Feb 17, 2026 Finance Administration and Economic Development Committee

ANY OBJECTION? YEAH, NO, NO OBJECTION.

I'D LIKE TO OFFER A UM, AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION.

TO THE AGENDA IF THAT'S UH, APPROPRIATE.

SURE.

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, FOR PRIVILEGE FROM YOU FOR ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

WE'LL MOVE ON NUMBER FIVE, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 20TH, 2026.

UM, AND IF SARAH WANTS TO PUT THE TWO MINUTES CLOCK ON THERE FOR ME, THAT'D BE FINE.

, WE DON'T NEED TO.

UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL PROMISED TO INCLUDE AN AGENDA ITEM THAT WOULD'VE ASKED THIS COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE TO PURCHASE PROPERTY ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THAT PROJECT HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE PENN CENTER, THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, ALONG WITH OUR OWN BE COUNTY, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA.

COUNCIL LEADERSHIP FIRST STATED THAT THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE DURING THE AGENDA SETTING OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.

LEADERSHIP INSISTED THAT IT BE PLACED ON THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY AND IS ALSO TO GO BACK TO THE BEFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD AT THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE BEFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

LAST WEEK, THIS PROJECT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED DOWN BECAUSE MRS. TABER STATED THAT THE COUNCIL DID NOT SUPPORT IT.

YET THE BEAST, THE BEFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD VOTED IN NOVEMBER OVERWHELMINGLY TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND THEN AT A CALL MEETING VOTED UNANIMOUSLY NOT TO SUPPORT IT.

THE QUESTION IS WHY AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I LOOK TO THE BEFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR SOUND INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

I TURNED TO COUNCIL FOR THE POLITICAL FOR THE POLITICS OF THOSE DECISIONS.

THIS COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY VOTED TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFF BURNT CHURCH ROAD FOR SOME 100 UNITS.

THIS COUNCIL ALSO VOTED TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE FOR THE FIVE B PROJECT ALONG BUCK WALTER PARKWAY.

YET THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS BODY TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE FOR THE ST.

HELENA COMMUNITY CULTURAL AND MARKET CENTER.

THEREFORE, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE A DISCUSSION AND A MOTION TO FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL THE REMOVAL OF MRS. ANN MARIE TABER AS THIS COUNCIL'S LIAISON REPRESENTATIVE FOR MISREPRESENTING THIS GOVERNING BODY AT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD'S PREVIOUS CALL BOARD MEETING.

AND THAT IT WILL BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA RIGHT AFTER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

FLOOR.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALRIGHT, WITH NO SECOND.

THAT MOTION DOES FAIL.

WE ARE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AGENDA.

UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE ORIGINAL AGENDA? CAN IT BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION OR DO WE HAVE ONE OBJECTION MR. GLOVER? NO, I DON'T.

THE AGENDA WILL BE APPROVED AS IT STANDS ORIGINALLY.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

SO I HAVE A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TAB WITH THE MOTION AND A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND JOE WITH A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? AND THIS IS APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.

THIS IS ALSO APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION.

I'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SIX, THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT DID NOT SIGN UP THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT,

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

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.

THE FINANCE REPORT.

[00:05:02]

UM, IS HARRIET, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU? THRIVING .

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR YEAR TO DATE BUDGET REPORTS.

YEAH, THAT'S SMALL.

SO THIS IS OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES.

AS YOU CAN SEE, JANUARY 15TH HAS COME AND GONE.

WE'RE 97% AT ADV VALIUM TAXES, CONSIDERING IT'S ONLY FEBRUARY.

I DO SEE US EXCEEDING THAT AND WHAT WE PROJECTED, UM, SINCE WE STILL HAVE ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS LEFT TO GO IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

UM, WE ARE OVERALL 76% FOR THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD FOR FEBRUARY.

SEEING AS WE STILL GOT SOME, GOT A FEW MONTHS TO GO FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, WE'RE AT 49%.

LITTLE LESS THAN WHERE WE WOULD NORMALLY BE, BUT UH, I THINK THAT'S DUE TO SOME OF THE VACANCIES THAT WE HAVE NOT YET FILLED.

UM, AND I DO THINK WE HAVE OUR FOURTH SHIFT IS KICKING OFF HERE THIS MONTH.

ENTERPRISE FUNDS, UM, JUST AN UPDATE.

OUR GARAGE ISF IS AT 72%.

STORMWATER IS CURRENTLY AT 52%.

BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE IS AT 26.

HILTON HEAD IS AT 53.

HERE'S OUR EXPENDITURES.

THE GARAGE IS AT 55%, UM, FOR EXPENDITURES.

STORMWATER'S AT 18.

BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IS AT 23 AND HILTON HEAD IS AT 42.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE YEAR TO DATE? I HAVE A QUESTION ON ENTERPRISE FUNDS REVENUE.

I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO SEE THE BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT IS ONLY AT 26% REVENUE WITH EIGHT MONTHS IN.

UM, A LOT.

SOME OF THAT $2.3 MILLION OR SOME OF THEIR ARPA FUNDING THAT THEY DID NOT SPEND LAST FISCAL YEAR.

SO AS THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE HANGAR PROJECT, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SPEND SOME OF THAT DOWN.

THIS IS REVENUE.

IT'S SITTING IN A CONTRIBUTION FROM PRIOR FUND BALANCE LINE ITEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SPEND IT LAST FISCAL YEAR.

HOW IS THEIR ACTUAL REVENUE INTAKE? FORGET, OR THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE 6 32? YEAH.

ANY OTHERS? THANK YOU.

NO, THAT'S IT ON THAT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? UH, YES.

UM, SINCE THAT QUESTION WAS RAISED, UM, UH, THE AIRPORT GOING TO SPEND THOSE FUNDS BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

UM, I'M NOT GONNA SPEAK FOR JARED ON WHERE THAT PROJECT FOR THE HANGERS IS RIGHT NOW.

SO I WON'T, I WON'T COMMENT ON THAT.

I'M SURE HE'LL GIVE AN UPDATE AT SOME POINT.

IT IS TRUE THE, ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES ARE REQUIRED TO BE SPENT, CORRECT? DECEMBER 31ST OF THIS YEAR.

UNLESS IT WAS UNDER THE, WELL THE REVENUE LOSS WE'RE NOT REPORTING BECAUSE, BUT ANYTHING THAT WE OBLIGATED FOR ARPA WILL BE SPENT DOWN BY 1231.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PERFECT.

YOUR NEXT IS YOUR BUDGET TRANSFER REPORT.

I KNOW THAT'S REALLY SMALL, BUT UM, IT IS IN YOUR BACKUP.

THERE'S TWO AND A HALF PAGES.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE TRANSFERS CHAIR? I DO , I'D EXPECT NOTHING LESS TAB I EITHER ON THE PAGE THAT'S SHOWING ON THE VERY FIRST ONE.

YES.

UM, IT SAYS WE'RE TRANSFERRING FROM ATHLETIC PROGRAM TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND IT'S FOR AN EXPANSION OF THE NETTING ON OSCAR, UH, FRAZIER PARK.

AND IT'S PUT FOR BETTER TRA TRACEABILITY FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES.

15,000 I PRESUME IS NOT THE COST OF THE NETTING.

'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT NETTING COSTS.

BUT WHY WOULD THIS BE BETTER TO PUT IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE VERSUS CAPITAL EQUIPMENT? BECAUSE IT WAS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE VENDOR.

IT'S A DESIGN SERVICE, NOT DESIGN, BUT A SERVICE FROM THE VENDOR THAT WAS, UH, PROVIDED BY FROM FOR THE NETTING, BUT THEY WANTED TO ORIGINALLY MOVE IT TO 5 1 1 7 0, WHICH IS NON-PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, BUT IT IS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

THAT MIGHT HELP IF THEY EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THEY WERE BUYING $15,000 WORTH OF NO.

WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THAT'S GONNA COST.

RIGHT.

I KNOW THAT.

AND THE MOA, BUT, UM, THE REVENUE HAS TO STAY IN A REVENUE LINE ITEM, BUT THE EXPENDITURE HAS TO STAY IN EXPENSE LINE ITEM.

ANY OTHER TRANSFERS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSFERS THAT RECURRED? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE NEXT PAGE.

SURE.

SORRY.

SURE.

UM, THE ONE ON THE TOP, THE ANIMAL SERVICES, IF YOU WOULD FLOW ONE MORE, SARAH, PLEASE.

OH, SORRY.

THAT'S ME.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE.

THIS IS THE ANIMAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH JASPER COUNTY, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY'RE UP TO PAYING THEIR INVOICES IN A GENERAL TIMELY MANNER.

CORRECT.

THE LAST I CHECKED, I THINK WE WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND $19,000 IN REVENUE FROM THE MOA WITH JASPER COUNTY.

UM, HERE WE DID A ONE-SIDED ENTRY TO INCREASE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

MM-HMM .

BECAUSE THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY SPENDING MONEY ON THE, ON THE, UH, PROGRAM

[00:10:01]

SO, BUT THEY'RE KEEPING AS CURRENT AS CAN BE.

[8.a. Presentation of Options to fund USCB's Convocation Center (FISCAL IMPACT: It will be dependent on which option the Council chooses.) - Pinky Harriott, CGFO Chief Financial Officer]

NEXT ITEM I THINK IS PATIENT CENTER FUNDING OPTIONS.

SO AT THE LAST FINANCE COMMITTEE, YOU GUYS TASK US WITH FINDING POTENTIAL OPTIONS, UM, FOR FUNDING FOR THE CONVOCATION CONVOCATION CENTER PROJECT FOR USEB.

UM, AFTER SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR BOND COUNSEL AND THEIR BOND COUNSEL, AND THE LIMITATIONS THAT YOU GUYS PUT ON ME IN TERMS OF NO ISSUANCE OF COUNTY DEBT, NO TO, TO REMAIN MALE NEUTRAL AND THE, UH, REMOVE THE OPTION OF THE MCIP.

SO IN DISCUSSIONS, THESE ARE FOUR OPTIONS THAT I FEEL LIKE ARE THE ONLY WAY THAT WE COULD, AND I SAY THAT FOUR.

UM, BUT OPTION ONE AND TWO WOULD HAVE A, UH, IMPACT ON OUR BOND RATINGS, WHICH, SO THEREFORE I, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND ONE OR TWO, BUT IT WAS A WAY TO LOOK AT POTENTIALLY FUNDING THEM WITHIN MULTIPLE YEARS.

SO, UH, WE COULD HAVE DONE THE $5 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS, UM, WHICH WOULD BE A TOTAL OF A $20 MILLION CONTRIBUTION.

BY THE WAY, THE $20 MILLION NUMBER, I BELIEVE CAME UP WHEN LOGAN MENTIONED SOME AMOUNT VERSUS NO AMOUNT OR 47.

UM, SO WE KIND OF SLOWLY STARTED BUILDING FROM THERE.

SO IF WE DID OPTION ONE OR TWO, THESE COULD DROP OUR BOND RATINGS BECAUSE THE USCB CONVOCATION CENTER IS NOT A COUNTY CORE PROJECT.

UM, WHAT THAT MEANS IS IT'S NOT US REPLACING, REPLACING THE ADMIN BUILDING OR A COURTHOUSE WHERE WE PROVIDE SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

SO THAT BEING THE CASE AND HAVING JUST ISSUED $68 MILLION OF DEBT, UM, BOND COUNCIL DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE A GOOD OPTION.

AND YOU WOULD ALSO BE BINDING FUTURE COUNSELS, WHICH AS WE KNOW WE DO.

UM, SO OPTION THREE, THIS IS WHERE I GOT A LITTLE CREATIVE, UM, IN ORDER TO REPURPOSE ONE MIL, UM, IF I TOOK IT THROUGHOUT THIS FISCAL YEAR, I COULD PREPAY THREE YEARS WORTH OF DEBT SERVICE FOR THE LOWER SERIES BONDS THAT I HAVE, UM, COMING UP.

AND OF THOSE, ONE OF THEM WILL RETIRE IN FISCAL YEAR 27 ALTOGETHER.

UM, THIS COULD ALLOW US TO SHIFT ONE MIL OVER TO USCB ON TOP OF, UH, THE ONE THEY GET NOW TO HELP FUND TOWARDS THE CONVOCATION CENTER.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE VALUE OF A MILL CHANGES YEAR OVER YEAR.

SO IT COULD LEAD UP TO BEING CLOSE TO $13 MILLION OR MORE, DEPENDING ON THE GROWTH OF THE VALUE OF A MILL.

SO THAT IS A D ANOTHER OPTION.

AND THEN OPTION FOUR IS TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.

SO WE JUST ORDER, UH, ISSUED THE $68 MILLION FOR 2025 SERIES BOND AND WE HAVE $9.5 MILLION FOR LAW ENFOR, A LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER PROJECT, WHICH ISN'T EVEN UNDER DESIGN YET.

SO YOU HAVE THAT SITTING THERE ALSO.

UM, IF YOU RECALL IN FISCAL YEAR 25, WE WERE, WHEN YOU ISSUED, YOU VOTED TO APPROVE THE BONDS.

YOU WERE ALSO FUNDING TCL AND BMHS, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WELL, WHEN YOU DID THAT, YOU INCREASED THEIR MILLAGE.

YOU INCREASED, UM, BMH BY 0.2 AND TCL BY 0.1.

SO DUE TO THAT WE HAVE $1.6 MILLION SITTING IN THAT THUMB BALANCE FOR THOSE 0.3 MILS.

UM, THAT PLUS THE 9.5, WHICH COULD HAPPEN ALL DURING THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, WOULD, UH, EQUAL $11.1 MILLION TO CONTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE FASTEST, QUICKEST OPTION.

BUT, UM, AGAIN, THESE OPTIONS ARE YOURS.

I COULD PULL OFF OPTION 3M, OPTION FOUR, BUT OPTION ONE AND TWO, I DON'T WANNA TAKE THE CHANCE OF, UM, DROPPING OUR BOND RATINGS 'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO INCREASE OUR BOND RATINGS OVER TIME.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS.

EITHER OPTION THREE OR OPTION FOUR.

AND I'M MORE INCLINED TOWARDS OPTION FOUR.

'CAUSE OPTION ONE AND TWO AS IT SHOWS THERE, WE ARE BINDING A FUTURE COUNSEL AND WE CANNOT DO THAT.

WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE 9.5 MILLION IF IT'S NOT SPENT ON THE, UM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER? WE WOULD REPURPOSE IT TO USCB FOR THE CONVOCATION CENTER.

YOU'VE ALREADY ISSUED THE DEBT OR GO AHEAD MS. HOWIE.

UM, DO WE KNOW, UH, YOU SAID NOTHING, NOTHING'S

[00:15:01]

BEEN DONE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

IS THERE, IS THERE ANY UP, ANY OTHER UPDATES ABOUT IT FROM ADMINISTRATION? THE ONLY UPDATE I WOULD PROVIDE IS THERE'S, UH, ULTIMATELY THERE'S NO FUNDING.

I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE FOR A DESIGN, BUT, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, SINCE WE'RE DOING A TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM THIS YEAR, UM, CONSIDERING HOW MUCH A LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER MIGHT BE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO DO A FULL DESIGN.

I, I THINK PART OF WHAT WE COULD DO IS LOOK AT POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR THE LEC AND AS WELL AS I, I BELIEVE THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO BUILD AN EMS AND A FIRE STATION THERE.

SO WE COULD SCALE THAT BACK, UM, AND RESERVE SOME FUNDS TO AT LEAST LOOK AT A SMALLER PROJECT AT THE LEC.

BUT A FULL-BLOWN LEC WITH NO SALES TAX WOULD REQUIRE AN ISSUANCE OF DEBT OR OTHER, SOME TYPE OF FINANCING.

SO JUST FOR CONSIDERATION, I BELIEVE THE NINE POINT, I BELIEVE THE 9.5 WAS FOR A E DESIGN ANYWAY.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVEN AT THAT POINT RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE NOT READY FOR THAT AT THIS TIME.

HAVE YOU HAD ONE, MR. CHAIRMAN? OH, GO AHEAD.

I KNOW WE, WE PUT IN THE AGREEMENT THAT WE BUILT A FIRE STATION EMS BY OLDFIELD.

SO I'D RATHER SEE THAT MONEY REPURPOSED THERE.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST USCB, BUT WE HAVE OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT FOR OUR RESIDENTS, WE HAVE A REFERENDUM WE'RE PUTTING ON THE BALLOT AND THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU USING THIS MONEY FOR THE REFERENDUM? 'CAUSE THEY DON'T DISTINGUISH.

SO I AM NOT IN SUPPORT OF THIS AT ALL.

NOT OPTION THREE, NOT OPTION FOUR, NOT SUPPORTING IT.

QUICKLY, UM, WHAT IS THE, WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY ASKING US FOR HOW MUCH? 47,000,047.

ORIGINALLY IT WAS $47 MILLION, BUT I THINK THAT THE BUDGET OR RETREAT COUNCIL WAS NOT, AND THEY, AND THEY RECEIV NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND, AND THEY WERE RECEIVING THE OTHER 47 FROM THE STATE? YES, THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE OTHER 47 MILLION FROM THE STATE.

SO WE, SO THEY WERE SEEKING MATCHING FUNDS AND IF WE ONLY DID 20 MILLION, WHAT WOULD THAT DO FOR THEM? IS THAT KILLING THE PROJECT? I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

I THINK THEY'RE GONNA PROBABLY SEEK OTHER FUNDING SOURCES, I WOULD ASSUME.

WE'LL HEAR THAT IDA EIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM THEM IN IDA EIGHT.

UH, I GUESS ONE OF MY, WHAT IS THE LIMITATIONS ON THAT? REPURPOSING THE FUNDS FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER LIMITATIONS? WHAT ARE WE ALLOWED TO USE THOSE FUNDS FOR? CURRENTLY IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

I WOULD HAVE TO BRING FORTH A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO REPURPOSE THOSE FUNDS TO USCB VERSUS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER PROJECT.

UH, MY, MY PROBLEM I RUN INTO THEN IS WE ALREADY HAVE SERVICES AND THINGS THAT WE'VE PROMISED TO OUR CITIZENS THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER ON BECAUSE OF FINANCES.

AND NOW WE SAY WE HAVE 9.5 MILLION, IT ALMOST FEELS IRRESPONSIBLE TO SPEND IT ON ANOTHER PROJECT WHEN WE HAVEN'T EVEN FINISHED THE PROJECTS WE'VE PROMISED.

UM, THAT'S THE PROBLEM I RUN INTO.

I MEAN, WE'RE, WE CAN GO BACK TO EITHER THE 2018 REFERENDUM BEFORE MOST OF US WERE HERE, OR WE CAN TALK ABOUT PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE.

UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THAT? AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION FOR THE MEETING ITSELF, DID YOU ALREADY JUMP INTO NUMBER EIGHT OR IS THIS A PART OF YOUR, OF YOUR BOARD? I THINK THIS IS NUMBER EIGHT.

WE'RE NUMBER, I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.

YEAH, NO WORRIES, NO WORRIES.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON THAT? HEY, LOGAN? YES, SIR.

ME TO, UM, UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE NOTION OF NOT BINDING FUTURE COUNSEL ON THE DECISION WE MAKE HERE.

UM, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, UH, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE SEEING THIS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SEE US MAKE A, A QUICK JUDGMENT OR TO JUMP IN SOMETHING SAYING WE WANT 1, 2, 3, OR FOUR.

SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM.

UH, SO THIS IS GONNA TAKE SOME IMPORTANT, UM, TIME FOR US TO EITHER FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANNA DO OR FIGURE OUT.

WE DON'T WANNA DO ANYTHING.

SO WHATEVER WE GOTTA DO TO KIND OF BRING THIS BACK UP AGAIN, WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN AT THE NEXT MEETING ONCE PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO, UH, TO THINK ABOUT IT AND MAYBE ASK QUESTIONS AND GET THIS BACK TO, UH, MS. HARRIET FOR SOME, UH, RESPONSES FOR ANYONE THAT HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING THE FOUR OPTIONS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PREFERENCES, MARK? NO.

UM, I, I WOULD, UM, AT THIS POINT, UM, SAY THAT WE BRING IT BACK UP FOR DISCUSSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN SEND IT TO ME AND MR. MOORE, UM, AND, UM, AND, UM, UH, PINKY AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, TO, TO US AND WE'LL GET 'EM TO HER AND THEN WE WILL GET THAT LIST BACK TO EVERYBODY.

UM, ONCE WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT QUESTIONS THERE ARE, MAYBE ASK SOME MORE, MORE THINGS OR FIGURE OUT, UM, IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OR IF SOMETHING WE DO OR DON'T WANT TO DO.

UM, ALRIGHT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR COUNSEL? YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN? UM, I, I FIND IT KINDA HARD FOR

[00:20:01]

UM, THAT'S LIKE SAYING YOU HAVE TWO YEARS TO MAKE A DECISION AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DEALT WITH WITHIN THAT TWO YEARS.

UM, I JUST FIND THAT KIND OF HARD TO FANDOM RIGHT NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST ME.

I MIGHT ADD, UM, USAB IS ASKING US TO MATCH THEIR 47 AND, AND WHAT, WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US COMES AS CLOSE AS 20 AND 20 IS A GOOD START.

BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GO FURTHER THAN THAT.

AND ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY MATCHED THE 47.

THE 47 IS WHAT THEY GOT FROM THE STATE.

THE 47 THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, UM, SOUTH OF ABROAD AS WELL AS NORTH OF BROAD AND NORTH OF BROAD WILL, WILL, WILL CERTAINLY, UH, BENEFIT BY HAVING THE, BY HAVING THE, UM, THE AMENITIES AT THIS SCHOOL THAT WE CAN, UM, ACTUALLY, UM, TRAVEL TO THE USCB RATHER THAN TRYING TO GO ALL THE WAY TO SAVANNAH.

UM, IN MY YOUNGER DAYS WE USED TO GO TO THE, UM, UH, WHAT'S THE CENTER IN SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER? CIVIC CENTER.

CIVIC CENTER.

WE USED TO GO TO CIVIC CENTER FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

AND, AND THIS WOULD CUT THE TRAVEL TIME FOR US NORTH OF THE BROAD, PARTICULARLY OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS WHERE I AM.

UH, IT WILL CUT OUT TRAVEL TIME IN HALF AS FAR AS GAMES AND ALL THE OTHER, UH, UH, EVENTS THAT THE, THAT THE, UM, THAT THE SCHOOL MIGHT PUT ON.

SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UM, GIVE THIS SOME SERIOUS THOUGHT AND TRY TO FUND THEM, UH, TILL THE FULLEST AMOUNT AS POSSIBLE.

MY BIGGEST ISSUE STILL IS THE FACT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS OUR BIGGEST NEED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

JOE, ANYTHING? ALICE, YOU KNOW, I, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, UM, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

CAN WE BIND A FUTURE COUNSEL? THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE ELECTION OF COUNCIL THIS YEAR, THERE IS A SAID THIS COUNCIL CANNOT BIND THAT COUNCIL THAT IT WILL COME INTO ON JANUARY 1ST.

THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS GOING FORWARD.

THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IT HAS NOT BEEN DESIGNED FULLY AS YET.

THERE WAS SOME PRELIMINARY DESIGNS THAT WERE DONE.

UH, I WOULD DARE SAY THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER AS CONCEIVED WITH WHAT THE SHERIFF WOULD WANT, WHAT NEEDS TO BE THERE OVER THE COURSE OF TIME IS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 300 TO $350 MILLION.

UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT MAY REQUIRE SOME SORT OF CAPITAL REFERENDUM IN THE FUTURE.

CHOSEN NOT TO DO A CAPITAL REFERENDUM.

WE HAVE CHOSEN TO DO A TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM.

UM, THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A PORTION WHEN WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY FROM OLD FIELD, ONE OF THE CONTINGENCIES WAS THAT A FIRE EMS STATION WOULD BE PUT THERE.

NOW A FIRE EMS STATION IS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF FIVE TO $6 MILLION THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE, UH, AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

IT IS NOT IMMINENT.

WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY FIVE TO SIX YEARS LEFT BEFORE THAT HAS TO BE DONE.

UH, HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH A REFERENDUM THIS FALL WITH TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE THE ROAD SYSTEM ON ONE 70 IS KEY EVENTUALLY TO HAVING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

UM, JOHN PAUL II HAVING A NEW ENTRANCE THERE, AN ENTRANCE TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER THERE, 4 62 REALIGNED.

SO A LOT OF THINGS ARE IN THE WORKS.

UM, UH, UN UNFORTUNATELY OUR HANDS ARE GOING TO BE TIED AS TO HOW FAR WE CAN GO THIS YEAR.

PAUL, ANYTHING? NO, I HAVE NO COMMENTS.

UM, I'LL JUST LEAVE ONE MORE FINAL THOUGHT THEN, AND THEN, UM, WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

BUT MY BIGGEST ISSUE ACTUALLY ISN'T EVEN NECESSARILY THE FUNDING SOURCE.

I KNOW THERE'S WAYS WE CAN WORK OUT FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S 20 MILLION, 47 MILLION TO, UM, MR. DAWSON'S POINT, BUT

[00:25:01]

OUR ROADS ARE FAILING OUR FIRE AND EMS IS OVERWHELMED WHEN YOU GO TO FULL LENGTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE ALL THE WAY FROM STORMWATER UP TO SERVICES.

WE'RE ADDING ONTO THAT BY BUILDING THIS ARENA.

YOU'RE ADDING TRAFFIC TO IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT, IT WILL CUT DOWN ON TRAFFIC, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA PUT MORE CARDS ON OUR ROADS DURING THOSE EVENTS.

UM, NOT SAYING I DON'T WANT IT IN THE FUTURE.

I, I MEAN, I GRADUATED FROM USCB, I WANT TO SEE IT TO CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THAT.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION.

UM, WITH THAT SAID THOUGH, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE ONE PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS ON IT SINCE YOU'RE ALL HERE? UM, IF NOT, WE WILL HAVE IT AT ANOTHER DISCUSSION ITEM, BUT I FIGURED SINCE Y'ALL MADE THE DRIVE.

NO, THEY COMMITTED FUNDING TO IT AS WELL.

HEY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

LENA JONES, VICE CHANCELLOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS AT USCB.

SO, UM, LOGAN, TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE, YOU'RE RIGHT.

INFRASTRUCTURE.

UH, WHEN WE TALK INFRASTRUCTURE, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT I'VE NOTICED ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY AND LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS IS WE CONTINUE TO SEE OUR MEDIAN AVERAGE AGE CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

SO CURRENTLY IT'S ALMOST, UH, 50.

ACTUALLY, I'VE GOT A SLIDE FOR YOU.

SO IT'S ALMOST 48 YEARS OLD AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR OVER YEAR.

