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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[CALL TO ORDER]
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[2. FOIA – PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.]
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE FO REQUESTS THAT WE GONE OUT, SO WE'RE GOOD THERE.JUST A QUICK HOUSE CLEANING ITEM.
WE HAVEN'T MET FOR THREE MONTHS, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT, UH, I HOPE THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE A STRONG QUORUM, UH, FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
UH, EVERYTHING'S MARKED ON OUR CALENDARS.
THE ONE THING THAT'S HAPPENED IS, UH, THIS ROOM WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AFTER TODAY FOR US.
AND, UH, AND PUTTING IN A REQUEST THAT WHEN IT DOES GET READY, WE GET NEW CHAIRS.
YOU HAVE TO JUST KEEP YOUR BALANCE.
UH, BUT, UH, WE HAVE SECURED, UH, THE CITY OF BUFORD'S CONFERENCE ROOM THROUGH JANUARY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE, UH, FOR THIS TO BE DONE, BUT WE'LL, FOR RIGHT NOW, FIGURE WE'RE GONNA SCHEDULE THROUGH JANUARY AND THEN AT ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WHENEVER, IF THIS IS COMPLETED, WE'LL ANNOUNCE THAT AND BE ABLE TO MOVE BACK.
UM, UH, IF WE COULD, WHY DON'T WE GO AROUND AND LET EVERYBODY INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND YOU WANNA START HERE? OH, SURE.
MY NAME'S ROBIN SHANNON, AND I'M JUST A CITIZEN OF A FEW BRENDA'S INTERESTED IN HERE, WHICH ALL OF THEM DISCUSSED TODAY.
UH, MAYOR WELLS TOWN, PORT ROYAL,
CHRIS FOR, IS KEEPER COUNTY, CHRISTOPHER CLEMENTS.
I'M A PLANNER WITH THE CITY OF BEFORD.
UH, GO FOR OF WITH THE BEFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, RYAN KRIEGER WITH THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION.
BUFORD, JASON FOWLER, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
CAROLINE FURMAN, DIRECTOR OF BUFORT COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS.
SCOTT MARSHALL, CITY OF BUFORT.
AND PAT PIS, BUFORT COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION.
MIKE TO CITY OF BEAUFORT, WENDY Z, PORT ROYAL PLANNING COMMISSION.
MITCH MITCHELL, CITY OF BEFORD.
ALICE HOWARD, BEAUFORT COUNTY.
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – NOVEMBER 22, 2024]
FOR AN APPROVAL OF THE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NOVEMBER 22ND.MINUTES THE SECOND, BUT I DIDN'T GET IT.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A, A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION IN SIGNIFY FOR RAISING YOUR HAND.
UM, OPEN IT UP FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS? NOTHING ONLINE.
[5. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS GRANTS – JASON FOWLER, MILITARY AFFAIRS COORDINATOR, SCDVA]
KIND OF A SHORT AGENDA, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS IF WE COULD GO THROUGH OUR, UH, NEW BUSINESS PRESENTATIONS AND THEN, UH, IF WE COULD, I'D LIKE TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ARE AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME NEW AGENDA ITEMS THAT WE'D LIKE TO TRY AND, UH, UH, ADD TO THAT LIST, UH, FOR OUR NEXT MEETING.SO, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OR ASK, UH, JASON FOWLER, UH, WHO'S THE MILITARY AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FOR SOUTH CAROLINA TO GIVE US HIS WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ABOUT WONDERFUL.
BUT I'LL GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME HERE.
UH, LIKE MR. TO SAID, MY NAME IS JASON FOWLER WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.UM, I WORK CLOSELY WITH MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE STATE ON DIFFERENT QUALITY OF LIFE AND, UH, BASE SUPPORT ISSUES.
AND THAT'S HOW I CAME TO KNOW MARY RYAN KRIEGER, WHO INVITED ME HERE.
SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE PRESENTATION, THEN IT'S
OKAY, SO THE BRIEFING AGENDA INTRODUCTION, UH, AGAIN, JASON, I'M A 25 YEAR ARMY VET, UH, RETIREE.
UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS IN BETWEEN THAT TIME OF RETIRING AND WORKING FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND I WAS A CONTRACTOR FOR THE ARMY AS WELL.
SO, UM, I ALREADY TOLD YOU WHY WE'RE HERE DOING THIS BRIEF BECAUSE MARY RYAN ASKED ME TO
UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH A SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OVERVIEW.
UH, IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR SECRETARY, UM, TOM MCGAFFEY, MAJOR GENERAL RETIRED.
IT'S KINDA LIKE HIS ROTARY CLUB TYPE, UH, BRIEFING THAT HE'S GIVEN.
SOME OF YOU IN THE ROOM MAY HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE, SO ONLY TOOK A SNIPPET OF IT.
SO IT'LL BE, IT'LL GO QUICKLY, BUT IT'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE DO OVERALL AS THE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE ARE YOUR STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
SO, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND GRANT, AND THAT IS A GRANT THAT IS MANAGED BY MY DIVISION.
AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER THE VETERAN HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSITION GRANT, WHICH IS, UH, OPERATED BY OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION, MS. ALEXIS MARTIN.
AND, UM, I CAN SEND YOU ALL SOME MATERIALS.
I'LL PROBABLY, I'M GONNA REFERENCE THE, UH, LAST MILITARY ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY.
AND I CAN SEND YOU A COPY OF THE CARD THAT HAS THE QUICK STAT LINE FOR ALL THAT.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING THAT TODAY.
UM, AND ALEXIS'S CARD IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT HER EMAIL IS IN THIS PRESENTATION.
SO HERE'S THE MISSION OF OUR DEPARTMENT, AND THAT IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS LEADS AND ENABLES A STATEWIDE COALITION OF PARTNERS WITH AN INTEREST IN VETERANS TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH VETERANS CAN THRIVE AS A VALUED IN CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY.
UH, WE DID AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY BACK IN 2022, COMMISSIONED THROUGH THE DARLA MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS THAT FOUND THAT WE HAVE ALMOST 400,000 VETERANS IN, IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE NEXT ONE OF THOSE IS DUE IN 2026, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BUDGET FOR IT.
UM, NOW THAT THAT NUMBER IS NOT CONCRETE, OF COURSE, UM, ANYONE, ANYONE WOULD TELL YOU THAT WORKS IN THE VETERAN BUSINESS, THAT A LOT OF VETERANS DON'T CONNECT WITH THE VA.
SO WE, WE DON'T COUNT 'EM, RIGHT? UH, PROGRAMS WHERE THEY TRANSITION OUT OF THE ACTIVE DUTY, UM, SOMETIMES THEY'RE LOST IN THE SYSTEM.
SO, UH, BUT THAT'S THE, THE MOST RECENT NUMBER THAT WE HAVE, UH, THROUGH THAT STUDY.
AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT THRIVING VETERANS ARE SOUND MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, SPIRITUALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND RELATIONALLY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR, SATISFIED BY THE DIGNIFIED MATTER IN WHICH THEY'RE TREATED, BY THOSE WHO PROVIDE SERVICES RESPECTED BY THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS AND PROUD OF THEIR CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY AND THE NATION.
AND WE HELP, AS YOU SEE IN THE PILLARS OF THAT, UH, BUILDING THERE BY ASSISTING, ADVOCATING, AND FORMING AND INTEGRATING SERVICES.
MS. ANDERSON, ASSISTING VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND OBTAINING THE BENEFITS TO WHICH THEY'RE ENTITLED.
FURMAN AND THE COUNTY VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICE DOES THIS A LOT MORE THAN WE DO.
WE DO HAVE A FEW FOLKS THAT HELP WITH ACTUAL BENEFIT CLAIMS, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT FALLS ON THE COUNTY VETERAN AFFAIRS OFFICERS.
AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT THEY DO.
THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAMS TO ASSIST VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY OBTAIN THEIR ENTITLED BENEFITS.
UH, THIS AREA OF THE, THE COLUMNS HERE, THIS BELONGS TO OUR VETERAN SERVICES DIVISION.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE, AS OF JULY OF 2024, RUN THE STATE VETERAN NURSING HOMES.
ONE IN ANDERSON, WALTER BOROUGH, UH, FLORENCE, GAFFNEY, AND SUMTER.
WE ARE SOON TO, UH, AND THIS WAS A, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO GIVE US THOSE.
AND WE TOOK THAT MISSION GLADLY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF VETERANS.
SO WE NOW HAVE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE VETERAN HOMES, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE OVER THE ONE IN COLUMBIA SOON.
AND THERE ARE TWO MORE BEING BUILT.
AND THEN WE ALSO RUN IN THE BOTTOM.
IT'S NOT A GREAT PICTURE, DIDN'T COME AND IT PIXELATE VERY WELL.
BUT WE RUN A VETERAN, THE STATE VETERAN CEMETERY, WHICH IS IN ANDERSON, WHICH IS AN AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY THAT THEY WORK REAL HARD TO KEEP UP.
SO, UH, KIND OF THE GIST THERE IS WE, WE TAKE CARE OF VETERANS FROM THE TIME THEY STEP
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OUT OF SERVICE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR LIFE CYCLES.WE ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES.
THIS IS WHERE MY DIVISION COMES IN, THE MILITARY AFFAIRS DIVISION.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NON-MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO INCLUDE THE THREE THAT ARE LOCATED HERE IN YOUR COUNTY.
UM, WE WORK TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.
AND THE OBJECTIVE THERE, OF COURSE, IS TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE DON'T WANNA LOSE ANY OF OUR INSTALLATIONS, AND WHILE THEY'RE HERE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TREATED FAIRLY, THAT THEY'RE WET, FEEL WELCOME IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE, THEY'VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE, AND THEN MAYBE ONE DAY THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND RETIRE HERE.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE HAVE AN ANNUAL COMMANDER'S, GOVERNOR'S BRIEF.
I KNOW THAT SOUNDS, THAT'S A LOT OF WORDS, BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE BRING THE INSTALLATION COMMANDERS TOGETHER IN COLUMBIA FROM ALL THOSE INSTALLATIONS.
THEY MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THEY TELL 'EM WHAT'S GOING WELL AND WHAT THEY COULD USE HELP WITH.
AND WHEN I SAY, WHAT'S GOING WELL, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE BEING HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, OR THEY DON'T LIKE IT SO MUCH, OR COULD WE WORK ON THIS? CAN WE WORK ON THAT? AND THOSE USUALLY BOIL DOWN TO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
SO LIKE, EDUCATION IS A BIG ONE.
IT COMES UP EVERY YEAR AS WELL AS CHILDCARE, BUT THAT'S ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
BUT WE'RE VERY PROUD THAT WE JUST GOT THE INITIATIVE, THE MILITARY CHILDCARE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLUS INITIATIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THIS ONE I WORKED ON, WHERE, UH, THEY CAN RECEIVE THE SOLDIERS AND MARINES AND AIRMEN CAN RECEIVE FEE ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE AS LONG AS THEY'RE USING A, A DAYCARE FACILITY THAT MEETS A CERTAIN STANDARD IN THE QUALITY IN THE STATE QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.
ANYWAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS BRIEF IS ABOUT.
WE WORK ON MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT.
WE WORK ON SMALL THINGS LIKE THE STOPLIGHT NEAR MCAS, YOU KNOW, KNOW WE HELP TO GET THAT LEFT TURN SIGNAL PUT IN.
SO ANY, ANYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AT CHARLESTON, THEY HAVE PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE NUKE SCHOOL THAT, UH, KIDS ARE COMING INTO THE MILITARY NOW AND THEY DON'T HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES.
AND THEN THEY GET THERE AND THEY CAN'T GET AROUND AND THEY'RE LIKE, HEY, SAY SOUTH CAROLINA SAYS THEY HAVE TO RIDE ALONG WITH SOMEBODY FOR SIX MONTHS.
CAN WE CHANGE THAT? WELL, WE GOT THAT CHANGED TO 30 DAYS IF THEY'RE 18 YEARS OLD.
SO ANYWAY, SO THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH.
BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND GRANT, WHICH WE'LL GO OVER IN A MOMENT.
INFORM, UH, AND EDUCATE PUBLIC, STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS AND VETERANS IN ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO VETERANS.
I GUESS THIS BRIEFING CAN FALL INTO THERE.
BUT THAT IS PRIMARILY THE JOB OF OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION TEAM, WHICH IS A STAFF OF, OF WHOPPING STAFF OF THREE PEOPLE.
THEY DO, THEY DO A LION'S SHARE, AND, UH, THEY GET A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION OUT ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
PLEASE FOLLOW US ON FOLLOW ALONG.
UH, YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT SLIDE, MA'AM.
THE NEXT ONE IS GONNA BE INTEGRATE.
WE INTEGRATE THE EFFECTS OF ALL ENTITIES IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE A SERVICE TO VETERANS OR THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS FALLS UNDER OUR OPERATIONS DIVISION.
THIS IS WHERE THE TRANSITION AND HOMELESSNESS GRANT THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT FALLS INTO.
WE ALSO HAVE REGIONAL INTEGRATION OFFICERS AND FOUR PARTS OF THE STATE.
UM, THE VETERANS COALITION FALLS IN THIS, THAT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT VETS ALL THE 5 0 1 CS THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE SAYING, HEY, WE WANT TO HELP VETERANS.
WE VET THEM, BRING THEM INTO THE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A COMBINED ARMS TRAINING SYSTEM THAT WHERE THEY CAN, WHERE IF A VETERAN NEEDS SERVICES, THEY CAN GO THERE AND FILL, REST ASSURED THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA CONTACT 'EM WITHIN 72 HOURS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE PALMETTO PATHFINDER PROGRAM, WHICH IS VETERANS HELPING VETERANS, UH, VETERANS THAT GET OUT.
AND THEY, THEY GET SOME TRAINING ON THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
SO WHEN OTHER VETS ARE, WHEN OTHER AG DUTY PEOPLE ARE TRANSITIONING AND THEY'RE STAYING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY CAN CONNECT AND KIND OF HAVE A MENTOR TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
'CAUSE THE TRANSITION PROCESS IS TOUGH.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S VETERAN SUMMIT.
UH, I TALKED ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S COMMANDER'S BRIEF THE MONTH BEFORE.
WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S VETERAN SUMMIT.
AND IT BRINGS A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH VETS.
AND, UH, AND BOTH OF THOSE TWO MEETINGS, WE KIND OF, WELL, SPECIFICALLY AT THAT MEETING, OUR DEPARTMENT TELLS THE GOVERNOR, WE GIVE OURSELVES A GRADE ON OURSELVES.
IT'S VERY PUBLIC, IT'S A OPEN FORUM.
AND THAT'S ONE THING I'M PROUD ABOUT WITH BEING, WORKING FOR THIS DEPARTMENT.
SO I GOT YOU THROUGH THE POTATOES QUESTION.
UM, COULD YOU ELABORATE ON WHAT MAYBE SOME OF THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS TO WORK WITH VETERANS? UM, YEARS AGO I WENT OVER TO THE, UH, NAVAL HOSPITAL YES.
AND WAS ON AN INFORMATION DESK AND WAS ABLE TO GIVE INFORMATION TO PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST BEING
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DISCHARGED OR COMING INTO THE AREA.ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE AROUND LIKE THAT? YES, SIR.
FURMAN MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR THE, FOR THE COUNTY AREA.
I KNOW SHE'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO BETTER FOR THE COUNTY AREA.
BUT, UH, THE ONE THAT WE PARTICULARLY PUT VEST INTO IS THE PALMETTO PATHFINDER ONE.
BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, JASON, IF I COULD ADD THE PLEASE.
PALMETTO PATHFINDER PROGRAM IS AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM THAT, UH, CONNECTS VETERANS WITH THEIR PEERS.
SO IT, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY FOR VETERANS OR EVEN NON-VETERANS.
UM, MOST OF MY STAFF ARE PATHFINDERS WITH THAT PROGRAM.
AND THE COMBINED ARMS COALITION, UM, IS A, A GROUP OF, SO IF YOU, YOU'VE GOT A VETERAN WHO HAS SAY, UM, WANTS TO FILE A CLAIM, BUT HE ALSO HAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR FITNESS CONCERNS.
YOU'VE GOT A WHOLE COLLECTION OF NONPROFITS THAT YOU CAN TAP INTO.
AND MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE FREE.
THE NONPROFITS TAKE THEM IN AND, AND THEY GO KAYAKING, THEY GO SURFING, UM, FISHING.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM.
THAT, AND SHE BROUGHT IT FULL CIRCLE WITH THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T MENTION.
UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF VETERANS THAT NEED SOME, UH, EXTRA HELP, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT ALSO IN THAT COMBINED ARMS IS A TON OF HOBBY INTERESTS.
SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO LEARN HOW TO GARDEN, TO KAYAK, SURF, LIKE YOU SAID, FLY FISHING, YOU NAME IT.
SO IT IS, IT IS ABOUT GETTING THAT VETERAN THRIVING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE.
UM, CHANGING THAT NARRATIVE THAT, YOU KNOW, VETERANS ARE, YOU KNOW, THRIVING, HELPFUL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, NOT SOMEBODY THAT'S ON THE STREET CORNER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.
SO, UM, UNFORTUNATELY THAT EXISTS.
SO, I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO SAY, BUT, UH, BUT YEAH, BUT, BUT I'M SURE THERE, THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR VOLUNTEERISM.
I THINK THEY STILL DO THAT ACTUALLY AT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL THERE.
I CAN CHECK INTO THAT FOR YOU.
SO WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST PATIENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING AT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, THE, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, DR. TRAVIS.
UM, THIS GROUP IS LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE SERVICES FOR OUR VETERANS IN OUR CBOC.
OUR COC IS THE FOURTH DECK OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP WAS ACCESS TO THE BASE.
A LOT OF VETERANS, UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ID CARD, CANNOT GET ON THE BASE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, WHEN WE WERE BRAINSTORMING WAS TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS WORK SHIFTS TO KIND OF ESCORT THEM ON SO THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR VA ID CARD AND THEN NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AGAIN.
SO AS WE COME UP WITH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, UM, WE WILL CERTAINLY DISSEMINATE THAT IN MY OFFICE.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR VOLUNTEERS, BUT UNLESS THEY'RE VETTED THROUGH THE VA BECAUSE OF PII AND HIPAA, WE CAN'T REALLY HAVE THEM VOLUNTEER.
MAY I, MAY I ASK A QUESTION FOR THE VA, UM, HOME AND WALTER BAR, COULD YOU EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT ARE THE, UH, I GUESS, STANDARDS OR REQUIREMENTS THAT A VETERAN WOULD HAVE TO MEET TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT SERVICE? SIR, I, UM, YES.
I CAN, I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S ALL UP FRONT ON FORWARD FACING.
I'LL, I'LL LOOK ON THE WEBSITE, SIR.
WE, WE HELP VETERANS GET INTO THE VICTORY HOUSE ALL THE TIME.
I'M NOT TRYING TO PUSH THAT OFF, SIR.
GENERAL I, I'LL, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST STANDING ON THE TOP.
I PROMISE THAT'S I'LL, I'LL, I'LL CHECK THE WEBSITE OR CAROL, I'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, WE CAN SEND IT TO LIBBY IF SHE CAN SEND IT OUT THERE.
SO, UM, SO NOW WE GET INTO THE MEETING OF THE PRESENTATION.
THE REASON I WAS TRULY SUPPOSED TO COME, UH, MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND GRANT, BUT AS I'VE MET SOME OF YOU AND HEARD YOUR NAMES, I KNOW YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS BECAUSE LATER ON YOU'LL SEE A SLIDE OF WHO'S BEEN THE BENEFACTOR OF THIS GRANT.
IT'S NOT A, IT IS NOT A COMPETITION, BUT, UH, THERE'S A WEBSITE BACKGROUND ON THIS.
THIS START IS A $10 MILLION AWARD FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
UM, NOW IT'S A $2 MILLION RECURRING AMOUNT, WHICH IS SOMETIMES SOME YEARS OFFSET WITH NON-RECURRING FUNDS.
UM, SO THE, THE BALANCE FLUCTUATES, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE PROJECTS THAT WE RECEIVE, OF COURSE.
I THIS, I'M SORRY, THIS DID NOT COME OUT WELL.
SO I'M GONNA READ TO YOU THE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS ADMINISTERS THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT PLAN ENHANCEMENT FUND AS DIRECTED IN BUDGET.
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FUNDS, APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND ARE TO BE ALLOCATED TO ITEMS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LAND ACQUISITION, RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, AND FACILITIES FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL.ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS ARE COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
SO THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT CAN PUT IN FOR IT, ARE THE COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT SURROUND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IS DEFINED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE, INCLUDING FORT JACKSON, SHAW AIR FORCE BASE MCINTYRE JOINED NATIONAL GUARD BASE JOINT BASE, CHARLESTON MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, BEAUFORD, BEAUFORT, NAVAL HOSPITAL, MARINE CORPS, RECRUIT DEPOT, PARRIS ISLAND, CHARLESTON NAVAL WEAPONS STATION IN FORT EISENHOWER.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM, US COAST GUARD INSTALLATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE ALSO CONSIDERED FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
AND THAT REFERS TO THE COAST GUARD BASE IN CHARLESTON THAT IS GROWING.
IT'S, UH, WE WENT TO A GROUNDBREAKING LAST YEAR ON THE, IT'S WHERE THE OLD NAVY BASE WAS NEAR FLED.
SO, UM, THAT'S A GROWING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ABOUT TO BRING UP THE POPULATION NUMBERS TO CHARLESTON SO MUCH.
UH, THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, YOU HAVE TO BE IN ONE OF THOSE COUNTIES, ONE OF THOSE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES.
RIDGELAND COUNTY, SUMTER, CHARLESTON, BERKELEY, DORCHESTER, AND GEORGETOWN.
BEAUFORT, ORANGEBURG, ORANGEBURG, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF NORTH AIRFIELD, UH, AIKEN OR EDGEFIELD.
AND THAT'S NEW AS OF LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE SORT OF ADOPTED FOR EISENHOWER AS A MILITARY INSTALLATION DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE STATE LINE.
ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THEIR, UH, CIVILIAN FOLKS WORK OR LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, NOT WORK, LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, THIS IS NEW TO THIS CYCLE THAT THE MAXIMUM GRANT AMOUNT IS $2 MILLION.
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE BEFORE THIS.
DEADLINES FOR PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTED ON ONE MARCH AND ONE SEPTEMBER.
THIS IS ALL ON THE WEBSITE, SO I'M NOT GONNA HOLD INTO TEARS WITH, UH, EVERYTHING THAT IT SAYS, BUT I WILL GO THROUGH AT THE BOTTOM, THE INFO, WELL, I'LL GO THROUGH IT.
THE DOCUMENTS ARE, AND SOME OF Y'ALL PROBABLY PREPARE, HELP PREPARE THESE.
THE DOCUMENTS NEED A COVER LETTER ON, ON THE LETTERHEAD OF THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT ASSIGNED LETTER BY THE LOCAL INSTALLATION COMMANDER, AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY ESTIMATE OF THE COST OF THE PROPOSAL PREPARED BY A QUALIFI QUALIFIED ENTITY, A COPY OF THE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY OF THE APPLYING COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, A COPY OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET.
THE MOST RECENT OPERATING FISCAL OR FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE APPLY OF THE APPLICANT.
AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED IN THOSE DOCUMENTS IS THE DETAILED INFORMATION OF HOW THE PRO THE PROPOSAL WILL ENHANCE MILITARY VALUE, INSTALLATION, RESILIENCE FOR MILITARY FAMILY, QUALITY OF LIFE AT THE SUPPORTED MILITARY INSTALLATION OR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED A DETAILED BUDGET FOR THE PROPOSAL, SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF GOALS THAT THE PROPOSAL WILL ACHIEVE.
SPECIFIC METRICS THAT WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER EACH OBJECTIVE OR GOAL IS ACHIEVED IN A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF ANY OTHER FUNDING SOURCES YOU INTEND TO APPLY FOR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS GRANT.
AND THAT ALWAYS, THAT ALWAYS HELPS IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS PITCHING IN MONEY.
OF COURSE, I, I KNOW YOU ALL WORK IN PLANNING OR IN SOME FORM, FORM OF COUNTY OR CITY GOVERNMENT TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE VALUE OF HAVING ADDITIONAL MONIES COMING IN.
AND THE, THE NAME, EMAIL AND PHONE.
I, I, UH, HIGHLIGHTED THAT IN MY, MY LITTLE BRIEF HERE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS AS WE'RE GOING, AS THE PROPOSALS ARE GOING FORWARD, WE NEED SOMEBODY TO CONTACT, YOU KNOW, THAT SOUNDS SILLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN'T CALL YOU AND ASK YOU QUESTIONS BEFORE IT GOES, BEFORE THE THE BOARD, SO TO SPEAK, TO, TO GET, THEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE GRANT PROPOSALS WILL BE EVALUATED ON ONE, ITS EFFECT MISSION READINESS.
TWO, ITS EFFECT ON QUAL MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE.
THREE, ITS EFFECT ON THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY, AND FOUR, IT'S TIMELINESS.
AND FIVE, THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE COST OF THE PROJECTS ARE SHARED WITH OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
AND THE SCORE SHEET IS AVAILABLE THERE.
SO YOU CAN, UH, CHECK OUT THE RUBRIC OR THE SCORE SHEET, IF YOU WILL, THAT, UM, THAT THE MILITARY BASE TASK FORCE USES.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS, IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, WE, WE RECEIVE ALL THESE GRANT PROPOSALS BY THE 1ST OF MARCH.
UH, WE'LL GO THROUGH 'EM, CHECK FOR LEGALITY, FEASIBILITY, ALL THAT STUFF.
WE'LL DO AN INITIAL SCREENING IN MY DIVISION WITH OUR GENERAL COUNSEL AND WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, UH, EXCUSE
[00:25:01]
ME, OUR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.AFTER THAT, WE'LL SEND THEM FORWARD TO THE MILITARY BASE TASK FORCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHO WILL MEET, CONVENE, AND SCORE THESE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.
FROM THERE, THEY'LL GO TO THE SECRETARY WHO WILL BE BRIEFED ON 'EM, AND HE HAS FINAL AUTHORITY.
SO, UM, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO LAY OUT THE FULL AMOUNT.
SO IF YOU ASK FOR 2 MILLION, AND RIGHT NOW WE CAN HELP YOU WITH 500,000 TO DO A STUDY OR FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, UH, HELP ACHIEVE SOME PART OF YOUR GOAL, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S HIS PREROGATIVE.
SO, UM, THE NEXT PARAGRAPH, IT SAYS, FILE DECISION AUTHORITY FOR AWARDING GRANTS UNDER THIS PROGRAM, REST WITH THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
IF GRANTS NOT AWARD IN FULL, THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUEST AN UPDATED BUDGET.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S THE PART WHERE YOU SIGN AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
AND THE BOTTOM PART, IT JUST TELLS YOU, IT EITHER GOES TO MY DIRECTOR, MS. SANDY CLAYPOOL, WHO IS THE ABSOLUTE GURU ON THIS.
SHE'S BEEN HERE SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
BUT, UM, IT EITHER GOES TO HER OR ME IN CASE IN THE EVENT SHE'S TRAVELING OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THIS IS, UH, THIS IS AS OF OCTOBER, 2024.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE IN THE CURRENT CYCLE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I COULDN'T BE HERE AND GIVE YOU THIS BRIEF BEFORE MARCH 1ST, SO YOU COULD HAVE MAYBE ADDED, BUT, UH, YOU'LL SEE IN RICHLAND COUNTY, CENTENNIAL PARK IS AT, UH, FORT JACKSON.
IT'S A, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA, AREA THAT THEY'RE BEAUTIFYING FOR WHEN SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, UH, FORT JACKSON SEES, YOU KNOW, A TON JUST LIKE PARIS ISLAND.
SO IT'S AN AREA OF BEAUTIFICATION.
IT'S AN AREA OF MEMORIALIZATION.
IT'S AN AREA THAT THEY'RE, UH, PREPPING.
SO, UM, FIREFIGHTER TEMPORARY HOUSING, THAT WAS FOR MCINTYRE, UH, AIR INTERNATIONAL GUARD STATION.
WE ACTUALLY NEED TO TAKE THIS OFF.
THAT GRANT GOT APPROVED BECAUSE THEIR FIRE HOUSE WAS IN DISREPAIR.
THE FIREFIGHTERS DIDN'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO SLEEP, SO THEY WANTED TEMPORARY HOUSING.
THEY WENT THROUGH THE BIDDING PROCESS WITH RICHMOND COUNTY TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO COME BRING THIS HOUSING IN FOR THESE FIREFIGHTERS.
AND BY THE TIME IT WAS SAID AND DONE, THEY, THEY HAD THE NEW FIREHOUSE READY.
SO RICHLAND COUNTY RETURNED THOSE FUNDS TO US.
I ACTUALLY GOTTA GO PICK UP THE CHECK ONE DAY.
I WENT TAKE A BASEBALL BAT AND, YOU KNOW,
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, SO THAT, THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS, THE SLIDE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
SORRY, SUMTER, UH, WE'VE DONE A SHAW ENCROACHMENT PURCHASE OFF THE, OFF THE AIRSTRIP.
WE HELPED WITH THE CAMDEN BURIAL PROJECT, THE ELECTRIC SUBSTATION, AND THE BARN REVITALIZATION, THE WELCOME CENTER IN CHARLESTON, THE SHORT STATE RECREATION CENTER, SALVAGED MARINE FIREFIGHTING STUDY.
UH, THIS WAS QUITE INTERESTING, UM, AFTER THE, THE SHIP DOWN IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, HOW IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE, YOU KNOW, CAUSED A HUGE DELAY IN THAT PORT.
WELL, THEY DID A STUDY AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE PORT OF CHARLESTON HAD TO SHUT DOWN, WE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MATERIALS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE TRAINING, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE STUFF THAT THEY NEED TO RESPOND PROPERLY TO A FIRE IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR.
AND THAT IF IT WAS SHUT DOWN, IT WOULD COST GAZILLIONS OF DOLLARS A MINUTE.
SO, UM, WE'RE HELPING, WE HELPED 'EM WITH THE STUDY THAT'S COMPLETE, AND NOW WE'RE HELPING 'EM BUILD A FIREFIGHTING FACILITY FOR, UH, SHIPBOARD FIRE TRAINING.
UM, AND ALSO IN THERE IS THE RED BANK ROAD STUDY.
UH, AND THEN BEAUFORT, WE HELP WITH THAT BUFORT NAVAL HOSPITAL STUDY.
UM, THE LAUREL BAY PATHWAY PROJECT, WHERE I SAW GENERAL MITCHELL, UH, WHEN WE OPENED THAT, THAT WAS NICE.
THE LIVING SHORELINE, MEMORIAL BAY WASTEWATER, AND THE PORT ROYAL WASTEWATER PROJECT.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES, SIR.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND, SO THE MOST THAT YOU CAN ASK FOR IS $2 MILLION AS OF THIS CYCLE? AS OF THIS CYCLE.
SO I WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS OVER THAT, IS THAT LIKE THEY ASK FOR 2 MILLION? NO, NO.
ANOTHER TWO, AND THEN, NO, THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE.
SO WE'VE, SO AT THE BEGINNING, LIKE WE, WE DID THIS AND WE STARTED DOING THESE PROJECTS, AND WHEN THE COMMANDERS CAME TO THE GOVERNOR'S COMMANDER'S BRIEF, THEY WERE LIKE, THANK YOU FOR THIS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND WE HAD THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THERE, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THEY HEARD WHAT THE COMMANDERS WERE SAYING THAT HOW THIS WAS AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO THEY'VE BEEN REDISTRIBUTING THOSE NON-REOCCURRING FUNDS.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT UP TO THAT AMOUNT.
BUT NOW THAT IT'S DWINDLED DOWN SOME GOTCHA.
WE HAVE TO LIKE PUT A, WE DON'T SECRETARY, YOU KNOW, SO I GOTCHA.
IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, WE GET AROUND THAT.
'CAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE OF COURSE OVER $2 MILLION.
BUT THAT WAS LIKE, THEY, THEY DID IT.
THEY ASKED FOR MULTIPLE GRANTS OR NO, SIR.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE
[00:30:01]
THAT NUMBER WAS.THERE WAS A DIFFERENT TIME WHEN I GOTCHA, OKAY.
WHEN, WHEN PEOPLE WOULD CALL US, WE'D SAY, JUST PUT IN FOR IT.
YOU KNOW? AND UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THEY'D GET RANKED AND GRADED BY THE MILITARY BASED TASK FORCE AND, YEAH.
DOES THE PROJECT HAVE TO BE COMPLETE OR CAN YOU DO LIKE, APPLY FOR HALF AND LIKE, IF YOU NEED NOW, IF YOU NEEDED TO 4 MILLION, COULD YOU APPLY BOTH CYCLES OR, YEAH.
AND BREAK UP, LIKE DO LIKE, KIND OF LONGER TERM FUNDING PLANNING.
YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS,
I, I WOULD STRUCTURE IN A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT, SO I WOULD BE TRANSPARENT.
THAT WAY WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
AND FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO WORK ABSOLUTELY.
WITH THE PROJECT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
WE WANNA MAKE, YOU KNOW, STRONG PROJECTS HAPPEN FOR THAT, THAT BENEFIT THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA THAT SURROUND THESE MILK.
'CAUSE WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT.
YOU GOT A LOT OF FOLKS COMING THROUGH YOUR AREA, TROUNCING THROUGH IT.
SOME ARE GREAT STEWARDS OF THE COUNTIES AND CITIES AND SOME ARE NOT.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITIES.
NOW I AM NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THIS, BUT I DO SIT ON THIS BOARD.
SO, UH, I AM A SEMI SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, ALEXIS MARTIN AND OUR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT.
I WILL, SHE'S ONE OF THE, I'M GONNA GET YOU HER CARD.
AND THE BACKGROUND ON THIS IS IN THIS GRANT WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 16TH, 2023 TO ASSIST HOMELESSNESS AND VETERANS AND VETERANS IN IMMINENT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS WITH RESOURCES NEEDED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING.
THE VETERAN HOMELESSNESS AND TRANSITION GRANT PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND MANAGED BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
UH, THE MANUAL THAT IT'S REFERENCES IS ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE.
I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR STUFF IS.
WE TRY TO STAY UP FRONT AND BACK TO THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND.
AND WITH THIS GRANT, WE ASKED FOR QUARTERLY REPORTING.
THOSE REPORTS ARE PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT YOU SAW WHATSOEVER, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS UPFRONT.
SO, UM, MISSION OF THE GRANT, THE GRANT'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND MEETING COMMUNITY DEFINED NEEDS BY PROVIDING FUNDING TO NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD FOCUS ON PROVIDING HOUSING ASSISTANCE, RENTAL OR UTILITIES ASSISTANCE, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR VETERANS, PARTICIPATING IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS FOR ELIGIBLE SOUTH CAROLINA VETERANS STATEWIDE.
IN THE MIDDLE, YOU'LL SEE HOUSING ASSISTANCE, UTILITY OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WHILE PARTICIPATING IN A SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM.
AND EMPLOYMENT, I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF LIKE SAYING IT AGAIN, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT, WHAT THE GRANT'S INTENDED FOR.
UM, THE MINIMUM GRANT IN THIS CASE IS $50,000, AND THE MAXIMUM GRANT IS $250,000 PER GRANT CYCLE.
SO IS THIS IS A ONE YEAR GRANT CYCLE AS OPPOSED TO US AND DOING THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND.
THIS ONE FOR NOW, ALEXIS IS DOING IT ONCE A YEAR.
SO WHEN SHE RECEIVED THE FIRST $10 MILLION, WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WERE WE GONNA SPEND IT ALL AT ONE TIME ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS, OR WERE WE GONNA GRADE IT OUT OVER TIME? THEY WENT THROUGH A HUGE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.
THIS IS THE, WHAT WE CAME UP WITH.
AND, UM, THE VETERAN ELIGIBLE IS UNDER, EXCUSE ME, VETERAN ELIGIBILITY IS UNDER TITLE 38 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REG REGULATIONS DEFINING VETERAN AS A PERSON WHO HAS SERVED IN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY ENABLER AIR SERVICES, AND WHO IS DISCHARGED RELEASE UNDER CONDITIONS OTHER THAN DISHONORABLE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE P WE WANT TO HELP THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING THOSE FOLKS.
UM, WE HAVE A BEAUFORT, JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND.
AND, UH, WENDY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THINKING ALONG THE SAME LINES I WAS, BUT AS A NONPROFIT, COULD, UM, COULD THEY APPLY FOR GRANTS TO THIS? YES.
BECAUSE THEY HELP, UM, PEOPLE BOTH RENTAL AND, AND PERMANENT HOUSING, THEIR UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR THAT AND REPAIR AND REPAIRS FOR JASPER, JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THAT'S THE, YOU'LL SEE THE LIST OF BENEFACTORS SO FAR.
DOES THAT MAKE BENEFACTORS THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE GRANT SO FAR? YOU'LL SEE THAT IN A MOMENT.
[00:35:01]
AND, UH, OKAY.YOU'LL SEE THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU'RE, IT'LL TALK ABOUT THE CRITERIA.
UM, THE GOALS, REDUCE VETERAN HOMELESSNESS, OF COURSE.
PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS, ENHANCE ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROMOTE LONG-TERM STABILITY.
UM, ON THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE, LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE, UH, WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND 13 DIFFERENT FOLKS, UH, RECEIVED ASSISTANCE.
SOME ASKED FOR LESS, SOME ASKED FOR THE WHOLE AMOUNT.
UM, I DIDN'T CREATE THE SLIDE DECK OR I WOULD'VE PUT THE AMOUNTS UP THERE, BUT, UM, I'M SURE IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T, THE AL AUSTIN WILKES THAT THEY HELP PEOPLE WITH, UM, DRUG HOMELESSNESS.
AND, UH, SO HOPEFULLY THAT THIS, THIS BRIEFING WILL HOPE LIKE.
I'M GONNA GO BACK AND TELL ALEXIS TO BE ON LOOKOUT NEXT YEAR FOR A, FOR A GRANT.
FOR A GRANT REQUEST FROM YOU GUYS, BECAUSE WHEREAS ON THE OTHER CHART, Y'ALL, YOU KNOW, BUFORT KNOWS ALL ABOUT MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND GRANT DOWN HERE, YOU CAN SEE WE DON'T HAVE, LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THOUGH.
SO, AND THIS, THIS INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO GET IT OUT.
BUT, UM, SO JASON, I HAVE A QUESTION.
SO, LIKE OUR DAV, THEY'RE NOT A 5 0 1 C3, THEY'RE A 5 0 1 SOMETHING.
BUT, UM, THEY ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO, LIKE HOME REPAIRS, UM, UTILITY PAYMENTS AS A BSO.
COULD THEY APPLY FOR ONE OF THESE GRANTS? THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO, I MIGHT HAVE TO DEFAULT THE ALEXIS ON THAT ONE IF I CAN'T FIND IT IN THE CRITERIA.
LIKE THE RA FIVE FUND IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS FOLKS WITH RENT, RENT PAYMENTS, UTILITY PAYMENTS, NONPROFIT APPLICANTS RECOGNIZED BY THE IRS AS 5 0 1 C3 OR 19.
UH, THE LAST THING ON THIS, THIS SLIDE, UH, WE ALSO DIVVYED THIS ONE OUT IN INSTALLMENTS.
SO THERE WAS LIKE AN INSTALLMENT ON THE LAST ONE'S GOING OUT IN APRIL FOR, FOR LAST YEAR'S RECIPIENTS.
SHE GOES OUT AND MAKES SURE THAT THE FOLKS ARE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WITH THE MONEY.
UM, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT LIKE AN INSPECTION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT SHE GOES AROUND THE STATE AND HAS VISITED ALL THESE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING GOOD THINGS AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
IS THAT A, IS THAT A REGION THAT YOU HAVE THAT FULL SECTION THERE? IS THAT, UM, BASED ON A PARTICULAR REGION THERE, OR? OH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE LINES? YEAH.
SO, UH, THAT'S A, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE ON THERE, BUT THAT'S A, A INTERNAL DEPARTMENTAL, UH, BY, BY YOUR ORGANIZATION.
SO WHEN I TALKED EARLIER ABOUT US HAVING REGIONAL INTEGRATION OFFICERS, WE HAVE ONE IN THE UPSTATE, WHICH THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IT THE UPSTATE FOR.
IT'S JUST WHAT WE CONSIDER IT.
THE MIDLANDS, THE PD, AND THE LOW COUNTRY.
WHO WAS THE CONTACT PERSON FOR THE LOW COUNTRY THERE? RIGHT NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE, WE'RE HIRING SOMEBODY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE MISSING OUT THEN
AND THE LAST ONE WAS FROM CHARLESTON, SO THAT MIGHT BE CLOSER
UM, SO YEAH, YEAH, THERE IS A NEW RIO ON BOARD.
UM, HE'S GONNA COME BY BEAUFORT, UH, ON THE NINTH.
I WON'T BE IN, I'LL BE IN DC BUT I WILL LINK UP WITH HIM.
BUT HE REPLACED GENE BROOKS AS OUR RIO.
SO YOU DO, YES, YOU DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE.
I HAVEN'T MET THE NEW YET YET, SO, UM, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S JUST OUR, OUR DEPARTMENT'S GOOFY, BUT
WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE GOALS.
SORRY, THIS IS A NEW, NEW PRESENTATION.
WE'VE, WE'VE DISCUSSED ALL THIS.
SO I'D LIKE TO SKIP TO THE NEXT SLIDE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CRITERIA AREA.
UH, FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT, APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS LISTED BELOW AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BY THE DUE DATE FOR AWARD CONSIDERATION.
[00:40:01]
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY VIA ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION, NOT TO EXCEED 12 PAGES.ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER APPLICANT WILL BE ACCEPTED.
AND, UH, WEBSITE, AGAIN, THAT HAS ALL OF THIS MATERIAL.
AND THE ELIGIBILITY NONPROFIT APPLICANTS REGISTERED IN A GOOD STANDING WITH THE DIVISION OF PUBLIC CHARITIES WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS.
NONPROFIT APPLICANTS RECOGNIZED BY THE IRS AS 5 0 1 C3 OR 19 TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION MUST PROVIDE IRS DESIGNATION OR AFFIRMATION LETTER.
FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS ARE ELIGIBLE ON THE SAME BASIS AS OTHER NON-PROFIT, PUBLIC OR NON-PROFIT PRIVATE ENTITY IS DEFINED BY 38 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS 79 10.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT PHYSICALLY LOCATED AND OPERATING IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA VETERAN COALITION.
SO IF YOUR ORGANIZATION, FOR INSTANCE, IS NOT, THAT'S AN EASY PROCESS AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT A NEFARIOUS ORGANIZATION,
SO, UH, AND THE RIO WOULD HELP WITH THAT PROCESS.
UM, LET'S DEMONSTRATE THE TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITIES.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE MORE INFORMATION YOU GIVE US ABOUT YOUR STAFF OR YOU KNOW, THE DEDICATION THAT YOU DO TO THE, TO YOUR MISSION, THE BETTER, UM, SUFFICIENT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION TO EVALUATE MUST MAINTAIN THEIR, THEIR STATUS DURING THE ENTIRE AWARD CYCLE.
IF THEY DON'T, WE'LL STOP PAYMENT ON THAT.
AND APPLICANTS AND GRANTEES MUST ALLOW STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND BE MUST FOLLOW ALL STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS AND BE FREE OF TAX LIABILITIES.
AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS, UH, PROGRAM DETAILED NARRATIVE BUDGET WORKSHEET.
I HAVE THAT HIGHLIGHTED ON MINE BECAUSE I WAS ON THE BOARD.
AND IF FOLKS SEND IN A BUDGET, WE, THERE IS A SAMPLE BUDGET WORKSHEET, BUT IF YOU SEND IN ONE THAT SAYS WE NEED COPY PAPER AND PENS AND PEN, YOU, YOU ALL PROBABLY SAT ON BOARDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
LIKE, IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET STUFF FOR YOUR, YOUR BUSINESS, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HELP, WE WANT TO HELP VETERANS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS LESSNESS AND TRANSITION, UM, ORGANIZATION SUMMARY OR ORGANIZATION CHART, UH, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION POLICY, COIT COPY OF YOUR ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF NONPROFIT.
AND YOU KNOW, BY SIGNING IT, YOU'RE, UM, AGREEING TO THE TERMS IF AWARDED, THIS GOES TO A PANEL OF EXPERTS, REVIEW APPLICATIONS BASED ON IMPACT, FEASIBILITY AND ALIGNMENT WITH PROGRAM AREAS AND MAKE AWARD RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE SECRETARY.
AGAIN, THE SECRETARY HAS FINAL SAY ON THIS.
UM, NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT JUST SOUND OUT LIKE
HE, HE TAKES ALL THE, ALL OF OUR ADVICE REALLY
THE AGREEING MUST RETURN AND OR AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING THE TERMS, THE REQUIREMENTS, THE GRANT AWARD AGREEMENT, THE APPROVED GRANT APPLICATION, AND ALL TERMS SUBMITTED BY THE GRANT APPLICANT TO S-C-D-V-A AND THE RESPONSE OF THE NOTICE OF GRANT AWARD.
AND THE GRANTEE SHALL DESIGNATE IN WRITING INDIVIDUALS TO SERVICE POINTS OF CONTACT THE GRANT, THE GRANTEE WILL NOTIFY THE S-C-D-B-A WITHIN 10 DAYS IF THAT, IF THAT, UH, POC CHANGES.
SO THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE SAYS QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE AWARDED EITHER OF THOSE GRANTS, DOES IT PRECLUDE YOU FROM A, A TIMEFRAME THAT YOU CAN REAPPLY? NO, SIR.
AND IF YOU ARE AWARDED, IS THAT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION IN YOUR RANKING IF YOU REAPPLY, IS IT LOOKED AT LIKE, WELL, THEY GOT THIS LAST YEAR THEY GOT, DOES THAT TAKE, IS THAT CONSIDERED AT ALL? I'M GONNA SAY NO, SIR.
BECAUSE, UH, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND.
UM, AND I THINK THE REASON, SO THAT WAS, OKAY, MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND, WE'VE HAD SOME REPEAT PEOPLE, COUNTIES, CITIES THAT ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT.
THAT'S THE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
COME GET IT, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT'S JUST GOOD TO KNOW.
'CAUSE THERE'S SOME GRANTS THAT WE APPLY FOR AND ONCE YOU GET IT, THEN YOU CAN ONLY DO IT LIKE, WAIT THREE YEARS BEFORE YOU, SO THERE'S, THERE'S ONES LIKE THAT.
NO, JUST BEING COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THE DEADLINE FOR THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND AND THERE WAS NOTHING FROM BUFORT COUNTY.
BUT NO, USUALLY, UH, WE, WE'VE HAD SOME, A LOT OF, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, AND ON THE, ON THE TRANSITION IN HOMELESSNESS GRANT, YOU KNOW, DON'T HAVE THE DATA YET.
SO LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE RECEIVING THOSE GRANTS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK THE DEADLINE WAS MARCH 15TH.
SO WE'LL SEE IF SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE PUT IN, BUT IT'S GONNA BE BASED ON MERIT.
AND UH, OBVIOUSLY IF THEY DID REALLY WELL WITH THE MONEY, SINCE ALEXIS
[00:45:01]
IS SO HANDS ON WITH MM-HMM.CHECKING 'EM OUT, I'M SURE THAT WILL, SHE'LL BE LIKE, HAVE NO PROBLEM.
UM, ONE OF THE CRITERIA IN THERE WAS TO BE FREE, THE APPLICANT AND GRANTEES BE FREE OF TAX LIABILITIES.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS? SO, I MEAN, LET'S, LET'S SAY FOR THE BUFORT HOUSING TRUST FUND, IF THEY'RE MANAGING SOME HOUSES THAT HAVE A MORTGAGE ON 'EM, I'M ASSUMING THAT WOULD BE A TAX LIABILITY.
WOULD THAT EXCLUDE THEM FROM APPLYING OR RECEIVING? I WOULDN'T THINK SO.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE UPFRONT ABOUT IT.
BUT I, I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON HER.
YEAH, I WAS JUST CONFUSED BY THAT LANGUAGE.
NO, THIS IS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME, SIR.
'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE STEPPED OUT AND I ASKED ALEXIS, UH, SHE JUST HAD ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, OR SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BEEN HERE WITH ME AND SHE PROBABLY WOULD SPECIFY FOR NO, IT'S ALL GOOD.
UM, YOU MENTIONED THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE A 5 0 1 C ORGANIZATION, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SORRY IF I THANK TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME MUCH.
AND CAROLYN FURMAN WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR A SECOND STILL.
WANT YOUR SEAT, BEN? ANYTIME TO TALK ABOUT VETERANS.
SO FOR MY VETERANS IN THE ROOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS AFFAIRS JUST TO SET THE LANDSCAPE FOR BEAUFORT.
THERE'S ABOUT 24,000 VETERANS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT 10,000 ACTIVE DUTY IN EACH YEAR.
ABOUT 1100 SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITION FROM THE BASIS TO THE CIVILIAN SECTOR.
AND WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS I WANNA RETAIN AS MANY OF THOSE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AS POSSIBLE TO STAY HERE.
'CAUSE WE'RE MISSING THAT SWEET SPOT AT 25 TO 45 AGE GROUP.
SO I'VE BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES AND ON THE BASIS TO TRY TO FIND GOOD JOBS TO KEEP THEM AROUND.
SO, UM, I HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I AM ACON OR ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL TO THE COUNTY.
UM, I WORK FOR AUDRA ANTONACCI, MY ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
BUT I'M OPERATIONALLY CONTROLLED BY THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
I WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE SECRETARY, UH, OF SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
SO IT'S A KIND OF A UNIQUE, UH, COMMAND RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT'S WORKING.
SO THE, THE KEY INGREDIENT TO MY POSITION IS PARTNERSHIPS.
PARTNERSHIPS ARE CRITICAL TO WHAT WE DO.
AND AS JASON SAID, WE ARE, UM, A STRONG PARTNER WITH S-E-D-V-A, WITH THE VARA, WHICH IS THE VA REGIONAL OFFICE UP UP IN COLUMBIA, RALPH H. JOHNSON, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS THE NUMBER ONE HEALTHCARE FACILITY IN THE STATE AND THE NINTH AND THE COUNTRY FOR PATIENT SATISFACTION.
SO WE'VE GOT A GREAT ASSET HERE IN, IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
I'VE GOT THE REP FROM HUD BASH, WHICH IS THE HOMELESS VA PERSON THAT WORKS OUT OF MY OFFICE.
I'VE GOT SOMEONE FROM RALPH, A JOHNSON, THAT COMES ONE ONCE A MONTH TO HELP ENROLL VETERANS INTO HEALTHCARE.
UM, AND WE PART, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE LEGAL VOLUNTEERS OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
THEY DO QUARTERLY FREE WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY, UM, AT OUR CLINICS.
SO, UM, AS WITH THE NATION, 74% OF THE VETERANS IN OUR COUNTRY ARE UNTETHERED TO THE VA.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THEY'VE NEVER FILED A CLAIM.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH OUR KOREAN AND VIETNAM WAR VETERANS.
WE KIND OF DIDN'T TREAT THEM WELL, AND THE VA WAS A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION BACK THEN.
WE WEREN'T PROVIDING REALLY HEALTHCARE.
SO A LOT OF THEM WERE DRAFTED.
THEY DID THEIR TIME, THEY WENT HOME.
TODAY WE'VE GOT SUCH A, AN INCREDIBLE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, AND IT'S REALLY THE WHOLE BODY, THE WHOLE MAN CONCEPT WITH WHEN IT COMES TO VA.
SO THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF A LOT OF THINGS.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, HOME LOANS, EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, BUT WITH THAT SERVICE PROVIDED, THE 74% IS TRUE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
SO WHEN I BECAME THE DIRECTOR TWO YEARS, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, UM, THAT WAS MY SWEET SPOT.
I WANTED TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW, WHO THESE FOLKS WERE AND HOW CAN WE GET THEM IN AND GET THEM THE, UH, THE BENEFITS THAT THEY'VE EARNED.
NOT THAT WHAT THEY DESERVE, BECAUSE WHAT THEY DESERVE IS MORE THAN WHAT THEY'RE GETTING.
UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, AS OF LAST JUNE, THE DIRECTOR OF VA TOLD ME I HAD REDUCED OUR POPULATION FROM 74% TO 67%.
SO HOPEFULLY THIS NEXT JUNE, I'LL, I'LL GET SOME, SOME BETTER NEWS.
UM, SO ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, OUR VETERANS BRING IN $209 MILLION A YEAR
[00:50:01]
AND MEDICAL BENEFITS, COMPENSATION AND EDUCATION BENEFITS, $209 MILLION A YEAR.LAST YEAR, MY TEAM, UM, BROUGHT IN 3.4 MILLION TO ADD TO THAT 209 MILLION.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO IF SOMEONE HAS MEDICAL BENEFITS, IF THEY HAVE COMPENSATION, IF THEY HAVE EDUCATION, IF THEY HAVE HOME LOANS, THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING INSTEAD OF CONSUMING, THEY ARE NOT TAXING OUR SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, RIGHT? THEY'RE A FULL UP ROUND, OR AS THE SECRETARY LIKES TO SAY, THERE'S, THEY'RE, UM, THRIVING.
AND THAT'S MY FOCUS IS TRY TO GET EVERY VETERAN TO WHERE THEY'RE THRIVING.
BECAUSE VETERANS HAVE PROVEN THREE THINGS.
THEY'RE DISCIPLINED, THEY CAN BE TRAINED, AND THEY'RE GOOD TEAM PLAYERS.
THEY'RE, THEY WORK GREAT ON TEAMS. SO THEY'RE GREAT EMPLOYEES, THEY'RE GREAT NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE GREAT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, OKAY, SO LET'S SEE, SINCE, UM, I STOOD UP, I MEAN, SINCE I, I WAS APPOINTED, I STOOD UP THE BEAUFORT COUNTY VETERANS COUNCIL.
IT STARTED WITH EIGHT SEPARATE VSOS.
IT'S NOW GROWN TO OVER A HUNDRED.
WE TALK ABOUT WHAT EACH ORGANIZATION IS DOING AND HOW WE CAN SHARE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP OUR VETERANS.
'CAUSE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME TARGET POPULATION, RIGHT? VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR SURVIVORS, THEIR CHILDREN.
LET'S SEE, I'VE ALSO ROLLED OUT SEVERAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS. ONE IS THE END OF LIFE PLANNING SEMINAR BECAUSE OF OUR AGE POPULATION.
UM, EVERY QUARTER I GIVE FOUR COURSES AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE MAXED OUT EACH TIME.
AND IT'S, IT'S, UM, AND THE CONCEPT BEHIND IT WAS WE PLAN FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT? WE PLAN FOR COLLEGE, WE PLAN FOR CHILDREN.
WE DON'T PLAN FOR THE END OF OUR LIFE.
SO A LOT OF TIMES, AND I, I WAS NOTICING A LOT OF SURVIVING SPOUSES WE'RE COMING IN SAYING, HEY, MY, MY VETERAN JUST PASSED AWAY.
WHAT, WHAT CAN THE VA DO FOR ME? THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A DD TWO 14 WAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN EDUCATE THEM AND HELP THEM, THEY LEAVE THE SEMINAR WITH A BINDER WITH ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION THAT THEY CAN ADD TO IT.
SO WHEN THE TIME COMES, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH ALL THE NURSING, I MEAN, NOT NURSING FUNERAL HOMES, TO WHERE IT'S REALLY KIND OF A SEAMLESS, LESS PAINFUL PROCESS FOR THEM TO, UM, TO TRY TO, UH, TAKE CARE OF ALL THE, NOT ONLY THE BURIAL, BUT ALSO THE FINANCIAL AND, UM, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL EFFECTS OF, OF, UM, PASSING.
UM, I'VE ALSO CREATED A, UH, VA 1 0 1 COURSE.
I MENTIONED THE FREE WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY.
AND, UH, WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF CLAIMS CLINICS WHERE WE PARTNER WITH THE, UH, COLUMBIA OFFICE VA, WHERE WE HAVE KNOCKED OUT LIKE 50 VETERANS IN ONE, ONE SETTING.
UM, THE LAST THING IS, I, I TAUGHT A CLASS, UH, WITH OLLIE, THE, UH, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT CAMPUS, UM, ON VETERANS AFFAIRS 1 0 1.
SO IN THE LAST YEAR, THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE REACHED OVER, WE'VE TOUCHED OVER 2000 VETERANS.
AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE ONES THAT COME INTO MY OFFICE TO DO CLAIMS. IT'S JUST THE OUTREACH PIECE.
ALRIGHT? SO WE, UM, WE COORDINATE VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR BASIS.
IT'S TAKEN ME TWO YEARS, BUT WE'RE FINALLY, WE'RE FINALLY ON THE BASIS TO DO BDD CLAIMS. BDD IS BENEFITS DELIVERED BEFORE DISCHARGE.
THE VA WILL EXPEDITE A SERVICE MEMBER'S CLAIM IF THEY'RE 90, BETWEEN 90 AND A HUNDRED DAYS FROM THEIR EAS.
SO IF WE CAN GET THEM AND FILE THEIR CLAIM BEFORE THEY TAKE THEIR UNIFORM OFF, THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR COMPENSATION IS GONNA BE, THEY KNOW WHAT BENEFITS THEY'RE GETTING, HOW MUCH BETTER IS IT TO TRANSITION AND, AND YOU KNOW THAT IT'S A MAJOR LIFE EVENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING FROM HAVING A PAYCHECK TO LOOKING FOR A PAYCHECK.
IF YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THIS SAFETY NET OF, SAY, $4,000 A MONTH TAX FREE, THAT HELPS EASE THE TRANSITION.
FURTHERMORE, I THINK THAT IT IMPACTS FUTURE RECRUITING.
IF WE TAKE CARE OF MARINES AND SAILORS AND SOLDIERS TODAY, AND AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THAT TRANSITION AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN KICKED TO THE CURB WHEN THEY GO HOME, THEY'RE GONNA TELL THEIR NEPHEWS, THEIR, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
YEAH, THE AIR FORCE WAS GREAT.
SO IT HELPS RECRUITING AND REALLY IT'S OUR ETHOS OF TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN RIGHT.
SO, UM, LEGISLATIVE, I WORK CLOSELY WITH SENATOR GRAHAM SCOTT AND THEN REPRESENTATIVES MESA'S OFFICE ON ALL THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES FOR OUR VETERANS.
BUT ALSO, UM, REALLY PUTTING OUT SOME GREAT LEGISLATION ON CAPITOL HILL.
I'VE DONE, UM, SIX FLY-INS TO CAPITOL HILL, TO LEGISL, YOU KNOW, TO, UH, TO TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS AS WELL AS NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, AND GEORGIA ON PASSING THINGS
[00:55:01]
LIKE THE PACT ACT, THE MAJOR RICHARD STAR ACT, EXCUSE ME.UM, WE'RE WORKING ON SOME, UM, LET'S SEE.
IT'S RRTP, BUT IT'S A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION CENTER FOR SOME OF OUR VETERANS STRUGGLING FROM PTSD.
AND OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE SEVERE CASES OF PTSD, YOU SELF-MEDICATE WITH, WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
SO NOW YOU'VE GOT TWO PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY, THE VA WILL ONLY SEE YOU FOR ONE.
THIS BILL IS GONNA FORCE THEM TO, TO BRING THEM IN AS AN INPATIENT AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.
OKAY? SO, UM, WE OPENED AN OFFICE IN BLUFFTON LAST OCTOBER.
SO I'VE GOT AN OFFICE IN BEAUFORT.
WE GO OUT TO HILTON HEAD, WE GO TO SUN CITY, WE GO TO LUKO.
HELENA, WE WILL MEET THE VETERAN WHERE THEY ARE.
UM, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VETERAN DAY PARADE, AND AS OF ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, THE VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY CEREMONY, WHICH IS TOMORROW 1,000, I'D LOVE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.
WE REALLY OWE WE HAVE A, A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THESE VETERANS.
UM, SO I'M, I'M HONORED TO DO IT ON THE HORIZON.
I AM PLANNING A FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF YOUNG VETERANS WHO AFTER THEY GET OUTTA THE MILITARY, NOBODY'S TAUGHT THEM SIMPLE, BASIC FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS.
SO I WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TYPE OF TRAINING.
I ALSO WANNA GET ALL THE SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THE NURSING HOMES ASSISTED LIVING TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM THE STRAIGHT SCOOP ON VA BENEFITS.
I GET SO MANY PEOPLE COMING IN SAYING, MY VETERAN NEEDS TO GO TO A NURSING HOME.
I'M TOLD THAT THE VA WILL PAY FOR IT AND THE VA WILL PAY FOR SOME OF IT IF THEY'RE QUALIFIED.
BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET THIS, YOU KNOW, I'M A BIG PROPONENT ON IT, EDUCATING FOLKS.
UM, I TALK, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE PATIENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WITH DROP H JOHNSON.
AND THE LAST THING IS, UH, AND THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, THE WOMEN VETERANS STUDY.
SO WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT AND DAV DID AN EXHAUSTIVE STUDY SEPARATELY ON WOMEN VETERANS.
WOMEN VETERANS ARE THE FASTEST GROWING COHORT IN THE VA.
WOMEN VETERANS TEND TO BE MORE EDUCATED.
THEY TEND TO, UH, NOT USE MEDICAL FACILITIES.
THEIR SUICIDE RATES ARE INCREASING AND THEY'RE BECOMING MORE LETHAL, WHICH WAS TYPICALLY A MALE CHARACTERISTIC.
SO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING AND HOW CAN WE STUDY THESE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN STAVE OFF SOME POTENTIAL, UH, OUTBREAKS HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY? BECAUSE AS OUR VIETNAM AND KOREAN WAR VETERANS, UM, YOU KNOW, START TO, TO A TRITE, THE NUMBER OF, OF VETERANS ARE REDUCING.
AND WE'VE ALSO REDUCED CN STRENGTH IN SOME OF, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME IN OUR MILITARY.
SO THE VETERAN POPULATION IS SHRINKING EXCEPT FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING A 12% INCREASE IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS OF VETERANS COMING TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND THE REASON WHY THAT IS, IS BECAUSE WE ARE A VERY VETERAN FRIENDLY STATE.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE, AND IT'S WHY EVERYONE ELSE IS COMING HERE.
RIGHT? SO, BARRING ANY QUESTIONS, THAT WAS MY QUICK, NOT SO QUICK, UH, UPDATE OF BEFORD COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS.
UM, I'VE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE END OF LIFE SEMINAR.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THERE'S SO MUCH WE DON'T KNOW.
I'VE GOTTA GO THROUGH ANOTHER ONE, JUST SEE, FIGURE OUT SOME OF THE OTHER, OTHER PIECES.
UH, IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
UH, YEAH, I, I PERSONALLY IN INTERACTED WITH CAROLINE AND HER STAFF, UM, WELL MYSELF ON BEHALF OF OTHER VETERANS, AND, UH, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING.
YEAH, CAROLINE, I WAS JUST SAY THANK YOU, EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SO OUR, OUR COUNCILMAN, HE VOLUNTEERS TO PROVIDE FREE WILLS TO SOME OF OUR, OUR MOST DESERVING VETERANS.
UM, SO WITH THAT, UH, I KNOW THAT WE WANNA TRY AND WRAP IT UP IN AN HOUR.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO, IF ANYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS THE, THE ANSWER.
UM, A A FEW MONTHS AGO THEY, THEY PUBLISHED, UM, THREE SITES FOR THE VA CLINIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
IS THERE ANY UPDATE ABOUT THAT? DOES ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT, THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD IS DON'T LOOK FORWARD TO ANYTHING IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT ALL.
ONE OF THE LADIES WHO IS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
SHE TRAVELS ACROSS THE NATION TO IN OR THE REGION, TO INSPECT VA C BOX AND CLINICS.
UM, SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A SPACE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL CALLED BACK TO WORK, AND SHE DIDN'T WANNA GO FROM SEA PINES TO THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, SO SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD USE SPACE IN MY BUCK OFFICE.
[01:00:01]
THAT YES, THERE WERE PLANS, BUT EVERYTHING'S KIND OF IN FLUX RIGHT NOW WITH, WITH THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THINGS ARE KIND OF ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.SO THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEEFING UP THE, UM, UH, THE FOURTH DECK OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, THE VACB, WHICH, UM, YOU KNOW, IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE AS WE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DHA, THE VA, UM, DEPENDENTS, RETIREES, VETERANS ARE USING OUR LOCAL DOCTORS.
UM, WELL, SO IS BEAUFORT MEMORIAL, AND SO IS, YOU KNOW, THE CIVILIAN SECTOR.
SO IT'S, IT'S BECOME A, IT'S BECOMING A SITUATION WHERE, UH, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH DOCTORS WITH ALL THESE, UH, YOU KNOW, WITH COMMUNITY CARE FROM TRI, I MEAN FROM, UH, VA AND FOR TRICARE, THEY'RE CONSULTING A LOT OF FOLKS OUT INTO THE ECONOMY, AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH PROVIDERS.
SO SOME OF US MAY NEED TO TRAVEL TO SAVANNAH, CHARLESTON, COLUMBIA, YOU KNOW, FOR CERTAIN HEALTHCARE.
SO IT'S, IT'S SO STAND BY, IN OTHER WORDS, ANSWER YOUR QUESTION RIGHT.
UM, IT'S STILL, IT'S STILL SLATED WHERE THERE, THERE ARE, ARE STILL THREE LOCATIONS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
UM, BUT I'LL SEE THE DIRECT DIRECTOR, ISAAC, UH, UP AT RALPH H. JOHNSON NEXT MONTH, AND I'LL BE SURE TO ASK HIM ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
I, YEAH, I WOULD EXPECT BY THE TIME THEY GET THROUGH EVERYTHING CONSTRUCTION.
I DUNNO IF THAT'S ACCURATE OR NOT.
I, I CAN ADD THAT, UM, THAT THE VA CLINIC, OUR VA CLINIC, HOPEFUL VA CLINIC, IT WAS IN A LIST OF OTHER VA CLINICS THAT ARE UNDER, UM, REVIEW FOR FUTURE BUILDS.
AND IT WENT THROUGH A BUSINESS MEETING FOR A SUBCOMMITTEE, UH, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON MARCH 12TH.
SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT, BUT CAROLINE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
ONCE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GETS ALL THE PEOPLE IN PLACE, HOPEFULLY IT'LL MOVE FORWARD TO, UH, A COMMITTEE WHERE ONE OF OUR SENATORS CAN MAKE SOME.
UM, YEAH, I, I USE THE SYSTEM A LOT,
[6. SELECTION OF NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEM(S)]
BEFORE WE GET OUT OF HERE, UM, UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE LOCATION FOR THE NEXT MEETING, UH, AND, UH, THEN THE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS, UH, FOR THE NEXT MEETING.UH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING, UH, THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS FOR DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE ONE DAY THAT MAYBE TO ADD, TO ADD.
UM, I, I KNOW YOU'RE PART OF THE NORTHERN BEAUFORD COUNTY TRANSIT STUDY.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT, WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
UM, IT WON'T BE FINISHED PROBABLY UNTIL JUNE OR JULY, SO I'LL GIVE US KIND OF AN UPDATE OR STATUS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THE LAST MEETING THAT WAS, THAT WAS WHAT, I HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY WEEK OH.
AND SO I, I CAN, I CAN SEND OUT AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE KNOW FROM THERE.
BUT THE LAST I TALKED TO STEPHANIE, IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE DONE UNTIL JUNE.
MR. TO ME, WE'VE EXTENSIVELY HAVE THE BEFORD FOR HOUSING TRUST COMING BACK IN MARCH TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OUT THERE.
BECAUSE THEY'VE GIVEN OUT GRANTS AND IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO, SO WE NOT HAVE A MINIMUM.
IS THAT FOR THE REPAIRS? YEAH, ALL FOR RENTAL HOMEOWNERS AND REPAIRS.
IF THAT'S OKAY, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, AND I WILL, I WILL, UH, IN TERMS OF THE NORTH, UH, REGIONAL TRANSIT, THE, UH, UH, SOME OF US AT THIS TABLE PARTICIPATED IN, UM, DOING, UH, WELL, UH, ACTUALLY IT WAS THE LADIES ISLAND VILLAGE CENTER, BUT, UM, WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT ALSO WAS A, UM, TROLLEY SYSTEM PUT, UH, PROPOSAL THAT, THAT I HAD PUT TOGETHER.
AND THAT WAS, UH, ACTUALLY, UH, UH, GIVEN HERE, UH, AT A PAST MEETING.
UM, THE, THE NORTH REGIONAL IS ACTUALLY TAKING THAT AND DIGITIZING IT, UH, NOW, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I COULD, UH, GIVE A PRESENTATION ON THAT AS A, A QUICK, UH, ANALYSIS.
UH, I THINK IT HELPS ALL, UH, BOTH WITH OUR LOW, LOW INCOME, UH, POPULATION AS WELL AS, UH, UH, TOURISM, THE CITY TOURISM AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, I'VE GOTTEN REAL POSITIVE ABOUT REACTIONS TO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND DO IS, UM, UH, JESSE WHITE PUT TOGETHER, UH, AN ANALYSIS OF BUFORT IN, IN OUR AREA, AND, UH, SHOWED ON A, UM,
[01:05:01]
A MAP THAT WE'VE GOT OVER 3,700 NEW APARTMENTS COMING ONLINE THAT ARE NOT HERE YET, WHICH IS GOING TO HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. ALL OF OUR ROADWAYS, I DON'T KNOW.UH, AND, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE LATS, UH, TAKE UP TOO, US ON THE NORTH REGIONAL SIDE.
UH, WHAT ARE THE CAPACITIES OF OUR CURRENT ROAD SYSTEMS. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS, UH, TAKE THIS THAT WE HAVE OF, UH, THE BEAUFORT CITY AREA, EXPAND THAT BOTH TO THE COUNTY AS WELL AS THE CITY OR TOWN, AND HAVE ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY PUT ALL OF THE LOCATIONS FOR ALL OF OUR, UH, POTENTIAL NEW BUILDS AND NEW BUILDS COMING ONLINE.
SO THAT, UM, WHENEVER WE HAVE, UH, SOMETHING COME TO THE TABLE, UH, AND THEY HAVE TO DO A TIA FOR, UH, A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT, UH, THAT WE HAVE THE COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE AREA, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TREMENDOUS IMPACT NOW.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND, UH, PROMOTE THAT AND I'LL GET TOGETHER WITH EACH TO TRY AND DO THAT.
WE, THE GROUP, THERE IS A GROUP THAT PREPARED SOME INFORMATION FOR SOCO.
I I CAN SEND THAT TO LIBBY, THE SLIDE SET, AND IT IDENTIFIES SOME OF THAT, BUT IT'S TWO COUNTIES.
IT'S BOTH COUNTIES, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.
THINKING ON THE SAME ONE THEY WERE.
UM, SO WE CAN SEND THAT LINK, LINK TO EVERYONE, AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS HAVE THIS CONTINUOUSLY UPDATED ON A MONTHLY, OR AT LEAST QUARTERLY BASIS SO THAT WE CAN USE THAT AT EACH OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONS SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE APPROVING.
IT'S, IT'S FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU SEE IT ALL.
IT, IT IS THE TWO COUNTIES
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT EACH TIA REQUIRING INFORMATION ON WHAT ELSE IS, WELL, THAT WASN'T INCLUDED, BUT IT, IT SHOWS WHAT'S BEEN PERMITTED, RIGHT.
BECAUSE THE TIAS ONLY SHOW THE EFFECT FOR JUST ONE DEVELOPMENT, NOT, RIGHT.
SO IT WAS BOTH NORTHERN BEAUFORT AS WELL AS SOUTHERN.
WE'LL SEND THE LINK FOR THE SLIDES SET, AND THEY'RE GONNA REPORT AGAIN AT THE NEXT SOLO CODE MEETING GO MORE.
SO IT WOULD, WOULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEM TO REPORT HERE.
I THINK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
MAYBE AWAY FOR SOME TIME NEXT MEETING MAYBE.
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, I WOULD LIKE TO TRY AND GET TOGETHER WITH EACH OF THE ENTITIES ALSO FOR MORE LOCAL, UH, IMPACT ANALYSIS, UH, AND, UH, GET A DECISION AS WHO WANTS TO KEEP THAT, UH, UH, INFORMATION.
UH, THE COUNTY HAS THE BEST GIS SYSTEM, UH, TO TRY IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'D BE A, A HUGE EFFORT TO GET THAT INPUT FROM THE TOWN, UH, UH, THE CITY AND THE, UH, COUNTY, UH, TOGETHER ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, UH, JUST TO ADD.
UH, SO IF, IF, IF WE CAN MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE TO GO WITH THAT, SO THAT SUBCOMMITTEE CAN, WE'LL ASK THEM TO COME WITH THE NEXT MEETING THAT PRESENTED AT SOME.
AND, AND THEY CAN PRESENT WHAT WAS PRESENT, WHAT THEY PLANNED TO PRESENT AT, SO LOCO NEXT MONTH TOO.
AND MAYBE I'LL GET TOGETHER WITH YOU WITH THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE TOO.
AND I'LL SEND, I'LL GET THAT SLIDE SET SENT OUT.
SO, UH, THOSE ARE THE PRESSURE ITEMS THAT I HAD, UH, THAT WANT TO GET DONE.
ANYTHING FROM ANYBODY ELSE? WHAT'S THE DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING? UM, FOURTH FRIDAY.
I APPRECIATE YOU STILL COMING OUT.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE REALLY? I'M SERIOUS.
YEAH, IT'S A GREAT, I, UM, JUST ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION.
I, I PARTICIPATED IN A COUNCIL WITH CHAT, UM, ON HILTON HEAD AND MOSTLY HILTON HEAD.
WE HAD OVER 70 PEOPLE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YORK.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE BRIDGE AND ALTERNATIVES, AND WE'RE LIKE, NO, THERE'S NO ALTERNATIVES.
THE BRIDGE IS GOING WHERE THE BRIDGE IS GOING.
BUT, UM, BUT THEY, THEY ALSO HAD A LOT OF, UM, CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND ONE PERSON STOOD UP AND SAID, WELL, WE HEARD THAT LADIES ISLAND WAS GONNA GET A THIRD BRIDGE.
I SAID, MA'AM,
[01:10:01]
BRIDGE? SO, OKAY.ANYTHING ELSE? JUST QUICKLY? YES.
YOU MENTIONED A MEETING SPOT FOR NEXT MEETING.
I WOULD SAY REALLY QUICK, TODAY IN PORT ROYAL, WE'RE HAVING THE REDEDICATION OF THE BOARDWALK FOR HENRY ROBINSON.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE REMEMBER HIM.
HE WAS MAYOR AND CHAIR AND COMP COUNCIL FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
UM, HURRICANE HELENE TORE THE BOARDWALK UP.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE HIS FAMILY THERE AND DO A REDEDICATION AT FOUR.
SO, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL SERVED WITH HIM AND REMEMBER HIM.
SO, LIKE I SAID, FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY DOWN AT THE, UH, SANDS, UM, LIKE I SAID, HIS FAMILY WILL BE THERE.
SO IF ANYBODY'S AVAILABLE, IT'S KIND OF GONNA BE A FUN THING, SO, RIGHT.
THE RIVER WILL PROVIDE GIVE A MAN A FISH.
CAN I MAKE ONE QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT? SURE.
UM, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, I'M MEGAN.
I'M WITH YOU FOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
EVERY YEAR WE HOST A MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF ON POINT WITH, WITH THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
WE ARE, UH, GONNA HOLD THAT ON MAY 9TH, WHICH IS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON LAUREL BAY.
AND, UM, WE'RE ADDING SOME NEW FUN ACTIVITIES THAT HOPEFULLY WILL INTEGRATE ALL OF OUR BASES WITH OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
OF COURSE, IT'S OPEN TO VETERANS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO PENCIL IN MAY 9TH, BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALL STOP BY AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH US.
AND ON A SIMILAR NOTE, LAUREL BAY, AS WELL AS A FEW HOUSES ON NAVAL HOSPITAL PROPERTY, UH, ARE NOW MANAGED BY HUNT MILITARY COMMUNITIES.
AND THEY'RE OPEN TO ALL CIVILIANS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY ON THE FINANCIAL SIDE.
UH, SOMEWHERE TO RENT AND LIVE.
UH, WE HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE IT.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY, HOW MANY HOUSES ARE? UM, THEY HAVE JUST A HANDFUL ON NAVAL HOSPITAL PROPERTY RIGHT NOW, BUT AROUND A HUNDRED AT LAUREL BAY.
AND WE'RE TALKING TWO THREE BEDROOM OPTIONS, 14, $1,500 WITH UTILITIES.
DO THEY STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GATE TO YES, YES.
YOU STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GATE, BUT, UM, THE ORIGINAL REQUIREMENT FOR NON-SERVICE MEMBERS TO LIVE THERE WAS, YOU HAD TO BE A FIRST RESPONDER.
CAROLINE JUMP IN, OR COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
NOW ALL OF THAT IS WAIVED, SO YOU'D HAVE TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK IS THE CURRENT CRITERIA.
IT'S PART OF THE PUBLIC VENTURE CONTRACT.
AND, AND THEN THEY JUST GET A YEAR, ONE YEAR, UH, PIECE OF PAPER FOR ACCESS.
THEY'LL GET A, THEY'LL GET A THE PASS THEY
ANYTHING ELSE WITH THAT? WE'RE ADJOURNED.
YOU'RE WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV, LIVE, WORK, PLAY.
I'M THE OFF PARK RANGER HERE AT DREW ISLAND STATE PARK.
COME SPEND THE DAY WITH ME HERE WE ARE AT DRY ISLAND STATE PARKS MARINA.
I AM OVER MANAGING THE SLIPS HERE AT THE MARINA.
UM, WE HAVE 50 SLIPS, 48 OF 'EM ARE 25 BY 15 FOOT SLIPS, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO 50 FOOTER SLIPS.
UM, I'VE BEEN OVER THE MARINA PROGRAM FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND, UH, WHEN I FIRST STARTED WE HAD EIGHT SLIPS FILLED OUT OF 50.
AND, UM, AFTER RUNNING IT FOR ABOUT 13 MONTHS, WE WERE ABLE TO REACH FULL OCCUPANCY.
UM, AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'VE HAD A WAIT LIST WITH ABOUT 15 EVER SINCE.
UM, WE GIVE SPECIAL OFFERS ON, UH, SLIP PRICES FOR THE 25 BY 15 FOOT SLIPS.
UM, IF YOU, YOU CAN DO A SIX MONTH OR A 12 MONTH,
[01:15:01]
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, UM, MONTH BY MONTH.
IT'S TWO 50 A MONTH, WHICH ADDS UP TO THREE GRAND.
AND THEN THE SIX MONTH LEASE IS $1,500.
UM, WHETHER YOU PAY IT ALL UPFRONT OR $250 PAYMENTS, I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR GENERATING INVOICES FOR OUR CURRENT LEASERS AS WELL AS SETTING UP NEW CONTRACTS, UM, 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, UH, I SET A DRIP SO THESE WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT, UM, RUNNING WATER FOR THE, UM, PEOPLE THAT COME OUT HERE OFTEN.
UM, AS WELL AS, UM, YOU KNOW, KEEPING UP WITH THE LEASERS THEMSELVES AND GETTING NUMB 'EM ON A FACE-TO-FACE BASIS.
AND KNOWING, UM, KNOWING WHO I HAVE HERE AT THE MARINA, WE HAVE A FEW REGULARS, UM, AND THEY'RE A VITAL PART IN KEEPING THE, UH, MARINA UP TO DATE.
THEY LET ME KNOW IF SOMEONE'S BOATS COME LOOSE OR IF THERE'S BEEN DAMAGE TO A STORM.
UM, THE WATER'S DOWN RIGHT NOW, SO IT'S, UH, UM, IT IS A BIT OF AN ISSUE KEEPING TRACK OF, UM, THE SAFETY OF THESE BOATS.
UM, THE MARINA'S LIKE MY BABY, I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO, UM, WATCH IT GROW.
UM, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT THE MARINA.
UM, WE HAD AN OLD MARINA THAT USED TO BE RIGHT HERE.
UM, AND THEN IN 2008 WE HAD A REALLY BAD STORM THAT CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT OVER THE YEARS AFTER THAT, UM, THE MARINA BEGAN TO SINK.
UM, LATER WE GOT THE BUDGET TO REDO THE MARINA, UM, WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE HERE, AS WELL AS REDOING THE, UH, BATHHOUSE UP ON THE HILL, REMODELED ALL THE BATHROOMS, UM, SHOWERS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, ADDED HEAT AND AIR TO IT.
SO NEXT WE'RE GONNA GO TO ANOTHER FACILITY WHERE I'LL DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES I HAVE AS OUR SAFETY OFFICER HERE AT DRY ISLAND STATE PARK.
HERE WE ARE AT DRY ISLANDS GAS STOCK RIGHT NEXT TO OUR TACKLE SHOP.
UM, AND HERE I'M GONNA SHOW YOU ONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AS SAFETY OFFICERS CHECKING ALL OF OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
UM, THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE WE HAVE ON PARK.
UM, IT'S RATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GAS DOCK.
AND WHAT WE DO WHEN WE INSPECT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, UM, IS FIRST AND TAKE IT OFF ITS STAND AND YOU CHECK THE GAUGE, UM, SEE IF IT'S NOT UNDER OR OVERCHARGED.
BUT THE MAIN THING THAT YOU WANT TO CHECK, UM, AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT A, UM, A CERTIFIED FIRE TECH IS, UM, 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.
YOU CAN KEEP DOING THAT JUST TO SEE, BUT IF YOU FEEL A BIG CLUMP, THAT MEANS IT'S CLUMPED UP TOGETHER.
UM, AND I DO THIS WITH ALL 42 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
WE HAVE ON PARK, WE HAVE 'EM IN THE CAMPGROUNDS, EVERY FACILITY, OUR CABINS, VILLAS, UM, 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, UM, WHICH THIS IS JANUARY.
UM, AND I'LL NOTE THAT ONCE A YEAR I HAVE, UM, A CERTIFIED FIRE TECH COME OUT AND HAVE THESE SERVICED.
I JUST HAD THIS ONE SERVICED, UM, IN DECEMBER, RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
SO THIS ONE'S PRETTY MUCH GOOD FOR A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR.
UM, ANOTHER ASPECT OF BEING A SAFEST OFFICER HERE AT DREW ISLAND STATE PARK IS, UM, FACILITY INSPECTIONS, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S SAFE, MAKING SURE WE'RE STAYING UP TO DATE ON, UM, SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON OUR, UM, HVAC, ON ANYTHING THAT NEEDS IT, LOOKING FOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT NEED REPLACING OR ATTENTION.
UM, AND OF COURSE FILING THE, UM, MONTHLY PAPERWORK FOR OUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER INSPECTIONS AS WELL AS THE FACILITIES.
UM, SO WE CAN STAY UP TO DATE AND BE OFFICIAL.
NEXT, WE'RE GONNA GO AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE LAKE.
HERE WE ARE ON OUR MAIN CAUSEWAY BRIDGE HERE AT DRY ISLAND STATE PARK.
UM, PERSONALLY THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT COMING TO WORK IS DRIVING ACROSS THIS CAUSEWAY BRIDGE AND LOOKING OUT AT THE LAKE EVERY DAY.
UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE LAKE'S DOWN PRETTY LOW RIGHT NOW.
UM, EVERY WINTER THEY DROP THE LAKE A FEW FEET, BUT THIS YEAR IS THE 10 YEAR LOW.
EVERY 10 YEARS THEY DROP THE LAKE SIGNIFICANTLY LOW, UM, TO KILL AN 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.
UM, LAKE MURRAY IS 50,000 ACRES, UM, OF MANMADE LAKE ANDRE ISLAND.
UM, BENEFITS FROM THIS LAKE HEAVILY.
UM, IT BRINGS SO MUCH, SO MANY GUESTS TO OUR PARK.
UM, THEY COME TO HANG OUT HERE AT THE SHELTERS.
UM, PITCH A HAMMOCK LAY OUT AT THE LITTLE BEACHY AREA WE HAVE AT OUR OLD OFFICE.
UM, IT BRINGS A LOT OF VISITORS COME SUMMERTIME.
UM, ALSO IN THE SUMMERTIME, UM, BRINGS ALL OF OUR BIG GAME TOURNAMENTS.
DREW ALLEN'S KNOWN FOR ALL OF ITS FISHING TOURNAMENTS.
WE HAVE 'EM YEAR ROUND, JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEKEND.
UM, TO HIGHLIGHT ONE BIG ONE, DREW ALLEN GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE WORLD BASS CHAMPIONSHIP WHERE WE HOSTED 25 COUNTRIES, UM, FOR A
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WEEK AND WATCHED 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.
UM, THAT'S A BIG JOB FOR OUR OPENING SHIFT HERE AT DREW ISLAND IS TO, UM, DIRECT ALL THE BOATERS FOR THOSE TOURNAMENTS AND, AND PARK 'EM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HOUSE ALL THOSE FISHERMEN FOR, UH, FOR THOSE TOURNAMENTS.
WE HAVE THE BIG BASS, UH, CHALLENGE AND WE HAVE A LITTLE 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.
UM, IT RECEIVED, UM, UPGRADES FOR ELECTRICAL, UP TO 50 AMP SERVICE, UM, NEW WATER, AND EVEN ADDED, UH, SEWER HOOKUPS AS WELL.
SO, UM, WHEN THIS ONE OPENS UP, HOPEFULLY EARLY SPRING, UM, IT'LL BE OPEN FOR THE GUESTS TO ENJOY A BRAND NEW CAMPGROUND WITH, UM, BRAND NEW FACILITIES.
UM, NEXT WE'RE GONNA GO AND WALK THROUGH ONE OF OUR VILLAS AND MAKE SURE IT'S READY FOR A GUEST CHECK-IN HERE WE ARE AT DREW ISLANDS VILLAS.
UM, THIS IS VILLA ONE BEHIND ME, BUT WE HAVE FIVE VILLAS, UM, VILLAS ONE, THREE AND FIVE ARE THREE BEDROOMS AND VILLAS TWO AND FOUR ARE TWO BEDROOMS. UM, THESE ARE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, AREN'T INTO THE CAMPING LIFE OR THE TENT LIFE, UM, GLAMPING AS PEOPLE CALL IT.
UM, THESE PRICES RANGE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 35 A NIGHT TO MAYBE EVEN AS FAR AS TWO 50 A NIGHT, DEPENDING ON TIME OF YEAR, TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOM, UM, IF IT'S A WEEKEND WEEKDAY OR IF IT'S THE ONLY ONE LEFT.
UM, VILLAS ONE AND TWO ARE THE NEWLY REMODELED INSIDE AND OUT, NEW FURNITURE, NEW PAINT FLOORS, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
UM, THERE IS A DOCK BEHIND VILLA ONE.
IT IS THE ONLY DOCK THAT WE HAVE, UM, HERE AT THE VILLAS, BUT IT IS A COMMUNAL DOCK.
AND THE REASON THAT IT'S, IT'S ONLY BEHIND VILLA ONE IS BECAUSE VILLA ONE IS OUR HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE VILLA.
UM, BUT ANY VILLA CAN USE THAT DOCK AS THEY PLEASE.
UM, BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO A WALKTHROUGH OF THE VILLA, SO IF YOU WANNA FOLLOW ME, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A WALKTHROUGH AND, UH, I'LL LET YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH THAT.
SO AS YOU'LL SEE, I USED A KEY CARD.
WE WERE ABLE TO INSTALL, UM, KEY CARD LOCKS AT ALL OF OUR VILLAS AND OUR CAMPER CABINS, AS WELL AS THE BATH HOUSES FOR THOSE.
UM, MAKES IT EASIER IN CASE, UH, OUR METAL KEYS GET LOST.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN A REAL, UH, TREAT TO USE.
SO THIS IS THE INSIDE OF VILLA ONE.
UM, WHAT I'M IN HERE TO DO IS TO WALK THROUGH IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S READY FOR A GUEST, UM, DOWN TO THE NITPICKY STUFF.
UM, MAKE SURE THAT THE, UM, 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, UM, EXPERIENCE, UM, TOTAL.
SO WE ALWAYS, UH, CHECK THE FIREPLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WORKS GREAT, WHICH IT DOES REMOTE'S PROGRAMMED AND EVERYTHING.
I'M TURN THAT BACK OFF BECAUSE IT IS A LITTLE WARM IN HERE.
UM, WE TRY TO CHECK EVERY LAMP TO MAKE SURE THAT IT LIGHTS UP.
UM, EVERY LIGHT IN THE VILLA WE WANNA MAKE SURE WORKS.
UM, OF COURSE WE, WE CHECK THE TV, MAKE SURE THEY WORK.
AND IN THE BATHROOM WE'RE GONNA CHECK AND MAKE SURE ALL THE LIGHTS WORK LIKE THE REST OF THE VILLA.
MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE TOWELS HAVE BEEN, UH, PUT IN PROPERLY AND AND STORED.
WE WANNA CHECK THE CLEANLINESS OF THE, UH, THE TUBS AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO DIRT HAIR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT UH, 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 PREVIOUS STAY.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT CHECK UNDER THE BEDS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING UNDER THERE THAT, UM, WILL CAUSING AN ISSUE FOR A GUEST.
CHECK AROUND IN THE NIGHTSTAND AS WELL.
WANNA RUN OUR HAND ACROSS THE TABLE? MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DIRT OR CRUMBS LEFT FROM ANY PREVIOUS DAY.
WANNA CHECK THESE LIGHTS RIGHT HERE? MAKE SURE ALL THAT'LL TURN ON.
WE'LL GO OUTSIDE REAL FAST AND WE'LL CHECK THE UM,
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PORCH TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.SURE THE LIGHTS OUT HERE WORK FOR OUR GUESTS.
ALSO DO A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE FIRE PIT.
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING ON OUR OUTDOOR PATIOS WORK PROPERLY.
ONE, TWO, AND THREE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE THIS, UH, OUTDOOR PATIO RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UH, IT IS A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE TO HAVE THE REST OF 'EM INSTALLED.
WE'LL GO BACK IN AND FINISH THE WALKTHROUGH.
SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME DISHES THAT ARE STILL LEFT IN HERE.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, UM, CLEAN AND IF SO, PUT THEM AWAY, UM, AND WIPE DOWN ANYTHING THAT NEEDS IT.
UM, ON THE COUNTERS WE WANT TO RUN OUR HAND ACROSS THE COUNTER, MAKE SURE THERE'S NO CRUMBS OR ANY RESIDUE STILL LEFT.
UM, AS WELL AS CHECKING THE MICROWAVE AS WELL.
YOU ALWAYS WANT TO CHECK THE DISH, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO, UM, 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 AND THAT EVERYTHING'S WHERE IT BE.
THE 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 DROWN STATE PARK.
I'M GONNA GO BACK TO THE OFFICE AND FINISH UP SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STUFF FOR OUR HEAD OUT FOR THE DAY.
UM, WHAT YOU SAW HERE TODAY WAS JUST A FEW OF THE MANY THINGS WE GET TO DO AND EXPERIENCE HERE AT DREW ISLAND.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT, ENJOY THE STATE PARKS AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF.
OKAY, SO HERE'S A MALE GREEN AND OLD THAT I JUST CAUGHT.
IT'S TRYING TO BITE ME A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU NOTICE THAT THROAT FAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE THAT DU LIP AND THAT TELLS ME THAT IT'S A MALE AND IT'S A MATURE MALE AND IT JUST CAUGHT THIS GUY ON THE FENCE.
AND SO IF ANOTHER MALE SHOWS UP, HE'S GONNA RUN IT OFF.
ALSO, HE MAY HAVE A HAREM OF SIX TO EIGHT FEMALES THAT LIVE IN THIS AREA AS WELL.
SO I'M GONNA PUT HIM BACK DOWN AND LET HIM, LET HIM HEAD OUT AND GO ON WITH HIS DAY.
SO GUYS, THIS LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO GREEN AND OLDS.
AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE TWO LIZARDS TERRITORY AND THE OTHER ONE DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE AND BACK OFF.
BUT NOTICE THE HEAD BOBBING, UH OH.
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET UGLY AND ONE MEETS TO BACK DOWN, OTHERWISE IT'S GONNA TURN TO ANO EQUIVALENT OF FISH CUPS.
GENERALLY THEY DON'T HURT EACH OTHER, BUT ONE OF 'EM MAY FALL OFF THE FENCE.
OKAY, LOOKS LIKE HE CHASED THE OTHER GUY OFF.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.