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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
WELCOME TO THE JULY 18TH ACCOMMODATION TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'RE WAITING ON A FEW OTHERS.
THEY MAY TRICKLE IN FOR TRAFFIC ISSUES, BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO.
THERE'S NO ROLL CALL THESE DAYS.
SO NUMBER TWO WOULD BE THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW AND APPOINTED REAPPOINTMENT MEMBERS.
UH, BEFORE GETTING STARTED, WE'D JUST LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW MEMBERS TO THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND WE HAVE MR. JOHN FARRELL, WHICH WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK FOR A FULL SECOND TERM.
HE INITIALLY JOINED US AS A, FOR A PARTIAL TERM IN OCTOBER OF 2020, AND HAS PROVIDED A GREAT WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE TO THE COMMITTEE OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS, DRAWING FROM THAT HOSPITALITY EXPERTISE.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIM BACK.
WE'VE GOT MR. THOMAS DOWLING BEGINNING HIS FIRST TERM WITH THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HE SERVED ON PARKS AND REC COMMISSION FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND HAS A BACKGROUND IN FINANCE AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
UH, MR. DOWLING, IF YOU WANNA RAISE A HAND.
AND THEN WE HAVE MR. ADRIAN RATTER.
HE'S BEGINNING HIS FIRST TERM WITH US AND HAS WORKED IN HOSPITALITY FOR OVER 40 YEARS, MOST RECENTLY AS THE GM FOR THE ESTA RESORT.
MR. RADDER COULDN'T BE HERE WITH US THIS WEEK, BUT WE WILL SEE HIM NEXT MONTH FOR THE APPLICANT WORKSHOP ON THE 15TH.
UM, AND WE'RE NOW GONNA HAVE LAST YEAR'S COMMITTEE, VICE CHAIRMAN, MR. STEVEN ARNOLD, STEP UP AND RECOGNIZE TWO OF OUR DEPARTING MEMBERS WITH THEIR CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION.
MR. PFLUGER, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE,
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE HERE FROM MR. PFLUGER.
UH, MR. PFLUGER AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING TOGETHER FOR, HE'S BEEN TWO TERMS HERE AND SERVED IS OUR CHAIRMAN FOR THE PAST COUPLE TERMS. AND, UH, HE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB LEADING THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, KEEPING THE COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN FOR US AND BEING A, A GOOD STEWARD OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS HERE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT DRIVE THIS ISLAND.
SO, UH, IT'S WHAT THE HEART, WELCOMING AND HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WISH YOU ALL THE BEST DOWN THE LINE.
IF YOU'D LIKE THE MIC FOR A FEW WORDS, PLEASE DO
NO, IT'S, UH, NO, IT WAS AN HONOR TO SERVE THE, UH, THE TOWN AND TO, UH, SERVE ITS, UH, CITIZENS.
UM, IT WAS AT TIMES, UH, STRESSFUL, BUT, UH, IT WAS, UH, A GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE.
WE GOT THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES.
AND, UH, IF I HAD ANY WORDS OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE, UH, COMMITTEE, WHICH YOU MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE, IT'S REMEMBER JUST TO FOLLOW THE PATH.
STAY WITHIN THE LINES, KNOW YOUR, YOUR DUTIES, TAKE ADVICE, UM, AND ALSO ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED TO FROM THE, THE PEOPLE IN, OF THE TOWN ATTORNEY, THE FINANCE PEOPLE, THE UM, UH, TOWN MANAGER AND SUCH.
AND THEN, UH, EVERYTHING WILL GO WELL.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE A TOUGH TIME IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE ADDED BURDENS ON THIS, UH, ON THIS FUND.
UM, THAT'S NOT FUN TO BE IN THAT POSITION.
BUT, UH, I KNOW, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT I, THAT HAVE BEEN ON THIS COMMITTEE, I KNOW THAT EVERYBODY HERE CAN HANDLE THAT.
AND I BELIEVE ALSO NOT KNOWING THE NEW ONES.
I KNOW THAT THOMAS HERE IS, YOU'RE THE, AT LARGE MM-HMM.
SO YOU MAY BE SITTING THERE SOMEDAY.
BUT, UH, I JUST, UH, I THANK, I THANK, UM, THE TOWN COUNCIL ARE HAVING, UM, BELIEVING IN US.
AND THAT'S THE THING IS THEY GIVE US FREE REIGN AND, AND WE DO A GOOD JOB AND THEY ACCEPT OUR POSITIONS MOST OF, MOST OF THE TIME.
WE ALSO HAVE MARGARET JOHNSON.
SHE'S NOT HERE WITH US TODAY, BUT WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER.
UH, OUR FIRST GO AROUND WITH HER WAS DURING THE COVID YEARS WHERE EVERYTHING WAS VIRTUAL.
SO WE SPENT A WHOLE YEAR JUST LOOKING AT EACH OTHER AND MEETING EACH OTHER ON A SCREEN.
AND THEN WE HAD TWO YEARS TOGETHER HERE ON THE D AND WE DO APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS AND THE TIME AND THE COMMITMENT SHE GAVE TO US.
SO, UH, SHE MAY BE WATCHING OR SEE THIS LATER, SO LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE GETS HER CERTIFICATE AS WELL.
THAT BRINGS US TO, UH, THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO RECEIVE AND REVIEW THE AGENDA? YES.
ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO THAT.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL HERE TO APPROVE?
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UM, YES, WE CAN DO THAT.WELL, ACTUALLY, JUST BY SHOW OF HANDS.
BY SHOW OF HANDS, UM, ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA FOR TODAY.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, THE MINUTES WERE SENT OUT.
UM, THIS IS MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 4TH, 2024.
EVERYONE HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT AND REVIEW THE MINUTES, ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE THERE.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER VOTE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO NUMBER SIX.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE ELECTION OF, UH, CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.
I'LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR TO THE COMMITTEE TO, FOR NOMINATIONS FOR, LET'S START WITH THE CHAIRMAN, PLEASE.
ANY NOMINATIONS I MOVE TO NOMINATE STEPHEN ARNOLD, CHAIRMAN.
UH, JUST A SHOW OF HANDS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
IF YOU'RE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, I'LL ABSTAIN.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THIS COMMITTEE.
UH, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW, NOMINATIONS FOR VICE CHAIRMAN.
DO WE HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THERE? I WILL START WITH, UM, JOHN, HOW ABOUT YOURSELF? YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE JOB DESCRIPTION ENTAILS.
UM, OR IS IT, IS, IS IT BRIEF, IS IT NOT TOO DISSIMILAR FROM WHAT I'M CURRENTLY DOING? FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS CERTAIN AS VICE CHAIR, THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE.
YOU WOULD JUST BE AVAILABLE TO STEP IN.
IF THE CHAIRMAN'S NOT AVAILABLE, I'LL ACCEPT THE NOMINATION.
ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? MR. FARRELL? SEEING NONE WILL TAKE A QUICK VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR OF MR. FARRELL'S VICE CHAIR.
ON TO NUMBER SEVEN, THIS IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SUBMIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY? NO, WE DID NOT.
NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT ON THE AGENDA.
UM, WE HAVE A NEW FINANCIAL, UH, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, ADRIANA BURNETT, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU AND IF YOU WOULD, GIVE US A, A LITTLE INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF.
GOOD MORNING THIS MORNING, AND WELL, THANK YOU.
I SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES SINCE I WAS IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
SO I'M ADRIANA BURNETT, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING, I'VE BEEN HERE.
IT'S BEEN A MONTH AND 18 DAYS.
SO IT'S, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
MY FAMILY AND I HAVE MOVED HERE ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF NOW, AND WE ALL LOVE IT HERE.
SO I DO WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING TO DO THIS JOB BECAUSE IT'S A BIG JOB.
UM, I WANT TO COMMEND THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE RETIRED HAVE DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO THIS.
THIS IS A BIG, BIG, BIG THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NEW AND THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME, SOME MEETINGS COMING UP.
AND IF SHENA CAN PUT THOSE DATES ON THE SCREEN FOR ME, PLEASE.
UM, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE APPLYING FOR A GRANT, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF THE DEADLINE.
UM, I RECOMMEND FOR YOU TO ATTEND, UM, OUR WORKSHOP THAT IS COMING UP ON THE 15TH.
WE ARE OPENING THE APPLICATION, ELECTRONIC APPLICATION ON THE FIFTH.
PLEASE TAKE A, A TIME TO REVIEW THAT APPLICATION.
CAREFULLY BRING QUESTIONS TO THE WORKSHOP.
I THINK THE WORKSHOP WILL BE VERY, VERY GOOD FOR YOU IF YOU BRING QUESTIONS, IF YOU REVIEW THE APPLICATION BEFORE YOU COME.
SO, AGAIN, AUGUST 5TH IS WE OPEN THE APPLICATION, UH, AUGUST IS WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE WORKSHOP.
SO BRING ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER 6TH IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE.
PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 5TH TO ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, I DO WANT TO ASK FROM THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ANY IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THIS PROCESS.
PLEASE SEND THEM TO MY ATTENTION OR TO SHANA'S ATTENTION.
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FEEDBACK.AND I WANT THIS, THIS YEAR TO BE, THIS, THIS TO BE PROACTIVE.
AND IF THERE'S ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, EVEN FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING, I WELCOME THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER.
AND I DO WANT TO SAY A LAST THANK YOU TO MS. SHENA.
SHE IS, I HAVEN'T SEEN SOMEONE AS ORGANIZED AS SHE IS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY TODAY.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS? WE WILL BE ANSWERING THOSE ON THE WORKSHOP.
UM, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING ALL OF YOU.
I KNOW I HAVE MET, UH, ONE PERSON HERE ALREADY DURING THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET ALL OF YOU.
SO I WILL, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
AND A MONTH, 18 DAYS AND COUNTING
UH, JUST TO ECHO, UM, THAT WORKSHOP IS A VERY USEFUL TOOL FOR ALL OF US.
WE USE THAT AS FINE TUNING FOR US AS WELL.
WE HOPE YOU BRING THOSE QUESTIONS AS WELL, UH, AND GET THOSE ANSWERED AND FILE THOSE APPLICATIONS, UH, AS EARLY AS YOU CAN IN CASE THERE ARE ISSUES STAFF CAN GET BACK WITH YOU, LET YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.
AGAIN, WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, UM, ONLY PUTS YOU IN JEOPARDY OF LOSING ELIGIBILITY, UM, FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
SO, UM, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AGAIN, THAT WORKSHOP WILL BE ON AUGUST 15TH AT 9:00 AM AND THAT'S HERE IN THE CHAMBER COURT.
ANY OTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA? WE KEPT IT BRIEF TODAY, FOLKS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS USUALLY A QUITE LENGTHY MEETING ONCE WE GET INTO THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
SO 15 MINUTES IS A WIN FOR US.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING EACH OF YOU AND WORKING WITH YOU GUYS ONCE AGAIN THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
UM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE HERE ALREADY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO DIVE INTO THIS.
WE GET TO REVIEW WHAT MAKES THIS ISLAND, WHAT FABRICS AND HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER.
SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
UM, SEE YOU GUYS ON AUGUST 15TH, MEETING ADJOURNED.
YOU ARE WATCHING BC, THE OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN WAS DEVISED IN PROBABLY OR 2006 RIGHT AROUND THERE.
WE WERE STARTING TO SEE THE GROWTH AFFECT OUR SMALL TOWN COMING WEST OFF OF HILTON HEAD AND MOVING ITS WAY INTO BLUFFTON.
AND BLUFFTON WAS JUST THIS SMALL, SOMEWHAT OF A SQUARE MILE, BUT GROWING.
SO WE DECIDED TO PUT SOME MONEY AND A LOT OF OUR EFFORTS INTO WHAT IS CALLED THE OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN.
IT WAS ADOPTED IN 2006 AND IT REALLY IS A BLUEPRINT FOR ALL OF OUR POLICIES, IMPROVEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO THE GARVIN HOUSE IS BEHIND US.
IT'S THE, PROBABLY THE LAST FRIEDMAN'S COTTAGE THAT'S ON THE RIVER.
SO YOU LOOK AT IT AND PEOPLE THINK, TEAR IT DOWN.
WELL, AGAIN, IF YOU GO BACK TO THIS OLD TOWN MASTER PLAN, IT WOULD TELL YOU ENHANCE YOUR STRUCTURES, PUT YOUR TIME AND EFFORT AND YOUR MONEY INTO PLACES THAT CAN'T BE DUPLICATED.
MY WIFE AND I LIVE HERE IN BLUFFTON.
AND, UM, THIS HAS BEEN A, A, A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT SINCE ABOUT 2008 AND, UH, BEFORE THE RESTORATION AND RENOVATION STARTED.
AND, UH, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN SEEING PROGRESS OVER TIME.
WELL, IT, IT'S, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
UM, THE, THE HAR THE HOUSE HAS BEEN CALLED THE GARVIN HOUSE FOR JUST KIND OF FOLKLORE VERNACULAR.
AND AS, UH, MELANIE MARKS MY WIFE, WENT THROUGH THE, THE GENEALOGY, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT HIS REAL NAME WAS CYRUS GARVEY.
BUT THROUGH TRANSFER OF DEEDS AND OTHER, OTHER, THE WAY PEOPLE WROTE THINGS THAT HIS NAME IS ACTUALLY CYRUS GARVEY.
AND AT TIMES YOU SEE GARVIN, AT TIMES YOU SEE GARVEY, BUT HIS REAL NAME AS YOU TRACK BACK HIS FAMILY AND SO FORTH IS, IS TRULY CYRUS GARVEY.
YOU KNOW, THE HISTORY SAYS THAT HE BUILT THE HOUSE IN 1870, SHORTLY AFTER, UM, YOU KNOW, HIS FREEDOM, UH, ON PROPERTY THAT BELONGED TO JOSEPH BAYNARD, WHO WAS A PLANTATION OWNER.
HIS SUMMER HOME WAS HERE ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT HIS PLANTATION WAS NEAR
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OR POSSIBLY IN THE BOUNDS OF PALMETTO BLUFF, THE DEVELOPMENT.AND, UH, SOMEHOW CYRUS WAS ABLE TO WORK THIS LAND, BUILD HIS HOUSE IN 1870, BUT DIDN'T GET DEEDED THE PROPERTY UNTIL 1880 BY JOSEPH BAYNARD.
UH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS HOUSE AND HE WAS LIVING HERE AND THE VIEW THAT HE HAD, IT'S, IT'S AMAZING.
MY WIFE AND I GOT TOGETHER AND WE SAID WE HAVE TO BECOME PART OF THIS.
SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO COME TO COME DOWN HERE AND SPEND TIME HERE AND TRY AND FACILITATE AND BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT, THIS IS HISTORY AND HOW COULD WE HELP? WELL, WHAT BRINGS US TO BLUFFTON IS THIS MAGNIFICENT HOUSE HERE, THE GARVIN HOUSE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING AS, AS DIRECTOR OF THE PALMETTO TRUST.
I'M ALL OVER THE STATE WORKING WITH MUNICIPALITIES AND, AND UH, COMMUNITIES.
AND THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR RADAR EVER SINCE I CAME ON IN 2007.
AND THIS WAS AN AMAZING STORY OF THIS FAMILY AFTER FREEDOM, WERE ABLE TO BUILD THEIR OWN LIVES HERE IN THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
UH, THIS IS KIND OF A UNIQUE SITUATION 'CAUSE MOST OF THE PROPERTIES WE WORK WITH DO GET TURNED INTO PRIVATE HOMES.
THIS IS ONE WHERE IT REALLY IS GONNA BE LIKE A MUSEUM, UH, SITUATION WHERE THE PLACE IS SAVED AND THE COMMUNITY CAN PARTICIPATE IN LEARNING ABOUT IT AND THE TOWN CAN LEVERAGE IT AS PART OF THEIR HISTORIC CHARACTER THAT IS SO KNOWN IN BLUFFED.
SO, WELL, BASICALLY WHEN WE TOOK OVER THIS PROJECT, THERE WAS A STABILIZATION PROJECT, WHICH BASICALLY MEANS WHERE THESE SIX BY SIXES, CRIBBING CARRIES A STEEL BEAM THAT PRETTY MUCH RUNS THROUGH THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSE.
SO YOU'VE GOT ONE HERE AND YOU'VE GOT ONE PRETTY MUCH THAT RUNS DOWN THE CENTER.
AND THIS WAS BASICALLY TO GIVE SUPPORT BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE STRUCTURE GOT TO THE POINT OF WHERE IT REALLY COULDN'T STAND BY ITSELF.
NOW THIS IS NEW PRODUCT, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE ALL OF THE, UH, ORIGINAL FLOORING.
SO WE BASICALLY REMOVED IT FROM THE HOUSE, WRAPPED IT UP, DOCUMENTED IT, AND NUMBERED IT SO THAT IT CAN GO BACK DOWN IN THE SAME PLACE.
AND WHAT WE'LL END UP DOING IS PAINTING THE PLYWOOD FLOOR BLACK SO THAT YOU CAN'T SEE DOWN THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AND IT GIVES THE ILLUSION OF WHAT IT USED TO LOOK LIKE.
WE'LL INSTALL AS MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL STUFF AS POSSIBLE.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S NOT TOO HARD TO PULL DOWN.
BUT WE'LL TAKE THIS DOWN, PHOTOGRAPH IT, DOCUMENT IT, AND WE PUT IT BACK IN THE SAME PLACE.
THIS IS SOME OF THE ORIGINAL OLD BEAM, AND BASICALLY IT'S ANYWHERE FROM SIX INCHES TO SIX AND A HALF INCHES.
'CAUSE IT'S ALL ROUGH U IT WAS ALL DONE BY AX AND BASICALLY, OR HAND SAW.
SO IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A STA OR A LITTLE BIT OF A WAVE HERE AND THERE.
SO WE'VE INTERLOCKED AND TIED IT IN.
WHEN WE DUG THE FOOTING, WE CAME ACROSS A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS.
SO JUST VARIOUS BOTTLES, LITTLE BABY PERFUME BOTTLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, PRECIOUS TO THEM BACK IN THE DAY.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE OLD ORIGINAL LIDS FROM THE CANNERY, FROM THE, UH, OYSTER FACTORY.
I KIND OF ALWAYS ENJOYED THE CHALLENGE OF LOOKING AT SOMETHING AND TRYING TO LOOK AT, OKAY, WHY DID THEY DO THIS? OR HOW DID IT DEVELOP INTO THIS? AND HOW IT PROGRESSED AND CHANGED.
AND JUST EVEN STANDING HERE, YOU NOTICE THAT THIS IS EXTERIOR SIDING.
SO THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE USED TO END HERE.
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL BACK DOOR.
HAD A FRONT PORCH ON THE FRONT SIDE.
SO AS TIME PROGRESSED, THEY NEEDED MORE ROOM.
THEY BASICALLY JUST NOTCHED IN, ADDED TO THE FOUNDATION, BROUGHT A NEW ROOF OUT.
AND NOW THIS BECAME BASICALLY ANOTHER ROOM, BEDROOM, LIVING ROOM AREA, KIND OF A KITCHEN AREA HERE.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE NOT RUNNING DOWN TO HOME DEPOT AND LOWE'S, YOU CAN SEE THEY ACTUALLY JUST WENT DOWN TO THE BEACH, GOT SAND AND BASICALLY MIXED A SAND MORTAR.
AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE OYSTER SHELL PIECES IN IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THE FACT WE'VE GOT A HEAVY DUTY FOUNDATION LIKE WE HAVE NOW, AND THIS USED TO BE BASICALLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS TAKE A CYPRESS STUMP, HOPEFULLY CYPRESS BECAUSE IT WOULD LAST LONGER AND THIS IS 1870.
BUT THEY WOULD BURY THIS INTO THE GROUND AND THEN THEY WOULD START ALL OF THEIR HEAVY BEAM AND FRAMING AND BASICALLY SIT ON TOP OF THIS.
YOU HAVE MILESTONES EVERY DAY AND YOU THINK AFTER, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS THAT YOU KNOW IT, IT'S DIFFERENT EVERY DAY.
SO WE HAVE A STAIRCASE THAT WAS INTACT, SO INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REMOVE IT, WE KIND OF KEPT IT IN PLACE.
WE WORKED UNDER IT, AROUND IT IN IT.
AND I, WE TEMPORARILY SECURED THIS THING EIGHT DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE WE PUT THE FLOOR SYSTEM UNDER IT.
SO WHEN WE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY TAKE SOMETHING OFF THE STRUCTURE, WE WANT TO KNOW WHERE IT IS AND WHAT IT WENT.
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WE WOULD PHYSICALLY REMOVE IT, PHOTOGRAPH, AND THEN WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND JUST LABEL THIS PIECE, WHAT SIDE OF THE HOUSE IT WAS ON, WHERE IT WAS AT.AND IT BASICALLY GIVES US A GUIDE TO PUT THIS GIANT PUZZLE, YOU KNOW, BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
MOST OF THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT ARE DONE ARE RENOVATION OR REHABILITATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BE MODERN USE.
WE DO HAVE MODERN CODES THAT HAD TO BE IMPLEMENTED HERE BECAUSE OF ITS PUBLIC ACCESS.
UH, BUT EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO TRY TO ENSURE IT COMMUNICATED WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAD TO BUILD.
SO WE DIDN'T PUT IN THESE BIG BRICK PIERS UNDERNEATH.
UH, BUT EVERYTHING HAS WORKED TO GIVE THE AESTHETIC LOOK OF THE TYPE OF HOUSE.
THIS THING WOULD'VE BEEN WHEN IT WAS BUILT TO CAPTURE A POINT IN TIME TO CAPTURE WHAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE.
AGAIN, THIS IS A PIECE OF A BROADER PICTURE TO CAPTURE WHAT A FAMILY, CYRUS GARVEY WAS LIVING IN HERE WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN IN THESE RECLAIMED WOOD AT THE TIME IT WAS RECLAIMED.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM HOUSES THAT WERE BURNED AFTER THE WAR ENDED AND PUT THIS TOGETHER WHERE HE LIVED.
AND THEN THAT'S WHY THE GENEALOGY AND THE HISTORY OF HIM AND HIS FAMILY IS SO IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE IT ISN'T JUST A BUILDING, IT'S A MAN AND HIS FAMILY IN A TIME OF OUR HISTORY WITH A BUILDING AND A COMMUNITY AT A TIME OF MOVEMENT.
AND SO YOU WANNA MAKE IT AS REAL AS POSSIBLE.
IT COMMUNICATES A TIME AND PLACE THAT NOT MANY PLACES DO ANYMORE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN, UM, IN THE LOW COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE SUCH DEVELOPMENT PRESSURES, USUALLY LITTLE WOODEN BOXES LIKE THIS GET DESTROYED AND LOST.
AND SO THIS COMMUNICATES SOMETHING, UH, POST-CIVIL WAR, UM, POST ENSLAVEMENT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT THESE PEOPLE SURVIVING AND OVERCOMING ENSLAVEMENT INTO A PLACE OF FREEDOM AND THEIR NICHE IN PROPERTY AND THEIR OWN HOUSE.
AND, AND THAT TRANSITIONAL STORY IS NOT TOLD ENOUGH IN THE STATE, AND WE'RE SO GLAD IT COULD BE DONE HERE.
THE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE AGAIN, AS YOU KNOW, IS WORKING IN ALL OF THE OLD LUMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE TO THE EXCITING PART OF IT NOW WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY DONE WITH THE FRAMING.
NOW WE'RE KIND OF PUTTING THE PUZZLE BACK TOGETHER.
YOU GET A FEEL FOR WHEN THEY ACTUALLY PUT IT TOGETHER AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WHEN THEY RAN OUT OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES OF LUMBER OR SOMETHING TO USE.
AND THEY JUST CHANGED IT UP AND, AND STILL KEPT GOING AND PUSHED FORWARD.
I KNEW THE HOUSE WOULD BE HERE WHEN WE GET BACK.
JUST THE, THE METHODICAL WAY THAT WE PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN WAS THESE BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES THAT HAVE SURROUNDED THIS.
'CAUSE I DID COME DOWN HERE THREE DAYS AFTER THE STORM AND THERE WAS TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN.
I COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE HOUSE.
I, I GOT DOWN THE ROAD AS FAR AS I COULD AND LOOKED AT THE HOUSE AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH.
IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY THAT THE THING WAS STILL HERE, HIGH AND DRY, NO LEAKS, NO NOTHING, NO DAMAGE.
AND THAT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, LUCKY, VERY LUCKY.
IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR, I PRESENTED THE TOWN WITH OUR FINISHED REPORT.
UM, AND I KNOW THE TOWN IS PLANNING ON USING THAT MATERIAL TO PROMOTE THE, THE HISTORY OF THE, THE HOUSE THROUGH BROCHURES, THROUGH, YOU KNOW, SIGNAGE TO MAKE IT A TRUE DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS.
I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE TO APPLY THE BLUFFTON PRESERVATION SOCIETY FOR KNOWING THE VALUE AND OF THE HISTORIC INTEGRITY OF THIS HOUSE.
FOR THE TOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THIS COUNTRY THESE DAYS IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH STRIFE AND THERE'S SO MUCH CONFLICT AND FRICTION TO ACTUALLY HAVE A COMMUNITY LIKE THIS SAY, THIS IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT OUR MONEY HERE.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHOW HOW PEOPLE OVER TIME DID WORK TOGETHER AND RESPECT EACH OTHER.
AND WE'RE RESURRECTING NOT ONLY A HOUSE, BUT REALLY A, A LEGACY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT ROSE ABOVE A BIG CHALLENGING TIME.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
OH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEGINNING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF A, UH, BEAUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CHARGING TRAILER.
WE BROUGHT THE TRAILER HERE TO THE BARNWELL COUNTY CAREER CENTER, MET WITH RON STILL AND, UH, HIS GROUP OF, UH, FINE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WE HAD DONE ONE FOR BARNWELL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND BEAUFORT ASKED US ABOUT DOING ONE FOR, FOR THEM DURING THE OCTOBER, 2015 FLOODS.
ROGER RILEY, THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR OF BARNWELL COUNTY AND I ARE GOOD FRIENDS AND WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION DURING FLOODS.
HE HAD BUILT A TRAILER SIMILAR TO THIS.
UH, IT WAS UNIQUE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND THAT, THAT SPARKED AN IDEA.
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NOT VERY LONG AFTER THAT.WE HAD A SITUATION, A STORM IN BEAUFORT, UH, JUST A A THUNDERSTORM, BUT IT KNOCKED OUT POWER TO ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS DOWNTOWN FOR ALMOST 48 HOURS.
PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING THEY COULDN'T CHARGE THEIR DEVICES, THEY COULDN'T GET ANY INFORMATION.
HE CAME UP, TOLD ME ABOUT THE BARNWELL TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND HOW THEY HAD BUILT HIS ON THE TRAILER THAT HE BOUGHT FRAME FROM HIM, JUST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SO I STARTED SCORING THAT IDEA, FUNDED IT THROUGH WHAT WE CALL AN L-E-M-P-G GRANT THAT THE STATE, UH, MERCY MANAGEMENT GIVES US FROM LOCAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
GOT THE TRAILER ALL HOURS OF EQUIPMENT, GOT WITH THE FOLKS HERE AT MARTIN TECHNICAL SCHOOL, TOLD 'EM WHAT WE WANTED.
WE GOT THE GRAPHICS DONE AT SEVEN, UH, SIGNS AND GRAPHICS IN BUFORT.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH BARE WALLS, UH, GENERATORS.
WE GOT THE SOLAR PANELS, WE GOT THE INVERTERS AND SOME OF THE OTHER DEVICES.
IN ADDITION, OUR PLAN IS TO INSTALL, UH, TELEVISION FOR THE PURPOSE OF RELAYING INFORMATION, PHOTOS, MAPPING ANYTHING THERE, WHICH CAN AID OR ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTION TO THE SYSTEM OF BUQUET COUNTY.
WE INSTALLED THE, THE MAIN BREAKER PANEL, UM, SO THAT WE CAN GET POWER FROM THE GENERATOR INTO THE PANEL, INTO THE TRAILER.
WE ALSO HAVE A SOLAR POWER THAT WE CAN CONNECT IN HERE AS WELL.
EVERYBODY'S THINKING GREEN THESE DAYS.
HOW DO YOU GET MORE, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT? BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE HAVE A LOT OF SUNNY DAYS.
WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM SEEKING THE SUN, SO WE DECIDED TO GO WITH THE ALTERNATE SYSTEMS AND WE'VE GOT IT BUILT INSIDE DUAL SYSTEMS. THAT'S THE WAY THE FOLKS KIDS UP HERE AT BARNWELL BUILT IT PARTS.
SO WE DEPLOY IT OUT, WE'LL DEPLOY THE SOLAR ANTENNAS OUT THAT WILL MEET MOST OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE TO STAY LONG TERM, THE GENERATOR CAN DO IT OVERNIGHT.
WHILE WE'RE RECHARGING THE SOLAR BATTERY, WE'LL BRING IN THE CARPENTRY INSTRUCTOR, UH, WHERE WE WANT TO TRY TO BUILD SOME TABLES FOR THE TVS TO SIT DOWN ON AND GIVE YOU SOME STORAGE SPACE UNDERNEATH.
WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN COME UP WITH A GOOD ENGINEERING SOLUTION TO, UH, THE TVS BEING MOUNTED, UH, RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND TAKING IN, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERATION FOR BUMPS AND, AND TURNS AND SO FORTH WHERE, UH, THE TVS AREN'T DAMAGED AT THE SAME TIME.
RELICS REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT AND REAL TICKLED WITH THE WORK THAT THESE KIDS DID FOR US.
THESE ARE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AND THEY'RE LEARNING A TRADE AND DOING SOMETHING VALUABLE TO A COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S NOT EVEN COMMUNITY THEY LIVE IN.
THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR STUDENTS.
THEY, THEY REALLY HAVE TO KIND OF WORK AS A TEAM.
THEY HAVE TO KIND OF, UH, I LEAVE A LOT OF THIS STUFF UP TO THEM.
THAT EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE INTO, YOU KNOW, FAR AS FROM HERE INTO THE WORKING SECTOR OF THE WORLD.
SO THEY REALLY ENJOYED THE CHALLENGE AND, AND THEY ENJOYED DOING SOMETHING FOR ANOTHER COMMUNITY WHERE, YOU KNOW, KINDA GETTING OUT OF THE BON AREA THAT THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND SEE THIS MAYBE, UH, SOMEWHERE AND, AND REALLY BE, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT.
WE WISH WE'D HAD IT DURING HURRICANE MATTHEW, BUT WE WEREN'T READY FOR IT YET.
BUT NOW ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS WHERE THE POWER IS KNOCKED OUT, WE CAN BRING IT INTO A COMMUNITY, SET IT UP.
FOLKS CAN RECHARGE THEIR DEVICES.
WE'VE GOT THE TELEVISION MONITORS HERE.
WE CAN PUT UP PERTINENT INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW, OR WE CAN RUN LOCAL NEWS OFF THE INTERNET, WHATEVER WE NEED TO.
PLUS WE HAVE THE AMPLIFIER SO THEY CAN GET CELL PHONE SIGNALS.
WE'RE GONNA USE IT AT LOCAL FESTIVALS LIKE WATER FESTIVAL AND THAT SORT OF THING, JUST AS A CONVENIENCE AND TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER TOOL THAT SHERIFF'S OFFICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIVISION HAS AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP US RESPOND BETTER TO ANY TYPE OF SITUATION THAT COMES UP.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THERE ARE 46 COUNTIES AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS, UH, ALL, WE ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.
AND SOUTH CAROLINA GETS CRITICIZED IN THE NATION FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE'RE SECOND FROM NONE.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF PARTNERSHIP LIKE ROGER AND I AND AND THE OTHER COUNTIES WORKING TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.