[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION, WHICH WILL BE LED BY GERALD DAWSON, WHO IS ONLINE.
I PLEDGE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS? ONE THE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AND HE WILL DO THE INVITATION.
CAN WE HEAR? CAN WE, CAN YOU HEAR IT? GO AHEAD.
GERALD, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU HERE.
CAN MR. DAWSON, CAN YOU HEAR US? OH, THERE HE IS.
YEAH, WE CAN, I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.
UH, WHERE ARE WE IN VOCATION INVOCATION SPRING.
OUR FATHER AND OUR GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU JUST TO GIVE YOU THANKS.
WE THANK YOU, LORD FOR YOUR LOVE AND KINDNESS.
WE THANK YOU FOR BLESSING US TO SEE THIS DAY ONLINE.
WE ASK YOUR GOD TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS MEETINGS, THAT AS WE DELIBERATE THE ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE US, WE DO SO WITH THE HOPE ALWAYS, THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, IT AFFECTS EVEN LEADER.
THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA ACT, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT, BUT I ALSO, I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA.
UM, OUT OF, WE'RE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE NUMBER 12.
THAT'S THE GREEN SPACE UPDATE AND MOVE IT TO NUMBER EIGHT AND A HALF BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MR. MCSHANE.
DO I HAVE A SECOND FOR THE AMENDMENT? I'LL SECOND THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SIGNAL BY RAISING THEIR HAND AND IT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY FOR THE AMENDMENT.
AND GOING BACK TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TIME WE WILL, UM, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES.DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LARSON.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL, I'LL SECOND AS I READ THEM.
SECOND BY VICE CHAIRMAN, UH, TABER.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES.
[6. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]
NOW MR. MIKE MOORE, WE'LL DO OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.UH, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR COUNSEL.
WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES, UH, TO RECOGNIZE, UH, THIS EVENING SINCE WE'RE HERE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
UH, ONE WORKS AT THE LIBRARY HERE AND THE OTHER'S AT THE, UH, AIRPORT.
SO OUR FIRST EMPLOYEE IS JAY CARR FROM THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
I MEET PEOPLE AS I GO ALONG HERE.
EVEN AFTER 11 MONTHS, I'M STILL MEETING PEOPLE.
SO, UM, HIS POSITION TITLE IS THE SENIOR LIBRARY ASSISTANT AT THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY, UH, BRANCH LIBRARY.
HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR SIX YEARS.
JAY WILL HAVE BEEN WORKING AT THE LIBRARY FOR, UH, SEVEN YEARS.
HIS JOB IS, HAS NUMEROUS ASPECTS.
UH, HE DOES A LOT OF ROUTINE BOOK PROCESSING, SORTING
[00:05:01]
AND SHELVING.HE'S ALSO THE GO-TO GUY FOR BUFFING SCRATCHES OUT OF DVD AND BLU-RAY DISCS.
AND COORDINATES WITH THE, THE BRANCH VOLUNTEERS.
THE BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE JOB FOR JAY IS THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE PEOPLE, BE THEY THE PATRONS, UH, VOLUNTEERS OR COWORKERS.
UH, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY'S MOTTO IS FOR LEARNING FOR LEISURE AND FOR LIFE, AND IS SUCH LIBRARIES A TRUE COMMUNITY CENTER OF ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE CONVERGE TO DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS, WHETHER CHECK OUT A BOOK, ATTEND A STORY, TIME, OR SWAP PLANS.
AND FOR OTHERS, IT'S A PLACE FOR AFTER SCHOOL STUDY SESSIONS OR TO PRINT OUT A RESUME OR A RECIPE.
AND JAY VALUES HIS ROLE AS A FACILITATOR FOR ALL THAT.
UH, AND HE APPRECIATES HAVING A JOB WHERE HE PROVIDES THE SERVICES, APPRECIATE AND HAS A POSITIVE IMPACT.
UM, SOMETHING UNIQUE TO SHARE.
UH, HE'S ALWAYS LOVED LIBRARIES AND READING AS A KID, HE WAS INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
UH, LOOKING BACK, I HOPE THIS IS WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
HE PROBABLY CHECKED OUT EVERY BOOK ON PHOTOGRAPHY IN HIS HOMETOWN LIBRARY, WHICH GAVE HIM A REAL LEG UP WHEN HE JOINED HIS HIGH SCHOOL'S PUBLICATION STAFF TO TAKE PICTURES.
THAT LATER LED HIM TO ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI TO STUDY PHONE WOOD JOURNALISM, WHICH ULTIMATELY BROUGHT HIM T UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY TO WORK AS A STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER AT THE ISLAND PACKET.
UH, HE SPENT 28 YEARS AT THE PACKET AND LOVED DOCUMENTING, UH, THE HAPPENINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN HE LEFT THE PACKET AND WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER, THE LIBRARY JUST HAPPENED.
HAVE AN OPENING, AND IT WAS THE FIRST PLACE HE APPLIED FOR.
UH, AND DIDN'T EVEN THINK TWICE.
HAVING SEEN IN HIS OWN LIFE THE POSITIVE EFFECT OF GOING LIBRARY AND WHAT THOSE, UH, LIBRARY EXPERIENCES CAN LEAD TO.
AND JAY JUST FELT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT MATCH AND IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN FOR US.
NEXT, UH, FROM THE HILTON HEAD, UM, ISLAND AIRPORT, WE HAVE BRIAN CRONIN.
SO HIS POSITION TITLE IS AIRPORT'S FINANCE MANAGER.
UH, HE'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
HE MANAGES THE DAY-TO-DAY FINANCIAL OPERATIONS OF THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORTS, INCLUDING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, EXPENDITURE TRACKING, AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.
UH, HE COORDINATES WITH THE COUNTY FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH AUDITING STANDARDS AND ADHERENCE TO GRANT AND FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
HE PREPARES FINANCIAL, UM, FORECAST AND MONITORS REVENUES FROM AIRPORT OPERATIONS, AND HE SERVES AS A PRIMARY FINANCIAL CONTACT FOR THE AIRPORT, PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO AIRPORT LEADERSHIP, UM, BUDGETARY PLANNING, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND FISCAL POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.
UH, HE'S BEEN IN, UH, GOVERNMENT FINANCE ACCOUNTING FOR 20 YEARS FOR TRANSITIONING TO, UH, GOVERNMENT FINANCE.
HE SPECIALIZED IN, UH, PERFORMING BUSINESS APPRAISALS WITH A FOCUS ON, UH, VALUING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS AND ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS.
KIND OF SPORTS TEAMS. UM, MAINLY N-F-L-N-F-L TEAMS. ALL RIGHT.
UH, ALSO BRIAN'S BEEN PLAYING DRUMS FOR 47 YEARS.
AND IN DIFFERENT BANDS THAT'S EVEN COOLER.
AND DIFFERENT BANDS SINCE HE WAS 11 YEARS OLD.
HE'S NOT IN ANY SPECIFIC, UH, BAND CURRENTLY, BUT PLAYS HERE AND THERE WITH DIFFERENT MUSICIANS AND WILL AND, UH, WHENEVER THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES.
UH, DURING COVID HE PLAYED A LOT OF FREE OUTDOOR CONCERTS FOR DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH WAS A LOT OF FUN.
SO, PRETTY EXCITING STUFF, SO WE APPRECIATE IT.
ANY COMMENTS? JUST, JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ESPECIALLY, UM, TO OUR DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT'S, JOHN REMOLD AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, UM, STEVE PERRY, AND ESPECIALLY, UM, OUR SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, ELENA BRT.
I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING THAT I DO WITHOUT HER.
AND WE'LL GET A QUICK PICTURE.
THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT THIS EVENING.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO TO RECOGNIZE.
I, UH, NEGLECTED TO SAY WE HAD RECESS RECESSED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH NO ACTION, BUT WE WILL MEET AGAIN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEETING, UM, BACK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO I FORGOT TO SAY THAT WHEN WE FIRST STARTED.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A LOT OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE AUDIENCE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND FROM TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
[00:10:01]
UP.I DON'T, THIS ISN'T TO EMBARRASS YOU.
WE HAVE A FORM OF THE HILTON HEAD COUNCIL.
AND THEN WE HAVE CARLTON FROM SCHOOL BOARD.
[7. PRESENTATION OF THE 2025 SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCHOLARSHIP WINNER TO BEAUFORT COUNTY STUDENT, AYLA SPEICHER]
TIME WE HAVE SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS.UH, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THE FIRST ONE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ THIS AND HAVE HER COME FORWARD.
OH, LAST WEEK I GOT TO PRESENT THIS AT THE BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AWARDS PRESENTATION.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP TOO? I CAN.
AND THIS IS AN AWARD GIVEN BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
AND IT IS MY HONOR TO RECOGNIZE A TRULY OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 2025 AT BLUFFTON HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SHE'S THE WINNER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCHOLARSHIP FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE DON'T GET THESE VERY OFTEN
I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD ONE.
THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IS THE ONLY STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1998 TO RECOGNIZE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION AT AN IN-STATE TWO YEAR OR FOUR YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO A TWO YEAR OR IN GEORGETOWN? IN GEORGETOWN, YES.
EACH YEAR THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AWARDS A ONE-TIME $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO ARE RESIDENTS AT CHOSEN COUNTIES.
BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS AMONG THOSE CHOSEN FOR 2025.
THROUGHOUT HER TIME AT BLUFFTON HIGH, THIS RECIPIENT COMPETED ON VARSITY GOLF AND TRACK BOTH AND ON THE FIELD TEAMS. SHE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND HOSA, WHICH IS FUTURE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM, SHE SHARED HER LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS WHILE SERVING OTHERS AS A FOUR H CAMP COUNSELOR, YORK AND I ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH FOUR H CAMP COUNSELORS,
AND BY VOLUNTEERING WITH THE BLIND SKIER PROGRAM, HER INTEREST IN HEALTH INSPIRES HER FUTURE CAREER AS SHE PURSUES AN ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE.
AND THE GOAL OF BECOMING A PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT YOU'RE THE WINNER RECIPIENT, UM, THROUGH HARD WORK TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY'S 2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS SCHOLARSHIP FOR BUFORT COUNCIL.
AND WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD MAKE THE TRIP TONIGHT TOO.
[8. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING MAY AS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH]
EXCELLENT FOR MILITARY APPRECIATION.AND IT'S MY HONOR TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION TODAY.
WHEREAS FOR GENERATIONS, THE FREEDOM OF SECURITY ENJOYED BY THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE DIRECT RESULTS OF THE CONTINUED VIGILANCE AND SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES OVER THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT NATION.
AND WHEREAS THE SACRIFICES OF THOSE WHO SERVED THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT THEM HAVE PRESERVED THE LIBERTIES THAT HAVE ENRICHED BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THIS NATION MAKING IT UNIQUE IN THE WORLD AND COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS TODAY, THE MILITARY PRESENCE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYS MORE THAN 19,000 PEOPLE AND HAS A TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $2.5 BILLION ANNUALLY.
AND WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY IS HOMED TO OVER 24,000 VETERANS.
AND WHEREAS IN 2004, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS PASSED A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY IS NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR CURRENT AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE US ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
AND WHEREAS THE MONTH OF MAY WAS SELECTED FOR THIS DISPLAY OF PATRIOTISM BECAUSE DURING THIS MONTH, WE CELEBRATE VICTORY IN EUROPE.
DAY, MILITARY, SPOUSE DAY, LOYALTY DAY, ARMED FORCES DAY, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND MEMORIAL DAY.
AND WHEREAS ON THIS MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BEAUFORT
[00:15:01]
COUNTY COUNCIL EXPRESSES GRATITUDE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS, AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR FREEDOMS. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY IS MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH DATED THIS 27TH DAY OF MAY, 2025.AND SIGNED BY ALICE HOWARD, CHAIR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL.
YOU MAY WANT TO ASK SOME YEAH.
MILITARY FOLKS IF THEY'RE HERE TO STAND WITH YOU.
YEAH, I KNOW IF I CAN GET ON
HE'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT MAN, WE GOTTA MAKE THEM COME UP.
WAIT, THERE'S ANOTHER GENTLEMAN.
ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE? GOOD JOB,
[12. GREEN SPACE PROGRAM UPDATE - Mike McShane, Green Space Committee Chairman]
THIS TIME WE'RE GONNA, WE AMENDED THE AGENDA SO THAT, UH, MIKE MCSHANE CAN COME FORWARD.HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CON CONSERVATION BOARD.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
WELL, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, I AM MIKE MCSHANE, A RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR AMENDING THE AGENDA.
SO I CAN GIVE BACK TO CHARLESTON AND CATCH A FLIGHT UP TO, UH, OUR FAVORITE, UH, FEDERAL CITY IN DC
I DO TAKE AN EMPTY SUITCASE WITH ME WHEN I GO UP
UH, TONIGHT, UH, A COUPLE UPDATES THAT I THOUGHT WERE PERTINENT FOR THE COUNCIL TO SEE, AND THERE'S A SPREADSHEET THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED WITH PAPER AND I WAS THERE GONNA BE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ONE? YES.
ONE I'M SHARING THE PUBLIC TO SEE.
THIS IS A, A DOCUMENT THAT WE WORKED WITH.
THE, THE COMMITTEE HAS WORKED WITH STAFF AND MR. DAWSON, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET A COPY OF THIS, BUT THERE'S WHAT HAS BEEN SHARED.
THIS GIVES AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.
AND THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COME TO AT LEAST EITHER, UH, FOR FIRST APPROVAL FOR DUE DILIGENCE.
IT'S BROKEN OUT BY THE FOUR REGIONS.
AS YOU RECALL IN THE ORDINANCE.
YOU HAVE A NORTH, NORTHERN EASTERN, OBVIOUSLY SOUTHERN WESTERN.
WE ARE IN THE SOUTHERN REGION TONIGHT WITH, UH, THE PROJECTS THAT YOU CAN SEE WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
WE HAD AN UPDATE ON THE OUT OF COUNTY, WHICH THE ONLY ONE THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR TO DATE WAS THE GREGORY NECK PROJECT IN JASPER COUNTY.
AND THEN YOU'LL SEE AT THE BOTTOM THERE ARE A COUPLE NEW APPLICATIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE REVIEWED INITIALLY, UM, UH, JUST A WEEK BEFORE LAST.
AND THIS WILL BE COMING IN FRONT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ON THE CHAIRMAN GLOVER ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND.
FOR THOSE FOR YOUR COMMITTEE, UH, IT SHOWS WHERE, WHAT THE, EITHER THE REQUEST AMOUNT WAS OR WHAT WE'VE APPROVED, IF YOU'VE GONE THROUGH COUNCIL APPROVAL ON THAT.
AND WHAT I WANT TO GET A SENSE TONIGHT IS THIS, THE KINDA INFORMATION COUNCIL'S LOOKING FOR.
UH, I INTEND TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE SEE THIS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE AT LEAST ONCE A QUARTER TO COUNCIL, BUT CERTAINLY AT YOUR PLEASURE IF YOU WANT THAT MORE, UH, OFTEN OR, OR WE CAN START WITH ONCE A QUARTER AND THEN YOU CAN DETERMINE HOWEVER, HOWEVER YOU WANT.
IT ALWAYS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY REQUEST.
BUT THIS WILL BE A, A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT WE WILL USE AS A SPREADSHEET GOING FORWARD.
IT WAS A PLEASURE OF COUNSEL TO SEE THIS ONCE A QUARTER, ONCE A MONTH.
COMMENTS? WELL, IF YOU'RE DOING IT MONTHLY, YOU COULD SHARE IT.
UM, THINK THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
FOR THE EXPENDITURE AND WHERE IT IS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE SHEET? AND THEN YOU'LL NOTE IN THE COMMENT SECTION, WE TRY TO DO THAT AS UP TO DATE, JUST SO EVERYBODY'S CLEAR WHAT IT SAYS APPROVED FOR DD, THAT MEANS APPROVED FOR DUE DILIGENCE.
WE WANNA MAKE, THAT'S STAFF'S TERMINOLOGY THERE.
UH, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT'S COMING BACK YET.
IT WILL COME BACK FOR YOUR SECOND PROCESS WHEN WE HAVE DONE ALL THAT COMPLETED THAT DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT.
BUT THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE ACTIVE PROJECTS GREEN SPACE IS WORKING ON, UM, THIS EVENING.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, ALSO, I KNOW SENATOR DAVIS HERE PERHAPS FOR OTHER PURPOSES, BUT I DO POINT OUT THAT HE SERVES ON THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
AND FRANKLY, I, WELL, I GIVE HIM A LOT OF CREDIT IN HIS ROLE IN THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HE CHAMPIONED CONSERVATION FUNDING IN THE STATE BUDGET THAT IS UNDER REVIEW RIGHT NOW AND PROBABLY HAS BROUGHT IT TO BE THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION AND THE HISTORY OF THE CONSERVATION BANK.
