Apr 22, 2024 County Council

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY APRIL 22ND 2024.

VERY INTERESTING DAY WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT. WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH IS NAMED ONE NATION UNDER GOD. IT IS WELL AND TRULY TODAY'S INVOCATION BY ME. OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS ME. GOOD.

NOW MY NAME AND I TAILORED MINE TO TODAY BECAUSE 54 YEARS AGO ON THIS DATE WAS THE VERY FIRST EARTH DAY. OH SO MY INVOCATION IS CALLED THE BEAUTY OF NATURE OH GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EARTH HOUR HOME FOR THE WIDE SKY AND THE BLESSED SUN FOR THE SALT SEA AND THE RUNNING WATER FOR THE EVERLASTING HILLS AND NEVER RESTING FOR THE TREES AND THE COMMON GRASS UNDERFOOT WE THANK YOU FOR OUR SENSES BY WHICH WE HEAR THE SONGS BIRDS AND SEE THE SPLENDOR OF SUMMER FIELDS THE TASTE OF AUTUMN FRUITS AND REJOICE THE FEEL COLD IN THE WINTER AND THE SMELL OF THE BREATH OF SPRING GRANT US A HEART WIDE OPEN TO ALL THIS BEAUTY AND SAVE OUR SOULS FROM SO BLIND THAT WE PASS UNSEEN WHENEVER THE COMMON THOUGHT BUSH IS AFLAME WITH YOUR GLORY OH GOD OUR CREATOR WE ARE THE STEWARDS OF THIS PRECIOUS LAND WE CALL UPON GUIDE US TO ENSURE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE WISH FOR ALL WHO LIVE WORK, PLAY IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND WE ASK THIS IN NAME WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOREVER AND EVER AMEN AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DAIS HAS TEN OF THE 11 MEMBERS, THE 11TH MEMBER, MR. LAWSON IS IN ATTENDANCE BUT MR. LAWSON IS LINE SO WE DO HAVE A FULL CONTINGENT TO CONDUCT THE

[Additional item 1]

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

NO THAT WOULD BE NO YOU'D HAVE TO AMEND IT NOW. OKAY WELL I'M NOT GOING TO TRY AND CANCEL THAT ONE. I JUST WANT TO ADD ANOTHER ONE. I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM TO ALLOW SENATOR TOM DAVIS WHO WILL BE COMING HERE A BIT LATER I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE YET TO TALK ABOUT THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED THE SENATE FOR OUR USE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE SENATE VERSION HAS BEEN FINALIZED WILL THEN GO TO

[00:05:02]

BUT HE WAS ANXIOUS TO FILE A REPORT WITH US THIS EVENING TO LET US KNOW WHAT ACTION THE SENATE HAD TAKEN. SO MY MOTION IS TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ALLOW SENATOR DAVIS SOME TIME ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS THE SENATE BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

SO MOVE A SECOND. OKAY DULY MOTION AND SECONDED THE MOTION BY MR. MCKELLEN SECOND BY MR. REED'S TO ALLOW SENATOR DAVIS TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE SENATE VERSION OF BUDGET THAT CONTAINS FUNDING FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY BUT ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT ANY AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS NOW WE'RE BACK TO THE MADE MOTION WHICH IS TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA. MR. URBAN IT MADE THE MOTION MR. BARTHOLOMEW MADE THE SECOND YEAR OKAY WITH BOTH NOW SO IT'S DULY MOTION AND SECONDED FOR THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT IS

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 25, 2024]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? YOU'LL MOVE, SIR. MR. MCKELLEN PLEASE.

YES. OKAY THEN PLEASE A SECOND I'LL START OKAY.

MR. DAWSON MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO DISCUSSION THE MINUTES WILL APPROVED WE ARE NOW WITHOUT OBJECTION BY THE WAY AND NOW WE

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

I HAVE A LITTLE ANNOUNCEMENT AND A FEW EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE FIRST I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR PENDING TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX JUST FOR A MOMENT AFTER OUR SECOND READING COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN MR. PARCHMENT RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO ENGAGE IN THE COMMUNITY. HE ASKED STAFF TO GET TOGETHER AND ORGANIZE SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS. THREE SUCH OF THOSE MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN ALREADY.

THE INTENT OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT.

MR. JARED FREILICH AND HIS CREW PUT TOGETHER PRESENTATIONS DISCUSS WITH THE PUBLIC OUR 2018 TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM ALONG WITH THE PENDING PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM TO HEAR THE PUBLIC LISTEN TO IDEAS AND THEN AND THOSE IDEAS LATER. SO THREE SUCH OF THOSE EVENTS HAVE HAPPENED ALREADY BETWEEN COUNCIL MEMBERS MUNICIPAL MEMBERS EACH OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS REPRESENTATIVE AS AS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM SHOWED UP SO I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR THE WORK THEY'VE DONE SO FAR AND ENGAGING THE PUBLIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROCESS. THE ANNOUNCEMENT ALL OF THAT IS TO SAY THE NEXT MEETING IS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 29TH WHICH IS MONDAY AT 6 P.M. AT THE SAINT HELENA LIBRARY.

SO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT? WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND IT.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW I HAVE A FEW EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE.

FIRST IS FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT ROSA BENNETT COME ON UP.

SO ROSIE HOW ARE YOU, ROSIE? IS OUR ACCOUNT SPECIAL ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SPECIALIST.

SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCESSING INVOICES, COMMUNICATING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EMPLOYEES, CALCULATING AND PAYING SALES TAX AND USE TAX EACH MONTH ALSO VERIFYING ACCOUNT INFORMATION FOR ITS ACCURACY BEFORE COMING TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO SHE'S BEEN WITH COUNTY ABOUT THREE YEARS. SO RIGHT BEFORE COMING TO COUNTY SHE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING CUSTOMERS ABOUT THEIR FINANCES, HOW TO USE BANKING PRODUCTS TO HELP THEIR HELP THEM WITH THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES UM SHE'S ALWAYS HAD A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND USES HER KNOWLEDGE TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO WORK HARD TO SUCCEED. SHE'S INSPIRED DAILY BY HER HUSBAND, TWO DAUGHTERS AND SON AND GRANDCHILDREN IN HER FREE SHE ENJOYS SINGING IN CHURCH SHOPPING AND SPENDING TIME HER FAMILY. I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL. WELL, GOOD EVENING.

I TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY .

[00:10:01]

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT EMPLOYEE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OR INTRODUCE YOU TO IS THOMAS HOWARD. THOMAS IS UNABLE TO ATTEND UNLESS HE'S HERE. HE THOMAS WORKS FOR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS.

HE'S WORKED FOR COUNTY FOR NINE YEARS BUT HAS NEARLY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WORKING ON OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS. I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT HOW COMPLICATED THESE THINGS ARE. HE MAKES SURE THAT HE MANAGES THE TEAM THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS AND COUNTY TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS OF THE PAST WERE ANALOG SWITCHES AND TIMERS AND RELAYS AND THAT TYPE OF THING. TODAY'S MODERN SIGNALS COMPUTER CONTROLLED. THEY CAN USE ADAPTIVE SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY SO THESE THINGS KNOW THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT PASS AND ADAPT TO THE TRAFFIC AND CHANGE AS NEEDED WHICH IS WHICH REALLY COOL. THESE TYPES OF SIGNALS THEY LEARN FROM TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND ADAPT TO PROVIDE THAT MOST EFFICIENT FLOW TRAFFIC. MANY INTERSECTIONS THAT HOWARD AND HIS TEAM MANAGE INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES, EMERGENCY VEHICLE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MORE. THE TEAM MANAGES NOT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BUT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF 46 STATE OWNED INTERSECTIONS AND 12 COUNTY OWNED SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS. SO THAT IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS INCLUDING ALL OF THE OTHER PROLIFERATION ITEMS AS FAR AS LIKE THE HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE AND THE PEDESTRIAN BUTTONS AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ALL INCLUDED IN THERE .

SOME OF THOSE CABINETS ARE VERY COMPLEX ALONG WITH ALL THE WORK THAT THEY DO THEY THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TEAM HAS SOME AMMO USE WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND THE STATE SO THAT THEY CAN WORK EACH OTHER'S EQUIPMENT. SOMETIMES THEY WORK TOGETHER. SOMETIMES THEY SHARE EQUIPMENT BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS. SO ALL OF THAT REALLY AIDS THE COUNTY AND IMPROVING OUR RESILIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY AS WE MANAGE ALL OF THOSE TRAFFIC SIGNAL INTERSECTIONS.

SO ALTHOUGH HOWARD COULD NOT MR. HOWARD CANNOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

LET'S THANK HIM FOR THE WORK HE AND HIS TEAM DO TO PROTECT OUR INTERSECTIONS IN COUNTY.

LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WENDELL WENDELL ROBINSON. WENDELL IS THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF OUR BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS FOR COUNTY.

IT'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR JUST OVER TEN YEARS. WENDELL ASSISTS THE DIRECTOR IN OF MOTOR VOTER BOARD OF REGISTRATION ELECTIONS OFFICE ENSURING EVERY ELIGIBLE CITIZEN HAS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND PARTICIPATE IN FAIR IMPARTIAL ELECTIONS WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT. HE SUPERVISES THE IT SPECIALIST WITHIN OFFICES AS WELL AS POLL WORKERS AND CLERKS USED DURING ELECTIONS.

IN ADDITION, HE PERSONALLY INTERACTS WITH VENDORS, DEVELOPS AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT ARE USED IN THEIR OFFICE EVERY DAY TO CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION.

WENDELL IS CURRENTLY ONE OF 12 INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA RECOGNIZED AS A CERTIFIED ELECTION AND REGISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR. AT THE TIME OF HIS CERTIFICATION HE WAS ONLY ONE OF FIVE IN THE STATE. ALL RIGHT.

WELL LET'S THANK WENDELL FOR HIS SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY BY VOTING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, SIR IF I MIGHT COMMENT THE ADMINISTRATOR SHRADER GAVE HIS UPDATE ON THE SALES TAX MEETINGS THAT IS BEING HELD GEOGRAPHICALLY SOUTH OF BROAD NORTH OF AND ILLINOIS. HOWEVER, WE ARE MISSING OUT ON SCHEDULE A MEETING NORTH OF THE STATION FOR ON THE NORTHERN END OF THE COUNTY. I'VE MADE A REQUEST.

I SENT YOUR EMAIL AND ASKED YOU THAT WE SCHEDULED A MEETING FOR THOSE CITIZENS.

ON THAT HAND. WELL SO IF YOU WOULD AND WILL WILL TAKE THAT UNDER

[00:15:01]

BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW AFTER THE FOURTH ONE HAS TAKEN PLACE. WELL I WOULD BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO GARNER COUNTY SUPPORT FOR THIS REFERENDUM, THEN WE NEED TO ADVISE ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY AND NOT JUST SEGMENTS AND AND I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND WE MAY HAVE TO GO BACK OUT TO EVERYONE AGAIN BASED UPON WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM. SO WE'LL LET YOU KNOW. BUT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE YOU ON

[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING PENN CENTER 1862 CIRCLE WEEK - Council Member York Glover]

LOVE THAT THAT I ASSUME THAT THE ADAMS IS HERE. OH OH WELL I'M SORRY I DIDN'T MIND YOU MUST JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO. OKAY, GOOD.

SEE YOU. YEAH. THIS IS THE PROCLAMATION TO PRESENT IT TO THE PEN CENTER FOR THE 1862 CIRCLE GAME CLUB EVENT.

IT READS WHEREAS THE HISTORIC AND EXAMINES THE 1862 CIRCLE IN 2003 TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL LEADERS WHO EMBODY THE SPIRIT OF PENS AND WHO WILL SERVE AS ADVOCATES ON HIS BEHALF.

AND. WHEREAS, THE PEN CENTER 62 CIRCLE WAS CONVENED IN THE COMMUNITY AND AN ANNUAL SPRING EVENT AROUND A THEME AND A GUEST SPEAKER.

AND. WHEREAS, THE MEMBERS OF THE 1862 CIRCLE SERVE AS AMBASSADORS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE ENDURING HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE SEA.

AND. WHEREAS INDUCTEES INTO THE 1862 CIRCLE THIS YEAR ARE DR. ERIC RECONSTRUCTION HISTORIAN REVEREND JESSE LEWIS JACKSON CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES THE HONORABLE RAFAEL WARNOCK U.S. TOUR OF GEORGIA MR. JIM FENDER CIVIL ACTIVIST MR. BURNEY EL WASHINGTON. OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. OKAY.

RIGHT IS FORMER PEN SELLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MR. CECIL WILLIAMS, CIVIL RIGHTS PHOTOGRAPHER IN MEMORY OF MS. MITCHELL FREEDOM MITCHELL CHILD CARE ADVOCATE MILDRED LADSON JEANNETTE NURSING COMMUNITY OBVIOUSLY HELEN CLARK CIVIL AND CITIZENS TRAINER IN HOUSTON GRANT GANTT YES GET RIGHT OKAY THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT TOO BUT SOUTH CAROLINA RECONSTRUCTION LEGISLATOR IN LAND GRANT WAR FOR THE PEN CENTERS NOW THERE WILL BE RESOLVED IN BY THE COUNCIL HEREBY PROCLAIMS APRIL 21ST THROUGH APRIL 27TH 2004 AS PENSIONER 1867 WE WE WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PEN CENTER COMPLETE MISSION TO PRESERVE PROTECT THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF THE SEA ISLANDS THE SECOND 22ND DAY OF APRIL 2024 SIGNED BY JIM JOSEPH F SPECIMEN JUNIOR IS SAYING THANK YOU OKAY GIVE ME OKAY WE'LL MAKE THE CHANGES NO THANK MUCH. YEAH OH THAT'S OKAY THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE PEN CENTER HISTORY IS BEAUFORT COUNTY HISTORY AND US WORKING TOGETHER TO ILLUMINATE THIS SO REST OF THE WORLD UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS COUNTY GOING FORWARD SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME.

GIVES IT TO SOMEONE WHO SHOULD USE WHAT IS KNOWN YOU WANT TO USE IS OKAY YEAH WE SHOULD YES ACCUMULATED THANK YOU THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY I THINK IT WAS YES SIR.

[8. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DR. JOHN L. COAXUM - Council Member York Glover]

JOHN L KWAK SOME CULTURAL SYMBOLISM. YES, SIR.

BEFORE I WAS START I WANTED TO JUST ADD, MR. CHAIRMAN TO SIGNIFICANT THING DR. COLSON

[00:20:02]

SO I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WITH THE PROCLAMATION THAT ACTUALLY SAID ARE AS DR. JOHN L COX WHO WAS A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE SAMUEL J. BUSH POST WAS SEVEN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE HE WAS A POST COMMANDER FOR ONE YEAR AND AGENT FOR 58 YEARS AND A COMMANDER FOR 26 YEARS. AND.

WHEREAS, AS COMMANDER DR. COKES AND RE ORGANIZED FIVE POSTS HE WAS ZONE FIVE COMMANDER FOR TWO YEARS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PRUDENTIAL FOR SIX FOR TWO YEARS HE SERVED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ORANGE RHETORICAL COMMITTEE AND WHEREAS COLSON ATTENDED SEVERAL NATIONAL CONVENTION AS WELL AS SERVE AMERICAN LEGION CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON DC AND IT WAS RARE FOR DR. COLSON TO MIX TO MISS AN AMERICAN LEGION POST MEETING OR A STATE DEPARTMENT CONVENTION OR CONFERENCE AND. WHEREAS COX AND RECEIVE A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS ALLEN UNIVERSITY A MASTER FROM SOUTHERN OR SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY AND A PH.D. IN EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION FROM NOVA UNIVERSITY DR. COLSON RETIRED FOR THE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AFTER 34 YEARS EIGHT YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR AND 26 YEARS AS AN ADMINISTRATOR. AND. WHEREAS COKES IT WAS A 27 YEAR MEMBER OF THE SHRINERS WHO AFFIRMED RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, PATRIOTISM, FREEDOM, CHARITY AND INTEGRITY. DR. COULSTON WAS A 26 YEAR MEMBER OF THE MASONS WHO WAS DEDICATED TO FELLOWSHIP MORALS ,DISCIPLINE, CHARITY AND OBEDIENCE IN THE LAW.

AND. WHEREAS DR. CLARKSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE OMEGA SIR FIRE FRATERNITY AND WAS PRESENT WITH HIS PRESENTED WITH THE SERVICE AWARD FOR 35 YEARS OF DEVOTION AND SERVICE AND EXEMPLARY EXEMPLIFYING THE FOUR CARDINAL PRINCIPLES MANHOOD SCHOLARSHIP RESERVATIONS AND AND UPLIFT. DR. COOKSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE GRACIE AME CHURCH SINCE 1944 WHERE HE WAS A STEWARD LEADER FOR 40 YEARS AND THEREFORE WILL BE RESOLVED THAT BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL EXTENDS GRATITUDE TO DR. DR. JOHN L COX HIM FOR HIS SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND COUNTRY AND THIS IS UP TO JOHN L COX AND WHO WAS BORN ON AUGUST 2ND, 1932 AND HE DIED ON APRIL 12, 2024 IS DATED TO TODAY'S DATE AND BY CHAIRMAN JOSEPH BESSEMER.

THANK YOU SIR. NEXT WE WILL HAVE THE HONORABLE SENATOR DAVIS COME FORWARD TO

[Additional item 2]

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE TALKED TO YOU ALL SO I FIGURED I'D COME AND UPDATE ON VARIOUS THINGS NO PARTICULAR ORDER BUT MET EARLIER TODAY IN REGARD TO ST JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH AND WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON AND WHERE I SEE THINGS MOVING BASED ON THIS MORNING'S CONVERSATION WRITE DOWN THESE NUMBERS. I MEAN I THINK WRITING THE NUMBERS DOWN IS IMPORTANT THE COST OF BUILDING THE NEW SANCTUARY OUT ON UNION CEMETERY ROAD GOING TO BE ABOUT $2.9 MILLION. THERE IS ABOUT 0.6 MILLION OR $600,000 WORTH OF FURNITURE FIXTURES, PEWS, ELECTRONICS, OTHER THINGS INSIDE THE SANCTUARY ABOUT $1.5 MILLION OF SITE WORK ABOUT $500,000 WORTH OF ARCHITECTURE OR ENGINEERING ARCHIVE GEOTECH WHATEVER ABOUT $200,000 TO MOVE THE HISTORIC CHERRY SCHOOL CHERRY HILL SCHOOL TO THE NEW SITE THAT $1.5 MILLION FOR LAND VALUE FOR THE NEW SITE THEN ABOUT 1.5 MILLION TO BUILD THE FELLOWSHIP HALL. SO THAT ALL ADDS TO $8.7

[00:25:06]

THAT'S 4.75 MILLION TOWARD THAT POINT $7 MILLION COST. I SPOKE WITH SENATOR OFFICE TODAY AND THERE IS GOING TO BE A FEDERAL EARMARK APPROPRIATION SUBMITTED AND CONSIDERED BY GRAHAM'S OFFICE APRIL 29. THE REQUEST IS GOING TO BE FOR $2 MILLION SO LET'S BE OPTIMISTIC AND ASSUME IT'S $2 MILLION. THAT THEN LEAVES A BALANCE OF $1.95 MILLION IF ALL THE NUMBERS THAT I HAVE LAID OUT THERE ARE ACCURATE AS A SHORTFALL, THERE ARE TWO ROUTES YOU CAN GO WITH THE SAINT JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH CAN UNDERGO ANOTHER 18 MONTHS TO TWO YEARS WORTH OF ENVIRONMENTAL OUT THERE THAT THE FAA WOULD LIKE DONE OR NEEDS TO HAVE DONE. THAT'S ON TOP OF THE FIVE YEARS IT'S ALREADY BEEN HAPPENING AND I THINK THAT THAT EIA PROCESS WILL PROBABLY TAKE MORE THAN YEARS.

AND SO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR FAA OF SOME OF YOUR COSTS YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THAT EIA WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED AND THE REASON I'D GOTTEN STATE IS IS TO GO ANOTHER ROUTE IS TO DO EXPEDITIOUSLY DO THE PROJECT YOU KNOW BUILD A NEW SANCTUARY, MOVE THE SCHOOL OUT THERE, BUILD A FELLOWSHIP HALL AND INSTEAD OF APPLYING TO THE FAA FOR A REIMBURSEMENT WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO AFTER DOING AN EPA JUST GET FEDERAL APPROPRIATION EARMARK TO COVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S SHARE OF THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A COMPELLING STORY.

I THINK IT'S EQUITABLE BUT ANYWAY THAT THAT'S SORT OF WHAT'S UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW ABOUT THAT AND ULTIMATELY IT WILL BE UP TO YOU AND THE TOWN TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO ADDITIONAL STUDIES AND DUE DILIGENCE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS TO TRY TO QUALIFY THE PROPERTY FOR AN FAA REIMBURSEMENT WHICH IS STILL PROBLEMATIC OR WHETHER YOU JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND BREAK EGGS ,MAKE AN OMELET AND THEN APPLY FOR AN EARMARK FROM THE FEDS FOR THE FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION. SO THAT'S ALL BY WAY OF BACKGROUND ON SAINT JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME APPROPRIATIONS IN THIS YEAR'S FINANCE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE VERSION OF THE BUDGET.

IT'LL BE SUPPLEMENTED TO SOME EXTENT OR TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT BY THE HOUSE WHEN THE BUDGET GOES BACK TO IT. BUT HERE IS THE MONEY THAT'S ALREADY IN THE BUDGET THAT I THINK ARE OF INTEREST TO ALL AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR SOME DUE DILIGENCE ON THE JASPER COUNTY PORT AS IT'S AS A GENERAL REFERRED TO.

THAT'S ON TOP OF 1.5 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT LAST YEAR. NOW THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED A LITTLE BIT IN YEARS PAST THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON BUILDING A NEW PORT FACILITY ON THE SAVANNAH RIVER AND JASPER COUNTY DOWN THE MOUTH OF THE SAVANNAH RIVER THAT NEED FOR CAPACITY IS PROBABLY 20 TO 2530 YEARS IN THE FUTURE GIVEN THE CAPACITY IN CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH. SO THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED TO TAKING TRACT OF LAND WE'RE INTERESTING AND DEVELOPING FROM NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER WHERE THE PORT WOULD BE TO ALL WAY UP TO ADJACENT TO 17 RIGHT AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO GO OVER THE TALMAGE BRIDGE IT WOULD BE ADJACENT TO 17. THE IDEA BEING YOU COULD BUILD A SEVERAL MILLION SQUARE FOOT COLD STORAGE THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY SERVICE GARDEN CITY TERMINAL IN SAVANNAH AND HUTCHINSON ISLAND WHICH WHICH GEORGIA DESPERATELY NEEDS COLD STORAGE DISTRIBUTION FACILITY THAT WOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE THING WE COULD DO AS OPPOSED TO WAITING 25, 30, 35 YEARS FOR THE PORT. IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW YOU TO BEGIN BRINGING INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN TO THAT SITE WATER, SEWER, POWER ROAD, THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THAT WHEN YOU DID WANT TO DO THE JASPER PORT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE IN PLAY.

SO I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THE FOCUS HAS SHIFTED SOMEWHAT TO SOME MORE NEAR-TERM ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BUT WITH THE IDEA THAT IT LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR SUBSEQUENT EXPANSION WHEN THE PORT VIABLE WHEN I'M DEAD AND GONE IN ADDITION TO THAT $2 MILLION THERE WAS AN $11.5 MILLION APPROPRIATION TO UCB FOR THE CONVOCATION CENTER THAT IS ON TOP OF PREVIOUS YEAR APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED. I BELIEVE THAT UCB IS GETTING CLOSER TO HAVING THE MONEY IT NEEDS TO BUILD THAT COMPLICATION.

I THINK IT MAY BE SOMEWHAT STILL SHORT EVEN WITH THIS $11.5 MILLION BUT IT MAY BE SUFFICIENTLY FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO WHERE DR. PRENEUR THEY CAN START TO MOVE FORWARD.

BUT I'LL HIM BRIEF YOU ON THAT BUT $11.5 MILLION IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE CONVOCATION CENTER ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION THIS YEAR FOR THE TCR WORKFORCE CENTER.

[00:30:04]

I BELIEVE THAT TCL IS NOW IN A POSITION TO WHERE IT CAN MOVE FORWARD ON ITS WORKFORCE CENTER WITH THOSE CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS SMALLER APPROPRIATIONS THERE WAS $1,000,000 IN THE SENATE FINANCE VERSION OF THE BUDGET FOR THE GALLAGHER HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WHICH AS RECALL IS SOMETHING THE TOWN SET UP A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND IT GOT AN INITIAL $5 MILLION IN SEED MONEY FROM THE STATE THAT ESSENTIALLY THE GROUP THAT SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHERN ISLANDERS AND IT HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD TO HAVE THAT PERSON OR THAT ENTITY AT THE TABLE TO SPEAK FOR THE NORTHERN ISLANDERS IN CONNECTION WITH BRINGING THE BRIDGE IN FOR A LANDING WHICH I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON IN A MOMENT. ANOTHER MILLION ANOTHER APPROPRIATION WAS $1,000,000 FOR MITCHELL BILL ON TOP YEAR'S APPROPRIATIONS AS WELL TO RESTORE THAT PARTICULAR HISTORIC SITE, THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY IN JASPER COUNTY AND THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BUDGET THAT THEY'LL TAKE THE NEXT COUPLE THREE WEEKS. WHAT I TYPICALLY DO WITH HOUSE AND IN PARTICULAR BILL HARP KURZMAN IS ALL WAYS AND MEANS IS HE WILL GET CERTAIN NUMBER OF PROJECTS IN THE BUDGET FOR OUR AREA I'LL GET AT CERTAIN DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN THE BUDGET IN THE SENATE VERSION AND THEN WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL SURVIVE WHEN THE BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROCESS OCCURS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE VERSION OF THE BUDGET. SO THIS IS THAT SORT OF HALF OF THE STORY AS YOU MIGHT SAY FROM THE SENATE SIDE OF THE EQUATION. BUT I WANT TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHERE THINGS STOOD THERE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME BRIEF UPDATES IN REGARD TO WHERE I SEE THE 278 BRIDGE PROJECT AND WHAT I THINK THE STATUS IS AND WHAT I THINK THE END GAME IS ON THAT. JUST TO KIND OF REFRESH YOUR RECOLLECTION, THE PROJECT FUNDING COMES FROM THREE PRIMARY SOURCES MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE PENDING SALES TAX THAT WAS PASSED A FEW YEARS. WELL THAT WAS A PORTION OF THE PENDING SALES TAX. 80 MILLION WENT FOR THE BRIDGE. WE GOT $120 MILLION GRANT FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK FOR THAT PURPOSE AND THEN THE D.O.T. WAS TO PICK UP THE BALANCE AND THAT HELD TRUE ALL WAY THROUGH TO WHEN THERE WAS AN UPDATED COST OF THE PROJECT GIVEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO WAS $325 MILLION. OKAY AT THAT POINT IN TIME D.O.T. WAS STILL WILLING TO COVER THE DELTA. THEY WERE STILL WILLING THE INCREASED COST AS YOU MAY KNOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THE D.O.T. BUT WENT BACK THROUGH ANOTHER ROUND UPDATING THE COST OF THEIR PROJECTS FOR NOT JUST BE IT FOR COUNTY BUT FOR THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING OR DOT FUNDING AND IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE YOU TO LEARN THAT THEY'RE ALL OVER THERE ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE NOW THAN WAS INITIALLY CONTEMPLATED. THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BRIDGE DELTA THE 278 IS BETWEEN HUNDRED TO $150 MILLION SHORT. OKAY. SO WITH THOSE REVENUE SOURCES WE TALKED ABOUT ALREADY WHICH WERE IN PLACE THAT ADDED UP TO THE 325 THE 80,000,120 MILLION THE BALANCE FROM THE DOT THEY'RE STILL IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AN ADDITIONAL AND A MINIMUM HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TO TO BUILD THE BRIDGE. NOW THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN GO TO SKIN THAT CAT WE CAN GO BACK TO THE CIP AND TRY TO GET A SUPPLEMENTAL CIP GRANT BECAUSE AGAIN NOT ALONE IN THIS I MEAN YORK COUNTY, CHARLESTON COUNTY, EVERY COUNTY'S PROJECTS ARE OVER BUDGET SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE STICKING OUT LIKE A THUMB.

OKAY. SO I THINK THE STATE IS IN A POSITION OF DEVELOPING WHAT IS ITS RESPONSE GOING TO BE TO THAT ECONOMIC REALITY IS? IT GOING TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO THE CIB FOR GRANTS IS IT GOING TO APPROPRIATED FUNDS TO THE DOD AND HAVE THE DOD COVER THAT OR IS IT GOING TO LEAN SUBSTANTIALLY OR PARTIALLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO COME UP WITH A PORTION OF THAT OVERAGE? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. YEAH, BUT IN ANY EVENT HAVING A DEFINITE ANSWER AS TO HOW THAT AT A MINIMUM $100 MILLION DELTA IS RESOLVED THAT IS NOT NEED TO BE NAILED DOWN BEFORE THE DOT SUBMITS TO THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS PART OF THE PROCESS A REQUEST FOR A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROJECT. OKAY.

IT'S NOT LIKE ALL THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE NAILED DOWN AND SPECIFIED KNOW WHERE IT IS BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT STEP THE ONLY THING THEY NEED TO HAVE BEFORE THEY TAKE THAT NEXT STEP IS THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD. NOW AS YOU KNOW, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD HAS ENGAGED A CONSULTANT AND HAS BEEN IN THE PROCESS OF AGAIN LOOKING AT THE THE BRIDGE RECEIVING CITIZEN INPUT. IT'S MY THAT THE WHOLE PACKET OF INFORMATION FROM THE CONSULTANT IS GOING TO BE DELIVERED TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD OFFICIALS SOMETIME IN MAY AND IN TALKING WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD TODAY THEY

[00:35:02]

I'M STATING THAT IF WE WANTED TO KEEP ON THE COURSE THAT IT'S ON THAT THERE WOULD NEED TO BE SOME SORT OF DETERMINATION BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AT ITS JUNE SIX MEETING SO IT COULD BE SUBMITTED THE D.O.T. WHICH THEY HAVE SAID IS A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO TO THEM SUBMITTING THE PROJECT AS PART OF THE PROCESS A FONSI OKAY SO SO THAT'S WHERE THAT ALL SITS.

I MEAN ALL THE THE CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE THERE AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THAT BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME OF AN UPDATED TIMELINE IN REGARD TO SOME IMPORTANT DATES I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A SUMMARY IN REGARD TO SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE FUNDING AND WHERE POTENTIAL SHORTFALLS ARE? WELL, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SHORTFALLS BUT A SHORTFALL FALLS AND THEN DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO ABOUT ADDRESSING THAT SHORTFALL. SO YOU CAN BEGIN THINKING ABOUT THAT ALONG WITH THE REST OF US.

SO WITH THAT MR. I'LL STOP AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT OR ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT I MENTIONED OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT. QUESTION ONE QUICK QUESTION SURE. IN 1975 AN AIRPLANE ALMOST CRASHED INTO THAT.

SO IT'S 50 YEARS NOW WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THE CHURCH FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY 50 YEARS.

YEAH. OUR FISCAL YEAR STARTS JULY FIRST.

THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR STARTS OCTOBER 1ST. IT'S SENATOR INDICATE THAT MONEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE BEFORE HIS FISCAL YEAR EXPIRES SEPTEMBER 30TH OR IS HE DOING IT IN NEXT YEAR'S FISCAL? MY UNDERSTANDING IT'S THIS YEAR IT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEADLINE OF APRIL NINE AND BUT I SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THAT. COUNCILMAN MCGOWAN THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN GET MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF THIS NECESSITATED MOVE. YOU CAN GO THROUGH A FULL BLOWN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS WHICH AGAIN I THINK WOULD TAKE A MINIMUM OF ANOTHER TWO YEARS BEFORE YOU EVEN START AT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND GET MONEY THE FAA THROUGH A REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.

SO IT'S LIKE MEDICAID YOU PAY THE THE MONEY UPFRONT THEN YOU SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT VOUCHER AND YOU GET PAID A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR MONEY OR YOU CAN STRAIGHT UP GO INTO THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND ASK AN APPROPRIATION AND NOT DELAY DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

GET THAT GOING NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE WAITED FOR SO LONG TO ME AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO ASK FOR AN APPROPRIATION IN THE STATE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, KNOWING YOU KNOW IF WE MOVE FORWARD NOW BEFORE THAT EIA PROCESS DONE THAT TAKES AWAY THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING AN FAA REIMBURSEMENT BACK BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE OFF THE TABLE THE ABILITY TO GET A DIRECT FEDERAL APPROPRIATION.

IT'S A GREAT STORY AND IT'S AN EQUITABLE THING TO DO. THANK YOU.

OTHERS JUST THING I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING INVOLVED WITH BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS SAINT JAMES AND THE BRIDGE SINCE COUNCIL I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR SAINT JAMES AND YOU'RE MAKING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY BY PUSHING OUT A LOT OF YOU SAID SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT I THINK IS BEEN DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE BETWEEN TOWN COUNTY THAT MONEY 120 MILLION WILL BE SAFE AS LONG AS WE UP WITH THE JUNE 7TH MEETING YOU GET THAT JUNE SIX, JUNE SIX SO THAT'S GOOD. SO LISTEN SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING DOING FOR US. WE APPRECIATE IT ONCE AGAIN AND THANK YOU FOR THAT COUNCILMAN.

I VIEW MY ROLE IN THIS RESPECT IN TWO REGARDS. ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY STAYS IN PLACE AND SECOND OF ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ENOUGH TIME TO ASSESS AND TO MAKE WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS AND CHANGES THEY WANT TO THE BRIDGE I'M AGNOSTIC IN REGARD TO WHAT ULTIMATELY LOOKS LIKE. I MEAN I'M A LAWYER, I'M AN ENGINEER. I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. MY MY OPINION IS IS WORTHLESS IN THAT REGARD ANYWAY. BUT BUT BUT BUT IN REGARD TO THOSE TWO THINGS HOLDING THE MONEY IN PLACE WITH THE D.O.T. AND THE CIB AND THEN ADVOCATING FOR ANY ADDITIONAL AND SECOND OF ALL PROVIDING ENOUGH TIME THROUGH WHICH COMMUNITY FEELS LIKE IT BECOMES THEIR PROJECT AND NOT SOMETHING PUT ON THEM. THE D.O.T. I FEEL LIKE THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE BEEN

[00:40:03]

THAT'S ALL YOU'VE DONE AND ALL THE SUPPORT YOU'RE GIVING THIS COMMUNITY AND JUST WANT TO MAKE A JUST COMMENT TO YOU. YES SIR THAT YOU HAD ONE TIME REPRESENTED THIS SIDE OF THE BROAD RIVER. LET'S KEEP THIS IN MIND. YEAH, I I'VE RECENTLY BUILT OFF ARCHWAY ROAD IN BLUFFTON BUT. I'VE LIVED IN BEAUFORT FOR 39 YEARS AND IT WOULDN'T MATTER.

I LIVE COUNCILMAN. I WOULD STILL CONSIDER BEAUFORT TO BE THERE.

I WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH UCB AND TCL AND OUR MANY PROJECTS HERE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND BUT BUT I ALWAYS WILL FEEL THAT WAY. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PLANNER JARED FREILICH IS DOING AN EXCELLENT OF MONITORING THIS YOU KNOW, HITTING THE MARK ON, IMPORTANT DATES, MAKING SURE NOTHING SLIPS UP. I THINK EVERYBODY'S DEALING WITH THE CARDS FACE UP HERE SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND CONFIDENT, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT WE GET THIS THING INTO A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY SATISFIED VERY SHORTLY. EXCELLENT.

I THINK YOU'VE WRITTEN ALL THE NUMBERS SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO THANK YOU,

[CITIZEN COMMENTS]

OKAY. WE ARE IN OUR FIRST CITIZENS COMMENT SECTION AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ITEM NUMBER 13 CHRISTA FLANDERS GOOD EVENING CHRISTA.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK .

I WROTE THIS DOWN BECAUSE I KNOW I ONLY HAVE 3 MINUTES. YES.

AND THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT ACCEPTANCE MY NAME IS CHRISTA I'M FROM HEAD ISLAND. I WILL CELEBRATE NINE YEARS OF SOBRIETY IN AUGUST I ACTUALLY GOT SOBER IN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER THE TIME THERE WAS NO LOCAL OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT. I STAYED THE COUNTY FOR 30 DAYS, SOLD EVERYTHING I OWNED TO BOND OUT AND 3 HOURS AWAY FOR LONG TERM TREATMENT. SINCE THEN I CAME BACK AND I'VE BEEN RECOVERING OUT LOUD AND HELPING OTHERS IN THEIR JOURNEY RECOVERY AND THOSE LAST EIGHT YEARS THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS EVOLVED SO MUCH IT'S WIPING OUT OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY 4 MINUTES WE LOSE SOMEONE TO AN OVERDOSE. LAST YEAR WE LOST 112,000 PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SO FAR THIS YEAR JASPER COUNTY HAS HAD 27 OVERDOSES AND I KNOW THAT'S ON OUR COUNTY BUT A LOT OF THAT TRICKLES INTO OUR COUNTY WHEN SOMEONE'S READY TO CHANGE THEIR LIFE AND GET RECOVERY, WHERE DO THEY GO? GOOGLE DOESN'T HELP MUCH EVERY DAY SOMEONE IS ASKING ME FOR HELP ON WHERE TO GO JUST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS MY RESOURCES HAVE GROWN BUT WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DETOX AND A HOSPITAL WILL NOT DETOX YOU THE ONLY OPTION FOR SOMEONE WITH NO INSURANCE OR MONEY THE CHARLESTON CENTER AND YOU PRAY THERE'S A BED OPEN AND TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE VERY LIMITED HERE IN COUNTY I TRULY BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT GREATLY IF WE HAD AFFORDABLE TREATMENT FACILITY DETOX EVERYTHING FROM THE CRIME OF THAT TO THE EMPLOYMENT RATE I'M PROOF THERE IS A SOLUTION AND YOU CAN BE AN ACTIVE MEMBER TO SOCIETY AND FIX YOUR WRONGS. SEE IN ORDER TO STAY SOBER WE MUST BE HONEST THE TIME I'M HERE SPEAKING UP SO OTHERS DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER IN SILENCE OUT OF THE DOZEN ARRESTS ONLY THAT LAST TIME DID PUBLIC DEFENDER OFFER ME TREATMENT AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD EVEN BE AN OPTION. ALL HE DID WAS PLANT A SEED SO NEED TO PLANT MORE SEEDS AND HAVE A PLACE TO PLANT IT AGAIN I TRULY BELIEVE OUR COUNTY WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE RECOVERY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK FOR YOU VERY NICE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEM BEFORE?

[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

IF YOU WERE AT THE HERITAGE YOU SAW CONTAINERS FOR GLASS, PLASTIC, WHATEVER ALSO THE STORMWATER COMMITTEE. ALYSSA'S THE LIAISON BUT I I WENT TO THAT MEETING AND PEOPLE RESIDENTS FROM ALL JOY SPOKE THEY WOULD LIKE A PUBLIC MEETING.

[00:45:03]

YEAH, HE'S THERE. HE'S THE YES. OKAY.

UM, THEY WOULD LIKE A PUBLIC MEETING POSSIBLE AND THEY SPOKE VERY HIGHLY OF COUNCILWOMAN AND SHE DID A GREAT JOB IN HER DISTRICT FOR STORMWATER BUT I TALKED TO MARK FEINBERG AND HE SAID TO ME IT TOOK YOU WHAT YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE DONE OVERNIGHT SO AND A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM OUR MEANS NOTHING AT NOON YEAH SO YEAH VERY GOOD THANK YOU AND THE OTHERS I DO NOT HAVE THIS WOW I'M SO TINY.

YES WELL I'M NOT SURE MISS HOWARD, THANK YOU FOR THAT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FINANCE MEETING WAS THIS MORNING. THEY STILL HAVE AN INCREASE IN DELIVERY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND BEFORE KILLING BUT THERE'S MORE BABIES BEING BORN IS GOOD NEWS AND THEIR BOARD MEETING IS WEDNESDAY MORNING. THEY DID A PRIMER ON MEDICARE MEDICAID IN THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WILL PROBABLY SEND THAT TO ME AND I'LL SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU.

IT'S VERY GOOD, VERY INTERESTING AT A NATIONAL LEVEL WHAT'S GOING ON? MR. CHAIRMAN JUST ONE THING COMMITTEES ARE GOOD FOR NOW THURSDAY THEY'LL BE HAVE ANOTHER FOR THE AIRPORT. BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO DR. RODRIGUEZ ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT HAS TO DO WITH SHADOWING TOWN OR COUNTY COUNCIL FOR LOCAL YOUTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

AND WHAT BROUGHT THIS UP WAS I WENT TO A RHYTHMIC CUTTING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL NOT LONG AGO AND I ASKED THESE KIDS I SAID HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT YOU KIDS THAT LIVE HERE THAT GREW UP HERE? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT TOWN OR COUNTY COUNCIL OR EVEN A SCHOOL BOARD IN ONE OF THE KIDS SAID TO ME DON'T YOU HAVE TO BE OLD FOR THAT? SO THERE IS A SORT OF LOG IN YOUR EXCEPT FOR YOU DON'T KNOW IT SO WHAT DR. RODRIGUEZ AND I'VE BEEN TOGETHER A FEW TIMES NOW WE'RE PUTTING A PROGRAM THAT IS GOING TO SOMEWHAT LIKE WHAT WE DO AND I'M GOING TO TALK TO TOWN COUNCIL AS WELL. STAY TUNED FOR THAT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OF THOUGHTS ON THAT LET ME KNOW.

BUT I THINK IF WE ENGAGE WITH OUR LOCAL YOUTH WE MAY GET MORE HELP AND MORE PROTECTION FOR WHAT WE TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE. I MEAN THERE'S A LOT OF US THAT COME FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHICH IS GREAT. I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT BUT YOU KNOW, REACHING OUT TO OUR LOCAL YOUTH IS A GREAT WAY TO START AND GET A PROGRAM GOING. SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHERS? YES, SIR. BECAUSE HE TALKED ABOUT YOUTH.

LET ME MAKE A COMMENT SORT OF PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU SAID. I TOWN MEETING PUBLIC MEETING ON THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT. MR. BROWN MADE A GREAT PRESENTATION AT THE TIME AND SOMEONE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO YOUTH THERE IN AND SO IT JUST PIGGYBACK I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON HIM THE NEXT TIME MR. BROWN HAS MADE IT AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HE WOULD HAVE A WORKSHOP RECREATION AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO ALL I CAN TO GET YOUNG KIDS WHEN I SEE YOUNG KIDS I'M TALKING ABOUT 18 AND UNDER ABSOLUTELY AND GET THEIR INPUT STUFF IN THERE. THIS IS WHY I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

YOU KNOW, NO PROBLEM. AND AS AS YOU HEARD EARLIER WITH MR. ROBINSON'S REPORT, WE HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND THE COUNTY TO MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE FACTS REGARDING OUR UPCOMING REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER. WE'VE LISTENED WE'VE UNDERSTOOD SOME OF THE CONCERNS OUR CITIZENS. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE MEETING IN ST HELENA'S ON THE 29TH. WE'RE THEN GOING TO BRING BACK OUR TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ALERT THEM ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR SO THAT WE BE ABLE TO GO BACK OUT BEFORE WE HAVE THE THIRD AND FINAL READING TO LET PEOPLE KNOW OKAY THIS IS WHAT YOU SAID, THIS IS THE CHANGES WE'RE GOING TO MAKE .

BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN UNTIL WE HAVE THE NEXT ONE AND POSSIBLY BE IN MR. DAWSON'S REGION. SO STAY TUNED FOR THAT. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE AS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.

[11. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]

[00:50:06]

[Addtional item 3]

SO CAN I HAVE THE MOTION AND SECOND FOR THAT TO ALLOW HER COME IN TO DO THE PRESENTATION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MR. CHAIRMAN. MISS HOWARD MADE THE MOTION AND MR. MADE THE SECOND SO IT'S BEEN DULY MOTIONED IN SECONDED .

MICHELLE, WOULD YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. I'LL HAVE MY OH, THERE WE GO.

OKAY. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN WE'RE A LITTLE LATE THIS YEAR WE HAD SOME THINGS GOING GOING ON IN OUR OFFICE THAT SLOW TO DOWN A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE HERE TO DO OUR ANNUAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT PUBLIC HEARING FOR 2024 YOU GET THE COUNTY SET UP WITH THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS TO POTENTIALLY PURSUE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

SO AS WE ALWAYS START OFF WITH AND I NOTICED ON YOUR AGENDA YOU'VE GOT YOUR FAIR HOUSING RESOLUTION AND LATER ON THE COMMERCIAL BREAK FOR THE COUNTY JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST FAIR FAIR HOUSING.

YES, THE PROTECTED CLASSES OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX DISABILITY, FAMILIAL STATUS OR NATIONAL ORIGIN AND EITHER THE SALE AND RENTAL OF HOUSING IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS OR IN THE PROVISION OF BROKERAGE SERVICES .

IF SOMEONE CONTACTS YOU OR YOUR STAFF STATES THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, YOU CAN HAVE THEM CALL OUR OFFICE AT THAT MAIN LINE NUMBER 4733 NON-NANO WE WILL TAKE THE COMPLAINT AND PASS IF IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED ALONG BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE THE CDBG PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE NOW FOR 40 YEARS. WELL ACTUALLY PROBABLY CLOSER TO 50 YEARS BUT ITS PURPOSE MAINLY IS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PREDOMINANT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE FOR 2024 WE EXPECT THAT OUR ALLOCATION WILL BE ROUGHLY $19.8 MILLION THAT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET BUT THAT'S WHAT WE EXPECT IT TO BE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE OUR COMMENT PERIOD IS PART OUR MAIN PROGRAM CATEGORY THREES ARE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND REGIONAL PLANNING AND THEN THERE ARE SUBCATEGORIES BY WHICH WE CAN APPLY FOR FUNDING AND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE MEAT OF OUR PRESENTATION HERE. SO WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO FUNDING ROUNDS WE HAVE A SPRING ROUND IN A FALL ROUND. OUR SPRING ROUND ACTUALLY CLOSED TODAY IT WAS THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE ROUND AND THIS WAS IS TYPICALLY WHAT OUR WATER SEWER DRAINAGE ROADS SET ASIDE IS WE CAN APPLY FOR UP $1,000,000 TO ADDRESS WATER ISSUES SEWER DRAINAGE ISSUES AND ROAD ISSUES THE MINIMUM WE CAN APPLY FOR IS $50,000 AND THE PRIORITIES TYPICALLY ARE UPGRADES TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVE AND LMI COMMUNITY AND THEN AFTER EXTENSION OF NEW SERVICE IN DENSE AREAS AND THEN FINALLY EXTENSION OF NEW SERVICE INTO DENSE AREAS. SO THOSE ARE TYPICALLY YOUR PRIORITIES THERE. COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT IS OUR FALL FUNDING ROUND.

WE HAVE A MID-AUGUST REQUESTED ONE AND A MID-SEPTEMBER APPLICATION DEADLINE.

IN THIS SET ASIDE WE HAVE $7.1 MILLION TO DO THINGS LIKE DEMOLITION PROJECTS OF OBSOLETE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS WHERE THERE'S BEEN SIGNIFICANT LOCAL INVESTMENT FOR REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR AREAS THAT ARE PREDOMINANTLY LOW TO MODERATE INCOME

[00:55:04]

YOUR MAXIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT HERE $750,000. YOUR MINIMUM FUNDING AMOUNT 50,000 YOUR LOCAL PRIORITY PROGRAM. THIS USED TO BE THE SPECIAL PROJECTS WHICH I THINK YOU'LL HAVE A SMALL PROJECT FUNDED UNDER CURRENTLY OR HAVE HAD ONE . THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN APPLY FOR HERE 300,000 THE MINIMUM IS 50,000 AND BASICALLY THIS IS FOR SMALLER PROJECTS TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NARROWING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN WE HAVEN'T PUT ANYTHING IN TO DO THIS YET BUT SO THAT HASN'T BEEN CLEARLY EXPLAINED TO US THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR THERE AND THEN SMALLER PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES ISSUES.

AND THEN OUR FINAL SET ASIDE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS READY TO GO.

THIS IS OUR NONCOMPETITIVE PROGRAM UNDER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT THERE'S $500,000 THAT'S ALLOCATED HERE. THIS IS FOR A PROJECT THAT WOULD FIT UNDER COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT OR COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND IS READY GO BUT FOR HAVING MONEY IN HAND MEANING YOU'VE DONE YOUR REVIEW YOU HAVE ALL YOUR EASEMENTS IN PLACE IT CAN'T WAIT TILL THE NEXT FUNDING ROUND. WE WE WANT TO PURSUE IT NOW ALTHOUGH IT'S NONCOMPETITIVE IT STILL HAS TO SCORE SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. I TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS PROGRAM IS TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE. THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES YOU CAN USE THE OVER 95% OF THE MONEY THAT'S ALLOCATED IN. SOUTH CAROLINA IS USED TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE. YOU CAN DO A PROJECT THAT WOULD AID IN THE PREVENTION OF SLUM OR BLIGHT. WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THOSE OVER THE YEARS. THEY'RE PRIMARILY STREETSCAPE OR DEMOLITION TYPE PROJECTS AND THEN THE FINAL NATIONAL OBJECTIVE YOU CAN USE AT TIMES IS TO MEET AN URGENT HEALTH THREAT OR URGENT COMMUNITY NEED THIS IS TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A NATURAL DISASTER AND THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. LET'S GO BACK SO ABOUT PAST IT I MAY HAVE PASSED IT BUT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY TO BE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BASICALLY YOUR ANNUAL INCOME FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR HAS TO BE LESS THAN $73,450 A YEAR.

THAT NUMBER WILL GO UP OR DOWN BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN YOUR HOUSE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE FOR THIS YEAR. THE OTHER SET ASIDES THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS A NONCOMPETITIVE PROGRAM YOU FOR THIS MONEY WHEN YOU HAVE A PROJECT BUT THE PURPOSE BEHIND IT IS TO PROVIDE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO INDUSTRIES THAT ARE LOCATING ARE EXPANDING IN YOUR AREA THAT ARE PROVIDING A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE CREATING JOBS OF WHICH AT LEAST OF THOSE JOBS ARE OVER HALF OF THOSE JOBS CAN BE DONE BY A LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUAL MEANING THAT YOU DO THE JOB WITH A HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION IN A YEAR'S EXPERIENCE SO THAT'S WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS IS DESIGNED TO DO AND TYPICALLY WHEN I SAY PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE ARE WATER SEWER AND PROJECTS THE REGIONAL PLANNING PROGRAM THERE'S $500,000 SET ASIDE IN IT THAT IS TO HELP THE TEN CARDS IN THE STATE OF WHICH LOWCOUNTRY IS ONE TO GO OUT AND DO THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF HOST PROJECT DEVELOPMENT DAY SO THAT WE CAN BRAINSTORM WITH YOUR STAFF TO HELP YOU DEVELOP STRONG PROJECTS FOR THE PROGRAM AND THEN THE LAST LITTLE BIT

[01:00:01]

WE STILL HAVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT IF YOU ARE COMPETING FOR A PROJECT AND YOU LOCATED IN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE YOU RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SCORPIO POINTS FOR THAT AND WE STILL HAVE PERFORMANCE AS A UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN CURRENTLY HAVE UP TO THREE OPEN GRANTS BEFORE THEY ARE PREVENTED FROM APPLYING FOR OTHER MONEY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM THOSE GRANTS CAN NOT EXCEED OVER A 30 MONTH GRANT PERIOD AND I THINK RIGHT NOW YOU'LL STILL TECHNICALLY MEET THE THRESHOLD AND THEN YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECT. I DON'T THINK THE COUNTY HAS ANY OF THOSE.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THAN ONE READY TO GO PROJECT THE COUNTY HAS NONE OF THOSE CURRENTLY AND YOU CAN'T HAVE MORE THAN ONE PROJECT IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME UNLESS YOU'RE AT LEAST UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH YOUR CURRENT PROJECT.

SO HAVING SAID THAT THE COUNTY I THINK RIGHT UNTIL NOVEMBER Y'ALL CAN MEET THE THRESHOLD BUT AFTER NOVEMBER UNTIL YOU GET YOUR SIDEWALK PROJECT WHICH TO AT POINT ROAD CLOSED YOU WILL BE OUT OF CONTENTION FOR PURSUING FUNDS I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK BRIEFLY TO Y'ALL ABOUT THE BE THE LOWCOUNTRY REGIONAL HOUSING CONSORTIUM AS YOU ALL KNOW APRIL IS ACTION PLAN MONTH FOR THE CONSORTIUM WE HAVE DRAFTED AN ACTION PLAN AND THAT WILL BE ACTUALLY DUE TO BE SUBMITTED THE MIDDLE OF MAY I THINK THE COMMENT PERIOD IS UP FOR IT ON MAY 4TH WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THAT THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT OUR BOARD MEETING BUT OUR OBJECTIVES WITH THE CONSORTIUM ARE TO REHABILITATE SUBSTANDARD HOUSING TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY, ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT, SAFE AND AVAILABILITY OF SAFE DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR ACTIVITIES PRIMARILY HAVE BEEN NEW AND SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING REHAB. IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE US LOOK AT ADDRESSING IT. CERTAINLY THE TIME FOR YOU TO PRESENT COMMENTS TO THE COG ABOUT THAT CURRENTLY THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING DO WHAT WE'VE DONE IN YEARS PAST WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES THIS YEAR JUST DUE TO SOME CHANGES THAT WERE NOT EXPECTED. BUT HAVING SAID THAT WE ARE OPEN TO OTHER AS WELL AND THEN I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING THAT I'VE SAID. THE MAIN THING CDBG THAT CHANGED THIS YEAR IS THAT THEY HAVE DECIDED TO ONE STOP FUNDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS FOR THE TIME BEING AND TWO THEY HAVE ADDED IN A PLANNING GRANT COMPONENT TO THE FALL ROUND FOR COMMUNITY EES THAT ARE LOOKING TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE TYPE PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE IN LOWER INCOME AREAS. SO THOSE ARE THE BIG TAKEAWAYS ARE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR MEMBERS SINCE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM OR THEIR FAMILIES PLEASE COME FORWARD NOW MY NAME IS JOYCE HAM. I WAS JUST WONDERING ARE THERE FAMILY FOCUSED GRANTS? SHE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT DURING PERIODS OF TIMES WHEN ARE LIKE NATURAL DISASTERS WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT'S FAMILY FOCUSED SO THAT THE PEOPLE IN A COMMUNITY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ASSISTANCE? YOU KNOW WHEN WE DO PROJECTS THAT URGENT NEED CATEGORY AFTER THERE'S BEEN A FEDERALLY DISASTER IT'S BASICALLY TO ADDRESS LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THE THE MOST FEDERAL GROUP THAT HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AS YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE OF IS FEMA AND THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.

