[1. CALL TO ORDER - Michael Moore, County Administrator] [00:00:14] ,POOR MORNING. WELCOME TO BODY COUNT. IT'S ONLY 25 AND TEN LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE FIRST MEETING INTO OUR OATH OF OFFICE . I AM MY BOARD WITH YOU FOR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE VIEW FOR RULES, RATE AND PROCEDURES THE TWO YEAR TERMS OF THE PRIOR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2024. THEREFORE I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CONDUCTING THIS MEETING THROUGH ITEM SIX WHICH IS THE ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL CHAIR AT WHICH POINT I WILL TURN THAT MEETING OVER TO THE NEW CHAIR. I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITIES 2025 NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO NEXT I WILL CALL ON REVEREND JAMES MOORE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AN INDICATION REVEREND MOORE IS SERGEANT MAJOR HE SPENT 27 YEARS WITH RECORD AND ONCE SERVED AS A DRILL SERGEANT AT RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS HE'S PRESENTLY PASTOR AT THE MOUNT CARMEL BAPTIST CHURCH IN DALE. LET US STAND, IF YOU WILL, AND REPEAT THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE 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. MAY WE PRAY FATHER GOD WE THANK YOU THE GOD OF ALL CREATION WE COME AND WE THANK YOU. YOU HAVE DECLARED IN YOUR WORD THAT IN EVERYTHING WE OUGHT TO GIVE YOU THANKS. AND SO WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO THANK YOU TO THANK YOU FOR THIS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN US NOW IS WE ASSEMBLE A FATHER GOD IN THIS NEW YEAR I PRAY THAT YOU GOD IS LEADERS GOD WE PRAY THAT THEY WILL MAKE WISE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE AND THEN WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN NEWLY ELECTED GIVE THEM YOUR WISDOM GUIDE THEM AS FATHER GOD IN SPIRIT AND DO FATHER GOD HELP US ALL TO UNITE OURSELVES TOGETHER AS ONE COUNTY ALWAYS REMEMBERING THAT YOUR COMMAND IS THAT WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEART AND MIND THAT STRENGTHENED OUR SOUL AND THAT LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS YOU HAVE LOVED US THESE OH GOD THE PRAYERS OF YOUR SHOW WHICH MANY PRAYED TO YOU IN MANY OTHER NAMES BUT I PRAYED YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS THE CHRIST OUR LORD AND OUR SAVIOR AMEN. AMEN AND BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVER MORE PROCEEDING WITH THE MEETING WE HAVE ALL MEMBERS HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS SO THEREFORE THE COUNCIL DOES HAVE A QUORUM [3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT] TO CONDUCT BUSINESS PUBLIC NOTIFICATION THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND [4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA] DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION. I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA IF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL WOULD MAKE A MOTION PURSUANT TO OUR SECOND MOTION IN A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING ON THE AGENDA IS PROOF OF THAT OBJECTION AND I SEE OBJECTIONS . [5. OATH OF OFFICE - ADMINISTERED BY THE HONORABLE HEATHER GALVIN, PROBATE JUDGE, BEAUFORT COUNTY] GREAT. I WILL NOW ASK THE HONORABLE HEATHER GALVIN PROBATE JUDGE BEAUFORT COUNTY TO COME FORWARD TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR MR. GERALD DAWSON DISTRICT ONE MR. YORK GLOVER SENIOR DISTRICT THREE MR. LOGAN CUNNINGHAM DISTRICT SEVEN JUDGE ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO. WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME UP FIRST, MR. DAWSON I HAVE YOU ON MY LIST FIRST FOR DISTRICT ONE AND DO YOU HAVE A BIBLE WOULD LIKE TO USE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE THIS BIBLE? OKAY I HAVE PUT DOWN IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING. WHEREVER WHENEVER SOMEWHERE CONVENIENT FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME I PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME I GERALD DAWSON DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA . TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE [00:05:04] OFFICE. TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO WHICH I'VE BEEN AND THAT I WILL AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY BEST OF MY ABILITY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF. DISCHARGE OF DUTIES THERE AND PRESERVE PROTECT AND DEFEND AND PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE. THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE AND OF THE UNITED STATES. OF THE UNITED STATES. HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. AND IF YOU GET ALL RIGHT NEXT I HAVE COUNCILMAN GLOVER FROM DISTRICT THREE ON MY LIST AS NEXT ON THE AGENDA PERFECT SMILE RIGHT THERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I I YOUR GLOVER DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT I DULY QUALIFIED. AM DULY QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO CONSTITUTION ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE EXERCISE THE DUTY OF THE OFFICE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND THAT I WILL AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY BEST OF MY ABILITY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF AND PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE. THE CONSTITUTION THIS STATE AND OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE UNITED STATES. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RIGHT. AND NOW WE HAVE COUNCILMAN LOGAN CUNNINGHAM FROM DISTRICT SEVEN TELLING ALL RIGHT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. I LOGAN CUNNINGHAM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED. THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA . TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED. TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND THAT I WILL AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO THE OF MY ABILITY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF. DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF AND PRESERVE PROTECT AND DEFEND AND TO PRESERVE PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE. THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE AND OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE UNITED STATES. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD ASK THE NEWLY SWORN IN MEMBERS TO TAKE THEIR SEATS AT THE DAIS CAN READ AND YOU CAN NOW WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM SIX ON THE AGENDA WHICH IS [6. ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN - Michael Moore, County Administrator] ELECTION THE CHAIRMAN. THAT WILL BE FOR A TWO YEAR TERM. IN A MOMENT I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS. OUR FIRST I WILL REMIND COUNSEL THAT MEMBERS WISHING TO MAKE A NOMINATION STATE THEIR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE A SECOND FOR EACH NOMINATION IS NOT REQUIRED. A TOTAL OF SIX VOTES SHALL BE REQUIRED TO ELECT THE CHAIR ONCE THE NOMINATION HAS BEEN MADE. I'LL ASK FOR EMOTION A SECOND TO CLOSE NOMINATIONS BY A VOTE. WE WILL THEN CALL FOR A VOTE EACH NOMINEE IN THE ORDER NOMINATED THE FIRST NOMINEE TO RECEIVE SIX VOTES WILL BE ELECTED CHAIR. WITH THAT I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIRMAN OF COUNTY COUNCIL. MR. MOORE. CAN I ASK THAT WE A MOTION MAYBE SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE WE HAVE CITIZEN COMMENTS MAYBE THEY'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE DO THAT . CAN I MAKE THAT MOTION? WOULD YOU KNOW OR YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION. [00:10:02] ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT IF ANY CITIZEN WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT WE DO THAT. ANYBODY WANT TO SECOND THAT GENTLEMAN? I DID NOT HEAR A SECOND FOR THAT. SO MR. MOORE AND DAVID BARTHOLOMEW MOVED TO NOMINATE ALAN HOWARD FOR CHAIR CHAIRWOMAN. WE HAVE A NOMINATION FOR MISS HOWARD. MR. MOORE. YES, SIR. MAY I? YES. LARRY MCDOWELL AND, DISTRICT TEN. IT'S MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TODAY TO NOMINATE JOSEPH PARCHMENT FOR THE LEADERSHIP POSITION OF CHAIRPERSON OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL. JOE HAS THE EXPERIENCE, TALENT, THE DRIVE, FOCUS AND DISCIPLINE TO ADDRESS THE IMPORTANT ISSUES WE WILL FACE IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. JOE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THESE MATTERS AS THE CHAIR SINCE 2020. HAS A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE REALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ONGOING ISSUES AND HAS DEDICATED COUNTLESS HOURS TO ACHIEVE RESULTS THAT WILL SATISFY ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS DELIBERATIVE BODY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I URGE THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO GIVE JOE YOUR FULL SUPPORT AS WE ENTER THE NEXT VERY IMPORTANT YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS . I MOVE THAT THE NOMINATIONS COME TO A CLOSE. WE HAVE A MOTION. SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ANY DISCUSSION HEARING? NO DISCUSSION. THE SLATE OF NOMINEES OF MS.. ALICE HOWARD AND MR. JOE PASSMAN APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS. NOW WE HAVE NAMES ON THE TABLE FOR CHAIR. THE FIRST WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD FOUR FOUR CHAIR CLERK IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL THE ROLL . COUNCILMEMBER DAWSON. NO. COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW. YES COUNCILMEMBER GLOVER. NO. COUNCILMEMBER HOWARD. YES. COUNCILMEMBER PASSING IT? NO. COUNCILMEMBER TAVENNER. YES. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM. YES. COUNCILMEMBER BROWN. YES. COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON. NO COUNCILMEMBER MCLELLAN. NO. COUNCILMEMBER REED. YES. YOU HAVE SIX VOTES. THAT'S FOR YOU. YES. THANK YOU. WITH THAT I WILL NOW TURN THE [7. PASSING OF THE GAVEL TO THE CHAIRMAN] MEETING OVER TO THE NEW CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO THANK OUR CURRENT CHAIRMAN OUR VICE CHAIRMAN FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK. THEY'VE DONE OUTSTANDING AS MENTIONED BY VICE CHAIRMAN MCCLELLAN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TWO YEARS. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK DO AND I PROMISE TO TALK LOUDER THAN [8. ELECTION OF THE VICE-CHAIRMAN] WHAT WE'RE OUTSIDE. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WHICH IS ELECTION OF THE VICE CHAIRMAN. DO HAVE ANY NOMINEES? NOMINEE. OUR TAB'S HAPPENING. I'LL SECOND THAT. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AS WE DON'T NEED A SECOND OR WE DON'T NEED A SECOND FOR THAT. RIGHT. WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL. NO, THE NOMINATIONS ARE INCLUDED BECAUSE THERE'S NO OTHER NOMINEES RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES? IF NOT? TAB TABACHNICK IS OUR NEW VICE CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN. MADAM CHAIRPERSON, I JUST COME IN. I WANT TO THANK PEOPLE FOR COMING TODAY AND THANK OUR PAST CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. THEY DID LEAD US THROUGH TWO TUMULTUOUS YEARS MY FIRST TO IN PUBLIC OFFICE AND I'M HOPING MY NEXT TWO ARE GOING TO BE GREAT. ONCE WE TAKE THE STORM CLOUD OFF OUR HEAD AND WE WORK TOGETHER AS A GROUP, WE'RE A BODY OF 11 ELECTED TO REPRESENT 200,000 PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO SET OUR FOCUS ON DOING THAT. AND OUR GOAL WILL BE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLIC BETWEEN SPIRIT AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THIS COUNTY. WE DID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO FORGET THAT AMIDST ALL CHALLENGES THERE WERE SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED THANKS TO OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE TURN. JUST MADAM. [00:15:02] I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING ON. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CHAIR AND THE VICE CHAIR FOR WHAT THEY DID IN THESE NEXT TWO YEARS. I THINK GOING TO BE MORE CRITICAL THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO. SO I WANT TO WELCOME COUNCILWOMAN HOWARD COUNCILWOMAN TABACHNICK AND SAY WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. THANK YOU MUCH. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT DAY FOR FAMILY TODAY. A REALLY GREAT DAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? IF NOT WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK Y * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.