11.a. Consideration of options to fund USCB's Convocation Center Finance, Administration, & Economic Development Committee voted to deny approval - 4:4 (FISCAL IMPACT: It will be dependent on which option the Council chooses.) - Pinky Harriott, CGFO Chief Financial Officer

[11.a. Consideration of options to fund USCB's Convocation Center Finance, Administration, & Economic Development Committee voted to deny approval - 4:4 (FISCAL IMPACT: It will be dependent on which option the Council chooses.) - Pinky Harriott, CGFO Chief Financial Officer ]

CONSIDERATION OF OPTIONS TO FUND THE US BE CONVOCATION CENTER THIS CAME THROUGH THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE VOTED TO DENY 4 TO 4 AND I THINK MISS HARRIET'S GOING TO PRESENT I MAY HAVE PRESENTED THIS AT TIME OR TO YOUR OPTIONS ARE YOU PULLING THE OPTIONS UP? OH NO PLEASE SORRY IT'S THE SAME OPTIONS.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT FEBRUARY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND MARCH FINANCE COMMITTEE.

SO OBVIOUSLY I HAD A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS ON HOW WE WERE ABLE HOW WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND THAT NO ISSUANCE OF COUNTY DEBT FOR THE PROJECT MALE NEUTRAL AND THEN THE OPTION OF THE MCP WAS NOT ON THE TABLE AT THE TIME SO I CREATED FOUR OPTIONS FOR YOU ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT FINANCE COMMITTEE OR ACT WELL FINANCE COMMITTEES OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS YES I UNABLE TO ATTEND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE I DON'T WANT YOU TO REHASH EVERYTHING BUT THE ONE PAGER HERE I BELIEVE WAS AN OPTION FOR THAT WAS VOTED UPON YES IS THAT YES THE RECOMMENDATION WAS OPTION FOR THE ONE THAT YEP.

AND THEN A TIE DENIAL. OKAY AND CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE JUST SO I KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON ON THE OPTION YEAH OPTION FOR RIGHT. OKAY SO IN 2025 SERIES JO BOND WE ISSUED $9.5 MILLION FOR THE FUTURE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER OUT AT COOLER TRACK AND THEN FROM FISCAL YEAR 25 WHERE YOU GUYS HAD ORIGINALLY INCREASED MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND TCL'S MILLAGE FOR THEIR PAYMENTS THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM WHAT WAS GOING TO BE DID YOU GO BOND BUT IT ENDED UP BEING GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE IN CURRENT YEAR WITHOUT ACCUMULATED INTO A FUND BALANCE IN THEIR PERSPECTIVE SO RIGHT NOW BOTH BOTH OF THOSE OPTIONS THOSE TWO COMBINED ARE $11.1 MILLION THAT WE HAVE NOW THAT WE COULD CONTRIBUTE HAVE COUNCIL CHOOSES TO AND YOU'RE NOT BINDING COUNCILS AND IT'S NOT ISSUING DEBT STAYING NEUTRAL AND ALL THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT WE EMPLOY THAT'S WHAT OPTION FOUR WAS. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT FOLLOW UP ON THAT WHAT WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT? HAS THERE BEEN ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH THAT? I KNOW THERE'S A PROJECT WAY DOWN ROAD WAY DOWN THE ROAD RIGHT NOW WE ISSUED BONDS FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER.

WE DON'T HAVE A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PLAN ANYTHING YET NEAR SHOVEL READY AND YOU'RE NOT TALKING IT AT THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THAT IS A LARGE THE NINE AND A HALF MILLION WAS FOR FOR PLANNING DESIGN FROM WHAT I RECALL AND THE GEO BOND SO I

[00:55:07]

DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE AT THAT STAGE RIGHT NOW AND WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT WE COULD TALK ABOUT FUNDING OPTIONS THEN ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN? I GOT A LOT I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW. OKAY. SO IS THERE EMOTION ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN PRESIDENT YES. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WOULD UP AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND PROBLEM WHO SECOND? ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A SECOND.

RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION. ANY COMMENTS JUST OKAY. GO AHEAD BEFORE YOU I GAVE YOU A PAGE REASONING WHY I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THIS. I ALSO GAVE YOU A ONE PAGE SYNOPSIS OF THAT AS AS AN EDUCATOR EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I'VE DEALT WITH K-12 AND AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL I TOO WAS AN EDUCATOR AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL I WAS ON THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR TWO DIFFERENT COLLEGES THEY BECOME THE LIFE BLOOD OF A COMMUNITY. IF YOU ARE WATCHING MARCH MADNESS YOU SEE WHAT THE SPORTS DO FOR THE ENTHUSES THAT TAKES PLACE AT A COLLEGE OR A UNIVERSITY.

IT'S A D1 SCHOOL, A D2 SCHOOL WHICH WE ARE OR A D3 SCHOOL. THERE IS THE VITALITY THERE AS I SAID THE THE THIS IS GOING TO BE THE HUB OF OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S GOING TO SERVE A MULTITUDE OF PURPOSES WHETHER IT'S SPORTS, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION, WHETHER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A KEY TO THIS IS IT CAN BE A CAT FIVE BUILDING WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE. IT IS NOT IF IT IS WHEN THE NEXT HURRICANE MATTHEW OR COMES TO THIS AREA WE NOT HAVE A FACILITY THAT CAN BE A STAGING AREA OF HOUSING, AREA OF AND THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO THESE ARE MY WHY I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS AND I ASK FOR YOUR AND ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO MAKE COMMENTS.

YES COUNCILMAN MCKELLEN I SUPPORT THIS EFFORT AND THE REQUEST TO LEAVE THAT FOLLOWING UP ON JOE'S COMMENTS THAT THIS THAT SPACE REALLY DOES TRANSFORM U.S. VISIBILITY FOR GRADUATIONS FOR, ACADEMIC CONFERENCES, RESEARCH EXPOS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION EVENTS.

IT ENHANCES THEIR ABILITY TO ATTRACT HIGH CALIBER FACULTY, RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS.

IT SUPPORTS DUAL ENROLLMENT AND EARLY PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT BEAUFORT, JASPER AND HAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT CREATES A VENUE FOR CAREER FAIRS, REGIONAL WORKFORCE SUMMITS AND EMPLOYER RECRUITMENT EVENTS STRENGTHENING THE TALENT PIPELINE FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIES. I THINK THIS IS A NECESSITY TO MOVING FORWARD NOT TWO WEEKS OR THREE MONTHS BUT FIVE, TEN, 20, 30 YEARS OUT AS THIS AREA CONTINUES TO GROW, AS MORE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE WANT TO ATTEND A HIGH CALIBER FOUR YEAR SCHOOL FROM PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE AREA WHO WILL COME HERE TO ATTEND A HIGH CALIBER FOUR YEAR SCHOOL? WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO SEE WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE HAPPENING HERE AND THEN PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THIS UNIVERSITY TO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE WILL PAY BENEFITS TO US ALL IN THE FUTURE AS WE GO FORWARD WITH REGARD TO THE CAT FIVE BUILDING, JOE MENTIONED TWO THINGS BUT THERE'S NO AREA HERE THAT SERVES AS A COMMAND CENTER. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GATHER TO ADMINISTER THE EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT BECOME NECESSARY WHEN. A HURRICANE HITS THAT WILL PROTECT THEM FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE HURRICANE AS THEY WERE ADMINISTERING ALL THE PROGRAMS THAT NEED TO BE DONE SO THAT CENTER AS A CAT FIVE BUILDING WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE THAT VERY IMPORTANT PURPOSE FOR US WHEN THAT TIME COMES AND IT WILL COME THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER CONSIDERATION FOR US TO EXTEND I BELIEVE THAT THE SEED MONEY HERE THIS ISN'T GOING TO PAY IT BUT IT DOES PROVIDE THE SEED MONEY THAT THE CHANCELLOR SO HE CAN TELL OTHER PEOPLE THAT HIS HOME COUNTY IS COMMITTED TO THIS INSTITUTION AND TRY AND GET THEM TO PROVIDE

[01:00:02]

THE ADDITIONAL MONEY THAT HE NEEDS. I DO.

THE STATE HAS MADE A COMMITMENT HERE AS WELL ALREADY. SO OUR CONTRIBUTION HERE KNOWING WE CANNOT BIND FUTURE COUNCILS THAT WILL BE ELECTED NOVEMBER HE SAYS WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN THE LAST 90 DAYS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND NEXT SIX MONTHS OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WHILE WE ARE STILL TOGETHER AS A DELIBERATIVE BODY I SUPPORT THIS.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY IF YOU VIEW IS REALLY WHAT WE ALL MUST DO THESE DAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, I'LL IS IT COUNCILMAN LAWSON ONLINE? GO AHEAD. YES, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I'M NOT MUTE BUT I AGREE. I MEAN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SUPPORT.

I LOOK AT THE COUNCILS BEFORE US THAT ACTUALLY SET THE MILLAGE UP AND AND PUSH FORWARD THE UNIVERSITY. AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT MY WIFE AS WELL AS MY DAUGHTER BOTH GRADUATED FROM UCB WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR VISION OF US DOING THINGS AND I AGREE THOUGH WITH WITH MISS LAMARCA WHO SPOKE DURING OUR PUBLIC COMMENT I MEAN WE'VE GOT LOTS OF THINGS OUT THERE BUT IT'S ALSO OUR JOB AS COUNTY PEOPLE, AS COUNTY COUNCIL PERSONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING RIGHT AND WE HAVE TO JUGGLE THINGS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY UCB CAME AND ASKED US FOR 40 I THINK SAID $47 MILLION AND THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO THAT. I MEAN $7 MILLION THAT'S THAT'S ONE FOURTH OF OUR YEARLY BUDGET THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HANDLE THAT.

BUT AGAIN IF WE TAKE THIS OFF IN CHUNKS AND SOMEHOW HELP THEM AND IT'S THE FUTURE OF OF WE PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT THAT THE COMMUNITY THEN DECIDES HOW MUCH MORE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH A HALF SALES TAX REFERENDUM OR MORE MONEY OR TYPE OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WOULD INCLUDE UCB AND ALSO TCL SO I THINK THEY'RE THE LIFEBLOOD OF WHAT WE DO AND TO SEE KIDS HAVE A CHANCE TO GO TO COLLEGE, STAY HOME AND DO IT ECONOMICALLY AND AGAIN PROMOTE WHAT WE'RE DOING I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

SO SACRIFICES DO TO BE MADE AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THIS.

PLUS ALSO, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WE'RE COMING UNDER WITH TRANSPORTATION AND SCHOOLS AND ALL THE OTHER PRESSURES THAT WE'VE GOT WITH BOAT LANDINGS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GROWING COUNTY BUT AGAIN I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN AND THIS IS THE ONE STEP I THINK THAT WE SHOULD SHOULD COMMIT TO AT THIS TIME AND VICE CHAIRMAN TAVERNER SO I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS BEFORE I TOO LIKE MR. PASSMAN AT A LIFELONG EDUCATOR I BELIEVE IN HIGHER ED I BELIEVE IN K 12 ED HOWEVER RIGHT NOW I SIT AS A COUNCIL AND I LOOK AT WHAT IS IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW TO OUR TAXPAYERS AS WE CHARGE THEM AD VALOREM TAXES TO PROVIDE SERVICES THEY EXPECT I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF PUTTING QUESTION ON THE BALLOT DO PEOPLE WANT THE COUNCIL TO FUNDS TO FOR THIS I'M NOT IN FAVOR RIGHT NOW SUPPORTING IT AND THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER I'LL REMIND EVERYBODY I BELIEVE WE HAVE TO DO AN EMS FIRE STATION THERE AND WE ALSO THE SHERIFF IS SORT OF TRIMMED THAT DOWN THERE WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CENTER THERE. SO I THINK WE'RE BEING PREMATURE IN THAT MONEY AWAY.

YES, WE NEED AN EMERGING MANAGEMENT CENTER. IT SHOULD BE OWNED BY THE COUNTY AND WE COULD POSSIBLY FORWARD WITH THAT. SO MIKE, MY CONCERN IS PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. LET THE PEOPLE TELL US WHAT THEY WANT TO DO INSTEAD OF US MAKING THE DECISION. AND I WOULD ALSO QUESTION THE UNIVERSITY ORIGINAL PLANS FOR 47 MILLION NOW WE'RE AT 20 MILLION AND MY QUESTION WILL BE THEY BE BACK AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 27 MILLION. SO AM NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS MOTION.

THE OTHER COMMENTS I MISSPOKE. I SAW YOUR HAND FIRST. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE THREE COMMENTS ACTUALLY REGARDING HURRICANES.

APPARENTLY SOME MEMBERS THIS COUNCIL DOESN'T REALIZE THERE ARE ALREADY TWO BUILDINGS.

ONE IS A CAT FOUR THE OTHER IS A CAT FIVE IN BLUFFTON. AND I KNOW THESE BUILDINGS BECAUSE I USED TO WORK IN THEM AND WHEN MATTHEW CAME WE ALL HAD TO EVACUATE ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE THAT WORKED IN THOSE TWO BUILDINGS EVACUATED AND THEY HAVE A HUGE GENERATOR THERE AND EMS AND ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS CAME IN AND SPENT A WEEK THERE AT NIGHT EVERY NIGHT UNTIL HURRICANE MATTHEW WAS, THE CLEAN UP THE ROADS AND WHATEVER.

THEN IRMA CAME ALONG AND WE HAD EVACUATED AGAIN AND THESE TWO BUILDINGS WITH STAND CATEGORY FOUR AND CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANES ALSO THERE'S A HUGE A VERY LARGE GENERATOR THERE THAT CAN GENERATE A LOT OF ENERGY SO THAT THE FIRST RESPONDERS CAN RESPOND 911

[01:05:07]

CALLS OR IF THEY HAVE TO TAKE SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL OR WHATEVER AND THOSE BUILDINGS SIT IN BLUFFTON TOWN OF BLUFFTON ALSO I WANT TO BRING UP SOME OF WHAT SOME OF MY CONSTITUENTS WANTED ME TO BRING UP IN 2017 THE CAMPUS AT THE SOUTH END OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND COST APPROXIMATELY $24.5 MILLION. A UNIT LOSES SIX ACRES OF PRIME REAL ESTATE AND WAS BUILT TO PROVIDE HOSPITALITY RESORT TOURISM FOR 400 STUDENTS.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION OR NOT BUT HOW MANY STUDENTS ATTEND THE CAMPUS? I UNDERSTAND A BUILDING IS USED FOR EVENTS SUCH WEDDINGS OR YOU KNOW THEY ALSO RBC HERITAGE USES TO DISTRIBUTE UNIFORMS CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR ABOUT 120 250 LOEWS LOW RISE APARTMENTS FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING THERE INSTEAD OF A CAMPUS FOR HOSPITALITY RESORT AND TOURISM FOR 400 STUDENTS SO I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF SOMEONE COULD ANSWER THE QUESTION OH MR..

DR. HOW OH HOW MANY STUDENTS ATTEND THAT HILTON HAD CAMPUS WAS AN INITIATIVE AND AN EFFORT THAT INCLUDED TIVE FROM THE OF HILTON HEAD AS WELL AS THE COMMISSION FUNDING AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING WAS A PARTNERSHIP AND IT WAS UNDERSTOOD FROM THE GET GO THAT THE SUCCESS OF THAT AS TO THEIR CAMPUS WAS ALSO DEPENDENT ON BEING HOUSING AVAILABILITY AND WE SAW THAT IT IS AT THIS POINT STILL A CAMPUS FOR WE NEED HOUSING IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO FULLY CAPITALIZE ON THE SUCCESS IN TERMS OF STUDENT WHO ARE ATTENDING IN ADDITION TO HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT STUDENTS WE ALSO HAVE BUSINESS STUDENTS AND WE ARE ENVISIONING A CENTER FOR A I AND WE ARE ALSO ENVISIONING A CENTER FOR NURSING PROGRAM VERY SOON AND WE HAVE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE ALLI PROGRAM THAT IS ALLI IS OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE PROGRAM THAT IS ON THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND. WE HAVE THREE ALLI PROGRAMS IN THE THREE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE HAVE CAMPUSES AND THESE ARE ALL ENGAGED IN BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GONE OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH TOWN THAT IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO HAVE ON CAMPUS HOUSING BECAUSE WITHOUT IT THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE CAPAC TO CAPACITY WHAT WHAT THE FACILITY HAS.

OKAY. SO YOU CAN'T TELL ME HOW MANY STUDENTS AND I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY MAJORS ARE IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WHERE WITH 100 PLUS MAJOR IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT . YES. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE ON COUNCIL? YES, SIR.

COUNT OH, I THINK WE HAVE THE MR. CUNNINGHAM GO AHEAD. YOU WANT YOUR HAND UP? GO AHEAD, COUNCILMAN YORK. THANK YOU. YES, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION AS ON THE FLOOR. I REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE IN ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN COMMUNITY ECONOMIC GROWTH.

AND I THINK FOR ME ANY TIME INVEST IN EDUCATION IT'S A DOLLAR WILL SPENT AND SO I AM GOING TO SUPPORT IT. I JUST WAS HOPING THAT THIS COUNCIL COULD DO MORE BUT I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR AND. COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. SO FIRST OFF, THIS STARTED A YEAR AGO CONVERSATIONS AND ASK WAS $100 MILLION THEN IT WENT DOWN 47 MILLION AND IT WAS AT 47,000,002 WEEKS AGO UNTIL HAD A MEETING SAYING THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO DO 20 NOTHING LESS.

SO NOW THE ASK ONLY 20 AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE TWO MEMBERS THAT JUST MOTION THAT BOTH OF THEM SAID IN THAT MEETING THEY ASKED FOR 47 SO 20 ISN'T EVEN GOING TO GET THIS JOB DONE SO THAT'S THE FIRST PART I SEE THAT JUST CONTINUING TO TRICKLE IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY GETTING ANYTHING DONE THE WHOLE GOAL BEHIND THIS IS TO GET PARTIALLY FUNDED.

PARTIALLY FUNDED DOESN'T GET ANYTHING DONE. I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS GOING TO

[01:10:01]

SPEAK ON THE HILTON HEAD HOUSE HOSPITALITY THING BUT THAT PROVES THE POINT IT WASN'T FULLY FUNDED SO YOU HAVE A BUILDING NOT BEING USED BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE HOUSING FOR THAT BUILDING. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO PARTIALLY DO A PROJECT.

YOU WANT ME TO TIE UP $20 MILLION OF OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR WHO KNOWS HOW LONG BEFORE SOMETHING ACTUALLY GETS BUILT OR SHOVEL IN THE GROUND? AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT'S JUST BECAUSE LITTLE OFFENDED BY IT HONESTLY THE STATEMENT SAID AND THAT DOESN'T COME EASILY BY ME I GRADUATED FROM UCB. Y'ALL HAVE NEVER ONCE REACHED OUT TO ME ABOUT A FUNDRAISER ABOUT HELPING I RUN A BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY. NEVER ONCE GRADUATED FROM THERE, GOT MY DEGREE FROM THERE, WENT THE WAY THROUGH. UNLIKE THE 50% THAT TRANSFER OUT I STAYED ALL THE WAY THROUGH NO CALL EVER NOT AFTER I GRADUATED TEACHING NOT WHEN I GOT A COUNTY COUNCIL. NOTHING. SO EVEN AFTER YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS? NO CALL. I WOULD HAVE HELPED YOU GUYS FUNDRAISE. I THE CALL BUT WITH THAT SAID WITH MADE A CALL IN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO BUT NOT IN THE PAST EIGHT YEARS OF ME GRADUATING IN SIX YEARS BEING ON COUNTY COUNCIL BUT THAT THAT WAS THE POINT WELL CONTINUUM OF I MY MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THE PROJECT'S GREAT I LOVE THE IDEA I WANT TO SEE US DO IT BY USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE PROMISED THE COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY DONE THAT'S WHERE OUR PRIORITIES HAVE TO LIE. $20 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY AND WE HAVE ROAD PROJECTS SIDEWALKS, INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT NEED TO GET DONE. WE HAVE ANOTHER EMS STATION THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE AND I'LL BE HONEST I'M IN BLUFFTON. THAT'S MY AREA OUR NUMBER ONE COMPLAINT BY ANYBODY IS FIX THE ROADS SLOW DOWN GROWTH EVERY PERSON THAT'S COMING TO TALK ABOUT US TALKS ABOUT HOW THIS WILL HELP US GROW. WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING ELSE TO GROW RIGHT NOW IN COUNTY. YOU WANT TO SLOW THAT DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE ENOUGH PROBLEMS IN THIS COUNTY AND WE'RE JUST ADDING MORE TO IT BY ALLOWING MORE BUILDING THAT'S FAILURE OF US AND PEOPLE BEFORE US. SO I CAN'T SUPPORT IT. I CAN TELL YOU I'M TO QUOTE MR. MCKELL AND I AND I AGREE WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD WHICH CAN'T LOOK FORWARD UNTIL YOU FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DONE AND UNTIL WE CAN FIX THE ROADS AND SLOW DOWN GROWTH IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM.

AND I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THIS LAST PART. THE ONLY ASK I HAD OF YOUR GROUP A YEAR AGO WAS ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO THE OTHER COUNTIES AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS WELL? AND I WAS TOLD WILL HAVE AN ANSWER AND FUNDING FROM THEM BY THE END OF THE YEAR. I WAS LAST YEAR THEN THE LAST MEETING YOU GUYS TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUNDING AND I UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES IT GOES THAT WAY, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL DIDN'T TRY.

I'M SURE YOU DID AND MAYBE THEY SAID NO I HAVE NO CLUE BUT THE POINT IS FOR US TO PONY AND DO IT WHEN WE DON'T KNOW IF ANYTHING IS GOING TO GET DONE WHEN I KNOW I HAVE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN GET SHOVEL READY NOW THAT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO DO AND USE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT WAY SO I WILL OPPOSE THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD ONE DAY. I'D LOVE TO SEE THE STATE KICK IN MORE.

I'D LOVE SEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE ABLE TO KICK IN MORE TO HELP OUR STATE INSTITUTIONS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BECAUSE I DO WANT THIS TO HAPPEN BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIRST STEPS BEFORE WE BUILD THAT WE CAN.

COUNCILMAN RICH YEAH. DR. PINION THANK YOU. I LOVE ALL THE COMMENTS UP HERE TONIGHT THE HOUSING ISSUE ON HEAD PRE-DATED THE BUILDING THIS CAMPUS THERE'S BEEN A HOUSING SHORTAGE FOR A LOT OF YEARS ESPECIALLY WORKFORCE HOUSING WHAT HAVE YOU RECENTLY FROM THE TOWN AS TO HOW THEY'RE GOING TO AT A TIME FRAME IS THERE A TIMEFRAME THAT THEY GAVE YOU OF PROPER HOUSING TO GET THE SCHOOL GOING? SO WE'VE WITH REGARD TO THE HOUSING AND HEALTH THAT HAD WE HAVE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TOWN AND WE HAD A A AN INITIATIVE THAT WAS GOING TO INVOLVE BOTH PRIVATE AND AND AND AND OUR INTERVENTION IN THERE TO GET FUNDING DONE AND FORTUNATELY FUNDING FOR THIS PRIVATE ENTITY DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE GONE THROUGH SO WE'VE HAD TO GET STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN AND WONDERED IF WE HAD A CHANCE.

I WOULD TELL YOU ABOUT THE P THREE INITIATIVE THAT IS ON THE TABLE THAT WE HOPE AND YOU HEARD ALSO IT BEING MENTIONED BY DR. PIERCE WHEN WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ENGAGEMENT THE BEAUFORT HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION. SO WE ARE ON ANY OTHER COMMENTS BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE NOTHING WHEN YOU JUST THINK THE QUESTION OF WHAT YEAH.

OKAY CAN I JUST FINISH UP ONE LAST SECOND? YES, GO AHEAD.

WE HAVE COMMISSIONED I THINK IT'S 15 PEOPLE TO GO AND STUDY TAC TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THEY'RE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT WE PROMISED THIS COMMUNITY BACK IN 2018 THAT WERE NEVER DONE. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT GOING. SO I THINK IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THIS COUNCIL TO EVEN CONSIDER THIS AT THIS POINT. BUT WE SUPPORT THESE KIDS BIG TIME. YOU KNOW HOW WE ALL FEEL ABOUT THAT.

[01:15:03]

BUT IT'S IT'S A TOUGH ASK AT THIS MOMENT. YEAH.

PLEASE ALSO REMIND COUNCIL THAT THIS IS NOT A CONVERSATION THAT STARTED THIS YEAR WE HAVE BEEN AT THIS FOR NOW SIX ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OF ACCUMULATING FUNDING FROM THE STATE WITH THE COMMITMENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COUNTY AND THE STATE FUNDING.

SO THIS IS NOT THAT STARTED THIS YEAR AND THIS IS ALSO GOES TO THE NUMBERS THAT WERE REFERRING TO AS TO WHY IS THE NUMBER CHANGING WE'RE ASKING FOR $47 MILLION BECAUSE THAT'S THE MARCH THEY'RE STARTING A PLACE FOR THAT CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND STATE WAS TO BE ABLE TO GO IN HALF AND HALF KIND OF PROPOSITION. YOU CAN SEE THAT REFLECTED EVEN IN THE DESIGN FUNDING THAT WAS REQUESTED AND WAS PROVIDED THROUGH COUNTY THAT THAT WAS THE PROMISE OF OUR WORKING CONDITION AND AT THIS POINT WE ARE SETTLING FOR SOMETHING LESS THAN SO THAT WE CAN GET ROLLING AND THE ESCALATION IN COST THAT WOULD BE ENSUING AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER DELAY BECAUSE WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE JUST THE FACILITY AT THE TIME THE CONVOCATION WE WERE TALKING ABOUT 48 TO $50 MILLION AND NOW IT IS SO MUCH, MUCH MORE AND MUCH HIGHER EVERY YEAR THERE IS AN INCREASE IN COST.

SO A DELAY IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF TIME AND PUSHING BACK SOMETHING IT'S ALSO A HUGE COST PROPOSITION THAT IS INDIA THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FEEDBACK THAT SAYS YOU ALL HAVE RAISED FROM PRIVATE SOURCES FROM PRIVATE SOURCES AND WE'VE SAID IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY PRIVATE SOURCES WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO. BUT THEN WE ALSO HEARING IF WE GIVE SOMETHING TO GET GOING AND PUT YOUR POSITION TO SECURE THAT KIND OF FUNDING, IT MIGHT BE AN INCOMPLETE PROJECT SO A CHICKEN AND EGG KIND OF DILEMMA A LITTLE BIT IN THAT PARTICULAR POSITION BUT WE ARE CONVINCED AND IT'S CRITICAL AND THIS IS WHY WE REALLY SEEKING YOUR YES VOTE AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IN THE NOTES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THAT ONCE WE GET ROLLING THEN THAT THE ABILITY TO SECURE SOME OF THE OTHER FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THAT FOR ALL THE PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED WILL DEFINITELY BE BENEFITING BECAUSE WE HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER TO OUR TO WHERE WE SOLICITING FUNDS WHEREAS WE VOWED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE SOMETHING THANK YOU NOTES I THINK WE HAVE ONE MORE COUNCILMEMBER RIGHT TO MAKE REMARKS AND THEN IF I MAY YEAH I SUPPORT ARMS CONTROLLING GROWTH THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE POINT OF GROWTH WHERE WE ARE NOW BUT THIS CONVERSATION CENTER WILL NOT ADD TO OR EXPEDITE GROWTH IN THE COUNTY BUT IT WILL IT WILL BE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE UCB AND IT WILL PROVIDE SPORTS SPORTING ACTIVITY, CONCERTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, OUR YOUNG ADULTS AND ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG TEENAGERS WHO DON'T HAVE ENTERTAINMENT IN COUNTY AT ALL AND.

SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BASED UPON THE SELECTION OF FOUR AS WELL.

OKAY, LESTER BLESS COMMENT. YES, THAT'S ACTUALLY FOR CFO ON THIS ONE.

THE AGENDA HAS CONSIDERATION OF OPTIONS AND OBVIOUSLY HAS A FOUR OPTIONS HERE.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A MEMORANDUM PREPARED THAT'S GOING TO TIE THE FUNDING TO THE TO MEMORANDUM OR WELL IF YOU GO WITH OPTION FOR I WOULD COME BACK TO YOU FOR A A BOND ORDINANCE AMENDMENT BECAUSE THE NON IS IN THE BOND OKAY LOCATION OF THAT YEAH AND MAKING SURE THAT AND THEN JUST THAT COUPLED WITH THE APPROPRIATION OF THE 1.6 MILLION FROM THE OTHER TWO FUNDS FROM TCO B IMAGE AND I GUESS THIS GOES MAYBE IN A FUTURE CONVERSATION BUT IF IT PASSES AND DR. FANU WITH OUR WOULD THAT ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE USE OF THOSE FACILITIES OUT THERE, THE BALL FIELDS AND ALL THAT? YEAH WE WILL HAVE UNDER OBVIOUSLY STEWARDSHIP BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW THERE'S A COST TO FACILITY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH SO YOU CAN IT'S JUST LIKE ANY

[01:20:06]

OF THE OTHER PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE DON'T JUST WALK OUT AND WE USE WE'VE GOT SOME SUPERVISION AND SOME AGREEMENTS IN PLACE AND UNDERSTOOD THANK YOU THAT I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLL CALL VOTE JASPER COUNTY THERE'S A FACILITY THAT WAS BUILT WITH FEDERAL DOLLARS OPERATION CENTER AND SHELTER THAT ACTUALLY IT I'VE I'VE VISITED IT AFTER IT RENOVATED CATEGORY FIVE AND IT'S MY THAT WOULD BE USED TO UM AND IT WAS FUNDED FEDERAL DOLLARS TO DO THAT RENOVATION ALL RIGHT I'M CHECKING MY 30 SECONDS. YES, I PROMISE I'LL BE QUICK JUST TO TOUCH ON TWO THINGS IF I COULD THE HURRICANE THING I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST LETTING YOU KNOW HAPPENED DURING MATTHEW WE USE STATION 304, OUR FIRE AND EMS STAYED THERE DURING MATTHEW AND THE NATIONAL GUARD STAYED THERE DURING IRMA. SO WE OPENED UP OUR DOORS THERE IT IS A CAT FOUR BUILDING AND THAT OFFER ALWAYS STANDS TO THE STATE, THE TOWN AND COUNTY.

SO WITH THAT SAID WE DO HAVE OTHER RESOURCES TO PUT THEM IN BUT THEY RAN THEIR COMMAND CENTER OUT OF THERE DURING B DURING MATTHEW AND LASTLY MAYOR TALKING ABOUT THE COUPLE TALKING ABOUT GROWTH JASPER COUNTY IN THIS LAST YEAR HAS APPROVED 16,000 HOUSES THAT ARE NOT BUILT YET 16,000 WE'RE NOT EVEN SEEING THE PROBLEMS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE YET.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOOKING IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE 60 MORE THOUSAND HOUSES COMING ON TO 78 THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF FIXING RIGHT NOW. THAT'S WHERE OUR MINDSET NEEDS TO BE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT GROWTH THAT'S COMING. THAT'S OUR PROBLEM NOW EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT BUILDING SO WHICH IS WHY I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING SO MUCH ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE KICKING IN AND HELPING EVEN ON OUR ROADS. I WENT TO JASPER COUNTY ABOUT THAT OVER A YEAR AGO BECAUSE. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE BUILDING RIGHT IN OUR LINE BUT USING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR TAXPAYERS ARE STUCK PAYING FOR IT.

OKAY, THANK YOU. NOW I'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.

YES, MA'AM. COUNCILMEMBER PERSIMMON? YES.

COUNCILMEMBER MCGOWAN. COUNCILMEMBER REED? NO.

COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON. MARK LAWSON. YES.

GLOVER. YES. COUNCILMEMBER DODSON.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM NO. COUNCILMEMBER BROWN NO.

COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. VICE CHAIR TABACHNICK NO. CHAIR HOWARD NO.

THE MOTION PASSES AND THE OPTION FOR CONGRESS, MA'AM, YOU SAID.

[Additional Item]

OKAY, MOVING ON. WE ARE AT 11 B WHICH IS A THIS WAS THE MOTION MADE COUNCILMAN MCGOWAN OF DISCUSSION OF EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TAX AND I WOULD LIKE IF OUR ADMINISTRATOR HAS SOME GUIDANCE ON ON THAT TO COME IF YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT THAT. ANY I THINK WE CAN GIVE YOU DIRECTION AND I WOULD LOOK WE CAN DO THAT IN A DISCUSSION. WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE HOW IT JUST THAT WHEN WE HAD THIS RESOLUTION PASSED I MADE A STATEMENT BACK WE DID THAT HOW SOME EDUCATION HAPPENS AND ACTUALLY MEETING WE HAD I DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND I KNOW OTHER MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAVE SAID THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND WE'VE BEEN SAYING THE SAME THING NOW FOR MONTHS AND I LIKE TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO FROM THIS POINT ALMOST IN AN EMERGENCY KIND OF A WAY TO FIND A FIRM THAT CAN COME IN AND HELP US HERE WITH EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ADVOCACY. AT THE LAST REFERENDUM WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT AND THERE WAS A HESITANCY TO HIRE. JASPER COUNTY DID HIRE AND THEY PASSED THREE 1% SALES TAXES.

SO THE SALES TAX NOW TAX NOW IN JASPER COUNTY IS 9% 6% FOR THE STATE AND 31% SALES TAXES.

WE NOW HAVE A TAX OF 6% BECAUSE OUR REFERENDUM WOULDN'T PASS, SIR.

SO SO IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET BUSY AND TRY GET SOMEONE TO HELP US THE WAY THEY HELPED JASPER WHO HAD THREE SUCCESSES WHEN WE HAD NONE. OKAY.

IS THERE ANY OTHER ADVICE FOR OUR ADMINISTRATOR OR DISCUSSION? I THINK. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW, I THINK I WOULD LIKE FEEDBACK AS TO WHY ONE HAS NOT BEEN HIRED AND WHAT WHAT STEPS WE'RE LOOKING NOW TO HIRE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, GERARD, TO YOUR CREDIT, YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB LAST TIME AROUND BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON YOU. YOU WORKED YOURSELF TO DEATH ON THAT, BUDDY.

AND I APPRECIATE EFFORTS BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON YOU. WE CAN'T SPEND OUR TIME TALKING TO 16 PEOPLE IN THE LIBRARY. WE'VE GOT TO REALLY GET ORGANIZED HERE AND GET IT SO

[01:25:01]

SURE. ACTUALLY THE COMMITTEE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE WATCHED THEIR MEETINGS THEY'RE DOING A REALLY JOB BUT ONCE WE GET THEIR DIRECTION YEAH THEN, WE NEED TO EDUCATE. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, WELL, NOBODY ANSWERED THE QUESTION. WHAT WHAT WHAT STEPS HAVE HAVE BEEN TAKEN SO FAR.

SO WE'RE WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY ACTIONS SO FAR. THE COMMITTEE IS GOING FORWARD WITH THEIR MEETINGS AND INPUT. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE SHOULD COUNCIL DIRECT US TO DO SO WE WOULD ENGAGE A FIRM WE HAVE IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL FOR FUNDS FOR THAT TO ASSIST IN WITH THE COMMITTEE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMITTEE'S GOING TO RECOMMEND SO THAT IT IS MADE YOU KNOW THAT IS WHAT'S PRESENTED THE PUBLIC.

SO I THINK THE KEY PART IS GOING TO BE WHAT PROJECTS GOING TO BE RECOMMENDED, HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO BE RECOMMENDED AND THEN THIS COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, PASS THE REFERENDUM TO GET THE BALLOT. SO I THINK NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO SO IF COUNCIL DIRECTS WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH ENGAGING A FIRM AND LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR THAT.

NELSON BROWN DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I JUST WANT TO SAY TO MR. MACALLAN YES, THEY PASSED JASPER COUNTY PASSED A 3% SALES TAX IN ADDITION TO 6%.

SO THEY'RE PAYING 9% OUT THERE. BUT GUESS WHAT THEY'RE ALL COMING TO BEAUFORT TO DO THEIR SHOPPING BECAUSE OURS IS ONLY 6%. THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY THE 9% MEANING ALL ROADS IN OAK. OKAY. SPEND $20 MILLION TO ADVOCATE THAT PART TWO BUT ALL RIGHT, LISTEN. NO NEED FROM US.

CAN I CAN LISTEN BEFORE A MOTION? CAN I NOT A MOTION AND WE CAN DIRECT YOU IT'S JUST A DIRECTIONS A DISCUSSION TO US. YES.

EXCUSE ME. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION.

OKAY. MAY I SAY SOMETHING? YES.

YOU CAN'T POSSIBLE. BUT WE HAD TWO MAIN PEOPLE TALKING AT THE SAME TIME.

SURE, SURE. MR. MOORE, WE HAVE ALMOST THOUSAND EMPLOYEES AT THIS COUNTY. WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES EMPLOY PEOPLE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYBODY THAT CAN COME IN HERE AND TELL US WHAT WE NEED BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE IN THE THAT WORKFORCE. AND I'M NOT SAYING JARRETT SHOULD DO IT. I'M YOU GET PEOPLE FROM HERE FROM THE COUNTY, FROM THE INADMISSIBLE AND YOU TAKE CARE OF THAT. I MEAN THIS IS BASICS ONE ON ONE. IF WE GO BACK TO 2018 WE ASKED FOR A BUNCH OF MONEY.

WE HAVEN'T SPENT IT YET. WE GOT TO GET THAT CLEARED UP. LET'S GET SOME CHECKBOXES.

LET'S DO SOME GET THEM DONE. BUT WHY WON'T WE LOOK AT USING OUR OWN PEOPLE? WE GOT PROBABLY 4000 EMPLOYEES AT ALL THAT PAY FOR IN THIS COUNTY.

I MEAN THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT AND ALSO IF I MIGHT OFFER A SUGGESTION TO THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT USE OUTSIDE HELP TO GET THEIR REFERENDA PASSED.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST YOU COMMUNICATE WITH AS WELL AND THEY HAVE SHARED SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS WITH ADMINISTRATION DO OH COUNCILMAN LAWSON YES. LET ME JUST SAY THAT WE HIRED OUTSIDE FIRM IT'S ACTUALLY COMING IN NOT TO PROMOTE ONE SIDE BUT IT'S TO EDUCATE BOTH SIDES. SO THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THE PROS AND THE CONS AND YOU TELL PEOPLE WHAT THE CONS ARE TALKING WITH THE PROS ARE. SO AGAIN THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE'RE OUT TO PROMOTE OUR SIDE OR WHAT WE WANT IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE SO WHEN THEY GO TO VOTE THEY THEN KNOW WHAT THEY'RE VOTING FOR. SO I JUST WILL MAKE SURE THAT PERCEPTIONS THERE THAT THAT AGAIN THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS USED TO HELP PEOPLE TO MAKE AN EDUCATED DECISION WHEN THEY DO VOTE IN NOVEMBER. EXCELLENT POINT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT COUNCILMAN MCCLELLAND'S POINT WAS TO CORRECT COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM.

YEAH, I DEFINITELY THINK WE ARE GOING TO GO THAT ROUTE THAT WE NEED TO HIRE A FIRM TO EDUCATE BECAUSE LEGALLY WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO EDUCATE AFTER IT'S PASSED OUR HANDS WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK THE QUESTION WHY AREN'T YOU GOING OUT TALKING ABOUT IT? WE WERE NOT ALLOWED SO WHICH IS THE WEIRDEST LAW YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE? BUT SECONDLY I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT THE IRONY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING A TAX ON AFTER WE JUST SPENT $20 MILLION. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YEAH, I HAVE A COMMENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.

IF WE PASS THE ORDINANCE HERE IN IN AUGUST CAUSE ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER WE CAN'T ADVOCATE. NOTHING STOPS US FROM EDUCATING.

WE CAN EDUCATE ALL WE WANT AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND TRY AND TELL PEOPLE THE PROS AND CAIS BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT ALONE NOW IT'S TRUE WE CAN'T GO AND TELL PEOPLE YOU SHOULD DO THIS BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN TELL THEM THE PROS AND THE CONS ABOUT IT WITHOUT ADVOCATING ANY POSITION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE ONCE WE PASS THE THIRD READING.

MY RIGHT BRAIN. OKAY. I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE

[01:30:01]

PRETTY CLEAR ON IT. SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF MAYBE CALLING JASPER TO SEE WHO THEY HIRED. CALL THE SCHOOL BOARD, SEE WHO THEY HIRED JARED I THINK HAS DONE SOME RESEARCH. HE MAY HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THEM BUT I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS DIRECT THE STAFF TO GO AHEAD AND COME UP WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW WE SHOULD PROCEED IN THIS MATTER AND I'D SURE LIKE TO GET THOSE BACK BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. I THINK WE WILL.

COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW, THESE HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID TO HIRE THESE FIRMS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? WE WOULD UH WE WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH PROCUREMENT OF THAT WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT WITH THE CFO AS. WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.

WE NEED TO GET A COST ESTIMATE OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT BUT IN TERMS OF END OF THE MONTH THIS IS THE 23RD SO I KNOW SO WE REALLY CAN'T BRING ANYTHING BACK TO YOU ALL SO WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND I WOULD JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT BUDGET FOR THIS SO WE WOULD NEED TO THAT'S ANOTHER POINT THE THE REFERENDUM YOU KNOW THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED HERE A BUDGET CYCLE SO BUT TO BE CLEAR SHOULD COUNCIL US TO DO SO WE WILL MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY AS IS POSSIBLE THE MESSAGE IS PRINTED DO YOU NEED AN ACTUAL MOTION? I THINK IF AND I WAS I'LL DEFER THE CHAIR BUT UNLESS THERE'S OBJECTION WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AND I HEARD ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HAD CONCERNS. COUNCILMAN REED'S I MADE HIM CLEAR AND I'M FINE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

BRIAN, HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON IT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE TO GO OUT TO BID WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEPEND UPON THE COST? IT REALLY DEPENDS. SURE YOU HAVE TO IF THIS PERSON $25,000 BEING YOU SMALL PURCHASE OKAY SO ADMINISTRATION MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT ENGAGEMENT GOOD DISCUSSION. YES. QUESTION MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TACT TO BRING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT CHANGES THE SCOPE OF WHAT THE FIRM WOULD BE TRYING TO DO.

I AGREE. I MEAN I THINK IT DEPENDS. I THINK WE CAN GET THEM IN PLACE AND THEN ONCE THE TAC COMES FORWARD THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO USE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION THINKING SO.

[12.a. 2026/07: An ordinance amending the Zoning map for 5 acres (R300 016 000 0063 0000, R300 016 000 0064 0000, R300 016 000 0065 0000) from T3HN to T4VC. ]

GOOD POINT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA. APPRECIATE NUMBER 12 I WILL BE DOING THE ORDINANCES FOR READINGS. MR. CAVANAGH IS REMOTE A IS 2020 607 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR FIVE ACRES ARE 300 01600000630000R30001600000064 AND THEN FOUR MORE ZEROS AND THEN PARCEL EARTH 300 01600000065 AND 0000.

THIS IS FROM T3H IN TWO T FOR B C THE VOTE AT THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE WAS 6 TO 0 AND ONE ABSTENTION. THE VOTE AT THE FIRST READING ON FEBRUARY 23RD 26 WAS 82221.

ABSTENTION. RECUSAL I SHOULD SAY THE VOTE AT SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON MARCH 9TH. COULD I JUST SAY THAT? YES.

CRUZ MYSELF YES. ONE MORE MEMBER NOW IS RECUSING HIMSELF.

THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE REZONING. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR..

MR. COUNCILMAN. PARLIAMENT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I CAN SECOND BY COUNCILMAN MCGOWAN BY SHOW OF HANDS ALL IN FAVOR WE HAVE DISCUSSION.

I TWO. OH THAT'S RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO READ THE CONDITIONS. THIS IS THE THIRD ARE THE CONDITIONS OKAY.

NUMBER ONE IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF COMPREHENSIVE CODE AND THE PURCHASES OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE . IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE OR OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE. IT DOES ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED STATED COMMUNITY NEED. IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS.

IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED USE OF LAND SURROUNDING THIS LAND.

IT WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT NEARBY LAND. IT WOULD RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT. IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL AND IT WOULD RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY PUBLIC FACILITIES.

OKAY. WE HAVE MR. ATKINSON HERE. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSION. JUST ONE QUESTION. YEAH.

ON THE CRITERIA OH I GUESS I WAS SECOND TO SECOND BY DAVID ON THE CRITERIA.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW SO WAS THE ONLY QUESTION RIGHT NOW IS THIS. THAT'S GOOD. WHEN CHUCK COMES UP TO TALK ABOUT IT, I'D LIKE TO HEAR AND I THINK I MADE A NOTE LAST TIME I'M NOT SURE BUT DO WE HAVE ANY

[01:35:01]

LANGUAGE IN THIS ORDINANCE THAT'S GOING TO SAY IF THE PROPERTY IS NOT USED FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT FOR, IT WILL REVERT BACK TO WHAT THE ZONING IS NOW.

SO THAT WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW. OKAY.

YEAH, YOU HAVE TO DOWNS ON THE PROPERTY IF YOU WANTED TO DO THAT YOU CAN'T PUT A PROVISION TIME YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT AS PART OF A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE. SO ONCE IT'S RE ZONED THAT ZONING STAYS.

SO ONCE IT'S REZONE THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A CHURCH, A BIGGER CHURCH.

SO THE CHURCH IS ALREADY THERE. RIGHT AND THEIR DESIRE THE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S IN QUESTION THEY WANT TO UP ZONE IT BECAUSE CURRENTLY THEY CAN BUILD A FELLOWSHIP HALL UP TO 15,000 SQUARE FEET BECAUSE THEY WANT TO ENTERTAIN SCHOOL. THEY WANT THE ABILITY TO BUILD LARGER THAN 15,000 SQUARE FEET. SO THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE BEHIND IT.

BUT THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN OWNED AND RUN BY THE SAME CHURCH AND I IT'S FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY IT'S 1920S ARE BACK. I I APPRECIATE ALL THAT. LET'S SAY TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT. THEY CAN SELL THIS PROPERTY WHAT ARE THEY NOT ALLOWED TO DO. HOUSING WHAT I MEAN HOW DOES THIS WORK.

SURE SO I DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE USED TABLE FOR THE NEW BUT THE CORNERS COMMUNITY MOVING FROM THE CHURCH BACK UP TO PARKER'S IN THE CORNERS COMMUNITY IT MATCHES THE ALLOWED USES WITHIN THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND THEN TO THE IF YOU'RE FACING MARTIN LUTHER KING TO THE RIGHT YOU HIT THE MARSH AND THEN PENN CENTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT IF THAT HELPS YOU. I KNOW EXACTLY TO SAY THANK YOU, BILL.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SURE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YEAH. IS CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL ON AN UP ZONING WHEN WE'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED IN THE PAST AND NOT APPROVE OF ZONING IS WITHOUT A CONTRACT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COMMENT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO NOT SEE THAT OTHER PROPERTIES COME BEFORE US THAT WE WERE SAYING WE WERE TOLD BY STAFF BE CAREFUL OF ZONING THIS BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S LOOKING TO BUY IT OR SAY THEY'RE GONNA DEVELOP IT THIS WAY THAT IF YOU DO NOT AN AGREEMENT IN HAND THAT THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH THAT PROPERTY OR SELL IT TO SOMEBODY DIFFERENT AND WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO BE CAREFUL FROM THAT BEFORE BUT WE'RE NOT BEING INSTRUCTED TO BE CAREFUL FOR THAT TODAY. WHY? SURE. SO I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE TO DO WITH SCALE AS I RECALL WHEN THOSE WERE BROUGHT UP YOU HAD DEVELOPERS COMING IN WITH THE INTENTION STATING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO AN APARTMENT BUILDING OR A DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING AND BECAUSE OF THE SCALE STAFF THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU ENTER INTO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ESPECIALLY YOU USE A PLACE TYPE OVERLAY, A PLACE TYPE OVERLAY HAS A REGULATING PLAN AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH IT THEN THE DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY PLAN IS NOT ENFORCEABLE. SO THIS IS ONE LOT IN A CHURCH BEEN OWNED FOR HUNDRED YEARS.

IT IS CONNECTED. IT'S NOT VERY BIG. SO EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO DO SOMETHING IT'S VERY LIMITED. NOBODY'S GOING TO GO IN AND BUILD 200 APARTMENTS.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH LAND THERE. SO IT IS THAT WOULD BE THE PLACE IS THERE CURRENTLY ANY DESIGN PLANS OR BUILD PLANS OR PERMITS ANYWHERE AT THE COUNTY THEY CAN'T SUBMIT FOR A PERMIT UNTIL IT'S AN ALLOWED USE OTHER .

HAVE THEY SHOWED ANY DESIGN PLANS OR FUNDING SOURCE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE FAITH THAT THEY WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD? THEY'VE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION, THE UP ZONING. THEY CAN'T SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT UNTIL IT'S AN ALLOWED. CORRECT. BUT HAVE THEY SHOWED US ANY BUILDING PLANS DESIGNS, ANYTHING THAT THEY PUT FORWARD? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING THERE'S NOT EVEN A DESIGN DONE YET FOR THIS FELLOWSHIP HALL OR SCHOOL.

YES, SIR, I. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD INVEST MONEY TO DO A DESIGN WITH AN A USE THAT WITH A USE THAT'S CURRENTLY NOT ALLOWED SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULD DO THAT BUT NO WE DON'T HAVE THAT TO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. YEAH.

YEAH. OKAY COUNSEL GO AHEAD. YEAH, YEAH.

I'M JUST NOT A QUESTION JUST CLOSING OUT. YEAH, I OPPOSE THIS THE SAME REASON I DID BEFORE. I CAN'T APPROVE OF ZONING ON A PROPERTY WITHOUT A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR YEARS.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT JASPER COUNTY. WE'VE FOUGHT THIS ROAD MULTIPLE AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE DEBATING NOW IF SOMEBODY COMES FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL AND GIVES US EVERYTHING THROUGH IT AND WILLING TO TIE TO A BUILDING OR A BUILDING AGREEMENT, I'M ALL FOR IT BUT THERE ISN'T ONE SO THAT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS.

NO, MA'AM. FAIR COMMENT. THEY DO OWN THE LAND.

IT'S NOT SPECULATIVE. THEY ALREADY OWN THE LAND. COUNCILMAN YES? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE BEEN OPPOSED TO ZONING ANY TIME AND WE LOOK AT THIS BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE PERFECT EXCEPTION WHEN WE START LOOKING AT A THAT WAS ESTABLISHED I THINK I WENT AND LOOKED IT WAS A 1937 THAT THIS CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED THEN ON TOP OF THAT I DROVE OUT THERE AND TOOK A LOOK. THERE'S PLENTY SPACE FOR THEM TO EXPAND AND TO DO MORE THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THEIR PROBLEM IS IS UNDER THEIR CURRENT ZONING THEY CAN'T

[01:40:04]

GO LARGER THAN THE 15,000 SQUARE FEET AND THEY GOT PLENTY OF SPACE TO MAKE IT LARGER THE CHURCH WANTS TO GROW. THEY'RE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. IF THERE'S EVER A THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD UP ZONED SOMETHING IT WOULD BE FOR A CHURCH THAT IS TRYING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO EXPAND SCHOOL AND TO EXPAND THEIR THEIR THEIR FACILITIES.

SO AGAIN I AM 100% FOR THIS AND AGAIN THESE ARE THE KIND OF EXCEPTIONS THAT THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND LOOK FOR THAT'S NOT ADDING MORE NOT ADDING MORE HOUSES.

AND AGAIN, THE CHURCH IS NOT GOING TO TURN AROUND, SELL IT NEXT WEEK.

AGAIN, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN AROUND FOR FOR 90 ACTUALLY 89 YEARS.

SO AGAIN, I SUPPORT THIS 100% AND THESE ARE THE KIND OF ZONING LAWS THAT WE NEED TO AND GIVE TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK BUT AGAIN STATES TOUGH TOUGH ON THE HOUSING UP ZONING THAT WE GET ASKED FOR ALL THE TIME. OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCILMAN? I THINK I OH SORRY. GO TO MARK TO MARK'S COMMENTS.

I SUPPORT THE OB ZONING OF THIS PROPERTY THIS COMMUNITY CHURCH. IT'S A WELL-ESTABLISHED THAT'S WELL-ORGANIZED ORGANIZED HAVE A WELL-KNOWN PASTOR AND TO THINK THAT THEY MIGHT SELL THIS IN SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE IS EVEN THINKABLE. AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AND SUPPORT THIS ZONING REQUEST THAT'S WHEN BARTHOLOMEW YEAH, JUST GOING BACK TO LOGAN'S POINT IN THE STAFF REPORT THEY DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT IN THE CONCEPTUAL MASTER PLAN FOR THIS FOR THIS FACILITY THAT THEY'RE REQUESTING SO THEY HAVE INVESTED MONEY INTO A CONCEPTUAL PLAN BUT THEY CAN'T LIKE CHUCK SAID, THEY CAN'T REALLY MOVE FORWARD WITH ANYTHING FURTHER UNTIL WE GIVE THEM THE AUTHORIZATION SO AND I SUPPORT THIS I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND HOPEFULLY THE SCHOOL CAN GET THAT OUT THERE AND HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE. OKAY. DO WE NEED WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE. THANK YOU MR. X COUNCILMEMBER PASSING IT YES.

COUNCILMEMBER BARTHOLOMEW YES. COUNCILMEMBER REED I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

YES. COUNCILMEMBER MCGOWAN YEAH. COUNCILMEMBER LAWSON.

MARK LAWSON YES. COUNCILMEMBER YES. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM NOW COUNCILMEMBER BROWN YES. VICE CHAIR TABERNACLE YES CHAIR HOWARD YES.

[13.a. 2026/06: An Ordinance adding a new Section 54-8 to the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances so as to prohibit and make unlawful the discharge of firearms in certain unincorporated areas of the county, to provide the penalty pertaining to such violations, and to provide certain exceptions and limitations thereto. ]

THE MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT THANK YOU. WE'RE ON 13 A WHICH IS ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING THIS IS 2020 606 AN ORDINANCE ADDING A NEW SECTION 5408 TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT AND MAKE UNLAWFUL THE DISCHARGE OF FIREARMS CERTAIN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THE PERTAINING TO SUCH VIOLATIONS AND TO PROVIDE CERTAIN AND LIMITATIONS THERE TO THE VOTE AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026 WAS SIX TWO THE VOTE AT FIRST READING ON FEBRUARY 23RD 2026 WAS SEVEN FOUR THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON MARCH NINE, 2026 THERE WAS A VOTE TO POSTPONE THE SECOND READING UNTIL MARCH 23RD 2026 THAT WAS TEN ZERO. I'D LIKE ENTERTAIN A MOTION SO WE CAN BEGIN DISCUSSION SOME OF THEM. MADAM CHAIR WE HAVE. THE SECOND WAS BY COUNCILMAN DAWSON. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION WE'D LIKE TO SHARE SINCE THE MEETING ON MARCH 9TH AND WE YES.

BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION YOU'LL RECALL THAT THIS ALL BEGAN WHEN STARTED GETTING COMPLAINTS FROM THE RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD BACK IN OCTOBER 2025. SO WE BROUGHT FORTH IN NOVEMBER TO THE FACILITIES OR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE A PROPOSED ORDINANCE UPON THE AUDITS PASSED AND ADOPTED IN CHARLESTON IN 2025 YEARS OF RETAIL ADOPTION UP THERE.

IT WENT TO COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST READING AND THEN AS THE CHAIR STATED AT THE SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING YOU'RE IN A LOT DIFFERENT COMMENTS AND AT THAT MEETING I BELIEVE WAS VICE CHAIR TABACHNICK ANNOUNCED THAT SHE HAD ARRANGED FOR A MEETING TO TAKE PLACE IN WHICH COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW THE CHAIR, THE VICE CHAIR, MYSELF, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND BELIEVE THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KNOW AND SOLICITOR'S STONE SHERIFF TANNER UH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES PORT ROYAL POLICE CHIEF MEYERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE. WE ALL DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.

THERE ARE MANY VIEWS THAT MEETING THAT WERE EXPRESSED IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE BUT THE

[01:45:02]

GIST OF WHAT I RECALL AND TOOK AWAY FROM THAT MEETING WAS THAT THE SHERIFF I BELIEVE THE SOLICITOR WERE MORE IN FAVOR OF AN ORDINANCE OR A STATE LAW THAT WOULD ADOPT IT OBVIOUSLY.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE MAKE IT A CIVIL ORDINANCE BY SAY CRIMINAL ORDINANCE AND PERHAPS EVEN CONSIDER MAKING A PUBLIC NUISANCE AS A VIOLATION AND TO MAKE IT TO WHERE IT'S ENFORCED CIVILLY NOW. WE'VE HAD FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. ATKINSON WHO WASN'T TO BE AT THAT MEETING AND THE REASON A DISCUSSION WITH HIM IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WORK UNDER HIS DIRECTION SO HE SUPERVISES THE COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND SHERIFF TANNER DID ANNOUNCE THAT UH HE WOULD RESPOND TO CALLS AT NIGHT OR ON THE WEEKEND IF THERE WAS A COMPLAINT AND THEN HE WOULD HAVE THE DEPUTY A REPORT THEN HE WOULD TURN THAT OVER TO CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR INVESTIGATION BUT CALLS THAT CAME IN DURING THE DAY THEY WOULD EXPECT TO PROBABLY COULDN'T RESPOND WELL THE COUNTY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT ZONING CODE ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE NOT ARMED OUT TO RESPOND TO A DISCHARGE WEAPONS PROPERLY TO INVESTIGATE THAT SO THERE WAS GREAT CONCERN ON HIS PART ON BEHALF OF HIS CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND OF COURSE HE HAD THE SAME CONCERNS FROM ADMINISTRATOR AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS FAR AS PUTTING THEIR COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN DANGER.

BUT AGAIN, SHERIFF TANNER DID SAY THAT WE EVER FELT A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND WE NEEDED ASSISTANCE COULD ALWAYS CALL FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO A COPY AS TO A SCENE TO RESPOND IF NECESSARY. SO THE QUESTION FOR THIS COMMITTEE IS WHETHER OR NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE AS BEFORE THAT YOU VOTED ON AT THE FIRST MEETING OR WHETHER TO AMENDING IT HERE TONIGHT OR TO REMAND IT BACK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND EXPLORING WHETHER TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST GIVE THE PROS AND CONS AND THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL AS FAR AS PROCEEDING WITH A CRIMINAL ORDINANCE OR WITH CIVIL WAR AND ITS OR A DISTURBING THE PEACE TYPE ORDINANCE IF YOU WILL FOR THE GUN DISCHARGE ORDINANCE.

SO I THROW THAT OUT AND OF COURSE AS I SAID, UH VICE CHAIR TABACHNICK CHAIR HOWARD AND COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW ATTENDED THE MEETING AND THEY MAY HAVE INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS AS FAR AS THEIR RECOLLECTION AND COMMENTS THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE AT THE MEETING HERE AS WELL. THANK EXCELLENT SUMMARY. I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR COMMENTS DURING DISCUSSION. I CONCUR WITH YOU IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.

A LOT OF GOOD THOUGHTS WERE SHARED AND IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY WAS THAT WE SEND IT BACK TO COMMITTEE AND WORK ON IT FURTHER.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THE SHERIFF AND THE SOLICITOR ARE BOTH AGREED THAT POTENTIALLY TAKING AWAY THE CRIMINAL SIDE OF IT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR IN THE MAGISTRATE COURT.

AND I TELL YOU I DON'T IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD CHIME IN ON THIS BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME I WOULD MAKE A MOTION REMAND THIS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE ORDER TO HAVE FURTHER REVISIONS AND WORK DONE ON THE ORDINANCE. I CAN SECOND I WOULD SECOND THAT MOTION. OKAY. I HEARD COUNCILMAN REED'S FIRST ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE DISCUSSING SENDING IT BACK.

OKAY. OVER COMMENT. YES, MA'AM.

SO I THOUGHT MEETING WITH THE SHERIFF AND THE SOLICITOR THERE WERE ALSO DNR PEOPLE THERE AND THE CHIEF FROM PORT ROYAL AS. WELL AS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE CREW I THOUGHT IT WENT REALLY WELL AS MR. HULBERT SAID, I BELIEVE AS DAVID SAID, THIS NEEDS TO REMANDED BACK TO COMMITTEE.

I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSER BUT IT NEEDS TO BE CIVIL PENALTY NOT CRIMINAL.

AND SO I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME MORE WORK TO BE DONE. SO I APPRECIATE SUMMARY YOU YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO. SO WE HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO REMAND IT BACK AND NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT RIGHT.

OKAY. IS THAT GOING TO BE WELL WE WOULD NEED TIME TO WORK ON DRAFTING AN ORDER AND SO IT NOT BE READY FOR THE APRIL MEETING SO BUT AT LEAST BE APRIL MAY THAT WE GO TO THAT MEETING AND FOR APRIL OH I'M SORRY IT'S SUMMER I'M WORKING ON IT TO TAKE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SEE IT ALL BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE SERVES AS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE THE FIRST MONDAY IN APRIL WHICH IS LIKE WELL BUT YOU GOT TO GET IT TO THE AGENDA AND REVIEW AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE BY NEXT WEEK EARLY NEXT. OKAY SO WE THAT MOTION CARRIED SO IT WILL BE REMANDED BACK TO YOUR COMMITTEE. OH WE'LL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO

[14.a. 2026/08: An ordinance to amend Ordinance 2023/26 to reallocate funds previously appropriated for Daufuskie Island Ferry embarkation points to Sun City Joint Fire/EMS Station (Station #39). ]

TRY TO GET TO APRIL BUT IT MAY BE MAY AS I'M SAYING I CAN'T GUARANTEE YOU THANK YOU IT WAS AN EXCELLENT MEETING ALL RIGHT SO WE ARE NOW ON NUMBER 14 A IT IS 2020 608 AN ORDINANCE TO MEN ORDINANCE 2020 326 TO REALLOCATE FUNDS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED FOR THE ISLAND FERRY EMBARKATION POINTS TO THE SUN CITY JOINT FIRE EMS STATION STATION NUMBER 39 THE VOTE AT

[01:50:09]

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON MARCH 16TH 8 TO 0 TWO I HAVE A MOTION SO MOVED OKAY WE HAVE A SECOND.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IN A SECOND BY MR. CUNNINGHAM ANY DISCUSSION ON OVERDUE OAK ISLAND? OH YEAH.

YES, YES, NO, JUST I IF I COULD I JUST WANT TO SAY APRIL NEVER LOOKS JUST LIKE OH, WE'RE DEFUNDING THE FERRY. WE ARE WE ARE NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND MONEY TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEED FROM MELROSE AND THEN THE UPGRADES THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD ABOUT SUPPORTING THE FUSCHIA ISLAND FERRY AND MAKING SURE WE HAD MONEY AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MS.. TABERNACLE WHO HAS BEEN VERY, VERY GOOD AT SUPPORTING FUNKY ISLAND FERRY THAT WE NEED THIS MONEY FOR THE FIRE STATION IT'S IN HER DISTRICT. SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M ALL THIS EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WE WOULD REPRESENT THE FIRST CLUE HOW COULD YOU LET MONEY, YOU KNOW, GO AWAY LIKE THIS? BUT BUT AGAIN, THE MONEY HAS BEEN THERE IT IS THERE THIS WAS MONEY SET ASIDE THINK IN 2023 WE'RE ABLE TO FIND OTHER FUNDING, DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO AT THOSE LANDINGS. SO AGAIN WHEN THINGS COME BACK UP AND WE DO NEED MORE AND MORE MONEY WHETHER IT'S FOR PINCKNEY ,WHETHER IT'S FOR THE MOVE WHENEVER THINGS HAPPEN WHEN THE WHEN THE BRIDGE IS REDONE AND HAVING TO MOVE THE JENKINS THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL BE IN FULL SUPPORT. SO AGAIN I'M SUPPORTING THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THAT HAS SUPPORTED FRC AND AGAIN MISS TAMARACK AND HER DISTRICT WITH THIS FIRE STATION GET BOTH THINGS ACCOMPLISHED THIS WAY. YES. OKAY.

[14.b. 2026/09: An Ordinance to reallocate the funds from the 2025 Series GO Bond for Passive Parks projects. (FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact. The same dollar amount is going from two projects to four projects of $5,940,912.) - Pinky Harriott, CGFO - Chief Financial Officer Stefanie Nagid- Land Preservation Director ]

ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU ALL.

RIGHT NEXT IS BE AN ORDINANCE TO READ ALLOCATE THE FUNDS FROM THE 2025 SERIES GO BONDS FOR PASSIVE PARKS PROJECTS FOR PHYSICAL IMPACT. THE SAME DOLLAR AMOUNT IS GOING TO TWO PROJECTS TO FOUR PROJECTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000,940 AND $940,912.

AND THIS IS MS.. HARRIET AND I'M CHAIRMAN SO WE'LL SEE HAD IN THE SECOND BY COUNCILMAN GLOVER AND I MADE THE MOTION ANY ANY OR QUESTIONS NO I GOT ONE THE GET COUNT SORRY IS OUR NO I JUST WANT BECAUSE SOME OF THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM BAILEY'S PARK WHICH IS DOWN THE ALL JOY AREA AND SO WHICH IS AGAIN BEHIND THESE OTHER PROJECTS.

SO I SEE MS. STEPHANIE SITTING THERE SO JUST I JUST WANT TO REASSURE THAT WHEN BAILEY'S PARK THEIR TIME COMES WHICH WOULD BE AFTER THESE FOR THAT THAT WE WILL HAVE FUNDING FOR BAILEY'S PARK AND AGAIN THIS IS JUST MOVING MONEY TO WE CAN GET THINGS DONE IMMEDIATELY AS BAILEY'S PARK IS STILL, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE DESIGN AND THEN ALSO WILL BE UNDER THE RFP.

YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT STEPHANIE? AS I'M HAPPY TO CLARIFY, THESE FOUR PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY ON A CURRENT STAMP LIKE STATUS SO IT'S NOT THAT ONE IS GOING TO GET DONE AND THEN THE OTHER AND THE OTHER IT'S THEY'RE ALL FOR MOVING FORWARD AT THE SAME TIME . SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS JUST TRYING TO DO MORE PROJECTS WITH THE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES THAT I HAVE FOR THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING FUNDED FROM THIS AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER SOURCES THAT ARE GOING THROUGH OUR NORMAL FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET PROCESS THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR A SHOW HANDS AND THAT IS

[15.a. 2026/09: A Resolution authorizing acceptance of an adjusted compensation plan for public safety pay bands 400 through 414 - detention center]

UNANIMOUS THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE A NUMBER OF 15 RESOLUTIONS 2020 609A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF ADJUSTED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PAY BANDS 400 THROUGH 414 THAT IS AT THE DETENTION CENTER. I HAVE A MOTION TO PASS THIS OR MOVE RIGHT AND WE HAVE A SECOND I'LL SECOND RIGHT IN A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW I NEED DISCUSSION NO ONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS AND FAVOR AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS .

[15.b. 2026/10: A Resolution ratifying the findings and recommendations of the supplemental compensation and classification study for an Elected Office as part of the Beaufort County Employee Classification and Compensation Plan. This item is being brought straight to council.]

ALL RIGHT. 15 B IS A RESOLUTION 2026 TEN IT RATIFIES THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY FOR AN ELECTED AS PART OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION COMPENSATION PLAN.

THIS ITEM IS BEING DUE TO TIME TIME FACTOR DIRECTLY STRAIGHT COUNCIL I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION 26 SLASH 10/2 MAN ALL RIGHT COUNCILMAN PASSING IT AND COUNCILMAN

[01:55:09]

GLOVER SECOND THAT ANY DISCUSSION YES SIR SORT OF BYPASSED COMMITTEE AND CAME STRAIGHT HERE DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE LETTER WAS DATED NOVEMBER 2025 FOR THE COMPLETION OF THAT STUDY. OH I MISSED ME SO I'M JUST I SAID I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY WHY IT'S COMING FORWARD NOW HAVE WE BEEN ACTING UPON THIS ALREADY? SO THIS IS JUST A CLEANUP HOUSEKEEPING ITEM IT IN HINDSIGHT IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO COUNCIL WE GOT IT FROM THE ELECTEDS OFFICE DECEMBER 16TH WE IMPLEMENTED RETROGRADE IT BACK TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE THAT WAS REQUESTED.

IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO COUNCIL TO ADOPT THE PAY BANDS INTO THE PAY SCALE SO THE EMPLOYEES WERE IN THE IMPACT I MEAN THEY'RE THE IT WAS APPLIED STARTING IN JANUARY THE SALARIES WERE INCREASED. YES. OKAY.

DOES THAT ANSWER OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST ONE QUESTION, JUST A PENDING MATTER. DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION MR. MOORE MR. HOLBERT ON THE HATE INTIMIDATION BILL ON THE STATUS AND WHEN WE'LL BE SEEING SOMETHING.

LET'S WAIT TILL WE VOTE ON THIS. OH, SORRY.

I THOUGHT YOU ASKED IF THERE ARE ANY ABOUT THIS. JUST ABOUT THIS.

I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE ONE CHAIR CONCERNING THIS ITEM I BELIEVE THIS IS IN SOMEBODY MAYBE CAN GET ME UP TO WE'VE HAD A NUMBER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ALL OF THEM INCLUDED IN THIS TREASURER'S OFFICE? WE GET ALL THE BUY IN.

ARE WE WORKING ON ANY OF THAT OR IS THERE STILL OUTSTANDING WITH THAT BUY IN TO WHAT TWO? ARE THEY INCLUDED IN OUR COMP AND CLASS STUDY ALL EXCEPT THE MAGISTRATE AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS. ALL RIGHT.

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE WHEN WE DID OUR COMPENSATION PLAN THE SAME IS DOING THE TREASURER'S AS WELL RIGHT IF I UNDERSTOOD IT RIGHT THEY NOT COOPERATE WHEN THE STUDY WAS DONE NOW THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT RIGHT. DON'T ANSWER THE QUESTION LIKE THAT. YOU'RE FINE. I'M FINE THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. THAT WAS PART OF MY QUESTION BEFORE ARE WE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE? WE ALL WORKING TOGETHER WHAT I WHY CAN'T WE HEAR ABOUT THIS? OH, WE CAN THINK SO IT'S. INITIALLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMP IN CLASS STUDY WHEN WE PUT IT OUT FOR ALL THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES BUT WE HAD A RULING THE CASE THAT'S PENDING AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY THE TREASURER'S AGREED TO PARTICIPATE SO SHE WENT OUT AND USED OUR SAME VENDOR AND THEY CONDUCTED THE STUDY OF THE TREASURER OFFICERS EMPLOYEES AND THAT WAS INCORPORATED AND THAT'S WHAT'S ADDED TO THE CONFLICT STUDY THAT YOU ADOPTED THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY TO HER IT'S ALL ONE STUDY NOW IS WHAT'S GOING ON SO IT'S A SUPPLEMENT THAT IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN ADDENDUM TO A CONTRACT THAT'S GOOD.