* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY. THE ORDER OF THE, UH, MEETING [I. CALL TO ORDER] FOR TODAY. AND FIRST THING IS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. UH, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO PLAN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TWO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDARDS ONE NATION LIBERTY, THE JUSTICE FRAUD. ALRIGHT, PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THE MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED IN, DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT. UH, FIRST THING WE [IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA] NEED IS, UH, APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. OKAY, HOWARD, NEED A SECOND? I DO. OKAY. AND, UM, ANYONE OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. WE'LL ACCEPT THE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. NEXT IS THE APPROVAL [V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – APRIL 10, 2025] OF THE MINUTES. OKAY, BRIAN? FIRST. SECOND, LESLIE. NICE JOB. UH, ANYBODY AGAINST THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING? HEARING NONE. IT PASSES. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN PUBLIC, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. HAVING NO COMMENTS. WE'LL MOVE ON THEN TO THE DIRECTOR'S [VII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT] REPORT. COME ON DOWN, JOHN. ALRIGHT. GOOD MORNING. MEETING TODAY. OKAY. USED TO SAYING GOOD MORNING INSTEAD OF GOOD AFTERNOON. YEAH, BUT NOON NEW. WELL, WE DO HAVE KIND OF A PACKED HOUSE FOR THE PUBLIC TODAY, SO I, YEAH, MAYBE WE GET SOMETHING. IT'S KIND OF NICE. YEAH. SAY AGAIN? MAYBE SO. YEAH. YEAH. MAYBE IF WE DO COFFEE AND DONUTS, WE GET EVEN MORE. SAY GOOD DAY. THAT WHEN YOU CAN. GOOD DAY. BIB TOO. THERE YOU GO. RIGHT. PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT TIME ZONES ARE WATCHING THE, THE VAST VIEWING AUDIENCE WE HAVE. THAT'S TRUE. YOU'RE RIGHT. TAKE CARE OF THOSE PEOPLE OVERSEAS AND STUFF. WATCH. ALRIGHT. UH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN BOUNCE THROUGH THIS REPORT FIRST. HOPEFULLY ENJOY THE SCENERY THERE. IT'S KIND OF A THROWBACK TO LAST MONTH WITH THE, UH, THE TOURNAMENT. SOME OF YOU GUYS GOT A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, IN THAT WE KIND OF TOOK OVER THE 10TH GREEN OUT THERE. UM, IF YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT, UM, THIS YEAR, WE'RE GONNA HOPEFULLY DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT'S, IT'S KIND OF BECOME OUR SPOT. AND, UM, DEFINITELY PACKED, YOU SEE BY THAT CENTER WAS A LITTLE BIT TOUGH TO SEE WITH THE, THE SHADOWS, BUT, UH, I THINK THAT, I THINK I TOOK THAT ON THURSDAY AND THEN ON SATURDAY IT WAS JAMMED UP TOO. I MEAN, EVERY, EVERY DAY WAS BUSY, SO THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT FOR THE TOURNAMENT. AND, UH, AND OUR, YOU KNOW, BOX WAS, WAS FULL, UM, FOR QUITE SOME TIME. AND THEN THE, THE LAST PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS ACTUALLY ON THE 18TH GREEN. SO WE, WE ACTUALLY WERE UP IN THE, UM, LIGHTHOUSE CLUB UP THERE AS WELL. SO, UM, THAT WAS, UH, THAT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO BE, ESPECIALLY ON SUNDAY, IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE THERE FOR THE PLAYOFF. IT WAS AWESOME PLACE TO WATCH THAT. SO GREAT EXPOSURE. RAINING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. UM, WE GAVE OUT A LOT OF GOOD SWAG. LESLIE, THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE, UM, EVERY DAY. AND YOU OBVIOUSLY FOUND YOUR CAR SO YOU COULD GET HOME, SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGE. TWO DAYS IT TOOK ME, BUT YOU KNOW, , UH, TOM WAS OUT THERE AS WELL, SO THANK YOU, TOM WITH HIS WIFE WAS UH, WAS HELPING US OUT, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK, THERE WE GO. IT WAS A PICTURE OF TOM AND HIS WIFE AND, UH, SANDY, WHO'S ONE OF OUR, UH, FINANCE PEOPLE THERE ON THE LEFT. UM, BUT, UH, YEAH, HAD A GOOD TIME OUT THERE AND FOLKS WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY WITH SOME SWAG, SO, UM, HAPPY TIMES AND, UH, WE'LL DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. ALRIGHT, EARTH DAY. UM, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW BEAUFORT COUNTY TOOK THIS ON A FEW YEARS AGO, IS REALLY A BIG EFFORT. SO ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TRY TO PARTICIPATE IN KIND OF A COUNTYWIDE, UM, TRASH PICKUP. A LOT OF THE FOLKS YOU'LL SEE OUT ON, ON ONE 70 RISKING THEIR LIVES ON THAT SUPER HIGHWAY. UM, WE PREFER BEING BACK ON HUNTER ROAD, A LITTLE BIT QUIETER. UM, BUT WE DO, THAT'S OUR AREA. WE PICK UP SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR. SO THREE, FOUR TIMES A YEAR WE'RE OUT THERE MAKING SURE THAT THE, UH, HUNTER ROAD AREA IS LOOKING GOOD. SO WE HAD ALL THIS, THIS CREW HERE AND WE HAD A VOLUNTEER WHO, WHO PICKS UP. SO THE GUY IN THE WHO'S NOT IN UNIFORM WITH THE YELLOW VEST THERE, UM, HE WAS ACTUALLY A WALK-ON VOLUNTEER WHO, WHO, UM, ROUTINELY PICKS UP TRASH ON THE ISLAND AND HE DECIDED TO JOIN OUR GROUP THAT DAY. SO THAT WAS KIND OF FUN TO HAVE A WALK ON. ALRIGHT, UM, THEN WE DID A FOND WALK LAST WEEK, SO KIND OF LIKE THE TRASH PICKUP, BUT THIS WAS OUT OF BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE [00:05:01] AND IS AT THE END OF AVIATION WEEK. SO, UM, EACH, EACH YEAR WE TRY TO A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING AT DURING AVIATION WEEK. UM, BUT THE FOD WALK WAS, WAS PRETTY INTERESTING. A LOT OF FOLKS HAD NEVER DONE ONE. UM, NOBODY KNEW WHAT FOD WAS. WE HAD TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT, WHAT IT WAS. AND THEN, UH, AS WE WALKED, PEOPLE WERE WALKING BY LITTLE BITS OF FOD AND, UH, AND DAN AND AND BRANDON WERE, UM, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT EVEN THE SMALL PEBBLES THAT'S FOD, SO PICK IT ALL UP. UM, SO ANYWAY, WE DID THAT. AND THEN, UM, AS WE WERE OUT THERE, WE NOTICED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN PREPARATION FOR THE RUNWAY REHABILITATION PROJECT. THE DRAINAGE WAS INSTALLED ON THE SIDES, AND SO THE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU GET DIRT ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND THE CONTRACTOR HAD GONE THROUGH WITH A, UH, A BROOM TRACTOR TO CLEAN OFF THE, THE DUST AND THE DIRT, BUT THAT LEFT BEHIND A LOT OF LITTLE METAL BRISTLES THAT COME OUT OF THOSE BROOM TRACTORS. SO A COUPLE THINGS WE NOTICED THAT YOU COULD ONLY SEE THOSE WITH THE NAKED EYE GOING ONE WAY ON THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF THE ANGLE OF THE SUN. UM, AND SO ONE GROUP PICKED UP SEVERAL, ANOTHER GROUP SAW NONE, LIKE MY GROUP COMING FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH SAW NONE, BUT THERE WERE A TON OUT THERE AND THE GUYS COMING THE OTHER WAY SAW A LOT OF IT. SO WE HAD BRANDON DRAG THE, UH, THE FOD MAT BEHIND THE, UM, A TV AFTER WE FINISHED UP. AND WHAT HE FOUND, JUST ON A COUPLE OF PASSES IN THAT FIVE GALLON PALE TO THE SIDE AND YOU COULD SEE SOME OF THOSE METAL BRISTLES STICKING UP, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE, THE GRAINS OF SAND, UM, THAT FOD MAT PICKS UP EVERYTHING. SO IT'S A GOOD PIECE OF GEAR. AND THE STATE PROVIDED, UM, AT LEAST ONE TO EVERY AIRPORT IN THE STATE A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SO, AND WE PICKED UP, UM, WE'VE GOT, IS IT ONE OR TWO FOR A RWI FORGET, IS IT ONE THAT WE HAVE A R W'S GOT ONE. WE GOT ONE THERE HAS ONE, BUT IT'S A DUAL MATTER. YEAH, WE'VE GOT A DUAL AT AT HILTON HEAD. SO THOSE ARE, UM, REALLY NICE PIECES OF GEAR AND WHEN YOU RUN THOSE ACROSS THE, THE TAXI WAVE RUNWAYS, APRONS, IT, IT PICKS EVERYTHING UP. SO ANYWAY, IT WAS GOOD. PEOPLE LEARNED A LOT. AND I THINK THAT FUND TOO, THERE WAS A COFFEE AND DONUTS AFTER THAT ONE. SO IF YOU MISSED IT AND YOU'D BE OUT THERE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL PROBABLY DO IT A COUPLE OF TIMES EACH YEAR BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DO. UM, AND IT'S, UH, IT'S GOOD TO GET PEOPLE OUT ON THE, THE RUNWAY. SO TO SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE. HEY, JOHN ORIO, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES. HEY, WE DO NOT HAVE SLIDES AND THERE'S NO NOTHING BEING PRESENTED. UM, OKAY. NOT SURE HOW TO FIX THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT BEST I CAN TELL YOU, WE, WE COULD CERTAINLY SEND YOU THE PRESENTATION AFTERWARDS. UM, UM, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON OTHERWISE WE JUST HAVE TO GET YOU TO SHOW UP. , I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO TELL YOU. I CAN'T DO IT ON THE FLY APPRECIATE AIRPORT TENANT MEETING WE HAD, UH, AND WE DO THIS ONCE A MONTH, BUT WE DID IT LAST WEEK. AND UM, THE COFFEE DONUTS FOR THEM TOO. BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE TENANTS AND JUST UPDATE THEM ON THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON AND THEY GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM THEM, WHETHER IT'S THE AIRLINES GIVING US UPDATES TO THE FLIGHT SCHEDULES OR, UM, YOU KNOW, RENTAL CAR FOLKS WHO'VE GOT UPDATES OR, OR WHAT HAVE YOU. BUT GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A LITTLE BIT OF FELLOWSHIP AND, AND UM, JUST SHARING INFORMATION THERE. AND WE DO THAT ONCE A MONTH. AND WE ALSO DID, RIGHT THE WEEK BEFORE THAT WE DID A, A LUNCH FOR THE ALL THE TENANTS AS WELL. SO ABOUT EVERY WHAT TWICE A YEAR, THREE TIMES A YEAR, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YEAH, SO, WE'LL WE WILL SPRING FOR A LUNCH FOR ALL THE TENANTS TOO. WE JUST WANT THEM TO FEEL APPRECIATED AND, AND REMEMBERED, YOU KNOW, THAT EVEN IF WE'RE NOT IN THE BUILDING ALL THE TIME, WE KNOW WHAT, UH, WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS. SO EVERYBODY FROM, UH, AIRLINE FOLKS, THE, UH, THE RENTAL CARS, TSA, UM, EVEN THE CAB DRIVERS OUT FRONT GOT LUNCH, UM, FOLKS MOVING THE CARS AROUND, KEEPING THE TRAFFIC FLOW GOING, GOT LUNCH, UM, CUSTODIAL STAFF, EVERYBODY. SO TAKE CARE OF THE WHOLE CREW. WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. ALRIGHT, WE'LL GET INTO TERMINAL UPDATES. UM, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON INSIDE. THERE'S SOME STUFF GOING ON OUTSIDE AS WELL. MORE OF THE ROOF IS GOING ON, BUT YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN BY, YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CHANGES AS WELL. WE SHOULD BE PAVING THE OTHER TWO LANES OUT FRONT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. SO, UM, PROBABLY AROUND MEMORIAL DAY, HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BE COMPLETE. WE'LL HAVE ALL FOUR LANES AND THEN BE ABLE TO TAKE THE FENCING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. SO THAT'LL CLEAN UP THAT, THAT FRONT PART. ALL RIGHT, MOVIE TIME. SO IF YOU BROUGHT YOUR POPCORN, NOW'S THE TIME TO PULL IT OUT. [00:10:32] THIS IS AS IF YOU WERE DEEP PLANNING FROM GATE TWO. SO WE'RE WALKING THROUGH, YOU GOT RESTROOMS, YOU GOT THE CONCESSION AREAS, AND THEN STRAIGHT AHEAD IS WHERE YOU WOULD HEAD OUT TOWARDS THE EXIT LANE. AND THEN ONTO THE MAIN PART OF THE EXISTING PART OF THE TERMINAL WHERE BAGGAGE IS. THIS IS GOING THROUGH THE TSA SECURITY CHECKPOINT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LITTLE GREEN UFO IS FLYING AROUND THERE. SNIP THAT'S DOWN TOWARDS GATES END. AS YOU COMPLETE SCREENING, YOU'LL GO TOWARDS WHERE THAT SKY LIFT IS AND THEN UP TOWARDS GATE AREA. IT'S A LOT QUIETER INSIDE NOW THAT THE INSTALLATION HAS BEEN INSTALLED. SO THAT REALLY BUFFS SOME OF THE NOISE WINDOWS ARE IN. FINALLY, THE NEXT BIG EXCITING THING WILL BE A, UH, A TEST INSTALLATION OF, I SAID THE NEXT FEW WEEKS THAT FENCING WILL BE CLEANED AND THERE YOU HAVE IT ON THE TERMINAL. IT'S EASIER THAN JUST SHOWING A, YOU KNOW, FLIPPING THROUGH SLIDES. AND JUST A REMINDER TOO, WE, WE SEND OUT THAT STAKEHOLDER REPORT, SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY SEES THAT THAT'S GOT A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, UM, TO SHOW YOU KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON. ALL RIGHT. WE'VE, WE'VE HAD A LOT THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AT, AT THE AIRPORTS HERE IN THE LAST MONTH OR SO. UM, BIG MEETING LAST WEEK WITH, WITH ALL THREE AIRLINES JUST TO GO THROUGH AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF, OF ALL THE FINANCES AND SET THE RATES AND CHARGES FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR. SO OUR FISCAL YEAR AIRLINES START THEIR FISCAL YEARS IN, IN, UH, JANUARY, JANUARY 1ST. SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOUGH 'CAUSE WE'RE SIX MONTHS OFF, BUT, UM, WE, UH, WE TRY TO HOLD THIS MEETING IN ADVANCE OF THE KICKOFF OF OUR FISCAL YEAR. SO ALL THE NEW RATES AND CHARGES ARE IN PLACE, SO IT'S AT LEAST CONVENIENT FOR US. A LITTLE BIT TOUGH FOR THEM TO JUGGLE IT MIDWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. BUT, UM, SUCCESSFUL MEETING, ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS. AND, UH, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO MARCH ON WITH, WITH A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE RATES AND CHARGES FOR THE COMING YEAR. AND THAT'S ALL PART OF WHAT WE DESCRIBED A FEW YEARS AGO AS THE, THE COST RECOVERY MODEL THAT, THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED WITH OUR CONSULTANTS AND WE'VE IMPLEMENTED. SO BASICALLY THE EFFECT OF THAT IS THAT THE AIRLINES ARE PAYING THEIR WAY, ARE WORKING TOWARDS PAYING THEIR WAY BIT BY BIT. SO FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE INCREASED, UM, THE, THE REVENUE FROM THE AIRLINES BY $1.5 MILLION. AND WHAT THAT DOES IS RECOVER THOSE COSTS THAT THE, THE AIRPORT REALLY HAD BEEN BEARING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, MANY YEARS. SO, UH, DEFINITELY HELPS US FINANCIALLY AND, UM, AND WE WILL, WE'LL HELP AS THE TERMINAL'S COMPLETED AND AS THE AIRPORT, UM, YOU KNOW, NEEDS TO DO PROJECTS AND THAT SORT OF THING SO THEY, THEY PAY THEIR WAY, WHICH IS GOOD. UH, JUST QUICK BRIEFING ON LOAN PALMETTO. THAT'S THE PROPOSED PROJECT THAT THE, UM, NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE AIRPORT. I THINK I'M BRIEFING COUNSEL ON MONDAY. I'M WAITING TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THAT. UM, BUT WE'RE STILL KIND OF WORKING THROUGH, IT'S STILL THE, UH, THE PHASE WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A, A PROJECT THAT'S DESIRED THAT WILL HAPPEN, THAT SORT OF THING. WE'RE, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR COUNCIL TO PROVIDE US [00:15:01] A LITTLE BIT OF DIRECTION COMING UP SOON. SO WE'LL BRIEF THEM ON SOME OF THE, THE FACTS AND FIGURES AS WE KNOW THEM. AND THEN JUST, UH, FIND OUT WHAT COUNCIL'S DESIRE IS AS FAR AS THAT PROJECT GOES. SO JUST, WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP, UM, PROBABLY NEXT MONTH, HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. IF WE HAVE A CHANCE TO BRIEF COUNSEL, LET YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES. UH, MET YESTERDAY WITH, UM, THOMAS BOXLEY. HE'S, HE'S FROM TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND STAFF. AND, UM, AND WE'VE MET A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE TORONTO, BUT HE'S THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE, IT'S A MOUTHFUL. GULLAH GEECHEE, HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. OKAY. IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE ISLAND JUST BECAUSE OF THE, THE HISTORY AND THE CULTURE. AND, UH, SO HE AND I ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT KIND OF HOW, HOW ALL THAT CAN COME TOGETHER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TERMINAL. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE IS CERTAINLY A HUGE PART OF THE ISLAND. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE TERMINAL. SO WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT ONGOING DISCUSSIONS AND, AND WE'LL PROBABLY MEET MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, SOMETHING, BUT WE'LL HAVE AN ONGOING DIALOGUE THERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THESE, THESE ITEMS. AND HE TIES IN WITH MITCHELLVILLE AND ALL THE, THE OTHER, UM, KIND OF GULLAH, GEECHEE, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. SO HE'S KIND OF A GOOD HUB TO BE TALKING TO. UH, NEXT ITEM THERE, THE GRANT APPLICATIONS. THIS IS A BUSY SEASON FOR GETTING THE PAPERWORK INTO THE FAA, SO THAT'S ALL BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. THERE'S A FEW LOOSE ENDS THAT WE TIE UP WITH INDEPENDENT FEE ESTIMATES AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT EVERYTHING'S INTO THE FAA NOW, UM, FOR THEIR, THEIR REVIEWS. AND, UM, THAT'LL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE ON WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE GOING. THE MAIN, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE APPLIED FOR THIS SEASON WITH THE AIRFIELD DRAINAGE AT HILTON HEAD. THAT'LL BE A CONSTRUCTION, UH, PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON. UH, WE'VE GOT A, AN ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THE RUNWAY OBJECT FREE AREA AND OUR TAXIWAY WORK, SO THAT'LL BE HAPPENING AS WELL. UM, WE'VE GOT, UH, BIL GRANT THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TOWER IMPROVEMENT, SO THAT'S THAT $300,000 GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED. AND, UH, STEVE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT AS WELL. AND THEN WE'VE GOT ONE OVER AT BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE, AND THAT'S FOR THE DESIGN AND BIDDING FOR THE PARTIAL PARALLEL TAXIWAY TO EXTEND THAT TAXI WAY. A LITTLE BIT FARTHER TO THE NORTH BIG SAFETY PROJECT FOR US. AND THEN AGAIN, ANOTHER FUNDING REQUEST, UH, WORKED WITH SENATOR GRAHAM'S OFFICE, I THINK I MENTIONED LAST MONTH WHEN I CAME BACK FROM DC, UM, GOT THAT REQUEST IN. SO WE'LL KIND OF SEE WHERE THAT GOES. BUT EVERYTHING'S IN THE PIPELINE AND, AND HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL, UH, WILL COME OUT FAVORABLY. UH, A COUPLE OTHER REAL QUICK UPDATES IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF RICH IS ABLE TO JUMP IN ON THIS. SO HE WANTED ME TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE. THE, UM, WE SUBMITTED A REQUEST THROUGH, UH, OUR LOCAL, OUR DELEGATION TO THE STATE HOUSE AND REPRESENTATIVE, UH, JEFF BRADLEY IS KIND OF OUR, OUR LEAD ON THAT BECAUSE HE'S, HE'S THE ONE WHO'S, WHO'S, UH, GOT THE DISTRICT WHERE THE AIRPORT IS AND HE LET US KNOW THERE'S SOME CHANGES GOING ON WITH THE WAY FUNDING'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE HOUSE. UM, AND WELL, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THAT SORT OF THING. WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CHANGES ARE. UM, BUT RICH IS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH JEFF AND FIND OUT WHAT THOSE DETAILS ARE AND, UH, TRY TO FIND OUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IN OUR APPLICATION OR ANYTHING THERE. SO, 'CAUSE WE'LL BE RELYING ON THAT FUNDING, UH, FOR PHASE TWO, THE TERMINAL. SO WE'LL LET YOU KNOW ON THAT. OH, IS THAT RICH? I'LL TALK TO HIM TONIGHT AT THE, ON HIS WAY HOME SESSION WAS IN FIVE TODAY. SO THAT, THAT'S THE LATEST UPDATE I HAVE FROM HIM. OKAY. YEAH, YOU CAME IN PRETTY, UH, GARED AND UNREADABLE RICH, SO, UM, WE'LL JUST, UH, WE'LL CATCH YOU NEXT MONTH. SHUT UP. BYE. RICH IS AT THE VA, SO MAYBE HE'S ALREADY BEEN BY THE PHARMACY. I DON'T KNOW. , TAKE ONE, NOT TWO. RICH DEFINITELY TOOK TWO. HE'S BEEN BOUND AND GAGGED AND THROWN IN THE BROOM CLOSET, I THINK. SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD. YEAH, . YEAH, I WANT WHAT HE HAS. . UH, ANOTHER UPDATE THIS WEEK, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S TRAVELED, BUT ON WEDNESDAY, THE OFFICIAL START OF THE REAL ID ERA BEGAN, UM, REALLY WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT TSA PROMISED, UH, AN ADDITIONAL LEVEL OF SCREENING FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T HAVE REAL ID. SO IF THAT'S NOT INCENTIVE ENOUGH TO GET YOUR REAL ID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, BUT THINGS WENT PRETTY SMOOTHLY ACTUALLY, RIGHT BEFORE I LEFT THE OFFICE, I GOT AN UPDATE FROM THE, UH, FEDERAL SECURITY DIRECTOR AND ACROSS THE STATE THINGS [00:20:01] WENT REALLY, REALLY SMOOTHLY. THERE WERE VERY FEW FOLKS WHO DID NOT HAVE REAL ID OR, OR, YOU KNOW, A PASSPORT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, THERE, THERE WERE SOME, BUT THERE WERE NO, NO NEEDS FOR TSA TO CREATE A KIND OF A NEW PROGRAM TO DEAL WITH FOLKS WHO, WHO WEREN'T PREPARED. SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS, REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, UM, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED TO GO PRETTY SMOOTHLY. SO, UM, THAT IS THAT, UM, I DO WANT, ROCIO WANTED ME TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT AS WE TALK ABOUT THE NEXT MEETING. IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE UP IN BUFORT. WE DON'T KNOW YET IF COUNCIL CHAMBERS WILL BE READY. SO IF THEY'RE NOT, JUST KIND OF STAY, JUST PAY ATTENTION WHEN CO PUTS OUT THE NOTE FOR THE NEXT MEETING AND THE LOCATION, PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE THAT IS. CHANCES ARE, IF COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE, ARE NOT AVAILABLE, IT'LL PROBABLY BE JUST RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN THE ARTHUR HORN BUILDING 'CAUSE THERE'S A THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM THAT WE COULD USE. SO, NICE NEW BUILDING THERE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SECURE THAT. SO ANYHOW, JUST MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR EMAILS IN ADVANCE OF NEXT MONTH. CAN YOU, UM, JOHN, CAN YOU GO BACK, JUST EXPLAIN AGAIN, THE LOAN PALMETTO, WHAT THAT ACTUALLY IS? YES, THAT'S THE PROPOSAL. UM, IT, IT'S A MULTI-LEVEL PROPOSAL, JUST BE BECAUSE OF, UH, AN ASSEMBLAGE OF, OF PROPERTIES THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. BUT IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE IDEA IS TO HAVE KIND OF AN FBOA SECOND FBO POTENTIALLY. THAT'S THE, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT CAME PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MAYBE A YEAR, RIGHT. HALF AGO. RIGHT. OKAY. SO WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THEIR BUSINESS PLAN IS GONNA LOOK LIKE. IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, TENTATIVE AT THIS POINT. UH, BUT WE WILL WORK THROUGH THAT AND, AND, UM, KIND OF SEE WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO. THE KIND OF THE STICK, NOT STICKING POINTS, BUT SOME OF THE DETAILS THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO GET, UM, GET SQUARED AWAY OR FERRETED OUT ARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PROPERTY IS NOT CURRENTLY AIRPORT PROPERTY, SO IT NEEDS TO BE ASSEMBLED AND THEN IT NEEDS TO BE OWNED BY THE, BY THE COUNTY. UH, BECAUSE THE FAA HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THERE WILL NOT BE A THROUGH THE FENCE OPERATION. RIGHT. SO IT CAN'T BE LIKE EXEC AREAS THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THE FA IS, BUT THEY DO OWN THE PROPERTY, CORRECT? THEY OWN IT. THEY OWN PART OF THE PROPERTY. OKAY. SO THE, THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPER IS STILL ASSEMBLING THE PROPERTY AND, AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DEEDED TO THE COUNTY TO BECOME AIRPORT PROPERTY. RIGHT. SO WE'LL SEE HOW ALL THAT GOES. THERE'S, THERE'S WETLANDS INVOLVED, THERE'S, IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ROAD. UM, SO WE'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON THAT. I REMEMBER QUICKLY, JOHN, THEY HAD LIKE FBO RAMP HANGAR, A MAINTENANCE FACILITY, AN OVERHAUL FACILITY, HAD A GAGGLE OF THINGS, RIGHT? IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT. OKAY. IT IS. YEP. YEAH, AND I THINK RETAIL SALES AS WELL ON, UH, PLANES, I THINK IT WAS DISCUSSED A LITTLE BIT. YEAH. JOHN, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICALLY WHERE WE STAND ON THE CHURCH PROJECT? THE MOVEMENT OF THE CHURCH? YEAH, NO BIG UPDATES THERE. UM, STILL WORKING THROUGH, AT LEAST ON, ON OUR SIDE OF THE AIRPORT, WE'LL STILL WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS ON THAT. UM, SINCE THERE, THERE WERE ARTIFACTS UNCOVERED ON BOTH THE, THE ACTUAL CHURCH PROPERTY AND THEN THE PROPERTY WHERE THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED. THERE'S GONNA BE A PHASE THREE A, AN ARTIFACT OR A RECOVERY, UM, PHASE TO THAT PROJECT. SO THERE'S, THERE'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE A DIG OUT THERE. UM, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT, JUDY? UM, SO THAT, THAT'S ALL BEING REVIEWED RIGHT NOW BY THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE AND, UM, AND THE FAA AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S GOTTA WEIGH IN. SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR SIDE FROM THE AIRPORT. AS FAR AS THE PROJECT ITSELF GOES, UM, IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO THE NEW SITE IS PRETTY CLOSELY GOING OUT FOR BID, SO DESIGNS ARE JUST ABOUT WRAPPED UP ON THAT. UH, WE'VE GOT A MEETING COMING UP HERE PRETTY SOON AND, AND WE'LL DISCUSS THE PROGRESS, BUT I THINK THE HOPE IS THAT THAT IS GOING OUT FOR BID, MAYBE EARLY SUMMERTIME, SO IT'S MOVING ALONG WELL. YEAH, AGAIN, THERE'S STATE FUNDING INVOLVED IN THAT AND, UH, POTENTIALLY ANOTHER ROUND OF SOME STATE FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THAT. ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT AIRPORT GOINGS ON BRIAN? JUST A QUICK ONE. UM, WITH OUR PRESENCE NOW AT THE GOLF TOURNAMENT COMPARED TO YEARS PAST, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY NUMBERS YET TO SEE IF ANY MORE PEOPLE ARE FLYING IN HERE AS OPPOSED TO SAVANNAH? IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY. UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE, THE GA RAMP WAS PACKED SO MUCH SO THAT WE ACTUALLY PARKED SOME GA AIRPLANES ON THE COMMERCIAL RAMP. UM, YEAH, SO IT WAS, IT WAS VERY BUSY, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE TOURNAMENT AS FOLKS WERE IN AND OUT, A LOT OF NET JETS TRAFFIC. AND THEN, UM, RBC HAD TWO OR THREE OF THEIR AIRCRAFT OUT THERE AS WELL. DID, DID THE AIRLINES ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE RUN ANY EXTRA FLIGHTS? I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO [00:25:01] SEE THAT. NO. THEY, THEY MAINTAINED THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE, BUT THE BENEFIT OF THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR IS THAT THEY ALL THREE WERE BACK IN SERVICE BY THE TIME THAT THE TOURNAMENT STARTED. VERY COOL. SO THERE WERE MORE OPTIONS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS GOOD. SO THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT TAKES A FEW CYCLES TO REALLY CATCH ON. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT AND, UH, AND SEE HOW THAT GOES. BUT YEAH, THE HOPE IS TO BRING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE DIRECTLY TO THE ISLAND. SO, ANYTHING ELSE? JOHN? THIS IS DAVID. I HAVE A QUESTION. GO AHEAD, DAVID. JOHN CAN, YEAH. UH, I NOTICED IN CIO'S PACKET THAT SHE EMAILED OUT, USUALLY WE HAD A REPORT ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT TOWER DATA, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOWED NUMBER OF, UH, TYPES OF OPERATIONS, I-F-R-V-F-R TYPES OF AIRCRAFT, THAT TYPE OF THING. UH, THAT WAS IN THE, THAT HAD BEEN IN REPORT FOR ABOUT A YEAR, AND THAT WAS NOT IN THERE AT THIS TIME. IS THAT WAS JUST OVERLOOKED OR WE NOT SHOWING THAT DATA ANY LONGER? IT'S IN THERE. WELL, I THINK THE, YEAH, MAN, I'M LOOKING AT IT. THE, IT'S ON PAGE 14, THAT'S THE TOWER REPORT FOR HILTON HEAD. YEAH. I'M, I'M GUESSING THAT DAVE IS REFERRING TO WHAT WE USUALLY GET FROM 1200 ARROW AND I, I DIDN'T SEE THAT IN THE PACKAGE YET. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. WE'LL, UM, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED. WE CAN RUN THOSE REPORTS AND SEND EMRE USING THAT. YEAH, WE'LL GET THOSE BACK IN THERE. I'M NOT SURE WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE 'EM THIS TIME. OKAY. YEAH, I, I JUST FOUND 'EM HELPFUL, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T OVERLOOK SOMETHING. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. ANYTHING ELSE? I THINK WE HAVE TO, UH, ANTICIPATE TO SOMEWHAT OF A HIT ON OUR ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES SINCE TWO OF OUR CARRIERS GO UP TO NEWARK AND IT APPEARS LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY THE UNITED FLIGHTS ARE BEING CANCELED TO AND FROM NEWARK AND AMERICAN A LITTLE LESS. WE JUST HAVE ONE AIRLINE GOING TO NEWARK, JUST UNITED. WE HAVE AMERICAN GOING THROUGH CHARLOTTE. YEAH, YEAH. AMERICAN, CHARLOTTE, CHARLOTTE, NEWARK, UH, YEAH. YEAH. BUT OUR, THEY'RE NOT A NONSTOP FOR US. RIGHT. ONLY ONE NONSTOP. AND THAT'S UNITED. YEAH. SO IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE FLIGHTS EVERY OTHER DAY ARE BEING ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY ARE BEING WIPED OUT. SO ANTICIPATE A BIT OF A HIT ON OUR, OUR TRAFFIC COUNTS AS WE GO FORWARD FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. I THINK IT COULD BE. YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, IT'S A PRETTY LIMITED SCHEDULE ANYWAY, SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE THAT DETRIMENTAL. UM, YOU KNOW, BUT TO THAT POINT, WE, WE DID, I, I SENT YOU GUYS OUT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND JUST, YOU KNOW, CURRENT EVENTS AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE, WHERE YOU GUYS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND JUST STAYING IN TUNE WITH THAT AND, AND, AND WRITING THOSE LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, THERE'S SUPPOSED TO BE A LOT OF MONEY THAT THAT'S GOING TOWARDS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. UM, BUT AGAIN, IT JUST TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THAT TO, TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THE BUREAUCRACY AND, AND GET TO THE FOLKS WHO ACTUALLY NEED THE MONEY. UM, I GET ASKED EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY GROUP THAT I SPEAK TO, JUST HAVING MONDAY, UH, AT LUNCHTIME DURING A, A PRESENTATION I GAVE, EVERYBODY'S ASKING ABOUT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN IS THE FAA WHEN ARE THESE PROGRAMS GONNA GET MORE FUNDING? UM, SO CONTINUE IF, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY, IF YOU, UH, ARE CLOSE TO ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATORS, THAT SORT OF THING, MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT AIR TRAFFIC AIRPORTS ARE TO, TO INFRASTRUCTURE. UH, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK THAT, UM, SOMETIMES IT GETS, GETS OVERLOOKED A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOPEFULLY THE EMPHASIS IS TURNING BACK THE RIGHT WAY. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, HOWARD, ANY, ANY LITTLE BLIP LIKE THAT RIPPLES THROUGH THE WHOLE SYSTEM. YEP. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE. ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS? ALL RIGHT, THAT'S JUST YOUR QR CODE. AGAIN, IF YOU, IF YOU ARE NOT WATCHING ENGAGEMENT HQ, YOU CAN SEE THAT. UM, AND THEN, LET'S SEE, TO FINISH IT OUT, SAYING GOODBYE TO ANNE. SHE'S MOVING AWAY FROM US. SO, UM, GOT A COUPLE SHOTS OF HER HERE, ONES FROM THE HERITAGE LAST YEAR. UM, BUT ANNE IS, UH, IS GONNA BE MOVING ALONG. UM, NICK'S RETIRING FROM UNITED, SO THEY'RE FINALLY GONNA GET TO, UH, HOPEFULLY SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND ENJOY LIFE TOGETHER FOR A LITTLE BIT. BUT, UM, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. WE'VE BEEN MARRIED, UH, ALMOST 40 YEARS, AND WE'VE SPENT HALF OF THAT APART. WELL, WELL, WELL DESERVED, UH, REUNION BREAK VACATION. BUT OVER THE YEARS, UM, I MEAN, ANN'S BEEN ON THE BOARD WAY LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN HERE, I THINK 2005 ISH MAYBE WAS YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT? UH, YEAH. AND THEN SHE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF, MAYBE A COUPLE OF YEARS OFF, AND THEN SOMEBODY FOUND OUT SHE GOT AWAY AND THEY PULLED HER BACK. AND THAT WAS, THAT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE. AND THEN ANNE'S BEEN HERE EVER SINCE. [00:30:01] SO, UM, ANN HAS BEEN A, SHE, SHE'S A PILOT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, ANNE'S GOT MULTIPLE RATINGS. SHE'S FLOWN A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF AIRCRAFT. UM, I THINK NICK'S TRYING TO GET HER TO FLY AGAIN. OH DEAR. I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT JET SCHOOL. . SO SHE'S ALWAYS LEARNING. UM, ANNE'S BEEN A, A STALWART ADVOCATE FOR THE, THE AIRPORTS AND OUR CAUSES. UM, SO MUCH SO THAT SHE, UM, SHE ACCEPTED OUR PUSHES, SHOVES, WHATEVER. WHEN WE SAID, HEY, THE, UH, OUR DISTRICT HAD AN OPENING AT, AT, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS AND NEEDED A COMMISSIONER THERE. SO ANN WENT AND WE TOOK HER AROUND COLUMBIA AND THREW THE OFFICES UP THERE TO INTRODUCE HER TO EVERYBODY. AND, AND NOW SHE'S WALKING UP THROUGH THERE JUST LIKE SHE USED TO IN DC LIKE, IT'S, IT'S NOBODY'S BUSINESS. SHE KNOWS HER WAY AROUND AND PEOPLE OPEN DOORS FOR HER AND SHE MAKES THINGS HAPPEN. SO, UM, ANNE'S BEEN A, A HUGE CHEERLEADER FOR THE AIRPORTS AS WELL OVER THE YEARS. UM, SHE'S BEEN A GOOD SPY TOO. SHE'S PRETTY GOOD AT FINDING OUT INFORMATION FOR ME. OH, NO. LET ME KNOW. SO THAT'S NOT TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL. I SEE SPYING THE NICEST WAY, AND I, I JUST BEING SOMEBODY WHO, WHO TELLS US WHAT'S GOING ON SO THAT WE CAN DO THE RIGHT THINGS. AND THEN THE BIGGEST THING IS ANN'S BEEN A FRIEND AND A CONFIDANT, SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT, THAT YOU'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS. YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE, IN THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE AIRPORT, UM, THE TERMINAL PLAN, THE ORIGINAL TERMINAL PLAN, AND NOW THE, THE BIGGER TERMINAL PLAN, UM, RUNWAY EXTENSION, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, UH, BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS WE HAD TO DO FOR THAT. YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS, ALL THOSE PROCESSES. UM, YOU'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING, UH, GRANT FUNDING FOR US AND, AND ALL OF YOUR, UH, YOUR ADVOCACY WORK AND, UM, JUST AT, AT LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR PAST WITH A OPA AND CONNECTIONS YOU HAVE, HAVE BEEN HUGELY INSTRUMENTAL FOR US. AND JUST, ANN IS, IS THE, THE BIGGEST COLLABORATOR. SHE BUILDS TEAMS AND, AND MAKES THINGS HAPPEN. SO, UM, ANN, IT'S, CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE SITTING THERE LOOKING BACK AT ME AT THESE BOARD MEETINGS. UM, SO IS THIS YOUR LAST BOARD MEETING? YES. WE'LL HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO, TO KEEP YOU INVOLVED SOMEHOW, EVEN IF YOU'RE, UH, OH, YOU KNOW MY PHONE NUMBER. I KNOW YOU'LL BE IN TOUCH. YOU CAN BECOME PUBLIC NOW IN TWO. YEAH, YOU CAN BE PUBLIC COMMENT. CAN WE, OH, THERE YOU GO. WE NEED PEOPLE PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT'S FINE. OH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. I, I, I WANNA RECOGNIZE YOU AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS, AND, UM, ANN'S BEEN A, YOU KNOW, A, A KEYSTONE OF THIS GROUP. YEAH. GOOD. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. GOOD JOB. WE ALL ASPIRE TO DO EITHER. THANK YOU. THE RETIREMENT PACKAGE WOULD BE MAILED TO YOU LATER. WITH THE GOLD WATCH. WITH THE GOLD WATCH. THAT'S RIGHT. WELL, UNDER $25 I THINK ON BOARD MEMBERS IT HAS TO BE . SO I'LL FIND SOMETHING OUT THERE ON THE STREET CORNER. THANK YOU. IT'LL LOOK GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT, . ALRIGHT, THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S ALL, THAT'S IT FOR THE REPORT. LET'S SEE. THAT'S ALL THAT, HERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. AND SO FOR UNFINISHED BUSINESS BEING THE EFFICIENT BOARD THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS. SO WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT ON THE NEW [IX. 1. CONTRACT AWARD - RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER REHABILITATION PROJECT] BUSINESS. I'M GONNA LET STEVE, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA HANDLE THOSE, RIGHT? SURE, I CAN DO THAT. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. GOOD DAY, MARK. GOOD DAY. TO YOU AND ANN, WE'LL MISS YOU. I'LL MISS YOU TOO. I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND HERE QUITE AS LONG AS JOHN, BUT, UM, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND, AND HOPEFULLY YOU WILL DO FOR US, UH, WHEREVER YOU GO, BUT ENJOY LIFE. THANK YOU. UM, SO IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT ON THE ACTION ITEMS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A CONTRACT AWARD RECOMMENDATION FOR THE TO, UH, APPROVE A WINNING BIDDER. UM, IF EVERYBODY REMEMBERS IN 2022 TIMEFRAME, THE AIRPORT, WE APPLIED FOR A, A TOWER GRANT FUNDING THE BIL GRANT FUNDING, AND WE GOT AWARDED FOR THAT. AND MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF THE TOWER NEEDED TO BE, UH, UPDATED AND REVISED AND WE CHOSE. THEN, I FEEL THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE WAS UPGRADING THE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IN THE TOWER FIRST, UH, KEEPING SAFETY IN MIND, MAKING SURE COMMUNICATIONS ARE GOOD. WE USE THAT FIRST BIL FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED TO DO THE COMMUNICATION SUITES IN THE TOWER. UM, WE WENT BACK AND REAPPLIED AGAIN FOR, UH, ANOTHER BIL FUNDING. AND SURPRISINGLY, WE GOT AWARDED, UM, $300,000 AGAIN OUT OF BIL. NOW I CAN GO INTO THE SECOND PHASE AND REHAB THE INTERIOR, THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING. SO, UM, WITH THAT WE GOT QUOTES IN AND THEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR BID. AND HIGHSMITH WAS SELECTED AS [00:35:01] THE, THE COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO PERFORM THE REHABILITATION IN THE AIRCRAFT, UM, TOWER, CONTROL TOWER FOR THOSE GUYS, UPDATE EVERYTHING, NEW AIR CONDITIONERS, NEW ROOF, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS TO MAKE THEIR, THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS A LITTLE BIT MORE ACCEPTABLE AND UP TO DATE. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING, UH, YOU GUYS TO, UH, RECOMMEND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH . OKAY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY READ THROUGH THE NUMBERS? MM-HMM . INTERESTING. MM-HMM . ON DIFFERENCES ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT AC SYSTEM. I WAS LIKE, GOLLY, HOW BIG IS THAT TOWER? $64,000 . UM, OKAY. UH, NO DISCUSSION. UH, WE ALSO NEED, UH, I THINK WE NEED TO FIRST HAVE A MOTION, RIGHT? WHO WANTS, AND YEAH. OKAY. SECOND. ALL RIGHT, MARK, UH, CONCLUDING DISCUSSION? ANYBODY OPPOSED THE RECOMMENDATION? NO. HEARING NONE MOVE FORWARD. IT PASSES. MOVE ON TO THE SECOND ONE. [IX. 2. HANGAR FEE INCREASE - RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE HANGAR FEE INCREASES AT HXD AND ARW BASED ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)] OKAY. UH, THANK YOU. THE SECOND ONE, UH, WE HAVE OUT THERE FOR YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT AND ON THE AGENDA, IT, IT DOES SAY HANGAR FEET INCREASE BECAUSE THIS YEAR IT IS GONNA BE AN INCREASE, BUT I PERFU PREFER NOW GOING FORWARD TO USE THE TERM ADJUSTMENT, UM, IN THE PAST THE AIRPORT AND HOW WE DETERMINE WHAT, WHAT THE HANGAR FEES, FOR EXAMPLE, OF BOTH AIRPORTS. THERE WASN'T REALLY A CONSISTENT WAY TO DO THAT. IS IT EVERY YEAR? IS IT EVERY OTHER YEAR? UM, HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE WE ADJUSTED THOSE? SO WE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE RATES TO GET US IN LINE WITH LIKE AIRPORTS IN THE STATE AND YET STAY COMPETITIVE. UH, MOVING FORWARD, I WANT COUNCIL TO LOOK AT AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL FAIR BASE SYSTEM. THAT WAY EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT'S COMING. AND THE REASON I'M CALLING AN ADJUSTMENT IS 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA UTILIZE THE MOST CURRENT CPI RATING, WHICH IS TRACKING INFLATION. SO THE, THE PRICES COULD GO UP BASED ON THAT. THEY COULD GO DOWN. THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT AN INCREASE, IT'S AN ADJUSTMENT. UM, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM GOING DOWN IS RARE, BUT IF IT'S CONSISTENT FOR EVERYBODY EVERY YEAR THAN IT'S EXPECTED AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK. UM, THERE IS SOME NUMBERS ON THE TABLE THAT I'M LOOKING AT. I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET, BUT I HAD BRIAN LAY DOWN A REALLY SIMPLE TABLE, UH, FOR THIS YEAR BASED OFF THE CPI INDEX. IT GIVES A RUN OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY CHARGING ON THE HANGERS FOR BOTH AIRPORTS, WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS THAT THEY'RE GONNA GO UP BASED OFF OF THE CPI, HOW MUCH THAT MONTHLY INCREASE IS GONNA BE. AND FOR EXAMPLE, UH, BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE, THEIR HANGERS IS GOING UP $8 AND 71 CENTS, AND THAT'S BASED OFF OF THE 2 4 2 0.4% RATING THAT WE SEE. AND IT HAS THE ANNUAL INCREASE OVER THE YEARS. SO I'M, WHEN I ASK FOR APPROVAL FOR THAT TO BE AN AUTOMATIC ANNUAL EVERY YEAR, THAT WAY EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S COMING ONCE THEY GET USED TO IT, AND WE DON'T FALL BEHIND, WE DON'T GET 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD STILL CHARGING $360 FOR A HANGAR AND IT'S WORTH 500. YEAH. AND IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THE LAST HANGAR INCREASE, AT LEAST AT A RW, AND BRIAN, YOU'LL KNOW PROBABLY FOR HILTON HAD, BUT A RW IT HAD BEEN LIKE 10 YEARS. YES. AND THEN WE DID THE INCREASE, UM, I THINK WE'VE DONE TWO SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD. MM-HMM . ROUGHLY. UM, AND THOSE WERE BIG INCREASES IN COMPARISON BECAUSE IT, IT WAS SUCH A SPAN, RIGHT? YEAH. WHEREAS IT WOULD BE BETTER JUST TO DO A LITTLE BIT EACH TIME, RIGHT. THAT, THAT REPRESENT AND MOST ALL LEASES THAT YOU SIGN ARE GONNA BE BASED ON A CPI INDEX A LOT OF 'EM. AND IN THE INDUSTRY IT'S EXPECTED. YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT WAY TO DO AN ANNUAL LOOK AT IT AND INCREASE IT. NOW WE HAVE A FAIR WAY TO DO IT THAT WE'RE GONNA DO IT CONSISTENTLY ANNUALLY. AND THAT'S GONNA BE WRITTEN INTO THE LEASE. 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THE LEASES DO NOT. THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST, YEAH. SO THAT'LL BE WRITTEN INTO THE NEW LEASE THAT'LL COME OUT. AND I THINK WE DO THE LEASES IN OCTOBER ROUGHLY FOR A RW LEASE. WELL, THAT'S THE OTHER PORTION OF IT. I WANNA REBASE THIS TO HAPPEN AT, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE COUNTY'S NEW FISCAL YEAR. THAT TIES IN WITH HOW OUR BUDGET GOES. YEAH. IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT THIS YEAR THROUGH COUNCIL AND GETTING EVERYBODY TO APPROVE IT BY JULY, THAT'S OKAY. BUT IF I CAN GET IT APPROVED, IT WILL BE A CONSISTENT, EVERYBODY CAN EXPECT JULY 1ST, THE RATES ARE GONNA INCREASE OR DECREASE BY THIS AMOUNT. YEAH. AND IF IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE LEASE, AND THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR JOHN, IF IT'S WRITTEN INTO THE LEASE FROM THE BEGINNING, THEN IT REALLY WOULDN'T NEED TO GO TO COUNSEL AND IT'D BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT TO RUN THROUGH IT. YOU'RE RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW, JUST ONE, JUST THE ONE TIME TO APPROVE THE NEW LEASE. RIGHT. TO APPROVE THE NEW LEASES, WHICH WE WOULD GET A VERSION OF AND HAVE TO APPROVE OR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION [00:40:01] TO COUNSEL THEN. YEP. WELL, UH, EVERY EXISTING TENANT BE ASKED TO SIGN A NEW LEASE WITH THEES WITH THE ESCALATOR CLAUSE IN IT. YEAH. THAT'D HAVE TO BE, YES. YEAH. YEAH. AND THE NEW LEASES ARE IN REWRITE AND IT ILLEGAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ILLEGAL ON THERE. WE WANTED TO ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS. I'M SURE WE'LL BRIEF YOU GUYS ON THAT AT ANOTHER TIME ALONG WITH THE AIRPORT RULES AND REGULATIONS. BUT ALL THAT'LL BE IDENTIFIED IN HERE. IF, IF YOU GUYS WILL DO ME A, DO US A FAVOR HERE ON THE BOARD. THIS IS MY RECOMMENDATION. ANYBODY CAN FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU GUYS GET TO THOSE LEASES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOSE, UH, A RW AND A HXD IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEES, HAVE THEM GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEES AND MAKE THE COMMITTEES HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, DON'T YOU THINK, BRIAN? YEAH. AND THAT LEADS TO A QUESTION I WAS GONNA ASK, REGARDLESS OF THE FEE STRUCTURE, IS THERE ANY ISSUE RIGHT NOW WITH THE CURRENT HANGAR REVENUE, NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF MAINTAINING THOSE HANGERS? UH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BRIAN. AND THERE'S NOT AN ISSUE WITH IT NOW. UH, BUT WE ARE SEEING OVER THE PAST YEAR, INFLATION IS GOING UP OR INFLATION IS MOVING A LITTLE BIT, AND I DON'T WANT THE AIRPORT TO GET BEHIND IN THAT. SO IF I CAN BUILD A PLAN THAT'S CONSISTENT AND ACCURATE, AND IT HAPPENS THE SAME WAY EVERY YEAR, THE AIRPORT THEORETICALLY WOULD TAKE A LOT OF WORK OFF OF US, BUT IT AUTOMATICALLY HAPPENED AND IT'D BE CONSISTENT AND KEEP UP WITH INFLATION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. TO CAVEAT ON THAT, CHRIS MADE A GOOD POINT. WE DID RAISE THOSE TWO TIMES IN THE PAST TO GET THEM FROM WHAT THEY WERE A DECADE AGO IN TWO DIFFERENT PARTS TO GET 'EM UP TO WHERE WE'RE COMPETITIVE NOW WE'RE WHERE THAT'S AT, AND WE NEED TO JUST MOVE SLIGHT INCREASES OR DECREASES EACH YEAR. AND WE'VE GOT, I KNOW AT A RW WE'VE GOT A BIG PROBLEM WITH, UM, OBSOLETE OBSOLESCENCE ON PARTS FOR, FOR SOME OF THE HANGER DOORS AND THE SWITCHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE DID, WE DID REPLACE ALL THE LED ALL THE LIGHTS OUT THERE. YEAH. SO YES. WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING THINGS DONE OVER THERE. STEVE, NONE OF THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON HILTON HEAD ON THE NORTH END HANGERS RIGHT THROUGH THE FENCE OPERATION. NONE OF THIS WILL IMPACT THEM. THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S ALL PRIVATE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY BEARING ON THAT. OKAY. FOR, FOR INFORMATION, WHAT IT WILL IMPACT IS HXDT HANGERS, HXD CORPORATE HANGER, HXD BOX HANGER THAT WE OWN A RWT HANGERS. UM, AND OVER AT A RW WE HAVE STORAGE SPACE, UH, AT THE END OF THE HANGERS WE HAVE AVAILABLE, YOU CAN'T PUT AN AIRPLANE IN IT, BUT WE HAVE WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE SPACES AND INTERIOR OFFICE SPACES IN THE TERMINAL OVER THERE. OKAY. SO THOSE ARE THE FEES THAT'LL BE AFFECTED EACH YEAR. ALRIGHT, SO I'LL GO AHEAD. JUST ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO WHAT YOU ASKED IS, IS THE, UH, MAINTENANCE POT, WHATEVER YOU USE FOR THAT, DOES THAT INCLUDE, UM, THE GATES TO GET IN AND OUT OF THOSE HANGERS AND THE GATES IN GENERAL AROUND THE GA SIDE OF THE AIRPORT? YOU TALKING ABOUT HILTON HEAD OR A HILTON HEAD? UM, NO. THE GATES OR A DIFFERENT SECTION OF MONEY. ALRIGHT. UH, DO WE, I NEED A MOTION FIRST. OKAY. BRIAN SECOND, WE'RE VERY QUICK ON YOUR LAST MEETING. GOING OUT IN STYLE. YEAH. GOING OUT IN STYLE AND BLAZE OF GLORY, . SO, UH, ANY MORE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE, UM, HANGAR INCREASES? ANYONE? ALL RIGHT. UH, HEARING NONE, WILL THE VOTE ANY OPPOSED TO THE HANGAR INCREASES? HEARING NONE, UH, MOTION PASSES AND RECOMMEND FOR THE HANGAR INCREASES. THANK YOU. AND AGAIN, AND THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. GOOD LUCK. OH, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE TO THE CHAIRMAN UPDATE [X. CHAIRMAN UPDATE] ON THE BOARDS. AND LET'S START OUT WITH LESLIE ON OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. AMBASSADOR PROGRAM IS MOVING ALONG. WE HAVE A, UH, ORIENTATION MEETING COMING UP FOR OUR NEW AMBASSADORS. UM, MAY 20TH ORIENTATION AND LUNCH. AND WE'LL ALSO GET NEW T-SHIRTS, UM, AT THAT TIME, WHICH EVERYONE'S EXCITED FOR. UM, THANKS TO TOM AND BRIAN AND MARK FOR CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE. AND, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR NEW AMBASSADORS. I THINK WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 15 THIS YEAR SO FAR. IS THAT THE RECORD? 15 AMBASSADORS? WE HAVEN'T, YEAH. USUALLY IT WAS 10 OR 12. OKAY, GOOD. SO, AND IT'S ONLY ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU AT THE AIRPORT. YOU KNOW, I ONLY HAVE TO COME ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY. YEAH. 10 TO TWO ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS. AT SOME POINT WE MAY NEED TO EXPAND THAT, BUT JOHN WILL LET US KNOW WHEN THAT IS . OKAY. GREAT. GREAT. UH, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING FROM, [XI. COMMITTEE REPORTS] WELL, UH, WE'VE GOT RICH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FROM THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE? HE'S OUT. HE'S OUT. HE'S ASLEEP NOW. [00:45:01] . HE'S NIGHT NIGHT. RICH, RICH, RICH, RICH. WHAT NIGHT? NIGHT? . OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY I DON'T, JIM'S NOT HERE. I KNOW WE DIDN'T HAVE AN A RW UH, IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. HOW ABOUT BRIAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR NOTHING NEW? NOTHING. NOTHING NEW. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE THING ABOUT A RW THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT WE NOW HAVE ARE GETTING BACK A MAINTENANCE CAPABILITY. YES. THERE IS A YEAH, I TALKED TO THE, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHEN, ANY IDEA, STEVE, WHEN HE'S GONNA BE STARTING, ISN'T THERE A NEW, IS THERE A NEW GUY THAT'S COMING IN FOR MAINTENANCE OR WAS HE JUST LOOKING AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. YES. THERE IS A, A NEW AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VALIDATING HIS CERTIFICATIONS YEAH. ON TO MAKE SURE EVERYTH AND THEN SIGN THE AGREEMENT. YEAH. AND THEN SIGN THE AGREEMENT. SO YEAH, BECAUSE THAT AGREEMENT WILL COME BEFORE US ANYHOW. TO APPROVE, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT. JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER ONES. OKAY, GOOD. SO, BUT GOOD MAKING GOOD PROGRESS THEN. YEP. OKAY, GREAT. SO THAT'D BE, I KNOW A NICE ADDITION'S. MUCH NEEDED. UM, BUT YEAH, SO IT IS, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING UNTIL IT'S GONE. THAT'S RIGHT. SO, ALL RIGHT. AWESOME. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE COMMITTEE REPORTS. AND WE'RE BACK TO CITIZEN COMMENTS. ANYONE? OKAY. WE HAVE NONE. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT. HOWARD SECOND. THERE WE GO. AND, UH, FINALIZED. ALL APPROVED. HAVE A GREAT, UNTIL NEXT MONTH. DISMISSED. DISMISSED . BYE GUYS. THANKS FOR WATCHING BEAUFORT COUNTY TV. JOE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, DALE. GOOD TO SEE YOU. TO YOU SHERIFF. 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. OKAY. UH, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, UH, WE STARTED WORKING ON A NEW SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OPPORTUNITY LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE WE KNEW, AND WE HAD KNOWN THAT TRYING TO RECRUIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO BE CLASS ONE CERTIFIED, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED. YES. 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 THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THAT CLOSE IN ASSOCIATION TO OUR KIDS. YES. 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 AND A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, IS ONE THAT GOES TO THE ACADEMY FOR 12 WEEKS, SPENDS 12 WEEKS FOR THE MOST PART IN COLUMBIA. WE DO SOME OF THE TRAINING HERE LOCALLY, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, HAS TO BE DONE IN COLUMBIA. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO BE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR LIFE AND THEIR FAMILY TO GO TO COLUMBIA AND GO THROUGH BOOTCAMP TO BE A CLASS ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. SO I HAD OUR TRAINING STAFF PUT TOGETHER A TRAINING SYLLABUS FOR A, WHAT WE CALL A CLASS THREE. UH, AND IT WAS A CLASS THREE DESIGNATION FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER. WHAT THAT DID IS IT ALLOWED US TO CREATE A TRAINING SYLLABUS THAT WE COULD TAKE A PERSON, UM, YOU KNOW, OF, OF ANY AGE. UM, AND THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, WITH BLUFFTON OR BEAUFORT OR PORT ROYAL OR THE 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 [00:50:01] 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, 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, IT'S A UNIFORM POSITION, IT'S AN ARMED POSITION. 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. SO THANK YOU. DALE. WHO, WHO DO WE WANT TO ATTRACT? I THINK WE'VE GOT A, WE'VE GOT AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF RETIRED MILITARY FOLKS HERE MM-HMM . THAT ARE ABLE TO RETIRE FAIRLY YOUNG AND MAY BE LOOKING FOR THAT JOB. THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WITH THE, WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER. UM, THEY'LL BE HOME WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE HOME, NOT IN SCHOOL. AND, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID, YOU AND I HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION, SHERIFF, WE, WE NEED TO GET INTO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF WE, IF WE WAITED UNTIL HIGH SCHOOLS WERE TOO LATE. SO I, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I'M, I'M GLAD THAT YOU TOOK THE LEAD ON IT. I'M, I'M EXCITED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME PEOPLE IN. BUT I REALLY THINK THE YOUNG RETIRED MILITARY PEOPLE ARE, THEY'RE JUST MADE FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGHOUT OUR CAREERS, UH, IN THE COUNTY OF BEAUFORT, AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AFTER CONVERSATION WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M RETIRED, I'D LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING TO DO. AND THEN YOU START TALKING TO 'EM AND THEY'RE A RETIRED TEACHER OR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT, RETIRED FIRE DEPARTMENT, RETIRED MILITARY, RETIRED BANKERS, RETIRED, I MEAN, RETIRED, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER. THEY'RE STILL, STILL AT AN AGE THAT THEY COULD, UM, THEY COULD DO THIS JOB WITH NO PROBLEM AT ALL OF ANY KIND. UM, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE. YES. I'D LIKE TO SEE, UH, THOSE THAT ARE STILL, THAT STILL FEEL LIKE THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT MAYBE HAVE ALWAYS LOOKED AT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS BEING A JOB, BUT BECAUSE OF THE PAY AND BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND FAMILIES AND, AND ALL THAT, THEY JUST DIDN'T WANNA DO IT. BUT HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MAKE $45,000 A YEAR STARTING PAY TO WORK BASICALLY THE SCHEDULE OF THE TEACHING AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD SCHEDULE. IT IS, UH, TO HAVE BENEFITS, UH, TO BE IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEIR MATURITY, UH, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND, AND YOU KNOW, TO, TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGED KIDS WHO WILL BENEFIT GREATLY FROM JUST HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE AND BE AROUND, UH, THESE FOLKS THAT BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE. AND I, WE AND OUR COMMUNITIES. YOU TAKE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND, AND IN THE COUNTY AND THEN IN PORT ROYAL, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE. THEY ARE. 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. LET'S JUST DO IT. 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. YES. YOU KNOW, SO WHAT ELSE, WHAT ELSE DO 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 BEAUFORT 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. THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A SECURITY OFFICER. NO. 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, 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 I THINK HOW, HOW MANY, HOW MANY OPENINGS DO YOU HAVE FOR THIS PROGRAM? FOR THIS PROGRAM? WE, WE ONLY HAVE TWO CURRENTLY. POSSIBLY [00:55:01] A THIRD COMING ON BOARD. I'VE GOT NINE. YEAH. JOE, I HAVE FOUR. 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. YES. AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE A CLASS THREE SRO, DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU GO, DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE EMPLOYED BY. THE PAY IS GONNA BE THE SAME. 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. WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOE? YEAH. 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 WILL REALLY WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. 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 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. ABSOLUTELY. 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 FORWARD FOR. SO I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD, LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. WELL, I MEAN, THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL BE DOING THE TRAINING TOGETHER. YES. 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. YES. SO THIS IS GONNA BE ONE TRAINING SYLLABUS US TO BENEFIT, UH, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM. I MEAN, THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA AS A WHOLE. THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY. BUT I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO START THIS AND INITIATE, YOU KNOW, THE SRO CLASS THREE POSITION HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW THE STATE IT WORKS. AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE TRAINING TOGETHER, SHERIFF, IS YOU'RE CREATING A NETWORK BEFORE YOU EVEN GET STARTED. SO YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS WHERE IF YOU CAN RUN INTO A PROBLEM, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE THAT YOU CAN CALL AND GET SOME ADVICE OR TALK TO THEM ABOUT THINGS GOING ON IN THEIR SCHOOL AND CURRENT TRENDS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR SCHOOLS. SO IT'S A GREAT COLLABORATION OF ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY GETTING TOGETHER BECAUSE HAVING THAT NETWORK AND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN RELY ON FOR ADDITIONAL ADVICE IS INVALUABLE. WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT I MEAN, I WANT, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE THOSE PHONE CALLS OR GROW ONLINE AND RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, UH, JUST THE, THE, THE CLASS THREE SRO, UH, THROUGH ALL AGENCIES. SO I THINK LINDSEY, IF WE CAN, I MEAN AT THIS POINT, I THINK IF WE PUT THAT INFORMATION ON THIS VIDEO FOR BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WEBPAGE AND PHONE NUMBERS, UH, I THINK WE'LL HOPEFULLY WE'LL START GETTING CALLS. ABSOLUTELY. THAT SOUND GOOD TO Y'ALL? YES SIR. ALRIGHT, LET'S GET IT DONE THIS YEAR. PATRIOTISM SHOULDN'T JUST BE ABOUT PRIDE OF COUNTRY. IT SHOULD BE ABOUT LOVE. REMEMBER THAT TO LOVE AMERICA IS TO LOVE ALL AMERICANS. 'CAUSE LOVE HAS NO LABELS. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.