[00:00:01]
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
AND ARE WE MAKING MOTIONS ON THAT? DO WE HAVE A QUORUM TO DO THAT? YES, WE DO, SIR.
[2. Adoption of the Agenda]
AT THIS TIME I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA THAT WE HAVE SET BEFORE US.ALL IN FAVOR? A GOOD UNANIMOUS.
[3. Approval of the Minutes]
UH, SOME MINUTES, UH, FROM OUR REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST THE FOURTH, 2025.THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS, UH, OBSERVATIONS AT ENTERTAINER.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR OUR AUGUST 4TH MEETING.
[4. Staff Report]
MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR STAFF REPORT.UH, FIRST ON ITEM WE HAVE UNDER THE STAFF REPORT IS OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PERMITTING AND DESIGN STUDIO REPORT BY VERONICA STEWART.
SO VERONICA STEWART, FOR THE RECORD.
UM, FROM OUR LAST REPORTING PERIOD, UM, WELL, LET ME TAKE IT BACK.
OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PERMITTING AND DESIGN STUDIO OFFERS A WHOLE HOST OF, UM, SERVICES FOR THOSE WITHIN OUR HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, IT INCLUDES EVERYTHING FROM ASSISTANCE WITH BUSINESS LICENSING ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO CONCEPTUAL SITE PLANNING.
UM, FROM OUR LAST REPORTING PERIOD IN AUGUST OF 2025, THERE WERE ABOUT SEVEN NEW REQUESTS.
UM, ONE THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IN THIS REPORTING PERIOD IS THE INFLUX OF FAMILY COMPOUND, UM, APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS.
UM, WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF ABOUT THREE FAMILY COMPOUNDS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH SINCE OUR LAST, UM, MEETING, AS WELL AS TWO FAMILY SUBDIVISIONS AND ABOUT, UM, THREE SMALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEWS.
I WILL SHARE WITH YOU ALL AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF ABOUT 20 REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF 2025 THROUGH THE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PERMITTING AND DESIGN STUDIO.
EIGHT OF THOSE 20 HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND WE HAVE ROUGHLY 12 ACTIVE PROJECTS TO DATE.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
MR. SIMMONS, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I'M NOT SURE THIS IS THE SPOT WHERE I MAY WELL ASK THIS QUESTION, BUT IT'S THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION.
IF I RECALL, THE PROPERTY HAS TO BE IN THE FAMILY FOR, SINCE I THINK THE, THE, THE YEAR, THE, LIKE 1956 THAT'S ON THE APPLICATION.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS IF, UH, A FAMILY MEMBER WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME REQUIRES A PIECE OF PROPERTY? CAN YOU CLARIFY THE QUESTION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER? SORRY.
I'VE COME TO TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF THE PROPERTY IS NOT A CONTI, IF IT'S NOT CONTINUOUS BY ONE FAMILY MEMBER OR A SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE FAMILY.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, MY FAMILY HAS PROPERTY, AND IT MAY BE IN MY RELATIVE, THE CHISHOLM'S WHO ARE FOURTH, FIFTH COUSINS, BUT WE'RE COUSINS.
SO IF I BUY A PIECE OF PROPERTY FROM THAT FAMILY, WE'RE STILL FAMILY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PROPERTY CHANGES FROM THAT SIDE OF MY FAMILY TO THE SEMI SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
WE LOSE THE, UH, THE, THE, THE RIGHT TO USE THE FAMILY COMPOUND STATUS.
I WILL DEEM THAT THE TWO OF YOU ALL ARE FAMILY IN SOME CAPACITY.
ONE MAIN THING FOR BOTH APPLICATIONS, FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION IS WE REQUEST PRETTY MUCH I ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS WITH GETTING DEEDS ALL THE WAY BACK, UM, TO LIKE 1956 TO KIND OF SHOW THAT, UM, LINEAGE IN SOME CAPACITY.
UM, AS WELL AS A WRITTEN NARRATIVE GENERALLY GOES ALONG WITH BOTH, UM, APPLICATIONS SO THAT WE CAN THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN, LIKE, LET'S SAY IT WAS YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS PRIOR TO 1956, AND MAYBE IN 72 IT CAME OVER TO YOU.
WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD PULL THOSE DEEDS AND SHOW THAT LINEAGE TRACED ALL THE WAY TO YOU TO DETERMINE, UM, ACCEPTANCE THROUGH THE FAMILY
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COMPOUND FAMILY SUBDIVISION APPLICATION.SO DOES THAT MEAN I WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE FAMILY STATUS OR NOT? I WOULD SAY YOU WOULD IF THAT'S PART OF YOUR FAMILY.
UM, OF COURSE EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE, UM, AND WE DIG THROUGH EACH IN RESPECTS TO WHO THAT FAMILY IS AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE.
MAY I ASK, MAY I ASK A FOLLOW UP ON THAT? AND THIS ONE QUESTION WOULD BE, ONE QUESTION WOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROCESS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE COMPARISON, THE TWO PARCELS, IS THAT, IS THAT A WRITTEN PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN KIND OF STARTED, PUT INTO SOME FORM THAT ANYBODY CAN REFER TO IT? LET'S SAY YOU'RE NOT HERE.
IS THAT, IS THAT, IS THAT A PROCESS THAT'S WRITTEN AS, AS A METHOD FOR DOING ONE REMOVAL? ABSOLUTELY.
SO, UM, A PART OF THE FAMILY COMPOUND AND FAMILY SUBDIVISION APPLICATIONS, THE FIRST THING IS USUALLY YOU HAVE TO SHOW DEED REFERENCE.
UM, ANOTHER THING IS THE INFORMATION IS ALSO DETAILED IN OUR LMO.
UH, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE THE, UH, LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE UPDATE BY MS. SHAY FARRA.
GOOD AFTERNOON TASKERS MEMBERS.
UM, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH THE LMO UPDATE.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE CONTINUE WITH INITIAL DRAFTING OF THE DIFFERENT MODULES.
UM, IT'S BEING COORDINATED WITH THE DISTRICT PLANNING PROJECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
UM, ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, THE LMO TASK FORCE WAS CREATED BY TOWN COUNCIL, UM, WHO WILL APPOINT THE MEMBERS, WHICH WILL BE OUR PUBLIC FORUM FOR REVIEW OF THE, UM, OF THE NEW LMO.
THE TASK FORCE WILL PROVIDE A STRUCTURED FORUM FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TECHNICAL EXPERTS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CON CONTRIBUTE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PERSPECTIVES.
UM, THE TASK FORCE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO TOWN STAFF, THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND TOWN COUNCIL, ENSURING THAT ORDINANCE REVISIONS STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN COMMUNITY, CHARACTER, ECONOMIC VITALITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.
UM, THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE WILL TOTAL 23.
IT WILL BE MADE UP OF THREE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOUR CHAIRPERSONS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, THE TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS THE, UM, CDC.
UM, IT WILL HAVE SIX REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, HILTON HEAD AREA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, HILTON HEAD AREA REALTORS, THE SHORT TERM RENTAL INDUSTRY, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, AND THE WORKFORCE HOUSING SECTOR.
THE REGIONAL MANAGERS ARE EQUIVALENT POSITIONS REPRESENTING HILTON HEAD'S, PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS AND RESORTS, FIVE RESIDENTS OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND THE TOWN MANAGER AND DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER WILL SERVE AS EX OFFICIO NON-VOTING MEMBERS.
UM, IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE UM, LMO WILL GO THROUGH THIS, UM, TASK FORCE AS THE PUBLIC PROCESS AND WE ANTICIPATE ADOPTION, UM, BY THE MIDDLE OF 2026 AT THIS TIME.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.
YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM THE S YES, SIR.
AND THEN YOU TAKE RE UH, REPRESENTATION FROM RESIDENTS.
IS IT THERE ANY THOUGHT THAT THOSE RESIDENTS WILL BE BEING CHOSEN FROM PDDS OR FROM OUTSIDE OF THE PDDS? UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE DETAILS.
TOWN COUNCIL WILL MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO RELAY ANY INFORMATION TO THEM.
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC REQUESTS.
THIS CONCERN WOULD BE IF THE S ARE BEING REPRESENTED AND YOU WOULD CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTS BEING REPRESENTED THAT ARE NOT IN THE PUDS.
UH, YOU SAID THAT THE TASK FORCE BE MADE UP OF 23 MEMBERS? WELL, THE, I BELIEVE I TOTALED IT CORRECTLY.
IS THERE, WELL, YOU HAVE THE TOWN MANAGER AND, UH, DEPUTY TOWN MANAGER ON TOP OF THAT ONE, KIND OF 59 OF AS FAR AS THAT, YEAH.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR SHARE? I DO.
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SO WITH THE TOTAL AMOUNT, AND YOU SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE REPRESENTATION FROM THE TASK FORCE AS WELL AND FROM THE CDC, IS THAT ONE PERSON? IT IS THE CHAIRPERSON.SO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS ARE THAT YOU LISTED WOULD BE THE CHAIR THAT'S COMING FROM THOSE AREAS? YES, SIR.
THE CHAIRPERSONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, THE TASK FORCE AND THE CDC.
YOU'RE STILL WITH US
UM, FOR THE DISTRICT PROJECT, WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT WE WILL HAVE, UM, COMPLETE INITIAL DRAFTS OF ALL THE DISTRICT PLANS BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
UM, THEY WILL BEGIN A PUBLIC PROCESS, UH, IN DECEMBER WHEN WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP, UM, FOR THE DISTRICTS.
AND I BELIEVE THE LMO WILL ALSO BE A PORTION OF THAT.
UM, AFTER THE WORKSHOP IN DECEMBER, UH, WE WILL BEGIN THE FORMAL ADOPTION PROCESS.
IT WILL COME THROUGH THE BOARDS, INCLUDING THE GULLAH GEECHEE TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, SO WE'LL HAVE, UH, MORE TO COME ON THE DISTRICT'S, UM, BEGINNING IN 2026 QUESTIONS.
UM, I SHOULD ASK IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN OUR PUBLIC THAT HAS QUESTIONS ON, UH, THESE FIRST THREE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED AS FAR AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD PERMITTING AND DESIGN STUDIO, OR THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE OR DISTRICT PLANNING UPDATE.
[5. Discussion Items]
IS A DISCUSSION ITEM.UH, WE HAVE A LAND PRESERVATION UPDATE BY LUANA GRAYS SELLER WITH LOW LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIR, AND, UH, COMMITTEE.
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU, UM, SOME OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, UM, WITH THE, HERE WE GO, UM, WITH THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH AND OUR, UM, IMPACT ON OUR AREA.
UM, SO I PUT TOGETHER A REPORT HERE, UH, WHICH I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS.
SO WITH THIS YEAR, WITH THE DELINQUENT TAX DISTRIBUTIONS, UM, WE HAD REALLY OUR BIGGEST YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD, UM, AS FAR AS NEED IS CONCERNED AND EXPENDITURE IS CONCERNED.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, THROUGH THIS CHART HERE, HILTON HEAD, THERE WAS A 45% NEED THAT WE PROVIDED, UM, FOLLOWED BY BUFORT, UM, OR NORTH OF THE BROAD, SO TO SPEAK, UM, BLUFFTON.
AND, UH, WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP THAT WE PROVIDED IN SAVANNAH, UM, FOR, FOR SOME FAMILIES.
UM, THIS YEAR, AS IN EVERY YEAR, WE DO PUT ON THE WORKSHOPS, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE DID TWO WITH THE CENTER FOR HES PROPERTY, UM, ONE WITH THE, UM, COUNTY TREASURER, UH, WITH A Q AND A ONE WITH, UH, THE HERITAGE LIBRARY ON GENEALOGY.
UM, THIS YEAR WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF WILL CLINICS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING.
UM, AND I MADE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS THE FLYER HERE THAT I'M SHOWING YOU.
UM, WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE A GRANT TO DO 225 FREE WILLS IN THE NEXT YEAR.
SO, UM, WE HAVE REALLY BUMPED UP THE, THE AMOUNT OF WILL CLINICS THAT WE CAN OFFER PEOPLE.
UM, WE'VE DONE, UH, THREE SO FAR.
WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT ARE COMING UP IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR, BETWEEN JANUARY AND SEPTEMBER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO TRY AND, UM, MEET THAT NUMBER.
UM, I AM OBVIOUSLY FOCUSED ON HILTON HEAD, SO MAKING SURE THAT AS MANY PEOPLE FROM HILTON HEAD
[00:15:01]
CAN GET THE, THE WILLS THAT WE CAN OFFER.UM, BUT THE, THE GRANT IS OPEN TO HAMPTON COUNTY AND, UM, UH, JASPER COUNTY AND COLLETON COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE WORKSHOP, UH, TOPICS THAT WE DID THIS YEAR, WE ALSO ADDED SUCCESSION PLANNING, UM, WITH TRUSTS AND LLCS.
UM, 18 PEOPLE CAME OUT FOR THAT, WHICH, WHICH IS A VERY GOOD NUMBER FOR US.
AND, UM, WE HAVE, UH, ANOTHER GRANT WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WITH EITHER A LOW BONO OR, UM, FREE TRUST LLC.
SO WE'RE ALSO HELPING PEOPLE IN MAKING SURE THAT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN IT, THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET IT DONE AND GET IT PAID FOR.
SO THAT, THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING NEW THAT WE'VE ADDED TO OUR, UM, OUR, UM, OFFERINGS.
UM, THIS YEAR WE HAD MORE THAN A HUNDRED PEOPLE ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS, UM, 37, UM, AND MORE.
'CAUSE WE HAVE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER COMING UP, UM, HAVE SIGNED UP TO GET A FREE WILL THIS YEAR.
AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE FIVE FAMILIES THAT CAME TO THE, UM, SUCCESSION, UH, TRUSTS, UM, WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAD.
UM, THIS YEAR THE TOWN FORWARDED US THREE HEIRS, PROPERTY FAMILIES TO THE FOUNDATION.
WE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GENEALOGY, RE RESEARCH, AS WELL AS LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE REFER FAMILIES, UM, THAT NEEDED THOSE KIND OF REFERRALS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE TAX, THE TAX ASSISTANT, LIKE I SAID, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE COMES TO US AND THEY ASK US FOR HELP, THAT IT JUST DOESN'T FALL INTO A CORNER SOMEWHERE, AND THAT WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD.
SO WE DO HAVE A LIST OF ATTORNEYS THAT WE REFER PEOPLE TO, BUT WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE VERY PROFICIENT IN HEIRS, PROPERTY ISSUES AND ARE OF BENEFIT RATHER THAN JUST SOMEONE WHO SAYS THAT THEY CAN DO IT.
UM, AND THAT WE HAVE A, A, UM, AGREEMENT THAT THEY WILL EITHER HELP FOR FREE OR LOW BON SERVICES.
UM, THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS, UM, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ANOTHER GRANT THAT IS ACTUALLY PAYING FOR A, UM, PART-TIME ATTORNEY THAT IS FOCUSED ON HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES.
SO NOW WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE AREA WHO WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE IF THERE'S A QUESTION OR NEED, WE HAVE SOMEONE SPECIFIC THAT, THAT CAN HANDLE THAT, UM, INFORMATION.
AND, UM, THIS YEAR, UM, THROUGHOUT THE WORK THAT WE DID, WE REFERRED 30 FAMILIES TO LOCAL ATTORNEYS FOR THOSE SERVICES.
UM, PROGRAMMING WISE, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND OUR REACH AND EFFECTIVENESS, UM, AND THROUGH THE DIFFERENT GRANTS AND EDUCATION THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
SO, UM, THIS, THIS OCTOBER, UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT WILL BE AIRING TELEVISION COMMERCIALS, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT, UM, PRIMARILY THROUGH EMAILS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ARE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
BUT I KNOW I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE ARE OLDER.
THEY MAY NOT BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THEY NOT, MAY NOT HAVE AN EMAIL.
THEY MAY NOT BE CHECKING THEIR EMAIL.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO TELEVISION BECAUSE I'M SURE THEY'RE WATCHING THE NEWS.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET THE, THE FIRST OF TWO COMMERCIALS.
THE, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BE AIRING ON, UM, WTOC AND DOES WSAV WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
SO THIS IS THE LONG VERSION, UM, THE TV VERSION OF 60 SECONDS.
DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS? HERE? LET ME START OVER.
ARE YOU LIVING ON HEIRS PROPERTY? DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS? HEIRS PROPERTY IS LAND THAT'S BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS FROM FAMILY MEMBER TO FAMILY MEMBER, OFTEN WITHOUT IT BEING PROPERLY DEEDED.
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER DID NOT HAVE A WILL OR WAS UNABLE TO DEED THE PROPERTY TO THE DESCENDANTS.
AND NOW YEARS LATER, THEY MIGHT HAVE SEVERAL, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF HEIRS WHO ALL HAVE OWNERSHIP RIGHTS TO THE PROPERTY.
BUT WITHOUT A CLEAR TITLE OR FRACTURED TITLE, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'VE LIVED ON THE PROPERTY FOR GENERATIONS YET, IF THE LAND GOES UP FOR SALE OR NEEDS TO BE DIVIDED, THE LEGALITY OF WHO CAN DO WHAT WITH THE PROPERTY COMES INTO PLAY.
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NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO? HOW MANY HEIRS DO YOU HAVE? WELL, HELP IS AVAILABLE.THE LOWCOUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION IS ONCE YOU TO KEEP YOUR LAND BY HELPING IDENTIFYING HEIRS WORKSHOPS ON SUCCESSION PLANNING, TRUST LLCS, AND GETTING A FREE WILL SO THAT YOU CAN BEGIN TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF NO DOCUMENTATION AND ASSIST YOU WITH FINDING LEGAL SERVICES.
DON'T WAIT FOR A CRISIS OR SUFFER IN SILENCE OR BE FRUSTRATED.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, LET US HELP YOU HOLD ONTO YOUR HISTORIC GULLAH LAND SO THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS GENERATIONAL WEALTH HELP IS AVAILABLE.
REACH OUT TO THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION TODAY SO THAT YOUR FAMILY LAND IS PROTECTED TOMORROW.
AND PART OF WHAT WE UNDERSTAND IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HEIRS PROPERTY IS.
SO WE'RE STARTING WITH EDUCATING PEOPLE SPECIFICALLY ON WHAT THAT IS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE GRANT AND WE HAVE A HIGH NUMBER OF 2 25 TO, TO REACH, UM, WE, SO TODAY I'M HERE.
WE HAVE HAD, UM, DO YOU HAVE A, I'LL JUST DON'T THINK YOU NEED ONE.
REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD YOU ARE HAVING ONE LETS YOU DECIDE WHO GETS YOUR MONEY.
TREASURE POSSESSIONS AND PROPERTY WILLS PREVENT FAMILY DISPUTES AND POTENTIAL LAWSUITS BY GIVING YOU THE CONTROL OF PREPARING FOR THE UNEXPECTED.
AND WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR POSSESSIONS AFTER YOUR DEATH, INCLUDING WHO TAKES CARE OF CURRENT AND FUTURE CHILDREN.
WILLS PROVIDE A PLAN FOR FUTURE MONEY THAT YOU MAKE, REDUCE ESTATE TAXES, AND MAKE THE PROBATE PROCESS EASIER AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT BENEFICIARIES RECEIVE.
HAVE A BUSINESS WILL ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
THE PEACE OF MIND OF KNOWING THAT YOUR WISHES ARE DOCUMENTED AND LEGALLY BINDING, AND THAT YOUR LEGACY IS PROTECTED SO THAT YOU NOT SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW OR WANT, LIKE THE COURTS HANDLE, THE WAY THAT YOUR ASSETS AND VALUES SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED.
THE LOW COUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION AND THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS IS OFFERING FREE WILLS TO INDIVIDUALS IN BUFORT, JASPER AND HAMPTON COUNTY.
DON'T LEAVE YOUR LIFE'S WORK IN THE WRONG HANDS.
REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE WILL TODAY AT WWW.LOWCOUNTRYLEGALVOLUNTEERS.ORG.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE TRYING TO, UM, REALLY COVER NOT ONLY EDUCATING PEOPLE, BUT ALSO MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO, TO BE MORE PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, THE COMMERCIAL, TRYING TO ALSO GET THOSE WILLS DONE BECAUSE IF, IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE DOCUMENTATION, UM, ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST BASICALLY IN THE SAME PLACE THAT WE WERE, UM, AND, AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN.
SO, UM, MARKETING WISE, UM, WE, WE ALWAYS ARE CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCHES, UM, THROUGH, THROUGH, UM, THEIR NEWSLETTERS, BULLETINS, UM, FLYERS.
UM, I ALSO GAVE YOU A COPY OF THIS, WHICH IS THE MAILER THAT WENT OUT.
UM, 965 OF THEM WERE MAILED, UM, ON HILTON HEAD.
IN ADDITION, UM, TO, UH, MORE, UH, WITHIN THE REST OF BUFORT COUNTY, UH, LIKE I SAID, THE TV COMMERCIALS WILL BE ON TOC AND SAV, UM, IN OCTOBER AND AGAIN NEXT YEAR IN FEBRUARY.
UM, AND, UM, IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO TRY AND BE AN EDUCATIONAL SOURCE, UM, WE HAD THE GAINING GROUND DOCUMENTARY SCREENING IN BACK IN MAY, UM, CONNECTED WITH OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER.
UM, BUT WE'VE HAD REQUESTS TO SHOW IT AGAIN.
SO WE WILL BE SHOWING IT AGAIN, UM, THIS NOVEMBER AND TRYING TO MOTIVATE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT IT.
UM, ABOUT THE, THE, UM, HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES.
UM, SO THIS YEAR, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST, UH, FAMILIES LOCALLY IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS.
UM, WHEN HILTON HAD SPECIFICALLY FOUR FAMILIES WHO WERE WORKING ON HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES, AND NINE FAMILIES THAT WERE, UH, STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR, UH, TAX BILLS, UM, AS WELL AS IN OTHER COUNTIES, UM, AND OTHER, OTHER AREAS
[00:25:01]
AROUND THE COUNTY.UM, THIS YEAR, UH, THE TAX SALE WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, OCTOBER 6TH.
AS OF SEPTEMBER 15TH, THERE WERE 33 PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON THE LIST.
UM, AND ONLY TWO THIRD OF THEM WERE OF INTEREST OR CONCERN TO THE FOUNDATION.
UM, WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS THAT IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE COUNTY, THE NUMBER OF HEIRS, PROPERTY PROPERTIES THAT WENT ON THE SALE WAS VERY LOW COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.
UM, THERE WAS ONE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, OUR BENCHMARK IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THE FAMILIES ON HILTON HEAD GO TO, TO THE TAX SALE, UM, DUE TO A FAMILY MISCOMMUNICATION, UM, BASED ON THE LIST, ONE PROPERTY DID GO TO THE TAX SALE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AT ITS COST, AT THE TAX SALE.
UM, SO THAT FAMILY NOW HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN AROUND AND REDEEM IT FROM US VERSUS SOME DEVELOPER OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S MORE PROTECTED THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT JUST WENT TO THE OTHER, UM, TO THE SALE AND THE PRICE, UM, ESCALATED FROM THERE.
UM, AND, UM, REGARDLESS OF ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS HEIRS, PROPERTY AT THE SALE, ONLY TWO, UM, BIDDERS OR BUYERS BID AGAINST THE FAMILIES, WHICH DROVE UP THE PRICE OF THE PROPERTIES.
UM, SO FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IT WAS A GOOD SALE THIS YEAR IF THE SALE COULD EVER BE CONSIDERED GOOD BECAUSE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO OR GET THEIR PROPERTIES HELD ONTO AT COST.
UM, AND HERE'S JUST A, A CHART OF THE NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, UM, BASED ON, ON, UM, THE, THE TOTALS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, HILTON HEAD, UM, TENDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AS FAR AS, UM, THE NUMBER, UM, AND MAKING IT TO THE OCTOBER DEADLINE.
UM, SO HERE'S, HERE'S OUR YEAR BY THE NUMBERS.
UM, OF ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT WE SORT OF HAD A HAND IN THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE LAND WAS $3.3 MILLION.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PROTECT 18.36 ACRES.
UM, AND THIS YEAR, LIKE I SAID, WAS THE HIGHEST YEAR THAT WE'VE SPENT.
UH, WE SPENT 54,000, UM, 36,000 OF THAT BEING ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, THEN EIGHT ON BU OR NINE ON BUFORD, UM, TWO ON BLUFFTON, AND, UM, 4,000 IN SAVANNAH.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE ACREAGE, UM, 8.4 ACRES ON HILTON HEAD, UM, IN COMPARISON TO EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, IT, THIS YEAR WAS A VERY HEAVY LIFT.
UM, BUT FORTUNATELY GRANT WISE, WE WERE ABLE TO STAND UP AND HANDLE IT AND, AND, UM, BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE LAND THAT, UM, HAD AN ISSUE OUT THERE.
SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE AND, UM, DO WHAT WE COULD DO.
SO WITH THAT, IF I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
UM, THE, THE ONE PROPERTY THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE ABLE TO, UH, SAVE ON HILTON HERE, UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS NUMBER.
HOW, HOW MUCH WAS THAT? DID, DID IT GO FOR, DID YOU HAVE TO SPEND TO SAVE THAT PROPERTY? THE, THE AMOUNT OF THE TAX WAS 2,400 AND CHANGE, LIKE 2,500, AND I WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE IT AT $3,000, WHICH, WHICH MOST OF THE TIME THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, BUT, UM, MARIA WALLS ALLOWS ME TO SPEAK BEFORE THE SALE TO THE BUYERS, AND I TELL THEM ABOUT THE CULTURE AND THE, THE FACT THAT FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING AND, AND THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HISTORIC LAND THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HOLD ONTO.
AND SO I GUESS I GUILTED THEM VERY WELL, UH,
NOBODY LISTENED AND EVERYTHING WENT AND EVERYTHING WENT VERY HIGH.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT DEPENDS ON THE YEAR AND IT DEPENDS ON THE PEOPLE.
UM, SO, SO, BUT THIS YEAR, UM, WAS ABLE TO, TO GET IT AFFORDABLY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR GOOD WORK WITH THAT AND, UH, WITH HAVING SOME GREAT SUCCESS, AS YOU SAID, AND THE INFORMATION IS BETTER THAN PREVIOUS YEARS OF BEEN ABLE TO, UH, EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND BRING SOME AWARENESS SO WE CAN DEAL WITH SOME OF THAT BEFOREHAND.
UM, I NOTICED YOU DO HAVE A PROPERTY LISTED HERE IN SAVANNAH.
SO, UH, YOUR ORGANIZATION IS, UH, EXPANDING ITS REACH.
WE ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT THROUGHOUT THE, UH, THE CUL, THE GULLAH CULTURAL, THE CORRIDOR.
WELL, WE ARE, UM, THAT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY TWO ISOLATED CASES.
[00:30:02]
UM, ONE WOMAN, UM, AND, AND MY FOCUS IS HILTON HEAD.SO ONCE HILTON HEAD IS TAKEN CARE OF, THEN IF WE CAN HELP OTHERS, WE DO.
UM, IN THAT CASE, UH, A WOMAN CAME UP TO ME, HER HUSBAND IS IN PRISON, AND HER SON HAD JUST BEEN MURDERED AND SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO STEAL THEIR PROPERTY, UM, BY PAYING THE TAX SALE, AND THEY WERE LITERALLY UP TO THE WEEK OF THE SALE.
SO IF WE HAD NOT STEPPED IN, YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD'VE HAD A, AN ADDITIONAL TRAUMA THAT THAT, UM, WOULD'VE ADDED TO HER LIST.
UM, THE OTHER ONE WAS SOMEONE WHOSE HOUSE HAD BURNED DOWN AND SHE WAS DEALING WITH TRYING TO FIND SOMEPLACE TO LIVE AND PAYING HER TAXES.
SO, YOU KNOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, COMBINED IT WAS $4,000.
BUT THOSE ARE TWO SITUATIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE CAN, WE DO.
UM, PRIMARILY WE'RE STAYING IN THIS AREA.
UM, I HAVE EXPANDED TO PROVIDING INFORMATION TO JASPER COUNTY.
MATTER OF FACT, I'M SUPPOSED TO GO SPEAK TOMORROW IN JASPER COUNTY.
UM, BUT AS FAR AS OUR RESEARCH RESOURCES ARE CONCERNED, THIS IS OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS IS OUR BACKYARD, THIS IS OUR PRIORITY.
SO, AND, AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE THAT WAY.
AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS THAT THE PROPERTY IN SAVANNAH THOUGH, WAS THAT A PART OF THAT? NOT THE TAX SALE HERE IN NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT WAS, THAT WAS JUST YOU OFFERING SOME ASSISTANCE.
IT WAS A SAVANNAH PROPERTY TAX.
AND, UM, LIKE WE SAID, WE'VE MADE SOME GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE YEARS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, THE EDUCATION YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR PEOPLE TO, SO WE ARE NOT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE JUST HAVING THE SAME PEOPLE COME BACK EVERY YEAR, WHICH I THINK WE'VE DONE A, A VERY GOOD JOB WITH.
AND I'M HOPING THAT IT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO EDUCATE SOME OF US ON HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS IN CERTAIN MORE DETAIL ON THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT I HAVE TRIED TO DO PERSONALLY IS GROW IN MY KNOWLEDGE.
UM, AND I KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY REFERRING TO, TO THE, UM, CONFERENCE, UM, THAT I WENT TO.
UM, I AM CERTIFIED TO, TO TEACH AND SPEAK ON HEIRS PROPERTY ISSUES.
UM, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT CERTIFIES PEOPLE NATIONALLY, SO I DO HAVE THAT CERTIFICATION.
UM, AND I HAVE DONE THE, THIS PAST CONFERENCE THAT I WENT TO, UM, IN, UM, I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS, BUT RECENTLY, UM, IT, IT WAS THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE TRAINING.
SO, UM, BEING ABLE TO INTELLIGENTLY SPEAK ON IT AND, AND TEACH ON IT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO.
SO IF THAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMITTEE, THEN I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, TO, UM, GO THROUGH SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE, UM, INFORMATION THAT, THAT, UH, IS OUT THERE SO WE CAN ALL SPEAK INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT IT.
LITTLE, I THINK IT'D BE VALUABLE TO THIS COMMITTEE AS WELL AS THE, UH, COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
OTHER QUESTIONS FOR? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
MAYBE I'M JUST MISSED SOMETHING, BUT YOU SAID THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE A PIECE OF PROPERTY ON HILTON HEAD.
WHEN YOU DO THAT, DOES IT, DOES THE PROPERTY REMAIN IN THE HANDS OF THE OWNER, OR IS, OR DO THEY HAVE A CERTAIN TIME TO REIMBURSE YOUR FOUNDATION? SO BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE IT ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY, THE PROPERTY IS STILL IN THE FAMILY'S NAME.
THEY HAVE A YEAR FROM THE TAX SALE DATE AND A DAY TO REDEEM IT.
SO, UM, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY BUYING THEM THAT TIME SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE IT.
THE, THE FOUNDATION'S GOAL IS NOT TO OWN ANY PROPERTY.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO IT TO TAKE ANY LAND AWAY, BUT ESSENTIALLY BUY THEM THE TIME.
SO, UM, THEY HAVE BY THE STANDARDS THAT YEAR AND A DAY TO DO TO, TO REPAY THE COUNTY FOR THE, THE, UM, REIMBURSEMENT THAT WE PUT OUT.
LET'S SAY THAT THEY DON'T DO THAT.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS EXTEND THAT TIME SO THE PROPERTY WOULD, WOULD REVERT BASED ON THE COUNTY'S PROCESS AND RULES TO THE FOUNDATION.
BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT THE PROPERTY.
SO IF THEY NEEDED A YEAR AND SIX MONTHS OR A TWO YEARS, WHATEVER THAT IS, WE SPEAK TO THE FAMILY, WORK IT OUT, SO THAT ULTIMATELY THEY CAN HAVE IT BACK.
WE WANT THE FAMILY TO HAVE IT, NOT, NOT US.
BUT SO THE FOUNDATION COMES TO DEFAULT YES.
[00:35:01]
ORGANIZATION.NOW, WHAT IF THE FAMILY JUST NEVER COMES BACK AROUND TO CONCUR THE PROPERTY, THEN WHAT? WELL, THAT'S A BRIDGE WE HAVE NOT HAD TO CROSS.
UM, HOWEVER, WE WOULD DO EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD DO IN ORDER TO GET THE LAND BACK TO THE FAMILY.
SO IF THEY NEEDED MORE TIME OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, WE WOULD BE FLEXIBLE ENOUGH SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE THE LAND BACK.
UM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S BETTER US THAN A DEVELOPER WHO WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, A YEAR AND TWO DAYS YOU GOTTA GO.
UM, BECAUSE THAT POTENTIALLY WOULD BE THE SITUATION THAT THEY WOULD BE IN.
UM, SO OUR GOAL IS ALWAYS TO WORK WITH THE FAMILY AND MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THEIR OWN LAND.
AND, AND AGAIN, MY OWN MY OWN IGNORANCE, UH, YOUR, YOUR MAIN FUNDING SOURCE.
DO YOU, DO YOU, COULD YOU SHARE THAT WITH US, WHAT YOUR MAIN FUNDING SOURCES ARE? SO WE GET DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, AND WE ALSO GET GRANTS FROM LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, UM, THE BARGAIN BOX HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR GRANTEES OR GRANTORS, UM, WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY, UH, THE WATERSON FOUNDATION, FAMILY FOUNDATION.
UM, SO WE HAVE A LOT, UH, AND, UM, THE REPARATIONS PROJECT, UH, THOSE HAVE BEEN THE BIG DONORS THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE COME BACK YEAR TO YEAR BECAUSE THEY GET IT AND THEY UNDERSTAND AND, AND THEY'RE HELPING US TO, TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
UM, AND, UH, THE MELLON FOUNDATION THROUGH THE BLACK CHAMBER, THAT'S ANOTHER GRANT THAT WE GOT THIS YEAR.
SO, SO EVERYTHING THAT WE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO, TO RAISE HAS BEEN LOCALLY.
UM, SOMETIMES, LIKE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD A COUPLE OF NATIONAL GRANTS, BUT PRIMARILY IT'S BEEN LOCAL DOLLARS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING US TO, TO DO WHAT WE DO.
AND, UM, FORTUNATELY THROUGH THE MONEY THAT, THAT WE GET, UM, WE ONLY USE IT FOR THESE, THIS PURPOSE.
UM, IT, NOTHING THAT WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED HAS GONE AS A DONATION OR A GRANT HAS GONE TOWARDS OPERATIONS.
WE PRIMARILY USE ALL OF THE FUNDS THAT WE GET THROUGH, THROUGH GRANTS FOR THE LAND PRESERVATION.
YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD, I GUESS I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, UM, KNOWING ON THAT OTHER ISSUE ABOUT A, A PERSON WHO PROBABLY REDEEMED, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IT BACK IF THERE IS A, AN END GOAL FOR WHAT YOU MAY CONSIDER TO DO WITH THOSE PROPERTIES.
IT'S, AGAIN, THIS, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD TO STEP IN FOR A FAMILY AND PURCHASE THE PROPERTY MM-HMM
UM, AND THE OTHER FAMILY WAS ABLE TO REDEEM IT, YOU KNOW, WITH, I THINK IT WAS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF, OF THE TAX SALE.
UM, WE ARE, UM, DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH THIS FAMILY WORKING OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND HOW WE NEED TO HELP THEM SO THAT THEY CAN HOLD ONTO IT AND, AND REDEEM IT.
SO, I MEAN, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILIES CAN HOLD ONTO IT.
SO, UM, WE, WE HAVE NEVER HAD A DESIRE TO, TO AMASS ANY PROPERTIES.
WE'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO FIND A PATH FORWARD SO THAT PEOPLE CAN WALK AWAY WITH THE LAND THAT THAT IS THEIRS AND THAT THEY CAN HOLD ONTO IT.
JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON SOME OF, OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID IN, IN REFERENCE TO A YEAR AND A DAY, WHICH I UNDERSTAND AND, AND PURCHASING THE PROPERTY.
BUT THEN ADDITIONALLY AFTER THAT, IF A FAMILY COMES BACK, THERE IS INTEREST ADDED TO THAT.
AM I CORRECT? IF THEY CHOOSE TO PURCHASE IT BACK FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION, THERE IS INTEREST ADDED TO IT.
WELL, THE YEAR AND A DAY IS WHAT THEY WOULD PAY BACK TO THE COUNTY MM-HMM
UM, BUT WITH, AFTER THAT, THEN WE WOULD SET UP SOME, SOME PAYMENT PLAN OR, OR WHATEVER STRUCTURE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE FOR THE FAMILY BECAUSE THE, THE WHOLE PROCESS IS STRESSFUL TO BEGIN WITH.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT STRESSLESS AS AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO THAT THEY CAN JUST HOLD ON.
UM, HOPE YOU MY SUCCESS, UM, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HAVE SUPPORT THAT I REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN WE WERE COMING OUT OUR POCKETS AND TRYING TO HELP FAMILIES.
SO, UM, HERE'S SUCCESS THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED
[00:40:01]
WITH THIS.UM, WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE, UM, FREE WILLS, UM, AND TRUST MM-HMM
AND, UM, LLCS THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO DO IN OTHER COUNTIES.
SO WOULD YOU TRAVEL TO THOSE COUNTIES OR DO PEOPLE HAVE TO TRAVEL TO YOU IF THEY CHOOSE TO SET UP A WORKSHOP FOR THAT? THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS IS ACTUALLY HANDLING THE ORGANIZATION OF ALL OF THAT.
UM, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS ON HILTON HEAD, THEN I'M SETTING IT UP, YOU KNOW, I'M FINDING LOCATION, SETTING UP THE, BUT, UM, IF SOMEONE NEEDED A WILL TODAY AND THERE'S A WORKSHOP THIS WEEKEND, THEY COULD GO TO HAMPTON OR, YOU KNOW, WHEREVER IT IS THAT WORKSHOP TO, TO GET IT DONE.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN FLEXIBLE ENOUGH THAT, UM, IF SOMEONE SAY, COULDN'T GO ON SATURDAY, BUT THEY CAN COME DURING THE WEEK, COME TO THE OFFICE, LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR WILLS DONE.
UM, WE HAVE, HAVE, EVEN IN A CASE WHERE SOMEONE WAS IN HOSPICE, SENT AN ATTORNEY TO THE HOSPITAL SO THAT THEY COULD GET THEIR WILL DONE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE RUN INTO, UM, AND IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM, BUT WITH, LET'S SAY THE CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY, AND, AND BY THE WAY, I'M EXPANDING MY ROLE WITH THEM, UM, HAVING ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ON HOW TO BETTER PARTNER WITH THEM MM-HMM
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AN ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO WILLS, THEY HAVE THEIR THRESHOLD OF INCOME THAT THEY'LL SERVE, YOU KNOW, SERVE, PROVIDE SERVICES TO, AND SO DOES THE LEGAL LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FELT WAS AN ISSUE WAS THAT IF, IF I'M GOING OUT IN THE WORLD SAYING, I WANNA GIVE YOU A FREE WILL AND YOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER ANYBODY'S THRESHOLD, I DON'T WANT YOU SAYING NO TO ANYBODY.
SO WE HAD TO WORK THAT OUT SO THAT NO ONE HAS TURNED AWAY FOR ANYTHING, WHETHER IT'S ATTORNEY SERVICES OR FREE WILL OR THE TRUST OR WHATEVER IT IS, IF WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK, I MEAN, UNLESS THEY'RE MAKING A MILLION DOLLARS OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, SOME EXORBITANT AMOUNT.
BUT IF IT'S A FAMILY THAT'S STRUGGLING TO, TO PAY AND YOU IN THIS ECONOMY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MAKING THAT MUCH TO BE STRUGGLING, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU STILL CAN GET ACCESS TO THE SERVICES AND, AND GET WHAT YOU NEED.
SO I'VE STRUCTURED IT SO THAT, UM, IF THE FOUNDATION NEEDS TO STEP IN AND HELP TO PAY THAT LOW BONO AMOUNT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GET A WILL, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS COVERED.
SO I THINK YOU ANSWERED PART OF MY QUESTION AND IN REFERENCE, WOULD YOU TRAVEL TO DO A WORKSHOP IN ANOTHER COUNTY AT THIS POINT? AT THIS POINT, NO.
TO BE TRAVELING
UM, THE, IF IT'S THE, THE WILLS, UM, THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS HANDLES THAT.
UM, RIGHT NOW I'M STAYING IN BEAUFORT.
UM, OTHER THAN A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO, TO DO, UM, IN JASPER, BUT, UM, SHORT OF ME GETTING MORE HELP, THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
I'VE LEARNED I CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
AT THE CLOCK, YOURSELF, ME, MYSELF AND I, SHE AND HER, WHICH IS MY STAFF.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANYONE IN OUR PUBLIC, UH, HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT? YES, MR. JOHNSON, GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE.
FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY.
PLEASE COME, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST FOR THE, FOR THE RECORD, FOR THE RECORD, I, MARTY JOHNSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH, RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, AND JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT TODAY'S MEETING AT CHURCH AND I HEARD ABOUT IT THROUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'M WORKING WITH.
SO YOU'RE DEFINITELY REACHING OUT AND THANK YOU BROTHER MALIK FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE QUESTIONS THAT I, I HAD ALSO.
SO THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
WITH REGARD TO THE PROCESS, UH, THE NUMBER OF DELINQUENT TAX SALE THAT HAPPENED ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, COULD YOU SAY, UH, WHAT'S THE CAUSE? IS IT SOMETHING
[00:45:01]
IN THE TAX PROCESS HERE? IS IT MOSTLY DUE TO HEIRS, PROPERTY ISSUES, OR OTHERS JUST INTERESTED IN THE CAUSES? UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT A COOKIE CUTTER SCENARIO FOR EVERYBODY.UM, BUT IN SOME CASES PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW.
THE, THE TAX BILL MAY HAVE GONE TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S ADDRESS AND THE TAX SALE CAME UP AND THEY JUST DIDN'T KNOW.
AND SO IN A LOT OF CASES, WE WERE LITERALLY INFORMING SOMEBODY THAT THE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A TAX BILL AND DID YOU KNOW, AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT IS AND DID YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO GET IT? UM, AND, AND PART OF THAT, UM, IS SPECIFICALLY IN THIS YEAR IS HELPING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THEY THOUGHT THAT, OH, I CAN PAY IT WHENEVER I PAY IT, AND IF IT'S NOT PAID BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF THE, THE FRIDAY BEFORE, THEN IT WILL GO TO THE TAX SALE.
SO PEOPLE STILL HAVE A MISS, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF THAT KIND OF DETAILED INFORMATION.
AND SO IN A LOT OF CASES WE'RE, WE ARE REALLY JUST REMINDING PEOPLE THAT YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE THE TAX SALE IS COMING AND, UM, YOU DON'T WANNA LOSE IT TO THE TAX SALE.
SO EDUCATION IS WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAYING.
UM, ONE OTHER QUESTION, IF I MAY, WITH REGARD TO THE LEGAL WILL SERVICE THAT YOU OFFER FOR, UM, WILL, UH, CREATION AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING AS PROPERTY, DO YOU ALSO OFFER ASSISTANCE FOR NON-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES? NOT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO PROPERTY ISSUES, JUST JUST WONDERING WHETHER THE LEGAL VOLUNTEERS, DO YOU WORK? DO YOU OFFER LOW COST OR NO COST SERVICES FOR OTHER ISSUES? THEY DO, THEY DO.
THE FOUNDATION STRICTLY FOCUSES ON THE LAND, UM, PORTION OF, OF IT.
BUT THE LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS, THEY SAY THAT THEY COVER, UM, KITCHEN ISSUES, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT DIVORCES, ADOPTIONS, YOU KNOW, THING, FAMILY ISSUES LIKE THAT.
UM, SO THEY, THEY COVER ALL OF THAT.
WE ONLY ARE ON THE HEIRS PROPERTY LAND PORTION OF WHAT THEY DO.
SO A PERSON WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE LEAGUE OF LOW COUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS.
AND JUST ONE OTHER, UH, COMMENDATION, THE WAY YOU INFORM YOUR INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEND YOUR INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP YOUR INFORMATION AND SEND IT TO OTHERS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU PRESENT THE INFORMATION.
AND, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, TO, TO MY EARLIER POINT, OUR TARGET IS OLDER, AND SO TRYING TO CREATE WAYS OF COMMUNICATING WITH THAT TARGET THROUGH THE CHURCHES AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO THAT IT'S NOT, UM, SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE MISSING, YOU KNOW, AND SOCIAL MEDIA OR, OR WHATEVER OTHER WAY THAT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION.
THANK YOU AGAIN, AND THANK YOU.
AND I DID HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR VERONICA.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN ASK TWO QUESTIONS AT THE SAME TIME OR, UM, OKAY.
UM, LET ME MAKE SURE THAT I CAN RELEASE LUANA.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LUANA? I I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION JUST FOR CLARITY FOR MYSELF MM-HMM
SO I UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU PROMOTE IT, LIKE REACHING OUT TO THE TRI COUNTIES, BUT WHO WOULD TRAVEL TO THOSE COUNTIES IF YOU ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO DO THAT? I'M WORKING ON THAT.
I, YEAH, I'M, I'M WORKING ON THAT.
UM, SO THAT THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS, IS HANDLING THE WORKSHOPS AND, UM, BEING ABLE TO INTELLIGENTLY SPEAK ON, ON THE ISSUES.
UM, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, FINDING SOMEONE WHO IS NOT ONLY, UM, ENGAGED BUT YOU KNOW, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT IT.
UM, BUT, BUT, UH, THAT IS THE $64,000 QUESTION, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND, AND, UM, HELP US MOVE FORWARD.
SO RUNNING THE COMMERCIALS ON TV BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE WIDESPREAD.
SO JUST HAVING THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ASSISTING OR ARE, ARE, WILL BE ASSISTING IN THOSE COUNTIES IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS THE PLAN WITH THAT? WELL, THE, THE SPOT THAT YOU SAW IS THE LONGER VERSION.
THE SHORTER VERSION HAS THE LEGAL VOLUNTEERS PHONE NUMBER ON IT.
SO, SO ALL OF THE CALLS WILL BE GOING STRAIGHT THERE.
UM, AND THE, THE OTHER COMMERCIAL BASICALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, BEAUFORT COUNTY, NOT THE WORLD.
SO, UM, BUT THOSE ARE JUST INFORMATIONAL LONG
[00:50:01]
VERSIONS OF, OF THE, UM, JUST WHAT IS IT.VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
AND, UH, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MS. WRIGHT IS SAYING, I I, I KNOW FROM, UH, THE VERY BEGINNING OF YOUR STARTING THIS WORK THAT YOU HAVE ACCESSED A LOT OF RESOURCES.
SO PART OF THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS LIKE, YEAH, OF COURSE YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING SIMILAR EFFORTS, BUT I APPLAUD YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVING SUCH A WIDE REACH, NOT JUST PHYSICALLY WITH THE, THE REGION, BUT ALSO, LIKE I SAID, IN YOUR EDUCATION AND IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
TO MS. JOHNSON'S POINT, I JUST WANT TO REEMPHASIZE ALSO THAT A BIG PART OF WHAT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, AS YOU ALREADY SAID, IS ABOUT AWARENESS AND EDUCATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, LOSS OF PROPERTY OR LOSS OF THE CULTURE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS FOR PEOPLE THAT JUST DID NOT KNOW.
AND ALSO, UH, THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, THAT YOU'VE DONE THROUGH YOUR ORGANIZATION TO EDUCATE PEOPLE TOO, SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST A, UH, A REPEAT OFFENDER KIND OF A THING.
SO PEOPLE ARE DOING BETTER AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, WE NEED WILLS.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOME WAYS TO PROTECT THE PROPERTIES GOING FORWARD, UH, NOT JUST FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE TODAY, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS THEN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND I'M HERE FOR, I'M LEARNING SO MUCH OF, HAVE YOU HAD TO, HAS THE, HAS, HAS YOUR BODY HAD TO DENY ANY, UH, FAMILY COMPOUND REQUESTS? AND IF SO, WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR OKAY, GREAT QUESTION, MR. MS. JOHNSON.
UM, AT THIS TIME, THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY DENIALS OR FAMILY COMPOUNDS, UM, AT THIS POINT SINCE MY TENURE HERE.
THIS BRINGS US DOWN TO THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. WILLIAMS? I'LL ASK QUESTION.
THANK YOU MR. WILLIAMS. ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU, UH, IN OUR MIDST WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND WORKING THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND YOUR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
[Additional Item]
COMMENTS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, OF COURSE, THE PRESENCE OF OUR COUNCILMAN, UH, MR. MR. BROWN, AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT OFFER HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS US.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, COUNCILMAN.
UM, CHAIRPERSON TASK FORCE MEMBERS, UM, I WANTED TO FIRST OFF MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL AS A TASK FORCE GOT ADEQUATE CREDIT FOR THE WORK THAT LOWCOUNTRY GULLAH IS DOING AROUND THE DELINQUENT TEXT.
THAT IS AN INITIATIVE THAT CAME OUT OF THIS BUY.
AND WE THANK MS. SELLERS, UH, FOR TAKING IT AND RUNNING WITH IT.
UM, COUPLE POINTS OF CLARIFICATION, IF I COULD MS. SELLERS, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, TO MS. WRIGHT'S QUESTION ABOUT THE INTEREST ON TOP OF WHEN IT COMES TO REDEMPTION OF PROPERTIES, THAT INTEREST IS WHAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD HAVE TO PAY BACK, NOT THE AMOUNT THAT MS. SELLERS PAID FOR THE PROPERTY.
SHE USED A, I THINK IT WAS $3,000 THAT SHE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY FOR.
WHATEVER INTEREST APPLIES TO THAT, PLUS THE TAXES THAT WERE DUE IS WHAT A, A FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH.
OBVIOUSLY AT THE TAX SALE, THOSE NUMBERS OF BIDS CAN GET PRETTY HIGH.
SO IF A PROPERTY GOES FOR A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS, BY NO MEANS IS A FAMILY EXPECTED TO COME BACK WITH A HUNDRED K TO REDEEM, BUT ONLY THE INTERESTS THAT IS APPLIED OVER THE YEAR AND A DAY.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S, I'M SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD.
YEAH, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON THAT.
AND THE OTHER, WHILE I GOT THE MIC AND I GOT THESE WILLING BODIES BEHIND ME THAT WANT TO CARRY BACK MESSAGES AS THEY LEARN, YOU CAN ALSO, YOU CAN ALSO THROUGH THE TREASURER'S OFFICE APPLY TO PAY YOUR TAXES IN INSTALLMENTS.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A ONE-TIME FEE.
NOW YOU HAVE TO BE CURRENT ON YOUR TAXES TO DO THAT, BUT THAT OPTION IS AVAILABLE NOW.
UM, THINK THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS TO MS. FARRAH
[00:55:01]
AROUND THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF THIS LMO TASK FORCE.UM, SOMETIMES WHEN I GO TO CHURCH, YOU GO TO CHURCH SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES YOU GO TO CHURCH
NOW I'M SAYING THAT TO THIS TASK FORCE.
LET'S NOT GET CAUGHT UP ON HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND THE REPRESENTATION AND YES, MR. MALIK, UM, THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION AMONGST COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT CHOOSING FOLKS OUTSIDE OF THE PUDS TO SERVE IN THE CAPACITY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE'LL BE TAKING THIS UP TOMORROW, BUT THE TASK FORCE AND THE GO COMMUNITY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO STAND ON RUDA WARD ONE MASTER PLAN, AND MOST RECENTLY, THE REPORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE DELIVERED.
I'M JUST GONNA STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT WE NOT WAITING UNTIL THE TASK FORCE HAS GONE THROUGH THEIR WORK AND THEN THE END PRODUCT COMES BACK TO YOU GUYS TO GET ENGAGED.
YOUR CHAIRPERSON GONNA BE ON THAT COMMITTEE OFFER THAT IT'S GONNA BE ABOUT A YEAR OF A LOT OF MEETINGS, OFFER YOURSELVES TO COME ALONG.
SO YOU CAN REITERATE THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THAT REPORT THAT WE'RE SO DESPERATELY IN NEED OF.
SORRY, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THE PART ABOUT THE INTEREST ON THE, ON THE TAX SALE? SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT IT'S A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS EXAMPLE THAT YOU USE INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON THAT, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE FAMILY WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY THAT INTEREST? THE INTEREST, YES.
SO THAT SAY THE TAX AMOUNT WAS 10,000 MM-HMM
AND THEY DON'T PAY THE OTHER 90, JUST THEY PAY INTEREST ON THE WHOLE HUNDRED.
BUT THE ONLY THING THAT 10,000, WHICH WAS THE AMOUNT FOR THE TAX CORRECT.
AND, AND THE NEXT BID AND YOUR
NOW, WHO GETS THE INTEREST MONEY? THE PERSON WHO MADE THE BID.
THE PERSON WHO GOT THE BID? YES.
SO THE COUNTY GETS THE TAX MONEY.
AND THE BIDDER WHO HELD IT FOR A YEAR AND A DAY GETS THE INTEREST.
ON THE WHOLE A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR JUST THE 10, THE WHOLE A HUNDRED GRAND HUNDRED.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHY THE SALE IS FULL OF SHARKS.
AND THAT THAT DEPENDS ON WHEN THEY PAY IT BACK.
SO THE ENTRIES MAY NOT BE AS HIGH IF YOU PAY BACK A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS, OR IF IT THIS WHOLE YEAR, THEN OF COURSE IT'S GONNA BE AT AS HIGH AS, BUT THE INTEREST IS BASED UPON HOW LONG BEFORE YOU CAN PAY THAT BACK.
SO THE, THE SOONER YOU PAY IT, THE BETTER, OF COURSE, BY THE END OF THE YEAR IS THE 12%, UM, ON TOP OF WHATEVER THE PURCHASE PRICE IS.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO HAVE A, A WORKSHOP OR EDUCATIONAL, UH, PIECE JUST SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS.
NOT ONLY FOR JUST FOR US, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE DO THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE INVOLVE MARIA WALLS MM-HMM
UM, TAKE NOTES, HAVE STAFF PULLING UP PROPERTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO PEOPLE CAN GET REAL TIME ANSWERS TO WHATEVER THE QUESTION IS, UM, REGARDING THE, THEIR TAXES AND THE SALE.
AND TO COUNCILMAN BROWN'S POINT, ALSO, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO THESE DIFFERENT RESOURCES.
ANOTHER ONE OF OUR INITIATIVES WAS TO HAVE A PRESENCE, UH, OF HEIRS, UH, OF CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY HERE ON THE ISLAND.
THAT REALLY HASN'T HAPPENED, BUT I THINK THROUGH YOUR EFFORTS, WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM NOW SO THAT THEY DO COME AND WHEN WE DO THESE WORKSHOPS, SO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AS WELL.
AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING OUT IS, UM, BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE HOLES IN THIS AREA, UM, SO THAT THE FOUNDATION WOULD BE BRIDGING THOSE OR PLUGGING THOSE HOLES THAT THEY HAVE, UM, IN THIS AREA.
SO ONCE I HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO, UM, KIND OF FLESH OUT OUR CONVERSATIONS, I'LL COME BACK AND I'LL, I'LL LET YOU KNOW, UM, WHAT, WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.
[01:00:14]
OKAY.UM, FIND OURSELVES AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA IF THERE ARE NO OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO, UH, THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE HERE AND CERTAINLY OUR TOWN STAFF, UH, AND CERTAINLY, UH, MEMBERS OF, UH, TOWN COUNSELING AND OTHER VARIOUS POSITIONS.
AND I DO WANT, WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, SAYING HELLO TO MS. HEWITT.
SHE'S, UH, NOW PART OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND, UH, WILL BE A PART OF THIS TASK FORCE.
EVENTUALLY, UM, MR. HINTS WHO WAS A PART OF THIS TASK FORCE IS NOW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO WE WANT TO, UH, RECOGNIZE HIM AND THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS AND HIS WORK.
AND ALSO, UH, JOHN CAMPBELL, WHO HAS, UH, MOVED ON TO SOME OTHER AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE IN THEIR VARIOUS POSITIONS FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IN THE FUTURE.
AND OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL ABOUT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, UH, FOR BEING HERE AS WELL AND SHARING INFORMATION.
AND PLEASE SPREAD THE GOOD WORD ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO STAND ON.
AND AT THE SAME TIME WE'D NOTICE, WE DO KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.
SO WITH THAT, THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
I AM CAMPBELL, AND THIS IS BEAUFORD COUNTY MOMENTS.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FOOD TODAY.
THE FOOD HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE IN TERMS OF GATHERING FOOD AND PREPARING THEM.
OUR FOOD IS BASED ON THE LAND AND THE SEA.
THE LAND FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN RICE.
WE DON'T FEEL WE HAVE EATEN DINNER UNLESS WE'VE HAD RICE.
RICE WAS MIXED WITH VARIOUS ITEMS FROM THE SEA, LIKE OYSTERS OR SHRIMP.
AND WHEN THEY'RE COOKED WITH RICE IN ONE POT, WE CALL IT A RICE OR SHRIMP, OR AN OYSTER PERLOW.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE WATERMELONS AND THE SWEET POTATOES.
SWEET POTATOES WAS ALWAYS EATEN WITH FISH AND FRESH FISH WITH GRAVY AND A SWEET POTATO.
OKRA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FOOD WAYS.
WE, WE, WE RAISE THEM AS WELL AS WE PREPARE THEM WITH SHRIMP AND TOMATOES.
AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD CALL THAT A GUMBO.
AND THAT'S WHAT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO ENJOY THE FOOD OF THE LOW COUNTRY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN VERY MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY.
THIS HAS BEEN YOUR BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENT.
TO SEE MORE BEAUFORT COUNTY MOMENTS GO TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY HOMEPAGE AND CLICK ON THE LOCAL HISTORY TAB.