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[1. CALL TO ORDER]
TO CALL THE, UH, FEBRUARY 9TH MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL TO ORDER.PLEASE RISE AND MARK LAWSON WILL GIVE US THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION, P, LIFE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND HISTORY REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
LORD, WE ASK FOR YOUR BLESSING.
LET US BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK, AND SLOW TO ANGER.
LET US USE THE WISDOM YOU'VE GIVEN US TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR MANY AND NOT JUST THE FEW.
LET US PROTECT THOSE WHO CANNOT PROTECT THEMSELVES.
LET US PUT OUR PRIDE AND PERSONALITIES ASIDE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL THOSE WHO REPRESENT.
LORD, PLEASE BLESS THE CITIZENS OF BUFORT COUNTY, ITS EMPLOYEES, STAFF, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND ESPECIALLY BLESS AND PROTECT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND KEEP THEM SAFE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THIS BLESSING AND ALLOWING US TO LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I'D LIKE TO CONFIRM THAT WITH OUR COUNTY CLERK.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA ]
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, AND I WILL SECOND THAT.WE HAVE A, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN AND A MOTION BY, UM, VICE CHAIR.
ALL IN FAVOR? MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE WE VOTE, WAS THERE GONNA BE AMENDMENT TO THAT TO ALLOW, UH, MS. WALLACE TO SPEAK? UM, I CAN DO THAT AS WELL.
WE CAN, OR I CAN DO THAT AS PART OF WHEN I CALL 'EM FORWARD.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.
WELL, IF YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO IT THAT WAY, YEAH, PROBABLY BE FINE.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA, UH, TO ALLOW TIME FOR MARIA WALLS, OUR TREASURER TO SPEAK.
WHEN WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO THAT WILL BE AT ITEM NUMBER 14.
YOU NEED A SECOND FOR THAT? I'LL DO THAT, I BELIEVE, UH, MR. CUNNINGHAM ALREADY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW MS. WALLS OUR TREASURER TO SPEAK AT 14 A AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
AND WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH THE, UM, APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
UH, WE HAVE MINUTES FROM CAUCUS
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
AND COUNTY COUNCIL DATED JANUARY 26TH, 2026 THAT WAS IN OUR PACKET.WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.
I SECOND THAT AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LAWSON.
ALL IN ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES BY SHOW OF HANDS.
[6. PROCLAMATION ]
WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND.AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BARMY WILL DO THAT.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME PEOPLE HERE TO ACCEPT IT.
GOT ANYBODY WITH YOU, PLEASE JUMP FORWARD.
GENTLEMEN, THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING HERE.
AND IT'S, IF Y'ALL WANT TO STAND OVER HERE WITH ME OR LOOK AT THE COUNCIL, WHATEVER.
WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 IS A 250TH ANNIVERSARY, OR A SEMI QUINCENTENNIAL OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE HOSTILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
AND WHEREAS THE BATTLE OF THE PORT ROYAL ISLAND WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WHEREAS THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND WAS THE FIRST LAND-BASED VICTORY BY THE PATRIOT VERSUS THE BRITISH AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND WHEREAS THE LOCATION OF THE BATTLEFIELD WILL BE THE SOUTHERNMOST SITE FOR VISITORS ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA LIBERTY TRAIL.
AND WHEREAS THE DIVERSE COALITION OF APPROXIMATELY 300 AMERICAN SOLDIERS WAS COMPOSED OF CONTINENTAL REGULARS AND MILITIA, AMONG WHOM WERE FARMERS, SHOP OWNERS, TRADESMEN, WATERMEN, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN AND JEWISH SOLDIERS REPRESENTING THE BEST IDEALS IN OUR NEW NATION.
AND WHEREAS JIM CAVERS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PATRIOT SOLDIER, WHO IS A REVOLUTIONARY WAR HERO, SERVED IN SEVERAL ENGAGEMENTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND, AS WELL AS THE SIEGE SIEGES OF SAVANNAH AND CHARLESTON, THE BATTLES OF CAMDEN AND UTAH SPRINGS, AND PROBABLY AT THE SURRENDER OF THE BRITISH ARMY AT YORKTOWN.
AND WHEREAS THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE PATRIOT FORCES AT THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND WAS BOLSTERED BY NEARLY 30 JEWISH SOLDIERS FROM CHARLESTON.
AND WHEREAS TWO SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THOMAS HAYWARD JR.
AND EDWARD RUTLEDGE SERVED TOGETHER
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AS ARTILLERY OFFICERS IN THE BATTLE OF THE PORT ROYAL ISLAND, THE ONLY BATTLE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IN WHICH TWO SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION FOUGHT.AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE LED BY GENERAL WILLIAM MULTRY, THE HERO OF THE BATTLE OF SULLIVAN'S ISLAND.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND.
BATTLEFIELD SITE APPRECIATES THE SOUTH CAROLINA TWO 50 COMMISSION AND THE BEAUFORT COUNTY 2 52 50 COMMITTEE THAT ARE LEADING THE CELEBRATION AND ENCOURAGES THE GOOD CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ENJOY THE 250TH CELEBRATION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE ACTIVITIES FROM 2026 TO 2033, DATED THIS NINTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026.
AND SIGNED BY CHAIR ALICE HOWARD.
IF Y'ALL LIKE, I'D LIKE TO YES, BY ALL MEANS, VERY BRIEF REMARKS.
WILL YOU FLIP THE MIC? THE BUFORT TWO 50 COMMITTEE IS DEEPLY HONORED BY THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND WITH ME TONIGHT ARE RANDY ATKINS PASSED COUNCILMAN AND COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON, STU RODMAN AND FRANK GIBSON.
UH, ALL SERVING ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY TWO 50 COMMITTEE, SOUTH CAROLINA HAD MORE BATTLES THAN ANY OTHER STATE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
BEAUFORT COUNTY ALONE HAD OVER 100 ENGAGEMENTS IN THE BATTLE OF PORT ROYAL ISLAND HERE IN BEAUFORT.
AT GRAVES HILL WAS THE FIRST PATRIOT VICTORY OVER THE BRITISH IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
CHAIRMAN HOWARD VICE, CHAIR TABER, COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW, AND TO THE OTHER COUNTY.
COUNCILMAN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION.
I'D LIKE TO GET A PICTURE, JUST THE HONOR GROUP.
IN THREE, TWO, MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY I HAVE A MOMENT OF YES.
UM, I JUST WANNA SHARE THIS WITH THE PUBLIC.
UH, HE JUST FOUND OUT BY, UM, MR. RODMAN, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S FACTUAL OR NOT
AND HE, HE, HE FOUGHT SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE, THE SWAMP FOX.
FRANCIS MARIAN, THANK YOU FOR THAT KNOWLEDGE.
AT THIS TIME, UH, MOVING ON WITH OUR
[7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT ]
AGENDA, WE HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.UM, I DO HAVE A COUPLE UPDATES, THEN WE HAVE SOME, UM, PENDING CEREMONIES AND RETIREMENTS TO, UH, TO GO THROUGH.
BUT, UH, FIRST OFF, I WANTED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON, UH, OUR HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND, UH, OUR INTEGRATION WITH NEXUS CARE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, PROGRAMS WE'RE, UH, ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO INTEGRATE OUR REACH AND CONNECT, UH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANT PROGRAMS. UH, THESE TRANSITIONS AND INTEGRATIONS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE, UM, FY 27 BUDGET PROCESS, AND THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, 2026.
UM, NEXUS CARE HAS THE ABILITY TO INTEGRATE THE PROGRAMS OF HUMAN SERVICES INTO ITS EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO DELIVER COMPREHENSIVE CLIENT-CENTERED SERVICES.
UH, NEXUS CARE IS ACCREDITED BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES, CARF INTERNATIONAL TO PROVIDE DIVERSION AND INTERVENTION, UH, FOR ADULTS WITH SUBSTANCE DISORDERS, OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE, DISORDERS FOR CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS.
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS FOR ADULTS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR SUBSTANCE TARGETING CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS NEXUS.
ALSO, NEXUS CARE ALSO OFFERS SCREENING FOR SUBSTANCE USE AND MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE WITH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, INCLUDING MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND FOOD.
FOLLOWING SCREENINGS, INDIVIDUALS WOULD RECEIVE INFORMATION REFERRALS TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY RESOURCE.
IF SCREENING INDICATES ISSUES RELATED TO ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE, THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH AN ASSESSMENT
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WHICH WOULD INFORM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT.UH, NEXUS CARE ALSO, UM, CONDUCTS COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH PROGRAMS AT THE DETENTION CENTER AND MOBILE RESPONSE INITIATIVES THAT ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND OTHER NEEDS.
UH, THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE SCREENING AND REFERRALS TO SERVICES AND ENTER INTO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM TO COLLECT CRITICAL DATA THAT HELPS IDENTIFY HOUSING NEEDS.
IN BEAUFORT COUNTY NEXUS CARE CLINICAL TEAM, UH, REGULARLY REVIEWS PATIENT NEEDS AND PROGRESS AND COLLABORATES WITH, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE COORDINATED EFFECTIVE CARE AS RESOLUTION.
20 25 78, UH, COUNCIL DIRECTED ADMINISTRATION TO EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAINTAIN OR MODESTLY REDUCED MILLAGE WHILE CONTINUING FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING THE BUDGET RETREAT.
UM, THE CFO ALSO DISCUSSED EVALUATING COUNTY SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS OF WHICH THIS IS ONE.
AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE, UH, MS. HARRIET TO, UH, PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
I WOULD LIKE MR. MOORE SAID THAT WE HAD, UM, DURING OUR BUDGET RETREAT, I HAD MENTIONED TO COUNCIL THAT I WAS GOING TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOME CLEANUP ON THAT WERE ACTUALLY BEING FUNDED BY GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
WE WERE FUNDING IT THROUGH A TRANSFER IN FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
SO, UH, TOWARDS THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR 25, AFTER THE AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE, UM, THIS ONE ENDED UP BEING $178,000 NEGATIVE IN THE FUND BALANCE.
SO OBVIOUSLY THAT MEANS I NEED TO CLEAN IT UP.
WE'RE GONNA, UH, MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.
AND THEN IT ALSO PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY, UH, AFTER SPEAKING WITH, UH, OUR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AS WELL AS MR. MOORE, THAT THERE WAS SOME SERVICES THAT WERE CONNECTED THAT WERE HAPPENING UNDER NEXUS CARE, UM, AS WELL AS, UH, HUMAN SERVICES.
SO IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN A, A POSITION WHERE WE WERE READY TO DO SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND MERGE THE TWO DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER.
SO, UM, FOR THAT, OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, I HAVE TO FOLLOW GASB GUIDELINES AND I CAN'T LET SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OPERATE WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, LET ALONE IN A NEGATIVE.
SO, UM, TO AVOID FUTURE AUDIT FINDINGS, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM NOW.
DO DOES, DO YOU WANNA TAKE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? I WAS JUST GONNA, THE LAST THING I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, THIS IS AGAIN, A, A TRANSITION THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, UH, WE'VE, UH, NOTIFIED INFECTED EMPLOYEES, AND OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL BE THROUGH THE BUDGET.
HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS NOW, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE ONGOING DISCUSSION THROUGHOUT BUDGET PROCESS.
DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? YES, DAVE, MR. GLOVER CAN GO FIRST TO YOU.
UM, WELL, THANK YOU MR. GLOVER.
UM, I, I'VE RECEIVED, UH, NUMEROUS, UH, PHONE CALLS REGARDING THIS TRANSITIONAL PHASE HERE.
I, I JUST WANT TO PUT, GET ON THE RECORD.
ARE ALL THE PROGRAMS GOING TO CONTINUE? IS THERE GONNA BE ANY, UH, TION HERE? THE PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE.
SPECIFICALLY, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, A REACH AND CONNECT REACH IS THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS AND CONNECT IS THE SERVICES, UH, COORDINATOR.
THOSE SERVICES WILL CONTINUE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, UM, SERVICE GRANT PROGRAMS, WHICH COUNCIL AWARDS EVERY YEAR, UM, TO, TO, UM, ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY THROUGH THE GRANT PROCESS.
THEN MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION ON THAT, MADAM CHAIR, UM, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS THOUGH, RIGHT? OF COURSE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I'M GONNA SAY THAT UPFRONT, UM, THAT WE ARE, UM, MERGING, UM, WHAT I CONSIDER, UM, UM, WATER AND OIL BECAUSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MISSION.
UM, WHEN I THINK OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS NEXUS, UM, I, I THINK OF SOMETHING, UH, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I DO WITH HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, AND THE TRAINING AND THE FOCUS, UM, IS SEPARATE, UM, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHERE, UM, I'VE BEEN A PART OF THAT SERVICES, UM, WHEN I WAS AT CLEMSON AND ALSO WITH FIRST STEPS AND HOW VALUABLE THAT, UH, AGENCY HAS BEEN, THAT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN, AND CONNECTING PEOPLE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT MISSION, AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE'S NOT BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THAT DEPARTMENT, UM, FUNDING WISE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
UM, I'VE NOT KNOWN THAT TO BE A PROBLEM UP UNTIL THIS YEAR.
UM, THE SOURCE OF FUNDING, UM, HAS NEVER COME UP, BUT IT'S COME UP THIS YEAR HERE.
SO THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A HISTORY TRAIL THAT SAID THAT THIS DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN, UM, UM, UH, AT A DEFICIT OF SOME SORT OVER THE YEARS EXCEPT FOR THIS YEAR RIGHT HERE.
SO I NEED, I, I NEED, I COULD ADDRESS THAT ANSWERS TO THAT.
UM, BUT, UM, AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO WANT TO
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EMPHASIZE HOW I THINK THE HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAM SERVICES IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND THEIR MISSION IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT, UM, THAN THE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS.THERE ARE SOME OVERLAPPING, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET INTO THE AREAS OF, UH, UM, MENTAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS AND CHALLENGES AND STUFF.
BUT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOES AND DOES WELL IS THAT THEY KEEP UP WITH, UH, THE HOMELESS.
UH, THEY COORDINATE WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND OUTSIDE, UM, PROGRAMS AND CHURCHES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
UM, I DON'T SEE ALCOHOL AND DRUG BASICALLY DOING THAT.
AND, UM, AND YOU TALKED MR. BE TALKED ABOUT THE SERVICES BEING DIMINISHED.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO FANDOM THAT YOU HAVE FIVE EMPLOYEES NOW AND YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE THAT, UM, DOWN TO TWO OR THREE, AND THE SAME SERVICES GONNA BE PROVIDED.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HELP ME THROUGH ALL OF THAT AND STUFF.
AND I, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN DO THAT TODAY, BUT YOU CAN RESPOND.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR PROGRAMMATIC CONCERNS IN TERMS OF WHAT, UH, HUMAN SERVICES DOES.
IT IS NOT A SERVICE DELIVERY ORGANIZATION.
IT'S A, UH, IT CONNECTS FOLKS WITH, WITH PROGRAMS. AND AS YOU KNOW, WELL, YOU MAY KNOW, I'M NOT SURE THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WHEN THIS, UH, REVENUE, SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT WAS SET UP, BUT SINCE 2023 IS OPERATED AT A DEFICIT AND THE GENERAL FUND HAS HAD TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN, AND IT IS NOW HAS A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MS. HARRIET IS STATING IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET.
SO ALL THIS WOULD HAVE TO MOVE OVER TO THE GENERAL FUND, UM, IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS.
AND THEN THOSE, UM, POSITIONS WOULD BE FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT EXISTS TODAY.
THERE'S A POTENTIAL WITH NEXUS CARE THAT, UH, THAT IS A REVENUE GENERATING ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, SOME OF THAT COULD BE OFFSET, SOME OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES COULD BE OFFSET, BUT, UH, THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING I MISSED THERE NOW, UM, THEY'RE MOVING INTO ANOTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUND WITH A AND D, THEY'RE JUST NOT GONNA HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, BUT I'M ASKING THE HISTORY BEHIND THAT.
WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN IN TWO YEARS THERE'S A DEFICIT IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT OKAY.
BUT THAT, THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS.
I HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS UNDER YOUR REPORT? YES, MA'AM.
ASSUMING THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT OTHER, YOUR HONOR, I DON'T SEE ANY.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELD ITS FIRST MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, HERE IN COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
OUR NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, FROM ONE TO 3:00 PM HERE AGAIN.
UH, WE HAD, UH, AS MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COMMISSION, UH, OUR COMMITTEE, WE HAD LISA SALKA REPRESENTING THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, VOTED AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, MR. GLENN STANFORD, REPRESENTING THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, WAS VOTED VICE CHAIR AND MS. JOY COE REPRESENTING COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT EIGHT, WAS VOTED AS A SECRETARY.
WE'LL NOW MOVE INTO SOME, UH, PENDING CEREMONIES.
UM, I'D LIKE TO FIRST INVITE MR. ROBERT HERLONG, MASTER SERGEANT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA READ SOME CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH, UH, 15 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MASTER SERGEANT HERLONG HAS DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AS THE CRISIS NEGOTIATIONS TEAM LEADER AND PROJECT LIFESAVER ADMINISTRATOR.
HIS COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING AND SAVING LIVES HAVE EXEMPLIFIED BY HIS RECEIPT OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LIFESAVING AWARD REFLECTING HIS PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
A SMILE IN THREE, TWO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY I JUST APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL AND BEING ABLE TO SERVE HERE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND JUST BE A PART OF IT AND ENJOYED MY TIME, SO THANK YOU.
AND CAN I SAY HE JUST DID ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING IN SUN CITY.
DO YOU HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS HERE TODAY? THANK YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAMILY OR FRIENDS HERE? I DO.
CAN I, THEM
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THANK YOU.OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE, UH, NEXT WE HAVE ERIC ANGSTED, UH, MASTER SERGEANT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO I'LL READ SOME, UH, CAREER ACHIEVEMENTS.
UH, MASTER SERGEANT ANGSTED HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR 20 YEARS.
FROM 2010 TO 2018, HE SERVES A PATROL CANINE HANDLER, WHICH REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES OF HIS CAREER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
MASTER SERGEANT ANGST NOTES THAT WORKING ALONGSIDE HIS CANINE PARTNER PJA IS, UH, H DAY IS A PRIVILEGE AND A TREMENDOUS HIGHLIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? OH, OKAY.
NOW WE HAVE, UM, UH, SOME RETIREMENTS.
SO FIRST UP, WE HAVE, UM, JOSEPH MURRAY, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WITH PUBLIC WORKS FOR 33 YEARS OF SERVICE.
WHO ELSE YOU GONNA GO WITH? I'M MYSELF.
BECAUSE MY WIFE IS TO THE HOUSE.
SO I'M GONNA READ A FEW THINGS HERE OKAY.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING JOSEPH JOE MURRAY ON HIS RETIREMENT FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.
AFTER 33 YEARS OF DEDICATED AND FAITHFUL SERVICE, MR. MURRAY BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE COUNTY IN 1993 AS A MEMBER OF THE LABOR CREW, WHERE HE HELPED MAINTAIN COUNTY LANDINGS AND SUPPORT LIT CONTROL EFFORTS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, NO TASK WAS EVER TOO HARD FOR HIM.
AND HIS STRONG WORK ETHIC QUICKLY SENT HIM APART.
HIS DEDICATION EARNED HIM A PROMOTION TO LOADER OPERATOR, WHERE HE TOOK ON THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOADING TRUCKS AND MAINTAINING ACCURATE INVENTORY OF YARD SUPPLIES.
IN 1996, MR. JOE TRANSITIONED TO OPERATING THE BUSH HOG, A ROLE HE TRULY LOVED AND PROUDLY SERVED IN FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HIS PERFORMANCE CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AND HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN EVERY JOB HE DID BEYOND HIS SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, MR. MURRAY IS A DEVOTED DEACON AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH ON ST.
HE HAS ALSO TRAVELED INTERNATIONALLY, PARTICIPATE IN MISSION WORK THROUGH HIS CHURCH.
HE'S A LOVING HUSBAND TO MS. ROSA MURRAY AND A PROUD FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.
MR. MURRAY'S COMMITMENT, RELIABILITY, AND POSITIVE SPIRIT HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPACT ON BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS.
HE'LL BE GREATLY MISSED BY ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK ALONGSIDE HIM.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WISHING MR. MURRAY A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.
ALL I LIKE TO SAY, I CERTAINLY ENJOY WORKING WITH DIFFERENT COUNTIES FOR 32 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS.
I USED TO DO A LOT OF MOWING FOR THE COUNTY ALL OVER BUFORD COUNTY.
EVERYTHING FROM HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON, NAME IT.
SINCE HELENA HONORS UP, THEY END, THEY DEAD.
I USED TO MOW ALL THEM PLACES, BUT WHEN I FIRST GONE ON THE BUSH HOG, THEY SIGNED ME OVER TO, SINCE HELENA AND LED HONOR UHHUH.
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AND I TAKE A WHOLE HONOR FROM WOODSBRIDGE SLAPPED BACK TO FLIP ISLAND.I MYSELF, IT GOT TO THE PLACE WHERE MORE PEOPLE START TO MOVE INTO BUFORT.
THAN IT WAS MORE WORK WAS COMING IN ON ME.
THEN ME AND ANOTHER GUY CALLED PERRY, WE WAS CUTTING TOGETHER.
THEN FINALLY THE COUNTRY DECIDED TO BUY A TRUCK WITH A MORTAR.
AND AT THAT TIME, I WAS THE OLDEST BUSH HOG OPERATOR THEY HAD.
SO THEY GIVE ME, UH, UH, UH, WHAT SAY GIVE ME THE PRIVILEGE IF I WANT TO CONTINUE RUNNING THE TRACTOR OR GO ON THE TRUCK.
I TELL THEM I NEVER RUN NO BUSH HOG TRUCK BEFORE
BUT THEY SAY, WELL, THINK ABOUT IT MR. JOE, AND IF YOU WANT, WE GONNA PUT YOU ON THAT TRUCK.
AND I JUST THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MONTH AND THEY COME BACK AND ASK ME, MR. GEORGE IS, YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND.
YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT TRUCK A TRY? I SAID, YEAH, LET ME TRY THAT TRUCK.
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE BUSH HOG NOW.
MUST HAVE RUNG ABOUT IT YEARS ON THE TRACK THOUGH.
AND I'LL COME DOWN AND OF THE YOUNGER GUYS WHO COME BEHIND ME, TAKE IT OVER AND LET THEM TRUCK ON FOR THEMSELVES.
I COME DOWN AND THAT THE COUNTY BOUGHT THE FIRST TRUCK CAP DECEMBER IN 2004.
AND I WENT ON THAT TRUCK AND I RUN THAT TRUCK EVERY ARY OVER BEAUFORD COUNTY.
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRUCK.
IS JUMP YOUR OIL OVER THE COUNTY.
THE NEXT DAY I GO BACK, GO TO HEAVEN HEAD.
BECAUSE THE TRUCK COULD HAVE SPEED OVER THERE AND COME BACK.
AND IF YOU AIN'T FINISH WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEN YOU COULD GO BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR JOB.
A LOT OF THE PEOPLE LEFT AFTER THAT.
SEE, MR. JOE WAS DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB DOING THAT.
KEEP HIM ON THE TRUCK AND I ON THAT TRUCK EVER SINCE.
TWO, I HOPE YOU JUST LEARNED ALL THAT BECAUSE HE WAS MAKING SURE YOU KNEW IT.
SO NEXT, UM, WE WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE, UH, FOR RETIREMENT, UH, COLONEL QUANDER, GRANT DIRECTOR OF THE DETENTION CENTER WITH 31 YEARS OF SERVICE.
YOU GIVE A BIG FAN QUOTE TONIGHT.
SO I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS AND THEN I'M, I'M THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WANT SPEAK AND I'M SURE SOME COUNSEL WILL LIKE TO SPEAK.
BUT, UH, FIRST OFF, AS ADMINISTRATOR, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT OF COLONEL QUANDER GRANT.
FOR 31 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER DIRECTOR, HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE BEEN IMMENSE.
AND HER LEGACY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US AS WE MARK THIS INCREDIBLE MILESTONE WE WISH TO.
WE WISH COLONEL GRANT THE BEST AS SHE JOURNEYS INTO RETIREMENT AND MAYBE FILLED WITH JOY, RELAXATION, AND SPENDING MORE TIME WITH LOVED ONES.
UH, COLONEL GRANT HAS SERVED ON THE LEADERSHIP OF ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN ROBINSON, WHO'S HERE, AND HE WILL HIGHLIGHT
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SOME OF HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, MR. BRIAN GOFF FROM SENATOR TIM SCOTT'S OFFICE WHO WILL FOLLOW MR. ROBINSON.
BUT BEFORE THAT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR PLAQUE.
UH, SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU A FEW THINGS ABOUT COLONEL GRANT.
AND YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW MOST OF THIS ALREADY, BUT A LOT OF FOLKS HERE DON'T KNOW HOW ACCOMPLISHED SHE REALLY IS.
UH, COLONEL GRANT IS A NATIVE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, AND AN ALUMNI OF BATTERY CREEK HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE EARNED HER ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE FROM THE TECHNICAL, TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.
UH, SHE ALSO WENT ON TO EARN HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK FROM LIMESTONE COLLEGE.
UH, COLONEL GRANT BEGAN HER CAREER AT BEAUFORT COUNTY IN MARCH OF 1995 AS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER TRAINEE, LIKE ALL OF OUR NEW OFFICERS START TODAY, UM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 31 YEARS, A LITTLE MORE THAN 31 YEARS.
UM, SHE HAS ADVANCED, UM, THROUGH EVERY RANK IN THE, IN THE DETENTION CENTER.
SHE SERVED IN NUMEROUS OPERATIONAL ROLES, INCLUDING A TRANSPORTATION OFFICER, THE BOOKING SERGEANT, SECURITY OFFICER, AND MANY OTHER ROLES.
UH, COLONEL GRANT WAS SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF OUR DETENTION CENTER IN NOVEMBER OF 2014.
HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN SHAPED BY EXTENSIVE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS, INCLUDING, UM, A CORRECTIONAL FIRE MARSHAL, UH, INVESTIGATOR, UM, ACCREDITATION MANAGER, BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTRUCTOR.
IN 2010, SHE WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF ONLY FIVE SOUTH CAROLINA CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO ATTEMPT TO ATTEND THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL JAIL LEADERSHIP COMMAND ACADEMY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
COLONEL GRANT'S DISTINGUISHED SERVICE EARNED HER NUMEROUS HONORS, INCLUDING SOUTH CAROLINA JAIL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR, UH, MAYORAL PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING COLONEL QUA GRANT DAY
UH, HER IMPACTS EXTEND BEYOND THE FACILITY THROUGH SERVICE WITH PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE SOUTH CAROLINA JAIL ADMINISTRATORS ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN JAIL, UH, ASSOCIATION, THE COLLABORATIVE ORGANIZATION, ORGANIZATION OF SERVICES AND ADULTS, WHICH WAS COSA, WHICH IS NOW AS THE CONNECTS, UH, GROUP THAT WE, UH, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
UM, AND THE, UH, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ON THE WORKFORCE BOARD, UM, IN RECOGNITION, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE.
COLONEL GRANT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED NATIONALLY FOR HER CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLISHING AN INDUSTRY TEXTBOOK, WHICH WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE, UH, PRISON RAPE RAPE ELIMINATION ACT.
IT'S A, A TOOLKIT FOR OTHER DETENTION CENTERS TO USE TO IMPLEMENT THAT PROGRAM.
UM, IN MY YEARS, UH, COLONEL GRANT HAS SERVED AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY DE, UM, DIRECTOR OF THE DETENTION CENTER FOR JUST MORE THAN A DECADE.
UH, MY VIEW, MY PERSONAL VIEW OF HER PERFORMANCE IS ONE OF A PROFESSIONAL WHOSE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR DECISION MAKING IS CARING.
SHE CARES FOR OTHERS SO DEEPLY.
SHE SEEKS ALWAYS TO CREATE OR FIND THE YES.
HER RESPONSIBILITY COMES WITH MANY CHALLENGES, BUT SHE ALWAYS CHOOSES TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND EVERY INMATE THAT SHE'S CHARGED WITH PERFECT.
THIS IS A PROFOUND ACHIEVEMENT THAT I HOPE ALL OTHERS CAN RECOGNIZE AND CHOOSE TO EMULATE.
[00:35:01]
BRIAN COFF WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF SENATOR SCOTT.
THANK YOU COUNSEL, FOR ALLOWING ME TO JUST COME AND SPEAK TODAY.
THIS, WHEN THE SENATOR HEARD ABOUT, UH, COLONEL GRANT'S, UH, RETIREMENT, HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD SOMEBODY HERE AND HE HAD A LETTER HE WANTED ME TO READ RIGHT QUICK FOR YOU.
UH, DEAR COLONEL GRANT, IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO YOU AS YOU MARK YOUR RETIREMENT FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND THANKING YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING SERVED OVER 30 YEARS WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, YOUR TIRELESS WORK IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
YOUR EFFORTS SERVED AS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL THOSE YOU MET EACH DAY.
AS YOU BEGIN THIS NEXT PHASE OF YOUR LIFE, I WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS.
SINCERELY, TIM SCOTT, UNITED STATES SENATOR
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA THANK GOD FOR GUIDING ME, STRENGTHENING ME, AND ORDAINING EVERY STEP OF THIS JOURNEY.
31 YEARS AGO, I BEGAN A PATH I NEVER COULD HAVE FULLY IMAGINED.
AND THROUGH EVERY CHALLENGE AND EVERY BLESSING, GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
WORD WILL NEVER FULLY EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE.
YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.
I STILL REMEMBER HEADING TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY IN COLUMBIA, THREE CARLOADS OF FAMILY MEMBERS DRIVING TOGETHER TO SEE ME OFF.
I CAN STILL FEEL THE PRIDE IN THEIR EYES AND THAT MEMORY WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER.
YOU BELIEVED IN ME FROM DAY ONE, EVEN WHEN THE ROAD AHEAD LOOKED LONG.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE, YOUR SUPPORT, AND YOUR FAITH IN ME.
BEAUFORD COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IS THE ONLY JAIL I'VE EVER WORKED IN, AND I'M PROUD OF THAT.
I STARTED AS A LINE OFFICER AND WORKED MY WAY UP TO FACILITY DIRECTOR.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY JOURNEY, ESPECIALLY AS A WOMAN IN A MALE DOMINATED FIELD.
THERE WERE TIMES WHEN RESPECT WASN'T FREELY GIVEN, WHEN ASSUMPTIONS WERE MADE BEFORE KNOWING MY NAME OR MY CAPABILITY.
BUT I REFUSE TO LET THAT HINDER WHAT GOD ENTRUSTED ME TO DO.
I STOOD FIRM, WORKED HARD, AND LET MY COMMITMENT SPEAK FOR ME.
AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH A FULL, WITH A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE, KNOWING THAT WHAT I ENDURED HELP OPEN DOORS FOR OTHERS WHO WILL COME BEHIND ME TO MY DETENTION CENTER FAMILY.
YOU SERVE WITH COURAGE, INTEGRITY, AND COMPASSION.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE DOING YOUR JOBS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
EVEN WHEN THE HOURS ARE LONG AND THE WORK IS TOUGH, YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE EVERY DAY, EVEN ON THE DAYS WHEN IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT.
TO COUNTY COUNCIL, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE THIS FACILITY RUN.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE WORKED 48 HOURS A WEEK DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO US.
JAILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGES.
WE'RE ALSO COMPETING WITH OTHER AGENCIES WITHIN THE COUNTY WHOSE WORK, WHILE IMPORTANT, DOES NOT CARRY THE SAME PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEMANDS THAT WE BEAR.
BEFORE WE LOSE MORE OF OUR DEDICATED STAFF, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU REVIEW THE PAY STRUCTURE AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE STRONG COMMITTED PEOPLE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
YOU HAVE MADE OUR JOB SO MUCH EASIER AND SO MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL.
YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE YOUR TIME, YOUR ENERGY AND YOUR HEART TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND THE INDIVIDUALS IN
[00:40:01]
OUR CARE HAS UPLIFTED THIS ENTIRE FACILITY.VOLUNTEERS BRING ENCOURAGEMENT, COMPASSION, CONNECTION, AND DIGNITY.
THEY REMIND US THAT WHAT WE DO IS PART OF A GREATER COMMUNITY AND THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS WORK.
YOU TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY.
STAKEHOLDERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE WORK OF THIS FACILITY.
YOUR SUPPORT, WHETHER THROUGH RESOURCES, COLLABORATION, ADVOCACY, OR SIMPLY YOUR PRESENCE HAS HELPED STRENGTHEN OUR MISSION AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
THE ROLE YOU PLAY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED TOGETHER.
WE WILL NOT JUST TOGETHER, WE WORK NOT JUST FOR SECURITY, BUT FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY, REHABILITATION AND HOPE.
I THANK GOD, I THANK MY FAMILY.
I THANK MY DETENTION CENTER FAMILY.
I THANK OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS THE FACILITY, ITS STAFF AND THIS COMMUNITY AS YOU CARRY ON THE WORK WE BEGAN TOGETHER.
I AM SURE THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR ADMINISTRATOR? THANK YOU, COLONEL GRANT, THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP TO HONOR HER AND THE OTHERS TODAY THAT RETIRED.
WE'LL GIVE A FEW MINUTES IN CASE PEOPLE WANNA LEAVE.
I SHOULDA, UM, I SHOULDA TAKEN, UM, DO MY DUTY, MAN.
IS KATRINA HANNAH WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD.
AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'LL JUST READ THIS, UM, ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOW PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNCIL AND ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINE THEMSELVES TO QUESTIONS UNDER JURISDICTION OF THE COUNCIL.
BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
I'M, I'M GONNA WAIT A FEW MORE MINUTES TILL I CLEAR OUT.
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT GOT THE DOORS CLOSED.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD]
MS. HANNAH.HI, MY NAME IS KATRINA HANNAH AND I, I AM A PROUD TO REACH PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE COUNTY.
MY PROGRAM WAS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE DECISIONS, AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S HARD DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE, I DID WANT TO PUBLICLY STATE
[00:45:01]
PROBABLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN OPINIONATED SINCE I WAS A KID.BUT I PROMISE I'M HERE WITH ONLY GRATITUDE, FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR THE EXPERIENCES I'VE HAD SO FAR.
THE FIRST TIME I WAS IN THIS ROOM, I WAS HERE MAYBE A FEW YEARS AGO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO DO WITH THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
AND I DO BELIEVE WE ACCOMPLISHED WHAT WE SAID WE WERE GONNA TRY TO DO IN LIGHT OF THE CLOSURE OF THIS DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALL, UM, ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER.
AND WHILE I CANNOT PUBLICLY DIS DISCLOSE ANY SPECIFIC DATA OR STATISTICS HERE TONIGHT WITH YOU ALL, I WAS DEEPLY PROUD TO SERVE AS YOUR OUTREACH SYSTEM COORDINATOR.
I WANNA PLACE ON THE RECORD MY VOL, UH, MY GRATITUDE FOR EVERY CHURCH, NONPROFIT, AGENCY, VOLUNTEER, AND COLLEAGUES, SOME OF THEM OF WHICH ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID TO MAKE OUR APPOINT IN TIME COUNT, UM, WONDERFUL SUCCESS A FEW WEEKS AGO.
I WANNA PUBLICLY ALSO RECOGNIZE THE UNITED WAY OF THE LOW COUNTRY.
CHRISTY TURNER, ANGELA BOSWELL, SANDY GAIS FROM DEEP WELL, JOHN TR FROM FAMILY PROMISE PASTOR JUNE WILKINS FROM CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH, JOYCE EMMETT FROM ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ALL THE STAFF AT HELP OF JOHN AND ALYSSA, MARY OF CC ISLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR MY ENTIRE TEAM, FOR MY HUSBAND, CAMERON AND I, WHO WE PRAY EVERY NIGHT THAT WE WILL BE THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS IN WHATEVER WE DO.
I DO INTEND TO REMAIN A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS IN OUR POPULATION AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE COMMONLY OVERLOOKED.
AND THE IRONY THAT AT LEAST IN THIS CAPACITY, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO SO DUE TO BUDGET CUTS WHEN MY POPULATION HAS NOTHING TO BRING TO THE TABLE, HAS DEEPLY AFFECTED ME EMOTIONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, PERHAPS EVEN SPIRITUALLY.
BUT I HAVE HOPE BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED WITH THE POINT IN TIME, COUNT ALL THE PEOPLE BEHIND US, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBABLY WATCHING THAT COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PROBABLY VERY EMOTIONAL.
UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE WORK CAN CONTINUE BECAUSE I'VE, I'VE PROVEN IN THESE, IN THESE, UH, YEAR AND A HALF OR SO, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WONDERFUL AGENCIES OUT THERE THAT ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND BE THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD, UH, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR NEXUS CARE AS WELL, FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL THAT THEY DO.
AND I DO ALSO WANT A PUBLICLY RECORD THAT, UH, PUT ON THE RECORD THAT I AM NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FILL IN ALL THE GAPS FOR THE, THE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT WE SERVE.
AND TO PERHAPS, AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED, BUT TO ASSUME THAT THEY CAN FILL IN THOSE GAPS TO ME, MAKES IT SEEM AS IF EVERY PERSON THAT IS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS SUFFERING FROM THOSE SPECIFIC NEEDS.
AND I FOUND OUT, UM, VERY OFFENSIVE.
THERE ARE SO MANY, SO MUCH GOOD WORK TO DO.
THE NEXT PERSON WE HAVE IS MS. CARRIE MAJORS.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT DIDN'T GET TO SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT WANTED TO? OKAY.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH COUNSEL.
AND, UH, IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE ALL THOSE WHO ARE, UM, RETIRING.
AND AS I THINK OF THE NEEDS, UM, FOR OUR COMMUNITY ON ST.
HELENA, I, I THINK OF THE PLANNED RECREATIONAL, UM, FACILITY, UM, WHICH I CALL PHASE ONE, UH, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF IT.
FOR ONE THING, THE COMMUNITY CENTER, UM, AND PRAYERFULLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PHASE TWO, UM, THAT WILL HAVE STATE OF THE ART, UM, THAT WILL BE A STATE OF THE ART CENTER, UM, OF COURSE WITH A GYM AND SOME INDOOR SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL, UM, FACILITIES GOING ON IN THERE.
BUT ALONG WITH THAT, WE NEED, UH, A LITTLE BIT MORE, WE NEED A CULTURAL ART AND A MARKETPLACE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED, UM, TO ASSIST US ON ST.
HELENA ISLAND WITH, UH, SOME NEEDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.
AND, UH, WE THINK THE PEOPLE DO WANT IT, UM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXPRESSED SUCH.
AND, UH, WE KNOW THAT IT'S FORTHCOMING AND WE PRAY THAT COUNCIL WILL APPROVE THE PLANS.
[9. LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS ]
ON OUR AGENDA.NUMBER NINE IS LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.
WE'LL START WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE, DAVID
WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT AGENDA ITEMS COMING OUT OF THERE.
UM, ONE WAS SENT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, WHICH WAS A, UH, HAD A PRESENTATION REGARDING, UM, HATE CRIMES AND HATE INTIMIDATION ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTIES HAVE DONE, WHAT THE STATE HAS YET TO DO.
UH, BUT THAT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION.
IT GOT REFERRED BACK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WE CAN DO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT WAS SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL, BUT DEFINITELY A, UH, CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THIS COUNTY, UH, WAS A DISCHARGE ORDINANCE REGARDING FIREARMS. SO, UH, THOSE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS AND, UM, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE COME OUT AND SHARE THEIR OPINION AT THE NEXT MEETINGS COMING FORWARD ABOUT THOSE.
[00:50:01]
COUNCILMAN GLOVER FROM NATURAL RESOURCES OR, UM, WE ALSO HAVE MR. MC, COUNCILMAN MCKELLAN ONLINE TOO, RIGHT? UM, YES.UM, THERE IS, UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN AT THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE.
UM, SO I WOULD HIGHLIGHT THOSE AND I WOULD ALLOW, UH, MR. MCALLEN TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT HE TOOK CARE OF DURING THE AGENDA, UH, PROCESS.
UM, THERE WAS THE, UM, THE, THE, THE DISCUSSION AND, AND IT WAS ALSO FORWARDED TO COUNCIL FOR SUBSIDIZING, UM, IMPACT FEES FOR, UM, UH, ANYBODY WHO QUALIFIED WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THE PAYMENT OF THE IMPACT FEES.
UM, AND THE, THAT IS COMING BEFORE COUNCIL AT A, AT, UH, OUR NEXT MEETING.
UM, AND THEN I THINK THAT WAS IT.
UM, SO LARRY, YOU WANT TO, MR. MCALLEN, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE OTHER, UH, ISSUES THAT WERE MENTIONED IN? YOU'RE, YOU'RE MUTED.
COUNCILMAN MCCALLEN? WELL, YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? HE'S MUTED.
DO YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? I'M HAPPY TO DO WHAT YOU ARE.
UM, THE, UH, CHAIRMAN OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE, UH, APPEARED BEFORE THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND MADE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT, UM, THE, UM, APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED FOR ABOUT THE FIVE PROPERTIES COMMITTEE, UM, ALLOWED FOR DUE DILIGENCE TO BE CONDUCTED, TO BEGIN TO, UH, APPROPRIATENESS OF THE PURCHASES OR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, UM, THE APPRAISALS FOR THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WERE, UM,
UM, WE THEN, UH, MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, A REQUEST, UH, FROM THE NATURAL TO COUNCIL, UH, FOR, UH, FOR ITS FULL, UH, APPROVAL, AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT IT WASN'T NECESSARY TO DO THAT AND THE NATURAL DUE DILIGENCE THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
UH, THE NEXT MEETING OF THE, UM, GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE WILL NOT TAKE PLACE THIS MONTH.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE SECOND FRIDAY IN MARCH WHEN THOSE MATTERS, UH, HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK.
IN FINANCE, COUNCILMAN LAWSON? UH, YES, WE HAVE I THINK, UH, SEVEN ITEMS ON THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD FROM A DUMP TRUCK TO PAVEMENT TO REJUVENATION OF PAVING.
UH, SO AGAIN, THOSE ARE ALL IN THE, UM, IN THE CONSENT AGENDA FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
AND THEN OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY.
UM, 'CAUSE MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY, UM, AT, UH, 2:00 PM HERE IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THAT WOULD BE FEBRUARY 17TH, RIGHT? YES.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YES, MA'AM.
UH, NO UPDATES RIGHT NOW OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I'LL PIGGYBACK OFF OF MR. LAWSON.
OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT TUESDAY.
UM, I BELIEVE OURS IS AT 4:00 PM OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, LIAISON REPORTS? I DO.
VICE CHAIRMAN, I'D LIKE TO REPORT FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
UM, THEY DID THEIR POINTS OF CELEBRATION AGAIN, AND THEY RECEIVED THE GFOA DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.
IT WAS PRESENTED BY CFO TONYA CROSBY.
THIS IS THEIR 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR RECEIVING THIS AWARD.
AND SHE HELD UP A 250 PAGE BUDGET REPORT.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.
AND THE CLOCK, WHICH IS A CITIZEN LED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THE CHAIR PROVIDED AN UPDATE AND REPORT ON THE PROJECTS.
AND THEN THERE WAS A REPORT ON UPDATE ON EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY KEPT UP WITH, BUT THE DIRECTOR DISCUSSED THE TRAVELING PRESCHOOL BUS, THE LEARNING LAB, PURPOSEFUL PLAY-BASED KINDERGARTEN STARTUP, AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND PRE-KINDERGARTEN.
UM, AND I'LL GO ON, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MS. HOWARD AND MYSELF SPOKE AT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN BUFORT CHA CHAPTER.
THEY ASKED SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT COUNTY COUNCIL'S INITIATIVES AND WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'LL LET MS. HOWARD DO THE BUFORD HOSPITAL AND MR. MCALLEN, MR. REEDS AND I ATTENDED AN INFORMATION DISCUSSION SESSION SPONSORED BY THE WATERWAYS ALLIANCE ON HILTON HEAD, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING, UM, DISCUSSING THEIR THOUGHTS ON OUR PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
AND THEN MS. AT MS. HOWARD AND I ATTENDED THE TECH LAST WEEK.
UM, YES, THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL BOARD MET AND, UM, OUR, OUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR CAME AND WAS INTRODUCED TO THEM, UM, MS. AND THEY GOT TO ASK HER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT GREENVILLE, I THINK, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
UM, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW, NEW FACILITY AND
[00:55:01]
BUILDINGS IS GOING, UH, REALLY WELL IN THE BLUFFTON AREA.UH, AND I THINK THAT WAS ABOUT IT FROM THE MEETING.
ANY OTHER COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS? YES, SIR.
UM, HILTON HEAD AIRPORT, PHASE ONE IS GOING WELL, SHOULD BE COMPLETED AROUND THE APRIL TIMEFRAME THAT HAS THE THREE NEW JETS.
UM, SATURDAY EVENING, UM, TOM BARNWELL, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD, UM, RECEIVED A NICE, UM, ACCOLADES AT THE CHAMBER MEETING.
AND, AND, AND I THOUGHT I SAW MR. CAMPBELL HERE, WHO WAS THERE SATURDAY.
UH, BUT HE'S A, I BELIEVE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND HE HAS DONE AN AWFUL LOT TO PRESERVE CU UM, GULLAH HISTORY, UH, AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE HIM A SHOUT OUT.
AND LASTLY, UM, OUR OMBUDSMAN FOR STORM WATER.
MARK FEINBERG IS HERE AND HE'S BEEN SHOWN UP AT OUR MEETINGS AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS WITH STORM WATER.
UH, THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP PART OF CLEMSON UNIVERSITY, MR. MOORE SPOKE TO THEM AND I SPOKE TO HIM.
UH, WE ALWAYS ASK HIM FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
AND I THINK, I THINK WE REELED A FEW IN
SO THAT'S A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
THESE ARE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE RETIRED, BUT THE MAJORITY OF 'EM ARE RETIREES THAT, UH, WANNA LEARN MORE ABOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ANY OTHER LIAISON REPORTS? OKAY.
SEEING NONE, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
[10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ]
THE THINGS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW TO TAKE ALL ITEMS UNDER A AND B AND THE CONSENT AGENDA.
SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED NUMBER
[11.a. Public Hearing and Presentation of the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - Michelle Knight, Lowcountry Council of Governments]
11, UH, A PUBLIC HEARING AND PRESENTATION OF THE 2026 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, OR CDBG, UH, BY MS. MICHELLE KNIGHT, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS FLOOR IS YOURS.THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL TAKING THE TIME TONIGHT OUT OF YOUR SCHEDULE TO HOLD THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO SET THE COUNTY UP FOR THE NEXT YEAR FOR, UM, PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, UM, FOR THE 2026 FUNDING ROUNDS FOR THE STATE SMALL CITIES PROGRAM.
SO, UM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA CDBG PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR IMPROVING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND MEETING COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION NEEDS, PARTICULARLY FOR PERSONS OF LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
THE PROGRAM'S BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1982 AND IT'S FUNDED BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT UNDER TITLE ONE OF THE HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974.
EACH YEAR, THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED ON A FORMULA BASIS, UM, TO THE STATE.
AND THEN THE STATE SETS, UM, THE PRIORITIES FOR THE PROGRAM.
SO FOR THIS YEAR, THE ANNUAL ALLOCATIONS EXPECTED TO BE $20.1 MILLION, UM, FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, AND THIS IS FOR ALL THE NON ENTITLEMENT AREAS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY ENTITLEMENT AREA IN OUR REGION IS HILTON HEAD.
UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE COMMUNITIES WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT ARE ELIGIBLE, BUT THEY HAVE CHOSEN AT THIS POINT NOT TO PARTICIPATE AS A DIRECT RECIPIENT OF FUNDS.
SO RIGHT NOW, ALSO THIS YEAR, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE STATE'S FIVE YEAR PLANNING PROCESS FOR THIS PROGRAM AND SEVERAL OTHER HUD BASED PROGRAMS. UM, THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM STATEMENT IS A SMALLER PART OF THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN.
THE HUD PROGRAMS THAT ARE AFFECTED BESIDES CDBG, OUR HOME, UM, THE HOUSING TRUST FUND, HOPWA, WHICH IS HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS AND THE EMERGENCY SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM.
UM, BASICALLY THE PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT FOR THIS FIVE YEAR PLAN IS OUT RIGHT NOW.
AND THE END DATE FOR THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FEBRUARY 19TH.
SO THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IF YOU WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE CDBG PROGRAM OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER FOUR.
UM, SO WE'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
AND LISA HUFF IS THE POINT OF CONTACT
[01:00:01]
AT THE STATE FOR COMMENTS FOR THE, UM, PLAN.SO THERE ARE THREE PROGRAM CATEGORIES.
UM, UNDER THE STATE CDPG PROGRAM, THERE'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, AND REGIONAL PLANNING.
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM'S BROKEN INTO SEVERAL SUBCATEGORIES, WHICH WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT FOR A FEW MINUTES.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, SET ASIDE IS OUR SPRING ROUND OF FUNDING WITH FOCUS BEING ON WATER, SEWER, DRAINAGE AND ROADS.
PRIORITIES ARE GIVEN TO EXISTING SYSTEMS AND UPGRADES OF THOSE SYSTEMS TO, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE REGULATORY OR COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
THEN NEW SERVICE THAT'S EXTENDED INTO DENT, UM, COMMUNITIES, DENSELY POPULATED COMMUNITIES.
AND THEN FINALLY NEW SERVICE INTO LESS DENSE, DENSE AREAS.
UM, THERE IS A SPRING DEADLINE, AN APPLICATION REQUEST DEADLINE OF MARCH 20TH, A FULL APPLICATION DEADLINE OF APRIL 20TH.
AND THE MAXIMUM THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR UNDER THIS PROGRAM IS $1 MILLION.
ALTHOUGH, UM, WAIVERS OF THAT MAXIMUM THRESHOLD AMOUNT CAN BE REQUESTED.
THE COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT AND LOCAL PRIORITIES PROGRAMS ARE FALL ROUND PROJECTS.
COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT IS THE UPGRADES AND CONSTRUCTION REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING, DEMOLITION, UM, THAT COULD BE RESIDENTIAL DEMOLITION OF ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE PROPERTIES THAT ARE VACANT, OR IT COULD BE BROWNFIELD DEMOLITIONS TOO.
UM, ALSO PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE SERVING LMI AREAS.
AND THEN THE LOCAL PRIORITIES PROGRAM CAN BE SMALL QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS, UM, THAT CAN'T BE FUNDED THROUGH THE OTHER SETASIDE.
THOSE PROJECTS COULD RELATE TO HISTORIC, UM, PRESERVATION, ENERGY CONSERVATION PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREENWAYS.
WE DO A LOT OF PARKS IN THAT SET ASIDE.
UM, THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR FOR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT IS 750,000 AND 50,000.
UM, THE MAXIMUM UNDER LOCAL PRIORITIES IS 300,000 AND THERE IS 7.9 MILLION IN COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT THAT YOU CAN APPLY FOR POTENTIALLY, AND 2 MILLION IN LOCAL PRIORITIES THAT'S AVAILABLE.
AND THOSE HAVE AUGUST, UM, APPLICATION REQUEST DEADLINES, AND THEN SEPTEMBER FULL APPLICATION DEADLINES.
UM, THE LAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS READY TO GO.
UM, THIS IS OUR NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAM.
WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE A REQUEST AND WE THEN WE TURN IT IN WITHIN 30 DAYS.
THE KEY TO THIS PROGRAM IS THAT BASICALLY, BUT FOR, UM, HAVING A CHECK IN YOUR HAND, YOU COULD BE STARTED IN 60 DAYS ON A PROJECT.
SO ELIGIBLE PROJECTS OR ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD DO UNDER COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE OR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT.
UM, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF YOUR UPFRONT WORK DONE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PERMITTING DONE, YOUR, UM, PLANNING AND DESIGN DONE.
YOU HAVE TO, IF THERE'S ACQUISITION INVOLVED, YOU HAVE THAT DONE, YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE DONE SO THAT YOU CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
UM, LIKE I SAID, THERE'S NO DEADLINE.
THERE'S $750,000 THAT'S AVAILABLE THERE, AND YOU CAN APPLY FOR UP TO 500,000, BUT YOU CAN ASK FOR A WAIVER OF THAT AMOUNT.
AND THESE ARE ESTIMATES FOR THOSE SETA ASIDES.
UM, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THERE'S MONEY LEFT OVER FROM A PREVIOUS YEAR, THERE COULD BE MORE MONEY THERE.
SO DON'T LOOK AT IT AND GO, WELL, THEY CAN ONLY FUND ONE PROJECT.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SO, UM, NATIONAL OBJECTIVES, YOU'VE HEARD ME MENTION THAT BASICALLY YOUR THREE NATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROGRAM, OR EITHER YOU BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PEOPLE, A MAJORITY OF THEM YOU AID IN THE PREVENTION OF SLUM OR BLIGHT, OR YOU MEET SOME OTHER URGENT COMMUNITY NEED OR HEALTH THREAT.
TYPICALLY, OVER 90% OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE BASED ON LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BENEFIT.
AND THERE'S A 10% MATCH ON ALL, UM, GRANT REQUEST PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD RIGHT NOW.
WAIT A MINUTE, I WENT BACK THE WRONG WAY.
SO THE REMAINING CATEGORIES ARE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S $250,000 ALLOCATED THERE.
THIS IS BASICALLY THE EC OLD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
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WHERE YOU'RE PROVIDING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE TO A COMPANY THAT'S LOCATING OR EXPANDING IN THE AREA.AND THEY'VE COMMITTED JOB CREATION AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
AND THEN THE BALANCE OF THE MONIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ARE FOR REGIONAL PLANNING, UM, WHICH GIVES $50,000 ANNUAL GRANTS TO EACH OF THE 10 COGS FOR US TO DO THESE TYPE, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND TO HAVE MEETINGS WITH YOUR STAFF WHEN THEY HAVE PROJECTS BEFORE THERE'S A REALLY A PROJECT.
AND THEN THE BALANCE IS STATE TECHNICAL, UM, ASSISTANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.
SO AGAIN, THIS YEAR YOU GET ADDITIONAL BONUS POINTS IN THE PROGRAM IF A PROJECT'S WITHIN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE.
AND THEN TALKING ABOUT PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD, BASICALLY YOU CAN HAVE UP TO TWO OPEN ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE LESS THAN 30 MONTHS OLD AND STILL APPLY FOR A THIRD PROJECT.
THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE, UM, YOUR REGIONAL PLANNING GRANT IF BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS THE GRANTEE OF RECORD FOR THAT YOU'RE NOT, OR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT GRANT, IF YOU HAVE ONE, WHICH YOU DON'T, UM, RIGHT NOW.
BUT FOR ONE PROJECT THAT THE COUNTY HAS THAT'S OVER 30 MONTHS, UM, Y'ALL WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THAT PROJECT, I THINK IS STILL IN AN ACQUISITION PHASE.
IT'S A SIDEWALK PROJECT, UM, THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW.
SO TALKING MORE ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS, YOU CAN HAVE ONLY ONE STREETSCAPE PROJECT AT A TIME, ONLY ONE NON-COMPETITIVE PROJECT AT A TIME.
AND YOU CAN HAVE NO MORE THAN ONE PROJECT IN THE SAME GENERAL TARGET AREA.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS.
UM, ALSO JUST AS A REMINDER, UM, Y'ALL DO NOT DISCRIMINATE IN YOUR FAIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO COMES TO YOU AND THINKS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A, UM, VICTIM OF DISCRIMINATION RELATED TO FAIR HOUSING, YOU CAN HAVE THEM CONTACT US AT LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO TALK TO THEM, UM, ABOUT WHAT THEIR CONCERNS ARE AND THEN SEND THAT MATTER ON UP IF IT NEEDS TO, TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN US.
AND THEN FINALLY, YOU HEAR ME TALK ABOUT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND WHAT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME MEANS.
SO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, A FAMILY OF FOUR THAT MAKES LESS THAN $88,100 A YEAR, UM, WOULD BE CONSIDERED LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
UM, THIS YEAR WE PUT FOR COMPARISON YOUR OTHER THREE COUNTIES.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS THE, THE LARGEST, UM, INCOME LIMIT THRESHOLD, UM, JUST BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC OF THE AREA.
BUT IF YOU LOOK IN COMPARISON, COLLETON COUNTY FOR THE SAME FAMILY OF FOUR, THEIR THRESHOLD IS 54,400.
AND THEN JASPER COUNTY, I THINK IT'S 60,800.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA IN COMPARISON, WHAT EACH OF THE FOUR COUNTIES HAVE TO DO TO MEET THRESHOLD AS FAR AS BEING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME QUALIFIED, UM, I'M GONNA SPEAK JUST A FEW MINUTES ABOUT THE HOME CONSORTIUM AS WELL.
AS Y'ALL KNOW, UM, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UM, SERVES AS THE MANAGING AGENT FOR THE BEAUFORT COUNTY LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL HOME CONSORTIUM AND IS COMPRISED OF ALL FOUR COUNTIES AND ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES IN THE REGION.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR 20TH YEAR, UM, SERVING THE LOW COUNTRY WITH THE CONSORTIUM.
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE ALSO DUE JUST LIKE THE STATE UPDATED THEIR CONSOLIDATED PLAN, WE'RE ALSO DUE TO UPDATE OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN.
SO AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, OUR TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, UM, UNDER THE CONSORTIUM HAVE BEEN REHABILITATION OF SUBSTANDARD, UM, HOUSING, INCREASING AC ACCESSIBILITY TO ADEQUATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAFE, DECENT, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NEW HOUSING.
UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, UM, TO AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, UM, THAT YOU WANT TO BRING FORTH ABOUT HOUSING NEEDS IN PARTICULAR SEPARATE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, UM, BLOCK GRANT RANKING FOR THIS YEAR, TO PLEASE SEND THE THOSE TO MY ATTENTION AT ELCO TO MY ATTENTION OR TIFFANY DANSLER.
AND THEN ALSO I WOULD MENTION TO Y'ALL, IT'S OUR INTENT TO SEND OUT A SURVEY, UM, RELATED TO THE HOME CONSORTIUM PROBABLY IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE WEEKS.
UM, I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO, UM, SEND
[01:10:01]
THAT SURVEY OUT NOT ONLY TO INDIVIDUALS BUT AGENCIES THAT SERVE, UM, FOR HOUSING ACTIVITIES SO THAT WE CAN GET INPUT FOR THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN, UM, FOR OUR CONSORTIUM FOR THIS YEAR.OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENTS.
OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
COUNCILMAN GLOVER? YES, MS. MCKNIGHT.
UH, THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A COUPLE OF AREAS OF, UM, INTEREST FOR ME.
THE, THE, THE FIRST ONE IS DEALING WITH, UM, AND I'M NOT TOO SURE WHETHER WHICH PROGRAM WOULD BE FITTING, UM, BUT WHAT CAME UP WAS THE, UH, COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM AND LOOKING AT A, A HOME OR, OR TRAILER OR MOBILE HOME THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, UM, REMOVED BECAUSE OF UNSIGHTLY AND EITHER THROUGH FIRE OR WHATEVER.
BUT IT JUST SITS THERE IN A COMMUNITY.
AND OF COURSE THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO HAVE THAT REMOVED.
WELL, THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY COULD PUT TOGETHER AN APPLICATION FOR A DEMOLITION PROJECT AND YOU COULD TARGET A SPECIFIC AREA OF THE COUNTY, UM, AND SCATTER SITES WITHIN THAT AREA THAT'S MAJORITY LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND DO THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, I'D SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND FOLLOW YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT FIRST, UM, AND TERMS OF TRYING TO GET THE REMOVAL DONE AND THEN, UM, BE WILLING TO POTENTIALLY CONDEMN THAT PROPERTY IF YOU NEED TO.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT IT'S VACANT.
UM, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO OWN THE PROPERTY TO DO THAT.
UM, NOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE A LARGER SCALE, UM, DEMOLITION SAY OF A, UM, BROWNFIELD AREA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PUBLICLY OWNED FOR YOU TO GET GRANT FUNDS TO CLEAR IT, BUT TO BE ABLE TO JUST DO, UM, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT ARE, UM, VACANT AND DILAPIDATED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED, UM, THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE NUISANCES, UM, THAT COULD JUST BE A STANDALONE PROJECT OF SEVERAL.
WE'VE DONE THAT, UM, IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ONE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT WE'VE DONE IT IN UM, HAMPTON.
WE'VE DONE IT IN YEE, WE'VE DONE IT IN WALTER BUR, UM, WE'VE DONE IT IN HAMPTON COUNTY.
THEY FOCUSED ON AN AREA, UM, TOO, SO IT CAN BE DONE.
AND SO THE OWNER WHO'S ABANDONED OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE CAN MOVE FORWARD WORKING THROUGH THE COUNTY.
YOU JUST START WITH THE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT FIRST.
YOU'VE GOT TO START WITH THE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND I IMAGINE YOUR CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT COULD GIVE YOU A LONG LIST OF PROPERTIES THAT NEED, UM, TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR WHATEVER REASON.
AND THAT'S WHERE I WOULD START.
AND THEN I'D LOOK AT WHERE THOSE ADDRESSES ARE AND SEE IF YOU COULD TARGET AN AREA, BECAUSE IF YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA DO BEAUFORT COUNTY AS A WHOLE, UM, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE TOO BIG.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE AS MANY IN A PROJECT AS MANY AS 30 UNITS AT ONE TIME.
UM, AND MY OTHER, UH, CONCERN IS, UM, IS THERE SOMEWHERE, UM, IN YOUR PRESENTATION YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, UH, ASSISTING WITH, OH, LOOKING AT A FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEM.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE, AND HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT? THE ONLY THING THAT WE COULD DO THERE IS IF THERE WAS A DESIRE, UM, TO EXTEND SERVICE INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT DIDN'T HAVE IT, AND YOU HAD RECORD OF FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS THAT COULD GO TOWARD THE CAUSE OF GETTING PEOPLE OFF OF PRIVATE SEPTIC SYSTEM AND ONTO PUBLIC SEWER.
I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN DONE OVER THE YEARS IN BLUFFTON AT BUCK ISLAND IN SIMMONS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE, UH, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT SEWER SERVICE AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN THE RURAL AREA, IS THERE ANY ASSISTANCE OR, WELL, I MEAN, THE, YOU CAN GET GRANT FUNDING TO EXTEND SEWER JUST LIKE YOU DO WATER.
UM, BUT THE QUESTION IS THE COST AND THE WILL TO DO IT.
AND BEAUFORT, JASPER, I THINK WOULD HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZING AREAS.
SO I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A PROJECT THAT'S DOABLE FOR SEWER, RIGHT? YEAH.
IF YOU NEEDED WATER AND YOU HAD FAILING WELLS, YOU COULD DO THE SAME THING, YOU KNOW, TO EXTEND IT.
UH, I WAS DEALING WITH THE AREA THAT WOULD NOT HAVE SEWER AND IF YOU HAVE A FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEM, UM, BUT YOU ANSWER MY QUESTION, RIGHT? AS LONG AS IT'S, AS LONG AS IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEING PRIORITIZED BY YOUR UTILITY AND THE
[01:15:01]
COUNTY'S WILLING TO SUPPORT THE GRANT AND IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT'S, I THINK YOU HAVE SOME AREAS THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.SO THEY DON'T WANT, YOU DON'T WANT SEWER OUT THERE BECAUSE IT COULD SPEED UP DEVELOPMENT OR THAT YOU DID AT ONE TIME, YOU MEANING THE COUNTY.
SO I MEAN, YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THOSE THINGS.
BUT THE, THE BIGGEST THING, OR THE FIRST THING IS BEAUFORT, JASPER WOULD NEED, IT, WOULD NEED TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THEM TOO, BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITY OF RECORD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I, I HAD A QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION.
UM, WHO WILL COORDINATE WITH THE LOW COG ON GRANT APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR? WILL IT BE OUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR? IT WILL BE, UH, THROUGH THE CFO OR OUR GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR.
AND WHERE ARE THE, UH, PATHWAY SIDEWALK? THAT'S NOT BEEN, THAT'S STILL NOT BEEN AT STEWART POINT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR, UM, COMMENTS? WE APPRECIATE YOU CONDUCTING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.
AND THEN Y'ALL WILL GO BACK AND GET A RANKING THROUGH COMMITTEE AND BRING IT BACK, I'M ASSUMING WITH, UM, ALLISON, WITH THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR'S YES.
AND YOU SAID WE NEEDED TO DO A SURVEY FOR HOUSING TOO.
I'M GONNA SEND THAT OUT THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THIS.
I'LL SEND THAT OUT AS KIND OF A MASS EMAIL AND ASK THAT YOU SHARE IT AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE IT UP ON THE COGS WEBSITE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
NOT UNLIKE WHAT WE DID WITH, UM, THE STATE'S MM-HMM
SURVEY THAT YOU SAW THROUGH THE BOARD MEETING, UM, AND THAT QR CODE.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THAT FOR HOUSING NEEDS FOR THE HOUSING CONSORTIUM FOR OUR REGION.
[11.b. Approval of supplemental funding in the amount of $40,000 for Beaufort Water Search and Rescue.]
IS APPROVAL.UH, IT'S 11 B, APPROVAL OF SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING AND THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 FOR BUFORT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION? DO WE NEED A MOTION TO DISCUSS? MOVE MADAM CHAIR.
SECOND THAT AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LAWSON.
UM, AS WE DISCUSSED THIS, UH, IS A REQUEST FROM BEAVERT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE.
AND, UH, THEY'RE REQUESTING THE $40,000 THAT THEY, UH, MISSED REQUESTING DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
AND, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, CURRENTLY, WE ARE UTILIZING COUNCIL'S CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM FOR THIS REQUEST.
SO I WAS ASKED TO BRING IT FORWARD TODAY.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? I, I DO HAVE A QUESTION, BUT IS ANYBODY HERE FROM YES.
IS THAT WHAT ALL THE ARE? SORRY.
SO I DID TALK TO MR. CANNING AND HE ASKED, ANSWERED A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS, BUT I NOTICED IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS YOU HAVE SIX BOATS NORTH OF THE BROAD AND TWO BOATS SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
DO YOU USE ALL SIX OF THOSE BOATS? I GUESS I'M QUESTIONING THAT ONE OF YOU WANNA COME UP TO YEAH.
IS THAT, I FIGURED THAT'S WHAT ALL THE BLUE SHIRTS WERE.
SO YOU HAVE SIX BOATS NORTH OF THE BROAD, ARE THEY ALL HOUSED IN, UH, PORT ROYAL? YES.
IT, UH, EIGHT 17 PARIS AVENUE.
AND YOU USE ALL SIX OF THOSE? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE $40,000 IS TO DO WHAT? OKAY, SO WE HAVE TWO BOATS SOUTH OF THE, UH, NORTH, EXCUSE ME, SOUTH OF BROAD RIGHT.
THAT ARE, UH, STATIONED AT THE, UH, FIRE STATION.
SO BOTH OF THOSE BOATS ARE, HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR SERVICE LIFE BASICALLY.
UH, THEY, THEY, THEY REQUIRE MORE REPAIR, MORE AND MORE.
THEY'RE NOT AS RELIABLE AS THEY USED TO BE.
ONE OF 'EM IS A CAROLINA SKIFF, WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED TO BE IN ROUGH WATER.
THAT'S THE ONLY ONE WE COULD SEND TO BLUFFTON.
THAT ONE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
IT'S JUST NOT, WE DON'T GO OUT WHEN IT'S NICE.
SO IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH ROUGH WATER, FLAT BOTTOM BOAT IS NOT THE BEST THING TO USE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO REPLACE THAT ONE.
WE OF COURSE, WILL SELL THAT ONE TO OBTAIN SOME MONEY, BUT WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T TAKE THAT MONEY AND BUY ANOTHER BOAT.
UM, ALSO THE OTHER THING WE WERE WORKING FOR, I THINK I, I ASKED YOUR QUESTION.
YEAH, BUT WHAT'S A NEW BOAT COST? OR DO YOU BUY A USED BOAT? WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY A USED BOAT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY A NEW BOAT.
NOW WE DID RECEIVE SOME AT TAX MONEY FROM CITY OF BEAUFORT.
WE'LL USE THAT AS WELL TO GO TOWARDS THAT PURCHASE.
YOU KNOW, EVEN IN A NICE USED BOAT IN THE 20 TO 23 FOOT RANGE, YOU'RE LOOKING 60 GRAND, EASY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, BOATS ARE EXPENSIVE, UNFORTUNATELY.
UM, SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT DO WE USE ALL THE BOATS? YES WE DO.
BECAUSE NOT EVERY BOAT CAN BE USED FOR EVERY SITUATION.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SIZES, SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR THE MISSION, DEPENDING IF WE'RE GOING SHALLOW WATER, ROUGH WATER, DEEP WATER, IT, IT ALL COMES INTO PLAY AS TO WHAT BOAT WE
[01:20:01]
SEND ON EACH SPECIFIC MISSION.THAT'S WHY IT TAKES SO MANY TO DO IT.
AND, UM, YOU ARE PLANNING TO ASK FOR SOME FUNDING FROM HILTON HEAD.
I THINK PATRICK IS WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
NOW THIS, THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD ME.
THANK YES, HE'S WORKING ON THAT.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, I HAVE KIND OF A QUESTION, COMMENT.
UM, ONE, I I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
I REALLY AND TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
UM, I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE I HAD A TECHNICAL ERROR ON MY PHONE ON, ON MY PART.
UM, THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL WROTE A SUPPORT LETTER FOR Y'ALL.
I TRIED TO DISSEMINATE THAT LAST FRIDAY.
I WAS NOT PART OF THE BACKUP MATERIAL.
UM, AND LIKE I SAID, I HAD AN ERROR WITH MY, I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT DIDN'T GO OUT UNTIL TODAY.
SO I WANNA APOLOGIZE TO THE COUNCIL FOR THAT.
BUT THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY DID RIGHT ON Y'ALL'S BEHALF TO SUPPORT YOU WITH THIS ALLOCATION.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING AND FOR THE FUTURE MOVING FORWARD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BIND ANYBODY, BUT I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SHERIFF.
UH, HE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE SERVICE YOU PROVIDE.
HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN PUT YOU INTO A LINE ITEM UNDERNEATH HIS BUDGET IN ORDER NOT TO HAVE TO PRESENT, DO THIS ISSUE AGAIN.
I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR HIM AND HIS CFO AND LET THE STAFF DO THAT THING.
THAT'S, BUT I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND THE SOURCE OF FUNDING? UH, IT WOULD BE COUNTY COUNCIL'S CONTINGENCY LINE ITEM.
YOU HAVE A BALANCE OF 72,000 AND SOME CHANGE.
AND, UM, 40,000 WOULD, IF YOU VOTE, WOULD GO TO THESE.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE HAD DISCUSSION.
UH, I SHOW OF DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? VOTE NO.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION BY SHOW OF HANDS.
SO THAT LEAVES 32,665 IN THE CONTINGENCY FUND.
THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT TOO.
I WONDERED WHAT ALL THE SHIRTS WERE.
WE ARE AN 11 C UH, REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BLUFFTON TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF FEBRUARY, 2030.
PAOLA, JUST LIKE A SPELL TERM TO BE SERVED.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO, MOVE MADAM CHAIR.
UH, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS.
AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS TO REAPPOINT JOE PAYOLA TO SERVE A FOURTH TERM.
[12.a. 2026/02: An Ordinance Authorizing the County Administrator to Execute the Necessary Documents and Provide Funding for the Purchase of Real Property Located at 1451 Ribaut Road (TMS No. R110 009 000 0031 0000) from Drayton-Parker Companies LLC in the amount of $700,000 plus closing costs. ]
ORDINANCES.ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING 2026 SLASH OH TWO IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1451 REBO ROAD.
UH, TMS NUMBER R 1 10 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 FROM DRAYTON PARKER COMPANIES LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $700,000 PLUS CLOSING COSTS.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOTION PLEASE.
SO MOVED AND I'LL SECOND THAT.
AND SECOND, THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE AT THE THIRD READING.
I'M TOLD THE VOTE ON THIS AT FINANCE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 20TH WAS NINE ZERO.
AND THE VOTE AT FIRST READING ON JANUARY 26TH WAS 11 ZERO.
UM, DO, DOES ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION THEY NEED TO ASK OF MR. FRES? I THINK WE'VE ALREADY KIND DONE THIS ONE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.
[13.a. 2026/03: An Ordinance authorizing the acceptance of a drainage easement located on Leo Green Rd.]
IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT LOCATED ON LEO GREEN ROAD.THE VOTE AT PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 20TH WAS 10 ZERO.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ONE, PLEASE? SO MOVED.
UM, MR. BAUER IS GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS ONE OR MR. FRE.
SO THIS IS A DRAINAGE EASEMENT, UM, OUT ON, OFF COUNTY OWNED LEO GREEN.
UM, IT'S NEEDED TO IMPROVE CONVEYANCE IN THE SYSTEM.
WE ALREADY OWN THE ASSOCIATED ROADWAY AND JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT WOULD HELP OUR, UM, STORM WATER FLOW AND TRAVERSE THE AREA.
SO IT'S IN, IN KIND WITH OUR OTHER DRAINAGE EASEMENTS AND IN KIND WITH THE
[01:25:01]
DRAINAGE THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN THE REGION.ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT FOR MR. FRA? ALL RIGHT, LET'S CALL THE VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ORDINANCE 20 26 0 3.
[13.b. 2026/04: An Ordinance Authorizing the Private Road Acceptance of Somerset Point Phase 2 HOA Roads—Cowbird Ct, White Ibis Dr, White Heron Dr, Tern Road S, Sandpiper Dr, Fox Sparrow Rd, and American Avocet Ct—Into the County Road Inventory.]
IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE PRIVATE ROAD ACCEPTANCE OF SOMERSET POINT, PHASE TWO HOA ROADS COWBIRD COURT WHITE IBUS DRIVE WHITE HAIR AND DRIVE TURN ROAD SOUTH SANDPIPER DRIVE, FOX BARREL ROAD AND AMERICAN ASET COURT.AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME INTO THE COUNTY ROAD INVENTORY.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ORDINANCE TO MOVE MADAM CHAIR? THANK YOU MR. BARTHOLOMEW.
UM, 20 26 0 4 HAS BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
UH, WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.
UH, IT WAS VOTED AT THE PUBLIC FACILITY WAS 3 7, 3 IN FAVOR, SEVEN AGAINST.
ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION OR WANNA ASK MR I GUESS MR. FRA WILL BE UP FOR THIS ONE.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION, QUESTION OR COMMENT, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS HERE.
I DID SPEAK WITH THEM TODAY, SOME REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE HOA.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT TAKING THE, THIS SECONDARY ROAD SYSTEM OR PHASE TWO INTO THE COUNTY INVENTORY.
UH, THE ISSUE THOUGH IS PHASE ONE WAS ALREADY INCORPORATED INTO THE COUNTY.
UM, PHASE TWO OBVIOUSLY WAS BUILT WITH STANDARDS, UM, THAT WERE STATE SPECS, COUNTY SPECS, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.
BUT IT WAS ALWAYS THE INTENT, IT WAS BUILT WITH THE INTENT TO BE ABSORBED INTO THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CTC VOTED NOT TO FUND THAT, WHICH I, YOU KNOW, I, I RECOGNIZE CREATES A PROBLEM FOR FUTURE MAINTENANCE ON IT.
UH, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THESE ROADS RIGHT NOW IN PHASE TWO ARE IN A GOOD CONDITION.
UM, AND IT, IT IS GONNA CREATE SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OUT THERE, UH, TO HAVE PART OF THE PHASE ONE HOA IN THE COUNTY AND PART OF THE PHASE TWO, UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE HOA.
SO I THINK THAT DISCREPANCY, I DON'T, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY COMING FORWARD.
UH, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THIS, UH, IN THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY A UNIQUE SITUATION, BUT, UM, I UNDERSTAND THE VOTE BEFORE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD UNDERSTANDS THE POSITION AS WELL.
UH, JUST WANTED TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF MY, MY CONSTITUENTS IN MY, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUT THERE IN SOMERSET.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENT? YES, MR. LAWSON? JUST TO MENTION, AGAIN, I I, I DO FEEL FOR THIS COMMUNITY, UM, HOWEVER, IT WAS COUNSELS BEFORE US THAT MADE THE CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICY.
UM, AND BEING IN BLUFFTON, I THINK I'VE PROBABLY GOT SIX OR SEVEN COMMUNITIES THAT WERE BUILT THE SAME WAY THAT THOUGHT THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO TURN THEIR ROADS OVER.
UM, EVEN THE COMMUNITY I LIVE IN, I LIVE IN HERITAGE LAKES, BUT HERITAGE LAKES AND HIDDEN LAKES AND ALL THESE, I CAN KEEP GOING ON AND ON OF COMMUNITIES IN BLUFFTON THAT WOULD LOVE TO TURN OVER, UM, THEIR ROADS TO THE COUNTY.
UM, SO AGAIN, UM, THAT, THAT IS WHY IT WAS A POLICY SET FORWARD BEFORE US, UH, NOT TO DO THAT.
SO, AGAIN, I, I CAN BELIEVE, FEEL FOR THESE FOLKS, BUT AGAIN, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY NO AND STICK TO, UM, THE POLICY WE HAVE IN PLACE.
ANY OTHER COMMENT QUESTION, MR. GLOVER? YES, MA'AM.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, UM, I VOTED AGAINST, I'M GOING TO VOTE AGAINST AGAIN, BUT I, I, I THINK THAT, UM, AND IT COULD BE THROUGH THE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH COMMITTEE THIS WOULD BE UNDER, BUT THAT, UM, THAT WHOLE ISSUE OF, UM, OF COUNTY ROADS ACCEPTING, UM, PRIVATE ROAD.
I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT, UM, WE SHOULD REALLY HAVE AND AFFIRM OR, UM, UM, CHANGE OUR POLICY, UH, TOWARD THAT END.
UM, SO, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA SAY TO THAT.
I, I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOME DISCUSSION.
UM, AND, AND IF WE AFFIRM THAT POLICY, WE AFFIRM THAT POLICY, UM, IF WE, UH, THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME CHANGES TO THAT POLICY, THEN LET'S MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
UM, SO THANK YOU MADAM CHAIRMAN.
COULD YOU, UM, JUST CONFIRM FOR ME THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN? JUDGE, IT WAS, UH, THREE IN FAVOR.
AND WITH REGARD TO, UH, MR. ROMY'S POSITION, UH, UH, THAT THE PHASE TWO ROAD SYSTEM BEING INCORPORATED INTO THE COUNTY, ABSORBED INTO THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM.
'CAUSE PHASE ONE OF THE HOA IS IN THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM, UH, COUNTY SYSTEM.
SO YOUR, SO YOUR VOTE TONIGHT WOULD BE A YES.
SO I WILL COMMENT ON PAGE 2 53 OF THE PACKET.
AT THE END OF THE A IS IT SAYS, STAFF HAS LOOKED INTO THE ORIGINAL PHASE ONE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT TO DETERMINE IF ANY PROVISIONS WERE AGREED UPON
[01:30:01]
THAT THE COUNTY WOULD ACCEPT THE ROADS IN STORM DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FUTURE PHASES.NO PROVISIONS OR AGREEMENTS WERE FOUND.
AND I AM VOTING AGAINST THIS, UH, ORDINANCE AS WELL.
AND VICE SHERIFF, I MAY MM-HMM
JUST, UH, GOING BACK TO THE POLICY STATEMENT AND I, I DO AGREE WE PROBABLY NEED TO LOOK AT IT, BUT I DO WANNA MENTION THEY FOLLOWED THE POLICY.
SO IT IS A POLICY FOR US TO ANALYZE THESE EXACT SITUATIONS AND LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT TO ACCEPT INTO THE ROAD SYSTEM, UH, THE COUNTY ROAD SYSTEM.
SO, I MEAN, THEY FOLLOWED THE POLICY, THEY MET THE CRITERIA.
IF THEY DIDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T BE ON THE AGENDA.
UH, THEY MET THE CRITERIA AND, AND IT'S BEFORE US TODAY.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THE POLICY IS WORKING, BUT I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO GO BACK AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER.
ANYONE ELSE? COMMENT, QUESTION.
DO I NEED A YEAH, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO.
[13.c. 2026/05: An Ordinance authorizing the abandonment of a drainage easement recorded in Deed Book 3695 at Pages 3345-3347 & Deed Book 3695 at Pages 3348-3350 located off Gumwood Drive in northern Lady's Island. ]
ORDINANCE NUMBER 2026 SLASH OH FIVE IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF A DRAINAGE EASEMENT RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 36 95 AT PAGES 33 45 TO 33 47.AND DEED BOOK 35 36 95 AT PAGES 33 48 TO 33 50 LOCATED OFF GUMWOOD DRIVE IN NORTHERN LADIES ISLAND.
SO 20 26 0 5 HAS BEEN MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
UH, THE VOTE AT PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 20TH WAS NINE ZERO.
ANY COMMENTS ON THIS OR QUESTIONS? OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF 2026 SLASH OH FIVE.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR ORDINANCES, MS. HOWARD.
VICE CHAIRMAN TABER NUMBER 14 A.
WE HAD AMENDED OUR, OUR AGENDAS TO, UM, HAVE OUR ELECTED TREASURER TO SPEAK.
THIS IS, UH, 20 25 63, A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PERSONNEL HANDBOOK.
SECTION 3.3 REMOTE WORK SLASH TELECOMMUTING POLICY.
THE VOTE AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 20TH, 2025 WAS SEVEN ZERO.
THE VOTE AT COUNTY COUNCIL TO REMAND THE RESOLUTION BACK TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025 WAS 11 ZERO.
THEN THE VOTE AT THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ON JANUARY 20TH, 2026 WAS NINE ZERO.
AND WE WILL HAVE, UM, UM, OUR TREASURER SPEAK FIRST AND THEN OUR, UM, HR MS. MEAD WILL SPEAK SECOND.
I HAVE A MOTION BY, UM, COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND THAT.
BEFORE WE HAVE ANYONE SPEAK THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US, ITEM FOUR C STATES, CURRENTLY THERE IS A PENDING MOTION FOR RULE TO SHOW CAUSE THAT MS. WALLS BELIEVES THAT THE ATTACHED INJUNCTION ORDER, WHICH I DO NOT SEE, PROHIBITS US FROM TAKING ANY ACTION.
I WOULD LIKE OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO WEIGH IN ON THAT STATEMENT.
WOULD IT BE BEST GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE? ASKING FOR LEGAL ADVICE? ALRIGHT,
[Additional Item ]
DO YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO, WE'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RE IN REGARDS TO FOR LEGAL ADVICE FOR A SECOND.ANY MADAM CHAIRMAN? UM, COULD I BE CLEAR, IT'S RELATED TO THE PENDING LITIGATION IN THE CASE OF WALLS VERSUS BE COUNTY AND THE REMOTE WORK.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, UM, COULD WE, UM, EXHAUST THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, UM, AND THEN GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION? OH, WITHOUT REMAINING THE AGENDA.
ALL IN FAVOR THOUGH? WE HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE.
[01:35:01]
EXECUTIVE SESSION.SARAH, CAN YOU SET UP, OF COURSE, WE HAD NO MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
UM, AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, UH, MS. WALLS COME UP AND WE HAVE KIND OF AGREED, INCLUDING QUESTIONS ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
I JUST HAVE SOME DATA POINTS ON HERE IN CASE YOU ASK ME ABOUT THEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME TIME TO SPEAK, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCHING WHO DON'T KNOW WHO I AM OR THE ROLE THAT I PLAY IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
I SERVE AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY TREASURER.
I'VE BEEN A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, I'VE FOCUSED MY CAREER ON BUILDING AND DEVELOPING HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
I'M ALSO A SENIOR CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL WITH THE SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
AND OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS, I'VE BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH 14 PROFESSIONAL AWARDS FOR PERFORMANCE, INNOVATION AND SERVICE.
I SHARE THAT, NOT TO ELEVATE MYSELF OR MY TEAM, BUT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE PERSPECTIVE WE'RE OFFERING THIS EVENING IS GROUNDED IN EXPERIENCE DATA AND A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR COUNTY.
WELL, I CANNOT CONTROL WHAT YOU DECIDE TONIGHT, BUT WHAT I CAN DO IS ENSURE YOU ARE MAKING A DECISION BASED ON FACTS, ACCURATE INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY AS THEY RELATE TO THE ELECTED OFFICES AND THE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE OUR CITIZENS EVERY DAY.
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE HAS HAD VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES.
UH, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SARAH, TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE TREASURER'S OFFICE HAS HAD VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES SINCE 2017 AND OUT OF STATE EMPLOYEES SINCE MAY OF 2019.
IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED IN FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, COUNCIL MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THE NUMEROUS PLACES I'VE GONE TO SPEAK IN THE COMMUNITY.
TODAY WE HAVE THREE OUT OF STATE EMPLOYEES, EACH WITH AN AVERAGE OF FIVE AND A HALF YEARS OF SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THEY WERE ALL HIRED LOCALLY, TRAINED LOCALLY, AND LIVED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR YEARS BEFORE RELOCATING.
WE DO NOT RECRUIT OUTTA STATE.
WE HIRE LOCALLY, AND YOU CAN ASK ANY ONE OF OUR STAFF.
WE TAKE INVESTMENT IN OUR PEOPLE VERY SERIOUSLY.
THESE TEAM MEMBERS ALONE HAVE HANDLED 52,000 CUSTOMER INTERACTIONS.
THAT'S 27% OF OUR 198,000 TOTAL INTERACTIONS.
WHILE OUR OFFICE HAS EARNED A TAXPAYER SATISFACTION RATING OF 96.3 IN THE PAST YEAR, MOST NOTABLY FOR YOU, OUR COLLECTION RATE CONSISTENTLY EXCEEDS 99% EVERY YEAR, GIVEN THAT THE AVERAGE VACANCY COSTS US 28 50 TO $4,460 TO FILL EACH ONE.
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF ONBOARDING AND TRAINING.
OUR STAFFING MODEL HAS ALLOWED US TO MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE LEVELS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, AVOID BUDGET INCREASES, AND REDUCE TURNOVER RELATED COSTS.
THIS SUCCESS IS NOT THE RESULT.
THIS SUCCESS IS THE RESULT OF INTENTIONAL COMMUNICATION, CONSTANT PERFORMANCE MONITORING.
I COULD SPEND AN HOUR JUST TELLING YOU THE METRICS THAT WE MONITOR AND REVIEW THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WEEK, AND MONTH, AND CLEAR EXPECTATIONS.
I ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS THE LEGAL CONTEXT.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU WERE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT THE PUBLIC WAS NOT.
IN DECEMBER OF 2024, A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ISSUED AN ORDER PROHIBITING THE COUNTY FROM TAKING ACTIONS, IN MY OPINION, THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE EMPLOYMENT OF OUR OUT-OF-STATE EMPLOYEES.
DESPITE THAT ORDER, THE COUNTY HAS CONTINUED TO PURSUE THIS POLICY AS IT'S WRITTEN IN THE AGENDA PACKET.
THIS EVENING, I FILED A MOTION FOR RULE TO SHOW CAUSE, WHICH IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, IS ESSENTIALLY NOTIFYING THE COURT THAT WE BELIEVE THE CO THE COUNTY IS VIOLATING THE COURT'S ORDER AND SHOULD BE HELD IN CONTEMPT.
IF THIS POLICY IS ADOPTED TONIGHT WITHOUT AN EXEMPTION FOR ELECTED OFFICES, WE WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THE HUMAN RESOURCES.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, SARAH, GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE KEEP GOING.
HUMAN RESOURCES HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF OUR OUT STATE EMPLOYEES AT LEAST 11 TIMES IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
[01:40:01]
LIKE I SAID, NO SURPRISE WITHOUT RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT LABOR LAW, COMPLIANCE, OR TAX WITHHOLDINGS.UNTIL RECENTLY, ONCE THESE CONCERNS WERE RAISED, I IMMEDIATELY RETAINED LEGAL COUNSEL AND PURSUED PAYROLL SOLUTIONS.
ALL OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AND WAS DONE WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET.
ANY AREA IN WHICH THERE MAY BE A RISK CAN BE MANAGED RESPONSIBLY, AND I'M HAPPY TO ELABORATE ON THAT DURING THE Q AND A.
FINALLY, WHILE ADMINISTRATION IS REFERENCED ALIGNING WITH THE STATE EXECUTIVE ORDER LIMITING VIRTUAL WORK, ELECTED OFFICES ARE NOT STATE AGENCIES.
IT IS NOT MY DESIRE OR RESPONSIBILITY TO MIRROR OTHER GOVERNMENTS, BUT TO DELIVER RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS WHO ELECTED ME.
AND THOSE OF YOU UP HERE ON THE DAIS KNOW ME.
I AM NOT, I AM NOT A, I DO NOT MIMIC OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
I SET THE STANDARD FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTS.
MY REQUEST TONIGHT IS NARROW AND SPECIFIC.
I'M ASKING COUNSEL TO AMEND THE PROPOSED TELECOMMUTING AND DISASTER PAY POLICY TO EXEMPT ELECTED OFFICES, ALLOWING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO APPROVE VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES AND DETERMINE WHO IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO LIVE OUTTA STATE.
SO LONG AS THAT ELECTED OFFICE NOTIFIES HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE EMPLOYEE'S WORK STATUS AND COVERS ANY ASSOCIATED COSTS WITHIN ITS COUNCIL APPROVED BUDGET, THIS AMENDMENT PRESERVES COUNCIL'S INTENT WHILE RECOGNIZING THE CONSTITUTIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF ELECTED OFFICES.
TONIGHT I'M ASKING FOR FLEXIBILITY GROUNDED IN FACTS, LAW, AND DEMONSTRATED RESULTS.
AN EXEMPTION FOR ELECTED OFFICES PROTECTS BEAUFORT COUNTY.
OUR OPERATIONS RESPECTS THE VOTER'S CHOICE AND ALLOWS PROVEN OPERATIONS TO CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR YOUR TIME IN CONSIDERING THIS AMENDMENT, AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE FOR ME THIS EVENING.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
AND THIS IS MORE DIRECTED TO OUR STAFF THAN YOU, BUT HOW MUCH HAVE WE SPENT ON THIS LITIGATION TO DATE? AND APPROXIMATIONS ARE FINE.
DOES NOBODY KNOW ANSWER? IS IT UPWARDS OF 450,000? IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S IN EXCESS.
IN EXCESS OF $450,000 ON THIS LITIGATION YES.
AND HERE WE ARE LOOKING AT WHAT, $2,800? YES.
TO FILL A VACANCY OR KEEP AN EMPLOYEE.
AN ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBER'S, SPOUSE, $450,000 LEAVE.
I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT RIGHT THERE.
I HOPE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SOME QUESTIONS.
CHAIRMAN, UH, CHAIRMAN, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES, SURE.
MS. WALLACE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO BRING THIS ALL TOGETHER, BUT, UM, I'M AN ELECTED OFFICIAL NOW FOR THREE YEARS.
AND I, I'M TELLING YOU, I SPEND THE TIME WITH THE PEOPLE.
I, I DON'T CARE WHERE IT IS AT CHURCH, PUBLIX, ANYWHERE.
AND I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE WAY YOU'VE TREATED THE PEOPLE HERE, HOW YOU'VE CHANGED THINGS FOR THE BETTER.
AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU THAT I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES TO COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT YOU AND ACTUALLY GET THE HECK OUTTA YOUR WAY AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU TO FURTHER HELP AND PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
UM, MY COLLEAGUE TALKS ABOUT MONEY.
UM, I I DON'T LIKE TO DAMAGE YOUR ATTITUDE OR THE WAY YOU APPROACH YOUR JOB AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, GETTING TO KNOW YOU FOR THREE YEARS.
I KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN
I HAVE AT 17 WE FELL IN LOVE HIGH SCHOOL.
[01:45:01]
I SAW COUNCILMAN LAWSON.COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? GO AHEAD.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
WHAT, HONESTLY, THE MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT ALL THIS, AND I GENUINELY MEAN ANNOYING, IS THAT I'M A FIRM BELIEVER.
YOU CAN PUT ME IN A ROOM WITH ANYBODY AND I DISAGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
AND I'LL STILL TREAT 'EM WITH THE SAME RESPECT, SAME CONVERSATION.
ANYBODY THAT'S KNOWN ME OVER THE YEARS KNOWS THAT I BUTTED HEADS WITH YOU.
I BUTTED HEADS WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON UP HERE TIME AND TIME AGAIN WITHOUT LOSING MY COOL, WITHOUT ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S MORE KNOWING THAT I, I HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH A STAFF MEMBER OR ANOTHER COLLEAGUE UP HERE WHEN THEY WANT TO PUT ANOTHER MEMBER UP HERE DOWN OR TRY TO CUT THEIR TIME SHORT WHEN WE ALL HAVE THE SAME JOB AND THE SAME DESCRIPTION.
SO I'M GONNA SAY THAT FIRST PART.
UM, SECONDLY, UM, I SUPPORTED YOUR BUDGET THE FIRST TIME BEFORE THIS LAWSUIT WAS EVEN SET BECAUSE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THAT, WE JUST GOT DONE GIVING YOU AN AWARD FOR HOW GREAT YOUR OFFICE HAS BEEN DOING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO RUN THAT DEPARTMENT.
I'M NEVER GONNA PRETEND LIKE I DO.
AND I GUARANTEE YOU NOBODY UP HERE DOES.
SO IT'S NOT MY JOB TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB.
IF IT'S BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THE FUNDS ARE BEING MANAGED AND WE'RE COMING OUT AHEAD, SOMETHING'S GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
SO, UM, EVERYONE ALREADY KNOWS WHERE I STAND.
YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THIS.
LET'S GRANDFATHER AND THE EMPLOYEES WE HAVE, LET'S STOP DICTATING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HOW TO DO IT.
THE ONLY AGREEMENT, AND I'LL BE HONEST, WE, WE AGREED WITH ME, YOU AND A COUPLE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS ABOUT WHERE THE PAY FOR VACANCIES, WHERE'S THAT MONEY GO? IS IT HELD OVER? THAT'S SOMETHING YOU AND I DEBATED OVER, BUT WE STILL GOT THE JOB DONE.
AND NOT HELD IT OVER EACH OTHER'S HEADS WHETHER WE AGREED OR DISAGREE.
SO, UM, DAVID, I THINK THE FLOOR IS YOURS AFTER MARK'S DONE, BUT YES, MARK IS NEXT.
UM, IF YOU WERE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? TOTALLY FINE.
JUST A, A QUESTION OF, I THINK I, I'VE HEARD THE ANSWER, BUT I FORGET WHAT IT WAS.
WAS HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE TOTAL IN TOTAL OR OUTTA STATE? UH, TOTAL.
WE DON'T HAVE THREE OUTTA STATE, BUT TOTAL.
SO WHEN WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, INCLUDING MYSELF, 36.
UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M FORREST LOGAN JUST SAID GRANDFATHERING, OBVIOUSLY THESE THREE EMPLOYEES, EVEN FROM YOUR INFORMATION RIGHT HERE, UM, HAS DONE ONE FOURTH OF ALL THE WORK FROM YOUR OFFICE.
UM, UH, OF YOUR, OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
SO THREE OF 'EM HAVE DONE 27% YES.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION, I'LL MAKE A MOTION OBVIOUSLY THAT WE CAN LOOK TO GRANDFATHER IN AT LEAST THOSE THREE EMPLOYEES.
I'M NOT TRYING TO GET INTO THE LITIGATION OR TRY TO SOLVE THAT PART, THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BUT WOULD A GRANDFATHER WORK FOR THESE EMPLOYEES? AND I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD, UM, THAT YOU TRY TO HIRE LOCAL.
WOULD THAT SOLVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WITH A GRANDFATHER OR WOULD A MORE BLANKET POLICY PUT IN PLACE? WHAT WOULD BE BETTER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM? UM, SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE THAT ASPECT OF THE LITIGATION A ADDRESSING IT IN THE POLICY IN A FULL BLANKET MANNER, LIKE I'VE REQUESTED IN THE PRESENTATION, WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
BUT IF THAT IS NOT WHAT COUNCIL DESIRES AT THIS TIME, MY HEART IS FOR MY PEOPLE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW WITH ONE, I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU TERMINATE THESE PEOPLE.
I WILL FIGHT YOU TOOTH AND NAIL AND I'D RATHER NOT DO THAT.
SO IF YOU, THE NEXT BEST THING WOULD BE TO GRANDFATHER THESE EMPLOYEES IN WHILE WE RESOLVE THE LITIGATION.
SO WITHOUT, ONCE AGAIN, WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE LITIGATION, IF WE WERE TO GRANDFATHER THAT END, THAT WOULD SOLVE THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN WE COULD, WE COULD CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND TRY TO RESOLVE THIS RATHER THAN, I I UNDERSTAND.
YOU GOTTA CONTINUE LITIGATION.
NOT TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT, OH, YOU CAN'T PUT ME ON THE SPOT.
I CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER I WANT.
WELL, I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND RESOLVE THIS BECAUSE ULTIMATELY YOUR ATTORNEY'S GONNA BE PAID BY THE TAXPAYER.
OUR ATTORNEYS ARE GONNA BE PAID BY THE TAXPAYER.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT THAT LOSE IN THIS SITUATION ARE THE TAXPAYER TAXPAYERS.
MY ATTORNEYS HAVE NOT CHARGED ANYTHING.
I'M SURE THEY WILL AT SOME POINT IN TIME WITH AN AFFIDAVIT.
SO ANYWAY, I I, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD WISH TO SPEAK? 'CAUSE I CAN MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW.
I'D, I'D MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND, UH, POLICY 3.3 TO ALLOW FOR A GRANDFATHER, UH, PROVISION FOR THE THREE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PARTICULAR STAFF.
SECOND, WE HAVE, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION? YES.
WHEN, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GRANDFATHER, UM, I UNDERSTAND GRANDFATHER TO ME THAT THOSE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THAT SITUATION REMAINS THERE, BUT NO MORE, I'VE NOT HEARD OF A GRANDFATHER THAT WOULD ALLOW NEW
[01:50:01]
SITUATION TO OCCUR AND THEN BE CALLED GRANDFATHERED.THAT'S THE BASIS OF THE MOTION.
AND THE PREVIOUS QUESTION THAT I HAD TO HER, WHILE IT SEEMS THAT THERE'S GONNA BE MORE WORK FOR US TO DO, THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM THAT'S PRESENTED IMMEDIATELY TEMPORARILY.
TEMPORARY FIX FOR THIS RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT, I DO HAVE MS. WALLS AND I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT I DO HAVE PROBLEM, UH, WITH OUTSIDE EMPLOYEES LIKE THIS.
SO I'M GONNA BE VOTING AGAINST THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY OUTSIDE EMPLOYEES? UH, EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT IN WITHIN THE STATE.
UH, SO I DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THAT, SO I'M GONNA BE VOTING AGAINST THE MOTION ITSELF.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? UH, YEAH, JUST, UH, THE MOTION ITSELF.
UM, I UNDERSTAND THIS ISN'T A FIX ALL, BUT MY GOAL IS THE SAME AS DAVID'S AS TO IN THE LAWSUIT.
I'M TIRED OF WASTING TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
US BEING WASTING SO MUCH TIME ON THAT, WE CAN ACTUALLY GETTING SOMETHING ACCOMPLISHED.
I DIDN'T GET UP HERE TO, I DIDN'T RUN FOR COUNTY COUNCIL TO GO BACK AND FORTH ABOUT LAWSUITS EVERY OTHER WEEK.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.
SO IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, THEN ALL 11 OF US NEED TO LEAVE ANYWAYS.
SO IF THIS IS A STEP FOR US TO GET THIS RESOLVED, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO TO GET THIS DONE.
I MEAN, I'VE ALREADY SAID WHAT I BELIEVE WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTED OFFICIALS.
NOBODY SHOULD TELL ME HOW TO RUN MY STUFF.
I WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE DEPARTMENTS.
I'VE BEEN VERY UPFRONT ABOUT THAT.
SO IF THIS IS STEP ONE TO GETTING THAT DONE, AT LEAST TO THIS POINT SO WE CAN GET BACK TO BUSINESS WHILE WE DEAL WITH THE COURT PROCEEDINGS, THEN I'M ALL ON BOARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE, THE REASON THIS HAS COME UP IS BECAUSE THE STATE CHANGED THEIR LAW.
WE WERE NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.
THIS IS A RULE CHANGE THAT CAME FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO ADOPT.
IT'S A CHOSEN ADOPTION THAT THERE'S A REASON WHY THAT THEY CAME UP WITH THAT.
COUNCILMAN LAWSON, THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT.
I WAS GONNA MAKE THE SAME COMMENT.
UM, THIS, THIS CAME UP THROUGH THE CHANGES AFTER COVID AND PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK.
UH, I HAVE, I'M, I HAVE A LOT OF RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK IT OPENS UP THE DOOR, UM, WITH A GRANDFATHERING.
YOU TELL US THIS MAY OR MAY NOT.
UM, I THINK THAT OPENS A BIG DOOR FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO.
WE NEED TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ONE MORE THOUGHT OVER.
UM, TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT, UM, WITH COVID AND NOT COVID, BUT I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY.
DURING COVID, I SAT IN THIS ROOM BY MYSELF WITH STAFF FOR FOUR MONTHS.
I SAID THAT'S WHY THE STATE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE ALSO SHUT THINGS DOWN WHEN I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE STATE EITHER.
BUT THAT'S WHY THEY, THEY HAVE GONE BACK TO THIS JUST PUTTING IT OUT THERE.
UH, ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO.
YOU WANNA REPEAT THE, UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER VERBATIM.
UH, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE MOTION IS TO ALLOW 'EM FOR THE, UH, THREE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE CURRENTLY, UH, OPERATING REMOTE TO CONTINUE TO DO SO AND BE GRANDFATHERED IN UNDERNEATH POLICY 3.3.
THEY'RE OPERATING VIRTUAL, NOT REMOTE.
AND MS, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL THOUGH? YES, MA'AM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
CHAIR HOWARD? NO, THE MOTION PASSES.
[14.a. 2025/63: A Resolution regarding the Beaufort County Personnel Handbook section 3.3 Remote Work/Telecommuting policy. ]
ON THE AGENDA.UM, I THINK WE NEED TO CALL THE QUESTION NOW, RIGHT? FOR THE ACTUAL ITEM AMENDED? YEAH.
IT IS NOW THE REMOTE POLICY AS AMENDED AS A YES TO ALLOW, SORRY.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO CALL FOR A VOTE ON THE REMOTE POLICY AS AMENDED.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE NEED A MOTION TO THAT? YOU'VE ALREADY, WE ALREADY HAD THE MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? VOTE FOR THAT.
EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR? YEAH.
WHO MADE THAT MOTION? THE ORIGINAL ONE.
WHO MADE THAT? AND MOTION AS AMEN.
I HAVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN FIRST, SECOND BY MS. BROWN.
[01:55:01]
RES? YES.CAN YOU CLARIFY THE MOTION FOR ME TO APPROVE THE ITEM AS AMENDED? LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
THE RESOLUTION IS AMEN AS AMENDED, ALLOWING FOR THE GRANDFATHERING OF THE THREE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE VOTED ON POSITIVELY AS THE AMENDMENT.
SO NOW IT'S OUR REMOTE PO POLICY, BUT AS AMENDED TO ALLOW THE THREE CURRENT EMPLOYEES WHO ARE VIRTUAL TO REMAIN VIRTUAL, NO OTHER EMPLOYEE, COUNTY EMPLOYEE WILL BE, UH, ALLOWED.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON, MARK LAWSON? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
CHAIR HOWARD? NO, THE MOTION PASSES.
WE'RE JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
TO BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GRANDFATHERING, THE THREE, IT'S THOSE THREE SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES, NOT THREE EMPLOYEES TOTAL FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, BUT THOSE THREE SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES ARE GRANDFATHERED.
I WOULD ASK TO MAKE THE MOTION IF THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT, WAS JUST CLARIFYING WHAT THEY MEANT.
THE GRANDFATHER, I WOULD ASK TO MAKE A MOTION.
[14.b. 2026/02: A Resolution to accept a South Carolina Aeronautics (SCAC) Commercial Airport Entitlement Grant in the amount of $42,625.00 for Approach Tree Mitigation at Hilton Head Island Airport (HXD) - Contingent upon final grant offer. ]
MOVING ON TO 14 B 2026 SLASH OH TWO.A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMERCIAL AIRPORT ENTITLEMENT GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $42,625 FOR APPROACH TREE MITIGATION AT HILTON HEAD AIRPORT.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? NO, NO DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[14.c. 2026/03: A Resolution to accept a South Carolina Aeronautics Commission (SCAC) state-local airport development grant in the amount of $46,775.00 for design and permitting services related to the relocation of the Beaufort Executive Airport’s (ARW) existing Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) - contingent upon grant offer.]
C 26 20 26 0 3 A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE SOUTH CAROLINA AERONAUTICS COMMISSION STATE LOCAL AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $46,775 FOR DESIGN AND PERMITTING SERVICES RELATED TO THE RELOCATION OF THE BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT'S EXISTING AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM A OS CONTINGENT.SO MOVE MADAM CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER.
I'LL SECOND AND A SECOND BY, UM, VICE CHAIR TAB.
NICK, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS.