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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
I AM GOING TO CALL THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO ORDER.
UM, WILL IT ALL PLEASE? WE, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
SO EVERYBODY STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
I PLEDGE TO LEAD 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.
SO, UM, THIS WAS POSTED AND WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH FOIA, CORRECT? MS. BRA? YES, MA'AM.
WE'RE AND MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE CONSIST OF THE, THE CHAIR OF COUNCIL, THE VICE CHAIR OF COUNCIL, AND THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMITTEES, WHICH WILL BE MR. GLOSS GLOVER, MR. LAWSON, MR. BARAL, AND MR. CUNNINGHAM.
SO WE WILL PROCEED WITH MR. GLOVER, MR. BARAL, ALICE, MYSELF.
AND WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE MR. UH, DAWSON, MR. RES WITH US.
UH, LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, PLEASE.
CAN WE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD.
MS. MAJOR, DID YOU WANT THIS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OR YOU WANNA DO IT AT THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING? YOU CAN SPEAK BOTH.
YOU GET YOUR THREE MINUTES AND THEN IF YOU WANNA SPEAK AT COUNCIL, THAT WOULD BE AT SIX O'CLOCK.
IS THAT WHAT YOU WANNA DO? BOTH OF THEM? I CAN, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING YOU WANT.
THERE'S JUST ONE THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
OH, I WONDER WHAT IT COULD BE.
WELL, UM, MY NAME IS CARRIE MAJOR AND, UM, THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR HEARING ME.
I REALLY JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE ST.
HELENA YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER.
I KNOW WE ARE OVER HERE AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL TO BE IN, UM, AT THE REC CENTER HERE.
SO I CAN SEE HOW GREAT IT LOOKS AND A DREAM OF HOW OURS IS GONNA LOOK ON LEN ISLAND.
AND THERE'S ONE THING I SAW ON THE WALL WHEN I CAME IN, WHICH REALLY, REALLY ENCOURAGED ME.
IT SAID THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IMPOSSIBLE AND THE POSSIBLE LIES IN A PERSON'S DETERMINATION.
SO I'M SO GRATEFUL AND WE ARE DETERMINED ON SE HELEN ISLAND TO GET YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTER OVER THERE SO OUR YOUTH, YOUTH ESPECIALLY CAN HAVE A PLACE TO GO.
YOU ARE, YOU ARE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
OUR AGENDA AND I PASSED OUT TO, UM, MEMBERS HERE.
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL DATES AND TOPICS FOR UPCOMING JOINT MEETINGS WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, BEAUFORT LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION, AND JASPER COUNTY.
SO LET'S START WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I PROVIDED EVERYONE WITH A HANDOUT.
THE ITEMS I LISTED UNDER SCHOOL BOARD, THE VERY FIRST ONE, THOSE ARE ITEMS SENT TO US.
MS. HOWARD SENT YOU ALL THE EMAIL.
IT WAS FROM COLONEL GEIER, WHO IS THE CHAIR OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
I'M GONNA READ IT FOR THE PUBLIC.
ESTABLISH A MEANS TO RECEIVE ADVANCED NOTICE ON PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF MULTI OR SINGLE FAMILY COMMUNITIES WHEN THE COUNTY, THIS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL ZONING AND ALLOWS US TO PLAN APPROPRIATELY FOR GROWTH ALONG ONE 70 AND 2 78 CORRIDORS.
THEY ALSO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ON A RELATED TOPIC, GROWTH IN UNINCORPORATED COUNTY COMMUNITIES NORTH OF THE BROAD, ESPECIALLY IN THE BURTON TOWNSHIP.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE LOKO PROPERTY OWNED BY THE DISTRICT.
THAT IS THE LOCATION OF THE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
MR. DAWSON'S TALKED ABOUT THAT SEVERAL TIMES.
UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FISCAL AUTHORITY FOR THE DISTRICT.
THAT'S A LEGAL ISSUE AND POSSIBLE MEETING DATES.
SO I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO OUR MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
DO YOU HAVE OTHER ITEMS YOU'D LIKE US TO ADD TO THE LIST FOR DISCUSSION? UH, TAB I DO HAVE TWO ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.
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REDESIGN OF THE LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THAT CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS A POTENTIAL PARK, UH, OUT THERE BY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.THE OTHER ON SCHOOL PROPERTY? YEAH.
WELL, IT'S NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OUT THERE.
AND APPARENTLY THERE'S A GREEN SPACE APPLICATION IN ON IT.
AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, TOPIC I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS SEEING IF WE COULD COMPILE A MASTER LIST OF COUNTY PROPERTIES AND SCHOOL BOARD PROPERTIES, UH, TO HELP FOR FUTURE PLANNING.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT, JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE WE STARTED, THE SCHOOL GAVE US THAT FACILITIES PLAN, WHICH LISTED ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES, WHICH I WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE TO SEE.
AND I KNOW, UM, OUR GROUP IS WORKING ON OUR PROPERTIES, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO COMPILE COUNTY AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTIES.
HOPEFULLY THAT CAN HELP ALLEVIATE SOME TAX BURDENS DOWN THE ROAD IF THERE'S PROPERTIES ALREADY OWNED THAT COULD BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE USE OF A NEW SCHOOL.
ONE THING I WANTED TO ADD WAS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR PROGRESS TOWARD TEACHER RECRUITMENT RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE BUDGET.
I, IF WE, DEPENDING ON WHEN WE DO THIS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW RECRUITMENT'S GOING, HOW MANY OPENINGS THEY HAVE, BECAUSE WE ALL REMEMBER THEY COME BEFORE US FOR THE BUDGET.
OTHER ITEMS FROM, YES, MS. HOWARD? UM, I'D, I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION AGAIN THAT THE PHYSICAL AUTHORITY FOR THE DISTRICT, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, DAVID HAS TALKED ABOUT AND WE'VE HEARD FROM THE LEGIS, THE LEGISLATORS ABOUT IT.
BUT IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THE ATTORNEYS NEED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERING OPINIONS ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, THEY PUT IT ON THE LIST, BUT WE WILL TELL THEM IT IS UNDER LEGAL OPINION.
MR. HALBERT'S, WELL AWARE OF THAT.
I WANT TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MS. HOWELL JUST TALKED ABOUT.
UH, FISCAL AUTONOMY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I THOUGHT LAST YEAR, UH, WE PASSED A RESOLUTION BASICALLY.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I I'M ON THE SAME PAGE.
UM, SO I DON'T, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO SPEAK NO MORE TO THAT OTHER THAN, UM, I ENDORSE THE RESOLUTION, UM, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE FISCAL AUTONOMY.
