[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
IT IS THURSDAY, JULY 10TH, 2025.
PORTABLE HOUSING MEETING IS NOW IN ORDER.
COUNCILWOMAN EMILY BURDEN HERE.
UM, WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM JUNE 5TH.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PUPPY COMMENTS? YOU, YOU ARE THE ONLY PUPPY YOU HAVE, SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A COMMENT.
MEG JAMES IS IN WITH US FOR THE RECORD.
UH, WE ACTUALLY ARE A SMALL FAMILY OWNED RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR.
WE WILL HOUSES HERE IN THE BEFORD COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY.
SO, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THAT I CAN HAVE FOR YOU GUYS IS THAT, UM, ARE YOU GUYS DOING SOMETHING FOR SMALL BUILDERS OR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOU, TO GET TO KNOW ABOUT THIS COMMITTEE? AND WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING, UH, IN, IN, IN A WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE RESIDENTS AND WITH THE BUILDERS ITSELF? DO YOU GUYS HAVE A, UH, WEBPAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA, THINGS OF THAT NATURE? OKAY.
I'M, I'M GOING TO DEFER THAT QUESTION TO THE TOWN MANAGER.
SO, UM, PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LATER TODAY IS HOW TO GET MORE INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, BRING PEOPLE INTO.
I KNOW, UH, THE CHAIRMAN, UH, COUNCIL HAMILTON, UH, HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THAT.
HE'S GOT ONE LOCAL SMALL BUILDER WHO'S ACTUALLY BUILDING THREE UNITS RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT MOST OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON IN THE PAST HAS BEEN WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, UM, AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN TO GO WITH THAT.
BUT WE'VE ALSO WORKED TO DO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
MOST OF WHAT WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN ON PROPERTY WE OWN.
UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY YOU ARE LOOKING AT OR THAT YOU OWN, THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO WORK ON GROWING, BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON REALLY HAS BEEN MORE GEARED TOWARDS PROPERTY WE'VE PURCHASED TO ACTUALLY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON.
I WOULD ASK YOU IF IT'S OKAY, UM, HAVING COME FROM THE HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, THAT WAS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, AN EFFORT THAT WE TRIED TO MAKE TOO, WHICH WAS, WAS USUALLY AROUND SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
BUT WHERE WOULD BE GOOD OUTLETS? WHERE, LIKE WHERE WOULD YOU SEE INFORMATION IF THE TOWN SENT IT OUT? SOCIAL MEDIA.
LIKE AN EMAIL OR EMAIL LIST TO THEIR CONTRACTORS THAT ARE ALREADY REGISTERED.
WELL, HBA RIGHT, HBA IS ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES TO GO THAT, UH, EVERYONE, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE HBA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THESE MEETINGS.
ABOUT THE GOOD THAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO.
UM, SO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT BUT NO ONE KNOWS THAT YOU'RE SELLING IT.
SO YES, SOCIAL MEDIA WILL BE THE FIRST WAY TO GO.
AND THE TOWN DOES HAVE A EMAIL LIST FROM THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE ALREADY DOING WORK TOO.
SO YOU CAN TELL ME WHO TOOK OVER FROM YOU, RIGHT? YES.
SO THAT IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, OUR PUBLIC GUEST, OUR GUEST TODAY IS ALSO NOT ONLY IS THE BUSINESSMAN, BUT HE'S ALSO THE HUSBAND OF ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE PROJECT THAT WE ARE DOING AT 97 GO THROUGH ROAD.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND, UM, AND SUPPORTING YOUR WIFE, UH, TODAY,
[00:05:01]
ALRIGHT.UM, WE'VE, UM, WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HERE AND WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF SENIOR STAFF AND THE TOWN MANAGER BECAUSE WE ARE EMBARKING ON THE, ON THE EFFORT TO HAVE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
AND SO BEFORE YOU GO THERE, LET ME GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.
WE HAVE SPENT SOME MONEY IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
SO LOOKING AT OUR MEMO, FISCAL YEAR 2025 ENDED ON JUNE 30TH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO ASSIST 42 FAMILIES WITH THE TOWN SAFE AND DRIVE PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25 31 HOMES RECEIVED SERVICES FROM MINOR HOME REPAIR.
ONE HOME WAS DEMOLISHED FOR SAFETY ISSUES, ONE HOME RECEIVED PROPERTY CLEANUP ASSISTANCE, SEVEN HOMES RECEIVED SEPTIC SERVICE AND TWO HOMES RECEIVED.
TREE SERVICE STAFF WILL BEGIN PROCESSING ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 ON MONDAY, JULY 7TH.
CURRENTLY SEVEN HOMES ARE WAITING FOR ESTIMATE SUBMITTALS.
STAFF IS ALSO WORKING ON TWO PROJECTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WITH SAVE THE SHUTTERS.
SO AS OF THIS YESTERDAY, FOUR ESTIMATES WERE PUT IN AND WERE APPROVED.
AND I HAVE FOUR MORE TO PUT IN.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE HOLDING EIGHT JOBS TO START, UH, FISCAL YEAR 2026 IN THE FIRST WEEK.
SO WE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS ALWAYS.
AND THEN I BRING YOU THE EXCEL SHEETS.
SO LET ME SHRINK THIS DOWN FOR YOU.
HERE'S WHERE WE'RE STARTING FRESH.
HERE'S WHERE WE ARE CLOSING OUT.
THIS IS OUR CLOSEOUT FOR LAST, UH, FISCAL YEAR.
SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, WHERE OUR HOME REPAIR SET, WHERE OUR ABATEMENT AND DEMOLITION PROPERTY CLEANUP, SEPTIC PUMP OUT TREE MITIGATION.
UM, AS YOU SEE, WE NOT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY TOUCHED, WELL I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED A PRIVATE PRO ROAD REPAIR.
I THINK ONLY ONCE BACK IN 2021, THE E 9 1 1 ADDRESSING.
I HAVE NOT TOUCHED THOSE FUNDS.
I HAVE WORKED WITH RYAN A FEW TIMES JUST TO CORRECT SOME ADDRESSES, BUT NOTHING THAT WE HAD TO SPEND MONEY ON.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE CLOSE OUT FISCAL YEAR 2025 THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS? DIDN'T WE SAY THE SEPTIC PUMP OUT WAS MOSTLY COMPLETE OR THE YES.
SAY IF A TOILET BACKED UP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SEPTIC PUMP OUTS.
UM, AND THEN I MAY HAVE MISSED IT, BUT DID YOU SAY THE TOTAL FOR THE NEW YEAR? I DID NOT.
I DID NOT BRING THAT TO YOU YET.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW MY, UH, SUPERVISOR, MY BOSS WAS GONNA WORK THAT FAST AND GETTING THINGS THROUGH.
I'M LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS AND I SEE HOME REPAIRS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE.
UH, DO YOU KNOW THAT THE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN BEFOR HAS A SIMILAR PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE STATE? THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT THEY NEED TO GIVE AWAY AND I THINK IF YOU GUYS CAN CONNECT WITH THEM AND SEND THESE HOMEOWNERS TO APPLY TO THEIR PROGRAM, YOU GUYS CAN SAVE THEM MONEY TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
DO YOU KNOW IF THEY WORK JOINTLY? COULD WE DO UM, THEY DO JOINT PROJECTS.
AND THEY'RE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SO THEY'RE DOING THIS.
THEY ACTUALLY, THEY GOT A, UH, A NEED FOR APPLICATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, WE ARE ALL GOOD THERE.
I WILL PASS IT BACK TO YOU CHAIRMAN.
I AM DONE WITHOUT BUDGET PART.
UM, WE WILL, UM, CONTINUE WITH THE, THE WORKSHOP THAT IS TO LOOK, WE'VE ALL BEEN TASKED TO COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF WHAT AFFORDABLE, UM, HOUSING DEPARTMENT LOOKING LOOK AND FEEL LIKE.
