTAR MAYOR TYPE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE.
STRONG BUSINESSES FOCUS ON TOURISM AND HOW IT RELATES TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT THE IMPACT IS HOUSING AND ALL TYPES OF HOUSING, WHETHER IT'S AFFORDABLE OR NOT.
AND ONE THAT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART
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IS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE FACE THAT HAVE THE, THE OUTCOME BEING THINGS LIKE THE HOMELESSNESS IN THE PARK AND THE PANHANDLING.THOSE ARE ISSUES WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED.
AND OF COURSE, BECAUSE I WORK IN PRESERVATION, THAT'S ALWAYS A TOP TOPIC FOR ME, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE TOP TOPIC FOR OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
UH, YOU PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE UNTIL THE, WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST PANELIST QUESTION HERE, CONNIE.
GENTLEMEN, THIS IS A ONE YEAR TERM.
AS MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES BE FOR THE NEXT YEAR? CONNIE, WILL YOU REPEAT THAT? OKAY.
AS MAYOR, WHAT WOULD YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES BE OVER THE NEXT YEAR? OKAY, I'LL, I'LL GO FIRST.
UM, MY, MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS, IS FOCUSING ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND US.
WE HAVE $27 MILLION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW TO BE SPENT THE NEXT TWO YEARS ON, ON MAJOR PROJECTS IN THE CITY.
THINGS HAVE TAKEN A LONG TIME TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SO INFRASTRUCTURE, FOCUSING ON THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING CAN BE DONE IN A YEAR PERIOD TO GET US STARTED AND GET THOSE PROJECTS COMPLETED.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS, IS TOURISM IS AN ISSUE THAT WE, WE SPEAK ABOUT, BUT WE DON'T OFTEN GET TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
BUT THE PRESSURES RELATED TO THE TOURISM IN, IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS IS DIFFERENT ACROSS THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT, AND THEN WE CAN DO THIS IN THE NEXT 11 MONTHS ABOUT HOW THE, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF US MARKETING THE TOURISM IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND HOW'S THAT IMPACTING THE NEW FAMILIES MOVING HERE? BECAUSE I'VE SEEN AS DEMOGRAPHICS CHANGE AND PEOPLE MOVE IN, THEIR IDEALS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES THAT THE FOLKS ARE THERE BEFORE THEM.
SO WE NEED TO HEAR THE NEW VOICES AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TOURISM.
THOSE ARE THE FIRST TOPICS THAT I WOULD ADDRESS.
MINE WOULD ALSO BE TO COMPLETE THE STORMWATER PROJECT.
SO WE BUILD THE CITY'S RESILIENCY, ALSO WORKING WITH COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE WE IMPLEMENT OUR STRATEGIC GOALS THAT WE HAVE SET IN 20 23, 20 24, 25 YEARS.
UM, AND WORKING TO TRY TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF, UH, PERMIT PROCESSES TO STREAMLINE AND MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE, UH, PREDICTABLE, UH, FOR BUSINESSES.
IF ONE UP, UH, THIS PROBABLY
WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS YOU NOW AND, UH, MR. RY WILL ANSWER FIRST AND WE'LL ALTERNATE EACH QUESTION.
THERE'S BEEN MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REBO PROJECT WITH MANY CITIZENS EXPRESSING WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE ABOUT THE PLANS.
WHAT ELEMENTS OF THE PLANS DO YOU LIKE, IF ANY, AND IF ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THE CITIZEN FEEDBACK IS INCORPORATED? THE LAST ONE.
AND IF YOU WERE ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THAT THE CITIZEN FEEDBACK IS INCORPORATED? UH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THE REBO ROAD PROJECT AND, AND NOT MANY, BUT ONE WOULD BE, UM, THAT WE PUT THE POWER LINES ON THE GROUND, WE COULD WIDEN SIDEWALKS.
AND I THINK SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WHERE BRIDGE NEEDS THE REBO ROAD AREA.
UM, I WOULD ALSO TRY LEAST GET PLANNERS AND I GUESS JARED OF THE COUNTY.
HE'S ALREADY HAD A, A SESSION WITH RESIDENTS, HAVE COME OUT AND OPPOSITION TO EVERYTHING.
SIT DOWN AND SEE, HE HAD COME BACK WITH SOME DATA PLAN FOR RE VOTE ABOUT 2 MILLION AND THE TRAFFIC PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
OKAY, SO THE REIMAGINE WE JUST STARTED OFF WRONG FOLKS, IS THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC THAT KNOCKING ON DOORS, NUMBER ONE TOPIC AND CONCERN, THE CITY WAS IMAGINARY BECAUSE THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAD NO FUNDING.
IT WASN'T EVEN A STARTER FROM THE START, IT WAS A CONVERSATION, BUT IT ALARMED US AS A COMMUNITY.
THE, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT HAS FOCUSED ON REBOUGHT ROAD FOR MANY YEARS.
WE WENT FROM TWO LANES TO FOUR LANES.
WE TALKED ABOUT ONE LANE YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND THAT'S ALWAYS NOT BEEN PRACTICAL.
WE HAD A ROUNDABOUT PLAN FOR INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 21 AND REBOUGHT ROAD, AND THAT WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PRACTICAL.
SO WHAT MY FEELINGS ON THE REIMAGINE IS, IT, IT, NO ONE KNEW THE INSTITUTIONAL HISTORY ABOUT WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO HERE.
ALL WE'D ASKED FOR ON REBOUGHT ROAD IS, LIKE PHIL SAYS, BURYING THE POWER LINES.
IT'S BEEN NUMBER ONE TOPIC, STOP CUTTING DOWN THE TREES.
WE, WE NEED TO WIDEN THE SIDEWALKS AND CONNECT THE PATHS THAT WE'VE CREATED TO OUR INNER CITY CIRCLES.
QUESTION THREE, THE WOODS MEMORIAL BRIDGE
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RECENTLY NEEDED SEVERAL REPAIRS AND IS ONE OF ONLY TWO POINTS OF ACCESS FOR ANYONE ON THE SEA ISLANDS.WITH THE GROWTH OF BUFORT, IS IT TIME TO CONSIDER? IS THERE A BRIDGE OR DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER SOLUTION?
THE WOODS BRIDGE IS A, IS A TIME BOMB WAITING TO HAPPEN, FOLKS.
IT'S HISTORIC AND WE CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
I CHAMPION THAT AND STEPHEN MURRAY GOT IT TO HAPPEN WITH A LOT OF HELP FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA KEEP THAT BRIDGE THERE.
IT'S THE TWO-LANE BRIDGE TO A TWO-LANE ROAD THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE GROWTH ON LAYS ISLAND IS SURPASS THE ABILITY OF THAT BRIDGE AND THE MCTIER BRIDGE TO, TO SERVICE THE REGION.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A STUDY TO DO A, A BYPASS AND IT WOULD GO OUT BEHIND THE AIR STATION.
THAT STUDY HAD FIVE SEPARATE BRIDGES CONNECTED TO IT, WITH OVER $300 MILLION WORTH OF COST.
AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY WAS DONE THAT PROVED THAT MOST OF THAT SHOULDN'T BE DONE PROBABLY.
BUT THE ONE CON PIECE THAT SHOULD BE OR COULD BE DONE WOULD BE THE CONNECTOR FROM BRICKYARD POINT BEHIND THE AIR STATION.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH IT.
IT REDUCES THE TRAFFIC ON THE WOODS BRIDGE BY ONLY 5,000 DAILY TRIPS.
IT'S NOT A BIG IMPACT FOR WHAT WE SEE NOW ON THE BRIDGE TO DO THAT MASSIVE PROJECT, WHICH IS EXCESSIVE $111 MILLION.
THIS WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO OR NINE YEARS AGO.
SO YES, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE OFF LADIES ISLAND IN ST.
HILL ISLAND, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RE BRING THAT DOCUMENT BACK UP AND RESTUDY IT AND FIND OUT THAT WHAT IS POSSIBLE.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHY DO WE KEEP BUILDING MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND WE THINKING THAT BRO, ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE GONNA GET US OUT OF IT.
SO YES, A THIRD BYPASS NEEDS TO BE STUDIED, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LOOK AT.
THE 14,000 CITIZENS OF OUR CITY ARE NOT GONNA PAY A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR A BRIDGE.
IT'S GONNA HAVE TAKE A LOT MORE PEOPLE SHARING IN THE COST.
WELL, I SUPPORTED WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL, THE DENOMINATION OF THAT BRIDGE TO THE, THE NATIONAL REGISTER.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT BRIDGE IS ICONIC TO BE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, IT'S MUCH LIKE BROOKLYN BRIDGES, NEW YORK CITY AND LONDON BRIDGES.
UH, IT'S, UM, I GUESS IF I A STATE, YOU'VE ALREADY SAID IT'S OKAY RIGHT NOW.
UH, AS MIKE POINTED OUT, IT PROBABLY HAS A LIFE, UH, A SHORT LIFE ON IT, BUT I'M SURE THE STATE, SINCE IT'S ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER, DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN KEEP IT MAINTAIN.
YOU'RE GONNA SPEND $500,000 TO FIX THE GATES, WHICH CAUSED SIMILAR PROBLEM ON TRAFFIC BACKUPS, UH, AND CLOSING THE BRIDGE ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO.
BUT THE GROWTH ON LADIES ISLAND AND POTENTIAL GROWTH ON ST.
HELEN ISLAND IS, IS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
UM, IT WAS POOR PLANNING, WHATEVER ON LADIES ISLAND THAT ALLOWED HOW THIS DEVELOPMENT TAKE PLACE.
PLANNING AND WHAT'S GOING ON THERE NOW.
AND HAD OVER THOUSAND PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND TRYING TO GET THROUGH IN TOWN ON THE WEST BRIDGE OR ACROSS THE
UM, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT A THIRD BRIDGE PROBABLY AT SOME BOARD IF IT KEEPS THROWING AT THE RAKE THROWING, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT THE LAST STUDY I SAW WAS THEY WERE GONNA TRY TO DO IT FROM BRICK POINT OVER TO THE AIR STATION NORTH OF THE AIR STATION.
THAT WOULD BE MAINLY FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES OR PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE AIR STATION.
BUT IT WON'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND PEOPLE WANT TO COME DOWNTOWN.
UM, IT'LL HAVE TO BE STUDIED AGAIN IF THERE'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE ROUTE.
BUT, UH, AT THE PRESENT RIGHT NOW, I, I HOPE WE CAN MAINTAIN AND KEEP OUR BRIDGE WITH THIS PAST WEEKEND'S NIGHT ON THE TOWN, PARKING WAS A MAJOR ISSUE, LIFE WITH SO MANY FESTIVALS.
HOW WOULD YOU LEAD AN EFFORT TO SOLVE OUR PARKING ISSUE? WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I, I THINK WE HAVE PARKING'S A CHALLENGE MOST OF THE TIME, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN THESE BIG EVENTS OCCUR, IT'S, UM, IT'S A, IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM.
AND I THINK THE BEST WAY TO TRY TO SOLVE THAT IS MAYBE FIGURE OUT A WAY OF DOING A PARK AND RIDE.
AND IF WE HAD A TROLLEY SYSTEM, UH, IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO SHUTTLE PEOPLE DOWN TO THE EVENTS AND BACK.
UH, RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOTTA FIND OUT WHERE THOSE PLACES WOULD BE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE A TROLLEY SYSTEM YET, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE STUDIED.
WELL, IF YOU'RE A LOCAL, YOU KNOW HOW TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK DOWNTOWN, BUT IT'S PROBABLY ON SOMEBODY ELSE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT WE PARK ON TODAY ARE NOT PROPERTIES THAT WE WILL BE ON ABLE TO PARK ON FOREVER.
THERE'S 150 SOME ODD SPOTS IN THE MARINA PARKING LOT.
EVERY TIME WE HAVE A FESTIVAL, WE HAVE TO MOVE THEM OUT.
WE'VE DONE PARKING STUDY AFTER PARKING STUDY, AND THE END RESULT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WE NEED ADDITIONAL PARKING.
THE CITY SET OUT IN THAT DIRECTION.
YEARS AGO, BOUGHT SOME LAND AND ONLY PACED AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE PARKING.
DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE THEN, AND MIGHT NOW AS
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WE CONTINUE TO INFILL OUR DOWNTOWN.BUT THE PARKING GARAGE IS NOT A NEW ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS THAT IT'S A PARKING GARAGE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE PEOPLE JUST DON'T REALLY WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN.
AND THE BEST PLACE TO PUT A PARKING GARAGE IS ON A PARKING LOT.
AS MAYOR, WHAT CAN THE CITY DO TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH AND SUPPORT OF THE MILITARY BASES AND SERVICE MEMBER FAMILIES IN OUR REGION? WELL, BEING A RETIRED MILITARY MAN, I THINK THE ISSUE HERE IS REALLY, IS PROBABLY NOT AN ISSUE.
I THINK WE HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MILITARY.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT IT, WE BE INCLUSIVE CITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE MILITARY FAMILIES ARE SUPPORTED AND THAT'S PART OF THE HOUSE, SOME OF THE HOUSING ISSUES WE'RE FACED WITH.
BUT BEAUFORT ISS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MILITARY PERSON, WHETHER THEY'RE TRANSITING HERE OR GETTING DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY, THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM HERE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE AN ADVERSARY, UH, POSITION WITH OUR MILITARY MEMBERS.
I THINK THAT'S A, A REALLY STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN PARIS ISLAND, THE AIR STATION, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF MILITARY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, PROBABLY WHO WERE HERE FROM MILITARY TRAINING AND CAME BACK TO BEAUFORT.
AND I KNOW I'M, I'M PRETTY MUCH ONE OF 'EM.
I DIDN'T GRADUATE OUTTA SCHOOLS HERE.
BUT BEING A MILITARY MAN, THIS IS THE PLACE TO LIVE.
UH, I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY HERE WITH THROUGH THE MEC AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE, UH, THAT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS MILITARY.
AND I THINK PEOPLE WHO RETIRE HERE FOR THE MILITARY ENJOY IT BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE, UH, COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE AND THE SUPPORT THEY RECEIVE.
OUR VISITOR ECONOMY IS STRONG AND SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES.
ON AVERAGE, 16% OF INDIVIDUALS IN BEAUFORT ARE VISITORS ON A DAILY BASIS.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON SUPPORTING THE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY? UH, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT.
IT'S ONE OF THE PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT'S ALONG WITH THE MILITARY, BUT, UH, TOURISM'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
UH, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THOUGH, BECAUSE LIKE CHARLESTON, THEY'RE BEGINNING GETTING, GETTING TO BE OVERRUN WITH THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.
SO WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
'CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, BUT IT IS, UH, UH, WE DO SUPPORT IT.
UH, I SUPPORT IT AND, UH, AS MAYOR, WE DO EVERYTHING I COULD TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT.
WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION'S RELATED TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, BUT WE'RE A SERVICE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF RETIREES MOVING INTO THE AREA, AND, AND WE'RE A VERY SMALL CITY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE AND NOT TRY TO VISION SOMETHING.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THOSE SHOES, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE SERVICE INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES AND HOUSING IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WITH IT.
BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, HIGHER PAGE WAGES FOR SOME OF THESE FOLKS AND BETTER SERVICES.
HAVING A HO A NEW HOTEL DOWNTOWN, HAVING, UH, VIBRANCY, HAVING THOSE RESTAURANTS FILL EVERY DAY IS, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE BETTER WAGES FOR SERVICE INDUSTRY FOLKS.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST RESTAURANT PEOPLE THAT'S, OR SERVICE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE PAINTERS AND LANDSCAPERS AND ALL THE OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE TO COME INTO OUR CITY AND WORK.
UH, BUT WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES, THE RESTAURANTS, THE HOTELS, THOSE FOLKS.
WE NEED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T TREAT THEM AS A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN.
USCB AND TCL ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND A GENERATOR FOR OUR WORKFORCE.
HOW WOULD YOU LEAD THE CITY TO SUPPORT THE MISSIONS OF THOSE INSTITUTIONS? WELL, I, FIRST OF ALL WOULD LIKE TCL TO RAMP UP.
ITS ITS SERVICE INDUSTRY SIDE ON INDUSTRIAL ARTS.
AS A CONTRACTOR WITH 11 EMPLOYEES, I COULD DOUBLE MY WORKFORCE TOMORROW, BUT I CAN'T GET QUALIFIED WORKERS.
TCL IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US AS A REGION IN, IN OUR REGION.
THE NURSING PROGRAM IS, IS HIGHLY, I THINK IS HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS GAP IN, UH, WORKFORCE FOR THE HOSPITALS IN THE, IN THE MEDICAL INDUSTRY.
BUT WE EVEN A GREATER SHORTAGE, EMPLOYEES WORKING ON THINGS LIKE ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL, HEAT AND AIR.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DYING ON THE VINE.
SO WE NEED TO SUPPORT TCL EVEN MORE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO, TO KEEP FOCUSED ON THOSE INDUSTRIAL ARTS PROGRAMS AND NOT JUST MAKE IT ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
THERE'S A LOT OF YOUTH OUT THERE.
THEY'LL NEVER BE IN CYBERSECURITY, BUT THEY MIGHT MAY BE YOUR PLUMBER COME TO YOUR DOOR AND THEY CAN MAKE JUST AS MUCH MONEY DOING THAT.
SO WE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK.
WE NEED TCL BADLY, WE NEED THEM AT THE TABLE.
UH, WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT, UH,
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THE TCL, UH, AND ALSO DO THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS, BUT ALSO THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.AND WE'RE DOING THAT NOW WITH THE SOUTH COAST CYBER CENTER.
UH, IT'S GONNA GENERATE, UH, SOME, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN MAKE A GOOD LIVING.
UH, I THINK THEY START OUT AT FIVE FIGURE INCOMES, UH, 70,000 AND PLUS.
UM, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT 'EM, UH, AND, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS.
UH, BECAUSE AS MIKE SAID, THERE A LOT OF, UH, JOBS THAT IT COULD BE EARN SOMEBODY, A GOOD LIVING THAT IS GOING BY THE WAYSIDE.
HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE CITY'S CRIME RATE, AND WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS YOU WOULD PROPOSE TO MAKE IT BETTER? WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WE GET, UH, WHEN THEY DO THESE REPORTS, A LOT OF 'EM CONSIDER THE WHOLE AREA OF BEAUFORT.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITY OF BEAUFORT CRIME RATE IS VERY HIGH.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LAST STUDY I SAW SAID BETWEEN 2012 AND, AND 2022, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF, OF CRIME, UH, IN DEFORD.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE, UH, POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'D LIKE TO SEE BOOTS ON THE GROUND DOWNTOWN AND IN THE PARK.
UM, WE ALSO LIKE TO SEE MORE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, ON OUR ROADS.
'CAUSE REBO ROAD AND BATTERY CREEK, UH, AND EVEN DOWNTOWN, UH, PEOPLE ARE EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE CAMERAS AS WELL AND HIGH CRIME AREAS, AND EVEN MORE CAMERAS DOWNTOWN AND ALSO LIGHTING DOWNTOWN.
THERE'S SEVERAL DARK STREETS THAT, UH, ARE NOT SAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE WALKING IN THE EVENING.
AND I THINK THE, THE LIGHTING WOULD HELP OUT A LOT.
LOOK, THE, THE CRIME ISSUE, THE WORD BUFORT, EVERY NEWS OUTLET SAYS MURDER IN BUFORT, MURDER IN BEAUFORT.
THE REALITY IS A LOT OF THOSE CRIMES DON'T HAPPEN IN OUR BEAUFORT, BUT THEY ARE IN THE REGIONAL BEAUFORT SENSE, RIGHT? BUT WHEN I WAS A DEPUTY RIDING THE ISLANDS OUT THERE, A LOT OF INTERDICTION CAME FROM TRAFFIC INTERDICTION, TRAFFIC, UH, INTER UH, INTERACTIONS.
WE'RE SEEING DEGRADATION ON MORAL CARE, MORAL CHARACTER IN OUR COMMUNITY, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ENFORCING THE VERY BASIC RULES OF LAW.
WHEN YOU SPEED THROUGH A STOP SIGN OR A STOPLIGHT, AND THERE'S NO POLICE OFFICER TO GIVE A CONSEQUENCE, THAT SLOWLY TURNS INTO AN OUT OF CONTROL COMMUNITY.
AND, AND PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH OUR STREETS FEELING LIKE THERE'S NO POLICE HERE.
WE NEED CONSISTENT POLICING AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE BY INCREASING THE MANPOWER, GIVING 'EM THE TOOLS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS A COMMUNITY, THEY WORK FOR US.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT OF DOING THEIR JOB WELL, YOU GET PULLED OVER 'CAUSE YOU ARE SPEEDING.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB AND WE NEED THEM RATHER THAN SHUNNING THEM AWAY AND TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT, OH, DON'T GO TO BUFORT BECAUSE YOU'LL GET A TICKET.
BUT I THINK IF YOU INCREASE YOUR BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU'LL STOP SOME OF THIS OTHER TYPES OF CRIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES WE PULL WEAPONS OUTTA CARS ON A SIMPLE TRAFFIC STOP, PULL DRUGS OUTTA CARS AND ARRESTED PEOPLE.
BAD GUYS WOULD, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY BY A TRAFFIC VIOLATION.
SO I THINK WE CAN STOP SOME OF THE STUFF YOU'RE SEEING IN THE NEWSPAPER.
WE, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AS A COMMUNITY AND WE CAN DO IT.
HOMELESSNESS CHALLENGES CITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND BUFORT IS NO DIFFERENT AS MAYOR.
HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT ADDRESSING, ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OR SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE GROWING ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS? LOOK, HOMELESSNESS IS A SYMPTOM.
IT'S A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING MUCH GREATER.
SOMETHING THAT OUR SOCIETY DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH.
IT TRANSCENDS EVERYTHING THAT WE THINK IS CORRECT ABOUT OUR, OUR COMMUNITY.
THE PROBLEM IS YOU DON'T GO DOWN THERE AS A COMMUNITY AND HELP.
I MEAN, IF YOU'RE NOT HELPING THE PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T WANT YOUR HELP, WHAT'S THE ANSWER? YOU CAN'T ARREST 'EM AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
THE AFFLICTIONS AND THE ADDICTIONS OF THESE FOLKS ARE BEYOND WHAT A MAYOR CAN DO AND WHAT A COUNCIL CAN DO.
AND, AND ALMOST BEYOND WHAT A COMMUNITY CAN DO.
BUT IF WE STAND UP AS A COMMUNITY AND WORK WITH OUR MENTAL HEALTH FOLKS AND DEVELOP SOME PLANS AND LET'S DON'T FOLLOW THE WEST COAST OR THE NORTH COAST, LET'S DO OUR OWN TYPE OF, OF, UH, INTERVENTION.
BECAUSE IF YOU FOLLOW THE FEDERAL RULES AND LAWS RIGHT NOW, YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT DO ANYTHING DOWN THERE.
YOU SIMPLY JUST HAVE TO LEAVE THEM ALONE.
I WOULD LIKE US TO OWN OUR PARK AND OUR STREETS AND, AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND WHERE I CAN'T GO DOWN THERE AND ENJOY THE PARK AFTER A DINNER DOWNTOWN.
[00:30:01]
THERE IS A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE FOLKS THAT, THAT THEY HAVE A WAY TO GET INTERVENTION, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE THE HOMELESSNESS CAMPED OUT IN OUR PARKS AND ON OUR STREETS AND WE JUST CAN'T TOLERATE IT.AND WE CAN'T FOLLOW THE WAYS THAT OTHER FOLKS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAVE DONE IT BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN WORKING.
WE NEED TO FIND OUR OWN SOLUTION.
AND IF I'M ELECTED, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE TO DO IS BRING ALL, AND I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE, BRING ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH FOLKS TOGETHER, GET A CITIZEN BLUE RIBBON PANEL TOGETHER, AND LET'S HAVE A DEEP DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO INTERVENE AT A LEVEL WE CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE SOME GOOD THANK YOU.
UM, HEY, MENTAL ILLNESS IS A PROBLEM.
ALSO, DRUG ADDICTION WITH THE HOMELESS, UH, YOU HAVE TO BRING IN THOSE AGENCIES TO TRY TO WORK WITH 'EM, BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS ON A REGIONAL BASIS, OR AT LEAST A COUNTY-WIDE BASIS.
UM, BECAUSE, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO, UH, RECEIVE ANY HELP WHEN WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THOSE AGENCIES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM, HELP GO TO THEM, RATHER THAN HAVE THEM COME TO US.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO A SHELTER.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOME PLACE FOR 'EM TO GO, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S VERY COLD.
UH, BUT WE HAVE TO REACH OUT TO THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UH, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
I GUESS AS MAYOR, I WOULD WORK WITH ALL THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH AND, UH, DRUG ADDICTION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY, UH, TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A SYSTEM, UH, TO, TO HELP THESE PEOPLE AND, AND WHERE WE GO OUT AND ACTUALLY DO OUTREACH IF ELECTED.
HOW IMPORTANT ARE REGIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BEAVERT OUTSIDE OF JURISDICTIONAL LINES? UH, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN, CONNIE? IF ELECTED, HOW IMPORTANT ARE REGIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTING THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OUTSIDE OF JURISDICTIONAL LINES? WELL, UM, REGIONAL COOPERATION IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT.
WE'VE GOTTA BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH TOO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH.
WE CAN'T DO WITH A SMALL CITY OF 14,000 PEOPLE.
AND ALL THESE ISSUES KIND OF TRANSCEND JURIS JURISDICTIONAL LINES.
UM, AS MAYOR, I WOULD, UH, BE WORKING WITH THE AREA, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL, UH, THE OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND TRYING TO, UH, GET SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS. BUT, UH, THAT'S HOW I'D APPROACH IT.
LOOK, WE'RE, WE ARE ONE COMMUNITY.
WE CALL OURSELVES BEAUFORT, THE ISLAND, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HOURGLASS.
BUT ALL THOSE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH HERE, MOST OF THEM ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE 14,000 CITIZENRY ZONE OR THE 5,000 SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
THESE ARE PEOPLE, YOUR NEIGHBORS.
THE IRONY IS THAT WE'RE A MUNICIPALITY AND WE'RE LOCKED INTO THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ONE OF 'EM IS A MAYOR, AND THAT ONLY THINGS IMPACTS US ARE THINGS IN OUR FOOTPRINT.
WE, WE HAVE TO FORCE OURSELVES TO BE AT THE TABLE, BUT WE, IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET.
WE NEED THE COUNTY TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD TO ALL WORK TOGETHER WITH US, INCLUDING JASPER COUNTY, TO SOLVE SOME OF THE ISSUES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THEY'RE LIKE NOT LIKELY TO BE IN OUR BACKYARD, BUT THEY MAY BE IN OUR REGION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THOSE THINGS MAY BE SERVICED FROM THE GREATER COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN IF WE THINK WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
ANY MAYOR GETS ELECTED ANY TIME IN HISTORY MUST WORK WITH THE OTHER COUNCILS ACROSS THE BOARD TO SOLVE, TO HELP SOLVE THESE ISSUES.
AND THAT'S JUST, THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.
IN THE CITY'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, CITIZENS ARE LISTED AT THE TOP.
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENGAGE CITIZENS WHILE MAIN MAINTAINING CIVILITY? I START OVER AGAIN.
I DIDN'T GET THE BEGINNING OF THAT.
IN THE CITY'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, CITIZENS ARE LISTED AT THE TOP AS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENGAGE CITIZENS WHILE MAINTAINING CIVILITY? LOOK, I, IT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE YOUR GOVERNMENT.
THAT IF YOU ELECT SOMEBODY OFFICE, THEY REPRESENT YOU, BUT YOU EQUALLY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THOSE FOLKS.
IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR A WHILE, THERE'S GOTTA BE A QUESTION.
WHY? I'VE KNOCKED ON 'EM SEVERAL THOUSAND DOORS ON THIS CAMPAIGN, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS AND, BUT I'VE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT WE CAN HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING AND HAVE THREE PEOPLE SHOW UP AND WE CAN DO ALL THE ZOOM MEETINGS AND HAVE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE SHOW UP, BUT WE DON'T SEE THE REACH OUT AND HEAR THE PEOPLE.
IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE TO BUY NEW SHOES AND START WALKING, KNOCKING ON DOORS AND HAVE A COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS AT YOUR FRONT DOOR.
THAT MIGHT BE THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND GET THOSE INFORMATION OUT.
WE CAN'T KEEP DOING IT IN DAMAGE CONTROL MODE.
AND BY WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S LIKE THE HANDS ON THE CLOCK.
EVERY HOUR THERE'S SOME OTHER TOPIC WE'RE DEALING WITH AND WE'RE FORGETTING ABOUT THE PAST ONES.
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER AS A
[00:35:01]
COMMUNITY AND HOW TO DO IT AS MAYOR IS JUST ENCOURAGE OUR FELLOW COUNCIL OR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OURSELVES TO BE AS OPEN AS WE CAN POSSIBLY BE AND TRY TO ENCOURAGE OUR PUBLIC TO COME AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS.AND IF YOU CAN'T GET THERE IN PERSON, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME TO YOU.
I'VE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT HOW, WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A BIG CITY HALL AND SIT AT A DIE AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE.
THIS WILL BE A MUCH BETTER VENUE IF I COULD GET YOU TO COME INTO THE ROOM.
BUT JUST GETTING YOU HERE IS A TOUGH PART.
SO IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION AND YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, IT'S, THE DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN.
THE DOORS ARE NEVER LOCKED AT CITY HALL DURING COUNCIL MEETINGS.
BUT I THINK THAT THE ELECTED FOLKS ARE GONNA HAVE TO DO OUR JOB TOO.
WELL, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT ONE MORE TIME? IN THE CITY'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHART, CITIZENS ARE LISTED AT THE TOP.
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO ENGAGE CITIZENS WHILE MAINTAINING CIVILITY? WELL, AS MAYOR, YOU'RE REPRESENTING ALL THE PEOPLE, ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO YOU NEED TO BE OUT THERE WHERE, WHERE THEY CAN SEE YOUR FACE, WHERE THEY CAN TALK TO YOU.
UH, I'LL BE A GOOD LISTENER, UH, AS MAYOR, UH, WE'VE DONE A GOOD, PRETTY GOOD JOB, I THINK IN THE CITY OF BEING, UH, TRANSPARENT ABOUT THINGS WE'VE COMMUNICATED.
THEY'VE JUST RECENTLY PUT OUT A NEW NEWSLETTER TO TRY TO ENGAGE AND GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR MEETINGS.
USUALLY IT'S ONE BIG ISSUE THAT BRINGS ALL THE PEOPLE OUT.
UH, SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY, AGAIN, YOU HAVE TO DO THIS OUTREACH.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP GOING AND TRY TO GET 'EM TO AND TO GET INVOLVED.
AND WHILE I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN, LISTENING TO PEOPLE, TALKING TO 'EM, SAYING, WHAT, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? UH, THAT'S ONE WAY OF FINDING OUT WHAT WHAT'S ON THE GROUND.
UM, THE OTHER WAY IS, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO DO THIS THROUGH FACEBOOK.
WE HAVE ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, STREAMS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND, AND CALL IN AND ASK QUESTIONS.
WITH THE CITY'S INCREASING BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR, WHAT APPROACH TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE? WELL, WE HAVE TO BE, UH, FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE, PERIOD, PHYSICALLY SUSTAINABLE.
AND THAT MEANS WE GOTTA LIVE WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES.
UH, LET'S FOCUS ON THOSE PRIORITIES AND SEE IF WE CAN FUND THEM.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT RIGHT AWAY.
IT MAY HAVE TO BE DONE IN PHASES, BUT, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO.
ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT, UH, HOW ARE WE DELIVERING OUR SERVICES? ARE THEY DOING, ARE WE DOING THIS ECONOMICALLY? ARE WE DOING IT EFFICIENTLY? UH, UH, EFFECTIVELY.
UH, WE ALSO MAY NEED TO LOOK REGIONALLY AND, AND SAY, ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SHARE IN SERVICES OR TO, UM, CONSOLIDATE SERVICES AS A WAY OF SAVING MONEY, UM, IN THE LONG RUN.
LOOK, BUFORD'S BUDGET HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST NINE YEARS.
IT DIDN'T DO THAT BY ACCIDENT.
THAT WAS A LONG RANGE PLAN BACK IN 2006 AND SEVEN WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CAPITAL PLAN OR LONG RANGE PLAN AT ALL.
WE DIDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND OUR BUDGET.
SO BACK THEN, THE COUNCIL OF THAT ERA SET IN MOTION THE PLANS TO HAVE A LONG RANGE CAPITAL PLAN AND SOME IDEA OF WHAT THEY NEEDED IN YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT'S COME TO BE NOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SPENDING $40 MILLION MORE IN THE LAST NINE YEARS IN THE CITY.
BUT THAT'S ON THE BACKBONE, BACKBONE OF BUSINESS GROWTH AND NOT NECESSARILY, UH, RESIDENTIAL GROWTH.
WE NEED A STRONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT YOU WHO LIVE HERE.
IF YOU DON'T WANNA BE TAXED OUTTA YOUR HOUSES, THE THE 6% PROPERTY IN THE, IN THE, AND THE 10.5% PROPERTIES FROM FURNISHING GOODS INSIDE BUILDINGS, THOSE WERE PAYING, THEY'RE OVER $6 MILLION NOW.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S SURPASSES JUST ABOUT YOUR 4% REAL ESTATE TAX.
REAL TAX BUSINESS IS IMPORTANT, BUT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BALANCE A BUDGET AND KEEP A BUDGET INTACT IS HAVE A STRONG BUSINESS ECONOMY.
MAKE SURE YOU DON'T OVERSPEND AND SPEND THINGS PERFECTLY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A CITY HALL OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING FOR A 300 YEAR OLD CITY BACK IN 2007.
IT TOOK SOME BOLD MOVES BY A COUNCIL WHO WAS CONSTANTLY TOLD, NEVER RAISE YOUR TAXES TO PUT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO MAKE THE CITY HAVE A FUTURE.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
NOT ONE PERSON HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT TAXES ON MY DOOR KNOCK.
10 YEARS AGO, THAT'D BEEN JUST THE OPPOSITE.
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SPEND MONEY IF IT'S FOR THE RIGHT THING AND YOU'RE, THEY THINK THEY'RE GETTING SOMETHING FOR IT.
WE HAVE PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST BUDGETS I'VE EVER SEEN IN A MUNICIPALITY IN OUR CITY RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND FIND IT.
GO ASK FOR A HARD COPY DOWNTOWN.
IT'S VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
THE CITY HA THE CITY HAS RECENTLY BEEN NAMED IN VARIOUS LAWSUITS.
MOVING FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO TO CURB THESE WASTEFUL EXPENDITURES?
[00:40:03]
TO ME, MR. LOOK, EVERYBODY LOVES A LAWYER.I'VE BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING A C LAWYER BEFORE, BUT LAWSUITS ONLY MAKE MONEY FOR CERTAIN PEOPLE AND THEY TAKE MONEY OUTTA YOUR POCKETS.
WE NEED TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE LAWSUITS.
I MEAN, WE'VE HAD THINGS IN THE BOOKS FOREVER AND EVER.
WE HAVE, UH, LAWSUITS WITH THE FIRE DISTRICTS PROVIDING SERVICES ALL FOR THE SAME PEOPLE.
BUT WE NEED TO GET SOME FOLKS IN A ROOM AND PULL IT AWAY FROM THE ATTORNEYS PROBABLY AND SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND NOT LET 'EM BE LAWSUITS.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS THROWING AWAY YOUR MONEY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S, WE'VE CREATED A SOCIETY WHERE IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE ANSWER, YOU CAN SUE AND GET ANOTHER ANSWER.
THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
AND WE NEED TO SOLVE THAT SOMEHOW.
AND WE CAN, WE CAN, BUT WE GOTTA HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO DO IT.
LAWSUITS SHOULD NOT JUST HAPPEN OUTTA THIN AIR LIKE THEY'VE BEEN POPPING UP LATELY.
BUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT.
I THINK IT TAKES POSITIVE, UH, ENGAGEMENT.
YOU KNOW, GOING OUT THERE AND FINDING OUT AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE, TALKING WITH THE PEOPLE, TRY TO WORK OUT.
SEE IF WE CAN COME TO A RESOLUTION, UH, BEFORE THESE THINGS.
HEAD TO COURT IS THE MAIN THING.
UM, AND I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
UH, IT'S NOT HARD IF YOU RECOGNIZE THERE'S AN ISSUE GOING ON.
IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR EAR TO THE GROUND, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT AHEAD OF TIME, UH, AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE PARTIES TO THE TABLE.
BUT I THINK AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S POSITIVE PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT, UH, TO TRY TO SOLVE THESE ISSUES.
WOULD YOU BE IN FAVOR OF MORE ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY? AND HOW WOULD YOU PROPOSE MANAGING THE GROWTH THAT HAS OCCURRED AND WILL OCCUR THROUGH ANNEXATION WHILE ALSO MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF SERVICE DELIVERY, ESPECIALLY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS? OKAY, FOR ANNEXATION, I THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE DONUT HOLES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE OUT THERE, AND THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR SERVICE DELIVERY.
AND IT MAKES SENSE TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THOSE.
UH, AS FAR AS ANNEXATION, UH, IT HAS TO DEPEND ON, ON IF THEY WANT TO COME INTO THE CITY, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO IS, IS IT, UH, COST EFFECTIVE? IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE BRING THESE, THIS NEIGHBORHOOD OR THESE HOUSES IN, DOES IT PAY FOR ITSELF? 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO DELIVER THOSE SERVICES.
'CAUSE COMMERCIAL IS, IS, UH, RETURNS A BETTER RETURN ON INVESTMENT, UH, THAN, THAN, UH, RESIDENTIAL.
BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM A COST BENEFIT STANDPOINT.
UH, AND SO THAT'S HOW I WOULD APPROACH THAT.
LOOK, ANNEXATION IS NOT A BAD WORD.
IT'S, IT'S A, IT IS A NATURAL PROCESS FOR A COMMUNITY TO GROW AND SUSTAIN ITSELF.
ERT CITY WITH FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER JOB, I BELIEVE PERSONALLY THEN THE COUNTY CAN IN MANAGING GROWTH AROUND US.
IF A, IF A PROPERTY OWNER WANTS TO COME INTO THE CITY AND THEY, THEY MEET THE, THE GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SET IN PLACE, WE HAVE THE GROWTH PLAN.
IF THEY MEET THE INTENT OF THAT AND THE SERVICE WE CAN PROVIDE IS THERE, THEN WE SHOULD ANNEX THEM IN.
AND THERE'S A POSITIVE SIDE ON ANNEXATION FOR, FOR FOLKS.
AND I THINK OF LADIES ISLAND OFTEN BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN UPSET THAT THAT BEAUFORT HAS MOST OF THE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR AND THE RESIDENTIAL 20,000 PEOPLE.
BUT IF WE DIDN'T PUT THE, THE COUNTY AT THAT TIME WOULD NOT PUT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE.
THE CITY ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN.
NOW YOU HAVE SERVICES OVER THERE.
HAD THAT NOT HAPPENED, LOOK AT THE DISASTER WE'D BE IN.
PEOPLE WOULD BE DRIVING OVER THE BRIDGES TO GET, GET THE BASIC SERVICES.
SO IT'S A, IT WORKS FOR THE CITY, BUT WE HAVE TO GROW.
WE HAVE TO, IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES, WE DON'T HAVE TO GROW.
LIKE THE COUNTY GREW AROUND US, BUT WE HAVE GROWTH BAND.
WE HAD MARKS IN THE SAND FROM, UH, FROM 2006 WHEN WE HAD THE ANNEXATION WARS.
WE MADE AGREEMENTS REGIONALLY.
WE SAT AT THE TABLE WITH ALL THE PLAYERS AND EVERYBODY AGREED TO A PROCESS.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED, AND IT'S NOT THE CITY'S FAULT, THE GROWTH AROUND YOU.
SOME OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CURVED IF OTHER PLAYERS HAD DONE THEIR JOBS AND NOT ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN.
SO WE NEED, DON'T EVER LET THAT ANNEXATION ABILITY GO AWAY FROM YOUR CITY OR YOU'LL, YOU, YOU'LL BE IN TROUBLE.
YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.
WE'RE GONNA ASK OUR 15TH QUESTION AND WE HAVE JUST A FEW MORE, AND THEN WE'LL BE CLOSING REMARKS.
AS A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, I SEE FIRSTHAND THE STRUGGLE THAT WORKING FAMILIES FACE WHEN TRYING TO FIND ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY.
WHAT POLICIES WOULD YOU SUPPORT TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING FOR THE WORKFORCE POPULATION?
[00:45:03]
LOOK, I, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC FOR LOTS OF YEARS AND WE, WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF TRACTION EVERY NOW AND THEN.THERE'S A GOOD PLAN GOING RIGHT NOW FOR 32 BUILDINGS BEING BUILT IN THE CITY CORE.
BUT AGAIN, ERT IS TINY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE A BIG IMPRINT IN OUR CITY CORPORATE LIMITS, BUT IT CAN BE DONE REGIONALLY.
ONE THING GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO IS GET OUTTA THE WAY AND LET IT HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE'VE PUT IMPACT FEES THAT COSTS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, ALMOST $5,000 MORE JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
WE THINK THAT ONE, ONE SOLUTION FITS ALL.
WE'VE OUTLAWED MOBILE HOME, WE'VE OUTLAWED MODULAR HOMES.
WE, WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OUR BACKYARD.
NO NEIGHBORHOOD IN HERE IS GOING TO GONNA TELL ME THEY WANT ME TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AN EMPTY LOT NEXT TO THEM.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS WE ARE REALLY ASKING ABOUT.
IF YOU WANT IT TO HAPPEN, IT'S PROBABLY GET MORE LIKELY TO BE A REGIONAL ISSUE THAT HAS TO BE DONE.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S TAXPAYERS DOLLAR NEEDS TO BE BUILDING HOMES FOR FOLKS.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FINALLY LET THE MARKETPLACE DO IT, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT GETS OUTTA THE WAY AND ALLOWS THE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE, WHO ARE WILLING TO DO THAT, TO SEEK THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
I MEAN, WE SAW BACKLASH IN A SMALL PROJECT IN THE CITY CORE.
THERE WAS THAT THAT TURNED OUT, I THINK IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT, BUT SOMEBODY DIDN'T LIKE TWO OR THREE MORE HOUSES ON THE BLOCK.
I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE MEASURE IS DID YOU SUCCEED IN MAKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YOU WANT IT RIGHT? I, EVERYBODY I THOUGHT WANTS IT.
IF WE ALL WANT IT, WE GOTTA SHAKE OUR HEAD AND SAY, YES, WE WANT IT, AND TELL YOUR COUNCIL TO GO DO IT.
AND IF WE'RE BLOCKING THE ROAD, WE NEED TO GET OUTTA THE WAY.
I THINK AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A REGIONAL ISSUE.
IT'S, IT'S, UH, WE HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS IN, IN DOING SMALL PROJECTS HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, THE CITY DONATED SOME LAND FOR, UH, TWO HOUSES ON MOSSI OAKS ROAD.
WE ALSO DID, UH, UH, THE CORNER OF NORTH AND, UH, REBO ROAD.
THERE ARE TWO UNITS THERE, THERE ARE QUADPLEXES THAT, UH, THE CITY GAVE THE LAND FOR AND WORKED WITH THE LOW COUNTRY HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO GET THOSE OFF THE GROUND.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT 'EM, YOU CAN'T TELL 'CAUSE THEY LOOK LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UM, BUT WE ARE A MEMBER OF PARTNER OF THE REGIONAL, UH, HOUSING TRUST FUND, UH, WHICH IS SET UP.
UH, THEY JUST, I THINK STARTED UP ON IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
UH, HOPEFULLY, UH, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BEAR SOME FRUIT LATER ON.
BUT RIGHT NOW, AS, AS MIKE MENTIONED, THERE ARE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE CITY THAT ARE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROJECTS.
BUT I THINK ONE THING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPTION IN THE CITY.
THERE ARE SOME AREAS OF INFILL THAT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR SOME TYPE OF THING, BUT WE DO HAVE 24 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CITY'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING TASK FORCE, UH, PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
IT'S GONNA BE, UH, I THINK COME BEFORE THE, UH, WHEN THEY'RE REVIEWING THE CODE TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME CHANGES WE CAN MAKE TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE WORKING WITH, UH, THE SERVICE PROVIDERS LIKE BUFORT HOUSING, I MEAN BUFORT WATER AND BUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, UH, AND DOMINION AND ALL THAT TO SEE IF THERE ARE SOME, UM, WAYS WE CAN EITHER WAIVE FEES OR HAVE CREDITS DEVELOPED SO THAT WE CAN USE THOSE WHEN THERE IS A PROJECT IN THE CITY.
UH, BUT IT'S A REGIONAL ISSUE.
AND THEN THAT'S, UH, A LITTLE BIT TOO BIG FOR JUST THE CITY TO HANDLE, BUT WE WILL BE INVOLVED.
BELFORT'S HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT HAS SEVERAL DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES AND MORE THAN 30% ARE UNHA UNINHABITABLE IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT.
WHAT TOOLS AND SOLUTIONS WOULD YOU USE TO SUPPORT RESTORATION OF THESE STRUCTURES? AND DO YOU PROPOSE MORE REGULATIONS? WELL, TO SUPPORT, UH, IN THERE, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS.
THEY CAN GO IN AND MAYBE DO SOME ASSISTANCE THERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ARTS DISTRICT HAS A, A PROJECT UP RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE ASSISTING TRYING TO SAVE SOME OF THOSE HOMES.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THERE FOR SOME OF THOSE DILAPIDATED, UH, HOMES IS, UH, HEIRS PROPERTY.
AND I THINK, UH, THERE'S A, A PROJECT OUT THERE NOW TO TRY TO FIND WHO THE HEIRS ARE OF, OF THIS PROPERTY TO SEE IF THEY CAN SAVE 'EM.
UH, AND AGAIN, THESE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE STARTED UP, UH, SUPPLY THEM WITH SOME MONEY COULD ALSO DO, UH, ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE YOU GET THE LOCAL, UM, LIKE LOWE'S AND GRACO AND ALL THESE COMPANIES TO DONATE SOME MATERIALS, HAVE VOLUNTEERS LIKE HABITAT AND ALL THAT TO HELP OUT TO SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO MAINTAIN THOSE HOMES.
ALSO, IT'D BE NICE FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE, UH, UH, HISTORIC BEAUFORT FOUNDATION AND ALL THAT TO GET INVOLVED AS WELL.
I THINK THEY ALREADY ARE, BUT, UH, WE NEED TO TRY TO SAVE THOSE AND KEEP THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT WHO'VE BEEN THERE FOR GENERATIONS, UH, AND, AND LET THEM STAY IN THEIR HOMES.
[00:50:01]
2007, EIGHT, THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT LISTED AS THE NUMBER ONE MOST BLIGHTED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.IT OFFENDED ME THAT THAT WAS THE CASE IN A SENSE THAT WE'RE NATURAL LANDMARK DISTRICT AND ALL WE HEAR IS ABOUT THE CHAMPION OF THE DISTRICT.
BUT WE DO VERY LITTLE TO HELP THE CULTURE AND THE FAMILIES LIVING HERE.
THE HOUSES BACK IN 2008, THE CITY RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLAR BLOCK GRANT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
AND I WORKED WITH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I STOPPED WHAT I WAS DOING AND, AND GATHERED RESOURCES.
AND WE HAD HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AT THE HELM.
WE HAD CHURCHES, WE HAD 600 KIDS COME HELP PAINT HOUSES.
WE REPAIRED 25 HOUSES WITHOUT MILLION DOLLARS.
WE HAD A MILLION DOLLAR SWEAT EQUITY, UH, MATCH GRANT FOR THAT.
THAT WAS ONLY TWO BLOCKS OF THE CITY.
WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE, BUT IT TAKES MONEY.
WE NEED TO FIND A FUNDING SOURCE THAT CAN DO THIS.
BUT WE CAN'T JUST TALK ABOUT PRESERVATION.
WE GOTTA ACTUALLY DO PRESERVATION.
WE'RE, I MEAN, IT'S UNHEARD OF TO HAVE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IT NEEDS A ROOF SITTING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I MEAN, HOW, HOW CAN, WE'RE, WE'RE CHASING THE PEOPLE OUTTA THE HOUSES AND THEN WE TELL 'EM THEY CAN'T FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
EVERY HOUSE IN BEAUFORT BY NOW OUGHT TO BE FIXED UP AND FULLY LIVABLE.
THERE'S SHOULD, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THE HOUSES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK LIKE THEY DO, SO THAT WE'VE BECOME THE NUMBER ONE BLIGHTED PART OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
THAT JUST, THAT THAT IS FOR A CITY AS RICH AS WE ARE IN, IN HERITAGE AND CULTURE, WE CAN SOLVE THIS.
WE JUST NEED THE NONPROFITS IN THAT ARENA TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK.
AND THAT'S SAVING OUR HERITAGE AND OUR CULTURE BY HELPING THE FAMILIES WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN THE REST OF US, WE CAN DO IT.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE RESPONSES TO THAT VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
THE CITY IS UNDERGOING AN EFFORT TO OBTAIN A $9 MILLION BOND TO DEVELOP SOUTHSIDE PARK WHILE MANY CITIZENS ENJOY PARKS.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS A WISE INVESTMENT? LOOK, WE, WE,
IT USED TO BE OUR SEWER TREATMENT PLANT WHEN WE OWNED THE WATER SEWER FACILITY.
THERE WAS A DEAL STRUCK BACK THEN BY ONE OF THE EARLIER MAYORS WHEN THE FACILITY WENT AWAY, WE GET THE LAND BACK AND THEN THERE WAS A BATTLE.
WE, WE GOT THE LAND BACK THEN.
THERE WAS A BATTLE OF WHAT TO DO WITH, WE SPENT AT LEAST 15 YEARS WORKING WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHAT THAT NEIGHBORHOOD PARK SHOULD BECOME.
AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD STRAY FROM THAT.
I THINK THAT IS A INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR BEAUFORT AS A WHOLE BIG, THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY ACTUALLY TRANSCENDS PORT RURAL AND BEAUFORT.
I I THINK IT'S A WISE INVESTMENT.
ANY CHANCE WE CAN TO A PRESERVE THE OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE, DON'T LET IT GET DEVELOPED.
IF WE CAN HELP IT MAKE IT A COMMUNITY PARK.
BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT ONCE WE OWN IT.
AND THAT WILL BE THE HARD QUESTION IS GRANTS ARE NOT FREE.
SO WE HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT WE DO WITH THE MONEY AND HOW WE'RE GONNA MAINTAIN IT IN THE LONG HAUL.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE, THE CITIZENS' LAND DOWN THERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD WHO, WHO SUFFERED FOR A SEWER TREATMENT PLANT FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN TURN AROUND AND, AND SELL IT OFF TO A DEVELOPER.
IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
BUT WOULD IT REALLY BE, I MEAN, WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT A NICE PARK? WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT A SUPER PARK, YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
I MEAN, IT'S A REGIONAL PARK, BUT IT'S, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO PIGEON POINT PARK, HOW NICE IS THAT? RIGHT? THEY'VE GOT A GREAT PARK.
HOW COME SOUTH SIDE AND MOSSY OAKS CAN'T HAVE A NICE PARK.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS $9 MILLION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MORE LIKE SIX OR 7 MILLION THAT THEY BONDED, UM, TO FIX THE PARK.
BUT I KNOW THAT SOUTH SIDE PARK FOR THE LONGEST TIME HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOWN THERE, PARTICULARLY IN MOSS OAKS WANTED TO HAVE THAT THING DEVELOPED, UH, AND, AND MAKE IT A, A NICE PARK.
AND, UH, I THINK PART OF THAT BOND MONEY'S ALSO GONNA BE USED IN WASHINGTON STREET PARK AS WELL.
UM, BUT I, DEPENDING ON THE BONDING, UH, UH, CAPABILITY, IT WOULD'VE BEEN, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE PHASED IT IN.
UH, BUT I'M GLAD THAT THEY'VE GONE AHEAD AND DECIDED TO DO THAT AND PUT, YOU KNOW, GET THAT NEIGHBORHOOD FOR, LIKE MIKE SAID, IT'S A COMMUNITY PARK 'CAUSE IT BORDERS RIGHT ON WITH PORT ROYAL.
NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE CLOSING REMARKS.
MR. SUTON, PLEASE AGAIN, EACH HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES.
LOOK, IT'S A, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO, UH, RUN FOR OFFICE IN BEAUFORT.
THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME, IT'S NOT MY FIRST RODEO.
BOTH PHIL AND I HAVE BOTH SERVED YOU IN, IN, IN COUNCIL.
WE BOTH BELIEVE IN TERM LIMITS.
[00:55:01]
AFTER OUR FIRST EIGHT YEARS.AFTER EIGHT YEAR TWO TERMS. I THINK EITHER ONE OF US WILL MAKE A, A, A DECENT MAYOR, MAYBE A GOOD MAYOR.
WE HAVE 11 MONTHS TO TRY TO PROVE SOMETHING TO YOU.
THOUGH IT'S NOT A LONG TIME, HOOVER WINS.
THE SELECTION HAS TO GAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE TO TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
RUNNING, RUNNING THESE ELECTIONS IS VERY TOUGH FOR FIONA AND I TO JUMP OUT OF OUR SHELL AND BE OUT HERE IN THE PUBLIC OPEN TO YOU.
IT'S, IT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE TO MY WHOLE PERSONALITY TO BE UP HERE TALKING TO YOU LIKE THIS.
IT'S ABOUT THE WHAT, THE WHAT IS OUR CITY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN DO IN OUR CITY, BUT WE GOTTA STOP PAYING ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT ARE AREN AS IMPORTANT AND PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT.
BUT IT'S GONNA TAKE, IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE THAN FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S GONNA TAKE OUR COMMUNITY TO GET REENGAGED IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT.
I MEAN, JUST THE FACT THAT WE CAN HAVE STORM WATER REPAIR MONEY, ROAD REPAIR MONEY PARK REPAIR MONEY.
THE FACT THAT YOUR 14,000 PEOPLE, A BURDEN IN THE COST OF THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET IS ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTY BUDGET, 52 MILLION OR $152 MILLION IN THE COUNTY.
$57 MILLION IN THE CITY POPULATION OF 200,000, POPULATION OF 14,000.
HOW DO WE DO IT? WE DID IT BECAUSE WE HAD GOOD GOVERNMENT IN THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS PAYING ATTENTION.
SO EVERY TIME YOU HEAR SOME NEGATIVE COMMENT ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL'S BEEN DOING, I WANT YOU TO GO DO THE HOMEWORK, PULL OUT THE BOOKS AND READ, FIND OUT HOW WE GOT HERE.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND BUFORT IS IN GREAT HANDS.
IT'LL BE IN GREAT HANDS WITH EITHER PHIL, MYSELF, AND I APPRECIATE THE EVENING.
WELL, I TOO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ATTENDING IN THE CHAMBER FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM.
UH, I CHOSE TO ENTER THIS RACE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I WANT IT TO BE THE SPECIAL PLACE THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.
I WANNA SEE IT REMAIN THAT WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T GO WRONG WITH EITHER ONE OF US.
I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE'RE MADE OF.
AND I THINK THE CITY WOULD, WOULD BE IN GREAT HANDS WITH EITHER ONE OF US.
UM, THE CHOICE IS GONNA BE WHO, WHO YOU WANT TO, TO LEAD YOU INTO THE FUTURE.
UH, I'M DOING THIS 'CAUSE I WANNA SERVE MY CITY AND MY COMMUNITY, AND I'M COMMITTED TO SERVING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.
UH, NOT JUST ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL, ANY GROUP, UH, UH, OR ANY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M HERE FOR ALL OF YOU FOR, AND I WILL LISTEN.
UH, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT, UH, YOUR VOTE ON DECEMBER THE 12TH.
AND THANKS TO THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING ONLINE, LIKE TO REPLAY, BE AVAILABLE ON THE CHANNELS, UH, YOUTUBE CHANNEL.