SO IT'S NOW IN THE LEGISLATIVE FAIR, LIKE YOU SAID, MR. TAM, UH, THE, THE THING THAT, I'M NOT TOO SURE WHETHER THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE VENUE FOR US TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, I, I'VE BEEN VERY DISTURBED, UH, WITH THE, UM, SUCCESS, UM, THAT WAS, THAT'S NOT HAPPENING FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL.
UH, WHEN IT COMES TO STANDARDIZED TESTING, I THINK WE ALL RECEIVE A, UH, A MEMO, UM, RECENTLY, UH, OUTLINING THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT'S APPROPRIATE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT.
BUT, UM, IT IS A CONCERN OF MINE AND I'VE SHARED THAT WITH DR. RODRIGUEZ, UM, PREVIOUSLY AND EVERY SUPERINTENDENT SINCE.
AND NOTHING HAS MOVED THAT BAR FROM WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S TRULY, IN MY OPINION, UNACCEPTABLE.
I COULD TELL YOU AT SOME OF THEIR MEETINGS, THEY GO OVER THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF ACHIEVING INCREASES AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING ABOUT IT.
BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR GAME TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK TALKING ABOUT IT IS ONE THING, SEEING RESULTS IS ANOTHER.
AND I THINK THERE GOTTA BE SOME RESULTS, UM, UH, ACHIEVE, UM, WITH ALL THE FUNDING THAT'S GOING FORWARD, ALL THE ENERGY THAT'S BEING PLACED THERE, UM, SOMEHOW IT SEEMED THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME BETTER RESULTS THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING.
IT HAS NOT CHANGED IN 30 YEARS.
AND WHY NOT? YOU WANNA KNOW WHY NOT? YEAH.
WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS, UM, WHEN WE GET THIS TOGETHER, WE WILL SEND IT, WHEN WE PICK A DATE, WE'LL SEND IT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA ADD SOMETHING TO THIS? I GO AHEAD.
I I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT I WANT TO ADD.
I I JUST WANNA SPEAK TO THE FIRST, UH, BULLET POINT OF THE ADVANCED NOTICE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ASKING US TO GIVE THEM AS FAR AS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS CONCERNED IN THE COUNTY.
SO WHENEVER WE, WHENEVER YOU GET THROUGH WITH THE ADDING TO THE LIST, I'LL, I'LL, UH, SPEAK TO THAT.
WELL, IT'S NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST, SO WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THERE.
YOU READY TO GO THERE NOW? YEAH.
UM, THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UH, ASKING US TO, UM, ENGAGE THEM IN, UH, PROPOSALS OF FUTURE PROJECT COMING FORWARD IN ADVANCE OF GROWTH, UH, TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, I, I THINK IS, IS, UM, IS AN APPROPRIATE, UM, IT'S AN APPROPRIATE REQUEST.
UH, I THINK IT, IT AFFORDS THEM THE, UH, OPPORTUNITY AND ABILITY
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TO, UH, PLAN IN ADVANCE AND RATHER THAN REACTING TO, UM, GROWTH ONCE WE HAVE ALREADY PLANNED IT AND ONCE IT'S ALREADY, UH, IN, IN PLACE, THEN THEY HAVE TO REACT TO ACTUALLY, UH, ACCOMMODATING THAT GROWTH AS FAR AS, UH, THE SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE CONCERNED AND, AND, UM, THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.SO I, I THINK US, UH, ENGAGING THEM AND, UH, THOSE DISCUSSIONS, UM, MAKING THEM AWARE OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD AND ENGAGING THEM IN THE DISCUSSIONS AS FAR AS GROWTH RELATED, UM, UH, DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY US, THE COUNTY, BUT THEM AS WELL.
I, I THINK, UM, I, I THINK WE'LL DO WELL HAVING THAT, ESTABLISHING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I'VE NOTICED THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN, THE NEW ONES ARE COMING TO MORE MEETINGS LIKE, UM, SO LOCO AND NORTHERN REGIONAL PLAN MEETING AND I MEAN THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A POSITION ON THE NORTHERN REGIONAL PLAN COMMITTEE, BUT, UM, THEIR PARTICIPATION HAS INCREASED GREATLY.
SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, MR. DAW, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK ABOUT LOKO? THAT'S I HERE, MADAM CHAIRMAN, BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER, LEMME JUST PIGGYBACK ON MR. DAWSON.
UM, I, I THINK THE INCLUSION SHOULD BE ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, IN THAT DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT, UH, GROWTH BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPACTING GROWTH MORE SO THAN I THINK COUNTY RESIDENTS.
SO I THINK THEY NEED TO INCLUDE ALL THE MUNICIPALITY AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT, THAT CHAMPION THAT CAUSE OR NOT.
BUT, UM, THE GROWTH IS COMING IN BLUFFTON.
IT'S COMING IN HILTON HEAD AND THE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, MORE SO THAN IS COMING OUT OF THE RURAL AREA.
I THINK THAT'S A FAIR COMMENT THAT WE WOULD MAKE.
AND THEY CERTAINLY KNOW THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE UP TO THEM TO HAVE THOSE INTERACTIONS.
NOW WE DO INTERACT WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES, WHAT IS IT, EVERY OTHER MONTH.
SO WE COULD BRING THAT UP AS WELL.
ANYBODY ELSE ON THAT FIRST BULLET? WANNA OPINE ON IT? UM, HOW LONG DO WE THINK THIS WOULD NEED TO BE THIS MEETING? JUST SO WHEN WE START MAKING ARRANGEMENTS, I'M GONNA SAY AN HOUR AND A HALF.
SO EVERYBODY HAS MAYBE TWO, TWO HOURS.
SO MAYBE EVERYBODY HAS TIME TO TALK.
AND, AND ONE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, IF I CAN, UM, TO DISCUSS THE SHARED FACILITIES FOR OPENING UP THE ATHLETIC FACILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY MM-HMM
I, I THINK WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO DO THAT, BUT YEAH, THEY ARE.
GET, GET AN UPDATE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OR WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR.
JUST KIND OF GET AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I DON'T THINK THAT'D BE A LONG DISCUSSION ITEM.
UM, MR. DAWSON, WHAT ABOUT LEKO? I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.
UM, IT'S BEEN SOME TIME SINCE WE HAD, UM, A DISCUSSION OR ANY UPDATE ON THE, UH, PROCESS AND THE PROGRESS, UH, WITH THE LOCO, UM, SITE.
UM, ON THAT SITE WE HAVE THE LOCO LIBRARY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, AND A BUILDING ADJACENT TO THAT, WHICH USED TO BE THE OLD ABECO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND, UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, UM, UTILIZED IT AFTER, UM, AFTER THE, UH, SCHOOL WAS MOVED, UH, INTO BEAUFORT.
BUT, UH, WE, THE COUNTY MADE THE DECISION THAT WE WANTED TO, UH, GET RID OF THAT BUILDING AND WE OFFERED IT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND SO I, I PROBABLY HAVE TO RELY ON STAFF TO REFRESH US OR BRING US UP TO, UP TO SPEED AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT CURRENTLY.
BECAUSE THE LAST, THE LAST MEETING I HAD WAS WITH, UH, HANK EDMONDSON AND, UM, I FORGOT WHO THE GENTLEMAN WAS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT WE WALKED THROUGH THE BUILDING, WE WALKED THE, THE PROPERTY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS, UM, UM, WELL, SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTED TO GET RID OF IT, BUT I THINK IT WAS, UH, BEAUFORD, JASPER COMP HEALTH WAS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE, UH, WITH NEGOTIATIONS OR CONVERSATIONS PROCEEDED AFTER THAT.
SO WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO ASK STAFF TO GO BACK AND, UH, UH, BRING US A, A UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE'RE IN THAT, IN THAT SITUATION.
WELL, ONCE WE SET THIS AGENDA WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND PICK A DATE, WE'LL HAVE STAFF UPDATE ON ANY OF THESE THINGS.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. LAWSON? WELCOME.
CHAIR OF OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND THESE WERE, ALL OF THESE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE OPEN MEETINGS.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? CAN WE LOOK
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AT WHEN SOME POSSIBLE TENTATIVE DATES? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA ASK US FOR.I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, LET MS. BROCK COORDINATE WITH HER COUNTERPART IF SHE COULD.
AND IS THERE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK THAT'S NOT, I MEAN, FOR ME, FRIDAYS ARE THE BEST.
WELL, I'M SORRY, BUT MONDAY'S BAD.
WEDNESDAYS, EVERYBODY ELSE MEETS.
I MEAN, I IT IS THE START OF YOUR WEEKEND.
SO, UM, I THINK, DID THEY GIVE US A COUPLE MEETINGS? NO, THAT WAS THE OTHER ONE GAVE US THAT.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR PEOPLE TOGETHER TOO.
THIS WILL BE LIKE HERDING A BUNCH OF CATS.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SET A DATE AND GO
AND WHO CAN ATTEND? ATTENDS THE OTHERS? YOU KNOW, UM, I WOULD THROW OUT, UM, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR OUT, UH, WE TALKING ABOUT, BUT YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S A, UH, FIFTH MONDAY COMING UP ANYTIME SOON.
I MEAN, THAT'S GENERALLY WHEN NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
UM, I MEAN, THERE'S ONE COMING UP NEXT WEEK, BUT THAT'S TOO FAR.
I MEAN, JUST TOO EARLY TO PLAN.
BUT IF THERE'S A FIFTH MONDAY, UH, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THE NEXT FIFTH MONDAY IS JUNE.
BUT IT COULD BE ONE THAT COULD BE THE SECOND MEETING AND, AND YOU GET THE INITIAL MEETING GOING NOW AND THEN.
THAT COULD BE THE, THE SECOND MEETING.
ALRIGHT, SARAH, WE'RE GONNA ASK YOU TO SEE WHAT WE CAN COORDINATE.
THE SECOND ITEM IS MEETING WITH THE BUFORT LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
SO MANY OF US HAVE GONE TO THEIR DELEGATION MEETINGS, BUT THOSE ARE THEIR MEETINGS WITH THE PUBLIC.
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INTERACT WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
AND WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS QUESTION OR QUESTIONS.
UH, REPRESENTATIVE HERB KUSHMAN ASKED, LIKE, IF COUNTY COUNCIL WANTS TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING, YOU SEE THEY HAVE MONDAY OR FRIDAY.
YOU SEE THAT MR. GLOVER, I PUT IN BOLD PRINT.
'CAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS HERE FOR PLANNING AND PURPOSES FOR COMMUNICATION.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING? SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
WHAT WOULD BE OUR PURPOSE TO MEET WITH THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION? I HAVE SOME IDEAS, BUT HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE? WHY WOULD WE WANNA MEET WITH THEM? WELL, IN PARTICULAR TO GET AN UPDATE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE HOUSE THAT THAT IMPACTS THIS AREA DOWN HERE.
AND THEN TRANSVERSELY BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THEM THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
AND, UM, ALSO TALK ABOUT JOINT EFFORTS THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON.
HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM ON SPECIFIC ISSUES AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT US.
ANYBODY ELSE? I WOULD, UM, ADD, UM, A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF REAPPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSION.
SO OF THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
THAT BECAME EVIDENT THE LAST TIME.
FOR REAPPOINTMENTS, ANYBODY ELSE I PUT ON HERE? I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEM AS TO, UM, WHAT THEY HEAR FROM THEIR CONSTITUENTS ABOUT COUNTY COUNCIL WORKINGS AND HOW WE SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS, BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE HEARING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN US.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK ON THEIR PART FOR US.
YOU KNOW, PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING WITH OUR NEW ADMINISTRATOR, WITH OUR TEAM.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
AND THEY CAN CERTAINLY OFFER SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT AND ABOUT TALKING TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
ANY OTHER THING WE COULD PUT ON THERE FOR THE DELEGATION? OKAY.
IT SAYS HOW SOON WOULD WE WANNA MEET? DO YOU HAVE ANY DATES AVAILABLE FOR MONDAYS OR FRIDAYS? HERE WE GO.
SO WE WANT TO, DO WE WANNA MEET BEFORE THEY'RE OUTTA SESSION? IF WE DO JUST HAVE TO PICK A DAY AND HAVE TO BE AFTER THE HERITAGE OR BEFORE THE HERITAGE? I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN URGENCY TO MEET BEFORE THEY'RE OUT OF SESSION.
ACTUALLY, IT ACTUALLY MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE IT AFTER, AFTER SUNDAY THEY SHOULD MEET ANOTHER DAY BESIDES MONDAY OR FRIDAY.
AND THEY COULD TELL, TELL US WHAT, THEN THEY'LL KNOW WHAT PASSED AND WHAT DIDN'T PASS.
SARAH, YOU'LL COMMUNICATE WITH HER? YES MA'AM.
UM, ALSO WE COULD MAKE THIS MORE OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED THING.
SO BEFORE THEY GO INTO NEXT SESSION,
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WE COULD HAVE A GET TOGETHER AND SIT DOWN AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE PRE-FILED OR, OR THINGS THAT THEY BEFORE THE FALL.YEAH, I THINK WE, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE COMMUNICATION WITH THEM.
OTHER THAN WE GO TO LIKE MR. GLOVER, WE WERE AT THE LAST ONE WHEN THE APPOINTMENT CAME UP AND IT SHOULD, WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATION BEFORE THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA ASK SCHEDULE BEFORE THE FALL SESSION.
HOW'S THAT? AND AFTER MAY 8TH YEP.
AND I'LL TYPE THIS UP AND SENT ROUND ROBIN IT TO EVERYBODY.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION? OKAY.
WE ALSO HAD HAD ON HERE, JASPER COUNTY.
OH, WAIT, THEY WANNA KNOW WHERE WE WANNA MEET.
SO IF IT'S AFTER THEIR SESSION, WE CAN MEET IN BEAUFORT SOMEWHERE INSTEAD OF US ALL GOING UP TO COLUMBIA.
SO WE'RE GONNA THROW THAT IN THERE.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION PERSONALLY FOR, IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY, BUT, UM, AND I THINK ALICE, DON'T THEY DO THEIR UPDATES HERE TOO FROM TIME TO TIME? YES.
SO MS. BROCK, IF YOU WOULD LET HER KNOW WE CAN DO USE BUCKWALTER.
JASPER COUNTY AND HARDY, THE MAYOR OF HARDY V AND THE COUNCIL FROM JASPER COUNTY HAVE ASKED TO MEET WITH US TO COLLABORATE.
UH, THEY WANNA DISCUSS REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
I I THINK THEY SHOULD GIVE US SPECIFICS.
IF THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I'M, I'M HONESTLY NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES UNLESS I KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO BRING UP.
UM, THEY, WELL, I MEAN ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT TRANSPORTATION? NO, THEY'RE GOING OFF OF LAST TIMES PERSON.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DETENTION CENTER.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO I WILL ASK THEM FOR SPEC SPECIFIC TOPICS.
AND AGAIN, THIS WILL BE ANOTHER WE'LL HAVE TO GET DATE.
WE WILL JUST PICK UP A COUPLE DATES AND THROW 'EM IN THERE.
AND THOSE THAT CAN ATTEND, ATTEND THOSE THAT CAN'T.
WE'LL TYPE UP NOTES AFTER EVERY MEETING SO EVERYONE WILL BE INFORMED OF WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.
ANYBODY HAVE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR YOU'D LIKE TO ASK THEM? ONE THING, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THEM, AND I ALREADY HEARD THIS TWICE, BUT I THINK THE REST OF YOU SHOULD HEAR IT, IS THEIR PLAN FOR THEIR REFERENDUM MONEY.
THEY'RE NOT DOING A CITIZEN COMMITTEE.
THEY'RE DOING ELECTED OFFICIALS DECIDING HOW TO SPEND IT, WHICH IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF US.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR THAT.
AND WHERE THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO THEIR FIRST PROJECTS, DOES THAT INCLUDE THEIR GREEN BELT MONEY TOO? YEAH.
BUT WE SHOULD HEAR IT FROM THEM.
I'VE ONLY HEARD IT AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SO SPENDING REFERENDUM, WHO SELECTS PROPERTIES? THE WHO SELECTS THE PROJECTS? THAT'S JASPER COUNTY.
UH, JASPER COUNTY SLASH HARVILLE.
UM, WHY, WHY WAS RIDGELAND LEFT OFF? UM, THE CITY? I JUST PUT HARDY 'CAUSE THAT MAYOR ASKED ME.
CERTAINLY RIDGELAND COULD COME.
THEY'RE PART OF JASPER COUNTY.
I JUST HEARD THEIR MAYOR SPEAK TOO.
I, I THINK AS WE LOOK AT, UM, PARTIC PARTICULAR GROWTH IN BEAUFORT, THE REGIONAL GROWTH, I, I THINK RIDGELAND AS WELL AS HARDY'S, AS WELL AS BLUFFTON.
I MEAN, THEY ALL, UH, CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWTH AND WE NEED TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
UM, ONE OF, ONE OF MY CONCERN, AND I SHARED THIS, UM, WITH, WITH YOU, UM, IS THAT, UM, UNLIKE GERALD WHO LIVES OUT ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE COUNTY, UM, IF HE WANTED TO GET TO SAVANNAH, UM, HE COULD ALWAYS GO DOWN, POCA, GO AND GET TO SAVANNAH
WE ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME TRYING TO TRAVERSE TO SAVANNAH FROM THE SOUTHERN, I MEAN FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF BEAUFORT COMING THROUGH ONE 70.
RIGHT? WELL, WE, OUR WORLD HERE, YOU, YOU SEE IT EVERY DAY.
I, BUT, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR US WHO ARE MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND GOING TO, IS ADDING TO THE CALENDAR FOR US, UH, TO GET THERE.
AND THE MORE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS ON ONE 70, UM, THE GREATER THAT CLOG IS GOING TO GET.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF DISCUSS THAT.
AND I, I KNOW THAT SO LOCAL IS DOING SOMETHING, UM, THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH SOME PLANS AND I THINK WE ALL NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT AND WE ALL NEED TO SORT OF PARTICIPATE IN THAT DISCUSSION.
AND THOSE ARE THE MUNICIPALITIES ALONG THAT CORRIDOR AS WELL AS, UM, THE COUNTIES.
SO I JUST WANNA THROW THAT OUT THERE.
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EVERYONE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE REFERENDUM MONEY WITH REGARD TO ARJ BOULEVARD.YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OURS DIDN'T GO YES.
AND WE WERE ALL COLLABORATING, SO NOW THAT'S NOT GONNA BE, SO THEY'RE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
I HAVE, IF I, MY FOLLOW UP ON THAT, UM, YES.
UM, TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF YORK'S COMMENT ABOUT THE, UM, GROWTH AND THE CONGESTION MM-HMM
UM, I, I THINK THE CITY OF BEAUFORT IS NOT INCLUDED ON HERE.
WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM AS WELL BECAUSE IT, AS OF THIS VERY MOMENT, UM, GROWTH IS TAKING PLACE ALL OVER THE CITY OF BEAUFORT AND THE CONGESTION HAS ALREADY STARTED.
IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE BECAUSE OH.
WITH ALL THE DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NO, UM, THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE TRANSPORTATION ASPECTS OF IT.
AND, AND TO YOUR POINT, UM, SOME OF THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
THEY HAVE NEW LEADERS, AS YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT NEW LEADERSHIP AT THE, AT THE CITY STAFF LEVEL.
WE DID HAVE, UH, SOME OF US WENT TO A JOINT MEETING.
THEY HAD, I THINK IN JANUARY THEY'RE HAVING A JOINT MEETING WITH PORT ROYAL.
I'LL GET THE DATE OUT TO EVERYBODY IN APRIL AND WE, ANY OF US CAN ATTEND THAT.
AND THEY, THEY DO IT EVERY QUARTER.
CITY OF BEAUFORT AND TOWN OF PORT ROYAL OKAY.
AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE TALKED ABOUT.
SO THIS WOULD NOT BE A SEPARATE MEETING WITH BUFORD CITY? WE'LL PUT, PUT IT TO THAT ONE.
I'LL GET I, DAVID, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THE DATE, BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S IN APRIL, BUT I'LL GET THE DATE FOR THAT.
THAT, AND IT CAME UP BRIEFLY AT THE LAST MEETING.
WE'LL GET THE DATE ON THAT AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL HAS PRETTY MUCH, UM, PUT SOME THINGS IN PLACE WHERE THEY'RE VERY LIMITING GROWTH RIGHT NOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT CAN HOLD UP.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR JASPER COUNTY? RIDGELAND HARDY, ANYBODY.
THEY'VE ASKED TO MEET WITH US, AND AS MR. GLOVER SAID, THERE'S WERE, I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT ONE 70 AGAIN.
AND LOOK AT THE PARKWAY YOU JUST CAME OFF OF.
SO THEY'RE EAGER TO MEET WITH US AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOME SPECIFIC TOPICS.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC TOPICS WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT? BESIDES THE GROWTH? OH, OKAY.
UM, YOU WANT ME TO SAY NO GROWTH A DIFFERENT WAY?
I CAN'T,
ANYTHING ELSE? I GOT? YOU KNOW, IT WAS INTERESTING.
I GOT A, UM, EMAIL TODAY FROM FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, BEER.
IT WAS KINDA INTERESTING TO READ THAT.
HE, I THINK HE SENT IT TO ALL OF US.
IT WAS JUST INTERESTING TO READ IT.
WOULD, WOULD WE WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH THE MAY RIVER WATER QUALITY? I KNOW THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES TO US IN OUR CHATS WITH COUNCIL.
CERTAINLY CAN AND MAY BE AN UPDATE.
UM, AND, AND PAULA AND MARK'S DISTRICT REGARDING AJOY AND JUST AN UPDATE.
PUT IT ON THERE WHENEVER WE MEET WITH THEM.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR BLUFFTON? OTHER THAN WE'RE GONNA PUT MR. GLOVER UP FRONT FOR GROWTH.
THE NEXT ITEM WAS DISCUSSION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO FILL THE BEAUFORT COUNTY MINORITY SEAT ON THE LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM EXPIRING IN FEBRUARY, 2029.
UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GERALD AND I.
AND GERALD HAS A PLACEMENT THERE.
I DO HAVE A, UM, I GOT A PERSON, MR. MCDONALD SERVED THERE FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG.
UM, I, I WANT TO, UM, RECOMMEND, UM, MRS. SMITH.
UM, SHE'S VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
SHE'S VERY, UM, I CALL HER YOUNG BECAUSE SHE'S NOT YOUNG, YOUNG, BUT SHE'S, YEAH, IT'S ALL RELATIVE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SUBMIT HER NAME.
MR. DAWSON, DID YOU HAVE A NAME TOO? NO.
UM, I, I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH YORK EARLIER THIS MORNING.
I TOLD HIM I ALREADY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING, UH, NORTH OF BROAD.
SO I THINK IT WAS ONLY, UH, FAIR AND EQUITABLE THAT HE SELECT SOMEBODY FROM SEL.
IF BY CHANCE HE WASN'T ABLE, THEN I WOULD, UH, UH, REACH OUT AND TRY TO FILL A POSITION.
[00:30:03]
DO YOU HAVE, UM, ANY MR. GLOVER, ANY KINDA RESUME ON HER THAT EVERYBODY COULD SEE, UM, INFORMATION? NO, BUT I, I CAN GET THAT.UM, YEAH, IF YOU WOULD, JUST AS A, SO WE COULD ALL SEE WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE DOES.
UM, SHE SHOULD PROBABLY, CAN SHE GO SARAH, ON THE SHE'LL GO TO THE COMMISSION COUNCIL MEETING? YEAH.
SO IT GOES FROM HERE TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THE LAST ITEM IS THE APPOINT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF YORK GLOVER, GERALD DAWSON, MYSELF, MR. REEDS AND ALICE HOWARD AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINTEES TO LOW COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM WITH THE EXPIRATION OF MARCH, 2027.
ARE Y'ALL GOING TO TAKE A VOTE ON MOVING HER FORWARD, OR DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING LATER? OH, NO, I THINK WE COULD TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF MOVING CASSANDRA SMITH FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL.
AND THOSE OF US ON LOW COG, WE, UM, LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIVE OF US THAT ARE APPOINTED MOVE.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW AND FOR THE PUBLIC, THIS GROUP MEETS THE LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH.
THEY USED TO MEET EVERY MONTH.
NOW IT'S EVERY OTHER MONTH AND IT'S OUT IN YEE, WHICH IS HOW I FOUND THAT, BUT YES.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THESE FIVE SERVING ON LOCO.
ANYBODY WANT IT INSTEAD? YOU CAN HAVE MESSAGE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD OR COMMENT FROM THE COUNCIL? UM, I'M SORRY.
SPELL IT FOR S-A-U-N-D-R-A-D-R-A.
AND THAT'LL GO TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
ANY OTHER ITEM THAT COME BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE? THERE WAS SOME, UH, TWO PEOPLE CAME IN LATE.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY WANTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
DID YOU WANNA COMMENT FOR THIS ONE? THE FOLKS THAT CAME IN? YEAH, I HAVE A COMMENT.
BUT IF YOU'LL TAKE IT HERE, THAT'S FINE.
YOU WANT YEAH, BECAUSE THEY'RE RECORDING IT AND YOU WANNA LOOK YOUR BEST
SO YOU'RE, WHEN YOU COME UP, SPEAK THE MICROPHONE, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS CHARLES TURMAN.
I LIVE AT 17 SHEFFIELD AVENUE IN BEAUFORT.
AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING YOU FOLKS TO HELP US GET A STOPLIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE ISLAND CAUSEWAY AND LADIES ISLAND PARKWAY, WHICH IS THE INTERSECTION JUST AS YOU COME OFF THE MC TIER BRIDGE, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
THE TRAFFIC COMES DOWN OFF THAT BRIDGE AT 70, 75 AND 80 MILE AN HOUR IN A LOT OF CASES.
AND IT HAPPENS ROUTINELY ON A DAILY BASIS.
THE SHERIFF SAYS HE'S, HE PATROLS IT, BUT IN OUR OPINION, HE DOES NOT DO THAT ADEQUATELY.
I ALSO HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO MR. GLOVER.
MR. GLOVER WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALLS.
SO I ENDED UP TALKING TO SHANNON ERICKSON.
SHE HAD THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CALL ME AND SHE SAID, OR HE SAID, THE GENTLEMAN FROM DOT THAT, THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CROSS TRAFFIC COMING OUT OF CAT ISLAND, GIBBS ISLAND, CANE ISLAND.
BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEIR LAST TRAFFIC, UH, COUNT.
THAT WAS TWO YEAR, THREE YEARS AGO.
IN 2022, THEY DID A TRAFFIC COUNT.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE GOT A NEW GOLF COURSE THAT'S OPEN SECESSION GOLF COURSE IS UP AND RUNNING.
SO YOU'VE GOT ALL THAT TRAFFIC.
WE'VE GOT ADDITIONAL NEW HOMES EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER CAT ISLAND AND ON CANE ISLAND IS NOW STARTING.
THEY'RE BUILDING ON GIBBS ISLAND AS WELL.
THERE IS TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD EVERY DAY, INCLUDING SCHOOL BUSES.
AND, AND IT'S A DANGER TO GET OUT ON THAT HIGHWAY.
IT'S, IT'S, THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO.
SO THE ONLY, THIS EVENING WE CAME OUT AT THREE O'CLOCK, THERE WAS SIX CARS LINED UP TO GO ON THE ROAD.
WE TURNED RIGHT AND WENT UP BY PUBLIX AND TURNED AROUND AND CAME BACK DOWN TO GET, TO GO BACK, IF YOU KNOW THE AREA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[00:35:01]
THE ER BRIDGE, IT'S JUST A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT, THAT THIS BEGGING FOR SOMEBODY TO GET KILLED THERE.AND IT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL 'EM TO DO, BUT I HAVE, I HAVE SUGGESTIONS.
UM, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 55 THROUGH THERE.
IT DROPS TO 45, WHICH NOBODY PAYS ATTENTION TO.
IF THEY WOULD DROP THAT SPEED LIMIT FROM REBO AVENUE ALL THE WAY TO LADIES ISLAND PARKWAY, WHERE, WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH 21 TO 45, IT MIGHT HELP.
BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS, IS YOU NEED A STOPLIGHT THERE TO STOP THOSE PEOPLE FROM, FROM COMING DOWN THAT ROAD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT THAT EXCESSIVE RATE OF SPEED AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET OUT ON THAT CAUSEWAY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OUT.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY.
MR. MOORE, CAN SOMEONE REACH OUT TO HIM? WOULD YOU STOP OVER THERE? GIVE SARAH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.
MR. MOORE IS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
AND I'M SURE WE CAN HAVE SOMEBODY REACH OUT TO YOU.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE NEXT MEETING IF YOU WANT.
WELL, THERE'S NO SENSE IN DOING THAT IF I'VE GOT IT TO YOU GUYS, SO, OKAY.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, BEFORE YOU CLOSE OUT ON THIS, UM, I DO WANT TO, UM, LAST YEAR, UM, I, I DID ADDRESS THAT PROBLEM, BUT IT'S YOU.
THE SHERIFF BASICALLY HAS PUT A SIGN UP, UM, TEMPORARILY TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC.
UM, THE STATE IS IN CHARGE OF THAT AREA FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL WE CAN DO, BUT I THINK YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY GETTING WITH MR. MOORE AND, UM, IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE OKAY.
BUT IT'S A, IT'S A TOUGH BATTLE THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE? OKAY.
YOU'RE WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV.
LIVE, WORK, PLAY, JOE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DALE.
UH, I WE'RE, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO TALK ABOUT IN A, ALL OF THIS IN A VERY SMALL KIND OF PRESENTATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
UH, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR.
UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED, UH, YOU KNOW, TO BE IN OUR SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WHICH ARE, IS, IS A SPECIAL, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT IS REALLY A SPECIAL CANDIDATE, UH, THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE IN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS.
UM, AND, BUT WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IT CREATES, NOT ONLY IN OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WHAT OUR, WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL IS A MELTING POT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
SO HAVING THAT RIGHT PERSON IN THAT JOB AND THAT ROLE TO PROVIDE SECURITY TO OUR KIDS LEADERSHIP, TO OUR KIDS, UH, AND GIVING THE CONFIDENCE TO THE STAFF TO WORK IN THE SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON.
SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND A CLASS ONE OR A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.
WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE.
UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE.
UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[00:40:01]
UH, AND WE WOULD TRAIN THEM HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.ALL OF THEIR TRAINING WOULD BE DONE RIGHT HERE.
UH, IT WOULD BE EIGHT WEEKS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE THAN EIGHT WEEKS OF TRAINING.
UH, WE WOULD LIKE TO START THIS, UH, THE, OUR FIRST CLASS.
WE'D LIKE TO START IT IN JUNE.
UH, THAT WAY WE CAN GET 'EM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND BE READY FOR DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST.
UH, I, I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.
WE, WE, WE SENT THE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO THE ACADEMY THAT TRAINS ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THEY APPROVED IT, UH, WITH THE BLESSING OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRAINING COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE READY TO GET THIS THING MOVING AND GET IT STARTED.
AND I THINK FOR US, UH, WE JUST NEED TO KIND OF TELL OUR CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR? UH, THE ROLE IS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
IT'S A CLASS THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT DESIGNATION.
UH, THEY HAVE ARREST POWERS, UH, AND THEY HAVE ALL THE POWERS OF ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, UH, THAT THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO.
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE, SHERIFF? I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING LEAD ON THIS.
UM, WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN BLUFFTON THAT CURRENTLY ARE NOT STAFFED BY CLASS THREE OR HIGHER OFFICERS.
AND I THINK THAT THIS PROGRAM IS GONNA ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THESE POSITIONS, AND IT'S GONNA PROVIDE MORE OF A SECURITY BLANKET FOR OUR SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.
WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE MM-HMM
THAT ARE ABLE TO RETIRE FAIRLY YOUNG AND MAY BE LOOKING FOR THAT JOB.
THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER.
UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL.
AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE, WE NEED TO GET INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAITED UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE.
I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT.
UM, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN, BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED, I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO.
AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM, AND THEY'RE A RETIRED TEACHER, OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKERS, RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER.
AND THEY'RE STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND.
UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THAT STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT.
BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK.
BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE.
IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.
AND I, WE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN POOR ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
AND I JUST THINK THIS IS AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DO IT KINDA LIKE NIKE.
UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S, THE TRAINING IS, I THINK THEY'LL ENJOY THEIR TRAINING.
AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.
THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, HAVE THEIR OWN PILLOW, AND THEN THEY CAN COME TO TRAINING.
AND ONCE THEY'RE CERTIFIED, UH, THEN THEY'LL START THE SCHOOL YEAR, UH, AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.
SO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY REPRESENTS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE YOU THINK THIS, UM, THIS PROGRAM'S GONNA DO IN TOTALITY FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH? I THINK, I THINK THIS PROGRAM, ONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET US OVER THE TOP.
I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET A POLICE OFFICER IN EVERY SCHOOL IN BEFORD COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT.
A POLICE OFFICER AND I, AND I, AND YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAINING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS JOB.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER.
[00:45:01]
OFFICER, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE WELL TRAINED, UH, IN THIS.AND I, I THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK WITH THE YOUNG CHILDREN TARGETING THE RETIREES, WHETHER THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHERS, RETIRED MILITARY IS IMPORTANT.
THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
SO HOW MANY, HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM? FOR THIS PROGRAM? WE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO CURRENTLY.
POSSIBLY A THIRD COMING ON BOARD.
SO, I MEAN, IN TOTAL, AND HERE'S THE THING.
IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WORK AT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT OR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, UH, OR PORT ROYAL, OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT YOU TO COME TO WORK.
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY.
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT'S BASICALLY THE SAME.
THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE IN UNIFORM THAT YOU WEAR AT THE SCHOOL THAT YOU'RE ASSIGNED TO, UH, THE PAY.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE BASICALLY THE SAME.
SO ALL WE WANT PEOPLE TO DO IS PUT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN THE PROGRAM IN DETAIL.
AND IF YOU REALLY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT, UH, THEN LET'S, LET'S, LET'S GET STARTED.
AND, AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO HIT ON IS THIS PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT AND, AND REASON BEING IS NONE OF OUR KIDS SHOULD FEEL AFRAID GOING TO SCHOOL.
UM, THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.
UM, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS PROVIDES ANOTHER LAYER OF SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, IT ALSO PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN MM-HMM
UH, AS THEY'RE COMING UP THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO, LIKE THE SHERIFF SAID, IF YOU TRULY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, UH, THIS IS A POSITION THAT YOU REALLY, REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST HOPE THE APPLICATION START POURING IN.
AND IF YOU GET MORE THAN, THAN YOU NEED THEN AND, AND WE NEED TO GO TO BEAUFORT OR WE NEED TO GO TO, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR, OR PORT ROYAL, WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO PUT THESE PEOPLE TO WORK.
WE NEED TO FILL THESE VACANCIES, UH, AND LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS SAFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
AND I THINK THE UNIQUENESS OF THIS PROGRAM, THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS.
THEY HAVE THE SAME DESIRES, THE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.
IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO, IF YOU HIRE FOUR AND YOU KNOW, AND I CAN FILL THE NINE THAT WE NEED, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE TRAINING TOGETHER.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE ONE TRAINING SYLLABUS TO BENEFIT, UH, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE.
THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO START THIS AND INITIATE, YOU KNOW, THE SRO CLASS THREE POSITION HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW THE STATE IT WORKS.
AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE TRAINING TOGETHER, SHERIFF, IS YOU'RE CREATING A NETWORK BEFORE YOU EVEN GET STARTED.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHERE IF YOU CAN RUN INTO A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU CAN CALL AND GET SOME ADVICE OR TALK TO THEM ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR SCHOOL AND CURRENT TRENDS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY GETTING TOGETHER, BECAUSE HAVING THAT NETWORK AND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN RELY ON FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE IS INVALUABLE.
WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN, I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS OR GROW ONLINE AND RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE CLASS THREE SRO, UH, THROUGH ALL AGENCIES.
SO I THINK LINDSEY, IF WE CAN, I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, I THINK IF WE PUT THAT INFORMATION ON THIS VIDEO FOR BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WEBPAGE AND PHONE NUMBERS, UH, I THINK WE'LL HOPEFULLY WE'LL START GETTING CALLS.
THAT SOUND GOOD TO Y'ALL? YES, SIR.
[00:50:05]
THIRD FLOOR, THE SWAT TEAM.WE STARTED BACK IN 1986, AND, UH, I WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST TEAM MEMBERS OF THE SWAT IN 1986.
AND IT WAS MAINLY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO SERVE HIGH RISK WARRANTS.
AND, UH, AND WE WERE, DURING THAT TIME, WERE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN SOME, UH, VIP PROTECTION BECAUSE OF HILTON HEAD AND, AND SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT VISITED US HERE IN, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, SWAT, UH, BASICALLY STANDS FOR SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS, AND BASICALLY IT'S MADE UP OF SPECIALIZED OFFICERS WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT.
THEIR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE ROAD PATROL.
ANYTHING THAT IS, THAT IS OUT OF THE CAPABILITY OF THE ROAD PATROL, THE SWAT TEAM WILL HANDLE, UH, ANYBODY THAT'S ARMED AND DANGEROUS, UH, HAS A EX EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL HISTORY.
UM, HIGH RISK WARRANT SERVICE, UM, DRUG RAIDS, UH, VIP PROTECTION, BARRICADES, HOSTAGE RESCUE, UM, OR EVEN SURVEILLANCE DETAILS WHERE WE'RE SURVEILLING AN ARMED AND DANGEROUS PERSON.
UM, THEY ARE CALLED IN TO DEAL WITH THAT SUSPECT DUE TO THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE TRAINING.
TRAINING, UH, CONSISTS OF, UH, WE, WE TRAIN TWICE A MONTH, EIGHT HOURS A DAY FOR A TOTAL OF 16 HOURS.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING ANY TYPE OF SPECIAL EXERCISES OR, UH, ADDITIONAL TRAINING.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THOSE TRAINING HOURS DO IS ALLOW US TO, UH, REHEARSE AND TO, UH, WORK ON THE, THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE JOB SUSPECT TAKE DOWN, OBVIOUSLY WEAPONS TRAINING, UH, EXTENSIVE WEAPONS TRAINING.
UM, AND WE HAVE VERY, WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE TO KEEP UP ON.
THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS RECENTLY STARTED UP A, UH, THE, THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
UH, OUR STATE POLICE HAS STARTED UP A WMD INITIATIVE FOR ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED SEVEN, UH, SWAT TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, UH, TO BASICALLY COME TOGETHER AND PROTECT THE STATE AGAINST TERRORIST, UH, UH, SITUATIONS.
AND BEAUFORT COUNTY SWAT TEAM IS ONE WE HANDLE THE LOW COUNTRY, UM, WHICH IS SEVEN COUNTIES.
AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE ARE, OUR TEAM IS COMBINED WITH THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND, A HAZMAT TEAM, OUR SWAT TEAM, AND THE, THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY BOMB SQUAD.
AND WE CAN RESPOND REALLY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE, BUT NORMALLY THE LOWER PART, THE LOWER SEVEN COUNTIES IN THE STATE, UH, FOR ANY TYPE OF TERRORIST INSTANCES, WE WILL ACTUALLY RESPOND THERE AND HANDLE THOSE CALLS.
WHAT WE WERE TRAINED FOR HERE IS IF WE HAVE A BARRICADED SUBJECT INSIDE A BUILDING WITH, UH, MULTI-STORY WITH SOME WINDOWS THAT WE CAN REPEL INTO.
UM, SOME OF THE TIME WE CAN'T, UH, MAKE ENTRY INTO A BUILDING FROM OUTSIDE PERIMETER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH ALL THE WINDOWS, HE CAN SEE WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.
IF WE CAN GET ON A SIDE THAT WE KNOW HE'S NOT LOOKING AT, WE CAN GET TO THE TOP OF THE BUILDING AND REPEL DOWN IN THROUGH THE WINDOWS AND GAIN ENTRY TO ONE OF THE MULTI, UH, STORIES AND COME DOWN THE STAIRS AND, YOU KNOW, GET TO THE SUBJECT FROM THERE WHILE, UM, AT THE SAME TIME COMING IN WITH THE ENTRY TEAM SO WE CAN GET 'EM FROM BOTH SIDES.
ONE THING IS THE COMRADERY, JUST BEING ON A TEAM ASPECT.
UM, IT'S ALWAYS AN ADRENALINE GETTER, EVERYTHING WE DO, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING.
IT'S DANGEROUS, BUT IT'S ALSO EXCITING AT THE SAME TIME.
I SERVED FOUR YEARS WITH THE MILITARY, UM, AND THEN WENT TO COLLEGE.
AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO DO.
I AM THE REPEL MASTER FOR THE TEAM AND THEY IN SCHOOLS TO LEARN HOW TO TIE THE SYSTEMS AND HOOK EVERYTHING UP SO IT'S DONE IN A SAFE MANNER.
THEY MIGHT BE EXPECTING US TO COME FROM THE BOTTOM FLOOR.
AND IN FACT, WE CAN EITHER COME THROUGH THE TOP FLOOR WINDOWS, WHICH WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE ON US 'CAUSE WE GET THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE.
OR WE CAN ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, DEPLOY FLASH BANGS.
ALL THESE GUYS ON THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SWAT TEAM VOLUNTEER FOR THIS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS, UH, IT'S A COLLATERAL DUTY FOR THESE GUYS AND, AND THEY ALL VOLUNTEER TO DO IT.
AFTER COMING OUTTA THE MILITARY.
UH, SWAT TEAM HAD THE OPTIONS AND THE SAME THINGS I DID WHEN I WAS IN THE SERVICE.
AIR MORNING INFANTRY, YOU KNOW, BEING ON THE FRONT LINES, TIP OF THE SPEAR, DOING THE TYPES OF, UH, HIGH SPEED THINGS THAT DID THE MILITARY, UH, PROVIDE A GREATER SENSE OF SECURITY TO THE, UH, SI COUNTY.
ONE THING ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I CAN DEFINITELY SAY IS WE DO HAVE TOP LINE EQUIPMENT, UH, ALL THE NEWEST GADGETS AND GIZMOS WEAPONS, YOU KNOW, AND ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA HELP US DO OUR JOB BETTER AND SAFER.
WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY ALL THE WEAPONS.
WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF WEAPONS FOR THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
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WE HAVE RAPPEL GEAR, RESCUE GEAR.WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, WATERBORNE TYPE, UH, GEAR BECAUSE WE DO, 'CAUSE THE, THE AREA THAT WE LIVE IN, WE WORK ON THE WATER A LOT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, WHICH ARE BALLISTIC SHIELDS AND VESTS AND HELMETS.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT CHEMICAL MUNITIONS.
SO IF WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO FORCE SOMEBODY OUT OF A LOCATION, WE HAVE, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEMICAL, CHEMICAL MUNITIONS THAT WE CAN DEPLOY TO TRY TO RESOLVE THAT SITUATION.
THE BOMB TEAM CAME AROUND, UH, OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS.
UH, AND THE REALITY THERE IS WE WERE DEPENDENT UPON AN AGENCY, UH, WHICH IS REFERRED TO AS SLED, LOCATED IN COLUMBIA, WHICH REQUIRES SEVERAL HOURS OF NOTICE BEFORE THEY CAN RESPOND AND ACTUALLY BE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE SAW THE BENEFITS OF WHAT SWAT HAS DONE, UH, FOR, FOR US LOCALLY, AND KNEW THAT THE BOND TEAM WOULD DO THE SAME THING.
WE'VE HAD A BOMB SQUAD, UH, COMING UP ON THREE YEARS NOW.
AND, UH, I, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS, MYSELF AND THE CAPTAIN, WITH WHAT BIT OF KNOWLEDGE I DID HAVE FROM THE MILITARY OF, UH, MECHANICAL THINGS AND EXPLOSIVES AND ELECTRICAL, UH, THAT IT, THAT, UH, I MIGHT MAKE AN ASSET TO IT.
AND, UH, I THINK, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY IS VERY PROGRESSIVE.
EVERY BOMB SQUAD IN THE UNITED STATES IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE FBI.
AND ONCE WE GOT THAT ACCREDITATION, WHICH WAS A COMBINATION OF ACQUIRING THE EQUIPMENT AND SENDING OUR OUR PEOPLE TO BOMB SCHOOL, THAT'S WHEN THE, THE TEAM ACTUALLY, UH, WAS STOOD UP AND WE STARTED ANSWERING CALLS IN THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE, HAVE GROWN BOTH OF THOSE UNITS TO INCLUDE, UH, WATER RESCUE WITH OUR ZODIAC, UH, BOAT.
UH, WE ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, IN, IN WATERBORNE, UH, SITUATIONS, UH, BECAUSE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR COUNTY.
BUT WE ARE, WE'RE A COASTAL COUNTY.
THE, THE THEORY BEHIND ALL OF THOSE SPECIAL TEAMS IS TO HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, UH, VERY QUICKLY, UH, IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS AND TO PROTECT BEAUFORT COUNTY CITIZENS AND GUESTS THAT, UH, THAT, UH, WE'RE HERE AND SWORN TO PROTECT BECAUSE OF THE JOB.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE WATER, YOU KNOW, WORK IN THE WOODS, YOU KNOW, WORK IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, UH, UH, BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE CALLED TO, TO RESPOND TO THESE GUYS AND GALS.
THEY WORK HARD, THEY TRAIN HARD, UH, THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO ALL OF WHAT THEY DO, NOT ONLY WITH THEIR PRIMARY JOB, BUT THEIR SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL.
WE CAN'T STOP A DISASTER FROM HAPPENING, BUT WE CAN PREPARE TO SURVIVE THEM.
DISASTER PLANNING CONSISTS OF THREE SIMPLE STEPS.
EVERY FAMILY SHOULD HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW THEY WILL COMMUNICATE DURING AN EMERGENCY AND WHERE THEY WILL MEET IF SEPARATED.
HAVING BASIC EMERGENCY SUPPLIES ONE HAND WILL NOT ONLY KEEP YOU ALIVE, BUT MORE COMFORTABLE DURING THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF A DISASTER.
MONITOR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND UPDATES.
VISIT B BCSO.NET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EMERGENCY PLAN.