AND LET'S TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW UM, WE CAN DO THAT, WHERE IT'S GONNA BE BENEFICIAL, UH, TO THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SO, UM, I WILL, IF, FIRST OF ALL, IS THERE ANYONE THAT DONE SOME HOMEWORK THAT THEY'D LIKE TO, TO SHARE WITH US TODAY? NO ONE'S DONE.
TWO OF OUR STUDENTS SENT ME ASSIGNMENTS.
[00:10:01]
ALL I'M GONNA SAY.WELL, ONE OF YOUR STUDENTS WENT TO THE SHUTTLE TOUR, SO OH YEAH, WELL YOU DID HOMEWORK
UM, LIKE CHAIRMAN SAID, KIND OF GET SOME IDEAS OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT US TO PASS ON TO STAFF AND THEN WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST A OPEN TABLE DISCUSSION WHERE WE PUT A BIG CIRCLE AND WE JUST KIND OF SPIDER IT OUT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH.
I MEAN, SO JUST FROM THE SHUTTLE TOUR, I WAS NOT ONE OF THE STUDENTS THAT TURNED IN HER HOMEWORK, BUT I DID GO ON THE SHUTTLE TOUR.
UM, I MEAN JUST, WOW, THIS IS LIKE JUST A WHOLE PLETHORA.
THEY ARE, THEY ARE TACKLING ALL THE THINGS.
THEY ARE TRYING ALL THE THINGS.
UM, AND THEY'RE SEEING WHAT WORKS.
AND I JUST THINK THAT JUST A HUGE RESOURCE.
I REALLY LIKED THE LADY THAT WAS RUNNING IT.
UM, SHE'S SO PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT SHE'S DOING.
SHE LITERALLY WAITED AND WAITED FOR THAT POSITION TO BECOME AVAILABLE AND THEN SAID, I WANT THIS, I WANT IT.
UM, BUT I MEAN THEY TOOK US TO, ONE OF THE ROWS THAT STOOD OUT THAT THEY TOOK US TO IS THEY DID SOME MOD MODULAR UNITS.
I'M GONNA JUST PAUSE YOU RIGHT QUICK.
SO STAFF WILL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, LAST YEAR I WANTED A SAVANNAH HOUSING TOUR, THEIR NONPROFIT AGENCY OVER IN SAVANNAH.
I WENT BY MYSELF, BUT I OPENED IT UP THIS YEAR FOR, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO GO.
SO MEG AND CHAIRMAN AND MYSELF WENT AND IT WAS AN ALL DAY TOUR OVER IN SAVANNAH JUST DOING THEIR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SOME OF THEIR HABITAT EFFORTS.
UM, CITY, THE ACTUAL TOUR THAT WAS PUT ON HER NAME WAS ANITA SMITH.
DIXON AND I AM GONNA TRY AND GET HER ON OUR AGENDA, BUT IT WAS JUST KIND OF SHOWING US EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, WHETHER IT'S NONPROFIT, WHETHER IT'S SINGLE FAMILY, VETERANS, HOW THEIR EFFORTS ARE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
VICKY DID TELL ME ABOUT THAT TO, SO WHEN SHE STARTED PREGNANT, I'M LIKE, YES, THAT'S, YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS A LOT.
IT'S EASIER TO SEE WHAT SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING AND LEARN FROM WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SO THE ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT STOOD OUT WAS THE TWO MODULAR UNITS THAT THEY DID.
IT WAS A SERIES OF PROBABLY SIX HOUSES.
SHE LITERALLY STOPPED THE BUS AND SHE WAS LIKE, TELL ME WHICH TWO ARE MODULAR.
AND EVERYBODY WAS GUESSING IT WAS KIND OF FUN.
UM, I THINK WE ALL GUESSED ONE, RIGHT? BUT DIDN'T GUESS BOTH OF THEM.
AND YOU SERIOUSLY COULD NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
NOW IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THEIR LESSONS THAT THEY LEARNED WERE THAT IT WASN'T AS AFFORDABLE AS THEY WOULD'VE LIKED IT TO BE.
BUT I THINK WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE TOO, AND THE RESEARCH THAT WE'VE DONE, UM, WITH MODULAR, YOU HAVE TO HAVE HIGHER VOLUME IN ORDER FOR IT TO, TO MAKE SENSE.
UM, BUT I THINK JUST THE WHOLE, I DON'T KNOW, JUST CHANGING THE WHOLE LANGUAGE AROUND AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE, HOUSING, MODULAR, YOU KNOW, HELPING JUST GIVE THE COMMUNITY A VISION, WHICH IS WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO WITNESS, UM, AND WALK AROUND.
ESPECIALLY THE VETERANS, THE HOMELESS COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND THEY STILL HAVE A TON OF LIKE, NIMBYISM JUST EVEN WITHIN THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY AND THE UM, VETERAN COMMUNITY THAT THEY CREATED, THEY WANTED GATES AROUND IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, THE CAMPS COMING INTO THEIR NEW SPACE.
SO IT WAS JUST LIKE FUNNY THE LANGUAGE AND, AND JUST HOW THOSE FEELINGS AFFECT EVERYBODY NO MATTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT STAGE WE ARE IN THE HOUSING, UM, WORLD.
SO DEFINITELY WE SHOULD PUT THAT ON THE CALENDAR AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR.
'CAUSE I'M SURE THEY'LL HAVE EVEN MORE PROJECTS GOING ON.
DEFINITELY LEAN ON ANITA FOR FEEDBACK.
I THINK THIS PROGRAM WAS MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WAS STARTED WITHIN THEIR CITY, BUT THEN IT'S, IT'S ITS OWN OPERATION.
I THINK THAT GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE FREEDOM TO PARTNER WITH EVEN MORE COMMUNITY, UM, PARTNERS AND FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.
UM, SO JUST SEEING EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING KIND OF HAD THE WHEELS TURNING ABOUT WHAT A PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT COULD DO IF IT HAD ITS OWN ENTITY WITHIN THE TOWN.
SO, I DUNNO, I'M SURE I'LL CHIME IN MORE LATER, BUT YOUR TAKEAWAY WAS PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD.
UM, THEY, THEY ALSO PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND AGENCIES.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY JUST SAY, WE GOT A POCKET FULL OF MONEY.
THEY REALIZE THAT IT TAKES PULL FROM OTHER RESOURCES, BOTH FROM OTHER RESOURCES TO GET THINGS DONE.
UM, AND ONE OF THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY USE THE, UM, THE CITY ITSELF USED IMMINENT DOMAIN.
I, AND, AND THE WAY THEY USED IT WAS VERY POSITIVE.
I'M, I DOMAIN IS NOT ALWAYS ATTRACTIVE, BUT THE WAY THEY USED IT WAS PRETTY POSITIVE.
THEY, UM, THEY BOUGHT, UM, HOMES THAT PROBABLY WERE, UM, COULD BE USED FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, IF YOU WILL.
AND, UM, AND THEN THEY, BUT THEY USE, UM,
[00:15:01]
THE METHOD OF CONTACTING THE OWNERS EVEN WITH, EVEN IF THEY WAS EARS IN THAT AND, AND THEY USED THEIR, THEIR RESOURCES TO TAKE IT OUT OF EARS AND SO THEY COULD PURCHASE IT, UM, AND REHAB IT.AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE SOME SMALL SPACES AND MADE IT, UM, UM, SOMETHING THAT FAMILIES WILL BE PROUD TO, TO, TO, TO CALL HOME.
SO WE, UM, THERE'S A, WHEN, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR, I GUESS YOUR, YOUR VISION TO POSSIBILITIES, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES AND SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE, UM, IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SPECTRUM, THAT THAT COVERS A MULTITUDE OF THINGS.
AND, UM, AND SO I'M, MY TAKEAWAY FROM THAT IS THAT YOU, WE GET, UM, TO A PLACE WHERE WE START LOOKING FOR, FOR WAYS TO BE CREATIVE.
WE CAN BE, UM, VERY PRODUCTIVE IN, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN, IN THAT ASPECT.
WE CAN, WE CAN FIND, WE CAN FIND THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL ON OUR DOLLARS.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE GREAT, THAT'S A GREAT PART OF IT.
UM, REMEMBER HOW THEY USED THE ONE IMMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE HEIRS PROPERTY TOO? YES.
SO IT WAS ENTANGLED, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
IT DIDN'T HAVE A CLEAN TITLE, BUT THEY PURCHASED IT FROM THE ONE RELATIVE WHO CAME FORWARD AND THEN SOLD IT BACK TO THEM AT MARKET RATE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S LIKE A TRUST FACTOR THERE, BUT WE'VE GOT A TON.
WE'VE GOT A TON OF AIR PROPERTY AND IT JUST, IT'S SUCH A TRICKY SUBJECT.
I TOOK REALLY GOOD NOTES AND I HAVE PICTURES, BUT IT, THERE'S NO GOOD WAY FOR ME TO LIKE, THAT'S, I COULD JUST PASS MY PHONE AROUND
AND THERE'S KIND OF, I TRIED TO DO NOTES UNDER THE PICTURES, UM, BUT THERE WERE JUST SO MANY THINGS LIKE THAT THEY HAD LOAN PROGRAMS. I MEAN, I THINK HAVING A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON THAT WOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO PULL IN AND RESEARCH ALL OF THESE THINGS AND DO SOME HANDHOLDING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT WOULD, THAT'S HUGE.
I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ONE STAFF MEMBER AND OUR PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEMBER.
YOU KNOW, SHE TOOK THE TIME TO KIND OF REALLY HANDHOLD AND WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS AND UM, MAYBE IF THERE WAS A DEDICATED DEPARTMENT THAT STAFF PERSON WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN ANY FROM THAT, AT LEAST FROM THE TOUR.
IF ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR LIKE US CLARIFY ANYTHING YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
FRED, IF YOU WANNA PASS THIS DOWN, IT'S JUST, JUST LIKE THE LITTLE BROCHURE HANDOUT THAT THEY HAD.
AND THEN I CAN PASS MY PHONE DOWN TOO TO SCROLL THROUGH MY NOTES.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PICTURES IN THE MODULAR HOME.
SO IS THAT WHAT THE PRIVATE DEVELOPER OR WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY, THERE WAS A LOT OF PARKS, THERE WAS A LOT OF, LOT OF HANDS ON TO THAT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS CITY PROPERTY.
THEY HAD ACRES OF CITY PROPERTY AND THEY JUST WANTED TO PLACE SOME ITEMS THERE.
IT WAS A BLIGHT LIGHT AREA AND THEY CAME IN AND CLEANED IT UP AND JUST WANTED TO PRACTICE WHAT THAT MODULAR ASPECT OF THINGS.
SO THAT MODULAR CAME FROM OUTTA STATE.
BUT WHAT SHE WAS SAYING THAT THEY HAD TO PUT MONEY IN FOR A CRANE, JUST HAD TO PUT SO MANY EXTRA DOLLARS INTO IT.
BUT IF YOU DO LIKE A WHOLE CITY OR A WHOLE, NOT A WHOLE CITY, BUT A WHOLE SUBDIVISION OR A WHOLE AREA OF ONE, IT WON'T BE SUCH A COST BURDEN.
THEY WERE ONLY PRACTICING WITH THE TWO.
SO DID THE CITY PUT THE LAND IN AND THEN A PRIVATE DEVELOPER DO THE HOUSES? I FEEL LIKE IT WAS EVEN MORE LIKE, 'CAUSE THEY'RE THEIR OWN ENTITY, RIGHT? SO THEY HAD SOME FUNDS THAT THEY PUT INTO IT.
AND THEN THE CITY, THEY POOL IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT PROGRAM WITH ANITA SMITH.
AND THEY ARE A NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT DOES FUNDRAISING AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO BRING IN FUNDS.
SO THEY JUST PULL MONEY TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT LIKE WHAT WE HAVE HERE THAT JUST HAS A POCKET IN THE BUDGET.
THEY BRING IN EXTRA FUNDS, SO THEY GET FUNDS FROM ALL OVER.
AND THE BANK THAT BANKS THEM IS, UM, IT ON THE BACK OF UPPER, IT'S IN THE BANK.
BUT ARE THEY A CDFI ALSO? EXCUSE ME? ARE THEY A-C-D-F-I ALSO THAT NONPROFIT? YES.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY HOW THEY CAN GET AROUND MM-HMM
SO THEY'RE COMBINING NONPROFIT FUNDS WITH CITY FUNDS.
WHO MANAGES THAT? THE ACTUAL COMPANY TO PUT THE TOUR TOGETHER.
THE NONPROFIT THAT PUTS THE COMPANY TOGETHER.
BECAUSE THEY'RE A-C-D-F-I ALSO.
SO THEY CAN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? CDFA MEETING BEING
[00:20:01]
RECEIVED? FEDERAL FUNDING.IT MEANS YOU CAN RECEIVE CDG AND HOME FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO THIS MEETING, BUT I WANTED TO AND ANITA IN-HOUSE WORKS FOR SHE'S THE LEADER OVER YES.
SO THE NONPROFIT, NOT THE CITY, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SHE USED TO WORK FOR THE, SHE USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT SHE USED OFFERED, OFFERED HER.
AND SHE USED TO WORK FOR A BANK DOING LOANS.
I MEAN, LIKE, SHE IS LIKE SO PERFECT AND PASSIONATE FOR THIS POSITION.
BUT YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THAT STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND SHE SAID THAT IF WE DID GET CREATIVE AND HAVE WORK WITH LIKE A NONPROFIT TO DO SOME OF THE WORK, UM, THAT WOULD FREE US UP TO BE MORE CREATIVE IN THIS AREA.
UM, SHE WAS WITH THE STATE THAT WAS DURING THE COVID TIME WHEN WE WAS IN YEAH.
YES, I KNOW WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT.
SO SHE DID, SHE DID TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DOING IT THAT WAY.
WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A, A STRONG NONPROFIT AGENCY TO THAT.
WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND A, A VERY STRONG, UH, NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT KOHLS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY HEIRS PROPERTY AND THEN SELL IT BACK, IT THEY, YEAH.
AND THEN MAYBE THERE'S LOAN PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT MARKET RATE LAND BACK TO GET THAT CLEAN TITLE, YOU KNOW.
HELP WITH THAT AND, AND WHATNOT.
I NEEDED TO, SHE ALWAYS KEPT SAYING SHE, SHE STAYS IN HER LANE.
THEY WANNA DO ALL THE THINGS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE, BUT SHE, THEY'VE JUST REALLY PUT TOGETHER KIND OF LIKE WE SAVED THE SHUTTERS AND EVERYBODY THAT MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BRINGING IN, UM, TO REALLY HELP THEM WHERE ALL THE NEEDS CAN BE MET.
BUT IT'S NOT ONE ENTITY NEEDS.
IT'S DIFFERENT ARMS HANDLING, HANDLING ONE PROJECT WITH DIFFERENT ARMS INVOLVED, WHICH IS ALSO WHY WE PROBABLY NEED LIKE A FULL ON DEPARTMENT SO THAT YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE, IF YOU CAN HELP MANAGE ALL THOSE ENTITIES.
SO YOU SAID WAS ONE OF THE DEVELOPMENTS JUST FOR VETERANS? YES.
