[00:00:01]
TO AFOR COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 28TH, 2024.
MAY I CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER? YES.
AND WOULD YOU, UH, PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TAB TABER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL GRACIOUS LORD IN HONOR OF THE RECENT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, GUIDE US TO REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE TO THE COUNTRY.
WHEN THEIR NEED WAS GREATEST, THEY STEPPED FORWARD AND DID THEIR DUTY TO DEFEND THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY TODAY.
WE MUST REMEMBER, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN IT HAS A COST, AND IT'S INDEED, DEAR, NEVER LET US FORGET WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE TO ENSURE THAT FREEDOM WOULD BE OUR LEG.
HELP US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS BE WORTHY OF THEIR SACRIFICE THROUGH OUR ACTIONS TODAY AND EVERY TIME WE MEET IN THE FUTURE.
WE ASK THIS IN YOUR NAME, LORD.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREE AND RIVER INFORMATION ACT.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WONDERING WHO I AM, MY NAME'S LARRY MCALLEN.
I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF COUNSEL.
CHAIRMAN PASSMAN IS NOT WITH US THIS EVENING, OTHER THAN HE MAY.
OCCASIONALLY, HE MAY, UH, UH, SHOW UP A BIT LATER ON, UH, ON THE ZOOM LINK.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THE WELCOME TO A GUEST WE HAVE HERE TONIGHT, SITTING IN THE BACK, UH, MR. MICHAEL R. MOORE, WHO'S STANDING RIGHT NOW, HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME HIM TO BEAUFORT COUNTY TONIGHT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
I HAD LIKE TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA, AND I WOULD LIKE TO INSERT AFTER THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AS ITEM FIVE A ONE OF THE ITEMS FROM THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO I'M GOING TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, SECTION 29, DEALING WITH, UH, ITEM 29, WHICH IS PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION THREE OH DASH FOUR DASH SEVEN OH A ONE TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS INCIDENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT APPOINTMENT OR COMPENSATION OF A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY.
WE WILL LEAVE THIS ROOM AND GO INTO THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM WHERE WE SHOULD PROBABLY BE ONLY FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK OUT AND DETERMINE WHETHER AN ACTION HAS TO BE TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION TO AMEND THAT AGENDA FOR YOU.
UH, OCTAVIA OR BRENDAN, IF YOU MISS THE, UH, PERSON MAKING THE MOTION OR THE SECOND, PLEASE STOP ME UNTIL WE GET THAT CLARIFIED.
UH, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON AMENDING THE AGENDA? OKAY, HEARING NO DISCUSSION, I WILL, UM, APPROVE THIS AMENDED AGENDA, UH, THE AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, AND THEN I WILL SEEK APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA WITH THE AMENDMENT IN IT.
YOU OKAY? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING NO DISCUSSION? I WILL, UH, APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE, UH, AGENDA IS APPROVED, UH,
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Special County Council Meeting on April 24, 2024]
SEEKING NUMBER FIVE, UH, UH, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE SPECIAL COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 24TH, 2024.ANY DISCUSSION? ANY CORRECTIONS? SEEING NO DISCUSSION OR CORRECTIONS? UH, MINUTES HAVE BEEN APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
WILL NOW, UM, RECESS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AS ITEM FIVE A AND MAKE THAT MOTION INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION SECTION 34 70.ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[30. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.AND ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, WHEN WE FINISH THIS PORTION OF THE ACTION WE'RE TAKING, AS A RESULT OF OUR AGREEMENT THAT WAS REACHED DURING THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, I'LL BE SEEKING A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE AGREEMENT WE REACHED MR. CHAIR.
I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNCIL, JOE PASSMAN AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MICHAEL R. MOORE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY'S NEXT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2024.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS MATTER? SEEING
[00:05:01]
NO DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS MATTER APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? NO, WE HAVE UNANIMITY AND, UH, I
[Additional Item]
WOULD LIKE TO THEN HAVE THIS MOTION PASSED AND CONGRATULATE MR. MOORE FOR BEING SELECTED AS THE NEW BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.MR. MOORE, WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN ME AT THE, UH, PODIUM, WHAT TO OFFER? MY CONGRATULATIONS.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, DO IS, UM, INTRODUCE MR. MOORE TO THE COUNCIL.
AGAIN, STAND BEHIND ME AND TO ALL OF YOU AGAIN, AND TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE LOOKING, UH, AT THE, UH, COUNTY CHANNEL.
SO IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MICHAEL R. MOORE, WHO HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
MR. MOORE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER IN YORK COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THERE IS A POPULATION OF 295,000, UH, PEOPLE WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $459 MILLION.
MR. MOORE IS A 27 YEAR VETERAN OF THE NAVY.
HE WAS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER AND A NAVAL AVIATOR.
HE SERVED AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE COMMANDER OF THE NAVY REGION, MID-ATLANTIC IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, WHICH IS THE LARGEST OF 10 NAVY REGIONS WORLDWIDE, WITH 72 INSTALLATIONS AND FACILITIES IN 20 STATES IN THE NORTHEASTERN US THE MOORE WAS ALSO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SUDA BAY IN CRETE, GREECE, WITH A CUSTOMER BASE OF 1200 PEOPLE WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $17 MILLION.
HE WAS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND PLANS FOR THE COMMANDER OF THE CARRIER STRIKE GROUP FIVE IN YOKOSUKA, JAPAN.
HE WAS ALSO A LEGISLATIVE FELLOW IN THE OFFICE OF NAVY LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON, DC WHERE HE SERVED ON THE WASHINGTON DC STAFF OF A US SENATOR ON THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THE MOORE WAS ALSO THE DEPUTY DIVISION DIRECTOR FOR THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, J EIGHT AT THE PENTAGON IN WASHINGTON, DC.
HE RECEIVED HIS EDUCATION AT THE, UM, UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY, WHERE HE RECEIVED A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GENERAL ENGINEERING.
HE THEN WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE SPACE INSTITUTE, WHERE HE RECEIVED THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AVIATION SYSTEMS. HE THEN WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WHERE HE RECEIVED THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND THEN THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL IN MONTEREY.
AS A NAVY SENIOR LEADER SEMINAR, MR. MOORE HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF COUNSEL TO THE POSITION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
HE HAS THE FULL CONFIDENCE AND FULL SUPPORT OF COUNSEL.
WE WISH HIM GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FORTUNE AS HE ASSUMES THE DUTIES OF THE POSITION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
I WOULD NOW LIKE TO INVITE MR. MOORE TO MAKE REMARKS TO COUNSEL AND TO THOSE WHO ARE ASSEMBLED HERE, AND TO ANYONE WHO WAS WATCHING US SOMETIMES BY CHANCE ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL.
I KNOW CHAIRMAN, UM, PASSMAN IS NOT HERE WITH US, BUT, UH, VICE CHAIRMAN MCALLEN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, ELECTED OFFICIALS, COUNTY STAFF, AND CITIZENS OF BUFORD COUNTY.
GOOD EVENING, HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE.
UM, AS COUNTY COUNCIL HAS VOTED TO APPOINT ME AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I'M HUMBLED THAT YOU ALL PLACE THIS TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN FOR COUNCIL.
I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW EACH OF YOU USING LEARNING ABOUT EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.
I'LL STRIVE EACH DAY TO DEVELOP, MAINTAIN, TRUST, AND, AND CREDIBILITY AS I EXECUTE MY PRESCRIBED DUTIES.
FOR COUNTY STAFF, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE JOINING A GREAT TEAM THAT IS CLEARLY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES.
I'M EAGER TO GET TO KNOW YOU ALL, LEARN WHAT YOU DO, AND VISIT YOU AND YOUR WORKPLACES OR JOB SITES.
INITIAL AREAS OF FOCUS FOR ME ARE THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, PROCESSES, AND COLLABORATIVE METHODS.
MY INTENT IS TO LISTEN TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SO THAT I CAN BETTER DETERMINE HOW I,
[00:10:01]
AS THE ADMINISTRATOR CAN HELP ENSURE YOUR SUCCESS AND TAKE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO THE NEXT LEVEL, THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.I'M TRULY EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU ALL, VISIT YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SEE HOW WE CAN SUSTAIN IMPROVED COUNTY SERVICES THAT HELP ENSURE QUALITY OF LIFE.
AS A US NAVY VETERAN AND FORMER INSTALLATION COMMANDING OFFICER, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND SUPPORT OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE YORK COUNTY COUNCIL MANAGER'S, OFFICE, DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, STAFF, THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF YORK COUNTY OVER THE PAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK MY FAMILY FOR THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT.
MY WIFE, JENNIFER, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SETTLING HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE ANTICIPATE HAVING OUR SONS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND GRANDCHILDREN SPEND TIME WITH US IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY CLOSING.
I ONCE WOULD LIKE TO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR PLACING TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN ME AS THE NEXT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL ON JULY 1ST.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT FAIR JUST TO TAKE A PICTURE OF MIKE AND I.
IF ANYBODY ON COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US FOR THE PICTURE, I'LL INVITE YOU DOWN.
AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T TAKE A LONG TIME, SIT DOWN, LARRY.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE US TO STAND OVER BY THE FLAGS AND THINGS? YEAH.
I CAN'T SEE YOU, MR. GLOVER, TAKE A BIG STEP TO YOUR LEFT.
I HAVE, UH, AT THE END OF THIS UNANIMOUS INDUCTION, I HAVE A GIFT TO GIVE MR. MOORE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET BOOK.
WOULD YOU TAKE IT HOME? I LIKE READING ALREADY.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE ONE MOMENT, UH, HERE TO THANK JOHN ROBINSON FOR HIS SERVICE, UH, AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
HE STEPPED UP WHEN WE NEEDED HIM, AND HE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR US HERE AS THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO OUR THANKS, OUR HATS OFF TO HIM AND OUR THANKS FROM EVERYBODY HERE ON COUNCIL, ALL THE STAFF, AND I SUPPOSE ALL OF YOU HERE AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JOHN, FOR YOU HEAR ME? NO THANKS THOUGH.
AND MR. MOORE JUST FOUND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN LARRY GETS A MICROPHONE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE WONDERING, MR. MOORE WILL BE REPORTING FOR DUTY ON JULY 1ST.
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
OKAY.UM, WE ARE BACK TO THE, UH, AGENDA AND THE, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX IS THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
SO I'LL INVITE THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO COME FORWARD FOR THAT REPORT.
UH, CHAIRMAN AND COUNCIL OR VICE CHAIR? UM, AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO, UH, WELCOME MR. MOORE.
IT'S, UH, GREAT TO HAVE ANOTHER, UH, NAVY VETERAN, UH, AMONGST OUR STAFF,
UM, I WAS, UH, THE, THE, UM, AUDITOR AND I WERE, WERE TALKING JUST BEFORE, AND I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE HIM OUTNUMBERED AT THIS POINT, BUT THERE'S MANY MARINES HERE AS WELL.
SO OUR COUNTY IS FILLED WITH VETERANS.
UH, I THINK WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO SERVE AS, AS ACTING IN AN INTERIM IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, UH, IT, THAT TIME HAS GONE BY FAST.
10 MONTHS HAS GONE BY SO QUICKLY.
I TOLD YOU THEN THAT I WOULD LEAD WITH CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, UH, UNTIL MR. MOORE COMES ON BOARD AND WE TRANSITION, UH, FULLY.
UH, SO HE WILL HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT, AS DO YOU UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT WE FINISH THAT TRANSITION.
UM, THIS EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PEOPLE.
EACH WEEK I GET TO, TO GO TO HR AND, UM, AND VISIT ORIENTATION
[00:15:02]
EVERY WEEK.THERE'S A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF FOLKS, BUT WHAT I'M FINDING IS A GROWING NUMBER.
THE FIRST, USUALLY IT'S MONDAYS, BUT THIS WEEK IT WAS THIS MORNING, THERE'S A GROWING NUMBER OF NEW EMPLOYEES.
UM, A YEAR AGO I MIGHT SEE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE EACH MONDAY MORNING AND THIS MORNING THERE WAS NEARLY 10.
UH, SO THIS IS A GREAT TREND FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TO TO HIRE THAT MANY EMPLOYEES EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
UM, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, IF THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING THERE TO LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE, THERE ARE LOTS OF JOB OPENINGS, LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES, 41 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND MORE THAN A THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.
UM, PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, LOOK AT OUR, UM, CONTACTS IN HUMAN RESOURCES AND OUR PERSONNEL SPECIALISTS WILL HELP FIND A JOB FOR YOU.
ALRIGHT, THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, TO RECOGNIZE A FEW EMPLOYEES TODAY.
OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE IS FROM THE, UH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION.
TIA, DID I DO IT RIGHT? YES, SIR.
SEE, I I WROTE IT DOWN SPECIALLY
SO TIA HAS WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR 10 YEARS, BUT NOT ALL OF THAT TIME IN, UM, IN IT.
UM, SO WHAT SHE DOES FOR US RIGHT NOW IS MAINTAIN OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALL THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, ANALYZES PROBLEMS, UM, IMPROVE SYSTEM EFFICIENCY AND SECURITY.
SHE ALSO PROVIDES A DAILY RESOURCE FOR ALL IT RELATED QUESTIONS AND, UM, ISSUES OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SHE RESPONDS TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF TECHNOLOGY ISSUES RANGING FROM NO EXPERIENCE TO A HIGH LEVEL EXPERIENCE.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED.
I'M USUALLY THE COMPLICATED ONE.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THEM I CAN'T FIGURE OUT
UH, SO IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE FOLKS ON STAFF THAT YOU CAN CALL WHEN YOU NEED THEM RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE HAVE BECOME ADDICTED TO OUR COMPUTERS AND OUR SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO WHEN IT'S NOT WORKING PROPERLY, WE'RE IN BAD SHAPE.
UH, SO TIA UM, WAS WORKING FOR THE MAGISTRATE COURT.
SHE WORKED FOR THE COURT SYSTEM FOR EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS, UM, WHICH IS A BIG DEPARTURE FROM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
HER WILLINGNESS TO LEARN, UH, IS ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT SHE LOVES ABOUT HERSELF AND IS ALWAYS A GOAL TO BE TEACHABLE.
DID YOU WANT TO ADDRESS COUNSEL? GOOD EVENING.
UH, I JUST WANNA STAND AND SAY THANK YOU TO MY DEPARTMENT, OUR A CA PATRICK HILL, OUR DIRECTOR SHAKIA, POLITE.
I JUST WANNA THANK THEM FOR JUST GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
UM, AFTER BEING SOMEWHERE FOR EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS, KNOWING THAT ROUTINE, UM, I WALKED INTO A DEPARTMENT THAT WAS WILLING TO SHOW ME AND TEACH ME ALONG THE WAY.
AND I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET NEW PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DAY TO DAY IS GOING FORWARD.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT I DID WORK WITH JUDGE THEN JUDGE MCGILLEN, UM, FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS WE WORKED TOGETHER.
UM, SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO THANK MY DEPARTMENT.
I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS
AND I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'VE GRADUATED FROM BATTERY CREEK.
I JUST MORE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM TECHNICAL COLLEGE AT A LOW COUNTRY.
SO YES, I'M A LOW COUNTRY GIRL, BUT THANK YOU.
HEY JOHN, IT'S GREAT TO SEE TIA RECOGNIZED HERE TONIGHT.
UH, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER WHEN I WAS ON THE MAGISTRATE'S COURT AND SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE, ALWAYS RELIABLE, CONSCIENTIOUS AND THOROUGH, AND I RELIED ON HER FOR AN AWFUL LOT.
SO THANKS VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT TIME.
SHE MUST BE A SAINT FOR PUTTING UP WITH LARRY THAT LONG
ALRIGHT, NEXT I'M WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO JESSICA SNOWDEN.
JESSICA COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT SHE DOES HAVE A PICTURE.
UH, JESSICA WORKS IN OUR PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.
SHE IS OUR PCARD ADMINISTRATOR.
I SPEAK TO JESSICA TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK.
UH, EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WITH OUR PCARDS, OUR PURCHASING CARD SYSTEM.
JESSICA MANAGES, UH, SHE'S VERY GOOD AT HER JOB.
SHE UNDERSTANDS ALL THE RULES AND MISSES NOTHING.
UM, JESSICA SERVES AS OUR PROCUREMENT CARD ADMINISTRATOR
[00:20:01]
WHO MANAGES AND COORDINATES BEAUFORT COUNTY PCARD SYSTEM.UH, SHE, UH, SHE REVIEWS PCARD PURCHASES.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S HER GOAT OR IT'S LIKE A GOAT.
IS THAT A GOAT? UM, BUT YEP, THAT'S NOT THE DOG.
WHAT'S THAT? WHERE'S TALLULAH? SO, SO SHE, SHE NOT ONLY, UH, CREATES NEW PCARDS, SHE MAKES ANY PCARD ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE.
UH, THOSE ADJUSTMENTS ARE DONE VIA MEMORANDUM.
SO THEY COME BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR ANY ADJUSTMENTS IN PCARD, UH, EXCUSE ME, SHE MONITORS MONTHLY OUR PCARD PCARD INTEGRITY SYSTEM.
AND SHE WATCHES THE, UM, THE REOCCURRING PURCHASES AND SPENDING ON OUR PCARD.
SO ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE RIGHT, UH, WE GET, UH, WE GET, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT, SHE SPENDS ALL OF HER TIME OUTSIDE BEING A WIFE AND A MOM TO HER FOUR CHILDREN, UH, INCLUDING ONE BABY, NEW BABY GIRL WHO WAS BORN IN OCTOBER.
UH, SHE LOVES SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY AND OFTEN GOES TO UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, UM, BECAUSE SHE'S A HUGE HARRY POTTER FAN.
THANK YOU, UH, JESSICA FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
SHE DOES A LOT FOR ME PERSONALLY.
THEN WE HAVE, UM, IKA, GALLOWAY.
UM, SHEIKA WORKS FOR THE AUDITOR, MR. CAD.
RIGHT? UM, HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.
UM, SO SHEIKA IS A TAX ANALYST THREE.
SHE'S WORKED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR 17 YEARS AS A TAX ANALYST.
UH, SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MONTHLY PROCESSING OF MORE THAN 900.
THERE ARE 120 DAY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCOUNTS.
UM, SO SHE ENSURES ACCURACY, ACCURACY FOR TAXATION.
SHE CALCULATES, CREATES OR PROCESSES, UH, REFUNDS OR OTHER PERSONAL, UM, OR PROCESSES, REFUNDS FOR OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY.
SHE ALSO COMPLETES THESE TASK WHILE HANDLING ABOUT 2000 TAX RELATED SCENARIOS BY PHONE OR EMAIL, UH, JUST IN THE LAST MONTH.
SHE IS THE ESSENCE OF A TEAM PLAYER, ADAPTABLE, AWARE OF OTHER PEOPLE'S NEEDS, RELIABLE AND NEVER COMPLAINS.
