[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE CAUCUS MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
S ALL THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR THE CAUCUS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? A SECOND.
UM, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING FOR COUNCIL MEMBER DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT? I DON'T THINK WE DO.
WE'RE GOING SKIP THAT ON THE AGENDA.
WE NEED TO HAVE A VOTE ON THE MOTION.
UM, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WAS MADE.
AND SECOND, DO I HAVE WITHOUT OBJECTION EVERYONE BY RAISING YOUR HAND LINE.
THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED FOR THE CAUCUS.
NUMBER FIVE IS COUNCIL MEMBER DISCUSSION.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING TO COME FORWARD FOR THAT, THAT WE'RE AWARE OF AT THIS TIME.
UM, AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
UH, WE HAVE A NEED FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'LL READ BOTH OF THOSE UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO AND 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A ONE TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINE, OR RELEASE OF A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY.
THAT IS THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE.
DISTRICT B IS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 DASH FOUR DASH 70 A TWO.
RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WITH ADVICE RELATES TO PENDING, THREATENED OR POTENTIAL CLAIM OR OTHER MANNERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
UM, THAT IS UPF LITIGATORS ULTRA PROCESS FOOD LITIGATION.
AND, UM, IF THERE WOULD BE ANY MATTERS AFTER WE COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION, THAT WILL BE DONE WHEN WE COME BACK.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND? NO, WE ARE, I HAVE MOTION.
MAKE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
BY SHOW OF HANDS, WE GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL GO IN AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WHEN WE COME OUT, THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ITEMS. THANK YOU.
THERE'S A SMASH TO RIGHT FIELD.
SHOT OVER THE RIGHT FIELD, LOOKING FOR A GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITY.
BUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA HAS SEVERAL JOB OPENINGS IN AREAS THAT WILL MATCH YOUR SKILLSET.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DETENTION CENTER OFFICERS, STORM WATER AND GROUND CREWS, AIRCRAFT MECHANICS, ALCOHOL AND DRUG SPECIALISTS, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, IT SPECIALISTS, LIBRARY ASSISTANTS, BUS DRIVERS, AND MUCH MORE.
BUFORT COUNTY OFFERS COMPETITIVE SALARIES, BEST IN CLASS BENEFITS, AND A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
APPLY TODAY@BUFORTCOUNTYSC.GOV.
[1. CALL TO ORDER:]
CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.CAN WE DO ANY BETTER? EVERYONE 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 IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[00:05:01]
YOU.I'M GONNA DO THE INVOCATION TONIGHT.
I GOTTA FIND A PIECE OF PAPER FIRST.
OKAY, EVERYONE, PLEASE STAND UP.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE MILITARY CHILDREN.
I'M A MILITARY CHILD, UM, AND WE HAVE, I THINK 18 OR 19 MILITARY CHILDREN HERE TONIGHT.
SO I CHOSE SOMETHING THAT PAT CONROY HAD WRITTEN IN A BOOK AS AN INTRODUCTION.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHO PAT CONROY IS.
HE WAS A MILITARY CHILD, THE GREAT SANTINI.
AND HE WROTE THIS, AND I'M GONNA PARAPHRASE IT, UM, BECAUSE OF MILITARY LIFE, AND THIS IS PAT CONROY'S QUOTE, I'M A STRANGER EVERYWHERE AND A STRANGER NOWHERE.
I CAN ENGAGE ANYONE IN A CONVERSATION, BECOME WELL-LIKED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
YET THERE IS A DISTANCE THAT I CAN NEVER RECOVER.
THE WORD GOODBYE WILL ALWAYS BE A KILLING THING TO ME, BUT SO IS THE WORD.
I AM EMPATHETIC IN MY ATTEMPTS TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH EVERYONE.
I MEET FROM CAB DRIVERS TO BELLHOPS, TO STORE CLERKS.
I HAVE BECOME AN EXPERT AT SPOTTING OUTSIDERS.
YET WHEN I WALK AWAY FROM MY BEST FRIENDS, I RARELY THINK OF THEM AGAIN.
I CAN CLOSE THE DOOR AND NOT LOOK BACK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO BOW YOUR HEADS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MILITARY CHILDREN.
THEY'RE FINE AND RESOURCEFUL, WHO ARE STRANGERS IN EVERY TOWN THEY'VE ENTERED.
THANKING THEM FOR THEIR EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY, FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO ITS IDEALS OF FREEDOM, ITS PRESERVATION, AND TO ITS EVERLASTING HONOR.
TONIGHT, THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN, IN A ACCORDANCE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I'LL CONFIRM THAT WITH MS. BROCK.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.CHERYL, COULD YOU HEAR US IN THE BACK? NO.
NOBODY CAN HEAR US IN THE BACK AT ALL.
HEY, THIS ONE, THIS ONE SEEMS TO BE, IS THIS CLEAR? COULD YOU HEAR ME BACK THERE? CLEAR? YOU CAN'T HEAR UP FRONT BROADCAST? YEAH, THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT NOW, CHAD.
IS IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER? OKAY.
CAN THEY HEAR US A LITTLE BIT LOUDER TOO? OH, OH,
WE HAD A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
AND WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL ONLINE.
MR. AND WE HAVE MR. PASSMAN, MS. MCALLEN, AND MR. LOGAN.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR US THERE? ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MINUTES FROM APRIL 9TH ALSO.UH, THAT WAS THE COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP.
APRIL 14TH, THE CAUCUS AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE SETS OF MINUTES? SO MOVE I, I'LL SECOND IT.
WE HAD A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW.
UM, WITHOUT DISCUSSION BY SHOW OF HANDS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
WHAT? COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM DIDN'T VOTE.
AT THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
REPORT BY MR. MIKE MOORE.THIS IS GONNA BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR COUNCIL.
UM, WE HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT.
UH, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO, UM, START WITH SOME RECOGNITION.
UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, JEFFREY SMALLS.
CAN YOU, YOU'RE GOOD RIGHT THERE.
SO YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MR. SMALLS.
HE'S, UM, PUBLIC WORKS ROADS AND DRAINAGE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 38 YEARS, SINCE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 1987.
[00:10:01]
UH, TO APRIL 25TH, 2025.YOU RECOGNIZE HIM ON HIS RETIREMENT THIS PAST FRIDAY ON THE, SINCE HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC IN 1987, HE'S BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE ROADS AND DRAINAGE DIVISION.
BRING UNMATCHED SKILL, RELIABILITY, AND COMMITMENT TO EVERY ASPECT OF THE JOB.
WHETHER OPERATING MOTOR GRADERS, BACKHOES, EXCAVATORS, BUSH HOGS, OR JUST ABOUT ANY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IN THE FIELD.
HE HAS DONE IT ALL WITH EXCELLENCE AND PRIDE.
HIS WORK HAS HELPED KEEP OUR ROADS SMOOTH OR DITCHES CLEAR.
AND OUR RIGHT OF WAY IS WELL MAINTAINED.
BUT HIS ROLE EXTENDED FAR BEYOND OPERATING EQUIPMENT.
HE'S BEEN A STEADY HAND AND SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND GUIDANCE TO THOSE AROUND HIM, WHICH WE APPRECIATE.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, WHAT SETS HIM APART EVEN MORE IS THE CONNECTION HE'S BUILT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
HELEN ISLAND AND TRUST FIGURE, ALWAYS READY TO LEND A HAND OR SOLVE A PROBLEM.
IT IS SOMETHING NEEDED FIXING.
EVERYONE KNEW YOU WERE THE MAN TO CALL IT JOHN
SINCE HE'S ALREADY STARTED HIS RETIREMENT, HE LEAVES BEHIND THE LEGACY OF HARD WORK FRIENDSHIP IN EXCELLENCE THAT WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION, AND THE DIFFERENCE YOU'VE MADE.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
I DO HAVE SOME MR. JEFF NOT WANT TO COME TONIGHT.
IT WAS ALL I HAD TO HIM TO GET HERE.
BUT, UH, WE'LL CONTINUE ON HERE.
HE DOESN'T WANT TO STAY IN THAT CHARTER.
UM, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, RECOGNIZE FROM PUBLIC WORKS STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO, UM, EVELYN'S A UTILITY COORDINATOR, BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 17 YEARS.
UM, SHE COORDINATES ALL UTILITIES.
THIS IS A BIG JOB FOR ALL THE CREWS.
AUDITS QUANTITIES FOR PROJECTS AND CREATES MAPS AND UPDATES.
UM, GGIS MAPS, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN HEAR, UM, SOMETHING UNIQUE.
NAVY RESERVES 30 YEARS, NAVY 20 YEARS PLUS.
AND SHE PLANS ON RETIRING SOON.
SO I WISH YOU BEST OF LUCK THERE.
OKAY, NEXT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE, UM, OUR COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, CAROLINE FURMAN, WHO'S BEEN NAMED ONE OF 2 205 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CENTERS FOR WOMEN VETERANS TRAILBLAZERS.
SO I KNOW SHE'S HERE SOMEWHERE.
OH, CAROLYN, WHERE IS SHE? SHE WAS IN THE HALLWAY.
SOMEBODY LET HER THROUGH, PLEASE.
AS SHE'S COMING THROUGH, I'LL START TO READ THIS.
LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOTTA GET THROUGH THE GAUNTLET.
UM, THE CENTER FOR, UM, WOMEN VETERANS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEIR SELECTION OF 28 WOMEN VETERANS FOR THE 2025 DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS CENTER FOR WOMEN VETERANS TRAILBLAZERS, QUOTE, WOMEN FORGING A PATH INITIATIVE.
BEAUFORT COUNTY VETERANS AFFAIRS DIRECTOR CAROLINE FURMAN, HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE 28 WOMEN VETERANS TO BE HONORED WITH THIS NATIONAL AWARD.
IN RECOGNITION FROM THE WEB WEBSITE, THE CENTER FOR WOMEN VETERANS IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE WOMEN'S VETERANS 2025 WOMEN VETERAN TRAILBLAZERS INITIATIVE.
UH, THEY'VE DEFINED A WOMAN VETERAN TRAILBLAZER, THE WOMAN WHO HAS SERVED AND SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AND MADE AN IMPACT BY ENHANCING LIVES OF OTHER VETERANS VETERAN FAMILIES OR VETERAN CAREGIVERS.
[00:15:09]
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT HERE TONIGHT.UM, I COULDN'T DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF BEAVER COUNTY, THE ADMINISTRATION, COUNTY COUNCIL, AND ESPECIALLY AUDRA ANTONACCI.
NEXT, UM, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, EARTH DAY, UM, FROM LAST WEEK, WHICH WAS LAST FRIDAY, UH, THE 2025 BEAUFORT COUNTY EARTH DAY EVENT WAS A RECORD BREAKING SUCCESS.
WE HAD MORE THAN 580 VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING 24 LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND OVER 200 BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
THEY CAME TOGETHER TO CLEAN UP LITTER ALONG 60 MILES OF ROADWAYS.
IN A TOTAL, THEY COLLECTED AN IMPRESSIVE 9,000 POUNDS OF LITTER.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ALL FOLLOWING THE CLEANUP.
THE VOLUNTEERS ENJOYED LUNCH, THE CEREMONY THAT FEATURED A MARKS FROM YOUR TRULY, UM, THEY KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL BOARD CHAIRMAN AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM OUR STATE PARTNER, PALMETTO PRIDE.
THE EVENT ALSO SHOWCASED 12 LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION BOOTHS, INCLUDING COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING MOSQUITO CONTROL, PARKS AND RECREATION AND PASSIVE PARKS.
HIGHLIGHTING THE MANY WAYS WE CAN ALL CONTRIBUTE TO A CLEANER GREENER BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO, ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.
MY LAST ANNOUNCEMENT IS AFTER, UM, A PUBLICLY ADVERTISED, UM, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TONIGHT TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, OUR OWN BRIAN HOLBERT IS GONNA BE THE NEXT COUNTY, UM, ATTORNEY.
UH, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ON THE TEAM.
UH, HE BRINGS AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF COMMUNITY AND MILITARY SERVICE.
UM, HE'S ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATES OF SOUTH CAROLINA, OHIO.
INACTIVE MEMBER, AS ADMITTED AS A MEMBER OF THE BARS OF THE US SUPREME COURT, US DISTRICT COURT OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
HE'S CALLED BEFORD COUNTY HOME SINCE 1998.
HE AND HIS WIFE CATHERINE, HAVE TWO SONS.
TWO DAUGHTERS, TWO DAUGHTERS-IN-LAW, AND THREE GRANDDAUGHTERS.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MOORE? NO.
[7. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING APRIL AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD]
CHILDREN COULD COME UP FRONT ALONG WITH, UM, COLONEL, COLONEL, UM, VAIN AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL LYON AND DAVID TRAIL, YOU GET THROUGH.MS. BROCK, DO WE HAVE THE, THE, THE PRO PROCLAMATION YOURAM? IT SHOULD BE RIGHT IN HERE.
YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR THE COUNTY
THE OTHER ONE I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UM, COLONEL BAIN IS FROM PARIS ISLAND AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL LYON IS FROM THE AIR STATION.
WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD COME HERE TONIGHT WITH US.
ARE ANY OF THESE YOURS? ONLY A COUPLE.
WE AND LIEUTENANT, IF YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
HI, I'M FIRST LIEUTENANT LINDSAY KREB.
'CAUSE IT'S PURPLE MONTH, RIGHT? YEAH.
HOW MANY OF YOU WERE BORN ON A MILITARY BASE? DO YOU KNOW? NO, I WAS WERE YOU
YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THE MILITARY, LIKE, UM, THEIR PARENTS WERE IN THE MILITARY, LIKE, UM, TOM CRUISE, I THINK, AND THERE'S QUITE A FEW OTHERS.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE PROCLAMATION.
I'D LIKE TO THANK DEE SIMPSON AND CAROLINE FURMAN FOR MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THIS AND KIM WILEY TOO AND DAVID TRAIL.
WHEREAS SINCE 1986, MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CELEBRATED THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF APRIL, RECOGNIZING THE SACRIFICES AND APPLAUDING THE COURAGE OF THE MILITARY CHILDREN.
AND WHEREAS EACH DAY, MILITARY CHILDREN UNDERGO UNIQUE CHALLENGES WHICH THEY FACE WITH THE RESILIENCE AND DIGNITY BEYOND THEIR YEARS.
AND WHEREAS MILITARY FAMILIES MOVE ON AN AVERAGE EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS
[00:20:01]
IMPACTING MILITARY CHILDREN THROUGH CHANGING SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT NETWORKS.AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT MILITARY CHILDREN MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTRY WHILE DEALING WITH UNCERTAINTY AND CONCERN FOR THEIR PARENTS DURING EXTENDED HOURS AND LONG DEPLOYMENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY THAT MILITARY CHILDREN ACCEPT TAKES COURAGE AND STRENGTH AS THEY SERVE THE NATION ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD REINFORCES THIS CONCEPT AND ALLOWS US TO TAKE STOCK AND RECOGNIZE THAT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS CHILDREN ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SUPPORT OF THEIR PARENTS, AND THUS, THE NATION.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL, 2025 IS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD DATED THE 28TH OF APRIL, 2025.
I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS, DO I NEED THE MIC OR CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME IN THE BACK? OKAY, SO BAD VOICE, SIR.
I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM MIC IN THE BACK.
SO, HEY, SO COLONEL MATT BA I'M THE COMMANDING OFFICER, HEAD SOURCE BATTALION OF MARINE CORPS,
JUST WANTED TO THANK, UH, THE COUNTY OF BUFORD FOR ALL THE SUPPORT TO MILITARY KIDS.
UM, REALLY THIS IS, I I'VE LOST COUNT HOW MANY DUTY STATIONS, BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT, RIGHT.
THIS IS TWO OF MY SEVEN CHILDREN.
THIS IS THE EIGHTH PLACE HE'S LIVED IN HIS LIFE.
SO HE'S, HE'S LIKE MINORLY FAMOUS AT ROBERTS FALLS PLAYING, UH, FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL, AND THEN ROBERT PLAYING FOR THE, UH, BEFORD WILDCATS FOOTBALL TEAM.
SO WE REALLY LOVED OUR RECEPTION HERE IN BUFORD.
BEEN HERE ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.
UM, JUST MY FAMILY PERSONALLY.
GREAT CHURCHES, GREAT SCHOOLS, UH, GREAT FAMILY SUPPORT AND THEN SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT MAKES IT EASY, UM, FOR MY FAMILY OF SEVEN KIDS TO, UH, TO BALANCE, UH, LIKE HOMESCHOOL HYBRID EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.
AND I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO MY, UH, BROTHER IN ARMS HERE FROM THE AIR STATION.
HOLD THIS WHILE YOU TALK, SIR.
CHRIS, LINE US WHAT IT MEANS TO OUR FAMILY.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST PLACE THAT WE'VE, THAT WE'VE GONE BACK TO.
THE SCHOOLS, THE CHURCHES, THE PARKS ARE AMAZING.
MY KIDS GO TO WHAT THEY CALL GRASS HILL PLAYGROUND EVERY SINGLE WEEK.
SO THEY LOVE IT HERE AND I'M REALLY HONORED AND, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US AS MILITARY MEMBERS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE SIX SMILE, THREE, TWO,
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMAN GERALD DAWSON
[8. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING WEEK OF MAY 4TH-10TH AS NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK]
IS GONNA DO ANOTHER PROCLAMATION.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COLONEL.
COLONEL GRANT, ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, ALL THE NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE, UH, COUNTRY, THE STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, UH, I WANNA READ THIS PROCLAMATION, THIS PROCLAMATION TO UH, GIVE THANKS TO ALL THE NATIONAL, UH, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS FOR THE DEDICATION AND THE PROFESSIONAL WORK THEY DO, CARING FOR OUR INMATES AND THE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
SO THIS PROCLAMATION READS WHEREAS IN 1987, CONGRESS PASSED AND PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SIGNED PUBLIC LAW 9 9 1 6 1 1 PROCLAIMING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY AS NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WEEK.
AND WHEREAS THE OPERATION OF CORRECTIONAL AND DETENTION FACILITIES REPRESENTS
[00:25:01]
A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.AND WHEREAS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE SAFEGUARDED FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND WHEREAS CORRECTIONAL PERSONNELS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF HUMAN BEINGS CHARGED TO THEIR CARE.
AND WHEREAS CORRECTIONAL PERSONNELS PERSONNEL WORK UNDER DEMANDING CIRCUMSTANCES AND FACE DANGERS IN THEIR DAILY WORK, DAILY WORK LIVES OFTEN SACRIFICING PERSONAL AND FAMILY TIME TO PROVIDE A NECESSARY BUT THANKFUL, UNRECOGNIZED AND BEHIND THE SCENES SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
WHEREAS THE STAFF OF BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER HAS CONTINUALLY DEMONSTRATED THEIR SKILL AND PROFESSIONALISM AND RUNNING ONE OF THE FINEST FACILITY IN THE STATE.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH, NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICER'S WEEK DATED THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025.
SIGNED BY ALICE HOWARD, CHAIR OF BEAUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL AND UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR ACKNOWLEDGING US.
UM, LIKE HE SAID, WE RARELY GET THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE DESERVE THE OFFICERS.
THEY WORK LONG HOURS AND THEY'RE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES A LOT.
AND, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE YOU COME IN TO THE DETENTION CENTER ON YOUR TIME AND YOU SPEAK WITH THE INMATES AND THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.
[9. CITIZEN COMMENTS PERIOD – 30 MINUTES TOTAL]
THIS NEXT ONE ON THE AGENDA.I KNOW THAT WE ASKED IF SOME PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO CONSOLIDATE, BUT THAT WE DIDN'T.
SO WE'RE GONNA START AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AND GO UNTIL WE RUN OUTTA TIME.
FIRST PERSON ON THE LIST, IF YOU WANT TO TALK LESS THAN THREE MINUTES, THAT'S FINE.
'CAUSE THAT'D GIVE US MORE CHANCE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO TALK.
AGAIN, THANK GOD FOR THIS SHA EVENING.
ONE THING WE LEARNED WHEN WE BEEN GROWING UP ON THE ISLAND, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT WENT, HUNTER, NO BETTER.
SO BACK IN THE 1990S AND THING LIKE THAT, PEOPLE AIN'T EVEN CRACK IT.
'CAUSE THEY, ON SOME, THEY BEEN ON SEA OR GATED AREA GOLF COURSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO THEY COME UP WITH THIS THING, HUNTER CHILDREN CHILLING, CALLED THE CPO.
SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE COME, Y'ALL AIN'T BEEN HERE, IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO US WHAT WAS ALREADY HAPPENING AROUND ST.
HELENA ISLAND BACK IN THE 1990S.
WE'D ALREADY SEEN IT HAPPENING SINCE THE 1950S.
AND THOSE GATED AREAS AND THE PROLIFERATION OF GOLF COURSES AND RESORTS WAS NOT HELPING WITH CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY.
IN FACT, WE SAW ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION, MEN IS WHAT I CALL IT, AND DEGRADATION.
WE'VE WITNESSED HOW OUR SEAFOOD INDUSTRY HAS STARTED TO DECLINE.
WE'VE WITNESSED PLACES THAT WERE CLOSED OFF FROM US WHERE WE LITERALLY PON WHERE WE HAVE A FUND TO STAY ALIVE OVER ALL OF THESE YEARS, JUST IN MY LIFETIME ALONE.
AND SO IT'S BEEN VITAL TO ME TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE BACK TO MY ISLAND BY SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE CPO COMMITTEE MORE THAN ONE TIME AND CURRENTLY.
AND TO SAY THAT DOWN ZONING IS NOT A PART OF THE PLAN OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT.
PART OF THE PLAN OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT IS TO MAKE SURE EVERY TIME THERE'S A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, NOT EVERY OTHER COUNTY.
HELENA ISLAND, IT'S VITAL AND IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM THOSE WHO BEEN HERE AND JUST COME HERE TO NOW.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANNA CONTRIBUTE TONIGHT WHO DON'T LIVE ON ST.
HELENA, THOSE WHO ARE NATIVE TO ST.
[00:30:01]
WHO SERVED ON PREVIOUS CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT COMMITTEES ARE HERE IN THIS AUDIENCE TONIGHT.SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE SPOKEN UP BEFORE THIS MEETING STARTED TO SAY THAT IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE SO SUCCESSFULLY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE ARE CALLING ON THIS COUNTY COUNCIL TO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE CPO KEEP ITS BOUNDARIES INTACT.
I'VE READ THE INFORMATION THAT SAID THAT, OH, GOLF COURSES WEREN'T MENTIONED X NUMBER OF TIMES IN THIS DOCUMENTATION OF OUR DOWN ZONING.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? WE ALSO USED TO DRIVE WITHOUT SEAT BELTS.
WE ALSO USED TO HAVE PEOPLE SMOKE INSIDE OF AIRPLANES AND INSIDE OF BUILDINGS.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT BECAUSE WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER IS WHAT I SAID IN GULLAH.
AND SO IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT.
AND BECAUSE WE WANNA SHORTEN YOUR TIME HERE TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW SHORTEN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE DISTURBING OUR PEACE.
THEY'RE DISTURBING BOTH THE DEAD AND THE LIVING BECAUSE GULLAH GEECHEE'S BURY ALONG THE WATER LINES.
AND SO THE MORE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, IT'S A DISRUPTION AND A DISTURBANCE.
SO SHORTEN SOME TIME TONIGHT, GIVE PEOPLE SOME TIME BACK ON THEIR LIFE.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY SUSTAINED AS THIS COUNTY HAS VOTED TO STRENGTHEN IT ALREADY, PLEASE EITHER STAND UP OR RAISE YOUR HAND.
SO THAT I KNOW I'M NOT SPEAKING OUT OF TURN AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE.
SO THE, THE LAST THING I WANNA ADD TO THIS IS JUST TO SIMPLY SAY THAT THE DEGRADATION THAT'S CAUSED TO EVEN CREATE A GOLF COURSE INVOLVES CLEAR CUTTING TO SUSTAIN IT AND INVOLVES CHEMICALS.
THESE THINGS ARE ALL ANTITHETICAL TO BIODIVERSITY AND CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY.
SO I JUST WANNA ADD THAT, AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT EVEN IN A GOLF DOCUMENT ONLINE, IT SAYS, THIS ISN'T TO SAY THOUGH, THAT GOLF COURSES SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE DEVELOPED.
ALTHOUGH EXISTING GOLF COURSES SHOULD TAKE EVERY STEP THEY POSSIBLY CAN TO LOWER THEIR IMPACT AND GIVE BACK TO NATURE, WE SHOULD WORK TO PRESERVE HABITATS AS THEY WERE AT FIRST.
SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO WORK TO PRESERVE THE HABITAT OF ST.
HELENA AND KEEP THE CPO IN PLACE.
FIRST LET ME, UH, INTRODUCE ALL THE EMPLOYEES FROM THOMAS AND HUTTON WEARING THEIR GREEN SHIRTS.
CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HAND? COME ON NOW.
SO THOMAS AND HUTTON, OF COURSE, IS THE CONTRACTOR FOR PINE ISLAND.
THESE ARE THE GAMES WE PLAY MR. NEW.
I WILL REMIND YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WE DO NOT CALL PEOPLE OUT.
YOU DO NOT SHOW DISRESPECT OR ANY PERSONALITIES IN THE AUDIENCE.
HELENA AND DIDN'T HAVE THE CPO ST.
HELENA WOULD LOOK LIKE EVERY OTHER SEA ISLAND THAT HAS BEEN GENTRIFIED.
YOU STRENGTHEN THE CPO, THE CPO'S WORK FOR 25 YEARS AND THE CPO IS PROTECTED THE RURAL NATURE.
AND LET ME ADD ONE LAST THING, AND THAT IS, THIS IS ANYTHING BUT A DOWN ZONING.
YOU TALK ABOUT TRYING TO PUT LIPSTICK ON A PIG, ALL OF A SUDDEN, IF YOU ELIMINATE THE CPO, THAT'S DOWNSIZING DOWN ZONING.
AND I GIVE THE LAWYER CREDIT FOR TRYING TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR MORE HOUSES THAN THE LAST ROUND.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH ANN HAYES AND I'M A 20 PLUS YEAR COMMUNITY MEMBER AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER ON ST.
PASSING ON WHAT I KNOW TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE PINE ISLAND PROJECT IN JULY OF 2024 AFTER FINDING OUT THAT I WAS MANIPULATED, MISLED, LIED TO AND PAID TO HELP DECEIVE MY COMMUNITY BY THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AND THEIR SHAMELESS MANIPULATION TACTICS.
MA'AM, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE DO NOT BE MINDFUL AND RESPECT OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING.
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CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS.I'VE NOTICED THAT THE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, UM, ARE STEALING OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR FUTURE AND OUR CHILDREN.
NOT ONLY IS THE COMMUNITY BEING SHAMELESSLY MANIPULATED AND DECEIVED, SO ARE YOU GUYS.
AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL, WE ARE TOLD, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY WOULD PROTECT US, BUT NO ONE TOLD US THAT IT WOULD FORCE DENSITY, WHICH IS MORE HOUSES, MORE DOCKS, MORE CARS, MORE CONCRETE.
IT SEEMS AS IF THE ONLY PLAN THAT WILL TRULY PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, OUR OPEN SPACES, OUR FUTURE, AND WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE IS THE PINE ISLAND DOWN ZONING PLAN.
I WAS ONE OF THE 2000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THE CHARETTES PROCESS OFFERED TO US AT 8 0 8 TO GIVE OUR OPINION ON THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AFTER SEEING THE NEW DOWN ZONE, DOWN ZONING PINE ISLAND PLAN, IT FELT REALLY GOOD TO BE A POSITIVE PART OF THIS LEGENDARY PROCESS AND ACTUALLY TAKING PART IN BEING THE CHANGE THAT WE ARE SEEKING.
AFTER GOING THROUGH A YEAR OF THE CHARETTES WITH THE COMMUNITY, I WAS CLEAR, IT WAS CLEAR AND UNDENIABLE TO SEE AND HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND NEEDS, WHICH ARE JOBS.
A TOP OF THE LINE COMMUNITY CENTER, LESS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS DOWN ZONING, RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH CERTAINTY AND INVESTMENT.
IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE CHANGES MADE TO THE PINE ISLAND PLAN, WHICH THE DEVELOPERS MADE FULLY AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC VIA THE PINE ISLAND WEBSITE, THE PINE ISLAND PLAN WEBSITE, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THEY ARE LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY.
MOST DEVELOPERS ARE SEEKING MORE DENSITY, WHICH IS MORE HOMES, MORE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, MORE DOTS.
BUT THIS DEVELOPER IS SETTING PRECEDENTS Y'ALL BY ASKING FOR LESS, WHICH IS DOWN ZONING.
IF THE COUNTY REJECTS THE, THE, THE, UM, PINE ISLAND DOWNS ONLY PLAN, THE COMMUNITY WILL SUFFER.
THE REJECTION OF THE PINE ISLAND PLAN WON'T STOP ANYTHING.
IN FACT, THAT WILL GENER, THAT WILL GUARANTEE YOU 150 HOMES AND SEPTIC TANKS, 90 DOCKS, 90 PLUS DOCKS, MORE RUNOFFS, MORE TRAFFIC, AND NO COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, WHICH IS IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SUPPORTING THE PINE ISLAND DOWN ZONING PLAN INVITES A FUTURE WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
NEXT ON THE NEXT ON THE LIST IS, UM, J-I-N-D-I-A BLUNT, JANITA BLUNT.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT.
UM, I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, I AM A READER.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE SAY THE QUICKEST WAY OR THE BEST WAY TO HIDE SOMETHING FROM THE POOR COMMUNITY OR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS TO PUT IT IN A BOOK OR TO HIDE IT IN LEGISLATION.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, IT PROVES TO BE TRUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HIDE THINGS IN A BUNCH OF LEGALESE.
I TOOK THE TIME TO GO DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE AND OF EDUCATING MYSELF BECAUSE I COULD GET UP HERE, HERE AND SAY THAT I ALLOWED SOMEBODY TO MISLEAD ME.
BUT ACTUALLY THE ON US IS ON US TO READ AND TO EDUCATE OURSELVES ON THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT US AND ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH.
SO I READ, I TOOK THE TIME TO RESEARCH, I TOOK THE TIME TO READ THE LANGUAGE OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY.
I TOOK THE TIME TO CLICK ON THE LINKS AND EVERY SINGLE EXHIBIT OF THE PINE ISLAND DOWN ZONING PLAN.
AND WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT THERE IS NO THIRD OPTION.
THERE IS NO OPTION TO DO NEITHER, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS HERE.
WE HAVE THE OPTION TO EXERCISE YOUR POWER TO ACCEPT THE DOWN ZONING PLAN, WHICH WILL COME WITH INVESTMENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? WHICH WILL CREATE JOBS IN THIS AREA WHERE PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO BE BUSED TO HILTON HEAD.
TO HAVE THOSE JOBS WHERE IT WILL SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS AND CREATE NEW ONES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE WILL KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAR.
ACTUALLY, GOLF COURSES CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL ECOSYSTEM IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY.
SO THERE IS NO IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A 90% DECREASE IN THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IT WILL HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY IF WE SELECT TO UPHOLD AND TO SUPPORT THIS DOWN ZONING PLAN, AND NOT TO DO THE OPPOSITE, WHICH IS WHAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THE T TWO R ZONING, WHICH WOULD BE FOR HIM TO DEVELOP THE OVER 150 HOMES AND THE SEPTIC TANKS AND
[00:40:01]
THE BOAT DOCKS IN VILLAGE CREEK.OFTENTIMES YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT IS GOING TO NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SEA LIFE AND KILL THE CRABS.
WHEN IN ALL ACTUALITY, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING TO SUPPORT THAT.
RIGHT? IN FACT, IT'S THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT WILL BE ALLOWED FOR HIM TO DEVELOP UNC ENTITY TO OUR ZONING PLAN.
SO I REPRESENT A YOUTH GROUP AND WHAT I SEE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNDERSERVED, LESS AFFLUENT CHILDREN IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE OF THEIR OWN, IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR DREAMS AND TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY PROFESS TO BE.
WHETHER IT BE CODING, WHETHER IT BE SPORTS, WHETHER IT JUST BE A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE MENTORED AND TUTORED.
WE ARE DENYING THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SHOULD WE TURN DOWN THIS, THIS DOWN ZONING PLAN.
SO I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THESE CHILDREN IN THIS ROOM AND TELL THEM WHY IT IS THAT WE ARE CHOOSING TO TURN DOWN THIS OFFER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
YOU GUYS HAVE A BLESSED EVENING.
OKAY, NEXT IS WILLIE TERRELL, AND THEN AFTER HIM, AFTER HIM IS MICHAEL CURRY.
UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
WILLIE TERRELL, IS HE COMING UP? YES, HE IS.
OKAY, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT SOME OF THESE NAMES WERE WRITTEN IN THE SAME HAND, WHICH IS, IS, BUT THE PERSON WHO IS SPEAKING NEEDS TO HAVE ACTUALLY SIGNED UP.
SO IN, IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL ASK YOU TO, UM, NOT SIGN UP PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE.
IF IT'S NOT YOU, YOU CAN ONLY SIGN FOR THAT PERSON.
OKAY? DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? UM, YOU CAN ONLY SIGN YOUR OWN NAME ON OUR SIGN UP LIST.
AND THEN NEXT IS MICHAEL CURRY.
IF HE CAN GO AHEAD AND WORK HIS WAY UP FRONT.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS WILLIE TERRELL.
CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME IN THE BACK? I COULD HEAR NOTHING.
UH, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE, THERE'S DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THIS ISSUE.
UM, AND I RESPECT EVERYBODY'S OPINION AND I ALSO THINK THAT EVERYBODY FROM THIS COMMUNITY DESERVES TO BE HEARD, UH, OUTRIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY'S RIGHT HERE,
NOW LET ME SET THE STAGE AND SAY I, I LIVE HERE.
I SPEND 99.6% OF MY TIME ON ST.
UH, ONLY TIME I LEAVE OFF I'M GOING TO HARRIS TEETER OR WALMART, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
UM, THE FIRST SPEAKER SAYS, IF YOU KNOW, BETTER, DO BETTER.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A SPOT ON STATEMENT.
UH, SO LET, LET ME, IF YOU KNOW ME, I USED TO TEACH AND I LIKE TO DEAL IN FACTS.
SO LET'S JUST TAKE IT FACTUALLY FOR A SECOND.
IN 1999, ABOUT 9,000 RESIDENTS SAY HELENA WAS 65% BLACK AND 33% WHITE.
ALRIGHT? OUR LAST CENSUS, THE BLACK POPULATIONS HAS DWINDLED A SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 36%.
SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A CPO AND WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO, YOU GOTTA OPEN YOUR EYES WHEN IT DOESN'T MEET THAT DESIGN, THAT THAT'S IT.
IF IT DOESN'T MEET THE DESIGN, I, I'M PRO CPO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
I THINK IT SHOULD NOT BE ABOLISHED, BUT STRENGTHENED.
BUT IF YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER.
AND YOU GOTTA REALIZE WHEN SOMETHING COMES THAT MEETS THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT SAID CPO, AND THAT SAID, CPO HAS NOT MET THAT OBJECTIVE SINCE 1999, THEN YOU MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION TO BRING THAT COMMUNITY CLOSER TO THE OBJECTIVES THAT'S ALREADY LAID OUT IN THE CPO.
YOU SIMPLY NEED TO DO THE RESEARCH.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTIONALISM HERE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND, EVERYBODY MIGHT NOT GRASP THE CONCEPT OF DOWN ZONING OR LEGISLATIONS OR CPO OR THE IMPACT, BUT WE GOTTA BE MINDFUL TO WHAT THOSE, THOSE IMPACTS WHO THEY CONCERN.
AND, AND I, AND IF I, IF NOBODY ELSE, I'M GONNA SPEAK FOR THE YOUTH BECAUSE WHERE DO YOU GET ON YOUR BICYCLE AND RIDE TO A JOB ON SAY, HELL IN THE ISLAND? YOU, YOU PROBABLY GONNA RIDE THE WILLIES AND I CAN'T HIRE THAT MANY PEOPLE.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S UNFAVORABLE TO JUST DISMISS THE OPINION.
I THINK IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S UNFAVORABLE TO DISMISS THE OPINION AND DISMISS THE BENEFITS TO NOT LOOK AT THE FACTS AND MAKE INFORMED AND EDUCATED DECISIONS WITH THE, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE GIVEN, NOT JUST THE EMOTIONALISM IN THE ROOM.
GUYS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US TO SECURE A LEGACY IN BLACK AND WHITE.
SOMETHING A BEAUFORT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HAS NOT DONE.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES THAT'S GONNA BE AFFORDED TO THIS COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
NOW AS A FATHER WHO JUST SENT MY DAUGHTER AWAY, WHO WANTED TO STAY HERE, SHE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE.
SHE WANTED TO WORK AT MY RE I MADE HER LEAVE BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HERE.
PARKER'S IS THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER.
[00:45:01]
THANK YOU.WHOEVER SAID THAT, I I WOULD LOVE FOR HER TO WORK ON A GOLF COURSE.
OKAY, NEXT AFTER MICHAEL CURRY IS RO ROY BROWN.
IF HE COULD GO AHEAD AND COME UP TO BE READY.
MY NAME IS MICHAEL ANTHONY CURRY.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME.
I'M A 12 YEAR RESIDENT OF LADIES ISLAND, ORIGINALLY FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.
I'M A TRUCK DRIVER, RETIRED, AND I WAS FORCED BACK TO WORK BY MY WIFE,
IS SHE HERE? I CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT.
NO, FORTUNATELY, SHE'S, SHE'S HOME AND I HAPPEN TO RESIDE ON A GOLF COURSE.
I LIVE ON PLEASANT POINT PLANTATION, SO SHE HAS THE LUXURY OF BEING AT HOME AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME.
I'M SAYING ALL OF THIS TO SAY GOLF COURSES AND AREAS OF SUCH ARE WONDERFUL AS FAR AS THE PRESERVATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT MOST OF ALL, FOR OUR YOUTH, THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
I HEARD SOMEONE HERE TONIGHT SAY THAT THEY FELT AS THOUGH NO CHILDREN SHOULD BE HERE.
WE HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM, AND THEY CAN AND WILL BE REPRESENTED, AND THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE HERE.
WHAT THE CCL DOESN'T WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THAT THE CPO SHOULD REALLY STAND FOR CAPTIVITY, POVERTY AND OPPRESSION.
THE CCL KEEPS PUSHING THE CPO TO DEFLECT FROM THE LOGIC AND THE TOPIC AT HAND.
CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TO PROTECT THE CULTURE, BUT IT'S ONLY THE THING TO BRING THE PROTECTION THAT THE CCLS SYSTEM OF CONTROL.
IT KEEPS THE LAND RICH, BUT CASH POOR.
IT SHUTS THE DOOR ON MODERN INTERPRET IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE NAME OF PRESERVATION WHILE PUSHING OUT OUR PEOPLE.
WHAT THE CCL THINKS BLACK BUSINESS OWNS MEANS OWNING BLACK BUSINESSES MEANS, PARDON ME.
RECENTLY THE CCL SHAMELESSLY PUT OUT A FLYER SOME TIME AGO SAYING THAT GULLAH PEOPLE SHOULD STILL HAVE BUSINESSES AS LONG AS THEY STICK TO WHAT THEY KNOW IN THEIR LANES, SUCH AS THINGS.
THIS DISHEARTENS ME IN SUCH A MANNER TO GROW CROPS, PLANT TREES, SING SONGS, COOK FOOD, DANCE FOR VISITORS, MAKE ART AND STORY TELL.
LET'S BE CLEAR, THAT'S NOT CULTURAL PROTECTION, THAT'S PLANTATION LOGIC AND MODERN DAY EQUIVALENT.
IT'S A SLAVERY TELLING, TELLING OUR ANCESTORS, FEEL
CHAIRMAN, SIR, FEED YOUR, FEED YOUR GLOVES.
MR. MR. MR. CURRY BREASTFEED, BREASTFEED.
MR. CURRY ENTERTAIN MR. CURRY, THE MASS CHILDREN, PLEASE, PLEASE OUT ORDER.
MA'AM, I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR THAT MR. BROWN IS NEXT.
MR. APOLOGIZE IF THERE WAS ANY DISRESPECTED.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENT BY ANY MEANS.
I I WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE UP AGAIN.
CONFINE YOURSELVES TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
BE MINDFUL AND RESPECT OF OTHERS AND ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID ANY PERSONALITIES OR DISRESPECT.
COUNCILMAN GLOVER, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE LET THIS NEXT PERSON GO? NO, I'M, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU, UM, STOPPED THE, UH, MR. CURRY, UH, BECAUSE HE IS TRULY, UH, INSULTING ME.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO THIS AFTERNOON.
I APOLOGIZE IF SOME OF THE WORDS EARLIER HURT SOMEBODY'S FEELING.
THAT'S NOT AN INTENT OF WHAT WE PLAN TO DO, BUT WHAT I, BUT WHAT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS I SEE THE MASS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP HERE THIS AFTERNOON, AND I, I APPLAUD YOU FOR COMING OUT FOR A, A REASON, BUT WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED IN THE STREET, OUR CHILDREN HAVE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. OUR CHILDREN DON'T
[00:50:01]
HAVE ANY RECREATION.OUR CHILDREN NEED
THIS WANT TO DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO WITH HIS OWN PROPERTY.
BUT YOU WOULD NOT COME OUT TO DEFEND YOUR OWN CHILDREN.
YOU WOULD NOT COME OUT TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO HELP YOU WON'T COME OUT TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HELP YOU DON'T VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS.
YES, I'M MILITARY, BOTH NAVY AND ARMY.
I SERVE MY COUNTRY AND I SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
ORANGE GROVE, ORANGE GROVE, THE JOHNSON FAMILY.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU MY WHOLE HISTORY, BUT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT THE BATTLES THAT WE CAN WIN.
WE CAN WIN BY HELPING OUR CHILDREN BEING MORE EDUCATED AND WE CAN HELP BY TELLING OUR CHILDREN THAT WE FOUGHT FOR THEM.
I LISTENED TO A YOUNG LADY EARLIER TODAY.
TELL ME THAT YOU ARE DESTROYING OUR WAY OF LIFE BY BRINGING A GOLF COURSE TO ST.
YOU ARE DESTROYING YOUR ISLAND WHEN YOU LET 156 HOMES BUILD ON THE RIVER SHORE OF YOUR, OF YOUR ISLAND.
THAT TELLS YOU WITH 156 SEPTIC TANKS GOING INTO YOUR RIVER, THAT WILL DESTROY YOUR ISLAND WAKE UP CULTURE.
I HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR CULTURE.
YOUR CULTURE IS YOU, YOU CARRY YOUR CULTURE WITH YOU.
I'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I'VE TRAVELED TO 15 COUNTRIES, 49 STATES.
THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THE BEST PROJECTS I'VE SEEN.
I'VE WORKED WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
WE GO AROUND AND WE FIND PROJECTS THAT'S BEST FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS COMMUNITIES.
THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THE BEST PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE EVER WORKED ON.
WE HAVE 15 PEOPLE THAT DO THE SAME THINGS THAT I DO.
WE TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WE FIND PLACES THAT WE KNOW THAT CAN BENEFIT AFRICAN AMERICANS.
ALRIGHT, UM, ARIEL LL AND THEN ISAAC SMALLS.
UH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU AS A CHAIR TO, UH, ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY AND HAVE THEM KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING COUNCIL AND NOT THE AUDIENCE EACH OTHER THAT YOU SAID THAT VERY WELL.
YOU'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE.
UM, SO ARIEL TERRELL IS NEXT AND THEN IS ISAAC SMALLS.
IF ISAAC SMALLS WANTS TO GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD.
I'M A HONOR STUDENT AT LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THIS IS MY STORY.
MY SISTER IS ALSO AN HONOR STUDENT.
SHE GRADUATED WITH A 4.0 GPA AND SHE WANTED TO STAY HOME.
BUT MY DAD SAID SHE COULDN'T BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HOME.
HE SAID SHE HAD TO GO TO COLLEGE OR GO INTO THE MILITARY.
AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO STAY HERE, AND I WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY HERE, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR MY COMMUNITY IF I DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN MY GENERATION? THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD.
UM, AND, AND AFTER ISAAC SMALLS IS DEAN PENCE.
I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND IMAGINE A PLACE, A PLACE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD WALK, WALK IN AND FEEL HOPE.
A PLACE WHERE THE SOUND OF BOUNCING BASKETBALLS JUST ISN'T A NOISE, BUT RHYTHM.
THE RHYTHM OF DREAMS BEING CHASED, GOALS BEING SET, AND FUTURES BEING SHAPED.
THAT'S THE POWER OF THE MULTIPURPOSE RECRE RECREATION CENTER.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOOPS OR GAMES.
IT'S ABOUT EXPOSURE TO COLLEGE COACHES, SCOUTS, MENTORS, ROLE MODELS WHO WALKED IN THE SAME PATH AND MADE IT OUT.
IT'S ABOUT PROVIDING A SPACE WHERE TALENT GETS SEEN AND SUPPORTED, NOT WASTED OR IGNORED, BUT BEYOND THE GAME.
IMAGINE A SPACE WHERE KIDS COULD GO AFTER SCHOOL,
[00:55:01]
NOT JUST TO SHOOT AROUND, NOT, BUT TO GET TUTORED.TO STUDY, TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS WHERE THEY COULD GROW, NOT JUST AS ATHLETES, BUT AS STUDENTS AND LEADERS.
A PLACE WHERE A POTENTIAL IS NURTURED, NOT LOST TO THE STREETS.
NOW ASK YOURSELF, WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET THIS DOWN ZONE AND PLAN? WHAT, WHAT ARE WE THROWING AWAY? WE'RE THROWING AWAY FUTURE SCHOLARSHIPS.
THE CHANCE FOR SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM OR SOMEONE'S SON, DAUGHTER, COUSIN, OR FRIEND, TO BE THE FIRST IN THEIR FAMILY TO GRADUATE COLLEGE.
WE'RE THROWING AWAY CONFIDENCE, FOCUS, AND BELONGING.
WE'RE THROWING AWAY THE CHANCE TO LIFT EACH OTHER UP.
THIS CENTER IS MORE THAN JUST A BUILDING.
IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR DISCIPLINE, TEAMWORK, AND HOPE.
AND IF WE DON'T BUILD IT, WE RISK LOSING A GENERATION OF TALENT.
NOT JUST ATHLETIC TALENT, BUT HUMAN POTENTIAL.
LET'S BUILD SOMETHING THAT WILL OUTLAST US.
LET'S BUILD SOMETHING THAT GIVES EVERY KID A SHOT, NOT JUST AT BASKETBALL, BUT AT A BETTER LIFE.
I GOT A MINUTE, I GOT A MINUTE LEFT.
UM, ALSO, UM, BUILDING THE HOUSES, UH, I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT LIKE HOW THEY WERE SAYING ABOUT OUR CULTURES MESSING UP OUR CULTURE, DOING THE GOLF COURSE.
GOLF COURSE ISN'T CHANGING ANY LAND OR ANYTHING.
IT'S IS JUST THERE AND IT'S PROVIDING SOMETHING THAT COULD JUST HELP EVERY, LIKE ALL OUR, ALL THE YOUNG TALENT AFTER YOU GUYS LEAVE US.
AND YOU GUYS ARE NOT ON THIS LAND NO MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE HOLDING ONTO PAST OF WHEN WE CAN GET A REAL DIFFERENT IN, YOU KNOW, LIFE.
UH, DEAN 10TH DEAN PENCE IS NEXT.
AND AFTER THAT IS RENEE JENKINS.
AND THEN NEXT IS CRAIG REEVES.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'LL HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING ME.
COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO NO.
ADDRESS THAT, NOT THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK THE VIPS.
YOU GOTTA KNOW WHERE I COME FROM.
SHARECROPPERS, LUMBERMAN, TIMBERMAN, MOONSHINERS.
WE DIDN'T HAVE PANTS AND SHOES TILL WAS THREE OR FOUR.
AND YOU HAD TO GO TO CHURCH OR SCHOOL.
I LIVED IN A CAR LONG BEFORE IT WAS FASHIONABLE.
WENT IN THE MILITARY, FOUND SOMETHING TO DO, BUT I WENT IN LATE.
I'D ALREADY BEEN OUT IN THE WORLD.
BUT WHAT THE MILITARY GAVE ME GAVE THE ABILITY TO KNOW SOMETHING.
IT MADE ME A HAZMAT MANAGER FOR NORTHERN ITALY THAT BE ON AIR BASE.
GOLF COURSES ARE GOOD THING RIGHT OUT HERE AT OF THE BEST NATURE PRESERVES YOU'RE GONNA FIND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I LIVE FACING OKAY ON THE MARSHES JOHNSON CREEK FACING HUNTING ISLAND.
COUNCIL VILLAGE CREEK, ONE OF THE FIRST MEN I MET HERE, LIVED THERE AND I SAW THAT IT WAS ABANDONED AND FALL INTO RUIN.
NOW, HERE IS A 500 ACRE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT DON'T CALL IT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A NATURE PRESERVE.
WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE ON VILLAGE CREEK.
GOLF COURSES ARE SELF-CONTAINED.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS CULTURAL CENTER.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE YOUTH OF ST.
HELENA BUILDING A SHRIMP BOAT AS THEIR SENIOR PROJECT? I CAN BECAUSE MAN WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
HE MAKES THE THINGS POSSIBLE FOR YOU.
IS CANDACE LOVER HERE OR TIGER WOODS OR MICHAEL JORDAN? WHO IS WAITING? WHAT TALENT LAYS LATENT RIGHT HERE ON THIS ISLAND THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN OUTLET? A YOUNG BOY TOLD ME, I'M GONNA BE A SHRIMP.
I LIKE MY DADDY AND HIS BROTHER AND MY DADDY'S DADDY.
ISLAND LOST ITS CULTURE? ONE TAX BUY AT A TIME.
WHO GOES TO THAT COURTHOUSE? SPECULATORS, SHYSTERS, CROOKS, FLIPPERS.
AND WHO LOSES THE VERY MAN AND WOMAN OUT HERE ON ST.
HELEN ISLAND? HOW DO I KNOW THAT? THE ONE THING THAT BEAT ME, THE MILITARY DIDN'T BEAT ME 26 YEARS, DIDN'T BEAT ME.
NOTHING BEAT ME UNTIL RURAL CARRIER ASSOCIATION.
LIFETIME MEMBER OF THAT ORGANIZATION.
I COULDN'T DO THE JOB, BUT I SAW EVERY ROAD ON ST.
YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING GOOD? PAVE DAVID WHITE OUT HERE AT CAPERS ISLAND CIRCLE AND SOME OF THIS OTHER STUFF I HAVE DRIVEN IN EVERY MUD HOLE THERE IS.
HELEN ON BILL ROAD AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO.
TRY TO DELIVER A PACKAGE LOST AS A DRAY.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT OUT THERE LICENSE OPPORTUNITY FOR HERE.
I CAN JUST SEE THE CHILDREN GOING OUT ONE AFTERNOON A WEEK, GETTING THE DRIVING RANGE AND GETTING SOME USE OUT OF THAT.
ONE MORE ONE, ONE CLOSING STEP.
[01:00:01]
TIME.YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SIT DOWN.
FIND OUR BETTER NATURES AND COME TO AGREEMENT.
AND AFTER HER IS MR. CRAIG REEVES AND BRIAN PAULETTE.
WE WE'RE GONNA RUN OUTTA TIME.
IS RENEE JENKINS NOT HERE? SHE YIELDED HER TIME.
CRAIG REEVES AND THEN BRIAN PAULETTE.
ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA SKIP YOU IF YOU DON'T COME ON, CRAIG.
TELL ME MARQUE SAY YOUR MARQUEE.
UM, I, FIRST OFF, I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT HERE TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
UM, AS Y'ALL CAN SEE, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE CPO, BUT A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS ARE WEARING GREEN SHIRTS.
SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW COMPLEX THIS, UH, ISSUE IS.
THE MAIN THING THAT I WANT TO GET A PART, UM, GET, UM, EXPRESSED TODAY IS THAT THIS WAS CAREFULLY, CAREFULLY DESIGNED.
THE CPO HAS GONE THROUGH RIGOROUS EVALUATION, REEVALUATION, AND THEN LEGISLATION.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE TIMES.
WE'VE HAD TO, THREE TIMES WE'VE HAD TO DEFEND THIS THING.
AND THREE TIMES, GUESS WHAT? THREE TIMES? IT'S BEEN THREE TIMES IT'S BEEN, UM, UPHELD AGAIN.
THE SECOND, THE NEXT THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS GOING TO CREATE SO MANY JOBS THAT'S GOING TO ACTUALLY, UM, COMPETE WITH HILTON HEAD.
IT'S NOT GOING TO, THE LEVEL OF, UM, EMPLOYMENT ON THAT ISLAND IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN AN ENTIRE POPULATION.
IT'S NOT CREATING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS NOT CREATING REASONABLE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR MANY PEOPLE.
SURE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM IT, BUT THOSE WILL BE FAR AND FEW BETWEEN.
THEY TALK ABOUT HOW IT WILL BE AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.
WELL GUESS WHAT A A SAID, THE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO EVEN LIVE HERE.
SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN OUR STORES.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE BUYING OUR PRODUCTS.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE, THESE THINGS ARE NOT TRUE.
ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, THEN PUT IT ON A BALLOT IN FIVE YEARS WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, UM, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS UP FOR REVIEW.
AND THEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON ST.
HELENA WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE AND PUT THEIR OPINION FORTH.
WE HAVE, I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU USING THE TIME UP, WE HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE TIME TO SPEAK.
ONE IS, UM, PUSH FORWARD, THAT, THAT, THAT WILL BE, IS IT IVAN GLASS GLOVER GL IVAN GLOVER, AND THEN ROOSEVELT ADAMS. AND THAT WILL BE IT.
IT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE AND WE HAVE TO GET ON WITH THE OTHER BUSINESS.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OVER 30 MINUTES.
SO FIRST OF ALL, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
I WASN'T REALLY PLANNING ON SHARING A WHOLE LOT.
I'M STILL LEARNING A LOT, BUT I DO KNOW THIS.
BUT WHAT I'M HEARING TONIGHT, WE DON'T, WE NEED TO KEEP HEL THE WAY HELL IS TO PROVIDE FOR WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TO BUILD FROM WHAT WE HAVE.
ALL THIS EXTRA STUFF WE REALLY DON'T NEED.
A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE NOT RESPECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY CAN'T EVEN DRIVE DOWN OUR HIGHWAY WITHOUT GOING TO THE MEDIAN, PASSING ANOTHER CAR IN A RUSH, GOING NOWHERE.
I JUST EXPERIENCED ON MARTIN LUTHER KING JUST THE OTHER DAY, A TRUCK PASSED ANOTHER CAR ON THE HIGHWAY
[01:05:01]
ON MARTIN LUTHER KING.NOW, IF I'D HAVE WENT OUT, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A HEAD ON COLLISION.
IF PEOPLE ARE GONNA COME INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND TELL HER, WELL, WE NEED RESPECT WHAT WE HAVE, BUILD FROM WHAT WE HAVE.
OUR GOLF COURSE IS NOT GONNA BUILD A, A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE DON'T NEED EXTRA PEOPLE TO COME OUT OF TOWN AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BETTER OURSELVES.
IF YOU GIVE US WHAT WE NEED, WE'LL BUILD WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
LAST IS ROBERT ADAMS. DR. ADAMS, THANK YOU.
UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO, UH, TALK TO YOU TONIGHT.
AND, UM, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS REALLY TELL YOU WHAT I'M FOR AND WHAT PENN CENTER IS FOR.
UM, PENN CENTER IS FOR THE CPO.
UM, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN 20 23, 20 22, 20 25.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WAY BACK IN THE 1990S WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER AND PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER OF LOCAL NGOS TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO PRESERVE THE, THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE AND HOW TO MOVE THIS, UM, THIS, UH, COUNTY FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WAS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT STILL THE CPO IS THE VISION OF RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
BUT ALSO, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT, UM, WHAT ELSE I'M FOR? WHAT ELSE I'M FOR IS, I'M FOR THE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP THAT THE PENN CENTER HAS WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY FOLKS HAVE TRIED TO PORTRAY THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE AS SOME SORT OF CARPET BAGGER WHEN IN ACTUALITY PENN CENTER MEMBERS AND LEADERS PLAYED A VITAL PART IN FORMING IT MANY DECADES AGO.
AND WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER IN A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE IS LED BY A GULLAH GEECHEE LOW COUNTRY WOMAN, FAITH RIVER JAMES, AND IS ABLY REPRESENTED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BY JA, BY JESSE AND GRANT.
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR HELP AND THEIR COLLABORATION.
SO THIS WHOLE IDEA ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE INTO SOME SORT OF OUTSIDE, UH, MANIPULATOR IS SO, IS SO FALSE BECAUSE THEY ARE INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE PART OF CREATING THE VISION FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.
AND FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING AS A COMMUNITY IS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE ON ST.
HELENA WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THE CPO BACK THEN IN THE NINETIES AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT IN 2025.
WE, WE HAVE CONCLUDED PUBLIC COMMENTS TONIGHT.
WE WILL GO ON WITH OUR AGENDA NUMBER 10 IS LIAISON
[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS]
AND COMMUNITY REPORTS FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.COUNCILMAN GLOVER? UH, YES MA'AM.
UM, MADAM CHAIRMAN, THERE'S, UM, FROM THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE, THERE ARE SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NIGHT.
UM, ITEM NUMBER 14 AND 15, WHICH DEALS WITH, UM, THE ABANDONMENT OF EASEMENTS.
UM, UM, REQUEST THAT'S COMING BEFORE US.
UM, ALSO, UM, ITEM 16 AND 17, UM, I THINK 16, UM, AND 18 DEALS WITH, UM, UH, A RECOMMENDATION FROM BOTH THE RULE AND CRI RULE AND CRITICAL LAND BOARD.
UM, AND THE, UH, GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE TO, UH, PURCHASE, UM, WIDGET WI NORTH.
UM, SO THOUGH, AND THEN 17, UH, ON HERE DEALS WITH A, UM, A PERMANENT EASEMENT GIVEN TO BEAUFORD JASPER WATER AUTHORITY FOR UTILITY EASEMENT.
AND THEN THE LAST NUMBER 19 ON THERE DEALS WITH, UM, TRADA ROAD, UH, CONSERVATION THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NIGHT.
UM, ONE ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT ON MAY THE FIFTH AT SIX O'CLOCK, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL MEET, UM, AT SIX O'CLOCK.
UM, AND, UM, DO YOU KNOW WHERE, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA MEET? WHERE? I'M NOT SURE.
WHERE ARE THEY GONNA MEET? 'CAUSE WE'VE CHANGED THE BUILDING'S BEING RENOVATED.
PLANNING COMMISSION BASIC SIX.
THEY'RE MEETING IN A SEPARATE ROOM.
AT CLEARWATER ON CLEARWATER DRIVE.
[01:10:01]
BUILDING.AND, UM, AND THE LAST ONE, JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE HERE TONIGHT THAT, UM, UH, ON MAY THE SIXTH, RIGHT HERE AT THIS LIBRARY AT SIX O'CLOCK, UM, THE, I WANNA CALL IT RECREATION COMMISSION RECREATION, PALS PALS.
UM, THE DIRECTOR FOR PALS WILL BE HERE TO, UM, UNVEIL THE PROPOSED FACILITY FOR THE WESLEY FELIX CENTER.
SO I WANNA WELCOME EVERYBODY TO COME OUT AT THAT TIME TO GIVE YOU INPUT INTO, UM, THE DESIGN OF THAT FACILITY ON, AT THE WESLEY FELIX COMPOUND RECREATIONAL COMPOUND.
LET'S GO TO THE PEOPLE ONLINE.
UM, COUNCILMAN PASSMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY REPORTS TONIGHT? OR COUNCILMAN MCKELLAN OR MR. CUNNINGHAM? COUNCILMAN, ANYONE HAVE ANY LIAISON REPORTS THAT'S ONLINE? NO, MA'AM.
ANYTHING FROM PUBLIC FACILITIES, MR. CUNNINGHAM? NO.
LET'S GO DOWN TO COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
ANY REPORTS? UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON, UM, A COMMENT, UH, COUNCILMAN GLOVER MADE.
AS FAR AS PARKS AND REC IS CONCERNED, UH, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR MONTHS NOW, THE, UH, THE BUILDING OF, UH, COMMUNITY CENTERS AND, UM, THE AGIST MAJOR CENTER AND THE SHELDON COMMUNITY, OUR PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR, UH, MR. ERIC BROWN.
AND, UM, OUR STAFF, UH, WILL BE HOLDING A MEETING AT THE LARGER WASHINGTON CENTER AND, UM, IN THE SHELDON COMMUNITY, MAY 8TH AT 6:00 PM AND THE CENTER'S LOCATED, UH, AT, UH, TWO 11 ON PAGE POINT ROAD.
SO I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION.
COUNCILMAN BAR DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING FROM COMMUNITY SERVICES OR THE OTHER LIAISONS, UM, THE OTHER COMMITTEES, BUT I WILL SAY, UH, RECENTLY THE CITY, CITY OF BEAUFORD MOVED FORWARD WITH THE FINALIZING THE, UH, THE WATERFRONT COMMITTEE.
AND I, I WAS APPOINTED ON THAT.
UH, AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY IDEAS, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP IMPROVE THAT AREA AND MOVE THE REPAIRS FORWARD, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL TAKE THAT TO THE MEETING.
AND HOW OFTEN ARE YOU MEETING? LIKE, I, I DON'T THINK THE FIRST MEETINGS BEEN SET YET.
AND, UM, COUNT AND VICE CHAIRMAN TAB.
WE HAD OVER 50 PEOPLE AT CHAT WITH COUNCIL THIS WEEK.
MR. GLOVER, MS. HOWARD, MYSELF, MR. BARTOLOM, YOU WERE THERE.
IT WAS A REALLY GOOD BACK AND FORTH LISTENING TO PEOPLE.
I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT CAME.
UM, WE, I ATTENDED EARTH DAY AT BUCKWALTER REC CENTER, AND I WANNA RECOGNIZE TRASH TERMINATORS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT THEY HAD SPECIAL LUNCHES.
SO I, THAT'S ALL I CAN TELL YOU.
UM, BOARD OF EDUCATION, I, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF WHAT THEY DO.
THEY HAD SOME, UH, ITEMS THAT CAME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THINGS AT MCCRACKEN SCHOOL, MC RILEY, BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND LADIES ISLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THEN THE CFO TANYA CROSBY GAVE A PRELIMINARY BUDGET PRESENTATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE A GOOD JUMP IN TEACHER STAFFS AND STAFF SALARIES.
WE HAVE TO RAISE THE BAR TO KEEP GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY WILL BE PRESENTING TO COUNCIL COMING UP.
UM, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A, A BUDGET SESSION AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL TOMORROW NIGHT, 6:00 PM AND BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL, I'M SORRY, THE 30TH AT 6:00 PM YEAH, 30TH AND BEAUFORT HIGH SCHOOL, THE FIRST AT 6:00 PM I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO HEAR HOW THEY BUILD THE BUDGET.
IT IS NOT AN EASY TASK, AS MR. SMITH WILL TELL YOU, YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE MILLAGE AND GET GOOD TEACHERS, SERVICE CHILDREN.
SO THOSE TWO MEETINGS ARE SET.
AND THEY WILL BE COMING TO COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE 19TH OF MAY FOR THEIR FIRST READING TOMORROW NIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH BEAUFORT, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT IS AT THEIR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER ON MINK POINT ROAD.
AT 6:00 PM AND THE AGENDA'S ONLINE.
IT WAS CREATED WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY EXCITING.
SO I APPRECIATE BEING INVITED.
AND THEN ALSO, I THINK SOME OF YOU MET WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
UM, PAULA, MR. MOORE AND MYSELF MET WITH CITY OF BUFORT AND PORT ROYAL.
UH, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS, SECOND HELPINGS PALMETTO BREEZE, BUT I WAS MOST IMPRESSED WITH THEIR BEAUFORT ROYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, PORT ROYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
[01:15:01]
ISO CLASS ONE, IF I REMEMBER THAT RIGHT.SO, CONGRATS TO BUFORT PORT ROYAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA TONIGHT.
[12. 2025/20 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 (ORDINANCE NO. 2024/25) TO AMEND SECTION III COUNTY OPERATIONS REVENUE, PARAGRAPH B. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND; AND SECTION IV. COUNTY OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION, PARAGRAPH B. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND ADD APPENDIX A AND APPENDIX B TO THE FY 2025 BUDGET (PUBLIC HEARING)]
GONNA START DOING OUR READINGS FOR OUR ORDINANCES, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIRMAN TABER, IF ANYONE WANTS TO LEAVE BEFORE I DRONE ON, I WON'T BE OFFENDED NOW, NOW WOULD BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY.ORDINANCE 2025 SLASH 20 IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO AMEND SECTION THREE, COUNTY OPERATIONS REVENUE, PARAGRAPH B, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND AND SECTION FOUR, COUNTY OPERATIONS APPROPRIATION, PARAGRAPH B, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND ADD APPENDIX A AND APPENDIX B TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2025.
THE VOTE AT THE FIRST READING ON APRIL 14TH WAS 10.
SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNSEL TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS READ? SO MOVED.
MR. BARTHOLOMEW, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK OR HAVE A QUESTION FOR CFO? MRS. HARRIET.
MS. HARRIET, UM, ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION FOR HER? SHE WENT OVER THIS LAST TIME, BUT SHE'S HERE READY TO GO.
YOU GET OFF EASY, BUT YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY THERE FOR THE NEXT ONE.
STAY FOR THE NEXT ONE, RIGHT? UM, CAN I HAVE A, WE'VE ALREADY MOTIONED AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS, UM, ORDINANCE AS READ A LINE, MR. PASSMAN? OKAY.
[13. 2025/21 AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ORDINANCE 2021/24, WHICH ESTABLISHED THE SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. (PUBLIC HEARING)]
SLASH 21 IS IN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL ORDINANCE 2021 SLASH 24, WHICH ESTABLISHED A SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING ENTERPRISE SYSTEM.THE VOTED FIRST READING ON APRIL 14TH WAS 10 ZERO.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS RED? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
MS. HARRIET, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? I MEAN, STORM WATER'S A HOT TOPIC.
NOT TAKING BACK STORM WATER AT ALL.
UM, THIS IS A SOLID WASTE ENTERPRISE FUND.
UH, WE ARE JUST REPEALING THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE WE WILL BE MOVING THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND AS A PART OF YOUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET.
COULD YOU EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND? UH, AN ENTERPRISE FUND IS A TYPE OF PROPRIETARY FUNDS THAT IS WHERE GOVERNMENTS HAVE BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES.
UM, SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? NOW IS YOUR TIME.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, FOR COUNTY COUNCIL.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION AS READ.
[14. 2025/22 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT TMS R510 007 000 0116 0000. (PUBLIC HEARING)]
RATHER, IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT.THE VOTE AT THE FIRST READING OF COUNSEL ON APRIL 14TH WAS 10 ZERO.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS READ? MADAM CHAIRMAN, I, I MOTION THAT, UM, ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS ABANDONMENT OF DRAINAGE EASEMENT IS ACTUALLY ON THE HILTON HEAD SIDE OF THE COUNTY.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WAS THAT A MOTION? YEP, HE MADE THE MOTION.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS DRAINAGE? EASEMENT.
ABANDONMENT IS THE STAFF HERE TO, TO SPEAK ON IT? I MEAN, JARED CAN, HE'S ALREADY, BUT YOU WANT HIM TO SPEAK ON IT? UM, I THINK IS LARRY, YOU ALL COMFORTABLE WITH IT? OKAY.
AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW, JARED HAS, THEY'VE ALREADY PRESENTED THIS IN COMMITTEE AND BEFORE, SO, BUT IF ANYONE NEEDS A QUESTION, WE CAN ANSWER IT.
IT'S BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE AS READ.
[15. 2025/23 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF AN EASEMENT ENCUMBERING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TMS NO. R300 035 00A 0004 0000 AND R300 035 00A 0005 0000. (PUBLIC HEARING)]
SLASH 23 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF AN EASEMENT ENCUMBERING PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TMS NUMBER R 300 0 35 0 0 A 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0.AND R 300 0 3 5 0 0 A 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 THE VOTED.
[01:20:01]
WAS 10 ZERO.CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ? SO, THANK YOU MR. DAWSON.
DOES ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THE ABANDONMENT OF THIS EASEMENT? I COULD SEE YOU'RE ALL THRILLED AND EXCITED, BUT, OKAY.
AND THE CHAIRMAN, I'D JUST LIKE TO NOTE THAT, UM, THIS IS ON ING HALL ISLAND.
AND, UM, IT'S COUPLE, IT IS TWO APOSTLES OF PROPERTY THAT GAVE US THE EASEMENT FOR DRAINAGE, BUT THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORS DID NOT.
SO THE COUNTY BASICALLY ABANDONED THE EASEMENT BECAUSE THE OTHER NEIGHBORS DID NOT WANNA PLAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE ORDINANCE AS READ.
[16. 2025/24 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP SERIAL NUMBERS TMS R600 007 000 001A 0000, R600 007 000 0005 0000, R600 007 000 0006 0000, R600 007 000 0007 0000, R600 007 000 0008 0000, R600 007 000 0009 0000, R600 007 000 0010 0000, AND R600 007 000 0011 0000, ALSO KNOWN AS NORTH WIDGEON FEE (PUBLIC HEARING)]
FOR FIRST READING.2025 SLASH 24 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF TAX MAP.
SERIAL NUMBERS TMSR 600 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 A.
DO I HAVE TO READ ALL THESE MR. OKAY.
AND ALL, BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF ZEROS HERE.
AND IT'S IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENT.
AND THEY'RE ALSO KNOWN AS NORTH WID FEE.
AND SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ORDINANCE AS READ TO APPROVE IT? SO MOVED.
MR. GLOVER, UM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK ON IT? COME FORWARD? CAN WE PUT IT UP THERE SO PEOPLE COULD SEE WHERE IT IS? THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.
THIS IS PART OF THE NORTH WI THE WIDGET POINT AND SO ON.
UM, THE ENTIRETY OF NORTH WID, WHICH IS A LITTLE HUMMOCK, UM, OFF OF HIGHWAY ONE 70 AT THE BASE OF BROAD RIVER BRIDGE.
IT ADDS VISUAL, UM, CONTINUITY TO YOUR WIDGET POINT PRESERVE, WHICH WAS ONE OF YOUR FIRST RURAL AND CRITICAL PROJECTS, AND WAS ALSO A, A PARTNERSHIP WITH RURAL AND CRITICAL IN THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK.
THIS, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE NORTH WID EXTENDS THAT PARTNERSHIP.
THERE'S GRANT FUNDING IN PLACE, UM, TO MEET THE PURCHASE PRICE FROM, UM, THE CONSERVATION BANK AND FROM GREEN SPACE.
SO YOU'LL SEE THIS AGAIN ON YOUR AGENDA.
UM, BUT IT ALSO CONSUMES, UM, IT IS THE LAST PROJECT OF THE CURRENT ITERATION OF THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM.
UM, SO IT'S A REALLY HIGH NOTE TO END THE PROGRAM ON, AND I THINK IS AS SYMBOLIC FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE RURAL AND CRITICAL PROGRAM AS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND PUBLIC BENEFIT FOR ALL CITIZENS IN BEAUFORT AND HONESTLY, JASPER COUNTY TWO RIGHT THERE ON THE COUNTY LINE.
UM, SO THE RURAL AND CRITICAL BOARD RECOMMENDED, UM, THE PURCHASE UNANIMOUSLY AS DID THE NATURAL RESOURCES, UM, COMMITTEE.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PRESENTING THIS TO YOU, UM, AT FIRST READING, SECOND READING AND THIRD READING, AND THEN ADDING TO WID POINT PRESERVE, UM, FOR ALL OF BEFOR TO ENJOY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY HAVE QUESTION FROM COUNCIL? I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT.
IT'S KIND OF BITTERSWEET, BUT IT'S A GOOD WAY TO CONCLUDE THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS? CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE RECORD? YES.
KATE SCHAEFFER WITH OPEN LAND TRUST.
UM, WE ARE THE CONSULTANTS FOR THE ROLE AND CRITICAL PROGRAM.
UM, AND YES, UM, CHAIRWOMAN HOWARD.
WELL, IT IS THE END OF THE ROLE AND CRITICAL PROGRAM.
AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE IT ON THE AGENDA AGAIN BECAUSE THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.
AND I HAVE, UM, ALL THE FAITH THAT THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM, UM, THEIR BOARD AND STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOUGHTFUL LAND CONSERVATION, UM, IN THIS REGION.
AND I'M IMMENSELY GRATEFUL TO, UH, PASS THE BATON.
AND I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD REALLY KNOW THAT YOUR GROUP AND GREEN SPACE WORK HAND IN HAND TO TRY TO MULTIPLY THE DOLLARS.
I ALWAYS KNOW MR. MCSHANE SAYS FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE TRY TO GET FOUR.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
YES, I WRITE A LOT OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR GREEN SPACE FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, FEDERAL FUNDING, AND, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, WE CAN BE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE TOGETHER.
UM, THAT IS PART OF THE, THE SECRET SAUCE HERE IN COASTAL, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA TO PROTECT MORE LAND, UM, AT GREATER EFFICIENCY TO THE TAXPAYER AND A HUGE BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? ALL RIGHT.
HEARING ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC, I WOULD LIKE A VOTE TO, UH, APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ.
ALL IN FAVOR, WE ARE UNANIMOUS.
[17. 2025/25 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR A PORTION OF RIGHT OF WAY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY KNOWN AS PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD LOCATED IN BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP.]
25 IS IN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR A PORTION OF RIGHT OF WAY, OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY, KNOWN AS PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, LOCATED IN BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP.CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ?
[01:25:03]
I, I MAKE THE MOTION.UM, ANYONE? JARED, DO YOU WANNA PRESENT ON THIS ONE? THIS IS OUR FIRST READING, SO MAYBE EXPLAIN THIS TO PEOPLE.
SO THIS IS A ROAD THAT WE OWN IN PALMETTO BLUFF NEW RIVERSIDE.
IT'S OLD PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, OR PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD.
AND BEAUFORT JASPER IS SEEKING AN EASEMENT INSIDE OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY FOR THEM TO CONSTRUCT A SEWER LINE AS PART OF A GREATER PROJECT IN THE STONY CREEK AREA.
SO, UM, THIS WILL BE A PERMANENT EASEMENT, WHICH WILL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONE, CONSTRUCT IT, THEN MAINTAIN, UH, THE LINE THAT THEY INSTALL WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL? THIS IS A PUBLIC, UH, HEARING.
ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? IT'S YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE AS READ.
THAT CONCLUDES THAT, MR. MADAM CHAIRMAN.
OKAY, WE'RE ON NUMBER 18 UNDER
[18. 2025/21 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR FEE SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY KNOWN AS THE NORTH WIDGEON TRACTS (PIN# R600 007 000 001A 0000, R600 007 000 0011 0000, R600 007 000 0010 0000, R600 007 000 0009 0000, R600 007 000 0008 0000, R600 007 000 0007 0000, R600 007 000 0006 0000, R600 007 000 0005 0000)]
RESOLUTIONS.THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR FEE.
SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY, KNOWN AS THE NORTH WID TRACK.
AND THERE IS A SERIES OF PIN NUMBERS WITH OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY'S APPROVAL.
I WILL NOT GO THROUGH THOSE, UM, TO HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT OF, UH, NORTH WID AND POINT.
UH, ALL IN, WE, THE MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
ALL IN FAVOR BY RAISE OF HANDS.
AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS NUMBER 19.
[19. 2025/20 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE OPEN LAND TRUST FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON PROPERTY LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY KNOWN AS TROTTER’S LOOP (PIN# R200 004 000 0285 0000, R200 004 000 059A 0000, R200 004 000 065B 0000, R200 004 000 065A 0000, R200 004 000 065C 0000, R200 004 000 065D 0000, R200 004 000 0065 0000, R200 004 000 066A 0000, R200 004 000 0066 0000, R200 004 000 0067 0000, R200 004 000 0057 0000, R200 004 000 057C 0000, R200 004 000 057D 0000, R200 004 000 073A 0000, R200 004 000 073C 0000, R200 004 000 071A 0000, R200 004 000 0058 0000, R200 003 000 0016 0000)]
UH, 2025.20 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE OPEN LAND TRUST FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED IN UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY, KNOWN AS TROTTER'S LOOP.
AND THEN THERE ARE A SERIES OF, UH, SEVERAL PIN NUMBERS FOR THAT PROPERTY.
UH, COUNCILMAN BARAL? YOU MADE THE MOTION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SECOND.
SECOND BY, UM, VICE CHAIR TAB TABER NECK.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS.
UM, WHEN WE ADJOURN, WE DID NOT ADJOURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
I HEAR A MOTION TO AJOUR THIS.
I I'M GONNA HAVE A NEED FOR SOMETHING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
BUT THAT'S DURING THE CAUCUS MEETING.
YOU'RE GONNA RECONVENE THE CAUCUS MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE, BUT WE CAN ADJOURN THIS MEETING SO WE CAN HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING AND THEN WE WILL RECONVENE THE CAUCUS MEETING BEFORE YOU ADJOURN.
UM, I, I, I DIDN'T, I DID NOT LIKE HOW THE, UM, SIGN IN SHEET GOT STACKED.
WE, WE WERE, WE'RE GONNA WORK ON THAT.
AND, UM, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO MAY HAVE WANTED, WANTED TO SPEAK MM-HMM
UM, AND IF YOU COULD ALLOW, UM, A FEW MINUTES FOR ANYBODY WHO GOT A BURNING, UH, SOMETHING ON THERE OKAY.
AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE IT WAS BASICALLY STACKED.
UM, SO IF YOU 10 MINUTES, 10 MINUTES IS FINE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WILL EXTEND THE MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC SESSION FOR 10 MINUTES.
I'LL SECOND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS.
WAS THAT, IS THAT ENOUGH? IT WAS UNANIM, IT WAS THE MAJORITY.
SO WE, UH, WE CAN START BACK IN ON THE LIST IF THAT IS WHAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD, WHAT YOU WANNA DO.
I MEAN, THE NEXT ONE IS, I, I THINK I, I HEARD ENOUGH FROM ONE SIDE, YOU KNOW, BUT IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE ON THERE? IS THERE ANYONE THAT'S NOT PINE IS OR CPO THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? THAT'S GOOD POINT.
PLEASE DIDN'T WANNA SPEAK ON ANYTHING MS. MAJOR OTHER THAN MS. MS MAJORS? OH, YES.
OH, WE DID HAVE JERRY REEVES, WHO WAS NEXT ON THE LIST, BUT JERRY H. REEVES, A LOT OF PEOPLE LEFT.
I WAS NOT ON THE LIST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE LOST A, A NUMBER OF, UH, THE MEMBERS THAT WERE HOPING TO SPEAK.
SO, UH, AND I'LL CALL ON YOU NEXT MS. MAJORS, I PROMISE.
ALRIGHT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO STAND UP HERE.
[01:30:01]
MY NAME'S DAN CONLEY.I'M A SENIOR FIREFIGHTER WITH THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT.
I'VE BEEN THERE SINCE AUGUST 11TH, 2008.
OUTSIDE OF MY NORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS A FIREFIGHTER THERE, I ALSO OVERSEE ONE OF OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEMS AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I HAVE A DIRECT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CHIEF OF THE DISTRICT AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, MEMBERS THERE.
OUTSIDE OF JUST BEING A FIREMAN, CHIEF BULLER HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO SERVING BLUFF IN'S RESIDENCE AND VISITORS FOR WELL OVER 30 YEARS.
HE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF A WELL-EQUIPPED TRAINED AND PROFESSIONAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE HAS CHAMPIONED INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE OUR FIRE SAFETY PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS.
THESE INITIATIVES NOT ONLY IMPROVE SAFETY, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE BOND BETWEEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE RESIDENTS OF BLUFFTON.
CHIEF BULLER'S VISION FOR OUR FIRE DISTRICT IS CLEAR AND COMPELLING, AND IT IS ONE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN CHIEF BULLER WAS A APPOINTED DEPARTMENT CHIEF, HE WISHED TO STEP DOWN FROM THIS 1% COMMITTEE, WHICH I THOUGHT ORIGINALLY WAS A LITTLE ODD.
MANY DEPARTMENTS HAVE THEIR CHIEFS SIT ON THE COMMITTEE, UM, IN SOME REQUIREMENT.
DEPENDS ON THE TYPE OF ENTITY THEY'RE SET UP AS I ASKED HIM WHY, HE SAID THE PRIMARY REASON WAS TO ENSURE THERE WAS A LAYER OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT AND THOSE 1% FUNDS THAT GO IN TOWARDS THE RETIREMENT.
THE THESE FUNDS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP AND HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO PERCEPTION OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT FUNDS AND THE 1% FUNDS.
QUITE FREQUENTLY I'M IN HIS OFFICE DISCUSSING 1% ITEMS AND CONCERNS IN HIS STANCE EVERY SINGLE TIME IS WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF OUR DISTRICT WANT? WITHOUT QUESTION, EVERY ITEM THAT WE HAVE GETS VOTED ON IS BY THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
THEN IT GETS APPROVED BY THE FIRE ASSOCIATION BEFORE ANY OF THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT.
EVERY YEAR SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE VOTING WENT.
NOT TO PASS JUDGMENT ON INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE IT VOTED NO OR DOWN ON SOMETHING SO THAT HE HAS A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHERE CONCERNS MAY BE WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
HE AND HE USES THIS INFORMATION TO GAUGE SUPPORT WHERE WE MAY NEED TO CHANGE BUDGET ITEMS WITHIN THAT.
UH, THIS ONE'S GONNA BE TOUGH.
UM, HE TRULY CARES ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR DISTRICT, IF THEY'RE ONE OF HIS OWN FAMILY MEMBERS.
THIS COULDN'T HAVE BECOME MORE EVIDENT.
LATE LAST YEAR ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON WHILE ON SHIFT, CHIEF RUSHING, WHO'S MY BATTALION CHIEF HERE, RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR GUYS THAT WAS HAVING A MEDICAL ISSUE.
WE ENDED UP RUSHING OVER TO THE STATION, UH, FOUND THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WAS BEING EVALUATED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS. AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT HE DIDN'T NEED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AT THAT TIME.
BUT WE DROVE HIM IN THE CHIEF'S VEHICLE TO THE, THE ER.
ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THERE, THIS IS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON, WAS CHIEF WARE AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE, I DUNNO IF YOU'VE EVER HAD A SICK FAMILY MEMBER OR A KID OR SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED.
WAS THAT SAME LOOK IT, THERE'S A PIT IN MY STOMACH TALKING ABOUT IT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEWS WASN'T POSITIVE.
THIS INDIVIDUAL NEEDED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR FURTHER CARE.
HE STAYED WITH HIM THAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING UNTIL CHIEF BULLER STAYED WITH HIM THAT AFTERNOON AND EVENING UNTIL HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER FACILITY AND CONTINUES TO CHECK IN ON HIM.
I'M SORRY, MY, YEAH, HE RUN OUT OF TIME.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO TALK.
MR. O'CONNELL RIGHT? IS YOUR LAST NAME CONNOLLY CONNELLEY.
UM, IS THERE, MS. MAJORS, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK COUNSEL AND, UM, ESPECIALLY IF AFTER HOURS, BUT I WILL HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE CPO IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, COULD WE STOP YOU
NOW, I HEARD THE DOWN ZONING MENTIONING TRYING TO SWEETEN THE POT THAT THEY WILL BUILD A CENTER HERE ON ST.
UM, I, I'M A PERSON, I AM UNB BOUGHT.
I AM, LIKE I SAID, I'M ON ASSIGNMENT BY THE LORD.
AND THE LORD DIDN'T SAY FOR THEM TO BUILD IT FOR THE COUNTY TO BUILD IT BECAUSE IF THEY BUILT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WHO'S GOING TO MAINTAIN IT? SO I'M LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD.
SO EVEN AFTER ALL OF YOU HAVE LEFT COUNCIL, THAT WE WILL BUILD A STATE OF THE ART CENTER ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND THAT WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY AND OUR CHILDREN ESPECIALLY.
I SAW THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE THERE AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING DECEIVED.
DECEPTION IS IN WHAT THEY'RE SAYING BECAUSE THEY WANT ALL OF US TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GREAT
[01:35:01]
FOR ST.WE DO NOT NEED A GOLF COURSE, BUT WE DO NEED A YOUTH CENTER ON ST.
WE NEED A YOUTH CENTER LARGE ENOUGH WHERE WE CAN HOLD A MEETING LIKE THIS, WHERE WE, YOU KNOW, CAN EXTEND IT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WE DO THAT.
AND I THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH.
AND, UM, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, UM, THAT, AND I WISH I COULD SAY THIS WHILE THEY WERE HERE BECAUSE THEY HAD THE GREEN SHIRTS.
WE HAVE A NONPROFIT CALLED THE BEAUTIFUL COUNTY YOUTH CONFERENCE.
AND EACH YEAR, UM, WE HAVE A, A, UM, A CONFERENCE.
AND THIS YEAR, SEPTEMBER 20TH AT USCB, AND THIS IS OUR 33RD YEAR.
AND WE DO GIVE SHIRTS TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT'S FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THESE ARE SHIRTS THAT NOT ONLY ADULTS CAN WEAR, BUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE CAN WEAR WITH PRIDE AND IT WILL LAST THEM FOR YEARS.
AND IT'LL ALWAYS HAVE A THEME AND A MESSAGE NOT ONLY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT FOR THE ADULTS THAT WILL SEED ALSO.
SO I THANK YOU AND PLEASE, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE CPO AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
ALRIGHT, WE WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE PERSON.
WAIT, ARE I JUST WANT LET HIM, I THINK YOUR SUBJECT IS NOT RELATED TO PINE ISLAND.
CORRECT SIR? MINE'S IN REFERENCE.
AND THEN YOU CAN NOT THE REFERENCE TO I EITHER, BUT GO AHEAD.
SO EVENING, CAN YOU STATE YOUR NAME PLEASE? MY NAME'S CARSON STONE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT.
UH, I CAME OUT TODAY TO SHOW SOME SUPPORT FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, IT'S FUTURE AND OUR, OUR CHIEF.
UH, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU SERVE.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S VERY UNIQUE.
NOT EVERYONE GETS TO DO THAT, BUT BECAUSE WE DO, IT GIVES US A VESTED INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE.
OUR, OUR KIDS LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
WE ARE IN THAT COMMUNITY DAILY.
UH, ALL THE GENTLEMEN THAT YOU SEE HERE, A LOT OF 'EM DIDN'T GET TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
THEY ARE HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S WHY WE CAME OUT TODAY.
UH, I'VE NOT BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY INVESTIGATION THAT'S GOING ON WITH CHIEF WARE, BUT I CAME OUT TO, UH, I'VE, I'VE CERTAINLY FELT THE IMPACT AS A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THE DETAILS.
WE'RE STILL WAITING TO HEAR ANY OF THE DETAILS ON THE INVESTIGATION, BUT I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS CHARACTER TONIGHT.
THAT WAS MY INTENTIONS OF COMING OUT AND HIS INTENT.
UM, I'VE BEEN WITH BLUFFTON FOR 12 YEARS NOW.
IN MY OPINION, CHIEF BOER HAS ALWAYS DONE WHAT'S BEST FOR BL FOR THE BLUFFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UH, HE'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE GUYS AND ADVOCATE FOR DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
I THINK THAT THEY'VE GOT PAPERS OVER HERE, A LONG LIST OF THEM, OF THINGS THAT HE'S DONE FOR ALL OF US OVER THE YEARS.
WHETHER IT'S GIVING GIFTS AND CHECKING IN ON YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A KID.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO HARD MATTERS, ALSO, I GENUINELY THINK THAT HE MAKES DECISIONS WITH THE INTEREST OF THE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRST.
IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO GET TO A POSITION LIKE HIS WITHOUT MAKING A COUPLE PEOPLE UPSET ALONG THE WAY.
UM, I'VE SEEN THE CREDENTIALS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
YOU'VE BEEN LEADERS FOR A LONG TIME.
I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND HARD DECISIONS, EVEN WHEN YOU MAKE 'EM CORRECTLY.
THEY'RE GONNA CREATE CONFLICT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE GONNA GET SOME COMPLAINTS ALONG THE WAY, BUT THE, THE LOUDEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM DON'T ALWAYS SPEAK FOR THE MAJORITY.
UM, CHIEF OVERS DEDICATED OVER 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE TO OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, WITH THE FIRE SERVICE, IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN A LOT, A LOT OF OTHER JOBS.
THIS IS A PLACE WHERE HE'S LIVED HERE, HE'S WORKED HERE MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE AND HE IS GIVEN A LOT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY.
HE GENUINELY CARES ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT.
JUST LIKE ALL OF THE GENTLEMEN THAT CAME OUT TODAY.
WE CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE, OUR DEPARTMENT THAT WE LIVE IN.
AND WE HOPE TO LEAVE A POSITIVE LEGACY WHEN WE'RE GONE.
UM, A WRONG DECISION'S GONNA BE MADE FROM TIME TO TIME.
IT'S, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, RIGHT? UH, IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE INTENT.
UH, IF THERE'S NO MALICIOUS INTENT, A BAD DECISION IS BEING JUST A BYPRODUCT OF BEING A LEADER.
YOU CAN'T GET EVERY ONE OF 'EM, RIGHT? SO IF THERE'S BEEN A WRONG DECISION AT SOME POINT AND THERE'S SOME SORT OF INFRACTION THAT'S BEEN MADE, THE ONLY THING THAT WE ASK IS THAT WHATEVER THE PENALTY IS, IT IT REFLECT THE SEVERITY OF THE INFRACTION.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S A MAN THAT WE ALL RESPECT.
AND RIGHT NOW, WITH NOT A LOT OF DETAILS BEING PUT OUT ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION, HIS REPUTATION'S CERTAINLY TAKING A HIT.
WE FEEL IT IN THE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S TOUGH WHEN A GUY THAT A LOT OF US RESPECT A LOT IS HAVING HIS REPUTATION TARNISHED AND HE'S UNABLE TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
'CAUSE NONE OF US REALLY KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE OF THIS.
UM, THAT WAS, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH IT.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR OPENING UP SOME MORE TIME TO, TO HEAR SOME OF US AND MM-HMM
UM, OUR LAST, OUR LAST PERSON IS WILLIAM SMITH AND HE IS A MEMBER OF THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT TOO.
WELL, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THIS REAL QUICK.
I JUST WANTED TO NOT LEAVE HERE WITH THIS TONIGHT.
[01:40:01]
WAS SOMEONE WHO, A KID TOLD, I GUESS, I'M NOT SURE IF Y'ALL HAVE THE SHEET WHERE THERE WERE SOME NAMES WRITTEN DOWN, AND THERE WERE SOME KIDS HERE APPARENTLY WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ST.AND THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO SPEAK BECAUSE OF THE PINE ISLAND SITUATION.
AND I'M NOT GONNA, I JUST WANNA TAKE THAT OFF OF ME AND PUT THAT ON COUNCIL.
SO IF Y'ALL WOULD DEAL WITH THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHY WASN'T THOSE KIDS ABLE TO SPEAK, BECAUSE ONE WAS TRYING TO GET TO ME, BUT I WAS IN HERE SO I DIDN'T GET TO THE KID.
AND I FELT BAD BECAUSE, UH, MAYBE WE COULD HAVE MADE THAT HAPPEN.
BUT I JUST WANNA PUT THAT ON COUNCIL.
I'M NOT SURE WHO THE PERSON WAS THAT TOLD THEM THAT THOSE KIDS COULD NOT SPEAK, BUT THIS LIBRARY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KIDS IN TOWN ISLAND.
WE DON'T WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE AS A PUBLIC, THAT WE NEVER, EVER DO THAT AGAIN AND TELL KIDS THAT THEY CAN'T SPEAK WITH, THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO SIGNED UP OTHER PEOPLE ON THE LIST.
UH, AND WE, WE WON'T ALLOW THAT AGAIN.
WHAT, WHAT THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOT THIS PERSON.
ONE PERSON SIGNED UP, IT LOOKS LIKE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7 SLOTS.
WELL, AND SO, WE'LL, WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PREVENT THAT.
AND I APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR DEALING AND FOR HANGING OFF, HEARING THE VOICES.
IF ANY ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN, OR I'M ASSUMING THEIR YOUNG ADULTS WANTS TO EMAIL COUNSEL, THEY CAN.
WELL, WE STILL WANNA HEAR FROM THEM.
WELL, I, WELL, I'LL SEE HOW I CAN RELAY THAT MESSAGE TO, TO THOSE KIDS.
WE NEED A MOTION TO GO BACK INTO, UM, TO ADJOURN? NO, ADJOURN.
AND WE, AND NOW I NEED A MOTION TO RECONVENE FOR CAUCUS.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECONVENE FOR CAUCUS.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN GLOVER.
ALL IN FAVOR OF RECONVENING FOR CAUCUS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHO'S READY FOR FOOTBALL? IT'S FALL AND TIME FOR SPORTS FANATICS TO KICK IT INTO HIGH GEAR.
WHAT ELSE KICKS OFF WITH SPORTS TAILGATING? COLLEGE PARTIES AND TAILGATING ARE A RITE OF PASSAGE.
AND STUDENTS, IN ADDITION TO BEING UNDERAGE, ARE ALSO AT INCREASED RISK FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE AND BECOMING ALCOHOL DEPENDENT.
BINGE DRINKING DAY, DRINKING TAILGATING ARE ALL A RISK.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL ABUSE OR DEPENDENCE, SAY SOMETHING, SAVE A LIFE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT BUFORT COUNTY SC.GOV AND CLICK ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG.
WE HAD RECONVENED EXECUTIVE SESSION AND WE DID HAVE BUSINESS COMING OUT OF IT.
DO WE WANNA WAIT AND HAVE OUR PARTICIPANTS ON SCREEN? THEY'RE ON THAT.
IT, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO BE MADE OF BUSINESS COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL SUSPEND THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. RICK KRA FROM HIS POSITION AS COMMISSIONER ON THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIONS HE TOOK IN RELATION TO A PENDING INVESTIGATION OF MATTERS RELATED TO THE, UH, BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT IF SUSPENSION, I'M SORRY, THE SUSPENSION.
THE TERM SHOULD BE JUST, SORRY.
UH, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE INVESTIGATION IS DECLARED TO BE COMPLETED OR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A PERMANENT FIRE CHIEF IS HIRED, WHICHEVER OCCURS LAST, AND THIS IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY, UM, COUNCILMAN BARMY.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
AND WE HAVE A SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN TABER.
IS THERE, UM, ANY DISCUSSION? NO DISCUSSION ONLINE.
WE'RE GOING TO, UH, DO THIS VOTE BY A SHOW OF HANDS.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND THE TWO PEOPLE ONLINE VOTED YES.
AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS OF THE REST OF US.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS.
[01:45:24]
JOE.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 AND 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, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA.
AND 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, WOULD BLUFFTON OR BUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
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 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
[01:50:01]
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 BANKER AS RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED.
THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER ARE 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, THEY 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 AGE 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 PORT 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 THE TRAINING.
AGAIN, IT'S ALL DONE RIGHT HERE.
THEY, THEY'LL STAY AT HOME, THEY'LL SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BED, THEY'LL 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.
THIS IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT 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 MM-HMM
WHETHER THEY'RE RETIRED TEACHERS, RETIRED MILITARY IS IMPORTANT.
THEY'VE GOT THE LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THE, FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND, AND TO GET THAT STARTED OFF.
SO
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.
[01:55:01]
ABSOLUTELY.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'LL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER.
IF YOU GET, IF YOU GET, IF YOU HIRE ONE OR TWO AND 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 SCHOOL.
SO IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS AND 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 GO 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.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO THE LIBRARY APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS, AND I COME FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
I COME FIRST, I STARTED USING THE COMPUTER CLASS THEY HAVE HERE.
I'VE BEEN COMING HERE AND USING THE COMPUTER LAB CLASS.
UH, THE LADIES AND THE GUYS THAT WORKS HERE ARE VERY HELPFUL.
I COME, UH, PRACTICALLY EVERY MORNING BEFORE WORK.
I COME IN AND I DO DIFFERENT RESEARCH.
I WAS, UH, CURRENTLY I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB.
I FOUND A JOB ON THE INTERNET.
AND, UM, AND PRACTICALLY I JUST ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE AT THE LIBRARY.
SO YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A JOB? WELL, YES, I WAS.
AND THEN I FOUND ANOTHER JOB JUST GOING UP THROUGH THE INTERNET, GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE ON THE INTERNET AS FAR AS, UH, JOB SERVICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND PRACTICALLY I FOUND ANOTHER JOB, A PLACE LIKE THIS.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT 'CAUSE UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COMES IN HERE, THEY LIKE, THEY FIRST TIME DEALING WITH THE COMPUTERS AND STUFF AND LEARNING DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND YOU GET TO KNOW OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S NOT JUST BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE.
YOU, YOU GET A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT SPIRITS IN THEIR LIFE AND DIFFERENT STUFF THAT THEY WANT TO FIND.
AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, JUST TO, JUST TO COMMUNICATE WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
AND IT JUST TAKES YOU AWAY FROM EVERYDAY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, YOU COME IN AND GET IN YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD AND IT'S, IT'S GREAT FOR ME.