THEY DID A TINY HOME PROJECT THAT, RIGHT? MM-HMM
AND THEN RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DOING ONE FOR HOMELESS.
ARE ANY OF THEM, UM, FOCUSED OR PRI DO THEY GIVE PRIORITY TO THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS? ANY OF THE ONES THAT Y'ALL SAW? SO, NURSES, TEACHERS, POLICE, OR NO.
THE OTHER, THE HOMES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, LIKE THE, THAT MODULAR PRO, EXCUSE ME, THAT MODULAR PROJECT WILL FIT THAT, THAT CATEGORY.
THE UM, AND THEY HAVE QUITE A BIT OF THOSE AS WELL.
WE, WE, EVEN, EVEN THAT HOME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THEY PURCHASED THE IS PROPERTY THAT'S, UM, ALL THOSE ARE BASICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THAT'S AVAILABLE TO WHOMEVER, WHOMEVER QUALIFIES, RIGHT? MM-HMM
BUT WHEN WE WERE, UM, NICK WAS, WAS HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT THEY MADE, UM, THE EFFORT TO TRY TO FIND HOMES FOR VETERANS.
AND THEY MADE AN EFFORT TO FIND HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS.
WHICH, YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION IS, IS HARD TO DO AND IS UNHEARD OF.
BUT IT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH, UM, UH, PASSION AND AND COMMITMENT THEY HAVE TO COVER THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF AFFORDABILITY.
WITH A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS TOO.
I WAS GONNA SAY THAT SAVANNAH'S NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT FROM OUR NEEDS.
LIKE THEY REALLY HAD AN, I DON'T WANNA SAY ISSUE, BUT A CHALLENGE WITH, UM, PLACING HOME PLACEMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS.
AND TO MEG'S POINT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, TO GET MORE CREATIVE.
IS THE LAND BANK AUTHORITY, IS THAT A SAVANNAH CITY DEPARTMENT? A COUNTY DEPARTMENT? THAT I CANNOT ANSWER.
I WAS TRYING TO GOOGLE STUFF WHILE THEY, SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.
UM, 'CAUSE THEY HAD LIKE, GEORGIA DREAM WAS LIKE A PROGRAM TOO.
LAND BANK THAT'S FROM THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S CITY BASED.
THAT'S BASED ON LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH BEFORD MEMORIAL.
UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH BEFORD MEMORIAL, THEY HOUSE THEIR EMPLOYEES STAFF.
SO JUST BASED ON, ON THE NEEDS THAT I BELIEVE WE HAVE HERE IN, IN BLUFFTON OR, YOU KNOW, BEAUFORT COUNTY ITSELF.
SO NUM UNDER NUMBER SEVEN, YOU'RE GONNA SEE ALL OF THE, UM, THIS POINT.
IT, IT'S IDEAS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAN EXPLORE THAT I FEEL WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL, UM, IN THE TOWN.
AND I, I DO BELIEVE THAT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED, UM, TO
[00:25:01]
ESTABLISH A BLUFFTON COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.AND YOU CAN READ, UM, A LITTLE OF WHAT I MEANT BY THAT.
THE DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, TARGET TARGETED FOR VETERANS.
UM, BUT ALSO TO, FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
UM, I, I THINK WE, THERE'S THAT HUGE NEED FOR THEM AND I FEEL LIKE WE OWE THAT HAS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THEM.
YOU KNOW, OWNING A HOME, AN AFFORDABLE HOME.
AND SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT IDEAS AS TO HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT POSSIBLE THERE.
IT'S ITEMS, LIKE I SAID, UNDER LINE ITEM SEVEN, UH, ONE THROUGH ONE THROUGH EIGHT.
AND AGAIN, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN TACKLE AND ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THESE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
DO YOU WANNA KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT YOU SENT IN ALL OF IT? YEAH.
UM, SO ESTABLISH A BLACKTON COMMUNITY LAND TRUST.
I, I'M REALLY NOT SURE HOW MUCH LAND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HAS AND WHAT THE PURPOSE OR WHAT IT COULD BE USED FOR.
BUT THIS WILL BE IDEALLY, UM, TO WHERE WE CAN, UM, GET DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS, UH, DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTORS FOR THEM TO BUILD ON THOSE SLOTS.
CONTINUING TO KEEP OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND AND LIMITING, UM, THE, THE SALE OF THAT HOME.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOWN OWNS IT.
THERE'S AN INCENTIVE FOR THE BUILDER TO COME AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND IN SOMETHING THAT COULD, THE BUILDER COULD PROBABLY MAKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PROFIT.
UM, BUT ALSO OFFER INCENTIVES TO THAT BUILDER, LIKE TAX BREAKS, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR, OR SOMETHING.
WE NEED TO GIVE THAT BUILDER AN INCENTIVE TO MAYBE NOT MAKE THAT PROFIT UPFRONT, UH, BUT ENCOURAGE THEM IN.
AND ALSO TO HELP US BUILD SOMETHING AFFORDABLE FOR A RESIDENT WHO WILL ALSO BE LIMITED TO THE SALE OF THAT PROPERTY AND BE CAPPED IN HOW MUCH THAT RESIDENT IS GOING TO MAKE IF IN THE EVENT THEY WANNA LATER ON SELL THAT PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I THINK SO.
THESE ARE JUST IDEAS AND WE OBVIOUSLY CAN, CAN TALK ABOUT IT AND, AND MODIFY, UM, UH, TO, TO, TO MAKE IT WORK.
WE, UM, WE, WE HAVE, UM, SOME LANGUAGE THAT IN, IN AND OUR, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UM, WHEN WE, WHEN WE, WHEN WE CONTRACT OR WE DEAL WITH, UM, UM, CONTRACTORS FOR PROJECTS THAT WE, THAT WE PRESENTLY DOING MM-HMM
SO WE, SO SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
UM, AND EVEN THE, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT, UM, WE, WE HAVE A, WHERE WE INCENTIVIZE, UM, THE, THE DEVELOPER OR THE PROPERTY TO, UM, TO HAVE MORE DENSITY MM-HMM
SOMETIMES EVEN, UH, WE PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND WE PUT IN A COVENANT FOR HOW MANY YEARS IT HAS TO REMAIN AFFORDABLE.
SO WE DO HAVE THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW IN PLACE AND WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT HAS TO FALL UNDER THOSE GUIDELINES.
AND, BUT THOSE, UM, THERE'S, THERE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO REVISIT THOSE, UM, CRITERIA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, WE ARE NOT ONLY, UH, ATTRACTIVE, UH, ATTRACTING, UM, CONTRACTORS OR DEVELOPERS, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE UM, WE, WE KEEP THEM ENGAGED AS SAYING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO AND WE, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM MORE TO FIND OUT HOW, HOW CAN WE MAKE THIS MARRIAGE WORK? RIGHT.
WE DID THAT A REALLY LONG TIME AGO THAT I THINK IT WOULD TOTALLY BE WORTH JUST, AND TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, DOING THAT AGAIN, JUST GETTING THEIR AND LET, AND THEN AS A COMMITTEE RE-REVIEWING WHAT CURRENT INCENTIVES THERE ARE WITH SOME LOCAL BILL.
I MEAN, I THINK BEN KENNEDY WAS LIKE ONE OF 'EM AT THE TIME.
I THINK MATT GREEN WAS ANOTHER ONE.
THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF PROJECTS SINCE THEN.
IT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK.
AND I THINK, UM, WITH, YOU KNOW,
[00:30:01]
NOT HAVING A LOT OF YOU GUYS NOT HAVING BEEN HERE DURING THAT TIME, IT WOULD TOTALLY BE WORTH IT TO, TO HAVE THAT LITTLE, UH, DISCUSSION AGAIN.LEMME PAUSE FOR A MINUTE, KEVIN, TO ALL STEVEN, ANY INPUT AT THIS POINT? SO WHAT'S NUMBER ONE? YOU JUST DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING ON 10 95 AND YOU AND WHAT WE JUST DID FOR, UH, JUDGE BUSH, WHICH IS HIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY VERSUS OURS WAS TOWN OWNED PROPERTY.
AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE OTHER TOWN OWNED PROPERTY.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID EARLIER THAT'S WHAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON IS FINDING, UH, DEVELOPERS FOR OUR TOWN ON PROPERTY.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ACQUIRING MORE PROPERTY.
WE'RE ABOUT TO GET 10 ACRES UP ON, UM, IN WILLOW RUN, WHICH IS RIGHT ON 2 78 WITH THE PURPOSE OF THAT BEING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON PUTTING THAT OUT VERY SOON SO WE CAN FIND A DEVELOPER TO, TO LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING THERE.
UM, THE ISSUE YOU RUN INTO WITH THE LAND TRUST AND JUST INSIDE OF BLUFFTON IS THE AMOUNTS OF LAND THAT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS THAT ARE ALREADY, THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT 'CAUSE THEY'RE LIMITED ON THE RIGHTS TO BE ABLE TO BUILD.
UM, THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIND SOME PARTNERS, LIKE WITH BEAUFORT MEMORIAL TO GET THEM TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON LAND THAT'S ALREADY IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO, AND, AND, BUT TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN, COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY HAVING TO GIVE THEM RESIDENTIAL UNITS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT FOR FIRST READING NEXT WEEK AND THEN SECOND READING IN AUGUST.
UM, BUT THAT WAS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH BEAUFORT MEMORIAL, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND MOORE COOPER TO GET 120 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS BUILT INSIDE OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUILD IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT WHAT YOU HAVE IS NUMBER ONE HAS REALLY BEEN WHAT WE'VE, OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN, THAT'S BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITY.
UM, THE ISSUE IS FINDING THE PARTNERS MM-HMM
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO DOING THE RENTAL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THE PARTNERS ARE MORE READILY ACCESSIBLE.
THE OWNER OCCUPIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS WHERE IT GETS MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU SAID.
AND WE'VE HAD TO, UM, THAT'S WHERE WE'VE HAD TO SUPPLEMENT MORE BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DO ON OR OCCUPIED TO GET THE LEVEL DOWN LOW ENOUGH UNLESS WE'RE ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING THE LAND.
AND LIKE WITH, UM, 10 95, WE'RE PAYING A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ALL THE HORIZONTAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SITE.
SO THE ONLY THING THAT THE PERSON IS FINANCING IS THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
AND WE LIMITED THE PROFIT THAT COULD BE MADE BY THE CONTRACTOR TO ENSURE THAT THAT NUMBER STAYED TO MEET THE AFFORDABILITY LEVELS.
SO THAT EXACTLY WHAT'S IN NUMBER ONE IS WHAT'S REALLY BEEN OUR TOP FOCUS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE, UM, WITH, UH, THE CHAIRMAN SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS COME FROM IS REALLY HOW DO WE GO BEYOND NUMBER ONE TO, TO, TO, TO DO BETTER.
'CAUSE I THINK NUMBER ONE IS WHERE WE'VE, WE'VE FOCUSED NOW, THERE'S WAYS WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE.
WE FOUND THAT OUT WITH, UH, JUDGE BUSH.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE DONE IS WITH, WE ADOPTED AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
UH, COUNSEL DID THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE INCLUDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES.
SO THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO HELP JUDGE BUSH WITH HIS, BECAUSE IT'S IN THAT ORDINANCE, IT GIVES COUNSEL THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FUNDING OR AS NEEDED TO HELP THAT BE BUILT BECAUSE WE SEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS A KEY TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WHEN JUDGE BUSH RAN UP AGAINST AN ISSUE WITH WATER AND SEWER CONNECTIVITY, WE WERE ABLE TO DO A GRANT, UM, FROM THE TOWN TO HELP COVER THAT COST TO MAKE IT FEASIBLE FOR HIM TO STILL BE ABLE TO BUILD AFFORDABLE.
SO, UM, WE TRIED TO PUT, UH, THINGS IN PLACE TO BE BETTER AT ACCOMPLISHING THAT PARTNERSHIP.
I HEARD THOSE THINGS THAT, LIKE VICTORIA, DO YOU GET, I DON'T KNOW, TO LIKE BE AT THE TABLE OR, OR WHEN UM, OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT ARISE TO LIKE BE ABLE TO BE AT THE TABLE TO KIND OF SHARE RIGHT NOW, BUT
AND, AND, AND SADLY THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FAR BETWEEN RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FIND A DEVELOPER THAT'S WILLING TO, TO NOT BUILD IN THE MARKET, TO NOT BUILD A FIVE, 600,000 HOUSE AND TURN THE PROFIT THAT THEY CAN BUILD VERSUS BEING WILLING TO TAKE A SMALLER PROFIT MARGIN AND, AND DO AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON WORKED ON JUDGE BUSH FOR A COUPLE YEARS TO GET HIM TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SO, UM, PART OF THAT IS, IS FINDING THE, THE RIGHT DEVELOPERS AND THAT'S, SO LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN FAR AND FEW BETWEEN.
SO FAR IT'S BEEN PROPERTY THAT WE'VE OWNED.
JUDGE BUSH IS REALLY THE FIRST ONE WE'VE HAD THAT
[00:35:01]
WE'VE PARTNERED WITH ON A PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR SMALL DEVELOPMENT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT WORK.SO YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY BE BETTER THAN THAT.
UM, AND, AND VICKY, UM, BEING INVOLVED AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GETTING BETTER, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE AND THAT'S WHY THE CONVERSATION TODAY, WHAT ABOUT, SORRY, WE'RE STILL ON THE SAME ONE, BUT WITH THE LIKE DEED RESTRICTIONS, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IN PERPETUITY 30 YEARS DOING BETTER FROM LIKE THE WHARF STREET PROJECT ONES OR WHATEVER.
I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER IF IT'S THAT THEY HAVE TO DO 30, AT LEAST 30 YEARS.
UM, FOR THE ONE THAT THE TOWN IS DOING, IT WILL REMAIN IN PERPETUITY UNTIL COUNCIL REMOVES IT.
SO THE WAY IT'S SET UP IS BECAUSE OF, UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA MAINTAIN THE COMMON SPACE ON THE ROADWAY UNTIL THEY ARE, UM, UNTIL COUNCIL'S WILLING TO TURN IT OVER TO A POA OVER THERE THAT WANTS TO TAKE OVER THE ROADWAY AND COMMON SPACE.
WHICH THE REASON WE'RE DOING THAT IS BECAUSE THE, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT HAVING TO PUT A POA TOGETHER FOR 12 PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN COMMON SPACE IN A ROADWAY, IT MAY ADD TWO $300 ONTO YOUR BILL PER MONTH.
AND THAT TAKES YOU FROM UNAFFORDABLE OR AFFORDABLE TO UNAFFORDABLE.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO REALLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD KEEP THE RATES AFFORDABLE FOR 60% A MI WAS FOR THE TOWN TO TAKE OVER THE COMMON SPACE.
SO, SO LONG AS COUNCIL DECIDES TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT, IT WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE IN PERPETUITY.
THAT'S KIND OF A GOOD, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE WORK THAT SHE TALKED ABOUT, MOVING IT PAST, WE LEARNED A LESSON ABOUT MO HAVING IT FOR 30 YEARS AND THEN 30 YEARS CAME AROUND REALLY QUICKLY.
WELL, AND WE, WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION INTERNALLY ABOUT WE HAVE THE MINIMUM 30 YEARS IN THERE.
SO IT'S HARD FOR US AS STAFF IF SOMEBODY COMES TO US AND SAYS, WE'RE MEETING THE MINIMUM.
AND SO SOME OF THE CONVERSATION MAY BE ALONG THE LINES OF, IF YOU'RE JUST DOING IT YOURSELF AND MEETING THE MINIMUM, IT'S 30, BUT IT SAY IF THE TOWN'S GONNA GIVE YOU AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE, WE CAN ADD YOU'RE GONNA AGREE TO 40 YEARS, OR IF YOU'RE GONNA GET LAND IN THIS, YOU'RE GONNA AGREE TO 50.
AND THAT WAY THERE'S, THERE'S SOME, SOME GUIDELINES THERE THAT SAYS IF YOU'RE COMING TO THE TOWN FOR ADDITIONAL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GIVE MORE TO RECEIVE.
BUT THEN AGAIN, THERE'S THAT BALANCE OF CREATING THESE LIMITING FACTORS THAT MAY TAKE SOMEBODY WHO'S LIKE, WELL, I WAS GONNA BUILD IT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO DO 50 YEARS, IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT THAT WORK.
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME IT'S LIKE, DO YOU PREFER TO HAVE 12 UNITS FOR 30 YEARS OR IS ZERO UNITS FOREVER? SO THERE'S, THERE'S A BALANCE IN THERE OF TRYING NOT TO MAKE THOSE STIPULATIONS SO HIGH THAT YOU KEEP ANYBODY FROM WANTING TO BUILD, BUT HIGH ENOUGH THAT WE MAKE SURE WE CAN HAVE AFFORDABLE FOR LONG TERM FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
WHEN THOSE, UH, QUESTIONS COME ABOUT, WHEN THEY'RE, THEY, THERE'S PUSHBACK ON IT.
WHERE DOES IT GO? DOES IT GO TO THE COMMITTEE OR THE COUNCIL? IT NORMALLY GOES TO COUNCIL.
UM, AND THE REASON IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IS BECAUSE IF IT'S THE 30 YEARS THAT'S IN ORDINANCE, THAT'S IN CODE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, JUDGE BUSH IS THE FIRST ONE, SO IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN, HAD TO COME THROUGH THE PROCESS A WHOLE LOT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO, AND, AND HE'S THE ONLY ONE OR THE FIRST ONE, BUT THERE WAS THAT DIRECT CONNECTION, RIGHT.
HOW DO WE MAKE THAT PUBLIC? WE HAVE A LOT OF LANDOWNERS HERE WITHIN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON THAT MAY HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR THEM THAT MAYBE THEY'VE NEVER EVEN CONSIDERED BUILDING, BUT WILL BE WILLING TO DO IT IF THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS THEY CAN GET, HOW THE TOWN CAN ASSIST AND WHAT'S THIS PROGRAM.
AND THAT GOES TO EXACTLY WHERE COUNCIL AMAN HAS BROUGHT THIS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE, THAT'S WHY WE WANNA MAKE INTO THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT COMMITTEE SO WE CAN HAVE, UM, I HATE USING THIS TERM, BUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND,
SO, AND, AND WITH DIFF WITH THE DIFFERENT, WITH WHAT'S THE DIFFERENT, UM, I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL AT, AT FROM NOW ON IT HAS TO BE LIKE WE DID, WE DID UM, WHOLE REPAIRS VERY WELL.
WE, WE, WE MASTERED IT IF YOU'LL, SO AT THIS POINT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT NOW WE ARE TRYING TO BE, UM, IN YOUR FACE ABOUT WHAT, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON USING YOUR PROPERTY? MAYBE WE CAN, WE CAN UP ON YOUR DOORS.
[00:40:01]
THERE'S SOMEONE THAT'S, THAT HAS, UM, UM, A DEVELOPER THAT HAS THE STOMACH TO DO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE CAN BRING THEM IN AND SAY, TELL US HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS THIS WORK.AND THEN, AND THEN, AND THEN WE GO OUT TO LIKE WHAT SAVANNAH'S DOING, FINDING DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO MAKE IT WORK.
SO IT IS, IT HAS, UM, IT HAS A PLATFORM THAT THAT REALLY COULD WORK, BUT WE HAVE TO PUT MORE EFFORT OR MORE EMPHASIS ON, ON FINDING THE, THE, THE, THE TOOLS IN THE BOX TO MAKE IT WORK.
IF I MAY, MR. NAVARRO HAD A COMMENT.
I, I I WANT TO GIVE KEVIN A CHANCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
KEVIN REALLY JUST WANNA OBSERVE, RIGHT? SORRY, I'LL MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK.
UH, ONE OF THE BIGGEST, I GUESS, ISSUES FOR A BUILDER IS LAND ACQUISITION.
AND, AND YOU GUYS HAVE THE LAND, RIGHT? WE HAVE LARGE TRACKS OF LAND INDIVIDUAL LOTS.
WE DON'T HAVE HARDLY ANY OF THEM.
OKAY, BUT WHY DON'T WE LEASE THE LAND FOR THE BUYER, THE HOMEOWNERS? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LEASE THE LAND FOR A HUNDRED, 200 YEARS? SO AS A BUILDER, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ACQUIRING LAND AND MAKING MONEY ON THE LAND OR DEVELOPING THE LAND.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT BUILDING SOMETHING, RIGHT? AND WE CANNOT GO AGAINST THE MARKET.
WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO COMPETE AGAINST THE MARKET, RIGHT? THAT CAN MAKE A LOT OF MONEY BUILDING A FOR THE MARKET OR NOT BUILDING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE.
BUT IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO PROVIDE THE LAND, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE ARE MANY SMALL BUILDERS WHO WILL BE WILLING AND HAPPY TO COME IN AT A LOW PRICE AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING HERE IN THE COUNTY.
A VERY LOW PRICE, RIGHT? THAT, BUT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO OWN THE LAND, LEASE THE LAND TO WHOEVER'S GONNA BUY THE PROPERTY.
THAT WAY YOU TAKE AWAY THE COST INSTEAD OF THE HOUSE BEING, UH, YOU'RE GONNA PURCHASE IT FOR $300 WITH THE LAND.
IF YOU JUST LEASE THE LAND FOR $5 A MONTH, THEN THE COST OF THE HOUSE IS ONLY 200,000.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SMALL HOUSE, IT HAS TO BE A THREE BEDROOM, TWO BATHROOM.
BUT THE COUNTY OR THE TOWN CAN HOLD THE LAND FOREVER AND KEEP, KEEP THAT COST DOWN FOR A HUNDRED YEARS IF YOU WANT TO.
IT'S THAT WHEN YOU GO AND BUY AN APARTMENT OR A CONDO, YOU BUY JUST THE WALLS.
YOU DON'T BUY THE LAND DOWN DOWN THERE.
SO THAT COULD BE A A A WAY TO LOOK AT IT IF YOU HAVE THE LAND AND THEN PARTNER WITH A DEVELOPER TO DO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN A SMALL BUILDERS TO GO VERTICAL.
SO THE ONLY THOUGHT I HAVE ON THAT IS JUST TO THIS POINT IN TIME, THE DIRECTION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL FOR THE PROJECTS WE'RE DOING IS OWNER OCCUPIED WITH THEM OWNING THE LAND AND BEING FUTURE HOMEOWNERS ST WHAT WE DID ON WAR STREET, WHAT WE'RE DOING ON 10 95 MAY RIVER.
THE QUESTION AS WE GET INTO SOME OF OUR OTHER LARGER PROJECTS MAY BE MORE OF, UH, MORE OF A RENTAL MIXTURE.
AND THAT MAY BE MORE OF AN OPTION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THE ONES WE'VE DONE TO DATE HAS BEEN STRICTLY FOCUSED ON SUBDIVIDED SINGLE FAMILY ON HOME OWNERSHIP WITH THOSE COVENANTS.