[00:20:01]
AND SO I GIVE HIM GREAT CREDIT FOR DRIVING AND CHAMPIONING THAT.UH, ALSO FOR THE COUNCIL'S INFORMATION IN YOUR CREATION OF THE ORDINANCE, YOU CREATED THE SEVEN MEMBER COMMITTEE, FOUR MEMBERS FROM EACH ONE OF THE REGIONS, AND THREE THAT WERE SERVING A TWO YEAR TERM THAT ENDS JUNE 30TH.
THE GEOGRAPHIC POSITION, THE POSITION THAT I I SERVE IN YOUR COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER SEAT AND OF COURSE THE DELEGATION SEAT, UH, THEY WILL, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO A FOUR YEAR TERM BY COUNSEL.
THE REGIONAL SEATS HAVE FOUR YEARS TO BEGIN WITH, SO THEY HAVE TWO YEARS REMAINING IN THAT AND THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE REAPPOINTED UNDER THE CURRENT STRUCTURE.
SO WE'LL BE THINKING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF SOME SUCCESSORS FOR THOSE FOUR, THOSE FOUR SEATS.
BUT, UH, IF WITH YOUR PERMISSION WE CAN BRING A RECOMMENDATION, BUT THAT'S COUNCIL'S PLEASURE, HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE THOSE REAPPOINTMENTS.
YOU COULD DO THAT IF YOU SELECT THOSE REAPPOINTMENTS REAPPOINTMENT.
THAT'D BEING PRESUMPTIVE HERE.
AND I THINK WE, ONE OF OUR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD A COMMENT.
COUNCIL BRENT, BACK YOU UP JUST A MINUTE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU, UH, SENATOR DAVIS AND THE STAFF, THE COMMITTEE FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
WE STARTED WITH THAT MITCHELLVILLE 26TH AND THAT BEACH CITY ROAD.
UM, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WHEN THESE APPOINTMENTS COME UP OR THEY, UM, UH, IT GOES BY DISTRICT.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISTRICT HERE, 11 ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND HAS THE ABILITY TO A APPLY FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
SO YOU HAVE A SOUTHERN REGION, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE HILTON HEAD, EXCELLENT WESTERN REGION, WHICH IS PRINCIPALLY BLUFFTON NORTHERN REGION, WHICH IS TYPICALLY, UH, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE, OBVIOUSLY THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND THEN THE EASTERN REGION, WHICH IS TYPICALLY LADIES ISLAND AND THE ISLANDS THAT COMES UP ON MATCH BOARD.
I MEAN, WHEN THAT THEY HAVE A FOUR YEAR, FOUR YEAR TERM, THEY STILL HAVE TWO MORE YEARS IN THEIR REMAINING THEY STILL HAVE TWO.
SO THE THREE POSITIONS WOULD BE THE GEOGRAPHIC POSITION, WHICH DOES NOT LIMITED YOU TO HAVING TO BE A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY.
YOUR DELEGATION MEMBER, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS COUNCIL MEMBER MCKELLAN AND, UH, YOUR DELEGATION MEMBER, WHICH IN THE CASE TODAY IS SENATOR DAVIS.
WE GOOD MA'AM? CHAIRMAN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RECOMMENDATION COMING TO RENEW THERE WHENEVER IT COMES UNTIL YOU, OKAY.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. MCCAIN.
UH OH, IT'S GONE ON THE WESTERN REGION.
THE LAST ONE, UH, THE BUCKWALTER PD.
WHAT HAPPENS? IT SAYS HERE, THE STAFF HAS REACHED OUT MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE TOWN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT HAS NOT HEARD BACK.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T HEAR BACK? DOES THIS APPLICATION DROP? WHAT HAPPENS? WELL, IN, IN GENERIC TERMS, IF WE DON'T HEAR BACK FROM THE APPLICANT, WE'LL SUSPEND IT.
RESERVE THE RIGHT, IF THEY DO COME BACK, WE CAN MAKE A DECISION THEN WHETHER IT WAS WITH BIAS OR WITHOUT BIAS.
DO WE HAVE 'EM GO BACK THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS? IN THIS CASE, SENATOR DAVIS AND I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE TOWN TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
WE MEET ON JUNE 13TH IN BLUFFTON.
AND SO THE SENATOR AND I HAVE ASKED TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR AND HIS RESPECTIVE STAFF TO TALK ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR TRACK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HANIN? OH, I DIDN'T FINISH UP.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT THIS COMMITTEE IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
SO THEY GOT A LOT OF WRINKLES TO KINDA IRON OUT.
SO I THINK THE LEADERSHIP HERE COULD CONTINUE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR AGREEING TO STAY AROUND A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
HOW LONG DO YOU SERVE YOUR PLEASURE,
RIGHT NOW I'M ONLY TILL JUNE 30TH.
BUT, UH, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO FURTHER, UH, THAT IS YOUR CHOICE.
ALRIGHT, WELL WE HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE TRIP TO WAS WASHINGTON, DC AND COME BACK WITH A SUITCASE OF FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION.
[9. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 30 MINUTES TOTAL]
THIS TIME, UH, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.I'D LIKE TO READ THE REMINDER.
WE HAD 10 PEOPLE SHOW UP, UM, OR SIGN UP, I SHOULD SAY NOT, NOT SHOW UP.
UH, EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL AND ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINE THEMSELVES TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL.
AND BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
AND, UM, IN ORDER THAT THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP, THE FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP WAS DJ DELONG.
PLEASE COME FORWARD AND THE NEXT PERSON, IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND, UH,
[00:25:01]
BE READY IN THE WINGS IS FELICE LAMARCA.IF YOU, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA START THE TIMER.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING.
I LIVE ON BAYNARD PARK ROAD IN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UM, BRIDGE PROJECT COST BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS, ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS SHOW THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY TAXPAYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY EXCESS COST OVER THE $311 MILLION.
THERE'S SOME CONFUSION IN THE PRESENTATION MATERIALS.
IT SUGGESTS THAT THIS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DOT, BUT IN THE AGREEMENT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET, IT SAYS IT WILL ALL BE ANY OVERAGES WILL BE BORN BY THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO IN ORDER TO GET A, A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT'S ACTUALLY IN THE $311 MILLION, YOU NEED TO REALLY LOOK CAREFULLY AT THAT.
AND I OBTAINED A COPY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DOT, THE $50 MILLION ESTIMATE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PREPARED FOR THE, UH, REPAIR OF THE BRIDGE BY FILING A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST.
AND THIS, UH, REPAIR ESTIMATE HAD BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN IT.
THERE WAS LOTS OF CUSHION IN THAT $50 MILLION ESTIMATE, THERE WAS 5 MILLION FOR MOBILIZATION, 3.8 MILLION FOR MULTIPLE SETUPS, 20% CONTINGENCY.
THEN CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION WAS 8% OR 3.3 MILLION.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AT 5.3 MILLION.
THESE NON-DIRECT COSTS TOTAL 24 MILLION OUT OF THE $50 MILLION ESTIMATE.
THE COUNTY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE CUSHION THAT'S IN THE 311 MILLION.
BEFORE YOU PROCEED WITH THIS, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE MANAGEABLE COSTS AND WHAT ARE THE HARD DIRECT COSTS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IS THE INFLATION IMPACT ON THE 311 MILLION BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER OF 2027? WHO'S GONNA BE THAT? THAT COULD BE AS MUCH AS IN BETWEEN FIVE TO 10% FURTHER INFLATION IN THAT PERIOD.
SO THERE COULD BE ANOTHER 15 TO 30 MILLION ADDED TO THE THREE 11.
SO YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OVERAGES ON THE THREE 11.
AND THEN IT'S, IT'S A HIGH RISK WITHOUT THAT OR THE INFLATION PROTECTION.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE YOU SHOULD APPROVE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
WE OWE A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS TO SENATOR DAVIS FOR ROUNDING UP THE $120 MILLION.
BUT WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW IT'S BEING SPENT OF WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE THREE 11.
LET'S JUST FIX THE BRIDGE WITH THE $50 MILLION AND USE THE REMAINDER TO CREATE A NONSTOP CONNECTION THAT BYPASSES THE THREE TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
AND NOW, MS. FELICE LAMAR IIS LAMARCA, UM, C PINES AND HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
THANK YOU FOR COMING ACROSS THE BRIDGES.
I KNOW WHAT THAT COMMUTE IS LIKE.
I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE TODAY.
I REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, WHICH YOU HAVE, BUT REMIND YOU OF SOME THINGS THAT I WAS REMINDED OF IN OUR SPECIAL MEETING.
ONE OF YOU SAID THAT WE VOTED AND WANTED THIS IN THE 28 20 18 SALES TAX REFERENDUM.
REPAIR AND OR REPLACE THE EXISTING SPANS OF THE BRIDGES TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS BETWEEN MOSS CREEK DRIVE AND SQUIRE POPE ROAD.
WE DID NOT APPROVE WHAT COUNCIL DID AFTER THAT, WHICH WAS MORPH THE PROJECT INTO A $500 MILLION SUPERHIGHWAY TO HILTON HEAD.
SO 2024 COMES AND YOU HEAR US AGAIN AND WE SAY NO.
SO WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? IT REALLY WASN'T ABOUT A PENNY.
OKAY? IT WAS ABOUT THE COUNTY'S DESIGN OF THE SUPERHIGHWAY AND THE BRIDGE IN RESPONSE TO MY COUNCILMAN SAYING HE DOES WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT, AND HE DOES ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT.
SENATOR DAVIS EXPLAINED HOW THAT REPRESENTATION WORKS.
WELL, I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT HILTON HEAD SHOWS UP.
WE SHOW UP HERE, WE SHOW UP AT TOWN COUNCIL AND WE SHOW UP AT THE BALLOT BOX.
[00:30:03]
I HOPE YOU DON'T COME BACK TO US IN 2026 ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER THAT.
NOW, CAN YOU DO THIS? IF YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THIS, IF SENATOR DAVIS CAN GET THE MONEY AND YOU COVER THE OVERAGES WITHOUT COMING BACK TO US, GREAT.
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IN ENDING, I MADE IT TO THE ISLAND TWO WEEKS AGO, SATURDAY MORNING, I WAS COMING TO WORK ABOUT 10 IN THE MORNING.
IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES TO GET TO THE CROSS ISLAND INSTEAD OF AN HOUR AND A HALF BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANY OF THE LIGHTS.
CONSIDER ALL OF THIS, PLEASE, AS YOU VOTE.
NEXT IS CHRISTOPHER CLIFF, AND THEN, UH, MELINDA TONER.
OKAY, I, I'M CHRISTOPHER CLIFF.
UM, THIS PROJECT IS LIKE TRYING TO SWAT A FLY.
THE, THE LATEST ITERATION FROM STAFF IS QUITE SHOCKING.
AND AS THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS AT A STROKE, UH, YOU TRASH VOLUNTEERS HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF EFFORT, TRASH IT.
YOU RENEW YOUR PROMISES OF THE 2018 REFERENDUM AND YOU TOTALLY IGNORE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF TWO INDEPENDENT CONSULTANTS WHO SAID QUITE DISTINCTLY, THE IMPROVEMENTS ON ISLAND WERE CRITICAL TO ACHIEVEMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES.
AND THE COST OF THOSE TWO CONSULTANTS WERE CLOSER.
SEVEN $50,000 I HEARD LAST WEEK.
SOMEBODY SUGGESTS THAT, UH, CONSTRUCTION DIDN'T START IN 2024 BE AND THE CLAIM CREDIT FOR EXTENDED PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
UH, I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT'S NONSENSE WITHOUT A CONTRACTOR.
YOU CAN'T START CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT MOBILIZATION OF CONTRACTOR.
YOU CAN'T MOBILIZE A CONTRACTOR UNLESS YOU SELECT ONE.
YOU CAN'T SELECT A A CONTRACTOR UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY ISSUE A PRF, DO YOU CALL IT? YOU CAN'T PUT TOGETHER A PRF UNTIL ACTUALLY YOU FURTHER THE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING BEYOND 30%.
YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY EXTEND THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN BEYOND 30% UNTIL THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES GRANT YOU A FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
THEY RECEIVED THE APPLICATION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT IN JUNE, 2021.
HERE WE ARE FOUR YEARS LATER AND HE STILL HAVEN'T GRANTED YOU APPROVAL.
THAT THEN BRINGS US TO THE PROJECT SCHEDULE THAT JARED AND BLESSED HIM.
HE, HE'S WORKED SO HARD AS PRODUCED.
LOOK AT THE DATES THEY'RE ALLOCATING TO ACHIEVE VARIOUS OBJECTIVES.
THE THE TRACK RECORD IS YOU'VE MISSED EVERY TARGET, NOT EVEN CLOSE.
LAST JUNE, WE SPENT 30 HOURS IN THE CHAMBER IN HILTON HEAD TOWN DISCUSSING A MEMORANDUM OF CONSENT.
IT WAS PUBLISHED WITH 32 CONDITIONS ATTACHED TO IT.
YOU'VE NOW COME UP WITH THIS PROPOSAL, THIS ITERATION, WHICH IS THE MOUSE OUT MOST OUTRAGEOUS.
AND FRANKLY, IT MEANS YOU CAN'T TRUST BUFORD COUNTY COUNSELORS.
VERY SAD TO SAY THAT I'M NEW TO POLITICS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN A, UH, AN ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
YOU CAN'T TRUST BUFORD COUNTY.
NEXT IS MS. MELINDA TYNER, WHO IS ON HILTON HEAD COUNCIL.
SO A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN REGARDS TO THIS PROJECT SINCE OUR, UM, MEETING LAST WEEK.
UM, THE SCOPE'S BEEN FURTHER REDUCED.
THERE'S BEEN NEW DESIGN WORK, UPDATED FINANCIALS, AND A REVISED RESOLUTION WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON TONIGHT FROM A HILTON HEAD PERSPECTIVE.
THIS IS A BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT ONLY, AND I'LL MENTION AND DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HILTON HEAD CORRIDOR WORK HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
I KNOW THERE IS CONVERSATION ABOUT OUTLINING OUR MASTER PLAN AND THE COALITION, AND SENATOR DAVIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WILL LOOK FOR FUNDING, BUT I WORRY ABOUT HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO TAKE GIVEN THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS PROJECT AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
IN YOUR LETTER TO CHAIRMAN WHITE OF THE SIB, UNDER CLARIFICATION ON IGA SCOPE, IT MENTIONS THAT THE SCOPE REMAINS CONSISTENT FROM THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION AND STATED PURPOSE TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND REDUCE CONGESTION ALONG 2 78 FROM
[00:35:01]
MOSS CREEK DRIVE TO SPANISH WELLS ROAD.THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN UNTIL THE CORRIDOR WORK IS COMPLETED IN HILTON HEAD, WHICH IS NO LONGER PART OF THIS PROJECT.
PERHAPS THERE ARE LESSONS LEARNED TO MAKE THE FUNDING GO FASTER FOR THE CORRIDOR, BUT THE CHANGING CLIMATE OF FEDERAL AND STATE BUDGETS AND RESIDENT SENTIMENT IS GOING TO MAKE IT THAT MUCH HARDER.
I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CHANGES IN THE DESIGN.
UH, THE FIRST ONE, THE REVISED DESIGN DOES NOT REQUIRE THE MOVE OF THE UNDERGROUND PIPE AND THAT SAVES ABOUT $20 MILLION.
SO I'M REALLY CURIOUS TO HEAR AS YOU PRESENT TONIGHT, HOW THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE BRIDGE IS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, UH, THAN THE PREVIOUS PLAN? AND IF SO, ARE THERE ANY IMPACTS WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF? AND DOES THIS CHANGE HAVE ANY IMPACT TO THE FUTURE WESTBOUND DESIGN? SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IF POSSIBLE.
AND SECOND, UM, I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING THE PICKNEY ISLAND ACCESS.
IT'S NOT QUITE CLEAR TO ME HOW THAT WILL BE BUILT, ALTHOUGH IT'S LISTED AS AN UNDERPASS.
WILL THIS NEW UNDERPASS BE THE INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR BOTH EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC TO PICKNEY ISLAND? OR WILL THE MEDIAN OPENINGS WE HAVE TODAY AT GRADE LEVEL STILL BE AVAILABLE? SO QUESTIONS REGARDING THOSE TWO ITEMS. LASTLY, MY LAST COMMENT IS THERE'S A LOT OF RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
ALL COST OVERAGES WILL BE THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DOT AND THE COUNTY.