WHO'S GOING TO BE DOING ALL THOSE JOBS? YOU HAVE OVER 400 RESTAURANTS JUST IN HOSPITALITY RESTAURANTS HERE.

PEOPLE AT THESE AGE, THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE CAN.

SO WHAT'S A BETTER ECONOMIC ENGINE THAN A UNIVERSITY? THERE'S BEEN COUNTLESS MODELS ACROSS THE US WHERE YOU SEE A UNIVERSITY BRINGS IN THE ECONOMIC BOOM.

SO YOU'RE GETTING THE FINANCE, YOU'RE GETTING THE HOTELS, THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE SHOPS CONTINUE TO GROW.

THAT'S INCREASING THE TAX REVENUE COMING BACK TO THE COUNTY.

SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON THOSE PROJECTS.

BUT YOU GUYS, WE STILL HAVE A TON OF PROJECTS STILL NOT ADDRESSED YET, AS YOU SAID PREVIOUSLY.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE PROJECTS, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING MAYBE FIVE, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHERE YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS MOST OF THEM MAYBE.

SO I THINK WE CAN GET IT DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY.

OUR RFP IS OUT RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE SELECTING A MASTER PLANNER SO THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND GET ROLLING AND GET THE GROUND BROKEN.

IT, IT IS TIME TO GET A MOVE ON THIS, UM, THIS CONVOCATION CENTER IN SPORTS PARK.

THIS IS GONNA HELP US RECRUIT, IT'S GONNA HELP US GROW OUR ENROLLMENT.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE A RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT AT A MUCH FASTER PACE THAN YOU WOULD SOME OTHER PROJECTS.

YOU'RE ALSO GONNA GET MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

SO I THINK OVERALL, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT.

$20 MILLION WILL GO A LITTLE WAYS, BUT WE, WE REALLY NEED THE FULL 47 MILLION IF WE CAN.

THAT'S THE GOAL THAT WILL GET IT DONE.

UM, BEFORE I CAN EVEN PUT THIS OUT TO BID, I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE FUNDING SECURED THROUGH THE STATE.

THAT IS A REQUIREMENT.

I CAN'T GO IN AND MODIFY HALFWAY THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE PROCESS.

SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE AS WELL.

UM, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I KNOW, UM, ANNIE, YOU HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, PORT WENTWORTH PROJECT AND I DO WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY APPROVED, I BELIEVE IT'S 1200 HOMES TO BE BUILT AROUND THAT AND THEIR, THEIR, UH, SUBSIDIZED HOMES OR THEIR AFFORDABLE HOMES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO DRAW ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR GRADUATES THERE AT PORT WHITWORTH.

SO NOT ONLY ARE WE LOSING REVENUE, WE'RE LOSING FUTURE WORKFORCE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ECONOMIC CHALLENGE.

SO YOU DO HAVE ON 2 78 RIGHT OFF OF EXIT EIGHT, MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT GOING IN FOR HOUSING AND SOME OF THAT WILL BE WORKFORCE.

SO WE DO HAVE MASSIVE GROWTH THERE.

SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ROADS, AS MR. CUNNINGHAM SAID, BUT ALSO JUST THE VERY FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE $47 MILLION AND WE'RE ABOUT TO ASK OUR RESIDENTS FOR A PENNY TAX, WHICH WENT DOWN IN 2024 FOR OUR ROADS.

AND I MEAN, WE HAVE TO BE PRUDENT AND WE HAVE TO SELL THAT TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND I THINK THIS WOULD DETRACT FROM IT.

LIKE LOGAN SAID, IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD TIME FOR US.

NOT THAT THERE'S EVER A GOOD TIME FOR MONEY, LET ME SAY THAT , BUT, UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR REFERENDUM PASSING.

MR. JEREMY.

I MAKE COMMENT.

I UNDERSTAND THIS, UH, PLACE IN PORT WORTH, WENTWORTH IS THE, UH, GHOST PIRATES ARENA.

IT IS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF IT.

PRIVATE MONEY, CORRECT?

[00:30:01]

WELL, THEY'RE GONNA BE USING THE ARENA.

YEAH, THEY'RE GONNA USE THE, THE GHOST PIRATES, ALL THE BALLPARKS, THE SOCCER FIELDS, THE AMPHITHEATER.

SO WHO'S PAYING FOR THAT ARENA? THE COUNTY'S PAYING FOR IT.

THE COUNT.

CHATHAM COUNTY.

YES, ALL OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I KNOW IT'S A SIGNIFICANT ARE YOU SURE THAT GHOST PIRATES ARE NOT PUTTING THEIR MONEY UP? I'M SURE THEY'RE PONYING UP TOO.

SO JUST LIKE WE, WE HAVE THE STATE PONYING UP FOR US.

SO, UM, UM, I'M JUST GONNA USE AN EXAMPLE 'CAUSE I'M AN EXAMPLE TYPE PERSON.

SO IN WASHINGTON DC YOU HAVE THE CAP CENTER AND IT'S, UM, SPONSORED BY CAPITAL ONE, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, BUT THE CAPS PLAY THERE.

THEY PLAY HOCKEY THERE, BUT IT'S, IT'S PAID FOR BY A PRIVATE FUNDING, UM, ORGANIZATION.

THE CAPITAL ONE OR FEDEX FIELD IS PAID BY FEDERAL EXPRESS AS A PRIVATE COMPANY OR PUBLIC COMPANY, BUT IT'S PRIVATE MONEY.

WHY CAN'T USCB DO THAT? FIND OUT, GO OUT AND FIND SOMEBODY THAT'S WILLING TO, I KNOW NOVANT HEALTH IS DOING THAT, BUT HOW ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE? WHY THE COUNTY? WELL, WE, WE WILL ALSO TRY AND GO OUT AND HELP FILL THE GAP FOR WHATEVER GAP THERE IS IN THE COMPLETION PHASE.

WE WILL HELP GO OUT AND FIND DONORS TO HELP FILL THAT GAP.

HOWEVER, I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, WE ARE A STATE ORGANIZATION, NOT A PROFE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION OR PRIVATE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN THINGS.

AND SO THEY, THEY DO, WHICH IS GREAT FOR THEM.

THEY GENERATE A TON OF EXCESS REVENUE.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE A STATE ENTITY.

MR. CUNNINGHAM, THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST IS THE POSSIBILITY OF PUTTING A QUESTION WITH THE REFERENDUM, IF THE PUBLIC WOULD SUPPORT THIS.

I ONLY KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME THAT SAY, WHY AREN'T YOU USING THAT MONEY FOR ROADS? SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, CAN IT BE A QUESTION ON THE REFERENDUM TO SEE IF THE PUBLIC WOULD SUPPORT IT? AFTER ALL IT'S PUBLIC MONEY.

CAN'T BE A QUESTION ON THE TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM, BUT IT COULD BE A SEPARATE CORRECT QUESTION.

CORRECT.

BUT THAT WON'T HELP YOU BECAUSE THAT'S NOT UNTIL NOVEMBER.

SO I I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE? I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS JUST QUICKLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, SIR? ABSOLUTELY.

UM, I'M GONNA STAND WITH, UM, UM, MR. MR NO, NO, MR. UM, MR. LAWSON, UM, IN KEEPING THIS ALIVE, KEEPING IT GOING AND SEE WHETHER WE CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING.

SO I'M GONNA STAND RIGHT THERE AT THIS TIME.

UM, I GUESS FIRST I'LL JUST ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I GUESS OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED.

UM, PORT WENTWORTH JUST BY GOOGLING IS PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 24 MILLION BY CHATHAM COUNTY.

THE OTHER 20 MILLION IS COVERED BY THE GHOST PIRATES.

UM, AND THAT'S A $44 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT.

UM, AS FOR SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, SIR, UM, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OUR PEOPLE LEAVING FOR OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW.

HOSPITALITY ACCORDING TO USB'S WEBSITE ISN'T EVEN THE TOP FIVE FOR GRADUATION RATE.

NOT YOU'RE RIGHT.

UM, PSYCHOLOGY, NURSING, PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND BUSINESS WHICH, AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT.

CORRECT.

WHICH I THINK IS ACTUALLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS OF THE FUTURE.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE RESTAURANTS HERE, WE ALREADY KNOW THAT INDUSTRY'S GONNA BE HERE.

I'M I IN THAT INDUSTRY.

UM, I TOTALLY GET THAT LOGIC, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON AT THE COUNTY IS SLOWING DOWN THE GROWTH, NOT ADDING THE GROWTH.

SO YOUR ARGUMENT WAS THAT THEY'RE BUILDING MORE 120 UNIT A HUNDRED OR ONE, YOU SAID 1,200 UNITS.

YES.

BY THE NEW ONE.

WE DON'T WANT, UH, 1,200 NEW UNITS BUILT.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE WHOLE ARGUMENT OF THIS COUNCIL.

WE'RE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN GROWTH.

WE'RE NOT UPZONING WE'RE, WE'RE NOT PROVIDING THAT OPPORTUNITY UNLESS PEOPLE ARE BRINGING US SOMETHING WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING SOMETHING THAT'S PUTTING IT ON THERE ON ITS OWN.

SO IF YOU WERE COMING TO ME SAYING WE HAVE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WE CAN DO IT AND CAN YOU HELP US THERE? THAT'S THE ARGUMENT THAT THESE BUILDERS ARE MAKING, WHICH STILL MOST OF 'EM HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT PART.

THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD LAST TIME THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANSWERED, UH, WHEN WE DID THAT, THIS IS AT THE LIBRARY WE DID IN BLUFFTON, CORRECT? UH, WAS THAT AUGUST? YEAH, SEPTEMBER, MAY.

THAT'S CHAIR.

IT'S ALMOST A YEAR.

I'M GETTING OLD.

UM, THE ONLY QUESTION I ASKED BEFORE WAS, WHO ELSE IS KICKING IN TO HELP? 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW, SO ALMOST A YEAR NOW, THE NUMBER HASN'T CHANGED.

SO WHAT PROGRESS HAVE YOU MADE? I ASKED ABOUT JASPER COUNTY, I ASKED ABOUT SPONSORS.

UM, I SAW YOU GUYS WERE IN THE PAPER WITH NOVANT HEALTH.

UM, SO HAS ANYBODY ELSE AGREED TO KICK IN? HAVE YOU GUYS ASKED ANYBODY? 'CAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA BENEFIT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY'S DEFINITELY GONNA

[00:35:01]

BENEFIT TOO.

I MEAN, HALF YOUR PROPERTY'S IN JASPER COUNTY.

I, WELL, NOT HALF, I IT'S LESS THAN A QUARTER IS IN JASPER.

A PORTION.

YES.

UM, WE HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL MUNICIPALITIES.

WE HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.

UH, WE HAVE NOT, UH, SPOKEN ABOUT FINANCIAL NEEDS, UM, WITH THOSE MUNICIPALITIES, BUT THE, WE'VE SPOKEN BOTH WITH HARDY V AND BLUFFTON AND THEY DO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT.

HOWEVER, WE DO NOT HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT AGREED UPON.

SO THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECT BUT NOT FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT.

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

WHICH APPRECIATE THAT, BUT RIGHT.

UH, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ENGAGING DONORS, BUT AS YOU'RE PROBABLY WELL AWARE, UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME KIND OF DRAWINGS, RENDERINGS, IT'S HARD TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY, HEY, COME, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR NAME ON THIS OR TAKE THIS SECTION.

SO THAT'S A PART OF THE CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE WORKING TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW WITH OUR RFP FOR THE MASTER PLANNING.

I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING Y'ALL DID HAVE DRAWINGS AND RENDERINGS OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN MAY.

WE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME EARLY ON.

IT'S JUST AN INITIAL CONCEPT.

HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE A FINALIZED CONCEPT.

SO UNTIL WE GET TO THAT POINT, IT'S TOUGH TO GO OUT THERE AND DRUM UP MONEY FROM DONORS.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN CULTIVATING WORKING THAT.

SO IN THE PAST, IS THAT 10 MONTHS, NINE MONTHS? HAVE YOU GUYS GOT ANY OTHER FUNDING FROM ANYBODY ELSE BESIDES THE STATE? UH, NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.

SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

SO I FOUND THE ARTICLE IN THE PAPER ABOUT NOVANT MM-HMM .

NOW I KNOW ABOUT NOVANT MAKING INROADS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN TO THEIR MEETINGS.

I GET IT.

I GOT IT.

THEY'RE PUT THEIR NAME ON YOUR BASKETBALL.

THEY DID, ABSOLUTELY.

WHY, WHY DIDN'T YOU SQUEEZE THEM FOR MONEY? FOR THE ARENA? THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR FOOT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HEALTH CENTER SOMEWHERE NEAR THERE.

DID YOU TRY TO SQUEEZE THEM FOR THE ARENA? WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT THAT NOW.

MM.

THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS DISCUSSION? UM, I DO THINK, UH, WE'LL TAKE MARK'S, UM, NOTION FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS, OF BRINGING IT TO ANOTHER MEETING.

UM, IT'S HIS AGENDA, SO I'LL LET HIM DECIDE WHEN THAT COMES BACK UP.

UM, YOU GOOD WITH THAT MARK? UH, YES.

THAT'S PERFECT.

AND, AND OBVIOUSLY IF THERE IS MORE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AS I MENTIONED, JUST UM, UH, HAVE ANY COUNSEL PERSON SEND IT TO ME AND, AND MR. MOORE, WE'LL GET THINGS ANSWERED.

YOU WANNA COME BACK AS DISCUSSION OR AN ACTION ITEM? I WOULD THINK DISCUSSION, WOULDN'T YOU? MARK IT'S DISCUSSION NOW? YES.

YEAH, I THINK DISCUSSION AGAIN WILL BE GOOD.

UM, ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS OUT? NO, MS. HARRIET, ANYTHING.

I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT TODAY.

UM, AND WE'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHEN THE, IT'S GONNA BE ON THE ITEM FOR THE AGENDA AGAIN FOR MORE DISCUSSION.

I FEEL BADLY IT DOESN'T HELP HIM BECAUSE HE'S LOOKING FOR FUNDING AT A RAPID PACE.

SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD.

SO THIS IS NOT HELPFUL TO THEM.

AM I CORRECT WITH THAT? YOU ARE CORRECT.

I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT.

[9.a. Approval of Hawkers and Peddlers License Fees for 2026 (FISCAL IMPACT: In calendar year 2025, Beaufort County received $300.00 in Hawkers and Peddlers license fees. See attached report from Brandi Hussmann, Business Services Administrator) - Chuck Atkinson, Assistant County Administrator, Development Services]

ALRIGHTY.

UH, WE WILL CLOSE OUT NUMBER EIGHT AND MOVE ON TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS. APPROVAL OF HAWKERS AND PEDDLER'S LICENSE FEES FOR 2026.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR.

I'LL MAKE, OKAY.

I'LL SECOND IT.

SECONDED BY TAB.

THANK YOU MR. ATKINSON.

GOOD AFTERNOON SIR.

I'M GREAT.

HOPE YOU'RE SO, UH, STATE STATUTE FOUR ZERO DASH FOUR ONE DASH 10 PROVIDES THAT EACH COUNTY EVERY YEAR, UH, SHALL SET HAWKERS AND PEDDLERS LICENSE FEE AMOUNTS UP ON THE SCREEN.

YOU'LL SEE UH, THE ONE THAT WE HAVE USED IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS YEAR.

COUNTY RESIDENCE, $75.

STATE RESIDENCE, $500 AND OUT OF STATE IS A THOUSAND.

THE ONLY EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE OF WHAT A HAWKER AND PEDALER IS WOULD BE AN ICE CREAM TRUCK.

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT WE SELL.

I THINK WE SELL FOUR IN COUNTY A YEAR FOR ICE CREAM TRUCKS.

THAT'S IT.

ALRIGHTY.

WOULD THIS BE THE SAME CONCEPT THAT PEOPLE THAT DID LIKE MOBILE BARS ? IT WOULD BE AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT STATIONARY.

SO IF THEY'RE STATIONARY THEY HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, ZONING PERMIT AND THEN A BUSINESS LICENSE WHERE AN ICE CREAM TRUCK, IF YOU HAVE A HOTDOG VENDOR THAT PULLS A CART AROUND IT WOULD BE THE SAME THING, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE ONE.

UM, BUT YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD, UM, WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT.

WHAT ABOUT THE VENDORS? LIKE ON ONE 70 I PASS A TACO TRUCK PARKED THERE TO SELL TIGERS.

THEY'RE AT EAGLES FIELD.

SO IF THEY PARK, IF THEY'RE IN A LOCATION, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A ZONING PERMIT FOR THAT LOCATION AND THEY WOULD HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

MM-HMM .

IT WOULDN'T BE A HAWKER AND PEDALER.

ONLY IF THEY'RE MOVING.

DID THESE RATES CHANGE AT ALL OR ARE THEY THE SAME? NO.

I MEAN THEY CAN TEMPORARILY STOP LIKE AN ICE CREAM TRUCK WOULD, BUT THEY CAN'T SET UP STATION SOMEWHERE.

SO IT'S KIND OF AN OUT OUTDATED, UH, THING.

I MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE 'EM BUT ICE CREAM TRUCKS IS THE EXAMPLE I CAN GIVE YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

[00:40:02]

SO THEY'RE THE SAME.

CAN THIS BE APPROVED WITH NO OBJECTION? YES.

I'LL MOVE ON TO BA RESOLUTION, REPEALING RESOLUTION 24 OR 2024 SLASH 54 AND RESOLUTION 2019 SLASH 31 AND REPLACING THEM WITH RESOLUTION 2026 SLASH OH FOUR TO REVISE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, 3% LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS TAX FUND TAX FUNDS, AND 2% HOSPITALITY TAX.

CAN I SEE NO OBJECTION.

[9.b. 2026/04: A Resolution repealing Resolution 2024/54 and Resolution 2019/31 and replacing it with Resolution 2026/04 to establish policies and procedures for processing applications for Beaufort County 3% Local Accommodations Tax Funds and 2% Hospitality Tax Funds.]

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION AND A SECOND.

I'LL SECOND THAT BY MS. BROWN.

FLOOR IS YOURS.

OKAY, SO BRIEF DIS UM, DESCRIPTION.

IN 2019, COUNSEL HAD A PREVIOUS COUNSEL HAD PASSED, UH, 20 20 20 19 31 A RESOLUTION, UH, ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR LOCAL A LOCAL A AND H TAX APPLICATIONS.

UH, THEN FAST FORWARD IN 24, YOU GUYS PASSED ANOTHER RESOLUTION, UH, 20 24 54, APPROVING NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WITH THE OLD ONES WERE STILL ON IN PLACE.

UM, AFTER REVIEWING BOTH SETS AND UNDERSTANDING COUNCIL'S DIRECTION OF TRYING TO FUND SOME OF OUR OWN PROJECTS LIKE BOAT LANDING REPAIRS, UM, FISH AND PIERS AND SO FORTH, UH, WE UPDATED THE RESOLUTION 20 19 31, UH, SO THAT WE COULD PROCESS THE APPLICATIONS AS WE DID IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

WE ARE WANTING, BY THE WAY, JUST TO MENTION THIS IS A TIME SENSITIVE, UM, ITEM.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PUT ON THE, ON MONDAY'S COUNCIL MEETING BECAUSE WE WANT TO OPEN UP THE APPLICATION PERIOD AT ON MARCH 1ST THROUGH THE 31ST.

AND, UM, THAT WOULD GET US IN TIME, UH, IN TIME TO DO THAT.

SO ANY QUESTIONS ON THE TWO OLDER RESOLUTIONS VERSUS THE NEWER REESTABLISHED ONE? I HAVE A QUESTION ON EXHIBIT A IF YOU DON'T MIND.

A, SO THAT'S A NEWER ONE.

FIRST OF ALL, HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE SINCE WE DID NOT EXPEND FUNDS LAST YEAR? HOW MUCH IS IN THIS FOR A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION RIGHT NOW? OKAY, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $2 MILLION.

EVERYBODY KNOWS.

WILL THE APPLICANTS BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION? LIKE STATE A TEXT? DOES IT DEFINITELY DO THAT? MM-HMM .

WE CAN.

ALRIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK WE DID THAT IN THE PAST.

WE WOULD HAVE A WORK SESSION JUST FOR TO WANT PEOPLE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND THEN ON STEP SEVEN IT SAYS, AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION, THE AWARD SHALL BE MADE TO THE APPROVED ENTITIES.

UM, IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN YOU, YOU SAY EITHER LUMP SUM OR PERIODIC PAYMENTS.

HOW WOULD YOU DETERMINE WHO GETS A LUMP SUM? WHO GETS PERIODIC? WELL, HERE FOR WITH THIS SET OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IT'S GONNA OPEN IT UP FOR COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

SO WE SAY LUMP SUM BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY WE JUST DO A TRANSFER FROM THE LOCAL A OR H, WHICHEVER ONE THEY GET AWARDED TO THE COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT FOR THE EXPENDITURE.

AND WE TRACK EVERYTHING WITH PROJECT CODES.

AND ON STEP EIGHT, UH, I KNOW YOU SAY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS MAKES YOU INELIGIBLE, THAT WOULD APPLY TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AS WELL? CORRECT? THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING.

WELL, WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WE CAN PULL THE FUNDING BACK, I'M JUST SAYING.

BUT EVERYBODY'S HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD OF COURSE.

SO ON PAGE 23 IN THE PACKET, UM, JUST FOR MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REMIND YOU WHAT AT TAX FUNDS ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR, AND SHE MENTIONED BOAT RAMPS AND SOME OTHER THINGS.

SO THAT'S ALL SPELLED OUT IN THIS AS WELL.

AND, UM, IT'S GOOD TO POINT OUT ON PAGE 24, THE LOCATION OF THE PROJECT, CHECK IF YOUR PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE IN UNINCORPORATED BUFORT COUNTY.

WE TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME ON THE STATE AT TAX, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT, THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS, 70 SOMETHING PERCENT, 73 ARE GENERATED IN UNINCORPORATED BUFORT.

SO WE SHOULD SPEND IT WHERE IT'S GENERATED.

AND SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT.

AND WILL SOMEONE VERIFY NUMBER SIX, HAS THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED LOCAL A AND H TAX IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS? I PRESUME YOU'RE GRANT ADMINISTRATOR.

YES, MA'AM.

AND THEN, UH, PROJECT DESCRIPTION, THIS IS ON PAGE 25.

NUMBER FOUR, DESCRIBE THE TOP, DESCRIBE THE TYPES OF PARTNERSHIPS.

UM, YEAH, I, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A CONCERN THAT SOME GRANTS ALL WANT, WANT ALL THEIR MONEY SOLE SOURCE FROM THE COUNTY.

THEY SHOULD HAVE PARTNERSHIPS JUST AS WE SHOULD.

SO I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.

SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD REWRITE AND I LIKE THE, UM, RATING SYSTEM THAT STARTS ON PAGE 26 AND NUMBER TWO IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WELL IS IT IN THE COUNTY? BUT NUMBER THREE, WILL IT ATTRACT VISITORS, BUILD NEW AUDIENCES AND ENCOURAGE TOURISM EXPANSION? I AM OFTEN CONCERNED THAT WE GIVE GRANT MONEY AND THEY'RE NOT REALLY BRINGING IN NEW VISITORS.

IT'S MORE OF A REPEAT KIND OF THING AND IT SHOULD BUILD NEW

[00:45:01]

AUDIENCES.

SO I WAS GLAD TO SEE A LOT OF THE CHANGES YOU MADE.

MR. CHAIRMAN QUESTION, GOING BACK TO PAGE 24, NUMBER SIX, HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION RECEIVED, UM, YOUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR, CAN THEY GIVE US MORE? I MEAN IT'S JUST A YES NO, WOULD IT, WILL YOUR GRANT ADMINISTRATOR ACTUALLY LIST THE, SO WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION, NOT JUST A YES NO ANSWER, RIGHT? WE NEED TO KNOW THE DATES OF IN THE PAST.

YEAH, IF WE'RE ADMINISTERING WE'LL HAVE IT ON OUR RECORD ANYHOW.

SIR, QUICKLY, UM, THE MAKEUP OF THE COMMITTEE, AND I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

UM, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS A QUORUM, UM, WILL HAVE TO BE AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE AND, UM, WHEN, WHAT'S THE WISDOM BEHIND THAT? ESPECIALLY SINCE, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UM, THERE COULD BE VACANCY, UH, HAPPENING.

SO WHAT IS THE WISDOM BEHIND A FIVE VERSUS THE FOUR INSTEAD OF SEVEN, WHICH IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY FOR A CORE.

UM, SO THE MAKEUP OF THIS COMMITTEE IS, THIS IS NOT A CITIZEN, UH, LED COMMITTEE.

THIS WILL BE OF, UH, DE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS IN THE COUNTY.

OH, I'M LOOKING AT FULL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PUBLIC.

THAT'S THE OLD ONE.

THAT'S THE OLD RESOLUTION.

GO TO PAGE 20, MR. GLOVER.

NUMBER TWO.

STEP TWO.

OH, THEN I GOT THE WRONG ITEM HERE.

BUT YEAH, LOOK AT PAGE 20, NUMBER TWO, THAT'LL EXPLAIN.

WELL, UM, I'LL HAVE TO STUDY THAT A LITTLE LATER.

THANK YOU MA'AM.

OKAY, SO FOR THIS, FOR THIS CYCLE, JUST SO WE DON'T MISS A FUNDING CYCLE, WE'RE ONLY GONNA DO IT FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, BUT AS YOU, AS TAB NOTED IN STEP TWO, IT'LL BE THE FIRST QUARTER EVERY CALENDAR YEAR MOVING FORWARD, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO NOT BE ABLE TO AWARD ANYTHING.

THIS, THIS FISCAL YEAR, HOW MANY UM, APPLICATIONS DID WE GET LAST YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T ACT ON? I DON'T.

AND DID THEY HAVE TO REAPPLY? I DON'T KNOW THE YEAH, THE ONES THAT APPLIED LAST YEAR ARE GONNA APPLY IN THIS MARCH CYCLE.

BECAUSE REMEMBER WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING THIS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY WE GOT? OKAY.

I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I'LL GET YOU THAT NUMBER.

THAT'S FINE.

THANKS.

ALRIGHT, ANY DISCUSSION? NO.

WE WANT TO MOVE THIS TO COUNCIL PLEASE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO CAN, CAN THIS BE DONE WITH NO OBJECTION AND SEND TO COUNCIL, COUNCIL ON MONDAY? ALRIGHT, THIS WILL BE DONE WITH NO OBJECTION.

UM, WITH THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THIS MEETING.

WE'LL BE BACK AT FOUR O'CLOCK FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES.

UM, SEE YOU GUYS THEN.