SO IT, IT'S AN OPTION IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S JUST GONNA BE, UM, THE ONES THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'VE INITIATED HAVEN'T FOLLOWED THAT, THAT MODEL.
AND THAT'S JUST BEEN THE DIRECTION WE'VE RECEIVED TO INITIALLY FOR THESE SMALLER LOTS HAS BEEN TO DO OWNER OCCUPIED BECAUSE THIS IS, THIS WOULD, THIS MUST STILL BE OWNER OCCUPIED.
IT JUST THE ORANGE DON'T OWN THE LAND.
THEY JUST LIKE BUY CONDO APARTMENT.
WELL, AND I, AND I'LL TELL YOU, AND AND YOU Y'ALL PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE.
WHEN IT COMES TO SOME IN THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNMENT OWNING THE LAND THAT YOUR HOUSE SENDING ON MAY NOT BE AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR PEOPLE WHO WON'T DO THAT TOO.
MAYBE ANITA COULD TALK TO THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT, THAT THE LAND IS BEING, THAT THE LAND IS SOLD.
BUT I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO HOMEOWNERS WERE SAYING YEAH, I THINK THE CITY DOES MAYBE LIKE LEASE.
YEAH, NO, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT.
AND, AND I WOULD SEE IT BEING MORE OF A, AND AND THERE ARE PARTNERSHIPS AND WE'VE TALKED TO A COUPLE OUT THERE WHERE ESPECIALLY WITH RENTAL PROPERTY WITH THE TOWN STILL OWNING THE LAND UNDERNEATH AND, AND THEM BUILDING THE RENTAL UNITS BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH THE TAX RATES AND IT KEEPS IT LOWER AND IT MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE.
UM, BUT FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S GONNA OWN
[00:45:01]
THE UNIT AND THE TOWN'S GONNA OWN THE LAND UNDERNEATH IT, I, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY COUNCIL, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH SALE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS TO TALK PEOPLE INTO BUYING A STRUCTURE THAT THE TOWN OWNS LANDOWNER.THAT'S JUST MY, NOW Y'ALL MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY AND COUNCIL MAY FEEL DIFFERENTLY, BUT I JUST DON'T, THAT'S NOT A DIRECTION WE'VE TAKEN AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
THAT WOULD BE, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NOT AN IDEA THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE VETTED.
IT IS JUST A DIRECTION THE COUNCIL HAS NOT REALLY CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME.
SOME SOMETHING ELSE THAT EVERYONE HAS TO, TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT SAVANNAH, SAVANNAH WAS A CLEARLY ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY FOR, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF YEARS AND IT'S LAID OUT IN THE GRID SYSTEM.
SO ALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL LOTS OR INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS.
THE TOWN OF BLUFFING WAS ONE SQUARE MILE IN 1987.
SO A LOT OF THE GROWTH THAT HAS HAPPENED HAS HAPPENED THROUGH THESE PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH ARE CLEARLY ESTABLISHING ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THEY'RE BURYING THE COST OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND ONE OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IT'S NOT IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE IN ESSENCE USING, YOU KNOW, VACANT VIRGIN LAND, SO TO SPEAK.
AND ALL THIS INFRASTRUCTURE HAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE COSTS ARE COMING.
THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE, WE ARE BURYING THE COST OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEREAS IN SAVANNAH IT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED WATER, SEWER LINES, ROADS ARE ALREADY ALL THERE.
SO YOU'RE WORKING ON A LOT BY LOT BASIS, WHICH YOU THEN CAN POTENTIALLY PURCHASE A LOT.
THE GOVERNMENT COULD PURCHASE A LOT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WORK THROUGH THAT, THOSE PROVISIONS.
BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE TAKING VACANT PIECES OF LAND AND CREATING SUBDIVISIONS SO THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE CAN BE PUT IN PLACE AND THAT WAY WE CAN THEN CONSTRUCT THE HOME.
SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE GET MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT THOUGH, WITH THE TOWN OWNING IT.
'CAUSE YOU'RE ALSO FOOTING THE BILL FOR ALL OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO I FEEL LIKE SHOULDN'T WE BE ABLE TO GET BOARD WITH THAT'S, THAT IS, THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE COST.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO, YOU KNOW, I USE THIS TERM WHERE, YOU KNOW, A A THE COST OF A HOUSE IS STILL THE SAME COST OF THE HOUSE NO MATTER WHAT.
IT'S THE, THE SUBSIDIZED, UH, ASPECTS OF IT THAT HELP TO BRING DOWN THE COST, IT'S STILL GONNA COST THE SAME TO BUILD IT, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SUBSIDIZE.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WATER, SEWER, UH, FEES, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT SO SOMEONE HAS TO STILL PAY FOR IT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HELPING OUT BY DOING ALL THAT.
BUT IT JUST, AND IT TAKES TIME AND IT TAKES 20.
SO, AND, AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE'RE STILL ON TOP OF I KNOW.
AND I, AND I, AND I HATE TO, AND AND WE MAY NEED TO CONTINUE THIS AT ANOTHER WORKSHOP AND WE CAN DO SO IN THE INTERIM AT ANOTHER ONE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC TO GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO TAKE EVERYTHING FOR, FOR COUNSEL.
UM, AND I KNOW, UM, COUNCILMAN HAMILTON, I THINK ARE WE AT 11? WE HAVE A MEETING SO I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION.
UM, AND I KNOW, UM, THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT JUST ON THIS ONE TOPIC.
I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF BRING US, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BUMP UP HERE AGAINST 11 REAL QUICK AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GET DOWN INTO ANOTHER HUGE TOPIC AND THEN HAVE TO STOP MID AND TO BE HONEST, YEAH.
THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE.
NO, AND TO BE HONEST, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I HESITATED TO EVEN
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THIS WAS GONNA BE THE FORUM TO, YOU KNOW.
WELL, AND I THINK THEY'RE IMPORTANT AND IIII HADN'T SEEN YOUR LIST.
I HAD SEEN GWYN LYNN'S LIST THAT SHE SENT EARLIER, UM, BECAUSE, UM, ABOUT, I DIDN'T SEE YOURS SO I APOLOGIZE.
BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT IN THERE BECAUSE PART OF, I THINK THE CONVERSATION WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THIS POSITION OR DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE IS GONNA BE THE FACT THAT THERE'S A LOT OF PARTNERS OUT THERE.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE MENTIONED THE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THEN WE HAVE THE REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND.
THERE'S C-D-C-C-C-D-C-C-C-C-C-C.
UM, THERE'S ALSO LIKE THE BEAUFORT HOUSING AUTHORITY THAT HAS THE VOUCHER PROGRAM AND THEY'VE DONE, AND THEN WE HAVE OUR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE DONE.
SO I THINK THERE'S A, AND AS YOU HEARD WITH TALKING JUST INITIALLY WITH THE TOUR THAT YOU DID WITH SAVANNAH, THAT WORKING WITH PARTNERS IS KEY.
AND I THINK FIGURING OUT HOW WE BETTER WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS IS KEY TO THAT CONVERSATION.
WHETHER WE MOVE FORWARD WITH POSITION DEPARTMENT, HOWEVER IT'S SET UP IS UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT WE WANT, WHAT GOALS WE WANT TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WHAT PARTNERS CAN HELP US ACCOMPLISH THOSE GOALS SO THAT WHEN WE DO MOVE FORWARD, WHEN WE COME BACK A YEAR FROM NOW, WE HAVE A SET OF CLEAR OBJECTIVES WE'RE WANTING TO ACCOMPLISH AND WE CAN COME BACK AND REPORT OUT AND SAY WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES THAT WE SET OUT EITHER THROUGH OUR PARTNERS OR THROUGH WHAT
[00:50:01]
WE'RE ALREADY DOING AS OUR ORGANIZATION.SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, MATTERS, IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS ASSIGNED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING THIS, DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHO'S PRODUCTIVE, THE FACT THAT CHAIRMAN HAMILTON SPENT TWO YEARS ON DOING SOMETHING MEANS THAT HE DEVELOPED A RELATIONSHIP OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND HAVING SOMEBODY WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO DEVELOP, NURTURE, AND UH, BRING TO, UH, THE TOWN RELATIONSHIPS THAT COULD BENEFIT THE TOWN IS I THINK NOT ONLY IMPORTANT BUT VITAL.
YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.
I AM GONNA PAUSE 'CAUSE WE DO WANT TO CONTINUE THIS 'CAUSE YOU ALL SOUND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR CALENDAR, LET'S SET A TIME TO MEET BEFORE AUGUST, BEFORE AUGUST MEETING TO ACTUALLY SIT OFF RECORD AND HAVE A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION AND MAYBE HAVE ANITA THERE.
I'M SORRY, WHAT DID YOU SAY? ALL VOICES MATTER.
SHE SAID DID YOU SAY E YOU SAY EAT? NO, ANITA.
DID YOU SAY SO? OH, TO CANDICE.
SO YOU WANNA HAVE ANITA AT OUR, AT THE WORKSHOP PER SE? BRIEFLY, EVEN BRIEFLY.
A LITTLE BIT LIKE YES, I DEFINITELY HAVE.
I KNOW I DIDN'T DO THE JORDAN, I'M SORRY.
UM, BUT I DEFINITELY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I'LL SEND THOSE TO YOU BEFOREHAND.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU, UM, TWO DATES IN JULY.
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A LOT OF OPTIONS 'CAUSE A LOT OF OPTIONS TAKES TIME TO DECIDE ON.
SO LET'S LOOK AT, UM, AND I'LL REACH OUT TO ANITA AS WELL.
MAYBE HERS DOESN'T FIT WITH THE TWO OPTIONS THAT I'M GONNA PUT OUT.
LET'S LOOK AT WEDNESDAY, JULY 23RD OR WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH.
NO, NO, NO, WE, NO, IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE HARD TO GET I THINK.
I DON'T THINK I CAN DO EITHER ONE OF THEM.
WELL, COULD, CAN EVERYBODY ELSE DO EITHER OF THOSE THINGS? DO EITHER.
30TH WOULD BE BETTER FOR ME, BUT I I WOULD DEFINITELY TRY TO MAKE IT ON THE 23RD.
COUNCILMAN? I I CAN DO EITHER, EITHER DAY.
MR. MCGILL? I CAN DO EITHER ONE.
STAFF, I WOULD ASK A FAVOR IF YOU DO DO IT THAT IT'S LUNCHTIME OR LATER 'CAUSE WE HAVE OUR SENIOR STAFF AND OUR STANDING MEETING.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AN AFTERNOON.
SO WE'LL LOOK AT WEDNESDAY, JULY 30TH.
I WILL REACH OUT TO ANITA MYSTICS AND AS SOON AS I GET BACK TO MY DESK AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE.
'CAUSE I THINK WE, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ALL INVOLVED IN TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS TOPIC AND UH, WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
IF, IF, IF WE GONNA BRING ANITA, THAT'S HER NAME.
WE GONNA NEED MORE THAN AN HOUR.
SO CAN I ASK ONE MORE FAVOR AHEAD OF WHENEVER WE MEET, IF YOU'RE GOOD.
UM, I KNOW WE RECEIVED TWO SETS OF INPUT IF EVERYBODY WOULD LOOK THROUGH THOSE.
'CAUSE I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS THERE'S SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TWO OF THOSE IS IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INPUT OR IF YOU SEE A PRIORITY WITHIN THOSE TOPICS.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOURS WAS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT TOPICS AND YOURS IS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT.
SO, AND I SAW THEY OVERLAPPED.
UM, SO THAT WAY EVERYBODY, WE CAN KINDA CONDENSE, CONDENSE AND NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOUR LIST.
AND THEN YOUR LIST AND THEN YOUR LIST.
WE CAN, WE CAN WORK IN THE INTERIM TO TAKE YOU OFF'S TOPICS AND PUT 'EM IN KIND OF BROAD CATEGORIES THAT WE CAN THEN DISCUSS AND MAKE IT FLOW A LITTLE SMOOTHER I THINK.
SO I'LL CONDENSE AND THEN PUT AGENDA OUT BY THE DEADLINE WHEN YOU CONDENSE, UM, THINGS THAT WE ARE ALREADY DOING, MAKE SURE YOU HIGHLIGHT THAT.
I HAD A DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESS.
WE WON'T GET INTO IT TODAY ABOUT, UM, NO, NO, NO.
IT'S OKAY ABOUT HOW I FORM MINES.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS, BUT YEAH, REVIEWING WHAT OUR CURRENT INCENTIVES AND EVERYTHING ARE TOO, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL SO THAT WE'RE NOT SPENDING A LOT OF TIME GOING OVER THINGS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
I THINK WHAT WHAT VICKY CAN DO IS, LIKE I SAID, SHE CAN PUT 'EM IN KEY TOPICS AND THEN IF THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING INTERNALLY OR PROJECTS WE HAVE, WE CAN PULL THE, SOME, SOME INFORMATION ON THOSE JUST TO KIND OF USE 'EM FOR DISCUSSION.
WHAT'S YOUR DEADLINE? DEPENDS IF YOU MEET THE 30TH.
YEAH, IT DEPENDS ON WHEN WE, IF WE CAN GET A NEEDLE ON THE
[00:55:01]
30TH, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW OUR DEADLINES EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANY.SO LET'S MAKE OUR DEADLINE, UM, FOR ANY OTHER TOPIC DISCUSSIONS.
LET'S SAY THE, WE ARE ON THE 10TH RIGHT NOW.
SO ANY OTHER TOPICS OR DISCUSSIONS AFTER WE BREAK THIS DOWN? GET IT TO ME BY THE 21ST OR THE 22ND AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SEND MY QUESTIONS AHEAD OF, AHEAD OF TIME FOR ANITA.
EVEN IF SHE CAN'T BE THERE, CAN YOU SEND THEM OVER? MAYBE SHE CAN ANSWER.
OKAY, CHAIRMAN, I'LL PASS THROUGH THE MIC.
UM, ANY, ANY OTHER CLOSING FROM THE COMMITTEE BEFORE? THANK YOU ALL AGAIN.
UM, I THINK WE, UH, HIT IT IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE 23RD.
IS THAT IT? 30TH?
OYSTERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SOCIAL SCHEDULE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS AT OYSTER ROAST, BUT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IMPORTANT TO OUR HISTORY HERE.
NATIVE AMERICANS USED THEM FOR FOOD.
WE USED IT FOR PROCESSING INDIGO AND EVEN FOR FERTILIZING FIELDS OF COTTON OYSTER FACTORIES WERE USED IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY AREA ALL THROUGH THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURY TO PROCESS OYSTERS AND CAN THEM AROUND TOWN.
YOU CAN SEE EVIDENCE OF TABBY ARCHITECTURE THAT'S MADE FROM OYSTER SHELLS, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT OYSTERS DO FOR US IS FILTER OUR WATER.
SEVEN GALLONS OF WATER PER OYSTER PER DAY.
THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR WATERWAYS CLEAN OF STORM WATER AS THESE ARE FILTERING ALL THE TIME.
REMEMBER, DON'T RECYCLE THOSE OYSTER SHELLS WHEN YOU FINISH YOUR OYSTER ROAST.
SO WE HAVE NEW PLACES FOR BABY OYSTERS TO GROW.
ENJOY THE SEASON AND THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.