Oct 20, 2025 Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee

MOVE ON TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2025 TAB.

TAB AND A SECOND PLEASE.

I'LL SECOND THAT BY MS. BROWN.

ANY DISCUSSION OR OBJECTION? NO, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTION ON THAT EITHER.

WE'LL

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR THOSE PLEASE? YES, YOU CERTAINLY CAN I READ THEM? I'LL MOVE THAT THEY BE APPROVED.

AND A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND BY MS. BROWN.

ANY DISCUSSION? NOPE.

THIS WILL ALSO BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.

THIS IS ALSO APPROVED.

REPORTS AND WE'LL JUMP INTO THE FINANCE REPORT.

WE WILL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF 15 MINUTES.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY SIGNUPS, SO IS THERE ANYBODY THAT DID NOT SIGN UP THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? ALRIGHT, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT THEN AND MOVE ON TO

[7.a. Finance Report (FISCAL IMPACT: N/A) - Pinky Harriott, CGFO Chief Financial Officer (10 minutes)]

MS. HARRIETT, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? DOING GOOD, THANKS.

ARE YOU DOING WELL? THIS WORKS HERE? YEAH.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR YEAR TO DATE FINANCIALS.

UM, THIS IS FOR AS A FIRST QUARTER PURPOSE.

WE WERE 26TH.

SORRY.

HERE ARE OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE NOT COLLECTED A WHOLE LOT SO FAR.

UM, BUT WE ARE SLOWLY TRICKLING IN 2% AT ARUM.

UH, 12% FOR LICENSES AND PERMITS.

UH, 19% SO FAR FOR CHARGES FOR SERVICES, BUT OVERALL, 4% FOR THE GENERAL FUND.

UM, AS YOU RECALL, THE GENERAL FUND DID INCREASE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE DID, WE HAVE, UH, PASSED OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE CARRYOVER.

SO WE INCREASED ABOUT A LITTLE OVER $200,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND ALONE FOR CARRYOVER POS.

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES CURRENTLY TO DATE, WE HAVE ABOUT 23% ACROSS ALL GENERAL GOVERNMENT CATEGORIES SO FAR.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE.

AND THE NEXT ONE IS YOUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

AS YOU RECALL, WE ESTABLISHED THE GARAGE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND AGAIN THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN WE DID AWAY WITH SOLID WASTE, WHICH IS NOW BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND.

UH, AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR STORMWATER BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AND HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.

UM, WE TRANSFERRED BECAUSE THE REASON YOU SEE 67% ON THE GARAGE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND IS BECAUSE WE TRANSFERRED THE FUNDS FOR GARAGE FROM FUND 4,000 OVER TO FUND 5,000 SINCE WE WERE REESTABLISHING THIS FUND.

ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS LIKE A CARRY OVER TRANSFER.

TRANSFER, RIGHT.

FUND TO FUND TRANSFER.

ALL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT WILL BE HOUSED IN THAT GARAGE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND.

ENTERPRISE FUNDS, EXPENDITURES, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON PRETTY EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO, UM, WE'VE GOT GARAGE AT 11% STORM WATER AT SIX BEFORD, EXECUTIVE EIGHT, AND HILTON HEAD AIRPORT AT 16.

SO THOSE ARE YOUR YEAR TO DATE FINANCIALS.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? NO MORE JUST, JUST FOR ME.

UM, HELP ME, UM, MS. HARRIET, UM, I, I, I SAW, I SAW WHERE, UM, IN FINANCE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF 7 MILLION.

I I'M GONNA HIT THAT ONE NEXT.

I HAD A FEELING YOU ASKED, OH, GO AHEAD THEN.

I'M SORRY.

IS THAT THE NEXT ONE? YEP.

THE P THE BUDGET TRANSFER? YEAH.

[00:05:01]

OF THE QUARTER ONE TRANSFER, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE $7 MILLION COUNCILMAN GLOVER THAT I WAS REFERRING TO.

WE TOOK IT FROM FUND 4,000 WHERE WE HAD IT PREVIOUSLY BUDGETED AND MOVED IT TO FUND 5,000.

AND THAT IS FOR THE, UH, PURCHASING OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

WE PUT IT UNDER FINANCE, 'CAUSE FINANCE DID THE TRANSFER , IS THAT CLEAR IT UP FOR YOU? MR. GLOVER? OH, THEN YOU SHOW IT AGAIN, UH, IN GARAGE.

SO YOU TRANSFER OUT AGAIN OR GARAGE? NO, IT JUST SHOWS WHERE IT GOING.

THE, THE THIRD COLUMN IS FROM, THE FOURTH COLUMN IS TWO.

WELL, YOU GOT THE DATES ON HERE, RIGHT? YOU GOTTA TRANSFER OUT ON THE 1ST OF JULY.

THEN YOU SHOW IT AGAIN ON THE AUGUST THE 15TH, AND THEN YOU SHOW IT AGAIN ON NINE 13TH.

THE AUGUST 15TH IS WHERE WE SPLIT OUT VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT THERE.

SEE THE FOUR NINE TRANSFERRING IN THEN.

I HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS PAGE IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, MS. HARRIET? MM-HMM .

SO FIRST OF ALL, I CALL OUR ATTENTION TO THE FOURTH LINE DOWN.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF HYSTERICAL.

YOU SAID 96 CENTS , THAT SHOWS YOU WORRY TO THE PENNY, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF DIFFERENT.

AND THEN FARTHER DOWN THE PAGE, UM, IT'S UNDER THE AIRPORT.

REMIND ME, WHAT'S VOLTAIRE AVIATION? WHAT IS THAT SERVICE? UM, JARED, I THAT MARKETING BOWLER MARKETING.

AND THEN, UM, SO IN JUST TO FURTHER TALK ABOUT, IF YOU GO UP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, YOU HAVE VERY SMALL TRANSFERS, $8 55, THAT'S THE AMOUNT.

SO I THINK THAT'S VERY NICE THAT YOU TAKE IT TO THE PENNY, LIKE YOUR PERSONAL CHECKBOOK.

I WILL CHASE A PENNY.

, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FOR THIS ONE? NO, JUST, JUST, UM, A COMMENT, UM, ON THE 26TH OF SEPTEMBER UNDER THE FLEET, UM, $50,000, UM, YES.

AND IT SEEMED THAT IT WAS NOT, UM RIGHT.

APPROPRIATE, UM, RIGHT.

OR SOMETHING AND IT GOT IT CORRECTED.

WE TRANSFERRED A PURCHASE THAT YOU APPROVED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR A VAN FOR DSN.

BUT DSN IS A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.

SO WE TOOK THE MONEY BACK FROM FLEET AND PUT IT BACK IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO B THEN A PRESENTATION OF PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PLAN FOR AT TAX RECIPIENTS AS REQUESTED BY FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY OF 2025.

UM, HOW DID IT GET IN THERE THE FIRST TIME? BECAUSE IT WAS A PART OF THE INITIAL TRANSFER.

ALRIGHT, MS, I THINK THAT ANSWERS ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.

DISCUSSION ON THAT,

[7.b. Presentation of a performance measurement plan for ATax recipients, as requested by Finance, Administration, and Economic Development Committee in February of 2025. (FISCAL IMPACT: $35,000 per year) - Hank Amundson, Special Assistant to the County Administrator and Robb Wells, President & CEO of the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal CVB]

UM, AND I BELIEVE THIS IS OTHER PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION.

HEY, HOW ARE YOU BUDDY? THIS THING'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSITIVE THAN NEWS, ROBERT.

UM, I'M JUST HERE TO KICK OFF, UH, ROB WELLS WITH THE PRESENTATION, BUT THIS STARTED BACK IN FEBRUARY, AS IT SAYS IN THE A IS AND IN THE AGENDA ITEM WHERE, UH, DICK STEWART INITIALLY CAME AND WE TALKED ABOUT IDEAS OF HOW TO QUANTIFY SUCCESS OR RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND VERIFY NUMBERS THAT ARE REPORTED BACK FOR ATEX EXPENDITURES.

UM, THE TWO SIDES OF, BACK IN FEBRUARY, IT KIND OF GOT INTO A LONG DISCUSSION.

THERE'S TWO THINGS.

ONE IS MEASURING THE ACTUAL EVENT SUCCESS, AND THEN A MORE LONG TERM BIG DEAL ALSO IS TO MEASURE THE QUALITY AND MAINTENANCE AND AVAILABLE OPERATION OPERATING HOURS FOR FACILITIES THEMSELVES.

BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT CAME OUTTA THAT MEETING WAS LET'S START MEASURING THESE EVENTS SO WE CAN SEE WHO SHOULD KEEP GETTING THE FUNDS, WHO MIGHT NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE, OR EVEN BETTER, WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, BUT BECAUSE OF MORE DATA THAT WE ACTUALLY COLLECTED.

THEY COULD BE FUNDED, BUT THEY COULD ALSO BE TOLD, HEY, MAYBE YOU SHOULD DO THE X, Y, OR Z BETTER.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE ENGAGED WITH ROB WELLS FROM THE CBB AND HE WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION.

OH, DOING MR. WELLS.

YEAH, I KNOW.

HOW ARE YOU? HOW YOU DOING? HOW YOU GUYS DOING? THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

UM, I THINK BEFORE YOU HAD PUT IN THE PACKET, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK, BUT IF ONE OF THE TASKS THAT WE WANTED TO DO AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE WAS WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO, LIKE, THERE'S SOME BASELINE STUFF THAT WE CAN TRACK.

THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF GUESSWORK THAT GOES INTO HOW AN EVENT SUCCESS IS MEASURED, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY NOWADAYS ALLOWS US TO DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND WE HAVE THIS DATA AND INSIGHT READILY AVAILABLE TO US.

IT'S

[00:10:01]

JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING IT TO USE.

AND SO THE REQUEST THAT WE PUT TOGETHER WAS, WAS A WAY TO MEASURE TRACK, BUT ALSO PROVIDE INSIGHTS BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR AT TAX, BUT ALSO FOR THE COMMITTEE WHO'S AWARDING AAX AND ULTIMATELY YOUR DECISION AT THE END OF THE DAY.

AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT TO THIS.

AND SO WE WANNA MEASURE ATTENDANCE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CORE THINGS THAT, UM, EVENTS, ESPECIALLY FESTIVALS ARE, ARE GRADED UPON.

IS THERE AN IMPACT BASED ON THAT, ON THAT EVENT? ONE OF THOSE GOES DOWN TO A BASIC MATH EQUATION THAT WE USE IN, IN OUR OFFICE.

IF I HAD A MILLION PEOPLE THAT SPENT A DOLLAR, OR IS IT BETTER TO HAVE ONE PERSON SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS? WELL, IMPACT MATTERS.

AND SO MAKING SURE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT ALSO, IS THE MONEY THAT'S BEING EXPENSED IN THE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING FOR THIS, IS IT DISTINGUISHED? YOU KNOW, IS IT DRAWING VISITORS FROM OUTSIDE THAT RADIUS THAT HOPING TO, AND WE, WE PUT TOGETHER THIS, THIS PLAN TO, UH, THIS DATA TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THAT.

UM, IT IS MOBILE BASED DATA FOR REAL TIME VISITOR TRACKING.

IT ALSO MEASURE RESIDENTS AND, UH, WHAT WE CALL A LOCAL VISITOR.

THOSE ARE VISITORS THAT DO NOT RESIDE IN OUR COUNTY, BUT DO MAYBE RESIDE IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE AT BORDER BEAUFORT COUNTY.

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

THEY SPEND A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN SAY, A VISITOR FROM GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT SPEND NONETHELESS.

BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE IS A SOLUTION THAT TRACKS THE DATA, PROVIDES THAT INSIGHT BACK TO BOTH THE FESTIVAL, THE AWARD, UH, RECIPIENT AND TO YOU GUYS, UH, AS YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

UH, PLEASE STOP AND ASK QUESTIONS AS YOU GO ALONG.

I KNOW IT WAS PROVIDED AHEAD OF TIME.

I DON'T WANNA GO THROUGH AND READ THROUGH EACH SLIDE.

THAT WOULD BE, UH, A WASTE OF TIME.

UH, AND I, I KNOW YOU GOT A LOT GOING ON, BUT I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THINGS.

IF, IF WE PROVIDED, UH, INSIGHTS TO THOSE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR AT TAX, THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF MONEY THAT COMES IN.

THREE TYPES OF MONEY.

THERE'S GOOD MONEY, THERE'S BAD MONEY, AND THERE'S NEUTRAL MONEY.

GOOD MONEY IS THAT MONEY THAT'S NEW TO OUR AREA.

THAT'S MONEY COMING INTO OUR IN BEAUFORT COUNTY VISITOR SPENDING BAD MONEY.

THAT'S MONEY LEAVING OUR COUNTY AND GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO SPEND, RIGHT? IT'S NOT GOOD.

AND NEUTRAL MONEY IS MONEY THAT WE CIRCULATE AMONGST OURSELVES.

THAT'S THAT LOCAL MONEY THAT WE SPEND DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

AND THEY ALL HAVE VARIOUS IMPACT ON THERE.

AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT AND PUT THE SIGNIFICANCE ON THAT BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE, IF I CAN TELL A VISITOR, EXCUSE ME, IF I CAN HELP A FESTIVAL BY SHOWCASING TO THEM WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING THEIR MONEY AND THEIR ADVERTISING, AND THEN HAVE THOSE PEOPLE SHOW UP FROM THAT MARKET THAT THEY ADVERTISED IN AT A GREATER POINT THAN THAT HELPS THEM MAKE MORE EFFICIENT SPEND IN THEIR ADVERTISING KNOWLEDGE.

OBVIOUSLY IT ALSO TRACKS DEVICE, UH, EXCUSE ME, IT TRACKS AT ATTEND, UH, ATTENDANCE.

UH, THIS IS SOMETHING I WANNA SHOW THOUGH, IS SOMETHING CALLED DWELL TIME.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IT REPEATED QUITE A BIT.

DWELL TIME IS HOW LONG SOMEONE WHO'S ATTENDED SAID FESTIVAL EVENT ATTRACTION OR A DESTINATION AS A WHOLE.

IT KINDA SPEAKS TO THE PROGRAMMING.

SO IF I HAVE, UH, A, A FESTIVAL OR AN EVENT THAT IS A, THE DWELL TIME IS LET'S SAY UNDER AN HOUR, THEN MAYBE THEY NEED TO WORK ON THEIR PROGRAMMING.

THEY'RE NOT HOLDING PEOPLE IN THAT, IN THAT GROUP LONG ENOUGH.

IF THEIR DWELL TIME IS LONGER, SAY TWO HOURS IN THE PROGRAM AND PROBABLY MATCH THE, AND YOU'RE MEETING VISITOR EXPECTATIONS, WHAT A HELP, WHAT INSIGHT TO THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE PLANS? UM, AGAIN, THE SERVICE THAT WE ARE, ARE WANTING TO PROVIDE IS, I THINK IT'S IN YOUR PACKET.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS.

UH, WE USE A GROUP CALLED PLACER AI, WHICH I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH, UH, TCO DATA, WHICH IS OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT.

UH, IT GIVES A KIND OF AN SPENDING, UH, PIECE ZIP CODE DATA, UH, ALSO INCLUDED IN THAT.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE LAST PART IS, UH, IS, IS ADVANCED TRAVEL, WHICH HANDLES OUR, WHAT WE CALL OUR PSYCHOGRAPHICS, KIND OF TELLS YOU THE WHO'S COMING.

UH, SO WE CAN BETTER TARGET, UH, THOSE PEOPLE IN, IN THE FUTURE FOR, FOR THOSE EVENTS.

I KNOW IT'S KIND OF QUICK, KIND OF KIND MOVING AHEAD, KINDA GET TO THE QUESTION AND ANSWER A SECTION OF THIS, OF THIS AND LOVE TO TAKE THE QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT.

YES MA'AM.

UM, A DR YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT, WHAT SLIDE ARE YOU LOOKING AT? UM, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND FINANCIAL METRICS.

WHAT IS THAT ON LODGING IMPACT? IS THAT AVERAGE DAILY SLIDE? IT'S A DIFFERENT SLIDE ON THAT ONE.

THERE.

IT'S THIS TIME RIGHT HERE.

UM, IT'S ON, IT'S ON THOSE METRICS SLIDES.

OH, ON THE METRICS PAGE.

I GOT YOU.

SO A DR IS A HOTEL OR SHORT-TERM RENTALS AVERAGE DAILY RATE.

SO THAT'S THE RATE OF WHICH, UH, IS BEING LISTED ON THE, ON THE BOOKING SITE.

IT IS ONE OF THREE METRICS FROM A HOTEL THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE OF A A DR AND OCCUPANCY OF BOTH HIGH REVPAR AND REVENUE TEND TO ALSO COMMIT.

AND

[00:15:01]

AND SO WE DO TRACK THOSE, THAT, THAT'S PART OF OUR, UH, WOULD BE PART OF THOSE REPORTS THAT WE PROVIDE BACK TO BOTH THE FESTIVAL EVENT, THE APPLICANT, AS WELL AS THE 2% A TAX COMMITTEE, UH, LOCAL TAX COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

SO, MR. WELLS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

AND I APPRECIATE HANK, I'VE BEEN BUGGING HIM ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO DETERMINE OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

WE LITERALLY GIVE OUT A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STATE A TAX GRANTS EVERY YEAR.

AND THIS COUNCIL'S HEARD ME TALK ABOUT ARE WE GETTING A GOOD RETURN ON INVESTMENT? AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

THE COMMITTEE'S REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.

UM, I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEM, BUT THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

HOW MANY EVENTS WILL YOU BE ABLE TO TRACK WITH THIS? $35,000.

IT CAN'T BE ALL OF 'EM.

WHY? AS LONG AS THE, AS LONG AS THE MOVE.

I, I, I'M I JUST .

UM, NO, THE, THE, THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS IS AS LONG AS THE EVENT FESTIVAL ATTRACTION IS NOT TAKING PLACE ON WHAT THEY CALL A SENSITIVE AREA SCHOOLS, UM, MILITARY BASES OR INSTALLATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE THREE IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, THEN YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH COVERED UNDER THOSE.

SO IF IT'S IN A PARK MM-HMM .

ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO GEOFENCE OR MOBILE BASED DATA TRACK OVER THAT, OVER THAT AREA.

WHAT WE RUN INTO ISSUES IS, UM, WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAP SOMETHING AROUND THE SCHOOL SURE.

AND IT CAN DO, WE ALSO TRY TO AVOID ROADWAYS.

SO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS PARIS AVENUE AND FORT BE HAS A LOT OF LIVE MUSIC ON THE STREETS THERE.

IT MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT, UH, TO TRACK BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THROUGH TRAFFIC.

WE TRY TO STAY OFF THE, OFF THOSE ROADS.

BUT IF CONSIDERATIONS COULD BE MADE FOR THOSE EVENTS, UH, IT WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN THIS WHEN? UM, AS SOON, NEXT ROUND? WELL, TECHNICALLY, UM, WE'VE BEEN ASSURED THAT IF THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED AND WE, WE RECEIVE THE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY TO GO AHEAD AND PROCESS IT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT HISTORICAL DATA FOR 2024.

UM, WHICH WILL GIVE US A BASELINE, BUT WE'LL ACTUALLY START TRACKING WITH THIS ROUND OF AT TAX FUNDING SO WE COULD CATCH UP TO THE DISTRIBUTION.

SO AFTER Y'ALL, UH, COMMITTEE AWARDS THE AT TAX, UH, FOR MINUTES LATER ON, UH, IN THE MEETING, THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN START LAYING SOME OF THE GROUNDWORK, ESPECIALLY IF THIS IS APPROVED AND WE MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, WITH THAT.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME, SOME, SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO TO, TO APPROVE IT.

BUT THIS, AS SOON AS IT'S APPROVED FINALLY AND THE MONEY'S RECEIVED, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACT AND MOVE FORWARD.

WELL, I'M GLAD THIS IS COMING FORWARD.

I'M VERY HAPPY YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.

I REALLY, I REALLY COUNT ON YOU TO DO THIS.

AND I THINK IT'LL BE GREAT INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL AND FOR THE COMMITTEE ITSELF.

AND FOR THE EVENT HOLDERS, I THINK ALL PARTIES INVOLVED, I MEAN, IT, IT TAKES THE GUESSWORK OUT.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET A LOT OF ANECDOTAL INFORMATION, FEEDBACK FROM STUFF, OR WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE OUT THERE, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS IN RELATIVE SPEAKING TERMS, BUT WE'D BE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS.

UM, I KNOW YOU CAN'T MEASURE ON PARIS ISLAND, BUT YOU DO OTHER WAYS OF MEASURE FOR GRADUATION, CORRECT? OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, THE COOL THING ABOUT PARIS ISLAND IS THE GATES PUBLIC.

SO WE CAN MEASURE THE GATE.

YOU CAN'T MEASURE THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE HOTEL.

AND THEN WE HAVE ALSO GAINED APPROVAL FOR THE PARADE DECK.

GOOD.

PRETTY GOOD.

YES, SIR.

UM, YOU WOULD BE DOING THIS COUNTYWIDE? UH, THAT WAS THE ASK WAS IF WE COULD, IF WE HAD A SOLUTION TO A QUESTION THAT WOULD GO ACROSS COUNTYWIDE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE DO IN THE NORTHERN BEFORD COUNTY AREAS THROUGH THIRD PARTY CALLED ADVANCED TRAVEL.

AND, UM, THAT'S JUST FOR, FOR THE, WHAT WE'RE REQUESTED TO DO.

BUT IF WE, IF THIS IS AWARDED, THEN THIS WILL BE FOR THE, THE COUNTYWIDE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT FEEDBACK TO MATCH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ASKING FOR THROUGH THE GRANTS.

'CAUSE I THINK THE GRANTS ARE COUNTYWIDE APPLICATIONS, NOT JUST IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY OR SOUTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND THEREFORE WE WANNA BE ABLE TO TRACK ALL THAT.

AND THIS WOULD BE LIKE AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION.

WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK TOWARDS IT.

BUT THIS TIME, YES.

THAT'S AMAZING THAT THE COSTS, UM, JUST SEEMS THAT IT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO DO ALL THAT.

BUT, UH, THERE MUST BE A SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY.

UM, THIS CASE, IT'S THE PERSON ASKING FOR IT.

UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE, UM, AREAS THAT YOU DO NOT COLLECT THAT MAY BE HARD FOR YOU TO COLLECT DATA ON? UH, THOSE, THE PUBLIC SPACES ARE THE ONES THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

LIKE THE, THE SENSITIVE PUBLIC AREA, SCHOOLS, MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

THOSE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE CAN'T, UH, JUST ON HABITS.

UH, LET ME ASK YOU THIS ANOTHER WAY.

UM, LET'S SAY YOU ARE TRYING TO USE DEAL WITH THE IMPACT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THE PENN CENTER HERITAGE.

UH, ORIGINALLY AND THEY'RE COMING BACK HOME.

AND YOU HAVE, UM, A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE COMING FROM THIS AREA,

[00:20:01]

SO THEY MAY NOT BE STAYING AT CERTAIN LOCATIONS, UM, LIKE HOTELS, ET CETERA.

'CAUSE THEY MAY BE STAYING WITH FAMILIES.

YOU ARE ABLE TO PICK UP THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.

IT MAY, IT MAY PROCESS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, EXCUSE ME.

BUT WE'RE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TRACK, UH, AS A, AS A MOVE ABOUT THE DESTINATION, REMEMBER WE'RE USING MOBILE, UH, BASED DATA TRACKING, WHICH MEANS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR CELL PHONE AREA CODE IS.

THAT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOUR ZIP CODE COMES FROM.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IN THAT REGARD.

IT'S HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR CELL PHONE PING AND THAT MARKETPLACE.

AND SO IT, IT REMOVE THE RESIDENT.

AND IF IT'S A HOMECOMING, AS YOU KIND OF EXPLAINED THERE, RIGHT.

MAYBE SOME PEOPLE, THEN THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA SHOW UP FOR THE MARKETS IN WHICH THEY CURRENTLY RESIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME.

AND THEY'LL SHOW IN MARKET AND SHOW THEM AS THE VISITOR THEY ARE, EVEN IF THEY ARE STAYING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

YOU JUST, YOU JUST SCARED ME.

YOU KNOW, YOU DID THAT.

I MEAN, I HOPE NOT MY CELL PHONE.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND .

APPRECIATE THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I HAVE A COUPLE? YEP.

UM, THIS QUESTION MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU, BUT FOR STAFF, WHAT'S THE FUNDING SOURCE? THAT'S A DISCUSSION COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO HAVE.

UM, IF IT'S THE STATE 2%, IT WOULD'VE TO GO VIA THE STATE COMMITTEE AND GET A RECOMMENDATION FOR LOCAL A TAX AND GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE THAT'S JUST BEEN APPOINTED.

OR AN ALTERNATE WOULD BE FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

AND THEN HAVE THE COUNTY APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THE 3%, UH, LOCAL A TAX.

AND THEN IS THIS AUTOMATIC RENEW OR WOULD IT HAVE TO BE VOTED ON EVERY YEAR? EVERY YEAR.

UM, WE WOULD LIKE, MAY, MAY, I ABSOLUTELY, WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT UP WHEN, WHEN THE BUDGET GOES THROUGH AND YOU HAVE YOUR PARTNERS COME AND MAKE THE PRESENTATIONS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, WE WOULD INTERJECT AND MAKE THAT PART OF OUR ASK AS IT COME THROUGH THERE.

THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY IS TO HAVE THEM MAKE IT PART OF THEIR APPLICATION TO THE STATE.

2% EVERY YEAR.

AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS JUST DISCUSSION TODAY, BUT, UH, MR. UH, GLOVER TOUCHED ON MY BIGGEST THING AT THE END THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS SERIOUS OR NOT, BUT I KIND OF AM.

THAT DOES KIND OF SCARE ME A LITTLE BIT.

SO CAN YOU DEFINE THE, THE MOBILE BASED DATA? SURE.

AND BECAUSE IT ALSO HAD LOCATION ON THERE TOO, WHICH MEANS THAT THEIR LOCATION SERVICES ARE ON, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TRACKING WHEN IT PINGS IN THAT LOCATION SERVICES AND YES.

I MEAN THAT'S USUALLY, UH, THAT'S WHAT WE USE, UH, TO DATA.

AND WE'RE NOT COLLECTING THIS.

THIS IS, THIS IS COMING THROUGH.

UM, ONE SOURCES, UH, THAT WE'LL BE UTILIZING WILL BE, UH, UH, AN AGREEMENT WITH, UH, LIFE 360, WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON LOCATION BASED SERVICE TRACKER THAT'S OUT THERE.

UH, INSTAGRAM ALSO ONE OF THOSE THAT, THAT SHARES THAT DATA.

UH, ANYTIME YOU TAKE A PHOTO, IF YOU GO INTO THE EDIT SECTION AND INFO, IT'LL JUST SHOW THE PICTURES OF WHERE IT'S TAKEN, THE TIMEFRAME.

BUT THE MAIN THING WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS, IS, IS TRACKING.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GO, IT DOESN'T GO IN THERE AND START PIECEMEALING ALL THIS DATA OUT THERE.

WHAT IT DOES IS IT SAYS YOU ARE FROM BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, YOU VISITED WATERFRONT PARK, WHICH IS A GEO FACED AREA DURING THIS TIMEFRAME, DURING THIS THING.

NOW WHERE IT GETS SOPHISTICATED IS WHEN WE START DOING WHAT WE CALL ATTRIBUTION, WHICH IS KNOWING THAT WE SERVED YOU AN AD, YOU SAW THE AD, WHICH IS ON YOUR COMPUTER, ON YOUR PHONE MM-HMM .

AND THEN YOU SHOWED UP IN MARKET.

AND SEE THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO ADVERTISE FOR A FESTIVAL WHERE OUR STRONG SPOTS ARE, WHERE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY.

AND IT'S NOT RETURN, THERE'S NOT A RETURN ON IT.

AGAIN, YOU CHALLENGE THE CBBS TO HAVE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT FOR THE AT TAX MONEY, BUT YOU SPENT IN, IN RETURN.

WE WANNA BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO OUR EVENT AND ATTRACTION SPONSORS TO COME IN.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, ALL THEM.

SO BASICALLY, DON'T WE, WE JUST HAVE IT WITH THE COMPANY THAT WE WOULD PURCHASE FROM.

SO WHICHEVER COMPANY IS COLLECTING THE DATA THAT'S CORRECT.

IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE AGREEMENT.

SO WHEN ALL OF US HERE SIGN UP FOR OUR AGREEMENTS ON OUR PHONE, THAT'S IN THE FINE PRINT SAYING THAT WE'RE ALLOWING THAT COMPANY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

IF YOU TURN IT ON.

SO NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

YEAH, YOU CAN.

I MEAN, I'LL BE HONEST.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THE REST OF COUNCIL THEN, HOW MUCH INFORMATION IS THIS? HOW MUCH BENEFIT WE REALLY GONNA GET FROM THIS INFORMATION BY TRACKING THE LOCATION OF OUR RESIDENTS IN AND OUT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY? I THINK THE INFORMATION IS OUT THERE.

WE JUST BASICALLY COMPILING IT.

AND GIVING IT BACK TO US.

SO I, UH, I'M, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD PROBABLY NOT TRACK ME AS MUCH, BUT YOU WILL DEFINITELY TRACK MY WIFE WHO WAS WITH ME.

WE, WE WERE ACTUALLY NOT TRACKING ANY INDIVIDUAL WHATSOEVER.

IT'S BASED ON THE GEO CODES THAT WE'RE, THAT WE LOOK FOR THE DATA WE SERVE BASED ON WHAT PARAMETERS WE GIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT EVENT FESTIVAL, WHEREVER.

SO YOU CREATE THAT GEOFENCE BASED ON THE EVENT.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT IN, SAY, BLUFFTON THAT'S IN A PARK, WE WOULD GEOFENCE THAT PARK AND THEN THE DATA WOULD, WOULD BE COLLECTED BASED ON WHO ENTERED THAT MARKETPLACE.

I I, I DON'T HAVE A

[00:25:01]

PROBLEM WITH IT.

I KNOW THE DATA'S OUT THERE.

THE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS OUT THERE.

UH, IT FRIGHTENS ME.

UM, I STAY, TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM AI, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO EMBRACE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, AND I THINK WE HAVE, WITH THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN BETTER PLAN.

I AGREE WITH THAT.

UM, BUT I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE COUNCIL WILL JUST USE THIS AS A TOOL, UM, IN THEIR FUNDING, UM, CYCLE AND NOT ABSOLUTE, BECAUSE THERE ARE FESTIVALS OR EVENT THAT HAS TO OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND WE NEED TO NOURISH SHOWS, NOURISH, UM, THOSE, THE EVENT, UM, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

A HUNDRED PERCENT.

BUT IT A HUNDRED PERCENT AND WE USE THE DATA CURRENTLY IN OTHER REGARDS WITH OTHER FESTIVALS.

EXACTLY.

NEW TO THE NEW TO THE THING AND, AND, AND ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GET BETTER AT OFFERING THEIR ADVERTISING, THEIR PROGRAMMING.

AND THIS INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED THAT WE'RE NOT TRACKING VISUALS.

YOU'RE TRACKING KIND OF THE INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM SAID GATHERING OF FOLKS.

IT'S JUST LIKE YOU GO TO A WEBSITE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU START SEEING THAT STORE'S ADS ALL OVER YOUR, YOUR TRACKING.

IT'S THE SAME, SAME APPROACH.

THE LITTLE META TAGS.

AND LEMME ASK YOU THIS SINCE I MENTIONED THE PEN CENTER AS AN EXAMPLE.

UM, WOULD PENN CENTER, DID PENN CENTER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE INTERFACE WITH YOU ABSOLUTELY.

UH, WITH THAT DATA TO HELP THEM BETTER PLAN OR ANY ONE OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS? ABSOLUTELY.

WHICH IS, I THINK WHY WE WERE APPROACHED IS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE SOME ESTABLISHED, UH, COLLABORATIONS ALREADY IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IN WHICH WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT ENTITIES TO PROVIDE WHAT DATA WE CAN MAKE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE ON THOSE MAJORITY OF THE FESTIVALS THAT TAKE PLACE IN SAY, WATERFRONT PARK WOULD HAVE THIS GEOFENCE BUILT INTO IT.

I I, I KNOW WE DID THE, THE HERITAGE DAYS, UH MM-HMM .

FENCE CENTER WHEN, WHEN THEY CAME UP FOR THEIR LAST AT TAX REQUEST.

SO A LOT OF THE DATA THEY'RE ALREADY USING IN THE AT TAX APPLICATION, MOST LIKELY CAME FROM, FROM, FROM US TO BEGIN WITH.

UM, THE THIRD PARTY IS THE DATA COLLECTOR.

HOW DO YOU RECEIVE THE DATA? IS IT DAILY, MONTHLY, WEEKLY, QUARTERLY? THAT'S A GREAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, IT ACTUALLY IS ABOUT, IT'S A LIFETIME OF ABOUT 24 TO 48 HOURS DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT IS COLLECTED OR, YOU KNOW, GARNER DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

BUT WE'D SAY WITHIN 48 HOURS WE COULD PRODUCE A REPORT AND THEN IT TAKES, UH, ABOUT THREE WEEKS FOR THE ECONOMIC PORTIONS TO COME IN BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, CREDIT CARD DATA OR WHATEVER ELSE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT SPEND IN THAT MARKET.

SO IN A GIVEN TIMEFRAME, WE COULD PROBABLY TURN IT AROUND AND SAY A MONTH, WHICH IS PLENTY OF TIME, UH, FOR THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION OR REIMBURSEMENT PIECES OR BE READY FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR WHEN THEY'RE GOING FOR, FOR A TAX GRANTS.

YOU SAID CREDIT CARD DATA, WHICH, WHO'S COLLECTING THE CREDIT CARD DATA WE WANT? NO, IT'S JUST NO, NO.

I MEAN IT'S, IT'S, WE EVERY STORE THAT YOU SHOP IN AND USE YOUR CREDIT CARD.

I GET THAT.

I CAN GET THE LAST FOUR OF ANYBODY THAT SWIPES A CARD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH TOTAL SPIN AND A ZIP CODE, MAYBE ATTACHMENT OF WHAT THAT SPIN WAS FOR THAT MARKET.

THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALLOWED BY CREDIT CARD SPIN BY THE WAY.

THAT'S IT.

SO JUST A COMMENT, UM, TO ANSWER A, A LOT OF THE ATAC APPLICATIONS AND WHEN, AND BRIAN SAT THROUGH THE, THE MEETINGS I SAT THROUGH, DYLAN DID.

SO SOME OF IT'S ANECDOTAL DATA, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY, OH, WE HAD A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE.

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? OH, THERE WAS A BIG CROWD OR THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

OKAY, THAT'S ANECDOTAL.

AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHO'S LOCAL OR WHO'S VISITOR.

A VISITOR IS OVER 50 MILES AWAY.

SOME OF THESE THAT WE'RE FUNDING MAY BE MOSTLY LOCAL EVENTS, IN WHICH CASE THEY'RE REALLY NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

SO THIS GIVES US SOME CONCRETE DATA, WHICH I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THREE YEARS TO SUPPORT OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN AND I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE MR. CUNNINGHAM GOES AND SPEND HIS MONEY.

SO THAT'D BE GREAT.

I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU THAT.

IT'S MY BIGGEST FEAR RIGHT THERE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT WHERE TO FUND IT.

I LIKED YOUR IDEA THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR STATE A TAX AS A REIMBURSEMENT.

WELL NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD BE THE BEST WAY TO GO.

FOR THIS YEAR, IF YOU WANT TO EXPEDITE THIS, YOU COULD DIRECT THAT IT COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT THE COUNTY APPLIED FOR THE LOCAL 3% TO GET THE MONEY FOR IT.

SO YOU CAN BUDGET THIS IN STATE AND YOU HAVE TIME ALSO TO SPEAK WITH THE STATE A TAX COMMITTEE AND PLAN FOR IT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

SO IT WOULD JUST BE FRONTING THE MONEY FOR A MONTH OR TWO UNTIL THAT COMMITTEE MEETS IF THE, UH, APPLICATION'S IMPROVEMENT.

MS. PINKY, I'M GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

YEAH, HARRIET, SORRY.

SO SINCE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ALREADY PASSED, UM, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO AN AMENDMENT OR REPURPOSE SOME, UH, EXPENDITURES.

SO I WOULD, I AGREED TO THE POINT THAT ROB MADE EARLIER, DO IT AS A PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

[00:30:01]

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO DO WE HAVE ANY OPTIONS TO START THIS IN JANUARY TO GET, UM, YOU DO, UH, WE HAVE LOCALLY FEASIBLE LOCALLY AND H TAX ARE COMING UP IN THAT CYCLE STARTS IN JANUARY ONE.

SO IT CAN BE REQUESTED AS THAT COULD BE A PART OF YOUR ALLOTMENT FROM LOCAL A AND H.

SO I'M GONNA ASK A QUESTION.

I ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT JUST FOR HECK OF IT, ON THE STATE ATEX, WE ARE AT 9 99 0 0 5.

SO WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY THERE.

I'M NOT, I'VE NOT SEEN A CONTRACT, SO NO.

I SEE A FISCAL IMPACT OF 35,000.

I'M NOT 35,000.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY WHAT THIS WILL CAUSE.

UM, WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS IN STATE A TAX, BUT OF COURSE IF YOU GO THROUGH THE STATE A TAX ROUTE, IT DOES NEED TO GO THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE TO GO TO THE COMMITTEE.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

OR WE GO TO LOCAL IN JANUARY.

YOU CAN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY.

WE DON'T C THIS MONTH.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT THIS YEAR.

WELL WE HAVE, WE HAVE A COMMITTEE SEATED.

WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE PEOPLE.

BUT IT HAS TO GO TO THEIR MEETING, RIGHT? CORRECT.

WHEN THEIR NEXT MEETING, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL A SPECIAL MEETING.

THE GRANT CYCLE DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL JANUARY.

FIRST.

SO THAT WOULD GIVES IT FIRST OPPORTUNITY.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

AND YOU COULD, BUT I'M SAYING FOR US TO EVEN GET IT TO JANUARY, I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT MEETING MOST OF DECEMBER, SO WE'D HAVE TO GET IT TO THEM THIS MONTH TO BE ABLE TO MEET IN NOVEMBER ON THIS TOPIC.

WELL, COULD WE, UM, IF YOU WANNA MEET THAT TIMEFRAME OF JANUARY YEAH.

WELL WE'RE, WE WOULD PUT AN APPLICATION INTO LOCAL AT TAX.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? THEY'D HAVE TO DO THAT.

SO WE, WE AS A COUNTY COULD PUT IN AN APPLICATION AT LOCAL A AND H TAX AND IN THE CYCLE THAT OPENS JANUARY ONE.

AND THEN IT CAN BE PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE APRIL FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR AWARD.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR WE VOTED IN FOR STATE AT TAX.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE TO, IF WE FIND IT GOOD INFORMATION, WE COULD HAVE A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT INSTEAD OF DOING IT EVERY YEAR.

I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER TO GET IT DONE, HOWEVER WE CAN DO IT.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO GO TO COUNCIL FOR FULL DISCUSSION OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD JUST HAVE STAFF SINCE THERE'S ONLY $35,000 A YEAR TO APPLY FOR? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FUNDING SOURCE, YOU SHOULD GO TO COUNCIL.

UM, WE COULD DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR LOCAL A TAX.

YOU, WE RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO DIRECT STAFF TO THRESHOLD.

THE THRESHOLD'S 50.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

I THINK IF WE PUT IN AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY, IT COULD BE APPROVED.

THEY CAN REQUEST THAT THEY PUT THE APPLICATION.

BUT FOR THE FUNDING SOURCE, THAT SHOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION.

UH, AND THE COMMITTEE SHOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, WHICH IT WILL BE WHEN THE LOCAL ATEX COMES FOR WE, YOU ALL WILL ANYWHERE ANYWAYS.

MM-HMM.

SO WE CAN MAKE, WE CAN MAKE THAT MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR THAT NOW TAB.

THAT'S TO YOU.

I BELIEVE WE CAN ARE YOU MAKING THAT MOTION THEN? SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY FOR, UH, LOCAL A H TAX TO, FOR $35,000 TO COVER THIS, UH, GEO TRACKING, WHATEVER WE'D LIKE TO CALL CONTRACT WITH THE CVB.

ALL THE MOTION.

ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? UH, JUST QUICKLY.

UM, THIS WOULD THEN GO IN EFFECT WHEN JANUARY SOMETIME THE, THE AWARDING OF THE CONTRACT OR THE, THE APPLICATION PERIOD STARTS JANUARY 1ST.

SO YOU WON'T GET THE MONEY UNTIL AFTER JANUARY RIGHT AFTER.

AND THEN YOU CAN GET STARTED AT THAT TIME.

YEAH, AFTER YOU CAN EVALUATE, YOU CAN USE THAT 30, SORRY, MIKE, THAT APPLICATION, IF IT GETS APPROVED AS A PART OF YOUR, UM, PRESENTATION FOR LOCAL A AND H, THAT CYCLE OF, OF FOLKS THAT GET AWARDED THOSE FUNDS, YOU CAN, THAT CAN ROB CAN DO THE ANALYSIS ON THAT.

SORRY, ON, ON THAT LIST OF, UM, AWARDS.

SO THAT, THAT FIRST CYCLE OF APPLICATIONS CAN BE YOUR FIRST, WHAT'S THE WORD? WOULD YOU, WOULD YOU HAVE DATA AT THAT TIME TO GET STARTED WITH, UH, PRESENTING? YEAH, I STATED, I STATED EARLIER, AS SOON AS WE GET CONFIRMATION THAT WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN START APPLYING THE GEOFENCES OVER, OVER THE EVENTS UP TILL, YOU KNOW, A, A YEAR OUT OR A YEAR, A YEAR PAST.

SO THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GO BACKTRACK AND DO THAT.

THAT AGAIN, JUST TWO POINTS OF CLARIFICATION.

ONE, THIS IS A, JUST A DIRECT PASS THROUGH.

THIS IS THE CONTRACT'S WITH THE CBB.

SO THERE'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, IT'S THROUGH US, IT'S THROUGH OUR, OUR ARCHITECTURE.

BUT IT'S A STRAIGHT UP.

THAT'S THE FEE.

THAT'S THE CHARGE.

IT'S THE $35,000.

THAT'S ONE, TWO ANY EVENT UP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, A YEAR OUT.

SO A YEAR PAST WOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE TRACKED AND, AND, AND, AND PICKED UP JOE.

JOE HAS A HAND NOTE.

MR. PASSMAN.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL LINE OR THE ADMINISTRATOR LINE IF WE WANTED TO DO IT THROUGH THAT ROUTE.

UM, WE DO HAVE CONTINGENCY FUNDS IN EITHER

[00:35:01]

AND THEN BEING REIMBURSED SO THAT WE COULD APPLY IN JANUARY AND BE REIMBURSED BY APRIL, BUT HAVE THE PROGRAM ALREADY MOVING FORWARD.

IS THAT A MOTION, MR. PASSMAN? I WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THAT MOTION.

I WOULD SECOND IT.

WE, WE ALREADY HAVE ONE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

SO IS THAT AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE THE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

NOW SPECIFICALLY USE ONE OF THE CONTINGENCIES AND I WOULD SAY THE COUNTY COUNCIL DI UH, CONTINGENCY WOULD BE THE ONE TO USE BECAUSE THIS IS A COUNTY COUNCIL DECISION.

AND THEN YOU, SO, AND IN YOUR MOTION YOU'D SAY WE WOULD APPLY FOR THE AT TAX TO REFUND.

THE SOURCE YOU TOOK IT FROM.

USING YOUR CONTINGENCY COUNSEL'S CONTINGENCY.

AND YOU STILL SECOND THAT MR. GLOVER? THE I DO, I DO.

UM, WHAT'S THE PROCESS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU ON YOUR END? IF WE WENT THAT ROUTE? UM, WELL, WE'D GET A CONTRACT AND REVIEW AND HAVE LEGAL REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.

WOULD YOU HAVE TO COME FORWARD TO US TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS? NOT FOR $35,000.

ASSUMING IT'S THERE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

WE JUST NEED, WE NEED TO LOOK.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON HAND? YES, SIR.

I, I'VE LISTENED TO THIS ENTIRE DISCUSSION MM-HMM .

AND I REALIZE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER DATA, UH, FROM, UH, GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS.

THAT'S FINE.

I RE I REALIZE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GATHER DATA FROM GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS AS FAR AS THE ATTENDANCE OF DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT I DON'T THINK WE, THE GOVERNMENT COUNTY COUNCIL SHOULD BE, UH, INVOLVED IN TRACKING PEOPLE.

UM, I I, I, I JUST CAN'T BUY INTO THAT.

SO I, I I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT IT.

WELL THE GOVERNMENT'S NOT REALLY TRACKING.

WE'RE WE'RE THE GOVERNMENT.

WE'RE NOT TRACKING.

WE'RE AS WE'RE GIVING A CONTRACT TO CBV WHO TRACKS ANYWAY, BUT WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT TRACKING IN INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT NOT TRACKED.

IT'S A COLLECTIVE HOLD OF DATA THAT'S PULLED FROM THAT GEO AREA.

I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.

THERE'S A LOT OF THAT, THAT, THAT YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TRACK PERSONAL DATA ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

YOU'RE PICKING UP PSYCHOGRAPHIC BEHAVIORS, WHICH ARE TRACKED THROUGH MANY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AND STUFF, BUT IT'S NOT INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL DATA.

I, I JUST WANNA POINT OUT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT USING FUNDS FROM COUNCIL'S CONTINGENCY FUND AND THIS IS A COMMITTEE OF COUNSEL.

IT SHOULD BE ALL OF COUNSEL THAT WEIGHS IN ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS.

WHAT'S THE OTHER FUNDING SOURCE? WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE TO WAIT FOR THE STATE.

THE LOCAL? YEAH.

TO WAIT FOR THE LOCAL AT TAX.

'CAUSE I CAN SPEAK TO THE ADMINISTRATOR'S CONTINGENCIES IS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

UM, TO SAVE THIS MR. PASSIT, I, I, UH, WILL TELL YOU THAT UH, I DO HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS MR. DAWSON WITH THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN GIVEN SO FAR.

UM, I DID NOT PLAN TO SUPPORT IT.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE STANDS ON IT, BUT WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD BE MORE INCLINED TO SUPPORT IT THAT WE JUST DO THE AT TAX PORTION.

'CAUSE THAT GIVES US ONE TIME FOR INFORMATION.

AND TWO, WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO APPROVE IT AFTER WE ARE GIVEN THE GRANT TO GATHER MORE INFORMATION IF THAT TIME CAME.

UM, BUT YOUR MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR.

I CAN CALL THE QUESTION UNLESS YOU WOULD, UM, LIKE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT.

IT IS TOTALLY UP TO YOU, SIR.

UM, I'LL BE GLAD TO WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND LET IT GO.

IN THE COURSE OF, OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DELAYING THIS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PROVIDE US WITH SOLID DATA.

YES SIR.

AND THE ONE WE LIVE IN, NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, YOUR DATA IS BEING LOOKED AT BY SOMEONE, IF YOU SEE AN AD ON YOUR PHONE AND YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU GET 25 MORE ADS FOR THAT PRODUCT.

SO THAT'S THE WAY WE LIVE IN WHAT ROB IS TRYING TO DO IS GET US THE BEST RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT AND THIS IS ONE WAY OF DOING IT.

ANY OTHER, UM, I WOULD WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

MR. GLOVER, DO YOU WISH WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND? UH, IF HE DID WITH YES, I WOULD DO THAT.

UM, ALRIGHT.

THE ORIGINAL MOTION IS BACK ON THE FLOOR TO DIRECT STAFF TO APPLY IN JANUARY FOR THE $35,000, UH, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, AT TAX, RIGHT? UM, LOCAL ATAC

[00:40:01]

LOCAL AT TAX.

IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR CAN WE TAKE THIS TO A ROLL CALL? SARAH.

VICE CHAIR TABER? YES.

CHAIR HOWARD? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? YES.

OH, SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON.

NO.

VICE CHAIR CUNNINGHAM? YES.

FOR POINT OF DISCUSSION IN THE FUTURE, THE MOTION PASSES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.

IT, IT PASSES ONE OBJECTION.

ON TO ITEM NUMBER C UNDER REPORTS DISCUSSION OF POSSIBILITY TO PURCHASE A NEW HELICOPTER FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR.

WE WILL MOVE

[7.c. Discussion of the possibility to purchase a new Helicopter for Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. (FISCAL IMPACT: Total fiscal Impact: $3,976,852 plus tax) - Colonel Neil Baxley Beaufort County Sheriff's Office]

AND ALL OF YOU SHOULD HAVE A PACKET PRINTOUT IN FRONT OF YOU AS WELL.

MR. CUNNINGHAM, MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE.

THANK Y'ALL.

I'M, UH, NEIL BAXLEY.

I'M ONE OF THE PILOTS FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THEIR HELICOPTER PROGRAM.

AND WHENEVER I TAKE THE HELICOPTER OUT, I'M IMMEDIATELY ADDRESSED WITH TWO COMMENTS.

ONE IS, I DIDN'T KNOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAD A HELICOPTER.

AND SECOND, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT? WELL, THE OBVIOUS FIRST ANSWER IS YES, WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM.

AND SECONDLY, WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? WE HAVE 2 0 58 KI HELICOPTERS BUILT BY BELL HELICOPTER IN 1970.

THEY'RE 55-YEAR-OLD AIRCRAFT.

UH, THEY BELONG TO THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

THEY ARE ON LOAN TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THROUGH THE 10 33 PROGRAM.

WE MAINTAIN THEM, WE PUT THE FUEL IN 'EM, WE DO THE TRAINING WITH 'EM.

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SIMPLY GIVES THIS TO THEM TO US.

WE USE THEM AS AN OBSERVATION AND SEARCH PLATFORM.

THEY ARE A PATROL CAR IN THE SKY, WHEREAS A PATROL CAR RIDING THROUGH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A LIMITED VISION OF PERHAPS A HUNDRED YARDS.

OURS IS MEASURED IN MILES.

SO WE'RE OUT AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND WE TRY TO GO TWICE, TWICE A WEEK ON ROUTINE PATROLS.

UH, DURING THE SUMMERTIME FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY, WE DO A BEACH AND RIVER PATROL EVERY SATURDAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS COUNTY WHO ENJOY BOATING AND WATER, UH, ACTIVITIES.

AND THEY DON'T JUST DO IT, UH, AT HUNTING ISLAND STATE PARK OR ON THE BEACHES ON HILTON HEAD.

THEY'RE DOING IT UP IN THE CREEKS AND THE RIVERS.

SO WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE LOOKING, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT JUST LOOKS WRONG TO US, WHETHER IT BE, UH, ACTIVITIES, UH, ILLEGAL DUMPING IS A BIG ONE.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR PRIMARY, UH, LOOKS EVERY TIME WE GO OUT.

WE FOUND OVER 20 ILLEGAL DUMP SITES SO FAR.

AND ON THREE OCCASIONS WE CAUGHT THE PEOPLE IN THE ACT OF DUMPING, WHICH RESULTED IN ARRESTS.

ONE OF 'EM WAS ABOUT A MILE AT THE BLUFF AND LINEAR TRAIL.

HE HAD GONE REALLY OUT OF HIS WAY TO DUMP HIS REFUSE.

AND WE JUST HAD GROUND UNITS WAITING FOR HIM AT THE END OF THE TRAIL WHEN HE CAME BACK OUT.

UM, WE USED IT FOR, UH, ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION.

YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE IN THE HANDOUT THERE OF A STRUCTURE BEING BUILT ON A SANDBAR SOUTH OF PRITCHARD'S ISLAND.

WHEN I FLEW OVER THAT, UH, SATURDAY, TWO SUMMERS AGO, I SAID, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT OUT THERE.

IT'S NOT ALLOWED.

AND WE NOTIFIED THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES, UH, CODES ENFORCEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, OCRM, UH, DAC, ALL THOSE AGENCIES AND DHC WENT OUT THERE AND ISSUED A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER IN CONSTRUCTION STOPPED.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SEEN WITHOUT US OUT THERE LOOKING FOR IT.

NOBODY ELSE WOULD'VE PICKED UP ON IT 'CAUSE THERE'S NOBODY ELSE OUT THERE LOOKING, UH, ILLEGAL BURNS.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY, EVERY TIME WE FLY, WE'RE CHECKING OUT SMOKE COLUMNS.

IS THIS A, A FIRE THAT'S BEING ATTENDED? IS THIS A FIRE OUT OF CONTROL? IS THIS A, UH, DO WE HAVE A BURN BAN IN PLACE AND IT SHOULDN'T BE BURNING AT ALL? AND WE'LL CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THOSE.

WE'RE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR, UH, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE OF A STRANDED BOAT.

A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE OUT HERE ENJOYING THE WATER ACTIVITIES DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE TIDES CHANGE AND THEY WILL GET STRANDED.

AND SO WE'LL COME IN LOW.

WE'LL USE A LOUD HAER.

WE'LL GET THEIR ATTENTION.

UH, THEY HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE TO US VISUALLY 'CAUSE WE CAN'T LAND THAT.

UH, THEY'VE GOT WATER.

THEY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN.

THEY, THEY GIVE US A THUMBS UP, WE'RE GOOD AND WE'LL TAKE OFF AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT WE DO THAT REGULARLY.

UH, YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE OF A STRANDED KAYAKER.

HE WAS ABLE TO DIAL 9 1 1 BUT HAD NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS AT OTHER THAN A GENERAL AREA.

AND IT STILL TOOK US ABOUT 15 MINUTES TO FIND HIM BECAUSE HE WAS PRETTY WELL HIDDEN IN THE MARCH.

UH, BUT WE DID FIND HIM AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO GET RESCUE FOLKS OUT THERE TO HIM.

SO WE'RE DOING STUFF LIKE THIS.

WE'RE ALSO DOING THE, UH, THE COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS.

WE WILL GO ANYWHERE.

WE'RE ASKED THAT, UH, THE PUBLIC IS NOT BEING CHARGED TO ATTEND.

IT MUST BE A FREE EVENT.

UH, WE'VE DONE SCHOOL VISITS, WE'VE DONE, UH, CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY, UH, PUBLIC, UM, LIKE SPOOKTACULAR THIS COMING FRIDAY.

IT'LL BE OUR FOURTH TRIP TO SPOOKTACULAR IN BLUFFTON.

AND WE'RE A BIG HIT WHEREVER WE GO WITH THE HELICOPTER.

WE ENJOY DOING THAT.

IT ALLOWS US TO INTERACT WITH KIDS, INTERACT WITH THEIR PARENTS, POSITIVE INFLUENCE, UH, FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THIS SORT OF THING.

AND THEN OF COURSE WE ALSO DO THE, UH, THE REAL COP STUFF.

CHASING BAD GUYS, LOOKING FOR MISSING PERSONS, UH, THIS SORT OF STUFF.

WE'VE, UM, SO FAR WE HAVE RECOVERED 13 STOLEN VEHICLES.

UH, THAT, UH, INVESTIGATORS GIVE US AN IDEA, A GENERAL AREA TO GO LOOK, YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM THE HELICOPTER.

YOU MIGHT GET HIDE

[00:45:01]

FROM THE GROUND TROOPS, BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM THE HELICOPTER.

WE HAD AN 18 WHEELER OR A PETERBILT STOLEN OUTTA CHARLOTTE.

THEY OWNER HAD A TRACKER ON IT.

IT CAME TO ST.

HELEN ISLAND GROUND FORCES LOOKED FOR THREE HOURS AND COULDN'T FIND IT.

THEY SAID, CAN YOU PUT HELICOPTER? SURE.

THREE MINUTES AFTER I LAUNCHED, I HAD FOUND IT.

IT WAS CANARY YELLOW, IT STOOD OUT, BUT THE GROUND GUYS WOULD'VE NEVER FOUND IT WHERE IT WAS AT.

AND THAT WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS RECOVERY.

UH, WE'VE RECOVERED FOUR DROWNING VICTIMS, TWO OF WHICH DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN FOUND WITHOUT THE HELICOPTER BECAUSE OF WHERE THE TIDES HAVE TAKEN THEM.

UH, 20 ILLEGAL DUMP SITES AND 17 SCHOOL VISITS SO FAR.

AGAIN, WE'LL GO ANYWHERE WE'RE ASKED TO.

THE HELICOPTERS ARE 55 YEARS OLD.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS, UH, WITH THE PURCHASE THROUGH A MUNICIPAL LEASE AGREEMENT, UH, THE LEASE TO OWN AGREEMENT, WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE ONE OF THE TWO.

UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO.

I THINK MR. MOORE WILL GU AGREE WITH THIS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO TO HAVE ONE BECAUSE THEY DO GO DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND THEY GO DOWN FOR REGULAR INSPECTIONS.

WHEN WE SEND 'EM OFF FOR THE ANNUAL INSPECTION UP TO OUR MAINTAINER AND SALUTE, IT'S GONE FOR A MONTH.

UH, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GO THROUGH THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.

SO, UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO REPLACE, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH THE MAINTAINERS IF APPROVED AND THEY WILL DETERMINE WHICH ONE IS THE LEAST, UH, VIABLE AIRFRAME THAT WE STILL HAVE.

AND THEN WE'LL ASK 10 33 TO ALLOW US TO CANNIBALIZE IT.

SO FAR WE HAVE, UH, RECEIVED FOUR FROM 10 33 THAT WERE FLYABLE WHEN WE GOT 'EM AND WE CANNIBALIZE THEM FOR PARTS SO THAT WE HAVE A PARTS FROM AIRCRAFT THAT ARE BUILT 55 YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE NO LONGER BUILDING THEM.

THEY BUILT, UH, THE LAST OH 58, ABOUT 1975.

AND THE LAST 2 0 6, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT COMPATIBLE, WAS BUILT IN 1995.

SO WE'RE EITHER BUYING REFURBISHED PARTS TO PUT ON THEM OR WE'RE BUYING, UM, INCREASED COST AFTERMARKET PARTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH THE HELICOPTER QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? I DO, YES MA'AM.

SURE I DO.

SORRY, I FIGURED WE WOULD FOR $5 MILLION, WE BETTER HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

SO IT'S 101 HUNDRED 20 MONTH LEASE PURCHASE.

I NOTICED YOU HAVE 500,000 IN THE CURRENT CIP THAT WOULD COVER THE FIRST YEAR ROUGHLY.

SOMEBODY ELSE WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE DOWN PAYMENT IS 5 96, 5 27 80.

SO IT'S CLOSE TO IT.

UM, DID YOU SAY THE HELICOPTERS YOU HAVE NOW THEY'RE BUILT IN 1970, THEY'RE ON LOAN FROM THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT? YES MA'AM.

DO THEY NOT LOAN US A NEWER ONE? NO MA'AM, THEY DO NOT.

WHY? UH, THEY DON'T BECAUSE THEY KEEP 'EM AS LONG AS THEY CAN KEEP THEM.

WE PICKED UP BOTH OF THESE, UH, FROM ARMY BASES, RIGHT.

UH, WHEN THE ARMY GOT TIRED OF THEM AND THEY HAD FLOWN THEM FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS.

UH, AND THEN THEY, AND THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A MAINTENANCE STAFF THAT WORKS ON THEM EVERY DAY AND BASICALLY AN UNLIMITED BUDGET.

AND SO WHEN THEY GET TO A POINT WHERE THAT AIRFRAME IS NO LONGER VIABLE TO THEM, THEY PUT IT UH, AND THEY, THE OH 58 PROGRAM, THEY HAVE DISCONTINUED THE HELICOPTERS THAT THEY PURCHASED TO REPLACE IT AS A TRAINING AND A LIGHT OBSERVATION.

THEY'RE NOT DONE WITH THEM.

SO NONE OF THOSE ARE OUT THERE.

COME OUT AND UM, IT INCLUDES A THREE YEAR, 1000 MILE WARRANTY.

HOW MANY MILES DO YOU FLY THIS CRITTER IN A YEAR? I DON'T KNOW WHERE 1000 MILES CAME FROM.

UH, IT'S IN THERE.

I DUNNO.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

THEY, UH, WE FLY IT MEASURED IN HOURS.

HOURS.

MAYBE IT'S 1000 HOURS.

IT'S PROBABLY 1000 HOURS.

HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU FLY A YEAR WOULD YOU SAY? WE ARE AVERAGING, UH, THIS PAST YEAR WE FLEW 186 HOURS.

SO THREE YEARS WOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT.

I WOULD ASK OUR CFO, UM, WHAT OPTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR THIS REQUEST? IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET AND THINK YOU'LL BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I WISH YOU WOULD, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO KIND OF LAY THIS OUT FOR YOU ALL BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEASE AGREEMENT, IT DOES TALK ABOUT HAVING AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION FROM THE GOVERNING BODY, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON THE SECOND PAGE.

AND THEN YES, Y'ALL HAD APPROPRIATED $500,000 THIS YEAR.

BUT IN FUTURE COUNSEL, THE QUESTION IS YOU'D HAVE TO APPROPRIATE THIS OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD AND THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS TO FINANCE THIS THAT PINKY CAN SPEAK TO.

SO THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WE WANT TO BRING THIS FORWARD.

THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING TO HEAR OTHER WAYS TO FINANCE IT.

SO, UM, THEY DID RECEIVE $500,000 FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 26 CIP BUDGET.

AND I THINK THE INITIAL PAYMENT IS 5 97.

AND, UM, SUZANNE HAD, MS. COOK HAD SAID THAT THEY WILL FIND THE ADDITIONAL 97,000 IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET FOR THE INITIAL YEAR.

'CAUSE YOU DO HAVE TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT IN, IN THE CASE OF SIGNING THIS PROPOSAL, UM, I'M NOT EXACTLY, IF YOU'RE ASKING ME, I'M NOT EXACTLY KEEN ON BOOKING A LEASE A $5 MILLION LEASE AFTER I JUST ISSUED BONDS FOR $70 MILLION.

SO I WOULD PREFER NOT TO DO THE LEASE OPTION.

I DID CONFIRM WITH BOND COUNSEL THAT, UM, IN THE CASE THAT WE DO NOT PROCEED WITH THE NINE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN THE 2025 BOND THAT WE HAD FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMPUS.

UM, YOU COULD REALLOCATE SOME OF THAT, THOSE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THIS HELICOPTER IF THAT'S

[00:50:01]

WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

UM, I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN SIGNING THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, YOU ARE HAVING TO BOOK THE LIABILITY IF YOU DID IT, A PURCHASE TO LEASE AT LEASE A PURCHASE OPTION FOR THE FULL $5 MILLION.

BY THE WAY, , WHICH IS WHY I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT.

MR. GLOVER, YOU GOT A QUESTION? OH YEAH.

UM, TAB REALLY ASKED THE, UH, ORIGINAL QUESTION I OR CONCERN I HAD.

UM, BUT UM, LET'S GO BACK TO THE HELICOPTER .

NOT THE FUNDING PART AND STUFF.

I THINK WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THE CONCERN THAT IS NOT A CONCERN, UH, ANYTIME THE SHERIFF SHOWS UP, YOU KNOW, YOU EITHER GOTTA SUPPORT HIM OR YOU DON'T SUPPORT HIM AND IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT HIM, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

BUT, UM, DON'T TELL HIM I SAID THAT.

UM, I THINK YOU JUST DID.

I KNOW HE'S WATCHING , BUT, UM, THE, UM, YEAH, MY ORIGINAL QUESTION GOES BACK TO, TO WHAT ASKED WHY NOT GO BACK TO THE MILITARY FOR A VEHICLE YOU ANSWERED ALREADY.

SO THAT WAS MY ORIGINAL QUESTION.

SO, UM, HOW DO WE FUND THIS IS I THINK WHAT WE, UH, IN COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO, UH, EMBRACE.

UM, UM, IF YOU GOT ONE AND YOU GOT 10 YEARS ON THAT, WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A HELICOPTER? BECAUSE YOU GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT'S YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK TO HAVE REPLACE AS WELL.

SO WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY AND WHEN SHOULD THEY EXPECT THE SECOND ONE TO COME BACK? IT DEPENDS ON HOW YEARS FROM NOW.

IT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THEY'RE MAINTAINED.

YES, SIR.

UH, AGAIN, I'M FLYING 55-YEAR-OLD AIRCRAFT AND, UH, AND THEY'RE STILL, THEY'RE STILL VIABLE.

UH, WE FOUND A STRESS FRACTURE ON A BRACKET DURING THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON ONE OF THEM, AND THAT'S WHY WE DO THE INSPECTIONS.

UH, SO THAT, THAT BRACKET WAS, WAS REPLACED, UH, AND IT WAS SHOWING ABOUT A TWO INCH CRACK IN IT.

UM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THEY'RE MAINTAINED.

UM, AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT WHEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO REPLACE THE SECOND ONE.

I CAN'T PREDICT THAT RIGHT NOW AND I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE MIGHT HAVE IN THE FUTURE.

UM, THE ARMY IS LOOKING, THE HELICOPTER WE WANT TO GET IS A BELL 5 0 5 AND THE ARMY BELL IS PITCHING THAT SAME HELICOPTER TO THE ARMY AS THEIR NEW TRAINING PLATFORM.

TO ADD ONE THING ON OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

UH, AND SO IT WOULD, THERE WOULD POSSIBLY BE 5, 6, 7 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SOME OPPORTUNITIES THERE, UH, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE SAME AIRCRAFT.

I, I DON'T KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT THE ARMY PICKS UP THE 5 0 5, BUT BELL'S PUSHING IT HARD AND IT'S, IT'S A GOOD PLATFORM FOR THEM.

I, I DON'T KNOW, UH, EVENTUALLY WE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE SECOND ONE.

UM, BUT UH, WE WOULD, IF WE, WITH THE NEW ONE, THE BULK OF THE FLYING WOULD PROBABLY GO ON THE NEW ONE AND THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE USED MORE FOR BACKUP AND FOR TRAINING PURPOSES.

I'M CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS.

UH, I REC I TRAINED A, A NEW PILOT LAST YEAR.

WE, HE GOT HIS LICENSE IN JUNE AND I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON TWO MORE DEPUTIES TO GET THEM WITH A GOAL TO HAVE THEM LICENSED NEXT JUNE.

UM, AND SO I'M LOOKING TO THE FUTURE IN THE PILOT 'CAUSE I'M NOT GONNA BE AROUND FOREVER.

REALLY, I, I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST AS LONG AS THE HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN AROUND .

UM, SO I'M NOT LOOKING, SO I'M LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FOR THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WE WOULD BE DIMINISHING THE USE OF THE OLDER AIRCRAFT AND PUTTING THE BULK OF THE FLYING ON THE NEWER, MORE SOLID AIRCRAFT.

THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, UM, I BOUGHT AN OLD COMBINE TO HARVEST GRAIN AND THE OWNER BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT HE'S GONNA BE HARD FINDING PARTS.

AND AFTER THE SECOND OR THIRD YEAR, I FOUND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FIGHTING PARTS FOR AN OLD VEHICLE THAT, UM, JOHN DEERE JUST STOPPED MAKING PARTS FOR, UH, UH, PARTS STILL BEING MADE FOR, THEY ARE BEING MADE BY AFTERMARKET VENDORS AFTER UM, BELL IS NOT MANUFACTURING PARTS ANYMORE FOR THE, FOR THE OHH 58 ARE THE 2 0 6, WHICH IS THE CIVILIAN VERSION OF IT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.

THE 2 0 6 AT ONE POINT WAS THE MOST POPULAR AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD.

AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PARTS OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, I PICKED UP, UH, FOUR 50 EIGHTS FROM THE ARMY IN THE, SINCE I'VE BEEN RUNNING THE PROGRAM AND TOOK OVER 2017.

AND WE CANNIBALIZE THOSE FOR PARTS.

SO I HAVE A PARTS ROOM RIGHT NOW THAT HAS TWO TRANSMISSIONS AND A VIABLE MOTOR IN IT, PLUS A WHOLE LOT OF MISCELLANEOUS OTHER PARTS.

AND THEN THERE ARE REFURBISHED PARTS THEY CAN BE OVERHAULED, UH, AND REFURBISHED AND PUT BACK IN THE AIRCRAFT.

AND WE'VE HAD TO DO THAT ONCE ALREADY WITH AN ENGINE.

UH, WE HAD AN ENGINE GO BAD ON US AND WE HAD TO RE PUT A REFURBISHED ONE IN THERE.

I, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE, UH, SHERIFF'S REQUEST.

UM, UM, 'CAUSE I'M SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT BETTER.

HOWEVER, UM, HOW WE FUNDED IS THE QUESTION THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH.

SO I DON'T JUST, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE RIGHT NOW WITH THE FUNDING RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE REQUEST.

SO, YEAH, I WOULD LIKE

[00:55:01]

UM, RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS.

THE COUNTY HAS SPENT A TON OF MONEY BUYING RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS TASKED WITH PATROLLING IT.

IT TAKES OUR GUYS THREE DAYS TO TOUCH ALL OF IT.

I DO IT IN TWO HOURS AND I DO THAT REGULARLY.

I HAVE A MAP OF WHERE THEY ALL AT, AND I TOUCH ALL OF 'EM IN TWO HOURS.

IF WE SEE SOMETHING, THEN WE CALL THE GROUNDS GUYS IN TO CHECK IT OUT.

SO YOU DO THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASE, OR YOU DO I DO THAT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.

REALLY? YES, SIR.

I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

HOW, HOW LONG HAS THE COUNTY HAD HELICOPTERS? UH, WE PICKED UP THE FIRST ONE IN OCTOBER OF 2014.

2014, AND THEN PICKED UP THE SECOND ONE ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER.

AND THE SECOND QUESTION, I, YOU KNOW, I, I REALIZE WE'RE JUST A COUNTY OF ISLANDS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE.

I HAVE NO PROBLEM.

I MEAN, HELICOPTER'S THE BEST WAY TO COVER EVERYTHING, I'M SURE.

AND YOU DID A GREAT PRESENTATION TO MY ROTARY CLUB, UH, ABOUT A MONTH AGO, UH, WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

BUT HOW MANY OTHER COUNTIES STATEWIDE HAVE HELICOPTERS? UH, NOT COUNTING SPARTANBURG, 'CAUSE THEY HAD IN TROUBLE FOR THEIR, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.

TALK ABOUT, THEY ACTUALLY STILL HAVE IT.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT FLYING IT RIGHT NOW.

FLORENCE COUNTY HAS A HELICOPTER.

CHARLESTON COUNTY HAS A HELICOPTER.

UM, RICHLAND COUNTY JUST GOT OUTTA THE HELICOPTER BUSINESS AND WE PICKED UP THEIRS AND CANNIBALIZED IT FOR PARTS.

GREENVILLE COUNTY HAS ONE.

ANDERSON COUNTY HAS ONE.

OCONEE COUNTY HAS ONE.

AND SLED HAS, UH, SLED HAS, SLED HAS FOUR, BUT HORRY COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ONE AT THE STORE.

NO, MA'AM.

HORRY COUNTY DOES NOT.

OKAY, GREAT.

WHICH HAS ALWAYS SURPRISED US.

OH, IT IS.

SO I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.

DO WE ASSIST OTHER AGENCIES LIKE SLED OR ANOTHER COUNTY WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING AND WE HAVE THE HELICOPTER? ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE IN JASPER COUNTY.

UH, IF YOU RECALL, A SUNDAY IN JULY, THE SHERIFF GOT SHOT OUT ON A TRAFFIC STOP.

WE WERE OVER THERE, UH, DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE APPREHENSION OF THOSE TWO SUSPECTS.

WE HAVE GONE TO HAMPTON COUNTY.

UH, WE'VE GONE TO JASPER SEVERAL TIMES.

UH, AND MATTER OF FACT, SOME OF OUR BEST CATCHES HAVE BEEN IN JASPER COUNTY.

UM, SO, SO THAT DOES SOUND CHEAP, BUT DO WE CHARGE THEM? NO, MA'AM.

IT'S MUTUAL AID, UH, DEPARTMENT.

PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 10 33 PROGRAM IS, IT'S AVAILABLE'S PART OF THE CONTRACT.

I MEAN, MUTUAL AID IS MUTUAL IF YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WITH A HELICOPTER, IT'S NOT MUTUAL AID.

I JUST THOUGHT I'D ASK.

AND WE ALSO ASSIST SLED, UH, SLED HAS FOUR HELICOPTERS AND THEY'RE, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE STANDING CREW.

AND SO THEY MAY BE DEPLOYED TO UNION COUNTY AND SOMETHING COME UP DOWN HERE, UH, IN ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTIES.

AND THEIR AVIATION COMMANDER WILL CALL ME AND SAY, CAN YOU GO AND I'LL CHECK IT WITH THE, WITH THE BOSS AND HE'LL GIMME THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN TO GO HELP OTHER COUNTIES.

AND I THINK MR. PASSMAN HAD HIS HAND UP.

THANK YOU MR. PASSMAN.

UM, WE WERE THROWING THE NUMBERS AROUND.

UH, PINKY HAD SAID 5 MILLION.

THE A IS SAYS THE FISCAL IMPACT IS 3 9 7 6 8 52.

WHEN I TOOK TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER DOCUMENTS FROM TEXTRON FINANCIAL, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, 3 9 8 5 3 22, UH, PLUS, UM, ANOTHER $40,000 FOR OUR ROSE.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAX.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHAT WOULD BE THE ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS RATHER THAN GO THROUGH A LEASE.

BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING WE DO NOT WANNA HAVE A 10 YEAR LEASE.

AND THE OTHER QUESTION IS, DO WE PAY TAX? I DIDN'T THINK WE DID.

DO WE AS A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY ON A HELICOPTER? WE WOULDN'T PICK TAXES.

WHY WOULD WE? I THOUGHT AVIATION WAS EXEMPT ALSO, BUT I'M, I'M NOT EXPERT.

I THOUGHT SO.

PARTS FOR THE AVIATION ARE EXEMPT, BUT NO.

THIS, THE AMOUNT ON THIS, UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT'S THREE, $3.9 MILLION PLUS SALES TAX, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE THAT FINAL NUMBER FOR SALES TAX.

'CAUSE I BELIEVE MS. COOK IS STILL TRYING TO GET THAT FROM THE VENDOR.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE PURCHASE PRICE.

BUT TO ADDRESS YOUR 5 MILLION, THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL REQUEST THAT WAS SUBMITTED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

GOTCHA.

SO IT'S CLOSER TO 4 MILLION.

YEAH, CORRECT.

UH, I WOULD SUSPECT IT'LL BE A LITTLE LOWER BECAUSE TAX, IT'LL BE OVER 4.2, 4.3 JUST BASED ON PERCENTAGE WISE.

WE HIT THAT QUICK MATH LATER.

UM, JUST, JUST A QUICK NOTE.

UH, MR. PAXTER, I WANNA THANK YOU AND THE SHERIFF FOR YOUR, UH, ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR, UH, AIR PATROL.

UM, MY QUESTION IS, UH, DO YOU ASSIST OUR MILITARY WITH AIR RESCUES? NO, SIR.

THE 58 IS NOT A PLATFORM DESIGNED TO DO RESCUES.

IT'S A SEARCH PLATFORM.

IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOIST, YOU CANNOT MOUNT A HOIST ON IT.

UH, SO THE COAST GUARD, UH, THEY'VE GOT FIVE HELICOPTERS AT HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, AND SAVANNAH THAT ARE VERY PROMPT TO RESPOND.

I HAVE ASSISTED THEM IN SEARCHING.

AND THEN THEY DO THE LIFTING.

ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE? I HAVE A COUPLE

[01:00:01]

QUESTIONS.

UM, ONE, I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE GETTING INTO YOUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

IT'S NOT OUR PLACE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS ARE IN CHARGE OF DOING.

THAT'S WHAT THE SHERIFF'S IN CHARGE OF DOING.

UM, I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION, ONE OF 'EM WAS THAT WHEN WE GOT THE ONES THAT WE HAD, WHICH IS 2014, UM, YOU USED THE WORD THAT THEY'RE ON LOAN.

ARE WE CURRENTLY PAYING FOR THAT LOAN OR IS IT A LOAN FOR A FISCAL AMOUNT? IT'S A CONTRACT THAT HAS NO MONETARY VALUE.

BUT I HAD TO, WE HAD TO SIGN THE CONTRACT THAT THIS IS HOW WE WOULD USE THEM.

THIS IS WHAT WE WOULD DO WITH 'EM.

AND WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE HAVE TO GIVE IT BACK.

SO CURRENTLY THERE'S NOTHING IN THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET THAT'S GOING ANNUALLY TO THE LEASING OF THESE HELICOPTERS? CORRECT.

UM, MY OTHER QUESTION IS EXACTLY WHAT TAB BROUGHT UP.

I WAS GONNA ASK IF IT'S USED IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

SO I'LL BE, I'LL BE VERY UP UPFRONT AND I WON'T WASTE YOUR TIME.

I, AS MUCH AS JASPER COUNTY'S BUILDING, I DON'T SEE HOW WE FUND THIS ON OUR OWN.

THEY'RE PUTTING EVERYTHING RIGHT ON OUR, ON OUR, ON OUR EDGE.

WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEM WITH OUR ROADS.

UM, SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE REACHING OUT TO JASPER COUNTY ON HOW THEY'RE GONNA ASSIST PROVIDING FOR US ON THIS? THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE ONE FOR YOU? MIGHT BE.

THAT'S THAT'S NOT, LIKE I SAID, DAYDAY OPERATIONS.

THAT'S FOR YOU GUYS TO HANDLE.

UM, IF, IF YOU GUYS ARE USING IT STATISTICALLY YOU'VE SHOWED SOME DATA THAT YOU ARE, IF YOU GUYS HAVE MORE, THAT WOULD BE EVEN GREAT TO HELP, UH, THE ARGUMENT OF HOW MUCH IT'S USED AND HOW MUCH RESCUES IT'S DONE.

SPOTTINGS, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT, BUT JUST LIKE ON PAPER NUMBERS WISE.

UM, SO I GUESS THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S A DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE.

UM, JOE'S GOT A QUESTION.

JOE.

JOE, YES.

YOU JUST SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE HELICOPTERS ARE ON LOAN AND UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEM BACK IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THEM.

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE OUR OWN, THAT THEY WOULD TAKE BOTH OF THEM BACK? NO, NO SIR.

THEY WOULD NOT.

SO TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MR. CUNNINGHAM JUST SAID, I UNDERSTAND MUTUAL AID, BUT THE MUTUAL AID GOES AWAY IN THAT AGREEMENT WHEN WE OWN THE HELICOPTER.

THIS IS A ONE WAY.

SO IT'S NOT MUTUAL TO ME.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING.

HE'S RIGHT WITH JASPER COUNTY.

I MEAN WE HAVE FIRE DEPARTMENT MUTUAL AID.

I GET IT.

I GOT IT.

BUT THEY HELP US.

WE HELP THEM.

THIS IS A ONE WAY.

SO AGAIN, NOT TO SOUND CHEAP, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT CHARGING FOR THE, FOR THIS SERVICE BECAUSE BEAUFORT COUNTY TAXPAYERS ARE GONNA PAY FOR THIS.

AND THIS GOES BACK TO REMEMBER THE WHOLE DISCUSSION OF THE ANIMAL CENTER.

THIS IS THE SAME THING.

SO THIS IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

THIS BECOMES OURS.

IT'S NOT.

WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED, I UNDERSTAND THE REASON BEHIND IT.

UM, JUST OUR JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT THE FUNDING SOURCE BY US, I MEAN MS. HARRIET, SHE HANDLES THAT FOR US.

UM, BUT DECIDING IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, AND FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO SPEND TAXPAYER FUNDS, I GOTTA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY'S WORTH.

SO IF RIGHT NOW YOU SAID WE HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM ON LOAN, BUT IF WE'RE PURCHASING THIS HELICOPTER, THOSE SAME RULES DON'T APPLY.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IF THAT IS THAT HELICOPTER BECOMES PROPERTY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, IT'S UNDER OUR POSSESSION.

IT'S OUR RULE.

SO WE'RE NOT OBLIGATED BY, I THINK YOU SAID DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IS WHO WE GOT 'EM FROM, CORRECT.

UM, THAT SAME AGREEMENT FOR THAT HELICOPTER.

SO I GUESS, IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH JASPER, WE WANNA WORK WITH JASPER, WE JUST LIKE WE DO ON OUR TRANSPORTATION.

UM, IS THIS A DISCUSSION THAT ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WANT TO HAVE WITH JASPER IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD TO THIS, TO HOW THEY CAN HELP FUND THIS OPERATION? WHICH I ALSO DO AGREE WITH NOT DOING A 10 YEAR LEASE.

I'M NOT GONNA HANDCUFF ANOTHER COUNTY COUNCIL AND ALL OF US ARE GONE.

DO YOU WANNA TAKE THIS OR WANT ME TO TAKE DR. BROCK PAPER SCISSORS? WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'D BE LIMITED TO JUST JASPER COUNTY EITHER.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, IF ANY OTHER COUNTY OR OUTSIDE AGENCY, I WOULD THINK WE, YOU KNOW, WANT TO DISCUSS HAVING A SINGLE RATE, AN HOURLY RATE.

I'M NOT SURE WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF COST TO THE, TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND YOU KNOW, UH, OPERATIONAL COST AS WELL AS THE CAPITAL COST OF ACQUIRING THE MACHINE.

SO WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT.

BUT I THINK IF THAT'S THE CASE, I'M NOT SURE.

IT'LL PROBABLY REDUCE HOW MUCH WE GET ASKED TO COME SUPPORT WOULD BE MY GUESS TOO.

SO, BUT YEAH, WE CAN LOOK AT IT.

COUNTY, UH, ON A REQUEST BASIS SET OF FEE FOR THAT.

THAT'S A CHOICE THEN.

I MEAN, AND THAT'S FINE.

IT COULD BE A BASE FEE UPFRONT FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

IT COULD BE AN HOURLY RATE.

I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT WE OWE IT TO OUR TAXPAYERS TO AT LEAST DEFEND THEIR FINANCES AND FIND OUT.

YOU COULD AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE FOR PRIMARY USE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY AND THEN YOU COULD, UH, DIRECT STAFF TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES FOR POSSIBLE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS TO WHERE IF THEY HAVE A NEED FOR IT, THEY COULD MAKE THE REQUEST.

AND IF IT'S AVAILABLE, THIS WOULD BE THE FEE, UH, FOR WHATEVER THE HOURS AS THE ADMINISTRATOR SAID.

SO THAT COULD BE THE DIRECTION.

BUT TO AUTHORIZE TO PURCHASE, YOU SHOULD PLAN ON PAYING THE FULL AMOUNT RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE AGREEMENT TO USE IT IN ANOTHER

[01:05:01]

WELL, TODAY'S JUST A DISCUSSION, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO, UH, HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT BEFORE WE GO SPEND $4 MILLION OR $4.5 MILLION, WHATEVER IT IS.

OH, YOU'RE ITCHING.

GO AHEAD.

I KNOW JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER.

YOU DO HAVE A BUDGET RETREAT COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.

SO THIS CAN BE DISCUSSED THERE.

WE CAN HAVE, UH, THE COLONEL AND THE SHERIFF COME AND PROVIDE MORE ADDITIONAL DETAILS, WHETHER A RATE STRUCTURE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH JASPER SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT THE RETREAT IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ON BOARD OF HOW WE WANNA GET ANOTHER HELICOPTER.

IT'S JUST ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING IT.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DISAGREEMENT OF GETTING THIS DONE.

I THINK IT'S HOW IT GETS DONE.

SO I'M ALL ON BOARD WITH PUTTING IT ON THE BUDGET RETREAT AGENDA.

I MEAN, I DON'T MAKE THE CALL FOR THAT.

YOU DO.

BUT IF SOUNDS GOOD, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ON BOARD WITH.

IF WE COULD GET THAT ADDED TO IT.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO INCLUDE IT'S GREAT IDEA.

I JUST WANT TO INCLUDE, UM, YOU, YOU TALK ABOUT COUNTIES, UM, AND OF COURSE YOU TALKED ABOUT HAMPTON AND COTON AND, AND JASPER, BUT YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT THE STATE AS WELL.

UM, SO IF THE STATE, UH, ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU WOULD DO IT MM-HMM .

UM, I MEAN THAT'S JUST ME.

WHETHER YOU, WE WE DO WHEN THEY ASK YES SIR.

AND, AND I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER, BUT I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW.

I'LL GIVE I'LL GIVE YOU ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

UM, MR. GLOVER, IN 2015, THE, IF YOU REMEMBER THE GIGANTIC FLOODS THAT HIT THE MID-STATE.

EVERY HELICOPTER IN THE STATE WAS COMMITTED SOMEWHERE.

AND THEY ASKED US TO GO HELP THEM WITH SEARCH EFFORTS IN CLARENDON COUNTY.

AND WE SPENT FIVE DAYS IN CLARENDON COUNTY WORKING.

WHAT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW IS, UM, EVERY TIME YOU, YOU HOURLY WE EAT, YOU FLY BY THE HOUR.

UH, OPERATING COSTS ARE APPROXIMATELY $200 AN HOUR.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION? I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE, UH, COLONEL TO, UH, HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IF IT WAS ON A FEE BASIS RATHER THAN VOLUNTARY.

AND BRING THAT INFORMATION TO COUNCIL AT THE WORKSHOP THAT WORK FOR YOU, COLONEL OR MIKE? YES.

I GUESS I'M, YEAH, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE.

YOU'RE GETTING PULLED IN.

YOU ALMOST MADE IT TO THE END.

BRIAN.

I'M MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ANYWAYS.

JUST TO BEGIN WITH.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE USE AND LIST OF MONEY FOR THE USAGE.

I WOULD, UM, ASK ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM IF THEY HAD A LOST CHILD OR SOMEBODY IN THEIR FAMILY HAD DEMENTIA OR ALZHEIMER, WHAT WOULD IT BE WORTH TO YOU? MM-HMM .

FOR US TO GET IN THAT HELICOPTER.

GO OUT AND FIND THAT PERSON.

MR. .

NUMBER TWO.

YOU TALK ABOUT, I THOUGHT I TALKED LOUD ENOUGH.

, YOU DIDN'T, YOU TALK ABOUT MUTUAL AID.

WELL, MUTUAL AID IN THIS INSTANCE IS STATUTORY.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST A PHONE CALL AND THE SHERIFF SAYS YOU CAN DO THIS OR THAT.

WE CAN, AND WE'RE REQUIRED TO HELP ADJOINING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

SO FOR YOU TO SAY, DO WE GET A REIMBURSEMENT, AN AGREEMENT FROM EACH COUNTY TO USE THE HELICOPTER, WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY DOING IS HANDCUFFING THE SHERIFF TO WHERE HE HAS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE NOT CONCERNED WITH MONEY ON THAT POINT.

WE'RE CONCERNED IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ASPECT, HELPING ANY AGENCY THAT ASK US, WE DON'T ASK SLED FOR MONEY WHEN THEY COME DOWN TO ASK US IF YOU UNDERSTAND MY POINT HERE AND I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

I DON'T MIND SPEAKING.

UM, I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S ARGUING THE VALUE OF IT, BUT JUST WHEN, JUST WHEN THE SOLICITOR COMES TO US AND ASKS US FOR FUNDS, WE ALSO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS WELL.

WHERE THE FUNDS GO.

WHO'S YOUR MAJORITY THAT FUNDS IT? IT THAT'S, THAT'S OUR JOB IS TO DEAL WITH THE ASPECT OF THE FINANCIALS OF IT.

SO IT'S NOT A DISRESPECT THING, IT'S JUST OUR JOB IS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE INTEREST OF OUR TAXPAYERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

NOBODY'S SAYING NOT TO GO TO HELP IN THESE SEARCH AND RESCUES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE'RE JUST SAYING HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE STILL HAVE CHECKS AND BALANCES ON OUR END THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FUNDS? THAT'S ALL.

I AGREE.

SO I DON'T, I JUST DON'T WANNA CLEAR THAT UP AS NOT SAYING WE DON'T WANNA HELP NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

IT'S, I AGREE.

BUT TO THAT POINT, YOU SAID EARLIER, WE DON'T WANT TO HANDCUFF A COUNSEL THAT COMES AFTER US.

WELL, YOU CAN'T HANDCUFF THE SHERIFF IN THE SAME REGARD THAT IF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ASK HIM TO COME HELP HIM, AND HE HAS TO SAY, WELL, I DON'T, CAN YOU PAY THIS? CAN YOU DO THIS? I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

AND I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.

WITH THE CHILD OR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DISEASE, BECAUSE THAT'S THE PURPOSE.

ALL THESE THINGS.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HELPING THE PUBLIC.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, UH, MS. ALICE, YOU SAID YOU'RE GOOD WITH HAVING THAT ON THE WORKSHOP AGENDA.

ONCE WE GIVE THEM THE GO AHEAD TO BUILD IT, IT WILL TAKE, UH, ROUGHLY 10 MONTHS TO TAKE DELIVERY.

WE'LL PUT IT ON THERE.

UM, HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CAN ATTEND.

DO YOU KNOW THE DATE ON THAT? THE BUDGET WORKSHOP? NOVEMBER 13TH.

NOVEMBER 13TH.

WHAT'S THE LEAD TIME ON BUYING THIS? I MEAN, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO GET IT? LIKE A YEAR? UM,

[01:10:01]

WE WILL CLOSE THE REPORTS AND MOVE ON TO OUR

[8.a. A Resolution regarding the Beaufort County Personnel Handbook section 3.3 Remote Work/Telecommuting policy. (FISCAL IMPACT: N/A) - Katherine Mead, Human Resources Director, 15 minutes]

AGENDA ITEMS. UH, THANK YOU GUYS.

UH, RESOLUTION REGARDING THE BUFORD COUNTY PERSONNEL HANDBOOK, SECTION 3.3 REMOTE WORK, TELE TELECOMMUTING POLICY.

MS. MEAD, HOW ARE YOU? CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR PLEASE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

AND A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND BY MR. DAWSON.

AND WHILE THEY ARE PULLING THIS UP, UM, JUST WANNA KINDA START WITH THE BACKGROUND OF WHERE WE ARE, WHY YOU'RE SEEING ME AGAIN ON THIS SAME TOPIC.

UM, SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY'S REMOTE WORK POLICY.

BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, STAFF PREVIOUSLY BROUGHT FORWARD A REVISED VERSION OF THIS POLICY TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN AUGUST, WHICH WAS LATER ADVANCED TO FULL COUNSEL ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.

DURING THAT MEETING, STAFF REQUESTED TO RETURN TO THIS COMMITTEE FOLLOWING THE ISSUANCE OF A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED BY GOVERNOR GOVERNOR MCMASTER ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2025.

OUR INTENT IS TO ALIGN THE COUNTY POLICY WITH THE DIRECTION ESTABLISHED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

IN ADDITION, COUNSEL ASKED US TO EVALUATE ANY POTENTIAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH REMOTE WORK, REVIEW PAC PRACTICES IN OTHER COUNTIES OF SIMILAR SIZE, AND BRING FORWARD A REVISED RECOMMENDATION.

I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING THE ELIMINATION OF REMOTE WORK.

WE HAVE SEEN MEANINGFUL, MEANINGFUL BENEFITS FROM OFFERING THIS FLEXIBILITY TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING IMPROVED RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, INCREASED EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, AND GREATER CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS DURING EMERGENCIES.

THE POLICY WE ARE PROPOSING WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME IN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS DURING EMERGENCIES OR TECHNICAL DISRUPTIONS TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF SERVICES.

HOWEVER, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE ADDITION OF CLEAR PARAMETERS TO THE POLICY.

ESTABLISHING THESE BOUNDARIES ENSURE FAIRNESS, CONSISTENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

IT ALSO PROTECTS OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, FOSTERS COLLABORATION AMONGST OUR TEAMS AND SUPPORTS THE DELIVERY OF HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS.

ALSO WANNA CLARIFY, THE POLICY IS NOT INTENDED TO INTERFERE WITH THE ABILITY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THEIR DAILY OPERATIONS.

OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE FRAMEWORK THAT APPLIES TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES FAIRLY SUPPORTS OUR SHARED MISSION TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN UP WITH A PRESENTATION THAT COVERS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS HAD FOR US AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK INTO THE REVISED REMOTE POLICY.

AGENCY DIRECTORS CAN REMOVE OR MODIFY THE PRIVILEGE AT ANY TIME AND IT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO THEIR GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES.

SO A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND.

UM, WE DO OFFER TELECOMMUTING AND REMOTE WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

WE SAW, UM, THIS REALLY TAKE OFF THE GROUND RUNNING DURING COVID-19.

AND IT HAS BEEN AROUND POST PANDEMIC.

UM, SO MUCH SO THAT A FORMAL POLICY WAS CREATED ON JANUARY 1ST, 2024.

AND TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH THE BEST PRACTICES, ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN REVIEWING THE POLICY FOR NECESSARY UPDATES SUCH AS DEFINING ELIGIBILITY AND APPROVAL PARAMETERS, DEFINING THE TYPES OF ALTERNATE WORK ARRANGEMENTS, AND ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS A REMOTE POLICY THEY HAVE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

UM, THEIR BIGGEST STANCE ON THAT IS IT IS TO RESULT IN GREATER EFFICIENCY AND COST SAVINGS.

IT IS TREATED, UH, TREATED AS A MANAGEMENT OPTION, NOT AN EMPLOYEE RIGHT, OR ENTITLEMENT.

AND THEY DO RETAIN DISCRETION OVER WHO MAY TELECOMMUTE AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS.

AND EACH STATE AGENCY DOES WORK THROUGH THE STATE DIVISION HR OFFICE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THEIR SPECIFIC AGENCY POLICIES.

ON SEPTEMBER 11TH, THE GOVERNOR MCMASTER DID SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHICH UPDATED THE RULES AROUND THESE TELECOMMUTING POLICIES THAT THE STATE AGENCIES HAVE IN PLACE.

SOME OF THOSE KEY CHANGES INCLUDE, UM, THAT EACH AGENCY POLICY AND PLAN MUST BE PRE-APPROVED BY THE STATE HR DEPARTMENT.

TELECOMMUTING IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF TWO DAYS PER WORK WEEK.

THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON CONSECUTIVE WORK DAYS, MEANING THEY CAN'T WORK MONDAY AND TUESDAY OR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

THEY ESSENTIALLY, YOU DON'T WANT TO EXTEND INTO A FIVE TO SIX DAY WEEKEND.

CERTAIN LEADERSHIP ROLES ARE EXCLUDED.

EMPLOYEES MUST HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF SATISFACTORY EMPLOY OR SERVICE EMPLOYEES WITH RECENT UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE REVIEWS OR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND THE

[01:15:01]

WHAT ARE OTHER TIER ONE COUNTIES DOING? HORRY COUNTY? UM, REMOTE WORK IS PERMITTED BUT NOT HEAVILY UTILIZED.

I THINK THEY SAID THEY HAVE LESS THAN A DOZEN FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING REMOTELY, UM, ACROSS THEIR ENTIRE COUNTY.

THEY DO HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE THAT IS WORKING OUTTA STATE.

I BELIEVE THEY SAID IT WAS WITH THEIR IT DEPARTMENT, RICHLAND COUNTY.

THEIR, UM, REMOTE WORK IS PERMITTED, BUT THEY DO NOT ALLOW OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL ARE NOT ELIGIBLE UNLESS APPROVED BY ADMINISTRATION YORK COUNTY.

THEY REMOTE THEIR LIMITED WORK OR REMOTE WORK TO ONE DAY A WEEK AND IT HAS TO BE TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THEY REVIEW THEIR OUT-OF-STATE ELIGIBILITY ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

COUNTIES THAT DO NOT OFFER REMOTE WORK.

ANDERSON, BERKELEY, GREENVILLE, AND SPARTANBURG.

AND I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK YET FROM CHARLESTON OR LEXINGTON, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL ONCE I GET THOSE ANSWERS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DEFINE REMOTE WORK 'CAUSE THE LANGUAGE CAN BE INTERPRETED DIFFERENT WAYS BY DIFFERENT FOLKS.

UM, SO FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND OUR POLICY, THE DEFINITIONS THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED HERE IS TELECOMMUTING OR THE, THE TERMS RATHER IS TELECOMMUTING, HYBRID, REMOTE WORK AND VIRTUAL WORK.

SO TELECOMMUTING WOULD BE ARRANGEMENT WHERE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, STAFF NEEDS TO STILL PROVIDE OPERATIONS AND SERVICES.

THEY CAN EASILY GO HOME AND WORK, YOU KNOW, FOR A DAY OR TWO.

MAYBE THERE'S A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT NEEDS THEIR ATTENTION.

MAYBE THE COUNTY HAS CLOSED DOWN.

I THINK I HEARD SOMEONE ON COUNCIL MENTION IN ONE OF OUR LAST MEETINGS, MAYBE OUR INTERNET PROVIDER IS DOWN AND WE STILL HAVE WORK TO BE DONE.

THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD OR REFER THIS AS TELECOMMUTING.

SO IT'S OCCASIONAL OR SITUATIONAL.

AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE ONE TO TWO DAYS PER WEEK FOR THREE WEEKS FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT.

WHERE WOULD THAT, WHERE WOULD THAT OCCUR? WITHIN A REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE.

AND WE ARE DEFINING A REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE AS ONE HOUR DRIVING TIME UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS TO YOUR OFFICE.

THIS PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY AND MAY REPORT ON SITE AS NEEDED AND SPECIFIC BASE NEED.

THE OTHER OPTION IS A HYBRID REMOTE WORK.

SO THIS IS WHERE EMPLOYEES CAN WORK REMOTELY FROM AN IMPROVED LOCATION.

USUALLY THE EMPLOYEE'S HOME ON A RECURRING PART-TIME SCHEDULE AND REPORTING TO THE OFFICE THE OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK.

AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE MAYBE THEY'RE GONNA WORK FROM HOME ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AND WORK IN THE OFFICE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.

AGAIN, WHERE WOULD THAT OCCUR WITHIN A REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE? THIS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH YOUR HR DEPARTMENT.

THAT WOULD BE SHARED WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

AND IT BALANCES ONSITE AND REMOTE WORK.

THE THIRD TERM THAT WE WILL REFER TO IS CALLED VIRTUAL WORK.

SO THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE PERFORMING ALL OF THEIR DUTIES REMOTELY FROM AN APPROVED LOCATION, WHICH IS TYPICALLY THE EMPLOYEE'S HOME AGAIN AND IT'S NOT IN THE COUNTY OFFICE.

THIS WOULD BE FULL-TIME.

ALL THEIR WORK IS COMPLETED FROM HOME.

THERE IS A VARIANCE HERE OF WHETHER IT'S IN STATE OR OUT OF STATE, WHICH IS ONE THING THAT WE WILL DISCUSS AS WE GET FURTHER INTO THE PRESENTATION IN-STATE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

STATE LAWS OUTTA STATE IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY ADMINISTRATION AT THIS TIME.

WE WOULD HAVE TO COLLABORATE WITH ALL THE LABOR LAWS THAT ARE APPLICABLE IN THE STATE IN WHICH THEY WORK.

PROS AND CONS OF VIRTUAL WORK.

PROS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY DUE TO FEWER OFFICE DISTRACTIONS, IMPROVED YOUR EMPLOYEE RETENTION, REDUCE COMMUTING STRESS AND EMPLOYEE BURNOUT, COST SAVINGS ON YOUR OFFICE SPACE AND OTHER OVERHEAD EXPENSES.

ACCESS TO A BROADER TALENT POOL, BETTER WORK LIFE BALANCE, AND ENHANCES EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND MORALE.

ALL THINGS THAT GO UP MUST COME DOWN.

SO THERE ARE SOME CONS TO VIRTUAL WORK.

REDUCED COLLABORATION AND SPONTANEOUS TEAMWORK.

COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES WITHOUT THE FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION WITH NOT ONLY THEIR COLLEAGUES AND THEIR SUPERVISORS, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE.

HARDER TO MONITOR PRODUCTIVITY AND WORK PROGRESS.

DATA SECURITY RISK, POTENTIAL EMPLOYEE ISOLATION AND LOWER ENGAGEMENT WORK-LIFE BOUNDARIES CAN BLUR.

I KNOW FOR ME WHEN DURING COVID AND I WAS WORKING FROM HOME, I WOULD FIND MYSELF WAKING UP AT 6:00 AM JUMPING ON MY COMPUTER.

AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW IT'S 7:00 PM SO IT'S HARD TO, TO KEEP FOCUSED ON YOUR TIME THERE.

EQUITY ISSUES.

IF SOME ROLES CANNOT WORK REMOTELY, NOT ALL OF OUR POSITIONS IN THE COUNTY CLEARLY CAN WORK REMOTELY.

SO THIS NEXT

[01:20:01]

SCREEN JUST GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT OF WHAT GOES ON IN HR.

THIS IS IS NOT AN INCLUSIVE LIST OF ALL LABOR LAWS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY A, A PRETTY, UM, HEFTY LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER.

THESE ARE TYPES OF LABOR LAWS THAT THE AVERAGE PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT UNLESS THEY'RE IN THE WORLD OF HR.

UM, SO I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT I JUST WANNA STRESS THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE DO NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THIS IF WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW OUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK OUTTA STATE ON A FULL-TIME BASIS.

FOR EXAMPLE, I TALK ABOUT DRUG TESTING.

UM, SOME STATES DON'T ALLOW FOR RANDOM DRUG SCREENS UNLESS THERE'S A REASONABLE SUSPICION.

SO IF THERE'S A POST-ACCIDENT, WE CAN'T DO A A, A POST-ACCIDENT DRUG SCREEN ON THE ORGAN, BONE MARROW AND BLOOD DONATION.

UM, SOME OF THIS I FOUND VERY INTERESTING, BUT IN ILLINOIS THERE IS A STATE LABOR LAW THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE PAID LEAVE UP TO SO MANY DAYS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO EITHER, UH, DONATE ORGANS OR, OR BONE MARROW OR BLOOD DONATION OVERTIME PAY WAS ANOTHER INTERESTING ONE.

MOST OF US THINK ABOUT OVERTIME PAY WHEN YOU EXCEED 40 HOURS IN THE WORK WEEK.

THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY OVERTIME WHEN THEY EXCEED EIGHT HOURS IN THE DAY.

AND THEN THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT ONCE THEY EXCEED 12 HOURS IN THE DAY YOU HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE TIME.

UM, SO A LOT OF SMALL MINUTE DETAILS THAT AREN'T AT THE SURFACE OF OF JUST SEEING OVERTIME WHEN YOU'RE READING THIS LIST.

I DID WANNA POINT OUT, UM, SPEAKING WITH SOME LEGAL GUIDANCE.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES FACING THIS CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY AS PUBLIC EMPLOYERS.

UM, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL FOR SOME ADVICE HERE AND GOT A DIRECT RESPONSE THAT THE COUNTY IS NOT THE ONLY PUBLIC EMPLOYER STRUGGLING WITH THIS.

UM, JUST SOME SNIPPETS OF OF THEIR, OUR EMAIL THREADS IS UM, THOUGH THERE ARE NOT ANY HARD AND FAST RULES IN THE AREA OF REMOTE WORK AS THIS IS AN ONGOING OR AN AREA WHERE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW PEOPLE AND WORK HAVE OUTPACED THE LAW.

SO THERE GAVE US A GENERAL CONSENSUS TO CONSIDER IF YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO RESIDES IN GEORGIA AND IS PRIMARILY BASED IN THEIR BEAUFORT OFFICE BUT WORKS MOST OR SOME DAYS REMOTELY.

BUT MOST DAYS IN THE OFFICE, THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD BE VIEWED AS A SOUTH CAROLINA BASED EMPLOYEE JUST AS IF HE HAD COMMUTED TO WORK EVERY DAY.

SO THAT MEANS IF WE HAD SOMEONE THAT'S DOING A HYBRID WORK REMOTE SCHEDULE, THEY'RE WORKING OUTTA SAVANNAH TWO DAYS A WEEK.

IN TERMS OF ALL THE LABOR LAWS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER, WE WOULD USE IT BASED ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAWS.

ON THE CONTRARY, AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS WORKING PRIMARILY OUT OF STATE THAT GOV THAT STATE HAS UM, THE RIGHT TO GOVERN THEIR JURISDICTION AND ASSERT THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES AND COURTS.

IF WE WERE TO EVER HAVE TO DEFEND ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION OR TO FOLLOW JUST YOUR BASIC LABOR LAWS.

ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO I'M SORRY.

TAKE IN YOU'RE SAYING IF WE HAD AN OUTSTATE EMPLOYEE, WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO THAT STATE LAW.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M SAYING.

THAT'S DANGEROUS.

BUT GO AHEAD.

I WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I HAD A QUESTION.

UM, I ANSWER.

SO WHICHEVER STATE THEY'RE WORKING THE MOST HOURS IN WOULD HAVE THE HAVE PRIMACY.

SO THERE'S NO HARD AND FAST RULE TO SAY WHICH, WHICH YOU'RE WORKING MORE HOURS UHHUH, BUT YOU ARE CORRECT WITH THAT.

IF THEY ARE PRIMARILY WORKING OUT OF STATE, THEN YES.

WHAT IS OUR POLICY FOR TIME OFF TO VOTE IN SOUTH CAROLINA VERSUS SOME OF THESE OTHER STATES? GOOD QUESTION.

I CAN LOOK INTO THE PO.

I KNOW OUR COUNTY POLICY ALLOWS IT.

BUT UM, SO WE WE'RE MEETING THE THRESHOLD OF THAT.

BUT I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THE ACTUAL STATE POLICY ON THAT.

THAT'S FINE.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED.

YES, I ASKED BUT OUR COUNTY POLICY DOES ALLOW THAT.

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

DOES THE ZOOM ZOOMING IN ON MEETINGS, DOES THAT APPLY TO COUNTY COUNCIL? LIKE WHAT MR. PAUS IS DOING RIGHT NOW? IS THAT NO LONGER ALLOWED? NO, I THINK WE'RE, JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COME TO WORK HERE PRIMARILY.

AND SO WHEN YOU NOTICED UP THERE, YORK COUNTY HAD A POLICY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME.

'CAUSE 'CAUSE THEY'RE CLOSE TO NORTH CAROLINA.

IT'S A BORDER.

SAME THING HERE.

YOU GOT FOLKS WHO LIVE IN GEORGIA, THEY COME INTO WORK.

BUT IF THEY LIKE REMOTE WORK FROM HOME A DAY A WEEK OR TWO DAYS A WEEK, WE DON'T REALLY THINK THAT'S AN ISSUE.

'CAUSE OUR PRIMARY WORKPLACE IS HERE.

NOR DO WE INTEND TO HAVE THAT AFFECT COUNCIL BECAUSE I MEAN IT WOULDN'T AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO ZOOM IN FOR A MEETING.

THIS REALLY APPLIES TO FOLKS THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE STATE AND DO VIRTUAL WORK.

I THINK WHICHEVER SLIDE CATHERINE HAD THAT ON, UH, PREVIOUSLY YES.

AND COUNTY COUNCIL HAS A REMOTE WORK OR A REMOTE MEETING ORDINANCE THAT WE PASSED YEARS AGO.

WHEN DOES THIS INTO EFFECT THIS POLICY? YEAH, WELL THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS.

THANK YOU JOE.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, NONE OF Y'ALL LIVE OUTTA STATE 'CAUSE OKAY.

[01:25:02]

IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REVISIONS.

I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.

SO IF SOMEONE WORKS, AND I DUNNO, SEATTLE.

BUT THEY WORK FOR AN OFFICE HERE IN THE COUNTY.

IS THIS NO LONGER GONNA BE ALLOWED? THAT IS WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS TO ELIMINATE OUT OF STATE WORK REMOTE WORK.

BECAUSE I WORK FOR A COMPANY HERE IN BLUFFTON THAT WAS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN BLUFFTON.

BUT WE HAD EMPLOYEES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT WORKED.

AND Y'ALL PROBABLY HAD STATE LAWYER, UH, LABOR ATTORNEYS TOO, SOUTH CAROLINA THAT COULD KNOW WHAT EACH STATE LAW LABOR LAWS ARE BECAUSE I A LEGAL ASSISTANT FOR THE COMPANY AND EVERYTHING APPLIED UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW EVEN THOUGH THEY WORKED REMOTE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

NO.

SO I THINK SO YOUR LABOR LAWS THE ISSUE.

YEAH, I THINK THE ISSUE, THE DIFFERENCE IS IF WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT LIVES IN OHIO.

I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD WANNA LIVE THERE.

I'M FAMILIAR , IF YOU LIVE IN OHIO AND YOU'RE A BEAVER COUNTY EMPLOYEE, SO THERE ARE OHIO'S A LABOR, IT'S A UNION STATE.

SO THERE ARE SPECIFIC WORK REQUIREMENTS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ENGAGE ATTORNEYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THOSE REQUIREMENTS.

SO THERE'S AN EXTRA COST TO MY LIVING IN OHIO AND WORKING FOR THE COUNTY.

AM I CORRECT? YES.

AND SECOND OF ALL, IF LET'S SAY I WORK FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY ASK ME TO COME IN FOR A THREE DAY WORKSHOP, IS THE COUNTY GONNA PAY FOR ME TO FLY IN, STAY HERE, EAT HERE? I THINK THAT WOULD GO TO WHATEVER OUR TRAVEL POLICY SAYS AND WHAT'S REIMBURSABLE FOR THAT.

WHICH WOULD BE NO, I MEAN IF YOU'RE LIVING IN OHIO AND YOU'RE COMING IN FOR A MEETING, YOU CAN ZOOM IT IF YOU WANT.

BUT I THINK THE COUNTY WOULD BE REMISS TO PAY FOR YOUR AIRFARE, YOUR HOTEL WHILE YOU'RE HERE.

YOUR FOOD.

I'M ASKING THAT QUESTION.

YOU DON'T PAY FOR ANYBODY ELSE'S COMMUTE TO WORK.

THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING IT.

NO, IT IS NOT CURRENTLY IN OUR TRAVEL POLICY.

ALSO, TO ADD TO WHAT CATHERINE HAS BEEN SAYING, WE DO NEED TO CONSIDER THE TAX IMPLICATIONS OF OUT OF STATE, UH, EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, COMPLIANCE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO PAYROLL TAXES, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AS I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, WITHHOLDINGS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER PAYING IN OTHER STATES AS WELL.

SO IF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, 'CAUSE THEY'RE SORT OF EXEMPT.

IF AN ELECT, LET'S SAY THE SHERIFF OFFICE WANTS TO HIRE SOMEBODY IN OHIO, THEY LIVE THERE ALL THE TIME.

THEY WORK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEN HIS BUDGET HAS TO INCUR THE EXTRA COST FOR THE ATTORNEYS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND DOES HE NEED PERMISSION? DOES AN ELECTED OFFICIAL HAVE TO RUN IT PAST HR THAT YOU'RE HIRING SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T LIVE HERE? I WOULD JUST SAY THAT'S COMING OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND.

SO YES, IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL COST THAT BUDGETED TO THE SHERIFF.

IT'S STILL COMING OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND.

IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY.

BUT DOES THE, DOES AN ELECTED, LIKE A DIRECTOR HERE WOULD'VE TO ADD, GO THROUGH HR TO HIRE ALICE IF SHE LIVES IN OHIO? DOES THE ELECTED OFFICIAL HAVE TO GO THROUGH HR TO HIRE SOMEONE IN ANOTHER STATE? SO THE CURRENT POLICY DOES LIST THAT ANY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GONNA WORK OUTTA STATE SHOULD GET APPROVAL FROM COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

UM, THE PROPOSED POLICY THAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT THERE DOES CLARIFY THAT THE APPROVAL WILL STOP AT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THRESHOLD FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

'CAUSE I WANNA BE CLEAR THAT IF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, LET'S, LET'S GO BACK TO END STATE FOR A SECOND.

AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WANTS THEIR EMPLOYEES TO WORK IN STATE RIGHT UP THE ROAD FROM 100 RE REBO ROAD FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THEN THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO, TO DO WITH THAT MM-HMM .

UM, BUT EVEN AN, A COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT REPORTS TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT'S GONNA WORK OUTTA STATE WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WELL WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT OUTTA STATE REMOTE IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE A THING.

BUT IF IT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ALLOWS AND IT'S SUPPORTED BY WAY OF THEIR BUDGET TO FUND WHATEVER RESOURCES WILL BE NEEDED, SUCH AS THAT LEGAL COUNSEL OR BUYING THE EXTRA WORKERS' COMP CLAIM, WHICH WE'LL WE'LL GET THROUGH HERE IN A SECOND.

UM, THEN WE JUST NEED THE NOTIFICATION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING SO WE CAN COORDINATE ALL OF THAT.

ARE WE DOING THAT NOW? WE HAVE ONE.

WE HAVE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS OUT OF STATE EMPLOYEES.

ARE WE PAYING ATTENTION TO IF THEY LIVE IN OHIO ON LABOR STATE, ARE WE PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT OTHER REGULATIONS THERE ARE AND TAKING CARE OF THE ATTORNEY STUFF IN THERE? NO.

IN THE HOTEL AND RENTAL CAR.

SO WELL WE MISS ON THAT.

BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'VE PAID FOR TRAVEL TO COME BACK FOR TRAINING AND TO HAVE THEM STAY

[01:30:01]

BUT WE'RE PAYING THAT UNDER PROTEST 'CAUSE WE'RE IN LITIGATION.

UH, REGARDING THAT VERY ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

IS SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS GONNA BE ANSWERED IN THE REST OF YOUR PRESENTATION? CAN WE FINISH THAT PART FIRST AND THEN HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION? SURE.

DEPOSIT LAWS CAN BE DIFFERENT VARIED BY STATE.

UM, SO SOME OF YOUR OTHER THINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A VERY LARGE LIST HERE THAT SOME OF YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT GETTING INTO YOUR EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT YOU MAY THINK ABOUT DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO MANDATORY AND VOLUNTARY BENEFITS.

UM, THERE ARE MANY AND VERY PAID AND UNPAID LEAVE REQUIREMENTS BY EACH STATE TO INCLUDE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PAID, FAMILY LEAVE, PAID SICK LEAVE, PREGNANCY, DISABILITY LEAVE, MANDATORY SHORT-TERM DISABILITY, AND THEN OTHER STATE REQUIRED LEAVES.

UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, SO SPECIFICALLY ON PAID FAMILY LEAVE, THAT IS NOT, THAT'S SEPARATE FROM FMLA.

WE'RE ALL USED TO HEARING THAT FMLA TERM.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

IT'S A FEDERAL LAW.

OBVIOUSLY WE FOLLOW THE FEDERAL LAWS, BUT THERE ARE OTHER STATES THAT PROVIDE IN ADDITION TO FMLA PAID FAMILY LEAVE, WHICH WE DO NOT OFFER TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

UM, SO THIS RUNS CONCURRENT WITH FMLA.

UM, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW PARENTS TO BOND WITH THEIR NEWBORNS OR TO CARE FOR SERIOUSLY ILL FAMILY MEMBERS.

IT'S A BENEFIT THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR THAT JOB PROTECTION ON A PAID BASIS UP TO EIGHT WEEKS.

PARTIAL SALARY.

THAT IS NOT TO, TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE ALREADY HEARD.

WE ARE NOT OFFERING THOSE TYPE OF BENEFITS AS IT STANDS.

UM, PAID SICK LEAVE IS REQUIRED IN SOME STATES.

WE DO HAVE A, A SICK LEAVE POLICY, BUT I'LL POINT OUT IT WAS JUST ADOPTED IN 2020.

SO WE WERE PROBABLY BEHIND THE BAR WITH HOW LONG WE WERE OFFERING THE PAID SICK LEAVE PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE.

SO WE DO OFFER VOLUNTARY SHORT-TERM DISABILITY TO OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT WE DO NOT PAY FOR THAT ON BEHALF OF THE EMPLOYEES.

AND WE DO NOT REQUIRE IT TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES.

UM, CALIFORNIA REQUIRE IT'S, IT'S A REQUIRED BENEFIT IN CALIFORNIA TO OFFER JOB PROTECTED LEAVE UP TO FOUR MONTHS IN ADDITION TO THE FAKE PAID FAMILY LEAVE AND FMLA, WE ARE NOT OFFERING THIS TO OUR EMPLOYEES.

ANOTHER TOPIC IS WORKERS' COMP.

SO WITH WORKERS' COMP, WE ARE A SELF-INSURED, SELF-INSURED FUND.

ALL EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CONDUCTING WORK IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IF THEY'RE INJURED ON THE JOB, THEY'RE COVERED UNDER OUR WORKERS' COMP POLICY.

BUT WORKERS' COMP IS CLEAR, VERY CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR POLICY REGISTERED IN THE STATE IN WHICH THEY'RE WORKING.

WE DO NOT HAVE WORKERS' COMP POLICIES IN IN ANY OTHER STATE OUTSIDE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

I WANNA CLARIFY IF SOMEONE'S TRAVELING OUTTA STATE FOR A BUSINESS CONFERENCE THAT'S SEPARATE.

YOU ARE COVERED WITH OUR POLICY, BUT TO WORK VIRTUALLY FULL-TIME OUTTA STATE, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

WE WOULD AND SOME EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS IS THAT YES, WE WOULD NEED TO RETAIN THAT COVERAGE FOR EACH STATE IN WHICH WE HAVE REMOTE WORKERS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH A SEPARATE COMMERCIAL POLICY.

IT CANNOT BE FOLDED INTO OUR CURRENT, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA SELF-INSURED FUND.

OTHER ITEMS TO CONSIDER IS COMPENSATION.

SO EACH STATE HAS ITS OWN WAGE AND HOUR REQUIREMENTS THAT MUST BE COMPLIED WITH, SUCH AS YOUR MINIMUM WAGE RATES, WHICH MAY BE HIGHER THAN THE FEDERAL RATE OR THE RATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND THE FEDERAL RATE IS $7 AND 25 CENTS AN HOUR.

CURRENTLY ON OUR CLASS AND COMP PLAN, OUR LOWEST WAGE, UM, PAY GRADE STARTS AT $18 AND 48 CENTS.

SO WE ARE WELL WITHIN THAT THRESHOLD.

HOWEVER, WASHINGTON DC'S MINIMUM RATE IS 17.95.

SO IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, WE COULD NOW BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THAT MINIMUM WAGE.

WASHINGTON STATE IS $16 AND 66 CENTS.

MINIMUM WAGE EXEMPT EMPLOYEE SALARY REQUIREMENTS SOMETIMES MIGHT BE GREATER THAN WHAT THE FLSA SORRY, REQUIRES OR OTHER FEDERAL EXEMPTIONS EXAMPLE.

TO BE CLASSIFIED AS AN ANNUAL SALARIED EXEMPT EMPLOYEE, YOU HAVE TO EARN AT LEAST $35,568 A YEAR.

THAT IS BY WAY OF THE FEDERAL FLSA.

THERE ARE STATES THOUGH THAT HAVE HIGHER THRESHOLDS.

THE HIGHEST STATE IN THE NATION IS CALIFORNIA.

YOU HAVE TO EARN AT LEAST $68,640 A YEAR IN ORDER TO BE CLASSIFIED AS AN EXEMPT EMPLOYEE.

DAILY OVERTIME REQUIREMENTS, UM, THIS IS WHERE I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE, WE THINK ABOUT OVERTIME WITH YOUR TRADITIONAL 40 HOUR WORK WEEKS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT GO BY DAILY HOURS AND NOT WEEKLY HOURS WAGE DEDUCTION REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL PROHIBIT CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS FROM PAY WITHOUT EMPLOYEE WRITTEN CONSENT.

SO WE DO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO WITHHOLD CERTAIN DEDUCTIONS FROM THEIR FINAL PAYCHECK IF IT WAS CONSIDERED IN ADVANCEMENT OF WAGES.

BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THAT WRITTEN CONSENT AS IT'S NOT REQUIRED HERE.

BUT THERE ARE SOME STATES IN WHICH IT WOULD BE REQUIRED.

THE TIMING OF THE PAYCHECKS PAY STATEMENT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AND DIRECT

[01:35:01]

AND THEN EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

SOME STATES FOR REMOTE WORKERS REQUIRE YOU TO REIMBURSE FOLKS FOR THEIR HOME UTILITY BILLS TO WORK REMOTELY.

WHAT'S NOT HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, NOR ARE WE DOING THAT FOR OUR EXEM, OR EXCUSE ME, OUR REMOTE EMPLOYEES GENERAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.

SO EACH STATE MAY HAVE VARIOUS HIRING REQUIREMENTS SUCH AS PROHIBITIONS ON ASKING APPLICANTS FOR SALARY HISTORY BEFORE HIRE.

WE ARE ASKING OUR APPLICANTS TO PROVIDE US WHAT THEIR MONTHLY SALARY RATE WAS AT THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYER.

IT'S AN OPTIONAL QUESTION, BUT WE'RE ASKING IT.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT REGULATIONS IN PLACE, VARIED BY STATE LAWS ON NEW HIRE PAPERWORK AND THE CERTAIN REPORTING STRUCTURES THAT YOU HAVE TO DO AT THE STATE AGENCIES OF WHO YOUR NEW HIRES WERE FOR THAT MONTH.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS COULD VARY STATE BY STATE.

UM, PRE-EMPLOYMENT AND RANDOM DRUG SCREENINGS.

THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT YOU, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU CANNOT DO RANDOM DRUG SCREENS.

THEN YOU GET INTO THE WHOLE OTHER ASPECT OF THINGS THAT THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT, UM, RECREATIONAL AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IS LEGAL WHERE IT'S NOT LEGAL HERE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

IN ADDITION TO PROTECTED CLASSES UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW, SOME STATES HAVE ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES SUCH AS MARITAL AND OR FAMILY STATUS, POLITICAL BELIEFS, MEDICAL OR RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE, AND VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN WHICH WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND THEN THE SLIDE THAT PINKY WAS COMING UP FOR EARLIER, AND SHE'S WELCOME TO COME BACK IF SHE HAS SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THIS.

UM, BUT RULES CAN VARY STATE BY STATE BASED ON YOUR STATE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING YOUR STATE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REPORTING AND YOUR PAYING OF THOSE TAXES AND YOUR TAX REPORTING AND REGISTERING YOUR AGENCY WITH THOSE STATES.

SO PINKY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT? NO, I THINK I OKAY, YOU HAVE QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

SO POTENTIAL RESOURCES NEEDED.

IF WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW OUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK OUTTA STATE, WE WILL NEED SOME ASSISTANCE.

'CAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE LABOR LAWS.

UM, WE WOULD WANT, UH, THE MULTI-STATE EMPLOYMENT LAW COUNCIL TO ENGAGE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL SPECIALIZING IN MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE.

AND THEN OF COURSE, IF WE EVER WERE IN ANY TYPE OF LITIGATION, WE WOULD HAVE TO THEN RE-ENGAGE WITH THEIR SERVICES TO ASSIST WITH THE, UM, LITIGATION OF WHAT STATE HAVE YOU STATE REGISTRATION AND TAX COMPLIANCE, UH, RESOURCES TO MANAGE THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND EMPLOYMENT TAX REPORTING AND, AND OR STATE AND LOCAL TAX WITHHOLDING.

AND THEN OUR WORKERS' COMP, WE WOULD NEED TO IMMEDIATELY PURCHASE THE WORKERS' COMP COVERAGE.

UM, AND ALSO THE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT FROM EITHER THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE OR CURRENT STAFF WITH THOSE CLAIM HANDLINGS BASED ON WHAT THE STATE LAWS ARE IN WHICH THEY RESIDE.

OPTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.

SO WE COULD LIMIT OUR REMOTE WORK TO TELECOMMUTING ONLY, WHICH IS AGAIN, THOSE INFREQUENT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHERE WE NEED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SERVICES, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO SO IN THE OFFICE.

OPTION TWO, TELECOMMUTING AND HYBRID REMOTE AS A REMINDER HYBRID REMOTE IS THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO WORK FROM HOME ON A SCHEDULED PART-TIME BASIS WITHIN A REASONABLE DRIVING COMMUTING DISTANCE.

AND THEN OPTION THREE IS TELECOMMUTING, HYBRID, REMOTE, AND VIRTUAL.

AND THE VIRTUAL IS WHERE THEY WOULD WORK FROM HOME FULLY FIVE DAYS A WEEK OR WHATEVER THEIR SCHEDULE MAY BE.

AND OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COMMITTEE IS THAT EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATION WITH, UM, GO WITH OPTION TWO, WHICH IS THE TELECOMMUTING AND HYBRID REMOTE.

WE WANNA ALIGN IT WITH THE STATE'S POLICY, WHICH WOULD BE TWO DAYS PER WEEK, CANNOT RUN CONCURRENT WITH THE WEEKEND MANAGERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR HYBRID REMOTE, BUT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO TELECOMMUTE WITH APPROVAL AND WHEN NEEDED.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS WILL BE BASED ON THE POSITION, THE EMPLOYEE'S PERFORMANCE AND THEIR TENURE.

AND WE WANNA BE CLEAR THAT IT CAN BE REVOKED OR MODIFIED AT ANY TIME AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE COUNTY'S GRIEVANCE POLICY.

'CAUSE THE COUNTY DOES HAVE A GRIEVANCE POLICY IN PLACE.

EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE AT THE, UH, PLEASURE OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL APPROVAL FROM, FOR ANY WORK FROM HOME ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH WOULD BE TELECOMMUTING, HYBRID, REMOTE, OR VIRTUAL.

BUT TO EXCLUDE OUT OF STATE.

UM, AND IT WOULD BE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ELECTED OFFICIAL.

ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES WOULD STILL BE EXPECTED TO ABIDE BY COUNTY POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

AND IT'LL BE WITH RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT, UM, THE EMPLOYEE AND MANAGEMENT OR ELECTED OFFICIAL TO COLLABORATE WITH HR, LEGAL, FINANCE AND RISK TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE A COMPLIANT WITH ALL LABOR LAWS WHEN THEY ARE APPROVING REMOTE WORK, UM, VIRTUAL FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT BRINGS US TO NEXT STEPS.

I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION.

[01:40:01]

UM, IF ELECTED OFFICIAL, JUST SO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT, ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS, IF THEY'RE OUTTA STATE, STILL GONNA BE ABSORBED BY THE COUNTY BUDGET? YES.

AND YEAH, WE WOULDN'T, UM, ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF THEIR BUDGET.

RIGHT? IT'D BE OUT OF OUR, OUR BUDGET THAT WE GIVE THEM THAT'S CORRECT.

IS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.

IT WOULD BE PART OF THE MILLAGE, GENERAL FUND MILLAGE.

HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE NOW TOTAL THAT ARE WORKING VIRTUALLY FULL-TIME OUTTA STATE OR VIRTUALLY FULL-TIME OUTTA STATE THAT I'M AWARE OF? WE HAVE FOUR.

THAT'S IT? YES.

HOW MANY VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES PERIOD THAT ARE JUST VIRTUAL? LET ME GET THAT NUMBER TO YOU.

BUT I KNOW IT'S SAFE TO SAY IT'S LESS THAN 50 OUT OF FOUR 1300 EMPLOYEES.

, BUT OUT OF STATE IT'S FAR, IT'S NOT MANY.

AND THE, WE'RE NOT TALKING GEORGIA, WE'RE TALKING OUTTA STATE.

NO, NO, NO.

I'M, I'M TALKING THAT COULD BE VIRTUAL IN-STATE OR OUT STATE.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF I THINK FOUR.

ONE, IT WAS FIVE, BUT I THINK A RESIGNATION OCCURRED LAST WEEK OR WEEK BEFORE.

UM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES OUTTA STATE OUTSIDE OF EMPLOYEES UNDER ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL.

SO LOOKING AT YOUR SECOND BULLET THERE, I I'M CONFUSED.

IT SAYS APPROVAL FOR ANY WORK FROM HOME ARRANGEMENTS, TELECOMMUTING, VIRTUAL, EXCLUDING OUTTA STATE.

WILL BE AT THE DIRECT DISCRETION OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SO WHAT'S OUTTA STATE AT THE DISCRETION OF WHOM? SO WE'RE, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT OUR POLICY WILL READ THAT NO OUT OF STATE VIRTUAL WORK IS ALLOWED FOR ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

BUT IN THAT EVEN ELECTED OFFICIAL EMPLOYEES, THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, YES.

NOT THE ELECTED OFFICIAL THEMSELVES, BUT THEY ARE STILL COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

WELL, BY LAW THE ELECTED OFFICIAL HAS TO BE IN STATE.

CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE? LET YOU WRAP UP.

YEAH, YOUR LAST PART.

SO WE, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, IS TO RECEIVE ANY, UM, DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL, UM, SPECIFICALLY ON THE OUT-OF-STATE VIRTUAL WORK.

UM, SHOULD THIS BE APPROVED, WE WOULD NEED TO ENGAGE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE MULTI-STATE EMPLOYMENT LAWS.

WORKERS' COMP COVERAGE WOULD NEED TO BE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY IN TAX OBLIGATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE GUIDANCE TO CURRENT EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN WE WOULD BE ABLE TO REVISE THE CURRENT POLICY TO, UM, BRING FORTH FOR ADOPTION.

UM, DEFINITELY A LOT OF INFORMATION.

UM, WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING THOUGH, SO ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? BEFORE I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO IT? I HAVE TO REALLY.

'CAUSE THAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION.

UM, I'LL ADDRESS A COUPLE THINGS THEN.

UM, FIRST STATEMENT WAS MADE THAT, UH, WE DON'T PAY FOR TRAVEL.

UM, UH, I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN JUST 'CAUSE WE'RE ELECTED DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE PLAY BY ANY DIFFERENT RULES THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

UM, WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE THAT DOES ALLOW US TO BE ONLINE.

UM, THAT'S SOMETHING WE ADOPTED.

UM, BUT I, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I DON'T CONSIDER ANY OF US ABOVE ANY EMPLOYEE THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, THERE'S A REASON I DON'T TAKE MI MILEAGE.

I HAVEN'T IN FIVE YEARS.

THERE'S A REASON I DON'T DO IT.

I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD BE PAID TO DRIVE TO A JOB THAT I SIGNED UP FOR.

UM, WOW.

WHAT THAT SAID TOO, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABILITY FOR OUR STAFF IF THEY'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THAT JOB IS ALLOWING THEM TO BE HYBRID, VIRTUAL, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, IF THAT CAN BE PRODUCED THAT IT'S WORKING NOW WHEN IT'S USED AS A SENSE OF COVID.

I THINK I'VE MADE MYSELF VERY CLEAR OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS WHERE I STOOD ON THAT.

OBVIOUSLY TO ME THAT'S NOT AN EXCUSE.

UM, BUT I ALSO KNOW THE COST.

IF WE BRING THOSE 50 EMPLOYEES IN THAT WE DO NOT HAVE SPACE FOR THEM AT THE COUNTY.

THAT'S NOT A SECRET.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.

SO WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE FOR US TO EXPAND, TO BRING THEM IN IS A WHOLE NOTHER DISCUSSION WE'D HAVE TO HAVE.

UM, MY, MY RECOMMENDATION ACTUALLY IS SORT OF WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, IF WE COULD BRING THAT LAST OR SECOND TO LAST SLIDE UP.

UH, NOT A FAN OF THE OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES.

UH, I'M SORRY, I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU TO KEEP IT UP.

MY APOLOGIES.

WELL, AND THERE WAS ALSO THE ACTUAL POLICY TOO.

I BET SHE WAS GETTING READY FOR, BUT YEAH, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE SLIDESHOW.

UM, I'M ASSUMING THE POLICY IS THE, THAT SECOND TO LAST SLIDE THOUGH.

IT WAS THE YES, YES MA'AM.

UM, JUST SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE IT AND THOSE ONLINE AS WELL.

UM, YEAH, OUTTA STATE EMPLOYEES IS A VERY, VERY TOUCHY SUBJECT.

UM, I SAID WE DON'T HOLD OUR, I DON'T HOLD OURSELF MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO IT.

OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REQUIRED TO LIVE HERE.

UM, I'M

[01:45:01]

REQUIRED TO LIVE HERE.

ALL OF US ARE REQUIRED TO LIVE IN OUR DISTRICT.

UM, I DO THINK IT PUTS US ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN WE ALLOW OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES TO BE A HUNDRED PERCENT VIRTUAL.

UM, A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE.

I ANYTHING WITH THAT'S GONNA ALLOW OUTTA STATE I, I CAN'T SUPPORT.

UM, WITH THAT SAID, I KNOW WE HAVE VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES THAT DO GET WORK DONE.

UM, HOWEVER THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT DONE IS DONE BY THE DIRECTION OF THEIR DEPARTMENT HEAD, THEIR THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHOEVER IT MIGHT BE.

I DON'T GET IN DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

THAT'S NOT MY JOB.

I THINK THAT'S AN OVERREACH.

BUT IF WE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THINGS ARE GETTING DONE, I DON'T HAVE AN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM NECESSARILY WITH THE VIRTUAL ASPECT IF THEY'RE A SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENT.

UM, AS LONG AS WHEN THEY'RE CALLED THEY NEED TO COME IN AND THAT WE, THE ADMINISTRATOR OR THAT PERSON THAT'S OVER THEM STILL HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY, WHICH I BELIEVE IT IS IN THERE, THAT THEY CAN GET RID OF THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY FEEL NEED BE.

WHETHER IT'S PERFORMANCE, UM, ATTITUDE, WHAT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT STILL GIVES THAT PERSON THAT OVERSEES THEM TO WRITE TO THAT OR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DO THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S OUR JOB TO DICTATE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.

I THINK THAT THAT IT'S, IT'S NOVA REACH.

I THINK THAT LIMITS YOUR GUYS' SUCCESS.

UM, SARAH'S SUCCESS, THE ADMINISTRATOR'S SUCCESS, UM, TO TAKE AWAY TOOLS THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE.

UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, THE POLICY YOU HAVE UP THERE ALLOWS FOR VIRTUAL TELECOMMUTING, TELECOMMUNICATING, HYBRID AND EXCLUDES OUT OF STATE.

THEN YOU HAVE THE, THAT THE ONLY THING THAT GIVES US THE GRAY AREA IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA RESTRICTIONS.

SO THE PO IF I MAY, THE POLICY COULD, COULD WE PULL THE POLICY THAT MIGHT HELP A LITTLE.

THE POLICY WE'RE RECOMMENDING, UM, DOES ALLOW FOR THE HYBRID REMOTE WORK AND THE TELECOMMUTING.

SO GOING BACK TO THAT DEFINITION OF THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES, IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR VIRTUAL WORK FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IF THEY WANT VIRTUAL WORK FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THAT'S AT, THAT'S AT THEIR DISCRETION WITH THE LIMITATION THAT IT IS WITHIN SOUTH CAROLINA.

CAROLINA, THE STATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT WAS THE ONLY CLARITY I NEEDED.

UM, JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE DICTATING WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS DO.

UM, JUST LIKE I SAID ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT A MINUTE AGO, I BELIEVE MY JOB IS THE ANSWER TO THE FUNDS THAT WE GIVE TO THEM.

NOT TO TELL 'EM HOW TO DO THEIR JOB.

THAT'S THE VOTER'S JOB TO TELL 'EM HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS.

NOT MINE.

UM, SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

UM, WE HAVE A SECOND.

IT'S A DISCUSSION.

CAN I GET, WE GOTTA GET, THIS IS LISTED AS A RESOLUTION.

AND I, NOT A DISCUSSION.

THIS IS LISTED AS A RE RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR, I'M SORRY, THE RESOLUTIONS FOR THE DRAFT POLICY THAT SHE'S GOT IN FRONT OF YOU, RIGHT? CORRECT.

NOW, WHICH CONTAINS WHAT YOU, YOU TALKED ABOUT AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT IF YOU WANNA COME DOWN A LITTLE, UM, THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD GO TO COUNTY COUNCIL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND THEN EITHER THUMBS UP OR THUMBS DOWN.

KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME OUTTA THE LAST MEETING, THAT IT SHOULD BELONG TO THE ELECTED OFFICIAL TO APPROVE IT.

SO IN THIS POLICY, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU SAW IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, WE'RE DEFINING NOW 'CAUSE WE, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT WE NEED DEFINITIONS.

WE'RE DEFINING YOUR ALTERNATE WORKPLACE, YOUR PRIMARY WORKPLACE, WHAT IS TELECOMMUTING, WHAT IS HYBRID REMOTE, WHAT IS VIRTUAL WORK.

AND YOU'LL SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT, EMPLOYEES THAT REPORT TO BEAUFORT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VIRTUAL WORK.

IT'S THE DI DESIRE, THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY ARE IN THE OFFICE AT LEAST HALF OR MORE OF THEIR WORK SCHEDULE.

BUT WE'RE NOT EXCLUDING ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM VIRTUAL WORK SO LONG AS IT'S IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND IF YOU'LL COME DOWN A LITTLE MORE ASHLEY, REASONABLE COMMUTING DISTANCE, WE'D LIKE TO DEFINE THAT.

UM, A REMOTE REQUEST FORM AND AN AGREEMENT THAT IS ALWAYS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE ON FILE FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.

THAT WILL BE WORKING REMOTELY.

AND THEN WE HAVE SOME REMOTE, REMOTE WORK RULES.

UM, AND I'LL POINT OUT HYBRID REMOTE WORK LIMITATIONS.

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE HYBRID REMOTE REMOTE WORK, YOU CAN DO IT UP TO TWO DAYS A WEEK AND IT CAN'T BE CONSECUTIVE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND FRIDAY.

AND THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, UM, WE HAVE AN ONSITE REQUIREMENT.

I THINK SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IF THEY NEEDED TO BE IN THE OFFICE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S THEIR REMOTE DAY, THAT THEY ARE EXPECTED TO COME IN FOR WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.

WHETHER IT'S TRAINING OR MEETINGS, YOU'LL COME DOWN A LITTLE MORE.

ASHLEY.

COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT, RIGHT? UM, ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK IS THE SAME CRITERIA WE DISCUSSED.

UM, AND THEN IN HERE IT DOES STATE THAT THE REMOTE WORK PROCESS, EMPLOYEES WHO REPORT TO AN ELECTED OFFIC OFFICIAL ONLY REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM THEIR ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHICH I KNOW WAS, YOU

[01:50:01]

BUT WE JUST WANNA BE CLEAR THAT WE'RE ONLY ALLOWING VIRTUAL OR REMOTE WORK TO EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERED, IF THAT WAS MUCH OR NO.

I, I THINK YOU, YOU DID IT PERFECTLY.

I MEAN, WE HAD TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT.

WE NEED, WE ASKED YOU TO CLARIFY THESE THINGS, SO IT NEEDED, WE NEEDED TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.

UM, I THINK THE WAY IT'S DRAFTED, IT DOES NOT LIMIT OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL.

IT DOES NOT GIVE US AS 11 REPRESENTATIVES OR THE AMOUNT THAT ARE HERE AUTHORITY OVER ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

IT STILL DOES NOT HANDCUFF OUR SENIOR STAFF OR LEADERSHIP STAFF TO DIRECT THEIR STAFF FOR TWO DAYS REMOTELY A WEEK IF THEY NEED TO, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.

SO I THINK IT GIVES EVERYBODY THE FLEXIBILITY THEY NEED TO BE CON, TO CON TO CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, SO WITH THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, FIRST AND SECOND AND ALREADY IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL? MADAM? MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU ALLOW ME JUST TO ASK, OF COURSE.

UM, LET, LET ME JUST TELL YOU THAT, UM, I PERSONALLY, UH, SUPPORT WHAT YOU HAVE HERE, BUT I DO RESPECT ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO I WILL LEAN TOWARD THAT AT THIS TIME.

UM, HOWEVER, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE ADJACENT TO GEORGIA MM-HMM .

AND YOU HAVE IN YOUR POLICY, UM, UM, THE ABILITY TO, UH, WORK, UH, AS LONG AS YOU ARE ONE HOUR DRIVE AWAY.

WOULD THAT PUT ME IN GEORGIA .

SO THAT GOES BACK TO, AND THAT WAS PART OF THE LEGAL ADVICE WE RECEIVED.

IF THE EMPLOYEE IS ON THE HYBRID, REMOTE REMOTE WORK WHERE THEY'RE WORKING IN OFFICE THREE DAYS A WEEK, DAYS A WEEK, AND FROM HOME TWO DAYS A WEEK, SOUTH CAROLINA LAW PREVAILS.

SO THEY'D BE A GEORGIA RESIDENT, BUT FOLLOWING THE JURISDICTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

UM, SO, WE'LL, WE'LL LEAVE GEORGIA ALONE AT THIS TIME, AND GEORGIA'S VERY SIMILAR TO OUR STATE LAWS TOO.

SO THAT WAS A RELIEF.

UM, I, I, I DO, I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OUT STATE, UM, OTHER THAN GEORGIA, AND, UM, I THINK THAT, UM, STATE, I JUST CAN'T JUSTIFY OUTTA STATE.

HOWEVER, AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT'S MY DECISION.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT IF THIS MOVES FORWARD SO THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIAL, IF THEY DECIDE TO DO THIS, NEED TO PUBLICIZE THAT, THAT THEY HAVE EMPLOYEES, WHETHER IT'S IN OHIO OR WHEREVER, AND THEY'RE PAYING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AND IT'S COSTING X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, UH, TO MAINTAIN THEM BECAUSE OF GEORGIA'S LAW.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT BURDEN SHOULD BE ON THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL, NOT ON COUNCIL.

I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE HERE, BUT IF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WANTS TO HIRE SOMEBODY, UM, SOMEPLACE ELSE, THAT THEY SHOULD LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THIS IS WHY, AND THEY CANNOT FIND SOMEBODY ELSE IN SOUTH CAROLINA DO THE WORK.

THAT'S WHERE I AM.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.

DO WE NEED TO EXTEND THIS, UH, FINANCE MEETING? I BELIEVE WE'RE STILL GOOD TO GO AT THE CONCLUSION OF, UM, THIS MEETING.

UM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, RIGHT, SARAH? MM-HMM .

A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I'M SORRY.

THE NEXT MEETING STARTS AT THE CONCLUSION.

WE HAVE AN IMPORTANT AGENDA TO STILL FINISH THOUGH.

UM, ALRIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS? NO.

UM, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? CAN THIS BE SENT TO COUNTY COUNSEL? FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.

ON BUZZING THROUGH THESE.

THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION TO MOVE ON TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

IS THIS GOING TO THE NEXT MEETING? IT'LL GO INTO THE NOVEMBER MEETING.

[8.b. Authorize the County Administrator to implement an FY2026 Personal Leave Time (PLT) Buyback for employees. (FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact currently exists since the liability must be carried on our books. FY25 fiscal impact was $708,848 (FICA/Medicare employer portion included), FY26 estimated impact is $758,467 (7% increase from FY25, FICA/Medicare employer portion included). The CFO budgeted $540,817 in Acct#: 1000-10-1199-56010, specifically for the PLT buyback program. The remainder of the funds will come from vacancy lag from the appropriate Fund that the department is located in, i.e. GF, SRF or EF.) - Katherine Mead, HR Director & Pinky Harriott, Chief Financial Officer]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE AUTHORIZED COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IMPLEMENT AN FY 2026 PERSONAL LEAVE TIME, TIME BUYBACK FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO PUT THAT ON THE FLOOR.

I'LL SECOND THAT AND SECOND BY MS. BROWN.

UM, MS. BE, I'M ASSUMING THIS IS THE SAME WAY WE DO IT EVERY YEAR FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO BUY BACK? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR FUNDING, SO NOTHING WILL CHANGE FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THIS PROGRAM IF IT'S APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE TO GO FORWARD TO COUNCIL.

C DESIGNATION OF DECEMBER 26, 6, 20 25.

DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO SEND THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL? NO.

THIS WILL BE A APPROVED AND MOVE FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL

[8.c. Designation of December 26, 2025 as an additional paid holiday for County Employees (FISCAL IMPACT: Any fiscal impact is negligible. ) - Katherine Mead, Human Resources Director, 5 minutes]

AN ADDITIONAL PAID HOLIDAY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

AND SECOND, I'LL SECOND SECONDED BY MS. HOWARD.

INTO THAT AS WELL AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? THIS IS, AGAIN, WE HAVE DONE THIS YEARS BEFORE.

I BELIEVE CHRISTMAS FALLS ON A THURSDAY THIS YEAR.

SO THIS WILL ALLOW FRIDAY TO EXTEND

[01:55:01]

AND IT MAKES REAL SENSE BECAUSE IT'S A FRIDAY.

A HUNDRED PERCENT.

THANKS MIKE.

, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL? YES, I'M GOOD.

WE WILL APPROVE THAT AND THAT WILL MOVE FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNSEL WITH NO OBJECTION.

AN ORDINANCE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF A 2% STATE ACCOMMODATIONS TAX AS PRESENTED BY THE STATE AT TAX COMMITTEE OF A MOTION.

[8.d. An Ordinance recommending approval of the 2% State Accomodations Tax Awards as presented by the State Atax Committee. (FISCAL IMPACT: Fiscal Impact is $999,050 of grants awarded from Fund 2000 - State Accomodation Tax Fund.) - Ken Guerra, Vice Chair, State 2% Accommodations Tax Committee. (20 minutes)]

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE AT TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? NO, BUT KEN'S HERE.

THAT'S OKAY.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM TO MOVE THIS FORWARD? I I HAVE A COMMENT, MR. CHAIR.

SO, UM, I, AS I SAID BEFORE, I SAT IN ON THESE, I THINK THE COMMITTEE DID A YEOMAN'S JOB THIS YEAR, ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, I'M GONNA REITERATE THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAD LAST YEAR.

WE ONLY HAD FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE PRESENT, AND FOR SEVERAL OF THEM, TWO HAD TO RECUSE THEMSELVES, WHICH MEANS THIS GRANT IS ON THREE VOTES.

SOME OF THEM WERE ON FOUR VOTES.

THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE COMMITTEE.

THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MEMBERS.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THEY DUG DIVED INTO MORE DISCUSSION THIS YEAR AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED.

I DON'T AGREE WITH ALL OF 'EM, BUT THAT'S NOT UP TO ME.

UM, YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

DO I SEE ANY OBJECTION? UH, NO.

I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE CHAIRMAN IF HE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.

UM, WELL JUST, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NOW.

NO, I, I'M FINE.

YOU GUYS HAVE A LONG AGENDA AND KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE, SO NO PROBLEM.

HAPPY TO YIELD.

THIS WILL MOVE FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNSEL, CORRECT? YES.

RESOLUTION APPROVED AND PROPOSED BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

I SEE THIS APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.

[8.e. A Resolution approving a proposed Beaufort County Economic Development Corp. expenditure of Site & Jobs funds as a 50% match on a State Dept. of Commerce Site Enhancement Grant for the extension of natural gas infrastructure in the Beaufort Commerce Park, pending approval of the State grant award. (FISCAL IMPACT: $65,000 from the Site & Jobs Fund - Acct#1010-10-0000- 55240 Current Balance $2,920,716) - John O'Toole — Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation — 5 minutes]

EXPENDITURE OF SITE AND JOB FUNDS AS A 50% MATCH ON A STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SITE ENHANCEMENT GRANT FOR THE EXTENSION OF NATURAL GRASS INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUFORT COMMERCE PARK, PENDING APPROVAL OF THE STATE GRANT AWARD.

YOU HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? SO MOVED.

I SECOND.

I SECOND, SECOND BY MR. GLOVER.

ALRIGHT, I'M JUST GONNA ABSOLUTELY, I'M GONNA HAND THIS OFF TO JOHN O'TOOLE, BUT THIS IS PART OF A STATE SITE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM THAT THEY OFFER STATEWIDE TO IMPROVE, UH, SITES.

THE REQUIREMENT BY OUR NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR SITE AND JOB FUND USAGE REQUIRES THAT IMPROVEMENT OF PROPERTIES REQUIRES COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVAL, SO TO GO TO COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S WHY JOHN'S HERE TO ASK FOR THE MONEY.

IT'S A 50% MATCH, SO IT ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE OUR DOLLARS DOUBLE BY USING STATE FUNDS.

BUT I'LL LEAVE THE REST TO JOHN AND BOTH THE NEXT TWO ITEMS GO TOGETHER.

THEY'RE BOTH THE SAME PARCEL.

ONE IS FOR THE GAS, ONE IS TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE PAD SITE.

PAD AS WE'RE PROPOSING TODAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.

UH, MR. CHAIR, CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, UH, THE LEGISLATURE, UH, UH, EARMARKED OR SET, UH, $80 MILLION ASIDE TO CREATE SHOVEL-READY SITES THROUGHOUT SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT'S FOR ACQUISITION, COMPLETING DUE DILIGENCE, UH, BUILDING OUT INFRASTRUCTURE, CLEARING AND GRADING OF SITES, AND DEVELOPING MASTER PLANS.

UH, THE IDEA IS, IS THAT OUR OTHER STATES ARE DOING THIS.

UH, I'LL READ YOU A QUOTE FROM FORMER CHAIR COUNTY COUNCIL AND, UH, UH, STATE REP, UH, WESTIN NEWTON.

WE KNOW THAT COMPANIES CAN GO ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO.

SO IF IT TAKES A LOT LONGER FOR AN INDUSTRY TO GET SET UP HERE, THEY WILL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

OUR STATE IS COMMITTED, UH, TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN A MAJOR WAY.

AND THE LEGISLATURE DO, WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO ENSURE WE ARE READY FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO MOVE AND EXPAND HERE.

WEST NEWTON.

SO WHAT WE, UH, HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE, UH, UH, WE HAVE DONE PAD SITES AND EX AND, AND, UH, TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM IN THE PAST.

IN FACT, UH, THE SECOND AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS A PAD SITE, WE'RE, UH, IT'LL BE ABOUT A $400,000 PROJECT, THE STATE WE ANTICIPATE.

AND WE WON'T SPEND A CENT UNLESS THE STATE IS OUR PARTNER IN BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS.

SO IT'S NOT, UH, OUR, OUR ONLY OUR DUE DILIGENCE THAT THIS IS A GOOD MOVE.

BUT TO GIVE YOU A SENSE, ON LOT DOUBLE AA, WHICH IS IN THE MAP YOU SEE IN YOUR PACKET, UH, BACK IN 2019, WE RECEIVED ONE OF THESE SITE ENHANCEMENT GRANTS, UH, FOR 200,000.

WE SPENT A ADDITIONAL 133,000 OUT OF THE SITE AND JOB FUND ACCOUNT.

UH, AS HANK MENTIONED TODAY, WE'RE FOLLOWING A NEW PROTOCOL, WHICH IS GREAT, WHICH GIVES YOU, UM, CLEAR VISION ON HOW WE'RE USING THESE FUNDS.

BUT WE SPENT $333,000 TO DO A, A A 25,000, UH, UH, SQUARE FOOT

[02:00:01]

RIGHT NOW, UH, THERE'S THIR A $35 MILLION INVESTMENT BEING PUT ON THAT PAD BY MASTERS CORP.

SO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, IS BASICALLY EARMARKING $80 MILLION TO ALLOW COUNTIES TO DO THIS ACROSS THE STATE.

UH, AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, ONE, MAKE SURE OUR SITES ARE READY FOR GROWTH.

AS WEST NEWTON SAID, WHEN THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION, THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION.

SO YOUR SITES HAVE TO BE READY.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET SOME OF THOSE STATE TAX DOLLARS TO FLOW BACK INTO BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, TO HELP US DO THAT.

AND I MIGHT ADD THAT ON THE, UM, ORANGE OF THE TWO, IT WOULD BE UP TO 200,000.

I ANTICIPATE WE MIGHT GET IN A GRANT TO ALL ANOTHER GRANT FROM ANOTHER SOURCE, UH, TO OFFSET A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF THAT.

SO, UH, THAT IS IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

UH, IN ORDER TO, UH, COMPETE, UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GAS IN THE PARK IN ORDER TO COMPETE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SITES READY TO GO.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.

I LIKE GO AHEAD.

YOU GO FIRST.

GO AHEAD, PAUL.

UM, JOHN, IT'S NICE TO YOU BACK HERE AGAIN.

UM, SO WE'RE A 50% MATCH.

SO YOU TAKE THE 65,000, THE 200,000, AND THAT'S 530 THOU 30 MILLION.

IS THAT, AM I GETTING THAT RIGHT? UM, NO.

NO, IT WOULDN'T BE MILLIONS AT ALL.

I WOULDN'T NEARLY GIVE HIM HALF A MILLION DOLLARS TO ENCOURAGE A BUSINESS TO LOCATE IN THE COMMERCE PARK.

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING? THERE ARE TWO.

BASICALLY WHAT WE WOULD DO IS RUN THE GAS LINE DOWN ONE STREET AND JUST TO DO THE MATH ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE A, FOR A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF, UH, IT'S THOUSAND SEVEN.

IT'S, YEAH, IT'S RIGHT IN RIGHT IN THERE.

65 TIMES TWO.

AND THEN THE OTHER, UH, EXPENDITURE IS 400,000 TOTAL.

UH, WE WOULD ONLY SPEND THIS IF THE STATE MATCHES HALF OF IT.

UM, WHY ISN'T THE COMPANY THAT'S COMING IN DOING, UH, UM, PAYING FOR THIS? WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR IT? IT'S, IT'S, WE, WE GET TO DO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN A STATE THAT'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL AT DOING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

IT RECOGNIZES THAT THE SITES HAVE TO BE READY.

IF YOU SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, AND WE DO SMALLER PROJECTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BECAUSE WE ARE, UH, VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE ENVIRONMENTS IMPORTANT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

BUT A SCOUT MOTORS, A BOEING, A BMW, UH, UH, EVEN EVEN THE, UM, WHAT WAS IT? THE, UH, FAILED PANTHERS DEAL.

A LOT OF TIMES MONEY IS SPENT AHEAD OF TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO PLANT SEED, THAT THE SOIL'S READY TO GO.

AND SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH SOUTH CAROLINA'S, UH, SUCCESS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S CONSISTENTLY RANKED AT ONE, TWO, OR THREE BEST STATES IN THE NATION TO DO BUSINESS.

SO THIS IS THEIR APPROACH.

UH, AND, AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO, UH, WE'LL ENGAGE IN THAT AND BE THE BENEFICIARY OF IT BY GETTING, UH, UH, UH, IN THIS CASE $265,000 IN STATE TAX TO HELP US MAKE THE SITES SHOVEL READY.

SO DO WE HAVE THE COMPANY ALREADY COMING HERE? WE ALREADY KNOW WHO THEY ARE IN.

WHAT ARE WE JUST DOING THIS, HOPING THAT SOMEONE'S GONNA COME TO THIS SITE? IT'S, IT'S SPECULATIVE.

OH YEAH.

IT'S SPECULATIVE.

UH, WITH ONE EXCEPTION, WE HAVE A COMPANY OUT OF NEW YORK, UH, SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING LOT D SO THAT GAS LINE WILL EXTEND DOWN SHORT ROAD, UH, AND, UH, UH, WE, THE COMPANIES RIGHT NOW BIDDING TO, TO SEE WHAT IT'S GONNA COST 'EM TO BUILD THAT FACILITY ON LOT D ON LOT K, WHICH IS ALONG THAT STRETCH AS WELL.

UH, WE HAVE A, UM, UH, UH, UH, THREE DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS LOOKING AT BUILDING A SPEC BUILDING THERE.

AND SO, UH, UH, ON THE PAD AND THE GAS LINE, WE PROBABLY HAVE A COMPANY THAT IS GOING TO BE INTRIGUED TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THESE THINGS.

DONATED BY SOMEBODY AND A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL.

SO WE'VE BEEN TO THIS CONVERSATION MANY TIMES, BUT, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO ME IS A COMPANY THAT I LIKE A, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE 'CAUSE I'M AN EXAMPLE TYPE PERSON.

SO A COMPANY CAME FROM NEW, SOMEONE THAT OWNED A COMPANY IN NEW YORK USED TO COME HERE ON VACATION TO HILTON HEAD, THIS IS MANY YEARS AGO.

AND HE LOVED THE AREA SO MUCH, HE BROUGHT HIS COMPANY HERE, BUT THE COUNTY DIDN'T PAY FOR ALL THIS STUFF FOR HIM TO COME HERE, THE GAS LINE OR WHATEVER.

THE LAND WAS

[02:05:01]

AND HE, HE BROUGHT HIS COMPANY HERE TO BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA AND CREATED A LOT OF JOBS.

I DON'T FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE GIVING MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE.

I MEAN, PUTTING THIS MONEY OUT UNLESS WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S ACTUALLY GONNA GO IN THERE AND CREATE JOBS.

IF, IF I MAY RESPOND.

AND YOU HAVE THE MAP UP, I BELIEVE YOU CAN SEE IT FROM WHERE YOU'RE SITTING ON LOT.

AA YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THAT WE, UH, WE SPENT 133,000 BUILDING A PAD THERE, JUST HALF OF WHAT THEY NEEDED.

SO, AND THEN TO CLEAN UP THE SITE, WE SPENT ANOTHER 20,000.

SO LET'S JUST SAY WE SPENT 153,000 ON LOT AA MM-HMM .

AND, UH, I HEARD YOUR CONVERSATIONS EARLIER WITH, UH, MR. WELLS ABOUT RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

SO YOU SPENT $153,000 ON LOT AA, AND TODAY SOMEBODY'S INVESTING $35 MILLION.

IF THAT DOESN'T PASS YOUR RETURN OF IN, UH, YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR RETURN OF INVESTMENT, THEN I WOULDN'T APPROVE THESE.

BUT IF THAT, IF THAT'S THE MODEL YOU'D LIKE TO FOLLOW, IF THAT'S THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S SUCCESSFUL MODEL, THEN WE'VE GOT A, A PRETTY GOOD DEAL IF THEY APPROVE THESE GRANTS.

MR. CHAIRMAN, WHEN SHE'S THROUGH, I'M FINISHED.

OH.

UM, WHERE, WHERE ARE THE, WHERE DOES THE GAS LINE END NOW? RIGHT NOW IT'S AT THE CORNER OF, UH, SHINE LOOP AND SHORT ROAD.

SO WE WOULD EXPECT TO EXTEND IT DOWN SHORT ROAD.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, SPEC BUILDINGS HAS BEEN A CONCERN, UH, AMONG COUNCIL.

PREVIOUSLY, UM, SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THEY HAVE BEEN QUESTIONED ABOUT SPEC BUILDINGS.

UM, AND COUNCIL, WHEN I FIRST GOT ON BOARD, DID NOT WANT TO INVEST IN SPEC BUILDINGS.

UM, SINCE COTON COUNTY, UM, HAD A SPEC BUILDING ON A PAD READY TO GO, UM, THE COMPANY CAME AND PROMISED 250 JOBS.

UM, THEY WANTED TO COME TO BEAUFORT, BUT BEAUFORT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR THEM AT THAT TIME.

UM, SINCE THAT TIME, THAT COMPANY IS ONLY, HAS EMPLOYED MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE THERE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF BUSINESS THAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET HERE IN BEAUFORD, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER THOSE COMPANIES.

THIS WILL GIVE, UM, MR. O'TOOLE AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, A SITE THAT THEY CAN MARKET.

AND PEOPLE WANTED TO COME TO BEAUFORT, THAT COMPANY THAT WENT TO CARLETON WANTED TO COME TO BEAUFORT, BUT BEAUFORT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER.

SO I SUPPORT A SPEC BUILDING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL FIND A COMPANY OR COMPANIES TO COME AND OCCUPY THOSE BUILDINGS IN BEAUFORT.

AND I, I THINK IN, UH, UH, FAIRNESS TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL PERSON, BROWN, THE PROFILE OF A BEAUFORT COUNTY INVESTOR IS EXACTLY WHAT, UH, COUNCIL PERSON BROWN HAS IDENTIFIED.

IT'S SOMEBODY WHO OWNS A COMPANY, AND THEN WHEN THEY NEED TO MOVE, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SITE PRETTY QUICKLY.

AS YOU SEE IN JASPER COUNTY, UH, WITH THE BUILDINGS, UH, MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET ARE BUILT THERE.

YOU'VE GOT LARGER COMPANIES, LARGELY DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES THAT WANT TO BE NEAR THE SAVANNAH PORT.

THEY HAVE SITE SELECTORS, THEY HAVE CORPORATE REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVES.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN STUDY THIS FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE THE DISCUSSION, BEFORE THE DECISION IS MADE.

THE PROFILE OF OUR INVESTORS IS EXACTLY AS BEEN DESCRIBED.

IT'S A CLOSELY HELD COMPANY THAT WHEN THEY NEED TO MOVE, THEY NEED TO FIND A SPACE QUICKLY.

AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT MRG UP ON THE MAP FROM, UH, UH, OUT OF NEW JERSEY, IF YOU LOOK AT, UH, UH, NORMAN CORP, THAT'S IN THE MAGNA SPEC BUILDING OUT OF TEXAS, THEY NEEDED TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH A LOT OF, UH, THINGS GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, TARIFFS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE HAVE A COMPANY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER THAT IS GONNA CONSOLIDATE OPERATIONS OUT OF CANADA, BRAZIL, AND ITALY TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO IF THE STATE WOULD PARTNER ON THIS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD BET.

IF THE STATE DOESN'T APPROVE THESE GRANTS, WE WOULDN'T SPEND A PENNY CHAIRMAN.

AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT BRINGING PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES, BUT LOOKING AT THE DATA, WE'RE NOT BRINGING IN HIGH PAYING JOBS.

SO, ON ITEM ON THE ED SITE SITE, THAT'S $200,744.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE SPEC BUILDING.

I I DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.

THIS IS DIRECT USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.

WE DON'T GIVE IT TO DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY WANNA MAKE A COMMUNITY.

[02:10:01]

WHERE ARE THEY A CLEANING COMPANY? AND SOME OF THESE OTHERS ARE NOT HIGH PAYING.

THEY'RE IN THE 40, IF YOU'RE LUCKY, 40,000.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING FOR HIGH PAYING JOBS.

LIKE FIRST THING ON OUR LIST IS AEROSPACE AND SOME OF THE OTHERS, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING IN.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THIS IS A GOOD INVESTMENT OF PUBLIC MONEY.

AND I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS.

IF, IF I MAY THOUGH.

I MEAN, YOU SIT ON OUR BOARD.

EVERY TIME WE'VE PUT UP OUR SCORECARD, WE SHOW YOU THE AVERAGE JOB.

RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE WE'RE, UH, JUST OVER 58,000 PER JOB.

AND THAT'S WITH SOME LOWER PAYING JOBS IN THE BLEND.

UH, BUT, UH, WE, UH, WE, UH, JUST SINCE JANUARY, OUR AVERAGE JOB HAS GONE UP $6,000 ON AVERAGE.

THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE OVER EIGHT YEARS.

SO WE, UH, WE WERE PUT IN PLACE TO DIVERSIFY BUFORT COUNTY'S ECONOMY.

UH, IF YOU LOOK AT, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ATTENDED OUR, OUR PROSPERITY AND PRACTICE, BUT WE HAD, UH, GREG ROBINSON HERE WHO DOES ECONOMIC, UH, GREW UP ON HILTON HEAD, DOES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VERY SUCCESSFULLY, HAD DONE IT IN ORANGEBURG, NOW IN FLORENCE, UH, FOLLOWS THIS MODEL AND IS CREATING A GOOD HIGH PAYING JOB.

THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.

UM, I, I WILL BE HONEST, I'D SHARE THE SAME CONCERNS.

I, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY BUILT A PRODUCT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

WE HAVE PORTS COMING, WE BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY BRINGING PEOPLE HERE.

UM, 260 SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS TO ENHANCE THIS SITE.

I GUESS MY, MY ONE QUESTION WOULD BE THE GAS LINE, IS IT GONNA FILL THE ENTIRE PROPERTY? IT WOULD RUN DOWN THE STREET AND SERVE MANY LOTS.

NOT ONE PROPERTY.

AND I'M SAYING THE ENTIRE NO, THE WHITE, THE WHITE LINE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

WHAT'S WHAT? NO, IT WOULDN'T, IT WOULDN'T COME UP, UH, UH, SCHWARTZ ROAD.

SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHY WOULDN'T WE JUST DO THIS ALL THAT ONE TIME IF WE WERE GONNA DO IT? BE BECAUSE WE, UH, THE STATE HAS $80 MILLION, I BELIEVE THEY'VE RECEIVED 300, UH, APPLICATIONS.

AND SO WE TRY TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE STATE THROUGH EACH SUCCESSIVE, UH, A GRANT CYCLE TO PUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE DIGESTIBLE, COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED.

UH, AND SO WHAT WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T PUT IN FOR THE WHOLE PARK AND COULD DO THAT IN A SUBSEQUENT ROUND.

IF I, IF I COULD JUST UNDERSCORE IT.

THINK ABOUT LOT AA THOUGH.

I, AND IT MAY NOT BE, AND I UNDERSTAND IF YOU'RE A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, BUT IF YOU COULD PUT $153,000 OF YOUR OWN MONEY INTO A PROJECT AND CREATE A, UH, A $35 MILLION, UH, TAXABLE PROPERTY, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE COMPETING WITH.

NOT JUST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT IN GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, TEXAS, WHEREVER.

I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION.

UM, THE GARDENS CORNER PROJECT, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR THAT ONE? THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BE 125,000.

AND IT'S AEROSPACE LOGISTICS.

HOW MANY JOBS ARE THOSE? 35.

AND HOW MUCH DID WE INVEST IN 200,000? THIS EXISTING BUILDING MM-HMM.

AS EXIST EXISTING SITE AND BUILDING? YES.

RENOVATION.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR, OH, SORRY.

SPEAKING OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OVER THE PAST 12, 15 YEARS, UH, PRIOR TO JOHN COMING IN, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT ACTUALLY, UH, UNQUOTE MET WHAT WE CALL, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STATUS AS FAR AS, UH, PAYING JOBS.

AND SO THE CONSULATE AT THAT TIME, UH, EMBARKED UPON, UH, BRINGING IN PAY STEPS IN THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

AND THEN WE, UH, UH, ALICE, I DON'T THINK YOU WERE ON BOARD AT THEN AT THE TIME, BUT, UH, AND THEN WE, UH, BOARD THEN, UH, HIRED JOHN AS A DIRECTOR THAT WAS JUST, JUST CAME ON WHEN HE WAS HIRED.

INTO, INTO SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT'S HOW, HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.

AND SO WE HAVE MADE VAST IMPROVEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FRONT PRIOR TO WHERE WE WERE, UH, OF JOHN AND THE, AND THE CORPORATION BEING STOOD UP.

AND SO IT'S, JOHN HAS SAID IT, AND WE'VE SEEN IT WORK OVER THE YEARS.

IN ORDER FOR US TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES HERE IN BEAUFORD COUNTY, WE GOT TO HAVE A SITE THAT'S READY.

THAT'S WHAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PRACTICE THAT'S IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT CHARLESTON COUNTY, WHEN WE LOOK AT GREENFIELD AND SOME OTHER COUNTIES UPSTATE WHO ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING INDUSTRIES INTERVIEW

[02:15:01]

AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

WE'RE TRYING TO PLAY CATCH UP.

AND SO FOR US TO SAY THAT JOHN'S NOT DOING A, A GOOD JOB, OR HE'S NOT BRINGING QUALIFIED BUSINESS INTO THE COUNTY.

I, I, I THINK THAT'S THE STATEMENT.

OH, JOHN, MR. PASSMAN.

UM, THESE TWO GO TOGETHER, THE $80 MILLION FROM THE STATE, WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST ALL KINDS OF, UM, LAND THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL SITES.

A 25,000 SQUARE FOOT PAD, I'M NOT SURE IS ENOUGH SPACE FOR AN INDUSTRIAL SITE.

I KNOW YOU'VE SAID, JOHN, THIS IS A NO LOSS FOR US.

THIS IS JUST MOVING AHEAD DOING CERTAIN THINGS, BUT I'M NOT SURE WE'RE COMPETITIVE ON THE INDUSTRIAL PART.

THE, UH, COMPANY THAT WE ARE, UH, PORTING, FORT LOT D IS A, UH, INCUMBENT COMPANY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UH, BUT THEY WOULD BE LOOKING TO MOVE OPERATIONS FROM NEW YORK TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY AN INDUSTRIAL PROSPECT.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S, YOU JUST SAID LOT D WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOT AA RIGHT.

LOT AA IS A SERVICE COMPANY THAT'S INVESTING $35 MILLION.

HOW MANY LOTS AVAILABLE ARE ALREADY READY TO BE BUILT ON, ON THAT PAD? ON IN THAT PARK.

IN THAT PARK? HOW MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY WITH GAS THAT ARE NOT BUILT ON, UH, THAT ARE STILL AVAILABLE? ONE, ONE WITHOUT GAS.

THEY'VE INVESTED $35 MILLION THERE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU.

SO, ONE CLARIFICATION, YOU ALREADY HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO COME TO AA LOT AA THEY'RE, THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO, UH, UH, OPEN THE OPERATION UP.

I I HOPE THIS IS CLEAR AND YOU CAN DRIVE.

I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANYONE THROUGH THE PARK, BUT THERE IS A COMPANY THAT'S, UH, JUST ABOUT TO CLOSE IN THE BUILDING AND, AND BE, BEGIN TO HIRE, UH, OVER 160 EMPLOYEES AT LOT AA SO THERE IS A PAD THERE NOW.

IT, IT'S, THERE'S A PAD, THERE'S A STRUCTURE ON TOP OF IT.

UH, THE MACHINERY'S IN THE BUILDING AND THEY'RE READY TO HIRE.

SO THE, THE, THE SITE MAP, THE ONE IN THE BACK IS THE ONE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE PAD THAT'S IN THE FRONT.

THEN IT'S A DUPLICATION OF WHAT WAS DONE AT LOT AA WE WOULD DO AT LOT D OH LOT D WHICH IS NOT NEXT TO THAT ONE.

NO, IT'S DOWN THE STREET.

UH, SARAH, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE FOR THIS FIRST ONE? COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? NO.

CHAIR HOWARD? YES.

VICE CHAIR.

TABER? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN? NO.

COMMITTEE.

VICE CHAIR CUNNINGHAM? NO.

THE MOTION FAILS.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL

[8.f. A Resolution approving a proposed Beaufort County Economic Development Corp. expenditure of Site & Jobs funds as a 50% match on a State Dept. of Commerce Site Enhancement Grant in order to construct & permit a pad site in the Beaufort Commerce Park, pending approval of the State grant award. (FISCAL IMPACT: $200,744 from Site & Jobs Fund - Acct# 1010-10-0000-55240 Current Balance $2,920,716) - John O'Toole - BCEDC Executive Director - 5 minutes]

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

A RESOLUTION, APPROVAL OF PROPOSED BEFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

EXPENDITURE OF SITE AND FUNDS AS A 50% MATCH ON A STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SITE ENHANCEMENT GRANT IN ORDER TO CONSTRUCT AND PERMIT A PAD SITE IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMERCE PARK PENDING APPROVAL OF STATE GRANT AWARD.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? A MOTION? ALL A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND.

SECOND IN.

DO WE NEED ANY MORE DISCUSSION? NO.

WE, THESE KIND OF GO HAND IN HAND.

UM, TAKE A ROLL CALL AGAIN.

SARAH, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

ON ONE SECOND.

MR. CHAIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT MOTION TO RECOMMEND A, THE MOTION BEFORE ON THE LAST ITEM WAS RECOMMENDING TO COUNSEL YES.

THAT IT NOT BE APPROVED.

MM-HMM.

SO IT'S GOING TO COUNSEL, THEY'LL GONNA COUNSEL.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? YES.

CORRECT THIS ONE AS WELL.

WILL BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS WILL GO TO COUNCIL? IT'S JUST GONNA GO TO COUNCIL WITH THE VOTING RECORDS SHOWING WHAT CAME OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE MEETING.

CORRECT? CORRECT.

I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A LOT MORE DISCUSSIONS.

I'M SURE THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL.

AND I'M SURE MR. O'TOOLE ALSO CAN GIVE US SOME MORE OF THE INFORMATION THAT MR. PASSMAN BROUGHT UP, UM, FOR DISCUSSION.

COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, WHAT DO WE VOTE? I'M SORRY.

YOU EARNED THE 200,000 NO.

F NO.

OH, I'M SORRY.

NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? YES.

[02:20:01]

CHAIR HOWARD? YES.

VICE CHAIR TABER? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN? NO.

COMMITTEE.

VICE CHAIR CUNNINGHAM? NO.

THE MOTION FAILS.

AND AS YOU JUST STATED, BOTH OF THOSE WILL STILL GO TO COUNTY COUNCIL ON THE NOVEMBER MEETING, UM, FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.

IT'S JUST GONNA HAVE THE VOTING RECORD FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO IT.

MM-HMM

[8.g. A Resolution to approve recommendations to award FY26 Community Services Grant Program funds in the amount of $398,000 to community service organizations (FISCAL IMPACT: Council appropriated $398,000 in its FY2026 budget for the annual Community Services Grants Program (Public Welfare Subsidies 1000-50-1598-55000)) - Ben Boswell, Director, Human Services Department - 5 Minutes]

WE'LL MOVE ON TO GA RESOLUTION TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO AWARD FY 26 COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS THE AMOUNT WITH 398,000 TO COMMUNITY SERVICE PER ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR.

SO MOVE.

AND A SECOND PLEASE.

SECOND THAT.

MS. BROWN WITH A SECOND.

HI, HOW ARE YOU? HEY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

DOING WELL AND WELL.

MR. BOSWELL, CORRECT? YES.

UH, DIRECTOR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES.

UM, WE ADMINISTRATE THIS PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF COUNTY COUNCIL.

UH, THIS IS FOR $398,000 THAT ARE PUT ASIDE IN A PUBLIC WELFARE ACCOUNT.

UM, THE ACCOUNT NUMBER HAS BEEN PROVIDED ON THE, UH, UH, AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY.

UM, THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE EVERY YEAR, UM, AND IT'S BEEN 398,000 I THINK SINCE 2018.

UM, AND SO ON BEHALF OF, OF, UH, OF COUNCIL, WE ACCEPT APPLICATIONS.

WE ACCEPTED 53 APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR WITH TOTAL, UH, REQUESTS, UH, EXCEEDING THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

UM, AND SO WITH ONLY, UH, $308,000, UH, TO DISTRIBUTE, UH, OUR COMMITTEE, UH, HAD TO LIKE, MAKE A LOT OF DIFFICULT CHOICES.

SO, UM, BUT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED IN THE RESOLUTION.

OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTIONS.

SO I'M GONNA MAKE COMMENT, THEN I'M GONNA NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE I SERVE ON THE BOARD OF ONE OF YOUR GRANTEES.

BUT MY COMMENT IS I QUESTION WHY WE ARE SETTING ASIDE ALMOST $400,000.

I KNOW THIS STARTED IN 2013, BUT I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REVISIT THIS PROGRAM.

WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHERE TAXPAYERS COULD DONATE ON THEIR OWN, FOR EXAMPLE, SECOND HELPING.

SO I'M JUST MAKING THAT ONE UP.

THAT'S UP TO THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE TO DONATE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THEY PAY PROPERTY TAX TO TELL COUNTY TO DECIDE HOW TO DONATE TO NONPROFITS.

SO THAT'S MY COMMENT.

AND THEN I RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE I'M ON STATE.

I'D LIKE TO CON, MAKE A CONTRARY, UM, COMMENT.

THESE GROUPS I GIVE TO SOME OF THESE GROUPS PERSONALLY.

KAPPA, UM, SALVATION ARMY, UH, SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT IS UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS BARELY GET BY SOMETIMES.

THIS SYSTEM WAS SET UP MANY YEARS AGO, UM, BY FRED LITA AND OTHERS TO BRING THESE GROUPS TOGETHER SO THAT THEY DON'T GO INDIVIDUALLY TO COUNCIL MEMBERS TRYING TO GET MONEY COUNTY FUNDS.

I, I'D RATHER SEE IT INCREASE, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

'CAUSE THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN DO AND THE COUNTY CAN'T DO 'EM.

UM, THE COUNTY CANNOT ADMINISTER A PROGRAM LIKE HOPEFUL HORIZONS, WHICH HELPS SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN.

UM, AND I THINK IT'S OUR DUTY TO HELP THEM WHEN WE CAN.

THEY ALSO APPLY FOR STATE FUNDS AND GET STATE MATCHING DOLLARS.

THEY ALSO APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM OTHER GROUPS AND, UM, THEY DO, THEY DO THE WORK.

THE, THE GOOD WORK THAT THE COUNTY CAN'T PICK UP THESE SERVICES.

THAT'S MY ONLY STATEMENT.

MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.

UH, I'M AFFILIATED, AFFILIATED WITH ONE OF THE GROUPS.

I NEED TO RECU WITHDRAW MY SECOND MOTION.

I MADE A MOTION.

WITHDRAW AND REUSE, SIR.

YES, SIR.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND FROM SOMEBODY ELSE TO PUT THIS BACK ON THE FLOOR FOR THIS FIRST SECOND? I SECOND.

THIS IS THE FIRST.

WE NEED ANOTHER FIRST.

OH, HE WAS THE FIRST.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU CAN SAY YOU HAVE A CONFLICT WITH AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION.

SO YOU EXCLUDE THAT ORGANIZATION AS OPPOSED TO ALL OF THEM.

I I'M WITH THEM TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST.

, I'M ACCUSING ALL THAT.

SO WE, WE NEED A FIRST TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR THEN ANOTHER SECOND SINCE HE HAD TO WITHDRAWS FIRST.

SO WILL YOU WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND FIRST OFF? ALL FIRST? OKAY.

I'LL FIRST.

WILL YOU WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND? OKAY.

I'LL WITHDRAW MY SECOND AND THEN I'LL MOTIONS.

AND THEN DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.

OH, YOU, YOU NEED A QUORUM TO VOTE.

ALRIGHT, BACK ON THE FLOOR.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I, I MEAN, I, I'VE ALREADY SAID MY PIECE.

THESE, THESE ORGANIZATIONS DO THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN DO OR, OR IS DOING OR THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE TO PICK IT UP IF, UM, IF, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY'RE NONPROFITS.

SO THAT'S MY ONLY STATEMENT.

I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION AND MAYBE IT'S EDUCATION FOR ME.

UM, THESE ORGANIZATIONS, ARE THEY ALLOWED TO APPLY, APPLY TO ANY OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS? GIVE AN EXAMPLE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

I MEAN, DO ANY OF 'EM APPLY? UH, QUALIFY FOR ANY OF LIKE OUR YOU'RE BELOW QUORUM RIGHT NOW? YEAH, I THE RECUSAL TO FORM.

[02:25:02]

WE DON'T HAVE A QUORUM NO.

TO TAG IN .

HE'S NOT A MEMBER.

YOU'RE NOT ON THE COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE.

OH, YOU MEAN, YOU MEAN YOU NEED A QUO ONE, THE COMMITTEE.

WE NEED THIS MM-HMM .

PLUS TWO MEMBERS OF THE FOUR THAT WE HAD.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

THAT THEY'VE RECUSED THEMSELVES.

YEAH, BUT I DIDN'T THINK YOU LOSE THE VOTE, JOSEPH.

YOU, YOU'VE FALLEN BELOW QUORUM SO YOU CAN'T ACT ON THIS ITEM.

UM, THAT, THAT'S WHY I MADE THE POINT THAT YOU COULD RECUSE YOURSELF FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION, NOT FOR THE ENTIRE LIST.

UM, AS A OFFER OF THE MOTION, I LIKE TO, UM, WITHDRAW MY MOTION.

AND IF YOU ALLOW ME, MR. CHAIRMAN, I CAN MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

UM, WHICH IS TO EXCLUDE.

YOU CAN TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

SAY AGAIN? YOU CAN TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ITEM YOU BLOW FOR.

UH, LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IF HE REMOVES HIS FIRST AND HIS SECOND, IT'S NO LOWER ON THE FLOOR.

LEMME FINISH.

CAN WE TAKE A MOTION TO REMOVE IT FROM THE AGENDA AND PUT IT ONTO THE NEXT TWO, UH, UH, COMMUNITY SERVICES MEETING? NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM BECAUSE YOU'RE BELOW QUORUM.

BUT THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE WILL BE THAT IT WILL ROLL FORWARD TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN THEY'RE NOT FORWARD TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING.

BRIAN.

OH, IF THEY WITHDRAW THE MOTION, THEN IT'S NOT ON THE FLOOR, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE BACK ON AND THEN THEY THEY'VE RECUSED THEMSELVES THOUGH.

FROM THIS ITEM AND TAKING ACTION TO APPROVE IT, BUT NOT TO MOVE IT TO ANY ACTION ON THIS ITEM.

THEY CAN'T TAKE NO MOTION.

THEY ARE CONFLICTED OUT FROM THIS BASED UPON THEIR DECLARATION.

THEY HAVE A CONFLICT AND THEY'VE RECUSED THEMSELVES.

SO YOU ONLY HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE ACTUAL COMMITTEE TO MAKE UP THE A QUORUM.

YOU NEED THREE.

SO YOU BELOW A QUORUM.

SO YOU CAN'T ACT ON THIS.

SO IT'LL JUST NATURALLY FLOW TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE ITEM.

UNLESS THE CHAIR CHOSE TO PUT IT ON COUNCIL'S, UH, AGENDA WITHOUT GOING TO COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD BE AGAINST.

I WILL NOT DO THAT.

ALRIGHT, ITEM G.

WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TO OUR NEXT, UM, FINANCE ADMINISTRATION MEETING THEN.

BUT, BUT MR. CHAIRMAN, IF YOU DO THAT, UM, YOU GOT THREE ME TWO MEMBERS ALREADY, UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME THAT MR. LAWSON WOULD BE HERE THEN WE WOULD MEET THE THRESHOLD FOR PRESUMING HE DOESN'T RECUSE HIMSELF.

WHICH IS WHY I WOULD INVITE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE POINT THAT I MADE THAT YOU CAN RECUSE YOURSELF TO AN INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION AND NOT VOTE ON THE GRANT TO THAT ORGANIZATION.

BUT YOU CAN STILL VOTE ON ALL THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THEN WE'D HAVE TO TAKE 'EM INDIVIDUALLY.

YOU COULD JUST MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE WAS, THAT YOU'RE NOT VOTING ON THIS ORGANIZATION IS ALL YOU WOULD'VE TO SAY.

SO YOUR VOTE WOULD APPLY TO ALL THE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AS OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT YOU CONFLICTED OUT ON.

WHAT'S THE TIMEFRAME THAT YOU WOULD NEED THIS FOR? THE, I MEAN, DEPENDS ON HOW SOON YOU WANNA GET THE GRANTS OUT.

THE AGENCIES.

UM, THE NEXT STEP, UH, UPON APPROVAL AFTER COUNCIL APPROVAL, WE SEND THAT AGREEMENTS TO THE AGENCIES ASSIGNED.

UM, I MEAN IT WOULD JUST KNOCK IT DOWN A MONTH OR TWO.

UM, I'LL BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, YOU HAD A CHANCE OF THIS NOT MAKING IT TO COUNTY COU OR PASSING APPROVAL TODAY ANYWAYS, UM, IT IS GONNA MOVE FORWARD TO GG IS GONNA MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT FINANCE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING.

UM, IN NOVEMBER.

DO WE HAVE THE DATE ON THAT, SARAH? OKAY.

17, 17TH.

UM, WITH THE HOPE THAT MR. LAWSON WILL BE HERE FOR THAT.

SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO MEET QUORUM.

WE MOVE ON BACK TO, TO H UM, AUTHORIZATION TO CREATE A PURCHASE ORDER FOR MAINTENANCE ON MD UH, DASH 500 MOSQUITO CONTROL.

THANK YOU SIR.

ALRIGHT,

[8.h. Authorization to create a purchase order for maintenance on MD-500 Mosquito Control Helicopter. (FISCAL IMPACT: Quoted prices are $289,033.02 to be paid from 1000-40-1400-51120 Equipment Maintenance account with a balance of $321,227.29.) - John Robinson Public Safety ACA, Robert Cartner Mosquito Control Director 3 min]

HELICOPTER.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? A MOTION AND A SECOND PLEASE.

I'LL SECOND IT.

ALL RIGHTY.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION MR. ROBINSON? I KNOW WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE IN THE PAST.

ONLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THIS IS, UM, THIS IS A SIMPLE, UH, MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.

UH, MAINTENANCE CONTRACT BY WAY OF A PURCHASE ORDER.

UH, BECAUSE IT, IT EXCEEDS UH, ADMINISTRATOR COMMITTEE HAS TO GO TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

HOW OLD IS THIS HELICOPTER .

I KNOW WE PURCHASED IT IN 1995.

HOW OLD IS IT RON? 9 5 19 80.

1985.

SO IT'S 1980? YES.

IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR AIRCRAFT TO LAST MANY, MANY YEARS 'CAUSE THEY REQUIRE LOTS AND LOTS OF MAINTENANCE.

DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTION FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNSEL? HE IS CORRECT.

IT DOES MEET THE THRESHOLD THAT NEEDS APPROVAL.