UH, SHE IS A VALUABLE TEAM MEMBER AS PROVEN BY THE STAFF SELECTING HER AS EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE GONNA REPLACE THAT.
ONE SPEAKER UP THERE THAT IS, IS CRACKLING.
UM, SO SHANEIKA LOVES HUNTING, FISHING, MOTORCYCLE RIDING, FOUR WHEELING.
I USED TO HAVE HIM, BUT I HAD TO SOLVE HORSES AND EATING WHILE GAME.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL? SAY HELLO? HELLO.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COME AFTER WHO WAS AHEAD OF ME, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE ENJOYED MY TIME HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
JUST THANK YOU TO MY SUPERVISORS AND THAT'S IT.
[7. YEAR TO DATE PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR GENERAL FUND, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS]
I'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN, WHICH IS A YEAR TO DATE PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL REPORTS FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS.DENISE CHRISTMAS WILL BE MAKING THIS PRESENTATION.
YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THOSE? YES, SIR.
ALRIGHT, LET'S START WITH A GENERAL FUND.
WE CAN 1000, WHAT DO YOU HAVE THEY FIVE? THERE SHOULD BE MORE IN THERE.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL START WITH THE GENERAL FUND, THE BIGGIE.
WELL SHE'S MAKING THAT BIGGER.
SO TO DATE, OR AS OF LAST WEEK, OUR REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE'VE COLLECTED $141.2 MILLION
[00:25:01]
OF OUR $148.2 MILLION BUDGET.SO WE'VE COLLECTED 85% OF OUR REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND.
OUR EXPENDITURES ARE AT 83% AT $122.5 MILLION.
SO OUR NET GAIN TO DATE IS $18.6 MILLION.
IN THE GENERAL FUND, I'M ANTICIPATING SALARIES PROJECTED OUT THROUGH YEAR END.
WE'LL SPEND ANOTHER $9 MILLION NON $9 MILLION,
AND SO, UH, INSURANCE ALSO WILL PROBABLY SPEND ANOTHER 1.5 MILLION AND OUR COLLECTIONS OF REVENUE.
BIG ITEMS THAT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED TO DATE ARE STATE AID.
UH, THAT'S ABOUT 3.5 MILLION THAT WE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE STATE IN AUGUST.
HOMESTEAD IS ANOTHER 2 MILLION IN REVENUE THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING AND OUR MOTOR CARRIER FEES OF ABOUT $150,000.
WITH ALL OF THESE ITEMS COMBINED, I'M PROJECTING A FUND BALANCE INCREASE THIS YEAR OF FIVE TO $6 MILLION LAST YEAR.
OUR FUND BALANCE DECREASED BY 4 MILLION THIS YEAR IT'LL GO UP.
I'M, I'M PROJECTING BY FIVE TO 6 MILLION MAYBE MORE, UH, DEPENDING ON THE SPENDING, UM, THROUGH YEAR END THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
SO THAT'S THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENERAL FUND? IS THAT WHAT THE FUND BALANCE WILL BE? THE 5 MILLION? SO NO SIR.
WE'LL ADD THAT TO OUR FUND BALANCE.
OUR FUND BALANCE IS CURRENTLY $61.3 MILLION.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE ADDING TO THAT FUND BALANCE WE'RE REQUIRED PER OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY TO MAINTAIN A LEVEL OF 30% OF THE PRIOR YEARS EXPENDITURES.
AND THAT'S AROUND 45 TO 47 MILLION UHHUH.
AND SO WE'RE, WE HAVE A, LEMME TO THAT.
WE HAVE A NEXT CAN, CAN YOU SAY IT ONE MORE TIME FOR THE FUND BALANCE? WHAT, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOU GONNA BE I'M, I'M SORRY, I GOT THIS.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA END THE YEAR AND START THE NEW YEAR WITH, WITH ABOUT $67 MILLION.
AND WHAT DO MOST COUNTIES IN RESERVES WHAT THOSE COUNTIES KEEP IN RESERVE? MOST COUNTIES KEEP BETWEEN 20 AND 30% GSB, UH, OR THE GFOA, ACTUALLY NOT GS B, BUT GFOA SUGGESTS TWO MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENSES TO HAVE TWO MONTHS OF RESERVES, UM, HELD IN YOUR FUND BALANCE.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE MORE THAN TWO MONTHS.
MS. MS. UM, MISS CHRISTMAS, UM, EVEN AFTER WE EXPENDED SOME, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDING OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE, WE'RE STILL MAINTAINING THAT.
SO THIS YEAR, UM, WITH OUR BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAD, WE ADDED ABOUT $4.2 MILLION TO THE LINE ITEM TO BALANCE THE BUDGET TO THE LINE ITEM CONTRIBUTED FROM PRIOR YEAR FUND BALANCE.
SO WE ARE EXPECTING TO USE 4.2 MILLION OF OUR RESERVES IN THE CURRENT BUDGET AND WE WON'T BECAUSE OUR REVENUE IS EXCEEDING OUR EXPENDITURES.
DENISE, IF I MAY, UH, AT WHAT POINT DOES THIS WARRANT, UM, EITHER THE, THE EXPENDING OF THE FUND BALANCE TO, FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND, AND OTHER THINGS VERSUS THE REDUCTION OF TAXES? YEAH, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY A GOOD QUESTION.
UH, COUNCIL CAN DECIDE, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME, THIS BUDGET SEASON, THEY CAN DEFINITELY DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO, YOU CAN DO A, A VARIOUS THINGS YOU COULD DO, YOU COULD MOVE MONEY FROM GENERAL FUND TO YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
YOU CAN DO THAT BY VOTE, BY BUDGET AMENDMENT IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT AND USE THE EXCESS FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, OR YOU COULD REDUCE MILLAGE THIS YEAR IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT, IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT.
BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE ISSUING BONDS.
SO I WOULDN'T SUGGEST REDUCING MILLAGE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BOND ISSUANCE.
WHAT, WHAT'S THE GENERAL ACCEPTED POSITION WITH REGARD TO HOW MUCH SHOULD BE KEPT IN THAT FUND BALANCE FOR EMERGENCIES DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON IN PARTICULAR? IS THERE A RECOMMENDED AMOUNT? YES, SIR.
THE GFOA RECOMMENDS TWO MONTHS OF YOUR PRIOR OPERATING, UH, PRIOR YEARS OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
AND THE PRIOR YEAR WAS ABOUT $154 MILLION THAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR.
SO, UM, IF YOU DIVIDE 154 BY 12 MONTHS YEAH.
ANYBODY WANNA DO THAT MATH
IT'S SOMEWHERE, IT'S LIKE 25, 26.
UM, 'CAUSE THE AUDITOR SAID FIVE TO SIX MONTHS.
IT'S PROBABLY FOR YOUR HOME BUDGET.
THE GFOA DOES RECOMMEND TWO MONTHS, BUT I WILL, MR. GLOVER,
[00:30:01]
MOST COUNTIES DO KEEP FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, THEY DO KEEP 20 TO 30% OF THEIR PRIOR YEAR THAT, THAT'S WHAT HE SAID.THAT AND THAT NUMBER COMES UP TO BE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERY COUNTY, EVERY COUNTY'S DIFFERENT TOO.
SO, YOU KNOW, BE IN A COASTAL COUNTY, I WOULD SUGGEST A, A HEFTI FUND BALANCE.
I THAT SOME RESERVE FOR THAT WAS PURPOSE.
I THINK WHEN WE HAD HURRICANE MATTHEW, WE EXPENDED ON 25 MILLION FOR THAT AND KNOWING, UM, THE, THE COST RIGHT NOW, IT'LL PROBABLY BE, YOU KNOW, 30, 40 MILLION.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT THAT WE CAN START SPENDING OUT OF MM-HMM.
I WAS GONNA SAY, WE JUST HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION ON PARK AND REC BOAT LANDINGS.
I CAN FIND A PLACE FOR IT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
YEAH, I THINK THERE'S, THAT'S A CONVERSATION THERE.
ARE YOU GOING TO THE NEXT, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
SO THE NEXT FUND WILL BE OUR GARAGE.
IT'LL BE OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE FUND.
AND SO WE ARE MOVING THIS FUND 5,000 INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING FUND 5,000, THE GARAGE INTO THE GENERAL FUND FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AS A DEPARTMENT.
SO THIS FUND WILL BECOME OBSOLETE AFTER THE YEAR CLOSES, AFTER THIS FISCAL YEAR CLOSES.
SO THIS IS AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND.
IT'S ACTING AS ONE NOW WITH THE SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
SO IT'S NOT INTENDED TO MAKE MONEY, IT'S INTENDED TO BREAK EVEN.
AND SO, UH, WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE ARE, ARE OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES TO DATE.
SO OUR REVENUES ARE 2.9 MILLION.
OUR EXPENDITURES ARE 2.6 MILLION.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A NET LOSS INSTEAD OF A NET GAIN OF $78,541.
BUT WE'LL TRANSFER IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THIS FUND WILL END UP BREAKING EVEN.
SO, UM, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GARAGE? YEP.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS HAPPENING NEXT YEAR? IT'S GONNA BE A DEPARTMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE WHAT WE DO NOW IS ALREADY SUPPLEMENTED WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
SO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE IT AS A SEPARATE FUND.
IT IS REALLY TECHNICALLY A DEPARTMENT OF THE COUNTY.
SO OUR NEXT FUND IS OUR STORM WATER FUND.
SO OUR STORM WATER FUND HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $6.7 MILLION IN REVENUE.
SO WE HAVE A NET GAIN AS OF MAY 16TH OF $858,146.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT STORMWATER? IS, IS MOST OF THAT, UM, NET GAIN FROM, UM, PAYROLL? THE NET GAIN IS FROM FEES COLLECTED, UM, VERSUS HOW MUCH WE'VE SPENT.
SO THERE'S, THEY'RE UNDERSPENDING RIGHT NOW THEIR EXPENDITURES ARE ONLY AT 39%, MR. GLOVER.
AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO BE AROUND 85%.
SO, UH, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING CONSERVATIVE WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING, THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE A NET GAIN THAT'S OVER CONSERVATIVE.
SO THAT'S THE STORM ORDER FUND.
UH, BRENNA, YOU'LL PULL UP FUND 5,100.
WE'LL GO TO THE BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT.
AND THESE ARE OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
ALL THE FUNDS THAT BEGIN WITH A FIVE ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
THEY SHOULD ACT AS A BUSINESS.
UM, AND WE SHOULD NOT BE SUPPLEMENTING ANY OF THESE FUNDS WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
THEY SHOULD BE STANDALONE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
SO OUR BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT HAS RECEIVED $982,678 IN REVENUE, AND THEY'VE SPENT $982,329.
SO THEY HAVE A NET GAIN OF $349.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT? YEAH.
HAVE, HAVE THE, UH, LEASE AGREEMENTS THAT WE'VE DONE, HAVE THEY ALL KICKED IN OR NO?
[00:35:01]
JOHN REMOLD HERE.NO, I JUST WONDER IF THAT THAT'S REFLECTED IN THERE.
'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE APPROVED QUITE A FEW, UH, LEASE AGREEMENTS.
EVENING, JOHN, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD EVENING.
UM, YES, THEY HAVE KICKED IN, BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THOSE LEASE AGREEMENTS ARE VERY, VERY INCREMENTAL.
SO REALLY NOT GONNA MOVE THE NEEDLE TOO MUCH.
WHERE THAT COMES FROM IS PEOPLE FLYING THEIR AIRPLANES AND BUYING FUEL.
SO THAT, THAT'S THE, THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF OUR REVENUE.
YOU MIGHT WANNA HANG AROUND IN CASE THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.
OUR NEXT ONE, OUR NEXT FUND AND OUR FINAL ENTERPRISE FUND IS FUND 5,400, WHICH IS THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.
AND SO TO DATE, WE'VE RECEIVED $4.8 MILLION IN REVENUE AND SPENT 3.5 MILLION.
SO THERE IS A NET GAIN OF $1.2 MILLION IN THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT.
AND ALL OF THOSE PROFIT, ALL OF THOSE POSITIVE STATEMENTS ARE NOT PART OF WHAT YOU REPORTED AS THE OVERAGE IN THE, UH, FUND BALANCE AT THIS POINT? NO, SIR.
THAT'S NOT THOSE SEPARATE AND FREESTANDING, RIGHT? SEPARATE AND FREESTANDING, YES, SIR.
IS THAT ALL OF THEM? BRENDA? 10 40.
YES, 10 40, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, WHICH FOR SOME REASON I DON'T HAVE IN FRONT OF ME, YOU'LL HELP ME.
SO THIS IS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND.
WE HAVE RECEIVED $8.9 MILLION IN REVENUE, AND WE'VE SPENT $12.6 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES AND ENCUMBRANCES.
THAT DOES INCLUDE OUR OUTSTANDING POS RIGHT NOW.
SO IT SHOWS A NET LOSS OF $3.7 MILLION.
THERE IS ANOTHER MONTH OF COLLECTIONS, NO, A MONTH AND A HALF, UM, THAT NEEDS TO BE POSTED TO THIS FUND.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS FUND WILL EITHER BREAK EVEN OR WILL EAT AWAY AT SOME OF THAT FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAVE IN HERE.
UM, BUT NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE HAVE TRANSFERRED SOME MILLAGE OVER TO COVER OUR CAPITAL NEEDS.
THESE EXPENDITURES CERTAINLY AREN'T OUTTA LINE WITH YOU WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE TO THE PROPERTIES THAT WE OWN.
AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
DO YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT LEAVING BECAUSE THERE'LL BE MORE OF YOU LATER, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE INTO CITIZEN COMMENTS.I HAVE SIX PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEMS THAT ARE AGENDA ITEMS. GRANT MCCLURE GRANT.
HOW ARE YOU? THAT NAME SOUNDS MONEY.
I WORK FOR THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE, AND OUR OFFICE IS AT 1212 KING STREET, AND THAT'S IN BEAUFORT.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ITEM 15, UH, REGARDING THE PLASTIC BAG ORDINANCE UPDATES.
UM, WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE, UH, KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL BOARD FOR BRINGING THESE CHANGES FORWARD.
UM, AND AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS ORDINANCE AND, AND LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN IT, UM, THERE'S REALLY TWO ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO, TO HONE IN ON, UM, TO FURTHER BOLSTER THE PROTECTIONS, UM, AND, AND TRY TO KEEP SOME OF THE, THE PLASTIC OUT OF OUR, OUR COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND SO THE, THE FIRST IS, UH, SECTION 38, 1 64 ITEM K, UH, WHICH CREATES AN EXCEPTION FOR, FOR CARRY OUT CUTLERY, AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE SPOONS AND FORKS.
UM, AND IN PARTICULAR, IT SEEMS LIKE EARLIER IN THE ORDINANCE, THOSE ITEMS ARE PROHIBITED.
HOWEVER, LATER ON THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EXCEPTION.
UM, AND SO, UH, SOME CLARITY ON IF THOSE ITEMS ARE TO BE ALLOWED OR, UH, TO BE, UH, BANNED.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, SECTION 38, 1 64, AND THAT'S UNDER THE EXEMPTIONS ITEM H.
UM, IT ALLOWS FOR AN EXEMPTION FOR ANY PRODUCTS PURCHASED OUTSIDE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, PURCHASE PREPARED OR PACKAGE OUTSIDE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, AND SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WRITTEN PRETTY BROADLY AND, UM, COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, BE ABUSED.
UM, AND SO, UM, JUST WANTED TO, TO BRING THOSE, UH, TWO ITEMS TO YOUR ATTENTION, UH, TO SAY AND SAY THANK YOU.
UM, AND ALSO THAT WE'RE, UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNT, UH, THE COUNTY IS WANTING TO TALK TO ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP ENGAGE THE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, SO THAT THE ENTIRE REGION CAN GET UP TO SPEED, UM, WITH THESE CHANGES.
[00:40:01]
IS CHARLES HOUSTON.MR. HOUSTON, COME FORWARD PLEASE.
I WANTED TO, UH, SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL IN REFERENCE TO ITEM NUMBER 14.
AND THAT IS THE, UH, PROPOSAL TO FUND THE, UH, GREEN SPACE, UH, PROGRAM.
UH, THERE'S APPEARS TO BE SOME AMBIGUITY HERE IN THIS, UH, READING.
FIRST OF ALL, IT DOESN'T STATE WHO IS THE APPLICANT, YOU KNOW, IS IT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD OR IS IT WHO, WHO, WHO ACTUALLY IS THE APPLICANT? DID THE, UH, THE SECOND THING IS IT MENTIONS A NEW APPRAISAL.
ALRIGHT? THERE WAS A RECENT APPRAISAL.
DOES THIS SPEAK TO NOW ANOTHER APPRAISAL? THE, UH, THIRD POINT I WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL'S ATTENTION IS THAT THE, IT SAYS THAT THE FINAL AMOUNT WILL NOT BE KNOWN ON STAFFED, HAS PERFORMED THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
SO IF THESE ARE PREREQUISITES THAT HAVE TO BE PERFORMED, IS THIS READING NOW PROPER TO BE CONSIDERED? THAT LAST PART YOU'RE REFERRING TO, IS THAT IN THE, UH, IS THAT IN THE, UM, IT SAYS THE FINAL AMOUNT IS, IS IS UNKNOWN UNLESS STAFF COMPLETES AND REVIEWS NECESSARY DUE DILIGENCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GREEN SPACE, WITH THE GREEN SPACE OF OUR COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.
THE OTHER POINT I WANTED TO MAKE IS THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, IF THEY ARE THE APPLICANT, IT DOESN'T SPECIFY, HAS ENTERED A CONTRACT THROUGH THE, UH, MASTER INEQUITIES COURT TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
AND THEY HAVE MADE THE REPRESENTATION THAT THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RESOURCES AND FUNDS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY.
AND MY QUESTION IS, HAVE THEY RELAYED THIS POINT TO COUNTY COUNCIL THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE THE FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE? AND IF SO, WHY COME THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS? THESE ARE JUST QUESTIONS I, I, I BRING FOR, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THEM RIGHT NOW.
IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME, MR. USON, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
UH, NEXT ON THE, UH, CITIZENS' COMMENTS IS, UH, CADE YARBOROUGH FROM DUSKY ISLAND.
I'M CADE YARBOROUGH, CHAIR OF THE DUSKY ISLAND COUNCIL.
A LOT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.
THE DUSKY ISLAND COUNCIL HAS SENT A LETTER ENDORSING HATE POINTS, EMS, UH, APPLICATION, UM, REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HILTON HEAD RV RESORT COMMUNITY ATTENDED OUR OWN COUNCIL MEETING AND SHARED SOME UNSETTLING STORIES ABOUT THE TACTICS USED AGAINST THEIR, UH, COMMUNITY BY THE TURNER FAMILY, WHICH IS OUR CURRENT FERRY OP OPERATOR.
UM, OUR ISLAND'S ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP SHARED A REPORT ON INHUMANE FERRY CONDITIONS FOR PETS, INCLUDING EXPOSURE TO HEAT, RAIN, BURNED PAW PADS FROM THE METAL FLOOR RAMP, AND, UH, DANGEROUS DIESEL EXHAUST FUMES IN ONE OF THE HOLDING AREAS AND EXTREMELY HIGH FEES.
AS I EXCLAIMED LAST MEETING I WAS HERE.
UM, THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT ISSUES, BUT NOTHING APPROACHES WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND.
UM, ON THURSDAY, WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS FROM, UH, LOCALS AND VISITORS THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE ON THE MANATEE, UH, WAS STOPPED RUNNING.
BUT, UM, THE, UH, BUT IT COULD BE IT, IT'S WAS RUNNING, BUT IT COULD NOT BE PUT INTO GEAR.
SO IT WAS CLEARLY STRUGGLING GETTING DOWN THE RIVER ON FRIDAY.
THE MANATEE WAS STILL, UH, CONTINUED TO BE USED FOR ALL THE RUNS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND SEVERAL RE RESIDENTS CONTACTED THE COAST GUARD AND THE COUNTY TO REPORT THE PROBLEM.
UM, ON THE FOUR O'CLOCK RUN, UH, THERE WAS A RAINSTORM AND, UH, A THUNDERSTORM AS WELL.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED EMAILS FROM THESE BOAT RIDERS ABOUT THEIR NIGHTMARE SITUATION, UM, WITH SOME OF THEM WONDERING IF THEY WOULD SURVIVE THE TRIP.
UM, YOU WOULD ALSO HEAR FROM, UH, FROM MS. HOPE TONIGHT.
UH, SHE, UH, WAS WITH HER FAMILY ON THAT BOAT.
THE MANATEE TWO WAS STILL USED ON FRIDAY MORNING.
UM, AND WE HAVE PHOTOS DOCUMENTING THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE WAS STILL NOT WORKING ON THE DAY OF, UH, ON THE DAY'S SECOND RUN, THE MANATEE HAD FINALLY BEEN REPLACED BY A PONTOON BOAT, UH, NAMED THE OHANA, WHICH IS OWNED BY OUTSIDE HILTON HEAD.
AND AS OF THIS MORNING, UH, THE OHANA IS STILL USED, UH, BEING USED BY LOW COUNTRY.
AMONG OUR QUESTIONS, UM, HAS THIS BOAT, UH, BEEN INSPECTED AND AS, AND HAS IT, AND AS THIS SUBCONTRACT
[00:45:01]
SUBCONTRACTOR BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNTY, IF NOT, WHY? UM, EARLIER THIS YEAR, MR. ROBINSON STATED THAT THE PONTOON BOAT NAMED THE SOLE WOULD BE, UH, LOW COUNTRY'S PRIMARY OR SECOND PRIMARY BOAT.IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY WASN'T THAT BEEN, UH, BEING DEPLOYED? UH, THIS WEEKEND WHEN THE MANATEE LOST ITS ENGINE? UM, IN FACT, THE SOLE WAS ACTUALLY OWNED BY ISLAND HEAD AND IT WAS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE BUSY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.
UM, AND WHAT ABOUT THE TWO ALTERNATIVE BOATS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE CONTRACT? NO ONE CAN TELL US ANY NAMES OF THESE BOATS OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE BEEN INSPECTED, UH, AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING OUR FERRY SITUATION IN YOUR EXECUTIVE MEETING TONIGHT.
UM, WE ASK THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS THAT YOU CHANGED OUR FERRY PROVIDERS.
UH, THE CURRENT FERRY PROVIDER IS NOT MEETING THE TERMS OF HIS CONTRACT, AND ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE REQUIREMENTS THAT HE HAS TWO PRIMARY BOATS, UH, AND BACKUP AND BACKUP BOATS.
CLEARLY, HE ONLY HAS ONE BOAT, THE MANATEE, AND IT SEEMS VERY UNSUITABLE.
UH, THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY THE LOW COUNTRY HAS BEEN A DISASTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THE BUT NOT HAVING A REQUIRED BOATS IS A JUSTIFICATION FOR CANCELING THIS CONTRACT.
CONSIDER OUR REQUEST, UH, FOR THE BEFORE ACTUAL TRAGEDY TAKES PLACE ON OUR BOAT.
THE FERRIER PROVIDER CAN BE REPLACED, BUT LIVES CANNOT.
THESE ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO CONSTITUENTS AS WELL.
AND WE HOPE WE JUST SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU DO THE RIGHT THING.
HOPE SCHAFFER HERE THIS EVENING.
HELLO, HOPE THANKS FOR COMING TONIGHT.
UM, I'M A GRANDMOTHER WHO LIVES ON DUSKY.
I WASN'T ACTUALLY ON THE MANATEE ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
MY FAMILY WAS, AND THIS IS A LETTER THAT I WROTE TO THE COUNCIL IN REAL TIME WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO ARRIVE.
SO, FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 25TH, 4:25 PM DEAR COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU ARE NO DOUBT AWARE, DUSKY ISLAND IS FACING A FERRY CRISIS.
I COULD LIST ANY NUMBER OF CONCERNS, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THEM ALL ALREADY, BUT AT THE MOMENT, NOTHING IS MORE CONCERNING TO ME THAN A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR OUR SAFETY BECAUSE AT THIS VERY MOMENT, MY DAUGHTER AND MY TWO GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEING FERRIED TO THE ISLAND.
IN THE MIDST OF A RAGING TROPICAL STORM, THE BOAT PACKED WITH PASSENGERS CROWDED ONTO UNCOMFORTABLE BENCHES IS RUNNING ON ONE ENGINE DUE TO A MISHAP EARLIER.
IT IS CLEARLY NOT UP TO THE TASK.
AS THE RAIN LASHES OUTSIDE MY WINDOWS ON THE ISLAND, MY DAUGHTER WRITES ME TO SAY, THIS IS GETTING SCARY.
SHE SAYS, THE BOAT CRASHED UP AGAINST THE DOCK AS IT WAS LEAVING AND BENT A PILING BEFORE LURCHING INTO KLAB BOGGY SOUND.
NOW IT IS HEAVILY LISTENING TO ONE SIDE AS IT STRUGGLES TO CHURN THROUGH THE WAVES.
LIGHTNING IS FLASHING ON ALL SIDES.
RAIN IS PING PELLETING THE BOAT LIKE A FIRE HOSE.
SHE NOTES THAT EVEN THE USUALLY THOUGHTFUL AND KIND STAFF LOOKS WORRIED.
NO SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, ALTHOUGH SHE KNOWS THAT THE LIFE RAFTS ARE UP ON THE DECK IN THE OPEN AND ONLY REACHABLE THROUGH A STEEP SLIPPERY LADDER.
I AM READING HER POSTS AND HOLDING MY BREATH UNTIL MY LITTLE FAMILY IS BACK ON SHORE.
AND PERHAPS YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN AND CAN RELATE TO MY CONCERN.
AND PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP ME ANSWER THIS QUESTION, WHEN IS IT EVER OKAY TO LET ONE, THE BAD JUDGMENT OF JUST A FEW PEOPLE NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE LIVES OF SO MANY? OKAY, PS THEY JUST ARRIVED SAFELY.
SO HERE'S A FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU.
HOW MANY CHANCES IS THIS COUNCIL WILLING TO TAKE BEFORE THERE'S A REAL TRAGEDY? THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND I HOPE WE HAVE A GOOD OUTCOME.
I'M SPEAKING ON AGENDA NUMBER 27.
UH, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN AND CHAIRS OF THE BUFORT COUNTY.
THIS AFFIDAVIT IS ASSIGNED AND NOTARIZED STATEMENT OF THE DAMAGES I HAVE SEEN CAUSED BY THE TURNER FAMILY, NEIL TURNER.
MY NAME IS LARRY INGER AND WE OWN LOT ONE THIRTY FOUR AND CALL IT HOME.
NEIL HAS CONTINUOUSLY HARASSED AND INTIMIDATED PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HE IS RUDE AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY HA HARASSED AND AND INTIMIDATED THE PEOPLE.
[00:50:01]
HAD TO REMAIN AT A HIGHER LEVEL DUE TO THE LAWSUITS.INSTEAD OF OUR HOA FEES GOING TO IMPROVE OUR RESORT.
WE HAVE SPENT ALL OF IT ON LEGAL FEES.
OUR RESORT HAS GONE FROM A TOP 35 RESORT IN NORTH AMERICA WITH A, A RATING WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO AN F RATING WITH MULTIPLE NEGATIVE REVIEWS.
OUR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON SATURDAY MORNING, WE HAD 70 EMPTY SITES AND ONLY 30 RENTED.
THIS IS HAPPENING EVERY WEEKEND DUE TO THE TURNERS RESORTING BACK TO AN OLD ABANDONED COVENANT FROM 1981.
HE WILL NOT ALLOW MODERN DAY TRAVEL TRAILERS WITH SLIDE OUTS.
HE WILL NOT ALLOW CAMPERS OVER 96 INCHES WIDE OR 34 5 FEET LONG AT ONE TIME.
HE DID NOT NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LETTING THEM IN, BUT THEN CHANGED.
HE IS COSTING OUR OWNERS WHO BOUGHT THE LOTS AS AN INVESTMENT TO LOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN RENTAL REVENUE.
THE P THE PUZZLING THING IS HE GETS HALF OF THE RENTAL REVENUE AS HE LEASES OUR RENTAL RIGHTS.
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE MARKETING, ADVERTISEMENT, HOSPITALITY AND OTHER THINGS TO GET HALF OF THE RENTAL.
ON A THREE DAY WEEKEND, HE'S COSTING HIMSELF OVER $15,000 OR MORE IN REVENUE.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH IT IS LOSING AND HOW OUR OWNERS ARE LOSING WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
HOW CAN ANYONE MAKE A RULE THAT CREATES SUCH LOSSES AND BE ABLE TO SURVIVE? HE PARKS THE FERRY AT HILTON HEAD HARBOR EVERY NIGHT.
THERE IS NO SEWER PUMP AT OUR MARINA.
WHERE IS ALL THE SEWAGE GOING? WHO IS PAYING TO BRING THE FERRY TO THIS DOCK? WAS THAT PART OF THE CONTRACT? IS HE ALSO CHARGING THE COUNTY TO FUEL IT AT HIS DOCK? OUR SMALL RESORT CANNOT HANDLE THE FERRY.
IF IT WAS MOVED TO HILTON HEAD HARBOR.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE PARKING SAFE ENTRY AND EXIT TO JENKINS ROAD OR THE BATHROOM FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THIS FERRY.
IT WOULD CREATE A FLOW OF TRAFFIC OF PEOPLE IN A VERY SMALL AREA.
THE SAME REASON AS KATIE TURNER.
NEIL TURNER'S WIFE RAN THE FERRY OUT OF THEIR VERY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD JUST FOR NEIL TURNER LOW COUNTRY FERRY TO RECEIVE THE CONTRACT.
THAT ALONE SHOULD BE A HUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
ALSO, WHY WAS IT NOT CONSIDERED WHEN GIVEN THE CONTRACT THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AGAINST US? I HOPE THIS OPENS THE EYES OF THE COUNCIL TO TAKE A DEEPER LOOK INTO THIS.
HILTON HIT HARBOR AND DUSKY ISLAND RESIDENTS ARE COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN A MUCH BIGGER PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
AND I HAVE QUITE A FEW MORE AFFIDAVITS HERE THAT I WILL GIVE MS. BROWN AFTER.
GIVE TO THE, UH, TO THE CLERK.
UH, DANIEL GORLEY FROM THE BEAUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MR. CHAIRMAN? MR. CHAIRMAN, WHO YOU WANTED TO GIVE IT TO THE CLERK? I DID.
THE CLERK WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT TO.
DID HE MISS THAT? WELL, I'M NOT TOO SURE 'CAUSE HE TOOK IT BACK WITH HIM.
MR. CARER, DO YOU WANNA GIVE THAT DOCUMENT TO THE CLERK? THEY'LL TAKE IT.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT, UM, ITEM NUMBER 16 ON YOUR AGENDA, THE ORDINANCE REGARDING A BUDGET, SPECIFICALLY REFERENCING OR STARTING WITH SECTION NUMBER SEVEN, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT USER FEE.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, THAT IS A FEE THAT WE ASSESS AGAINST HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THE SERVICES.
FOR THE SERVICES THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROVIDE, UM, IN THAT PROVISION, THERE IS A NEW ADDITION FROM LAST YEAR'S ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY THAT ALL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THIS PURPOSE SHALL BE SOLELY FUNDED FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE CHARGE AND UNIFORM USER FEE BOXING US IN, UM, TO THAT PARTICULAR AMOUNT, I WOULD JUST NOTE ON ITEM OR PAGE NUMBER ONE 11 IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET, THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE AS OF RIGHT NOW IS 5.6 MILLION.
BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS BUDGETED OR ANTICIPATED A BUDGET AMOUNT OF 6.1 MILLION.
SO WE ARE APPROXIMATELY $500,000 SHORT FOR SERVICES THAT ARE GONNA BE PROVIDED AND TO BE COVERED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT USER FEE.
IF THIS LANGUAGE IS TO REMAIN AND THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, WE'RE GONNA COME BEFORE COUNSEL PROBABLY INTO THE END OF THE FOURTH QUARTER ASKING FOR A SUPPLEMENT OF A BUDGETARY INCREASE OF $500,000 GIVEN THIS SHORTFALL.
NOW I KNOW, AND I'M SURE I MUST CHRISTMAS WILL SAY SOMETHING
THAT AUDIT HAS NOT COME IN FOR THIS YEAR.
SO THAT BUDGET AMOUNT OR THAT REVENUE ANTICIPATED REVENUE AMOUNT MAY CHANGE.
BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, AS IT STANDS, WE'RE $500,000 SHORT ON THAT.
AND MY CONCERN FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS THAT WE ARE BOXING HERSELF IN NOT ALLOWING US THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER LINE ITEM MONEY INTO THIS ACCOUNT TO COVER THE SERVICES THAT ARE PRE BEING PROVIDED BY HILTON TO HILTON HEAD BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UM, MOVING ON TO SECTION NUMBER 10, THE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT FROM LAST YEAR'S ORDINANCE DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
OF COURSE, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF.
BUT AS YOU HAVE WRITTEN, EACH ELECTED
[00:55:01]
OFFICIAL IS PERMITTED SUBJECT TO COUNTY COUNCIL'S PRIOR APPROVAL TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS BETWEEN OBJECT CLASSIFICATION CODES WITHIN THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL'S BUDGET.WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE AND QUITE FRANKLY, IF WE ARE REQUIRED TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL TO DO A LINE ITEM BUDGET TRANSFER WITH ON OUR, WITHIN OUR PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BUDGET, IT IS GOING TO DISRUPT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DAILY FUNCTIONS.
THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
WE DO LINE ITEM TRANSFERS CONSISTENTLY.
LINE ITEM TRANSFERS MAY INCLUDE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR WE HAD A CANINE OFFICER DIE.
THAT WAS NOT AN ANTICIPATED BUDGET REQUEST THAT WE CAME BEFORE COUNCIL LAST YEAR ON.
SO WE DID A LINE ITEM TRANSFER FOR $8,000.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE REQUIREMENTS TO UPGRADE OUR 9 1 1 RECORDING SYSTEM.
WE DID A LINE ITEM TRANSFER FOR $4,500.
THOSE ARE DAILY ITEMS THAT WE DO TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE WITHIN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WHAT IS EQUALLY CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT COUNSEL, WHILE LIMITING COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS AUTHORITY, IS ALLOWING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE LINE ITEM BUDGETS WITHIN ITS OWN DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY CAP WHATSOEVER.
SO AS AS STATED IN THE ORDINANCE, EACH DEPARTMENT HAS PERMITTED SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR ITS DESIGNEE'S APPROVAL TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS BETWEEN OBJECT CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION CODES WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT.
BUT YET YOU'RE TELLING COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TRANSFER LINE ITEMS. THEN WE MOVE ON.
YOU'VE CAPPED DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT TRANSFERS $50,000.
AGAIN, COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO TRANSFER LINE ITEM BUDGET ITEMS AND IT WILL DISRUPT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE ARE NOT A FIXED RATE OPERATION.
WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE EVERY SINGLE BUDGET ITEM THAT MAY OCCUR.
WE COULD DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD, WE COULD HAVE A SHOOTOUT, WE COULD HAVE A VEHICLE BLOW UP, WE COULD HAVE A HURRICANE COME THROUGH, KNOCK ON WOOD THAT WE DON'T, OUR OVERTIME EXPENSES COULD GO UP.
BUT IN ORDER TO OPERATE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR LINE ITEM TRANSFER.
SO HOPE AND ASK THAT YOU RECONSIDER THE PROVISION AND THE ORDINANCE.
WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, EXPOUND ON THE ISSUES AND DISCUSS IT AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON ANY AGENDA ITEMS? YOU SEEING NONE? I'LL CLOSE THE, UH, CITIZEN COMMENTS.
[9. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.ARE THERE ANY LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS? I HAVE SOME.
UH, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WENT TO THE, UH, BE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING ON MAY 22ND.
THEY ARE SEEING A HIGH RECRUITMENT OF NURSES FROM CANADA, WHICH IS HELPING IN THEIR, UM, THEY'RE GETTING THEIR NUMBERS DOWN FOR CONTRACT NURSES, WHICH IS SAVING A LOT OF MONEY.
UH, THEY GOT A NEW MRI IN THEIR HOSPITAL, WHICH IS HELPING TO KEEP THE MAIN CAMPUS OPEN 12 HOURS AND, AND THEY'RE SEEING A LOT LESS OF CALLBACKS FOR MRI OPERATORS, UH, BECAUSE OF THESE EXTENDED HOURS FOR THE MRI MACHINE FOR 12 HOURS AT A TIME.
UM, THE, THEY ALSO HAVE SEEN, UH, THEIR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.
THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO TRANSPORT THEM HOME AFTER SURGERY OR OTHER REASONS.
AND NOW THEY'RE SERVING 26 ZIP CODES, UH, SURROUNDING BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AREA.
AND THEY'VE SEEN, UM, THEIR NUMBERS GO UP.
VOLUME CONTINUES TO GROW ON MAY 22ND.
I ALSO GOT THE FUN, UM, JOB OF GOING TO A DEDICATION OF A HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOUSE IN MY DISTRICT, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
AND UM, DAVID BARMY AND I ATTENDED AN EVENT AT RIVERVIEW CHARTER.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY THERE,
DAVID, YOU WERE, I DIDN'T SEE YOU AT THE SAME TIME.
YEAH, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE KIDS INVOLVED.
MM-HMM,
HE ACTED LIKE US FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
ANYONE ELSE? DEB? SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THEIR BUDGET.
SO THEY DID ISSUE A $4,307,000, UM, FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WORK FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS FUNDED BY THE 23 REFERENDUM.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE NOTED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YEARS, A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE WAS
[01:00:01]
NOT ISSUED FOR QUARTER THREE BECAUSE THE DISTRICT'S FUND BALANCE WAS SUFFICIENT TO COVER ALL THE EXPENSES UNTIL STATE REVENUE ARRIVED.AND THAT'S OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES FOR THIRD QUARTER WAS AT 70.8% OF THE BUDGET.
THE DISTRICT PAID OFF A REVENUE BOND IN FEBRUARY, WHICH SAVED TAXPAYERS OVER $830,000.
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE 2019 REFERENDUM ARE 99.3% ENCUMBERED OR COMPLETE.
UM, THERE IS, UH, STILL A CONVERSATION ON CELL PHONES.
THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSED A DRAFT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX ISSUE, AS I SAID LAST TIME.
AND HE NOTED THAT THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY CURRENTLY HAS TWO BILLS ON THE FLOOR.
ONE SAYS A BAND DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, THE OTHER ONE ONLY DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TALKING ABOUT IT IN JUNE.
I SAW, UH, SENATOR DAVIS YESTERDAY AT OUR, UH, CEREMONY IN SUN CITY.
AND HE, WE DISCUSS THIS A BIT.
SO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDING THEY WAIT UNTIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECIDES SO THEY'RE NOT IN CONFLICT.
AND FINALLY, THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED AND CERTIFIED THE BUDGET, WHICH THEY HAVE PRESENTED TO US $359,170,000 AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUND BUDGET OF $108 MILLION.
ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NO ONE ELSE? WE'LL
[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? YES.
THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA HAS ITEMS FROM COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH REGARD TO THIS? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, WE'LL PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE THIS MATTER PASSES.
[11. PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO PURCHASE AND TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF THE REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS PROJECT BRAVO]
TO NUMBER 11 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND A THIRD READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO PURCHASE AND TO FUND THE PURCHASE OF THE REAL PROPERTY KNOWN AS PROJECT BRAVO.DOES ANYONE WISH TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING SESSION? SEEING NONE, MR. ROBINSON? SIR, A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT PROJECT BRAVO STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT YOU, UH, DENY THIS REQUEST AS THE, UH, PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED CASH BY ANOTHER VENDOR, SO IT'S NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
OH, WELL THAT'S A VERY GOOD REASON.
UH, TOM, DO WE HAVE TO TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS MOTION? SO YOU'RE IN A PUBLIC HEARING AND, UM, A SECOND READING.
SO IT'S ACTUALLY THIRD READING.
WE YOU SOLICIT A MOTION OF SOMETIMES WELL, WE COULD ALL VOTE NO.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE END OF IT.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE VOTE NO, THIS GOES AWAY.
UH, UH, I DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL.
IS ANYBODY VOTING YES ON THIS MATTER?
SO THIS MATTER FAILS AND, UH, THAT WOULD BE THE END OF IT.
YOU GOT A MOTION? A SEC? YEAH, I GOT THAT.
NO, YOU DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T DO IT.
IT'S, UH, DAVID BAROLO AND LOGAN CUNNINGHAM.
WE DIDN'T GET MOTION, THAT'S ALL.
UM, I DON'T HAVE 12 PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING.
I JUST ASK THE ADMINISTRATION A QUESTION ON THIS.
SORRY, COULD I JUST ASK THE ADMINISTRATION A QUESTION ON? SURE.
UM, WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? WE WE HAVE A PLAN, UH, WITH PARTNERS FOR A FEW DIFFERENT, UH, FACILITIES.
ONE PARTNERS WITH OUR MUNICIPAL, THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.
WE'RE STILL GONNA HOUSE, UM, THE, UH, UH, DHC ADMINISTRATION AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT.
IT'S GONNA BE A STRUGGLE, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET IT DONE.
[12. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY ABUTTING THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT LOCATED ON SUMMIT DRIVE WITH TMS NO. R510 005 000 271A 0000 (FISCAL IMPACT: purchase price of $22,390.56 plus seller and purchaser closing costs. Account balance $54,455.64, Account # 5402-90- 0000-571320; costs to be reimbursed by grant funds (23-025) awarded by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission) Vote at First Reading on May 13, 2024 - 9:0]
ITEM NUMBER 12 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND A SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING WITH THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY OF BUDDING THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, LOCATED ON SUMMIT DRIVE, TMS NUMBER R 5 10 0 5 0 0 0 2 7 1 A 0 0 0 0.MAY I, UH, ANYONE HERE WISH TO SPEAK ON THAT MATTER? SEEING NO ONE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? SO MOVED.
THANK YOU ANY DISCUSSION? I DO.
SEEING NO DISCUSSION, WE CAN PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
DOES ANYONE OBJECT SEEING NO OBJECTION.
[13. PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF MULTIPLE PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN CONNECTION WITH SC 802 SAMS POINT ROAD RIGHT TURN LANE (FISCAL IMPACT: these properties have already been purchased through the 2018 Sales Tax Program per an IGA with SCDOT. There is no financial consideration for the transfer of ownership from Beaufort County to SCDOT) Vote at First Reading on May 13, 2024- 9:0]
ITEM 13 IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE OF MULTIPLE PARCELS OF REAL PROPERTY[01:05:01]
FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN CONNECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA 8 0 2 SAMS POINT ROAD RIGHT TURN LANE.UM, SORRY, I HAD A NOTE WHEN I, I WASN'T LISTENING.
OH, I SAID I'D MAKE THE MOTION.
UH, BEFORE WE TAKE THAT, I'M JUST TO HOLD THAT OFF.
I'M GONNA ASK FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THAT MATTER, SEEING NOMAN? NONE.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS MATTER WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? SEEING NONE THIS MATTER PASSES.
[14. PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT OF FEE SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, KNOWN AS THE MITCHELVILLE TRACT (PIN# R510 005 000 0007 0000), NOT TO EXCEED THE FINAL VALUE AS DETERMINED BY A NEW APPRAISAL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF AN UPDATED PLAT, RESOLUTION OF ALL LEGAL ISSUES/CLAIMS, CONTINGENT UPON FULL LEGAL DESCRIPTION, AND SHALL REQUIRE THAT ANY FUNDS RECEIVED FROM GRANTS, PRIVATE, FEDERAL, OR STATE FUNDING BE USED SOLELY TO REIMBURSE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM (FISCAL IMPACT: TBD – Final amount is unknown until staff completes and reviews necessary due diligence in accordance with the Green Space Advisory Committee’s recommendation and Green Space Program guidelines)]
14 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT OF FEE.SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, KNOWN AS THE MITCHELLVILLE TRACK, NOT TO EXCEED THE FINAL VALUE AS DETERMINED BY A NEW APPRAISAL AFTER THE COMPLETION OF AN UPDATED PLAT RESOLUTION OF ALL LEGAL ISSUES.
CLAIMS CONTINGENT UPON FULL LEGAL DESCRIPTION.
AND SHALL REQUIRE THAT ANY FUNDS RECEIVED FROM GRANTS, PRIVATE, FEDERAL, OR STATE FUNDING BE USED SOLELY TO REIMBURSE THE EXPENDITURE OF THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.
BEFORE I ENGAGE IN ANY DISCUSSION, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MR. MCSHANE, IS HE HERE THIS EVENING? HE IS.
WOULD YOU COME FORWARD, MR. MCSHANE? BE THAT WILL, WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SAY WILL HELP US WITH OUR DISCUSSION.
SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NO, GOOD, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, BUT SERVED YOUR PLEASURE AS YOUR CHAIRMAN OF YOUR GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
UH, FORGIVE ME, I WAS TARDY THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN AT JOINT BOND REVIEW IN COLUMBIA TODAY.
I MADE SURE THE STATE BORDERS HADN'T CHANGED
AND I DID GET APPROVAL ON GREGORY NET.
SO THE STATE IS MOVING FORWARD.
IN THAT, UH, YOUR GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT WENT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.
UH, IS TO, TO UPDATE AN APPRAISAL.
APPRAISAL WAS DONE ON THIS PROPERTY LAST OCTOBER TO GIVE US SOME SENSE.
AND WE REQUESTED ONE OF OUR PARTNERS TO INITIATE THAT APPRAISAL.
BUT NOW THAT WE WERE AT SIX, OVER SIX MONTHS, WE FELT IT WAS PRUDENT THAT WE HAVE THAT APPRAISAL UPDATED THAT HAS BEEN REQUESTED THAT, UM, TO GO THROUGH.
AND LIKE MANY OF YOU'RE FAMILIAR APPRAISALS, REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, BUT WE'LL STAY ON THEM.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.
AND SO A RECOMMENDATION IS TO, UH, ASK COUNSEL TO APPROVE TO, UH, THE VALUE NOT TO EXCEED THE NEW APPRAISAL ON THE ACQUISITION FOR THE 25 PLUS OR SO ACRES ON HILTON HEAD CALLED, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MITCHELLVILLE ON THAT.
THERE WERE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT I BELIEVE THE AND YEAH.
IF YOU COULD ANSWER THOSE FOUR, UH, AND WHAT I WOULD OFFER IS THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IS THE APPLICANT DUE TO JUDGE DUKE'S TIMEFRAME.
IN HIS ORDER, THEY AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD AND PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT THE GRANT WILL BE A REIMBURSEMENT TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
AND THEN, AS YOU STATED, ANY GRANTS THAT WE CAN, AS THE COUNTY CAN BE RECIPIENT AT THE STATE LEVEL OR THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THAT THAT WOULD GO BACK, THAT COME BACK TO THE COUNTY FOR THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.
SO THE GRANT WOULD, IN ESSENCE BE A REIMBURSEMENT TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR BRIDGING THE FINANCING ON THIS.
AND THAT WAS TO MEET THE TIMEFRAME THAT WAS SET BY JUDGE DIGS.
AND THOSE, UH, GRANTS FROM STATE AND FEDERAL MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO COME BACK TO THE COUNTY.
TYPICALLY, THEY CAN GET ANYWHERE FROM SIX MONTHS TO 18 MONTHS.
BUT I'M GONNA, I'VE MADE A COMMITMENT TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE, UH, COMMITTEE TO PURSUE EVERY SEVERAL, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT WE CAN GO AFTER THAT COULD RESULT IN PROSPECTIVELY, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A MILLION AND SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS THAT I'D LIKE TO TRY TO GET BACK.
UM, DON'T, DON'T LEAVE THE PODIUM.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MCSHANE ON THIS PARTICULAR ITEM? I DO.
UM, JUST TO REITERATE, WILL WE BE ASKING HILTON HEAD TO PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY IN THIS VENTURE? NOT JUST PUT THE MONEY UP FRONT, BUT IT'LL BE AN ONGOING NEGOTIATION WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AS AN APPLICANT GOING FORWARD ON THAT? THAT'S WHY THE, I WOULD OFFER TO COUNSEL THAT THE REASON THAT THE GRANTS WOULD COME FULLY BACK TO GREEN
[01:10:01]
SPACE IS TO BE THE MATCH ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.THEY HAVE OTHER APPLICATIONS IN WHICH I THINK THEY'LL BE LEARNING THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM PARTICIPATE.
IT MAKES IT A STRONGER APPLICATION.
BUT IN THIS CASE, I, I WILL DEFEND THAT THIS IS AN ICONIC ENOUGH OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY TO MOVE FORWARD.
BRING THE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, MR. REEDS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING AGGRESSIVE TO GO AFTER THAT PROPERTY.
IF YOU LOOK AT COUNTY COUNCIL AND TOWN COUNCIL WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAME TOGETHER TO PUT THAT INTO GREEN SPACE FOR CONSIDERATION.
WHEN DOES JUDGE DUKES DO TO MAKE HIS DECISION? SO THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I'M GONNA TURN TO A WONDERFUL STAFF HERE TO CONFIRM WE WERE THE TOWN WAS THE HIGH BID AND THEN THE MINORITY INTEREST HAD A 10 DAY PERIOD TO MAKE A DECISION TO THEN INITIATE A 60 DAY PERIOD OF, OF MAKING A COUNTER OFFER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DID MAKE THE, THEY PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THE 10 DAYS.
SO NOW WE'VE GOT, WHAT, 50 SOMETHING DAYS BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING.
BUT MEANWHILE WE'RE WAITING ON THIS APPRAISAL, WHICH NEEDS TO BE DONE ANYWAY, THE APPRAISAL WAITING ON, THAT'S NOT GONNA HURT OUR EFFORTS TO SECURE THAT.
EVEN IF WE HAD THAT TODAY, WE STILL GOTTA WAIT THROUGH THAT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE OF THE RULING THAT ALLOWED THE MINORITY OWNER TO TRIGGER THIS MECHANISM THAT GAVE THEM THAT 60 DAY PERIOD.
HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING, IF THIS MINORITY INTEREST PLACES A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY THERE, DOES THAT TAKE HILTON HEAD OUT OF THE RUNNING FOR THAT? IT PUTS IT, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY IT PUTS SOME RISK AT THAT, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
IS THERE GONNA BE A, A, A PERIOD TO RE-OFFER OR IS IT GONNA BE, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT? I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS.
SO THE BIDS, THERE WERE THREE BIDS WITHIN THE CLOSING DATE.
THE MINORITY GROUP PUT IN A BID AT 11.2 MILLION.
HILTON HAD PUT IN 11.75 MILLION WITH AN ESCALATOR TO 12 MILLION.
HILTON HAD WON THAT PORTION OF THE PROCESS AS PART OF THE CONSENT ORDER.
THE MINORITY GROUP HAD 10 DAYS TO SAY WHETHER THEY WANTED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COUNTER THAT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO HIGHER, THEY JUST HAVE TO GET TO WHERE HILTON HEAD WAS ACCORDING TO THE CONSENT ORDER.
THEY HAVE 60 DAYS TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, COME UP WITH THAT SHOW PROOF THAT THEY HAVE IT, AND THEN I BELIEVE THEY HAVE 15 DAYS TO CLOSE AFTER THAT.
IF THEY DON'T, THAT PORTION CLOSES AND WE WILL STAND READY WITH YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT TO GO TO CLOSE UP TO THAT 11.75 OR THE APPRAISED VALUE, WHICHEVER IS LOWER.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE RUNNING AGAINST THE CLOCK WITH THESE CONSENT ORDERS.
SO WITH THIS, WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING READY TO GO.
IF THE MINORITY INTEREST GETS THE MONEY AND CLOSES, THAT'S IT, WE'RE DONE.
IF THEY DON'T, WE'RE NEXT IN LINE AND WE WILL BE READY.
HILTON HEAD WILL MOVE TO CLOSING, AND THEN THIS WILL BE A GRANT REIMBURSING THEM UP TO THE SET AMOUNT.
THE ONLY LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU TALKED ABOUT AN ESCALATION THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD HAD FROM 11 SEVEN TO 12.
WILL THAT TAKE PLACE IF THERE IS AN OFFER SINCE THERE WERE NO OTHER BIDS HIGHER THAN 11.75? THAT'S IT.
I DON'T THINK THEY, I DON'T SEE A REASON FOR THEM TO ESCALATE IT BECAUSE THE BIDS WERE MADE AND THE CONSENT ORDER SAID THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND, AND MATCH MY EXPERIENCE, SIR, IS THE ESCALATION CLAUSES, WHICH IS NOT AN ATYPICAL, UH, VENTURE IN A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION, EXPIRED AT THE FACT THAT WHEN IT WAS DESIGNATED, WE WERE THE HIGH WE, THE TOWN HILTON NET WAS THE HIGH BID.
AND YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTING TO THIS GROUP HERE AS WELL AS IT'D BE INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING IF IT DOESN'T GO INTO THE PUBLIC TRUST.
AND I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THAT FAMILY HAS SAID THEY WANT TO SEE THAT DONE.
BUT WE'VE GOTTA, WE'RE AT JUDGE DUKE'S SET THESE TERMS AND, AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE READY TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
UM, I KNOW TOM JUST SAID THAT, BUT I'M, I KIND OF DISAGREE.
SO I GUESS IT'S NOT EVERYBODY UP HERE.
UM, I, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HILTON HEAD BEING THE APPLICANT WHEN THEY HAVE
[01:15:01]
THE FUNDS TO DO IT.SO UNLESS I'M MISUNDERSTANDING, WE'RE SAYING THAT WE COULD BE GETTING SOME GRANT MONEY BACK.
WE HAVE NO CLUE HOW MUCH IT IS, NOR DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THE PROPERTY IS.
SO WE COULD END UP BEING PAYING SEVEN TO 8 MILLION OUT OF GREEN SPACE FOR 25 ACRES.
THEORETICALLY, THAT'S NOT OUTTA THE QUESTION.
EVEN IF WE GOT THREE TO 4 MILLION BACK.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE NOT HAVING HILTON HEAD PARTNER WITH US TO DO 50 50? I MEAN, THEY ARE THE APPLICANT.
UM, IF THEY'RE THE ONES THAT WENT FORWARD AHEAD OF TIME BEFORE THEY APPLIED FOR THE GREEN SPACE REFERENDUM, I'M SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE FUNDS IN THERE TO BUY IT THEMSELVES.
BUT FOR US TO CARRY THE LOAD OUTSIDE OF GRANTS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO APPLY FOR OURSELVES, WE REALLY DON'T EVEN NEED THEIR HELP TO BEGIN WITH THEN IF THAT WAS THE CASE.
SO IF HILTON HAS TRIED TO TAKE THE LEAD ON THIS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE NOT PUTTING ANY SKIN IN THE GAME OTHER THAN JUST FRONTING MONEY FOR A TIME, THEN THEY WANNA BE REIMBURSED.
SO I'LL BE HONEST WITH NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE SPENDING OUTTA GREEN SPACE.
I MEAN, YOUR LAST FEW PROJECTS NAILED IT.
WE HAD, I BELIEVE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HELPED ON ONE OF 'EM.
AND PEOPLE ARE PUTTING SKIN IN THE GAME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I SAID BEFORE, ESPECIALLY LIKE IN OUR TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM, WAS I'M TIRED OF BEAUFORT COUNTY BEING THE ONE TAKING THE BURDEN OF ALL THE ROADS AND JASPER COUNTY JUST CONTINUING TO BUILD.
IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT HILTON HAD, HAS THE FUNDS TO DO IT.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE MOTION'S GONNA BE HERE TODAY, BUT, BUT WITHOUT KNOWING HOW MUCH, AND THEM NOT BEING WILLING TO ACTUALLY PUT SKIN IN THE GAME, THAT'S NOT GETTING REIMBURSED TO THEM.
MR. CUNNINGHAM, IF I MAY ADDRESS IT, MR. CHAIRMAN, CERTAINLY I OFFER THIS FOR THOUGHT.
HILTON HEAD HAS PUT THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT OF RISK BECAUSE WE'VE SAID WE WILL NOT EXCEED THE APPRAISED VALUE.
THE APPRAISED VALUE WAS X SIX SIX PLUS MONTHS AGO.
THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT'LL BE THAT SAME VALUE TODAY.
AND WE WILL GO AFTER THE GRANTS THAT I RECOMMEND TO THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND TO YOUR STAFF THAT I THINK WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING.
AND YOU WILL HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY.
AS I UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY TO BE, AND THAT MAY BE A NEGOTIATION COUNCIL TO COUNCIL HAS TO STILL COMPLETE.
BUT I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS COUNTY THAT STANDS NOW, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY THAT.
WE HAVE OWNERSHIP, NOT AN EASEMENT ON IT.
TO YOUR OVERALL UMBRELLA POINT ABOUT AN ENTITY MAKING AN APPLICATION NEEDS TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME.
I THINK YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT FROM EVEN BEFORE THIS APPLICATION CAME.
THEY HAVE A, THEY CAN DEFEND, THEY'LL DEFEND THEIR POSITION BY THIS IDEA THAT THEY, THEY GENERATE THE TAX REVENUE BASE THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY DO THAT.
I, THEY, THEY'RE REALLY CLEAR ON MY POINT ON THAT.
AND I THINK IT, IT IS, WILL BE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE'LL SEE THAT COME.
WE, I DON'T THINK WE'LL DISAPPOINT YOU IN THE END.
WHAT I'M ASKING FOR TONIGHT IS TO GIVE APPROVAL SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY.
THAT WHEN THIS TIME PERIOD IS THAT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ATTRACTED WHAT MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST TRACKS LIKE THIS ON THE ISLAND.
CAN I ASK YOU, HOW MANY HOUSES IS IT ZONED FOR? CURRENTLY? I'LL HAVE TO DEFER, DEFER TO MAYBE, DO YOU MIND IF I DEFER TO SEND ME YOUR, OH, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT, JUST CURIOUS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING PER HOUSE, JUST TO BALLPARK.
I MEAN THE, THE ZONING ON THE PARCEL IS HILTON HEAD ZONING.
'CAUSE IT'S IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
THERE'S A HIGHER INTENSE ZONING UP ON THE WATER AND THEN KIND OF LESS INTENSE AS YOU GET, KIND OF GET BACK TOWARDS MITCHELLVILLE.
BUT OVERALL, IF YOU PUT THE TWO TOGETHER, IT CAN HAVE SOME PRETTY INTENSE DEVELOPMENT.
THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS, BUT IT CAN DEVELOP PRETTY INTENSELY.
CAN I JUST SAY, IS IT RESIDENTIAL THOUGH, TO JUST A MINUTE? IT COULD BE, YES.
THERE COULD BE RESIDENTIAL UNITS, BUT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THAT.
THE SAME TOWN THAT'S FILING FOR US TO BUY IT, ALL DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEIR DEVELOPMENT REVIEW.
TOM, ANOTHER QUESTION LAST ONE.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROTECT PROPERTY THAT IF YOU GO DOWN, TAKE MR. MCSHANE DOWN TO THE RIGHT AT A FISH HALL ROAD THERE, THERE'S A DEVELOPMENT.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY, I TOOK FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES THAT ARE, THAT GO RIGHT UP TO THE OCEAN AREA.
AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID, TO PROTECT THE RESERVE, IF THAT'S HOW WE FEEL.
UM, AND I VALUE, AND I BELIEVE WHAT MR. MCSHANE CAN DO, HE CAN NOT ONLY GET THIS APPRAISED VALUE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL, WHICH WILL BE APPROVED, BUT THESE GRANTS, I BELIEVE HE'S GONNA DO VERY WELL WITH THOSE.
SO IT, IT'S GONNA BE A WIN-WIN NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT PROTECT PROPERTY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW OF ANY OTHER PROPERTY THERE LIKE THAT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. MCSHANE? I I ACTUALLY JUST HAVE ONE.
I I, MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT HERE IS THE HEIRS PROPERTY.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE CONSENT ORDER IN PLACE.
I HAVEN'T READ THE FULL PLEADINGS HERE.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED? HAS A GUARDIAN AD LITEM BEEN APPOINTED FOR PARTIES UNKNOWN? YES.
[01:20:01]
WHERE ARE WE IN THAT PROCESS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.SO JUDGE DUKES RULED ON THAT WITH ALL OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS BACK IN 2020, I THINK IT WAS 20 19, 20 20.
THERE WAS LITIGATION COMING OUT OF THAT.
SOME OF THAT IS UNDER APPEAL, BUT THIS CONSENT ORDER CLEARS ALL OF THAT UP.
SO THE VERBIAGE IN THIS CONSENT ORDER YEAH.
WHEN IT SELLS, ALL OF THAT IS GONE.
EVERYTHING IS CLEARED UP AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT BOTH PARTIES AGREED TO.
SO THIS IS A HISTORIC PROPERTY ON HILTON HAD BEACHFRONT PROPERTY OVER BY BEACH CITIES, 26 ACRES, UH, THAT, UH, IS ALMOST ADJACENT TO MITCHELLVILLE AND HAS A STRONG CONNECTION TO MITCHELLVILLE WITH A GREAT HISTORY.
SO THIS IS A REAL IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR GREEN SPACE.
AND I THINK THE WAY YOU'RE HANDLING IT, MR. MCSHANE IS EXEMPLARY.
AND I'M SURE THAT, UH, IF THE MINORITY GROUP OF OWNERS DOESN'T PREVAIL, THAT WE WILL MOVE FORWARD.
WE WILL GAIN OWNERSHIP, AND THEN THROUGH YOUR SKILL, WE'LL GET SOME REIMBURSEMENT FROM WHATEVER GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE IT TO US.
AND, UH, WE'LL STILL HAVE, UH, TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE THROUGH THIS SALES TAX PROGRAM TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO PRESERVE PROPERTY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND IN ADJACENT COUNTIES AS WELL, WHICH WE'VE DONE WITH THE FIRST PURCHASE YOU PARTICIPATED IN.
IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, ADD ONE COMMENT.
MR. CUNNINGHAM'S POINT IS NOT LOST ON YOUR GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
I ASKED FOR SOME FAITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO FACILITATE SO THAT WE'RE NOT BACK IN FRONT OF WHERE YOU'RE AT.
IN ESSENCE, THE ONLY PLAYER PAYING FOR THAT, IT'S A VERY FAIR POINT.
BEFORE, UH, TOM ACTUALLY BRING IT BACK TO ONE VERY VALID POINT.
IT'S NOT THE COUNTY, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT PAY THE TAXES THAT PAY FOR THIS.
IT'S, IT IS OUT OF THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, OF HAVING PARTNERS IN THIS WHO SHOULD HAVE A STAKE IN THE VENTURE, A DOG IN THE FIGHT.
IF THEY'RE ASKING US TO BUY SOMETHING, THEY SHOULD BE PARTICIPATING MORE FULLY, IS THE FEELING I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE HERE.
AND THAT'S, AND I'LL END IT THERE.
MAY I TELL YOU ONE QUICK ILLUSTRATION WHERE THIS IS A PARALLEL, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL BE REALLY QUICK ON THAT.
NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST WAS CHAIRMAN OF DNR, THE VERY FIRST REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION I WAS PRESENTED WAS TO BUY A 10,000 ACRE TRACK IN BERKELEY COUNTY FOR WHAT WAS THEN AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF MONEY.
$47 MILLION KNOWN AS BONO FERRY.
MY FEAR WAS THAT WE WERE GONNA SET A NEW PRECEDENT OF WHAT THE COMPAR, THE COMPARABLES WOULD BE, AND THAT OTHER LARGE LANDOWNERS IN OUR SURROUNDING AREA, INCLUDING SOME OF THE INDUSTRIAL PAPER OWNERSHIP, THEN WOULD SEE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL AND CAPITALIZE ON THAT NEW VALUE.
IT CREATED A SYNERGY OF CONSERVATION AND GAVE CERTAINTY TO ALL THE LANDOWNERS IN AND AROUND THAT.
NOW, BONO FERRY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN THE CHARLESTON TRI-COUNTY AREA.
NO ONE REMEMBERS UNTIL I TELL 'EM IT WAS $47 MILLION.
WHAT THEY DO REMEMBER, IT WAS, IT HAS PERMANENTLY BEEN PROTECTED AND PART OF THE PUBLIC TRUST FOREVER.
THAT DOES NOT DISMISS THE VALUE THAT WE WORK TOWARD.
BUT WHAT IT DOES SAY IS, THIS IS IN MY VIEW, SUCH AN ICONIC PIECE LIKE THAT, THAT DESPITE SOMETIMES SCARRING THE INSIDE OF MY MOUTH WHEN I TALK TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY BE SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL TAKE PRIDE IN FOREVER.
NOBODY ELSE IS GONNA STEP UP AND DO IT.
AND THIS WILL BE SOMETHING, 50 YEARS, A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW WILL ALWAYS BE THE CASE.
THAT'S WHY SOMETIMES IT MAY BE DISTASTEFUL, BUT WHY WE DO SOME THINGS LIKE THIS.
AND DON'T FORGET, I GOTTA COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD MAY BE LOOKING AT.
IT'S DISTASTEFUL, BUT IT'S NECESSARY.
WE CAN, I UNDERSTAND MR. CUNNINGHAM, THANKS FOR THAT.
AND WE CAN PLAY A ROLE IN HELPING THAT.
BEFORE WE HAVE ANY BEFORE, BEFORE PUBLIC HEARING.
YEAH, I'M GONNA DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WE'RE READY TO TAKE A VOTE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? GET MOTION.
MR. VICE CHAIR, WOULD SOMEONE REMIND ME SOONER PLEASE.
WE TAKE A VOTE WITHOUT OBJECTION HEARING.
THIS MATTER PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[01:25:02]
UH, NUMBER[15. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 38 ENVIRONMENT, ARTICLE VI SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS SECTION 38-161, PURPOSE; SECTION 38-162 DEFINITIONS; SECTION 38-163 REGULATIONS; AND SECTION 38-164 EXEMPTIONS OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES]
15 IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 38, ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE SIX, SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS, SECTION 38 1 61, THE PURPOSE SECTION 38 1 62 DEFINITIONS SECTION 38 1 63 REGULATIONS AND 38 1 64 EXEMPTIONS OF THE BUFORD COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES.WE GET SOME ASSISTANCE FROM MR. HOLBERT ON THIS.
YEAH, YOU WANNA GET A MOTION? THANK YOU.
I'LL HAVE A MOTION ON THAT, PLEASE.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME HELP AND SOME DISCUSSION.
DID WE GET THE SLIDES BROUGHT? THANK YOU FOR THE HELP.
AS I MENTIONED AT THE UH, COMMITTEE MEETING IN 2018, COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE WHERE WE, UH, BANNED SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS.
NOW, THIS IS THE NEXT STEP IN EVOLUTION IN WHICH, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL BOARD IS RECOMMENDING THAT COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER, TO BAN ALL PLASTIC BAGS, UH, FOR CARRYOUT PLASTIC STRAWS AND HOLLY STYRENE PLASTIC FOAM PRODUCTS.
IN A NUTSHELL, THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE WILL, UM, BEFORE MR. UH, MCKELLEN ASKED THAT I GIVE YOU AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND NARROW IT DOWN.
AND THOSE ARE THE THREE KEY THINGS.
BUT THERE'S ONE ADDITIONAL STEP, UH, THEY WANNA REQUEST.
AND THAT IS THAT ALL BEAUFORT COUNTY FACILITIES SHALL USE RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE PRODUCTS FOR DISPOSABLE FOOD SERVICE WEAR IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE AS WELL.
THAT SOUNDS GOOD ON ITS FACE, BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHAT KIND OF COUNTY FACILITIES DO WE HAVE? WE'VE GOT THIS FACILITY, WE'VE GOT RECREATION FACILITIES, DETENTION.
YOU'VE GOT A BUILDING, WE'RE GONNA HOUSE STATE ENTITIES, UH, THAT REQUIRED TO HOUSE.
AND THEN YOU'VE GOT RESIDENCES WHERE WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING IN THERE THAT THE COUNTY MANAGES THROUGH AUDRA, WHERE THEY LIVE THERE AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT LANGUAGE AS FAR AS WHAT'S THE INTENT OF THAT LANGUAGE.
SO THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST THERE AS WELL.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING YOUR NEXT STEP.
THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AS FAR AS WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEPS.
WE CLEARLY NEED TO MAKE IT UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE IT JUST IN THE RURAL COUNTY.
AND THE MUNICIPALITIES DON'T HAVE THE SAME BAN ON THOSE PLASTIC PRODUCTS.
SO WE NEED INPUT FROM THE MUNICIPALITIES AND WE, THEIR BUY IN BEFORE WE PASS THAT ORDINANCE WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION.
BUT YOU ALSO NEED INPUT FROM THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, RETAIL, THE GROCERY STORES, THE BARS, THE RESTAURANTS, THE FAST FOODS PLACES, THE GAS STATIONS THAT SELL DRINKS AND FOOD.
ALL THOSE PLACES SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN THIS.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEEK THAT INPUT.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU DO FIRST? GO TO THE MUNICIPALITIES AND GET THEIR SUPPORT OR HEAR FROM THE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SEE WHAT THEIR INPUT IS BEFORE WE SEND IT TO THE LOCAL, UH, MUNICIPALITIES SO THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING.
UH, FROM THERE, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE BEFORE WE GO TO THE MUNICIPALITIES, WE HEAR FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES WHAT THEY'LL ACCEPT OR, BUT IT'S UP TO YOUR PREROGATIVE, ALICE, WILL WE BE ABLE TO MOVE THIS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE FURTHER STEPS ON INPUT WE CAN.
UM, THE ONLY THING ABOUT, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MR. HALBERT ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES, BUT THE PLASTIC LOBBY WILL LOBBY AGAINST US AS THEY DID BEFORE.
UM, AND WE JUST HAVE TO, WHEN WE SAY LOCAL BUSINESSES, WE NEED TO MEAN LOCAL, NOT NATIONAL, NOT NATIONAL BUSINESSES, BUT WE CAN, WE CAN WORK WITH, UH, MCKEE BEEF COMMITTEE AND ALSO WITH COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAD TO GET SOME INPUT.
AND YOU CAN ALSO PUT TOGETHER THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS FOR THIS INPUT FROM THE THREE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES SO THAT, THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN DO THAT.
UM, I'LL PUT IT, THIS, WE CAN HAVE A FIRST READING HERE TONIGHT, BUT ALL THESE OTHER MATTERS HAVE TO BE CLEARED UP BEFORE WE GET TO SECOND AND THIRD READING.
SO IT MAY BE A NECESSITY AFTER THIS READING TO GET THIS STARTED, TO POSTPONE SOME OF THOSE READINGS WHILE WE DO ALL THE OTHER WORK WITH THE, WITH THE VENDORS AND THE MUNICIPALITIES AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN, IN THIS THAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. HOLBERT? I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION IF YOU DON'T WANT ME GOING, HAVE TO GO.
UM, HAVE Y'ALL LOOKED INTO THE, THE COMMERCE CLAUSE? HOW, HOW WOULD IT AFFECT IT? OR ESPECIALLY THE DORMANT COMMERCE CLAUSE, IS THIS EVEN LEGAL FOR US TO DO? IS IT GONNA INTERRUPT SO MANY CONTRACTS THAT IT'S GONNA INTER, YOU KNOW, AFFECT INTERSTATE COMMERCE? WELL, IT DOES AFFECT INTERSTATE COMMERCE, THERE'S NO DOUBT.
BUT WE WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST COMMUNITY TO PUT THIS LAW INTO EFFECT.
UH, AND IT'S JUST WITHIN THE COUNTY AND IT'S, UH, JUST BANNING PLASTICS.
SO YOU HAVE TO WEIGH WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
AND IF YOU HEAR FROM THE COMMITTEE AND FROM THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES,
[01:30:01]
PLASTIC IS A REAL BURDEN.IT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE WILDLIFE, FOR THE BEACHES, THE SIZE OF OUR ROAD, THE TRASH, THE LITTER THAT'S OUT THERE AND OUR LANDFILLS.
SO THERE IS A VALID PUBLIC PURPOSE OF ACROSS THE PASS THIS.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE IMPACT ON THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE IS ENOUGH THAT WE WOULD OVERCOME THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT SIGNIFICANT OF AN EFFECT ON THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
WE'RE JUST TELLING 'EM WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS ARE ACCEPTABLE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M SORRY, I WASN'T AT THE, AT THAT, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN ALL THIS CAME UP AND I, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE, BUT WAS THERE TALK OF WHAT WOULD REPLACE IT? WOULD IT BE PAPER PRODUCTS? PAPER STRAWS, LIKE BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCT PRODUCTS IS WHAT WOULD BE, UH, NOW WHAT ABOUT THE HEALTH CONCERNS WITH, WITH THE PAPER PRODUCTS, UH, THAT CONTAIN PFAS? ABOUT 90% OF 'EM HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CONTAIN, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR QUESTION.
THEY CONTAIN PFAS ABOUT 90% OF THE PAPER PRODUCTS, UH, ESPECIALLY PAPER STRAWS WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN PAS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN CONSIDERED? UM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, SIR, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UH, PAPER STRAWS IS NOT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE.
THERE ARE, UH, STEEL STRAWS, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, OTHER MATERIALS THEY COULD USE.
AND THERE WOULD BE EXCEPTIONS FOR MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR THE STRAWS USED FOR LIKE HOSPITALS, DOCTORS, OFFICE, STUFF LIKE THAT.
THOSE LITTLE THINGS, THOSE WOULD BE AN EXEMPTION.
AND ONE LAST THING I DID NOTICE, IT DOES SEEM TO BE SOME AMBIGUITY IN THE EXCEPTIONS, UH, SECTION.
SOME THINGS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BANNED IN ONE SECTION THAN, THAN ALLOWING IT ANOTHER I I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA DO IT.
WE NEED TO HAVE CLEAN LANGUAGE ON THAT.
AND THIS IS WHAT CAME UP FROM THE COMMITTEE AND I DIDN'T WANNA MONKEY YOU WITH THE LANGUAGE OR ANYTHING.
UH, BUT WE COULD CLEAN THAT UP DEPENDING ON WHAT THE INTENT, UH, AND THE PLEASURE OF COUNCIL AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IS.
KEEP SAYING IT'S ONE LAST THING I KNOW.
UH, RATHER THAN BANNING SOMETHING, WERE ANY ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED AS FAR AS INCENTIVIZING THE BEHAVIOR TO GET BUSINESSES TO CHANGE THEIR MODEL RATHER THAN JUST FORCING IT DOWN THEIR THROAT? I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE INITIAL, INITIAL ORDINANCE IN 2018 WHERE THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THOSE RECYCLABLES WHERE YOU COULD HAVE MULTI-USE BAGS, LINEN BAGS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
UH, BUT YOU'VE SEEN THE EFFECT FROM 2018 TILL TODAY.
YOU'VE STILL GOT ALL THE PLASTIC BAGS ALONG THE BEACH ON THE SIDES OF THE ROAD.
YOU GOT THE STRAWS THAT ARE A PROBLEM, UH, IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE JUST, I MEAN, THERE'S A PROBLEM.
LOGAN LOGAN'S GOING ON UTEP, DO YOU WANNA GO FIRST? NO, YOU GO.
UM, YEAH, MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS SHOVING IT DOWN BUSINESS' THROATS.
UH, THE FISCAL IMPACT ON A BUSINESS FOR THOSE TYPE OF PRODUCTS IS LEAP AND BOUNDS.
YOU CAN GO RESEARCH METAL STRAWS WOULD BE EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.
I'M NOT DEBATING WITH YOU, I'M JUST SPEAKING OUT LOUD.
I KNOW WE'RE MAKING EYE CONTACT, BUT, UM, THAT IS, I'M SORRY.
UM, YOU RECYCLE BAGS ALONE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUSHED, ONE ARE THICKER THAN THE ORIGINAL BAGS WE HAD.
AND THEY'RE ALMOST THREE TIMES THE COST THAT HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE BUSINESSES.
SO WE SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES.
AND I HATE TO TELL YOU, I KNOW PEOPLE SAY, NOT TO DEBATE WITH YOU, MS. HOWARD, BUT YOU SAY THAT GLOBAL CHAINS AREN'T LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THEY ARE, BECAUSE LOCALS WORK THERE.
THEY'RE STILL MANAGED BY LOCALS.
A LOT OF 'EM ARE FRANCHISED BY LOCALS.
AND OUR PEOPLE STILL WORK THERE.
SO THAT IS STILL A LOCAL BUSINESS.
AND WALMART IS AN ANCHOR BUSINESS THAT IS A LOCAL BUSINESS THAT STIMULATES THIS ECONOMY.
I THINK ANY BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY.
SO WHERE THAT LINE IS, I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING HOW WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK.
YOU SAY YOU WANNA SUPPORT GROWTH ON NORTH OF ABROAD TO CREATE MORE TAX REVENUE OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
ALL YOU'RE DOING IS PUTTING MORE CONSTRAINTS ON LOCAL BUSINESSES TO NOT EXPAND IN THIS COUNTY.
AND THEY'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAXPAYERS WE HAVE BETWEEN THE REVENUE THAT THEY PUT AND THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE HERE THAT CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY HERE, AS WELL AS US WHO SPEND MONEY ON THEM, WHO THESE BUSINESSES ARE JUST GONNA RAISE THEIR PRICE TO OFFSET IT, WHICH WE'RE ALREADY FIGHTING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ALICE, YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL? I DO, BUT IT MIGHT BE LONG.
UM, 'CAUSE I WAS AROUND WHEN WE DID THE FIRST ONE, AND I HEARD SOME OF THESE SAME ARGUMENTS, BUT WE, WE ALREADY HAVE, YOU KNOW, WALMART GOT AROUND THE, THE TECHNICALITY OF IT.
BUT, BUT CHICK-FIL-A IN IN PARTS OF CHARLESTON ARE ALREADY COMPLYING WITH IT.
UM, ALL OF PALMS IS ALREADY COMPLYING WITH IT.
GROCERY STORES ARE ALREADY COMPLYING WITH IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL EDUCATE AND WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MORE INFORMATION.
SO I WAS NOT, I CAN TELL SPEAKING ABOUT WALMART.
WALMART, I CAN HANDLE THE INFORMATION THOUGH.
I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT WALMART.
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY LOBBIED AGAINST IT THE FIRST TIME.
I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT WALMART.
SO I HAD ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED MY ISSUES TO BRIAN, BUT I'M GONNA JUST REITERATE HERE ON PAGE 49 OF THE ORIGINAL PACKET, IT SAID, BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND WE DO NOT IMPOSE A TAX IF THEY DON'T COMPLY.
SO WHEN YOU GET TO ENFORCEMENT, WHO'S GONNA DO ENFORCEMENT CODE? 'CAUSE ANY RULE WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT'S
[01:35:01]
A WASTE OF TIME.IS IT CODE ENFORCEMENT? WELL, IT SAYS NO TAX.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS, AND BRIAN ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, IT'S ON ALL COUNTY PROPERTIES.
SO AGAIN, IS THAT ANY EVENT ON A COUNTY PROPERTY? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AT TAX FUNDED EVENTS, GULLAH FESTIVALS ON COUNTY PROPERTY, UM, ARE, THEY'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO COMPLY EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL E EVERY SCHOOL.
SO, AND THE OTHER ISSUE I HAD WAS, UM, AND I AGREE THE MUNICIPALITIES, AND WE HAVE TO FIND OUT ALL THAT, BUT THE LAST THING WAS, TAKES EFFECT EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE DATE COUNCIL ACTS OR, AND THERE WAS SOME PROVISIONS FOR MUNICIPALITIES.
THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES HERE THAT HAVE TO BE RESOLVED.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE MEETINGS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GONNA GET INPUT.
AND I'D WELCOME, DID YOU COPY ME ON YOUR COMMENTS? I, I DON'T THINK YOU DID.
IF YOU WILL SEND, YEAH, I THINK I DID.
AND MORGAN, IF YOU CAN COPY ME TOO.
ALL ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO GO BE REFERRED, BUT I'M GONNA GET TO YOU.
ALL OF THIS IS GONNA BE REFERRED BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AND ALL OF THESE OBJECTIONS AND ALL THESE COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS CAN CERTAINLY BE MINED IN THAT COMMITTEE SECTION RATHER THAN HERE.
I MEAN, SORRY, WE'RE PUTTING IT ON HOLD UNTIL WE GET SOME OF THESE THINGS.
WELL, WE'RE NOT PUTTING IT ON HOLD.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THROUGH THIS AND SEE WHAT WE DO WITH IT.
BUT UNTIL WE GET ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS SURE.
AND EVEN CONSIDER MR. MCCLURE'S STATEMENTS ABOUT CONTRADICTIONS THAT ARE INHERENT IN THE, IN THE, IN THE ORDINANCE AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.
HE'S POINTED IT OUT TO US TWICE NOW.
AND, AND THEN WE'LL GET TO SECOND AND THIRD READINGS.
SO MARK, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR BRIAN? NO, I JUST WANNA MAKE A, A COMMENT.
AND, UM, THERE'S A FACT THAT I THINK THIS IS STARTING TO PUSH INTO A, A REACH THAT IS COSTING WILL COST OUR, OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES MONEY.
WHEN I CLEAN UP TWO MILES OF THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY ON A MONTHLY BASIS, I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER FOUND A STRAW BY ITSELF, UM, ON THE GROUND.
UM, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE CONSUMER DRIVEN.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE POLITICALLY DRIVEN.
THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE TO PURCHASE STUFF WILL GO TO A SOMEONE THAT OFFERS THOSE AND SOMETHING THAT, OR IT'S AN OPTION THAT THEY HAVE THAT THEY WANT TO CHOOSE.
SO AGAIN, I THINK FOR US TO CONTINUALLY PUSH OR AS WE HEAR SHOVE THINGS DOWN PEOPLE'S THROATS, UM, THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT AS A CONSUMER, THAT YOU SHOULD, IF IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, SOMETHING YOU SHOULD BE DEMANDING FROM YOUR, YOUR OWN RESTAURANT, YOUR OWN GROCERY STORE, YOUR OWN SUPPLIER, AS OPPOSED TO US SITTING HERE AND AND DEMANDING IT, UM, THAT OUR BUSINESSES PAY FOR.
AND LIKE I SAID, I THINK WE CAN INCENTIVIZE THAT BEHAVIOR.
WELL, IT'S A GOOD COMMENT, BUT A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THE CHEAPEST WAY THEY CAN GO AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THE COMPLAINTS OF PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY.
THEY'RE GONNA WAIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPOSE SOME KIND OF A RESTRICTION.
YOUR AND I I AGREE WITH THE COMMENT YOU JUST MADE.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, UH, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, UM, THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE, THAT HAVE THIS IN FORCE RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE WISE ENOUGH TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING YEP.
AND SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
AND I'M GONNA PREDICT THAT AFTER WE HAVE THIS FIRST READING, IF IT PASSES THAT THE, THE DISTANCE BETWEEN FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD ARE GOING TO BE MONUMENTAL BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.
REFERRING IT BACK TO THE COMMITTEE, TALKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT OBJECTIONS PEOPLE HAVE HERE, AND THEN TALKING TO THE BUSINESSES AND THE MUNICIPALITIES TO GET THEM IN LINE.
UH, I DON'T EXPECT THIS IS REALLY GONNA TAKE PLACE TILL THE END OF THE YEAR, IS THE WAY IT APPEARS TO ME.
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME DELAYS HERE MOVING THIS FORWARD.
AND IT HAVE TO BE SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE CONSULTED ON IT.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD START TO START TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE LISTEN, IT'S A NECESSARY THING FOR US TO DO IF WE'RE GONNA SURVIVE THIS PLANET.
WE MUST, WE MUST CONSIDER DOING THIS AND DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT SO WE CAN ALSO IMPROVE OUR ENFORCEMENT, NOT JUST ON THE LITTER ASPECT.
THERE ARE ESTABLISHMENTS, UH, WITHIN THE COUNTY, UH, WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES AND THE RURAL COUNTY THAT STILL DON'T COMPLY WITH THE, UH, 0.4 MILLILITER, UH, PLASTIC BAG.
THEY HAVE THE REAL THIN PLASTIC BAGS.
AND THAT'S JUST AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON ALL THE TIME.
AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE ON THE LIST THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO AND MOVE IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
CAN'T WE JUST SEND IT TO THE COMMITTEE AND NOT DO A FIRST READING? I WOULD RATHER DO A FIRST READING AND SEND IT TO THE COMMITTEE AND GET IT ON THE BOOKS AND MOVE THROUGH IT.
WE COULD KICK IT DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE HAVE IT HERE IN FRONT OF US AND WE CAN WELL, YOU CAN VOTE NO.
SO WE HAVE, THANKFULLY WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SO IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
I'M ON THE KEEP BEAUTIFUL, KEEP BEFOR COUNTY BEAUTIFUL ALONG WITH ALICE HERE.
AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WANTED TO PUT THIS IN THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE THE SMALL BUSINESSES, LIKE THE RESTAURANTS, WHEN YOU TAKE TAKE OUT, THEY PUT EVERYTHING IN A CARDBOARD BOX OR THEY PUT IT IN A PAPER BAG.
[01:40:01]
THAT MY, IS THAT MY, THAT'S WE'VE BEEN TOLD AND THAT'S WHAT WE, I WANTED TO CHANGE.AND NOW IT'S GOTTEN TO, YOU KNOW, SPOONS OF FORKS AND WHATEVER ELSE.
SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE, SEND THIS BACK TO THE COMMITTEE EARLIER.
WELL, IT'S GONNA GO TO THE COMMITTEE AND ALL THE COMMENTS YOU'VE MADE CAN BE DELIVERED THERE FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION.
OH, MR. DAWSON, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
I THINK WE CAN'T HEAR YOU MR. DAWSON.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WELL, I THINK WE'RE TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF THAT.
MR. JOON, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK NOW.
I'M AFRAID THAT WE'RE HAVING A TECH.
I THINK WE'RE HAVING A TECHNICAL PROBLEM.
WE HAVEN'T STARTED THAT YET, BUT I TAKE YOUR NO VOTE.
CAN I CALL THIS QUESTION PLEASE? WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, I'D LIKE TO PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THIS MOVING FORWARD? I ASK FOR A ROLL CALL.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T NEED A ROLL CALL.
DOES THIS MEAN IT DOESN'T EVEN GO BACK TO COMMITTEE COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD.
CALL IT BACK TO, WE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE ANYWAY.
ALICE, UM, WELL YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THAT TOO AFTER THIS.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? HE VOTED NO.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, YES.
THE MOTION FAILS, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP A REFERRAL BACK TO THE COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER WORK ON THIS TOPIC TILL WE CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT ON HOW WE SHOULD CHAIRMAN.
ACTUALLY, IT HAS TO COME FROM A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THAT BACK TO GO TO COMMITTEE IF VOTES BEEN TAKEN.
DOES IT? I THINK ORDINANCE DEAD.
WHICH DOESN'T STOP THE COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING IT UP AGAIN.
BRIAN THINKS THAT, UM, THE ORDINANCE SIMPLY DIDN'T PASS.
SO IT DOESN'T GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.
IF THE COMMITTEE WANTS TO TAKE IT UP.
INQUIRY ON ITS OWN COMMITTEE WANTS TO TAKE IT UP.
WELL, I GUESS THEY, THEY COULD BRING IT BACK IF THEY WANT.
CHUCK, YOU'RE GONNA ARREST IF YOU WANT IT BACK.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO, UM, I WILL AGREE THAT ONCE IT'S FAILED, IT CANNOT BE REMANDED BACK.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO, STAFF HAS HEARD ALL OF THE COMMENTS.
WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE.
WE CAN TAKE THIS BACK, WE CAN REFINE IT, WE CAN CREATE A DIFFERENT PRODUCT AND THEN WE CAN BRING IT FORWARD AT A LATER DATE, UH, FOR RECONSIDERATION.
IF THAT, IF, UH, PLEASES MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST ALL OF THOSE WHO VOTED NO TO GIVE US SOME SPECIFICS IN WRITING SO THAT WHEN IT DOES COME BACK TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, AFTER YOU CONSIDER THE ORDINANCE AGAIN, READ IT CAREFULLY AND SEND US SOME WRITTEN COMMENTS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? OKAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S, I DON'T THINK THAT'S UNREASONABLE AND WE HAPPY TO HELP.
I CAN ORDER PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GONNA DO WITH ALL THE TIME ON THEIR HANDS? YEAH,
AND THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE ON HOW TO GET IT BACK TO COMMITTEE AND WE'LL GET IT THERE.
[16. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2025; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT SERVICE AND USER FEES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO (FISCAL IMPACT: The ordinance will outline the Revenues to be collected and the estimated expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2025)]
UM, ITEM 16 IS FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1 24, WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR 25 AND ENDING JUNE 30TH 25 TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF TO ADOPT SERVICE AND USER FEES TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.SO THIS IS THE APPROVAL WE ARE SEEKING FOR THE NEW BUDGET THAT WILL BE STARTING JULY ONE.
DENISE, WILL YOU BE, UH, COMING FORWARD WITH A PRESENTATION? THANK YOU DENISE.
SO WE PRESENTED YOU GUYS WITH THE BUDGETS LAST WEEK DURING FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AND WE GAVE YOU ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO
[01:45:01]
ASK QUESTIONS, UM, PERTAINING TO THE SPEC, TO ANY.TOM, DO YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? WELL, I JUST, I, SORRY, I WAS INTERRUPTED WHEN YOU INTRODUCED THIS.
DID YOU GET A MOTION? NO, NOT YET.
DO I NEED IT NOW? WELL, TYPICALLY YES.
WE GET A MOTION, A SECOND MOTION.
THEY'RE PROTECTING ME OVER HERE.
SO, UH, SOME OF YOU HAD QUESTIONS OVER THE WEEKEND.
VALERIE AND I, UM, AND MR. ROBINSON HANDLED SEVERAL OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS WITH CERTAIN LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.
UM, SO IF THERE ARE ANY SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS CHANGES GO, INCREASES OR DECREASES, NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THESE CHANGES.
AND ONE BIG CHANGE THAT VALERIE AND I UH, DISCOVERED WAS THAT ONE OF OUR FUNDS DID NOT COMPLETE ENTERING THEIR ENTIRE BUDGET.
UH, THE INSURANCE PART OF IT WAS LEFT OUT, SO WE HAD TO CHANGE, UH, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
WE HAD TO SUPPLEMENT THE SEPARATE, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS BUDGET BY ABOUT TWO AND A HALF, 2.5 OR $2.6 MILLION.
AND WE BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WITH FUND BALANCE, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IN THE YEAR TO DATE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
WE DO HAVE ENOUGH FUND BALANCE TO COVER THAT.
UM, THAT $2.6 MILLION THAT WAS LEFT OUT.
SO NOW'S THE TIME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO ANY OF THE LINE ITEMS THAT YOU ALL WISH CHANGING.
UM, I THINK ALLEN RECREATION WAS ONE OF THEM.
YEAH, THERE WERE TWO, THERE WERE TWO ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED, I KNOW OF ONE WAS THE ISLAND REC CENTER, WHICH WAS A, A DEFICIT OF 40, UH, 40 2007 50, I THINK 40, UH, THEY GAVE 7,500.
AND I THINK IT WAS A REQUEST THAT YOU HAD FOR THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE AND I THINK THAT WAS ALSO FOR $50,000.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO GET A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC ON WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THAT WAS.
WHAT WAS THAT FOR? 'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT THE ISLAND RECORD WAS FOR.
WERE YOU THE ONE DAVID THAT YEAH.
YEAH, I, I'D BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE, UH, SOLICITOR AND, AND ACTUALLY I'D BEEN TALKING TO TAB AS WELL.
I THINK WE CAN ACCOMMODATE A 5% INCREASE, WHICH WOULD MATCH WHAT THE OUT OTHER OUTSIDE AGENCIES RECEIVED AS WELL.
AM AM I CORRECT IN THAT? YEAH, BUT YOU'RE GONNA TALK SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT WAS FOR, RIGHT? YEAH.
SPECIFICALLY THEY SENT ME SOME MORE INFORMATION AND I, I'VE FORWARDED IT OFF.
I'LL HAVE TO PULL THE, UM, PULL THE EMAIL OFF.
BUT ESSENTIALLY THEY'VE HAD A, A FLAT BUDGET FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS FROM THE COUNTY.
UM, I I BELIEVE, DON'T QUOTE ME ON THIS, JUST THE OPERATIONS ALONE FOR SALARY IS $1.9 MILLION HERE INSIDE BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE FUNDING ROUGHLY 1.7 MILLION.
SO THEY'RE ALREADY OPERATING AT A DEFICIT HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AT 200 $200,000.
I I, I HAD SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TOO THAT I, UM, WOULD LIKE ANSWERED BEFORE I CAN VOTE ON ANY INCREASE FOR THE SOLICITORS AND THEY WERE ANSWERED, BUT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE 5%.
YEAH, BECAUSE IT DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS.
ARE THESE, ARE THESE, ARE THESE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS OR PART OF IT, PART OF IT IS A SALARY ADJUSTMENT.
UM, IT'S A RETENTION ISSUE IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE HAVING.
AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, CIRCUITS HAVE RAISED THEIR, THEIR MINIMUM STARTING SALARIES, UM, QUITE SUBSTANTIALLY.
LOW IS IS IS LOW SIXTIES TO 70, UH, A YEAR.
BUT HE SAYS MOST OTHER COASTAL COUNTIES HAVE RAISED THEIRS MORE.
SO I KNOW THERE'S INFLATIONARY ISSUES THAT HE'S DEALING WITH.
UM, I KNOW HE GETS STATE FUNDING AS WELL, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS, I I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT TO LEAVE IT FLAT.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, BUT I KNOW THAT I'M TRYING TO, I THINK WE SHOULD OPERATE MOVING FORWARD IN A, IN A FAIR MANNER.
WELL, WHICH COMMITTEE WOULD HANDLE THAT? IS THAT YOU ALICE? IT FINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEND IT BACK THERE TO GET SOME ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
WELL, I WAS GONNA SUGGEST AND LEGAL HAVE TELL ME THAT IF WE APPROVE IT ON FIRST READING YEAH.
THAT WE HAVE A WORKSHOP BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS QUESTION.
WE HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT THE TWO PLANNING PEOPLE.
CAN THEY GO TO GREEN SPACE THAT'S STILL BEING RESEARCHED.
AND THEN I HAVE QUESTIONS, MR. PASSMAN AND I SENT IN AND I, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE A FULL DISCUSSION SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR IT RATHER THAN DOING IT BY EMAIL.
AND I THINK, AND ALICE HAD QUESTIONS AND ANYBODY ELSE, MR. ROBINSON ANSWERED OURS, BUT HE SAID HE DIDN'T GET ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO DIG INTO THE BUDGET.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT BEFORE DENISE LEAVES BECAUSE SHE'S GOT THE GRIP GRIP ON IT, WHICH IS WHEN? JUNE 7TH NEXT WEEK.
BUT INSTEAD OF SENDING IT BACK TO FINANCE, WHICH IS GONNA PROLONG IT BECAUSE TOM NOTED WE'RE ON A TIMELINE FOR THE BUDGET.
[01:50:01]
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST NEED WE NEED WOULD SUGGEST NO, SUGGEST I SUGGEST WE DO FIRST READING PASS BY TITLE ONLY AND THEN HAVE THE WORKSHOP AND WE CAN ALTER IT ON A SECOND READING, CORRECT? YES, YOU CAN.SO THE FIRST READING WILL INCLUDE THE MONEY FOR DSN ISLAND REC AND THE SOLICITOR, AND THEN WE WILL GO BACK AND RECONSIDER IT.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? IT'D BE BY TITLE ONLY TO MOVE BY TITLE ONLY TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
UH, WE DID CHANGE, WE DID ADD THAT TO THE BUDGET, BUT WE DID NOT CHANGE THE BUDGET ORDINANCE BECAUSE YOU GUYS ALREADY HAD IT IN YOUR PACKETS.
SO IT WOULD GO, UM, IF YOU VOTE ON IT, IT WOULD BE APPROVED BY TITLE ONLY AND THEN ALL THOSE CHANGES WOULD COME TO SECOND READING.
LEMME JUST, TOM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE BY TITLE ONLY.
YOU'VE GOT A ORDINANCE, YOU'VE GOT A PROPOSED BUDGET, YOU COULD GIVE IT APPROVAL FOR FIRST READING.
I THINK YOU COULD THEN MAKE A MOTION TO REFER IT.
UH, OR YOU CAN MAKE A JOKE AND ACTUALLY CALL, UM, SPECIAL CALL MEETING SPECIAL MEETINGS, MEETINGS OF COUNCIL IF YOU'D LIKE.
BUT REMEMBER, YOUR WORKSHOPS ARE LIKE YOUR REGULAR MEETINGS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A QUORUM IN ORDER TO EVEN HEAR ABOUT IT, TO EVEN TALK ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE BEST VENUE, UM, ON THE NEXT TWO READINGS TO DIG INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, DEEPLY.
BUT MY, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT YOU GO AHEAD, APPROVE IT ON FOR FIRST READING AND THEN CONSIDER THE CHAIRMAN CAN CONSIDER HOLDING A SPECIAL WORKSHOPS OR ONE OR MORE TO GET INTO IT.
I KNOW THEY'RE NOT PREFERRED, BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE WAY.
AND THEN IF, UM, DENISE IS LEAVING NEXT FRIDAY, WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING? NEXT, NEXT FRIDAY WE GOT, UH, 10 BUSINESS DAYS, NINE BUSINESS GONNA BE OUTTA TOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT.
THEN WHEN WE HAVE THIS FIRST READING, WILL THAT INCLUDE THE MONEY THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OF OVER $2 MILLION AND THE OTHER TWO ITEMS TO THE SOLICITOR AND ON REC? AND THEN WHEN WE GO TO THE WORKSHOP, IT CAN BE ADJUSTED AGAIN BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE DO THIS, THE NUMBERS ARE GONNA BE CHANGING, THEY'LL BE CHANGING.
SO THEN THIS FIRST READING BY TITLE ONLY WILL INCLUDE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
IS THAT RIGHT? WELL, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVE A MOTION AND A SEC AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET ORDINANCE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO, IT DOESN'T INCLUDE, I DON'T THINK IT INCLUDES THESE CHANGES THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
SO, OH, IT DOESN'T, NO, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.
WELL, YOU GUYS GOT THE PACKETS BEFORE CHANGES WERE MADE.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION, YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND, THEN GET THE, A MOTION TO AMEND, APPROVE, THEN APPROVE THE FIRST READING, AND THEN, UH, MAYBE THE CHAIRMAN WOULD THEN CALL SOME WORKSHOPS.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOME OF THIS IS ESSENTIAL TO GET DONE.
SO THEN WE COULD HAVE A A, UM, WE HAVE A MOTION.
OH, WELL I NEED A MOTION TO AMEND IF, IF WE'RE GONNA INCLUDE THESE THREE ITEMS YES SIR.
GO TO FIRST READING AND IF THEY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED AGAIN LATER, WE CAN CERTAINLY START TALKING ABOUT THEM BECAUSE I HAVE AN INTEREST IN TALKING ABOUT THEM AS WELL WHEN I'M NOT SITTING IN THIS CHAIR.
SO, SO, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND TO INCLUDE THOSE ITEMS. UH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND THE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO SPECIFICALLY THE ITEMS ARE SPECIFICALLY WHAT DENISE TOLD US STATE.
CAN YOU GIVE US THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN? OKAY.
SO THE FIRST NUMBER IS 2,678,000.
AND WHAT'S THAT FOR? $62? THAT IS FOR, UH, THE, A TRANSFER OUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND RIGHT INTO FUND 2, 4, 4 1, WHICH WAS DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
CAN YOU SAY THAT FUND ONE MORE TIME? YEP.
AND THE NUMBER, THE AMOUNT AGAIN, IS 2 MILLION 678 0 6 2.
THAT WILL INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND'S BUDGET BY THAT MUCH ALONG WITH THE OTHER TWO INCREASES.
THE OTHER TWO, WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS.
AND IF IT'S FOR SOLICITOR, I THINK IT WAS 88 5 FOR 5%, I THINK THE SUGGESTION WAS 50,000 TAB THAT WAS A 3%.
IT WAS 5% WE WERE AT, YEAH, 50,000 WAS 3%.
UH, BUT THEN FURTHER DISCUSSION SHOWED, GIMME A SECOND, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ACCOMMODATE A 5%, WHICH WOULD MATCH THE OTHER OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
LET, LEMME JUST SAY ABOUT THE SOLICITOR AMOUNT, HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT, UM, HE HAS CHOSEN NOT TO COME BEFORE US AND PRESENT AND HAS CHOSEN TO KEEP HIS BUDGET FLAT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO COME BEFORE US.
SO, SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF AN END AROUND.
SO I MEAN, I, I THINK THAT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WELL, I, I ACTUALLY TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO CALL HIM.
'CAUSE AFTER REVIEWING THE BUDGET, IT DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT.
SO IS THIS A SUGGESTION, MR. LAWSON, THAT WE INCLUDE THE ITEM FOR THE I'M STILL INCLUDED.
LEAVE IT IN UNTIL WE CAN DISCUSS ALL THREE OF THOSE ITEMS AT ONE TIME.
LET ME, LET ME GET, LET GET THE OTHER NUMBER.
WHAT WAS, WHAT WAS THAT OTHER NUMBER? 85.
[01:55:01]
FOR THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE SOLICITOR.ALRIGHT, MR. BARIAN, CAN I SUGGEST YOU TAKE THAT ONE SEPARATELY? I'M JUST GONNA TAKE 'EM TOGETHER AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
I MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE CURRENT BUDGET BEFORE US, UH, TO, TO ADD 2.6 $2,678,062 TO, UH, FROM FUND 2 4 4, 1 DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS, UH, TO TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND, UH, AS WELL AS TRANSFER $42,500 TO ISLAND REC AND TO APPROPRIATE $85,500 TO THE SOLICITOR BUDGET.
I BELIEVE ALSO FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
IS THAT, AND I'LL SECOND THAT.
CAN WE DISCUSSION ON THAT? I KNOW ISLAND REC IS SPECIAL TO YOU GUYS, BUT WE WERE LIMITING 5% TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
THAT'S WHAT WE JUST DID TO THE SOLICITOR.
YOU'RE ASKING FOR A 34% INCREASE FOR THE ISLAND REC CENTER.
AND AS I REMINDED YOU, MR. REEDS, HE NEVER ANSWERED MS. HOWARD'S QUESTIONS AND HE NEVER PRESENTED A LINE ITEM BUDGET HERE.
WE ARE JUST LIKE THE SOLICITOR.
SO I'M, I'M GETTING TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION HERE.
FRANK WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THAT.
FRANK ANSWERED EVERYTHING WE'VE ASKED MS. HOWARD WAS THE QUESTION WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT A MINUTE.
COULD NOBODY'S SUPPOSED TO SPEAK UNTIL THE PRESIDING OFFICER CALLS ON YOU? SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE, SIR.
OH, I'M JUST SAYING, UM, I WAS RUNNING THAT MEETING AS VICE CHAIR AND MS. HOWARD ASKED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY QUESTIONS AND DID NOT GET ANY RESPONSES AND THERE WAS NO LINE ITEM BUDGET PRESENTED.
SO IF MS. HOWARD WANTS OKAY, TOM, THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS THAT FRANK, SO PROVIDED THAT HE TOLD US, AND IF HE DIDN'T, WE SHOULD HAVE WENT BACK TO HIM TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE HE'S VERY FORTHCOMING WITH EVERYTHING HE GIVES.
YEAH, I I THINK HE'S ALREADY BEEN HERE TWO OR THREE TIMES.
PRESENTING EVERYTHING IN LINE ITEMS. AND I'M SURPRISED TO HEAR, ALICE, YOU DIDN'T GET THAT.
SORRY, ALICE, WOULD YOU GET THAT TO ME AND I'LL GET THAT FOR YOU TOMORROW.
IT'S UM, SINCE WE GIVE THEM QUARTERLY APPROPRIATIONS, THEY DIDN'T PRESENT, UH, A LINE ITEM BUDGET LIKE OUR DEPARTMENTS DO, BUT THEY DID PRESENT A BUDGET PACKET THAT HAD, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT FOUR PAGES OF INFORMATION IN IT.
YEAH, I REMEMBER, I THINK VALERIE SENT AN EMAIL BACK TO HIM THANKING HIM FOR SUBMITTING IT AND THAT IT WAS, I THOUGHT WHAT YOU NEEDED.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY MY FAULTY MEMORY OPERATES, YOU KNOW, JUST A PASSID.
DID YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS? I CAN'T, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET A SPEAKER HOOKED UP SO THE PEOPLE ON ZOOM CAN SPEAK WELL.
CAN I GO WHY THEY'RE SETTING THAT UP? YEAH, SURE.
I WANNA SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU, LARRY.
UM, YEAH, I REALLY WISH WE WOULD'VE TAKEN THESE SEPARATELY, UM, BECAUSE YEAH, I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS MR. LAWSON HAS ABOUT THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.
UM, THEY COULD HAVE CAME AND PRESENTED AND I MEAN, WE ARE ONE OF THEIR, ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE WE ARE THEIR BIGGEST, UM, FUNDER, CORRECT? I THINK SO.
OUT OF FOUR COUNTIES, WE PROVIDE 72%, 72% TOTAL BUDGET.
YOU KNOW, I'VE MADE THIS COMMENT BEFORE, WE PROVIDE 72%, AND THAT'S THE EXACT NUMBER.
IT'S LITERALLY WHAT WE DO IN THE UN AND IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE FUNDING THE MAJORITY AND STILL NOT SEEING ANYTHING OUT OF IT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT SEEING ANYTHING OUTTA THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE, BUT AGAIN, WHY ISN'T EVERYBODY ELSE PUTTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF SKIN INTO THE GAME? SO WE'RE ALREADY PAYING 72% AND NOW THEY WANT US TO PAY EVEN MORE OF IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE IT STRUCTURED WHERE THEIR LAWYERS LIVE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THOSE LAWYERS DON'T TRAVEL TO THOSE OTHER COUNTIES TO WORK.
UM, SO I WILL HAVE TO VOTE DOWN BECAUSE THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE IS ON.
LET, LET ME, UH, SEE HERE IF I THINK I'M HEARING MR. UH, CUNNINGHAM MAKING A SUGGESTION THAT HE WANTS TO AMEND THE AMENDMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU SEE IF THE MAKER OF THE MOTION AND THE ONE WHO SECONDED IT WOULD WITHDRAW? AND THEN JUST DAVID, IF YOU'RE CAN MAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A LOT OF OBJECTIONS TO THAT.
IS THERE JOE'S ON THERE? THAT WAS MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION BEFORE WE STARTED.
I KNOW MR. PASSMAN, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OH, OH, YEAH.
UM, I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING IS AN UNCONSCIONABLE ACT.
I AM DISTURBED THAT WE HAVE A $2.6 MILLION HOLD TO FILL BECAUSE A DEPARTMENT DIDN'T PRODUCE THEIR BUDGET CORRECTLY.
AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS A RECURRING AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GOING TO BE TAKEN OUT OF OUR SURPLUS FUNDS.
SO NOW WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT $2.6 MILLION EACH AND EVERY YEAR.
WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING WITH ILE REC, AND WE'RE GONNA DO THE SAME THING FOR THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.
IF WE ARE GOING TO CONTEND THAT WE WANT A BALANCED BUDGET, IF WE'RE GONNA PUT SOMETHING IN, WE HAVE TO FIND OUT
[02:00:01]
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TAKE OUT OF THIS BUDGET? I WILL VOTE NO ON THIS FIRST READING.WELL, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE CURRENTLY FUND DSN $2.4 MILLION EACH YEAR.
SO THAT INCREASE WAS ABOUT $200,000 IN THEIR INSURANCE LINE ITEMS. IT WAS JUST LEFT OUT OF THIS BUDGET.
IT WAS INADVERTENTLY, IT WAS NECESSARY.
DIDN'T THEY NEED TO HAVE, I'M GLAD WE CAUGHT IT BEFORE.
I UNDERSTAND TREATING, BUT NO, I GET IT.
I'M JUST DEALING WITH THE ISSUES HERE.
OF THESE THREE ITEMS, IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME OBJECTION IN PARTICULAR TO HAVING ONE OF THE ITEMS REMOVED.
WILL THE P THE MAKER OF THE MOTION ON THE SECOND AGREE TO TAKE THE SOLICITOR'S ITEM OUT OF THERE AND LET THE OTHER TWO PROCEED? NO VOTE.
OWNER OF THE PACKAGE IF IT FAILS AND SOMEBODY ELSE CAN MAKE ANOTHER MOTION INDIVIDUALLY, I GUESS.
OKAY, WE WILL THEN THE, WITH THAT REFUSAL, WE WILL CALL THE QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT.
AND THE AMENDMENT IS TO INCLUDE THOSE THREE ITEMS FOR THOSE THREE, UH, VENDORS.
UM, AND YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS THAT WERE MADE WITH THE MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARAM, YOU? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON? YES.
CHAIRMAN PASSMAN? NO, IT'S YOU, LARRY, AND VICE CHAIR MCGILL.
SO WE WILL NOT BE ADDING THOSE ITEMS TO CHANGE THAT.
NOW WE WILL GO TO THE FIRST READING, WHICH WE HAVE A, UH, MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND THE FIRST READING IS THE ORDINANCE TO MAKE THIS, THE, THE APPROPRIATION FOR THIS, UH, BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 TO GO THROUGH.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MATTER? IS THERE A MOTION ON FLOOR? MR. CHAIRMAN? THERE IS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? OKAY.
RECALL THE ROLL AGAIN, PLEASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER BAROLO, YOU? NO.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
[17. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.]
I REMEMBER 17.IT'S THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LE THANK YOU DENISE.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1 24, ENDING JUNE 30, 25.
AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO MILLAGE INCREASE HEARING THERE A DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION.
I HAVE TO PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? WELL, WE HAVE A PRESENTER IF YOU WANT, OR, OH, SORRY.
SHE'S SIMPLY GONNA SAY GO AHEAD.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I JUST WANNA SHARE TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, MS. TABER HAS ALREADY MENTIONED OUR COUN, OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION UNANIMOUSLY CERTIFIED OUR BUDGET LAST TUESDAY ON THE 21ST.
AND I WANNA ALSO REITERATE THAT OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR REQUIRES NO MILLAGE INCREASE IN BOTH THE OPERATIONS BUDGET AND THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET.
I'D LIKE TO PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? NO SEEING,
[02:05:01]
NO OBJECTIONS.[18. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRODUCT FUNDING REQUEST (FISCAL IMPACT: Based on current value of a mil this funding is estimated to be approximately $8.1M for a three year period. Should the County have the ability to transfer this mil from another fund, temporarily and for a period up to three years, the funding of this request would not increase taxes but will reappropriate existing funds. Additional funding is expected from the SC Department of Commerce to support this initiative)]
MUCH.I ITEM 18 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRODUCT FUNDING REQUEST, WHICH IS $8.1 MILLION FOR A THREE YEAR PERIOD.
YOU HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS FIVE.
YOUR, WHAT WAS THAT QUESTION? I THOUGHT IT WAS FOR FIVE YEARS.
SAYS THREE YEAR PERIOD IN, IN THE RECOMMENDATION COMING FORWARD WAS, OR THE COMMITTEE WAS FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE RESOLUTION SAYS FIVE, I BELIEVE.
IS THE FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT INCORRECT HERE? IF IT SAYS THREE YEARS, THEN IT IS.
AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION, IT'S NOT AN ORDINANCE CORRECT STATEMENT OF, SO IT'S
NO, NO, IT IS FIVE YEARS NOW, RIGHT? IT IS FIVE YEARS, MR. DAWSON.
DID YOU GET A I'M WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND SENTENCE THERE, TOM? SHOULD THE COUNTY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER THIS MILL FROM ANOTHER FUND TEMPORARILY AND FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE YEARS, THE FUNDING FOR THIS REQUEST WOULD NOT INCREASE TAXES.
IT WILL APPROPRIATE EXISTING RE REAPPROPRIATE EXISTING FUNDS.
IS THAT A FIVE YEAR PERIOD AS WELL? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION WAS FOR THREE.
AND SO THE A IS JUST CARRIED OVER.
DENISE DOES THAT SHOULD BE, THAT BE FIVE AS WELL? THANK YOU.
THE RESOLUTION NOTES FIVE YEARS.
I'M ASKING YOU IF THE SECOND SENTENCE SHOULD BE FIVE YEARS PROBABLY.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CONTRADICTION.
IF IT ISN'T, SO IT SHOULD BE FIVE.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY CONFUSION ON IT? OKAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON IT? SEEKING NO DISCUSSION.
I'D LIKE TO PASS THIS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? DID YOU GET A MOTION? I'M SORRY.
A MOTION AND A SECOND? I, I DID, YES.
AND NOW I'M JUST MOVING INTO THE APPROVAL.
GLAD YOU'RE ALL LOOKING OUT FOR ME.
ANYBODY OBJECT? NO OBJECTIONS.
[19. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO COMMIT FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARTHUR E. BROWN REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER]
NUMBER 19, APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION AND COMMIT FUNDS TO BE PROVIDED FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE AUTHOR E BROWN REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.UH, MAY I HAVE A, A, A MOTION FOR IT? I'LL DO THE MOTION.
AND A SECOND, I'LL SECOND THANK YOU.
UM, THIS IS TO, YOU KNOW, APPROVE THE FULL REQUEST AND TO ASK THEM TO REIMBURSE US.
THAT'S THE QUESTION I HAVE HERE.
IT SAYS TO COMMIT FUNDS, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY, WELL, IT DOES PROBABLY SAY IT IN THE BACKGROUND.
BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY PUT IT OUT THERE FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS, UH, ANYBODY, UH, FROM THE STAFF ABLE TO, UH, DISCUSS THIS ON WHAT THE AMOUNT OF THE FUNDS ARE THAT WE ARE APPROVING A RESOLUTION CONSIDERING APPROVING A RESOLUTION FOR IT'S 7.5.
THAT WOULD BE, UH, BOND PROCEEDS.
SHOULD YOU APPROVE THE, UM, BOND REFERENDUM THAT SHOULD COME FORWARD, UM, AT THE NEXT FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING? YEAH.
BOND, BOND ISSUANCE REFERENDUM.
SO THIS SAYS THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITS 7,500,000 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARTHUR E. BROWN REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.
THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OUT OF THE RESOLUTION.
IS THAT THE AMOUNT? 7,500,000? YES, SIR.
WE TALKED TO THE, THE BOND AGENTS, WE TALKED TO, UH, ABOUT THAT PREDICTS IS THAT THE $6 MILLION AND THE, UH, REVENUE, UH, THE $6 MILLION, UM, WOULD COVER THEIR COVER, THEIR COST, AND THE, UH, INTEREST INTEREST, UM, RECEIVED ON THAT FUNDS WOULD COVER THE 7000007.5 MILLION.
SO THIS IS APPROVAL OF RELU SOLUTION TO COMMIT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF 7,500,000 TO BE PROVIDED FROM THE COUNTY TO THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARTHUR BROWN REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, ARE WE THE ONLY ONES FUNDING THIS PROJECT? NO.
WHO ELSE IS HELPING FUND THE STATE A BOND ISSUANCE THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR? MAY AS WELL GET UP THERE AND TELL US THE, SO THE BOND ISSUANCE, WE ARE ISSUING THE BONDS, BUT WE ARE NOT PAYING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.
THOSE COSTS WILL COME FROM TCL AND THEIR DEBT PAYMENT WILL COME FROM THEIR REVENUE COLLECTED TO NOT A COST TO THE COUNTY.
THEY HAVE A CURRENT BOND ISSUANCE THAT THEY'RE, UH, I THINK THEY HAVE ONE MORE YEAR TO PAY OFF.
WE DID THIS FOR THEM SEVERAL YEARS BACK.
SO WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
AND, UM, THEY PAY FOR THE ENTIRE PAYMENT, DEBT
[02:10:01]
PAYMENT.SO IT'S NO COST TO THE COUNTY, NOT TO THE GENERAL FUND, NOT TO ANY OF OUR OTHER FUNDS.
IT COMES STRICTLY FROM THEIR FUND.
AND THE, THE STATE HAS ALLOCATED 10 MILLION, CORRECT? YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND TCL ITSELF IS ALSO PUTTING UP ANOTHER TWO AND A HALF, RIGHT? YES, THEY ARE.
I REMEMBER FROM GRANTS THE PRESENT, AND I ASKED THOSE QUESTION THEN IF THEY WERE GONNA GO TO JASPER COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, THEY SAID YES, THEY'RE GONNA GO TO THEM TO ASK HELP FUND JASPER COUNTY.
AND I THINK JASPER COUNTY'S MADE SOME TYPE OF COMMITMENT MADE.
UM, THEY, THEY DID GO OUT AND GET FUNDS FROM EVERYWHERE ELSE.
BUT WE ARE NOT FUND, I MEAN, IT'S NOT COMING FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? I'M, YES, SIR.
GONNA CALL A QUESTION WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS? SEEING NONE THE MATTER PASSES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE YOU GO ONTO THE NEXT ONE, UM, THOSE LAST TWO ITEMS WE JUST PASSED.
UM, I, I, I, I, UM, I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU, I'M, I'M, I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE CREATIVE FINANCING HERE, DENISE, BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU MADE IT HAPPEN.
THANK, HE'S SAYING HE'S GONNA MISS YOU, DENISE.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, DENISE HAS ACCEPTED A POSITION IN DORCHESTER COUNTY AS THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND SHE'LL BE LEAVING US SHORTLY.
[20. APPROVAL TO COUNCIL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT TO ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED AT THE FORT FREMONT PRESERVE AND HISTORY CENTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY]
UM, ITEM NUMBER 20 IS APPROVAL OF COUNCIL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT TO ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE VOLUNTEER SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED AT THE FORT FREMONT PRESERVE AND HISTORY CENTER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY.MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? I SO MOVE, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION.
THIS WILL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS? THE
[21. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE NOMINATION OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY “CAROLINA BRIGHT” ESTUARY SYSTEM INTO THE NATIONAL ESTUARY SYSTEM]
MATTER PASSES ITEM NUMBER 21, APPROVAL OF ANOTHER RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE NOMINATION OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CAROLINA BRIGHT ESTUARY SYSTEM INTO THE NATIONAL ESTUARY SYSTEM.MAY I HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION IF DAVID WANTS TO SECOND IT.
AND I THINK IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE CAROLINA BITE.
I THINK THERE'S ACR CAROLINA BRIGHT.
I THOUGHT WE WENT OVER THIS LAST TIME AND IT WAS BRIGHT.
IS IT BRIGHT OR BRIGHT? DO WE KNOW? BRIGHT B-I-G-H-D.
UM, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? DO I HAVE A MOTION OR A SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION AT YOU? CHECKING? NO DISCUSSION.
I'LL PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
[22. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH BEAUFORT COUNTY’S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY LIST]
ITEM 22, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH BEAUFORT COUNTY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY LIST.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I MOTION A MOTION.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NO DISCUSSION MATTERS.
SHOULD PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTIONS? THE MATTER PASSES
[23. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT RT6]
ITEM 23, APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF PROJECT RT SIX.MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? ALL MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS MATTER SHOULD PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
ARE THERE ANY OBJECTIONS? HEARING NO OBJECTION.
[24. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS TO HARGRAY AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF FUNDS WITH HARGRAY FOR BROADBAND SERVICE EXPANSION ON ST. HELENA ISLAND (FISCAL IMPACT: $163,000; funded by ARPA, Account 2330-40-0000-54110; site development)]
MATTER PASSES ITEM 24 IS APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ALLOCATION OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.ARPA FUNDS TO HARRAY AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR USE OF THE FUNDS WITH HARRAY FOR BROADBAND SERVICE EXPANSION ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND, FISCAL IMPACT $163,000 FUNDED BY OPERA.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE? I'D LIKE TO OFFER THAT MR. CHAIRMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? I THEN TO SAY THIS IS NEEDED AND WELCOME.
IT IS NEEDED AND I BROUGHT THIS UP IN COMMITTEE.
UH, I I HOPE IT GOES THROUGH AND I KNOW IT'S A MUCH NEEDED PROJECT OUT THERE.
I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH USING TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR, FOR SOLELY FOR A FOR PROFIT COMPANY TO EXPAND THAT SERVICE.
SO I'D BE VOTING NO ON THAT, DESPITE I KNOW IT'S NEEDED.
WE'VE HAD THESE DISCUSSIONS FOR A WHILE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND YEAH, I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH IT.
UM, IT DID NOT, IT DID NOT GO OUT TO BID.
THE ONLY CONTACT WE MADE WAS WITH HAR GRAY, AND THAT WAS CONFIRMED WITH US DURING THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I KNOW IT'S ARPA FUNDS, PEOPLE CAN SAY, OH, IT'S NOT BE FOR COUNTY MONEY, BUT IT'S STILL TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR A PROFIT COMPANY.
UM, FORTUNATELY I CANNOT VOTE FOR IT.
I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE, UM, JUST LIKE I DID LAST TIME AS WELL.
FURTHER DISCUSSION, MR. CHAIRMAN.
ALL I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE
[02:15:01]
BEEN ASKING FOR IN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IS BROADBAND.AND SOMETIMES, UM, WHEN, WHEN SOMEBODY COME KNOCKING ON THE DOOR, UM, IT'S HARD TO SAY NO.
SO, UM, THERE ARE OTHER CARRIERS OUT THERE THAT, UM, ARE TRYING TO GET FUNDING AS WELL, AND THOSE THINGS WILL COME, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY CARRIER NOW THAT HAS COME FORWARD, UH, WITH THIS EFFORT.
SO, UM, I THINK THERE MAY BE A BETTER DEAL OUT THERE, BUT AS SOON AS WE CAN MORE COMPETITION, UH, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN START BUILDING ON MR. GLOVER.
WITH ALL RESPECT THOUGH, WE'RE LETTING THEM BUILD A MONOPOLY BY DOING THIS, THOUGH.
SO GETTING OTHER CARRIERS IN HERE IS GONNA BE HARDER AND HARDER TO DO WHEN THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN.
AND WE'RE PUTTING THE BILL, THERE ARE ALL THE CARRIERS THERE NOW.
UM, THEY'RE NOT PROVIDING ANY KIND OF SERVICES STUFF, SO IT'S, YEAH, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT I, I THINK IT'S NEEDED.
I WOULD JUST SAY THIS PLUS A TOUCHY, YOU KNOW, AT MY CHURCH, WE ARE RIGHT NOW PAYING TWO CARRIERS JUST FOR SERVICES.
I MEAN, SO WE CAN GET SERVICES AND STUFF, BUT YEAH, HOPEFULLY, UM, WE CAN END UP WITH JUST ONE.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE PAYING TWO JUST TO GET THE KIND OF SERVICES WE NEED.
THERE, THERE, THERE ARE OTHER CARRIERS, BUT THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO, UH, TAKE ON THESE PROJECTS SIMPLY BECAUSE IN THE RURAL AREA, THE, THE HOMES, THE RESIDENTS ARE SO FAR APART UNTIL THEY DON'T SEE THE, THEY DON'T SEE THE RELEVANCE OF MAKING A PROFIT, HAVING TO RUN THOSE, UH, LINES, UH, SUCH LONG DISTANCE WITH VERY FEW HOUSES TYING INTO THEM.
SO THE HARRE STEPPED FORWARD AND IS ACTUALLY TAKEN ON THE PROJECT.
SO I, I, I APPLAUD 'EM FOR, UH, FOR ACTUALLY, UH, RUNNING THESE, UH, LINES, UH, BROADBAND ACCESS INTERNET FOR WOW, UH, FOLKS AND ALL, THEY, THEY RUN THE LINES UP TO THE HOUSE AND THE HOMEOWNER HAS TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE INSIDE THE HOUSE.
SO SOMETIMES THEY RUN THE LINES THERE AND NOTHING HAPPENS.
WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE.
THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION UNLESS THERE'S FURTHER DISCUSSION.
I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WHEN WE DID DO THE NUMBERS, IT'S, I BELIEVE IT WAS 125 HOUSES.
AND THE AVERAGE HARDWARE BILL IS A HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE, A HUNDRED TWENTY $5 ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE.
SO THEY DO STAND TO MAKE MONEY WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS TO CLEAR THAT.
I'M SORRY, I, I'M BO BALLED IT.
THEY, TO MAKE MORE MONEY THAN THAT, I'M GONNA CALL A QUESTION.
LISTING OBJECTIONS ON PART OF MR. CUNNINGHAM.
AND AN OBJECTION ON MR. BARTHOLOMEW.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
MUCH.UH, ARE THERE CITIZEN COMMENTS? UH, DO I HAVE A LIST? OKAY, JUST ONE.
I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK LAST TIME YOU RECURED MR. SMITH.
MR. SMITH, UH, HOW ARE YOU? THANKS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, WHAT'S GONNA COME OUT WITH MY MAIN FOCUS TODAY WAS JUST TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS, UM, WATER.
WE, WATER WE GOT IN THE COUNTIES IN THESE, UH, FIELD DITCHES.
UM, BUT WHEN, WHEN I HEARD, HEARD THE COUNTY STAFF GOT UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THESE, UH, TRASH BAGS, PLASTIC BAGS, AND IT FAILED.
AND THEN WE SAID THEY, THEY, THEY SAID THAT, UH, THEY STILL WANTED THE COUNTY, THE STAFF TO WORK ON THAT.
THAT'S A, THAT'S, THAT'S A, A WASTE OF OUR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
AND HAVE THE ATTORNEYS TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY TO COME UP HERE AND, AND, AND TALK ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS.
WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE LOSING LIVES EVERY DAY IN THIS COUNTY RIGHT HERE.
AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HOW, HOW WE CAN ATTRACT BUSINESS OWNERS TO EMPLOY THESE KIDS AND TO EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE TO GET JOBS TO HELP OUT OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT THAT'S THE RELEVANT CONVERSATION THAT WE SHOULD BE HAVING.
I SEE MR. TULE, MR. TULE WAS, WAS IN, WAS, WAS IN THE BACK.
I WAS WAITING TO SEE WHETHER HE WAS COMING FORWARD TO SAYING, HOW ARE WE GONNA BUILD THIS AND STIMULATE THIS, THIS ECONOMY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BESIDES THE AIR STATION IN, IN, UH, IN, IN PA IN OUR PARIS ISLAND, IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IN, IN, IN THIS GOVERNMENT PLACE.
SO I'M A LITTLE RATHER DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
BUT ANYWAYS, I GET DOWN TO GET DOWN TO THE NIXON CRANNY.
I'M, I'M COMING HERE TODAY BECAUSE THE FACT OF THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DITCHES ON ST.
ISLAND AND THISES TO DARFORD COUNTY THAT ARE FULL WITH WATER.
BUT WE HAVE THE APARTMENT WHO'S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THAT
[02:20:01]
NOW.AND SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT LIKE THIS.
I DON'T SEE, I DON'T SEE WHERE THESE GUYS ARE WORKING AT IN, IN TERMS OF, OR, OR, OR FEMALES OR STAFF IN TERMS OF TAKING CARE OF THESE DITCHES.
I DON'T SEE WHERE, WHERE WE ARE GETTING BANG FIVE BUCK OR WHERE THE, THEY'RE ACTUAL, I SEE FROM TIME TO TIME THE TRACTORS THAT ARE PARKED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT I DON'T SEE WHERE THEY'RE MOVING.
NOW I'VE HEARD THEY MOVE ON THE, ON THE, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BROAD.
AND YOU KNOW, I, I'VE SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE, UM, I BELIEVE HIS NAME IS MR. UH, STEVEN, OR, UH, THEY HAVE A, THEY HAVE A, UH, I WAS TOLD ONE TIME, YEAH, I COULD SPEAK TO THE FOREMAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I, I THINK HIS NAME MIGHT BE, UH, MR. STEVEN, MR. STEVEN OR SOMETHING.
IS THAT THAT WHO IT IS? MS. ATKINS? IS THAT WHO? OKAY, WELL, OKAY, WELL, I GUESS YOU DON'T KNOW.
BUT ANYWAYS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME, SOME, SOME, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THESE DITCHES BE DUG.
UH, ALSO, I NOTICING TOO, THAT WE ARE, WE ARE ALLOWING A LOT OF BUILDING THAT'S GOING ON THAT WAS GOING IN THE BLUFFING.
I KNOW THAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS SIDE OF TOWN NOW THE DEERS THAT THE DEERS ARE RUNNING MORE RAPIDLY, WE'RE CUTTING, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO CUT DOWN ALL THESE TREES.
WHERE'S THE WATER GONNA GO? WHERE'S THE WATER GONNA GO? WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO, WHO, WHO THAT'S THEIR JOB TO REGULATE THAT.
WHO'S, WHO'S DOING THAT? IS EVERYBODY EYES CLOSE? IT'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON, ON THE SIDE OF BROAD.
NOW ARE WE, ARE WE GONNA ALLOWED TO GO ON? JUST, JUST A QUESTION.
AND MR. CUNNINGHAM, YOU LOOK, YOU LOOK PUZZLED.
DON'T, DON'T, DON'T BE PUZZLED.
I'M JUST BRINGING THESE, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK A LOT OF PUZZLE LATELY.
I I'M PUZZLED 'CAUSE YOU SAID YOU WANNA STIMULATE THE ECONOMY THAT COMES WITH CONSTRUCTION.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A SUCH FUNNY SENSE OF HUMOR SOMETIMES.
BUT YEAH, I WANTED ADDRESS YOU WITH THAT.
THAT WILL CLOSE OUT THE CITIZEN COMMENTS AT THE END OF
[EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
THE MEETING.WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'LL NEED A MOTION TO DO THAT.
AND THAT WILL BE FOR DISCUSSIONS OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO A PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER CONCEPTUAL PLAN.
RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY CLAN PRIVILEGE THAT THE FUSS, ISLAND FERRY SERVICE, DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT, APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMO MOTION, DISCIPLINE OR RELEASE OF AN EMPLOYEE OF STUDENT OR A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY OR THE APPOINTMENT OF A PERSON TO A PUBLIC BODY.
MAY I HAVE A, PRIOR TO TAKING THAT ACTION, SHOULD WE MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND EIGHT O'CLOCK? I I WAS GONNA GO AHEAD AND LET THE CHAIRMAN GET A VOTE ON THIS AND THEN ASK HIM TO SOLICIT A MOTION TO EXTEND.
OKAY, SO, UH, WE'LL PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION OR ANY OBJECTIONS, HEARING NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NOW I'LL TAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND EIGHT O'CLOCK.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND BEYOND EIGHT O'CLOCK.
ANY DISCUSSION, HEARING, NO DISCUSSION.
EXCUSE US, WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN WE WILL RETURN AND TELL YOU IF THERE'S ANY ACTION WE HAVE TO TAKE AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION CAN RECONVENE.
THIS, UH, THIS, UH, SESSION OF COUNSEL WILL TELL YOU WE HAVE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THERE ARE NO MATTERS NEEDING A MOTION FOR ANY ACTION TO TAKE PLACE THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT.