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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY, MY TOP.
[1. CALL TO ORDER: Alice Howard, Chair]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER OF THE WORKSHOP.FOR OUR BUDGET, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PUT ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
MS. BROCK, THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.WE HAVE A MOTION BY VICE CHAIRMAN.
AND A SECOND BY, UM, WHO SECOND IT? LAWSON.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PUBLISHED.
UM, BEFORE WE GO INTO PUBLIC COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO STATE THE STATEMENT THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE.
UH, EVERYTHING SHALL BE DIRECTED TO COUNSEL.
COUNSEL WILL NOT REPLY, BUT WE WILL, UM, LISTEN AND, UH, DO NOT DIRECT ANYTHING SUCH AS PROFANITY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT DURING YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, BEFORE WE DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT DURING THE PRESENTATIONS WE ARE ONLY GOING TO HAVE 10 MINUTES AND WE WILL HAVE A TIMER FOR THAT TOO, THE 10 MINUTES PER PRESENTATION.
AND I'LL ASK OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN TO HELP ME WITH THAT.
BUT IT WILL BE ON, ON, ON THE SCREEN TOO.
SO, DID WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NOBODY.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, MADAM CHAIR.
OPEN MY COMPUTER AND STARTED, I STARTS, REMINDS ME I NEED TO TURN MY PHONE OFF TOO.
NO, I MEAN, THE COMPUTER JUST, OH, YOUR COMPUTER DID.
YEAH, IT, I OPENED UP AN INVITATION.
AT THIS TIME, UH, ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL HEAR FROM OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL
[6. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER UPDATE]
OFFICER, MS. PINKY HARRIET.WE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET.
UM, CURRENTLY WE ARE JUST WRAPPING UP, UH, ENTERING PERSONNEL NUMBERS IN OUR BUDGET AND RECEIVED OUR, UM, REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS, UM, THIS WEEK.
SO WE ARE WORKING ON MILL VALUE CALCULATIONS, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE CURRENTLY.
UM, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE CIP REQUEST REVIEWS, NEW VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT AND NEW PERSONNEL, UM, AND THEN FOCUSING NEXT ON MILL VALUE.
SO BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET, WE DON'T HAVE THAT PREPARED YET AND HOPE TO HAVE IT BEFORE THE APRIL 20TH FINANCE COMMITTEE.
UM, WE'VE GOT SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
LAST YEAR'S FEEDBACK, Y'ALL WANTED TO HAVE, UH, OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT.
SO, RAN OUT OF TIME, I BELIEVE, AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SO WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH OUR, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND I BELIEVE THERE'S THREE HERE TODAY, OR FOUR, INCLUDING MS. CALVIN OR JUDGE CALVIN ON ZOOM, UM, THAT ARE GONNA PRESENT.
AND THEN WE WILL ROLL INTO THE, UM, OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET AT THIS MOMENT? ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
COULD YOU JUST REMIND COUNSEL WHAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO THAT WE'LL IMPACT THE BUDGET? YES.
IF YOU RECALL BACK IN OCTOBER, WE HAD THAT BUDGET RETREAT, UM, AND YOU HAD TEST ADMINISTRATION WITH, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE STEP AND MERIT PAY PLAN, UM, THE RETIREE GAP INSURANCE, UM, LET ME GO GOING DOWN MY LIST HERE.
AND, UM, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE BUILDING INTO THE BUDGET.
ALSO MAKING THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SELF, UM, SELF INSURANCE FUND TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THOSE.
UM, AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE WERE CARRYING FORWARD FROM 25 AND 26.
SO THOSE THINGS OBVIOUSLY COST SOME FUNDS AND WE HAVE A, WE'RE TRYING TO REMAIN MILL NEUTRAL AND, UH, ONCE WE GET MILL VALUES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE IMPACT OF THOSE EXPENSES WILL BE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. HARRIET? YES, SIR.
THE STEP IN GUIDE, HAS THAT BEEN YES.
COMPLETED STEP, STEP IMPLEMENTED WAS JANUARY ONE, UM, AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE RETREAT, AND THEN MERIT WILL BE EFFECTIVE JULY ONE.
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ABOUT THE COLA? YES.AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED THAT WITH THE STEP AND GUIDE PROCESS? WE'RE GONNA CORRECT.
CURRENTLY, ADMINISTRATION HAS REQUESTED THAT WE DO A 2% FOR THE MERIT ASSUMPTION OF 2% WITH A 1% COLA LAW BECAUSE REMEMBER, WE, WE CHANGED FROM DOING IT AT A HARD DATE.
INSTEAD, WE WANTED, YOU GUYS WANTED US TO WORK ON GETTING IT DONE VIA ANNIVERSARY DATE SO THAT WAY IF THE 1% COLA GETS INTO PLAY, THE PERSON THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN EVALUATION DUE UNTIL MAY OF NEXT YEAR, NOT WAITING A WHOLE YEAR TO GET A, AN INCREASE.
AND ALSO CPI CURRENTLY IS AT 2.56 GROWTH.
SO WE WANTED TO BE SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO THAT.
AND WE'RE KIND OF IN LINE WITH ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL.
SOME MUNICIPALITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE ARE, BUT 3% IS, IS THE HAPPY MEDIAN ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AT ONE POINT WE DID IMPLEMENT THE DETENTION CENTER, UM, THOSE, THOSE, UH, PAY BAND CHANGES AS WELL.
SO THOSE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AS OF NOW.
I LEFT ONE OUT THAT IS THE DETENTION CENTER, PAY PAY PAYSCALE BAND.
SO WE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE REQUESTED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. HARRIET BEFORE WE GET INTO
[7. FY 2027 ELECTED OFFICIALS BUDGET REQUESTS]
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BUDGET REQUESTS? OKAY.FIRST IS OUR SOLICITOR FEE STONE.
I'M CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
I HAD A, I HAD A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM SUN CITY THAT CAME THROUGH MY OFFICE YESTERDAY, AND WE SPENT, UH, ABOUT TWO HOURS GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
AND ONE OF THE MEMBERS WHEN, OF THIS PARTICULAR CLUB, WHEN THEY LEFT, THEY SAID, WAIT, I HAD NO IDEA OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DO.
UH, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY CONSISTENT WITH, WITH SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH OUR OFFICE.
UM, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST SORT OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THAT AND THEN EXPLAIN THE BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH IS KIND OF PART OF ALL OF THAT.
UM, WE HAVE THREE THINGS THAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS GOING ON, BUT I, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THREE THINGS.
ONE IS OUR CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM.
WE STARTED CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION WITH THE IDEA OF FOCUSING ON THOSE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CRIMINALS THAT WE DEAL WITH THAT COMMIT THE MAJORITY OF THE CRIME.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE 2010.
UM, WE PUT OUR MOST EXPERIENCED PROSECUTORS AND INVESTIGATORS AND ANALYSTS ON THESE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE, UH, THAT WE ARE GETTING THE BEST SENTENCE WE CAN FOR 'EM.
AND ALSO THAT WE GET HIGH CONVICTION RATES AS OF TODAY.
AND, AND WE KEEP THIS, THIS STATISTIC DAILY.
UM, THAT TEAM, THAT CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION UNIT HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR 544 CAREER CRIMINALS BEING INCARCERATED.
THEY HAVE RESULTED IN 70 LIFE SENTENCES AND THEIR CONVICTION RATE IS 91.7% IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ALONE.
NOW, THAT'S FOR FIVE COUNTIES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ALONE, THAT'S 243 CAREER CRIMINALS, 24 LIFE SENTENCES IN A CONVICTION RATE OF 91.7%.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ANYWHERE THAT HAS A TEAM THAT HAS BEEN THAT, THAT EFFECTIVE.
UH, AND AGAIN, THAT IS, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE'VE ADDED TO THE TEAM AND SOME HAVE, SOME HAVE LEFT.
BUT THAT GROUP OF PROSECUTORS, INVESTIGATORS, VICTIM ADVOCATES, UH, HAVE DONE JUST AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
AND I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE SECOND THING THAT WE HAVE THAT THAT MIGHT NOT BE STANDARD FOR MOST PROSECUTORS' OFFICES ARE VICTIM SERVICES CENTER.
WE DEAL WITH VICTIMS OF EVERY POSSIBLE CRIME YOU CAN IMAGINE, FROM ARMED ROBBERY TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE THEM AS WITNESSES.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM.
WE SHOULD PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THEM, AND WE SHOULD MAKE THAT EASY ON THEM.
WELL, WHEN WE, WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE OUR OFFICE, WE DEDICATED ABOUT 3,500 SQUARE FEET TO CRIME VICTIM SERVICES.
WE HAVE BROUGHT IN HOPEFUL HORIZONS.
UH, WE BROUGHT IN LOW COUNTRY LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
WE DON'T CHARGE THEM ANYTHING.
AND WE'VE ASKED THEM THE SOLE THING THAT WE NEED THEM THERE IS TO BE AVAILABLE FOR CRIME VICTIMS WHEN THEY COME IN.
UH, ALSO, WE HAVE A SERVICE FOR CHILDREN.
UH, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T QUITE FRANKLY KNOW THAT WE NEEDED OR RECOGNIZED THAT WE NEEDED WHEN I FIRST BECAME SOLICITOR IN 2006.
IF A CHILD IS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, THEY NEED TWO THINGS.
FIRST, THEY NEED A PHYSICAL EXAM.
THEY NEED A PHYSICAL EXAM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HEALTHY.
THEY ALSO NEED A PHYSICAL EXAM TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE GATHERED.
SECOND THING THEY NEED IS A FORENSIC INTERVIEW.
AND A FORENSIC INTERVIEW IS SOMETHING THAT IS TAKEN OR, OR PERFORMED BY SOMEBODY WHO IS AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF GETTING INFORMATION FROM CHILDREN.
WE ARE DEALING WITH CHILDREN FROM THE AGES OF
[00:10:01]
FIVE TO 15, SOMETIME YOUNGER, SOMETIMES OLDER.AND IN ORDER TO GET THAT FORENSIC INTERVIEW, WE HAVE TO HAVE EXPERTS.
WELL, HOPEFUL HORIZONS HAS THOSE EXPERTS.
THEY HAVE THOSE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH US AND DO THOSE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS.
BUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEFORE WE HAD OUR CENTER IS THAT A CHILD WHO WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ANYWHERE IN THE 14TH CIRCUIT WAS DRIVEN TO CHARLESTON TO THE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY FOR A PHYSICAL EXAM.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, I DON'T LIKE HOSPITALS, AND IF I'M A CHILD THAT HAS BEEN ALREADY ASSAULTED, I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT TRAUMA AGAIN.
ESPECIALLY A TWO HOUR DRIVE TO CHARLESTON AND BACK.
AND THEN ONCE THEY CAME BACK, THEY WOULD GET ON A, ON AN INTERVIEW LIST FOR A FORENSIC INTERVIEW.
AND, AND THE AVERAGE TIME ON THAT WAS ABOUT 10 DAYS.
SO YOU'VE HAD A CHILD THAT'S HAD TO REPEAT THIS PROBLEM, THEIR, THEIR ASSAULT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN A GRANT TO HIRE A FORENSIC SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE THAT CAN DO PHYSICAL EXAMS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE AN EXAM ROOM.
WE HAVE IT, IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FOR THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW ROOM.
SO THE FORENSIC INTERVIEW FOR THE CHILD CAN TAKE PLACE AND LITERALLY THE CHILD WALKS ACROSS THE HALL AND ALL OF IT'S DONE IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME, WHEN WE BUILT THIS, THE QUESTION THAT WE HAD WAS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE YOU GONNA HELP? WELL, SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CENTER, WE HAD NO IDEA HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WERE GONNA HELP.
TO DATE, 2,518 VICTIMS HAVE GONE THROUGH OUR VICTIM SERVICES CENTER, 747 OF THEM, OR 30% ARE CHILDREN.
THERE WERE, WE HAVE PERFORMED 58 PEDIATRIC SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS, ANOTHER 689 FORENSIC INTERVIEWS.
THAT'S FOR SOMETHING THAT QUITE FRANKLY, WE'VE NEVER ASKED THE COUNTY TO PAY FOR.
WE'VE, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THROUGH GRANTS AND OTHER SOURCES.
UH, AND AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT CHARGING HOPEFUL HORIZONS OR, OR ANY OF THAT TO HAVE RENT IN THERE SO THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR THESE CRIME VICTIMS SO THAT WHEN A CRIME VICTIM COMES TO US, THEY GET ALL OF THOSE SERVICES IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME.
THE THIRD THING THAT, THAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR DIVERSION PROGRAMS. UM, JUST GOT THROUGH HAVING A, A, A MEETING WITH THE STATE, UM, UM, ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS PUT TOGETHER.
HE IS TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PROTOCOLS FOR, UM, DRUG COURTS, FOR MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, FOR VETERANS COURTS.
WE HAVE ALL OF THAT IN ONE PACKAGE.
AND IT'S CALLED OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY COURT.
AND WE HAVE COUNSELORS, AGAIN, MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS.
WE HAVE DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELORS, WE HAVE VA SERVICES THAT WE'VE TAPPED INTO.
WE HAVE A DATABASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING ALL THE VETERANS THAT COULD BE VERY WELL INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
UM, ALL OF THAT IS TO TAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY INSTEAD OF EMBRACING IT AS THE CAREER CRIMINALS DO AND TRY TO GET THEM TO TREATMENT THEY NEEDED AT THE SAME TIME, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
DRUG COURTS, MENTAL HEALTH COURTS, VETERANS COURTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL NATIONWIDE AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL IN OUR PROGRAM AS WELL.
UH, THERE IS A 70% SUCCESS RATE ON THAT, BUT THOSE PEOPLE, IT'S, IT'S PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.
AND THE OTHER SEGMENT OF PEOPLE THAT WE, THAT WE USE OUR DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE FIRST TIME OFFENDERS WHO WE THINK THAT IF WE TREAT THEM PROPERLY, WE'LL NEVER SEE 'EM AGAIN.
OUR PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM CHECKS RECIDIVISM RATES, UH, AND RIGHT NOW THAT IS A 9% RECIDIVISM, WHICH MEANS 91% OF THE PEOPLE THAT GO THROUGH OUR PTI PROGRAM WHO ARE DIVERTED AROUND OUR COURT SYSTEM NEVER GET IN TROUBLE AGAIN.
AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE RUN THEIR RAP SHEETS, THESE THREE THINGS THAT WE DO.
UM, UH, AND, AND THAT'S NOT BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
ALL THAT WE DO ARE AREAS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE AND DON'T KNOW THAT WE DO.
AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT FOR YOU BECAUSE MY BUDGET IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO ALL OF THEM.
I HAVE GOT TO RETAIN THE TALENT THAT IS BRING, THAT HAS BROUGHT THIS SUCCESS TO US.
I HAVE TO HAVE A PAY SCALE THAT ADEQUATELY PAYS AND APPROPRIATELY PAYS PROSECUTORS TO STAY IN THIS OFFICE.
THIS IS A PRETTY EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE AS WE ALL KNOW.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IF I'M SEARCHING OUT CAREER PROSECUTORS, THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY TO GIVE THEM A, A SALARY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO RAISE A FAMILY HERE.
I WOULD GUESS THAT ABOUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MY OFFICE LIVE AND WORK LIVE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND THAT'S THROUGHOUT ALL FIVE COUNTIES.
IF YOU TAKE ABOUT 90% OF MY EMPLOYEES, THEY'RE LIVING HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE RAISING FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO COLLEGE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND WE HAVE GOT TO STEP UP OUR GAME WHEN IT COMES TO RETAINING THIS TALENT.
UM, WHAT I HAVE DONE IS I HAVE TAKEN
[00:15:01]
YOUR PAY, YOUR PAY SCALE FOR YOUR ATTORNEYS AND I HAVE CONVERTED IT TO OUR LAWYERS.AND THEREFORE GIVING IT SORT OF AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON, MAKING SURE THAT I'M PAYING FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS A PROSECUTOR VERSUS SOMEBODY WHO'S WORKING COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR A COUNTY COUNCIL OR FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND I'VE PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND I'VE CREATED A PAY SCALE.
I'VE SHARED THIS WITH PINKY AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT A GOOD BIT AND I'LL BE GLAD TO GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL IF YOU WANT TO.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY PAYING.
UM, I HAVE THEN TAKEN THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND I HAVE ASSESSED THAT AS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
THESE PEOPLE DO NOT WORK IN JASPER COUNTY, HAMPTON COLLEGE.
THERE IS ALSO A SEGMENT OF MY OFFICE THAT WORKS IN ALL FIVE COUNTIES.
I HAVE ASSESSED THAT AMOUNT AT 50%.
THE 14TH CIRCUIT HAS FIVE COUNTIES.
ALLENDALE AND HAMPTON HAVE BEEN LOSING POPULATION.
JASPER'S GROWING AND BEAUFORT IS GROWING.
YOU GUYS ARE, BEAUFORT COUNTY NOW MAKES UP 66% OF THE POPULATION OF THE 14TH CIRCUIT, 66%.
AND YOU CAN ASSUME THAT THEY ALSO MAKE UP 60%, 66% OF THE WITNESSES.
WE DEAL WITH THE VICTIMS. WE DEAL WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT THE WHOLE BIT.
I ASSESS THIS HOWEVER, AT 50%.
SO I THINK THAT'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE ASSESSMENT FROM THAT, FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
AND AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE DEPUTIES.
THEY'RE THE EXECUTIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO MANAGE THE ENTIRE OFFICE.
AND I PUT THAT TOGETHER AND, AND WHAT IT CAME OUT TO BE, UM, WAS 4.2 MILLION 700.
LEMME SEE IF I'VE GOT THE EXACT NUMBER.
I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE PHONE NUMBER 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE NUMBER THAT I MEMORIZED.
HERE'S THE MEMO NUMBER I MEMORIZED
SEE, YOU JUST WANTED TO DO THAT 'CAUSE YOU WANTED AS SOON AS I DIDN'T HAVE THE NUMBER HELP OUT.
UM, I TALKED TO YOU LAST YEAR ABOUT PER CAPITA DISTRIBUTION.
THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COUNTY COUNCILS PROVIDE THEIR SOLICITOR'S OFFICES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE AVERAGE LAST YEAR FOR PER CAPITA DISTRIBUTION WAS $14 AND 10 CENTS.
UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY RIGHT UNDER THAT BECAUSE OUR POPULATION'S GONE UP AGAIN.
JASPER COUNTY IS FUNDING US AT $18 AND 97 CENTS PER CAPITA AT A $4.2 MILLION BUDGET, WHICH IS WHAT WE CALCULATED USING WHAT THE ACTUAL EXPENSES FOR PERSONNEL IN OUR BUDGET, USING YOUR PERSONNEL EXPENSES.
THAT COMES OUT TO BE $20 AND 83 CENTS, 80, 89 CENTS.
EXCUSE ME, JUST AHEAD OF JASPER COUNTY.
STILL BELOW CHARLESTON, STILL BELOW YORK COUNTY.
UM, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR ME TO STOP TALKING, BUT IT'S ALSO TIME FOR US TO CATCH UP.
AND SO I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE BUDGET THAT WE PRESENTED.
I'VE ALREADY GONE OVER EVERYTHING WITH PINKY AND I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
SENATOR, UM, SENATOR, SOLICITOR.
I'VE BEEN CALLED SO MUCH WORSE THAN THAT.
LET, LET, LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION HERE, BECAUSE ONE OF THE, UM, CONCERNS THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD, UH, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, UM, YOU AND YOUR BUDGET REQUESTS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
RIGHT? UH, ARE YOU ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER TO ALSO BE INCREASED THEIR SALARY AS WELL? BECAUSE ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN, UM, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU RECRUIT AND YOU RECRUIT FROM EVERYBODY
SO IF YOU ARE MAKING, IF YOU ARE PAYING MORE TO YOUR, UH, ATTORNEYS, THEN IT MAY PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE OTHER AGENCY, THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IN PARTICULAR.
SO I'M JUST ASKING, ARE YOU ADVOCATING FOR THAT FOR THEM AS WELL? NO, SIR.
UH, AND LEMME GIVE YOU ABOUT THREE REASONS WHY.
NUMBER ONE IS, UM, I'VE LOST ABOUT THREE LAWYERS TO STEPHANIE.
I DON'T REMEMBER STEPHANIE LOSING ANY TO ME, SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
UM, NUMBER TWO, THE, UM, I DID SOME STATISTICS ON THIS.
THE THREE THINGS THAT I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT, THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, THE VICTIM SERVICES AND DIVERSION.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TWO OUTTA THE THREE OF THOSE.
SHE DOESN'T PROVIDE VICTIM SERVICES AND SHE DOESN'T DO, UM, DIVERSION PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TO RUN THOSE PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, NUMBER THREE, UM, RIGHT NOW, THE ANALYSIS FROM LAST YEAR IS SHE REPRESENTED THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS.
THE FULL-TIME PUBLIC DEFENDERS REPRESENTED 57% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE PROSECUTED.
THEY DON'T REPRESENT EVERYBODY THAT WE PROSECUTE OTHERWISE.
PEOPLE LIKE SCOTT LEE, SAM BAUER, JIM BROWN,
[00:20:01]
ET CETERA, ET CETERA, WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED AND POOR.SO WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO NOT ONLY PROSECUTE CASES AGAINST THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, WE ALSO HAVE TO PROSECUTE THEM AGAINST, UM, UH, AGAINST THE, UM, UH, PRIVATE BAR AS WELL.
AND THERE'S A LOT TO PRIVATE BAR, NOT JUST IN BUFORT COUNTY.
WE'VE GOT CASES WITH JACK SWIRLING COMING OUTTA COLUMBIA.
WE'VE GOT LAWYERS COMING OUTTA CHARLESTON.
UH, SO WE HAVE TO PROSECUTE ALL OF THOSE.
UH, AND THE FINAL REASON BEHIND THAT IS THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT STEPHANIE NEEDS FOR HER BUDGET.
UH, AND I DON'T WANT TO EITHER TIE MY BUDGET TO HER BUDGET OR FOR THAT MATTER, ADVOCATE FOR IT.
IF SHE NEEDS IT, SHE NEEDS TO EXPLAIN WHY.
UH, SHE DOESN'T NEED WHAT, KNOW WHAT I NEED EITHER.
AND SO YOU, YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY TIE THE TWO TOGETHER.
AND PROBABLY FOR A PUBLIC REASON IS THIS, UM, YOU'RE GOING TO TALK THROUGH YOUR BUDGET CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOME OWNERSHIP.
YOU'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION AND ALL THE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
BUT KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN YOU DO THAT.
IF YOU ARE NOT SAFE FROM SOMEBODY STICKING A GUN IN YOUR FACE AND STEALING YOUR PROFITS, HOW GOOD IS YOUR BUSINESS GONNA BE IF YOU'RE NOT SAVING IN YOUR HOME FROM SOMEBODY BREAKING IN AND ASSAULTING YOU? HOW WORTH IS? HOW MUCH WORTH IS THAT HOUSE? AND HEAVEN FORBID A GUNMAN AT A SCHOOL OR THE GUY SELLING DOPE OUT OF THE LOCKER NEXT DOOR.
PEOPLE WANT CERTAIN THINGS, BUT THE PEOPLE AT BUFORT COUNTY EXPECT PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THERE ARE TWO COMPONENTS OF THAT.
IT'S A SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.
AND THAT'S GOT TO BE A PRIORITY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YES.
SO I KNOW LAST YEAR WE BOOSTED IT UP, WE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY BETWEEN YES, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE SOLICITOR.
AND THEN WE MADE CHANGES, DMT.
SO OUR FOCUS WAS PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO YOU'RE REQUESTING 20.8, UH, $20 AND 89 CENTS PER CAPITA.
AND THAT WOULD PUT US JUST ABOVE JASPER AND NOT IN, IN THE REALM OF THE OTHERS.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S ABOUT YEAH, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS.
SO THE, I'M GONNA TAKE THE SOLICITOR AND THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OUT BECAUSE YOU SAID THE SOLICITOR REPRESENTS 57% OF THE PEOPLE YOU ACTUALLY PROSECUTE.
WELL, THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS DID ON THE LAST, NOW THAT WHAT THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ARE CONTRACT LAWYERS, WHICH I HAVE NO WAY OF BEING ABLE TO TELL THE CONTRACT LAWYERS ARE PRIVATE LAWYERS WHO HAVE BEEN, ARE EITHER GETTING PAID INDIVIDUALLY FOR A CASE OR BY HOUR IN EITHER THOSE SCENARIOS THOUGH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FRINGE.
AND OUR FRINGE COSTS ARE ABOUT 35%, WHICH I THINK THAT'S CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT, ACROSS THE BOARD FOR EVERYONE.
SO I DO APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION IN HERE.
AND I'M SAD THAT WE HAD TO DO A BIG CATCH UP LAST YEAR BECAUSE IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS WE DIDN'T.
AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY STILL IN CATCHUP MODE A BIT.
SO, UM, I JUST, I'M JUST GONNA ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT, WE'RE IN A PREDICAMENT OF TRYING TO REMAIN MILLAGE NEUTRAL.
RIGHT? AND I KNOW THE SHERIFF'S COMING UP NEXT MM-HMM
AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GONNA ASK FOR A BIT OF AN INCREASE TOO.
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT, MAYBE I'M WRONG.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE'LL HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THAT.
LAST YEAR YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, YOU SAID, ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE? AND MY RESPONSE WAS, NO MA'AM, WE'RE NOT.
BUT I'M WORKING WITH PINKY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AND THAT'S, THAT'S A RESULT OF WHAT WE ARE TODAY.
SECOND THING I WOULD OFFER IS IF YOU NEED ME TO SIT DOWN WITH PINKY AND HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE MONEY FROM OTHER AGENCIES, I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT.
THANKS FOR COMING TO APPRECIATE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY COMING AND PRESENTING.
NEXT ON OUR LIST IS, UM, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO MR. STONE WILL TELL US HOW TO TAKE IT FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND WE'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND, WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT TO 10.
WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO KEEP IT TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN WE'LL HAVE QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.
THAT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR ME.
MY NAME IS SUZANNE COOK AND I'M THE CFO FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR BUDGET REQUEST THIS MORNING, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT PERSONALLY IS THE FACT THAT WE STARTED IN JULY WITH 305 PERSONNEL ON BOARD BECAUSE YOU DID FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOU INCREASED OUR STARTING SALARY.
SO WE HAVE THAT INCREASING, THAT STARTING SALARY REALLY HAS WORKED AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
[00:25:01]
ALONG WITH THAT, THOUGH, WHAT'S INCLUDED IN OUR PERSONNEL IS A 3% COST OF LIVING IN OUR PAY PLAN AND IN ORDER TO KEEP US IN THIS POSITION, THOSE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP GOING.OTHERWISE, WE'LL JUST END UP BACK WHERE WE WERE.
UM, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER STELLAR ITEMS. UH, JUST A FEW ITEMS, UH, LIFT FOR OUR EVIDENCE AREA WHERE YOU ACTUALLY CAN PUT ITEMS ON A DUMB WAITER LIFT AND BRING THEM UP BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND FLOOR.
UH, WE ALSO ADDED THE 40,000 TO BEAUFORT WATER SEARCH AND RESCUE PER YOUR REQUEST.
ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS? UM, I'LL OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
UM, ACE AND I, I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THAT, BUT THAT INCREASE IS THAT DUE TO A PERSONNEL CHANGE OKAY.
AND DOES JASPER COUNTY CON HAVE A, 'CAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY IN JASPER COUNTY.
THEY, UM, PAID FOR 75% OF THAT PARTICULAR OFFICER'S EXPENDITURES.
AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE PAY FOR 25%.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAYS FOR 75% OF THESE SEVEN OFFICERS THEY HAVE.
AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PAYS 25%.
SO JASPER COUNTY ACTUALLY PAY HELPS TO PAY FOR, I'M NOT SURE IF IT IF IT'S BEAUFORT, JASPER, WHERE THE ACTUAL SOURCES, BUT THEY DO ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
WELL, I KNOW WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS THERE THAN THEY DO PROBABLY, BUT THE FACILITIES ACTUALLY IN JASPER COUNTY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, OKAY, THERE YOU GO.
ALRIGHT, Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD MORNING.
I'M SORRY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE HILTON HEAD POLICE FEE.
SO THEIRS HAS GONE UP QUITE A BIT FOR THE FISCAL 27 BUDGET.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF IT IS THE, UH, PERSONNEL LINE ITEM.
AND THAT IS JUST THE INCREASES IN SALARY, THE PAY PLAN, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE SHERIFF WILL MOVE INDIVIDUALS INTO THE HILTON HEAD AREA WHERE HE NEEDS, WHERE HE THINKS THEY NEED TO BE.
AND THEN ALSO WE WILL HAVE TRANSFERS OUT SO WE THAT, LIKE DURING SURGE TIMES, DURING CERTAIN EVENTS OR, WELL, WE KEEP 42 PERSONNEL IN THAT PARTICULAR FUND AT ALL TIMES.
AND SO HE WILL, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE RESIGNS AND NOW THERE'S 41, HE WILL PLACE SOMEONE ELSE IN THAT FUND AND ON THE HILTON HEAD TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
HEY, SOMEBODY'S GOTTA BEAT MY RECORD.
WE HAVE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS AND, UM, MS. OUR AUDITOR, DAVID S HERE, IF HE'S LIKE TO COME FORWARD.
I WANNA JUST GO OVER A FEW, UH, ITEMS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GIVE MY CHANCE TO BRAG ABOUT THE OFFICE OF, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE SO FAR THIS YEAR.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THREE PEOPLE.
I HAVE MY OFFICE, I GOT DARLENE JACKSON, WHO'S BEEN WITH THE COUNTY FOR 31 YEARS.
AND THEN, UM, ELVIN AVERY'S BEEN HERE FOR 24 YEARS.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTY AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE BECAUSE OF THE, UH, 'CAUSE OF THEM AND THE CONTINUITY AND EVERYTHING.
IT ALWAYS HELPS OUT THE OFFICE.
UM, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR, THE NEW WEBSITE, WE'VE HAD 109 VISITS SO FAR, UH, THIS PAST YEAR WITH 187 THOU, I MEAN 109,000 VISITS WITH 187,000 PAGE VIEWS.
UM, WE'VE OPENED UP, UH, OVER 42,000 TICKETS FOR THE CUSTOMER TO COME IN AND ASK FOR QUESTIONS OR EMAIL US.
UM, AND 71% OF THEM ARE GETTING SOLVED WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR.
A LOT OF IT COMES TO DEAL WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, NORMAL QUESTIONS THAT THE, THE CHAT BOT THAT WE HAVE ON THERE CAN'T ANSWER.
UM, WE'VE HAD ALMOST 30,000 PHONE CALLS, WHICH WE ALWAYS TELL EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, IT'S EASIER TO GET THROUGH ON THE INTERNET, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TAX BILLS GO OUT.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE PHONE CALLS.
AND THEN, UM, SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD ALMOST 2000 SURVEYS AND WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING AROUND A 96.6% WITH THE FIVE STARS AND ABOVE, OR I'M SORRY, FOUR AND FIVE STARS AND ABOVE POSITIVITY.
THE TASK CALCULATOR THAT WE BUILT LAST YEAR, UM, AND WE FINISHED IT IN DECEMBER, UH, WE HAD, UM, OVER 56,000 HITS ON THAT.
SO PEOPLE GOING OUT THERE GETTING
[00:30:01]
A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THEIR TAX BILL'S GONNA LOOK LIKE OR, YOU KNOW, THEIR CAR BILLS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO.SO THAT WAS GOOD FOR THAT ONE.
UM, IS THAT FAR AS WE'RE BRAGGING ON THE OFFICE NOW FOR THE BUDGET? I DON'T NEED ANY NEW PERSONNEL.
I GOT ONE JOB OPENING RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE JUST, I SIGNED OFF ON THE PAPERWORK YESTERDAY TO GET, UH, THAT YOUNG MAN STARTED.
WE CURRENTLY ARE TRYING TO LOCK IN SOME CURRENT CONTRACTS TO REDUCE THE COST.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS I'M GOING OUT AND ASKING FOR THREE YEAR OBLIGATIONS.
SAY, HEY, CAN I LOCK IN THIS PRICE FOR THREE YEARS? SO, YOU KNOW, SO THE COST OF LIVING OR WHATEVER IT IS, DOESN'T KEEP GOING UP.
'CAUSE THEY AVERAGE SOMETIMES FIVE TO 10% THEY ADD ON EVERY YEAR.
SO I WAS SUCCESSFUL IN A LOT OF THOSE CONTRACTS.
THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, IF YOU PROMISE TO KEEP THE SERVICES WORKING WITH DAVE THOMAS AND WE GOT THEM LOCKED IN.
SO THERE'S NO FUTURE COST TO THE COUNTY ON THOSE.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR MINDSET, LIKE ALWAYS IS TO KEEP REDUCING THE MONEY IN OUR OBLIGATION TO THE TAXPAYERS.
AND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TRYING TO INCREASE THE SERVICES THAT, UH, WE ARE OFFERING THEM.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR I GAVE BACK $50,000 TO THE TAXPAYERS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY THIS YEAR I WISH I COULD GIVE MORE MONEY BACK, BUT THIS YEAR I HAVE TO TRA ADD IN ALMOST $13,000 TO MY BUDGET BECAUSE SOMETIME LAST YEAR AFTER YOU GUYS SIGNED THE BUDGET OFF, I WAS ASSIGNED AN OBLIGATION THAT WASN'T THERE WHEN YOU SIGNED THE BUDGET.
I WAS GIVING ADDED PRINTING INTO MY CONTRACT, WHICH, OR ADDED TO ME, WHICH WAS NEVER THERE BEFORE.
SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT HAS AFFECTED THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE OFFICE.
'CAUSE NOW I HAVE TO, I HAD TO MOVE MONEY AROUND FROM OTHER LINE ITEMS IN ORDER TO PAY THIS BILL THAT WASN'T THERE.
OR YOU, YOU GUYS DIDN'T ASSIGN TO ME TO PAY.
SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S, THAT HAS CAUSED A BIG PROBLEM.
AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS ONE, I WAS NEVER TOLD IT WAS THERE.
AND TWO, THE MONEY AUTOMATICALLY STARTED TAKING OUTTA MY ACCOUNT, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNT WITHOUT NOBODY NOTIFIED ME.
SO I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG ISSUE RIGHT THERE.
'CAUSE JUST AS IT STATES IN THE, UH, IN YOUR BUDGET ORDINANCES WE'RE, YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN BUDGETS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO DEAL WITH THAT WHEN SOMEBODY STARTS TAKING MONEY OUTTA YOUR BUDGET AND NOT EVEN TELLING YOU OR ASSIGNING A FUNCTION TO YOU AFTER THE, UH, BUDGET'S ALREADY BEEN SIGNED IN BY YOU, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL.
SO LIKE I SAID, THAT FUNCTION DID CAUSE ME TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM ONE LINE ITEM TO ANOTHER, WHICH I DON'T CARE TO DO.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR TOWARDS, FOR A LONG TIME THAT WE'RE NOT TRANSFERRING MONEY AROUND, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THAT HAPPENED.
SO LIKE I SAID, THE INCREASE, THE ONLY INCREASE I'M ASKING FOR IS TO COVER THE COST OF THAT, UM, A SIGN THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.
AND IF I CAN KEEP, IF I CAN FIND OUT THAT WHERE IT'S GONNA STAY, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEVER HAD THAT COST BEFORE, WHERE IS IT GONNA STAY OR HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST US, THEN HOPEFULLY, UH, NEXT YEAR I CAN BRING THE MONEY BACK DOWN.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR MR. CAD.
SO I DO APPRECIATE, I MEAN, YOU HAD A, YOU'RE AT A 2.51% INCREASE AND I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION OF THE PRINTING.
SO THAT WILL BE COVERED THIS IN YOUR NEW BUDGET, RIGHT? THAT'S THE COVER ESTIMATED COST, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE NEVER PAID FOR IT BEFORE.
SO HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR WHEN WE GET HAVE A FULL YEAR OF PAYING FOR IT, THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST AND WE CAN REDUCE THAT BACK DOWN.
WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION, SO THANK YOU.
COUNSEL WHO, UM, WHO WAS PAYING FOR THIS COST BEFORE? SO WHAT, WELL SEE, THAT'S THE ISSUE.
IT WAS COMING OUTTA, IT WAS THAT COST, THAT MONEY WAS GIVEN OUT TO IT.
SO WHEN THEY TRANSFERRED THAT OVER TO US FOR US TO PAY THAT MONEY NEVER CAME WITH IT, JUST THE REQUIREMENT TO PAY IT.
BUT, SO I GUESS IT'S GOT EXTRA MONEY NOW, BUT YEAH, WE WERE NEVER GIVEN ANY MONEY TO PAY FOR IT AFTER THE BUDGET.
BUT YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT SURPRISED ME TOO.
IF YOU WANNA GIVE IT TO ME, JUST GIMME THE MONEY TOO AND I'LL PAY FOR IT.
BUT IT DIDN'T COME UNFORTUNATELY.
I ALMOST, PETER, I THOUGHT I WOULD, BUT THAT'S FINE.
UM, DO WE HAVE UH, JUDGE CALVIN ONLINE? YES.
OH, HEY HEATHER, CAN YOU HEAR? IT'S OKAY,
I JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR US IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND FOR THE PROBATE COURT.
WE ARE BEYOND GRATEFUL AND WE'RE BETTER ABLE TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
I WANNA COMMEND YOU, FIRST OF ALL FOR LOOKING AT A MERIT-BASED PAY SYSTEM.
OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE FOUND IT CHALLENGING WHEN WE HAVE A COLA AND WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PERHAPS FACING BEHAVIORAL ISSUES WHO RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE BEHAVIORAL RELATED ISSUES.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY A GREAT STEP FORWARD AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
[00:35:01]
OUR BUDGET SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP IT IN LINE WITH PRIOR YEARS AND EVEN GO DOWN IN SOME CATEGORIES AS NEEDED.AND THEN ALSO WITH RESPECT TO NEW POSITIONS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED TWO POSITIONS AND THE COUNTY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD AUTHORIZE ONE AND THEN MID-YEAR EVALUATE THE FOR A SECOND BECAUSE, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT AND RESPECT THAT AND THAT IS FINE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT HILTON HEAD OFFICE FULLY FUNCTIONAL WHERE WE CAN HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE.
AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED A SYSTEM OF ROTATING CLERKS, WHICH IS VERY NICE.
AND AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
I MAY BE ABLE TO BEAT THE THREE MINUTES.
WHAT DO YOU SEE? I HAVE A QUESTION ON HILTON HEAD.
UM, IS THAT DUE TO THE AGING POPULATION YOU THINK? OR IS IT JUST INCREASE IN POPULATION OR BOTH YOUR WORK? I THINK IT'S BOTH.
FOR THE ESTATE SIDE, ABSOLUTELY IT'S AN INCREASE IN AGING POPULATION AND WE'VE SEEN THAT DEMAND YEAR OVER YEAR AND IT'S JUST INCREASING.
AND THE HILTON HEAD RESIDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO GO TO THAT OFFICE TO DEAL WITH THE STATE RELATED ISSUES.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO ACCEPT FILES AND THEN EVENTUALLY START MEETING WITH THE PUBLIC ONCE WE HAVE THOSE CLERKS TRAINED.
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE IS THAT WE, PROBATE COURTS DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
THE STATE'S LOOKING INTO THAT.
SO WE HAVE OUR PHYSICAL FILES.
SO OUR CLERKS HAVE TO GO TO OUR MAIN OFFICE WHERE THE PHYSICAL FILES ARE LOCATED AT LEAST A CERTAIN NUMBER OF WEEK TO MANAGE THEIR FILES.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN MEET WITH THE PUBLIC, WE CAN ACCEPT FILINGS AND WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO DO.
AND WE'RE DOING THAT AND WORKING TO DO THAT IN BLUFFTON AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH THAT'S A VERY SMALL OFFICE.
SO WE HAVE SPACE FOR TWO PEOPLE,
NOW, MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS IS NOT AGE DEPENDENT.
AND WE'VE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE FACING MENTAL ILLNESS OR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY RELATED CHALLENGES.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, AND, AND I THINK IT IS DUE TO POPULATION INCREASE, WE'RE SEEING INCREASED DEMAND FOR HEARINGS, SERVICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE WE, WE DO COMMIT THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND HELP THE FAMILIES THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COM COMMENTS ABOUT THE MERIT SYSTEM.
IT'S BEEN, UM, A GOAL OF THIS COUNCIL FOR A WHILE, SO, ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
UM, I SEE THE MASTER IN EQUITY, MS UH, JIM WEGMAN.
DO YOU WANNA SAY A FEW WORDS? IT REALLY WASN'T A PRESENTATION, MAAM.
COME ON UP TO THE, SO WE CAN CATCH YOU ON THE CAMERA.
I KNOW, BUT, BUT IT, IT WAS MORE JUST, I'M HERE IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, AND A GENERAL THANK YOU, JUST KINDA LIKE JUDGE GALVIN DID.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE COUNTY AND YOU ALL IN DOING THE SECURITY CHANGES TO MY OFFICE SPACES, WE WERE THE ONLY COURT IN THE COURTHOUSE THAT THE PUBLIC HAD DIRECT ACCESS TO OUR OFFICES AND OUR COURT.
UM, AND THAT HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, THE OFFICE SPACES LOOK GREAT AND THE COURTROOM LOOKS GREAT.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
UM, BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK I'VE ASKED FOR TOO MUCH MORE, A LITTLE BIT MAYBE IN TECHNOLOGY, UH, JUST TO UPDATE THE COURTROOM SINCE I HAVE SO MANY REQUESTS BY LAWYERS TO DEAL WITH BEING ABLE TO PLUG IN, PUT STUFF UP ON A SCREEN AND, AND THAT, SO, UM, REALLY THE INCREASE, UH, THAT I HAVE IN THERE, IT JUST DEALS WITH TRYING TO UPGRADE.
AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, THE, UH, TELEVISION SERVICES AND THAT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE IN THOSE SPACES.
SO THAT'S REALLY BUDGET OTHER THAN SOME SMALL THINGS FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER THINGS.
SO, UM, I THINK I'M UNDER THE THREE MINUTES.
DOES, UM, AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE ASKED JUDGE GALVIN TOO, BUT DOES COURT ADMINISTRATION HELP PAY ANY OF THOSE ELECTRONIC UPGRADES FOR TECHNOLOGY? NO.
IT, REMEMBER THE MASTER FALLS INTO THE WEIRD SPOT OF YES, I'M A STATE COURT
BUT NO, BECAUSE OF THE STATUTE, THE MASTER'S OFFICE IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, AND THAT, SO I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS NO.
UM, JUST KIND OF LIKE THEY, THEY DEAL WITH WHEN
[00:40:01]
THEY DEAL WITH JUDGE GALVIN WHO UPGRADED HERS, UH, TECHNOLOGY IN HER COURTROOM, I THINK LAST YEAR WITH CLICK SHARE AND SOME OTHER THINGS.UM, YOU KNOW, FAMILY COURT WAS DONE COMPLETELY BY THE STATE WHEN THEY UPGRADED THEIR COURTROOM.
UM, SO THE MASTER'S OFFICE, AGAIN, WOULD FALL IN, I BELIEVE HERE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY,
[8. FY 2027 OUTSIDE AGENCY BUDGET REQUEST PRESENTATIONS]
BE OUR NEXT ONE'S EIGHT A ON OUR AGENDA, AND WE'RE DOING OUTSIDE AGENCY BUDGET REQUEST PRESENTATION.AND THE FIRST ONE IS KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL BUDGET PRESENTATION BY GENE.
WAS THE, HE'S THE, YOUR CO-CHAIR, RIGHT? OR CHAIR? CO-CHAIR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M, UH, HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK WE HAD A VERY GOOD FY 2000, UH, 26, UH, WHEN I WAS HERE LAST YEAR.
I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE YOU A GOOD FEELING FOR HOW WE WERE REALLY MOVING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK WE GOT A, A MUCH BETTER STORY TODAY.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO, UH, MENTION AS PART OF THIS INTRODUCTION THOUGH, IS THE ROLE THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PLAYS, WHETHER IT'S, UM, VALERIE VALENTINA, SALLY, AND BRADLEY.
UM, WE CAN'T DO OUR WORK WITHOUT THEM, AND YOU WILL HEAR AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE DO, THEY'RE PART OF WHAT WE DO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING TO MAKE THAT, UM, A SUCCESS.
SO LAST YEAR I WAS, DO I DO IT? YES, SIR.
LAST YEAR I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE YOU A GOOD LIST OF, UH, THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR.
I THINK WE'VE DONE QUITE A BIT MORE.
UM, I'M GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THESE, UH, KEEP IT PRETTY SHORT.
WE'VE PROVIDED A LONG LIST OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT AT YOUR CONVENIENCE YOU CAN CHOOSE TO READ OR NOT.
SO, UM, IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR CORE MISSIONS, OF COURSE IS, UH, PLANTINGS AND MAKING THE COUNTY MORE BEAUTIFUL THAT WAY.
UM, WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN, UM, ACQUIRING AND INSTALLING IN MANY CASES WITH THE HELP OF PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, NEW PLANTINGS, UH, GARDENS CORNER HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR A WHILE.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO TO THERE.
UM, BUT WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.
I THINK WE PLANTED ABOUT 1200 BULBS.
WE'VE GOT TWO NEW ACQUISITIONS OF PLANTS COMING WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MUCH MORE WORK THERE.
WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR SUPPORT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
NOT SO MUCH AT GARDENS CORNERS, BUT AT OTHER, OTHER LOCATIONS.
UH, I'M GONNA GO ACROSS DOWN NOW.
UH, WELCOME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY SIGN.
UM, I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU ALL MULTIPLE TIMES NOW.
UM, YOU HAD SEVERAL GOOD COMMENTS.
WE SIMPLIFIED IT, WE CLARIFIED IT.
UM, HANNAH AND JARED AND THE TEAM HAVE ALL BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN, IN GETTING IT WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
UM, WE THINK WE CAN GET IT INSTALLED THIS MONTH.
UM, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF PURCHASING IT.
WE HAVE ALL THE, UM, RECS IN PLACE AND NOW WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE ALL THE RIGHT I'S, UH, DOTTED, ET CETERA.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TO S-C-D-O-T AND THEY CAME BACK WITH TWO QUESTIONS.
WE'VE NOW ANSWERED THOSE QUESTIONS.
WE THINK WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED.
IF WE CAN'T GET IT DONE IN APRIL, WE'RE PRETTY COMFORTABLE.
I KNOW THAT WHEN I CAME UP THE LAST TIME TO GET YOU ALL TO VOTE, UM, YOU PICKED MY FAVORITE ONE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
UM, WE WENT TO THE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL SUMMIT AGAIN THIS YEAR, UM, WHICH WAS GREAT.
UM, LAST YEAR WAS ABOUT 470 PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
700 DIFFERENT, UH, KAB AFFILIATES ARE REPRESENTED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
UM, THIS YEAR WAS ABOUT FIVE AND A QUARTER, UH, WHICH IS GREAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED WAS A REAL KEY TAKEAWAY WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE NOW FOCUSING ON RIVERS AND WATERWAYS.
UH, THE TENNESSEE RIVER NOW HAS ITS OWN AFFILIATE, WHICH CUTS ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES.
SO, WORKING WITH, DID I DO THAT? NO, THAT WAS ME.
WORKING WITH, UM, UH, CHRIS, WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE HELP KEEP THE BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, WATER AS CLEAN AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AS WELL.
OR, SORRY, STUCK IN THE WATER WASN'T MADE.
ARE YOU HUNTING? NO, THAT'S A TIMER.
WAS IT 10? BEEN 10 MINE AGAIN? YEP.
SO, UH, UNDERNEATH THAT GREAT PROS PROGRESS ON THE NEW PLASTIC REDUCTION ORDINANCE.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE MEETING ON MONDAY, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT WENT FORWARD AND IT'LL GO TO A, A FULL VOTE, UM, NEXT MONTH SOMETIME.
UM, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY, UM, SUPPORTING THIS WITH AUTHORING AND COMMUNICATING, RUNNING THE, HELPING TO RUN THE SURVEY.
AND NOW THE GROUPS THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS HAVE ASKED, KEEP, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL TO RUN THE COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION SHOULD IT PASS.
[00:45:01]
AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH THAT, AND YOU'LL SEE SOME BUDGET REQUESTS TO HELP, UM, SUPPORT THAT ACTIVITY GOING INTO NEXT YEAR.UM, WE'VE ALSO ACQUIRED QUITE A FEW, UM, OUTREACH MATERIALS.
WE HAD VERY, VERY FEW, UM, LAST YEAR.
AND WE FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GONNA TELL THE KEEP BEAUTIFUL KIND OF BEAUTIFUL STORY, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT AT, AT VARIOUS EVENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN AT.
UM, THE UPPER RIGHT HAND ONE, THE ONE THAT SAYS KEEP BEAUTIFUL, KIND OF BEAUTIFUL, BUT LOOKS LIKE A SIGN, THAT'S A SIGN THAT WILL GO IN, UM, LOCATIONS WHERE WE DO PLANTINGS.
AND SO THAT IS SEMI-PERMANENT.
UM, WE EXPECT IT TO BE THERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
PARTNERSHIPS TO RELATIONSHIPS A LITTLE BIT.
I, I THINK, UM, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK THIS PAST YEAR, REACHING OUT AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHER GROUPS AND ENGAGING.
UM, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ME TELL THE STORY OF USCB AND THE DESIGN OF THE SLIDE OF, OF THE SIGN.
UM, YOU HEARD US TALK ABOUT THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION WORK AS WELL AS THE ROTARY WORK IN TERMS OF THE QUENCH BUGGY, WHICH IS THE WATER, UM, WATER, UM, CAPABILITY.
UM, WE'VE BEEN TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, CORPORATIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS CONFERENCES WHERE KEEP BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUTIFUL IS PRESENT THERE.
UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT LATER.
SEVERAL GOOD MEETINGS, PUBLIC WORK SUPPORT, AGAIN WITH THOSE, HELPING THEM FIGURE OUT HOW DO THEY INCREASE THEIR RECYCLING CAPABILITIES.
UM, OTHER BIG ONES, UH, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
UM, THERE, IF YOU DRIVE ONTO HILTON HEAD ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE IN MCKAY CREEK, THERE'S AN ABANDONED BARGE THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
WE CONTACTED S-C-D-N-R AND WE UNDERSTAND THEY'RE NEGOTIATING A PURCHASE ORDER RIGHT NOW TO REMOVE THAT BARGE.
SO WE'RE NOT SPENDING ANY COUNTY MONEY TO DO THAT, BUT IT'S MORE OF A HOW DO WE WORK WITH PARTNERS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF THAT ACTUALLY, TO, TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR, UH, BUDGET OF COURSE, BASED ON OUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE.
UM, AS OF COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE SPENT ABOUT $13,000.
THE PROCUREMENTS PENDING INCLUDE, UH, YOU CAN SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER, CONFERENCE EXPENSES, UH, TWO LANDSCAPE BUYS, AND THE ROUTE 2278 SIGN.
ALL THOSE ARE IN PROCUREMENT NOW.
UM, OUR PLANT SPENDING FOR APRIL AND MAY OF THIS YEAR, UH, IS, IS UP THERE.
AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE READJUSTMENT FOR, UH, WHERE WE'RE GOING.
SO WE'RE GONNA ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO THE WILDFLOWER PLANTINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER THE, THE COST OF ALL THOSE PLANTS.
UM, WE'RE, WE BELIEVE BECAUSE WE WERE UNABLE TO DO THE SECOND MAJOR SIGN PROJECT, WE HAD TWO PROJECTS IN MIND, 2 78, AND THEN BUILD A SIGN, UM, BASED ON A RICE TRUNK.
AND THE RICE TRUNK WAS DENIED BY SCD BY BY S-C-D-O-T, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT A BIG PHYSICAL THING NEXT TO THE ROAD.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS REALLOCATED THOSE FUNDS, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW WE REALLOCATED MUCH OF THOSE.
UM, WE DO HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE'LL COVER IT, UH, IN THE, IN THE REQUESTS FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE HOW WE'VE, UM, REALLOCATED, UM, FUNDS ACROSS THE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE PLAN TO FINISH FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
UM, THE MISSION FOCUS IS, IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE SAME.
UM, WE ADDED, OF COURSE, INSTALLING NEW SIGNAGE.
UM, WE ALSO, UM, HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE PLASTIC INITIATIVE DOWN TO SINGLE USE PLASTIC.
UM, WE'VE WORKED WITH HANNAH AND, UH, THE MEDIA TEAM.
WE WANT KBCB TO HAVE MORE MEDIA CAPABILITIES.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO WEBSITE, THERE'S NO CHAT, THERE'S NOTHING, NO WAY TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY EXCEPT THROUGH MULTIPLE LAYERS TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO, UH, THE, THE CITIZENS.
AND WE WANNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, PARTICULARLY WILL BE HELPFUL IN THE, UH, SINGLE USE PLASTIC REDUCTION, UH, COMMUNICATION PROGRAM.
SO WHAT DO WE WANNA DO NEXT YEAR? UH, WE WANNA CONTINUE TO FUND, UH, MAINTENANCE PLANTINGS.
UM, WE THINK THAT WE'VE HAD GOOD IMPACT, PARTICULARLY BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WE WILL HAVE HAD GOOD IMPACT WITH THE, UM, UM, UH, CORNERS, GARDENS, CORNERS.
UH, WE WANT TO PICK ON A COUPLE OF OTHER NEW PROJECTS TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AS WELL.
UM, WE DO WANT TO INSTALL FORM NEW SIGNS.
UM, SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE ASKED, CAN WE DO MORE OF THE SIGNS? UM, WE WILL TRY TO REALLOCATE DOLLARS THIS YEAR.
WHAT WE HAVE LEFT, WE THINK WE CAN BUY THE SIGNS, BUT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO INSTALL THEM.
THE PERMITTING PROCESS TAKES SOME TIME, SO WE MAY NOT PHYSICALLY BE ABLE TO INSTALL THEM THIS FISCAL YEAR.
UM, WE HAD A COUPLE OF GREAT MEETINGS WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS, AS YOU KNOW, BETTER THAN I DO.
UH, THEY ALSO HAVE 41 DIFFERENT CAFETERIAS,
[00:50:01]
UM, THAT THEY RUN.THEY REALLY DON'T DO RECYCLING VERY WELL.
UM, THEY MISS IT ON TWO FRONTS.
THEY MISS IT ON THE EDUCATION IN TERMS OF HOW DO YOU GET IT INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND ARE YOU REALLY DRIVING THOSE PROGRAMS? AND THERE'S A LOT OF STATE MATERIALS THAT YOU CAN USE TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT THEN WHEN THEY ALSO MISS IT ON THE FACILITIES MAINTENANCE SIDE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP THEM REALLY SUPERCHARGE THEIR RECYCLING CAPABILITIES.
THE RESTAURANTS ARE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR, UM, UH, A WAY TO RECYCLE GLASS AND METAL AND PLASTICS, ET CETERA.
SO THAT, THAT'S A REALLY BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THE RICE TRUNK SIGN TO A MEMORIAL AND WE WANNA BUILD IT AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE IMPORTANT MAYBE ON THE BEAUFORT WATERFRONT.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YET, BUT WE STILL WANT TO HAVE DEMURE BUILD A SIGN FOR US.
UM, I'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE PLASTIC REDUCTION INITIATIVE, AND THE OTHER ONES ARE, UM, CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR OUTREACH MATERIALS IN THE MARINE CORPS.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
JEAN, WHAT IS THE HISTORIC RICE TRUNK? WHAT IS THAT? WHERE IS IT? UH, CHRIS CAMPBELL, THE CHAIR OF OUR COMMITTEE YEAH.
UM, HAS HAD IN HIS MIND FOR A LONG TIME, YEAH.
THE MIRRORS BUILD A RICE TRUNK, WHICH IS A, UM, I'M THE WORST PERSON TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT IT ALLOWS YOU TO MOVE WATER FROM ONE RICE FIELD TO ANOTHER.
AND IT'S A BIG, IT GOES UNDERNEATH PATHWAYS.
USUALLY IT'S A BIG 20 FEET WIDE BY 10 FEET LONG BY 10 FEET HIGH.
SO IT ALLOWS THE RICE, THE WATER TO MOVE FROM WE ONE RICE FIELD TO THE NEXT.
AND CHRIS'S MIND, IT WAS A, A, A REFLECTION OF THE HISTORY, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE HISTORY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, AND HE'S BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE DO SOMETHING TO RE UH, REPRESENT THAT.
UM, AND SO THE DOT SAID, NOPE, NOT GONNA PUT IT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TOO BIG.
OH, CAN WE MAKE IT A MEMORIAL? AND WE CAN MAKE 'EM ANY SIZE WE WANT? NURS MAKES THESE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT THEM, UM, NOT AS A FUNCTIONING, UH, PIECE OF TOOL ANYMORE.
UM, BUT MORE AS A, UM, AS A, UH, REPRESENTATION OF HISTORY.
AND THEN WE'D WORK THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A NICE PLAQUE AND EVERYTHING WE NEEDED FOR THAT.
AND WHERE'S IT GONNA GO? WE DON'T KNOW YET.
CONCEPTUALLY, MAYBE ON THE WATERFRONT IN BEAUFORT, I'M NOT SURE.
I KNOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH A MAJOR RETHINKING OF THE WATERFRONT, UM, OR HERE ON THIS PROPERTY SOMEWHERE, UM, SOMEWHERE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GO BUY IT.
IF YOU PUT IT IN A CORNER SOMEWHERE, IT'S NOT REALLY GONNA HELP.
LIKE YOU PUT IT SOME PART OF THE COUNTY THAT PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT.
UM, SO WE REALLY WANTED TO BE WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT AND SEE PART OF THE HISTORY.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING.
COUNCILOR, DO YOU ARE ADVOCATING FOR TWO NEW SIGNS? WHERE WERE YOU SURE THE, THE MAIN ENTRANCE POINTS, UM, FOR THE COUNTY? SORRY, I HAD TO WRITE THEM DOWN BECAUSE, UM, ROUTE 17, UH, AS YOU COME IN FROM CHARLESTON IS ONE ROUTE.
46, I THINK IT'S ALSO 17 AS YOU COME IN FROM SAVANNAH IS ANOTHER.
AND IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION I SHOWED YOU THE STATE OF THE OLD SIGNS AND THEY'RE VERY OLD, VERY, VERY BEAT UP, VERY, UM, WEATHER, WEATHER BEATEN.
UM, AND SO THE MAIN ENTRANCE POINTS INTO THE COUNTY IS REALLY WHERE WE'RE GONNA PUT THEM, IS THE IDEA.
WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BUY SOME OF THEM THIS YEAR IF WE CAN.
IF WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, UH, WITH THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, WE THINK WE CAN BUY TWO MORE AND THEN WE WOULD ONLY NEED TO BUY, UM, TWO MORE FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE'VE TALKED TO THE AIRPORTS AND I WAS GONNA TRY TO BRIEF THEM THIS MORNING.
UM, BUT WE HAD SCHEDULES CONFLICTING.
UM, WE'D LOVE TO SEE THAT SIGN IN EACH OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY AIRPORTS.
SO AS YOU COME OFF THE AIRPLANES, YOU COME INTO THE RECEPTION AREA.
RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS WELCOME TO BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO WE THINK THAT SIGN WOULD BE A GREAT REPRESENTATION, UH, TO PUT IN EACH OF THE AIRPORTS THAT DEAL'S NOT STRUCK YET.
SO WE'RE JUST PROPOSING THAT IDEA SO FAR.
SO YOU'RE ASKING FOR A 360% INCREASE? YES.
JUST, I'M JUST BEING REALISTIC HERE.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE MILL NEUTRAL, SO IN MY OPINION, THIS ISN'T GONNA FLY.
SO MY QUESTION IS LIKE, WE HAVE THE PLASTIC BAG REDUCTION INITIATIVE THAT'S MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAVE THE COMPOSTING MOVING FORWARD.
SO WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR MONEY WHEN THOSE ARE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT WE'RE ALREADY FUNDING? WHY, WHY WOULD WE DOUBLE DIP PER SE? IT'S A QUESTION OF CAN WE HELP HAVE AN IMPACT? LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SCHOOLS FOR A MINUTE.
UM, I THINK WE CAN BRING NEW THINKING AND NEW ENERGY TO THAT BUILDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOLS.
[00:55:01]
PER SE, BUT WE, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE ABLE TO, UM, COME TO THE TABLE WITH SOME NEW IDEAS AND SOME NEW ENERGY.WE'D LIKE TO SEE A WAY TO GET THE KIDS INVOLVED BETTER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.
AND THE COUNTY HAS THE PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE TRAINING, ET CETERA.
WE'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO RUN A CONTEST, TO PROVIDE MATERIALS, JUST TO SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC SIDE.
ON THE, UM, ON THE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SIDE, RIGHT NOW, BASED ON THE, MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S ONLY FOUR RE SCHOOLS THAT ARE DOING RECYCLING AT THE FACILITIES LEVEL, JUST NOT BEING DONE.
SO CAN WE THROUGH KEEP YOU FOR KIND OF BEAUTIFUL, OR YOU COULD USE COUNTY FUNDS DIFFERENT WAY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE, HELP THEM DESIGN A PILOT, WHICH BRINGS NEW RECYCLING CAPABILITIES TO FIVE SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE'D LIKE TO, UM, HELP BE PART OF.
THE FACT IS IT'S ALL COUNTY MONEY.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING TO NOT TO HAVE DUPLICATION OF SERVICE.
FOR EXAMPLE, COMPOSTING, THEY'RE OUT THERE ABSOLUTELY TRYING TO GET RESTAURANTS INVOLVED, SCHOOLS INVOLVED, AND THE SAME WITH THE, UH, PLASTIC BAG INITIATIVE.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING NOT TO DUPLICATE SERVICE, WHICH TO ME, THIS, YOU'RE ASKING $50,000 FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECYCLING INITIATIVES.
AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY IT'S NOT A DUPLICATION.
IT COULD BE, AND I'M FROM A SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I, I WAS CURRICULUM, AND I WOULD SAY, I UNDERSTAND TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO TOUCH IT.
BUT THE CENTRAL OFFICE IS SUPPORTIVE OF RECYCLING.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING NOT TO DUPLICATE SERVICE FROM WHAT THE COUNTY OFFERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
THERE'S ONE PERSON THAT DOES THE RECYCLING, AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT, IT WOULD BE A SUPPLEMENT, NOT, NOT A DUPLICATION.
UM, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, GOING BACK BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, WHEN I WAS A VOLUNTEER ON YOUR BOARD, IT WAS VERY HARD TO CRACK THAT NUT.
AND, UM, THE STAFF AT THE COUNTY TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO DO IT.
UH, IT, BUT Y'ALL HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BOTH WAS THE COUNTY STAFF PERSON WHO RUNS THE RECYCLE PROGRAM, AND Y'ALL HAVE MANAGED TO, AND WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, WITH THE, WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU'RE, YOU'VE WEDGED YOUR WAY IN.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE, MAYBE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT MAY TOO MUCH.
UH, BUT I, I, I THINK IT WOULD SUPPLEMENT KIDS LOVE CONTESTS, YOU KNOW, OF ALL KINDS.
IT'S JUST THAT THE TEACHERS DON'T HAVE TIME, UM, TO TABER, MS. TAVER NECK'S POINT TO DO IT.
SO IT HA IT TAKES OTHER VOLUNTEERS TO GET THINGS KICKSTARTED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT WHEN YOU DO CONTESTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHY AREN'T THE WASTE MANAGEMENT COASTAL, WHATEVER, WHY AREN'T THEY SUPPORTING FOR CONTESTS? THEY BENEFIT FROM THIS DIRECTLY.
AND, UM, THERE ARE TWO CONTRACTS IN THE COUNTY, UH, FOR WASTE REMOVAL.
AND BOTH OF THE CONTRACTS HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BUY RECYCLING CONTAINERS.
THE, THE BIG, THE BIG DUMPSTERS.
THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO DO IT.
ONLY FOUR OUT OF 41 FACILITIES ARE DOING THAT TODAY.
WE COULD GO TO THE TWO CONTRACTORS AND SAY, WE WANNA START HELP YOU START A PROGRAM, OR WE WANT YOU TO HELP US.
WE WANT YOU TO RUN A, WE CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE CAN DO IT WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, SO IT, I WAS THINKING OF CONTESTS FOR KIDS.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WENT TO CONVERGE THAT MR. OTU RAN, AND I THINK COASTAL WAS THERE AND THEY GAVE OUT LITTLE GARBAGE TRUCKS AND RIGHT.
ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE TCHOTCHKES, I'M SURE THEY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM.
AND SO I KNOW WASTE MANAGEMENT DOES TOO, THAT, YOU KNOW, KIDS LOVE ALL THAT STUFF.
AND SO THAT COULD BE PART OF THE CONTEST.
PART OF THE ISSUE IS IF THE KIDS RECYCLE IN THE CLASSROOM, THE FACILITIES MANAGERS HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT THAT RECYCLED MATERIAL.
THEY'RE NOT RECYCLING PAPER CORRECT.
THAT MEANS A STUDENT OR A TEACHER HAS TO TAKE WHATEVER THE KIDS COLLECTED AND TAKE IT TO THE CONVENIENCE CENTER THEMSELVES SO THAT THE MACHINE ISN'T IN PLACE FOR A SUCCESSFUL VIRTUOUS CYCLE.
HERE, I GUESS I WAS THINKING OF, WE WERE GONNA HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING AND TAKE THAT VALUE HOME.
BUT THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS NOT JUST LET'S TEACH THEM MORE ABOUT IT.
SO LET'S PROVIDE MAYBE A SMALL CONTAINER.
A A SMALL DUMPSTER AT THE SCHOOL RECYCLING DUMPSTER AT THE SCHOOLS THAT
[01:00:01]
WILL RECYCLE PAPER OR METAL CANS OR WHAT, WHATEVER HAPPENED, WHATEVER IS NEEDED.THE FACILITY TO DO THE RECYCLING AT THE SCHOOL DOESN'T EXIST.
THEY DO A LITTLE, THEY DO SOME CARDBOARD RECYCLING.
THE CAFETERIAS WOULD BE WONDERFUL PLACES TO FOCUS ENERGY.
AND I KNOW THE PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS DOING THE COMPOSTING ARE TRYING TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A VERY NASCENT PROJECT, RIGHT.
THE SCHOOLS TODAY CANNOT RECYCLE CANS AND GLASS.
ALL THEY COULD DO IS CARDBOARD, AND THEY DON'T DO THAT VERY MUCH.
SO I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT SCHOOLS AREN'T DOING A GREAT JOB.
I'M SAYING THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WE'D LIKE TO HELP WITH THAT IF THE COUNTY YOU ALL DECIDE THAT, YOU KNOW, HELP, BUT DON'T SPEND $50,000 HELPING.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE HERE AT YOUR PLEASURE, AND WE'RE HERE TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW, YOU ALL THINK IS BEST FOR THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND, UM, WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
NEXT IS THE SMALL, UM, BUSINESS ASSOCIATION BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UH, MARTIN GOODMAN, AREA MANAGER.
WE ARE THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER INSTEAD OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.
I THINK, UH, MAYBE FINANCE PICKED THAT UP.
UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE CALL US OR THE SBA SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, UH, TO, UH, REFRESH YOUR MEMORY ABOUT OUR PROGRAM.
UH, WE, UH, PROVIDE BUSINESS COUNSELING AND, UH, UH, SERVICES TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTY.
WE WORK WITH, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS.
WE HELP THEM WITH THE PROCESS OF STARTING, UH, FINDING FUNDING.
UH, MANY TIMES THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED TO US BY, UH, BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO HELP THEM PREPARE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT'S NECESSARY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET A BUSINESS LOAN.
UH, THERE ARE, UH, WHAT WE DO IS, UH, THAT ONE-ON-ONE, UH, PERSONAL, UH, CO COUNSELING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS.
EVERYTHING WE TALK ABOUT IS CONFIDENTIAL, AND AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, AND BUSINESS CONFIDENTIALITY IS A MIGHTY IMPORTANT THING FOR, UH, NOT ONLY THE BUSINESS OWNER, BUT FOR US.
SO WE DO ALL THIS IN, IN CONFIDENCE, AND, UH, WE ARE, UH, WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR OUR SERVICES.
UH, ALL OF OUR CONSULTING SERVICES, ALL THE WORK WE DO WITH OUR CLIENTS IS AT NO COST.
THERE ARE TWO CONSULTANTS ACROSS BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'M HERE IN BEAUFORT AND, UH, LOCATED AT USCB, UH, AT, ON, UH, CORRE STREET.
AND THEN WE HAVE PAT CAMERON, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT IN THE HILTON HEAD AREA.
AND, UH, SHE IS AT THE HILTON HEAD CAMPUS OF USCB.
AND BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE SHARE, UH, ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, UH, THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE EXPERTISE ON.
UH, WE DO A LOT OF, OF LOAN PACKAGING, CREATING THE LOAN DOCUMENTS THAT BUSINESSES NEED TO PREPARE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO OBTAIN BUSINESS FINANCING.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH A LOT OF CLIENTS WITH ACQUISITIONS.
UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE ACTIVELY FOR SALE, UH, IN THE COUNTY, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUY THEM.
AND AN ADVANTAGE TO THE BUYER IS THAT THIS IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT BANKS, UH, ARE MORE INTERESTED IN FINANCING THAN JUST A PURE STARTUP.
SO, IF WE WORK WITH SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN THAT'S WANTING TO START A BUSINESS, UH, MY FIRST WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT WITH THEM IS TO TRY TO DETERMINE IS THERE A BUSINESS FOR SALE THAT YOU MAY CAN PURCHASE AND, AND, AND ACQUIRE? UM, BECAUSE YOUR OPT, YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR FINANCING IS GONNA GET BETTER.
THE OTHER THING IS, THIS YEAR, WE, AS A, AS A STATEWIDE NETWORK, WE TOOK ON A PROGRAM WHERE WE ARE GONNA FOCUS WITH BUSINESSES WHO ARE, UH, IN GROWTH STAGES.
SO WE, WE WANT TO WORK WITH THESE BUSINESSES AS THEY GO FROM ONE LEVEL TO THE NEXT OF GROWING THEIR BUSINESS, EXPANDING THEIR BUSINESS, UH, MAYBE FINDING A DIFFERENT OR ANOTHER LOCATION TO GROW THEIR BUSINESS.
AND WE'VE WORKED A LOT WITH THOSE CLIENTS, AND WE'RE WORKING FROM THEM FROM THE NEXT STAGE ALL THE WAY
[01:05:01]
THROUGH, IN SOME CASES, EXIT PLANNING, BECAUSE AS A, AS AN OWNER GETS INTO, UH, MATURES, THEIR BUSINESS MATURES, AND THEY START LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HOW AM I GONNA GET OUT OF THIS BUSINESS? WE HELP THEM, UH, WITH PLANNING WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA, UH, TRY TO SELL THEIR BUSINESS OR WHETHER THEY'RE GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE A LEGACY BUSINESS, AND THEY'RE GONNA PASS IT DOWN TO, UH, THEIR CHILDREN.IN THAT CASE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON SUCCESSION PLANNING.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS, UH, MOST OF YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE WITH ALPHA GRAPHICS HERE IN BUFORT.
UH, THEY WERE A, THEY ARE A, A VERY ACTIVE CLIENT WITH ME.
UH, THEY WERE REFERRED TO ME BY A BANK IN 2019.
AND, UH, WE HELPED THEM WITH THE LOAN PACKAGE THAT THEY NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THE LOAN TO BUY THE OLD MERS PRINTING.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS SINCE THEN.
UM, WE ARE ACTIVELY, I WORK WITH THEM EVERY WEEK.
I HELP THEM WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING.
UH, AND THEN LAST YEAR I NOMINATED ONE OF THE OWNERS, RITA WILSON, TO BE, UH, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR, FEMALE SMALL BUSINESS.
SO SHE WAS THE STATE FEMALE SMALL BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
UH, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE LOOKING TO TRY TO EXPAND INTO BLUFFTON, UH, THE, THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.
SO WE'RE DOING SOME STRATEGIC PINING WITH THEM TO HELP THEM DO THAT.
UH, OUR FUNDING STREAM AT THE STATE LEVEL COMES FROM THREE SOURCES.
UH, WE GET FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE SBA THAT'S ALLOCATED BY CONGRESS.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE MATCHES THAT FUND TO A DEGREE.
AND THEN WE ALSO GET FUNDS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE, FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN OUR OFFICE OVER THE YEARS.
AND, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN THAT.
OUR PROGRAM HAS OVERSIGHT AND REGULATION BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT'S, UH, REQUIRED BY CONGRESS.
SO WE ARE A RESOURCE PARTNER OF SBA, BUT THEY ARE ALSO OUR REGULATORY AGENCY THAT HELPS MANAGE THE PROGRAMS. AS I STATED, STATED BEFORE, UH, WE ARE, UH, LOCATED AT USCB AND OUR OFFICE SPACE IS PROVIDED BY USCB.
UH, THEY PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE.
THEY DO NOT PROVIDE ANY FUNDING SERVICES OR ANY FUNDING FOR US AT ALL.
UM, BOTH OF THE CONSULTANTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PROGRAM, MYSELF AND PAT CAMERON, WE BOTH HAVE OVER 25 YEARS IN THE PROGRAM IN OUR, IN THE COMMUNITY, DOING THE WORK.
UH, THIS JULY, I WILL BE, I WILL HAVE BEEN WITH THE SBDC FOR 34 YEARS.
UH, WHAT THIS DOES IS IT BRINGS EXPERIENCE, UH, TO OUR CLIENTS THAT WE CAN HELP THEM BECOME BETTER BUSINESS OWNERS.
SO CLIENTS COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THEY'RE DEALING WITH THE SAME INDIVIDUAL.
AND WE HAVE GREAT MARKET KNOWLEDGE, SO WE CAN, WE CAN GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO OUR CLIENTS SO THEY UNDERSTAND THE MARKETPLACE THEY'RE GONNA BE OPERATING IN.
UM, SOME OF OUR ECONOMIC, UH, IMPACT FOR 2025, UH, WE WORK ON A CALENDAR YEAR.
SO THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WERE REFLECTED FOR 2025.
NOW CLIENTS ARE THE BUSINESS OR THE POTENTIAL BUSINESS.
SO THAT CAN BE ONE INDIVIDUAL, OR IT COULD BE AS IN THE CASE OF ALPHA GRAPHICS TO OWNERS.
SO THERE'S MORE CITIZENS THAT WE'RE SERVING THAN THAT 148, UH, PEOPLE OF THAT, OF THE ASSISTANCE WE PROVIDED TO OUR CLIENTS LAST YEAR, 15 NEW BUSINESSES WERE ESTABLISHED.
387 JOBS WERE CREATED OR RETAINED.
AND AS A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DIFFERENCE, OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW WHAT JOBS CREATED ARE.
THOSE ARE NEW JOBS, JOBS RETAINED ARE THOSE JOBS THAT, UH, COME AS A RESULT OF THE ACTIVITY OF ACQUISITIONS.
IF A NEW OWNER COMES IN, BUYS A BUSINESS AND RETAINS ALL THE EMPLOYEES, THEN THAT NUMBER IS COUNTED AS RETAINED EMPLOYEES.
AND OF COURSE, IF THAT OWNER ADDS EMPLOYEES, THEN THOSE ARE COUNTED AS NEW EMPLOYEES.
BUT A LOT OF THESE COME FROM THE, UH, NEW BUSINESSES AND THE BUSINESSES THAT WE ASSIST WITH, THE GROWTH STAGES THAT ARE ADDING EMPLOYEES TO THEIR, TO THEIR,
[01:10:01]
UH, STAFF.UM, BUSINESSES RUN ON MONEY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT TAKES MONEY TO, TO MAKE THESE BUSINESSES OPERATE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE, AND, AND AS I STATED BEFORE, WE DO A LOT WITH HELPING CLIENTS CREATE LOAN PACKAGES SO THAT THEY CAN GET FUNDING.
LAST YEAR, UH, THE AMOUNT OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT, WHICH INCLUDES BOTH LOANS AND, AND THE EQUITY THAT THESE BUSINESS OWNERS INJECTED IN THEIR BUSINESS AMOUNTED TO 5,512,000, UH, $684.
SO WE HAD A VERY GOOD YEAR OF LAST YEAR WITH OUR CAPITAL, UH, INVESTMENT.
ALSO BY, BY CALCULATING THE, UH, THE WAGES BASED ON THE NEW EMPLOYEES, THERE WAS A LITTLE OVER $20 MILLION IN NEW WAGES PUT INTO THE ECONOMY.
AND THAT'S MONEY THAT CAN BE SPENT FOR GOODS ACROSS THE COUNTY FOR OTHER SERVICES.
UM, I ALSO PARTICIPATE AT THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IN A PROGRAM CALLED BOOTS TO BUSINESS.
AND UH, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT DOT HAS, DOD HAS THAT FOR EMPLOY FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL, GETTING OUT OF THE SERVICE.
THEY HAVE CAREER PATHS THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE.
AND ONE OF THEM IS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL.
AND WE PARTICIPATED IN THREE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AT THE AIR STATION FOR THE BOOTS TO BUSINESS PROGRAM.
UH, QUICKLY, UH, I KNOW WE GOTTA GO.
UH, THE FUNDING REQUEST IS $50,000.
IT IS THE SAME AMOUNT THAT, THAT WE WERE GIVEN LAST YEAR.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR AN INCREASE.
UH, WE ARE, WE ARE FINE WITH THAT.
AND, UH, WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO HELP REMEMBER THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS OR OUR CLIENTS, UH, SEND THEM TO US AND WE'LL HELP THEM IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO START A BUSINESS.
LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR MR. GOODMAN.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ANYBODY? YES, SIR.
SO, HOW DO YOU INTERFACE WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, DON RYAN CENTER? I MEAN, WE GOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE DOING A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF, RIGHT? HOW DO YOU INTERFACE WITH THEM? WE GET REFERRALS FROM, UH, FROM THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
JOHN'S GROUP SENDS US REFERRALS FROM TIME TO TIME TO HELP BUSINESSES.
UH, WE GET, UH, PAT GETS A LOT OF REFERRALS FROM THE DON RYAN CENTER 'CAUSE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WORK WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO GET FUNDING.
SO THEY'LL WORK WITH A CLIENT TO A POINT AND THEN THEY'LL REFER 'EM TO US TO HELP WITH THE FUNDING PIECE.
WE ALSO ARE, UH, PARTNERS WITH SCORE, UM, OBVIOUSLY SCORE HAVING SOME FUNDING ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO, UH, BUT WE DO INTERFACE WITH SCORE AND, AND, AND DO REFERRALS.
GET REFERRALS FROM THEM AND WORK WITH THEM.
BUT FOR THE RE CAN YOU SCORE IS THE ACRONYM FOR WHAT? SERVICE CORPS OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES.
AND THEY HAVE OFFICES IN HILTON HEAD, BLUFFTON AT THE DON RYAN CENTER AND HERE IN BEAUFORT.
I HAD A QUESTION, BUT A COMMENT.
I, I KNOW IT'S A SMALL ASK WITH A HUGE IMPACT AND I, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY OUT THERE.
DO ANY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES PROVIDE FUNDING OR IS IT JUST THE COUNTY? NO.
I'VE TRIED OVER THE YEARS TO WORK WITH THE CITY, UH, OF BEAUFORT, BUT WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY HILTON HEAD.
YES, I, UM, I THINK, UM, AND I APPRECIATE MR. GOODWIN IN, IN THE YEARS WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER HAS PROVIDED GREAT SERVICES, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THEIR EMPHASIS IS ON SMALL BUSINESSES AND, UM, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, WE GETTING A LOT BACK IN RETURN.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU MR. GOODMAN, TO YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU FOR, I KNOW YOU WORK WITH A LOT OF RESTAURANTS AND OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AND ALPHA GRAPHICS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A SHORT BREAK RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, SO IT IS 10 13, A 10 MINUTE BREAK.
WE'LL BE BACK AT 10 23, NO LATER THAN 10 23.
[01:25:09]
[01:25:10]
OKAY,[01:25:10]
WE ARE BACK FROM BREAK.I'M ALSO SENDING TO PRESS WITH MY REPLY.
AND THE NEXT UH, ONE ON OUR AGENDA IS HILTON HEAD ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION.
MS. LEAH, AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? ARNOLD PARKS AND RECREATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND THANK YOU FOR WAITING THROUGH OUR BREAK.
I HOPE EVERYBODY GOT FULLY CAFFEINATED AND SUGARED UP.
SO, UM, I'M JUST GONNA INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I'M THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION.
UM, MANY OF YOU HAD HAD FRANK SOUL HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS PRESENTING TO YOU AFTER 20 YEARS, AFTER ALMOST 40 YEARS.
HE FINALLY RETIRED IN DECEMBER.
UM, SO I TOOK OVER OFFICIALLY JANUARY 1ST.
SO IT IS NICE TO BE UP HERE AND PRESENTING TO YOU AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO YOU.
SO, UM, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, IT'LL BE SHORT AND SWEET.
IT WILL NOT GO TO MY 10 MINUTES.
UM, OUR FUNDING REQUEST THIS MORNING IS ALL ABOUT AQUATICS.
UM, WE ARE THE ONLY PUBLIC POOL ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
AND WE ARE REQUESTING 200,000.
YOU WILL SEE THROUGH OUR BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU, THAT IS LESS THAN 5% OF OUR OVERALL BUDGET, UM, THROUGH EVERYTHING.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT FUNDING REQUEST FOR YOU.
UM, THE POOL IS ABOUT SAFETY, HEALTH AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.
WE START OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS AS YOUNG AS SIX MONTHS OLD.
WE HAVE WATER CLASSES THAT SERVICE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE
THE POOL IS OPEN YEAR ROUND AS WE HAVE A BUBBLE.
IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE ANYWHERE BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND MARCH, YOU'VE SEEN A BUBBLE THAT GOES UP OVER THE POOL.
IT IS A YEAR ROUND POOL THAT IS HEATED AND COOLED, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BE ABLE TO SERVICE ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
I'LL MAKE SURE I DO THIS RIGHT.
UM, WITH THE CLICKER, YOU CAN SEE HERE THOUSAND, 20 HALF OF EVERYTHING WE WERE ABLE, UM, TO GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SERVICE NOT JUST WITH OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMS. WE HAVE 124 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT WE PUT ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, 600,000 PARTICIPANT VISITS.
AND I KNOW THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS LAST YEAR IS HOW WE DO OUR PARTICIPANT VISIT.
UM, YOU CAN SEE IN THE PACKET THAT I PROVIDED TO YOU EXACTLY WHERE OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS COME FROM.
AND ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THAT NUMBER, IT IS A LITTLE BIT DOWN THIS YEAR FROM 2024 DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS GET CANCELED.
ONE OF THEM WAS SNOW DAY BECAUSE THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD SNOW
SO, UM, THAT'S ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE RIGHT THERE THAT WE DID NOT COME SEE, COME THROUGH ONE OF OUR EVENTS.
UM, DURING THIS YEAR, OVER 21,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS.
THOSE VOLUNTEER HOURS ARE SO IMPORTANT TO US.
THAT'S FROM OUR YOUTH SPORTS COACHES VOLUNTEERING TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS.
IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN OUT TO ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE HOST AT THE PARK, UM, WE COULD NOT DO ANY OF THOSE EVENTS WITHOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE OUT THERE HELPING US PUT ON THOSE EVENTS.
WE HAVE OVER 178 SPONSORS, UM, THAT DONATE BACK TO US, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH OUR YOUTH SPORTS SPONSORSHIPS, OUR COMMUNITY EVENT SPONSORSHIPS, OR OUR OVERALL FITNESS FACILITY SPONSORSHIPS.
UM, WE HAVE 76 DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
UM, AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THOSE IN OUR POOL.
UM, WITH THAT, SOMETHING THAT I'M HIGHLY PROUD OF IS WE GAVE AWAY ALMOST $240,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS.
OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUND IS BASED UPON OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE BRING IN AND DO ALL THOSE FUNDS FROM OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS GOES BACK INTO OUR SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS.
A LOT OF THOSE ARE INTO AQUATICS PROGRAMMING WE GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT OF OUR PRESCHOOL AND YOUTH PROGRAMS FROM OUR DAY DAYCARE PROGRAM ALL THE WAY UP TO OUR ADAPTIVE SPECIAL NEEDS, UM, SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM THAT WE HOST DURING THE SUMMER.
YOU CAN SEE THROUGH ALL THOSE NUMBERS.
WE DID ALL OF THAT WITH 19 FULL-TIME STAFF AND 50 PART-TIME AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 60 SEASONAL EMPLOYEES.
A LOT OF THOSE SEASONAL AND PART-TIME STAFF ARE AQUATIC STAFF AND OUR LIFEGUARDS FOR OUR SWIM INSTRUCTORS, OUR POOL PARTICIPATION.
SO WE PUT IT INTO EFFECT AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS OUR NUMBERS THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU.
UM, AND WE BREAK IT DOWN BY AGES 'CAUSE WE KNOW THE YOUTH IS A BIG FACTOR, UM, IN OUR POOL PARTICIPATION.
BUT YOU WILL SEE OUR ADULTS ARE ALSO IN THERE.
OUR ADULTS COME IN AND THEY DO LAP SWIMMING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF TRIATHLETES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE TRAINING FOR RACES THAT COME IN AND SWIM IN OUR POOL.
UM, NOT JUST FROM HILTON HEAD, BUT WE ALSO SERVICE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT RESIDENTS THAT ARE OVER THERE VISITING AS WELL.
OUR SENIORS, A LARGE POPULATION OF OUR SENIORS IS THROUGH OUR FITNESS, OUR WATER IES CLASSES THAT WE HOST OUT THERE.
UM, WE HAVE TWO TO THREE WATER IES CLASSES ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, IF YOU WOULD SEE THE POOL, WE HAVE TO MOVE OVER THE LANE LINES.
UM, AND THERE'S PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR LANES OF THE POOL THAT EVERY WATER FITNESS CLASS IS TAKEN UP BY OUR WATER FITNESS CLASSES.
[01:30:01]
'CAUSE THERE'S 30 TO 40 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE POOL TAKING THOSE FITNESS CLASSES.SO IT'S ALWAYS THE GREAT DIVIDE OF OUR LAP SWIMMERS, OUR SWIM LESSONS AND OUR WATER AEROBICS PEOPLE AND WHO GETS THE USE OF THE POOL DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAYS AND THE YEARS.
SO YOU CAN SEE OUR ACTIVE POOL MEMBERSHIPS, UM, FOR THE YEAR.
WE HAVE 149 ACTIVE POOL MEMBERSHIPS IN 2025.
AND THEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT MONTHLY ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN OUR DAY PASSES YOU CAN SEE IS A LARGE NUMBER AS WELL.
UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF TOURISTS THAT COME OVER AND THEY USE OUR FACILITY.
UM, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT COME OVER THAT MIGHT BE WORKING ON HILTON HEAD FOR THE DAY AND MIGHT STOP IN DURING THEIR LUNCH BREAK TO SWIM IN THE POOL OR USE IT.
YOU CAN SEE JUST KEEPING TRACK OF OUR, UM, 2026 NUMBERS.
UM, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE DO WORK WITH, H TWO A IS THE COMPETITIVE SWIM TEAM.
THOSE, UM, KIDDOS, SWIMMERS, UM, COME ALL THROUGHOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DRIVE OVER FROM BEAUFORT, UM, THAT SWIM ON THAT TEAM AS WELL AS WE HOSTED.
UM, AND WILL HOST, UM, FIVE DIFFERENT, FOUR DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS, UM, THAT COME AND USE OUR POOL.
UM, WE HAVE JOHN PAUL TWO COME IN AND USE IT.
WE HAVE HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE LOCATED OFF ISLAND AND COME IN AND ACTUALLY USE OUR SWIMMING POOL FOR THEIR SEASONS AND THEIR PRACTICES AND THEIR MEETS.
UM, WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FIRE AND RESCUE.
UM, THEY COME IN AND DO THEIR DIVE TEAM, UM, TRAINING AS WELL AS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
ALSO USES OUR POOL FOR A LOT OF THEIR DIVE CHAIN TRAINING AS WELL.
UM, OUR MASTER SWIM PROGRAM IS THE ADULT SWIM, UM, PROGRAM THAT COMES IN AND USES OUR POOL AND THEN OUR LIFEGUARDING, A SHORE BEACH SERVICES COMES IN AND THEY DO ALL OF THEIR TRAININGS AS WELL AS THEIR CERTIFICATIONS AND THEIR TESTING, UM, FOR OUR SHORE BEACH LIFEGUARDS ON HILLHEAD.
UM, SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
AND YOU CAN SEE OUR SECOND GRADE SWIM LESSONS, UM, HAS GROWN IMMENSELY.
HILTON HAD IB, UM, WE JUST CONCLUDED WITH THEIR SWIM LESSONS IN THE BUBBLE THIS YEAR.
THEY HAD 248 STUDENTS COME OVER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SWIM LESSONS.
I THINK THAT'S THE LARGEST CLASS WE'VE EVER HAD COME OVER.
WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
THEY COME OVER, NOT ONLY FROM HILTON ED, FROM BLUFFTON, THEY COME IN AND USE THE POOL, UM, DURING SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING.
AND THEN WE WORK WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPECIAL NEEDS, UM, POCKETS FULL OF SUNSHINE AND THEN ALSO PEP COMES IN AND USES OUR POOL.
UM, SOMETHING WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST SWIM LESSON.
WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO BE A HOST SITE FOR THAT AND IT WILL HAPPEN ON JUNE 14TH.
UM, SO HOPING TO PROMOTE THAT TO ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND GET A LOT OF PARTICIPANTS THERE.
WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASED DEMAND IN OUR SWIM LESSON PROGRAM.
OBVIOUSLY FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.
WE'RE SURROUNDED BY WATER ON HILTON HEAD AND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND WE KNOW THAT SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING.
UM, LIKE I SAID, WE START OUR SWIM PROGRAMMING AT SIX MONTHS OLD WITH OUR WATER BABIES CLASSES.
AND THOSE CLASSES, THE PARENTS ACTUALLY GET IN THE WATER WITH THE KIDDOS, UM, AND ARE TEACHING THEM ABOUT JUST WATER SAFETY, HOW TO GET INTO THE POOL, HOW TO TURN OVER AND KICK HOW TO BREATHE WHILE THEY'RE IN THE POOL, JUST FOR SAFETY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND KIDS SO THEY KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
UM, WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE, LIKE I SAID, ABOUT OUR SENIOR, UM, FRIENDLY PROGRAMS, FITNESS PROGRAMS AND THAT UM, SOMETHING WE DO AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR IS OUR ANNUAL SURVEY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LIKE TO BRAG ABOUT 'CAUSE I THINK IT'S GREAT.
AND THAT'S OUR, THE ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION BUILDS COMMUNITY.
WE'RE THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE THERE TO NOT JUST FOR OUR AQUATICS PROGRAM, FOR ANY PROGRAMMING THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING OF INTEREST TO OUR CITIZENS.
UM, THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT SNAPPED OUT IN OUR ANNUAL SURVEY OF WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY THINK ABOUT THE ISLAND REC ASSOCIATION.
AND YOU'LL SEE HERE JUST A LITTLE SNAPSHOT IS I SAID, WE NOT ONLY COVER OUR AQUATICS PROGRAMMING, THAT IS THE FUNDING WE ARE REQUESTING FROM YOU.
BUT WE HAVE OVER THOSE A HUNDRED DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ANYWHERE FROM STARTING BACK UP.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED TO SEE WAS MORE ADULT PROGRAMMING AS HILTON HEAD IS AN AGING POPULATION.
SO WE STARTED UP ADULT PUTT PUTT LEAGUE.
UM, OUR ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE HAS 10 DIFFERENT TEAMS IN IT.
OUR ADULT SOCCER PROGRAMS HAS OVER 30 DIFFERENT TEAMS IN IT.
UM, SO WE'RE SEEING A REAL INCREASE IN OUR ADULT PROGRAMMING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THAT WITH ADDING A CORNHOLE LEAGUE AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN JUST THE USE OF ALL OF THE PARKS ON THE ISLAND, UM, FROM FLAG FOOTBALL TO GATOR FOOTBALL TO BASKETBALL TO SOCCER, UM, WHICH IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
SO I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND FINISH IT OFF.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I DO, YES MA'AM.
COUNCILMAN? OH NO, COME BE YOUR BUDGET IS 4.5 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE.
WHAT'S THE REASON FOR YOUR INCREASED REQUEST? INCREASED REQUEST IS, UM, BASICALLY OUR PAY OUR LIFEGUARDS, UM, TO STAY COMPETITIVE.
IF YOU CAN SEE WHAT BUFORT COUNTY IS PAYING THEIR LIFEGUARDS FOR THE BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT POOLS, WE ARE WELL BELOW THAT, UM, WITH OUR HOURLY RATE FOR OUR LIFEGUARDS.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THAT.
UM, BECAUSE WE STRUGGLE FINDING LIFEGUARDS.
WE'VE KEPT OUR POOL OPEN THROUGH ALL OF THIS WITH A GREAT AQUATIC STAFF.
BUT BEING ABLE TO COMPENSATE THOSE LIFEGUARDS, UM, FOR BEING OUT THERE, UM,
[01:35:01]
MAKING SURE EVERYBODY'S SAFE.UM, WE'VE ALSO SEEN AN INCREASE IN JUST GENERAL USE.
UM, OUR PROPANE, WE HAD AN EXTREMELY COLD WINTER.
OUR PROPANE EXPENSES WENT UP AS WELL AS JUST OUR GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE'S GONE UP ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO THE $27,000 INCREASE IS BASICALLY FOR LIFEGUARD PAY? YES.
BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE 4.5 MILLION AND I KNOW YOU GET AT TAX FUNDS FROM THE TOWN.
THE AT TAX FUNDS JUST GOES TOWARDS, SORRY.
OUR AT TAX FUNDING JUST GOES TOWARDS OUR THREE COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT WE PUT ON.
SO JEEP ISLAND WING FEST AND OYSTER FESTIVAL JUST GOES TOWARDS MARKETING AND OPERATIONS FOR THAT.
WHICH YOU APPLY TO THE COUNTY FOR AS WELL.
AND WE PUSH YOU BACK TO THE TOWN.
BUT SO YOU'RE SAYING 27,000 IS FOR LIFEGUARD PAY.
LIFEGUARD PAY AND JUST EXPENSES OF THE POOL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK, UM, COUNCILMAN GLOVER.
AND I THINK I'VE HAD TRIED TO UM, MEET WITH YOU, UM, BUT WE JUST COULDN'T.
BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING OVER THERE TO MEET WITH YOU.
SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, TALK TO ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE, UH, WORLD'S LARGEST SWIM LESSON.
WHAT IS THAT,
SO IT'S A NATIONAL RECOGNITION.
UM, AND IT'S THE WORLD'S LARGEST SWIM LID.
WE'RE DOING FREE SWIM LESSONS THROUGHOUT THAT WHOLE DAY TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS JUST SIGN UP ON OUR WEBSITE AND THEY CAN COME IN AND IT'S SORT OF GUINNESS WORLD RECORD THING, UM, THAT IS GOING ON.
UM, SO WE JUST STARTED PROMOTING IT.
WE JUST GOT APPROVED AS A HOST SITE.
UM, SO THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST YEAR.
SO WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO EXPAND ON THAT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SWIM LESSONS.
THERE MIGHT BE KIDS OUT THERE THAT ARE AFRAID OF THE POOL AND WE JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO THE POOL AND THEN SEE HOW WE CAN GET THEM INVOLVED.
AND IF IT'S A DETERMINATION OF PARENTS AREN'T SIGNING THEM UP FOR SWIM LESSONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T COST IT, WE HAVE THIS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE KIDS ARE ABLE TO GET INTO THE POOL AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE.
SO IT'S JUST A ONE DAY EVEN IT'S A ONE DAY THING.
YOU CAN COME OVER AND PARTICIPATE IF YOU'D LIKE
UM, SO YES, I, UH, I WILL TRY TO DO THAT.
HOUSEMAN LAWSON, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UH, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I JUST WANNA SAY Y'ALL DO A GREAT JOB.
I'M FROM BLUFFTON, HOWEVER, BUT I USED TO LIVE ON HILTON HEAD, LIVED IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION OR PLACES.
AND WE USE THE REC CENTER THERE A LOT.
UM, I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY HILTON HEAD REPS, BUT, UH, PAULA DOES HAVE THE, THE NORTHERN END OF HILTON HEAD PLANTATION JUST SAY THAT.
UM, THEY PROVIDE EVERYTHING THAT THAT BUFORT COUNTY PROVIDES IN ALL THE OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND PROBABLY EVEN MORE.
UM, AND YOU, YOU GET A LOT LESS FUNDING THAN WHAT OUR OTHER AREAS GET.
UM, BUT YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND THAT'S WHY I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE TO SUPPORT Y'ALL IN WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS, AS THE, AS ACCOUNT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU.
'CAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE PROVIDING A SERVICE THAT TOWN OF BLUFFTON, WE PROVIDE ALL THE, THE, UM, UM, SPORTS AND AND ATHLETIC STUFF IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND BEAUFORT AND PORT ROYAL, THAT'S ALL COUNTY RUN, COUNTY OWNED.
AND, AND SO HILTON HAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT Y'ALL DO A BUNCH TO RAISE MONEY ON YOUR OWN.
SO AGAIN, I I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THE SERVICE YOU'RE PROVIDING IS THE SAME THING WE'RE PROVIDING EXCEPT BETTER.
AND YOU'RE ASKING FOR A LOT LESS MONEY THAN WHAT WE SPEND IN OTHER AREAS OF, OF THE COUNTY.
YOU GET A COMMENT? QUESTIONS? YES SIR.
UH, I WOULD TELL YOU, I I'M GONNA TO SUPPORT Y'ALL WITH THIS REQUEST THAT THIS YEAR, I KNOW THERE WERE SOME BUDGET CONSTRAINTS LAST YEAR, UH, WITH THAT REDUCTION THAT THAT TOOK PLACE.
AND, AND I DEFINITELY HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THOSE EMAILS CAME IN AND IT WAS NOT FROM ANYBODY OR YOUR STAFF, IT WAS ACTUAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, I DEFINITELY WANNA SUPPORT YOU ON THAT ONE.
I, I ECHO WHAT, WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID.
YOU KNOW, YOU PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE FOR A, A PRETTY LOW ASK IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
UM, TO REITERATE, YES, WE PROVIDE A GREAT SERVICE.
SERVICE, THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION OF WHY THE INCREASE REGARDING IS A CHALLENGE.
SO I, I AS WELL, WERE SUPPORTED AND KUDOS AND MARK LAWSON BECAUSE I THINK HE AND HIS FAMILY VOLUNTEER AT THE THEY DO BAILOR REC.
HE AND HIS WIFE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE, SO WE APPRECIATE THAT
AND UH, IT'S GREAT BECAUSE I MEAN, WE BOTH ARE BLUFFING BUT UH, I MEAN I HAVE A PART OF HILTON HEAD PLANTATION AND UM, YEAH, I JUST WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THIS AS WELL.
I KNOW WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS LAST YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WON'T THIS YEAR.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS, UM, LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY BY, UM, MS. CHRISTINE,
[01:40:01]
WELCOME BACK OUTTA RETIREMENT.UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AND TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YEARS AND TRYING TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
I KNOW A LOT OF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
HOW DO I GET THE, I'M PULLING IT UP.
AND, AND WHILE SHE'S DOING THAT, 'CAUSE MY TIME'S NOT RUNNING RIGHT,
I CAME BACK TO FILL IN AND, UM, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF, UM, PUTTING, WE DID ANOTHER RECRUITMENT AND IT DIDN'T REALLY WORK OUT.
THE PERSON WANTED WAY MORE MONEY THAN WE COULD AFFORD TO PAY.
SO WE'RE DOING A, UH, RECRUITMENT RIGHT NOW AND GETTING IT OUT HOPEFULLY TOMORROW TO BRING THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO, TO HAVE A TRANSIT MANAGEMENT COMPANY'S BID ON PROVIDING A MANAGER BECAUSE IT IS A REALLY SPECIFIC TYPE OF, OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE YOU NEED TO RUN A TRANSIT SYSTEM.
AND IT'S VERY COMPLICATED AND WE'RE VERY REGULATED AND, UM, YOU CAN'T, UM, I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT ANY OF THAT, BUT, UM, YOU JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON THAT CAN, CAN, UH, CROSS ALL THE T'S AND DOT ALL THE I'S.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD WITH THE PRESENTATION.
YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THIS A LOT, BUT FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T, WE ARE THE FIVE COUNTY, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDER.
WE DON'T MAKE ANY PRIVATE MONEY.
WE EXIST ON GRANT MONEY AND LOCAL MATCH RIGHT NOW.
AND WHAT LITTLE WE ARE ALLOWED TO, UM, TO, UH, BRING IN OURSELVES.
UM, WE HAVE SEVEN COMMUTER ROUTES AND WE GO FOR FIVE COUNTIES.
SO WE GO FROM ALLENDALE, HAMPTON, FAIRFAX, UH, WALTER BOROUGH.
WE BRING PEOPLE IN FROM ALL FIVE COUNTIES AND UM, AND SOME OF THEM FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN FOR YEAR AFTER YEAR, DECADE AFTER DECADE TO COME TO WORK IN THE AREAS THAT HAVE BETTER PAYING JOBS.
WE ALSO DO THE DEMAND RESPONSE, WHICH IS LIKE A DIAL A RIDE, A LOT OF THEM WHERE PEOPLE CALL IN AND, UM, ASK FOR A RIDE TO DIALYSIS OR A RIDE TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE OR MAYBE THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR HAIR DONE.
AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO CALL IN AND, AND GET THOSE RIDES.
UM, AND WE HAVE A VERY LARGE SERVICE AREA.
HERE'S THE, THE WHERE WE SERVE.
AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ROUTES THAT WE HAVE A VERY, UH, LARGE SERVICE AREA.
PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME BEFORE, WHY DO WE HAVE MCI BUSES AND THE, THE BUSES, THE BIG BUSES YOU SEE THAT LOOK LIKE GREYHOUND BUSES, THEY'RE MCI.
THE REASON WE HAVE 'EM IS A REGULAR TRANSIT BUS.
WE WOULD WEAR IT OUT SO FAST RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAYS.
THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED FOR THE HIGHWAY.
AND, UM, THE BUSES WE'RE RETIRING RIGHT NOW ARE OH SIX AND OH SEVEN MODELS WITH OVER A MILLION MILES.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT A MCI IS.
IT'S THE LARGE COACHES THAT THE TOUR BUS OPERATORS USE A LOT.
IT'S ONE BRAND OF OF LARGE COACHES.
AND, UM, THEY WERE HERE WHEN I CAME AND I KNOW THAT THE, MY PREDECESSOR HAD ARGUED TO THE S-C-D-O-T WHY, WHY WE NEEDED THOSE TYPE OF BUSES.
AND SO THAT'S THE PURE REASON, NOT THAT WE WANT EVERYBODY TO, 'CAUSE THEY'RE VERY COMFORTABLE TO HAVE SUCH A COMFORTABLE RIDE.
I LOVE THAT WE CAN DO THAT, BUT IT'S BECAUSE THEY LAST.
AND UM, AND WE ALSO DO, UM, ANY EEM EMERGENCY EVACUATION.
AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN CALLED OUT LIKE WE WERE IN MATTHEW, BUT WE DID A LOT DURING MATTHEW.
WE DO WHATEVER'S NEEDED ANYTIME THERE'S AN EVACUATION.
WE'RE WE ARE THE TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS.
THE THING I'D POINT OUT HERE IS THIS IS YOUR RIDERSHIP NUMBERS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PIE CHART AT THE TOP, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY IS AT 52% OF OUR RIDERS, UH, ORIGINATE FROM AN ADDRESS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO, UM, AS BEAUFORT COUNTY GROWS, YOUR SHARE OF THE PEOPLE GROW SOME HIGHLIGHTS.
UM, S-C-D-O-T, UH, THROUGH THE FTA IS FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, OF COURSE S-C-D-O-T IS THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
THEY TRANSFERRED FOUR MCI BUSES, UM, FROM SOUTHEASTERN STAGE LINES.
UH, THEY WERE A REGIONAL PROVIDER ALSO.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WENT OUTTA BUSINESS.
THE BUSES THEY THEY GAVE TO US AT, NO, WELL THERE'S CHARGES WITH GETTING 'EM READY BUT NO FEE AT ALL.
THEY'RE $900,000 BUSES AND THEY GAVE THEM TO PALMETTO BREEZE AND WE'RE ABOUT, THEY'RE ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD.
AND UH, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL AND WE NEEDED TO REPLACE SOME OF OUR BUSES AND THE, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA DOT KNEW THAT.
AND SO THEY PUT US RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE TO GET THESE BUSES THAT WERE NO LONGER IN SERVICE.
IT'S HUGE JUST IN THE LOCAL MATCH.
[01:45:01]
PAY THAT.UH, WE COMPLETED THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY TRANSIT MASTER PLAN AND UM, THERE WAS A LOT, UH, OF, TO BE SAID ABOUT HOW TO DEVELOP TRANSPORTATION, THIS SIDE OF THE BROAD RIVER.
AND THEN I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT THIS EXTRA GRANT.
UM, THIS IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT IN THE NORTHERN BUFORD TRANSIT STUDY.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO, UH, NORTH OF THE BROAD.
AND UM, IT'S JUST CREATING A A, A BUS SYSTEM THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU SEE IN OTHER PLACES WHERE BUSES CIRCULATE AND THEY MEET AT A A, A HUB AND FOLKS CAN GO FROM THEIR HOME, SAY TO THE COURTHOUSE OR TO SHOPPING OR TO THE DOCTOR JUST USING THE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
UM, BECAUSE THERE'S FREQUENT ENOUGH SERVICE.
UM, WE, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT A DOWNTOWN CIRCULATOR FOR BUFORT.
UM, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.
BUT WE'RE VERY POSITIVE ON THAT.
WE WANNA, UM, PROVIDE SERVICE, UH, TO THE MILITARY HOUSING, WHICH WE'VE NEVER DONE.
UM, BUT IT'S AN EXPANSION AREA.
THERE'S SO MUCH HOUSING UP THERE, THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT.
AND OF COURSE THE A DA PARATRANSIT SERVICE, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, UM, ANYTIME WE HAVE A A FIXED ROUTE BUS RUNNING ON A FIXED ROUTE SCHEDULE, WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A COMPLIMENTARY, NOT FREE, BUT COMPLIMENTARY MEANING SAME SERVICE WITHIN THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE, EITHER SIDE OF THE ROUTE TO PICK UP FOLKS THAT, UM, THE DOCTOR SAYS CANNOT GET THEMSELVES TO A BUS STOP.
SO IT COULD BE SOMEBODY BLIND, SOMEBODY ELDERLY, SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR.
AND SOME OF IT HAS TO DO WITH WHERE YOU LIVE.
IF THERE'S NO SIDEWALKS AND YOU DON'T WALK REAL WELL, YOU'RE GONNA QUALIFY.
AND THEN WE'LL GO RIGHT TO THEIR DOOR AND PICK 'EM UP AND TAKE 'EM WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
AND THAT'S THE A DA SERVICE AND IT WILL GROW AS THE FIXED OUTGROWS.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS THE EXTRA GRANT.
WE GOT THIS, THIS SAME, UH, MEMO.
AND UM, CHRISTINE IS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND SHE SAYS, WAIT, THAT SAYS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT, I JUST CLOSED THAT GRANT LAST WEEK.
SO WE GOT ON A CONFERENCE CALL AND SAID, WHAT IS GOING ON? AND THE FTA HAD A, HAD A PRACTICE OF WHEN THEY FULFILLED THE GRANTS, THEY WOULD TAKE OLDER MONEY.
AND SO THEY GOT UP TO A PLACE NOW WHERE WHOEVER THE ADMINISTRATOR IS SAID, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT ANYMORE, SO WE'RE NOT GONNA PULL FROM OLD MONEY.
SO THEY TOOK ALL THE OLD MONEY THAT SAT AND SAID, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD HAVE HAD IT.
SO WE'RE LIKE, WHAT? WE HAVE EXTRA MONEY? WELL, EXTRA MONEY IS GREAT BUT IT'S NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT MONEY.
SO WE LOOKED AT OUR SITUATION AND SAID, WELL, WE HAD ONE DAY TO DECIDE ARE DO YOU WANT THE MONEY OR WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? SO WE UH, TRANSFERRED IT TO NORTH OF THE BROAD BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A HUGE NEED SOUTH OF ABROAD, UH, FOR CAPITAL.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE, UM, THE, THE BLUE IS THE FEDERAL AMOUNT.
THE ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT IS LAST YEAR'S.
AND SO THAT'S NOT IN THIS PICTURE.
SO THE NORMAL GRANT WOULD BE THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THE REASON THE LOCAL MATCH WENT UP, THIS DOES GET COMPLICATED IS AS OUR URBAN AREA GROWS, THE RURAL AREA SHRINKS.
SO WHAT THEY DID WITH THE FUNDING, AND THIS IS PART OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, IS THEY GAVE US LESS RURAL MONEY, BUT WE HAVE MORE URBAN MONEY.
WELL, WE HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE OVER AT PALMETTO BREEZE THAT SAYS WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START PULLING SOME OF THE URBAN MONEY FOR NORTH OF THE BROAD, BECAUSE WE USED TO GET RURAL MONEY FOR THAT.
SO THIS YEAR WE TOOK A PERCENTAGE OF THE ROUTES AND DID THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S UH, A HIGHER LOCAL MATCH ON THAT MIDDLE GRANT BECAUSE THE OPERATING IS A 50% MATCH.
IT IS KIND OF COMPLICATED, BUT UM, IT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA SEPARATE THEM.
THE LAST ONE IS THE EXTRA GRANT WE GOT THE 853,000 AND YOU CAN SEE IT ALSO, IT HAS A SMALLER MATCH MONEY.
THE GREEN IS THE MATCH MONEY AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S ALL FOR CAPITAL.
AND SO THAT WOULD HELP US BUY VEHICLES FOR NORTH OF THE BROAD AS A REMINDER, HOW WE ARE REIMBURSED.
WE SPEND THE MONEY AND THEN WE APPLY BACK EVERY MONTH TO GET OUR GRANT MONEY BACK AND THE VEHICLES, UH, ARE PAID 85% BY A GRANT.
SO LEVERAGING THAT EXTRA GRANT TOWARDS VEHICLES GIVES US A LOT OF SPENDING POWER.
THE STRUGGLE IS, IS THE BIGGER YOU GROW OVER HERE AND WE START OPERATING MORE AND MORE BUS SERVICE AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS, THE LOCAL MATCH GOES UP BECAUSE IT'S 50% OF OUR OPERATING COST.
[01:50:01]
BUT THAT'S THE RULES WE LIVE BY.UM, AND THIS IS WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ALL, UH, RURAL ANYMORE.
AND UM, WE'RE UH, PULLING OUT THE URBAN GRANTS.
SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR BUDGET.
ASK THE UM, RURAL AMOUNT IS AROUND WHAT IT'S BEEN 3 0 1 6 1 4, THE URBAN SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
IF YOU PUT THOSE TWO NUMBERS TOGETHER, WE REALLY AREN'T ASKING FOR A WHOLE LOT MORE FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED LAST YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT 700 AND AND 33,000.
BUT WE HAVE THE NORTH OF THE BROAD MATCH AND THAT IS MATCHING TWO GRANTS AND THAT ADDS THAT 385,000.
AND UM, IT IS A LARGE ASK, BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOT TO BE AT THAT POINT.
IF WE, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THIS QUESTION COMES UP AT EVERY BUDGET MEETING I EVER HAVE.
WELL, HOW DO WE MAKE MONEY? AND I'LL TELL YOU, THESE ARE THE ONLY WAYS WE CAN MAKE MONEY.
WE CAN SELL OUR USED VEHICLES AND WE'RE DOING THAT AND UM, WE'RE SELLING SOME OF THOSE OLD MCI BUSES.
WE CAN SELL ADVERTISING AND UH, WE DO AS MUCH OF THAT AS WE CAN.
UH, WE SELL SCRAP METAL, WE HAVE INTEREST INCOME, WE DO SPECIAL EVENT TRANSPORTATION.
AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COMPETE WITH THE PRIVATE CHARTER OPERATORS AT ALL.
BUT OUR PARTNERS AND YOU'RE ONE OF OUR PARTNERS AND SO IS ARE THE OTHER TOWNS AND MUNICIPALITIES THAT PAY IN, SAY THEY HAVE AN EVENT.
AND WHAT WE CHARGE OUR PARTNERS IS PROBABLY ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE PRIVATE CHARTERS PROVIDE, BUT WE DON'T DO THAT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC 'CAUSE WE'RE REALLY NOT ALLOWED TO COMPETE.
WE DO THAT AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HELP OFFSET THE LOCAL MATCH AND THEN THE FAIR REVENUE.
WE DO GET THAT, BUT WE CANNOT PUT FAIR REVENUE UP AS A MATCH.
AND UM, ALRIGHT, SHE'S GOT MORE THE UH, I'M ALMOST DONE.
UM, THESE ARE THE ONLY WAY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA I'VE WORKED IN SO MANY STATES.
LOTS OF STATES ARE VERY CREATIVE IN HOW YOU CAN FUND TRANSIT.
SOUTH CAROLINA SAYS IT'S EITHER SALES TAX OR PROPERTY TAX.
AND, AND THAT'S IT FOR THE LARGE FUNDING.
IF WE WANT TO BUILD A FACILITY AND HAVE A TRANSIT SYSTEM, IT'S GONNA TAKE, YOU KNOW, A LOT BIGGER MONEY THAN WHAT'S COMING OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND.
I'D LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO NOT BE IN EVERYBODY'S GENERAL FUND AND JUST HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT HAS ITS OWN FUNDING.
AND, UM, APTA, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION THROUGH THEIR STUDIES HAVE SAID THAT EVERY DOLLAR SPENT ON PUBLIC TRANSIT RETURNS $5 IN ECONOMIC RETURN.
I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
UM, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
REGIONAL PLAN, UM, WHEN IS THAT IT APPEARS THAT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE THAT IS COMING INTO PLAY BECAUSE WE'RE NOW PULLING SOME OF THE OPERATING MONEY, THE 50% MATCH AGAINST, UM, THE NORTH OF THE BROAD GRANT.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPACTING YOU THIS YEAR.
I I I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PLAN.
I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PLAN, UH, DESIGNED TO ACTUALLY TRANSPORT THE CITIZENS FROM THE FAR END OF THE ST.
HELENA AND THE FAR END OF THE COUNTY ON SHELDON, BIGGER STATE SIDE BACK INTO THE COUNTY.
UH, I MEAN BACK INTO THE CITY AREA FOR DOCTOR VISITS, UM, JOBS, UH, UM, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND SO IIII SUPPORT THE, THE FUNDING OF THE NORTHERN REGIONAL PLAN.
YOU ARE ASKING FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A $400,000 UH, INCREASE.
UM, THE, UH, THIS IS A FIVE REGION, UH, BUSINESS.
UH, WHAT ARE THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES? UM, THE, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN FORMULA AND UM, FOR INSTANCE, UM, UH, HILTON HAD PACE FOR THEIR PART OF THE URBAN AREA ON THAT SIDE, BUT THEY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE RURAL BUSES BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING TO HILTON HEAD.
EACH COUNTY GETS A SHARE OF THE RURAL SIDE LIKE, UH, COLTON COUNTY, HAMPTON COUNTY, ALLENDALE COUNTY, JASPER COUNTY, THEY ALL PAY ON THE RURAL SIDE.
BEAUFORD PAYS ON EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU ARE UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORD ON THE URBAN SIDE ON THE SOUTH, UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT ON THE NORTHERN SIDE.
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE RURAL SERVICE 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RURAL SERVICE IN IN BEAU BEAUFORT AS WELL.
BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS OVER HALF OF OUR RIDERSHIP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I HAVE COUPLE.
[01:55:01]
V JASPER COUNTY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR BUDGET.CASPER COUNTY DOES CONTRIBUTE.
HARDY'S NOT AN URBANIZED AREA YET.
SO WE DON'T GET URBAN FUNDS DIRECTLY FOR THEM.
WE ALSO DON'T OPERATE A VERY MUCH IN HARDY.
WHAT WE OPERATE IN HARDY IS THE COMMUTERS COMING THROUGH AND THEY PAY THEIR SHARE OF THE RURAL BY PASSENGER.
WE DI WELL WE HAVE A FORMULA, UM, BUT WE AREN'T DOING ANY SPECIFIC SERVICES EXCEPT OUR ONE BLUFF AND BREEZE GOES UP INTO OTTE TO SERVE THE COLLEGES AND THEN COMES BACK TO BUCK WALTER.
OTHER THAN THAT, THEY DON'T REALLY GET ANY SPECIFIC HARVILLE SERVICES.
I KNOW AT ONE POINT I LOOKED, BUT HOW MUCH DOES A PERSON PAY TO RIDE FROM COLLETON DOWN TO HILTON? HAD TO WORK $4, $4 EACH WAY.
SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE TO INCREASE THAT IF, I MEAN YOUR BUDGET IS A BIG ASK.
AND THE OTHER THING I ASK I'VE ASKED EVERY YEAR IS YOU HAVE A SUMMER TROLLEY, I'VE RIDDEN IT.
WHY AREN'T YOU CHARGING THE TROLLEY? WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER AND I KNOW LAST YEAR THEY DID CONSIDER PUTTING A AFFAIR ON IT.
THE, THE IDEA OF THE TROLLEY, THE WHOLE CONCEPT WAS TO REDUCE THE CONGESTION ON THE SOUTH END OF HILTON HEAD.
IT WAS BASICALLY LOCKED UP BEFORE THE TROLLEYS.
AND WHAT THEY TELL YOU IN TRANSIT IS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CONVENIENT AND THERE'S BARRIERS.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DOLLAR, IT COULD BE A BARRIER TO SOMEBODY THAT SAYS, OH, WHAT IS THAT BUS? YOU KNOW, WHERE DOES IT GO? WELL NOW THAT IT'S FREE, THE DRIVER SAYS GET ON, GET ON.
IT'S AIR CONDITIONED AND THEY GET PEOPLE THAT COME HERE AND DON'T EVEN RENT A CAR AND USE THE TROLLEY.
I THINK IT, IT MAKES IT MORE USER FRIENDLY AND WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE TO CHOOSE IT.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH THAT.
'CAUSE THE DOLLAR FARE, 35,000 PASSENGERS, $35,000 WHILE THAT COUNTS, WHAT IF THAT, WHAT IF WE LOST A THIRD OF OUR RIDERSHIP, WHICH HAPPENS WHEN YOU RAISE YOUR FARES.
AND SO THAT WAS MY DECISION TO SAY IT WAS INTENDED TO REDUCE CONGESTION.
IT WILL REDUCE THE MOST CONGESTION IN THIS AREA BY BEING FAIR FREE.
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FAIR FREE SERVICES 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM TO SOLVE.
SO I KNOW A COUPLE YEARS I'VE RENTED A HOUSE IN PALMETTO DUNES FOR MY FAMILY TO COME DOWN AND THEY'RE STUNNED THAT IT'S FREE.
AND I'M STUNNED THAT IT'S STILL FREE WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING AT A POSSIBLE DEFICIT.
AND THEY'VE ASKED US FOR MONEY FOR THIS YEAR.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T GET THE FULL ASK FROM US AGAIN? WHAT WILL YOU END UP TRIMMING? 'CAUSE YOU'RE ASKING FOR, UM, A 55.8% INCREASE, WHICH IS A BIG ASK.
IT IS A BIG ASK WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN MILLAGE.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF WHEN YOU DON'T GET THAT? WELL WE CAN UM, NOT RUN SOME OF THE OPTIONAL SERVICES, WHICH IS A LOT OF THE DIAL AIDE AND COORDINATED TRIPS THAT PEOPLE CALL FOR.
THEN IT COMES TO CUTTING ROUTES BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET AND WE LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE AND YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT OUR OPERATING BUDGET IS.
AND IF WE CAN'T MAKE THAT MATCH THEN WE CAN'T RUN THAT SERVICE.
SO, AND NOW THE MUNICIPALITY'S GOOD WITH WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
UM, WE'RE JUST NOW MAKING OUR ROUNDS.
SOME ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE AND SOME ARE MAYBE NOT AS SUPPORTIVE.
UM, I THINK BLUFF AND JUST ASK FOR MORE, MORE DATA.
AND SO WE'RE PRODUCING MORE DATA FOR THEM.
THEY NEVER ASKED BEFORE, SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME DATA FOR THEM.
'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE RIDERSHIP DATA.
AND MR. DAWSON ASKED ABOUT THE NORTH OR THE BROAD.
UM, HOW MANY RIDERS DO YOU EXPECT THERE TO HOP ON THAT IF YOU INSTITUTE IT? I MEAN, I'M GONNA ASK FOR RIDERSHIP.
I OF COURSE I THINK THE STUDY ADDRESSED THAT.
THE NORTHERN BEAUFORT, UM, PLAN.
IT PROBABLY DID AND I APOLOGIZE.
I WAS OUT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND YEAH, WELL IT WAS PRESENTED TO US, BUT WE CAN GET THAT.
UM, I THINK GERALD AND, UM, THE THREE OF US NORTH OF THE BROAD GOT BRIEFED ON THAT.
WHICH IS IT? I MEAN, WELL I I COULDN'T TELL YOU OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S THE, IT'S IMPRESSIVE WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
UM, THOSE OF US, BUT WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION.
THE CONSULTANT DID SAY THIS WAS A VERY HIGH PROPENSITY FOR TRANSIT DEPENDENCE.
YEAH, I JUST HAD A, HAD A QUICK QUESTION GOING OVER THE, UH, REVENUES.
UM, I DON'T REALLY SEE TOO MANY OF THE ADVERTISING ON THE VEHICLES I SEE GOING AROUND AT LEAST NORTH OF THE BROAD.
IS THERE ANY PLAN TO INCREASE THE AD, UH, AD REVENUE AND THEN ALSO WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT AD REVENUE THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT IN? ABSOLUTELY.
THERE'S PLANS TO, UH, INCREASE IT AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE SECURING A CONTRACT WITH NOVANT HEALTH THAT WANTS TO PUT ADVERTISING ON THE SIDES OF ALL OF OUR COMMUTER BUSES.
WE'RE WORKING ON THAT NOW AND THAT'S, THAT'S GONNA BRING US IN SOME MORE MONEY.
AND UM, DO YOU KNOW OFFHAND, CHRISTINE, HOW MUCH DO WE GET IN TRANSIT ADVERTISING IN OUR BUDGET? LIKE 40 TO 50,000 IN ADVERTISING REVENUE? 40 TO 50,000
[02:00:01]
AT THE CURRENT.IF WE CAN GET NOVANT HEALTH, WHICH I BELIEVE WE ARE.
YEAH, I, PAUL DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
DID YOU SAY THE MCI BUSES? YES.
WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? MCI IS JUST A BRAND.
I SHOULD HAVE SAID LARGE MOTOR COACH.
OH, I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING.
LIKE 30 YEARS AGO WHEN MCI, UH, SPONSORED THE HERITAGE, IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME COMPANY.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND THAT LONG.
OH REALLY? IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME COMPANY.
OH, WELL THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
OH, I, I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD, UM, GET THE STUDY OF THE NORTHERN, THE NORTHERN NORTH OF ABROAD STUDY, UM, IF WE COULD GET THAT ELECTRONICALLY.
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN, UH, AWARE OF THAT FOR A WHILE AND UM, WENT TO SEVERAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT IT.
BUT WE COULD GET, IF WE COULD GET THAT TO ALL OF COUNCIL THAT SHOWS ABSOLUTELY THOSE ROUTES.
UH, WHICH ONE OF 'EM WAS A ROUTE TO THE TWO MAJOR MILITARY BASES TO DOWNTOWN AND BACK AND TO LADIES ISLAND.
UM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE ROUTES AND SOME OF THE OTHER INFORMATION WAS GOOD IN THAT.
UM, AND I DO LOOK FORWARD TO THE, UM, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NORTHERN, UH, ROUTING SYSTEM.
UM, IT'S ALMOST PIGGYBACKING ON HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON.
UM, AND UM, I THINK IT'S A SERVICE THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO GET INTO, UM, THE AREA, THE MORE POPULAR AREA JUST TO SHOP, TO GO VISITING DOCTORS AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
SO I LOOK, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
UM, WHEN I FIRST SAW IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, UH, AS A DRAFT, IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND, UM, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW HE IS NOT GONNA REACH OUT TO SING HELENA THAT WAY, BUT, UH, IT'S A START.
AND ONCE WE GET STARTED, WE CAN CONNECT LATER ON IN THE, IN MY LIFETIME.
SO IF WE, I, IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO GET THAT THROUGH STEPHANIE AT LOW COG INSTEAD OF THROUGH YOU.
THE THING THAT I WANT TO PRESENT, YOU KNOW, I WON'T BE BACK PROBABLY AFTER THIS YEAR, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF AT A TIPPING POINT RIGHT NOW.
EITHER WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH GRANTS AND LOCAL MATCH AND WE KEEP IT SMALL, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO AND WE MANAGE.
UM, WE COME IN BUDGET EVERY YEAR.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE THINGS TO GROW AND ACCEPTING THAT GRANT FOR CAPITAL AND, AND ASKING YOU FOR THE MATCH IS SO THAT WE CAN BUY VEHICLES FOR OVER HERE.
BUT TO REALLY DO THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER JUSTICE TO REALLY MAKE THIS HAPPEN, IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY.
AND, UM, AND THAT'S WHY I PUT UP THE, I KNOW YOU SAID NO MILLAGE, BUT PROPERTY TAX AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT ON THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM.
AND SO THE COUNCIL HAS TO DECIDE, IS THIS WORTHY TO MOVE THIS INITIATIVE FORWARD 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE YEARS TO BUILD IT, OR IS THIS NOT THE TIME? AND WE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THAT MEANS FOR NORTH OF THE BROAD.
'CAUSE WE, WE SIGNED IN EXCITEDLY TO, TO BRING MORE TRANSPORTATION OVER HERE.
AND IT DOES COST A LOT OF MONEY.
AND SO WE EITHER GO REALLY SMALL AND TINY INCREMENTS OR WE TAKE A PLUNGE AND SAY, YES, WE VALUE THIS AND WE WANNA, WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN OVER HERE.
LET ME MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK.
THE RIDERS FROM NORTH OF ABROAD THAT GO TO HILTON HEAD, CAN YOU GET US NUMBERS ON THAT? WE CAN ABSOLUTELY.
WE COUNT EVERYBODY SO WE CAN OKAY.
THAT ARE GOING BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING.
THAT LEAVES REAL EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT YES, WE HAVE NUMBERS FOR THAT.
SEE AT NIGHT GOING, STOPPING AT WALMART AND DROPPING PEOPLE OFF.
IT JUST WANT TO, AND I, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE WORKING WITH THE, UM, THE INITIATIVE TO LOOK AT, UH, A FERRY SYSTEM FROM SAVANNAH TO BEAUFORT AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PLANNING AHEAD.
AND, UM, WITH THAT, UM, WHEN YOU HAVE A, IN EMBARKATION DEPORTATION, YOU GOTTA HAVE A TRANSIT SYSTEM TO MOVE PEOPLE AROUND.
UH, ONCE THE FERRY COMES IN, UH, IT'S NOT GONNA BE A CAR RIDERSHIP, SO YOU GOTTA MOVE PEOPLE.
SO I SEE THIS AS REALLY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION, PLACING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE, WORKING WITH THAT, UM, TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF SERVICE AND STUFF.
I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT DO YOU WANT IN FIVE YEARS? AND IF YOU WANT LESS CARS AND MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THEN THAT'S THE CHOICE.
AND IF YOU'RE HAPPY JUST THE WAY IT IS WITH THE GROWTH, THEN WE STAY THE WAY WE ARE.
AND, UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS REALLY.
WELL THANK YOU FOR COMING AND PRESENTING.
OH, I HAD ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO BRING UP.
[02:05:01]
RIGHT, WE HAD APPROPRIATED THE 717,000 THAT WE ASKED, BUT THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR NORTH OF THE BROAD MATCH, AND WE'VE NOW REDONE OUR CURRENT BUDGET TO DO A PROJECTED BUDGET JUST TO REALLY TIGHTEN DOWN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE WHERE WE WANT TO BE.AND WE'RE ASKING FOR $81,016 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GET THE FULL AMOUNT LAST YEAR THAT MATCHED THAT NORTH OF THE BROAD GRANT.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.
AND PINKY HAS ALL THAT EXCEPT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THAT WE HAVE NOT BUDGETED FOR.
YOU WANT 81,000, CORRECT? YES MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, NEXT IS THE BUFORT CONSERVATION DISTRICT BUDGET PRESENTATION BY, UM, MS. DENISE SNICK, A COMMISSIONER CHAIR.
SO, UM, I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, A VISUAL THING BECAUSE, UH, WE'RE NOT REQUESTING AN INCREASE.
UM, YOU MAY RECALL, WELL, WE PROBABLY HAVE THE SMALLEST BUDGET ON RECORD FOR, FOR ALL YOUR, UM, AGENCIES.
UM, BUT WE DID ASK FOR A BIG INCREASE EVEN FOR OUR SMALL BUDGET LAST YEAR.
UM, AND WITH THE, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO DO CERTAIN PROGRAMS, UH, ON, UH, NORTH, UH, SOUTH OF THE BROAD OR DO AS MANY FESTIVALS AS WE COULD.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INCREASE THAT WE REQUESTED.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE OUR, OUR, UM, STAFF THAT LITTLE BIT OF A RAISE, A $1 OR AN HOUR RAISE.
WE ARE FULLY STAFFED NOW WITH ALL OF OUR PART-TIME PEOPLE.
UM, WE, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM YOUR, UH, OUTREACH BRIEF, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU'VE ENJOYED GETTING THOSE REGULARLY FROM US TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE FUNDS THAT YOU GIVE US.
WE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN MARCH WE HAD 1000 CONTACT HOURS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS AT SCHOOLS OR IN FESTIVALS.
UM, I KNOW AT ONE TIME MR. GLOVER SAID THAT, UH, YOU, YOU GET THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WITH THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, WE ALSO DO A LOT WITH, UM, OUR, WITH OUR LANDOWNER OUTREACH IN ADDITION TO ALL THE EDUCATION THAT WE DO WITH, UM, SCHOOLS AND FESTIVALS.
AND WE ARE REALLY, WE JUST, YOU'LL SEE ON YOUR NEWSLETTER, WE JUST WENT UP TO, UH, COLUMBIA AND WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR BACK.
UH, DNR HAS INCREASED THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT BUDGET BY $2 MILLION PER YEAR FOR RE RECURRING.
AND THAT MONEY WILL BE USED FOR US TO ACCESS OVER $140 MILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WITH MORE WITH OUR LANDOWNERS.
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE HAS REALLY DECLINED IN THEIR NUMBERS AND, AND ABILITY TO HELP CONSERVATION DISTRICTS IN, IN A HANDS-ON WAY.
AND SO, UM, THIS MONEY WILL WE'LL BE ABLE TO, LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE MET WALTER MACK, OUR FIELD AGENT, AND WE WRITE GRANTS TO GET HIM.
AND THIS WILL BE ANOTHER POOL OF MONEY THAT'LL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE.
UM, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THAT.
SO, UM, AGAIN, WE HOPE THAT YOU'RE ENJOYING OUR NEWSLETTER.
WE ARE, UH, WE'VE JUST SENT OUT OUR ECO CAMP FLYER FOR OUR 35TH YEAR, AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE LOW COUNTRY THROUGH THAT CAMP.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? TAP IS USUALLY MY QUESTIONER
I, I, I HAD ASKED, UM, SOME RESEARCH TO BE DONE AND MOST OF THE COUNTIES THAT WERE ASKED DO FUND YOU NO MATTER WHAT SIZE THOSE COUNTIES ARE.
UM, IT, IT'S A SERVICE EVEN, UM, SOME OF OUR LESS PROSPEROUS COUNTIES, SUCH AS BAMBERG AND, UM, I WON'T CALL THE OTHERS OUT, BUT THEY, WELL, CLARATON, THEY, THEY DO FUND.
AND, UM, IT, I, AS HAS BEEN SAID IN THE PAST, UH, Y'ALL HAVE HELPED WITH GRANT APPLICATIONS TO USDA FOR SOME OF OUR FARMERS AND OTHERS, UH, AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THOSE, UH, WITH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROGRAM AND, UM, PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE WITH OTHER PROGRAMS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCILMAN GLOVER HAS ANY COMMENTS ON THAT OR NOT, BUT, UM, OH, NO, I THINK THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I APPRECIATE, UH, DENISE, UH, OVER THE YEARS AND, UM, SHE'S, SHE'S REALLY THE HEART OF CONSERVATION, UM, AMONG FARMERS, SO THANK YOU.
AND THE ECO CAMP SERVES, UM, YES.
I, YEAH, TWO GENERATIONS IN MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN TO ECO CAMP, SO YES.
I APPRECIATE WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR THAT.
ALRIGHT, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS, UH, MILITARY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE COLONEL WARREN PARKER.
HE'S CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE.
[02:10:09]
I ONLY HAVE ONE SLIDE TODAY,BUT, UH, GOOD MORNING AND THANKS FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UH, I'M WARREN PARKER AND I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BUFORD COUNTY MILITARY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE.
UM, MY ONE POWERPOINT SLIDE TODAY IS OF A MARINE
IN FACT, THAT IS THE ONLY REASON THAT WE EXIST IS MY FRIEND AND THE VERY FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE.
UH, S***T VON HART SAID TO ME ONCE, UH, THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE ONLY EXISTS TO SUPPORT AND FURTHER THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND IF THE, UH, IF THE MARINE CORPS HERE IN BEAUFORT NO LONGER DOES THAT, THEN IT DESERVES TO MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
BUT WE THINK IT NEEDS TO BE HERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HERE FOR MANY YEARS.
UM, OUR BASES DON'T EXIST AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROPOSITION, ALTHOUGH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OUR MILITARY HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IS PROBABLY OVER $3 BILLION NOW AND CERTAINLY IN EXCESS OF 22,000 JOBS.
THE MISSION WE SUPPORT HERE IN BEAUFORT IS TWOFOLD.
WE MAKE MARINES AND WE PROVIDE TACTICAL AIRCRAFT TO THE SECOND MARINE AIRCRAFT WING AND THE FLEET MARINE FORCES, UH, BOTH OF COURSE COME WITH NAVY MEDICAL SUPPORT AND AS A LONGSTANDING MILITARY COMMUNITY, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE IDEALLY SUITED FOR THAT MISSION.
THE MEC WANTS TO CONTINUE TO BE A WAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE MARINE CORPS AND THE NAVY.
AND IN THE PAST WE'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN EXPEDITING FUNDING FOR THE LAUREL BAY FIRE STATION.
OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS FOR ADDITIONAL HANGERS FOR THE F 35 AT MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, AND SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RIFLE RANGE AT PARIS ALLEN.
AND CURRENTLY, YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN IT, BUT YOU NEED TO GET OVER THERE.
COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY AND OTHERS ARE ENGAGED IN A LIVING SHORELINE PROJECT AT PARIS ISLAND IN ORDER TO BUILD RESILIENCY AGAINST, UH, STORMS AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
UM, THAT GRANT CAME FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND WAS EXPEDITED BY THE MEC.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE EIGHT VOTING MEMBERS, UH, TWO APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY, MYSELF AND ED SAXON, ONE BY THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
UH, VERY MAUD ONE BY THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL JIMMY BOOZER, UH, ONE BY HILTON HEAD, CARLTON DALLAS NOW, AND ONE BY BLUFFTON.
UM, WALTER NESTER HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE MEC AND TWO BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LISA MCKAY AND RETIRED AIR FORCE COLONEL BEN ELL.
UH, ALL OUR FUNDING IS RESERVED FOR MEC ACTIVITIES AND WE'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AGAIN THIS YEAR WITH NO INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
IN ORDER TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION, WE ASK THAT THAT AUTHORIZATION BE IN PLACE AND THAT WE ONLY WITHDRAW THOSE FUNDS AS THEY ARE, AS THEY'RE NEEDED FOR MAC OPERATIONS.
UH, BEAUFORT AND PORT ROYAL CONTRIBUTE 15,000, UH, EACH.
AND ANOTHER QUESTION WILL THEN ARISE.
WHAT ABOUT HILTON HEAD AND BLUFFTON? AND I PUT THAT MISSION ON CARLTON DALLAS AND WALTER NESTOR'S PLATE.
IT DID NOT MAKE THE CUT IN THE BLUFFTON BUDGET, UH, LAST YEAR, BUT WE HOPE TO GET IT IN THERE THIS YEAR, THIS WAY.
UH, THIS YEAR WE INTEND TO PURSUE DESIGNATION AS A GREAT AMERICAN DEFENSE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF DEFENSE COMMUNITIES.
THIS DESIGNATION RECOGNIZES THOSE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, THAT DEMONSTRATE EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, AND MARINES, THEIR FAMILIES AND VETERANS.
WE BELIEVE BEAUFORT IS ALREADY A GREAT AMERICAN DEFENSE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AS SUCH.
WE, UH, WORKED CLOSELY, UH, OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH SENATOR GRAHAM'S OFFICE, UM, UH, TO ASSURE FUNDING FOR THE NEW VA CLINIC THAT SOON TO BREAK GROUND IN POOR ROYAL.
THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF A TASK WITH GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS AND VARIOUS OTHER OBSTACLES THAT WERE PUT IN, PUT IN, UH, PUT IN PLACE THERE.
BUT, UH, IT WILL COME HERE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.
[02:15:01]
A COLLABORATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR MILITARY FAMILIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT.COLONEL BEN ELL, UH, IS WORKING THAT, UH, PROGRAM FOR US.
WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE FUNDING FOR A, UH, SUPER CLINIC HERE IN BEAUFORT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SERVE MARINES AT PARIS ISLAND AND THE AIR STATION.
AND THAT CLINIC, UH, HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
UH, I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT IN 1995, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
SO THE SUPER CLINIC IS THE CONCEPT IS OVER 30 YEARS OLD.
AND MY ATTENDANCE IS TO PUSH HARD, UH, FOR THE PLANS AND FUNDING AND TO MAKE IT FINALLY HAPPEN, UH, OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO US IS THE FUTURE OF THE NAVAL HOSPITAL.
AND MANY OF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW AS WELL, UH, THE DEFENSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP HAS WORKED PLANS FOR THAT, UH, EVENTUALITY.
IF AND WHEN THE HOSPITAL CLOSES, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AND WE HAVE PLANS IN PLACE AND IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A PLAN.
THOSE PLANS REMAIN IMPORTANT TODAY.
WE JUST WENT THROUGH A PROCESS TO, UH, UM, DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR THE COAST GUARD TRAINING FACILITY.
WITHOUT THE MEC AND WITHOUT THE PRIOR PLANNING OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL THAT PROPOSAL TOGETHER IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT WAS ALLOTTED TO US.
I THINK IT WAS A WINNING PROPOSAL.
UM, AND WE DIDN'T WIN THIS ONE.
BUT IT WAS A, A, UH, AN EXEMPLARY EFFORT BY THE COMMUNITY TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
UH, DEFENSE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP LED BY BEN COP AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LED BY JOHN AND O'TOOLE DESERVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION.
UH, IT'S NOT THE END, IT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING OF WINNING MORE DEFENSE RELATED ACTIVITIES.
WE HOPE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, BE IT MARINE CORPS, COAST GUARD OR THE OTHER SERVICES.
WE BELIEVE WE'RE THE RIGHT PLACE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME.
WITH THE NEW VA CLINIC AWARD FINALIZED, IT'S IMPORTANT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FUNDING, UH, OF THE SUPER CLINIC AND BEGIN TO SERIOUSLY PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE UNDERUTILIZED NAVAL HOSPITAL PROPERTY.
WE'RE ACTIVELY SEEKING MEETINGS RIGHT NOW WITH THE NAVY SENIOR LEADERSHIP TO DO JUST THAT.
TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE BEGINNING, S***T VAR HARDEN SAID, AT BEST, BEAUFORT SUPPORTS ITS MARINES AND SAILORS BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE.
AND WE ASKED FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THAT MISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS OPEN UP FOR YES, SIR DAVE? UM, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS AS YOU KNOW, THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATIONS IN MY DISTRICT.
UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ACTUALS FROM LAST YEAR.
UH, HOW MUCH DID Y'ALL DRAW DOWN FROM THAT, UH, LAST AWARD? I'D HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU, DAVE.
BUT YEAH, I FULLY SUPPORT THIS ASKING AND TO CONTINUE YOUR MISSION.
I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE MR. PARKER AND THE WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING, UM, FOR THE ENHANCEMENT, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR MILITARY BASE HERE IN BEAUFORT AS A VALUABLE, UH, COMMODITY.
AND WE DO NOT WANT IT TO LEAVE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT IT DOES HAVE ON THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EFFORTS YOU'VE BEEN DOING AND YOUR COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.
'CAUSE PARIS ISLAND AND THE NAVAL HOSPITAL ARE IN MY DISTRICT AND THE WORK WAS AMAZING.
THAT WAS DONE SO QUICKLY ABOUT THE NAVAL HOSPITAL AND THE COAST GUARD.
I JUST WISH, WISH IT HAD BEEN A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, BUT IT IT WAS A GREAT PACKAGE THAT WENT FORWARD AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DID A LOT OF QUICK WORK ON THAT AND INCLUDING YOU TOO.
ANY OTHER? AND CHAIRMAN, I JUST WANT TO ECHO WHAT YOU JUST SAID BECAUSE, UM, THE PACKAGE THAT WENT IN, UM, WAS TOP OF THE LINE AND WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE COAST GUARD HERE.
IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF WHAT WE YOU DID AND THIS COMMUNITY DID IS YEAH.
WAS YOU DID A STELLAR JOB DOING IT WAS POLITICS.
WE FIGURED THE QUA, THE COAST GUARD OUGHT TO BE SOMEWHERE NEAR THE WATER.
OF COURSE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SAYS
ALL RIGHT, NEXT ON THE LIST IS THE, UH, COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER BUDGET PRESENTATION BY DR. JENNIFER COBB HAYES, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION.
[02:20:01]
HAYES.WE TRIED TO MAKE THAT CORRECTION AT THE LAST MINUTE.
I AM ANGIE SALLY, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER.
AND AGAIN, GOOD MORNING TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THIS MORNING.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT I MADE YOU AWARE THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE OR THAT WE WERE HERE, UM, THAT THE MERGER FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES AND DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS OCCURRED ON APRIL 28TH, 2025 TO CREATE THE NEW AGENCY OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
AND WE ARE NOW THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
BUT TO JUST SIMPLIFY THAT FOR EVERYONE, THANK GOODNESS WE ARE STILL YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY MENTAL MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OPERATING AS COASTAL EMPIRE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH.
OUR MISSION CONTINUES TO BE TO SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF PEOPLE MENTAL ILLNESSES.
SO, UM, I WON'T GO THROUGH SLIDES OF INFORMATION THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW, AND THIS SLIDE DOES NEED TO BE UPDATED BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER 200,000 PEOPLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I HAVE THIS SLIDE BECAUSE JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE DO REPRESENT FIVE COUNTIES, THE COASTAL EMPIRE.
UM, WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS THAT OPERATES UNDER THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH.
WE COVER THE SAME TERRITORY AS THE 14TH CIRCUIT.
AND MANY OF THE PRESENTERS THAT HAVE BEEN BEFORE US WITH BEAUFORT, JASPER, COLTON, HAMPTON, AND ALLENDALE, WE HAVE FIVE CLINICS.
UM, WE DO HAVE TWO CLINICS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH IS THE REEBOK ROAD LOCATION THAT HAS OUR BEAUFORT CLINIC AND OUR BEAUFORT ADMINISTRATION.
AND THEN WE HAVE A CLINIC ON DI ROAD IT FOR HILTON HEAD TO SERVICE THAT SIDE OF THE BROAD.
OUR BOARD IS AN ADVISORY BOARD.
IT IS, UM, NOW NINE MADE UP OF NINE MEMBERS.
FOUR OF THOSE SEATS ARE FOR, DEDICATED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, TWO FOR COLTON, ONE FOR HAMPTON, ONE FOR, UH, JASPER.
AND CURRENTLY OUR ALLENDALE SEAT IS VACANT.
OUR TWO HIGHLY ESTEEMED, UH, BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY ARE DR. THOMAS MILLER AND MS. LEANNE SMITH.
WE ARE, UM, HOPEFUL TO HAVE ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER, UM, THAT HAS BEEN, UM, PUT FORTH TO THE OFFICE OF DELEGATION.
AND WE ARE WAITING HOPEFULLY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN REALLY SOON AND HOPE WITH SOME HELP OF FILLING THE NEXT VACANCY.
COMPREHENSIVE CARE IS WHAT WE DO.
COMPREHENSIVE OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS WHAT WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.
WE ARE, UM, TREATING BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UH, THERE ARE NO AGE LIMITS TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL, WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE TRAINED IN TREATING REALLY YOUNG, IN SMALL CHILDREN, UM, IN EARLY, UM, FOR EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES, PARENT CHILD INTERVENTION THERAPY, WHICH IS THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE THAT IS MOST, UM, DESIRED TO WORK WITH REALLY SMALL CHILDREN, UM, ACTUALLY FROM ZERO TO TWO, UM, IN TWO TO FIVE YEAR OLDS WHERE YOU'RE REALLY WORKING MORE WITH THE PARENT.
BUT WE ARE PROUD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF TRAINING, EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, UM, TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE MORE QUALITY ORIENTED RECOVERY SERVICES TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ALL THE COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE.
THIS IS JUST A LIST OF ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING HERE IN BEAUFORT.
SO AS YOU NOTICE, UM, COMPREHENSIVE CARE MEANS THAT WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PSYCHIATRIC NURSES, NURSE PRACTITIONERS WITH A FOCUS IN PSYCHIATRIC CARE.
WE ALSO HAVE, UM, OUR PSYCHIATRISTS OF COURSE, AND, UH, WE ALSO HAVE COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT, UH, WE PROVIDE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH INCLUDE HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFY.
IT INCLUDES INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT SERVICES, WHICH IS WHAT WE REFER, REFER TO AS IPS, WHICH IS A VOCATIONAL SERVICE WHERE WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH VOC REHAB.
BUT WE HAVE OUR OWN TEAM OF, UM, INDIVIDUALS.
THEY ARE BACHELOR LEVEL STAFF WITH A FOCUS IN SOCIAL OR HUMAN SERVICES AND SOCIAL, THE SOCIAL SCIENCES THAT WORK WITH OUR PATIENTS AT ANY LEVEL WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO WORK OR TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.
AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THAT IS A BLUE RIBBON PROGRAM AND IT'S ALSO A NATIONAL PROGRAM.
AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH GETS, UM, IS
[02:25:01]
CONSIDERED ONE OF OUR BLUE RIBBONS, UM, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.WE ALSO HAVE HOME SHARE, WHICH IS A, IF YOU CAN KIND OF PICTURE FOSTER CARE FOR ADULTS.
AND SO WE DO STILL HAVE SOME HOME CARE PROVIDERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THAT NUMBER HAS DECREASED OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WE ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY RECRUITING PROVIDERS.
WE PROVIDE LOTS OF SUPPORT TO THOSE PROVIDERS, TRAINING TO THEM.
THEY HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO IS, UM, ASSIGNED TO WORK AND DEDICATED TO THAT PROGRAM TO ASSIST WITH ANY NEEDS THAT THAT PROVIDER AND THE PATIENT HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT ARE LISTED UP THERE.
OH, CLICKER'S NOT WORKING IS ME OR THE CLICKER, MAYBE IT'S ME.
SO THOSE ARE SOME, I MENTIONED SOME OF THE SPECIALIZED SERVICES, OTHER SPECIALIZED SERVICES HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IS OUR MOBILE CRISIS TEAM, WHICH OPERATES TWENTY FOUR SEVEN THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE DAYS A YEAR THAT SOMEONE CAN CALL ABOUT SOMEONE WHO'S HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR THE INDIVIDUAL THEMSELF EXPERIENCE IN THE CRISIS CAN CALL AND THEY CAN HAVE AN ONSITE MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE TO THEM.
IN THE LAST YEAR, OUR MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE INCREASED.
WE HAVE HAD, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DIVERT OVER 123 PATIENTS IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF Y 24.
THAT INCREASED TO 150 INDIVIDUALS BEING DIVERTED FROM EITHER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS OR DETENTION CENTERS WHEN THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS VERSUS THEM HAVING TO GO TO JAIL WHEN THAT'S NOT THE OPTION OR THAT'S NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
WE ALSO PROVIDE ONSITE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHICH WE ARE PARTNERED WITH AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPPORTS US IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
WE ARE IN, I BELIEVE WE'RE SLATED TO BE OR INDICATED TO BE IN 14 SCHOOLS, BUT BECAUSE A STAFF SHORTAGES RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY IN FIVE TO SIX SCHOOLS.
MOST OF THOSE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW ARE IN THE BLUFFTON HILTON HEAD AREA BECAUSE THE STAFF SHORTAGE IS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW WITH SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH IS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING AND SEEKING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
WE DID RECENTLY, I THINK HAVE AT LEAST ONE ACCEPTANCE THAT HOPEFULLY THAT PERSON WILL BE STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER, UM, CONTRACTOR THAT HAS STARTED THAT IS NOT A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE E OF COASTAL AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE CONTRACTING WITH A PROVIDER FOR THAT SERVICE TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, UM, PROVIDE SERVICES ON SITE AT THE SCHOOLS.
UM, OUR ART OF RECOVERY PROGRAM IS NOT ACTIVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE, UM, A PEER SUPPORT SERVICE SPECIALIST THAT WILL BE ONBOARDING SOON WHO WE HOPE TO RESTART.
THAT PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE TREATMENT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WORKING WITH US.
THAT PERSON NOT ONLY SERVES B BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE OUR LARGEST AND MOST ACTIVE GROUPS FOR ART OF RECOVERY.
IT IS A PART OF THE PATIENT'S TREATMENT AND WE SEE LOTS OF SUCCESS IN THOSE PROGRAMS. THE PATIENTS ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SELL THEIR ART AND THEY KEEP 100% OF THE PROFIT WHEN THEY SELL THEIR ARTWORK IN BEAUFORT.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL BLUE RIBBON PROGRAM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EMBEDDED CLINICIANS.
UM, RIGHT NOW IN BEAUFORT, THAT CLINICIAN IS DEDICATED TO BEAUFORT CITY, UM, POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT TO COST SHARE FOR THEIR BEAUFORT.
SO WE ARE ASKING OTHERS TO HELP SUPPORT, UM, THE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING IN THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
AND COLLETON COUNTY IS ALSO DOING THE SAME.
SO WHAT WE DO WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE SOMEONE EMBEDDED IN THE DEPARTMENT, WE STILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THEM.
MOBILE CRISIS STILL RESPONDS TO THEM.
AND OUR DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CONTACTS AND LIAISON AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, SO, OKAY.
UM, OUR MOBILE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR, THE FUNDING THAT WE DID REQUEST ON LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OUR HIGHWAY TO HOPE AND OUR MOBILE CRISIS EMBEDDED, OR OUR MOBILE CRISIS PROGRAM, WE LOST A GRANT THAT FUNDED THOSE PROGRAMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.
THAT GRANT STILL HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE SLIDE SAYS THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR A HUNDRED PLUS PERCENT INCREASE IN OUR ASK, WE ARE STILL ASKING FOR WHAT WE REQUESTED LAST YEAR OF IN THAT AMOUNT WAS $112,000, 112 500.
[02:30:01]
AND SO THAT'S STILL THE ASK FOR THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE A DECREASE IN THE STATE, UM, ALLOCATION THAT IS GIVEN TO THE CENTER.AS I'VE SAID TO YOU ALL BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A STATE AGENCY, WE ARE NOT TOTALLY FUNDED BY THE STATE.
AND SO EVERY, FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, IT APPEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN CUT 3% IN THOSE STATE ALLOCATIONS ON TOP OF EXPERIENCE AND THE GRANTS THAT WE LOST ON LAST YEAR THAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO LOSE THAT WE NOT ONLY LOST BEING RERO OR THAT GRANT BEING RENEWED, BUT ALSO THE FUNDING THAT WE HAD NOT USED WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM.
SO, UM, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN'T GET 112,500 IF WE CAN'T FUND ALL THAT? WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR PROGRAM? CUT.
SO IF, IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, THEN THE ADDITIONAL STAFF THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ADDED TO THAT PROGRAM TO CONTINUE BEING IN THE LOCATIONS AND EXPANDING THOSE SERVICES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY WILL LIKELY NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STAFF AN ADDITIONAL POSITION FOR THAT.
ALSO FOR OUR MOBILE CRISIS PROGRAM, THAT'S WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN BECAUSE THIS YEAR, UM, THE WONDERFUL DR. JENNIFER COBB HAYES WAS ABLE TO MOVE AROUND.
I CALL IT MONOPOLY MONEY, UM, WITH THE STATE, IT'S BLUE MONEY, YELLOW MONEY, WHITE MONEY, GREEN MONEY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE, SO CERTAIN FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME FUNDING TO ALLOCATE FOR ONE OF THE MOBILE CRISIS POSITIONS THAT WE COULD USE A CONTRACTOR FOR.
BUT IF THAT DOESN'T CONTINUE NEXT YEAR, OR IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 2027, IN WHICH WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE A LOT HAS CHANGED ABOUT HOW EVEN THOUGH WE PUT TOGETHER OUR BUDGET FORECAST, WE'RE PRESENTING LATER IN THE MONTH OF MAY.
AND WITH ALL THE CHANGES TO THE AGENCY, WE ARE NOT SURE HOW WE, IF WE WILL GET THE ASK THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TO THE STATE CURRENTLY.
AND SO WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FILL THAT POSITION EITHER, WHICH COULD DECREASE RESPONSE TIME TO ONSITE REQUESTS FOR MOBILE CRISIS VISITS IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO COVER AT THE CHUCKLE.
WHEN YOU SAID MONOPOLY MONEY, I REFER TO THAT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK MONOPOLY MONEY GROWS UNDER THE MAY RIVER.
I LAUGH WHEN YOU SAID MONOPOLY MONEY,
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS I HAD? I HAD A QUESTION.
UM, WE, WE HEAR FROM THE HOSPITAL, BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
DOES YOUR MOBILE TEAM, UH, IF, IF SOMEONE COMES IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH AN OBVIOUS MENTAL AND THEY JUST COMPLETED, YOU KNOW, A AREA THEY CAN PUT PEOPLE WITH THOSE CHALLENGES, A SEPARATE WAITING AREA FOR DO, DO THEY CALL YOU THE MOBILE TEAM? OR DOES, HOW DOES THAT WORK? SO THE MOBILE CRISIS TEAM WOULD BE ACTIVATED AND PROBABLY VERY INVOLVED IN THAT PERSON IF THEY NEEDED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
SO THEY, THEY CANNOT RESPOND TO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT COVERED FOR PROVIDING SERVICES INSIDE THE HOSPITAL.
WE'RE NOT CREDENTIALED FOR THAT.
AND SO THEY DO CONSULT WITH US, AND THEN WHAT WE DO IS WE COORDINATE CARE FOR CONTINUITY FOR THE PATIENT UPON DISCHARGE WITH THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW CRISIS STABILIZATION OR EMPATH UNIT THAT THEY HAVE THERE.
UH, YOU SAID THE CITY OF BEAUFORT HAS, UH, FUNDED? YES, MA'AM.
ANY OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, HAVE YOU APPROACHED, UH, BLUFFTON OR HILTON? NO, MA'AM, WE HAVE NOT.
UM, AND THAT WAS THROUGH THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM, IT WAS.
AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, HOW THEY'VE, UM, UTILIZED YOUR SERVICES TOO.
AND THE OTHER COUNTIES FUND THIS, ALL OF THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE FUNDING US WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALLENDALE.
AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE, WE WILL CONTINUE TRYING.
SO, UM, GOING BACK TO THE MUNICIPALITIES, WILL YOU MAKE AN ASK TO THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THIS YEAR? WE CERTAINLY WILL.
YEAH, I, I I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE, UH, STATE CUTS.
YOU SAID THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN CUTTING YOUR BUDGET, UH, LAST YEAR, THE YEAR BEFORE.
UH, MENTAL HEALTH HAS NOT DECREASING.
SO WHAT IS THE STATE, UH, POSITION AS FAR AS THEM CUTTING YOUR BUDGET? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, MR. DAWSON.
SO, UM, WE, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT.
UM, SO WHAT WE ARE LEFT WITH IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO MORE WITH LESS, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
[02:35:01]
TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED.AND SO WE GET VERY CREATIVE ABOUT HOW WE DO THAT, AND THANK GOODNESS THAT WE HAVE VERY DEDICATED EMPLOYEES THAT WHEN WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO MORE WITH LESS, THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO STEP UP TO THOSE CHALLENGES.
BUT I WISH I KNEW THE ANSWER TO WHAT THE STATE WAS PLANNING OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE, OR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AS FAR AS THE FUNDING BECAUSE, UM, AS WE LOOK AT THE, UH, PROPOSALS THAT JUST CAME FROM THE SENATE OR THE, UM, BUDGET THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER, UM, IT, WELL, I, I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T COMMENT ON THAT SINCE THIS IS BEING RECORDED.
IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, IS WHAT I WILL SAY.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
UM, LAST ON OUR AGENDA IS A BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, UM, GRATEFUL TO BE HERE, BE ABLE TO WORK IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU PUT IN, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, LAST YEAR I STOOD HERE AND I, MY PRESENTATION WILL COME UP.
AND THEN IF YOU COULD PUT THE TIMER ON THERE, BECAUSE I, I WANT TO HONOR YOUR TIME, UH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME.
UM, LAST YEAR WE STOOD HERE AND, UH, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF SITE AND JOB FUND.
AND SO WE WORKED OVER THE LAST YEAR TO GET A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF, UH, HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE USED AND, AND OUR TARGETS.
ALSO, UH, THIS PAST, UH, MARCH, MARCH 5TH, EXACTLY FIVE, FIVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, PARTOOK IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
AND AS I GO THROUGH MY PRESENTATION TODAY, MANY OF THESE SLIDES, IF YOU WENT TO THE, UH, STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION WHERE I'VE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST, YOU'VE SEEN THEM.
BUT I'D ASK YOU TO LOOK AT IT FROM START TO FINISH AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT BEING AN EXPENSE, BUT AN INVESTMENT, A REVENUE CREATOR.
UH, SO IF YOU WOULD TAKE THAT EYE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF I, IF I DON'T, UH, I'M UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT.
SO, UH, WE'LL GO OVER EXPECTATIONS, THE ORIGINS OF HOW WE GOT HERE, UH, COMPONENTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND METRICS.
AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHOULDN'T JUST BE ACTIVITY, BUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE GETTING FOR WHAT YOU'RE PAYING, UH, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN.
AND AS RECENTLY IN THE, UH, PAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE A, A VERY ENGAGED BOARD.
UH, CLEARLY NOT A RUBBER STAMP BOARD.
AND, UH, A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS, UH, HOPEFULLY INFORM BETTER POLICY OUT OF US.
UH, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH, UH, GREAT YOUNG TALENT, UH, SUPPORTING US.
AND KELLY, UH, BRUNSON AND BRIAN WARNER ARE EXAMPLES OF THAT ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION.
WE CONTINUE TO, UH, UH, HOLD THE THREE, UH, PILLARS, OUR EXHILARATING ENVIRONMENT, READY AND SKILLED WORKFORCE, AND THEN MAKING SURE, UH, THAT WE PROVIDE ON PARALLEL SERVICE.
THIS PAST, UM, WEEK, WE MET WITH AN INCUMBENT COMPANY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY THAT WAS DOING ABOUT 400, UH, THOUSAND A MONTH IN SALES.
THEIR SALES ARE, UH, UH, MOVING UP OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A MONTH, AND THEY NEED A FACILITY FAIRLY QUICKLY.
SO WE WORK WITH THOSE TYPES OF COMPANY.
THE, UH, COMPANY HAS BEEN IN THE, UH, COUNTY FOR FIVE GENERATIONS.
AND, UH, UH, THEY APPRECIATE WHAT WE DO TO MOVE THEIR PROJECTS ALONG, AND WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM IN THE PAST.
UH, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OUR MISSION AND VISION AND DIVERSIFICATION.
UH, WE HAVE A LASER FOCUS EVERY DAY.
OUR WORK PLAN, OUR USE OF FUNDS ARE FOCUSED ON THAT.
UH, WE TRY TO LIVE WITHIN THE, UH, BALANCE, UH, THAT IS, WE CALL IT THE BEAUFORT BALANCE.
AND, UH, IN, UH, THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO YOU, UH, WE MAKE MENTION OF THAT.
AGAIN, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THERE WAS AN ISLAND PACKET STORY IN NOVEMBER 20, UH, NINTH, 2015.
I'D ENCOURAGE YOU TO CLICK ON THAT AND LISTEN TO, UH, WHAT WAS BEING SAID AT THE TIME AND WHERE WE WERE BEFORE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WAS FORMED IN OUR ORIGINAL STRATEGIC PLAN.
THESE WERE THE COMPONENT PARTS, UH, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO ALWAYS LOOK BACK TO OUR ORIGINS TO UNDERSTAND, UH, UH, DID WE, ARE WE GETTING DONE WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE AS WE, UM, UH, LOOK AT BUFORT AND, AND THIS COUNCIL IS KEENLY AWARE OF IT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPETING INTERESTS.
YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING WITH RESOURCES.
UH, THE LAND RESOURCE HAS ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT
[02:40:01]
INTERESTS BEARING DOWN ON IT.AND AS YOU HEARD FROM, UH, MARTIN GOODMAN OR WARREN PARKER, I, I'LL, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THIS MODEL VERY QUICKLY.
BUT WHAT WE DO, UH, IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IS THE WHOLE IDEA OF CONVERGE.
AND THAT IS THE THEME OF OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
BUT IT'S REALLY BRINGING TOGETHER ALL OF THE DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT BUILD THE MOSAIC, WHICH IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I WON'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE, BUT IT'S, UH, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BUSINESSES YOU HAVE, UH, EXPANDING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PATHWAYS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BECAUSE IN BEAUFORT, YOU HAVE THE DIGITAL CORRIDOR.
IN BLUFFTON, YOU HAVE THE DON RYAN CENTER.
SO IT'S, IT'S LESS IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF BUILDING A BIG ECONOMIC, UH, APPARATUS OR CORPORATION.
MORE IMPORTANT TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PEOPLE LIKE, UH, WARREN PARKER, WHO SPOKE ON THE MEC.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS A COMPONENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CLOSING THE GAP.
UH, UH, WE, UH, ON HOUSING, WE WORK VERY CLOSELY, UH, WITH THE HOUSING TRUST AND EACH OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AS PROJECTS COME FORWARD.
AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'VE DONE A SURVEY.
WE HAD, UH, UH, UH, 470 PEOPLE REGISTER FOR CONVERGE 120, WATCHED IT ON THE, UH, COUNTY CHANNEL.
AND THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET FROM THE SURVEYING THAT WE DID.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU WANT TO SAY, WELL, HOW IS BUFORT DOING? SO IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, OUR GROWTH IN JOBS, UH, HAS EXCEEDED, UH, THE STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, SOUTH CAROLINA IS, IS, UH, THE FASTEST GROWING STATE IN THE NATION.
HOW DO WE STACK UP AGAINST OTHER MSAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA? WE FINISHED THIRD IN TERMS OF MEASURING RESULTS.
WE LOOK AT INVESTMENT, UH, JOB CREATION, UH, UH, THERE'S BEEN QUESTIONS BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ON THE QUALITY OF THOSE JOBS IN THE LAST, UM, UH, FIVE YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THAT GO UP, UH, 90%.
AND THEN INCENTIVES, UH, TO COMPANIES, AND WE CAN SPEAK ABOUT THAT.
THIS SHOWS THE GRAPH IN WAGES.
AGAIN, CHECKING BACK TO THE COMPONENT PARTS, THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR ALLIANCE AND, UH, UH, CHAIR, UH, ALICE HOWARD IS ON THE SCA BOARD.
SO THESE WERE SOME OF THE, UH, UH, UH, CONCEPTS THAT WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE WITH THE SOUTHERN CAROLINA ALLIANCE.
OUR WORK PLAN, AGAIN, WE DISTILL THE BUDGET YOU GIVE, UH, TO US, TO THESE COMPONENT PARTS.
IT'LL BE INFORMED BY THE STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH SHOULD, UH, HOPEFULLY BE RATIFIED IN THE NEXT 45 DAYS.
UH, BUT THEN WE BUILD OUT THE, UH, STRATEGIES.
AND I TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS COMPANY, UH, LAST TIME I APPEARED, UH, BEFORE, UH, COUNCILMAN LAWSON'S COMMITTEE FOR AN UPDATE.
BUT THIS IS A, A TEXT FROM THE CEO OF A COMPANY WHO MADE A $35 MILLION INVESTMENT.
THE TEXT CAME TO ME, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY, UH, KELLY BRUNSON'S SWAY WITH THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE THAT MOVED THIS ACROSS THE, UH, FINISH LINE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, UH, THIS IS THE FIFTH LARGEST DEFENSE CONTRACTOR IN THE US WHO DECIDED TO STAY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
AND THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
I KNOW IN THE SLIDE DECK THAT WAS PROVIDED TO YOU, AND IF I'M SPEAKING LIKE A FEDEX COMMERCIAL, I WAS TOLD TO BE BRIEF.
I PROVIDED YOU 63, UH, SLIDES.
AND, UH, WE'RE WHIPPING THROUGH A FAIR AMOUNT OF THOSE.
YOU ALL HAVE MY CELL PHONE NUMBER.
SO IF YOU HAVE, UH, QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO CALL ME PUBLIC CAN AS WELL.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT, AND LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE COUNTY SECTION HERE.
SO TOTAL $11 MILLION, 8 MILLION OF THAT WAS SITE AND JOB FUNDS.
UH, RIGHT NOW BETWEEN CASH AND LAND, 5,000 OF THAT IS, IS HELD.
SO THERE, THERE, THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN DRAWN DOWN, BUT NOT SPENT ASSETS IN A WAY.
UH, THE, UH, COUNTY HOLDS NEARLY 3 MILLION IN THE ACCOUNT.
WE, WE, WE HOLD IT WITH THE COUNTY AND DRAW DOWN AS THEY'RE USED AND ABOUT $1.5 MILLION, UH, UH, OR I'M SORRY, $2 MILLION IN LAND.
AND SO, AND THEN OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, GRANTS TO ADVANCE THE MISSION, WHETHER IT'S, UH, SITE DEVELOPMENT, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'VE DRAWN OVER $3 MILLION IN INVESTMENT.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR NO INCREASE IN THE UPCOMING YEAR.
UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, UH, UH, JUST UNDER 400,000 IN FUNDING.
I WANT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE GOTTEN FOR YOUR INVESTMENT, AND I EXPECT IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WE'LL TIP OVER THE BILLION DOLLAR MARK, WHICH WILL, UH, UH, BE A, A, A GREAT MILESTONE.
AND THEN, UH, THE JOBS CREATED, AVERAGE COMP OVER THOSE EIGHT YEARS IS OBVIOUSLY LOWER THAN THE AMOUNT
[02:45:01]
I SHOWED YOU IN THE PREVIOUS GRAPH, WHERE OUR LEADS COME FROM.A GREAT MANY ARE GREEN AND THEY COME, UH, UH, FROM LOCAL SOURCES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR COMPLETED PROJECTS, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE PREDOMINANCE, UH, COME FROM LEADS OF RESIDENTS, UH, REAL ESTATE PEOPLE, BOARD MEMBERS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, REFERRING LEADS TO US.
AND SO WHEN WE LAST, WE DID THIS EXTRAPOLATING FROM OUR LAST REQUEST OF CLEMSON, WE'RE ANNUALLY OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN, UH, ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE TOUCHED AND 400, UH, 4,200 DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS.
WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THESE SECTORS, AND I'M GONNA STOP WITH THIS SLIDE.
UH, BUT WE HAD A REALLY GOOD, UH, UH, UH, SESSION TO GO OVER OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, AND, UH, WE HAD GREAT PARTICIPATION FROM ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, UH, IN YOUR PACKET PAGE, UH, 30, UM, IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS EMAILED TO YOU, PAGES 36, 37 AND 38 WILL OUTLINE SOME OF THE OUTCOMES FROM HERE.
AND I HAVE THESE ON THE PHONE SLIDES, BUT I WANNA SAY I'M DONE BEFORE YOU HEAR THE NEXT ALARM
SO I AM DONE, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS.
HEY, LET'S OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS FOR MR. OELL.
HAVE JUST QUICK QUESTION, JOHN, I KNOW YOU JUST SAID 4,200 JOB.
I, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS LIKE A BREAKDOWN OF LIKE THE NAME OF THE COMPANY, HOW MANY JOBS, WHAT'S THE TOTAL, UH, JOBS THAT, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THESE, THE ARE GETTING PAID FOR THE JOBS, AND WHAT'S THE TOTAL INVESTMENT THE COMPANY'S PUT IN TO BEFOR COUNTY? SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, YOU HAD SAID 4,200 JOBS.
IS THAT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS? OR? THAT WOULD BE OVER THE LAST EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE, THE NUMBERS THAT I SHOWED YOU.
I THINK IT'S 3,200 FROM THE PROJECTS WE WORKED ON, WHAT THEY'RE PROJECTING PLUS, UH, THE OH MULTIPLIER JOBS THAT ARE BORN FROM IT FOR 909 MILLION.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING, LIKE, WE CAN GET YOU THAT LIST.
YEAH, BECAUSE LIKE, WHAT I WOULD LIKE AN EXAMPLE, LIKE YOU BROUGHT A COMPANY IN, IN BLUFFTON.
I THINK THEY CAME FROM GERMANY OR SOMEWHERE, I CAN'T REMEMBER CS INSTRUMENTS.
IS THAT WHAT YEAH, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
AND THEY'RE GOING RIGHT IN BUCK WALTER PARKWAY, RIGHT? CORRECT.
I JUST WANNA KNOW, LIKE THE NAME OF THE COMPANY, HOW MANY JOBS? I THINK IT'S ONLY LIKE 11 OR 13.
AND THEN HOW MUCH ARE THEY PAYING FOR THOSE JOBS AND WHAT'S THE TOTAL INVESTMENT? THAT'S ALL.
OR LIKE, MAY I, I DON'T WANT YOU TO GO BACK EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS.
I'M JUST LOOKING, WE KEEP BOTH THOSE RECORDS LAST TWO, WE KEEP THEM LAST TWO YEARS.
IF WE COULD DO THAT AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, SO IT'D BE REALLY JUST ON ONE PIECE OF PAPER, BASICALLY.
WE'LL, UH, THE ONLY THING I'D CAUTION YOU IS, IS THAT I, I'M ALWAYS EXTRAPOLATING WHAT THE JOBS ARE, THE QUALITY OF THE JOBS.
BUT I, I'D BE REALLY HARD PRESSED TO GIVE YOU THE, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF JOBS AND THE PAYROLL NUMBERS THAT THEY WERE PROJECTING, BECAUSE IT, IT COULD BE PROPRIETARY, IT COULD BE, UH, JUST ASK A DISADVANTAGE TO MAKE THAT PUBLIC.
BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU WE HAVE THAT.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK YOU AND THANK MR. MOORE, UM, FOR THE WORK, UM, THAT YOUR STAFF MEMBER, UM, BECAUSE THEY KEEP RETENTION AND THEY KEEP IN CONTACT WITH, UM, THOSE WHO HAVE COME IN.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH, AND I'M NOT TOO SURE WHETHER WE COMPLETED THE TASK YET, BUT, UM, THE CUSSO FARM WITH THE BLUEBERRIES, UM, BECAUSE OF BRIAN, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT COMPANY, UM, TO HELP THEM HOPEFULLY, UH, TO SAVE, UM, THEIR CROPS, UH, OF BLUEBERRIES.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO YOU AND BRIAN AND, UH, CAN'T NOT SAY, UM, ENOUGH ABOUT KELLY.
UH, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE'S, UH, STILL IN THE WORKS, BUT WHAT WE DO AND, AND WE MET WITH THIS COMPANY, UH, UH, THAT'S, UH, PACKAGING COMPANY THAT'S GOT THE SALES THAT ARE, ARE, ARE JUST, UH, REALLY BLOSSOMING.
AND, AND HIS FAMILY'S BEEN HERE FOR FIVE, FIVE GENERATIONS.
AND HE WAS LIKE, THIS BEAUFORT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
UH, AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK BEAUFORT NECESSARILY IS DIFFICULT.
WE CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, SO WE ARE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE DO.
BUT IF WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND BRIAN MEETS WITH 90 COMPANIES A YEAR, AND JUST LISTEN TO PEOPLE'S PAIN POINTS AND BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE BACK TO, UH, YOUR ADMINISTRATOR, YOUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, TO ENGINEERING, TO AT
[02:50:01]
LEAST LOOK AT IT.IF PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LISTENED TO, UH, WE, WE HAD A COMPANY, UH, UH, THAT IS TRYING TO LOCATE A FACILITY IN THE COUNTY AND THEY CAN'T GET THEIR, THEIR FINAL APPROVALS, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR IN THAT MUNICIPALITY AND AT LEAST COMMUNICATE BACK.
AND IT'S JUST THAT COMMUNICATION SOMETIMES MORE SO THAN EVEN THE RESOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM, UH, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ACCURATE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN, UH, MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE.
SO, UH, I DO WANT YOU TO LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, ORGANIZATION AS, UH, UH, AN INCOME GENERATOR.
BUT I, I HOPE YOU ALSO LOOK AT IT AS A, A CUSTOMER EXTENSION OF WHAT YOU DO HERE ON THE COUNTY, AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY TO THIS COUNCIL, UH, QUESTIONS AND CON AND CONCERNS WE HAVE FOR, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT, UM, WHEN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WAS ESTABLISHED AND SET UP, AND JOHN WAS HIRED AS THE DIRECTOR, CONS AT THAT TIME, UH, INSTITUTED, UH, A BYLAW THAT JOHN WOULD REPORT TO COUNSEL ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
WE, WE USED TO DO THAT AND WE GOT AWAY FROM IT.
AND I THINK NOW A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE WOULD BE ANSWERED IF WE INITIATE AND GO BACK TO HAVING JOHN REPORT TO US ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
SO I, I PUT THAT IN YOUR U'S YES, SIR.
AND WE'VE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND WE CAN DO THAT.
UH, I, FORMER ADMINISTRATION, I THINK, UH, QUIT HAVING YOU COME AND NOT, NOT COUNSEL, IT WAS ADMINISTRATION, BUT OUR NEW, OUR NEW ADMINISTRATORS WELCOME TO THAT IDEA.
SO WE NEED TO DO IT, WE'LL START IT.
WE'RE, WE'RE MEETING WITH, UH, MIKE, UH, UH, IT'S ON THE, ON THE BOOK.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH MIKE REGULARLY, AND HE CAN, AND, UH, UH, WE HAVE, UH, UH, MADE, UH, A REQUEST TO GET ON THE SCHEDULE.
SO I BELIEVE ALL THAT'S IN THE WORKS.
UH, I WILL SAY THIS, THAT WE, UH, DON'T DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY.
I THINK WE DO A LOT OF THINGS VERY WELL.
UH, BUT AS THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION SHOWED US, THERE ARE, ARE ADJUSTMENTS, THERE ARE, ARE, ARE, THERE'S FINE TUNING THAT WE CAN MAKE WITH YOUR INPUT IF, IF WE GET IT, UH, AND, UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY LISTEN TO IT.
AND COUNCILMAN DAWSON, WE'LL ASSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS ON OUR REGULAR, ON THE QUARTERLY BASIS, IF NOT MORE WHEN NEEDED.
PRESIDENT, HAVE THE MUNICIPALITIES AGREED TO FUND EDC? UH, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO OF THREE.
THE FOURTH ONE DID NOT FUND LAST YEAR, AND I HAVE AN INQUIRY INTO THEM, SO I I I SHOULD HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM SHORTLY.
WELL, WE HAVE FOUR MUNICIPALITIES WHO'S MISSING? I KNOW ABOUT THE ONE.
SO, AND, UH, BEAUFORT HASN'T, UH, GONE OVER THEIR BUDGET YET, SO, BUT THE, UH, UH, I WAS JUST AT A MEETING ON HILTON HEAD, UH, MONDAY MORNING, AND THAT WENT WELL.
I WATCHED THE, UM, UH, BLUFFTON MEETING AND THEY SORT OF DO THEIR OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE DON RYAN CENTER.
THEY, THERE WAS A WHOLE THING IN THERE.
AND I KNOW HILTON HEAD DOES A LOT OF THEIR OWN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHY WE'RE SO SPLINTERED AND WHY SCA ISN'T PROVIDING US MORE OF A SERVICE WHEN WE PAY $120,000 A YEAR TO THEM.
AND I'VE, I'VE SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL, AND MY COMMENTS WERE DISTRIBUTED, UH, IN ORDER TO INCITE AND TO, UH, GET PEOPLE EXASPERATED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE WITH SEA, UH, UH, COUNCIL, UH, CHAIR ALICE HOWARD IS ON THEIR BOARD.
UH, UH, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, UH, A LEADERSHIP CHANGE.
UM, UH, THEY'VE GOT GREAT STAFF RIGHT NOW.
UH, SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY EXPECTING, UH, THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE MORE VALUE FROM SCA THAT I, UH, OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, WE, WE, IF YOU GO TO THE ORIGINAL, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE, THERE WOULD BE EXPECTATIONS, NOT WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT, BUT WHAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVE TO OCCUR.
UH, UH, WE, WE CONTINUE, UH, UH, TO TRY TO WORK REALLY WELL.
I THINK, UH, NEXT WEEK KELLY'S GONNA GIVE UP A WHOLE DAY TO VOLUNTEER TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF SEA.
SO, UH, I, I THINK WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS AND, UH, UH, AN EYE TOWARDS THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET VALUE OUT OF EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR,
[02:55:01]
UH, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S, YOU AND I HAVE MORE CONVERSATION.YOU, ALICE AND I, AND ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, HAVE CONVERSATION ON THAT.
BUT I, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THINGS THAT, UH, HURT PEOPLE.
I DON'T WANNA SAY THINGS THAT, UH, UH, FRUSTRATE PEOPLE.
SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO KIND OF GET EVERYONE TO PUT DOWN THEIR SWORDS AND, AND JUST FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN ALL PUSH IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
BUFORD'S, UM, I, I, I, I STRONGLY BELIEVE, AND NEXT WEEK WE'LL PROVE IT'S A, A, A MAGNET FOR INVESTORS.
IT'S A MAGNET FOR, UH, UH, PEOPLE LOOKING FOR A QUALITY OF LIFE AND A PLACE TO LOCATE PERHAPS, UH, UH, ICONIC HEADQUARTERS AND BACK OFFICE OPERATIONS AND THINGS THAT WOULD PROVIDE GOOD JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO LET'S, UH, LET'S TRY TO, IN THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, UH, GET THE MOST VALUE FOR THAT 120,000.
MAYBE WE HAVE THEM COME AND TALK TO US.
WELL, I, I, I
BUT, UH, I THINK TALK IS CHEAP.
I, I THINK, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING SESSIONS CON CONCRETE TIME WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SIT DOWN AND SAY, I, I WOULD REALLY LIKE THIS.
AND SOMEBODY SAYS, I, YOU, I CAN'T DELIVER YOU THAT, BUT I CAN DELIVER YOU THIS.
SOME, IT'S, IT'S TOO SLOW COMING.
AND I, I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, RATHER THAN A PRESENTATION LIKE THIS, I THINK WE NEED A WORK SESSION ON IT.
YEAH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
ALRIGHT, JIM, WE'LL LET DAVE GO AHEAD.
I WANTED TO SORT PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
UM, I THINK GERALD TALKED ABOUT THE, THE, UM, THE INITIAL CONCEPT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD HERE IN BEAUFORT.
AND ONE OF THE ISSUES, UH, MS. HOWARD AND MR. DAWSON CAN GO BACK, UH, BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, UM, IS THAT, UM, THIS COUNTY HERE, UM, WAS STRUGGLING WITH BEING IN THE ALLIANCE.
UM, AND SENATOR DAVIS SAID, YOU MUST BE IN AN ALLIANCE.
UM, WE WERE BASICALLY BECAUSE OF SENATOR DAVIS GETTING SOME FUNDING FROM THE STATE, BUT HE SAID TO US THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE IN AN ALLIANCE.
AND WE TRIED TO DO AN ALLIANCE WITH CHARLESTON AND BERKELEY COUNTY AND DORCHESTER, AND THEY SAID, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
AND WE TRIED TO DO AN ALLIANCE WITH JASPER COUNTY, AND JASPER SAID, NO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANNA HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
AND SO WE WENT BACK TO THE ALLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE COUNTIES, ABOUT SEVEN OF THEM.
UM, BUT WE NEVER REALLY, AT THE TIME WE CREATED THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WE NEVER PLACED A WHOLE LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THE ALLIANCE.
UM, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST WHERE I CAME IN.
AND, UH, WE ALWAYS LOOK TO YOU TO BE THE DRIVING ENGINE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD TO BE IN THE ALLIANCE, I THINK WE WERE BASICALLY TALKING ABOUT JUST PUTTING WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO BE A PART OF THE ALLIANCE, WHICH WAS THE MINIMUM THAT WE COULD DO.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
SO IF WE WANT TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE CAN HAVE AND MOVE FORWARD AND STUFF.
BUT, UM, I LOOK TO YOU FOR LEADERSHIP AND WE GOT TO WORK THROUGH THE ALLIANCE.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A, IT IS AN INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT DEPENDING ON THE ALLIANCE TO BRING IN JOBS AS MUCH.
WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU, BUT WE ARE PART OF THE ALLIANCE, SO LET'S GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM THEM AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION, LIKE YOU SAID, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND WORK THROUGH AND TALK THROUGH AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S GO BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED FROM AND SEE WHERE THAT'S WHERE WE WANNA BE TODAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE SHOULD HAVE.
IF I, IF I, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER QUICKLY, BUT THE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA MODEL FOR DELIVERY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TO A DEGREE, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND THEN THESE, UH, THE REGIONAL ALLIANCES.
IT'S A GREAT DELIVERY SYSTEM, AND I'M SURE WITH CONVERSATION WE CAN IMPROVE IT.
I SHOULD GET, I SHOULD ANSWER ONE QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED.
UH, LIKE THIS MONDAY, WE HAD, UH, HILTON HEADS, UH, PERSON IN CHARGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN OUR STAFF MEETING.
UH, WE ENJOY THE SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON.
SO IF THERE IS SOMEBODY IN THAT SPOT, I THINK IT'S MORE IMPORTANT, LIKE IN ON, IN HILTON HEAD, IF WE HAVE PROJECTS COMING FORWARD, THEY, THEY WANT THE, YOU KNOW, THE ADMINISTRATOR WOULD LIKE A STAFF MEMBER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND SEE IT BEFORE WE BRING IT IN.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY A, A POINT OF CONTACT.
THEY'RE NOT WORKING IN THE SAME SPACE, BUT WE WORK VERY COLLABORATIVELY WITH THOSE TOWNS THAT HAVE THAT PERSON COUNCILMAN BAR.
AND, UM, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ARE BROUGHT
[03:00:01]
UP.DID THE, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY FOLLOW UP ON IT, DID THE 461,000, UH, AUDIT FUND OR DISCREPANCY, DID THAT EVER GET CORRECTED? AND WAS THERE ANY REPORT EVER GENERATED TO US REGARDING THIS? UH, YES.
I BELIEVE THE AUDIT AND A LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR AND OUR TREASURER WAS SENT TO YOU ALL.
IT'S ALSO ALSO LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
DID ANYONE RECEIVE THE LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR? I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE, I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT DIDN'T GET SENT, I JUST DON'T REMEMBER.
YEAH, WE, WE, WE SENT IT OUT TO EVERYONE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE IT'S SENT TO YOU THE DISCREPANCY, AND LET ME DESCRIBE IT.
UH, WE BOUGHT LAND IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR, UH, A 461,000.
WE, UH, OUR AUDIT, OUR ACCOUNTANT, WHO WE CHANGED IN JULY, BOOKED IT AS AN ASSET.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LISTED AS A CONTINGENT ASSET BECAUSE YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT CAVEAT MEMORIALIZED THAT SAYS IF YOU SELL THIS ASSET, THE PROCEEDS COME BACK TO THE COUNTY.
UH, IT WAS, UH, UH, IT WAS BROUGHT UP, UH, DURING, UH, OUR, OUR, UH, UH, OUR INITIAL INTERVIEW, UH, WITH THE AUDITORS, AND IT WAS CORRECTED.
SO HAVING MOVED TO A, A NEW ACCOUNT ACCOUNTING FIRM, THAT'S EXCELLENT.
UH, A LOT OF THE TRANSACTIONS WE DO, AND, AND IF YOU READ THE PAPER, THEY'RE A LITTLE NUANCED, AND SOME OF THAT GOT LOST, BUT, UH, IT WAS CORRECTED IN SECONDS.
IT WAS THE DIFFERENCE WAS CALLING IT AN ASSET OR CALLING IT A CONTINGENT ASSET.
AND TWO, JUST TWO OTHER QUESTIONS.
ONE IS THE, IS IT GONNA BE A YEARLY AUDIT NOW? YES.
LOOKING INTO THAT, AND THEN HAS THE, DO YOU KNOW IF THE STATE HOUSE HAS FORMALIZED, UH, THE MILLION DOLLAR TRANSFER THAT JUST TOOK PLACE? WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT AT THIS POINT.
AND WE, WE, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR CONCERN, AND YOU AND I SPOKE, I BELIEVE LAST FRIDAY MORNING, UH, UH, IT WAS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TRANSFER THE MONEY ON, ON THE ADVICE OF A SENATOR OR A, UH, UH, UH, NOT ANOTHER NONPROFIT, AND THEN HAVE, UH, A, A STATE ORGANIZATION COME BACK TO LOOKING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS FROM US THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THIS IS REAL TIGHT IF WE TRANSFER ANY FUNDS AND, AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT ASSURANCE RIGHT NOW.
AND, AND I THINK A POINT OF FRUSTRATION THAT MANY OF US FELT WAS, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD COMMUNICATION WITH MIKE, BUT WE RECENTLY GOT COMMUNICATION ABOUT IT.
WE, WE FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT.
AND I THINK GOING TO MR. DAWSON'S POINT, THE QUARTERLY UPDATES, I THINK WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL MOVING FORWARD TO HELP HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WHAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, I I THINK YOUR TIMING WAS PRETTY GOOD IN THAT OUR BOARD DIDN'T SEE IT.
UH, WE, WE SAW MIKE CLASS WEDNESDAY, UH, AND BRIEFED HIM ON IT WAS THAT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY MORNING.
BUT, UH, PRIOR TO OUR BOARD MEETING, OUR BOARD LOOKED AT IT AND OUR BOARD, OUR BOARD APPROVED IT, I THINK, UH, TEN ONE OR 11 ONE.
AND SO, UH, YOU AND I SPOKE FRIDAY MORNING, BUT UH, OUR BOARD HADN'T EVEN CONSIDERED THE QUESTION TILL LAST THURSDAY.
AND YOU KNEW IT BY ABOUT IT BY FRIDAY MORNING.
IT DIDN'T COME FROM ANYBODY ON STAFF OR COUNCIL.
IT CAME FROM OUTSIDE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE WERE PAYING ATTENTION.
THAT, THAT'S WHERE I GO BACK TO THE FLOW OF INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, I THINK BETWEEN ALL PARTNERS, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
UH, BUT I THINK THE FLOW OF INFORMATION IS JUST HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND BE ABLE TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.
AND THAT'S A GOOD, A REALLY GOOD POINT AS WE WENT THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, UH, UH, I'LL REALLY SAY MY, MY FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE, UH, FREQUENTLY BECAME OBVIOUS TO ME.
AND I, I'LL TAKE THAT QUITE SERIOUSLY.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU, THIS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED BECAUSE IT CAME TO THE BOARD MEETING.
SO, PUT IT THAT WAY, HOWEVER, TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL HAD VOTED DOWN THE PROPOSAL, IT LOOKED LIKE AN END ROUND.
SO IT WENT TO THE BOARD MEETING, LIKE HE SAID.
THAT'S WHY YOU ALL NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT TILL IT, IT GOT US AT THE BOARD MEETING FIRST THAT, SO I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION JUST SO I'M CLEAR.
SO THE MILLION DOLLARS IS STAYING RIGHT THERE WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE STATE DECIDES WHERE IT'S GONNA GO? YEAH.
WE WE'RE GONNA NEED ASSURANCES FROM, UH, ACCORDING AND I, WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST, LAST THURSDAY, BUT A, ACCORDING TO TANISHA JAMES WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GRANT IN AN EMAIL SHE SENT TO ME ON FEBRUARY 18TH, INDICATED THAT, UH, WE, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE SPONSORING SENATOR APPROVAL TO DO SO.
AND SHE SUGGESTED WE GET THAT IN WRITING.
UH, BUT WE ARE, WE ARE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE, AS, UH, WAS DISCUSSED LAST WEEK, UH, A THREE PART CONTRACT WITH THE OPEN LAND TRUST WITH OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE STATE TO MAKE SURE IT'S TIGHT
[03:05:01]
AND, AND WE'RE OUT OF IT AND NOT ON THE HOOK FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA DO THE SETTLEMENT OTHER THAN YEAH.
I BELIEVE, UH, OPEN LAND TRUST IS USING A LAWYER OUTTA COLUMBIA.
UM, COUNCILMAN LAWSON, AND JUST, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAVING, UM, MR. O'TOOLE COME BEFORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS PROBABLY WHERE HE NEEDS TO COME.
AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING IT QUARTERLY.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY MY FAULT WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
SO IF THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD PUT THAT IN A SCHEDULE AND, AND SOMEHOW WORK THAT OUT WITH YOU MR. MITCHELL.
THAT'S COMING UP OUR NEXT FINAL, YES.
AND IT CAN BE MORE THAN QUARTERLY WHEN NEEDED, RIGHT? WHEN NEEDED.
WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT COMING UP.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEC BUILDING, UH, WHICH IS, IT INVOLVES A BIT OF CREATIVITY AND, AND, UH, RECOLLECTION OF HOW WE DID THE LAST ONE.
SO WE, AND WE'LL BE GOING OVER THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, CHAIRMAN? YEAH.
BEFORE WE ADJOURN, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, SURE.
I WANNA LET HER ADMINISTRATOR HAVE A MINUTE IF HE WANTS TO.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
THE QUESTION, UH, FROM MR. UH, THUE IS, IS, UM, YOU CONCERN ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION? IS THAT, IS THAT THE QUESTION OR WHAT IS THE CONCERN? YEAH, I, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROJECT AND THE VOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK YOU FOUND OUT VERY QUICKLY.
FROM, FROM COMMUNICATION, BECAUSE THE MEETING WAS ONLY ON, LOOK, I'M NOT TRYING TO FIGHT.
I FOUND OUT FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY.
NO, I'M SAYING YOU FOUND OUT QUICKLY.
UM, BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY, YEAH, BECAUSE IT WAS CONTROVERSIAL.
UH, IT WAS ONLY A MEETING ON THURSDAY THAT IT HAPPENED.
AND, AND I FOUND AND YOU FOUND OUT QUICKLY.
IT WAS NOT COMMU, BUT IT WAS NOT FROM ANYBODY FROM STAFF OR THIS COUNCIL.
IT WAS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, I THINK ARE, ARE YOU EXPECTING MR. O ON THURSDAY TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU WHAT HAPPENED? I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW QUICKLY CAN HE COMMUNICATE.
IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE VOTED DOWN.
AND THE REALLOCATION OF THAT MONEY, MONEY PACKAGE WAS FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD COMMITTEE.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE VOTED DOWN AND IT WAS IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR US TO KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE PERCEPTION IT PUTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT DOES LOOK LIKE AN END AROUND, ARE YOU ASKING MR. OTO TO INFORM YOU BEFORE THEIR BOARD MEETING ON THIS ACTION SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW, BE AHEAD OF TIME? THE REALITY IS HE HAD A MEETING WITH OUR ADMINISTRATOR A WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENED.
YOU TOLD ME ON THE PHONE DAY BEFORE YOU TOLD ME ON THE PHONE THAT YOU'D MET WITH MIKE ON WEDNESDAY, THE WEEK BEFORE.
I GOT A LOT OF FACTS STRAIGHT IN MY PRESENTATION.
I DID SAY, I THINK THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE OR THAT MORNING, IT WAS THE, THE DAY BEFORE.
AND SO YOU WERE ASKING MR. MOORE TO INFORM YOU THE, UH, ABOUT THAT INFORMATION OR, OR THAT DISCUSSION BEFORE.
I'M, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT THE COMMUNICATION ASPECT.
YOU'RE MAD BECAUSE OF THE PERCEPTION.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR CLEARLY MAD.
ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S, YOU WERE CLEARLY MAD.
LET'S, LET'S STOP THIS DISCUSSION IF WE CAN AND WE CAN.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF MR. MOORE OR OUR CFO HAVE ANY LAST COMMENTS BEFORE WE, I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT WORKSHOP.
UH, WE GOT A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
SOME, WE HAVE SOME, UH, THINGS THAT ARE DUE OUT TO US FROM SOME OF THE PRESENTERS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COORDINATE WITH, UM, MS. HARRIET WITH THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR.
AND I, I'M SURE, UM, MS. BROCK KEPT A LIST OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR FROM SOME OF THE PRESENTERS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY LAST COMMENTS? NO, I'M JUST GONNA LET YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THE OVERALL BUDGET WITH, UH, REVIEW WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR.
SO, UM, WE HAVE NOT PREPARED WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FROM ADMINISTRATION.
UM, BUT WE WILL HAVE THAT AS WE PRESENT THE OVERALL COUNTY BUDGET.
MR. MOORE? YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, WE, UH, WE HAVE, YOU ALL HAVE THE SPREADSHEET.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING THROUGH THIS.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF REQUESTS AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP MILLAGE NEUTRAL.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOU ALL AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD BE IN OUR BUDGET.
OBVIOUSLY COUNCIL APPROVES, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO TO BE MILLAGE NEUTRAL.
AND SO THAT'S OUR, THAT'S OUR ENTERING ARGUMENT UNLESS WE RECEIVE ANY OTHER DIRECTION.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF LIKE, I'LL, I'M JUST POINTING OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF ADDITIONAL I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE, UM, MS. BROCK AND, AND MS. HARRIET SEND US AN EMAIL OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASK FOR, THAT WE NEED FROM SOME OF THE PRESENTERS.
IF WE COULD DO THAT, LIKE JUST A SHORT EMAIL.
AND ACTUALLY WHILE Y'ALL WERE MEETING, WORKING ON THAT, WE RECEIVED, UM, SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU ASKED FOR AND HAVE SENT IT TO YOU, WHICH YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SEE YET.
UM, WHAT, UH, PERCENTAGE OF THE, UM, MILLAGE, UH, GROWTH WE ARE GONNA ANTICIPATE ZERO ZERO MILL GROWTH? WE'VE ASKED THEM TO BE MILLAGE NEUTRAL.
TALKING ABOUT GROWTH INCREASE THE VALUE, VALUE NUMBER SHE DOESN'T KNOW YET.
I JUST RECEIVED ASSESSMENT NUMBERS THIS WEEK, SO THAT IS MY TASK PRETTY MUCH FOR THE NEXT WEEK.
[03:10:01]
VALUE CALCULATIONS DONE.I JUST DON'T WANNA GIVE YOU A NUMBER THAT I DON'T KNOW YET.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRICE I HAVE, WHAT, WHAT YOU'LL SEE WHEN WE PRESENT OUR BUDGET.
WE UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, WHAT'S THE VALUE OF A GROWTH OF THE, OF THE GROWTH IN THE MILL.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL BE CALCULATING THAT AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MAKE OUR, UH, LIKE WE SAID AT THE BEGINNING PRESENTATION, WE'RE DOING THE MERIT INCREASES.
WE'RE DOING THE COST COST OF, I MEAN, THERE'S THESE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE GONE UP TOO, SO.