Sep 23, 2024 County Council

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[1. CALL TO ORDER]

WELCOME TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD.

WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING? FOR OUR INVOCATION, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE PRAY FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT.

GIVE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE DELIBERATE ON THE ITEMS BEFORE US.

LORD, INSPIRE US WITH YOUR SPIRIT OF WISDOM.

GIVE US HUMOR AS WE WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AMEN.

WE ARE ALSO GONNA DO A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR TWO OF MY CONSTITUENTS, CONSTITUENTS THAT RECENTLY PASSED AWAY.

ONE WAS DR. BARBARA NIELSEN, WHO WAS A SUPERINTENDENT, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT IN THE NINETIES.

AND JOE CROWLEY, WHO A LOT OF US KNEW, SAT BACK IN THAT CORNER, AND HE, UM, WAS A FOUNDER OF LOW COUNTRY INSIDER TRACK.

SO WE COULD HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CA, SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

I WOULD ASK A MEMBER

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

MR. CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UH, UP ON THE AGENDA TO OCCUR BEFORE THE SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.

OKAY.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE FIRST PART.

THE SECOND PART IS THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

IT WILL BE ITEM SIX A AND THAT WILL BE HONORING ONE OF OUR, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF.

I'LL AMEND MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THAT.

YES, SIR.

SECOND.

OKAY.

DULY MOTION.

AND SECOND IT.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THE, UH, AMENDMENT PASSES WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.

UH, NOW I NEED AN AMENDMENT FOR THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

SO MOVED.

UH, MOTION IS MADE BY MR. DAWSON.

I'LL SECOND IT.

AND MS. TABERNAC DULY MOTIONED.

AND SECOND FOR THE AMENDED AGENDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THE AMENDED AGENDA IS APPROVED.

UH, NEXT IS

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Special Called Council Meeting of July 23, 2024]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL BE HAPPY TO MAKE IT IF NO ONE WANTS TO.

MS. TABER MAKES THE MOTION THE SECOND PLEASE.

I'LL SECOND.

MR. DAWSON MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THE MINUTES WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION.

AND THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS.

MR. MOORE, YOUR

[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

AUGUST.

MR. MOORE, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I SIGNED UP.

I HEARD THAT READY FOR THE FIVE? READY TO GO.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THERE'S A PLUG PUT OUT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TOO.

SO ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO, ANYBODY'S MAKING WAGERS BET ON HIM.

WE'LL SEE.

UM, GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.

UM, FOR MY REPORT, UH, I JUST WANT TO REPORT THAT, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS I'VE CONTINUED MY, UM, UH, TOURS OF THE COUNTY, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BUFORT WITH, UH, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

EXCELLENT TOUR.

UH, REALLY APPRECIATE THE HOSPITALITY THERE.

UM, LATER, LAST WEEK I VISITED, UM, COUNCILMAN RE'S DISTRICT.

I APPRECIATE SETTING UP THE SCHEDULE AND A FULL DAY OF EVENTS.

THAT WAS, UH, EXCELLENT.

MY PLEASURE.

UM, I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, UH, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT WITH, UM, OUR AIRPORT DIRECTOR.

AND, UH, ALSO A GREAT VISIT.

UH, ONE THING OF NOTE, I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE, UH, STORM THAT'S IN THE, UM, NORTHWEST CARIBBEAN.

IT'S GONNA MAKE ITS WAY, THIS DIRECTION.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GONNA BE MAINLY A WIND AND

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IT SHOULD BE THURSDAY OR FRIDAYS WHEN WE EXPECT IT TO MOVE THROUGH THE STATE.

WELL, WITH THAT SAID, I'LL MOVE TO SOME RECOGNITION OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

UM, FIRST ONE IS FROM OUR NEXUS CARE, UH, OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UH, THOMAS MCMAHON, IF, UH, THOMAS IS HERE.

THERE HE IS.

COME ON, OFFICER.

SIR.

UM, HIS PHYSICIAN TITLE IS, HE'S AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELOR.

UM, BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS, AND, UH, YOU GOT THE NEW, UH, LOGO, SO ON THE SHIRT? YES, I DO.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO EVERYBODY, WE JUST RECENTLY APPROVED THE NEW LOGO, SO THERE IT IS IN ACTION.

SO TOM PROVIDES COUNSELING SERVICES IN THE DETENTION CENTER AS PART OF A NEW PROGRAM TO EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS ON SUBSTANCE MISUSE AND HARM REDUCTION AND BRIDGE THEM TO THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY REENTRY PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENTS THAT FACILITATES GROUPS FOR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE DETENTION CENTER.

TOM IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING OTHERS ON THE RECOVERY JOURNEY AS A VITAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM.

SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT, UH, ABOUT TOM.

HE ENJOYS, UM, HIKING AND WORKING IN THE YARD.

HE AND HIS WIFE ALSO LOVE WALKING DOWN A WATERFRONT PARK AND GOING FOR BIKE RIDES WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

NEXT UP FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.

UM, CATHERINE AIKEN, UNABLE TO MAKE IT.

UNABLE TO MAKE IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

UM, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, UH, RECOGNIZE, UM, CATHERINE, UM, POSITION IS SECURITY.

UM, LIEUTENANT BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS.

WOW.

UH, LIEUTENANT AIKENS SERVES AS THE LIAISON FOR THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND DHC OVERSEES INVENTORY, WEAPONS, AMMUNITION, SECURITY RESTRAINTS AND FACILITY KEYS.

UH, SUPERVISES INMATE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WHILE ENSURING ALL VOLUNTEERS COMPLY WITH ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES, UH, MANAGES MAINTENANCE ISSUES.

OVERSEES THE CLASSIFICATION DEPARTMENT AND COORDINATES THE GOD PROGRAM.

CORRECTION, GED PROGRAM, ALONG WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELING.

TENANT AKINS, A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL, KNOWN FOR EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE FACILITY, SOMETHING UNIQUE.

UM, LIEUTENANT AIKEN COLLABORATES WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CASPERS TO PROVIDE FRESHLY PREPARED MEALS FOR INDIVIDUALS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY FOR HOME BOUND INDIVIDUALS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO COOK FOR THEMSELVES.

IN ADDITION, SHE COORDINATES EFFORTS TO COLLECTIVELY COLLECT GENTLY USED COATS AND, AND SCHOOL UNIFORMS, ENSURING THEY REACH THOSE IN NEED WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S GOT A LOT GOING ON.

COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT, UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND RECOGNIZE LIEUTENANT, UH, FOR HER SERVICE.

OKAY.

NEXT, WE'VE GOT, UH, MARY MADISON FROM HUMAN RESOURCES.

I SAW MARY EARLIER.

UM, HER POSITION IS A, UH, HR SPECIALIST AND WELLNESS COORDINATOR.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD.

GOOD.

UM, SHE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR TWO YEARS, UM, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA BE RELOCATING.

YES.

SO WE'RE SORRY TO SEE THAT, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY WHERE YOU'RE GOING NEXT.

UM, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MARY'S OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS.

HER WORK AS OUR WELLNESS COORDINATOR HAS TRANSFORMED EMPLOYEE WELLBEING ACROSS THE COUNTY.

THROUGH LEADERSHIP, DEDICATION, CREATIVITY, MARY'S DEVELOPED, IMPLEMENTED, AND MANAGED A COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF OUR STAFF.

YOU'VE BEEN IN INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING FITNESS CHALLENGES, COLLABORATING WITH THE COUNTY EAP AND THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL WELL AT WORK PROGRAM TO OFFER EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS AND CURATING INTERNET INTERNAL WELLNESS HUB THAT PROVIDES EMPLOYEES WITH A WEALTH OF WELLNESS RESOURCES.

ADDITIONALLY, SHE CREATED MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS, COORDINATED ONSITE BLOOD DRIVES, FLU VACCINATION CLINICS, AND WELLNESS SCREENINGS, WHICH HAVE HELPED FOSTER A HEALTHIER, MORE INFORMED WORKFORCE.

BEYOND THESE INITIATIVES, UH, MARY'S WORKED TIRELESSLY TO, UM, CREATE THE COUNTY'S FIRST, UM, INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS APPROVED BY COUNTY COUNCIL THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WHICH TO HOST INTERNS, GUIDING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH, AND PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN MARKETING THE PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY.

HER WORK HAS BUILT A VALUABLE PIPELINE FOR FUTURE TALENT.

ALTHOUGH WE'RE SAD TO SEE MARY DEPART, HER IMPACT ON THE DEPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE COUNTY WILL BE FELT FOR SOME YEARS TO COME.

HER LEADERSHIP HAS TAKEN OUR WELLNESS AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS TO NEXT LEVEL, SOMETHING UNIQUE.

UM, YOU'RE GETTING MARRIED ON SATURDAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND SHE'S EXCITED TO START A NEW JOURNEY IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH A SOON TO BE HUSBAND MARY'S FREE TIME.

SHE ENJOYS BAKING DESSERTS AND BREAD WITH HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES, OF COURSE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

WE'RE GONNA INTRODUCE

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UM, WE'VE GOT OUR PROCUREMENT SERVICES, PCARD ADMINISTRATOR, UM, MS. POORER, YOU KNOW, SHE'S ALRIGHT.

SO WELCOME.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

YEAH.

SO SHE'S GONNA BE REPLACING RA PORTER'S GONNA BE REPLACING JESSICA SNOWDEN AS A NEW PCARD ADMINISTRATOR.

UM, SHE'S A NATIVE OF WASHINGTON DC STARTED HER WORK, UM, AND CAREER IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL AS PART OF A STUDENT WORK PROGRAM.

CONTINUED OUR FEDERAL CAREER AT THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE IN BOTH WASHINGTON DC AND IN CHARLESTON.

UNTIL, UM, YOU RETIRED IN JUNE OF 2022.

COME BACK TO WORK AGAIN.

I KNOW THAT FEELING.

, HER EARLY YEARS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT GRANT HER THE PRIVILEGE TO TRAVEL ON DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS WITH THE SECRETARY AMBASSADORS AND PRESIDENT.

THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF STORIES THERE.

UM, DURING HER TOUR WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICE CENTER IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IS THE ACCOUNTABLE PROPERTY OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR 9,000 PIECES OF PERSONAL PROPERTY, TOTALING $14 MILLION UNDER A DIRECTION DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL INVENTORY REPORT.

ALWAYS MET THE METRIC CONTRACTING OFFICERS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PRIMARY LABOR CONTRACT, AND WAS THE BACKUP PURCHASE CARD HOLDER WHO BECAME THE PRIMARY CO CARD HOLDER, PROCESSING OVER 106 $176,000 IN AUTHORIZED PURCHASE TRANSACTIONS.

SHE'S NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AND EARNED MANY OTHER AWARDS SUCH AS, UH, AS A MERITORIOUS HONOR AWARDS, SUPERIOR HONOR AWARD, AND FRANKLIN AWARDS FOR HER SERVICE TO US DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

SHE'S MARRIED, HAS FOUR CHILDREN, SIX GRANDCHILDREN, AND VERY IN SUPPORTIVE OF THEIR ATHLETIC AMBITIONS, FOOTBALL AND GYMNASTICS.

SO, WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S PERFECT.

THANKS.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR PROCUREMENT SERVICES, SE SENIOR BUYER SHARON BRYANT DALLAS.

THERE SHE IS.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, SEE YOU TOO.

YEAH.

SO, UM, SHARON HAS JOINED THE BEAUFORT COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT SERVICES AS A SENIOR BUYER, 18 YEARS OF PROCUREMENT, SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE WITH 10 YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

SERVED AS ASSISTANT MANAGER OF PURCHASING SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AND BID OFFICER AND PURCHASING AGENT FOR THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

UM, SHARON IS ALSO EMPLOYED WITH THE COST OF SALES AND MARKETING AS A REGIONAL BID ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, MANAGER FOR THE SOUTHEAST.

AND THIS ROLE, SHE'S AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL CONTRACTS AND US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COMMODITY MANAGEMENT.

YOU'RE GONNA COMPLETE YOUR DEGREE REQUIREMENTS TO DETAIN A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PURCHASING FROM GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY IN AUGUST, 2025.

SO YOU'RE STAYING BUSY WITH THAT.

ALSO, A MEMBER OF THE NORTH FLORIDA PROCUREMENT ASSOCIATION.

UM, YOU RESIDE IN SAVANNAH AND A MOTHER OF ONE SON, GRANDMOTHER OF ONE GRANDSON, AND THE MOMMY OF ONE FUR BABY.

SHE ENJOYS STUDYING HERB BIOLOGY, READING, TRAVELING, AND SPENDING TIMES WITH FAMILY.

SO, WELCOME AND SUBJECT TO ANY QUESTIONS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.

THANK YOU.

I AM GOING

[Additional Item]

SO, MR. NEY, WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN? OH, THIS IS MR. KEVIN'S LAST COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.

BEFORE HE RETIRES, IT READS AS FOLLOWS, WHEREAS THOMAS J KE, THE SECOND AFTER AN ILLUSTRIOUS AND ACCOMPLISHED LEGAL CAREER SPANNING OVER FOUR DECADES IS SET TO RETIRE.

CONCLUDING NINE YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED AND DEVOTED SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENCE.

AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE AS COUNTY ATTORNEY THOMAS PROVIDED INVALUABLE LEGAL COUNSEL DISPLAYING AN UNAIRABLE UNPARALLELED DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE, INTEGRITY, AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS AND LAWFUL OPERATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT.

AND WHEREAS HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE RULE OF LAW HAS GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE WELLBEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF COUNTLESS

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AND WHEREAS TOM, UH, TOM'S ASTUTE LEADERSHIP, STRATEGIC INSIGHT AND SOUND LEGAL GUIDANCE, GUIDANCE HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN FOSTERING A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN BEAUFORT COUNTY, ITS ELECTED OFFICIALS, STAFF, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY, THEREBY ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COUNTY'S GOVERNANCE.

AND WHEREAS OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS, THOMAS HAS PLAYED AN INDISPENSABLE ROLE IN THE COUNTY'S SUCCESSES, ENSURING LEGAL INTEGRITY AND MATTERS OF POLICY, ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS, AND SERVING AS A TRUSTED ADVISOR TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND OTHER COUNTY OFFICIALS.

AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED.

THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY EXPRESSES ITS DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO THOMAS J KEVIN II FOR AS MANY YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTY AND EXTENDS BEST, WHICH IS FOR FULFILLING AND WELL DESERVED RETIREMENT.

DATED THIS 23RD OF SEPTEMBER 2, 20 24, SIGNED BY THE CHAIRMAN.

THAT WOULD BE ME.

MR. CONGRATULATIONS.

UM, WELL, I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS, OBVIOUSLY.

I CERTAINLY AM FLATTERED BY IT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UM, THIS COUNCIL IS THE FIFTH COUNCIL THAT I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO ADVISE.

UM, I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.

UM, AS MUCH AS I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH ANY COUNCIL, UM, COUNCIL HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THE LAST NINE AND A HALF YEARS, .

UM, BUT THIS ONE IS, UH, ON A GREAT TRAJECTORY.

AND, UM, WE HAVE A NEW ADMINISTRATOR, UM, WHO IS VERY EXCITING.

UM, AND I JUST, I JUST THINK THAT THE COUNTY IS ON THE RIGHT WAY, SO ON GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO IT'S BEEN AN HONOR, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH EACH ONE OF YOU AND YOUR PREDECESSORS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE MANY STAFF MEMBERS THAT I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH.

UM, I WILL MISS THEM, I'LL MISS WORKING WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLABORATIVELY, AND I'LL BE WATCHING ON TV.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BYE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE A PRESENTATION

[7. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH - Vice-Chairman Lawrence McElynn]

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

YOU MAY RECALL LAST YEAR WE HAD ANOTHER PROCLAMATION AND I MADE MY INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS IN SPANISH.

I WILL NOT DO THAT THIS YEAR, I PROMISE.

, YOU ALL STRUGGLED THROUGH WITH ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHO STRUGGLED MORE, YOU OR ME, BUT WE GOT THROUGH IT.

SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS INVITE, UM, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, UH, TO COME UP HERE AND JOIN ME.

UH, VERONICA NAVARRO.

THANK YOU.

UH, VERONICA IS A REALTOR AND A FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF THE HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY GUSTAVO RAT, UH, THE OWNER AND CEO OF OCEANO, BLUE MEDIA AND HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY, WHERE HE SERVES AS A MEMBER.

OKAY.

AND ITALIA PARISI, WHO WAS GOING TO JOIN US HASN'T MADE IT TONIGHT, UH, BUT UH, SHE WAS HERE LAST YEAR AND SHE IS ON THE GULLAH AND LATINO ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND, UM, WORKS AS A MORTGAGE EQUITY LOAN EXPERT.

SO WE WILL HAVE VERONICA AND GUSTAVO, UH, ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO MAKE THIS, UH, PROCLAMATION TONIGHT AND RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTY, UM, AND TALK ABOUT THE IMMENSE PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO, AND IN PARTICULAR, THEIR FOCUS ON AND DEDICATION TO FAMILY.

SO I WILL READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15 IS OBSERVED NATIONWIDE AS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

AND WHEREAS IN 1968, CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN GEORGE BROWN PUSHED TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY LEADING TO CONGRESS PASSING THE OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO MARK SEPTEMBER 15 AND SEPTEMBER 16, AS THE BEGINNING OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE WEEK.

AND WHEREAS IN 1987, REPRESENTATIVE ESTEBAN E TORRES OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSED EXPANDING THE OBSERVANCE TO COVER A 31 DAY PERIOD.

AND IN 1988, SENATOR PAUL SIMON FROM ILLINOIS SUBMITTED A SIMILAR BILL THAT SUCCESSFULLY PASSED

[00:20:01]

HOWEVER, HISPANIC AMERICANS HAVE ENRICHED OUR NATION BEYOND MEASURE WITH THE QUIET STRENGTH OF CLOSELY KNIT FAMILIES AND PROUD COMMUNITIES.

AND NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TRADITIONALLY HONORS THE CULTURE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF BOTH HISPANIC AND LATINO AMERICANS CELEBRATING HERITAGE ROOTED IN ALL LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, WHICH MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE FOR COSTA RICA, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, AND NICARAGUA.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH RUNNING THROUGH OCTOBER 15TH, AUTHOR ALSO PAYS TRIBUTE TO MEXICO, CHILE AND BELIZE'S CELEBRATION OF INDEPENDENCE, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 16TH, SEPTEMBER 18TH, AND SEPTEMBER 21ST.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 15, NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

AND I'M PROUD TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AND I'LL ASK THE, UH, RECIPIENTS TO PLEASE MAKE SOME COMMENTS TO THE GROUP.

OH, OKAY.

SURPRISE.

YES, YES, YES, IT IS.

WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION AND THE HISPANIC BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF THE LOW COUNTRY.

UH, THE MISSION IS TO DEVELOP, EMPOWER, AND INSPIRE HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE LOW COUNTRY REGION BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM, WHICH FOSTERS COMMUNITY INTEGRATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ABOUT.

UM, AND IN A WAY, UM, ONE WAY WE DO THAT, ACTUALLY, WE'RE HOLDING OUR FIRST BILINGUAL BUSINESS EXPO ON OCTOBER 5TH IN BLUFFTON.

SO IF YOU CAN PLEASE JOIN US AND, UM, THAT DAY, UM, BASICALLY WHAT WE WANNA DO IS WHAT THE NAME SAYS, CONNECTA CONNECT, THE BUSINESS EXPO.

WE WANNA BE ABLE TO CONNECT LATINO AND HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESSES WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

UM, AND SO THAT WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED TO COME AND JOIN US AND BE PART OF CONNECTA BUSINESS EXPO.

UM, AND YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION@CONNECTABUSINESSEXPO.COM.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

WELL, I, I'M, I'M HONORED TO, TO BE HERE AND TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION.

WE'VE BEEN, UH, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME ALREADY, UH, ABOUT 10 YEARS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A PLATFORM, A PLATFORM, UH, FOR HISPANIC, UH, AUDIENCE WHERE WE CONNECT EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LOW COUNTRY, UH, TO OUR, UH, HISPANIC COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE THANKFUL, CAN BE THANKFUL ENOUGH FOR THE LOVE WE RECEIVE FROM THIS COUNTRY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EXCELLENT.

ITEM NUMBER EIGHT,

[8. UPDATE ON THE PROGRESS OF HISTORIC MITCHELVILLE- Mr. Ahmad Ward, Executive Director]

MR. WARD, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO COME AND SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.

I THINK THIS IS FOR ME.

OKAY.

UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS AMAL WARD.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR HISTORIC METRO FREEDOM PARK.

UH, BEFORE WE GET STARTED HERE, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THIS, UH, PROJECT AND ITS INITIAL SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT, UH, FOR THOSE WHO WERE AROUND, UH, ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO NOW.

UH, YOU GAVE US, UH, SOME SEED MONEY TO DO A MASTER PLAN BUSINESS PLAN, WHICH SET THE TONE FOR HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BLUEPRINT OF THIS PROJECT.

AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY GAVE US SOME SEED MONEY AND ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THAT HAS BEEN THE BASE THAT WE HAVE JUMPED OFF OF TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD.

SO WE CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR GETTING US STARTED ON THE WAY UNTIL WE HAVE GONE OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS OR SO.

AND SO I'M GONNA QUICKLY RUN THROUGH A FEW SLIDES, GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHT ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, AND THEN I WILL WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

SO, UH, AGAIN, OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, AND HONOR HISTORIC MITCHELLVILLE, THE FIRST TOWN OF SELF-GOVERNING, FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE UNITED STATES.

FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO ARE UNAWARE, THIS WAS FOUNDED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND IN 1862.

TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION TOOK PLACE, UH, THESE FOLKS HAD THEIR OWN FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAD A MAYOR COUNCIL SITUATION.

THIS WAS DECIDED OF THE FIRST MANDATORY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

EVERY CHILD BETWEEN THE AGE OF SIX AND 15 HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND

[00:25:01]

SO IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE, NOTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.

THESE FOLKS WENT FROM BEING PROPERTY TO OWNING PROPERTY.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST CANNOT, UH, UNDERSCORE ENOUGH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE, NOT JUST TO THIS REGION, BUT TO SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE.

AND SO, SINCE WE'VE TALKED TO YOU LAST, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF EXCAVATIONS ON THE SITE.

UH, THIS YOUNG LADY IN THE YELLOW HAT IS CATHOLIC SEAVER.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON FINDING SOME THINGS IN OUR AREA.

SHE HAS FOUND THE LOCATION OF ONE OF THE HISTORIC CHURCHES IN MITCHELLVILLE, WHERE ABOUT 85% SURE THAT'S WHERE IT WAS.

AND SO, OF COURSE, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A CHURCH THERE UNTIL WE FOUND A 4,000 YEAR OLD INDIGENOUS IMPRINT IN THAT SAME AREA.

SO WE HAD TO CHUNK THAT PLAN AND QUICKLY MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SITUATION, AND WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS, UH, MOMENTARILY, WE FOUND A LOT OF OBJECTS IN THIS SPACE.

THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT 10 MORE YEARS OF ARCHEOLOGY ON OUR SITE THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

UH, BUT ONE OF THE MOST KEY THINGS WE FOUND AFTER GETTING SOME MONEY FOR THE NATIONAL TRUST OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION BACK IN 2020 IS THIS, THIS IS A OUTDOOR COOKING HEARTH.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A MASSIVE BRICKS THAT WAS IN, UH, CENTER OF THE LOOP AREA.

AND SO WE STARTED DIGGING AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A FULL OUT HEARTH.

IT'S ABOUT FOUR FEET ACROSS, ABOUT FOUR FEET INTO THE GROUND, AND THIS WOULD BE THE ONLY STANDING STRUCTURE FROM THAT HISTORIC COMMUNITY GOING BACK 162 YEARS OR SO.

AND SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAD TO RECOVER IT TO KEEP IT SAFE, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON HOW WE CAN, UH, REALLY HAVE THIS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE.

UH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FINDING FOR US, AND IT'S KIND OF SET THE TONE FOR WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THEN.

THAT'S VERY COOL.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE DO HERE AND PROGRAMS, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOUR FACES AT THESE PROJECTS.

I SEE YOU AT SOME OF THESE EVENTS.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ONES IS OUR JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL THAT WE DO, UH, AROUND FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND.

THIS PAST YEAR, UH, THIS PAST JUNE, WE HAD 1500 PEOPLE COME, UH, TO THE PARK.

AND THOSE WHO, WHO HAVE BEEN TO THE PARK KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS FOR OUR PARK.

UH, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE THERE, ABOUT 15 DIFFERENT STATES.

WE DID A FULL WEEK THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY.

SO WE STARTED WITH A 5K.

WE HAD A PROGRAM WITH THE AUDUBON SOCIETY PROGRAMS FOR KIDS, DRUM CIRCLE, A SLEEPOVER.

SO NEXT YEAR, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CAMPING ENTHUSIASTS, , DON'T MIND SLEEPING OUTSIDE IN THE ELEMENT.

WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S THE THURSDAY BEFORE OUR EVENT.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TENTS THAT YOU CAN SLEEP IN, AND OUR TENTS HAVE THE BOTTOMS AND THEY ZIP ALL THE WAY UP.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T LIKE TO, UH, GET DOWN WITH THE ELEMENT.

YEAH, I SEE YOU.

OKAY, , WE KEEP YOU SAFE.

UH, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE PROUD THAT WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE COME FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA, AND THIS IS BECOMING A DESTINATION POINT FOR US DURING THE SUMMER.

ANOTHER DESTINATION POINT FOR US IS OUR HOLIDAY NIGHTS AND LIGHTS PROGRAM, WHICH HAPPENS DECEMBER THIS YEAR, WILL BE DECEMBER 7TH THROUGH THE NINTH.

GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDARS.

UH, THIS IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

THIS ALL CAME OUT OF COVID.

WE USED TO DO A HOLIDAY KICKOFF THE FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY DECEMBER UNTIL 2020 WHEN WE COULDN'T BE AROUND EACH OTHER.

AND SO WE HAD SOMETHING THAT'S NOT COMMON FOR A NONPROFIT.

A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY LEFT OVER, UH, FOR THE YEAR.

AND SO WE POURED INTO PUTTING LIGHTS IN THE PARK.

AND SO THAT FIRST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 2,500 PEOPLE COME IN A SIX HOUR PERIOD OVER A SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY.

UH, AND SO PEOPLE WERE LIKE, YOU GOTTA KEEP DOING THIS.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

AND SO LAST DECEMBER, WE HAD 3000 FOLKS DURING THAT SAME TIMEFRAME.

SO IT'S A WAY FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AGAIN, IT'S COMPLETELY FREE.

DONATIONS ARE, UM, WELCOME, BUT IT'S JUST A WAY FOR US TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT DURING THE YEAR AND DO SOMETHING FUN TO GET THE HOLIDAY SEASON KICKED OFF.

UH, WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND BUSY TO BE SEEN OUT HERE.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF SPACES, TRAVEL AND LEISURE, UH, CONDE NAST TRAVELER, IT'S VERY COOL FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOOK THAT THE BRAVES HAD.

WE HAD A FULL PAGE IN THAT AD.

AND ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS, UH, LAST YEAR, WE WERE NUMBERED AS ONE OF THE EIGHT PLACES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT ILLUMINATE BLACK HISTORY BETTER NEW YORK TIMES, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL, NOT JUST FOR THIS COUNTY, BUT FOR THE STATE.

AND SO WE DID NOT TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.

UH, PEOPLE ARE ARE NOTICING US.

THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE THE THINGS WE'RE DOING HERE.

AND AGAIN, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE, THE SUPPORT FROM THE TOWN, FROM THE COUNTY, AND ALSO FROM THE STATE.

WE ENJOY A LOT OF IMPORTANT COLLABORATIONS HERE.

YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE THAT STICK OUT IN OUR AREA, BUT ALSO THE SOUTHEASTERN MUSEUMS CONFERENCE, UM, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

WE'RE WORKING ON SOME POTENTIAL PROGRAMS WITH THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

AND, UH, I THINK IN 2026, THEY WILL BE UNVEILING A EXHIBITION ABOUT GULLAH CULTURE.

AND THESE ARE ALL OBJECTS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLECTIONS OVER THE LAST 70 YEARS.

AND SO WE WERE THERE KIND OF GUINEA PIG SITE FOR FOCUS GROUPS THAT CAME, UH, LAST SUMMER AND SPENT SOME TIME WITH US ON HILTON HEAD, ACTUALLY SUMMER BEFORE LAST.

AND SO TO USE SOME OF THE DETAILS THEY GOT FROM US TO PUT TAURUS'S EXHIBITION, WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT PLACE OPEN THAT OPENS UP.

I THINK IT'LL BE THERE FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2026 ONCE IT OPENS IN SPRING.

AND SO WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.

