Jan 27, 2025 Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY. BEAUFORT COUNTY.

[00:00:27]

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

WE CAN EVERYONE JUST RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

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.

AND THIS MEETING HAS BEEN SENT OUT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FOIA.

[3. STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FOIA]

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

ANY MORE DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, WE'LL APPROVE IT WITHOUT OBJECTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? I DO NOT SEE ANY OBJECTION.

SO LET'S MOVE ON THEN. TO APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - November 25, 2024]

APPROVE THOSE? CERTAINLY DO THAT. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. AND A SECOND FROM MISS BROWN. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? SEEING NO DISCUSSION, WE WILL APPROVE THOSE. WITHOUT OBJECTION.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION TO APPROVING THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25TH, 2024? I SEE NO OBJECTION. SO THEY WILL BE APPROVED.

AND I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR CITIZENS COMMENTS IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE.

[6. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD - 15 MINUTES TOTAL]

IF THERE'S NO CITIZENS COMMENTS, WE WILL THEN MOVE FORWARD THEN TO NUMBER SEVEN ON OUR AGENDA.

[7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER REPORT]

AND THIS MIGHT BE YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL TIME COMING BEFORE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. KIND OF MY FIRST TIME.

OH, THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO. WELL AS REQUESTED IN THE LAST FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE PREPARED SOME GENERAL FUND REVENUES. YEAR TO DATE. THIS WAS AS OF MID-JANUARY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, AD VALOREM IS TRENDING PRETTY GOOD.

WE'RE AT 66% FOR COLLECTIONS, LICENSES AND PERMITS ARE A LITTLE LOW.

I'M SURE THAT VARIES FROM THE FISCAL YEAR, DUE DATES AND SO FORTH.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS OR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE IS KIND OF LOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAD POSTED SECOND QUARTER YET.

SO ALL OF OUR OUR OVERALL TOTAL REVENUE IS AT 61% TO DATE.

OOPS. SORRY. GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. I DID THIS BY FUNCTION SO THAT YOU COULD SEE WHAT EACH INDIVIDUAL FUNCTION.

I KIND OF PRESENTED IT TO YOU IN A WAY THAT WAS SUMMARIZED AND NOT SHOWING YOU EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM IN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DRILL DOWN DEEPER IF YOU WOULD LIKE, BUT GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS AT 47%, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.

THAT'S MOST OF YOUR GENERAL FUND. AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT 52.

AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF THESE ARE TRENDING PRETTY HALFWAY THROUGH AS IT'S MID-YEAR.

SO OVERALL, THE GENERAL FUND IS AT 49% OF EXPENDITURES.

SO WE'RE TRENDING PRETTY GOOD. I'M PRETTY GOOD.

I'M MOVING THROUGH THE YEARS. YEARS. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE DOING A QUICK OVERVIEW OF ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AND THESE ARE THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS REVENUES. THE FIRST ONE IS SOLID WASTE.

WE'RE ABOUT 47%, WHICH LOOKS TO BE JUST ABOUT RIGHT.

STORMWATER. DOING GOOD. I THINK THEY'RE A LITTLE HIGHER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I THINK THEY HAD SOME CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT THEY HAD.

BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IS A LITTLE LOW. IT'S AT 17%.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT HILTON HEAD AIRPORT, WHICH IS RIGHT AT 52%.

SO IT'S LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. PRETTY GOOD. LET'S SEE.

GO AHEAD. YES. GO AHEAD. JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING OR WILL BE WATCHING IN THE FUTURE, WOULD YOU DESCRIBE TO THEM ENTERPRISE FUNDS VERSUS OTHER FUNDS? ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE WHERE WE RECORD IN GOVERNMENT OUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES.

I'M NOT GIVING YOU THE QUOTE RIGHT OUT OF THE THEIR DICTIONARY, BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHERE WE WOULD RECORD ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, ENTERPRISE FUNDS. AND THERE'S VARIOUS DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

[00:05:02]

AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THESE FOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. WE USED TO HAVE AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROPRIETARY FUND, WHICH IS ALSO RECORDED THE SAME WAY. DOES THAT HELP? HERE'S THE SAME. BUT EXPENDITURES. SO SOLID WASTE IS TRENDING RIGHT AT 50%.

STORMWATER IS ACTUALLY UNDER AT 33%. AND THEN WE'VE GOT BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT AT 21%.

AND THEN HILTON HEAD AIRPORT IS RIGHT AT 41. SO THEY'RE TRAINING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.

BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS KIND OF A LOWER BALANCE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE SOME FUND TRANSFERS HAVEN'T OCCURRED YET AND SOME CAPITAL EXPENDITURES HAVEN'T OCCURRED YET.

AND ALSO AT THE LAST FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE WAS A REQUEST FOR MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES.

AND HERE IS A SUMMARY. I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERYTHING OUT TO YOU.

I KIND OF TYPED UP YOUR COMMENTS TO THE RIGHT.

AND FULL DISCLOSURE, NO, WE'RE NOT IN THE HOLD.

MUNIS RECORDS REVENUES IN A NEGATIVE NUMBER. SO THIS IS ALL REVENUES.

IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT OUR FINANCIAL ERP RECORD RECORDS IT.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE I'M TRYING TO READ THAT REALLY SMALL BACK THERE.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF REVENUES THAT COME IN THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS MISCELLANEOUS.

WE'VE GOT THE FOIA PAYMENTS IN THE FIRST LINE ITEM.

WE'VE GOT HEALTH INSURANCE AND PENSION. WE KEEP THOSE SEPARATE BECAUSE PBA OBVIOUSLY RETIREMENT AND OUR SELF SELF-FUNDED INSURANCE FUND.

WE HAVE INSURANCE RESERVE FUND WHERE WE RECEIVE WE KEEP LEGAL SEPARATE THAN ALL THE OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES THAT WE RECEIVE.

WE HAVE ONE IN VOTERS REGISTRATION FOR STATE REIMBURSEMENTS FROM ELECTIONS.

AND THEN MAPPING AND GIS HAS ONE FOR MAP SALES WHEN THEY'RE PRODUCING MAPS ALL OVER THE COUNTY FOR WHOEVER WE HAVE THE VEHICLE ONE UNDER RISK MANAGEMENT BECAUSE THAT'S WHO MANAGES OUR RISK, OUR INSURANCE POLICIES.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT ONE SEPARATED OUT FOR GARAGE BECAUSE GARAGE HAS VARIOUS DIFFERENT REVENUE SOURCES THAT THEY GENERATE REVENUE FROM.

SO WE LIKE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE. I THINK THAT WAS ALREADY CREATED PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY USED TO BE IN AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, WHICH AGAIN IS ANOTHER TYPE OF PROPRIETARY FUND.

AND WE ALSO KEEP THE SHERIFF'S STUFF DIFFERENT BECAUSE HE'S GOT A HE'S UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE LIKE TO KEEP HIS DIVISION SEPARATE.

SO SOMETIMES THEY UTILIZE THOSE REVENUES IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THEIR BUDGET.

SO OH, AND OUR LAST SLIDE IS AN UPDATE OF OUR 2025 BOND ISSUANCE. WE HAD OUR FINAL CALL I THINK THE TUESDAY MORNING WE WERE CLOSING.

SO WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING TO BE ISSUING THE 68.6 MILLION TOTAL.

WE HAVE A $3.2 MILLION IN A PREMIUM. OUR FINAL TRUE INTEREST COST IS GOING TO BE 3.9, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT 0.25% LESS THAN WHAT WE HAD PREDICTED PREVIOUSLY.

WE WERE PREDICTING 4.16. SO THIS IS GREAT. OUR OFFICIAL CLOSING DATE FOR THE BOND BOND ISSUANCE WILL BE FEBRUARY 6TH.

SO AS HE PUT RIGHT THERE, NO MONEY IN THE BANK UNTIL THE SIXTH.

SO AS WE KNOW, THIS IS PART OF THE ISSUANCE THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN APPROVED AND DISCUSSED.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS HARRIET? NO. THANKS FOR THE UPDATE. SURE. I'M GOING TO COVER.

OH, WAIT. I GOT TO GO BACK TO BUDGET TRANSFERS.

VALERIE IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT IT DOES NOT WANT TO KNOW.

WELL, LET ME GO BACK ONE DAY WITH A SPREADSHEET.

YEAH, I HAVE IT, BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR IT. IS IT NOT IN THIS? I HAVE MY COPY, BUT I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WANTED TO SEE IT.

KEEP GOING. TELL ME WHAT THE OTHER.

OH, IT'S. IT'S BEFORE THE POWERPOINT. IT'S IN THE BACKUP.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S IN THE BACKUP. I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY IT WAS IN.

WELL, WHILE SHE'S FINDING THAT IT IS YOUR BUDGET TRANSFER RECAP FOR SINCE THE DECEMBER FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.

THIS WHEN IT GETS TO BE MID-YEAR. THERE WE GO.

THAT'S KIND OF SMALL, BUT IT'S IN YOUR BACKUP.

TOWARDS THE MID-YEAR. A LOT OF TRANSFERS OCCUR, SO WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU A DATE.

THE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRM ACCOUNT, THE TWO ACCOUNT.

AND A BRIEF JUSTIFICATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR TRANSFER.

[00:10:03]

ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. AND OBVIOUSLY MISS HARRIET WILL BE GIVING US A A OFFICER'S REPORT AT MOST OF OUR FINANCE MEETINGS. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHENEVER SHE COMES FORWARD? I THINK THIS IS PRETTY THOROUGH. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TODAY.

APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON TO NUMBER EIGHT ON OUR AGENDA.

[8. PROCUREMENT UPDATE]

MR. THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. EVERYBODY. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M GLAD THE WEATHER IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

I JUST WANTED TO BASICALLY GO OVER THREE AREAS.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE TALKED ABOUT THESE AREAS, BUT ONE IS THE P-CARD PROGRAM, THE THE PROCUREMENT POLICY MANUAL THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUT ON THE STREET YET AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DUES AND WHAT I CALL BASICALLY CONSOLIDATING THE ACCOUNTS. SO I KIND OF WANTED TO GO OVER THAT.

SO IF YOU CAN GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

WONDERFUL. TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE P-CARD PROGRAM.

IT'S A BIG TEAM EFFORT. YOU KNOW, IT TAKES STAFF, THE PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR, THE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR GETS INVOLVED, THE DEPARTMENT HEADS GET INVOLVED. THE EMPLOYEES ACTUALLY WANT OR REQUIRE A CARD FOR THEIR JOB.

GET INVOLVED. AND IT ALL WORKS OFF OF TWO SYSTEMS THE BANK OF AMERICA SOFTWARE AND THE MUNIS SOFTWARE.

THE BANK OF AMERICA SOFTWARE BASICALLY ACTS AS OUR WAY TO REQUEST CARDS TO PUT IN OUR DATA FOR BUDGET. AND THEN ONCE THAT AND IT BASICALLY COORDINATES WITH BANK OF AMERICA, EVERYTHING WE SPEND PROVIDES US REPORTS AND SENDS IT BACK TO US. THE MUNIS PART IS WHERE WE GET THE BANK OF AMERICA SOFTWARE TO ACTUALLY TALK TO MUNIS, AND KEEPS OUR BUDGET ON TRACK WITH WHAT WE SPENT.

SO I KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT KIND OF SIGHT PICTURE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE 173 CARDS OUT THERE THAT WE MANAGE.

THAT'S NOT TOO BAD FOR THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE, AND WE USE THE CARD FOR A LOT OF AREAS TRAVEL OFFICE SUPPLIES, SMALL PURCHASES UNDER $1,500.

BUT I DID WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO USE IT FOR LARGE ITEMS LIKE PAYING UTILITIES, AND THE REASON WHY WE DO THAT IS SO WE CAN GET THAT REBATE.

AND EVERY YEAR OUR REBATE HAS GONE UP. WE DON'T USE THE CARD, BUT WE USE THE ELECTRONIC PAYMENT THROUGH THE BANK OF AMERICA CARD SYSTEM.

WHAT THAT DOES IS LIKE THIS YEAR FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE GOT $27,000 BACK THAT WE COULD BACK PUT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

SO I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT'S KIND OF HOW SOME OF THE SYSTEM WORKS.

WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE UPDATED THE NEW CARD MANUAL.

IT'S IN OUR STAFF'S INTRANET, SHAREPOINT WHERE THEY CAN GO IN AND THEY CAN THEY CAN READ IT, REVIEW IT. WE HAVE WE HAVE WE'VE GOT THAT ON THE SYSTEM, BUT WE, WE HAVE NOT FINISHED WITH THE VIDEO. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE A NICE VIDEO SO THEY CAN LOOK, IT'S IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

AND ALSO WE HAVE NOT FINISHED WITH THE ACTUAL EXAM.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO READ THE CURRENT MANUAL.

THEY'RE REQUIRED TO SIGN OFF ON THAT CONTRACT THAT MAKES THEM SAY THAT, HEY, I AM AWARE THAT I CAN ONLY USE THIS P CARD FOR BUSINESS PURCHASES.

AND WE OUTLINE AND I'M NOT GOING TO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE DOCUMENT BECAUSE IT'S IN YOUR PACKET.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT WE CAN GO TO EACH CHAPTER.

WE TRY TO MAKE IT EASY. SO WE'RE IT'S ONLY 11 PAGES.

THE FIRST PAGE IS JUST A COVER PAGE. THE REST ARE TEN PAGES.

BUT IT EXPLAINS BASICALLY THE AREAS THAT NEED TO BE COVERED.

YOU KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE, WHO'S INVOLVED, WHO APPROVES IT, HOW IT WORKS, WHO TO CONTACT, WHAT FORMS TO FILL OUT. BECAUSE LIKE I WAS SAYING, WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW ELECTRONIC FORMS THAT WE USE TO KEEP, BECAUSE WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THOSE, IT GIVES US A MATTER OF RECORD.

WE CAN GO IN AND CHECK THAT LIBRARY TO SAY, YES, THAT PERSON HAS BEEN BRIEFED, THAT PERSON HAS TAKEN A TEST.

THAT PERSON HAS SIGNED OFF ON THAT CONTRACT. THAT SAID, THEY WILL USE THAT P CARD, WHICH WILL BE IN LINE WITH OUR POLICY.

SO THAT'S SOME OF THE THINGS WE GOT GOING ON.

YES, MA'AM. AND I'M GOING TO GET INTO HOW HOW THE WORKFORCE, HOW THE CARD IS, IS BEING APPROVED OR HOW THEY GET IT.

THEY FILL OUT A P CARD REQUEST FORM THROUGH THEIR DEPARTMENT.

[00:15:01]

IT GOES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, GOES THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC APPROVAL PROCESS, COMES TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

THEY REVIEW IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WITHIN WHATEVER LEVEL OR THRESHOLD.

BECAUSE AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE ARE SET AT $1,500 MONTHLY AND ONLY A COUPLE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE HIRING THAT LIKE OUR LIBRARY, BECAUSE THEY BUY A LOT OF SUBSCRIPTIONS AND VIDEOS, AND OUR DSN IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF FOOD FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES OR EXCUSE ME, FOR THEIR PEOPLE THEY TAKE CARE OF.

SO IT GOES THROUGH THE SIGNING PROCESS. THEN IT GOES.

SO ONCE THAT IS APPROVED, WE MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH HR SINCE THEY'VE BEEN VARYING.

KUDOS TO KATHRYN MEAD AND AMBER BLACK AND MY NEW ADMINISTRATOR.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT VIDEO AND A NEW TEST.

BUT IT'S ALL GOING TO GO THROUGH HR AS WELL. SO WE HAVE A MATTER OF RECORD.

AND THAT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE IS NOT GIVEN A CARD UNTIL THEY'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN THE TEST AND PASSED.

THEY MUST, YOU KNOW, THEY MUST PASS IT BY 80%.

ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT, THEY HAVE TO BE RETRAINED AND TAKE THE TEST AGAIN. SOUNDS LIKE INTERNAL REVENUE.

YES. YES, MA'AM. I HEAR YOU. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M COVERING EVERYTHING.

QUESTION HAS A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. IN THERE.

YOU HAD MINOR AND MAJOR VIOLATIONS.

IT WOULD BE LOOKED AT A LOT HARDER IN OUR JOB AS GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONALS IS JUST TO CATCH IT.

AND THEN THE ACTUAL DECISION ON WHATEVER IS GOING TO HAPPEN LEGALLY OR THROUGH HR WILL BE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION.

WE'LL JUST DO THE INVESTIGATION, MAKE IT A MATTER OF RECORD, BRING IT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S VENUE FOR HIS APPROVAL.

BUT WE KIND OF MADE IT THE WAY WE WROTE IT IS KIND OF LIKE THREE STRIKES.

YOU'RE OUT. BECAUSE EVEN SINCE THIS SUMMER, ONLY, ONLY MINOR MISTAKES WE'VE HAD IS SOMEBODY NEEDING TO PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR CARD IN A COUNTY VEHICLE, AND OR THEY PULLED OUT THE WRONG ONE AND PAID FOR IT WITH GAS WITH THAT CAR.

SO WE WENT THROUGH THE RATIFICATION PROCESS AND MADE SURE IT WAS COVERED AND AND AND TRACKED.

THANK YOU. SO WE DO HAVE THE PROCESSES THAT ARE TRACKING THAT NOW.

IT'S ALL ELECTRONIC. YOU CAN ALL SEE IT IN THE LIBRARY.

AND IF YOU WANT REPORTS WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE A LITTLE BIT LATER.

YES, MA'AM. QUESTION. YOU SAID WE HAVE 170 £0.03 CARDS AT THIS TIME.

IS IT MORE OR LESS THAN LAST YEAR? I BELIEVE THAT HAS LESS THAN LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE HAD LIKE 200 PLUS LAST YEAR. SO IT HAS GONE DOWN.

SO WE REALLY ASKED THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR STAFF AND SAY, HEY, DO YOU REALLY NEED. DOES THAT PERSON REALLY NEED A P CARD? NOW KEEP IN MIND WE DO WHEN THEY GO ON TRAVEL, IF AN EMPLOYEE DOES GO ON TRAVEL, IT IS EASIER FOR THEM IF THEY HAVE THEIR OWN P CARD TO USE AS A TRAVEL CARD TO PAY FOR THE REGISTRATION, PAY FOR THE HOTEL, AND SO ON.

BUT THEY THEY DO GET PER DIEM, SO THEY DON'T NEED THEIR P CARD FOR THAT.

BUT BACK TO YOUR QUESTION. I LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT HERE.

IT'S MAINLY USED FOR BUYING OFFICE SUPPLIES, SMALL ITEMS. WE DO USE IT FOR COUNTY COUNCIL WHEN THEY GO TO THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCES.

AND CHERYL HARRIS I MEAN, SHE SHE'S GOT I THINK SHE'S GOT LIKE $10,000 ON HER CARD BECAUSE IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO GO TO THOSE CONFERENCES.

SO WE MADE SURE THAT WE HAD HER LEVEL SET APPROPRIATELY.

OKAY. I HAD AT THIS POINT BASICALLY NOT TO SHOW YOU THE P CARD MANUAL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY UNLESS YOU WANT TO PICK OUT CHAPTERS, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT'S ONLY 11 PAGES, BUT IT DOES, YOU KNOW, POINT OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITIES.

IT TELLS THEM BASICALLY THE WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY MAKE A VIOLATION.

IT TELLS THEM THE DO'S AND DON'TS OR WHAT THEY CAN BE USED FOR.

SO I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD DOCUMENT. BY ALL MEANS, IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, IF SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT, WE CAN MAKE THOSE CHANGES, BUT IT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY OUR LEGAL COUNSEL AND OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND SIGNED OFF BY MYSELF.

ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR MR. THOMAS? YES.

THANK YOU. AND THE LAST THING ON THE P CARD, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE DID.

LET'S SEE, WE ARE USING ANOTHER TOOL THERE, CARD, CARD INTEGRITY.

AND THEY PROVIDE SOME REALLY GOOD REPORTS ON HOW WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY, WHAT VENDORS WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY WITH.

[00:20:02]

THEY ALSO LOOK AT THE MONEY SPENDING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY DOUBLE INVOICING.

THEY ALSO LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY VIOLATIONS OUT THERE THAT MIGHT THROW UP A FLAG.

AND SO MYSELF, THE P CARD ADMINISTRATOR AND THE CFO, WE WE BASICALLY LOOK AT THOSE THAT SPEND EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING IS REPORTED. THAT LOOKS KIND OF FUNNY. OKAY. THE NEXT, NEXT SLIDE IS JUST REAL SHORT.

THE NEW PROCUREMENT POLICY MANUAL, IT'S UNDER REVIEW BY A LEGAL.

RIGHT NOW. WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THAT. IT HAS TEN CHAPTERS.

IT'S 64 PAGES. IT'S A LITTLE LARGER THAN THE P-CARD MANUAL, BUT THAT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE THE THINGS OF THE PROCESSES THAT WE DO, IT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING IN DEPTH.

AND IT'S IN LINE WITH THE PROCUREMENT CODE THAT WE JUST APPROVED LAST YEAR.

AND THE LAST THING I THINK YOU REALLY WANT TO LOOK AND TALK ABOUT IS WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DUES? WELL, I LOOK AT THOSE THAT ACCOUNTS, WE'RE TRYING TO UPDATE THOSE TO WHERE THERE'S ONLY ONE ACCOUNT, SO WE'RE ONLY PAYING WITH ONE CHECK. I KUDOS TO MY STAFF, VICTORIA.

MORE AND MORE, SHE REALLY WORKED HARD ON GETTING THE AMAZON AND WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THE REPRESENTATIVE TO PUT IT IN ONE ACCOUNT.

WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH REPORTS ON HOW THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IS SPENDING THEIR MONEY WITH AMAZON.

WE DID THE SAME THING WITH YOU KNOW, LINE. THERE WERE 30 ACCOUNTS AT ONE TIME.

NOW IT'S ONE SINGLE ACCOUNT. WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH FSI.

BUT WE'VE MOVED ONE ACCOUNT FOR THAT. BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE ISLAND PACK AND A STAPLE.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE FOR BUYING PACK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A DEPARTMENT HEAD PRESSURE SITUATION.

WHERE DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT NEWSPAPER AND SO ON.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE SOME WATER COOLER CON ACCOUNTS OUT THERE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A WORK IN PROGRESS. SO I KNOW I KIND OF RAMBLED ON A LITTLE BIT AND KIND OF WENT KIND OF QUICK, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAD AN UPDATE, THAT THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

WE'VE MADE SOME, SOME VERY GOOD IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK, ON THE PE MANUAL, PCARD MANUAL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SHOWING YOU THE NEW PROCUREMENT POLICY MANUAL WHEN IT COMES OUT. AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT IN FEBRUARY.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. THOMAS.

I THINK WE ARE GOOD. MR. THOMAS, THANK YOU FOR COMING. APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION AND ALL YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO NUMBER NINE ON OUR AGENDA.

[9. VACANCIES AND ATTRITION RATE UPDATE]

AND THIS IS OUR HR DIRECTOR, MISS KATHERINE MEAD.

KATHERINE, THANK YOU FOR COMING. GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I WILL START AND PREFACE THIS WITH SOME APOLOGIES.

YOU DID NOT GET THIS DECK SLIDE IN YOUR BACKUP AGENDA, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED IT BY EMAIL, I WILL ENSURE YOU GET THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY.

SO LET'S SEE. ALL RIGHT. I WILL START OUT WITH JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE 2024 PLT CASH OUT PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL APPROVED BACK IN NOVEMBER FOR OUR WORKFORCE.

WE HAD AN APPLICATION PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS FROM NOVEMBER 13TH TO DECEMBER 3RD OF 2020 FOR THE ELIGIBILITY PARAMETERS THAT WERE ON THIS PROGRAM WERE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, WHEREAS THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE A 24 HOUR PLT BEGINNING BALANCE, AND YOU WERE ONLY ABLE TO CASH OUT A MAX OF 40 HOURS OR ONE HALF OF YOUR CURRENT BALANCE, WHICHEVER IS LESS. EXCUSE ME. THE HR OFFICE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED 496 EMPLOYEE APPLICATIONS.

WE APPROVED 19,296.25 HOURS, AND THE CASH VALUE ON THAT WAS $658,475.47. WHEN WE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU IN NOVEMBER, WE ANTICIPATED IT TO RUN AROUND 665 405, SO IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE. THE EMPLOYEES RECEIVED THEIR CASH OUT ON THEIR DECEMBER 13TH PAYCHECK, AND THE FUNDING WAS APPLIED TO THE DEPARTMENTAL SALARY BUDGETS AND IF THEY RUN SHORT DUE TO THE CASH OUT, THERE WILL BE A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM THE PAYROLL CONTINGENCY FUND.

A COUPLE REPORTS THAT I WILL START PRESENTING TO COUNTY COUNCIL AND TO STAFF ON A MONTHLY BASIS IS OUR VACANCY REPORT.

I WILL ALSO PROVIDE A QUARTERLY TURNOVER REPORT.

AND THEN I WILL PROVIDE AN ANNUAL TURNOVER REPORT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR, NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FOLLOWING CALENDAR YEAR.

VACANCY AND TURNOVER REPORTS WILL ALSO INCLUDE DEPARTMENTAL BREAKDOWNS, AND THE TURNOVER REPORT WILL HAVE A COUNTY WIDE SUMMARY.

AND I HAVE AN EXAMPLE. WE'LL GO OVER HERE SHORTLY, BUT IT WILL INCLUDE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES,

[00:25:03]

I AM SO SORRY. THAT'S VERY SMALL. SO THIS IS OUR VACANCY REPORT THAT I PULLED AS OF YESTERDAY WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYONE CAME TO THEIR NEW HIRE ORIENTATION TODAY. AND I THINK THEY DID. SO TOTAL 237 VACANCIES.

LET ME PULL OUT MY PRINTOUT TO MAKE SURE I'M TELLING YOU. RIGHT.

BECAUSE I CAN'T READ THOSE NUMBERS. 237 VACANCIES COUNTYWIDE AND 14 PENDING HIRES.

SO SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THESE REPORTS IN THE FUTURE, A PENDING HIRE ARE THOSE THAT WE HAVE OFFERED AND THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THE EMPLOYMENT AND ARE IN PROCESS TO BE SCHEDULED FOR THEIR FIRST DAY.

BUT ON THAT REPORT, OBVIOUSLY IT WILL BREAK IT DOWN BY DEPARTMENT.

AND JUST SOME TIDBITS. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 1621 BUDGETED POSITIONS AND 1549 FTES. OKAY, WE'VE GOT SOME MORE SMALL REPORTS FOR YOU.

SO AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TURNOVER REPORT.

I'VE ALREADY SHARED THIS WITH FULL COUNCIL BY WAY OF MR. MOORE'S BIWEEKLY STATUS REPORTS I BELIEVE EARLY DECEMBER.

BUT AT THE TOP IS WHERE I MENTIONED THAT YOU'LL HAVE A COUNTY WIDE SUMMARY WHERE WE HAVE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, THE TOTAL SEPARATED AND THE THREE DIFFERENT RETIRED TURNOVER RATES.

AND THEN BELOW THAT IT WILL HAVE THE BREAKDOWN OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

BUT THIS IS JUST THE PERCENTAGE RATE AS A WHOLE.

IT DOESN'T BREAK DOWN THE DEPARTMENT TO SHOW OF THAT.

WHAT'S RETIREMENT, WHAT'S VOLUNTARY AND WHAT'S INVOLUNTARY.

THAT FIRST LET ME GO BACK TO THAT ONE. THIS ONE WAS A REPORT RAN FOR A YEAR FROM NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2023 THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST OF 2024.

AND THE TOTAL TURNOVER RATE FOR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION WAS 14.21%.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO THERE. THE MOST RECENT ONE I WORKED ON FOR YOU ALL IS FOR NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2024. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WAS 1383.

WE HAD A TOTAL OF 33 EMPLOYEES. SEPARATE EMPLOYMENT 0.5% OF YOUR TURNOVER RATE WAS DUE TO RETIREMENT, 0.22% WAS DUE TO INVOLUNTARY SEPARATION AND 1.66 WAS DUE TO YOUR VOLUNTARY SEPARATION.

SOME TRENDS THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK AT IS THROUGH THE THE JOLTS REPORT, THE JOBS OPENING AND LABOR TURNOVER SURVEY.

I CAN TELL YOU, FOR THE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER PERIOD OF LAST YEAR, WE ARE ON TRACK WITH WHAT WE SEE ACROSS THE NATION, WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. WE WERE A LITTLE HIGH FOR THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS HERE.

ALL RIGHT. SOME NEXT STEPS. NEXT STEPS ON HOW WE TACKLE SOME SOME CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO A POSITION AUDIT FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET.

I'LL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH PINKY AND HER TEAM TO TALK WITH DEPARTMENTS ONE ON ONE AND REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT POSITIONS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE, WHAT'S BEEN SITTING VACANT ON THE BOOKS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY EVEN HAVE POSITIONS THAT AREN'T CURRENTLY BEING ADVERTISED. SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A GOOD, GOOD LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN TRIM SOME OF THESE POSITIONS BACK. AND THEN FOR THE ATTRITION RATE, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING A COUNTY WIDE CLIMATE ASSESSMENT THIS SPRING.

WE DID A PILOT PROGRAM WITH PUBLIC WORKS LAST YEAR.

IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. IT WILL BE A TWO FOLD.

WE'LL HAVE A PEOPLE'S OPINION SURVEY, WHICH WILL BE VERY OPEN ENDED.

QUESTIONS TO HEAR FROM THE STAFF ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WELL, WHERE CAN WE IMPROVE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A PULSE SURVEY APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AFTER THE PEOPLE'S OPINION SURVEY, JUST TO CHECK IN AND SEE HOW WE RESPONDED TO THE FIRST SURVEY.

WE WILL CONTINUE DOING EXIT INTERVIEWS IN THE HR OFFICE.

THE PARTICIPATION FOR ALL THREE OF THESE INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS ARE OPTIONAL AND THEY WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS.

THE RESULTS WILL BE ANALYZED BY OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, AMBER BLACK, AND THEN SHE WILL TURN THAT INTO A SUMMARY FINDING REPORT TO TAKE ACTION, KIND OF PRIORITIZE SOME ISSUES THAT WE MAY HAVE FOUND, PUT THEM IN BUCKETS OF IMMEDIATE FIXES, SHORT TERM GOALS AND LONG TERM GOALS. AND OF COURSE, WE'LL BE COMMUNICATING THOSE FINDINGS WITH AND ACTIONS WITH ALL THE STAFF.

ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS. MISS MEAD? YES. GO AHEAD.

[00:30:02]

MS SURPRISED ME AND SHERIFF. SO THOSE ARE PUBLIC SAFETY KIND OF THINGS.

BUT THAT WAS. YEAH, IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THAT ONE.

SO THOSE WERE THE VACANCIES. BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE SEEING THE TURNOVER REPORT BECAUSE TO ME, IF WE HAVE A LOW TURNOVER LIKE YOU'RE AIMING FOR UNDER 10%, THAT MEANS OUR EMPLOYEES GENERALLY ARE SATISFIED WE'RE PAYING THEM APPROPRIATELY.

THEY HAVE GOOD BENEFITS. THEY'RE HAPPY WORKING FOR THE COUNTY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU. I KNOW YOU HAD TO PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR US.

AND DO YOU DO NEW HIRE ORIENTATION WEEKLY? I THINK MR. MOORE SAID EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONDAY. YES, YOU DO NEW HIRE ORIENTATION.

THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE KEEP ONBOARDING. THAT'S CORRECT.

YEAH. AND WE AVERAGE ANYWHERE FROM 7 TO 10 WEEKLY AND EXIT INTERVIEWS.

DO YOU FIND MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO AN EXIT INTERVIEW? NO. OKAY. NO. WE'VE WE'VE TRIED TO BE CREATIVE AND TO INCREASE THE RESPONSES.

WE'VE MADE IT TO WHERE YOU CAN JUST MAIL US BACK THE INFORMATION IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME IN.

WE'VE TRIED TO CATCH PEOPLE BEFORE THEY LEAVE AND IT'S JUST A STRUGGLE WE HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE JUST AT THAT POINT CHECKED OUT AND READY TO MOVE ON, OR JUST WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, WITH OFF BOARDING, WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS. JUST DON'T FIND THE TIME TO DO IT. AND BEFORE THEY KNOW IT, THEY'VE STARTED A NEW JOB. AND SO THAT'S BEEN CHALLENGING TO GET THOSE RESPONSES BACK. I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU PUT IN TO COMPILE THIS REPORT.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SEE. OKAY.

AND I'M OPEN. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ADDITIONAL YOU'D LIKE TO SEE ON HERE. ONE THING I DID THINK ABOUT THIS MORNING I MIGHT COULD INCLUDE WHAT BUDGETED FTES THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE AND WHAT'S VACANT.

WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL? OKAY, I CAN DO THAT. ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION? SO THE EXIT INTERVIEWS ARE NOT MANDATORY? NO, MA'AM.

REALLY? OH, NO, MA'AM. IT'S THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THEY HOLD YOUR LAST PAYCHECK. I THINK THEY DO WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL.

OH, REALLY? I THINK I'VE HEARD THAT. OR AT LEAST WITH THE MILITARY.

YEAH. DO THEY? MIKE? WE JUST HAD THE SAME DISCUSSION HERE.

I MEAN, WE DON'T CURRENTLY WITHHOLD A PAYCHECK AS A CONDITION OF THAT.

NO, I WAS JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE WE DON'T. OKAY.

I WISH I WISH WE COULD, BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW THAT.

YOU THINK? ABSOLUTELY. LIKE, OH, YEAH, WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR WHATEVER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO GAIN WITH THE CLIMATE SURVEYS, YOU KNOW, AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS BECAUSE I SHARED WITH THEM, IF WE DO THIS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO RESPOND.

WE DON'T WANT TO COLLECT ALL THIS DATA AND THEN SHELF IT. AND EMPLOYEES DON'T SEE RESPONSES.

SO LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC WORKS WORKED WITH US ON IT.

AND I THINK IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. THEY EVEN CREATED THEIR OWN INTERNAL EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP SO PEOPLE COULD HAVE THAT FRONT LINE TO GO TO BEFORE NEEDING TO COME TO HR.

SO A LOT, LOT THAT WE LEARN FROM IT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ROLL IT OUT.

SO NICE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. ONE QUESTION. ONE LAST QUESTION.

YES, MISS MEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. WE APPRECIATE IT.

YOU TALKED ABOUT ONBOARDING EVERY MONDAY. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? WHAT IS IT? WHAT'S YOUR GOAL WITH THAT? 273 OR WHATEVER THAT VACANCY COUNT WAS? THAT'S RIGHT. SO THAT'S. WOW. YEAH. WE CAN'T WE WE WE LOGISTICALLY WE CANNOT DO MORE THAN 12, BUT WE WILL TAKE 12. AND IF WE HAVE TO DO AN AFTERNOON SESSION, IF THERE'S MORE THAN 12, WE WILL.

WELL, WE'RE LOOKING TO FILL ALL THE VACANCIES WE HAVE.

SO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND TOTAL EMPLOYEES WE HAVE I THINK YOU MENTIONED 1621 AND 1549 OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

SO WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 1621 BUDGETED POSITIONS.

BUT OF THAT WE HAVE 237 ARE VACANT. THANK YOU.

GREAT JOB. APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS. YEAH. THANK YOU.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, MISS MEAD. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING AS IS, AS INTRICATE AS YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ALL THOSE REPORTS.

SO AGAIN THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO NUMBER TEN ON OUR AGENDA.

[10. APPROVAL OF HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS LICENSE FEES FOR 2025]

CAN I ASK SOMEONE FOR A MOTION TO FOR US TO TALK ABOUT THIS? A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND? NO SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

AND THAT ALLOWS US FOR DISCUSSION. WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR UP TO YOU, MR. ATKINSON. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THIS IS A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM.

IT'S AN ANNUAL ITEM WE BRING FORWARD IN JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR TO ADOPT THE HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS LICENSE FEES FOR THAT CALENDAR YEAR.

THIS YEAR, WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THE SAME FEES THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH IS IN COUNTY, $75 OUT OF COUNTY, $500 OUT OF STATE $1,000. THIS IS NOT A BIG REVENUE COLLECTOR FOR US.

IN CALENDAR YEAR 2024, WE RECEIVED $450 IN TOTAL FEES FOR HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS.

[00:35:06]

SO WE'RE JUST MOVING IT FORWARD. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN WE APPROVE THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION? DO I SEE ANY OBJECTION? I SEE NO OBJECTION. SO THIS WILL BE APPROVED AND MOVED TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AND SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.

I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR COUNTY STAFF AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

AFTER THE STORM LAST WEEK AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE EXTRA HOURS AND WHAT WENT ON, I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 35 YEARS, AND THERE WAS A SNOW IN 1989.

THERE WAS A SNOW IN 2018. AND THEN WE HAD THE SNOW THIS YEAR.

AND AGAIN, IN MY 35 YEARS, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S EVER ACCUMULATED ON THE GROUND.

SO I'VE HAD PEOPLE ASK ME WHY WE DON'T HAVE SNOWPLOWS AND WHY WE DON'T HAVE SALT.

SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT OBVIOUSLY FOR US, WE CAN SUFFER THROUGH THE DAY OR TWO, SINCE WE ONLY HAVE THESE STORMS EVERY SO OFTEN.

AND OF COURSE THE STATE IS IN CHARGE OF STATE ROADS.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S A LOT OF THE COUNTY IS IS STATE MAINTAINED THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR, OUR OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND OUR STAFF.

MR. MOORE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. BECAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S NEVER EASY WHEN THESE THINGS COME ALONG. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO YOU. AND I'M SURE ALICE WILL WILL DO THE SAME THING AGAIN IN THE IN THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT AT SIX AND THANKING EVERYONE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. YEAH. ON BEHALF OF STAFF THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD. PASS THAT ALONG. ANYTHING ELSE TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE TODAY? SEEING NOTHING. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANKS FOR WATCHING BK TV. HEY GUYS, I'M SAM WORLEY, I'M THE PARK RANGER HERE AT DEER ISLAND STATE PARK. COME SPEND THE DAY WITH ME.

HERE WE ARE AT JERRY ISLAND STATE PARK'S MARINA.

I AM OVER MANAGING THE SLIPS HERE AT THE MARINA.

WE HAVE 50 SLIPS. 48 OF THEM ARE 25 BY 15 FOOT SLIPS.

AND THEN WE HAVE 250 FOOTER SLIPS. I'VE BEEN OVER THE MARINA PROGRAM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED, WE HAD EIGHT SLIPS FILLED OUT OF 50, AND AFTER RUNNING IT FOR ABOUT 13 MONTHS, WE WERE ABLE TO REACH FULL OCCUPANCY.

AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'VE HAD A WAITLIST OF ABOUT 15 EVER SINCE.

WE GIVE SPECIAL OFFERS ON SLIP PRICES FOR THE 25 BY 15 FOOT SLIPS.

IF YOU CAN DO A SIX MONTH OR A 12 MONTH, IT'S THE ONLY TWO WE OFFER.

IF YOU DO THE 12 MONTH AND YOU CHOOSE TO PAY UP FRONT, YOU GET A 10% DISCOUNT.

IT'S $2,700 RATHER PAYING MONTH BY MONTH. IT'S 250 A MONTH, WHICH ADDS UP TO THREE GRAND.

AND THEN THE SIX MONTH LEASE IS $1,500. WHETHER YOU PAY IT ALL UP FRONT OR A $250 PAYMENTS, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING INVOICES FOR OUR CURRENT LEASES, AS WELL AS SETTING UP NEW CONTRACTS AS WELL AS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLEANING OF THESE PEDESTALS, CHECKING THE UTILITIES, THE WATER, THE POWER.

WE HAD A COLD SNAP RECENTLY. HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT I SET A DRIP SO THESE WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT HERE OFTEN AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, KEEPING UP WITH THE LEASES THEMSELVES AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM ON A FACE TO FACE BASIS AND KNOWING KNOWING WHO I HAVE HERE AT THE MARINA, WE HAVE A FEW REGULARS AND THEY'RE A VITAL PART IN KEEPING THE MARINA UP TO DATE.

THEY LET ME KNOW IF SOMEONE'S BOATS COME LOOSE OR IF THERE'S BEEN DAMAGE TO A STORM.

THE WATER IS DOWN RIGHT NOW, SO IT'S IT IS A BIT OF AN ISSUE KEEPING TRACK OF THE SAFETY OF THESE BOATS.

THE MARINA IS LIKE MY BABY. I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH IT GROW.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE MARINA. WE HAD AN OLD MARINA THAT USED TO BE RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN IN 2008, WE HAD A REALLY BAD STORM THAT CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT OVER THE YEARS AFTER THAT THE MARINA BEGAN TO SINK.

LATER WE GOT THE BUDGET TO REDO THE MARINA WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE, AS WELL AS REDOING THE BATHHOUSE UP ON THE HILL, REMODELED ALL THE BATHROOMS SHOWERS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

[00:40:02]

AND HERE I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AS SAFETY OFFICER IS CHECKING ALL OF OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE WE HAVE ON PARK. IT'S A 20 POUNDER.

IT'S RATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GAS STOCK. AND WHAT WE DO WHEN WE INSPECT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS FIRST YOU TAKE IT OFF ITS STAND AND YOU CHECK THE GAUGE. SEE IF IT'S NOT UNDER OVERCHARGED.

BUT THE MAIN THING THAT YOU WANT TO CHECK AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT A CERTIFIED FIRE TECH, IS IF YOU TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, LIKE SO, IF THE WEIGHT SHIFTS GRADUALLY, THAT MEANS YOU KNOW THAT THE CONTENTS ISN'T CLUMPED UP TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN KEEP DOING THAT JUST TO SEE. BUT IF YOU FEEL A BIG CLUMP, THAT MEANS IT'S CLUMPED UP TOGETHER AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

AND I DO THIS WITH ALL 42 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WE HAVE ON PARK.

WE HAVE THEM IN THE CAMPGROUNDS, EVERY FACILITY, OUR CABINS, VILLAS, OUR TACKLE SHOP, AS WELL AS THE GAS DOCK.

AND THE MAIN THING IS TO CHECK THAT AND TO CHECK THE CHARGE.

AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE, YOU CAN JUST HANG IT BACK UP.

AND THEN YOU CAN SIGN OFF ON THIS SPECIFIC MONTH, WHICH THIS IS JANUARY.

AND I'LL NOTE THAT ONCE A YEAR I HAVE A CERTIFIED FIRE TECH COME OUT AND HAVE THESE SERVICED.

I JUST HAD THIS ONE SERVICED IN DECEMBER RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SO THIS ONE'S PRETTY MUCH GOOD FOR A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF BEING A SAFETY OFFICER HERE AT DEER ISLAND STATE PARK IS FACILITY INSPECTIONS, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S SAFE, MAKING SURE WE'RE STAYING UP TO DATE ON SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, ON OUR HVAC, ON ANYTHING THAT NEEDS IT, LOOKING FOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT NEED REPLACING OR ATTENTION.

AND OF COURSE, FILING THE MONTHLY PAPERWORK FOR OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER INSPECTIONS, AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES SO WE CAN STAY UP TO DATE AND BE OFFICIAL.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LAKE.

HERE WE ARE ON A MAIN CAUSEWAY BRIDGE HERE AT DEWEY ISLAND STATE PARK.

PERSONALLY, THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT COMING TO WORK IS DRIVING ACROSS THE CAUSEWAY BRIDGE AND LOOKING OUT AT THE LAKE EVERY DAY.

AS I SAID EARLIER, THE LAKE'S DOWN PRETTY LOW RIGHT NOW.

EVERY WINTER THEY DROP THE LAKE A FEW FEET. BUT THIS YEAR IS THE TEN YEAR LOW.

EVERY TEN YEARS, THEY DROP THE LAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LOW.

TO KILL THE INVASIVE HYDRILLA PLANT, AS WELL AS FOR PEOPLE TO WORK ON THEIR DOCKS.

AND SINCE THE DAM AND THE TOWERS ARE SO OLD, IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO MAINTENANCE THOSE AS WELL.

LAKE MURRAY IS 50,000 ACRES OF MAN MADE LAKE, AND DRE ISLAND BENEFITS FROM THIS LAKE HEAVILY.

IT BRINGS SO MUCH, SO MANY GUESTS TO OUR PARK.

THEY COME TO HANG OUT HERE AT THE SHELTERS. PITCH A HAMMOCK, LAY OUT AT THE LITTLE BEACH AREA WE HAVE AT OUR OLD OFFICE.

IT BRINGS A LOT OF VISITORS COME SUMMERTIME. ALSO IN THE SUMMERTIME BRINGS ALL OF OUR BIG GAME TOURNAMENTS.

DEER ISLAND IS KNOWN FOR ALL OF ITS FISHING TOURNAMENTS. WE HAVE THEM YEAR ROUND JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEKEND.

TO HIGHLIGHT ONE BIG ONE, DREW ISLAND GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE WORLD BASS CHAMPIONSHIP, WHERE WE HOSTED 25 COUNTRIES. FOR A WEEK AND WATCH THEM SHOOT OUT EVERY DAY AND COME IN AND SAW THE BIG WEIGH INS.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY BIG ONES THAT WE HAVE HERE.

THAT'S A BIG JOB FOR OUR OPENING SHIFT HERE AT DEER ISLAND IS TO DIRECT ALL THE BOATERS FOR THOSE TOURNAMENTS AND PARK THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOUSE ALL OF THOSE FISHERMEN FOR FOR THOSE TOURNAMENTS, WE HAVE THE BIG BASS CHALLENGE, AND WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SMALL TOURNAMENTS RANGING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 15 BOATS ALL THE WAY UP TO 150. IF YOU'LL NOTICE, OVER HERE IS OUR FRONT CAMPGROUND, WHICH IS NEWLY RENOVATED.

IT RECEIVED UPGRADES FOR ELECTRICAL, UP TO 50 AMP SERVICE, NEW WATER, AND EVEN ADDED SEWER HOOKUPS AS WELL.

SO WHEN THIS ONE OPENS UP, HOPEFULLY EARLY SPRING, IT'LL BE OPEN FOR THE GUESTS TO ENJOY A BRAND NEW CAMPGROUND WITH BRAND NEW FACILITIES.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO AND WALK THROUGH ONE OF OUR VILLAS AND MAKE SURE IT'S READY FOR A GUEST CHECK IN.

HERE WE ARE AT THREE ISLANDS VILLAS. THIS IS VILLA ONE BEHIND ME, BUT WE HAVE FIVE VILLAS.

VILLAS ONE, THREE AND FIVE ARE THREE BEDROOMS AND VILLAS TWO AND FOUR ARE TWO BEDROOMS. THESE ARE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, AREN'T INTO THE THE CAMPING LIFE OR THE TENT LIFE.

GLAMPING, AS PEOPLE CALL IT. THESE PRICES RANGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 135 A NIGHT TO MAYBE EVEN AS FAR AS 250 A NIGHT, DEPENDING ON TIME OF YEAR. TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOM.

IF IT'S A WEEKEND WEEKDAY OR IF IT'S THE ONLY ONE LEFT.

VILLAS ONE AND TWO ARE THE NEWLY REMODELED INSIDE AND OUT, NEW FURNITURE, NEW PAINT FLOORS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. THERE IS A DOCK BEHIND VILLA ONE.

[00:45:05]

AND THE REASON THAT IT'S IT'S ONLY BEHIND VILLA ONE IS BECAUSE VILLA ONE IS OUR HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE VILLA.

BUT ANY VILLA CAN USE THAT DOCK AS THEY PLEASE.

BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO A WALKTHROUGH OF THE VILLA, SO IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A WALKTHROUGH, AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THAT. SO AS YOU'LL SEE, I USED A KEY CARD. THESE ARE NEW TO US. WE WERE ABLE TO INSTALL KEY CARD LOCKS IN ALL OF OUR VILLAS AND OUR CAMPER CABINS, AS WELL AS THE BATHHOUSES FOR THOSE MAKES IT EASIER IN CASE OUR METAL KEYS GET LOST.

AND IT'S BEEN A REAL TREAT TO USE. SO THIS IS THE INSIDE OF VILLA ONE.

WHAT I'M IN HERE TO DO IS TO WALK THROUGH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S READY FOR A GUEST.

DOWN TO THE NITPICKY STUFF. MAKE SURE THAT THE IT WAS CLEANED PROPERLY AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS OUT OF OUR GUESTS WHILE THEY STAY WITH US, SO THEY HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE TOTAL. SO WE ALWAYS CHECK THE FIREPLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS GREAT, WHICH IT DOES. REMOTE'S PROGRAMED AND EVERYTHING.

WE'LL TURN THAT BACK OFF BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE WARM IN HERE.

WE TRY TO CHECK EVERY LAMP TO MAKE SURE THAT IT LIGHTS UP.

EVERY LIGHT IN THE VILLA. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS. THERE'S NO BURNED OUT BULBS.

OF COURSE WE. WE CHECK THE TV, MAKE SURE THEY WORK.

I'LL DO THAT AS WELL. WE'LL TURN THAT BACK OFF. AND IN THE BATHROOM, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE ALL THE LIGHTS WORK LIKE THE REST OF THE VILLA.

MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE TOWELS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PROPERLY AND STORED.

WE WANT TO CHECK THE CLEANLINESS OF THE TUBS AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO DIRT, HAIR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. FLOORS THAT LOOK DECENT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RUNNING WATER.

FLUSH THE TOILETS, YOU KNOW, CHECK BEHIND, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S CLEAN.

THEN WE GO IN TO CHECK IN THE FIRST BEDROOM. I LIKE TO DO IT IN A BIG CIRCLE SO I DON'T MISS ANYTHING WALKING THROUGH THESE VILLAS.

WE CHECK ALL THE DRAWERS TO MAKE SURE THAT A GUEST DIDN'T LEAVE ANYTHING BEHIND IN THE PREVIOUS STAY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO CHECK UNDER THE BEDS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING UNDER THERE THAT WILL CAUSE AN ISSUE FOR A GUEST.

EVERYTHING LOOKS CLEAN. CHECK AROUND IN THE NIGHTSTAND AS WELL.

CHECK THE LAMP. YOU DO? NOT WANT TO RUN HER HAND ACROSS THE TABLE? MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DIRT OR CRUMBS LEFT FROM ANY PREVIOUS DAY.

WE'RE GOOD. WANT TO CHECK THESE LIGHTS? RIGHT HERE.

MAKE SURE ALL THEY ALL TURN ON. WE'LL GO OUTSIDE REAL FAST, AND WE'LL CHECK THE PORCH TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS OUT HERE WORK FOR OUR GUESTS.

ALSO DO A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FIRE PIT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING ON OUR OUTDOOR PATIOS WORK PROPERLY.

ONE, TWO AND THREE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THIS OUTDOOR PATIO RIGHT NOW, BUT IT IS A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE TO HAVE THE REST OF THEM INSTALLED.

WE'LL GO BACK IN AND FINISH THE WALKTHROUGH.

HERE.

SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME DISHES THAT ARE STILL LEFT IN HERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CLEAN AND IF SO, PUT THEM AWAY AND WIPE DOWN ANYTHING THAT NEEDS IT ON THE COUNTERS.

WE WANT TO RUN OUR HAND ACROSS THE COUNTER AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CRUMBS OR ANY RESIDUE STILL LEFT.

AS WELL AS CHECKING THE MICROWAVE AS WELL. YOU ALWAYS WANT TO CHECK THE DISH, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO STUCK ON STAINS OR ANYTHING.

ANY KIND OF SPATTER INSIDE THE MICROWAVE. AND CHECKING EVERY CABINET TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE IN THERE.

[00:50:03]

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. KNOCK.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. MIRROR AND EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD IN HERE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE LAST BEDROOM.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, THIS WAS THE LAST ROOM IN THE VILLA TO WALK THROUGH.

NOW THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD, I'LL RADIO THE OFFICE UP FRONT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THE GUESTS CAN CHECK IN.

THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY HERE AT ISLAND STATE PARK. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AND FINISH UP SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF BEFORE I HEAD OUT FOR THE DAY. WHAT YOU SAW HERE TODAY WAS JUST A FEW OF THE MANY THINGS WE GET TO DO AND EXPERIENCE HERE AT DEER ISLAND.

SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE STATE PARKS AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.

THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION AND INCREASE VOTER TURNOUT.

AND IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH SOME OF OUR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND SOME OF OUR SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP US EDUCATE OUR VOTERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING, WE PARTNERED WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTION IN THIS PROJECT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OBSERVED IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS THAT, LIKE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, NOT AS MANY PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND INVOLVED IN THE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.

SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT YOUNG PEOPLE IN PARTICULAR, AND HOW DID THEY GET INVOLVED WITH VOTING AND DECIDED WE'D START THERE RATHER THAN TO START VOTER REGISTRATION WITH OLDER ADULTS.

SO WE STARTED WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE AGES 16 AND ABOVE, AND EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE VOTING PROCESS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO VOTE AND HOW VOTING IMPACTS YOUR LIFE. AND IN DOING THAT, WE PARTNERED WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS.

YOU KNOW, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE? IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS OUT THERE, AND WE WANT TO DO OUR FAIR SHARE OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING THAT WE WANT TO DO AS THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND WE WENT INTO TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, AND WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF VOTING FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE WITH A VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE, ISSUING VOTER REGISTRATION CARDS.

AND THIS WAS ALL DONE WITH THE SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.

SO AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, I'M ALSO THE ADVISOR FOR THE LEADERSHIP GROUPS AND FOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT.

THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I WANTED TO INVOLVE THE WHOLE SCHOOL AND GIVE A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE ABOUT VOTING.

YOU KNOW, VOTING IS LIKE A DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.

THAT'S HOW WE EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD, A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD HERE IN AMERICA.

SO THAT'S YOUR ONE VOICE. BUT BRINGING MANY VOICES TOGETHER, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING CHANGE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THAT ACTUALLY ALL WORKS.

THE STUDENTS, THEY REALLY GOT INVOLVED. MOST OF THEM WERE NERVOUS.

AND SOME OF THEM WE ACTUALLY RAN A REGISTRATION PROCESS.

SO WE SET UP IN OUR CAFETERIA, MAYBE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO COME OVER AND VISIT THE TABLE AND ACTUALLY FILL OUT A VOTER REGISTRATION CARD, IS WHAT WE CALLED IT. THIS IS AN ENLARGED VERSION OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION.

AT THE TOP IT SAYS, ARE YOU A STUDENT AT ROBERT SMALLS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY? THE STUDENT WOULD CHECK YES OR NO. IF YES, WILL YOU BE BETWEEN FOURTH AND EIGHTH GRADE ON ELECTION DAY? AND AT THE BOTTOM, THEY WILL NEED TO REVIEW ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY FILLED OUT.

AND IF IT WERE TRUE TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE, THEY WOULD SIGN IT.

THEY BROUGHT IN FOUR MACHINES AND THEY SET UP IN CLASSROOM C1, STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO FILTER THROUGH C1 WITH THEIR REGISTRATION CARD, AND WITH THEIR REGISTRATION CARD, THEY WERE ABLE TO WALK TO THE TABLE, SIGNED IN, AND THEN WALK OVER TO THE VOTING MACHINES TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY OR TREASURER. THE KIDS WERE ECSTATIC ABOUT DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY REALIZED AT THAT MOMENT HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS.

THE THE CANDIDATES WERE CAMPAIGNING, THEY MADE POSTERS, CAMPAIGN POSTERS, AND THEY WERE GOING OUT GIVING SPEECHES.

HELLO, MY NAME IS NATHAN T AND I AM RUNNING FOR STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

[00:55:02]

WE ACTUALLY GOT THE TICKET FROM THE BOARD OF REGISTRATIONS.

THEY PRINT A TICKET WITH ALL THE RESULTS FROM THE POLLS.

SO WE GOT THE POLL REPORT AND THEN AND THEN WE CREATED THAT AND TURNED THAT INTO A GRAPHIC AND SHARED THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.

THAT WAY THE VOTES ARE IN. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S MAYBE NOT SURPRISING, IT KIND OF REINFORCED THE REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE THAT ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THEY'VE EITHER LOST FAITH IN THE SYSTEM OR THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEIR VOTE COUNTS, AND THEY PASS THAT ON TO YOUNG PEOPLE, SUCH THAT YOUNG PEOPLE NOW FEEL AS THOUGH, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF I VOTE OR NOT VOTE? AND THAT'S WHO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH. SO WE CAN CHANGE THAT KIND OF THINKING AND PERHAPS EVEN GET THEM TO REENGAGE THEIR CAREGIVER OR THEIR PARENTS OR OTHER ADULTS IN THE WHOLE PROCESS.

I WANTED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.

SO I RAN AND I HAD TO DO A SPEECH FOR HIM TO GO ON OUR DAILY NEWS.

AND SO AFTER I DID THE SPEECH, I WAITED ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO, AND THEN WE VOTED AND I GOT THE PAPER LIKE EVERYONE ELSE DID, AND I HAD TO DO THE PAPER, AND I GOT MY CARD AND WE WENT TO GO VOTE.

AND OBVIOUSLY I VOTED FOR MYSELF. SO I USUALLY SEE, LIKE MY PARENTS USUALLY TELL ME, WELL, I'M GOING TO GO VOTE. AND I ALWAYS WONDER, LIKE, WHAT IS IT LIKE? SO TO ACTUALLY GET THE EXPERIENCE AND ACTUALLY USE IT, IT FELT IT FELT REAL.

DURING THE PROJECT, THE STUDENTS WHERE I WAS KIND OF HELPING OUT AT, AT THE BOOTH, THEY KIND OF CAME OVER AND ASKED, WAS IT THE POLL THAT THEIR PARENT ACTUALLY USED? SO IT KIND OF GAVE THEM THAT REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE OF WHAT MOM AND DAD DO DURING THE VOTING, VOTING TIME. IN THE PAST, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WORK WITH OUR AGING POPULATION.

WE WENT OUT TO NURSING AND ASSISTED LIVING HOMES, REGISTERING PEOPLE, EDUCATING THE RESIDENTS THERE ON VOTING REGISTRATION IN OUR COUNTY, AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE ALL READY FOR MAJOR ELECTIONS.

AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, AND IT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

AND WE ARE ALSO PLANNING TO DO IT, CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR ALL CITIZENS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.

DURING GENERAL ELECTION YEARS. WE GO OUT TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, 16 AND 17 YEAR OLDS, AND WE TRAIN THEM ON BECOMING POLL MANAGERS, AND THEY PARTICIPATE WITH US DURING OUR GENERAL ELECTIONS, WORKING THE PRECINCT AS A POLL MANAGER.

AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST KIDS THAT WE HAVE WORKING AT THOSE PRECINCTS, WORKING WITH OUR CITIZENS.

BUT THE PART THAT WAS MOST, I THINK, IMPORTANT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WAS TO ACTUALLY HAVE THEM VOTE.

MANY OF THEM HAD NEVER SEEN A VOTING MACHINE.

THEY, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE OF THEIR AGES, HAD NOT VOTED.

SO WENDELL WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING AND COMING IN AND DOING A TUTORIAL WITH THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND EXPLAINING THE PROCESS.

THE STAFF, THEY WERE JUST EXCITED THAT THE STUDENTS, THE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH SOME OF THE LESSONS AND JUST TO SHOW WHERE THINGS WERE IN THE 50S AND 60S AND HOW VOTER VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES CAME ABOUT.

IT TAKES EVERY EVERY VOTE THAT'S OUT THERE VERSUS JUST ME SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE TODAY.

SO WITH US INSTILLING THIS AUTHENTIC LESSON IN LIFE OF BEING ABLE TO VOTE, WE HOPE THAT IT RESONATES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES SO THAT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO VOTE AT 18, THEY MAKE IT AS MEANINGFUL AS POSSIBLE AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY SO THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM AND FOR THE COUNTRY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.