May 04, 2026 Community Services and Public Safety Committee

[00:00:01]

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT, IT'S TWO O'CLOCK.

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

UH, IF WE CAN ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC.

REPUBLIC FOR WHICH ADVANCE NATION, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.

ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL.

AND SARAH, UH, THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND POSTED IN, IN ACCORDANCE, UH, WITH FOIA.

YES, SIR.

IT HAS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UH, NOW CAN I GET

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

GOT, UH, SECOND THAT GERALD AND PAULA, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT OR CAN WE MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.

SEEING NO OBJECTION.

THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.

AND NOW MOVING INTO THE

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UH, I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES TO MAKE SOME MOTION.

CAN I GET A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT.

IS THERE ANY OBJECTION OR DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE.

THEY ARE APPROVED.

AND NOW MOVING INTO

[6. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 15 MINUTES TOTAL]

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A FEW PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

UH, LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST ONE ON THE LIST IS KIM CONTE.

IF YOU COULD COME ON DOWN.

DO I NEED TO READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT RULES OR? YOU GOT IT? ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU WANNA READ 'EM TO US? OH, NO, I DON'T.

I DON'T HAVE IT THAT WELL.

NO.

UM, I JUST AM HERE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE AGENDA ITEM TODAY ON HOPEFULLY BRINGING FORWARD A RESOLUTION TOWARDS SAFER LAND MANAGEMENT AND VECTOR CONTROL.

UM, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH NICOLE WOODS CITY, UH, COUNTY STAFF.

YOU GUYS ARE FANCIER AND REALLY, I THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND IT'S IN SUPPORT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SEE BEAUFORT COUNTY BE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE STATE.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, KIM.

UH, NEXT ON THE LIST IS MORRIS CAMPBELL.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MS. GOOD AFTERNOON.

UH, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, I, MY NAME IS MAURICE CAMPBELL.

I'M A RETIRED COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

AND ONE OF MY RESPONSIBILITY WHILE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UH, WAS THAT OF PULLING TOGETHER AGENCIES AND PRIVATE INDUSTRY AS WELL AS, UH, STATE AND FEDERAL, UH, COMPONENTS TO CREATE WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE FOR THE COUNTY.

AND OF COURSE, THAT EVOLVED INTO THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, UH, ON THE AGENDA.

ITEM EIGHT A, I THINK IS TALKING ABOUT DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT, UH, THE WHOLE INTENT WAS WHEN THE COUNTY APPROVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ALLIANCE.

AND THAT WAS TO, AND THAT WAS TO ALLOW THE COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER AND WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND WORK WITH OTHER RESOURCES, BE IT PRIVATE, BE IT BUSINESSES, BE IT RELIGIOUS OR FAITH-BASED, UH, ORGANIZATIONS TO COME UP WITH WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE ORDER TOGETHER FOR BEAUFORT, UH, EFFORT, WHICH BROUGHT ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE BASIC NEEDS OF PEOPLE, BE IT HEALTHCARE, BE IT, UH, YOUTH, UH, DEVELOPMENT, BE, UM, UH, HOUSING, UH, WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY DURING THAT TIME.

UH, WE BROUGHT IT TOGETHER AND IT EVOLVED INTO A, A, A STATE RECOGNIZING A NATIONAL RECOGNIZED, UH, ALLIANCES, UH, PARTNERSHIP.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UH, COUNTY'S CONSIDERING CHANGING THAT WHOLE CONCEPT BACK INTO, UM, A COUNTY DEPARTMENT BASICALLY AS THE GATEKEEPER FOR ALL OF THAT EFFORT.

AND, UH, I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WILL PROBABLY HAPPEN.

I THINK YOU WILL LOSE SOME OF YOUR PARTNERS OR THEIR COMMITMENT TO REALLY DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COUNTY AS FAR AS THE WHOLE CITIZENRY IS CONCERNED.

YES, THE EFFORT TO CHANGE AND TO SAVE DOLLARS IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT, BUT I THINK THE BEST WAY TO SAVE DOLLARS AND TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE AND MOST EFFICIENT IS TO ALLOW, UH, YOUR NEIGHBORS AND YOUR FRIENDS AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO IS INTERESTED OR WHO ARE

[00:05:01]

NOT THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, BUT I THINK JUST THE, UH, ATTEMPT TO KEEP A PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHERS IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST SAVING A COUPLE DOLLARS.

SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT AS WE GO FORWARD.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT ON THE LIST IS SANDRA SMITH.

AFTERNOON COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY AND AT THE BEHEST OF, UH, MR. BARTHOLOMEW.

I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SCOTT COMMUNITY CENTER, OUR CHILDREN, OUR SENIORS, AND OUR FAMILIES.

REGARDING THE CONTINUED CLOSURE OF THE SCOTT COMMUNITY CENTER.

OUR CENTER WAS CLOSED LAST YEAR FOR REPAIRS WITH NO VISIBLE, NO VISIBLE REHABILITATION PROGRESS NOTED DURING THIS TIME, OUR COMMUNITY HAS LOST CRITICAL SERVICES.

THERE'S NO FACILITY TO HOST SUMMER CAMP, NO CONSISTENT SPACE FOR OUR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

AND OUR SENIORS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM A PLACE THAT WAS ONCE SUPPORTED IN THEIR SOCIAL AND WELLNESS NEEDS.

THREE YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I WORKED ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY TO REOPEN SCOTT'S CENTER, AND WE RAISE FUNDS TO REVIVE OUR CENTER AND HAD AN AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM THERE.

AND SUMMER CAMP, OUR SUMMER CAMP WAS ABLE TO SPONSOR THOSE CHILDREN BY PAYING FOR 15 CHILDREN TO ATTEND FREE, BECAUSE THE COST OF SUMMER CAMP IS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THOSE THAT LIVE ON THE ISLAND.

WHAT WAS SAD TO SEE WAS THAT WE PAID FOR 15, BUT AS THE DAY WENT ON, THERE WERE MORE THAN 30 CHILDREN ON THE OUTSIDE WHO WAS JUST THERE FOR FOOD, BUT PARENTS COULDN'T AFFORD TO BE, HAVE THEM PLACED INTO SUMMER CAMP.

SO THESE THINGS, UM, REALLY NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.

TODAY WE ARE FACING A FULLY CLOSED FACILITY WITH NO CLEAR REHABILITATION TIMELINE, A PARTIAL PLAYGROUND, WHICH THEY STARTED.

PHASE ONE IS THERE, THERE'S NO PHASE TWO AND NO PLANS TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT THE PHASE TWO IS GOING TO BE.

NO LOCAL AFFORDABLE SUMMER CAMP OPTION.

THIS YEAR OUR CHILDREN WE'RE TOSSED BETWEEN WHERE THEY'RE GONNA GO FOR SUMMER CAMP.

RIGHT NOW IT'S UP IN THE AIR.

WE THINK IT'S ST.

HELENA, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR IT.

PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD WHAT IS BEING OFFERED BY OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT.

AND AGAIN, OUR SENIORS ARE DISPLACED AT GLORIA POT CENTER, WHICH IS A LONG WAY FROM WHERE THEY LIVE AND THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO TO THAT.

FAMILIES ARE FACING INCREASING FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU TAKE ACTION, FIND OUT ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR OUR CENTER'S REOPENING, AND HELP US TO FUND RECREATION AND SUMMER CAMP FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCOTT COMMUNITY.

AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK THAT DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SIGN UP? SEEING NONE, UH, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THANK YOU FOR THE FOLKS THAT DID SIGN UP.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU MENTIONED AND

[7. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]

HEY, JOHN.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? ALL RIGHT, WELL, A FEW THINGS TO SHARE WITH YOU.

UM, FIRST, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT, UH, AN INVITATION TO VISIT THE DETENTION CENTER NEXT WEEK ON THE 14TH AT 10:00 AM.

UH, THIS WAS SENT OUT TO, UM, ALL THE COUNTY COUNCIL AS WELL AS, UM, SOME OF OUR, UM, MAGISTRATE JUDGES AND, UM, COURT JUDGES.

SO WE HAVE QUITE A FEW FOLKS THAT WE HOPE TO, THAT WILL ATTEND.

UM, THIS WEEK WE HAD TO, WELL, THE END OF LAST WEEK, WE HAD TO SUBMIT EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER.

WE HAD A WATER LEAK IN OUR LAUNDRY AREA, UH, IN THE OVERHEAD.

SO FACILITIES TEAM IS QUICKLY WORKING ON THAT.

BUT THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER IS FOR LAUNDRY SERVICES.

WE GENERATE ABOUT 300 POUNDS OF LAUNDRY A DAY.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT WOULD BUILD UP VERY QUICKLY.

UH, SO WE'VE GOT THAT RESOLVED FOR NOW WITH THAT EMERGENCY CONTRACT OR EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER FOR A COMPANY TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE TO US.

AND WE HOPE TO HAVE OUR LAUNDRY SERVICE BACK, UM, IN NORMAL OPERATION HERE PRETTY

[00:10:01]

UM, I WANT TO BRIEF YOU ON THE FIRE SERVICE CONSOLIDATION.

UM, OUR WORK TOWARDS, UH, TOWARDS THAT PROJECT, UH, FIRE CHIEFS AND I MET IN EARLY, UM, EARLY, WELL EARLY SUMMER LAST YEAR, UM, AUGUST TIMEFRAME.

SO WE MET A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CONSOLIDATION.

WE CREATED A LIST OF ACTION ITEMS FOR US.

WE FOCUSED THOSE, OR NARROWED THOSE ACTION ITEMS DOWN TO THOSE WHICH WOULD HAVE THE, THE, UM, GREATEST IMPACT FOR US FIRST, WHICH WERE THOSE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

WE CAME BACK TO COMMITTEE OR CO WORKSHOP IN NOVEMBER, UH, AND TALKED ABOUT THOSE DURING THAT MEETING.

THE DIRECTION WAS GIVEN FOR THE FIRE CHIEFS AND MYSELF TO WORK IN THAT, UH, ON THAT DIRECTION BEFORE WE WOULD GO OUT TO BID ON, ON THAT OR GO OUT FOR A CONTRACT FOR THAT SERVICE.

UH, SO WE DID THAT WORK.

WE CAME BACK TO ADMINISTRATION WITH, UH, WITH SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO, TO CONSIDER, UM, JUST BASED ON THE, THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF, OF THAT, UM, THOSE THINGS FOR US TO CONSIDER ARE SUBSTANTIAL.

UH, SO, UH, AT THAT TIME IT WAS, UM, WE BECAME PRETTY AWARE THAT WHILE WE HAVE THE TALENT, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO PERFORM THAT WORK THAT'S BEING, THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

UH, SO AT THIS POINT, THE CFO IS WORKING WITH A, UH, ANOTHER OUTSIDE AGENCY TO, UH, CONSIDER THOSE OPTIONS FOR US AND PRODUCE THAT WORK, UM, ON OUR BEHALF.

THE, UH, COUPLE OF COUPLE OF GOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WEEK, UH, WHICH HAS PASSED US.

IT WAS APRIL, UH, 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH OF THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE FOUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, FIVE REALLY IF YOU COUNT, UM, OUR DIRECTOR WHERE SHE, THERE SHE IS, UM, WHO IS COMMON, UH, UM, A COMMON PRESENCE, UH, AT EVERY ANIMAL CONTROL INCIDENT.

UH, YOU WILL FIND HER ON THE BRIDGE CHASING A KITTEN OR A RACCOON OR WHATEVER HAS TO HAPPEN.

UM, IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

HER SUPPORT OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, SHE WILL GO OUT ON WEEKENDS, SATURDAYS, NIGHTTIME, HOLIDAYS, 2:00 AM IT DOESN'T MATTER.

UH, SHE IS THERE TO SUPPORT HER CREW.

WELL, I WANTED TO MENTION THE FOUR COR, UM, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS THAT SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY.

UM, THAT IS, UH, ANTHONY MONTGOMERY, JENNIFER HOLSTEIN, CHRIS ABEL, AND TREVOR HAYWARD.

UH, FOUR, FOUR ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS SERVE THIS ENTIRE COUNTY, UH, PLUS TALLULAH WHO JUMPS IN AT EVERY SINGLE OPPORTUNITY AND ANYONE ELSE THAT SHE CAN, UH, ENCOURAGE TO HELP HER.

SHE'S GOT LOTS OF FRIENDS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT REACH OUT.

SO IF YOU SEE OUR OFFICERS, PLEASE THANK THEM.

UH, THIS WEEK STARTED YESTERDAY, MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH IS CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WEEK.

UH, WE WILL HAVE A PROCLAMATION NEXT WEEK AT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR, UM, FOR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WEEK.

SO IF YOU SEE YOUR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, PLEASE THANK THEM.

AND COMING UP IS EMS, WEEK IS MAY 17TH TO MAY 23RD.

OF COURSE, THAT PROCLAMATION WILL BE, UM, NEXT MONDAY AT COUNTY COUNCIL.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK BE EMS WEEK.

SO WE WILL HAVE SOME GOOD REPRESENTATION THERE.

UM, YOU CAN SEE WITH ME TODAY IS, UH, UM, FRANNIE, I'M GONNA SAY YOUR NAME WRONG.

IT'S OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

GIVE IT A MORE GERD, HOFFLER GERD HOFFER.

YEAH.

I EVEN PRACTICED AND I STILL GET IT WRONG.

AND, AND, UH, TALLULAH IS HERE AND KIM IS, UH, NOW, OR MICHELLE, MICHELLE, SORRY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY KIM WAS ON MY MIND.

MICHELLE WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES, AS WELL AS HELPED HILTON HEAD.

AND SHE IS ONE OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT WERE, UM, DEDICATED AND WORKED HARD IN JASPER COUNTY TO HELP GET OUR, OUR IGA WITH JASPER COUNTY.

UH, DONE.

SHE GAVE SO MUCH OF HER OWN TIME TO HELP JASPER COUNTY, UH, GET IN CONDITION.

AND NOW SHE IS SERVING JASPER COUNTY AS A PAID EMPLOYEE.

IS THAT RIGHT? UM, AND, AND WE, UH, HAVE A, UH, AN ADOPTABLE PET THAT THEY WILL INTRODUCE FOR YOU.

UM, SO, UH, FRANNIE IS GONNA TALK FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ABOUT HILTON HEAD HUMANE AND WHAT THEY DO FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UH, UH, ANOTHER EVENT.

THIS IS HILTON HEAD HUMANE'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR.

SO FRANNIE WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE'LL DISCUSS THAT HILTON HEAD DOES IN THE COOPERATION BETWEEN HILTON HEAD AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, THIS YEAR, HILTON HEAD HUMANE HAS RAISED OVER THREE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR ANIMAL CARE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND BEAUFORT COUNTY CITIZENS, UM, SEE A

[00:15:01]

IT IS INCREDIBLE WHAT HILTON HEAD HUMANE DOES, AND THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HILTON HEAD HUMANE AND BEAUFORT COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES IS, UH, IT'S REALLY, UH, A GREAT DEAL FOR THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, FRANNY.

AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN INTRODUCE THAT PUPPY.

OKAY.

THIS IS, UM, MRS. KIPLING FROM JASPER COUNTY.

SO SHE IS ONE OF SEVEN SEVEN THAT CAME IN WITH MOM, RIGHT? SO THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT STILL TO BE DONE, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE HER HERE.

WE, WE WERE GONNA CALL HER, UH, BEAUFORT BECAUSE WE TOOK HER IN FROM JASPER, BUT WE CALLED HER MRS. KIPLING.

SO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK FOR A FEW MINUTES.

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE PROGRESSION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP, UH, THAT IT'S WORKING TOGETHER.

WE HAVE POSITIVELY IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS THROUGH EXPANDED SPAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS.

PET RETENTION PROGRAMS CARE FOR MEDICALLY CHALLENGED ANIMALS.

WE'VE INCREASED OUR ADOPTIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP.

THIS COLLABORATION HAS ALSO BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL BUSINESSES, RESCUES, TRAINERS, BOARDING FACILITIES, UM, AND A COMMUNITY THAT TRULY EMBRACES THE SUPPORT AND THE WORK TO SAVE ANIMALS.

AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF NUMBERS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER WITH YOU IS WE'VE, UM, WE'VE IMPACTED, UH, 68 HEARTWORM POSITIVE DOGS LAST YEAR IN 2025.

AND IN YEARS PAST, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF ANIMALS THAT WOULD'VE BEEN EUTHANIZED.

AND SO OUT OF THE 20 25, 68 HEARTWORM DOGS THAT WE PULLED FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY, UM, SIX ARE STILL AVAILABLE.

UM, THE REST HAVE BEEN ADOPTED, AND TWO, UNFORTUNATELY DIED THROUGH THE TREATMENT.

BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND ANOTHER, ON ANOTHER SIDE NOTE TOO, THOSE, THE ANIMALS WHO HAVE DIED IN EITHER OUR SHELTER OR THE COUNTY SHELTER ARE NOW HUMANELY, UM, CREMATED.

SO BE LONG OR LONG GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN ANIMALS ARE THROWN INTO THE LANDFILL.

SO THIS IS ALSO A BIG STEP IN THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, SO FAR THIS YEAR, IN 2026, WE'VE TAKEN IN 26 HEARTWORM DOGS FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY.

FOUR HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADOPTED, SIX ARE AVAILABLE AND 16 ARE GOING THROUGH TREATMENT.

UH, THOSE TREATMENTS ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT THAT'S PART OF OUR COMMITMENT TO BUFORT COUNTY AND OUR CONTRIBUTION, UM, TO THIS PROGRAM THAT WE PROVIDE, THAT MEDICAL CARE AND THAT, AND THAT FINANCIAL COVERAGE FOR THOSE ANIMALS.

UM, AND A COUPLE MORE NUMBERS, , UH, LAST YEAR IN 2025, UH, THE CLINIC PERFORMED OVER 6,000 SURGERIES, 6,443 TO BE EXACT, AND THAT'S UP 200 SURGERIES FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

AND WE ALSO SERVICE 2100 FERAL CATS.

AND SO YOU WONDER WHERE ALL THEY ALL COME FROM, BUT THERE WOULD BE 10 TIMES THAT IF WE DIDN'T RUN THE FREE PROGRAM FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND WE HAVE EXTENDED THAT PROGRAM, UM, IN JASPER COUNTY AS WELL, TO HELP WITH THE OVERPOPULATION OF FERAL CATS.

SO, SO AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBERS INDICATE THAT THE, THE, THE PARTNERSHIP IS DEFINITELY MAKING AN IMPACT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND THIS YEAR, SO FAR, AS OF APRIL, AT THE END OF THIS PAST MONTH, UM, HILTON HEAD HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADOPT OUT AND PLACE 594 ANIMALS.

SO WE HAVE A GOOD START TO THE YEAR, AND I THINK WE'LL BEAT ALL OF OUR NUMBERS, UM, FROM LAST YEAR.

NOT THAT IT'S ABOUT A COMPETITION, BUT IT'S ABOUT TRYING TO SAVE AS MONEY THAT WE CAN.

SO, UM, AND I THINK SOME OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP AND THESE OUTCOMES IS THAT, AND TO ME, THE MOST MEANINGFUL SOMETIMES IS JUST THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES.

NO LONGER IS IT DEFINED BY OUTDATED CRITICISMS, UM, SUCH AS EUTHANASIA, DRIVEN BY SPACE CONSTRAINTS, LIMITED INTAKE OR LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS, BUT INSTEAD IS INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED FOR ITS COMMITMENT TO HUMANE, PROGRESSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE PRACTICES.

SO WE, I THINK THAT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY'S DIRECTION AND TALLULAH'S COMMITMENT AND THE PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE CHANGING THE PERCEPTION OF HOW WE'RE VIEWED AS A COUNTY AND HOW WE TREAT OUR ANIMALS, WHICH I THINK, UM, I, FOR ONE, AND I THINK TALLULAH IS AS WELL, VERY PROUD OF, BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO SERVE THE COUNTY THAT WAY AS WELL.

AND LASTLY, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UM, THIS COLLABORATION STARTED A LONG TIME AGO AND OUT OF THE DIRECTION OF OUR, UM, CHAIRMAN WHO'S NOT WITH US ANYMORE, MR. CHUCK LANE, BUT HE ALSO, HE'S ALWAYS ENCOURAGED US TO DO AS MUCH AS WE

[00:20:01]

AND SO, HILTON HEAD IS STILL LOOKING TO DO MORE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO HOWEVER YOU WANT TO USE US, UH, WE WANT, WE WANT TO SAY THAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO HELPING AS LONG AS YOU WANT US AROUND.

AND THE MORE THAT WE CAN DO, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND OUR BOARD REALLY SUPPORTS THAT.

SO I THINK THESE RESULTS ARE SOMETHING YOU WOULD WANNA CONTINUE, BUT AGAIN, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, AND I THINK WHAT WE FOUND OUT IS THAT, UH, WE HAVE TO INFILTRATE OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL.

AND, AND SO THE COLLABORATION NOW, OR THE, THE, UM, SHORT TERM MOU WITH JASPER COUNTY MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT TO DO A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INFILTRATE, UH, WHAT WE DO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY INTO THE COUNTIES THAT AFFECT US, BECAUSE ANIMALS WERE COMING ACROSS COUNTY LINES, UH, TO BEAUFORT AND WE WERE TAKING CARE OF THEM.

SO IT'S MUCH BETTER TO BE SORT OF INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS AND BE ABLE TO CONTROL THAT PROCESS THAN TO JUST BE A VICTIM OF ANIMALS CROSSING THE COUNTY LINE.

SO I, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE'RE ALL ON BOARD WITH.

WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT THE WORK INTO IT, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WOULD HAVE TO AGREE ON.

BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP ANY WAY WE CAN.

IT'S BEEN A, A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE .

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT OUR 50TH YEAR, I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE YEARS, SO STARTED WHEN I WAS 12, SO, NO, I'M KIDDING.

BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN WITH THEM FOR 27 YEARS, SO IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A PASSION.

I ENJOY IT.

AND I THINK WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR, FOR OTHER PARTY CHAIRMAN? I JUST WANNA SAY TOO FRANNIE, MICHELLE, ULA AND KIPLING, IS IT KI MRS. KIPLING, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

I THINK IT'S JUST AMAZING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND GETTING TO KNOW MORE OF WHAT YOU DO ALL THE TIME JUST IS FOR US.

WE'RE PLEASED, AND WE'LL TRY TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

YEP.

GERALD, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

UM, YOU SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE FIRE SERVICES.

YES, SIR.

UM, I, I WOULD, I WOULD SAY, UM, OVER THE LAST 12, 15 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE COME BEFORE COUNCIL AS FAR AS THE CONCERN OF CONSOLIDATING THE FIRE SERVICES.

AND I PERSONALLY DON'T SEE A BENEFIT THAT, THAT THAT IS COMING FROM THAT.

UM, I, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK YOU AND STAFF TO LOOK AT A SITUATION AT HAND.

AND THE SITUATION AT HAND THAT WE HAVE IS THAT WE'RE LOSING OUR FIREMEN FROM DIFFERENT STATIONS GOING ELSEWHERE.

UM, THE SHELDON FIRE, UH, STATION HAS LOST 11 FIREMEN IN THE LAST THREE YEARS GOING TO DIFFERENT FIRE STATIONS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AS WELL AS THE AIR STATION.

SO I THINK RATHER THAN US LOOKING AT, UH, CONSOLIDATING THE FIRE SERVICES, WE SHOULD LOOK AT, UH, ESTABLISHING A UNIFORM BASED SALARY FOR OUR FIREMEN WHERE, UH, WHETHER THEY'RE IN BLUFFTON, WHETHER THEY'RE ON, UH, ST HENER OR OUT IN, OUT IN THE RURAL PARTS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PRE PAY TO SCALE AS FAR AS THEIR POSITION OR THEIR TITLE IN THE, IN THE TITLE SERVICE IN THE FIRE SERVICE.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD SOLVE MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS AS FAR AS US LOSING OUR FIRE, OUR FIREMEN AND FIRE LADIES.

YES, SIR.

I, I, I DO AGREE THAT, UM, THE COMPETITION BETWEEN FIRE SERVICES IS, IS INTENSE.

UH, AS, AS A FORMER FIREFIGHTER, I WOULD HIRE A FIREFIGHTER FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IN A SECOND TO FILL A VACANT POSITION IN MY ORGANIZATION, ESPECIALLY.

GOOD ONE.

UH, YES, SIR.

UM, NOW PART OF THE CONSOLIDATION STUDY IS TO CONSIDER THE COMPENSATION OF FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THOSE BIG NUMBERS.

THE BIG, THE FINANCIAL BURDEN.

UH, THE GREATEST PART OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN MAY BE, UM, NORMALIZATION OF COMPENSATION TO FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IT WOULD REALLY HAVE TO BE A SINGLE ORGANIZATION AS EACH ORGANIZATION INDEPENDENTLY PREPARES THEIR BUDGET.

AND AS AN INDEPENDENT TAXING AGENCY, THEY ALSO MANAGE THEIR PERSONNEL COMPENSATION BUDGETS.

SO THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY PURVIEW UNLESS THEY BECOME, UH, A SINGLE DEPARTMENT THAT, UM, REPORTS TO COUNTY COUNCIL IN SOME WAY.

SO IT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE, PART OF THE PROBLEM.

YES, SIR.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SOLVE THAT.

YES, SIR.

WE'LL WORK ON THAT.

SO BEFORE I CLOSE, I JUST WANNA REMIND YOU AND THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING MS. KIPLING, WHO HAS GOT HER HEAD TUCKED IN OVER HERE NEXT TO MICHELLE, IS, IS UP FOR ADOPTION.

SHE IS AT HILTON HEAD RIGHT NOW.

SHE, BUFORD.

OKAY.

SHE'S IN BEAUFORT.

SO SHE'S AT THE BEAUFORT CAMPUS

[00:25:01]

UH, AND THERE ARE MORE SIBLINGS JUST LIKE HER IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

IT IS KITTEN SEASON, SO THERE ARE LOTS OF KITTENS AVAILABLE AND, UH, MANY, MANY BREEDS AND, UH, UH, OF ANIMALS.

UH, SO IT IS, UH, VISIT THE SHELTER IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

ASHLEY, YOU KNOW, SHE'S, SHE'S LOOKING AT MS. KIPLING PRETTY HARD OVER THERE, AND HANNAH IS LOOKING RIGHT.

.

SO IS THIS COUNCILMAN RIGHT HERE? YEAH, .

THIS IS A CUTE DOG.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT CONCLUDES MY, WAIT, COULD I HAVE ONE QUESTION? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.

CAN, CAN HE GO? 'CAUSE HE, HE HAD HIS HAND UP.

SORRY.

UM, JOHN, UH, YES, SIR.

THE, UM, UH, LAUNDRY SERVICES.

YES, SIR.

HOW LONG WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GO WITHOUT THE CURRENT LAUNDRY SERVICES? UH, A CONTRACT FOR LAUNDRY SERVICES TILL WE GET IT REPAIRED THE WAY WE NEED TO, RIGHT.

YES, SIR.

THE EXPECTATION IS THAT OUR LAUNDRY SHOULD BE BACK TO FULLY FUNCTIONAL WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

UH, SO IT IS, OUR MACHINES ARE OPERATING FINE.

IT IS THE WATER LEAK THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE CEILING THAT'S CAUSING THE, UH, A DANGEROUS CONDITION WITH THE CEILING.

SO TODAY AND TOMORROW, THAT CEILING WAS COMING OUT TO DRY OUT THAT AREA, RESTORE THAT, AND THERE'S TWO WATER CONTROL VALVES THAT ARE THERE.

THEY'RE LARGE WATER CONTROL VALVES THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

SO THAT WORK CAN BE DONE VERY QUICKLY.

UH, IT IS THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CEILING SPACE THAT MIGHT TAKE THAT, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT FACILITIES IS ON IT.

OUR, UH, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE CREW, UM, AS SOON AS THEY BECAME AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, CAME AND ISOLATED THE WATER LEAK VERY QUICKLY.

AND THEN STAFF FOUND A, UM, A HOTEL, LAUNDRY SERVICE COMPANY THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.

SO, WHILE IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE WE MANAGE OUR OWN LAUNDRY, UM, THEY CAN MANAGE THAT LAUNDRY FOR US.

THEY'RE PICKING UP EVERY OTHER DAY AND DELIVERING WITHIN 24 HOURS.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE PACE.

UH, AND OVER TWO WEEKS IS REALLY NOT THAT.

IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT BURDENSOME TO COVER THAT AMOUNT.

IT SHOULD BE VERY QUICK.

GOOD.

UM, I WANNA GO BACK IF I CAN.

YES, SIR.

IF WE CAN DO THIS TO, UM, THE SCOTT COMMUNITY AND, AND MS. UH, SMITH, UM, UH, WHILE BACK, THE, UM, AND IT'S REALLY NOT SO MUCH FOR YOU, BUT JUST TO HELP US OUT MAYBE, BUT A WHILE BACK, THERE WAS A POOL NORTH ABROAD THAT WAS DOWN FOR SERVICE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME MEMBERSHIPS AND PEOPLE GOING TO THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND REC CENTER.

THEY PARTICIPATED IN THAT.

WHAT DID WE DO? DID WE, AND AGAIN, I SHOULD BE UP ON THIS AND I'M NOT, BUT WHAT DID WE DO WHEN WE CLOSED THIS CENTER? WHERE WAS THIS CENTER LOCATED ON ST.

HELENA.

ST.

HELENA.

NOW DID WE, JARED, SORRY, DID WE GIVE SOME OPPORTUNITY MAYBE TO GO TO ANOTHER LOCATION? HOW DID ALL THAT WORK? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT BASED ON WHAT WE DID WITH HILTON HAD IN BLUFFTON.

SURE.

SO, UM, THIS IS A COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE RURAL PART OF THE COUNTY.

UM, WE HAVE SOME OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS, BUT THE COMMUNITY CENTERS BY NATURE ARE KIND OF THERE LOCALLY.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ALTERNATE LOCATION.

UM, BUT WE HAD SOME ISSUES PREVIOUSLY WITH A PRIOR CONTRACTOR, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT, UH, THAT CONTRACT WAS ENDED.

AND, UM, WE'VE PUT IT BACK OUT TO BID.

WE HAVE THAT BID COMING TO PFC, UM, THIS NEXT MONTH IN MAY HERE.

SO WE HAVE THAT CONTRACT AND THAT'LL BE THE REMAINDER OF THE RENOVATIONS.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME LEFT BEFORE THE RENOVATIONS ARE FULLY COMPLETE, BUT WE HAVE A PLAN TO GET THE RENOVATIONS TO THE CENTER, UM, CONTRACTED AND AWARDED AND UNDERWAY.

AND THE ONLY REASON WHY I BRING IT UP IS THAT ISLAND RECRE WAS, UH, THEY CAME OUT OF THEIR SHELL TO SAY, HEY, WE WILL OPEN OUR PLACE UP TO HELP OUT.

UM, I'M JUST THINKING MAYBE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE THERE IS THAT WAS A POOL.

YES, SIR.

AND WE HAVE TWO COUNTY OWNED POOLS, SIR, AND THEY WERE REGIONAL VERSUS KIND OF COMMUNITY, AND SO GOOD.

UM, THAT WAS HELPFUL AS WELL AS WE HAD OUR OTHER, I SAID TWO, THREE POOLS AS WELL AS OUR OTHER TWO POOLS NORTH OF THE BROAD WERE AVAILABLE WHEN THAT ONE POOL IN BLUFFTON WAS DOWN.

SO FANTASTIC.

I JUST HATE HEARING THAT SENIORS ARE SHUT OUT.

THAT'S ALL.

AND THANK YOU.

YEAH, YOU PROBABLY HAVE BETTER INFORMATION OPERATIONS.

YEAH, THEY ARE, THEY ARE DISPLACED.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED WE WILL GET, YOU KNOW, SCOTT CENTER BACK UP AND RUNNING.

AS FAR AS THE SUMMER CAMP, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO, FINGERS CROSSED TO HAVE THAT AT THE ST.

HELENA ELEMENTARY.

I'M BLESSED.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

THANK Y'ALL.

HEY, JOHN, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU, I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.

UM, I SAW YOUR RUNOFF BACK THERE.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, HOW'S THE, THE CHANGES TO THE, THE ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE, HAS THAT HAD AN IMPACT? DO WE HAVE ANY ANALYSIS ON THAT? IF YOU DON'T, WE CAN COME BACK LATER ON IT, BUT, BUT DYLAN IS PROBABLY BEST TO ANSWER THAT AS HE GOES TO COURT WITH THOSE CASES.

UH, AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN VERY, UM, EFFECTIVE.

UH, I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE MAGISTRATE COURT JUDGES, UH, APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THE FLEXIBILITY

[00:30:01]

SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND LAST THING, NOT REALLY FOR YOU, JOHN, BUT, UH, BEAU CAN ANIMAL SERVICES AND HILTON HAS HUMANE.

Y'ALL HAVE BROUGHT SO MUCH JOY BACK IN MY LIFE GETTING THAT LITTLE PUPPY, SO THANK Y'ALL.

I APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

JAPER COUNTY PUPPY.

WELL, YEAH, THERE, THERE YOU GO.

CAME THROUGH THIS WHOLE SYSTEM.

SO THAT'S THAT COLLABORATION.

SHE, SHE'S BEEN WONDERFUL.

AWESOME.

ALRIGHT, UH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT? WE'RE ALL GOOD ON THAT.

OKAY.

MOVING INTO

[8.a. Discussion of the integration of the Human Services Department. (FISCAL IMPACT: This integration will enable a departmental role to deliver targeted billable case management services that will generate revenue for the department. ) - Audra Antonacci - Ogden, Assistant County Adminstrator Rebecca Whiit, Director, Nexus Care 20 minutes]

UH, THE FISCAL IMPACT HERE IS THIS INTEGRATION WILL ENABLE A DEPARTMENTAL ROLE TO DELIVER TARGETED, BILLABLE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT WILL GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

AND ANDRA, I BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING THE PRESENTATION WELL, I'M GONNA TEE IT OFF AND ACTUALLY, OH, REBECCA HAVE PREPARED A PRESENTATION, BUT I'M GONNA CALL REBECCA UP, BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE I CALL HER UP.

UM, WHEN WE ORIGINALLY STARTED HAVING CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS INTEGRATION, UM, WE THOUGHT AT THAT TIME IT COULD JUST BE INFORMATION AND REFERRALS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND MEETING WITH REBECCA AND SPEAKING TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND WORKING WITH OTHER THREE OH ONES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

SO IT'S NOT JUST GONNA BE REFERRALS AND INFORMATION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WHICH, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

UM, AND THOSE ARE, THOSE SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED ARE BILLABLE.

UM, SO IT WILL DEFINITELY, UM, GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF YOUR FORCE? SHE HANDS IT OFF.

JUST ONE QUICK ONE.

MR. CAMPBELL SPOKE ABOUT LOSING SERVICES BASED ON THIS, AND I KNOW MR. LATE HAS BEEN INVOLVED EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND I HEAR YOU GUYS ARE COLLABORATING VERY WELL.

ARE WE GONNA LOSE ANY SERVICES OR HOW IS THAT GONNA GO WITH WHAT MR. CAMPBELL TALKED ABOUT TODAY? SO THE GOAL IS THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN HUMAN SERVICES WITH THE INTEGRATION THAT WILL GO INTO NEXUS CARE OR BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY, I KNOW THE CONCERN WAS, WELL, IF THERE'S INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T HAVE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BE SEEN OR HELPED.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

UM, YOU KNOW, LAST TIME THAT WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, WE COMMUNICATED THAT THERE IS NO WRONG DOOR AND THAT STILL STANDS.

AND THE, THE RESTRUCTURING AT THE STATE LEVEL LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, UM, AGENCIES WERE WORKING IN A SILO, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AWAY FROM.

SO, UM, THIS INTEGRATION, YOU KNOW, WE WILL NOT OPERATE IN A SILO.

THANK YOU.

YEAH, VERY MUCH.

AND TALKING TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND, AND PARTNERSHIPS, WE JUST CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT.

SO THANK YOU AUDREY.

AND I BELIEVE, UH, MR. DAWSON HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU AS WELL.

I, YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

I WANTED YOU TO GO INTO DETAIL AS TO WHAT WRAPAROUND SERVICES MEANT, BUT IF, IF THAT'S THE EXTENT OF WHAT YOU JUST EXPLAINED, THEN THAT'S ALL WELL AND FINE.

BUT IF NOT, THEN TELL US WHAT WRAPAROUND SERVICES MEAN.

SO I THINK IT'LL BE PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO WHEN BRE, REBECCA GETS UP HERE TO PRESENT THE POWERPOINT, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF, EITHER, THERE'S A COUPLE EXAMPLES IN THAT FOR A YOUTH, BUT ALSO BE FOR ADULT AS WELL.

SO SHE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT IN DETAIL.

OKAY.

WE, WE, WE NEED THE ASSURANCE THAT NO ONE WILL FALL THROUGH THE CRACK.

THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE GIVEN THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

AND THAT IS THE, THE RESTRUCTURING AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RESTRUCTURING, THAT NO ONE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR AUDRA? ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

THANKS, AUDRA.

REBECCA, GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOODBYE.

MRS. KIPLING.

ALL GOOD.

GAVE HER GOOD NUMBER.

MY DAUGHTER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, UM, THIS AFTERNOON.

IT'S, IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING FOR ME EACH TIME I GET TO COME BEFORE YOU AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE SERVE PEOPLE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL SHARE IN COMMON.

UH, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, POINT YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW SLIDES THAT I'VE, I'VE PREPARED, UM, FOR YOU THIS AFTERNOON THAT'LL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE AN UPDATE AND SOME CLARIFICATION.

UM, TO ADDRESS EXACTLY THE QUESTIONS, UM, THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKING, UH, THIS AFTERNOON, NEXUS.

KARA BEAUFORT COUNTY IS ESSENTIALLY A CENTRAL HUB.

WE HAVE A MISSION, UH, THAT PROVIDES A WHOLE CONTINUUM OF THINGS FROM PREVENTION AND INTERVENTIONS AND ALSO TREATMENT AND LONG-TERM, UH, RECOVERY SUPPORT FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.

AND THIS IS REALLY, UH, AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION.

WE ARE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UM, FACILITY LICENSED UNDER

[00:35:01]

UM, ALL OF OUR, OUR COUNSELORS ARE CERTIFIED AND OR DULY LICENSED PROVIDERS IN, UH, ABLE TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.

SO THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT WE CURRENTLY DO COMMUNITY STABILIZATION WORK AT NEXUS CARE.

THAT MEANS WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT AT THE FIRST SIGNS OF DISTRESS.

SO THIS REALLY FALLS UNDER THE REALM OF, BETWEEN PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION BEFORE THINGS ESCALATE TO A CRISIS POINT, WE ADDRESS THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

THAT'S REALLY THE CURRENT LANGUAGE, UM, THAT WE USE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE, UH, INSTABILITY IN HOUSING AND FOOD INSECURITY, UM, ECONOMIC STRUGGLES, UNEMPLOYMENT, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY.

UM, ALSO PREVENTIVE AND PRIMARY, UH, HEALTHCARE, AND PEOPLE WHO ALSO NEED ADEQUATE SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS, UH, AND ABLE TO THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, THESE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

SOME PEOPLE NEED, UH, WRAPAROUND AND SOME JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT OF CASE MANAGEMENT.

SOME NEED, A LOT OF CASE MANAGEMENT DEPENDS ON THE FAMILY AND THE SITUATION THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN.

UM, SO THESE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES STABILIZE, UM, AND STRENGTHEN INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND IN TURN THAT SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITIES IN BEING STRONGER.

SO I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK FOR A MOMENT WITH ME ABOUT, UH, A STORY THAT WE COMMONLY DEAL WITH HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, GIVEN THAT HALF OF OUR COUNTY IS WATER, UH, DURING HIGH TIDE, WE, UH, DEAL A LOT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE IMAGE OF RISING WATER.

UM, AND IF YOU WOULD THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT, UH, RISING WATER LEVELS AND THAT PEOPLE KEEP FALLING INTO THE RIVER METAPHORICALLY, SO TO SPEAK, UM, WHAT WE DO IS IN, YOU KNOW, INADVERTENTLY WHEN PEOPLE KEEP FALLING IN THE WATER, YES, WE CAN PULL THEM OUT AND RESCUE THEM ONE AT A TIME, ONE AT A TIME, AND WE CAN REALLY TRY HARD TO GET BETTER AT THE RESCUE MISSION.

AND THAT'S WHERE TREATMENT AND LONG-TERM RECOVERY COME IN, STABILIZING A CRISIS AND HELPING A PERSON THROUGH TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH, PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND, UH, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES.

BUT WHAT WE ALSO DO, NOT JUST TREATMENT AND PULLING PEOPLE OUT ONE AT A TIME, WE ALSO GO UPSTREAM IN OUR MISSION.

WE FIND OUT WHY THEY'RE FALLING INTO THE RIVER.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WE WANNA FIX THAT BEFORE THE CRISIS COMES.

THIS IS COMMUNITY STABILITY, AND THIS IS WHAT HUMAN SERVICES IS ABOUT.

SO WE, WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT, OKAY, THAT RIVER CAN INCLUDE, UH, THE CRISIS.

IT'S NOT ONLY ADDICTION, BUT IT'S ALSO PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATIONS, IT'S INCARCERATION, IT'S OVERDOSE, IT'S ALL OF THESE THINGS.

AND FOR A LONG TIME, WE REALLY SORT OF ADDRESSED THOSE, UM, IN, IN SILOS.

SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THAT NO WRONG DOOR APPROACH IS A UNIFIED ACCESS TO CARE.

AND, AND NEXUS CAR, BEAUFORT COUNTY IS A HUB AND SPOKE MODEL.

SO WE SIT IN THE CENTER OF THAT AS A SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY FOR PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN COME IN AND HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

THIS WAY, THERE'S NO WRONG DOOR FOR ACCESSING CARE FOR FAR TOO LONG.

PEOPLE I AGREE, HAVE BEEN SILOED, UH, IN SERVE PROVIDING SERVICES AND DIDN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.

AND WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COORDINATE THESE EFFORTS SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO NAVIGATE IT, A FRAGMENTED SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM.

SO WE CREATE THOSE BRIDGES ACROSS OUR SYSTEMS OF SERVICE DELIVERY SO THAT IF YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, THAT'S THE RIGHT DOOR.

IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THAT SERVICE, WE'RE GONNA CASE MANAGE YOU, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO COORDINATE WITH THOSE OTHER RESOURCES, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTY SO THAT YOU CAN GET ALL OF YOUR NEEDS MET BY WALKING IN ONE DOOR.

SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WELL, AT NEXUS CARE, AS I SAID, WE HAVE CERTIFIED AND LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.

WE PROVIDE A FULL CLINICAL ASSESSMENT FOR ANY BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENT, ANY, WE ALSO ASSESS IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AND WHETHER THERE IS OR IS NOT SUBSTANCE USE.

WE LOOK AT THOSE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, AND THEN WE COME UP WITH A, A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS.

SO

[00:40:01]

SOME ARE STILL UPSTREAM.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO MEET THEM.

THAT'S WHERE WE DO MEET THEM.

THAT'S WHERE WE PROVIDE, UH, COORDINATED CARE, UH, TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS BEFORE IT BECOMES, UH, A CRISIS DOWNSTREAM LATER.

SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THIS IS JUST A COMPOSITE OF A REALLY COMMON, UH, PRESENTING SITUATION THAT WE GET AT NEXUS CARE ALL THE TIME.

UM, PRETTY MUCH ON A DAILY BASIS.

UM, IMAGINE A, A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY WHOSE SCHOOL COUNSELOR REFERS HIM TO NEXUS CARE, UM, BECAUSE THE, THE, THE TEACHER AND THE COUNSELOR HAVE NOTICED THAT HE'S JUST REALLY BECOME MORE WITHDRAWN AT SCHOOL.

HE'S NOT INTERACTING WITH HIS, UM, PEERS AS MUCH.

HE'S MISSING SCHOOL MORE FREQUENTLY.

NOW THAT'S NOT HIS TYPICAL, UH, PRESENTATION.

AND NOW HE'S, HE'S MISSING SCHOOL AND HIS GRADES ARE DECLINING.

AND ON THE DAYS HE'S AT SCHOOL, HE'S SEEING THE SCHOOL NURSE BECAUSE HE'S TELLING THE TEACHER, MY TUMMY HURTS, OR I HAVE A HEADACHE, OR I'M TIRED AND I DON'T, HE JUST DOESN'T FEEL WELL.

UM, SO SOMETHING'S CLEARLY GOING ON AND THAT SCHOOL CAN REFER THEM TO NEXUS CARE.

WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE CLINICAL ASSESSMENT, UM, FOR THIS 10-YEAR-OLD, WHICH INVOLVES THE, THE PARTICIPATION OF THE CAREGIVERS.

AND WE IDENTIFY THAT THERE'S A SITUATION, UM, COMMONLY THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE A PARENTAL SEPARATION, AND NOW THERE'S TWO HOUSEHOLDS AND THAT HAS BOTH EMOTIONAL IMPACT, PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT, PHYSICAL IMPACT, AND FINANCIAL IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLDS.

AND SO THIS FAMILY'S EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL STRAIN, FOOD INSECURITY, UH, AND THEN THERE'S OBVIOUSLY DISTRESSING DYNAMICS, UM, IN THE FAMILY BECAUSE OF, OF THE SEPARATION.

SO IF WE CAN LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, WHAT DO WE DO? WELL, WE PROVIDE CARE COORDINATION AND CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS AT NEXUS CARE.

WE DEVELOP A CASE MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH THE PARENT, UM, TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES WITH, UH, ISSUES ABOUT FINANCIAL INSECURITY, FOOD INSECURITY, WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY? WE ALSO WOULD REFER, UM, AND COORDINATE THAT REFERRAL AND CONNECT HIM TO A PEDIATRIC MEDICAL EVALUATION AND FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY MADE IT TO THE APPOINTMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS THERE ANY, UM, FINDINGS THROUGH THAT PEDIATRIC CLINICAL ASSESSMENT? ARE THERE PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED OR ARE THESE MORE SOMATIC COMPLAINTS THAT ARE A RESULT OF THE ANXIOUS SITUATION OR BOTH? UM, WE WOULD HELP THAT FAMILY GET CONNECTED TO BENEFITS LIKE SNAP, UM, UH, FOR FOOD UTILITIES, CLOTHING SUPPORT, WHICH LARGELY DRAWS UPON THE, THE COUNTY'S RESOURCES THROUGH NONPROFITS, UM, THAT WE CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH MANY, MANY NONPROFITS ACROSS THE COUNTY, AND WE RELY ON THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUE TO BUILD AND NURTURE THOSE.

WE WOULD ALSO DO A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCHOOL, UH, TYPE MEETING IN WHICH WE WOULD INVITE, UM, MAYBE THE SCHOOL, UH, PERSONNEL, UM, AND OUR, OUR STAFF AND THE PARENTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW IS IT GOING, WHAT DOES ELSE, DOES THIS CHILD NEED TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE AT SCHOOL AND GET A GOOD EDUCATION, UH, AND FEEL BETTER, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING.

WE HAVE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELORS AND ADULT COUNSELORS THAT CAN HELP THIS CHILD WITH ANXIETY AND FAMILY ADJUSTMENT.

SO THAT'S A, A CLASSIC SCENARIO THAT WE, UM, DEAL WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND THE NEXT SLIDE.

SO WHAT'S THE OUTCOME OF THAT? THROUGH PROVIDING BOTH CLINICAL INTERVENTIONS AND UPSTREAM CASE MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS? BASIC NEEDS ARE STABILIZED.

THE FAMILY'S FUNCTIONING BEGINS TO IMPROVE.

UM, THE CHILD'S PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS ARE ADDRESSED, UM, BOTH WITH, UH, MEDICAL SERVICES.

UM, AND WE HAVE ALSO ADDRESSED THE, THE ANXIETY AND THE ADJUSTMENT THAT THE FAMILIES GOING THROUGH.

THE, THE, THE OUTCOME WE WANNA SEE IS INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, AC BETTER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE ONGOING POST DISCHARGE SUPPORT.

WE DON'T JUST DISCHARGE PEOPLE FROM OUR SERVICES, WE FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AT SCHEDULED INTERVIEWS WITH TICKLERS IN OUR ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD SYSTEM THAT NOTIFY US WHEN IT'S TIME TO CALL AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH PEOPLE.

ASK THEM, ARE YOU STILL DOING OKAY? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU NEED? HOW ELSE CAN WE HELP YOU? SO THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY PROVIDE.

AND SO THROUGH THAT, THIS INTEGRATION OF CARE COORDINATION LEADS PEOPLE TO BECOME STABILIZED.

NOW, THIS CARE COORDINATION ESSENTIALLY IS TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS

[00:45:01]

AND WE ALSO ARE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE INDIGENT, WHO DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE, OR THEIR INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER THE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

UM, SO WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR THE INSURED AND UN UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED, UH, CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SO REGARDLESS, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES.

WE DO NOT TURN AWAY ANYONE FOR INABILITY TO PAY FOR CARE.

YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT ANYWHERE.

WE DON'T ASK THEM, YOU HAVE TO PAY MONEY UPFRONT TO MEET WITH OUR COUNSELOR.

WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH CARE IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.

IF, IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF IF YOU'RE INDIGENT, WE'RE GONNA PROVIDE IT, UH, AT NO COST TO YOU OUT OF POCKET.

UM, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO PAY $5 A MONTH, I'M GONNA TAKE THE $5 A MONTH AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO PAY, THAT'S FINE.

UM, WE TAKE MEDICAID, WE TAKE PRIVATE INSURANCE, UM, WE HAVE GRANT FUNDING THAT PRETTY MUCH WE HAVE TO USE ALL OF THESE RESOURCES TOGETHER TO, TO MAKE SURE OUR DEPARTMENT WORKS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENTS.