8. PRESENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITY/PRODUCTIVITY AND PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR - John O'Toole, Executive Director, Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation

[8. PRESENTATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITY/PRODUCTIVITY AND PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR - John O'Toole, Executive Director, Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation]

YEAR. YES, EXACTLY SO LET'S MOVE ON THEN AND WE HAVE UP MR. O'TOOLE WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THIS IS JUST A PRESENTATION FOR THIS COMING YEARS PLAN FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR AND THANK YOU GO AHEAD AND TEE IT UP. YES. THIS IS SOMETHING AS YOU ALL KNOW IN THE PAST KIND OF HAPPEN ON A QUARTERLY BASIS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS JOHN HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN DOING SO COUPLE GO THAT IN PRACTICE AND IT'S WE WANT TO TAKE IT BACK OFF OF A YEAR OR TO KIND OF GET BACK IN RHYTHM OF COMING UP HERE AND SHOWING YOU EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. VERY GOOD. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

THANK YOU. MR. O'TOOLE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU, COUNSEL, FOR ALLOWING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE A IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORDS OF THE SONG BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE'VE BEEN BEFORE YOU TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW.

SO IF I COULD LIKE TO TEAR THROUGH WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON THERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE MY HOPE IS IS THAT I'VE DONE WELL THIS PRESENTATION WOULD BE A GREAT PIECE FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE WITH AND UNDERSTANDING OUR APPROACH TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT YOU FOR COUNTY AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO LOOK AT WAYS OF DOING THIS.

I'M CLICKING BUTTONS PRETTY QUICK AS YOU KNOW WE REALLY FEATURE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THE GROWING POPULATION AND OF THE MARINES AND THEN REALLY PROVIDING A LEVEL CARE TO PROSPECTS AS THEY COME IN HERE THE ARE THE IS THE MISSION STATEMENT AS IT WAS LAID OUT IN 2017 AND WE'VE KIND OF REFINED IT OVER OBVIOUSLY WE TAKE A A VERY VOCAL APPROACH TO IT.

WE LOOK AT OURSELVES AS COLLABORATOR NOT AS THE REASON FOR THE SUN.

COMING UP OR A DEAL BEING ENTIRELY DONE REASONS THAT 46 COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAVE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS IS BECAUSE RESIDENTS EXPECT TO DELIVER SERVICES AND WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD BRAND LIST AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE YOU'RE DAY AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE SINCE THE COUNCIL IN 2017 PUT THIS TOGETHER JUST BY A SHOW OF HANDS WHO WAS ON THE COUNCIL IN 2017 OKAY WE HAVE ALICE YORK AND GERALD SO YOU CAN FACT CHECK ME AS I GO

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THROUGH THIS. OKAY WE HAVE A BOARD I HAVE SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS.

LAST I CHECKED OUR CHAIRMAN JOHN BRAUN AND BLAKELEY WILLIAMS FROM DOMINION JONES WITH RTC. WE'RE REALLY BLESSED WITH THE BOARD AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO OUR BOARD MEETING WE TEND JUMP INTO OUR MISSION AND OUR WORK PROCESS IS REALLY IMPROVED BY THE INPUT OF THE BOARD AND I'LL SAY THIS BECAUSE IT WAS MISQUOTED OR OR PARAPHRASED AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO HEAR THE WHOLE THING TO UNDERSTAND OUR BRAND IS HUMILITY AND HOPEFULLY ANYONE WHO HAS SPENT TIME WITH ME CAN FEEL THAT WHEN THEY SPEND TIME WITH OUR TEAM. YOU FEEL THAT WITH THAT SAID WE HAVE A VERY TALENTED TEAM AND WE'RE QUITE PROUD OF THE WORK DO AND HOPEFULLY PRIDE IS NOT A SIN IN THEIR SENTENCE BUT WE'RE WE BELIEVE WE'RE VERY GOOD AT WHAT WE DO AND IF WE'RE OFF TRACK AND THIS IS THE OTHER THING SO HUMILITY DOING GREAT WORK AND ALSO I'VE TAKEN A PAGE FROM THE BLUE ANGELS AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT THEY LOOK AT THE ATTITUDE AND ALTITUDE OF THE FLIGHT AND THEY FESS UP AND FIX IT AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER WORKING YOU, KELLY BRUNSON AND BRIAN WARNER ARE ARE GREAT ADDITIONS TO OUR TEAM AND THEN THERE ARE THREE PILLARS THAT WE WORK.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE BALANCE ARE I THINK THERE'S GENERAL BUY IN IN TERMS WHAT MAKES GIFFORD SPECIAL AND WE THINK IN TERMS POLICY AND WE HAVE BEEN SURVEYING ON THIS FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON IN ADDITION TO JUST DEVELOPMENT WHICH WE WORK HARD FOR OUR TARGETS ARE REMAIN CLEAN AND IN CHECK WE HAVE THE CONVERGE SUMMIT EACH YEAR AND WE CHECK OUR PREMISE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TARGETS AND AS A RESULT OF RESIDENT INPUT AND WE'VE GOT WE HAVE ABOUT 450 PEOPLE ATTEND THEIR CONFERENCE WE SURVEY THEM BEFORE DURING AND AFTER WE GET SOME GREAT IDEAS FROM AS WELL.

IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN 2016 THE REALTORS GROUPS PUT TOGETHER A I BELIEVE IT WAS HELD AT SUN CITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND BOBBY HITT SAID GOING ON OVER HERE THE 45 COUNTIES HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND YOU'RE THE ONE COUNTY THAT DOES AND THE MAYORS AT THAT TIME SAID THAT WE'RE A TWO LEGGED STOOL. WE HAVE HOSPITAL AND TOURISM AND THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY THAT PROVIDE GOOD FOUNDATION. BUT IT'S LIKE HAVING TWO STOCKS IN YOUR PERSONAL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MORE DIVERSE PORTFOLIO SO THE MAYORS ENCOURAGED THAT AND COUNTY AT THE TIME THIS IS WHERE OUR OUR LONG STANDING COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN CHECK CHECK ME ON BACK BUT THEY GOT TOGETHER AND ASKED THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME LET'S LET'S DO THIS NOW KEEP IN MIND AND YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAPER IN THE LAST WEEK THAT THE FUNDING OF OF THE TOWNS WAS NEVER NEVER THE LION'S SHARE OF THE FUNDING CAME FROM THE COUNTY AND SO WE'VE TRIED TO REALLY LISTEN TO AND COUNTY LEADERS WE'RE IN YOUR DISTRICT DOING PROJECTS IN YOUR DISTRICT THE MONTH BEFORE WAS HIRED AND WE STARTED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION IN GUILFORD COUNTY ENTERED INTO A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE, FORGED TO MARKET THE COUNTY AND THE BYLAWS WERE ADOPTED IN 2017 AND THEN I WAS HIRED ON OCTOBER . MY FIRST DAY WAS OCTOBER 21ST, 2017 SO IT'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND AGAIN THE TOWN'S PARTICIPATED THEY KIND OF WORD THE WIND TO GET IT GOING.

THEY KIND OF CAUSED THE COLLABORATION, THE LION'S SHARE KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE GET TO THE END OF IT LOOKING AT A SCORECARD SO THE YEARS OVER THESE EIGHT YEARS YOU'VE PROVIDED JUST OVER MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING OF OUR OPERATION.

I WANT YOU TO HOLD ON TO THAT NUMBER BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT SPENDING $2 MILLION AND WHAT IF WHAT IF WHAT YOU GOT IN THE WAY OF RETURN BECAUSE TO ME ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES IS NOT JUST ACTIVITY IT'S NOT JUST NEAT TRIPS THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GOES ON OR THE STAFF GOES ON BUT IT'S RESULTS AND THEN WE'LL WE'LL SHOW YOU GRANT OUTSIDE AGENCIES GRANTS TO COMPANIES AND THEN PRIVATE DONATIONS AND WITH BRIAN ON THE SPOT THAT'S HIS JOB IS TO STEP DOWN NEXT YEAR TO MAKE UP FOR GAPS SO BUT WE'RE ALL WORKING ON IT TOGETHER IF YOU LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF GUILFORD COUNTY I THINK THERE ARE LIKE FOUR PREVAILING WINDS IF YOU WILL OR FORCES AT PLAY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCIAL RETAIL DEVELOPMENT, THE GREEN PENNY AND THE AND THE DESIRE TO KEEP OUR OUR OUR

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IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS PRISTINE AND THEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND AS SOON AS SOMEBODY HAS THEIR HOUSE BUILT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THEY SAY PUT UP THE GATE AND DON'T LET ANYONE BUILD BUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND I SPOKE OF A GENTLEMAN WHO USED TO DO IT IN OCONEE COUNTY, RICHARD BLACKWELL, THAT WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS DONE WELL IT CHANGES THE BRANCHES AND FAMILY TREES.

THE REASON WE WANT TO LOOK AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHETHER IT'S IN THE VETO OR THE FEAR FOR COMMERCE PARK POCKET SITE ON HILTON HEAD IS IS BECAUSE FUTURE GENERATIONS OR OR WHERE THEY START THEIR LIVES WHERE YOU ARE AND YOU'RE IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW PEOPLE NEED TO CREATE WEALTH SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY THE LEADER PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILY IN A DIGNIFIED WAY AND ALSO RETIRE END AND DECLARE BY WAY PRODUCT PRODUCT PLANT AND THIS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION I'LL COVER PARKER DRIVE WHICH WE JUST COMPLETED THAT PURCHASE THE NEXT SLIDE OR EXPLAIN SOME THE THINKING ON THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE ON WITH BINGO AND WE ACTUALLY THROUGH DOMINION WERE ABLE TO REDUCE COST OF THEIR PROPERTY BY 10% USING UTILITY TAX CREDIT . SO WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB WITH GREAT PARTNERS IN IN REDUCING THE COST OF OUR EFFORTS TO RESIDENTS SOUTH OF WHALE BRIDGE THAT'S ON THE RADAR. BUT AS YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOKED AT CHILDREN, IF SOMETHING'S NOT A GOOD FIT FOR GUILFORD COUNTY, WE CAN WALK AWAY FROM IT AS WELL.

RIGHT NOW SOUTH THE WHALE BRANCH WE'RE EVALUATING THAT AND BECAUSE THAT'S IN GERALD'S WE KEEP THEM APPRIZED ON ALL OUR THINKING THEY'RE OUT OF THE SAME.

WE HAVE A PROJECT OUT THERE WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED $1,000,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE. SHOULD WE GO AHEAD WITH THAT PROJECT? AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN A LIVELY DISCUSSION AT OUR BOARD MEETING ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO AND TOWARDS THAT END HAVE SOME COMMUNITY MEETINGS END OF JULY. WE'RE LOOKING AT A POCKET PARCEL AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP PET AND STAFF KELLY BRUNSON IS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO OVERCOME SOME OBSTACLES IN GETTING A SECOND SPEC BUILDING BUILT IN THE COMMERCE PARK.

WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD DO IF YOU WOULD BE SO INCLINED NOT TO TAKE A PAGE OUT OF MAYOR WILLIAMS WHERE HE TAKES YOU ON A MAGIC CARPET. BUT I'D LIKE TO FLY OVER BEAUFORT COUNTY AND SHOW YOU ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS WE'RE WORKING ON TO START ON PARKER DRIVE BECAUSE HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ON OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET AND WHAT WE PAID FOR THAT. I WHEN I SPOKE TO COUNCIL I MAY HAVE MISSPOKE AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE OWNER WANTED 6000 FOR IT. WE HAD AN APPRAISAL THAT SAID WAS WORTH 25,000 AN ACRE PER ACRE A 36 VERSUS 25. WE GOT THE OWNERS TO AGREE TO SELL IT FOR THE 25 BUT THEN WHEN WE WE DID OUR DUE DILIGENCE WE WENT OUT THERE WE HAD THOMAS IN HOUGHTON, A GREAT ENGINEERING FIRM. I DO WE HAD THOMAS IN PUTNAM GO OUT THERE AND LOOK AT THIS SITE AND WE TOOK THE ENTIRE ACRES. WE WOULD HAVE CREATED A STORMWATER FOR THE RESULTING PROPERTY FOR THE COMPANY WE WERE TRYING TO HELP WHICH IS GEISMAR IN NORTH AMERICA AND SO WE WE SCALED BACK THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY TO 14.77 ACRES INSTEAD OF EIGHT AND A QUARTER READERS AND SO WE THAT WITH CONFIDENCE SO THAT MOVED OUR COST UP TO 31,000 WE DID THAT WITH CONFIDENCE AND I'LL TELL YOU OUR CONFIDENCE PROVEN AS LATE AS LAST TUESDAY AFTERNOON IF YOU LOOK AT IT LET'S JUST SEE IF I CAN DO THIS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ADD DURING THE GLUT OF COFFEE BUT THIS STRETCH RIGHT ALONG HERE WE HAVE 31 ACRES. ON TUESDAY OF LAST WEEK WE HAD A COMPANY COME IN THAT WOULD BE THOSE PARCELS THAT START HERE WITH 26, 44, 66 AND JOHN DAVIS IS WHAT'S IT LIKE COUNCIL TO SEE THAT'S SCREEN YOU OH OKAY SO THESE PARCELS 1026 4466 AND 90 WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE I CAN READ THESE IN THE WE HAVE AN OFFER ON THOSE 31 ACRES FOR $40,760 THIS PARCEL IS 505,000 AND NO 2523 FROM THE PARKER DRIVE PASS SO. ALL OF THAT SAID I JUST HOPE

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THAT THE COUNCIL HAS CONFIDENCE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE MARKET WE ALSO HAVE A SECOND OF A PROPOSAL TO BUY A FIVE ACRE PARCEL HERE AT THE CORNER OF SHORT AND SCHWARTZ IN THE COMMERCE PARK FOR 40,000 SO WE KNOW THE MARKET IN THAT AREA IS 40,000 TO HELP PEOPLE AND AGAIN BACK TO THE FESS UP AND FIX IT I'M DOING THAT TODAY BUT WHAT I'M ALSO TELLING YOU IS IS THAT WE ARE AND KELLY'S PULLED THE TRIGGER ON HAVING A UPDATED APPRAISAL ON THOSE PARCELS AND WE'LL THINK WE'LL EVEN GET HIGHER HIGHER THE 40,000 SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY IF YOU GO TO CONTINUING TO FLY THROUGH PARK OF ONE WE HAVE A POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF BETWEEN ONE AND $2 MILLION TO HELP US GET OUT OF THE GROUND ON THIS SITE AND WE HAD A MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH THE STORMWATER ENGINEERS AND TOWN PLANNER OR CITY PLANNER FOR THE CITY OF BEAUFORT. SO WHERE WE HAVE TO PROPOSE TO BUILD THE SECOND SPEC BUILDING IN THE COMMERCE PARK FOR 72,000 SQUARE FEET GOING DOWN THE ROAD BRIAN WARNER IS WORKING WITH THE COMPANY OUT OF MAINE ON 302 PARKER DRIVE OF $17.2 MILLION INVESTMENT 161 JOBS AVERAGE PUMP IS 56 980 AND THAT WOULD ABSORB 83,000 SQUARE FEET THAT ARE VACANT TODAY SO THAT ON THE CALL THEY SAID TO BRIAN WE'RE COMING TO BEAUFORT WE'RE NOT COUNTING THIS YET.

THERE'S THIS PROJECT IS NOT COUNTED IN ANY NUMBERS THAT YOU'LL SEE FOR THAT MANY OF COUNTY STAFF AND PEOPLE IN APRIL WHO OUT TO TELL ECHO THE REASON I ADD THIS UP THERE'S I'M NOT REHASHING A PROJECT YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS STAFF WORKING WITH HANK EDMONSON ARE CONTINUING TO PROCESS THEIR GRANTS AND GET THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS SO AN ANNOUNCEMENT ISN'T THE END OF IT IN SOUTH CAROLINA THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE HAS A TAGLINE THAT SAYS FROM FROM LAUNCH TO LEGACY THANK YOU.

IT'S GOING TO SAY FROM BIRTH BUT FROM LAUNCH TO LEGACY. SO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE COMPANIES AS WE GO THROUGH IT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BIGGER INTEREST THINGS INTERESTING THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS BASED FISHERIES AND WE MET WITH THE COMPANY IN THE NETHERLANDS THIS AN EXAMPLE OF A FACILITY THEY'RE BUILDING IN MAINE BUT WE THINK THIS COULD BE VIABLE WHAT IT WOULD BECOME AGAIN WE'RE NOT COMMITTED TO IT. WE ARE GOING TO CAUTIOUSLY MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AG. WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDS TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME TO US AND SAY THEY'D LIKE TO PUT MEAT PROCESSING PLANT THERE AND POTENTIALLY WE MIGHT ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND THE ENGINEERING STAFF TO PUT A CHAIR A COMPOSTING FACILITY UP THERE.

THESE ARE JUST IDEAS. THIS IS AN IN IN STONE AT WHALE RANCH WE ARE WORKING WITH DEVELOPER WHO WANTS TO DEVELOP A HOUSING UP THERE THAT'S GOING TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL.

WE'RE NOT MARRIED TO WE ARE NOT ENDORSING IT BUT WE'RE HELPING THE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL THERE COULD BE 62 OR IF THEY'RE UNSUCCESSFUL 200 TO 70 ACRES THAT WE CAN WORK WITH. ROB MERCHANT AND HIS STAFF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE COUNTY IN THE FUTURE OUT ON THE SAINT HELENA WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH STAFF AND WITH YOUR CLEVER ON ON THE PROSPECT OF A MARKET PLACE IN IN THE CORNERS AREA A CULTURAL CENTER TOWARDS THAT END BY PUTTING THAT KIND OF ENERGY OUT THERE WE HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC INVESTOR WHO'S GOING TO BE MEETING WITH US ON JUNE 30TH TO GO OVER WHAT THE PROSPECTS ARE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY NOT JUST GERALD'S DISTRICT BUT THROUGHOUT YOUR COUNTY AND WE HAVE A PLANNED COMMUNITY MEETING HOPEFULLY THE LAST WEEK JULY AS WE DISCUSSED AT OUR OUR OUR BOARD MEETING, WE WOULDN'T GO FORWARD WITH THIS UNLESS THERE CONSENSUS IN THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE SUCH A PROJECT OUT ON SAINT HELENA WORTH NOTING THEY IN THE MIDST OF THE FISH COMPANY ARE IN THE MIDST OF INVESTING $3.8 MILLION.

KEEP IN MIND THIS PROJECT BE REPLICATED IN PORT ROYAL AS WELL WE'RE ABLE TO WORKING WITH OUR FRIENDS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF AG DELIVER HALF MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO HELP THEM WITH THIS PROJECT BUT THIS IS YOU KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT AND I GOT IT MY HEAD NOW ONCE THE LEGACY

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YOU KNOW IS 75 YEARS THIS IS A LEGACY COMPANY AND A LOT OF A LOT OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO KNOW THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS NOT JUST TRYING TO GET THE SHINING BRIGHT THING OUT THERE BUT WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE PIECE OF OUR ECONOMY THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR GENERATIONS IN PORT ROYAL YOU SAW THEIR FUNDING DECISION IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS WE THINK THE SAME MAGIC THAT WE'RE APPROACH THAT WE TOOK WITH THE GAME FISH COMPANY WE CAN GET THAT WORK IN PORT ROYAL THROUGHOUT THE SPRING I'VE ON CALLS WITH A ONE OF THREE DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE PROPOSED SITES COUNTY AND TOWARDS THAT YOU KNOW MONDAY, MONDAY AFTER MONDAY ALL SPRING EVEN FROM OVERSEAS AT 2 P.M. EASTERN TIME WE WERE ON A CALL WITH ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS WHO WANTED TO GET THE TEMPERATURE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. WE EXPECT A DECISION ON THAT OR .

WE'RE TOLD THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER AND WOULD BE THE FIRST DOMINO TO FALL THAT COULD HAVE US COLLECTIVELY LOOKING AT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AND THEN AS WE'RE WORKING WITH SCA AND THE USDA LOOK AT A RETAIL STRATEGY THAT GETS FUNDED, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE TO PORT ROYAL SOUTH IN THE BROAD AND WE DO NOT THINK THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY IS SOUTH OR NORTH THAT'S ALL BEAUFORT TO US BUT I'M I'M STILL NORTH AND BROUGHT HERE AT THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA LANDING PAD SKYDRIVE HAS RENEWED ITS LEASE AT 500. CARTERET WE HAVE TWO TWO NEW JAPANESE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN THE LANDING PAD AND. WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH WILLIAM FUGATE WHO BROUGHT THE SKYDRIVE HERE TO IDENTIFY MUCH LARGER COMPANIES THAT ARE ON WEDNESDAY WE HAVE LUNCH WITH ONE OF THE NEW COMPANIES THERE. WE'RE UNDER A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT PRETTY SERIOUS NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT BUT A VERY INNOVATIVE HAS TWO ENGINEERS WORKING AT THE LANDING PAD AND THIS COMPANY IS CALIFORNIA BASED BUT THEIR RECRUITING FROM BOEING AND FROM GULFSTREAM. SO WHAT PLACE TO BE THAN BEAUFORT COUNTY SO OUR LANDING PADS ARE RELEVANT AND OUR STARTING TO GAIN SOME SPEED NOW I'M GOING TO TELL YOU AND WE WORKED ON THIS PROJECT AND AGAIN TO GIVE ATTRIBUTION THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE OUR ORGANIZATION WORKED ON THIS LEAD TOGETHER LET'S SEE US INSTRUMENT A GERMAN COMPANY IS BUILDING THAT PLYWOOD BUILDING YOU SEE THERE AND THEY ARE GOING TO ESTABLISH THEIR U.S. HEADQUARTERS HERE AND WE HAVE A SECOND GERMAN COMPANY LOOKING AT BLUFFTON AND WELL AT FORT WALTER AND THEN IT JUMPED AHEAD OF MYSELF.

YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES CALLS COME IN TO US THAT NOT IN OUR SWEET SPOT IN TERMS OF DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY BUT IN THIS CASE WE WERE ABLE TO INTRODUCE A HOTEL FOUR STAR HOTEL HERE TO A DEVELOPER ON PARK WALTER AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE PROGRESSING THE DON RYAN CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND AND THINK ABOUT IT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU PAY US TO DO BUT IT GETS DONE AND THE PERSON HAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND THE QUALITY OF PRODUCT AND GRAND LIST GROWS IN GUILFORD COUNTY THE DON RYAN'S CENTER. WE CONTINUE TO KEEP SPACE THERE AS WELL AS THE DIGITAL HERE IN BEAUFORT BUT THEY LIKE THE LANDING CONCEPT SO MUCH THEY'RE REPLICATING IT NORTH OF THE SOUTH AND THE BROADER, MORE CONFUSED LIKE SOUTH OF THE BROAD IN BLUFFTON I'M BOB WALTER AND YOU CAN SEE THAT FACILITY IN THE LEFT IS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND AND THEN WITHIN THAT AREA WE HAVE BEEN INCENTIVIZED ALL OF THESE HEALTH CARE PRODUCT PROJECTS BUT THERE'S $400 MILLION WORTH OF HEALTH HEALTH CARE PROJECTS COMING IN THE GROUND IN THAT VICINITY AND IN SOME CASES DONE ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES FOR THEM IN SOME CASES WE'VE PROVIDED DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.

WE'VE PLAYED SOME SMALL CONTINUE TO FLY AROUND THE COUNTY AND I THINK I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE STOPS. SO THANKS FOR ENDURING THIS FLIGHT.

WHEN WE GET TO THE NORTH IN THE HILTON HEAD WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION STAFF HILTON HEAD TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT TAX MAYBE DO A FILL IN THAT GAP AND GET PROJECTS LIKE THIS BUT FROM THE GROUNDING FROM NO GO AND SO WE'LL WORK ON THAT THEN ALSO WE

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HAVE AN 18,000 SQUARE FOOT HEALTH CARE FACILITY THAT COULD COME OUT OF THE GROUND ON THE CLASSIC MOTOR SITE THAT THE TOWN LEADERS WANTED A LOW IMPACT STUDY TO JUST IF THEIR APPROACH TO PUBLIC POLICY MADE SENSE AND KELLY BRUNSON WORKING WITH CLEMSON PROVIDED THAT REPORT TO THIS ONE PROJECT CLOUD WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT IT $23,000,000.20 $3 MILLION PROJECT CLOSE TO 2451 JOBS AVERAGING 80,000 A YEAR 99,000 SQUARE FEET OF 5000 AND THAT WOULD BE A NEW FBO OF THE DAY WE'VE HAD A LEASE FROM THE DEVELOPER SINCE SEPTEMBER 15TH OF LAST YEAR AND SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE TRIED TO EMPHASIZE SIMPLE SWEPT IN CERTAIN WE'VE TO GET THEM IN ANSWER YES OR NO SO THAT FOR THE TOWN'S PURPOSES FOR THE COUNTIES PURPOSES, FOR THE INVESTORS PURPOSES JUST SO YOU KNOW AND THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO UNDERSCORE IT ON THIS PROJECT WE HAD NUMEROUS MEETINGS BUT PALMETTO FALL AND WITH PORT ROYAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT EMPHASIZES THE FACT THAT WE'VE DONE A 75 PROJECTS THROUGHOUT EVERY COUNTY OVER THESE EIGHT YEARS AND WE'VE NOT BEEN OUT OF STEP WITH NEIGHBORS OR ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND SO THAT IS REMARKABLE. WE HAD GREAT MEETINGS WITH THE NEIGHBORS ON THAT ONE ON THE ROAD WE'RE LOOKING AT A FOUR ACRE SITE AND WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE SOUTHERN SOUTH CAROLINA TEAM AND PALMETTO ELECTRIC TO GET THE COUPLE TOGETHER THE FUNDS TO GET THAT PROJECT MOVING AND WE MAY USE SITE JONATHAN SAID IF WE DO THAT WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND I FIGURED I HAVE TWO MORE STOPS BUT I DID STOP HERE YESTERDAY. SOMETIMES PEOPLE LOOK AT OUR GROWTH RATES AND SAY I JUST STOPPED THERE FOR THE PICTURES BUT IT HAVE GONE DOWN AND SIX WEEKS BUT IT'S NOT A HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM PROJECT AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE LOWER RIGHT THERE'S A OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND THE INGREDIENTS SIMPLY LOOK AT THESE BREWERIES AS MANUFACTURES AND THEY ARE A NICE COMPLEMENT TO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM NO DOUBT SO WE'VE WORKED WITH LEGENDS BREWERY. WE INTRODUCED ANOTHER HOTEL HERE THAT'S WELL THROUGH THEIR DILIGENCE STAGE A $75 MILLION PROJECT ON THE SOUTH, THE HILTON HEAD AND MORE TO COME THAT AS IT BECOMES PUBLIC AND THEN THIS LAST ONE CANNOT GOES FULL CIRCLE IF YOU WILL.

SO THE ADMINISTRATOR AND I HAVEN'T SAID A WORD OUT TALKING TO FOLKS ON ON THE BUS ABOUT YOU CAN GUESS WHAT BUT A LOT OF THINGS AND IT CAME UP THAT THEY HAVE A AN INVESTOR THAT'S LOOKING AT INVESTING OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE BUS AS PART THAT PROJECT WE CAN WE CAN CLOSE THAT LOOP AND GET THEM INTERESTED IN THAT SPEC BUILDING THAT WAS EARLY IN THIS FLIGHT OVER BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW COME FULL CIRCLE JUST AS WE LOOK AT THE YEAR AHEAD CONTINUE TO EXECUTE AND I'LL SHOW YOU WE CAN COORDINATE THAT WITH YOU GROW THE LANDING PAD AND GLOBAL OUTREACH WORKFORCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT PARTNERING WITH THE TOWNS AND YOU READ THE PAPERS LATELY WE'VE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB THERE PART OF FESSING UP AND FIXING IT LEVERAGING SITE DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION FUNDS AND I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THE TRACK RECORD IS ON THAT BETTER LEVERAGE OUR INVESTMENTS WITH THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE ACA AND ANOTHER HEAVY LIFT FOR BRIAN HE MEETS WITH 90 HE MET THIS YEAR HE MET WITH 83 COMPANIES AS OF TODAY THE NEXT YEAR HE'LL MEET WITH 90 COMPANIES. WE KEEP DATA ON THAT SO THAT WE HAVE A CRM DATABASE.

HOPEFULLY SOME OF THE INPUT WE GET THERE CAN INFORM PUBLIC POLICY AT THE TOWN AND COUNTY LEVEL AND PERHAPS EVEN IN THE STATE. SO AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE BOOK THIS YEAR AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE YOU KNOW YOU LOOK AT PROJECT WE HAVE ON ONE OF THE SCREENS AND I PROBABLY GLAZED OVER IT BUT OUT AT THE COMMERCE PARK WE HAVE A PROJECT LAUNDRY THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE GROUND IN PRICE ON THE STRUCTURAL STEEL THEY'RE INVESTING $35 MILLION FOR THE BRADLEYS THE AVERAGE PUMP. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY JOBS SO THIS YEAR WE'RE AVERAGING 4000 PER JOB AND AS WE LOOK AT IS READ THE MEDIAN INCOME LAST WE'VE SAID THAT THE AVERAGE INCOME IN BUTTE OR MEDIAN INCOME IN BEAUFORT

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COUNTY IS 41,000 SO REAL ESTATE ABSORBED IS 122,000 SQUARE FEET AND INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES AND INCENTIVES LOW. THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE'VE DONE PROJECTS NOT WITH COVERED BUT THAT PROJECT SUNSPOT THAT BRIAN'S ON THE $17 MILLION PROJECT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGE ON THAT ONE ALONE IS SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. SO THOSE NUMBERS WILL JUMP BUT WE'RE JUST NOT COUNTING THAT YET SINCE. INCEPTION WE'RE WE'RE NEARING $1 BILLION 3000 JOBS AVERAGE 16,000 ABSORBED OR NEW REAL ESTATE 1.5 MILLION AND INCENTIVES TO COMPANIES AND I WOULD CHAIRMAN TO SEE YOU WRITING WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET THIS GOOD EVERY MEMBER CAN GET A COPY OF THIS AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THE PUBLIC WILL WANT TO SEE THIS AS WELL. NOW LAST QUESTION I HOPE I HAVEN'T EXCEEDED EITHER INTEREST LEVEL OR YOUR TIME EXPECTATION BUT. IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT THE USE OF STATE FUNDS, RIGHT? WE USE TO INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES SO WE THIS WILL BE IN THE POWERPOINT. EVERY COMPANY THERE INVESTMENT JOBS CREATED JOBS RETAINED AVERAGE NEW JOB EQUIVALENT SO WE TAKE THAT MEDIAN MEDIAN INCOME OF 41,000 DIVIDED INTO THE ACTUAL WE MAKE THEM UP WITH THE DIFFERENT CALCULATION OF HOW YOU MEASURE FTE A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE AND SO IN THE 18 OUT THIS IS AN EYE CHART I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BUT I SUMMARIZE IT AND WE DO IT FOR EVERY YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN IN EXISTENCE AND SO THIS IS WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO IN THE 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO OUR OUR FORMATION THERE WERE $5 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENTS ACROSS TWO PROJECTS THAT WERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFIED NEARLY $1,000,000 OF INCENTIVES AND 72 JOBS CREATED IN THE EIGHT YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS WE'VE INCENTIVIZED TWO POINT I'M SORRY $277,000 WORTH OF INVESTMENTS 7277 MILLION.

THANK YOU. THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T STAFF THANK YOU.

AND MY DAD WAS A MATH TEACHER WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE SHOCKING AND.

AND SO WE INCENTIVIZED THOSE PROJECTS BY 1.4 MILLION OF OF THE SITE AND JOB FUNDS CREATING 1000 JOBS. NOW WHAT DOES THAT ADD UP TO? THAT MEANS THAT IN THE 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO OUR FORMATION YOU USE $19 AND 34 THE COUNTY DID USE $19.19 AND $0.35 PER $100 INVESTED TO INCENTIVIZE THE PROJECT. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR USE OF YOUR FUNDS, THE SITE JOB WE HAVE BEEN AVERAGING $0.50 PER $100 OF INVESTMENT.

NOW LET'S LOOK JOBS IF IN THE 18 MONTHS YOU CREATED 72 JOBS WITH NEARLY $1,000,000, THAT'S $13,000 PER JOB YOU PAID TO AND I LIKE TO THINK WE'RE CONSERVATIVE MYSELF, MY STAFF EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T READ $1,000,000 NUMBER BUT WE ARE WE ARE AVERAGING AT 1300 PER JOB.

NOW KEEP IN MIND I'LL JUMP BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES. THE ACTUAL NUMBERS IN JOBS WERE MUCH HIGHER. WE DON'T INCENTIVIZE EVERY JOB. WE DON'T INCENTIVIZE EVERY DOLLAR THAT CAME IN. SO OUR ACTUAL NUMBERS I COULD REPORT THEM AS BEING LOWER NOW WHERE WE PERFECT NO IF WE WORK REALLY HARD YES AND TOWARDS MAKING SURE WE DO A BETTER JOB . WHAT I'M SUGGESTING TODAY IS THAT WE HAVE FACILITATED STRATEGIC SESSION WHERE WE INVITE ALL OF THE COUNTIES AND THE COUNTY OFFICIALS NATIVE AND INTERESTED RESIDENTS AND GO THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLANNING WHERE WE WE REAFFIRM OUR GOALS WE SOLIDIFY THE ALIGNMENT WITH IF WE'RE AT A STEP AND TO BE REAL HONEST AS WE SPOKE ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS WE'VE INCENTIVIZED EVEN IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS IT APPEARED WE'RE OUT OF STEP. SO I THINK WE DO HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND THEN IF WE DO THAT WE CAN CLARIFY THE OF SECOND JOB FUNDS AND THEN ALSO WE CAN EVALUATE RESULTS MAKE SURE WE'RE FOCUSED, MAKE SURE WE HAVE FUTURE FUNDING AND ALIGN THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS SO THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY BE HERE TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. TOOLE.

THANK YOU. A VERY, VERY GOOD PRESENTATION, VERY THOROUGH.

[00:40:02]

WE APPRECIATE THAT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THIS COMMITTEE? MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE ONE BUT GO AHEAD, PAULA AND. I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THERE'S GOT TO BE A HARD TO HOTEL BLUFFTON. DO YOU KNOW CAN YOU TELL US APPROXIMATELY WHERE THAT'S GOING TO BE MIGHT BE GOING IN THE COURSE OF YOUR ON MY BOARD? YOU CAN COVER THAT.

OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. HAPPY TO. ALL RIGHT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT THOUGH. WE NEED ONE OF THOSE LONG TIME. WE JUST KNOW WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT FOR BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT.

OH OH, YOU'RE RIGHT. I KNOW. OKAY.

I CAN ASSUME. OKAY, GOOD. WELL, IT WON'T BE GOOD FOR YOU THIS YEAR. YOU'RE OKAY ANYWAY. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU.

THE I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS PLEASE. YOU JUST SAID THAT WE WE ARE OUT OF STEP WITH WHAT WAS INCENTIVIZED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF .

GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE. YOU JUST YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SAYS AND I WAS THINKING OF YOU AS I SAID THAT ON THE ON THE NURSING GRANT THAT WE PROVIDED IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT WE MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE COMMUNICATING TO US. BUT WE DID GIVE THEM THE MONEY.

YES, IT WAS APPROVED. I UNDERSTAND. DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE YOU TOOK THAT FROM THE SITE AND JOB FUND, RIGHT? YES.

AND YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THE FUNDING ? YES. OKAY. WELL WE'LL DISAGREE ON THAT ONE. SO YOU MENTIONED SAYING HOW LONG YOU HAVE $1,000,000 RECEIVED AND THE SLIDE IT SAID CULTURAL HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT. IS THAT FROM THIS STUDY AGAIN IT WAS DONE BY THE COUNTY TWO YEARS AGO. NO, BUT IS THAT FOR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE A AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP ME BUT IT'S IT'S ON THE SLIDE BUT WE RECEIVED $1,000,000 GRANT FROM THE PARKS STATE I KNOW FROM THE STATE BUT I MEAN WHAT'S THE PROJECT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE? THE PROJECT WOULD BE HOPEFULLY FOR AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTER ON SAINT HELENA ALONG WITH THE CULTURAL PART.

SO WE'RE AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY THE STUDY ON THE PERFORMING ARTS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER HAS IT AT A DEFICIT FOR TEN YEARS EACH YEAR AT LEAST $250,000.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHY WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT. BUT OKAY, THAT'S MY QUESTION.

DO YOU WANT IT ANSWERED? AHEAD? I WOULD SAY THAT YOU HAVE ONE STUDY AND YOU HAVE ONE OPINION. IF WE'RE ABLE MEET WITH PHILANTHROPIC ENTREPRENEURS THAT WANT TO INVEST IN THAT SHOULD WE NOT CONTINUE THAT CONVERSATION AND? I'LL SAY THIS THAT WHETHER IT'S MITCHELL HILL OR GREAT RESTAURANT OR A GREAT SHRIMP SHACK NEAR HIGHLAND, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE THEY WILL GO THERE.

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF QUALITY, PEOPLE WILL FIND IT.

AND SO I THINK OF A LOT OF THINGS I THINK WOULD BE BEACH NOURISHMENT WHEN KNOW YOU PROBABLY GET PAID BACK ON THAT BUT ON THE ROAD IT'S ON DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. WHAT'S THE RETURN ON THAT? I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE PARTS IN THIS COUNTY THAT HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK I HAVE SHOWN OUR ORGANIZATION HAS SHOWN THAT IF WE'RE WRONG AS WE WERE WITH THE PROPERTY UP AND EVERYTHING WE CAN WE CAN HIT REVERSE BUT WE'RE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT TRYING TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES IN COOPER COUNTY AND IF WE CAN DO THAT BY EXPLORING THIS AND WE COULD LET'S SAY AND I DON'T MEAN TO PUT ANYONE ON THE SPOT BUT IF MAGIC JOHNSON OR AN OPRAH OR THE PERSON I'M GOING TO MEET ON JUNE 30TH IS INTERESTED IN MAKING VIABLE I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE IT IN MY LIFETIME MAKING IT VIABLE TO BUILD.

BUT WHAT ABOUT LONG TERM THE COST TO THE COUNTY? THAT'S MY CONCERN THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP. IT'S FINE TO HAVE AN ENTREPRENEUR BUILD IT AND THEN THERE'S COST TO THE COUNTY WHICH WE THEY PAID FOR STUDY. I ON THE COUNCIL WHEN IT WAS PAID FOR BUT IT SHOWED TWO YEARS AGO A DEFICIT OF AT LEAST $250,000 EVERY YEAR FOR TEN YEARS. SO IT'S FINE SOMEONE TO BUILD IT BUT THEN IT BECOMES A COUNTY BUT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FACT THAT'S THAT'S NOT A DEFINITE.

THAT'S ONE CONSULTING FIRM I BELIEVE CHICAGO WAS SUBPOENAED I WILL SAY THIS I I WAS IN THE COUNTY CHAMBERS IN THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR WHEN COUNCILPERSON HOWARD ASKED WHAT IS THE STORMWATER GOING TO COST ON A DEVELOPMENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF 170 AND 278 OF WHICH THE COUNTY AGREED TO PAY 50% OF THE STORMWATER COST AND THEY SAID THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION THOUGH

[00:45:06]

THEY DIDN'T ANSWER IT AND THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FUND THE STORMWATER ON A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT SO THE SOUTH OF THE BROAD I DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE THE QUESTION TO IF IT'S VIABLE I I MET WITH I THINK IT WAS JOHNSON ASSOCIATES ON THAT AS THEY DID THEIR STUDY BUT I I'VE READ THE STUDY THAT'S THEIR OPINION BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE DO IN THIS COUNTY WHERE THERE'S NOT A CLEAR RATE OF RETURN YET WE PURSUE THEM AND I DO THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH THAT IF IF ON SAINT HELENA THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE A VIABLE PRODUCT PEOPLE WOULD MAKE THE DRIVE. AND MY LAST QUESTION IS YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU WILL BETTER LEVERAGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SCA WHICH FOR THE PUBLIC WE PAY $120,000 MEMBERSHIP.

HOW WILL YOU SPECIFICALLY BETTER YOUR MIS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH SCA AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION I KNOW KEEP IN MIND KEEP IN MIND IT'S NOT JUST THE 120,000 THEY ALSO ARE FUNDED BY OUR AFFILIATION $180,000 OR THEREABOUTS TO PROVIDE SOME FUNDS.

SO THEY'RE GETTING $300,000 IN GEAR COUNTY TAXPAYER DOLLARS DAY YOU'RE IN YOU'RE IN PUBLIC POLICY. I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC POLICY FOREVER AND FEELS LIFETIME WHEN YOU PAY SOMEBODY YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO A JOB AND YOU WERE AT THAT COUNCIL A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION MEETING WHERE THAT CONVERSATION WAS ASKED AND IT'S REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WE CAN IGNORE THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT MARKETING VERY WELL FOR US BUT WE ASKED A QUESTION AND IT GOT A LITTLE BOTHERED. OUR CHAIRMAN JOEL BRAUN IS ON BOARD. HE'S HAD HUNDREDS OF FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS WITH JOHN FLEMING AND THEY'RE NOW TALKING ABOUT HOW HOW TO TAKE KIND OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT KELLEY BRUNSON HAS THAT OUR COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL AS OUR CONSULTANT MIKE FLYNN TO MAKE SURE AND THINK THAT THIS AND I I I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION CLICK ON SEARS WEBSITE AND FIND ONE MENTION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND WHAT ARE VALUE AND WHEN YOU'RE ON THEIR WEBSITE YOU'LL SEE THE NAMES OF ALL THE COUNTIES YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU CAN HIT ON AN OR VAUGHN OR BAMBERG AND FORGET ABOUT BEAUFORT A SECOND BUT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO HIT ON THOSE COUNTIES AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY ARE RELATIVE TO THE WORLD ,WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL, WHAT YOU'RE MARKETING THEM. SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE IN THE PREDICAMENT WE ARE RIGHT EIGHT YEARS LATER IS VERY CONFUSING BUT WE HAVE YOU KNOW, I'VE I'VE WORKED WITH EIGHT DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATORS AND I'M NOT EVEN AT EIGHT YEARS I'M CONFIDENT I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN PINK CITY AS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR ADMINISTRATOR MIKE MOORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD HEALTHY CONVERSATION. WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE THAT LAYING AROUND ANY LONGER.

SO IT'S A IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AS CONSTRUCTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. BUT I'M GLAD YOU ASKED BECAUSE YOU ARE PAYING 120,000 AND WHAT WOULD THE TAXPAYERS THINK IF YOU PAID FOR SOMETHING AND RECEIVED VERY LITTLE IN RETURN ? THAT WAS KIND OF MY IMPRESSION THAT I GOT FROM THAT MEETING.

SO THAT'S I WAS ASKING SPECIFICALLY HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE OUR MONEY TO, GET A BETTER PAYBACK? YEAH. AND YOU OUR CHAIRMAN JOE BRYAN WILL APPROACH THAT ALONG WITH MIKE MOORE AND HANK EDMONDSON AND HOPEFULLY KELLY BRUNSON.

IT WAS GREAT EXPERTIZE MARKETING SO THAT WE CAN DO IT CONSTRUCTIVELY I THINK YOU KNOW I HATE TO ANSWER A QUESTION LIKE THAT PUBLIC BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE PUSHING TO GET THE TAXPAYERS HERE FOR THE BEST POSSIBLE MARKETING THEY COULD EXPECT FOR $120,000. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO HEAR GETS OUT.

IT'S PUBLIC MONEY. YES. IT'S IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT SOME OF US ON COUNCIL KNOW THE STORY BEHIND US BEING A PART OF THE FCA LIONS THE COUNCIL BEFORE SOME OF YOU WE WERE NOT IN AN ALLIANCE AND WE WERE ENCOURAGED AND MORE OR LESS TOLD YOU KNOW OR BELIEVE REALLY BY INFLUENCE THAT WE BECOME A PART OF THE OF AN ALLIANCE.

[00:50:03]

AND THEN IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE JOIN HERE SO THAT WE COULD DRAW DOWN MONEY FROM FROM THE STATES TO HELP US AND IN THE PROCESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO WE CAN'T PUSH THAT OFF.

WE ARE IN THAT ALLIANCE BECAUSE OF STATE INFLUENCE AND I JUST WANT ALL OF US TO BE AWARE OF THAT. JOHN, LET ME SAY THIS I THANK YOU FOR YOUR YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND INITIATIVE TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE BY BRINGING OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOBS TO HUMANKIND AS THAT'S WHAT I WHEN I CAME ON THE COUNTY WHEN I OF COURSE MY PLATFORM I SERVED ON THE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE FOR COUNCIL AND WE STOOD UP THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND GAVE THEN BROUGHT YOU IN AS THE DIRECTOR AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE BEEN PROGRESSING MAKING PROGRESS. PRIOR TO THAT WE WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING ECONOMIC. SO IF THIS WAS ECONOMIC THE GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN SO IT WAS EARLIER ABOUT WE THE COUNTY AND WE WILL ACTUALLY OPERATING OFF OF TOURISM AND WE'LL TAX THE PROPERTY TAXES TO CREATE A SCHOOL AND SO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THE THIRD THING THAT IS ACTUALLY THE COUNTY NOW TO SEE PROSPERITY A DIFFERENT AND A DIFFERENT VIEW OF GOING BACK TO THE OLD PROJECT WE CAN'T SO WE WANT TO INCREASE THE PROPERTY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU CAN GET US GOING EITHER ON THOSE TWO PROPERTY OR AND INTO THE VEHICLE PARK IN GENERAL WHERE THE OLD CHEMICAL USED TO BE WE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING IN THERE AND SHORT AND AND I'M NOT SAYING WE JUST TRY AND PUT ANYTHING IN THERE WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY VALUABLE BUT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING IN THERE WE'RE ENTERING INTO THE SOME MONTHS OF FISHERY AND WE HAD THAT ISSUE PRIOR TO MANY OF YOU ALL COMING ON COUNCIL. ALEX YOU MIGHT REMEMBER YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WE HAD TO DO A FEW OF THEM WITH THE JAIL IN GENERAL OPERATING OUT OF THAT.

OH THAT PROPERTY AND IT WAS A DETRIMENT OUR WATERWAYS AND TO OUR FISHERIES AND SO THE WAY THAT AND DO IT IS SO ON INDUSTRIAL AND SO WE STILL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF THOSE FOLKS COMING BACK AND WE CAN'T DENY THAT BECAUSE OF THE ZONING. SO IT'S INCUMBENT US TO GET THESE PROJECTS GOING IN THAT PARK SO THAT THOSE FOLKS DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO ACTUALLY OR NO VIABLE MEANS OF COMING BACK AND CAUSING HEADACHES AND TOWARDS THAT END KELLEY BRUNSON WAS ON THE PHONE WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL THE PERSON HAD THAT WOULD APPROVE OUR VOLUNTARY CLEANUP CONTRACT THAT KIND OF DRAWS THE LINE IN TERMS OF OUR LIABILITY FOR POLLUTION IS OUT UNTIL THE END OF NEXT WEEK BUT WE SHOULD HAVE THE PCC ON THE HUNDRED AND 17 ACRE SITE THAT 93 ACRE SITE WHICH IS THE MORE PROBLEMATIC THEY DO NOT WANT TO SELL SO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS HAVE USING FREEDOM OF INFORMATION WE'RE TRYING TO GET ALL THAT DATA SO THAT WE CAN WORK WITH HANK MIKE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEM THROUGH POLICY TO CLEAN THAT PROPERTY UP. I GUESS WE HAVE ONE MORE THING REAL QUICK BECAUSE.

AGAIN, WE'RE WE'RE IN OUR 3:00 MEETING HERE SO I NEED TO SEE AND APPRECIATE THE STILL TO COME. WE'RE STILL GETTING WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND INCLUDING SEEING ELEANOR IN HERE AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT MR. TOONE WHEN YOU FIRST GOT ON THE PAYROLL YOU CAME TO MY MET IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT GROUPS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, FARMERS, MINISTERS ETC. AND JOHN MADE A COMMITMENT TO THESE GROUPS YEAH I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU BUT I WILL COMMIT TO DOING SOMETHING AND JOHN HAS KEPT IT AND PART IT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF STAKEHOLDER WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF THINGS AND PART OF THAT CULTURAL ASPECT IS THE CULTURAL EVENTS CENTER IS NOT THE PROJECT IS A PART OF A GREATER PICTURE AND I THINK JOHN IS WORKING WE'LL BE WORKING WITH

[00:55:02]

THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL PRESENT THIS TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING FORTH SOMETHING A COMPLETE PACKAGE TO DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT THE ECONOMIC PROJECT WOULD BE BUT THE CULTURAL EVENTS BE THE HUB IS NOT ALL OF IT IS MORE IT THAN THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT AND I THANK YOU JOE FOR KEEPING YOU CAN SING ALONG IN YOUR WINDOWS. ALL RIGHT, MR. BROWN YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT WE NEED TO GET ON I WANT TO DISCUSS THIS AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AND JUST GIVE ME AN IDEA OF ANY COUNCIL PERSON AS A QUESTION. HERE'S SOMETHING ZANY FEEL FREE TO CALL ME AND I'LL TRY TO PROVIDE YOU MY FIRST GOOD GREAT JOB TODAY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK ON A QUARTERLY BASIS AND OBVIOUSLY HOPEFULLY YOU'VE SEEN THIS COUNCIL PUSH FORWARD TO GET YOU WHAT YOU NEED. SO AGAIN I'M NOT PERFECT. YOU'RE NOT PERFECT BUT AGAIN HERE WE'RE HERE YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AND AGAIN YOU HAVE PROVED AS YOU MENTIONED INTEGRITY EARLIER HAVE COME FORWARD AND YOU'VE SAID WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND YOU'VE DONE IT WHICH WE APPRECIATE THAT MAKE SURE. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON THEN

[9. REQUEST TO PURCHASE (1) LT 40 OR COMPARABLE BUCKET TRUCK FOR TRAFFIC MANAGMENT FROM A STATE APPROVED VENDOR OR APPROVED COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT (Fiscal Impact: not to exceed $199,999, GL code 4000-80-3500-54000: Fleet Service Vehicle purchase account in fund 4000 with current balance of $423,480.26 as of 6/9/25) - John Robinson, Assistant County Administrator, Public Safety]

WE HAVE TWO MORE THINGS ON OUR AGENDA TO COVER . LET'S GO ON TO NUMBER NINE AND REQUEST TO PURCHASE ONE LTE 40 OR COMPARABLE BUCKET TRUCK FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT A STAFF APPROVED VENDOR AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME BEFORE US PREVIOUSLY THAT TRUCK WAS THEN SOLD WE COULDN'T GET IT SO SO SO THIS IS COMING BACK UP AGAIN THIS IS WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT THAT IF WE PICK THIS TRUCK IF WE CAN GET IT GREAT. IF NOT WE STILL CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT VEHICLE. SO LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO WRITE A SECOND A SECOND AND IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS? NO DISCUSSION.

[10. A REQUEST TO PURCHASE (1) LT 40 OR COMPARABLE BUCKET TRUCK FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FROM A STATE APPROVED VENDOR OR APPROVED COOPERATIVE PURCHASING AGREEMENT (Fiscal Impact: Not to exceed $199,999 GL Code 4000-80-3500-54000: Fleet Service Vehicle purchase account in fund 4000 with a current available balance of $423,480.26 as of 6/9/2025) - John Robinson, Assistant County Administrator, Public Safety]

WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION. I SEE NO OBJECTION.

LET'S THEN MOVE ON TO NUMBER TEN WHICH IS THE SAME THING EXCEPT FOR THE SECOND TRUCK ONE WAS FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND THE SECOND ONE IS FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

CAN I ASK SOMEONE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR SECOND THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS QUESTION? YES, THE AIR FROM MY COMPUTER WENT DOWN. THIS DOES NOT INDICATE HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE THE ACCOUNT AND THESE ARE THESE THREE ITEMS COME UP TO $217,000 I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S AVAILABLE FUNDS IN ACCOUNT. AND JUST THAT NOTE. YES, MY YES, I'M UNDER FISCAL IMPACT. YEAH, I'M SORRY. WHAT WAS 423,000 HUNDRED 3000 AS OF YEAH BUT THAT'S FOR EACH ONE AND THERE'S THREE OF THEM SO I JUST COULD ANSWER IT ON EACH OF THE EACH OF THE CURRENT TRUCKS THAT WE HAVE QUOTED FOR A MANUFACTURER FOR $170,000 $155 BILLION THE CURRENT QUOTED TRUCKS WE THE PREVIOUS QUOTED TRUCKS THAT WERE SOLD BOTH AT PURCHASE ORDERS SO THEY ARE THEY ARE ENCUMBERED IN THE BUDGET THEY WERE $188,893.

SO WITH YOUR APPROVAL TODAY THOSE TWO EXISTING PURCHASE ORDERS WILL BE AVOIDED OR CANCELED AND THEN TO PURCHASE ORDERS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS AMOUNT AND THE DIFFERENCE OF THOSE WILL BE TWO VEHICLES. ONE IS GOING TO BACK THE CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE WHICH IS LIKE $47,000. THAT'S WHERE TOTAL ACCOUNT BALANCE OF THAT 400 TO 423800 $480.26 COMES FROM THERE. THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? CAN WE APPROVE THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION AND GOT ALSO JUST A REMINDER BACK EARLIER THIS FISCAL YEAR YOU MADE A $3.3 MILLION BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM $5 INTO THIS THIS IS A PART OF THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITHIN THAT TRANSACTION SO WE'LL PASS WITHOUT OBJECTION SEEING NO IT PASSES AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU ASKED TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE W

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.

Jun 16, 2025 Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee

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