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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[1. Call to Order]
GOOD MORNING.I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH, 2024 AT 10:00 AM TO ORDER, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,
[2. Pledge to the Flag]
I ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHO IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD,[3. Invocation – Reverend Steve Salvas, Grace Community Church]
INVIS WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE.ALL IF YOU'LL CONTINUE STANDING WHILE WE SAY THE INVOCATION.
TODAY WE HAVE REVEREND, UH, SLEEVE, SALA FROM GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH.
FATHER IN HEAVEN, THERE IS NO AUTHORITY OTHER THAN THAT WHICH IS GIVEN BY YOU.
AND YOUR WORD MAKES CLEAR THAT IN YOUR SOVEREIGNTY, YOU PLACE PEOPLE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AND THAT INCLUDES IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
SO THANK YOU FOR OUR MAYOR, FOR THE MEMBERS OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL, FOR THEY'RE ACCEPTING THE CALL FROM YOU TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND LORD, AS THEY CONSIDER RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO THE GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT TODAY.
GRANT WISDOM, PLEASE, YOU'VE GIVEN US DOMINION OVER YOUR CREATION.
WE'RE COMMANDED TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF YOUR HANDIWORK.
SO PLEASE BLESS THE COUNCIL AND GRANT MUCH WISDOM, MUCH FORESIGHT IN THEIR DECISION MAKING, MAKE CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT.
MAY CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK AND TRAVEL HERE.
AND WE WILL TRUST YOU WITH RESULTS.
MAY THERE BE MUCH GRACE, UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT DURING THE ENTIRETY OF THIS MEETING, AND MAY YOUR PEACE AND PROTECTION BE ON US ALL.
[4. Adoption of the Agenda]
MOVE.YES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS SUBMITTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[5. New Business]
CONSIDERATION[a. Consideration of a Resolution of the Town of Hilton Head Island Authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement with Beaufort County for the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Project]
OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AUTHORIZING MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT.BEFORE WE GO INTO THIS, UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF POSSIBLE.
A HUGE THANKS GOES OUT TO SENATOR DAVIS, TO THE COUNTY, TO THE STATE, AND REALLY THE TOWN STAFF FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT THEY HAVE PUT INTO THIS EFFORT, THIS PROJECT.
THERE ARE OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
WE'VE HEARD 'EM, WE'VE READ 'EM, WE'VE LISTENED TO 'EM.
IT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED WITH OPEN EYES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING LOOKED AT CLEARLY WITH FACTS AND WITH KNOWLEDGE.
SO I ASK YOU THAT AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THIS MEETING TODAY, THAT WE DO HOLD DECORUM, AS THE REVEREND SAID, AND WE HOLD RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER BECAUSE THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
SEVEN YEARS HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS AND IT'S TIME TO MAKE A DECISION.
I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S COME OUT AND SPOKEN, WHETHER IT BE IN PERSON, WHETHER IT BE ON THE PHONE, WHETHER IT BE VIA TEXT, WHETHER IT BE AN EMAIL.
BUT UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR VOICE HAS AN OPPOSING VOICE AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO 'EM ALL, WHICH WE HAVE DONE.
SO I KNOW MS. BECKER HAS ASKED TO SAY A FEW WORDS, SO I'M GONNA LET HER DO THAT.
AND OF COURSE IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO BEGIN WITH, I'LL ALLOW YOU TO DO THE SAME.
AND I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO DID TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE OR CALL OR TEXT.
UM, I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THEM ALL.
I DID READ THEM ALL HAVE, HOWEVER, AND I WOULD SAY THAT 98%
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OF THE EMAILS, TEXTS, PHONE CALLS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE SET, HEARD, AND BEEN A PARTY TO ARE IN FAVOR OF US SAYING NO TO THIS BRIDGE.AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT SAFETY OR NEW BRIDGE THAT MEETS TODAY'S GUIDELINES, IT'S JUST THAT WE DON'T WANT THIS BRIDGE TO THAT END, I HAD REQUESTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO IN AN EMAIL THAT WE ASK OUR SENATOR TO WORK WITH US TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION TO BEING REQUIRED TO HAVE A VOTE TODAY.
SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WENT ANY FURTHER.
BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY, SOMEONE MADE THE DECISION THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO, THE REASONS FOR AN EXTENSION WOULD BE TO ALLOW US TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND VET THE MOA AS YOU'VE JUST WITHIN THE LAST 48 HOURS, BEEN ABLE TO RECEIVE IT SO THAT WE COULD HEAR FURTHER FROM YOU WITH DETAILS THAT ARE WRITTEN INTO THAT MOA.
THE REASON FOR THAT EXTENSION WOULD BE TO ASK WHY IT IS THAT THE INDEPENDENT STUDY CONSULTANTS REPORT, WHICH WAS DELIVERED TO THE INDEPENDENT STUDY COMMITTEE, WHICH FAILED BY A TWO TWO VOTE, WHICH BY THE WAY WASN'T COMPLETE A HUNDRED PERCENT UNDER EVERY ASPECT OF THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT, THAT BE REVISITED WHEN IT IS COMPLETE WITH A HUNDRED PERCENT UNDER EACH SCOPE OF WORK PIECE OF SCOPE OF WORK.
FURTHER TO ASK WHY IT IS THAT THAT INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT'S REPORT HAS NOT YET BEEN DELIVERED TO THIS BODY, THIS TOWN COUNCIL HAS NOT RECEIVED THE INDEPENDENT STUDY, UH, REPORT.
THAT IS A MISSING PROCEDURAL STEP, WHICH I THINK IS CRITICAL GIVEN THE FACT THAT BETTER THAN $400,000 OF TAXPAYER MONEY, UM, WENT TO PAY FOR THAT.
SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY.
I FRANKLY THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A MOTION TODAY, UM, TO POSTPONE A VOTE UNTIL THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND WE'VE RECEIVED THAT REPORT AND, UM, WE HAVE IT A HUNDRED PERCENT COMPLETE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS ON ALL OF THAT.
UM, NOW THAT WE POSTPONE ANY CONSIDERATION OF A VOTE TODAY BASED ON THE REASONS THAT I JUST GAVE.
AND I'D BE HAPPY IF SOMEONE WOULD SECOND MY MOTION.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION PLEASE? IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SEEING? NO, YOU KNOW, SECOND MOTION FAILS.
ALRIGHT, WELL, I'M NOT SURPRISED BY THAT BECAUSE I THINK MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO I RESPECT WHO ARE MY COLLEAGUES HERE HAVE MADE UP THEIR MIND.
BUT I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF TIME TO, UH, BRING, TO ADDRESS MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT I'D LIKE THEM TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE WE DO GET TO THAT VOTE TODAY.
SO WITH GREAT RESPECT, UM, AND KNOWING THAT WE SEE THE WORLD IN A MUCH DIFFERENT WAY FROM A LARGE EXTENT, EACH OF US UP HERE, I JUST WANNA TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MUTUAL LOVE THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS ISLAND AND WHERE THAT LOVE COMES FROM FOR SOME ON OUR DAES AND MANY IN THIS ROOM, THAT LOVE COMES FROM THE VERY EARTH BENEATH YOUR FEET BECAUSE IT'S YOUR LAND FROM GENERATIONS AGO THAT ESTABLISHED THE FIRST VILLAGE COMMUNITY AND TOWN ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND SO THIS LAND IS PRECIOUS AND YOUR LOVE RUNS DEEP.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT FOR OTHERS OF US, WE WERE BROUGHT HERE BY THE EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM OF THE VISION OF CHARLES FRAZIER.
AND CHARLES FRAZIER BROUGHT IN THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST TO COMPETE TO CREATE
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HIS VISION.AND, UM, MR. AMES IS, UM, SHOULD BE HIGHLY RESPECTED FOR THE WORK THAT HE DID IN FURTHERING THAT VISION WITH CHARLES FRAZIER AND FRED HACK AND THE REST.
AND SO THANK YOU, DAVID, FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID.
BUT I ALSO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE REST OF US WHO CAME HERE AFTERWARDS AND WHY IT IS THAT WE LOVE THIS ISLAND.
AND WE TALK OFTEN ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND THE SENSATION THAT WE GET WHEN OUR WHEELS TOUCH THE PAVEMENT AND WE BEGIN TO CROSS OVER THE WATER TO THIS BEAUTIFUL MAJESTIC PARADISE.
A MAJESTIC PARADISE THAT WAS BUILT BY AGAIN, THE VISION OF CHARLES FRAZIER, WHERE BETWEEN 1957 AND 8 19 85, THE SEA PINES PLANTATION RECEIVED 32 CITATIONS AND AWARDS.
THE LAND USE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EARNING THE LAND INSTITUTE'S HERITAGE AWARD, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
ONLY ONE OTHER DEVELOPMENT HAS EVER RECEIVED THAT AWARD.
AND THAT WAS THE NEW YORK ROCKEFELLER CENTER.
SO I WANNA RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE A BOOK THAT I'VE READ PREVIOUSLY, BUT I WAS UP AT 3:00 AM THIS MORNING REREADING, REREADING EVERY WORD IN IT BECAUSE THE TITLE IS THE EVOLUTION OF A TOWN.
AND IT WAS WRITTEN BY BUZZ CARTA, AND I HOPE I'VE PRONOUNCED IT RIGHT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ, READ IT, READ IT.
IT SPEAKS TO THE HISTORY OF THE ISLAND FROM THE BEGINNING.
IT SPEAKS TO THE ISSUES OF GROWTH AND OVERDEVELOPMENT AND LAND PLANNING AND THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN, ALL OF WHICH WERE SPECIFICALLY INITIATED AND TAKEN UNDER CONSIDERATION IN FULFILLMENT OF THE COMMUNITY'S GOALS.
THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMUNITY'S GOALS TO PREVENT OVERDEVELOPMENT.
THEY USED, SORRY, I'VE BEEN UP A LONG TIME.
THEY USED GROWTH MEASURES THAT INCLUDED THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS AND THEY PUT A HARD STOP ON HOW MANY DWELLING UNITS WOULD BE BUILT ON THIS ISLAND.
AND THEY DID IT TO WHICH THEY COULD HOLD ABSOLUTE AESTHETIC CONTROL.
AND THEY WERE HORRIFIED TO THINK THAT IT MIGHT GO THE WAY OF NEW YORK'S, CONEY ISLAND, MYRTLE BEACH OR CLEAR CUT FLORIDA DEVELOPMENTS.
THEY WANTED TO CREATE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
SO WHEN DEVELOPMENT IS ALLOWED TO OCCUR WITHOUT PLANNING, THE RESULT CAN BE A FORM OF DESTRUCTION.
AND SO THAT WAS THE INITIATIVE AND THAT WAS THEIR GOAL.
FRAZIER'S DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS HAVING SEVEN BASIC PRINCIPLES.
ONE, DO NOT IMPOSE DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, BLEND IT IN.
TWO, CREATE GREEN SPACE FOR PRIVACY.
THREE, KEEP DENSITY AS LOW AS PROFITABLY POSSIBLE.
AND NUMBER FOUR, CREATE ROADS FOR BEAUTY AND EFFICIENCY, NOT JUST FOR TRANSIT.
BUILD NO STRUCTURE HIGHER THAN THE TALLEST TREE AND CUT ONLY THOSE TREES THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
AND THEN SEVEN, THINK ALWAYS THINK ALWAYS OF ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BE THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLAND.
MY JOB HERE AND ALL OF OUR JOBS HERE IS TO THINK ABOUT THOSE PRINCIPLES, THOSE BASIC FUNDAMENTALS THAT HAS CREATED THE REASONS WE LOVE THIS ISLAND, THE REASONS THAT BRING PEOPLE TO OUR ISLAND TO VISIT AND THEN BRING THEM BACK TO STAY.
IF WE DESTROY THAT BY CREATING ROADWAYS THAT ARE SO IMPACTFUL TO THE ISLAND RESIDENTS, THAT THAT QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT ABILITY TO SEE ALL OF THE GREENERY, TO UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT, TO BUILD OUR LIVES INTO THAT SANCTUARY, THEN WE HAVE DESTROYED THIS ISLAND THAT YES VOTE WILL DESTROY THIS ISLAND.
SO ONE OTHER THING OR MANY OTHER THINGS, BUT I WANTED TO SPEAK TO PARKING
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WITHIN THIS BOOK.IT, IT MENTIONS CLEARLY HERE THAT ADEQUATE PARKING FOR GOLF TENNIS TOURNAMENTS AND OTHER EVENTS WAS DELIBERATELY REJECTED REMOTE PARKING AND SHUTTLE BASE BUSES WERE STILL AND STILL ARE USED FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS SPACE.
THUS FREED UP WAS USED FOR GRASSY PARKS, FOOD FESTIVAL AREAS AND ENTERTAINMENT ZONE FOR YEAR ROUND, NON-PEAK USE.
THE IDEA THAT I'VE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT FOR SEVEN YEARS THAT WE CREATE A PARK AND RIDE SYSTEM HAS GOTTEN NO TRACTION.
AND YET IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE MOA, IT'S MENTIONED AS THEY SHOULD BE FURTHER IDEAS THAT GET EXPLORED.
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS FOR SO MUCH OF WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED AND NOT FOLLOW THROUGH AND NOT CONSIDERED.
AND, AND I AM ASHAMED THAT WE SIT HERE AT THIS STAGE AND WE START TO LIST OFF THINGS THAT WE'LL NEED TO DO FOR THE FUTURE AS WE CONSIDER 123.7 FEET OF CONCRETE COMING ONTO OUR ISLAND.
MORE THAN ANY OF THE ROADS THAT I SAW IN THE LAST COUPLE DAYS OF AT CHARLESTON GOING OVER TO JOHN'S ISLAND OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
MS. BECKER, I'M JUST GONNA ASK HOW MUCH MORE YOU'VE GOT TO GO.
'CAUSE I'D LIKE, WELL, I THINK WHAT I, I, I MEAN I'M GONNA PROBABLY INTERJECT A WHOLE LOT THROUGHOUT THE MEETING, BUT I WANNA SET THE STAGE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME RIGHT NOW AND WHAT I'M DOING, MAYOR, IS TRYING TO REMIND THE MEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING AT THIS DAAS THAT THIS PROJECT, JUST LIKE THE PROJECT THAT'S DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK WITH REGARDS TO THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY, HAS THE SAME ELEMENTS, HAS THE ELEMENTS THAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO DO THIS PROJECT TO ENHANCE WHAT THEY CAN TAKE OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT CONSIDERATION FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO REMIND THE RES THE PEOPLE SITTING AT THIS DIOCESE, THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT THE RESIDENTS SITTING BEFORE THEM LISTENING AND THOSE WHO WILL FIND OUT LATER CAME HERE WITH A LOVE OF AN ISLAND, THAT IF WE TAKE THESE MEASURES, WE WILL DESTROY AND FOREVER CHANGE.
WHEN EVERYONE TALKS TO ME ABOUT THE CROSS ISLAND AND OH, THE PEOPLE WERE AGAINST THAT TOO.
AND IT'S ALL WRITTEN OUT IN HERE IF YOU WANT A LITTLE HISTORY BOOK, BECAUSE INITIALLY IT WAS GOING RIGHT THROUGH A NATIVE ISLANDER COMMUNITY.
IT WOULD'VE TAKEN OUT A NATIVE ISLANDER COMMUNITY.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO REMEMBER THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WHO ACT WORKED ACTIVELY TO GET THAT TO CHANGE.
THERE WERE MANY, MANY STUMBLING BLOCKS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, BUT THE FACT IS THAT WHEN IT STARTED IN 19, I THINK IT WAS 93 IF I'VE GOT THE DATE RIGHT IN MY HEAD, THE COMMENT WAS THAT WITH REGARD TO CAPACITY, AND EVERYONE HERE WHO HEARS ME SPEAK KNOWS THAT I SPEAK TO CAPACITY.
AND I SAY THAT FOR, IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THE CAPACITY OF THIS ISLAND HAS BEEN REACHED.
AND IF IT HASN'T YET, WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THAT FINISH LINE, WE CAN'T SEE IT.
SO IT'S A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
WHEN THE CROSS ISLAND WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, THE CAPACITY THE BUILD OUT OF THIS ISLAND WAS AT 60%.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO BRING MORE DEVELOPMENT TO THE ISLAND TO EXPAND, TO FULFILL SOME OF THE STATISTICS OF WHAT THE INCORPORATION OF THE ISLAND WAS TRYING TO DO IN A MODERATED CONTROLLED, AESTHETICALLY APPROPRIATE, ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE WAY IS NOT THE SAME.
THE CROSS ISLAND EXAMPLE IS NOT THE SAME AS THIS BRIDGE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. BECKER.
I'M GONNA ALLOW OTHERS TO MAKE COMMENTS IF THEY SO WISH AND I'LL SPEAK AGAIN LATER.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN PROCEDURALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY.
THE COUNTY IS THE SPONSOR OF THE PROJECT.
THE TOWN IS NOT THE SPONSOR OF THE PROJECT.
AND SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN THAT PUTS THE TOWN FIRMLY AT THE TABLE FOR ALL DECISIONS.
THEN ASSUMING, UH, THAT THAT AGREEMENT IS PASSED, WE'LL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION, UH, TO GRANT OR NOT TO GRANT MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
SO PROCEDURALLY THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH HERE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THAT TO BE POINTED OUT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY ONE THING.
UH, THE LOCK MUER REPORT WAS PRESENTED TO TOWN, UM, NO, IT DID NOT PASS OUT OF THE CORRIDOR COMMITTEE.
UM, BUT THE WORK WAS DONE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE REQUEST
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OF THE TOWN.AND WITHIN THE SCOPE, THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BE COMPLETED THAT ARE DOWN THE ROAD THAT WILL ADDRESS TRAFFIC AT, AT POINTS OUTSIDE OF THE STUDY CORRIDOR.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT POINT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM, I WOULD LIKE TO READ A LETTER FROM, UM, THE SECRETARY POWELL THAT I RECEIVED YESTERDAY.
AND AGAIN, YOU'LL RECALL I RECEIVED A LETTER LAST WEEK.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND INTENDS TO TAKE UP MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION FOR THE US 2 78 PROJECT AT A SPECIAL MEETING CALLED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH.
I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME COMMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, S-C-D-O-T RELATED TO THE PENDING ACTION.
AS STATED IN MY LETTER DATED JUNE 20TH, 2024.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THIS PROJECT WILL EXPIRE ON JUNE 28TH, ABSENT ACTION FROM THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
MOREOVER, I REMAIN CONCERNED OF THE EXISTING US 2 78 EASTBOUND BRIDGE OVER MACKEY CREEK WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE ABSENT A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD, SHOULD MUNICIPAL CONSENT NOT BE GRANTED ON JUNE 28TH.
I'M PREPARED TO INSTRUCT S-C-D-O-T STAFF TO BEGIN DEVELOPING A PLAN TO HELP REHABILITATE OR REPLACE THE EXISTING MACKEY CREEK BRIDGE.
ONLY GOOD, THIS COULD, THIS COULD HAVE RAMIFICATIONS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE $120 MILLION TO BUFORT COUNTY FOR THE PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT INITIATED OUT OF A DESIRE FROM BUFORT COUNTY TO REPLACE THE BRIDGES AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC OPERATIONS BETWEEN BLUFFTON AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
IN LIEU OF A SEPARATE PROJECT FOR THE MACKEY CREEK BRIDGE, ONLY S-C-D-O-T ENTERED INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENT AGREEMENT INTO GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH BUFORT COUNTY TO SERVE AS PROJECT MANAGER OF THE US 2 78 BRIDGE AND IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, AS IS STATED, PRAC AS A STANDARD PRACTICE ON ANY PROJECT OF THIS SCOPE AND SIZE.
S-C-D-O-T HAS ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC BUFORT COUNTY, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND OTHER INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS IN SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND STUDIES RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
THIS HAS RESULTED IN A MODIFIED RECOMMENDED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE THAT GENERALLY CONFORMS TO THE LOCK MUELLER RECOMMENDATION ON MAY 16TH, 2024.
THEY SENT A LETTER TO INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN ROBINSON, INDICATING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS WILLING TO PROCEED WITH A MODIFIED RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE PER SE.
CODE SE CODE SECTION 57 DASH FIVE DASH EIGHT 10 CDOT IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
WHEN A PROJECT OCCURS WITHIN A MUNICIPALITY EXCEPT FOR STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT OR FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE, BRIDGES THAT CROSS THE ATLANTIC COASTAL INNER WATERWAY FOR THIS PROJECT, S-C-O-D-T HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT ELEMENTS BETWEEN THE BRIDGE APPROACH AND THE CROSS ISLAND PARK PARKWAY NEATE NECESSITATE MUNICIPAL CONSENT UNDER STATE LAW.
WE ARE AT A JUNCTURE WHERE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND NEEDS TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
I'M RECEIPT OF THE DRAFT MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION.
IT IS SE DOT'S POSTURE THAT IT REQUIRES A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION CONSISTENT WITH ITS STANDARD TEMPLATE WITHOUT FURTHER STIPULATIONS.
THEREFORE, I REQUEST THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND INTENDS TO APPROVE MUNICIPAL CONSENT, IT ADOPT A RESOLUTION WITH OUR STANDARD TEMPLATE.
WITH NO ADDITIONAL STIPULATIONS BEING PLACED ON S-C-D-O-T, I AM AMENABLE TO DELETING LANGUAGE RELATED TO UTILITIES AS REQUESTED BY THE TOWN.
AS THE TOWN DOES NOT OWN OR OPERATE A MUNICIPAL UTILITY, I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL MAKE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO THE CROSSING FROM HILTON HEAD, FROM LEFT END OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC GATEWAY ONTO THE ISLAND.
IT IS MY INTENT THAT IF THE PROJECT DOES PROCEED, S-C-D-O-T INTENDS TO DELIVER A QUALITY PROJECT THAT MEETS THE STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS AND IMPROVES TRANSPORTATION ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
TO THAT END, I WANT TO OFFER THE ATTACHMENTS TO THE PROPOSED STIPULATIONS AS A GOOD FAITH EFFORT THAT S-C-D-O-T INTENDS TO COOPERATIVELY PURSUE THIS PROJECT WITH BUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S-C-D-O-T APPRECIATES THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE ARE PREPARED TO DELIVER A QUALITY PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
SINCERELY, JUSTIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SENATOR TOM DAVIS TO COME UP NOW AND SPEAK, UM, TO SOME OF THE EFFORTS THAT HE HAS PUT INTO THIS OVER THE PAST.
UM, THANK YOU MAYOR MEMBERS COUNCIL.
UM, IT'S HELPFUL FOR ME TO KIND OF TABLE SET, UM, BEFORE I MAKE COMMENTS 'CAUSE IT HELPS ME KIND OF ORIENT MYSELF, UH, MY MY ROLE IN THIS AND, AND I THINK THE LEGISLATIVE ROLE IN THIS, UM, IS CONSTRAINED TO SOME EXTENT.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN ONE IN REGARD TO, UM, FACILITATING AND ENSURING AND ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, WHETHER THAT INVOLVES THE S-C-D-O-T, UH, INCREASING THEIR APPROPRIATIONS, WHETHER IT'S, UH, MAINTAINING THE $120 MILLION
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FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK OR SUPPLEMENTING THAT, WHETHER IT'S IN REGARD TO TALKING TO BUFORT COUNTY ABOUT A AND PAYING SALES TAX TO COVER A DELTA AND COST, UH, UH, SHORTFALLS, OR WHETHER IT'S ADVOCATING THAT THEY USE BINDING AUTHORITY TO DO THAT, WHETHER IT'S WORKING WITH THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS TO GET A CAPITAL APPROPRIATION OR IF IT'S GOING TO WASHINGTON DC AND TRYING TO SECURE A, A FEDERAL, UH, APPROPRIATION.SO, UM, THE FIRST ROLE I THINK THAT I CAN CONSTRUCTIVELY PLAY IN THIS IS A FINANCIAL ONE.
UM, LET ME SAY THAT THE POSTURE OF IT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I'M GONNA USE ROUND NUMBERS, IS THERE'S APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION.
UM, I I THINK THAT IS, IS EARMARKED OR IN THE BANK FOR THIS PROJECT.
UM, I THINK THAT LEAVES A DELTA OF ABOUT $160 MILLION.
UM, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THIS COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO IN REGARD TO MUNICIPAL CONSENT, UM, MY JOB AND THE JOB OF THE DELEGATION WILL BE TO INTERFACE WITH THE TOWN, THE COUNTY, UH, THE DOT, THE SIB, UH, THE, THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, UH, FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO COME UP WITH THAT ADDITIONAL $160 MILLION.
IT'S MY OPINION, UM, BASED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF, UH, HILTON HEAD TO THE ECONOMY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT WE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT REGARD IN SOME RESPECT.
I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WOULD BE BETWEEN THOSE VARIOUS SOURCES OF MONEY, BUT I'M CONFIDENT GIVEN THAT THE IMPORTANCE THAT HILTON HEAD HAS HAS TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT WE'D GET THERE.
SO WE MAKE THAT FIRST OBSERVATION.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST JOB I THINK I HAVE.
THE SECOND HAS BEEN, AND, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO Y'ALL BEFORE, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN HAS ENOUGH TIME AND ENOUGH SPACE AND ENOUGH RESOURCES TO COME UP WITH A DECISION THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP OF, AND THAT YOU THINK IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD WANT.
THAT THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN REALLY SORT OF MY PRIMARY OBJECTIVE THROUGHOUT THIS.
I I DIDN'T WANT THERE TO BE A SITUATION WHERE WHAT COMES ONTO THIS ISLAND, UM, ENDS UP BEING A DOT DESIGN PROJECT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD DON'T EMBRACE, DON'T FEEL OWNERSHIP OF, DON'T LIKE.
UM, SO IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DOT BEING THE CONTRACTOR AND, AND THE, AND THE BUILDER, UM, IRRESPECTIVE OF BUFORT COUNTY BEING THE PROJECT MANAGER, TO ME, I'VE ALWAYS LOOKED TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND Y'ALL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD AS BEING THE PRIMARY DETERMINANT OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS GOES FORWARD OR NOT.
AND, AND I THINK THAT THE DOT IN THIS LETTER RECOGNIZES THAT AS WELL AS CHRISTIE HALL DID BEFORE.
SO, UM, IN, IN REGARD TO YOUR DECISION, UM, AND, AND I WANT TO AFFIRM WHAT MS. BECKER SAID.
I, IF THE DECISION OF THIS COUNCIL IS THAT MORE TIME IS NECESSARY, UM, I WOULD DO MY BEST TO EXTEND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT TO, UM, DO TEAM.
I, I WOULD, I WOULD DO WHAT I COULD TO IMPLEMENT THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL.
UM, AND, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN EA ASSESSMENTS GRANTED IN THE PAST, UM, AND, AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVEN'T BEEN GRANTED.
SO I, I DON'T WANNA SPECULATE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THAT EFFORT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF IT IS THE POSITION OF THIS COUNCIL THAT THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO, THAT WOULD BE MY MARCHING ORDERS.
BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO CARRY OUT IS THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL.
SO LET ME, LEMME LEMME MAKE THAT POINT RIGHT UP FRONT AS WELL.
UM, I, I DO THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, THAT SECRETARY POWELL SAID IN THAT LETTER THAT YOU JUST READ.
MAYOR, UM, ABSENT A MUNICIPAL CONSENT TODAY AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER OR NOT AN EA IS ULTIMATELY GRANTED AND EXTENDED, ONE OF THE IMPLICATIONS BASED ON WHAT HE SAID IN HIS LETTER AFFIRMATIVELY, IS THAT THEY WILL BEGIN TO, UM, ENGINEER AND MAKE PLANS TO EITHER REPLACE OR REPAIR, UH, THE MACKEY SPAN.
AND SO THAT IS JUST A, A REALITY AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WHAT I CAN DO IS PRESENT FACTS TO YOU ALL AND THEN YOU DECIDE HOW THOSE FACTS INFLUENCE YOUR DECISION.
BUT, BUT I HAVE TALKED TO SECRETARY POWELL.
UH, HE IS CONCERNED THAT, UM, THEY MADE THE DETERMINATION SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT THAT SPAN WAS, WAS STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT OR APPROACHING.
ITS, ITS, UH, DETERMINATION OF ITS USEFUL LIFE, UM, FROM A LIABILITY STANDPOINT AND FROM A FIDUCIARY STANDPOINT.
UM, SECRETARY PER EMPHASIZED TO ME THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO GO FORWARD AND THEY WILL HAVE TO START MAKING PLANS TO REPLACE A REPAIR, THE FIRST SPAN OF MACKEY IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN TODAY.
AND, AND THAT'S NOT MEANT TO PUT A GUN TO YOUR HEAD.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO SAY YOU HAVE TO DO ONE THING OR THE OTHER.
THE BEST I CAN DO IS PRESENT YOU WITH THE FACTS.
AND THAT IS, THAT IS A FACTUAL CONSEQUENCE OF WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE TODAY.
UH, I'LL ALSO SAY THAT FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS I'VE WORKED WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK JOHN WHITE IN TALKING ABOUT THE $120 MILLION, UM, ALLOCATION THAT WAS MADE, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT BY THE SIV, I BELIEVE IN THE
[00:30:01]
YEARS OF RUNNING TOGETHER.WAS IT 2019 THAT WE GOT THE, UM, OR 2020 THAT WE GOT THE AWARD? IT'S, IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, I I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK IS UNDER A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE BY LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO TAKE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO IT AND THAT IT IS ALLOCATED TO PROJECTS TO ACTUALLY TRANSLATE THAT INTO PROJECTS BEING, BEING BUILT.
UM, AND, UM, AND, AND SO AS IS SUGGESTED BY SECRETARY POWELL IN THIS LETTER, A NON MUNICIPAL CONSENT TODAY IS GOING TO HAVE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS ON THAT $120 MILLION AS WITH THE EA.
UM, IF THIS COUNCIL DECIDED THAT IT WANTED TO HAVE MORE TIME, I WOULD NOT ONLY WORK TO HAVE THAT EA EXTENDED, I WOULD WORK TO HOLD THAT $120 MILLION IN.
AND SO I'M NOT TELLING YOU THAT TOMORROW, IF MUNICIPAL CONSENT ISN'T GRANTED THAT $120 MILLION AS SHEETS BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND AND IS ALLOCATED TO ANOTHER PROJECT.
I'M NOT TELLING YOU THAT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TRUE.
I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT, I WOULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT AS BEST I COULD, THAT THEY OUGHT TO CONTINUE HOLDING THAT $120 MILLION.
BUT AGAIN, AS WITH THE EA AND THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF WHETHER THAT'S EXTENDED A FACT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT THAT $120 MILLION BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO HOLD IN, IN THE ABSENCE OF A MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
SO, SO LEMME KIND OF, THAT'S KIND OF MY WAY OF TABLE SETTING.
UM, AND LEMME JUST MAKE THIS OTHER GENERAL OBSERVATION AS WELL.
UM, THIS PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS WORKING THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
UH, WE, WE TALK A LOT AS POLITICIANS ABOUT HOME RULE AND THAT THE PEOPLE CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL GOVERNING BEST IN THESE REGARD BECAUSE THEY GET FEEDBACK DIRECTLY FROM RESIDENTS TO A DEGREE AND TO AN EXTENT THAT PEOPLE UP IN COLUMBIA OR PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON DC DON'T, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW HOME RULE IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
UM, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW A PROCESS LIKE THIS IS SUPPOSED TO UNFOLD.
AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, I MEAN, WITH THAT EXCEPTION ACROSS THE BOARD AND IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR POSITION, I HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUSLY IMPRESSED WITH THE TIME, THE EFFORT, THE INPUT, UM, THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS.
EVERYBODY HERE IS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH.
UM, I I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THAT IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.
NOW, A COUPLE OTHER OBSERVATIONS.
UM, I CAN'T GET INTO THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS.
UM, SECRETARY POWELL MADE A DETAILED RESPONSE IN REGARD TO THE CONDITIONS THAT YOU ALL FORWARDED TO HIM.
I MEAN, I GUESS IT WAS A DRAFT, UH, LIST OF CONDITIONS.
AND HE HAS TO HIS CREDIT, UM, AND HIS STAFF TO HIS CREDIT, SPENT A LOT OF HOURS AND LATE NIGHTS PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THIS, IN THIS LETTER.
SO, SO FOR PURPOSES OF, OF YOUR ROLE, UM, AND IN TERMS OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS SUFFICIENT, IF, IF, IF THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INCLINED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CONSENT, YOUR INQUIRY WOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, TO WHAT DEGREE DOES THIS LETTER RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE AND AFFIRM THAT YOUR CONCERNS ARE GOING TO BE FOLDED INTO THEIR PLANS? TO THE EXTENT THAT IT IS NOT TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS LETTER DOES NOT ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS, UM, I THINK THAT, AND NOT NOTWITHSTANDING SECRETARY POWELL SAYING HE WANTS A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CONSENT, UM, YOU SHOULD NOT HESITATE TO APPEND TO THAT CONSENT.
ANY CONDITIONS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE ARE NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED IN THIS LETTER.
OKAY? AND THEN IT WOULD BE MY JOB, THE DELEGATION'S JOB, TO EXPLAIN TO HIM WHY THEY WERE APPENDED AND, AND, AND TO HAVE HIM ACCEPT THAT.
UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK AT THE LAST MEETING AND I THINK PROPERLY.
SO I THINK, UM, UH, MS. BRYSON BROUGHT IT UP, AND I THINK MAYBE SOME OTHERS DID AS WELL, MR. AMES, THAT THERE OUGHT NOT BE JUST A BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME SORT OF, OF A BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN AND THE DOT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT'S AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, AND LET'S JUST SPEAK TRUTHS THERE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME STRAIN BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERNS THAT THE COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH WHAT THE TOWN WANTS TO HAVE HAPPEN.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO HAVE THAT BILATERAL UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DOT DIRECTLY AS OPPOSED TO JUST SIMPLY INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH THE COUNTY WITH AN MOU, UM, IN TERMS OF PROCESS, NOT SUBSTANCE.
'CAUSE YOU'VE GOTTA DECIDE IN REGARD TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THIS LETTER AND, AND, AND IF AND WHERE IT'S DEFICIENT, UM, IN REGARD TO PROCESS, UM, THIS LETTER AND THE AFFIRMATIVE DECLARATIONS MADE BY THE DOT IN THIS LETTER COMBINED WITH WHATEVER ADDENDUMS YOU PUT ONTO THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT, IN MY JUDGMENT, THAT CONSTITUTES THE SORT OF BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP THIS COUNCIL DESIRES IN ORDER TO HAVE A DIRECT SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH THE DOT AND NOT INDIRECTLY THROUGH BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO I, I JUST MAKE THAT OBSERVATION AS A MATTER OF PROCESS,
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UM, IN, IN CONCLUSION.AND THEN I'LL ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE, UM, THIS PROCESS IF IT MOVES FORWARD.
UM, AND I THINK THE, THERE'S BEEN TESTIMONY EARLIER THAT IT'S APPROXIMATELY 30% ENGINEERED NOW, WHAT WAS IT, 30 TO 35% ENGINEERED, WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT IS.
UM, IF THIS WERE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND LET'S JUST HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAK IN TERMS OF IF A CONSENT WERE GIVEN, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING EITHER WAY, BUT IF A CONSENT WERE GIVEN, UM, EITHER WITH CONDITIONS OR WITHOUT CONDITIONS, UM, THERE WOULD THEN BE A PROCESS THAT I WOULD ENGAGE IN ALONG WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION TO ENSURE THAT THOSE CONDITIONS WERE DISCHARGED.
UM, TO MAKE APPROPRIATION ADVOCATIONS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY FOR APPROPRIATION REQUESTS TO WORK WITH THE TOWN AND POTENTIAL A TIF DISTRICT TO GO TO WASHINGTON DC AND TALK WITH THE FEDERAL DELEGATION TO COME UP WITH THE FUNDING THAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE WHAT YOU ALL ENVISION AND WANT A REALITY.
THAT PROCESS IS GONNA TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO MOVE FROM, FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, EVEN IF THE CONSENT IS GIVEN, I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD THEN BE FOR THE DOT TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO, UH, FEDS FOR A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, WHICH WOULD TAKE MONTHS, I WOULD IMAGINE.
UM, THERE MAY BE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, THAT THAT WOULD INVOLVE ACTION BY THIS COUNCIL.
UM, IF THAT WERE THEN TO BE GIVEN, THAT FINDING WOULD BE GIVEN, YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE DOT COMPLETE THE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK AT WHICH YOU'D BE AT THE TABLE PARTICIPATING.
UH, THAT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS.
YOU WOULD THEN HAVE TO LET OUT ON AN RFP PROCESS AND GET PEOPLE TO BID, UH, TO BUILD THE PROJECT.
THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT RFP AND, AND THE STIPULATIONS ON THAT RFP TO FURTHER SHAPE WHAT THIS PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.
I GUESS THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS, UM, I, I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ALMOST LIKE THE THIRD INNING OF A BASEBALL GAME OR THE FOURTH INNING.
AND, AND THERE, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO BE DONE, EVEN IF YOU GIVE A CONSENT, UM, WHICH IS GOING TO ENTAIL YOUR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
I, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, THAT ONE OF MY PRIMARY OBJECTIVES THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND IT'S REFLECTED IN THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FOR THE, THE, UM, GULLAH GEECHEE, UH, ECONOMIC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE MONEY FOR ST.
JAMES BAPTIST CHURCH TO MOVE IT MONEY FOR MITCHELLVILLE, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER FUNDS FOR, FOR THE MITIGATION EFFORTS.
UM, IT IS A TOP PRIORITY OF MINE BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY AT THE DEUS UP THERE, UM, WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE NORTHERN END OF THE ISLAND HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY BORN, UH, THE BRUNT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH IN HILTON HAT AND TO SENATOR.
UH, I MEAN, UH, REPRESENTATIVE BROWN'S POINT THE OTHER DAY THAT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED BACK IN 2001, IN 2002, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.
ONE OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT'S COME OUT OF THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, IN MY OPINION, IS MOVING THAT THEORETICAL NEED TO MITIGATE TO THE FRONT BURNER TO A POINT WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY DECIDING HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND, AND SO I THINK THAT'S AN EXTREMELY POSITIVE THING IRRESPECTIVE OF, OF HOW THIS ENDS UP AND HOW THIS TURNS OUT.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT NOW HOW TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS TO STONY, THAT BEGAN WHEN THE BRIDGE WAS PUT IN, YOU KNOW, UM, 59 60 WHENEVER IT WAS.
UM, I THINK THIS COUNCIL FOR THE, I DON'T WANNA SAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT YOU ALL HAVE TAKEN SOME PROACTIVE STEPS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
I MEAN, THE LEADERSHIP, Y'ALL SHOWED COMMUNITY, THE CDC, FOR INSTANCE, EXTREMELY POSITIVE.
SO, SO ANYWAY, THAT'S BY WAY OF TABLE SETTING.
THAT'S BY WAY OF WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO OR DO NOT GIVE CONSENT.
UH, THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS IN REGARD TO HOW TO EFFECTIVELY ESTABLISH A BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DOT AND THE TOWN DIRECTLY.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I'M GONNA SIT HERE AND BE PRESENT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS SO THAT IF OTHER QUESTIONS COME UP AND IF I CAN HELP YOU ANSWER THEM, UM, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO SO.
WELL, I APPRECIATE MR. MAYOR, YOU ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS YOU.
UH, ANY ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL AT THIS TIME? MS. BECKER, SIR? UM, THANK YOU.
UM, AS USUAL, UH, YOU HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THE FACTS IN YOUR, UM, OFFERING TO BE, UM, INCREDIBLY COOPERATIVE AND HELPFUL TO US SO THAT WE CAN REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY TO OUR BEST ABILITIES.
QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS, YOU MENTIONED, UM, $300 MILLION THAT YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IS IN A BUCKET OF, SO CORRECT ME IF I DON'T HAVE THIS, UM, THESE NUMBERS RIGHT? THAT WOULD BE 80 MILLION FROM THE 2018 PENNY TAX REFERENDUM.
THAT'S PURPOSE WAS TO REPAIR AND OR REPLACE THE EXISTING SPANS OF THE BRIDGES TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN MOSS CREEK DRIVE AND SQUIRE POPE ROAD 120 MILLION FROM THE SIB
[00:40:01]
AND THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.AND THEN I'M ASSUMING 90 MILLION THEREABOUTS FROM THE ANTICIPATED PENNY TAX BUFORT COUNTY IS GOING TO PUT ON A REFERENDUM, OR IS THAT COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE? NO, THAT'S NOT, THAT, THAT PARTICULAR PIECE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE 3 MILLION DO A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, I THINK IS IN HAND THE REMAINING BEYOND THAT 80 MILLION WITH THE PENNY SALES TAX 2018 AND THE $120 MILLION SAID GRANT, BASED ON MY CONVERSATION WITH THE SECRETARY POWELL, I THINK THERE IS A COMMITMENT BY THE DOT TO CONTRIBUTE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, UH, TO THE PROJECT, WHICH BRINGS IT UP TO 300 MILLION.
I'M USING ROUND NUMBERS THAT MAY BE A MILLION DOLLARS EITHER WAY, BUT I DID THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF, OF ARTICULATING WHAT THE DELTA IS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE ESTIMATES THAT RECENTLY CAME BACK, I THINK PROJECT A COST OF FOUR 60 MILLION, 470 MILLION, WHATEVER IT IS.
SO I, I DID THAT EXERCISE TO KIND OF IDENTIFY IF, IF WE MOVE FORWARD, WHAT I WOULD THEN HAVE TO DO ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DELEGATION TO COME UP WITH THAT 160 MILLION AND WHAT THE POTENTIAL SOURCES WERE.
THAT'S WHERE THE PENNY SALES TAX IN NOVEMBER WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COUNTY CONTRIBUTION TOWARD THAT DELTA.
NOT, NOT, NOT IN CON, NOT, NOT IN TERMS OF THE $300 MILLION IN HAND, BUT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO DEFRAY THAT ADDITIONAL AMOUNT.
AND, UM, WHETHER THAT SUCCEEDS OR NOT, UM, THAT MONEY WOULD BE EARMARKED FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND BRIDGE, WE IN CORRIDOR PROJECT TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT THAT THEY CAN'T COMPLETE.
SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY DID IN, UH, MS. BECKER IN 2018 AND SETTING THE $80 MILLION ASIDE, THAT WOULD BE, I I SHOULD SAY THIS AS WELL.
I, I THINK, UM, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL'S DECISION, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU WHAT I'VE INFERRED BASED ON CONVERSATIONS IS THAT IF THE PENNY SALES TAX WERE TO FAIL AND THEY WEREN'T TO GET THE $80 MILLION FROM THAT PENNY SALES TAX, I THINK THERE IS SOME POLITICAL WILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO UTILIZE EXISTING BOND CAPACITY TO COME UP WITH FUNDS TO COVER THAT DELTA.
NOW, NOW, AGAIN, THAT'S SUBJECT TO A MAJORITY VOTE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT, BUT IN TALKING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE PENNY SALES TAX FAILS, I MEAN THE COUNTY'S GOING TO HAVE TO, IT'S A PRACTICAL MATTER WHEN YOU GOTTA COME UP WITH $160 MILLION SOMEWHERE.
AND, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU CAN'T GET IT THROUGH A PENNY SALES TAX THIS NOVEMBER, I THINK THE COUNTY WOULD'VE TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER USING EXISTING BONDING CAPACITY TO MEET THAT LOCAL, LOCAL PIECE.
WE'VE HEARD PUBLICIZED RECENTLY THAT THE THREAT, UM, OF FAILING WOULD, UM, INCREASE OUR TAXES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL SEE THAT FOR THE AVAILED THREAT THAT IT IS.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, UM, THE TOTAL THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, 188,000,004, NOT 104 HUNDRED 88,000,492, I'VE HEARD ALSO MILLION DOLLARS THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, INCREASE OVER TIME.
THAT'S A, THAT'S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, WITH THIS PROCESS AND, AND AS, AS, UM, LANDSCAPING AND BEAUTIFICATION NEEDS BECOME MORE SPECIFIC AND IDENTIFIED MM-HMM.
AND, AND AS WE BECOME MORE SPECIFIC IN REGARD TO WHAT SORT OF MITIGATION EFFORTS WE WANNA MAKE FOR STONY MM-HMM.
AND IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE, IF, IF THAT'S THE COURSE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE, IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE ADVOCACY ON THE PART OF THE DELEGATION MM-HMM.
BUT LEMME MAKE THIS OBSERVATION BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE USED TO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ENJOYED HAVING SENATOR WADDELL BACK IN THE SEVENTIES, UH, IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, AND HE WAS THE SENATE FINANCE CHAIRMAN, AND HE BROUGHT A LOT OF MONEY TO, TO BEAUFORT COUNTY IN THAT POSITION.
AND THEN WE HAD LIKE THREE DECADES IN THE WILDERNESS AFTER HE LEFT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WESTON NEWTON LIKES TO TELL THE STORY ABOUT WHEN HE WAS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, UH, HE TRIED TO GET $25,000 FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT SUN CITY HILTON HEAD.
AND S-D-D-O-T SAID, WE DON'T HAVE 25,000 HOURS TO GIVE YOU.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE, THE WHOLE ATTITUDE WAS THE PEOPLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ARE RICH, THEY'RE WEALTHY, YOU KNOW, THEY OUGHT TO BE CONTENT WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.
DON'T EXPECT ANY MONEY FROM THE STATE.
WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT HAS SOME BEARING ON THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS GOING FORWARD, MM-HMM.
IS, IS THAT OUR DELEGATION RIGHT NOW, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DELEGATION IS BY FAR THE STRONGEST IN, IN THE STATE.
AND LEMME TELL YOU WHY I SAY THAT.
UM, WESTON NEWTON IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
BILL HART PERMAN IS VICE CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS JEFF BRADLEY IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE REGULATORY COMMITTEE.
CHAIR ERICKSON IS CHAIRMAN OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.
I'M CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE LABOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMISSION, UH, COMMITTEE.
CHIP CAMPSEN IS CHAIRMAN OF FISH GAME AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE DOUBLED THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIPS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT THAT TRANSLATES INTO.
AND I'VE, AND I'VE SAID THIS TO MY CONSTITUENTS ON THE STUMP FOR THE LAST YEAR
[00:45:01]
OR SO, THAT 20 YEARS AGO IT WAS GREENVILLE, SPARTANBURG THAT GOT A LOT OF THE ATTENTION AND APPROPRIATIONS AND HAD A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER.IN RECENT 10 YEARS, IT'S BEEN THE BERKELEY COUNTY, BERKELEY, DORCHESTER, CHARLESTON GREATER AREA.
I BELIEVE THAT THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS IS BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTY'S TURN TO HAVE THE STATE STEP UP AND SUPPORT SOME OF WHAT OUR CRITICAL NEEDS ARE.
SO, SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT GOING FORWARD, UM, AND AS THE ENGINEERING PLANS ARE, ARE FLESHED OUT, AND AS THESE LANDSCAPING AND MITIGATION THINGS ARE IDENTIFIED, BE FRANK, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY.
UM, IT'S HAPPENED IN OTHER AREAS.
IT HAPPENED IN THE RAVENEL BRIDGE.
IT'S HAPPENED UP IN, IN I 85 IN GREENVILLE.
I FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO IT AS WELL.
UM, AND SO I JUST, I JUST WANNA MAKE THOSE, THOSE OBSERVATIONS TO YOU.
AND, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA BE AN ONGOING PROCESS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
I'M COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS THING A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT THE PEOPLE FELT MATTER PROUD OF.
AND WE KNOW THAT OUR DELEGATION IS STRONG AND HAS DONE INCREDIBLE WORK AND, UH, RISEN TO POSITIONS WE NEED THEM TO BE IN.
AND, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION COST IS ONE OF THE THINGS WITHIN THAT LIST OF, UM, ADDITIONAL EXPENSES THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, I WANNA MAKE SURE I SAY SO IT CERTAINLY WILL COST, UM, MORE MONEY.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS ALONG THE WAY, SHOULD WE, UM, NEED THEM TO BRING THAT, THOSE DOLLARS BACK HOME TO US.
UM, UM, SO THOSE ARE YOU, YOU SAID ONE OTHER THING THAT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE IT'S TRUE AND IT WAS TRUE BACK.
UM, IN THE DAY WHEN THE BOOK IDENTIFIES THE IMPORTANCE OF HILTON HEAD TO THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, WE ARE A WEALTHY COMMUNITY IN MANY REGARDS.
AND SO, UM, I THINK THAT SHOULD HELP YOUR ARGUMENT AND ALSO THE ARGUMENT, UM, IF WE WERE TO ENTERTAIN, UH, AN EXTENSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INDEED HAVE ALL OF OUR INFORMATION AND, AND, UM, ADVICE FROM OUR RESIDENTS TAKEN IN TO OUR CONSIDERATION AND NOT JUST, UM, THE ECHO CHAMBER THAT SOMETIMES WE'RE IN WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO OTHERS.
NO, AND I WOULD MAKE THIS COMMENT TO YOUR POINT.
UM, HILTON HEAD, I BELIEVE, UH, TALKING TO PRT, THE NUMBERS ARE, I THINK 12% OF OUR TO OF REVENUES ARE TIED TO, TO HILTON HEAD.
THERE'S ONE WAY ON AND OFF HILTON HEAD.
AND SO THAT GOES TO THE SAFETY AND TO THE, TO, UM, ON AND OFF ISSUES DURING EVACUATIONS AND SUCH.
AND IT HAS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN OF, UM, WE ARE A DEAD END.
SO SOMEONE HAD MADE THE COMMENT RECENTLY THAT THERE'S MORE CARS OR LESS CARS GOING UP AND DOWN 95, AND THAT'S TRUE, THEY'RE PASSING BY.
BUT WHEN THEY GET ON 2 78, COMING OFF IN 95 AT EXIT EIGHT OR WHATEVER EXIT THEY TAKE AND MAKE THEIR WAY DOWN THIS WAY, THEY'RE COMING TO A DEAD END.
AND THEY'RE HERE, AND THEY'RE HERE TO, UM, IMPOSE, UM, MORE CONGESTION AND MORE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY, UNLIKE WHEN THE CROSS ISLAND WAS BEING BUILT FAR AT A CAPACITY STATUS.
SO THOSE ARE ALL IMPORTANT FACTS FOR US TO REMEMBER.
AND, AND MAYOR, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
UH, UM, I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE WORKSHOP WHEN WE SAT WITH LA LA AND WENT OVER THE REPORT AS IT BEING PRESENTED TO US.
BUT, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON THAT, BUT THAT WASN'T A VOTE.
THAT WAS, UM, TO ACCEPT THE, TO ACCEPT THE REPORT.
AND I THINK THAT'S A PROCEDURAL DETAIL THAT, UM, SHOULDN'T BE OVERLOOKED.
AND THEN WITHIN THE SCTS, UM, BODY OF ITS LETTER, THE THIRD, THE THIRD, UM, PARAGRAPH, THE PROJECT, IT'S INITIATED OUT OF A DESIRE FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO READ PLACE THE BRIDGES AND IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC OPERATIONS.
UM, THIS IS THE COUNTY IMPOSING THEIR WILL ON US WITH IMPLICATIONS, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, TO OUR RESIDENTS, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, UM, THAT DO NOT BALANCE OUT WITH THE EXPENSE, UM, OF THE BRIDGE, REGARDLESS OF THE, UM, MINUTES SAVED, UM, IN EXPANDING THE, UH, ROADWAY.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WITH, FROM, WITH REGARD TO THE, UM, BODY OF S-C-D-O-T.
AND I HOPE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
[00:50:01]
GO OVER IN DETAIL, WE ARE THEIR RESPONSES.SO I WOULD LIKE TO, IF POSSIBLE, TO OPEN UP TO OTHERS THAT MAY HAVE QUESTIONS.
MS. BRYSON, JUST A QUICK THING, FIRST OF ALL, AGAIN, THANK YOU SENATOR DAVIS, AND, AND AS I SAID LAST TIME, YOU APPEARED BEFORE US LAST THURSDAY, THAT, UH, YOU'VE BEEN STEADFAST TO OUR COMMUNITY, UM, IN SUPPORT OF OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND I KNOW YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BE STEADFAST.
UM, SECONDLY, THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT, UM, THAT, UH, THERE CAN BE CONDITIONAL CONSENT, UM, THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, UH, LIMITED TO THE, THE STANDARD FORM FROM S-E-D-O-T.
UM, AND I THINK WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WE HAVE OUR DISCUSSION ON THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT AND, AND FOR BEING OUR CHAMPION WHEN WE HAVE TO, UH, TRY TO GET THOSE THINGS DONE.
MR. MAY I, MR. BROWN, ASK A FOLLOW UP TO PATSY'S QUESTION, MS. BROWN? OKAY.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, TO FOLLOW UP ON COUNCILWOMAN BRYSON'S QUESTION, UH, MR. SIN, AND AGAIN, THANK YOU.
UM, AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CONSENT WITH THE CONDITIONS, UM, ARE YOU AMENABLE TO US HAVING LANGUAGE THAT INCORPORATES THE DELEGATION AS WELL? I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.
I, I THINK, UM, AND I, I'M, I'M, I'M GUESSING HERE, YOU TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT, THAT YOUR CONDITIONS THAT YOU ARTICULATE THAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA HAVE SOME MECHANISM WHEREBY YOU HAVE SOME LEVEL OF ASSURANCE IT GETS DONE, OR THAT, OR THAT IT GETS FUNDED OR THAT IT GETS, UM, UH, IT'S NOT JUST WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
AND, UM, I THINK THE MOST EFFECTIVE VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDS FROM THE DOTS CIB, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COUNTY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROBABLY THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE THE ONES THAT COLLECTIVELY, UH, SERVE AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVES UP IN, IN, IN COLUMBIA.
UM, WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE STATE AGENCIES AND THOSE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES.
AND WE'RE ALSO, UM, HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I THINK, UM, UM, I THINK HAVING THE DELEGATION CHARGED OR DIRECTED THE DELEGATION THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU EXPECT US TO DO ON YOUR BEHALF IS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE COST OF THE BRIDGE HAS GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING.
IS THAT BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT ARE BEING ADDED TO IT, OR PURELY
UM, I THINK CERTAINLY INFLATION, UM, IS, IS A, IS A PART OF IT, BUT IT DOESN'T EXPLAIN THE EXPONENTIAL INCREASE BECAUSE THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF THIS PROJECT IS FAR BEYOND JUST WHAT ORDINARY INFLATION IS.
AND, AND I THINK THE REASON FOR THAT IS IN, IN RECENT YEARS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S THE, THE, THE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OR WHETHER IT'S JUST, UH, GENERAL ASSEMBLIES IN VARIOUS STATES APPROPRIATING MORE MONEY FOR ROAD PROJECTS, YOU HAVE MORE DEMAND, YOU HAVE MORE, YOU HAVE MORE MONEY ON THE DEMAND SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
AND THE SUPPLY SIDE OF THE EQUATION IS, IS NOT, UM, EXPANDED, UH, TO MEET THAT DEMAND.
AND SO WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO AS A CONSEQUENCE, IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO BUILD ON YOUR PROJECT, OR IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO SIGN A CONTRACT TO, YOU KNOW, TO FOLLOW THROUGH, THEY'RE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN DRIVE THE PRICE UPWARD BECAUSE THEY CAN GO ELSEWHERE.
SO I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF, OF OVERALL ECONOMIC INFLATION.
BUT I THINK IN PARTICULAR, THIS SECTOR HAS HAD A LOT OF APPROPRIATIONS, A LOT OF FUNDS SENT INTO THE DEMAND SIDE, AND I THINK THAT ALSO HAS CAUSED IT TO RISE.
UM, ANY OTHERS? ALRIGHT, I HAD A FOLLOW UP TO PATSY'S QUESTION.
UM, IT WAS PARTLY ANSWERED, UM, BY ALEX'S QUESTION FOLLOWING UP ON PATSY'S.
UM, BUT HYPOTHETICALLY, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT BEING ABLE TO INCORPORATE INTO THE DOCUMENT, UM, THE EFFORTS OF THE DELEGATION, BUT S-A-D-O-T HAS MADE IT CLEAR IN THE LETTER TO US THAT THEY WANT TO CLEAN FORM WITHOUT GIVING THEM THE CLEAN FORM, EVEN WITH THE GOOD EFFORTS OF THE DELEGATION TO ASSIST IN GETTING SOME OF THOSE CONDITIONS, UM, THROUGH WHAT HAPPENS AND WHAT WOULD THIS COUNCIL'S REACTION BE IF A CONDITION THAT YOU HAVE ON THERE ISN'T APPROVED? WHAT IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR WISHLIST, YOUR AS I THINK IT WAS REFERRED TO EARLIER IN THE CONVERSATION PORK OUT OF THIS, UM, OUT OF THIS.
I THINK THAT'S A, ARE YOU STILL OKAY WITH VOTING? YES.
[00:55:01]
A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT TO POINT OUT THAT THE LETTER THAT THE MAYOR JUST READ, UM, AND IN FACT, UM, I DON'T THINK IT WAS, IT WAS KNOWN, BUT, UM, UH, IT WAS UNDERLINED BY, BY, BY THE, THE SECRETARY TO, FOR EMPHASIS SAYING THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING A CLEAN CONSENT.AND LEMME JUST GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS ON THAT.
UM, I THINK IF YOU'RE THE DOT AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS THAT INVOLVES SUBMITTING A PACKET TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, YOU, YOU CERTAINLY, YOU WANT TO HAVE AS CLEAN A PACKAGE AS POSSIBLE.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU HAVE CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO A CONSENT, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, THEIR, THEIR FIRST TASK WOULD BE IN, IN THE EVENT CONSENT WAS GIVEN, WOULD BE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
AND, AND IT'S BEEN MY RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, YOU ALL ULTIMATELY OUGHT TO DO WHAT YOU THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND, AND IF YOU THINK THAT THOSE INTERESTS ARE BEST REPRESENTED BY PUTTING CONDITIONS UPON THAT MUNICIPAL CONSENT, THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT AS IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING THAT THEY TELL YOU AT FACE VALUE.
THERE, THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENTS BEING GIVEN WITH CONDITIONS.
IT WAS DONE WITH THE CROSS ISLAND.
IT WAS DONE WITH THE RAVENEL BRIDGE IN CHARLESTON.
SO I'M NOT DOWNPLAYING THIS AND NOT SAYING THAT IT DOESN'T COMPLICATE THINGS.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU OUGHT NOT LET THAT GOVERN YOUR DECISION.
AND TO THAT POINT TOO AS WELL, THE FACT THAT, THAT THAT $120 MILLION MIGHT BE LOST BY THE SIB, THAT OUGHT NOT GUIDE YOUR DECISION EITHER.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE, AND, AND LOOK, I THINK, I THINK, I THINK IT IS A FACTOR FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.
MM-HMM,
OKAY? BUT, BUT AGAIN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU OUGHT TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT YOU THINK ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF, OF THE PEOPLE ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THE DOT SAYS IT WANTS A CLEAN CONSENT, UH, TO FOREGO THAT.
AND, AND NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THE SIB SAYS THE $120 MILLION MIGHT, MIGHT GO AWAY, FACTOR THAT INTO YOUR DECISION MAKING.
BUT DON'T BE, DON'T LET THAT BE THE PRIMARY THING.
THE PRIMARY THING IS GETTING A PROJECT THAT YOU FEEL IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HILTON HAD WANTED, THAT THAT ULTIMATELY OUGHT TO BE WHAT GUIDES YOUR DECISION.
TO THAT, TO THAT POINT, MAYOR, UM, I HAD SUBMITTED AS OTHERS ON THE, UM, COUNCIL HAD SUBMITTED, UM, CONDITIONS.
AND, UM, IT APPEARS, UM, THAT CONFIRMATION WOULD BE FINE IF I GET THIS WRONG, THAT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO RECEIVED A LETTER BACK FROM OUR ATTORNEY, UM, INDICATING THAT, UM, S-C-D-O-T-O SAID, NO, I DON'T HEAR CONSENSUS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND SO I FEEL AS AT A DISADVANTAGE GIVEN WHAT, UM, WE'VE JUST HEARD THAT MY CONDITIONS SHOULD, OUGHT TO BE, UM, DISCUSSED AND PLACED ON THE LIST OF THOSE THAT WERE SUBMITTED.
UM, THE CONDITIONS THAT I PUT FORWARD ARE ONES THAT THE 90 PER 8% OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM, UH, HAVE ASKED FOR, AND I WAS TOLD UNILATERALLY NO AS WAS.
SO I, I I THINK THAT, UM, THE RESIDENTS ARE A DISADVANTAGE IF I'M SPEAKING FOR THEM AND I BELIEVE I AM.
I KNOW YOU'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AROUND, SO ANY WAY I CAN HELP MAYOR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
APPRECIATE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, AFTERNOON OR MORNING, MAYOR COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, UH, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU TO COUNCIL, THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY IN, IN, IN THIS ROOM FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND YOUR ATTENTION.
THIS IS, UH, A DELICATE, UH, DECISION IN, IN, IN FRONT OF YOU, I WILL SAY.
AND I WHERE'S SEAN AT? I DON'T SEE SEAN ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK.
UM, I JUST WANT TO TEE UP WHAT SEAN WILL, WILL UNCOVER AND, AND REMIND US, UH, THAT AT THE LAST MEETING, UH, BASED UPON YOUR DIRECTION, YOU ASKED ME TO WORK WITH TOWN ATTORNEY, UH, CURTIS COLTRANE AND WITH SEAN AND WITH, WITH MY TEAM TO PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE DOCUMENTS.
SO AS YOU SEE ON THE AGENDA, UM, THE MATERIALS IN THE PACKET INCLUDED TWO, TWO ELEMENT ELEMENTS.
[01:00:01]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUFORT COUNTY.SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHAT IS GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU FOR REVIEW AS WELL AS YOUR CONSIDERATION IS AN AGREEMENT.
AND WE CALL IT A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.
UH, IT SETS THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS THAT DESCRIBE AND DEFINE THE PROJECT AND PROGRAM.
I WILL SAY YOU'LL SEE SOME ELEMENTS IN HERE THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE PROJECT DESIGN, BUT ALSO MUCH LARGER IN THE SENSE OF WHAT THE PROGRAM IS TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD, UM, AND ULTIMATELY ESTABLISHES YOUR COLLECTIVE.
BUT YOUR, YOUR, YOUR VOTE OF, OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE BRIDGE, FOR THE CORRIDOR AND, AND RIGHT.
AND FROM THE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS THE BRIDGE TO SPANISH WELLS ROAD.
AND YOU'LL SEE ALSO SOME OTHER PROJECT ELEMENTS THAT WE CONSIDERED, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STONY HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD, SPECIFICALLY FOR PET AND BIKE, UM, SPECIFICALLY FOR SOME OTHER ELEMENTS.
AND THEN NEXT, JUST TO EXPLAIN THE TWO ELEMENTS AND WHY THEY'RE SEPARATE.
SHOULD YOU CONSIDER THE MOA RIGHT? SHOULD YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE OR PROVIDE SOME CLARITY AND VOTE ON THE MOA WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY? THE SECOND ITEM IN YOUR PACKET IS A CONSENT RESOLUTION.
IT'S A, IT'S REALLY AN AGREEMENT WITH S-C-D-O-T THAT BASED UPON YOUR PAST DISCUSSIONS IN TODAY'S DISCUSSIONS, YOU WANT TO ADD POTENTIALLY SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE SPECIFIC TO THE DELEGATIONS, SPECIFIC TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S A SIGNATURE SHEET OF TERMS WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE TOWN AND THE, AND THE TOWN.
UM, AND IT PROVIDES THAT YOU AGREE TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT.
AND IT'S THAT, IT'S THAT SIMPLE.
SO IF YOU AGREE TO THE PROJECT, THEN YOU'RE AGREEING TO ADVANCE THE PROJECT, AND THAT'S BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO YOU ALONG THE WAY.
WE AGREED TO IT, NOT AGREE TO IT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE'VE DONE OUR BEST AND, AND SEAN IN FRONT OF ME, I KNOW THAT HE'S DONE HIS BEST TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU FROM DIFFERENT TRAFFIC CONSULTANTS AS WELL AS, AS ALL OF YOU.
I'VE, I'VE RECEIVED YOUR EMAILS AND, AND, AND CAN'T DISAGREE, UM, AND FROM, FROM WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVES.
BUT REALLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT CONSENT AGREEMENT TO SAY, YES, LET'S ADVANCE THIS PROJECT.
AND REMEMBER THAT YOU LOOKED AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS, SAFETY, MOBILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, RIGHT? COST FUNDING.
AND THEN IF YOU AGREE AND YOU GRANT MUNICIPAL CONSENT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ULTIMATELY COMMITTING THAT THIS PROJECT WILL ADVANCE WITH DOT AND BUFORT COUNTY, RIGHT? SO THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE COMPANION PIECES.
THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE NOT SEPARATE.
ONE NEEDS THE OTHER AND VICE VERSA.
SO I'VE, I'VE DONE MY, MY VERY BEST.
I KNOW SEAN HAS AS WELL, TO, UH, PROVIDE YOU ADVICE TO LISTEN TO YOUR COLLECTIVE INDIVIDUAL AND THEN COLLECTIVE, UM, DIRECTION.
AND AT THE WILL OF TOWN COUNCIL, AS I'VE HEARD LAST MEETING, TRY TO PUT THIS AGREEMENT TOGETHER.
I, I AGREE THAT THERE'S SOME ELEMENTS THAT WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT TO MAKE SURE THEY MAKE SENSE IN THIS DOCUMENT.
AND I KNOW THAT IF WE HEAR SOME OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE IN THERE, UM, I'LL BE TAKING NOTES.
I SEE CURTIS OVER THERE AND A FEW OTHERS TAKING SOME NOTES TOO, TO HELP YOU WORK THROUGH THIS TODAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR TOWN COUNCIL, MR. ORLANDO.
I'M SEAN COLE, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER.
I'VE BEEN THE PROJECT MANAGER REPRESENTING THE TOWN OF HILAND ISLANDERS PRO PROJECT FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY, UH, TO DIS DISCUSS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT OUTLINING THE PROJECT ITEMS, EXPECTATIONS AND TERMS TO PROVIDE BUFORT COUNTY TO PROJECT SPONSOR.
UM, I WILL QUICKLY MOVE THROUGH MY STAFF REPORT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET, NOTING A FEW REVISIONS FOR CLARITY.
THE FOCUS OF WHAT I WILL COVER, UM, WILL BE THOSE ITEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE DRAFT, MOA, ORGANIZED BY PROJECT DESIGN, STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY.
I WILL READ EACH ONE THOROUGHLY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ITEMS CONTAINED WITHIN THE DOCUMENT.
I WILL NOTE SUGGESTED REVISIONS, WHICH ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE DOCUMENT TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO COUNSEL AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT THE COMPLETION.
READY? LET'S GET TO WORK, MOVING THROUGH THESE DOCUMENTS.
CAN WE TURN OFF THE AIR? EVERYONE IS FREEZING.
I HAVE MY SKI COAT ON AND I'M STILL COLD.
THIS IS EVERY SINGLE TIME WE COME HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT US ALL TO BE, WE DON'T NEED TO BE.
WE GOT ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IS, IT'S FREEZING IN HERE.
WE, WE'VE HEARD THE REQUEST AND WE'LL ADJUST THE AIR.
UM, I DO ALSO WANT TO NOTE THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL CHAIRS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE STANDING, UM, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, I'M GONNA RUN THROUGH MY STAFF REPORT PRETTY QUICKLY NOTICE, UM, AND JUST IDENTIFY A FEW REVISIONS.
UH, JOSH KREER WAS REFERRED TO AS DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY.
[01:05:01]
TOWN MANAGER.UM, THE, THE ITEMS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT RELATED TO THE PROJECT DESIGN, STONY IMPROVEMENTS AND ECONOMIC, UM, SUSTAINABILITY, UM, THEY WERE FROM THE DRAFT, MOU.
SO I MADE THE CHANGES IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND I WANNA MOVE, UH, MAYOR, I, I'M SORRY, I CAN'T FOLLOW THAT.
THESE, THESE ARE ALL, I I'M GONNA COVER ALL OF THESE.
YOU CAN ASK MY EYE DOCTOR, BUT I CAN'T FOLLOW THAT.
CAN YOU GO BACK UP TO THE IPASS SECTION? PLEASE? GO AHEAD.
MAY I JUST JUMP IN? THIS IS MS. BRYSON.
THIS IS EMBEDDED IN SEAN'S STAFF REPORT FOR CLARITY, BUT I, WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT HE GET TO THE ATTACHMENT OF THE EXACT MOU, IT'S A COPY PASTE.
LET US GO THROUGH THE MOU AGREEMENT AND BEAR WITH US FOR TWO SECONDS.
HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT IS EITHER LISTENING OR KNOWS THAT THIS WILL BE ONLINE, THAT THE EMBEDDED ELEMENTS ARE IN THE STAFF REPORT, SO THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS TO GO FIND ATTACHMENT ONE, TWO, OR THREE.
I WOULD PREFER SEAN WOULD PREFER TO GO THROUGH THAT ATTACHMENT.
AND IF, AND IF IT'S NOT SERVING YOUR PLEASURE, WE'LL GO BACK O OKAY.
EVERY, EVERY CHANGE THAT'S IN THE STAFF REPORT IS REFLECTED IN THE ATTACHMENT.
SO ATTACHMENT ONE IS A RESOLUTION, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION OF GRANTING ME, UM, UH, THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUFORT COUNTY.
THERE ARE, UH, NO REVISIONS TO THAT DOCUMENT.
EXHIBIT A TO THE MEMORANDUM OF A, UH, IS THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT TO THAT RESOLUTION.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE I WANNA FOCUS ATTENTION.
UM, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY CHANGES TO THE RAZ CLAUSES AND FOR TIME'S SAKE, I'M NOT GONNA READ THROUGH THE DOZENS OF WAREHOUSE CLAUSES THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE DOCUMENT.
BUT I DO WANNA FOCUS AND GO THROUGH SPECIFICALLY EACH ITEM THAT'S INCLUDED.
UM, AS FAR AS THE PROJECT TERMS AND EXPECTATIONS.
SO AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, THE FIRST CATEGORY IS PROJECT DESIGN.
NUMBER ONE, THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THROUGH A JOINT AND EQUAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT.
ALL DECISIONS AND APPROVALS CONCERNING THE PROJECT SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY BOTH TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL RESPECTIVELY.
MAYOR, WHEN DO WE ASK QUESTIONS? I, I WANT HIM TO GET THROUGH IT AND ASK IT AGAIN.
NUMBER TWO, THE PROJECT'S DESIGN WILL BE MODIFIED TO REFLECT THOSE ELEMENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN EXHIBIT TWO, WHICH WILL SERVE TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT'S GOALS WHILE FURTHER REDUCING AND OR ELIMINATING THE IMPACTS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS.
NUMBER THREE, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT, FEASIBLE.
THE IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSED AS PART OF THE PROJECT WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A MULTI-USE PATHWAY TO BE INCLUDED ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE PROJECT.
FROM THE INTERSECTION OF SPANISH WELLS ROAD TO THE NEW BRIDGE, AND WHICH WILL CONNECT TO THE BRIDGE VIA CONNECTION, WHICH WILL RUN UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE COMING ONTO JENKINS ISLAND.
AND ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE PROJECT, FROM THE INTERSECTION OF WINDMILL HARBOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO THE END OF THE MACKEY CREEK, BRIDGESPAN.
NUMBER FOUR, THE PROJECT DESIGN WILL PROVIDE A SEPARATION OF PATHWAYS FROM ROADWAYS TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE AND PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY PLAN, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING, A SAFE PEDESTRIAN, REFUGES AND MEDIANS, AND B, REMOVAL OF PAVEMENT AND LANDSCAPING NECESSARY TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.
UH, THE INSTALLATION OF UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN, UH, OVERPASSES AND INTERSECTION PROTECTIONS THAT WILL FACILITATE SAFE MOVEMENT OF PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ACROSS THE PROPOSED ROADWAY AREA.
D, THE INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES TO CREATE A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY CORRIDOR THAT HONORS AND ENHANCES THE CULTURAL FABRIC OF THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
THE PROJECT MUST BALANCE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT WITH A RESPECT FOR THE LOCAL OR FOR THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY'S CULTURAL VALUES, TRADITIONS, AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS STRATEGIES TO ACCOMMODATE THIS, INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING.
UH, RESPECT FOR CULTURAL LANDMARKS.
ENSURE THAT PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS RESPECT AND PRESERVE CULTURAL LANDMARKS AND HISTORICAL AREAS.
I, I, LIGHTING AND SECURITY INSTALLED ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND ENSURE PATHWAYS ARE SAFE, WELL MAINTAINED AND PATROLLED IF NECESSARY.
ENSURE PATHWAYS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND ABILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.
[01:10:01]
DESTINATIONS DESIGN PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS TO CONNECT IMPORTANT COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, MARKETS, PARKS, PLACES OF WORSHIP AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.V MULTIMODAL INTEGRATION INTEGRATE PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS WITH OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, SUCH AS PUBLIC TRANSIT STOPS AND ENHANCE OVERALL CONNECTIVITY.
VI GREEN SPACES, INCORPORATE GREEN SPACES, TREES AND VEGETATION ALONG PEDESTRIAN ROUTES TO PROVIDE SHADE, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, AND ENHANCE THE AESTHETIC APPEAL.
VII HEALTH, HEALTH INITIATIVES PROMOTE WALKING AND CYCLING AS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENCOURAGES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
VIII, CULTURAL EDUCATION RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY, IX WAY FINDING AND SIGNAGE USE RELEVANT SYMBOLS AND SIGNAGE TO HELP RESIDENTS NAVIGATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD EASILY.
X ROAD SAFETY, AUDIT AND BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PLAN.
NUMBER FIVE, THE ELEMENTS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT TWO WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT'S DESIGN ELEMENTS AS FOLLOWS, A ONE BRIDGE WITH A WIDTH NOT GREATER THAN, AND THIS WAS AN UPDATED, UM, DIMENSION PROVIDED BY S-E-T-D-O-T.
AND, UM, IN SECRETARY POWELL'S LETTER, 123 FEET, SEVEN INCHES EXTENDING FROM THE MAINLAND TO JENKINS ISLAND, CONSISTING OF THREE 12 FOOT WIDE TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION.
ONE 10 FOOT WIDE OUTSIDE SHOULDER IN EACH DIRECTION.
ONE SIX FOOT WIDE INSIDE SHOULDER IN EACH DIRECTION.
A 12 FOOT MULTI MULTIUSE PATHWAY ALONG THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
AND PHYSICAL BARRIERS, PROTECTING THE EDGES OF THE BRIDGE AND SEPARATING VEH, VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ONE BALLAL REFUGE OF 50 FEET IN LENGTH AND 20 FEET IN WIDTH OVER THE MACKEY CREEK, AND ONE BALLAL REFUGE OF 50 FEET IN LENGTH AND 20 FEET IN WIDTH OVER THE SKULL CREEK.
PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THESE DESIGN ELEMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL OF REDUCING TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT, UH, EXTENT THAT IS POSSIBLE, THE WIDTH OF THESE VARIOUS ELEMENTS, THEREBY REDUCING THE OVERALL WIDTH OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH WILL SERVE TO REDUCE THE VISUAL IMPACTS OF THE BRIDGE, AND THEN REDUCING THE FUNDING GAP THAT IS CURRENTLY PRESENT FOR THE PROJECT.
FIVE B THREE TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION THROUGH THE JENKINS ISLAND SECTION OF THE PROJECT, WHICH ARE EACH 12 FEET IN WIDTH.
C3 TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION THROUGH THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY, CONSISTING OF TWO TRAVEL LANES, WHICH ARE EACH 11 FEET IN WIDTH.
AND ONE TRAVEL LANE, WHICH IS 12 FEET IN WIDTH.
D ALL JENKINS ISLAND TRAFFIC WILL BE ROUTED TO WINDMILL HARBOR INTERSECTION AND THE JENKINS ROAD INTERSECTION WITH WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
E ACCESS TO HOG ISLAND, MARINERS COVE, BLUE HERON POINT, JENKINS ISLAND CEMETERY, HILTON HEAD, RV RESORT, AND HILTON HEAD HARBOR MARINA WILL RUN, WILL BE FROM A NEW FRONTAGE ROAD TO BE LOCATED ON JENKINS ISLAND F THERE WILL NOT BE A US HIGHWAY 2 78 PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THE WINDMILL HARBOR INTERSECTION.
GV VEHICLE ACCESS TO HOG ISLAND BLUE HERRING POINT AND MARINERS COVE WILL BE MOVED FROM SOUTHERN SIDE TO NORTHERN SIDE OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 WITH A NEW UNDER BRIDGE CONNECTION.
H LANDSCAPED MEDIANS OF VARYING WIDTHS WILL BE INSTALLED.
A BALANCE, SAFETY PROPERTY IMPACTS AND AESTHETICS.
I THE CURB CUT AT MEMORY MATTERS.
ONE 17 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY WILL BE REMOVED.
THE MEDIAN CUT, LEFT TURN MOVEMENT FOR ACCESS TO THE CRAZY CRAB RESTAURANT 1 0 4 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, WILL BE RE RELOCATED FURTHER WESTWARD TOWARD THE ADJACENT TOWN OWNED PROPERTY.
OKAY, ONE ELONGATED LEFT TURN LANE FROM EASTBOUND WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY ONTO SQUIRE POPE L ONE RIGHT TURN LANE FROM SOUTHBOUND SQUIRE POPE ONTO WESTBOUND WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
UM, A NEW RIGHT TURN LANE WILL BE PROVIDED FROM EASTBOUND WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY ONTO CHAMBERLAIN DRIVE, AND THE INTERSECTION OF WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY AND SPANISH WELLS ROAD AND WILDHORSE ROAD WILL BE MODIFIED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS.
I TWO LEFT TURN LANES FROM NORTHBOUND SPANISH WELLS ROAD TO WESTBOUND, WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY.
[01:15:01]
THROUGH LANE, OR EXCUSE ME, ONE THROUGH LANE FROM NORTHBOUND SPANISH WELLS ROAD TO WILDHORSE ROAD, I I I ONE RIGHT HAND TURN LANE FROM NORTHBOUND SPANISH WELLS ROAD TO EASTBOUND WILLIAM MILTON PARKWAY.IV ONE LEFT HAND TURN LANE FROM SOUTHBOUND WILDHORSE ROAD TO EASTBOUND WILLIAM MILTON PARKWAY, V ONE THROUGH LANE FROM SOUTHBOUND WILDHORSE ROAD TO SPANISH WELLS ROAD VI AND A COUPLE, JUST A COUPLE REVISIONS IN THESE NEXT TWO, ONE RIGHT TURN LANE FROM SOUTHBOUND WILDHORSE ROAD TO WESTBOUND WILLIAM MOLTON PARKWAY.
AND THEN VII IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RIGHT TURN LANE FROM THE EASTBOUND WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY TO SOUTHBOUND SPANISH WELLS ROAD O HAS BEEN DELETED.
UM, I'VE MET WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND CONFIRMED WITH THE PROJECT, UM, AND WITH THE PROJECT DESIGN THAT THE CURB CUTS ARE NOT BEING REMOVED AT THE PRO AT THE ADDRESS POINTS 1 55 AND 1 57.
I'VE MET WITH A PROPERTY OWNER, UH, WE MET IN HIS OFFICE.
UM, AND SO WE'VE REMOVED THAT, THAT REQUEST, UM, OF THE NEW O NO AT GRADE INTERSECTION ON PINKNEY ISLAND.
P THE BRIDGE HEIGHT CLEARANCE WILL REMAIN AT 65 FEET OVER SKULL CREEK.
THAT'S THE SAME AS THE CURRENT CLEARANCE TODAY.
Q THE BRIDGE HEIGHT CLEARANCE OVER PINCKNEY ISLAND WILL BE A MINIMUM OF 17.19 FEET.
CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO BRIDGE OVER PINCKNEY.
UM, R THE BRIDGE LENGTH IS 1.376 MILES OF THE TOTAL 4.218 MILE PROJECT.
UH, AS THE BRIDGE WILL BE DESIGNED TO SAFETY EVALUATION EARTHQUAKE, SCE STANDARDS AND THE, AND T THE BRIDGE WILL BE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND A CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE SIX, IN ADDITION TO THE DESIGN MODIFICATIONS.
AND ITEM FIVE ABOVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL ALSO BE PURSUED AS PART OF CONTINUED PROJECT DESIGN EFFORTS.
A LEFT TURNS DURING RUSH HOUR, PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC WILL BE MINIMIZED.
B, AN ADDITIONAL MERGE LANE FROM THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY WESTBOUND TO WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY WILL BE EVALUATED.
C THE PROJECT'S DESIGN SPEED LIMITS WILL BE REDUCED TO 45 MILES PER HOUR AND HAVE A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR.
D AESTHETIC ELEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE BRIDGE AND GATEWAY CORRIDOR ENTRANCE ELEMENTS WILL MEET HILTON HEAD ISLAND DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES AND WILL BE APPROVED BY BOTH TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE WINDMILL HARBOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL WILL BE INCORPORATED WITHIN 30 DAYS UPON EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT INTO THE TOWN'S ADAPTIVE ADAPTIVE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COUNTY WILL DESIGN AND FUND THE INSTALLATION OF ANY CORRESPONDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING TRAFFIC SIGNAL MA ARMS, AS PART OF THE PROJECT.
THE PROJECT WILL BE DESIGNED SUFFICIENTLY TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RESULTING FROM STORM SURGE IMPACTS TO THE CAUSEWAY.
CONNECTING JENKINS ISLAND TO HILTON ISLAND WILL INCLUDE OTHER SIMILAR RESILIENCE RELATED MATTERS INTO THE PROJECT DESIGN ELEMENTS TO ENSURE SAFE AND RELIABLE ACCESS FOR CITIZENS, PROPERTY OWNERS, RESIDENTS, VISITORS, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
METHODS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS MAY INCLUDE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING, BUT ARE NOT NECESS, NOT NECESSARILY LIMITED TO THESE METHODS.
ELEVATING THE ROAD BED, INSTALLING SURGE BARRIERS, INSTALLING ARMORING AND OTHER MATERIALS TO WITHSTAND, TO WITHSTAND STORM SURGE IMPACTS INSTALLING VEGETATION ALONG THE CAUSEWAY TO REDUCE WAVE ENERGY AND MINIMIZE EROSION.
INSTALLING SUFFICIENT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS TO PREVENT WATER ACCUMULATION ON THE CAUSEWAY.
INSTALLING REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM TO PROVIDE EARLY WARNING IF RISING WATERS AND POTENTIAL BREACHES OF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
PERFORMING REGULAR INTERVAL INSPECTIONS AND EVALUATIONS OF THE CAUSEWAY TO ENSURE ITS LONG-TERM STRUCTURAL I INTEGRITY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOWN, WITH THE TOWN AND APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE AND UTILIZE LANDSCAPE MEDIANS WITHIN THE PART OF THE CORRIDOR, BEGINNING WHERE THE BRIDGE MEETS JENKINS ISLAND AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 AND SPANISH WELLS ROAD AND WILD HORSE ROADS IN LIEU OF USING CONCRETE MEDIANS AND WILL INCLUDE LANDSCAPING ALONG THE RIGHT OF WAY AND DOWNTOWN ON PROPERTY TO REINFORCE THE GATEWAY
[01:20:01]
ENTRANCE TO HILAND ISLAND THROUGH THE ESTONIA HISTORIC COMMUNITY IN JENKINS ISLAND.10 WE'RE APPROPRIATE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS.
INTERESTS OF ADJACENT LANDOWNERS OR FOR PROTECTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, RAISE CURBS AND CURBS AND GUTTERS WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE EXTERIOR EDGE OF THE ROADWAY TO REDUCE RIGHT OF WAY REQUIREMENTS AND TO HANDLE STORM WATER RUNOFF AND DISCHARGE.
FURTHER DESIGN MODIFICATIONS DETERMINED TO BE APPROPRIATE AND FEASIBLE.
WE WILL BE PURSUED IF SUCH, WILL SERVE TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
ALL PARTIES WILL MAKE AVAILABLE ALL PROJECT DATA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROJECT COST ESTIMATES WITH SUPPORTING DETAILS, TRAFFIC DATA, INCLUDING MODELING AND SIMULATION MATERIALS, OTHER TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS AND RELATED DESIGN FILES.
13 VALUE ENGINEERING OF THE PROJECT WILL BE PERFORMED TO IDENTIFY AND ELIMINATE UNWARRANTED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUBSEQUENT COSTS WITH A GOAL TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONAL QUALITY AS WELL AS OPTIMIZING INITIAL AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, THEREBY SEEKING THE BEST POSSIBLE VALUE FOR THE LOWEST COST.
14, THE TOWN WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH A COUNTY AND OR S-C-D-O-T REGARDING THE CONVEYANCE OF ANY TOWN OWNED LAND THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROJECT THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE BY THE TOWN COUNCIL, IDENTIFYING ALL SUCH PROPERTIES OR PORTIONS THEREOF TO BE TRANSFERRED.
THE NEXT CATEGORY IS STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THE TERMS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
WE'VE ADDED AN EXHIBIT THREE, WHICH, UM, OUTLINES THE BIG AND LITTLE STONY TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTY FOR CLARIFICATION AND THE, AND THE CUL TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE PROJECT SCOPE AND FOR WHICH PROACTIVE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN, INCLUDING THE ELEMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
TWO, A STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION PLAN WILL BE CREATED IN IMPLEMENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, AND SERVE AS A VISION AND ACTION PLAN.
THE 2003 STONY INITIATIVE AREA PLAN WILL SERVE AS A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR THIS EFFORT.
NUMBER THREE, A SECURE S AND SOME CHANGES IN THIS, BUT A SECURE ESCROW ACCOUNT, RESERVE FUND CONTINGENCY, OR OTHER MUTUALLY AGREED FORM OF FUNDING OF AT LEAST $10 MILLION FOR THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR ELEMENTS THAT INCLUDE LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING, COMMUNITY SENSITIVE SIGNAGE, PARK IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
NUMBER FOUR, THROUGH THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, ALL PARTIES WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY TO ALLEVIATE ROADWAY IMPACTS AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE MEASURES, INCLUDING PROPERTY ACCESS AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS.
NUMBER FIVE, IT IS AGREED THAT SOME PORTIONS OF TOWN OWNED LAND MAYBE NEEDED TO REDUCE THE IMPACTS TO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY AND TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS OTHER PROJECT ELEMENTS.
THIS USE OF TOWN OWNED LAND MAY BE FOR PURPOSES OF RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION PROJECT AND WAYFINDING SIGNAGE, LANDSCAPING, STORMWATER, OR OTHER SIMILAR PROJECT PURPOSES.
ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWN COUNCIL WILL EVALUATE THE USE OF TOWN PROPERTIES WITHIN THE PROJECT CORRIDOR TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN RESTORING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY AND THE OVERALL STABILIZATION OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
A NEW PARK WILL BE CREATED SOUTH OF US, HIGHWAY 2 78, AND THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY TO SHOWCASE THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE.
HERITAGE SEVEN DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THE PART OF THE PROJECT, WITHIN THE PART OF THE CORRIDOR, BEGINNING WHERE THE BRIDGE MEETS JENKINS ISLAND EXTENDING THROUGH THIS, THE ESTONIA HISTORIC COMMUNITY TO THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 AND SPANISH WELLS AND WILDHORSE ROADS TO IMPROVE STORMWATER CONVEYANCE, BOTH AS PART OF THE PROJECT AND AS PART OF THE MITIGATION OF ANY CORRESPONDING IMPACTS TO ADJOINING PRIVATE PROPERTIES.
NUMBER EIGHT, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING AND COMMUNITY SENSITIVE SIGNAGE WILL BE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS AREA WITH A CLEAR SENSE OF PLACE TO ELEVATE THIS PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
UM, THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE A REVIEW OF EXISTING HIGHWAY SIGNAGE TO DETERMINE IF MORE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVES
[01:25:01]
CAN BE UTILIZED THAT ARE SENSITIVE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT OF THE CORRIDOR.NUMBER NINE, INCREASED TRAFFIC AND SPEED ENFORCEMENT WILL BE PURSUED WITHIN THE AREA, BEGINNING AT US 2 78, UH, US HIGHWAY 2 78 MOSS CREEK DRIVE, AND CONTINUING TO THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 SPANISH WELLS AND WILDHORSE ROADS, INCLUDING THE BRIDGES, JENKINS ISLAND AND THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY AREAS.
THE THIRD CATEGORY, ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY.
NUMBER ONE, EVALUATION OF MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING FERRY OPTIONS, PARK AND RIDE FACILITIES AND OTHER VARIOUS MODES OF MASS TRANSIT WILL BE PURSUED TO REDUCE TRAVEL DEMAND FOR VEHICLES THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.
TWO, THE ACCELERATION OF THE EVALUATION OF A SECOND BRIDGE TO HILTON AND ISLAND THROUGH THE LOW COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY LASTS AS OUTLINED IN THE LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION STUDY FOR THE REGION IS SUPPORTED AND WILL BE PURSUED.
ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY CBB AND THE INDEPENDENT STUDY, WHICH WAS THE TOWN'S SPONSORED EFFORT WITH LAMEER WILL BE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING THOSE ELEMENTS THAT MAY BE OUTSIDE OF THE DEFINED PROJECT AREA.
NUMBER FOUR, ALL PARTIES WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY TO SEEK THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS AND ANY ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED OUTSIDE OF THE PROJECT AREA.
I WANNA THANK SENATOR DAVIS FOR HIS COMMENTS TO HELP, UM, SECURE FUNDING.
AND THEN NUMBER FIVE, IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A TAX INCREMENT FINANCE TIFF DISTRICT IS A BENEFICIAL FINANCIAL TOOL TO FACILITATE INVESTMENT AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SKULL CREEK PLANNING DISTRICT.
IS THAT, AND IT'S IDENTIFIED AS EXHIBIT FOUR, UM, THE SKULL CREEK PLANNING DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
ALL PARTIES WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY TO ACT, TO ASSESS AND CONSIDER ESTABLISHING A TIF DISTRICT WITHIN 12 MONTHS FOLLOWING THE ADOPTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
UM, MAYOR, THOSE ARE THE TERMS AS DEFINED IN THE, IN THE CURRENT DRAFT.
UM, AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL HAVE.
WHAT I, JOHN, WHAT I THINK I'D LIKE TO DO AT THIS POINT IS, UM, TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNSEL FOR MOTION AND DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS.
I ASKED HER AND I'LL FIRST, YEAH, DAD, THANK YOU.
SO A AS A QUICK REMINDER, Y'ALL RECALL THAT WE PASSED AN ORDINANCE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO CHANGING HOW WE DO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW MANY OF YOU WERE ASKED EARLIER TO SIGN UP FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IF YOU DID NOT SIGN UP, WE'RE NOT GONNA NOT HEAR YOU.
BUT THOSE THAT HAVE SIGNED UP, WE'LL BE CALLED UPON FIRST.
SO WE'RE GIVING YOU A LEEWAY UNTIL THIS GETS, YOU KNOW, MORE OF A HABIT.
SO, MS. GAMMON, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? SORRY ABOUT THAT.
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, TOWN COUNCIL, MAYOR AND TOWN MANAGER.
SO I HAVE READ THE RESOLUTION MOST OF WHICH SEAN WENT OVER, UH, WITH REGARD TO US ROUTE 2 78 HERE IN CALLED HIGHWAY PROJECT.
EXCEPT FOR THE COST AND THE NUMBER OF LANES, THE COST CAN BE OFFSET BY FUNDS OTHER THAN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, WHICH IT IS.
AND COSTS CAN BE REDUCED IF WITH REDUCED NUMBER OF LANES.
THE REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF LANES RELATES TO THE FACT THAT HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS NOT A PASS THROUGH AREA, IT'S NOT A MAJOR CITY AND GOING IN AND OUT.
SO IT'S, TO USE TAMMY'S WORDS, IT'S A DEAD END.
UH, I'D RATHER CALL IT A CIRCLE.
AND IT IS A, UH, AND THIS ONE MAIN ROAD CALLED 2 78 IS A CIRCLE.
UH, AS YOU GO ACROSS SPANISH WELLS, YOU, YOU SPLIT AND YOU EITHER GO OVER THE BRIDGE OR YOU GO AROUND THE REST OF 2 78 AND THAT ALL HEADS INTO ANOTHER CIRCLE, EVENTUALLY BUMPING INTO SEA PINE CIRCLE, WHICH ALREADY HAS TRAFFIC JAMS. I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON, UH, THE AREA COMING OFF THE CROSS ISLAND BRIDGE.
AND IF I TRY TO TURN LEFT IN THE MORNING, FORGET ABOUT IT, YOU'RE GOING TO SIT IN
[01:30:01]
A LONG TRAFFIC JAM.UH, SEE PINE CIRCLE IS ALREADY OKAY.
MY CONCERN REGARDING HAVING LESS LANES THAT I WOULD PREFER TO HAVE A TRAFFIC JAM ON THE BRIDGE, UH, A HIGHWAY THAT'S GONNA BE GORGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL IF IT'S BUILT AND WE CAN GET THINGS MOVING ALONG, UH, THEY COULD THROW A PARTY UP THERE, BUT I'VE BEEN STUCK ON THE BRIDGE MANY TIMES.
I'D RATHER SIT THERE THAN BEING STUCK SOMEWHERE AROUND 2 78 IN HILTON HEAD.
UH, AND MARK, YOU DID A GREAT JOB TO GET THE TRAFFIC TO FLOW ON THROUGH AND I REALLY LOVE IT WHEN I'M LEAVING, GOING THE OTHER WAY.
NO LIGHTS, AND THAT'S A PLEASURE.
SO THERE'S BENEFITS AND I DO HAVE AN IDEA FOR MAYBE A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
UH, MY CONCERN REGARDING THE LESS LANES WOULD BE, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK I JUST SAID THAT.
I'M GONNA GIVE A, A SPECIFIC NUMBER AND, AND GET YOUR ARMS OUT IN THIS A LITTLE BIT.
HOW AM I DOING? OOH, OKAY, I'LL BE QUICK ABOUT THIS.
262,640 CARS WILL ENTER WITHIN ONE HOUR SPAN OF TIME OFF THE BRIDGE IF IT KEEPS, IF IT MOVES THROUGH, HERE'S MY SUGGESTION, AS I GOT 20 SECONDS LEFT, ONE THING WE COULD DO IN THE CORRIDOR WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD GATE DOWN FROM THREE TO TWO LANES, MAYBE EVEN TO ONE LANE.
POINT IS IF THE TRAFFIC GETS TOO BAD COMING INTO HILTON HEAD, WE'RE ALL GOING BE P****D OFF, ALL GONNA BE DISTURBED.
AND, UH, IT'LL BE, UH, A HEADACHE AND A HALF.
I LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN STONE.
CINDY CON GROVE, CINDY CON GROVE, LYNN GREELEY.
HI, I'M LYNN GREELEY, MOSS CREEK.
I THINK TAMMY'S THE ONLY ONE HERE, HONESTLY, ON THIS BOARD.
I FEEL LIKE I'M UP IN WASHINGTON, DC THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I CAN EQUATE THIS TO BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M IN WASHINGTON, DC THEY DON'T LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LISTENING TO US.
AND TAMMY'S THE ONLY ONE THAT SEEMS TO CARE A BIT ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND REALLY IT'S THE PEOPLE HERE THAT YOU'RE WORKING FOR.
AND, AND IT ALSO MAKES ME THINK JUST LIKE IN WASHINGTON DC THAT EVERYONE IS SELECTED UP THERE, NOT ELECTED.
AND I'M BEGINNING TO THINK IT'S TRICKLING DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.
IN FACT, I I CAN DAMN WELL SURE OF IT.
UM, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, IF WE DON'T DO ANYTHING, THE STATE WILL COME AND DO ALL THIS AND WE WON'T INCREASE TAXES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND WE'LL KEEP, KEEP IT THE WAY THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE COME.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE, MS. BAILEY, PLEASE ADDRESS COUNSEL.
OKAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE RAISE YOUR HAND? UH, DO NOT WANT THIS MONSTER BRIDGE? HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE CAN I SEE? OKAY.
AND THE REST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY DEVELOPERS AND, UH, CONTRACTORS.
SO YOU DON'T REALLY COUNT
SO IT, IT'S MOST OF THE PEOPLE.
SO I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD BE VOTING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY YOU'RE GONNA VOTE.
THAT'S NOT THE FEELING THAT I GET FROM THIS BOARD.
JUST AS I SAID BEFORE, UM, TO SPEND OVER A, UH, HALF A BILLION DOLLARS AND WE KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE BEGINNING AND THE END DONE YET.
AND A LOT OF THINGS IN BETWEEN.
AND, UH, A LOT OF THE TREES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT WILL POSSIBLY MAKE IT LOOK NICE IF YOU, UM, IF WE EVEN HAVE THE MONEY TO DO THAT.
SO WITH THAT SAID, UH, I, THERE'S NO COMMON SENSE.
THERE'S NO COMMON SENSE THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE GONNA SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY WHEN NOBODY WANTS IT.
AND IT'S, WE WANNA KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS.
WE, WE ALL KNOW THAT IT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT AND THE STATE WILL COME IN AND DO THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND WE'LL KEEP IT THAT WAY.
BUT HAS, SKIP HAS SAID, AS MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID, AND, AND I DO WANNA THANK SKIP VERY MUCH 'CAUSE HE IS LEADING THE CHARGE AND HE HAS BEEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN LEADING THIS CHARGE.
YOU KNOW, HE'S A DISRUPTOR, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA VOTE FOR TRUMP, YOU SHOULD ALSO BE VOTING FOR SKIP BECAUSE HE IS A DISRUPTOR.
BUT WE NEED A DISRUPT DISRUPTOR ON THIS ISLAND.
OKAY, I'M GONNA CLAP FOR THAT.
YOU KNOW, SKIP REALLY STANDS UP FOR EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS.
I'M TOTALLY BEHIND SKIP AND I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, AS YOU KNOW, AND, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WHAT I DO, BUT THERE'S REASONS THAT WE DO IT AND I THINK SKIP'S MAKING SOME HEADWAY.
SO THANK YOU SKIP FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
UM, I THINK MY TIME IS UP, BUT I THINK YOU GOT MY MESSAGE.
[01:35:05]
OH, WELL SKIP HOAGLAND WINDMILL HARBOR 50 YEAR RESIDENT.WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANY PROFESSIONALS.
MY TAKE ON EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD IS OUR PROBLEM IS NOT CAUSED BY 45 LOCAL RESIDENTS.
IT'S CAUSED BY ALLOWING TOO MUCH TOURISM FOR THE CAPACITY OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR ROAD SYSTEM.
THE CHALLENGE NOW IS FINDING SOLUTIONS TO BALANCE TOURISM SO IT DOES NOT DISRUPT THE LIVES OF 45,000 RESIDENTS.
WE ALL MOVED HERE FOR LITTLE TRAFFIC AND A CLEAN, HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR FAMILIES AS WELL AS RETIRED AND ENJOY THE LAST YEARS OF OUR LIFE.
WE MOVED HERE FOR ISLAND LIFE, NOT BURTLE BEACH, BIG CITY LIFE.
GOOGLE TOURISM A ADVERSELY AFFECTS RESIDENTS QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE WILL NEED TO TAKE HARD ACTIONS, MORATORIUMS, STAGGER DAYS FOR CHECK IN AND CHECKOUT.
AND, AND, AND EVERYONE PLEASE UNDERSTAND SIX POUNDS DOES NOT FIT IN A FIVE POUND BAG.
FURTHER, WE MUST STOP THIS COUNCIL FROM HANDING $7 MILLION OF TAX MONEY TO PROMOTE MORE TOURISM BY THE HILTON HIP BLUFFTON CHAMBER FOR ILLEGAL PROFITS AND MORE INSANITY AND JUST TAX THEFT.
AND IT MUST END, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOURISM IS DONE FOR FREE WITH TECHNOLOGY, LOCAL SEARCH, SOCIAL MEDIA, ET CETERA.
TO THINK A CHAMBER ILLEGALLY OPERATED PROVIDES MORE TOURISM THAN FACEBOOK IS MASSIVE INSANITY.
HAVE YOU EVER BOOKED A HOTEL ROOM ON A CHAMBER WEBSITE? THE BIG CITY BRIDGE CORRIDOR IS NOT GONNA SOLVE TRAFFIC.
IT'S SIMPLY LIKE A STINT FOR YOUR HEART.
YOU HAVE THE SAME FOUR LANES ALL THE WAY FROM I 95 ENTERING THE STINT AND AFTER THE STINT, JUST MORE TWO TO FOUR LANE ROADS, YOU'RE JUST SHIFTING TRAFFIC FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER AND JUST INCREASED TRAFFIC TO THE SOUTH END AND A DEAD END, PLUS THE ROOT CAUSE TO ALL THIS WAS NO MASTER LAND PLAN DRAFTED FOR HILTON, HIT BLUFFTON HARDY OR BEAUFORT TO STOP THE DEVELOPERS AND THE CORRUPTED COUNT COUNCIL MEMBERS OF MAYORS INTO PERPETUITY TO STOP THEM FROM FAVORING SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE THE CHAMBER PROFITS OVER 45,000 RESIDENTS INTEREST.
THE BIG CITY BRIDGE IS THE LARGEST, UH, UH, TAX SCAM IN BEAUFORT AND SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORY.
IN MY OPINION, ANY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO VOTES FOR THIS INSANITY IN FAVOR OF THIS ILLEGALLY OPERATED CHAMBER AND SPECIAL INTEREST SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND WILL CERTAINLY BE BOOTED AND DISLIKED IN THIS COMMUNITY.
FOLKS, LET'S STOP THE DESTRUCTION TO THE CHARLES FRAZIER VISION.
IT'S A JONI MITCHELL SONG, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT UNTIL IT'S GONE.
STOP 10 POUNDS IN A FIVE POUND BAG, STOP THE DESTRUCTION TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
POLLUTED OYSTERS ARE THE FIRST BAD SIGN.
THE CREEKS, THE RIVERS, THE MARSHES, EVEN OUR BEACH WATER AND OUR GROUNDWATER IS POLLUTED.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, AND WE DON'T NEED A WELCOME CENTER AS PART OF THIS PROJECT FOR YOUR FRIEND BILL MILES.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, WE, WE, WE HAVE A SIGN IN FRONT OF WINDMER HARBOR THAT SAYS, WELCOME TO HILTON HEAD.
THAT'S NOT HILTON HEAD, THAT'S JENKINS ISLAND.
WE NEED TO SAY WELCOME TO JENKINS ISLAND, AND WE ALSO HAVE A SIGN.
THANK YOU SAYS TOWN, LIVING ON THE BRIDGE.
WE NEED TO REMOVE THAT AS WELL.
HI, MY NAME IS, UH, DEE ANTHONY.
FOR THE RECORD, I'M A LIFETIME ISLAND RESIDENT.
MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY FOR STONY, BUT FOR ALL OF THE AREAS ON THE NORTH END, ON THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND.
STONY RE REPRESENTS ALL OF THOSE AREAS.
WE KNOW ONCE STONY HAS EXPANDED, THIS WILL EXTEND TO SQUIRE, POPE GUMTREE, SPANISH WELLS, MARSHLAND ROADS, AND MANY OTHER VULNERABLE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND.
IF YOU TRUST THE EXPERTS, LOCK MUELLER HAS ALREADY STATED THAT, UM, A 2 78 CORRIDOR DOOR WIDENING WILL PUT PRESSURE ON THE SECONDARY ROADS.
CAN WE PLEASE START PLANNING BETTER FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLAND AND START PUTTING THE RESIDENTS FIRST? THANK YOU.
I LIVE IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
BEEN A RESIDENT FOR SIX YEARS.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO THIS ISLAND SINCE 1970.
YES, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES.
IT'S CHANGES FOR SOME GOOD AND CHANGES FOR SOME BAD, BUT AS A RESIDENT THAT I LIVE HERE NOW THAT I MOVED HERE FOR THE REASON I LOVE IT.
[01:40:01]
YES, I DO REMODELING ON THE ISLAND.THIS BRIDGE PROJECT IS NEEDED.
IT'S NOT ONLY FOR CONTRACTORS.
WE HAVE LANDSCAPERS, WE HAVE, UH, SERVICE VEHICLES, WE HAVE RESTROOM FOOD SERVICE TRUCKS.
WE HAVE, UH, UM, KROGER TRUCKS THAT ARE BRINGING MATERIALS ON THIS ISLAND.
IT TAKES THEM HOURS TO GET ON THIS ISLAND IN THE MORNINGS, TAKES THEM HOURS TO GET OFF OFF OF THIS ISLAND IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A TWO LANE TRAFFIC JAM IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
IT CAUSES ACCIDENTS, IT CAUSES POLLUTION.
A CAR CAUSES A LOT MORE POLLUTION IDLING THAN IT DOES DRIVING ON THE ROAD TO 40 MILES AN HOUR.
SO YOU'RE SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR AN HOUR, IDLING, THERE'S A POLLUTION PROBLEM.
THERE'S A LOT OF SELFISHNESS GOING ON HERE THAT WE WANT TO PROTECT.
THIS ISLAND IN THE OLD WAY CAN'T HAPPEN.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO SUPPORT IT IS TO PROVIDE IT WITH PROPER TRANSPORTATION ACCESS HERE AND ON AND OFF.
YEAH, TOURISM HAS GROWN, BUT THE TOURISTS ARE NOT WHAT'S CLOGGING UP THE BRIDGES.
TRY TO GET ON THIS ISLAND BETWEEN SIX 30 AND 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
TRY TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND BETWEEN THREE AND SEVEN IN THE AFTERNOON.
AND WE, WE ARE HAVING TO PAY WORKERS MORE TO COME WORK ON THIS ISLAND BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO SIT IN TRAFFIC EXTRA HOURS A DAY TO GET HERE.
IT'S, IT'S JUST AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE THAT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WHO'S GONNA INCUR IT.
IT'S GONNA BE THE RESIDENTS WHEN WE GO TO DO WORK FOR 'EM, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTING, LANDSCAPING, FOOD SERVICE, UH, ESSENTIAL WORKERS WAITRESS AND, AND FOOD SERVICE STAFF IS, IS TOUGH ON 'EM.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE PROPER ACCESS ONTO THIS ISLAND.
AND THE BRIDGE IS THE BRIDGE IS THE ANSWER.
AND I THINK IT MUST GO THROUGH, AND I THINK IT IS DOWN COUNCIL PEOPLE, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, NOT JUST SIT IN YOUR IVORY CAP TOWERS THAT YOU STAY ON THIS ISLAND.
YOU DON'T GO BACK AND FORTH AND TRANSFER DURING ESSENTIAL TIMES.
SIX AND A HALF MINUTES IS ALL IT'S GONNA CHANGE.
MELINDA TONNER, OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T TRACK ENOUGH.
UM, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MANY RESIDENTS IN WARD SIX, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE GATES.
ALMOST EVERYONE AGREES, NOT ALL THAT THE BRIDGES SHOULD BE REPLACED.
MOST NOT ALL DO NOT WANT THREE TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, BUT WANT TWO TRAVEL LANES.
THE 10 FOOT BREAKDOWN IN SIX FOOT SHOULDER.
AND ALMOST EVERYONE AGREES THAT THERE SHOULD BE TWO BRIDGES VERSUS ONE STRUCTURE.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE PICKED UP THEIR LIVES TO MOVE HERE TO HILTON HEAD AND ARE FROM URBAN AREAS, THE WEST COAST, THE MIDWEST, ATLANTA, NORTHEAST.
AND THEY'VE EXPERIENCED OR SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED WHEN ROADWAYS ARE INCREASED.
IN THE END, IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM, BUT BRINGS MORE CARS AND PEOPLE.
WE LIVE HERE FOR THIS ISLAND'S BEAUTY AND WAY OF LIFE, AND RESIDENTS ARE AFRAID THAT THIS BRIDGE WILL DESTROY BOTH.
THEY'RE FRUSTRATED BY ISSUES THAT THEY FEEL ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
THE BRIDGE, THE LMO REWRITE TOURISM AND SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
AND THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO WORK ON THE ISSUE, THE MORE COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE IT BECOMES TO SOLVE.
THE BRIDGE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP, THE ESTIMATE WAS $240 MILLION.
AND FAST FORWARD YEARS LATER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.
DESIGN THAT IN YOUR WORDS, WON'T SOLVE THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
AND SO WE ARE HERE TODAY BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO CHOICES EXCEPT THE MODIFIED ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE THE DOT WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER ANY OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVES OR DO NOT GIVE MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND LOSE ALL CONTROL OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN AS BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL DECIDE.
THIS SOUNDS JUST LIKE THE COUNTY'S COMMENTS ON THE TRANSPORTATION TAX.
IF IT DOESN'T PASS, YOUR PROPERTY TAX WILL INCREASE.
WE HAVE TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY
[01:45:01]
SO WE DON'T END UP WITH THESE ULTIMATUMS. AND IF THIS DOES PASS, I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE IN THE MOA THAT THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THROUGH A JOINT AND EQUAL PARTNERSHIP.WHAT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED DURING THIS PROCESS IS THAT THE COUNTY IS THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER.
MS. DALE BECKER, DALE BECKER, DALE BECKER, BRADLEY CIRCLE.
UH, JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS ON THE, THE TRAVEL TIME.
UH, I DID A GOOGLE MAP, UH, THING THAT CONSIDERS TRAFFIC THIS MORNING AT SEVEN 20 AND AT EIGHT 20 FROM OLD TOWN BLUFFTON TO SKULL CREEK.
BOATHOUSE TRAVEL TIME IN A CAR, 18 MINUTES AT 7 20, 16 MINUTES AT EIGHT 20 ON A BICYCLE, 46 MINUTES, UH, WALKING THREE HOURS
WE DON'T NEED A BIKE LANE COMING ACROSS.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA SPEND, SPEND THAT TIME, 45 MINUTES, THREE TIMES THE TIME IT WOULD TAKE 'EM TO DRIVE OVER.
IF IT RAINS, THEN THEY'RE STUCK RIDING A BIKE IN THE RAIN.
AND 20 FOOT BUMP OUTS FOR WHAT? 20 FEET BY 50 FEET LONG.
AND YOU'VE GOT A A 30% DESIGN AND GONNA SIGN OFF ON IT.
SOMEBODY COMES TO ME, GONNA BUILD A HOUSE FOR ME AND THEY'VE GOT 30% OF IT DESIGNED.
I'M NOT LETTING 'EM START MOVING FORWARD.
I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
UH, AND I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER.
KEY WEST, 5 MILLION VISITORS A YEAR, ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, 12 FEET WIDE, TWO SIX FOOT SHOULDERS, SEVEN MILE BRIDGE, 5 MILLION PEOPLE.
HOW ARE THEY DOING? I MEAN, WE NEED TWO LANES EACH WAY.
10 FOOT BREAKDOWN, SIX FOOT SHOULDER THAT'S ALREADY PUTS US AT 80 KEY WEST, 38 FEET WIDE.
AND REGARDLESS OF IF YOU DON'T IMPACT THE LAND IN STONY, YOU'RE GONNA IMPACT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
YOU'RE PUTTING THIS ROAD CLOSER TO THEM, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MORE NOISE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MORE POLLUTION.
JOHN CASEY, JOHN CASEY BAYER, UH, COUNSEL, JOHN CASEY INDIGO RUN.
I I WAS PLEASED TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE DIRECTIONAL IMPOSSIBILITIES AND OTHER ERRORS, UH, WERE CORRECTED APPARENTLY OVERNIGHT OR THIS MORNING.
UM, BUT WHAT THAT MEANS, OR WHAT IT POINTS OUT IS HOW HEARTEDLY THIS DOCUMENT IS BEING PUT TOGETHER AND HOW MANY OTHER ERRORS MAY BE IN THERE.
UH, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT MANY OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE ASPIRATIONAL.
THEY'RE SUBJECT TO THE, THE WHIM OF OTHER ENTITIES LIKE SOUTH CAROLINA, DOT AND, UH, THE COUNTY.
AND WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE COUNTY WILL SIMPLY BLOW AWAY THE CONCERNS OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND PROCEED THE WAY IT WANTS TO.
AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE GOOD EFFORTS OF SENATOR DAVIS, UM, IT'S CLEAR THE DOT IS ASKING FOR A CLEAN CONSENT.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS NECESSARY.
THEY WERE EVEN SAYING IMPLICITLY IT'S NECESSARY TO STOP THE EXPIRATION OF THE EA.
SO IN FACT, I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING.
I'VE BEEN SEARCHING THROUGH THE EA AND OTHER DOCUMENTS TO SEE A PROVISION THAT SAYS WHEN CONSENT IS GIVEN, THE EXPIRATION PERIOD FOR THE EA IS TOLD, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
SO ISN'T IT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY? AND ISN'T IT, WHAT REALLY BEING SAID IS IT'D BE NICE IF WE HAD THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT BECAUSE IT WILL BE EASIER PERHAPS TO GET AN EXTENSION OF THE EA.
IT'S REALLY JUST ANOTHER, UH, SCARE
[01:50:01]
TACTIC.UM, YOU KNOW, I I, I DON'T COME UP HERE AND, UH, I DON'T MAKE A HOM ATTACKS.
UM, I, I I DON'T ENGAGE IN THAT KIND OF INVECTIVE, BUT I, I DO ASK, SINCE YOU'VE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE, WHEN 11 MORE THAN 11,000 PEOPLE TAKE THE TIME TO EXPRESS IN WRITING THEIR OBJECTION TO THIS PROJECT AS DESIGNED, NOTWITHSTANDING THE SINCERITY OF YOUR, OF YOUR BELIEFS, DO YOU HAVE THE HUMILITY TO REMEMBER WHO THE BOSS IS AND TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE AND THE COURAGE TO SAY NO? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. CASEY LYNN BULLARD.
IT SAYS, DO NOT MOVE, BUT SHORT.
PEOPLE ARE AT A DISADVANTAGE HERE,
FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK TAMMY BECKER FOR EDUCATING US ON THE PAST HISTORY OF THE ISLAND BECAUSE THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEARING AND LISTENING.
SO HOW FAR HAVE WE COME? OH, I'M FROM HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, BY THE WAY, HOW FAR HAVE WE COME? WE'VE TAKEN A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT TO THE FARTHEST DISTANCE AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE, ALMOST A HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD, WHILE 11 LANES SLAB CONSTRUCTION INVADING INTO TWO HILTON HEAD ISLAND LANES.
TO WHERE, HOW SAFE IS THIS? SO MUST WE TAKE GULLAH PROPERTY DRIVE OVER NATURE'S PRESERVES BATTLING SWIRLING WINDS FOR AN OVERBUILT COSTLY, DANGEROUS STRUCTURE FOR AN SMALL ISLAND TO SAVE.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, IT'S BEEN QUOTED THAT THERE'S TWO TO SIX MINUTES IN COMMUTER TIME THAT WILL BE SAVED WITH THREE LANES EACH WAY.
COMMON SENSE MUST PREVAIL OVER THE PIPE DREAMS OF POLITICIANS AND THE THOUGHT OF THE COUNTY DOMINATING HILTON HEAD ISLAND, GIVEN THEIR DISMAL OPERATION, REPUTATION IS SCARY.
I'M ASHLEY PHILLIPS INDIGO RUN.
UM, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE TO SAY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN OBVIOUS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETINGS, UH, FROM LAST WEEK THAT YOU'VE ALREADY MADE UP YOUR MINDS HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE.
JUST A REMINDER THAT HOWEVER YOU VOTE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE WATCHING.
ONE OF YOU IS RUNNING FOR TOWN COUNCIL AGAIN, AND TWO OF YOU ARE NOT RUNNING.
SO WHAT IS YOUR LEGACY GONNA BE? THIS AFFECTS GENERATIONS TO COME AND YOU JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE.
MY NAME IS THOMAS C BARNWELL JR.
THERE IS ANOTHER THOMAS BARNWELL IN THE BUILDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM A RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, FORTUNATELY FOR ONLY 88 YEARS.
[01:55:02]
THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SERVED ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES AT THE REQUEST OF THOSE OF YOU WHO APPOINTED THEM TO DO SO ON WORKING ON TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR US.HIGHWAY 2 78, EXCUSE ME, THE HIGHWAY NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED FOR THE 30,000 PLUS TRAVELERS PER DAY THAT TRAVELS THE HIGHWAY.
THE PROTECTION OF THE SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, INCLUDING THOSE THAT VISIT THIS COMMUNITY, NEEDS TO HAVE THE BRIDGE THAT IS IN NEED OF REPAIRS REPAIRED.
I WOULD LIKE TO PAUSE AND THANK SENATOR DAVIS FOR HIS HARD WORK ALONG WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA REPRESENTATIVES ON THIS ISSUE.
I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO CALL TO ALL OF OUR ATTENTION THAT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AS WELL AS THE COUNTY TO FOCUS ON THE NEED FOR SAFE EVACUATION OR EVACUATIONS DURING THE HURRICANE SEASON.
BECAUSE YOUR CONCERN IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US FOR OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH ISSUES.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE FOR REFERENCE, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE DOING READING AND NEED TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY I GIVE YOU, REFERENCE THE BOOK GALLA DAYS BEFORE THE BRIDGE CHAPTER 22.
PLEASE READ MORRIS CAMPBELL, MR. MORRIS CAMPBELL.
MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, TIME MANAGER ORLANDO.
UH, MR. BARNWELL HAS BEEN HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN I HAVE BEEN HERE, AS YOU OFTEN CAN TELL, BUT CERTAINLY, UM, HE HIT IT ON THE HEAD IN THAT, UH, THE HISTORY OF OUR ISLAND IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE.
WE'VE COME HERE SINCE, AND, UH, HILTON HEAD OF COURSE, IS A PLACE WE ALL LOVE AND WE ALL, UH, ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP AS IT WAS WHEN WE FIRST CAME.
BUT THOSE OF US WHO WERE BORN HERE AND HAVE LIVED THERE ALL OUR LIVES CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND THE, UH, THE DIFFICULTY OF PEOPLE, UH, UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE ISLAND OVER THE YEARS.
AND THE LAST PERSON TO CROSS THE BRIDGE, OF COURSE, IS ALWAYS THE PERSON WHO WANTS TO BURN THE BRIDGE IN.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
I HAVE READ BASICALLY, UH, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT OR THE MOA AND I THINK THAT, UH, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS COMMENDABLE.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB AS FAR AS ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT UNPACK, UH, THE ISLAND, UH, GALA STONY COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT THE PROPOSAL IS A PROPOSAL THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO SECURING, UH, THE ISLANDERS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE NATIVE ISLANDERS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND WE SHOULD COMMEND YOU FOR THAT AS FAR AS THE BRIDGE IS CONCERNED, AS FAR AS DOING SOME THINGS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.
OF COURSE, UH, THAT PAY GRADE IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN MINE, SO, UH, LET'S KEEP WORKING ON IT BECAUSE WE CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
LET'S NOT MAKE, UH, THIS PROJECT AS DIVISIVE AS THE PROJECT OF INCORPORATING HILTON HEAD IN 1983.
OUR COMMUNITY IS A COMMUNITY THAT WE ALL LOVE AND WE ALL WANT, UH, THE BEST FOR.
BUT, UH, IT IS GOING TO TAKE SOME GIVE AND TAKE, AND I JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF US, NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT UH, ALL OF US AS CITIZENS OF THE ISLANDS TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO COMPROMISE AND GET THIS PROJECT MOVING BECAUSE IT IS VERY,
[02:00:01]
VERY CRITICAL TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF US IN THE FUTURE.HILTON HEAD IS NOT, UH, A PLACE THAT IT WAS IN 1951 OR 1958 OR 1960.
AND HOW DO YOU STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING OR WANTING TO GET TO A PLACE THAT EVERYONE ELSE ENJOYS? SO I JUST ENCOURAGE US FOLKS, UH, NOT ONLY AS THE TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE LET, UH, DELEGATION, BUT ALL OF US AS CITIZENS OF DOLLAR NOT, LET'S NOT MAKE THIS A DIVISIVE ISSUE, IS, UH, UH, THAT IS CERTAINLY A DIVISIVE, UM, ISSUE THAT, UH, THAT, THAT WE CAN'T LIVE WITH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO, SIR.
GOOD MORNING, ROSEMARY KIMBLE.
UH, I HAVE LIVED HERE ON HILTON HEAD FOR 30 YEARS IN SEA PINES, AND, UM, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO I MOVED TO THE CYPRUS.
BUT I FEEL I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE TAMMY BECKER HERE BECAUSE I'VE HEARD YOUR SPEAKING AND IT'S REALLY GREAT FOR YOU TO STICK UP FOR US.
AND IT'S SO NICE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TODAY AND I, I JUST WISH WE WOULDN'T RUSH INTO THIS.
UM, I THINK YOU SHOULD RECONSIDER TAMMY'S MOTION THAT WE POSTPONE THIS VOTE AND GIVE US SOME TIME.
THERE CERTAINLY MUST BE OTHER WAYS THAT WE COULD DO THIS, AND THIS MONSTROSITY OF A BRIDGE IS NOT WHAT I HAD HAD IN MIND FOR HILTON HEAD.
SO I HOPE YOU WILL LISTEN TO TAMMY AND POSTPONE YOUR VOTE.
MS. CAMPBELL SPRINGTON, LINDA HARRINGTON.
I AM ABOUT TO IGNITE A FIRESTORM.
FIRST OF ALL, LINDA HARRINGTON INDIGO RUN, PAGE 11 OF 57.
IT'S ACKNOWLEDGED THAT TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT IS BENEFICIAL.
HAVE YOU EXPLAINED TO ANYONE WHAT A TIF IS? FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THEY CAN TAKE YOUR PROPERTY TAX AND USE IT FOR THEIR PROPERTY TAX.
IT'S BASICALLY COLLECTING MONEY AND DOLING IT OUT FOR WHATEVER REASON.
WE DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.
ALSO, I'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU BEFORE AND ASKED ABOUT THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL.
I'M GOING TO ASK AGAIN, WHICH ONE OF YOU SITS ON THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL? BECAUSE IT'S A LOBBY LOBBYING GROUP.
IT'S A 5 0 1 4 C LOBBYING GROUP.
YOU CANNOT LOBBY YOURSELVES OVER THIS VOTE.
SO IF YOU BELONG TO THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL, YOU NEED TO SPEAK UP AND YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING HARD.
THE OTHER, THE OTHER ISSUE IS THEY STOOD BEFORE YOU, THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL STOOD HERE AND SAID THAT THE ROLES ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE.
I SO FAR PERSONALLY KNOW 12 PEOPLE WHO WERE REJECTED.
THEIR ROLES AREN'T OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
SO HOW DO WE KNOW WHO HERE IS SITTING ON THE COUNCIL? HOW DO WE KNOW WHO, WHAT PAID EMPLOYEES? YOU CAN'T PLAY IT FROM BOTH SIDES.
YOU COULD SERVE ONE MASTER, YOU COULD SERVE ANOTHER, YOU CANNOT DO BOTH.
SO I CALL FOR ANYONE ON THIS COUNCIL TO RECUSE THEMSELVES.
CHRISTOPHER CLIFF, I'D, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK THE TWO LETTERS FROM SECRETARY POWELL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ARE EXCELLENT.
THEIR CLASSIC ILLUSTRATIONS ABOUT BER IN THE 19TH CENTURY CALLED IN BUREAUCRACIES, THE BUREAUCRATS SEE THE BUREAUCRACY AS AN END IN ITSELF.
SO SODO, YOU, UH, HILTON, HEAD ISLAND RESIDENTS.
UM, I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MEMORANDUM AGREEMENT OR THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT BECAUSE I SUSPECT NO MATTER WHAT I SAY TONIGHT, LIKE MY 21-YEAR-OLD AND 18-YEAR-OLD GRANDCHILDREN, YOU KNOW BEST AND YOU ARE GONNA DO WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
LAST FRIDAY, THE MER SAID THE PROJECT IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE OUR CONGESTION PROBLEM.
DAVID AMES SAID, TRAVELERS FROM BLUFFTON WILL BE HORRIFIED WHEN YOU SEE THE BRIDGE.
DAVID AMES AND STEVEN ALFRED SAID THE CYCLE PATH IS JUSTIFIED BECAUSE HOARDS OF EMPLOYEES WILL USE THEIR ELECTRIC BIKES TO ACCESS THEIR
[02:05:01]
JOBS IN THE ISLAND.THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF ENERGY SPENT DISSECTING AND THEN RECONSTRUCTING THE SCS PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER INVESTED IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO GETTING TRAFFIC COMING ONTO THE ISLAND MORE DIRECTLY TO THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY, AND THEN BACKING INTO A BRIDGE REDESIGN.
THIS COUNCIL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE STONY COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY PEOPLE, AS WELL AS INCREASING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
RECENTLY, UH, SENATOR DAVIS AND AGAIN TODAY HAS PROMISED CONTINUING SUPPORT PROVIDED THE COUNCIL DILIGENTLY WORKS TOWARDS A SOLUTION WANTED BY THE MAJORITY.
THIS MODIFIED SCDO CONTRACT PROJECT WILL COST MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS AND LEAVE US WITH A GROWING TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM AT A HUGE SOCIAL COST.
IN OTHER WORDS, ACCELERATE THE URBANIZATION OF THIS ICONIC ISLAND AND THEREBY JAPAN, JAPANESE, ITS ECONOMIC VIABILITY.
WE WILL SUFFER NOISE, DEATH, AND PHYSICAL DISRUPTION FOR MANY YEARS.
IT WILL DISPLACE REAL PEOPLE, DESTROY ICONIC BUILDINGS FOREVER, ALTER THE ISLAND'S TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES AND PROBABLY FRIGHTEN AWAY VISITORS.
AND LET US NOT FORGET IT POTENTIALLY WILL REDUCE OUR PROPERTY VALUES.
THANK YOU, MR. CLIFF, JACK ALDERMAN, JACK ALDERMAN, MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, MR. ORLANDO, THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M A 34 YEAR RESIDENT OF, UH, HILTON AT ISLAND.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE TOWN IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.
WITH THE GATEWAY CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS, THE PLANS THAT HAVE EVOLVED PROVIDE THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR LONG TERM ACCESS TO THE ISLAND.
SO WHEN IT COMES TIME TO JUDGE THE MERITS OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK DIFFERENTLY THAN SOME, I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA TO CONSIDER ARE FIRST OUR FUTURE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
SECOND, OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC VITALITY AND THIRD FURTHERING OF OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.
THERE IS ONE OVERWHELMING ISSUE THAT WILL IMPACT OUR FUTURE THE MOST.
OUR WORKFORCE, OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, ECONOMIC VITALITY AND COMMUNITY VALUES ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT UPON OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT, RETAIN, TRAIN, AND FAIRLY COMPENSATE OUR WORKFORCE.
THE TOWNS ZONE STUDIES INDICATE THAT ABOUT 14,000 PEOPLE CROSS THE BRIDGE EVERY MORNING TO WORK HERE.
NURSES, TEACHERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, HOSPITALITY MANAGERS AND WORKERS, BUSINESS EMPLOYEES.
AND THEY SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS PER MONTH AT A CRAWL OR A STANDSTILL ON THE BRIDGE.
NO WONDER MORE AND MORE OF THEM ARE CHOOSING TO WORK OFF ISLAND.
I PERSONALLY KNOW SEVERAL WHO HAVE MADE THAT DECISION IN JUST THE LAST MONTH.
GOOD, LOYAL EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE LOST.
YES, HOUSING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF SAVING OUR WORKFORCE, BUT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN OUR WORKFORCE WILL STILL BE COMMUTING ACROSS THE BRIDGE EVERY DAY.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SOLUTION IN YOUR HANDS.
IT SIMPLY MUST MOVE AHEAD FOR OUR FUTURE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.
I ALSO MENTIONED OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.
OUR CURRENT DETERIORATING BRIDGES MUST BE REPLACED WITH ONES THAT ARE PROTECTED AGAINST SEISMIC EVENTS AND, AND, UH, HURRICANE.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT BEING ADDRESSED.
ANOTHER COMMUNITY VALUE IS OUR ISLAND ETHIC OF QUALITY AND BEAUTY.
I'M FULLY CONVINCED THAT THE CURRENT CORRIDOR PLAN WILL NOT JUST HONOR OUR ISLAND ETHIC, BUT ACTUALLY ENHANCE IT COMPARED TO THE LOOK OF OUR CURRENT ENTRANCE TO THE ISLAND.
THE SOLUTIONS DO INCLUDE ENSURING THAT STONY RESIDENTS ARE FAIRLY AND FULLY COMPENSATED.
IN MY MIND, THAT MEANS NOT ONLY FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, BUT ALSO MITIGATION OF THE IMPACTS AND STRONG CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE STONY COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT AND SOMETIMES THANKLESS WORK BY TOWN STAFF AND COUNCIL AND CONSULTANTS
[02:10:01]
THAT HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT.IT'S BEEN A LONG, DIFFICULT JOURNEY, BUT IT HAS FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE BEST POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU, MR. ALDERMAN DIEDRICH ADVOCATE, UH, DIEDRICH DEAR ON LANE.
UM, I WANT TO QUOTE, UM, UH, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER WHO SAID, I WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR,
AND EVEN THOUGH THAT MAY BE A FUNNY REMARK, I THINK THE THE SUBJECT IS QUITE SERIOUS, AND I DON'T WANNA STAND HERE AND SHOUT INTO THE WOODS, BUT I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CORRIDOR, UH, WITH THE MAYOR, AND, UH, WE ARE NOT FINISHED.
AND, UM, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, UM, I REMEMBER SAYING THAT WHAT THIS COUNCIL WAS DOING WAS, I, I LOVED IT, I LIKED IT, I WANTED TO SEE MORE OF IT.
BUT I HAVE TO REVERSE THAT BECAUSE, UM, UH, I THINK WE ARE GOING IN THE, IN THE WRONG DIRECTION IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING WITH OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, WHICH IS, UH, HAVING A, A GOOD DIALOGUE WITH, WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
UH, TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE BY THE, UH, MAH GROUP, UH, IN OUR COMMITTEE IS TO DO A PROPER SIMULATION.
A PROPER SIMULATION MEANS THAT YOU LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TRACK TOP DOWN AND YOU PLAY AROUND WITH IT AND YOU SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.
AND I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER YET TO IT, BUT WHAT WE DO NEED TO DO IS TO HAVE A TOP DOWN ANALYSIS AND PLAY WITH THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THIS SIMULATION.
THEN I'LL BET YOU A DIME TO A DOLLAR.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WE DON'T NEED THREE LANES AND A BREAKDOWN LANE, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, THE ISSUE IS WITH THE LIGHTS, YOU HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE LIGHTS.
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THE BRIDGES WILL JUST, HOWEVER LARGE YOU BUILD THEM, WILL BECOME A PARKING LOT.
UM, AND SO I, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF YOU ARE, UM, UH, GROUNDED IN YOUR POSITION ON HOW TO VOTE, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE FLEXIBLE ABOUT IT OR TO, UM, UH, REALLY THINK THIS THROUGH.
ONE, WE NEED TO FINISH THE, UH, INDEPENDENT REVIEW WITH LAMER AND COME TO THOSE CONCLUSIONS AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT A TOP DOWN SIMULATION MODEL.
UM, AND SECONDLY, WE NEED TO THEN DETERMINE WHETHER WE REALLY NEED TWO OR THREE ROADWAYS, UM, UH, TO RESOLVE THIS AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK WITH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
AND SO, UM, UM, I HOPE YOU HAVE THE, THE, UH, THE, THE FLEXIBILITY IN YOU OR OTHERWISE POSSIBLY DON'T COMMIT IN YOUR, UH, MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT ON, UM, ON A TWO OR THREE LANE.
THAT WILL GIVE EVERYBODY A WAY TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED.
THANK YOU, MR. A JOE, JUDGE JOE, JUDGE JONESVILLE WROTE, MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME.
UM, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HILTON HEAD.
IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB UP THERE, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU DO COME FROM A STANDPOINT, STANDPOINT OF DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ISLAND.
UH, NO DOUBT TOURISM IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT MAKES HILTON HEAD HILTON HEAD.
SOME ARE DOLLARS ARE A PART OF WHAT MAKE US GREAT, BUT IT IS JUST A PART, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE COMMUNITY, THE LIFESTYLE.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYONE COMES TO SEEK.
FIX THE BRIDGE, BUT DO NOT EXPAND IT.
IF YOU MUST SLOW GROWTH, THEN SLOW GROWTH.
KEEP HILTON HEAD ISLAND SPECIAL.
THE WEIGHT OVER THE BRIDGE IS THE TOLL FOR ADMISSION TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESIDENTS HAVE FIGURED IT OUT.
DON'T GO GROCERY SHOPPING ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OVER THE SUMMER.
LEAVE THE ISLAND BEFORE 2:00 PM IF YOU MUST, ET CETERA.
PEOPLE FROM OHIO AND FLORIDA, WHICH IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE COASTLINE THAN US FLOOD TO HILTON HEAD.
NEWER DEVELOPMENTS MIRROR, UH, NEWER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE ISLAND MIRROR, PLACES LIKE RALEIGH AND ATLANTA, CLEAR CUTTING AND NO YARDS.
THIS DIRECTLY CORRELATES TO QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE ARE IN DANGER OF GOING OVER THE MARK, AND ONCE WE DO THAT, THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.
[02:15:04]
MAY GOD GRANT YOU THE WISDOM TO DISCOVER THE RIGHT, THE WILL TO CHOOSE IT, AND THE STRENGTH TO MAKE IT ENDURE.PAMELA OVENS, YOU ALL KNOW ME.
I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK COUNCILWOMAN PATSY BRYSON, WHO PROBABLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN ANY OF US BECAUSE SHE READS ALL THE MINUTIAE AND SHE'S, SHE'S AMAZING.
AND I WANNA ESPECIALLY THANK TAMMY BECKER FOR ALL HER WORK AND HER IDEAS.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD JUST BUILD, REBUILD THE BRIDGE AS IT IS, AND TAKE TAMMY'S GREAT IDEA WITH ALL THE MONEY WE SAVE FROM THAT.
BECAUSE OUR PROBLEM IS EMPLOYEES DRIVING HERE.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER PROBLEM OF WHEN THEY GET HERE.
I WAS AT THE MEETINGS FOR THIS.
THERE ISN'T ANY PARKING AT OUR BEACHES.
AND IF WE TAKE THE MONEY WE WOULD SAVE FROM BUILDING THE BIGGER BRIDGE BY LAND IN BLUFFTON AND PUT IN A PARKING LOT AND GET THE PEOPLE.
AND THEN THAT WORK HERE, THE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO PARK THERE AND THEY'RE SHUTTLED IN, UNLESS, OF COURSE THEY HAVE A TRUCK THAT CARRIES TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO USE TO FIX THINGS HERE AND THERE WHEN THEY'RE HERE.
CHUCK LOBAUGH, CHUCK LOBAUGH, JARVIS CREEK CLUB OFF OF, UH, SPANISH WELLS ROAD, AND ALSO BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS THAT I'VE, UH, THAT IS 46 YEARS OLD.
I'VE OWNED IT FOR 16 YEARS, AND IT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE HISTORIC GULLAH, UH, REGION.
SO, UH, I COME HERE AS A RESIDENT AND AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.
AND, UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL AND SENATOR DAVIS FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK.
UH, UH, I, I WOULDN'T WANNA BE OVER THERE WITH YOU.
BUT, UM, UH, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS NOW FOR SEVEN YEARS.
AND, UH, I HAVE GONE TO MEETINGS.
I HAVE SEEN POSTERS ON THE WALL.
I HAVE SEEN DIFFERENT, UH, PLANS.
I SAW ROUTES AND PLANS THAT INCLUDED THE DESTRUCTION OF MY BUILDING AND TAKING OUT LARGE SWATHS OF, UH, THE STONY DEVELOPMENT.
AND I HAVE TAKEN EVERY CHANCE TO WRITE TO COUNCIL FOLKS, SEND EMAILS, TALK TO Y'ALL.
I HAVE TALKED TO STAFF, I'VE MET WITH STAFF.
I HAVE PUT LITTLE PIECES OF PAPER IN THE LITTLE BOXES AT THE PLACES WITH SUGGESTIONS.
SO I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I FEEL THAT MY RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN HEARD OVER THE SEVEN YEARS, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HEARD AND THAT THOSE CHANGES ARE, HAVE BEEN MADE.
I SEE THE PLAN, UH, THAT IS CURRENTLY PLAYED IN PLACE AS THE BEST COMPROMISE OF ALL THE PLANS I HAVE SEEN.
SO I AM IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PLAN AS WE SEE IT.
UM, MY BIGGEST PROBLEM AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IS IN EMPLOYEES.
UH, AND IT, THE GAME HAS CHANGED.
IT USED TO BE THAT HILTON HEAD ISLAND WAS THE PLACE WHERE THE JOBS WERE, AND PEOPLE WOULD DRIVE HERE NO MATTER WHAT.
THEY DO NOT NEED TO DRIVE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I LOSE EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE DRIVE IN THE MORNING.
I LOSE, I, I HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT I CAN'T HIRE BECAUSE OF IT.
THEY WOULD RATHER WORK OUT SOMEWHERE IN BLUFFTON OR OAK ET OR HARDY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT DRIVE.
SO I IMPLORE YOU TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE B BRIDGE AND GET IT DONE AND, AND NOT WAIT ANY LONGER.
UM, AND THE, THE, UH, THE, THE OTHER THING THAT I SEE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVE ISN'T THAT BAD THIS MORNING.
WELL, MY OFFICE AND WINDOW LOOKS RIGHT OUT ON 2 78.
I LOOK AT 2 78 EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG.
IT'S CONGESTED AND PROBLEMATIC EVERY DAY.
ONE FENDER BENDER CAUSES MY EMPLOYEES TO BE AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF LATE BECAUSE
[02:20:01]
IT, IT IS SO CONGESTED AND IT IS SO NARROW CURRENTLY, THAT ONE FENDER BENDER SHUTS IT DOWN SO THE EMPLOYEES DON'T GET TO WORK, UH, UNTIL AN HOUR OR HOUR AND A HALF LATER.THE EMERGENCY SERVICES CAN'T GET TO THE ACCIDENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS ITEM.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT DID NOT SIGN UP THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? AND WE'LL START WITH THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.
I'LL START WITH THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND MOVE FORWARD.
I'M GOING TO THE, I'M STARTING WITH THE BACK OF THE ROOM AND COMING FORWARD.
THIS PROJECT IS NAME AND ADDRESS, SIR AND NEEDED NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.
I WAS A, UH, I'M A CIVIL, I'M A RETIRED CIVIL ENGINEER.
I'VE DESIGNED ROADS, ROADWAYS SIMILAR TO THIS AND DRAINAGE FOR 40 YEARS.
I CAME TO THIS ISLAND FIRST TIME ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
I MOVED HERE FIVE YEARS AGO AND THERE WAS TRAFFIC CONGESTION.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I HOPE THEY IMPROVE THIS.
UM, THIS IS A CRUCIAL PROJECT FOR SAFETY AND CAPACITY AND, AND IT CDM, UH, CDM SMITH.
NOW I WORKED WITH THEM ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS, A SUB CONSULTANT, AND THEY'RE AN EXTREMELY GOOD ENGINEER.
AND EVERYTHING IS SPILLED OUT IN THE E EEA.
AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF, I SEE COMMENTS ALL THE TIME, TOTALLY DOGMATIC CON COMMENTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT HIGHWAYS, YOU KNOW, AND TWO LANES ON THE BRIDGE IS NOT GONNA WORK.
IT'S GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT THE CONGESTION.
THE AM AM EAST AND THE PM WEST CONGESTION EVERY DAY.
IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT, THE HOURS WASTED IN TRAFFIC CONGESTION TIMES $20 THAT THEY USED TO USE 15, 20 YEARS AGO, IT'S PROBABLY $30 NOW.
THIS PROJECT'S AMORTIZED IN LESS THAN 20 YEARS.
IT'S CRUCIAL AND NEEDED IT'S GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF CONGESTION AND A WASTE OF PEOPLE'S TIME.
WHENEVER YOU'RE EITHER ONE OR YOU TWO.
JOHN STEWART, UH, I BORN AND RAISED FROM TWO SEVENTY EIGHT.
AND, UH, I LOVE THE COMMENTS THAT EVERYBODY MADE, YOU KNOW, BAD OR GOOD, OKAY, BUT THE THING ABOUT IT, WE NEED ANOTHER WAY.
MR. STEWART, PLEASE ADDRESS IT.
OH YES, WE NEED ANOTHER WAY ON THIS ISLAND.
THAT'LL SOLVE ALL THE TRAFFIC.
ALRIGHT, WE DONE TRIED THE 2 78 CORRIDOR.
YOU SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME MADE SOME GREAT IDEAS HOW TO FIX IT.
ALRIGHT? I HEAR HILTON HEAD, PLANTATION TALK, SEE PINE.
ALRIGHT, WE GOT SAVANNAH, WE GOT BEAUFORD, AND LET'S OPEN UP SOME ROADS SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SOMEWHERE ELSE, BECAUSE THAT'S ONLY MOVIE GONNA WORK.
BUT I GUARANTEE YOU, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY ABOUT A HURRICANE, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, LET ONE OF THEM CATEGORY FIVE GET THROUGH IT AND SEE HOW MANY OF US GONNA GET OFF THIS ISLAND.
SO LET'S TRY TO WORK TOGETHER, MAYOR.
YOU SEE, THE FOLKS BEHIND US IS GOT IDEAS, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD NOBODY SAY, LET'S OPEN UP SOME GATE BEFORE WE CAN GET OFF SAVANNAH THIS WAY, OR BEAUFORT THAT WAY, WAY.
I HAVEN'T HEARD YEARS AND YEARS.
WHY? YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN FOOTING A 2 78 PASS ALL OUR LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND IT IS, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, I'M PREPARED FOR IT.
I'M BUILT FOR IT, OKAY? BUT MY MOM NOT OKAY.
AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT MIKE HITTING WHEN HE GREW UP.
WHAT HE GONNA HAVE TO FAIL BECAUSE NOBODY GIVING UP NOTHING.
WHAT WE GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS TO 2 78.
[02:25:04]
HELLO GUYS.WILLIAM STEWART, JOHN OLA BROTHER.
AND WHAT I SEE IS A PLAN THAT'S NOT PROPERLY PREPARED.
WE'VE GOT PEOPLE CALLING SHOT MAKING IDEAS.
THEY DON'T, THEY'RE NOT QUALIFIED, THEY'RE MISINFORMED.
YOU KNOW, I MADE A REMARK ABOUT THE AGE OF A BRIDGE.
I WAS REBUKE ABOUT THAT, A 70-YEAR-OLD BRIDGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FIND THAT AT.
BUT ANYWAY, IF YOU GUYS LISTEN TO MR. DAVID, HE GUARANTEES YOU ALMOST THAT IF YOU DELAY THIS THING AND DO IT RIGHT, HE'LL HAVE THAT $120 MILLION Y'ALL SO CONCERNED ABOUT.
AND WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT DOING THE STONY COMMUNITY HISTORICAL GEECHEE GOLY COMMUNITY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT FIXING IT WITH $10 MILLION.
DUDE, I COULD USE THE BATHROOM WITH $10 MILLION OVER THE YEARS OF MY LIFETIME.
I COULD BITE MY BUTT OVER 10 MILLION.
AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY WITH A HISTORICAL, I MEAN, WE ASKED FOR A HISTORICAL STUDY.
MR. BARNWELL EVEN OFFERED A GEOLOGICAL STUDY.
AND ALL THAT IS, IS SUPPRESS THIS TO MAKE YOU GUYS DECISION BETTER.
WE WON'T WANT TO BE RUSHED INTO THIS.
TAKE THE DECISION OUTTA YOUR HAND.
LET MAN LET SENATOR DAVIS HELP YOU GUYS OUT.
OKAY? I MEAN, THAT'S THE TICKET.
I LISTENED TO THIS MAN TWICE AND I'LL GO TO WAR FOR HIM.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT HIM, I DON'T LOOK AT HIM AS DEMOCRAT, A REPUBLICAN.
I LOOK AT HIM AS A MAN WHO CAME HERE AND HE'S SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
HE'S SERVING THE, SERVING THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND I CAN TELL HE'S THE TRUE POLITICIAN.
SOME OF YOU GUYS DRESS BETTER THAN HIM 'CAUSE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR APPEARANCE, YOU KNOW, SO I AIN'T GONNA SAY TOO MUCH, MR. BARNWELL, YOU CAN HELP ME OUT WHEN YOU GET CHANCE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THIS, LET'S DO IT BETTER.
AND LIKE I SAID, I SEE, UH, OUR TOWN CITY MEMBER BACK, THEY'RE TAKING NOTES NOW TO FILL IN THE DOTS SO WHEN HE COMES UP AGAIN, HE CAN ADD ON TO IT.
AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL.
I'M JOHN S MARLEY HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, AND ALSO A BUSINESS OWNER OFF ISLAND.
I TRAVEL THAT BRIDGE EVERY DAY.
I'LL BE BRIEF WITH JUST THREE POINTS I WISH TO EXPRESS.
NUMBER ONE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE AND EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS ON AUTHORIZED MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK DONE BY MS. BECKER AND MS. BRYSON.
REGARDLESS OF THE VOTE, I RECOGNIZE THEIR PASSION IN HAVING AN INFORMED CITIZEN ENGAGED VOTE.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THE MAYOR HAS DONE WITH FACILITATING THE GATEWAY CORRIDOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING OPEN GOVERNMENT, WHICH WE EXPECT FROM YOU ALL.
NUMBER TWO, JUST A BRIEF OBSERVATION.
WHILE TRAVELING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW LAST WEEK'S MEETINGS.
I WAS STUCK STRUCK BY THE GROWING PASSION OF OUR CITIZENS.
SO MANY CAME OFF THE GOLF COURSES, TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS TO WITNESS FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY NOT BE THE PEOPLE THEY BELIEVE THEY ARE.
THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME UNDERLYING INCENTIVE THAT DOES NOT PROTECT THE ISLAND.
WE LOVE SO MUCH, SO MANY FOLKS WHO JUST CARE ABOUT PROTECTING OUR PARADISE FROM THE SLAB PROJECT AND A FUTURE CONCRETE JU JUNGLE AND HAVE COME OUT IN MASS AGAINST CONSENT.
THE FEW CITIZENS AFFIRMING THIS SLAB ARE FOLKS WITH PERVERSE NGO INCENTIVES, WORRIED ABOUT KEEPING THEIR SIX FIGURE INCOMES, KEEPING THEIR COMMITTEE, UH, POSITIONS DO NOT BE DISHEARTENED BY THEIR COMMENTS.
THIS MOVEMENT MUST AND WILL CONTINUE.
EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THESE CANDIDATES AND VOTE IN NOVEMBER.
NUMBER THREE, COUNSEL, PLEASE CONSIDER THE POWER OF NO.
[02:30:01]
SIMPLY AFFIRMS TO BUFORD AND S-D-D-O-T THE CURRENT PLAN PERIOD.IT CONTAINS A WISHFUL LIST OF HOPES AND DREAMS THAT WE ALL KNOW WILL NEVER BE ATTAINED DUE TO COST.
A BIG NO WOULD SEND A MESSAGE THAT HILTON HAD THE PRIZE JEWEL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THE CASH COW OF SOUTH CAROLINA DESERVES SOMETHING MORE THAN A CONCRETE SLAB.
USE THE POWER OF NO, WITH THE STRENGTH OF OUR STATE DELEGATION TO GET A BRIDGE.
WHAT COULD THE WORST CASE SCENARIO BE? THE S-E-D-O-T DISAGREES AND REPLACES THE DEFECTIVE SPAN, WHICH THEY'RE OBLIGATED TO DO.
I BET THE NO WILL WIN OUT IN THE END.
I FEAR GOING FORWARD, MAYBE THE END OF OUR ICONIC PARADISE THAT WE HAVE ALL CHERISHED.
PLEASE USE THE POWER OF NO, OUR BEAUTIFUL PARADISE IS IN JEOPARDY.
MR HANG ON, I'M GOING TO THE BACK.
UM, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE THANK YOUS THAT CAME ON BEFORE ME SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
UM, AND MY CONCERN IS I HEARD A LOT ABOUT LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING AND SIGNAGE.
REALLY, REALLY STUCK WHEN I HEARD THAT THIS MORNING BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE OF THE NINE BLACK CEMETERIES ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND THAT GREET EVERYBODY WHEN THEY COME TO HILTON HEAD.
AND THAT'S JENKIN ISLAND CEMETERY.
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SIGNAGE AND I THINK ABOUT MY COMMUNITY, I THINK ABOUT HILTON HEAD.
I AM A NATIVE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND I CAN'T REMEMBER SEEING NOT ONE SIGN THAT SAY THIS IS JENKIN ISLAND, ELIA WHITE, BERT ELLIOT, UNION, JOE POPE, SPANISH WHALE, BRADS POINT, OR PINE FIELD CEMETERY.
I WONDER WHY, WHY IS THERE NOT A SIGN TO SAY THIS IS A BLACK CEMETERY? WHY? SO I WANT YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
KEEP THAT IN MIND BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
NOT ONE SIGN THAT SAID, THIS IS A BLACK CEMETERY ON HILTON NET ISLAND.
UH, THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY IS, UM, I I SAW IT ON, ON ON THE, UM, WHAT'S UP, WHAT, UM, SEAN COLLINS WAS SHOWING.
UM, BUT NO LEFT TURN ON WILD HORSE ROAD.
I HOPE WE RECONSIDER, BUT NO LEFT TURN ON WILD HOUSE ROAD BECAUSE I LIVE ON WILD HOUSE ROAD.
SO IF I CAN'T MAKE A LEFT TURN TO GET ME HOME, UM, LIKE IT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, AND I HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO C PINE TO TURN AROUND TO COME BACK HOME.
SO WE NEED TO DO, WE, WE NEED TO RECONSIDER, UM, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT, AND I ALWAYS SAY PEOPLE PASS THINGS AND, AND THEY COME UP WITH ALL THESE PLANS AND STUFF, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIVE BY IT.
AND UM, AND OF COURSE THE OTHER THING I WANNA SAY RIGHT QUICK IS, UM, THE BRIDGE.
YES, THE BRIDGE IS 68 YEARS OLD, NEEDS SOME REPAIRS.
AND I SAY EVEN IF IT HAVE TO BE REPLACED, REPLACE IT.
BUT THEN DON'T BRING SIX LAND THROUGH OUR HISTORIC COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE THINGS, BUT DON'T DESTROY THINGS BECAUSE ONCE IT'S DESTROYED, IT'S GONE.
AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE WE CALL PARADISE.
AND I ALWAYS SAY, PLEASE DON'T HELP MAKE PARADISE.
HELL 'CAUSE THEN WE GONNA CATCH HELL TO LIVE IN IT.
OKAY? SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY THAT.
UM, WE USED TO LIVE HERE IN THE EIGHTIES AND WE MOVED BACK TO UH, FORT WAYNE, INDIANA AND THEN WE MOVED DOWN HERE PERMANENTLY IN 20 19, 20 20.
UM, I'VE SEEN THIS ISLAND GROW, MET A LOT OF VERY NICE PEOPLE AND I HAVE FOLLOWED THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE MAYORS, ALL DURING THAT TIME.
[02:35:02]
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING PRETTY MUCH GOOD THINGS.AND I THINK YOU ALL THINK THAT YOU'RE FACED WITH A DECISION, A YES OR NO, A YES WITH CONDITIONS.
UM, I THINK YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A COUPLE OF THINGS.
UH, YOU REPRESENT YOUR DIFFERENT WARDS, YOU REPRESENT THOSE PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION YOU BELONG TO.
I DON'T THINK YOU PEOPLE DO THAT.
I KNOW AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA LIKE ME SAYING THAT.
WHO ARE NO PEOPLE? 'CAUSE I'M A NO PERSON AS WELL, BUT I DON'T BUY THAT.
I THINK YOU TRULY THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
I'M TELLING YOU I'M NOT, I DON'T THINK WE'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO.
YOU SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT YOU TO DO.
UM, AS FAR AS THE TOURISM, THAT WORD TOURISM, I BREAK IT DOWN.
I, I'VE BEEN IN REAL ESTATE, I'VE BEEN IN REAL ESTATE DEVELOPING AS WELL AS AMONGST THE OTHER THINGS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THIS ISLAND WHO HAVE SECOND GENERATIONS AND THIRD GENERATIONS THAT WERE TOURISTS ONCE THEN VACATIONERS.
AND I THINK THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACATIONERS AND TOURISTS.
AND ANOTHER ITEM ALONG THOSE SAME LINES IS THE PARKING AND THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO APPROVED THAT MONSTROSITY ON FOLLY FIELD ROAD, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE DIDN'T NEED.
BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT UH, THE TOURIST UH, THE PARKING PROBLEMS I PERSONALLY THINK ARE CAUSED NOT SO MUCH FROM SHORT TERM RENTALS AS IT IS PEOPLE FROM BLUFFTON AS FAR AWAY AS RANKIN.
NOW THAT TYBEE HAS GOT THEIR SITUATION, YOU HAVE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO COME TO A BEACH.
BUT I THINK YOU'RE MISSING THE BOAT HERE.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME FOR THE DAY, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS AS YOU ARE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
BECAUSE SHORT TERM RENTALS ARE DOWN.
THEY'RE DOWN THIS YEAR FROM LAST YEAR AND LAST YEAR WAS DOWN.
AND I JUST HOPE Y'ALL GIVE IT CONSIDERATION.
BUT THE MAIN POINT OF MY TALKING, LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES SIR.
THANK YOU TO TOWN COUNCIL, MAYOR, TOWN STAFF, AND UH, MR. ORLANDO.
HERE ARE THE FIVE REASONS I SUPPORT THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY PROJECT.
TODAY, THE BRIDGE AND ISLAND CORRIDOR ARE THE LIFELINE TO HILTON HEAD ON FROM ALL LEVELS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT DOES NOT, BUT DOES NEED ISLAND INPUT AND ISLAND DESIGN TO BE A SUCCESS FOR ALL ISLANDERS.
THE RISK OF BRIDGE FAILURE OR INTERRUPTION IN TRANSPORTATION WOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC BLOW TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
ITS RESIDENTS, ITS BUSINESSES, AND ITS OVERALL FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS OF ALL HILTON HEAD ISLAND WORKFORCE COMMUTE ACROSS THE BRIDGE EVERY DAY.
THERE ARE INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OFF THE ISLAND THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND AS TAMMY SAID, WE WERE THE END OF THE ROAD, BUT THE END OF THE ROAD HAD A RAINBOW ON IT.
IN YEARS PAST FOR JOBS, THE RAINBOWS ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY AND IN THE JASPER COUNTY.
NOW THIS WORKFORCE IS THE LIFELINE OF HEALTHCARE.
MAINTENANCE AND HOSPITALITY ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS HAS BROUGHT TO THIS WORKFORCE IS HOSPITALITY.
IT IS NOT THE MAIN FORCE IS FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.
'CAUSE THAT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM.
NEXT, THE CURRENT QUARTER AND BRIDGES NEED SIGNIFICANT WORK.
IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH THAT A LOT OF ISLANDERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT, THEY REALIZE THIS IS THE THIRD BRIDGE.
THE FIRST BRIDGE WAS BUILT AND WAS TAKEN OUT BY A BARGE.
THE SECOND BRIDGE LUCKILY, WAS THROWN UP BY THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AS A BARGE BRIDGE SO ISLAND COULD STAY OPEN.
THE BRIDGE WE HAVE NOW IS THE THIRD BRIDGE.
AND IF THAT BRIDGE WAS BROUGHT DOWN FOR INFRASTRUCTURE BY THE STATE, IF THEY TALKED ABOUT IT'LL BE CATASTROPHIC FOR EVERY PART OF THE ISLAND, NOT JUST INDUSTRY.
LASTLY, IN CLOSING, IT HAS BEEN STATED TODAY, THE COUNCIL DOES NOT GUARANTEE MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
IT PUTS SIGNIFICANT STATE FUNDING AT RISK.
AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT AS BEEN BROUGHT PAST.
IF WE DON'T GUARANTEE THIS, THE STATE WILL FIX THE MACKEY BRIDGE,
[02:40:01]
WHICH COULD CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT 15 TO 20 YEARS.FROM BRIDGE TO BRIDGE TO BRIDGE.
AND I THINK THAT'D BE A FAILURE ON THE PART OF HILTON HEAD.
UM, JUST A FEW THINGS TO STATE.
YES, EVERY WE HAVE A TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
UM, WE'VE EVEN HAD SOME OF YOU SAY LAST THURSDAY, THIS BRIDGE DOESN'T FIX THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM.
A FEW REASONS THAT HAPPENS IS OUR WORKFORCE WE'RE HOPING IS GOING TO INCREASE AS WE KEEP BUILDING THINGS HERE ON OUR ISLAND.
UM, WE HAVE JONESVILLE ROAD AREA WITH OVER A HUNDRED UNITS BEING BUILT.
WE HAVE THE NORTH POINT COMMUNITY BEING BUILT AND THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE NOW FOR 237 UNITS ALSO AROUND THE GUMTREE AREA.
SO TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
UM, WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE MAKE THIS DECISION.
SO OUR WORKFORCE HAS TO GET HERE FASTER.
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE SAID BETWEEN TWO MINUTES AND 15 MINUTES IS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SAVE.
UM, IF YOU GRANT CONSENT TODAY, WHICH I THINK IS THE WAY WE'RE LEANING BASED ON WHAT WE'RE HEARING, THE DESIGN IS ONLY 30% COMPLETE.
SO IF WE LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT PERCENT, 70% IS NOT DESIGNED.
I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GRANT CONSENT, THE COUNTY, THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW INVOLVED.
SOUTH CAROLINA, DOT IS INVOLVED AND SENATOR DAVIS IS GOING TO HELP US AND BE A LIAISON BETWEEN ALL OF THIS.
UM, BUT WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT BEAUTIFUL VIRTUAL PRESENTATION THAT WE SEE LOOKS GREAT UNTIL EVERYBODY GETS THEIR HANDS ON IT.
MY NEXT QUESTION GOES BACK TO, UM, WHAT SECRETARY POWELL SAID IN HIS LETTER WHERE HE SAID, MOREOVER, I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT THE MACKEY CREEK PORTION NEEDS REPAIR AND IT'S DETERIORATING QUICKLY.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF SENATOR DAVIS SAYS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TWO YEARS TO FINALIZE THIS PROJECT, WHICH IT PROBABLY WILL, BY THE TIME IT PASSES THROUGH ALL THE STEPS IT NEEDS TO PASS THROUGH, CAN THAT MACKEY CREEK SECTION REMAIN AS IT IS FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME? OR WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? BECAUSE ONCE THE PROJECT IS FINALIZED, WE STILL HAVE SEVEN TO 10 YEARS TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
AGAIN, THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE MACKEY CREEK DETERIORATION PROBLEM.
SO I'M WONDERING WHAT WE DO ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN I APPRECIATE A COUPLE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAID AND SENATOR DAVIS FOR SAYING THANK YOU BECAUSE THAT 120 MILLION ISN'T GONNA GO AWAY.
EVERYBODY'S GONNA WORK TOGETHER.
SO VO YOU GUYS DO A LOT OF HARD WORK.
YOU'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME INTO THIS.
SO JUST LISTEN TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION YOU CAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MANAGER, COUNCIL PERSONS.
I'M A 20 SOME YEAR RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND I WANT TO OFFER A DIFFERENT RESIDENCE PERSPECTIVE.
UH, MY WIFE AND I ENJOY WHAT WE LAUGHINGLY CALL DIFFUSED ASSISTED LIVING.
WHAT DO I MEAN? OUR HEALTH IS STILL GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE CAN LIVE IN OUR HOUSE ON HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, BUT I'LL BE 80 THIS YEAR AND I DON'T CLIMB UP ON THE ROOF ANYMORE TO CLEAN THE GUTTERS.
I DON'T PUSH A LAWNMOWER IN A 95 DEGREE HEAT, AND I DON'T CLIMB UNDER THE SINK ANYMORE TO FIX THE PLUMBING.
ALL OF THAT IS DONE AS IS THE FOOD WE EAT, PREPPED IN RESTAURANTS AND SERVED OR STOCKED ON THE SHELVES OF OUR GROCERY STORE BY THE 14,000 PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE EACH DAY TO GET ACROSS OUR DEFICIENT BRIDGE.
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT IS OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AS A RESIDENT IS DEPENDENT ON GETTING THE BRIDGE SYSTEM FIXED TO SUSTAIN OUR ISLAND INTO THE FUTURE.
AND THAT'S THE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
AS YOU LOOK AT OUR AUDIENCE, ALL OF US ARE GRAY WOLVES TO ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER.
WE DEPEND ON THOSE 14,000 PEOPLE.
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE BEING FORCED BY TIME WASTED ON THE BRIDGE TO FIND JOBS OFF ISLAND IS TROUBLING AND IT SHOULD BE TROUBLING TO ANYONE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ISLAND'S FUTURE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LORD.
I WON'T USE MY THREE MINUTES, BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORTS, FOR YOUR EXPERTISE, SPENDING ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY AND, UH, THANK YOU SENATOR DAVIS FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
[02:45:01]
THINK SENATOR DAVIS BRINGS UP A, UH, A REALLY GOOD POINT IN THAT BY MOVING THIS PROJECT ALONG, NOT DOING SOMETHING BY DEFAULT AND DOING NOTHING AND PUTTING CONDITIONS, YOU REMAIN IN THE PICTURE IN THE DISCUSSION FOR THE DURATION.SO I I I, I'M VERY THANKFUL I WAS HERE THIS MORNING AND COULD HEAR THAT, UM, MY PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE, UH, UH, VERY, VERY WISE WORDS, WE NEED PEOPLE COMMUTING TO THIS ISLAND TO WORK.
UH, I'M AN ORIGINAL OPPONENT OF EXPANDING THE BRIDGE FROM THE FIRST MEETING I WENT TO WITH SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHY ARE WE GONNA BRING MORE PEOPLE IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME ONTO THE ISLAND? THE ANSWER IS, WE HAVE THREE LANES OFF THE ISLAND COMING ON.
WE HAVE THREE LANES ON THE ISLAND.
ONCE WE GET PAST PART OF STONY, HAVING A BOTTLENECK THERE REALLY DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
SO I THINK THE THREE LANE IS A GOOD SOLUTION.
THERE'S BEEN CONCERN ABOUT THE, UH, UH, THE, UH, WHAT THE VISUAL IMPACT WAS GOING TO BE BE IT'S CHANGED WITH EVERY BRIDGE THAT'S BEEN GONE, THAT'S HAPPENED THERE.
IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE PARAPETS DOWN THAT PROTECT THE CARS FROM GOING OVER AND KEEP THE VIEWS, THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE SEE.
THEY DON'T LOOK AT JUST HOW WIDE THE BRIDGE IS.
IT'S 80 FEET, 70 FEET, 90 FEET.
YOU GO THROUGH RESIDENT AFTER RESIDENT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIND PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE WIDTH TODAY.
SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO MOVE AHEAD.
THE LAST THING THAT I WOULD'VE TO SAY IS THAT THE, UM, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I SEE IN ALL OF THIS, UH, THE BRIDGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THE REAL ENTRANCE TO OUR ISLAND IS THROUGH THE STONY AREA.
AND THIS IS THE TIME TO GET THAT RIGHT AND ALL THE CONDITIONS YOU'RE PUTTING ON, ALL THE ABILITY TO WORK IN THE FUTURE WITH HOW THIS PROJECT GOES.
THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT ONCE YOU'RE ON THE ISLAND.
THAT STONY CREEK AREA NEEDS TO BE DONE WELL, AND I THINK IT WILL BE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR EFFORT AND TIME.
UH, I DIDN'T ANNOUNCE MY NAME, I GUESS.
UH, KEN CAMPBELL, LONG-TERM RESIDENT.
MR. BATTLE ABEL, GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
YOU'VE GOT SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND SENATOR DAVIS TO STAFF AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK TODAY, UH, WHICH IS REMARKABLE IN ITSELF, BUT WHEN I WALKED IN, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT THIS BRIDGE AND I FELT LIKE I FELT OBLIGED.
JUST LIKE YOU, YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE HERE.
I REPRESENT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T HERE.
THEY'RE PLAYING GOLF, HAVING LUNCH WHERE IT WOULD'VE BEEN OTHERWISE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY WANT THE BRIDGE AND ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE IN NURSE'S OFFICE.
AND THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, IF I GO, IF I LEAVE AFTER TWO O'CLOCK, IT'S, IT'S A DISASTER.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF INPUT FROM PEOPLE AND IT'S VERY GOOD.
BUT SOME OF THE INPUT WE'RE GETTING IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S THAT, IT'S THAT PART.
IT'S THAT THING THAT GOES UP LIKE THIS.
YOU KEEP ON GOING UP AND YOU GET MORE, A LITTLE LESS INFORMATION, BUT YOU KEEP ON GETTING MORE INFORMATION.
YOU MAY, YOU NEVER GET TO AN ANSWER.
AND I'M AFRAID THERE MAY BE SOME PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, PERHAPS AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT JUST WANT MORE INFORMATION, THAT WANTS SO MUCH THAT THEY'LL NEVER GET TO AN ANSWER.
AND I'M AFRAID ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IF YOU POSTPONE IT, THERE'LL BE ALWAYS A QUESTION BECAUSE WE'LL NEVER GET TO AN ANSWER.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE GOT SOME VERY SERIOUS SAFETY AND WORKFORCE ABILITY, ABILITY PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED.
AND EQUITY AND CONNECTIVITY IS AN ISSUE.
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL, UH, COMMITTEE.
I WENT TO 32 MEETINGS SEVEN YEARS AGO, NOT ENOUGH STUDY, SEVEN YEARS.
I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE DIFFERENT ENGINEERS THAT HAVE PRAYED IT THROUGH THIS PLACE.
THEY CREATED A PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE.
AND TODAY WE HAVE AN MOA THAT MUST BE APPROVED OR WE'RE GONNA LOSE THE FUNDING IN ALL LIKELIHOOD.
THE MOA DEALS WITH SAFETY, EQUITY, CONNECTIVITY, AND A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE INJURIOUS TO OUR ISLAND VERY BADLY CALLED WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE OFF THE ISLAND ARE THE LIFEBLOOD FOR US.
WITHOUT THEIR SERVICES, OUR SERVICES ARE, ARE GONNA DECLINE AND WE'RE GONNA SUFFER AS A COMMUNITY LONG TERM.
SO AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF STUDY, THE MOMENT IS ABOUT TO ARRIVE.
[02:50:01]
AND WE NEED A SOLUTION.BUT GETTING AN MOA TODAY DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SO FOR SAFETY, EQUITY AND CONNECTIVITY, PLEASE VOTE YES.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING UP AND GIVING YOUR OPINION.
AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL TOWN MANAGER, SENATOR DAVIS.
I LIVE AT FOUR NINE BEN WHITE DRIVE HILTON NET ISLAND.
UM, I GUESS I CAN BE CATEGORIZED AS A NATIVE ISLANDER.
I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR MANY YEARS AND THEN MOVED BACK 16, 17 YEARS AGO.
I DO NOT ENVY THOSE OF YOU ON THE DEARS.
YOU HAVE A TOUGH DECISION TO MAKE.
YOU HEAR A LOT OF COMMENTS AND YOU HAVE TO DECIPHER ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS AND COME UP WITH THE BEST ALTERNATIVE.
AND I'M GONNA THROW THE THOUGHT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THIS WHOLE NOTION OF CONSENT WITH CONDITIONS IS SOMETHING I HOPE YOU CONSIDER SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE DECISION MAKERS TIME TO DECIPHER ALL OF THE COMMENTS YOU HEARD TODAY AND SPECIFY THOSE CONDITIONS.
THAT'S GONNA TAKE US ALL WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
I'M CAROL BUCKER, PALMETTO HALL.
I DO HAVE MY VOICE A LITTLE BIT BETTER TODAY, BUT I LIVED HERE FOR 10 YEARS, MOVED AWAY FOR 10 AND MOVED BACK IN 2015.
AND THE REASON I MOVED BACK, WELL, FROM ONE THING MY HUSBAND WANTED TO COME BACK TO WAS HIS JOB.
I DIDN'T WANNA LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT I HAD TO BECAUSE OF HIM OR I GET A DIVORCE
BUT ANYWAYS, WE ARE BACK HERE AND I AM THANKFUL THAT WE ARE.
I'M GONNA READ SOMETHING OTHER THAT A FRIEND OF MINE SAID, AND NOT GONNA MENTION NAMES OR ANYTHING, BUT ANYWAYS, HE SAID, I READ WHERE SOMEONE ONCE AGAIN SAID, HE'S GOING TO TRUST ALL THE EXPERTS.
WHAT THIS PERSON DOESN'T GET IS YOU ASK THE EXPERTS DESIGNED A BRIDGE CHEAP AS IF EVEN AT HALF A BILLION BUCKS, FORMAT, MATERIALS AND DESIGN.
WHAT THE EXPERTS DIDN'T DO IS DESIGN A BRIDGE THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND SCALE AND DESIGN FOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE THAT ARE A WONDERFUL APPROACH TO HILTON HEAD, WHICH ALL THE TOURISTS HAVE LOVED COMING BACK ACROSS FOR DECADES NOW.
THEY ARE PART OF THE SUM TOTAL UNIQUE HILTON HEAD EXPERIENCE.
THE NEW MASSIVE UNI BRIDGE WILL DESTROY THAT SPECIAL EN ENTRY AND EXPERIENCE.
OKAY? ANOTHER THING, I WAS LAST YEAR ALMOST TO THE DAY I WAS IN FLORIDA AND IT WAS CLOSE TO DAYTONA AND, UM, NOT DAYTONA, I'M SORRY, UM, ORLANDO.
AND WE WERE COMING HOME AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT WE WERE STUCK IN THE TRAFFIC FOR TWO HOURS.
OKAY? WE LOOKED AT AND WE FINALLY FOUND A SAW COME UP TO WHERE THE ACCIDENT WAS.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE, BUT WE WERE IN TRAFFIC AND FOUR LANES.
SO FOUR LANES DIDN'T HELP WITH THE TRAFFIC OF AN ACCIDENT.
WHAT I FEEL THAT WE NEED AND THE OH NO, THE HURRICANE EVACUATION.
WE ALL KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH HURRICANE EVACUATIONS MANY TIMES.
ME, FOR ME ANYWAYS, THAT 'CAUSE WHEN I CAME HERE AND LIVED HERE THE FIRST TIME, UH, THAT YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GET OFF THIS ISLAND.
YOU DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT ANYWAYS, THIS BRIDGE WANTS TO GO CLOSE TO MARINERS COVE.
ONE GUY SAID THAT IS ALMOST OVER MY HOUSE.
AND SO WE DON'T NEED, WE NEED A NEW BRIDGE.
I'M NOT AGAINST THE BRIDGE, BUT WE DON'T NEED THREE
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LANES BECAUSE THEN THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER THREE LANES COMING FURTHER ON.THEN THEY WANNA DO IT ALL THE WAY CLEAR CROSS 2 78, ALL THE WAY TO SEA PINES.
SO TWO LANES AND NO BIKE PATH.
GOOD AFTERNOON NOW, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I LIVE IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF, UH, THIS ISLAND FOR 22 YEARS.
MOST OF MY FRIENDS THAT I KNOW, PEOPLE I TALK TO DON'T WANT TO COME TO TOWN HALL, DON'T GET INVOLVED IN ISSUES AND DON'T GET REALLY WRAPPED UP IN MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD.
BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE I TALK TO SAY TO ME, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS TAKING SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A $500 MILLION PROJECT NOW, HOW MUCH LESS WOULD IT HAVE COST HAD WE GOTTEN FORWARD AND MOVED ON TWO OR THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO? MOST OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET TOO INVOLVED, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE TO HEAR ONE ANOTHER'S THOUGHTS.
I'M A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE HILTON HEAD PLANTATION, POA, I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR THE POA TODAY.
I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD'S BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, SAT RIGHT THERE IN THAT CHAIR WITH BZA, SERVED ON THE, UH, 2 78 CORRIDOR COMMITTEE WITH COUNCILMAN BROWN AND, UH, OTHERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
AND NOW I'M A COMMISSIONER OF ONE OF THE PUBLIC, UH, UTILITIES.
I'VE SEEN THE ISLAND'S ECONOMY CHANGE.
WE USED TO BE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT A LOT, TOURISM AND RETIREMENT.
NOW IT'S TOURISM AND RETIREMENTS.
IN 20 YEARS WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS CHANGES AS BUSINESSES EXITED DIFFICULTY IN RETAINING EMPLOYEES AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COME OVER THE BRIDGE TO SUSTAIN OUR LIFESTYLE.
HARD DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE UNPLEASANT.
THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY, I THINK IN FACT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
IT PROBABLY WAS MORE CONTROVERSIAL THAN THIS PROJECT.
WHERE WOULD WE BE TODAY WITHOUT THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY? THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, HOW WILL LIFE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND DETERIORATE OVER THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT? I THINK, UH, SENATOR DAVIS ENLIGHTENED ME.
WE'RE NOT REALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
WE'RE AT THE END OF THE BEGINNING AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS I LOOK AROUND AT WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA LET THIS THING DIE ON THE VINE.
I THINK THAT THE VISION YOU ALL HAVE SHOWN IN PARKS AND OTHER AREAS SHOWS WHAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE WHEN THIS PROJECT IS DONE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE, UH, CONSENT RESOLUTION.
OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
AFTERNOON, UH, TO THE COUNCIL AND TO SENATOR DAVIS.
SO SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY, WELL, YOU'RE ABOUT AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS DISCUSSION AS ANYBODY DOWN THERE, SO MAYBE EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
UM, LET ME START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL AND, UH, ALL THE PEOPLE, AS THEY SAID BEHIND US WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS.
I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH THE GUY, BY THE WAY, THAT SAID THAT MAJORITY OF US ARE NOT IN THE ROOM BECAUSE WE GENERALLY ARE PLAYING GOLF OR DRINKING A COGNAC OR SMOKING CIGAR SOMEWHERE.
AND SO YOU REALLY DON'T SEE THOSE OF US THAT SAY WE NEED THE BRIDGE.
I WASN'T GOING TO COMMENT BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MAYBE ME AND MY WIFE HADN'T BEEN AROUND THE ISLAND THAT LONG.
AND THEN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO THE ISLAND, WE HAD NO CHILDREN.
WE NOW HAVE CHILDREN AND WE HAVE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND SO WE HAVE AS MUCH INPUT AS ANYONE ELSE CAN HAVE IN TERMS OF WHAT TAKES PLACE ON THE ISLAND.
MY FIRST FOCUS WAS I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AS MAN OF COLOR, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE GULLAH COMMUNITY ON THE ISLAND.
AND I'M PLEASED AND HAPPY TO SEE THE KIND
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OF ATTENTION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THAT PIECE.SO I CHECK THAT BOX AND SAY, I THINK THAT'S EXCELLENT.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT I HEAR IS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE GET ONTO THE ISLAND.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES.
THE VOLUME THAT COMES ONTO THE ISLAND IS ONE THING, BUT THE OTHER IS, IS THAT THE COUNCIL ALSO INFLUENCES WHAT ELSE HAPPENS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND ITSELF.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A SECOND ISSUE.
A NUMBER OF YOU HAVE BEEN APPRECIATED FOR THE AMOUNT OF DISCUSSION THAT YOU'VE HAD ABOUT THIS.
AND IT'S ALMOST AS IF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAVEN'T DONE YOUR HOMEWORK OR, OR, AND ALSO HAVEN'T HAD A POINT OF VIEW.
SO LEMME SAY THIS, WHEN WE FIRST CAME ONTO THE ISLAND, THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION WAS TAKING PLACE AND IT'S CONTINUING TO TAKE PLACE.
SO GUESS WHAT? YOU CANNOT KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
AND I HOPE YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE.
BECAUSE AS THAT OLD JAZZ SAYING GOES, EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE NOTHING OR NO ONE REMAINS THE SAME.
I SAW ANOTHER HAND GO UP A MOMENT AGO.
IS THERE ANOTHER COMMENT? YES, SIR.
I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MARK ORLANDO.
EVERY ONE OF YOU UP THERE HAS BEEN ELECTED BY YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
THERE'S 11,000 PROBABLY MORE AT THIS POINT AGAINST THE PRESENT PLAN FOR THE BRIDGE.
YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I'M SAYING WAIT TILL ALL THE ALTERNATIVES ARE IN BEFORE YOU RUSH TO JUDGMENT IS TALK ABOUT THIS IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE YOU GET FEDERAL HELP.
WELL, WORST CASE SCENARIO, THEY'LL COME IN AND REDO THE BRIDGES.
DON'T RUSH TO JUDGMENT ON THIS.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SITTING WHERE YOU'RE SITTING.
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, WE'RE GONNA BRING IT BACK TO THE DIOCESE.
AND I HAVE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM COUNSEL, UH, LEGAL COUNSEL, THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR SOME LEGAL ADVICE.
UH, CAN I GET A MOTION TO DO SO? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE REASON THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SAFE? DON'T PROVIDE EASY ACCESS, ESPECIALLY TO NARCOTIC MEDICATIONS, INVENTORY OF MEDICINE CABINETS, ESPECIALLY CONTROL SUBSTANCES SAFELY DISCARD, OUTDATED OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS PROPERLY.
DID YOU KNOW BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS MANY LOCATIONS FOR YOU TO DISPOSE YOUR OUTDATED OR UNUSED MEDICATIONS? DISASTER PLANNING CONSISTS OF THREE SIMPLE STEPS.
MAKE A PLAN, BUILD A KIT, STAND FOR 'EM.
EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW THEY WILL COMMUNICATE DURING AN EMERGENCY AND WHERE THEY WILL MEET.
HAVING BASIC EMERGENCY SUPPLIES ON HAND WILL KEEP YOU ALIVE DURING THE DISASTER.
MONITOR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND UPDATES.
VISIT ECSO.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION BACK OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UH, DO HAVE A MOTION TO COME OUT.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFIED BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
WE'RE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WAS THERE ANY ACTION TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? UH, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THAT AT THIS TIME, BUT, UH, I DO HAVE A MOTION REGARDING FIVE A.
I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AUTHORIZE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
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WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT.IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, MR. ALFRED TO BE FIRST AND SECOND DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS FOR MR. SEAN? YES, SIR.
UM, UH, MR. MAYOR, IF WE COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT IT WAS AS PRESENTED TODAY WITH THE EDITS.
UH, PARDON ME WHILE GETTING TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
UM, THE LANGUAGE, UH, LET'S SEE.
UM, SO IT SAYS UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES AND INTERSECTION PROTECTIONS.
I THINK WE NEED TO SAY, UM, UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES AND INTERCEPT, UH, AND INTERSECTION PROTECTIONS, UH, OR SORRY, UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES IN STONY AND OTHER OVERPASS INTERSECTION PROTECTIONS.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STONY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT AN OVERPASS ON JENKINS ISLAND OR SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THE, THE CONCERN AND FROM THE STONY AREA INITIATIVE PLAN IS A PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS WITHIN STONY.
I CAN AMEND THE MOTION TO, UH, CORRESPOND WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION.
BUT THAT, THAT, THAT MOTION WAS AMENDED.
AND CAN CAN YOU RESTATE THE, UM, SO THAT EVERYONE'S CLEAR? I'LL TRY.
UM, SO IT WOULD SAY WHERE THE BLUE LANGUAGE IS, IT WOULD SAY UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES IN STONY AND INTERSECTION PROTECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER THAT WILL FACILITATE SAFE MOVEMENT OF PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ACROSS THE PROPOSED ROADWAY AREA.
MR. MAYOR, IF I, WHATEVER LANGUAGE I COULD SUGGEST, I WOULD SAY INSULATION OF UP THE TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES WITHIN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY CONSISTENT WITH THE THAT'S FINE.
AND IF QUARTER'S THE WRONG LANGUAGE THERE, IF WE'RE CALLING IT SOMETHING ELSE, THEN WHATEVER THAT OTHER ELSE IS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS DOWN THERE? LET'S SEE.
UM, AND THERE WAS A QUESTION RAISED, UM, BY DR. COHEN ABOUT, UH, TURN LANES ON OR OFF OF, UM, WILDHORSE ROAD.
CAN, CAN MR. COHEN ADDRESS THAT QUESTION? YEAH.
WILDHORSE ROAD RE, UM, TURN LANES REMAIN, UM, AS THEY ARE TODAY.
UH, THAT INTERSECTION HAS UP ENHANCED UPGRADES WITH ADDITIONAL RIGHT TURN LANE AND A SECOND LEFT TURN LANE OFF OF SPANISH GROVE ROAD.
UM, THERE WAS A, A PROVISION IN, IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT TALKED ABOUT FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF LEFT TURN RESTRICTIONS DURING PEAK M DURING PEAK HOURS, UM, AND THAT TO BE ASSESSED WITH, UM, S-C-D-O-T.
SO THERE'S NO, NO RESTRICTION TO THE INTERSECTION DESIGN FOR LEFT TURNS.
ANYTHING ELSE SHOWS THE NOTES? I MAY.
SORRY, TRY NOT TO SHIVE AT THE SAME TIME I'M TALKING.
YEAH, I GOT MY JACKET, MS. BECKER.
UM, SO FIRST BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT HAD CLOSED, I WAS ASKED TO READ AN EMAIL THAT I RECEIVED FROM A CONSTITUENT IN OPPOSITION TO THE, UM, THE PROJECT.
UM, FOR SPECIFIC REASONS, SOME OF THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO.
I CAN EITHER READ IT OR, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT PRINTED AND PUT INTO THE RECORD, INTO THE FORMAL RECORD WITH THE MINUTES, UM, OF THIS MEETING.
UH, YOU CAN EITHER READ IT OR YOU CAN HAVE IT PRINTED AND SUBMITTED.
I AM UNABLE TO ATTEND THE FRIDAY MEETING.
I HAVE ASKED MY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TAMMY BECKER TO READ THE STATEMENT AND MAKE IT PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD.
UM, IT IS FROM RICHARD BEY, AS YOU ALL KNOW AND HAVE BEEN REMINDED NUMEROUS TIMES, THE DECISION YOU ARE ABOUT TO MAKE WILL HAVE RAMIFICATIONS FOR DECADES TO COME AND COULD DAMAGE THE CHARACTER OF OUR ISLAND FOREVER.
I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP, AND WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE ISSUE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION FOR YEARS.
A BI PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY WAS SIMILARLY REJECTED BY THE CONSULTANTS.
IT WAS REJECTED, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DESTINATION OF 50%, 56%, EXCUSE ME, OF THE TRAFFIC COMING ONTO THE ISLAND.
THIS TOWN COUNCIL DECIDED LAST
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YEAR TO APPOINT A CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE CONSULTANTS.ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP WAS NOMINATED TO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE.
THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY FOR LESS FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS, BUT HAVE YET TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE REASONS WAS THE FACT THAT AS OF JUNE 12TH, THE LAST MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE CONSULTANTS WERE NOT FINISHED WITH THEIR WORK.
ONE TASK WAS ONLY 50% COMPLETED JUST TWO WEEKS AGO.
BUT THAT DID NOT BOTHER, EXCUSE ME, MAYOR PERRY AND HE HAD SHOWN COLLIN READ A RESOLUTION OF ACCEPTING THE FINDINGS OF THE END TO END ANALYSIS, BUT THE MAYOR'S MOTION DIED ON A TWO TWO TIE VOTE.
SO WHY THIS IS, SO, WHY IS THE TOWN COUNCIL PROCEEDING TODAY WITHOUT AN ANSWER FROM THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE? IF YOU PROCEED, IT STANDS IF YOU PROCEED, IT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS JUST A RUSE, A TRICK, A GIMMICK, A HOAX, AND A SHAM.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU TALK ABOUT LISTENING TO THE CITIZENS THINK ABOUT, WHICH WE'RE POISED TO DO, JUST IGNORE THE FACT THAT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS NOT FINISHED THEIR JOB.
IT IS ILLOGICAL TO EVEN CONSIDER A VOTE TODAY.
DEADLINES ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.
DEADLINES CAN ALWAYS BE EXTENDED, AND IT WAS SUBMITTED BY RICHARD BUSEY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ THAT INTO THE RECORD.
UM, THAT SENTIMENT, AS YOU'VE HEARD, IS SHARED BY MANY.
UM, AND THEN THE THING THAT I WANTED TO, UM, ARE WE PLANNING TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE? OR IS, IS IT JUST THAT WE'RE, UM, HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR? BECAUSE I'M, I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS OR AT LEAST I I I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
WELL THEN I'LL HAVE TO, SO AS I SAID IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON, UH, THE PROJECT DESIGN, THE, I AM CONCERNED THAT, UM, THE STATEMENT IS CLEAR, ALL DECISIONS AND APPROVALS CONCERNING THE PROJECT SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY BOTH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL RESPECTIVELY.
MY CONCERN IS, UM, THAT WE ALREADY KNOW THERE'S OFTEN DISAGREEMENT, UM, BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND A LACK OF AN ABILITY TO WORK THOSE ISSUES OUT.
AND I WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT, WHO PREVAILS IN THAT CASE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE ANSWERED PRIOR TO MOVING FORWARD.
I ALSO HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH, AS WE MOVE THROUGH, UM, THE, THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE, MOST OF WHICH IS THAT THE PROJECT DESIGN WILL BE MODIFIED TO REFLECT THOSE ELEMENTS THAT ARE SHOWN IN EXHIBIT ONE, WHICH I THINK WAS CHANGED TO TWO, WHICH WILL SERVE TO ACHIEVE THE PROJECT'S GOALS.
UM, THE GREATEST, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT, FEASIBLE WITH THE EXCEPTION.
I MEAN, A LOT OF THE LANGUAGE IS, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS, IS VERY VAGUE.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMMITS REALLY ANYONE TO ANYTHING IN THAT LANGUAGE.
UM, AND THEN TO PATSY'S POINT, THE INSTALLATION OF OVERPASSES HISTORICALLY ON THE ISLAND OVERPASSES HAVE BEEN REJECTED BY THE CITIZENS OF HILTON HEAD.
THEY HAVE, IT'S CONCLUDED IN THE BOOK THAT I REFERENCED EARLIER, AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IT EVEN OVER THE MORE RECENT YEARS, AN OVERPASS WAS REJECTED BY PRIOR COUNSELS.
UM, SOME OF WHOM, UM, ARE HERE ON THIS DAIS TODAY.
AND YET NOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO INCLUDE JUST ONE, WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE UP TO TWO WITHIN A VERY SHORT SPAN, UM, OF THE PROJECT AREA.
SO WHEN WE GO BACK AND I COULD ALL OF WHAT MAKES THIS ISLAND SPECIAL, ALL OF WHAT IT WAS THAT BROUGHT US HERE AND KEPT US HERE, ALL OF WHAT WE LOVE IS NOW SUMMARILY BEING REJECTED BY THIS COUNCIL.
SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE INSTALLATION OF THOSE TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES BECAUSE IT IS NOT KEEPING, IN KEEPING WITH THE HISTORY OF
[03:15:01]
THIS ISLAND OR THE EXPRESSED DESIRES OF THE RESIDENTS.I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A DESIRE FOR THE COMMUNITY OF STONY, WHICH HAS BEEN SPLIT IN HALF, UM, TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF SOME WAY TO BE ABLE TO REACH THEIR NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY.
AND I, I DO KNOW THAT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT, UM, THIS BYPASS OVERPASS IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS CREATED OVER THE YEARS.
MAYOR, YOU SAID THAT THIS COMMUNITY COULD NO LONGER MANAGE WITH THE BURNS BRIDGE AND THEN THIS COMMUNITY COULD NO LONGER MANAGE WITH, UM, THE FOUR LANES WITHOUT THE CROSS ISLAND.
AND CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CROSS ISLAND, AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, AND NOW WE'RE SAYING, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF WE DON'T BUILD A SIX LANE BRIDGE COMING ONTO OUR ISLAND, AN ISLAND THAT'S JUST ABOUT, IF NOT BUILT OUT, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WHERE DOES IT END? AND SO IN KEEPING WITH THE HISTORY AND PAST DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT WE REMOVE, UM, LETTER C FROM THE, UM, DOCUMENT.
AND, UM, SO I'M NOT SURE HOW TO DO THAT.
DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION NOW? MM-HMM,
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REMOVE AND FIND THAT WE REMOVE, FORESEE THE INSTALLATION OF UP TO TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES, UM, FROM THE DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE REVIEWING FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND MOA INSTEAD, UM, THAT FURTHER WORK BE DONE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO BRINGING THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER, UM, BRINGING THAT COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
IS THERE A SECOND? SEEING NONE.
UM, AND THEN AS YOU GO DOWN, UM, UH, ITEM FOUR, THERE ARE ALL OF THOSE RUMOR, UH, ROMAN NUMERAL LISTS.
AND I JUST WANNA ASK THE QUESTION AGAIN, HOW SOME OF THESE, UM, HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE 2018 REFERENDUM AND THE INTENT AND PURPOSE THAT WAS INCLUDED THERE? HOW DO HEALTH INITIATIVES PROMOTE WALKING AND CYCLING AS HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES THROUGH A COMMUNITY, THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO THIS, UM, REFERENDUM OBJECTIVE FROM 2018? HOW DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO CULTURAL EDUCATION RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT CULTURAL EDUCATION.
AND AS, UM, MR. BARNWELL SAID OTHER BOOKS THAT BRING US, UH, CLOSER TO OUR PAST CULTURE EDUCATION THAT RAISE AWARENESS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY.
UH, THERE'S JUST THINGS IN HERE THAT'S JUST WORDS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE ARE SITTING HERE TO DO.
AND I JUST WONDER WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND, UM, I I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, I WON'T GET A SECOND, BUT I'M GONNA PUT IT INTO THE RECORD THAT WE HAVE SO FAR STRAYED FROM WHAT THE VOTERS IN 2018 VOTED TO HAVE THAT, UM, THAT I DON'T, I I REALLY DON'T RECOGNIZE IT AT THIS POINT.
UM, LETTER A UNDER FIVE, YOU WERE GONNA MAKE A MOTION AND THEN I SAID I WON'T BOTHER AND WASTE THE TIME.
OKAY, I'LL CONTINUE TO GO ON UNLESS YOU THINK I HAVE A CHANCE OF GETTING A SECOND.
MAYOR, WOULD YOU CONTINUE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SECOND MY MOTION IF I MAKE THAT? PLEASE CONTINUE.
FIVE A, THE ONE BRIDGE WITH A WIDTH, NOT GREATER THAN 121.5 FEET, EXTENDING FROM THE MID ISLAND TO JENKINS ISLAND, CONSISTING OF THREE 12 FOOT WIDE TRAVEL LANES IN EACH DIRECTION AND ONE 10 FOOT WIDE
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OUTER OUTSIDE SHOULDER IN EACH DIRECTION.ONE SIX FOOT WIDE INSIDE SHOULDER IN EACH DIRECTION.
A 12 FOOT WIDE MULTI-USE PATHWAY ALONG THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND PHYSICAL BARRIERS PROTECTING THE EDGES OF THE BRIDGE AND SEPARATING VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ONE BUMP OUT REFUGE OF 50 FEET IN LENGTH AND 20 FEET IN WIDTH OVER THE MCKAY CREEK AND THE SAME OVER THE SKULL CREEK.
AND, WELL, BEFORE I GET TO THE SEMICOLON PART, WE NOW KNOW S-C-D-O-T-S-C-O-D-O-T HAS SAID THAT 121.5 FEET IS NOT WHAT THEY'LL BUILD.
THAT WHAT THEY'LL BUILD IS 123 FEET 0.7.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE, BUT IT IS.
AND UM, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE ON THIS, UM, COUNCIL SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO WHAT THE SEMI REFERS TO.
PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THESE DESIGN ELEMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED WITH SPECIFIC GOAL OF REDUCING THE MAXIMUM TO THE MAXIMUM SPENT POSSIBLE, THE WIDTH OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS, HEREBY, THEREBY REDUCING THE OVERALL WIDTH OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH WILL SERVE TO REDUCE THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE BRIDGE AND IN REDUCING THE FUNDING GAP THAT IS CURRENTLY PRESENT FOR THE PROJECT.
SO TO ME, THE SECOND PART OF LETTER A OR YEAH, LETTER A ANSWERS THE FIRST, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE AGREE TO 123 FEET AND SEVEN INCHES AND THEN PUT IN THERE PROVISO THAT, UM, THESE DESIGN ELEMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE VISUAL IMAGE, VISUAL POLLUTION, AND THE FUNDING GAP.
WHY CAN'T WE SIT HERE TODAY IF THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY AND WE LOST A COUNCIL MEMBER OR OH, SHOULD TAKE IT OUT.
UM, IF THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY OF MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THAT'S A PRIORITY IN THE DOCUMENT, JUST TAKE IT OUT.
REMOVE THE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE PATHWAY, SAVE THE 14 FEET THERE AND THE BULBS OF 20 ADDITIONAL FEET BY 50.
TAKE IT OUT NOW AND I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE FIVE A FROM THE DOCUMENT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR A SECOND? ACCEPT THE MOTION TO REMOVE FIVE A SAYING NONE MOTION FAILS.
SO, SO I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT FROM MONTHS NOW, YEARS PROBABLY THAT THAT PRIORITY, SO IS IT A PRIORITY? SO HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT REDUCING THE WIDTH, REDUCING THE WIDTH, CREATING A DIFFERENT VISUAL IMPACT.
AND YOU HAVE IN HERE A CAVEAT THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED TO DO JUST THOSE THINGS, AND YET NO ONE WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES FIVE A EVEN MEAN THEN? WHAT DOES FIVE A EVEN MEAN? IT GETS EVALUATED.
IT IS, I MEAN, IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
I'M BEYOND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
E FIVE E ACCESS TO HOG ISLAND, MAR MARINERS COVE, BLUE HERON POINT, JENKINS ISLAND CEMETERY, HILTON HEAD RV RESORT, AND THE HILTON HEAD, HARBOR MARINA WILL HAVE THE NEW FRONTAGE ROAD TO BE LOCATED ON JENKINS ISLAND.
I HAVE ASKED REPEATEDLY ABOUT NOTICE TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND GRANTED THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD'S LIMITS, BUT WHEN WE MAKE A DECISION, IT WILL IMPACT THEM.
AND THE LAST TIME I ASKED, I WAS TOLD THAT THOSE NEIGHBORS OF OURS WERE NOTICED BACK IN 2021 ABOUT WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING.
AND WHAT I'M GONNA ASK AGAIN IS HAVE THEY BEEN GIVEN PROPER NOTICE THAT THE ROAD CHANGES FROM WHICH CURRENT POSITION TO MOVE
[03:25:01]
MUCH CLOSER OVER THE OLD PATH ROAD PATH TOWARDS MARINERS COVE, AND THAT THE ACCESS ROAD BECOMES MUCH CLOSER TO THE RESIDENTS OF BLUE HERON? DO THOSE RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN ANY OF THIS? WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN? HAVE WE NOTICED THEM SO THAT THEY KNOW WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES? MR. MAYOR, I CAN RESPOND TO SOME OF THAT, PLEASE.SO, UM, AS THE, UM, DOCUMENTATION FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WAS PUT FORWARD, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MET WITH WINDMILL HARBOR, MET WITH MARINERS COVE, MET WITH BLUE HERON POINT.
UM, THEY SHARED PROJECT PLANS BOTH IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN AND THEN THE MODIFIED DESIGN IN 2022.
UM, THE TOWN OF HILTON AND ISLAND, WE NOTICED AND SENT, UH, WE SENT LETTERS AND NOTIFICATION TO WINDMILL HARBOR PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, MARINERS COVE CLUB PROPERTIES OWNERS ASSOCIATION, AND THE BLUE HERON, UM, POA TO THEIR PROPERTY MANAGERS TO DISTRIBUTE TO THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
WE TO NOTICE WE SENT 'EM ON WEDNESDAY TO NOTICE THE, ON WEDNESDAY THE MEETING YES, MA'AM.
SO THIS PAST WEDNESDAY THEY WERE NOTICED TODAY'S FRIDAY.
I APPRECIATE, 'CAUSE I'M SURE THAT WAS, UM, DONE AS AN ANSWER TO MY HAVING ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, BUT THAT'S LESS THAN 48 HOURS AGO.
I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU DIRECTLY, SEAN.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY, BUT I DO WANT THIS COUNSEL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT GOOD NEIGHBORS.
THAT'S JUST NOT, THAT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
UM, THIS ONE WAS SOLVED THE BRIDGE CLEARANCE OF SPINE, UM, AESTHETIC UNDER SIX D.
AESTHETIC ELEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE BRIDGE AND GATEWAY CORRIDOR ENTRANCE ELEMENTS WILL MEET HILTON HEAD ISLAND DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES AND WILL BE APPROVED BY BOTH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE TOWN COUNTY COUNCIL.
AGAIN, I'M GONNA ASK THIS COUNCIL, UM, WHY IT IS THAT WE ARE RELINQUISHING ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD'S ULTIMATE GATEWAY TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THAT SHOULD BE A DECISION THAT WE AS A COUNCIL MAKE BASED ON OUR, UM, VALUES WITH REGARD TO AESTHETICS.
THE COUNTY SHOULDN'T BE AT A REQUIRED APPROVAL ON THAT.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE SIX D BE CHANGED AND REMOVE COUNTY COUNCIL AS PART OF THE LANGUAGE.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? MAYOR? I WILL SECOND THAT ONE.
WHERE ARE WE? SECOND DISCUSSION ON THAT.
I WOULDN'T, I DIDN'T SECOND IT.
NO, I, I KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL ON THAT? YES, SIR.
THE, UH, ENTRANCE TO THE BRIDGE IS NOT IN THE TOWN LIMITS.
UH, AND SHOULD REQUIRE THE TOWN, THE COUNTY'S, UH, APPROVAL.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO THE MOTION.
I, BECAUSE IT TIES IT TO THE, UM, HILTON HEAD DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES.
IT WOULD BE THE TOWN APPROVING THEM.
SEAN, WOULD THAT HAVE ANY, UM, RAMIFICATIONS FROM IT BEING A COUNTY SPONSORED PROJECT? I, I THINK WE NEED TO SEAT AT THE TABLE THAT IT IS THE COUNTY PROJECT.
MAJORITY OF THE PROJECT, UH, INCLUDING THE BRIDGE, UM, IS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
UM, SO I, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT BOTH TOWN AND COUNTY ARE INVOLVED IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS AGREEMENT ON THOSE DECISIONS.
OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? YES.
LET ME ASK THE QUESTION, SEAN.
LET'S ASSUME FOR THE MOMENT THAT THE DRB UM, DOES NOT AGREE THAT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, UH, MEETS HIL NET STANDARDS.
WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN THEN? WELL, AS I READ THIS, IT DOESN'T REQUIRE TO GO TO THE DRB, RIGHT? IT'S OUTSIDE OF THEIR JU THEIR JURISDICTION.
UH, THE APPLICATION OF THE DESIGN
[03:30:01]
REVIEW DESIGN GUIDE HERE WOULD APPLY TO THE AESTHETICS AS A, AS YOU COME THROUGH THE CORRIDOR.UM, I THINK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT AESTHETICS ON THE BRIDGE OR A CONVERSATION BETWEEN BOTH THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY COUNCILS.
AND SO WHILE I RESPECT, UM, STAFF'S OPINION ON THAT, I THINK THIS IS A DECISION THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO BE MAKING.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S AN EXPECTATION OF OUR RESIDENTS, UM, WHICH WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
SO SEEING THAT WE'VE GOT FIRST, SECOND, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION.
UH, ANY, ANY, CURTIS DO I NEED TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE VOTE ON THAT NOW? I, I, I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
ALEX IS COUGHING OVER THERE
YOU CAN VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND NOW AND THEN PROCEED DEPENDING ON HOW THAT COMES OUT.
BUT IF YOU COULD RESTATE THE MOTION ONE MORE TIME.
IF YOU COULD RESTATE THE MOTION PLEASE.
SO, SIX D AESTHETIC ELEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE BRIDGE AND GATEWAY CORRIDOR ENTRANCE ELEMENTS WILL MEET THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES.
CAN YOU, SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE AND WILL BE APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL.
CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND DO YOU WANT FOR THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR? WELL, I WOULD LIKE FOR, IT SAYS ELEMENTS.
IT SAYS AESTHETIC ELEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE BRIDGE AND THE GATEWAY CORRIDOR, UM, ENTRANCE, IT'S KIND OF WORDED POORLY, BUT AESTHETIC ELEMENTS PROPOSED FOR THE BRIDGE AND GATEWAY CORRIDOR ENTRANCE ELEMENTS WILL MEET HILTON HEAD ISLAND DESIGN REVIEW GUIDELINES AND BE APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL.
MAY I ASK A QUESTION ON THE MOTION? YES.
UH, BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE AUTHORITY ON THE BRIDGE.
WOULD YOU BE AMENABLE TO, UH, EXCLUDE THE BRIDGE AND CONCENTRATE ON THE GATEWAY? 'CAUSE I SUPPORT THE MOTION IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE GATEWAY.
SO LEMME ASK YOU, UM, CAN WE HAVE A CONVERSATION REAL QUICK? MM-HMM.
SO, HEARING YOU DAVID, UM, I THINK THE CONCERN WITH REGARD TO THE BRIDGE AND OTHERS THAN OTHERS, THAN HILTON HAD HAVING A SAY IN THIS IS, SOMEONE MENTIONED TODAY THAT THE ICONIC PIECE OF THIS BRIDGE IS THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE VISTA BEYOND THE BRIDGE.
AND SOME OTHERS HAVE SUGGESTED OVER TIME THAT WE WANT AN ICONIC BRIDGE.
UM, SOMETHING LIKE THE RAVENEL BRIDGE OR CHAR, YOU KNOW, SOME OTHER WITH THE SUSPENSION WIRES, ET CETERA.
I DON'T WANNA SEE THAT HAPPEN.
I WANT HILTON HEAD TO RETAIN ITS NATURAL BEAUTY THAT WE EXPERIENCE WHAT IT IS THAT GOD GAVE US HERE ON THIS ISLAND, UM, AND THAT WE DON'T FURTHER DESTROY IT WITH THAT TYPE OF BRIDGE.
SO IN MY OPINION, THOSE VALUES REFLECT HILTON HEAD AND THE RESIDENTS AND THE HISTORY.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN THE CONTROL OVER WHAT THAT BRIDGE LOOKS LIKE.
IF I MIGHT ADD SOMETHING ELSE, UM, I THINK THE INTENT HERE IS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY, UM, OR FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
AND I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE IN, IN MY PRIOR LIFE, UH, ONE OF MY CLIENTS WAS A HISTORIC RESOURCES COMMISSION OF ASHEVILLE AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY.
AND THERE WAS A NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BRIDGE, WHICH, UH, CAME FROM DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE AND LANDED RIGHT AT THE GATE TO THE BILTMORE STATE.
UM, AND SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THAT COMMISSION AND N-C-D-O-T ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THAT BRIDGE.
IF YOU GO THERE TODAY, YOU'LL SEE A BRIDGE THAT REFLECTS THAT KIND OF HISTORY, THAT KIND OF DISTRICT.
UM, THE BATTLE THAT I FOUGHT FOR THEM AND WON AT THE STATE LEVEL, UM, IS THAT THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, UM, DID NOT FIT WITH THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE.
UM, AND WE GOT THAT DESIGN CHANGE.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S, IT'S KEY TO INCLUDE THE BRIDGE AS WELL AS THE GATEWAY QUARTER ENTRANCE, MR. MAYOR, THE MOA CONTEMPLATES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND COUNTY ON THESE VARIOUS ELEMENTS.
THAT'S THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS, RIGHT? SO THERE'S NO REASON TO MAKE A CHANGE EXCLUDING THE COUNTY FROM IN THIS PARTICULAR DECISION, RIGHT? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BRINGS BACK THE POINT OF, I CALL THE QUESTION, IF
[03:35:01]
THERE'S NOT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN, WHAT'S THE RESOLUTION? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WORK TOGETHER IN ALL OF THE NICETIES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF DOING THAT.AND AGAIN, TOWN, UH, ENTRANCE, THE QUESTION'S BEEN CALLED.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, UM, THE MOTION AND THE SECOND THAT MRS. BECKER MADE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND, ALL THOSE OPPOSED IS FIVE TO TWO.
SO, UM, NUMBER 12, ALL PARTIES WILL MAKE AVAILABLE ALL PROJECT DATA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PROJECT COST ESTIMATES WITH SUPPORTING DETAILS, TRAFFIC DATA INCLUDING MODELING AND SIMULATION MATERIALS AND OTHER TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS AND RELATED DESIGN FILES.
NOW, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT EACH ONE OF THESE THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH HERE HAVE ALSO BEEN, UH, REACTED TO BY, UM, SECRETARY POWELL AND HAS PROVIDED, UM, THAT TO US, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND HE DID NOT IN THIS INSTANCE HAVE, UM, TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY WITH WORKING COOPERATIVELY ON THIS OTHER THAN WHEN IT GOES OUT TO BID.
AND, AND CERTAINLY WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE NATURE OF THAT.
BUT, UM, THE REASON I BRING IT UP IS BECAUSE I WANT, I HAVE LOST MY PAPER.
UM, I WANT TO KNOW THAT, SORRY.
I WANNA KNOW THE WHO, WHEN AND WHERE OF, WHEN THE ALL THAT PROJECT DATA WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO, UM, WHO'S AUTHORIZED? WOULD I BE ABLE TO WALK IN AND SAY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT INFORMATION AND WHAT WOULD BE THE CONSTRAINTS WITH THE WHEN AND THE WHERE? SO, UM, THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE, UM, ABOUT THIS.
THE EXPECTATION WITH THIS AGREEMENT IS AS INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE, IT'S MADE IT, UM, IT'S PROVIDED TO ALL PARTIES, BOTH THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
UM, THAT INFORMATION WOULD BE PUBLIC AND SHARED WITH TOWN COUNCIL AT THAT TIME IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
BUT IF I HAD A QUESTION, I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN UPDATE.
DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHEN THOSE UPDATES ARE BEING GIVEN OR ARE THEY, I I DON'T KNOW WHEN SIX MONTHS THE NEXT COST ESTIMATES WILL COME, OTHER THAN THE GENERAL COST ESTIMATES THAT WE'VE HAD.
OBVIOUSLY THEY GO, WHEN THEY GO FROM 30% TO 60% DESIGN, THEY'LL BE MORE FINE TUNING WITH ALL OF THIS DETAIL.
UM, THE TRAFFIC AND THE MODELING WE'VE DONE, WE'VE DONE THAT AND PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION.
UM, BUT IT'S THE SPIRIT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
THEY'RE UNDERSTAND ALL THE DETAILS AS WE MAKE DECISIONS.
SO AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, WE WILL MAKE IT AVAILABLE.
AND NUMBER 14, THE TOWN WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE COUNTY AND OR S-C-D-O-T REGARDING THE CONVEYANCE OF ANY TOWN ON LAND THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PROJECT THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF THE ORDINANCE BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.
IDENTIFYING ALL SUCH PROPERTIES OR PORTIONS THEREOF TO BE TRANSFERRED.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO A SOLELY PROPERTY, UM, IN, WITHIN THE STONY AREA, AND THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO PROPERTY THAT IS SPECIFICALLY NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH, UM, THE ROADWAYS.
MY ANSWER IS YES TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT ELEMENTS.
UM, BUT I WOULD SAY IT ALSO INCLUDES TOWN OWNED PROPERTY ON JENKINS ISLAND, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE STONY COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAD AN EARLIER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT PROPERTY.
UM, I HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, WITH REGARD TO, AND I THINK SOME OF THIS STUFF AS WE MOVE ALONG, UM, MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE RELEVANT, BUT I AM CURIOUS, UM, UNDER STONY COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT, NUMBER TWO, A STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION PLAN THAT DOESN'T CURRENTLY EXIST.
AND SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, WHO'S WRITING IT? WHO'S CREATING IT, UH, WILL BE CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED.
SO I NEED TO KNOW THE WHO'S AND THE WHAT'S AND THE APPROVALS ON THAT.
THE, THE AGREEMENT IS BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY.
THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY WILL WORK WITH THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UM, TO DRAFT THAT PLAN.
SO THE TOWN BEING WHO, WHO DOES, WHO DOES THAT REFER TO? YEAH, I MEAN, THERE'D BE TOWN STAFF INVOLVED, BUT ULTIMATELY IT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE TOWN COUNCIL ON ANY
[03:40:01]
PLAN APPROVAL WITHIN THE TOWN LIMIT.I THINK, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANY OF THAT.
AND WHAT THAT SOUNDS WITHOUT THE LANGUAGE IN HERE, LIKE WHAT YOU JUST SAID, UM, IT JUST IS A SECOND LAYER OF THE SAME ORGANIZATION THAT'S CREATING THE INFORMATION, INFORMATION, UM, THE PLAN.
AND TO ME, UM, I'M NOT REALLY SURE THAT'S, UM, THE WAY THIS IS SHOULD BE BEING DONE.
UM, WITH THIS PARTICULAR POINT, CAN WE ASK COUNCILWOMAN BECKER TO MAKE A MOTION? WHATEVER IT IS.
WELL, I, I WAS TRYING BEFORE I MADE A MOTION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS THAT IS GOING ON SINCE THE LANGUAGE HERE, UM, ISN'T SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC LANGUAGE AS TO THE WHO'S AND WHO'S GOT THE APPROVALS, WHO'S DOING THE CREATING, UM, AND IMPLEMENTING AND APPROVALS OF, OF THAT DOCUMENT, THAT PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A MOTION THERE.
WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS WHO'S CREATING THAT PLAN AND, UM, HOW WILL IT BE IMPLEMENTED? THE WAY I READ THIS IS THAT IT WOULD COME FROM THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC CDC IN CONJUNCTION, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CO WITH THE SAME ORGANIZATION.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? NO, YOU DIDN'T.
THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WITHIN THEIR SCOPE AND WORKING WITH THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA IS WHERE I THINK THAT WOULD COME FROM AND THEN BE PRESENTED TO, UH, TO US.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, MR. MAYOR, IT DOES REFERENCE A 2003 STONY INITIATIVE PLAN AS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED.
AND THAT'S, SO THAT'S NOT A POINT OF CONTENTION FOR ME.
WHAT IS THOUGH, IS THAT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE SAME ORG THE SAME ORGANIZATION IS CREATING AND THEN IMPLEMENTING.
IT SAYS IN CONJUNCTION WITH, IT'S NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH, 'CAUSE IT'S THE SAME GROUP THAT'S DEVELOPING IT.
AND, AND I'LL REFER BACK TO, UM, A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, FRANKLY, A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, UM, IN THIS CONVERSATION IS GOING TO REQUIRE ME TO, TO, TO SAY OUT LOUD ON THE RECORD THAT WITHIN THE, UM, WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT MITIGATION PLAN, THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF WHICH IT SOUNDS TO ME, WHICH COMES FROM THE GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION DOCUMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED, THAT WAS ADOPTED AS PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON MAY 15TH, WITH BOARD MEMBERS BEING PRESENT, INCLUDING TWO WHO ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, ONE HAVING MADE THE MOTION, AND THEN ANOTHER WHO'S A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE.
SO THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A BIT OF A CONFLICT BECAUSE THAT CAME OUT OF A DOCUMENT WHERE WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHO ARE ALL GOING TO BE THE ONES CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING THIS, UM, PLAN.
AND SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME WITH REGARD TO ALL OF THAT.
UM, SOME OF US RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A DEADLINE, UH, OF FIVE O'CLOCK.
UM, AND, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO, UH, RESERVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
UNLESS, UM, MS. BECKER HAS, UH, MOTIONS TO BE MADE, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO CALL THE QUESTION.
AND AT SOME POINT, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE DEBATE.
WELL, AS THIS AGENDA WAS PRESENTED, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER ALL OF THESE ITEMS AND HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD BECAUSE OF, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, AND I'VE SHARED JUST RECENTLY WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, A LOT OF WHAT'S BEING DRIVEN IS BEING DRIVEN WITHOUT, UM, FULL COUNSEL'S ABILITY TO ASK, BE INFORMED, AND ASK QUESTIONS AND TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD THEIR OBJECTIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING HERE.
I'M SORRY IF IT'S FIVE AFTER THREE AND YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO GET YOUR YES.
UM, MS. BECKER, THERE WAS A MOTION MADE TO SECOND THE MOTION MOTIONS HAS BEEN MADE.
AND SECOND, UM, TO CLOSE DISCUSSION.
[03:45:01]
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.SIX TO ONE, WE'LL CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON ISLAND, AUTHORIZING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE, UM, CORRECTION OF THE TWO PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS, UH, IN THE STONY AREA.
UM, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OPPOSED SIX ONE.
NOW WE'LL GO INTO CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL CONSENT FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON GATEWAY.
WILLIAM HILTON FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT.
SO, MR. MAYOR, UH, FOR TIME'S SAKE, UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF EDITS IN, UH, THERE WAS ONE EDIT IN THE STAFF REPORT, UM, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON IT.
IT WAS IN THE TITLE BLOCK, UH, DISAPPEARED.
AGAIN, THAT WILL BE, UH, CLARIFIED.
KIM, I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS KEEPS GOING OUT.
THERE'S THE ONE EDIT, THE CORRECT TITLE FOR MR. GRUBER.
UM, WE, WE'VE HEARD EARLIER IN THE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR, UM, FROM S-C-D-O-T THAT, UM, FOR TOWN OF HILAND ISLAND TO CONSIDER MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
UM, THERE IS A RESOLUTION IN YOUR PACKET, UM, THAT I'M GONNA ASK YOUR TOWN ATTORNEY TO HELP MOVE THROUGH.
UM, THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS ATTACHED FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT INCLUDED ALL OF THE PROVISIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT MOA AND, UM, DIRECTION UP TILL THIS MEETING WAS TO INCLUDE THOSE WITHIN THE MOA, UM, AS APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL.
YOU'VE JUST APPROVED A, WHAT I THINK IS A FINAL IS THE FINAL DRAFT TO SEND TO THE COUNTY FOR YOUR MOA.
AND SO THE CURRENT RESOLUTION AS WRITTEN WOULD INCLUDE THOSE ITEMS. UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME NEW INFORMATION THAT'S, UM, COME TO LIGHT AND I'D ASK THE TOWN ATTORNEY TO HANDLE, UM, YES AND MAKE COMMENTS ON THAT.
WE ASK, UH, MR. COLTRANE COME UP AND SPEAK, AND, AND SENATOR DAVIS, HE AS WELL, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS PRIOR TO HAVE A MOTION, I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION THAT IT.
UM, AS YOU RECALL EARLIER, UM, TODAY I MADE SOME COMMENT IN REGARD TO PROCESS, IN REGARD TO, ONCE Y'ALL MADE A DECISION IN REGARD TO THIS LETTER THAT WAS DELIVERED YESTERDAY BY THE DOT IN REGARD TO THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE ACCEPTABLE.
UM, I INDICATED THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE WERE THINGS IN THIS LETTER THAT WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY THE DOT, BUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF COUNSEL FELT WAS IMPORTANT, THAT THE WAY TO ADDRESS THAT MIGHT BE TO HAVE, UM, THOSE ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS APPENDED TO THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT SO THAT THERE WOULD BE A BILATERAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DOT AND THE TOWN IN REGARD TO THE MATTERS THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED IN THIS LETTER.
UM, SECRETARY POWELL IS WATCHING THESE PROCEEDINGS IN REAL TIME AND TEXTED ME AND SUGGESTED AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE INTENT OF THIS COUNCIL IS, BUT SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
UM, HIS SUGGESTION WAS THAT THE, THE CONSENT ITSELF BE DELIVERED AND THAT THE COUNCIL TAKE UP IN A SEPARATE RESOLUTION.
UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, IT'S EXPECTATIONS, UM, OF THE DOT IN REGARD TO THE THINGS OMITTED IN THIS LETTER IN A SEPARATE RESOLUTION AS OPPOSED TO HAVING IT INCORPORATED AS A PART OF THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION.
UM, AND, AND, AND SPEAKING WITH SECRETARY POWELL, HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS A WAY FOR THE TOWN TO COMMUNICATE WHAT ITS EXPECTATIONS ARE.
YOU KNOW, IT ALSO GIVES A BLUEPRINT FOR THE DELEGATION TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT YOU DEEM IMPORTANT IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROJECT.
AND SO, UM, SO I RELATED THAT TO YOU, UH, SINCE I GOT THAT FEEDBACK FROM THE SECRETARY IN REAL TIME, SO THAT YOU COULD FACTOR THAT INTO YOUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS WHEN YOU DECIDED HOW TO RELAY TO THE DOT WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS WERE.
AND, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE, UH, UH, TOWN ATTORNEY HAS, UM, SOME PRESENTATION TO MAKE IN LIGHT OF THAT INFORMATION RECEIVED BY ME FROM SECRETARY POWELL.
[03:50:07]
UM, THE, THE OTHER ONE,MY NAME IS CURTIS COLTRANE, I REPRESENT THE TOWN.
UM, AND SO FOLLOWING THE INFORMATION DELIVERED BY SENATOR DAVIS REGARDING THE, UM, STATEMENTS FROM SECRETARY POWELL, UM, WE HAVE DONE TWO THINGS FOR COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION.
THE FIRST IS A, UM, PROPOSAL FOR A RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT WITH NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO IT.
THIS IS THE FORM OF MUNICIPAL CONSENT THAT THE SECRETARY DELIVERED TO THE TOWN WITH HIS CORRESPONDENCE.
THIS IS NOT THE TEXT THAT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA, OR THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET.
AND SO SHOULD COUNSEL DECIDE THAT IT WISHES TO DO THIS, A MOTION TO AMEND THIS RESOLUTION WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO CONFORM THE DOCUMENT TO WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS SAID IT WISHES TO SEE.
SECONDARILY, UH, FOLLOWING THE ADVICE FROM SENATOR DAVIS, WE HAVE CREATED A SECOND RESOLUTION THAT EXPRESSES THE WILL OF COUNSEL, THAT INCLUDES ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA PACKET, AS WELL AS INCORPORATE THE TOWN'S EXPECTATION THAT ALL OF THE THINGS SET OUT IN SECRETARY POWELL'S CORRESPONDENCE TO THE MAYOR WILL BE COMPLIED WITH.
AND ALSO THAT THE TOWN EXPECTS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE DECISION TO PUSH THROUGH THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND FUNDING OF THIS PROJECT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE TOWN WISHES.
IN ORDER FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT TODAY, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A MOTION AND FINDING BY THE TOWN THAT SOME FORM OF EMERGENCY OR EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCE EXISTS.
IN THIS CASE, YOU'RE FACING A DEADLINE OF 5:00 PM AND WE HAVE ONLY RECENTLY RECEIVED THE ADVICE FROM THE SECRETARY ON WHAT THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT REQUIRES.
AND THEN, UM, TO AMEND THE AGENDA, TO ADD THE RESOLUTION TO IT.
THAT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A TWO THIRDS VOTE.
WE DO HAVE, YOU SEE THE OTHER ONE, THE V FIVE, WE DO HAVE THE PROPOSED TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION FOR THE EXPRESSION OF THE, UM, SENSE OF COUNSEL.
THAT WOULD NEED TO BE ONE MINOR CHANGE TO IT TO BRING IT INTO CONFORMITY WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY.
THAT WAS JUST MADE MEANING IN THE ONE SECTION YOU'D HAVE TO ADD THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY AS OPPOSED TO, I THINK IT NOW SAYS THE ROADWAY CORRIDOR.
BUT THAT WOULD NEED TO BE DONE.
UH, I, I, I CAN DO THAT WHILE Y'ALL THIS.
AND THAT'S NOT A, NOT A, NOT A MAJOR, UH, THING, BUT IT WOULD JUST BE TO BRING IT IN CON INTO CONFORMITY SO THAT THE TEXT OF YOUR MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT DOCUMENT AND THE TEXT OF THIS SENSE OF COUNSEL DOCUMENT ARE CONSISTENT.
DID THAT, DID THAT COMPLETE YOUR PRESENTATION? DID THAT COMPLETE YOUR PRESENTATION? YES.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
KIM, DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGN UP? YES.
CHRISTOPHER CLIFF, YOU WERE SIGNED UP FOR BOTH ITEMS. DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? THIS IS ENTIRELY YOU, I NOT HAD TIME TO READ IT.
WELL, WE ARE, WE ARE, WE ARE ON THE CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN.
HILTON HAD AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
YEAH, SO, WELL, THAT'S RIGHT, BUT WHAT, WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING BEFORE, SHOULDN'T IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT? I MISUNDERSTOOD CULTUS.
I I'M REALLY, I'M VERY CONFUSED.
SO I, I'M, I'M NOT A BUREAUCRAT.
YOU'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME.
ACTUALLY, I, I'LL HAVE MR. COLTRANE GIVE A LITTLE MORE EXPLANATION ON THIS.
THE AGENDA ITEM BEFORE COUNSEL NOW IS THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA PACKET FOR TODAY'S MEETING.
IF ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WISHES TO DO SO, A MOTION TO AMEND THAT, TO BRING IT INTO CONFORMITY WITH WHAT THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[03:55:01]
SAYS IS REQUIRED CAN BE MADE.IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN AS A SECONDARY MATTER, UM, COUNSEL WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER IT WISHES TO ADD THE RESOLUTION, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF COUNSEL TO THIS AGENDA WITH THE REQUIRED FINDINGS AND REQUIRED TWO THIRDS VOTE, WHICH COUNCIL COULD THEN VOTE ON QUESTION FOR THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
SO YOU ARE ASKING IF COUNCIL WISHES FOR US TO AMEND THE MOTION THAT RELATES TO THE ES TO REFLECT WHAT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IS REQUIRING? WELL, IT'S NOT THE WAREHOUSES, IT'S THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION ITSELF.
IT IT'S THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION.
WHAT, WHAT IS, WHAT IS IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE? I'M IS, I'M, YES, YES, YES.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, THE SENSE OF, UH, YES COUNSEL YES.
IF COUNSEL CHOOSES TO TAKE THAT UP, YES.
THEN THAT WOULD BE A SECOND ITEM FOR COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION.
UM, SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA UNDER, I GUESS IT'S FIVE B, UM, IS MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
AND WHAT WAS PUBLISHED WAS MUNICIPAL CONSENT WITH THE SAME CONDITIONS THAT WERE IN THE MOA WITH THE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.
SO THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS, DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IT THAT WAY,
SO WE STILL NEED TO TAKE AN ACTION THAT IS NOW SPLIT INTO TWO MUNICIPAL CONSENT, THE WAY THE SECRETARY WANTS IT, THEN SEPARATELY, THE CONDITIONS THAT WE EXPECT TO BE DONE.
SO WE STILL HAVE CONDITIONS, IT'S JUST IN A DIFFERENT FORM.
THAT'S THE BEST WAY I KNOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
SO WE WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING, BUT IN TWO PARTS.
DID IT, DON, DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT? NO, SIR.
ADDRESSING THE ORIGINAL, UH, RESOLUTION.
UM, I, I SENT TO SEAN AND JOSH, UM, APPROXIMATELY, UH, UH, QUITE A LONG MEMO WITH, HAD ABOUT 34 OBSERVATIONS IN IT ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
AND MY OVERALL CONCERN IS THAT THE USE OF THE WORD WILL, RATHER THAN SHALL, SHALL, CONVEYS AN ELEMENT OF OBLIGATION THAT WILL DOESN'T.
UH, I ALSO FELT THAT THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT WAS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHO HAVE A PRETTY POOR TRACKER OF, OF HONESTY COULD SQUI SQUIRM THEIR WAY OUT OF, UH, OBLIGATIONS.
AND I, I FELT THAT OVERALL THE, THE DRAFTING SHOULD BE TIGHTENED UP, UM, AND CLEARER, UH, ON WHERE RESPONSIBILITIES LIE FOR EXECUTION OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS SPECIFIED IN THE RESOLUTION.
AND I DID MY BEST IN THE TIME ALLOWED, UH, TO BRING THOSE ATTENTION OF BOTH SEAN AND JOSH AND THE DOCUMENT THAT IS BEFORE US TODAY, UH, FIVE B THAT IS, IS NO, NO REAL, NOT SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT.
I, I THINK PERSONALLY IT'S, IT'S A VERY POOR, UH, CONTRACT, UH, WITH TOO MANY, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE, UH, DELIVERING PARTY, UM, TO AVOID ITS OBLIGATIONS.
UM, SO, UH, AM I NOW BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO COMMENT UPON SECRETARY POWELL'S INTERVENTION, OR IS THAT GONNA COME SEPARATELY? YOU CAN, YOU CAN CONTINUE.
UM, WELL, SECRETARY POWELL IS, IS ACTUALLY MADE A, UH, A PROPOSAL THAT IF I WAS IN HIS POSITION, I WOULD DO AS WELL.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S VERY SMART OF HIM.
UM, HE'S TRYING TO REDUCE DOWN VERY TIGHTLY, UH, TO, UH, WHAT HE'S OBLIGED TO, UH, FULFILL BEFORE HE CAN PROCEED TO THE FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.
SO IT, IT'S, IT'S ALL A, A DEVICE ENGINEERED BY BUREAUCRAT, BUT IT'S A POLITICAL DEVICE AND HE SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT.
UH, AND, AND I'M VERY SURPRISED THAT YOU ARE GIVING THE IMPRESSION THAT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, YOU'VE, YOU'VE ACTUALLY BEEN INDUCED TO ACCEPT HIS PROPOSAL.
I, I'M REALLY QUITE ASTONISHED, AND I THINK WE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE, THE, THE TWO PROPOSALS THAT YOU'RE NOW COMING FORWARD WITH, UH, HAVE NO, WE'VE HAD A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND VERY QUICKLY IT'S QUITE CLEAR IF SECRETARY POWELL COULD SEND YOU A LETTER ON JUNE THE 26TH, RESPONDING IN SUBSTANTIAL DETAIL TO YOUR CONDITIONS THAT HE RECEIVED THE DRAFT OF THOSE MUNICIPAL,
[04:00:01]
UH, UH, MEMORANDUM OF, OF, OF A, OF AGREEMENT AND MUNICIPAL EXTENT, A LONG TIME BEFORE THE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.HE GOT TO SEE THEM BEFORE WE SAW THEM.
WELL, NO, THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.
'CAUSE OF HIS LETTER DATED JUNE THE 26TH.
SO I THINK YOU'VE, I THINK YOU'VE ACTUALLY ALL BEEN A BIT NAUGHTY, ACTUALLY A BIT DEVIOUS.
JACK ALDERMAN, HE ALREADY SPOKE.
HE LEFT JOE JUDGE, HE LEFT CHRIS CURTIS.
AS BEFORE, I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANYBODY ELSE THAT'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, JOHN CASEY INDIGO RUN.
UM, AS A FOLLOW UP TO WHAT YOU JUST HEARD, THE, THE COUNCIL HAS JUST BEEN TOM SAWYER.
WE'VE HEARD NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, SENATOR DAVIS HAS SAID SEVERAL TIMES, IF YOU HAVE CONDITIONS, THE MUNICIPALITY OUGHT TO PUT CONDITIONS IN, THEY OUGHT TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY WANT.
NOW WHAT YOU HA ARE DOING, YOU'RE GIVING A CLEAN CONSENT AND A WISHLIST.
AND A AND AS I SAID BEFORE, ANYTHING THAT THE DOT OR THE COUNTY IS NOT REQUIRED TO DO, THEY WILL JUST BLOW AWAY.
AS I SAID, I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T LIKE MAKING ANY KIND OF A, A AN AN EMOTIONAL APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE.
BUT IF YOU DO THIS, YOU'RE ADVOCATING YOUR DUTY, AT LEAST, AT LEAST DO WHAT YOU FIRST SAID AND WHAT, AND WHAT WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD TO THE TOWN WAS THE PROCESS THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED.
AND PUT YOUR CONDITIONS IN THE CONSENT.
AND IF, IF THEY GET REJECTED, YOU, YOU'LL, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FACING AND IT SHOULD COME BACK THE MUNICIPAL CONSIDERATION AGAIN.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DAS.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
YEAH, I HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE MOTION BY DELETING THE TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION, FOLLOWING THE WORDS PROJECT ID NUMBER P 0 3 0 4 5 0 IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH THE FOLLOWING TEXT.
WHEREAS THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROPOSED TO CONSTRUCT, RECONSTRUCT, ALTER, OR IMPROVE THE CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM REFERENCED ABOVE, WHICH IS LOCATED WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF HILTON NET ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA HEREAFTER THE TOWN, WHEREAS THE TOWN WISHES TO AUTHORIZE THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENTS OF THE AFOR HIGHWAY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLANS TO BE PREPARED BY OR FOR S-C-D-O-T NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE, UH, FIVE SEVEN DASH FIVE DASH EIGHT 20 2018 AS AMENDED, THE TOWN DOES HEREBY CONSENT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT OF THE FOR, FOR SAID HIGHWAY WITHIN ITS CORPORATE LIMITS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROJECT PLANS.
AND FURTHER THE TOWN HAVING REVIEWED THE PLANS FOR SAID CONSTRUCTION, DOES HEREBY APPROVE SAID PLANS AS PROVIDED IN SOUTH CAROLINA CODE FIVE SEVEN DASH FIVE DASH EIGHT 30, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE FOREGOING CONSENT AND APPROVAL SHALL BE THE SOLE APPROVAL NECESSARY FROM THE TOWN FOR S-C-D-O-T TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT UNDER THE PROJECT PLANS, AND CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF ANY AND ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS WITH REGARD TO CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS.
THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND CONSENT SHALL ALSO EXTEND TO THE BENEFIT OF UTILITY COMPANIES ENGAGED IN RELOCATING UTILITY LINES ON ACCOUNT OF THE PROJECT.
FURTHER, THE TOWN SHALL EXEMPT ALL EXISTING AND NEW RIGHT OF WAYS AND ALL OTHER PROPERTIES PURCHASED IN CONNECTION WITH RIGHT OF WAY FOR THE HIGHWAY FROM THE GENERAL OR SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT AGAINST REAL PROPERTY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE TOWN HEREBY SIGNIFIES ITS INTENTION TO FAITHFULLY OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER FIVE, TITLE 56, CODE OF LAW OF SOUTH CAROLINA 1976, AND ALL AMENDMENTS THERETO RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY TO BE CONSTRUCTED, RECONSTRUCTED, ALTERED, OR IMPROVED AS HEREIN IDENTIFIED AND FURTHER AGREES TO REFRAIN FROM PLACING OR MAINTAINING ANY TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES UPON ANY SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY FIRST OBTAINING THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AS REQUIRED BY SOUTH CAROLINA CODE 56 DASH FIVE DASH NINE 30, OR ENACTING ANY TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ORDINANCES IN
[04:05:01]
INCONSISTENT THEREWITH.IS THERE A SECOND? I WOULD SECOND THAT, BUT SUGGEST THAT WE DON'T NEED THE SENTENCE ON UTILITIES SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
CURTIS, YOU WANNA ADDRESS THAT, PLEASE? YES.
THE SENTENCE ON UTILITIES SIMPLY WE CAN, I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU.
THE SENTENCE ON UTILITIES EXTENDS THE CONSENT TO ANY UTILITY WORK THAT MAY TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT'S WHY THAT'S STILL THERE.
WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL MS. BRYSON.
UM, MAYOR, I, I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE WAY WE'RE FORCED TO PROCEED.
UM, THERE'S CLEAR PRECEDENT FOR CONDITIONAL CONSENT.
IT WAS DONE WITH A CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M TROUBLED THAT, UM, WITH S-E-D-O-T PUSHING BACK ON US THIS WAY, UM, THERE'S ALSO, UM, UH, UH, OTHER JURISDICTIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE CONDITIONAL CONSENT.
UM, AND SO I'M GREATLY TROUBLED BY IT.
UM, I DO SUPPORT THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE AGREED TO.
I SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COMPANION, UH, RESOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES THOSE.
UM, BUT, UM, THIS HAS TROUBLED ME GREATLY.
THIS WAS LIKE OUR LAST, UH, GRASP ON, ON HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET IT AS BEST, AS BEST AS WE CAN FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE WORKED HARD TO TRY TO ADDRESS LOT OF THE ELEMENTS.
UM, I, I TALKED ABOUT, UM, MY TEST FOR CONDITIONS, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE AGAIN, UM, BUT STONY CERTAIN, BUT I'LL, I'LL BRIEFLY MENTION, UH, ADDRESSING STONY AS PRIMARY, THE APPEARANCE OF, UH, THE GATEWAY ENTRANCE IN THE ISLAND AND PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY.
THOSE ARE THREE PRIMARY CONCERNS I'VE HAD ABOUT THIS.
UM, AND, AND I'M A RETIRED ATTORNEY.
UM, SO IT, IT ALWAYS TROUBLES ME WHEN I DON'T GET IN MY CONDITIONS IN THE DOCUMENT THAT I'M SIGNING WHERE I CONSENT.
UM, SO, UM, I, I APPRECIATE, UH, THAT, WELL, I APPRECIATE THE DEADLINE.
I DON'T LIKE BEING IN THIS BOX.
UM, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE, UM, OUR DESIRES AND EXPRESSIONS ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY.
UM, AND THAT APPEARS AS THOUGH THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO.
UM, BUT UNTIL YOU CALL FOR THE VOTE, I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE.
UM, THE MOTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL IS TO AMEND, UH, THE AGENDA TO ADD THIS NEW RESOLUTION.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT, JUST SIMPLY TO AMEND NO SENATOR COUNCILMAN STANFORD.
NOW, THE MOTION ON THE COUNCILS PLATE RIGHT NOW IS THE RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
COUNCILMAN AMES HAS MADE A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
SO THE FIRST ITEM IS VOTING ON MR. AMES MOTION TO AMEND, AND THEN THE VOTING ON THE RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT, ASSUMING THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.
IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I SAID? YES.
THE, THE MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA IS A SECOND ITEM THAT YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO YET.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT'S SHOWING ON THE SCREEN.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT SAYS, UM, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE SECOND ONE.
SO I ASKED EARLIER TO, UM, TO MOVE THIS OFF AND TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION.
AND I'M LISTENING TO THE CHANGES AFTER HAVING HEARD A GOOD ADMIT ABOUT WHAT IT WAS THAT WAS GOING TO BE PRESENTED, AND THE RES RESIDENTS HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LAY THEIR EYES ON IT OR HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIGEST IT.
UM, IT'S, IT'S WRONG TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, ON TAKING THIS VOTE AT THIS TIME.
I WANNA BE CLEAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND MAYBE SOMEONE CAN CLARIFY FOR ME, BUT FIRST, BACK TO THE, UM, MOA WITH THE COUNTY, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THEIR RESPONSE TO WHAT WE PRESENTED TO THEM.
AND WE'VE GOTTEN VERBALLY SOME, UM, APPROVAL AND SOME AGREEMENT, BUT THAT'S NOTHING.
AND THAT'S FROM ONE COUNTY MEMBER AND ONE, UM, JARED WHO'S HERE, ADMINISTRATOR
[04:10:01]
FROM THE COUNTY.SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT WHAT WE PRESENTED TO THEM WILL BE ACCEPTED.
AND, AND YET WE TOOK A VOTE ON IT.
WE HAVE NO FEEDBACK ON THAT HERE.
WE HAVE FEEDBACK AND WE'VE HEARD CLEARLY, UM, FROM THE SECRETARY THAT HE WANTS A CLEAN, UM, MUNICIPAL CONSENT DOCUMENT WITH NO CONDITIONS.
UM, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THOSE CONDITIONS WILL BE AGREED TO, AND WE DO KNOW, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT OUR DELEGATION WILL WORK DILIGENTLY AT TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET WHAT IT IS THAT WE'VE PUT IN THERE.
WE HAVE NO GUARANTEES ON ANY OF THIS.
AND HERE WE SIT READY TO GIVE MUNICIPAL CONSENT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BUILD A BRIDGE ON A PLAN, ON A PLAN, AND A PLAN THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW MORE THAN 30% OF WHAT IT ENTAILS.
AND EVEN THAT I IS, UM, CONCEPT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL COSTS, ESTIMATED COSTS.
WE DON'T KNOW ANY OF THESE THINGS.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE UNI A, A VOTE ON MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND HAND IT OVER TO S-C-D-O-T.
NOW, THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY, AS I HAVE BEFORE, UM, IF YOU GIVE MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND THEY DON'T AGREE, OR WITH THE CONDITIONS OR HOWEVER IT'S BEING TERMED NOW TO MAKE IT SOFTER, UM, IF THAT DOESN'T GET APPROVED, THEN THIS MUNICIPAL CONSENT MUST BE NOR INVALIDATED MUST BE VOIDED.
AND FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE THINKING THAT THIS IS GONNA HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE STAY KEPT UP WITH THE INFORMATION, TWO DIFFERENT CONSULTANTS, TWO DIFFERENT, UM, TWO DIFFERENT ESTIMATES OF WHAT GROWTH TO 2045 WOULD BE.
THE DATA ISN'T CONSISTENT ACROSS ANYWHERE.
BUT A BEST CASE SCENARIO, ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES MAY SAVE UP TO 15 MINUTES.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT ONCE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, ONE BRIDGE WASN'T SUFFICIENT, THE NEXT BRIDGE NOW ISN'T SUFFICIENT.
THIS BRIDGE WILL VERY SOON NOT BE SUFFICIENT.
SO FOR THE EMPLOYERS WHO ARE STANDING BEFORE US, THINKING THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA HAVE A FREE REIGN TO DRIVE ACROSS THE BRIDGE NOW AT BEST, BEST CASE SCENARIO, YOU MIGHT GET 15 MINUTES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE CO CONSULTANTS SAY.
THAT'S THE FACTS AND THE DATA AND THE RESULTS, THAT'S THEM.
SO, SO ANYWAY, UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS VOTE.
UM, I'LL MAKE A MOTION AGAIN TO ASK FOR AN EXTENSION SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS PROPERLY, UM, WITH NOTIFICATION TO THE RESIDENTS SO THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, UM, AND MORE CLARITY ON WHAT IT IS THAT WE CAN EXPECT.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO, UM, IF THE CONDITIONS AREN'T, UM, ACCEPTED, UM, AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT I THINK WHERE WE STAND.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT MOTION? SEEING NONE.
MR. BROWN? UH, YEAH, MR. MAYOR, UH, JUST FOR, OH, ALL PROCESS PURPOSES.
SO WE ARE BASICALLY BREAKING OUR ORIGINAL AGENDA ITEM INTO TWO PARTS.
AND BECAUSE THE CONDITIONS PIECE ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO US, THEN THE CONSENT PIECE.
I'M WANTING TO KNOW IF WE CAN TAKE UP THE CONDITIONS BEFORE WE TAKE UP THE CONSENT.
UH, CURTIS, I'M GONNA, UH, RELAY THAT TO YOU.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WELL, YOU HAVE A PENDING, WELL, ACTUALLY, I HAVE TWO PENDING MOTIONS ON THE TABLE NOW.
UM, I SUPPOSE IF THE MAKERS OF THOSE MOTIONS WOULD AGREE TO WITHDRAW THEM, YOU COULD DO THAT.
BUT I MEAN, RIGHT NOW, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN STOP DEBATE ON THE PENDING MOTIONS TO TAKE UP A WHOLLY SEPARATE ITEM.
UH, SORRY, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION THAT MS. BECKER'S MOTION DID NOT GET A SECOND.
SO I THINK THE ONLY PENDING MOTION IS ON THE RESOLUTION WE SEE ON THE MOTION THE RE THERE'S ALSO A MOTION TO AMEND IT.
WHAT, WHAT IS THE MOTION TO AMEND? WE'RE TAKING OH, THIS MOTION TO AMEND? YEAH.
[04:15:01]
COUNCILMAN AMES READ A MOTION TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS IN THE PACKAGE.THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
OTHER COMMENTS, MR. ALFORD? THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO, UH, THIS PROCESS.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE THE SECRETARY HAS BEEN WATCHING THESE PROCEEDINGS AND MAKING COMMENTS WHILE WE ARE HERE DISCUSSING AND DEBATING IT.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THERE'S A FINANCING ELEMENT THAT'S STILL UNDETERMINED.
AND THE BEST WAY, OR ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT WE HAVE TO FURTHER THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT WE NEED TO FINISH THIS PROJECT IS GONNA BE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DELEGATION TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND PARTICULARLY TO SENATOR DAVIS.
UM, THAT MEANS THAT, THAT ULTIMATELY THIS IS IN THE POLITICAL ARENA.
AND HAVING SPENT FOUR YEARS AS A LOBBYIST IN, UH, IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA LEGISLATURE, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THIS.
AND THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION SO FAR HAS BEEN SHOWING THAT HE IS TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING HE CAN WITHIN HIS LIMITATIONS TO BE HELPFUL TO THE, TO THIS PROJECT.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE EFFORTS THAT THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION IS MAKING AND AS INDICATING THAT HE WILL MAKE SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE ON THE POLITICAL SIDE OF GETTING THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO FINANCE THIS.
SEEING NONE, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION.
WE'VE GOT A FIRST AND SECOND, MR. AMES AND MR. ALFRED, WE'LL TAKE THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF AMENDING PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ARE THOSE OPPOSED? FOUR TO THREE.
NOW MR. RANGE, YOU GOT ANOTHER MOTION TO READ THERE? I DO.
PARDON? THAT WAS THE VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND, CORRECT? YES.
THERE THEN BE YOU WOULD NEED TO NOW GO BACK AND VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION.
YEAH, TO ADOPT THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
UM, I MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AUTHORIZING MUNICIPAL CONSENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE WILLIAM HI LINK PARKWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT AS AMENDED.
SECOND, FIRST, AND SECOND TO OUR VOTING.
NOW WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
YOU CAN COME BACK UP AND SPEAK.
WE'LL, WE'LL LET YOU, YOU VOTING, I'M AWFULLY SORRY, BUT I'M SUFFERING COLD AND HUNGER.
UM, AND ALSO TERRIBLY CONFUSED.
I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS, UM, I I THINK IT'S QUITE WRONG OF SECRETARY POWELL TO INTERFERE IN THIS PROCESS.
BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVEN YEARS.
HE'S ONLY BEEN IN HIS POSITION FOUR MONTHS.
UM, AND I THINK HE'S TAKING A POLITICAL POSITION, AND HE SHOULDN'T, YOU SHOULDN'T ABROGATE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT AS WRITTEN WITH THE CONDITIONS INCLUDED, I FELT COULD BE STRENGTHENED.
BUT THE CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR.
THEY'VE BEEN DEBATED OFTEN ENOUGH, AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE CONDITIONS.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ONLY BE SUBMITTING, UH, A MUNICIPAL CONTENT, UH, CONSENT WITH THE STIPULATIONS AND CONDITIONS ATTACHED.
UM, AND I THINK YOU'D BE QUITE WRONG, UH, TO, UH, FOLLOW HIS DIRECTION AND MAKE HIS LIFE EASIER.
UM, AND IF I WAS IN HIS POSITION, I WOULD ALSO BE LOBBYING FOR YOU TO DO WHAT HE'S ASKED YOU TO DO.
AND CURTIS HAS REDRAFT THE RESOLUTION AND ASKED YOU TO APPROVE.
UH, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD DO IT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY STAND UP TO BE COUNTED, RECOGNIZE OR THE CONSTITUENCY CONCERN AND SAY AWFULLY SORRY, SECRETARY.
BUT NO, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DIS WE'RE GONNA DO IT THIS WAY.
WE WANT TO YOU TO CONSIDER A MUNICIPAL CONSENT WITH CONDITIONS AND WHAT YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY AS, UH, SENATOR DAVIS SAID, UH, LAST WEEK, BE ABLE TO HOLD ST.
AND THEY ARE DESPERATE FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT TO AVOID ANY CHANGES THAT, OR ANY FURTHER ACTION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
UM, AND YOU'VE GOT THIS AMAZING NEGOTIATING LEVERAGE.
YOU SHOULD HOLD BACK AND YOU SHOULD STICK TO YOUR GUNS AND ACTUALLY ALL AUTHORIZE A MUNICIPAL
[04:20:01]
CONSENT WITH IN INTEGRATED CONDITIONS.AND I THINK YOU MIGHT FIND THAT, UH, A LOT OF THE CONS, CONSTITUENTS WOULD FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
BUT IF YOU GO DOWN THIS PATH, I THINK YOU'RE OPENING YOURSELVES AN AWFUL LOT OF CRITICISM AND IT'S, UH, UH, A, UH, I'M AWFULLY SORRY TO SAY IT, BUT IT'S A SIGN OF COLLECTIVE WEAKNESS AND YOU SHOULDN'T DO IT.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE DS QUESTIONS.
SO, SO I'M CLEAR ON THE CONDITION PIECE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO TAKE UP AN ADDITIONAL ITEM AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS FORM.
THE, THE, THAT'S WHEN WE WILL, UM, MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA WITH THE, UH, EX AGENDA CIRCUMSTANCES TO BRING UP THE, UH, THE SENSE OF COUNSEL.
SO JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN
THIS SAYS THE SENSE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
SO WITH THIS, ARE WE GRANTING MUNICIPAL CONSENT? YES.
THIS WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE GRANTED ON A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
AND IF I COULD PRO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY? NOT, AND WHAT YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING IS WHAT THOSE CALL THEM PROJECT EXPECTATIONS ARE ON A, ON A CLEAN DOCUMENT THAT SEAN WILL, WILL GO OVER AS WELL.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UM, YOU KNOW, PROJECT EXPECTATIONS VERSUS CONDITIONS.
UM, I HOPE THEY MEAN THE SAME.
AND I HEAR THE EX EXASPERATION OF MY COLLEAGUE NEXT TO ME.
UM, IT HAS BEEN A LONG DAY, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, FOR ME TO, TO CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
AND I'LL ADD IN A PERSONAL, UH, REASON FOR THAT.
MY CONDITIONS THAT I SUBMITTED WERE REJECTED OUT OF HAND AND WITH NO DISCUSSION, WITHOUT EVEN THE COUNSEL APPARENTLY MADE BEING AWARE OF THEM.
AND SO I HAVE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE ENTIRE PROCESS THAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING.
OTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE WILL CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, UH, MADE BY MR. ANN, SECOND BY MS. MR. ALFRED, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND, THAT WOULD BE IN OPPOSED, THAT WOULD BE FIVE TO TWO.
[b. Consideration of a Resolution of the Town of Hilton Head Island Authorizing Municipal Consent with the South Carolina Department of Transportation for the William Hilton Parkway Gateway Corridor Project]
NOW, DO WE HAVE A NEED FOR EX CIRCUMSTANCES, UM, TO AMEND THE AGENDA? UH, YES, WE DO.I MOVE TO ADD A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SENSE OF TOWN COUNCIL RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE US 2 78 CORRIDOR, AND THAT THE TOWN IS FACED WITH AN EMERGENCY EX ACCIDENT CIRCUMSTANCE RELATED TO THE DEADLINE THAT IS IMPOSED BY THE, ON THE TOWN FOR THE DECISION ON MUNICIPAL CONSENT AND THE INFORMATION DELIVERED TODAY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING THE FORM OF MUNICIPAL CONSENT THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ADDITION TO THE EMERGENCE AND A EX CIRCUMSTANCE.
THE TEXT IN THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS THE SAME TEXT THAT IS IN THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING, MEANING THAT NOTHING IN THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA IS NEW.
RATHER, IT IS A CHANGE OF THE METHODOLOGY.
ANY DISCUSSION? SO AGAIN, IT'S, UM, IF MY OPINION, EVEN THOUGH THE, UM, ITEMS REMAIN THE SAME, IT IS, UM, NOT WELL PUBLICIZED OR NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC, UM, THAT THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE, UM, TO THIS PROCESS.
AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THESE, UM, CONDITIONS ARE REJECTED BY EITHER THE S-C-D-O-T OR THE COUNTY, WHAT THAT DOES TO THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF LAWYERS IN THE ROOM.
[04:25:01]
PLEASE.CURTIS, THINK THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE TOWN.
THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
UM, MS. BECKER, AS WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED, THE, THE DISAGREEMENTS THAT MAY ARISE REGARDING THE TEXT OF THE MUNICIPAL, THE, THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THEN THE SENSE OF COUNSEL HERE.
UH, I MEAN, AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT THINGS HAPPENING WITH THIS PROJECT THAT ARE, THAT ARE NOT YET COMPLETE, THE COMPLETION OF THE PLAN, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS WILL HAVE TO BE, AND ONGOING AND COOPERATIVE PROCESS BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYTHING'S BEEN REJECTED YET, BUT AGAIN, THESE THINGS ARE NOT FIXED AS OF TODAY.
AND SO THE ANTICIPATION SHOULD BE THAT THESE WILL BE MATTERS FOR NEGOTIATION AS YOU MOVE FORWARD.
AND IF THERE'S NOT AN AGREEMENT IN THOSE RES UH, NEGOTIATIONS, WHAT HAPPENS TO MUNICIPAL CONSENT? IT'S THE SAME QUESTION.
I MEAN, I DO UNDERSTAND NEGOTIATIONS, UM, AND PERHAPS THERE'S A BACK AND FORTH, UM, AS THESE ARE REVIEWED, OKAY? BUT IF THERE'S NOT AN AGREEMENT BY THE TOWN THAT WE CAN ACCEPT WHAT HAS BEEN OFFERED TO US AS A NEGOTIATING POSITION, THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO MINA'S CONSENT? I'M STANDING HERE TODAY.
STANDING HERE TODAY, I'M UNAWARE OF THAT EVER HAVING COME UP.
BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE, I MEAN, BUT, SO THANK YOU FOR THE ANSWER.
I'LL JUST ASK MY, UH, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS IF THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT ANSWER IF I COULD.
MS. BECKER IS ASKING A QUESTION AND I, AND I'LL ADD A LAYER TO IT.
I, I BELIEVE YOUR FIRST, OR I, I I ADD THAT YOUR FIRST VOTE ON THE AGENDA, THE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD AUTHORIZING A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH BUFORT COUNTY FOR THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR, WHICH SEAN WENT THROUGH VERY DELIBERATELY AND VERY CLEARLY WERE A BUNCH OF ELEMENTS IN THE PROJECT THAT INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMIT TO SOME ENHANCEMENTS IN THE STONY CORRIDOR, THOSE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO OVERCOME.
BUT WHAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN THAT PROJECT THAT I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MOVING FORWARD, THE TOWN COUNCIL TODAY DEFINED WHAT THE PROJECT TOLERANCE IS AND ISN'T IT IS THE THREE LANE EACH WAY BRIDGE.
IT'S THE SHOULDERS, UH, IT'S THE PATHWAY.
IT'S, IT'S THE TRANSITION INTO THE CORRIDOR OF THREE LANES.
IT'S 45 MILES PER HOUR DESIGN.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS IF THE COUNTY WOULD REJECT THAT, IF THE STATE WOULD REJECT THAT, THEN THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT, I WILL BE BACK WITH YOU WITH OUR TOWN ATTORNEY, MOST LIKELY SENATOR DAVIS.
UM, BECAUSE WHAT YOU CONSENTED ON WAS THE PROJECT AS DEFINED.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE VERY DELIBERATE WITH YOU TO SAY, DEFINE THE PROJECT, NOT CONDITION THE PROJECT.
I BELIEVE YOUR FIRST VOTE DEFINE THE PROJECT.
IF THE COUNTY, IF BEAUFORT COUNTY, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, REJECTS THAT THAT DOCUMENT REJECTS THAT SCOPE OF WORK, THEN IN MY OPINION, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SPEAKING AS YOUR ATTORNEY DOES FOR YOU, UM, I WOULD BELIEVE THAT THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT WOULD BE NULL AND VOID.
YOU, YOU APPROVED WHAT YOU APPROVED.
THERE IS NOT A REMEDY CLAUSE IN THE MOAI HAVE SPENT MY CAREER 20 PLUS YEARS MYSELF, LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE ALSO SPENT A LOT OF YEARS NEGOTIATING MOAS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE ON POINT.
I'M GOING TO WORK WITH YOU CLOSELY.
I WOULD SAY THAT IF THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT AND THERE PROBABLY WILL BE, I WILL BE BACK HERE WITH YOU.
UM, I, I THINK, I BELIEVE THAT THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY NEEDS TO BE AS GOOD AS IT'S EVER BEEN MOVING FORWARD.
AND I COMMIT TO YOU AS TOWN COUNCIL AND I COMMIT TO THIS COMMUNITY THAT I'M GONNA WORK AS HARD AS I CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THERE.
BUT WHAT HELPS ME IS YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR ME TO IMPLEMENT WHAT YOU VOTED ON.
AND SO IF THEY SAY NO, I'LL BE BACK, IN MY OPINION.
AND AGAIN, AS YOUR TOWN MANAGER, NOT YOUR TOWN ATTORNEY, THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT WOULD BE NULL AND VOID IF, IF THERE'S A NO.
SO, UM, ON THE THERE, THERE'S A MOTION FOR A SENSE OF COUNSEL TO, TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
[04:30:01]
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE FIRST.UM, ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH THE, UH, DINGDONG THAT WENT ON OVER THE PREVIOUS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT? KNOWS IT TOOK SEVERAL DAYS TO RESOLVE.
I THINK THAT ALL HAPPEN BEFORE YOU ARRIVED, MARK, SO I WISH YOU LUCK WITH THIS ONE.
UM, THE, THE DOCUMENTS ARE QUITE SEPARATE, UM, AND HAVE A SEPARATE APPROVAL PROCESS.
UM, I I I DON'T UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT, UM, RESPONSE YOU CAN GIVE OTHER THAN ACQUIESCENCE.
IF THE COUNTY DECLINES THE MOA AS DRAFTED, UM, YOU'LL HAVE TO REVERT TO LITIGATION.
THAT'S THE ONLY, THE ONLY OPTION YOU'VE GOT.
UM, I CAN'T SEE HOW THEY DECLINING TO ACCEPT THE MOA AS DRAFTED HAS ANY IMPACT AT ALL.
AND GRANTING A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CONSENT, THERE'S NO LINKAGE IN TERMS OF THE APPROVAL MECHANISMS OR THE RE RE REVIEW MECHANISMS. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK YOU'VE, YOU'VE APPROVED A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CA CONSENT.
UH, THEY'VE GOT YOU BY THE SHORTENED KALEY.
UH, THEY'RE GONNA RUN THIS PROJECT AND THERE'S NO OBLIGATION ON THEM TO ACTUALLY RESPOND TO YOUR MOA NO OBLIGATION WHATSOEVER.
THEY'VE GOT IT IN THEIR HANDS, A CLEAN MUNICIPAL CONSENT, AND THEY'RE OFF TO THE RACES.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN AFTER.
BEAUFORT COUNTY AND S-C-D-O-T.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR SUGGESTION, MARK, THAT IF THEY DECLINE THE MOA, THE M UH, THE MU BY, UH, BY DEFAULT COLLAPSES, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SENSE OF COUNSEL? UM, JUST THAT OUR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.
OH, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER.
UM, BUT OUR TOWN ATTORNEY DOESN'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION AND THAT'S CONCERNING.
MAYOR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, I THINK WE'RE VOTING ON THE MOTION TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER WHERE WE WERE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SO, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION MADE BY MR. AM SECOND BY MR. ALFORD TO AMEND THE AGENDA, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND OPPOSED SIX TO ONE.
MR. AM OR SEAN, YOU HAVE A, YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THIS ONE OR DO WE NEED CURTIS TO COME BACK UP TO DISCUSS IT FOR US? UM, I'M HAPPY TO RUN THROUGH IT.
I THINK, UH, WE'VE ASKED FOR A MOTION FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ITEM.
THE AMENDED AGENDA ITEM INCLUDES A, A RESOLUTION.
AND CURTIS, PLEASE MAKE SURE I HAVE THE RIGHT ONE UP HERE.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ONE UP THERE.
THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY OUTLINES THE ITEMS. WELL, IT INCLUDES THE CORRESPONDENCE FROM SECRETARY POWELL, HIS RESPONSE LETTER ON JUNE 26TH.
UH, SO, UM, IT SETS THE EXPECTATION ON COMPLIANCE WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS, UM, THAT HE PROVIDED.
UH, AND FURTHER CLARIFIES THAT THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS.
AND THIS IS A SMALLER LIST THAN WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE MOA, BUT I'M GONNA READ.
A PROJECT DESIGN PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THROUGH A JOINT AND EQUAL PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT.
ALL DECISIONS AND APPROVALS CONCERNING THE PROJECT SHALL BE MADE IN WRITING AND SIGNED BY BOTH TOWN COUNCIL AND COUNTY COUNCIL RESPECTIVELY.
MAYOR, I'M GONNA HAVE TO INTERRUPT.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A SMALLER LIST AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
THIS IS THE WHOLE LIST THE SAME AS IN, UM, THAT'S THE MOA WITH THE COUNTY, COUNTY.
THIS WAS, WAS CHANGING ON THE FLY ALL DAY.
BUT YES, MS. BRYSON IS CORRECT.
THE TEXT IN THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF COUNSEL IS EVERYTHING IN THE MOA AS IT WAS SET OUT IN THE TWO, THREE DAYS AGO, OR AS IS SET OUT IN THE RESOLUTION FOR MUNICIPAL CONSENT THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA.
SO IT'S THAT TEXT, NOT THE TRUNCATED LIST THAT WAS CONSIDERED OR UNDER DISCUSSION EARLIER TODAY.
AS OF COURSE, CLARIFIED AND AMENDED TODAY.
[04:35:02]
YES, CURTIS, I STILL NEED THE CORRECT VERSION TO BE ABLE TO DISPLAY AND GO THROUGH.OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE, THERE WAS, SORRY.
IT'S NOT ON, OR DID I SEND HER THIS ONE? I DID DO A, YEAH, THIS IS SIX.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT NO, IT WOULD STILL BE, IT WOULD STILL BE ON PAGE TWO.
IMAGINE HOW THE RESIDENTS ARE CONFUSED AND STILL BE ON.
THIS IS JUST NOT, THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
TAKEN OFF WITH THE, WITH THE OVERPASS AND THE, AND THE CURB CUTS AT 5, 5 7.
YES, THAT THE, THE CURB CUT TEXT WAS ALREADY OUT OF THIS VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT.
SO YES, THE CHANGE FROM THE ROADWAY CORRIDOR TO THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY IS INCLUDED IN THE WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU NOW.
ANYTHING ELSE, MS. BRYSON? ANYTHING ELSE? NO, THANK YOU.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO GO THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS OR
WHAT'S ON THE, ON THE SCREEN TO SAY WITHIN THE STONY HISTORIC COMMUNITY? THAT WAS A CLARIFICATION.
UM, IN THE OA IT'S AT THE END.
OH, HE PUT IT AT THE END SENTENCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ IT ALL, SEAN.
SO IF, IF, IF YOU WOULD, UM, EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THIS DOCUMENT IS.
SO THIS DOCUMENT, UM, IS NOT IN THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION.
IT'S A SEPARATE RESOLUTION, UM, FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
UM, IT IS AUTHORIZING DELIVERY OF THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT TO THE S-C-D-O-T AS WELL AS THE MEMORANDUM AGREEMENT TO THE TOWN, UM, OR TO THE COUNTY FOR THE PROJECT.
UM, IT INCLUDES THE RESPONSES FROM JUSTIN POWELL, UM, AS WELL AS THE PROJECT EXPECTATIONS, UM, THAT ARE INCLUDED.
HONOR, THERE IS A RECITAL IN THERE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE READING.
WHEREAS BY SEPARATE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL, THE TOWN HAS AUTHORIZED THE DELIVERY OF MUNICIPAL CONSENT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN AND BEAUFORT COUNTY RELATED TO THE PROJECT.
SO WHERE, AND WHEREAS THE TOWN COUNCIL WISHES TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE PROJECT.
AND THEN WHAT I OUTLINED EARLIER, AND MAYOR, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, UM, PARAGRAPH A UNDER THE NOW THEREFORE SAYS THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS DELIVERED MUNICIPAL CONSENT ON ITS EXPECTATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH EACH ITEM SET OUT IN THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HONORABLE JUSTIN P. POWELL TO THE HONORABLE ALAN PERRY DATED JUNE 26TH, 2024.
AND IT'S EXPECTATION THAT THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS.
AND THOSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH BEFORE.
CAN I HAVE A CLARIFICATION ON DEFINITIONS? BECAUSE TO ME, AN EXPECTATION IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN A CONDITION.
I EXPECT SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY OBLIGATE THEM TO DO SOMETHING.
UM, AND SO IT'S, WELL, THAT SAYS ENOUGH.
WHEREAS A CONDITION IS MORE OF A DEMAND.
IT TIES THE CONSENT TO THE CONDITION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOU DROP IT DOWN.
UM, SO THE TITLE IS SHOWN, PLEASE.
IS NO ONE ELSE BOTHERED BY THAT? I JUST, BECAUSE OTHERWISE
[04:40:01]
YOU'RE GIVING LITERALLY A CLEAN CONSENT WITH, OKAY.THE IT IS, AND YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY.
WELL, I'LL JUST, IS THERE A LEGAL REASON OR AN EXPLANATION BY STAFF WHY THIS DOESN'T SAY CONDITION? NO, SIR.
I, I DON'T BELIEVE SO, BUT I'LL LET CURTIS, THE AUTHOR OF THAT LANGUAGE RESPOND.
UM, THIS WAS DRAFTED, UH, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE ADVICE FROM SECRETARY POWELL AND WHAT THE DOT INTENDED TO SEE, UM, THE LANGUAGE RELATED IN SUBPARAGRAPH A WAS PROPOSED BY ME.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT IS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT.
IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT RESOLUTION.
AND WHILE IT IS NOT AN EXPRESSED CONDITION TO THE MUNICIPAL CONSENT, THE INTENTION IS THAT IT SETS OUT COUNCIL'S EXPECTATIONS AS TO WHAT THE COUNTY AND THE DOT WILL DO.
THE OTHER THING, UM, THERE'S ONE OTHER THAT, THAT THERE WAS ONE THING ADDED TO THIS AT THE VERY END, WHICH IS COUNSEL'S EXPECTATION OF THE COOPERATION AND WORK OF THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, UH, TODAY REPRESENTED BY SENATOR DAVIS TO CAUSE THE THINGS EXPRESSED BY COUNSEL IN THIS TO HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BASED ON, UH, WHAT SENATOR DAVIS HAS SAID HE INTENDS TO DO.
AND, AND THAT'S SOMEWHERE ELSE.
IS THAT TOWARDS THE END OF THE DOCUMENT? THAT'S AT THE VERY END.
I ADDED THAT ON AT THE END AFTER ALL OF THE TEXTS THAT CAME OUT OF THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.
SO, UM, I WILL ASK IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MR. CLIFF, LOOK TO ME AGAIN.
UM, WHAT THE HELL HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH SECRETARY POWELL? UM, YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TO THE HILTON HEAD TOWN, HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE S-C-D-O-T.
HE SHOULDN'T BE INTERFERING IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS THE, THE BEST, UH, UH, SOLUTION FOR THE CONSTITUENT OF HILTON HEAD.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY NECESSARY.
YOU'VE SIGNED OFF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT, WHICH IS VERY DETAILED.
YOU'VE GIVEN HIM AND BEAUFORT COUNTY A CLEAN MEMORANDUM.
UNDERSTANDING IS THIS JUST TO MAKE YOU ALL FEEL BETTER, ABSOLVE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT? IT'S UTTERLY MEANING.
LET'S DOCUMENT, I, I DUNNO WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
I MEAN, ANY, ANY, UH, A JOURNALIST WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY WITH THIS.
I, I, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU JUST RIP IT UP AND ABANDON IT AND STICK WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND, AND FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.
THIS ISN'T UTTERLY RIDICULOUS DOCUMENT.
YOU'VE GOT NO WAY OF ENFORCING ON S-C-D-O-T, THESE CONDITIONS AS A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE TO UNDERTAKE AND ENSURES INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
HE'S GOT A CLEAN MUNICIPAL, UH, CONSENT AND HE'S LAUGHING.
AND BEAUFORT COUNTY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO READ THIS DOCUMENT.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD IF I WAS PASSMAN, I'D SAY SO THAT, WHY DO WE NEED THAT? WE'VE GOT MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, TOUGH, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE ACTUALLY DISCUSSING THIS DOCUMENT EITHER TO MAKE YOURSELVES FEEL BETTER OR TO BE SOME SORT OF INDICATION TO SECRETARY POWELL THAT HE'S CALLING THE SHOTS.
HE IS A CIVIL SERVANT, AND YOU ARE A A OF OFFICERS SELECTED, ELECTED BY THE CONSTITUENTS.
I REALLY, YOU MIGHT AGREE WITH IT, AND IF YOU DO AGREE WITH IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I WOULDN'T ACTUALLY SIGN IT.
I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT VOTE TO APPROVE IT.
YOU, YOU SHOULD SCRAP IT AND STICK TO YOUR GUNS.
YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB, A VERY DIFFICULT JOB.
DON'T LET YOURSELVES DOWN, UNLESS IF SO, DOWN TO BOOT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I'LL BE HAPPY TO START THIS TIME.
UM, I SAID IT BEFORE, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT DECISION.
WE, WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.
UM, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS SAY PERHAPS YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND AHEAD OF TIME.
NO, I CAN TELL YOU, UH, THERE WERE LOTS OF MOVING PARTS, UM, EVEN UP UNTIL THIS MOMENT.
[04:45:01]
BUT WHEN I SPOKE BEFORE, I TALKED ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES, UM, THAT I BASE MY DECISIONS ON.UM, DOES IT PROTECT THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTS, WORKFORCE INVESTORS? DOES IT RESPECT AND PROTECT THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? DOES IT REFLECT STEWARDSHIP OF ALL RESOURCES? DOES IT PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL INHABITANTS? DOES IT RESPECT THE CULTURE AND PROTECT THE LAND OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE? AND WHEN LOOKING AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE DATA WE'VE BEEN GIVEN, I SAID, HOW DO YOU MEASURE PERFORMANCE? AND I WENT BACK TO THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
BUT AT, AT THE END OF, UH, MY COMMENTS THE LAST TIME WE WERE TOGETHER, UM, I SAID, HERE ARE THE CONDITIONS THAT I WOULD EXPECT TO BE ADDRESSED.
UH, ONE WAS INCLUDE ESTONIA IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
UM, AND A LOT OF WHAT I HAD ON MY LIST IS INCLUDED, UH, WITHIN THIS LIST, UM, THAT, UH, THAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN.
UM, I SAID TO INCLUDE A PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY PLAN.
AND A LOT OF THAT IS INCLUDED WITHIN THIS LIST OF EXPECTATIONS SLASH CONDITIONS.
I SAID TO INCLUDE AESTHETIC AND DESIGN ELEMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE LANDSCAPE MEDIANS AND ALSO, UM, UH, PROVING THE BRIDGE DESIGN AND THE CORNER ENTRANCE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER.
UM, I SAID, LET'S GO AHEAD AND INCORPORATE THAT WINDMILL HARBOR, UH, WITHIN 30 DAYS.
UM, AND, AND TO TEST THE TIME OF DAY LIMITATIONS ON LEFT TURNS, UM, REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT TO 40 MILES PER HOUR.
UM, AND THEN ALSO TO INCLUDE PLANS TO ADDRESS STORM SURGES.
THAT'S IN THIS DOCUMENT AS WELL.
TO ADDRESS BOTTLENECK MERGERS WITH A CROSSON PARKWAY, THERE IS A PROVISION IN THERE TO WORK TOWARDS THAT.
UM, I, I DON'T LIKE THE SIZE OF THE BRIDGE.
I'D RATHER HAVE TWO TRAVEL LANES AND A BREAKDOWN LANE.
UM, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO SUCCEED.
UM, I TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE BRIDGE.
SO THERE IS LANGUAGE IN HERE TO WORK TOWARDS REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE BRIDGE BASED UPON TWO THINGS.
ONE IS, UH, THE APPEARANCE OF THE BRIDGE, THE IMPACT OF THE BRIDGE ON THE ISLAND, AND ALSO THE SHORTFALL IN FUNDING.
UM, SO THERE IS THAT, UM, UH, COMMITMENT IN THERE TO LOOK TOWARDS THAT AS WELL.
UM, SO I, I WISH THAT, UH, UH, WE HAD THE BELT AND SUSPENDERS MEANS, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU HOLD YOUR PANTS UP
UM, AND SO WE'VE DONE THE BEST WE CAN WITH TRYING TO DO THAT.
UM, WE'VE BEEN PLACED IN THIS BOX AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO GET OUT OF IT AND DO THE BEST WE CAN WITHOUT DAMAGING THE BOX.
IF YOU WILL, UM, SCROLL DOWN TO GET, SHOW THE TITLE.
I, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL REGARDING THE PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE US HIGHWAY 2 78 CORRIDOR FROM THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 AND MOSS CREEK DRIVE TO THE INTERSECTION OF US HIGHWAY 2 78 AND SPANISH WELLS ROAD AND WILDHORSE ROAD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL? SURE.
UM, PATSY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR COMMITMENT ON THIS PROJECT.
YOUR LIST OF CONDITIONS HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS PORK, NOT BY MEMBERS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE ISLAND, BUT BY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.
IN MY MIND, FOLKS GET PORK TO BUY A VOTE.
I AM SORRY THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
I'M SORRY THAT YOUR CONDITIONS, WHICH WE ARE STILL SITTING HERE WITH SOME HOPE THAT OR THAT THEY WILL BE MEANINGFUL ARE NOW MINIMALIZED TO BEING EXPECTATIONS.
AND SO FOR ANYONE WHO WAS THINKING THAT THESE WERE GOING TO REALLY, UM, ADVANCE AN AGENDA OR SOME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK TWICE.
AND I THINK THAT WE OWE SENATOR DAVIS AN APOLOGY, AND I THINK WE OWE HIM AN APOLOGY BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN PUSHED THROUGH AND NOT ALLOWED TO BE VETTED IN A WAY THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO SOME, TO SOME REAL SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING HERE TODAY.
[04:50:01]
PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON HIS SHOULDERS.THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT HE'S GONNA TAKE THIS DOCUMENT AND HE IS GONNA TAKE THE OTHERS OF THE DELEGATION WITH HIM, GO TO COLUMBIA AND GET AGREEMENT.
ANYTHING SHORT OF ALL OF THAT, I THINK IS A HORRIBLE POSITION WE PUT HIM IN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? GO AHEAD MR. BROWN.
FRAMES, ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, UM, OVER THIS ISSUE OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.
UM, YEAH, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS, BUT TWO ITEMS WERE ALMOST UNIVERSALLY SUPPORTED BY THE RESIDENTS.
THE SECOND WAS, LET'S MAKE DARN SURE THAT WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE OFF THAT BRIDGE ONTO JENKINS ISLAND, THEY GET A GREETING THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH OUR VALUE SYSTEM ON THE ISLAND.
AND I SEE THAT AS FUNDING FOR LANDSCAPING AND IN STONY FUNDING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND BRINGING THE COMMUNITY BACK INTO BALANCE AS BEST WE CAN AFTER SO MUCH HISTORY HAS SEVERED IT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT BEEN AN EASY DECISION.
I'VE BEEN PRAYING OVER THIS A LOT.
I, I SORT OF STARTED TO REFLECT ON WHEN I FIRST GOT STARTED IN THIS, I APPROACH THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME, THIS WAS SEVEN SOME ODD YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS, TO STAND UP A CITIZEN LED COMMITTEE TO BRING IN THE PUBLIC'S INTERESTS TO THIS PROJECT.
AND MR. GRU'S NOT HERE, I'M GONNA PICK ON HIM A LITTLE BIT.
HE WAS SENT BY THAT ADMINISTRATION TO BASICALLY TELL ME NO.
SO WE DANCED A LITTLE BIT FINALLY WITH THE HELP OF SOME OTHERS.
THE TOWN COUNCIL AT THAT POINT APPOINTED THE ORIGINAL 2 78 CORRIDOR COMMITTEE.
AND I WAS VERY ANXIOUS, ANGRY, AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER CHOICE WORDS AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH OUR, I THINK FRANK BABEL SAID 30 SOME ODD MEETINGS, BUT WE DID COME UP WITH SOME GUIDING PRINCIPLES IF NOTHING ELSE.
AND I TOO, AS THAT COMMITTEE WAS DISSOLVED, STRUGGLED WITH HANDING THE BABY OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
BUT I MUST SAY, WITH ALL OF THE COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN STOOD UP, ALL OF THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, WE HAVE A BETTER PRODUCT TODAY THAN WE HAD WHEN WE FIRST STARTED.
IS IT PERFECT? NO, WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO.
MY NEXT SET OF COMMENTS, I'M, I'M GOING TO QUOTE MY, ONE OF MY FAVORITE MENTORS, AND THAT'S MR. TOM BOWELL.
SO I'M GONNA BE VERY SPECIFIC IS WHAT HE WOULD SAY WITH MY NEXT SET OF COMMENTS.
IF YOU HAVE USED THE BLIGHT OF THE STONY COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS TO OPPOSE THIS PROJECT, THAT IS NOT ONLY DISINGENUOUS, BUT I THINK QUITE OFFENSIVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
BECAUSE SEE, YOU HAVE TO START TO REMEMBER THE, THE HISTORY OF STONY.
[04:55:01]
LET US NOT FORGET NOW THAT THE WORD STONY COMES FROM FORMER SLAVE PLANTATION OWNERS HERE ON HILTON HEAD.SO I GET A LITTLE PERTURBED, I GUESS IS THE BEST WORD, WHEN FOLKS STAND UP AND SAY THEY WANT TO PROTECT STONY.
WELL, LET'S FACE IT, BEFORE THERE WAS A BRIDGE, THE ACCESS POINT THROUGH WATER TRAVEL WAS STONY, THEN CAME THE FIRST BRIDGE THAT DISRUPTED THE STONY COMMUNITY, THEN CAME THE SECOND BRIDGE THAT FURTHER DISRUPTED THE STONY COMMUNITY.
AND, AND THE IRONY OF FOLKS SAYING THAT THEY WANNA SAVE THE STONY COMMUNITY TODAY, THE STON PEOPLE DIDN'T NEED A BRIDGE.
WE BUILT THOSE BRIDGES FOR YOU TO COME HERE, SO TO SAY YOU WANNA SAVE THE COMMUNITY.
NOW, I, I I, I, I STRUGGLE WITH THAT A LOT.
THERE'S BEEN MENTIONED TODAY ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO AUTHOR OR IMPLEMENT THIS STONY IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND THANK YOU COUNCILMAN BRYSON FOR BRINGING A DOCUMENT WITH YOU AT OUR LAST MEETING.
THE PLAN'S ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED.
NOW YOU GO THROUGH THAT PLAN, YOU READ IT, IT TALKS ABOUT A MARKETPLACE, TALKS ABOUT HISTORICAL MARKERS, TALKS ABOUT THRIVING BUSINESSES.
NOT ONE PLACE IN THAT PLAN DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT PICKLEBALL.
BUT YET WE TORE UP TENNIS COURTS THAT GULLAH PEOPLE LIKE ME USED TO PLAY ON.
I DON'T KNOW ONE GULLAH PERSON THAT PLAYS PICKLEBALL,
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO PICKLEBALL.
THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS WHY NOT HAVE SOME GULLAH BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA NOW THAT WE HAVE NEW SYNERGY IN THAT AREA? WHY NOT HAVE A OVERPASS SO THAT WE CAN GET PEOPLE ACROSS THE STREET SAFELY? BECAUSE SEE, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT PLAN THAT, THAT GULLAH FOLKS SAT DOWN AND PARTICIPATED IN.
SO WHEN, WHEN WE VOTE NO, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME UNDERLYING THINGS THERE THAT I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND.
WE'RE ALSO VOTING NO TO THE RECOGNITION THAT THE CHARLES FRAZIER VISION IS CONFLICTING WITH THE GULLAH WAY OF LIFE.
IT'S JUST A REALITY THAT'S NOBODY'S FAULT.
SO WE HAVE COME THIS FAR, WE'VE WORKED WITH THIS COUNCIL, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CDC, WE'VE WORKED WITH SENATOR DAVIS AND THE DELEGATION, KNOWING THAT WE GOT MORE WORK TO DO.
TO ME THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE LYING OUT, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE MERE FACT THAT THERE'S FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVING STONY, HOW COULD YOU SAY NO TO CONDITIONS LIKE THIS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT IS A CHANCE FOR US TO GET IT RIGHT.
IT'S A CHANCE FOR US TO REPAIR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR THE TIME.
NEIL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MS. BECKER? YEP.
WELL, I THINK THAT, UM, THE ANSWER TO THAT, AS I'VE SAID IS THAT I'M NOT SURE AND NO, I AM SURE, I AM SURE THAT THE 2018 REFERENDUM WAS SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IT WAS THAT WE VOTED ON AND WHERE IT THOUGHT MONEY WAS TO BE SPENT ON.
AND ALL OF THESE EXPECTATIONS OR CONDITIONS, OR SOME OF THEM AREN'T INCLUDED IN THERE.
AND I'VE SAID THAT IN TERMS OF STONY, IT'S BEEN DESTROYED FROM THE BEGINNING AND THAT WAS WRONG FROM THE BEGINNING.
AND NOTHING HERE WITHIN ANY OF THIS WILL PROVIDE WHAT IT IS THAT I THINK NEEDS TO BE DONE, WHICH IS ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE AND THE HISTORY IN THAT AREA.
[05:00:01]
MONUMENTS AND PATHWAYS AND PARKS ARE NICE, BUT THEY DON'T DO THAT.AND IN ORDER TO ADDRESS STONY IN A WAY, UM, THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE DOCUMENT FROM 2018 FOR THE REFERENDUM, THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL SHOULD TAKE INITIATIVE AS A PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THOSE CONCERNS WITHIN STONY.
BUT THE OBJECTIVE, THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE REFERENDUM HAS SOMEHOW BEEN MORPHED.
AND WE ARE NOW FOCUSING ON THINGS OTHER THAN THE BRIDGE AND THE ROADWAY, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE CHARGED TO DO.
SO LET'S IMPROVE STONY, BECAUSE WE DO CARE IF WE CAN MAKE STONY LIKE MITCHELLVILLE, WHERE YOU COULD FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE HISTORY.
BUT IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, WE DO SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT IT'S STILL NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS, UM, THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THAT REFERENDUM.
SO, UM, I JUST THINK WE'RE OFF THE MARK ON, ON THE WAY WE'RE DOING THINGS.
I WOULD MAKE A PROMISE, UM, TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AND TO, BUT WE ARE HEADING DOWN THIS ROAD AND SO TAKE IT TO WHERE YOU WANNA GO 'CAUSE YOU HAVE THE VOTES TO DO IT.
I, I DON'T WANNA BELIEVE THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, I COUNCILMAN BECCA KEEPS SORT OF GETTING THE HAIR ON MY NECK STANDING UP WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME YOU, YOU MENTIONED MITCHELLVILLE.
YEAH, BUT THE PART ABOUT MITCHELLVILLE THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT MITCHELLVILLE WAS A, WAS A TASTE OF FREEDOM.
EVERYBODY WAS GIVEN A PLOT OF LAND TO MAKE A START FROM THERE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY LAND THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
SO WHEN WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS AROUND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT GULLAH NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LMO AND POTENTIAL LAND USES, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO BE JUST AS INVOLVED, JUST AS CONCERNED AND LISTENING TO WHAT THE GULLAH PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT.
AND WE ARE, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THIS CONVERSATION OFFLINE WITH YOU, BUT YOU KEEP BRINGING IT UP AS IF YOU ARE ALWAYS IN SUPPORT.
AND, AND, AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE, THEN DO SO.
I, WELL, I HAVE BEEN, UM, WHAT I'M NOT IN SUPPORT OF IS HAVING, UM, A GROWTH OF THIS GOVERNMENT THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE A LIMITED SERVICES GOVERNMENT FROM THE BEGINNING AND CREATING, UM, A DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENT WITH THE WAY WE WERE INCORPORATED.
AND SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THAT OFFLINE, BUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS, UM, AND DEMANDS ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY IS A, UM, PROJECT DESCRIPTION THAT WAS VOTED ON IN 2018.
SO I'M THRILLED THAT IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
I JUST DON'T WITH REGARD TO THE EMPHASIS ON STONY, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, ALEX, IS IT'S NOW MORPHED INTO SOMETHING MORE THAN IT WAS INITIALLY INTENDED TO BE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WHAT'S ADDED WAS BAD.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WOULD DISAGREE WITH IT.
I JUST SAID IT'S MORPHED INTO SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT THE 24 18 REFERENDUM INTENDED TO BE.
SO, UH, REAL QUICK, UM, THERE'S BEEN A, A QUESTION OF TRUST THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED NOT ONLY TODAY, BUT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY HAD WE NOT HAD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY.
THAT HAS, THAT STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
IT REALLY IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION THAN WHAT
[05:05:01]
WE HAD.IF IT WAS THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATOR, WE WOULD NOT BE WHERE WE ARE.
THE PROJECT WOULD NOT BE WHERE IT IS.
THE ELEMENTS WOULD NOT BE THERE.
DOT, SECRETARY POWELL, HE'S COME TO THE TABLE.
THERE'S GOTTA BE A LEVEL OF TRUST.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION, VERY DIFFICULT THING TO VOTE ON.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT.
YEAH, WE HAVE OUR OPINIONS, BUT WE DO CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY.
WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY THAN EVERYBODY ELSE OR SOME OTHERS, MAYBE NOT ALL, BUT WE DO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST, AS I STATED EARLIER, THROUGH FACTS, THROUGH ENGINEERING, THROUGH CONVERSATIONS.
SO I JUST WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE TRUST SIDE.
NO, I'M NOT BEING BLACKMAILED.
AND NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT MY EGO.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION MADE BY MR. AMES, SECOND BY MR. STANFORD, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND OPPOSED SIX TO ONE.
KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT HAS SIGNED UP
[6. Public Comment - Non Agenda Items]
FOR, UH, AGENDA ITEMS? UH, PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. SEEING THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN.[7. Adjournment]
MOVE.YOU ARE WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV.
UH, I WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT AND A ALL OF THIS IN A VERY SMALL KIND OF PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR.
UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED.
UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHICH ARE, IS, IS A SPECIAL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY SPECIAL CANDIDATE, UH, THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE AN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS.
UM, AND, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IT CREATES, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHAT OUR WHAT WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A MELTING POT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
SO HAVING THAT RIGHT PERSON IN THAT JOB AND THAT ROLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO OUR KIDS LEADERSHIP, TO OUR KIDS, UH, AND GIVING THE CONFIDENCE TO THE STAFF TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON.
SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A CLASS ONE OR A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.
WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE.
UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE.
UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, AND WE WOULD TRAIN THEM HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ALL OF THEIR TRAINING WOULD BE DONE RIGHT HERE.
UH, IT WOULD BE EIGHT WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO START THIS, UH, THE, OUR FIRST CLASS.
WE'D LIKE TO START IT IN JUNE.
[05:10:01]
UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET 'EM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.
WE, WE, WE SENT THE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO THE ACADEMY THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THEY APPROVED IT, UH, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRAINING COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE READY TO GET THIS THING MOVING AND GET IT STARTED.
AND I THINK FOR US, UH, WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF TELL OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UH, THE ROLE IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
IT'S A CLASS THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT DESIGNATION.
UH, THEY HAVE ARREST POWERS, UH, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE, SHERIFF? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING LEAD ON THIS.
UM, WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BLUFFTON THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT STAFFED BY CLASS THREE OR HIGHER OFFICERS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE MORE OF A SECURITY BLANKET FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.
WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE.
THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.
UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL.
AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE, WE NEED TO GET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAIT UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE.
I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN, BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED, I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO.
AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM AND THEY'RE A RETIRED TEACHER OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKER IS RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.
AND THEY'RE STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
YES, I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THAT STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT.
BUT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE.
IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN A RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND, AND YOU KNOW, TO, TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.
AND I, WE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN PORT ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
AND I JUST THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DO IT KINDA LIKE NIKE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, THE TRAINING IS, I THINK THEY'LL ENJOY IT.
TRAINING AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.
THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR OWN PILLOW, AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO TRAINING.
AND ONCE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, UH, THEN THEY'LL START THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
SO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK THIS, UM, THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA DO IN TOTALITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? I THINK, I THINK THIS PROGRAM, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET US OVER THE TOP.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL IN BUFORT COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
A POLICE OFFICER AND I, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS JOB.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER.
THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE WELL TRAINED, UH, IN THIS.
AND I, I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN TARGETING THE RETIREES MM-HMM.
THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE
[05:15:01]
FOR THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.AND, AND TO GET THAT STARTED OFF.
SO I THINK
POSSIBLY A THIRD COMING ON BOARD.
SO, I MEAN, IN TOTAL, AND HERE'S THE THING.
IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK AT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OR PORT ROYAL OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO WORK.
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY.
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT'S BASICALLY THE SAME.
IT MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR AT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UH, THE PAY.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY THE SAME.
SO ALL WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN.
GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL.
AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, UH, THEN LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED.
AND, AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND, AND REASON BEING IS NONE OF OUR KIDS SHOULD FEEL AFRAID GOING TO SCHOOL.
UM, THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND NOT QUERYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
UM, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
AND SO, LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, IF YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, THIS IS A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST HOPE THE APPLICATION START POURING IN.
AND IF YOU GET MORE THAN, THAN YOU NEED THEN AND, AND WE NEED TO GO TO BEAUFORT OR WE NEED TO GO TO, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR, OR PORT ROYAL, WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK.
WE NEED TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, UH, AND LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PROGRAM, THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRES, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.
IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO AND YOU HIRE FOUR, AND YOU KNOW, AND I CAN FILL THE NINE THAT WE NEED, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TRAINING TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE ONE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO BENEFIT, UH, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO START THIS AND INITIATE, YOU KNOW, THE SRO CLASS THREE POSITION HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW THE STATE IT WORKS.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE TRAINING TOGETHER, SHERIFF, IS YOU'RE CREATING A NETWORK BEFORE YOU EVEN GET STARTED.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHERE IF YOU CAN RUN INTO A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU CAN CALL AND GET SOME ADVICE OR TALK TO THEM ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR SCHOOL AND CURRENT TRENDS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ENTIRE COUNTY GETTING TOGETHER BECAUSE HAVING THAT NETWORK AND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN RELY ON FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE IS INVALUABLE.
WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN, I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS OR GO ONLINE AND RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE CLASS THREE SRO, UH, THROUGH ALL AGENCIES.
SO I THINK LINDSEY, IF WE CAN, I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, I THINK IF WE PUT THAT INFORMATION ON THIS VIDEO FOR BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WEBPAGE AND PHONE NUMBERS, UH, I THINK WE'LL HOPEFULLY WE'LL START GETTING CALLS.
THAT SOUND GOOD TO Y'ALL? YES, SIR.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
A FEW MILES FROM BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL STANDS A PROPERTY OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
IN FACT, IT'S LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THE ONLY PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN BY WATER.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS WORKING TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL.
[05:20:01]
A CULTURAL RESOURCES, INVENTORY, OR ARCHEOLOGY MUST BE DONE BUILT FROM TABBY, A MIXTURE OF OYSTER SHELLS, LIME, SAND, AND WATER.SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO CONCRETE.
FORT FREDERICK'S CONSTRUCTION WAS ORDERED IN 1726 BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT TO GUARD PORT, ROYAL SOUND, AND THE TOWN OF BEAUFORT FROM APPROACHED BY SPANISH WARSHIPS.
AN ESTIMATED 50,000 BUSHELS OF OYSTERS WERE NEEDED FOR THE FIVE FOOT HIGH, FIVE FOOT THICK TABBY WALLS.
IT IS THE OLDEST TABBY STRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE ADJACENT PROPERTY IS THE UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL.
ON THIS PROPERTY WAS THE 19TH CENTURY SMITH PLANTATION, WHICH BECAME THE UNION ARMY'S CAMP SAXTON DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND HOME OF THE FIRST REGIMENT COMPRISED OF FREED SLAVES.
THE OBJECT IS TO EXTRACT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME.
THERE IS A CERTAIN METHODOLOGY USED IN AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS COME ALONG AND SEE HOW IT'S DONE.
THE INITIAL SHOVEL TESTS DUG RANDOMLY AROUND THE SITE, EXAMINED THE DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS AND THE PERIOD OF OCCUPATION AT FORT FREDERICK.
ARTIFACTS INCLUDED 19TH CENTURY, 18TH CENTURY, AND PREHISTORIC OBJECTS.
THIS IS A FLAKE, A STONE TOOL, FLAKE.
IT'S A PIECE OF CHURCH FROM ALLENDALE COPPER SITE, TOP OF THAT AREA.
IT'S PRETTY, IT KIND OF TELLS YOU HOW RICH IT IS OUT HERE.
WITH THESE INITIAL TESTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS DETERMINE THE DEPTH REQUIRED OF THE SHOVEL TESTS IN THE NEXT PHASE.
THAT DEPTH IS WHEN THEY REACH A STERILE SOIL LAYER WHERE THEY NO LONGER SEE CULTURAL MATERIAL.
A FOR PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT, A GRID IS LAID OVER THE SITE MAP.
THE SCOPE OF WORK HERE CALLS FOR SHOVEL TEST PROBES EVERY 10 METERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE THREE ACRES, RIGHT? OH.
USING A SURVEYING INSTRUMENT CALLED A TOTAL STATION PIN FLAGS ARE PLACED TO MATCH THE GRID MAP.
EACH FLAG IS IDENTIFIED BY ITS EXACT LOCATION.
A FIELD TEAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY IS CONTRACTED TO CONDUCT THE FIELD WORK.
THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THESE SHOVEL TESTS WILL GUIDE THE UPCOMING MONTH LONG EXCAVATION, AS WELL AS ANY THAT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN IN YEARS TO COME.
ALL THE SOILS ARE SCREENED THROUGH A QUARTER INCH MESH.
ALL ARTIFACTS ARE BAGGED ACCORDING TO THEIR EXACT LOCATION AND DEPTH FOR LATER ANALYSIS FOR THE NEXT PHASE.
UNITS OF TWO METERS IN DIAMETER ARE LAID OUT IN THE AREAS CONFIRMED BY THE SHOVEL TESTS.
TO HAVE THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS, THE FIELD TEAM REMOVES SOIL LAYER BY LAYER.
SO HOW DEEP IS EACH LEVEL? SOMETIMES A STANDARD DEPTH OF 10 CENTIMETERS IS USED AT FORT FREDERICK.
THEY'LL EXCAVATE LAYERS ACCORDING TO CHANGES IN SOIL COLOR.
AGAIN, ALL THE DIRT IS SCREENED AND THE ARTIFACTS BAGGED.
THIS INFORMATION WILL ACCOMPANY THE ARTIFACTS THROUGHOUT THE CURATION PROCESS.
THESE UNITS SHOW AN OCCUPATION FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
THIS IS STONE AMERICAN STONE WEAR WITH ONLY FOUR WEEKS BUDGETED FOR THE PROJECT.
THE FIELD TEAM MUST BE METICULOUS AND QUICK AT THE SAME TIME.
MOTORIZED SCREENERS HELP SPEED SIFTING THROUGH LARGE VOLUMES OF SOIL.
WHILE SOME TASKS REQUIRE A MORE DELICATE TOUCH LOOKING CLOSELY, SOME AREAS SHOW A COLOR CHANGE IN THE SOIL CALLED FEATURES.
THESE AREAS WERE LIKELY DISTURBED BY HUMANS IN THE PAST WERE THESE POST HOLES FOR A STRUCTURE OR HOLES WHERE ITEMS OFTEN TRASH WERE BURIED.
THESE FEATURES ARE EXCAVATED FURTHER AS THEY OFTEN YIELD ARTIFACTS, AND THESE FEATURES MUST BE EXCAVATED TO THEIR STERILE SOIL LAYER.
WORK IN THIS AREA OF THE SITE IS PLANNED FOR TWO WEEKS.
FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS PROJECT, THE TEAM MOVES TO THE FORT ITSELF.
THE DECISION IS MADE TO LAY OUT CONTIGUOUS TWO METER UNITS THAT SPAN THE FORT'S INTERIOR WALL TO WALL.
GIVEN THE DEPTH REQUIRED, THERE IS A LOT OF
[05:25:01]
DIRT TO BE MOVED NEAR THE EAST WALL.THE TEAM ENCOUNTERS A RUBBLE FILLED FEATURE.
THIS FEATURE IS EXCAVATED AND THE CONTENTS BAGGED FOR THE TRIP TO THE LAB.
EVERY CONCEIVABLE DATA POINT, STRATIGRAPHY SOIL COLORS, DEPTHS, AND FEATURES IS COLLECTED FOR LATER ANALYSIS.
THE EXCAVATION OF THE FORT'S INTERIOR HAS EXPOSED THE FULL DEPTH OF THE WALLS, YIELDING ARTIFACTS FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES THROUGH THE 19TH CENTURY.
NOW, LAB ANALYSIS WILL BEGIN TO PIECE TOGETHER UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE SITE'S LONG OCCUPATION.
BUT FIRST, BEFORE LEAVING THE SITE, THE UNITS ARE BACKFILLED TO PRESERVE THEIR INTEGRITY AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO IT AS THE RUBBLE SCATTER.
AFTER MANY MONTHS IN THE PLANNING STAGES, A WEEK OF SHOVEL TEST PROBES, A MONTH OF UNIT EXCAVATIONS WITH MOUNTAINS OF SOIL MOVED, PLUS WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC.
ARCHEOLOGY AT THIS SITE IS DONE FOR NOW.
IT IS HERE THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THEY FOUND WILL BE ASSESSED AND ADDED TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO OCCUPIED THE FORT FREDERICK HERITAGE PRESERVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THE FIX IT TICKET IS ACTUALLY REALLY GREAT 'CAUSE IT GIVES SOME ANIMAL OWNER A CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GIVE THEM A TICKET.
UM, AND IT RANGES FROM ANYWHERE FROM LICENSING AN ANIMAL, UM, VACCINATIONS, UH, FOR RABIES, WHETHER AN ANIMAL IS RUNNING AT LARGE, UM, UM, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE PIT BULLS, BECAUSE IT'S MANDATORY FOR THEM TO GET NEUTERED.
SO IT GIVES THE OWNERS A CHANCE TO GET THEM NEUTERED, GET THEM FIXED BEFORE WE ISSUE THEM A TICKET.
ALSO, YES, WE HAVE NOTICED THAT, UH, POPULOUS NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, GREATLY, UM, JUST THE ANIMAL, THE, THE, THE AMOUNT OF ANIMAL THAT WE INTAKE HAS GONE DOWN.
NOW, IF ANYONE NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH FIXING, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEIR ANIMALS SPAYED OR NEUTERED, UH, PLEASE REACH OUT TO, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND WE CAN ASSIST THEM, YOU KNOW, THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN MAKING SURE THAT THEIR ANIMAL IS FIXED AND UP TO DATE, UM, PER OUR CLINIC.