ANOTHER GOOD LOOK FOR

[00:30:01]

THIS IS OUR SITE PLAN.

SO THIS IS WHAT YOU HELPED US DEVELOP A FEW YEARS AGO.

IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE'S A LITTLE AREA UP TOP WHERE THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

WELL, UH, DUE TO YOUR ASSISTANCE AND ALSO THE TOWN, WE WERE ABLE TO GAIN THOSE PARCELS OF PROPERTY IN 2022.

IT'S NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN ON THE SITE.

SO IF YOU LOOK, EVERYTHING TO THE LEFT END THERE BESIDES A, IS IN SOME FORM OF PROGRESS, UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE IT.

F WHICH ARE THE RECREATIONS OF HOMES IN THE AREA.

AND I HAVE A SLIDE THAT'LL SHOW YOU THAT OPEN UP IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

THAT IS OUR FIRST PERMANENT EXHIBITION.

UH, BIG SIZE.

THESE ARE LIFE-SIZED HOUSES.

THERE ARE NO CEILINGS OR WALLS, BUT THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS HAVE INTERPRETED PANELS THAT TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MITCHELLVILLE AND WHAT THAT COMMUNITY HAS MEANT TO THIS AREA.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT SPACE.

AND I'LL TAKE THESE LAST REMAINING SLIDES, TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE BIG ONES.

THERE WE GO.

AND SO THESE ARE WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT.

THESE ARE IN THE AREA.

AS SOON AS YOU COME ONTO THE PROPERTY THAT IS GALVANIZED STEEL WITH, UH, HEICO THAT GO ABOUT FIVE OR SIX FEET INTO THE GROUND.

SO THESE ARE HURRICANE PROOF , UH, STAND THE TEST OF TIME AND THE WEATHER.

UH, THESE ARE VERY COOL AND GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE ALIGNED ALONG THE GRID WORK THAT THE ARMY CORPS ENGINEERS LAID OUT IN 1862.

SO WE KNOW THERE WERE HOUSES IN THIS GENERAL AREA.

AND SO THERE'S MORE TO COME HERE, INCLUDING THAT CHURCH AREA WE WERE TELLING YOU ABOUT.

WE HOPE THAT'LL BE FINALIZED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, IF NOT THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

AND THIS IS THE CHURCH AREA WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

SO THE FRONT METAL FRONTAGE IS IN THE PARK RIGHT NOW, INCLUDING A BELL.

THERE'S AN ACTUAL BELL THERE THAT WE CAN RING.

GENERAL PUBLIC CANNOT RING IT , BUT YOU'LL SEE SOME BENCHES THERE.

WE ARE USING BENCHES THAT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHAT CHURCH BENCHES WOULD'VE LOOKED LIKE IN THE 1860S.

WE ARE INSCRIBING HYMNS IN THE TOPS OF THOSE BENCHES.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE BACK, THERE'S A CORE SAMPLE THAT'LL HELP TO HIGHLIGHT THAT 4,000 YEAR OLD INDIGENOUS IMPRINT WE TALKED ABOUT.

SO THIS THING IS, UH, ABOUT SIX FEET TALL.

WE'RE EMBEDDING REPLICAS OF OUTER FACTS AROUND IT.

IT LOOK LIKE YOU PULL THE GROUND UP TO TAKE A LOOK.

YOU GO DOWN A CERTAIN DISTANCE, YOU SEE MITCHELLVILLE ERA STUFF.

YOU KEEP GOING.

YOU HAVE THIS, UH, NATIVE AMERICAN IMPRINT.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR KUBO NATION AND THE ESQ MESO NATION, WHICH GO BACK 4,000 YEARS, AS WE SAID BEFORE.

WOW.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND UH, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO RECEIVE $2.5 MILLION FROM THE MELLON FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT, UH, THE MIDDLE AREA HERE.

THAT'S THAT FREEDOM PLAZA.

THAT'S WHERE WE FOUND THE HEARTH.

UH, THERE WAS A NICE LITTLE POND ON THAT FIRST MAP THAT HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE WE FOUND A HEARTH THERE.

SO AGAIN, WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

, WE'RE MOVING IT DIFFERENT WAYS.

UH, BUT THE MAIN THING IS AN ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY AND AUDITORIUM, WHICH WE HOPE WILL OPEN AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

UH, THIS IS A 4,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT WILL ENABLE US TO PROCESS ALL THE THINGS WE FOUND IN EXCAVATIONS ON SITE.

AND INSTEAD OF SENDING THINGS OFF TO COLUMBIA OR UPSTATE NEW YORK, SOME OF THE OTHER PLACES THAT WE'VE SENT THEM, IT'LL ALSO HAVE A, UH, YOU LOOK IN THIS FAR CORNER 84 SEAT, UH, SPACE.

SO WE CAN DO PROGRAMS ON SITE FOR THOSE WHO UNAWARE.

WE HAVE NO BUILDINGS ON THE SITE RIGHT NOW.

SO THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST BUILDING THAT'LL OPEN HOPEFULLY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.

UH, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS THROUGH APPLICATIONS, AND SO SHORELINE, UH, CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DOING THAT WORK.

PIER SCOTT ARCHITECTS ALSO FROM THE COUNTY, UH, DID THE ARCHITECTURE, THE UM, ARCHITECTURE FOREST HERE.

WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE STAYED LOCAL WITH THIS BUILDING, UH, JUST TO SHOW THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE HAVING IN THE GENERAL COMMUNITY.

WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

IT ALSO WILL HAVE AN OFFICE SUITE WILL ALLOW US TO PUT SOME PEOPLE OVER THERE AS WELL.

AND SO WITH THAT VERY QUICK RUN THROUGH OF ALL THESE COOL THINGS WE ARE DOING, THIS IS HOW YOU CAN SEE US EXPLORE MITCHELLVILLE.ORG.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.

AND I DO HAVE A LITTLE THING FOR YOU BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE OUR SECOND ANNUAL FILM SERIES THAT IS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 23RD AND 24TH AT THE USCB CAMPUS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE THAT I'LL HAND OUT, UH, GIVE OVER HERE TO YOU CLERK, BUT ANYONE IN THE COUNCIL IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND, JUST CALL THE OFFICE AND YOU'LL BE OUR GUEST.

OKAY? AND WITH THAT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M WILLING TO ANSWER THOSE RIGHT NOW.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER WISH, STUDENT ASK QUESTION? VERY NICE.

I WOULD JUST SAY VERY NICE.

OUTSTANDING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU.

WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOUR, UH, INVESTMENT HAS DONE SO FAR.

WE GOT A LOT OF COOL THINGS TO COME.

UH, TO THIS POINT, WE ARE IN THE SECOND YEAR, SECOND ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS INTO A QUIET PHASE.

WE HAVE TO RAISE ABOUT $22.8 MILLION.

UH, AND HOPEFULLY BY OCTOBER WE WILL BE RIGHT AROUND 10.

SO WE'RE ALMOST HALFWAY THERE WITHIN TWO YEARS, UH, MOVING THIS THING FORWARD.

SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO YOU AGAIN.

MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE THING, UM, SORRY ABOUT THE THROAT, BUT ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK, MR. MORRIS TRIP WITH ME,

[00:35:01]

JAMES.

AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ED DID YOU, EDUCATION IS UNBELIEVABLE AND WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU'RE DOING.

SO THANK YOU AND LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU.

UH, WE APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME AND HEAR US WHEN WE ASK FOR THINGS.

ABSOLUTELY .

THANK YOU.

I'LL TELL YOU, Y'ALL GOT MY FAVORITE VIEW ON, ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND TOO, OUT THERE ON THE PIER.

OF COURSE.

GORGEOUS.

WELL, THAT WILL, THAT WILL REMAIN.

SO WE GLAD, HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THAT GREAT JOB.

WELL DONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON OCTOBER.

YEP.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

WE ARE AT OUR FIRST

[9. CITIZEN COMMENT PERIOD - 15 MINUTES TOTAL]

UM, OUR SPEAKERS AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE SIGNED UP AT THE FIRST CITIZEN COMMENT, PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS COUNSEL.

UM, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SAID, BUT IT WILL BE SAID THIS EVENING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BUFORT COUNTY RULES AND PROCEDURES, GIVING OF A SPEAKER'S TIME TO ANOTHER IS NOT PERMITTED.

THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, MR. HOAGLAND, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.

SKIP HOAGLAND, JENKINS ISLAND, MR. PASSMAN LIMITED LIMITING PUBLIC COMMENT TO JUST FIVE PEOPLE AT THREE MINUTES.

A PIECE SHOWS DISRESPECT TO THE CITIZENS YOU REPRESENT AS A SERVANT.

IN SHORT, YOUR TAXPAYER, YOU ARE THE TAXPAYER'S PROXY.

THEREFORE, WHEN PEOPLE SHOW UP, YOU JUST CALL THEIR NAME.

YOU LISTEN AND YOU THANK THEM FOR COMING.

THIS ARTIFICIAL LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS UN-AMERICAN.

AND WORSE, YOU ADDED IN THE RULES THAT GIVING A SPEAKER'S TIME TO ANOTHER IS NOT ALLOWED.

THAT IS ABSURD.

TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT TODAY, THIS VIOLATES AN INDIVIDUAL'S RIGHTS.

AND NOTE, THIS ROOM IS OWNED BY THE TAXPAYERS, NOT THIS COUNCIL.

THIS IS WHAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO SPEAK FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS WHO ASK US TO REPRESENT THEIR THREE MINUTES.

ALSO, IF THREE OR FOUR CITIZENS ARE SIGNED UP FOR A GROUP PRESENTATION AND THEIR PREFERENCE IS FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL TO SPEAK FOR THEIR INDIVIDUALLY ALLOCATED THREE MINUTES PER PERSON, IT DOESN'T MAKE ONE BIT OF DIFFERENCE WHETHER THREE PEOPLE SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES A PIECE OR ONE PERSON SPEAKS FOR THE NINE MINUTES FOR THE GROUP PRESENTATION.

AND SINCE IT'S LEGAL TO USE A POWER OF ATTORNEY TO ASSIGN YOUR SPEAKING RIGHTS TO WHOMEVER YOU CHOOSE, A POWER OF ATTORNEY SUPERSEDES THIS ARBITRARY CAPRICIOUS RULE YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED TO LIMIT OUR RIGHT RIGHTFUL PARTICIPATION IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS.

FRANKLY, IT'S AN ASSAULT ON OUR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.

IT'S ALSO VERY DISRESPECTFUL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TO BE PUT LAST ON THE AGENDA, WHICH FORCES ALL CITIZENS TO SIT FOR HOURS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR WORK AND THEIR FAMILY TIME.

PUBLIC COMMENT USED TO BE AT THE BEGINNING UNTIL MR. PASSMAN ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.

AS YOU MAY KNOW, BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE.

THIS IS NO SURPRISE GIVEN CHAIRMAN PASSMAN IS A FORMER USED CAR SALESMAN.

IN OTHER WORDS, HE TELLS YOU ONE THING AND YOU END UP WITH A REAL LEMON.

I'M NOT LETTING PASSMAN ON THE DIOCESE OFF THE HOOK TO BELIEVE GETTING ELECTED SUDDENLY MADE HIM SMARTER THAN THE PROFESSIONALS ADDRESS HIM.

THE RESULT OF THIS ARROGANCE IS HE AND A FEW OTHERS END UP VOTING FOR THINGS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, PARTICULARLY BUDGETS AND AUDITS THAT I CONTEND OR CORRUPTED.

YOU MUST HIRE YOUR OWN COUNCIL, CPA CONDUCT FORENSIC AUDITS, AND NONE OF YOU ARE CPAS.

AND, AND THERE'S MILLIONS OF MISSING AND UNACCOUNTED MONEY AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE ONE JOB AND THAT IS TO VOTE ON ISSUES AND ABIDE BY YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES TO APPROVE, SPEND AND GUARD OUR HARD EARNED TAX MONEY LIKE IT'S YOUR OWN.

WE HAVE FAILED AT THIS AND WE'VE BEEN, AND YOU'RE VOTING FOR ILLEGAL AND WORSE USE OF MILLIONS OF OUR TAX MONIES BY LOCAL NONPROFITS, MAINLY THE CHAMBERS.

AND THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NOT INTERRUPTING ME, MR. PASSMAN.

I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MY POA SPEECH FROM MS. GREELEY AT THE END OF THIS MEETING TODAY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

UM, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT, UH, SIGNED UP? SEEING NONE, WE'LL, UH, CONCLUDE THIS FIRST SESSION.

UH, IS THERE ANY LIAISON

[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]

I, IT'S, UM, I HAVE SEVERAL.

I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO, ON SEPTEMBER 12TH TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ALL ALL DAY RE RESILIENCY WORKSHOPS.

SAY THAT FIVE TIMES QUICKLY.

AND IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS AT BURAL TO REC CENTER WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES PARTICIPATING SEPTEMBER 13TH, I'VE PARTICIPATED IN A DESKTOP EXERCISE REGARDING THE PARIS ISLAND SHELL POINT, CLOVERLEAF AREA, UH, REGARDING ANTICIPATED RISING WATERS IN THE YEAR, IN YEARS IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE, UM, LIKELIHOOD OF THAT HAPPENING, UH, SO CLOSE TO PARIS ISLAND IN THE CAUSEWAY.

AND A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS CAME OUT OF THAT.

ON SEPTEMBER 17TH,

[00:40:01]

AND THEN, UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, SEPTEMBER 19TH, I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEXUS RECOVERY WALK, WHICH WAS AT THE TRACK AT BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS THE FIRST ONE AND I THINK THERE WILL BE MANY MORE.

AND THERE'LL BE, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF AGENCIES THERE REGARDING, UM, RECOVERY AND A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION SHARED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT WALK.

AND I WANTED TO THANK, UM, THE NEXUS ORGANIZATION FOR WHAT THEY DID.

THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORK.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S IT.

ANYONE ELSE? MS. TABER NECK? SO I JUST WANNA INFORM COUNSEL THAT ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, JONATHAN SULLIVAN HELD A, UH, MEETING OF THE STATE AT TAX COMMITTEE TO REVIEW ALL THE CHANGES WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AND REVISE THE GUIDELINES AND, UH, APPLICATIONS WERE DUE ON THE 13TH AND THEY HAVE BEEN CLOSED AND THE PRESENTATIONS WILL BE FORTHCOMING, THEN THEY MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO FINANCE WHO MAKES IT TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

I WANNA RECOGNIZE CATHERINE AND MARY AGAIN, IF YOU'D STAND UP.

UM, WE HAD A MEETING.

THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO BE THERE WITH KAREN MCKENZIE, WHO IS A DIRECTOR FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING TO DISCUSS OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

AND YOU HEARD MR. MOORE HIGHLIGHT MARY'S PART AND CATHERINE'S PART IN THAT.

I EMAILED ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS THE UPDATED PROGRAM.

UH, THEY WENT OVER THE GUIDELINES WITH MS. MCKENZIE AND VERY, THEY'RE VERY INTERESTED.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE THREE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOLS NORTH OF THE BROAD JUST TO PUT OUR TOE IN THE WATER.

BUT SOMETHING INTERESTING I DIDN'T KNOW THAT CATHERINE TOLD US IS WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT INTERNS WITH ANIMAL SERVICES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT WE HAVE EIGHT INTERNS ALREADY WITH THEM.

SO, UH, JUST AN ADDITIONAL NOTE FOR COUNCIL.

ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, SO NONE OF US CAN HAVE AN INTERN JUST TO CLARIFY THAT.

BUT THESE TWO LADIES KICKED OFF THE PROGRAM AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE REALLY WELL RECEIVED WITH THE SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOOD LUCK GETTING MARRIED.

MARY, ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEALING WITH MANDATES FROM THE STATE, INCLUDING FLYING OF THE US FLAG NURSE REGULATIONS, BOOSTER CLUBS, AND NEW SCHOLARSHIPS.

THEY PREDICTED THAT, UM, DISTRICT REVENUES ARE STRONG RIGHT NOW DUE TO GROWTH AND THEIR EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION UNDER PROJECTED.

SO THEY HAVE 9.9 MILLION BEING TRANSFERRED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAD A COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE LAST WEEK PAVING UPDATE FOR, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA ONE 70 AND 2 78.

THAT'S ALWAYS VERY INTERESTING TO ME.

PAVING IS UNDERWAY AND ON SCHEDULE YOU GET ALL THOSE NICKEL ABOUT IT FROM THE BEAUFORT SHERIFF.

THE PROJECT INCLUDES A THOUSAND FEET OF AN ADDITION TO THE TURNING LANE ONTO 2 78.

AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT'S MAKING TRAFFIC BETTER WHEN I GO HOME.

IT'S NOT AS CONGESTED.

ONE INCH AND OH, THIS IS FOR EVERYONE.

ANYBODY KNOW HOW MANY MILES OF DIRT ROADS WE HAVE? 7 78.

IT'S 70 DOWN TO 70.

AND CTC NOTED THEY ONLY PAVE ONE AND A HALF MILES A YEAR WITH STATE FUNDS.

SO WE WILL NOT BE ALIVE WHEN THEY FINISH THE 70 AND ONE INTERESTING FACT, UM, THE COST FOR A TON OF AGGREGATE EIGHT YEARS AGO WAS $7 A TON.

IT IS NOW $30 A TON.

SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WHY CAN'T YOU GET ALL THIS DONE? THERE'S ONE OF THE REASONS.