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MEETING OF MONDAY,[1. CALL TO ORDER: Alice Howard, Chair]
NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.TO ORDER, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNTIL INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY.
CAUCUS MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
TO ORDER, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM, IT WAS.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A, A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, WHICH I WILL READ THROUGH IT.
IT IS CAUCUS MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
TO ORDER, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A, UM, MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
CAUCUS MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
TO ORDER, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM, IT WAS.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A, UM, MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
CAUCUS MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
TO ORDER, PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM, IT WAS.
FOCUS MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
THE ORDER PLEASE RISE FOR MEETING LEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MEETING OF MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2026.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
OKAY, NOW WE GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION AS AMENDED.
UM, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AS AMENDED.
BY SHOW OF HANDS? ALL RIGHT, AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
ALL RIGHT, UM, WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE THE, UM, APPLICANT FOR FIVE MINUTES.
AND DO YOU HAVE A TIMER, PLEASE? I'M SETTING YOU UP JUST A MINUTE.
UH, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UM, CHAIRWOMAN HOWARD, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR TABERNICK, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU.
AGAIN, MY NAME'S ELVIO TROPIANO.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE ASKED ME PUBLICLY, HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT IF THERE'S A SETTLEMENT OFFER ON THE TABLE, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT'S IN IT.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT? WHO TOLD YOU THAT? COUNCILMAN MCKELLEN, LET HIM SPEAK, PLEASE.
SORRY? WAIT TILL HE PRESENTS AND THEN YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
WELL, HE SAID SEVERAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S LET HI - I LIKE TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
LET'S BE POLITE, LET HIM PRESENT, AND THEN YOU CAN ASK.
I CAN ASK HIM LATER WHEN HE'S FINISHED.
LET ME BE CLEAR WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT.
THIS IS A PLAIN SUMMARY OF WHAT THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION WILL MEAN FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE HIGH LEVEL TERMS, THE ONES THAT AFFECT, AFFECT THE PUBLIC, NOTHING MORE.
WHAT IT IS NOT, IT IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.
IT IS NOT A READING OF THE AGREEMENT ITSELF.
IT IS NOT A NEGOTIATION IN PUBLIC THAT BELONGS WITH COUNCIL AND ITS LEGAL TEAM OUT OF THIS MICROPHONE.
THIS HAS NOT CHANGED THE CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY.
THE HIGH LEVEL TERMS, HERE THEY ARE.
NO MORE TAXPAYER MONEY IS SPENT ON THIS SINGULAR PROPERTY.
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BACK TO THE COUNTY.THAT IS THE REIMBURSEMENT OF WHAT THE COUNTY TAXPAYER HAS SPENT ON LEGAL EXPENSES ON THIS PROPERTY TO DATE.
THAT IS MONEY DIRECTLY BACK TO THE TAXPAYER.
IF ANYONE SUES OVER THIS RESOLUTION AND/OR THE AMENDMENT, AND OVER THE AMENDMENT, PINE ISLAND DEFENDS THE COUNTY AND DEFENDS THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, THE COUNTY'S OFFICERS AND ITS EMPLOYEES AND PAYS FOR IT.
ZERO TAXPAYER DOLLARS SPENT GOING FORWARD.
THE PROPOSAL RESTRICTS IT TO LESS, TO 46% LESS THAN WHAT'S ALLOWED BY WRIGHT.
FIVE, DOCKS COME DOWN, 14 TOTAL BY RECORDED COVENANT ON ALMOST EIGHT MILES OF SHORELINE.
SIX, ADVANCE WASTEWATER TREATMENT ON EVERY HOME WITH MARSH AND WATER FRONTAGE.
THE STANDARDS OF THE CODE DO NOT APPLY THIS KIND OF STANDARD TODAY.
THERE'S NO PRECEDENT, PRECEDENT, NO OBLIGATION TO ANY OTHER LANDOWNER.
$3,474,963 TO THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST.
THIS MATCHES THE COUNTY DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR ON ITS COMMITMENT FOR 10 YEARS THROUGHOUT ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
NOT ONE ISLAND, NOT ONE DISTRICT, EVERY DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY ALL OF YOU.
FULL AMOUNT IS COMMITTED TO, TO WHEN COUNCIL ENACTS THE AMENDMENT.
IT'S NOT CONTINGENT ON BUILDING ANYTHING AND THE HOUSING TRUST DECK DIRECTS IT WHEREVER THE NEED IS GREATEST.
I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR FOUR YEARS.
THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, MY NEIGHBORS.
IT'LL CREATE F - TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE HOUSING TRUST'S ABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.
TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, NURSER - NURSES, WORKERS, OUR ELDERLY, OUR VETERANS ARE HOMEOWNERS IN RURAL AREAS IN NEED OF HOME REPAIR DOLLARS, THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT.
IT'LL TRANSFORM LIVES AND TAKE, AGAIN, WHAT HAS BEEN A TALKING POINT TO REALITY IMMEDIATELY.
WHAT THIS DOES NOT DO, DOES NOT REMOVE THE CPO FROM ST.
IT'S REMOVED FROM THIS PROPERTY ONLY.
STAYS IN FORCE AND GOVERNS, UH, JUST AS IT DOES TODAY.
IT DOES NOT ASK THE COUNTY TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S CONTRARY TO LAW.
COUNCIL HAS THE POWER TO DO, TO ENACT LAWS, MODIFY ZONING MAPS AND DISPOSE OF LITIGATION, AND IT DOES NOT BIND ANY FUTURE COUNSEL.
WHAT IT DOES DO, PROTECTS ALL THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY.
IT ALLOWS FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND IT PROMPTLY DISPOSES OF, OF MATTERS OF THE COUNTY.
PINE ISLAND NEVER RETURNS TO THESE CHAMBERS AGAIN.
DOES ANYONE HAVE, BRIEFLY, ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MR. ELVIO? NO? THANK YOU.
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 1 of 2)]
YOUR HONOR.I NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND A - SO MOVED.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? DO YOU HAVE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
SIR? YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE LIST AGAIN? OKAY.
UM, A IS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 - 40-70A4, INVESTIGATIVE PROCEEDINGS REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT UPDATE FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF.
B IS UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 30 - 4-70A1 TO ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS, INCIDENT TO EMPLOYMENT, APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINE, OR RELEASE OF A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY, AND C, UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODES-30-470A2, LEGAL ADVICE RELATED TO THE DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PENDING LITIGATION OR OTHER MATTERS COVERED BY ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, THAT'S PINE ISLAND PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC, AND PINE ISLAND GC, LLC VERSUS BEAUFORT COUNTY.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAD A MOTION AND A SECOND.
UM, BY SHOW OF HANDS, CAN WE...
ALL RIGHT, AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THERE MAY NOT BE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE WERE STILL IN RECESS FROM CAUCUS.
AND WE NEED TO RECONVENE THAT MEETING IN THE - AND I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ARE WE ADJOURNING THIS? I'LL SECOND.
[6. EXECUTIVE SESSION (Part 2 of 2)]
ALL IN FAVOR OF GOING BACK, GOING BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE WE HAD RECESSED.WHAT ARE WE GOING BACK THERE FOR?
THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE COMING OUT OF THIS.
THE REGULAR MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
[7. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]
COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.DO I HAVE A MOTION? YES, I HAVE A MOTION.
UH, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY VERSUS PINE ISLAND GOLF, LLC AND PINE ISLAND PROPERTIES.
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NOT ACCEPT THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM PINE ISLAND GOLF LLC AND THAT WE NOT AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME.WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, UH, JUST WHEN IT'S CLEAR THIS IS GOING TO COURT AND IT'S GONNA GO TO TRIAL.
NO MATTER HOW THAT GOES, THERE ARE GONNA BE FEES ASSESSED WITH IT.
I WOULD LIKE OUR COUNSEL TO START LOOKING AT OPTIONS OF HOW THOSE FEES ARE GONNA BE PAID BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU IF IT'S GONNA GO ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY, YOU'RE GONNA RUN INTO A LOT OF ISSUES WITH COUNTY MEM - COUNTY MEMBERS.
I WILL FIGHT FOR BLUFFTON TO NOT PAY THIS WHEN WE'VE HAD OPTIONS TO SETTLE FOR YEARS AND THIS IS GONNA COST MILLIONS.
SO I'M JUST MAKING YOU GUYS AWARE OF THAT NOW SO NOBODY'S CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'D LIKE TO JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING IS - YES, MA'AM.
MY CONSTITUENTS HEARD MR. TROPIANO, UH, M - COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I THINK IT WAS, AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW IF HE, THEY GO TO COURT, IT WOULD BE LIKE A $25 MILLION MINIMUM, $25 MILLION MINIMUM.
AND I HAD QUITE A FEW CONSTITUENTS THAT, THAT WATCHED THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT NUMBER.
SO I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE WHOLE HISTORY AND THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.
IF THIS GOES TO COURT, WE LOSE.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS? CAN I JUST ADDRESS THE FIRST COMMENT FROM MR. CUNNINGHAM? YES.
UM, WE HAVE INQUIRED AND CONFIRMED WITH THE INSURANCE RESERVE FUND THAT THEY WILL PAY THE COUNTY'S LEGAL FEES AS FAR AS THE COST FOR THE TRIAL.
UH, IT'S THE DAMAGES THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, OBVIOUSLY.
DAMAGES OF 25 TO 30 MILLION DOLLARS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE? EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE VOTING? CAN I READ IT AGAIN? SURE.
SHE SAID WE'RE ALL TIRED, YOU MIGH AS WELL READ IT.
BEAUFORT COUNTY VERSUS PINE ISLAND GOLF LLC, PINE ISLAND PROPERTIES LLC.
I MOVE COUNSEL NOT ACCEPT THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OFFER AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION FROM PINE ISLAND GOLF LLC AND THAT WE NOT AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AT THIS TIME.
WE NEED A, WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE, MA'AM.
COUNCILMAN GLOVER SECONDED IT.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER PASSIMENT? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? STILL A NO.
UM, AND NOW I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS EXEC- EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.