AND THEN I THINK ARE SOME STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DIVISION ARE EMERGENCY DIVISION MONIES THAT

[01:05:04]

BUT THIS MONEY IS GEARED TOWARD DOING THINGS. THE ONE THING THAT WE'VE DONE UNDER THAT ONE TIME IS WE HAD AFTER TORNADOES HAD GONE THROUGH COLLEGE IN COUNTY A BUILDING THAT WAS DEEMED DOWNTOWN UNSAFE AND WE USED THE GRANT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR THAT LOT AND KEEP IT FROM BEING AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE OR A DANGER TO PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT USING SIDEWALK BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE THE ROAD AND THE SIDEWALK BUT THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE DO WITH THAT MONEY RIGHT? ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC SEEING NONE CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? I THINK SAYING YES STATE JUST QUICKLY FEMA SORT RELAXED THEIR POLICY TO ALLOW FOR FUNDING TO BE FOR AYERS PROPERTY. HAS THAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR PROGRAM AS RELATES TO YOU MEAN WITH THE CONSORTIUM WAS THE HOUSING PROGRAM I MEAN WE WE HAVE DONE SOME HOMES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE OWNERS TO THE PROPERTY WHERE THERE'S BEEN CONCERN OF THE OWNERS BUT TYPICALLY IF WE CAN'T IDENTIFY THEM ALL WE ASK THE THE PERSON LIVING IN THE HOUSE TRY TO GET THAT ADDRESSED YOU KNOW THROUGH OTHER RESOURCES THEY COME TO US BECAUSE WE IT IT CAN BE A PROBLEM LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY AND I WILL SAY WE ARE WITH TWO OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS NOW ABOUT TRYING TO UP A PILOT PROGRAM HOPEFULLY WITH SOME STATE FUNDING WHERE WE CAN DO SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY WITH WITH THE FEDERAL PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, USE THE SAME USE THE SAME FRAMEWORK IN TERMS OF DETERMINING SOME OF THE ELIGIBILITY BUT LIKE FOR EXAMPLE RIGHT NOW I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS WE CAN'T TOUCH A MOBILE HOME AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS IN OUR REGION A LOT OF PEOPLE A HOUSE FOR THEM IS A MOBILE HOME.

THAT'S THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS AND I MEAN THERE'S A REASON THAT WE DON'T DO IT BUT.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SEEING IF THERE'S SOME WAYS THAT MAYBE WE CAN OPEN A DOOR CRACK AT LEAST TO TRY TO TO WORK ON SOME OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S A NEED WE TURN AWAY ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF THAT. THANK YOU. OKAY.

MR. DAWSON, IF I MIGHT MICHELLE, THANK YOU FOR. THIS PRESENTATION ONE QUESTION WHAT DID YOU SAY THE FOUR DEADLINE IS FOR THE MIDDLE OF PROJECT.

IT'S 16TH FOR YOUR REQUEST IN SEPTEMBER 16TH FOR THE FULL APPLICATION AND I BELIEVE TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS COUNCIL IS THAT YOU'LL HAVE A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE THAT WILL RANK PRIORITIES AND THEN IT BACK TO YOUR FULL COUNCIL AT YOUR NEXT MEETING PROBABLY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT YOU ALL SHOULD BE YOUR TOP THREE FOR THE YEAR.

OKAY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS MICHELLE THANK MUCH. THANK YOU.

[12. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADD THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LONG-TERM RESILIENCE STRATEGY AS AN APPENDIX - Rob Merchant, Director of the Planning & Zoning Department]

[13. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ACCEPT AND TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. (FISCAL IMPACT: The South Carolina Opioid Relief Fund (SCORF) award is $582,606 for one year. No matching funds.) - Audra Antonacci – Ogden, ACA]

I DIDN'T GET WHO MADE THE MOTION EITHER ONE BUT SECOND FIRST IT DOESN'T MATTER.

OKAY. MR. MCKELLEN KNOW YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT YOU WILL BE THE MOTION OR MR. READ YOU WILL BE THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.

IS THERE DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIRMAN? IS OH SHE'S HERE.

OH OKAY. BACK HERE. SO I JUST HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. I YOU HAVE SOME GREAT STUFF IN HERE.

THIS IS A RERUN OF THE LAST YEAR I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT THE CORONER LISTED AS A

[01:10:07]

AND SO I THINK THIS IS A A GREAT USE OF THESE FUNDS THE HANDOFF PROGRAM ALL OF THAT IS VERY AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU GUYS TOOK CARE OF APPLYING FOR THIS AND TAKING CARE OF USING IT IN THE OTHER COMMENTS SEEING NONE OF THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS AND I COMMEND FOR COMING FORWARD AS SHE DID THAT TOOK A LOT OF GUTS YOU ARE TO

[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 99 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, ARTICLE II STORMWATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY SECTIONS 110, STORMWATER SERVICE FEE BILLING, DELINQUENCIES AND COLLECTIONS; AND 113, ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES Vote at First Reading on April 8, 2024 - 10:0]

YES. COUNSEL. YES, MA'AM.

I FEEL WE NEED TO ADDRESS MARIA WAS EMAIL DATED APRIL 9TH, 2024 THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS ENOUGH THAT THE COUNTY SHOULDN'T BE PENALIZED THEY WERE LATE THAT OUR PAYERS SHOULDN'T PENALIZED EITHER. WE SHOULD NOT APPROVE AN ORDINANCE THAT GIVES THE COUNTY SPECIAL TREATMENT AND MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE ON HOW THE COUNTY PAYS ITS BILLS.

YOU'RE MAKING A MOTION? MM HMM. PARAGRAPH ON HOW THE COUNTY PAYS ITS BILLS. OKAY. WHERE'S THAT? IS A SECOND. I'LL SECOND THAT FOR NOW. LISTEN TO THAT.

SURE OKAY. DULY MOTIONED IN, SECONDED BY MISS BROWN AND MR. READS ABOUT REMOVING A PARAGRAPH ON HOW THE COUNTY PAYS ITS BILLS. COULD I ASK WHAT THAT PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH IS WITHOUT READING 50 PAGES MORE MAYBE TELL ME WHICH PARAGRAPH TALKING ABOUT WITH PAGE. THERE WAS A LOT. WELL BRIAN CAN TELL IT'S PAGE 90 SO FAR. PAGE 90 IN THEIR BOOK. YES I BELIEVE THAT'S IT IN BRIAN STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE COUNTY. I THINK SHE'S REFERRING TO 90 9-1 TEN PARAGRAPH B METHOD OF PAYMENT COUNTY FOR COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY AND WHAT THAT IS IS THE COUNTY SHALL PAY THE ANNUAL STORMWATER FEES OWED FOR THE COUNTY OWNED PROPERTIES BY WAY OF A JOURNAL ENTRY PREPARED BY THE FINANCE OFFICE CHARGING THE FUNDS BUDGETED STORMWATER FEES LINE ITEMS AND CREDITING STORMWATER FUNDS REVENUE LINE ITEM FOR THE TOTAL STORMWATER FEES FOR THE COUNTY PROPERTY AND JUST MAKING THE ADMINISTRATIVE MOVEMENT FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO THE NEXT TO MAKE SURE THE ACCOUNT IS PAID. IT MAKES FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. MM HMM. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT REMOVED? YES. OKAY.

IS THERE REPLACEMENT LANGUAGE? YEAH. FOR ANOTHER METHOD OF PAYMENT IT WOULD GO REVERT TO WHAT IT WAS. THAT IS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PREPARE THE ANNUAL BILLS SEND THEM TO THE FINANCE OFFICE. THEY'D HAVE TO GET THE BILLS THEN MAKE PAYMENT OF THOSE CHECKS JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE IS WHAT IT WOULD BE.

WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON PREPARING THOSE BILLS FOR THE COUNTY OWNED PROPERTIES THEY WOULD JUST HAVE A LIST OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE AMOUNTS OWED . THE AUDITOR PREPARES THAT AND THEN THE FINANCE OFFICE WOULD PAY AMOUNT THAT THE AUDITORS DETERMINED THAT THE COUNTY OWES BY MOVING IT FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO I HAVE A QUESTION WHAT'S PRACTICE IS ANOTHER COUNTY'S. WHAT'S THE COMMON PRACTICE? I THINK YOU REFER TO THE FINANCE TO ANSWER THAT. I DO KNOW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE KNOWS OF NO OTHER COUNTY WHO BILLS THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER TWO COUNTIES I WORKED FOR. WE NEVER OURSELVES AND PAID OURSELVES RIGHT.

MY QUESTION IS WHY DO YOU WANT IT REMOVED? BECAUSE THE STORMWATER FEES I UNDERSTAND EVERY BODY PAYS. MM HMM. AM I RIGHT, EVERYBODY EVERYBODY

[01:15:06]

IT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE COMMITTEE MEETING. OKAY SO THE STORMWATER FEES ARE PAY HAVE TO BE PAID BY EVERYBODY. THE COUNTY ALSO HAS TO PAY STORMWATER FEES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE WERE LATE IN PAYING THE.

CORRECT. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.

YES, MA'AM. SO IF GOOD FOR IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOOD FOR THEM BUT NOT FOR ME. SO TO ME AS A TAXPAYER IF I WERE PAYING STORMWATER FEES I'D HAVE TO PAY THE PENALTY. WELL, BUT AGAIN IT'S A QUESTION THAT IS FAIR.

ALL THAT WOULD DO IS SET US UP SAYING IF I GOT A A BILL FROM THE COUNTY THAT I WROTE MYSELF ANOTHER BILL IS A DIFFERENT MISUNDERSTANDING HERE. BUT YEAH, LET ME CLEAR SOMETHING UP. YOU SAY THAT IT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING WE WERE LATE PAYING THE FEES. IT'S A DETERMINATION AS TO WE'RE RELATED ENOUGH TO WHERE A PENALTY WAS INCURRED OR NOT AND . THERE WASN'T A PENALTY LANGUAGE IN THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE DRAFT I CLEARED THAT UP AND PUT THAT IN THERE AND EVERYBODY IS SUBJECT TO THAT PENALTY IF THEY DON'T PAY IT. THERE'S A QUESTION AS FAR AS WHEN IT WAS DUE AND WHEN IT WAS DELINQUENT. DELINQUENT WOULD HAVE BEEN MID-MARCH MARCH I THINK. IT WAS PAID BEFORE MARCH 17TH IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DELINQUENT OUR PENALTY WOULD HAVE BEEN OWED IF WAS A PENALTY IN PLACE? WELL, TO ME BEST IF ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE DOING IT THIS WAY AND I I DON'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT LIKE THEY DO BUT IT'S BEST TO DO THE TRANSFER RATHER THAN BUILD OURSELVES. THE I THINK WHAT MISS CHRISTMAS SAID WAS THE OTHER COUNTIES DO NOT BILLS THEMSELVES FOR THE SUMMER FEES BUT THE POLICY WAS MADE THAT BECAUSE WE EXPECT THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER DISTRICTS TO PAY THE FEES WE WOULD PAY AS WELL TO WHERE WE DIDN'T SEPARATE OURSELVES. SO WE'VE AGREED TO PAY THOSE FEES. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BUT IT'LL BE INTRODUCED BY THE TRANSFER.

WITH THE TRANSFER? YES. YOU'RE PAYING IT.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER YOU GET A BILL AND THEN WRITE A CHECK FOR IT OR DO YOU A BILL OR A LIST OF WHAT YOU OWE AND JUST MOVE FROM THIS COUNTY. IT'S LIKE A TRANSFER MONEY TO MY HUSBAND'S SAVINGS ACCOUNT. EXACTLY WHAT WHAT IT'S DOING IS IT'S NOT GOING TO THE TREASURER'S UNLESS YOU GOT TO SEND IT OVER TO THE COUNTY IS TAKE IT AWAY.

HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR MOVING THE MONEY AROUND THIS CHRISTMAS. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION.

IS IT FASTER TO DO IT THIS WAY ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS? ABSOLUTELY SO IT'S FASTER A WEEK BEFORE THIS AND SPEED UP THE PROCESS FOR US. THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DID NOT THE BILLS UNTIL JANUARY AND I WILL NOT SUPPORT REMOVING THIS LANGUAGE.

MR. CHAIRMAN. I WILL NOT EITHER. I THINK THE JOURNAL ENTRIES WAY TO GO ANY GOOD BUSINESS WOULD DO IT THAT WAY FOR THE COUNTY RECEIVE A BILL AND THEN HAVE TO WRITE A CHECK. IT'S REDUNDANT AND IT'S A WASTE OF PEOPLE'S TIME.

I WOULD LEAVE THE PARAGRAPH IN AND MIGHT I ADD ONE MORE THING IT'S HUNDREDS OF BILLS SO TAKE HUNDREDS MULTIPLIED BY THE POSTAGE RATE THAT WE'RE MAILING BILLS TO OURSELVES.

IT'S EVERY PRINTING AND ADMINISTRATIVE TIME AND IF IT'S EVERY PARCEL OF LAND THE COUNTY OWES YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SHE GETS A STACK OF BILLS LIKE THIS HUNDREDS. YEAH. OKAY, FURTHER DISCUSSION.

OKAY WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL ON THIS ONE PLEASE? SO WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT? YES COUNCILMEMBER BROWN WHAT? WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT.

THE AMENDMENT IS TO REMOVE THIS LANGUAGE. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER BROWN. YES. REMOVE IT.

COUNCILMEMBER READS NO. COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON TELL ME IS MUTED.

MARK MUTED. CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE ? NO, NO. THERE YOU ARE. HE'S NOT MUTED.

OKAY, SHAKE YOUR HEAD. RIGHT. OKAY, MA'AM.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T HEAR IT WAS NO. OKAY.

COUNCILMEMBER NO. COUNCILMEMBER TABACHNICK NO. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD NO.

COUNCILMEMBER NO. COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW NO. DODSON NO.

VICE CHAIR MCCLELLAN NO. CHAIRMAN PASSIVE MEANT NO. THE MOTION FAILS.

OKAY WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND I CAN'T REMEMBER BECAUSE.

I FORGOT. IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHES COMMENT ABOUT WHAT WE JUST DID SEE? THANK YOU. SEEING DONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT ANY FURTHER. ALL RIGHT.

[01:20:03]

SO I'M NOT SAYING DID. I'M JUST SAYING IF THAT WAS THE CASE I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD PAY THE FEE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED BECAUSE MANY THINGS COME BACK ON US EVERY THERE WILL BE.

THANK YOU. OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

VICE CHAIR MCKELLEN YES. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM. YES.

COUNCILMEMBER REED'S YES. COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. YES.

COUNCILMEMBER BROWN YES. COUNCILMEMBER TABACHNICK YES. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD YES.

COUNCILMEMBER GLOVER THIS. COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. COUNCILMEMBER DODSON YES.

[15. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2023/32 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A ROAD USE FEE Vote at First Reading on April 8, 2024 - 10:0]

MR. BURKE ALL AND MR. CUNNINGHAM MADE THE MOTION AND SECOND IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SAYING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND IS ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SAYING NONE OF THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION FOR THE

[16. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 2 ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE VII FINANCE, DIVISION 2 FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES GENERALLY, SECTION 2-437 ROAD USE FEE OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES Vote at First Reading on April 8, 2024 - 10:0]

IS THERE A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISH TO ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SAYING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION IS THERE A MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO WEIGH IN ON THIS SAYING NONE.

THE SECOND READING WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

[17. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PROPERTIES PURSUANT TO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND CHEROKEE BEAUFORT, LLC The Vote at First Reading on April 8, 2024 - 10:0]

MR. MCKELLAN MADE THE FIRST. OKAY. DULY MOTIONED IN SECOND.

ANY MEMBER THE PUBLIC WISH TO WEIGH IN ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM SAYING NONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC PORTION. ANY MEMBER OF WISH TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ONE? SEEING. THE SECOND READING WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND

[18. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO NAME THE PORT ROYAL LIBRARY FACILITY IN HONOR OF THE FORMER TOWN OF PORT ROYAL MAYOR, SAMUEL E. MURRAY - Charles Atkinson, Assistant County Administrator]

I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION. MISS HOWARD MADE THE MOTION AND 100 PEOPLE MADE THIS ALL RIGHT.

I GIVE IT TO MISS BROWN DULY MOTIONED, THEN SECONDED. MR. CHAIRMAN.

OKAY. IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM? I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN DAWSON WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. I THINK HE HAD THEM AND HAD THEM AS A PRINCIPLE AT ONE TIME. OH REALLY? YEAH. TO THAT POINT, MAYOR MURRAY, HE BEFORE YOU BECAME THE MAYOR OF BALTIMORE HE WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT DALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHICH NOW DAVIS ELEMENTARY BUT HE WAS THE PRINCIPAL FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE HE ACTUALLY MOVED TO BALTIMORE AND THEN BECAME OF BALTIMORE AFTER RETIRING FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUT HE'S HE'S WORTHY THIS LIBRARY BEING NAMED AFTER HIM FOR THE SERVICES THAT HE NOT ONLY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WHILE HE WAS A PRINCIPAL AT DAVIS BUT ALSO TO THE TOWN OF FOR ALL THE CITIZENS HE ACTUALLY HAD UNDER HIS PURVIEW AT THE TIME.

SO EXCELLENT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING.

[01:25:01]

[19. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING FAIR HOUSING MONTH - Audra Antonacci – Ogden, Assistant County Administrator]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NONE THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO

[20. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE FEE SIMPLE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBERS R100-026-00A-0260-0000 and R100-026-00A-0261-0000 AND ALSO KNOWN AS BOUNDARY STREET LOGAN (FISCAL IMPACT: up to $335,000 plus closing costs using account # 4500-80-0000-54400 with a current balance: $5,902,379) - Amanda Flake, Natural Resources Planner]

OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS SAYING NONE .

[21. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD]

OH BOY. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE WE DO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE THAT WE NEED TO GO TO. ALL RIGHT.

MR. YARBOROUGH, YOU WERE FIRST. WOULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD, ADDRESS US? HI, I'M CADE YARBOROUGH, CHAIR OF THE DIVERSITY ISLAND COUNCIL.

LAST WEEK I EMAILED YOU A LETTER EXPRESSING OUR COUNCIL'S STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT NUMBER OF FERRY ISSUES THE DIVERSE ISLAND COUNCIL IS YOUR ADVISORY GROUP AND THE PERCEPTION OUR ISLAND IS THAT NO ONE CARES AND NO ONE IS LISTENING. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU THAT THE PEOPLE ON OUR ISLAND ARE HURTING AND OUR BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

I'M ASKING A FEW OF OUR REQUESTS BROUGHT UP AT TONIGHT'S EXECUTIVE SESSION MEETING. ISSUE NUMBER ONE WE NEED A SAFE BOAT AND WE NEED A SAFE DOCK.

MANATEE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH TWO FERRY BOATS WHICH IS CALLED FOR IN THE FERRY CONTRACT AND THE DOCKS ARE IN DISREPAIR AND NOT SAFE. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ALREADY HURT AND ONE MAN ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE WHEN HE ENDED UP IN THE WATER.

DISABILITY RIGHTS SOUTH CAROLINA SAYS THAT THE COUNTY CANNOT CONTRACT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES ON THIS MATTER. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

I REQUEST SINCE OUR OPERATOR WON'T PROVIDE SAFE BOATS AND SAFE DOCKS IT'S TIME FOR THE COUNTY TO STEP UP AND ENSURE WE HAVE BOTH. ISSUE NUMBER TWO MR. TURNER WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING A CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS HIM TO RESTRICT THE DOCK ACCESS TO OTHER COMMERCIAL. BUT MR. TURNER IS NOW DENYING ACCESS TO EVERYONE INCLUDING WHO HAVE FISHED AT THE DOCKS FOR YEARS AND A HANDFUL OF THE FIRST PEOPLE YOU USE PRIVATE BOATS. WE WERE AT A MEETING WITH MR. ROBERTSON, MR. WARD AND HANK AND THEY TOLD US THAT WE COULD USE BUCKINGHAM LANDING FOR DAY TRIPS BUT ACCESS THAT DOCK IS NOW BLOCKED. EVEN WORSE OVER THE WEEKEND, MR. TURNER PUT UP CHAINS AND PADLOCKS PREVENTING ACCESS TO BOTH DOCKS ON PICNIC ISLAND. OUR REQUEST IS THE COUNTY SHOULD INSTRUCT THE FERRY OPERATOR TO CEASE EFFORTS TO BLOCK ACCESS TO THE ISLAND DOCKS AND THE COUNTY SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THE ACCESS TO BUCKINGHAM LANDING.

ISSUE NUMBER THREE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS CONTINUE WITH THE PALMETTO BRIDGE CARD.

WE HAVE ASKED YOU TO PROVIDE A 30 DAY EXTENSION FOR OUR APPLICATION SO THAT THESE PROBLEMS CAN BE RESOLVED. BUT WE'VE HAD NO RESPONSE OUR REQUEST.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND TONIGHT I'M URGENTLY RENEWING REQUEST FOR THE 30 DAY EXTENSION FOR THE PALMETTO FOR PAST APPLICATION ISSUE NUMBER NUMBER FOUR.

MR. TURNER IS DOUBLING DOWN UNREASONABLE CARGO POLICIES AND FEES ON THE LOCAL PEOPLE.

I IF ANY OF YOU WOULD PUBLICLY SUPPORT TAX INCREASES BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE FASTEST WORKING CLASS IN THIS UNDERFUNDED CONTRACT WENT INTO EFFECT.

IT'S CRUEL, SHORT SIGHTED. I'LL REQUEST WORK WITH US WITH THE WORK WITH US AND WITH THE FERRY OPERATOR TO ELIMINATE THESE DRASTIC INCREASES. ISSUE NUMBER FIVE THE DIVERSITY

[01:30:01]

OUR REQUEST AS YOUR ADVISORY GROUP WE ARE OFFICIALLY REQUESTING A MEETING IN THE NEXT WEEKS WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DIVERSITY ISLAND COUNCIL SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS TO OUR MAJOR ISSUES. THANK YOU. THANK I HAVE A QUESTION ITEM NUMBER TWO. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE PADLOCKS ON PINCKNEY? DID YOU REFER TO THAT? YES, SIR. WHAT IS THAT? SO WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME IN TO THE COMMUNITY DOCKSIDE SO WHERE THE FERRY IS NOT COMING IN AND IT'S BEING OFF AND PADLOCKED BUT ALSO AFTER HOURS THAT MEAN IT'S IT'S CHAINED OFF LIKE IT'S BLOCKED OFF TO THE ACCESS OF THE PUBLIC AND IT SHOULD BE OPEN TO PEOPLE TO FISH.

I GET THAT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S MAYBE THAT'S PICNIC ISLAND.

THANKS. THOUGHT WE WERE ADDRESSING THAT LAST WEEK BUT I'LL CHECK ON THAT. THANK YOU, SIR. GARY MAJOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

KERRY MAJOR AM FROM SAINT HELENA ISLAND AND I'VE BEEN ENGAGED WITH OUR LOCAL YOUTH.

AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT SINCE 1985 THROUGH KERRY'S LOWCOUNTRY MODELING AND BEFORE KIND CONFERENCE HALF OF MY LIFE I FOUND A QUOTE SAYS TOGETHER MAY WE GIVE OUR CHILDREN ROOTS TO GROW AND WINGS TO FLY. AND AS I THINK ABOUT WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE ON SAINT HELENA, WE NEED AGAIN A YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR YOUTH FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO USE.

I WAS AT THE PRESENTATION WITH MR. BROWN TALKING ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN FOR SAINT HELENA ISLAND THROUGH PALS AND I PRAY THAT SAINT HELENA ISLAND IS INCLUDED IN THAT MASTER PLAN AND A COMMUNITY AND YOUTH CENTER A STATE OF THE ART CENTER CENTRALLY LOCATED WITH ALL THE AMENITIES THAT OUR YOUTH NEED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

MY FOR ALL OF YOU IS THAT YOU WILL ALL BE COGNIZANT AND IS SOMETHING THAT THE LORD GAVE ME OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND WHAT THEY NEED AND WANT IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

I PRAY THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER NOT ONLY WHO I AM BUT THAT I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR YOUTH ON SAINT HELENA ISLAND. AND I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE OTHER YOUTH ALSO.

BUT RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS IS SAINT HELENA ISLAND AND YOUTH AND THERE ARE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE MET TO OUR CHILDREN, OUR YOUTH SOME PLACE TO GO AFTERSCHOOL TUTORIAL PROGRAMS, LEISURE AND ACTIVITIES PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE COMPUTERS. WE CAN HAVE A PLACE FOR ADULTS GO AND OF COURSE YOU MAY SAY WE HAVE LIBRARIES, WE HAVE THE SCHOOL BUT WHAT TIME ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THESE YOUTH ON SAINT HELENA ISLAND? SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING INCLUDED IN THAT MASTER PLAN ALSO. I KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ACCORDING TO MR. BROWN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TEMPORARY AND I CALL IT INTERIM CENTERS THAT GOING TO BE OPEN AND THIS OKAY TO DO THAT TEMPORARILY BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR LONG TERM AND IT MAY NOT BE RIGHT NOW AND I UNDERSTAND IT MAY TAKE A FEW YEARS BUT ALL I HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE MONEYS THAT 30 SECONDS THAT THEY CAN USE THAT THEY'RE USING OTHER PROJECTS AND I'M SURE THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY CAN FIND SOME MONEYS AND I KNOW IT'S THERE FOR OUR YOUTH ON SAINT ISLAND AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL AS TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE BECAUSE I KNOW IT CAN BE DONE.

I'M APPOINTED AND NOT APPOINTED SELF-APPOINTED. I COULD BE HOME SITTING DOWN ENJOYING MY RETIREMENT BUT I'M HERE AND I WILL BE HERE AS I TOLD YOU ALL BEFORE BECAUSE THE LORD SAID SO MR. FARRELL I'M WORKING FOR ALL I FROM SAY NO. IT'S KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW MISS MAJOR BUT SHE SAID EVERYTHING THAT I REALLY TO SAY TO YOU GUYS BUT SINCE I'M UP HERE ANYWAY FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THIS IS A GREAT DAY TO BE YOU COUNTY RESIDENT AND I UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAKE. I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES YOU SPEAK TO ME I'M UP HERE, I'M RAISING CANE AND EVERYTHING BUT THAT'S PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS UNDERSTANDING THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE STANDING STRONG WITH THE DECISIONS THAT YOU'VE MADE IN PAST.

THAT'S A GOOD THING. THE SECOND THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT

[01:35:01]

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, SELMA IS A VERY RURAL PLACE AND IT'S HARD TO GET OTHER PLACES.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A MASTER PLAN AND EVERYTHING IS RESOLVED IS REVOLVES AROUND THE CITY CENTERS OR URBAN CENTERS. THE RURAL KIDS HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THERE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCESS THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE BE A IT CAN BE ACCESSIBLE TO YOU BUT IF YOU CAN'T THERE GUESS WHAT? YOU WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE DO THE SAME THING FOR THIS HOMELESS COMMUNITY THAT YOU WOULD DO FOR BLUFFTON THAT YOU WOULD DO FOR THE CITY OF BEAUFORT THAT YOU WOULD DO FOR THE CITY OF EXCUSE ME THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.

WE JUST WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT. MR. DAWSON ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

EVERY SINGLE DECISION SHOULD BE MADE BASED ON ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THERE IS NO SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY NORTH IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT MISS. WE HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THAT MESS. WE ARE ONE COUNTY AND GUESS WHAT? SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY WOULD NOT THRIVE WITHOUT THE WORKERS FROM NORTHERN.

YOU FORGOTTEN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT ,THE BUSINESSES AND THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF SOUTHERN COUNTY.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. STOP THE FOOLISHNESS.

LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY AND BASE YOUR DECISIONS ON. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MR. DONAHUE. MM HMM. EVENIN, FOLKS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE ALL YOU ALL DO. I GUESS I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT EARTH DAY THE OTHER DAY GARMAN DO SURVEYING DOWN 170 I WITNESSED PROBABLY SIX COUNTY TRUCKS AND MUST HAVE BEEN 100 PEOPLE ON THE SIDES BOTH SIDES IN THE MEDIAN PICKING UP TRASH AND IT GAVE ME GREAT JOY TO SEE THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM OR IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE. I KNOW THAT WHEN I MOVED HERE SIX YEAR ALMOST SIX YEARS AGO I ACTUALLY WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE LITTER COMMISSION IN BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING THE CONTRACTOR BUSH HOGS JUST WENT OVER THE GARBAGE BEING EARTH DAY YOU KNOW, I HAVE FIRSTHAND SEEN WHAT PLASTICS DO TO ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S IT'S HEARTBREAKING AND SO I DON'T KNOW I GUESS IT ALSO GOES IN LINE WITH SAINT HELENA ISLAND WHERE YOU KNOW, WE NEED AVOID THE POLLUTION AND SO ANYWAY I PREFER A STATE THAT HAS ACTUAL LAWS AND SIGNS POSTED EVERYWHERE ABOUT LITTERING IS AGAINST THE LAW. THERE'S GOING TO BE A FINE OR IMPRISONMENT. YOU KNOW, I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THAT LAW BEING IN ACTION AND AND I HAVEN'T IN VIRGINIA I ACTUALLY GOT ONE OF THE COUNTIES I SAT DOWN WITH THE SHERIFF AND I GOT THE COUNTY TO YOU KNOW, TO NOTIFY EVERYBODY DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT THEY COULD GET THEIR HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE PICKING UP GARBAGE.

I ALSO UP THERE WHEN I'D SUGGESTED IT TO THE GAL IN COLUMBIA SHE SAID WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN OUR BUDGET BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN CERTAIN AND STATES WHERE THEY TAKE THEIR PRISONERS YOU KNOW RISK PRISONERS. YOU GOT TO HAVE A GUARD. BUT YEAH AND GET THEM OUT PICKING UP GARBAGE TOO. YOU KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THIS PLANET WE HAVE TO STOP THE THE GARBAGE AND THE LETTERS AND SO I DON'T KNOW DO SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THIS PLANET WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JOYCE GIBBS ON TUESDAY AND THANK YOU TO YOU WITH SOME CLOSURE AND THANK YOU FOR MONEY IS. YES, I AM.

[01:40:16]

THIS COUNTY IS PAYING CLARK COURTS $28,000. THEY ARE PAYING RECORD CLERKS $28,000. THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE STARTING .

AND WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK IN TERMS OF FAMILY THE CHILDREN WHO ARE GETTING MARRIED AND HAVING FAMILIES. THEY'RE NOT STARTING OFF AT 77. SO WE'RE ASKING TO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT WHEN MAKING DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY GIVEN YOU A SHEET HERE AND IT SAYS THE FREEDMEN'S PORT ROYAL THAT REPRESENTS ME AND MY FAMILY IF YOU'LL SEE ON THE LAST PAGE IT'LL HAVE FIRST CENSUS OF BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA WHICH IS MY GRANDMOTHER SARAH HAD FOUR PEOPLE IN HER 30 SECONDS. MM.

AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE ON THE THIRD PAGE WHERE IT SAID THAT WHEN WHEN YOU THINK IN TERMS OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCE IF YOU WILL SEE ON ON THAT ON ON THE PAGE IT SAYS IT IS WORTHY TO NOTE THAT THE NEGROES NOW WITHIN OUR LINES ARE HERE NOT BY INVERTING BUT NOT NOT BY INVITATION NO ONE BUT THEY WERE ON THE SOIL WHEN WE GOT HERE. THANK YOU.

BRENDA BROWN BROWN, CAN I FINISH MY STATEMENT? NO, I'M LOOKING FOR BRENDA BROWN. HE'S YIELDING HER TIME TO ME. WE DON'T YIELD TIME.

OH, BRENDA, I'M. MY NAME IS BRENDA BROWN AND I GIVE JOYCE MY MINUTES.

WE DON'T ALLOW THAT. SORRY. WHEN I GET THIS WELL, I SUPPORT WHAT SHE SAID. OKAY. THANK YOU.

LAST ONE, WILLIAM BROWN. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? THANK YOU.

[EXECUTIVE SESSION]

IT IS PINE ISLAND HOLDINGS VERSUS BEAUFORT COUNTY. ITEM TWO IS RECEIPT OF A LEGAL ADVICE WHERE THE LEGAL ADVICE RELATES TO MATTERS COVERED BY ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE PENDING LITIGATION PAULSON VERSUS BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JAMES BECKER.

AND FINALLY DISCUSSIONS OF NEGOTIATIONS TWO PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND POTENTIAL PURCHASE PURCHASING OF PROPERTY CALLED PROJECT BRAVO.

EMOTION PLEASE. SO SO SIR. SECOND.

MR. MCCLELLAN MR. CUNNINGHAM MOTIONED IN SECOND ANY DISCUSSION SAYING? NONE. WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. THERE MAY BE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF ARE WE HAVE STARTED LOOKING FOR A

[01:45:12]

[25. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]

THIS IS FOR 24. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND FUND THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY REFERRED TO AS PROJECT BRAVO.

MAY I HAVE SECOND? MR. BARTHOLOMEW MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION THIS ITEM SEEING NONE. THIS ITEM WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTION. THEREFORE ALL VISITORS COMING BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AND WE ARE ADJOURN

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.