[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
UM, THURSDAY.AND THIS OFTEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING IS NOW IN SESSION AND I TURN IT OVER.
WELL LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
OLAS POLITE IS ON, IS ON OUR TEAM'S ACCOUNT.
[III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES]
JANUARY 9TH ON 2025 MINUTES.CAN I GET AN APPROVAL FOR THOSE MINUTES? SO MOVED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVED MINUTES.
[IV. PUBLIC COMMENT]
COMMENTS? WE HAVE A FEW GUESTS IN THE BUILDING.I ALREADY SPOKE WITH THESE TWO LADIES.
SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAD WORDS? I'M QUINN BALDRY WITH COASTAL STATE BANK.
HE'S A VOLUNTEER WITH WHAT AGAIN? I'M SORRY YOU WOULDN'T WHO YOU ARE.
I'M QUINN BALDRY WITH COASTAL STATE BANK.
I'VE BEEN THE WORKING WITH MR. HERMAN.
AND MATT, I'M GONNA HAVE YOU COME TO THE MIC 'CAUSE YOU ARE WORKING.
SORRY, I'M GONNA HAVE YOU COME TO THE MIC
I WORK WITH COASTAL STATES BANK.
I'M THE MARKET PRESIDENT FOR BLUFFTON.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. HERB KERMAN AND MR. LYLE ON THE PROJECT ON MAY RIVER ROAD.
UM, AND THEN WORKING NEAR VICTORIA, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND WORKING WITH HER ON GETTING SOME DOCUMENTS WITH THE TOWNS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PARTNERSHIP AND MAKING THAT PROJECT WORK AND SHE'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GETTING SOME OF THOSE EXTRA ITEMS THAT, THAT ARE NEEDED, UM, TO MAKE THAT THAT DEAL WORK.
I THINK I HEARD YOU SAY YOU BOUGHT SOME MONEY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING ON.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL PASS IT BACK TO YOU CHAIRMAN.
I'M GONNA GIVE IT BACK TO YOU AND UH, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
[VI.1. FY25 Neighborhood Assistance Program Budget Update]
ASSISTANT BUDGET PROGRAM.I'M NOT GONNA READ THAT TOP PARAGRAPH 'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT'S GONNA BE THERE.
23 HOMES HAVE RECEIVED HOME REPAIRS AT A TOTAL OF $207,000.
2 2 0 7 9 3 1 AND ONE JOB IS PENDING AT 1756.
HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED FOR SEPTIC PUMP OUTS OR PLUMBING SERVICES AT A TOTAL OF 3,224.
ONE HOME HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR TREE SERVICE AT 4 51 HOME HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED DUE TO HURRICANE HELENE AT A TOTAL OF 4,200.
ALTOGETHER 31 HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
ONE HOMEOWNER IS WAITING FOR INCOME VERIFICATION AND ONE HOME IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED.
AND I HAVE THREE VISITS TO MAKE ON NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY.
UM, AND THESE CLIENTS ARE NEW CLIENTS ACTUALLY, UM, MAYBE ABOUT SIX OF THEM.
SIX OR SEVEN MIGHT BE SOMEONE THAT WE'VE HELPED BEFORE IN RECENT YEARS, BUT THEY ARE ALL NEW CLIENTS, UM, OF THESE 31 RIGHT NOW.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE BEEN BUSY.
UH, AS OF OUR LAST UPDATE, WHEN I SENT THIS PACKET TO YOU LAST WEEK, FUNDS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN SPENT.
SO THIS IS A MORE UPDATED, UH, BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WE HAVE.
SO RIGHT NOW IN OUR BUDGET, AND IT'S NOT ON YOUR SHEET, BUT RIGHT NOW IN OUR BUDGET WE ARE HOLDING $306,000 A LITTLE OVER, UM, MAYBE RIGHT AT 307.
SO WE HAVE GOOD AMOUNT OF FUNDS LEFT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAVE THE THREE HOMES THAT NEED TO BE VISITED.
UM, I'M WAITING FOR ONE MOBILE HOME, UH, REPAIR ESTIMATE.
SO I HAVE THREE CONTRACTORS WORKING ON THAT ONE.
GLAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE A NEW CONTRACTOR ON BOARD, UM, MONARCH ROOFING.
SO, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN ADDED AND UH, LARRY JACKSON THAT I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO, TRYING TO FIND HIM JOB.
SO I SPOKE WITH HIM YESTERDAY AND HE IS ON BOARD GETTING ME AN ESTIMATE FOR A JOB AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND I AM WORKING, ALWAYS
[00:05:01]
WORKING ON DIFFERENT, UM, THINGS TO GO OVER AND PRESENT TO YOU GUYS.BUT LET'S PAUSE HERE TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITH THIS EXCEL SHEET FOR RIGHT NOW.
WHO, UM, MADE THE DECISION THAT THE HOUSE SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED? SO I WENT OUT, I THINK IT WAS, UM, JUST FOR RECORD.
MEG JAMES IS IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS RICHARD AT THE TIME.
RICHARD SPRUCE HAD, WHO JUST RETIRED RECENTLY.
UM, AND I CAN SHOW YOU PICTURES, I CAN EMAIL THE PICTURES.
IT WAS A MOBILE HOME AND A TREE WENT STRAIGHT THROUGH IT.
SO WE HAD TO GET IT OUT THERE.
SO WE GOT IT CLEANED UP AND ALL MOVED OUT.
OTHER QUESTIONS? LET'S GIVE MEG A MINUTE TO CATCH UP.
THIS IS THE, UH, FINANCIAL DATE, BUDGET BUDGET.
SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT ON UH, FRED HAMILTON DRIVE?
SO THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT QUINN WAS JUST GIVING US.
AND I HAVE MARK HERE, SO MARK IS GONNA UPDATE US AS WELL IN A FEW MINUTES.
YES, I KNEW THAT QUESTION WAS COMING THIS MONTH.
UM, SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF IDEAS OF WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN ALWAYS DOES COMMUNITY EARTH DAY, WHICH I THINK FALLS IN EITHER APRIL OR MAY WHENEVER EARTH DAY FALLS.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN DOING EARTH DAY RECENTLY, SO THEY ARE STILL GONNA BE DOING THE MAY RIVER CLEANUP.
SO I THOUGHT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE COULD DO A COMMUNITY WIDE WHITE GOODS CLEANUP.
AND WHEN I SAY WHITE GOODS, THAT'S UH, REFRIGERATORS, STOVES, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT HOMEOWNERS HAVE IN THE BACKYARD 'CAUSE THEY CAN'T GET IT TO THE TRASH.
SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH WATERSHED, OUR PUBLIC WORKS, OUR PUBLIC SERVICE GUYS AND I'M TRYING TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND IT'S LIKE I SAID, A COMMUNITY WHITE GOODS CLEANUP.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE HOMEOWNERS IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING.
THERE'S GONNA BE A SIGNUP SHEET.
I'M TRYING TO DO IT IN JUNE, SO I'M GONNA SEND IT OUT TO CHURCHES, UH, BLUFFTON SELF-HELP THE COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN SO THAT IT'LL BE A NOTICE KIND OF BETWEEN BUCK ISLAND, VILLE AND GOTHE, UM, AND EVEN IN TOWN FOR A SIGNUP SHEET.
SO IT WON'T BE KIND OF JUST SCATTERED ALL OVER.
I'M GONNA PUT OUT A SIGNUP SHEET.
LET ME KNOW A WEEK IN ADVANCE IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE THOSE THAT CAN'T GET TO THE DUMP OR THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE TRUCKS THAT CAN'T GET ANYTHING OUT.
SO I'M GONNA BE WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS IN ORDER TO GET EVERYTHING.
NOT TO VILLE DUMP, IT'S GONNA GO TO HARDY, IT'S CALLED, UM, OH GOODNESS, IT'S CALLED UM, HARDY RECYCLING AND THEY TAKE WHITE GOODS.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING IT OUT THAT WAY.
UM, SO I AM WORKING WITH THAT AND THAT'S GONNA BE EITHER THE FIRST OR SECOND MONDAY IN JUNE.
SO GIVE ENOUGH HEADS UP AND ENOUGH TIME TO GET THAT OUT.
UM, PUBLIC WORKS I HAVE SPOKE WITH, I BELIEVE HIS, UH, LARRY AND HE SAID IF WE DO NEED TO PURCHASE ANYTHING, IT MIGHT BE A DOLLY, A COUPLE OF DOLLIES TO PICK UP THE STUFF, PICK UP THE ITEMS AND THAT'LL BE COMING OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A PROPERTY CLEANUP BUDGET THAT'S STILL HOLDING $10,000 IN THERE.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DON'T DO IT.
YOU TELL ME 'CAUSE I HONOR YOU GUYS.
GETTING ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS TO, SO IT ACTUALLY, WE'RE NOT GONNA NEED VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE USING OUR PUBLIC WORKS GUYS.
THAT'S WHY I'M GONNA DO IT ON A MONDAY.
'CAUSE SATURDAYS IT'LL BE HARD, YOU KNOW, PULLING PEOPLE.
SO THAT'S WHY, UH, PUBLIC WORK SAID LET'S DO IT ON A MONDAY THAT WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH GUYS AND WE CAN SCATTER THEM THROUGHOUT AND THEN THE SIGNUP SHEET WILL WORK AS WELL.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST GONNA BE RANDOMLY LOOKING FOR THINGS.
SO I'LL HAVE ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE HOMEOWNERS THAT WANT TO UTILIZE THE SERVICE.
DO YOU NEED ANY HELP FROM US? WE CAN SUPERVISE
UM, YEAH, SO I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED.
LET LARRY KNOW WHAT HE NEEDS AND THEN WE CAN GO FROM THERE.
YEAH, SO EITHER, LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST MONDAY OR SECOND MONDAY IN JUNE, I'M NOT SURE YET.
I JUST HAVE TO GET WITH HARDY BILL RECYCLING TO SEE WHAT'S KIND OF A SLOW TIMEFRAME FOR THEM.
AND THEN ALSO, UH, COMMUNITY HOUSING SERVICES AGENCY IS BASED OUT OF SAVANNAH AND I WENT OVER TO THEM LAST YEAR AND OF COURSE MY SERVICE JUST WENT OUT, WENT OVER TO THEM LAST YEAR.
AND WHAT THEY DO IS FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN SAVANNAH HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES FOR CHATHAM COUNTY.
AND THEY DO PRETTY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE DO OR WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD.
THEY PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM,
[00:10:01]
DEVELOPMENT, PRIVATE PARTNER, PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.THEY ARE DOING A TROLLEY TOUR TO SHOW THEIR MOST RECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, HOW THEY CONNECT WITH HABITAT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO CHARLOTTE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, JOIN ON IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO.
SO THERE'S A COUPLE DATES THE TOWN WILL PAY FOR IT BECAUSE WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET FOR TRAINING FOR OUR BOARDS, COMMITTEES AND COMMISSIONS.
SO I'LL SHOOT YOU GUYS THESE DATES IS EVERY FRIDAY, UM, FROM EIGHT 30 TO 12 AND IT'S OVER IN SAVANNAH.
SO IT'S JUST A SAVANNAH TROLLEY TOUR OF THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS.
SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO GO, WE CAN ALL GO TOGETHER OR YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED TO SCATTER DATES.
THERE'S UM, THERE'S A MARCH, THERE'S AN APRIL, THERE'S A JUNE, THERE'S AN AUGUST.
SO IT'S STRETCHED OUT AND LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE HELD ON FRIDAYS FROM EIGHT 30 TO 12.
BUT I'LL SEND YOU THE SCHEDULE SO YOU CAN LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AND I'LL SEND YOU THE WEBSITE AS WELL.
TO GET SOME IDEAS OF WHAT OTHER LOCAL AREAS ARE DOING.
UM, I DID REACH OUT TO THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL, WALTER COOPER, SO THEY GOT BACK WITH ME JUST THIS MORNING
SO I EMAILED HIM WAY BACK WHEN AND HE DID APOLOGIZE.
UH, I'M READ YOU EXACTLY WHEN HE SAYS SORRY FOR THE DELAY AS I HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE OFFICE THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.
SO THIS IS THE PARKER Z WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT AND DATA MANAGER OF THE V COOPER COMMUNITIES.
SO HE APOLOGIZED THAT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO GET HERE TODAY, BUT I DID REPLY I WOULD LIKE TO GET YOU ON OUR APRIL 3RD SCHEDULE AND HE'S FINE WITH THAT.
SO IF YOU GUYS CAN LET ME KNOW WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS, WHAT KIND OF PRESENTATION YOU WANT FROM HIM.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME BACK INFORMATION, THAT'S THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT THAT'S COMING ON WITH THE WATER COOPER, UH, COMPANY.
SO, UM, SHOOT ME SOME QUESTIONS, SHOOT ME WHAT YOU WANNA HEAR FROM HIM AND THEN I'LL SEND THAT BACK TO HIM SO HE CAN PREPARE A PRESENTATION FOR NEXT MONTH.
UM, THAT WARDEN COOPER, MM-HMM
UM, SEEMS TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD, UM, HANDLE ON HOW TO BUILD TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO WE WANT THEM TO COME TO SPEAK TO US AND, UM, AND POSSIBLY SEE IF THEY COULD PROBABLY BE SOMEONE THAT WE USE IN THE FUTURE TO, UM, BECAUSE THEY, THEY NOT ONLY, WHEN I SAY TRUE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK THEY GO AS LOW AS 30%.
SO, UM, THOSE, UH, AND, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN DOING ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT AND THEY, THEY PARTNER WITH BEFORD MEMORIAL.
THEY EVEN, UH, ENTERTAIN SOME OF, UH, THE IDEAS OF HAVING A COVENANT FOR ABOUT 60 YEARS.
AND THAT IS, THAT IS PRETTY, PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
SO I'M GLAD THEY REACHED BACK OUT AND HE DID GIVE A LITTLE LEGITIMATE EXCUSE WHY HE TOOK SO LONG TO GET BACK TO ME.
SO WE ARE GONNA PUT HIM ON IN APRIL AND HE WILL BE HERE IN PERSON.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN 13 MINUTES.
MEG, ANY DO ME A FAVOR FOR MEG, GO BACK OVER THE, UM, THE BUDGET.
SO I'LL GO BACK UP TO THE MEMO.
SO MEG, I DID SKIP THE FIRST PARAGRAPH, BUT I'LL START OVER.
UM, THE BUDGET FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS ADOPTED AT 400,000 BY TOWN COUNCIL.
WE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL 1 44 FROM THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND ON AUGUST 22ND, WHICH THAT MADE US HOLD A POCKET OF $544,000.
AS OF TODAY, OR AS OF LAST WEEK WHEN THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED OVER A LITTLE OVER 2 0 8 HAS BEEN, UH, APPLIED AND 1750 IS NOW PENDING FOR A HOME REPAIR.
SIX HOMES FOR PUBLIC PLUMBING SERVICES, EXCUSE ME, AT 3000 224 1 TREE SERVICE AT FOUR 50 AND HURRICANE HELENE, WE DEMOLISHED A MOBILE AT 4,200 ALTOGETHER.
31 HOMES HAVE BEEN SERVICED AND ONE HOMEOWNER IS WAITING FOR INCOME VERIFICATION.
ONE HOME IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED AND ROB AND MYSELF ARE GOING OUT NEXT WEEK TO THREE ADDITIONAL HOMES.
SO, UM, LIKE I TOLD THE REST, WE, I WE HAVE BEEN BUSY.
UM, APPLICATIONS ARE STILL COMING IN, QUESTIONS ARE BEING ASKED AND SEVEN OUT OF THE 31, UM, ARE HOMES THAT WE HAVE HELPED BEFORE, BUT THE REMAINING ARE ALL NEW HOMES.
SO BLUFFTON IS BIG AND WE ARE FINDING THAT OUT EVERY WEEK WHEN A NEW APPLICATION COMES IN.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU, MEG AND EX? AGAIN, EXCUSE MY, MY MUMBLING, I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.
CHECK WITH DANIELLA TO SEE IF SHE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
[00:15:01]
YES.DO, WHERE DO I HAVE HER STAND BY? I GOT A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU, FRED.
NOT TO JINX THINGS, BUT IF WE END UP AT A, A SURPLUS IN THE BUDGET AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT, DOES IT ROLL OVER INTO NEXT YEAR? YES, IT DOES.
SO THAT THE TOWN DOESN'T CLAW THAT BACK? NO, NO.
WE, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, PROTECTED THAT SOME YEARS AGO.
MR. NOLES, CAN YOU HEAR ME? SHE, SHE SAID A CUSTOMER STEP IN, SO SHE HAD US TURNED DOWN BUT I JUST SENT HER A TEXT.
SHE SAID SHE'S LOOKING FOR WORKERS AT THE BANK OF ANYONE INTERESTING.
SO WE'LL WAIT FOR HER TO COME IN 'CAUSE I JUST TEXT HER IF SHE HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHIME IN.
MEG, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE EXCEL SHEET.
WE ARE HOLDING, UH, 3 0 7, 300 $7,000 REMAINING.
IT'S NOT ON THIS EXCEL SHEET 'CAUSE I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING YESTERDAY.
SO WE ARE HOLDING 3 0 7 STILL.
SO WE ARE GOOD FOR SEVERAL BIG PROJECTS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE COMING IN SOON.
OUR BUDGET ENDS THE END OF JUNE.
I HAVE 3 0 7 ON THE PRINTED ONE.
JUST SHOW WHAT I PUT IN THERE SO THAT, YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU.
THE WATER COOPER UPDATE, THE COMMUNITY GOODS UPDATE AND THEN IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN THE TROLLEY TOUR, I WILL SEND YOU THAT INFORMATION RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO BRING UP MARK SO HE CAN LET US KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHERE WE STAND WITH THE MAY AT 10 95 MAY RIVER ROAD.
I DON'T HAVE A LONG REPORT BUT WHAT I DO HAVE TO BRING UP IS GOOD NEWS.
SO THE TOWN HAS SIGNED A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH WORKFORCE STATE OF MIND TO START PHASE TWO OF CONSTRUCTION.
THEY HAVE SELECTED A SITE CONTRACTOR AND WE HAD HOPED TO START THIS WEEK ON CLEARING AND SITE PREP, BUT DUE TO ILLNESSES AND A DEATH IN THE FAMILY, THINGS HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND NOW THEY'RE PLANNING ON GETTING EVERYTHING STARTED NEXT WEEK.
SO YOU SHOULD BE SEEING SOME SITE FENCE OR SILT FENCE AND SOME SITE WORK STARTING AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.
AND YOU UH, THE PRO PROGRAM OF UM, MANAGER FOR THE PROJECT MANAGER.
YEAH, I WAS ASSIGNED TO KIND OF BE THE LIAISON WITH THE TOWN AND THE CONTRACTOR SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKE THAT JOB.
BUT IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, JUST LET ME KNOW OR GET, GET WITH ME TO VICKY AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER 'EM AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.
I THINK THAT IS IT LADIES? NO.
ALRIGHT, ANY, ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE? OKAY.
WE THANK EVERYONE FOR A VERY INFORMATIVE MEETING AND HAPPY TO THAT YOU JOIN US TODAY, SIR, FROM THE BANK BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY NEED YOU IN, NEED YOU ON BOARD.
AND MARK, I APPRECIATE YOUR UPDATE AND KEEP COMING BACK AND TELLING US HOW PROGRESS ARE BEING, UM, UM, FULFILLED OVER THERE.
IS THAT THE PLAN? CAN MARK COME BACK? SURE.
[00:20:01]
WATCHING BC TV.HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
A FEW MILES FROM BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA.
IN THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL STANDS A PROPERTY OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
IN FACT, IT'S LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, THE ONLY PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN BY WATER.
SOUTH CAROLINA'S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS WORKING TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR ALL.
FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, A CULTURAL RESOURCES, INVENTORY OR ARCHEOLOGY MUST BE DONE BUILT FROM TABBY, A MIXTURE OF OYSTER SHELLS, LIME, SAND, AND WATER.
SIMILAR IN MANY WAYS TO CONCRETE.
FORT FREDERICK'S CONSTRUCTION WAS ORDERED IN 1726 BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT TO GUARD PORT, ROYAL SOUND, AND THE TOWN OF BEAUFORT FROM APPROACHED BY SPANISH WARSHIPS.
AN ESTIMATED 50,000 BUSHELS OF OYSTERS WERE NEEDED FOR THE FIVE FOOT HIGH, FIVE FOOT THICK TABBY WALLS.
IT IS THE OLDEST TABBY STRUCTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE ADJACENT PROPERTY IS THE UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL.
ON THIS PROPERTY WAS THE 19TH CENTURY SMITH PLANTATION, WHICH BECAME THE UNION ARMY'S CAMP SAXTON DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND HOME OF THE FIRST REGIMENT COMPRISED OF FREED SLAVES.
THE OBJECT IS TO EXTRACT AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE IN A GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIME.
THERE IS A CERTAIN METHODOLOGY USED IN AN INVESTIGATION LIKE THIS COME ALONG AND SEE HOW IT'S DONE.
THE INITIAL SHOVEL TESTS DUG RANDOMLY AROUND THE SITE, EXAMINE THE DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS AND THE PERIOD OF OCCUPATION AT FORT FREDERICK.
ARTIFACTS INCLUDED 19TH CENTURY, 18TH CENTURY, AND PREHISTORIC OBJECTS.
THIS IS A FLAKE, A STONE TOOL FLAKE.
IT'S A PIECE OF CHURCH FROM ALLENDALE COPPER SITE AT TOP OF THAT AREA.
IT'S PRETTY, IT KIND OF TELLS YOU HOW RICH IT IS OUT HERE.
WITH THESE INITIAL TESTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS DETERMINE THE DEPTH REQUIRED OF THE SHOVEL TESTS IN THE NEXT PHASE.
THAT DEPTH IS WHEN THEY REACH A STERILE SOIL LAYER WHERE THEY NO LONGER SEE CULTURAL MATERIAL.
FOR PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT, A GRID IS LAID OVER THE SITE MAP.
THE SCOPE OF WORK HERE CALLS FOR SHOVEL TEST PROBES EVERY 10 METERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE THREE ACRES, RIGHT? OH.
USING A SURVEYING INSTRUMENT CALLED A TOTAL STATION PIN FLAGS ARE PLACED TO MATCH THE GRID MAP.
EACH FLAG IS IDENTIFIED BY ITS EXACT LOCATION.
A FIELD TEAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY IS CONTRACTED TO CONDUCT THE FIELD WORK.
THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THESE SHOVEL TESTS WILL GUIDE THE UPCOMING MONTH LONG EXCAVATION AS WELL AS ANY THAT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN IN YEARS TO COME.
ALL THE SOILS ARE SCREENED THROUGH A QUARTER INCH MESH.
ALL ARTIFACTS ARE BAGGED ACCORDING TO THEIR EXACT LOCATION AND DEPTH FOR LATER ANALYSIS FOR THE NEXT PHASE.
UNITS OF TWO METERS IN DIAMETER ARE LAID OUT IN THE AREAS CONFIRMED BY THE SHOVEL TESTS.
TO HAVE THE HIGHEST DENSITY OF ARTIFACTS, THE FIELD TEAM REMOVES SOIL LAYER BY LAYER.
SO HOW DEEP IS EACH LEVEL? SOMETIMES A STANDARD DEPTH OF 10 CENTIMETERS IS USED AT FORT FREDERICK.
THEY'LL EXCAVATE LAYERS ACCORDING TO CHANGES IN SOIL COLOR.
AGAIN, ALL THE DIRT IS SCREENED AND THE ARTIFACTS BAGGED.
THIS INFORMATION WILL ACCOMPANY THE ARTIFACTS THROUGHOUT THE CURATION PROCESS.
THESE UNITS SHOW AN OCCUPATION FROM THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
THIS IS STONE WEAR, AMERICAN STONE WEAR WITH ONLY FOUR WEEKS BUDGETED FOR THE PROJECT.
THE FIELD TEAM MUST BE METICULOUS AND QUICK AT THE SAME TIME.
MOTORIZED SCREENERS HELP SPEED SIFTING THROUGH LARGE VOLUMES OF SOIL.
WHILE SOME TASKS REQUIRE A MORE DELICATE TOUCH LOOKING CLOSELY, SOME AREAS SHOW A COLOR CHANGE IN THE SOIL CALLED FEATURES.
[00:25:01]
THESE AREAS WERE LIKELY DISTURBED BY HUMANS IN THE PAST WERE THESE POST HOLES FOR A STRUCTURE OR HOLES WHERE ITEMS OFTEN TRASH WERE BURIED.THESE FEATURES ARE EXCAVATED FURTHER AS THEY OFTEN YIELD ARTIFACTS AND THESE FEATURES MUST BE EXCAVATED TO THEIR STERILE SOIL LAYER.
WORK IN THIS AREA OF THE SITE IS PLANNED FOR TWO WEEKS.
FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THIS PROJECT, THE TEAM MOVES TO THE FORT ITSELF.
THE DECISION IS MADE TO LAY OUT CONTIGUOUS TWO METER UNITS THAT SPAN THE FORT'S INTERIOR WALL TO WALL.
GIVEN THE DEPTH REQUIRED, THERE IS A LOT OF DIRT TO BE MOVED NEAR THE EAST WALL.
THE TEAM ENCOUNTERS A RUBBLE FILLED FEATURE.
THIS FEATURE IS EXCAVATED AND THE CONTENTS BAGGED FOR THE TRIP TO THE LAP.
EVERY CONCEIVABLE DATA POINT, STRATIGRAPHY SOIL COLORS, DEPTHS, AND FEATURES IS COLLECTED FOR LATER ANALYSIS.
THE EXCAVATION OF THE FORT'S INTERIOR HAS EXPOSED THE FULL DEPTH OF THE WALLS, YIELDING ARTIFACTS FROM PREHISTORIC TIMES THROUGH THE 19TH CENTURY.
NOW, LAB ANALYSIS WILL BEGIN TO PIECE TOGETHER UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE SITE'S LONG OCCUPATION.
BUT FIRST, BEFORE LEAVING THE SITE, THE UNITS ARE BACKFILLED TO PRESERVE THEIR INTEGRITY AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO IT AS THE RUBBLE SCATTER.
AFTER MANY MONTHS IN THE PLANNING STAGES, A WEEK OF SHOVEL TEST PROBES, A MONTH OF UNIT EXCAVATIONS WITH MOUNTAINS OF SOIL MOVED, PLUS WEEKLY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC.
ARCHEOLOGY AT THIS SITE IS DONE FOR NOW.
NEARLY TWO TONS OF OYSTER SHELL BRICK AND ARTIFACTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE INSTITUTE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY AT USC IN COLUMBIA FOR ANALYSIS.
IT IS HERE THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THEY FOUND WILL BE ASSESSED AND ADDED TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO OCCUPIED THE FORT FREDERICK HERITAGE PRESERVE.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.