Jun 08, 2026 County Council

A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

MS. BROCK.

HAS THIS MEETING BEEN ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM.

IT HAS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CONFIRMATION.

I'LL ENTERTAIN

[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

SO MOVED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WHAT DID YOU SAY? AGENDA.

OH YEAH.

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA, PLEASE.

HE SECONDED IT.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO MOVE ITEM 13 A, 13 C TO BE 13 A.

AND THAT BUMPS A AND B DOWN.

AND THAT'S SO OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN GO FIRST.

SO THAT'S MY AMENDMENT TO MOVE 13 C UP TO 13 A AND THEN THE OTHER TWO MOVE.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO A SECOND? THAT A SECOND.

BY, UM, COUNT COUNCILMAN RES, UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE A AMENDMENT BY SHOW OF HANDS.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANY AGAINST THE AMENDMENT? IT WAS UNANIMOUS.

I DIDN'T SEE COUNCILMAN YORK.

I WAS STATING IS OKAY.

ONE ABSTENTION.

SIMPLY BECAUSE, UM, YOU, YOU WERE PART OF THE AGENDA SETTING.

SHE WASN'T AT THE AGENDA SETTING THIS TIME.

OH, I OTHERWISE I WOULD'VE DONE IT THEN.

OKAY, THEN I, GOING FORWARD THEN.

SO THAT IS UNANIMOUS TO AMEND THE AGENDA.

GOING BACK TO APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.

ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS.

AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.

UM, I, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE HAVE MINUTES FROM CAUCUS AND COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 26TH AND SPECIAL CALL COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 1ST.

DO WE HAVE MOTION? A MOTION? ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASSIT AND A SECOND BY, UM, COUNCILMAN BROWN.

ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.

THREE PROCLAMATIONS TODAY.

AND THAT THOSE ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

WE HAVE

[6. PROCLAMATION]

UM, AND THERE MAY BE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS.

THE FIRST ONE IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE AS FORGING STRONG FATHERS AND FAMILIES MONTH.

AND COUNCILMAN LAWSON WILL BE PRESENTING THAT.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE HERE? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

THIS IS WHERE YOU TAKE OUT YOUR AFTER A BOOK.

HAVE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

ONE SEC THIS WAY HERE.

ALRIGHT, PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS COMING SUNDAY IS FATHER'S DAY.

SO THIS IS YOUR WARNING TO GO GET YOUR GIFT OR GET WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO NOW, BUT YOU WANTED HAVE THAT READY TO GO FOR THIS, HAVE THAT READY TO GO FOR THIS, THIS COMING WEEKEND.

SO AGAIN, JUST THAT, UH, MARK.

YES, YOU ARE ONE WEEK EARLY.

OH, IS IT? YEAH, IT IS IT .

OH, .

ALRIGHT, SO YOU'RE TWO WEEKS THEN YOU GOT TWO WEEKS NOW.

A LITTLE MORE TIME TO DO THAT.

SO, UM, BUT, UH, I SITE.

LOCATIONS THAT DELIVER SERVICES ACROSS ALL 46 COUNTIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

UM, WHEREAS FATHER SERVE AS A FUNDAMENTAL ARCHITECTS IN FORGING STRONG, RESILIENT FAMILIES, PROVIDING UNWAVERING LOVE, STEADFAST GUIDANCE, AND CONSISTENT SUPPORT THAT SHAPE THE CHARACTER OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE PROFOUND INFLUENCE OF ENGAGED FATHERS ON THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT IS TRANSFORMATIVE AS THEY IMPART CORE VALUES, BUILD EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE, EQUIP YOUNG PEOPLE TO THRIVE SOCIALLY, ACADEMICALLY, AND PERSONALLY.

AND WHEREAS THE SOUTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR FATHERS AND FAMILIES ESTABLISHED IN 2002 DEMONSTRATED A REMARKABLE INCREASE IN IMPACT ANNUALLY BY SERVING THOUSANDS OF FATHERS AND CHILDREN STATEWIDE.

AND WHEREAS THROUGH ITS LONGSTANDING AND PRODUCTIVE COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, ALONG WITH NUMEROUS STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE PARTNERS, THE CENTER HAS EXPANDED ITS FOOTPRINT BY STRATEGICALLY OPENING NEW OFFICES NOW OPERATING 15 HO

[00:05:01]

AND WHEREAS THE CENTER HAS STRENGTHENED ITS FATHER 365 STATE NETWORK OF REGIONAL AFFILIATES, ENABLING THOUSANDS OF FATHERS TO ACCESS HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM AND PARENTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, JOBS TRAINING, LEGAL NAVIGATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

AND WHEREAS WHEN FATHERS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN FORGING DEEP AND PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CHILDREN, THESE FAMILIES EXPERIENCE POWERFUL OUTCOMES, INCLUDING MORE INCOME EARNED BY PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, MORE CHILD SUPPORT, PAID AND MORE SAVED IN INCARCERATION COSTS WHILE THE CENTER CONTINUES TO SERVE AS NATIONAL MODEL FOR IN INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE FATHERHOOD AND INITIATIVES.

NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT BUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE AS FORGING STRONG FA FATHERS AND FAMILIES MONTH THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND ENCOURAGING ALL CITIZENS TO HONOR THE FATHERS AND FATHER FIGURES IN THEIR LIVES.

SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN MEN AND FAMILIES AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN FORGING RESILIENT FAMILIES THAT WILL SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

DATED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BY ALICE G. HOWARD, OUR COUNTY, UH, CHAIRMAN.

THANKS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.

WE ARE, UH, AS, AS IT ANNOUNCED IT IS FATHER'S DAY MONTH, BUT WE THINK OF IT AS FATHERHOOD MONTH.

UM, WE ARE, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHARE IN THIS DAY AND THIS MONTH WITH YOU ALL.

UH, WE HAVE EXPANDED TO BUFORD.

WE PREVIOUSLY HAD OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND WE ARE NOW AT THE LOW COUNTRY OUTREACH CENTER.

UH, HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.

SO WE ARE, ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MORE FATHERS IN THIS AREA AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UH, A, A LOCAL FA FATHERHOOD PARTICIPANT, I'M SORRY, FATHERHOOD STAFF PERSON HERE.

UM, A FATHER'S PLACE IS THE ORGAN IS THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THIS AREA.

THEY HAVE OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE, THE COAST AND, AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED SERVING OUT OF THE LOW COUNTRY OUTREACH CENTER AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A PICTURE TOO.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING TOO, PLEASE? YES, MA'AM.

I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THIS AREA FOR HAVING US HERE.

UH, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN VERY WELCOMING.

UM, I'M, UH, THE NEW HEAD OF THE CENTER THERE, UH, FOR FATHER'S PLACE AND I'M LOOKING TO EXPAND AND OUTREACH.

WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ONCE AGAIN.

AND WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, ALONG WITH UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE HAVE PARTNERED TO SUPPORT NATIONAL TRAILS DAY.

SHOOT.

DO YOU GUYS HAVE A CARD? I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

Y'ALL HAVE A CARD? DO YOU GUYS HAVE A CARD? YES.

AND I'M SORRY, I HAVE PACKETS FOR EVERYONE.

IF I CAN LEAVE THEM WITH SOMEONE AND THEN, UH SURE.

LEAVE THEM WITH OUR COUNTY CLERK.

OH, Y'ALL DECIDE? YES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

AT THIS TIME, UH, JUST MAKE SURE I HAVE ONE OF THE NUMBERS.

SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER WITH THEM.

WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION THAT I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING IS, UM, TRAILS MONTH.

AND THERE'S, I KNOW SOME FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE HERE TO COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT THAT.

THEY'RE WORKING THEIR WAY IN.

THEY WERE STUCK IN THE OVERFLOW.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, JOE.

A FORMER MAYOR OF TOWN OF PORT ROYAL.

UH, WHEREAS THE PALMETTO STATE IS BLESSED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF TRAILS FOR WALKING, CYCLING, AND HIKING, THAT PROVIDES COUNTLESS HEALTH LEARNING AND SOCIAL BENEFITS FOR THEIR USERS.

AND WHEREAS THESE TRAILS HELP CONNECT USERS WITH SOUTH CAROLINA'S MULTITUDE OF NATURAL TREASURES RANGING FROM WATERFALLS AND SPECTACULAR MOUNTAIN VIEWS IN THE UPSTATE ROLLING HILLS AND PLACID LAKES IN THE MIDLANDS WIDE MARSHES AND INTRIGUING SWAMPS IN THE LOW COUNTRY AND SANDY BEACHES AND OCEAN BREEZES ALONG THE COAST.

AND, AND WHEREAS BY ENABLING PEOPLE TO SPEND TIME IN NATURE, THESE TRAILS FACILITATE THE ABILITY OF USERS TO ENJOY NUMEROUS ASSOCIATED HEALTH BENEFITS, INCLUDING REDUCTIONS IN DIABETES AND OBESITY.

IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH INCREASES IN STRENGTH AND BALANCE AND ENHANCEMENTS IN MENTAL OUTLOOK THROUGH STRESS REDUCTION, RELAXATION AND SOCIAL INTERACTION.

AND WHEREAS THESE TRAILS PROVIDE AN IDEAL PLACE FOR HIKING, WHICH CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILY TIES AND FRIENDSHIPS, WORKING TO MAINTAIN AND PROTECT A LOCAL TRAIL CAN HELP PROVIDE A GREATER SENSE OF COMMUNITY PRIDE AND COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE PRESENCE AND AVAILABILITY OF TRAILS CAN ENHANCE THE OVERHAUL QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

[00:10:01]

SOUTH CAROLINA IS PROUD TO SUPPORT A SIMILAR INITIATIVE IN THIS STATE.

NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE AS TRAILS MONTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA AND ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ABUNDANCE OF TRAILS IN THIS STATE AND ENJOY THE HEALTH LEARNING AND SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT CAN BE DERIVED.

DATED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF JUNE, SIGNED ALICE HOWARD BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU CHAIRMAN HOWARD AND THANK YOU COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S MY PLEASURE.

AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FRIENDS OF THE SPANISH MOST TRAIL, WHICH YOU SEE PART OF THEM HERE, THE BOARD TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD, TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION REALLY FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY.

'CAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST FOR THE SPANISH MOST TRAIL, THIS IS FOR ALL TRAILS THROUGHOUT, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BROAD.

THE TRAIL SYSTEM IS SO IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN SPEND ALMOST ALL YEAR OUTDOORS IF WE CHOOSE TO.

SO LET'S MAKE SOME PLACE SAFE AND ALLOWABLE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK.

LET'S ALLOW THESE COMMUNITIES TO COME TOGETHER, NEIGHBORHOODS TO CONNECT.

AND THERE'S A GREAT WAY TO DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING IN A CAR JUST BY BUILDING TRIALS AND MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.

WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO GET THIS TRAIL AND OTHER TRAILS THIS FAR.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO TAKE IT BEYOND AND SHOW THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY CAN HAVE ONE OF THE BEST TRIAL SYSTEMS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING THEN FROM ALL THE FRIENDS? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS PROCLAMATION AND LET'S GET OUTSIDE AND GO FOR A WALK.

WE CAN HAVE A PICTURE HERE.

SO THANK YOU.

GOOD MORE PROCLAMATION AND COUNCILMAN GLOVER IS GONNA READ THIS ONE.

THIS IS THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION APPRECIATION WEEK AND WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT ARE GOING TO ACCEPT IT.

OH, THANK YOU.

UM, MADAM, MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION WE'VE, UM, EXTENDED, UM, FOR YEARS NOW.

SO, UM, IT SAYS, UH, WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS FOUNDED IN 1711 AND WHEREAS AT THE FOUNDING NATIVE GULLAH GEECHEE WERE HERE IN THIS COASTAL REGION IN OUR STATE.

AND WHEREAS THE GULLAH GEECHEE HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO A CULTURAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS WE HAVE CELEBRATED THEIR CELEBRATION CONTRIBUTION BY ACTIVELY BEING A PART OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION APPRECIATION WEEK SINCE JULY 22ND, 2013.

AND WHEREAS QUEEN QUET HAS LED THE MOVEMENT TO PROTECT GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE, HUMAN RIGHTS, LAND AND WATER RIGHTS FOR OVER FOUR DECADES DURING WHICH HE FOUNDED THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION.

AND WHEREAS THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION, UH, WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD HISTORY TO HAVE GULLAH GEECHEE IN ITS NAME.

AND WHEREAS THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION CONTINUES TO FORWARD THE MISSION OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION.

AND WHEREAS THE 2026 THEME IS HONOR MUST KEEP, KEEP, HONOR, MUST TAKE CARE OF THE HONOR MUST TAKE CARE, THE ROOT FOR HEALED THE TREE.

GOTCHA.

AND NOW , THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY THE 25TH THROUGH AUGUST THE FIRST 2026, AS GULLAH GEECHEE NATIONAL NATION APPRECIATION WEEK IN OUR COUNTY, AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN CELEBRATING THE WEEK IN SUPPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES HAPPENING LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

AND IT'S DATED THIS EIGHTH DAY OF JULY, JUNE, 2026.

AND IT'S SIGNED BY ALICE G. HOWARD, CHAIRPERSON OF THE BEFORD COUNTY COUNCIL.

THANK SIR.

YOU WANNA SPEAK? PLEASE? YEAH.

ALL YOU WANNA TAKE ,

[00:15:01]

IT'S UP TO YOU.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

SO GLADI ADE ONE MORE AGAIN AND I ADDRESS IT ONE WAY BEHIND ME BACK TOO.

SIMON BACK TURN TO YOU.

UM, SO THIS EVENING I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO MY COUNTY FOR BEING THE FIRST COUNTY REALLY TOTALLY INVOLVED AS A COUNTY.

IT STARTED OFF IN THE CITY OF CHUCKTOWN, AS WE SAY CHARLESTON SOUTH KAKI, RIGHTFULLY 'CAUSE THEY BEEN THE FIRST PLACE, SAY OVER 40% ALL AFRICAN SLAVE IN AMERICA COME TRUE.

SO IT START OFF THERE AND THEN IT SPREAD OUT TO DONYA AND THEN BACK UP TO CHARLESTON COUNTY, ALL THAT THING LIKE DADDY.

AND NOW IT STATEWIDE, THE GOVERNOR ALREADY PROCLAIMED HIM LAST WEEK FOR THE WHOLE STATE FOR THIS YEAR.

I THINK HE WANTED TO GET THE DROP ON BEAUFORT COUNTY THIS YEAR 'CAUSE HE PROCLAIMED .

SO HE PROCLAIMED GULLAH GEECHEE NATION APPRECIATION WEEK THROUGHOUT SOUTH KOLE.

SO FOR ALL A HUNDRED CHILDREN, WHAT BIN HERE, Y'ALL DON KNOW WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

WHY THE CRACK MY TEETH SAY FOR YOU WHO ARE, COME US I'LL TALK LIKE THIS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF SUCH CELEBRATIONS.

AND ESPECIALLY HAVING SOMETHING THAT STARTED IN THIS PART OF SOUTH CAROLINA, WE CALL LOW COUNTRY AND ON THESE SEA ISLANDS SPREAD OUT TO MAKE IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR SEVERAL YEARS RUNNING.

FOR THEM TO SAY NO, THE ENTIRE STATE NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE AS WE WOULD SAY, HUDA, THAT WE BEEN YOUNG, WE ENDED UP GOING TALL, TALL.

AND SO I DEFINITELY HONORED THIS COUNTY BECAUSE BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS THE ONE THAT SET THE PRECEDENT TO HAVE A CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT TO THEN SAY WE ARE GOING TO ZONE SO THAT WE CELEBRATE THAT CULTURAL COMMUNITY MUCH LESS TO GIVE US THE PROCLAMATION AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SO I APPRECIATE IT ON BEHALF OF ALL MY ELDERS, MY ANCESTORS, ALL THE GULLAH GEECHEE.

WOULD HE WOULD, UM, COUNCILMAN GLOVER WAS SAYING THAT ONLY YOU I SAID NO.

PLENTY OF WE.

DANIEL, DANIELLE.

SO YOU HAVE SEVERAL FOLKS HERE FROM ST.

HELENA IN PARTICULAR.

WE ALSO HAVE OUR REPRESENTATIVE GLENDA SIMMONS.

JENKINS, WHO IS HERE ALL THE WAY FROM FLORIDA.

I ALWAYS GO DOWN THERE AND SHE'S THERE WHEN I GREET HER THIS TIME.

SHE CAME UP HERE TO BE HERE TO ACCEPT IT TONIGHT.

AND ALSO MY INTERN XAVIER.

SO ON BEHALF OF ALL THE GULLAH GEECHEE NATION, WE SAY THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO HUNTER CHILLING.

AND WE HAVE GIVEN THE CLERK ALREADY SOME INVITATIONS TO GULLAH GEECHEE FAMILY DAY AND OUR GULLAH GEECHEE CREATE RECEPTION, WHICH WILL BE THE FINAL FRIDAY AND THE FINAL SATURDAY IN JULY AT PENN CENTER.

SO WE WILL BE THERE.

SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ONLINE@GULLAHGEECHEENATION.COM AND YOU CAN FIND ALL THE DETAILS OR AN EVENT.

AND ALSO, I JUST WANNA SAY TO COUNTY COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN AT WORK SINCE Y'ALL LAST SAW ME.

WE HAVE VISITED THE 45 SACRED BURIAL GROUNDS ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND OUT OF THE 45, I'VE BEEN TO MORE THAN 45 'CAUSE I WENT TO THE CHURCHYARDS TOO.

BUT THE ONES THAT WE VISITED, ONLY ONE WAS NOT US.

EVERY OTHER ONE WAS ANCESTORS OF OURS THAT ARE NATIVE GULLAH GEECHEES.

SO AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR VOTING TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE BY THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION AND COLLABORATION WITH OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THOSE SACRED AREAS AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT THOSE PLACES FOR THOSE WHO ARE RESTING, BUT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT A MORE PEACEFUL REST FOR THE LIVING AS WELL.

SO TANKY, TANKY, ENJOY THE REST OF THE SUMMER, STAY HYDRATED AND WE HOPE YOU COME OUT AND SHOUT WITH ME IN JULY.

PEACE, LOVE, AND BLESSING Y'ALL.

IS OUR ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

YOU WANNA COME? ANY OF THE OTHER GIRL EAT YOUR THIS FOOD.

ARE Y'ALL WELCOME TO COME? I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU THAT, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROCLAMATIONS FOR TONIGHT.

UH, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA

[7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT]

MR. MOORE.

GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR COUNSEL.

UM, WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS TONIGHT AND I HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU ALL.

BUT, UH, FIRST WE'RE GONNA, UM, INTRODUCE, WE HAVE, UM, IN OUR, OUR CLERK TO COUNCIL OFFICE, WE HAVE AN INTERN, UH, NATHAN STE, IF THAT NAME SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS HIS FATHER'S THE, UH, TOWN MANAGER OF BUFFON.

OH, OH OH.

HELLO, NATHAN.

NATHAN, I DIDN'T REALIZE.

SO, UM, WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME HIM.

HE'S, UH, CURRENTLY ATTENDING, UH, CLEMSON UNIVERSITY WHERE HE IS PURSUING A DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

HE'S GONNA BRING VALUABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPERIENCE AND HE'S EAGER TO GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE HERE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, WHICH I'M SURE IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY AND, UM, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

SO HE'LL, UH, DURING HIS INTERNSHIP, HE'LL BE HERE THROUGH AUGUST.

UH, HE'LL BE ASSISTING THE CLERK OF COUNCIL THE VARIETY OF RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT, UH, THE COUNTY COUNCIL BOARDS AND

[00:20:01]

COMMISSIONS.

UM, HE'LL UP, HE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE MEETING PREPARATION, UH, UPDATING THE WEBSITE, ARCHIVING RECORDS, CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON COUN COUNCIL RELATED MATTERS, UH, OFFICIAL MEETING MINUTES, UH, FILING RECORDS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, AND THEN GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ALL OUR MEETINGS AND BOARDS, UH, AND COMMISSION ACTIVITIES.

UH, HE'LL ALSO GET SOME TIME TO GO TO THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, UH, AND DIVISIONS THAT WORK, UH, CLOSELY WITH THE CLERK TO COUNCIL.

SO WE'LL GET SOME EXPERIENCE THERE TO HELP DEVELOP A, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF BEAUFORT COUNTY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND THE EFFORTS THAT ARE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS REQUIRED TO SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM HERE ON THE TEAM AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING HIS PROFESSIONAL GROWTH WHILE HE IS HERE.

A PICTURE AND THE INTERN PROGRAM.

JUST LIKE TO DO A, A SHORT PSA PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT, UH, WAS STARTED NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM AND WE HOPE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE APPLY FOR IT THROUGHOUT TO WORK WITH US IN THE COUNTY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE HAVE 'EM IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL.

WE HAVE IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS TOO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO NEXT WE HAVE SOME LONGEVITY PENDING.

UM, SO WE'LL HAVE, FIRST IS, UH, KATIE GO DOWNS, UH, SENIOR OR CERTIFIED SENIOR PREVENTION SPECIALIST WITH NEXUS CARE WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO, UH, ALRIGHT.

SHE'S BEEN, UM, WITH THE COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS MM-HMM .

UM, AND SHE'S BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN PREVENTION EFFORTS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

SHE HELP LAUNCH THE OPIOID OVERDOSE AWARENESS WALK NOW THE ANNUAL RECOVERY WALK, COME ON UP.

AND, UH, TAUGHT LIFE SKILLS WEEKLY IN THE DETENTION CENTER FOR OVER 10 YEARS.

SHE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN FORMING THE ALL BOARD BEAUFORT COALITION FOR YOUTH ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA PREVENTION, AND HELPED SECURE STATE AND FEDERAL PREVENTION BLOCK GRANTS AND THE DRUG FREE COMMUNITIES GRANT GRADUATE OF THE LEADERSHIP BEAUFORT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

EMERGING LEADERS.

KATIE RECEIVED THE 2024 NORMAN PETER JOHNSON PREVENTION PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR SOUTH CAROLINA.

HER COMMITMENT STRENGTHENED COUNTLESS LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON 15 YEARS.

CONGRATULATIONS.

ATE I GOT A QUICK PICTURE.

VERY STRONG MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR WHOLE FAMILY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR US.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO MY DIRECTOR IN THE HALLWAY AND I SAID, WHENEVER YOU DO WHAT YOU LOVE, YOU NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE.

SO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME DO THAT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

NEXT UP WE HAVE, UH, JENNIFER PETRO, A JUDICIAL ASSISTANT WITH THE 14TH CIRCUIT PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO HERE SHE COMES.

SO, UM, JENNIFER'S HAD A REWARDING CAREER HELPING CITIZENS NAVIGATE GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

SHE TAKES IMMENSE PRIDE IN DELIVERING SUPPORT TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY RESOURCES REMAIN ACCESSIBLE AND CLEAR.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE FOR JENNIFER TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY COMMUNITY FOR TWO DECADES.

SO YOU GOT FAMILY HERE? YES.

DO ALL YOU HAVE COME ON UP.

YOU CAN.

A LOT OF FAMILY.

YOU GOT A LOT OF FAMILY.

MY OTHER SON COME ON UP.

YOU CAN.

AND HIS WIFE.

UH, MY DAUGHTER NICOLE, MY GRANDDAUGHTER ROSIE, AND MY SISTER DAWN.

OH, GREAT.

AWESOME.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE SO WE CAN GET A GROUP PHOTO AND YOU CAN MAKE A FEW REMARKS IF YOU LIKE.

Y'ALL JUST FACE THERE? YES.

WE'LL GET A QUICK PICTURE.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR.

IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES.

THANK YOU, .

NEXT WE HAVE, UH, JEFFREY FRAZIER, UH, CREW LEADER, PARKS AND RECREATION, 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO JEFFREY BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS ON MAY 22ND, 20 OR 2006.

IN 2018, HE JOINED THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WHERE HE IS PROMOTED TO CREW LEADER JEFFREY'S WIDELY RECOGNIZED FOR HIS DEDICATION AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK COUNTLESS HOURS TO SUPPORT OUR DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY DURING WORLD SERIES BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS, SOCCER STATE TOURNAMENTS, AND MANY SPECIAL EVENTS HELD AT OUR FACILITIES.

IN HIS SPARE TIME, JEFFREY ENJOYS FISHING, ATTENDING CHURCH AND CHEERING ON HIS FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM, THE DALLAS COWBOYS

[00:25:01]

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU HAVE A PEN FOR YOU.

SOME OF MY BROTHERS FROM MY CHURCH.

UM, I JUST WANT TO FIRST THANK GOD FOR YES, ALL THAT HE HAS DONE IN MY LIFE, AND I KNOW IT'S HIM THAT BROUGHT ME THIS FAR.

SO, BUT I'M A PART OF A MENTORS GROUP AT MY CHURCH, AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE BROTHERS THAT WE ARE PART OF THE MENTOR GROUP.

THIS IS BROTHER CLARK, BROTHER TROY, BROTHER GUY HENRY.

AND OUR MENTOR IS BACK THERE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR, 91 YEARS OLD.

OH, WOW.

AND THEN THE USER WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE AN ACCOUNT BEFORE ACCESSING.

SO I TRULY GIVE GOD ALL THE HONOR AND GLORY FOR JUST KEEPING ME THIS FAR.

NEXT WE HAVE, UM, MAJOR LATASHA ROBINSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DETENTION CENTER WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE THERE.

SHE'S SO OVER THE COURSE OF MAJOR ROBINSON'S 20 YEAR CAREER WITH DETENTION CENTER, SHE BEGAN AT THE, THE ENTRY LEVEL, ADVANCED THROUGH THE RANKS, RANKS AT AN ACCELERATED PACE, GAINING VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP, OPERATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

ALONG THE WAY, SHE EARNED DUAL MASTER OF ARTS DEGREES IN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP, GRADUATING WITH HONORS IN 2 20 13.

THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE'S REMAINED COMMITTED TO SERVANT LEADERSHIP THROUGH COMMUNITY OUTREACH MINISTRY AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY.

IN 2024, SHE'S ORDAINED IN A MINISTRY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF PASTOR JEROME LEWIS AND PASTOR CRYSTAL LEWIS FURTHER STRENGTHENING HER COMMITMENT TO LEADING WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND PURPOSE.

THAT CONCLUDES, UM, OUR, UH, PENDING CEREMONY.

I DID WANNA UPDATE YOU ALL, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN, UM, RECENT ATTENTION, UH, UM, REGARDING, UH, THE B 11 E LOW HOUSING, UH, HOUSING EXEMPTIONS.

THESE EXEMPTIONS ARE APPROVED BY SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OR DOR, UH, COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE APPLIES EXEMPTION TO THE PROPERTY RECORD ONCE THE, UH, APPROVAL CERTI CERTIFICATION IS RECEIVED.

AND THE, UH, BASED ON DEMAND THE COUNTY'S, UH, INITIATING AND NOTIFICATION PROCESS FOR INFORMING POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OR TAXING ENTITIES OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND CDOR APPROVE B 11, UH, EXEMPTIONS AS FOLLOWS.

SO THERE'S A FEW STEPS THEY'VE TAKEN AND I, I APPRECIATE WHAT THEY'VE DONE HERE.

SO THEY'LL PROVIDE, UH, ENTITIES WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE DOR EXEMPTIONS.

AND, UH, THE PROCESS IS INTENDED TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF APPROVED EXEMPTIONS THAT MAY AFFECT, UH, TAXABLE VALUE TAX, BILLING, REVENUE ESTIMATES, AND RELATED REPORTING.

UM, THE ASSESSOR DOES REVIEW THE DOR DATA AND, UM, REVIEWS ALL THE MATCHES AND, AND RESOLVES ANY DISCREPANCIES BEFORE INFORMATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OUTSIDE.

UM, THE, THE ASSESSOR IS GOING TO PREPARE A LIMITED ACCESS REPORT OR DATA SET.

UM, IDENTIFYING THESE EXEMPTIONS, UH, INFORMATION SHARED WILL BE LIMITED TO THE SPECIFIC FIELDS, UH, BY AND REFLECTED IN THE EXEMPTION RECORD, UH, RECEIVED FROM DOR, INCLUDING THE PARCEL ACCOUNT IDENTIFICATION, EXEMPTION TYPE AND STATUS AND EFFECTIVE TAX YEAR.

WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS.

SO IT WILL BE LIMITED TO, UM, AUTHORIZED ASSESSOR, UH, STAFF, UH, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS WITH A BUSINESS NEEDS SUCH AS AUDITOR TREASURER IT ADMINISTRATION.

UM, EACH POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TAXING ENTITY WILL BE ALLOWED TO DESIGNATE TWO USERS WHO HAVE A NEED TO VIEW THE INFORMATION.

AND, UM, AT LEAST ONE WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE, UH, ADMINISTRATION OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

UH, ASSESSOR WILL REQUEST THE NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION OF EACH AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, AND THEN THE USER WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM THE COUNTY'S, UH, DESIGNATED SECURE PLATFORM, UH, TO THEIR OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESS.

IT'LL ONLY BE SENT TO THE OFFICIAL ADDRESS,

[00:30:01]

AND THEN INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED.

THE DATA WILL BE SECURE THROUGH A SECURE ACCESS CONTROL PLATFORM.

UH, ACCESS WILL BE ROLE BASED AND, UH, USER ACCESS MAY REQUIRE PASSWORD PROTECTION, MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION, OR OTHER APPROVED SECURITY MEASURES.

AND THEN THE, UH, POLITICAL SUBDIVISION'S RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE NOTIFYING WHEN THEY NO LONGER NEED ACCESS OR THEY HAVE CHANGE IN PERSONNEL.

AND, UH, THE COUNTY WILL MAINTAIN AUDIT LOGS OF WHO'VE ACCESS THAT.

AND, UH, IT'LL BE FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY FOR THOSE ENTITIES.

AND, UH, THE ASSESSOR WILL UPDATE THIS DATA MONTHLY.

AND, UM, THEY'LL, THE, UH, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OR ENTITIES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCESSING THE DATA, UH, DETERMINE WHETHER THE NEW EXEMPTION INFORMATION HAS BEEN PROCESSED AND POSTED.

AND THEN IT'LL BE UPDATED WHEN, UH, NEW, UH, EXEMPTION DATA IS RECEIVED.

AND THEN, UH, THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WILL HANDLE, UH, QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT INFORMATION.

DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? THIS IS WHAT WE WERE CALLING THE LOOPHOLE.

IN, IN PORT ORAL, WE'RE WORKING TO SHARE INFORMATION SO THAT OUR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

SOON.

UM, ONCE A DOR, OF COURSE, WE DON'T MAKE THE DECISIONS HERE AT THE COUNTY.

IT'S UP TO, TO DOR.

SO WILL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE ACCESS? YES.

THEY WOULD.

ANY QUESTIONS? YES.

ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? NO.

ANYTHING ELSE? UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

MR. MOORE BACK ON, AND DID YOU HELP WITH THIS ON HILTON HEAD? IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

ON MAY 22ND, YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM NOVANT.

WELL, I SENT IT IN SOME OTHERS THAT THEY'RE GONNA DO AWAY WITH THEIR DELIVERY AND LABOR UNIT ON HILTON HEAD AND GO UP TO BLUFFTON AREA.

UM, I BELIEVE THERE WERE OVER 200 BIRTHS JUST LAST YEAR ALONE.

I GO TO CHURCH WITH A NURSE THAT IS ACTUALLY EXPECTING.

ARE YOU ABLE TO GIVE US ANY UPDATE ON ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE SINCE MAY 22ND ON THIS? UM, YOU SENT ME, YOU KNOW, YOU CONTACTED ME EARLIER.

UM, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION.

I MEAN, I REALLY FALL UNDER THE COUNTY, BUT I'M HAPPY TO NO, NO.

TO SHARE INFORMATION.

UM, I HAVEN'T HAD A CONVERSATION SINCE THEN WITH, WITH THE HOSPITAL, WITH, WITH BMH OR ANYBODY ELSE, BUT, WELL, WITH OUR EFFORTS TO GET WORKFORCE AND YOUNGER FAMILIES ON THE ISLAND, AND THEN, YEAH, IT'S, TAKE IT AWAY.

IT'S, IT'S AN ISSUE.

I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S A CRAZY, WELL, 40 SOME ODD THOUSAND RESIDENTS.

UM, I DON'T MIND, I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE AUGUST WHERE THEY'LL BE COMPLETELY TERMINATED.

I LOOK TO US MAYBE, DO WE GO TO BEAUFORT MEMORIAL, UH, WITH THAT? BECAUSE I, I DO THIS NOW BECAUSE I THINKS IT A DESPERATE, I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT YOU COULD ASK THE TWO HOSPITALS.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE NOVANT AND YOU HAVE BEFORD MEMORIAL AND THEN COASTAL DELIVERS BABIES, UM, IN JAZZ.

I'M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IS PART OF NOVANT.

I JUST WANNA BRING IT TO MY COUNCIL'S ATTENTION, MY COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE THIS IS A MAJOR COMING UP PRETTY QUICKLY THAT WE BETTER, UH, TAKE CARE OF.

SO.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR ADMINISTRATOR? UM, WILL YOU PUT THAT STATEMENT OUT TO OUR MUNICIPALITIES? YES.

WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT'S, THAT'S SHARED.

I JUST WANT YOU ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION AND I'M SURE THEY'RE NOT SITTING WATCHING US, BUT, WELL, THEY MIGHT BE YOU SCHOOL DISTRICTS HERE.

SHE'S NOT GONNA REMEMBER ALL THAT.

[8. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - 30 MINUTES TOTAL]

YOU.

AT THIS TIME, UH, WE DO HAVE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES WORTH OF, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT I THINK WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THAT.

UM, WE HAVE 13 PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE QUICKLY.

BEFORE WE START, I'D LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT SPEAKERS PERMITTED NO MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO COMPLETE THEIR COMMENTS TO COUNCIL.

EVERYONE SPEAKING BEFORE COUNCIL WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO SO IN A CIVIL MANNER.

COUNCIL WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNTY STAFF, OR ANY PERSON OR GROUP.

RACIAL SLURS AND PROFANITY WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.

COUNSEL WILL LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS, BUT WILL NOT RESPOND.

I'M REMINDING EVERYONE OF THAT ANY HANDOUTS THAT YOU PROVIDE WILL BECOME PART OF THE RECORD AND YOU WOULD GIVE THEM TO OUR COUNTY CLERK OVER HERE.

THE FIRST PERSON, UM, AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE SECOND PERSON'S NAME TOO, SO SHE CAN COME FORWARD.

THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, CHAR CHARLIE WEBB CHAR.

AND THEN AFTER CHARLIE WEBB IS CARRIE MAJOR.

SO CARRIE, IF YOU WANNA COME UP TO BE RIGHT AFTER 'EM, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

SURE.

NONE OF THOSE ARE FROM .

UM, WE, WE DO HAVE SOME PER I WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, IF YOU, WE HAVE A SEPARATE LIST FOR PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN DO BOTH.

AND, BUT THIS LIST IS JUST FOR PUBLIC GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT.

READY? YES, SIR.

GO AHEAD, MR. WEBB.

I SAY YOU DIDN'T SAY THE BEST FOR THE LAST, I'M SORRY YOU DIDN'T.

UH, I'M HERE.

MY NAME'S CHARLIE WEBB.

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE, UH, BEFORD OPEN LAND TRUST.

SORRY, I HAD TO OPEN MY MAGAZINE.

I'M, UH, A PRIVILEGED TO BE IN THAT POSITION.

I WORK WITH A GREAT

[00:35:01]

STAFF THERE.

MOST OF 'EM ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND A GREAT GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS.

AND OUR JOB IS TO KEEP THE LOW COUNTRY, THE LOW COUNTRY.

74 YEARS AGO IN FEBRUARY, I WAS BORN IN A 10 BED HOSPITAL RIGHT DOWN REBO ROAD.

I'VE LIVED IN BEAUFORT ALL MY LIFE, EXCEPT FOR FOUR YEARS.

ENJOY MYSELF AT CLEMSON.

WHEN I WAS BORN, MY GRANDDADDY SAID THAT LITTLE BOY IS GONNA HAVE BEAUFORD PLUFF BETWEEN HIS TOES.

AND I HAVE BOGGED IN SO MANY AREAS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

I STILL GOT IT ON MY TOES.

A LOT HAS CHANGED IN 74 YEARS AND I'VE SEEN IT SOME GOOD, SOME NOT SO GOOD.

BUT I'M ONE TO HOLD THE HIGH ROAD.

AND I THINK THE BEST CHANGE THAT WE'VE HAD IS THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FROM OTHER PLACES AND LOVE AND CALL BEAUFORT HOME.

THAT REALLY FILLS MY HEART WITH JOY.

THOSE PEOPLE HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN AREAS THAT OUR LAND TRUSTS, ALONG WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, HAS SAVED IN A WILD STATE TO UNDERSTAND THE BEAUTY AND THE, UH, THE EDUCATION THAT YOU CAN GET FROM BEING THOSE PLACES.

I'VE DONE IT ALL MY LIFE AND I THINK, UH, I PROBABLY GOT A BETTER EDUCATION THAN MY FOUR YEARS AT CLEMSON TO THE, TO THE, UH, INTERN HAVING A GOOD TIME JUST KNOWING HOW TO LOOK AT SOMETHING, A TREE, A FLOWER, A BIRD, AN ANIMAL, A FISH.

AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO SAVE THAT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE NOW.

AND ALSO AS A LEGACY FOR OUR CHILDREN'S, CHILDREN'S CHILDREN AND FOREVER.

I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO THANK, UH, COUNCIL FOR THEIR MOVE SINCE 2020 IN AUTHORIZING FUNDS THROUGH THE RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS AND THROUGH THE, UH, WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? DOGGONE GREEN SPACE.

THE GREEN SPACE, UH, UH, DEAL BECAUSE IT, IT TOOK A COUNTYWIDE VOTE TO DECIDE TO PAY TAXES.

WHO WANTS TO PAY TAXES? IF YOU'RE A POLITICIAN AND YOU PUT THAT ON YOUR BILL AND SAY, ELECT ME, I'M GONNA RAISE YOUR TAXES, NOBODY'D VOTE FOR YOU.

AN OVERWHELMING GROUP, 70% AND MORE VOTED TO PAY MORE TAXES SO THAT WE COULD SAVE PUBLIC LAND.

THANK YOU AS A COUNCIL IN THE PAST AND FOR DOING THAT, THANK THE RURAL AND CRITICAL CRITICAL LAND GROUP AND THE OTHER GROUP FOR KEEPING US GOING.

WE'RE ON THE MOVE.

WE'VE GOT A, A NEW PIECE OF PROPERTY WE'RE LOOKING AT DOWN ON THE NEW RIVER CALL, NEW RIVER FOREST.

YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

THAT IS GONNA BE A JEWEL IN OUR CROWN FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. WELL, NEXT IS MS. CARRIE MAJOR.

GOOD EVENING COUNSEL AND CHAIR.

UM, AGAIN, I'M CARRIE MAJOR.

I'M A COMMUNITY AND YOUTH ADVOCATE, AND IN MY OBSERVATION, UM, AND VISITATION OF SEVERAL SITES, INCLUDING THE WESLEY, FELIX PARKINSON, HELENA ISLAND, WHICH IS MY COMMUNITY, IT APPEARS THAT THE BUILDINGS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ARE THE SAME SIZE.

THEY'RE VERY SMALL AND PERHAPS THAT WE MAY HAVE A BASEBALL FIELD OR WE MAY HAVE AN OUTSIDE, UM, BASKETBALL COURT.

UM, I KNOW IT'S ECONOMICAL.

UH, PERHAPS USE THE SAME BUILDING PLAN OR FLOOR PLAN EXCEPT FOR BUCK WALTER AND AT BURTON WELLS.

IN FACT, I HOPE THAT A DECISION WILL, UH, BE COMING FORTH ABOUT ADDING PHASE TWO TO THIS WESLEY FELIX PARK, UM, AS IT WILL SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

UM, JUST LIKE YOU SAID FOR BUCK WALTER, WHEN YOU ALL ADDED, UH, FOUR SOCCER COURTS AND YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN AND, UH, USE $15,000, ABOUT $15,000 TO DO THAT, WE ARE HOPING THAT YOU DO THE SAME THING FOR ST.

HELENA.

SO INSTEAD OF LATER, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SAVE MONEY NOW BY ADDING, UM, A PHASE TWO TO THAT FACILITY.

AND MY PRAYER IS THAT, UM, YOU ALL, UH, THINK OF ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

THINK OF THAT ADDITION.

THINK OF SAVING DOLLARS, OKAY? AND THERE'S A SAVE, UH, SAYING THAT MY MOM AND MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO SAY, IT'S NOT BEHIND YOU, IT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.

AND, UH, I KNOW YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT THERE'S ALSO, UM, SOWING AND REAPING WHATSOEVER YOU SOW.

SO SHALL YOU REAP.

SO I WANT YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE CAN BE FAIR AND IT CAN BE EQUITABLE AS YOU LOOK FORTH.

AND THERE'S TWO WORDS I WANNA LEAVE WITH YOU.

INEQUITY AND INEQUALITY.

AND I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT ORDINANCE 20 26 33.

THANK YOU, MS. MAJOR.

UM, NEXT IS, UM, FELICE LAMARCA.

GOOD EVENING, FELICE LAMARCA.

[00:40:01]

I WOULD'VE SAVED THAT FOR PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEARING ON SECOND READING, AND I FIND THAT UNACCEPTABLE.

SOMEBODY DECIDED TO FAST TRACK THIS TO YOU.

SO PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW GOING TO BE AT THIRD READING.

SO THIS IS SIGNIFICANT TO THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF VOTING AND HAVING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THAT VOTE.

I, UM, WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I CONSIDER THIS TO BE GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.

I DECIDED TO ANALYZE THE CHANGES WHILE COUNCIL WAS TOLD IT IS A ROUTINE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT FOR GRANT FUNDING.

IT IS NOT, IT IS A PERMANENT EXPANSION OF COUNTY AUTHORITY OVER PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY EXAMINED.

AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE STAFF DOESN'T TELL YOU EVERYTHING FIRST.

THIS ORDINANCE LETS THE COUNTY DESIGNATE PROPERTY AS HISTORIC WITHOUT THE OWNER'S CONSENT.

THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, THE HPRB START THE PROCESS.

NO OWNER'S SIGNATURE REQUIRED.

AND ONCE ON THE LIST, THERE IS NO CLEAR WAY OFF.

CHARLESTON COUNTY IS A CERTIFIED LOCAL GOVERNMENT, CLG, UNDER THE SAME FEDERAL PROGRAM.

CHARLESTON REQUIRES OWNER CONSENT AND GIVES OWNERS A PATH TO BE REMOVED.

BUFORD'S DRAFT DOES NOT.

THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.

THIS IS A CHOICE STAFF MADE.

SECOND, THIS PUTS COUNSEL ON THE HOOK FOR EVERY CONTESTED DECISION YOU LIKE.

LAWSUITS MAKES CANCEL THE FINAL DECISION MAKER ON EVERY DESIGNATION.

ANY AGGRIEVED OWNER APPEARS BEFORE THIS BODY.

YOU WANT MORE WORK.

EVERY APPEAL GOES TO THE CIRCUIT COURT WITH THE COUNTY AS DEFENDANT, MEANING YOU, NONE OF THAT WAS EXPLAINED AT FIRST READING.

THIRD, THE COUNTY'S LEGAL EXPOSURE GOES UP NOT DOWN.

AS YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, THE CURRENT ORDINANCE IS LARGELY PASSIVE.

THE STATE HANDLES NATIONAL REGISTER DESIGNATIONS, EXISTING RULES, COVER ARCHEOLOGY AND CEMETERIES.

AND I COULD GO ON AND ON.

THE STAFF JUSTIFICATION DOESN'T SURVIVE THE EXAMINATION.

WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS GET THE WORK DONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE FIRST READING, BEFORE PASSING THIS ON.

ONE, A WRITTEN OPINION FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AS TO LEGAL EXPOSURE.

THIS CREATES TWO, A REAL COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, A REAL ONE THREE MINIMUM COMPLIANCE ALTERNATIVE THAT HAS OWNER CONSENT.

I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU AT PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I, I DID SEND YOU, UH, EMAIL YOU BY ANALYSIS, WHICH TOOK ME WEEKS.

PLEASE, PLEASE READ IT.

AND REGRETTABLY, WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT OSSIFICATION AND DELAY AND A REFUSAL TO ENGAGE WITH THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HEALTHCARE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

NEXT IS, UM, JOE, IS IT JOE HALL DAVIDSON? JOE OR JOE, WHAT'S YOUR, IS IT JOE? MR. DAVISON.

A VERY BRIEF BITE, A GRAPHICAL NOTE.

UH, I RETIRED THE HILTON HEAD IN 2019.

UH, I PROBABLY UNIQUE, NOT ONLY AM I LIFELONG MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR, BUT I'M THE ONLY URBAN ECONOMIST THAT I KNOW THAT LIVES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH GIVES ME A RATHER UNUSUAL PERSPECTIVES ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE.

UH, THAT LED ME WITH A ADDITIONAL CAVEAT TO ONLY EVER APPEAR ONE TIME AT A PUBLIC FORUM HERE.

AND, UH, MY WIFE WAS A SENIOR HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION SHE SERVED WITH WAS ASCENSION IN MINNESOTA, ALMOST 20,000 EMPLOYEES.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE TOP FOUR OR FIVE EXECUTIVES THERE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.

THAT OCCASIONED ME WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BRIDGES IN HILTON HEAD TO MAKE THE ONLY APPEARANCE THAT I EVER MADE BEFORE THE HILTON HEAD CITY COUNCIL, IN WHICH I SAID THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND DEMOGRAPHICS AND URBAN ECONOMICS AS PEOPLE HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BECAUSE THERE IS ONE IMPERATIVE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY HEALTHCARE.

ABSOLUTELY EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SHOULD BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF HOW WILL IT IMPACT HEALTHCARE.

[00:45:01]

WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT THOSE BRIDGES TWO WEEKS AFTER WE PROPOSED THEM BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF BUILDING THOSE BRIDGES ON BRINGING WORKFORCES AND CUSTOMERS TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND.

THE NAVAN LEAVING, I TOLD PEOPLE AT, AT THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AND REDUCE SERVICES LONG AGO.

IT'S A WRITING ON THE WALL.

THEY HAVE NO CHOICE ECONOMICALLY.

THE BUSINESS IS TOO SOPHISTICATED.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE REAL REASON THAT I CAME TONIGHT.

THE REASON I CAME WAS TO SUPPORT THE NEW RIVER OF RESOLUTION.

BUT TO OFFER TWO OBSERVATIONS QUICKLY.

NUMBER ONE, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SUPREME COURT HAS EXPRESSLY SAID, AND YOUR LAWYER SHOULD TELL YOU THIS, THAT YOU MUST MAKE A FINDING OF WHETHER OR NOT THAT PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT TAXPAYERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

NOW, AS AN URBAN ECONOMIST, I MADE THAT CALCULATION FOR YOU.

THIS IS THE SIMPLEST DECISION I HAVE EVER SEEN PRESENTED TO A COUNCIL.

THE TAXES TO PAY $42 MILLION OVER 40 YEARS IS LESS THAN $5 PER TAXPAYER PER YEAR WITH INTEREST OF $2.

OKAY? SO THAT'S IT.

THAT'S $42 MILLION WITH 205,000 TAXPAYERS, I'D ESTIMATE THAT, THAT WE HAVE 130, 140,000 PARCELS OF LAND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THAT PRESERVING THAT 5,000 ACRES IS SURELY WORTH AT LEAST A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF PARTIAL.

SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR STAFF DOES NOT ANALYZE TAXES AND DOES NOT ANALYZE THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW REQUIRES THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE DECISIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING.

I WOULD THINK EVERYBODY HERE WOULD WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH IS MY REAL ESTATE VALUE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY ANY DECISION MADE HERE.

THANK, THANK YOU MR. DAVISON.

THANK, THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

NEXT IS FRANK, UH, RID FRANK RIDDICK.

GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMENTS.

MY NAME IS FRANK RIDDICK AND I RESIDE IN BLUFFTON.

WE'VE OWNED PROPERTY IN PALMETTO BLUFF SINCE 2012 AND LIVED IN PALMETTO BLUFF SINCE 2017.

I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF THE PALMETTO BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF THE ALMOST 5,000 ACRE TRACT OF LAND KNOWN AS PALMETTO BLUFF MANAGED FOREST BY BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR 42 MILLION.

ALTHOUGH PB MANAGED FORESTS CONTIGUOUS TO AND ALMOST ENTIRELY INSIDE THE GATES OF PALMETTO BLUFF, PB RESIDENTS WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTIFIED OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION.

THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS OF PB DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN FULLY ANALYZED AND HAS NOT BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE RESIDENTS OF PAM BLUFF.

WHILE WE APPLAUD THE EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT THE MANAGED FOREST IS NEVER DEVELOPED AND IS MAINTAINED AS A CONSERVATION SITE, WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.

FIRST, THE PURCHASE PRICE OF 42 MILLION DOES NOT APPEAR FAIR OR JUSTIFIED GIVEN THIS TRACK OF LAND HAS BEEN FOR SALE FOR SINCE AT LEAST 2018.

AND PER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON CANNOT BE DEVELOPED UNTIL 2057.

IF EVER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON COULD EXTEND THE DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS AND GIVEN THE WETLANDS AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE NATURE OF THIS TRACK, TRACK OF LAND, IT COULD SAVE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

SECOND, THERE ARE SEVERAL CONCERNS FOR PB RESIDENTS RAISED BY THE COUNTY'S ACQUISITION PLAN, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY, NO COMMUNITY INPUT POTENTIAL FOR HUNTING ADJACENT TO PB PROPERTY AND RESIDENCES, LACK OF DETAILS ON MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, PUD AND POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL COST TO P THE PBE PRESERVATION TRUST PAID, WHICH IS PAID A HUNDRED PERCENT BY PEB RESIDENTS.

WE FORMALLY REQUEST THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL OF, EXCUSE ME, THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, DELAY THE VOTE.

CONSULT BEAUFORT COUNTY RESIDENTS CONSULT PALMETTO BLUFF RESIDENCE, CLARIFY THE PUBLIC ACCESS PLAN COMMISSION, AN INDEPENDENT LEGAL REVIEW.

NEXT ON OUR LIST IS LARRY KUDA.

CHUDA.

I ALWAYS MISPRONOUNCE, I'M SORRY, LARRY

[00:50:02]

BRIEF, HAVE SOME TIME.

UM, I JUST WANNA REITERATE SOMETHING REGARDING THE, UM, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

I TOO AM OPPOSED TO THAT.

I THINK I DID IT ORIGINALLY A YEAR AGO.

SAID THAT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO THIS KIND OF THING TO KEEP, DO, KEEP ADDING THINGS ONTO THIS THING.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DID THEIR HOMEWORK AND FLEECE GAVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION.

SO I'LL GIVE MY, THE REST OF MY TIME UP.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS THOMAS DONAHUE.

HOW'S EVERYBODY? UM, FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS THAT I NEED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK ALL OF YOU.

I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW Y'ALL OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND I KNOW YOUR WORK IS STRESSFUL AND ENDLESS AND, UM, AND Y'ALL WORK FOR MENAL WAGE.

AND I I WANNA TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE IT.

AND, UM, Y'ALL WORK HARD.

UH, THE SUBJECT I'M COVERING IS THE PLASTICS THING.

I THINK I'VE SPOKE ABOUT IT BEFORE, BUT, UM, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND THE SEVERE DAMAGE IT HAS DONE TO THE ECOSYSTEMS AND ALL THE CREATURES THAT WE SELL, SHARE THIS PLANET WITH.

I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND, THE DISASTERS IS CREATED IN MANY WAYS.

UM, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS, UH, THE BAG ORDINANCES AND THE THICK BAGS ARE DEFINITELY THE WAY TO GO.

UM, THE PROBLEM WITH THEM IS THAT WHEN I GO INTO DOLLAR GENERAL OR WALMART, I EVEN ASK 'EM, DOES ANYBODY EVER REUSE THESE BAGS? AND THE ANSWER IS NO.

UM, BUT THEY'RE A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

THOSE THIN BAGS ARE TERRIBLE.

THEY HAVE DONE EXTREME DAMAGE, UH, IN EVERY WAY.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION TO EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE AND ANYBODY WATCHING THIS, I'VE BEEN USING REUSABLE BAGS FOR 10 YEARS NOW, AND THEY'RE NOT EXPENSIVE AT ALL.

AND THEY MAKE BAGS THAT WILL KEEP FOOD COLD AND FROZEN ON YOUR TRIPS HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE, THE SAVING GRACE FOR THIS ISSUE.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, I'VE BEEN USING 'EM FOR YEARS AND I DON'T SEE ENOUGH OTHER PEOPLE USING 'EM.

SO PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.

UM, UH, ON A FINAL NOTE, WELL ACTUALLY, UM, I WANNA SHARE THIS WITH Y'ALL.

I SAT DOWN WITH THE, UH, SHERIFF IN THE COUNTY I WAS LIVING BEFORE I MOVED HERE BECAUSE THE LITTER ISSUE.

AND I ASKED HIM, UM, IF HE WOULD CONSIDER SOME OF THE LOW RISK PEOPLE IN THE JAIL, YOU KNOW, THAT NEED TO GET OUT AND EXERCISE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COULD TAKE THEM OUT AND LET THEM WALK AND PICK UP THE GARBAGE.

UM, AND HE ACTUALLY DID THAT.

AND THEN WE GOT THE BUSH HOG CONTRACTORS TO GET PEOPLE OUT AND PICK UP THE GARBAGE BECAUSE I SEE WHAT THE BUSH HOGS DO TO THE GARBAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AND THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY AROUND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEES WOULD BE, BUT, UM, THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY IS WE ARE LIVING THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES AND I ASK YOU ALL, UM, TO PLEASE BASE ALL OUR DECISIONS ON LOVE, COMPASSION, AND EMPATHY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE LEAST AMONG US.

AND, UM, THANK YOU MR. THAT'S VERY, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IN THESE DAYS.

IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

BUT ANYWAY, THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

NEXT IS PAULA, UM, GHISLAINE, JOLENE, PAULA.

I HOPE THIS IS NOT TRUE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY THIS SUPER PAC IS NOT GONNA BE BOUGHT OUT BY THEM SO THAT THEY CAN DEVELOP WHEREVER THEY FEEL LIKE.

OH, PAULA.

YEAH, I KNOW PAULA.

I WAS LIKE, OKAY, .

I JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE AND, UH, GLAD TO BE HERE.

GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS, UH, AN ELECTION TOMORROW AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE, UH, LATEST PAPER AND CAME ACROSS THIS ADVERTISEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THIS OR NOT, BUT IT WAS IN THE PAPER.

I GOT THE PAPER TODAY.

AND, UM, IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT DEVELOPERS ARE TRYING TO BUY A BEAUFORT CITY COUNCIL ELECTION.

AND IT SAYS, A SECRETIVE DARK MONEY SUPER PAC UNDOUBTEDLY FUNDED BY DEVELOPERS, IS ATTEMPTING TO BUY COUNCIL SEATS.

AND IT JUST GOES ON TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

AND

[00:55:01]

AND THE LAND TRUST IS HELPING THAT A LOT.

BUT, UM, IT'S QUITE CONCERNING TO ME THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD GO ON IN SUCH A SMALL AREA.

YOU KNOW, ST.

HELENA IS VERY RURAL.

WE WANT IT TO STAY THAT WAY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU ALL WORK VERY HARD AND I WOULDN'T WANT IT, I WOULDN'T WANNA DO IT, BUT I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST IF ANYBODY IS INVOLVED IN ANY OF THIS, NOBODY KNOWS WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.

UM, AND IT JUST ALL SEEMS A LITTLE BIT SHADY.

I HOPE THAT NONE OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THIS AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF IF YOU ARE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT WHAT BEAUFORT COUNTY IS ABOUT.

THANK YOU, MS. PAULA.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT, UM, SISTER, SISTER PAMELA SMITH.

THE STATE OUTREACH CENTERS THAT USE THRIFT SHOPS AS A SOURCE OF REVENUE.

UH, CHAIR HOWARD AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO TALK ON BEHALF OF THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER AT ST.

HELENA ISLAND, WHICH IS AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT WE RUN.

AND, UH, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE, UH, WE ORIGINALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH A SIGN LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY DESIGNATED BY THE OWNER DECADES AGO.

AND, UH, THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP THE SIGNAGE THERE, WHICH WOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT OUR OUTREACH CENTER AND, AND ATTENDING THRIFT SHOP WAS AT THE LOCATION.

UM, IN JANUARY, THE SISTERS WHO RUN THE PLACE WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE NEW OWNERS, THE HEIRS, WANTED TO CHARGE 300 A MONTH OR 3,600 A YEAR FOR US TO HAVE THE SIGN.

AND, UM, SO IT PROMPTLY WAS REMOVED BECAUSE THE $3,600 COULD VERY WELL BE USED TO HELP SUPPLY BUILDING MATERIALS FOR RAMPS, FOR ROOFS AND SO ON.

THE BOOKLETS THAT YOU HAVE WILL TALK ABOUT THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSISTED BY OUR WORK THERE AND THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT HELPING TO DO THINGS FOR PEOPLE.

WHEN THE SIGN ISSUE CAME UP, IT EVOLVED INTO A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHY WE'RE NOT A BUSINESS AND WHY IT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED TO ASK US TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A CHAPEL IN THE BUILDING.

NOW NOBODY HAS TO GO PRAY THERE, BUT BEFORE WE GIVE OUT FOOD, EVERYBODY SAYS THE LORD'S PRAYER.

AND ANYBODY WHO NEEDS A COMFORT OR A LITTLE BIT OF COUNSEL CAN COME AND BE IN THE CHAPEL.

THAT'S NOT TYPICAL OF EVERY BUSINESS.

SECOND THING IS WE HAVE A SISTER NAMED SISTER KENIS ADAMS, WHO'S SITTING BACK THERE, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER AND HAS BEEN DIRECTOR SINCE 2013.

SHE'S A FORMER PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

SHE HAS A PHD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

HER SALARY AS DIRECTOR IS ZERO.

NOW.

SHE WAS TAUGHT IN FIRST GRADE BY DOT ANNE, SOME OF YOU KNOW, DOT ESTEEMED FORMER MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL HERE, I THINK DOT TOLD HER THAT ZERO MEANS YOU GET NOTHING AND SHE DOES NOT GET ANY PAY OR ANY BENEFITS FOR RUNNING THIS OPERATION.

OUR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN PENNSYLVANIA SENDS A CHECK WHEN ARRIVED TODAY, SENDS A CHECK EVERY MONTH FOR US TO PAY HER.

NOW, I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT AND IT WAS ON THE AGENDA, NOT JUST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

UM, ANYWAY, WE'RE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION WITH THREE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONS.

ONE IS CALLED THE BISHOP OF CHARLESTON, A CORPORATION'S SOUL BECAUSE THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CHARLESTON OWNS THE LAND AND THE BUILDINGS AND ENSURES THEM THROUGH CATHOLIC MUTUAL.

WE LEASE THE LAND AND THE BUILDINGS, BUT WE ALSO ARE UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE CONGREGATION OF SISTERS OF SAINTS METHODIUS, ALSO A 5 0 1 C3 LOCATED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

THAT'S OUR RELIGIOUS ORDER THAT GOVERNS US.

AND THEN THE CENTER ITSELF IS INCORPORATED IN SOUTH CAROLINA AS A 5 0 1 C3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT, FOR RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

NOW, IF I MAY JUST MENTION THAT THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

ONE THING IS THERE ARE SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS AROUND

[01:00:01]

ANYBODY WHO HAS DONE AN APPLICATION FOR A GRANT KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GETTING MONEY? SO WE'RE GETTING MONEY FROM PRIVATE DONORS, FAMILIES, FOUNDATIONS, GRANT ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THE THRIFT SHOP ALSO PROVIDES SOME REVENUE.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAYS WE'RE NOT A BUSINESS IS WE ALSO DO THINGS FOR FREE.

SISTER, YOU, YOU ARE ON THE AGENDA TOO, IS OUR, OKAY.

WELL, AND I'M NOT, I WASN'T SURE WHY I WAS CALLED UP NOW, BUT YOU YOU SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I CROSSED IT OUT, UH, BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME I WAS ON THE WRONG SHEET.

SHE SIGNED UP FOR, UM, THE WATERWAY.

SO YOU'RE ON THAT ONE TOO.

YOU'RE ON THIS PUBLIC.

OH.

BUT YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.

AND I, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT I JUST, IF YOU NO, UM, WHEN I WENT OVER THERE, THEY TOLD ME TO SIGN UP ON THE ONE SHEET AND THEN SOMEBODY SAID, NO, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE OTHER SHEET.

WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ONE MORE TIME.

SO I WAS GETTING REAL ANIMATED HERE, AND I'M INTO MY, INTO MY SPIEL.

YOU, YOU HAVE ANOTHER BITE AT THE APPLE.

UM, NEXT ON PUBLIC COMMENT IS JOY CO.

JOY WHO SERVED ON TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

CAN'T STAY AWAY.

UM, HI.

I AM JOY COE.

UM, I EMAILED THIS INFORMATION TO YOU EARLIER, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT.

UM, I WAS ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE AND I'VE READ THROUGH THE SALES TAX ORDINANCE THAT IS UP FOR A SECOND READING TONIGHT.

THERE ARE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE AS THE CURRENT PROJECT LIST IS TREATED AS ILLUSTRATIVE RATHER THAN EXHAUSTIVE.

SPECIFICALLY ITEM 2.4 AND 2.15 NEED TO BE CHANGED TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT LIST IS ACTUALLY FOLLOWED AND THAT NEW PROJECTS ARE NOT ADDED LATER.

AND ITEM TWO, FOUR.

THE WORDING CURRENTLY READS FOR FINANCING THE COST OF HIGHWAYS, ROADS, STREETS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION RELATED PROJECT FACILITIES AND DRAIN DRAINAGE FACILITIES RELATED THERETO WOULD RELATED THERETO, WHICH MAY INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS AT THE ESTIMATED COST INDICATED IN THE EXHIBIT A.

THIS SHOULD READ FOR FINANCING THE COST OF HIGHWAYS, ROADS, STREETS, BRIDGES, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION RELATED PROJECT FACILITIES AND DRAINAGE FACILITIES RELATED THERE TO LIMITED TO THE PROJECTS INDICATED IN EXHIBIT A CONCERNING ITEM 2.15.

THERE ARE TWO PLACES WHERE IT USES THE TERM GENERAL PROJECTS TO ER REFER TO THE PROJECTS THAT WILL BE COMPLETED THROUGH THE SALES TAX.

THIS WORDING SHOULD BE TIGHTENED TO SAY PROJECTS IN, IN INDICATED IN EXHIBIT A TO EXPLAIN THESE CHANGES.

THE CURRENT VERSION AS WRITTEN MAY INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CREATES AN OPEN-ENDED PROJECT LIST.

THE REVI REVISED VERSION LIMITED TO CREATES A CLOSED PROJECT LIST.

LEGALLY BOTH ARE ACCEPTABLE DRAFTING STYLES, BUT THEY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT CONSEQUENCES FOR HOW THE TAX REVENUE MAY BE SPENT.

TECHNICALLY, WITH THE WAY THE ORDINANCE CURRENTLY READS, BUFORT COUNTY HAS NO OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE PROJECT LIST AT ALL.

YOU COULD DO WHATEVER PROJECTS YOU WANT AS LONG AS THEY ARE MATERIAL MATERIALLY SIMILAR TO THE PROJECTS IN THE LIST.

THIS IS CONCERNING SINCE IT ESSENTIALLY CREATES A SLUSH FUND, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE TAC COMMITTEE WAS SUPPOSED TO PRE PREVENT.

UM, SINCE I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME, I WANTED TO JUST SPEAK REAL QUICK ABOUT THE GREEN SPA, UH, NEW RIVER PROJECT.

AND, UM, I, I HAVE ATTENDED MOST OF THE GREEN SPACE MEETINGS AND, UM, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF THE NEW RIVER, UH, FOREST AND PALMETTO BLUFF.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND IT SHOULD BE PRESERVED.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, THE TAXPAYER GREEN SPACE DOLLARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENT EQUALLY BETWEEN THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST REGIONS.

PER THE GREEN SPACE ORDINANCE, THE SOUTHERN REGION HAS GOTTEN FAR MORE THAN THEIR EQUAL SHARE, ESPECIALLY IF THE PROJECT PASSES.

THE FOOTHILLS HAS BEEN IN THE GREEN SPACE FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND IS STILL NOT FINAL.

THE 55 ACRES IN BETWEEN THE FOOTHILLS PROPERTY IS STILL IN DUE DUE DILIGENCE.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE ENOUGH DOLLARS TO COVER THESE PROJECTS IF APPROVED? THANK YOU MS. CU.

THREE MINUTE RULE FOR EVERYBODY.

NEXT IS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS, UM, SKIP HOAGLAND.

I THINK YOU SIGNED UP FOR, UM, PUBLIC HEARING TOO, CORRECT? YES, I DID.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

I NEED TO START ENFORCING THAT

[01:05:01]

UM, SKIP HOAGLAND.

I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR HILTON HEAD.

IT'S HARD TO TELL A SISTER TO STOP .

I'M SORRY, WHAT'D YOU SAY? NEVERMIND.

I ALWAYS, I ALWAYS SPEAK UNDER THREE MINUTES, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

UH, COULD YOU START CLOCK OVER.

COME.

I RESTARTED IT HERE.

SHE RESTARTED IT FOR YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.

SO, SKIP HOGAN.

I'M RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF HILTON HEAD.

I'M A 50 YEAR RESIDENT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.

I'M HERE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ON RICE FIELD MANAGED FOREST AT, AT PAM BLUFF, 4,900 ACRES.

LIKE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, IFI FULLY SUPPORT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN FURTHER OVERDEVELOPMENT DESTRUCTION TO THE ENTIRE BEAUFORT COUNTY.

AND NOW JASPER.

IT SEEMS BLUFFTON ISS ONLY 50% DEVELOPED.

HARDY JASPER'S JUST BEGUN.

AND BEAUFORT COUNTY, I HAVE NO CLUE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE.

IN ORDER TO HAVE STOPPED CONTROLLED PROPERTY RIGHTS, OUR LEADERS SHOULD HAVE DRAFTED A MASTER LAND PLAN 60 TO 70 YEARS AGO.

CHARLES FRAZIER HAD THE RIGHT VISION AND AND DESIRE LIKE MANY, BUT WE ALL FAILED IN THIS LEGAL FUTURE FRAMEWORK.

IT'S NO ONE'S FAULT.

BOTTOM LINE WITH PROPERTY RIGHTS, LOTS OF MONEY, GREED, MIGRATION, SHIFT OF MILLIONS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WEST TO EAST.

IT'S ONLY GONNA GET WORSE, AND THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

OUR LUNG COUN LOW COUNTRY WELL, UH, WAY OF LIFE IS DISAPPEARING AND WE ALMOST ADAPT TO THE BIG CITY LIFE.

ACCEPT AND BE HAPPY AND OR MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I ELECTED TO STAY AND ADAPT.

PERHAPS AT SOME POINT A MORATORIUM BASED ON LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL BE THE ONLY WAY TO STOP 10 POUNDS IN A FIVE POUND BAG.

I PROVIDE TODAY A DETAILED APPRAISAL OF THIS 4,900 ACRES GENERATED BY MY AI COMPANY CALLED C DOGE.COM.

YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT IT.

IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

TELLS YOU EXACTLY THE RANGE YOU SHOULD BE OFFERED AND PAY.

AI TECHNOLOGY HAS REPLACED REAL ESTATE, APPRAISERS, LAWYERS, AND MANY MORE.

I SUGGEST AN AI ROBOT EVEN SERVES ON THIS COUNCIL.

, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

DOES THE SALE ALLOW THE OWNER TO RETAIN ANY RIGHTS LIKE 10 PUDS TO PROFIT IN THE FUTURE? DOES HE GET TO RETAIN HUNTING RIGHTS OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PRIVATE USE TO ANY PORTION OF THE PROPERTY FOR PERSONAL USE OR PROFIT? IF THE PRIVATE, IF THE PRIVATE, IF A PRIVATE SALE OCCURS VERSUS THE COUNTY, THE DEVELOPMENTS, DEVELOPMENT RESTRICTIONS END IN 2057.

THAT WILL GENERATE MILLIONS OF PROFIT AND MORE DESTRUCTION.

HAVE WE EXPLORED A NATIONAL PARK, LIKE DONE ON THE COAST OF GEORGIA, CUMBERLAND ISLAND, AS AN EXAMPLE? HUGE TAX ADVANTAGES FOR THE OWNER.

IS THIS PROPERTY TIED TO PAMINA BLUFF WITH 4,000 PDU OR SEPARATED? THAT'S IMPORTANT.

LASTLY, ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COST OR DO WE LEAVE IT IN A NATURAL STATE FOR NO COST IN GOD'S HANDS? NOTE, CITY DOGE TOOLS AND AI CAN, CAN PRAISE ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY, EVEN YOUR OWN HOME FOR FREE IN SECONDS, NOT DAYS.

NEXT, UM, NEXT IS BOB MARETTE MORT.

SURE.

UH, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL.

UM, I'M A RESIDENT OF, UH, PALMETTO BLUFF.

MOVED DOWN HERE IN IN 19, UH, PREVIOUS BOARD MEMBER OF THE PALMETTO BLUFF NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, UH, HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT, UH, THE, UH, NEW RIVER ACQUISITION.

UM, THIS CAME TO US ONLY A FEW DAYS AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A REALLY GOOD THING.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IN CONCEPT A LOT OF PEOPLE, UH, ARE GOING TO SUPPORT THIS.

THE QUESTION IS, ARE THE DETAILS.

SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS FROM FRANK RIDDICK, UH, AND I JUST HOPE THAT WE HAVE A TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INPUT.

NEXT IS CHRIS CAMPBELL.

IS HE IN THAT IS IN THE OTHER ROOM.

OH, OKAY.

HERE HE COMES.

NEVERMIND I GOT OAK TREE.

YET.

AT LEAST WE KEPT THAT TREE UP.

REALLY? YEAH, IT WAS NICE.

UM, GOOD EVENING.

I'LL MAKE IT QUICK 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL GOT A BIG NIGHT.

UM, WE COULD ALL WALK OUTTA HERE.

WINNERS TONIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE FOR US TO DO.

JUST, UM, PLEASE GIVE IT YOUR BEST THOUGHT.

BEEN IN HERE SEVERAL TIMES AND WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER PRETTY WELL NOW.

YOU DIDN'T TELL US WHAT, YEAH.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GIVE A BEST THOUGHT? ? I DON'T, .

I MEAN, WE KNOW, BUT YOU SHOULD SAY IT FOR THE AUDIENCE.

FOR THE AUDIENCE.

WE WERE DOING A PLASTICS ORIGIN THERE.

YOU WE'VE

[01:10:01]

AND, UM, AGAIN, UP, WE ALL KNOW.

AND THANK YOU ALL.

YOU'RE, UH, YOU'RE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS MARK SLAVIN, AND THIS IS THE LAST ONE TONIGHT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW WE STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES DURING PUBLIC HEARING, SO TWO MORE THAT SHOWED UP.

LATE PUBLIC COMMENT OR PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC COMMENT.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE NOT ON THESE SHEETS, SO THEY WERE STUCK IN THE HALLWAY.

ALRIGHT, BRING THEM UP.

I'LL MAKE MINE QUICK, I PROMISE.

BRING, PLEASE BRING THEM UP.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

WE GOT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MARK SLAVIN.

I AM A RESIDENT OF PALMETTO BLUFF, AND I RISE TO ASK YOU TO POSTPONE YOUR VOTE.

I WENT AHEAD AND I TOOK AN IMPORTANT LOOK AT WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN YOUR RESOLUTION TONIGHT BEING ASKED TO GO FORWARD FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, IT CITES IN THE RECITALS THAT DUE DILIGENCE HAS BEEN EXECUTED.

DUE DILIGENCE, DUE DILIGENCE FOUR TIMES.

IT TURNS OUT THAT THE GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET ON FEBRUARY 3RD AND APPROVED DUE DILIGENCE.

THEY MET SPECIALLY 30 DAYS AGO TO THE REVIEW, THE COMPLETED DUE DILIGENCE REPORT, AND VOTED FOUR TO ONE IN FAVOR OF PURSUING THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU.

THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE DUE DILIGENCE.

THERE IS NO DOCUMENT.

IT'S IN YOUR AGENDA.

THE EXHIBITS ATTACHED.

DO NOT ARTICULATE THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT WAS PERFORMED.

AND THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS RAISED.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS ASKED AT PUBLIC COMMENT, WHY HASN'T PALMETTO BLUFF RESIDENTS BEEN ALERTED AND BEING BROUGHT INTO THE DISCOURSE? SO PLEASE, WITHOUT THERE BEING A DISCLOSURE OF DUE DILIGENCE, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.

TWO HOURS AGO, IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY SOUTH STREET OWNERSHIP OF PALMETTO BLUFF THAT THE MAIN SPONSOR, SENATOR TOM DAVIS, HAS REPORTEDLY TOLD US AND MADE REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT HOW THIS LAND IS GOING TO BE USED.

PLEASE LOOK AT THAT.

AND THERE IS TIME TO TAKE A POSTPONEMENT AND INCORPORATE IN THE RESOLUTIONS, THE COMMITMENTS AND REPRESENTATIONS BEING MADE BY SENATOR DAVIS TO US TWO HOURS AGO.

AND IT'S EASY TO INCORPORATE THESE REPRESENTATIONS SO THAT THE WELLBEING OF EVERYBODY CAN BE CONSIDERED.

SO PLEASE POSTPONE IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO FULL DISCLOSURE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, MR. SLAVIN.

OKAY, NEXT IS, BY THE WAY, DO I, IS THERE A DUE DILIGENCE REPORT THAT I FAILED TO SEE? SIR, SIR, WE CAN'T RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.

I'M SORRY.

UM, NEXT IS MR. JOHN HOFF.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

COUNSEL, THANK YOU GUYS.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A HARD DECISION TO MAKE AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR, UH, TRYING TO SAVE GREEN SPACE HERE IN, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY.

UM, THE COUNTY'S CURRENTLY OWN 670 ACRES JUST TO THE WEST NORTH OF THIS, UH, NEW RIVERSIDE PARK.

THEY'VE OWNED IT SINCE LATE 2006, 2008.

THERE'S BEEN PLANS DISCUSSED FOR MANY OF YEARS TO MAKE THIS A PUBLIC PARK OFF A NEW RIVERSIDE.

UM, AND LITTLE DID NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THAT PROPERTY ALREADY.

UM, GIVEN THAT HISTORY, WHY IS THE COUNTY, UH, PROPOSING TO SPEND A $42 MILLION TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY NEXT TO, UH, PALMETTO BLUFF WHEN IT'S ALREADY OWNS, UH, PARKLANDS? UM, WHAT IS THE COUNTY'S SPECIFIC PLANS FOR THE NEWLY ACQUIRED PROPERTY AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE BEING PROPOSED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC USE? IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PROJECT CONTAINS VERY LIMITED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WITH ONLY THREE DWELLING UNITS PERMITTED UNDER THE NEW RIVERSIDE PUD.

WHILE IT IS APPRECIATED AND, AND THE SUPPORT, THE, I SUPPORT THE GOAL PRESERVING THE LARGE TRACK OF LAND, PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS, I ALSO QUESTION WHETHER SPENDING $42 MILLION IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS.

THE PROPERTY WAS LAST SOLD FOR ABOUT $9 MILLION IN 2005 PER PUBLIC TAX RECORDS.

WHY NOT NEGOTIATE A PURCHASE AT FAIR MARKET VALUE AND USE THE RE RESULTING SAVINGS DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THE PARK PROPERTIES THAT THE COUNTY ALREADY OWNS AND HAS YET TO BRING ONLINE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT? THANK YOU.

YOU GUYS HAVE WONDERFUL.

MR. UH, WILL SMITH, WE'LL HAVE WILL HAVE THE ORDINANCES AND THERE'LL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS, BUT THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

OKAY, WELL, I'LL, I'LL WAIT FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK.

WELL, WHICH ONE SO I CAN PUT YOUR NAME ON IT? UH, THE, UH, FOR THE, UH, THE SAN FRANCISCO

[01:15:01]

SAN FRANCIS FRANCISCO.

THAT'S SAN F THAT'S NOT A, SO IF YOU WANNA SPEAK UP ABOUT THAT, PLEASE DO SO NOW, GOOD AFTERNOON.

AT THIS TIME, I'M COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER.

IT IS A BIG, BIG HELP IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M COMING BEFORE COUNCIL TONIGHT TO ASK THAT.

IF YOU SEE THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THE OVERFLOW ROOM, INCLUDING MY GRANDMA.

AND TODAY'S ABOUT HER, HER 80TH SOMETHING BIRTHDAY.

AND SO ON HER BIRTHDAY, IT MEANT THAT MUCH TO HER.

ASKED HER WHAT WERE WE GONNA DO? SHE SAID, I'M COMING TO COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBER JUST TO, BECAUSE WE CAN'T LET THE SAN FRANCISCO CENTER GO.

SO IF SHE'S COMING IN ON HER 80TH BIRTHDAY, BECAUSE IT MEANT THAT MUCH TO HER, AND I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY, THEN I'M ASKING YOU TO HAVE THAT SAME, THAT SAME ANCHOR IN YOUR HEART AND UNDERSTAND THE, THE IMPACT OF THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT CENTER AND THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT NONPROFIT, THAT, THAT, THAT CHURCH SERVES WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY.

IT DOES A WHOLE LOT.

IT, IT GIVES, IT PUTS, IT PUTS MEAT AND BREAD ON PEOPLE'S TABLE.

IT PUTS AIR CONDITIONERS IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

IT GIVES PEOPLE'S CHILDREN TOYS AND, AND DIFFERENT AND DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL TOOLS AND BOOKS DURING CHRISTMAS ON THEIR TABLE AND UNDER THEIR TREES.

SO THIS IS JUST NOT A CENTER OF A NONPROFIT THAT DOES SOMETHING HERE, UH, AND, AND GETS A BUNCH OF GRANT MONEY AND IT, AND IT, IT IS NOT, YOU CAN'T FIND IT DURING THE REST OF THE YEAR.

THIS IS A REVOLVING DOOR TO HELP PAY PEOPLE, PEOPLE KEEP THEIR LIGHT BILLS ON, HELP PEOPLE PUT STEPS ON THEIR HOUSES.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A, IT IS, THERE'S A TON OF THINGS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION DOES DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY.

HAVE THE COMMUNITY, PEOPLE JUST WAVE THEIR HANDS.

YOU SEE, PEOPLE AREN'T IN HERE.

THERE'S A TON OF PEOPLE IN HERE WHO ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW FOR THIS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE COUNCIL TO COME BRING SOME TYPE OF RESOLVE THAT WILL, THAT WILL DEFINITELY ALLOW 'EM TO CONTINUE IN THEIR CAPACITY THAT, THAT THEY ARE.

AND I WANNA DITTO WITH WHAT, WHAT, WHAT MR. WHAT PROPHET HAS MAJOR SAID.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE SECOND PHASE BECAUSE THE, THE, I MIND IS A DEVIL WORKSHOP.

OUR YOUNG KIDS NEED SOMETHING AND THEY NEED IT RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU, COUNCIL.

MR. SMITH CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, WE HAVE NEXT ON THE AGENDA LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.

ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON ANYTHING? VERY BRIEFLY, UM, FROM THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

I'LL, BY SHOW OF HANDS, ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO COMMENT ON? NO.

SECOND TIME.

SECOND TIME TO SAVE TIME? NO.

IS NUMBER 10 ON THE AGENDA, A BUSINESS LICENSE APPEAL TO COUNSEL.

WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

UM, NEXT

[10.a. Business License Appeal to Council: St. Francis Center, Inc. ]

THIS IS THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER, AND HERE IS YOUR OTHER OPPORTUNITY IS, UM, MR. KIDD GONNA PARTICIPATE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S, LET'S, HOW DO YOU WANNA DO THIS? SO, I, I JUST WANTED TO SET IT UP REAL QUICK AND THEN WE CAN OKAY.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

THIS IS DYLAN KIDD.

UH, MY NAME IS DYLAN KIDD.

I'M AN INTERIM ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

UM, WE ARE, IS THAT BETTER? UM, WE ARE HERE TONIGHT UNDER, UH, EIGHT SECTION 1861 OF OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES.

UM, THIS IS AN APPEAL FROM A DETERMINATION OF A BUSINESS LICENSE OFFICIAL, AND THIS IS AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING UNDER THAT SECTION.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS EACH SIDE WILL HAVE THEIR ABILITY TO INTRODUCE, UM, TESTIMONY, DOCUMENTS, ET CETERA.

WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL.

UM, AND, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO, AT THE END OF THIS, TAKE A VOTE BY MOTION AND THEN ISSUE A WRITTEN DECISION.

UM, I WANTED TO JUST REMIND COUNSEL OF THAT REQUIREMENT UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

SO, UM, AS A RESULT OF THIS, WE CAN, UM, IF THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST, THEY'RE WELCOME TO, UH, WE'RE TOTALLY OKAY WITH THAT.

OR WE CAN PRESENT OUR CASE FIRST, HOWEVER COUNSEL PLEASES TO DO IT.

UM, BUT WE CAN ALLOW ST.

FRANCIS TO GO FIRST IF YOU'D LIKE.

AND THERE WERE MATERIALS IN OUR BACKUP TOO.

THERE ARE MATERIALS IN THE BACKUP JUST TO SET THE TABLE.

THERE REALLY IS NO DISAGREEMENT AS TO THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE STATUS UNDER OUR ORDINANCE.

IT IS ONLY WHETHER OUR BUSINESS ORDINANCE LICENSE REQUIRES CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION TONIGHT.

NOT EVEN SURE IF THIS IS THE CASE, THAT THE QUESTION CAME UP BECAUSE THERE'S A THRIFT SHOP, BUT THE THRIFT SHOP EXISTS TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH CLOTHING, HOUSEWARES, FURNISHINGS, ET CETERA.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST, MR. SMITH? IF, IF I CAN CONTINUE YES, MA'AM.

AND I APOLOGIZE TO COUNSEL AND TO CHAIR HOWARD THAT I MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT PAPER I WAS SUPPOSED TO SIGN.

UH, IN ANY CASE, WE DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED A BUSINESS LICENSE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A BUSINESS.

AND AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE ARE THREE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONS, ALL OF WHICH ARE INCORPORATED AS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

OKAY? I BELIEVE, AND I'M

[01:20:01]

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO COME AND FURNISH THEIR BEACH HOUSES WHO CAN AFFORD TO GIVE SOMETHING, BUT NOTHING IS PRICED AT VALUE BECAUSE THERE ARE, THESE ARE ALL DONATED.

IF YOU GO INTO THE CLOTHING PART OF THE THRIFT SHOP, AS I DID AGAIN LAST NIGHT, A DOLLAR 99, 2 99, 4 99, 5 99, FOR ITEMS THAT STILL HAVE TAGS ON THAT WERE FOUND IN THE CLOSETS OF DECEASED PARENTS WHEN THEIR CHILDREN CLEARED OUT.

THESE ARE SOMETIMES VERY, VERY HIGH QUALITY ITEMS. SO THOSE THINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

THERE'S A MATTER OF PRE TREATING PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY IF THEY WANNA PAY SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING AND SAY, I BOUGHT THIS.

BUT WE ALSO FREQUENTLY PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH ALL THOSE ITEMS FOR FREE.

AS I STARTED TO MENTION BEFORE, A CHAPEL, A NON-SALARY DIRECTOR AND A THRIFT SHOP, WHICH ALSO GIVES THINGS AWAY.

THAT'S PART OF KEEPING US IN OPERATION FOR GRANT WRITING PURPOSES.

YOU HAVE TO SAY, WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES OF REVENUE? AND WE CAN SAY AN ANNUAL FUND.

WE CAN SAY PEOPLE, WE CAN SAY DONATED SERVICES.

LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS ARE HERE TODAY, BUT WE CAN ALSO SAY FOUNDATIONS, GRANTS, ET CETERA.

BUT A THRIFT SHOP THAT CAN PROVIDE UP TO 10% OF REVENUE, NO MORE THAN THAT.

AND AS I SAID, MANY OF THE ITEMS THERE ARE FREQUENTLY GIVEN AWAY.

BEFORE I HAD TO STEP, STEP BACK, , WHEN I WAS LAUNCHING INTO MY SPIEL, I SAID THAT THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED.

I MADE INQUIRIES OF SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE STATE, THE FELICIAN CENTER IN KINGSTREE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO SIMILAR OUTREACH AND ALSO HAVE THRIFT SHOPS.

THE RESOUNDING RESPONSE I HAD WAS BY COUNCIL FOR CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

THIS IS UNHEARD OF.

NONE OF THOSE PLACES HAVE EVER BEEN ASKED BY WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, HORRY COUNTY, AIKEN COUNTY, OR JASPER COUNTY, TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE, TO HAVE AN ADJACENT THRIFT SHOP THAT HELPS FUND THEIR CHARITABLE WORKS.

AND BEAUFORT COUNTY ORDINANCES AS THEY APPEAR ONLINE IN ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL HTTPS DOT SLASH SLASH THINGS SAID, YOU CAN BE ASKED TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE IF YOU ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS THAT'S NOT SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO YOUR RELIGIOUS OR CHARITABLE MISSION.

MY ARGUMENT IS THE THRIFT SHOP IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO OUR CHARITABLE MISSION.

EVERYTHING IS UNDERPRICED.

SOME THINGS ARE GIVEN AWAY FREE.

IT'S NOTHING FOR ME TO HEAR AT THE SUPPER TABLE THAT SOMEBODY CAME IN AND THE PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THERE WERE TOLD, LET THIS PERSON GET $200 WORTH OF THINGS THEY HAD TO FIRE.

AND IT ALSO HELPS US TELL GRANTORS THAT WE HAVE SOME REVENUE COMING IN.

SO IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY RELATED TO OUR MISSION.

IT HELPS KEEP IT GOING.

BEFORE MY OWN COMMUNITY WAS THERE AND INCORPORATED IT, WE CAME THERE IN 2013.

IT OPERATED FOR DECADES UNDER THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF PHILADELPHIA AND THE DIOCESE OF CHARLESTON.

SO THIS IS NOT A NEW OPERATION.

WE SIMPLY HAVE EXPANDED HOW MUCH WE GIVE AWAY FREE, INCLUDING 1025 AIR CONDITIONERS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEARS.

AND THREE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO GOT 'EM ARE HERE AND 310 RECLINERS WITH AUTOMATIC LIFTS FOR PEOPLE WHO TOOK PICTURES OF WHAT THEY WERE SITTING ON AT HOME, WHICH EXPLAINED WHY THEY HAD SWOLLEN ANKLES.

AND PEOPLE ARE VETTED THEIR CHOSEN ELDERLY PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

BUT THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WE DO.

AND HAVING THE THRIFT SHOP IS INTEGRALLY RELATED TO THAT.

SO THAT ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT I WANNA SAY, THAT WE DON'T SEE A REASON FOR IT.

THE GE, THE GENERAL SUPERIOR OF MY OWN COMMUNITY, DOESN'T WANT US TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE.

'CAUSE SHE ADAMANTLY SAID, WE'RE NOT A BUSINESS.

AND IF, IF THAT SOMEHOW IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GETTING A SIGN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO EITHER DO WITHOUT A SIGN AND HAVE PEOPLE NOT BE ABLE TO FIND US BECAUSE MATTIS DRIVE IS NOT EASY, YOU KNOW, OR WE GOTTA FIGURE SOMETHING ELSE OUT.

BUT WE ARE NOT A

[01:25:01]

BUSINESS.

WE'RE DOING THIS FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

I MEAN, THAT ZERO SALARY IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT MAKING MONEY FROM THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER.

WE'RE GIVING IT AWAY.

SO, THANK YOU.

THE OTHER THING I MIGHT MENTION IS THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SAVED YOU A LOT OF MONEY IN TERMS OF FIRST RESPONDERS.

YOU HAVEN'T HAD PHONE CALLS ABOUT HEAT STROKES FOR PEOPLE WHOSE HOUSES HEATED UP TO 107 DEGREES, WHICH HAPPENED LAST SUMMER.

YOU HAVEN'T HAD PEOPLE HALF STARVED BECAUSE THEY CAN COME THREE DAYS A WEEK AND GET FOOD.

YOU HAVEN'T HAD PEOPLE WITH EMPHYSEMA OR WITH OTHER DISEASES BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE SAFE AND THEY'RE BEING CARED FOR AND THEY CAN GET PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE.

AND WE ARE ALSO, WE HAVE A SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND AN ENTREPRENEUR FUND THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT DESERVING PEOPLE WHO ARE HARDWORKING AND WANNA STUDY AND WANNA GET OUT OF THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT TWO YOUNG MEN WHO HAVE GOTTEN, ARE GETTING A STORAGE CART SO THEY CAN DO, YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION WORK.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE MAN WHO WAS ILLITERATE AND WAS TAUGHT TO READ BY SISTER CANIS, WHO GOT A BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF, A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WANTED TO HAVE HER OWN HAIR SALON.

A A WOMAN WHO HAD BEEN ADDICTED, WHO STARTED A SUCCESSFUL CATERING BUSINESS.

IT GOES ON.

SO THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.

THANK YOU, DYLAN.

DYLAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? ARE YOU SURE YOU WANNA PRESENT A CASE ? YES.

WE, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WELL, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS, AS I SAID, UM, UM, COME ON.

NOW, AS I SAID AT THE OUTSET, UM, THERE IS NO DISPUTE THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNDER OUR ORDINANCE.

THERE WE HAVE NO DISPUTE THAT THEY PROVIDE ALL THE BENEFITS THAT THEY LISTED.

THERE IS NO DISPUTE ABOUT THAT.

IT IS ONLY HOW WE APPLY OUR ORDINANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK COUNSEL ABOUT TONIGHT.

SO IN, IN VIEW OF FOLLOWING OUR PROCESS, I DO HAVE OUR BUSINESS LICENSE MANAGER, THIS IS BRANDY HUSMAN, AND SHE'S GOING TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY, UM, AS IF WE WERE IN AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.

AND I WILL USE HER TO INTRODUCE SOME EXHIBITS INTO THE RECORD.

UM, AND THEN WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNSEL MAY HAVE.

SO, UM, CAN YOU STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE RECORD? BRANDI HUSSMAN.

UH, AND WHAT IS YOUR JOB TITLE? I'M THE BUSINESS SERVICES ADMINISTRATOR.

UM, AND WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES IN THAT ROLE? TO OVERSEE THE BUSINESS LICENSE DEPARTMENT AND TO ENSURE THE ORDINANCE IS FOLLOWED AND THE LAWS ARE FOLLOWED.

UH, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THAT ROLE? UM, THREE YEARS.

UM, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH, UH, ISSUING BUSINESS LICENSES AND ISSUES THAT INVOLVE NONPROFITS OR OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS? YES.

HOW DID THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION WITH ST.

FRANCIS COME ABOUT TO YOUR RECOLLECTION? UM, SOMEONE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE ABOUT THEIR ZONING PERMIT FOR A SIGN.

IT REQUIRES A BUSINESS LICENSE NUMBER.

THEY ASKED US IF WE WOULD REQUIRE A BUSINESS LICENSE, AND I, UM, REACHED OUT TO A FEW PLACES MASC.

THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ASKED WHAT THEY, HOW THEY DID IT AND GOT BACK WITH DYLAN AND YES, THEY WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE.

UM, NOW WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, SO I FIRST WANNA BACK UP.

SO YOU SPOKE WITH MASC, WHICH IS WHO? THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND WHICH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DID YOU SPEAK WITH ABOUT THIS ISSUE? TOWN OF PORT ROYAL CITY OF BEAUFORT, TOWN OF BLUFFTON, AND TOWN OF HILTON HEAD.

DO ALL OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS HAVE BUSINESS LICENSE STATUTES OR ORDINANCES? I'M SORRY.

AND WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE THAT THEY GAVE YOU ABOUT HOW THEY TREAT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING A BUSINESS LICENSE? THEY'RE ALL REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A BUSINESS LICENSE AT A ZERO COST LICENSE.

UM, AND EVERY YEAR THEY WOULD RENEW THAT AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH THEIR NINE 90 OR A NINE 90 T TO PROVE IF THEY HAVE REVENUE THAT IS UNRELATED TO THEIR CHARITY.

ARE THEY REQUIRED TO PAY BUSINESS LICENSE TAX IN THOSE MUNICIPALITIES? ONLY ON REVENUE THAT IS UNRELATED TO THE CHARITY.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR HERE, ARE ARE YOU SEEKING THAT THIS SAINT FRANCIS ORGANIZATION PAYS ANYTHING IN BUSINESS LICENSE TAX TO BE FOR COUNTY? NO.

UM, AFTER RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, UM, DID YOU ISSUE A LETTER TO THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER DATED ON OR ABOUT MAY 20TH, 2026? YES.

IS THIS A COPY OF THAT LETTER? YES.

UM, I WANNA INTRODUCE THIS UP.

IT WAS IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS AS WELL, BUT JUST FOR PURPOSES OF OUR RECORD UP, PASS IT UP TO THE CHAIR.

UH, IT WAS IN OUR PACKET, UH, AND IF ANYONE WANTS TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

[01:30:03]

UM, AND DID YOU RECEIVE A LETTER OR DID WE RECEIVE A LETTER IN RESPONSE TO THE LETTER THAT YOU WROTE ON OR ABOUT MAY 20TH? YES.

IS THIS A COPY OF THAT LETTER? YES.

UM, THIS WAS ALSO CONTAINED IN THAT MATERIALS.

IF THIS IS , CAN YOU ACTUALLY HAND THOSE TO THE CLERK AND HAVE THEM MARKED? ALRIGHT.

UM, SO AFTER YOUR, UM, INVESTIGATION INTO HOW, UH, MASC OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TREAT, UM, CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, DID YOU REACH THE CONCLUSION THAT ST.

FRANCIS WAS A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION UNDER ORDINANCE? YES.

UM, IS THERE ANY DISPUTE ABOUT THAT IN YOUR MIND? NO.

ARE THEY REQUIRED TO PAY ANY TAX OR ANY FEES TO OBTAIN THEIR BUSINESS LICENSE? NO.

WHAT WAS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR WHY OTHER AREAS IN MASC REQUIRE ORGANIZATIONS TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE? EVEN IF THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM PAYING ANYTHING ON IT, IT PROVIDES, UH, E NINE 11 WITH INFORMATION IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH NINE 90 TO SEE IF THERE'S OTHER REVENUE THAT IS NOT A PART OF THE CHARITY THAT WOULD BE TAXED.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH OUR BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE CHAPTER 1846 AND BELOW? YES SIR.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT, UM, SECTION 1847 AND READ TO ME THE ONE THAT'S, UH, SAYS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS MEANS ANY ORGANIZATION THAT IS DETERMINED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TO BE EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL INCOME TAXES UNDER 26 USC SECTION 5 0 1 C3 4 6 7 8 10 19.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOOK WITH ME, UM, IS THERE AN EXEMPTION FOR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, UM, FOR PAYING BUSINESS LICENSE TAX WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE? YES.

I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT WITH ME AT SECTION 1850 1D AND, UM, CAN YOU READ THE FIRST SENTENCE OR FIRST SENTENCE FULL SENTENCE OF THAT ORDINANCE? A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ON ITS GROSS INCOME UNLESS IT IS DEEMED A BUSINESS SUBJECT TO A BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ON ALL OR PART OF ITS GROSS INCOME AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.

WHAT DOES THAT EXEMPTION MEAN TO YOU? THAT THEY WOULD ONLY PAY ON REVENUE THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THEIR CHARITY.

DOES THAT TO THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION FROM A REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY? NO, IT'S JUST ON THEIR GROSS REVENUE.

AGAIN, UM, I HAVE, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND YOU SAID, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

UM, DO YOU WANT, OKAY, WELL I FORGOTTEN WHAT I ASKED.

UM, YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

SO THE BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE EXEMPTS THE BUSINESS LICENSE ON ITS GROSS REVENUE UNLESS IT IS REVENUE THAT IS NOT RELATED TO THE CHARITY.

THAT'S, IT DOESN'T EXEMPT IT FROM A BUSINESS LICENSE.

IT SAYS THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM ITS GROSS REVENUE BUSINESS LICENSE.

THEY, CORRECT? CORRECT.

AND, AND TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IF SOMEONE HAS UNRELATED INCOME, UM, DO THEY FILE A SPECIFIC TAX FORM TO INDICATE THAT? A NINE 90 T OKAY.

AND THAT WOULD ALSO SHOW ON THEIR NINE 90.

UM, FILE THAT THE IRS.

UM, I DO HAVE A, A TAX RETURN FROM THE ORGANIZATION HERE.

THEY'RE NINE 90.

IT'S THE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE ONE.

I STILL DID NOT PUT IT IN THE BACKUP DOCUMENTS BECAUSE I GET A LITTLE LEERY OF THAT.

UM, BUT TO THE EXTENT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, WE'RE CERTAINLY HAPPY TO DO IT.

THE ONLY REASON I, I MADE A FACE ABOUT MARKING THINGS IS THAT I DIDN'T QUITE WANT THIS ONE UPLOADED ONLINE, BUT IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LOOK, WE, WE DO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.

DOES THAT TAX RETURN SHOW GROSS INCOME FROM? IT HAS A ZERO.

WHICH IS SO WITHOUT A NINE 90 T WE'RE NOT REQUIRING THEM TO PAY ANY TAX AT ALL, BUT WE ARE REQUIRING THAT TO HAVE BUSINESS LICENSE.

OPERATION? ANYTHING? I DON'T KNOW.

AND THE, THEY SHOULD HAVE INCOME UNRELATED TO THE CHARITY.

UM, SO I BELIEVE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. HUSSMAN, I ASSUME NOT, BUT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.

UH, AND THE BUSINESS LICENSE, ALTHOUGH THEY OBTAIN IT, THEY ARE NOT PAYING A FEE FOR THAT BUSINESS LICENSE BECAUSE THEY'RE A CHARITABLE ORGAN.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WE, WE REQUIRE NO FEE.

UM, I I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT, ST.

HELENA ANGLICAN CHURCH HAS TWO THRIFT STORES.

WHAT DOES THE CITY OF BEAUFORT DO? THE CITY OF BEAUFORT STILL REQUIRES THEM TO REGISTER.

THEY DO NOT CHARGE A FEE UNLESS THEY HAVE A NINE 90 A NINE 90 T OR ON THEIR NINE 90 SHOWS UNRELATED REVENUE.

COULD YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD BE.

ANYTHING THAT'S NOT RELATED TO THE CHARITABLE

[01:35:01]

THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THEIR ACCOUNTANT THROUGH THE TAX.

I, I DON'T KNOW.

HAVE, HAVE YOU EVER COME ACROSS ONE? YES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR THOUGH.

I JUST KNOW ON THEIR TAX.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? , DO THEY, HOLD ON.

LEMME ASK.

LET ME ASK A QUESTION.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY A FEE.

WE CORRECT.

UM, AND I, THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON THIS.

WHEN I HAD SPOKEN WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION, THEY HAD MADE A STATEMENT THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WOULD NOT PERMIT THEM TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE, UM, TO, FOR SOME REASON.

AND I, I, I AM NOT ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WAS CONVEYED TO ME.

DO ANY OTHER CATHOLIC CHARITIES DO NOT KNOW OF ANY OTHER ONES TO TELL YOU THAT? ANYBODY? I'M NOT SURE.

I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND GET BACK WITH YOU.

WELL, I BELIEVE WE ASKED THE MUNICIPALITIES HOW THEY WOULD TREAT THE ISSUE AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR RESPONSE WAS.

I DO HAVE ONE IN BLUFF IN A A, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS A, OH, SEE, IT WOULD APPLY TO EVERY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

BUT I CANNOT SAY WHETHER THEY'RE CATHOLIC AFFILIATED, BUT I DO HAVE OTHER CHARITIES, BUSINESS LICENSES.

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN HERE.

WHAT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE TO PRESENT? JUST TO, JUST TO CONCLUDE, TO EXPLAIN.

SO UNDER, UM, SECTION 1846 IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSES SECTION.

IT SETS OUT THE OPENING STATEMENT TO THAT, WHICH IS THAT EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY PERSON ENGAGED OR INTENDING TO ENGAGE IN BUSINESS CALLING OCCUPATION, PROFESSION, ET CETERA, UM, IS SUBJECT TO THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX.

THIS IS OUR POSITION AND IT IS OUR, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TONIGHT IS EXPLAINING TO COUNSEL HOW WE REACH THIS CONCLUSION, EXPLAINING THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND ASKING COUNSEL TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO HOW WE TREAT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THIS BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE, COUNSEL COULD MAKE A MOTION AND CHOOSE TO VOTE THAT BUSINESS, THE CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE UNDER OUR BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE.

THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE EQUAL PROTECTION RAMIFICATIONS FOR OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WHO WE DO REQUIRE TO OBTAIN BUSINESS LICENSES.

SOME OF WHOM DO PAY, UM, A BASE RATE UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

SOME OF THEM PAY ON UNRELATED INCOME.

SO IT, IT DOES HAVE AN EFFECT ACROSS THE BOARD.

UM, BUT IN THIS CASE, WE ARE NOT ASKING ST.

FRANCIS TO PAY ANY TAX ON THEIR INCOME.

WE ARE NOT ASKING THEM TO PAY ANY FEE TO OBTAIN THE BUSINESS LICENSE, ONLY TO OBTAIN THE BUSINESS LICENSE.

UM, TO HOLD.

I THINK WE HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

COUNCILMAN BAR, IS IT APPROPRIATE TO ASK NOW OR SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL A MOTION'S MADE TO DISCUSS AFTER YOU REST? CERTAINLY.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY ON ON THIS PROCEDURE? IT'S, UM, I, I WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER TO CLOSE THE EVIDENTIARY HEARING SIDE OF IT AND THEN DISCUSS.

CAN I ASK A QUESTION? HAVE, HAS ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SENT YOU A LETTER SAYING THAT THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT LETTER, SIR.

I, I SPOKE WITHIN A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION WHO CONVEYED THAT TO ME BY TELEPHONE.

SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.

BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER.

WHAT ORGANIZATION? UM, ST.

FRANCIS.

NO, I I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT NO ONE, NO ONE OF A HIGHER AUTHORITY .

I KNOW, I'M CAREFUL WITH .

ONE OF A HIGHER AUTHORITY HAS GIVEN YOU A LETTER IN, UH, IN WRITING INDICATING THAT THEY ARE PRO THEY ARE PROHIBITED FROM HAVING A BUSINESS LICENSE.

MR. SMITH, THIS IS THEIR POSITION COME BUT NOT SUBSTANTIATE.

CAN YOU COME FORWARD PLEASE? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A LETTER TO THAT EFFECT, NO SIR.

I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE, OH, BEFORE WE SWITCH OVER, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

DID YOU SAY THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFING DID REQUIRE, UM, A CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION TO HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE? I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT CATHOLIC, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY DO REQUIRE THEIR CHARITIES TO REGISTER AND THEY DO NOT PAY A FEE UNLESS IT'S ONED.

AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT DOES TOO.

THAT WE LOOKED AT SAID SIMPLY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE UNLESS YOU'RE ENGAGED IN UNRELATED BUSINESS.

AND PORT ROYAL AND PORT.

BUT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE NOT CATHOLIC.

THE ONE IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.

IT'S NOT CATHOLIC.

IT'S ANGLICAN.

YES MA'AM.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? AND, AND, OKAY.

AND THIS, THIS HAS TO DO WITH, YOU'RE MAKING GENERAL STATEMENTS ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

WELL, I MENTIONED THAT WE'VE GOT THREE NOT-FOR-PROFITS INVOLVED.

THE BISHOP OF CHARLESTON, A CORPORATION SOLE AND THAT OWNS THE BUILDING AND THE LAND AND WE LEASE IT FROM THEM.

THE BISHOP WAS RECENTLY THERE.

HE THOUGHT THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT GETTING A BUSINESS LICENSE JUST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SIGN WAS RIDICULOUS.

BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE A LETTER.

I AM A MEMBER, I LIVE WITH THE SISTERS WHO WORK AT THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER, BUT I'M ALSO ON THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE SISTERS OF SAINTS METHODIUS BASED IN PENNSYLVANIA.

FORMER GENERAL SUPERIOR, OUR CURRENT GENERAL SUPERIOR.

AND OUR COUNSEL THINKS IT'S RIDICULOUS TO ASK US TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE WHEN THE ORDINANCE

[01:40:01]

AND IT SEEMS TO BOIL DOWN TO WE'RE JUST BEING ASKED TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE AND TO FILE A NINE 90, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE TO WITH OUR UMBRELLA GROUPS AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA FILE THAT WITH THE COUNTY TOO, JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET A SIGN.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CRO? WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

WOULD YOU LIKE ASK ANY QUESTIONS OF, OF THE OTHER WITNESS? YEAH, I MEAN, I, IT ONLY CAME UP BECAUSE WE WANNA A SIGN.

SO IF WE DIDN'T WANNA SIGN, IT WOULDN'T HAVE COME UP AT ALL.

SO IF WE WANNA FLY A BLIMP OVER ST.

HELENA ISLAND OR A DRONE WITH A STREAMER, ALL WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS THE MARINE CORPS AIR STATION AND THE PARIS ISLAND ESTABLISHMENT.

SO IT'S JUST TO GET A SIGN.

LET'S, UH, DO, DYLAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? AND THEN WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

ARE YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO TALK COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YEAH.

JUST TO BE CLEAR, CLEAR UP SOME ANSWERS.

IN VAGUE VAGUENESS, THE PERSON THAT CALLED ABOUT THE SIGN, WAS THAT THE COUNTY OH, THEY WAS IT ST.

FRANCIS? YES.

SO ST.

FRANCIS CALLED ABOUT THE SIGN AFTER THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US, ASKED THEM TO PAY RENT.

SO AGAIN, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE COUNTY.

THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL PROPERTY OWNER OF THE, OF THE LAND THAT BROUGHT THIS UP.

SO THEY APPLIED FOR A SIGN PERMIT ON ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WHAT STREET PRIORS? A BUSINESS LICENSE.

BUT SHE SAID EARLIER THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY THE MONEY TO EVEN PUT THAT SIGN ON THAT PROPERTY ANYWAYS, I THINK THEY, THAT WAS HER STATEMENT EARLIER IS THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE THE SIGN DOWN 'CAUSE THEY WOULD NOT PAY THE MONEY TO PUT THAT SIGN UP, RIGHT? CORRECT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE APPLYING FOR OR SIGN FOR THEN IF THEY'RE NOT GONNA PUT THE SIGN ON THAT PREP LOCATION, IT'S ANOTHER LOCATION, ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY, ANOTHER LOCATION.

SO BACK TO MY OTHER POINT OF THIS QUESTION THEN.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE RUB IS COMING FROM.

IF THIS IS FREE, WE'RE ACQUIRING IT FOR ALL NON-PROFITS.

RELIGIOUS, NON-RELIGIOUS, WHERE THE RUB COMES FROM THAT, HOW THIS IMPACTS THEM AT ALL IN A NEGATIVE WAY OR SLOWS DOWN ANY PART OF THE SUCCESSFUL AND THE GOOD THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BUSINESS LICENSE HINDERS THEM AT ALL.

'CAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M GETTING A VIBE FROM THIS ROOM AND THAT ROOM OVER THERE THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SAY, THE COUNTY'S TRYING TO SHUT DOWN THIS BUSINESS AND REQUIRE THEM TO DO A BUSINESS LICENSE.

BUT WE ARE SAYING THAT IT'S FREE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA CHARGE YOU ANYTHING, NOT GONNA COST YOU A DIME.

WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE DOING THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING HOW GOOD THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE RUB IS COMING FROM, WHERE THIS ISN'T JUST A SIMPLE BUSINESS LICENSE, WE'RE DONE.

MOVE ON.

IT'S FREE OF CHARGE, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO CLOSE THE, THE HEARING.

WE, I WOULD ONLY POINT IN RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION.

WE NEED A MOTION TO THE, IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIALS, THE RESPONSE LETTER FROM ST.

FRANCIS.

UM, IT HAS THAT STATEMENT ABOUT WHO, WHO SIGNED THAT MIKE HUNT.

I SIGNED SHALL BILL.

YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO US.

I I ONLY SAW IT THE OTHER DAY.

IT STATES THAT THEY ARE, UNLESS THE REQUIREMENT IS WAIVED, THE SFC WILL NEED TO CEASE OPERATIONS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.

THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.

ONE OF THE THINGS IS ACCOUNTANT FEES AND MORE PAPERWORK.

AND WE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S PART OF IT.

I THINK, I THINK WE HAVE A MOTION COMING MAYBE ACTUALLY JUST IN RESPONSE TO THAT, TO THAT LOGAN.

UM, I BELIEVE ALSO ONCE THEY HAVE AN APPLICATION, ONCE THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE BUSINESS LICENSE, IT TRIGGERS THE STATE TO SEND OUT THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

NOW THEY MAY BE EXEMPT FROM THAT, BUT IT, BUT IT STARTS TO ADD ON EXTRA LAYER OF PAPERWORK THAT IS, IS NOT NECESSARY WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THAT.

THEY'D BE, IT WOULD BE EXEMPT THAT, AND I CAN TELL YOU I JUST SIMPLY GOOGLED OUR STUFF BEFORE THIS MEETING YESTERDAY TO LOOK UP IF IT'S REQUIRED.

AND RIGHT THERE ON GOOGLE, IT IMMEDIATELY PULLED UP OUR ORDINANCE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK AND WHITE.

AND THEN IT ALSO TELL PULLS INTO THE STATE THAT ALL OF IT WOULD BE EXEMPT FOR EXACTLY LIKE YOU SAID, RIGHT OFF GOOGLE.

ANYTHING.

THAT'S NOT, THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD BE TAXED IS ANYTHING THAT'S NOT A PART OF THE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION.

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE LETTER THAT HE WROTE THAT SHE SEEMS LIKE SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT OR LOOK OVER THOROUGHLY.

HE SAYS IT CEASES OPERATIONS, SHE DISAGREES.

SO WE HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER PROBLEM HERE TOO THAT THEY'RE NOT EVEN ON THE SAME PAGE AND THEY'RE HERE IN FRONT OF US WITH AN APPEAL.

I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THIS IRONED OUT AND YOU GUYS CONTINUE.

BUT I'M JUST SAYING IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE TWO AREN'T EVEN ON THE SAME PAGE.

'CAUSE HE'S SAYING IT CEASES OPERATIONS.

SHE'S SAYING THAT IT JUST CAUSES MORE PAPERWORK.

CASE, IT, IT DOES NOT PRACTICALLY MATTER IS TO AN INCOME MECHANISM FOR THE COUNTY.

I THINK WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT WE NEED A MOTION OF SOME TYPE.

I I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT BOTH SIDES ARE, ARE DONE WITH ANY TYPE OF PRESENTATION OR CROSS-EXAMINATION.

BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION, I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER INCOME COMING IN THAT CAN BE TAXED, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE THE BUSINESS LICENSE OR NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REPORTING ANY OTHER INCOME, RIGHT? YES.

THE, UH, FOR THIS

[01:45:01]

THE ONLY THING THAT DOES IS APPLYING THE ORDINANCE EQUALLY TO ALL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

UNDERSTAND? YEAH.

BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS SOMEONE IN A HIGHER AUTHORITY SAID YOU CAN'T HAVE THE BUSINESS LICENSE AND BE IN THE CHURCH.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE.

THE ONLY PERSON THAT SAID THAT IS AS HE SAID THAT, AND THEN THEY SAID THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY HAVE TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE.

NOT THAT THEY CAN'T.

SO, OKAY, IF I MAY, MICHAEL , I'M A VOLUNTEER AT THE ST.

PLEASE COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

I'M A VOLUNTEER AT THE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER.

AT ANY GIVEN WEDNESDAY, YOU'LL FIND ME OUT THERE, UH, PASSING OUT FOOD, UM, WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS.

AND I HAVE HAD OCCASION TO WITNESS ALL OF WHAT THEY DO, ALL OF THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THEIR PROGRAMS. AND, UH, AFTER PRACTICING CORPORATE LAW FOR 30 YEARS, I CAN TELL YOU NONE OF IT IS A BUSINESS.

AND IT IS THIS CONCEPT OF BEING CHARACTERIZED AS, AS A BUSINESS THAT IS SO ABHORRENT TO THEM THAT THE FEEDBACK THAT WE I INITIAL GOT INITIALLY GOT MAYBE NOT OFFICIALLY FROM ON HIGH, UM, WAS THAT WE CANNOT JEOPARDIZE THE THOUSANDS OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH RUNS BY ALLOWING THEM TO BE RECAST AS BUSINESSES.

SO IT'S NOT AN ISSUE OF PAYING TAX.

THEY'VE NEVER HAD A PENNY OF UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME IN THE HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION.

AND THEY PROBABLY NEVER WILL.

THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE ABOUT PAYING TAX OR PAYING A LICENSE FEE.

AND I WORKED WITH MR. KIDD TO CLARIFY THAT THAT WAS NOT THE ISSUE.

PAYING THE REGISTRATION FEE OR PAYING TAXES WAS A NON-ISSUE.

IT STRIKES ME THAT IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING GAINED BY MAKING THEM REGISTER AS A BUSINESS IS THAT IT PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT CONTACTS AND FOLKS THAT THEY CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH AN EMERGENCY BASIS FOR OTHER REASONS.

THEY'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

BUT LETTING THEM BE RECAST AS A BUSINESS IS SO ABHOR TO THEM THAT IT STRUCK ME IN MY OBSERVATION THAT IT COULD JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS ABILITY TO CONTINUE DOING ALL THE GREAT WORKS THAT IT, THAT IT DOES.

COUNTY IS NOT A REGISTRATION CARD.

WELL I THINK WE HAVE A, WELL WE HAVE A QUESTION.

COUNCILMAN GLOVER, THIS IS YOUR DISTRICT.

WELL, I JUST GOT A SIMPLE QUESTION.

UM, IF IT'S NOT THE WORDING BUSINESS, WHAT WORDING WOULD YOU USE TO CALL YOUR ORGANIZATION? IT'S A CHARITY.

IT'S A CHURCH RELATED CHARITY.

IT IS NOT A BUSINESS.

AND TO HEAR THAT I SAYING THAT LIKE FINGERNAILS GONNA TO EXPLAIN THAT TO ME, I JUST WANNA KNOW AND MR. UH, KID, IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE LANGUAGE THAT WE COULD USE IN OUR ORDINANCE TO DESCRIBE THIS TYPE OF BUSINESS AND GET A, YOU KNOW, GET PAST THIS ISSUE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UH, BUT IT'S ANATHEMA TO THEM TO HEAR THEIR WORK.

I UNDERSTAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I WANNA KNOW WHETHER WE CAN GET A WORDING CHANGE OR SO IN OUR ORDINANCE TO MOVE THIS PAST SO IT DOESN'T OFFEND OTHER ORGANIZATION COMING BEFORE US.

BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT THAT WE ARE AFRAID TO DO AT THIS TIME.

WE, WE COULD OFFER AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE MOVING FORWARD, BUT FOR PURPOSES OF TONIGHT, THERE'S NO DISPUTE THAT THEY'RE A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION.

THE ONLY ISSUE IS HOW WE APPLY OUR BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE TO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS.

COUNCILMAN LAWSON I THINK HAS A MOTION.

YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE EXEMPT, UM, ST.

FRANCIS CENTER FROM NEEDING TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE AND ALSO ALLOW THEM TO GET A SIGN WITHOUT A SIGNED PERMIT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

HAVE A SECOND.

I THINK I WHO SECOND IT? MR. DAWSON DAW.

I DO, IF I MAY, I DO HAVE A, A STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO READ MM-HMM .

UM, I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY SUPPORT TO ST.

FRANCIS CENTER AND EXPLAIN WHY I BELIEVE BOTH OUR ORDINANCE AND OUR CONSTITUTION FOR BID.

WHAT STAFF HAS ASKED THEM, UH, ASKED OF THEM.

ST.

FRANCIS CENTER IS A 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZED UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW FOR RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL AND CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

UNDER SECTION 1850 1D OF OUR OWN CODE.

A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IS EXEMPT FROM THE BUSINESS LICENSE TAX ON ITS GROSS INCOME UNLESS IT'S EARNED FOR PROFIT OR UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME.

NO ONE DISPUTES THAT ST.

FRANCIS QUALIFIES AS A CHARITY.

THE DETERMINATION LETTER CONCEDES AS MUCH.

IT SAYS NO FEE WILL BE ASSESSED.

BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

OUR ORDINANCE IS BUILT AROUND TAX SECTION 1846 REQUIRES A LICENSE TO PAY, PAY AN ANNUAL LICENSE TAX FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING BUSINESS.

SECTION 1848 TELLS US THAT LICENSE EXISTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING REVENUE FOR THE GENERAL FUND THROUGH A PRIVILEGE TAX.

A BUSINESS LICENSE OF BEAUFORT

[01:50:01]

IT IS NOT AN, IT IS THE INSTRUMENT BY WHICH WE LEVY A PRIVILEGED TAX.

WHEN THE TAX DOES NOT APPLY, THE LICENSE THAT EXISTS ONLY TO COLLECT IT DOES NOT APPLY EITHER.

YOU CANNOT EXEMPT AN ORGANIZATION FROM THE TAX AND THEN COMPEL IT TO TAKE OUT THE VERY LICENSE WHOSE SOLE PURPOSE IS TO IMPOSE THAT TAX.

THAT IS WHERE THE ORDINANCE ENDS.

BUT THIS IS WHERE PRINCIPLE BEGINS.

WHEN GOVERNMENT REQUIRES A RELIGIOUS MINISTRY TO SEEK PERMISSION TO OPERATE, TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE TO SUBMIT TO A LICENSING POWER TO CERTIFY ITSELF TO THE COUNTY.

UNDER OATH, GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED ITSELF BETWEEN THE FAITHFUL AND THEIR WORKS OF FAITH.

THE FEE MAY BE ZERO, THE ENTANGLEMENT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE.

TAX IS BY ITS OWN NAME.

A TAX ON A PRIVILEGE.

THE GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND MAY WITHHOLD.

BUT THE MINISTRY OF A CHURCH TO THE POOR AND NEEDY IS NOT A PRIVILEGE.

THE COUNTY DISPENSES.

IT IS A FREEDOM.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT SECURES AND OUR SOUTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION GUARDS, WE DO NOT LICENSE IT.

WE DO NOT CONDITION IT.

WE DO NOT REQUIRE RELIGIOUS CHARITY TO COME TO THIS GOVERNMENT HAT IN HAND FOR LEAVE TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND SHELTER THE ELDERLY.

THE RATIONALE TO REQUEST THIS LICENSE TO COLLECT CONTACT INFORMATION IS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE.

IF THE COUNTY NEEDS A PHONE NUMBER, THERE ARE A HUNDRED LAWFUL WAYS TO ASK FOR ONE THAT DO NOT RUN THROUGH A PRIVILEGED TAX ORDINANCE AND DO NOT REQUIRE MINISTRY TO SUBMIT TO OUR LICENSING AUTHORITY.

I WOULD REMIND THIS BODY THAT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE WAS NOT WRITTEN TO PROTECT GOVERNMENT FROM RELIGION.

IT WAS WRITTEN TO PROTECT RELIGION FROM GOVERNMENT.

FROM THIS EXACTLY.

FROM EXACTLY THIS KIND OF SMALL WELL-MEANING INCREMENTAL ASSERTION OF AUTHORITY OVER WHAT A CHURCH DOES AND HOW IT SERVES THE DANGER OF LIBERTY IS RARELY DRAMATIC.

IT IS USUALLY A FORM A FILING, A LICENSE WITH NO FEE PRESENTED AS A MERE FORMALITY.

WE SHOULD BE VIGILANT PRECISELY BECAUSE IT SEEMS SO HARMLESS.

ST.

FRANCIS FEEDS THE HUNGRY, REPAIRS THE HOMES OF OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED NEIGHBORS AND ADDS ALMOST NOTHING OF US IN RETURN.

THE CONSTITUTION ADDS SOMETHING OF US THAT WE LEAVE THEM TO THEIR WORK FOR THESE REASONS I MOVE.

WE RECOGNIZE ST.

FRANCIS CENTER AS EXEMPT AND DIRECT STAFF TO WITHDRAW THE DETERMINATION.

ANOTHER MOTION ON THE FLOOR? UM, WE HAD HIS MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

SO ARE YOU SUPPLEMENTING HIS MOTION WITH SAME MOTION.

SUPPORTING IT.

THAT WAS JUST PART OF THE DISCUSSION.

ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE VOTE? WELL, THE QUESTION , I JUST DID, I JUST DID FAIR ALL.

DO WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE NO.

I DON'T, DON'T THINK SO.

ALL IN FAVOR OF MARK LARSON'S.

MOTION SIGNIFY VOTE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, YOU MADE ME MADAM CHAIR.

REMEMBER THE WRITTEN ORDER DIRECT STAFF TO PREPARE A WRITTEN ORDER? YES.

DO YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? THAT WE CAN STAFF? OKAY.

AND THANK YOU.

WE APPRECIATE IF ANYONE WANTS TO, TO CLEAR OUT FOR, UNLESS YOU WANNA STAY FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING.

I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE.

BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WE DIDN'T HAVE OH YEAH, I WILL.

WE NEED TO DO, YEAH.

I CAN'T EXPLAINED IT TO ME, BUT THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S, UM, MOVE OUT QUICKLY IF YOU'RE LEAVING.

DON'T THINK YOUR MICROPHONE IS WORKING.

ALICE, MY MICROPHONE'S NOT WORKING.

IT IS NOW.

IT IS NOW IT IS.

IT WAS WORKING.

BUT NOBODY'S LISTENING TO ME.

IT WAS ALL RIGHT.

MS. BROWN HAS A, HAS A MOTION TO MAKE REGARDING AN AGENDA ITEM.

UM, SHE'S GONNA WAIT TILL WE GOT IT.

WE'RE GONNA WAIT TILL WE GET TO IT.

YOU'LL WAIT TILL WE GET TO IT? YES.

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY AND TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FEE.

NEXT ON THE

[11.a. 2026/22: A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds to contribute to the procurement by the applicant, the Town of Hilton Head Island, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located on Hilton Head Island, known as the Broad Creek Marina Tract (PIN# R510 011 000 0006 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($7,700,000). ]

AGENDA IS 11 A 20 26 22.

A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZING

[01:55:01]

SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED ON HILTON HEAD, KNOWN AS BROAD CREEK MARINA.

I'M NOT GONNA READ THE PEN, BUT IS NOT TO EXCEED THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF $7,700,000.

I NEED A MOTION TO.

SO MOTION APPROVE RESOLUTION 20 26 22.

MOTION BY, UM, COUNCILMAN RE DO WE HAVE A SECOND? A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN UM, MCALLEN AND I THINK MR. MCSHANE IS GOING TO PRESENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE TONIGHT.

JEFF, CAN YOU PULL THAT DOOR CLOSED? THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

MADAM VICE CHAIRMAN COUNCIL MEMBERS, I, MIKE MCSHANE FOR THE RECORD OF RESIDENT OF CHARLESTON COUNTY, BUT HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BEFORE YOU.

TONIGHT IS A REQ, A RECOMMENDATION FROM GREEN SPACE FOR THE, UH, FUNDING TO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FEE.

SIMPLE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, KNOWN AS BROAD CREEK MARINA TRACK.

THIS IS ABOUT A NINE AND A HALF ACRE PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE ISLAND WITH ABOUT 350 FEET OF FRONTAGE ALONG BROAD CREEK AND IT'S ADJACENT TO AN EXISTING TOWN OWNED PROPERTY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED ON SEVERAL OTHER PROJECTS WITH THE COUNTY THIS TIME THE COUNT, UH, EXCUSE ME, WITH THE TOWN THIS TIME THE TOWN IS WANTING TO BE A 50 50 PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY ON THIS ACQUISITION.

THE REQUEST THEN IS TO NOT TO EXCEED A $7.7 MILLION VALUATION.

ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE.

AND JUST TO DEFINE DUE DILIGENCE, 'CAUSE I HEARD THAT QUESTION EARLIER, DUE DILIGENCE BY THE GREEN SPACE IS ASSURING WE HAVE A CLEAN PHASE ONE PROPERTY DESCRIPTION.

APPRAISALS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN STAFF REVIEWED, UH, AND BOTH BY OUR ATTORNEYS AS WELL AS THE STAFF SURVEY.

I MAY BE LEAVING ONE OUT MARK SITE VISIT.

SITE VISIT.

AND HAVE ANY QUESTIONS MADAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN PASSMAN? YES.

UH, 50 50 SPLIT.

WHO IS THE ACTUAL OWNER OF THE PROPERTY? THIS WOULD BE THE TOWN OF HILTON HILL WOULD ACTUALLY TAKE OWNERSHIP.

SO YOU'RE FUNDING THEIR ACQUISITION.

ALRIGHT, I THINK I SAW COUNCIL MEMBER, I THOUGHT HIS HAND NICKS WHERE SOME, A GENTLEMAN MADE A GOOD POINT AND I WAS ALREADY HAD IT IN MY NOTES.

WHERE IS THE APPRAISALS AND THE DUE DILIGENCE AND THE ACTUAL SURVEYS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON BOTH THIS ITEM AND AND THE NEXT ONE, MR. BAROLO, I'LL HAVE TO ASK IF THIS, I'M NOT, I DON'T GET THE FULL PACKET YOU GET.

YEAH, SO WE GOT SOME PHOTOS, WE GOT THE RESOLUTION.

UH, THAT'S ABOUT IT.

I'LL HAVE TO TURN TO, OH, THERE'S, AND I'M NOT ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, SO I KNOW THERE'RE THIS IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS NOW.

BUT, BUT THIS, THIS ONE DID GO THROUGH THE PROCESS THAT YOU HAD IN PLACE WHEN NATURAL RESOURCES THEN CAME TO COUNCIL.

I SAID I TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT, BUT LOOKING AT THIS ONE, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION.

I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION THAT HE MAKE A DECISION TO DROP $7.7 MILLION.

THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION THERE FOR ME TO, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE DO THAT.

MR. DAVIS, UH, STAFF CAN REPORT TO YOU ABOUT WHERE THAT DOCUMENTATION, SO THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THROUGH THE NEW ORDINANCE CHANGE WHERE THESE ITEMS COME STRAIGHT TO COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED AS A PART OF BACKUP ARE THE SAME WAY WE'VE PRODUCED AND PROVIDED FOR ALL GREEN SPACE GRANTS THAT WE'VE DONE.

SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE THOSE ITEMS AS DUE D BACKUP.

THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

DID PROVIDE THE APPRAISAL FOR THE MITCHELLVILLE PROJECT BECAUSE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS ASKED FOR FROM US.

SO IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE AS A PART OF Y'ALL'S DECISION AS A PART OF THE BACKUP, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO KEEP PUT THAT IN THE BACKUP FOR, UH, REVIEW.

I THINK MR. DAVIS USED THE TERM DUE DILIGENCE.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHAT I THINK HE WAS REFERRING TO IS THE, THE DESCRIPTION THAT I GAVE EARLIER ABOUT THAT INFORMATION.

IF THAT INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL BEFORE THEY CAN MAKE A DECISION ON THIS PROJECT TODAY, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU REMAND THIS BACK TO GREEN SPACE AND LET US BRING THAT BACK FORWARD WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.

I'VE REPEATEDLY ASKED, AND I'VE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, MR. HAN, EQUITABLE VERSUS EQUAL? EQUAL.

AND WE HAVE LOADED HILTON HEAD WITH GREEN SPACE MONEY THERE IN THE SOUTH END.

AND IF THE NEW RIVERSIDE GOES THROUGH, THAT'S MORE, BUT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS.

I MEAN, WE NEED TO SPREAD OUR GREEN SPACE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

I UNDERSTAND IT TAKES PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR IT.

I GET IT.

BUT WE ARE

[02:00:01]

FOCUSING A LOT OF MONEY.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SEVERAL OF US ON HILTON HEAD, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, I DON'T CARE IF YOU WANNA CALL IT EQUITABLE, EQUAL, WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.

WE DO HAVE FOUR QUADRANTS.

AND THIS IS LOADING THIS SOUTHERN QUADRANT, MADAM VICE CHAIRMAN.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS UP TO THE ATTENTION BEFORE.

AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ON THIS ABOUT THE, WHETHER IN THE STATUTE DEFINING LEGISLATIVE INTENT OF EQUAL VERSUS EQUITABLE PORTION.

AND OF COURSE, AS YOU POINT OUT IT, IT DETERMINED AND REQUIRED THAT A VOLUNTARY APPLICATION BE SUBMITTED.

SO WE'RE NOT USING THIS IN A COMBINATION TYPE PROCESS.

THE TENANT HILTON HEAD HAS FRANKLY JUST BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE IN PURSUING THIS.

UH, THE FACT THAT I CAUGHT COUNT SOME SUCCESS IS THE TENANT HILTON HEAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA PLAY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF WHATEVER THEY PUT FORWARD AND THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THEM TO UNDERSTAND THEY NEED TO BE AT LEAST AN EQUAL PARTNER ON THAT.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE FOUR REGIONS THAT COUNCIL PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS PROGRAM, IN MANY WAYS THAT WAS AN ARBITRARY ASSIGNMENT TO DIVIDE THE COUNTY IN THE FOUR REGIONS ON THAT.

BUT THEY'RE NOT EQUAL IN TERMS OF VALUES, OPPORTUNITIES OR UM, FRANKLY EVEN AVAILABILITY OF PROJECTS.

UH, THE SOUTHERN REGION HAPPENED TO, AS YOU DE DEFINE IT, HAPPENS TO HAVE SOME INTERESTING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE MORE CHALLENGING IN THE WESTERN REGION.

I WOULD, I WOULD ALWAYS SUBMIT THAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM ANY GREEN SPACE PROJECT THAT WE DO, INCLUDING ON THE WATER QUALITY AND THE ACCESS OF WATER, UH, TO THE RESIDENTS IN A PUBLIC FORUM LIKE WHAT THE TOWN IS TRYING TO DO.

SO I APPLAUD THAT THE TOWN IS LOOKING FOR, THE TOWN IS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER IN THAT AREA.

IT IS EXPENSIVE.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT EQUITABLE TO THE VALUES THAT, FOR INSTANCE, THAT I MAY HAVE PERSONALLY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

BUT THAT IS GOING ALWAYS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECT HERE IN JUST A MOMENT AND I'LL, AND IF, AND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I WILL THEN BRING UP SOME OTHER POINTS TO THAT FOR YOU ON THAT.

SO ON THIS PROJECT THOUGH, UM, I MEAN I LOOK AT WHAT'S AVAILABLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND I'M JUST WONDERING, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD, SPENDING OUR GREEN SPACE MONEY AT A RAPID PACE.

FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE OWNERS IN THE NORTH REGION, IN THE WEST REGION, IN THE EAST REGION THAT JUST HAVEN'T MOTIVATED YET TO APPLY.

AND I WOULD THINK SOME OF OUR PARTNERS MIGHT BE PUSHING THEM A LITTLE BIT, BUT I DON'T WANNA JUST HURRY UP AND SPEND OUR MONEY FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.

I UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S MY CONCERN.

I SHARE THE CONCERN, BUT ASSURE YOU THAT I THINK YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS DONE A VERY THOROUGH VETTING JOB OF BRINGING THESE PROJECTS THROUGH, LOOKING FOR THE BEST VALUE FOR THE COUNTY TAXPAYER ON THIS PROGRAM.

I'VE GIVEN GREAT LATITUDE AND CON IN PLATITUDE TO THE FACT THAT YOUR RESIDENTS VOTED TO ENACT A GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.

YOU'RE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE STATE TO DO SO.

I'D LIKE TO SEE, PARTICULARLY IN MY CURRENT ROLE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK, TO SEE THE OTHER 45 COUNTIES PARTICIPATE IN THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM AS WELL.

IT IS, UH, YOU'VE DONE A TO THINK ABOUT FROM JUST WHEN YOU PASSED THIS ORDINANCE IN 23, THE FALL HERE WE ARE JUST COMING UP ON THREE YEARS TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE.

THERE'S A FINANCIAL STATEMENT THAT MIGHT BE, AND I NEED TO CONFIRM WITH MARK.

IT'S IN THE PACKET.

IT'S IN THE PACKET THERE THAT INCLUDES THE, THE UNDER THERE.

IT SAYS, UM, OTHER PROJECT FUNDING.

SO WHAT'S CLOSED? AND BY THE WAY, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY, SOMEONE ASKED ABOUT BUCKWALTER THAT MONEY HAS BEEN DISPERSED, THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HAS THAT MONEY.

THEY MAY BE THEIR ISSUE OF CLOSING ON THAT, BUT THE COUNTY AND THE COUNCIL HAVE DONE THEIR POSITION BY GETTING THAT AG THAT GRANT AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH THE HELP OF THIS COUNCIL.

AND THAT MONEY HAS BEEN DISPERSED ON THAT, THAT NUMBER OF 59 MILLION IS INCLUDING EVEN THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROJECT? YES.

ONE THOUGHT I WANNA THROW OUT, MR. MCSHANE, TRY TO EXPLAIN THIS AS WELL.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT HILTON HEAD, THE, THE EQUITABLE OR AMOUNT OF ACRES AVAILABLE IS ON A VERY SMALL PROPORTION VERSUS BLUFFTON OR THE 5,000 ALMOST WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.

SO IF YOU FORGET THE VALUE, JUST THE, JUST THE LAND ALONE, I MEAN IT'S MUCH MORE LIMITED ON HILTON HEAD.

YOU'LL NEVER GET TO 400 KILOS OR 400 ACRES, UM, 5,000 ACRES, YOU KNOW.

SO THIS, THIS IS A A, A FACT THAT'S, I THINK, UNDENIABLE IN TERMS OF THE URBANIZATION AREAS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN OUR STATE TO SEE THOSE TYPE OF PRESSURES WHERE YOU DO SEE PROPERTIES FRACTIONALIZE, SMALLER ACREAGE, BUT THEN PRICE VALUES THEN REFLECT THE FACT THAT THAT PRESSURE'S THERE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

I THINK COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM HAD A QUESTION.

YES MA'AM.

UH, WHAT'S THE CURRENT ZONE OF THE PROPERTY? I'LL HAVE TO DEFER TO STAFF QUICKLY ON

[02:05:01]

THAT.

THE CURRENT ZONING MARK IT, IT, IT, I'M SORRY SIR.

I JUST DIDN'T KEEP THAT IN MY MEMORY.

YEAH, IT HAS VERY INTENSE ZONING ON IT.

I THINK IT, HOW MANY UNITS, UH, UP TO IT CAME IN? IT WOULD BE, I'M SORRY, I'M JUST ADDING TO HIS QUESTION.

A LOT.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY A NUMBER, BUT I THINK IT WAS A, SO I JUST WANNA KNOW THE ACTUAL ZONING OF IT.

OH.

AND IN FACT, MR. CUNNINGHAM, WITH THE CHAIRMAN'S PERMISSION, WE'LL JUST, UH, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WASN'T IN FRONT OF YOU.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO YOU.

AND THE REASON I ASK IS I THINK IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF IT'S ONE HOUSE PER THREE ACRES.

MM-HMM.

NO, THIS IS, I THINK THE TOWN IS READY FOR MULTIFAMILY HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT ON THAT.

THE FACT WE HAVE A WILLING LANDOWNER, I THINK PLAYS A FACTOR IN HERE BECAUSE THAT PLAYS INTO THE TIMING OF THIS.

HE'S WILLING, THAT LANDOWNER IS WILLING TO WORK THROUGH A NEGOTIATION ON THAT.

UM, UH, GOING BACK TO, UM, WHAT COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW SAID IN THE PAST, THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE WOULD REVIEW THE APPRAISALS AND REVIEW THE DUE DILIGENCE.

UM, TO YOUR POINT, COUNCIL MEMBER, BETH, YOU WOULD LIKE THAT NOW PROVIDED WITH THE PACKET TO ALL OF COUNCIL? IS THAT WHAT I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL FOR US AND THE PUBLIC.

HE IS CORRECT.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, THAT WHEN WE WENT THE PROCESS TO GO TO NATURAL RESOURCES, I THINK THAT INFORMATION IT WAS, WAS PROVIDED RESOURCES.

WE, THAT OUGHT TO BE THE, IT JUST OUGHT TO BE THE SAME INFORMATION COMING TO THE FULL COUNSEL THEN, SINCE WE'RE COMING STRAIGHT TO FULL COUNSEL, I, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION.

UM, DO, DO WE, WE DO.

I STILL HAD ANOTHER QUESTION.

ANOTHER WE NEED WE A MOTION, RIGHT? YES, SIR.

KEN, THERE WAS AN ACTION.

MOTION.

CAN I ASK MY SECOND QUESTION? MM-HMM .

UM, DO WE HAVE AN ACTUAL APPRAISAL ON THE PROPERTY? I'M ASSUMING HILTON HAD DID BEFORE.

THEY SPENT $15 MILLION.

BUT THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY ALSO AND OFTENTIMES WILL DO OUR OWN.

MANY OF THE MANY TIMES APPLICANTS WILL PROVIDE AN APPRAISAL.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY PURCHASED LAND.

WE GOT APPRAISALS FOR THE ONLY ONES WE DIDN'T IS WHEN WE GOT EASEMENTS.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, EVEN ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE EASEMENTS, WE STILL SEE THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE EASEMENT.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT PLAYS INTO THE VALUE THAT WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT.

AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO PAY A HUNDRED PERCENT OF ANYTHING.

SO WHAT WAS THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THIS LAND? THERE WERE 16.

THERE WERE TWO.

THEY PROVIDED ONE I OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING REQUESTED AND WHAT THE TOWN IS SEEKING TO PLACE THIS UNDER CONTRACT FOR.

HOW MUCH IS THAT? IT'S AROUND 16 MILLION.

THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT AMOUNT.

IT'S AROUND 16 MILLION.

OH.

IT'S JUST, IT'S NORTH OF 16 AND WE'RE PAYING 15.2.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE TOWN IS SEEKING TO PLACE THIS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE OWNER.

AND THEY'RE REQUESTING HALF OF THAT FROM US FOR NINE AND A HALF ACRES.

WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM COUNCILMAN.

I JUST WANNA EXPLAIN THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RECENTLY CHANGED HOW WE OPERATE.

IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'VE BROUGHT THIS, GOT THE DUE DILIGENCE AND TOOK IT TO COMMITTEE.

AND, AND WE JUST CHANGED OUR ORDINANCE SO THAT WAY WE COULD LOOK AT THIS QUICKER AND HELP YOU MOVE FASTER IN CASE THAT YOU NEED YES SIR.

SO AGAIN, TO ACCELERATE THE UP OPPORTUNITY, IT'S A LITTLE NEW TO US UP HERE AND HOW IT HAPPENS.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO BACKUP IN OUR INFORMATION HERE.

AND I THINK I HEARD YOU MENTION, ESPECIALLY ON THIS ONE, THAT IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO TAKE IT BACK AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO US.

IT CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT'S AN OPTION THAT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE.

AND THAT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT SECOND ACCELERATING.

THAT WAS ALWAYS GIVE THE COUNCIL OPPORTUNITY TO REMAND IT BACK TO GREEN SPACE AND TO BRING FORWARD, I THINK IN THIS CASE, THAT'S NOT GONNA JEOPARDIZE THE, THE TRANSACTION IF THAT'S WHAT COUNCIL SO CHOOSE TO DO.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? WE HAVE A MOTION.

MOTION.

WE ALREADY HAVE MORE MOTION, BUT YOU CAN AMEND.

I'D LIKE TO AMEND THE MOTION THAT WE DO, UM, PUSH THIS BACK TO GREEN SPACE.

UM, OR PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.

FOR DUE DILIGENCE.

NOT SURE THE GREEN SPACE NEEDS TO REVIEW IT AGAIN NECESSARILY.

I WOULD OFFER MADAM CHAIRMAN THAT IF YOU BROUGHT UP, IF YOU SEND IT BACK TO GREEN SPACE, GREEN SPACE CAN ASSURE THAT STAFF HAS GOT ALL THAT PERTINENT INFORMATION THAT ALL DETAILS IN THERE YOU'VE DISCUSSED THAT COLLECTIVELY YOU'VE DISCUSSED TODAY.

AND THEN, AND THEN PUSH IT BACK UP TO AND BRING IT ON TO SCHEDULED TIME MOTION.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M AVAILABLE IF I'M WEEKS NOT ON CALL.

AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST MOTION.

AND ACTUALLY I'D LIKE TO ADD TO IT THAT YOU BRING IT BACK TO US AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION AS OPPOSED TO HAVING GO BACK TO THE, THE, UM, COMMITTEE.

I SECOND THAT A SECOND.

NOT KNOWING, SORRY, I JUST, IF I JUST ASK FOR A LITTLE INDULGENCE IF THE SCHEDULE, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE YOUR COUNCIL SCHEDULE IN FRONT OF ME'S WEEKS AND I MIGHT BE ON CALL.

[02:10:01]

TWO WEEKS OR A MONTH.

JULY.

WE, JUNE 22 IS THE NEXT ONE.

I'LL BE HERE.

I CAN DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, ORIGINAL MOTION.

AND A SECOND.

UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT.

BY SHOW OF HANDS.

UH, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE AMENDMENT SAYS.

I CAN REPEAT IT.

THE AMENDMENT WAS FOR US TO PUSH THIS BACK TO GREEN SPACE SO THEY COULD GATHER ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE INFORMATION.

THEN BRING IT BACK TO US AT OUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO PRESENT IT AGAIN AND THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

SO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WILL BE JUNE 22ND? YES.

IF BY SHOW OF HANDS, ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT.

GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

WE DON'T NEED IT.

WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

THAT'S GOOD.

IS STAFF CLEAR? EVERYONE CLEAR ON WHAT WE NEED? SO I'M JUST GONNA ASK MADAM CHAIRMAN, JUST TO MAKE SURE STAFF UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT INFORMATION WILL COME AND THERE'S A GREEN SPACE MEETING ON FRIDAY.

SO GREEN SPACE CAN ACTUALLY JUST COORDINATE THAT.

SO WE TO KNOW ZONING, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY MAXIMUM UNITS COULD BE BUILT.

WE NEED TO KNOW UNDER CURRENT ZONING.

ZONING UNDER CURRENT ZONING ZONING.

AND WE NEED TO KNOW THE APPRAISALS.

ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH DUE DILIGENCE SURVEY? YOU WANT COPIES OF THE APPRAISAL? I MEAN, I, YEAH, THAT'S JUST, IT'S REALLY YOUR PLEASURE.

THIS IS FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

YES, I THINK SO.

I THINK I, I I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

WE WERE DOING THAT FOR NATURAL RESOURCES.

END THAT YOU'RE MAKING WILL COME THROUGH.

FORGIVE ME.

I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WASN'T, THAT DIDN'T CARRY OVER WITH THE TRANSITION TO COME STRAIGHT TO COUNCIL.

[11.b. 2026/23: A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to execute the documents necessary and to provide funds for the procurement by the applicant, The Nature Conservancy, for the acquisition of fee simple real property located in the Town of Bluffton, known as the New River Forest (Portion of PIN#’s R614 045 000 0019 0000, R610 044 000 0126 0000), not to exceed the requested amount ($42,000,000). ]

TO, UH, 11 B 20 26, 23.

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR THE PROCUREMENT BY THE APPLICANT.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS THE APPLICANT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF FEE.

SIMPLE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON, KNOWN AS THE NEW RIVER FOREST PORTION OF THE PEN.

THERE'S TWO PIN NUMBERS THERE NOT TO EXCEED THE REQUESTED AMOUNT OF 42 MILLION.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND.

A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN UH, MCKELLAN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? MADAM? PRESENTATION FIRST PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

OKAY, SO JUST TO, IF I MAY, JUST TO REPEAT THE MOTION UP FRONT.

SO EVERYBODY'S CLEAR GREEN SPACE RECOMMENDED THIS PROJECT ON MAY 8TH ASKING, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL TO APPROVE $42 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE GREEN SPACE ACCOUNT TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WHO IS UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE NEW RIVER PROPERTY WITH NO LESS THAN 20 MILLION BEING REIMBURSED TO THE GREEN SPACE ACCOUNT THROUGH STATE OR FEDERAL GRANTS WITHIN A THREE YEAR TIME.

I BELIEVE WE'LL BE SHORTER IN THAT TIMEFRAME AND I BELIEVE WE'LL EXCEED $20 MILLION ON THAT.

BUT TO BE CLEAR, 'CAUSE I'VE HEARD TONIGHT THE COUNTY IS NOT ACQUIRING THIS PROPERTY.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IS ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY.

YOU ARE PROVIDING A REIMBURSABLE GRANT PORTION TO FUND THAT ACQUISITION BECAUSE THE TIME SENSITIVITY OF BEING ABLE TO, UH, MOVE FASTER THAN THE STATE GOVERNMENT MAY DO ON THAT.

THE NEW RIVER STATE FOREST IS, IS, IS ALMOST 5,000 ACRES, 13 MILES OF THE NEW RIVER WITH OVER 3000 ACRES OF DEVELOPER UPLANDS.

TNC HAS THE CONTRACT IS AT 42 MILLION.

THE APPRAISAL QUESTION THREE APPRAISALS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS TRACK.

ONE PROVIDED BY THE LANDOWNER, ONE BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, AND THE COUNTY ISSU, UH, ORDERED ITS OWN.

ALL OF THEM CAME IN AT OVER 45 MILLION.

SO THAT MEANS THAT THE LANDOWNER IS WILLING TO DONATE OVER $3 MILLION OF VALUE.

PLEASE DON'T LINK, DON'T FORGET THAT.

THAT IS A TREMENDOUS GIFT THAT THE LANDOWNER IS PROVIDING ON THIS PRO PROJECT.

THIS PROPERTY, THIS PURCHASE THAT IS, WILL HELP TAKE A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC AND MAKE IT AT PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGH A THOUGHTFUL AND MEANINGFUL WAY.

THE THOUGHTFUL, MEANINGFUL WAY, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THE COMMENT THAT THIS IS GONNA LET THE UNWASHED JUST SHOW UP ONTO THIS 5,000 ACRES.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

UNDER STATE STATUTE STATE FORESTER SCOTT PHILLIPS, WHO IS HERE WITH ME THIS EVENING AND WAS SENATOR DAVIS, WHO CHAIR SENATE FINANCE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND MYSELF AS CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVATION BANK.

AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF BNR WILL WORK TOGETHER THROUGH THE STATUTE, WHICH REQUIRES PUBLIC INPUT INTO THE MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT HE MUST ESTABLISH BEFORE HE CAN TAKE OWNERSHIP AND POSSESSION.

I WANNA BE CLEAR, THEY WILL BE PUBLIC INPUT INTO THE MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT HE DEVELOPS STATE FORESTER.

AM I JUST WANNA CONFIRM THAT IS CORRECT.

IT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE PROCESS, INCLUDING A FINAL APPROVAL BY JOINT BOND REVIEW COMMISSION, WHICH TAKES

[02:15:01]

PLACE.

AND THAT'LL HAPPEN.

THEY'LL DO A FIRST APPROVAL AND THEN DO A SECOND APPROVAL, VERY MUCH LIKE YOU DO ON THIS PROJECT.

THAT'S WHY WE ASKED FOR THE, THE NO MORE THAN THREE YEAR TIME LIMIT.

I BELIEVE IT'LL BE QUICKER, BUT WE ASKED FOR THE THREE YEAR TIME LIMIT BECAUSE I'M BEHOLDEN TO THEIR SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.

SENATOR DAVIS IS TODAY UP IN COLUMBIA AS HE'S ON THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE AND HE'S GOING THROUGH CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW.

I THINK HE'S COMMUNICATED BOTH TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO C TWO.

THAT DEBT IS A PRIORITY FIGURE IN HIS BUDGET TO GO TO STATE FOREST, STATE FORESTER.

PHILLIPS WILL ALSO, UH, I THINK ATTEST TO THAT.

THIS IS HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU'RE SHAKING HIS HEAD, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR HIM TO, IT'S MY NUMBER ONE ATION REQUEST COMING UP.

ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN UP.

ALL PUBLIC ACCESS WILL BE OFF WHAT I BELIEVE IS CALLED NEW RIVERSIDE ROAD.

NOT THROUGH ANY GATES OF PRIVATE COMMUNITIES.

NO STATE RESOURCE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA, STATE FOREST AREA WOULD EVER WANT TO GO THROUGH A PRIVATE PROPERTY ASPECT OF THAT.

BESIDES THE TIMBER MANAGEMENT RECREATION USE OF PROPERTY IS A HIKING, HUNTING.

THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK A RESOLUTION TODAY ABOUT THE MONTH BEING THE TRAIL MONTH OF PORTRAYALS, THIS IS GONNA BE YOUR POSTER CHILD OF TRAILS IN USE.

THERE.

THERE IS HUNTING, THERE WILL BE HUNTING.

HE WORKS THROUGH A MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR HUNTING.

THERE HAS BEEN HUNTING ON THIS PROPERTY FOR OVER A CENTURY.

THIS IS THE LARGEST UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY.

ITS LEGACY OPPORTUNITY IS.

NOW, IF WE MISS TAKING THIS, I DON'T, I DON'T EXPECT THE FAMILY BECAUSE THERE ARE COMPETING OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT WAS ON THE MARKET FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

THERE IS A COMPETING OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO TAKE THIS.

WHAT'S THE DEVELOPMENT THREAT? THE PROPERTY KNOWN IS PART OF PALMETTO BLUFF, BUT IT'S NOT OWNED BY THE SOUTH STREET PARTNERS PORTION.

IT IS WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT YOUR AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE TILL 2048.

THAT ALLOWS, UH, ACTUALLY THROUGH 2032, BUT WITH 5, 3 5 YEAR EXTENSIONS ON THAT, IT HAS BEEN CHANGED SIX TIMES SINCE ITS INITIAL INTRODUCTION.

THIS COUNCIL OF ALL COUNCILS UNDERSTANDS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE NOT PROTECTING LAND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS IS A START FOR NEGOTIATIONS THAT ARE GONNA GO ON FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR CHANGES BY TAKING THIS PROPERTY OFF THAT IT WILL BE OUT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BECAUSE IT'LL BE PROTECTED UNDER A CONSERVATION EASEMENT HELD BY A LOCAL LAND TRUST HERE IN BEAUFORT, OWNED BY THE STATE THROUGH THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION.

THERE WILL NEVER BE A NEED TO BE CONCERNED.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT CERTAINTY FOREVER FOR THIS PROPERTY TO STAY IN ITS CONDITION THAT IT'S IN.

THE CURRENT OWNERS DO NOT RESERVE ANY RIGHTS.

THE TRANSACTION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, A NATIONAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION.

THEY WILL THEN WORK WITH THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN WORK A MANAGEMENT PLAN TO EVEN ALLOW POTENTIAL ACCESS WITH THAT HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT THERE WITH A WONDERFUL OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL.

SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE FRANKLY UNIQUE AMONGST IN ANY PART OF THE STATE ON THAT THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A BETTER TIME TO DO THIS.

THAT VALUE OF THAT PROPERTY IS ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THAT PROPERTY VALUE WILL INCREASE.

THIS IS THAT WINDOW OF TIME TO DO SO.

SO WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? PRESUMING COUNCIL APPROVES THIS EVENING? YOU'RE GONNA PROVIDE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT FUNDING TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

YOU DID THIS ONCE BEFORE AND IT WORKED OUT BEAUTIFULLY.

WELL, IT ENABLED A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION TO MOVE QUICKLY TO GET CONTROL OF A PIECE OF PROPERTY UNDER A CONTRACT AT A PRICE THAT THEN PRODUCED A GREAT VALUE TO THE TAXPAYER.

SO DESPITE WHAT I HEARD EARLIER ABOUT THE EIGHT OR $9 MILLION, THAT'S JUST A, THAT WAS A TRANSACTION THAT THE OWNERSHIP TOOK PLACE WHEN THEY MOVED ASSETS AROUND IN AN LLC.

THAT IS NOT A SALE PRICE.

THE THE APPRAISALS CONFIRM THAT YOU ALSO HAVE THE NEARLY 800 ACRES THERE.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THAT HAS BEEN AN UNDERUTILIZED ASSET BY YOUR COUNTY CITIZENS.

IN FACT, FRANKLY, MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU OWNED IT, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBERS.

YOU NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK THAT THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATOR TO AN MOU WITH THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION.

AND NOW YOU GOT A 57 OR 5,800 ACRE TRACK WITH ACCESS THAT ISN'T GONNA BE GOING THROUGH PRIVATE PROPERTIES.

I HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT COMPONENT, THE FINANCIAL

[02:20:01]

I HAVE NOT, IN 23 YEARS OF SERVING IN AN ESTATE APPOINTED ROLE, HAVE NOT SEEN IN ON LARGER DEALS THAT WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DELIVER WHAT WE HAVE COMMITTED TO DO.

SO THIS FALLS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH OTHER PROJECTS, WITH THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION BETWEEN THE BUCKFIELD TRACK AND, AND CHELSEA OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.

BUT NONETHELESS, YOU PLAYED A ROLE IN HELPING THAT HAPPEN.

THIS IS GONNA MAKE THIS UNIQUE GREEN BELT AROUND THE COUNTY.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE EQUAL VERSUS EQUITABLE PART, I, I SUBMIT THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS AS MUCH IMPACT ON EVERYBODY SOUTH OF THE BROAD, IF NOT IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND THE ENTIRE REGION BECAUSE THAT 30, 3700 OR SO HIGH GROUND ACRES DEVELOPED.

BECAUSE SINCE IT'S BEEN PROVEN THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED SIX TIMES, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE IT COULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THAT COULD CERTAINLY BE THOUSANDS OF HOMES.

RIGHT? ON AN AREA THAT'S ALREADY UNDER GREAT PRESSURE.

THIS IS FRANKLY, I THINK YOUR SINGLE LARGEST LEGACY PROJECT TO TAKE ON RIGHT NOW.

I WISH MY COUNTY HAD A PROJECT LIKE THIS.

THIS WILL BE TALKED ABOUT FOR GENERATIONS, ABOUT THE WISDOM OF HAVING THIS NEW RIVER FOREST BECOME PART OF YOUR LEGACY.

AND FOR THE PUBLIC TRUST.

THIS IS THE ONE TIME THAT CAN HAPPEN.

CHAIR.

IS HE MR. MCSHANE, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER THINGS TO, THERE'S A COMPARATIVE HERE IN THE STATE.

IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH COLUMBIA, THE HARVEST AND STATE FOREST, IT'S AN AREA THAT IS ON THE, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THE HIGHER, UH, VALUED RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER AND, AND, UH, ACCESSIBLE STATE PUBLIC TRUST.

YOU'LL AGREE THAT THAT IS ONE OF YOUR BUSIEST STATE FORESTS IN TERMS OF 200,000 USERS.

HOW MANY? 200,000, 200,000 BUS USERS.

BUT WHAT IT DID FOR THE REAL ESTATE VALUES AROUND THERE, YOU CANNOT, YOU CANNOT MISTAKE IF YOU'RE AN OWNER IN THAT AREA, IT ONLY WENT UP BECAUSE YOU HAD THAT GUARANTEE.

YOU HAD CERTAINTY IN WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS GIFT FOR MANY OF THE LANDOWNERS AROUND THERE.

YOU THINK COUNCIL MCALLEN? YEAH.

UH, I JUST WANTED TO, MS. MCSHANE, I'D WANTED TO JUST, UH, MAKE A STATEMENT.

I I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, UH, ALL OF THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE PEOPLE FROM PALMETTO BLUFF.

AND I WANT TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THEIR, UM, TIMELINE WITH REGARD TO HOW THIS WILL ALL DEVELOP.

AND I KNOW THAT THE, UH, FORESTRY COMMISSION WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS, BUT THEY WILL ALSO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN PUTTING TOGETHER A TIMBER PLAN AND ALSO A, ANOTHER PLAN ON HOW THIS WILL ALL BE DONE.

AND THAT WILL BE A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN PARTICIPATE IN.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WILL TAKE THAT PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS BEFORE IT IS RESOLVED? AND I CAN ASK GOD AS WELL.

WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE.

YEAH, BECAUSE IT, THE DNR DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HAD TO FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT A AT A 12 TO 18 MONTH PERIOD OF TIME TO DO THAT.

THAT PARALLELS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO GET THROUGH JBRC, TO BRING THAT REIMBURSEMENT BACK.

AND TO HAVE JBRC APPROVE THIS.

I HAVE NO DOUBT JBRC WILL DO THAT.

BUT JUST LIKE YOU, THEY'VE GOTTA GO THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.

IS 18 MONTHS A REASONABLE TIME FOR YOU TO START JUST TO FOLLOW UP? WELL, DURING THAT PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS, WILL THE RESIDENTS OF THE BLUFF WHO HAVE A GREAT MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THIS HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE IN THAT PUBLIC PLANNING PROCESS? ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION.

THEY WILL.

AND HEARING THE COMMENTS, I RESPECT THAT THESE ARE WELL-INTENTIONED PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GREAT INTEREST AND I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THAT INTEREST IS I BELIEVE THE STATE FOREST HER HEARD THAT AS WELL IN BOTH OF OUR ROLES WITH SENATOR DAVIS'S SUPPORT.

WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THAT OCCURS AND WE'LL KEEP THE COUNCIL INFORMED OF THAT AS WELL.

COUNCILMAN REESE? THANK YOU CHAIRWOMAN.

UM, MR. HAN, JUST A STATEMENT THEN MAYBE A QUESTION.

I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, HOW I FEEL ABOUT GREEN SPACE.

I THINK IT'S PRIORITY.

I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

UH, AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO A LOT MORE.

TELL ME ABOUT WETLANDS.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY 75, 80% WETLAND RIGHT NOW.

UH, NO SIR.

I WOULD, I WOULD SAY IT'S REVERSED.

THERE'S ABOUT 3,300 ACRES.

I'M GONNA LOOK TO, I THINK HIGH GROUND, ABOUT 3,300 ACRES.

SO YOU'RE ABOUT 1700 ACRES.

SO IT'S ABOUT, IT'S ABOUT TWO

[02:25:01]

THIRDS HIGH GROUND, ONE THIRD ROUGHLY WETLANDS.

THOSE ARE, A LOT OF 'EM ARE MANAGED TIDAL IMPOUNDMENTS.

AND I, I SAW IT SOMEWHERE.

IT WAS ABOUT 70, 75% WETLANDS.

UM, IT'S IN PROTECTION RIGHT NOW.

CORRECT? IT'S IN A PROTECTIVE, IT IS UNDER A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

I DON'T DEFINE A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AS PROTECTION.

'CAUSE THAT SAME DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED SIX TIMES.

SO IT'S AT RISK THAT ANOTHER OWNER COULD BE PRIVATE.

SO FIRST OF ALL, THERE'LL BE NO PUBLIC ACCESS, COULD THEN GO FORWARD TO THE TOWN AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER AMENDMENT ON THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN DONE SIX TIMES TELLS ME THERE IS SOME RISKS THAT'S PRESENTED THAT IT COULD, THIS IS WHY THIS IS YOUR TIME TO DO THIS.

TAKE THAT OUT OF THE RISK, BRING CERTAINTY TO THAT COMMUNITY THAT THAT 5,000 ACRES OF REALLY 5,800 ACRES WILL ALWAYS IN PERPETUITY BE THE PUBLIC TRUST.

SIMPLY PROVIDING FUNDING.

UM, ANOTHER, I WAS GONNA LET COUNCILMAN BARMY GO.

YEAH, SURE.

I'LL JUST, LET ME LET JUST FINISH UP.

COUNCIL BAROLO, GO AHEAD.

UM, DO YOU NEED TO FINISH UP? YEAH, I, I AM, I'M CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT, AND I, I WANNA THROW THIS OUT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT.

DO WE GO BACK TO WHERE WE DO HAVE READINGS INSTEAD OF THIS RUSH TO GET THIS DONE? WHICH I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PROTECT EVERYTHING WE CAN.

I MEAN, IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, DO THAT, THAT'D BE IDEAL.

UM, DO WE TAKE A PAUSE, PUSH US BACK FOR A WEEK, LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HEARD.

MR. REESE? I, I WOULD, UH, COUNSEL THIS COUNSEL TO NOT TAKE A PAUSE.

AND I, I OB THIS IS MIKE SPEAKING, SIR, THERE WAS, THERE IS NO SECRET HERE.

THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

THAT APPLICATION CAME IN, IN 2025.

COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ON AT LEAST ONE.

MANY, SOME HAVE BEEN ON TWO FIELD TRIPS.

WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS HERE AT COUNCIL ON THIS PROJECT.

THERE IS NOTHING NEFARIOUS IN TERMS OF HIDING THIS FROM ANYBODY.

I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU ARE, I'M JUST STATING THE FACT THERE IS NOTHING NEFARIOUS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I WORRY THAT WE SEND A SIGNAL TO AN OWNER WHO MIGHT GET NERVOUS AND DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE THAT MIGHT BE MORE FINANCIALLY REWARDING TO THEM.

I, I, YOU KNOW, RESPECTFULLY SAY THAT WE'RE THE FIRST COUNTY AND THE STATE DOING THIS.

WE, UM, A SHINING STAR.

I DON'T BELIEVE HE'LL GET THAT IMPRESSION AT ALL BASED ON A SLIGHT PAUSE AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE ACTUALLY SERVE.

NOW AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GONNA GO TONIGHT, BUT MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS ABOUT A YEAR, WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN TONIGHT ARE WE HEARING FROM, I MEAN, COUNTLESS, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PHONE CALLS, HOW MANY EMAILS, SIR, WHAT DID, WHAT DID WE DO WRONG WITH THIS PROCESS THAT WE DIDN'T DO? IF WE DID ANYTHING AT ALL WRONG? I DON'T THINK COUNTY COUNCIL, I DON'T THINK COUNCIL HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG HERE.

COUNCILMAN BAR, PLEASE.

NO, I, LISTEN.

I APPRECIATE IT.

I'LL COME BACK.

I'LL ASK ANOTHER QUESTION IF I HAVE TO.

I'M, ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION IN THE BACK OF THE MATERIAL.

I THINK THE PROJECT'S WONDERFUL.

I WENT OUT THERE AND SAW IT.

I, I SEE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT GIVE ME HEARTBURN.

ONE, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE TWO PROJECTS, $49.7 MILLION IN ONE, YOU KNOW, TWO VOTES AND, AND ONE MEETING, AND I KNOW THIS REIMBURSABLE, BUT WITH THE POLITICAL CLIMATE RIGHT NOW AND THE ELECTIONS GOING ON, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA BE GOVERNOR.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

THE GOVERNOR HAS TO APPROVE THAT EXPENDITURE.

AND I, AND I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A STRONG ASSURANCE THERE.

I MIGHT ARGUE, SIR, THAT THE GOVERNOR JUST HAS THE ABILITY TO VETO THAT.

BUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WOULD'VE THE LAST SAY ON THAT, RIGHT? NO, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I JUST YES, SIR.

BUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE RIGHT NOW.

BUT, BUT IF, IF I MAY FINISH, DO WE NOT HAVE A CONTRACT WITH EARNEST MONEY IN PLACE TO, TO MAINTAIN THIS AS IT WORKS IN DUE DILIGENCE? COUNCIL IS, THE COUNTY IS NOT UNDER CONTRACT.

THE COUNTY'S SIMPLY PROVIDING FUNDING.

BUT IS THERE A CONTRACT IN PLACE WITH EARNEST MONEY HOLDING THIS YES.

IN PLACE.

THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HOLDS THAT, THAT CONTRACT.

AND WHAT IS THE RUSH ABOUT SLOWING IT BACK TO GETTING MORE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD'S? THE CLOSURE DATE SEPTEMBER 4TH.

SO THERE'S A SEPTEMBER, EARLY SEPTEMBER CLOSURE DATE.

THE NATURE CONSERVATIVE MUST HAVE, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP HERE WAS TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT AND NOT ASK THE NATURE CONSERVANCY TO GO BORROW THAT KIND OF MONEY AT TODAY'S MARKET RATES.

THEY'RE THE SAME ORGANIZATION YOU ASKED TO HELP YOU WITH CHELSEA OR HELP YOU WITH BUCKFIELD AND TO, AND TO ASK THEM TO GO OUT ON MARKET RATES AT THAT, AT THAT KIND OF VOLUME.

WHEN THIS MONEY IS AVAILABLE

[02:30:01]

RIGHT NOW, COULD YOU JUST HOLD ONTO THIS? I MEAN, THE SUCCESS SOME PEOPLE MIGHT RATE IS, MIKE, YOU STILL HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN GREEN SPACE, BUT WE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.

WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS PRIZE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH UNDER THAT.

ON, ON THAT NOTE, IF I MAY JUST WRAP UP.

SO I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE WAS, AND THIS IS ANOTHER PART OF THE HEARTBURN, IS THE, THE EQUITABLE VERSUS EQUAL THING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

CAN YOU HEAR ME ALL RIGHT? SORRY.

NOW I CAN.

UH, THE EQUITABLE VERSUS EQUAL.

UM, I LEARNED TODAY THAT THERE WAS THREE VIABLE PROJECTS.

ONE ACTUALLY HAS DEVELOPMENT ON IT NOW BECAUSE THE GREEN SPACE, EITHER STAFF OR THE COMMITTEE FOUND NO INTEREST IN IT.

THIS WAS NORTH OF THE BROAD, THIS WAS IN MY DISTRICT ON LADIES ISLAND.

SO THERE'S THREE PROJECTS THAT DIDN'T EVEN GET THE ATTENTION.

AND NOW ONE HAS DEVELOPMENT.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU, SIR, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING ABOUT.

AND SO IF WE, EVERY PROJECT THAT'S COME TO LADIES ISLAND, I'M, I THINK WE HAVE DONE, INCLUDING WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD YEAH.

ON THAT.

I'M STILL NOT, WE HAVE A COUPLE ON ST.

HELENA THAT ARE GONNA BE ON FRIDAY'S AGENDA.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO THOSE? NO, NO.

THE, THESE WERE JUST NOT EVEN ENTERTAINED BY STAFF.

I, I HAVE IT UNDER GOOD AUTHORITY TODAY THAT THERE'S THREE PROJECTS.

ONE, ONE OF WHICH HAS DEVELOPMENT.

SO YEAH.

THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE OTHER PART OF THIS.

I'M SORRY, MR. BAROLO, YOU NO, IT'S FINE.

I HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH, OUR COMMITMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IT, THAT WE TAKE AN APPLICATION, WHETHER I WANT TO ENTERTAIN OR NOT IS SORT OF IRRELEVANT.

WE NEED TO, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO INFORM YOU THAT AN APPLICATION IN OUR, IN THE, TO COME TO YOU, EVEN IF A RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE NOT TO MOVE FORWARD ON IT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE'S GOT COMMUNICATION, I, I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE A LIST TO SAY I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY VIA PHONE CALL, ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WERE NOT EVEN ENTERTAINED NORTH OF THE BROAD IN MY DISTRICT IN PARTICULAR.

ONE NOW HAS, THIS WAS A YEAR AGO, ONE NOW HAS DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GONNA BE STARTING SOON.

I'M SORRY, UH, MR. BAR TOLD YOU I I'M AT A LOSS OF WHAT THIS PROJECT COULD DO.

NO, THAT'S OKAY.

BUT THAT, THAT, THAT DISPARITY THOUGH, IS, IS WHAT'S I, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT.

I REALLY DO.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.

NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS THAT HAVE STARTED AN APPLICATION AND THEY CHOSE TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THAT.

SO WE NEVER EVEN HAD A DISCUSSION AT GREEN SPACE.

BUT I DON'T RECALL ANY, EVEN BEING A LADIES' EITHER.

I'LL, I'LL GET A LIST.

PUT TOGETHER.

I'M SORRY SIR.

COUNCILMAN LAWSON? NO, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN SOME PUSHBACK BY PULM BLUFF AND I, EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID TONIGHT THAT TO, TO SAY IT'S NOT GONNA GO THROUGH, UM, PULM BLUFF, BUT HAVE AN EXTERIOR, UM, ACCESS TO IT.

BUT THE, THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS, IS THIS DOES TIE TO THE, UM, WHAT'S IT CALLED, THE, THE, UM, BLUFFTON LINEAR TRAIL, WHICH IS 3.2 MILES, UM, THAT CONNECTS TO OUR PROPERTY ALREADY.

THAT'S ONE THAT WOULD CONNECT TO THIS.

UM, I, I AM, I AM FOR US DOING THIS, UH, ESPECIALLY IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE, UH, PULMON BLUFF FOLKS AND MAKE SURE THEY REALIZE THAT, THAT THIS WILL BE SEPARATED AWAY FROM THEM.

UM, UH, OBVIOUSLY IT IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S A LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT YOU CAN'T FIND ANY PLACE ELSE THAT IS ALONG THE, THE NEW RIVER.

UM, UH, AND, AND AGAIN, TAKING YOUR ASSURANCES AND MR. PHILLIPS, WE'RE GONNA PUT 'EM ON THE SPOT HERE SAYING THAT IT IS ONE OF YOUR TOP PRIORITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, 10 OUT OF 10, DO WE HAVE A 10 THAT WE THINK WE'RE GONNA GET THIS PROPERTY? SO I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO RELY ON, UM, CONS, YOUR, YOUR, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS.

BUT AGAIN, JUST, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IS OBVIOUSLY WE PUT THIS MONEY OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE WILL BE REIMBURSED OR, OR COME BACK.

'CAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT LESS, BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE ON THAT FULL AMOUNT IF WE CHOOSE TO DO THIS.

IT'S A, IT IS A THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE.

IT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION IN OUR BUDGET GOING FORWARD.

THIS NEXT YEAR, UH, THAT $20 MILLION THAT'S GONNA BE IN THERE, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ON IT.

UM, THE BUDGET IS NOT FINISHED YET, BUT IT'S IN THE HOUSE BUDGET.

IT'S IN THE SENATE BUDGET TO FUND THAT.

SO I DON'T EXPECT ANY DIFFERENT.

THANK YOU AGAIN, KNOWING THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA END UP, YOU KNOW, HAVING A PROPERTY IN BLUFFTON, UM, THAT HAS, IT'S NOT COSTING US AT THE END, THE $42 MILLION IS COSTING US CONSIDERABLE LESS OR, OR EVEN LESS OF THAT.

YOU WERE MAKING THIS A EFFICIENT MANNER TO ALLOW A NON, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT TO MAKE THIS NEGOTIATION POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

PROCESS, WHICH COULD TAKE NOW, ACCORDING TO SCOTT, 18 MONTHS, WHERE PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY AND FOR HIM TO DO THE TIMBER SURVEY.

UM, COUNCILMAN MCALLEN.

I JUST WANT TO, UH, REPEAT THE, OH, YORK SAID THE, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE HERE TWO SEPARATE PARALLEL PATHS WE'RE FOLLOWING.

ONE IS WE HAVE TO GET THE PROPERTY.

THE SECOND IS WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS.

AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM.

WE ALSO HAVE TO GIVE THE FORESTRY COMMISSION, UH, TIME TO DO THE, UM, PLANNING

[02:35:01]

BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO GET THE PROPERTY.

AND THERE IS, THERE IS, AS WE KNOW AND CAN DISCUSS, THERE IS OTHER INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY.

BUT LUCKILY FOR US, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE, THE CONTRACT.

WE HAVE SOME, WE HAVE SOME TIME, BUT WE STILL NEED TO MOVE THAT, THAT SIDE OF THE TIMELINE FORWARD SO THAT ALL THE OTHER THINGS CAN START TO HAPPEN, WHICH INCLUDE THE TIMBER SURVEY AND THE PLANNING PROCESS.

I THINK TOM, UH, YOUR CONCERN WILL BE RECTIFIED WHEN THAT, UH, PUBLIC PLANNING THING STARTS WHERE EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT ONLY IN PALMETTO BLUFF, BUT THE WHOLE COUNTY CAN GO TO THIS AND PARTICIPATE FULLY AND BECOME FULLY INFORMED.

AND, AND THEY CAN ALSO DISCUSS ANY CONCERNS THEY HAVE.

BUT THAT'S A SEPARATE TIMELINE MOVING FORWARD AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE CONTRACT AND THE PURCHASE.

AND I THINK THAT ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS HAVE TO FLOW FROM THE PURCHASE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US NOT TO PAUSE THIS AND KEEP IT MOVING AT THE PACE IT IS SO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS CAN START ONCE WE HAVE IT.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I ACTUALLY THINK THAT MAKES THE, BUT SINCE I WAS REFERENCED, CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP ON THAT? I LIKE THAT LARRY, THANK YOU.

TO DAVID'S POINT, WE HAVE A, NOT A BINDING, BUT SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT RIGHT NOW THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING FORWARD.

WHETHER WE TAKE A TWO WEEK PAUSE, A WEEK PAUSE, WHATEVER IT IS TO HEAR WHAT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE, ALL THE ISSUES ARE NOT COMPLAINTS.

'CAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS US TO PROTECT PROPERTY.

I GET IT.

I'M SOMETHING STILL IS GNA AT ME WITH THIS WETLAND THING.

I SEE IT SOMEWHERE AND I DON'T, I CAN'T FIND IT.

CAN YOU PUT THAT'S SOME, ANOTHER MAPS MAP UP.

WE GOT SOME OTHER MAPS.

YEAH, THERE'S FORESTED WETLANDS.

IF WE COULD JUST GET, WELL, SO IS YOUR YEAH.

AND I THINK TO, TO ASSIST ALL RIGHT.

COUNT COUNCILMAN GLOVER, WHY WILL YOU PULL UP MAPS DO WELL TO, TO, UH, MR. REIT'S POINT AND TO JUST TO KIND OF ADDRESS THAT.

HEY, MARK, YOU TALK A LITTLE LOUDER.

YEP.

TO MR. REIT'S POINT.

UM, WHAT I BELIEVE WHAT MR. MCSHANE WAS REFERRING TO WAS THE LAND ABOVE AND BELOW THE CRITICAL LINE, WHICH IS THE RICE FIELDS.

BUT WITHIN THAT 3,500 ACRES THAT IS ABOVE THE CRITICAL LINE, THERE ARE WETLANDS CONTAINED IN THERE.

SO WE TOWN FOREST.

SO MR. MCSHANE WAS JUST REFERRING TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HIGH GROUND AND THE CRITICAL LINE.

BUT WITHIN THOSE AREAS THERE ARE FORESTED WETLANDS, WHICH ARE, ARE TREMENDOUS VALUE WITH THE HIGH AND THE CRITICAL, THE HIGH, UH, THAT IT'S 4,900 ACRES CORRECT.

TOTAL OF OF THE WHAT'S BELOW THE CRITICAL LINE AND ABOVE THE CRITICAL LINE.

SO MY POINT A AGAIN, SOMETHING SIMPLE FOR ME IS OUT OF THOSE 4,950 UH, ACRES, WHAT IS, HOW, WHAT PERCENTAGE IS WETLANDS? YEAH.

SO EVERYTHING BELOW THE CRITICAL LINE WILL JUST CHALK UP AS OH, SO YOU'RE GONNA SHOW US THAT NOW THEN.

SO WE GET A GOOD IDEA.

LISTEN, JUST TO, WE HAVE A NEW DRIVER OF THE SYSTEM.

WE'RE TRYING TO OPEN IT RIGHT NOW.

JUST LAND THAT'S A PART OF THAT 4,900 ACRES THAT'S BELOW THE CRITICAL LINE AND ABOVE TALKING TO THAT SO EVERYBODY CAN BELOW AND ABOVE THE CRITICAL LINE.

SO ABOVE THE CRITICAL LINE, WE HAVE THE, WHAT IS THE MANAGED FOREST LAND? THAT'S THE ACREAGE IN THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT THAT'S REFERRED TO AS THE MANAGED FOREST WITHIN THAT MANAGED FOREST.

THE, FOR PALMETTO BLUFF, NOT JUST THIS PIECE, BUT ALSO THE PIECE WITHIN THE DEVELOPED SIDE MOST.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS FORESTED WETLANDS.

AND THAT'S WHY THOSE AREAS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED FOR PROTECTION BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THAT THEY BRING.

THAT ONE.

THERE YOU GO.

CAN I GO? I'VE GOT COUNCILMAN GLOVER AND COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM.

WELL JIM, HOLD ON.

TOM, WHAT ELSE DO YOU I DON'T THINK WE CAN PROVIDE YOU ABSOLUTE NUMBER RIGHT NOW.

YOU GOTTA KEEP GOING.

THE CITIZENS DELIVER IN THAT AREA.

BUT WE, I MEAN IT HASN'T BEEN ALL SURVEYED.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A WETLAND, WE DON'T HAVE A WETLAND SURVEY COMPLETED.

THAT WOULD COME WITH THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

MORE SURVEYS OF WETLANDS.

WELL THEN I'M JUST GOING TO, I'M GONNA REITERATE AND I'LL LEAVE, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THIS AS THAT DAVID SAID WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION HERE.

PLEASE, LET'S NOT .

I LOVE GREEN SPACE.

I'M A PROPONENT OF IT.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE HERE AND EVEN TAKE THREE DAYS A WEEK.

I DON'T CARE.

ALRIGHT, WILL YOU, CAN WE PLEASE KYLE? COUNCILMAN GLOVER AND COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? OKAY.

COUNCILMAN GLOVER.

YES, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, SEVERAL YEARS AGO THIS COUNCIL APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF FORT FREMONT ON ST.

HELENA ISLAND.

THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO FORT FREMONT FROM

[02:40:01]

HOWEVER, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD CREATED WHAT IS CALLED THE FRIENDS OF FORT FREMONT.

AND I WANNA OFFER THAT TO THE FRIENDS HERE AT PALMETTO BLUFF.

CREATE AN ORGANIZATION THE FRIENDS OF PALMETTO BLUFF AND WORK WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THIS PROJECT MOVE FORWARD.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF PROPERTY AND I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT.

COUNCIL COUNTY HERE.

I LOVE WHAT LANDS TOO.

UM, THERE'S STILL A COUPLE THINGS NOT BEING DISCUSSED.

FIRST OFF, I'LL BE VERY CLEAR.

I WANT TO GET THIS DONE.

I WANT TO GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY THOUGH.

'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA SPEND $40 MILLION.

WE'VE HAD QUOTES SAYING WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THE NUMBER RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO GET YOU THE NUMBER, BUT YOU WANT US TO SPEND $40 MILLION.

SO TO ME, THAT'S A PROBLEM.

THE ONE THING WE'RE STILL NOT DISCUSSING IS THIS IS CANNOT BE DEVELOPED NO MATTER WHAT THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT SAYS WITH THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON UNTIL 2057.

2057.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY CHANGED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, IT STILL CANNOT BE BUILT ON ON THAT.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WOULD CHANGE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

NOW I KNOW HOW MANY MISTAKES THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HASS MADE OVER THE PAST.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM WITH ANNEXATION AND UPZONING PROPERTY, BUT I THINK THEY'VE REALIZED HOW MUCH THEY'VE MESSED UP AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL THAT BACK AND SLOW IT DOWN.

NOW THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THIS PROPERTY IS THERE IS NO ASSURANCE FOR US UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING IN DOCUMENT THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN.

MEANING WE'RE GONNA GIVE $40 MILLION SUPPOSED TO GET BACK 20.

IF WE DON'T GET THE $20 MILLION, 20 MILLION BACK.

WHAT HAPPENS? THE CONSERVANCY IN THE COUNTY STILL OWN CAN WORK THAT OUT.

SO, EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE A PROBLEM.

SO THE, ANYTIME SOMEBODY DOES A LOAN ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY, YOU HAVE SOME EQUITABLE BANK.

DO YOU WANT IT TO BE COLLATERAL FOR, DO YOU WANT THE PROPERTY TO BE THE COLLATERAL FOR DURING THE TIME WE SEEK THE REIMBURSEMENTS OR OTHER ADDITIONAL GRANTS? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF, I THINK THAT'S EVEN BEEN DISCUSSED AS I'M NOT, I RECALL, MIKE, I'M WITH YOU.

I WANT TO GET THIS PROPERTY DONE.

I WANNA PROTECT THIS.

THIS IS, I'M SAYING I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN ACCEPTED ALREADY.

THAT YOU WOULD END UP, THAT'S WHAT I RECALL.

EVEN THE THE, WHEN YOU GAVE US PERMISSION TO DO THE D DUE DUE DILIGENCE, AGAIN, I THINK I REMEMBER THAT.

DON'T YOU LEARN ESSENCE, YOU IN GREEN SPACE, YOU'RE ESSENCE THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE GUARANTEED IS YOU WOULD END UP WITH THE TITLE OF THE PROPERTY.

SO IT'S WRITTEN IN THAT RIGHT NOW THAT WE WOULD END UP WITH THE PROPERTY IF WE MOVE FORWARD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OH, OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? UH, YES.

THE THREE APPRAISALS THAT WERE STATED, WERE THEY DONE BY US OR THE LANDOWNER? ONE WAS DONE BY THE LANDOWNER, ONE WAS BY DONE BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY AND ONE WAS ORDERED BY THE COUNTY.

ALL OF 'EM CAME IN WITHIN A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS EACH.

ALL OF 'EM OVER 45 MILLION.

AND THE CURRENT ZONING OF THE PROPERTY IS WHAT? FOR DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS? WELL, IT'S UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

WHAT DOES THAT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ALLOW CURRENTLY? BUT THERE'S STILL ZONING ON THE PROPERTY EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

SO WHAT ARE THOSE? SO AS YOU, AS YOU STATED, THE, IT IS A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ON IT.

THIS IS, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE EXHIBIT THAT I JUST PULLED UP? 'CAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT AS A PART OF THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT WITHIN PLAN DEVELOPMENTS, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT DESIGNATIONS.

IT IS WHAT YOU SEE IN AREAS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.

THOSE ARE THE MANAGED FOREST AREA DESIGNATED WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

WHAT IS A PART OF THIS APPLICATION, WHICH IS A PART OF WHAT IS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ONE, THERE'S STILL MANAGED FOREST WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT ARE TWO.

AND THEN WITHIN THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT SIDE, WHAT ARE THREE? THERE'S YOUR TOTAL FULL ACREAGE YOU SEE OF THE MANAGED FOREST REQUIREMENTS IS A PART OF IT.

IS THERE, THAT'S WHERE WE GET AROUND THE 49 50 AREAS DESIGNATED AS MANAGED FOR ABOVE, WHICH IS INSIDE THE GATE.

SO THIS IS A PART OF THE MANAGED FOREST DESIGNATION AS A PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.

THE PORTION OF ONE, WHICH IS A PART OF THIS APPLICATION, AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN STATED, DOES NOT HAVE THAT RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL OR GOLF COURSE ALLOWED.

USES ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF IT.

AND THAT'S A PART OF THE RESOLUTION.

SO THIS IS A PART OF THAT PORTION.

SO YOU'RE SAYING ONE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL.

THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND THE CURRENT ZONING IN USE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR IT.

BUT THAT'S ALSO THE REASON WHY THE LAND IS IN SUCH A PRISTINE STATE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE.

THOSE LAND USE LAWS, THESE EXISTING RULES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, WHICH I COMMEND THE TOWN AND THIS WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT.

THAT'S THE REASON THIS PROPERTY EXISTS IN THE STATE THAT IT EXISTS TODAY.

SO I BLOOD WITH WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY BUYING IS 1700 ACRES FOR $40 MILLION TO NOT BE DEVELOPED ON 36 40 PLUS 10 40.

WHICH YOU'RE SAYING IS THE TWO AREAS, TWO AND THREE ADDED TOGETHER 1700 ACRES.

TWO AND THREE ARE NOT, THEY'RE NOT PART OF THIS.

IT'S IS THE MANAGED FORCE.

'CAUSE YOU ASKED ABOUT ZONING.

THIS IS THE MANAGED FORCE.

WHAT IS BEING PURCHASED IS AREA AND THE OUTLINE THERE, WHICH IS ONE WHICH IS THE 3000 343 40.

THEN PLUS WHAT, THERE'S THE LINE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CRITICAL LINE AND THE HIGH, THE 1,575 ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH

[02:45:01]

WHICH IS INSIDE.

I'M SURE THERE'S PEOPLE HERE THEY KNOW ABOUT THAT'S THAT AREA IS A PART OF THE MANAGED FOREST.

THERE YOU GO.

YEAH, I'M FOLLOWING.

THAT'S THE MANAGED FOREST THAT'S REQUIRED.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I HAVE SOME COMMENTS.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF WE COULD SET A MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS VOTE UNTIL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING THE 22ND.

AND THAT WILL GIVE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE OF PALMETTO BLUFF TO COME AND MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO I'LL SECOND THAT AND WE DO THAT.

I CAN DO THAT.

THEN I'D LIKE TO MOTION AND GET THIS.

DID YOU SECOND THAT TO TALK ABOUT IT? TO 20 SECONDS.

A DISCUSSION.

UM, I I HAVE NOT MADE ANY COMMENTS TO DATE.

I'VE BEEN ON THIS PROPERTY.

UM, I WE'RE, I'M GONNA MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT IT.

THIS IS NOT ONLY A COUNTY BENEFIT AND NOT ONLY A STATE BENEFIT, BUT I WOULD GO TO SAY THAT IT IS A REGIONAL BENEFIT.

YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE FROM SAVANNAH, YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE FROM, UM, OTHER STATES.

YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA WHO WANNA SEE THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

YOU CAN SEE DOWNTOWN SAVANNAH FROM THIS PROPERTY.

AND, AND TO THINK THAT IT'S SO CLOSE TO A HIGH SCHOOL, ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF THIS BEING MANAGED BY OUR, OUR FORESTRY DEPARTMENT WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA PLUS ENTERING AN AGREEMENT ON THE OTHER ACREAGE THAT WE HAVEN'T MANAGED BUT COULD BE MANAGED BY THEM IS, IS JUST AN IDEAL SITUATION.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY.

UM, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WILL, WILL NOT EVER HAVE AGAIN.

I THINK WE NEED TO, IF WE'RE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DELAY IT BY TWO WEEKS? DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? VOTE FOR THAT.

I QUESTION.

OH, WE HAVE, I HAVE ONE.

THE DISCUSSION IS THE FACT THAT, THAT I, I THINK MS. BROWN, THAT'S EXCELLENT.

I WAS GOING TO MENTION THE SAME THING BECAUSE AGAIN, I DO NOT WANT THIS TO FAIL TONIGHT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION.

I AGREE.

NOT SUFFICIENT EVERYTHING.

SO, SO AGAIN, KNOWING THAT, THAT WE'RE ON THE CUSP OF NOT DOING THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, READING THE ROOM, I THINK THAT THAT IS A GREAT IDEA.

UM, THAT WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION, MORE INFORMATION TO THE PALMA BLUFF PEOPLE, MORE INFORMATION FOR US.

THAT, THAT EVERYONE OUT THERE CAN THEN CAN TELL US THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO.

AND AGAIN, I I'M FORWARD A HUNDRED PERCENT, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST MR. LAWS, WHEN YOU SAY YOU DIDN'T HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION, I HOPE WHAT YOU MEAN, YOU DIDN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION.

WHEN ONE SAYS YOU DON'T HAVE CORRECT INFORMATION, THERE'S AN INNUENDO THAT IS, THAT IS ATTACKING A VOLUNTEERS INTEGRITY IN A PUBLIC FORUM.

YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY A HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT.

I FOLLOW YOU AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT COMMENT.

I HAVEN'T MANAGED 23 YEARS OF APPOINTMENTS AND NOT MAN AND, AND LOSE MY INTEGRITY AT ALL AND WAS NOT, I WANT BE CLEAR ON THAT.

IT WAS NOT MY INTENDED MORE COMMENT.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA VOTE ON THAT.

COULD YOU JUST REITERATE FOR US, IF WE POSTPONE IT, WHAT'S THE RAM FOR THE POSTPONEMENT FOR TWO WEEKS? FOR TWO WEEKS? WHAT'S RAMIFICATIONS? I MEAN, I KNOW THE NATURE CONSERVATORY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY CONSERVANCY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, BUT THEY COULD SWING SOMETHING.

TELL US THE DOWNSIDE.

I NEED TO CONFER IF I COULD QUICKLY TO SEE IF THE CLOSING DATE IS SEPTEMBER 4TH.

SO YOU GOTTA KIND OF BACK FROM SEPTEMBER 4TH TO WHAT IS IT GONNA TAKE TO DO ALL OF THAT THAT WE REQUIRE? BECAUSE WE CAN, THE COUNTY WILL REQUIRE A GRANT AGREEMENT AND A REIMBURSABLE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

IF, IF, IF COUNSEL AND STAFF, AND I MEAN LEGAL COUNSEL AND STAFF ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD TO EXECUTE THAT FOR TWO WEEKS, THAT'S FINE.

SO AS LONG AS WE KNOW THAT ONE COME JUNE 22ND MM-HMM.

THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

PRESUMING COUNSEL MAKES IT APPROVAL THAT WE CAN OBLIGATE OURSELVES SO THEY CAN HAVE THE FUNDS DISPERSED IN TIME FOR CLOSING ON SEPTEMBER 4TH.

SO WE DON'T PUT THE WHOLE TRANSACTION AT RISK.

SO THERE'S NO DOWNSIDE FOR THE TWO WEEKS.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE SEVERAL PEOPLE BROUGHT UP IS LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE FROM PALMETTO BLUFF.

SO WE'D HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A MEETING OR HEARING WITH THEM.

WELL GREAT.

I KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN ALL THE DETAILS TODAY, BUT EVERYBODY'S NOT HERE AND WE WANT THEM TO BE PART, I HAVE PART OF THIS NO ISSUE WITH THAT MADAM VICE CHAIRMAN I, AN ISSUE WITH THAT AND, AND GREAT SPACE IS FRIDAY.

THEY CAN, WE WOULD LOVE, I MEAN RIGHT.

THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME AT 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

WELL, THEY CAN, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, I THINK FOR HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM ARE PALMETTO BLUFF? I MEAN, I THINK FOR, TO TAKE BACK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, THEY TRUST US ENOUGH TO HAVE SOME KIND OF

[02:50:01]

A FULL DISCUSSION.

I THINK YOU GAVE A GREAT EXPLANATION.

SO DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT WE CAN POSTPONE IT FOR TWO WEEKS WITHOUT DOING DAMAGE IS MY QUESTION.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS YES.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT I ALSO HEARD COUNSEL SAY IS THEY WANTED A SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT, AND LET'S DEFINE THAT WAS NOT THERE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE COPIES OF THE APPRAISAL, ET CETERA.

AND I, I, I HEARD MR. COUNCILMAN REAP SAID HE'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WETLANDS.

WHICH, WHICH I THOUGHT WE HAD PROVIDED JUST THEN, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL INCLUDE THAT.

SO IT MIGHT BE REPETITIVE, BUT I PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT, BUT YEP, THAT'S FINE.

AND ALSO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS.

AND I KNOW DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ALWAYS CAN BE VI CAN THEY CAN BE CHANGED.

WE KNOW THAT.

AND UM, YOU SAID SIX TIMES HAD ALREADY BEEN CHANGED.

IT'S BEEN AMENDED SIX TIMES SINCE 1998.

AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WOULD, THERE'LL BE A FUTURE TOWN.

I MEAN, AND THE TOWN BY THE WAY, HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS MM-HMM .

BECAUSE PART OF YOUR ORDINANCE WAS, REQUIRES THAT IF IT'S IN IN THE MUNICIPALITY, THEY MUST BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

WHAT OTHER REQUIREMENTS? I THINK WE, THE OTHER PART WAS HEARING THE PUBLIC.

THE PUBLIC.

AND ONE THOUGHT ON THAT, WHY COULDN'T WE DO THAT ON THE 22ND AS WELL? WHAT OR DO WE NEED TO DO? BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DECIDE.

YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE HIM.

WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS LONG AS WE GET TO HERE, THAT'S FINE.

AUSTIN SECOND IT, HE DID WE VOTE ON IT FOR THE, FOR THE CITIZENS THAT CAME HERE TONIGHT? YES.

I HOPE THEY WALK OUT HERE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE STATE FORESTER SENATOR DAVIS IS LIVE STREAMING THIS, HE KNOWS HE'S HEARING THIS.

I HEARD IT.

THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE IN THIS ROOM.

I BELIEVE IN THIS ROOM THIS EVENING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU.

I I SEE AT LEAST ONE NOT COUNT.

COUNCILMAN MCCALLAN HAD HEARD THAT THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE NEVER DID ANYTHING TO WHAT I, WHAT I HEARD OVER THE WEEKEND IS WE DID THINGS IN THE, IN THE CLOAK OF DARKNESS.

THAT IS THE FURTHEST ITEM FROM THE TRUTH.

THIS HAS BEEN AS PUBLICLY DISCLOSED.

I HA I'M SORRY IF PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE THAT, BUT I DON'T CONTROL HOW THAT GETS OUT.

YOUR STAFF GETS THAT OUT JUST LIKE THEY DO YOUR MEETING TONIGHT.

SAME VEHICLE TO DO THAT.

THE STATE FORESTER UNDERSTANDS THAT HE'LL GO THROUGH HIS MANAGEMENT DISCUSSIONS THAT REQUIRES UNDER STATE LAW, PUBLIC INPUT, NO STATE OWNED ASSET IN WHETHER IT BE A PARK, A FOREST COMMISSION OR NATURAL RESOURCE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA GETS PUT OUT WITHOUT HAVING THAT PUBLIC INPUT INTO THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THAT TRACK.

I THINK WITH THE PUBLIC, THEY, SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY THIS.

THEY DON'T WATCH EVERY COMMITTEE MEETING.

I GET IT.

THEY DON'T WATCH EVERY COUNCIL MEETING AND WE KNOW THAT.

AND THEN EVERYTHING COMES TO A HEAD LIKE IT DID TONIGHT.

SO I'M, I'M COGNIZANT OF THAT AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I, I THINK THEY'RE WELL INTENTIONED.

I LOVE THE FACT THEY HAVE A GENUINE, SINCERE INTEREST.

I ASK THEM THOUGH, TO TAKE THAT SAME SINCERE INTEREST AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT BEING ACQUIRED BY THE COUNTY.

IT IS NOT GONNA INTERRUPT THEIR PRIVATE MM-HMM .

ENCLAVE TO DO THAT.

THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS, AND THAT WAS BEING SAID REPETITIVELY AND REPETITIVELY OVER THE WEEKEND.

THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO THEIR PROPERTY.

THEIR SECURITY WOULD HAVE TO BE THE MANAGING ALL THAT.

NONE OF THAT IS ACCURATE.

IF AT THE WILL OF COUNSEL PLEASE MOVE THIS ALONG, UM, I CAN CALL A NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE PUBLIC HEARING, UM, ON THE SUNDAY BETWEEN NOW AND THE 22ND.

WE CAN HAVE A SPECIAL CALL TUESDAY, TUESDAY, MONDAY.

COUNCILMAN MACALLAN.

I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR US TO GO TO PALMETTO BLUFF.

AND FOR THEM TO COME HERE CAN HOLD IT THERE.

NO, WE WE CAN HOLD IT IN BLUFF THERE.

THAT'S GREAT SUGGESTION.

DO THEY HAVE A BUT THERE'S MORE OF THEM THAN THERE ARE OF US.

WELL, WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE IT IN A FACILITY CLOSE TO PALMETTO BLUFF.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON? NO SIR.

NO, NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

I'M SORRY.

COUNCILMAN DAWSON.

I, I, I THINK THIS IS A, A A PRIME PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON.

AND FOR US TO DELAY IT MAY, UH, PRESENT CHALLENGES.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE SUPPORT THIS.

I SUPPORT THIS, UH, THIS, UH, PROJECT AND I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO DO LIKEWISE.

LET'S MOVE IT FORWARD TONIGHT.

AND IN THE MEANTIME, BETWEEN NINE AND THE, AND 22ND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE COULD HAVE THAT MEETING AND INFORM THE PUBLIC AS THIS THING MOVE FORWARD RATHER THAN JUST DELAY IT NOW FOR TWO, TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE WELL, WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE IF WE DO THAT.

BUT WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION.

WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION TO DELAY IT FOR TWO WEEKS.

SO LET'S DO A ROLL CALL.

UM, ON THE MOTION TO DELAY IT FOR TWO WEEKS.

IT'S ONE THE SECONDER.

YES MA'AM.

IT WAS MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER REEDS TO POSTPONE.

NOT TO A DATE CERTAIN MR. LAWS TO DELAY BY TWO WEEKS.

UM, AND GIVES A TIME FOR PALMETTO BLUFF PEOPLE TO COME IN AND THEN WE CAN GET IT DONE.

[02:55:01]

AND, UM, AND KEEP IN MIND THE OFFER TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING SOMEWHERE NEAR PALMETTO BLUFF WITH NATURAL RESOURCES.

MAY WE CAN DO THAT.

THAT'S JUST A AN ASIDE.

ROLL CALL.

VOTE.

I WOULD JUST CAUTION, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SETTING UP A REMOTE MEETING IN LESS THAN SEVEN DAYS.

THAT'S HARD ON OUR STAFF.

I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.

THAT IS A VERY TALL TASK.

IT IS.

THEY CAN DO THAT.

THEY CAN DO IT.

IT IS, I MEAN, I HAVE, I HAVE, I I I WOULD LOOK TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR.

WELL, I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WOULD BE ADVERTISING IT AND TO, TO MR. CUNNINGHAM'S POINT, GETTING AN ADVERTISEMENT OUT SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHEN THE MEETING IS AND, AND THE LOCATION.

AND THE LOCATION.

BUT I, I HAVE, THAT'S EIGHT, THAT'S EIGHT DAYS.

I THINK WE CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING IN EIGHT DAYS.

COUNSEL.

I I'LL GO TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR.

WHAT, WHAT YOU, WE CAN HAVE THE MEETING AGAIN.

IT JUST BECOMES AN ISSUE.

WE CAN TRY TO PUSH OUT.

MAYOR REQUIRES YOU TO HAVE 24 HOURS NOTICE.

THE MEETING WOULD'VE TO BE NOTICED.

24 HOURS.

THE LOCATION IS GONNA BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

COUNCILMAN KELLEN.

I I, I THINK THAT PAUL'S IDEA IS A GOOD ONE.

BUT KEEP IN MIND HERE, AND IF WE MOVE THIS ALONG AND THEN THE FORESTRY COMMISSION GETS INVOLVED, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN 18 MONTH PLANNING PROCESS, PUBLIC COMMENT, PROCESS, COMMENT.

COMMENT.

NOT A TWO WEEK ONE, 18 MONTHS FOR PUBLIC INPUT FROM PALMETTO BLUFF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY FEEL ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROJECT.

WE CAN, WE CAN DECIDE WITH, UM, OUR ADMINISTRATOR TOMORROW ABOUT THE SPECIAL CALL MEETING.

BUT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE NEED TO VOTE.

AND THIS IS ALL MOTION.

MOTION IS THE MOTION TO POSTPONE TO JUNE 22ND? HOLD THE COMMUNITY MEETING IN BETWEEN? NO, THAT THAT WASN'T PART OF THE MOTION.

WELL, NATURAL RESOURCE.

THAT WASN'T PART OF THE MOTION.

WE GOT BOARD MEMBERS AND GET IT DONE ON THE 22ND.

DAVID, GO AHEAD.

NO, I CALLED THE QUESTION.

NO, SHE'S ALREADY VOTING.

GO.

COUNCIL MEMBER REEDS.

COUNCIL MEMBER PASSMAN.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

MCALLEN? NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON.

MARK LAWSON.

COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.

COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER.

UH, NO.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

DAWSON? NO.

BUT I WANNA SEE THIS GET DONE.

MIKE, WANNA WHAT? WHAT? SEE IT GET DONE.

LIKE I WANT TO SEE IT GO THROUGH COUNCIL MEMBER OF BARTHOLOMEW.

I DON'T, YES, IT'S FINE.

VICE CHAIR TABER? YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR CLARIFICATION.

SO THAT'LL GIVE TIME FOR THE GO.

DO YOU MIND JUST PROVIDING, PROVIDING CLARIFICATION SO THAT THERE'S CONSISTENT INFORMATION, THE INFORMATION FOR THOSE INTERESTED THAT THIS WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR JUNE 22ND.

THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING.

AND, AND THERE'LL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, NOT PUBLIC HEARING, PUBLIC COMMENT.

THAT SAME EVENING.

JUST LIKE YOUR NORMAL PROTOCOL.

THANK YOU MR. MAXWELL.

AND WE'LL HAVE, WE, WE, WE DEFINITELY WANNA SEE THE THREE APPRAISALS AND ALL THE OTHER INFORMATION THAT'S PART OF IT.

BE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION THAT WE DISCUSSED WOULD BE PROVIDED, WHICH WILL ALWAYS BE THE CASE GOING FROM NOW ON, FROM GOING FORWARD.

SINCE WE'RE, AGAIN, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT THAT WAS BEING DONE.

AND BUT ALSO CLEAR EXPECTATION IS THAT FOR THE STATE, FORESTER PHILLIPS IS NOT GONNA HAVE A MANAGEMENT PLAN IN TWO WEEKS.

OH, SIR.

NO, I WANNA BE CLEAR.

THAT'S FINE.

HE, WHAT HE'LL DO IS HEAR ALL THAT INPUT AND THAT'LL BE INCORPORATED IN PROBABLY MULTIPLE SESSIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.

THROUGH THIS.

AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE BOTH OF YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AND, AND SPENDING TIME WITH US TO GO OVER THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT WE, WE WE WANT TO GET DONE.

SO.

PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY FOR SAYING WHAT I SAID, SO THANK YOU.

ORDINANCES, WE ARE INTO ITEM NUMBER 12, ORDINANCES FOR THIRD READING.

NOW WE

[12.a. 2026/26: An Ordinance amending Chapter 38 Environment, Article VI Single Use Plastic Bags; Article VI Section 38-161 Purpose and Intent; Section 38-162 Definitions; Section 38-163 Regulations; Section 38-164 Exemptions; and Section 38-166 Effective Date and Review of the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances. ]

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LEAVE, WE'LL WAIT 30 SECONDS WHILE YOU GO QUIETLY.

PLEASE.

DIRECTIVE TO US.

ANYBODY, WHAT IS THE NEXT ONE? OKAY.

OH, THE PLASTIC BAGS.

I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO SPEAK, THIS IS, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS AT INFINIT 17.

I CAN ACQUIS.