[I. Call to Order Followed by Pledge of Allegiance] [00:00:09] . GOOD MORNING. TODAY IS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 15TH . THE TIME IS 10:30 A.M. AND THE BOARD OF VOTERS REGISTRATION AND ELECTION SAID BEAUFORT COUNTY IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND EVERYONE FOR THE PLEDGE OF THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAYBE SEE THAT WE ARE NOW AT PUBLIC COMMENTS. [II. Public Comments] IF THERE IS ANYONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS PLEASE LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 5 MINUTES. PUBLIC COMMENTS. THERE IS NO ONE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. [III. Minutes from Meeting on: a. December 9, 2024 – Board Meeting] WE WILL NOW TO OUR MINUTES FROM THE MEETING ON DECEMBER NINTH, 2024 AND HAVE EVERYONE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES THE DECEMBER 9TH BOARD MEETING AND IF SO I CAN PLEASE GET A MOTION TO ACCEPT MADAM CHAIR I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE DECEMBER NINE MEETING MINUTES SUBJECT TO CORRECTION OF THE FIRST BULLET OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR'S REPORT WHERE THERE IS A TYPO IN THE TURNOUT NUMBERS. OKAY WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? THE OVERALL TURNOUT 75.18% AS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD AND I DON'T HAVE THE CALCULATIONS OF EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY VOTING WITH ME BUT I'LL PROVIDE THOSE BUT IT'S THE SAME DATA THAT'S BEEN PUBLISHED PUBLICLY ON ELECTION NIGHT REPORTING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE A MOTION AND FOLLOWED BY MARK BY MATT SWEENEY. CAN WE GET A SECOND ONE PROPERLY MOVE IN SECOND BY DON COOPER ALL IN FAVOR I SAY ANY NAYS MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [IV. Committee Reports (If Any)] IF THERE ARE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS I START TO MY LEFT AND MOVE TO THE RIGHT IF THERE IS ANY REPORTS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MET AND WE HAVE HAVE IT DOWN ON THE NEW BUSINESS TO THE BUDGET AND THAT'S PRIMARILY WE MET ON JANUARY 8TH TO REVIEW THE PRELIMINARY OPERATING BUDGET AND WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND SOME OF THE DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTING CAPITAL PROJECTS BY THE CANADIAN ENGINEERING STAFF AND WE HAVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS DONE THE NEW BUSINESS SO I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY COVER IN THAT SECTION HOPEFULLY BUT THE COMMITTEE ALSO MET ON MONDAY THE 13TH TO APPROVE THE FINAL BUDGET THAT WE WILL RECOMMENDING TO THE FULL BOARD TO APPROVE AND THEN SUBSEQUENT THAT MS. MOORE'S ISSUED AN UPDATED BUDGET THAT AN ITEM THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE SUPPLIER WHICH WE NOW HAVE. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE BUDGET THAT WE WOULD BE RECOMMENDING TODAY ON THE NEW BUSINESS WE THEN WANT TO GET A COPY THANK YOU ALL FOR THANK YOU THANK THAT'S ALL THAT YOU THINK IS COMING. THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT, THE RULES COMMITTEE CURRENTLY HAS NO REPORT. THANK YOU. COMMITTEE HAS NO REPORT. ALL RIGHT. TO MY RIGHT FOR THE AD HOC COMMITTEE I WOULD REQUEST TO GET A COPY FROM STAFF OF THE THE ELECTION DATA ABOUT WHEN POLLS WERE OPEN AND WHEN POLLS WERE CLOSED AND THE EQUIPMENT AT EACH POLLING LOCATION THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WILL DO A FINAL ANALYSIS OF THAT AND THEN THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF AD HOC. WE'LL JUST WRAP UP AFTER THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. FORD. THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE HAD NO HAVE NO FORMAL WE ARE MONITORING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WE'RE VERY INTERESTED IN THE PLASTIC RESISTANCE WINDOWS AT ELECTION CENTRAL MAN THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR. SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND WE'LL [00:05:01] COMMENT AT THAT TIME. OKAY YEAH THIS IS THE COOPER DON'T EXCLUDE YOU. ALL RIGHT SO LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE NO REPORT. OKAY. SO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ON ALONG. [V. New Business] WE ARE NOW AT NEW FIRST ON OUR AGENDA ITEM IS NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF NEW OFFICERS FOR 2025 THROUGH 2027 WE WILL NEED H A VICE CHAIR AND SECRETARY. THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SECOND. OKAY. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ALL RIGHT FOR SECRETARY. MADAM CHAIR I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE MIKE ZWICKY AS SECRETARY. I SAID MIKE'S SO LUCKY TO BE TALKING. YEAH OKAY MIKE SO WE SECRETARY BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT MIKE'S ZWICKY BE SECRETARY ALL IN FAVOR MY SIDE OF I I'M SORRY I JUST WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION SO ON READINESS IS MIKE CERTIFIED AS A BOARD MEMBER YET YES HE HE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND HE IS UNDERGOING THE TRAINING THAT HE'S TO TAKE DURING THE FIRST 18 MONTHS I WAS JUST SEEKING CLARITY AS TO WHETHER YOU KNOW, YOU GET THIS LETTER AND FEEL ABOUT SOMEONE WHO IS NOT CERTIFIED. WELL, HE GOT THIS LETTER. YES. YOU DON'T HAVE THE NECESSARY YEAH. OKAY THAT'S ALL I WAS JUST ASK. YEAH OKAY SO YOU'RE THE ONE WHO SECONDED THAT MOTION. I DID NOT KNOW YOU DID. YOU DID? OH, THIS IS IT REALLY OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A SECRETARY MR. SILICATES. OKAY, NEXT WE WILL HAVE HUH? YEAH, WE DID THE WE VOTED I THOUGHT WE DID OKAY. NO ACTUALLY BEVERLY ASKED THE QUESTION. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND 0II OKAY. MOTION CARRY FOR GOING TO BE OUR SECRETARY FOR THE BOARD NEXT IS THAT MARIE IS IT THE CHAIR VICE-CHAIR SHE'LL BE CHAIR NEXT RIGHT. YEAH THE VICE CHAIR OKAY WE NEED A NOMINATION FROM THE FLOOR FOR VICE CHAIR MADAM CHAIR I NOMINATE JIM JIM BAKKER AS VICE CHAIR. JIM BAKKER ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ANYBODY ELSE GOING ONCE I SECOND THAT OKAY. IT'S OKAY. IT'S BEEN PROBABLY MOVED AND SECOND THAT JIM BAKKER BE VICE CHAIR ALL IN FAVOR BY THE SIDE OF RAISING YOUR HAND SAY I I MOTION CARRIAGE BAKKER VICE CHAIR NOW WE ARE TO THE CHAIR NOMINATION ON THE FLOOR FOR A CHAIR I MOVE THAT MATT SWEENEY BE THE CHAIR OKAY THERE ANY OTHER NAMES OKAY AND SECOND IS SECOND SO YOU'RE CLOSING IN ON MATT SWEENEY OKAY. MATT SWEENEY HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR WE GET A MOTION FOR IN FAVOR OF MATT SWEENEY BEING THE CHAIR OH RAISE YOUR I SAID I MOTION CARRY ALL RIGHT SO WE HAVE CHAIR MATT SWEENEY VICE CHAIR JIM BAKKER MAKES THE WEEKLY SECRETARY CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATE AND I WILL MOVE INTO YOUR SPACE . OKAY, YOU MOVE RIGHT HERE. OKAY. WE CAN JUST STAY FOR NOW. NO. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING. ALL RIGHT? OKAY, SO CARRY ON. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL NEXT NEXT IS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AND SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE CURRENTLY JIM BAKKER IS THE AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE LIZ JOHNSON AND THAT'S IT SO I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT MR. FORD JOIN THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ALSO DON COOPER MANY SO MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE SO FAR THAT WOULD BE FOR SO MY PROPOSAL IS THAT WE KEEP MR. BAKKER AS THE CHAIR AND THE OTHER THREE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE LIZ HERBERT AND MR. COOPER [00:10:08] THEY HAVE TO REMEMBER YOU'RE GOING TO BE NUMBER FIVE SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A QUORUM BECAUSE YOU'RE THE CHAIR STILL SITS IN YOU. MY INTENT WOULD BE TO ONLY ATTEND IF OF THE MEMBERS CAN'T ATTEND. OKAY OKAY. LOOKS LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE A FORM. YEAH OKAY. OKAY SO FOUR RULES COMMITTEE I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP LIZ ON AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR AND REMOVE MR. BAKKER AND ADD MR. SQUEAKY MISS MITCHELL AND MR. COOPER SO THE RULES COMMITTEE WILL BE LIZ, MIKE, DARLENE AND DON FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS IT'S CURRENTLY MYSELF AS CHAIR MR. CHAIRMAN. YES, MA'AM. CAN YOU REPEAT DO YOU HAVE A ROOM FOR THOSE WOULD BE MS.. JOHNSON MR. ZWICKY MS. MITCHELL AND MR. COOPER OKAY. SO MR. BARBARA'S NOT ON. CORRECT. THANK YOU FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. I LIKE TO REMAIN THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE. KEEP MR. BAKKER ON THE COMMITTEE KEEP MS. DOOR ON THE COMMITTEE AND I'M NOT SURE THE CHAIR I CAN I DON'T THINK THE CHAIRMAN IS THE CHAIR AND I CANNOT OKAY. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE ALL OF YOU DO KNOW YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO RESOLVE THAT AT THE MOMENT SO WELL IF THERE'S THERE'S NO PROHIBITION FROM THE CHAIR SERVING AS OF ONE OF THE COMMITTEES I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THAT CAN'T DONE. GO FORWARD TAKE SOME FISH YOU KNOW THE CHAIR IS THE CHAIR THE EX-OFFICIO OUR COMMITTEES. RIGHT I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT IS THERE ANY FISHING FROM THE CHAIR BEING A CHAIR OF A OF A SUBCOMMITTEE AND I DON'T REMEMBER I DON'T KNOW THAT WELL FOR NOW LET'S IDENTIFY ONE OTHER PERSON FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT LATER IF THE CHAIR CAN'T BE THE COMMITTEE CHAIR SO WE'VE GOT MR. AND MR.. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'D LIKE TO BE ON THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IF YOU LIKE IT? RIGHT. WELL IS BEVERLY ALREADY ON THAT? BEVERLY'S ALREADY ON IT, YEAH. JIM AND MATT RIGHT NOW IT'S JIM BEVERLY AND MYSELF SO I'D LIKE TO IDENTIFY AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON RIGHT NOW AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A DETERMINATION ABOUT THE FOURTH PERSON AFTER WE DECIDE IF THE BOARD CAN BE A COMMITTEE CHAIR. OKAY, MITCHELL OKAY, I'LL GO ON THIS. MITCHELL ON THE CHAIR OKAY. I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK. OKAY. SO WE'LL ADD MS. MITCHELL TO THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE THE REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE HAS MS. DORE CHAIR IT'S GOT MYSELF SO I'LL REMOVE MYSELF AND IT HAS HERBERT MR. FORD I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT IS THAT COMMITTEE STILL NECESSARY? I THINK SO BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT ALL THOSE PRECINCTS THAT ARE CO-LOCATED AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. YEAH AND ALSO DON'T WE HAVE A FEW PRECINCTS THAT ARE I MEAN I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR BY OURSELVES BUT HAVE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE. YES NEWT NEW RIVER ONE HAD 2500 REGISTERED. YES. SO SO I BELIEVE WE STILL NEED IT AND ARE TWO OTHERS THAT ARE OVER 1500 WE'RE LOOKING I DON'T THINK SO WE GOT FOUR BUT WHAT ABOUT MIKE THE REDISTRICTING? OKAY. BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET TO VOTE ON ONE THING, RIGHT? WELL, I'D LIKE TO PUT MIKE ON THE FACILITIES COMMITTEE WITH MR. FORD. OKAY. SO THAT WOULD HIM A SECOND. SO SO FOR REDISTRICTING I PROPOSE MS. DORE REMAINS AS MR. FORD REMAINS IN MR. BACKER JOINS REDISTRICTING PRIMARY REASON IS THAT THE THREE PRECINCTS THAT ARE WELL OVER 1500 ARE ALL IN BLUFFTON YES AREA DOWN SO FAR REDUCED YOU HAVE BEV AS THE CHAIR MR. FORD JIM BECKER IS THERE A FOURTH PERSON? THERE IS NO FOURTH PERSON FOR [00:15:03] ANY VOLUNTEERS WHO VOLUNTEERED. OH VOLUNTEER ME TO ME BECAUSE WE NEED SOMEONE SOMETHING THAT BROUGHT ME AND MR. BACK WE WILL TRY TO DOUBLE TEAM OKAY CAN AND THEN FOUR FACILITIES WE HAVE MR. FORD AS THE CHAIR I'D LIKE YOU TO REMAIN CHAIR PLEASE MR. BACKER IS ON THAT MS. DOOR AND I'D LIKE TO ADD MR. ZWICKY AS THE FOURTH PERSON REPEAT BEFORE AGAIN MR. FORD MR. BACKER, MS. DOOR AND MR. ZWICKY I THINK WE NEED TO GET LIZ ON ANOTHER COMMITTEE. NO I THOUGHT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THREE 2 TO 3 OH COME THREE. OH THAT'S RIGHT YOU'RE ON FINANCE OKAY YOU'RE BUSY ENOUGH . ALL RIGHT. I THINK THE VOTE COULD SHAKE WITH COMMITTEES. WE'LL REVISIT THAT I'M GOING FOR YOU'RE ON FOR REALLY THAT'S HOW MUCH YOU VALUE COMMENTARY WELL IF YOU'RE COUNTING AD HOC THAT GO AWAY SO YOU'RE REALLY ON THREE NOW DON'T TO GET AWAY LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING FACILITIES AND FINALLY DISPIRITING TO SOME FOR EXCLUDING AD HOC YEAH YEAH WHICH ONE OF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON YOUR OWN FOR? I CAN TAKE ONE OF HIS COMMITTEES IF YOU WISH WHEN HE DOESN'T WANT ME AND MR. MAYBE WE SWAP LIZ AND JIM ON LEGISLATIVE BEVERLY SUGGESTED FACILITIES WHERE YOU THINK I CAN FACILITATE FACILITY SO TAKE JIM OFF FACILITIES AND AND PUT LIZ THERE JIM OKAY THANK YOU OKAY SO LET'S PUT OKAY SO JUST TO BE CLEAR FACILITIES IS NOW MR. FORD AS CHAIR MS. JOHNSON MR. AND MR. ZWICKY YEAH. GOT IT. AND REPRESENTING THE OKAY AND THE OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, NO ONE WILL REVISIT THIS WHEN MR. WEDGEWORTH REPLACEMENT IS YEAH . NOW THE NEXT ITEM IS FINANCIAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THIS APPROPRIATE MR. BAXTER WHEN YOU SPEAK TO THIS I CAN HMM. WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS THE BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY ADJUSTED AND THIS IS THE THIS THE BUDGET THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT THE FULL BOARD APPROVED WHAT WE HAVE AS ASSUMPTIONS IN THIS BUDGET ARE POTENTIALLY FOUR ELECTIONS IN FISCAL YEAR 26 THERE ARE TWO TO TOWN ELECTIONS WE'RE IN EMC IN A POTENTIAL RUNOFF. SO THAT'S THREE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS AND ONE STATEWIDE PRIMARY. SO THAT'S THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT'S BUILT INTO THE BUDGET CALCULATIONS AND THE DETAILS HERE. YOU KNOW, ALONG THOSE LINES ASSUMPTIONS ARE ALL ON SOME OF THE JUSTIFICATION AND ASSUMPTIONS ARE ON THE SIDE HERE WITH NO PARTICULARLY THE BIG ITEMS OR SO ON THE SALARIES AND WAGES OR ELECTION SALARIES ARE A POLL WORKERS CLERKS POLL MANAGERS DRIVERS TECHNICIANS PEOPLE THAT'S KIND OF SUPPORTING THE ELECTION AND THAT IS DOWN FROM LAST FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET REQUEST. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON ON THIS FORMAT. I THINK IN PAST REALLY PREVIOUS FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WE TALKED ABOUT KNOW SHOWING PRIOR YEAR ACTUAL AS AT THIS POINT PRIOR YEAR BUDGET IS SOMEWHAT MEANINGLESS IT REALLY SHOULD BE WHAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE SPEND MORE WITH LAST YEAR SO YOU'RE SAYING PRIOR YOUR FORECAST IS LOWER THAN WHAT WAS REQUESTED FOR FY 25 IS THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY INCREASE TO 26? IS IT BECAUSE THE ACTUALS LESS [00:20:02] THAN BUDGETED NUMBER OF ELECTIONS IMPACTED ALSO IS REALLY WHAT IS THE BIGGEST THING THE OTHER PERSONNEL COSTS ARE REALLY FIXED NOT NOT REALLY CONTROLLED BY BY THE BOARD OF OFFICE IT FLOWS DOWN FROM COUNTY EACH OTHER SO THAT THAT IS OF IT'S NOT IT'S NOT REALLY CONTROL BY BY THE OFFICE OTHER THAN IF IS CHANGES THAT WOULD IMPACT HEADCOUNT WE ARE ASSUMING THAT PRINTING COSTS WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT WAS REQUESTED LAST YEAR AND THAT'S JUST DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT'S AN ASSUMPTION THAT THAT WINDOW MADE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS THAT'S THE DRIVER OF BOTH PRINTING AND POSTAGE CLAUSE OR NUMBER OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS THE JIM JIM, I GO BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID EARLIER TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL EXPENDITURE FOR IT FOR 25, IS THAT CORRECT? WE DO IT'S NOT ON THIS. OKAY. THIS FORMAT. OKAY. BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE A BUDGET WE HAVE A FINANCIAL FOR THE END OF THAT RUNS THROUGH THE END OF FISCAL FIVE AND I CAN SHIFT IF YOU LIKE I DON'T HAVE IT IN A FORM THAT WE CAN SHARE EASILY WITH YOU BECAUSE WERE SPECIFIC ITEM A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM THIS REPORT WELL I MISUNDERSTOOD I WAS THINKING THAT NOT IT'S NOT IN THIS FORMAT BUT YOU CAN PROVIDE IT LATER LATER TIME IS OKAY YEAH OKAY. MR. BECKER WE WERE WE WERE MINUS AT LEAST ONE STAFF MEMBER AND DURING THE LAST FISCAL IS THAT POSITION ADDED IN TO THE YEAR AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEMBER FROM VERNON STAFF THAT AT THAT POSITION WOULD THAT WILL FILL SO IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET YES SO BECAUSE YOU AND MARY INTENDS TO FILL THAT POSITION OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. OKAY. SO THAT COSTS IT IS YES, SIR. THANK YOU. NOW HAVE WE HAVE WE LOOKED AT ADDITIONAL STAFF PERSONNEL AS A POTENTIAL FOR FOR THIS COMING POTENTIALLY? WE TALKED ABOUT IT STAFF FELT THAT THEY WERE OKAY WITH THE CURRENT STAFFING AND WOULD CONTINUE TO USE THE TEMPORARY HELP THAT THEY HAVE AS NEEDED DURING ELECTION CYCLES. OKAY SO THESE WERE NO NO NO FIRM PROPOSAL FUNDS FOR ADDITIONAL HEADCOUNT YOU THE NEXT MAJOR LINE ITEM IS MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AND THAT IS THAT COVERS THE COUPLE OF MAJOR BIGGEST BIGGEST ITEM IS WITH E S AND S FOR HARDWARE PARTICULARLY THE 300 SCANNERS AND SOME OTHER IN SOME OTHER COSTS FOR SOFTWARE AND THE OTHER NEW ONE WAS THE BADGE SYSTEM WE HAD THAT WE IMPLEMENTED DURING THIS LAST ELECTION FOR SECURITY PURPOSES THAT HAS THAT HAS AN IMPACT OF ABOUT $26,000. AND WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL HARDWARE THAT WE PURCHASED THAT INCREASED THE SPENDING FOR MAINTENANCE THAT COMES WITH OC AND THERE REALLY IS NO OTHER MAJOR ITEMS THAT DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY FOR FROM LAST YEAR. MR. BECKER IS THIS THE FIRST ROUND OF BUDGET REQUEST THIS HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TODAY RIGHT TO THE COUNTY. I THINK THE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 14 AND SO WE NEED TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD TODAY IF [00:25:05] YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THE DEADLINE SO TODAY'S THE DEADLINE AFTER IT'S YOU BUT THAT'S WHY IT'S COMING IN OF YOU TODAY BECAUSE BEFORE THE DEADLINE WE NEED THE BOARD TO SAY IT'S OKAY. YEAH THAT'S CORRECT BUT TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY THAT THIS DATA CAN BE INPUT INTO THE COUNTY SYSTEM. WE HAVE UNTIL FEBRUARY 14TH TO COMPLETE IT BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BETWEEN THAT DEADLINE AND WHAT'S THE PROCESS AFTER THIS FIRST BUDGET IS SUBMITTED? BUT WE GET TO READ IT INTO THE BUDGET SYSTEM AND THIS IS THE FACT YOU SHOW THE CALENDAR, THE ELECTION I MEAN THE BUDGET WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD. I DID NOT I SHARED IT WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. THAT'S A BUDGET CALENDAR OF WHEN EVERYTHING APPROVED AND THAT IS GOING TO BE REVIEWED. THE DEADLINE FOR EACH ARE FOR PERSONNEL REQUEST WAS ON THE 10TH OF JANUARY. IT OPENS IT BASICALLY WAS TO PUT IT INTO THE SYSTEM THE DEADLINE FOR US TO PUT ON THIS INFORMATION THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY COUNCIL WILL HAVE A REPRIEVE AND I'M NOT SURE I GUESS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OVERALL BUDGET REQUEST I'LL GIVE A COPY OKAY BUT EVERYTHING IS STRATEGICALLY DONE UP UNTIL JUNE FOR FINAL APPROVAL NOW I THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WE WILL DISCUSS THE IDEAS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE SHOOTING AND THAT'S VERY 18TH THROUGH THE 28TH THE MEETING WITH THE FINAL BIDS TO DISCUSS OUR BUDGET WHAT I MEAN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR SUCCESS RATE HISTORICALLY WHAT WE REQUESTED AND WHAT WE RECEIVED? GOOD QUESTION. SO WHAT'S THE ANSWER TO THAT? THE ANSWER IS TYPICALLY WITH US GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF OR HELP OUT HERE WE THINK THAT IF WE GET VERY LITTLE INPUT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THINGS ARE BEING APPROVED CONSIDERED WE DO INCREASE WE ALSO WE WHEN WE HAVE A MEETING WITH I GUESS IT WOULD BE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE MEETING WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THEY WILL BE THE CFO AND I GUESS YOU GET TO SEE WHAT WE WANT AND THEN AFTER THAT WE PRETTY MUCH DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT. THAT'S YOUR QUESTION. RIGHT. AND IS THERE ANY PART OF THIS THAT YOU THINK WE MIGHT BE VULNERABLE THA FOR A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION FROM NOW? I WOULD HOPE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL EXPLAIN TO THEM. THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS PRETTY MUCH THINGS WE NEED WHAT WE LOST SO HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE OUR CASE THAT THEY WON'T REFUSE ANYTHING BUT I KNOW EVERYTHING IN ALL OF THEIR BUDGETS ALL THEIR BUT NOT YOU KNOW THE BOTTOM POCKETS AND GREAT PRIORITY SO ALL WE CAN HOPE IS THAT WE MAKE OUR REQUEST WE ARE OKAY AND HOPEFULLY IF THAT WERE THE FINAL RESULTS THAT THAT WITHIN THOSE MEANS AND IF WE HAD THOSE MEANS WE WILL KNOW THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I'M SURE THEY'LL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DECREASE OR MOVE AROUND FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO TO MAKE UP FOR EXAMPLE WE DID LAST YEAR WITHOUT IT WE CAN'T THIS WITH THE SALARY THAT WAY I HATE TO BE REPETITIVE BUT YEAH I GUESS MY CONCERN IS AND YOU CAN'T ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS IN THE PAST WHEN WE SUBMITTED A BUDGET WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT BUDGET WE FELT PRETTY COMFORTABLE THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE TO GET THAT AWARD 80%, 90%, 100%, 80, 80%. SO MY SECOND QUESTION ALL OF THIS TO YOU, JIM NOT BUT [00:30:06] WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ACQUISITION THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY NEAR ELECTED HAVE WE GOTTEN THAT APPRAISED AND THE WAY THAT IN OUR BUDGET REQUEST I'VE HEARD DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD WE DON'T HAVE A NO PARKING SPACE AT ELECTION CENTRAL AND WE LOOKED AT AT THE RIGHT REQUEST BUT IS THAT OUR BUDGET REQUEST? WELL LET'S SEE I THINK IS A SEPARATE PROCESS FROM THE REGULAR BUDGET. OKAY. AND THAT'S BUT IT IS NOT IN THE THE PRELIMINARY REQUEST FOR THIS IS I DIDN'T SEE THAT MEETING YOU'RE TELLING ME CONTRARY ON THE AND ON SOMETHING I SAW SO HAVE WE INCLUDED THAT AS PART OF OUR STRATEGY TO INCREASE PARKING AT ELECTION CENTRAL OR ARE WE LOOKING AT THAT FOR A DIFFERENT TIME FRAME OR IS THAT EVEN A CONSIDERATION ANY MORE IT NEEDS TO BE SAID SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES CENTERED AROUND SPACE WAS THAT THAT DISCUSSED YOU KNOW THAT BUDGET REQUEST HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED AND WE SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL THAT BELONGS MORE TO WHAT WAS IN IT . OKAY WELL THEN MY QUESTION AND IS THAT IS THAT IS THAT STILL CONSIDERED A STRATEGY THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND IS THERE ANY WAY TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO LOOK AT THAT AS POSSIBILITY FOR US THAT ELECTION AT ELECTION CENTRAL SINCE THAT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS? I BELIEVE SO. MR. FORD. I DON'T THINK IT IS OKAY. IT'S A CAPITAL BUDGET CYCLE. OKAY THANK YOU. BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA WE DON'T HAVE AN APPRAISAL. WE'VE BEEN PLANNING TO GO FORWARD WITH THE REQUEST BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE WE HAVE IT ON OUR LIST OF THINGS. ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IN ELECTION SALARIES WHICH ARE OUR POLL WORKERS WE HAVE CONTINUED TO INCLUDE STATE THE ADDITIONAL STIPEND THAT THE COUNTY HAS COMMITTED TO IN THE POLL WORKER SO MUCH IN SALARIES IN THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST BOARD MEETING UNDER OF THE FOR THE FILE SO RESULTS OF THAT UP OKAY YES IT SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM FACILITY SO DOES THAT MEAN THAT A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE? IT IS ALL WE CAN DO IS PUT A REQUEST OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING HOW OFTEN SO THAT IS TO BE A CFO SO IT'S NOT IN THE NOT THIS YEAR BUT WE SHOULD BE HUGE ON BUT IT'S NOTED THAT WE KNOW THAT IS NEEDED. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE ALL HAD A LITTLE STRIP OF PROPERTY AND NOT EVEN SOMETHING TO LOOK NOW A QUESTION RELATED TO THAT WE SAY IT WAS NOT SUBMITTED BUT I'M ALWAYS SPEAKING FOR MYSELF I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO GET SOMETHING SUBMITTED FOR THE TO GIVE US A YES OR A NO ONE. WE JUST ASSUME IT WILL GO FORWARD OR WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO IT TO GO FORWARD IF WE'RE IF WE'RE DONE WITH REVIEW OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THIS OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 AS SUBMITTED AND WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT LIKE THIS ISN'T CONSIDERED A THIS ISN'T CONSIDERED ONE TO SEE I KNOW THIS IS THIS IS JUST NOT THE CASE BUT IF WE ARE VOTING ON THAT AS THE AS THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET GOING FORWARD I GUESS MY MY LARIN IS IS WHY ISN'T THE [00:35:06] CIP INCLUDED AS PART OF OUR BUDGET? IT'S NOT A KNIFE, IT'S A PROCESS. I KNOW IT'S A SEPARATE BUDGET IS A SEPARATE BUDGET SEPARATE PROCESS AND THE WHOLE PROCESS IS SEPARATE AND STARTS EARLIER IT STARTS I THINK IN NOVEMBER YES THE CITY BUDGET WAS DUE NOVEMBER OF 15 SO YEAH SO IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND ON OUR AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEXT BUDGET SO LET'S HAVE A SOLID LIST OF PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS WITH JUSTIFICATION READY FOR THE NEXT CYCLE. YEAH GOOD SUGGESTION. SOMETHING FOR OUR SECOND CIRCUIT JIM'S MOTION WAS SOMETHING FOR YOU TO KEEP IN MIND. ARE YOU SAYING THERE'S NOTHING FOR US AS COMMISSIONERS TO KEEP IN MIND OR FOR STAFF TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE? WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS DOWN. IT'S A COLLABORATION AND. I'M GLAD THAT ORDER IS HERE BECAUSE IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET DISCUSSION I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PROCESS NOT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT BUT THEN ONCE A PROJECT IS APPROVED PROJECT EXECUTION WHICH IS A CRITICAL ITEM THAT WE THAT WE DO NEED ADDRESS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY OUR PROJECTS ARE NOT GETTING IMPLEMENTED IN OF THE MOTION IN THE SECOND WE BOTH YOU SECONDED OKAY ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THIS DRAFT BUDGET SO I ASK UNANIMOUS OKAY WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE BUDGET WHICH IS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. OKAY. WE HAVE REALLY TWO KEY PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 THAT WERE PROPOSED IN FISCAL YEAR 24 THE GENERATOR AND WINDOWS THAT WERE PROPOSED AND 24 WERE NOT APPROVED IN 24 BUT THEY WERE APPROVED IN 25 AND WE ARE NOW HALFWAY THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 24 AND NO REAL 25 I'M SORRY AND NO ACTUAL WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON EITHER OF THOSE PROJECTS AND THIS IS WHERE I THINK WE NEED SOME HELP FROM YOU ON HOW DO WE MOVE THE ENGINEERING EFFORT FORWARD AND IMPLEMENT IT APPLIES NOT JUST TO THESE PROJECTS, IT APPLIES TO ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS WE'VE GOT WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SUBMITTED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR WHICH HAVE BEEN WINDOWS AND IF THEY GET IN AND IF THEY GET INTO THE SAME BACKLOG OF NOTHING, HOW DO WE HOW DO WE MOVE THEM FORWARD? HOW DO WE GET THEM UP ON A PRIORITY LIST IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AT THE COUNTY SO IT IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER. I THINK ALL OF US IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER WITH ANYTHING FUNNY. SO THAT'S THE ONE AND YOU SEE I SEE IT'S A VERY LENGTHY LIST. SO PART OF THAT PROCESS IS BRINGING THOSE ITEMS ON THAT LIST SAFETY AND ITEMS LIKE THAT SO IT GOES THROUGH PROCESS AS FAR AS YOU KNOW RANKING THE REQUESTS A.S.A.P AND THEN AFTER THAT YOU KNOW, FUNDING THOSE ITEMS SO IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS AND SO YOU KNOW, ENDURING PROCESS BUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS FOR THESE TWO PARTICULAR PROJECTS WERE WHICH WERE APPROVED. SO THE FUNDING FOR AT LEAST THE CAPITAL HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR THE GENERATOR AND FOR THE WINDOWS WAS SIX MONTHS INTO THE YEAR AND THERE'S BASICALLY ZERO TO SO I GUESS FROM THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THEY JUST WEREN'T PRIORITIZED THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY WITHIN THE COUNTY AND IF I MAY ADD THE BALLISTIC IS THIS THAT WHEN THERE'S A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE THAT'S PROTECTION OF LIVES. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNTY CONSIDER LIFE SAFETY ISSUES AS A PRIORITY ONE AND I KNOW BEEN TALKING ABOUT WINDOWS AT A MINIMUM FOR OVER A YEAR SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE AT COUNTY LEVEL TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE SAFETY, I AM MORE THAN WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT MUCH TO ME WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING AND AS FAR AS A GENERATOR IS CONCERNED WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE POTENTIAL [00:40:08] OF LOSING POWER DURING A MAJOR ELECTION AND WE DON'T HAVE A STANDALONE GENERATOR AT THAT BUILDING THE WHOLE ELECTION SYSTEM IS BASICALLY GOING AWAY AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL WOULD WANT THAT TO. SO THESE ARE TWO APPS AND LOCALLY CRITICAL ISSUES IN MY MIND PRIORITY ONE ISSUES THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS TO CONSIDER AND I THINK THAT WE AS COMMISSIONERS ARE MORE HAPPY TO TALK TO ANYBODY AT THE COUNTY LEVEL TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES. SO I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH ANYBODY AT THE COUNTY OR MR. MOORE DIRECTLY TO EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE TWO ISSUES TO US AS COMMISSIONERS AND AS CITIZENS OF BEEF ACCOUNT AND WITH THAT SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO THOSE ARE ALL FOR, YOU KNOW, SAFETY. SO YOU GOT TO FIND THE MONEY SOMEWHERE AND I BELIEVE THAT THE GENERATOR IS IN THE WORKS SO YOU KNOW THOSE THE GENERATOR I FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT THAT THAT IS MY HOW CAN WE GET A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THOSE ITEMS I'LL HAVE A REPORT YOU DO HAVE A REPORT OKAY CAN YOU SHARE WITH US IF YOU DO A DIRECT THIS REPORT? YES, I REALLY DO WANT TO DO IT AGAIN AND. AUDRA, COULD YOU HELP US TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TO DISCUSS THE PRIORITIZATION OUR VIP PROJECTS HOMELAND SECURITY IDENTIFIED ELECTION SYSTEMS AS CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MESSAGE GOT TO WHOMEVER WAS PRIORITIZING THE PROJECTS BUT WE WOULD APPRECIATE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU AND MR. MOORE OR WHOMEVER ELSE YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE. YOU TALKED ABOUT URGENCY OF THESE PROJECTS THAT IN FAR AS THE NEXT CYCLE OF CIP SO AM I TO UNDERSTAND FOR THAT THE THE 27 FINANCIERS 27 C BUDGETS WILL BE FORMED DISCUSSED IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR THAT'S THAT'S THE TIME FOR SUBMISSION WE HAVE THE WORK NEEDS BE DONE IN ADVANCE IDENTIFY THE PROJECTS DESCRIBE THE SCOPE BENEFIT JUSTIFICATION SO MID CALENDAR YEAR THIS WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING AREA AT THE OFFICE AND ANY OTHER IP THAT WE'D LIKE TO HAVE INCLUDED IF NOW THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED IN MARY IF YOU IF OFF BASE HERE PLEASE LET ME KNOW BUT PROJECTS THAT THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR CIP PROJECTS WERE THE STEEL DOORS THE MAGNETIC LOCKS AND WAREHOUSE FLOOR RESURFACING AND THEN THERE WERE COMPANION FRAUD THERE WERE OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE INTENT IS THAT THEY WOULD BE EXECUTED BY OTHER DEPARTMENT SO EXPANDED CAMERA COVERAGE WE WOULD WE EXPECTING THAT TO BE IN THE I.T BUDGET AND ADDITIONAL LIGHTING JUST AT THE JOHN GALT BUILDING IS A FACILITIES DEPARTMENT PROJECT SO WE WERE RESPONSIBLE COORDINATING WITH THOSE DIFFERENT AND SEPARATE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THOSE ITEMS FUNDED AND PART OF OUR BUDGET SUBMISSION PROCESS HOW DOES THAT WORK. IT IS A PART OF THE COUNTY OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS AND LIKE SAID THE CRT PROCESS HAS ALREADY BEGUN. THEY ALREADY MET TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS I DON'T KNOW OUR PROJECT IS IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS AND I DON'T KNOW WE NEVER KNOW. DO YOU KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S US I THINK IT'S A PROCESS IN PROGRESS RIGHT. YEAH SO I TO SAY TO THAT WE ALL HANDS KIND OF TIED WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO THIS WE PUT IN WHAT WE WANT OR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AND IT'S IN THE HANDS OF OTHER FOLKS SHIPMENTS. YES. IN MY TIME ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE I JUST GET THE IMPRESSION THAT SUBMITTING REQUESTS GOES INTO A BLACK HOLE WITH THERE'S NO FEEDBACK NO [00:45:08] INFORMATION ON WHETHER THE PROJECT HAS BEEN KICKED OFF ON WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN I THINK YOU GET YOU GET SOME FEEDBACK OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN APPROVED BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ANYTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF IT ISN'T OF THE MOST URGENT PRIORITY. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT AT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF HOW AND WHY THAT WHOLE PROCESS WORKS. SO IF WE NEED TO HELP SUPPORT MARY HER STAFF TO GET SOMETHING MOVING WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AN IDEA WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT. I AGREE WITH YOU BECAUSE WHAT YOU JUST SAID IT SEEMS AS THOUGH I THINK THE PROBLEM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COUNCIL'S FACILITY FAULT THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOOR. SO MY QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO GET SOME TYPE ANSWERS FROM ALL DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS TO TRY TO GET SOME RESOLUTION BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED IN STATE ELECTION CENTRAL SO I I'M JUST PERPLEXED AS TO HOW MANY SYSTEM OPERATES. WELL I THINK IF MISS AUDRA CAN HELP ARRANGE THAT MEETING FOR US WE CAN INCLUDE THAT AS A DISCUSSION TOPICS OF THE CURRENT DAY AND THE BEST PROCESS. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR REQUESTS ARE BEING HEARD FACILITIES AND I.T AND INCORPORATED AND GET SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT. WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND WITH AUDRA TO SEE I GUESS TO ORGANIZE WHAT WE WANT TO DO I'M SURE WE PROBABLY NEED TO START WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SEE WHERE HE IS WITH ALL OF THIS AND THEN WE CAN GO TO COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER AFTER THAT. BUT I THINK PROTOCOL WOULD BE THE START AT LEAST WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ALL WELL AS AN ACTION ITEM MR. BECKER AND I CAN PREPARE PROPOSED AGENDA FOR A MEETING WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR TO TALK ABOUT, SEE IP AND THE OTHER PROCESSES . AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT CYCLE OF IMPROVEMENT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SINCE ACQUIRING PROPERTY FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING I ASSUME IS UNDER FACILITIES. SO JUST TO GET SOME GUIDANCE FROM FACILITIES ON WHAT WE WOULD NEED IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF DETAIL TO PRESENT TO THEM FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THAT PROPERTY FOR I THINK YOU'VE STATED WHAT I WANTED TO MENTION AND THAT WAS THAT THE FACILITIES CHAIRPERSON SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THAT AGENDA IN MY OPINION ON THE FACILITIES AND YES AGREE AND THAT'S THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT IT WAS A PRIORITY. OKAY NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS VOTING CENTERS FOR FUTURE GENERAL ELECTIONS AND MY EXPECTATION ON THIS TOPIC IS THAT WE DISCUSS IT AT A HIGH LEVEL I DON'T THINK WE'LL MAKE A FIRM DECISION BUT WE CAN TOSS AROUND SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHETHER NOT WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL EARLY VOTING CENTER. I WOULD SAY THAT SINCE 2020 TO ACT 150 CLARIFIED EARLY VOTING NO EXCUSE VOTING SINCE THAT TIME EARLY VOTING HAS 30 TO 35% OF TOTAL BALLOTS CAST THE 24 GENERAL ELECTION WAS AN EXCEPTION AT 60%. THE BALLOTS CAST ALMOST TWICE WHAT WE SAW IN THE PREVIOUS AND THAT REALLY HIGH TURNOUT FOR EARLY VOTING I BELIEVE IS ATTRIBUTED TO FOUR ITEMS. ONE, IT WAS A CONTESTED ELECTION BUT QUITE FRANKLY EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS HIGHLY CONTESTED. NUMBER TWO, BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES PROMOTED EARLY. THAT WAS UNPRECEDENTED. NUMBER I THINK THAT THE WEATHER INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED IN FLORIDA AND NORTH CAROLINA PRIOR TO THE ELECTION GAVE SOME SENSE OF URGENCY TO PEOPLE TO VOTE WHILE THEY CAN. AND THE FOURTH ITEM IS THAT VOTERS IN BEFORE COUNTY HAD A LONG MEMORY OF THE LONG LINES IN 2022 ON ELECTION DAY SO MANY THEM SOUGHT TO VOTE EARLY. SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHETHER IT WILL CONTINUE AT 60% EARLY VOTING RATE GOING FORWARD OR IF THIS WAS AN ANOMALY. MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT IF [00:50:03] IT WAS AN ANOMALY AND THAT EARLY VOTING WILL GO BACK TO THE 30 TO 40% RANGE I'M BUT WE NEED TO EVALUATE ALL SCENARIOS IN FUTURE AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE A HIGH TURNOUT RATE EARLY VOTING AGAIN OKAY THANK YOU. SO WE ONLY HAVE 10 MINUTES LEFT HERE. SO I DID PREPARE FOR EVERYBODY A CHART SHOWING HOW COUNTY COMPARES TO REST OF SOUTH CAROLINA WITH OUR CURRENT FOUR EARLY VOTING CENTER SCENARIO AND A HYPOTHETICAL FIVE EARLY VOTING CENTER SCENARIO. YOU CAN SEE THAT COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE STATE. WE'RE ABOVE AVERAGE IN TERMS OF EARLY VOTING AS A PERCENT OF OVERALL TURNOUT. WE'RE ALSO HIGH HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE FOR REGISTERED VOTERS FOR EARLY VOTING PER I'M SORRY REGISTERED VOTERS PER EARLY VOTING CENTER. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAND AREA WE ARE BELOW AVERAGE SOUTH CAROLINA FOUR SQUARE MILEAGE PER EARLY VOTING CENTER WHICH MEANS THAT OUR VOTERS DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL AS FAR GEOGRAPHICALLY TO GET TO AN EARLY VOTING CENTER. SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT A FEW THINGS INCLUDING THE RESOURCES THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO SET UP A FIFTH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SOURCES THOSE RESOURCES. WE WOULD ALSO TO LOOK AT WHAT'S THE BEST LOCATIONS GEOGRAPHICALLY AND THEN MORE SPECIFICALLY FACILITY WOULD BE SUITABLE AND I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE THROUGHPUT OF THE EXISTING EARLY VOTING WE HAVE AND I KNOW THAT THE BUDGET FOR NEXT INCLUDES SOME TABLES THAT WILL ALLOW HIGHER DENSITY OF BALLOT MARKING DEVICES WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THROUGHPUT AT EXISTING EARLY VOTING CENTERS. SO GIVEN THAT WE REALLY ONLY HAVE THE ROOM FOR FIVE MORE MINUTES, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE TAKE LOOK AT THOSE THREE THINGS SO RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADD A FIFTH EARLY VOTING CENTER WAYS THAT WE COULD IMPROVE THE THROUGHPUT THROUGH EXISTING EARLY VOTING CENTERS AND JUST A BALLPARK WHAT LOCATION WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR A FIFTH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND ANY DECISION WE MAKE WOULD REALLY BE FOR THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION AND NOT FOR ANYTHING YEAR. WILL THEY HAVE COMMENTS ON THIS EARLY VOTING CENTER AND LOVE IS THAT THAT THE ROAD ON THE ROAD FACILITY SO WHAT IS WOULD IT BE MORE CENTRALLY LOCATED IF YOU HAD IT AT FACILITY OFF OF THE PORTRAYAL OF VOTER WALTER BUCHWALD MAYBE ACTUALLY SO I PROPOSED THOSE TOPICS. I THINK WE CAN ASSIGN THEM TO SOME COMMITTEES REPRESENTING CRAPS COULD LOOK AT THE BEST GEOGRAPHIC AND THE BEST FACILITY IF WE WERE TO DO A FIFTH EARLY VOTING CENTER AND IF STAFF COULD WORK ON THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR A FIFTH CENTER AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THROUGH EXISTING EARLY VOTING CENTERS WE CAN REVIEW THROUGH THE RE PRECINCT COMMITTEE SHOULD WE NOT FIRST LOOK AT THE EFFICIENCY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CURRENT VOTING EARLY VOTING? I THINK IT'S ABOUT IMPROVING THE THROUGHPUT. YES, RIGHT OKAY. I SEE THAT YOU SAID WHAT WE COULD DO TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING VOTING CENTERS. BUT MY QUESTION IS THE STATUS THE REPORTING ON HOW EFFECTIVE THOSE WERE TO BE IN TERMS OF MANAGING THE NUMBER OF VOTERS? YES. IN A TIMELY MANNER. OKAY. I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE THROUGHPUT DISCUSSION? OH, TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT EFFICIENCY AND HOW IT COULD BE IMPROVED EFFICIENCY WHAT I WAS LIKE AND HOW WE COULD IMPROVE THAT BECAUSE THEN WE WOULD HAVE A BASELINE AND FROM THERE WE COULD GO TO HOW CAN IMPROVE A GREAT ALL RIGHT LET'S GO ON TO A DIRECTOR'S REPORT NOT ME THIS [VI. Director’s Report] KIND YEAH IT'S IT'S QUICK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME THANK YOU WHAT I WHAT I OUTLINED IN THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT BECAUSE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION I TRIED TO RESEARCH ALL OF PROPOSALS PRE FILE LEGISLATION THAT'S [00:55:10] INTRODUCED RELATED TO ELECTIONS AND I HAVE IN YOUR REPORT THAT KRIS IS HANDING OUT AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ALL OF THEM. I'M JUST GOING TO BRING YOUR TO THE ONES THAT IDENTIFIED AS INITIATIVE THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE FOR SCALE THE PRE FILED LEGISLATION BY SENATOR KEMPSON NUMBER S 36 ON PAGE 20 F 36 F 30 70I GOT 37 AND IT'S 38 IF I'M NOT TO 20 SO IN THE BACK ANYWAY THE ONES THAT ARE PROMOTING SCALE SO SO YOU ALL CAN GO THROUGH THAT AND ALSO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LEGISLATION RELATED TO ELECTIONS YOU CAN GO TO THE STATE HOUSE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN ALL OF THAT THE SESSION FOR THIS THE GENERAL SESSION JUST STARTED ON YES YESTERDAY SO WE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO SO WHAT WE NEED US TO DO IF WE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH SCALES PRIORITY IS TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT SUPPORTING SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CHANGES IN ELECTION LAWS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE VOTERS AND AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS COMMON SENSE THINGS OKAY. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION GO AHEAD, CHRIS . GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO, GO PASS ALL OF THAT. OKAY. THESE ARE UPCOMING ELECTION YOU KNOW, FOR NOVEMBER IT'S GOING TO BE OUR FIRST ELECTION. WE'LL HAVE TWO MUNICIPAL THREE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. OF COURSE THE TIME THE MSI IS PRETTY MUCH HANDLED BY HAMPTON COUNTY SO WE HAVE A SMALL VERY SMALL ROLE IN THAT BUT THE BIG ELECTION GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR US WILL BE THE STATEWIDE IN JUNE. WOW. SO WE'VE GOT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND EXCUSE ME, MARY, IF THE COUNTY TO DECIDE AS I THINK THEY DID IN 2021 TO HAVE SOME REFERENDA QUESTIONS IN NOVEMBER WHEN WOULD WE BE MADE OF THAT BY AUGUST LIKE AUGUST 15TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THAT'S THAT'S THE OFFICIAL DROP DEAD DATE. HOW ABOUT ABOUT PRIOR TO THAT? YOU KNOW THERE WERE ARE YOU AWARE OF WHETHER THE COUNTY IS COMING UP WITH ANY QUESTIONS TO PUT I'M NOT AWARE AUDRA ARE YOU ARE THEY HAVING ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ANOTHER PROPOSAL AS REFERENDUM QUESTION ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT? NOT AWARE. OKAY. OKAY WE HAVE SOME PROPOSALS TRAINING DATES FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR THAT'S ON THE BOARD IS HARD TO SEE BUT IT'S ALSO ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF YOUR REPORT. GO AHEAD CHRIS WANTS TO KNOW THE STATUS OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET REQUEST FOR 2025. WE TALKED ABOUT THE GENERAL ORDER AND THE LAST REPORT THAT WE GOT WAS THAT THE DESIGN WORK IS IN PROGRESS AND. I'M ASSUMING THAT MEANS THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY HAVE TO DO SOME ELECTRICAL EVALUATION OF OUR BUILDING I GUESS TO SUPPORT THE GENERATOR ITSELF AND ALL OF THAT GOING TO BE SET OUT TO BIDS. WELL WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE WINDOWS THEY SAY IT SHOULD START THIS WEEK SO WHICH MEANS ARE PURCHASING MANAGER DIRECTOR SHOULD BE PUTTING BID SPECS FOR THE PROJECTS. I KNOW WE ALL ARE A LITTLE BIT [01:00:11] DISAPPOINTED THAT IT HADN'T ALREADY BUT WE DON'T CONTROL IT SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT GO AHEAD. OH LET'S GO BACK FOR A MINUTE AND. I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF MR. FORD SO THAT WE CAN ON RECORD WHEN I WHEN I THINK ABOUT BALLISTIC RESISTANT WINDOWS AND THAT WE WERE HOPING HAVE IT IN PLACE BY THE NOVEMBER ELECTION I THINK WE ALL KIND OF TOOK WE WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THAT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AND I THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN I WOKE UP ON NEW YEAR'S DAY AND HEARD THE NEWS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW ORLEANS BECAUSE PROJECT DELAYS I MEAN LIVES WERE LOST AND I DON'T ANYBODY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THINGS LIKE THIS UNTIL SOMETHING DRASTIC HAPPENED AND I HOPE THAT NOTHING DRASTIC EVER HAPPEN. BUT WE SHOULD BE PROACTIVE IN IN PROVIDING SAFETY FOR OUR STAFF AND ALL THE WORKERS AND EVEN AT THE POLLING LOCATIONS IT'S NOT JUST SOMETHING TO SAY. IT'S A REALITY AND SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT THAT PRIORITY WHEN IT COMES TO PRIORITY OBVIOUSLY OUR IS NOT THE SAME AS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THE BUT I THINK THAT THE STEPS THAT WE ARE TAKING PROPOSING TO TAKE AND IN BRINGING THAT TO THEIR THAT IT COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH AND IT'S NOT JUST ELECTIONS LIKE PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY IT'S JUST ELECTIONS. IT'S NOT JUST ELECTIONS YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL TOP JUST LIKE PUBLIC AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WHEN WHEN WE HAD COVID AND EVERYBODY SHUT DOWN WE COULDN'T DOWN WE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAD TO BE ON THE JOB JUST LIKE THEY WERE SO PEOPLE JUST NEED TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ELECTIONS AUDRA MAKE THEM KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST ELECTIONS. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S MY SOAPBOX. THIS LAST LITTLE SLIDE HERE I THINK IT'S THE LAST ONE WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT SOME THE THINGS PROGRESS OVER THE OVER THE YEAR OF ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NOT ALL THE THINGS THIS IS JUST TO NAME A FEW THE NUMBER OF VOTER THAT WE PROCESSED THE NUMBER OF VOTER REGISTRATION CHANGES THE, NUMBER OF ELECTIONS WE CONDUCTED THE COMMUNITY JEAN MENTIONED THE COMMUNITY FORUMS AND EDUCATION OUTREACH WE DID 32 OF THOSE SESSIONS EVENTS AND HOW MANY ON THAT MAIL BALLOT THAT WE PROCESS FOR FOR THE PEOPLES THE PRIMARIES, THE SPECIAL ELECTION AND THE GENERAL ELECTION SO YOU KNOW THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON ALL THE TIME I KNOW PEOPLE THINK WE DON'T WE ONLY WORK ELECTION DAY BUT WE ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING. YES, SIR. AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. VERY INFORMATIVE BUT UNDER THE VOTER EDUCATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS WHERE THERE WERE 32 EVENTS, DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED? WE HAVE SOME STATS I BELIEVE BUT WE DIDN'T VERY GOOD RECORDS. WE WERE JUST HAPPY THAT PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR ME I SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE COMMISSION BUT FOR ME IT'D BE INTERESTING KNOW IF YOU DID 32 EVENTS HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE REALLY REACH IN IN ATTENDANCE? NO, I DON'T THINK WHEN WE DO THE NEXT GO ROUND WE WILL KEEP A BETTER TRACK RECORD. BUT SOME EVENTS WERE I MEAN WE HAD A ROOMFUL OF EVENTS WE MAY HAVE HAD FIVE SOME EVENTS WE HAD TWO OF THEM. SO IT'S IT A WIDE SPECTRUM BUT IF ONE PERSON CAME IN LEARN SOMETHING WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR MISSION LIKE TO INTERJECT THAT WE HAD ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR THAT CAME TO US SAYING WELL ENOUGH OUTREACH AND SHE RECRUITED WHAT ABOUT 20 POLL WORKERS? IT'S MORE THAN THAT. YES. SHE RECRUITED A BUNDLE OF ALL GREAT. AND I THINK THAT IT WAS EFFECTIVE REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT ABOUT 25 PEOPLE SHOWED UP. THE NUMBER THAT SHE BROUGHT IN WAS TREMENDOUS OR 83 WHERE IT SAYS VOTER REGISTRATION REGISTRATION CHANGES IS THAT THINGS LIKE ADDRESS CHANGES I [01:05:06] MEAN WHAT DOES THAT ENCOMPASS ADDRESS CHANGES, NAME CHANGES, THINGS LIKE THAT. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT AND I WANTED TO VERIFY. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, I THINK WE NEED TO GIVE UP CHAMBERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE DIRECTOR? [VII. Closing Comments] NO, THANK YOU. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE CONFERENCE. I THINK I'M SO EXCITED YOU GUYS ARE GOING WONDERFUL. OKAY, SOME OF BUT THIS WILL BE YOUR FIRST CONFERENCE. I'M HOPING THAT YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE DO IN OUR ORGANIZATION OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS YOU WILL LEARN SOMETHING IF THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR FIRST GO AROUND YOU WILL GET TO NETWORK WITH OTHER PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE STATE AND YOU ALSO A CHANCE TO MEET SOME OF OUR LEGISLATORS THAT WILL PREPARE. [VIII. Announcements] OKAY. THANK YOU MS. SMALL'S ANNOUNCEMENTS THE ETHICS FORMS ARE DUE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA ETHICS COMMISSION WEBSITE ON MARCH 28TH SO ESPECIALLY THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. SO AGAIN, MR. COOPER, IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT BEFORE SURE ONE OF US CAN HELP YOU. IT'S NOT ONEROUS BUT MAKE SURE YOU DO THAT ON TIME. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 26 AT 2 P.M. HERE IN COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WITH THAT THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. 1136 * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.