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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
[ 1. CALL TO ORDER ]
ALRIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY.I'D LIKE TO CALL THE PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER TODAY ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20TH.
UH, I APOLOGIZE FOR US BEING A LITTLE BIT LATE.
WE HAD TO FINISH UP OUR OTHER MEETING TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THROUGH EVERYTHING.
UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR WAITING AROUND AND, UH, ALSO SHOWING UP TODAY.
'CAUSE I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THIS, THIS IS THE GREATEST THING.
THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, WHETHER WE AGREE, DISAGREE, BUT GETTING PEOPLE OUT IS THE HARDEST THING TO DO.
SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING TODAY AND, UH, VOICING YOUR, UH, OPINIONS.
UM, IF YOU GUYS COULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, MY P FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH STANDS, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE.
ALL RIGHT, SIR, WE HAVE MET, UH, STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE EMPLOYER.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE
[ 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
THE AGENDA? MOVE A SECOND, PLEASE.ANY DISCUSSION IF, CAN THIS BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION AND THE AGENDA IS APPROVED? NO OBJECTION.
[ 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
FIVE, THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2025 TAB.CAN I HAVE THAT MOTION? YES, SIR.
I'LL APPROVE THE MINUTES TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
I'LL SECOND THAT AND SECOND MY MS. BROWN.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT, THIS WILL ALSO BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.
ALRIGHT, WE DO HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[ 6. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 15 MINUTES TOTAL]
UM, NUMBER SIX.UH, AT THIS POINT I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, I DUNNO HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE SIGNED UP HERE.
DO WE WANNA DO A SPECIFIC TIME? JUST 17.
THAT'S AN HOUR, BUT YEAH, MOTION TO EXTEND, UH, TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND EXTEND PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? SORRY, HOW LONG ARE YOU EXTENDING IT? WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYBODY THAT'S SIGNED UP TODAY.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I, WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH EVERYONE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT A TIME LIMIT ON THIS OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT THERE IS THREE MINUTES PER PERSON TALKING.
THAT IS THE NORMAL TIME THAT IS ON THERE.
UM, IF YOU GO BELOW THAT SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET THERE, EVERYBODY, WE'RE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL EITHER WAY.
LIKE I SAID, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT.
UM, I AM GONNA HAVE MR. BAROLO, YOU BE IN CHARGE OF CALLING UP THE NAMES TODAY.
I JUST WANNA MAKE A NOTE, UH, FOR THE RECORD THAT THE PUBLIC MEETING HAS BEEN EXTENDED AND D THANK YOU.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO EXTEND THAT? NO.
SOME PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE EXTENDED TO FINISH THE NAMES.
UH, YEAH, JUST WANNA MAKE A POINT BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS, UM, THERE ARE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY STAFF.
UM, PART OF THAT IS THE, THE CHARTER, UH, FISHING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET THAT LET Y'ALL KNOW YOUR COMMENTS HAVE ALREADY WORKED.
THERE'S ALREADY BEEN BEEN AMENDMENTS TO IT.
SO, UM, GIVEN THAT WE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS, WE STILL WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, BUT JUST WANTED TO PREFACE THAT.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW.
UH, FIRST ONE UP TO THE MIC IS GONNA BE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FOR THE RECORD, I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE COMPANIES THAT ARE PICTURED HERE.
THEY'RE JUST, THERE ARE THE RECORD.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS COMPANIES THAT ARE MY NAME DECK.
FAMILY OWNED FISHING AND VOTING.
WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED, THIS IS OUR 20 BUSINESS AND WE HAVE FOUR CAPTAIN.
WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY LIKE OUR COLLEAGUES IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
TODAY, MORE THAN FAIR UPKEEP, MORE THAN OUR FAIR FOR UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? TAXI SERVICE, SERVICE DELIVERY FOR PUBLIC ROAD LANDING AND PICKING THEM UP LATER VERSUS A CHARTER TOUR OR KAYAK COMPANY.
DOING THE SAME, DOING THIS SECOND, THE STATING THE SEPTEMBER 15TH MEETING, THE BARGAINING PROPOSED REVISIONS.
I CAN'T GO TO THE PUBLIC ROAD AND SET UP AND SHOP, BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY ALL OVER THE COUNTY, AS YOU WILL SEE BY STEVE.
PHOTOS, MOVING COMPANIES, BYLER, SETTING UP ON THE ROADS AND EASEMENTS IN ORDER TO SERVICE OUR CUSTOMERS.
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COMPANIES PARK THEIR EQUIPMENT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OVERNIGHT AND LEAVE TRAFFIC CONES OUT.AS YOU CAN SEE IN THESE PHOTOS.
IS THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, GOING TO MAKE EVERY LANDSCAPING BUSINESS, EXCUSE ME, STORE THEIR EQUIPMENT AT LOCAL STORAGE COMPANIES? JUST LIKE THIS REVISED ORDINANCE WOULD FORCE EVERY CHARTER TOUR AND KAYAK COMPANY TO RENT SLIPS AT COMMERCIAL MARINAS.
AND I SAY SLIPS BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR CAPTAINS, WE WOULD HAVE TO RENT FOUR BOAT SLIPS.
THAT ADDITIONAL ANNUAL COSTS FIGURED CONSERVATIVELY IS OVER $33,000.
HOW MANY SMALL BUSINESSES CAN SUSTAIN AN ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS $33,000 PLUS ANNUAL HIT AND CONTINUE TO STAY IN BUSINESS? THIRD, THE TYPE OF COMPANIES BEING TARGETED USE BOAT LANES TO SERVICE AREA TOURISTS, THE SAME ONES WHO STAY AT HOTELS, EAT AT RESTAURANTS OR FREQUENT SHOPS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN THE COUNTY.
THUS, THE REVENUES GENERATED BY OUR SMALL BUSINESSES IS SIGNIFICANT.
WHAT DOES THE COUNTY'S PLAN TO REPLACE IT? FOURTH, I QUESTION THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY COUNTY LEGAL AND STAFF.
IT WOULD APPEAR BASED ON THEIR STATEMENTS.
ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, THERE WERE ONLY A FEW COMPLAINTS SOUTH OF ABROAD ABOUT A COUPLE OF COMPANIES, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAID STAFF TOOK DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL, BUT I UNABLE TO FIND ANY REFERENCE TO A COUNCIL DIRECTIVE FOR THESE REVISIONS.
FURTHER, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THEIR OFFICE RECEIVED CALLS FROM COMMERCIAL MARINAS COMPLAINING ABOUT MISSING ON OUR REVENUES.
THEREFORE, IS A JUST MERE COINCIDENCE THAT COMMERCIAL MARINAS SUBSTANTIAL RE A FINANCIAL BONANZA SHOULD THESE OWNERS' REVISIONS BE APPROVED.
LAST, IT WOULD SEEM THAT RATHER THAN PUT AN ENTIRE MARKET SEGMENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND DESTROYING A GOOD PORTION OF THE LOW COUNTRY'S TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE PROCESS, THE COUNTY SHOULD EXERCISE THE SENSIBLE OPTION OF DENYING BUSINESS LICENSE COMPANIES THE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS.
I'M THE, UH, CHAIR OF THE FUSS ISLAND COUNCIL.
UH, I'M GONNA SPEAK TO YOU UNITE BRIEFLY ABOUT, UH, OUR BOAT LANDING OR OUR BOAT RAMP ON FUSS ISLAND, BUT ALSO WHERE OUR, UM, THE VENDORS ORIGINATE FROM WHO COME OVER AND SERVE OUR ISLAND.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE LOST OUR PRIMARY BARGE SERVICE IN 2024, THE HUTCHINSON ISLAND TERMINAL.
UH, THAT LEFT A BIG GAP IN OUR ABILITY TO SERVICE, UH, THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND.
SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF ENTERPRISING BUSINESSES, UM, STEP IN TO TAKE UP SOME OF THE SLACK.
UH, BOTH RUN SMALL, UH, UH, LANDING CRAFT AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE THE ISLAND UNLESS THEY DID IT USING OUR BOAT RAMP.
UM, THIS THURSDAY I'VE GOT A, A VENDOR COMING OVER TO THE ISLAND.
HE'S GONNA COME OVER IN THE MORNING.
HE'LL BE ABLE TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK IN THE EVENING.
WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE.
IT'S A, IT'S A REAL BENEFIT TO OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND, AND IT'S REAL, IT'S A REAL BENEFIT TO THE, UH, PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE ISLAND.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, THESE, THESE, UH, AMENDMENTS WOULD PROHIBIT THESE PEOPLE USING THE, UH, BOAT RAMP.
AND IT'S A, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR, UH, OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WELL, JIM, UH, BOSKY, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I PRONOUNCE THAT WRONG.
NOW YOU GUYS KNOW WHY I CAN'T CALL THE NAMES
UH, AS MENTIONED, I'M JIM KY IS MY LAST NAME.
UH, MY WIFE AND I OWN KAYAK TOURS, UH, OVER 24-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
THE SUGGESTED PROPOSED CHANGES FOR WATERWAYS 1 0 2.
UM, ARTICLE ONE OR MEETINGS THAT IS PRESENTED CURRENTLY WOULD PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS.
THE PROPOSED CHANGES OF THE WATERWAY ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY COUPLED WITH THE ABANDONED BOAT ORDINANCE AS WELL.
IN MY OPINION, THOSE TWO ARE SEPARATE ISSUES, AND I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU SEPARATE THOSE ISSUES AS YOU CONSIDER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THOSE TWO SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TOGETHER.
68% OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE GIVE KAYAK TOURS TO RESIDE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE USING OUR SERVICES TODAY, WHO WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO USE THAT WOUNDED WARRIOR, YMCA VETERANS GROUPS, BURS CLUBS FROM OUTTA STATE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND CERTAINLY MANY MORE.
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MAKE IS MANY OF THE PUBLIC LANDINGS THAT WE USE DO NOT HAVE AN OPTION OF RENTING A MARINA SPACE.I CAN GET INTO SPECIFICS, BUT I DON'T THINK TODAY IS THE TIME.
UH, BY THE WAY, I'LL MAKE MYSELF AVAILABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MEETING OR INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS WOULD SEE FIT ONE THIS PROPOSAL.
THE IDEA IS TO MOVE US TO MARINAS.
WE OPERATE A PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS WHERE THERE IS NO MARINA AVAILABLE THAT WOULD PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS.
ALSO, I WANNA MAKE THE STATEMENT.
THE OTHER FOLKS THAT I BELIEVE THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED HERE TODAY ARE THE BIKE COMPANIES, BICYCLE COMPANIES, AND I CAN MENTION THEM TODAY.
THEY DON'T GET ON THE WATERWAYS, BUT YET WE SEE THEM AT EVERY PUBLIC, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
MOST PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS WE DO BUSINESS AT, THEY'RE BASING THEIR BUSINESS THERE WHILE THEIR FOLKS DO BIKE RIDES.
I BELIEVE THEY WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM DOING WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN THE EVENT THAT DIVISION GETS, UH, PUSHED THROUGH.
UM, AS I WRAP UP, I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE MONEY SPENT BY CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE TO ENCOURAGE TOURISM IN OUR COUNTY, THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE FLIES DIRECTLY IN THE FACE OF MONIES CURRENTLY BEING SPENT.
LARGE MONIES CURRENTLY BEING SPENT TO ATTRACT TOURISM TO OUR COUNTRY.
UP NEXT, WE HAVE, UH, MIKE FOX.
I'M OWNER OF BUFORD LANDS AND PADDLING.
UH, THIS IS CATHERINE CALDWELL, ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE A KAYAK, STANDUP PADDLEBOARD BUSINESS.
I COULD SECOND THE THINGS THAT JIM JUST SAID, BUT I WANTED TO KIND OF MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE PERSONAL.
UM, I'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF SUPPORT, SUPPORT FROM FOLKS FROM OUTTA STATE, INCLUDING, UH, TENNESSEE, FLORIDA, AND INDIANA, NORTH CAROLINA.
THIS IS AN EMAIL I GOT FROM, UH, SOMEBODY WHO DID A TOUR, AND SHE'S FROM INDIANA.
SHE SAID, HI MIKE, YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER ME.
WE WENT KAYAKING THIS PAST JUNE OUT BY THE BONEYARD.
WE FOUND SEVERAL SAND DOLLARS AND A NICE ROCK SHELL.
MY SISTER TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO DENY PUBLIC RAMP ACCESS TO BUSINESSES.
I REALIZE HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THAT WOULD HAVE ON YOU.
I'VE SENT AN EMAIL TO THE REPRESENTATIVES WHO WILL BE VOTING ON IT, ASKING 'EM TO PLEASE VOTE.
NO, I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T PASS.
I WOULD LOVE TO GO ON ANOTHER KAYAKING ADVENTURE WITH YOU NEXT TIME I'M IN TOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE FINAL OUTCOME.
AND IT'S LIKE JIM JUST SAID, IF THIS PASSES, I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE DONE.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BECOME A PASSION FOR ME.
I TELL A LOT OF MY CUSTOMERS AS MY SECOND CAREER, AND I, I'VE BEEN LUCKY TO HAVE, UM, EMPLOYEES AND GUIDES LIKE CATHERINE, AND I'M GONNA LET HER SHARE A COUPLE THINGS.
UM, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE BUSINESSES GOING UNDER AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THINGS FINANCIALLY FOR THEM.
BUT, UM, AS AN EMPLOYEE AND SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY RELOCATED HERE IN THE PAST YEAR, I CAN SPEAK TO HOW THIS WILL AFFECT, UM, THE EDUCATION OF VISITORS AND PEOPLE RELOCATING HERE.
THEY MIGHT MOVE HERE BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND THE PEOPLE ARE NICE.
UM, BUT SOMETHING THAT I FELL INTO WAS BEING ABLE TO HAVE A JOB RIGHT AWAY.
BUT TWO, I'M ABLE TO, AND ESPECIALLY BY US BEING MOBILE, BEING ABLE TO GO OUT OF MULTIPLE BOAT LANDINGS, I WAS ABLE TO LEARN QUICKLY ABOUT THE AREA, THE HISTORY, THE ENVIRONMENT.
I THINK THAT THAT EDUCATION IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT I REALLY RESPECTED ABOUT MOVING HERE AND LEARNING HOW BIG OF A DEAL IT IS TO LOCALS HERE.
AND I THINK TAKING 10 STEPS BACKWARDS, UM, BY TAKING THIS AWAY.
WE EDUCATE ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE AREA, THE HISTORY, THE ENVIRONMENT, HOW TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FINISH YOU OUT.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.
HOPEFULLY YOU GOT THE, UH, A LOT OF EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT, UH, FROM FRIENDS AND,
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AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, DONE THIS IN THE PAST.I CAN SECOND PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT JIM AND MIKE AND CATHERINE HAVE SAID.
I HAVE BEEN OPERATING MY BUSINESS FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS PLUS.
UM, REALLY, I FELL INTO STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY.
AND IT IS MY LIVELIHOOD AND IT IS, UM, MY PASSION.
SO I DID SEND OUT AN, UH, AN EMAIL LETTER TO EVERYBODY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO STEP UP HERE TO TOUCH ON A COUPLE OTHER THINGS OR REITERATE THOSE THINGS.
ONE BEING IF THIS ORDINANCE IS PASSED, IT WILL DEFINITELY PUT ME OUT OF BUSINESS.
UM, THERE ARE NO OTHER MARINAS IN BLUFFTON THAT I CAN OPERATE OUT OF.
I SOLELY OPERATE OUT OF THE BLUFFTON OYSTER TRAJECTORY PARK.
UM, I HAVE GOOD RAPPORT WITH EVERYBODY AROUND THERE.
I HELP PEOPLE GET ON THE WATER.
AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS IS TO HELP PEOPLE GET FAMILIAR AND CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE ON THOSE WATERS WITHOUT ME BEING THERE.
THERE'S NO WAY FOR ANYBODY TO GET ACCESS ON A STANDUP PADDLE BOARD IF THIS ORDINANCE WAS TO BE PASSED, BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYBODY ANYWHERE TO GO, UM, WITHIN A PEDALING DISTANCE.
UM, SECONDLY WOULD BE THAT, UM, SHOULD JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
BUT LONG STORY SHORT, THIS IS WHAT I DO.
MY VISION WAS TO HAVE A MOBILE, LIKE MY BUSINESS VISION WAS NOT TO HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE AND BE STUCK IN ANY ONE PLACE.
I DON'T LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND BECAUSE MY BIG SEASON IS THE SUMMER AND THAT, THAT ALONE HAVING TO PAY EXTRA FEES AND EXTRA PERMITS AND ALL, WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO BE IN BUSINESS.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
LIKE I SAID, I DID SEND OUT A LETTER, SO MOST EVERYTHING ELSE THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP IS IN THAT.
UH, LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS TERRIBLE HAND HANDWRITING LIKE I DO.
GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I DIDN'T KNOW I COULD SPEAK TILL I WALKED IN THE DOOR.
SO MY NOTES ARE SCRIBBLED DOWN VERY QUICKLY, AND I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, I OWN BEAR BONES CHARTERS AND I USE THE COUNTY RAMPS AND COUNTY FACILITIES.
HELENA, UM, LADIES ISLAND AREA RUS POINT.
AND I PERSONALLY HAVE NOT WITNESSED ANY CHARTER CAPTAINS IN MY DEALINGS IN MY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DOING THIS.
UM, I HAVEN'T WITNESSED ANYBODY CAMPING OUT AT THE DOCKS, YOU KNOW, JUST SITTING THERE WAITING ON THEIR CHARTERS.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THE CAPTAINS ARE RESPECTFUL.
IF THEY'VE GOT A CHARTER COMING, THEY'RE RUNNING LATE.
THEY KNOW THEY'RE COMING, THEY SET OFF THE DOCK AND THEY'RE VOTED LATE, AND THEN THEY PICK 'EM UP WHEN THEY SHOW UP AND THEY LEAVE.
SO I HAVE WITNESSED THAT IT MAY BE HAPPENING.
UM, AND, AND I PREFER A COMMON SENSE APPROACH HERE.
UM, IF IT'S BECOME A PROBLEM AT CERTAIN RAMPS, I I'M HEARING IT HAS, WHY DON'T WE JUST DO FORESTER RULES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS.
WE HAD A 15 MINUTE TIME LIMIT, NOW GOT 15 MINUTES TO DO YOUR BUSINESS AND MOVE AWAY.
UM, TO ME THAT'S JUST A COMMON SENSE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S DON'T PENALIZE THE CAPTAINS.
THEY'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, WHICH IS THE MAJORITY.
THE MAJORITY OF US ARE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP HOURS ON END.
UM, AND I ALSO, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, RELATIVELY NEW TO THE AREA DOING THIS, AND IT WILL, IT'LL PUT ME OUT BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION FOR THE PORT OIL SOUND FOUNDATION.
UH, OUR MISSION IS CONSERVING THE PORT OIL SOUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF OUR REGION.
UM, AND AS ESTUARIES GO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS A UNIQUE SPOT WITH MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES OF SALT MARSH AND, AND OCEAN LEVEL SALINITY AS FAR AS 30 MILES INLAND.
AND THESE CONDITIONS MAKE IT A SPECIAL PLACE WITH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM AND RECREATION FISHING TO, TO, TO PROVE IT.
TOURISM BRINGS MORE THAN ONE AND A HALF BILLION DOLLARS FOR THE BE TO THE COUNTY ANNUALLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW.
UM, AND ACCORDING TO THE DATA COLLECTED BY THE AMERICAN SPORTS FISHING ASSOCIATION IN
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22, RECREATIONAL FISHING SUPPORTS MORE THAN 1100 JOBS, UH, AND GENERATES MORE THAN $160 MILLION ANNUALLY.IN, IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ONE, IT'S REALLY HARD, HARD TO FIND COUNTY LEVEL DATA.
UM, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A TON OF FISHING CHARTERS, PROBABLY OVER A HUNDRED.
UM, AND TOWARDS THAT, TAKE VISITORS AND RESIDENTS OUT TO ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND THE BOUNTY OF OUR ENVIRONMENT.
MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES USE SMALL VESSELS AND MOST DEPEND ON PUBLIC LANDINGS TO ACCESS THE WATER.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT INCREASED DEMAND FOR ACCESS TO THE WATER HAS LED TO INCREASED VOLUME OF BOATS AND VESSELS USING PUBLIC LAND USE.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AT PORT ROYAL SOUND FOUNDATION, THIS TREND SUGGESTS A GROWING APPRECIATION FOR THE UNIQUE NATURE OF OUR SOUND.
HOWEVER, WE ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THAT VOLUME MUST BE MANAGED TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO ENSURE THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF OUR PUBLIC LANDINGS IS SUSTAINED.
BUT WE'RE CONCERNED THAT PROHIBITING ALL COMMERCIAL OPERATORS FROM USING PUBLIC LANDINGS WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITY OF SMALL SCALE FISHING, CHARTER, AND TOUR OPERATORS THAT BRING PEOPLE OUT INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
MANY OF THESE CAPTAINS AND OPERATORS IN THIS ROOM ARE OUR EYES ON THE SOUND.
THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES TO TELL US WHEN THEY SEE THINGS CHANGING OR THEY SEE A PROBLEM, WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMITTEE TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGING THIS CHALLENGE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE OUT ON THE WATER AND KEEPS IT PROTECTED.
UH, OF NEXT IS ANTHONY, UM, CAPPUCCINO CAP.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, COUNSEL.
MY NAME IS, UH, ANTHONY CAPUCCIO.
I'M ALSO ON THE TE PASCAL COUNCIL.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UH, MIKE HUB'S, UH, COMMENTS EARLIER, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, UH, STRESS THAT THERE ARE OTHER, MULTIPLE OTHER BUSINESSES ON THE ISLAND THAT, THAT RELY ON SOME OF THE LANDING CRAFT THAT WE USE FROM GOING FROM, UH, THE MAINLAND OVER TO, UH, THE, THE COUNTY DOCK ON DUSKY.
UH, SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES INCLUDE LIKE THE DISTILLERY RESTAURANTS, UM, ALSO TRANSPORTING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH ON SOME OF THE PRIVATE, UM, UH, PRIVATE TOUR BOATS THAT COME OVER.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UM, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PUDS AS WELL.
THE PLAN UNIT DEVELOPMENTS ALSO USE THOSE LAND AND CRAFT, UM, TO TRANSPORT SUPPLIES OVER.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF THE, THEIR FERRIES WON'T HANDLE SOME OF THE, THE LARGER LOADS.
THERE'S ONLY ONE TIE DEPENDENT BARGE, UM, THAT'S OPERATED BY ONE OPERATOR NOW.
SO AGAIN, THAT DOES SEVERELY LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF, UM, GOODS AND SERVICES THAT CAN BE BROUGHT OVER AT ANY ONE TIME.
UM, IN ADDITION TO, UM, JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT.
UM, ONE, ONE THING TO REMIND TO, TO REMEMBER IS THAT UNDER ARTICLE ONE, SECTION EIGHT OF THE CONSTITUTION, UM, IT, IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT PROHIBIT, UH, COMMERCE, WHICH IS THE TRANSPORTATION OF PEOPLE AND GOODS, UH, IN OUR LAND.
SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THROW THAT OUT THERE.
UH, I'M T SCOTT, UM, FISHING GUIDE HERE IN BEFORD COUNTY.
UH, I'VE BEEN DOING SO SINCE 2004.
UM, I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE RIGHT OFF THE BAT OF WHAT I DID TODAY.
I PREDOMINANTLY RUN ALL FLY FISHING CHARTERS.
THERE WERE TWO GUYS IN EACH ONE OF THOSE BOATS.
THOSE GUYS ARE HERE FOR THREE DAYS, THE THIRD TIME THEY'VE BEEN HERE THIS YEAR.
AND EACH ONE OF THEM INDEPENDENTLY HAS A HOTEL ROOM.
UH, EACH ONE OF THEM WILL GO TO DINNER TONIGHT AND EVERY OTHER NIGHT THEY'RE HERE.
THEY'LL PROBABLY BUY ME DINNER.
THEY'D PROBABLY BUY ME DINNER TONIGHT IF I WASN'T STANDING RIGHT HERE.
BUT, AND THAT WILL INCLUDE DRINKS AND PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BY EACH ONE OF THEM TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS, UM, TIMES SIX PLUS POTENTIALLY FISHING GUIDES.
SO, UM, WE COLLECTIVELY, EVERYONE THAT'S RUNNING A BUSINESS IN THIS ROOM, UM, IS HELPING WITH NOT ONLY BRINGING MONEY TO, UH, HOTELS AND LOT OR, UH, RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES, BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE ALSO PROVIDING THE GENERAL WORK THAT VISIT BUFORT AND OTHERS DO, UH, TO TRY TO BRING IN TOURISM TO THIS AREA.
AS FAR AS FISHING GUIDES GO, UH, WE, UH, MOST OF THE FISHING GUIDES IN THE AREA, LAKE COUNTY TAXES, ALL OF THE FISHING GUIDES IN THE AREA BUY AN SCD AND R FISHING LICENSE.
THAT IS A MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A REGULAR, UH, FISHING LICENSE.
AND WE ARE THE ONLY SOURCE OF STATISTICS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO SCD AND R TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR THEM TO MAKE RULES AND LAWS ON OUR ACTUAL ESTUARY, UH, FISHERIES SO THAT THESE FISHERS AS PROTECTED AS POSSIBLE.
UM, AND I THINK THAT IS A HUGE THING TO TAKE AWAY.
AND I GUARANTEE A C DARREN R WILL BE VERY UPSET IF THAT STATISTIC DEPARTMENT NO LONGER HAS PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THOSE STATISTICS.
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WE WE ALSO TRY TO BE THE STEWARDS, THE STEWARDS OF THE AREA AS BEST WE CAN.SO ANYWAYS, I WON'T TAKE UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME.
UH, UP NEXT IS, UM, MR. COREY CUNNINGHAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR GIVING EVERYBODY TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I DIDN'T REALLY PLAN ON IT, BUT I DID JO DOWN SOME THINGS HERE.
UH, I'VE LIVED HERE SINCE 1987.
I'VE BEEN RUNNING, UM, GUIDED TRIPS OUT OF VARIOUS COUNTY BOAT LANDINGS, UH, FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, SINCE 2010.
AND, UH, IT'S A PRETTY WELL RUN OPERATION, HONESTLY, BECAUSE WE ALL, LIKE I SAID, LIKE ERNIE WAS SAYING, WE GET IN AND OUT QUICK.
UH, I JUST GOT SOME NOTES HERE.
MOST PROFESSIONALS HAVE THEIR BOAT IN AND OUT FIVE TO 10 MINUTES, AND WE YIELD THE PUBLIC VOTERS.
SIGNIFICANT CONGESTION IS RARE.
AND THIS IS ON HILTON HEAD, YOU KNOW, IN ONE OF THE PRIME SPOTS THERE.
SO PEOPLE ARE LEAVING AT 15, AFTER 30 AFTER, UM, ON THE HOUR.
SOME PEOPLE LEAVE AT SEVEN, SOME EIGHT, NINE.
SO THERE'S NOT LIKE EVERYBODY'S THERE AT ONCE TRYING TO.
AND THERE'S VERY RARELY EVER, UH, CONGESTION THERE.
UH, BEING THERE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE KEEP AN EYE OUT, UM, AND ALWAYS ASSIST INEXPERIENCED BOATERS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PULLING IN THERE, THEY COME DOWN ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY COMMON THING THAT I SEE DOWN THERE.
UM, THE MARINE MARINAS ON HILTON HEAD THAT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN PROHIBITION FOR THE LAST, SINCE I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 15 YEARS, UH, THEY DON'T WANT TO, UH, GIVE UP SPOTS IN THE MARINA.
SO THEY HAVE KIND OF A MONOPOLY GOING.
AND, UH, A QUOTE FROM ONE OF THE MARINA OWNERS WHEN I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT GETTING IN THERE AND PAYING HIM TO LET ME WORK OUT HIS MARINA WAS, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO SHARE THE WEALTH AND THEY'RE PULLING IN.
HE QUOTED ME, UH, JUST THIS WEEK.
THEIR, UH, BUSINESS IS BASED ON $5 MILLION A YEAR.
SO, UH, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO EAT BY AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE A NICE LITTLE LIVING AND LIVE OUR OWN DREAMS. BUT, UM, IT'S KIND OF TOUGH WITH THAT GOING ON.
BUT FOR CAPTAINS USING THE LANDING, SHUTTING DOWN WOULD CAUSE THEM TO LOSE THEIR BUSINESSES.
UM, AS WE'VE STATED, UH, I FEEL THAT LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS SHOULD ALWAYS COME BEFORE CORPORATE CASH GRABS, BUSINESS MONOPOLIES AND GOVERNMENT OVERREACH, WHICH IS MY OPINION.
UM, THERE'S PLENTY TO GO AROUND, UH, OF BUSINESS AND, UH, THE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NEEDED TO REPRESENT THE BEAUTY OF OUR AREA AND KINDNESS OF OUR PEOPLE.
WE ARE NOT DISGRUNTLED, OFTEN UNDERPLAY PAID EMPLOYEES.
WE LOVE OUR LIVES WORK AND THE JOY OF SHARING OUR INCREDIBLE WATERWAYS WHILE EDUCATING VISITORS.
I HEAR ALL THE TIME, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I HOLDING THE HEAD, IS TO GET OUT ON THE WATER WITH YOU AND HAVE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
UM, IT KEEPS PEOPLE COMING BACK, IT KEEPS THE MONEY FLOWING, UH, AND EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, TRY TO MAKE THEIR DREAMS A REALITY BY PROVIDING NEEDED SERVICES, UH, AND SURVIVE IN A VERY CHALLENGING TIME.
OF NEXT IS, UH, TYLER, UH, HASK.
DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? LOOKS LIKE H-A-S-S-I-G MAYBE, UH, UH, THE ROOM.
HEY TYLER, CAN YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? PA YOU ACTUALLY GOT IT IS SHOCKING.
UM, I'M THE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF LIVING WATERS BOAT TOURS.
UH, WE DO DOLPHIN WATCHING SUNSET CRUISES, BASICALLY EVERYTHING BUT FISHING.
UH, MY WIFE AND I CALL IT OUR NON-PROFIT BECAUSE WE BARELY MAKE ANY MONEY WITH IT.
UM, AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, EXPENSES ARE VERY HIGH FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.
WHEN YOU OWN A BOAT, SOMETHING'S BREAKING EVERY OTHER TIME YOU USE IT.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, JUST IN REFERENCE TO THE MOTION ON THE TABLE TODAY, ADDING ADDITIONAL FEES FOR USING MARINAS WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY DETRIMENTAL.
UM, FOR US, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO PAY, OBVIOUSLY, IS OUR COUNTY LICENSING FEE, WHICH GOES TOWARDS, UM, USING THE BOAT RAMPS.
UH, WHICH MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACCURATELY COMMENTED, CAPTAINS ARE THE MOST RESPECTFUL FOLKS AT THE RAMP.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES PICKING UP TRASH AND, UH, HELPING PEOPLE OUT WHEN THEY CAN'T TRAILER THEIR BOAT, RIGHT? OR TIE IT UP.
UM, SO CAPTAINS DEFINITELY ARE A CRUCIAL PART OF THE BOAT RAMP AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO KNOW HOW TO USE IT, UM, AND DO A GOOD JOB.
SO, UH, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP THE CAPTAINS THERE.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I TELL MY CUSTOMERS AND THEY GET ON THE BOAT, UM, AS EVERYONE HERE KNOWS, BEAUFORT COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE 51%
[00:30:01]
WATER BY AREA, AND OF COURSE THAT'S CREEKS AND RIVERS AND SOUNDS.AND THE 49% ITS LAND IS SOME 1200 ISLANDS.
SO YOU NEED A BOAT TO GET AROUND BUFORT, AND MANY PEOPLE JUST DON'T HAVE ONE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, STOPPING CAPTAINS AND CHARTER COMPANIES FROM TAKING PEOPLE OUT IN THE WATER, YOU'RE REALLY STOPPING PEOPLE FROM SEEING, EXPERIENCING BUFORT.
UM, GOING OUT THERE AND CATCHING A FISH OR SEEING A DOLPHIN, SEEING A DOLPHIN CHANGES SOMEONE'S LIFE.
I MEAN, IT'S, TO ME, IT'S KIND OF SILLY, BUT IT'S TRUE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I TAKE TOURISTS OUT ALL THE TIME AND, AND, UH, IT'S THEIR FAVORITE THING THEY DO THE WHOLE TIME THEY COME TO BEFOR.
SO JUST, UM, SPEAKING FOR THEM, FOR FUTURE TOURISTS, UH, FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE BARELY MAKING A PROFIT AS IT IS, UM, PLEASE ALLOW US TO CONTINUE USING BOOK RECORDS.
UH, UP NEXT WE HAVE, UH, ADD ON SBO.
I'M, UH, OWNER OPERATOR OF, UH, TIRE RIDER CHARTERS, UH, VETERAN OWNED AND OPERATED.
I BEEN DOING IT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
UH, I THINK MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE WAY THE ORDINANCE HAS KIND OF TRIED TO BE PASSED UNDER THE DERELICT BOAT, UH, ORDINANCE.
SO, UM, THAT KIND OF SHOWS YOU WHO WE'RE DEALING WITH, UH, THE MENTALITY OF CORPORATE, TRYING TO COME DOWN ON LITTLE GUYS.
EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM'S COMPETITION AND WE'RE HERE TODAY KIND OF STANDING UP FOR OUR LITTLE RIGHT.
BUT, UM, THE MAIN REASON I GOT INTO IT WAS FOR HELPING PTSD VETERANS, UM, DO A LOT OF CHORES, A LOT OF TOURS, UH, WITH DISABLED VETS.
UM, WE DO TOWING OPERATIONS AS WELL AS CCU.
UM, AND IT'S JUST LITTLE THINGS WE DON'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT.
AND THIS WOULD DEFINITELY PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS AND, UH, JUST HOPE Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING.
GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUY ON THIS ONE.
NOW EVEN DON'T ATTEMPT TO READ THAT ONE.
YEAH, NO, WOULD'VE NEVER GOTTEN THAT FIRST.
BUT YEAH, THANKS FOR, UH, UH, PUTTING THIS THING, YOU KNOW, A MONTH DOWN.
'CAUSE UH, LIKE HE SAID, IT KIND OF JUST LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GONNA GET SLIPPED UNDERNEATH.
UM, BUT I'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS AND BLUFFED FOR 17 YEARS AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE A, YOU KNOW, MARINA OUT THERE.
SO IF, UH, THAT ORDINANCE PASSED, IT PUT ME OUT OF BUSINESS OVERNIGHT.
BUT I JUST, I DO FISHING, I DO A LOT TO DUSKY.
UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE FOLKS OVER THERE, EVERYBODY, EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE SAID, UH, I, I CAN'T ADD ANYMORE.
I MEAN, THEY'VE HIT EVERY, EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, HOPEFULLY DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND THE BIG THING IS JUST ENFORCE THE RULES THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.
IF YOU DO THAT, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY AMENDMENT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE DELIC BOAT STUFF, BUT, UM, IF THERE'S PEOPLE, BAD ACTORS OUT THERE, THIS IS THE WORST OF YOUR HONOR RULES.
IT'S PROBABLY IN THE OTHER ROOM.
I'VE BEEN HERE IN THIS COUNTY FOR 13 YEARS.
I'M VERY ACTIVE IN THE SPORT FLY FISHING COMMUNITY.
UM, I HAVE WATCHED THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION OF THIS ORDINANCE, OR THE REWRITE OF THE OLD ORDINANCE TWICE ONLINE.
UH, I LIKE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WHEN, WHEN LAWYERS START WRITING THINGS AND POLITICIANS START LEGISLATING THINGS, YOU REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THE NUANCE OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND WHAT'S ACTUALLY WRITTEN.
UM, I AM NOT A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN.
I DO NOT, UH, OWN A, I OWN TWO CANOES.
UH, I HAVE, SO AS THEY SAY, I HAVE NO DOG IN THIS FIGHT, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL BE AFFECTED.
UH, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SITUATIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, UH, SOME ABUSE AND USE THAT PROBABLY SHOULDN'T GO ON.
AND, UH, I, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME REWRITE BY THIS COUPLE OF GENTLEMEN HERE, UH, AMENDING WHAT'S ALREADY ONLINE, UH, AS THE ORDINANCE.
UH, I HAVE NOT SEEN A COPY OF THAT.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA SUGGEST TODAY IS THAT THIS ISSUE GETS TABLED YET AGAIN
[00:35:01]
AND TAKEN A LOOK AT AT NEXT MONTH'S ISSUE.POST THOSE ONLINE AND THEN OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT YET AGAIN.
IF YOU'VE NOT READ THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I SUGGEST YOU DO.
THERE WAS LAST 69 OF 'EM, I THINK THERE WAS A HALF A DOZEN IN SUPPORT OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, UH, FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE COUNTY.
SO IF YOU'LL JUST TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT, UH, I'VE GOT SUGGESTIONS ABOUT A REWRITE.
I'VE READ ENOUGH IRS CODE THAT I THINK I COULD PROBABLY WRITE CODE CODE.
ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT ALL I HAVE TO SAY AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, I RUN OUT SMALL BUSINESS, UH, BOOGIEMAN FISHING CHARTERS.
EL ISLAND AROUND STATION CREEK BOAT LANDING AND ALSO USE RUST POINT.
UM, NOT A LOT TO DO IN THAT AREA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME STAY THE AIRBNBS, THEY WANT TO GO FISHING.
PEOPLE OUT ON TRIP WANT TO GO FISHING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN WHEN THEY GO FISHING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, UH, THAT'S THE MAIN THING PEOPLE WANT TO DO.
IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF PEOPLE STAYING HERE, OF COURSE THEY'RE GONNA EAT A RESTAURANT THAT I PROBABLY RECOMMEND TO.
I SHOULD GIVE FREE DINNERS ALL OVER TOWN, UH, PLACES TO STAY NEXT TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PAYING FOR GAS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, ECONOMIC BENEFIT, NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR EVERYONE ELSE IN THE AREA.
I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU ALL WELL KNOW THAT.
UM, DEFINITELY IF YOU, IF I WASN'T ABLE TO USE THE BOAT LANDING, I, I DEFINITELY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS.
UM, IN THE PAST I HAVE HAD COMPANIES WHERE I DID RUN OUT BOAT LANDING, YOU DO AT, AT A A MARINA.
UM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT PAYING SIX, 700 BUCKS MORE A MONTH.
YOU'RE GONNA BUY FUEL AT THAT MARINA.
THAT'S ANOTHER PROBABLY THREE, $4,000 A YEAR.
UM, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY JUST, IT WOULD JUST KILL US.
SO, UM, THAT'S JUST MY, UH, SAFE ZONE AND I APPRECIATE YOU NOT PASSING THIS THING.
UM, LOOKS LIKE BEAR, LET ME HEAR Y'ALL.
UH, JARED OWENS, I GET IT RIGHT.
I'M A OWNER OF A MARINE HOT DRIVING COMPANY HERE IN BEFORD.
WE WORK HILTON HEAD ALL THE WAY TO NORTHERN BEFORD COUNTY.
UM, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUP PROBABLY HERE TODAY WITH ALL THE CHARTER GUYS, BUT JUST GREAT THEY SHOWED UP.
BUT FOR A LOT OF OUR JOBS MOBILIZED HAVE A BOAT LANDING, WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE OR PUTTING IN WORK BOATS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS.
SO MANY OF OUR PLACES ARE REMOTE WHERE WE'RE WORKING AT AND JUST BEING ABLE TO GET TO, TO COMMUTE TO WORK, UH, MANY MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR IS AN IMPORTANT PART.
USING OUR PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS.
MY OFFICE AND LAND AND EVERYTHING IS IN THE COUNTY.
WE PAY THE SAME LICENSING FEES.
AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THAT TODAY.
I SAY ALL THE CHARTER GUYS AND THE MARINE CONTRACTORS MYSELF HAVE SUCH A SMALL FOOTPRINT.
I THINK AT, AT THE BILL AND IT'S TIME IS MONEY FOR EVERYONE HERE SITTING IN THIS ROOM.
SO NO ONE IS LINGERING THERE JUST TO HANG OUT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN AND OUT AND I THINK IT'S JUST, UH, IMPORTANT THAT ALL THESE GUYS TODAY, TODAY.
UH, THE LAST ON THE LIST IS THOMAS, UH, BUSKER.
ALRIGHT, IF YOU CAN, YOU'RE UP.
UH, I'M INCREDIBLY NERVOUS TO BE UP HERE.
UH, MY NAME IS THOMAS BUSTER, UM, OWNER AND OPERATOR OF SEATTLE ADVENTURES FISHING CHARTERS.
UH, I WAS BORN, RAISED HERE IN BUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA AND JUST LIVING OUT MY DREAM, UM, WANTED TO POINT OUT WHAT'S BUFORD'S MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE.
UM, I WOULD SAY IT'S WATERWAYS.
UH, IF YOU REDUCE, IF YOU DON'T ALLOW CHARTER BOAT CAPTAINS TO USE THE COUNTY LANDING 'CAUSE FUEL WILL REDUCE ACCESS TO THE WATERWAYS.
UM, OWNING A BOAT IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE AND MANY PEOPLE MAYBE CAN AFFORD TO TAKE A FISHING TRUCKER ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A BOAT AND GET OUT AND EXPERIENCE OUR WATERWAYS.
UM, ALL THE CHORE GUIDES, CHARTER OPERATORS IN THIS ROOM, NONE OF THEM ARE OUT THERE TO GET RICH.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING IT 'CAUSE THEY LOVE IT AND THEY WANNA SHARE THEIR LOVE WITH OTHERS.
UM, THAT'S A BIG REASON PEOPLE COME TO BEFORD.
SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I JUST ASK IF YOU CONSIDER THAT, YOU KNOW, BEFORE CONSIDERING CLOSING THE LAND INTO
[00:40:01]
CHARTER OPERATORS, BOTH DOORS, THE LAND.UH, I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE LAST INDIVIDUAL ON THE LIST.
WAS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT HAS ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT DID NOT SIGN UP? YES SIR.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME ON THE RECORD.
I'M A LOCAL HERE, BEEN HERE SINCE 1959 AND I RUN A SMALL TIME CHARTER BOAT BUSINESS CALLED THE PIRATE SUPPORT ROYAL CHARTERS.
AND I WAS JUST KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT THESE GUYS BEHIND ME WERE SAYING.
AND OUT OF THE 17 PEOPLE WHO SPOKE, NINE OF THEM, NINE OF THEM SAID THEY WOULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS OF THIS PAST NINE.
AND OUT OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T MENTION THAT, UM, SEVERAL OF THEM ARE, WERE, ARE NOT CHARTER CAPTAINS, THEY'RE MARINE CONTRACTORS OR THEY'RE, OR THE, WITH THE OIL SOUND FOUNDATION.
SO YOU HAVE A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW, MS. LIVELIHOODS ARE DEPENDENT UPON THEIR ACCESS TO OUR LANDS.
THAT'S, THAT'S A VERY STARK, UM, STATISTIC.
NINE OUT OF 17, TAKE AWAY AT LEAST THREE WHO ARE NOT CHARTER BOAT CAP CAPTAINS.
IT'S NINE OUT OF 14 OUT OF BUSINESS.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES SIR.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
UH, I'M A BE FOR IAN SINCE 2006.
I'VE FISHED HERE SINCE THE 1950S.
UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT AS FAR AS A COMMERCIAL OPERATION.
I'M, UH, CURRENTLY FINANCE MANAGER FOR THE WHO MEMORIAL WILDLIFE FUND.
I CAN TELL YOU STATEWIDE, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED HERE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, IT WOULD SPREAD TO OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE AND I THINK IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL ALL ACROSS THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS.
I WOULD REMIND THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE THAT THIS COUNTY WAS BASICALLY DISCOVERED, IF YOU WILL, BY HUNTERS AND ANGLERS.
WHEN I WAS A, A YOUNG MAN, AND I'M QUITE OLD NOW, I WENT TO HILTON HEAD TO SEE CONCRETE B BLOCK HOUSES AND A BURNED OUT HOTDOG STAND OUT ON THE BEACH AND THOUSANDS OF SAND DOLLARS.
IT WAS HUNTERS AND FISHERMEN WHO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE BEAUTY AND WHAT WAS AVAILABLE.
AND THIS WHOLE COUNTY DEVELOPED INTO WHAT IT IS BECAUSE OF A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND THE FOREFATHER TO SELL IT.
THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE LIKE THIS, IT IS OVERREACH REALLY AT ITS WORST.
JUST REAL QUICKLY, DEBORAH SMITH, UH, SUPPORTING THE COMMENTS FROM OF, UH, THE, THE TWO COUNCIL PEOPLE FROM REQUEST ISLAND.
I JUST WANT TO REALLY WANNA MAKE IT CLEAR.
YOU FOLKS SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT OUR FAIRY PROBLEMS. UM, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE DEVASTATING IF YOU ONLY LOOK AT THE WATER TAXI PORTION ON.
WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE ANY BOAT SERVICE FOR VISITORS TO COME TO DUSKY FROM SAVANNAH.
AND THEN IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE, UH, SUCH AS THE BAY RIVER EXCURSION SERVICE THAT CHRIS CHRIS RUNS.
UM, AND MANY OTHERS WILL ALL BE GONE.
UH, FISHING EXCURSIONS, DOLPHIN WATCHING EXCURSIONS, SHARK TOOTH HUNTING EXCURSIONS, BOTH RUN BY LOCAL FOLKS UNDER DUSKY WHO WILL LOSE THEIR BUSINESSES IF THIS GOES THROUGH AND BY OUR PARTNERS CAPTAINS, UH, IN OTHER AREAS WILL ALSO BE GONE.
THE BARGE SERVICES MIKE, MIKE TALKED ABOUT IS, UM, IS ALL, IS VERY, VERY TOUCH AND GO RIGHT NOW SINCE THE HUTCHINSON ISLAND BARGE SERVICE SHUT DOWN.
BUT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE SMALL COMPANIES WHO ARE MAKING IT WORK THAT WILL BE SHUTTING DOWN AND THAT HIT HURTS EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS ON DUSKY DEPENDS ON GETTING THEIR SUPPLIES.
SO I, THIS, THIS SEEMS LIKE A BAD IDEA.
UM, THE PEOPLE ON DUSKY STAND READY TO WORK WITH YOU ON ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED OR THAT THAT UH, TRIGGERED THIS, UH, THIS REVIEW.
UM, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.
AND, UM, AND WE WOULD ASK YOU TO, UM, TAKE A BIG, BIG STEP BACK AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AS ALWAYS.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SEEING NOBODY ELSE? MR. CHAIR, DO YOU WANNA CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT? YES SIR.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT THOSE OF THAT HERE, JUST SO YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE ONE ITEM BEFORE IT AND THEN IT'S GONNA BE THE ITEM YOU GUYS SPOKE ON.
SO IT'LL BE THE FIRST ACTION ITEM, UM, FOR US TO DISCUSS.
SO WE COULD HANG AROUND FOR THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT WE ARE GONNA HAVE A PRESENTATION REAL QUICK, JUST ABOUT SOME UPDATES FOR OUR 2018 SALES TAX, UM, WHICH I'M SURE YOU GUYS ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT AS WELL.
[ 7. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]
REPORT BEFORE THAT ITEM AND WE'LL MAKE IT CLEAR.I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE, UH, ROBERT GETSY.
[00:45:01]
PROJECTS, UH, MANAGEMENT TEAM'S DIRECTOR, INTERIM DIRECTOR.HE'S GONNA PROVIDE A, UM, BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SOME OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK UP HERE BEFORE YOU.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, APPROXIMATELY, UH, I WANNA SAY NOT APPROXIMATELY.
WE HAVE 58 PROJECTS IN FY 26 BEING FRONTED.
OF COURSE WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE CARRY OVER FROM FY 25 BEING COMPLETED.
16 UNDER CONSTRUCTION 17 IN DESIGN ARE PERMITTING THE REMAINING OR EITHER IN A STATE OF ON HOLD OR IN PLANNING.
AND UH, JUST WANTED TO RUN DOWN A FEW OF THOSE, UH, NOTABLES OF COURSE WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT ARE ACTIVELY BEING WORKED ON IN DESIGN AND PERMITTING.
FORUS MAJOR AND UH, WESLEY FELIX.
AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING TO BREAK GROUND ON THOSE WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
AND STEEL FOR THE BUILDINGS IS DUE IN DECEMBER.
SO WE ARE, UH, ON TRACK ON UH, UH, ON TRACK WITH CONSTRUCTION AND MOVING FORWARD QUICKLY.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE THE SCOTT COMMUNITY CENTER AND I KNOW THAT'S, UH, BEEN BROUGHT UP AS WELL.
UH, SCOTT COMMUNITY CENTER IS GONNA HAVE TO BE PUT OUT FOR REBID AGAIN AND UH, WE WILL DO THAT AND UH, PUT THAT BACK OUT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
UH, WE HAD A CONTRACTOR WHO PULLED OUT OF, UH, THEIR CONTRACT DECIDED THAT IT WAS NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
THEY CAME IN AS LOW BIDDER AND DECIDED TO, UH, TRY TO MAKE A CHANGE AT THE LAST MINUTE.
SO, UM, STATION 39 IS UNDERWAY.
WE'VE GONE, UH, UH, THROUGH ALL THE PERMITTING PROCESS.
WE'RE NOW, OF COURSE THIS IS A DESIGN BUILD AND SO THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS, OF COURSE IS TO RECEIVE THE NUMBERS FROM THE CONTRACTOR ON THE CONSTRUCTION, UH, PORTION.
AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THOSE, UH, THEY TOLD US THEY'LL HAVE THOSE THE FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER.
WE ARE HOPING TO GET THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE 'CAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A COURSE COMMITTEE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN GET THOSE ON TRACK TO BE APPROVED.
UH, ONCE WE DO HAVE THOSE NUMBERS, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
UM, THAT WOULD BE AGAIN THE NEXT STEP AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT APPROVED TO CONTINUE, UH, WITHOUT DELAYS.
UM, OAK T RIVER PARK, WE ARE NEARING THE END OF PHASE ONE, SO AS YOU MAY KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE EMBANKMENT.
UH, PHASE ONE HAS BEEN COMPLETE.
THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO BE TURNING OVER THAT PORTION TO US.
UH, BASICALLY THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE WE ARE WAITING ON THE DESIGN OF THE EMBANKMENT, WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN.
UH, WE ARE ARE ANTICIPATING BY JANUARY OR SOMETIME IN JANUARY AND THEN PUTTING THAT OUT FOR BID.
UH, AND THEN THAT WOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY, APPROXIMATELY NINE TO 10 MONTHS FROM WHAT I'M BEING TOLD.
WE ALSO, UH, HAVE SEVERAL COURSE, UH, PASSIVE PARK THAT ARE ACTIVELY BEING WORKED.
WE HAVE PINE VIEW RESERVE, WHICH HAS RECEIVED CONDITIONAL SRT ON OCTOBER 1ST.
AND UH, THAT WAS JUST PENDING SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE PLANS AND WE ARE SUBMITTING TO THEM, UM, WITH FINAL ON THAT AND THEN TO THE BID.
AND THAT SHOULD HAPPEN I'M SURE WITHIN, UH, THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
I STEPHANIE IMAGINE OF COURSE, I SHE'S HERE TODAY CAN SPEAK A LITTLE MORE INTO DETAILS WHERE WE ARE ON THIS TIME.
UM, BUCK, UH, BRACE BUCK WALTER RECREATION ATHLETIC COMPLEXES OUT THE BID BIDS WE DO, WE EXTENDED IT TO ABOUT 60 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS.
WE HAD IT UH, IN BETWEEN THE HOLIDAYS FOR THE CONTRACTOR.
SO END ON DECEMBER 9TH AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A, UH, POSITIVE OUTCOME WITH THAT.
SO BEAVER COUNTY COURTHOUSE IS CURRENTLY UNDER DESIGN WITH MOSLEY ARCHITECTS AND WE WERE WORKING OF COURSE WITH CLERK OF COURT TO UH, MAKE SURE ALL OF THE AREAS AND SCOPE IS COVERED WITH THE DESIGN.
IT IS A SEVERAL MONTH PROCESS.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE BACK, WE DID RECEIVE BACK AN INITIAL, UH, FLOOR PLAN OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGES TO, THEY WERE LOOKING TO CHANGE SOME OF THE, UH, WITNESS, UH, STANDS AND REPORTERS, UH, AROUND SOME OF THE FAMILY COURTROOMS THERE.
AND UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND GONNA HAVE THAT OVER WITH THE CLERK REPORT TO REVIEW AND GET BACK AND HOPEFULLY AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING WITH THE DESIGN PROCESS COMPLETED SOMETIME IN DECEMBER OR POSSIBLY JANUARY.
WE ARE ALSO MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BABCOCK BUILDING, UH, REMODEL FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
UH, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS.
ONE IS WORKING ON THE INTERIOR.
WE HAVE FINALIZED THE FLOOR PLANNING LAYOUT FOR THE INTERIOR.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE DAVIDSON FLOYD, WHO IS WORKING ON THE PARKING LOT AND GOING THROUGH THE PERMITTING PROCESS ON THE PARKING LOT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS AND THAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.
SO
[00:50:01]
WE HAVE 10, I'M SORRY, NOVEMBER 10TH.SAY, SAY WAY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
NOVEMBER 10TH AND, UH, WE WILL BE MOVING, UH, START TO MOVE BACK INTO THE ADMINISTRATION WING.
WE WILL BE STARTING TO, UH, REINSTALL EQUIPMENT IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND ECR.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL BE BACK IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR THE DECEMBER MEETING.
WE'LL NOT MAKE IT FOR, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 10TH.
WE'LL NOT MAKE IT IN TIME FOR THAT, BUT WE WILL BE MOVING BACK IN THAT WEEK.
ANY QUESTIONS? HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE? YES.
SO TY RIVER PARK, ARE WE ON BUDGET AND ON SCHEDULE TO SOME DEGREE? YES.
UH, WELL, UH, WITH THE INVESTMENT EXPERIMENT WAY OFF SCHEDULE.
SO I MEAN WE, AS FAR AS THE PHASING OF WHAT WE DID WITH THE INITIAL PART, YES WE WERE ON TRACK.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO BE CERTAINLY OVER BUDGET WITH THE EMBANKMENT, BUT THEIR STORM WATER IS TAKING CARE OF THE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EMBANKMENT THROUGH THEIR FUNDING.
SO AS FAR AS THE FUNDING THROUGH PASS PARTS, YES.
WHEN YOU ANTICIPATE THAT BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, SOMETIME AROUND SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER OF NEXT YEAR.
AND STATE, YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA ASK YOU ABOUT STATION 39.
WHAT'S YOUR ESTIMATE GROUNDBREAKING DATE? SO AGAIN, THAT IS DEPENDENT ON WHEN WE CAN GET THE CONTRACT APPROVED THROUGH COUNCIL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT
UH, SO AGAIN, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WILL HAVE TO GET THOSE NUMBERS IN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON BUDGET ACCORDINGLY AND GET IT BEFORE YOU GUYS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE GET THAT APPROVED AND THEN WE CAN GO BASICALLY TO GET OUR CONSTRUCTION PERMITTING DONE.
SO WE ARE STILL, UH, WORKING THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF PERMITTING THAT'S, UH, FINAL, BUT WE ARE, UH, AT THAT STAGE TO WHERE WE ARE ANTICIPATING THE CONTRACTORS ANTICIPATING, AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT BE HARD TO ESTIMATE, BUT FROM THE TIME OF BREAK GROUND TO COMPLETION OF THE, UH, STRUCTURE, WHAT THE TIMEFRAME? IT'S APPRO APPROXIMATELY NINE TO 11 MONTHS, I THINK IS THE LAST UPDATE THAT WE HAD.
WE ARE STILL ON TRACK WITH, UH, THE UPDATES THAT I PROVIDED TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT A, A SEPTEMBER TIMEFRAME FOR THE, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTERS.
UH, THE UH, SCOTT PROJECT, YOU MENTIONED THAT LOW BIDDER, UM, STAY OUT.
ARE YOU GOING TO THE NEXT E BID OR ARE YOU, SO THE NEXT, UH, IF YOU KNOW THAT THAT WAS $139,000, UH, FOR THAT PROJECT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY BEYOND THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD INITIALLY SET.
WE HAD, UH, FUNDED IT THROUGH SOME OF THE CONTINGENCY WITHIN THE CIP PROGRAM.
UM, AND WELL, I'M SORRY, WITHIN PARKS AND REC.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE CARRY FORWARD, THAT WAS ALL THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE FOR THIS YEAR.
WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT OUT FOR BID.
THE NEXT LOWEST BID WAS 189,000.
THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY CAME BACK WITH A THOUSAND DOLLARS CHANGE ORDER.
SO REAL BID IS ABOUT 199? YES, SIR.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.
MR ABOVE WHICH YOU HAD APPROPRIATED.
AND YOUR PLANS ARE TO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO REVISE THE SCOPE.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE COVERED ALL THE BASES ON THE SCOPE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA PUT IT BACK OUT FOR BID AND SEE, UH, SEE WHAT BIDS COME IN THAT AND UH, HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE SOME, UH, BIDS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH PARKS AND REC TO SEE WHAT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FROM THEIR END AS WELL.
AND OF COURSE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR.
WE'VE HAD OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT, UH, PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN CUT BACK DUE TO FUNDING FROM UH, FY 25.
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE RENOVATION OR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OR IS IT, UM, BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WESLEY FELIX SITE? NO, SIR.
I THINK THAT ON THIS ONE, I THINK THE CONTRACTOR, THIS, THIS CONTRACTOR, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TWO CONTRACTS THEY BAILED OUT ON.
I THINK THEY UNDERBID IT DRASTICALLY.
UM, I THINK THAT THEY RUN OVER THEIR HEAD AND UH, THEY DECIDED TO BAIL ONCE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY CAME BACK TO THEM IN AUGUST AND UH, THEY DECIDED TO PULL OUT, WE GAVE HIM AN OPTION.
WE WERE NOT ACCEPTING THE $60,000 CHANGE ORDER.
SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE DELAY REAL QUICK ON SCOTT.
SO IT WAS BIG BACK IN THE SPRING AND BECAUSE OF THE, UH, SUMMER PROGRAM, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE WORK DONE.
SO IT WAS DELAYED ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AND WHEN IT CAME BACK OFF OF THAT FOUR MONTHS, THAT'S WHEN WE GOT THE CHANGE ORDER.
BUT, UH, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THAT, UH, ON BUDGET, GET THAT WORK DONE, AND, AND WE'LL ADJUST THE SCOPE AND WORK WITH PARKS AND REC TO GET THAT PROJECT DONE QUICKLY.
[00:55:01]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? THANK YOU SIR.ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO A PRESENTATION, UM, 2018 SALES TAX QUARTER UPDATE.
THIS IS INFORMATION, I'M SORRY, I PROMISE TO BE READ.
THIS IS, YOU'RE FINE, POSITIVE IT FITS WITH A LOT, BUT JUST AS AN UPDATE SO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
UM, WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE FERRY A LOT TO SOLVE POINT A TO POINT B, BUT THERE'S BEEN A GROUP OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT'S FORMED ON THE FU GALLON, SOME LIVE HERE, UM, THAT IT'S CALLED SKIMA, SOUTH CAROLINA INTER INTERCOASTAL TRANSIT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
AND THEY'VE REACHED OUT BECAUSE THE GREATER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM INVOLVES GEORGIA, JASPER AND OTHERS.
AND THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF ORGANIZING REACHING OUT TO SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE AND SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE HAS SCOPED A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSIT SYSTEM STUDY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE NOT BEING ASKED AS AN SOLE FUNDER OR SOLE OPERATOR.
AND SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THEY'VE REQUESTED IT'S $130,000 FOR THE STUDY.
THEY'RE NOT ASKING US FOR THE $130,000.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DO A LOT ALREADY IN THE CURRENT SYSTEM FINANCIALLY, BUT WE DO FEEL LIKE THIS WILL LOOK AT COURT'S LONG TERM.
THIS IS NOT LIKE MELROSE TODAY, WHICH IS SHORT TERM.
THIS AGAIN, IS NICE TO BE NOT THE ONLY PLAYER, BUT IT ALSO ADDRESSES FREIGHT.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE TALK TODAY ABOUT BARGING AND MOVING MATERIALS BACK AND FORTH.
THIS WILL TALK ABOUT A GREATER SYSTEM.
HE'S TRYING TO PUSH FOR SOUTH CAROLINA DOT TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE IN MOST STATES, FERRY AND TRANSIT MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE ARE ASSOCIATIONS ARE RUN THROUGH AND BY THE STATE.
SO THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD TO INVOLVE THE STATE TO INVOLVE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HELP THE COUNTY MOVE FORWARD.
BUT SPECIFICALLY IF S ALLEN MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A HARD TIME MOVING FREIGHT PEOPLE AND OTHER THINGS AROUND.
AND WE WILL UPDATE YOU AT A MEETING ON THE 29TH WITH ALL THE VARIOUS PARTNERS THAT WILL PARTICIPATE AND WE'LL UPDATE YOU IN THE FUTURE MEETING.
SORRY, NOT TO EXTEND IT FURTHER, BUT JUST ONE COUPLE QUICK UPDATES AS WELL.
UM, SO TO FOLLOW ON WHAT HANK HAD TO SAY ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8TH, DOT HELD A-A-S-C-D-O-T MODERNIZATION.
ACTUALLY IT WAS NOT DOT, IT WAS AD HOC COMMITTEE FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UH, CO-LED BY REPRESENTATIVE ERICKSON.
UM, BUT IT WAS CONCERNING AN S-C-D-E-O-T MODERNIZATION.
BASICALLY WHAT DOES DOT LOOK LIKE TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE? HOW DO THEY MODERNIZE THEIR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO THEY MODERNIZE, UM, DELIVERING PROJECTS? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED AND REINFORCED WAS TRANSIT AND IN PARTICULAR, UM, FERRY SYSTEM IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, THIS WAS THE THIRD MEETING OUT OF THE FIVE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE PLANNED GOING THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT AND TOWN OF PORT ROYAL ALL MADE, UM, COMMENTS AND PROVIDED OUR INPUT AND WE JUST APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN IN THAT STATEWIDE MEETING.
UM, A COUPLE OF UPDATES FOR YOU IN REGARDS TO 2 78.
UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, WE SUBMITTED A LARGE GRANT APPLICATION, LARGE BRIDGE GRANT APPLICATION WITH WITH DOT.
UM, AND WE'RE ANTICIPATING HEARING SOME RESULTS.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY RESULTS, BUT THAT IS THE UPDATE.
UH, WE ARE HOPEFUL TO HEAR SOMETHING AT THE 1ST OF OCTOBER WHETHER WE MADE IT PAST THE FACT FIRST CUT.
UM, SO WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR.
HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS WE'LL HEAR SOMETHING.
UM, THAT'LL COME THROUGH DOT AND AS SOON AS WE GET INFORMATION WE'LL WE'LL PROVIDE THAT FORWARD.
UM, SO AS OF TODAY, WE'RE STILL IN THE GAME AND WE'LL SEE WHAT COMES, UM, WHEN WE GET AN UPDATE AS FAR AS THE CORRIDOR PROJECT AND THE RESCOPE THREE LANE BRIDGE, UH, DOT IS HOSTING.
UM, AND WE ARE PARTICIPATING A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING SCHEDULED, UM, ON OCTOBER 30TH AT ISLAND REC CENTER FROM FOUR TO 7:00 PM SO THIS IS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE WE HOST OTHER PUBLIC MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT.
AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS, THIS IS THE REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, DUE TO THE REVISED SCOPE PROJECT.
SO THEY'LL HAVE, UH, INFORMATION THERE THAT THEY'LL SHARE REGARDING WHAT THE PROJECT IS, UM, SOME TIMELINES AND, UM, JUST GOOD INFORMATION ON THE RESCOPE PROJECT.
AND THEN LASTLY, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE CORRIDOR PROJECT, BUT BUFORD COUNTY TOGETHER WITH LAST IS WORKING ON
[01:00:01]
A TWO 70 CORRIDOR STUDY ACCESS MANAGEMENT.AND THIS IS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF U US 2 78 FROM I 95, ALL THE WAY TO SEA PINE CIRCLE ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, THERE'S A SERIES OF MEETINGS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
UH, THOSE MEETINGS, THESE ARE ALL PULL UP MEETINGS.
UM, THE FIRST ONE'S COMING UP THIS WEEK, 10 23 FROM FOUR TO 6:00 PM AT HARDY BILL REC CENTER.
THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ON TUESDAY, 10 28 FROM FOUR TO SIX AT PALMETTO ELECTRIC.
UH, THEIR COMMUNITY ROOM THERE NEXT TO TCL.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE WILL BE ON TUESDAY, UH, NOVEMBER 4TH FROM FOUR TO SIX AT OUR LIBRARY BRANCH LIBRARY THERE ON HILTON.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT DOES 2 78 LOOK LIKE TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE? UM, WHAT TYPE OF IMPROVEMENTS NEED TO TAKE PLACE? ACCESS MANAGEMENT, SIGNAL UPGRADES, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THAT SORT.
SO, UM, FEEL FREE TO TO COME AND INVITE OTHERS SO WE CAN GET GOOD INPUT ON THAT PLANNING STUDY.
AND THAT IS ALL OF OUR UPDATES.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR JERRY? I HAVE A QUESTION.
HAVE THOSE DATES BEEN PUBLISHED? THEY HAVE, YES.
THE DOT LED MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND THAT CAN BE FOUND ON THE, ON THE WEBSITE DOT WEBSITE FOR THE PROJECT.
AND THEN ALSO THE COUNTY AND LABS.
UM, THOSE DATES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AS WELL.
WHAT MONTH OR IT'S, I THINK BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLISHED IT AND WE'RE LEADING.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE THREE, UM, STUDIES THAT THE COUNTY IS LEADING ON BEHALF OF, OF LATS.
I KNOW I SAW IT IN OUR MONTHLY OR OUR WEEKLY UPDATES AND, UM, CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON THE LATS PAGE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK JARED.
[8.a. 2018 Sales Tax Quarterly Update (For Information Only) (FISCAL IMPACT: For Information Only) Bryan Bauer, P.E., Director of Engineering, and Jennifer Bragg, P.E., J. Bragg Consulting, 2018 One Cent Sales Tax Program Manager (15 mins)]
2018 SALES TAX COURT SALES TAX QUARTERLY UPDATE.UM, THIS IS JUST A, UM, INFORMATION ONLY.
SO THIS MIGHT BE ONE OF THE QUICKER UPDATES THAT WE'VE GIVEN.
SO OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS, YOU'RE ALL AWARE WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH REPRIORITIZATION WITH, UH, RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES.
UM, SO WHILE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, UM, MOST PROJECTS STILL BEING CONTINUING FORWARD.
SOME OF 'EM HAVE BEEN RE-SCOPE.
UM, THE BIG UPDATE THAT WE HAVE IS WE NOW HAVE TWO PROJECTS THAT ARE EITHER IN CONSTRUCTION OR WILL BE KICKING OFF IN THE NEXT WEEK.
UM, THE DEPOT, DEPOT ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT DOWN HERE IS BROKE GROUND, IS MOVING FORWARD.
UM, ALL JOY OF PROJECT HAS BEEN GIVEN NOTICE, PROCEED, UM, LAST WEEK.
THEY HAVE 10 DAYS TO MOBILIZE IN.
SO HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK SOMETIME YOU'LL SEE, UH, EQUIPMENT START COMING IN.
UM, SO THE OTHER THING TO UPDATE IS, IS THIS WORKING, IS STAFF GOT TOGETHER, SAT DOWN, LOOKED AT THE NEW RE-SCOPE PRIORITIES AND LAID OUT WHAT OUR PROJECT TIMELINE GOALS WERE.
UM, SO WE GAVE THAT TO JENNIFER AND LET HER EVALUATE IT AND COME BACK WITH HER RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND OVERALL THE MAJORITY OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS MASHED UP.
UM, SO THESE ARE THE NEW, UH, SCHEDULE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
THIS IS JUST THE COMPLETION DATE FOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE LIAISON.
UM, PROJECTS, MOST OF THESE ARE LOOKING TO BE COMPLETED IN 2027, SOME IN 2026 'CAUSE WE RE-SCOPE THOSE.
UM, AND THEN ON PATHWAYS, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2027, HOPEFULLY IN CONSTRUCTION BY, UH, FOURTH QUARTER 2026.
UM, SO WITHOUT TURN OVER TO JIM FIRST, YOU CAN GO IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILS OR WE CAN STOP THERE AND ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU'D LIKE.
SO REALISTICALLY, Y'ALL ALL KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE, THE THREE CATEGORIES.
UH, THIS IS JUST REPRESENTING THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED THAT WITH THE NEW PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE WORKING OFF OF.
I'LL FLIP THROUGH VERY QUICKLY SO WE'RE BACK TO THE SAME FORMAT.
SO ESSENTIALLY AIRPORT FRONTAGE.
WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE PERMITTING PROCESS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION.
ONCE IT'S DONE, WE'RE JUST GONNA SIT ON IT JUST TO SEE HOW FUNDING, UH, PLAYS OUT WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS.
HAZEL FARM GAY, WE'RE GONNA RESUBMIT TO DOT TO GET APPROVAL FOR RIGHT OF WAY AUTHORIZATION TO START THE ACQUISITION PROCESS WHILE PERMITS AND FINAL CONSTRUCTION PLANS ARE IN DESIGN.
LADIES ISLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, WERE IN THE RIGHT OF RE ACQUISITION PROCESS AND PERMITTING PROCESS.
ALL OF THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETE HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
AND THAT WOULD BE GOING CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION.
RYAN JUST MENTIONED SUNSET BOULEVARD, MILLER DRIVE WEST BEING RE SCOPED.
SO RESURFACING PLANS SHOULD COME IN LATER, UH, THIS YEAR.
GET THAT OUT WHILE THE INTERSECTION, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THERE WITH THE RAISED INTERSECTION IS IN CON IN DESIGN.
UH, AND THEN WE ALSO MET WITH THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THE LADIES ISLAND.
UH, AND THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD.
[01:05:01]
PART OF THAT ONE SHOULD GO THE WIDENING PORTION OUT BY WALMART SHOULD GO INTO RIGHTAWAY ACQUISITION NEXT YEAR.I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
I THINK THE HAZEL FARM ROAD WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON TRAFFIC PATTERNS ON LADIES ISLAND.
UM, I'M NOT, YOU, YOU TWO REPRESENT THAT AREA, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A, UM, A BIG, BIG GOOD STEP FORWARD.
I THINK ALSO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ROLE ACCESS AS WELL.
SO THEN VERY QUICKLY, BRIAN MENTIONED THE TWO PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION.
THE NEXT ONE SHOULD BE STUART POINT ROAD.
WE'RE WRAPPING RIGHT OF ACQUISITION.
IT, UH, MARTIN LUTHER KING AND SALEM ROAD SHOULD BE KICKING OFF RIGHT FOR ACQUISITION NEXT.
AND THEN WE'RE CALLING BACK, UH, BROAD RIVER DRIVE, WHERE WE HAD ORIGINALLY DESIGNED ALL THE WAY UP TO PARA SOUTH GATEWAY.
WE'RE GONNA PULL IT BACK, UH, STOP IT AT THE LOW COUNTRY SCHOOL, MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE STILL IN THE REDESIGN, PULLING EVERYTHING TOGETHER ON THAT.
AND THEN BROAD RIVER BOULEVARD, RILEY ROAD, WE HAVE TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL, UH, INFILTRATION TESTING BECAUSE WE HAVE NO ALCOHOL.
SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO ALL OF THOSE SHOULD GO INTO RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION THIS NEXT YEAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.
UM, AND YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S 70% COMPLETE.
UM, WHEN DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO BE UNDER CONSTRUCTION? SO THAT'S BASED ON THE PERMITS AND THE RIGHT OF REQUISITIONS.
SO WHEN WE SAY IT'S 70% COMPLETE, BASICALLY YOUR DESIGN IS ESSENTIALLY DONE AND YOU'RE, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TO INTO THE RIGHT OF REQUISITION AND PERMITING PROCESS.
SO BETWEEN 70% TO A HUNDRED PERCENT PLANS, YOU'RE WORKING ON THE OTHER LITTLE THINGS LIKE PAYMENT MARKING, SIGNING PLANS, TRAFFIC CONTROL, THAT TYPE OF THING.
BUT IS TO GET TO STARTING RIGHT OF ACQUISITION.
SO I SHOULD TELL MY CONSTITUENTS THAT IT'LL BE THREE MONTHS
ACQUISITION, UNFORTUNATELY TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THAT.
AND SO AS SOON AS WE CAN GET THAT STARTED, AND IT WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON HOW IT'S GOING WITH CONTACTING EVERYBODY.
OH, AND I DID LOOK AT ONE MORE BIGGEST STATEMENT WAS ACTUALLY IN RIGHT OF ACQUISITION.
[9.a. Approval of an ordinance to amend Beaufort County’s Ordinance Chapter 102 Waterways, article 1, sections 102-1 definitions, article II, division 1, section 102-27 purpose, section 102-28 penalties, section 102-29 general prohibitions, section 102-30 dock rules, section 102-31 landing rules division II section 102-61 description division III section 102-95 description section 102-98 penalties section 102-99 general prohibitions sections 102-100 dock rules sections 120-101 landing rules article III sections -133 definitions sections -134 penalties sections -136 student riders article IV abandoned and derelict boats sections -171 through -183. (FISCAL IMPACT: n/a) – Dylan Kidd, Assistant County Attorney]
MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS AND BEAR WITH ME AS I READ THROUGH THIS APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BUFORT COUNTY'S ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 1 0 2 WATERWAYS, ARTICLE ONE, SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH ONE DEFINITIONS, ARTICLE TWO, DIVISION ONE, SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 27.PURPOSE SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 28 PENALTIES.
SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 29, GENERAL PROHIBITIONS, SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 30 DOCK RULES SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 31 LANDING RULES DIVISION TWO, SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 61.
DESCRIPTION DIVISIONS THREE SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 95.
DESCRIPTION SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 98 PENALTIES, SECTION 1 0 2 DASH 99.
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 100.
DOCK RULES SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 1 0 1 LANDING RULES ARTICLE THREE SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 1 33.
DEFINITIONS SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 1 34 PENALTIES SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 1 36.
STUDENT RIDER RIDERS ARTICLE FOUR.
REMEMBER THAT AS TIME FOR YOU ABANDONED AND, UM, ABANDONED BOATS SECTIONS 1 0 2 DASH 1 71 THROUGH 1 0 2 DASH 180 3.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THAT ON THE FLOOR FOR A MOTION DISCUSSION? I'LL SECOND IT.
UH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE COMMITTEE AGAIN.
UM, AND WE RECONVENED AFTER OUR PRIOR, OUR FIRST MEETING ON THIS.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO SHOWED UP HERE AS WELL TO PROVIDE THEIR FEEDBACK AND WHO DID SO THROUGH OUR ONLINE COMMENT FORM.
UM, WE GOT 93 RESPONSES BEFORE IT CLOSED THIS MORNING, UM, WHICH WAS A GREAT LEVEL OF FEEDBACK AND I APPRECIATE, UM, OUR PIO HANNAH NICHOLS WHO SET THAT UP FOR US.
UM, SO AS YOU'LL RECALL FROM OUR LAST MEETING WHEN WE ADJOURNED TO RECONVENE HERE, UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HEARD COMMITTEE'S CONCERNS AT THAT TIME AND OBVIOUSLY INCORPORATED ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HEARD FROM, UM, FROM CITIZENS VIA ONLINE OR IN PERSON.
UM, ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'VE DRAFTED HERE AND PUT TOGETHER, UH, IS THE AMENDED, PROPOSED AMENDED ORDINANCE THAT IS
[01:10:01]
IN FRONT OF COMMITTEE.UM, BASED UPON THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, UM, ABOUT FIVE ISSUES OF GENERAL CONCERN THAT I WANT TO GO OVER TODAY AND TALK WITH, UM, COMMITTEE ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE ORDINANCE THAT IS IN FRONT OF COMMITTEE.
AND THEN COMMITTEE IS OBVIOUSLY ABLE TO RECOMMEND ALL OR NONE OF THOSE, OR SOME OF THOSE TWO COUNCILS TO BE CONSIDERED, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
SO AS I MENTIONED IN THE LAST MEETING, UM, THE CONCERNS THAT PROMPTED THESE REVISIONS REALLY DATE BACK SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, I WOULD SAY WHILE WE DID RECEIVE COMMENTS FROM MARINA OWNERS REGARDING BUSINESSES NOT UTILIZING THEIR FACILITIES, WE CERTAINLY RECOGNIZED THERE WAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THOSE COMPLAINTS.
WE ALSO RECEIVED, UM, COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WERE PRIMARILY ABOUT ACCESS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, NUMERIC, UH, CONCERNS REGARDING, UM, THE, THE LANDINGS.
AND AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE ARE, WE DO NOT HAVE PRINCIPAL PARKING AT MOST OF OUR, UH, BOAT LANDINGS.
AND SO IT'S A, IT'S A BALANCING ACT ON HOW WE WANT TO ADDRESS, UM, ENSURING ACCESS FOR EVERYONE, UH, TO OUR COUNTY LANDINGS.
UM, WE PRIMARILY, SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE WERE HEARING IS THAT SOME BUSINESSES, UM, LIKE JET SKI OR KAYAK OR PADDLE BOARDING RENTALS WERE BRINGING TRAILERS TO THE PARKING AREAS AND THEY WERE RENTING THESE OUT ON SITE AS THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.
WE ALSO HEARD COMPLAINTS OF GENERAL CONGESTION, UM, WHICH SOMETIMES STEM FROM FOLKS CONDUCTING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES LIKE ECOTOURISM CRUISES WITH LARGE GROUPS.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE COUNTY LANDINGS.
AND WHAT WE PUT FORWARD IS A REFLECTION OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HEARD.
AND OBVIOUSLY COMMITTEE AND COUNSEL ARE ENTIRELY FREE TO TAKE ANY ACTION THEY FEEL IS WARRANTED AND AND TO NOT ACT UPON THOSE, UM, PROVISIONS THAT YOU DO NOT.
SO THE FIRST AREA OF DEBATE, I KNOW THE HOT BUTTON ISSUE, UM, IT DOES PERTAIN TO CHARTER FISHERMEN.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE VAST MAJORITY OF COMMENTS WE RECEIVED ON OUR FEEDBACK PAGE PERTAIN TO THAT.
AND MOST OF WHO WE'VE HEARD FROM TODAY, UM, HAS SPOKE, UH, TO THAT CONCERN AS WELL.
UM, IT WAS NEVER OUR INTENTION TO PROHIBIT CHARTER FISHERMEN FROM OPERATING OUT OF COUNTY BOAT LANDINGS.
AND THAT IS NOT THE INTERPRETATION OF WHAT WE HAVE DRAFTED CURRENTLY UNDER 1 0 2 29, UM, A ONE, WE MOVED THE EXEMPTIONS TO THE TOP SPECIFICALLY SO THAT FOLKS COULD SEE WHEN THEY READ, UM, THROUGH WHAT THE EXEMPTIONS WERE AND WHO ALL THIS APPLIED TO AND DID NOT.
UM, WE WOULD TAKE THE POSITION AS OUR INTERPRETATION THAT OYSTERMEN, CRABS, CRABBERS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, UH, ENCOMPASSES CHARTER FISHERMEN AND THAT THEY ARE THEREFORE EXEMPTED FROM THESE SECTION AND THESE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO THE COMMERCIAL PASSENGER RESTRICTIONS AND ALL OF THAT HAVE NO BEARING UPON THEM.
WE RECOGNIZE FROM FEEDBACK THAT THAT COULD BE CLEARER.
AND SO WE CERTAINLY, UH, WOULD BE AMENABLE TO ADDING, UM, THE CHARTER OR VERBIAGE TO THE LANGUAGE RIGHT IN FRONT OF COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN TO MAKE THAT ENTIRELY CLEAR, UH, IN BOTH SECTIONS THERE IN, UH, IN SUBSECTION ONE.
AND THAT IS A, JUST A GENERAL REC GENERAL RECOMMENDATION THAT, UM, THE COMMITTEE CAN CHOOSE TO INCORPORATE OR NOT IN TERMS OF WHAT TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL.
UM, ISSUE NUMBER TWO IS THE ISSUE OF SIGHTSEEING TOURS.
UM, AS SUCH AS DOLPHIN CRUISES, SUNSET CRUISES, OTHER ECOTOURISM, UM, WE, SO TO THE EXTENT THAT COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL WISHES TO REGULATE THAT ACTIVITY, WE HAVE IT DRAFTED THERE TO PROHIBIT THIS ACTIVITY.
UM, THERE UNDER SECTION M UH, CORRESPONDING FEATURES UNDER L AND THE DEFINITION, UM, HIGHER UP IN THE ORDINANCE, SHOULD COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL DECIDE THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO REGULATE THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY, WE CAN, UH, SIMPLY STRIKE THROUGH THE LANGUAGE OF SUBSECTION TWO AND DO LANGUAGE, UH, REGARDING PASSENGERS FOR HIGHER COMPENSATION OR COMPENSATION IN SUBSECTION L AND, UH, THE DEFINITION OF THE FRONT PART OF THE ORDINANCE.
UM, ONE THING, HOWEVER, THAT WE DID THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF ANOTHER OPTION FOR REGULATING THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS, UH, IS SOMEWHAT TYING IT TO OR RECOGNIZING THE, UH, DNR LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, THE DNR FOR, UH, FOR PASSENGER VESSELS, UM, REGULATES YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE BASED UPON THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO CARRY.
SO THE LEVELS ARE SIX AND UNDER SEVEN TO 49 AND 50 PLUS.
UM, THE SIX PACK LICENSE IS A, IS A COMMON ONE THAT WE HEAR, WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC, UM, AND WE ARE SO INMATE, UM, YEAH, THE US COAST GUARDS HAVE IN PLACE.
UM, YOU SAID THOSE NUMBER AGAIN.
YEAH, SO 50 PLUS, WHAT WAS THE MIDDLE ONE? SEVEN TO 49.
SO A WAY SINCE, SINCE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE DO AIM THIS PRIMARILY AT CONGESTION AND NUMBERS, A WAY TO GET THIS MORE SPECIFICALLY MAYBE TO LIMIT, UH, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY TO, UH, SOME NUMERIC VALUE, BE IT RIGHT AT THE SIX OR ANOTHER NUMBER.
UM, AND THAT COULD HELP YOU ADDRESS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF CONGESTION IN THE PARKING LOTS AND THE LANDINGS.
MAYBE BE ANOTHER WAY TO GET THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S ENTIRELY IN COMMITTEE COUNCIL'S PURVIEW.
UH, ISSUE NUMBER THREE THAT WE LOOKED AT WERE, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER
[01:15:01]
SOMEONE WHO WAS TEST DRIVING A BOAT THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO PURCHASE OR THAT HAD RECENTLY UNDERGONE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THESE COUNTY LANDINGS.WE BELIEVE ABSOLUTELY, YES, THAT WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE USE OF THESE FACILITIES.
UM, THERE'S NOTHING IN HERE THAT PROHIBITS, UM, THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY.
UM, THE SECTION SUBSECTION M TALKS ABOUT SOLICITING BUSINESS AND CONDUCTING SALES OR RENTALS, UM, AT PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS.
I THINK THAT'S MORE OF A REFLECT, A RESTRICTION ON THE
NOT ANY TYPE OF ACTIVITY OTHER THAN THAT.
UM, AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OPERATES AT ALL TO PROHIBIT THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY FOR TEST DRIVING THE VOTE AT OUR COUNTY LANDINGS.
UM, WE DO RECOMMEND, SO IF COUNSEL, THE COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL ULTIMATELY DECIDES THAT THEY DO NOT WISH TO REGULATE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THAT LANGUAGE IN SUBSECTION M TWO WHERE WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NO LONGER REGULATING SIGHTSEEING TOURISM, THAT WOULD OPEN UP IN THEORY, UM, COUNTY LAND, UH, LANDINGS THAT ARE BEING USED FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE FERRY COULD ARGUABLY BE OPEN TO COMMERCIAL USE BY PRIVATE CITIZENS.
IN THAT EVENT, WE WOULD RECOMMEND ADDING SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT PERMITS THE COUNTY TO, UM, RESTRICT USES OF AREAS THAT WE REQUIRE, SUCH AS FOR THE FERRY SERVICE.
THAT'S JUST AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES KIND OF SECTION THAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND ADDING IN THERE.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST ISSUE PERTAINS TO BARGES AND, AND MOST SPECIFICALLY TO THE CONCERNS THE FOLKS ON DUSKY.
UM, WE CERTAINLY HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THEM.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE CURRENT SECTION 1 0 2 21, AS IT IS WRITTEN CURRENTLY PROHIBITS BARGES, FERRIES OR OTHER LANDING CRAFT FROM TOUCHING PUBLIC BOAT LANDINGS OR RAMPS.
SO ARGUABLY IT IS ALREADY PROHIBITED FOR THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY TO BE TAKING PLACE.
SO THIS IS NOT A NEW RESTRICTION THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO IMPLEMENT HERE.
WE HAVE ONLY CHANGED IT TO PROHIBIT, UM, THAT IT CAN BE GRANTED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RATHER THAN THE PUBLIC WORKS EXTRACTS.
THAT IS THE ONLY CHANGE TO THAT.
UH, MEG, AGAIN, ENTIRELY UP TO COMMITTEE AND COUNSEL AS TO HOW MUCH, IF AT ALL YOU WOULD LIKE TO REGULATE OR PERMIT THESE ACTIVITIES.
UM, AND, AND WE ARE CERTAINLY AMENABLE TO MAKING ANY, ANY CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, UM, ACCORDINGLY.
SO WITH THAT, UM, MYSELF AND JOHN ROBINSON ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ALRIGHT, UM, YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN THIS UP A DISCUSSION BEFORE WE DECIDE TO TAKE ANY TYPE OF ACTION OR ANYTHING.
UM, ANYBODY THERE SOME QUESTIONS? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL US THE CONVERSATIONS YOU HAD WITH LOCAL COMMERCIAL MARINOS REGARDING THIS TOPIC? I DID NOT HAVE PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
UM, I, I KNOW THAT I RECEIVED THE SUBSTANCE OF THE COMPLAINTS, BUT I DID NOT PERSONALLY TALK WITH THEM.
NO COMPLAINTS FROM WHOM? UM, THE SU WE'VE READ, WE HAVE RECEIVED, I MYSELF HAS RECEIVED, UM, CITIZENS COMPLAINTS AND EMAILS COMPLAINTS, BUT I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MARINAS THAT WAS OTHER MEMBERS OF STAFF THAT DID SPEAK WITH THEM.
UM, I I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS, BUT THEY WERE PRETTY MUCH ANSWERED BY THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE.
HAS ANYONE THOUGHT ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S GONNA BE LOST, UM, IN THIS COUNTY? LIKE THE GENTLEMAN THAT SAID ABOUT THE, UH, RESTAURANTS AND THE HOTELS AND ALL THAT? I MEAN, UH, HOW DID WE GET HERE? THAT'S WHAT I WANNA KNOW.
I DON'T, HOW DO WE GET HERE? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS STARTED OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
TWO YEARS WHEN COUNCIL DIRECTED, UM, STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER SOME, WE HAD TO, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AMEND THE WATERWAYS ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR THE ABANDONMENT.
UH, THE ABANDONED AND DELICT BOATS WITHIN THAT ARE HOW WE'VE ALWAYS REGULATED THE COUNTY DOCKS, LANDINGS, MARINES, ET CETERA.
AND SO PEOPLE THAT WE WERE ASKED FOR SOME RESTRICTIONS AS TO THOSE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY COULD ACCESS THEM, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
SO WHY CAN'T WE JUST HAVE AN ORDINANCE TO, TO, UM, FOR THE BANDIT VOTES AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.
AND WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS OTHER STUFF? WHY DON'T WE JUST, YOU KNOW, COMMITTEE COUNCIL CAN CERTAINLY DO JUST ONE MORE THOUGHT.
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL, THIS COUNCIL'S BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TODAY AND OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF WEEKS I HEARD, SAW EMAILS AND HEARD ALL OF YOU SAY THIS ORDINANCE WOULD KILL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO HELP YOU AND MAKE YOUR BUSINESSES EVEN BETTER.
SCOTT, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT COLLECTING DATA THAT YOU GIVE TO DNR.
HAVE YOU EVER SENT THAT TO US? WE'D LIKE TO CHECK IT.
THE ESTUARIES AND THE WATERWAYS THAT YOU LOOK AT.
I MEAN, THAT'S FANTASTIC NEWS TO HEAR.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ONE THING, PUTTING PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS, I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE OUR BUSINESS.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU THIS IS, DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME AT ALL AND HOW WE CAN PUT IT IN WITH GETTING RID OF DERELICT BOATS.
I DON'T THINK THE COUNCIL EVER
[01:20:01]
APPROVED THAT.YOU SAID THE COUNCIL APPROVED THAT TWO YEARS AGO.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
NO, I SAID I BELIEVE MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS WAS WE RECEIVED DIRECTION FROM COUNSEL TWO YEARS AGO TO MAKE SOME ON, ON THE DERELICT BOATS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT EXACTLY, WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE NO SIR DERE THE, UH, ARTICLE FOUR IS THE DERELICT BOATS, UH, SECTION OF THAT.
WE STARTED WORKING ON THE DELAN VOTE UH, SECTION LAST OCTOBER IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND THE STATE SIMULTANEOUSLY PREPARED, UH, THEIR PORTION OF, OR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO FOR THE ABANDONED DELAN VOTE SECTION THAT WE HAVE ADOPTED IN THERE.
SO THE REST OF THE, UH, ORDINANCE, THOSE UPDATES, UM, OF THOSE PORTIONS, THE REST OF ARTICLE ONE, TWO AND THREE BEGAN A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT.
MOST OF THAT IS JUST CLEANUP, UM, SOME SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE, UH, UM, WITH THE FINES PORTION AND SOME, UH, DESCRIPTIONS AND A LITTLE BIT OF DEFINITIONS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
THE SPECIFIC PORTION THAT, THAT IS OF CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS THE, UH, PROHIBITIONS TO THAT, THE COMMERCIAL PROHIBITIONS.
A LOT OF THAT LANGUAGE WAS INSPIRED FROM CITIZENS COMPLAINING TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE TALKING WITH STAFF AND ASKING US TO, TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF LANGUAGE TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE, TO GIVE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, FOLKS SOME TEETH IN ORDER TO ENFORCE THE EXPECTATION OF, UH, THINGS THAT HAPPENED AT A VOTE LANDING THAT WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER IN OUR ORDINANCE.
SO THIS IS LANGUAGE THAT WAS INSPIRED BY THAT CONVERSATION.
UH, THIS IS NOT REALLY A DEBATE AMONGST STAFF.
YOU ASK US FOR SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE, WE PUT IT IN THERE AND BROUGHT IT FORWARD.
WE'VE, UH, CERTAINLY, UH, HEARD FROM THE CITIZENS AND WE KNOW WHAT THOSE UH, ISSUES ARE.
AND NOW WE, UH, WHAT DYLAN HAS JUST PRESENTED IS SOME, ARE SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT THAT LANGUAGE AND EDIT THAT LANGUAGE OF WHAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE AND WE'RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT, THAT YOU DIRECT.
LISTEN, LEMME JUST FINISH OFF BY SAYING THAT, UM, I APPRECIATE THIS.
IT IS SO ENCOURAGING TO SEE THIS PEOPLE AND THIS COUNCIL RECEIVE EVERY ONE OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND, AND POINTS IF IT MAKES SENSE WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES UP AGAIN, WHY DOESN'T STAFF AND LEADERSHIP GIVE AN IDEA TO COUNCIL AS TO WHAT RAMIFICATIONS COVER? SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GET TO THIS POINT.
I MEAN, YOU DON'T SEE IF THERE WE PUT SOME TEETH IN IT, THAT'S GOOD.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA PUT TEETH IN IT FOR THE PEOPLE ON BUSINESS CHIEF, SHOULD WE KNOW THAT BEFORE WE GET TO THIS POINT? UH, I'LL COMMENT ON PART OF THAT.
I'M NOT THE ONE THAT DIRECTED THIS TO STAFF, BUT I CAN COMMENT ON THIS.
LET'S NOT TAKE THINGS OUTTA CONTEXT.
THAT SENSE THAT THIS IS THE WAY DUE PROCESS IS DONE.
WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION, WE ARE PUTTING THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
WE'RE HAVING WORDS ABOUT THIS.
COME BACK TO STAFF WHEN WE SAW THINGS WE DIDN'T LIKE.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE PROCESS THAT'S HAPPENING.
SO TO IMPLY THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT PROCESS, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S US ON COUNTY ACTUALLY DOING OUR JOB AND STAFF DOING THEIR JOB.
THIS IS US GOING BACK AND FORTH AND DISCUSSING THINGS TO GET IT DONE.
SO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO YEARS AGO AND TODAY IS YOU'RE DOING IT HERE RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION.
SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD PUBLIC 'CAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING RIGHT AT THEM.
THEY DON'T LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE BACKLASH THAT CAN COME FROM IT.
BUT THIS IS THE WAY GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DONE IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.
SO I WILL LIKE TO SAY I'M NOT SITTING NEAR BADGEING STAFF.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS GOING TO, YOU ARE GIVING A DIRECTIVE TO BRING IDEAS FORWARD.
THE IDEAS CAME FORWARD TO THEM, WE EXPRESS 'EM OUT IN PUBLIC AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THOSE IDEAS.
THAT'S HEALTHY GOVERNMENT ON A LOCAL LEVEL, PEOPLE COMING OUT TO A MEETING THAT'S HEALTHY.
UM, WITH THAT, I WILL, I'LL RESERVE THE REST OF MY COMMENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT WHILE THE MOMENT WAS THERE TO HAVE YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE? GO AHEAD.
SO YOU SORT OF TOOK THE WORDS FROM ME.
UH, THIS IS GOVERNMENT, IT SHOULD WORK.
I DON'T RECALL US SENDING THESE YOU, BUT HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING, BUT I, THIS IS GOVERNMENT OVERREACH TO ME.
I MEAN, WE ARE REALLY GONNA LIMIT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD AND ALSO PEOPLE'S APPRECIATION OF OUR WATERWAYS.
SO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF A LOT OF THIS.
LET'S GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF IN THE STATES, PUTTING THAT IN.
BUT THIS IS HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD WORK.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING THE DISCUSSION AND I'M PROUD OF YOU FOR STANDING UP THERE AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT YOUR BACK.
IS, UM, FIRST OF ALL, LEMME JUST SAY THAT I SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES.
[01:25:01]
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THIS.AND A LOT OF THESE COMMENTS THAT CAME BEFORE US REALLY ARE SMALL BUSINESSES, WHICH IS GOOD AND HEALTHY FOR A VIABLE COMMUNITY.
UM, THERE WAS, UM, ABANDONMENT OR BOATS ON THE WATERWAY, UH, CAME UP DURING THE VARIOUS HURRICANES, BOATS WERE JUST LEFT OUT THERE.
AND UM, THERE HAVE BEEN BOATS THAT HAVE BEEN UNK, UM, BOATS THAT HAVE BEEN NOT BEEN PICKED UP.
AND THE STATE ACTUALLY PUT TOGETHER SOME FUNDING TO, TO ALLOW, UH, COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES TO, TO PAY TO REMOVE THOSE BOATS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO WE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THOSE KIND SORT OF THINGS BECAUSE, UH, UH, A BOAT THAT'S S SUNKEN, UM, ALL SPILL, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
UM, BUT I, I THINK MR. CUNNINGHAM, UM, HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD FOR ME, UH, WHEN HE SAID SMALL BUSINESS IS VITAL, LARGE BUSINESS DO NOT, UM, NEED TO BREAK.
SO I WILL SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR A LARGE BUSINESS TO UTILIZE OUR FACILITY BECAUSE I THINK THEY CAN GO TO THE MARINES, BUT THE SMALL BUSINESSES, I THINK, UM, THIS IS A BENEFIT THAT IS THERE FOR THEM AND I WILL SUPPORT THAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS A CUTOFF POINT, BUT I THINK IF YOU GOT A LARGE TOUR GUIDE, UH, VOTE, UM, YOU CAN AFFORD TO GO TO A MEETING AND I JUST, OKAY.
WE DO WE WANNA, UM, KEEP THE SECOND COMMITTEE WAS WITH SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, CHANGES OR I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE'RE GONNA HAVE IN A SECOND.
I DO HAVE A MR. CHAIR, WILD BEHAVIOR
UM, I, I DO HAVE A MOTION THAT I'M, I'M INTENDING TO MAKE HEARING.
UM, YEAH, UH, A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I'M GONNA TURN OVER TO DAVID TO SEE IF WE CAN CLEAR SOME OF THIS.
UH, UM, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE WAY GOVERNMENT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THESE, THIS DIALOGUE.
UM, NOBODY WANTS TO SEE A TOUR BOAT OR A FISHING GUIDE THAT'S GONNA BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE COMPLAINT WAS.
I COULD SEE OUR LOCAL FISHERMEN AND OUR TOUR GUIDES GETTING MAD.
IF A PERSON COMES IN WITH, I'M GONNA JUST USE THE NUMBER 'CAUSE THESE ARE THE NUMBERS.
YOU SAID 50 KAYAKS AND YOU GOT 50 CARS, NOW YOUR PEOPLE CAN'T PARK ANYWHERE TO GET ON YOUR BOAT.
I COULD SEE THAT BEING AN ISSUE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE.
UM, BUT I COULD SEE THAT RAISING A RED FLAG.
BUT LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT TWO PEOPLE ON A BOAT OR FOUR PEOPLE ON A BOAT.
TO ME IT'S GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
WE HAD THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION WITH PASSIVE PARKS A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND WE SAID IT BACK TO COMMITTEE WHEN WE WERE ABOUT TO PUT BUSINESSES OUT OF BUSINESS, PEOPLE OUT OF BUSINESS FOR PASSIVE PARKS.
UM, I DO THINK OUR WATERWAYS ARE AN IMPORTANT ASPECT AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M PROBABLY THE LEAST GREEN PERSON UP HERE.
UM, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC DRIVE BEHIND IT.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER IN NOT OPERATE, OPERATE A RESTAURANT BOWLING ALLEY.
BUT I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE COME HERE THAT COME.
THERE ARE THE SAME ONES THAT WOULD BE WORKING OUT IN THE WATER OR COMING HERE TO VISIT BECAUSE OF OUR WATERWAYS.
AND THOSE WATERWAYS ARE PROTECTED BY THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE AS WELL.
UM, WE KNOW THAT THERE'S TWO PARTS TO THIS.
UM, REALLY THREE PEOPLE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT TWO.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ABANDONED BOATS AND THEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESTRICTIONS TO HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN PUT ON A BOAT AT THESE DOCKS AND HOURS OF OPERATIONS, SO ON AND SO ON.
BUT THE OTHER BIG OPTION, BIG PART OF THIS AS WELL, IS ENFORCEMENT.
OKAY? SO WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS TO BE ENFORCEMENT.
MAYBE THAT'S US ON THE COUNTY NOT DOING OUR JOB, ENFORCE IT PROPERLY COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S IN HERE THAT'S NOT GIVING OUR, OUR PEOPLE THE TOOLS TO ENFORCE SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROHIBIT 50 PEOPLE.
SO YOUR PEOPLE ON YOUR TOUR GUIDE COULDN'T PARK THERE.
UM, WE KNOW THERE HAS TO BE SOME TWEAKS, THERE ARE SOME BIG TWEAKS THAT ARE ON THIS, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF LITTLE TWEAKS IF YOU READ THROUGH THE WHOLE THING THAT 90% OF Y'ALL DON'T CARE ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S JUST SMALL AIRS, NO CAMPFIRES OR BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY ITSELF.
UM, BUILDING A SHED AND PUTTING CASH PAYMENTS.
A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN THERE THAT WE'VE AREN'T EVEN LOOKING AT.
SO WITH THAT SAID, WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO GO THROUGH.
WE, MOST OF US ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.
I WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE, BUT WE DON'T WANNA MAKE THAT DECISION HERE AND JUST START THROWING THINGS TO A WALL AND SEE IT STICKS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DAVID, SEE IF WE CAN CLEAR SOME OF THIS UP, MOVE SOME OF THIS FORWARD AND THEN CLEAR SOME OF THE REST UP.
[01:30:01]
REALLY INTERESTING FOR YOU TO, TO SAY THAT THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.IT IT, IT WAS, THIS IS WHY I LOVE AMERICANS.
ONE OF THE FIRST MEETINGS THAT I HAD, PEOPLE WERE SITTING AROUND TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO NAVIGATE AROUND THIS THING AS IF IT HAD ALREADY PASSED.
THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AVENUES TO, TO BYPASS IT OR REBRAND OR WHATEVER IT IS.
AND YOU KNOW, I KIND OF HAD TO REMIND THEM, HEY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK IT OUT.
AND SO EVERYONE THAT I TALK TO UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE IS A COMPELLING GOVERNMENT INTEREST.
LIKE WE SAID, IF IF THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ARE PARKING THERE THAT SHE CAN'T OPERATE, THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM.
AND WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION, I THINK WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS THIS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THIS HEALTHY DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH.
AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND I, AND I THINK STAFF DOES TOO.
UH, BUT WITH THAT, I, I JUST GOT A TEXT THAT CAME IN A MINUTE AGO, UM, THAT HAD SOME OTHER SUGGESTIONS.
SO I FEEL LIKE THERE'S STILL A LOT TO WORK ON AND I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE A MORE POLISHED VERSION OF THIS.
SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION AND I, AND BRIAN, YOU MAY HATE ME 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU SAID WE COULDN'T REALLY DO IT LAST TIME, BUT I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO, OH, WE'RE DOING
LEMME GET MY LANGUAGE BOARD UP REAL QUICK.
UH, MAKE A, WE MAKE THAT MOTION.
CAN I GET COUNSEL TO TALK ABOUT COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT THE BOAT LANDINGS AND WHAT THEY INTERPRET TO BE ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED.
AND BY THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN BUSINESSES THAT LIST THE BOAT LANDINGS AS THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.
NOW, DOES COUNCIL, ARE THE, ARE YOU OKAY WITH, ARE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS OCCURRING AT YOUR BOAT LANDINGS OR THE RESERVATIONS HAVE TO OCCUR ELSEWHERE AND THEY CAN JUST PUT THEIR BOATS IN AND PICK UP THE PEOPLE THERE? UH, THAT'S GONNA BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION.
THEN YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO TALK ABOUT IF WE NEED MORE PARKING.
IF YOU CAN ALLOW, LET'S SAY A KAYAK TOUR THAT HAVE 12 KAYAKS THERE AND THEN THE 12 DIFFERENT CARS PULL UP.
ARE YOU, IF YOU ALLOW THAT, WHICH IS GREAT, ARE YOU WILLING TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO LOOK FOR MORE LAND, FOR MORE PARKING? TO PUT IN MORE PARKING? THERE I I HAVE A QUESTION.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR QUESTION.
CAN I, ARE YOU SAYING THEY'RE LISTENING ON THEIR LICENSE? THE ADDRESS IS THE BOAT LANDING? YES MA'AM.
OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU SAID.
IS THAT NOT ALREADY PROHIBITED? NO, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHINGS ALREADY WE COUNSEL AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ALLOWED.
UM, AND WHETHER OR NOT TO WHAT EXTENT IS COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY ALLOWED THERE? IT'S ONE THING TO BE A BUSINESS AND PUT YOUR UH, UH, BOATS IN THE WATER AND PICK UP PATRONS OR DROP OFF PATRONS AT THE BOAT LANDING.
BUT THEN IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS, TAKING RESERVATIONS IN THERE, UH, AND HANDED OUT YOUR INVOICES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, DOES THAT ALLOW STAFF NEEDS GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT TO ENFORCE OR NOT? WELL LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION THEN, TO HELP CLARIFY SOME OF IT.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? WHAT ADDRESSES ON THEIR LICENSE? IF THEY'RE STILL PAYING THE SAME TAXES, THEY'RE STILL PAYING THE SAME FEES FOR THE LICENSES BECAUSE I CAN SEE IT RIGHT NOW AND PULL UP SQUARE ON MY PHONE.
YOU DO CASH OUT REAL QUICK AND I'M BE BRICK AND MORTAR, NOT SLOWING ANY PROCESS.
AND PER COUNCIL, DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S PERMISSIBLE AS FAR AS YOU'RE GONNA LET PUBLIC LAND BE USED AS A PLACE OF BUSINESS FOR SOMEONE ELSE? NO.
UM, ON THEIR LICENSE, NO ONE IS LISTING THE BOAT RAMP ADDRESS ON THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE.
WE KNOW WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE AND WE WOULD NEVER ISSUE A BUSINESS LICENSE WITH A BOAT RAMP ADDRESS ON IT.
THEY'RE ADVERTISING THE BUSINESSES BEING THERE.
IT'S NOT LISTED ON THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE.
UM, NOW THERE ARE OTHER LICENSES I CAN'T SPEAK FOR, BUT I WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO NOBODY HAS THE MISCONCEPTION THAT WE'RE ALLOWING BUSINESS LICENSES TO BE ISSUED WITH THE PROGRAM ADDRESS.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ADVERTISING ON LIKE THEIR WEBSITE OR WHERE, YOU KNOW, AS THEY PLACE THE THESIS, THAT'S WHERE YOU WOULD MEET TO DO THE TRANSACTIONAL BUSINESS.
BUT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE ELSE WHERE THEY, THEY HANDLE ENDLESS RESERVATIONS AND CALLS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE DOING THEIR RESERVATIONS, BUT ON THEIR WEBSITE THEY WOULD LIST THE ADDRESS AS BEING THE BOAT RAMP.
AND THERE WERE A FEW OF THOSE.
BUT THE BUSINESS LICENSE, WE DON'T LIST BOAT RAMP ADDRESSES ON BUSINESS LICENSE.
UH, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF MR. CHAIRMAN MADE, UM, SO GOING BACK TO THE, THE VEHICLE PARKING WITH THE CARS AND, AND I GUESS THE TRAILER PARKING AS WELL, UH, IS, ARE ALL OF OUR BOAT LAUNCHES? WELL NOT ALL OF 'EM JUST, BUT QUITE ALL I BELIEVE HAS TRAILER PARKING ONLY.
DO WE HAVE SIGNAGE OUT THAT THAT HAS THE CHAIR? BECAUSE I MEAN THAT SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE.
THERE'S TWO SPOTS FOR VEHICLES THERE.
TWO SPOTS FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT TRAILERS.
TWO SPOTS FOR VEHICLES WITHOUT TRAILERS.
IS THAT, IS THAT SIGNAGE OUT THERE? YES, WE, DURING THE PROPERTY
[01:35:01]
AND THEN OTHERS, OTHER, UH, PROPERTY SIZE FOR VEHICLES.SO, BUT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT ACROSS THE BOARD.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK SAM'S POINT HAS ANYTHING OUT THERE.
THIS IS SOMETHING JUST KIND OF WORKING THROUGH IT.
THEY CAN TELL YOU IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH PARKING.
ALL I KNOW IS WHAT WE'RE TOLD.
WE GET THE COMPLAINTS COME IN, THEN WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT AND SAY, ALRIGHT, WE'LL TAKE IT TO COUNSEL.
AND I BELIEVE THE COMPLAINT WAS, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
THIS ISN'T A DIALOGUE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CROWD AND US HAVING THE CONVERSATION, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARKING AT ALL BOAT LANDINGS OR JUST ALL BOATS.
I SAID WE HAD SOME BOAT LANDINGS.
THAT'S WHY I ALSO SAID MAYBE IT'S AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE TOO AND NOT AN ISSUE THAT WE NEEDED MR. THAT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS.
UM, I RED AND TALKED TO AN INDIVIDUAL.
AND CHUCK, I THINK THIS MAY GO BACK TO YOU.
UM, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR ENFORCEMENT? BECAUSE ONE, ONE INDIVIDUAL SAID THAT HE'S ONLY SEEN, HE OPERATES THERE WEEKLY AND SAID HE SAW A CODE FIRST ENFORCEMENT THERE MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, I BELIEVE.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO? I MEANING CAN ENFORCEMENT JUST INCREASE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS? YEAH, SO THIS IS GONNA GET A LITTLE NUANCED.
IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE BOAT IN THE WATER, WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH BOATS BEING LEFT THERE, DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THE PICKUP AND DROP OFF.
THERE ARE SOME ALLOWANCES AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT BOAT LANDINGS AND DIFFERENT RULES FOR DIFFERENT BOAT LANDINGS.
IN THE CURRENT ORDINANCES, WHAT WE HAVE ENFORCED IS ABANDONED VEHICLES.
UM, WE HAVE THE ABANDONED BOAT WE'VE ADDRESSED AND WE HAVE WHERE FOLKS HAVE ACTUALLY TRIED TO DO BUSINESS FROM THE BOAT LANDING.
WE HAVE TAKEN ENFORCEMENT ACTION WITH THAT BECAUSE LARGELY THEY DON'T HAVE BUSINESS LICENSES.
THEY, THEY SET UP LIKE HAWKERS AND PEDALERS, BUT IT WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THAT, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT AN ALLOWED USE.
SO WE WOULD ENFORCE THOSE ACTIONS AS FAR AS, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WERE PEOPLE BEING PICKED UP, DROPPED OFF.
ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVED HAD TO DO WITH, UM, A NUMBER OF JET SKIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BEING DROPPED OFF, TIED UP TO THE BOAT LANDING.
SO IT WOULD TAKE UP A WHOLE FLOATING DOCK AND THEY WOULD SIT THERE PER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN FOLKS WOULD SHOW UP, PARKED HOUSTON, BRING THEM BACK, PARK THEM, TIE THEM UP THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN GET THEM, PICK THEM BACK UP.
THIS WAS OVER A YEAR AGO, THIS WAS A WHILE BACK.
UM, BUT IT'S THINGS LIKE THAT, UM, THAT, THAT WE GET THE COMPLAINTS AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS, PROTECTION EQUIPMENT.
ANYTHING ELSE WANNA SAY BEFORE I UP? NO, JUST ANYBODY ELSE.
JUST SAY I'M REALLY NOT, I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE PAYMENT HAPPENS IF THERE'S NOT SOMETHING SET UP WHERE IT'S TAKING AWAY THE PARKING.
MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME, BUT THE ASPECT OF SOMEBODY GETTING ON A BOAT AND GETTING ON THE CHARTER AND GOING TO ME IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ME ORDERING AN UBER AND GETTING AN UBER, A RIDE HOME, A RESTAURANT.
UM, MAYBE THAT'S ME OVERTHINKING IT.
BUT JUST LOGISTICS WISE, THEY HAVE THEIR LICENSE AND THEY'RE MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE PUT IN AT THE COUNTY.
AND I DON'T CARE IF THE TRANSACTION'S CASH OR OVER ONLINE FOR THEIR RESERVATION.
I'M SURE THEY'RE TAKING A RESERVATION FEE TO HOLD IT, A DEPOSIT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
THAT THAT REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER ME THAT MUCH.
I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEBODY COMING IN WITH 40 CARS SO THE REST OF THEM CAN'T OPERATE OR IT'S A SATURDAY AND PEOPLE CAN'T GO OUT IN THE WATER ON THEIR OWN BOATS.
EVERYTHING ELSE TO ME SEEMS IF SOMEONE'S OPERATING A BUSINESS PROPERLY OR WITHOUT A BUSINESS LICENSE, THAT'S AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
MY QUESTION IS THAT WE GIVING THEM ENOUGH BACKBONE IN OUR ORDINANCE TO BE ABLE TO ENFORCE THAT.
AND THAT'S, I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
I GUESS THAT'S A MORE QUESTION.
SO ONE POINT I WILL MAKE ON ENFORCEMENT IS THAT OUR DEFINITION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER THIS NEW ORDINANCE IS EXPANDED SO THAT B-C-S-O-A AND D AND R ARE ALSO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ORDINANCE.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH EITHER OF THOSE ENTITIES IS GOING TO ASSIST WITH PARKING ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
D AND R IS PRIMARILY ABOUT THE LAND AND VOTE PROCESS, UM, WHICH IS SET BY THE STATE.
BUT UM, WE, WE DID THEORETICALLY EXPAND RESOURCES BY MAKING THAT DEFINITION THAT WAY OVER CERTAIN ORDINANCE.
I TO ANSWER ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE WHOLE LAND ACQUISITION THING IF IT MAKES SENSE, BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON SOME OF THE AREAS WE EITHER ALREADY OWN OR WE CAN REUTILIZE.
UM, I'VE SAID IT FIVE YEARS AGO, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TODAY.
I'M STILL ALL FOR TAKING A LOOK AT AND THE WAY WE HAVE THAT LAID OUT AND WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THERE.
UM, IT'S A GREAT CENTER POINT FOR THE LOCATION FROM HERE, SAVANNAH, THE BUSKEY, ST.
SO I'VE SAID THAT BEFORE, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS, BUT JUST THROW THAT OUT TO THE REST OF THE COUNCIL.
[01:40:01]
ME AND ME SAYING THAT TOGETHER.I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL.
DAVID, IF YOU DON'T MIND TO UH, ALL RIGHT, FOLLOW THAT UP.
UH, AT THIS POINT I'D MAKE A MOTION TO BIFURCATE THIS AND, UH, VOTE ON, UH, ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 1 0 2 1 71 THROUGH 180 3 TODAY AND THE REMAINING PROVISIONS THAT ARE BEING AMENDED AND ADDRESSED.
UH, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT, UH, PUBLIC FACILITY, UH, COMMITTEE THAT SO MOVED SECONDED BY MS. HOWARD.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR CLARIFICATION? DOES BRIAN DEVIATION ON THAT MOTION, MR. MR. CLEAR RECORDING? UH, ARTICLE FOUR, WE DON'T CHANGES TO WHAT'S THE PURPOSE, CORRECT? YEAH.
AND VOTING ON IT TODAY AND THAT WAY WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE AND GET THEM DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ON IT BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? UM, I WOULD JUST SAY IF WE COULD, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WE PUT OUT TODAY, CAN WE FIND OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE LICENSES BETWEEN SEVEN AND 49 AND 50 PLUS? I THINK THAT'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE US SOME INFORMATION AND SEE WHERE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE SO WE CAN SEE IF ANY OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY USING OUR, OUR DOCKS.
THEY ALREADY HAVE DOCKS AND WATERWAYS AND OBVIOUSLY I WOULD ASSUME THEY'RE NOT COMING TO OURS OR SOMETHING WE LEAST MONITOR.
UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, JUST TO COUNSEL, I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'M NOT THE MOST GREEN PERSON UP HERE, BUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE ENFORCED, YOU'D SEE MORE DOCKS BUILD AND WE'D HAVE TO EXPAND EVEN MORE OF BOTH SLIPS, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT, WHICH WOULD ACTUALLY HURT THE ENVIRONMENT EVEN MORE.
UM, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE TAKE, UH, ACTION ON THIS? HANG ON, I SECOND THAT.
UM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE VOTING ON JUST THE, UM, OF ABANDONMENT.
IT'S GONNA BE ONE VOTE TOGETHER, MOVING THE VOTE ABANDONMENT COUNTY COUNCIL AND REFERRING THE REST BACK TO THE NEXT PUBLIC FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH IS ON NOVEMBER.
YOU GOOD? QUICKLY, UH, MOST OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE ABANDON IS, IS REALLY FOLLOW THE STATEMENT.
WE DO HAVE A FEW SESSIONS IN HERE THAT, THAT WE HAVE DRAFTED.
BUT THE, THE PROCEDURE, IT'S GOVERNED BY STATE LAW TO THE EXTENT WE ENACT ANYTHING, IT HAS TO MIRROR WHAT THE STATE HAS.
SO THE PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL IS STATEMENT.
CAN THIS BE DONE WITH NO OBJECTION OR DO I NEED A ROLL CALL? MR. ROLL? NO, NO OBJECTION.
UM, WE WILL POSTPONE THE OTHER TO PUBLIC FACILITIES AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VOTE LANDING TO COUNTY COUNCIL SO THAT SECTION IS APPROVED.
UM, I'M SURE MOST OF YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE.
UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT TODAY.
UH, I KNOW MOST OF YOU, NOT ALL OF YOU GAVE UP MONEY TODAY COMING HERE AT A FOUR O'CLOCK MEETING, SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT HERE.
UM, WE'LL, WE'LL GET THIS RESOLVED AND GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF.
SO THE NEXT SEE THIS? YEAH, THAT'S GOOD RIGHT? YOU GUYS GOOD? JUST KEEP GOING OUT THE HALLWAY SO WE CAN FINISH FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE ISLANDS.
ALRIGHT GUYS, I AM GONNA MOVE ON TO THE
[9.b. A Resolution to accept South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) Commercial Airport Entitlement Grant Funding for the Design and Bidding of Parking Lot Improvements at Hilton Head Island Airport – Contingent Upon Final Grant Offer. (FISCAL IMPACT: This project is fully funded by the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) Commercial Airport Entitlement Funds. Initial funds will be drawn from – GL Account 5402–90–0000–57130 – Grant Expenditures – GL Account 5402–90–0000–57130 balance: $13,004,489.00 CONTINGENT UPON FINAL SCAC GRANT APPROVAL) Jon Rembold, Airports Director (5 min)]
NEXT ONE.UM, NUMBER LETTER B, A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION COMMERCIAL AIRPORT ENTITLEMENT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE DESIGN AND BIDDING OF A PARKING LOT IMPROVEMENTS AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT CONTINGENT UPON FINAL GRANT OFFER.
A MOTION GOES ON FLOOR PLEASE.
YOU, I'M ASSUMING THAT THIS IS GONNA GO THE SAME WAY OUR LAST ONES DID.
THAT WE ARE GETTING PREPARED FOR THEM YEP.
TO BE APPROVED SO WE CAN ACCEPT A MOMENT.
YES, I WILL GO AHEAD AND LET YOU TAKE THE FLOOR.
[01:45:01]
THE AIRPORT.OR AS WE'RE SMARTLY EVENING INTO EVENING TIME.
UM, THIS, IF YOU RECALL, UH, QUITE A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE, UH, A NEW VENDOR, UM, AND WE REALIZED REAL QUICKLY TO INSTALL THEIR EQUIPMENT, THE, UH, LICENSE TAG READERS THAT WE NEEDED TO GET SOME DESIGN DONE IN THAT AGENT PARKING LOT.
SO THIS IS SIMPLY, UM, ENTITLEMENT FUNDING FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS TO FUND THE DESIGN AND BIDDING PORTION, UH, SO WE CAN UPGRADE OUR PARKING LOT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? Y'ALL MAKES SENSE? ANY DISCUSSION? CAN THIS BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION? YES.
THIS IS APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.
[Items 9.c - 9.e]
E.WHAT I WILL DO, IF YOU DON'T MIND, AND ALL THREE OF THESE KIND OF GO TOGETHER, I WILL READ THEM OVER, UM, BUT WE'LL STILL TAKE THEM SEPARATELY JUST SO YOU CAN DISCUSS ALL THREE.
WE'LL TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.
UH, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ENTER INTO A NON-COMPETITIVE MASTER SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR AIRPORT SURVEILLANCE SERVICES.
THAT'S GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE ON THE FLOOR, BUT JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'RE HAVING IN HALF FOR THESE WILL BE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE SCHEDULE A WHITE LINE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT, SURVEILLANCE DATA LEASE AGREEMENT, AND HELP ME WITH THAT PRONUNCIATION.
AVIONICS CORPORATION U AVIONICS U AVIONICS CORPORATION.
UM, AND THE LAST ONE, THE DISCUSSION WILL BE A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION COMMERCIAL AIRPORT ENTITLEMENT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE FLIGHT LINE AIRBORNE POSITION REFERENCE TOOL AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORTS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER, ATTENTION UPON FINAL GRANT APPROVAL.
UH, WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE THAT FIRST ONE, BUT OPEN THAT DISCUSSION SO WE KNOW ALL THREE.
UH, AS EVERYBODY SECOND, I'LL SECOND.
AS EVERYBODY SHOULD RECALL, HILTON HIT ISLAND AIRPORTS THE ONLY COMMERCIAL AIRPORT, BEFORD COUNTY, AND WE OPERATE A CONTRACT TOWER.
I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR AGAIN HERE WITH THE SHUTDOWN AND THINGS LIKE THAT, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR CONTROLLERS ARE STILL WORKING.
THEY'RE NOT FA CONTROLLERS, THEY'RE CONTRACT CONTROLLERS FOR QUITE A FEW DECADES.
UM, THE AIRPORT HAS BEEN LOBBYING TO GET RADAR VIEWING CAPABILITY INSIDE THAT TOWER FOR THE CONTROLLERS.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY RADAR CAPABILITY IS WHEN THEY CONTACT BUFORD APPROACH ON THE AIR STATION OR SAVANNAH AS THEY'RE ARRIVING AND DEPARTMENT DEPARTING, WHICH YOU'VE HEARD JOHN SAY IT, THAT THE TOWER CONTROLLERS ARE USING THE STUBBY PENCIL WAY, THE OLD WAY TO VIEW WITH BINOCULARS AND SEE AIRCRAFT THAT ARE COMING IN.
UH, MUCH DISCUSSION WITH THE FAA LUCKILY IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, THE FAA FINALLY IDENTIFIED ONE SOLE COMPANY TO PROVIDE RADAR VIEWING IN THOSE TOWERS.
SO WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IS A MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH UAVS TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE TO OUR, OUR TOWER OR OUR CONTROLLERS IN THE TOWER.
SECONDARY TO THAT IS A SUBSCRIPTION FEE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION, WHICH IS IT SUBSCRIPTION RUNS OFF A FEE SCHEDULE.
AND WE HAD TO PICK BASED OFF OUR LOCATION IN OUR TOWER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE FEES WERE FOR UUAB, HONEST.
UH, BUT THAT'S THE SUBSCRIPTION FEE.
THIS IS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, THE OPTION OF RENEWAL.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO REACH OUT AND GET SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS TO FUND THIS WITH ENTITLEMENT GRANT FUNDING.
SO THAT'S THE CONTINGENT, UH, GRANT FUNDING REQUESTS, UH, THAT HAVE IT STATE.
ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRST SECTION? NO.
I CAN C BE DONE WITH NO OBJECTION.
I WILL REREAD OVER THE NEXT TWO AND WE'LL GET A MOTION FOR THEM TO TAKE A VOTE AS WELL.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR EXECUTE SCHEDULE A FLIGHT LAND SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT, SURVEILLANCE DATA LICENSE AGREEMENT.
DO YOU A S CORPORATION HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
MOTION BY MR. REED, SECONDED BY MR. UH DAWSON.
ANY OBJECTION? AND I SEE NO OBJECTION.
GOS E RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION COMMERCIAL AIRPORT ENTITLEMENT GRANT FUNDING FOR THE FLIGHT LINE AIRBORNE POSITION REFERENCE TOOL AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT'S TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER CONTINGENT UPON THE FINAL GRANT APPROVAL, OF COURSE A MOTION SO MOVED.
A MOTION BY TAB SECONDED BY MR. REEDS.
ANY DISCUSSION? CAN THIS GO MOVE ON WITH NO OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTION THE QUESTION.
THE PROJECT WAS NOT BUDGETED DUE TO NO NOTICE AT A APPROVAL.
WELL, THE FA JUST APPROVED IT IN AUGUST
[01:50:01]
OF THIS YEAR, SO THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD, YOU COULD BUDGET PRIOR TO SO THAT'S OKAY.I'M JUST GLAD THAT THEY FINALLY APPROVED SOMEBODY.
YEAH, WE THAT'S FOR SAFE RESPONSE.
MR. REITERATE, ANY OBJECTION? NO.
ALRIGHT, THIS WILL PASS WITH NO OBJECTION.
[9.f. Approval to award Tailwind Hospitality Inc. a contract to manage retail, food, and beverage concessions at Hilton Head Island (HXD) Terminal. (FISCAL IMPACT: This is a revenue-generating contract.) Jon Rembold, Airports Director (5 min)]
ON TO F APPROVAL TO AWARD TAILWIND HOSPITALITY INC.CONTRACT AND MANAGE RETAIL FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSIONS AT
WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT ON FLOOR AND A SECOND.
ALL OF YOU, AS Y'ALL ARE AWARE, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW TERMINAL, UH, OVER IN MILTON HEAD.
OUR CURRENT, UH, CONCESSIONS VENDOR.
WE'RE RIGHT AT THE END OF THEIR CONTRACT TIME, SO IT KIND OF COINCIDED AND MADE IT A PERFECT TIME TO PUT THIS OUT FOR BID, WHICH INCLUDES THE NEW SIDE OF THE TERMINAL AS WELL.
SO THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONCESSIONAIRE AND TAILWIND CAME BACK WITH THE BEST OFFER, THE BEST, UH, REVENUE COUNTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO JUDGE AND, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE INSTALLED WHENEVER THIS CONTRACT IS AWARDED TO TELL ANY QUESTIONS.
UH, WHEN YOU, WHEN WE AWARD THIS TO TELL, WHEN DOES, IS THAT EXCLUSIVE OF ANYBODY ELSE OR THE OTHER FOOD VENDORS WOULD BE THERE AS WELL? YES SIR.
I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.
UM, ODDLY ENOUGH, TAILWIND IS THE CURRENT CONCESSIONS AT THE AIRPORT AND THEY HEARD, I THINK THERE'S A BENEFIT THEY GOT 'CAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THE AIRPORT IS LOOKING FOR IN OUR BID, WE WANTED THE CONCESSIONS TO COME IN, BUT THEY, WE LEAN VERY, VERY HEAVY ON THE USE OF LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE THE ITEMS THAT THEY'RE SELLING, WHETHER IT'S FOOD, BEVERAGE, COFFEE, LOCAL ROASTERS FROM THE ITEM HEAD ON.
SO THAT'S VERY HEAVILY WEIGHED ON THAT THEY KNEW THAT WE ASKED FOR IT IN THE BID.
AND SO THEIR JOB IS TO FIND THESE LOCAL COMPANIES THAT BRING IN AND USE THEM, I GUESS AS SECONDARY VENDORS.
UM, BUT THEY WILL BE USING LOCAL, LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROVIDE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO SELL THERE.
HOW DO YOU MONITOR THAT? UM, ARE YOU ABLE TO MONITOR THEIR FINANCIALS? OKAY.
I AUDIT THEIR BOOKS AND THEIR FINANCIALS.
STEVE, WHAT'S THE DOLLAR VALUE? THIS COMPANY? UM, WELL IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE WE'RE EXPANDING.
THE CURRENT DOLLAR VALUE ONLY SHOWS ONE CONCESSION AREA AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE WE'RE EXPANDING TO THE, UM, WE'RE DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE TERMINAL.
THIS IS ALSO DOUBLING THE CONCESSION AREA.
UM, THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE VENDORS TO COME IN.
UM, YOU'VE SEEN THE AIRPORTS, THOSE VENDORS THAT YOU CAN, THEY ROLL IN AND THEY CAN OPERATE FOR MONTHS TIME.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY, BUT WE'RE AT AMAR ABOUT A 2.1 MILLION A YEAR RIGHT NOW.
IS THIS A GENERATOR? SO IT SHOULD BE A 4 MILLION A THAT'S NOT ALL THE AIRPORT.
THAT'S TOTAL REVENUE FOR THE COMPANY AT THE, THE AIRPORT.
ANY OBJECTION? ALRIGHT, I SEE NO OBJECTION.
UM, WHERE WE AT? UH, G WE'LL MOVE ON TO THIS LAST ONE.
I THINK THAT'S THE LAST ONE FOR YOU, ISN'T IT? IT IS.
YOU DO THE SAME, UH, CHANGE ORDER NUMBER
[9.g. A Change Order #4 to Dirt Road Paving Contract #55 with J.H. Hiers, LLC., for drainage, base, and paving on 0.13 miles of Fredericka Taylor Lane ($436,689.00). (FISCAL IMPACT: Staff reviewed the pricing submitted by J.H. Hiers, LLC. and found the prices fair and reasonable as comparable with recent bids. The funding for this change order will be from the Road Improvement Account #2342-30-0000-54500 with a balance of $7,270,178.21.) Original contract Dirt Roads #55: $2,579,580.00 CO #1 Dolphin Watch Paving Ext: $50,540.50 CO #2 Dolphin Watch Waterline: $12,787.52 CO #3 James D Washington Waterline: $24,305.00 CO #4 Fredericka Taylor Construction (Proposed): $436,689.00 Revised contract amount: $3,103,902.02 Bryan Bauer, P.E., Director of Engineering (5 min)]
FOUR TO DIRT ROAD PAVING CONTRACT NUMBER 55 WITH JH AIRS, LLC FOR DRAINAGE BASE AND PAVING ON 0.13 MILES OF FREDERICK TAKE CLEARED LINK.MY, UH, TAB FLOOR IS YOURS MY FRIEND.
UH, SO WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY BID, IT WAS A DESIGN BUILD FOR THREE ROADS, UM, FRED GREAT EVENING, SIR.
FREDERICA TAYLOR WAS INCLUDED AS A ALTERNATE FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AT THE TIME.
WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN BUT NOT CONSTRUCTION.
SO THIS WOULD JUST BE A CHANGE ORDER TO ALLOW US TO COMPLETE THAT CONSTRUCTION.
AND WHEN DO YOU THINK THAT SHOULD, UH, IT WOULD START HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT WOULD START FOR, I'M SORRY, YEAH, NEXT YEAR.
SO PROBABLY BEFORE MID YEAR NEXT YEAR IS WHEN IT WOULD BEGIN WHEN BEATED.
MR.
THIS IS, THIS IS ONE THAT, UH, HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR, FOR YEARS.
IS IT STILL IN THERE? YES SIR.
IT HADN'T, IT HADN'T PULLED UP.
IT'S UM, ON THE CURRENT PROGRAM IT IS, THEY ARE FINISHING UP DOLPHIN WATCH.
NOW THERE WERE SOME UTILITY ISSUES AT JAMES D. WASHINGTON, WHICH, UM, DELAYED IT A LITTLE BIT.
UM, IF THEY CAN MOVE LEO GREEN UP AND DO IT FIRST, THEY'RE GOING TO, BUT IF NOT, IT'LL BE DONE AT THE CONCLUSION OF JAMES D. WASHINGTON.
[01:55:01]
YES SIR DAWSON, I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU I'LL BE LOST ON SOME OF THE, SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON TOP OF IT,I WOULDN'T EVEN THOUGHT TO CHECK ON THAT.
ALRIGHT, THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.
[9.h. Approval to award a contract to Truluck Construction for the Paukie Island Road Culvert Replacement Project ($2,207,788.79). (FISCAL IMPACT: The contract fee for materials and construction is $1,734,353.45. Staff recommends a 10% contingency of $173,435.34 as well as an estimated cost of $300,000 for relocation of the existing eight-inch water line. The total expected budget requested is $2,207,788.79. The funding for this project is primarily from the 2026 Capital Improvement Projects Account No. 4000-80-0000-54500, with a balance of $2,000,000.00 and the remaining $207,788.79 will be paid from the Local Admissions Account number 2010-10-0000-54500 with a current balance of $4,563,380.00. Additionally, the County will pursue reimbursement from BJWSA for a majority of the cost associated with relocation of the water line.) Bryan Bauer, Director of Engineering (5 min)]
APPROVAL TO AWARD A CONTRACT AT TRUE LUCK CONSTRUCTION FOR, IS IT POEY ISLAND? PAUL KEY ISLAND ROAD CALLED REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR THE MOTION.SECONDED BY, UH, MS. HOWARD? UM, YES SIR.
UM, YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE THE CONSTRUCTION LIKE SET FOR, UM, WE PUT ASIDE THE BID WHEN WE RECEIVED ONE BID, IT CAME IN SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER THAN THE ENGINEER'S COST ESTIMATE.
UM, THEY CAME BACK WITH THE BEST AND FINAL OF ONE BY SEVEN, WHICH WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO THE ESTIMATE.
UM, IT'S INCLUDING A CONTINGENCY OF 10% IN THERE AND THERE WILL BE A WATERLINE REPLACEMENT THAT'S GONNA BE REQUIRED AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
SO WE HAVE A COMPLETE ADDITIONAL CONTINGENCY OF 300,000 FOR THAT.
BUT THE COUNTY SHARE OF THE WATERLINE IS 4% PER ACT.
36 P FOR JASPER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REST.
UM, SO THE TOTAL CONTRACT OR WILL BE UP TO 2.7, 2.2 WITH, WITH CONTINGENCY.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, NO, I JUST WANNA, NOT A QUESTION NECESSARILY, BUT JUST WANNA MAKE A NOTE THAT THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE ITEM.
THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE AS WELL.
AND I WILL ADD THAT WITH THIS.
UM, THEY'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO GET STARTED BY LATE NOVEMBER, EARLY DECEMBER TO GET OUT THERE AND START MOBILIZING.
DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A SEPARATE MOTION TO MOVE IT DIRECTLY TO COUNSEL'S TIME SENSITIVE? AND ALEX JUST HAS TO ACCEPTED THE AGENDA TO THE CHIEF.
YEAH, SO WE DON'T NEED A SEPARATE MOTION.
[9.i. A Contract to O'Quinn Marine Construction Inc for Melrose Dock Repair Project ($282,695). (FISCAL IMPACT: The contract fee for materials and construction is $241,945 for the base bid. Three alternatives were also included for floating dock removal and bid for alternatives was $15,050 for a total cost of $256,995. Staff recommends a 10% contingency of $25,700. The total expected budget requested is $282,695. The funding for this project is from the Melrose Dock A/H award Account No. 2002-10-0000-54500-CIP with a balance of $1,500,000.) Bryan Bauer, PE Director of Engineering (5 min)]
CONTRACT TO O'QUINN MARINE CONSTRUCTION INC.FOR MELROSE DOCK REPAIR PROJECT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? A MOTION? I SECOND? NO, SECOND IT MR. BAR.
AND THIS IS SO BE FOR THE MELROSE DOCK.
UM, WE HAD MCS SWEENEY ENGINEERS DO AN INSPECTION REPORT OF IT AND THEY CAME UP WITH A LIST OF ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED, UH, IMMEDIATELY ONCE THE COUNTY TAKES POSSESSION, MAKE IT SAFE.
UM, SO THIS IS WHAT THESE BIDS WERE BASED ON.
WE RECEIVED TWO BIDS, UH, QUINN WAS THE LOWEST.
UM, THERE IS AN ALTERNATE FOR 15,000 TO REMOVE THE FLOATING DOCKS THAT AREN'T GONNA BE UTILIZED.
AND THEN A 10% CONTINGENCY BRINGS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE POSSIBLE AWARD UP TO 2 82 6 9 5.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? NO THIS BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.
ALRIGHT, THIS APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION AND WITH THAT THERE'S NO OTHER FURTHER BUSINESS.