* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORD COUNTY. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. TODAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 7TH. UH, THIS IS THE ACCOMMODATION TAX ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. UH, DID EVERYBODY RECEIVE A COPY OF THE AGENDA? IF YOU DID NOT, THERE SHOULD BE A COPY ON THE BACK TABLE THERE. WE ALSO HAVE IT ABOVE US ON THE PROJECTORS HERE. UM, I DON'T KNOW. THERE HE IS. GOOD MORNING, MR. MORNING. JUST GETTING STARTED HERE. UM, IF YOU RECEIVED A COPY OF THE AGENDA, HAVE YOU HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT? QUESTIONS HERE. I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO, FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA PLEASE. SO, MOTION IS THERE A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES, UM, MINUTES WERE SENT OUT IN REGARDS TO THE MEETING FROM AUGUST 15TH, 2024. DATE OF OUR RECEIVE A COPY OF THOSE AND HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE, ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. IF NOT, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL, PLEASE. AND A SECOND. SECOND. A SECOND. A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. ITEM NUMBER FOUR, NEW BUSINESS. UH, TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE, UH, APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN AND SCHEDULING FOR OCTOBER 17TH AND OCTOBER 24TH. UM, LOOKING AT THESE, IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE THE ROOM THAT HAS A CONFLICT WITH THEIR SCHEDULED TIMES HERE? IS THERE ANY CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE? ARE YOU ABLE TO SCROLL DOWN? YEAH, SHE HAS CONTROL THERE. SHE'LL SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SURE. A SEC. I WILL NOT BE HERE ON THE 17TH. OKAY. UM, WHICH I HAD INFORMED SHAYNA EARLIER, UM, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GONNA BE LIVE STREAM SO THAT I COULD WATCH IT. UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IF I HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPEARING ON THAT DAY, AM I ALLOWED TO SUBMIT THOSE IN ADVANCE FOR ANOTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER TO ASK OR DO I HAVE TO BE PRESENT DURING THE MEETING TO ASK MY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, YOU CAN GIVE TO ME SEAL AND I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMITTEE GETS THEM. AS FAR AS THE CORRECT PROTOCOL ON THAT. I'LL, I'LL DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD, THERE WOULDN'T BE MUCH, BUT JUST IN, JUST IN CASE. MM-HMM. , I JUST QUESTION. YEAH. I BELIEVE THE, THE BEST ROUTE TO TAKE IS TO PROVIDE THOSE TO TOWN STAFF. YOUR QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND THEY CAN HAND THEM TO US OR IF THEY NEED TO BE UH, SPOKEN, WE CAN DO THAT. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE. NO PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS, HAPPENS. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE APPLICANTS ON THE SCHEDULING? WE HAD 33 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR. UM, WE ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, YOUR PRESENTATIONS ARE, I BELIEVE 20 MINUTES, SO IF YOU COULD HAVE A 5, 7, 8, 10 MINUTE PRESENTATION, THEN LEAVE US SOME TIME TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PACKET. UH, TYPICALLY FOLKS ARE RIGHT ON TIME. IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU WERE TO ARRIVE 10, 20 MINUTES EARLY PRIOR TO YOUR TIME. UH, SOME OF THESE DO NOT TAKE ALL OF 20 MINUTES. UH, AND WE TRY TO STAY AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE OR TRY TO BE AT LEAST ON TIME. UH, THESE ARE LONG DAYS OF HEARINGS AND WE'D LIKE TO GET THROUGH 'EM THE BEST WE CAN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON PROPOSED DATES AND TIMES AND ANYTHING? PRETTY MUCH AT THIS POINT? SORRY, . UM, ANYTHING AT THIS POINT, IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, OR CHANGES, LET YOU KNOW. JUST, UH, WEDNESDAY BY NOON, UH, PRESENTATIONS WILL BE, FIRST ROUND OF PRESENTATIONS WILL BE THURSDAY, SO WEDNESDAY BY NOON. ANY CHANGES THAT YOU MAKE, ANY CHANGES THAT YOU DO MAKE AT THIS POINT WOULD BE THROUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SWAP TIMES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. UH, SHANNON, WHEN DO YOU NEED EACH WEEK, THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION? IF WE BEFORE THAT, UH, THAT WILL BE A DAY PRIOR TO, BUT I'LL SEND, ONCE THEY'RE VOTED ON THE SCHEDULE, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE APPLICANTS GET A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL VERSION AND THEN I'LL SEND THOSE REMINDERS OUT TO PEOPLE TO SEND ME PRESENTATIONS. OKAY. AND TO GET THOSE. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEE NONE. UH, LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE APPLICATION HEARINGS. MOTION TO APPROVE THERE A SECOND. ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE SCHEDULES, [00:05:01] UH, FOR OCTOBER 17TH AS WELL AS OCTOBER 24TH. UH, I WOULD CALL OUT THAT THE DATES ON THE TOP OF THIS, UM, JUST NOTICING THEY SAY 2023. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. I JUST CAUGHT THAT. SO, UH, SO OCTOBER 17TH, 2024 AND OCTOBER 24TH, WE HAVE A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, A SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND, PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. THAT SCHEDULE IS SET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MOVING ON TO THE SECOND ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS IS THE REVIEW OF THE 2024 APPLICATION GRANT APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COME IN. AGAIN, WE HAD 33 APPLICANTS. UH, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE LISTED IN THE PACKET AS WELL AS THE GRANT REQUEST. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE APPLICATIONS? MR. CHAIRMAN, THE, AS I SEE IT, THERE'S, THERE'S ONLY ONE TRULY NEW APPLICATION FROM THE ROTARY CLUB, IS THAT CORRECT? UH, I BELIEVE SO. I'M ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE LIST. I BELIEVE THE ROTARY CLUB WAS THE ONLY NEW ONE THAT I'M AWARE OF. WE DID HAVE A FEW DROP OFF FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE ROTARY CLUB IS OUR ONLY NEW APPLICANT THIS YEAR. ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY FROM THE ROTARY CLUB HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS? NONE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS? HAVE YOU ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO LOG IN? DO YOU HAVE YOUR PINS TO GET IN THAT COME FROM ONEDRIVE, GET INTO THOSE FOLDERS, 33 APPLICATIONS. THERE'S YOU EACH SUBMITTED ONE PACKET. WE GET TO GO THROUGH ALL 33 OF THOSE, SO WISH US LUCK. UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR THOROUGH APPLICATIONS. UM, WE HAVE A LOT TO, TO GO THROUGH AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS, I I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE SHENA. I WAS, I WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO CORRECT ON THAT NUMBER I GAVE YOU FOR 4.2 MILLION AS THE TOTAL, I HAD AROUND 4.24 MILLION. YES. AND IT SHOULD BE ON THE, ON THAT LAST PAGE. ON THE LAST PAGE. PAGE. YES. IT'S 4.241. SO YEAH, YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON THAT. WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED FROM THE STATE, UH, WHAT THE TOTAL PACKET IS GONNA LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR. UM, I THINK WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT AROUND NOVEMBER I'M CORRECT. SO THE STATE IS GOING THROUGH TRYING TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THEIR, UH, HANDING OUT OF THESE FUNDS OR TELLING US HOW MUCH IS GONNA BE AVAILABLE. SO WE'RE KIND OF IN THE DARK THROUGH THE HEARING PROCESS. WE'LL WAIT FOR THE STATE TO SAY, OKAY, WE NOW KNOW HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE. UH, THAT SHOULD BE PRIOR. IT WILL BE PRIOR TO US MAKING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL. UH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION OR YES THERE. AND IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS WITH RESPECT TO A SPECIFIC APPLICATION, CAN WE SEND SOME OF THAT TO YOU TO, TO GET TO THE APPLICANT PRIOR TO THEIR PRESENTATION SO THAT THEY CAN PREPARE FOR THAT QUESTION? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. IF YOU FIND THAT SOMETHING MIGHT LOOK INCOMPLETE OR SOMETHING MIGHT BE MISSING, OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, UM, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM AN APPLICANT, LET ME KNOW AND I CAN TOUCH BASE WITH THEM SO YOU CAN GET IT. OKAY. UH, I THINK THAT'S IT FOR UNDER NEW BUSINESS. THERE'S NO VOTE NEEDED ON THIS ONE, I BELIEVE. JUST A REVIEW OF THE APPLICATIONS. WE'VE NOW COME TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK TODAY? NO SIGNUPS AS AT THIS POINT. VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. JUST A, A THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR APPLICATIONS. UH, THIS IS MY FIFTH GO AROUND EACH YEAR. IT GETS BETTER AND BETTER. THE PROCESS GETS A LITTLE SMOOTHER, SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GETTING ALL OF THAT IN. UM, MAKE SURE AGAIN THAT ON THE DATE OF YOUR HEARING, PLEASE ARRIVE A FEW MINUTES EARLY IN CASE WE ARE ABLE TO SQUEEZE ONE IN. UH, IF WE EX END UP WITH AN EXTRA FEW MINUTES, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO TAKE A RESTROOM BREAK, ALLOW FOLKS TO GET A DRINK OF WATER, STRETCH OUR LEGS. UH, WE'RE GONNA START EARLY IN THE MORNING AND YOU ROLL THROUGH 4, 4 30. SO, UM, AGAIN, REQUEST THAT YOU SHOW UP A LITTLE BIT EARLY, UH, AND GET YOUR POWERPOINTS TO TOWN STAFF AS SOON AS YOU CAN. I KNOW YOU WANNA MAKE CHANGES ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT, ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL YOUR HEARING, BUT THE SOONER YOU CAN GET THEM, WE CAN WORK OUT ANY BUGS. GIVE US A CHANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT IN QUEUE FOR YOU AT YOUR TIME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE? ANY QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? OKAY. THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY FAST. . IT TOOK ME LONGER TO GET HERE. ALL RIGHT, WELL MEETING ADJOURN. [00:10:40] I AM JOE BOGUS AND I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, I'VE BEEN A BOARD MEMBER MOST RECENTLY, A FINANCE CHAIR FOR THE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY REWARDING AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY SINCE I BEGAN THE BOARD, MY BOARD TERM DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE GREAT RECESSION WHEN HE HAD VERY FEW BOOKS AND VERY FEW VISITORS. BUT OVER TIME, THE BOARD AND LIBRARY LEADERSHIP HAVE MANAGED TO REBUILD OUR FINANCE THAT WE'RE SPENDING MORE MATERIALS NOW THAN EVER BEFORE, AND IN A GREATER VARIETY. BOTH HARD COPY AND DIGITAL GROWTH IN BUFORD COUNTY MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO CAREFULLY HUSBAND OUR RESOURCES, AND THIS IS WHERE VOLUNTEERS IN THE LIBRARY COURT DO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. SUSAN AND I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 18 YEARS AND WE KNOW THE POSITIVE IMPACT LIBRARIES CAN MAKE IN OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY'S LIBRARY IS A NEW TOWN HALL FULL OF VIBRANT MIXTURE OF PROGRAMS AND OFFERINGS. AS A BOARD MEMBER, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN MAKE AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME AND TALENTS ON MAKING BEAUFORT COUNTY A BETTER PLACE. THIS IS OUR HOME AND THIS IS WHY I MAKE THIS INVESTMENT IN BOTH MY TIME AND MY COMMUNITY. THIS VERY BRIEFLY IS WHY I SERVE, WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER SPENDING YOUR TIME ALSO FOR THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY. THANK YOU. TO SEE A LISTING OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S AGENCIES, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, OR TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, VISIT WWW.BEAUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV BACK SLASH BOARDS. AND HI EVERYONE. I'M MARIA WALLS, YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY TREASURER. IF YOU'VE EVER WONDERED WHAT'S E-BILLING OR MY BEAUFORT COUNTY, I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK BECAUSE MY BEAUFORT COUNTY IS YOUR ONE STOP LOCATION ONLINE TO MANAGE AND PAY YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY PROPERTY TAX BILLS. SIMPLY TYPE IN MY BE FOR COUNTY.COM OR DOWNLOAD THE APP IN THE APP STORE AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO LOG IN. SO HERE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE AS A GUEST. IF YOU DON'T WANNA CREATE AN ACCOUNT OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN UP FOR E-BILLING, STORE YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION, AND MANAGE ALL OF YOUR TAX BILLS FROM A SIMPLE DASHBOARD SCREEN. TO MANAGE YOUR PROPERTY ACCOUNTS IN YOUR DASHBOARD, SIMPLY CLICK LINK ACCOUNT AND TALK TO TAXBOT WHO IS HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU IN SIGNING YOU UP. YOU CAN SEARCH FOR A PROPERTY BY YOUR PIN, WHICH IS YOUR PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, YOUR A IN, YOUR ALTERNATE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, OR SIMPLY USING AN OWNER'S LAST NAME AND MAILING ZIP CODE. ONCE YOU'VE SEARCHED, GO AHEAD AND SELECT THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR PROFILE. YOU CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO KEEP GOING OR LET TAXBOT KNOW THAT YOU'RE FINISHED BY PAYING YOUR TAXES, FINDING ANOTHER PROPERTY, OR SIMPLY GOING BACK TO THE DASHBOARD. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SIGN UP FOR E-BILLING, YOU CAN DO THAT BY CLICKING MANAGE E-BILLING AND SIGN UP EACH PROPERTY TO RECEIVE YOUR BILL ELECTRONICALLY. WANNA KNOW WHERE YOUR PAYMENT INFORMATION IS STORED OR YOUR RECEIPTS? GO AHEAD AND CLICK YOUR WALLET IN THE WALLET. EACH RECEIPT YOU'VE PAID ONLINE IS AVAILABLE FOR OBSERVATION, DOWNLOAD AND PRINTING RIGHT HERE. NEED TO UPDATE YOUR PROFILE, NO PROBLEM. SIMPLY CLICK THE ICON IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER AND YOU CAN UPDATE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AND MANAGE YOUR PAYMENT METHODS. AN ADDED BONUS WHEN YOU USE AN ECHECK TO PAY ON MYBE BEFOR COUNTY, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COSTS. YOU HAVE YOUR BILL AND YOUR ELECTRONIC RECEIPT ALL IN ONE LOCATION AND AT YOUR FINGERTIPS, WHATEVER YOU NEED IT. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT USING MY BEFOR COUNTY OR TAXES IN GENERAL, PLEASE CALL MY FRIENDLY STAFF AND I AT 8 4 3 2 5 5 2 6 0 0 OR YOU CAN VISIT US@BEAUFORTCOUNTYTREASURE.COM. HELLO, MY NAME IS EBONY [00:15:01] SANDERS. I AM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ASSESSOR. OUR GOAL AT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC IN THE AREAS OF REAL PROPERTY TAXATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO MEET THAT GOAL. WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SHOW YOU A SERIES OF VIDEOS STARTING WITH THIS ONE CONCERNING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WAGE. START BY GOING TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY WEBSITE, WWW DOT BEAUFORT COUNTY SC GOV, AND YOU CAN GO THERE TO LOCATE OUR WEBPAGE. TO BEGIN, WHEN YOU'RE AT THE WEBPAGE, YOU'LL START BY GOING TO THE GOVERNMENT TAB ON YOUR PAGE. THEN YOU WILL FIND DEPARTMENTS AND UNDER ASSESSOR. WHEN YOU SELECT ASSESSOR, THE PAGE WILL DIRECT YOU TO OUR WEBPAGE. ON THE ASSESSOR'S WEBPAGE, YOU WILL FIND A HOST OF INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN DO RESEARCH ON. YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR PROPERTY, BUT YOU CAN ALSO ACTUALLY ON FIND ONLINE APPLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN APPLY FOR LEGAL RESIDENCY APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS AG USE. SO LET'S LOOK AT THE LEGAL RESIDENCY APPLICATION. TO BEGIN, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A LINK THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR THE LEGAL RESIDENCY APPLICATION. YOU SELECT OUR LINK, AND HERE THE APPLICATION IS PROVIDED FOR YOU. MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO READ THE ENTIRE APPLICATION THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU BEGIN, AS YOU WILL NEED CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT WITH YOUR APPLICATION. IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO APPLY ONLINE, YOU CAN ALSO APPLY IN PAPER FORM. GO BACK TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WEBPAGE, GO TO FORMS, AND HERE YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF ALL THE FORMS THAT OUR OFFICE SUPPLY OUR TAXPAYERS. YOU CAN ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD THESE FORMS AND PRINT THEM OFF AND SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING. THE APPLICATION CAN BE MAILED INTO OUR OFFICE AS WELL. YOU CAN MAIL THEM BY USING OUR MAILING ADDRESS, WHICH IS LOCATED IN OUR CONTACT INFORMATION ON OUR WEBPAGE. YOU CAN ALSO FAX YOUR APPLICATION IN ALONG WITH YOUR DOCUMENTS TO THE FAX NUMBER THAT'S LISTED ON OUR WEBPAGE. AGAIN, THE FORM SECTION OF OUR WEBPAGE DOES HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE. YOU CAN BROWSE, YOU CAN NAVIGATE THROUGH THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPLICATIONS AND SELECT THE ONE THAT'S MOST APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY, ON OUR WEBPAGE, YOU'LL FIND INFORMATION ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO. IT'S A SHORT VIDEO BLAINE'S ASSESSOR'S OFFICE ROLE IN THE TAXATION PROCESS. ANOTHER PART OF OUR ONLINE WEBPAGE THAT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING, MAYBE BENEFICIAL, IS TO DOWNLOAD THE 2018 REASSESSMENT GUIDE BY SELECTING THE REASSESSMENT GUIDE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD THIS PARTICULAR BROCHURE AND READ IT AT YOUR CONVENIENCE OR READ IT WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE. IT WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR OFFICE AND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE CAN HELP YOU AS A TAXPAYER WITH REGARDS TO YOUR REAL PROPERTY UM, VALUATION. RETURNING TO THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WEBPAGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT US BY REACHING US AT 8 4 3 2 5 5 2 4 0 0. OUR LOCATION IS LISTED ON OUR WEBPAGE AS WELL. WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT OFFICES. WE HAVE TWO SATELLITE OFFICES, ONE LOCATED IN BLUFFTON, ONE LOCATED IN HILTON HEAD, AND OUR MAIN CAMPUS IS HERE IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ADDRESSES FOR THOSE LOCATIONS AND FIND THE ONES CLOSEST NEAR TO YOU, YOU CAN GO GO BACK TO OUR PAGE TO RESOURCES, SELECT OFFICE LOCATION, AND THE ADDRESSES TO OUR BUILDINGS ARE LOCATIONS ARE LISTED THERE. ADDITIONALLY, WHAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO A LOT OF OUR TAXPAYERS, THEY WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY VALUE OR PROPERTIES IN THEIR SURROUNDING AREAS. YOU CAN USE OUR PROPERTY MAX FEATURE UNDER RESOURCES TO SEARCH FOR REAL PROPERTY BY YOUR PERSONAL PIN NUMBER. YOUR A IN NUMBER OR YOUR NAME AND YOUR SITE ADDRESS IS HELPFUL TO HAVE AS WELL IF YOU WANT TO SEARCH FOR A PARTICULAR ONE BY YOUR SIDE ADDRESS. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE'RE GONNA DO SERIES OF VIDEOS THAT WILL GIVE YOU MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE PROPERTY MAX PORTION OF OUR WEBSITE. ANOTHER FEATURE THAT YOU MAY FIND VERY, VERY INTERESTING CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER. OUR TWITTER ADDRESS IS LOCATED HERE ON OUR WEBPAGE, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY LINK TO OUR TWITTER ACCOUNT AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE ANY NEW UPDATED EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU AS A TAXPAYER OR JUST INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. YOU CAN GAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY GOING TO WWW.BEAUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV. YOU CAN CONTACT US BY CALLING US AT 8 4 3 2 5 5 2 4 0 0, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND A MESSAGE TO US USING OUR CITIZEN GRAHAM AS LISTED ON OUR WEBPAGE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. EVERY DAY WE TAKE SHOWERS, FLUSH OUR TOILETS AND USE OUR SINKS. THE WASTEWATER THAT IS DRAINED NEEDS TO BE CLEANED BEFORE IT'S RETURNED TO THE ENVIRONMENT. SO WHERE DOES IT GO? [00:20:03] AS THE WATER LEAVES THE HOMES, IT GOES INTO SEWAGE PIPES AND TRAVELS BY GRAVITY AND LIFT PUMP STATIONS TO A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. WHEN THE WASTEWATER ARRIVES AT THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, THE FIRST STOP IN THE TREATMENT PROCESS IS THE HEADWORKS AT THE HEADWORKS RAGS AND OTHER LARGE OBJECTS ARE REMOVED WITH A BAR SCREEN AND ANY SAND IN THE WATER IS ALSO REMOVED. THE WASTEWATER IS MIXED WITH MILLIONS OF HUNGRY BACTERIA READY TO BEGIN CONSUMING ORGANIC MATERIAL IN THE WATER. THEN IT IS SENT TO AERATION BASINS. THE AERATION BASINS ARE WHERE THE WORKFORCE OF HUNGRY BACTERIA DOES ITS JOB. LARGE ROTATING PADDLES STIR UP THE MIXTURE, ADDING OXYGEN TO THE WATER, CREATING A PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR BACTERIA TO THRIVE. THESE BACTERIA ABSORB THE WASTE MATERIAL AS FOOD AND USE IT TO GROW AND MULTIPLY. AS THE BACTERIA INGESTS THE WASTE, THE BACTERIA MULTIPLIES AND CONVERTS THE WASTE MATERIAL INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CALLED BIOMASS. THIS BIOMASS IS ACTUALLY THE POPULATION OF BACTERIA IN THE WATER. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BIOMASS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE. EACH DAY, TECHNICIANS TAKE SAMPLES OF THIS BIOMASS AND PERFORM TESTS TO DETERMINE IF THE PROPER ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BACTERIA IS BEING ACHIEVED. TECHNICIANS ALSO TEST THE PH OF THE BIOMASS AND CALIBRATE EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE PROPER READINGS. COMPUTER SYSTEMS ALSO MONITOR THE CONDITIONS INSIDE EACH OF THE AREAS OF THE TREATMENT FACILITY. THE BACTERIA REMAINS IN THE AERATION BASIN ON AVERAGE FOR 22 HOURS BEFORE LEAVING THE AERATION BASIN FOR THE NEXT LOCATION. IN THE PROCESS, THE NEXT STEP HAPPENS IN THE CLARIFIERS. THE MOTION OF THE WATER IS GREATLY REDUCED IN THE CLARIFIERS, ALLOWING THE BIOMASS TO SETTLE TO THE BOTTOM. THE CLEAR WATER REMAINS ON THE TOP AND THE BIOMASS ON THE BOTTOM IS REMOVED BY SWEEPS. THE BIOMASS THAT HAS BEEN SWEPT AWAY LEAVES THE CLARIFIERS UNDER THE PULL OF GRAVITY AND THEN IS PUMPED TO ONE OF TWO LOCATIONS. SOME OF THE BIOMASS IS RETURNED TO THE HEADWORKS TO START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN, READY TO CONSUME MORE WASTE MATERIAL. THE OTHER PORTION IS SENT FOR DEWATERING BECAUSE THE BACTERIA MULTIPLIES A PORTION. EACH DAY NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PROCESS SO THE SYSTEM ISN'T OVERPOPULATED WITH BACTERIA. THIS HAPPENS AT A BELT PRESS WHERE THE WATER IS REMOVED FROM THE BIOMASS, A POLYMER IS ADDED TO THE BIOMASS, CAUSING IT TO COAGULATE. THEN A BELT AND A SERIES OF DRUMS PRESSES ALL THE WATER OUT OF THE BIOMASS. THE DRIED BIOMASS IS NOW CALLED BIOSOLIDS. A CONVEYOR BELT TAKES THE BIOSOLIDS AND LOADS IT ONTO A TRUCK TO BE TAKEN TO A LANDFILL BACK AT THE CLARIFIERS. THE CLEAR WATER ON TOP RUNS OVER THE EDGES OF THE WEIRS, FLOWING OUT OF THE CLARIFIERS TO BE TREATED IN THE NEXT STEP. THE NEXT STEP IS FILTRATION. LARGE DISC FILTERS FILTER OUT ANY OTHER SOLID PARTICLES IN THE WATER. THE WATER FLOWS INTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE DISCS AND EXITS THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE FILTRATION SYSTEM. AFTER THIS, THE WATER IS DISINFECTED BY ULTRAVIOLET LIGHTS. BY THE END OF THIS STEP OF THE PROCESS, THE WATER HAS ALREADY MET VERY HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS AND IS SUITABLE FOR MANY USES. DEPENDING ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY LOCATION, THE WATER THAT LEAVES THE FACILITY MIGHT BE SENT TO ONE OF THREE GENERAL LOCATIONS. SOME WATER IS SENT TO GOLF COURSES FOR IRRIGATION. SOME OF THE WATER IS SENT TO THE BEAUFORT RIVER AND SOME FACILITIES SEND THE WATER TO AN AREA KNOWN AS THE GREAT SWAMP. THE GREAT SWAMP IS A PROJECT THAT IS REPLENISHING WETLANDS THAT WE'RE DRYING AS A RESULT OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. THESE WETLANDS ARE NOW HOME TO A VARIETY OF SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANT LIFE. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU WASH YOUR DISHES OR TAKE A SHOWER OR FLUSH YOUR TOILET, YOU CAN BE SURE THAT BECAUSE OF BEAUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITIES EFFORTS AND TECHNOLOGY, WHAT LEAVES YOUR HOUSE AS WASTE IS [00:25:01] ACTUALLY BEING TURNED INTO CLEAN WATER THAT IS BENEFITING THE ENVIRONMENT. DID YOU GET A CALL OR MESSAGE THAT MENTIONED SOCIAL SECURITY THAT MADE YOU FEEL THREATENED OR SCARED? THAT IS NOT THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. SOCIAL SECURITY WILL NOT THREATEN YOU, PRESS YOU FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION OR DEMAND INSTANT PAYMENT. SOCIAL SECURITY DOES NOT ACCEPT PAYMENTS BY GIFT CARD, PREPAID DEBIT CARD, INTERNET CURRENCY, OR BY MAILING CASH. CRIMINALS. USE THESE FORMS OF PAYMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE HARD TO TRACE. DON'T FALL FOR IT. HANG UP, IGNORE THEM. REPORT THIS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO OIG.SSA.GOV, PRODUCED AT US TAXPAYER EXPENSE. WELCOME TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA'S ONLY GOLD LEVEL BICYCLE COMMUNITY. AS YOU'VE OBSERVED, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES IS TO GET AROUND ON BIKE. WHILE YOU'RE HERE, LET ME FILL YOU IN ON SOME OF THE BASICS OF GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND ON BIKE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A BIKE HELMET, AND IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER. YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED WHAT YOU'D CALL SIDEWALKS. WE CALL LEISURE PATHS. YOU WANNA STAY OFF THE ROAD AND STAY ON THESE MULTI-USE PATHWAYS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ALSO, NOTE THE MANY DRIVEWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS ALONG THE PATHWAY TO STOP AND YIELD SIGNS ARE MEANT FOR YOU. THE BICYCLIST MAKE A POINT ACROSS THE STREET AT INTERSECTIONS, TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR CROSSWALKS, AND BEFORE CROSSING INTERSECTIONS, BE SURE TO MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE MOTORIST. IT'S BEST TO WALK YOUR BIKE ACROSS MAJOR INTERSECTIONS INSTEAD OF RIDING. AND REMEMBER, OBEY THE SAME TRAFFIC RULES AS VEHICLES AND RIDE WITH TRAFFIC. IF FOR SOME REASON YOU'RE BIKING ON THE ROAD WHEN IT INTERSECTIONS, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE WALK. DON'T WALK SIGNALS. AND REMEMBER, WE SHARE THE LEISURE PATHWAYS SO WHEN YOU'RE COMING UP BEHIND SOMEONE, ALERT THEM BY BELL OR VOICE SO THEY KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS APPROACHING. IF YOU NEED TO STOP ON THE PATHWAY, BE SURE TO MOVE OFF TO THE SIDE. THERE ARE ALSO 30 PATHWAY KIOSKS WITH MAPS OF THE ISLANDS THAT WILL HELP DIRECT YOU ON YOUR RIDE. AND PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OUR TOWN PARKS THAT HAVE BIKE RACKS, RESTROOMS, AND DRINKING HOMES. THESE CAN BE LOCATED ON THE KIOSK MAPS. WE ALSO HAVE 12 PUBLIC BEACH ACCESS POINTS WHERE YOU CAN RIDE THE HARD PACK BEACH AT LOW TIDE FOR A UNIQUE BIKE RIDE. THANKS FOR WATCHING AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY. ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.