[00:00:03]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
ON AUGUST 3RD.THIS IS THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND UP FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY, INJUSTICE FOR ALL.
BEFORE YOU, BEFORE EVERYBODY SITS DOWN, CAN YOU PLEASE REMAIN STANDING? I'D LIKE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR A PARAMEDIC.
AND, UH, IF WE COULD JUST BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR, UH, KEEP 'EM IN YOUR HEARTS AND AND PRAYERS.
ALRIGHT, Y'ALL, UH, OCTAVIA, HAS THIS, UH, MEETING BEEN PUBLISHED IN COMPLIANCE BEFORE YOU? YES, SIR.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION SECOND.[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF MAY 4TH, 2026.UH, CAN THAT BE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY? ALL RIGHT.
[6. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD – 15 MINUTES TOTAL]
JUMP INTO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.OH, LET'S SEE, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE HERE? ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.
SO WE GOT FIVE FOLKS SIGNED UP.
IS THAT OWENS OVENS? OVENS? I APOLOGIZE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS PAMELA MARTIN OVENS.
I WORKED WITH KIM CONTE, WHO RUNS NON-TOXIC NEIGHBORHOODS FOR THREE YEARS TO CONVINCE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND THAT THE BEST THING THEY COULD DO FOR THE PEOPLE, PETS, AND VISITORS WAS GET RID OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES, THE TOWN COOPERATED AND NOW USES ALL ORGANIC SUBSTANCES ON ALL TOWN PROPERTY.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT AND APPRECIATE YOUR DECISION TO END THE USE OF GLYPHOSATES AND OTHER HERBICIDES ON COUNTY PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND ATHLETIC FIELDS.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF CHANGING THE ENTIRE STATE TO AN ORGANICS FIRST STATE BILL.
HERB KURTZMAN IS HOPING WE CAN DO THIS.
HE PASSED, PASSED, UH, IT IN THE HOUSE ALREADY.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE WE CANNOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, WILL THIS PROJECT FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, AND THEIR PETS, BUT IT WILL HELP US ATTRACT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF VISITOR, A VISITOR WHO CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND DOES NOT LEAVE TRASH IN THEIR WAKE.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR CARING AND FOR TAKING ACTION TO MAKE THIS A GREAT COUNTY.
AND NEXT UP IS, UH, JENNIFER, UH, BOKER.
HELLO AND UH, THANK YOU BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR RECENTLY ADOPTING THE ORGANIC LAND MANAGEMENT RESOLUTION I, JENNIFER BECKER AND THE VOICELESS ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT.
I'D LIKE TO PLEASE SHARE A FEW PRINTOUTS WITH YOU THAT I WILL LEAVE BEHIND AND I'LL ALSO EMAIL THEM TO YOU.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY OTHER STATES, COUNTIES, AND TOWNS HAVE BANNED THE FOLLOWING OR HAVE A MORATORIUM.
AND I'M HOPING WE CAN PLEASE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON THE FOLLOWING TO ALLOW TIME TO REVIEW THE FACTS TO BEST PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON DATA CENTERS, LIKE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ALREADY HAVE IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON FLOCK CAMERAS LIKE LOS ANGELES MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ASKING FOR.
AND 95 OTHER US CITIES, TOWNS, AND COUNTIES HAVE, UM, BECAUSE THEY VIOLATE THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AND HAVE MANY PRIVACY CONCERNS.
UM, IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON FLUORIDE FOR OUR PUBLIC DRINKING WATER DUE TO IT BEING A NEUROTOXIN, UM, IT'S ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, BONE CANCER, AND HIS MASS MEDICATION.
MY, UM, DOCTORS AND DENTISTS DO NOT WANT ME
[00:05:01]
INGESTING THIS SYNTHETIC FLUORIDE.THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP MASS MEDICATING THE PUBLIC WITH THIS INDUSTRIAL WASTE PRODUCT.
WITH A FLIP OF A SWITCH, THE FLUORIDE CAN BE TURNED OFF AND SAVE US AROUND $80,000 PER YEAR.
UM, WITH THE ORGANIC LAND MANAGEMENT RESOLUTION, I'M HOPING IT CAN BE A COUNTYWIDE ORDINANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO BEST PROTECT THE PUBLIC.
I AM GLAD THAT WE ARE LEARNING FROM THE LAWSUIT VERDICTS THAT HAVE AWARDED OVER $11 BILLION TO PEOPLE FROM JUST THE ONE HARMFUL SYNTHETIC HERBICIDE OF GLYPHOSATE, WHICH SHOULD BE BANNED IMMEDIATELY.
THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED FROM THESE HARMFUL CHEMICALS SO THERE IS NO NEGLIGENCE FOUND.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LAND, WILDLIFE, AND ENVIRONMENT THAT NEEDS THE SAME PROTECTION IN ALL OF BUFORT COUNTY AND FROM ALL OF THE COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS.
IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS TO NOT ALLOW A REWARDS INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES FOR THE STAFF AND VENDORS ORDERING THESE PRODUCTS.
LIKE THE SAYING GOES, WHAT YOU INCENTIVIZE YOU GET.
I JUST HAVE LIKE ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO.
UM, MY HOME WAS RECENTLY FOGGED BY VECTOR CONTROL FOR MOSQUITOES.
MY COMMUNITY FACEBOOK PAGE WAS VERY ACTIVE WITH CONCERNED NEIGHBORS, WONDERING WHAT THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS SPRAYING.
AND I ALSO CALLED 9 1 1 'CAUSE I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
UM, I SINCE THEN FOUND OUT THAT VECTOR CONTROL WAS SPRAYING A NEUROTOXIN THAT IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO PARKINSON'S A LS AND SPECIFICALLY STATES ON THE SAFETY DATA SHEETS.
IT IS KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER AND IS HIGHLY TOXIC TO BEES, CAUSES BIRTH DEFECT AND REPRODUCTIVE HARM.
WITH COUNCIL'S PERMISSION AND DIRECTION, WE ARE HOPING TO PLEASE WORK WITH VECTOR CONTROL AND DPR NEXT TO HELP EDUCATE ON HOW BEING PROACTIVE CAN HELP ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR FOGGING.
AS A THIRD OF THE COST AND OFFER ORGANIC, HEALTHIER, PROVEN PREVENTATIVE OPTIONS.
THE CURRENT WEIGHT IS DRASTICALLY KILLING THE POLLINATOR POPULATION, HURTING OUR HEALTH, AND HURTING THE HEALTH OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
I'LL ALSO SHARE A CELL TOWER ORDINANCE FROM GREER COUNTY AND THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION PROVING THE HARM HARMFUL EFFECTS STATING AT A MINIMUM CELL TOWERS SHOULD BE 1500 FEET AWAY FROM RESIDENCES AND 3000 FEET AWAY FROM SCHOOLS.
THE CURRENT ORGANIC RESOLUTION MENTIONS A PILOT COMPOST PROGRAM, WHICH CAN BE GREAT.
HOWEVER, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS COMPOST PROGRAM BE MANAGED ORGANICALLY FREE FROM SYNTHETIC PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, AND AL CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS COMPOST THAT IS RETURNED TO OUR SOILS AND PUBLIC LANDS.
IF IT IS NOT CLEAN AND ORGANIC, WE RISK SPREADING THE VERY TOXINS WE WORK TO REDUCE.
IT WAS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH THE NON-TOXIC NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT WITH COUNCIL'S PERMISSION AND DIRECTION.
CAN THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT PRODUCTS THEY PLAN ON ORDERING TO BE SURE THEY ARE OMRI LISTED ORGANIC PRODUCTS AS SOME PESTICIDES ARE.
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH CONCENTRATES 3,450 TIMES MORE TOXIC THAN GLYPHOSATE.
BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER AND HEALTHIER.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS, UH, FELICE LAMARCA.
THE LAST AGREEMENT YOU MADE WITH JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL TO HELP WITH THEIR ANIMAL SERVICES.
I WAS THE ONE THAT POINTED OUT THAT YOU HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
REMEMBER, AS YOU DISCUSS THIS TODAY, THIS IS THE COUNCIL WHO DID NOT TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE GOING TO A SECOND READING ON PARTNERING WITH PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE TO TAKE OVER THEIR ANIMAL SERVICES.
THEY DID NOT TELL YOU THAT PAL WAS GOING TO BUILD A $4 MILLION BUILDING ON JASPER COUNTY LAND AND HANDLE THEIR ANIMAL SERVICES FOR THEM.
SO HOW COME I KNOW THAT? AND OUR STAFF DIDN'T.
THE SWITCH TO BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS A MOVE ON THE PART OF JASPER COUNCIL TO GET US HERE TODAY.
TALKING ABOUT REGIONALIZATION.
OUR OWN DIRECTOR, MS. TRICE, TOLD ME SHE WANTED TO REGIONALIZE ANIMAL SERVICES ACROSS
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THE LOW COUNTRY BASED ON JASPER ANIMAL SERVICES WORKSHOP.IT IS APPARENT THAT THEY HAVE NOT DONE THEIR HOMEWORK.
HAVE THEY INVOLVED THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE COMING TO BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, HARVILLE, WALTERBORO HAMPTON, AND OTHER UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF COLLETON COUNTY, THEY SAY THEY ARE GOING TO.
SO WHY NOT DO IT FIRST? THIS WILL NOT BE A PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP UNLESS THE NON-PROFIT, NON-PROFITS ARE ON BOARD.
HAVE THEY SPOKEN TO THEM? WHAT RESEARCH OR IMPACT STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE TO CLARIFY NEEDS FOR BOTH COUNTIES OR WILL BE DONE? ANY COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS DONE? REMEMBER WE PESKY TAXPAYERS LIKE TO KNOW THE COSTS.
WHEN WILL THE PUBLIC BE INVOLVED AND GIVE INPUT IN BOTH COUNTIES? WHY HAVE WE HAD SO MANY 5 0 1 3 C POPUP RESCUES AND NONPROFITS ORIGINATE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BECAUSE BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES ADEQUATELY BECAUSE OF DISAGREEMENT ON POLICIES FOR HANDLING AND CARRYING OF THE ANIMALS.
AND LOGISTICS SERVICES NEED TO BE PROVIDED ACCESSIBLE TO WHERE YOUR POPULATION LIVES.
SO WHY DOES BEAUFORT COUNTY WANT TO REGIONALIZE TODAY? JASPER COUNTY WANTS A MOTION TO FURTHER THIS TO A RESOLUTION.
I DON'T LIKE RESOLUTIONS 'CAUSE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC INPUT IS NOT VERY HIGH.
IF YOU DECIDE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION, YOU WILL NEED TO TREAD CAREFULLY, INVOLVE YOUR CITIZENS, NO DEALS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC, AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THIS TIME.
AND ANY AD HOC COMMITTEE SHOULD INCLUDE CITIZENS, NOT JUST YOU.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO THANK YOU AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR, UM, MOVING FORWARD AND MAKING HISTORY TO PROTECT EVERYTHING THAT MEANS.
UM, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US FROM, UM, THE CHEMICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPOSED TO.
REPRESENTATIVE BILL HERB KERMAN CREATED THE FIRST RESOLUTION AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH THE COUNTY THEN MADE HISTORY MODELING YOUR RESOLUTION.
BUT IT WASN'T JUST LIKE TAB SHARED POLITICAL THEATER BECAUSE THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WORKED REALLY HARD TO BRING FORWARD REAL SAFEGUARDS IN ACTION.
THIS SAFEGUARD WILL PROTECT THE COUNTY SYSTEM, INCLUDING 39 DEVELOPED PARKS, 19 PLAYGROUNDS AND 40 ATHLETIC FIELDS.
RANGER PRO AND PROSECUTOR PRO IS WHAT THE COUNTY WAS USING, UM, UP UNTIL THIS UPCOMING BAN.
AND THAT IS A GLYPHOSATE CONCENTRATE.
AND IF YOU GUYS ARE FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE ROUNDUP CASES, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT AROUND OUR LOVED ONES AND THE WILDLIFE AND, UM, THE KIDS USING THE PLAYGROUNDS.
IT ALSO HAS THIS SURFACTANT, POEA THAT'S 3,450 TIMES MORE TOXIC THAN GGL STATE ALONE.
SO WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT.
UM, AND ON PARKS, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE'S A BETTER WAY.
AND IT WAS GREAT THAT WE HAD OUR LEADERSHIP MEET WITH HILTON HEAD TOWN COUNCIL, UM, WHO DID THIS OVER THREE YEARS AGO TO SHARE THE BENEFITS OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.
AND HONESTLY, UM, LIKE BILL HERMAN ALWAYS REMINDS US, IS THAT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENTS GOOD BUSINESS AND THANKS TO TABS DIRECTION TO WORK WITH, NO, THIS IS A GOOD THING.
UM, TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS IS WE ARE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT CHEMICALS WERE BEING USED ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
AND NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S BEING USED, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO BETTER.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR MAKING HISTORY.
THANK YOU FOR THE TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PESTICIDE NOTIFICATIONS AND BRINGING FORWARD A GLYPHOSATE BAND IS THE FIRST IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
UH, LAST ON THE LIST IS, UH, TREVOR CONTI.
MY NAME IS TREVOR CONTI AND I PLAY BASEBALL FOR MARY RIVER.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING HISTORY BY ENDING THE USE OF CARCINOGENIC PESTICIDES, WHERE IN THE PLACES WHERE CHILDREN PLAY, THIS DECISION PROTECTS PUBLIC HEALTH.
[00:15:01]
COACH, EMPLOYEE, RESIDENT AND VISITOR WHO USES, UH, COUNTY FIELD PARK OR PLAYGROUND.IT ALSO PROTECTS WILDLIFE AND WATERWAYS THAT MAKE BEAUFORT COUNTY A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP AND CALL HOME.
ONE DAY IN THE VERY DISTANT FUTURE, I HOPE TO RAISE MY OWN FAMILY HERE.
I WANT TO TAKE MY CHILDREN FISHING ON THE MAY RIVER AND TELL 'EM THAT THE LEADERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE THE COURAGE TO PROTECT WHAT MATTERED BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.
THIS IS NOT SIMPLY THE FIRST VICTORY.
IT IS A LEGACY YOU'VE CREATED FOR MY GENERATION AND EVERY GENERATION THAT WILL FOLLOW US.
BEAUFORT COUNTY IS SHOWING SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE NATION WHAT REAL LEADER LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE END OF THE LIST THERE, BUT IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK THAT DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO SIGN UP? SEEING NONE.
I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
AND THAT TAKES US TO THE ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT.
[7. ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT]
GOOD AFTERNOON.FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING OUR FALLEN, UH, EMS PARAMEDIC THAT WAS VERY SAD FOR OUR, FOR OUR TEAM.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF OUR CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, MARK TAYLOR.
UH, MARK IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE, UH, CORRECTIONS OFFICER PROGRAM FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA, UM, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
AND HE WAS RECOGNIZED ON, UH, JULY 17TH AS THE DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE FOR HIS CLASS.
SO, UH, MARK, THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM, UH, RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF, UH, A 97% FOR ALL OF HIS COURSES AND TESTING.
CAME BACK TO THE DETENTION LAST LAST WEEK, AND IS NOW SERVING IN ONE OF OUR HOUSING UNITS ON A ROTATING SCHEDULE.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZED MARK FOR HIS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN OUR DETENTION CENTER.
I'D JUST SAY IT IS A PRIVILEGE WALKING THOUGH.
IT'S VERY RARE THAT YOU WORK AT A PLACE THAT YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU WORK WITH.
AND SO I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE.
SO DEFINITELY APPRECIATE IT AND I APPRECIATE THE KIND, WS.
I'LL BE, UH, I'LL BE, BE QUICK.
UH, NEWS, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD, UH, RE WITH A RECRUITER FOR OUR, UM, TO REPLACE OUR DETENTION CENTER DIRECTOR.
UH, WE FINISHED SOME MORE INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK.
AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL PROGRESS THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND, AND WE'LL GET DONE WITH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UM, LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY, UH, 13 DAYS AGO TODAY, WE HAD TO TAKE OUR KI KITCHEN OUT OF SERVICE COMPLETELY.
UM, SO WE JUST FINISHED OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL INSPECTION.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, WE GOT A HUNDRED PERCENT, THAT WAS ON JULY 8TH.
UH, SO THAT KITCHEN IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.
OUR FACILITIES TEAM WAS IN THE KITCHEN DOING SOME WORK AND FOUND, UM, A, A ISSUE IN THE CEILING HAVING TO DO WITH OUR VENTILATION SYSTEM.
UH, THE VENTILATION IN THE SY SYSTEM IN THE KITCHEN IS VERY CRITICAL, SO IT PROPERLY MOVES AIR AND HUMIDITY.
SO WE DON'T, WON'T DO NOT DEVELOP ANY TYPE OF MOLD OR MOISTURE, THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO THIS, UH, EXPLORATORY WORK, UH, QUICKLY, UM, REVEALED SOME MORE PROBLEMS. SO WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THE BACK OF THE DETENTION CENTER, YOU'LL FIND A MOBILE KITCHEN THAT'S OUT BACK.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRI AGRICULTURE CAME BACK AND DID ANOTHER IN, UM, INSPECTION FOR US ON OUR MOBILE KITCHEN SETUP.
UM, SO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE IS, IS, UH, WELL ABOVE BOARD IN MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING IT RIGHT.
'CAUSE THIS IS THE FOOD SERVICE FOR OUR, UH, DETAINEES.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PROCESS OF MITIGATION INSIDE THE KITCHEN, THE CEILINGS ARE REMOVED, APPLIANCES WERE, WERE COVERED, AND ALL THOSE TYPE OF WORK.
AND NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH ENGINEERS.
SO THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE COMMERCIAL HOOD SYSTEM, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE HOOD SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE HVA SYSTEM.
SO WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT ENGINEERS AND THINGS INVOLVED TRYING TO MODERNIZE THAT.
THAT SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED IN PROBABLY ABOUT 1987.
THE INSTALLATION WAS DONE IN 1991.
UH, SO IT'S SEEN A LOT OF USE FOR ALL OF THOSE YEARS AND NEEDS A, NEEDS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK.
SO WE'RE DEDICATED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REPAIRING THAT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS.
[00:20:01]
WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT.WE'RE TAKING THE TIME AND TRYING TO FIX IT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE UPDATE ON THAT.
UM, RECENTLY IN THE DETENTION CENTER WE HAVE, UM, TENDERED APPLICATIONS TO THREE CERTIFIED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD FOR US.
THAT'S A VERY RARE THING FOR US TO FIND CERTIFIED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.
ONE IS, UH, SCHEDULED TO START IN TWO WEEKS, AND THE THIRD WILL WILL BE PENDING AFTER THAT.
SO THINGS ARE, ARE LOOKING UP THERE.
UM, HIRING FOLKS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE.
I'LL MOVE ON TO EMS AND THE FOURTH SHIFT, UH, AN UPDATE ON THE FOURTH SHIFT.
AS OF MID-JULY, WE HAD FIVE VACANCIES, UH, FIVE PARAMEDIC VACANCIES AND A FEW APPLICATIONS THAT CHANGES WEEKLY.
UH, WE'VE LOST, UM, POTENTIALLY, UH, THIS LAST WEEK, TWO PARAMEDICS.
UM, AND WE HAVE POTENTIALLY A COUPLE RETIREMENTS.
SO WE, WE GET THAT NUMBER DOWN AND THEN IT COMES BACK UP.
BUT WE HAVE SOME, UM, SOME MORE PROSPECTS AND, UM, A A COUPLE OF APPLICANTS TO LOOK AT.
AND THERE IS A SINGLE, UM, EMT VACANCY THAT I THINK WE HAVE TENDERED AN OFFER TO.
SO IT'S MOSTLY THE PARAMEDICS THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING TO, UH, TO COMPETE FOR WITH EVERYONE ELSE SEEKING PARAMEDICS.
UM, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS, I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON THE FIRE SERVICE CONSOLIDATION STUDY.
SO THAT SOLICITATION WAS COMPLETE.
UH, WE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL OF THE APPLICANTS FOR THAT.
UH, UM, FOR THE, UM, SOLICITATION, UH, THE COMMITTEE WENT THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS.
UM, AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS SUBMITTED AS AN RFQ REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, WE INTERVIEWED THOSE, UM, THREE OF THE TOP, UH, CANDIDATES.
AND WE DID THAT ON FRIDAY, UH, LAST FRIDAY.
SO, UH, THERE HASN'T REALLY BEEN ANY PROGRESS SINCE FRIDAY.
UH, AND LET'S SEE, UH, MOSQUITO CONTROL.
MOSQUITO CONTROL HAS BEEN VERY BUSY OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS DOING, UH, SURVEYS.
WE HAD SOME, UH, POSITIVES OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN, UM, IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT IN A COUPLE OF AREAS.
AND YOU PROBABLY SAW SOME, UM, UM, MEDIA PUBLICATIONS FROM OUR PIO THAT PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
SO THE TEAM HAS BEEN DOING, UM, A VERY GOOD JOB KEEPING UP WITH THE, UM, SURVEYS.
AND MOST OF THIS IS, UM, LARVICIDE.
UH, SO A LARVICIDE IS AN AGENT THAT IS, UH, USED TO TREAT STANDING BODIES OF BODIES OF WATER DRAINAGE, DITCHES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, UH, THAT IS MY UPDATE, UH, FOR A CA REPORT.
ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MR. ROBINSON.
UM, WHAT'S THE TIMELINE? SO DO YOU THINK FOR THE FIRE CONSOLIDATION STUDY, 'CAUSE WE'RE LIKE A YEAR IN ALREADY.
UM, SO THE STUDY IS PRETTY COMPLEX.
MOST OF THE VENDORS' SOLICITATIONS ARE ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THAT.
LIKE I SAID, WE DID, UH, OUR SECOND ROUND OF IN INTERVIEWS LAST FRIDAY MORNING, UH, THAT WILL, THOSE EVALUATIONS WILL GET CALCULATED AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE MOST RESPONSIVE BIDDER.
THE NEXT PART IS FOR US TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE MOST RESPONSIVE BIDDER ON PRICE.
THEN WE COME BACK TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH A PRICE FOR THAT.
IF IT MEETS THAT THRESHOLD, UH, FOR APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT.
ONCE THAT CONTRACT TERM IS DONE, THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS FOR THE, THE PROCESS.
AND WHEN WE GET THE BIDS, EVENTUALLY MM-HMM
SO THE REVIEW TEAM WILL INCLUDE SOME OF OUR FIRE CHIEFS, I PRESUME RIGHT NOW THE, IT IS, UH, THE REVIEW TEAM WAS INTERNAL TO THE COUNTY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHERE ARE FIRE CHIEFS IN THIS? WHERE ARE THE FIRE CHIEFS IN THE PROCESS FOR THAT? MM-HMM
THE, THE, THE FIRE CHIEFS HELPED US PUT TOGETHER THE SCOPE OF WORK MM-HMM
UH, BUT AS FAR AS THE FIRE CHIEFS BEING SELECTION OF THE FIRM, NO MA'AM.
AND WITH REGARD TO THE FOURTH SHIFT OF EMS, HOW ARE WE DOING ON OVERTIME? OVERTIME AS COMPARED TO OVERTIME LAST YEAR? YES.
WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST WAY TO CHARACTERIZE THIS IS TO LOOK AT THE PERSONNEL, UM, THE PERSONNEL LINE ON A BUDGET AND THE OVERTIME LINE ON A BUDGET.
SO THE TWO BUDGETS FROM 2025 TO 2026 MM-HMM
UH, NOW THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY WERE BOTH THE SAME AS WE MOVE SOME OF THE OVERTIME OR SOME OF THAT COST FROM OVERTIME INTO PERSONNEL, UH, FOR THIS BUDGET YEAR.
AND I THINK, UH, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE TWO OF THOSE LINE ITEMS TOGETHER, WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WHERE WE SHOULD BE.
ARE WE COMPETITIVE SALARY WISE? I, BECAUSE I KNOW WE LOST ONE TO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ARE WE COMPETITIVE? UH, I WOULD THINK
[00:25:01]
SO.BECAUSE I KNOW OUR BENEFITS ARE GREAT.
BUT I WAS TALKING ABOUT SALARY WHEN, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT, UM, TOTAL COMPENSATION.
SO THE SHIFT, THE HOURLY RATE, THE, UH, BENEFITS, UH, THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT TO GET TO TOTAL COMPENSATION, WHICH A LOT OF YOUNG FOLKS DON'T LOOK AT TOTAL COMPENSATION.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT WE ARE QUITE COMPETITIVE.
ARE THERE FOLKS THAT PAY MORE? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, THERE ARE PLENTY OF FOLKS THAT PAY MORE AND FOLKS THAT PAY LESS.
I THINK FOR OUR AREA, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL.
IF YOU ASK ME IF FOLKS WOULD TURN DOWN AN INCREASE, NO.
NO, I WASN'T GONNA ASK THAT ONE.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. ROBINSON? THANK YOU.
UH, IS THAT, DOES THAT CLOSE OUT THE ASSISTANT COUNTY MINISTRY REPORT? WE WERE ALSO GONNA HAVE AN UPDATE ON HUMAN SERVICES, SO OH, GOTCHA.
MR. BOSWELL'S HERE TO PROVIDE THAT.
UM, JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY TRYING TO REBUILD OUR, UH, STAFFING CAPACITY.
OUR NEW PROGRAM MANAGER STARTED JUST THIS MORNING.
UM, SHE HAS EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND A MASTER'S DEGREE IN EDUCATION.
UM, SHE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH HOMELESS POPULATIONS THROUGH WORKFORCE.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT SHE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
UM, FOR THAT, UH, OUR OUTREACH COORDINATOR POSITION HAS BEEN POSTED.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE ANY APPLICANTS FOR THAT YET.
I THINK THERE'S SOME, UM, PENDING HR APPROVAL.
UM, WE'LL BEGIN INTERVIEWING WITH THAT, UH, VERY SHORTLY.
UH, THAT'S THE POSITION THAT WORKS WITH OUR UNSHELTERED COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND THEY PARTNER WITH UNITED WAY AND A LOT OF OUR OTHER AGENCIES AND, UM, COORDINATING SERVICES AND INTERVENTIONS FOR HOMELESS AND, UM, UNSHELTERED HOUSING INSECURE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH USCB ON AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, AND SO WE'VE GOT, UM, THAT POSITION POSTED AS WELL THROUGH THE HR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT THEY DO THROUGH THEIR OFFICE.
UM, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH USB'S HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY STUDENTS WHO WANNA PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL.
SO THAT'S GONNA BUILD CAPACITY IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, IN TERMS OF UPDATES OR PROJECTS COMING UP, UM, WE HAVE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO THE LOW COUNTRY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
UM, THIS IS THE FORMAL PROCESS TO RECEIVE MONEY THROUGH HUD FOR HOMELESS INTERVENTION.
UM, THIS PROPOSAL IS ABOUT QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, WE'RE ABOUT 70,000 FOR SALARY INFRINGE TO BUILD CAPACITY.
AND, UM, STAFF TOFOR, UH, PERFORM OUTREACH SERVICES.
UM, THE WAY THIS PROCESS WORKS, AND IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, I'M STILL LEARNING AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
SO WE HAVE PRE-SUBMITTED TO THE KALO COUNTRY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
IT IS THEN SUBJECT TO A PRE-REVIEW THROUGH THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.
THIS IS THE SEVEN COUNTY, UM, REGIONAL HUD DESIGNATED ENTITY, UM, THROUGH WHICH THOSE FUNDS FLOW.
UM, IF WE PASS THAT COMPETITIVE REVIEW, IT WILL THEN GO STRAIGHT TO, UM, A HUD SUBMISSION THROUGH, UM, THEIR ONLINE PORTAL, AT WHICH POINT IT'LL BE SUBJECT TO HUD REVIEW FOR FUNDING.
SO WE'RE MULTIPLE LAYERS AWAY.
UH, THAT SAID, THOUGH, HUD HAS MADE AVAILABLE, UH, $4 BILLION NATIONALLY FOR HOMELESS OUTREACH SERVICES.
UM, THEY HAVE TRANSITIONED AWAY FROM INTERVENTIONS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT MORE, UM, UM, PREVENTION AND SUPPORT, SERVICE ONLY ACTIVITIES, UM, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT 'CAUSE THAT ALIGNS VERY WELL WITH WHAT WE AS A COMMUNITY DO.
UM, AND 1.3 OF THAT 4 BILLION IS SET ASIDE FOR NEW PROJECTS.
SO WE FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE, VERY CON UH, CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO SECURE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS, UM, TO HELP WITH PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MA'AM.
GOING BACK TO HOMELESS, 'CAUSE WE I'S PROBABLY ONE OF THOSE THINGS I HEAR FROM CONSTITUENTS ABOUT A LOT.
UM, ON YOUR WEBSITE, IT HAS THE 180 PLACE REGIONAL HUDS SHELTER.
WHERE IS THAT AT? SO THAT'S IN CHARLESTON.
THEY'RE THE ONLY FEDERALLY FUNDED SHELTER IN OUR REGION.
AND SO THEY SERVE THE SEVEN COUNTY REGION, THE SEVEN COUNTY REGION.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I BELIEVE IT'S BEAUFORT, JASPER HAMPTON, UH, CHARLESTON, COLTON, BERKELEY, DORCHESTER.
I THINK THAT'S THE, AND THEN, UH, I KNOW YOU DO A ONCE A YEAR COUNT OF THE HOMELESS.
DO YOU REMEMBER, DO YOU KNOW OFF YOUR TOP OF YOUR HEAD WHEN THAT COUNT WAS LAST DONE AND HOW, APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY? YES, I DO.
SO THIS WAS DONE IN JANUARY MM-HMM
UM, WE HAD A, A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
UM, UH, WE HAD, UH, SEVERAL CHURCHES.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE CHURCHES OFF THE TOP OF MY MIND.
AND CHURCHES, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, I I DO APOLOGIZE,
UM, BUT WE HAD A CHURCH ON HILTON HEAD AND, UM, AND SEA ALLEN PEREZ ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN WHO OPENED THEIR, UM, THEIR DOORS FOR THE SHOW COLD WEATHER SHELTER.
UM, WE HAD, UH, UH, CATERING PROVIDED BY LOCAL, UM, PARTNERS, I THINK ROTARY, UM, ST.
PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND KNOW SEA PINES ON HILTON HEAD HELP CATER.
UM, AND AS A RESULT OF THIS EVENT, WE
[00:30:01]
DID SURVEY 90 INDIVIDUALS.SO THESE ARE 90 PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SELF-IDENTIFIED, CAME OUT FOR SERVICES, UM, PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROJECT.
OF COURSE IT DOESN'T IN HILTON HEAD AND BUFORD.
HILTON HEAD AND BUFORD, YES MA'AM.
UM, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT SELF-IDENTIFY MM-HMM
AND WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T.
WE KNOW THAT HILTON HEAD HAS A LOT OF WORKING CLASS, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE UN CHILDREN WHO LIVE OUT OF THEIR CARS.
UM, MANY OF THESE FOLKS DON'T IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS HOMELESS AND THEY WILL NOT SELF-IDENTIFY IN THESE KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND AS FAR AS SERVING AND MAKING AN ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, IT'S DIFFICULT 'CAUSE THERE'S NO REAL DIGNIFIED WAY TO, UM, LIKE, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO KNOCK ON THEIR DOOR, A CAR DOOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO, TO ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEIR STATUS IS.
SO WE TRY TO MAKE IT A LOW BARRIER OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND SELF-IDENTIFY TO RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES.
AND, UH, 90 DOES COME VERY CLOSE THE COUNT WE HAVE THROUGH OUR DATA THAT REFLECTS THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY, UM, COMING OUT FOR SERVICES AND RECEIVING SERVICES THROUGH OUR CHARITIES.
SO WE KIND OF ANALYZE IT FROM A SENSE OF, UM, IT'S ALMOST LIKE IF A TREE FALLS IN A FORCE AND NO ONE'S AROUND TO HEAR IT.
SO IF YOU ARE, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND YOU ARE NOT ACCESSING SERVICES, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT LEVEL OF DEGREE DO WE WANT TO ANALYZE THAT, UM, WHAT IMPACT IS THERE TO OUR COMMUNITY? AND SO WE KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS LIKE THAT.
UM, TYPICALLY THAT'S, UH, A LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTION.
IF THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S OUT IN ENCAMPMENTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEY CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WE'LL LET THEM IDENTIFY THAT WAY.
SO THAT SAID, UM, WHAT 90 INDIVIDUALS SELF-IDENTIFY DID PARTICIPATE ARE ENGAGING IN SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE ANTICIPATE, UM, PROBABLY ANOTHER THIRD OF THAT, UM, WHO DID NOT COME OUT.
SO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 120, 130 THOU, UH, OR 30 PEOPLE.
IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE UN SHELTERED.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER QUESTIONS.
UM, SO THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANTS, HOW, HOW MANY APPLICATIONS, UM, THOSE ARE BEING HELD BY FINANCE THIS YEAR? THEY'RE DOING THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T CHECKED.
YOU DON'T, SO YOU DON'T GET NO, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE UPDATES ON THAT, SO I APOLOGIZE.
YOU, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW OF THOSE, YOUR OFFICE? UM, NOT AT THIS TIME.
UM, YOUR WEBSITE HAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO COLLECT TO GO TO, BUT I WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN TITLE SIX COMPLAINT LINK, WHICH IS A COUNTY WOULD BE COMPLAINED ABOUT TO THE COUNTY.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO, UM, YOU DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THOSE TITLES? I DON'T.
WE'RE JUST A PASS THROUGH FOR THOSE.
YOU JUST HAVE THAT ON THERE AS INFORMATION WE DO.
AND SO ONE OF THOSE WE GO TO, UM, DEOC AND I BELIEVE THE OTHER ONE IS AUDRA FOR A DA.
SO OF THOSE, YEAH, THE OTHER ONE WAS A DA AND THEN FAIR HOUSING I THINK IS THE THIRD ONE.
UH, IN YOUR OPENING STATEMENT, YOU MENTIONED, UH, YOU, UH, INCREASING YOUR STAFF.
UM, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT TO FOR ME? UM, YEAH, OF COURSE.
BY THE TIME THAT THE THIRD READING OF, UH, OF THE BUDGET CAME AROUND, MOST OF THE STAFF ARE ALREADY MADE, UM, COMMITMENTS ELSEWHERE.
SO YOU HAVE OPENINGS? WE DO, YES.
FOR HOW MANY POSITIONS? UM, IT IS, UH, TWO POSITIONS AND THEN WE'RE ADDING AN INTERN, BUT THAT DOESN'T COME OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
ANYTHING FURTHER YOUR NO, THAT'S OKAY.
SO AFTER YOU DO THE POINT IN TIME STUDY AND YOU SAID THERE'S 90 INDIVIDUALS THAT SELF-REPORTED PROBABLY 130 UNSHELTERED IN THE COUNTY.
TO ME THAT SEEMS LOW, UH, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE HAD A HOMELESS POPULATION RIGHT OUTSIDE MY GATE MM-HMM
IN SUN CITY, HAD TO GO THROUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT IN THE SHERIFF.
BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU DO AFTER YOU GET, DO THE POINT IN TIME? WHAT, WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT PLAY FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS? YEAH, SO WE HAVE, UM, MULTIPLE ROLES.
SO PART OF THE, THE, UM, WORK IS JUST SERVING AS A, UM, DATA COLLECTING LIAISON FOR THE LOW COUNTRY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND SO THROUGH THEM WE'RE ABLE TO DRAW DOWN MORE FUNDING.
THEORETICALLY WE HAVE YET TO DO SO.
AND SO THAT'S THE, THE UPCOMING PROPOSAL.
WE HAVE TO DRAW SOME OF THOSE FUNDS DOWN.
UM, IT'S A VERY SLOW PROCESS, DRAW DOWN SOME OF THOSE FUNDS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN AT IT, I THINK THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR DOING THE COUNT, UM, AT LEAST IN THE CURRENT ITERATION THAT IT'S IN.
UM, OTHER COMMITTEES REPORTED UP TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THOSE, UH, CIRCULAR KIND OF THINGS IS THERE'S A NEED AND WE HAVE TO DRAW DOWN THE FUNDING, BUT TO DRAW DOWN THE FUNDING, WE HAVE TO PROVE THE NEED.
AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO JUMP THROUGH THOSE BUREAUCRATIC HOOPS, THE HEADSETS FOR US TO DEMONSTRATE THOSE NEEDS OF THE DATA.
AS FAR AS THE INTERACTIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES, UM, WE TRY TO CONNECT THEM WITH AS MANY SERVICES AS WE CAN.
UM, AS WE KNOW THERE ARE, UH, VERY FEW RESOURCES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
[00:35:01]
NO EMERGENCY SHELTER.THERE ARE LIMITED SHELTER OPTIONS, DEPENDING ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, OF COURSE, HOPEFUL HORIZONS.
UM, FOR THOSE, UM, WHO HAVE SUBSTANCE, UM, CHALLENGES, THERE ARE SOME HALFWAY HOUSES AVAILABLE.
UH, FAMILY PROMISES AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
IF YOU ARE A SINGLE ADULT, UM, THERE'S NOTHING FOR YOU.
AND SO A LOT OF OUR WORK IS IDENTIFIED.
WHAT ARE YOUR RESOURCES THAT YOU HAVE AS AN INDIVIDUAL? WHAT, UH, CHOICES ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE? WHAT SACRIFICES ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE TO TRANSITION TO A DIFFERENT SITUATION? UM, SO A LOT OF IT'S JUST ONE-ON-ONE, UH, INTERACTION WITH THE FOLKS TRYING TO, TO HELP THEM UN IDENTIFY.
AND REALLY JUST A, A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT AVAILABLE OPTIONS THERE ARE FOR YOU.
UM, WHETHER RELOCATION'S ON THE MENU, UM, WHETHER OR NOT FAMILY'S AVAILABLE TO YOU AS A RESOURCE.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, CONNECTING 'EM WITH OTHER RESOURCES THEY MAY NEED.
UM, TYPICALLY, UH, I MEAN, IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE INTERACT WITH SOMEBODY WHO, UH, IS ON SHELTER, WHO DOESN'T HAVE, UM, OTHER SIGNIFICANT HUMAN SERVICE BARRIERS.
UM, SUBSTANCE USE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO WE TRY TO CONNECT THEM WITH THAT AS WELL.
AND SOMETIMES THROUGH THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER AVENUES FOR HOUSING.
SO THE GRANT YOU APPLIED FOR, IS THERE A MATCH REQUIRED? THERE IS NOT.
AND YOUR, UM, WHAT DID YOUR DATA FROM THE POINT IN TIME TELL YOU ABOUT THE STATUS OF OUR HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY? 90 OUT OF 200,000 PEOPLE SEEMS REALLY LOW WHEN I KNOW RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR GATE, WERE AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THIS TELLING US ABOUT THE STATUS OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE COUNTY.
UH, YOU DID HILTON HEAD AND THEN, SO HOW MANY WERE ON HILTON HEAD OUT OF THE 90 AND HOW MANY WERE THE REST OF THE COUNTY? I'M CONFUSED.
UM, FOR THAT I HAVE TO GO GET BACK TO MY REPORT, BUT I CAN GET IT BACK TO YOU GUYS.
UM, I DON'T RECALL WHAT THE TOTAL BREAKDOWN WAS.
I THINK AT LEAST HALF WAS ON, UM, CI AND PEREZ.
I THINK THE OTHER HALF WAS BETWEEN LEFTON AND HILTON HEAD.
BUT I DON'T RECALL THE, THE BREAKOUT OF THAT.
I, SO I MEAN, WHAT SURPRISES ME, LET'S PRETEND IT'S 40, I DON'T CARE OUT OF 90, THAT MEANS OUT OF THE WHOLE REST OF THE COUNTY, THERE'S ONLY 50 UNSHELTERED PEOPLE.
I'M JUST CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT ONE.
I MEAN, IT'S TRUE THAT IT'S, IT'S LOW COMPARED TO THE TOTAL POPULATION, BUT A LOT OF WHAT THEY LOOK AT IS THE COST OF THAT POPULATION.
AND SO ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IS ESTIMATED TO COST BETWEEN 30 AND $50,000 PER YEAR IN TAXPAYER CHARITABLE BENEFITS.
UM, THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE DETENTION CENTER, STATE AGENCY ENGAGEMENT, POLICE, EMS, UM, AND OTHER RESOURCES INVOLVED IN INTERACTING WITH THEM.
SO THERE'S A, A BIG COST TO EACH AND EVERY ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO YOU WANNA TRY TO OFFSET.
IF THEY HAVE SERVICES, THEY'RE CONNECTED TO SERVICES, YOU GET 'EM ON MEDICAID OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, YOU GUYS EVEN HAVE, I THINK YOU DEDICATED MILLAGE TO, UH, IN ENERGY CARE AT THE HOSPITALS.
AND SO SIGNIFICANT COST, UH, THERE AS WELL.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE COST IS, UM, EXTRAORDINARILY DISPROPORTIONATE, UM, FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND THEN OF COURSE CHARITABLE COUNTRY, IT'S JUST A VERY SMALL NUMBER OUTTA 200,000.
SO THAT WAS WHAT I WAS QUESTIONING.
AND, UM, HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY DISTRIBUTE CASELOAD AMONG YOUR STAFF WHEN YOU'RE FULLY STAFFED? I MEAN, WHO, WHO, HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO DOES WHAT WITH PEOPLE? YEAH, SO WE HAVE TWO, UH, MAN BLIND PROGRAMS. SO THERE'S CONNECT AND THEN THERE'S REACH.
AND SO REACH IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE UNSHELTERED.
AND THE, THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS RIGHT NOW IS ESSENTIALLY THAT'S KIND OF A TRIAGE.
IF THEIR ONLY CHALLENGE IS HOMELESSNESS OR THAT'S THEIR PRIMARY CHALLENGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE KIND OF FALLS ON THE, THE WAYSIDE.
AND JUST FROM A, A MASLOW HIERARCHY KIND OF STRUCTURE, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE NOT SHELTERED, THEN THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR PRIMARY WORRY.
UM, THAT INDIVIDUAL EMPHASIZES THAT.
AND SO, UM, OUR OUTREACH COORDINATOR WILL, WILL FOCUS ON THOSE NEEDS AND THEN, UM, FOR ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS SERVICE NEEDS, AND THIS INCLUDES PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ABLE TO TRANSITION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AND OTHER SITUATIONS, THEY WOULD THEN GO TO CONNECT.
AND SO WE KIND OF SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
UM, WE HAVE A, A REALLY OVERWHELMING NEED FOR SERVICES FOR HOMELESSNESS.
UM, 60% OF OUR CALLS ARE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS OR HOUSING INSECURITY.
UM, AND SO IT JUST KIND OF WORKS OUT WELL THAT WE CAN SPLIT IT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
UM, BUT OF COURSE WE HAVE TO TRANSITION CASELOAD FROM ONE TO ANOTHER AND WE'RE A SMALL ENOUGH TEAM THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY BE, UM, FLUID ON THAT.
YOU'RE SAYING 60% OF YOUR CALLS ARE FOR HOMELESSNESS AND WE ONLY HAVE 90 UNSHELTERED.
SO AGAIN, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND THAT.
OH, WELL LET ME, I CAN SAY, SO THE POINT IN TIME COUNT IS VERY SPECIFIC.
THAT IS ONLY ASKING FOR ONE POINT IN TIME.
AND SO, UM, AS FOR HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WE HAVE WHO ARE EXITING AND ENTERING HOMELESSNESS IN A, IN THE COMMUNITY OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR THAT WE DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN 90 FOR SURE.
BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED EXPERIENCING COMPLETELY BEING UNSHELTERED AT ANY ONE TIME? THAT ONE TIME BEING SPECIFICALLY THE COLDEST NIGHT, UM, AND, AND WINTER IT WAS 90.
UM, SO THERE ARE A LOT OF CAVEATS ON THE DATA AND THAT'S
[00:40:01]
VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT DATA SETS AND DEPENDING ON THE, UM, CONTEXT OF EACH DATA SET, THAT COULD ALL BE CORRECT.UM, BUT WE HAD PUT A LOT OF ASTERISKS ON, SO WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THE FULL DATA, BUT HERE'S THE QUESTION, THE 90 WE, WE TRIANGULATE AND THAT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO AND IT'S NOT GREAT.
SO THE 90 YOU IDENTIFY, DO YOU TRACK THEM OVER TIME TO SEE IF THEY BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICE OR DO THEY COME BACK IF THEY, IF THEY ENGAGE WITH US? WE DO.
UM, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST KINDA A ONE-OFF INTERACTION.
UM, A LOT OF THE TIME, UH, OUR CHALLENGES OF WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY IS THEY, THEY EXPRESS A NEED AT THAT ONE TIME AND THEY'RE VERY DESPERATE FOR THAT NEED.
AND IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT NEED AND THEY'RE LIKE, I'M GOOD.
UM, AND THEN THERE ISN'T AN INCONTIENT ENGAGEMENT, SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE AS WELL.
UM, VERY DIFFICULT POPULATION TO ENGAGE HISTORICALLY.
UM, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE OUTREACH COORDINATOR, UM, TRY TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUALS ALSO VERY TRANSIENT.
SOMETIMES THEY JUST MOVE AND DISAPPEAR.
UM, SO IT'S, IT IS VERY TOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THAT.
UM, OUR BIGGEST TOOL FOR THAT IS HMIS.
AND SO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.
AND SO THAT IS, UH, PROVIDED TO US THROUGH THE LOW COUNTRY CONTINUUM OF CARE.
AND UM, THAT DOES HAVE A SPECIFIC CASE MANAGEMENT TRACKING SYSTEM FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL.
SO WE HAVE TO DO WEEKLY UPDATES FOR ANYONE INDIVIDUAL WHO ENTERS THAT.
AND SO, UM, LAST, UH, I THINK AT THE PEAK WE HAD ABOUT 14 ACTIVE CASES AT ANY ONE TIME.
AND OF COURSE THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO CLOSE THAT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE PROCESSED ABOUT 30 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH HMIS, UM, OVER, UH, I WANNA SAY ABOUT A THREE MONTH PERIOD.
UM, 'CAUSE THERE WAS A, A OVERLAP BETWEEN WHEN WE GOT HMIS STARTED AND THEN OF COURSE WHEN THE TRANSITION, UM, BEGAN WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
SO, UM, ONCE WE HAVE MORE LONG-TERM DATA, I CAN GIVE YOU BETTER ANSWERS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO GET ALL THAT TOGETHER.
SO WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE AVERAGE CITIZENS BEHIND US AND UP HERE THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE UNSHELTERED POPULATION? I MEAN, SPECIFICALLY WHAT ARE WE DOING? YEAH, SO, SO SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WE'RE, UM, THE DATA COLLECTION'S A BIG PIECE.
WE'RE TRYING TO SECURE SOME OF THAT FUNDING FROM HUD THAT WILL ACTUALLY BUILD A LITTLE MORE CAPACITY.
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL NONPROFIT COMMUNITY TO TRY TO BUILD CAPACITY AS WELL.
AND THAT INCLUDES END THE NONPROFITS THEMSELVES, UM, ADVOCATE FOR OTHER AVENUES FOR, UM, HOMELESS INTERVENTIONS.
UM, ULTIMATELY AS IT RELATES TO THE DEMAND FOR A SHELTER, UM, THE COUNTY IS NOT GONNA BE IN THE BUSINESS OF OPENING A SHELTER AS A ORGANIZATION.
UM, BUT IF THERE IS A, UH, NONPROFIT OR A CHURCH WHO WANTS TO, TO PROCEED DOWN THAT ROUTE, WE OF COURSE WOULD PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT, UM, FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
ANY AGENCIES WHO PROVIDE SERVICES PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AS WELL AND CONNECTIONS TO THAT.
UM, FOR ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO CALL US, WE TRY OUR BEST TO PROVIDE THE CONNECT SERVICES, UM, CONNECT THEM WITH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WORK WITH THEM, DO CASE MANAGEMENT, UM, TO ADDRESS NEEDS AS BEST AS WE CAN.
UM, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION, BEING AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY SHELTER, UH, IT'S THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD CAPACITY OVER TIME.
UNITED WAY JUST ADDED A SHOWER UNIT, SO THEY PROVIDE HYGIENE SERVICES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE PARTNER WITH THEM, WE SEND OUR STAFF OUT WITH THEM ON THOSE, UM, TRIPS TO IDENTIFY AND WORK WITH FOLKS.
UM, AND THEN THE, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER LONG-TERM PIECE IS OF COURSE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, BECAUSE UNDERSTANDING THOSE FOLKS AND GETTING TO KNOW THEM ONE ON ONE-ON-ONE LEVEL IS REALLY GOOD FOR CONVINCING THEM THAT THERE IS HELP AVAILABLE.
UH, A LOT OF THEM HAVE LIVED THEIR WHOLE LIVES KIND OF BEING IGNORED OR BEING, UM, MINIMIZED AND THEY KIND OF EXPECT THAT FROM AGENCIES AS WELL.
SO, UH, SO THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THE ONE THAT JUST, THAT TAKES TIME.
SO JUST MY FINAL QUESTION OR COMMENT IS I'M JUST LOOKING TO SEE WHAT EXACTLY YOU PROVIDE, NOT JUST HOMELESS HERE, WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES THAT NONPROFITS DO NOT.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT TODAY, BUT I WOULD REQUEST OF THE CHAIR THAT THEY REPORT BACK QUARTERLY TO LET US KNOW THEIR PROGRESS BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT, IF WE'RE JUST REFERRING TO NONPROFITS WHO DO OUTREACH ANYWAY, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY WE DO THIS.
SO, AND I'VE EXPRESSED THAT BEFORE, BUT I WOULD REQUEST THEY COME BACK QUARTERLY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I'M FINE WITH QUARTERLY ON THAT, THAT FRONT.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA OF MOVING FORWARD.
WELL, I THINK, UH, I THINK TOM HAS HIS HAND UP.
I DIDN'T SEE THE ONLINE FOLKS.
TOM, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? THAT'S OKAY, I APPRECIATE IT.
BUT TO FOLLOW WHAT TAP SAID, UM, AT POINTS IN TIME COUNT THAT HILTON HAD DID LATE LAST YEAR OR YEAH, 24 THEY CAME UP WITH FORD AND 76.
MY QUESTION IS, WITH ALL THE WORK YOU DO, DO YOU COORDINATE WITH MUNICIPALITIES LIKE HILTON HEAD AND HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, WE HAVE TRIED, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHERE OUR CONTACTS LAST WERE, THAT WAS SOMETHING KATRINA
[00:45:01]
WAS WORKING ON BEFORE SHE LEFT.UM, WE DO HAVE CONTACTS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT THE, THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, OUR NUMBERS ARE, WE'RE LOOKING AT UNSHELTERED SPECIFICALLY.
UM, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WILL LOOK AT, UM, HOMELESS WITH A BROADER DEFINITION, WHICH IS WHY YOU GET DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
UM, AND THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.
THIS MR. BOSWELL, THIS, THEY TALK ABOUT 280, UH, FIVE UNSHELTERED, 191 SHELTERED.
UM, BUT TO TAPS POINT, AND CHAIRMAN BARTHOLOMEW, WHEN YOU COME BACK WITH THAT UPDATE, TRY TO GIVE US AN IDEA HOW YOU COORDINATE WITH MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL.
I THINK, UM, HILTON HEAD IS TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB WITH THAT AS WELL, SO MAYBE THEY CAN HELP.
AND WE WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.
IS THERE ANYBODY? YES, JOE, UM, MR. BOSWELL? YES, SIR.
WE HAD A LOT OF HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS AND THEN WOUND UP LOSING THEIR HOUSES.
DO THEY STILL EXIST? UM, FOR FOLKS WHO LOSE, UM, WHO, WHO ENTER LIKE A ECONOMIC HOMELESSNESS, UM, THEY TYPICALLY DON'T STAY HOMELESS FOR VERY LONG.
UH, MOST OF THE LONG-TERM HOMELESSNESS WE SEE IS DUE TO LIKE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES, OTHER, UH, ISSUES LIKE THAT.
SO TYPICALLY IF SOMEBODY HAS, UH, A JOB LOSS OR SOME SORT OF, UH, OTHER CATASTROPHIC LOSS LIKE THAT THEY TYPICALLY GET HAS VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
JUST TYPICALLY, UM, BOSWELL, UM, DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS IS I, AND CORRECT ME IF I MADE A MISTAKE IF I'VE SAID SOMETHING THAT'S RIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND THE HOMELESS COUNT AS BEING AN ANNUAL NATIONAL COUNT ON ONE PARTICULAR DAY, A YEAR THAT HAS STRICT GUIDELINES FOR COUNTING.
AND IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU AGENCIES TO GO OUT TO EVERY NICK AND CRANNY TO COUNT PEOPLE, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE COUNTED AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME.
AND OVER THE YEARS YOU HAVE DEVELOPED YOUR AGENCY HAVE TO DEVELOP A PLACE WHERE YOU PROVIDE FOOD, WHATEVER, SO THE HOMELESS CAN COME TO THAT SO THAT THEY CAN BE COUNTED.
IF, IF THAT'S NOT CORRECT, LET ME KNOW.
NOW, BEFORE I GOT ON COUNCIL, ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE ABOUT THE HOMELESS COUNT WAS THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS CONSISTENTLY IN THE PAST 17, HOMELESS IN BEAUFORT 17.
AND UNTIL YOUR AGENCY STARTED WORKING WITH INCREASING THAT COUNT, UM, IT WAS ALWAYS 17.
AM I RIGHT OR WRONG? UM, YEAH, THAT IS CORRECT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MR. BOSWELL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER ON THE ASSISTANT? THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR THE, UH, ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
[8.a. Update on the Use of Organics—First Pesticides for Parks and Recreation - Eric Brown, Director, Parks and Recreation - 10 minutes]
TO, UH, EIGHT A, THE PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS, UH, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON THE USE OF ORGANIC FIRST PESTICIDE FOR PARKS AND REC.UH, MR. ERIC BROWN, HOW ARE YOU DOING? HELLO, MR. BROWN.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? ERIC BROWN PARKS AND RECREATION? UM, YES, WE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL DISCONTINUE THE USE OF G ATE, I THINK I MONITORED THAT WORD, BUT, UM, IN THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR FACILITIES AND WE WERE TRANSITION INTO A MORE ORGANIC PRODUCT, UM, THAT'S MORE RESPONSIBLE AND FOR BEST PRACTICES WHEN FEASIBLE.
UM, THIS CHANGE WILL REFLECT THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC, UM, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND MAINTAINING A SAFETY ENVIRONMENT AND HIGH LEVEL ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR RECREATION FACILITIES.
UM, OUR BALL FIELDS, WE DO NOT USE CATE IN OUR BALL FIELDS.
WE USE 'EM AROUND AREAS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SEE A BUNCH OF WEEDS ROUND UP, YOU KNOW, HAD THE GLASS CATE IN.
BUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO AFTER WE, UM, FERTILIZE OUR BALL FIELDS, WE WILL POST SIGNS, LET THEM KNOW THAT THESE FIELDS HAVE BEEN, UM, FERTILIZED AND, AND UH, TREATED FOR, YOU KNOW, UM, WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS OR WHATEVER TIME OF YEAR IT IS THAT WE'LL BE TREATING OUR FIELDS AS YOU WOULD DO AT YOUR HOME.
WHEN SOMEONE COME AND SPRAY, THEY PUT A SIGN UP AND AFTER 24 HOURS, IT'S SAFE TO WALK ON IT.
SO WE WILL FOLLOW THOSE BEST PRACTICES, UM, BY DOING THOSE THINGS.
AND UH, AGAIN, THANKS TO KIM AND HER GROUP FOR MEETING WITH US.
UM, WE HAVE A GOOD FEEL ON HOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA GO ORGANIC WITH NO MORE GLASS OF GLASS OF FAITH.
I CAN'T SAY IT, BUT Y'ALL KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
AND WE'LL HAVE A DEFINITELY A BETTER FEEL ON THAT.
AND SO, UM, YEAH, AND I'M GONNA STOP RIGHT THERE, BUT WE HAVE A FEEL ON HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS MOVING FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORTS ON THAT FRONT.
UH, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS ON THAT ONLINE? MAKE SURE I DON'T FORGET Y'ALL.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
I GOT, I GOT SMALL KIDS THAT USE THOSE PARKS AND, AND THAT'S WHY I WANNA MAKE SURE I, I PUT THIS OUT THERE 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT A THOUSAND PEOPLE EMAILING
[00:50:01]
US SAYING THAT IF MY, ARE MY KIDS SAFE TO BE ON THE FIELD, YES THEY ARE.BUT THE GLASS OF FAITH, WE GET THAT PART NOT SAFE.
WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT BEST PRACTICE, SMALL STEP TO GOING TO DOING SOMETHING BIGGER, BUT OUR FEEL ARE SAFE AND WE WANNA PUT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS KNOW THAT I SEE OUR KIDS, OUR FIELDS ARE SAFE.
WE DON'T USE BLATE PRODUCTS ON OUR BALL FIELDS.
AND I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR ME IS, UM, DO WE NEED ANY TYPE OF FORMAL RESOLUTION TO EXPAND THIS FOR THE GLYPHOSATE OR IS THAT JUST, WELL, YOU GUYS, YOU GUYS PUT OUT A RESOLUTION THAT'S PERFECT FOR US, OKAY.
BECAUSE YOU GAVE US BEST PRACTICES AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
SO THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU GUYS, UM, GAVE OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE HAVE A COPY OF IT, I'M SATISFIED WITH THE, WITH THE RESOLUTION THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE IT, IT DOES LET THE, THE DEPARTMENTS KNOW THAT'S USING THESE, UM, CHEMICALS THAT ARE NOT SAFE.
THAT, YOU KNOW, USING BEST PRACTICES WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY BE DOING.
I THINK, UM, UH, THE, THE GROUP WILL BE MEETING WITH PUBLIC WORK, PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECREATION.
WE KILL A LOT OF WEEDS IN, UH, AREAS, NOT BALL FIELDS, PLAYGROUNDS.
WE ARE GETTING TO TURF PLAYGROUNDS ONCE WE CAN GET, UM, EVERY PLAYGROUND THAT WE BUILD MOVING FORWARD.
SO IT'S NOT GRASS PLAYGROUNDS, PLAYGROUNDS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE OLD.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S A LITTLE ANTIQUATED.
THEY HAVE SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SPRAY TO GET OUT, BUT WE WON'T BE USING GLASS OF FATE TO DO THOSE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE ON THAT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW THAT TAKES US TO OUR
[9.a. Military Infrastructure Resilience and All Hazards Decision Support Program Proposal - Warren Parker, Chairman, South Coast Cyber Center]
AGENDA ITEMS. UH, THE FIRST ONE, NINE, A MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE, RESILIENCE AND ALL HAZARDS DECISION SUPPORT PROGRAM PROPOSAL.UH, IT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED BY COLONEL, UH, WARREN PARKER, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH COAST CYBER CENTER.
UH, MAY I GET A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PUT THIS ON THE FLOOR? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN ALICE, SECOND BY JOE AND COLONEL PARKER.
OKAY, WELL THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON AN ISSUE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NATION.
UH, I'M SPEAKING OF OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR WATER, SEWER, POWER, EMERGENCY SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HEALTHCARE, ROADS, RAIL PORTS, AVIATION AND SUPPLY CHAINS, AND HOW WE ASSESS, MONITOR, EVALUATE, AND PLAN TO MITIGATE RISK AND BUILD RESILIENCE AS A MILITARY COMMUNITY.
BEAUFORT COUNTY'S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS AN EXTRA ABILITY LINKED TO OUR THREE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS BY A SERIES OF DEPENDENCIES AND INTERDEPENDENCIES, AND THE THREATS TO THEM ARE REAL.
UH, THIS ARTICLE FROM THIS WEEKEND FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HIGHLIGHTS NINE ATTACKS REPORTED SATURDAY ON WATER SYSTEMS IN MICHIGAN.
AND EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MINNESOTA REPORTED ATTACKS ON OVER 30 WATER SYSTEMS. THE ORIGINS OF THE ATTACKS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED, BUT IS CERTAINLY NOT A STRETCH TO ASSUME THEY CAME FROM THOSE WHO WISH TO DO US HARM.
UH, A MODERN MILITARY DEPENDS HEAVILY UPON WHAT IS OUTSIDE THE GATE.
UH, WE PREPARE FOR HURRICANES IN OUR REGION AND WE'VE GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT IT.
OUR CONCERN IS THAT OUR ENEMIES CAN BRING DOWN A CASCADING TSUNAMI OF CYBER ATTACKS AS DEVASTATING AS ANY HURRICANE WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING.
WE PROPOSE THAT, UH, COUNTY COUNCIL APPLIED TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR A GRANT OF $1.8 MILLION FROM THEIR MILITARY ENHANCEMENT FUND TO SUPPORT, UH, THE MILITARY INSTALLATION AND REGIONAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE ASSESSMENT.
WE WILL BE BRIEFING TODAY A DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR SUBMISSION HAS BEEN PREPARED.
UH, I KNOW MS. TABER SAYS THAT SHE'S READ IT TWICE NOW.
UH, A DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR SUBMISSION HAS BEEN PREPARED.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF GAINING LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND COORDINATING WITH THE THREE BASES ON THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL.
UH, WE HAVE A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY AT, UH, TWO O'CLOCK WITH THE AIR STATION NA SUPPORT FACILITY AND MCRD PARA ALLEN.
WE'RE ULTIMATELY SEEKING COUNSEL'S APPROVAL FOR MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THAT WILL INVOLVE A, UM, PROBABLY A RESOLUTION I, I SUSPECT BY THE COUNTY COUNSEL, BUT ALSO A LETTER WHICH WILL A COVER LETTER, WHICH WILL GO WITH A PROPOSAL TO THE
[00:55:01]
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.RIGHT NOW I WANNA INTRODUCE MY COLLEAGUES FOR TODAY'S BRIEF.
UH, FIRST, MR. RICK AUER WHO DIRECTS THE MARITIME CYBERSECURITY INSTITUTE.
THIS ORGANIZATION GREW OUT OF AN INNOVATION GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION THAT WE, UH, THAT WE WON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THEIR PRIMARY CONCERN IS CYBERSECURITY AS IT RELATES TO PORTS AND THE ENTIRE LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN THAT MAKE THEM WORK.
RICK'S THE RESIDENT OF HILTON HEAD.
HE HAS A DEEP BACKGROUND IN CYBERSECURITY.
UH, HE STARTED HIS CAREER AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY WHERE HE WAS THE CHIEF SCIENTIST IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY COMPUTER CENTER, AND MOST RECENTLY WAS THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AT DELOITTE'S, UH, ADVISORY BUSINESS.
AND FINALLY, THEIR GLOBAL CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER FOR DELOITTE.
RICK IS ALSO THE VICE CHAIR OF THE SOUTH COAST CYBER CENTER.
MR. ALI GAGNAN, WHO IS PATIENTLY ON ZOOM RIGHT NOW IS THE, UH, CHIEF HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES RESILIENCE OPTIMIZATION CENTER.
ALI SPOKE TO OUR SUMMIT HERE, UH, A YEAR AGO AND, UH, REALLY PUT OUT A DYNAMIC PRESENTATION.
LET ME EXPLAIN FOR JUST A SECOND WHAT THEY DO AT IDAHO NATIONAL LABS.
THEIR RESILIENCE OPTIMIZATION OPTIMIZATION CENTER IS A NATIONAL INNOVATION HUB, HELPING ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFY RESILIENCE GAPS AND IMPLEMENT TAILORED SOLUTIONS.
UM, ALI'S ALSO CONTRIBUTES, CONTRIBUTES AS A SENIOR FELLOW AT CYBER FLORIDA, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE HE FOCUSES ON CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND RESILIENCE.
UM, ALI'S AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND, UH, HE'S ALSO, UH, HAD A FINAL ASSIGNMENT IN THE AIR FORCE WHERE HE EXERCISED DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY FOR PRESIDENTIAL PROTECTION AS THE CHIEF PRESIDENTIAL AIRCRAFT SECURITY OFFICER FOR AIR FORCE ONE.
UH, I'M NOW GONNA TURN IT OVER TO RICK, UH, WHO'S GONNA PROCEED WITH THE BULK OF OUR BRIEFING.
ALI IS ON ZOOM, SO WHEN QUESTIONS ARISE, RICK AND I BOTH ARE GONNA DEFER TO ALI AS OUR, UH, SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.
AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNSEL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, IF WE COULD ADVANCE THE SLIDES OR, SORRY, AND THE CLICKER.
SO, UM, AS COLONEL PARKER INDICATED, WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO DO IS PUT A PROPOSAL OUT TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO LOOK AT A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE AROUND OUR MILITARY FACILITIES, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RISK PROFILE IS OF THOSE FACILITIES, AND IF AN ATTACK, WHETHER IT'S A MANMADE ATTACK, LIKE A CYBER ATTACK OR A NATURAL ATTACK SUCH AS A, A HURRICANE, UM, AND MANY OTHERS.
BUT WHAT WOULD THE IMPACTS OF THOSE THINGS LOOK LIKE? AND THEREFORE, WHERE DO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT MAKING DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS TO SHORE UP AGAINST THOSE TYPES OF RISKS? THOSE INVESTMENTS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO COME BACK TO THE COUNCIL, UH, TO THE COUNCIL.
IT COULD BE WE NEED, YOU KNOW, PALMETTO ELECTRIC TO BEEF UP THEIR INVESTMENTS IN ONE AREA, OR BEAUFORT JASPER WATER NEEDS TO IMPROVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING, ET CETERA.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE A VERY INTERCONNECTED ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYBODY RELIES ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND YET AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE NO CLARITY AS TO WHAT THOSE RELIANCES ARE.
AND THEREFORE, IF AN ISSUE OCCURS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT ISSUE? SO THIS ASSESSMENT EFFORT IS REALLY VERY MUCH FOCUSED AROUND BRINGING CLARITY TO THOSE RISKS SO THAT WE CAN THEN BE SMART ABOUT TAKING ACTIONS AND MOVING FORWARD.
THE OTHER IMPORTANT PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S A ONCE AND DONE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ONE TIME HIT, BUT IN FACT, WE WOULD BE IMPLEMENTING A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR AND ENABLE THE COUNTY AND ALL OF THE PARTICIPANTS TO HAVE AN ONGOING VIEW OF WHAT EXPOSURES EXISTS.
SO IF, UH, IF AN INVESTMENT IS MADE TO IMPROVE THINGS IN ONE AREA, HOW DOES THAT IMP YOU KNOW, HOW DOES THAT TRICKLE OUT AND PROVIDE BENEFIT TO THE, UH, REGIONAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE? SO REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE TWO, UM, UH, THAT FACET OF THINGS OF, OF HAVING AN ONGOING PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THINGS LOOK LIKE.
SO THE, THE PROGRAM, THE MEER PROGRAM, WHEN WE STRUGGLED A LITTLE BIT WITH THE NAME, UM, REALLY HAS SIX KEY ACTIVITIES OR, OR AREAS OF
[01:00:01]
CAPABILITY FOR THE COUNTY.UM, THE HAZARD ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK.
SO THIS IS A, UH, TECHNOLOGY WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE RISKS, WHAT ARE THE EXPOSURES, AND HOW WOULD THOSE THINGS IMPACT ONE ANOTHER.
EVERYTHING FROM WE LOSE US, UH, ROUTE ONE 70, THE BRIDGE OVER THE BROAD RIVER GETS TAKEN OUT BY A TERRORIST.
WELL, WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT? HOW DOES THAT TRICKLE DOWN INTO HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES? WHAT WOULD WE HAVE TO DO TO RECOVER FROM THAT, WHETHER IT'S THAT BRIDGE, WHETHER IT'S THE POWER, WHETHER IT'S A HOSPITAL, ET CETERA.
HOW DO THESE THINGS ALL INTERCONNECT WITH EACH OTHER? SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DEPENDENCY ANALYSIS IS, IS ABOUT, IS LOOKING AT EACH OF THOSE AREAS INDIVIDUALLY.
BUT THEN COLLECTIVELY, THE SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS HAS A A BIT MORE OF A MILITARY BASE CENTRIC VIEW.
SO THE BASES NEED TO HAVE FUEL, THEY NEED TO HAVE ELECTRICITY, THEY NEED TO HAVE FOOD, ET CETERA.
SO HOW DO THOSE THINGS COME INTO PLAY? AND AGAIN, IF A BRIDGE IS TAKEN OUT WELL, WHAT IS OUR BACKUP PLAN? HOW DOES THE BASE STAY IN OPERATIONS, ET CETERA, HOW DO THEY GET TO CHARLESTON IF THEY NEED TO DEPLOY EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE PORCH, FOR EXAMPLE? THOSE ARE ALL PHYSICAL SECURITY TYPE OF RISKS AND PHYSICAL RISKS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THUS FAR.
BUT THEN THE OTHER THING, THE, THE NEXT BIG AREAS AROUND CYBER RISK.
SO WE KNOW THAT CYBER IS A BIG EXPOSURE.
AS COLONEL PARKER INDICATED, JUST OVER THE WEEKEND, WE HAD NEW ISSUES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE, AND WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT WE ARE IMMUNE TO THOSE RISKS.
WE HAVE THREE MILITARY BASES SITTING HERE IN THE COUNTY.
AND IF I'M A GOOD ADVERSARY, I DON'T GO AFTER THE MILITARY BASE.
I GO AFTER THE LOCAL PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITY THAT IS PROBABLY DOING AS GOOD AS THEY CAN, BUT ARE THEY DOING GOOD ENOUGH? SO WE ARE, WE WANNA LOOK AT EACH OF THOSE RISKS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE EXPOSURE MIGHT BE AND HOW THAT TRICKLES DOWN TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THEN THE LAST AREA IS AROUND RISK SCORING AND DECISION MAKING.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR EXPOSURES ARE, WHAT OUR INTERDEPENDENCIES ARE, INTERDEPENDENCIES ARE.
NOW LET'S UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN MAKE SOME CHOICES THAT WOULD, UH, IMPROVE THINGS.
SOME OF THOSE MAY BE CHOICES THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL NEEDS TO CONSIDER.
SOME OF THOSE MAY BE PRIVATE SECTOR CHOICES.
UH, SOME OF THEM MAY PLAY OFF OF EACH OTHER.
AND OF COURSE, THERE'S FUNDING OUT THERE THAT WE CAN GO AFTER TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE TO CARRY ALL THE BURDEN OF FIXING THINGS OR IMPROVING THINGS, UH, ON OUR OWN.
SO I HAVE A SERIES OF SLIDES THAT GOES INTO EACH OF THESE CAPABILITIES, WHICH I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO GO THROUGH.
BUT, UM, I THINK THE ONE POINT THAT I WOULD WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, WE'RE ASKING FOR $1.85895 MILLION FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
THIS IS A SET OF FUNDING THAT THEY HAVE HIGHLIGHTED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT, UH, EFFORTS OF THIS NATURE THAT ARE RELATED TO MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE COUNTY TO, UH, PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.
BUT CANDIDLY, THAT WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL THING TO DO, AND IT WOULD SHOW A COMMITMENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS THAT THIS IS SERIOUS, AND WE'RE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT CAREFULLY, AND WE WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
THE REASON, THOUGH, THAT WE'RE HERE IN FRONT OF COUNTY COUNCIL IS, UH, THE, UH, GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY SUCH AS THE COUNTY, HAS TO FORMALLY MAKE THE APPLICATION.
SO I CAN'T APPLY FOR THE MONEY DIRECTLY.
UM, IT HAS TO BE A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
AND SO THEREFORE WE ARE, ARE LOOKING TO LEVERAGE OR, OR, UH, HOPE THAT THE, THE COUNTY WILL SEE THE MERITS IN THIS SO THAT WE CAN, UH, WE CAN PURSUE THE GRANT DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE COUNTY.
SO I'M GOING TO JUMP FORWARD A COUPLE SLIDES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH ANY ONE OF THESE.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT LET YOU ADDRESS OR BRING QUESTIONS FORWARD THAT, THAT MIGHT, UM, THAT YOU MAY HAVE THAT WOULD HELP PRO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY OR ADDRESS YOUR QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AROUND THIS.
SO YES, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THE PROCESS? THE EFFORT THAT WE ARE OUTLINING RIGHT NOW IS EARMARKED AS A TWO YEAR EFFORT.
UH, WE BELIEVE WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT, BUT THAT'S THE TIME PERIOD THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED IN OUR EFFORT OR IN OUR PLANS AT THIS POINT AND START FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO THE AWARD.
WHAT'S THAT TIMEFRAME? UM, THE, THE, SO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DOES TWICE A YEAR SUBMISSIONS.
SO THE NEXT DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 1ST.
UH, THE ONLY REAL HANGUPS THAT WILL PREVENT US FROM MAKING IT THAT DATE WOULD BE IF THE COUNCIL IS ON BOARD OR NOT.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE NEED THE MILITARY BASIS TO BE GIVING, UH, GIVING US A GREEN LIGHT.
[01:05:01]
I AND, UH, ALI GMAN ONLINE ARE WORKING TO GET ALL OF THOSE THINGS DONE.OUR DESIRE IS TO MAKE THE SEPTEMBER 1ST DEADLINE.
UM, THERE ISN'T A HUNDRED THERE, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US A TIMELINE AFTER THAT, BUT WE BELIEVE WITHIN 60 DAYS WE'LL HAVE SOME CLARITY.
THEY MAY COME BACK BACK TO US AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE 1.895 MILLION, BUT WE CAN DO 1.5 MILLION.
OR, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE A LITTLE NEGOTIATION THAT TAKES PLACE.
AND SO THAT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE OVER ROUGHLY A 60 DAY PERIOD.
AND THEN IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE CALENDAR, WE'RE NOW, WE'RE ROLLING INTO THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS KIND OF TIME PERIOD.
SO WE EXPECT THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY KICK THIS OFF PROBABLY IN EARLY JANUARY IN IN EARNEST.
I HAD A COUPLE, UM, I I DID READ THE DOCUMENT.
I THINK IT, I GOT IT ANSWERED.
WHAT IS GEOSPATIAL VISIT? WHAT IS THAT EXACTLY IN READER'S DIGEST VERSION? UH, SO GEOSPATIAL TALKS ABOUT, UH, ESSENTIALLY USING MAPS, CELL LIGHT IMAGERY AND, AND THAT KIND OF INFORMATION.
SO YOU CAN DRAW A LOT OF INSIGHTS, BASICALLY JUST LOOKING, UH, BASED ON THAT.
AND UM, WE ALWAYS SAID QUESTION ABOUT, UM, WE'VE ALWAYS SAID WE ONLY HAVE ONE SOURCE OF WATER FOR ALL THE MILITARY BASES.
AND ARE YOU INVOLVING BEAUFORT, JASPER? I'M SURE YOU ARE.
THEY, THEY WOULD BE ONE OF THE KEY, UM, PARTICIPANTS IN, IN THE, THE EFFORT.
I REMEMBER MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, IN THE EARLY NINETIES, ALL OUR WATER SYSTEM WAS THREATENED.
UM, WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT, BUT I, I BELIEVE YOU.
BUT I MEAN, IT HAPPENED IN, IN, UM, I BELIEVE YOU, IT SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN FOR, UM, A DAY OR SO.
SO ONE, ONE OF THE INTERESTING LEARNINGS THAT WE HAVE AROUND THAT IS, UH, IN FEBRUARY, I GUESS IT WAS, UH, WE DID A DAY LONG CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKSHOP WHERE WE BROUGHT A NUMBER OF PLAYERS, UH, A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS TOGETHER FOR A DAY, UH, INCLUDING THE BEFORD JASPER WATER.
UH, BUT THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION, IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THAT OUR HOSPITALS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE LOSE WATER WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS, THE HOSPITALS HAVE TO SHUT DOWN.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE A HUGE WINDOW OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE FOR OR RECOVER FROM INCIDENTS IF, IF THEY DON'T COME BACK QUICKLY.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A RISK THAT I'M SURE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT.
AND THEN TRYING TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THAT PERIOD OF TIME LONGER? YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED A WATER TOWER FOR THE HOSPITALS? DO WE NEED, YOU KNOW, A SECOND WATER PROVIDER, ET CETERA.
AND WHAT OTHER IS ONE OF, HAS THIS BEEN DONE IN ANOTHER MILITARY COMMUNITY? UM, YEAH.
UM, I, I'LL LET ALI, IF YOU'RE ON ALI, I'LL LET YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE LOCATIONS WHERE WE'VE DONE THIS.
BUT THE, THE STATE OF FLORIDA ACTUALLY CONDUCTED AN EFFORT ALONG THESE SAME LINES.
AND ALI, SO ALI, IF YOU'RE THERE, I'LL LET YOU ON MUTE AND MAYBE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE ELSE THIS HAS BEEN DONE.
ALI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN GO AHEAD.
UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PARTICIPATE.
THE SHORT ANSWER IS THIS ANALYSIS PROCESS, AND THE TOOLS HAVE BEEN AROUND ABOUT 10 YEARS, AND ALMOST 10.
THERE'S, THERE'S 50 PLUS THAT'S BEEN DONE NATIONALLY.
AND THEN THERE'S A PROJECT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, WITH, UH, NATIONAL SECURITY, WITH MILITARY INSTALLATIONS TO DO THE EXACT SAME ANALYSIS.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH THIS ONE IS, BESIDES LEVERAGING THAT ANALYSIS AND THOSE CAPABILITIES, YOU'RE ALSO GETTING THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION OF THE CYBER RISK ASSESSMENT PLATFORM AND VISUALIZATION TOOL THAT WAS USED STATEWIDE IN FLORIDA.
THAT WAS BUILT OUT OVER THREE YEARS THAT WOULD BE APPLIED HERE TOO.
THAT GIVES YOU VERY SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON CYBER MATURITY, RISK AND GAPS.
SO YOU'RE GETTING A, YOU'RE GETTING A CULMINATION OF A LOT OF WORK BEEN DONE OVER MANY, MANY YEARS AND APPLIED IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY TO INCLUDE SOME OF OUR US TERRITORIES.
AND, AND JUST TO, TO BUILD ON KNOWLEDGE, COMMENTS THERE, TO ME, THE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, OF COURSE, IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF EXISTING TECHNOLOGY, A LOT OF KNOW-HOW ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS, A LOT OF DATA THAT WE WILL BE LEVERAGING.
AND CANDIDLY, WE BE INTEND TO BEG, BORROW AND STEAL AS MUCH OF ALI'S KNOWLEDGE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN TO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, BRINGING EVERYTHING TO BEAR FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY.
UM, REALISTICALLY, YOU SAID SEPTEMBER 1ST IS WHEN THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE DONE, CORRECT? UH, IT IS OUR INTENT TO HAVE IT SUBMITTED BY THE FIRST OKAY.
IT'S GOTTA GO THROUGH THE COUNTY TO MAKE THE APPLICATION.
THE COUNTY WOULD BE UTILIZING YOUR EXPERTISE TO ACTUALLY FILL OUT THE APPLICATION, I WOULD ASSUME.
THE, THE APPLICATION DOCUMENT THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS IS ESSENTIALLY THE APPLICATION.
UH, WE'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, THE, UH, MR.
[01:10:01]
MR. MOORE, SORRY, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UM, ABOUT, UH, ESSENTIALLY BEING OUR FACILITATOR TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.BUT THE, THE SUBMITTED PROCESS IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S LITERALLY AN EMAIL TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
UH, AND ALL OF THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND APPROVALS ARE WELL IN FLIGHT AT THIS POINT.
SO THE, THE MAIN, UH, POTENTIAL DELAYS, IF YOU WILL, WOULD BE GETTING YOUR CONCURRENCE AROUND DOING THIS EFFORT, UH, AS A COUNCIL AND GETTING THE OFFICIAL GREEN LIGHT FROM THE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
AGAIN, TWO MEETINGS OF THE THREE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ARE HAPPENING ON WEDNESDAY.
JUST, IF I MAY, JUST A POINT ON THAT, UM, ASSUMING, UH, COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE WOULD WANNA MOVE THIS FORWARD, WE COULD BRING THIS, I KNOW MS. VERNICK, BUT WE COULD BRING THIS TO COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.
ESSENTIALLY AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER OR SUBMIT, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S NO MATCH, FELT IT APPROPRIATE THAT THIS GO THROUGH COUNSEL? UH, YEAH.
SO I READ IT THE FIRST TIME AND THEN I READ IT THE SECOND TIME BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, PAGE 10, THIS IS WHAT COLONEL PARKER HIGHLIGHTED, THAT ALL OF OUR THINGS ARE SO INTEGRATED TRA IT SAYS TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRIC WATER, COMMUNICATIONS, NATURAL GAS, HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC SAFETY.
I DRIVE OVER THE BROAD RIVER BRIDGE.
I DON'T THINK ABOUT IT GOING DOWN AND WHERE THE MILITARY'S GONNA GO AND SO ON.
SO WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS THIS REALLY PRODUCES A WHOLE RISK MANAGEMENT WHERE WE'RE ALL TOGETHER WITH THE HOSPITAL, AS HE SAID.
AND WHAT I REALLY LIKED, THAT WAS ON PAGE 10, BUT WHAT I REALLY LIKED IS, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU READ GRANT APPLICATIONS, THE, THEY HAVE SOME FLUFF IN IT.
THERE'S TIMELINES, THERE'S SPECIFICS, UH, OBJECTIVES, GOALS, EVERYTHING'S SPELLED OUT HERE.
SO WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA GO.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA GET OUT OF IT.
IT'S BEEN, UH, A, A CRAFTING EXERCISE TO GET IT TO, TO THE POINT.
ALRIGHT, SO I GUESS FOR ME, WE, WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR, BUT THERE'S, SO THIS IS JUST APPROVAL FOR YOU TO TAKE YOUR NEXT STEPS? OR DO YOU NEED MORE? I THINK WHAT WE WOULD DO IS, HE MENTIONED EARLIER WE WOULD HAVE A RESOLUTION THAT WE WOULD GET FOR COUNCIL, WHICH WE'LL GET THAT TOGETHER BEFORE NEXT WEEK.
AND I THINK HE ASKED FOR A LETTER AS WELL OF SUPPORT, WHICH WE COULD HAVE THAT SIGNED BY CHAIR.
THERE'S A COVER LETTER THAT GOES ON THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD COME FROM THE COUNTY.
WE DRAFTED A COPY OF THAT AND YOU COULD OF COURSE AMEND TO IT AS YOU, UH, DEEM APPROPRIATE.
SO THAT RESOLUTION WOULD COME TO COUNCIL AND, UM, THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE US TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT.
SO JUST A, A, YES, I THINK WE WOULD NEED A MOTION AND SECOND TO, UH, MOVE THIS TO COUNTY COUNCIL TO DO THE APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT.
I'LL SECOND THAT THE RESOLUTION.
YEAH, WE DON'T DO THE APPLICATION, WE DO THE RESOLUTION, CORRECT.
BUT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TIME SENSITIVE FOR NEXT WEEK.
YEAH, WE WOULD NEED TO, BECAUSE THAT'S THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
THERE'S NO COUNCIL MEETING UNTIL AFTER THE DEADLINE, SO YES MA'AM.
ALRIGHT, JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE COVERING ALL THE BASES.
YOU HAD A MOTION AND YOUR, YOU WERE THE SECOND ON THAT, OR ALICE THE SECOND.
ALRIGHT, SO JOE MADE THE MOTION, ALICE MADE THE SECOND, AND THAT WAS TO BRING THE RESOLUTION FORWARD, UH, BY NEXT WEEK AND THE NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING, CORRECT? MM-HMM
ALONG WITH THE LETTER THAT THE DRAFT LETTER FOR.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? JUST ONE BRIEF QUESTION.
UM, GENTLEMEN, THANKS FOR THE GREAT PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS, THERE ARE 46 COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP THE STATE.
YOU PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT IT ALREADY.
ARE YOU WORKING WITH COLUMBIA TO GET COORDINATED EFFORTS? I MEAN, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK.
AND ARE YOU GOING TO EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNTY OR HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS? SO THIS IS THE FIRST, UH, PASS, IF YOU WILL, OUR FIRST, FIRST REGION IN THE STATE THAT IS PURSUING THIS GRANT.
UH, IT'S THE NATURE OF THE GRANT IS, UH, THAT IT HAS TO BE THE, THE REGION HAS TO BE AIL AFFILIATED WITH MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
SO WHILE THERE ARE 46 COUNTIES IN THE STATE, THERE AREN'T CERTAINLY MILITARY FACILITIES IN EACH COUNTY.
THERE WILL, UH, UNDOUBTEDLY BE A VERSION OF THIS IN CHARLESTON UP IN THE UPSTATE, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA.
UH, WITH THAT SAID, THERE IS A STATEWIDE, UM, RESILIENCE GROUP AS WELL AS THE CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE THAT'S UNDERWAY.
AND BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS ARE AWARE OF THIS GRANT APPLICATION AND INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING IT.
THEY, WE'VE GOT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THEM OR FROM THEM, EXCUSE ME.
AND SO WE, UH, WE FULLY EXPECT THAT SHOULD
[01:15:01]
WE SECURE THIS GRANT, WE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY GO TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE WE HAVE REGIONAL MILITARY FACILITIES.BUT THEN, UM, IDEALLY WE DO THIS ON A STATEWIDE BASIS AND REALLY HELP THE ENTIRE STATE KIND OF ELEVATE ITS CAPABILITIES AND UNDERSTAND THE, THE INTERCONNECTION POINTS BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT WALK BEFORE WE RUN, WE'RE GONNA, WE WANNA START WITH BUFORT COUNTY, PROVE TO EVERYBODY THAT THIS WORKS AND IT MAKES SENSE.
THEN THERE'S VALUE AND THEN WE WOULD TAKE IT TO THE NEXT GROUPS AFTER THAT.
PERHAPS NOT WAITING TWO YEARS, BUT AT LEAST GETTING SOME MOMENTUM WITH THIS INITIAL, UH, WAVE OF WORK.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
AGAIN, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? AND ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVE THE MOTION SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
AND CAN THIS BE PASSED WITHOUT? OBJECTION? YES.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, IT IS PASSED AND THE RESOLUTION WILL COME FORWARD AT THE NEXT COUNCIL OF FULL COUNSEL MEETING.
THANK YOU, UH, COLONEL PARKER AS WELL FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
[9.b. Authorization to Negotiate Lease agreement with Coosaw Community Association Regarding the Coosaw Community Center - Isiah Smalls, Coosaw Community Association 10 minutes]
ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES US TO NINE B, UH, WHICH IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SAU COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE SAU COMMUNITY CENTER.AND, UH, MR. ISAIAH SMALLS, I BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA BE PRESENTING TODAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I AM ISAIAH SMALLS, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BEAUFORT, 45 YEAR HOMEOWNER OVER ON OSA.
UM, I PUT TOGETHER A BRIEF HISTORY THAT I CAN READ IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, AND THEN I'LL JUST HAND THIS OVER SO THAT YOU HAVE THIS, UH, THIS IS REGARDING A CONTRACT OR I'M HERE TO EMPLOY THAT YOU WOULD, UM, PERMIT THE COUNTY TO GO INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE, UH, OSA STANDPOINT.
THE LOCATION OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS ORIGINALLY THE ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE OVER ON CUSSO ISLAND, OPERATED BY BEFORD COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT UNTIL THE LATE 1950S.
HELENA HIGH AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DEDICATED THAT PROPERTY BACK, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE USED AS A COMMUNITY, UH, CENTER.
IN 1984, THE ONE ROOM, UH, SCHOOLHOUSE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE, BUT WAS ONLY INSURED FOR $6,000.
IN 1985, THE SMALL COMMUNITY TOOK THE $6,000 OF INSURANCE FUNDS, A GRANT OF $10,000 FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND ALL THE MONIES THAT IT COULD RAISE AND CONSTRUCTED AN 1800 SQUARE FOOT COMMUNITY CENTER.
THAT COMMUNITY CENTER EXISTS TODAY.
IN THE LATE 1980S, THE COSA ASSOCIATION AND BEFORD COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ENTERED INTO A 25 YEAR LEASE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE SOUTH CAROLINA POWERED FUNDS.
AND WE SECURED A PLAYGROUND, UM, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AND INITIATED SUMMER AND AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAMS. THE SENATE HAS ALSO BEEN USED AS A POLLING LOCATION FOR COUS ISLAND, JUDGE ISLAND AND PARTS OF LADIES ISLAND FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, AND CURRENTLY SERVES THE APPROXIMATELY 2,800 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THREE VOTING PRECINCTS.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, THE SENATE AND THE COUNTY MAINTAINED A MUTUAL BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, UH, WHERE THE COUNTY COULD PROVIDE VALUE SERVICE TO ITS TAXPAYER, TAXPAYERS AT A MINIMAL COST.
AND THE COUNTY AND THE COMMUNITY HAD A PLACE TO MEET, SOCIALIZED, DISSEMINATED IMPORTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION, DISCUSS COMMUNITY, AND RESPOND TO ISSUES.
UH, WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TO REDUCE CRIME AND VANDALISM, ADOPT A HIGHWAY PROGRAM REPORT, LOST AND FOUND IN ANIMALS STAGE HOLIDAY PARADES, AND TWO ANNUAL COMMUNITY SOCIAL EVENTS AT CHRISTIANS AND THE 4TH OF JULY.
THE COMMUNITY HAS TRIED ITS BEST TO PROVIDE A PLACE FOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES, LIMITED TRANSPORTATIONS AND LIMITED MOBILITY, AS WELL AS A PLACE FOR FUN AND SOCIALIZATION, SOCIALIZATION FOR THE YOUNG AND THE YOUNG AT HEART.
THINGS WERE GOING WELL UNTIL SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THE CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AT PARKS AND LEISURE SERVICES RESULTED IN DELAYED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS TO THE CENTER.
AND WE WERE PROHIBITED FROM HAVING ANY FUNDRAISERS FOR THE CENTER AND A VERY COMPLICATED, INCONVENIENT, AND CONVOLUTED ACCESS PROCESS.
UH, LIMITED OUR ACCESS AND RESULT.
THE CENTER WAS, THE CENTER WASN'T USED, AND WE FEEL EITHER BY DESIGN OR UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, THE CENTER BECAME NEGLECTED.
WE HAD BEEN GIVEN THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WOULD, UM, ENTER ANOTHER LEASE WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS LEASE HAD EXPIRED IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT
[01:20:01]
BE MADE AND FUNDED IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET.UH, WE FROM THE COMMUNITY MET PREVIOUSLY WITH MR. EDMONDSON, MS. LOPER AND MR. ERIC LARSON AT THE CENTER TO DISCUSS WHAT WE COULD, WHAT COULD BE DONE, BUT NOTHING CAME TO FRUITION.
I ALSO MET AFTER HE TOOK THE POSITION, THE NEW DIRECTOR, MR. ERIC BROWN, UH, AT THE CENTER TO DISCUSS THE CENTER.
THAT MEETING TOO, UH, WAS FRUITLESS.
IN FACT, WE HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE COUNTY UNTIL THE VERY DAY THAT COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, WAS GOING TO VOTE TO ELIMINATE, UH, THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE CENTER.
UH, AS WE WERE, UM, PUTTING OUT INFORMATION THAT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF COUNCIL MEMBER PATHOLO, WHO ATTENDED ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND, UM, WAS VERY APOLOGETIC BECAUSE HE WAS INVOLVED IN VOTING TO, TO NOT SUPPORT THE CENTER, BUT HAD NOT GOTTEN ALL THE FACTS.
NOW BECAUSE OF HIM, WE ARE, UH, BACK TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE NEEDS OF THIS VERY RURAL COMMUNITY.
UH, WITH THINGS OCCURRING THE WAY IT DID, UH, BETWEEN US AND THE COUNTY, WE LACKED THE FUNDING NEEDED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO FACILITATE AN INVITING, ACCOMMODATING FACILITY AT THE CENTER.
WE ARE SEEKING A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEAR.
AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT FIVE YEAR NOW IS PROBABLY THE MAX, BUT IN THE OLD DAYS WE HAD A 25 YEAR LEASE.
SO WE'RE ONLY LOOKING FOR A FIVE YEAR, UH, LEASE WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO HELP REPAIRING AND UPGRADING THE CENTER.
UH, THESE REPAIRS AND UPGRADES WOULD MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE AND A VIABLE BUILDING SUITABLE FOR USE BY A DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH EVER CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND, UM, WE HAD MADE A LIST I PASSED OUT TO USE OF, OF THE NEEDS OF THE CENTER A METAL ROOF, UM, BE ABLE TO BE COVERED BY THE COUNTY'S INSURANCE, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT WE WOULD GET FROM A PRIVATE ENTITY AS A PRIVATE ENTITY.
UH, JUST REPLACE FOUR WINDOWS, UH, AND GET INTERNET ACCESS FOR WIFI AND SECURITY SYSTEMS. UH, DO SOME BATHROOM UPGRADES.
UH, SAFE, UH, SAFE AND AGE APPROPRIATE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE PUT IN IN THE EIGHTIES WERE ANTIQUATED AND, UM, ACTUALLY COULD NOT BE USED ANYMORE.
UM, PAINTING THE EXTERIOR INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SOUND DAPPING MEASURES AND CONTINUED TO, UH, THE PREVIOUS LEVEL OF GROUND MAINTENANCE THAT THE COUNTY HAD DONE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY WAS CUTTING THE GRASS EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO DURING THE SUMMER.
UH, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO, UM, IS DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT'S UNIQUE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW I REALIZE THAT YOU GET A LOT OF, UM, REQUESTS FROM A LOT OF FOLKS, UM, BUT THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OVER ON OSA AND PARTS OF LADIES ISLAND.
UM, WE ARE A GREAT COMMUNITY, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET MUCH SUPPORT FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY.
SO WE WANTED TO, 'CAUSE EVERYTHING IS GEARED TOWARDS THE YOUNG AND ACTIVE.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE A, A WONDERFUL COMPLEX AT, UM, BURTON WELLS.
UM, I DRIVE THAT 30 MILES, UH, WHEN IT WAS FOR SOCCER SEASON TO GO TO MY GRANDSON'S SOCCER GAME.
AND FROM OSA TO BURTON WELLS IS ALMOST 16 MILES ONE WAY.
UH, A CONVOLUTED ACCESS PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY PREVIOUSLY HAD MADE IT SO DIFFICULT AND SO CHALLENGING.
IF YOU ARE IN OSA TO BURTON WELLS TO PAY DEPOSIT, GET A KEY, BRING THE KEY BACK, USE THE FACILITY, GO BACK, GET YOUR REFUND.
IT WAS JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO THAT COMMUNITY'S USE.
SO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS DEVELOP UNIQUE PROGRAMS FOR, UM, THE, THE FOLKS THAT LIVE ON TUCSON IN THAT PART OF LA LIAISON ON YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE WE TALKED, WE, AND THESE CAME FROM A SURVEY THAT WAS, UH, GIVEN OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THESE, AGAIN, YOUNGER FOLKS HAVE YOUNGER CHILDREN.
SO YOUNGER FOLKS HAVE TRANSPORTATION, GOOD EYESIGHT.
THEY CAN DRIVE AT NIGHT, THEY CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
OUR SENIOR CITIZEN POPULATION OVER ON
A LOT OF THEM USE THEIR GOLF CARTS TO GET RUN ON THE ISLAND.
THEY DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT, BUT THEY WANT SOME KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT AT NIGHT.
SO WE THOUGHT WE PUT OUT A SURVEY, CAME BACK, UM, BINGO NIGHT MOVIE NIGHT KARAOKE NIGHT KNITTING, UM, ARTS AND CRAFT TECHNOLOGY FOR SENIORS.
AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS, UM, VERY IMPORTANT.
'CAUSE MOST OF US, I'M A SENIOR MYSELF, UH, THE ONLY THING I USE MY TELEPHONE FOR IS MY EMAILS, MY TEXT MESSAGES, AND MY TELEPHONE CALLS.
IF YOU ASK ME TO NAVIGATE IT AND, AND DO SOMETHING, UH, TECHNICAL, I CAN'T DO IT.
FORTUNATELY, I HAVE A SON THAT LIVES NEARBY.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SENIORS CAN, CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND USING THOSE THINGS.
SO WE HAVE A, A TECHNOLOGY FOR SENIORS, UH, CPR AND FIRST GATE.
[01:25:01]
PREVENTION, DISASTER EVACUATION AND PREP, BOATING SAFETY, GUN SAFETY, SELF-DEFENSE, DOG TRAINING, TUTORING, UH, FOR OUR YOUTH HISTORY AND ENRICHMENT SERVICES, FITNESS CLASSES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND MEETINGS.THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT OUR CENTER.
SOMETHING THAT'S MAYBE NOT COMPLETELY UNIQUE, BUT CERTAINLY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, I I SAY TO YOU, THE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE THE CENTER AND THE PROPOSED PROGRAM FUN AND CONVENIENT FOR OUR YOUTH.
THE YOUNG ADULTS AND MATURE NEIGHBORS, UH, DOING SO AT A FACILITY THAT IS ONLY MINUTES FROM THEIR HOMES WITHOUT HAVING TO ACQUIRE TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES.
IF THE COUNTY WOULD PERMIT, WE WOULD COORDINATE AROUND THEIR SCHEDULE AND ANY PROGRAMS THAT THEY RECOMMEND OR DESIRE TO IMPLEMENT, WE WOULD NEED TO USE THE TIME DURING THIS CONTRACT PHASE TO DEVISE FUNDING, FUNDRAISING MECHANISMS. SO AT THE END OF THIS LEASE PERIOD, IF THE COUNTY CHOOSES NOT TO RENEW IT, WE'LL BE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO SELF SUSTAIN IN PERPETUITY.
AND SO THAT IS OUR PRESENTATION.
NOW I, I KNOW NORMALLY I OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I, IF I CAN, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT FIRST.
I, I THOUGHT I HADN'T DONE THE DUE DILIGENCE.
I THOUGHT I HAD ALL THE INFORMATION LINED UP AND I THOUGHT WE WERE WORKING ON A BIGGER, BETTER, REGIONALIZED FACILITY THAT COULD COVER A GOOD PORTION OF THE ISLAND.
WELL, LIKE I SAID, I, I MADE THAT MISTAKE, BUT I DO SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THIS CENTER WORK, TO MAKE IT FIT THE COMMUNITY BETTER, AND ALSO MAKE THE ACCESS A LOT, MUCH, A LOT EASIER THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
AND, AND TAKE AWAY THAT BURDEN.
AND I, I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO SUPPORT ENTERING INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND THEN BRINGING FORWARD A, A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR US TO ANALYZE AND, AND VOTE ON.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME REPAIRS OUT THERE.
THE PREVIOUS LEASE IS IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL.
UM, AND SO IF YOU WANT TO ANALYZE THAT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT COOSA AND JUDGE ISLAND AND THE, THE NORTHERN PART OF LADIES ISLAND, THERE'S NOT MUCH OUT THERE.
AND THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY HUBS.
AND UNTIL WE GET, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF LARGER REGIONALIZED FACILITY BUILT, THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S IT.
AND I, I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL, PLEASE TO VOTE YES TO NEGOTIATE, UM, AND HOPEFULLY MAKE THIS A, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND BRING THIS COMMUNITY CENTER INTO BACK INTO OPERATIONAL STATUS.
SO, BUT YEAH, AT THIS POINT, IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
ON THE BOTTOM HERE, IT SAYS, DENOTES ENLISTED, ENLISTING TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, MEANING WHO'S GONNA PAY THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS? WELL, THERE'LL BE, FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE FREE.
UM, WE'VE GOT CITIZENS ON THE ISLAND THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF THIS.
SO THAT'S WHY IT WOULD NOT COST ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
IT'S JUST WE NEED A FACILITY THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE IT AND BE COMFORTABLE.
SO I GUESS, UH, MY POINT WILL BE THERE'S SOME SERIOUS, UM, IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
THE ROOF INTERNET ACCESS, SAFE APP, UH, APPROPRIATE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
WE ALL KNOW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT COSTS PLENTY OF MONEY.
AND SO NONE OF THIS IS IN OUR BUDGET FOR 27.
AND BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS IS, SO I CAN'T MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT ARE WE SIGNING UP FOR HERE AS FAR AS COSTS? I DON'T DISPUTE THAT YOU NEED IT, BUT WE'RE USING PUBLIC, YOU'RE ASKING FOR PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE BUILDING THAT WE DON'T OWN.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ANSWER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED.
'CAUSE WE ALSO HAD A, A MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND, UM, DAVID PATHOLO ME.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO PHASE THIS.
SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR ALL THIS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE, THE CRITICAL THINGS.
THE ROOF IS NECESSARY, UM, SOME OF THE, THE MODIFICATIONS, BUT WE CAN SEE THAT THE PLAYGROUND, KNOWING WHAT IT COSTS, I WORKED IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FOR 30 YEARS, AND SO I MANAGED THE WATERFRONT PARK, THE MARINA, AND ALL THE OTHER VARIOUS PARKS AROUND THE CITY OF BEAVER.
AND SO I KNOW THOSE, THOSE EXPENSES HAVE GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY.
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO DIS PHASE, TAKE CARE OF THE CRITICAL THINGS NOW.
AND WE CAN LOOK AT, UM, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO OR THREE.
AND IT SAYS YOU WOULD DO FUNDRAISING.
SO MAYBE THAT WOULD BE FOR THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
WELL, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, BUT IT WOULD HELP SUSTAIN, UH, ONCE WE'RE, IF THE COUNTY DECIDED DOES NOT WANT TO REENTER, UH, A LEASE AGREEMENT AT THE END OF THE FIVE YEARS, WE SHOULD BE IN THE POSITION TO BE ABLE TO SELF SUSTAIN OURSELVES WITH WHATEVER THE, THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
[01:30:01]
YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN.UM, LET, LET ME, LET ME, UH, I THINK A YEAR AGO WE, WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION AND STAFF MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO DISCONTINUE SUPPORT FOR THIS FACILITY.
NOW THIS FACILITY IS OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND, UM, WE HAD SERVICES GO AHEAD.
YOU CAN DO, YEAH, YEAH, I SAID THAT AFFIRMATIVELY.
BUT AGAIN, IN 1956 WHEN THE BUILDING WAS ACQUIRED BY QUOTE UNQUOTE THE COMMUNITY, IT WAS, IT WAS A PASS DOWN FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BECAUSE IT WAS A ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE.
THEY BOUGHT THAT PROPERTY, THEY BUILT THE SCHOOLHOUSE.
AND THE KIDS WENT FROM KU SAW AND LATER ON TO ST.
SO IT WASN'T LIKE WE BOUGHT PROPERTY AND WE BUILT IT, AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO, IT ORIGINALLY WAS A COUNTY FACILITY, A BOARD BED.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME FROM STAFF, UM, DID NOT SUPPORT CONTINUING THERE BECAUSE OF LACK OF SERVICES.
SO WAS THOSE SERVICES DENIED OR NOT BEING SERVED? I THINK IT WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN, SO YOU HAD SERVICES BEING PROVIDED? WE, WE HAD SERVICES BEFORE.
BUT AGAIN, OVER, OVER THE TIME OF THOSE SERVICES, UH, NEEDED TO CHANGE.
BUT THERE WAS WHEN, AND I'LL JUST SPEAK PLAINLY.
UH, YOU DON'T HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
NO, I DO KNOW THAT, UM, I JUST WANT TO, AND I NOT WANT TO TALK OVER YOU, BUT WE HAD A WONDERFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
BUT AS THE ADMINISTRATION CHANGED, UH, THAT RELATIONSHIP DETERIORATED.
AND I, SO I DON'T NEED THE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I THINK IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTY THAT, UM, THERE WAS A MOVE TO, UH, CENTRALIZE RECREATION.
AND, AND NOW SINCE MR. BRAUN HAS BEEN HERE, UH, THE EFFORT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DECENTRALIZE, GOING BACK TO COMMUNITY AREAS AND STUFF.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD SUPPORT, UM, UM, A A A A DIALOGUE.
A COMMUNICATION DIALOGUE WITH, WITH, UM, THIS COMMUNITY AND PALS TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THIS FACILITY AND, UM, BRING BACK SOME RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE SINCE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET.
IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE TALKS ABOUT WHEN WE'RE BUILDING THE NEXT BUDGET, FINDING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THE COMMUNITY, FINDING OUT WHAT THE PROGRAMS ARE SO THAT WHEN WE ENTER INTO A NEGOTIATED LEASE, WE NOW KNOW SPECIFICITY AT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THERE, WHAT PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO BE DONE THERE, WHAT THE DIRECTION OF THE PROGRAM IS.
UM, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION AT THIS POINT IN TIME FOR US TO MAKE THE APPROPRIATE DECISION BECAUSE AS OUR, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SAID, WE DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE COSTS.
AND THAT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE BUILT IN FOR THE NEXT BUDGET, IF I MAY, I I THINK THIS ALLOWS THE ADMINISTRATOR TO GO NEGOTIATE AND BRING THOSE COSTS FORWARD AND TO GIVE US THAT MORE INFORMATION.
THAT'S ALL WE'RE AT THIS STAGE RIGHT HERE, IS JUST HE NEEDS AUTHORIZATION TO GO BACK OUT THERE AND FIGURE IT OUT.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT, WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS IS THAT EXACTLY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
DOES COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL WANT US TO REENGAGE IN THE NEGOTI NEGOTIATION WITH, UM, THE COMMUNITY MR. CHAIRMAN? YES.
WHAT MR. GLOVER SAID, WOULD THAT BE IN THE FORM OF A MOTION, WHAT HE AUTHOR? WELL, I BELIEVE THERE'S ALREADY A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE THE LEASE.
AND PART OF THAT NEGOTIATION WOULD BE TO ANALYZE THESE COSTS.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER MOTION OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE ANOTHER MOTION.
AND I, I'D JUST LIKE TO COMMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THREE OF THE PEOPLE, THIS IS A EXCELLENT HISTORY.
BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THREE OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT WITH THE COUNTY ANYMORE.
SO, BUT THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.
RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.
AND I'LL SAY, I, I LEARNED IN THE PROCESS HERE, AND I, AND I THINK THE COUNTY'S ACTUALLY TAKEN THIS, UM, UNDER ADVISEMENT AND MAKING STEPS TO CORRECT IT.
THERE WAS A RESERVATION ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, UM, WHERE I BELIEVE YOU HAD TO DRIVE FROM RESERVE IT, DRIVE FROM COOSA JUDGE ISLAND, ALL THE WAY OUT TO BURTON WELLS, PUT YOUR DEPOSIT DOWN, PICK UP THE KEY, TAKE IT BACK, ACCESS IT, AND THEN DRIVE ALL THE WAY BACK AND GET YOUR DEPOSIT BACK,
[01:35:01]
AND THEN RETURN THE KEY.AND THAT'S, AND THAT BACK AND FORTH, BACK AND FORTH, THAT ADDS UP.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF TIME OUTTA YOUR DAY, WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN WHY IT'S UNDERUTILIZED.
AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN CORRECT THAT.
UM, AND, AND BACK IN THE FIFTIES, THAT PROBABLY TOOK 10 MINUTES.
NOW IT TAKES PROBABLY AN HOUR TO DO ALL THAT
ACTUALLY IT DID AND IT TOOK LONGER 'CAUSE WE WERE ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT.
SO MR. UM, GLOVER MADE THE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE NEGOTIATE A LEASE AGREEMENT.
MY CONCERN IS, AND THIS IS WHAT MR. PASSMAN SAID, I DON'T WANNA AUTHORIZE ANYTHING FOR A LEASE AGREEMENT TILL WE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO.
I'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE READINGS.
WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY FACTS.
SO THAT, THAT'S PART OF THE NEGOTIATION.
IS TO OBTAIN THOSE FACTS AND GENERATE THE LEASE.
WELL, THIS SAYS ENTER A LEASE AGREEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE THE FACTS TO COME BACK AND THEN TALK ABOUT LEASE.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR ANY LEASE.
THIS IS AUTHORIZATION OF NEGOTIATION.
AND THEN, SO WE DON'T HAVE BUDGET MONEY.
IF YOU WANNA CHANGE THE MOTION, JUST REDO THE MOTION AND TAKE OUT THE LEASE PART OF IT AND JUST REDO THE MOTION.
I WAS JUST GONNA, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEXT BUDGET PROCESS.
CORRECT? THE, THE AUTHORIZATION FOR ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE FORWARD IS AN APPROPRIATE ONE.
BRINGING A LEASE TO US IS FAST AT THIS POINT IN TIME WITHOUT FUNDING SOURCES IS VERY PROBLEMATIC.
AND CERTAINLY WE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM.
BUT I, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO START THAT PROCESS BECAUSE IT NOW BECOMES PART AND PARCEL OF THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE.
AND, AND JUST ADD THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PREVIOUS LEASE HAD UTILITIES AS PART OF THAT WHERE THE COUNTY PAID THOSE AND THE MAINTENANCE AND SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND TO YOUR POINT, THOSE ARE NOT FUNDED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
BUT, UH, WE COULD CERTAINLY GO AND NEGOTIATE AND BRING THAT BACK TO MR. MANN'S POINT AND MAKE IT PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UNLESS YOU WANTED US TO LOOK AT THIS MIDYEAR.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T SPENT AND WHAT PROGRAM ARE WE NOT GONNA DO.
SO TO YOUR POINT, WE COULD BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, DIRECTION WE NEED FROM COUNSEL.
AND I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO MOVE IT TO COUNSEL AND THEN FOR FULL COUNSEL TO AUTHORIZE US TO COME BACK WITH SOMETHING.
I JUST WANNA, MR. SMALLS UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT IN THIS BUDGET, SO NOT HAPPENING TILL NEXT JULY ANYWHERE.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GIVEN THE NEEDS FOR THE MAINTENANCE, IT'S ONLY GOING TO EXACERBATE THE EXISTING PROBLEMS IF YOU HAD A ROOF IN YOUR LEAK, UM, IF YOU HAD A LEAK IN YOUR ROOF, YOU WOULDN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT JULY OR AUGUST TO, TO REPAIR IT.
BUT SIR, YOU OWN IT RIGHT NOW, CORRECT? I DON'T OWN IT, MA'AM.
WHOEVER THE COSA COMMUNITY OWNS IT.
SO YOU, THE COMMUNITY COULD MAKE THE REPAIRS.
YOU'RE SAYING YOU WANNA WAIT FOR THE COUNTY TO DO IT.
I, I'M SAYING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN'T MAKE THE REPAIRS.
UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
AND, AND I'M GONNA INTERJECT HERE.
TAB, UH, LOOKING AT THE 2008 LEASE MM-HMM
IT SAYS THE COUNTY HAS INSPECTED THE PREMISES AND THE PREMISES ARE NOW IN A TENABLE AND GOOD CONDITION.
ANY SUCH MAJOR REPAIRS, IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE TO THE STRUCTURE, SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO FLOORS, WALLS, ROOFS, CEILINGS, SEWER LINES AND MAJOR ELECTRIC REPAIRS SHALL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND TENABLE IN GOOD CONDITION AT THE SOLE EXPENSE OF THE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY DIDN'T DO PROPER MAINTENANCE AND THEN WE SEVERED THE LEASE AND WE LEFT THEM WITH A COMMUNITY CENTER THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY.
WELL YOU SAY THAT, I DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT.
WE HAVE 16,000 PEOPLE ON LADIES ISLAND AND WE HAVE TWO COMMUNITY CENTERS.
WE JUST NEGOTIATE AND WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT TO IN A LEASE IS A CONTRACT.
JUST, JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARITY SO THAT WE ALL UNDERSTAND, UH, THE SITUATION AT HAND.
UM, TAB REFERS TO THIS BEING A PRIVATE, UM, UH, BUILDING IT, IT IS PRIVATE, BUT WE ALL MUST UNDERSTAND IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY DOESN'T OWN ANY OF THOSE FACILITIES THAT THEY OPERATE, UH, UH, FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS.
THEY'RE ALL, THEY'RE ALL PRIVATE AND THEY'RE ALL LEASED TO THE COUNTY
[01:40:01]
FOR A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME.AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN THIS PROCESS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU BRING THE, BRING THE, THE PROJECT FORWARD AND WORK OUT THE, THE DETAILS AND THEN ENTER INTO A LEASE TO WHERE THE COUNTY WOULD THEN GO IN AND START OPERATIONAL FOR THE RECREATION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU MS. DAWSON.
SO WE DO NOT OWN LIKE AGNES MAJOR OR THOSE? I DON'T THINK SO, DO WE? I DON'T THINK SO.
MAYBE YOU COULD HELP WITH THAT QUESTION.
SO BELL COMMUNITY CENTER AND UM, AGNES MAJOR ARE THE SITES, I'M SORRY, DELL COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE SCOTT CENTER ARE THE SITES AND BOOKER T THOSE SITES HAVE LEASE AGREEMENTS ON THEM, BUT A LEASE AGREEMENT IS NOT A FIVE YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT IF WE'RE GONNA PUT ANYWHERE FROM 400 TO $500,000 IN IT, THOSE ARE 49 YEAR AGREEMENTS.
SO THE AGREEMENTS WE HAVE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT COUNTY FUNDS GOING INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T OWN, RIGHT? WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET AT LEAST THAT AMOUNT OF YEARS OUT OF THE MONEY WE SPLIT, WE PUT INTO A FACILITY.
SO THE THREE SITES I NAMED, WE HAVE 25 YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE RENEWAL OF 25.
SO A 50 YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT ON THOSE THREE SITES.
BUT WE PUT IN ANYWHERE FROM 300 TO $400,000 INTO THOSE SITES.
TWO OF THEM BRAND NEW PLAYGROUNDS.
PLAYGROUNDS TODAY AT THE SIZE THAT WE PUTTING IN 130,000 FOR A PLAYGROUND.
UM, SO WE, A LEASE AGREEMENT WILL ACTUALLY WOULDN'T BE A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T RENEW THE FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT.
THE COUNTY DON'T RECRUIT THE FUNDS THAT WE WENT INTO THE FACILITY.
AND A QUESTION, WHY ARE WE DOING A FIVE YEAR MR. SMALLS? YOU SAID FIVE YEARS? I DIDN'T.
WE SAID FIVE YEARS SIMPLY BECAUSE, UH, WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY WAS GOING TO BE WILLING TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
WE HAD PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD 2 25 YEAR LEASES BECAUSE WE UTILIZED STATE FUNDS.
I DON'T THINK, I THINK WE ARE AMENABLE TO A LONGER LEASE.
I JUST WANTED TO TRY AND AND ACQUIRE SOME HELP.
MR I THINK, I THINK, I THINK WE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE ALL THAT I RIGHT.
WAS ABOUT SAY THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S GOING TO AUTHORIZE ADMINISTRATION TO BEGIN THE PROCESS RIGHT.
OF SETTING UP A NEW LEASE AND NEGOTIATING TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THAT LEASE.
AND THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR IF I MAY ADD, IF YES, MR. CHAIR.
UM, I INCLUDED A BIG ESTATE, UH, JENKINS COMMUNITY CENTER LEASE AGREEMENT AND YOUR PACKAGE AND THAT WAS FOR 25 YEARS.
AND WE WOULD AGREE FOR LEASE AGREEMENT.
TYPICALLY OUR CONTRACTS ARE FIVE YEARS, BUT FOR LEASE AGREEMENT IT COULD CERTAINLY BE LONGER.
AND I, WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IN THIS CASE IF COUNTY'S GONNA MAKE AN INVESTMENT.
AND I, I SEE ALICE WALKED AWAY, BUT UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENT OR QUESTIONS? AND DO WE NEED TO MODIFY THE MOTION? 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S AS, AS WRITTEN, BUT IT, IT STILL ALLOWS FOR THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
IT DOESN'T SAY THE TERM RIGHT.
IT DOESN'T SAY WHEN IT STARTS, IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT IT ENDS AND IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT'S IN THERE.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE CORRECT.
AS PART OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FUND THIS PARTICULAR PLACE.
SO I'M OKAY WITH EXACTLY WHAT THE, AND I WOULD ASK, ASK THAT THE COMMUNITY BE INVOLVED IN THAT NEGOTIATION.
WE DON'T WANT, WE WOULD NOT LIKE FOR THE COUNTY TO COME AND PRESENT SOMETHING AND SAYS, YOU NEED TO SIGN THIS.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COUNTY CAN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE WITHOUT YOU.
I THINK WE NEED TO CALL THE QUESTION.
WE STILL HAVE A LARGE AGENDA TO GET THROUGH BEFORE FOUR O'CLOCK.
SO I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS OR CAN THIS BE DONE? UM, WITHOUT ANY OBJECTION.
SO THIS WILL BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY.
[9.c. Discussion of Animal Services Operations - Jasper County Councilman Chris VanGeison 10-15minutes]
UH, MOVING INTO AGENDA NINE C UH, THE DISCUSSION OF ANIMAL SERVICES OPERATIONS AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, JASPER COUNTY, COUNCILMAN CHRIS VAN GEEN, UM, YOU'RE UP AND I BELIEVE MR. ROBINSON, YOU ARE AS WELL INTRODUCE OUT OF MR. VAN GEEN VERY QUICKLY.UH, IN JULY OF 2025, BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JASPER COUNTY ENTERED INTO AN EMERGENCY, UH, MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE CARE OF ANIMAL SERVICES, UH, THAT PROVED TO BE A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MOU.
UH, THIS COLLABORATION EFFORT PRODUCED POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS WHILE FOSTERING
[01:45:01]
NEW PARTNERSHIPS.UH, THIS WORK DEMONSTRATED VALUE AND EFFICIENCIES THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH GREAT GREATER COOPERATION.
ABOUT A WEEK AGO ON, UH, FRIDAY, JULY 24TH, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFS FROM JASPER COUNTY AND BEAUFORT COUNTY AND SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, MR. VAN GESSEN IN INCLUDED, UH, MET TO DISCUSS SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND EXPLORE WAYS TO BUILD UPON THE SUCCESS OF OUR PAST PARTNERSHIP.
UM, UH, MR. VAN GESSEN IS HERE TODAY TO, UH, THIS AFTERNOON TO CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION IN THE PUBLIC FORUM AND EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION, UH, WHICH WILL BENEFIT BOTH OF OUR COUNTIES.
THANK Y'ALL FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, SO AS, AS MR. ROBINSON SAID, WE DID MEET LAST WEEK AND WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL THINGS AND THERE WAS A YOUNG LADY HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL HERE.
SHE BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD POINTS AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, SO WHAT, BASICALLY WHAT CAME OUT OF THE MEETING LAST WEEK WAS, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER AN ADVISORY BOARD TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
WE, WE AT JASPER COUNTY HAVE ALREADY STARTED, UH, ORDINANCES TO PRETTY MUCH MATCH BEAUFORT COUNTIES.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE IN LOCKSTEP AS THIS PROCESS IS TO GO FORWARD.
AND RIGHT NOW AS IT IS, THIS IS JUST A CONVERSATION TO SEE IF THIS CAN WORK AND WILL WORK.
UM, IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY WATER, JASPER COUNTY, BEAUFORD COUNTY WATER SERVICES HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN GREAT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'D BE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH, UM, TAX BASES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND JASPER.
AND BY NO MEANS, AND I SAID THIS IN THE MEETING LAST WEEK, IS JASPER COUNTY LOOKING TO LEAN ON BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR ANY HELP OR ANYTHING IN THAT ASPECT AS FAR AS MONIES? UM, THIS YEAR WE DID BOOST OUR, UM, UH, OUR MONIES FOR THE, FOR THE, THE COUNTY, UH, SHELTER TO, UH, 764,000 I BELIEVE, OR 7 68.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'LL TAKE CARE OF US PRETTY WELL THIS YEAR.
UH, WE'VE GOT MONIES IN THERE FOR SPAY NEUTERING, UM, FOR DOING, UM, FOR TAGGING THE ANIMALS.
UM, AND IT'S BEEN GOING FANTASTIC.
I I COULDN'T ASK FOR IT TO BE ANY BETTER WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IT'S KIND OF A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY IF YOU GO IN THERE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE ANIMALS ARE IN THE HEAT, THEY'RE IN THE COLD.
UM, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GONNA WORK ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS AS A COUNTY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO FOR A FACILITY IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO THAT'S KINDA WHAT WE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, IS PUTTING TOGETHER AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT ANIMAL, UM, CONTROL, POSSIBLY MERGING OUR ANIMAL CONTROL OF BUFORT COUNTY.
UM, WE HAVE SPOKE PERSONALLY, I'VE SPOKE WITH HARDY BILL.
I KNOW OUR, UH, INTERN ADMINISTRATORS WORKING WITH RIDGELAND AND HARDY BILL ALSO 'CAUSE WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THE SAME ORDINANCES THAT JASPER COUNTY HAS.
THAT'S, THOSE, UH, CONVERSATIONS HAVE GONE WELL.
UM, I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE GUYS ON BOARD IN THE, UH, THE YOUNG LADY, UH, MENTIONED.
I SAID SOMETHING IN A MEETING ABOUT DOING REGIONAL, WHICH WOULD BE HAMPTON COUNTY.
WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE IS THAT IT'D BE NICE FOR HAMPTON COUNTY TO ADOPT OUR ORDINANCES ALONG WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY ORDINANCES.
AND WE COULD GET CARLTON COUNTY POSSIBLY TO DO THE SAME THING.
UM, AND THE ONE THING I CAN SAY IS WE'VE KEPT OUR SHELTER OPEN AND, AND IN THE PAST, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT UPSET WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON PRIOR AT OUR JASPER COUNTY SHELTER.
UM, AND I DON'T WANT EM TO GET INTO A, HE SAID SHE SAID THING, BUT WE WERE TURNING AWAY ANIMALS AND THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO ME WHEN WE'RE AS TAXPAYERS, YOU KNOW, GIVING MONEY, UM, THAT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE.
IT IS SO MUCH BETTER TODAY THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S GOT A LONG WAY TO GO YET.
AND WE APPRECIATE BEAUFORT COUNTY SO MUCH.
'CAUSE IT WOULD'VE NEVER HAPPENED WITHOUT YOU GUYS.
UM, THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE DIRECTOR OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER, BEAUFORT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, DIRECTOR OF HILTON HEAD HUMANE HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.
AND, UM, WE CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH.
UM, I WILL BE LEAVING THE COUNCIL, UH, IN JANUARY.
MY PLAN IS TO, UH, BE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD.
I THINK WE DECIDED WE WOULD DO THREE PEOPLE FROM JASPER COUNTY ON THE ADVISORY BOARD, ONE FROM HARDY
[01:50:01]
V, ONE FOR RIDGELAND, AND THEN JASPER COUNTY.AND THEN BEAUFORT COUNTY WOULD HAVE FOUR, SO IT'D BE A TOTAL SEVEN ON THE ADVISORY BOARD TO COME TOGETHER, DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, YOU KNOW, WORK OUT ALL THE DETAILS AND SEE IF THIS CAN HAPPEN.
AND, UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD, IT'S THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
WE WERE DOING AD HOC BEFORE ADVISORY.
I, I, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET IT CONFUSED.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AND THAT'S HOW WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD.
UM, I MEAN, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR, FOR ME OR, I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING.
COUNCIL, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? YEP.
TOM, GO AHEAD AND COUNCILMAN VAN GEEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I REMEMBER THAT JULY MEETING, UM, I, I FORGET WHERE IT WAS, SHERIFF'S PLACE OR WHATEVER, UM, WHERE WE CAME TOGETHER AND I HAD A QUESTION THEN I HAVE IT NOW.
YOU MET LAST WEEK, UM, AND BROUGHT OUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND ALL WITH FRANNIE OF HILTON HAD HUMANE AND, AND TALLULAH.
WERE THEY PART OF THAT MEETING AND IF SO, WHAT, WHAT ARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND HOW MUCH WE GONNA, UM, HAVE HILTON HEAD HUMANE HELP OR DIRECT? HOW, WHERE'S ALL THAT GONNA COME FROM? THE HELP OR THE ORDINANCE, THE ANIMAL CONTROL, UM, ALL THAT.
WHERE, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM HILTON HEAD HUMANE? WELL, ACTUALLY I'D LIKE HILTON HEAD HUMANE TO, TO OVERSEE IT.
UM, AND I'VE TALKED WITH FRANNIE ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF, OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS NOW.
BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN AROUND ABOUT 27 YEARS OR MORE.
I THINK SHE'S GOT A LOT TO OFFER.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT, UM, TALLULAH AND FRANNIE HAVE BEEN PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.
YES, THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC ACTUALLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING MOTION THAT THIS COMMITTEE DIRECT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO CREATE A RESOLUTION TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL TO CREATE THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF SEVEN MEMBERS, THREE FROM JASPER COUNTY, FOUR FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY TO ALIGN JASPER AND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCES, CONSIDER SHARED OR JOINT ANIMAL, UH, SHELTER SERVICES.
AND, UH, PREPARING RE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEREFORE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS OF CAPITAL IN INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE ABOVE EFFORT AND ANY OTHER TASKS INSPIRED BY THE CONVERSATION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.
ALRIGHT, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? JUST ONE POINT TO ADD IS THAT, UH, YOU ALL WOULD APPOINT THE MEMBERS, THE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD APPOINT THE MEMBERS ONCE THE RESOLUTION'S BEEN PASSED, ASSUMING IT'S PASSED.
UH, SEEING NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION.
IT WILL BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNCIL TO BRING FORTH A RESOLUTION OUTLINE IS A MOTION THAT JOE PUT FORTH.
ALRIGHT, AND THAT TAKES US, I'M GONNA TRY TO SPEED RUN THROUGH THESE SO THAT YORK CAN START HIS MEETING AS CLOSE TO BEFORE SPEED ROUND.
DO WHAT? THE SPEED ROUND? YEAH, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET IT DONE.
[9.d. Authorize the County Administrator to enter into a contract with EMS Management & Consultants, Inc to provide billing services for Beaufort County EMS. (FISCAL IMPACT: 4.95% of net collections, billing revenue ranges between $5.5 and $6 million per year.) - John Robinson ACA 2 min]
D AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH EMS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTANTS.DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU ALICE AND JOHN, I BELIEVE YOU'RE, YOU'RE PRESENTING CERTAINLY I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.
THIS IS A BILLING SERVICE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS. UM, THE, YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF THE COST.
IT'S 4.995% OF THE AMOUNT OF BILLING THAT THEY COLLECT.
SO ITS AVERAGE COST IS BETWEEN 270 AND $300,000 PER YEAR THAT THE CONTRACT WILL COST.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.
SO MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM LETTER E? THAT'S ANOTHER BILLING SERVICE.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS THE FIRST BILLING WHEN YOU UH, WHEN YOU CALL E EMM S THIS IS IF THEY DON'T PAY LATER, THE NEXT ONE IS IF THEY DON'T PAYS IT'S CURRENT ACCOUNTS VERSUS DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS BECAUSE YOU GET A LOT OF MONEY ON DELINQUENTS.
AND THIS, DOES THIS NEED TO COME FORWARD TO COUNCIL? YES.
IS IT TIME SENSITIVE? NO, NOT NECESSARILY.
SO, UM, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? NO.
CAN THIS MOVE FORWARD TO COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION? YES.
SO NO OBJECTION WILL BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
[9.e. Authorize the county administrator to enter into a contract with Cedars Business Services, LLC to provide billing collection services for Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services. (FISCAL IMPACT: 12.39% of collections for accounts less than 365 days old, 18.99% of collections for accounts greater than 365 days old) - John Robinson ACA 2 minutes]
[01:55:01]
E AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR INTO A CONTRACT WITH CEDARS BUSINESS SERVICES LLC TO PROVIDE BILLING COLLECTION SERVICES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.ALL, ALL RIGHT, JOHN, YOU'RE BACK UP.
UNLESS THERE'S, IS THERE ANYTHING FURTHER? I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION.
SEEING NO OBJECTION, DID TOM, DID WE LOSE TOM? YES.
ALRIGHT, WELL, ALRIGHT, SO THAT'LL BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION.
[9.f. Authorize the County Administrator to approve an open purchase order not to exceed $300,000 to facilitate the purchase of medical supplies for Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services. (FISCAL IMPACT: Up to $300,000 1000-20-1230-52010 - balance $395,365.50) - John Robinson ACA 3 min]
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE AN OPEN PURCHASE ORDER NOT TO EXCEED 300,000 TO FACILIT, FACILITATE THE PURCHASE OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT TAB WITH A SECOND.
UH, JOHN, DO YOU WANT TO PRESENT A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS? CERTAINLY.
UH, OPEN PURCHASE ORDERS ARE A COMMON PRACTICE FOR, UH, COUNTY DEPARTMENTS TO PURCHASE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.
THIS ONE JUST EXCEEDS THE ADMINISTRATOR'S, UH, AUTHORIZED AMOUNT AND THAT OF COMMITTEE.
SO IT NEED TO COME TO COMMITTEE AND COUNSEL FOR THAT APPROVAL.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS? ANY CONCERNS, COMMENTS? YES.
IS THIS A ONE-TIME PURCHASE FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR? NO, MA'AM.
THESE ARE PURCHASES THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR? NO, I MEAN THE 300,000 MAX.
THE ESTIMATED COST OF OUR MEDICAL SUPPLIES REALLY DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT WE RUN AND THE, AND AND THOSE.
WE EXPECT SOMEWHERE AROUND TWO 40 TO TWO 70, UH, $300,000 IS A NOT TO EXCEED.
SO THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM, UH, JUST IN CASE WE HAVE MORE INCIDENTS OR MORE TRAUMA, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I READ THROUGH IT, I SEE IT'S BY BOARD AND I'M JUST CURIOUS THAT IT'S A DUBLIN, OHIO.
THERE'S NO SOUTH CAROLINA COMPANY ON THIS BY BOARD.
UM, SO WHAT IS, WHAT HAS HAPPENED? DO YOU SEE THE COMPANY THAT'S LISTED AS REE? THEY WERE A VERY LARGE COMPANY.
THEY SELL PRODUCT ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES AND THEY HAVE HONESTLY BOUGHT UP ALL THE SMALL PROVIDERS.
SO IT IS A STATE PURCHASE, OR NOT A STATE PURCHASE, BUT A COOPERATIVE PURCHASING.
UH, AND THEY'RE GONNA BE THE NUMBER ONE PROVIDER FOR THOSE, FOR THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT WE USE.
I SAW IT WAS A 28% DISCOUNT, SO THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
THERE'S NOTHING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
ALL COMPANIES HAVE, UH, BEEN BEATEN OUT.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? ALRIGHT, CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION? YES.
[9.g. Approve the purchase of Ten (10) LifePak 35, cardiac monitors and associated accessories. (FISCAL IMPACT: $494,711.17 #4000-80-1230-54420-27004 balance of $620,000) - John Robinson ACA 3 min Howell Youmans]
INTO NINE G.UH, APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 10 LIFE PACK 35 CARDIAC MONITORS AND ASSOCIATED ACCESSORIES.
UH, LAST YEAR WE HAD A, A SIMILAR, UM, REQUEST TO PURCHASE 10 CAR CARDIAC MONITORS.
SO WE REPLACED HALF OF OUR FLEET OF MONITORS LAST YEAR.
UH, AND THEN WE TOLD YOU WE'D BE COMING BACK THIS YEAR FOR THAT CAPITAL EXPENSE.
SO THESE ARE AGAIN APPROVED, UH, CAPITAL EXPENSE IN OUR, UH, CIP PLAN FOR THE YEAR.
WE DID, UH, WE ARE HAD THE ABILITY TO SELL BACK EIGHT OF THOSE, UH, OLD UNITS, WHICH RAISES $52,000.
SO THAT'S ALMOST THE COST OF A SINGLE UNIT.
THE LIFE PACK FIFTEENS THAT WE'RE REPLACING HAVE JUST REACHED END OF LIFE.
UH, SO THIS IS A NORMAL PRO, UH, PROGRESS FOR BEAVER COUNTY.
EMS. YOU, YOU PROBABLY SEE IN THE REST OF THE A IS THESE ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING SYSTEMS. THEY'RE COMPATIBLE WITH THE HOSPITAL.
THERE IS NO GRANT FOR THIS TYPE OF MATERIAL.
UM, AND UM, THEY'RE REALLY DURABLE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.
ANY COME, CAN WE DO A MOTION AND SECOND WITH THE NO, WE DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION.
I'M TRYING TO SPEED RUN ON THAT, BUT THERE'S A MOTION TO OPEN THE ITEM, BUT, ALRIGHT.
I'LL SECOND IT JOE, WITH THE MOTION TO HAVE WITH A SECOND.
IS THERE, UM, ANY OBJECTION, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR ANYTHING? ALRIGHT.
SEEING CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITHOUT OBJECTION? YEP.
[9.h. Authorize the County Administrator to enter a contact for service with Trinity Services Group for Beaufort County Detention Center Food Services Program. (FISCAL IMPACT: Cost based on inmate population, Ave 220 inmates $410,829.38 acct.1000-20-1250-51200 FY 27 Food Service budget is $452,241.) - John Robinson ACA 3 min]
NINE H, WHICH IS AUTHORIZED A COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR SERVICE WITH TRINITY SERVICES GROUP FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM.CAN WE GET A MOTION TO SECOND? I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
THE, UH, TRINITY FOOD SERVICE GROUP IS OUR CURRENT PROVIDER.
UM, THEIR CONTRACT, UM, WAS A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT, SO THERE'S EXPECTATION THAT WE PUT THIS OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID EACH FIVE YEARS.
SO WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WE HAD SEVERAL BIDDERS, UH, THAT BID ON THE, ON THE, UH, CONTRACT.
THIS WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF ROUNDS OF REVIEW AND INTERVIEW AND, UM, TRINITY FOOD SERVICE WAS THE MOST RESPONSIVE BIDDER ONCE AGAIN.
UM, SO THAT CONTRACT COMES BACK FORWARD, UM, BECAUSE IT IS, IT IS BASED ON THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF INMATES.
UH, BUT BASED ON 220 INMATES, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW OUR AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION, THAT CONTRACT IS $410,829
[02:00:02]
AND 38 CENTS.ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? THIS REALLY EXPLAINED WELL AND SO CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION.
ALRIGHT, SO YOU HAVE NO OBJECTION.
WILL BE MOVED FORWARD AND MOVING INTO NINE I
[9.i. A Resolution to adopt an updated parks and recreation fee schedule for programming and facility use. (FISCAL IMPACT: The adoption of the updated fee schedule is expected to result in increased revenue generation that will help offset rising operational and maintenance costs within the Parks and Recreation Department. While exact revenue impacts will vary based on participation levels and facility usage, the revised structure is projected to improve overall cost recovery and reduce reliance on General Fund subsidies.) - Eric Brown, Park and Recreation, Director]
A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT AN UPDATED PARKS AND RECREATION FEE SCHEDULE FOR PROGRAMMING AND FACILITY USE.DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
YOU DOING? SPEAKING OF ANTIQUATED, SO THIS, THIS HASN'T BEEN DONE SINCE 2012.
AND, UH, OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR WILL ACTUALLY GIVE SOME INPUT ON IT, REAL SHORT, REAL BRIEF, AND REAL SHORT.
UM, AND WE DID ALIGN THIS WITH OUR ASSISTANT CITIES AND COUNTIES AROUND US, SO, AND WE'RE STILL THE, SOME OF THE LOWEST AT SOME OF THE LOWEST RATES.
MY NAME IS AGAIN, SHANE SAGER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
UM, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHORTEN THIS INTO 30 SECONDS, BUT, UM, EFFECTIVELY WE DID AN ANALYSIS OF OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO, REALIZED OUR RATES HAVEN'T CHANGED.
UM, SOME OF THEM HAVE ACTUALLY GONE DOWN OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED TO, UM, COUNSEL SOME UPDATES TO THOSE FEES IN A MODERATE, UM, IMPACT TO OUR FEE PAYING, UM, CUSTOMERS.
UM, WE HAVE PRESENTED THIS TO THE ADVISORY BOARD WHO WAS THE PREVIOUS BOARD WHO, UM, APPROVED APPROVED FEES.
UM, WE DID THAT IN EARLY JULY AND WE PRESENTED YOU THE FEES HERE.
I CAN GO MORE INTO DEPTH IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
UM, WE HAVE INTRODUCED SOME, SOME, UM, LARGER PIECES.
SO IT'S NOT JUST AN, IT'S NOT JUST AN INCREASE.
UM, WE HAVE PRESENTED SOME CAMP FEES, UH, FOR OUTLINE FEES, UH, FOR OUTLYING CENTERS TO HIT THE OUTLYING COMMUNITIES THAT MAY BE LESS AFFLUENT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PAY LESS THAN THOSE WITH FULL ACCESS TO FACILITIES.
SO THAT IS A ACTUAL DECREASE IN, IN FEES, UM, SUGGESTION.
WE HAVE ALSO ADDED A, UM, 4 5 0 1 C3 DISCOUNT FOR SOME OF OUR FACILITIES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY DRIVE SOME OF OUR COSTS DOWN.
UM, AND THEN THE REST OF THE COSTS ARE GOING UP SLIGHTLY.
UM, THE COST OF OFFICIALS BALLS, CHALK, UM, UNIFORMS, PRETTY MUCH, I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS SEEN THEIR, THEIR GROCERY BILL.
UM, SO ALL COSTS ARE GOING UP.
WE ARE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
UH, RIGHT NOW WE ABSORB ABOUT, WELL, WE RETURN ABOUT 17 TO 19% BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND IN TERMS OF REVENUE AS A, AS A A, AS A AMOUNT OF OUR ENTIRE BUDGET.
UM, WE WOULD IDEALLY LIKE TO BE CLOSER TO 25%.
UM, SO THIS IS A STEP IN, UM, IN THE DIRECTION OF BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE VERSUS GETTING TO A POINT WHERE, UM, MILLAGE HAS TO INCREASE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE INCREASED SERVICES THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PROVIDE.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT, THAT YOU DID TAKE IN CONSIDERATION LESS AFFLUENT AREAS.
UM, PARKS AND RECREATION ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERY CHILD AND EVERY, EVERY ADULT IN OUR WHOLE COUNTY.
AND APPRECIATE YOU TOOK THAT INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR FEE SCHEDULE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? YEAH, JUST QUICKLY, UM, PARTICIPATION AT THESE CENTERS.
UM, WE GONNA SEE SOME NUMBERS LATER ON AS PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.
NO, NO, NO, BUT I'M JUST ASKING, ARE WE GOING TO SEE PARTICIPATION AT THESE SITES? UM, YOU TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE THAT'S COMING IN AND YOU LOWERING THE FEES.
UM, SO YOU HAVE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, YOU HAVE A NUMBER OUT THERE THAT SAYS WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF PARTICIPANTS AT A PARTICULAR SITE.
YEAH, WE'RE, I MEAN, WE WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO DRIVE THE, THE SCOTT CENTERS OF THE WORLD, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE OUTLYING CAMP PROGRAMS. RIGHT NOW WE'RE CENTRALIZED MOSTLY IN BURTON WELLS, UM, AND BUCKWALTER, THEY SEE THE MOST CAMP PARTICIPANTS.
WE HAVE ENORMOUS WAIT LISTS ON THE BUCKWALTER SIDE, UM, ON THE BLUFFTON SIDE, UM, HOWEVER, AND WE ATTRIBUTE THAT A LITTLE BIT TO SOME FEE CHALLENGES THERE.
UM, SO YES, WE, WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PRESENT NUMBERS ONCE, ONCE WE HAVE AN APPROVED FEE SCHEDULE FOR SOME OF THE OUTLYING FACILITIES TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GO UP.
UM, AS OF NOW, THE NUMBERS FOR THE OUTLYING ARE FAIRLY LOW, ESPECIALLY FROM A CAMP PERSPECTIVE.
YES, TIM? UM, WHEN YOU, YOU SAID 5 0 1 C3, YOU'RE GONNA CHARGE 'EM 50%, YOU SAID IT REDUCES COST.
HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, SO, UM, FOR INSTANCE, RIGHT NOW OUR, OUR THE, LET'S SAY YOU RENT A BASEBALL FIELD, YOU PAY $20 AN HOUR.
UM, WE'VE, WE'VE ADDED AN INCREASE TO $30 AN HOUR AS PART OF THE FEE SCHEDULE.
BUT WITH A 50% DISCOUNT, THEY'RE ACTUALLY PAYING $15 PER HOUR VERSUS THE CURRENT $20 PER HOUR.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY YOU'RE DISCOUNTING AT 50% BECAUSE OUR FIELDS ARE USED HEAVILY, CORRECT? THEY, THEY ARE.
SO WHY WOULD WE DISCOUNT IT? UM, IT'S, AND IT'S AN ABSOLUTE FAIR QUESTION.
UM, WE FELT THAT FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IT MIGHT BE A, UM, A PERK OF BEING A NONPROFIT TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO, AGAIN, OUTLYING FACILITIES THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES.
UM, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DISCUSS.
BUT IT REALLY WAS TO TARGET SOME OF THOSE, I DON'T WANNA SOUND COLD, BUT NOPE, WE'RE TRYING TO INCREASE REVENUE TO 25% AND I'M JUST QUESTIONING WHY WOULD
[02:05:01]
WE WOULD DO THAT TO HALF.AND I ALSO QUESTION YOU PUT HERE, UM, PARKS OF REC DEPARTMENTS ARE HEAVILY OR ENTIRELY SUBSIDIZED AQUA AQUATICS.
SO GROUNDS MAINTENANCE IS OUR FIELDS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE 50% REDUCTION FOR 5 0 1 C3 S DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
AND THE AQUATICS PROGRAMS, I KNOW THOSE FEES, THOSE COSTS RISE DRAMATICALLY WITH THE POOL STUFF.
AND SO I'M WONDERING WHY WE DIDN'T INCREASE THOSE FEES A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S $4 TO ENTER A POOL VERSUS A CHANGE TO THE $5.
UM, AT, AT SOME POINT IT BECOMES LESS, UM, PALATABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ABSORB AN INCREASE, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE LOOKING TO DO STEP TYPE INCREASES.
WHERE YOU'LL SEE IN THE SUGGESTION WE DO A ONE THREE AND FIVE YEAR EVALUATION.
WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING IN HERE AND SAYING WE'RE GONNA GO FROM FOUR TO $7, FOUR TO $8 TO HELP SUBSIDIZE THAT.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A STEP PROCESS.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN 15 YEARS IN, IN SOME OF THESE CASES, UM, AND KINDA STEP INTO WHERE WE WANT TO GET EVENTUALLY.
SO YOU WOULD STEP HOW EVERY YEAR, EVERY TWO YEARS? YEAH.
BECAUSE HILTON HITS $10 A DAY FOR AQUATICS.
WELL, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT GETTING TO THE 25%, WE'RE TAKING BABY STEPS BECAUSE IF WE GO IN ALL IN TO JUST HIT 25%, WE'RE GONNA GET A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THESE FEES JUST WENT SKYROCKETING AND ONE FISCAL YEAR.
SO THE WAY WE, THE WAY WE ACTUALLY FORMED IT, AND YOU GUYS HAVE IT IN YOUR BACK, UM, IN YOUR NOTES, WE FORMED IT WHERE WE CAN TAKE GRADUAL STEPS STILL BE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL COMMUNITIES, ALL FAMILIES, AND, AND STILL STAY ON TRACK WITH THE INFLATION THAT'S RISING EVERY SINGLE DAY OR EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
UM, BECAUSE OUR UNIFORMS GO UP EVERY YEAR, BUT WE KEEP THE SAME PRICE AT, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR.
SO WE WERE ACTUALLY TACKLING SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE SAW SKYROCKETING RIGHT AWAY.
UM, AND WITH THE 5 0 1 C3, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN GROUPS THAT CAN BE ABLE TO HELP US IN THE LONG RUN AS WELL.
BUT WE'RE SERVICING OUR RESIDENTS FIRST.
AND SO I GO TO THE 10 DAY CAMP.
YOU HAVE A REGULAR FEE IS 300.
THE PROPOSED PROPOSED IS THREE 30 AND OUT OF COUNTY WOULD ONLY BE THREE 40.
DO WE HAVE TROUBLE FILLING OUR CAMP? NO.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY, WE WE'RE NOT PROPOSING A CHANGE.
UM, FOR OUR, IT'S, THERE'S A, WE'RE ADDING A LATE FEE, UM, THAT'S WHERE THE THREE 30 IS.
SO IT'S A NORMAL 300, THEN THREE 30 AS A LATE FEE AND THEN JUST A $10, UM, ADDITIONAL FEE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE FILL ALL OUR CAMPS TO MR. GLOVER'S QUESTION.
WE, WE FILL OUR, UM, SOUTH OF THE BROAD CAMPS.
WE DO NOT FILL OUR NORTH OF THE BROAD CAMPS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO, UM RIGHT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE DOING IT.
ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ONLINE? THAT ONE.
UM, AND WE HAD A MOTION TO SECOND ON THE FLOOR, CORRECT? MM-HMM
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, UM, WE DO, CAN THIS BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL? WITHOUT OBJECTION.
WILL BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL.
[9.j. Resolution To Allocate Funds From The South Carolina Opioid Settlement (FISCAL IMPACT: N/A) - Rebecca Whitt Burgess, Director, Nexus Care of Beaufort County, 10 minutes]
ITEM NINE J.UH, MOVING INTO NINE J RESOLUTION ALL ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID SETTLEMENT.
UH, I SEE, UH, REBE, REBECCA BURGESS, SHE'S, OH, YOU'RE STILL HERE.
AND DO YOU NEED THE FULL 10 MINUTES TO PRESENT OR NO? I WILL BE SUCCINCT.
THIS IS TO ALLOCATE FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 THAT BUFORT COUNTY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA OPIOID RECOVERY FUND BOARD.
WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION AND APPROVED THE USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR FY 27 IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SCOR F STRATEGIES FOR OPIOID ABATEMENT.
THESE FUNDS, UH, HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS AND BEFORE WE ASK FOR NEW MONIES FROM SCOR F WE REQUESTED TO USE WHAT WE ALREADY HAD.
THEREFORE WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO COVER THIS FISCAL YEAR WITHOUT ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL MONIES.
SO THE REQUEST WAS FOR $0 BUT IS TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDS TO, TO CONTINUE THE STRATEGIES THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
SO THAT IS WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES IS IT MOVES THOSE MONIES AT THAT ARE CARRY FORWARD FUNDS THAT ARE GUARANTEED POLITICAL SUB FUNDS SO THAT WE CAN USE THEM TO FUND THESE PROJECTS IN FY 27.
THEN WE ARE COMPLETING A RESEARCH STUDY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH USCB, IT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY THAT WILL GIVE US DATA FROM A COMMUNITY-WIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY TO GET THE INPUT FROM KEY STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE KEY GAPS ARE THAT WE
[02:10:01]
NEED TO FILL.THEREFORE THAT WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE THE NEXT APPLICATION GOES IN, IN THE SPRING OF, OF 27 FOR FY 28.
SO WE WILL HAVE DATA DRIVEN, UH, REQUEST FOR FUNDING AND KNOW HOW TO BEST USE THOSE FUNDS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS QUESTION HERE, MS. BERGERS? UM, THIS OPIOID, UM, SETTLEMENT FUND, UH, IS A POCKET OF MONEY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME? YES.
AND, UM, IT'S LIKE A 20 YEAR FUNDING OR SO.
SO WE EXPECT OVER THE, THE AG OF SOUTH CAROLINA PROJECTS THAT IN TOTAL OVER ANOTHER 500 MILLION WILL COME IN OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS FOR THE STATE.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE OVER 250 MILLION THE STATE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THIS NATIONAL LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT, UH, WE ANTICIPATE THAT BUFORT COUNTY'S PORTION OVER THE NEXT 15 YEARS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 7.25 MILLION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? ALRIGHT, UH, DOES THIS RESOLUTION NEED TO COME FORWARD TO COUNSEL? AND DOES ALRIGHT, UH, CAN THIS BE RESOLUTION BE MOVED FORWARD TO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTION.
UH, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? YEP.
SO WE ARE ADJOURNED AT FOUR 11 AND FIVE MINUTES TO SET UP FOR THE NEXT ONE.