[00:00:01]
[1. Call to Order]
AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2026.I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO APPLY FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPUBLIC, WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THE INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
IF YOU'LL CONTINUE STANDING, AS WE HAVE PASTOR DO FROM LUTHERAN CHURCH, COME AND SAY THE INVOCATION.
THANK YOU, THE LETTER OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY CHAPTER ONE, TWO.
THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO DO IS PRAY.
PRAY EVERY WAY YOU KNOW HOW, FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW, PRAY, ESPECIALLY FOR RULERS AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS TO RULE WELL SO WE CAN BE QUIETLY ABOUT OUR BUSINESS OF LIVING SIMPLY IN HUMBLE CONTEMPLATION.
THIS IS THE WAY OUR SAVIOR GOD WANTS US TO LIVE.
DEAR LORD, YOU HAVE DECLARED AND SHOWN YOUR LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
PLEASE GRANT A SPECIAL MEASURE OF YOUR WISDOM TO YOUR SERVANTS WHO GATHER TODAY TO CONSIDER THE CARE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND VACATION HERE SPECIFICALLY, WE PRAY FOR MAYOR ALLEN, MAYOR PRO TEM ALEX, COUNCIL MEMBERS PATSY, STEVE DE D, SIMONE, TAMARA, STEVE, ALFRED, AND MELINDA.
AND FOR ALL OTHERS, UNNAMED, YOU KNOW THEM.
WE PRAY FOR THEIR WORK TOGETHER, WE PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
WE PRAY FOR ALL WHOSE LIVES OF SERVICE GO UNNOTICED, BUT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND COUNTLESS WAYS HAVE MERCY UPON US, ALL THROUGH YOUR SON AND WHOSE NAME WE PRAY.
[4. Adoption of the Agenda]
LANDER, DO WE HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA TODAY? NO, SIR.IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED? SECOND.
SECOND BY RAISING YOUR RIGHT HAND.
NEXT WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING,
[5. Approval of the Minutes]
MINUTES OF JULY 9TH, 2026, AND THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 14TH, 2026.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? I MOVED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
[6. Presentations and Recognitions]
UP WE'LL HEAR FROM THE TALENT MANAGER, MR. ORLANDO, FOR THE TALENT MANAGER'S REPORT.AFTERNOON MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
UM, IT'S NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.
UH, I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS TONIGHT, UM, SPECIFIC TO CAPITAL PROJECTS, SPECIFIC TO SOME INTERNAL, AND THEN MAYOR PERRY HAS ALSO ASKED ME TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUR, ON MY RECENT REPORT TO TOWN COUNCIL ON THINGS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
NORTH POINT AND JARVIS CREEK CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES.
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND A COMMUNITY SURVEY ARE NOW LIVE TO FOLLOW THE PROGRESS AND TO STAY INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT.
YOU CAN'T YET SIGN UP TO LEASE, BUT YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON NORTH POINT ON JARVIS CREEK.COM.
ON THE WEBSITE, WE HAVE A NEW COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR.
IS KELLY HERE AN OH, WELL, THERE YOU'RE HELLO.
UM, KELLY'S BEEN, UM, WITH THE ORGANIZATION SINCE BEFORE MY TIME EVEN, BUT SHE WAS JUST NAMED AS OUR NEW COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR, A GRAD OF JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY.
KELLY BRINGS MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN COMMS, MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP TO THE ROLE.
AND KELLY, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AS THE INTERIM AND, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF AND, AND, AND, AND GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
SO LMO TASK FORCE UPDATE, THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE TASK FORCE WILL MEET ON AUGUST 17TH AT 5:00 PM HERE IN THIS VERY ROOM.
IT WILL FOCUS ON THOSE ITEMS THAT WE ADVANCED THROUGH THE TASK FORCE, THE NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION PROVISIONS ON WETLANDS AND TREES ON THE JONESVILLE ROAD AREA, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, THE BRADLEY CIRCLE AREA, THE RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, AND ALSO SOME SUBDIVISION AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
AFTER THE LMO TASK FORCE MEETS THE PROVISIONS WILL ADVANCE TO THE GULLAH GEECHEE TASK FORCE.
AUGUST TWO, FOUR, PLANNING COMMISSION PLANNED SEPTEMBER 16, AND THEN TOWN COUNCIL OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 1ST AND SECOND READING.
GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY HELPING SEAN LEININGER IS BACK.
UM, AND, AND I ANTICIPATE A, A VERY PRODUCTIVE, UH, PROCESS AS WE REVIEW THIS CODE WITH,
[00:05:01]
WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND, AND COMMUNITY, EG.HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD CDC, THERE IS A STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN UPDATE IN THE MAKING, AND YOU CAN TAKE AN ONLINE SURVEY@EXPERIENCEGULLAH.ORG AND THE SURVEY OPENS AUGUST 21ST.
UM, THE INFORMATION, UH, GATHERED WILL HELP THE CDC IDENTIFY ANY CRITICAL ISSUES TO DEVELOP AND ADDRESS THE NEXT VERSION OF THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.
MITCHELLVILLE FREEDOM PARK, OUR PORTION OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT IS UNDERWAY.
UM, IT INCLUDES ANY, THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES OF ENTRANCES, PAVING ROAD 36 PARKING SPACES, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN SOME STRIPING PARKING LOT AND TRAFFIC SIGNAGE, UM, THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY DAY.
7:00 AM TO FIVE AND THE WORK'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE YEAR, SO A LONG TIME COMING.
HAPPY TO SEE THAT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL SUPPORT THE NEW MITCHELLVILLE FREEDOM PARK ARCHEOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITY AND AUDITORIUM AND IMPROVE SITE ACCESS.
INDIGO RUN TRAFFIC CIRCLES GETTING, UH, FACELIFT AS I WOULD CALL IT.
UH, UH, AN UPFIT, THE TOWN IS GIVING INDIGO RUN TRAFFIC CIRCLE.
UM, SOME, SOME LOVE, UM, CONSTRUCTION STARTED THIS MONTH.
A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPING, FRESH SOD AND FLAG POLES DISPLAYING AMERICAN FLAG, P-O-W-M-I-A FLAG.
MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH FLAGS, AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT 60 DAYS.
SO STAY TUNED ON THAT, ON THAT GREAT WORK.
CAP PROJECT WISE, THE, AND, AND THIS SEEMS TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.
THE LAKE LIGGETT AT THAT'S AT JARVIS CREEK PARK HAS SOME STORM WATER MAINTENANCE WORK SCHEDULED.
SO THE POND WILL RISE AND LOWER IN TERMS OF, OF WATER LEVELS.
UM, BUT THE WORK, MORE WORK WILL CONTINUE BETWEEN AUGUST 12TH AND, AND EARLY SEPTEMBER.
BUT THERE WILL BE TEMPORARY CLOSURES OF THAT PATHWAY ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE.
UM, AND MAINTENANCE WILL ADDRESS ANY ISSUES WITH THE PUMP STATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING AT THE OUTFALL.
AND LASTLY, ON CAL PROJECTS, ISLANDERS BEACH PARK, A PRESS RELEASE WILL SOON BE RELEASED.
CONSTRUCTION IS SCHEDULED TO START SEPTEMBER 7TH, SO RIGHT AFTER LABOR DAY AND IN CONCLUDE IN MAY, MAY DATE, TBD.
UH, BUT DEFINITELY, UM, AS WE'RE GETTING INTO NEXT SUMMER SEASON AND THE PARK WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY AND SAFETY, WE'LL GET A A, A PRESS RELEASE OUT AS WELL.
SO, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MAYOR PERRY, UH, HAS ASKED ME, MAYOR COUNCIL, TO PROVIDE A FOLLOW UP ON THAT RECENT PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE THAT I PROVIDED AT THE JULY COUNCIL MEETING.
I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS TO GET TO TONIGHT, BUT, BUT BEAR WITH ME AS I PROVIDE SOME UPDATES.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND US, REMIND TOWN COUNCIL STAFF INCLUDED THAT OVER THE PAST YEARS, WE'VE MADE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, SUPPORTIVE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUR OWN PRIORITIES.
SO AS A TOWN MANAGER, AS A RE RESIDENT, I'M PROUD AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE APPRECIATE THEIR GREAT WORK EVERY DAY.
AND ESPECIALLY ON ON JULY 4TH OF THIS PAST JULY 4TH, I'M EQUALLY PROUD OF MR. BOB BROMAGE STANDING OVER ON THE SIDE WHO HEADS UP OUR COMMUNITY CODE ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT, AND I'M PROUD AND SUPPORTIVE OF BOB AND HIS TEAM AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU, BOB, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
UM, OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, AND NOT TO GO BACK TOO FAR, BUT JUST IN OUR, OUR RECENT POINT OF REFERENCE, ESPECIALLY SINCE BRINGING BOB ON BOARD AND BOB BRINGING HIS TEAM ON BOARD, AS WE KNOW, WE'VE ESTABLISHED A PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND, AND OUR FOCUS IN THE DEPARTMENT IS ON MUNICIPAL CODE COMPLIANCE AND COMMUNITY PRESENCE.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE'RE PRESENT AT OUR TOWN PUBLIC SPACES, OUR PARKS, OUR BEACH PARKS, OUR PARKING LOTS, OUR TOWN FACILITIES, INCLUDING AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WHEN WE ENCOUNTER ISSUES OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE COORDINATE DIRECTLY AND QUICKLY WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
SO IN ESSENCE, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS OVERSIGHT OF BEACH PARK, PARK SAFETY ORDINANCE, COMPLIANCE, SECURITY, SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROGRAM, BEACH PARKING PROGRAM, BUILDING CODE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMPLIANCE, AND THEY ASSIST COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH LOGISTICS AND SAFETY FOR ALL OF OUR TOWN SPONSORED EVENTS.
WE HAVE INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION HAS BEEN INVESTED.
AND IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, I LOOKED UP TODAY $630,000.
THAT'S FUNDED THE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION CAMERAS.
[00:10:01]
DIRECTLY ASSISTED WITH THE RECENT SHOOTING, THE MURDER IN FOREST BEACH, THE SHOOTINGS ON THE BEACH ALSO, WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND INSTALLED PUBLIC PARK AND BEACH PARK CAMERAS, PARKING LOT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MAED ARMS OR THE ARMS THAT ARE IN THE LOTS AS WELL AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THAT.WE'VE REMOVED ABANDONED AND DERELICT BOATS FROM OUR WATERWAYS.
AND THIS OF COURSE DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY, ANY FUNDS THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN FIRE RESCUE FACILITIES FLEET, BUT I WOULD SAY MAYOR COUNCIL, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT.
AND OUR CIP FUND REMAINS PRETTY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, LAST MONTH YOU ASKED ME TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IN THE NEXT 30, THE NEXT 60 90, THE NEXT CALENDAR.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A FEW TIMES THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS FOCUSED ON PUBLIC SAFETY AS PERHAPS SOME PEOPLE THINK OR, OR SEE.
WE'VE CREATED DEPARTMENT OF 11, WE'VE INVESTED IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE'VE SCALED OUR OPERATIONS, WE'VE HIRED GREAT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE NOT POLICE OFFICERS, RIGHT? SO, BUT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR IS TO EVALUATE A CURFEW ORDINANCE FOR JUVENILES, EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF A CROWD DISPERSAL ORDINANCE THAT WAS COMING OUT OF WORKSHOP.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION YESTERDAY AT THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN ALSO TO CONTINUE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REGARDING ENHANCED BEACH PATROL OFFICERS AT KIG BEACH PARK AND OTHER BEACH PARKS WHERE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED.
AND THEN ASSESS THE ABILITY TO ENHANCE AND COMMUNICATE A COMMUNITY WIDE NOTICE VIA CELL PHONE MESSAGE TO AREA RESIDENCE.
THAT WAS KIND OF AN OUTLIER, BUT I DID TELL YOU I'D LOOK AT THAT IN THE FIRST 30.
SO YESTERDAY AT THE MEETING FOR THE PUBLIC, I KNOW ALL OF TOWN COUNCIL WAS PRESENT, THE CURFEW ORDINANCE WAS REVIEWED.
AND ACCORDING TO BUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEIR SPECIFIC REQUEST IS ONLY FOR A CURFEW ORDINANCE AND THAT IT BE IN EFFECT AT TOWN PROPERTIES, BEACH, BEACH PARKS, PARKING LOTS, STARTING AT 9:00 PM AND OF COURSE, WE HEARD SOME DISCUSSION, NOT OF COURSE, BUT WE HEARD SOME DISCUSSION THAT THIS TIME BE EXTENDED AT 10:00 PM AND THAT IT BE EFFECTIVE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, DIFFERENT THAN THE PROPOSAL MADE, WHICH WAS SOME DAYS OF THE WEEK DURING SEASON.
AND, AND THE COMMITTEE DIRECTED THE TOWN ATTORNEY TO WORK ON THE DIRECTED REVISIONS AND REALLY REVISIT THIS WITH THE COMMITTEE AT A SOON TO BE LATER DATE.
NEXT, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS THAT A PUBLIC GATHERING ORDINANCE IS NOT EFFECTIVE.
UM, AND IT WAS NOT, THEY WERE NOT SUPPORTIVE AND IT WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY SHERIFF TANNER.
AND IN MY ASSESSMENT, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT WASN'T SUPPORTED TO MOVE FORWARD BY THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME.
WE DO HAVE A LOITERING ORDINANCE, AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS, IT WAS PART OF OUR INTENDED CONVERSATION YESTERDAY THAT PROVIDES BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TOWN STAFF WITH AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.
MR. BROMAGE AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT LENGTH.
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT WITH SHERIFF TANNER AT LENGTH.
AND, AND WE DO BELIEVE THAT THAT LOITERING ORDINANCE HELPS TREMENDOUSLY IN THAT GATHERING.
AND THAT, AND, AND OF COURSE, WITH THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES, WE CONTINUED TO COORDINATE WITH BUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF REGARDING ENHANCED PRESENCE AT KIG BEACH PARK.
SO FOLLOWING RECENT DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU AT THE WORKSHOP, AT THE MEETING WITH SHERIFF TANNER AND HIS GENERAL COUNSEL, DANIEL GORLEY, WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SECURITY SERVICES TO INCLUDE NIGHTTIME PATROLS OF, AT, AT TOWN OWNED BEACH PARKS, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 13TH UNTIL THE TIME TBD INTO THE, INTO THE FALL AND THE NEXT SEASON.
BUT WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE WILL HAVE NIGHTTIME PATROLS ON TOWN OWNED BEACH PARKS, PARKS FACILITIES, AND WE WILL COORDINATE WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE FOR INTERVENTION.
SHERIFF TANNER SUPPORTS THAT, RIGHT? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? RIGHT? SO WE'LL HAVE A NIGHTTIME SECURITY TEAM ARMED, THEY WOULD HAVE ARREST AND DETAIN AUTHORITY.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, RIGHT? SO THEY'D COORDINATE.
WHAT IT, IT DOESN'T MEAN IS THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE SECURITY GUARDS ON THE SAND AND WE WILL NOT HAVE SECURITY GUARDS ON BOARDWALKS OR AT BATHROOMS DURING THE DAY.
THAT IS COMMUNITY CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPPORTING AND SUPPLEMENTING BEFOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND AS WELL BEFOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOWN THERE AS WELL.
AND I'D SAY, MAYOR COUNCIL TO ANSWER YOUR DIRECT QUESTIONS FROM EARLIER MEETINGS IS ANOTHER LAYER OF OPERATIONAL EXPANSION INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE AS A REMINDER TO US ALL, UM, BEACH PARKS AND PARKS, INCLUDING THE PARKING LOTS CLOSE AT 10:00 PM AND, AND BECAUSE OF OUR INVESTMENT WITH THE PARKING INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN LOCK THE, THE, THE LOTS UP, UH, AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT MANNER
[00:15:01]
WHEN DANGEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE IN PROG PROGRESS OR WHEN RESIDENTS AND VISITORS NEED OR WANT TO OBTAIN REAL TIME COMMUNICATION MESSAGING DIRECTLY FROM BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SIGN UP TO THE EVERBRIDGE APP, SIGN UP AND RECEIVE TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC SAFETY EVENT MESSAGES IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE SO IN THE PAST, WE WERE RECEIVING TEXT MESSAGE NOTIFICATIONS, BUT THE MESSAGING IS BEING PUSHED OUT ON THEIR APP AT THIS TIME.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT COULD CHANGE TOMORROW, BOB.
BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING TODAY.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS, THE NEXT NEAR TERM 90 DAYS, YOU ASKED THAT I CONTINUE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS IN COLIGNY AREA.
SO I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE SOME CLARITY BECAUSE THERE'S CONTINUED PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE HAVE NOT ADVANCED THIS PRIORITY PRIORITY AND WE HAVE NOT ADVANCED THE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DISCONNECT.
I'LL REMIND US, AND I'VE SAID THIS IN PAST MEETINGS AND MAYOR COUNCIL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK THIS IS HELPFUL.
LAST FALL IN PREPARATION FOR OUR CURRENT SUMMER SEASON, RIGHT? THE 2026 SUMMER SEASON, AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE MEET WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFFS.
AND SO WE ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE DISCUSSED PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AT KIG BEACH PARK AND OTHER BEACH AREAS.
WE BRIEFED THE SHERIFF ON OUR VARIOUS CAPITAL AND OPERATIONAL INVESTMENTS, RIGHT? SOME OF OUR IDEAS, THE PARKING, THE LIGHTING, THE FLOCK, THE CAMERAS.
AND HE WAS WELL VERSED ON ALL OF THAT.
BUT AT THE TIME, I REQUESTED ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY PRESENCE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS, ESPECIALLY DURING WEEKEND HOLIDAYS.
AND SHERIFF TANNER ENCOURAGED US TO EMPLOY THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE TO USE OUR TEAM AND PUBLIC WORKS TEAM, BUT THAT HE WOULD PROVIDE, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WOULD PROVIDE A PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF THE KIG BEACH AREA, RIGHT? AND SO THEY DID THAT.
AND SO A FEW MONTHS LATER IN DECEMBER, UPON COMPLETION OF THE ASSESSMENT, BEAUFORT COUNTY PRESENTED TOWN STAFF WITH A BRIEFING THAT INCLUDED A BUNCH OF OBSERVATIONS AND A BUNCH OF RECOMMENDATIONS, PHOTOS, ASSESSMENTS, TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS, ESTIMATED PRICING IN THE REPORT FOR THE MOST PART RECOMMENDS.
AND IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE OPERATIONAL.
OPERATIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
SO MY UNDERSTANDING, MR. BROM'S UNDERSTANDING WERE THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY AT BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REQUESTS THE ASSESSMENT RE REMAINED PART OF AN ACTIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PLANNING EFFORT AND WAS NOT INTENDED AS PUBLIC POLICY.
IT WAS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC PRESENTATION OR RELEASE.
AND IT WASN'T TO GO THROUGH TOWN COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND IT WAS ABOUT CAMERAS AND TECHNOLOGY.
AND WE JUST READ IN THE NEWSPAPER WHEN PEOPLE FOUND OUT WHERE FLOCK CAMERAS WERE, WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM OFF ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL WAS NOT INVITED TO THIS MEETING AS A WHOLE.
WE ANTICIPATED THAT THIS WOULD GO THROUGH COMMITTEE AS A PUBLIC POLICY.
SO MS. BECKER ATTENDED THE MEETING AS A COMMITTEE CHAIR.
BUT AT THE MEETING DURING THE PRESENTATION, WE REALIZED IT WAS TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS.
SO INSTEAD, WE ADVANCED IMMEDIATELY OPERATIONAL PRESENCE THIS SEASON.
AND I THINK YOU COULD TELL THAT WE WERE DOWN THERE IN FORCE DIFFERENT THIS SEASON WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN LAST, BUT THAT WE ALSO INCORPORATED THE TECHNOLOGY, EQUIPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ANY OTHER WORK WE NEEDED IN THIS CURRENT YEAR.
WE TALKED TO THESE, WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THESE INVESTMENTS DURING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WORKSHOP, BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE BUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASSESSMENT WERE ALREADY UNDERWAY.
RIGHT? SO I CAN'T, I CAN'T, I CAN'T STRESS THAT ENOUGH.
SO THE REPORT, AND I, AND I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT THE REPORT, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LONG-WINDED.
BUT THE APPROACHES TO THE REPORT WAS TO ASSESS, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT.
IT WASN'T TO IMPLEMENT, IT WASN'T TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT, BUT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS CONTINUE TO ALIGN OPERATIONS WITH HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF, ESTABLISH A PROJECT MANAGER AND SOME MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATION, IMPROVE CAMERA GAPS IN OUR PARKING LOTS, IMPROVE ADDITIONAL, INSTALL ADDITIONAL LIGHTING, AND MODERNIZE OUR LIGHTING WITH SOME LED AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
CUT BACK VEGETATION IN THE COLIGNY LOT AND SURROUNDING AREAS, STANDARDIZED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS ON A COMPLIANT PLATFORM.
PROVIDE AN INTER-AGENCY POLICY OR PRACTICE FOR SHARED ACCESS TO DATA.
I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FLOCK CAMERAS, BUT WE FUNDED AND INSTALLED RIGHT? HILTON HEAD ISLAND FUNDED AND INSTALLED FLOCK CAMERAS, BELIEVE WHAT? 19 ACROSS THE ISLAND? 1616, SIR.
BUT THAT INFORMATION IS DIRECT
[00:20:01]
AND USED ONLY BY BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE ESTABLISH AND STAFF A BEACH COMMAND CENTER.WHEN WE TALKED AT LUNCH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WILD WING SITE TO PROVIDE DRONE SURVEILLANCE AND THE REPORT FURTHER REQUESTED, AI DETECTION, GUN AND SHOT DETECTION CAPABILITIES, FACIAL RECOGNITION UNDER THE FBI CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEM, COMPLIANT WORKFLOW POLICY.
AND THEN REGULARLY, REGULARLY ASSESS AND REPORT PUBLICLY.
SO WHEN I, WHEN I LIST THAT MORE OR LESS, I THINK THAT'S EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WAS IN THE REPORT.
WE'VE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON.
WE'VE INTERACTED WITH MORE THAN 9,000 BEACH PATRONS YEAR TO DATE.
NOT TO SAY HELLO, BUT TO INFORM THEM OF OUR RULES, OUR REGULATIONS, AND OUR EXPECTATIONS.
AS AN EXAMPLE TO SUPPORT THIS, WE HAD SEVEN MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CODE ENFORCEMENT TEAM PRESENT AND VISIBLE AT THE BEACH, RIGHT? SO ON THE BEACH, ON A QUAD IN A JEEP, IN THEIR EQUIPMENT WALKING AS WELL ON THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND.
AND WE ALSO HAD ADDITIONAL PUBLIC WORKS PERSONNEL PRESENT.
AND, AND AGAIN, WE WERE VERY PROUD OF THAT AND REMAINED VERY PROUD OF THAT.
SUPPORTING AND IN A, IN ALIGNMENT WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE HAD SOME IMMEDIATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
COMPLETE ARE UNDERWAY, LAST FISCAL AND THIS FISCAL, RIGHT? SO BECAUSE IT TAKES SOME TIME TO INSTALL SOME CAMERA TECHNOLOGY WIRING AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, BUFORT COUNTY THANKFUL TO SHERIFF TANNER AND HIS TEAM PLACED A PUBLIC SAFETY CAMERA TRAILER AT THE BEACH BEFORE THE SEASON EVER STARTED.
AND IT STILL REMAINS THERE TODAY.
WE FINALIZE WHAT I CALL THE KAGEY AREA.
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING, CAMERAS, BENCHES, PEOPLE ACTIVITY.
WE CLEAN THAT CORNER UP PARKING LOT INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE'S AN ARM AT THE BEACH LOT THAT CLOSES A LOT AT 10.
WE ARE STARTING TO UPGRADE SOME LIGHTING WITH PALMETTO ELECTRIC LANDSCAPE CLEANUP, FURTHER CAMERA EXPANSION, FENCING AROUND HOLIDAY INN.
THOSE THINGS THAT WE DIDN'T GET TO YET.
WHILE WE WERE DOING THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE MORE IMPORTANT, I WOULD SAY THAT IF ALL OF THIS WAS IN PLACE, IT WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED THE JULY 4TH SHOOTING.
IF ALL OF THIS IS IN PLACE, IT STILL DOESN'T PROVIDE BETTER CONDUCT AT THE BEACH.
WE TALKED THAT IN THE FUTURE, THROUGH THAT REPORT, KAGEY CIRCLE SHOULD BE IMPROVED IN THE CIRCLE, WHETHER WE CLEAN IT UP OR, OR ALLOW SOME DIFFERENT TREATMENT THAT WE ESTABLISH A BEACH COMMAND OPERATIONS CENTER, THAT WE PROVIDE DRONE SURVEILLANCE USE OF AI TECHNOLOGY AND ALSO M MY AD OUR TEAMS AT NORTH SOUTH FOREST BEACH TRAFFIC, CALMING PET IMPROVEMENTS, RIGHT? WE ALSO SAID WE'D PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND SERVICE DELIVERY ASSESSMENT.
SO AT THE SEPTEMBER FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, MR. BYRD, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, MR. BROMAGE, OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CODE AND OUR PUBLIC SAFETY ARM, WILL PROVIDE THE TOWN COUNCIL THROUGH COMMITTEE, THROUGH THROUGH CHAIRMAN BROWN'S COMMITTEE, UM, ASSESS A FRAMEWORK OF OUR ASSESSMENT THAT HAS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND REALLY THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE WANT TO ASSESS AS WELL AS A COST ASSESSMENT.
BEFOR COUNTY COST, OUR PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENTS, RIGHT? WHETHER IT'S A BUILDING, STIPENDS, WHATNOT.
AND THEN ALSO, WHAT ARE WE SPENDING ALL IN QUICKLY AS A BIGGER NUMBER ASSESSMENT.
WE'RE, WE'RE IN EXCESS OF $11 MILLION OPERATIONALLY A YEAR.
THAT'S NOT TO INCLUDE THE CAPITAL.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE FIRE RESCUE.
YOU ALSO TALKED, UM, AND ASKED IN YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT I PROVIDE A PUBLIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATION THAT THAT'S LATE.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONVERSATION THAT WE PUT THAT ON HOLD IN JANUARY.
AND I WILL SAY WE DID FOR THE LMO, WE DID FOR A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS.
UM, BUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT.
WE ALL KNOW WHETHER THIS ROOM IS COMMUNITY, THAT, THAT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL LARGER PICTURE PUBLIC SAFETY CONVERSATIONS AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.
RIGHT? POLICE CHIEF DOES NOT WORK FOR THE TOWN.
NO, WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE A POLICE CHIEF HERE.
I'M NOT A POLICE OFFICER, BOB.
WELL, HE LOOKS LIKE HE COULD PLAY ONE ON TV.
HE'S NOT A POLICE OFFICER ON SATURDAYS.
BUFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT ENFORCE CERTAIN TOWN ORDINANCES.
THEY DO NOT ENFORCE SHORT TERM RENTAL ORDINANCES, NOISE, THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES AND OTHER MUNICIPAL CODE PROVISIONS.
SHERIFF TANNER AND HIS TEAM ARE AT THE BEACH.
THEY MAY NOT BE AT THE BEACH IN A VOLUME THAT SOME FOLKS EXPECT OR DESIRE, BUT THEY'RE AT THE BEACH
[00:25:01]
AND THEY'RE RESPONSIVE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.HILTON HEAD ISLAND COUNCIL STAFF IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN REVISIT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE NEED AND DESIRE TO HAVE A MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S, THAT'S OBVIOUS, RIGHT? WE, WE DID AN ASSESSMENT.
THE REALITY OF ALL OF THIS IS ONCE AGAIN, PROMPTING STAFF ME WITH MY TEAM TO UNDERTAKE A BROADER EVALUATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE WILL PRESENT THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AS A FRAMEWORK AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING.
AND WE ALL KNOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT ONE OF THREE THINGS, ENHANCING OUR PARTNERSHIP AND AGREEMENT, OR MAYBE JUST EVEN UNDERSTANDING IT AND ADVANCING IT THROUGH BUFORT COUNTY THROUGH A DEFINED SERVICE LEVEL, UM, AGREEMENT.
OR THAT WE ESTABLISH A DEFINED HYBRID APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY POLICING THING, BEACH PATROL, ROAD PATROL, MARINE PATROL, WHATEVER, OR ESTABLISH OUR OWN MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD THAT I CAN GET THAT, THAT I'M AWARE OF.
2000 2018 AND AGAIN IN 26, 27.
BUT WE HAVE TO, AND WE WILL PREPARE THIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SO THAT WE HAVE THAT REAL BASELINE OF CURRENT SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN CONSIDER SOME LONG-TERM DECISIONS, RIGHT? SO YOU ALSO ASK THAT WE IN THE NEW YEAR EVALUATE PAID FOR PARKING AT KAGEY BEACH PARKING LOT.
AND WHAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE, AND I KNOW YOU ALL DO, WE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT, FACILITATE, I SAY BETTER FACILITATE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT TO INTEGRATE WITH OUR YOUTH AND JUVENILES FRAMED, FRAMED AROUND BRIDGING OUR ISLAND'S YOUTH PUBLIC SAFETY GAP.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMITTEE, IT'S ON COUNCIL.
I'VE PROVIDED SEVERAL UPDATES.
WE CONTINUE TO HEAR SOME OF, SOME OF THE POSITIVES AND SOME OF THE SAME PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THIS REPORT.
THIS REQUIRES PRETTY CAREFUL COMMUNITY, LEGAL, OPERATIONAL, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, RIGHT? IT'S JUST NOT ON YOUR MARK.
SO I'VE HEARD, I'VE HEARD SITTING HERE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OR SITTING THERE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT WE HAVE NOT PRIORITIZED PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE HAVE, AND THAT A REPORT WAS NOT PROVIDED AT TOWN COUNCIL AND THAT WE SAT ON OR DELAYED OUR ACTIONS.
I'LL CONFIDENTLY LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S INACCURATE.
AND THAT CONSIDERING THAT ALL HAS BEEN FUNDED, STAFFED, AND ACCOMPLISHED IS MISLEADING OUR COMMUNITY.
'CAUSE WE'RE GOING IN A GREAT DIRECTION.
MY USUAL TOWN MANAGER REPORTS THERE TO SHARE INFORMATION OF A MAYOR PERIO.
ASK THAT IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME PUBLICLY, I'D BE HAPPY TO ASK, ANSWER THEM.
MR. ORLANDO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT IN DEPTH AND VERY COVERING SYNOPSIS.
THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST 25 MINUTES THAT I THINK WE HAVE HAD ON THIS DIOCESE IN A LONG TIME.
AND, AND I WILL SPEAK FOR MYSELF ON THIS, BUT MY COMPLETE SUPPORT BEHIND YOU AND THE TEAM BEHIND PUBLIC SAFETY IS THERE.
Y'ALL CONTINUE TO DO AN AMAZING JOB IN PROVIDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S TIME THAT WE START TO CELEBRATE THAT IT'S NOT PERFECT AND WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE PERFECT, BUT WE EXPECT THAT WE HAVE COVERAGE.
WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT A NEW SHERIFF COMING IN IN SIX MONTHS, FIVE MONTHS.
A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD WHEN THAT POSITION IS FILLED IN JANUARY, THAT WILL HELP DIRECT WHERE WE'RE GOING.
ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT YOU'VE SAID TODAY IS THE NIGHTTIME PATROL THAT THE SHERIFF HAS AGREED TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR AND THAT HE IS WILLING TO DO, WHICH IS, WHICH IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU FOR WORKING THROUGH THAT.
BUT I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THIS TEAM IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN UP TO THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO ASK MR. ORLANDO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE BECKER.
AND THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ASKING FOR THAT REPORT.
YOU MENTIONED NIGHTTIME BEACH PATROL.
WHAT HOURS DOES THAT INCLUDE? PARDON ME? UH, 7:00 PM TO 3:00 AM 7:00 PM UNTIL 3:00 PM 3:00 AM 3:00 AM SORRY ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT'S NIGHTTIME, BEACH PATROL AND BEACH PARKS FACILITIES, THOSE ARE THE THREE THINGS THAT I HEARD.
THEY WON'T BE ON THE BEACH ITSELF.
SO NO BEACH, NOT ACTUALLY ON THE BEACH, BUT THE BEACH PARKS.
[00:30:01]
WHEN WE REFER TO FACILITIES, UM, WE MEAN THE BATHROOMS AND, AND SUCH THAT ARE AT LOW COUNTRY CELEBRATION PARK, K LEVY BEACH PARKING LOT, TOWN HALL MM-HMMBARKER FIELD, ALL THE TOWN FACILITIES.
AND I THINK I MAY HAVE NOT WRITTEN IT DOWN.
SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME RECALL HOW MANY, UM, CODE ENFORCERS WILL BE OR IS THIS A SEPARATE HIRE? THIS IS PRIVATE SECURITY.
WHO HAS AUTHORITY WITH, AS YOU MENTIONED, GUNS AND, UM, ARRESTS AND DETENTION.
HOW MANY IS THAT? HOW MANY OF THOSE I'D RATHER NOT SHARE? WE'RE WE'RE FIGURING OUT DEPLOYMENT BOB A A HANDFUL.
THAT'S, THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR NOW.
I, AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, THAT REPORT WAS DELIVERED ON JULY 9TH IN MY EMAIL.
SO THE QUESTION, BURKE, YOU MENTIONED GATES THAT WE CAN CLOSE BECAUSE THE PARAMEDIC FOR SOME CLARIFICATION ON THE JULY 9TH COMMENT.
I'M, I'M, I LOST THAT, UM, COPY OF THE REPORT JUST MENTIONING THAT WE RECEIVED IT ON JULY 9TH.
WE MADE THIS DECISION A WHILE AGO, PUT IT INTO OUR ORDINANCES AT 10:00 PM AND THAT THE GATES CAN BE DEPLOYED TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE, THERE ARE A FEW OF OUR PARKS, BURKES BEACH FOR ONE, THAT DOES NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR THE PARKING.
UM, IS THAT, SO IS BERKS EXCLUDED FROM THIS OR IS IT EXCLUDED FROM THE SECURITY PATROL? IS IT EXCLUDED FROM THE SECURITY PATROL? THAT WOULD BE ONE QUESTION.
THE OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE IS IF THAT'S THE CASE AND WE DISCOVER THIS IS AN ISSUE, WHAT MIGHT BE THE PLANS TO ADD TO THE LIST OF CONSIDERATIONS TO BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE? IT IT PART OF THE SECURITY PATROL, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE CAN'T LOCK KIG, I I SHOULD SAY CHAPLAIN, SIMILAR TO KIG.
IT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE PART OF THAT PATROL.
UM, I I'M OKAY, I'M NOT, YEAH.
SO ITS PART OF THE SECURITY AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD, I, I THINK THAT PROBABLY A NOTE SHOULD BE TAKEN THAT IF WE FIND THAT THIS IS EFFECTIVE, THAT THERE SHOULD BE PERHAPS, UM, THE GATE, THE CONTROLLED GATES THAT SHOW CLOSE AT 10:00 PM SHOULD BE PART OF A, UM, CIP CONVERSATION.
OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, MS. BRYSON? I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
THE TOWN MANAGER AND HIS TEAM FOR ALL THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK IT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HEAR THE ACTUAL INFORMATION AND WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHATTER IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US TO, UH, PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION FOR, FROM THE TOWN MANAGER.
ANY OTHERS, MS. TONER? UH, IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION TO DIGEST.
I'LL BE LOOKING BACK AT THE TAPE MAKING SURE THAT I'VE CAPTURED EVERYTHING 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON.
BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH, UH, THE SHERIFF ON ENHANCING OUR PRESENCE ON THE BEACH.
THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT I HEARD FROM CONSTITUENTS.
THEY WANNA SEE MORE PRESENCE ON THE BEACH AND HAVING NIGHTTIME PATROLS IS A BIG DELIVERABLE.
NOBODY'S PHONE'S GOING OFF BEACH PARKS.
SO WHAT SHERIFF, WHAT SHERIFF TANNER HAS ENDORSED AND SUPPORTED IS THAT, IS THAT THE SECURITY TEAM IS EMPLOYED TO OUR PARKS, OUR FACILITIES, OUR BEACH PARKS, I WOULD CALL IT BOARDWALKS, NOT SAND THEIR EYES AND EARS.
IF THEY SEE SOMETHING EGREGIOUS, IF THEY SEE SOMETHING ALARMING CONCERNING, UM, AND WE KNOW THINGS GO ON HERE AT NIGHT.
UM, THEY WILL BE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH BUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THEY WILL NOT PATROL THE SAND AT NIGHT OR IN THE DAYTIME.
BUT WE ARE OUT THERE IN THE DAYTIME.
SHERIFF TANNER MADE A VERY GOOD POINT IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WE HAD TOGETHER.
WE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE OUT THERE DURING THE DAY AND, AND I COMMEND OUR TEAM FOR THAT.
THEY SPENT THE DAY OUT THERE, WE'RE IN THERE AND, AND I DO.
AND, AND, AND I WILL SAY THAT OUR SEVEN PEOPLE ON THE BEACH DURING THE DAY
[00:35:01]
HAVE INTERACTED WITH 9,000 PEOPLE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.IT'S ABOUT ALCOHOL, IT'S ABOUT CODE COMPLIANCE.
THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS.
THERE'S A LOT MORE FOLKS THAT THEY, THAT, THAT THEY WORK THROUGH TO, TO GET TO THAT 9,000.
AND SO, UM, FULLY SUPPORTIVE BY BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE PUTTING SECURITY OUTSIDE OF TOWN HALL.
UM, AND, AND FOR OBVIOUS REASON, OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE OUR PRESENCE.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED SOME EYES AND EARS AND, AND THAT WE CAN SUPPORT BUFORT COUNTY EVEN FURTHER, BUFORT COUNTY SHERIFFS AND, AND, AND WE'RE PROUD TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
THANK YOU ONE LAST TIME FOR ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE ACCOMMODATION HONORING CURTIS L COLTRANE, WHO SERVED AS TOWN ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR 21 YEARS.
CURTIS, IF YOU'LL COME UP AND JOIN ME AT THE PODIUM.
SO WE DO HAVE, UM, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL GUESTS IN THE ROOM TODAY AND, UM, I SEE ONE OTHER MAYOR, UH, UH, DREW LAUGHLIN IS HERE WITH US TODAY.
AND THERE'S ALSO SOME OTHER STAFFERS THAT ARE IN THE ROOM AS WELL, FORMER STAFFERS I SHOULD SAY.
SO THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT TO, UH, CELEBRATE THIS GUY.
SO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMENDATION HONORING CURTIS L COLTRANE.
WHEREAS CURTIS COLTRANE FAITHFULLY SERVED AS TOWN ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR 21 YEARS, PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL LEGAL COUNSEL SOUND JUDGMENT AND STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC INTEREST.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD OF SERVICE, CURTIS COLTRANE HAS DEMONSTRATED PROFESSIONALISM, INTEGRITY, AND A DEEP DEDICATION TO THE RESIDENTS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN.
AND WHEREAS CURTIS COLTRANE'S GUIDANCE AND EXPERTISE HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TOWN'S GROWTH, STABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE.
AND WHEREAS THE TOWN WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS ITS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR 21 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP.
AND WHEREAS THE TOWN COUNCIL AND STAFF OFFER THEIR BEST WISHES FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN ALL FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ALAN R. PERRY, MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND TOWN STAFF, HEREBY COMMEND AND HONOR CURTIS COLTRANE FOR 21 YEARS OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AS TOWN ATTORNEY, AND EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU MAYOR, AND THANK YOU MEMBERS OF COUNSEL AND MARK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND THE TRUST YOU HAVE PUT IN ME OVER THE TIME THAT I HAVE WORKED FOR THE TOWN.
WHILE I DEEPLY FLATTERED BY THE COMMENDATION, I THINK IT SORT OF OVERSTATES WHAT MY CONTRIBUTION HAS BEEN, WHICH HAS BEEN A SMALL PART OF A VERY LARGE EFFORT.
UM, FROM THE FIRST TIME I WALKED INTO A COUNCIL MEETING WITH JIM HERRING IN 1985, UM, I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF DEDICATED, THOUGHTFUL, AND DECENT PEOPLE, BOTH AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF MEMBERS, MANAGERS, FOLKS IN THE BACK.
THERE'S CHARLES COUSINS WHO WORKED FOR YEARS AND MADE THIS A BETTER PLACE.
MAYOR LACHLAN, COUNCILMAN STANFORD, THE THROUGH LINE FOR ALL THAT TIME FOR ME ANYWAY, WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS THAT BOTH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED HERE, MR. GRUBER, UM, HAVE ALL BEEN, AS I SAID, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DECENT, THOUGHTFUL FOLKS WHO CARED ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, WHO CARED ABOUT THE ADVANCEMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND WHO WISHED TO SEE A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE HERE THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
AND I DON'T GET TO DO THIS OFTEN, BUT I'LL DO IT NOW TO TO TO THOSE WHO REVEL IN THE NEGATIVE.
I SAY THIS, PARTICIPATE, GET ELECTED IF YOU CAN, AND FIND OUT WHAT I KNOW, WHICH IS THAT THIS IS HARD, COMPLEX WORK.
YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY ALL THE TIME.
[00:40:01]
AND YET AGAIN, WHILE YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT GET MADE, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU WILL EVER DISAGREE WITH THE LOCATION OF ANYONE'S HEART THAT SERVES FOR THE TOWN.AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT WILL CONTINUE ON LONG AFTER I HAVE FADED AWAY.
SO AFTER WE CONCLUDE OUR NORMAL MEETING, IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, KIDDING
WE'LL HAVE A RECEPTION FOR MR. COLTRANE AND HIS FAMILY.
SO NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK, UH, MARIAH JOHNSON, SOPHOMORE, UH, NURSING, UH, MAJOR AND VICE PRESIDENT OF U-U-S-C-B STUDENT BODY TO COME FORWARD.
SO THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, USCB SAND SHARK WELCOME WEEK PROCLAMATION, WHEREAS THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORD IS A FULLY ACCREDITED COMPREHENSIVE BACCALAUREATE INSTITUTION WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SYSTEM.
AND WHEREAS USCB PROVIDES SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONS IN 19 UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE AND TWO GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS TO FULFILL ITS MISSION TO RESPOND TO REGIONAL NEEDS, DRAW UPON REGIONAL STRENGTHS AND PREPARE GRADUATES TO CONTRIBUTE LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, AND INTERNATIONALLY.
AND WHEREAS USCB IS A PRIMARY RESOURCE FOR EXCEPTIONALITY SKILLED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, TEACHERS, HOSPITALITY MANAGERS, SCIENCE-BASED TEACHERS, AND COMPUTATIONAL SPECIALISTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA LOW COUNTRY.
AND WHEREAS USCB IS A PROMINENT REGIONAL CATALYST FOR PROGRESS AND IS AN ENGINE FOR CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.
AND WHEREAS USB'S REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT IS IN EXCESS OF 1,230 JOBS, $63 MILLION IN LABOR INCOME AND 141 MILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WHEREAS USCB WELCOMES MORE THAN 2200 STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS TO CAMPUSES IN BLUFFTON, BEAUFORT, AND ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND TO THE ATLANTIC FIELDS IN HARDY V FOR THE START OF THE 26TH, 27 ACADEMIC YEAR.
NOW THEREFORE, I ALAN R APPEAR THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA.
HERE I RECLAIM THIS WEEK, AUGUST 17TH, AUGUST 22ND, 2026 AS USCB SAND SHARK WELCOME WEEK.
[7. Public Comment - Non- Agenda Items (Limited to 30 Minutes)]
WE HAVE ADDED ANOTHER, UM, EXCUSE ME, OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME REGARDING NOT NON AGENDA ITEMS. THERE WILL BE A TOTAL LIMIT TIME OF 30 MINUTES ALLOTTED TO THIS AGENDA ITEM.PUBLIC COMMENT IS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TITLE TWO, CHAPTER FIVE, SECTION TWO DASH FIVE DASH 70 OF THE TOWN CODE IN ORDINANCE 24 24 DASH 12 ADOPTED JUNE 18TH, 2024.
INDIVIDUALS RECOGNIZE TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, ARE ASKED TO LIMIT REMARKS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
ADDRESS COMMENTS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
QUESTIONS MAY NOT BE DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC BODY WITHOUT PERMISSION FOR THE PRESIDING OFFICER SPEAKING TEAM.
TIME MAY NOT BE ALLOCATED OR TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PARTY.
PLEASE BE RESPECT, RESPECTFUL OF ALL PARTICIPANTS AND MAINTAIN DECORUM FOR THE MEETING.
IF YOU HAVE ANY MATERIALS YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE THE TOWN COUNCIL, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO THE TOWN CLERK AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED SPEAKING.
KIM, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE DO.
TERRY FINGER, TERRY FINGER, 25 MCINTOSH ROAD IN SPANISH WELLS.
UM, WE JUST HAD A WONDERFUL PROCLAMATION FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO CURTIS.
I WANNA SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT CURTIS ALSO.
UM, I MET A WIFE WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE IN 1984 FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.
UM, CURTIS WAS ALREADY PRACTICING HERE.
HE WAS HERE WHEN THE TOWN WAS FORMED.
I'VE HAD MANY, MANY DEALINGS WITH CURTIS OVER THE YEARS, PROBABLY SEVERAL HUNDRED AS A LAWYER.
HE WAS BEAUFORT COUNTY MASTER IN EQUITY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SO I WAS IN FRONT OF HIM WHEN HE WAS A JUDGE.
I'VE DEALT WITH HIM AS TOWN ATTORNEY AND I'VE DEALT WITH HIM AS A MEDIATOR.
HE'S A WONDERFUL HUSBAND TO SUSAN, WHO WAS A TEACHER HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WE, UM, CURTIS AND I PROBABLY SAT THROUGH SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OF NUTCRACKERS WHEN HIS DAUGHTERS, UM, HIS DAUGHTERS WERE DANCING WITH MY DAUGHTER.
UM, HE'S GOT PAROLES FROM THAT.
UM, MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S NOW DANCING WITH THE HILTON HEAD DANCE THEATER, SO I'M, I THINK I'VE SEEN 40 YEARS
[00:45:01]
OF NUTCRACKERS ON OUR ISLAND AND I'M GLAD I MADE EVERY ONE.HE HAS WONDERFUL PEOPLE SKILLS.
AND IF YOU'VE NOTICED TODAY, HE'S HUMBLE.
THAT IS A WONDERFUL COMBINATION OF TRADES.
HE'S A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL ALWAYS.
HE HAS SERVED OUR TOWN WELL FOR MANY YEARS.
I THANK HIM AND WE SHOULD ALL THANK HIM.
BUSY INDIGO, RUN ALL THIS TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY TODAY AND YET LET IT BE NOTED THAT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC SAFETY AT ANY TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
ALL THE TALKS STARTED AFTER JULY 4TH.
IT DOES MAKE ONE WONDER, WE HEARD FROM THE MAYOR RECENTLY WHO EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF THAT MEETING WITH SHERIFF TANNER SEVEN MONTHS AGO.
HE ONLY LEARNED ABOUT IT AFTER IT CONCLUDED.
WELL, ONCE YOU LEARNED ABOUT IT, WHAT DID YOU DO? KEEP TELLING US THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF YOUR TOP PRIORITIES, BUT IT TOOK A MASS SHOOTING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
THE SHERIFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND I'VE TALKED TO SHERIFF TANNER PERSONALLY, WHICH SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE TOUR SEASON BEGAN THIS YEAR.
OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, BOB BROMAGE, WHO ATTENDED THAT MEETING WITH SHERIFF TANNER LAST DECEMBER, REPORTS TO MARK ORLANDO, WHO SEEMS TO THINK THE TOWN IS RIGHT ON SCHEDULE WITH ALL THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A NEW SUBSTATION.
WHAT DID BOB BROMAGE SHARE WITH MARK ORLANDO? AND WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID MR. ORLANDO SHARE WITH MAYOR PERRY? SOMEONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA SUGGESTED TODAY THAT QUOTE, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BRAND, ALL WITHIN THE BRAND, NOTHING OUTSIDE THE BRAND, NOTHING AGAINST THE BRAND.
MY RESPONSE BACK TO THIS INDIVIDUAL WAS, ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT IF ANYONE ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS, THE BRAND WOULD BE HURT? THE INDIVIDUAL WROTE BACK NOT EXACTLY, BUT THE REASON WHY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IS TO NOT DETRACT FROM THE BRAND A SAFE, UPSCALE VACATION DESTINATION.
THE REPORT GATHERED DUST TOWN OFFICIALS DISTANCED THEMSELVES FROM IT.
THEY DON'T WANNA ATTRACT ATTENTION TO THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
ONE FINAL COMMENT UNRELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
MR. MAYOR, WHEN THERE'S EVEN A HINT, A HINT OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, YOU RECUSE YOURSELF.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT KEY ORGANIZERS FOR THE ISLAND JAM INCLUDE YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR NEPHEW.
$1 MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS FOR A FOR-PROFIT COMPANY OUT OF NASHVILLE.
AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THE EVENT ATTRACTS A LARGE NUMBER OF TOURISTS.
DON'T GET ME WRONG, IT'S A GREAT EVENT I'VE BEEN THERE.
BUT YOU SAID NO TO THE CONCOURSE WHEN THEY WANTED THE TOWN TO SPONSOR THEIR ANNUAL EVENT.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE ORGANIZERS WENT OUT.
AND GUESS WHAT? THEY SECURED A CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP ON THEIR OWN.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAP SHOULD HAPPEN WITH THE ISLAND JAM.
NO MORE HANDOUTS FROM THE TOWN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANTED TO THANK TAMARA BECKER FOR ENCOURAGING US TO UTILIZE THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TO MAKE IT KNOWN THAT THE PALMETTO DUNES PROPERTIES OWNERS ASSOCIATION HAS PROPOSED A FLOOD MITIGATION PLAN THAT WILL BE NUMBER ONE, DESTRUCTIVE TO RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, TWO NOISY AND THREE ENVIRONMENTALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE USE OF DIESEL PUMPS WITHIN A FEW FEET OF THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAGOON WITHIN PALMETTO DUNES.
WE WELCOME THIS BOARD AS OWNERS SEEKING YOUR ADVICE.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE NEED YOUR OPINION ABOUT WHAT WE AS INDIVIDUAL OWNERS SHOULD DO.
THE PLAN IS TO INSTALL ONE 2,650 GALLON PER MINUTE DIESEL PUMP ON AN EASEMENT BETWEEN TWO PROPERTIES, INCLUDING MINE, AND PUMP THE WATER UNDER THE EASEMENT OF 52 PORT TECH, WHICH IS MY PROPERTY, TO ACCOMMODATE A TIDAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AND IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER APPEARED BEFORE A BOARD.
WE FEEL THAT THE USE OF DIESEL PUMPS IN AN AREA WHERE ELECTRICITY IS AVAILABLE IS UNNECESSARY.
WE FEEL THAT THE NOISE RATING OF 80 DECIBELS, WHICH IS A ROCK CONCERT AT THE LOT LINE IS EXCESSIVE.
WE FEEL THAT BORING A 13 INCH HOLE
[00:50:01]
BENEATH A HEAVY TREE CANOPY WILL CREATE DANGEROUS STORM TREES.WE FEEL THAT STORING 100 GALLONS OF POISONOUS DIESEL NEAR A FRESHWATER, THE LARGEST FRESHWATER LAKE IN THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS IRRESPONSIBLE.
WE FEEL THAT A MANUAL HUMAN DEPENDENT SYSTEM OF TURNING ON AND OFF A PUMPING SYSTEM IS EASILY SUBJECTED TO HUMAN ERROR, ESPECIALLY DURING A WEATHER EVENT LIKE A HURRICANE, THEY CAN DRAIN OUR 6 MILLION GALLON LAKE IN LESS THAN EIGHT HOURS.
WE KNOW THAT TWO ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS EXIST THAT ARE GRAVITY BASED AND EASY TO IMPLEMENT, NOT SUBJECTED TO HUMAN ERROR, AND INVOLVE THE REPAIR OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR THE FRESHWATER LAKE DRAINAGE.
THIS MAKES DIESEL PUMPS DIESEL FUEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD DISRUPTION UNNECESSARY.
THEY'RE PUTTING A MASSIVE DIESEL BASED PUMPING SYSTEM THAT WILL OCCUPY MOST OF THE 20 FOOT EASEMENT ON MY PROPERTY ENTIRELY, ENTIRELY IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT WITH TWO STREETS OF HOUSES ON BOTH SIDES.
I LEFT CLEVELAND, OHIO TO GET AWAY FROM THIS.
I DIDN'T COME DOWN HERE TO SEE IT IN CHARLES FRAZIER'S.
WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE HEARD THE TEST PUMP FROM 200 FEET AWAY IN OUR KITCHEN.
AND I'M WATCHING, I'M DOWN TO 16 SECONDS.
THEIR PLAN IS TO TAKE A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE IT INTO AN INDUSTRIAL PARK LIKE I HAD IN BROOK PARK, CLEVELAND, OHIO, IN VIOLATION OF THREE KNOWN HOMEOWNER COVENANTS DESIGNED TO PROTECT US FROM THIS NOISE, DIESEL AND SUITABILITY.
IF YOU WERE US, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? THANK YOU MR. CLARK.
SKIP HOAGLAND, LONG COVE WINDMILL HARBOR SOON AND NEXT.
HOPEFULLY I'M NOT DUMBING BLIND.
DO NOT INTERRUPT, VIOLATE MY FREE SPEECH OR THE CLOCK STARTS OVER.
YOU HAVE NO LEGAL RIGHT TO INTERRUPT.
VIOLATED FOIA TO SEE HOW BILL MILES CHAMBER ILLEGALLY USED MILLIONS OF OUR TAX MONEY IN CANADA.
YOU VOTED FOR AN ILLEGAL $220 MILLION TOWN BUDGET.
YOU VOTED FOR AN ILLEGAL CHAMBER CONTRACT FUNDED BY 12 MILLION IN TAX FUNDS.
THAT DOESN'T REFLECT VERY WELL ON A CHAIRMAN.
600,000 IN ILLEGAL TAX FUNDS TO DREDGE HARBORTOWN VERSUS SEA PINES.
YOU HAVE BEEN SUED 500,000 IN ILLEGAL TAX FUNDS TO SPONSOR A GOLF TOURNAMENT RESERVED FOR CORPORATIONS.
ILLEGAL TAX FUNDS USED FOR TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, MEMBERSHIPS IN THE CHAMBER TOWN WEBSITE PROMOTES A CHAMBER AGAINST LOCAL MEDIA.
A TAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS ILLEGAL CHAMBER AND NONPROFIT FUNDING TAX FUNDS USED BY A PERRY'S BROTHER INVOLVEMENT AND JAM FESTIVAL DX, PRINT AND MAIL ANY PROCUREMENT BIDS APPROVED.
NEW LAWYER WHO WORKS FOR THE TERRY FINGER LAW FIRM, WHO ALSO REPRESENTS THE TOWN OF BLUFFING APPROVED IN SECRET, VIOLATED FAIR PROCUREMENT SEVERE CONFLICTS.
LAWYER COLTRANE HIRED TERRY FINGER TO DRAFT THE ILLEGAL $12 MILLION CHAMBER DMO CONTRACT IN MY VIEW, THEY BOTH COMMITTED CRIMINAL CONTRACT FRAUD.
IETT STORY LAWYERS, COLTRANE AND ALFRED CAUGHT OVERCHARGING LEGAL FEES CHARGING TAXPAYERS BLIND FOR 35 YEARS.
OUR MAYOR IS COZY WITH HILTON HEAD PLANTATION MANAGER WHO SUED, WHO WAS, WHO WAS SUED BY THE LAST MAYOR, CANDIDATE, JOANNE OR SHAK FOR BLASTING AN EMAIL ACCUSING HER OF VIOLATING POSTAL LAW.
PERRY CRITICIZED FOR HOLDING SECRET MEETINGS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND SHUT OUT THE PUBLIC.
PERRY HAD A SECRET MEETING WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WRATH CONSULTING FIRM ALWAYS SHOWS UP TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ILLEGAL FUNDING.
WHO PAYS THAT? WHO PAYS THAT FIRM? MARK ORLANDO AND FINGER DID AN ILLEGAL CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE IN BLUFFTON USING 10 EMPLOYEES TO SELL 500 MEMBERSHIPS RAISING $140,000 FOR BILL MILES.
MR. PERRY SAID HE SAW 80% OF ALL EIGHT TAX FUNDS USED BY BILL MILES AND THE CHAMBER IN USA AND CANADA.
WHERE IS IT MR. PERRY? I CONTEND THIS IS A LIE AND YOU COMMITTED CRIMINAL FRAUD CHAMBER.
CPA WAS PRESIDENT OF THE SECRET GREATER ISLAND COUNCIL AND MANY SERVE ON THIS LLMO COMMITTEE.
LASTLY, MR. PERRY, YOU ARE NOT FIT TO BE A MAYOR NOR QUALIFIED.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S ME OR SOMEBODY ELSE TO CUT CORRUPTION, NOT RIBBONS FOR THE ILLEGAL CHAMBER.
[00:55:02]
GOOD AFTERNOON, DAVE FERGUSON.I WANNA SPEAK TODAY ABOUT LEADERSHIP, JUDGMENT, TRANSPARENCY, AND TRUST WORDS THAT MANY PEOPLE RUN ON WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
AND I, I WON'T, UH, I WON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE NEGATIVE, BUT I AM GONNA SPEAK ABOUT SOME FACTS TODAY.
SO A FEW WEEKS AGO I STOOD HERE AND RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND JAM, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER YOU VOTED TO APPROVE ANOTHER SPONSORSHIP FOR THE FOURTH YEAR.
I SAID IT THEN, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
I SUPPORT LOCAL MUSICIANS AND I'VE EVEN TALKED TO SEVERAL ABOUT CREATING A NONPROFIT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY QUALIFY THEM FOR A TAX FUNDING.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW OUR GOVERNMENT SPENDS TAX DOLLARS, HOW THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT PUBLIC TRUST.
THIS MORNING, THE ISLAND PACKET PROVIDED RESIDENTS WITH IMPORTANT ANSWERS CONFIRMING MANY OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE RAISED.
WE KNOW THE IDEA OF THE ISLAND JAM ORIGINATED FROM MAYOR PERRY'S BROTHER REED PERRY.
ACCORDING TO THE EVENT ORGANIZER, DAVID PRESTON REED CALLED HIM AFTER HIS BROTHER WAS ELECTED MAYOR AND TOLD HIM HE HAD AN IDEA FOR A SONGWRITER FESTIVAL.
WITHIN MONTHS, MAYOR PERRY WAS PRESENTING THE CONCEPT TO TOWN COUNCIL.
SINCE THEN, HILTON HEAD TAXPAYERS HAVE PROVIDED $943,550 IN DIRECT SPONSORSHIPS PLUS ADDITIONAL TOWN EXPENSES FOR RESTROOMS, FENCING, SECURITY, AND OTHER SUPPORT MAKING THE NUMBER WELL OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
THE TOWN'S DOCUMENTED AND PROJECTED INVESTMENT NOW EXCEEDS THAT 1 MILLION.
AND ACCORDING TO COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER, THE SPONSORSHIP WASN'T FORMALLY DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL COMMITTEE UNTIL THIS JULY AFTER YEARS OF FUNDING.
MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER INVESTMENT.
YET ONLY NOW WE ARE FORMALLY EXAMINING THE SPONSORSHIP AND ASKING BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ITS MEASURABLE RETURN.
WAS IT FAIR TO INTRODUCE THIS TO YOUR FELLOW TEAMMATES A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU PUT IT ON THE AGENDA? MR. MAYOR, MAYOR PERRY HAS SAID HE WASN'T LEGALLY REQUIRED TO RECUSE HIMSELF BECAUSE HIS NEPHEW ISN'T CONSIDERED IMMEDIATE FAMILY UNDER STATE ETHICS LAW.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY QUESTION LEADERSHIP SHOULD ASK.
LEADERSHIP SHOULD SIMPLY ASK, AM I LEGALLY REQUIRED TO STEP ASIDE? LEADERSHIP SHOULD ALSO ASK WHAT DECISION BEST PROTECTS THE PUBLIC TRUST.
YOUR BROTHER ORIGINATED THE IDEA YOUR NEPHEW HAS PERFORMED IN THE EVENT ALL FOUR YEARS.
AND LONGTIME CONNECTION TO ISLAND WRECK IS WELL KNOWN.
NONE OF THAT PROVES ANYONE DID ANYTHING WRONG.
AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT IT DOES, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY CREATES LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, PROCESS JUDGMENT, AND APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT.
RESIDENTS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WHEN REASONABLE, PEACEFUL PEOPLE ASK REASONABLE QUESTIONS, STRONG LEADERS DON'T REACT, REACH FOR TECHNICALITIES.
THEY PROVIDE ANSWERS, THEY WELCOME SCRUTINY, AND THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO PROTECT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE ISLAND JAM, IT'S ABOUT TRUST.
MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONIES DESERVES TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABLE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MEASURED RESULTS.
IT'S SOMETHING LEADERSHIP HAS TO EARN.
CHESTER WILLIAMS. TIME TO TURN BACK TO MR. COLTRANE
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, I MEAN, I'M AN ATTORNEY.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I HAVE DEALT WITH CURTIS MANY, MANY TIMES.
AND I THINK ONE THING THAT HADN'T BEEN MENTIONED HERE IS, YOU KNOW, HE WAS, HE WAS AN ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER FOR A WHILE ALSO IN ADDITION TO BEING THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND THE MASTER IN EQUITY.
UM, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO TO MENTION THAT HAVING SOMEONE LIKE CURTIS, UH, WITH HIS, WITH HIS INTENTION TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE FOR ME WHEN I'M REPRESENTING CLIENTS HERE, MAKES MY JOB SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I'VE GOT SOMEONE WHO ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WHO IS INTERESTED IN DOING THE RIGHT THING.
I MEAN, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH OF A BENEFIT THAT IS TO SOMEONE IN MY POSITION.
UH, I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO HIM FOR HIS CONSIDERATIONS OVER THE MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
AND I WISH HIM THE, THE BEST OF LUCK GOING FORWARD.
WILLIAM BOSLEY, YOU GOOD AFTERNOON COUNSEL.
I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING US THIS TIME.
UM, I
UH, YOU PROBABLY NOTICED THAT SOME OF US ARE WEARING NEW T-SHIRTS.
YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE OF THESE T-SHIRTS IN THE FUTURE.
[01:00:02]
I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THE PROTECT THE OTTER CREEK AND INDIGO RUN ROOKERY COMMITTEE.I'M HERE TO SPEAK FORCEFULLY FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THAT.
TREASURED ROOKERY IS AN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE ECOSYSTEM, AND FROM MARCH THROUGH AUGUST, IT IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF BIRDS.
THEY COME HERE TO NEST AND TO BIRTH THEIR CHICKS.
I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, SOME OF YOU HAVE NOT.
SO I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER IN MY THIRD CAREER HERE AND I BROUGHT SOME PICTURES OF THE ROTARY FOR SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT BEEN THERE AND MAY NOT KNOW, THESE ARE SPOONBILLS AND SPOONBILL CHICKS.
AND THESE ARE A COMBINATION OF BIRDS.
AND YOU'LL SEE RIGHT THERE IS THE 2, 2 9 MARSTON ROAD PROPERTY, LITERALLY 10 YARDS ACROSS OTTER CREEK.
UM, THE WOOD STARKS ARE PROTECTED SPECIES.
THEY JUST CAME OFF THE FEDERAL LIST, BUT THEY'RE STILL PROTECTED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THEY'RE ON THE PROTECTED LIST FOR 10 MORE YEARS AT LEAST.
UM, THIS IS A NIGHT HERON, AND YOU'LL SEE IT'S GOT A NEST.
AND THIS IS ON THE 2 29 MARSHLAND PROPERTY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY ON THE LAND THAT'S SCHEDULED TO BE DEVELOPED.
AND JUST TO SHOW YOU, THERE ARE YELLOW CROWN, THERE ARE BLACK CROWN, AND THERE ARE, UH, IMMATURE NEWBORNS.
WE ALSO HAVE EGRETS AND THEIR CHICKS.
WE HAVE, UM, UM, TRICOLOR, SORRY, TRICOLOR AND THEIR CHICKS.
WE HAVE, THIS IS A IMMATURE, UH, LITTLE BLUE HERON AND WE GOT A GREEN HERON DOWN HERE.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE WE HAVE, UH, IBUS AND A AGAIN, UH, BLUE HERONS.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST A TOTALLY TREASURED PROPERTY.
UM, WE FEEL THE ROCKERY IS IN DANGER OF BEING, UH, DESTROYED BY DEVELOPMENT ON THE ADJACENT LAND ACROSS THE CREEK.
AND WE'RE HERE TO ASK YOU TO PROTECT THIS LAND WITH US.
TO DO WHAT YOU CAN, DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ENFORCE ALL OF THE LMO REGULATIONS, CROSS YOUR T'S, DOT YOUR I'S AND, AND PROTECT THIS, IT, IT DESERVES TO BE A PUBLIC PROPERTY.
OKAY? AND, AND LAST, AS A, AS A PHOTOGRAPHER, I'VE LEARNED THAT NOT ONLY CAPTURING THE IMAGES OF TREASURE, BUT PROTECTING IT IS TOO.
MY NAME IS SHEILA BROADBENT AND I LIVE AT 41 RIVER CLUB DRIVE.
I AM ALSO A MEMBER OF THE PROTECT THE OTTER CREEK AND INDIGO RUN RORY ISLAND COMMITTEE, UH, WHICH WAS FORMALLY CHARTERED BY THE INDIGO RUN, COA.
UM, I'M HERE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THE OTTER CREEK AND THE INDIGO RUN ROOKERY.
THE PROJECT AT 2 29 MARSHLAND ROAD WILL IRREPARABLY DAMAGE THE ROOKERY AND WILL DISRUPT HUNDREDS OF RESTING AND NESTING BIRDS.
CLEAR CUTTING OF THE FOREST, PLUS THE ATTENDANT NOISE AND PROXIMATE DISRUPTION WILL BE FATAL TO THE ROOKERY AND CAUSE BIRDS TO FLEE.
BUT THERE IS AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT THAT MUST BE EMPHASIZED.
THE SITE BORDERS AND ALSO INCLUDES FRAGILE, WET, FRAGILE WETLANDS.
THESE RICH ENVIRONMENTS HOME TO ALL TYPES OF HILTON HEAD WILDLIFE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS FROM THE ENCROACHMENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THESE AREAS FROM RUNOFF AND FLOODING THAT TYPICALLY OCCURS IN HEAVY RAINS.
THE DEVELOPMENT WILL CREATE AN 11.3 ACRE HARDSCAPE OF BUILDINGS, STREETS, DRIVEWAYS, AND PARKING AREAS THAT FURTHER COMPOUND THE RISK TO FR TO FLOOD PRONE AREAS IN AND AROUND THE GARDENER AND MARSHLAND NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE DEVELOPER PLANS TO CLEAR CUT THE DENSE FOREST, BUT FAILS TO PROVIDE FOR A BUFFER OR WOODED AREA ON SITE.
SEVERAL THOUSAND TREES WOULD BE REMOVED IN THE PROCESS, INCLUDING SEVERAL SPECIMEN LIVE OAKS.
THIS SITE IS LOCATED WITHIN THE OTTER CREEK WATERSHED, A NAMED STREAM, WHICH TRAVERSES
[01:05:01]
THE NORTH END OF THE ISLAND.INCREASED RUNOFF WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ACCELERATED DOWNSTREAM EROSION OF THIS CRITICAL WATERWAY THAT FLOWS THROUGH NUMEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING INDIGO RUN THE OWNER'S CLUB, BROAD POINT RIVER CLUB, AND SEVERAL NAIL NATIVE ISLANDERS ENCLAVES.
THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT 2 29 MARSHLAND ROAD FAILS TO MEET ANY RELEVANT STANDARD FOR PROTECTION OF A SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SITE.
WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE AND OPPOSITION TO THIS DEVELOPMENT.
OW, MAYOR PERRY, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS TOM CHARNOW AND I ALSO LIVE IN THE INDIGO RUN COMMUNITY.
AT 15 DAWSON WAY, I AM A MEMBER OF THE PROTECT THE OTTER CREEK AND INDIGO RUN ROOKERY COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS BEEN FORMALLY CHARTERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE INDIGO RUN, COA, HENCE THE LOVELY T-SHIRT.
UH, WE BELIEVE THE CURRENT DESIGN PLANS, THE 2 29 MARSLAND ROAD DEVELOPMENT WILL CAUSE IRREPARABLE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM, CRITICALLY THREATEN THE SURVIVAL OF A UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE ISLAND WORKY, AND SUBSTANTIALLY DIMINISHED THE CHARACTER AND PROPERTY VALUES OF THE SURROUNDING LONG ESTABLISHED LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS ON AND NEAR ACEL ROAD.
WE HAVE CLOSELY STUDIED THE TOWN'S LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE AND STATE LAWS, AND WE BELIEVE THERE ARE MAJOR AND SIGNIFICANT VIOLATIONS OF THESE, THEIR PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES, INCLUDING SECTION 16 6 1 0 1 OF THE LMO STIPULATES THAT WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION IS A CORE PRECEPT OF THE ORDINANCE.
HUNDREDS OF BIRDS HAVE BEGUN NESTING AND RAISING THEIR YOUNG OUTSIDE THE WORKERY, ALONG THE BANKS OF OTTER CREEK, AND IN NUMEROUS TREES WITHIN THE DRIFTWOOD PROPERTY.
THIS LAND WILL IRREPARABLY DESTROY THE VALUABLE WILDLIFE HABITAT.
SECTION 16 THREE DASH 1 0 4 E OF THE ALAMO STIPULATES THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER MUST BE PROTECTED AND PRESERVED.
THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF EXCEPTIONALLY DENSE RESIDENTIAL UNITS THAT ARE DEEP ODDS WITH THE HOMES AND COMMUNITIES OF INDIGO RUN, AND WITH THE QUIET, PEACEFUL KNIT NATIVE ISLAND ENCLAVES OF MARSHLAND AND GARDNER AND OTHER SURROUNDING WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOODS.
FINALLY, STATE CODE ONE DASH, I'M SORRY, 48 DASH ONE 10, WHICH DEFINES WATERS OF THE STATE STIPULATES THAT OTTER CREEK QUALIFIES AS A NAMED CREEK.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES GENERAL PERMIT MANDATES A 30 FOOT BUFFER UNDISTURBED NATURAL BUFFER ALONG THE WATERS OF THE STATE.
THE SITE PLAN FOR THE DRIFTWOOD DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS BUFFER, AND THUS IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.
THE DRIFTWOOD PROJECT CLEARLY FAILS TO COMPLY WITH NUMEROUS STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES, AND WE URGE YOU TO WORK WITH US TO PREVENT THIS HARMFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT FROM PROCEEDING.
JUST ONE FUN FACT, I WANTED TO MENTION BILL'S GONNA TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THERE ARE, UH, SPOONBILLS IN THE WORKERY AND THEY'RE PRETTY COLORS AND LIKE A, A ROSE ROSEA SPOON BILL.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HILTON HISTORY, WE'VE HAD A BIRTH OF THE BABY SPOON BILL, WHICH YOU'RE REFERRED TO AS TEASPOONS
HI, UH, MY NAME IS ROGER DECELS AND I LIVE AT 14 VIRGINIA RAIL LANE.
I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE OF YOUR HILTON HEAD BIG BAND.
AND, UM, WE ARE, FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WE ARE A PUBLIC CHARITY, OKAY? UH, CORPORATE CHARITY, SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND WE HAVE 30 VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE PROFESSIONALS, SEMI-PROFESSIONAL, UH, MUSICIANS AND VOCALISTS THAT RAISE MONEY FOR TWO CHARITIES.
WE RAISE IT FOR THE, UH, FOR THE KIDS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
UH, WE PROVIDE, UH, MUSIC, UH, INSTRUMENTS.
WE TAKE USED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND WE REFURBISH THEM LIKE NEW, AND WE GIVE THEM TO KIDS WHOSE PARENTS CAN'T AFFORD THEM.
WE ALSO PROVIDE, UH, PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS FOR THOSE KIDS, AGAIN, WHO CAN'T AFFORD PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS.
BUT WHY DO WE DO ALL OF THIS? UH, WELL, ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT MUSIC EDUCATION IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING EMPHASIZED AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD BE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER CHARITY THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, UH, ORGANIZATION OR NOT, BUT AS YOU
[01:10:01]
KNOW, UM, OR YOU MAY NOT KNOW ON AN AVERAGE OF 22 OF OUR SOLDIERS COME HOME AND COMMIT SUICIDE, THAT'S A TRAGEDY.THIS ORGANIZATION,
THEY HAVE HAD ZERO SUICIDES SINCE THEY'VE STARTED THIS.
NOW, THIS IS A LOCAL CHARITY, BY THE WAY.
ALRIGHT? I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN RIDGELAND.
WELL, HOW DO WE DO THIS? WELL, WE RAISE MONEY BY PLAYING CONCERTS.
AND WE HAVE ONE COMING UP BY THE WAY THAT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, DO PEOPLE LIKE CREDENCE? CLEARWATER REVIVAL? ALRIGHT, WELL, THE BIG BAND IS GONNA OPEN FOR CREDENCE ON THIS ISLAND.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? IT'S GONNA BE AT THE HILTON HOTEL, THE BEACHFRONT RESORT AND SPA.
IT'S GONNA BE ON OCTOBER 10TH.
AND THOSE FUNDS THAT WE EARN BY DOING THAT WILL GO TO OUR CHILDREN AND WILL GO TO OUR VETERANS AND WILL GO TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND I, I, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY BETTER REASON TO DO WHAT WE DO.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN DO TO SUPPORT US, WE'D CERTAINLY HELP.
BUT WE'D CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, JUST, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING.
ALRIGHT? SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND, UH, OKAY, THANK YOU.
MY LAST ONE ON THE LIST, UM, FOR NON AGENDA ITEM.
I'VE HAD MY HAND HEAD IN THE SAND FOR MANY MONTHS, UM, BETWEEN BEACH TREE NOURISHMENTS GOING INTO MAY AND JUNE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY PICKUP, WHICH IS JUNE, JULY, AND AUGUST.
I'M ON THE BEACH FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK.
ONE OF THE NIGHTS IS WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR LIGHTING ORDINANCE.
ALL OF THESE ORDINANCES THAT WE PUT TOGETHER, TOWN COUNCIL, UM, HAS HELPED KEEP OUR BEACH SO DARK AND SO CLEAN.
SO THAT'S A POSITIVE AND PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THEY CAN'T COMPARE IT TO WHAT IT WAS.
SO IF YOU MOVED HERE FIVE YEARS AGO AND YOU KNOW, YOU THINK IT'S BAD NOW, IT'S NOT.
SO, ONE THAT I WANNA MENTION, UM, THAT'S COMING UP IS THE PLASTIC BACKED BAND REVISION.
UM, REVISIONS SEEM TO TAKE LONGER THAN CREATION FOR SOME REASON, BUT THE BAG BAN WAS PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO.
UM, PEOPLE HAVE USED IT INEFFICIENTLY BY PRODUCING BAGS THAT ARE THICKER.
UM, BUFORT COUNTY ASKED THE MUNICIPALITIES TO GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.
EACH BUFORT HAS PASSED THE FIRST READING.
SECOND READING IS THIS NEXT WEEK.
I BELIEVE PORT ROYAL USUALLY FOLLOWS, HISTORICALLY JUST FOLLOWS WHAT BEAUFORT CITY DOES.
BLUFFTON IS REVISITING IT TONIGHT AND I WOULD LIKE, SINCE WE'RE AT THE FOREFRONT OF NATURE CONSERVANCY, UH, WITH ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES, THE HERBICIDES, THE, THE PROTECTION ON THE BEACH, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US AT LEAST BRING IT UP.
WE NEED TO AT LEAST SAY THAT WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE THE FRONT RUNNER.
AND I WANNA SAY THAT I AM ON THE BEACH FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK, STARTING AT 9:00 PM UNTIL ONE OR TWO IN THE MORNING FOR FOUR MONTHS OUTTA THE YEAR.
AND I CAN SAY THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME OF THE, THE KID PROBLEMS. UM, BUT IT'S A VERY SUCCINCT AREA IN MY OPINION.
IT'S BETWEEN BEACH MARKERS 55 AND 70.
BERKS BEACH USED TO BE REALLY BAD AND THIS YEAR JUST WASN'T.
THEY USED TO RUN FROM MY TRUCK, BUT NOW THERE'S NO KIDS DOWN THERE.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST A VERY PRECISE AREA.
AND ONE NIGHT I DID CALL A NON-EMERGENCY DISPATCH AND THOSE SIRENS WERE THERE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES IN BEAVER COUNTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN DO IT.
PLEASE DON'T ADD A LANE TO THE CIRCLE AT SEA PINES BECAUSE THERE WAS ONE THERE.
AND AS TEENAGERS, WE USED TO TRAP THE TOURISTS IN THE MIDDLE.
BUT I DON'T
BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AND PLEASE THINK ABOUT, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON HERE, BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND I'LL BE HERE TO REMIND YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING PUBLIC COMMENT UP SO I CAN GET SOME REST BEFORE I HAVE TO GO BACK OUT THERE.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT ENDS OUR FIRST, UH, SESSION OF, UH, NON AGENDA ITEMS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO GENERAL REPORTS
[8. Reports from Members of Town Council]
FROM TOWN COUNCIL.DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MS. BECKER?
[01:15:01]
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU.IT'S SO NICE TO LOOK OUT AND TO SEE SO MANY FACES, ONE THAT I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST AND ALL OF Y'ALL WHO ARE HERE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT.
BUT I'M ALSO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MY WARD FOR RESIDENTS WHO PUT THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST.
AND, UM, AND I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE, UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WANTED TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE AND ASSURE THAT I'M ALWAYS THERE HELPING WHEREVER WE CAN.
AND I WANNA ASK AND ENCOURAGE THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU HEARD TONIGHT AND IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM THAT WE CAN LEGALLY HELP.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE OFFERING ASSISTANCE, UM, TO, TO THE ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT, BOTH IN PD AND INDIGO RUN.
UM, I ALSO WANTED TO, UM, THANK GORDON AND DONNA, HIS, UM, BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO I MET LAST EVENING AT OUR ROTARY CLUB MEETING.
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL, UM, CONCERT THAT THE BIG BAND IS PUTTING ON.
AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF BROCHURES UP HERE, BUT I WANT YOU, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, TO PLEASE SUPPORT THEM.
UM, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS.
MANY OF OUR FRIENDS HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS AND WILL BE THERE.
UM, WWW O FOB.ORG AND HOPE THAT EVERYONE CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY THEM AND SUPPORT BOTH O FOB AS WELL AS THE CHILDREN ON HILTON HEAD.
SECONDLY, UM, OR I GUESS WE'RE WAY PAST SECOND, THIRD, OR FOURTH, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT I ATTENDED A MEETING.
I WAS INVITED TO ATTEND A MEETING AT THE AIRPORT, UM, VIEW FOR COUNTY SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLING BOARD WAS MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR THERE.
AND, UM, THEY ASKED ME IF I WOULD PARTICIPATE.
UM, MIKE FROM I TWO WAS ALSO THERE.
UM, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO CLEAN UP OUR ENVIRONMENT AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE GENERATIONS WHO COME.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE COLLABORATION WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY AND WITH THE AIRPORT AS THEY LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE ABLE TO PROPERLY RECYCLE AND MOVE TRASH IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
AND HOPEFULLY AS AN ASIDE, BUT A VERY BIG BENEFIT TO ALL OF US, UM, BRING SOME CASH BACK TO BOTH THE COUNTY AND PERHAPS EVEN THE ISLAND.
OKAY, ANOTHER GENERAL COMMENTS, MS. BRYSON.
AUGUST IS WELLNESS MONTH, SO GET SOME EXERCISE, EAT WELL AND STAY HYDRATED.
AND YOUR REUSABLE WATER CONTAINER THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE? SO REAL QUICK, UM, UH, BACK IN JULY WE ATTENDED THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE, WHICH, UM, WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST CONFERENCES THAT, THAT I HAD ATTENDED, UH, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
AND REALLY HAD A GREAT CHANCE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH A LOT OF OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF SIMILAR THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, UH, HORRIBLE INCIDENT ON JULY 4TH.
UM, IT'S BEEN A A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ENLIGHTENING AS TO HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES.
AND AS WE CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE'LL CONTINUE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE GROUPS AND THOSE PEOPLE IN THOSE OTHER COMMUNITIES JUST TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT BE DOING.
UM, SO IT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL AND, AND IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU SEE THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEING MOVED UP.
UM, BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER LARGER TOWNS AND ABOUT HOW THEY HANDLE THEIR MEETINGS AND REALIZE THAT THIS IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
SO THE POINT BEING, WE CAN ALWAYS LEARN FROM OUR, FROM OUR COHORTS.
UM, LASTLY, THE DIAMOND YOUTH BASEBALL, D ONE MAJOR HILTON HEAD ISLAND WORLD CHAMPS.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO ROB HUM TO HIS SON, UH, WHO WAS THE BATTING CHAMPION AND TO THE WHOLE TEAM.
UM, THEY CAME AWAY AS THE WORLD CHAMPS FOR DIAMOND YOUTH BASEBALL.
FIRST TIME IN 27 YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM.
WE WILL BRING THEM, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE HERE, UH, IN SEPTEMBER FOR OUR, UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, IF THERE'S NO OTHER, WE'LL MOVE ON TO COMMITTEE REPORTS.
MS. BECKER? UH, YES, MS. BECKER, LOCAL COUNTRY AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
I DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A, UM, REPORT.
OKAY, MR. ALFRED, LOW COUNTRY COUNCIL GOVERNMENTS, NO REPORT.
THERE WAS NO MEETING IN AUGUST, UH, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU SOME STATISTICS THROUGHOUT.
THERE HAVE BEEN 128,000 PASSENGERS
[01:20:01]
AT OUR LOCAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT, AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE BOTH LANDING AND FLYING OUT OF THE AIRPORT.AND IT IS UP 10.9% COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
UH, OUR NEXT MEETING IS COMING UP THIS THURSDAY AND IT'S GOING TO BE IN BEAUFORT.
SOUTHERN LOW COUNTRY REGIONAL BOARD.
YES, WE HELD A MEETING, UM, IN BLUFFTON ON TUESDAY, JULY 28TH.
UM, WE HEARD A REPORT ON THE JASPER COUNTY ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, UH, BY THE CONSULTING ENGINEERING FIRM, INFRASTRUCTURE CONSULTING AND ENGINEERING, ALSO KNOWN AS ICE
UM, AND I COMMEND TO YOUR VIEWING, IF YOU GO TO THE HARDY WEBSITE, YOU CAN LOOK AT THE SO LOCO, UM, UH, MEETINGS, THE VIDEOS OF THOSE MEETINGS.
ALSO BEAUFORT COUNTY CHANNEL, YOU CAN GO THERE AS WELL.
BUT IT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE JASPER COUNTY, UM, HAD, UM, UH, A SALES TAX, UH, REFERENDUM APPROVED, UM, UH, 40 470 MILLION.
THE CONSTRUCTION WILL OCCUR FROM, UH, BOTH THE PRELIMINARY AND AND CONSTRUCTION FROM 2025 TO 2040.
THE ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION WILL BE FROM 2031 TO 2035.
SO IT'S FROM I 95 TOWARDS USCB.
SO I COMMEND THAT TWO YEAR VIEWING.
IT'S VERY INFORMATIONAL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO OCCUR.
IN ADDITION FROM THAT SAME FIRM, UH, WAS A REPORT FROM THE PROJECT MANAGER ON THE I 95 PROJECT FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVER TO, UM, EXIT EIGHT.
UM, THEY HOPE TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY AUGUST 31ST, 2030.
UM, AND THEY ALSO HOPE TO HAVE THE JOHN SMITH ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OI 95 COMPLETED BY DECEMBER AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
UM, IN ADDITION, WE HEARD A SEPARATE REPORT FROM JASPER COUNTY WORKING WITH THE TOWN OF HARVILLE ON A PROJECT CALLED PROJECT PHOENIX WITH THE, UM, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE FROM BOTH THE TOWN OF HARVILLE AND JASPER COUNTY.
LOOKING AT WHO CAN BEST SERVE AREAS WITHIN THE COUNTY WHERE PERHAPS THERE DONUT HALLS IN THE, UH, TOWN'S CORPORATE LIMITS.
IT SHOWED HOW TWO DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE BEST SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.
UM, SO I ALSO COMMEND THAT TO YOUR, UH, TO YOUR, UH, REVIEW ON THE CH ON THE WEB, I'M SORRY, ON THE COUNTY CHANNEL OR ON THE TOWN OF HARVILLE CHANNEL.
IN ADDITION, MAYOR, UH, HARRY WILLIAMS REPORTED ON THE TRI SHARE CHILDCARE FUNDING PILOT PROGRAM, UM, THAT HARVILLE IS WORKING ON.
AND THERE IS A, UH, CORE DEVELOPMENT TEAM.
I SEE TOM HINTZ, UH, WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT WITH THE CHAMBER, WHO'S ON THAT, UH, CORE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, AS WELL AS JODY LEVITT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN'S CENTER AND OTHER FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING UNITED WAY OF LOW COUNTRY, WORKING TO TRY TO FIND A COOPERATIVE, UH, WAY TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE WITH AT LEAST ONE CHILDCARE CENTER IN EACH JURISDICTION OF SO LOCO.
AND THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 25TH, 10:00 AM CITY OF HARVILLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU, MR. BROWN ISLAND RECREATION ASSOCIATION.
UH, ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, THE ISLAND RECREATION, UH, BOARD WILL BE HAVING ITS, UH, ANNUAL PLANNING SESSION.
UM, I'M ENCOURAGING ALL OF COUNCIL TO REACH OUT TO ME IF YOU HAVE ANY AREAS OF CONCERN, UH, THAT THE BOARD CAN START TO PLAN, UH, FOR THE THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, AS AN EXAMPLE, AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, I, UM, I EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT, UH, ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY TO OUR PROGRAMS. OKAY.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AT THE ISLAND REC CENTER.
UM, AND TOO OFTEN SOMEBODY FINDS OUT ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AFTER THE FACT.
OKAY? SO MAYBE AT THE POINT OF SALE WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB.
SO JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR RECREATIONAL ARM, OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEADS.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WELCOME ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW I PLAN ON ATTENDING THE EVENT AND I'LL MAKE SURE, UH, LEAH GETS THOSE AHEAD OF TIME SO SHE'D BE PROPERLY PREPARED TO DISCUSS.
UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
UH, WE MET LAST, NOT LAST MONTH, BUT MONTH BEFORE, AND REALLY THERE'S A LOT OF MOVEMENT AROUND THE COUNTY OF WHERE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, BUT DIRECTLY RELATING BACK TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND, UNFORTUNATELY WE DID LOSE ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT CAME IN THROUGH THE EDC.
UM, IT WAS A MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
IT WAS DUE TO A A, AN OUTFALL OF FAMILY.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANY NAMES TO PUT ANYBODY OUT THERE, BUT THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE LOST THAT BUSINESS.
UM, THEY ALSO DID A SPECIAL MARKETING PROGRAM CAMPAIGN THROUGHOUT, UH, NEW YORK AND, AND TAMPA, WHICH I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE.
AND THEY BROUGHT IN A FAMILY FROM THE NORTHEAST, FROM THE NEW YORK CAMPAIGN THAT IS LOOKING TO MOVE SOME BUSINESSES TO THIS AREA, TO HILTON HAD SPECIFICALLY.
UM, AND ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING AREAS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO BRING IN IS INTO
[01:25:01]
THE LIFE SCIENCES.SO AS WE START TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'LL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON THAT.
UM, AND WE HAVE A NEXT, OUR NEXT MEETING THIS, THIS COMING THURSDAY.
UH, MR. BROWN G GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THE CDC WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19TH AT 10:00 AM.
UM, CDC WILL CONTINUE DISCUSSION ON THE FY 2027 TO 2030, UH, STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN.
UH, WE WILL DISCUSS AND CONSIDER, UH, GULLAH GEECHEE HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, AND ENTER AN EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO THE PROPOSED NAME CHANGE.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. BECKER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PUBLIC SERVICES.
UM, SO WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THAT WE MET YESTERDAY AND, AND SO THAT'S ALL BEEN REPORTED ON.
BUT AT THE UPCOMING MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1:00 PM WE WILL, UM, HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH REGARD TO AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE RELATED TO NATIONAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, WETLANDS PROTECTION, TREE PROTECTION, JONESVILLE ROAD, RESIDENTIAL SIGN, SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, BRADLEY CIRCLE, RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY DISTRICT, AND SUBDIVISION AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
UM, THE TOWN MANAGER, UH, SPOKE ON THE, UH, I GUESS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY HERE ON, ON HILTON HEAD.
AND, UM, DURING THAT REPORT, HE MENTIONED THAT WE'LL BE HAVING A DISCUSSION AT THE F AND A MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH.
THE NEWS CAMERAS, CRITICS, THEY PROBABLY NOT GONNA BE AT THAT MEETING, BUT I ENCOURAGE ALL OF TOWN COUNCIL TO BE THERE.
I SAID THIS AT OUR JULY 9TH MEETING, I THINK IT WAS THE FOUR HOUR MEETING.
UH, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A DIFFERENT SET OF CONDITIONS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PARTNERS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE LAWSUIT WITH BUFORT COUNTY IS BEHIND US.
IT WILL BE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE COUNTY REPRESENTING THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD, AND THERE'LL ALSO BE A NEW SHERIFF.
SO US UNDERSTANDING, PARTICULARLY THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF THAT, IS GONNA BE SO KEY TO HAVING A QUALIFIED CONVERSATION WHEN ALL OF THE NEW PLAYERS SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE.
SO I JUST ENCOURAGE US TO SET ASIDE THE DISTRACTIONS.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE CURFEW DISCUSSION IS, IS SEXY.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THAT
AND, UM, I'M JUST GONNA END WITH THIS.
SO THE SHERIFF STATED THAT THERE WAS A 17 SECOND RESPONSE TO THE JULY 4TH INCIDENT, AND TOWN MANAGER JUST TOLD US THAT IT'S APPROXIMATELY, I KNOW, $12 MILLION THAT THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD IS SENDING OVER FOR POLICE SUPPORT.
OR IF YOU JUST TAKE THAT INCIDENT, THAT'S ABOUT $700,000 A SECOND.
IF MY MASK RIGHT, MS. TURNER
WE, WE, WE CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM THAT.
OKAY? AND US SITTING AT THE TABLE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE GAPS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS REALLY GOING TO BE, IS GONNA BE SO IMPORTANT FOR US GETTING TO A BETTER PLACE AS FAR AS PUBLIC SAFETY IS CONCERNED.
SO AGAIN, I JUST ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO BE PREPARED TO PARTICIPATE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR REPORTS.
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO UNFINISHED
[8. Unfinished Business]
BUSINESS, UH, PORTION OF OUR AGENDA.WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A SIGN EASEMENT AND COVERING REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR APPROVAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COUNCIL? DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS? MS. GAMMON? MR. WILLIAMS. ALL PASS.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, I BELIEVE MR. CLIFF? NO, HE'S ON THE NEXT ONE.
ANY FOR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, WE'LL
[01:30:01]
CALL FOR THE VOTE.WE HAVE A FIRST BY MR. BROWN, SECOND BY MS. ALFRED FOR CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A SIGNED EASEMENT AND COVERING A REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR HAND.
[9. New Business]
TO NEW BUSINESS.WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON ISLAND AUTHORIZED IN THE TOWN MANAGER EXECUTE A FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INITIATE AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND THE DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS OF TO THE INE CIRCLE.
MR. SEAN GILLEN, ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION.
UH, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCILS MEMBERS.
UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
THIS IS A, UH, FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH THE, WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DOT, UH, TO INITIATE, UM, THE INITIAL DESIGN ON THE SEA PINE CIRCLE.
UH, AND THE, THE AGREEMENT WAS, UH, CONSIDERED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
AND ON JULY 13TH, THEY VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO FORWARD IT TO THE, UH, TOWN COUNCIL.
THIS OUTLINES THE SCOPE, FUNDING AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE TOWN AND THE DOT UH, SC DOT WILL ASSESS THE SAFETY AND CONGESTION CONCERNS OF THE INE CIRCLE AND RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT, THE PROJECT WILL ADVANCE TO ABOUT 20 TO 30% DESIGN.
THEY'LL HAVE INCLUDING SOME PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS AND AN ENGINEER'S ESTIMATED OF PROBABLE COST.
UH, AND NO WORK WILL COMMENCE BEYOND THAT POINT WITHOUT MUNICIPAL CONSENT OF THE TOWN COUNCILOR.
THE ESTIMATED IT'LL BE LATE SPRING OF 2027 AND THEY'LL HAVE THE, UH, UH, THE NEXT WORK PRODUCT AVAILABLE FOR US TO REVIEW.
DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? SECOND? ONE SECOND.
AND DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THAT SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS? MR. WILLIAMS? MS. CAMPBELL ACTION.
UM, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT STRIKES ME TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
UH, THE ARCHIVES OF THE TOWN AND THE ARCHIVES OF CSA ARE FULL OF PROPOSALS REGARDING SEA PINE CIRCLE.
IN FACT, SCOTT LIGGETT TOLD ME, UH, WHEN HE JOINED THE TOWN AS A YOUNG ENGINEER IN THE EARLY NINETIES, THE FIRST PROJECT HE WORKED ON WAS THE SEA PINE CIRCLE.
AND WHAT CAME OUTTA THAT WAS THE IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH ARROW ROAD AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS SHELVED.
SOME YEARS LATER, SCOTT FIND HIMSELF CHAIRMAN OF A CIRCLE TO CIRCLE COMMITTEE.
WHAT CAME OUTTA THAT? THE CONCRETE DIVIDE IS AROUND SEA PINE CIRCLE AND EVERYTHING ELSE WAS SHELVED.
I'VE GOT SKIN IN THE GAME HERE BECAUSE WE LIVE IN SEA PINES AND HAVE DONE FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
AND WHERE WE LIVE, WE HAVE A FIRSTHAND VIEW OF THE CONGESTION IN AND OUT THE GATE.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, IT'S GOT SO MUCH BETTER.
AND THE REASON WHY IT'S GOT BETTER IS BECAUSE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS HAS DECLINED MASSIVELY.
OKAY? AND DESPITE WHAT SEAN HAS WRITTEN IN HIS REPORT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY KNOW RESIDENTS ARE COMPLAINING BECAUSE THEY'VE SHUT OFF OPEN BOARD MEETINGS.
AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET ANY FEEL OF RESIDENT COMPLAINTS IS SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND THERE'S VERY LITTLE OF IT.
SEAN, BLESS HIM, HAS ONLY BEEN WORKING IN, UH, SEA PINES SINCE SEPTEMBER AND DOESN'T EVEN LIVE IN SEA PINES, NOR DOES HIS BOSS.
I KNOW $300,000 IS AS CHICKEN FEED COMPARED TO YOUR TOTAL BUDGET.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU SPEND MONEY ON AND WHETHER YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO GET BENEFIT.
WHAT'S LIKELY TO COME OUT OF THIS IS ANOTHER SET OF PROPOSALS THAT HAVE ALL BEEN SEEN BEFORE AND ALL BEEN SET ASIDE BEFORE.
AND IT'S GOING CAUSE A LOT OF DISCONTENT, AS WAS POINTED OUT AT THE JULY BO UH, WORKSHOP.
THERE'S SO MANY, SO FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH THE CIRCLE, VERY LIMITED.
AND EACH OF THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTROVERSIAL.
AND IF, IF SCOTT UNFORTUNATELY ISN'T HERE TO SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT IF HE WAS, HE WOULD EXPLAIN HOW MANY PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED AND THE PEOPLE THAT BLOCKED THEM ARE STILL THERE, THAT ARE STILL IN, IN SEA PINES, TWO RESIDENTS OF SEVEN CIRCLE CIRCLE COMMITTEE.
AND ONE OF 'EM WAS ACTUALLY AT PRESENT AT THE LAST WORKSHOP, AND HIS HALLS SEEN IT ALL BEFORE.
I DON'T THINK THIS 300,000 DESPITE, UH, OUR SKIN IN THE GAME, IS A GOOD WAY OF SPENDING TAXPAYERS MONEY.
AND I WOULD URGE YOU TO REFLECT ON IT CAREFULLY.
YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH ANOTHER SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS
[01:35:01]
THAT IS GONNA CAUSE DISCONTENT AND BE BLOCKED BY THE MAIN PLAYER OF THE GAME WHO'S NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE DRAFTING DOCUMENTS.SO YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T TAKE MUCH NOTICE WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS.
I REALIZE THAT, BUT IT'S 300,000, WHICH IS SMALL COMPARED TO YOUR BUDGET.
BUT PLEASE REFLECT ON IT CAREFULLY.
CLARIFY FOR ME, WHAT, WHERE THE 300,000 GOES AGAIN, IS IT FOR, IS IT FOR UP TO 30 AT 30% COMPLETION, OR IS IT THROUGH PRELIMINARY TOTAL DESIGN UP TO 30% DESIGN AND PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS AND ESTIMATED, UH, ENGINEER'S ESTIMATION OF COST.
SO THIS IS A TOPIC THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, NOT TOO LONG AGO.
UM, OUR TOWN'S ROAD DESIGNERS AND CONSULTANTS BROUGHT TO US DURING A WORKSHOP A VARIETY OF, UM, DESIGNS FOR CONSIDERATION, WHICH COST US ALL MONEY.
I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHERE AND HOW THOSE DESIGNS WILL BE PART OF THIS ONGOING CONVERSATION.
SHOULD WE AGREE
THEY DO KNOW KIMLEY HORNE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS.
THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THOSE DOCUMENTS.
SO I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN 99% CERTAIN THAT THEY WILL BE UNDERTAKING ALL OF THAT, UH, IN THEIR INITIAL ANALYSIS AND IN, UM, THEY'VE MOST LIKELY, EVERY FIRM THAT, UH, DOT CONSIDERS WILL HAVE ALREADY SEEN THOSE DOCUMENTS PRIOR TO EVEN MAKING A BID.
SO, UM, S-C-D-O-T HAS NOT CHOSEN THE FIRM TO BEGIN THE DESIGN WORK? NO.
THEY'LL GO THROUGH THEIR PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND HIRE THE FIRM TO, TO, IS THERE A TIMELINE? UH, WE THINK BY, UM, LATE SPRING OF 2027, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME INITIAL, UH, DOCUMENTS TO LOOK AT.
AND YOU MENTIONED MUNICIPAL CONSENT, AND WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD THOSE WORDS BEFORE IN CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS AND WHAT IT DOESN'T MEAN IN THIS CASE.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT OUR MUNICIPAL CONSENT TO THIS PROJECT WOULD BE? SO BEFORE IT'LL GO ANY, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO BEFORE THE DESIGN WORK WOULD GO ANY FURTHER, THIS COUNCIL WOULD'VE TO TAKE A VOTE ON EITHER A AMENDED AGREEMENT OR A WHOLE NEW AGREEMENT, UH, TO, TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
EITHER IT'S A, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE DESIGN FROM THERE AND WE HAVE AN AG, LIKE A MASTER ENCROACHMENT AGREEMENT WITH DOT, OR THERE WOULD BE, THE DOT WOULD BE FINISHING DESIGN TO THE NEXT STAGES, UH, AND INTO CONSTRUCTION.
AFTER THAT, THERE WOULD'VE TO BE SOME SORT OF MUTUAL ARRANGEMENT.
AS FAR AS THE DESIGN FEATURES, WHAT THE, WHAT IT IS, AGAIN, THE COUNCIL WOULD'VE A ROLE IN DECIDING WHICH PROJECT THAT WOULD BE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO FUNDING OF THAT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PARTIES THAT ARE, UM, SO IT WOULD BE THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND S-C-D-O-T.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER PARTIES THAT ARE PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS AND ANY MUNICIPAL CONSENT OR OTHERWISE THAT WOULD BE BEING NECESSARY? WELL, I THINK OFFICIALLY IT WOULD BE THE, THE TOWN AND THE DOT, BUT THEY WOULD CERTAINLY BE WANTING TO SPEAK WITH THE, WITH THE SEA PINES COMMUNITY, BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR CORRIDORS IS ONE OF THE ENTRYWAY INTO IT.
SO THAT'LL BE, THAT'LL DEFINITELY BE PART OF THE, PART OF THE PROCESS.
SO IN THAT VEIN, UM, OVER THE PAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF, TWO, MAYBE, UM, THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH SEA PINES HAVE BEEN ONGOING, CORRECT.
SO THEIR VOICE HAS ALREADY BEEN BEING HEARD.
UM, I JUST WANNA POINT THAT PIECE OF IT OUT.
UM, I CAN'T READ MY OWN WRITING, UM, BUT I HAVE SOMETHING HERE ABOUT COSTS.
SO WHAT I BELIEVE IT WAS REFERRING TO IS, IN THE END WE HAVE, UM, A PROJECT, IT GETS APPROVED, WE PROVIDE MUNICIPAL CONSENT.
IS OUR MUNICIPAL MUNICIPAL CONSENT ALSO, UM, IS PART OF THAT MUNICIPAL CONSENT ALSO RELATED TO ANY EXPENSES THAT THIS OVERALL PROJECT WOULD, WOULD MEAN? AND WHAT DOES IT, AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP, TO ADD TO THAT, AND WHAT DO THOSE COSTS MEAN TO THE TOWN, ULTIMATELY, WHO'S PAYING FOR THE PROJECT? THAT IS, UH,
RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I ASKED THE, UH, SO YOU, YOU ARE, YOU ARE CORRECTED AS THAT'S AN UNKNOWABLE AT THIS POINT, UH, MUCH LIKE THE, THE WILLIAM HILL PARKWAY PROJECT, FOR INSTANCE.
WE KNOW THE COST ESTIMATES ARE THERE, AND NOW WE TAKE THAT ONE INTO THE NEXT DESIGN PHASE.
ONCE THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE MASTER PLAN, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH THE DOT AS FAR AS WHERE WE GO IN EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS.
BUT THE FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT ITSELF WOULD
[01:40:01]
BE, THERE ARE, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THE DOT MAY STEP IN AND SAY, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US IN OUR TIP, SO WE'RE GOING TO, TO FUND IT.THE TOWN COUNCIL MAY DECIDE IN THE NEXT SEVERAL BUDGET ROUNDS THAT THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US, SO WE'RE GONNA FUND IT TO PUSH FORWARD.
SO THERE REALLY, I CAN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION DIRECTLY BECAUSE THERE, THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS THERE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT I'M SURE ANYONE CAN ANSWER, AND I, FRANKLY, I'M NOT LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC ANSWER, BUT I WOULD, UM, ENTERTAIN SOME CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT THOSE PRIOR CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN SEA PINES, S-C-D-O-T, AND THE TOWN, BECAUSE I BELIEVE SOME OF THESE ANSWERS MAY BE FOUND IN THOSE PAST WEEKS.
OKAY, MR. ALFRED, LET YOUR HAND GO UP.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THIS MATTER, UH, FINALLY MOVING, UH, AHEAD.
UH, I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR FOUR YEARS.
UM, THE TOWN HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR MUCH OF THAT TIME, UH, AS HAS SEA PINES CP, UH, GROUP AS WELL.
UM, KIMBERLY HORN HAS BEEN THE TOWN'S OUTSIDE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CONSULTANT FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
AND A GENTLEMAN NAMED JONATHAN GUY HAS BEEN THE PRINCIPAL, UH, PERSON WORKING ON BEHALF OF KIMBERLY HORN.
SO KIMBERLY HORN HAS BEEN COMING UP WITH PROPOSALS FOR, UH, OR HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH COMING UP WITH PROPOSALS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
UH, SO A FAIR NUMBER OF PRELIMINARY SUGGESTIONS ALREADY EXIST.
UM, AND TO PERHAPS ALO, UH, MS. BECKER'S CONCERNS.
ONE OF THEM CAME UP, UH, SOME TIME AGO, UH, THAT SHE WAS NOT THRILLED WITH.
AND I TOOK THAT TO, UH, KIMLEY HORN AND SAID WE HAVE TO MODIFY IT IN SOME WAY TO GET, UH, TO GET TO MORE DESIRABLE POINT.
I DON'T, I THINK MS. BECKER WOULD NOT BE THE ONLY ONE WHO WOULD'VE RAISED THAT PARTICULAR OBJECTION.
THERE WOULD'VE BEEN OTHERS AS WELL.
UM, BUT IN SHORT, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT'S GONE ON A LONG TIME.
KIMBERLY HORN WORKED NOT ONLY WITH US FOR YEARS, BUT THEY ALSO WORKED WITH DOT FOR YEARS.
AND I THINK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER AND AND ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER TO DOT, UM, KIMLEY HORNERS FEELS THAT THEY WOULD BE SELECTED IF THAT RECOMMENDATION WERE MADE.
UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF THEY WERE SELECTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE AN AWFUL LOT OF WORK ON THIS MATTER.
UH, I TALKED TO, UH, JONATHAN GUY AS RECENTLY AS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND, UH, HE SUGGESTED THAT, UH, HE, THERE THERE HAD BEEN A FEW NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DESIGN, UH, FIELD, AND THAT HE'S GOT SOME MORE IDEAS THAT HE'D LIKE TO BRING TO US.
GIVEN ALL THAT, ALL THAT WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, UH, I THINK WE COULD MOVE AHEAD A LOT FASTER THAN THE LATE SPRING OF 27.
UM, IT COULD BE THE LATE CHRISTMAS OF 26, UH, IF THEY RECOGNIZE WHAT THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE IN THIS ARENA.
OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS? MR. ORLANDO? YOU HAVE, UH, MAYBE JUST SOME, SOME CLARITY.
'CAUSE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS A LITTLE LONGER THAN MR. GILL AND, AND GREAT JOB UP THERE.
SO, AND I THINK WHAT'S WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CLARIFY IS THAT THIS IS A DOT ROAD, RIGHT? THIS IS A SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
AND THE, AND THE CIRCLE IS PART OF THAT SYSTEM.
AS WE REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM DOT IN THE PAST, IT WASN'T A PRIORITY, A FUNDING PRIORITY TO THEM, RIGHT? THEY, THEY BASED UPON CERTAIN CRITERIA, INCLUDING ACCIDENTS, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, UM, WE STARTED TO WORK ON THIS AND WE WOULD BRING PROPOSAL AFTER PROPOSAL FORWARD, RIGHT? WE TALKED ABOUT LANE, AN EXTRA LANE SPEED REDUCTION, TURBO LANE, SIGNALIZATION, ALL OF THAT.
AND WE TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT AT WORKSHOP.
WE LEFT THAT WORKSHOP WITHOUT A CLEAR SOLUTION.
AND SO AS WE KEPT WORKING WITH DOT, WE STARTED TO REALIZE WE KEEP SPENDING OUR TIME, MONEY, AND ENERGY, AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU AND THEN GO ASK DOT.
WE'RE SIMPLY, I THINK, FLIPPING, FLIPPING THAT SEQUENCE TO HAVE DOT INVOLVED AS THE, AS ON THE FRONT END.
UM, IT WILL BE THE INVESTMENT WE SPOKE ABOUT HERE.
I WOULD SAY FOR, FOR SOME CLARITY, THIS IS A ROAD PROJECT THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY BEAUFORT COUNTY PRIORITIZED IN THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM FOR THIS NOVEMBER.
WHETHER THAT, WHETHER REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, THAT THAT IS ONE OF OUR FEW PRIORITY PROJECTS IN THERE.
[01:45:01]
JUST GIVE YOU SOME CLARITY.IT'S A ROAD FUNDED PRIORITY ROAD PROJECT, PRIORITIZED FOR FUNDING AND THE REFERENDUM, WE'VE BEEN TO YOU THROUGH WORKSHOP.
WE HAVEN'T SOLVED THE ISSUE YET.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A GOOD SOLUTION TO MOVE THAT FORWARD.
BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OUTCOME IS, THIS WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR REVIEW AND TRUE MUNICIPAL CONSENT AS A VOTE.
UM, THE GREAT FUNDRAISER OF THIS PART OF THE WORLD, SENATOR TOM DAVIS HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS PROJECT FOR SOME YEARS, AND HE HAS MADE HIS USUAL REPRESENTATION THAT HE WOULD FIND SOME MONEY FOR US.
OKAY, MS. DONNER, I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS.
SO IF THIS IS APPROVED, DOT IS GOING TO BE, UM, CREATING THE DESIGN.
UM, WILL THERE BE FEEDBACK FROM, UH, TOWN COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC DURING THE PROCESS? OR DO, DO WE WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE PROCESS BEFORE WE PROVIDE FEEDBACK THAT THAT'S GONNA DEPEND ON, ON HOW QUICKLY THEY CAN GET SOME INITIAL DOCUMENTS TO US IN, IN THE SPRINGTIME? THERE'LL BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT AND THE COUNCIL WILL, WILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THINGS EARLIER IN THE PROCESS THAN WHEN IT'S FINAL YES.
AND THEN THERE WAS REFERENCE MADE THAT THERE'VE BEEN DESIGNS BEFORE AND THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK REGARDING THOSE DESIGNS.
DO WE FEEL THAT WE'VE ENGAGED, 'CAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES, UM, KIND OF BEHIND THE SCENES IN REGARDS TO THIS.
DO WE FEEL WE'RE, UH, IN A BETTER PLACE OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THOSE CONCERNS ARE AS WE MOVE FORWARD? I THINK WE ARE, AND I KNOW I, I JUST MET WITH THE, UH, JOHN BALLSTON FROM THE DOT ON FRIDAY.
THEY, UM, HE, HE UNDERSTANDS THE, THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS, THIS TRAFFIC CIRCLE, HOW IT IS, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY JUST THE TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CENTER, IT'S A CENTERPIECE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND HE KNOWS THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE, UM, THAT THE COMMUNITY INPUT IS GONNA BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YES, WE, WE'VE HEARD FROM SEA PINES, RIGHT? THAT IT'S THE, IT'S THE TIME OUT AND THE CONGESTION YEAH.
THAT THERE'S IMPACTS COMING OFF PALMETTO BAY ROAD.
WE SAW THE DATE RECENT DATA WHEN WE TALKED TO WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, GATEWAY CORRIDOR, WHERE IN THE PAST THE MAJORITY OF TRAVEL PRIOR TO THE ELIMINATION OF THE, OF THE TOLL LANES WAS MAJORITY I CALL BUS, WE CALL BUSINESS ROUTE.
SO THAT IMPACT, AS IT, AS IT FLOODS OR FLUSHES INTO THE ROUNDABOUT, IS CAUSING DELAYS ON THE OTHER LEG.
SO WE NOW SEE ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT CIRCLE, YES, BUT IT'S IMPACTED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AT DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, INCLUDING OUT OF SEA PINES AND OFF OFF POPE AVENUE.
WE ALSO HEARD BACK FROM YOU AS WE LOOKED AT A TURBO ROUNDABOUT.
WE, WE TALKED ABOUT SPEED HUMPS, WE TALKED ABOUT SIGNALIZATION COMING OUTTA THAT WORKSHOP.
SO WE'VE COMPILED WHAT, WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SEA PINES.
WE'VE COMPILED WHAT WE'VE HEARD AT A PUBLIC WORKSHOP FROM, FROM ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL AS YOU, AND WE HAVE ALREADY PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO DOT.
WE, WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC INPUT WITH THIS, WITH THIS PROCESS.
WE, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN AND, AND HOW SOON WE, WE KNOW IT'S URGENT, AS, AS IS THE SPANISH SWELLS INTERSECTION AND SQUIRE POPE INTERSECTION AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PROJECTS.
OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I WOULDN'T, I WOULDN'T GET TOO EXCITED.
AND, UM, IN MY 40 YEARS IT'S BEEN DONE A COUPLE WAYS.
AND YOU CAN ADD LANES, YOU CAN ENTER IT DIFFERENTLY, YOU CAN EXIT, BUT IT'S A CIRCLE.
AND, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP THAT CIRCLE AND IT'S NOT RECREATING AN INTERSECTION.
SO I WOULDN'T, UM, GET MY, I WOULDN'T GET TOO ENERGETIC ABOUT IT, BUT WE, YEAH, I WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR SURE.
AND, BUT IT'S A CIRCLE THE COMMENTS OTHER THAN A CIRCLE
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A, OH, MS. BECK, I JUST WANTED SAY THANK YOU AS ALWAYS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, BUT ALSO IT GOES TO THE POINT THAT I THINK OUR TOWN MANAGER HAD MADE THAT, THAT THE OPTIONS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE QUITE LIMITED.
AND, UH, AND THEN STEVE PUT A FINE POINT ON IT, SO THANK YOU.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. ALFORD, SECOND BY MS. BECKER FOR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE A FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INITIATE AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND THE DESIGN OF IMPROVEMENTS
[01:50:01]
TO THE SEA PINE CIRCLE.ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNAL OUT BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
NOW OF CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER AN AMENDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND UTILITY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BUFORD COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA.
MR. GILLEN, WE'LL DO THIS ONE AGAIN,
UH, MR. MAYOR, COUNSEL, UH, THIS IS AGAIN, THE AMENDED AND RESTATED STORM WATER, UH, MANAGEMENT UTILITY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT.
THAT'S A MOUTHFUL BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD AND BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THIS WAS REVIEWED BY THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE, AND IT WAS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY TO MOVE FORWARD TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
UH, THIS AGREEMENT WAS ORIGINALLY EXECUTED IN 2001.
IT WAS RENEWED, UH, NUMEROUS TIMES, IDENTIFIES THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TOWN, THE COUNTY REGARDING STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
IT ESTABLISHES THE CENTRALIZED BILLING AND COLLECTION PROCESS MANAGED BY THE COUNTY.
UH, THE TOWN DOES RETAIN THE AUTHORITY TO SET ITS OWN RATE REAFFIRMS THE STORMWATER IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE.
UH, THE TERM OF AGREEMENT IS FOR 10 YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO RENEW.
IT INCLUDES AN OPTION TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT AT THE END OF ANY GIVEN FISCAL YEAR WITH A SIX MONTH WRITTEN NOTICE.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE I A SECOND.
KIM, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? MR. WILLIAMS AND MS. CAMPBELL? A OKAY.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL? JUST QUICKLY JUST CAME BEFORE A FINANCE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON WHICH I SERVE.
AND SO I ASK A QUESTION THEN ABOUT THE, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY STORMWATER IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE AND HOW THAT WAS APPOINTED.
AND SO THE AGREEMENT ITSELF SAYS THAT THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF A TECHNICAL STAFF MEMBER FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING JURISDICTIONS, UNINCORPORATED BEAUFORT COUNTY, TOWN OF HILTON, HEAD ISLAND, TOWN OF BLUFFTON, TOWN OF FORT ROYAL, AND CITY OF BEAUFORT.
AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUR TOWN ENGINEER, MR. INGER, SERVES ON THAT COMMITTEE.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE WERE SUPPOSED TO APPOINT SOMEBODY TO IT.
HOW, IF AT ALL, DOES THIS AGREEMENT, HOW WOULD IT BE IMPACTED? I KNOW WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ASSESSMENT FOR TAKING OVER THE ROADS AND THE DRAINAGE STORMWATER FROM THE COUNTY INTO HILTON HU HOW WOULD THIS AGREEMENT IMPACT THAT? AND IF I WAS CONVOLUTED IN THAT QUESTION, I WILL REPHRASE IT.
UH, IF, IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, THE, UH, HOW DOES IT IMPACT THE, UH, IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE ASSESSMENT AND IT'S BROUGHT TO COUNCIL FOR CONVERSATION AND DECISIONS CORRECT? TO, TO TAKING ON THOSE ROADS, WHICH, UM, WOULD ALSO BE THE, UM, STORM WATER, IT WOULD, HOW WOULD THIS AGREEMENT, I'M SORRY, IMPACT THAT? NO, YOU'RE FINE.
THE, UH, I THINK THERE WOULDN'T BE AN IMPACT IN THAT POLICY DECISION ITSELF.
WHAT THE AGREEMENT DOES IS IT OUTLINES THE, UH, THE, THROUGH THE, THE, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, COMMITTEE THAT TO HOW WE WOULD JOINTLY DO A PROJECT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WHERE THE, THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY, BOTH ON A PORTION OF A SPECIFIC PROJECT AND IT CROSSES JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OR IF THERE WERE GONNA BE SHARED RESOURCES OR IF IT WAS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
SO IF YOU WERE TO TAKE ALL THE, UH, THE TOWN, THE, THE COUNTY, UM, STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE INTO YOUR JURISDICTION, THAT THAT SPECIFIC CLAUSE OF THE, UM, AGREEMENT BECOMES LESS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? A HUNDRED PERCENT.
OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY MS. BECKER, SECOND BY MS. BRYSON FOR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER AN AMENDED STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND UTILITY INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY RAISING YOUR HAND.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HILTON HEAD, AUDUBON SOCIETY FOR SERVICES AT JARVIS CREEK PARK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE JACK ROTHMAN, THE STUDENT WHO SPEARHEADED THIS PROJECT TO EARN HIS RANK AS EAGLE SCOUT IN COMPLETING THIS PROJECT IS DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP, PLANNING AND SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
JACKSON CANNOT BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON AS HE IS ATTENDING SCHOOL.
SO, MS. ANGIE STONE, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR OF TOWN COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
UM, WHAT A GREAT WAY TO END THE BUSINESS OF, UH, THIS MEETING IS WITH A PROJECT THAT WILL ENABLE, UM, MR. UH, ROTHMAN TO ATTAIN HIS, UH, HIS EAGLE SCOUT RANK.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UH, JACK COLEMAN, WHO IS HERE FROM THE AUDUBON SOCIETY TODAY.
HE'S IN THE BACK THERE AND TJ JET, WHO
[01:55:01]
HAVE BEEN VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD.SO WHAT IS BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SEVEN BIRD BOXES AROUND LAKE LIGGETT AT JARVIS CREEK PARK.
AND IT IS FITTING THAT THIS HAPPENED AT LAKE LIGGETT, GIVEN SCOTT LIGGETT'S INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SCOUTS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER HERE WITH THE TOWN.
UM, SO JACKSON WILL BE INSTALLING, OR WE WILL BE INSTALLING THE, UH, BIRD BOXES THAT JACKSON HAS PREPARED.
AND THE, UH, AUDUBON SOCIETY WILL THEN TAKE OVER MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE OF THESE BOXES MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT IS THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TODAY.
GENERAL, HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? HAVE MR. WILLIAMS PASS? SHE PASSES, AND MS. CAMPBELL AND SHE PASSES.
ANY DISCUSSION FROM COUNSEL MS. BECKER? JUST TO COMMENT THAT COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO HELP THIS YOUNG MAN ACHIEVE HIS EAGLE SCOUT AND WHAT A, AS ANGIE CLEARLY SAID, WON AN HONOR, UM, AT JARVIS CREEK AND LEG BEACH.
OR DID I SAY BEACH? IT'S LAKE AND ME LAKE.
WELL, UH, MS. BRYSON, UH, JUST WANTED TO THANK THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FOR STEPPING UP TO, TO LOOK AFTER IT, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO YOU INSTALL THEM, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP LOOKING AFTER THOSE.
AND AS A BIRDER, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.
WELL, I JUST APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WHILE THIS YOUNG MAN IS GETTING HIS, YOU KNOW, EAGLE SCOUT, UM, IT'S ALSO IN A PLACE TO HONOR SOMEBODY THAT WAS WITH US AND MEANS A LOT TO THAT, TO THAT AREA.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY MS. BRYSON, SECOND BY MS. BECKER BECKER FOR CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE HILTON HU AUDUBON SOCIETY FOR SERVICES AT JARVIS CREEK PARK.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGN OF HARBOR RAISING YOUR HAND.
UM, NEXT UP ON, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT, NON AGENDA ITEMS. KIM, DO WE HAVE ANY, ANY OTHER SIGNED UP FOR THAT? OKAY, WITH THAT, MR. COLTRANE, WE ARE DONE ONLY TWO HOURS.
I TRY TO MAKE IT LONGER FOR YOU, BUT, UH, MOTION TO ADJOURN VERY.