AND THE COUNTY WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR ALL THE SIBS PAYMENTS IF THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED PER THE TIMELINE.
THIS GIVES RESIDENTS SOME PAUSE AS THEY THINK ABOUT WHO WOULD ULTIMATELY PAY THE BILL.
NEXT IS, UM, RICHARD BUSY AND THEN STEVE ALFRED.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE BRIDGE IN THE 2 78 QUARTER HAVE BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.
BUFORT COUNTY HIRED AT LEAST THREE CONSULTANTS SPENDING UNTOLD THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DEVELOPING WHAT THEY THOUGHT WERE THE BEST PLANS.
THE TOWN OF HILTON HAD SPENT ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ON ITS TRAFFIC CONSULTANTS.
THEN THE TOWN PUT TOGETHER A CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO ULTIMATELY DID NOT ENDORSE THE CONSULTANTS' RECOMMENDATIONS.
NONETHELESS, TOWN COUNCIL APPROVED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THIS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN.
THAT PLAN WOULD'VE SEEN A MASSIVE AIRCRAFT CARRIER SLAB BRIDGE WITH 11 LANES DESTROYING THE ENTRANCE TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND A SIX LANE HIGHWAY THROUGH THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND.
AND THE ONLY REASON THOSE PLANS NEVER HAPPENED, LET'S FACE IT, BECAUSE ENOUGH VOTERS SAW THROUGH ALL THE BS AND REJECTED THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM LAST NOVEMBER.
YOU HAD FOUR TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR OPTION ONE AT YOUR MEETING EARLIER THIS MONTH.
IT SPENDS ALL OF OUR 2018 TAX REFERENDUM FUNDING ON TWO NEW EASTBOUND BRIDGES AND CONNECTIONS ENDING AT WINDMILL HARBOR.
IT'LL COST MORE THAN $300 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED BY DECEMBER 31ST 2 20 31.
THIS AT LEAST SOLVES THE MACKEY SPAN SAFETY CONCERNS AND KILLS THE MEGA BRIDGE.
BUT IT'S A BAIT AND SWITCH FROM WHAT WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE INCLUDED CONGESTION RELIEF FOR THE HILTON HEAD WORKFORCE AND ITS RESIDENTS.
IF ONLY THE ONE AGING SPAN WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED, AT LEAST $70 MILLION WOULD'VE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THAT CONGESTION RELIEF WORK.
NOW MOST OF US KNOW, EVEN THOUGH EVEN THOSE OF US WHO ARE NOT ENGINEERS, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ENGINEERS ON THIS COUNTY COUNCIL, THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT THOUSANDS ENDURE EVERY DAY IS CAUSED BY THREE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND A FAILING MERGE WITH THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY.
THIS RESOLUTION IS A COLOSSAL BAIT AND SWITCH THAT DOESN'T SOLVE OUR PROBLEM, BINDS US TO ADDITIONAL LOCAL TAXES.
IF THE PROJECT GOES OVER BUDGET AND WE KNOW IT WILL, IT BINDS US TO ADDITIONAL LOCAL TAXES IF THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED BY DECEMBER, 2031.
AND THAT PROBABLY WILL NOT HAPPEN.
THE TRACK RECORD OF THIS COUNTY COUNCIL AND YOUR VOTE TONIGHT WILL DEFINITELY IMPACT YOUR PLAN 26 REFERENDUM.
AND LIKE IT OR NOT, THE BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL IS THE MOST MALIGNED COUNCIL IN SOUTH CAROLINA KNOWN FOR YOUR SECRECY.
THE VOTERS SIMPLY DO NOT TRUST YOU.
[00:40:02]
UH, GOOD EVENING.STEVE ALFRED, MEMBER OF TOWN COUNCIL HILTON HEAD REPRESENTING THE SOUTH ISLAND, SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND.
I'D LIKE TO NOT ONLY EMPHASIZE WHAT MY FELLOW MEMBER OF COUNCIL MELINDA TUNNER MENTIONED, BUT ALSO TO INDICATE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING OUR EYE ON THE PRIZE.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH? THE FIRST THING IS WE'VE GOT A DECAYING BRIDGE OVER THE MACKEY CREEK.
ALL OF THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT.
THE OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE ARE THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND SAFETY.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S IN THREE DIFFERENT AREAS.
BLUFFTON, WHICH I CAN'T DEAL WITH THE BRIDGE AND THE INTERSECTIONS ON THE ISLAND.
WHEN WE HAD A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD PUT THREE LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, WE HAD A AN OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW AND PERHAPS SAFETY THAT SEEMS TO HAVE SLIPPED AWAY.
WE HAD SOME PART OF THE $80 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR INTERSECTIONS ON THE ISLAND THAT SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING AWAY.
IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE INTERSECTIONS AND THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON THE ISLAND SIDE, WE COULD END UP WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR TRAFFIC FLOW AND SAFETY.
OKAY, NEXT IS, UH, ALAN PERRY.
AND AFTER THAT IS D DIETRICH CUS ADVOCATE? YES.
FOR THE RECORD, ALAN PERRY HILTON HEAD PLANTATION.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING THE MEETING HERE TONIGHT SO THAT THE RESIDENTS COULD COME OUT AND SPEAK TO Y'ALL WITHOUT HAVING A DRIVE.
THE EFFECTS ON HILTON HEAD ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED WITH THIS PROPOSAL.
I KNOW THAT IN THE CURRENT, UH, IGA, THERE'S ABOUT $5 MILLION HAS BEEN REMOVED AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S BEEN EARMARKED FOR SOMETHING IN THE STONY AREA.
$5 MILLION IS A BUCKET IN WHAT'S NEEDED.
IT'S 15, 20, $30 MILLION, WHICH IS NEEDED THROUGH THE STONY AREA TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE CAN TRAVEL APPROPRIATELY.
YOU'RE GONNA VOTE HOW YOU'RE GONNA VOTE, AND I'M GONNA KIND OF RELY ON THE VOTE.
PREVIOUSLY TAKEN FOR MY COMMENTS, THAT BRIDGE BEING BUILT WHILE NECESSARY WOULD NOT PROVIDE US ANY BENEFIT FOR THE NEXT 25 TO 30 YEARS WITHOUT SOME IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT STONY SPANISH WELLS AREAS.
LET'S TAKE IT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
THE TRAFFIC THROUGH 2 78 OFF ISLAND IS ATROCIOUS.
THERE'S NOT A GOOD PLAN THAT'S IN PLACE THERE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN DISCUSSION OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD IMPROVE THAT AREA.
WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE ENTIRE 2 78 CORRIDOR FROM I 95 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO SEA PINE CIRCLE.
THAT IS THE TRUE SCOPE OF THE CORRIDOR PROJECT.
THERE ARE GONNA BE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO POSSIBLY DO THAT, AND I HOPE TO BRING SOME IDEAS TO OUR COUNCIL JUNE 17TH SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT BECAUSE WE'RE ALL FEELING THE EFFECTS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL FROM MANY AREAS WITHIN THE LOW COUNTRY TO GET TO HILTON HEAD FOR FUN, FOR WORK, FOR MEDICAL, FOR WHATEVER THE NEED MAY BE.
BUT WE'VE GOTTA BE CERTAIN THAT AS A COUNTY AND AS A LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY, THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT PROVIDES SAFE, SAFE TRAFFIC, SAFE TRANSPORTATION, EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION, BEAUTIFICATION.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT CORRIDOR PROJECT BECAUSE THAT IS THE LIFEBLOOD, THE LOW COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, UH, DIETRICH ADVOCATE.
UM, MY NAME IS DIETRICH ADVOCATE, UM, MADAM CHAIR COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, I THINK THIS, THERE'S A INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT BEING A
[00:45:01]
POLITICIANON ONE HAND, YOU REPRESENT THE VOTERS IN YOUR AREA.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU IN YOUR, UH, ELECTION PROCESS AND THAT WANT TO INFLUENCE YOU A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I THINK, SO I'M NOT GONNA, I DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT ALL THE, UH, THE, THE MINUTE DETAILS OF THE BRIDGE PROJECT.
BUT WHAT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT AS A POLITICIAN, YOU, UH, NEED TO RISE ABOVE IT.
YOU NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT, UH, COME OUT OF HAVING STUDIED THE MATERIALS, HAVING LISTENED TO YOUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER THAT'S PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU OR PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED YOU, UH, TO BECOME, UH, AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WINDMILL HARBOR, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED WITH CROSSING THE ROAD, BUT THEIR ARGUMENT, UH, THAT IT WILL SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC AND IT'LL BE SAFER IS INTERESTING.
BUT IT, IT DOESN'T HELP THE GOAL OF CREATING A GREEN, A GREEN STREAM THROUGH THAT CORRIDOR AREA.
AND SO THERE ARE MANY OTHER AREAS THAT ARE WHERE YOU HAVE SUPPORTERS AND PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE IT.
BUT IT'S UP TO YOU, I THINK, TO REALLY REALIZE WHAT IS BEST IN THE COMMON INTEREST FOR THE COUNTY AND FOR THE HILTON NETS AND FOR EVERYBODY WHO SORT OF TRAVELS THROUGH, THROUGH THIS AREA.
SO, UM, AND IN THAT LIGHT, I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO, UM, GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO ALL THE OTHER ISSUES IN THE CORRIDOR, THE LIGHTS TO CREATE THAT GREEN STREAM THROUGH THE AREA.
UM, SO, UM, I HOPE THAT, UH, WISDOM IS WITH YOU AND I HOPE YOU MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
BUT PLEASE, UH, UM, CONSIDER THESE THE CORRIDOR ISSUES NEXT TO THE BRIDGE 'CAUSE THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT.
NEXT IS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN PATSY, RIGHT? SHE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.
I'D PREFER TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE
UM, BUT THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL AND MY COLLEAGUES, ELECTED COLLEAGUES HERE.
AND THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC FOR BEING HERE.
UM, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMING HERE, UH, TO THE ISLAND AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL IS, IS TRAVELING AROUND THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
I THINK THAT'S A LESSON WE COULD LEARN AS WELL TO TRAVEL AROUND AND LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
I'M HERE TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS TO LISTEN TO YOUR DISCUSSION.
UM, AND ALSO HERE TO AGAIN, THANK SENATOR DAVIS, UH, FOR BEING THERE WITH US.
UH, WE ARE A DIVIDED COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT TO DO.
YOU'VE SEEN THAT, YOU'VE HEARD THAT TONIGHT.
I DARE SAY THAT AS MANY PEOPLE AS ARE SITTING HERE HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
I'VE CERTAINLY HEARD A LOT OF 'EM.
AND, AND MY JOB ALWAYS IS TO LISTEN TO ALL THE COMMENTS, TO STUDY ALL THE FACTS, ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS I CAN, AND THEN TRY TO MAKE THE VERY BEST DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY IN LOOKING AT THE CHOICES THAT YOU WERE GIVEN, UH, A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO AT OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO.
OPTION ONE WAS TO REPLACE THE ONE SPAN OVER MACKEY CREEK BRIDGE, UM, AND THEN TO, UH, USE THE 80 MILLION.
AND SOME OF THAT S-E-D-O-T WAS ASKING TO USE FOR THE THIRD LANE ON THAT ONE SPAN.
AND YOUR ENGINEER GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF 30 TO 50 MILLION OUT OF THE 80 MILLION.
SO AS I SAID TO YOU NEARLY A WEEK AGO, HOW MUCH WOULD BE LEFT OF THE 80 MILLION? UH, SENATOR DAVIS SAID THAT PERHAPS HE COULD CONVINCE S-E-D-O-T TO TAKE UP SOME OF THAT COST OR ALL OF THE COST FOR THE THIRD LANE.
SO THEN YOU WEIGH THAT AGAINST THE OTHER OPTION, WHICH IS, UH, 120 MILLION FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
UM, AND, AND I KNOW A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS WOULD SAY, DON'T GIVE UP AT 120 MILLION, BUT THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 80 MILLION? SO IT'S NOT A GOOD CHOICE.
NONE OF IT'S EVER BEEN A GOOD CHOICE.
I'VE SAID BEFORE, I'VE NEVER BEEN A NO BRIDGE PERSON BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO REPLACE THAT ONE SPAN AS CDOT HAS TOLD US THAT WE'VE SEEN THE DA, THE DATA, THE ENGINEERING, YOU'VE GOT TO DO THAT.
BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE REST OF IT? AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH AS A COMMUNITY AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN A 30 DAY, UM, NOTICE, WHICH RUNS JUNE 15 WITH S-E-D-O-T ON MAKING A DECISION.
IT'S A HARD DECISION FOR ALL OF US.
WHAT I HOPE WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO IS TO LISTEN TO ALL THE DIFFERENT VIEWS, BUT MAKE THE BEST DECISION BASED ON THE FACTS BEFORE YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DECIDE.
AND I THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT TONIGHT.
HI, ASHLEY PHILLIPS INDIGO RUN HERE ON HILTON HEAD.
[00:50:02]
SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU TONIGHT.ARE YOU REALLY WILLING TO VOTE ON AN AGREEMENT, EXCUSE ME, THAT WILL BIND BEAUFORT COUNTY TAXPAYERS FOR AN, FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A BRIDGE THAT WE CAN'T GUARANTEE A COMPLETION DATE ON AS WELL? AND IF THAT COMPLETION DATE IS VIOLATED, THEN THE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY BACK THE 120 MILLION TO THE SIB, UM, AND THE OVERRUNS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A, A GOOD THING.
UH, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE HEARD TONIGHT DON'T AGREE WITH THAT EITHER.
UM, SO I'M ASKING YOU NOT TO VOTE YES ON THIS AGREEMENT.
LET S-C-D-O-T REPLACE THE ONE DEFECTIVE BRIDGE SPAN AND GIVE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD THE AGREED UPON MONEY FROM THE 2018 TAX REFERENDUM TO HELP FIX THE DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION ISSUES ON THE ISLAND, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY HELP THE COMMUTER TIMES.
DID ANYONE THAT CAME IN LATE, UM, WANNA SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
MR. CAMPBELL, CAN YOU SIGN IN WHEN YOU COME FORWARD, MR. CAMPBELL? IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND WE HAD, UM, TAMMY, THIS IS MS. TAMMY AND, AND STU RODMAN.
SO, OH, GO AHEAD THEN WHILE HE'S, JUST GO AHEAD AND SPEAK WHILE YOU'RE UP.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND WELCOME TO HILTON HEAD.
UM, WE LOVE OUR RESIDENTS AND WE LOVE THE VISITORS AND OUR NEIGHBORS WHO COME.
WE HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT HILTON HAD HAS TO OFFER OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, OUR BEACHES, GOLF, AND JUST THE SHEER FRIENDLINESS OF OUR ISLAND.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT FOR ME IS PRESERVING THAT.
AND I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE AND YOU KNOW, I'M CONCERNED THAT, UM, AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING OVER THESE MANY YEARS, A LOT OF THE IDEAS ARE DIRECTLY OPPOSED TO WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE.
AND SO WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT WHERE WE NOW HAVE A CONCERN THAT CAME OUT OF THE 2018 WITH REGARD TO SAFETY.
AND WE HAVE A SAFETY SOLUTION WE DID FROM DAY ONE, AND THAT'S TO REPLACE THE DEFICIENT BRIDGE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN BEFORE US.
WE COULD HAVE SOLVED THAT PROBLEM FROM THE BEGINNING.
BUT IN THAT REFERENDUM, IT STARTED OFF AS A SAFETY AND A CAPACITY ISSUE.
AND THEN CAPACITY WASN'T THE RIGHT WORD TO CHOOSE BECAUSE WE ALL KNEW THAT HILTON HEAD IS AT CAPACITY.
AND SO TO INCREASE CAPACITY MEANS THAT WE WOULD BE OPPOSING WHAT IT IS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE.
AND SO WE CHANGED IT OR SOMEONE CHANGED IT TO CONGESTION.
THIS BRIDGE EXPANSION DOES NOTHING TO, UM, HELP WITH THE CONGESTION BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S A CUTE LITTLE SAYING OUT THERE THAT SAYS, IF YOU UN LOOSEN YOUR BELT A LITTLE BIT AND MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE ROOM, THE LIKELIHOOD IS YOU'RE JUST GONNA FILL IT UP WITH MORE.
AND WHEN YOU FILL UP HILTON HEAD WITH MORE, YOU LOSE ALL OF THOSE QUALITIES THAT START TO MAKE, THAT MAKE US UNIQUE AND SPECIAL.
AND YOU START TO RUIN WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE.
AND SO WE ASK YOU TO REMEMBER THAT PIECE OF IT.
I KNOW THAT HILTON HEAD IS THE CASH COW.
I KNOW THAT THE STATE IS LOOKING FOR THE MONEY THAT COMES OUT AND THAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR THE MONEY THAT GETS PULLED OUT OF HILTON HEAD.
WE APPRECIATE THE MONEY THAT, UM, COMES TO US BECAUSE OF VISITORS THROUGH OUR ATEX.
UM, BUT WE CAN ONLY HANDLE SO MUCH BEFORE WE'VE BROKEN WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE.
AND SO I WANT YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
THE SAFETY ISSUES TAKEN CARE OF, THE CONGESTION.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE WITH THREE LANES OR FOUR LANES OR SIX LANES OR 11 LANES.
WHAT I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT IS TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SAFETY.
AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GONNA FIND THAT THE BIGGEST PIECE IS BY FOCUSING ON THE INTERSECTIONS IN THE CORRIDOR ON HILTON HEAD, WHICH NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, ONCE YOU GET ACROSS THAT SAFE BRIDGE, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA FIX THOSE SAFETY ASPECTS UNTIL YOU ADDRESS THE CORRIDOR, THE INTERSECTIONS AND THE ROADS THROUGH OUR ISLAND.
THAT'S WHERE THE REAL SAFETY ISSUE IS.
IF YOU WANNA WORRY, FIX THE LIGHTS COMING FROM 95 DOWN TO SEA PINE CIRCLE,
[00:55:01]
IT'S A DEAD END.IT'S A CIRCULAR ARGUMENT THAT WE'RE HAVING.
WE NEED ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO HANDLE THAT.
AND HILTON HEAD IS AT CAPACITY.
WE DON'T HAVE THEM CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY, THE BRIDGE WHICH WAS ALWAYS IN FRONT OF US, AND THE CORRIDOR, THE INTERSECTIONS, AND THE ROADWAYS.
THAT'S HOW THE MONEY'S OUGHT TO BE SPENT.
AND THANK YOU TO SENATOR DAVIS FOR THE WORK HE'S BEEN DOING.
BUT THIS IS THE JOB IN FRONT OF US NOW.
AND LET'S VOTE NO TONIGHT ON THIS, UM, RESOLUTION.
I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING YOUR NAME ON THERE.
LET ME, ARE YOU SIGNED UP? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
IF YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS EMERY CAMPBELL AND UH, I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS NO BRIDGE
I'M HERE TO COMMEND YOU FOR, COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CPO ON ST.
I WORKED AT PENN CENTER FOR SOME 22 YEARS AND WE TRIED TO SAVE A VERY NICE PART OF THIS COUNTY, ST.
AND WE COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CPO ON ST.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE MUCH ON HILTON HEAD, BUT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE SOMETHING IN THIS COUNTY THAT'S VALUABLE AND THAT CAN HELP PRESERVE A LIFE THAT IS PROMOTING FAMILY AND PROMOTING THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I ASKED FOR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE CPO OFFICER HELEN.
UM, STU, I SIGNED YOUR NAME IN.
UM, BUT MADAM CHAIR, CHAIR COUNCIL MEMBERS, SENATOR DAVIS, PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU.
I THINK YOUR OPTION IS OPTION ONE OR OPTION TWO.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO WITH OPTION TWO AS YOU VOTED ON THE OTHER NIGHT.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN TO COST APPROACH OF THE MONEY THAT WAS AVAILABLE.
YOU END UP WITH THAT SINGLE SPAN AND YOU STILL KEEP THE OLD BRIDGES, WHICH PROVIDE THE ACCESS TO PINCKNEY.
PROBLEM WITH, UM, OPTION ONE, WHICH SENATOR DAVIS LAID OUT OF SOME VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS, INCLUDING THE LOSS OF $170 MILLION, WHICH IS NOT EASILY RECOVERED.
THE OTHER PIECE, THINK ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH THERE'S ONE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT BRIDGE, THE REMAINING THREE BRIDGES DO NOT MEET CODE FOR EARTHQUAKES, POSSIBLY FOR A HURRICANE.
IF YOU HAD OPTION ONE IN PLACE, REPLACE THE ONE BRIDGE, YOU'VE STILL GOT THREE BRIDGES THAT IF A HURRICANE OR AN EARTHQUAKE TOOK OUT ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE BRIDGES, YOU WOULD THEN BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION FOR YEARS TO COME.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD PUT THIS ISLAND AND TO A LESSER EXTENT, THE COUNTY IN A DEATH SPIRAL.
THE OTHER PIECE TO THINK ABOUT IS, I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A REFERENDUM IN 26.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN PASS A REFERENDUM UNLESS YOU FIX THE, THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRIDGE.
AND I THINK OPTION TWO IS A STEP IN THAT RIGHT DIRECTION IF OPTION ONE IS IN PLACE.
THE ARGUMENT AGAINST IT IS WE'VE SQUANDERED 300 MILLION, WE'VE WASTED EIGHT YEARS, THE CONDITIONS ARE GETTING WORSE AND THERE'S NO SOLUTION IN FRONT OF US.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S EXPLAINABLE TO THE VOTERS.
IF YOU THEN CAME BACK AT THAT IN THE REFERENDUM AND PUT OPTION TWO BACK IN PLACE, THAT 170 MILLION GIVEN A COUPLE YEARS AND THE RESTARTS PROBABLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD EAT AT MOST OF YOUR, YOUR REFERENDUM.
SO I WOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO OPTION TWO.
TWO OTHER COMMENTS THAT I WOULD MAKE.
MADAM CHAIR DOES SEEM TO ME THAT TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR OPTION ONE MIGHT VERY WELL BE THE WORST DECISION THAT'S EVER BEEN MADE IN THE HISTORY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND FOR ANYBODY THAT WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT, I THINK THEY OWE IT TO THE CITIZENS TO SAY WHY THEY WOULD VOTE AGAINST IT.
SECONDLY, A KIND OF A MINOR ONE, BUT A TWEAK.
UM, THE PLAN ON THE EASTBOUND BRIDGE AS IT'S PROPOSED IN OPTION TWO IS TO STRIPE IT FOR TWO LANES.
[01:00:01]
MEANS IS THAT COMING OFF THE FLYOVER, IT NARROWS DOWN TO TWO AND CONTINUES TO ACROSS.IF WE WERE TO MAKE STRIPE THAT FOR THREE LANES, YOU WOULD THEN MOVE THE MERGE FROM AT THE FOOT OF THE FLYOVERS TO, UM, EAST OF WINDMILL HARBOR, WHICH WOULD THEN GIVE YOU THREE LANES A BREAKDOWN.
YOU GOT TWO FLOWING ONE DOWN, AND IT WOULD ALSO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE YOU AT WINDMILL HARBOR, AT LEAST ON THE EASTBOUND BECAUSE YOU GOT THREE LANES GOING THROUGH.
[10. LIASION AND COMMITTEE REPORTS ]
ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, OUR LIAISON AND C COMMITTEE REPORTS WILL START DOWN AT THE END WITH MR. PASSMAN.DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT? NO.
MR. SALAMU, UM, WENT TO A STORE, UH, SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING BOARD MEETING THE OTHER DAY.
I REITERATE THAT IF YOU HAVE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO APPLY, UH, TO BE ON THAT BOARD, PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT.
UH, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A QUORUM AT FIRST, UH, WHEN THEY STARTED.
SO IS IT BY DISTRICT OR BY AREA? I FORGOT IT.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT I THINK AT THIS POINT THEY'RE WELCOMING ANYONE THAT WANTS TO APPLY.
UM, SO I ATTENDED THE SOUTH COAST CYBERSECURITY CONFERENCE.
A LOT OF THINGS WERE OVER MY HEAD WHEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF, UH, TECHNICAL THINGS, BUT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING ABOUT EMERGING THREATS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES AND THE COMPUTERS.
UH, ALICE AND I AND MIKE ATTENDED THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATORS, TOWN MANAGERS MEETING IN BEAUFORT CITY.
WE DISCUSSED VARIOUS TOPICS OF INTEREST TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COUNTY, SUCH AS THE REFERENDUM AND, UM, POSSIBLE PROJECTS FROM 2018 THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK.
THEY HAD AN UPDATE FROM S-C-D-O-T ON THEIR CURRENT PROJECTS AND ON DIRT ROADS, WHICH WE ALL HEARD ABOUT, AND THE EIGHT YEAR PRESERVATION AND RESURFACING PROJECTS.
AND THANK GOODNESS THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY RESURFACING MY CAR APPRECIATES THAT
I SAW DR. RODRIGUEZ CAME COLONEL GEIER, BUT THEY NOMINATED CARLTON DALLAS, UH, THE VICE CHAIR TO SERVE AS SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT ONE.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR ADMINISTRATOR'S 2025 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, WHICH IS A BIG THING, WENT TO THEIR CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR AND HR OFFICER, MS. ALICE WALTON.
AND I MEAN DR. RODRIGUEZ SAYING HER PRAISES, IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
UH, THE, THE SCHOOL BOARD ALSO RECOGNIZED TEACHERS OF THE YEAR OF EVERY SCHOOL AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY DID, MS. CROSBY'S HERE FOR THAT, THEY CERTIFIED THE 25 26 BUDGET OF $376,980,000 WITH AN OPERATION MILLAGE OF 126.1 MILLS.
AND THEN THEY CERTIFIED THE 25 26 DEBT SERVICE BUDGET FUND BUDGET OF $108,300,368 WITH THE DEBT SERVICE RATE OF 36.3.
UH, THAT, THAT WAS THEIR CERTIFICATION.
AND THE FIRST READING IS BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
AND I SEE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THEIR WORK.
COUNCILMAN BROWN? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
OTHER THAN TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE, UH, WE WILL BE MEETING ON THE SECOND, UM, OF JUNE, UM, FOR THE REGULAR MEETING.
THAT WILL BE IN THE, UM, BUILDING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA BE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, I'M ALL SET.
NOW WHEN YOU SAY THE COURTHOUSE, UM, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT COURTHOUSE.
UM, FOR MANY OF YOU, THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT.
[11. 2025/26: A RESOLUTION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO REDEFINE THE US 278 CORRIDOR PROJECT (ALSO KNOWN AS THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT) TO ALIGN WITH THE AVAILABLE FUNDING. (FISCAL IMPACT: The revised project plan remains within the available funding, ensuring financial feasibility). - Michael Moore, County Administrator, and Jared Fralix, A/CA]
ADMINISTRATOR, MIKE MOORE, IS GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11, WHICH IS MOTION ON THE FLOOR FIRST.WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? YES MA'AM.
YOU HAVE TO READ THE ORDINANCE FIRST.
A RESOLUTION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO REDEFINE THE US 2 78 CORRIDOR PROJECT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY GATEWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT
[01:05:01]
TO ALIGN WITH AVAILABLE FUNDING, PHYSICAL IMPACT.THE REVISED PROJECT PLAN REMAINS WITHIN THE AVAILABLE FUNDING, ENSURING FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY.
AND WE HAD A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY.
MY MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
WE'LL WAIT TILL WE GOTTA TAKE A VOTE.
IF YOU WANNA PUT DOWN THE FLOOR.
ALL IN FAVOR OF PUTTING THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
WILL YOU MO WE VOTING ON THE MOTION? ON THE MOTION.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND SO IT'S NOT A MOTION.
NOW YOU CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION NO MATTER WHAT.
I'M GONNA AMEND, I'M MAKING A MOTION TO AMEND AND THAT TO AMEND THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, PREAMBLES AND ORDINATING ORDAINING.
PARAGRAPH NUMBER THREE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE, ARTICLE THREE, PARAGRAPH 3.3 SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ FUNDING RESPONSIBILITIES.
IF THE PROJECT COSTS EXCEED TOTAL COST, ESTIMATED COSTS, S-C-D-O-T WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRO RATTA PORTION OF THE COST OVERRUNS NOT TO EXCEED 29.08% OF THE TOTAL OVERRUNS BASED ON ITS FUNDING PORTION OF $90.6 MILLION TOWARD THE PROJECT COST OF 311.6 MILLION.
THE COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE THE BALANCE OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT MOTION WAS MADE BY VICE CHAIRMAN, UH, TABER.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? ANYBODY WANNA DISCUSS ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE DO THE AMENDMENT? UM, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD REALLY RELATIVELY FAST, AND I'M NOT EVEN HERE, THE PRESENTATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS HERE, 2 78 CORRIDOR.
BUT, UM, SO I'M, I I'M, I'M GONNA ABSTAIN FROM ANY MOTION AT THIS TIME TILL I FEEL COMFORTABLE.
ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND TALK WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE WE WANT MORE DISCUSSION.
UM, AFTER LAST MONDAY'S VOTE, MUCH TO MY CHAGRIN, I REALIZED I HAD GRANTED JARED VACATION.
SO I AM NOW GOING TO PRESENT TONIGHT.
SO YES, YOUR HONOR, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.
SO, UM, WE ARE FOLLOWING UP ON THE, UH, UH, DECISION OF THE VOTE BY COUNCIL LAST WEEK TO PURSUE, UH, AN, UH, A NEGOTIATION WITH THE, WITH THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
AND SO IN YOUR, UM, PACKAGE, YOU'VE GOT A RESOLUTION, A REVISED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, AND A LETTER, DRAFT LETTER FROM ME TO THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
AND THAT'S ALL BEFORE YOU, YOU ALSO HAVE THIS PRESENTATION, BUT I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THAT FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES.
SO THE, UM, ORIGINAL SIP PROPOSAL THAT WE PUT FORTH IN, UH, ON MARCH OF 28TH THIS YEAR, UH, THE COUNTY ASKED TO RETAIN $120 MILLION.
UH, THE COUNTY SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNTY FUNDS BE SPENT LAST, UH, COUNTY STIPULATED, UH, LOCAL COMMITMENTS WITH WITHIN THE COUNTY, FUNDING FOR ENGINEERING, UTILITY RELOCATION, STONY INTERSECTION AND SOME RESERVE.
AND THAT THE PROJECT WOULD UTILIZE DESIGN BUILD DELIVERY FOR ACCESS TO PINCKNEY ISLAND.
SO, UM, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST MEETING, UH, WHEN WE RE RECEIVED RESPONSE FROM THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, WHEN THEY REJECTED OUR PROPOSAL, UH, THESE WERE THE, UH, CONCERNS THAT THEY PUT FORTH BASED ON OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE SIB CHAIRMAN.
AND, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT ONE OF THEIR MAJOR CONCERNS WAS THE, THE SEQUENCE WE HAD PROPOSED VIOLATED THE, UH, IGA, WHICH IS THAT THEY PUT THEIR FUNDS IN LAST, NOT FIRST.
UM, THEY ALSO HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE TOWN'S CONTRIBUTION, AND THAT WAS REALLY RELATED TO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THE PREVIOUS SCOPE OF THE PROJECT WAS, WAS OBVIOUSLY LARGER AND FURTHER SO IT, IT HAD MORE RIGHT OF WAY REQUIRED AND THIS PROJECT NOT AS MUCH AS REQUIRED.
SO THE TOWN'S CONTRIBUTION WHILE STILL IN PLACE, DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME IMPACT IN THIS, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
UM, THE BRIDGE DOWNSIZING THE S QUESTION, THE FULL $120 MILLION COMMITMENT, ALTHOUGH, UH, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR DAVIS, UH, HE'S BEEN, UH, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK AND STATE AND STAFF, UH, TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
SO WE DO BELIEVE THEY'RE GONNA HOLD $120 MILLION
[01:10:01]
COMMITMENT.UM, AND THEY ALSO SAID THE COUNTY LACKED CLEAR PLAN FOR COST OVERRUNS AND THEY SUGGESTED PLEDGING THE BOND CAPACITY.
STAFF DOES NOT RECOMMEND THAT OPTION, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT THAT OPTION FORWARD.
UM, UH, AND THERE'S NO DETAILED CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE AND THE S CIB EXPECTED MORE CONTRIBUTION FROM DOT IN THE COUNTY AND, UH, THE CONSTRUCTION HAD NOT COMMENCED.
AND HERE'S WHERE WE ARE NOW IN OUR PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
SO THE COUNTY, UH, AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS GONNA AGREE TO THE FUNDING SEQUENCE PER THE IGA, THAT'S COUNTY, UH, DOT, AND THEN CIB.
SO THAT MEANS ANY SAVINGS ON THE PROJECT WILL GO BACK TO THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, NOT TO THE COUNTY OR TO DOT, UH, THE TOWN'S RIGHT OF WAY.
CONTRIBUTION WAS MOVED AS A FUNDING SOURCE.
UM, WE'RE GONNA PUT FORTH THAT THE PROJECT IS STILL WITHIN THE PURPOSE OF THE SIB APPLICATION BECAUSE IT STILL IS WITHIN, UM, WHAT WAS PROPOSED ORIGINALLY.
UH, THE COUNTY AGREES TO THE OVERRUNS PER THE, UM, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
UH, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT ANY BONDS COMMITTED THERE.
UH, A DEVELOPMENT AND LIKE TO THANK SENATOR DAVIS FOR HIS WORK WITH DOT, THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO SHARE AND OVERRUNS PROPORTIONALLY WITH THE COUNTY.
AND, UM, AND SO WE WERE GLAD TO HEAR THAT FROM SECRETARY POWELL THAT HE COMMITTED THEIR PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
THEY WILL, THEY WILL COVER THE OVERRUNS ON THAT, UH, DETAILED CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE IS WILL, IS INCLUDED, UH, COMPLETION DATE END OF 2030.
BUT WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE TO ADD ADDITIONAL TIME, AS WAS STATED EARLIER.
UM, IF THE PROJECT IS NOT COMPLETED BY THE END DATE, THEN THE COUNTY RISKS THE $120 MILLION.
UH, NO ADDITIONAL DOT OR COUNTY FUNDS WILL BE COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT AND THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WILL ADDRESS THE, UM, TIMING, TIME AND FUNDING.
UM, BASICALLY DOT HAS BEEN WORKING, UH, THEIR ENGINEERING, UM, FIRM HAS BEEN WORKING OVERTIME ON THIS SINCE WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS BACK IN MARCH.
AND, UM, THEY'VE INCENTIVIZED THE, THE ENGINEERING FIRM AND THEY HAVE COME UP WITH A REVISED PLAN TO AVOID THE WATERLINE.
SO THAT'S GONNA SAVE, YOU KNOW, 15 TO $20 MILLION THERE.
THEY'VE ALSO REVISED THE DESIGN TO PROVIDE FULL ACCESS TO PINCKNEY.
UH, THERE'S A DIAGRAM WE'LL GET TO THAT.
UH, THE PROJECT WILL GO BACK TO A TRADITIONAL DESIGN BID BUILD.
SO THAT WILL ELIMINATE SCHEDULE RISK AND ALSO ELIMINATE ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, POTENTIAL FOR, UM, UNKNOWNS WHEN IT COMES TO THE, TO THE RAMP AND SOME OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE PROJECT.
AND THEN, UM, WE'RE GONNA DEFINE THE PROJECT LIMITS FROM THE BLUFFTON PARKWAY, FLY OVER TO WINDMILL HARBOR.
SO THAT'LL BE THE PROJECT, UH, LIMITATION OR LIMITS.
AND THEN BEFORE YOU, IS THE PROJECT FUNDING.
UH, COUNTY CONTRIBUTION IS $101 MILLION DOT'S CONTRIBUTION IS 90.6.
AND THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK WILL, UM, INCLUDE THEIR 120 MILLION FOR THE TOTAL COST OF 311.6 MILLION.
AND WE'VE ALREADY EXPENDED $13,070,000 ON THE PROJECT.
CAN WE PAUSE JUST FOR A MINUTE? SURE.
HE MAY HAS ANY QUESTIONS UP TO THIS POINT? 'CAUSE SENATOR DAVIS, SENATOR DAVIS HAVE ANY COMMENTS AT THIS POINT? OKAY, MR. MOORE, I JUST HAVE ONE CRAZY QUESTION.
AGAIN, IT'S MORE OF, UM, MAYBE ILLEGAL, BUT HOW COULD THIS COUNCIL TONIGHT AGREE WITH A RESOLUTION OR A PROPOSAL THAT SAYS, WE'LL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY BACK 120 MILLION IF WE DON'T MAKE IT ON TIME.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
THE REFERENDUM WAS VOTED DOWN.
HOW COULD WE, WHAT ARE WE GIVEN OUR WORD? I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, YES.
COUNSEL WILL BE COMMITTING TO HAVING THE PROJECT FINISHED BY DECEMBER 31ST, OR THE RISK WILL BE THE 120 MONTHS.
NOT GRANTED, BUT WHERE, I MEAN, WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? OBVIOUSLY THE TRACK RECORD OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HAS BEEN, WE HAVEN'T DELIVERED ANYTHING.
COUNCIL'S ALREADY AGREED TO THAT.
THAT'S ALREADY IN THE BASIC AGREEMENT.
THE, THE OVERRUN COMMITMENT IS UNCHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL IGA.
BUT WHY WOULD THE SIB AGREE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN THIS COMMUNITY SAID NO TO THE REFERENDUM? I MEAN, WE, WE SAID WE'RE NOT GONNA CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE SIB.
ALL I CAN SAY IS, IS THAT THE SIB AGREED TO THIS CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY, WITH THE COUNTY ON THE HOOK FOR THE OVERRUNS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SEE HOW, ALRIGHT, LET'S GO.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY OPTION ONE AND IT'S GOT THE, UM, THE SINGLE STRUCTURE OF THE SINGLE SPAN IS GONNA REPLACE THE, UH, MACKEY CREEK SPAN AND THE, THE RETAIN THE, UH, EASTBOUND SKULL CREEK BRIDGE THAT'LL BE RETAINED.
[01:15:01]
WILL, UH, WILL BE, UM, THE EASTBOUND SPAN AT THE THREE LANE BRIDGE STRIKE FOR TWO, AS WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER.UM, ESSENTIALLY THAT'S ALL UNCHANGED FROM BEFORE.
AND THEN THIS GRAPHIC WAS PROVIDED BY S-C-D-U-T TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT FOR PINNEY ISLAND.
UH, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR, UM, AN ON RAMP, UH, ONTO THE EAST.
IT ALLOWS FOR, UH, OFF RAMP ON THE EASTBOUND AS WELL AS ON RAMP TO THE EASTBOUND LANE.
AND THEN THIS ROAD, IT, IT'S HARD TO TELL FOR THE DIAGRAM, BUT IT, IT WOULD GO UNDERNEATH THE NEW SPAN BECAUSE THE NEW SPAN WILL BE RAISED.
AND THEN IT WILL BE AT GRADE WITH THE, UH, CURRENT WESTBOUND SPAN.
SO THE, UH, EASTBOUND SPAN WILL BE ELEVATED AND THAT WOULD GO UNDERNEATH IT.
AND THEN, UH, RECONNECT, UH, WITH THE WESTBOUND SPAN AT GRADE.
AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO READ, ALTHOUGH YOU COULD PROBABLY READ IT BETTER ON YOUR, UH, IN YOUR, UH, MATERIALS WE SENT OUT.
BUT, BUT THE PROJECT SCHEDULE IS, IS, HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY S-C-D-O-T AND ESSENTIALLY THE PROJECT THEY'RE PROJECTING WOULD BE COMPLETE BY JANUARY, 2031.
WE'VE ADDED SOME ADDITIONAL TIME IN THE AGREEMENT TO, UH, ANY WEATHER DELAYS OR ANYTHING ELSE TO, UH, TO COVER THE COUNTY THERE.
AND, UH, CONSTRUCTION ESSENTIALLY WOULD START IN MARCH OF 2028 WITH EVERYTHING, UH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT, UM, ON SCHEDULE AS IT IS TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, WE CAN GO ANY QUESTIONS ON SCHEDULE OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU ALL MIGHT HAVE UNLESS SENATOR DAVIS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS.
SENATOR DAVIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS? UM, THIS WAS A, IN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, QUITE AN EFFORT.
SEVEN DAYS OF HARD HARD WORK, LOT OF CALLS.
UM, GREAT WORK BY, BY MR. MOORE.
AND GREAT WORK BY, UM, MR. S AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, UM, I THINK HE GAVE IT AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY, UM, BY WAY OF RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
I, I, I, I AGREE WITH ALL THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE IN REGARD TO THIS PROPOSAL, NOT SOLVING THE CONGESTION PROBLEMS. UM, THE ON ISLAND PIECE IS OF COURSE, CRITICAL, UM, FROM WINDMILL HARBOR TO THE, UH, CROSS ISLAND CONNECTOR.
I MEAN, THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
UM, I GUESS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO EACH OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CAME UP THERE AND MADE THAT EXCELLENT POINT IS GIVE ME THE PLAN.
TELL ME WHAT THAT MASTER PLAN IS.
YOU'VE HAD SIX, SEVEN YEARS TO COME UP WITH THAT MASTER PLAN.
IF YOU COME UP WITH IT AND YOU ENGINEER IT AND YOU COST IT OUT, I CAN HELP YOU GET THE FUNDING FOR IT.
I CAN'T GET THE FUNDING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS SIMPLY AN IDEA IN SEVEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S HEADS.
SO, SO AGAIN, AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING A COUPLE YEARS AGO, FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT THAT MASTER PLAN TO LOOK LIKE.
WE CAN GET YOU THE FUNDING FOR THAT, WHETHER IT'S SIB, DOT, GENERAL FUND, LATS, FEDERAL, WHATEVER IT IS, WE'LL PUT IT TOGETHER FOR YOU, BUT YOU GOTTA TELL US WHAT IT IS.
I AM NOT SAYING THAT THIS BRIDGE, THIS THREE LANES VAN, THIS EASTBOUND SPAN IS GOING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.
BUT IF YOU DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN AND WE PUT THE FINANCING IN PLACE, YOU CAN HAVE THAT DONE CONCURRENTLY WITH WHAT'S BEING DONE WITH THE EASTBOUND BRIDGE.
YOU CAN PROBABLY EVEN GET THE SAME CONTRACTOR TO DO IT IF YOU GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS.
BUT THEY GOTTA MAKE HARD DECISIONS IN WHAT THEY WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE GOING THROUGH STONY.
DO THEY WANT OVERPASSES? DO THEY NOT WANT OVERPASSES? DO THEY WANT LIGHTS? DO NOT WANT LIGHTS? THOSE ARE HARD DECISIONS THAT ONLY THE TOWN COUNCIL CAN MAKE MEETING WITH THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
OKAY, WE IN THE DELEGATION CAN HELP GET THE FUNDING, BUT WE CAN'T MAKE THAT DECISION.
SO I'M NOT HERE SAYING, NOR SHOULD YOU SAY THAT BY RESULT, BY, BY VOTING ON THIS, THAT IT'S GONNA SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS SAYING THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE ALL THOSE PIECES.
AND YES, IT'S GONNA TAKE GOING OUT TO I 95 AS WELL AND SYNCHRONIZING THE LIGHTS.
IT'S GONNA BE DOING ALL THOSE THINGS, BUT YOU GOTTA TAKE A STEP FORWARD AT SOME POINT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ALL THOSE PIECES RIGHT IN YOUR HANDS AT ONE TIME WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY IN HAND.
ANY PIECE OF THE PROBLEM IN PLACE, DO IT.
AND GO AHEAD AND SIMULTANEOUSLY, CONCURRENTLY LOOK AT THE OTHER PROBLEMS. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BECAUSE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT ANYBODY SAID ABOUT THIS SOLVING ALL PROBLEMS. IT DOESN'T, BUT IT'S A CRITICAL PIECE TO THE OVERALL SOLUTION.
YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY, THERE'S A 20% CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO
[01:20:01]
THIS ESTIMATE.A VERY, VERY, I MEAN, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND INFLATION, I UNDERSTAND COSTS ARE GOING, GOING UP, BUT 20% IS A GOOD, IS A GOOD CUSHION TO, TO COUNCILMAN REED'S POINT ABOUT WHY WOULD THE COUNTY AGREE TO COVER OVERAGE OR AGREE TO PAY THE SIT BACK IF THEY DON'T COMPLETE.
THAT WAS YOUR ALL'S DEAL SINCE 2021.
EVERY SINGLE GRANT THE SIP EVER MAKES TO ANY COUNTY PROVIDES FOR THAT MONEY HAVING TO GO BACK IF IT'S NOT COMPLETED.
I MEAN, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU GOTTA ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR GETTING SOMETHING DONE ON TIME.
IT ISN'T SOMETHING NEW AND SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR FIVE YEARS.
OKAY, NOW, NOW, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.
WELL, PRIOR TO THAT, TRYING TO GET, BEFORE WE GOT THE, WHEN WE GOT THE SIB MONEY, WHEN THE POT CAME FORWARD WITH THEIR INITIAL PLAN, I WAS ALSO SHOCKED IN THE SIX LANES, ONE LARGE SPAN BREAKDOWN LANES, MEDIANS, 11 LANES.
YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MASS ANYMORE.
THAT WAS THE OVERWHELMING CONCERN WAS THAT MASSIVE SCALE.
AND 11 LANES, WE'RE NOW GONNA HAVE THREE LANES STRIPED FOR TWO.
THAT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SEPARATE FROM THE WESTBOUND SPAN.
I THINK WE LOSE SIGHT SOMETIMES OF THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING THROUGH THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD, ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, CITIZENS HAVE HAD INPUT.
BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU GOTTA DO THE BEST YOU CAN.
AND THIS PARTICULAR PLAN YOU'VE GOT BEFORE YOU MADAM CHAIR, WAS AN 11 OH VOTE FROM COUNTY COUNCIL AND A SIX ONE VOTE FROM TOWN COUNCIL JUST TWO, A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AGO.
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A SOLUTION THAT HAS THAT SORT OF SUPPORT.
AND I'LL JUST REMIND YOU ALL OF THAT.
11 OH VOTE EACH ONE OF YOU, EACH ONE OF YOU ON THIS PANEL JUST TWO MONTHS AGO WITH THE FACTS BEING THE SAME AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW, SAID, WE WANT THIS AND PUT US IN PLACE.
PUT ME AND COUNCIL STAFF AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN PLACE TO PUT THIS DEAL TOGETHER AND IT'S PUT TOGETHER.
SO I WOULD REMIND YOU OF THAT FACT.
AND ALSO M REMIND MEMBERS OF TOWN COUNCIL AS WELL.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE IS THE TEMPTATION TO THINK THAT IF THIS FALLS APART, WE CAN REACH IN AND GET THAT $80 MILLION AND PUT IT ON THE ISLAND AND SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS MUCH MORE QUICKLY.
I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU THAT EVEN IF THAT WERE TO OCCUR, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE IT MORE QUICKLY THAN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GOING FORWARD.
YOU COME UP WITH THAT MASTER PLAN, WE'LL GET YOU THE FUNDING AND WE CAN HAVE THAT SOLVED CONCURRENTLY.
YOU'RE NOT, YOU'RE NOT SOLVING ANY PROBLEMS BY JUST FORFEITING 120 OR POTENTIAL $150 MILLION, $170 MILLION BACK TO THE STATE IN THE EXPECTATION THAT SOMEHOW YOU CAN REACH IN AND DO SOMETHING FASTER BY GETTING THAT $80 MILLION.
IT STARTS WITH THE TOWN FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT IS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR ADMINISTRATOR? I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, SENATOR DAVIS, I THINK CLEARED UP SEVERAL PEOPLE WE TALKED TO THAT TALKED TONIGHT, AND THAT IS REPAYING THE SIB IF WE'RE NOT ON TIME.
THAT'S BEEN, HE, HE NOTED SINCE 2021.
IT'S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.
SO THAT'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE STRING ATTACHED TO THE $120 MILLION FOR EVERYBODY THAT TAKES THE MONEY.
SO I APPRECIATE THE SENATOR CLARIFYING THAT FOR EVERYBODY.
'CAUSE I THINK THAT WAS MR. REIT'S COMMENT ABOUT REPAYING THE SIB.
IT'S, YEAH, THE CONTRACT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE THE BEGINNING.
AND I WOULD JUST ADD ON THE, UM, MOTION, THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS MADE THAT 29.08, THAT WOULD BE DOT SHARE OF ANY OVERRUN.
SO THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD SHARE WITH US CLOSE TO 30%, 29.08 AND AN OVERRUN.
AND WE DID NOT VOTE ON THAT AMENDMENT.
UM, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS EXPLANATION BEFORE THEN.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT POINT.
DO HAVE QUESTION? YES, I, I DO, AND I KNOW THIS IS HEARSAY, UM, BUT I HAD, I HAD HEARD THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A 50 50 SPLIT BETWEEN DOT AND BEFORD COUNTY FOR COVERAGES.
WHEN, WHEN DID THAT? 25, WELL, I THINK THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION LAST WEEK IT WOULD BE AN EQUITABLE SPLIT, BUT WE, WE CLARIFIED THAT WITH DOT.
THEY CLARIFIED VERY CLEARLY WITH US.
IT WAS LIMITED TO THEIR CONTRIBUTION.
AND SENATOR DAVIS WAS PART OF THAT DISCUSSION AS WELL.
SO IN, IN MY HEAD, HEARING THAT, THAT 30%, YOU DID HEAR THAT EARLIER, BUT WE CLARIFIED.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WEEK WITH THEIR ATTORNEY THIS MORNING.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WEEK, SO, YES.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT BETWEEN LAST WEEK ON MONDAY, I, WHAT I HAD HEARD CHAIRMAN WHITE SAY, UM, HAS DONE A, IN MY MIND, A COMPLETE TURNAROUND FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY SO THAT THE 120 MILLION IS ACTUALLY A REALITY.
I MEAN, I I, THIS APPEARS TO BE A, A GOOD PROPOSAL.
[01:25:01]
DEFINED TIMELINE.IT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DESIGN, IT'S A MORE TRADITIONAL CONCEPT.
AND I KNOW IN SPEAKING WITH SECRETARY POWELL, HE WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT AS WELL FOR THIS.
UM, IT, ASSUMING COUNSEL PASSES IT, AND, AND I'D LIKE, OH, LOGAN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? SORRY.
UH, REMOVAL OF THE COSTS OF MOVING THAT WATER LINE WAS HUGE TOO.
IT ESSENTIALLY OFFSETS THE, THE, THE RAMP FOR THE PINKY, ESSENTIALLY WHAT, RIGHT.
YEAH, ONE QUESTION,
AND THEN I THINK, I UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORK TOWN COUNCIL HAS PUT IN ON HILTON HEAD WOULD'VE HAD THIS THING STARTED TWO YEARS AGO, BUT COUNCIL AND HAVE OUT VOTES.
THEY WANTED GRANT THAT NOW WE'RE 24 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, EVERYONE WANTS TO SAY THAT COUNTY HASN'T SPENT THE $80 MILLION YET, HASN'T MOVED OUT.
SO I ASKED COUNTY COUNCIL WHEN WE CAME INTO THIS COURT BOARD TO MAKE THIS BETWEEN COUNTY COUNCIL AND SEDT.
GOT MY SUPPORT TO GET THIS DONE.
SENATOR DAVIS, I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU WENT TO GO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMENTS OR BOTH OR WHAT? WERE BOTH, BOTH, MM-HMM
YOU GO AHEAD BECAUSE YOU MAY ASK THE QUESTION I'M ASKING.
UM, I WASN'T GONNA ASK A QUESTION.
I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A, A COMMENT THAT, UM, I MOVED HERE IN 1990 AND THERE WERE FOUR LANES AT THAT TIME IN 1990.
UM, AND EVEN A FIFTH TURNING LANE THAT WAS THERE.
AND THAT WAS THERE 34, 35 YEARS AGO.
SO, UM, THIS SAME BRIDGES WERE THERE 35 YEARS AGO.
WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
UM, THAT BRIDGE HAS TO BE REPLACED.
UM, AND I LOOK AT THIS, AND I EXPLAINED IT TO MY DAUGHTER ONE DAY, WHENEVER SHE ASKED ME, DAD, WHAT IS ALL THIS ABOUT? I SAID, THIS IS, I SAID, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WE'RE MAKING AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH AND WE HAVE TWO PARTS OF IT.
ONE PART, THAT'S THE ICE CREAM THAT'S ON HILTON HEAD, AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THAT? AND THE SECOND PART, THAT'S THE CAKE PART.
AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT? SO AT THIS POINT, WE'VE GOTTA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT CAKE PART.
WE CAN'T LET THE MONEY GO AWAY, BECAUSE AGAIN, IF WE DID THAT NOW, WE'RE STILL THE SAME SITUATION REPLACING THE OTHER BRIDGES, UH, LATER ON.
AND, AND I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR SENATOR DAVIS AND I KNOW THAT OUR OTHER, UM, UH, DELEGATION FOLKS ARE FEEL THE SAME WAY.
IF, IF WE KNOW WHAT THAT ICE CREAM SIDE LOOKS LIKE, WE ALL CAN PUSH FOR, WE ALL CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
AND AT SOME POINT, PUT THIS ICE CREAM SANDWICH TOGETHER.
BUT, BUT AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY COMMON SENSE THING FOR ME AND MY GUT SAYS IS THAT WE'VE GOTTA MOVE FORWARD WITH MONEY THAT WE HAVE AT THIS POINT.
AND WE, WE'VE GOTTA, WE'VE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF REBUILDING THIS ONE BRIDGE.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE BRIDGE THAT WE HAVE A NEW SPAN THAT IS GONNA WITHSTAND HURRICANES, WITHSTAND EARTHQUAKES, AND THEN WE'RE NOT SITTING HERE THREE, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WITH A HURRICANE THAT COMES THROUGH AND DAMAGES BRIDGES WITH, WITH 35,000 PEOPLE STUCK ON, ON HILTON HEAD, NOT BE ABLE TO GET OFF.
I JUST, UM, I, I'M READY TO VOTE.
BUT, UM, I WOULD SAY THIS, THAT, UM, ONE, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT, UM, I WAS WRESTLING WITH, AND I THINK THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE WRESTLING WITH AS WELL, IS THAT IF YOU BILL, UM, JUST THE MACKEY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, UH, YOU WILL STOP TRAFFIC COMING ON HILTON HEAD FOR ALMOST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.
[01:30:01]
UM, BECAUSE IF YOU, IF YOU BUILD THAT BRIDGE, UM, YOU GOTTA REPLACE THE ONE THAT'S THERE.UM, THIS, UH, OPTION WILL PURSUING BUILDS ONE BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS THAT, AND IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH TRAFFIC EXCEPT FOR THREE MO THREE WEEKS OR WHATEVER.
BUT IT WOULD NOT DELAY TRAFFIC, UH, CONSIDERABLE AT ALL.
UM, I, I'M LIKE MR. CUNNINGHAM, I WAS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT TWO YEARS AGO.
UM, BUT A LOT OF DELAYS, DELAYS, DELAYS.
AND I'VE BEEN PATIENT WITH THAT I THINK IS IN OUR HANDS NOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I THINK WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND, AND, AND, AND, AND MOVE THE CO DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE FURTHER TO GET THIS BRIDGE AND, UH, STARTED.
SO IT CAN BE FINISHED BEFORE, UM, I'M FINISHED, UH,
AND, AND SO I NEED AN UNDERSTANDING ON THE AMENDMENT OF THE MOTION.
UH, SO IF SOMEONE WOULD EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, UM, I'LL BE READY TO VOTE.
I THINK, UM, COUNCIL REESE, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT BEFORE WE YEAH.
BUT, UM, BACK ON MAY 16TH, WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING WHERE WE GOT TOGETHER WITH TOWN COUNCIL AND WE HAD A MAYOR AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TALK ABOUT, UH, ANOTHER OPTION, NOT THE ONE THAT'S HERE TONIGHT TO GO WITH TONIGHT.
WE HEAR FROM THE MAYOR AND MORE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MORE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THIS RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON TONIGHT IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
I HEARD FROM OUR OWN MANAGER, THIS APPEARS TO BE A GOOD PROPOSAL.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU, THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECISIONS WE'RE GONNA MAKE.
AND I THINK THE MORE FACTS WE UNDERSTAND, AND I GOTTA TELL YOU RIGHT UP FRONT, I APPRECIATE SENATOR DAVIS AND ALL THE WORK FROM EVERYBODY INCLUDING YOU, MR. MOORE, MR. FRA, EVERYBODY.
I THINK WE OUGHT TO STEP ASIDE AND LET THE S-E-D-O-T TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
AND TO MY COLLEAGUE'S POINT, IT'S NOT, THE TRAFFIC'S NOT GONNA BE TIED UP FOR TWO YEARS.
IT'S AN INDEPENDENT BRIDGE BUILT A LITTLE SOUTH, AND WHEN THEY TIE IT IN, WHEN IT'S DONE IS WHEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LITTLE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. THAT'S IT, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
UNLESS I'M WRONG, I, I GOTTA TELL YOU, I THINK WE BETTER VOTE NO WITH THIS TONIGHT.
I CAN'T SEE BURDENING THE TAXPAYER WITH THE OVERAGE.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE, UH, PICK THE ISLAND EXTENSION'S GONNA BE COSTING.
THAT'S A WHOLE NEW PACKAGE THERE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I STRONGLY URGE HIS COUNSEL TO SAY NO TO TONIGHT'S RESOLUTION AND STEP ASIDE AND LET THE S-E-D-O-T COME IN AND DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
CHAIRMAN, QUICKLY, I, UM, I, I, I THINK, UM, IN ALL FAIRNESS, UM, I WANNA STAND, UM, IN SUPPORT AND BEHIND SENATOR DAVIS WHO SAID, TODAY, GET THE MASTER PLAN.
UM, MR. HOLBERT, JUST TO POINT OUT, COUNCIL VOTED LAST WEEK AT THEIR SPECIAL MEETING FOR THIS TO OCCUR.
SO YOU'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS BRINGING FORTH WHAT WE WERE DIRECTED TO LAST WEEK TO BRING FORTH.
AND THEN WE'VE MADE A TWEAK BECAUSE SINCE LAST WEEK WE ARE ABLE TO TALK WITH DOT, SENATOR DAVIS WAS AND CONVINCE THEM TO SHARE IN THE OVERRUN COSTS.
SO IT'S BENEFITED GREATER DEAL THAN WHAT IT WAS LAST WEEK, BUT THIS WAS VOTED ON LAST WEEK.
EVERYBODY HERE VOTED FOR IT LAST WEEK.
SO I AGREE WITH MR. CUNNINGHAM, MR. GLOVER AND MR. LAWSON.
I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE ON IT, BUT I DO HAVE A QUESTION THAT WOULD MAKE ME FEEL A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
NOT THAT YOU REALLY CARE, BUT IT'S OKAY.
UM, WHEN WE DO A CONTRACT, SO WHEN WE HIRE SOMEBODY TO DO THIS, WE DO PUT PARAMETERS FOR PERFORMANCE.
WELL, DOT WILL BE LETTING THE CONTRACT, SO, OKAY.
AND IT'S, IT IS STILL A DOT PROJECT.
IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S A LOCAL PROJECT, BUT DO T'S GONNA MANAGE IT, BUT THEY'LL PUT PER THEY, THEY WILL NORMALLY PUT PARAMETERS FOR PERFORMANCE.
SO IF SOMEBODY HAS, YOU KNOW, GIANT LONGEVITY PROBLEMS, THERE SHOULD BE A PENALTY IN THERE.
WELL, I'LL CERTAINLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR DOT, BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY BRING THAT POINT WITH EM IF HE WOULD SPEAK TO THEM.
BECAUSE NORMALLY, LIKE WHEN I THINK YOUR POINT IS, IS VALID BECAUSE WE WANT INCENTIVIZE THE PROJECT TO BE DONE ON TIME, SO THAT YES.
AND IF THEY DON'T GET IT DONE ON TIME, THEY PAY A PENALTY TO US BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA PAY A PENALTY.
MADAM CHAIR AGREED TO PAY 30, 29 0.8% CHAIR.
ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, TO THAT NOTE, I, I BELIEVE IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH, UH, ONE OF OUR STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES, AREN'T THERE ALSO INCENTIVES FOR EARLY COMPLETION AS, AS FAR AS THEY CAN BE? YES.
[01:35:01]
THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS WE'LL HAVE WITH, WITH DT.THAT'S A, A HARD THING TO GET IT DONE EARLY, BUT STILL, YEAH.
IF THERE'S NOT ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, WE'RE GONNA CU HAVE, OH, YES SIR.
THE BUILT IN CONTINGENCY, IS THAT CONTINGENCY? I KNOW IT'S 20%, BUT IS IT BASED ON THE 101 MILLION THAT WE PUT IN, OR THE TOTAL PROJECT OF 311 MILLION? IT'S, IT'S THE TOTAL PROJECT COST.
SO WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY OF 62 MILLION IS WHAT THAT ROUGHLY COMES OUT TO.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE PLUS THE 33% OVERSHARE, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEWHERE, IF WE WENT OVER $30 MILLION, WE'D BE ON THE HOOK FOR AN EXTRA 10 MILLION DO.
OR IF WE WENT OVER $90 MILLION, WE'D BE ON THE HOOK FOR $10 MILLION.
SO, MR. GLOVER WANTED ME TO SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME.
SO THE AMENDMENT IS TO, IN SHORT LANGUAGE, S-C-D-O-T WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PORTION OF THE OVERRUNS NOT TO EXCEED 29.08% OF THE TOTAL OVERRUNS.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THEIR PORTION OF THE FUNDING, WHICH WAS 90.6 MILLION.
WHEN THE WHOLE PROJECT'S 311.6 MILLION, THEN THE COUNTY'S ON THE HOOK FOR THE REST OF THE OVERRUNS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE DID HAVE A SECOND.
ALRIGHT, NOW WE'RE IN DISCUSSION.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION? SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT THE RESOLUTION HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, RIGHT? NO.
THE RESOLUTION WAS DIRECTED TO BE DRAFTED AND BROUGHT TO COUNCIL AT LAST WEEK'S.
UH, YOU VOTED ON OPTION TWO AND WANTED US TO BRING YOU THE RESOLUTION AND THE AMENDMENT TO THE C UH, CONTRACT FOR CONSIDERATION TO IMPLEMENT OPTION TWO.
WELL NOT IMPLEMENT IT, BUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, SEND TO THE SIB.
RIGHT NOW, THIS ISN'T A DONE DEAL WITH THE SIB.
UH, IT'LL TAKE SOME NEGOTIATION AND AS THEY UNDERSTAND IT, SENATOR DAVIS IS GONNA GO UP THERE AND ADVOCATE ON COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THIS GOES THROUGH.
BUT IT'S STILL GONNA TAKE SOME WORK TO GET THE SIB TO ADOPT THIS.
AND THE SIB STILL DOES HAVE TO ACT BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
UH, WHICH WAS THE 30 DAY LETTER WE RECEIVED? UH, WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO NOW? ALMOST.
SO THE DEADLINE WOULD BE JUNE, I BELIEVE IT WAS 16TH.
SO THE S WOULD NEED TO ACT BEFORE THEN OR ELSE DOT WOULD PROCEED.
THAT'S WHY WE MOVE SO FAST TO GET THIS DONE.
ANY FURTHER QUE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AMENDMENT? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT? LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
MS. BROCK, VICE CHAIR TABER? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AND WE'LL NEED A, UM, EN ROLL CALL.
DO WE NEED TO READ IT AGAIN? OH YEAH.
THINK FOR THE RECORD WITH THE END.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO READ IT AGAIN UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS YOU ALREADY READ IT.
IT'S THE MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED.
THE MAIN MOTION AS AS AMENDED.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWS MARK LAWSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, WE WOULDN'T, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO EXTEND OUR MEETING PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK, UNFORTUNATELY.
DO I HAVE A SECOND TO EXPEND TO EXTEND PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK? I NEED A SECOND.
BY SHOW OF HANDS, TO EXTEND PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK,
[01:40:04]
EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T WANT TO, HE DOESN'T SAY.WE WILL BE EXTENDING PAST EIGHT O'CLOCK MINUTES.
I TOOK WHAT TIME WE'RE GONNA GIVE.
WE'LL GIVE EVERYONE A FEW MINUTES TO CLEAR OUT.
IF YOU DON'T WANT, STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.
KNOW WHAT I'M FOR? CAME AND RODRIGUEZ CAME.
HE WENT TO GO TO THE READY? YEAH.
BACK ON OUR, UM, ORDINANCES FOR A SECOND.
[13. 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. ]
FIRST READ.UM, SO I'M ON 2025 SLASH 25 AS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A PERMANENT, PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT FOR A PORTION OF RIGHT OF WAY OWNED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY, KNOWN AS PALMETTO BLUFF ROAD, LOCATED IN BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP.
OUR VOTED FIRST READING APRIL 28TH WAS NINE ZERO AT SECOND READING, WHICH WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 12TH IT WAS 11 ZERO.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.
WOULD SOMEBODY LIKE TO SECOND IT? I'LL SECOND IT.
UH, ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT? 'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS ONE.
LET'S HAVE A VOTE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS READ.
[14. 2025/29: AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2026; TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; TO ADOPT SERVICE AND USER FEES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY; AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO (PUBLIC HEARING) ]
OKAY.2025 SLASH 29 IN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING 20 JUNE 30TH, 2026 TO LEVY TAXES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF TO ADOPT SERVICE AND USER FEES TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF SAID TAXES AND OTHER REVENUES COMING INTO THE COUNTY.
AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO.
WE COULD SEE THAT'S LEGAL LANGUAGE THERE.
THE VOTE AT FIRST READING ON MAY 12TH WAS 11 ZERO PUBLIC HEARING AND THIRD READING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 9TH.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ? SO MOVED.
I'D LIKE TO MOTION THAT WE AMEND NO, CAN WE HAVE A SECOND? FIRST? OKAY.
AND THEN I'D LIKE MS. HARRIET TO DO HER EXPLANATION.
HAVE HER MOMENT IN THE SUN HERE.
AND FOR JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S ALL IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS.
UM, IT TALKS ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS WE'VE, I MEAN, WE'VE CHEWED THIS UP AND SPIT IT OUT SEVERAL TIMES.
SO, BUT FOR THE PUBLIC, IT'S ALL IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS.
SO OPEN FOR DISCUSSION AT THIS POINT, OR QUESTIONS TO MRS. HARRIET? PERMISSION.
MADAM, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO, I WANT TO FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSE.
UM, LET ME, LET ME JUST ASK THIS QUESTION.
ANY CHANGES RIGHT NOW IN SECOND READING, UM, UM, AFTER SECOND READING, WE CAN, WE MAKE CHANGES SHOW WE CAN MAKE CHANGES AS LONG AS IT'S BEFORE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR THIRD READING.
UM, ANY CHANGES DEPEND ON HOW SUBSTANTIAL ARE YOU MAY HAVE TO BRING BACK FOR ANOTHER READING.
UM, FOR AN EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND YOU HAVE A, UM, SLIGHT REDUCTION FROM THEIR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
SHE'S ACTUALLY RECEIVING A $300,000 INCREASE.
UM, YOU COULD ALSO AMEND IT AFTER
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING.
UM, BUT MADAM CHAIRMAN, I LOOKED AT IT AND IT SHOWED ME, UM, UH, 21,000, I MEAN TWO, 2.1 MILLION MM-HMM
AND THEN WHAT'S RECOMMENDED IS 1.8, 1.9 0.9, WHICH IS 70% OF WHAT THE SOLICITOR'S REQUEST IS, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION THEY HAD TOGETHER ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR BOTH OFFICES.
SO SHE WAS INVITED TO ATTEND OUR FINANCE MEETING.
BUT THERE WAS A DELAY OR SOME PROBLEMS. SO SHE DIDN'T, SHE'S SUPPOSED TO BE, UM, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T RECEIVE A REASON WHY SHE CANCELED THE NIGHT BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, UM, BECAUSE, UM, I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH HER YET, BUT I WILL.
HER REQUEST FROM, FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR WAS $1.6 MILLION.
SO SHE'S RECEIVING A $300,000 IN WHY, WHY OR WHAT'S THE 2.1 MILLION THAT'S IN THE BUDGET LINE ITEM? THAT'S WHAT WAS PROPOSED PRE THAT WAS WHAT ACTUALLY THEY REQUESTED 2.5, BUT, UM, 70% IS WHAT ADMINIS THE ADMINISTRATOR AND I RECOMMENDED BASED ON DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC DEFENDER AND THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.
I, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE LINE OF ITEMS AND IT SHOWED ME SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU SAID.
[01:45:01]
JUST YIELD RIGHT NOW TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AS IT IS 1.9, SIR.UM, AND THEN, UH, MADAM CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO, UM, SEE HEARING THAT, UH, ALL OF THOSE COMMENTS, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UM, MOTION THAT WE REDUCE THE FUNDING TO ISLAND REC, UM, DOWN TO 101 HUNDRED $73,694 AND REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO THE SALT AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO FULLY FUND THEM AT $37,770.
AND THEN TO INCREASE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO $56,036.
THAT'S MY MOTION, MADAM CHAIRMAN.
I HAVE A SECOND, I'LL SECOND IT.
WELL, LET ME SAY TO THE PUBLIC ANY, ANYTHING WE MOVE, LIKE IF WE INCREASE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE COAST EMPIRE MENTAL HEALTH, WE HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS BALANCED.
SO THAT'S WHY MR. GLOVER IS SAYING YOU HAD TO DECREASE ONE TO INCREASE THE OTHER TWO.
AND I DID HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BECAUSE WHEN SHE PRESENTED, SHE SAID THEY'RE GONNA STOP, UM, COMING SCHOOL SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
AND REMEMBER I SAID I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE.
SO IF THEY NEED THE FUNDING TO COME DOWN HERE, THAT'S WHAT MR. GLOVER'S SUGGESTING.
NO, BUT I THINK SHE'S PROBABLY, UH, MAYBE EXAGGERATED A LITTLE.
UH, I, I KNOW, UH, SALT WATER CONSERVATION, THEY'LL, THEY WILL, THEY WILL DO WHAT IT THEY HAVE TO DO, UH, FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? I JUST WANNA SAY ON BEHALF OF ISLAND REC, I THINK THAT'S A BAD MOVE.
I THINK THE WORK THAT THEY DO FOR NOT ONLY FOLKS INCORPORATED BUT UNINCORPORATED HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MONEY CAN COME FROM SOME MORE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I DON'T THINK TAKING IT FROM THE ISLAND REC WHO HAS A DIRECT IMPACT WITH OUR RESIDENTS MAKES ANY SENSE.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER COMMENT.
AND THAT IS FOR THE PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY, AND THAT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR BUDGET AT THE SAME MILLAGE AS LAST YEAR.
SO WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW, $3 MILLION OF REQUESTS FROM OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
AND ALTHOUGH WE'D LOVE TO FUND ALL OF THEM, IT'S SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE.
AND WE HEARD THE FEDERAL'S NOT FUNDING AND THE STATE'S NOT FUNDING.
AND SO IT'S PUSHING DOWN TO THE COUNTY AND WE ARE TRYING TO HOLD TO THIS BUDGET TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
SO IF WE WOULD TAKE FROM ONE TO GIVE TO ANOTHER, THAT'S HOW THIS IS GONNA HAVE TO BALANCE OUT.
DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? I WOULD AGREE WITH MR. RES AS WELL.
OR NOT TAKING, WE DON'T WANNA TAKE ANY MONEY OUT OF THE ISLAND WRECK.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, UH, HIS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE ASKED FOR AN INCREASE IN MANY, MANY YEARS.
I LOOK AT THAT AS KIND OF, UM, PREVENTIVE MED, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.
IT KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOMS. IT KEEPS PEOPLE OUT OF THE DETENTION CENTERS WHEN WE HAVE IN, UH, SERVICES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OR IT USED TO BE CALLED COASTAL MENTAL HEALTH.
IF WE CAN HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
ONE, ONE QUESTION IF YOU DON'T MIND.
DID, UM, REFRESHER MEMORY, DID UH, HILTON HEAD ISLAND REC REQUEST AN INCREASE AGAIN THIS YEAR? UH, YES.
THEY WERE AWARDED 200,000 IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
THEY REQUESTED 225 FOR 26 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
AND I GUESS THE MOTION IS TO REDUCE THE FUNDING TO 1 73.
SO THERE, IT WAS AN OVERALL FUNDING OF 200 LAST YEAR.
BUT THERE WAS, UM, AND I BELIEVE HANK CAN TALK TO THAT.
IT WAS A ONE TIME REQUEST FOR SOME SUPPLIES FOR THE RIGHT.
IT WAS ABOUT THE RULES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I THINK MR. MCKELLAN IS THE ONE THAT PUSHED FOR IT FOR THE ONE YEAR.
SO WHAT WAS, DO YOU OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, DO YOU REMEMBER THEIR BUDGET FOR 2023? FOR 23 AND 24? IT WAS 150,000.
OKAY, SO IT'S STILL AN INCREASE OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET THAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UM, YES.
[01:50:01]
YES.OH, I NEED TO MAKE AMENDMENT RIGHT FOR, OKAY.
I NEED A MOTION TO AMEND, KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL TO, UM, THEIR BUDGET BEING 50,000 FOR THE YEAR.
WE HAVE A, A MOTION IN A, IN A SECOND DISCUSSION.
SO, SO THAT WILL REDUCE WHAT, UH, IS ON HERE FROM 68.
AND JUST TO REITERATE, 'CAUSE MRS. BROWN TOLD US LAST TIME THEY GOT 50,000 LAST YEAR AND DIDN'T SPEND 17,000 OF IT.
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE A BALANCE OF 17,000 AND SOME CHANGE LEFT OVER FROM, AND OUR VICE CHAIR FOR THE, UH, COMMITTEE IS HERE AND HE UNDERSTANDS IT.
AND HE, SO WHERE WOULD THAT 18,000 GO? LIKE ACCEPTED IT.
THAT 18,000 WOULD GO WHERE? IN THE BUDGET? UM, CURRENTLY I HAVE A REQUEST THAT SOMEHOW WAS LEFT OUT BY THE IT DEPARTMENT.
IF, IF THAT'S OKAY WITH COUNSEL THAT WOULD KEEP THE BUDGET, UH, BALANCED AND MILL NEUTRAL.
UM, THERE WAS ONE REQUEST THAT THEY HAD PUT IN THAT THEY DID, THEY MISSED THE DEADLINE ON.
SO, AND VENTURE THE CONVERSATION OF MENTAL HEALTH.
AGAIN, AS MR. GLOVER SAID, IF THAT'S APPETITE OF THE COUNCIL AS WELL OR COULD GO BACK TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND REC.
THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE SAYING YOU SAFE, YOUR, YOUR DISCUSSION.
NO, I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST GO BACK IN THE FUND BACK.
PLEASE MAKE A MOTION TO PUT IT BACK IN THE FUND FOR YOUR EXPENDITURES.
IT'S 50,000 TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DO YOU WANT ME A ROLL CALL? VOTE THAT YOU ARE REDUCING TO 50.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE BUDGET IS BALANCED.
SO WE HAVE AN $18,000 RIGHT AMOUNT THAT HAS TO GO SOMEPLACE.
SO COUNSEL HAS TO DIRECT ADMINISTRATION.
WHERE IS IT GOING TO GO? SHOULD GO BACK.
WE AS ADMINISTRATION COULD BE YOU RECOMMENDED IT IS WHAT IN THE IT DEPARTMENT? RECOMME.
THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD LIKE, THAT WAS OUR, THAT WOULD BE OUR REQUEST.
YOU WANT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BY MS. BROWN THAT MAKE THAT MOTION CURRENTLY CORRECT? YEAH.
SO I'LL TAKE THE 17,000 AND PUT IT TO IT DEPARTMENT.
SO THE MOTION NOW STANDS TO TO REDUCE THEM TO 50,000 AND TAKE THE BALANCE TO GO TO THE IT DEPARTMENT, CORRECT? YES.
AND WE HAD, WE ALREADY HAD A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SECOND GROUP THE CHANGE PROJECT WITH IT.
UM, THEY HAD A, AN EMPLOYEE THAT WAS EVALUATED AND RECEIVED AN INCREASE AND DIDN'T BUDGET FOR IT IN 26.
SO IT IS A PERMANENT INCREASE TO THEM.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? VOTE FOR THAT.
LET'S GO FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THESE.
AND THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED TWICE.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME STRAIGHT TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE, UH, ORDINANCE AS AMENDED TWICE.
RAISE YOUR HAND LINE GUYS, YOU'RE WITH US.
[15. 2025/28: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 (ORDINANCE NO. 2024/25) TO CORRECTLY REFLECT THE FUND 4000 CIP BUDGET]
SLASH 28.IN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WHICH WAS ORDINANCE 2024 SLASH 25 TO CORRECTLY REFLECT THE BUDGET THE FUND 4,000 CIP BUDGET, THE VOTE AT FIRST READING IN PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 12 TO 11 ZERO.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AS READ? SO MOVED.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AT INFIN.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE AS READ.
[16. 2025/27: AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE A-TAX FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE A-TAX FUNDS COMMITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS]
SLASH 27 IN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE STATE A TAX FUNDS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STATE AT TAX FUNDS COMMITTEE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS.THE VOTE AT FINANCE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ON APRIL 21ST WAS SEVEN ONE.
[01:55:01]
OF COUNSEL AND WHICH WAS A PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 12TH WAS NINE TWO.CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AS READ? SO MOVED.
MR. MACLEAN'S NOT HERE TO TAG TEAM WITH YOU MR. PASSMAN TONIGHT? NO.
I WAS READING THE MINUTES FROM THE OTHER DAY.
IT WAS LIKE TAG TEAM, EVERYONE.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? I'VE REITERATED MY COMMENTS ONCE ALREADY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THEN LET'S, UH, TAKE A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AS READ, RAISE YOUR HAND.
[17. 2025/26: AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY AND/OR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT PROPERTIES AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT "A" PAGES 1-8 FOR BIG ESTATE ROAD, MIDDLE ROAD, AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DRIVE SIDEWALK PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SIDEWALKS AND MULT-USE PATHWAYS-- SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS PROJECTS AND EXHIBIT "A" PAGES 9-11 FOR LADY'S ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL ACCESS ROAD PROJECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LADY'S ISLAND CORRIDOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.]
2025 SLASH 26.AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY AND OR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT PROPERTIES AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A.
PAGES ONE THROUGH EIGHT FOR BIGGEST STATE ROAD MIDDLE ROAD AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DRIVE SIDEWALK PROJECTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SIDEWALKS AND MULTI-USE PATHWAYS, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS, PROJECTS, AND EXHIBIT A PAGES NINE THROUGH 11 FOR LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL ACCESS ROAD PROJECT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LADIES ISLAND CORRIDOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
THE VOTE AT FIRST READING, WHICH ALSO WAS PUBLIC HEARING, MAY 12TH WAS 10 TO ONE.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE AS READ? SO MOVED.
MR. GLOVER, UH, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL ON THIS ONE? YES.
UM, IF I MAY, I I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT, UH, I CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MIDDLE ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT AND WHILE I'M OKAY CONTINUING TO EXECUTE THE PLAN AND GET THAT DESIGN DONE, I, I, MY CONSTITUENTS REALLY DON'T WANT THIS TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THAT COULD BE SOME COST SAVINGS WHEN THE RE PRIORITY LIST COMES BACK FORWARD.
IS THIS, UM, WHAT ONE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS CAME FORWARD TO TALK TO US ABOUT? WAS, WAS THIS THE PROJECT? OKAY.
THE MIDDLE ROAD PROJECT AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THERE'S NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT REALLY DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IT RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE? NO, I'M, I'M IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD FOR PLANNING, BUT I THINK I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT HOPEFULLY THAT ONCE THAT PLAN IS DONE AND DESIGNED, THAT IT JUST GOES ON A SHELF.
THIS IS ONE TIME I ACTUALLY WANT IT TO GO ON A SHELF RATHER THAN EXECUTE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? QUESTION, COMMENT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AS READ, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[18. 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 ]
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, OH GOD, TMSR 600.
THEY'RE ALL THERE KNOWN AS NORTH WID FEE.
THE VOTE AT FIRST READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 28TH WAS NINE ZERO.
THE VOTE AT SECOND READING ON MAY 12TH WAS TO DEFER TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND ORDINANCE 20 25 24 AS FOLLOWS.
I MOVE THE COUNCIL, AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY ADDING TWO PREAMBLE CLAUSES AS FOLLOWS.
WE'RE GONNA ADD A NEW NUMBER NINE AND A NEW NUMBER 10.
THE NEW NUMBER NINE WILL BE WHEREAS THE LANDOWNER HAS COMMISSIONED AN APPRAISAL FOR TAX PURPOSES AS PART OF THEIR DUE DILIGENCE FOR THE SALE OF NORTH WI BY A SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK CERTIFIED THIRD PARTY APPRAISER.
AND THEIR TAX APPRAISAL HAS AN OPINION OF A VALUE OF $2,920,000 AND THE NEW NUMBER 10 STATES.
WHEREAS THE LANDOWNER HAS REQUESTED THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZE THE $220,000 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEIR APPRAISAL AND THE COUNTY'S APPRAISAL AS A DONATION TOWARDS THE CONVEYANCE.
AND THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN IRS FORM 8 2 8 3 TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THIS DONATION.
AND THE LAST CHANGE WILL BE ON THE FINAL.
UH, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AFTER THE WORDS ALSO KNOWN AS NORTH WID POINT.
TO ENTER THE FOLLOWING AND TO EXECUTE IRS FORM 8 2 8 3 TO CONFIRM RECEIPT OF THE VALUE OF 220,000 AS A DONATION TOWARDS A CONVEYANCE OF THIS PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY.
[02:00:02]
SO YOU'RE SECONDING THE AMENDMENT.ANY QUESTION ON THE AMENDMENT? I KNOW MR. PASSMAN HAD A MOUTHFUL THERE.
YEAH, WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT FIRST.
ALL IN FAVOR? LET ME, I JUST, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT, UH, MR. PASSMAN IS RECOMMENDING DOES NOT COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING, NOT A SINGLE PENNY.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT, UM, I THINK IS, UH, UNDERVALUED AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW.
IF IT GOES BACK INTO MARKET, IT WILL BE SOLD FOR A LOT MORE.
UM, SO AGAIN, I, I THINK THAT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE FOR US TO, TO SECURE.
UM, IT HAS, IT HAS A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT.
UM, IT'S JUST THAT, THAT SOME PEOPLE FEEL THAT, THAT THIS GIVING THEM A TAX EXEMPT IS, IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT AGAIN, DOES NOT COST THE COUNTY ANYTHING.
SO I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE VOTE FOR, UM, THIS, UH, AMENDMENT.
THIS IS ADJACENT TO OUR EXISTING WID POINT PARK.
UM, VISUALLY THEY CONNECT WITH THE MARSH AND I THINK IT, UM, IS SO WELL SAID BY COUNCILMAN LARSON.
AND THE OWNERS, UM, THIS WILL BE BETWEEN THE OWNERS AND THE IRS WITHOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT.
UM, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE THE, UM, DE DEDUCTION.
CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO THE, TO THE, UM, AMENDMENT.
UM, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD LOVE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO, UM, BRING BACK SOME RECOMMENDATION ON POLICY GUIDELINES AND MATTERS LIKE THIS FOR THE FUTURE? YES.
ANY OTHER COMMENT? UM, I'M TOTALLY AGAINST THIS, UH, TO FILL OUT THE FORM.
AND MR. LAWSON SAYS THERE'S NO LIABILITY TO THE, TO THE COUNTY.
THERE COULD BE, I USED TO WORK FOR INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.
I KNOW HOW, YOU KNOW, THESE, ALL THESE FORMS OPERATE, BUT I'M, I'M AGAINST THIS IDEA, TOTALLY AGAINST IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? AND IT MAY BE PUTTING OUR ADMINISTRATOR AT RISK.
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I, I HAVE ISSUES WITH THE WAY THIS PLAYED OUT ON THE TIMEFRAME OF IT.
I'VE MADE THAT VERY CLEAR TO EVERYONE ON COUNCIL.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TAX CREDIT ITSELF.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF LOOPHOLES IN TAXES.
IT'S OTHER PEOPLE'S JOBS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.
I I, I DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT.
IT'S EVERYONE'S OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS.
BUT WHEN WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO VOTE ON IF IT'S GONNA BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THAT DOOR, I'M NOT WILLING TO PUT MY NAME ON IT.
UM, LET ALONE ALSO THAT, YES, I DO THINK THIS IS A VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WE HAD AN AGREEMENT, THIS IS NOW THE SECOND READING.
WE HAD TO DEFER THE SECOND READING BECAUSE WE COULDN'T COME UP TO A CONCLUSION.
UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE HOLDING UP OUR END WHEN WE SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT OR WHEN WE CAME ACROSS THIS VERBAL AGREEMENT, I SHOULD SAY.
'CAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED YET.
UM, NEGOTIATION TIME SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLOSED BY THIS POINT.
SO WITH THAT SAID, YEAH, I DO BELIEVE IT'S A VALUE PIECE OF PROPERTY.
UM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, HE'S BEEN FOR SALE FOR A WHILE BEFOREHAND.
UM, FOUR LANDOWNERS TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THAT DONE.
I'D STILL LIKE TO GET THIS PROPERTY, BUT AT THE JEOPARDY OF PUTTING THE COUNTY IN A SPOT, I'LL POTENTIALLY PUTTING THIS IN A SPOT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN SUPPORT.
UM, I, I THINK BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY, WE SHOULDN'T SET A PRECEDENT.
WE SHOULD STICK TO OUR RULES AS THEY ARE.
AND I'M GONNA VOTE NO FOR THIS AS WELL.
MR. DAWSON, DID YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? I WASN'T SURE YOU WANTED TO.
NO, I, UH, I, I SAID EARLIER THAT I DIDN'T SUPPORT THE I A AND THE NOTION OF US ACTUALLY GIVING THE TAX CREDIT AND, UM, PUTTING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND US COUNSEL IN A POSITION WHERE WE COULD, UH, WHERE IT COULD COME BACK TO BITE US.
SO MY POSITION HADN'T CHANGED.
I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS ANYBODY ELSE? AND I'M IN AGREEMENT, UH, TO VOTE NO ON THIS AS WELL.
I DON'T LIKE WHEN WE GO BACK ON SOMETHING AND REVISE IT.
WE'VE DONE THAT WITH SOMETHING ELSE AND I WASN'T IN FAVOR OF THAT.
SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENT, I'LL CALL FOR THE VOTE.
THIS IS A VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND, CORRECT? HE SAID YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, YES.
[02:05:01]
MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
OKAY, NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE.
ANYONE COMMENT OR QUESTION ON THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE? I WOULD JUST SAY IT'S STILL A VALUABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY AND WE HAVE VOWED TO HOLD UP TO OUR END OF THIS DEAL IN THIS VERBAL AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE HAD.
ANYBODY ELSE COMMENT ON THE ORIGINAL MAN? THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE? I'M SORRY.
I WHAT MR. LOGAN CUNNINGHAM SAID.
CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL ON THIS ONE, PLEASE? COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
[19. 2025/35: AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2025, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2026, AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES ]
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE COMING UP TO THE LAST ONE.DON'T EVERYBODY CLAP 2025 SLASH 35 IN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE LEVY OF TAX FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1 25, AND ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026.
AND TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR SAID PURPOSES.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AS READ? SO MOVED.
WE DO HAVE, UM, MS. CROSBY HERE TO SPEAK AND I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE DR. RODRIGUEZ AND COLONEL GEIER, WHO HE CAME IN AFTER.
THEY'RE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE SUPER DESK STAFF.
WE HAVE LOTS OF SUPPORT THIS EVENING, SO I WANNA THANK THEM FOR ALL COMING.
UH, KNEW THAT WE WERE GONNA BE LAST ON THE AGENDA, SO I, I WARNED THEM WAY IN ADVANCE.
UM, I, WE GAVE A DETAILED REPORT LAST MONDAY TO THE, UH, COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO THIS EVENING, I'M GONNA KEEP IT RELATIVELY BRIEF.
I'M GONNA SPEAK MOSTLY FROM THE ONE PAGE BUDGET FLYER WE GAVE OUT.
UM, I'M KIND OF PROUD OF THIS ONE.
THIS YEAR WE, UH, UH, STARTED EARLY WITH A, A VISUAL THAT CAN, IT WAS VERY APPEALING AND SENT IT OUT TO VARIOUS GROUPS, PRINCIPALS, STAFF, UM, COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, SO I'M GONNA SPEAK JUST FROM HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT, UH, PRESENTATION.
I'M SORRY, MS. KRESSER, CAN YOU PUT UP PAGE 4 88 IN THE PACKET, SARAH? YES.
I'M SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE WHAT SHE'S REFERRING TO, SO, OKAY.
UH, EACH YEAR WE DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UH, PUBLIC FEEDBACK, UH, BOTH STUDENTS, STAFF, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, THE BOARD.
AND, UH, WE, UH, IN ALL OF THAT EFFORT EMERGED, UH, THREE MAIN PRIORITIES THIS YEAR, TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF COMPENSATION, ACADEMIC PROGRAM, EXPANSIONS, AND SAFETY AND SECURITY.
UM, SO OUR BUDGET REALLY SURROUNDED THOSE THINGS, WHETHER THEY INCLUDED NEW ITEMS OR JUST CONTINUING EXISTING ITEMS, UM, IN THE BUDGET.
UH, 80% OF THE INCREASES IN OUR BUDGET ARE FOR EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
SO THAT RELATES DIRECTLY TO OUR FIRST PRIORITY THERE.
UM, AND OUR MAIN, UM, IN INCREASE WAS FOR TEACHERS STARTING SALARIES.
UM, NOT JUST TEACHERS STARTING SALARIES.
UH, WE DID MAKE AN EFFORT TO BOOST THAT STARTING SALARY TO $60,087.
BUT EVERY OTHER SALE ACROSS THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE WILL INCREASE AS WELL BY $4,000.
UH, WE ARE PROPOSING A MAX STEP TO 30 STEPS.
UM, WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 28 AND MAY HAVE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO MOVE US TOWARD, UM, THAT EFFORT, UH, EACH YEAR, INCREASING THE STEPS SO THAT WE ARE KEEPING, HOLDING ON TO OUR MOST SENIOR AND VETERAN TEACHERS, UM, IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UH, SO THOSE EFFORTS HAVE BEGUN TO PAY OFF, BUT IT DOES TAKE TIME FOR, UM, FOR THAT TO WORK.
AND IT INCLUDES, UH, THE INCREASES INCLUDE ALSO A 3% STEP AND COST OF LIVING INCREASE, OR 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR CLASSIFIED ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF.
SO, UH, AT A GLANCE, OUR BUDGET AS, AS MS. PASS, UH, MS. TABER MENTIONED, IS 377 MILLION.
UH, THIS IS A 5% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET.
[02:10:01]
UM, AND IT IS, THE PROPOSED REVENUES THAT WOULD FUND THIS BUDGET ARE, UH, 66%, UH, EXCUSE ME, 64% LOCAL.SO TAX REVENUES, 36% STATE, AND JUST LESS, LESS THAN 1% OF FEDERAL AND OTHER TAX, UH, FEDERAL REVENUES WOULD SUPPORT IT AS WELL.
UH, FEDERAL REVENUES ARE PRIMARILY FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS.
UH, SO THOSE ARE SEPARATE AND RESTRICTED FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES LIKE TITLE ONE OR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
UH, SO THAT THAT SHIFT IS BEGINNING TO, UM, OCCUR WHERE THE LOCAL FUNDING IS BEGINNING TO CREEP INTO THE STATE FUNDING.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE A $2.6 MILLION DECREASE IN STATE AID TO CLASSROOMS THIS YEAR.
UH, AND ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME, UH, EFFORTS TO, UH, SHIFT THAT, UM, AND INCREASE THE TOTAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AT THE STATE LEVEL, OUR DISTRICT DID NOT BENEFIT FROM THOSE INCREASES.
UH, SO FINALLY, UH, THIS IN THIS BUDGET DOES INCLUDE AS A RESULT OF A LACK OF A REDUCTION IN STATE FUNDING, A REQUEST FOR A 4.3 INCREASE, UH, 4.3 MIL INCREASE, AND, UH, WOULD MOVE US TO 1 26 0.1 MILS.
UH, WE HAD NO INCREASE IN THE PRIOR YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WE HAD ACTUALLY A REDUCTION IN MILLAGE DUE TO REASSESSMENT.
UH, SO ALSO, UH, OUR BOARD APPROVES BOTH THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET, UH, AND THE DEBT SERVICE BUDGET.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE FLAT, AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I BELIEVE, SINCE, UH, 2019.
UH, AND THERE WILL BE NO INCREASED REQUESTED IN MILLAGE FOR THE DEBT SERVICE FUND.
SO, UH, SO THIS EVENING IS FIRST READING.
WE HAVE TWO MORE FOLLOWING THIS EVENING.
AND, UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY SUMMARY.
ANYONE ON COUNCIL HAVE A QUESTION? I MEAN, MS. CROSBY WENT THROUGH THIS IN DETAIL LAST TIME, AND WE HAVE ALL THE DETAIL.
AND UP ON THE SCREEN YOU COULD SEE THE MILLAGE.
ANYONE FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE SUPERINTENDENT CARE TO SPEAK, WE'RE HAPPY TO LISTEN TO YOU,
WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG EVENING FOR YOU.
UH, NOTHING, UH, NOTHING MORE TO ADD.
I THINK TANYA HAS COVERED IT VERY WELL.
I JUST WANTED TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, PERSEVERING, UH, AND, AND GETTING TO THIS, UH, FINAL ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
WE APPRECIATE YOU WELCOME AND OUR CONDOLENCES FOR DOING SIX HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS IN SIX STATES.
IF I CAN JUST MAKE A COMMENT, GO AHEAD.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, UM, WE HAVE KIND OF STEPPED BACK AND ALLOWED THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD TO DO THEIR JOB.
WE ALWAYS JUST BE HERE AND CRITI, YOU SEE, WE CAN NEVER GET ALONG ON ANYTHING, AND YOU GET 11 MEMBERS AS WELL THAT ARE ELECTED INDIVIDUALS.
SO, UM, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, UH, AND WHAT YOU DO.
AND AGAIN, IT, IT'S A BIG RESPONSIBILITY.
AND AGAIN, YOU, YOU ARE, UM, ADHERING TO THE SAME ELECTED OFFIC.
I MEAN THE, UH, SAME PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO.
SO, AGAIN, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO KEEP YOUR BUDGET AS LOW AS YOU CAN, BUT AGAIN, FOR US, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS, IS OFFERING A, A GREAT EDUCATION TO THE KIDS IN THE, IN THE, UH, COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH HAS SHOWN THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO MOVE HERE AND BRING THEIR KIDS HERE TO GO TO SCHOOL.
SO YOU MUST BE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.
SO, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT'S ON THAT SCHOOL BOARD WHAT YOU DO.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT AT TIMES, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU'RE ON THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE GOT.
AND AGAIN, I YOU HAVE MY A HUNDRED PERCENT SUPPORT.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. GLOVER? YES, SURE.
UM, JUST, JUST WANNA MAKE THIS COMMENT.
UM, DR. RODRIGUEZ, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS CHALLENGE TO YOU AS ALWAYS.
UM, WHEN, WHEN, WHEN I, WHEN I LOOK AT IT AND I APPRECIATE, UM, UM, THE SALARY OF TEACHERS, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, UM, WE HAVE REALLY COME A LONG WAYS, UH, IN GETTING HERE.
UM, I THINK WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, I THINK THE SALARY IS AROUND 35 OR 32,000.
AND BEING TOLD THAT THAT'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH FOR TEACHERS OR PERSON TO EVEN OWN A HOME HERE BECAUSE OF THAT.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE ARE THERE.
I I AM CHALLENGING YOU, UM, ALONG WITH, UH, THE UNIVERSITY TO, UM, TO START, UM, GROOMING HOMEGROWN POTENTIAL TEACHERS.
UM, THERE USED TO BE A, UH, TEACHER CADET PROGRAM, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT, UM, IF WE COULD DO THAT, WE CAN ACTUALLY, UM, MAYBE ABLE TO GET A LOT MORE TEACHERS,
[02:15:01]
UH, TO STAY HERE, EVEN THOUGH WE, WE DON'T OFFER THEM A WHOLE LOT, EVEN IF THEY'RE HERE.BUT, YOU KNOW, UM, I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, UM, I, I, I USE, UH, ST.
HENA AS A DEAD ROCK PLACE FOR ME TO STAY.
THEY, TO PUT MY HEAD, BUT FOR ENTERTAINMENT, ET CETERA.
UM, MAY TRAVEL TO CHARLESTON ON SAVANNAH TO CAPTURE OR EVEN GO TO ATLANTA, UM, TO CAPTURE THINGS AND STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SAYING ABOUT HOW WE CAN, UM, GROOM OUR HOMEGROWN CANDIDATES.
YES, I, I, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE, UH, WITH THOSE COMMENTS, WE, WE CONTINUE, UH, TEACHER CADET PROGRAMS. WE CONTINUE TO GROW THOSE TEACHER CADET PROGRAMS. UM, UH, MY OWN SON WHO GRADUATED TWO YEARS AGO IS A PRODUCT OF THE TEACHER CADET PROGRAM, AND GOING IN, HE'S IN HIS SECOND YEAR.
HE'S COMPLETED HIS SECOND YEAR IN THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
UH, AND SO, UH, SO IT, IT DOES HAVE AN IMPACT.
I AGREE WITH YOU AND, AND, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GROW THAT.
I NOTICED YOU, UH, RECOGNIZED THE INDUCTION TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
COULD YOU EX, I FORGOT TO MENTION, COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO COUNCIL WHAT THAT WAS? YES, MA'AM.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE, UH, TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AT EVERY SCHOOL.
AND, AND WE RECOGNIZE, UM, UH, SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR AT EVERY SCHOOL.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE AN INDUCTION TEACHER OF THE YEAR AT EVERY SCHOOL AND THESE, UH, AT, AT, UH, UH, AT SCHOOLS.
AND THEN WE IDENTIFY, UH, UH, TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RIGHT? AND SO THE, THERE'S A DISTRICT, UH, IDENTIFIED INDUCTION TEACHER OF THE YEAR AS WELL.
SO IN ESSENCE, UM, WE WANNA RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THOSE NEW, UH, INTO THE PROFESSION AND HERE WITHIN OUR, UH, LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, WITH, FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO, UH, AND, AND IDENTIFY THEM AND RECOGNIZE THEM, UH, AS PART OF IT.
WE ARE GOING BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, UH, WE, DO WE HAVE TO VOTE? VOTE YES.
I, I DON'T THINK WE NEED A ROLL CALL.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE AS READ? YES.
WE WILL GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ITEMS TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THANKS FOR WAITING SO LONG TO ADJOURN.
THE REGULAR MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURN.