[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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SEPTEMBER 28TH, 2026 COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING.
PLEASE STAND FOR BOTH THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE AND THE INVOCATION PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
OKAY? SEPTEMBER IS ALWAYS A MONTH WHEN CHILDREN ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL AND FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS AND A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
AND, UM, I GOT THIS FROM MY CHURCH.
UH, IT'S A LITTLE PRAYER FOR WHEREVER YOU GO.
AS YOU GO YOUR WAY, MAY GOD GO BEFORE YOU TO SHOW YOU THE WAY BEHIND YOU, TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND BESIDE YOU, TO OFFEND YOU, ABOVE YOU, TO WATCH OVER YOU AND WITHIN YOU TO GIVE YOU PEACE.
MS. BROCK, WAS THIS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM.
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.DO WE HAVE SECOND? SECOND? AND WE HAVE A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS.
AND WE HAVE COUNCILMAN CALLAN ONLINE, AND WE HAVE EVERYONE ELSE IS HERE IN ATTENDANCE AND IT IS APPROVED.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]
HAVE ONE SET OF MINUTES.THIS IS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL WORKSHOP OF AUGUST 28.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE? SO MOVE A MOTION BY, UM, COUNCILMAN DAWSON.
AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN LARSON.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS AND THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 28TH, 2026 ARE APPROVED.
[6. PROCLAMATIONS ]
WE HAVE PROCLAMATIONS TONIGHT, AND THE FIRST ONE IS I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO PRESENT THIS ONE HONORED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT IT.THIS IS RECOGNIZING, UH, MR. MIKE MCSHANE ON RECEIVING THE ORDER OF THE PALMETTO BY THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
HIGHEST IS THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR BESTOWED BY THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND RECOGNIZES INDIVIDUAL DEDICATED HIS ALIVE TO THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP.
I'M NOT, I THINK MOST OF YOU HEARD ME, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL CONTINUE ON.
UM, RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S NATURAL RESOURCES WITH PARTICULAR COMMITMENT TO THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE ACE BASIN.
AND WHEREAS MR. MCSHANE HAS PROVIDED EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP THROUGH HIS SERVICE AS A CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD AND CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BANK, HELPING ADVANCE EFFORTS TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S VITAL NATURAL RESOURCES.
AND WHEREAS MR. MCSHANE CONTINUES TO SERVE BEAUFORT COUNTY AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHERE HIS LEADERSHIP, KNOWLEDGE AND COMMITMENT HAVE HELPED ADVANCE THE PRESERVATION OF SIGNIFICANT NATURAL LANDS AND THE PROTECTION OF THE COUNTY'S UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE.
AND WHEREAS IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE AND LIFELONG DEDICATION TO CONSERVATION, SENATOR CHIP CAMPSEN PRESENTED MR. MCSHANE WITH THE ORDER OF THE PALMETTO ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER ON JUNE 24TH, 2026, HONORING HIS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZED THAT MR. MCSHANE'S LEADERSHIP VISION AND DEDICATION HAVE STRENGTHENED CONSERVATION EFFORTS THROUGHOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE LOW COUNTRY, AND I WOULD ADD IN THE COUNTRY, AND HAVE HELPED PRESERVE THE NATURAL CHARACTER AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL PROUDLY RECOGNIZES AND CONGRATULATES MR. MCSHANE IN RECEIVING THE ORDER OF THE PALMETTO SOUTH CAROLINA'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR, AND EXTENDS HIS SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR HIS DECADES OF EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO CONSERVING LANDS, WATERS, WILDLIFE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL COMMENDS MR. MCSHANE FOR HIS CONTINUED DEDICATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONGRATULATES HIM ON HIS WELL DESERVING PRESTIGIOUS
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HONOR, DATED THE 28TH OF SEPTEMBER.ALICE G. HOWARD CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, I PROMISE TO BE BRIEF.
IT REALLY STARTED HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
BEAUFORT COUNTY TOOK THE LEAD IN STARTING A RURAL AND CRITICAL LANDS PROJECT PROGRAM THAT WAS THE FIRST OF A COUNTY TO DO DEDICATED FUNDING THAT LATER THE STATE MODELED THROUGH THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK AND THEN LED REALLY TO BECOME TODAY'S GREEN SPACE.
THAT AWARD, ALTHOUGH GREATLY APPRECIATED, REALLY REFLECTS ON EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT EFFORT.
THAT INCLUDES THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY WHO CHOSE IN 2022 TO DETECT THEMSELVES TO DEVELOP A GREEN SPACE PROGRAM.
THIS COUNCIL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM, THE ORDINANCE, AND GIVEN THE AUTHORITY AND TRUST IN YOUR GREEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH ALSO I GIVE GREAT GRATITUDE OF THE TALENT ON THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATOR AND HIS STAFF.
THE STAFF HAVE BEEN ALL IN MADAM CHAIRMAN.
THEY HAVE BEEN FULLY COMMITTED TO THE EXCELLENCE IN THIS PROGRAM.
AND IT'S THAT REFLECTION ALONG WITH THE CONSERVATION GROUPS THAT ARE HERE, THAT ARE OUR PARTNERS.
FRANKLY, WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THIS PARTNERS, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS.
EVERYONE HAS A WHY ON WHY THEY DO SOMETHING.
MY WIFE GIGI, IS A BUFORT NATIVE.
ALTHOUGH I WAS A LIFETIME HUNTER AND ANGLER, GIGI REALLY SHARED WITH, UH, SHARED WITH ME THE TRUE VALUE OF WHAT REALLY CONSERVATION IS.
SHE GREW UP, INSTEAD OF HAVING PET TURTLES, SHE HAD PET ALLIGATORS,
BUT SHE TAUGHT THAT GENUINE ETHOS THAT EXISTS.
SHE TAUGHT THAT TO OUR THREE DAUGHTERS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNCIL, THE COUNTIES, THE STAFF'S RECOGNITION.
AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE A SMALL BIT PARTICIPANT IN A LOT OF EXCITING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON THROUGH YOU GREEN SPACE.
OKAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER PROCLAMATION.
UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE GONNA BE HERE TO RECEIVE IT GOT CAUGHT UP IN THAT, I GUESS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON LEMON, LEMON ISLAND BRIDGE, BUT WE DO HAVE ONE REPRESENTATIVE.
THIS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MARK LAWSON PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS SEPTEMBER IS OBSERVED AS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH AND ANNUAL OBSERVATION DEDICATED TO RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS AND STRENGTHENING THE RES RESILIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS SOUTH CAROLINA COMMUNITIES FACE A VARIETY OF NATURAL, MANMADE HAZARDS, INCLUDING HURRICANES, FLOODING, SEVERE STORMS, WILDFIRES, EARTHQUAKES, AND OTHER EMERGENCIES THAT CAN THREATEN LIVES, PROPERTY AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND WHEREAS EFFECTIVE PREPAREDNESS REQUIRES STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AMONG INDIVIDUALS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS, STATE AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTH CAROLINA GUARD IS A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY ORGANIZATION AND COMPONENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MILITARY DEPARTMENT, SEPARATE AND DISTINCT FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND IT'S COMPOSED OF VOLUNTEER OFFICERS AND ENLISTED PERSONNEL WHO STAND READY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN CALLED UPON.
AND WHEREAS THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD SUPPORTS PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE THROUGH DISASTER RELIEF, SEARCH AND RESCUE, MEDICAL SUPPORT, LOGISTICS, ENGINEERING, LEGAL SERVICES, CHAPLAIN AND COUNSELING SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND OTHER SPECIALIZED CAPABILITIES WORKING ALONGSIDE STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS.
AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD EXEMPLIFY A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE BY VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME, SKILLS, EXPERTISE TO ASSIST THEIR FELLOW SOUTH CAROLINIANS AND STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S ABILITY TO RESPOND WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.
AND WHEREAS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH PROVIDES AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE
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RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES, WHILE RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO HELP BUILD SAFER AND MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.AND WHEREAS THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPAREDNESS AND THE VALUE OF STRONG PARTNERSHIP AMONG COUNTY GOVERNMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD IN PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, THANK GOODNESS.
WHEREAS WE'RE DOWN TO THE END.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZES SEPTEMBER, 2026 AS NATIONAL PREPARED THIS MONTH.
AND BEAUFORT COUNTY ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS, AND RECOGNIZES AND HONORS THE MEMBERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA STATE GUARD FOR THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEER SERVICE OF TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PREPAREDNESS, PUBLIC SERVICE, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND THE SAFETY AND RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
DATED THIS 28TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER BY ALICE G. HOWARD, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? PLEASE SAY SOMETHING.
AS A SAINT HELENA ISLAND NATIVE, IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO BE A PRIOR SERVICE MEMBER AND COME BACK HOME AND SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
I APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND YOU GUYS ARE WHO I DO IT FOR.
[7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT ]
THIS TIME WE'LL HAVE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.YEAH, YOU'RE GONNA, GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
WE HAVE A FEW EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS TO START WITH TONIGHT.
SO FIRST WE HAVE, UM, JACQUELINE HARPER SIMMONS, MAINTENANCE WORKER, SOLID WASTE, AND RECYCLING WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, UM, JACQUELINE SIMMONS HAS SERVED OUR COUNTY WITH RELIABILITY AND HARD WORK.
SHE TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN KEEPING OUR CONVENIENCE CENTERS CLEAN, SAFE AND ORGANIZED EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR OUR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, JACKIE.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? THANK YOU EVERYONE.
NEXT WE HAVE, UH, CHRISTOPHER MANNS, UH, STORMWATER INSPECTION TECHNICIAN, UH, STORMWATER REGULATORY WITH 15 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO WE RECOGNIZE, UM, SCOTT FOR 15 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY, BRING HIS EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO HIS CURRENT ROLE AS A STORMWATER INSPECTION TECHNICIAN.
HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITY HAVE MADE AN INVALUABLE MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
WE APPRECIATE HIS 15 YEARS OF SERVICE AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTY.
SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? OKAY.
NEXT WE HAVE, UM, ROBERT, UH, TRIER GOES BY RYAN, A RESIDENTIAL APPRAISER WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE US.
UH, DURING RYAN'S TIME WITH, UH, THE COUNTY, HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL COUNTYWIDE ASSESSMENTS.
HE'S ASSISTED WITH MULTIPLE DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS AND ALSO LEND A HAND TO CHESTERFIELD COUNTY AFTER HURRICANE MATTHEW, UH, HE'S NOW PREPARING FOR SECOND MAJOR SOFTWARE TRANSITION AND LOOKS FORWARD TO CONTINUING HIS SERVICE, UH, TO THE COUNTY AND ITS RESIDENTS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? YES.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OVER 20 YEARS.
UM, THANK YOU TO BOBBY REAMS WHO TRUSTED AND HAD FAITH IN ME AT THAT TIME, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY A FEW MORE YEARS TO GO.
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OKAY.NEXT WE HAVE, UH, DONTA GARVIN, A HUMAN SERVICES ANALYST, UH, BEAUFORT COUNTY DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
UH, FOR 25 YEARS, UH, DONTA HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING DANITA, I'M SORRY,
HER DEDICATION, ADVOCACY, AND PROFESSIONALISM HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SERVED BY OUR AGENCY.
HER YEARS OF SERVICE REFLECT COMMITMENT TO HELPING OTHERS ACHIEVE GREATER INDEPENDENCE AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF OF LIFE.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR ALL DONITA PROVIDES TO BEAUFORT COUNTY DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND MY DSN FAMILY FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME OVER THE 25 YEARS I'VE BEEN THERE.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 10 MORE
THERE'S AN HONEST WOMAN SHE THOUGHT ABOUT SAYING 25.
NEXT WE HAVE A RETIREMENT RECOGNITION, UH, ELAINE NEWTON GIBBONS WITH 26 YEARS OF SERVICE.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? I'M GOOD, THANK YOU.
SO, MS. GIBBONS HISTORY WITH BEFOR COUNTY SPAN SEVERAL DECADES, BEGINNING IN 1976 WHEN SHE FIRST JOINED THE COUNTY AS A PART-TIME EMPLOYEE THROUGH THE CETA PROGRAM WORKING AFTER SCHOOL.
AND DURING SUMMER BREAKS, SHE LATER TRANSITIONED TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ON KING STREET, AND SERVED WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS FOR 11 YEARS.
SHE THEN RETURNED TO THE COUNTY IN THE FALL OF 1999, AND SHE JOINED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
AND THAT, UH, RETURN MARKED THE BEGINNING OF WHAT BECOME MORE THAN 26 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO THE COUNTY.
SHE SPENT THE MAIN OF HER CAREER SERVING IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION, UH, PROVIDING DEDICATED SUPPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
THROUGHOUT HER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE HAS WITNESSED TREMENDOUS GROWTH, BOTH WITHIN, BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE ORGANIZATION, REMAIN A COMMITTED AND VALUED MEMBER OF THE WORKFORCE.
TONIGHT, WE RECOGNIZE NOT ONLY THE LONGEVITY OF HER CAREER WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY, BUT ALSO DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE THAT SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED ALONG THE WAY.
ON BEHALF OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO MS. GIBBONS FOR HER MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND CONGRATULATE HER ON A WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT.
WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AS YOU BEGIN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.
CONGRATULATIONS TAKING YOUR PICTURE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR MY HUSBAND FOR BEING THERE WITH ME, UM, FOR MY UNCLE, MY FAMILY.
OKAY, NEXT, UM, WE'D LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE AN INDIVIDUAL, UH, WHO RESPONDED TO AN EMERGENCY.
ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, UH, 20 26, 1 OF OUR DEPUTY SHERIFFS, UM, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE BEAUFORT, UH, MAGISTRATE COURT TO ASSIST WITH THE SCREENING OF IN INCOMING PERSONNEL WITH BUSINESS AT THE COURTHOUSE.
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AT ABOUT 11, HE WAS ADVISED THAT ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES HAD EXPERIENCED THE INABILITY TO SWALLOW FOOD ITEM AND, UH, RESULTED IN CHOKING, UH, REALIZING THIS INDIVIDUAL'S IN DISTRESS AND CHOKING.MISS, UH, MICHELLE COCHELLA FROM THE MAGISTRATE RESPONDED, SHE BEGAN TO PERFORM THE MANEUVER, DISLODGING THE ITEM FROM, UH, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THUS AVERTED A MORE, UM, POSSIBLE SEVERE MEDICAL ISSUE.
SO, WE'D LIKE TO THANK MS, UH, ELLA FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND ACTION, WHICH WAS ON RESULTED IN A LIFESAVING MEASURE.
I'M JUST REALLY HUMBLED TO BE HERE AND, UH, RECEIVE THIS RECOGNITION.
UH, AND I JUST WOULD HOPE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET SOME BASIC, UM, LIFESAVING SKILLS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO USE IT.
SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR RECOGNITIONS.
I DO HAVE A FEW UPDATES FOR YOU ALL.
UH, FIRST OFF, ON THE 2026 TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM, UH, NP STRATEGY HAS BEEN WORKING, UH, DILIGENTLY WITH OUR STAFF TO KEEP RESIDENTS INFORMED.
UH, WE'VE RECEIVED A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, UH, PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION.
UM, THE 2026 PENNY REFERENDUM WEBSITE WENT LIVE ON AUGUST 10TH.
IT'S, AND IT'S STILL, UH, BEING UPDATED AS WE GO ALONG.
UH, SINCE THE LAUNCH, WE HAVE SEEN OVER, UM, 1700 ACTIVE USERS AND, UH, AND NEW USERS, UM, AND 13,000 TOTAL ENGAGEMENTS, WHETHER THAT BE A CLICK, SCROLL OR PAGE VIEW.
UH, AS FAR AS GEOGRAPHY GOES, WE HAVE 179 USERS IN THE BUFORT AREA, 138 IN BOSTON, 116, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ATLANTA AND 73 ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S ACCURATE, BUT, UH, AND THEN, UH, WE'VE GOT, UH, COMMUNITY, WE'VE UPDATED OUR COMMUNITY PRESENTATION AND SHARED IT WITH STAFF TO USE IT.
TOWN HALLS, NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS, AND STAKEHOLDER EVENTS AND DIGITAL COPIES OF THE PRESENTATION AND ONE PAGES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
WE HAVE A FEW MEETINGS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 5TH.
UH, WE'LL HAVE A MEETING AT THE BURTON WELLS RECREATION CENTER IN DISTRICT ONE, OCTOBER 6TH, UH, SUN CITY, UH, OCTOBER 7TH, UH, COMMUNITY MEETING AT TOWN HALL IN PORT ROYAL, UH, OCTOBER 8TH, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AT 5:00 PM IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
UH, AND THAT WILL BE, UH, TELEVISED FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, WE HAVE A, A ROTARY MEETING ON OCTOBER 16TH, AND, UH, WE ARE WORKING ON A DATE FOR ST.
HENA ISLAND, BUT NOT SELECTED YET, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT ONE.
WE'VE GOT MAILERS THAT ARE GONNA BE SENT TO COUNTY RESIDENTS BEFORE EARLY VOTING TO INFORM THEM ABOUT THE BALLOT QUESTION.
VOTING DATES, UH, BILLBOARD WILL BE PLACED, UM, AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY ONE 70 AND CHERRY POINT ROAD THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
UH, WE HAVE STAFF HAS CONDUCTED INITIAL INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL MEDIA, AND WE'VE POSTED CONTENT THROUGH AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ARE NOW MOVING ON TO PHASE THREE, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CLARIFICATIONS.
AND WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU ALL IS TO CONTINUE SERVING, UM, AS TRUSTED VOICES IN YOUR DISTRICT BY SHARING INFORMATION AND POINTING RESIDENTS TO, UM, COUNTY RESOURCES.
IF YOU HAVE AN HOA OR COMMUNITY GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE A PRESENTATION, LET US KNOW.
WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR THAT.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND, UH, BRING YOU UPDATES AS WE HAVE TONIGHT.
AND LAST, UH, ON THE ALL JOY PATHWAY PROJECT, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH S-C-D-O-T AND THE SURETY COMPANY AS WE WORK THROUGH THE CONTRACTUAL LEGAL STEPS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.
UH, OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, THE CONTRACTORS FOCUSED ON SECURING THE PROJECT SITE AND DEMOBILIZING, AND, UH, WE WILL CONTINUE, UH, COUNTY STAFF TO OVERSEE THE SITE TO ENSURE IT REMAINS SAFE, CLEAN, AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED AS WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PHASE PENDING.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNTY COUNCIL? PLEASE UPDATE LOOKING.
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NO.[8. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - 30 MINUTES TOTAL ]
WE WILL GO ON INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.I'D LIKE TO, UH, REMIND THE PUBLIC EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK, UH, AND LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PRO PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN.
AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL AND ANY PERSONALITIES CONFINE THEMSELVES TO QUESTIONS UNDER JURISDICTION OF COUNSEL.
BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT.
UM, WE, ANY HANDOUTS THAT ARE PROVIDED WILL BE PUT IN PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD.
UH, THE FIRST PERSON WE HAVE IS MS. MARIA WALLS, OUR TR COUNTY TREASURER.
I DON'T HAVE TO START BY TELLING YOU THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED IN YOUR DECISION THIS EVENING EARLIER IN CAUCUS.
SO THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M GONNA SPEND MY TIME ADDRESSING.
IT WAS MENTIONED TO ME LAST WEEK THAT PERHAPS SOME OF YOU ALL THINK I ENJOY THIS DYNAMIC.
I CAN ASSURE YOU IT IS NOT ENJOYABLE AND I WOULDN'T WISH IT ON MY WORST ENEMY.
I WAS BULLIED, STALKED, AND HARASSED IN THIS BUILDING FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOUR ADMINISTRATION DO IT TO ME EITHER.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
YOUR DECISION THIS EVENING TO RATIFY OR NOT RATIFY MY LEGAL SERVICES.
I HOPE OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS ASK YOU, HAVE YOU RATIFIED MY OTHER LEGAL SERVICES? NO, YOU HAVE NOT.
I HOPE YOU WOULD RECALL THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
WHY IT WAS SO, ASK YOURSELF, WHY WOULD THAT NEED TO BE RATIFIED NOW? AND IT'S BECAUSE YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAS SPENT $700,000 ON A LITIGATION THAT IS NOT GONE ANYWHERE YET.
I AM SPENDING A DOLLAR, THE LEGAL EXPENSES I AM INCURRING ARE A DOLLAR FOR EVERY SEVEN OF YOURS.
I NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISREPRESENTED TO YOU.
THE FUNDS IN QUESTION WERE IN THE BUDGET THAT I PROVIDED TO ALL OF YOU, YOU VOTED ON AND APPROVED.
I HAVE NOT ASKED FOR A SINGLE TEAM TO SHOULDER THOSE COSTS OTHER THAN OUR OFFICE BUDGET.
OUR SHARED CONSTITUENTS NEED TO KNOW THAT I DON'T BENEFIT AT ALL FROM THIS LITIGATION, NOT A SINGLE PENNY.
SO YEAH, IF I SPENT $700,000 ON A LITIGATION THAT HASN'T GONE ANYWHERE, I'D BE TRYING TO BULLY ME OUT OF IT TOO.
THIS LITIGATION WILL NOT END JUST BECAUSE THE INVOICES ARE GOING UNPAID.
AND LET ME BE CLEAR, THE ONLY CONTRACT THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO RATIFY IS THE ONE THAT YOU WANT TO STOP.
IT'S NOT, WE CAN SEE ABOUT A SETTLEMENT AT SOME POINT, BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT PAYING THE INVOICES DOESN'T MEAN I AM GOING ANYWHERE.
DID I SAY THAT WRONG? GHISLAINE.
WE'RE HERE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT PINE ISLAND.
UM, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL SUPPORTING THE, UH, CPO IN THE PAST, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU'RE STILL GONNA SUPPORT THE CPO.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU ALL, BUT I'M PRETTY TIRED OF THIS.
UM, I LIVE VERY CLOSE TO PINE ISLAND AND I SEE THE ENORMOUS TRUCKS COMING OUT WITH GIANT TREES AND, UM, IT'S DISHEARTENING.
UM, THERE'S ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY WANT THE DEVELOPMENT ON PINE ISLAND.
WHILE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS THAT WANT TO UPHOLD THE CPO, AND THAT'S BEEN WITNESSED BY THE TWO REALLY BIG MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UM, THESE MEETINGS WERE HELD BY THE COUNCIL.
AND, UM, I JUST, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW LONG THIS CAN GO ON FOR.
UM, SO I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN AND I'M GONNA ASK, WHEN IS THIS ALL GOING TO END? THANK YOU, MS. PAUL.
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIRMAN HOWARD, UM,
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AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.UM, LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH YOU, I MADE JOKES ABOUT, UH, THE RIDICULOUSNESS OF A SEWER CLOWN FROM SPACE DICTATING THE WORKFLOW OF OUR COUNTY.
I WANT TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT SOMETHING BIGGER THAN PINE ISLAND.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT TIME, PRIORITIES AND PUBLIC TRUST.
ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, THIS COUNCIL WENT INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE CONCERNING THE PINE ISLAND LITIGATION.
WE NOW HAVE SERIOUS PUBLIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO WAS ALLOWED INTO THAT CLOSED SESSION AND WHETHER REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARTIES OPPOSING BEAUFORT COUNTY IN THAT LITIGATION WERE PRESENT.
COUNSEL OWES THE PUBLIC A CLEAR ANSWER.
WHO WAS IN THAT ROOM AND WHAT CAPACITY WERE THEY THERE? WHO AUTHORIZED THEIR PRESENCE? AND HOW DID THEIR PRESENCE PROTECT THE INTEREST OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ITS TAXPAYERS? BECAUSE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BECOME A VIP ENTRANCE AROUND THE PUBLIC PROCESS, BUT THERE'S EVEN A BIGGER ISSUE THERE.
HOW MUCH MORE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S TIME ARE WE GOING TO PUT TO ON PINE ISLAND? THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS COUNCIL COULD BE WORKING ON.
STORM WATER, DRAINAGE, ROADS, TRAFFIC SIDEWALKS, TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, AFFORDABLE AND WORKFORCE HOUSING, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE, RURAL LAND PRESERVATION, SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS, SENIORS, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, PROTECTING THE TAXPAYERS MANAGING GROWTH BEFORE THE GROWTH MANAGES US, MAINTAINING COUNTY FACILITIES AND ADDRESSING THE EVERYDAY CONCERNS OF CITIZENS FROM ST.
HELENA TO BLUFFTON TO HILTON HEAD BACK TO PORT ROYAL, AND ALL THE REST OF THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COMMUNITIES IN BETWEEN, THOSE AREN'T IMAGINARY ISSUES.
ON SEPTEMBER 14TH ALONE, THE COUNTY DEALT WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR STORM WATER, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS, AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, COUNTY FACILITIES, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AND OTHER COMMUNITY NEEDS.
YET WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT PINE ISLAND AT SOME POINT NO HAS TO BE ALLOWED TO ME.
AND AT SOME POINT, THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE RULES DESERVE AT LEAST AS MUCH ACCESS, ATTENTION, AND CONSIDERATION AS THE PEOPLE WHO REPEATEDLY CHALLENGE THEM.
IT ISN'T SIMPLY ABOUT WHETHER SOMEBODY LIKES OR DISLIKES A GOLF COURSE.
IT'S ABOUT WHETHER ORDINARY CITIZENS CAN TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT TO ADMINISTER ITS LAWS CONSISTENTLY AND CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS TRANSPARENTLY.
UM, NEXT ON THE LIST IS MS. UM, SHELLY GAYS AT EVENING.
MADAM CHAIR FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK, UM, PUBLICLY AND IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU.
UM, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I'M RUNNING FOR STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 1 21.
SO I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THE GREATER PART OF MY DAY AND DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AND EVEN YEARS TALKING TO THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, PARTICULARLY IN THE NORTHERN AREA, ALL THE WAY UP.
WELL, ALL THE WAY UP TO COLLETON COUNTY ACTUALLY.
SO WHEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLKS, I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
DEVELOPMENT ALWAYS COMES UP IN THE CONVERSATION.
AND I CAN SAY, UH, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO HONOR THE GUIDING DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED.
THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE GUIDING DOCUMENT THAT GUIDES DEVELOPMENT IN BEAUFORT COUNTY.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT DOCUMENT WITHIN IT IS EMBEDDED, THE CPO, THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO, WE DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH ANY FARTHER.
WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR YOU TO UPHOLD THAT DECISION.
ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE FOLLOW THE PLAN AND NOT JUST ON ST.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE LOOKING AT PROJECTS UP IN THE SEABROOK AREA, AND I HEAR THE SAME THING FROM SEABROOK POINT.
THE FOLKS ON THE WATERFRONT COMMUNITY TO STEWART POINT, FOLKS ARE JUST IN GENERAL, THEY WANT TO KEEP BEAUFORT THE WAY IT IS.
WHETHER YOU GREW UP HERE LIKE MYSELF OR WHETHER YOU MOVED HERE, THEY WANT IT TO STAY THE SAME BECAUSE THEY MOVED HERE BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNSEL.
AND, UM, PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPO.
[00:35:01]
THANK YOU.NEXT, NEXT ON ON THE LIST IS DAMON GATSON.
BEAUFORT COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS, CHAIR AND COMMUNITY.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS TONIGHT ABOUT THE CPO ZONING IN PINE ISLAND.
THERE WAS SOME INFLAMMATORY INFORMATION THAT I ENDED UP READING WHEN I SAW THE WORD DISCRIMINATION THAT WAS MENTIONED.
THE MENTION OF DISCRIMINATION, EXCUSE ME, THE MENTION OF DISCRIMINATION DOES NOT HOLD TRUE IN ST.
HELENA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.
THE DEMOGRAPHICS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
WE HAVE EMBRACED ALL THAT HAVE COME BECAUSE IT IS IN OUR NATURE, EVEN SOMETIMES TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HISTORICALLY AND DEMOGRAPHICALLY.
ABOUT TWO GENERATIONS AGO, ST.
HELENA AND SURROUNDING ISLANDS HAD PRETTY MUCH ABOUT 20 FAMILIES THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO DEFINE IT.
AND AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE EMBRACED IT.
HELENA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES IS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ETHNIC ENCLAVE.
ACCORDING TO WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY, ETHNIC ENCLAVES ARE DISTINCT URBAN AREAS WHERE A SPECIFIC IMMIGRATION OR CULTURE GROUP SETTLES PRESERVING THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE, TRADITIONS, FOOD AND COMMUNITY INSTITUTIONS, ETHNIC ENCLAVES ARE EVERYWHERE.
THEY ARE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA REPRESENTING ALL ETHNIC GROUPS AND PEOPLE.
FOR INSTANCE, THE LOWER EAST SIDE, JEWISH EAST LOS ANGELES, MEXICAN CHINATOWN, CHINESE, LITTLE ITALY, ITALIAN, LITTLE HAVANA, CUBAN, LITTLE SAIGON, VIETNAMESE, GREEK TOWN, GREEK, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
IF THERE IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, NORMS, VALUES, AND SHARED CULTURE, JUST LIKE THE OTHER ENCLAVES, THERE ARE RULES, NORMS, AND VALUES THAT ARE WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN FOR THE DEVELOPERS OF PINE ISLAND, THE RULES WERE CLEAR.
THERE WAS NO NEED FOR INTERPRETATION.
HOWEVER, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD EITHER ENTER IN THE COMMUNITY OF ST.
HELENA AND CHANGE THE RULES OF THE CPO BECAUSE OF THEIR PRIVILEGE MANIFESTING AS POWER.
I ASK OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS NOT TO BECOME INTIMIDATED, NOT TO GROW WEARY, JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER ENCLAVES MENTIONED.
HELENA AND SURROUNDING AREA IS WARRANTED THE SAME EMPATHY AND GOVERNMENTAL PROTECTION.
THE LAST PERSON TONIGHT THAT SIGNED UP IS FELICE LAMARCA.
UH, YOU WILL BE VOTING ON FIRST READING OF SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT IS ACTUALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COUNCIL TO BEGIN CHANGE.
WE MOVE HERE BECAUSE WE LOVE THE ENVIRONMENT, MOST OF US.
AND MR. MCSHANE DOES SUCH A FABULOUS JOB IN HELPING US PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT ENVIRONMENT INCLUDES TREES.
AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN PROTECTING OUR TREES NORTH OF THE BROAD.
WE ALLOW DOMINION ENERGY TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT
[00:40:01]
TO.GORGEOUS OAK TREES THAT PROVIDE OXYGEN AND SHADE.
AND NOW WHEN YOU STAND UNDER THEM IN THE PIGEON POINT NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'RE 10 DEGREES HOTTER.
HOW IS THAT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT? ARE WE GONNA BE SERIOUS OR ARE WE JUST GONNA USE RHETORIC? AND WE'RE GONNA SAY, I DON'T HAVE ANY POWER OVER DOMINION ENERGY.
AND DO YOU LIKE ELECTRICITY? STOP IT.
HOW'D HILTON HEAD SUCCEED? YOU KNOW, YOU ALL, UH, SAY THINGS ABOUT HILTON HEAD.
WE DON'T WANNA BE LIKE HILTON HEAD.
WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT HAVING BURIED THE POWER LINES? SO WHEN WE HAD HURRICANE MATTHEW, WE WERE BACK ON WITH POWER IN TWO DAYS, HUH? OKAY, HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY.
THE, AND I CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT, THE POCA TOGO PRESERVE.
YOU ARE GONNA VOTE ON AN, UM, ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT FOR THEM TONIGHT.
IN FACT, I PRINTED OFF THE CONTRACT.
EVEN ON FIRST READING UNTIL THEY AGREE TO TAKE OUT OVERHEAD FROM THIS CONTRACT.
IF YOU DON'T START THE CONVERSATION ON REQUIRING THEM TO BURY POWER LINES, WE WILL NEVER, NEVER RESPECT THIS ENVIRONMENT.
LINE SEVEN, REPLACE RELOCATE PERPETUALLY, MAINTAIN AND OPERATE AN OVERHEAD OR UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINE.
IS IT GONNA COST ME MORE MONEY? YOU BETCHA.
IS IT GONNA COST THE COUNTY MORE MONEY? YOU BETCHA COST THE CITY OF BEAUFORT WHO IS DENYING THAT THEY HAVE ANY POWER.
AND I'VE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT MAY NOT BE ACCURATE.
YOU BETCHA IT'S GONNA COST US ALL MORE MONEY.
BUT IN THE END, IN THE END, WHEN WE HAVE A STORM AND WE'RE BACK ON IN TWO DAYS INSTEAD OF TWO WEEKS, IT'S GONNA HAVE BEEN WORTH IT.
START THE CONVERSATION TONIGHT.
[9. LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS ]
THIS TIME ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS.I THINK I'LL START WITH, UM, COUNT.
COUNCILMAN DAWSON, DO DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SUCH AS THE NORTHERN REGIONAL PLAN TO REPORT ON? NOTHING.
UM, COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? UH, NOTHING AT THE FIRE, FIRE DISTRICT DISTRICT, BUT I MY OWN NOTHING AT THE FIRE DISTRICT, BUT, UM, UM, WE HAD A PUBLIC FACILITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
UM, WITH OUR NEW AGENDA CHANGES, ANYTHING THAT COMES OUTTA THOSE MEETINGS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE THREE WEEKS OUT NOW.
ONE OF THOSE ITEMS COMING FORWARD IS THE, UM, REGIONAL SPORTS COMPLEX.
SO THAT WILL BE ON OUR NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA ALONG WITH ALL THE REST OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE FROM THAT MEETING THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD.
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT MARK LAWSON AND I WENT TO THE NEW DUNKING DONUTS ON 2 78 ON SATURDAY MORNING TO DO THE GRAND OPENING.
AND DAN WOOD WAS THERE FROM THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON AND HE TOLD THE OWNER OF DUNKING DONUTS, HE SAID, WE HAVE DONUT HOLES IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WHICH WAS A GOOD IDEA, YOU KNOW, DONUT HOLES.
AND ANYWAY, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GOOD DAY.
THEY WEREN'T GIVING OUT FREE DONUTS THOUGH, SO
SO WE HAVE STATE ATEX, THE COMMITTEE HEARD THE PRESENTATIONS AND FRIDAY THEY WILL MEET TO REVIEW THE GRANT REQUESTS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNTY COUNCIL, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY E ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MR. O'TOOLE TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION TO MOVE ON TO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
BEAUFORT COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ON THE 16TH, UM, ATTENDED THAT.
AND THEY WERE AWARDED, PAVING THE WAY FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, DOT FOR EXEMPLARY WORK AS A TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
AND THE COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR WILL BE HONORED AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, I ALSO HAVE SCHOOL BOARD, IF YOU WILL BEAR WITH ME.
THEY'RE STILL DISCUSSING STUDENT REASSIGNMENT AS A, I WAS AN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS IS A TOUGH, TOUGH THING TO TALK ABOUT, AND ESPECIALLY A LOT OF THE COMMENTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH OKEE ELEMENTARY.
THEY ARE REOPENING COMMUNITY INPUT AND IT WILL BE ONLINE THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL KNOW, BUT THE STATE PASSED AN INTER-DISTRICT EDUCATION PROGRAM AT A COST OF THE COST TO OUR DISTRICT WILL BE 13,500 PER STUDENT.
[00:45:01]
CONTRIBUTION, FAMILIES THAT CHOOSE TO COME HERE FROM OTHER COUNTIES WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT 17 $7,000 PER STUDENT, INCLUDING THEIR OWN TRANSPORTATION.BUT, UH, THEY DON'T EXPECT VERY MANY PEOPLE.
AND THEN, SO LOCO, WE HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK, THIS BEAUFORT CITY AND PORT ROYAL SHARED THEIR DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS IN THE HOPPER AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO WATCH.
UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALMA, YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT CHATWOOD COUNCIL SINCE, UH, YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T.
IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF US, ALICE AND MYSELF THERE AT CHATWOOD COUNCIL.
WE HAD A, HAD A DECENT TURNOUT THOUGH I KNOW, UH, THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD WERE ENGAGED WITH SOME OTHER EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT, UM, YEAH, IT WAS A GOOD EVENT.
UH, AND PLEASE, Y'ALL KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE NEXT ONE'S COMING UP.
UH, WE TRY TO BOUNCE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE BROAD.
AND, UH, IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIALOGUE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, PLEASE GET OUT AND, AND WE REALLY ENJOY THOSE.
UH, AND ALSO COMMUNITY SERVICES.
UM, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING IS COMING UP ON OCTOBER 5TH, UH, TWO O'CLOCK, SO COME ON OUT.
UM, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING ON DUSKY AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE BEACH BATHROOMS GOING IN THERE, UM, AS WELL AS THE NEW COMMUNITY CENTER THAT'S, THAT'S BEING PLANNED AND ALSO THE UPGRADES THAT ARE ALMOST COMPLETED, UM, AT THE MELROSE, UH, DOCK.
AND THEN, UH, LAST TUESDAY WE HAD A COMMUNITY MEETING AT, UH, AJOY.
AND AGAIN, LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING THERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEW SEWER THAT, THAT'S BEEN KICKED OFF.
UM, THE DRAINAGE STUDY THAT'S BEEN COMPLETED, UM, THE, THE BIKE PATH, WHICH MIKE HAD MENTIONED, AND AGAIN, UH, WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR, ACTUALLY THE SECURITY COMPANY ON THAT TO KEEP THAT MOVING FORWARD.
UM, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT BAILEY'S PARK, WHICH IS HAPPENING OFF OF, UM, CONFEDERATE AVENUE.
AND THEN, UH, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, UM, THE NEW LANDING DESIGN THAT WAS PRESENTED.
SO AGAIN, UH, LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT, IN THAT IJOY AREA, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF, EVERYTHING YOU DID.
HE DID A GREAT PRESENTATION AND WE KEPT IT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND COVERED ALL THOSE ITEMS. AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK PEOPLE LEFT PRETTY WELL INFORMED.
UH, WE JUST HAD OUR FINANCE MEETING LAST WEEK.
COUNCILMAN PASSMAN, ANYTHING? UM, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FIRST SIGN WALKING PEOPLE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY ON 2 78 WILL BE BEING, UH, CONSTRUCTED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
COUNCILMAN GLOVER? UH, YES, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIRMAN.
UM, I JUST MADE A MAKE A COMMENT.
UM, THE NORTHERN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE.
MET, UM, LAST WEEK, FRIDAY MM-HMM
AND, UM, MARK, UM, DAVIS PRESENTED THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM TO THE GROUP AND STUFF, AND IS WELL RECEIVED.
UM, ALSO THAT, UM, THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE IS GONNA MEET, UH, ON THE FIFTH AT FOUR O'CLOCK.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE I'M A LIAISON TO THE BEAUFORD JASPER WATER AUTHORITY, I HAVE A PRESENTATION, NOT ME, BUT THAT WAS DONE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO BE SHARED AT THIS TIME TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, ABOUT BEAUTIFUL JASPER WATER AUTHORITY HERE.
IT'S ABOUT A FOUR MINUTE PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOU WOULD APPRECIATE THIS HERE, UM, FROM BE BEAUTIFUL JASPER WATER AUTHORITY.
IS LARRY STILL ONLINE?
UM, WHILE THEY'RE SETTING THAT UP, I'D JUST LIKE TO BRIEFLY MENTION BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL HAD THEIR FINANCE MEETING EARLY THIS MORNING AND THEY MEET, UH, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
UH, THEY'RE ANTICIPATING, UM, THE HILTON HEAD NEW EMERGENCY ROOM TO HAVE INCREASE IN NUMBERS THERE, UH, NEXT YEAR IN THEIR PROJECTIONS THAT, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE URGENT CARE TOO.
[00:51:52]
I WAS VERY EXCITED WHEN I FOUND OUT I GOT THE POSITION.UM, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
THE WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TO GO LIVE IN WASHINGTON, DC AND GET TO SEE WHAT BEING IN C IS ACTUALLY LIKE.
IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN ANY OF THEIR POLITICAL OR NON-POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OFFICES.
AND OVERALL, IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO HAVE FOR LATER ON IN THE FUTURE TO BE AWARDED A WASHINGTON SEMESTER PROGRAM SPOT.
APPLICANTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SERIES OF REQUIREMENTS, UM, AND IT DOES TAKE, YOU KNOW, FILLING IN AN APPLICATION.
MADAM CHAIR, A MOTION TO PUT IT ON THE FLOOR? YES.
[10.a. Recommend approval to fund due diligence and negotiate terms of acquisitions for the following proposed Green Space Program applications: V&R Investment Tract, Seaside Oaks Tracts, and Okatie Bluff Road Tracts ]
I'LL SECOND.WHO MADE THE FIRST INITIAL MOTION? I DID.
IT ALL IN FAVOR OF HEARING ABOUT THESE PROJECTS? NO, NO, NO.
WE JUST DISCUSSED, WE JUST, ALRIGHT.
THERE'S A MOTION TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION PUTTING ON THE FLOOR.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I, A MOTION TO HEAR IT ON THE FLOOR, NOT TO APPROVE IT TO OKAY.
A MOTION TO HEAR, HEAR THE DISCUSSION.
A MOTION TO, UH, THE GREEN SPACE IS LOOKING FOR APPROVAL OR DENIAL OR AMENDMENT TO OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR DUE DILIGENCE ON THREE PROJECTS.
THE FIRST PROJECT, MADAM CHAIRMAN, IS THE V AND R INVESTMENT TRACK.
I BELIEVE YOU WILL HAVE, UH, AN IMAGE BROUGHT UP.
THIS IS WHAT THE APPLICANT IS THE TOWN OF FOR OIL.
THIS IS A CORRIDOR PROTECTION.
THIS IS, AND MOST PEOPLE WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH.
IT'S A SMALL TRACK OF JUST A LITTLE OVER THREE AND A HALF ACRES.
THIS IS THE TRACK YOU SEE COMING NORTH ON ONE 70, UH, ACROSS THE BROAD RIVER AS YOU COME ON TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, INTO THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
UH, UH, AND WE, UH, FIND OBVIOUSLY THE HIGH VISIBILITY ON THE ROBERT SMALLEST PARKWAY AND THE BRIDGE OVER THE BROAD RIVER.
UH, THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL WILL ACTUALLY INTEND TO OWN AND THEN THEREFORE MAINTAIN AND THEY WILL RESTORE THAT PROPERTY TO ITS NATURAL CONDITION.
THAT IS THEIR PROPOSAL TO THAT GREEN SPACE FEES ENOUGH IN THAT WE ARE ASKING AND SEEKING DUE DILIGENCE APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD.
DO YOU WANNA TAKE EACH ONE OF THESE SEPARATELY? MADAM CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.
SO WE WERE ASKING FOR APPROVAL ON, TO MOVE FORWARD ON A DUE DILIGENCE NOT TO EXCEED $35,000.
YOU, I WOULD, UM, IS THE TOWN GOING TO, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR PART OF THE, THE FEE FOR THE LAND? YOU KNOW, I WAS GONNA ASK THAT.
AND, AND PREPARE TO, WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR TO THE TOWN THAT WE WANNA BE COLLABORATIVE, THAT WE SEE BENEFIT
[00:55:01]
IN THE, IN THE ACTUAL TRANSACTION, BUT THE TOWN NEEDS TO COME BACK.PART OF THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD IS THAT WE ARE GONNA DO AN APPRAISAL THAT WILL BE OWNED BY THE COUNTY AND THEN HAVE A NEGOTIATION WITH THE TOWN ON THAT.
I THINK THE, THE MAYOR, THIS IS THEIR FIRST APPLICATION AND I THINK THE EXPERIENCE THEY JUST WENT THROUGH TAUGHT THEM A LOT ABOUT THE EXPECTATIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS.
IT WAS MEN MENTIONED MORE THAN ONCE THAT THE VICE CHAIRMAN WOULD BE ASKING THAT QUESTION.
SO, YES, BUT TO GIVE HIM GREAT CREDIT, HE MADE A, A COMMITMENT TO BE COLLABORATIVE.
UH, HE AND HIS AND HIS COUNSEL TO LOOK AT THAT.
SO THERE'LL BE A NEGOTIATION ON THAT.
BUT WE SEE ENOUGH IN, IN THE MERIT OF THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH DUE DILIGENCE.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, SAME QUESTION I ALWAYS HAVE.
WHAT'S THE CURRENT ZONING OF THE PIECE? OF THE PARCEL RIGHT NOW? UH, I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT HERE, MARK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
IS, IS THERE A GRAVE SITE NEAR THIS PROPERTY? O ON THIS PROPERTY? MY REC MY RECOLLECTION IS, I THINK IT'S ON THE SITE, ON THE, ON THE ADJACENT TRACK THAT'S NOT PART OF THIS TRANSITION.
OR EXCUSE ME, THIS POTENTIAL TRANSACTION.
BUT THERE IS A GRAVE SITE ON THE, ON THE ONE TO THE RIGHT? YEAH, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE, KIND OF THE SHADED AND WHITE.
OKAY, EDDIE, WE'LL CHECK ON THAT.
BUT THAT'LL BE, UH, UH, I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
PART OF DUE DILIGENCE IS FOR US TO CONFIRM THAT THERE ARE NO CULTURAL ISSUES THERE THAT WE COULD, I'M BE A GRAVE SITE OR SOME OTHER HISTORIC SITE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING THE MAP UP THERE SAYING WHICH QUADRANT IT'S GOING TO BE ASSIGNED TO ASK YOU.
AND I NEGLECTED TO SAY THAT, BUT THANK YOU
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO QUESTION.
YOU WOULD'VE BEEN A HECK OF A PRINCIPAL.
SHE STILL TRIED THE BOSSES AROUND.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION.
UM, DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ONE? I THINK SO.
ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING THE DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS PARCEL.
ALRIGHT, THE NEXT ONE? YES MA'AM.
THE NEXT ONE IS, UH, APPLICANT FOR A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
THIS IS FARMLAND PRESERVATION BY OPEN LAND TRUST.
THIS IS IN THE EASTERN REGION ON ST.
IT'S A, UH, LITTLE OVER 120 ACRES OF PRIME FARMLAND.
THERE'S 60 ACRES OF AN EXISTING CANOPY, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF SPECIMEN TREES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, A MILE OF CRITICAL LINE FRONTAGE.
AND IT'S BEEN AN EFFORT BY COUNCIL AND GREEN SPACE TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD CONSERVE, UH, SUSTAINABLY CONSERVE, UH, PRIME FARMLAND FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES HERE.
THE, UH, THIS PARTICULAR TRACK KNOWN AS SEASIDE OAKS, UH, WAS, UH, UH, ACTUALLY WAS IN FRONT OF THE STATE CONSERVATION BANK LAST WEEK.
SHOULD GIVE YOU SOME CONFIDENCE.
IT MADE ITS APPROVAL TO GO FORWARD THROUGH J UH, TO, TO JOINT BOND REVIEW FOR ITS APPROVAL OF THE STATE PARTICIPATION IN THIS.
THE LANDOWNER IS ALSO PARTICIPATING IN A HEAVY PERCENTAGE OF THE VALUE OF CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AND WE'RE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR, TO SPEND UP TO $15,000 IN DUE DILIGENCE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL GLOVER AND SECOND BY COUNCIL PASSMAN.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THIS WILL STILL BE USED AS FARMLAND? WELL, A CONSERVATION EASEMENT WILL SUSTAIN THAT.
IT IS, IT'S MAINTAINED SOMEWHAT IN THE SAME, BUT NOT NECESSARILY SUGGESTING THAT IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION THAT IS THERE TODAY, BUT IT WILL REMAIN IN THAT TYPE OF USE.
SO THE PROPERTY OWNERS WILL STILL BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR PROFIT WITH THE EASEMENT ON IT? YES, SIR.
THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT DOES NOT PROHIBIT AN INDIVIDUAL.
SO FOR INSTANCE, ON FOR ON, UH, TIMBERLAND, WHICH YOU'VE BEEN PART OF PRODUCING TIMBER THAT IS TAKING A LOGGING OPERATION THAT PRODUCES REVENUE IS NOT PROHIBITED BY THE EASEMENT.
YOU JUST PUT A FORCE MANAGEMENT PLAN TOGETHER.
SO THE EASEMENT'S CLEAR ON WHAT IS BEING, BEING CUT, BUT DOES NOT PROHIBIT A LANDOWNER FROM BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.
THE, THE REAL VALUE OF THIS MR. CUNNINGHAM, IS THE FACT THAT WITH WILLING LAND A VOLUNTARY BASIS SOLELY
IT'S, IT'S RECORDED WITH THE DEED AND WILL FOLLOW NO MATTER WHO THE OWNERSHIP IS.
I HAD A QUESTION IS DO WE THINK THIS PROPERTY IS PROBABLY LIKE PRIME FARMLAND? WE MEANT IT IS, IT'S BEEN FARMS IDENTIFIED AS PRIME FARMLAND AND THE, UM, CURRENT, IF IT WENT FURTHER, THERE WOULD BE NEGOTIATIONS ON HOW MANY HOUSES COULD BE ON IT.
THAT'LL BE PART OF THE EASEMENT THAT'LL LIMIT.
AND SO THAT'LL REFLECT IN THE VALUE.
[01:00:01]
MAY HAVE A FORECAST IN OUR MIND BASED ON SORT OF WHAT TRENDS ARE, BUT THIS WILL BE COME DOWN TO THE LAND OR IDENTIFY AND HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO IN THEIR CURRENT ZONING.SO THAT'S ONE DWELLING UNIT PER THREE ACRES AS I RECALL.
I THINK I GOT THAT ONE RIGHT? YES, SIR.
AND, UH, AND SO IN THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH OPEN LAND TRUST, THEN THE REFLECTION WILL BE BASED ON THE, OR THE APPRAISAL WILL BE REFLECTED ON THE NEGOTIATION OF WHAT THEY, WHAT RESTRICTIONS THEY PLACE ON THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, BY SHOW OF HANDS, WE WANNA GO FORWARD WITH DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
ALRIGHT, NEXT AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THE OKEE BLUFF ROAD IN THE WESTERN REGION.
THIS IS A, A LITTLE OVER A HUNDRED ACRE TRACK.
IT'S ACTUALLY, UH, VERY CLOSE TO YOUR CAMP ST.
AND WE SEE VALUE IN DOING DUE DILIGENCE, UH, FOR A COUPLE PURPOSES.
ONE IS PROXIMITY TO THE CAMP, MEANING YOU DON'T WANNA SEE IT CONVERT INTO EITHER HIGH DENSITY.
IT'S CURRENTLY IS ALSO T TWO R THERE.
AND, UH, THE, UH, FACT THAT IT'S MAINLY THE FORESTED FRESHWATER WETLANDS RIGHT THERE, I GUESS IS TITLE MARSH PRESENTS AN, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROTECTION OF THE PORT ROYAL SOUND WATERSHED IN THAT, IN THAT AREA.
AGAIN, THIS WILL BE AT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT WILL, THE OWNERSHIP WILL REMAIN, UH, IN PRIVATE HANDS.
AND THE, UH, I ANTICIPATE OPEN LAND TRUST WILL MAKE A APPLICATION TO THE STATE BANK, A PARTNER WITH GREEN SPACE ON THIS.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASS SMITH, MR. AND A SECOND BY, UM, COUNCILMAN GLOVER.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TRACK? UM, THE CURRENT, I HAD A QUESTION.
THE CURRENT ZONING ON THE OOT BLUFF R BAM IS, UH, T TWO R.
JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW TOO, SO.
MARK, YOU HAVE ANY OTHER MADAM CHAIRMAN? I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OTHER, UH, INFORMATION FOR COUNCIL ON THIS, ON THIS TRACK.
UH, YOU'VE ASKED EACH TIME THAT I'M IN FRONT THAT I PRESENT A FUNDING BREAKDOWN.
MARK HAS A, I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S ON, UH, IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T QUALIFY.
WE NEED TO VOTE ON DUE DILIGENCE FOR THIS ONE TOO.
THIS ONE WILL GO FORWARD FOR DUE DILIGENCE AND THANK YOU.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR GETTING AHEAD.
SO WHAT MARCUS IS TEAMING OUT IS A VERY SIMPLE FUNDING BREAKDOWN.
IT JUST SHOWS THE TOTAL FUNDS COLLECTED FOR THE, UH, THE PUBLIC BEHIND ME.
THE TAX, UH, IN INTEREST GENERATED BY THE, THE GREEN SPACE REFERENDUM WAS $126,965,000 ON CLOSED PROJECTS.
THEY'RE JUST UNDER $27 MILLION ON CLOSED PROJECTS.
THAT'S A LITTLE OVER 11,000 ACRES ON PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE APPROVED BY COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
PENDING CLOSING IS 62 MILLION, A LITTLE OVER $62 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES THE NEW RIVER TRACK AS YOU RECALL, WHICH IS 42 MILLION OF WHICH WE'RE EXPECTING A MINIMUM OF 20 OR THE, THE, UH, OBJECTIVE IS TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF $20 MILLION REIMBURSED ON THAT.
UH, AND THEN PROJECTS APPROVED FOR DUE DILIGENCE.
THIS IS A LITTLE OVER 1,348 ACRES, INCLUDING WHAT WE JUST DISCUSSED THIS EVENING.
AND THIS IS A FORECAST THINKING.
IT'S WHEN WE'RE IN THE 13 MILLION, 13 TO $14 MILLION RANGE, UH, POTENTIALLY, UH, EXPENDITURE THERE.
THAT LEAVES AN UNCOMMITTED FUND BALANCE OF JUST OVER 24 MILLION REIMBURSEMENTS.
I HIGHLIGHT THE CHELSEA PROJECT.
YOU WERE THE FIRST COUNTY TO ALLOW A REIMBURSABLE GRANT TO BE PLACED WITH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION TO ALLOW THEM TO WORK THE OPTION, THE CONTRACT ON THE CHELSEA TRACK, WHICH INTERESTING ON THE VIDEO THAT YOU JUST WATCHED, PLAYS A ROLE IN PROTECTING THE CANAL THAT PROVIDES THE WATER SUPPLY TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THAT REIMBURSEMENT CAME THROUGH ON TIME, SPOT ON.
YOU SET A NEW PARADIGM BY DOING SO.
MY COMMITMENT IS WE'LL REPEAT THAT ON NEW RIVER AND EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
I'LL UNDERSCORE EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS ON THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HANDOUT? IT'S, IT'S GREAT.
HOW MANY ACRES ARE IN THE PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED TOTAL? ARE YOU, YOU REFERRING TO THOSE THAT ARE NOT CLOSED BUT APPROVED UNDER RESOLUTION? YEAH, THE 62 MILLION.
AND A LITTLE OVER 1300 ACRES ON THE DUE DILIGENCE, THE ACTIVE DUE DILIGENCE PROJECTS THAT WE STILL NEED TO COME BACK BEFORE WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME COMING THIS EVENING AND, UM, HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE
[01:05:01]
TRIP.MADAM CHAIR, YOU OTHER COUNTY YOU LIVE IN
BUT YOU NOW YOU NOW HEARD THAT MY, UH, MY LOYALTY AND, UH, MY BIRTH MAY HAVE BEEN NORTH, BUT MY LOYALTIES ARE TO A NATIVE, UH, BUFORT COUNTY.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SAY?
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MILITARY ENHANCEMENT, UH, COMMITTEES TRYING TO DEAL WITH ON RESILIENCY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAJOR, I MEAN THAT IS THE WATER SOURCE FOR BUFORT.
SO WE WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH THOSE TYPE OF, UM, ORGANIZATIONS.
IF I MAY ADD 10 SECONDS TO THAT.
NOT ONLY THE CANAL, BUT THINK OF THE WORK YOU'VE DONE BETWEEN PROJECTS ALONG THE BROAD RIVER.
YOU'RE, SO WHEN YOU TOOK GREGORY NECK AND THAT FIRST TIME WHEN YOU PUT A MILLION DOLLARS INTO JASPER COUNTY, AGAIN, A COUNTY FIRST, FRANKLY IN THE COUNTRY TO PUT MONEY IN A NEIGHBORING COUNTY, IT WAS BECAUSE YOU DID SO, BECAUSE THAT ENABLED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU HAD ASSURANCE THAT YOU WERE PROTECTING THAT PORTION OF THE BROAD RIVER.
AND NOW YOU'VE SUBSEQUENTLY DONE THAT WITH CHELSEA AND THERE ARE GONNA BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO COME AND THEN YOU WORK ACROSS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE RIVER.
THERE'LL BE OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES COMING THERE THAT PLAYS A ROLE IN THAT.
THERE'S NO QUESTION WHETHER IT'S RESILIENCE OR WHETHER IT'S FRANKLY WATER QUALITY AND WATER QUANTITY THAT ARE ONLY BECOMING UNDER GREATER PRESSURE AS WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THIS AREA.
[10.b. Business License Appeal: Geismar North America ]
ON THE AGENDA.UM, 10 B IS THE BUSINESS LICENSE APPEAL MEYER NORTH AMERICA? NO, WE ALREADY MADE THE MOTION.
SO WE'RE, WE CAN CROSS THAT ONE OFF.
NO REASON WE NEED TO REMOVE IT FROM THE AGENDA.
YEAH, I THINK IT SHOULD BE OKAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE THAT? WE INDICATED THAT WE'VE TAKEN ACTION DURING AUTHORIZING REMOVAL FROM THIS.
SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT.
UH, ANY ANY ALL IN FAVOR IF REMOVING THAT? YEAH, I MEAN, JUST SO THE PUBLIC THAT KNOWS THAT BEFORE THEY'RE HERE, IF IT WASN'T THE IF CAUCUS, WE, UH, CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH IT WHERE IT'LL FULLY FUND BACK ALL THE BACK TAXES AS WELL AS THE PENALTIES.
AND THE AGREEMENT IS BASED ON SCHEDULE.
SO NOTHING WAS LOST IN OUR TAX BASE AND WE HELD THE LINE ON THAT.
ALL IN FAVOR? WE TOOK THAT OFF THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE HANDLED IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
[11.a. 2026/41: An Ordinance amending the Community Development Code (CDC): section 5.3.20 (applicability), 4.2.20 (standards for free-standing accessory buildings/structures), 5.8.100 (screening), and 10.1.190 (definitions) ]
GOING TO ORDINANCE THIS FOR THIRD READING.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR VICE CHAIR.
UM, 2026 SLASH 41 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE.
SECTION 5.3 POINT 20, APPLICABILITY 4.2 0.2 STANDARDS FOR FREESTANDING ACCESSORY BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.
5.8 POINT 100 SCREENING AND 10.1 90 DEFINITIONS.
AND TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THIS WAS UNANIMOUS VOTE AT NATURAL RESOURCE ON AUGUST 3RD, FIRST READING AUGUST 10TH.
AND WE DID HAVE A SECOND READING, PUBLIC HEARING.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE I SECOND.
AND MR. GLOVER MADE THIS SECOND.
UM, WE DON'T REALLY, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS FOUR TIMES ALREADY.
SO DOES ANYONE HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. KIDD? QUESTION, COMMENT.
IF NOT, MR. PASSMAN IS GOING TO READ THE REASONS.
UM, THE REQUEST IS ASKED THAT WE MOVE, WE GRANT THIS ON THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE OR THE CODE OF ORDINANCE.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE ZONES IN THIS DEVELOPMENT CODE OR WOULD IMPROVE COMPATIBLE, LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN WOULD NOT RESULT ENVIRONMENT.
YOU WANNA HAVE A QUESTION ON THOSE? NO.
ANY DISCUSSION QUESTION? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.
[11.b. 2026/42: An Ordinance amending the zoning map for 1.4 acres (R300 012 000 0129 0000, R300 012 000 047A 0000) from T2R to T2RC. ]
42 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR 1.4 ACRES.OUR 300 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 4 ZEROS, AND THEN R 300 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 4 7 A FOUR ZEROS,
[01:10:01]
AND AMENDING IT FROM T TWO R TO T TWO RC.AND AGAIN, THIS WENT THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCE AND FIRST READING AUGUST 10TH WAS, UH, UNANIMOUS.
SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH WAS NINE ONE.
THAT END OF THE DIOCESE ALL AWARE.
OKAY, MR. PASSMAN, MR. GLOVER SECONDS.
IT, I DON'T IF ANYONE HAS A QUESTION, OTHERWISE, ANYBODY, I'VE, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS ONE THREE TIMES.
SO MR. PASSMAN READ THE REASONS PLEASE.
IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE CODE AND THE PURCHASES PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE.
IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISION AND OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS.
IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH
NEARBY LAND WOULD RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOP PATTERNS, RESULT IN, WOULD RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY PUBLIC FACILITIES.
ANYBODY QUESTION OR COMMENT ON THE REASONS OR THE ORDINANCE ITSELF? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND THANK YOU, MR. KID, FOR BEING READY AND ATTENTIVE.
WHAT'D YOU DO WITH YOUR SON? UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT HAVE THE TWO YEAR OLD'S FIRST COUNSEL PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.
THAT'S A REAL CHANCE, BUT, UH, HIS MOTHER ARRIVED.
[12.a. 2026/43: An ordinance to amend Ordinance 2026/29 to authorize the transfer of funds. (PUBLIC HEARING)]
FOR SECOND READING.WE HAVE 2026 SLASH 43, WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2026 SLASH 29 TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS.
THERE'S NO APPROVAL HISTORY, BUT WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS, SO I NEED A MOTION.
MR. PASSMAN WILL SECOND MR. MOORE.
UM, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IF YOU WOULD HAVE A SLIGHT DISCUSSION SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS EVERYTHING'S IN THE AGENDA PACKET, BUT MR. MOORE WILL DESCRIBE IT.
SIR, JUST FOR CLARITY, THAT LAST ONE WAS NINE ONE, RIGHT? YES.
THIS WILL BE AMENDMENT TO THE, UH, BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 27, UH, 2027 TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER FUNDS AND IT WILL ALLOW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, UH, TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, EXCLUDING ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT EXCEED $200,000 IN A SINGLE TRANSFER, DOES NOT INCREASE THE TOTAL OVERALL BUDGET OF THE FUND.
DOES NOT ESTABLISH A NEW CAPITAL PROJECT.
DOES NOT ELIMINATE OR MATERIALLY CHANGE THE SCOPE, PURPOSE, OR INTENDED OUTCOME OF A PROJECT.
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP, BUT IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UM, WE WILL ENTERTAIN THAT NOW.
SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANY QUESTION OR DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL? JUST QUICKLY? UM, UM, IS 200,000 TOO MUCH OR NOT ENOUGH? I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE.
IT, IT WAS PREVIOUSLY 150,000.
AND JUST SO THE AUDIENCE KNOWS, THERE IS INFORMATION IN THE PACKET, WHAT OTHER, UH, COUNTIES DO? CORRECT.
ANYBODY ELSE? QUESTION OR COMMENT? ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND ALL OPPOSED, WE HAVE ONE, UH, 1, 2, 3, 4.
WE HAVE, UM, 2026 SLASH 44 IS IN ORDINANCE.
I, SORRY, I DIDN'T CATCH THE, WHO THE FOURTH ONE WAS WHEN I WAS COUNTING.
PARDON ME? YOU SAID IT WAS FOUR.
WHO WAS THE FOURTH FOR MARK, DAVID, MYSELF, MR. REEDS.
[12.b. 2026/44: An Ordinance Amending the FY2027 Budget for Stormwater Utility Operations, Carryover Purchase Orders, Accommodations & Hospitality Tax projects, and Facility Operations. (PUBLIC HEARING) ]
SLASH 44 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET FOR STORMWATER UTILITY OPERATIONS, CARRYOVER PURCHASE ORDERS, ACCOMMODATIONS AND HOSPITALITY TAX PROJECT, AND FACILITIES OPERATIONS.THE VOTE AT FINANCE COMMITTEE ON AUGUST 17TH WAS NINE.
AND FIRST READING WAS SEPTEMBER 14TH, 10 ZERO.
SO I NEED A MOTION FOR THIS ORDINANCE.
SO MOVED MR. PASSMAN, WITH THE MOTION.
UH, MS. NOVAK, WOULD YOU COME UP PLEASE AND EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC AND ANYONE THAT HAS A QUESTION? WE'LL, WE'LL DO THE PUBLIC HEARING AFTER YOU EXPLAIN.
SO THIS IS, UM, AN INCREASE TO THE 27 BUDGET OF JUST OVER $7 MILLION CONSISTING OF 3,475,000 FOR STORMWATER UTILITY.
[01:15:01]
TAKING STORMWATER UTILITY FUND BALANCE AND USING IT FOR, UM, THE BRICKYARD COMMONS, WHICH IS YOUR NEXT, UM, AGENDA ITEM.IT'S ALSO, UM, HAS $1.9 MILLION IN LOCAL AT TAX FUND BALANCE TO BE USED.
1 MILLION FOR THE WATERFRONT PARK.
TH UH, 400,000 FOR ALL JOY AND 245,000 FOR BROAD RIVER FISHING.
THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED, THEY JUST DIDN'T GET PUT INTO THE BUDGET.
UM, AS WELL AS A MILLION DOLLARS OF H TAX ALSO FOR THE WATERFRONT PARK.
274,000 FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, AGAIN, FOR A TOTAL OF JUST OVER 7 MILLION.
UH, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP, BUT IS THERE ANYONE IN THE ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ORDINANCE? NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.
SO I'LL CLOSE A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY QUESTION FROM COUNSEL? WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
MR. UM, CUNNINGHAM? NO QUESTION.
JUST A COMMENT FOR A CONVERSATION I HAD AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
UM, THAT MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE PUT TOWARDS BEAUFORT WATER PARK, THEY'RE PROJECTING THAT BETWEEN 80 TO $120 MILLION TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.
UM, I THINK WE'VE PUT IN 2 MILLION NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING TO PUT IN THREE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.
JUST WANNA SAY TO REITERATE THE PEOPLE THAT OPPOSED BALL FIELDS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FUND THE FULL PROJECT OR WE DO KNOW WHAT THE PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT PROJECT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY HAVE NO SCOPE, THEY HAVE NO IDEA, BUT YET WE STILL CAME OUT AND SUPPORTED THEM SO WE COULD GET THE BALL ROLLING TO HELP GET GRANTS AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO JUST THE SAME APPROACH THAT I'M TAKING WITH THOSE BALL FIELDS IS THE SAME APPROACH.
THIS COUNCIL IS ALREADY UNANIMOUSLY A APPRO, UM, APPROVED FOR BEAUFORT WATERPARK, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST COMMENT THAT I THINK IT'S A GOOD SHOW THAT WE SUPPORT THE CITY OF BEAUFORT FOR WATERFRONT PARK.
A LOT OF OUR AT TAX FUNDS GO TO FESTIVALS THAT HAPPEN AT THAT PARK.
SO, UH, WE NEED TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THAT'S WHERE THIS MONEY'S GOING.
ANYBODY ELSE? COMMENT QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[12.c. 2026/45: An Ordinance Authorizing the County Administrator to Execute the Necessary Documents and Provide Funding for the Purchase of Real Property Identified as TMS Nos. R200-010-000 0340-0000, R200-010-000-021G-0000, and R200-010-000-0446-0000 from Brickyard Commons, LLC for the Royal Pines Stormwater Project in the amount of $3,475,000.(PUBLIC HEARING) ]
2026 SLASH 45 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF REAL PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS TMS NUMBERS.R TWO HUNDRED ZERO TEN THREE ZERO ZERO THREE FORTY, AND FOUR ZEROS.
AND EVERYBODY COULD READ THE REST OF THOSE.
BRICKYARD COMMONS, LLC FOR THE ROYAL PINE STORMWATER PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,475,000.
THE VOTE AT FINANCE WAS, UM, UNANIMOUS.
AND SO NOW JARED, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT? OH, I NEED A MOTION.
MR. FRA WILL GIVE A BRIEF EXPLANATION FOR THE PUBLIC.
SO THIS PROJECT, THE STORMWATER PROJECT IN NORTHERN LADIES ISLAND IN THE ROYAL PINES GOLF COURSE REGION.
UH, AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT CAME TO US AS A, UH, DEVELOPER RECOGNIZED THE NEED THAT WE HAD BASED OFF OF STUDY FROM 2024, UM, WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A REGIONAL STORMWATER BMP.
AND SO WE'VE MOVED FORWARD ON VARIOUS ITERATIONS OF THAT AND THIS IS THE, UM, LATEST AND GREATEST ITERATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 ACRES THAT WOULD BE CONVERTED FROM, UM, DEVELOPABLE PROPERTY INTO A STORMWATER ENGINE POND WITH AN OUTFALL.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE PARCEL IS ABOUT.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, NO ONE SIGNED UP, BUT IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, YOU MAY APPROACH THE PODIUM AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
WELL, LET ME CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MISS YUHAS, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? OH, YOU'RE JUST CHANGING THE SEAT.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO TO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, JARED, HAS THERE BEEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OUTFALL, UH, AND THE PINE VIEW PRESERVE? I I SAW THE, UM, THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION POSTED OUT THERE, UH, FOR THE, UH, PERMIT.
YEAH, SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR TEAM AND THEIR TEAM.
WE HAVE SOME MORE ONGOING DISCUSSIONS TO BE HAD.
UM, SO LONG STORY SHORT, THE PROJECT IS DEVELOPING THE OUTFALL, UM, WHERE AND WHAT THAT OUTFALL WILL LOOK LIKE IS STILL BEING DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.
JUST ONE, ONE COMMON OFFICER IS IN DAVID'S DISTRICT, BUT THIS DOES TWO THINGS.
ONE, IT, IT TAKES SOME PROPERTY THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING DEVELOPED FROM BEING DEVELOPED, AND THEN IT THEN IS PUT INTO HELP WITH THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
SO AGAIN, THIS HAS A TWOFOLD, UM, POSITIVE IMPACT OF, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
ANYBODY ELSE, MR. GLOVER? YEAH, I I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THE COMMENT THAT, UM, MR. UH, OLMY JUST RAISED ON THE OUTFALL
[01:20:01]
AND YOU, YOU SAID THAT IT'S NOT HAD, YOU KNOW, IT HAS NOT BEEN DESIGNED YET.UM, THAT'S A VERY, FOR ME, A DEDICATED, UM, UH, AREA OF OUR, UM, PROPERTY THAT WE ARE PROTECTING.
AND, UM, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE AN OVERSIGHT, UM, OTHER THAN THE COUNTY AT THIS TIME PROTECTING THAT PROPERTY.
UH, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT IS GONNA BE DESIGNED, HOW IT'S GONNA BE DESIGNED, AND HOW IS THAT GOING TO BASICALLY ENHANCE HOPEFULLY, UM, THAT, THAT, THAT THAT PROPERTY FOR PARTICULAR WILDLIFE AT THE SAME TIME.
YEAH, THOSE ARE THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP BY OUR STAFF, UM, LAND PRESERVATION STAFF AS FAR AS THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE, THE PROJECT TEAM AND PROJECT ENGINEER.
SO THOSE ARE BEING, UH, COLLABORATED THE TWO SIDES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE NOT JUST A, AN OUTFALL, BUT AN OUTFALL WITH THE, THE WETLAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UM, CONCERNS.
AND, AND THEY PINEVIEW THAT PARCEL, UH, HAS ITS OWN ENGINEERING, UM, THAT'S BEING ESTABLISHED RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE MARRYING THAT UP WITH THE PROJECT ENGINEERS ON THIS.
SO THEY'LL BE TALKING THROUGHOUT THEIR DESIGN SERVICES.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THIS PROJECT COMING ABOUT.
UM, I KNOW THERE'S SOME RESIDENTS OUT IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WERE HAVING SOME REAL SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND OTHER ISSUES THAT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP SOLVE THAT.
AND I, I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP AND JARED, I APPRECIATE, UM, WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE STAFF CONCERNS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE GOTTA GET THE WATER OUT, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THE WATER THAT GOES OUT INTO THE ROCK SPRINGS THAT ULTIMATELY MAKES IT DOWN INTO LUCY CREEK IS, IS CLEAN OR AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.
SO I, I TRUST HOLDING HIM THE RIGHT THING AND, AND KEEP YOU POSTED.
LET KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP.
MR. CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, I'LL JUST SAY, MARK HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
THE, THE BIGGEST PART OF THIS IS WE'RE TAKING ROOFTOPS OFF THE TABLE.
SO IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP OF THIS, IT HAD POTENTIAL FOR QUITE A FEW HOMES.
UM, THAT IS AN ARGUMENT WE'VE BEEN MADE FOR YEARS WITH COUNCIL AND NOT APPROVING UPZONING AND TO MAKE SURE WE CAN GET RID OF ROCK ROOFS AND DOCKS.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
SO WE'LL STAY STEADFAST WITH THAT.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR GOOD DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE.
[12.d. 2026/46: An Ordinance Authorizing the County Administrator or negotiating authority in accordance with Resolutions 2019/44 and 2021/20 to execute any and all necessary documents for the acceptance of Right of Way and/or Temporary Construction Easement properties as shown on EXHIBIT A Pages 1-4 associated with the Sidewalks and Multi-use Pathways – Safe Routes to Schools and EXHIBIT A Pages 5-8 associated with the Lady’s Island Corridor Traffic Improvements.(PUBLIC HEARING)]
SLASH 46 IS VERY LONG IN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR NEGOTIATING AUTHORITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH RESOLUTIONS 2019 SLASH 44 AND 2021 SLASH 20 TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHT OF WAY AND OR TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT PROPERTIES AS SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A, PAGES ONE THROUGH FOUR ASSOCIATED WITH THE SIDEWALKS AND MULTI-USE PATHWAYS, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS.AND EXHIBIT A PAGES FIVE THROUGH EIGHT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LADIES ISLAND CORRIDOR TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, THIS WAS APPROVED AT PUBLIC FACILITIES NINE ZERO AND FIRST READING ON SEPTEMBER 14TH, 10 ZERO.
UM, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT I MEANT, OH, JARED, YOU'RE ON AGAIN.
YEAH, JUST TO GIVE SOME EXPLANATION MM-HMM.
OF WHAT THIS IS AND PUT IT IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. SO THIS IS AN ORDINANCE.
UM, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, THIS IS 2018 SALES TAX PROJECTS.
UM, WE HAD TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT WERE ADOPTED EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM ON HOW WE GO ABOUT ACQUIRING PROPERTY.
UH, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT GIVES THE STAFF THE ABILITY TO GO AND NEGOTIATE THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE PARCELS IDENTIFIED IN THE PROJECT PLANS AND IN THE BACKUP.
AND THEN, UM, THE INTENT IS TO, TO COORDINATE WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNER.
IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL CONCERNS, UM, THEN THAT WOULD COME BACK TO COUNCIL.
AND SO THIS IS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE PROJECTS THAT BOTH THOSE ON LADIES ISLAND AND THE PATHWAYS THAT ARE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY PHASE, THERE'S QUITE A DIFFERENT, UH, NUMBER OF PARCELS IDENTIFIED ON EACH, ON EACH ROAD OR EACH PROJECT.
AND IT, IT GIVES US THE, AGAIN, ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE AND BRING FINALITY TO THE RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION PHASE ON THESE PROJECTS.
UM, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND I DO HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP, MR. TOM C IF YOU'D APPROACH THE PODIUM AND YOU HAVE TIME TO SPEAK.
I SEE THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF VERY TOUGH ISSUES THAT REMAIN IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS.
UM,
SOUNDS FAMILIAR,
LISTEN, UM, YOU GUYS HAVE MANY, UH, SIDEWALKS AND PATHWAYS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.
WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO CARVE OUT OF THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE,
[01:25:01]
THE SALEM ROAD, UM, SIDEWALK TO SET IT ASIDE, UM, TO SEND IT BACK TO STAFF AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR REVIEW, UM, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL, UM, FOR CONSIDERATION.UM, DOING SO WILL NOT, UM, DELAY THE PROJECT.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, IT INDICATES THAT IT'S CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE AND IT'S ONLY 65%.
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WHILE IT, WHILE IT GOES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
UM, THERE ARE FOUR MAIN REASONS WHY I'M ASKING YOU TO CARVE IT OUT OF TONIGHT.
NUMBER ONE, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE HEARD COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW SAY MORE THAN ONCE, UM, IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
COUNCIL JUST DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THIS.
UM, SARAH HAS A POWERPOINT THAT, OR NOT POWERPOINT, I'M NOT THAT SOPHISTICATED, A JUMP DRIVE, UM, THAT, UM, OUTLINES THIS FOR YOU.
YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE BACKUP.
WHAT YOU HAVE ARE TWO PAGES WITH REGARD TO SALEM ROAD.
THE FIRST BOTH PAGES TOGETHER TO A, I ASSUME A GIS SKETCH OR SOMETHING OF SALEM ROAD.
ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THIS IMAGE IS OLD SALEM ROAD.
AND, UM, THE SIDEWALK WILL GO TO THE RIGHT OFF OF THAT PAGE AND ONTO THE NEXT PAGE.
UM, IF YOU COULD DO THAT FOR ME, SARAH, AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE TAKES IT UP TO ONE 70.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE ABOUT THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S REALLY NO PATH INDICATED.
ALL IT IS, IS A MAGIC MARKER THAT IS JUST MARKED DOWN THE ROAD, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, THE ROAD DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THAT.
THE ROAD IS NOT CONFIGURED THAT WAY.
UM, IT IS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED, IT HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, SO THAT WHEN YOU GET TO THAT RIGHT HAND SIDE AT ONE 70, UM, THAT BOTTOM LOT OR PARCEL ACTUALLY GOES UP SO THAT YOU HAVE A 95 DEGREE, I MEAN A 90 DEGREE INTERSECTION INSTEAD OF A 45 DEGREE INTERSECTION, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
SO IT, IT'S NOT ACCURATE IN TERMS OF EITHER THE INDICATION OF WHERE THE PATH IS GOING TO GO, THE SIDEWALK'S GONNA GO, NOR IS IT ACCURATE WITH REGARD TO WHAT THE LAYOUT OF THE ROAD IS.
NOW, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT AND, AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT DOESN'T IDENTIFY THE PARCELS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED EITHER PERMANENTLY OR BY WAY OF A TEMPORARY EASEMENT.
WHEN I SAW THIS IN THE BACKUP, I SAT DOWN AND I LOOKED AT, WELL, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE'S THE RIGHT OF WAY? WHERE, WHERE'S THE PATH GOING AND WHATNOT, WHAT PARCELS ARE INVOLVED? NONE OF THE PARCELS, UM, EVERY PARCEL ON THE ROAD IS LISTED ON THE TWO PAGES, AND SURELY EVERY PARCEL ON THE ROAD CAN'T BE INVOLVED, UM, BY RIGHT OF WAY OR, OR CURRENTLY, OR CONDEMNATION MAY BE DOWN THE ROAD.
IN ADDITION, WHAT YOU SEE HERE WITH REGARD TO SALEM ROAD IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SEE ON OTHER SIDEWALKS IN THIS VERY ORDINANCE.
SARAH, IF YOU COULD TURN THIS ONE, I CAN'T SEE WHICH ROAD IT IS, BUT I THINK IT'S MAYBE, UH, LET'S SEE.
YOU SEE THERE, YOU HAVE ENGINEERING PLANS, YOU HAVE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS.
YOU SEE WHERE THE PATH IS GOING, YOU SEE WHICH LOTS ARE INVOLVED.
YOU SEE WHAT THE TAKE, THE REQUESTED TAKE IS.
UM, AND THE SAME THING WITH THE NEXT ONE.
THERE'S AIRPORT FRONTAGE ROAD, SAME DEAL ENGINEERED DRAWINGS, IDENTIFYING WHERE THE PATH'S GOING OR WHERE THE ROAD'S GOING, WHAT THE TAKE IS GOING TO BE.
AND THE SAME WITH A THIRD ONE US 21 WIDENING.
SO COUNTY COUNCIL WITH THIS INFORMATION HAS ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SEE WHAT THE ASK IS AND WHAT THE STAFF IS ASKING COUNSEL TO DO.
THERE SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION WITH REGARD TO THE SALEM ROAD.
SO I I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CARVE IT OUT FOR THAT BASIS, UH, ALONE.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS BECAUSE WE DO, THERE THEY ARE.
AND THESE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS, HOWEVER, ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE THAT I CAN FIND.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE PENNY WEBSITE, IF YOU CAN.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT UNDER THE 2018 PROJECT LIST.
THEY'RE NOT UNDER THE 2018 SIDEWALK.
IF YOU GO IN THERE AND THERE'S A THIRD PLACE THAT I HAVE LOOKED TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PATHWAYS AND THE PROJECTS.
AND LET ME SAY WE NEED THIS 2018, UH, SIDE, THIS, THIS, THIS SALEM ROAD SIDEWALK.
I HAVE FOUR OR FIVE LOTS ON SALEM ROAD.
THE PATH IS GOING TO GO IN FRONT OF IT.
THE COUNTY'S EVEN PROPOSING PUTTING IN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS THE STORMWATER PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ON MY PROPERTY.
[01:30:01]
TO A NIMBY SITUATION.WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
AND I HAVE LOOKED EVEN ONLINE, THE 2018 TRANSPORTATION SALES PROJECTS.
THERE'S A SCHEDULE TAB YOU CAN GO TO, YOU DON'T SEE, YOU SEE DESIGN, YOU SEE HOW FAR THE PROJECT IS IN TERMS OF A TIMETABLE.
YOU GO TO THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND SIDE, YOU SEE PATHWAY PROJECT, YOU CAN CLICK ON ALL THE PATHWAYS.
OLD SALEM ROAD IS ON HOLD, SALEM ROAD IS THERE.
BUT WHAT YOU SEE ON SALEM ROAD IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU SEE HERE.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU THAT IN A MOMENT.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SECTION DOWN ON THE BOTTOM.
IT TALKS ABOUT MEETINGS AND RESOURCES.
I CAME TO SPEAK AT FIRST READING, UM, TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT I SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE THESE PLANS.
I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
AND, UM, OF COURSE, UM, PINE ISLAND WAS ON THE AGENDA AND I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT FOR, FOR THIS.
BUT AFTER THAT MEETING, I CONTACTED JARED AND ASKED FOR THE PLANS.
UM, I HAVE A COLORIZED VERSION OF THESE PLANS WHERE I WENT THROUGH, UH, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THIS, BUT I WENT THROUGH AND I IDENTIFIED WHERE THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD IS, WHERE I IDENTIFIED THE RIGHT OF THE S-E-D-O-T, RIGHT OF WAY WHERE I IDENTIFIED THE, UH, THE RIGHT OF WAY REQUEST FROM PROPERTY OWNERS.
AND I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO A COUNCIL.
I CAN SCAN IT AND EMAIL IT TO SARAH IF YOU'D LIKE TO PUT IT IN THE BACKGROUND.
UM, THIS, I THINK IT'S LIKE EIGHT PAGES.
THIS ONE I THINK STARTS AGAIN, UM, AT THE, UM, SOUTH END OF SALEM ROAD AND IT WHERE OLD SALEM ROAD IS.
AND IT COMES ALL THE WAY UP AND YOU CAN SEE HOW DIFFERENT IT IS, UH, FROM JUST A MAGIC MARKER LINE DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, IT GOES, THE PATH GOES ALONG THE ROAD FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IT JUMPS ONTO PROPERTY, I BELIEVE JUMPS ONTO PROPERTY THAT IS OWNED BY A, A, A PULTE SUBDIVISION THAT HAS JUST, JUST FINISHED COMPLETION, UM, CALLED, UH, SALEM BAY, SOME 300 HOMES THERE THAT WERE NOT THERE IN 2018.
IT WAS A FOREST, UM, UM, THAT ARE NOW THERE.
THEY JUST FINISHED THEIR LAST TWO OR THREE HOMES.
THEY'RE, THEY'VE BEEN SOLD, THEY'RE BUILT OUT.
AND IT GOES ON TO THE NEXT SEVERAL PAGES.
SARAH, WOULD YOU MIND, UM, CLICKING THERE? YEAH.
UM, MY PROPERTY STARTS AT, UH, I THINK IT'S A LOT.
UM, YOU SEE IT GOES, THE PATH GOES BACK OUT TO THE ROAD MINUS 12, 14, 16, AND IT CONTINUES ON.
UM, AND, UM, SO IT'S NOT LIKE THIS ISN'T AVAILABLE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP, BUT, AND THE PUBLIC HASN'T SEEN IT.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO CARVE IT OUT, IS SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN GET INVOLVED.
AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A VERY QUICK MINUTE.
UM, WHAT YOU DO SEE, IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING TO THE NEXT ONE, LINES THREE AND, UH, SLIDES THREE AND FOUR, JUST KEEP GOING.
YEAH, THAT JUST TAKES YOU ALL THE WAY OUT TO ONE 70.
IF YOU GO TO THE BEAUFORT PENNY WEBSITE AND YOU CLICK ON PATHWAYS AND YOU CLICK ON 2018, THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE.
AND IT, AND THAT'S NOT, THAT'S REALLY NOT WHAT IS PROPOSED.
UM, IN ADDITION, WHEN I GOT THESE, UH, PLANS, I CONTACTED THE CITY OF BEAUFORT AND THE REASON I DID THAT, YEAH, KURT FREEZE, WHO'S THE PETTING DIRECTOR.
THE REASON I DID THAT IS 'CAUSE THIS IS A PROJECT IS IN THE COUNTY, I MEAN IN THE CITY, ALL EXCEPT A SMALL STRETCH THAT IS IN FRONT OF A U-HAUL DEALERSHIP.
AND I'LL SHOW YOU THAT IN A MOMENT.
U-HAUL DEALERSHIP AT U-HAUL FRANCHISE, BUT OTHERWISE IT'S ALL IN THE CITY FROM OLD SALEM ROAD ALL THE WAY UP SALEM ROAD TO ONE 70.
AND SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT THERE'D BE SOME COORDINATION WITH THE CITY, BUT TO MY SURPRISE THERE, IT WAS A, HASN'T BEEN OTHER THAN MAYBE A CALL TO ASK THEM, ASK SOMEBODY.
MR. FREEZE DOESN'T KNOW WHO TOOK THE CALL, UH, FROM THE COUNTY SAYING, DO YOU WANT THE ROAD, THE SIDEWALK ON THE EAST SIDE OR THE WEST SIDE? BUT APPARENTLY OTHER THAN THAT, THE CITY HAS NOT SEEN THESE PLANS.
I, WE GAVE THEM TO THE PLANNING DIRECTOR TO WEEKS AGO AFTER WE GOT 'EM.
HE LOOKED AT 'EM AND HE HADN'T SEEN THEM BEFORE.
SO THE CITY HASN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN IT.
UM, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE PUBLIC HADN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN IT EITHER.
WHEN I GOT IT, I WALKED THE PLANS, I WALKED UP AND DOWN, DROVE UP AND DOWN THE ROAD, STOPPED IN SOME TOWNHOUSES AND KNOCKED ON SOME DOORS.
AND THE TOWNHOUSES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND JUST A MOMENT, KNOCKED ON SOME DOORS AT SALEM BAY.
SALEM BAY HAS BEEN MANAGED BY PULTE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS.
THEY'RE A, THEIR, THEIR COMMUNITY.
300 HOUSES ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF ELECTING A BOARD.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO THIS NEW BOARD OCTOBER 1ST.
I THINK THEIR FIRST MEETING IS GOING TO BE ON THURSDAY.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE A BOARD YET THAT'S REALLY SAT DOWN AND GRAPPLED WITH THESE ISSUES.
NOW I UNDERSTAND THE COUNTY HAS WORKED WITH PULTE THAT HAS BEEN MANAGING IT, BUT IT'S ALL BEING TURNED OVER, UH, TO THE HOA FOLKS.
[01:35:01]
UM, SO LET ME, UM, JUST INTRODUCE YOU TO SALEM ROAD AND WHAT IS VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.SALEM ROAD IS A TWO-LANE ROAD, UM, 10 FOOT, UM, OF AN EITHER SIDE.
THIS IS LEAVING ONE 70, GOING SOUTH TO OLD SALEM ROAD, THE DEALERSHIP, THE U-HAUL FOLKS, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT RIGHT THERE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
THAT'S THE ONLY PART OF THIS ROAD YOU'RE GONNA SEE.
THAT'S IN THE COUNT, THAT'S NOT IN THE CITY.
WE'RE COMING UP ON THIS RIGHT PAST THIS SIGN HERE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE TOWNHOUSE TOWNHOUSES.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THEM IN A MINUTE.
LOOK HOW CLOSE THEIR BACKYARDS ARE TO THIS TREE CANOPY.
THE ROAD IS ABOUT NINE TENTHS OF A MILE LONG, I BELIEVE
UM, BATTERY POINT IS AT THE VERY END ON BATTERY CREEK.
MY PROPERTY STARTS RIGHT THERE WHERE THAT DIRT ROAD IS.
ON THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE THIS GROVE, I'M CALLING IT A POSTAGE STAMP WETLANDS FOREST.
IT'S UNDISTURBED, ITS TITLE, SOME OF IT IS I UNDERSTAND IMPOUNDED WATER, NO DEVELOPMENT ON IT.
WE'VE NEVER BUILT A THING ON IT.
LUM BAY IS RIGHT WHERE THAT CAR JUST TURNED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TURN AROUND AND COME FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION RIGHT NOW, THE DIRECTION THAT THAT CAR IS COMING FROM.
AND IT'LL BRING US FROM OLD SALEM ROAD BACK TO ONE SALE.
THERE'S WHITE SPLIT GROUND FENCES.
THAT'S WHERE WE SAW THE CAR TURN IN.
THAT'S WHERE MY PROPERTY STARTS AS YOU GO BACK TOWARD ONE 70.
NOW, YES, IN JUST ONE MOMENT, I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THESE, THESE TREE VIDEOS AND, AND THAT LITTLE POSTAGE STAMP WETLAND FOREST.
THIS IS THAT, AS YOU'RE COMING, LEAVING MY RESIDENTIAL LOTS AND COMING BACK TOWARD THAT DIRT ROAD THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT.
WOULD YOU GO AHEAD? IS THAT ALRIGHT? NO, THAT'S FINE.
WOULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE? THEN? THE NEXT ONE IS A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I HAVE TAKEN OF THE TOWN HOMES.
SIDEWALK IS, THE SIDEWALK IS AS PROPOSED, IS AN EIGHT FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK FROM OLD SALEM ROAD ALL THE WAY TO ONE 70.
IT GOES BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH.
UM, AS YOU'RE COMING TOWARD ONE 70, UM, YOU GO PAST THE U-HAUL, YOU GO PAST THE TOWN HOMES.
WHEN IT GETS TO THE TOWN HOMES, IT BIFURCATES INTO TWO, FOUR FOOT WIDE SIDEWALKS.
THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SIDE.
YOU CAN'T, CERTAINLY CAN'T WALK IN TANDEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW A BIKE AND A PEDESTRIAN COULD POSSIBLY USE IT.
YOU KNOW, I GUESS ONE FOUR FOOT SIDEWALK WOULD GO NORTH.
THE OTHER FOUR FOOT WOULD GO SOUTH.
AND THEY'RE GONNA GO ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS GROVE OF TREES OUT.
THIS IS, THESE ARE IMAGES THAT I TOOK JUST THIS WEEKEND OF THE TREES AND THE FENCES OF THE TOWN HOMES.
THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE GONNA GET A FOUR FOOT WALKWAY THERE JUST SIMPLY ISN'T.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO STAFF, YOU JUST NOT GONNA GET A FOUR FOOT SIDEWALK IN THERE.
AND EVEN IF YOU DO, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT HARM, HARMING AND DAMAGING TREES AND THE TREE CANOPY.
AND ONCE THE TREE CANOPY IS GONE, IT'S GONE.
AND OF COURSE, ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT SO MUCH IS THE CHARACTER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE CHARACTER OF ROADS.
AND WE EVEN HEARD MISS LAMARCA TALK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.
AND IT'S A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE CITY.
AND THE CITY REALLY HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN HERE.
SO I AM NOT BEING CRITICAL OF STAFF.
I HAVE TREMENDOUS RESPECT FOR STAFF.
I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, BUT I THINK THEY'VE HAVEN'T, THEY'VE DONE THE BEST THEY CAN WITH WHAT THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN.
AND I'M JUST NOT SURE THAT IT'S READY, UH, FOR TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS WHY I ASK YOU TO PULL IT BACK,
[01:40:01]
BACK OUT, LET IT GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.LET'S WORK WITH THE PUBLIC OF ALL THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.
LET'S ALSO WORK WITH THE CITY AND GET MR. FREEZE INVOLVED AND WORK WITH, UH, THE COUNTY STAFF AND, UM, AND BRING IT FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WILL BE PRODUCTIVE FOR ALL OF US.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M PAUL TRASK, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BEAUFORT, UH, LIVE AT SIX 10 BLADEN STREET.
SO MY TAKE ON IT IS, UH, JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM, UH, TOM'S.
I'M MORE, MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREE ISSUES, THE TREE CANOPY.
SO, UH, THE COUNTY OBVIOUSLY HAS A A, A VERY STRINGENT TREE ORDINANCE.
UH, THE CITY OF BEAUFORT, BASICALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION HAD THE PLANNING COMMISSION ADDRESS ITS TREE ORDINANCE.
AND, UH, JUST ADOPTED NOT LONG AGO, MUCH MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS.
UM, THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER PATHS HAS BEEN DESIGNED AROUND EXISTING TREE CANOPIES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE.
SO THE VIDEO THAT I'M GONNA ASK TO BE PLAYED, AND COULD YOU PLAY IT WITH SOUND PLEASE? AND I'LL JUST SORT OF NARRATE.
SO THIS IS A VIDEO THAT I TOOK AND IT'S GOT SUBTITLES.
AND THIS BEGINS LOOKING SOUTH AT THE BRIDGE GOING ACROSS SALEM ROAD.
AND SO I'M NOW TURNING AROUND AND WE'RE GONNA GO UP, UH, TOWARDS THE CORNER AND I'M LITERALLY WALKING WHERE THE PATH IS GOING TO GO.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS A LIVE OAK FOREST.
NOW THAT'S PROBABLY A LANDMARK TREE.
I MEAN, BASICALLY ALL OF THESE TREES ARE, ARE LANDMARK AND WE'RE GONNA APPROACH ANOTHER ISSUE, WHICH IS ALSO REGULATED IN YOUR COUNTY ORDINANCE.
IT'S RIGHT IN THE, IN THE PATHWAY ACCORDING TO THE, TO THE PLANS AND STAFF WAS KIND ENOUGH TO PROVIDE THESE PLANS.
THESE ARE THE PLANS THAT TOM WAS REFERRING TO.
AND SO, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS, I WANNA FINISH GOING THROUGH THE VIDEO.
I MEAN, LOOK AT, THESE ARE VERY SUBSTANTIAL OAKS, AND YOU GOTTA BEAR IN MIND THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ORDINANCE PROVIDES A SETBACK OF ONE FOOT PER, UH, DIAMETER OF THE TREES.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OF THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, 12, MAYBE 18 INCH TREES, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A 12 TO ALMOST 20 FOOT DIAMETER SET BACK TO THE DRIP LINE TO PROTECT THE ROOT STRUCTURE.
AND SO NONE OF THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE PLANS, UH, TO DATE.
SO NOW WE'RE HERE WE ARE AT THAT OLD DIRT ROAD.
NOW, THIS IS WHERE IT BECOMES EVEN MORE INTERESTING, ASIDE FROM THE WETLAND, IS WE TURN NORTH.
SO THE, THE PRIOR VIDEO YOU SAW, AND AS TOM KEVIN, HE MENTIONED TO YOU RIGHT HERE, AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, THIS IS WHERE THE PLAN CONTEMPLATES.
IT'S NO LONGER A SINGLE EIGHT TO 10 FOOT WIDE PATH.
IT BECOMES TWO FOUR FOOT WIDE PATHS, ONE ON ONE SIDE OF THIS OLD HEDGE ROW, THE OTHER ONE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
AND SO ESSENTIALLY THERE'S NO WAY TO CONSTRUCT THOSE PATHS WITHOUT SEVERE GRUBBING, UH, AROUND THE ROOT STRUCTURE OF THESE TREES.
THERE'S NO WAY TO PROTECT THESE TREES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S ORDINANCE OR, UH, THE CITY'S ORDINANCE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT.
NOW THESE TREES ARE IN THE S-C-D-O-T RIGHT OF WAY, THE TREES AT THE BEGINNING OF MY VIDEO ARE IN THE CITY OF BEAUFORT.
THEY'RE NOT IN THE DOT RIGHT OF WAY.
THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHICH IS PROTECTED UNDER THE CITY'S TREE ORDINANCE.
NOW YOU GOT THE POWER OF IMMINENT DOMAIN.
AND THIS PROPERTY, UH, THAT TOM WAS SPEAKING OF IS, IS A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WHICH IS SCHEDULED AND LISTED, UH, TO BE CONDEMNED,
[01:45:01]
UH, FOR THE CREATION OF THE PATH.NOW, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF INTERCONNECTIVITY.
I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT MANY TIMES, NOT TO YOU, BUT TO THE CITY.
UH, WE'VE, UH, IN OUR BUSINESS, UH, AGREED TO CONNECT, UH, UH, PROPERTIES, UH, FROM OUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES.
SO I, I'M A BIG FAN OF THE SALEM ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PATHWAY THAT NEEDS TO GO IN TO SUPPORT ALL OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE DOWN THERE.
HOWEVER, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY TO CONDEMN A PIECE OF PROPERTY WHERE THE DOT STANDARDS WOULD APPLY AND NOT THE COUNTY'S OWN TREE ORDINANCE, NOR THE CITY'S TREE ORDINANCE.
SO I, I AGREE WITH TOM KE I WOULD ASK, MY ASK IS FOR YOU TO KINDLY PLEASE REMOVE THE SALEM ROAD, AMEND YOUR ORDINANCE, PROCEED WITH THE OTHERS, BUT REMOVE THE SALEM ROAD PORTION FOR, UH, FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UH, THE GENERAL NOTES OF THESE PLANS, I MEAN, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE, I'M NOT BEING FACETIOUS.
THERE ARE THINGS ABOUT PROTECTING A, A CERTAIN BAT SPECIES IN, IN, IN THESE GENERAL NOTES.
BUT BASICALLY THERE'S NOTHING THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT MEETING THE STANDARDS OF, UH, OUR TREE ORDINANCES.
AND SO I, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE REMOVE THE SALEM ROAD SECTION FOR FURTHER WORK AND CONSIDERATION.
ANYONE ELSE CARE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC HEARING? ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'LL GO TO DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL.
UM, I, AND I MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU MR. FRA.
I KNOW THERE WERE SOME PUBLIC MEETINGS REGARDING THIS PROJECT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THOSE DATES.
UH, I'M, I GET WEEKLY INQUIRIES ABOUT WHEN ARE YOU GONNA BUILD THIS PATHWAY FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN BATTER, BATTERY POINT, AND OTHER PLACES ALONG SALEM ROAD.
I, I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC'S COMMENTS.
UM, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE ON IT TOO, UH, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE PLANS AND WE HAVE MET ABOUT IT.
DO YOU RECALL HOW LONG AGO THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS? I DON'T SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER THE DATES.
UM, BUT WE HAVE HAD TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS ON ALL PUBLIC PROJECTS ON THE SALES TAX.
WE'VE COMMITTED TO TWO MEETINGS TYPICALLY ARE IN THE 20, 30% AND THE 60% RANGE.
UM, SO WE HAVE HAD THOSE MEETINGS.
THIS ONE WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD COMMENTS ON IT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE MEETING PROCESS MM-HMM
AND WE CAME BACK SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
UM, AND I BELIEVE IT MAY EVEN BE IN A SEPARATE RESOLUTION, UM, AT LEAST THE MOTION AS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN.
THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THERE WAS SOME MAJOR UTILITY CONFLICTS, UM, WITH WATER AND SEWER AS WELL AS GAS.
AND UH, JUST AS WE MENTIONED, WETLANDS ON THIS SIDE, THERE'S A SAME OR MORE WETLANDS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO, UM, THERE'S SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WERE IN THAT DISCUSSION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THAT DATE IN FRONT OF ME EITHER, BUT, UM, AT THAT POINT, THE COUNCIL DECISION AND DIRECTION THE STAFF WAS TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH THE PROJECT PLAN AS, AS DESIGNED THUS FAR.
IF WE PULLED IT OUT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE TIMELINE? UM, HOW MUCH WOULD IT AT THAT TIME? UM, THERE WAS ADDITIONAL TIME WHEN WE MADE THE RESOLUTION.
I BELIEVE THAT WAS EARLIER IN THIS YEAR.
UM, WHEN WE MADE THAT RESOLUTION, IT WAS A YEAR OR LONGER, UM, IN TIME AND I FORGET THE MILLION DOLLAR, BUT THERE WAS, THERE WAS A DELTA IN COST, SIGNIFICANT DELTA IN COST ON THE MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE.
THAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND IT.
BUT IF WE, IF WE PULLED IT JUST TO HAVE MORE PUBLIC INPUT AT THIS TIME, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT DELAY THE PROJECT? IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW? SO, SO WE ARE AT THE TIME FOR INITIATING RIGHT AWAY ACQUISITION, YOU CAN SEE THE PLANS THAT'S DEVELOPED.
SO, UM, RIGHT AWAY, AS WE KNOW WITH ALL THESE PROJECTS CAN LAST ANYWHERE FROM A COUPLE MONTHS TO A COUPLE YEARS.
SO WE STILL HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF US REGARDLESS.
IT'S JUST THAT PLUS THE EXTRA TIMELINE FOR MORE PUBLIC MEETING COMMENTS, WHATEVER THAT PERIOD IS, WHETHER IT'S A MONTH OR SIX MONTHS, THAT WOULD BE THE ADDED, UM, PROJECT SCHEDULE SCHEDULE AND TO THE POINT FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE TREES AND THE CITY OF BEAUFORT TREE ORDINANCE.
UM, ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN COORDINATION, UM, WITH STAFF, UM, AS FAR AS WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED AS
[01:50:01]
FAR AS MITIGATION OR ANY OF THOSE EFFORTS.SO, UM, THERE ARE CERTAIN TREES THAT WERE IMPACTED AND UM, THERE'S SOME SPECIMEN TREES, BUT A LOT OF THE TREES THAT ARE IMPACTED ARE, UM, NOT SPECIMENS, SO LIKE A GUM TREE, UM, AND SOME OTHER TYPES OF TREES.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE A FEW SPECIFIC OAK TREES WHICH ARE SPECIMEN, UM, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE MITIGATED PER THEIR ORDINANCE.
THE IMPACT TO THE TOWNHOUSES THEY REFERRED TO, HAS THAT BEEN LOOKED AT AS FAR AS THE WITNESS THAT'S INCLUDED IN THEIR RIGHT WAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE PLANS IN FRONT OF ME SPECIFICALLY.
UM, BUT THOSE, THERE'S IMPACTS SEVERAL DIFFERENT PARCELS.
SOME A LOT OF IT'S IN WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, THE DOT RIGHT OF WAY, BUT THERE'S A FAIR NUMBER OF PARCELS THAT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL RIGHT OF WAY.
AND SOMETIMES THERE'S MOVING ITEMS SUCH AS A BACKYARD FENCE THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IF I RECALL, THE AREA OVER THE WETLANDS WAS TO BE A WOODEN BRIDGE PUT IN.
YEAH, SPECIFICALLY AT THAT, THE WETLAND CROSS WOODEN BRIDGE.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
IT'S ALSO OCRM, UM, IT'S A TITLE INFLUENCED AREA.
SO WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT PERMIT WITH O AND DH HOME AND THE CORE.
UM, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOME MAJOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, EVEN WITH A PATHWAY.
UM, THERE'S MAJOR WATERLINE AND SEWER FORCE MAINS THAT ARE IN THE PROXIMITY OF WHERE THE WOODEN BRIDGE WOULD BE IF WE WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
SO THOSE ARE CONSIDERATIONS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CONTEMPLATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THERE WAS SOME COST, UM, BENEFIT RATIO OF THOSE UTILITIES.
I KNOW LOOKING AT THE SITE AND THE VIDEOS, ONE SIDE SEEMS LIKE THERE'S MORE TREES AND THE OTHER SIDE'S LESS TREES.
UM, THE OTHER SIDE WHERE THE PATHWAY IS NOT OUR, OUR MAJOR UTILITY, UM, CONSIDERATIONS AND THAT WAS A LARGE PART OF THE COST WHEN WE EVALUATED COSTS FOR ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION AND INCLUDED RELOCATION COSTS FOR SOME MAJOR UTILITIES.
I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC'S, UH, MR. TRS COMMENTS ABOUT CONNECTIVITY AND THAT'S WHAT I GET.
I I DO GET 'EM USUALLY AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE WEEKLY, UM, REGARDING WHEN IT, WHEN IS IT COMING? 'CAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS PROMISED AS PART OF THE 2018, UM, TAX REFERENDUM.
I'D JUST LIKE FOR THE REST OF THE COUNCIL TO, UM, HEAR THE QUESTIONS I HAD FOR YOU.
ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? I HAVE A COMMENT.
I MEAN THIS WAS ON THE 2018 REFERENDUM AND THEN I REMEMBER LAST YEAR WE CLEARLY WENT OVER ALL OF THIS AND THERE WAS NOT A PUBLIC COMMENT NEGATIVE TO THIS.
LIKE THERE WAS ON, WHAT WAS IT, MILLER ROAD OR WHATEVER SOME OF THOSE WERE.
SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THE PUBLIC WAS NOT AWARE.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CRITICISMS WE HAVE IN OUR FACE IS 2018 PROJECTS WEREN'T DONE, SO WE VOTED TO PUT THIS BACK ON.
IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE AND I MEAN, WE'VE HAD ADEQUATE PUBLIC COMMENT, I THINK SO I'M GONNA LEAVE IT THERE.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR.
UH, I'M NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T FEEL THE EMAILS AND THE PHONE CALLS, SO I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND IT.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I THIS IS, UM, ALMOST A, A SHARPIE DRAWN OR A COMPUTER DRAWN BLUE LINE.
I MEAN, I SAW THE GUMTREE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.
CAN THAT BE ADDED INTO THE BACK OF MATERIAL? THIS SECOND READING? WE CAN HAVE A, UM, UPDATED, UM, JUST LIKE THE OTHER PLANS, I I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY THAT WE DIDN'T INCLUDE IT.
UM, BUT WE CAN, WE HAVE THAT, UM, UPDATE THAT SHOWS SPECIFICALLY WHICH PARCELS AND CAN SHOW THAT AS FAR AS A BACKUP DOCUMENTATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH THEM.
THE THE INFORMATION'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO ENGAGE AND, AND READ IT.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ONE QUICK QUESTION, MR. ROBERT.
RIGHT? UM, THE WIDTH OF THE PATHWAY, EIGHT VERSUS SIX, WAS THAT IN CONSIDERATION AT ALL? YES.
SO, UM, ALL THE PATHWAYS WE STARTED OUT WITH EIGHT TO 10 FEET.
AND THEN AS WE COORDINATED WITH THE COMMUNITY, UM, IT, IT CHANGED.
SOME OF 'EM ARE DOWN TO FIVE FOOT SIDEWALKS AND SOME OF 'EM ARE STAYED AT EIGHT FEET OR WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE STILL AT 10 FEET.
SO THAT WAS A COMMUNICATION EFFORT.
UM, THIS ONE, UM, WE EXPECT GOOD FOOT TRAFFIC.
THERE'S A LOT OF HOMES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.
UM, AND SO THAT WAS THERE, THERE WAS SOME CONSIDERATIONS THERE.
BUT AS FAR AS, UM, MOVING IN AND OUTTA THE RIGHT OF WAY, THAT WAS WHAT WAS DETERMINED WAS FEASIBLE, WAS EIGHT FOOT.
ANYBODY ELSE? THE ONLY THING I WANT TO, JUST TO GO WITH WHAT TAB SAID, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A WHILE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS KIND OF INPUT.
HOW ARE WE GETTING THIS INPUT NOW ON SALEM ROAD? AND MY REAL QUESTION IS, ARE THERE OTHER ROADS LIKE SALEM THAT
[01:55:01]
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THAT WE HAVEN'T CONFRONTED YET? SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO HAVING MET ALL OF OUR, UM, WHAT WE SET OUT WOULD HAVE TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS AT ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, IF WE MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO LEFT REMAINING.BUT FOR THE MOST PART, UM, WE SAID WE WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT.
AND SINCE ONCE WE HAVE IT MORE DEVELOPED AND WE'VE HIT THAT MARKER, SO, UM, WE'VE PUT THE WORD OUT IN ALL OF OUR OTHER FORMATS THAT WE HAVE AS FAR AS PUTTING PRESS OUT AND COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE ON THE REASONING WE'RE HEARING IT NOW VERSUS OTHER TIMES, BUT THAT'S BEEN CONSTANT THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.
AND ANY OTHER COUNCILPERSON WELL CAN WE HEAR FROM MR. CHAQUEZ TO THAT ANSWER? WHY ARE YOU, WHY ARE YOU HEARING IT NOW? AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT A YEAR AGO, MR. YEP, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
THIS IS WHAT OCTOBER, I THINK IT WAS 29TH, 2024 IN THIS ROOM WAS THE SECOND PUBLIC MEETING.
I MADE COMMENTS ABOUT TREES, I MADE COMMENTS ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS I DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM STAFF.
AND SO IN MARCH OF 2025, I ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH, WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR, WITH JARED, WITH UM, CHAIRMAN HOWARD.
AND I POINTED OUT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
WE SAT IN THE ECR AND WE TALKED FOR LIKE OVER AN HOUR AND I EXPECTED SOMEBODY TO GET BACK TO ME ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
NOBODY GOT BACK TO ME AND I DIDN'T LEARN UNTIL I DIDN'T LEARN.
I'M SORRY TO GET A LITTLE EXCITED, BUT I DIDN'T LEARN UNTIL I SAW THIS.
UH, FOR FIRST READING THAT COUNCIL HAD A MEETING TO DISCUSS EAST WEST ISSUES IN JUNE OF 2025, ABOUT 90 DAYS AFTER THE MEETING THAT I ASKED FOR IN THE ECR.
AND NOBODY CALLED ME TO TELL ME YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.
AND SO I SAT DOWN AND I LOOKED, I WATCHED THE VIDEO WHEN I HEARD ABOUT IT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL OF THE PATHWAYS.
AND THEN THERE WAS A A, THERE WAS AN ANALYSIS, KIND OF A SUMMARY ANALYSIS IN THE BACKUP OF THE EAST VERSUS WEST ISSUE.
NOT A REAL IN-DEPTH INVOLVED DISCUSSION, BUT THERE WAS A TABLE, I DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME TONIGHT, BUT THERE WAS A TABLE OF ISSUES AND EXPENSES AND THE ANTICIPATED ADDITIONAL COST OF PUTTING THE SIDEWALK ON THE WHOLE SIDEWALK, THE WHOLE SIDEWALK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WAS LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS DIFFERENCE.
THAT DISCUSSION WAS VERY, VERY BRIEF.
IT WAS AT THE END, 'CAUSE I THINK CHAIRMAN HOWARD ACTUALLY SAID, LET'S TALK ABOUT EAST WEST FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
THAT'S WHY YOU DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE NOBODY CALLED ME AFTER I HAD A MEETING AT MY REQUEST IN THAT CONFERENCE ROOM TO TALK ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO.
SO YOU DIDN'T MAKE THAT MEETING IN THE ECR THEN I MADE THE, I HAD THE MEETING IN THE ECR.
HOW DO WE JUST FOR MR. MOORE, HOW DO WE AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE? HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE AVOID IT? YEAH, I MEAN, I MEAN HERE WE ARE AT THE 11TH HOUR, WE'RE READY TO MAKE A VOTE.
WELL I THINK, I BELIEVE WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AND I'M, WE'RE GETTING INTO DISCUSSION BUT I BELIEVE WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AFTER THAT MEETING.
DID WE NOT? YEAH, 90 DAYS AFTER IN JUNE OF 2025.
OKAY, SO YOU TOLD ME TO TELL ME ABOUT IT.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE PLANS.
I WENT, I WOULD GO TO THE WEBSITE, I'D GO TO THE PENNY.COM, BEAUFORT PENNY.COM TO SEE WHAT THE STORY WAS ON SALEM ROAD.
AND ALL I WOULD SEE WAS THE, THAT SKETCH THAT I SHOWED YOU WITH CARS AND PEDESTRIANS AND IT WOULD SAY INDESIGN.
NO PLANS, NO LINK TO PLANS, NO DISCUSSION ABOUT PLANS.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE PLANS EXISTED UNTIL AFTER FIRST READING TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN I ASKED ABOUT 'EM.
SO MR. KEVIN, I'M NOT HERE TO GET DO CONFRONTATIONAL THINGS.
I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT NUMBER ONE, I THINK WE GET TREMENDOUS FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY LIKE MISS LAMAR.
AND ALSO THAT TO ME IS PHENOMENAL.
MY THING IS HOW DO WE DO WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO SO WE DON'T COME HERE AGAIN AND DO THIS.
ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL JOE? UM, I'M HEARING THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON SALEM ROAD ONE.
UM, AND THAT THERE IS A COST TO MOVE IT ENTIRELY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE OPEN LAND.
ALTHOUGH YOU SAID THERE ARE ELECTRIC LINES THAT ARE PROBLEMATIC THERE.
UM, I CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA ACCOMMODATE, ALICE SAID PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THIS PATHWAY.
[02:00:01]
THERE ARE LOTS OF TREES ON THE ONE SIDE.THERE LOOKS TO BE OPEN LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE.
IS THERE A DOLLAR FIGURE THAT WE CAN OBTAIN AS TO IF WE MOVED IT ENTIRELY OVER THERE, THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA COST.
AND CAN WE DO THAT WITHIN THE 2018
UM, I MEAN IT WOULD BE THE SAME PLUS THE WHATEVER ANY INCREASED COSTS ARE FROM THERE.
BUT THAT WAS EVALUATED A YEAR AGO AND THERE WAS AN A SUBSTANTIAL COST DIFFERENCE TO BE ON THE EITHER OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
AND IF, IF, IF WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD THAT WAY, IS THERE MONEY IN THE 2018 REFERENDUM TO DO THAT? OR DO WE NOW HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE WITH SOME OTHER PROJECT? YES.
SO IN ALSO IN THAT SAME 20, 25 TIME PERIOD, WE CAME BACK TO COUNCIL.
UM, THAT WAS THE 2024 DIDN'T PASS, REFERENDUM DIDN'T PASS.
AND WE BASICALLY HAD TO CUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS OR SHORTEN SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND WE BASICALLY GOT IT DOWN TO THE DOLLAR MARK.
IS THERE TIME, I KNOW YOU SAID THE RIGHT OF WAY CAN TAKE OBVIOUSLY MONTHS TO LONGER.
IS THERE A TIME BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC OUT THERE? WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, UM, YOU'RE KIND OF LIMITED ON DESIGN.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY DOING MUCH DESIGN WORK.
SO THE PLANS ARE SITTING KIND OF IDLE DURING THE RIGHT OF WAY PHASE.
I I THINK THE ONE POINT HE REALLY MADE THAT, THAT STRUCK ME IS IF IF POLETE THE DEVELOPER IS ABOUT TO TURN OVER THE HOA TO THE ACTUAL HOMEOWNERS, THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GO SHARE THIS WITH THEM AND SO THAT THEY CAN, WHAT WE DID CHIME ON THE POOLE TRACK WAS THE POOLE TRACK IS A MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND HAD SIDEWALK PLANNED IN FRONT OF THEIR PARCEL PER THE DEVELOPMENT ON CITY OF BEAUFORT.
SO WE COORDINATED THEIR PLAN, DEVELOPED SIDEWALK WITH OUR PLAN TO MAKE IT FIT THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO ALTHOUGH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THE HOA WASN'T ESTABLISHED, THE COMMUNITY WAS BEING REPRESENTED BY THE DEVELOPER AS COORDINATED WITH THE CITY OF BUFORT.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD NEVER SAY THE HOA WAS NOT DESIGNED BECAUSE FOR EXAMPLE, I'M IN ONE, PULTE HAS THREE VOTES, THE RESIDENTS HAVE TWO.
SO THE HOA I'M SURE IS AWARE THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM.
I THINK IT'S A LITTLE LATE TO DERAIL IT AT THIS POINT.
AND AGAIN, WE ARE HYPER CRITICIZED FOR NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THESE PROJECTS.
ANYBODY ELSE? THEY DON'T WANT A SIDEWALK.
I GOT SOME SIDEWALKS AND BLUFF TONIGHT.
I MEAN IF THEY DON'T WANT IT, WE'LL TAKE IT AWAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT WAS THE POINT I GOT.
I GOT A SIDEWALK THAT, I GOT AN AREA THAT THREE PEOPLE GOT HIT IN THE LAST YEAR THAT HAS NO SIDEWALK.
WHY DON'T YOU DO A ROLL CALL PLEASE, MS. BROCK.
'CAUSE I SENSE THERE MIGHT NOT BE AGREEMENT ON THIS ONE.
ALL THIS WILL BE TO AUTHORIZE THE, UM, ORDINANCE AS THIS WITH NO AMENDMENTS, CORRECT? NOPE.
EXCEPT WE WERE PROMISED MORE DETAIL.
DETAILED PLANS FOR THIRD READING.
OKAY, BUT THIS IS TO PASS SECOND READING.
I'M GONNA SAY YES FOR TO GET THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR NEXT, UH, TIME TOGETHER.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
SO THE ORDINANCE IS STANDING AND IT WILL GO TO THIRD READING NEXT TIME.
[13.a. 2026/47: An Ordinance authorizing the County Administrator to execute an Electric Line Easement with Dominion Energy on the property known as Pocotaligo Preserve (TMS R710 012 000 0001 0000 and R710 012 000 0072 0000). ]
RIGHT, ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING.SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE PUBLIC HEARS ABOUT THESE 2026 SLASH 47 IS AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE AN ELECTRIC LINE EASEMENT WITH DOMINION ENERGY ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS POCO.
DID I GET THAT RIGHT? ALICA? SHE TOLD ME TO SAY POCO KNOWS POGO.
AND THAT'S TMSR 7 10 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 ZEROS AND THE REST OF THEM.
SO THIS WAS APPROVED, UH, BY A VOTE OF SEVEN ZERO AT NATURAL RESOURCES.
[02:05:01]
AND I'D LIKE A MOTION FOR THIS ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING.UH, WELL I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO DUSTIN IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
AND THEN MR. PASSMAN WILL TAKE SECOND.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND IT'S DULY SECONDED.
MR. KIDD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO EXPLAIN THIS FOR THE PUBLIC? THIS IS A FIRST READING WOULD INDEED.
UM, SO THIS IS, UH, UH, POCO ALGO PRESERVE IS ONE OF OUR, UM, PASSIVE PARK PROPERTIES THAT LAND PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT OVERSEAS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, UM, A PHASE TWO HYDROLOGY BIDDING PERIOD FOR THE PROJECT OUT THERE.
UM, PART OF OUR LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THAT PROPERTY.
UM, THIS ISSUE IS REALLY DUE TO DOMINION, HAS A HIGH TRANSMISSION LINE COMING DOWN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE FIELDS OUT THERE.
PART OF THE FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO INVOLVES, UM, SCHEDULED, PRESCRIBED CONTROLLED BURNS.
UM, AND SO DOMINION WASN'T TOO KEEN ON US DOING CONTROLLED BURNS DIRECTLY UNDER THEIR VERY HIGH VOLTAGE LINES OUT THERE.
SO WE DISCUSSED WITH THEM AND THEY AGREED TO MOVE THE LINES FROM THAT AREA SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE OUR FOREST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OUT THERE WITHOUT ANY POTENTIAL ILL EFFECTS WITH THEIR LINES.
UM, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING POTENTIAL OF MOVING LINES UNDERGROUND.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS CONTEMPLATED WITH THIS TRANSACTION TO HANDLE MOVEMENTS OF ONE SPECIFIC LINE FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON.
UM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A LARGER CONVERSATION, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ABOUT, UM, THIS PROPERTY AND, AND THIS PROPOSAL.
OH, IT IS FULLY FUNDED BY DOMINION AND IMPORTANT TO ADD, WE ARE PAYING NOTHING FOR THIS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANYBODY COMMENT? I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, HOW MANY FEET ARE WE TALKING THAT THIS LINE'S GETTING MOVED? UM, SO YOU'LL SEE IF YOU SEE, UM, THE EXHIBIT TO THE EASEMENT AGREEMENT.
I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT FEET MEASUREMENT FOR YOU, BUT IT'S, IT'S ACROSS, IT RUNS DOWN THE FIELD.
IT IS MOVING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF A ROAD THAT WE HAVE AND IT KIND OF TRACKS THE, THE DIRT ROAD THAT RUNS THROUGH THE PROPERTY.
SO BALL PARKING IT, UM, A FEW HUNDRED FEET.
I I MEAN, AND IT'S RECONFIGURED.
THERE'S A LINE THAT'S GONNA BE TAKEN UP AND THEN IT'S GONNA BE REPLANTED AND ULTIMATELY CONNECTED, YOU'LL SEE ON THE DRAWING TO INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AND IT'S GONNA MEET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POND OVER THERE.
AND THE REST OF IT IS STILL ABOVE GROUND AS FAR AS I'M AWARE.
YES, ALL THOSE ARE ABOVE GROUND.
I MEAN, SHE MAKES A VALID POINT TO BE HONEST.
UM, ABOUT LINES GOING UNDERGROUND.
I THINK THAT IS, SHOULD BE OUR EXAMPLE FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT THIS IS JUST MOVING LINES IN A SPECIFIC AREA AND NOT RERUNNING AN ENTIRELY ENTIRELY NEW LINE OR NEW LINE TO DEVELOPMENT.
I, I COULD SEE HOW IT MAKES SENSE FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH WHAT SHE SAID IN THAT CONTRACT, IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEGOTIATE BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THAT FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, IT, IT DOES PROTECT THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA.
SO I I, I GET THE LOGIC ON THIS ONE, IT BEING SUCH A SMALL PORTION, BUT IF THAT IS A STANDARD WE COULD UPHOLD, THAT'S SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST.
DO WE REQUIRE DOMINION TO BURY THEIR LINES NOW? I MEAN, I KNOW WE HAVE IT IN OUR DEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU DON'T SEE IT ALL THROUGH BLUFF IN AND SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE REQUIRE.
UH, MY, MY ENGINEERING FRIENDS ARE TELLING ME NOW IT'S FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
USUALLY THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE ALL BURIED.
MR. BETH? I THINK TOM, YOU WANT ME TO PLEASE? OKAY.
YEAH, I, I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BRING THIS UP AS WELL.
UM, THIS CAME UP AND CHAT WITH COUNCIL AND IS THERE ANY WAY YOU CAN GO BACK AND ASK THEM WHAT IT WOULD BEFORE WE MAKE ANY AMENDMENTS? YOU KNOW, HERE THIS IS ORDINANCE FOR FIRST READING.
CAN YOU GO ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IT? I, I THINK WE COULD CERTAINLY ASK.
I THINK THAT WOULD KIND OF DEPEND ON THEIR, THEIR LARGER, UM, PLANS AND GOALS FOR THE AREA.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF LEVERAGE HERE, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY ASK.
YEAH, I MEAN, YEAH, NEVER HURTS TO ASK.
AS FAR AS UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, SO THEIR STANDARD IS, IS KIND OF LIKE DOT.
THEY HAVE A STANDARD, THEIR STANDARD IS OVERHEAD POWER.
SO INSIDE THE MUNICIPALITIES THEY HAVE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS AND INSIDE THOSE FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS THEY HAVE OIP AGREEMENTS.
SO OTHER WORK, I FORGET EXACTLY WHAT IT STANDS FOR.
BUT ANYHOW, THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S A COMMUNITY FUND HALF FROM THE POWER AND HALF FROM THE MUNICIPALITY, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN DO UNDERGROUND AND UTILITIES.
AND THAT'S HOW BOUNDARY STREET WAS PAID FOR, HOW OTHER PROJECTS ARE PAID FOR.
BUT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, WE DON'T HAVE THAT SAME FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH, WITH THE POWER COMPANIES.
SO IF WE DO IT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA LIFT THE FINGER.
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO SAY YES TO AND WE WOULD FUND IT.
THAT'S HOW I, I DO HAVE TO SAY THOUGH IS THE, IS THEIR PROTOCOL FOR OVERHEAD THE REASON A STRONG WIND COMES THROUGH AND I HAVE POWER GO OUT CONSTANTLY? YES.
BUT THEY, THEY ALSO IDENTIFY WHERE THAT THAT IS, THAT'S THEIR STANDARD.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GREATER OR WE SHOULD LIKE IT, BUT THAT'S, SO IF YOU WANT SOMETHING MORE THAN STANDARD THAT THEN YOU END UP PAYING FOR IT.
I MEAN, CAN WE TALK ABOUT IT? I MEAN, 'CAUSE THAT, YOU
[02:10:01]
KNOW, RIGHT NEXT TO A PRESERVE.SO I MEAN, CAN WE ASK THEM, DO YOU NEED A MOTION TO DO THAT OR JUST I DON'T THINK WE NEED DIRECT STAFF.
NEXT, I THINK WE, IS THERE ANY URGENCY TO THIS FOR DOMINION? I I DON'T.
IF YOU DEFER TO THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN TWO WEEKS LATER IS THE NEXT ONE AND TWO WEEKS.
I THINK WE CAN, I THINK WE HAVE FIRST READING.
I THINK WE CAN HAVE FIRST READING.
YEAH, LET ME, UH, I THINK DOMINION IS LOOKING AT THIS AS ONE OF THEIR MAJOR THOROUGHFARE BRINGING ELECTRICITY AND, UM, THEY DO HAVE THE, UM, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE LINES NOW ON THE PROPERTY THAT EXISTS.
I THINK WE ARE ASKING THEM TO MOVE IT TO, UM, UM, AT THIS TIME.
SO IT WAS REALLY US ASKING THEM TO MOVE IT AND THEY AGREED TO DO SO.
IT, IT WAS A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ARRANGEMENT, I WOULD SAY THEY, THEY DO WANT TO CONNECT IT TO THEIR OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AREA AND IT BENEFITED BOTH PARTIES TO DO THAT.
AND YES, SO I, I'M NOT AWARE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AN IMMINENT, UM, YOU KNOW, MANAGEMENT PRACTICE THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THAT COMING UP.
BUT I, I KNOW IT'S A, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT PRIORITY FOR THEM.
I DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, ON MAIN STREET, REBAR ROAD, UM, UNDERGROUND UTILITY WAS BEING DISCUSSED AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE COSTS THAT WAS SORT OF PROHIBITIVE.
UH, SO I KNOW IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT IS IDEAL TO HAVE, HOWEVER, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
MR. HALBERT, DID YOU WANNA WEIGH IN ON THAT? YEAH.
IT MAY BE BENEFICIAL TO, UH, SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH THE POWER COMPANIES, WITH THE CHAIR, THE ADMINISTRATOR, UH, AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO MEET WITH THE, UH, ENERGY, UH, COMPANIES AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS IF THAT'S THE WAY COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE AS FAR AS BEARING POWER LINES.
BUT AS EVERYBODY HAS SAID, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
I KNOW WHEN I WAS, UH, THE TOWN OF TRINITY HILTON HEAD, OUR FRANCHISE FEE WENT TO PAY FOR BEARING THE LINES.
UH, THERE WITH A FRANCHISE FEE TO THE, OH, GO AHEAD MR. REEDS.
UM, 2016 STORM, MATTHEW CAUSED A, A MAJOR BUNCH OF DAMAGE AND THEY DECIDED AT THAT POINT TO GET THINGS BURIED.
AND TO YOUR POINT, STORM IN 2019 CAME ALONG, DURIAN HIT AND WE WERE UP THE NEXT, AT SIX 30 THAT MORNING.
I HEARD MAYOR MCCANN TALK ABOUT HOW IT WAS A HORRIBLE STORM, BUT WE DIDN'T LOSE ANY POWER OR WE LOST VERY LITTLE BECAUSE THINGS WERE BURIED.
I THINK WE TAP INTO WHAT WE LEARNED ON HILTON HEAD AND GO TO WHAT DAVID SAID IS JUST ASK, I MEAN, WHAT'S THE HARM? AND IF WE HAVE A GOOD COOPERATION WITH DOMINION, WHY WOULDN'T WE GET SOME SPEAK FOR US, MR. LAWSON PARTNERSHIP.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I MEAN, WE COULD CERTAINLY ASK ANYTHING, MR. LAWSON.
BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS LINE IS NOT GONNA BE BURIED BEFORE AND NOT BE BURIED AFTER THIS CERTAIN EASEMENT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GIVING.
SO THERE'S A PRACTICALITY, BUT, UM, AS LAMARCUS SAID IT FOR LONG TERM USE, BUT IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE WHEN YOU START TRYING TO GO THROUGH PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS AND UNDER SIDEWALKS AND AROUND OTHER UTILITIES THAT IT, IT BECOMES A VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE, UH, ISSUE IF IT'S NOT DONE DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT WHENEVER IT'S FIRST PUT IN.
AND SO I WOULD ASK COUNSEL, LET'S TAKE OUR, UM, ATTORNEY'S, UM, SUGGESTION AND SCHEDULE A MEETING, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE THIS FORWARD TONIGHT FOR FIRST READING AND THEN GET THAT INFORMATION COMING AT AT THE NEXT MEETING.
AND BY THE WAY, JUST AS A, I'M JUST GONNA THROW THIS OUT THERE, TS CONDUCTOR, WHICH LANDED IN JASPER COUNTY, I HEARD THEIR SPIEL.
THEY FORTIFY THE OVERHEAD LINES SO THEY DON'T GO DOWN IN A STORM.
I MEAN, IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE, BUT AGAIN, THE MAN WAS RIGHT UP FRONT SAYING VERY EXPENSIVE, AND THERE'S NO WAY DOMINION'S GONNA TAKE DOWN LINES AND PUT THESE NEW TS CONDUCTORS, BUT THEY HAVE A, A METHOD.
I HATE TO TELL YOU HAVE WEATHER ALWAYS WINS.
I, I I MOVE THAT WE, UH, WE APPROVE THIS ON FIRST READING.
SO ANYBODY ELSE? OTHERWISE, LET'S, UH, CAN WE, LET'S RAISE OUR HAND IF YOU APPROVE THIS OR THIS, UH, ORDINANCE OF FIRST READING.
[13.b. 2026/48: An Ordinance amending the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances, Chapter74 - Building and Building Regulations, Section 74-64, Adoption of Building Codes (Amends Code of Ordinances to adopt the 2024 State Mandated Code Editions).]
OKAY, WE HAVE ONE MORE.ORDINANCE 2026 SLASH 48 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 74, BUILDING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS SE SECTION 74 DASH 64 ADOPTION OF BUILDING CODES.
IT AMENDS A CODE OF ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE 2024 STATE MANDATED CODED ADDITIONS, AND IT WENT THROUGH NATURAL RESOURCE SEVEN ZERO ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
[02:15:01]
YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THIS ONE TOO.I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF STANDING IN FROM MR. BRANTLEY TONIGHT.
UM, THIS IS THE MA STATE MANDATED UPDATE TO THE CODES THAT WE DO PERIODICALLY.
UM, WE HAVE IT ON THIS TIMELINE TO GET IT FINISHED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, I, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET DEEP INTO THE TECHNICAL WEEDS OF THE BUILDING CODES, MR. BRANTLEY WILL BE HERE AT SECOND READING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS ONE? THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF IN THE BACKUP ON THIS ONE.
UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MR. BRANTLEY COMING ON SECOND READING.
[14.a. 2026/43: A Resolution authorizing the County Administrator to enter into a License Agreement with the State of South Carolina for the repair of a “Flywheel” artifact to be installed and displayed at Fort Fremont Preserve. ]
THIS IS A RESOLUTION 2026 SLASH 43 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZED IN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE REPAIR OF A FLYWHEEL.THERE'S A PICTURE OF IT IN OUR BACKUP ARTIFACT TO BE INSTALLED AND DISPLAYED AT THE FORT FREMONT PRESERVE.
UM, ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR NO QUESTION.
THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS THAT, UM, A, AN AGREEMENT, A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT I'M MAKING.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? FLYING? IT'S UH, SO IT'S A REALLY COOL ARTIFACT THAT THEY FOUND, UM, OUT AT FORT FREMONT ON THE BEACH, MEANING THAT IT IS STATE PROPERTY, SO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE STATE STATE, BUT IT, THEY USED IT TO, IT'S GOT WHEELS ON EACH SIDE AND THEY USED IT TO TRANSPORT THINGS BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE OPERATIONAL FORT.
THE PICTURE IN THE BACKUP MATERIALS AND THEN WE'RE FOUND IT GOING TO REPAIR IT.
SO THEY WANNA REPAIR IT AND DISPLAY IT AT THE FORT SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN.
HOW MUCH IS IT GONNA COST? UM, IT, WE'VE GOT IT COVERED.
I BELIEVE IT'S, IT'S NOT, HE GOT IT COVERED.
I THINK THE FORD IS HOW MUCH IS COVERED? YEAH.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT COST FIGURE OFFHAND, BUT IT IS IN THE BACK MATERIAL.
THINK THE FRIENDS OF FORD FREMONT IS PAYING FOR IT.
I THINK THEY'RE HELPING WITH IT.
THEY'RE RAISING THE FUNDS FOR IT AND UM, IT WAS ACTUALLY WASHED UP ON THE BEACH.
SO THAT WAS AMAZING THERE TO SEE.
ALRIGHT, WE NEED A SHOW OF HANDS.
ALL IN FAVOR IF IT'S RESOLUTION AND THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
AND WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED.