* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. EVENING. I'D LIKE [00:00:01] TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO NOVEMBER 9TH, MONDAY, UH, COUN - REGULAR COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. UH, PLEASE RISE, UM, COUNCILMAN GOWEN WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, JUSTICE FOR ALL. DEAR WISE AND LOVING GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS. WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE ITSELF AND FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH GIVEN US TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES. WE ASK THAT AS A BODY, WE PROMOTE PEACE, ORDER, AND JUSTICE, AND THAT YOU GRACIOUSLY GRANT US THE WISDOM TO GOVERN AMID THE CONFLICTING INTERESTS AND ISSUES OF OUR TIMES, TO HAVE A SENSE OF THE TRUE NEEDS OF OUR CITIZENS, TO HAVE A KEEN THIRST FOR JUSTICE, TO UNDERSTAND AND TO CLEARLY SEE WHAT IS GOOD, FITTING, AND APPROPRIATE, TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN HARMONY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS HONEST DISAGREEMENT, AND TO HAVE PEACEFUL, A PERSONAL PEACE IN OUR LIVES AND JOY IN OUR TASKS. FINALLY, PLEASE HELP US TO ENSURE OUR DELIBERATIONS HERE TONIGHT BENEFIT THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR EXTENDED COMMUNITY. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. MS. BROCK, THIS MEETING WAS ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT? YES, MA'AM, IT WAS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. [4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA] AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. SO MOVE. SECOND IT. COUNCILMAN DAWSON AND VICE CHAIR. BY SHOW OF HANDS, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE THE MINUTES FROM COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 12TH, 10, UH, 2026. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? A MOTION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN BROWN. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. I THINK I HEARD COUNCILMAN LAWSON. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THOSE MINUTES BY SHOW OF HANDS. AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. [6. PROCLAMATION] WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION TONIGHT. I'D LIKE TO READ IT. THIS IS IN, UM, RECOGNIZING OPERATION GREEN LIGHT. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO ACCEPT THAT PROCLAMATION? OH, GOOD. DR. FURMAN. I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE MARRIED TO A VETERAN E- EVEN THOUGH HE WAS AIR FORCE VETERAN. NOT LIKE YOURSELF AS A MARINE VETERAN, BUT I'D LIKE TO READ THIS. UM, I THINK ALL OF US ARE RELATED TO OR NO VETERANS. UM, WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HAS GREAT RESPECT, ADMIRATION, AND THE MOST GRATITUDE FOR ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SELFISHLY SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND THIS COMMUNITY IN THE ARMED FORCES. AND WHEREAS BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL SEEKS TO HONOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE COUNTLESS SACRIFICES FOR FREEDOM BY PLACING THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, AND WHEREAS VETERANS CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THE AMERICAN LEGION, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, CIVIL SERVICE, AND BY FUNCTIONING AS THE COUNTY'S VETERAN SERVICES OFFICERS IN 29 STATES TO HELP F- FELLOW FORMER SERVICE MEMBERS ACCESS MORE THAN $52 BILLION IN FEDERAL HEALTH, DISABILITY AND COMPENSATION BENEFITS EACH YEAR. AND WHEREAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000 SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN COMMUNITIES ANNUALLY, AND WHEREAS STUDIES SHOW THAT 44 TO 72% OF SERVICE MEMBERS EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT STRESS DURING THEIR TRANSITION FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIAN LIFE, AND THOSE TRANSITIONING FROM ACTIVE DUTY ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE DURING THE FIRST YEAR FOLLOWING MILITARY SERVICE. AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ENCOURAGES ALL COUNTIES, PARISHES, AND BOROUGHS TO RECOGNIZE OPERATION GREEN LIGHT FOR VETERANS. NOW, THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL HEREBY DESIGNATES THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS A TIME TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICES OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND IN OBSERVANCE OF OPERATION GREEN LIGHT. BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL ENCOURAGES [00:05:01] ALL CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEANINGFUL TRADITION BY DISPLAYING GREEN LIGHTS IN THEIR HOMES OR BUSINESSES. AND AT HERE OUR COUNTY BUILDINGS ARE GONNA BE GREEN THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE PROFOUND SACRIFICES TO SAFEGUARD OUR FREEDOM. DATED THIS NINTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2026, ALICE G. HOWARD, CHAIR BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL. AND IF ALL THE VETERANS IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD STAND UP, PLEASE. MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU. AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, BUT ALSO FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. UM, NATCO HAS HAD THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE FOR FIVE YEARS. BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND THAT WAS DUE TO HANNAH, UH, MENTIONED IT TO ME, UH, WHEN I FIRST CAME ABOARD AND WE GOT RIGHT ON IT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND FOR ALL THE BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICES, IF YOU COULD PLEASE SHINE A LIGHT. A GREEN LIGHT SHOWS EVERY VETERAN THAT THEY ARE SEEN, THAT THEY'RE HEARD, AND THAT THEY'RE APPRECIATED. SO FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, IF WE COULD JUST APPRECIATE OUR VETERANS AND THEIR SACRIFICE, UM, THAT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SO TO ALL THE VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. HAPPY VETERANS DAY AND TO THE MARINES, URA. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AND THANK YOU AGAIN. OH, CAN I, CAN I HAVE ONE SAFE? JOHN ABNEY IS RETIRING, WHAT, THE THIRD TIME? HE'S LEAVING US, UH, DECEMBER 10TH IS HIS LAST DAY. WE WILL SORELY MISS HIM, BUT WE WANNA WISH HIM WELL. HE'S GONNA SPEND A COUPLE WEEKS IN SPAIN WITH HIS NEW GRANDBABY, SO. THANK YOU. YOU WANT JOHN. HEY, THANK YOU. [7. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT] UM, WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT. I THINK THEY... ARE THEY ALL IN? THERE YOU GO. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. YES, WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS, UM, FOR LONGEVITY RECOGNITIONS AND TWO RETIREMENTS. UM, SO THE FIRST PERSON I WANNA RECOGNIZE IS RENITA BERRY FROM... SHE'S A LABORATORY DIRECTOR WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FORENSIC SERVICES LAB WITH 25 YEARS, UM, EXPERIENCE. SO WITH 29 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE IN FORENSIC SCIENCE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING 25 WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY AND FOUR WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION. RENITA HAS DEMONSTRATED AN WAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. AS THE DIRECTOR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FORENSIC SERVICES LAB, SHE'S PROVIDED LEADERSHIP IN ADVANCING FORENSIC SERVICES, MAINTAINING NATIONAL ACCREDITATION STANDARDS AND FOSTERING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MENTORSHIP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION. I'VE BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OF COURSE, FOR 25 YEARS AND I HAVE NO REGRETS. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH THE, WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OF COURSE, AND ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT. OKAY. WE HAVE JENNIFER, UM, CICCARELLI, WHO'S THE SENIOR CREW CHIEF WITH EMS WITH 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. UM, JENNIFER BEGAN HER EMS CAREER WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY 25 YEARS AGO AS A NEW EMT AND WENT ON TO BECOME A PARAMEDIC. ALONG THE WAY, SHE HAS HELPED EDUCATE EMTS AND PARAMEDICS, SERVED AS A SWAT MEDIC AND SUPPORTED COMMUNITY SAFETY EFFORTS. JEN ALSO STEPPED UP DURING HER SUPERVISOR'S ABSENCE, TAKING ON ADDED RESPONSIBILITY AND KEEPING THINGS RUNNING SMOOTHLY. UM, HER DEPENDABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO HER TEAM ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU, JEN. THANK YOU. TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WAS GONNA DO, BUT ONCE I FIGURED IT OUT, I KINDA FOUND IT AND STUCK WITH IT. SO 25 YEARS LATER, HERE I AM LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS. [00:10:17] ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE MICHAEL CAPACHO - CAPAS- CAPASSONI. TRICKY. TRICKY TRICKY. UM, WITH EMS WITH 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE. MICHAEL BEGAN HIS EMS JOURNEY AS A HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEER, EARNING HIS FIRST EMT CERTIFICATION ON HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE. OVER THE, HIS 25 YEARS WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS, HE HAS SERVED IN SEVERAL ROLES AND NOW SERVES AS A PARAMEDIC FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, A RO- ROLE HE DESCRIBES AS HIS FAVORITE. UM, THROUGH HIS WORK AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING, MIKE HAS HELPED PREPARE GENERATIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS EMPLOYEES TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCIL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR THROUGHOUT MY CAREER TO SERVE THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. IS THAT THE NEXT GENERATION? I KNOW, THE NEXT GENERATION EMTS. UM, SO FINALLY WE HAVE WADE BISHOP, UM, AND HE HAS BEEN WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG NEXUS CARE AND HE HAS 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. SO WADE HAS MADE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FIELD OF PREVENTION. AND IN 2003, HE WAS HONORED WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION'S PREVENTION SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR. IN 2011, HE WAS SEC - SELECTED AS SOUTH CAROLINA'S NOMINEE FOR INTERNATIONAL PREVENTION PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. FOR 30 YEARS, HE HAS SERVES AS CHAIR OR CO-CHAIR OF SCAPPA CERTIFICATION PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND HAS SERVED ON THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS FOR CAPA AND HOPEFUL HORIZONS, AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERING WITH BOTH ORGANIZATIONS. SO CONGRATULATIONS, WADE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, OVER THE YEARS, I'VE, HAVE ENJOYED TREMENDOUSLY THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CREATIVE IN OUR PREVENTION EFFORTS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. WE HAVE INITIATED A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLICATED AROUND THE STATE AND THE REGION, SO, UH, THANKS TO BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR THAT PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THAT CREATIVITY AND THE FLEXIBILITY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TWO RETIREMENTS. UM, GARY TAYLOR, WHO IS THE CREW CHIEF WITH EMS, HE HAS 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND GARY'S CAREER IN EMERGENCY, UH, MEDICAL SERVICES BEGAN IN 1997, FOLLOWING A CHANCE ENCOUNTER WITH A - WITH ASIA GOWDENS, THEN DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS, WHO ENCOURAGED HIM TO PURSUE, PURSUE HIS CHILDHOOD INTEREST IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE. INSPIRED BY THE CONVERSATION, GARY ENROLLED IN BASIC EMT PROGRAM AT THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOW COUNTRY, AND THEN JOINED BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATING IN JULY 1998. HE CONTINUED HIS EDUCATION EARNING HIS PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION IN 2000. IN 2010, HE WAS PROMOTED TO CREW CHIEF, A POSITION HE CONTINUES TO HOLD AS HE PREPARES FOR RETIREMENT ON DECEMBER 4TH. AMONG HIS MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE, HE HAS BEEN MENTORING OTHERS, TEACHING LIFE, LIFE-SAVING FIRST AID AND CPR SKILLS TO NURSING STUDENTS, FIREFIGHTERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. GARY ALSO SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS A MEDIC WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SWAT TEAM, AND HIS DEDICATION AND SERVICE EARNED NUMEROUS, UM, ACCOMMODATIONS, INCLUDING BEING NAMED EMS PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR IN 2016 BY HARMONY LODGE NUMBER 22. OVER MORE THAN 28 YEARS OF SERVICE, GARY HAS RESPONDED TO COUNTLESS EMERGENCIES FROM CARDIAC ARRESTS, TRAUMATIC INJURIES TO CHILDBIRTH, AND LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES. HE HAS FACED EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES, INCLUDING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND MASS CASUALTY INCIDENTS, WHILE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE PROFOUND REWARDS OF SAVING LIVES AND HELPING OTHERS DUR- DURING THEIR MOST VULNERABLE TIMES. AS GARY PREPARES FOR HIS RETIREMENT, HE REFLECTS WITH GRATITUDE ON A REMARKABLE CAREER DEFINED BY SERVICE, COMPASSION, LEADERSHIP, AND DEDICATION TO HIS COMMUNITY. HE'S ESPECIALLY THANKFUL FOR THE MENTORS WHO GUIDE- GUIDED HIM, HIS COLLEAGUES THAT BECAME FAMILY, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE HIS KNOWLEDGE WITH FUTURE GENERATIONS OF EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY EMS AND THE COUNTLESS LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY OF SERVICE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. GARY. I HAVE A HEAVY HEART STANDING UP HERE. IT'S BEEN, UH, IT'S BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD RIDE FOR ME, UM, [00:15:01] REMEMBERING BACK ALL THE YEARS THAT I'VE, I'VE BEEN HERE AND BEEN PART OF THIS BEAUFORT COUNTY FAMILY. UM, A LOT OF GOOD, SOME BAD, MOSTLY FROM CALLS. BUT, UH, THIS FAMILY IS GONNA BE A PART OF MY LIFE FOR MY LIFE, THE REST OF MY LIFE, AND Y'ALL ARE A PART OF THAT FAMILY. ALL COMMUNITY AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE... LIVE AND SERVE IN THIS COUNTY, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE YOU. IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE FELICIA MCCARTHY, THE SH - A SHERIFF'S TECHNICIAN, UM, WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WHO HAS 43 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AS THE MOST SENIOR SHERIFF'S TECHNICIAN THREE WITH THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, FELICIA HAS DEVOTED AN EXTRAORDINARY 43 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE AGENCY AND THE CITIZENS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. HI. THROUGHOUT HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER, SHE HAS DEMONSTRATED AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND THE IMPORTANT WORK CARRIED OUT BEHIND THE SCENES TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS. IN HER ROLE, FELICIA HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND REPORTING CRITICAL CRIME STATS THROUGH THE NATIONAL INCIDENT-BASED REPORTING SYSTEM, UM, AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA INCIDENT-BASED REPORTING SYSTEM. THESE SYSTEMS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN TRACKING AND ANALYZING CRIME DATA AT BOTH THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS. HER ATTENTION TO DETAIL, ACCURACY, AND DEDICATION HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS AND THE RELIABILITY OF THE INFORMATION, UM, USED TO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS. OVER FOUR DECADES, FELICIA HAS WITNESSED TREMENDOUS CHANGES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, TECHNOLOGY, AND COMMU - AND THE COMMUNITY SHE SERVES. AS FELICIA BEGINS THIS EXCITING NEW CHAPTER, WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT APPRECIATION FOR MANY FAITHFUL YEARS OF SERVICE AND CONGRATULATE HER ON A REMARKABLE CAREER. WE WISH HER HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH, AND MANY WONDERFUL YEARS OF WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DEDICATION. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. WOW. THANK YOU. NOW WE HAVE, UH, AN EXCITING INTRODUCTION OF OUR NEW CFO, UM, ALAN MILBURN HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 2ND. ALAN, YOU WANNA COME UP HERE? UM, ALAN HAD BEGAN HIS CAREER IN 1993 WITH THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS AS A STATE EXTERNAL AUDITOR BEFORE TRANSITIONING INTO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UM, FINANCE AS A FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR BRYAN COUNTY SCHOOLS. HE COMPLETED THE SOUTH CAROLINA'S CERTIFIED GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICER CFG - CGFO PROGRAM IN 2021, REFLECTING HIS LONGSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNMENTAL FINANCE. IN 2005, ALAN RELOCATED TO CHARL - THE CHARLESTON AREA TO SERVE AS BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR THE CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, A POSITION HE HELD FOR 11 YEARS. AND FOR THE PAST EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS, HE SERVED AS BERKELEY COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UM, SERVED IN BERKELEY COUNTY GOVERNMENT MOST RECENTLY AS A CFO OVERSEEING A BROAD PORTFOLIO OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS. WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE ALAN JOIN OUR GROUP, OUR BEAUFORT COUNTY TEAM, SO THANKS FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? THANKS, NICOLE. YEAH, I'M NEVER LOST FOR WORDS, BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE LATED TO BE HERE. UM, HOPEFULLY I CAN BE UP HERE ONE OF THESE DAYS, UH, GETTING MY RETIREMENT. WE GOT ABOUT 10 MORE YEARS. UH, 12 OF THOSE WERE IN GEORGIA, BUT WE MOVED HERE TO, UH, OR ARE MOVING IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING HERE TO RETIRE HERE. BEAU- BEAUFORT'S BEAUTIFUL. UM, I KNEW I'D BE KINDA DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE MY FIRST WEEK, SO THIS IS MY SIXTH DAY ON BOARD. UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS GOT A LOT GOING ON, SO ANXIOUS TO GET MY FEET WET AND, UM, I'VE ALREADY MET SOME REALLY GREAT FOLKS. SO THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING SO WELCOMING. GOOD. SO... CAN YOU GET A PICTURE? OH, ABSOLUTELY. COME ON. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE HAVE ALL THANKS. THREE BIG AWARDS. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THESE. UM, THE FIRST TWO ARE FROM SCAC. THE FIRST ONE IS THE J. MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD RECOGNITION. SO BEAUFORT COUNTY RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE J. MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD, RECOGNIZING OUR PILOT COMPOSTING PROGRAM. THROUGH CAREFUL P- PLANNING, STRATEGIC INVESTMENT, AND THE DEDICATION OF COUNTY STAFF, BEAUFORT COUNTY IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-OPERATED IN-VESSEL COMPOSTING PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN SOUTH CAROLINA. THE [00:20:01] INNOVATIVE PROGRAM DIVERTS RESIDENTIAL FOOD WASTE FROM LANDFILLS, REDUCES METHANE-PRODUCING ORGANIC WASTE, AND TRANSFORMS DISCARDED MATERIALS INTO A VALUABLE COMMUNITY SOURCE. THE IN-VESSEL COM- COMPOSTING PROGRAM NOW PRODUCES APPROXIMATELY TWO TONS OF FINISHED COMPOST EVERY TWO WEEKS, REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON LANDFILLS, IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND CREATING LONG-TERM VALUE FOR THE TAXPAYER - PAYERS. SO BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PUBLIC WORK STAFF, UM, AND VICTORIA HOFFMAN AND BRADLEY HARRIET IS HERE TO RECEIVE THE AWARD, SO... OH, YOU'RE BOTH AWESOME. WELL, GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. AND Y'ALL KNOW I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY. UH, HONESTLY, THIS AWAR- AWARD, UH, THE PO - THE COMPOSTING PROGRAM WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT, UH, THE AMAZING LEADERSHIP THAT I HAVE, AND ALSO THE COUNTY COUNCIL. SO HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE PROGRAM. HUGE THANK YOU TO JARED FOR NOT LETTING ME QUIT WHEN I GOT HIRED, AND MR. HARRIET, UH, FOR SUPPORTING IT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIRMAN, COULD HE AT LEAST INTRODUCE THE CHILDREN? YEAH. CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOUR DARLING GIRLS? ABSOLUTELY. THESE ARE MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. WHERE'S THE BOY? WHERE IS HE? OH. HE'S IN THE BACK. THIS IS ROSALIND. SHE'S 14. YOU CAN CATCH HER ON THE STAGE AT BEAUFORT. LET ME TELL MINE. SHE'S NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TREE. THE WHOLE TREE CAME. SHE'S JUST HERE, SARAH. YEAH. THE WHOLE TREE CAME OFF WITH THIS ONE. GO AHEAD, GIRL. MY NAME IS MADDIE, AND I'M, I'M EIGHT YEARS OLD. I AM ALSO ABOUT TO BE ON STAGE FOR MY FIRST TIME. SHE STILL HAS TO AUDITION, BUT I LOVE THE CONFIDENCE. AND THEN I'VE GOT A THIRD ONE BACK THERE TOO. HE DOES NOT WANNA BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT APPARENTLY. ALL RIHE PICTURE. SHE GOING TO GET HIM. THANK YOU. WAVING AROUND THAT, UH, TROPHY. I WAS LIKE, "SHE'S GONNA HIT ONE OF THE KIDS. I SAW IT COMING." SHE JUST KID LIKE TWICE. OUR SECOND AWARD IS THE BARRETT LAURIMORE MEMORIAL REGIONAL COOPER - COP - COOPERATION AWARD. UM, BEAUFORT AND JASPER COUNTIES HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE SOUTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES PRESTIGIOUS BARRETT LARAMORE MEMORIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION AWARD IN RECOGNITION FOR THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE PROGRAM. THE AWARD CELEBRATES BEAUFORT COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP IN ESTABLISHING SOUTH CAROLINA'S FIRST LOCAL GREEN SPACE PROGRAM IN EXECUTING A MULTI-AGING - AGENCY PARTNERSHIP WITH JASPER COUNTY AND OTHER STATE, FEDERAL, AND NONPROFIT CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO PROTECT VITAL LOW COUNTRY LANDS AND HEADWATERS. THE SCAC BARRETT LARAMORE MEMORIAL REGIONAL COOPERATION AWARD HIGHLIGHTS THE CRITICAL NEED FOR COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS AND REGIONAL STRATEGIES AMONG SOUTH CAROLINA GO - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THE COMPETITION EVALUATES WRITTEN APPLICATIONS AND LIVE PRESENTATIONS BEFORE A PANEL OF JUDGES, RECOGNIZING MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL PROJECTS THAT ACHIEVE LASTING COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH SHARED RESOURCES. THE BEAUFORT COUNTY GREEN SPACE PROGRAM IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT CAN BRING TOGETHER A COALITION OF KEY REGIONAL AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO LEVER- LEVERAGE PURCHASES INTO MEANINGFUL CONSERVATION OUTCOMES. THE PROGRAM HAS PROTECTED OVER 9,400 ACRES ACROSS THE LOW C- COUNTRY REGION, THANKS TO THE HELP OF STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, CONSERVATION GROUPS, AND COUNTY PARTNERSHIPS. WE EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL INVOLVED, UM, IN RECEIVING THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. SO HERE'S MARK. AH, HERE WE GO. THE DREAM TEAM. THE, THE DREAM TEAM, HERE WE GO. UM, I ECHO VICTORIA'S WORDS. THESE MOMENTS AREN'T POSSIBLE WITHOUT THIS GROUP OF ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVING THESE VISIONS AND VOTING ON THESE OUTCOMES TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THIS PROGRAM. IT'S BECAUSE OF THIS BODY, THIS PROGRAM EXISTS, AND WHEN WE SPEAK ABOUT IT TO OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE, WE SPEAK ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP HERE AND THE VISION THAT THEY HAVE AND YOUR COORDINATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES, KNOWING HOW THESE THINGS WORK AND AFFECT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE EVERY DAY AND THESE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING. SO THIS IS FOR YOU GUYS. WE'D BE REMISS WITHOUT NAMING ALL OUR PARTNERS THAT MADE THIS PROGRAM SUCCESSFUL TOO. THE SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA CONSERVATION BOARD, SOUTH CAROLINA FORESTRY COMMISSION, THE MILITARY, [00:25:01] JASPER COUNTY, UM, AND MANY OTHERS, UH, NONPROFITS SUCH AS OPEN LAND TRUST AND, AND TNC. YES, ABSOLUTELY. THE, THE, THE AWARD AND THE PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW IT WAS PRESENTED AND THE VIDEO THAT WE MADE AND PRESENTED IT TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS. AND THE GREEN SPACE COMMITTEE AS WELL. YES. AND OUR FINAL AWARD OF THE NIGHT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GRANT AWARD. UM, ON OCTOBER 28TH, BEAUFORT COUNTY WAS AWARDED AN $8 MILLION FEDERAL SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL GRANT TO IMPLEMENT CRITICAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SC-170 CORRIDOR IN NORTHERN BEAUFORT COUNTY. THIS AWARD WAS PART OF A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE NA- NATIONWIDE PROGRAM THAT DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY $1 BILLION ACROSS 297 GRANTS, INCLUDING ONLY 100 INFORMATION GRANTS, WHICH THE, WITH THE REMAINDER SUPPORTING PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS FOUR DOCUMENTED HIGH CRASH INTERSECTIONS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL IF WARRANTED. THE PROJECT, UM, WAS INCLUDED IN THE COUNTY'S RECENTLY APPROVED TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX PROGRAM, WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE AND USE THAT MONEY TO, UM, PROVIDE THAT REQUIRED 20% LOCAL MATCH. AND ONCE THE UNI - UH, US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PREPARES THE GRANT AGREEMENT, STAFF WILL BRING IT, UM, BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL TO, UM, FOR APPROVAL. SO EXCITING NEWS THERE. AND THEN JUST A COUPLE MORE, I PROMISE. UM, SO JUST A COUPLE THINGS TO MENTION ON THE ALLJOY PATHWAY PROJECT, JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PROJECT IS PROGRESSING AND STAFF'S CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE SURETY COMPANY ON VERIFYING QUANTITIES TO PREPARE FOR THE BID DOCUMENTS. AND STATION 39, UM, NO SUBSTANTIAL UPDATES. HOWEVER, WE'RE WORKING, UM, SITE WORK IS PROGRESSING, SO WE'RE GONNA STAY ON THAT AND KEEP THINGS COMING. UM - THEY'RE PROGRESSING NICELY. GOOD. GREAT. GREAT NEWS. AND THEN A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE... I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT THE, UM, TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX THAT PASSED LAST WEEK. UM, AND SO FOLLOWING VOTER APPROVAL OF THE 2026 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REFERENDUM AND ASSOCIATED BOND AUTHORIZATION, STAFF HAS BEGUN WORKING A SIX MONTH IMPLEMATIO - ON A SIX MONTH IMPLEMA - IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING PROJECT DELIVERY WHILE ESTABLISHING THE FINANCIAL OPERATIONAL AND OVERSIGHT FRA- FRAMEWORK NEEDED TO MANAGE THE $780 MILLION PROGRAM. SO JUST A COUPLE UPDATES JUST TO KINDA LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT AND THEN TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK AS WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY MORE IS TO COME. BUT, UM, THE FIRST THING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ESTABLISHING THE CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS INITIATING AN APPOINTMENT PROCESS IMMEDIATELY, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH THE, UM, ANIMAL CARE AD HOC AND OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WITH, UH, THE COUNCIL PRESENTING THREE, UM, PRESENTING THREE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THAT COMMITTEE, AND THEN EACH OF THE MUNICIPALITIES, UM, AND TOWNS PRESENTING ONE. UM, THE COMMITTEE WILL PROVIDE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT, FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY, AND REGULAR REPORTING TO COUNCIL, UH, AND THE PUBLIC, WHICH WILL ESTABLISH A CHARTER THAT CAN ESTABLISH THOSE, UM, CLEAR GUIDELINES AND OBJECTIVES, UH, RIGHT FROM THE START. UM, NEXT IS TO DEVELOP AN INTERNAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. SO, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT COUNTY ENGINEERING LEAD THE PROGRAM, SUP- SUPPORTED BY FINANCE, PROCUREMENT, LEGAL, AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND REALIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO STAFF UP TO DO SUCH. AND SO, ADDITIONAL STAFF WOULD HAVE TO BE, UM, BROUGHT IN TO KIND OF MANAGE THE PROGRAM IN ASSOCIATION WITH A CONSULTANT THAT COULD MAYBE COME IN FOR A YEAR TO TWO AND KIND OF LEAD THINGS OFF. UM, AGAIN, THIS IS ALL UP FOR, FOR CONVERSATION FOR YOU ALL, BUT... AND JARED'S HERE AND CAN, CAN SPEAK TO SOME OF THIS AS WELL, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT CHARLESTON COUNTY DID, WHAT GEORGE - DORCHESTER AND SOME OTHERS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL, UM, AND KIND OF WHERE THEY WERE AT, AND LEARNING ALSO FROM OUR PAST AND KIND OF GOING FROM THERE AS TO WANTING TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN, UM, AS MUCH CONTROL AS POSSIBLE, UH, OVER THE PROJECTS AND, AND THE FOLKS KIND OF OVERSEEING THAT. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE, WHERE OUR HEAD'S AT. UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT ESTABLISHING PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. SO WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, LOCAL IN-HOUSE FOLKS AS WELL AS LOOKING OUTWARD TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE EVERYTHING DOCUMENTED, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM SOFTWARE IN PLACE SO THAT IT CAN BE REAL TIME AND UPDATED. THE GREAT NEWS IS WE MET WITH DOR LAST WEEK ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM AND THEY'RE DOING... THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE HAS TO DO AUDITS OF EVERY PENNY KIND OF PROGRAM, SO EITHER CAPITAL OR FOR US IT WAS GREEN SPACE. SO THEY MET WITH US AND THANKS TO MARK, UM, AND TEAM'S WORK WITH GREEN SPACE, THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY SAW AND KIND OF GAVE A BLUEPRINT FOR EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF WHAT'S NEEDED FOR AN AUDIT AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHICH IS GONNA REALLY HELP US GOING [00:30:01] FORWARD WITH THE, THE PENNY AND KNOWING THAT AGAIN, EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE LOOKING FOR. THEY'RE GONNA COME BACK TO US, THEY SAID, IN PROBABLY THREE YEARS ONCE THE, THE SALES TAX HAS KIND OF BEEN IN PLACE FOR A COUPLE YEARS. AND SO WE'RE GONNA, AGAIN, DESIGN THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THOSE, THESE NEED, THOSE NEEDS ARE BEING MET, UM, AND VERY CLEAR. SO THOSE ARE A FEW THINGS. UM, AND THEN ALSO LOOKING AT THE BOND AND, YOU KNOW, WHETHER BOND REFERENDUM AND WORKING WITH OUR BOND COUNCIL AS WELL AS FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO KIND OF DEVELOP THAT ORDINANCE AND GET THAT TO YOU GUYS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS WE'VE KIND OF LOOKED AT HOW WE WANT TO START FINANCING THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE IF WE DON'T EITHER USE THE BOND PROCEEDS OR IF THERE'S A WAY, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING, IF THERE'S GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT CAN BE PUT IN FIRST AND THAT GET REIMBURSED, IF WE JUST RELY STRICTLY ON THE REVENUE FROM THE PENNY, MOST LIKELY, YOU KNOW, NOTHING WILL START UNTIL THE FALL. THAT'S WHEN THE REVENUES WOULD START COMING IN. HOWEVER, IF WE WERE ABLE TO START WITH THE BOND AND, AND GET SOME MONEY FLOWING IN, WE COULD LOOK AT DOING, STARTING SOME THINGS IN THE SPRING, WHICH IS EXCITING. SO THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON, UM, INTERNALLY. AND AGAIN, WE'LL BE PRESENTING MORE TO YOU. AND I DON'T KNOW, JARED, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, HE'S, HE'S DITCHING ME. SO ANY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. BUT, UM, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE? ANY QUESTIONS? RIGHT NOW? I'LL START WITH VICE CHAIR. SO, UM, MRS. WOOD, DID I UNDERSTAND YOU TO SAY THAT OUR, WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE STAFF AND OUR STAFF'S GOING TO OVERSEE THE REFERENDUM? THAT WAS THE THOUGHT AND THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION OF, UM, STAFF NOW. BUT ALSO REALIZING THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO BRING IN A CONSULTANT FOR MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO KIND OF HELPING START THINGS, BUT - WELL, I WAS LEANING TOWARD, I MEAN, WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY HIRING A FIRM TO ACTUALLY RUN THE REFERENDUM PROJECTS, NOT IN-HOUSE, BUT AN INDEPENDENT GROUP THAT HAS OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS HAS TO BE DONE HERE. YEAH. IF NOT, THERE'S A PENALTY. UM, THAT'S NOT IN-HOUSE, THAT'S EXTERNAL. SO ARE YOU SAYING IT'S IN-HOUSE? WELL, THAT'S, I'M SAYING THAT THAT'S A TOPIC THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED. WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS, UM, AND YOU TAKE OUT, UH, 278 AND 170, WHICH ARE PRETTY LARGE, THE STATE HAS ALREADY OFFERED TO MANAGE THOSE PROJECTS. SO YOU TAKE THOSE OUT. HILTON HEAD MOST LIKELY WANTS TO MANAGE THEIR OWN PROJECTS. SO YOU TAKE THOSE OUT. AND SO YOU'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT WHAT'S LEFT OR A LOT OF RESURFACING AND TRAFFIC, UM, IMPROVEMENT, SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. AND SO STAFF FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE, AGAIN, ADDITIONALLY, WE MIGHT NEED TO BRING SOMEONE IN TO, TO HELP MAYBE FOR THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WITH BRINGING FOLKS IN THAT WE ARE, THAT ARE HERE AND ARE RESPONSIBLE TO STAFF AND TO YOU DIRECTLY, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE BETTER SUCCESS. SO I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER, NOT TONIGHT. YEAH. BUT THE OTHER THING IS, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HILTON HEAD TAKING THEIR MONEY AND RUN. UH, THAT'S HOW I'M GONNA PUT IT. YEAH. THEY'RE GONNA RUN THEIR PROJECTS. SO WHEN WOULD THEY GET THEIR MONEY? BECAUSE IF WE DON'T BOND, WE DON'T HAVE MONEY TO GIVE THEM. IT WOULD BE, YEAH, I THINK IT, AND JARED, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT'D BE AS IT COMES IN. SO IT'D BE ON A ROLLING BASIS. SO AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T START UNTIL THE FALL AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DIVIDED OUT. IF WE DON'T BOND. IF WE DON'T BOND. IF WE DON'T BOND. BUT YEAH. BUT THAT'S AGAIN, I THINK THE PLAN, AS LONG AS YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH IT, IS TO COME UP AND, AND LOOK TO BOND. AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW MUCH, BECAUSE WE'RE APPROVED FOR, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN AMOUNT, UM, 450 MILLION. BUT DO WE NEED THAT? DO WE NEED LESS? WHAT DO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S IT GONNA COST? SO THAT'S WHAT STAFF IS GONNA BE STARTING TO LOOK AT NOW. COUNCILMAN PASSMAN, I SAW HIS HAND. YOU INDICATED THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE TO MANAGE THE 170 AND 278 WIDENING. WOULD THAT THEN BECOME A FEDERAL PROJECT SEEKING FEDERAL DOLLARS? YES. SO, UM, WHEN WE SET THOSE PROJECTS UP, WE'RE GONNA SET THEM UP REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S US OR DOT AS FEDERAL PROJECTS SO THAT IF FEDERAL FUNDS DO, DO BECOME AVAILABLE, UM, THEY'RE READY TO RECEIVE IT. SO WE WOULD SET IT UP. DOT WOULD MANAGE IT MUCH THE SAME AS THEY ARE MANAGING 278. IT'S A COUNTY SPONSORED PROJECT THAT DOT IS MANAGING. THE SAME WOULD BE FOR 170 AND 278 WIDENING. COUNCIL MCGLOVER? YEAH, MADAM CHAIRMAN, UM, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE DO, UM, THE PROJECT IN-HOUSE, OUTHOUSE, UM, I LIKE THAT OUTHOUSE. UM, UM, I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS KEY. AND I THINK WE OWE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE GONNA WATCH EVERY PENNY WE REC- RECEIVE AND EVERY PENNY WE SPEND. AND I THINK WE NEED TO GO BY THE PENNY. WE [00:35:01] NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOUNT FOR EVERY PENNY AND JUSTIFY EVERY PROJECT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. SO TO ME, IT'S MORE LIKE SETTING UP NOW BEFORE WE EVEN START TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GONNA DIVVY UP MONEY, BLAH, BLAH, THAT SORT OF STUFF. HOW ARE WE GONNA ACCOUNT FOR EVERY PENNY COMING IN AND EVERY PENNY GOING OUT? THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANYTHING? UM, COUNCILMAN BARTHOLOMEW, ANYTHING? NO? WE'RE GOOD? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, THE UPDATES AND IF I, UH, WE'LL HAVE... I'VE ALREADY HAD PEOPLE ASKING ME HOW DO THEY APPLY TO BE ON THE C - UM, C- CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND SURE OTHERS OF YOU HAVE TOO. AND I JUST TELL THEM TO STAY TUNED AND THERE'LL BE APPLICATIONS ONLINE WHEN THE TIMES, WHEN, WHEN THE CHARTER AND EVERYTHING'S SET UP. OKAY. UM, AT THIS TIME WE HAVE, WE HAD NO ONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAD PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE ORDINANCE HEARINGS, BUT NO PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS SOMEBODY CAME IN LATE FOR THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA ARE LIAISON AND COMMITTEE REPORTS AND AT THE SUGGESTION OF SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS SOMETHING REALLY PRESSING AND EXCITING TO REPORT, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA, UM, GO ON BY THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HERE. THERE'S SOME CONFUSED FACES BY WHAT YOU JUST SAID. OKAY. SO JUST TO REITERATE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS GEN- GENERALLY 30 MINUTES WHERE ANYBODY CAN TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. PUBLIC HEARING IS COMING UP ON THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP FOR THAT. SO THEY'RE NOT EXCLUDED, BUT IT'S NOT PUBLIC COMMENT, IT'S PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. THEY WERE LOOKING KIND OF CONFUSED. I GOT IT. OKAY. [10. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA] ALL RIGHT. UH, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF OUR CONSENT AGENDA. UH, WE HAVE ITEMS FROM FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. UH, ONE IS DESIGNATION OF DECEMBER 23RD, 2026 AS AN ADDITIONAL PAID HOLIDAY FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES. AND TWO IS TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO IMPLEMENT A FY27 PERSONAL LEAVE TIME CALLED A PLT BUYBACK FOR EMPLOYEES AS PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXCESS LEAVE. AND THEN FROM PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SAFETY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT TO O'QUINN MARINE CONSTRUCTION FOR BROAD RIVER BOAT LANDING FLOATING DOCK REPLACEMENT. NUMBER TWO IS APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT TO NICK'S CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE BAILEY MEMORIAL, UM, PARK PROJECT FOR 1,982,400,000. NUMBER THREE IS APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT AWARD TO NICK'S CONSTRUCTION FOR THE DESIGN AND BUILD OF A PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY AND BRIDGE PROJECT ON THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT. NUMBER FOUR IS APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDERS ONE AND TWO FOR BEAUFORT EXECUTIVE AIRPORT HANGAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SITE DEVELOPMENT. NUMBER FIVE IS APPROVAL OF A TASK ORDER TO MCSWEENEY DESIGN FOR THE MELROSE FERRY DOCK REPLACEMENT DESIGN, WHICH, UM, WAS $946,962.50. AND SIX IS APPROVAL OF A CHANGE ORDER TO PARISH AND PARTNERS FOR THE BURNT CHURCH PROPERTY FOR 63,936. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? MAKE THAT MOTION. SECOND. AND WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN LAWSON AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM. ANY DISCUSSION? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. BY SHOW OF HANDS, ALL IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. [11.a. Appointment of Sam Akers to the Lowcountry Workforce Development Board, as a representative of the Higher Education Sector for a partial appointment with an expiration date of June 2029.] GOING ON TO NUMBER 11A, WE HAVE ON OUR, UM, UH, REGULAR AGENDA, APPOINTMENT OF SAM AKERS TO THE LOW COUNTRY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR FOR A PARTIAL APPOINTMENT WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF JUNE 2029. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVED. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN PASSIMIT. AND A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. I HEARD COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM. ALL IN FAVOR BY SHOW OF HANDS TO APPOINT THIS GENTLEMAN, THAT IS UNANIMOUS. [11.b. Recommend approval to fund due diligence and negotiate terms of acquisition for the Green Space Program application: RLC Properties Tract.] NEXT, WE HAVE, UH, RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO FUND DUE DILIGENCE AND NEGOTIATE TERMS OF ACQUISITION FOR THE GREEN SPACE PROGRAM APPLICATION RLC PROPERTIES TRACK. AND IN YOUR PACKET WAS A MAP OF THAT PROPERTY. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST DUE DILIGENCE. UM - I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I HAVE A MOTION BY, UH, VICE CHAIR TAVERNICK. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN, UM, LAWSON. ALL IN FAVOR?. OH, DISCUSSION. I'M SORRY. DO YOU WANNA HEAR FROM MARK? A LONG NIGHT. LET'S GO. ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. NO. NOT MUCH. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR. TO DO DUE DILIGENCE. OH WAIT, LET ME SEE MR. BARTHOLOMEW. YEP. OKAY. [00:40:01] ALL RIGHT. THAT IS UNANIMOUS. GOT OFF EASY, MARK. THANKS, MARK. THANK YOU. IT WAS ROUGH. ALL RIGHT. AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO VICE CHAIRMAN TAVERNICK. [12.a. 2026/50: An Ordinance to amend Beaufort County's Budget Ordinance for Fiscal Year 2027 (Ordinance No. 2026/29) to amend Section III, County Operations Revenues, and Section IV, County Operations Appropriations to appropriate Fund Balance for Beaufort County Regions Tournament Complex.] OKAY. ORDINANCES FOR THIRD READING. UM, 2026 / 50 IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND BEAUFORT COUNTY'S BUDGET ORDINANCE FOR FISCAL 2027. IT WAS ORDINANCE 2026 / 29 TO AMEND SECTION THREE, COUNTY OPERATIONS REVENUES AND SECTION FOUR, COUNTY OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS TO APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY REGIONS TOURNAMENT COMPLEX. THE VOTE AT FINANCE COMMITTEE, IT FAILED FIVE / FIVE. AT FIRST READING OF FULL COUNCIL, IT WAS 7-4, AND SECOND READING OF PUBLIC HEARING WAS 9-2. I CAN HAVE A MOTION. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I'LL SECOND IT. AND SECOND, MR. LAWSON. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR ALL THE ORDINANCES, IF IT'S APPROPRIATE. IT'S THE ONES REGARDING PUBLIC HEARING OR WE CAN GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON THIS ONE. I CAN MAKE IT AT THE NEXT ONE. YEAH, LET'S VOTE ON THIS ONE. OKAY. UM, MR. MILBURN, OUR BRAND NEW CFO, DO YOU HAVE ANY WISE WORDS? WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS AT FINANCE IN TWO READINGS, BUT IF YOU WANNA GIVE A QUICK RECAP FOR THE PUBLIC. UH, YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILMAN. SO THIS IS, UH, THE ORDINANCE, AGAIN, A THIRD READING FOR, TO, UM, TO USE THE APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE FOR A BU - BEAUFORT COUNTY REGIONS TOURNAMENT COMPLEX. TOTAL AMOUNT WILL BE $15 MILLION FROM, UM, HOSPITALITY TAX AND, UH, ACCOMMODATIONS. I BELIEVE IT'S... THEY TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO START EARNING MY KEY. UM, THE FUND BALANCE IS AVAILABLE AT JUNE 30TH, 2026, WHICH WOULD BE OUR CURRENT AUDITED PERIOD, SO. ALL RIGHT. UM, THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTION, MR. CUNNINGHAM? I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING. UH, I WON'T DISCUSS MUCH. I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED IT QUITE A BIT OVER THE PAST THREE, FOUR MONTHS TILL WE GOT TO THIS POINT. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR THE SUPPORT OF GETTING THIS STARTED. UM, IT'S THE FIRST STEP OF A FEW TO GET THIS FUNDED AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIND THE RIGHT PARTNER. WE'RE TAKING THE FIRST STEP, SO HOPEFULLY THIS JUST SHOWS THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PEOPLE AROUND US THAT WANNA GET INVOLVED AND ON BOARD THAT WE'RE READY TO DO THIS. WE'RE ALL IN, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT. LET ME JUST REAL QUICK ALSO BE, BE QUICK AND SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT ATACS MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT FOR IS, IS ACTUALLY THINGS THAT PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEN ALSO PROVIDE FOR MORE ATACS MONEY TO COME IN, UM, AND, AND PUT HEADS IN BEDS AND PEOPLE SEATS IN THE RESTAURANTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO AGAIN, UM, I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME TRAVELING VOLLEYBALL, SOFTBALL, OTHER PLACES AND SPENDING MY MONEY ON WEEKENDS AT OTHER TOURNAMENT FACILITIES THAT WE NEED TO BRING PEOPLE TO BEAUFORT COUNTY, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS THAT WE NEED IT WHENEVER THERE'S NOT AS MUCH GOING ON. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? DISCUSSION OR QUESTION? ALL RIGHT. UM, DO I NEED A ROLL CALL OR EVERYONE IN MO - IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE. ALL RIGHT. ALL OPPOSED? WE HAVE TWO OPPOSED. OH. THANK YOU. MR. BARTHOLOMA, YOU WERE A YES? I DIDN'T LOOK FAST ENOUGH. OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT ORDINANCE PASSES THAT'S THIRD READING. [13.a. 2026/54: An Ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of an agreement governing a new multi-county park by and between Beaufort County, South Carolina and Jasper County, South Carolina; authorizing the inclusion of certain property located in Beaufort County in the multi-county park; providing for the distribution of multi-county park revenues; authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the town of Port Royal; amending a prior master park agreement to remove certain property located within the corporate limits of the town of Port Royal; and other related matters. (PUBLIC HEARING)] SO ORDINANCE FOR SECOND READING, 2026 / 54, AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE EX- EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN AGREEMENT GOVERNING A NEW MULTI-COUNTY PARK BY AND BETWEEN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND JASPER COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE INCLUSION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IN THE MULTI-COUNTY PARK, PROVIDING FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF MULTI-COUNTY PARK REVENUES, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, AMENDING A PRIOR MASTER PARK AGREEMENT TO REMOVE CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS. THE VOTE AT FINANCE WAS SIX THREE ON OCTOBER 19TH. THE VOTE AT FIRST READING OCTOBER 26TH WAS EIGHT, TWO, AND ONE ABSTENTION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND, BUT I'D LIKE - SECOND. GO AHEAD. I'D LIKE TO, UM, AS WE OPEN UP THINGS FOR TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS OUR PROCEDURAL RULES WHO, THAT WE HAVE SUCH A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT. UM, OUR STANDING RULES DO NOT HAVE A CAP ON HOW LONG FOR THE PUBLIC, BUT I'D LIKE TO ESTABLISH BY MOTION A TEMPORARY SPECIAL RULE FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING TO LIMIT ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE TO DO PUBLIC HEARING COMMENT A MAXIMUM OF FIVE MINUTES PER PERSON. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION. I'LL SECOND THAT. OKAY, THE MOTION IS MADE AND SECONDED. OH, MR. HUBBARD. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S JUST TO THE PUBLIC, NOT TO THE PRESENTERS. CORRECT. CORRECT. IT'S FIVE MINUTES PER PERSON FOR THE PUBLIC. MM-HMM. THE PRESENTER AND THEIR ATTORNEY OR WHATEVER WILL HAVE OTHER TIME. OKAY. QUESTION OR COMMENT FROM COUNSEL ON THAT ONE? I [00:45:01] HAVE A QUESTION. YEP. THAT, THAT'S NOT RELATED TO WHAT WE JUST READ. THAT'S UPCOMING HEARINGS. THAT'S NOT RELATED TO THE PORT ROYAL MAP. IT'S FOR ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT. THIS ONE'S A PUBLIC HEARING TOO. PORT ROYAL IS. OKAY. ALL OF THEM ARE. MM-HMM. GOT IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS SO WE CAN REGULATE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. PUBLIC HEARING, I'M SORRY, NOT PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. I THINK IT WAS UNANIMOUS. OKAY. I VOTED NO. NO FOR MR. CUNNINGHAM. SORRY. JUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GUYS ARE YELLING AT ME LATER. I HAD YOU UNLIMITED TIME. REMEMBER THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO I DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR THE MCIP FOR PORT ROYAL. DID SOMEONE MAKE THAT MOTION? MR. UH, PASSMAN? THAT'S WHAT HE DID ALREADY. WHO... OKAY. SO I'M GONNA INVITE MR. FLYNN AND MR. PHILLIPS. MR. FLYNN, COME ON UP. AND MR. PHILLIPS, THAT'S THE MAYOR PHILLIPS. SO YOU HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MCIP, AND WE ARE NOT LIMITING YOUR TIME. UM, IT MIGHT BE LIMITED TO HOW LONG YOU COULD STAND ON THAT BOOT. I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL LET LAWRENCE GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW AND THEN I SIGNED UP FOR A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL JUST BE IN - I WILL TAKE YOU OFF. I SAW YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL JUST COME BACK. UH, I'M TOO OLD TO PLAY BASKETBALL. SO THAT IS, THAT IS WHAT MY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR TONIGHT. UM, SO WHEN YOU TURN 45, YOU SHOULD HANG UP YOUR, HANG UP YOUR BASKETBALL SHOES. UM, GUYS, APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE TONIGHT. UH, THIS IS SECOND READING, AND I THINK, I KNOW THAT WE, WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MULTI-COUNTY BUSINESS PARK FOR THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL. UH, THIS ALLOWS THIS, UH, THE CITY TO POTENTIALLY FINANCE AND BOND OUT THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN IDENTIFIED BASED ON THE REVENUES GENERATED AND DERIVED FROM THE MULTI-COUNTY BUSINESS PARK. AS Y'ALL MAY REMEMBER, WHEN YOU PUT A MULTI-COUNTY BUSINESS PARK IN PLACE, IT PUTS A, UH, AN OVERLAY OVER THE SPECIFIC PIECES OF PROPERTY IN THAT COMMUNITY. IT CHANGES THE PROPERTY FROM AD VALOREM TAXPAYING PROPERTY INTO FEE IN LIEU OF TAX PAYING PROPERTY. AND THE COUNTY ACTING THROUGH ITS MOTION WITH A SISTER COUNTY, THAT BEING JASPER COUNTY, WHO'S ALSO GIVEN FIRST READING TO THEIR ORDINANCE, ALLOWS THAT PROPERTY TO BE CONVERTED FROM AD VALOREM TAXPAYING PROPERTY TO FEE IN LIEU OF TAX PAYING PROPERTY. AND THEN YOU GET TO DECIDE HOW DO YOU WANT THE, THE REVENUES TO BE DISTRIBUTED. UH, AND THE REVENUE DISTRIBUTION AS OTHERWISE PROPOSED WOULD ALLOW FOR THE LIFE OF THE PARK UP TO AN AMOUNT OF $10 MILLION, UH, TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL TO BE USED TO MAKE, UH, DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ALONG THE PORT WATER, UH, PORT ROYAL SEAWALL, UH, THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR INTERCONNECTIVITY. AND I THINK Y'ALL HAVE SEEN ALL OF THOSE DESIGNS AS WELL. I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE A LOT ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT, SO CERTAINLY WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE. AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS AS WELL. I'M GONNA GO TO PUBLIC HEARING NOW. YES, MA'AM. SO THE FIRST PERSON THAT SIGNED UP WAS JERRY ASHMORE. AND JUST A REMINDER, WHEN WE DO PUBLIC, UH, HEARING, FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER, PLEASE ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ONLY, BE RESPECTFUL AND SPEAK ON THE TOPIC AT HAND, WHICH IN THIS CASE IS MCIP. SO YOU'RE UP FIRST, MR. ASHMORE. THANK YOU. UH, MADAM CHAIRWOMAN AND MEMBERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS JERRY ASHMORE AND I SERVE ON PORT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL. I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MCIP AND MORE, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT IT MEANS FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, OUR FAMILIES, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. AT ITS HEART, THE MCIP FOR THE PORT OF PORT ROYAL WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT IS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM, PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IMPROVED PUBLIC ACCESS TO ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S GREATEST NATURAL RESOURCES, OUR WATERFRONT. I THINK WE ALL CAN AGREE ON ONE THING. WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR WATERFRONTS. WE WANT OUR RESIDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR VISITORS, AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL RIVERS, WATERWAYS THAT WE MAKE THIS COMMUNITY SO SPECIAL. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN. IT WILL SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL FISHERMEN AND SHRIMPERS, AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE, WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FISHERMEN AND SHRIMPERS. THERE'S ONE THING WE DO BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, IS OUR LOCAL SHRIMP AND OUR LOCAL FISH, HANDS DOWN. WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING WE REASONABLY CAN TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN THAT INDUSTRY. THE RE- REDEVELOPMENT INCLUDES A PUBLIC SHRIMP DOCK, ONE OF ONLY THREE IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ALONG WITH IMPROVED WATERFRONT FACILITIES THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SHRIMPING INDUSTRY AND FISHING INDUSTRIES. WE ALL WANT THAT, DON'T WE? THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS, HOSPITALITY BUSINESSES, BOATERS, AND OTHER BUSINESSES THAT DEPEND ON TOURISM AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. WE ALL WANT THAT TOO, DON'T WE? THE REDEVELOPMENT WILL ATTRACT VISITORS, BUSINESSES, BOATERS, AND ADDITIONAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT. THAT INVESTMENT WILL CREATE JOBS, SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND GENERATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT BEAUFORT COUNTY IN OUR ENTIRE REGION, AND THE BENEFITS DON'T STOP THERE. A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY HELPS CREATE A MORE ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY, ONE WHERE FAMILIES WANT TO LIVE, WORK, RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, AND PUT DOWN ROOTS. IT CAN HELP US ATTRACT FAMILIES AND STUDENTS TO OUR SCHOOLS RATHER THAN CONTINUE EXPERIENCING THE STUDENT LOSSES WE'RE SEEING TODAY. [00:50:01] IT CREATES A STRONGER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, ENCOURAGES ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PROVIDES IMPROVED AMENITIES THAT STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN ENJOY. THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT INCLUDES PUBLIC PARKS, WATERFRONT PROMENADES, WALKING TRAILS, PUBLIC PARKING, AND THE SHRIMP DOCK. THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS TO OUR CHILDREN AND TO OUR FAMILIES. THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO WALK ALONG OUR WATERFRONT, LEARN ABOUT HISTORY, EXPERIENCE OUR WATERWAYS, AND UNDERSTAND THE INDUSTRIES TO HELP BUILD THIS. WE HAVE PORT ROYAL ELEMENTARY RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THERE. THAT'S THE SECOND OLDEST IN-USE SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 115 YEARS WE'VE BEEN EDUCATING STUDENTS IN THAT BUILDING RIGHT THERE. IMAGINE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO COME. THEY COULD WALK TO THE WATERFRONT FOR FIELD TRIPS, LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PORT ROYAL, EXPLORE OUR MARITIME INDUSTRIES, AND GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEAUTIFUL WATERWAYS AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT SURROUND THAT. THIS COULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER EXPLORATION IN HOSPITALITY, MARINE INDUSTRIES, TOURISM, AND OTHER FIELDS ALONG WITH PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OUR SCHOOLS. THESE ARE REAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS, REAL BENEFITS. THERE'S ALSO COUNTLESS INDIRECT BENEFITS THAT COME WITH COMMUNITY GROWTH, IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE, AND BETTER PUBLIC AMENITIES. MY BOTTOM LINE IS THIS, MCIP PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL TO TURN A LONG DELAYED WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT INTO A FUNCTIONING PUBLIC ASSET. IT CREATES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, IMPROVES PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR WATERFRONT, SUPPORTS OUR LOCAL FISHING AND SHRIMPING INDUSTRIES, AND STRENGTHENS THE OVERALL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES. A HEALTHIER LOCAL COMMUNITY HELPS ENSURES THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY REMAINS AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE FOR FAMILIES, EMPLOYERS, BUSINESSES, AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE MCIP WILL REACTIVATE A FUNDING MECHANISM APPROVED BY BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD BACK IN 2009 AND CARRY FORWARD EARLIER PLANS FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. SUPPORTING THIS INFRASTRUC... SUPPORTING THIS EFFORT ALSO DEMONSTRATES SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ACTUALLY WORK TOGETHER, THAT WE CAN COOPERATE, AND THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT. CLOSE TO THE END. NOW, LET ME BRING THIS BACK TO WHY WE'RE HERE. WE'RE ELECTED TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT. WE'RE ELECTED TO LOOK BEYOND PERSONAL DISAGREEMENTS, POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES... AGENDAS. WE'RE ELECTED TO CONSIDER THE LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THAT IS WHAT EXACTLY WHAT THIS MCIP DESERVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU, MR. ASHMORE. MARY BETH GRAY HAYWARD, YOU ARE NEXT. COME ON DOWN. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY NAME IS MARY BETH GRAY HAYWARD, AND I'VE SERVED AT THE PLEASURE OF THE PEOPLE IN PORT ROYAL FOR 35 YEARS. THAT'S A LONG TIME ON TOWN COUNCIL. IN 2009, I SAT THAT BOARD, AND I WORKED WITH A LOT OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO AGREED, AND THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT AGREED TO HELP US WITH THE MCIP. IT'S IMPORTANT TO US, GROWING UP IN PORT ROYAL AND HAVING THE WATER, YOU COULDN'T BEAT IT. WE HAD THE SHRIMP BOATS, WE HAD THE CRABBERS, THE OYSTERS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL TIME. WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT TODAY WE MAINTAIN AND KEEP THIS FOR THE PEOPLE. EACH ONE OF YOU, I KNOW, HAVE A DISTRICT, AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DISTRICT, AND I HOPE WHEN YOU LISTEN TO US TONIGHT, PLEASE REMEMBER, I'M FIGHTING JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM ARE FOR OUR TOWN AND OUR COUNTY. AND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS A JOINT PARTNERSHIP THAT'S GONNA BENEFIT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, IT'S GONNA BRING BACK TAX DOLLARS TO THIS COMMUNITY. I NEED EVERYBODY TO PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU VOTE, THINK HARD, BECAUSE IF YOU GREW UP, AND I KNOW MR. DAWSON, YOU GREW UP IN YOUR AREA, SO LET'S MAKE SURE WHEN WE GET READY TO MAKE THAT VOTE, LET'S VOTE TO SUPPORT, TO KEEP THOSE WATERWAYS OPEN AND MAKE IT PUBLIC. WE DON'T WANT FENCES. WE DON'T WANT GATES. WE'VE HAD THAT. PLEASE VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MCIP TONIGHT AND GIVE THE LAND BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHERE IT DESERVES THAT PROMENADE DECK AND THOSE WATERFRONT ACTIVITIES. UH, I MEAN, WE ALREADY ARE STARTING TO GET THE DRAGON BOATS IN PORT ROYAL. WE'RE GETTING THE WATER FESTIVAL RAFT RACES. THIS IS THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OTHER COMMUNITIES WORK WITH US. LET'S DON'T... WE'RE TRANSPARENT. WE'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT SINCE 2009. WE'VE NEVER HID ANYTHING. WE'RE NOT GONNA HIDE ANYTHING. AND ANYBODY THAT HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I GREW UP THERE. PLEASE, VOTE WITH YOUR HEARTS TONIGHT. VOTE TO VOTE FOR THE MCIP FOR THE [00:55:01] TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND BEAUFORT COUNTY OVERALL. MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE A GATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. JORGE GUERRERO ON PORT ROYAL MCIP. COME ON, WELCOME. I'LL BEGIN WITH MY, UH, MARINE ROOTS. HAPPY BIRTHDAYS. YES. YOUR MARINES HAVE BEEN SUPERFIDELIST TO YOU FOR THE LAST 251ST YEARS OF THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT FOR YOU. RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, WE BUILD THEM. WE MAKE THEM LIKE NOWHERE ELSE IN THIS COUNTRY OR IN THIS WORLD, SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. BEAUFORT COUNTY SHERIFFS, GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK TOMORROW. WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING A LITTLE BIT LOW ON BEER AROUND HERE. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUN... I, I'LL STICK TO MY, TO MY NOTES. I DON'T USUALLY... I USUALLY SPEAK LIKE MARY BETH DOES, BUT, UH, THIS COULD GET PRETTY EMOTIONAL FOR SOME FOLKS AND I JUST WANNA STICK TO THIS SO I MAKE MY TIME. UM, SO JUST PARDON ME FOR NOT, FOR NOT LOOKING AT YOU OFTEN. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, ME- MEMBERS OF OUR COUNTY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JORGE GUERRERO, AND I SERVE AS COUNCILMAN AND MAYOR PRO TEM FOR THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL. I'M HERE TONIGHT IN MY OFFICIAL CAPACITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY, OR AS YOU WERE, FOR THE CITIZENS OF PORT ROYAL WHO HAVE ENTRUSTED US TO PURSUE RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST FOR OUR TOWN, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY AND OUR ENTIRE REGION. I WANNA BEGIN WITH SOMETHING PERSONAL. BEFORE 2008, I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE PORT ROYAL WAS. MY MILITARY SERVICE BROUGHT ME HERE WHEN I WAS ORDERED TO REPORT TO MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARIS ISLAND TO SERVE AS A LEGENDARY MARINE CORPS DRILL INSTRUCTOR. THAT ASSIGNMENT INTRODUCED ME TO AN INCREDIBLE TOWN, AN EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY. I MET MY WIFE HERE IN 2010. WE MARRIED IN 2012. WE HAD LILLY AND G-MAN HERE. AND WHEN WE BECAME RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE DELIBERATELY CHOSE TO RETURN TO PARIS ISLAND BECAUSE WE KNEW PORT ROYAL WAS WHERE WE WANTED TO BUILD OUR LIFE. I KEEP USING THE WORDS ORDERED, ORDERS AND PURPOSE BECAUSE THEY MATTER. IN THE MARINE CORPS, WHEN AN ORDER IS GIVEN, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING IT WILL DO JUST THAT. THERE'S ALSO AN EXPECTATION THAT THOSE GIVEN THE ORDER WILL STAND BEHIND IT. THAT PRINCIPLE IS AT HEART OF WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. IN 2009, THIS COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED AN MCIP THAT CONTEMPLATED FUNDING TO BE USED AT A FUTURE TIME. MY MAYOR SAID THIS BEFORE TO YOU, THAT TIME IS HERE. PORT ROYAL ACCEPTED THOSE MARCHING ORDERS THEN. WE ACTED ON THEM. THIS COUNCIL AND OUR TOWN MANAGER HAVE WORKED TO ADVANCE THE DEVELOPMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THAT PLAN. WE HAVE TAKEN LEGAL ACTION WHERE NECESSARY. WE HAVE ENTERED INTO NEW PUDS AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS DESIGNED TO ENSURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR WATERFRONT. WE HAVE DONE OUR PART, AND WE HAVE DONE IT TRANSPARENTLY. THIS IS WHY THE OPPOSITION TO REVIVING THE MCIP HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING, PARTICULARLY WHEN WE WERE PREVIOUSLY ENCOURAGED BY MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD TO PURSU- PURSUE THIS VERY PATH, AND WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE THEIR SUPPORT. WE RESPECT THAT REASONABLE PEOPLE CAN DISAGREE, BUT DISAGREEMENT SHOULD NOT ERASE COMMITMENTS PREVIOUSLY MADE OR UNDERMINE THE TRUST NECESSARY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO WORK TOGETHER. THE PROJECTS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS MCIP WILL NOT BENEFIT PORT ROYAL ALONE. THEY WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO. THEY CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, TOURISM, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT THAT CAN BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTY, INCLUDING THE VERY INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE NOW OPPOSING SUCH EFFORT. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID AT OUR RECENT JOINT MEETING. TERMS SUCH AS PARASITIC, OPPORTUNISTIC, AND THIEVES WERE USED TO DESCRIBE MEMBERS OF MY TOWN COUNCIL AND OUR LEADERSHIP. I REJECT THOSE CHARACTERIZATIONS. WE CAN DEBATE POLICY. WE CAN CHALLENGE NUMBERS. WE CAN DISAGREE ABOUT FUNDING, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALL ELECTED AND APPOINTED TO SERVE THE SAME CITIZENS. I WAS TAUGHT EARLY IN MY MARINE CORPS CAREER THAT WHEN AN ARGUMENT RESORTS TO PERSONAL INSULTS, THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ARGUMENT HAS USUALLY RUN OUT. WE WILL NOT RESPOND IN KIND. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANSPARENT. WE WILL ALWAYS BE ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF OUR BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO TONIGHT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THIS COUNCIL TO REMEMBER THE COMMITMENT MADE IN 2009, RECOGNIZE THAT PORT ROYAL HAS DONE ITS PART AND ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MCIP THAT THIS COUNTY PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR A FAVOR. WE'RE ASKING THAT THIS COUNTY, OUR COUNTY, HONOR OUR COMMITMENT, KEEP FAITH WITH ITS MUNICIPALITIES AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE WE WERE ASKED TO BUILD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOVE BEING IN YOUR SPACE. YOU GOT TO KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONSIDER THIS TRULY AND HOW IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THIS COUNTY IN THE END OF THE DAY. THANK YOU. TANYA CROSBY. MS. CROSBY'S THE CFO OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. COME ON DOWN. GOOD EVENING. I TOO AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. UH, GOOD GOING THROUGH ALL THROUGH [01:00:01] SCHOOLS, ALL OUR PUB- PUBLIC SCHOOLS HERE. AND NOW I'M THE CFO OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO IT, I CAME TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO, UM, MAKE SURE THAT MY CHILDREN RECEIVED A GREAT EDUCATION. I COULD BE PART OF THAT. AND NOW I'M PART OF ONE THAT HAS 20,000 STUDENTS AND BENEFITING FROM THOSE SERVICES EVERY DAY. UM, SO BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT RECOGNIZES THAT COUNTY COUNCIL MAY CHOOSE TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH, WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL MULTI-COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK. THE DISTRICT RESPECTSFUL, RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT IF APPROVED, THE FINAL AGREEMENT INCLUDE REASONABLE SAFEGUARDS THAT PROTECT FUNDING FOR STUDENTS, SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND VOTER APPROVED DEBT OBLIGATIONS. APPROXIMATELY 55% OF THE AFFECTED REVENUE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS GENERATED FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT MILLAGE, INCLUDING BOTH SCHOOL OPERATIONS AND SCHOOL DEBT MILLAGE. BECAUSE THESE REVENUES WOULD OTHERWISE SUPPORT THE DISTRICT'S EDUCATIONAL AND CAPITAL RESPONSIBILITIES, THE DISTRICT ASKS COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT ITS PARTICIPATION IS DEFINED, LIMITED, AND TRANSPARENT. THREE REQUESTED SAFEGUARDS, ESTABLISH A DOLLAR CAP. THE PREVIOUS TIP, 15 YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS NEVER FULFILLED AND COMPLETED, UH, WAS CAPPED AT $300,000 ANNUALLY FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. UM, ACCORDING TO THIS MULTI-COUNTY, UH, INDUSTRIAL PARK OR THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, I DO NOT SEE ANY SORT OF CAP OF THAT KIND. SO OUR ASK IS THAT YOU SET A MINIMUM ANNUAL AND CUMULATIVE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERATED REVENUE THAT MAY BE REDIRECTED THROUGH THE MCIP. THE CAP GIVES ALL PARTIES CERTAINTY REGARDING THE DISTRICT'S MAXIMUM FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION. TWO, PROTECT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MILLAGE. EXCLUDE SCHOOL DEBT MILLAGE FROM THE MCIP REVENUE DIVERSION. DEBT SERVICE MILLAGE IS LEVIED TO MEET THE DISTRICT'S CAPITAL AND DEBT OBLIGATIONS AND SHOULD REMAIN DEDICATED TO THAT PERSON. WE'VE PASSED TWO BOND REFERENDUMS. THE LAST WAS WITH NO MILLAGE INCREASE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE, UH, IN THE FUTURE. AND THAT TOO WOULD BE, WE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO THAT WITH NO DEBT MILLAGE. THAT IS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE AND WE EXPECT TO HONOR THAT. SO WITH PROTECTING THAT MILLAGE, WHICH WE HAVE DONE WITH OTHER TIFS, UH, IN THE PAST, WE ASK THAT YOU EXCLUDE DEBT MILLAGE. AND FINALLY, REQUIRE ANNU- ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT MENTIONS THAT IT WILL REPORT TO THE COUNCIL UPON REQUEST, BUT NOT, UH, A MANDATE OF AN ANNUAL REQUEST AND IT DOESN'T MENTION THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. AND SO WE REALLY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE UNLESS WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT COUNCIL AGENDAS TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE ARE NOTIFIED AS WELL. UH, AND THE SPECIFIC INFORMATION WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS REVENUES BY ENTITY COLLECTED AND REDIRECTED, INTEREST INCOME, PROCEEDS FROM BONDS AND BOND PREMIUMS. AND THEN ALSO A DETAIL OF EACH EXPENDITURE BY PROJECT. AND THIS IS FOR EVERY YEAR. THERE IS A, A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF A TEMPLATE THAT IS USED BY HILTON HEAD TOWN, UH, THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND ON THEIR LATEST TIF. AND IT'S A MULTI-YEAR, UM, COLUMNAR, UH, FORMAT THAT IS VERY EXTENSIVE AND PROVIDES THE FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF EACH YEAR CARRIED OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE USE OF THAT TEMPLATE AT, IN THIS REPORTING. SO IF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS, THE DISTRICT OBJECTIVES IS NOT TO PREVENT COUNTY COUNCIL FROM PURSUING ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS. RATHER, WE ASK COUNCIL TO BALANCE THOSE OBJECTIVES WITH ITS RESPONSIBILITY PR - TO PROTECT THE LONG-TERM FISCAL INTERESTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND TAXPAYERS. PROTECT 100% OF THE MILLAGE, ESTABLISH, ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL DOLLAR CAP, AND REQUIRE ANNUAL PROGRESS UPDATES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THIS APPROACH ALLOWS PROJECT TO, TO PROCEED WHILE PREVENTING TODAY'S DECISION FROM CREATING AN UNLIMITED COMMITMENT OF FUTURE SCHOOL DISTRICT REVENUES. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK COUNCIL TO INCORPORATE THESE SAFEGUARDS INTO THE FINAL DECISION. I'LL PROVIDE THESE DOCUMENTS TO MS. BROCK AND SHE CAN FORWARD IT TO ALL OF YOU ALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. CROSBY. MR. VAN WILLIS, YOU ARE THE CITY MANAGER. COME ON DOWN. TOWN MANAGER. JUST REAL QUICKLY. UM, I PUT TOGETHER A PACKAGE WITH A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NUMBERS AS WELL AS KIND OF SOME RESPONSES TO SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD AT THE JOINT MEETING. BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON NOW, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE, IS KIND OF DISCUSSING THE TOWN'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP WE'VE HAD, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, SINCE AT LEAST 2002, AND MARY BETH SPOKE TO A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO DESTRUCT THE PORTICO ABOVE THE SIDEWALK, [01:05:01] BACK WHEN POOR WILL HAD A BUDGET OF ABOUT THREE MILLION DOLLARS, THE TOWN PARTICIPATED AND ACTUALLY FUNDED IT. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BUILD THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE SCHOOL TO CREATE CONNECTIVITY AND SAFE WALKING WAYS AND ORGANIZE THE PARKING FOR THE SCHOOL, THE TOWN FUNDED IT. WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR THE SCHOOL TO SEEK OUT FUNDING TO BE SELECTED FOR THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, THE TOWN STEPPED UP AND CREATED THE FUNDING AND PUT THE FUNDING TOGETHER. WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WANTED TO PARTNER WITH THE TOWN AND REORGANIZE LIVE OAK PARK TO MAKE IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS AND FUNCTIONAL FOR THEM, THE TOWN PARTICIPATED AND AGREED TO WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE MOVING FORWARD. AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PUT SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THOSE SCHOOLS, THE TOWN STEPPED UP, GOT THE GRANT WRITTEN, GOT IT PASSED AND IS FUNDING THROUGH THAT GRANT, THOSE SCHOOL POSITIONS. AND WE EVEN JUST SIGNED THE IJ THAT IF THAT GRANT DOES EVAPORATE, WE WILL STILL CONTINUE. DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID ABOUT US, WE WILL ALWAYS BE A PARTNER TO THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THESE NUMBERS WITH YOU. UM, I THINK THAT WE'VE ALWAYS EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THAT'S WHY WE REACHED OUT LONG BEFORE WE GOT TO THIS MEETING AND ASKED THEM. AND EVEN AFTER WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY DID NOT CONSENT TO THIS, I STILL REACHED OUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SAID, "LISTEN, I RESPECTFULLY UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD." YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN CHARACTERIZED AS ANOTHER ENTITY THAT CAME FORWARD WITH A MCIP. COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. WE GOT ON THE PHONE, WE HELD THE MEETINGS. WE DID OUR PART AND WE WERE VERY TRANSPARENT. AND I THINK THAT IS MORE UPSETTING THAN ANYTHING ELSE. SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. MAYOR PHILLIPS, MAYOR OF TOWN OF PORT ROYAL. WE'RE LEARNING EVERY DAY. HEY, GOOD EVENING. HOW'S EVERYONE DOING? GREAT. THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING US AGAIN HERE. AS YOU HEARD, THIS IS, UH, THE FIFTH TIME WE'VE NOW DISCUSSED THIS PUBLICLY WITH Y'ALL, TWO FINANCE COMMITTEES. A FIRST READING, YOU HAD YOUR JOINT MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. SO AGAIN, FIVE MEETINGS IN PUBLIC. UM, AND, AND SO I DID WANT TO START WITH, YOU'VE HEARD IN 2009, MCIP WAS APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL. UH, THE TOWN TOOK THAT AND RAN WITH THAT, OKAY? AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING EVER SINCE TO GET TO THIS POINT. 2007 IS FINALLY WHEN THE PORT WAS SOLD INTO, INTO, UH, PRIVATE HANDS, WENT FROM THE STATE'S PORTS AUTHORITY INTO THE PRIVATE HANDS. 2017 WAS WHEN THAT HAPPENED. THAT ORGANIZATION EVENTUALLY SOLD IT TO SAFE HARBOR, AND SAFE HARBOR IS WHO WE HAVE OUR AGREEMENTS WITH NOW. UM, THAT WAS IN 2021. UM, WHEN... AND, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, UM, SOME, SOME QUESTIONS WERE HAD AT THE, AT THE JOINT MEETING ABOUT WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY, WHO'S THE DEVELOPER, AND THESE, THESE COMPANIES THAT OWN IT. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT DOESN'T MATTER IN THE SENSE THAT THOSE THINGS CAN BE SOLD. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT CANNOT EVER BE SOLD IS THE PUBLIC ACCESS. AND THE REASON WHY THAT IS, IS BECAUSE THE TOWN HAS FOUGHT FOR THAT. UM, WE HAVE THAT IN WRITING. IN 2004, WHEN THIS COUNCIL, THE FIVE OF US THAT SERVED TOGETHER, THE VERY FIRST THING WE DID AS A COUNCIL WAS FILE A LAWSUIT AND SUE SAFE HARBOR. LITTLE OLD TOWN OF PORT ROYAL WITH OUR 11 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR, UH, COMPANY, SAFE HARBOR. GOT THEM IN A ROOM. OF COURSE, THEY COUNTER SUED US, BUT WE WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH. WE GOT INTO A ROOM AND WORKED OUT AND REALLY HASHED OUT A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT LAYS OUT THAT THESE THINGS WILL BE PUBLIC FOREVER AND CAN NEVER CHANGE. AND I WANTED TO REFERENCE THAT AGAIN, THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE SIGNED LAST YEAR WITH SAFE HARBOR. HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE. I CAN GET YOU COPIES OF IT. IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL TOO. AGAIN, SIGNED BY SAFE HARBOR'S REPRESENTATION. AS TO THE SPANISH MOSS TRAIL, SAFE HARBOR SHALL DONATE BY PERMANENT EASEMENT THE LAND NECESSARY TO DESIGNATE BY THE TOWN TO A NORMAL WIDTH OF 16 FEET, INCLUDING A MINIMUM OF 10 FEET OF PAVED AREA AND TWO FEET OF UNPAVED AREA. SO THAT IS A PERMANENT EASEMENT THAT SAFE HARBOR HAS TAKEN OUT OF DIRT THEY BOUGHT AND PUT THAT INTO AN EASEMENT THAT THE PUBLIC CAN USE FOREVER. WE NEED PUBLIC DOLLARS TO BUILD THAT SPANISH MOSH TRAIL. UM, SAFE HARBOR ALSO AGREED TO CONVEY LOT G. LOT G IS THE LAND BETWEEN FISH CAMP AND SHELL RING. THAT'S WHAT CONNECTS TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE, TO THE, UH, SHRIMP DOCK THAT WE'RE GONNA BUILD BACK. SAFE HARBOR AGREES TO CONVEY LOT G TO THE TOWN AND FEE SIMPLE IN EXCHANGE FOR A SWAP OF FIVE IN-TOWN LOTS. THERE WERE SOME TOWN HOME PROPERTIES THAT THEY WANTED TO GET TO DO THAT PROPERTY SWAP. THE TOWN ACTUALLY SPENT $100,000 OF OUR MONEY TO BUY ONE OF THOSE LOTS SO WE COULD THEN PACKAGE ALL FIVE AND MAKE THAT SWAP WITH THEM. SO AGAIN, SUED THEM, SPENT MONEY ON PROPERTY TO MAKE THE SWAP SO NOW WE CAN HAVE LOT G, SO NOW THE PUBLIC, NOW THE SHRIMP DOCK CAN COME BACK AND BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE ONLY PLACE, IF YOU'RE A SHRIMPER OR IF YOU'RE A CRABBER HERE IN POR - IN, IN THE BEAUFORT COUNTY, YOU WILL NOW HAVE A PUBLIC DOCK THAT YOU CAN COME USE AND PULL YOUR BOAT UP TO. YOU'LL HAVE A SEAFOOD FACILITY WHERE YOU CAN COME AND SELL YOUR, SELL YOUR CATCHES AT. THE ONLY, ONLY PUBLIC DOCK THAT WILL BE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY AND ONLY THREE IN THE, UH, IN THE STATE. SO AGAIN, THOSE THINGS ARE IN WRITING. SPANISH MOSH TRAIL, PUBLIC DOCK, THAT'S GOTTA BE THERE. WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE, UH, THE PARK, THE WATERFRONT PARK HERE IN OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. WITHIN 60 DAYS OF WRITTEN REQUEST [01:10:01] FROM THE TOWN, THE OWNER SHALL CONVEY THE REMAINING P445 PARK AS ESTABLISHED IN EXHIBIT B. AND THAT'S THAT PARK THAT WE'VE SHOWN Y'ALL, WE'VE SEEN THE PRETTY PICTURES OF. SO AGAIN, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED, WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS NOW? WHY ARE THEY DOING IT NOW? WE'RE READY TO GO. WHEN WE SEND THEM A LETTER AND SAY, WE WANT IT, WE'RE READY TO GET GOING, THEY HAVE TO TURN THAT PROPERTY OVER TO THE TOWN AND TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN 60 DAYS AND WE NEED THE FUNDING TO BUILD THAT PARK. P4, P5 PARK SHALL BE CONVEYED TO THE TOWN BY WAY OF LIMITED WARRANTY DEEDS. AGAIN, WILL BE OWNED BY THE PUBLIC FOREVER. SECTION, SECTION X, SUBSECTION G TALKS ABOUT THE PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE. PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE, AGAIN, CONVEYED TO THE TOWN FOREVER, BUT WE NEED PUBLIC DOLLARS TO CREATE THOSE PUBLIC SPACES. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TASK AGAIN, WHY NOW? WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT WITH SAFE HARBOR. AGAIN, WE SUED THEM IN 2024. WE CAME TO THIS RESOLUTION OF OUR SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT RIGHT HERE THAT LAYS EVERYTHING OUT. AS A PART OF THAT, WE WANNA GET MOVING. TOWN, THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL IS READY AND WE NEED THESE FUNDING DOLLARS TO GET MOVING. AS A PART OF THAT AGREEMENT, WE'VE GOT AN UPDATED SCHEDULE OF ANTICIPATED DEVELOPMENT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T SOME FAR OFF DREAM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEAR 2025 TO 2028, CONSTRUCTION OF IN- INFRASTRUCTURE WILL CONTINUE. WORK ON THE MARINA DOCKS AND UPLAND AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE MARINA PORT VILLAGE WILL COMMENCE IN PHASES. VARIOUS MIXED USE LAND PARCELS AND BUILDINGS IN MARINA VILLAGE ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY THE MID TO LATER PART OF 2026, EXTENDING INTO 2027. THE PARK SITES AND THE P- PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE SYSTEM WILL BE INITIATED AND DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE AND LINK FUTURE PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT. WITHIN 2025 TO 2028, WHICH AGAIN, 2027'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, AS MUCH AS 50% OF VARIOUS LAND WILL, SHOULD BE USED TO DEVELOP DURING THIS PERIOD. THE PARK SITES, THE PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE, AND ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE WILL BE COMPLETED AND CONVEYED TO THE TOWN. YEARS 2028 TO 2023, THIS PERIOD SHOULD SERVE AS A CLOSEOUT PHASE DURING WHICH MUCH OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE AVAILABLE AND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE COMPLETED. SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SHORE UP ANY CONCERNS THAT ANYBODY HAS. WE, WE HAVE FOUGHT SAFE HARBOR. WE HAVE USED, UH, TOWN RESOURCES. AND AGAIN, WE'RE A VERY SMALL TOWN FOR US TO BE SUING MEG - UH, BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES, BUT WE DID THAT FOR THE PEOPLE FOR, FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT AREA STAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO Y'ALL VOTING TONIGHT. SO THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC HEARING AND MAYBE DIDN'T SIGN UP ON THE PORT ROYAL? OKAY. UM, COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I HAVE SOME. GO AHEAD. MADAM CHAIR. UM, I VOTED FOR THIS AT THE, UH, THE LAST RE - THE FIRST READING. I VOTED FOR THIS, BUT WE MET WITH THE, UM, SCHOOL BOARD AND WE WERE TOLD, I BELIEVE BY MR. VAN WILLIS, I'M NOT SURE, SOMEBODY, THAT SAFE HARBOR IS OWNED BY BLACKSTONE. AND I LOOKED IT UP WHILE WE WERE THERE AT THE MEETING AND THEY'RE WORTH, OUR ASSETS ARE 1.4 TRILLION. AND I SAID THEN, I VOTED FOR YES FOR THIS, BUT I'M NOT VOTING FOR IT NOW BECAUSE COME FROM THE INVESTMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR. AND IF A COMPANY HAS 1.4 BILLION, WHY... SO THIS IS MY QUESTION. WHY DO THEY WANT, WHY DO WE WANT MONEY FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD AND OUT OF THEIR BUDGET WHEN THIS COMPANY, SAFE HARBOR, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND YOU SUE THEM AND, AND ALL THAT, YOU HAVE AGREEMENT, BUT WHY DON'T THEY COME UP WITH THE MONEY? THEY HAVE $1.4 TRILLION OF ASSETS. CAN - THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, NO, I'M JUST SAYING, CAN WE GET AN ANSWER FOR THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT - THAT WEIGHS ON MY VOTE. I'LL ANSWER THAT FOR YOU. OKAY. IT'S PUBLIC BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP. WE HAVE TO PUT SOME SKIN IN THE GAME TO BE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED. RIGHT NOW WE OWN ZERO PIECE OF THAT PROPERTY UNTIL THEY FILED THAT LAWSUIT. WE HAVE ZERO FUNDS TO DEVELOP THE LAND THAT THEY DONATED TO THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL, WHICH EFFECTIVELY GOES TO THE PUBLIC TO USE. SO WE HAVE FROM ZERO ACCESS TO THAT ENTIRE SHORELINE TO HAVING TWO DIFFERENT ACCESS POINTS NOW, INCLUDING ONE OF THEM BEING A SHRIMPING DOCK THAT'S GOING TO BE ONLY ONE OF THREE IN THE ENTIRE STATE. THAT'S WHY YOU GET INVOLVED AND THAT'S WHY YOU WORK WITH THEM. YES, THEY ARE A MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR COMPANY. THEY'RE ALSO A MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR COMPANY THAT IF THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TURN OVER THAT LAND AND COULD TELL US TO KICK ROCKS AND MOVE DOWN THE ROAD, THEY COULD HAVE DONE, BUT THEY DIDN'T. THEY WORKED WITH US AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH THEM TOO. THAT PROPERTY WAS FOR SALE, IT GOT PURCHASED, AND THEN IT WENT FOR SALE AGAIN AND THEY PURCHASED IT FROM THEM. THEY OWN IT LEGALLY TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY, JUST LIKE WE HAVE OTHER PARTS OF THIS AGENDA. BUT THAT LANDOWNER WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL AND TO WORK WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY. AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT OR THE MCIP FOR A FUNDING SOURCE SO THEY CAN FINISH THEIR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT. THAT'S HOW WE, THAT'S HOW WE WORK TOGETHER AS PARTNERS. MR. CUNNINGHAM, COULD WE COMMENT ON THAT MR. FLINT? I'M JUST GOING TO BRIEFLY [01:15:01] ADDRESS IT. OKAY. SO THE MCIP PROCESS IS, IS IN PLACE TO BASICALLY SERVE AS A VEHICLE IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAPPEN IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IS IN MOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS, LARGELY AROUND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT - UH-HUH. THE ASSESSMENT RATIOS ARE SO MUCH HIGHER FOR INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY. RIGHT. YOU, YOU USE THIS VEHICLE AS A WAY OF MANIPULATING THE TAX BASE TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN OF THESE INDUSTRIES. THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE AT ALL. THIS IS DEPLOYING THE REVENUES THAT ARE BEING GENERATED FROM SAFE HARBOR, WHO IS NOT RECEIVING ANY TAX BREAKS, ANY BENEFITS AS A RESULT OF THIS. IT'S REDEPLOYING THOSE DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO BE USED FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT OF PUBLIC AMENITIES THAT THE TOWN IS GOING TO OWN. WE HAVE TO PARTNER WITH SAFE HARBOR BECAUSE THEY ARE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, BUT THEY'VE GIVEN US CERTAIN RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS IT. AND IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, THEY'RE A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. THEY HAVE NO OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE ANY OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES. AND SO WE SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEPLOY REVENUES ON A SITE THAT SAT AS A TAX EXEMPT PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. UM, AND SO IT'S ONLY SUBSEQUENT TO THE PURCHASE BY GREGOS AND THE SUBSEQUENT PURCHASE BY SAFE HARBOR THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY STARTED TO SEE SOME INCREMENTAL REVENUES GENERATED OFF OF THAT SITE. UM, THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US, YOU KNOW, ASSUMING THAT THEY GET DOCKS IN THE WATER AND THE REST OF THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPS OUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NUMBER THAT IS CURRENTLY CONTEMPLATED UNDER THE MCIP IS A $10 MILLION TOTAL CAP OF DISTRIBUTION. ONCE THAT NUMBER'S AWAY, WHICH IF THEY ARE, ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND THE DOLLARS START, UH, FLOWING THE WAY THEY'RE ANTICIPATED, THE ENTIRE MCIP WILL GO AWAY AND EVERYONE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED PRO RATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR EXISTING MILLAGE. BUT IN NO WAY DOES THIS UNDERLYING, UM, MCIP AND A VOTE FOR THIS AUTHORIZATION PROVIDE ANY DIRECT BENEFIT IN THE FORM OF TAX CREDITS OR ANY DIRECT BENEFIT TO SAFE HARBOR OTHER THAN HAVING PUBLIC AMENITY ACCESS. CAN WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS AND LEAVE THE SCHOOL BOARD OUT OF IT? I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION. NO? SO, SO ULTIMATELY - AND YOU ANSWERED THE THREE QUESTIONS MS. CROSBY ASKED YOU? SO, SO WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY ADDRESS THEM. UH, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HEARD THEM. OBVIOUSLY TONIGHT WE'VE BEEN ASKING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS FOR, FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW AND, AND AS I THINK THE ADMINISTRATOR, UH, OR THE MANAGER ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE, WE HAD ASKED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND, AND BE IN A PARTNERSHIP. WE CAME THROUGH THIS PROCESS BECAUSE THEIR EXECUTIVE STAFF, OR EXCUSE ME, THEIR, UH, UH, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, UH, SAID, "THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT YOU SHOULD OTHERWISE GO THROUGH. THIS IS, THIS IS HOW WE'LL SUPPORT IT." UM, AND SO WHEN THE COMPROMISE KIND OF WENT OFF THE TABLE, THIS WAS THE AVENUE WE WANTED. WE WANTED TO RENEW THE EXISTING TIF. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, IS THAT THE TAX REVENUES, THE, THE TAX BASE HAD ALREADY INCREASED. UM, AND SO IN HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, THE WAY THAT THIS REVENUE STREAM IS ACTUALLY STRUCTURED, IT ACTUALLY IS A NET BENEFIT FROM WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE ORIGINAL TIF. UNDER THE ORIGINAL TIF, THERE WAS AN AUTHORIZATION FOR $300,000 A YEAR UP TO A TOTAL, UH, FOR A, FOR A 20-YEAR PERIOD, WHICH THEORETICALLY MEANS $6 MILLION. HERE, AT 55% OF THE TAX BASE, AT $10 MILLION, THAT'S ONLY $5.5 MILLION. NOW, THE NUMBERS WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER YEAR OVER YEAR, DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY THE REVENUE STREAM DRIVES, BUT IS IT L, IT IS GONNA BE A 20-YEAR, UH, MCIP, ASSUMING ALL THE DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS THE WAY THE ANTICIPATED DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. UM, SO IF, IF THE, THE TAX INFRASTRUCTURE GETS PUT IN PLACE, IT STARTS GENERATING ADDITIONAL MONEY, IT'S ALREADY GENERATING ABOUT $400,000 A YEAR NOW, THAT DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT TO GET TO THAT MILLION DOLLAR A YEAR, UH, TAX DISTRIBUTION, UH, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THIS TO BE PAID OFF AND, AND PUT IN, IN, IN PLACE VERY, VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT SUSTAINING THE DEBT FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION GOES TO HER THREE ITEMS. YOU WANNA BE A GOOD PARTNER WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH I SUPPORT. HOW WOULD THAT HAPPEN TO ANSWER HER THREE QUESTIONS? SO I THINK WE'RE DOING THAT. OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH ANY TYPES OF REPORTING. THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM THE, THE, THE, THE COUNTY ALREADY. THE COUNTY TREASURER IS GONNA BE DISTRIBUTING THESE FUNDS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE... WE, WE ARE PUBLICLY AUDITED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE IS. THIS WOULD BE PUT INTO A SPECIAL FUND AND THERE'D BE THE ABILITY TO, TO RECEIVE ANY OF THOSE REVENUES. UM, AS FAR AS A CAP GOES, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER IS CAPPED. IT'S CAPPED AT A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, UM, AND THAT'S DISTRIBUTED PRO RATA BASED ON MILLAGE. ONCE YOU GET INTO DISCUSSIONS AROUND HOW YOU BREAK OUT OPERATING MILLAGE AND DEBT SERVICE MILLAGE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE TRIED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. UM, BUT, BUT IT ADDS IN KIND OF AN ADDITIONAL COMPLICATION AS WE SIT HERE ON SECOND READING, AND THE GOAL IS, IS TO BE ABLE TO GET THESE IMPROVEMENTS PUT IN PLACE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. GO AHEAD, MR. LAWSON. UM, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT THAT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS PUT IN PLACE BY A COUNCIL BEFORE US. IT WAS PUT IN PLACE BY A SCHOOL BOARD BEFORE US, AND, AND I'M GONNA VOTE FOR IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL TO BE ABLE TO FUND, UM, THE PRIVATE, UM, UM, OR, OR THE TOWN OWNED, UH, UH, PROPERTIES THERE. [01:20:01] AND ALSO, IF EVERYTHING MOVES FORWARD AS PLANNED, ALL THESE NEW ENTITIES THAT ARE BUILT WILL MOSTLY BE COMMERCIAL. THERE IS SOME RESIDENTIAL, BUT THAT'S ALL GONNA BRING IN MORE REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL QUICKER AND FASTER. UM, AND AGAIN, YOU, YOU'LL SEE, YOU'LL SEE THAT REVENUE THAT THEY'VE GOT, UM, THAT, THAT GOES TO SCHOOL INCREASED, WHICH, WHICH THEN, AGAIN, IS GONNA HELP EVERYONE OUT. SO, UH, AGAIN, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR THIS. AGAIN, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE, THE PEOPLE OF, OF PORT ROYAL AND EVEN THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, BECAUSE I KNOW ONCE IT'S BUILT, I'M GONNA COME THERE, SO. MR. PASSMAN, I THINK YOU HAD YOUR HAND UP. I DID NOT. OH, MR. GLOVER? YES, UM, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. UM, MR. FLYNN, UM, MS. CROSBY TALKED ABOUT, UM, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I THINK I'VE HEARD, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD COMING TO THE TABLE TO SAY, "HERE ARE SOME, UM, AMENITIES THAT WE CAN AT LEAST TALK ABOUT AND SEE WHETHER WE CAN GO ALONG WITH IT." ONE OF IT WAS THE, UH, PROTECTION OF THE DEBTS MILLAGE. UH, SHE MENTIONED A CAP, AND SHE MAY HAVE MENTIONED SOMETHING ELSE THAT I DIDN'T WRITE DOWN. UM, CAN YOU HAVE SOME DISCUSSION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT THAT, UH, AS WE MOVE THIS FURTHER ALONG THE ROAD? OH, YOU ARE NOT AMENICABLE TO EVEN TALKING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AT THIS TIME. SO, SO AS THE LAWYER - BE HONEST WITH ME. AND I, I KNOW YOU'LL HAVE THIS ON YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT. AS THE LAWYER, OBVIOUSLY, CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY CLIENT WITHOUT THE DIRECTION. OKAY. UM, BUT I, I, I, I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT THEY'RE WANNA CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD STEWARD AND WE'RE WILLING TO OPEN UP LINES OF COMMUNICATION ANYTIME THEY WANT TO TALK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MR. CUNNINGHAM. OH, I'M SORRY. MS. HOWARD, I'M SORRY I MISSED HER. YEAH. I'VE, I'VE WATCHED THIS, UM, WHEN GRAY GHOST HAD IT. I'VE WATCHED, UM, WHEN IT GOT BOUGHT, UM, BY SAFE HARBOR. UM, THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL HAS WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, SOME, THE COOPERATION WITH THE THINGS THAT MS. CROSBY MENTIONED. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GET THOSE INCORPORATED. THAT'S UP TO YOU AND YOUR CLIENT, AS YOU SAID. AND I, I DEFINITELY WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS. IT'S, IT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY, AND I, I JUST THINK IT'S GONNA BE A WONDERFUL ASSET FOR THE PUBLIC TOO. ALL RIGHT. ON THIS WAY, MR. CUNNINGHAM, THEN MR. DAWSON. UM, YEAH. DO YOU GUYS HAVE IT IN WRITING THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TRYING TO DISCUSS THIS? UH, YES, WE DO. OKAY. SO, I MEAN, WE'RE IN SECOND READING THEN. THERE REALLY IS NO TIME TO DO THAT, UM, UNLESS YOU PUT A HOLD FACT BECAUSE WE CAN'T MAKE ANY SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THIS DOCUMENT AFTER TODAY UNLESS WE REVERT BACK TO SECOND READING. UM, I DO BELIEVE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM GETTING THE DATA. UM, WITH THAT SAID, MARK TOOK SOME OF THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH ALREADY. THIS WHOLE THING IS TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS PROPERTY. GIVES US PUBLIC ACCESS, WHICH IS OUR BASE, BUT FOR THIS COMPANY, THE BEST THING FOR THEM IS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT, WHICH FUNDS OUR SCHOOLS. IT FUNDS THEIR GENERAL OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS THEIR DEBT AND BONDS. SO THAT'S A DOUBLE WIN-WIN. THAT IS THE ENTIRE GOAL BEHIND THAT. AND I SAID THIS BEFORE, I PULLED THE STATISTICS RIGHT FROM THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEIR WEBSITE. THEY'VE BEEN DOWN IN STUDENTS THREE YEARS IN A ROW TO THE POINT OF A THOUSAND STUDENTS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO THAT, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY IT'S GONNA SWITCH BACK. THE GROWTH IS GONNA HAPPEN. SO THE QUICKER WE CAN START THIS PROCESS SO WE CAN GET THIS PAID, THEN THAT TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF OF THE SCHOOL BOARD WHEN THAT POPULATION STARTS TO CLIMB BACK UP. SO WE HAVE A WINDOW HERE AND I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OPPORTUNITY OF THAT WINDOW. UM, WE, WE, WE'VE RAN THE NUMBERS ON IT. IT'S ABOUT 200 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, 100 AND CHANGE FOR US, 100 AND CHANGE FOR Y'ALL. UM, I, I, I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER TO GIVE PUBLIC ACCESS BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE IT. MR. DAWSON? UM, I, I WANNA SUPPORT THE, UH, MCIP FOR, UH, PORT ROYAL. I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP. UM, BUT I, I, I STRUGGLE FROM THE BEGINNING, UH, WHEN I SAID THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS BEING TAXED MORE THAN THE COUNTY AND PORT ROYAL COMBINED TO FUND THIS MCI PROJECT. AND I, AND I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR TO THEM. AND SO MOVING FORWARD, I WOULD ASK THIS COUNCIL IF WE WOULD CONSIDER, UH, THE, UH, REQUEST THAT WAS MADE BY MS. UH, TANYA FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO EXCLUDE THE DEBT MILLAGE PORTION OF THIS AND ALLOW, AND ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE, UH, OF THE MCIP. I, I, I REALLY WANNA SUPPORT, UH, PORT ROYAL'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, PROCESS. I'M NOT, I'M NOT ANTI, UH, AGAINST PORT ROYAL, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S UNFAIR. WE'RE BEING UNFAIR TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT THEY'RE BEING TAXED MORE THAN THE COUNTY AND, UH, PORT ROYAL COMBINED TO ACTUALLY FUND THIS PROJECT. [01:25:01] I ECHO WHAT MR. DAWSON SAID. ANYBODY ELSE? IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU DO THE BREAKDOWN IN NUMBERS THOUGH. THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALMOST 64% OF THE TAX REVENUE. OKAY. I MEAN, THAT'S A FACT, LET'S BE HONEST. WE HAVE ABOUT 400 MILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. 255 MILLION IS THE SCHOOL. SO IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU BREAK IT UP BY PORTION. IF ANYBODY'S PAYING MORE PROPORTION, IT'S ACTUALLY THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL. SO CAN YOU WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE QUESTION. YES, WE'RE GONNA IGNORE THAT. SO, UH, THE ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE, DO WE KNOW WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BREAKDOWN OF OPERATING VERSUS DEBT SERVICE VILLAGE IS? MS. CROSBY? 120 - 36. SO IT'S, IT'S ROUGHLY 25% OF THE, OF THE AGGREGATE NUMBER. I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM IF THAT'S, IF THERE IS GROUNDS FOR DOING SO. THE WAY THAT YOUR APPROVAL IS, UH, WORKS TONIGHT, THE AUTHORIZATION IS BUILT INTO THE TERMS OF THE MCIP WHERE THE FINAL FORM OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT CAN BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE PARTIES BASED ON THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL. UM, SO THE AUTHORIZATION IS THERE. ANYBOD ELSE ON THAT WAY? NO? MR. MCDELLEN, ANYTHING? I HAVE NO COMMENT. MR. BARTHOLOMEW ONLINE? HEY, UH, I'M SORRY I'M IN THE DARK RIGHT NOW. I'M STANDING IN THE ONE SPOT I HAVE RECEPTION. SO IF I LOSE YOU OR ANYBODY, MY, MY VOTE TONIGHT IS YES. HE'S IN THE DARK. OKAY. YOU CERTAINLY ARE. YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. MS. BROCK, WOULD YOU DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? YES. CHAIR HOWARD? YES. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER MCGILLEN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? UH, ABSTAIN. COUNCILMEMBER DALTON? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER - NO. COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? IN THE DARK, HE SAID YES. YOU SAID YES. OH, YES. YEAH. VICE CHAIR TAVERNICK? NO. THE MOTION PASSES. SIXTH. BABY, CAN YOU THROW YOUR PHONE ON MUTE THOUGH? MUCH APPRECIATED, SIR. SO YOU HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO COME BACK FOR A THIRD READING ON THIS, CORRECT? CORRECT. YES. SO IF YOU CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES OR WHATEVER, FEEL FREE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. 2026 / 51. WHAT? THEY CAN'T MAKE CHANGES. THEY CAN'T MAKE CHANGES. THEY CAN STILL WORK WITH THEM LATER. OKAY. WELL - IF I COULD CLARIFY. 2026 / 51. WHAT? ATTORNEY WANTS - BASED ON THAT COMMENT, IF THEY COME BACK WITH CHANGES AT THE NEXT READING, THAT'S DECEMBER 14TH. IT'S GOT TO GO TO SECOND HAND. THAT WOULD BECOME A REVISED SECOND READING. YEP, WITH A HEARING. AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT A WEEK TO HAVE A THIRD READING IF THIS COUNCIL'S GOING TO RESOLVE IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. CORRECT. UNDERSTOOD. IT, IT PASSED AS IT WAS WRITTEN. CORRECT. RIGHT. UNDERSTOOD. OKAY. CLAUSES IN THERE AND WE CAN NEGOTIATE. SO IF THEY DON'T ALTER IT, IT STAYS AS IT IS, GOES THIRD READING. [13.b. 2026/51: An Ordinance amending the Community Development Code (CDC): Table A.13.40 (May River Community Preservation District Land Use) to permit cemeteries as an allowed use. (PUBLIC HEARING)] 2026 TO 51, ORDINANCE AMENDING THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, TABLE A 13.40, MAY RIVER COMMUNITY PRESERVATION DISTRICT LAND USE TO PERMIT CEMETERIES AS AN ALLOWED USE. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. I'LL SECOND. MR. PASSMAN MOVED. MR. GLOVER, SECOND. MR. MERCHANT, FEEL FREE TO COME UP AND TELL THE PUBLIC A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BRIEF OVERVIEW. YES. UM, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WE RECEIVED AN APPLICATION FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT WOULD AMEND THE MAY RIVER CP DISTRICT TO ALLOW CEMETERIES AS A PERMITTED USE. UM, THE, UH, APPLICANT, UH, REPRESENTS AN OWNER OF A PROPERTY IN THAT AREA AND HAS BEEN IN CON - IN CONVERSATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ABOUT A POSSIBLE, UH, LOCATION OR SP - OR BASICALLY A NEW NATIONAL CEMETERY IN BEAUFORT COUNTY BECAUSE THE CURRENT ONE IN BEAUFORT IS, IS FILLING UP. AND SO THAT IS WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED WITH THIS, UH, TEXT AMENDMENT. THANK YOU. AND THE APPLICANT IS HERE, UM - YEAH, IT SAYS THE APPLICANT WISHES TO SPEAK. WHERE'S THE APPLICANT? DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK, SIR? OH, COME ON DOWN. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO PUT ON THE FLOOR? YES, YOU DO. GO [01:30:01] AHEAD, SIR. EVENING, MY NAME'S JOHN BINDER WITH CHARTER ONE REALTY. I REPRESENT THE LANDOWNER. SO WE'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU A COUPLE TIMES. UM, SO, AND WE'VE TALKED TO ROB MERCHANT, HILLARY AUSTIN ABOUT THE PROCESS OF THIS, THIS ZONING IS VERY MUCH A, UH, A RURAL LOW DENSITY ZONING. AND SO WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT CEMETERIES AND WOULD CEMETERIES BE ALLOWED, WHERE ARE CEMETERIES ALLOWED? AND THEY SAID GENERALLY IT'S PLACES OF WORSHIP AND THAT MEANS A CHURCH COULD BE THERE. AND THEY, WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH THE ORIGINAL ZONING CODE, THEY DID NOT WANT CHURCHES ON MAY RIVER ROAD. SO THAT WAS THE REASON THEY DIDN'T HAVE CEMETERIES AS IN A, A SPECIFIC APPROVED USE. SO WE'RE ASKING THAT CEMETERIES BE ADDED TO THIS, UM, ZONING CODE, BUT NOT CHURCHES. SO THAT'S THE, UH, THAT'S THE ASK. UM, CEMETERIES ARE VERY, UM, ENVIRONMENTAL, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, RIGHT? THERE'S, THERE'S NO HOUSES. WE'RE NOT TAKING DOWN ANYTHING. UH, BUT THEY'RE GONNA KEEP, UM, YOU KNOW, TREES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WE'LL LAND PLAN IT AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? UM, SO, UH, THE ORIGINAL BEAUFORT NATIONAL CEMETERY, UH, WAS FOUND IN 1863 BY ABEL LINCOLN, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL, UH, BUT IT IS FILLING UP AND, UH, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE IN A SPOT WHERE WHEN THEY'RE READY TO EXPAND OR IF THEY'RE READY TO EXPAND, WE'RE THERE, UH, WITH AN APPROVED USE. UM, AND THAT'S THE ASK. SO WE DON'T SEE... I, I WENT THROUGH, I, NOBODY ASKED FOR CEMETERIES, BUT I COULDN'T FIND A CEMETERY GO THROUGH YOUR, UH, COUNCIL. SO, UH, YOU TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I COULDN'T FIND IT IN THE LAST 25 YEARS OR SO. SO THE, UM, THE ASK IS BASICALLY EVERYBODY KEEPS THE SAME ZONING IN THIS OVERLAY DISTRICT, THIS, UM, MAY RIVER COMMUNITY PRESERVATION DISTRICT. EVERYONE KEEPS THEIR SAME ZONING EXCEPT YOU GET AN ADDED, YOU CAN HAVE CEMETERIES. BUT AGAIN, CEMETERIES HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED FOR BEFORE. SO I DON'T THINK IT'S MUCH OF AN AD. UM, AND I THINK TO HAVE A SPOT TO HONOR OUR VETERANS WOULD BE, UM, AWESOME TO HAVE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO - THANK YOU, SIR. UM, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. NO ONE SIGNED UP, BUT IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? COME ON UP TO THIS, THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE. MS. LAMARCA. GOOD EVENING. UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME YOU DEALT WITH THIS, YOU HAD QUESTIONS AND YOU ASKED MR. MERCHANT TO COME BACK WITH ANSWERS. AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THEM WAS CARVING OUT ON THIS PROPERTY, UH, THE ABILITY TO DO CEMETERIES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THE ENTIRE PRESERVATION DISTRICT. I DON'T KNOW IF I GOT THAT RIGHT. IF I DID, I'M STILL WAITING FOR THE ANSWER. THANK YOU. SO I BELIEVE THAT WAS FROM MR. LAWSON, SO I'LL TURN TO COUNCIL NOW. YEAH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS IN MY DISTRICT AND IT'S, IT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT, UH, AND, AND I'VE TALKED TO MR. BINDER, UM, ABOUT THIS AS WELL. UM, AND CEMETERIES ACTUALLY WOULD, WOULD BE A, A GOOD USE. UM, THEY DON'T GO TO SCHOOL, THEY DON'T TRAVEL ON ROADS. UM, YOU KNOW, SO AGAIN, YOU LOOK AT THE, THE POPULATION. I, HOWEVER, WOULD, WOULD RATHER SEE THIS COME FORWARD AS A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AS OPPOSED TO A, A TEXT AMENDMENT, JUST BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS BY US CHANGING THIS, THIS AFFECTS THE WHOLE MAY RIVER AREA, UM, NOT JUST ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO, UM, I'M GONNA VOTE NO. IT'S NOT THAT I'M, I'M AGAINST CEMETERIES. I THINK THEY'D COME BACK AND BE ABLE TO, UM, HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING THE ZONING FOR A CEMETERY. AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, UM, LETTING PEOPLE KNOW TODAY'S A PUBLIC MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'VE HAD NO ONE HERE TO COME TO OPPOSE IT. UM, THERE IS ANOTHER CEMETERY RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD THAT'S AT, AT, AT, GOING INTO BLUFFTON, UM, UH, ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE THAT'S VERY CLOSE TO THIS. UH, THIS IS AN ISOLATED PIECE OF PROPERTY. UH, AND AGAIN, IT WOULD BE A GOOD USE. BUT AGAIN, FOR ME, AGAIN, UH, JUST LOOKING AT IT, I WOULD RATHER SEE IT COME FORWARD AS A, AS A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT AS OPPOSED TO A TEXT AMENDMENT THAT AFFECTS THE WHOLE MAY RIVER, UM, OVERLAY AREA. ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER? OH, MR. CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, I MEAN, IT, IT'S THE SAME CONVERSATION WE HAD BEFORE. I'M NOT, [01:35:01] ONE, I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW WE HAVE AN APPLICANT THAT COMES TO TRY TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE OVERLAY DISTRICT, ONE APPLICANT. THAT STILL BAFFLES ME, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE PROPERTY OWNER, THAT PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD BE COMING FOR THEIR ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY, WHICH IS EXACTLY A TEXT AMENDMENT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EITHER WANNA BE IN THE MAP AMEN - IN THE OVERLAY OR OUT OF THE OVERLAY, BUT CHANGING THE OVERLAY YOURSELF, THAT TECHNICALLY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO COME FROM THE COUNTY OR FROM A COURT ORDER. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW WE EVEN GOT TO THAT PROCESS TO BEGIN WITH, BUT THE SAME CONCEPT I HAVE THE SAME AS YOURS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE O - ENTIRE OVERLAY WITH NO PUBLIC OPINION, NO PUBLIC INPUT, AND REALLY WE'RE SAYING IT'S ONE APPLICANT THAT WANTS TO CHANGE THE ENTIRE THING. AND IT SOUNDS ALMOST HUMOROUS, BUT WE HAVE THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF THING IN THE AGENDA AND THEY'RE TAKING TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS. SO HOW ARE WE GONNA TAKE IT ONE WAY ON THIS, THIS PIECE OF LAND, BUT THIS WAY ON THE OTHER PIECE OF LAND? SO, I MEAN, WE'RE UP HERE AT COUNCIL HAVING THE EXACT SAME THING, JUST DIFFERENT WORDS, BUT IT'S THE EXACT SAME PROCESS. SO UNLESS WE'RE APPROVING BOTH, I DON'T SEE OR DENYING BOTH. I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN EVEN SUPPORT THIS THE WAY IT'S BEING LAID OUT. SO THIS IS RIGHT THERE IN OUR COMMUNITY IN BLUFFTON. UM, FOR SOME REASON, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WERE NOT INFORMED UNLESS I MISSED IT THAT CHURCHES WERE NOT ALLOWED AND THIS WOULD ALSO STILL NOT ALLOW THEM EVEN THOUGH THAT'S USUALLY THE USE. I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT NOW AS WELL. I WILL CONTINUE TO NOT SUPPORT THIS AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE OTHERS AS WELL, IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THE ENTIRE REPRESENTATIVES VOTED NO FOR THIS IN THAT AREA LAST TIME. THE ONLY ONES I VOTED YES FOR ARE OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? MR. GLOVER. YES, MADAM CHAIRMAN. UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS, UH, MOTION AND I'M ENCOURAGING OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, TO SUPPORT IT AS WELL. THIS IS NOT, UM, THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT. NOW, WHETHER THIS SHOULD BE A, A CONDITIONAL RIGHT OR A, UM, UM, A, A RIGHT OUT RIGHT TO HAVE A CEMETERY IN THE PRESERVATION SIDE, UM, IS ONE THING. UM, BUT THIS PROPERTY HERE HAS BEEN BEFORE THIS COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS. AND, UH, AT FIRST IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE RULE AND CRITICAL LAND. UM, IT WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE RULE AND CRITICAL LAND PROGRAM AS, IT WAS BROUGHT BY, UM, GREEN SPACE AS WELL. AND I THINK THIS LANDOWNER WANTS TO PRESERVE THIS PROPERTY AND THEY DON'T WANT IT TO BE DEVELOPED. UM, AND WE ARE FORCING THEM TO HAVE THIS PROPERTY TO DEVELOP. UM, NOW HOW DO WE WORK THROUGH THIS? I DON'T KNOW, BUT, UM, I THINK KNOWING THAT THE NATIONAL CEMETERY RIGHT NOW, UM, SUPPOSED TO BE MAXED OUT IN TWO, 2035 WHEN THEY PURCHASED THAT ADDITIONAL LAND, IS GONNA PROBABLY BE MAXED OUT IN THREE MORE YEARS. UM, IT SEEMED TO BE A NICE AREA FOR OUR VETERANS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN. ANYBODY ELSE? I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. GO AHEAD. UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IF IT WAS JUST, IF IT WAS REZONED, JUST THIS, THIS PARCEL, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT COULDN'T BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE. I, I THINK BY ADDING THIS, UM, CEMETERY AND KNOWING THAT CHURCHES WILL NOT BE THERE, UH, BECAUSE THEY GENERATE TRAFFIC AS WE WELL KNOW, UM, I'M GONNA SUPPORT IT AT THIS TIME. MR. MERCHANT, CAN YOU ANS - RESPOND TO MR. CUNNINGHAM AND MR. LAWSON'S CONCERN? WELL, UM, IT'S, THIS CAME FORWARD AS A TEXT AMENDMENT. UH, THIS COUNCIL HAS LOOKED AT MANY TEXT AMENDMENTS. IT'S JU - AND IT IS TRUE. I MEAN, WHEN YOU APPROVE A TEXT AMENDMENT, YOU'RE APPROVING A CHANGE THAT AFFECTS ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN A DIS - A DISTRICT. UM, SO YES, I, I AGREE, BUT IT'S NOT AN UNUSUAL, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT FOR EVERY TWO MAP AMENDMENTS THAT, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVE IN OUR OFFICE, WE RECEIVE ONE REQUEST FOR A TEXT AMENDMENT. WE BROUGHT MANY FORWARD TO COUNCIL. SO IT'S NOT AN UNUSUAL THING THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD. UM, THE, SO I DID REACH OUT TO THE APPLICANT AFTER THE LAST MEETING AND, AND THEY CHOSE TO MOVE FORWARD AND HAVE THIS HEARD AS A PUBLIC HEARING. AND, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE AWARE OF THE OPTION FOR, UM, MAP AMENDMENT, BUT UNTIL THE APPLICANT MAKES THAT REQUEST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS PROJECT REMAINS ACTIVE UNTIL IT'S EITHER VOTED DOWN OR APPROVED, SO. DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S A CONTRACT ALREADY IN PLACE FOR THIS PROPERTY TO BECOME A CEMETERY OR IS THAT JUST WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO BE DONE, BUT THERE'S NO CONTRACT? NO? HE SAID NO. OKAY. SO WE'RE [01:40:01] APPROVING SOMETHING WHERE IT HASN'T EVEN HAD DISCUSSIONS TO GO INTO A CONTRACT YET. SO EVEN IF IT WENT DOWN THIS ROUTE, WHY WOULDN'T WE JUST WAIT UNTIL THAT CONTRACT'S IN HAND? AND I, I DO WANNA OFFER ONE OPTION, UH, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT, UH, YOU KNOW, I DID MENTION THIS TO THEM. RIGHT NOW, THIS IS BEING PROPOSED AS A PERMITTED USE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE A PERMITTED USE IN A TABLE, THAT MEANS IF IT'S LISTED THERE, IT'S REVIEWED AT THE STAFF LEVEL. AS LONG AS THEY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, IT'S APPROVED AT THE STAFF LEVEL. THERE'S AN OPTION BECAUSE THIS VERY DISTRICT DOES ALLOW, UM, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION AS A SPECIAL USE. AND SO ONE OPTION, YOU, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN THE MAP AMENDMENT WOULD BE TO ALLOW CEMETERIES AS A SPECIAL USE. AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IS THAT WHEN THE APPLICANT WAS READY TO BE C - TO COME FORWARD WITH THE PLAN, THEY WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THEN IT WOULD NEED TO GET A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPROVED BY THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS. SO THAT WOULD KICK IT INTO A PUBLIC HEARING AND THERE'D BE NOTIFICATION. SO THAT IS AN OPTION AVAILABLE. SO, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH THIS PARTICULAR TEXT AMENDMENT OR, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAP AMENDMENT AT THE REQUEST OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO THAT, THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION AVAILABLE, BUT NOT WITH THIS PARTICULAR ITEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN ON THAT OR NO? I DON'T WANNA MAKE YOU TALK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, YEAH, I, I'D LIKE TO KIND OF ANSWER THE CONCERNS OF BOTH MR. LAWSON AND MR. CUNNINGHAM. THERE IS AN OPTION TO DO A MAP AMENDMENT, AND I FELT LIKE BY PULLING OUT ONE PARCEL AND SAYING, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PART OF THIS, UM, THIS DISTRICT, THIS CONSERVATION DISTRICT IS UNFAIR AND IT COULD CREATE OTHERS THAT WANT TO FOLLOW SUIT AND PULL OUT." SO I FELT THAT THE MOST FAIR THING TO DO WAS LEAVE THE RIGHTS OF EVERYBODY INTACT, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ADDING THE RIGHT TO HAVE CEMETERIES ACROSS THE BOARD. I FELT THAT WAS THE FAIREST THING TO DO. BUT IF YOU'RE TELLING ME, UH, TO DO A MAP AMENDMENT AND PULL ONE PARCEL OUT OF THAT DISTRICT AND REZONE IT T2R, ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL TAKE THAT. OR A SPECIAL USE, AS MR. MERCHANT JUST SAID. THAT, THAT WAS, THE SPECIAL USE WOULD STAY IN THE DISTRICT AND IT WOULD JUST HAVE A, IT WOULDN'T BE A PERMITTED USE, IT'D BE A SPECIAL USE. THAT WORKS, THAT WORKS FINE. IT'S, UM, IT ALLOW, IT CREATES A LITTLE BIT OF WORK AND HAVING TO COME BACK TO ASK FOR PERMISSION ON SOMETHING. UM, BUT, UM, YEAH, WE DO, WE HOPE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT. ANY OTHER COMMENT THAT END, THIS END? MR. BARTHOLOMEW, IS HE STILL WITH US IN THE DARK? OH, OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. UM - I HAVE TO READ THE TEXT AMENDMENT REQUEST. OH, GO AHEAD. YEAH. ARE YOU WITHDRAWING THIS REQUEST? ARE WE CANCELING THIS O - THIS, UH - YOU HAVE NOT WITHDRAWN YOUR REQUEST, RIGHT? I'M NOT WITHDRAWING MY REQUEST. I, I THINK IT'S A REASONABLE REQUEST. I'M TELL - I'M ANSWERING QUESTIONS AS TO - HE HAS NOT WITHDRAWN IT, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO VOTE ON IT. BUT IF IT GOES DOWN, YOU HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE. IS THAT RIGHT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, MR. BASLER. I MOVE THAT WE GRANT THE REQUEST FOR THE TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. ONE, IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH ANY PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE OR THE CODE OF ORDINANCE. IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS. IT DOES AD- ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE ZONES IN THIS DEVELOPMENT CODE. IT WOULD RESULT IN A LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERN AND WOULD NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. AS CLARITY, I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THREE OF THOSE. HE NEEDS A SECOND. SO MY QUESTION WOULD BE, CAN WE ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST SOME OF THOSE BECAUSE THE FIRST TWO DEFINITELY WOULDN'T BE A, IT DOES GO AGAINST IT. IT GOES AGAINST THE OVERLAY AND IT DOES GO AGAINST THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT AREA. SO HOW CAN WE SAY THAT IT DOESN'T? FIRST HE HAS TO GET A SECOND ON THE CRITERIA AND THEN YOU CAN AMEND THE CRITERIA. YEAH, HE SECONDED IT. I'LL SECOND IT AGAIN. MR. GLOVER. YEAH. OKAY. AND YOU CAN MOVE TO AMEND THE CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE THE ONES YOU DON'T THINK ARE APPLICABLE. I MEAN, EASILY THE FIRST TWO, [01:45:01] RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE'RE CHANGING AN OVERLAY. SO IT DOES NOT, IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS, THAT'S WHY WE'RE CHANGING IT OR TRYING TO CON - CHANGE IT. AND YOU CAN'T SAY IT'S NOT IN THE DEVEL - UM, DOESN'T GO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT CODE BECAUSE YOU'RE CHANGING THE CODE OF THAT AREA. SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD EVEN SAY THAT THAT IS TRUE. I WILL NOTE THAT THE BACKUP SAYS SEPTEMBER 10TH, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY FOR THIS. THAT'S FINE. YEAH. I ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT. ALL RIGHT. IF WE'RE GOING BACK TO COMMENT, A- A- AGAIN, AGAIN, I, MR. BINER'S DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THIS. MY THING IS BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES THROUGH A, A, A TEXT AMENDMENT, NONE OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES ARE NOTIFIED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. IF IT'S DONE THROUGH A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, WE THEN NOTIFY ALL THE NEIGHBORS THAT WE'RE CHANGING THE ZONING. SO AGAIN, THAT'S MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THIS IS THAT WE'RE CHANGING THE ZONING. NO ONE IN MY DISTRICT, EXCEPT THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO AND TRIED TO LET THEM KNOW IT' HAPPENING - NOBODY KNOWS IT. KNOWS THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS, THIS DECISION. AGAIN, I, AS I MENTIONED, I THINK A CEMETERY WOULD BE A GREAT USE. IT'S JUST THE, THE FACT OF, OF US MAKING THIS DECISION, UM, WITHOUT THE, THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT KNOWING THAT, THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS CHANGE. NEED A SECOND FOR LOGAN'S MOTION TO AMEND. I'M NOT AMENDING. I JUST WOULD LIKE THE PERSON I MADE THE MOTION TO AT LEAST DEBATE ME OR GIVE ME SOME TYPE OF RESPONSE TO CONVINCE ME. I'M GIVING VALID REASONS OF WHY THEY DO NOT APPLY. JUST BECAUSE WE SAY THEY APPLY DOESN'T MEAN IT'S TRUE. SO I JUST WANT SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THAT ACTUALLY APPLIES BECAUSE THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE LITERALLY HAVE AN OVERLAY THAT SAYS THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF THAT. IF YOU'RE CHANGING IT, YOU'RE LITERALLY DISAGREEING WITH THAT. THAT'S BASED ON YOUR STAFF REPORT. DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE TWO CONCERNS? MERCHANT, YOU WANNA ANSWER HIS QUESTION? THERE YOU GO. AND MR. MCELLAN, IT'LL BE YOU. THANK YOU. SO, UM, FOR ONE THING, IT'S NOT AN OVERLAY. IT'S, IT'S A ZONING DISTRICT. SO WE'LL - FAIR. THE OTHER THING IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE USE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS PARTICULAR ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE REST OF THE DISTRICT, WE LOOK AT THE PURPOSE STATEMENT FOR THAT PARTICULAR MAY RIVER CP, IT'S DEFINITELY A VERY LOW DENSITY. UH, IT'S MEANT TO PRESERVE THE SCENIC QUALITIES OF, OF, UM, HIGHWAY 46 AND MAY RIVER ROAD. AND IT WAS OUR DETERMINATION JUST IN LOOKING AT THE OTHER USES WHICH, YOU KNOW, PASSIVE AND ACTIVE PARKS ARE ALLOWED, THAT THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER. THAT IS CERTAINLY, UH, THAT IS JUST AN OPINION FROM STAFF, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DEBATED BY, BY COUNCIL. BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE BASED THAT RECOMMENDATION ON. AND WHAT ABOUT THREE AND FOUR WHEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE CITING THE NATIONAL CEMETERY WHEN HE JUST HAS SAID HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL CE- CEMETERY? SO HOW ARE WE USING THAT AS A BASIS IF WE HAVE NO CONTRACT IN HAND? THREE AND FOUR IS REQUIRED BY CHANGE OF CONDITIONS. 'CAUSE WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS AT THE STAFF LEVEL, WE HAD TO RECKON WITH IS, IS A CEMETERY IN THIS DISTRICT APPROPRIATE? WHETHER IT'S THAT PARTICULAR SITE, WHETHER IT'S A NATIONAL CEMETERY, YOU KNOW, OR ANY KIND OF CEMETERY, AND BASED ON THE OTHER USES AND THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE DISTRICT, WE WOULD DETERMINE THAT THAT WAS, IT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THAT. MR. MCGILLEN, YES. SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT. I MEAN, WERE YOU FINISHED? WELL, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY WHEN IT'S A TEXT AMENDMENT, YOU, OR REALLY ANY ZONING AMENDMENT, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT THAT COULD PRODUCE IN THE DISTRICT. OH, UM, A Y - A YES VOTE, UH, UH, DR- DRAGS ALL OF THE PROPERTIES INTO THE, UH, THE REZONING THROUGH THE TEXT AMENDMENT. A NO VOTE, UM, WOULD ALLOW, UH, THE, UM, OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO REFILE FOR A, UH, ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, WHICH HE HAS NOT OBJECTED TO AND INDICATED THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ALTERNATIVE. SO, UH, I CLEARLY UNDERSTAND NOW THAT A YES VOTE BRINGS EVERYBODY IN UNWILLINGLY BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT A, A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT WILL NOTIFY THEM AND THEY CAN OBJECT IF THEY WANT TO. AND THE OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE DOESN'T MIND GOING BACK AND MAKING THE FILING FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT. SO THE PATH FORWARD TO ME IS VERY CLEAR. AND I WON'T LEAD ANYONE DOWN THAT PATH, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR. THANK YOU, MR. MCGILL. ANYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL THE QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MR. DAWSON WANTS TO CALL THE QUESTION. LET'S GO. COUNCIL MEMBER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER REED? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCGELLAN? [01:50:01] NO. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, NO. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? NO. NO. NO. CHAIR HOWARD? YES. THE MOTION FAILS. THE RE - ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. DAVID OFF THE AIR? YES. OKAY. HE'S OFF, YES. COMPLETELY DARK. SO, MR. MERCHANT, WOULD YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, PLEASE? THANK YOU. [13.c. 2026/52: An Ordinance to reallocate remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the amount of $1,646,081.17 towards existing projects as obligated to the Department of Treasury. (PUBLIC HEARING)] OKAY. 2026 / 52 IS AN ORDINANCE TO REALLOCATE REMAINING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT ARPA FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,646,081.17 TOWARDS EXISTING PROJECTS AS OBLIGATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. UM, THIS WENT TO FINANCE OCTOBER 19TH. IT WAS 7-2. THE FIRST READING, OCTOBER 26TH, WAS 8-3. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MOTION TO PUT ON THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MR. CUNNINGHAM. AND A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU, MR. LAWSON. UM, CFO ALAN MILBURN, COME ON BACK. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS. YEAH. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, EVENING COUNTY COUNCIL. SO - IT'S YOUR FIRST MEETING, ISN'T IT? I'LL BUCKLE UP. YEAH. IT'S A SIXTH DAY. I FIGURED IT'S TRIAL BY FIRE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY TO MAKE THIS LOOK GOOD. UM, IF YOU'LL RECALL, BACK IN 2022 IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, UM, BEAUFORT COUNTY RECEIVED $37 MILLION IN ARPA FUNDS, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. SO WHEN THOSE RULES WERE ORIGINALLY PROMULGATED, UM, ALL OF THESE OBJECTS HAD TO BE OBLIGATED BY, UM, 12 / 31 / 2024 AND NOW SPENT BY 12 / 31 / 2026. SO A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE, WE HAD, UM, A SAVINGS OF ONE OF THE PROJECTS ON THE LOBECO WATERLINE. SO A QUICK, UM, SOLUTION TO THIS SO WE DON'T SEND ANY MONEY BACK TO WASHINGTON IS WE REALLOCATE THIS THEN, UM, TO THE, UM, WORKFORCE, WORKFORCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. YOU KNOW, THAT WAY WE DON'T RETURN ANY MONEY TO, UM, WE SPEND IT HERE LOCALLY. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP. DOES ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE? ALL RIGHT. I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE FROM COUNCIL? YES, WE HAD THE MOTION. WE HAD THE MOTION. OKAY. ANYONE ON COUNCIL? I JUST WANNA KNOW IF WE GOT AN UPDATE ON, UM, MR. DAWSON'S REQUEST ABOUT INTERNET. WE SAID THEY GET - ABOUT LA VICO. YEAH. THERE WE TALKED ABOUT - YEAH. YEAH. JARED, JARED RESPONDED TO MY, UH, TO MY QUESTION AS TO WHETHER WE WERE CERTAIN THAT THE, UH, FUNDS COULDN'T BE ALLOCATED TO EXTEND THE, UH, BROADBAND LINES DOWN INTO SHELDON AND, AND, UH, BIGGER STATE, UH, UM, BEFORE THE END OF, UH, DECEMBER 31ST. BUT JARED, YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN, UH, RESPOND THAT IF YOU WILL. YEAH, SO THAT'S CORRECT. SO THERE'S TWO PARTS THAT YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT. ONE WAS RELOCATING IT TO INTERNET, TO BROADBAND SERVICES, AND WE'VE TALKED WITH OUR COMMUNICATION PROVIDERS, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE CAPACITIES TO HAVE THAT DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO REACHED BACK OUT TO BEAUFORT JASPER. UM, THEY'RE FACILITATING THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT RIGHT NOW TO ASK IF THEY COULD EVEN DESIGN AND PERMIT THE SECTION ON JOHN MEEKS ROAD OFF OF MORGAN ROAD. UM, AND, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY CAME BACK THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WOULD HAVE TIME TO GET THAT PORTION OF WORK DONE EITHER. SO, UM, WE DIDN'T FIND ANY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF WHAT'S PRESENTED. UH, GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST SAYING IF THAT, IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST MEETING. CAN WE PUT THAT INTO OUR WORKSHOP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT, THAT WE KNOW THAT'S A NECESSITY OUT THERE AND START ALLOCATING FUNDS OR A FUNDING SOURCE TO EXPAND THE BROADBAND OUT THERE? SOMETHING HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LET THAT GO TO THE WAYSIDE AND WE ACTUALLY GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED. YEAH. AS FAR AS THE BROADBAND, UM, WE'D HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH IT AND POTENTIALLY, UM, SEE WHAT PROJECT IS OUT AND AVAILABLE. UM, AS FAR AS THE WATERLINE, THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT COULD BE LOADED UP AS A CIP PROJECT REQUEST. AND THEN WE COULD TALK FURTHER ON THE BROADBAND TO SPECIFY WHAT TYPE OF PROJECT THAT WOULD BE. IN JANUARY WHAT'S HAPPENED? YEAH, UM - MR. JOHNSON? JANUARY WHEN WE START OUR, UM, OUR BUDGET, UH, REVIEW AND PUTTING THE BUDGET TOGETHER, I'M CERTAINLY GONNA BRING IT FORWARD TO, UH, ASK THIS COUNCIL TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE BROADBAND INTO THE SHELDON AND BIG STATE AREA, UH, RATHER [01:55:01] THAN GOING THROUGH A C - UH, CIP. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE COMMENT OR QUESTION, MS. HOWARD? UM, I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE THE BEAUFORT-JASPER HOUSING TRUST FUND, UH, SO THAT WE CAN PUT THESE FUNDS TOWARD THAT ORGANIZATION AND THEY CAN DO GOOD WORK WITH IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. FREELICKS. MR. MILBURN, APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. UM, WE SPENT MOTION SECOND HEARING. I CLOSED IT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, GOING ON TO [13.d. 2026/53:An Ordinance amending chapter 2, Article IV of the Code of ordinances of Beaufort County, South Carolina, to define the reporting structure, duties, and mandatory legal reporting requirements of the county staff attorney to the Beaufort County Council; and providing for severability and an effective date (PUBLIC HEARING)] LETTER D, AN ORDIN - 2026 / 53, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE FOUR OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA TO DEFINE THE REPORTING STRUCTURE, DUTIES, AND MANDATORY LEGAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF THE COUNTY STAFF ATTORNEY TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. MCALLEN. A SECOND? SECOND. BY MR. PASSIMENT. AND THE VOTE AT FIRST READING WAS EIGHT TO THREE. SO MR. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT MR. MCKELLEN WILL EXPLAIN. YEAH. UM, THANK YOU. MOD - UH, MODIFYING THE REPORTING DYNAMIC OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WITHIN A SOUTH CAROLINA COUNCIL ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE REQUIRES NAVIGATING THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOME RULE ACT. UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE 49630, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR GENERALLY DIRECTS AND SUPERVISES ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OWES THEIR ETHICAL, FIDUCIARY, AND LEGAL ALLEGIANCE STRICTLY TO THE ENTITY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, AS REPRESENTED BY ITS ULTIMATE GOVERNING BODY, THE COUNTY COUNCIL, MANY SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES ESTABLISH A DUAL OR A DIRECT REPORTING LINE FOR LEGAL MATTERS TO ENSURE OBJECTIVE LEGAL GUIDANCE ON EXECUTIVE AFFAIRS. AND IN FACT, IN SOUTH CAROLINA, 29 OF THE 46 COUNTIES HAVE A, UM, COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THE SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE THAT'S ACCOMPANYING THIS, UH, IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL CREATES A FORMAL FRAMEWORK ESTABLISHING DIRECT LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY, ROUTINE REPORTING MECHANISMS, AND STRICT TO COUNTY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCALLEN. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR IT, BUT IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO ADDRESS THIS ORDINANCE? NOW WOULD BE YOUR TIME. OKAY, SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE TO COUNCIL. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? MR. DAWSON. IF I MIGHT YEAH, I VOTED AGAINST THIS AT THE, UH, LAST SESSION. UM, I AM ADAMAN- ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO, UM, ACTUALLY EXCLUDING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FROM ACTUALLY, UH, BEING PRIVY TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORTING TO THE, THAT POSITION, THE ADMINISTRATOR POSITION, UH, PRIOR TO, UM, UH, COUNCIL BEING, UH, ADVISED. NOW, LARRY, IN YOUR, UH, IN YOUR PRESENTATION AT THIS, JUST THEN, YOU MENTIONED, UH, DUE. YES. SOME COUNTIES HAVE DUE. YEP. SO I WOULD BE AMENABLE TO SUPPORTING A DUAL REPORTING TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND TO COUNCIL RATHER THAN JUST, UH, JUST RE- REG - DISREGARDING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND, AND REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE COUNCIL. LE- LET ME, LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THE DUAL REPORTING, UH, REQUIREMENT WOULD BE, THE DUAL REPORTING STRUCTURE. AND THAT'S IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL AND PART OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE DUAL REPORTING STRUCTURE. FOR DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL MATTERS, OFFICE BUDGETING AND OPERATIONAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. FOR ALL SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL ADVICE, LITIGATION STRATEGIES, CONTRACTUAL LIABILITIES, AND STATUTORY INTERPRETATIONS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY SHALL REPORT DIRECTLY TO BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. SO IT, THE DUAL REPORTING STRUCTURE IS, UM, A, UH, IMPORTANT PART, UH, OF THIS ORDINANCE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL MATTERS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. AND THAT, UH, COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL PROVIDING FULL ASSISTANCE TO THE, UH, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE. BUT FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATING TO LEGAL ADVICE, LITIGATION STRATEGIES, CONTRACTUAL LIABILITIES, ET CETERA, THEY WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO BUFORD COUNTY COUNCIL. MADAM CHAIR, I, I MOVE TO AMEND THE, THE, UH, RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, UH, ADD THE DUAL, UH, REPORTING OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO, UH, [02:00:01] THE ADMINISTRA - UH, I'M SORRY, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY TO THE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNTY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE. IS THERE A SECOND TO THAT? I THINK IT'S ALREADY IN THERE. YEAH. GERALD, THAT IS THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE, IS THAT IT IS A DUAL REPORTING SYSTEM. HOW ABOUT IT EXCLUDES A PORTION OF IT WHEN IT COMES TO, WHAT DID YOU, WHAT'D YOU SAY, UM, LEGAL MATTERS AND STUFF? THAT DOESN'T GO TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, IT COMES DIRECTLY TO COUNTY COUNCIL. THAT'S CORRECT. LEGAL ADVICE, LITIGATION STRATEGIES, CONTRACTUAL LIABILITIES, WHICH WOULD BE THE BUSINESS OF COUNTY COUNCIL ANYWAY, UH, AND WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY REPORTED TO US NOW, UH, BY THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO ON, WHO AT THE TIME AT, AT THE MOMENT REPORTS DIRECTLY TO, TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. YEAH. BUT IF, BUT IF, BUT IF WE APPROVE THIS, THEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE REPORTING OF THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT COME BEFORE COUNTY COUNCIL. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, BE DEALING WITH THE LEGAL MATTERS THAT, UH, THE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WOULD NORMALLY HANDLE ON THE EXECUTIVE STAFF, YES. IT'S JUST THE OTHER MATTERS HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT WITH REGARD TO LEGAL ADVICE AND LITIGATION STRATEGIES, ET CETERA. OKAY. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL, THERE ARE 26 COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT OPERATE, UH, WITH THIS DUAL REPORTING STRUCTURE. OKAY. MY MOTION'S ON THE FLOOR. MOTIONS ON THE FLOOR. SECOND. ANYONE WANT TO SECOND THAT AMENDMENT? OKAY. AMENDMENT DIES AND WE'RE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION. MS. HOWARD. I HAVE A QUESTION. UM, THE REQUIREMENT FOR MONTHLY PENDING LITIGATION AND LIABILITY MATRIX, AS WE WELL KNOW, OFTEN THINGS, UM, S- SIT FOR A WHILE WHEN THEY'RE IN COURT. I, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, A MONTHLY WRITTEN SUMMARY WAS REQUIRED. UH, SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PENDING LITIGATION MATRIX? YEAH, MONTHLY PENDING LITIGATION MATRIX WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH A WRITTEN SUMMARY PROVIDED MONTHLY TO THE COUNCIL SINCE IT APPEARS IT WOULD HAVE THE SAME EFFECT. IT'S JUST CUMULATIVE OVER TIME. THE COUNCIL IS FREE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT VERBIAGE, BUT THE IMPACT WILL BE THE SAME UNDER THE COUNTY STAFF ATTORNEY'S OBLIGATIONS TO KEEP THE COUNCIL UPDATED AS TO THE STATUS OF PENDING LITIGATION AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS INVOLVING THE COUNTY. IT JUST SEEMS ONEROUS TO ME. UM, I, I, I CAN UNDERSTAND A QUARTERLY, BUT NOT A MONTHLY. JUST MY COMMENT. THANK YOU. MR. MCGILL, WHAT ABOUT JUST A RUNNING MATRIX? IN OTHER WORDS, HE TAKES THE, UM, LITIGATION AND UPDATES IT EVERY MONTH. INSTEAD OF PROVIDING ANOTHER SUMMARY, IT'S JUST A RUNNING RECORD. IT, IT IS A MONTHLY, IT IS A MONTHLY REPORT. IT IS A RUNNING MONTHLY REPORT. IT'S A RUNNING RECORD. THAT'S RIGHT. OKAY. IT'S NOT SOMETHING SEPARATE. NO. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? NOPE. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CALL THE... OH, I ALREADY DID PUBLIC HEARING. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS MO - THIS, UM, ORDINANCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ONE, TWO, THREE. ALL RIGHT. ALL OPPOSED. WE HAVE TWO OPPOSED. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'M GOING BACK NOW TO OUR ORDINANCES. SECOND. OKAY. UM... OH, THIS IS DATA CENTERS NOW. MY PAGES ARE NOT WORKING, MS. GINSBERGER. THIS IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. OKAY. NO, THAT'S OKAY. IT'S HERE. UM, [14.a. 2026/55: An Ordinance authorizing Beaufort County Council to declare a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing, approval, or issuance of certain applications, permits, and approvals for data centers in Beaufort County, South Carolina; providing for a comprehensive study of the potential cumulative impacts of data centers; invoking the pending ordinance doctrine; and providing for other matters related thereto. (PUBLIC HEARING)] SO I'M GOING TO GO TO 2026 / 55. AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL TO DECLARE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE PROCESSING APPROVAL OR ISSUANCE OF CERTAIN APPLICATIONS, PERMITS AND APPROVALS FOR DATA CENTERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE POTENTIAL CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS INVOKING THE PENDING ORDINANCE DOCTRINE AND PROVIDING FOR OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. IT WAS VOTED ON THE FIRST TIME NATURAL RESOURCE. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MS. HOWARD MAKES A MOTION. MR. CUNNINGHAM THE SECOND. MR. MERCHANT, YOU'RE BACK. WELCOME AGAIN. I DIDN'T GO THAT FAR. I KNOW, YOU JUST HUNG OUT THERE. YES. THIS, UH, ORDINANCE COMES AT THE REQUEST OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. AND, UH, WHAT IT IS IS THE MORATORIUM. AND I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE MORATORIUM IS MEANT TO BE A TEMPORARY, UH, PROHIBITION OF, UH, OR HOLD ON PERMITS FOR A S - A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING INTO AND STUDYING OPTIONS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S AN ISSUE AT HAND THAT, UM, COUNCIL WOULD BE REQUESTING TIME TO, TO THOROUGHLY LOOK AT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE, [02:05:01] THEY HAVE LOOKED AT ALL THE P- POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION OR A RECOMMENDED ORDINANCE THAT COULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS. SO THE MORATORIUM, THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED, IT STARTS WITH THE DEFINITION OF DATA CENTERS. SO I INVITE, YOU KNOW, ANYONE TO, TO LOOK AT THE DEFINITION ONLINE, BUT IT'S MEANT TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT THIS MORATORIUM APPLIES TO. IT OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T MEAN, UH, SOMEBODY HAS A, A BACKUP, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, DE - UH, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, HARD DRIVE OR SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, SO IT, IT, IT OBVIOUSLY IS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESS, WHAT ITS PURPOSE IS, AND IT ALSO, UH, ESTABLISHES A TIME PERIOD. AND IF YOU REMEMBER, THE REQUEST WAS MADE BEFORE THIS WAS DRAFTED TO LIMIT IT TO NINE MONTHS AT THE LA - UM, THE REQUEST OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN ALSO THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AT ITS LAST MEETING. THE REQUEST WAS TO EXTEND THAT TO 12 MONTHS. SO THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I GUESS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD IS A RECOMMENDATION WITH THE, UM, A RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THAT FROM NINE TO 12 MONTHS. IT GOES INTO WHAT TYPES OF APPROVALS ARE SUBJECT TO THE MORATORIUM. UH, WHAT HAPPENS WITH VESTED RIGHTS? UH, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO DATA CENTERS IN THE PIPELINE, SO THAT'S NOT REALLY A CONCERN. BUT IF THERE WERE, THIS DOES NOT, YOU CAN'T KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ADAPT, ADOPT A MORATORIUM WHEN SOMEONE IS ALREADY, ALREADY HAS VESTED RIGHTS IN A, IN A DEVELOPMENT. UM, AND THEN IT OUTLINES THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA, YOU KNOW, STUDY IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF EVENTUAL OUTCOME WILL COME FROM THIS PROCESS. AND IT REALLY GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT POSSIBLE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS. AND THE IDEA IS THAT COMING OUT OF THIS REALLY COUNCIL'S FACED WITH THREE OPTIONS. ONE WOULD BE TO, UH, AN OUTRIGHT BAN OF DATA CENTERS. UH, THE SECOND WOULD BE SOME SORT OF REGULATION WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSING THOSE. AND THEN THE THIRD WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE CURRENT ORDINANCES AND SAYING, "WELL, WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES." SO THAT'S KIND OF GIVES YOU THIS, THE SPECTRUM OF THREE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES FROM THIS PROCESS. UH, AND WITH THAT, UM, WILLING TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. WELL, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. NOBODY SIGNED UP, BUT IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS ORDINANCE FOR DATA CENTERS? ALL RIGHT. I'LL TURN TO COU - I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. TURN TO COUNCIL. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? MR. LAWSON? UH, I, I HAVE A QUESTION AND I'LL HAVE A COMMENT. SO, UM, WITHOUT THIS MORATORIUM, WHERE AND IN WHAT ZONING AREAS COULD SOMEONE ACTUALLY APPLY FOR A, A DATA CENTER TO BE BUILT? YEAH. I MEAN, MOST LIKELY WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL TYPE OF LAND USE. SO PRIMARILY IT WOULD BE OUR S1 LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, BUT IT ALSO, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, IT COULD LOCATE IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S PART OF THE ANALYSIS IS WHERE ARE THE GREATEST RISKS AND WHAT OUR, OUR ORDINANCE CURRENTLY ALLOWS THAT, UM... AND, AND I'M, I'M SOMEONE WHO USES AI EVERY DAY. I GOT CLAUDE, UM, AND IT'S SCARY WHAT THAT WILL DO. UM, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, BESIDES HAVING A MORATORIUM, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN CONTROL THAT THEY'RE CLOSED LOOP WATER SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE NOT AFFECTING THE WATER, IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THEY, UM, ARE, ARE A CERTAIN DISTANCE AWAY FROM ANY RESIDENTIAL, IF WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO NOISE OR VIBRATION, THEN WE CAN TEST FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT AFFECTING COMMUNITIES. UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, UH, AND AGAIN, ELECTRICAL USE, MAKING SURE IT'S NOT AFFECTING OTHER NEIGHBORS AROUND THE AREA USING TOO MUCH ELECTRICAL. AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS I THINK THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THAT IF WE CAN EVEN CONS- CONS - CAN CONSIDER A DATA CENTER, ALL THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE ANSWERED. SO I'M JUST KINDA, YOU KNOW, MAKING A COMMENT. ANYBODY ELSE? MR. GLOVER. JUST QUICKLY, UM, UM, DATA CENTER, UM, IS, I'VE BEEN TOLD, IS ALL AROUND US. UH, EVEN TODAY, UM, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, WE ARE PROBABLY FIVE MILES AWAY FROM A DATA CENTER. UM, THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. NOW, HOW TRUE THAT IS, I CAN'T TELL YOU. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD. SO IT MEANS TO ME THAT WE HAVE DATA CENTER, UM, AND A MORATORIUM WILL HELP US TO REALLY PLAN FOR AND BEST UTILIZE DATA CENTER AND WHERE WE WOULD WANT DATA CENTER. UM, WHAT I ALSO HAVE LEARNED, UM, WITH THIS IS THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF DATA CENTER, [02:10:01] UM, AND THEY PUT THEM IN A SMALL, IN A CATEGORIES, YOU KNOW, SMALL, MEDIUM, AND LARGE. SMALL, MEDIUM, AND LARGE. YOU KNOW, WE MAY WANT A SMALLER DATA CENTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE MAY WANT A M - A MEDIUM DATA CENTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE MAY NOT WANT A M - LARGE DATA CENTER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I THINK, UH, DURING THIS TIME, LIKE MR. LAWSON HAS SAID, WE CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT WHAT WILL BEST, UM, SERVE BEAUFORT COUNTY AT THIS TIME AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER, MR. CUNNINGHAM? YEAH, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS FEDERALLY OR STATE THAT ACTUALLY LIMIT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE, WHAT THE PROCESSES ARE FOR WATER, OR THE STRAINS, S- STRAINS THEY PUT IN OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE ENOUGH ISSUES HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. THE LOW COUNTRY IS NOT THE PLACE FOR A DATA CENTER, UM, THAT POLLUTES OUR WATERS, THAT... SO I, I HONESTLY WANNA MAKE THE MOTION AND TAKE THIS TO 24 MONTHS. WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL COMING ON. I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO GET THEIR FEET WET. TWO YEARS, NO DATA CENTERS HERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, AND THAT GIVES STAFF WITH NO RUSHING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN MAKE REGULATIONS AS WELL AS GIVE THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENOUGH TIME - I'LL SECOND THAT FOR YOU. TO ALSO CREATE SOME REGULATIONS. I CAN SECOND THAT. SO WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT AND A SECOND. FURTHER DISCUSSION ON TAKING IT TO 24 MONTHS. THE AMENDMENT IS FOR 24 MONTHS, NOT 12. YEP. 24 MONTHS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, THERE ARE NO REGULATIONS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. WE NEED TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CATCH UP, AND WE KNOW WE DON'T WANT IT HERE IN THE LOW COUNTRY. OUR WATER SOURCE IS OUR MAIN SOURCE. SO THAT'S WHY I THINK WE NEED TO DO 24 MONTHS. ANYBODY ELSE COMMENT? I'M GONNA SUPPORT THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. LET'S VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT, WHICH IS THIS, UH, MORATORIUM FOR 24 MONTHS. DO I NEED A ROLL CALL OR IS IT... ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR OF 24 MONTHS. RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT. ALL OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR HAND. ONE, TWO, THREE OPPOSED. SEVEN TO THREE. THE AMENDMENT PASSES. NOW WE'RE ON THE MOTION WITH THE AMENDED MOTION. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. SO ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED, GENTLEMEN. SORRY. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. OKAY. ANYBODY OPPOSED? TWO OPPOSED. THANK YOU. [14.b. 2026/56: An Ordinance amending the zoning map for 502 acres located on Dulamo Road and St. Helenville Road (R300 007 000 0002 0000; R300 012 000 0256 0000) for the removal from the Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO) district. (PUBLIC HEARING)] OKAY. NOW, 2026 / 56, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP FOR 502 ACRES LOCATED ON DE LOMO ROAD AND ST. HELENVILLE ROAD, UM, R3000730S, 30S, 240S, R300012, 30S, 0256, FOUR ZEROS, FOR THE REMOVAL FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY, AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS THE CPO DISTRICT. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THE VOTED NATURAL RESOURCE WAS FIRST TAKEN. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. MR. CUNNINGHAM MOVES IT. MR. DAWSON SECONDS IT. MR. MERCHANT, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT YOU'RE UP AGAIN, LIKE YOU WIN THE PRIZE TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, UM, I THINK IS, IS WHAT, UM, COUNCILMAN, UH, WOMAN TABERNICK SAID, THIS IS A PROPOSED MAP AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REMOVE 502 ACRES ON ST. HELENA ISLAND, DE LAMA ROAD FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT. AND JUST KIND OF A, A, A QUICK REMINDER THAT WE HAVE ZONING DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTY THAT BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE EVERYTHING FROM PERMITTED USES TO LOT SIZES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN THERE ARE OVERLAY DISTRICTS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE ALLOWS, YOU KNOW, GIVES, UH, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE ABILITY TO DO WHERE YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING ZONING DISTRICT AND ALL THE USES IT PERMITS, BUT THEN YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL EITHER, UH, PROVISIONS OR, OR RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IN AN OVERLAY DISTRICT. SO THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, UM, THE UNDERLYING DISTRICT IS RURAL, UH, WHICH APPLIES TO MOST OF ST. HELENA ISLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CORNERS COMMUNITY AND LANDS ENDS AND A FEW, UH, SCATTERED, UH, UH, PUDS LIKE DATA. THE RURAL, UH, ALLOWS, IT'S BASICALLY A LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. IT ALLOWS, UM, AGRICULTURAL USES, LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AT ONE DWELLING UNIT FOR THREE ACRES, AND THAT IS THE UNDERLYING DISTRICT. THE OVERLAY IS A CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SPECIFICALLY APPLIES TO ST. HELENA ISLAND, [02:15:01] AND THAT RESTRICTS, UM, BASICALLY GOLF COURSES, GATED COMMUNITIES, AND RESORTS. SO THE CHANGE HERE WILL BE THAT THAT 500 ACRES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY DO EVERYTHING THAT'S ALLOWED IN THE RURAL DISTRICT, BUT ALSO BE ALLOWED TO DO THINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY RESTRICTED BY THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT, WHICH CURRENTLY APPLIES TO IT. SO JUST TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND, UM, AND I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR, BUT THIS DISTRICT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNTY COUNCIL ORIGINALLY IN, UH, APRIL OF 1999 AS PART OF OUR ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ORDINANCE THAT THIS, THAT ORDINANCE WAS IN PLACE. AND THEN ONCE, UH, THE NEW CODE WAS ADOPTED, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE IN 2014, THAT DISTRICT WAS, UM, CARRIED OVER IN THAT CODE AS WELL. SO IT HAS BEEN IN PLACE NOW FOR ABOUT 27 YEARS. UM, AND THE BOUNDARIES WERE, UM, MEANT TO PR - UH, PREVENT ENCROACHING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD AFFECT THE, THE CULTURE OF THE ISLAND, AND THE USES THAT ARE RESTRICTED WERE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT THROUGH COMMUNITY PROCESS ON ST. HELEN ISLAND AS THOSE THAT THERE WAS CONCERNED AMONG THE COMMUNITY WOULD, UM, ENCOURAGE ENCROACHING DEVELOPMENT AND GENTRIFICATION OF THE ISLAND. UM, THE, THE BOUNDARIES WERE DRAWN TO APPLY TO THE WHOLE ISLANDS, YET WHEN THEY WERE DRAWN, THERE WAS A CONCERN NOT TO RENDER NON-CONFORMING USES. SO AT THAT TIME, IN 1999, DATA ISLAND HAD ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED AND ESTABLISHED AS A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, UH, THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES EXCLUDED, UM, HARBOR AND AN HARBOR AND HUNTING AND FRIP ISLAND IN ADDITION TO THE ISLANDS THAT DON'T HAVE, UH, BRIDGE ACCESS. SO PRITCHARDS, CAPERS, ST. PHILLIPS, THOSE, THOSE ISLANDS AS WELL. SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DISTRICT WAS DELIBERATELY DRAWN LIKE THAT, AND THIS POLICY, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN 1997, WAS CARRIED FORWARD IN THE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN 2010, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE MOST RECENT IS THE, UM, CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WE HAVE IN 2021. AND THE CURRENT OR, UM, CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR... IT, IT, UM, MENTIONS THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT REALLY IN TWO SECTIONS. ONE IS IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP. THERE ARE FUTURE LAND USE DISTRICTS, BUT THERE'S ALSO OVERLAY DISTRICTS IN THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP AS WELL. AND THOSE DISTRICTS ARE, ARE DRAWN, UH, ALSO IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. SO IT'S THERE, BUT IT'S ALSO IN A SECTION OF THE, UH, THE PLAN CALLED SPOTLIGHT ST. HELENA, WHICH IS PART OF OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES CHAPTER IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IN THAT PARTICULAR, UM, IN THAT PART OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT SPECIFICALLY CALLS FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT TO ANALYZE THE DISTRICT AND STRENGTHEN IT WHERE NEEDED. I MEAN, I'M PARAPHRASING, BUT IT'S SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, THAT PARTICULAR WORK WAS DONE BACK IN 2023 WHEN THE FIRST, UM, REQUESTED REZONING OF THIS PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, WAS BROUGHT FORWARD. AND SO THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT MET FOR, UH, OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, BROUGHT RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO COUNCIL, AND THEY WERE ADOPTED IN MAY OF 2023. AND I WOULD SAY FOR THOSE REASONS BEING THAT IT IS IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT IT WAS, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY BROUGHT FORWARD, YOU KNOW, BEFORE A COMMUNITY-BASED COMMITTEE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL PUBLIC MEETINGS, CAME TO COUNCIL, AND THOSE CHANGES WERE ADOPTED, THAT AS STAFF, WE CANNOT SUPPORT CHANGES TO THAT DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BEEN VETTED THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO, YOU KNOW, TO... BASICALLY, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING DENIAL OF THIS REQUEST BASED ON, ON... BECAUSE IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND I CAN GO THROUGH THE, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION. I KNOW I DID AT NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT BASICALLY WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, IS DENIAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, THE LOCATION, THE EXTENT OF THE CPO BOUNDARIES WERE PURPOSEFULLY DELINEATED TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT THE COMPREHENSIVE [02:20:01] PLAN AND THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT. MOVING THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXCLUDING CERTAIN PARCELS ERODES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CPO BY ALLOWING THE VERY USES THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POSING THE GREATEST THREATS TO THE CHARACTER AND STABILITY ISLAND, UH, OF THE ISLAND COMMUNITY. IN SUM, THE PROPOSED REZONING IS INCONSISTENT WITH AND SEEKS TO DEFEAT THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. THE PURPOSES OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE, IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THE DEMONSTRATED NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH LED TO THE CREATION OF THE CPO, IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGING CONDITIONS, IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING AND PROPOSED USES SURROUNDING THE LAND AND IS NOT APPROPRIATE ZONE FOR THE USE OF THE LAND, IS LIKELY TO ADVERSELY IMPACT NEARBY LANDS, WILL CONFLICT WITH ANTICIPATED LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, WILL LIKELY HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, AND WILL LIKELY RESULT IN INCREASED STRAIN AND STRESS IN PUBLIC FACILITIES. UM, THIS WENT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AT THEIR OCTOBER 5TH MEETING, AND AT THAT TIME, THE PLANNING COMMISSION VOTED, UM, UNANIMOUSLY THAT THERE WERE SEVEN MEMBERS PRESENT, UM, TO RECOMMEND DENIAL OF, OF THE REQUEST. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE VOTE WAS AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES. IT'S NOT ON HERE, SO I DON'T - UNANIMOUS. YEAH. IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS. IT WAS 6-3, OKAY. JUST FOR RECORD. IT WASN'T NATURAL RESOURCES. YEAH, NATURAL RESOURCES. I'M SORRY. OKAY, THANK YOU, MR. MERCHANT. OKAY. OKAY, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO FIRST I WILL GO TO MR. DUKES, WHO IS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE APPLICANT, THEN WE'LL GO TO THE APPLICANT, AND THEN I'LL GO TO 29 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING COMMENT. OKAY, MR. DUKES. THANK YOU, MADAM VICE CHAIR. AND MS. BROCK IS GONNA BRING UP PRESENTATION HERE, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS AND IT'S ALREADY LATE, SO I AM GONNA TRY TO, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, STREAMLINE THIS AND TRUNCATE, UH, OUR PRESENTATION FROM NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH MANY OF YOU, UH, EXCEPT FOR, I THINK MR. LAWSON IS THE ONLY ONE PRESENT HERE THAT DIDN'T SEE THAT. SO WE'LL, UH, WE'LL TRY TO RUN THROUGH THESE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. I THINK YOU'LL APPRECIATE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME, UH, TO JUST ESTABLISH A RECORD, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT, WHAT WE DECIDE TO DO TONIGHT, SO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT IN THE RECORD. SO ADJUST THE... THERE YOU GO. IT JUST WENT UP RIGHT HERE. OKAY. IS THAT BETTER? CAN YOU HEAR HIM? A LOT BETTER. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING, A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT. UH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR THIS EVENING. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE REQUESTED. IT'S SIMPLE. MR. MERCHANT POINTED IT OUT. THERE IS THE UNDERLYING DISTRICT. THERE'S AN OVERLAY ON TOP. WE ARE REMOVING ONE OF THOSE ITEMS AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THIS PROPERTY BE ZONED AS T2R. THERE'S A SPECIFIC PROVISION IN THE CODE THAT ALLOWS FOR THIS TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THOSE STEPS. WE'VE MET WITH STAFF. WE'VE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT, AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PERFECTLY LEGAL REQUEST OF A PROPERTY OWNER PETITIONING THEIR GOVERNMENT, UH, FOR RIGHTS WITHIN THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY. SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR, AGAIN, IS THE T2R, WHICH IS RURAL. MANY OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS. AS MITCH, MR. MERCHANT STATED, IT WOULD... WE ARE NOT SUBMITTING A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL FOR DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE ASKING FOR THIS TO BE RURAL, LIKE HE MENTIONED EVERY OTHER RURAL PROPERTY IN THIS COUNTY. ALL THOSE THINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE. IT'D HAVE TO BE COMPLIANCE WITH ANY PER - ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WITH STORMWATER. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PERMITTED BY LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AS THOSE MAY APPLY, SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND TREATED THE SAME WAY AS OTHER RURAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THIS COUNTY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, WE'VE HEARD THIS EARLIER TONIGHT TALKING ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR PROPERTY, ONE PARTICULAR SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS NOT, UH, BEING APPLIED TO ANYONE ELSE. THIS IS A REQUEST FROM ONE PROPERTY OWNER FOR ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY. SO DON'T BELABOR, UH, THIS TOO LONG. WE'VE PUT FORWARD THESE STATEMENTS, DIG INTO THEM A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT DO NOT APPLY. AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THESE ARE STANDARDS. THESE ARE ITEMS TO CONSIDER. THESE ARE NOT ELEMENTS OF A TEST, SO THEY DO NOT ALL HAVE TO BE MET, SO TO SPEAK. UH, THESE ARE JUST CONSIDERATIONS FOR COUNCIL, UH, MOVING FORWARD. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PRESENTATION, WE WILL POINT OUT THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP THAT IT IS RURAL. T2R FITS WITHIN THAT DESIGNATION. AND WE WILL SEE THAT, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THAT THIS HAS TO BE SUBJECT TO ALL FUTURE DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS IN T2R AND WITH [02:25:01] BEAUFORT COUNTY, SO THE STORMWATER CODE, ET CETERA. AND SO FROM THE STANDPOINT OF IMPACT ON NEIGHBORING LANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL, UH, ISSUES, THOSE ARE STILL SUBJECT TO THE SAME RIGOROUS STANDARDS THAT BEAUFORT COUNTY HAS FOR ALL OTHER PROPERTIES. MENTION THIS, AND AGAIN, I, I'M TRYING TO RUN THROUGH THIS STUFF. I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN IT, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS A COPY OF, UH, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR. THIS IS OUT OF THE CODE. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GOAL IS TO PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY, T2R, BY DEFINITION, ESTABLISHES THE RURAL CHARACTER OF AREAS WITHIN BEAUFORT COUNTY. THE RURAL T2R ZONE IS INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE RURAL CHARACTER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, THE VERY FIRST SENTENCE. AND THE LAST SENTENCE IS, T2 RURAL ZONE IMPLEMENTS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS OF PRESERVING RURAL CHARACTER OF PORTIONS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THE GOAL OF THE CPO IS THAT WE PROTECT AGAINST GENTRIFICATION, SUBURBANIZATION, URBANIZATION, THIS MEETS THOSE GOALS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AT NATURAL RESOURCES, AN IMPORTANT PART THAT WE'RE GONNA POINT OUT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BODY AND GENERALLY OF FOLKS, GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER THEIR REQUEST JUST THE SAME AS THEY WOULD TREAT THEIR NEIGHBOR'S REQUEST. THE CODE PROVIDES FOR A UNIFORM MEANS OF REVIEWING AND DESIGNING SUCH REQUEST. AGAIN, THIS IS SPECIFICALLY DELINEATED IN THE CODE, PERFECTLY ALLOWABLE. Y'ALL HAVE HEARD SEVERAL THIS YEAR. YOU HEARD ANOTHER ONE EARLIER TONIGHT. SO AS THE PLANNING DIRECTOR MOVES THROUGH, WE LOOK AND SEE WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS. WE LOOKED AT THOSE STANDARDS SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT EARLIER. WE'LL GO THROUGH THEM IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, BUT THIS ALLOWS FOR EVERY INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO LOOK AT THE CODE AND SEE THESE ARE THE STANDARDS. IF I WOULD LIKE TO PETITION MY GOVERNMENT FOR SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY PROPERTY, I NEED TO SHOW THESE STANDARDS. AND I KNOW THAT MY GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO TREAT ME THE SAME AS THEY'RE GONNA TREAT MY NEIGHBOR, THE SAME AS THEY'RE GONNA TREAT SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT AND WE'LL SEE THAT THAT IS A BASIC TENANT OF US LAW, SOUTH CAROLINA LAW, IS THE EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. SO WHEN WE START WITH THE CONSIDERATION OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT... WE, WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT WE CONSIDER. AND, AND AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT, AND IT'S NOT IN THE STAFF REPORT, BUT WE HAVE HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME TONIGHT FROM MR. MERCHANT, I THINK BECAUSE, BECAUSE HE'S SEEN THIS PRESENTATION A COUPLE TIMES THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE LAND USE - BECAUSE AS STAFF, BASICALLY WHEN SOMEBODY SUBMITS AN APPLICATION, WE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T BE GATEKEEPERS BECAUSE WE HAVE TO RESPECT THE DUE PROCESS. IF SOMEBODY, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME IN AND REQUEST AN UPZONING, WE CAN'T STOP THEM. YOU KNOW, IT, IT, ONCE... IF THEY APPLY FOR THE REZONING, PAY THE FEE, GET ON SCHEDULE, THEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THROUGH COUNCIL AND LET COUNCIL MAKE A DECISION. SO - AND WHAT I'LL SAY IS MR. MERCHANT IS CORRECT FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT, AND HE IS CONSISTENT. HE SAID THAT VERY SAME THING AGAIN TONIGHT, WHICH IS THAT THE APPLICANT HAD COME TO YOU EARLIER WITH A TEXT AMENDMENT, AND THOUGH THEY COULD HAVE COME WITH A MAP AMENDMENT, IT WAS THEIR JOB TO PROCESS THAT JUST LIKE THEY WOULD ANY OTHER AMENDMENT. SO YOU'VE HEARD THAT TONIGHT, MR. MERCHANT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CODE LAYS OUT EVEN FURTHER, SO MORE THAN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW, THE CODE SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THE ADMINISTRATOR OR ANYBODY IN THE ZONING OR PLANNING OFFICE CANNOT CREATE ADDITIONAL STANDARDS. WE HAVE THOSE STANDARDS. WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. THEY'RE SET OUT. THIS COUNCIL AND PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE ESTABLISHED WHAT THOSE ARE. SO MOVING FORWARD. SO IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE HAVE A FUTURE LAND USE MAP, AND WHAT THIS IS MEANT TO DO IS TO PROVIDE KIND OF A GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ZONING MAP, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR ZONING ORDINANCE. SO IF YOU PICTURE, LIKE, IF SOMEBODY HAD A MAP BUT, UH, THEY PROJECTED IT ON THE SCREEN, IT WAS SLIGHTLY OUT OF FOCUS, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS. IT'S KIND OF GIVING AN OVERALL GOAL OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY, WHAT THE CHARACTER OF LAND USE SHOULD BE, THE TYPES OF LAND USE, BUT MAINLY LOOKING AT INTENSITY, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHETHER, WHETHER IT'S MORE RURAL IN DEVELOPMENT, MORE URBAN, MORE SUBURBAN, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DOES. SO WE HAVE THAT IN THE, IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, SO THO- THOSE ARE MAPPED OUT AREAS LIKE NEIGHBORHOODS, MIXED USE. URBAN MIXED [02:30:01] USE, UH, RURAL, YOU KNOW, SO THAT THEY'RE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE A VERY BROAD BASED ZONING ORDINANCE. AND THAT, THAT PROVIDES THE GUIDANCE. SO EVERY TIME WE COME FORWARD WITH A MAP AMENDMENT, WE'RE USING THAT AS OUR GUIDE IN, IN TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS MEETING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. EVERY TIME WE COME FORWARD WITH A MAP AMENDMENT, WE'RE USING THAT AS OUR GUIDE, TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS MEETING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. WE'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE LAND USE. AGAIN, THIS IS, THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP IS SOMETHING WHICH IS PROVIDED TO EVERYONE. GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THEIR LAND, WHAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO WITH THEIR LAND IN THE FUTURE. AND THOSE STANDARDS THAT WE LOOK AT ADDRESS THOSE FUTURE USES AND WHAT YOU CAN PETITION THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE TOO. AND SO THAT'S THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE THAT MR. MERCHANT DISCUSSES. AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, WE LOOK AT THE TABLE, WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT THAT SAYS. AND ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE DESIGNATION. SHOULD IT BE RURAL ON THE MAP? THEN THERE ARE SEVERAL ZONES, FIVE ZONES WHICH ARE, WHICH ARE OUTLINED THERE. IT COULD BE T2R, T2RL NEIGHBORHOOD, NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN RURAL CENTER. I WOULD POINT OUT THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE DESIGNATIONS CARRIES DIFFERENT USES AND DIFFERENT THINGS WHICH YOU CAN DO WITH, UNDER THAT SPECIFIC DISTRICT, BUT THEY ARE ALL CONSIDERED TO BE RURAL. SO EVEN WITHIN THE RURAL DESIGNATION ON THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP, YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT USES, YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT INTENSITIES. AND SO I THINK THAT'S KEY TO REMEMBER. WE MENTIONED, AND I KNOW MAYBE YOU'LL SEE A SLIDE COMING UP, THERE'VE BEEN 39 REQUESTS FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR, UH, REZONINGS TO THEIR PROPERTY. IT WAS 40 TONIGHT. AGAIN, IT WAS 41 IF WE COUNT THE TEXT AMENDMENT. ALL OF THOSE LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE DOES. GUIDANCE. SO EVERY TIME WE COME FORWARD WITH A MAP AMENDMENT, WE'RE USING THAT AS OUR GUIDE IN, IN TRYING TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING IS MEETING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I'M NOT DOING THIS TO PICK ON MR. MERCHANT. I'M NOT. HE DOES A GREAT JOB. WHAT, WHAT I'M DOING HERE IS TO POINT OUT THE DISPARATE TREATMENT THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THIS PARTICULAR SETTING AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. THERE HAVE BEEN THREE WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN TREATED THE SAME WAY, WHICH HAVEN'T LOOKED FORWARD, WHICH HAVEN'T LOOKED TO THE NEW ZONING AND THEY'VE LOOKED BACKWARDS. YOU'VE SEEN IT TONIGHT, YOU'VE HEARD IT AGAIN TONIGHT. THIS HISTORIC RE- RECITATION OF WHAT HAS BEEN WITH THE CPO AS OPPOSED TO WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED OF THE REZONING. AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT THE MAY RIVER PRESERVATION DISTRICT, WHICH WARRANTED STAFF A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT, WAS PASSED IN 2010, 16 YEARS AGO. ALL OF THE CONSIDERATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO THAT PARTICULAR REZONING REQUEST WAS ALL FORWARD LOOKING. SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE TONIGHT THAT YOU'VE HEARD. THERE WAS NO HISTORIC RECITATION OF WHAT HAD BEEN IN THE MAY RIVER PRESERVATION DISTRICT. SO AGAIN, WE SEE THIS WITH ONE PARTICULAR PROPERTY AND ONE PARTICULAR APPLICATION. MENTIONED IT'S 40, IT'S NOW 41. WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME AFTER TONIGHT TO UPDATE THE SLIDE. THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THIS SHOWS THAT THERE IS A PARTICULAR BIAS TOWARDS THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION AND THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY. I'M GONNA MOVE THROUGH THESE PRETTY QUICKLY BECAUSE AGAIN, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN THESE. THERE IS A REPRESENTATION ON THE STAFF REPORT WHICH SAYS, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE CURRENT FUTURE LAND USE IS RURAL. THE PROPOSED ZONING DISTRICT IS T2R AND THAT THAT FITS WITHIN, AS WE SAW BEFORE, FITS WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DESIGNATION OF RURAL AND THE FUTURE LAND USE SECTION. SO WITH, WITH RESPECT, MR. MERCHANT POINTED OUT SPOTLIGHT ST. HELENA. IF WE SEE THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FURTHER OBSERVES THAT THE PRIMARY THREAT, THREAT TO THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITIES IS LAND DEVELOPMENT. IMPLEMENTING LAND USE POLICIES THAT CONCENTRATE GROWTH IN URBAN AREAS AND PROTECT RURAL LAND FROM SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS THE COUNTY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT ITS UNIQUE GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE. SO WHILE THE STAFF REPORT SAYS IT'S, IT'S REALLY ONLY THREE USES, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THOSE USES ARE OR HOW THAT, HOW THAT'S IMPLEMENTED, IT'S, IT'S JUST THREE SPECIFIC USES. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LANGUAGE, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LANGUAGE IS. THE LANGUAGE SAYS THAT IT'S TO PROTECT RURAL AREAS. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SPECIFICALLY PRESENTED THIS AS T2R WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT. AGAIN, MEANING THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT MOVING FORWARD WOULD HAVE TO GET OTHER APPROVALS THROUGH THE COUNTY. [02:35:03] WHAT THE CHARACTER OF LAND USE SHOULD BE, THE TYPES OF LAND USE, BUT MAINLY LOOKING AT INTENSITY, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHETHER, WHETHER IT'S MORE RURAL IN DEVELOPMENT, MORE URBAN, MORE SUBURBAN. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP DOES. SO YOU DO LOOK AT THE CHARACTER AND THE TYPES, BUT SPECIFICALLY IS LOOKING AT INTENSITY. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF LOOKING AT THE FUTURE LAND USE, WHETHER IT'S URBAN, SUBURBAN OR RURAL. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STAFF REPORT THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED IS THAT IT TALKS ABOUT SUBURBAN AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED UNDER THE PROPOSED ZONING. THE PROPOSED ZONING IS RURAL, WHICH BY DEFINITION PRESERVES THE RURAL CHARACTER OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. SO THEN WHY IS IT? EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE SEEN MANY REZONINGS COME THROUGH, YOU'VE SEEN MAP AMENDMENTS, YOU'VE SEEN BOUNDARY CHANGES, YOU'VE SEEN TEXT AMENDMENTS, WHY IS IT THAT YOU CANNOT CHANGE THESE BOUNDARIES WHICH ARE NOT EVEN SPECIFICALLY DELINEATED? SO IT BASICALLY APPLIES TO THE HEART OF ST. HELEN ISLAND WITH EXCEPTION OF THE THREE PUDS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO ITS ADOPTION IN 1999. THE HEART OF ST. HELENA. SO IT EXCLUDES DAWTAL. I'VE NEVER CONSIDERED HARBOR AND FRIP AND HUNTING ISLAND TO BE PART OF ST. HELENA, BUT THAT EXCLUDES THOSE AND MR. MERCHANT POINTS THAT OUT REGULARLY. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, IT JUST DREW A LINE AROUND THE ENTIRE AREA. IT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY DELINEATED. A SPECIFIC DELINEATION WHICH HAS IN FACT BEEN DONE IN OTHER PLACES WITHIN THIS COUNTY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE. THERE'S AN EXACT SAME HERITAGE CULTURAL OVERLAY ON DEFUSKY FOR THE EXACT SAME PURPOSE OF ST. HELENA, BUT IT'S NOT DRAWN, IT'S DRAWN AROUND SPECIFIC HISTORICAL AREAS IN NEED OF PRESERVATION PROTECTION UNLIKE ST. HELENA WHICH COVERS THE ENTIRE ISLAND. BUT NOT EVEN ON ST. HELENA. I KNOW THAT WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP AND NOBODY'S REALLY ASKED THE QUESTION, BUT MOST OF THESE FOLKS BEHIND ME PROBABLY DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ACTUALLY ARE PROPERTIES WHICH ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE CPO ON ST. HELENA RIGHT NEAR THE CORNERS COMMUNITY. SO IT CAN BE TAKEN OUT. AND IF A PROPERTY IS TAKEN OUT, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT, AS STAFF STATES, THAT THE CPO WILL JUST GO AWAY OR BE ELIMINATED. IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE AND IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN THIS TIME. IT WILL REMAIN DESPITE ONE PROPERTY BEING REMOVED. AGAIN, WE MENTIONED THERE'S NOT, THIS IS NOT A LIST THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OFF, BUT THERE ARE FACTORS TO CON - OR STANDARDS TO CONSIDER. THIS IS WHAT I WAS MENTIONING BEFORE. UNLIKE PRIOR APPLICATIONS, IN THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION, YOU RECEIVED AN ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE CPO. SOMETHING YOU DID NOT... I, I THINK WHEN IT WAS PUT UP EARLIER TONIGHT, THE STAFF REPORT OR THE FEW LINES FROM, UH, THE MAY RIVER PRESERVATION DISTRICT WAS HALF A PAGE AND EACH ONE WAS MAYBE A SENTENCE. THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY RECEIVE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. IT LOOKS, IT'S THAT GUIDING PRINCIPLE STATED, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF LAND USE? DOES IT FIT WITHIN THAT? YES, IT DOES. IT COMPLIES WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR ONE AND TWO. ON THE RIGHT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT APPLICATIONS INVOLVING THIS PROPERTY. AND THE POINT I THINK IS TO SAY THAT MOVING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CPO WOULD INTRODUCE THESE LAND USES WHICH HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS POSING THE GREATEST THREAT TO THE CHARACTER AND THE SP - STABILITY OF THE ISLAND COMMUNITY. THAT ITSELF IS INTERNALLY INCONSISTENT WITH THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE CPO ITSELF, WHICH SAYS IT'S PROTECTING ITS SUBURBAN AND URBANIZATION AND IT PROMOTES RURAL AREAS. SOMETHING THAT WE SEE FROM THE RURAL DESIGNATION IS ACCOMPLISHED. AND SO COMPATIBILITY WITH APPRO - WITH THE APPROPRIATE ZONES, IMPACT ON NEARBY LANDS AND LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. SO AS, AS WE SEE HERE, WE'LL SEE SOME PICTURES, BUT THE ONLY DEVELOPMENT AROUND THIS PROPERTY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH IS MORE DENSELY DEVELOPED BY THREE TIMES THAN THIS PROPERTY COULD BE. SO TO THE EXTENT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNER, IT'S JUST NOT TRUE. SO WE SEE THESE PREDETERMINED OUTCOMES. WE'VE SEEN IT THROUGH [02:40:01] THE REVIEW OF THE APPLICATIONS AND THE DISPARATE REVIEW AMONGST ALL THESE OTHER APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM, SINCE 2020. AND I'VE JUST POINTED OUT A FEW. SO STANDARD THREE REPRESENTS, IT DEMONSTRATES A, A COMMUNITY NEED. THERE, THERE'S NO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. SO THERE'S NO PROPOSAL OUT THERE, UH, TO ANALYZE. AND SO IT, IT'S NOT REALLY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THIS, BUT YOU'LL SEE WHERE THE RECOMMENDATION SAYS IT'S IN DIRECT CONFLICT. HOW IS T2R IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH A PROPO - OR A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED, A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED FOR WHICH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS THAT WE SEEK FOR MOST OF ST. HELENA TO REMAIN RURAL, YET RURAL ZONING IS INCONSISTENT WITH A DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED. THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY BE T2R ZONING. ARE WE TO THINK THAT T2R ZONING HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT? IT DOESN'T. AND I THINK THE COUNTY WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT. AND I THINK THAT AGAIN, JUST SHOWING THAT IT WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT AND, AND, AND STAFF HAS, HAS SEEN THIS PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES. THEY'VE NOT AMENDED THAT. THEY'VE NOT CHANGED THAT. THERE'S A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME. AND THEN AGAIN, IMPACTS ON PROPOSED PUBLIC, PUBLIC FACILITIES. THERE'S BEEN NO PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT HERE. AND SO AGAIN, WE LOOK TO T2R, WHICH IS THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER FROM THE STANDPOINT OF IMPACTS AND DENSITY ITEMS WHICH WOULD HAVE IMPACTS ON PUBLIC FACILITIES. IT IS THE EXACT SAME UNDERLYING ZONING AS EVERY SURROUNDING PROPERTY. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. I KNOW MOST PEOPLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MAYBE SIX YEARS AGO, DIDN'T KNOW WHERE PINE ISLAND WAS, BUT I THINK THEY DO NOW. RIGHT BESIDE IT, YOU'LL SEE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER, THAT'S THE DELAMO NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD I WAS TALKING ABOUT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE DEVELOPMENT. AND AGAIN, THE ONLY, YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING ON THAT TOP LEFT SECTION IS T2R. SO I WOULD ASK YOU, IF WE LOOK TO SEE WHAT THE REAL PURPOSE IS, IF IT'S PROTECTING THE RURAL CHARACTER AND PORTIONS AND PROTECTING AGAINST SUBURBANIZATION AND URBANIZATION, THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY'S STATED LAND USE MAP, AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS OUTLINED UNDER THE CPO, TAKING IT SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS COUNTY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT THIS HERITAGE, IS TO MAINTAIN THAT RURAL CHARACTER, ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT IF THERE'S LESSER THAN T2R. SO IT SAYS THAT THE PRIMARY THREAT, AGAIN, TO THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF BEAUFORT COUNTY'S GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITIES IS LAND DEVELOPMENT, LAND DEVELOPMENT. MORE IS WORSE, LESS IS BETTER. IMPLEMENTING LAND USE POLICIES THAT CONCENTRATE GROWTH IN URBAN AREAS AND PROTECT LAND FROM SUBURBAN DEVELOPMENT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS THE COUNTY CAN TAKE TO PROTECT ITS UNIQUE GULLAH GEECHEE HERITAGE. THANK YOU. TURN IT OVER TO MR. TROPIANO. MR. TROPIANO. THANK YOU COUNCIL. ONLY 67 MORE SLIDES TO GO. KIDDING. UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THIS EVENING. UM, MS. BROCK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND PLEASE PULLING UP THE, UM, PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN BEFORE CAUCUS, OR AT CAUCUS, BEFORE EXECUTIVE SESSION, PLEASE. AND THANK YOU. THIS COUNCIL'S ALREADY HEARD ENOUGH FROM ME. MR. DUKES, THANK YOU. YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. AND RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THOSE NEXT 65 SLIDES, UM, AND VIDEOS AND ALL THE, UM, THINGS THAT WE NOW HAVE OUR NEWEST SERIES OF TALKING POINTS TO DEBUNK, UH, BEING HANDED OUT, UM, I WOULD OFFER THE FOLLOWING, PLEASE. UM, ONE SEC. WE'LL GET TO IT. NO WORRIES. SHE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB. [02:45:16] YEAH, THERE WE GO. GREAT. THANK YOU. SWEET. UM, THANK YOU, MS. BROCK. UH, AS I RELATE TO THIS BODY EARLIER, AT THE BEGINNING OF CAUCUS, THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT YOU ARE ALL CONTEMPLATING THIS MAP AMENDMENT, UH, ON THE AGENDA IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO AND CONTINGENT UPON THESE SETTLEMENT TERMS. SO AGAIN, THIS ISN'T, THIS IS PLAIN SUMMARY. IT'S NOT LEGAL ADVICE. IT DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE, UH, CORRESPONDING CONFIDENTIALITY, BUT, UM, I FELT IT NECESSARY TO, UH, EXPLAIN THIS TO THE FOLKS WHO WERE NOT IN THE ROOM AT 3:03 THIS AFTERNOON. UM, AS A PART OF SETTLEMENT, UH, LITIGATION ENDS. THE COUNTY SPENDS NO MORE TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THIS SINGLE PROPERTY. $343,619 IS RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYER. THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE COUNTY TAXPAYER HAS SPENT ON THIS SINGLE PROPERTY AND LEGAL BILLS. THE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE COUNTY STAFF, COUNTY, EVERYBODY IS INDEMNIFIED AND EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR GOING FORWARD ON ANY CHALLENGES TO THIS SUBJECT MATTER, THIS PROPERTY, THIS AMENDMENT, AND THIS AGREEMENT ARE PAID BY ME. AS A PART OF THIS, THESE SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS, DENSITY WOULD BE REDUCED BY 46%. DOCKS WOULD BE REDUCED TO 14 OVER EIGHT MILES OF SHORELINE, AND ADVANCED WASTEWATER TREATMENT WOULD BE DONE, UH, NOT REQUIRED BY THE CODE, BUT TO PROTECT THE WATERWAYS. UM, YOU GUYS HAVE NEVER SEEN A REZONING COME BEFORE YOU THAT ACTUALLY DOESN'T CHANGE ANY OF THE UNDERLYING ZONING, BUT OFFERS TO DO THIS MUCH. UM, THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART. THE COUNTY'S LEGAL TEAM HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND CANDIDLY, WE HAVE TOO, TO PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL THAT PROTECTS THE TAXPAYER, PROTECTS THE COUNTY, PROTECTS EACH ONE OF YOU AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, AND PROVIDES A LEVEL OF INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IS INCOMPARABLE TO OTHER, ANY OTHER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT YOU GUYS HAVE EVER CONTEMPLATED. I'M GLAD THAT WE PASSED THE ARPA FUNDS TODAY. AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, THE REFERENDUM HAS PASSED THIS, THIS COUNCIL AND COUNTY IS AT A SIGNIFICANT TURNING POINT WHERE YOU GUYS CAN EFFECTUATE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN A MANNER, CANDIDLY, UNLIKE ANY OTHER COUNCIL HAS BEEN ABLE TO BEFORE. YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS CONFIRMED THE COUNCIL HAS NOT YET FINISHED RECEIVING ITS LEGAL ADVICE FROM ITS ATTORNEYS. AND THEREFORE, AS I'VE CONSISTENTLY SAID, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED INFORMATION, THE FULL PICTURE REQUIRED FOR AN INFORMED VOTE ON THIS MATTER. AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, ZONING MAP AMENDMENTS REQUIRE THREE POSITIVE READINGS FOR ADOPTION. AS MOST OF YOU ALSO KNOW, ONE NEGATIVE READING DENIES IT. IT WILL BE A DISSERVICE, AND CANDIDLY, A TRAVESTY TO ALL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, ALL OF ITS CITIZENS, AND EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER TO ALLOW ONGOING SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS TO BE INVALIDATED BY A FLAWED PROCEDURAL PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT. THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF DUE PROCESS. AND CANDIDLY, ITS IMPACTS DON'T JUST REACH MY DUE PROCESS. IT REACH EVERY, IT REACHES EVERY SINGLE TAXPAYER THAT BENEFITS FROM THIS, POTENTIALLY BENEFITS FROM THIS, AND POTENTIALLY BENEFITS FROM THIS. AS SUCH, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THIS COUNCIL MOVE THE ITEM FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE VOTE TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ACTUALLY MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RESOLUTION. IT WILL MAKE NO SENSE TO DO OTHERWISE UNLESS THE ACTION IS DELIBERATE, WHICH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD ASK THAT PRIOR TO A VOTE BE T - BEING TAKEN ON, BEING TAKEN TONIGHT BY THIS BODY, THAT YOU GUYS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM EITHER YOUR COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE SITTING IN THERE WAITING TO FINISH GIVING YOU LEGAL ADVICE OF WHAT THE FULL LEGAL PICTURE AND PROPOSAL IS AND WILL BE AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TAKE A VOTE WITHOUT THE FULL LEGAL PICTURE, AS IT WILL CANDIDLY CERTAINLY LEAD TO ADDITIONAL LI- LITIGATION. RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE 67 SLIDES [02:50:01] AND OUT OF RESPECT FOR THIS COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WAITING TO SPEAK, I'LL REITERATE THIS REQUEST AT THE END AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT, JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS APPLICANTS HAVE DONE. UM, BUT I WON'T MAKE THIS COUNCIL SIT THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH AT NATURAL RESOURCES AND I WOULD, UH, WELCOME THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. TROPIANO. GOT IT. OKAY. WE WILL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL CALL YOU UP IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU SIGNED UP. I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT YOU ARE TO ADDRESS THE CHAIR AND COUNCIL, NOT THE AUDIENCE YOU FACE THIS WAY. BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM AND ONLINE. WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER AND IT'S ON THE TOPIC OF THE ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FOR REMOVAL FROM THE CPO. THAT IS THE TOPIC YOU SPEAK UPON. FIVE MINUTE LIMIT. IF YOU NEED LESS, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE WILL STOP YOU AT FIVE MINUTES. WE'RE GOING TO RUN A TIMER. FIRST IS LARRY MACHUDA, YOU'RE UP AND RIGHT AFTER HIM WILL BE CARY MAJOR. COME ON DOWN, LARRY. EVENING. I THINK ARE WRONG. WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS LIES AND DECEIT THAT WERE MADE WHEN THE CPO WAS REVISED, MADE CLEAR. I'VE DONE A LOT OF STUDYING. I'VE HEARD A LOT. I'VE BEEN TO ALL THESE MEETINGS. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF STUFF ABOUT ALL THIS STUFF, HOW EVERYTHING THE, THE PERSON KNEW WHAT HE BOUGHT AND WHAT, WHAT HE WAS GETTING INTO. YES, HE DID. AND AT THE TIME BEFORE THE THI - THE, UM, CPO WAS, WAS MADE MORE CLEAR, IT ALLOWED GOLF. IT ALLOWED COURSES. YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT. IT DID. YOU LOOK BACK AT THE HISTORY. IT'S ON, IT'S ON THE INTERNET. YOU CAN FIND IT ANYWHERE YOU WANT. BUT WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO IS OUR OWN PLANNING DEPARTMENT I THINK WAS DECEITFUL IN HELPING MODIFY THESE, THESE DOCUMENTS. I DON'T THINK IT WAS, HE WAS REALLY CLEAR AT WHAT HE WAS DOING OR HE DID, HE WAS BIASED, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, OR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS. OKAY, IT WAS ALLOWED. THE LAND WAS PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CPO. SO THE MAN KNEW WHAT HE HAD, WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO. THEN THE CPO CAME IN AND YOU WERE DUPED INTO CHANGING THE VOTE OR MO- MODIFYING IT WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING WHAT WAS HAPPENING HERE. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MAKE A, A POINT THAT MR. CUNNINGHAM, CUNNINGHAM RAISED, EVEN WHEN YOU, THE, OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT OR YOU GUYS GO THROUGH A LIST OF WHY SOMETHING APPLIES OR DOESN'T APPLY, THERE'S NEVER A REASON WHY IT DOESN'T APPLY. ALL YOU SAY IS IT DOESN'T APPLY. WHY DON'T YOU SAY WHY YOU THINK IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE? OKAY? IT'S NEVER SAID. IT'S JUST CARTE BLANCHE. OH, IT DOESN'T APPLY. SO EVERYBODY JUST BLOWS IT OFF AND OFF WE GO. OKAY? WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS REALLY BETTER THAN IT, THAN BEFORE. OKAY? IT'S STILL RURAL. IT'S, HE'S JUST BEING ASKED TO TAKE IT OUT AND YOU STILL RETAIN A CPO. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU LOSE THE LAWSUIT? HAVE YOU TALKED, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT? WHAT IF THE CPO JUST GOES OUT THE WINDOW ALTOGETHER? OKAY, HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN THAT THOUGH? AND I, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A, A LOT OF STUFF FROM PEOPLE, BUT YOU GOTTA START, START THINKING ABOUT THIS. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU MADE UP YOUR MIND. I LISTENED TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES THING AND IT WAS LIKE, "OH, BLOW IT OFF. I DON'T WANNA LISTEN TO THIS ANYMORE." I MEAN, THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS THE, THE, WHAT WAS PRESENTED AS FAR AS WHAT YOU COULD FEEL ON, ON WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE. PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT JOBS. OH, THEY'RE MENIAL JOBS. WELL, THEY'RE A HELL OF A LOT BETTER THAN HAVING TO RUN TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND. AND IT GIVES YOUNGER PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME MONEY AND TO STAY IN THE AREA. AND PERHAPS THAT WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE I HEAR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT FOR THEIR YOUTH AND YET WHAT THEY'RE ACT - ASKING FOR THE YOUTH IS GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. OKAY. ONE THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS THAT YOU HAVE A DUTY, OKAY? WHAT, RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS WANT THIS. WELL, FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK YOUR CONSTITUENTS [02:55:01] REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM IS THEY GET S - BLASTED BY SPECIAL, ALL THE SPECIAL INTER- INTEREST GROUPS THAT, THAT WE SEE HERE. THEY'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING, PUTTING FORTH MONEY. AND WHAT DO THEY GET? SOME, THEY SELL BOOKS AND CRAVE NO - FOR NO- NOTORIETY. OTHERS, THEY, THEY COLLECT DONATIONS. AND FOR THEM, THE EFFORTS THEY ADVERTISE THAT HOW, BUT THEY PROFIT FROM IT. OKAY? SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SPENDING THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY EVEN ON ALL THIS LITIGATION, AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT PERHAPS, OKAY, YOU RIGHT THE WRONG AND PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MS. CARRIE MAJOR, PLEASE COME UP. GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M CARRIE MAJOR. I AM FROM ST. HELENA ISLAND. AND AS I WAS WRITING HERE THIS AFTERNOON, UM, TO THE EARLIER MEETING, SOMETHING WAS DROPPED IN MY SPIRIT. IT SAID A MAN'S WORD IS HIS BOND AND THAT'S AS GOOD AS GOLD. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IT'S A MATTER OF INTEGRITY, CHARACTER, AND TRUTHFULNESS REQUIRING THAT COMMITMENTS BE HONORED, NOT BROKEN. AND AGAIN, IN NUMBERS, IT SAYS, "IF A MAN VOWS A VOW TO THE LORD OR SWEARS AN OATH TO BIND HIMSELF BY A PLEDGE, HE SHALL NOT BREAK HIS WORD. HE OR SHE SHALL DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF HIS MOUTH." SO PLEASE STAND BY YOUR WORD, YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE LAW AND THE PEOPLE. VOTE NO TO THE GATES, GOLF COURSE, AND VOTE NO TO WHAT MR. ELVIO SHOWED YOU. WHEN HE RECOMMENDED THE HIGH LEVEL TERMS THAT THERE IS NOT GONNA BE LITIGATION, THAT SHALL END, THE DENSITY IS GONNA BE REDUCED, AND, UM, THE RETURN TO THE TAXPAYERS. UM, AND I SEE THE SIGNS THERE. THE DOCKS ARE GONNA BE REDUCED, IDENTIFICATION AND ADVANCE WASTEWATER. HE'S GONNA DO ALL THOSE THINGS. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT APPEARS TO BE A BRIBE. IF YOU ALL CHANGE YOUR MIND TO AGREE WITH WHAT HE'S ASKING YOU, THAT WILL RESULT IN NOT ONLY THE TAXPAYERS HERE PAYING A PRICE, BUT THEY WILL NOT TRUST YOU. MANY OF YOU ARE NOT GONNA BE ON THE COUNCIL AS OF JANUARY, BUT THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO STAY. PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN TRUST YOU, THAT YOUR WORD. YOU'VE SHOWN WE MADE A LAW, CPO. SO WHY GO AGAINST THE LAW? BECAUSE ONE PERSON WITH MONEY DECIDED THAT THEY WANTED TO BUY SOME PROPERTY AND MAKE SOME CHANGES. SO NO GATES, NO GOLF COURSES, NO PROPOSAL BY MR. LVO. A MAN'S WORD IS HIS BOND AGAIN. LET YOUR NAY BE NAY. MEAN WHAT YOU SAY, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS THE TAXPAYERS, THEY DON'T WANNA PAY. I DON'T WANNA PAY. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? SOMETIMES IT'S NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR US TO GET AND TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE. SO WE NEED THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY. UM, ALL THE LAW THAT HAS BEEN TOWARD THAT, IT NEEDS TO BE KEPT. NOW THEY TALK ABOUT THE JOBS AND I HEARD SOMEBODY MENTION THAT. JOBS ON A GOLF COURSE, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE? AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, WE'RE GONNA BE IN MAINTENANCE, WE'RE GONNA DO LAWN CARE, WE'RE GONNA BE HOUSEKEEPERS, WE MAY BE ERRAND PERSONS, DRIVERS. THERE IS NO UPPER ECHELON JOB THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET AT A GOLF COURSE. NOTHING ON PINE ISLAND AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN THAT WE WILL HAVE, BUT WHAT THEY THROW AT US. WE'RE TIRED OF RECEIVING THAT. SO PLEASE CONTINUE AND SAY NO TO WHAT HE'S ASKING YOU, NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS. AND I KNOW THEY MENTIONED GOING TO VIRGINIA TO THE COURT, AND WE'RE READY TO GO. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE COURT AS WELL. AND, UH, WHOEVER WANTS TO RIDE, THEY WILL RIDE. SO, BECAUSE WE WANT THIS THING TO END, WE'RE TIRED OF COMING HERE, EVERY CONSOLE, OKAY, EVERY CAUCUS, NATURAL RESOURCES, THE VOTE IS NO, AND IT KEEPS COMING BACK DAY AFTER DAY. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MAJOR. [03:00:01] OKAY. I WOULD ASK THAT WE NOT HAVE APPLAUSE. WE'RE JUST SPENDING TIME HERE. LILY HARRIS, YOU'RE NEXT. AND AFTER THAT, ARNOLD BROWN, PLEASE. AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF. WE CAN HEAR THEM THROUGH THE MICROPHONE. HELLO, MS. HARRIS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL TO REMOVE 502 ACRES ON PINE ISLAND FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY. THIS PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DENIED REPEATEDLY FOR GOOD REASON. IT UNDERMINES THE PURPOSE OF THE OVERLAY AND SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT THREATENS THE ISLAND'S CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE COMMUNITY'S FUTURE. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A MANNER, MATTER OF ZONING TECHNICALITIES. THE CPO EXISTS TO PROTECT MORE THAN LAND. IT SAFEGUARDS THE HISTORY, THE CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND LEGACY OF A COMMUNITY THAT SPAN GENERATIONS. WEAKENING THESE PROTECTIONS PLACES THAT HERITAGE AT RISK AND UNDERMINES THE TRUST OF RESIDENTS WHO RELY ON THE COUNTY TO UPHOLD ITS COMMITMENTS. NO DEVELOPER SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO BYPASS ESTABLISHED PROTECTIONS THROUGH REPEATED APPEALS OR REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL TREATMENT. THESE CONTINUED EFFORTS ARE NO LONGER ABOUT SEEKING CLARITY, BUT ABOUT WEARING DOWN THE PROCESS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS UNTIL AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES TO CIRCUMVENT THE RULES. THE COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT THE SAME BATTLE REPEATEDLY TO PRESERVE PROTECTIONS ALREADY ESTABLISHED ON ITS BEHALF. ALLOWING THIS EXCEPTION WILL NOT ONLY UNDERMINE THE INTEGRITY OF THE CPO, BUT ALSO SEND A TROUBLING MESSAGE THAT PERSISTENT DEVELOPMENT INTERESTS CAN OUTWEIGH THE VOICES, HISTORY, AND RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE THESE PROTECTIONS WERE CREATED TO SERVE. I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO STAND WITH THE COMMUNITY, HONOR PRIOR DECISIONS, UPHOLD THE RULES CONSISTENTLY, AND PROTECT PINE ISLAND'S CULTURAL HERITAGE, NOT JUST FOR TODAY'S RESIDENTS, BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IN CONCLUSION, I ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE A PART OF PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE CULTURAL ST. HELENA ISLAND. EACH ONE OF YOU WILL BE A PART OF HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S A POSITIVE IMPACT OR A NEGATIVE ONE. WE HOPE IT'S POSITIVE. SAY NO, PINE ISLAND WILL NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE CPO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ARNOLD BROWN, PLEASE. NOPE, NO CLAPPING. NO, NO. ARNOLD BROWN. LET'S JUST KEEP MOVING. THANK YOU. HELLO, MR. BROWN. LONG TIME, NO SEE. UH, AS WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THE, UH, U- UNITED STATES IS 250 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, AND I FOUND MYSELF WATCHING, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I PLANNED, BUT I FOUND MYSELF WATCHING A LOT OF DOCUMENTARIES ON, ON TELEVISION. AND I WATCHED DOCUMENTARY ON WASHINGTON, JEFFERSON'S, ADAMS, CIVIL WAR, UH, THE FRENCH, UH, THE WAR WITH THE FRENCH, WITH AMERICAN INDIANS, UH, GERMANY, JAPAN, NORTH KOREA. SO IT, IT JUST WAS JUST A PLETHORA OF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. UH, ONE OF THE PERSON THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND WHAT HE SAID. UH, AND WE ALL LOVE ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WE ALL LOVE ABRAHAM LINCOLN. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA LOVES ABRAHAM LINCOLN SO MUCH. THEY BUILT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, LINCOLN LIBRARY. I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS ON MUSH - MOUNT RUSHMORE. UM, LINCOLN CENTER IN NEW YORK, THE LINCOLN BANK, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, LINCOLN TUNNEL, LINCOLN BRIDGE, ON AND ON, EVEN MY UNCLE LOVED TO DRIVE A LINCOLN. OKAY? AND I HEARD A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAYING THAT LINCOLN ESTABLISHED CEMETERIES, THE, UH, VETERAN CEMETERIES. THAT WAS NEWS TO ME, IF I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY. UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LINCOLN SAID, THE AUDIENCE CAN'T [03:05:01] SEE IT, BUT LINCOLN SAID AT GETTYSBURG 163 YEARS AGO, "THE GOVERNMENT IS OF THE PEOPLE. THE GOVERNMENT IS BY THE PEOPLE. THE GOVERNMENT IS FOR THE PEOPLE." THE KEY WORDS ARE OF, BY, AND FOR. COUNTY COUNCIL, YOU ALL ARE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT. AND LINCOLN SAID THAT 163 YEARS AGO, IT STILL APPLIES TODAY. LET'S USE, LET'S CHANGE IT A LITTLE BIT. CPO ZONING. THE CPO IS OF THE PEOPLE. THE CPO IS BY THE PEOPLE. THE CPO IS FOR THE PEOPLE. KEY WORDS OF BY AND FOR. NOW LET'S CHANGE IT AGAIN. PINE ISLAND IS OF THE PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT TRUE. PINE ISLAND IS BY THE PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT TRUE. PINE IBLE, PINE ISLAND IS FOR THE PEOPLE. THAT IS NOT TRUE. SO IF, IF THERE WAS NO CPO ZONING, THE CPO ORGANIZATION STILL DOES NOT HAVE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE. THEY DO NOT DO, MEET THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT, THE CODE, UH, 7-3, EXCUSE ME, 7-3-40. THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T MEET THAT CRITERIA. I THINK THERE ARE 11 ITEMS IN THAT CRITERIA. THEY MIGHT MEET TWO, BUT I'M BEING GENEROUS WITH THE TWO. DENSITY. DENSITY IS NOT AN ISSUE. WE HEARD THAT BROUGHT UP BEFORE. UH, CONFLICT, EXCUSE ME, SPOT ZONING, THAT'S A V - THAT, THAT DEVELOPMENT THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF SPOT ZONING. IT'S NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY VARIOUS COMMITTEES IN, IN, IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. UH, VIOLATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT CODE. I, I'M HEARING T- TERMS LIKE EQ- EQUAL PROTECTION OR EQUAL STANDARDS. UM, I WORKED IN PERSONNEL. E- EVERYBODY WOULD BE TREATED, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TREATED THE SAME. IF, IF MICHAEL JORDAN WAS ON THE APPLICATION APPLIC - IT WOULD STILL BE NO. IF MAGIC JOHNSON WAS ON THERE, IT WOULD STILL BE NO. IF ELVIS PRESLEY, JAMES BROWN, YORK GLOVER, IT WOULD STILL BE NO. IT WOULD STILL BE NO, AND IT SHOULD BE VOTED DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO WE ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO BE CONSISTENT, UH, FOLLOW ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WE ALL LOVE LINCOLN. AND IT'S CPO IS NOT, IT'S, IT'S NOT FOR THE PEOPLE AND NOT, IT'S NOT BY THE PEOPLE, AND IT'S NOT, WE, THE PEOPLE DON'T, DON'T, THEY, WE DON'T SUPPORT IT. THE COUNTY DOESN'T SUPPORT COUN - MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY JUST DON'T SUPPORT IT. SO WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO NOT SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. MR. KEITH ELLIS NEXT, AND MARIE GIBBS AFTER HIM. HELLO, MR. ELLIS. MADAM CHAIRWOMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS. NICE TO SEE Y'ALL AGAIN. I'M BACK HERE AGAIN WITH THE SAME, UH, ARGUMENT AS LAST OF MY GUESTS. UH, FIRST OF ALL, I HEARD THE COMMENT THAT, UH, A LOT OF US DON'T KNOW WHERE PINE ISLAND IS. WELL, I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE. I USED TO HUNT PINE ISLAND FOR DECADES. THE ATTORNEY THAT MADE THAT, MADE THAT COMMENT PROBABLY ONLY HEARD OF IT ONCE HE GOT THIS CASE, SO. BUT, UH, IT'S THE SAME. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE BACK HERE. WE DONE BEEN TO A FEDERAL LEVEL, GOT THROWN OUT, COME BACK DOWN HERE, YOU'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF EVERY COMMITTEE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT, IF YOU GOT ANOTHER COUNTY, UH, COUNCIL WE, WE AIN'T HEAR FROM YET. WE NOT BEEN IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES, Y'ALL SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S THE SAME VOTE. LET'S GO AHEAD VOTE NOW, GET IT OVER WITH EIGHT TO THREE AND THEN WE CAN GO HOME WITH OUR, I'VE NEVER SEEN A, A MEETING LAST UNTIL 2:00 AM. THAT HAD TO BE A FIRST FOR US. SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE GONNA LOOK FOR. IT'S THE SAME ARGUMENT BEING MADE TIME AND TIME AGAIN. IT'S GETTING KIND OF REPETITIVE, BUT, UM, THEY DON'T WANT, THEY WANT US TO TIE OUT. I DON'T TIE EASILY. SO I, I THINK EVERYBODY SITTING BEHIND ME HERE FEEL THE SAME WAY. HE KNEW WHAT THE PROPERTY WAS. IT'S IN A RESTRICTED AREA. RESTRICTED MEANS RESTRICTED. I HAVE TWO GRANDKIDS, [03:10:01] EIGHT AND 11. WHEN I TELL THEM NO, THEY DON'T ASK AGAIN. THAT'S WHAT THEY ACCEPT. I MEAN, I MEAN IT'S, I MEAN, I DON'T, THAT'S KIND OF HARD FOR SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU'LL FEEL ENTITLED, BUT WHEN YOU TELL THEM NO, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. BUT, UM, COME BACK, HE MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE WATERWAYS. I'VE BEEN MENTIONED THAT. SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE'S ON THE WATERWAYS. THE GOLF COURSE IS GONNA HARM THE WATERWAY. THAT'S, THAT'S COMMON SENSE. YOU GOTTA TREAT THE GREENS. YOU CANNOT HAVE A GOLF COAST WITHOUT TREATING THE GREENS. YOU GONNA HAVE RUNOFFS. RUNOFFS GONNA GO INTO THE OCEAN, INTO THE RIVERS. THAT'S ONE OUR MAIN SOURCE OF. HE CAME IN, IT'S NOT LIKE HE C- CAME IN NOT KNOWING. HIS, HIS THING WAS, "I'M GONNA DO IT AND I'M GONNA FORCE IT ON YOU." SO NOW WE HERE WITH HIM AND WE CAN COME BACK EVERY TIME HE COMES, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE HE DIDN'T KNOW. AND THEN I ALSO MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU GET COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT'S ON BOARD WITH HIM PERSONALLY, HAVING DINING OUT WITH HIM, I'VE SEEN HIM HAND OFF ME A MEAL. I EAT TOO. I LOVE TO EAT. BUT WHEN YOU GET COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT GOES OUT WITH HIM PERSONALLY, THIS WHAT WE GET. IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE GET. I'VE NEVER HEARD IT BEFORE WHEN SOMEBODY COME AND THEN YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. HE JUST TRIED TO BRIBE EVERYBODY RIGHT HERE A MINUTE AGO, BUT HE SAY HE'S NOT THROWING MONEY AROUND. COMMON SENSE CAN TELL YOU THAT'S WHAT THE, THAT'S THE BOTTOM THING. HE'S THROWING DOLLAR BILLS AROUND, TRY TO BUY THE NEXT PERSON, SEE WHERE THE NEXT MEETING BE, WHO ELSE HE'S BOUGHT OFF. IF HE GETS STUCK AT TWO OR THREE, WHY YOU THINK IT WAS A VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST WHEN THE NATURAL RESOURCE CAME? IT WAS UNANIMOUS. SO I DON'T THINK HE KNEW, HE KNOW MORE THAN WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE NATURAL RESOURCES, THAT'S THEIR JOB. SO IT'S A LOT OF MONEY BEING THROWN AROUND. HE'S COCKY, HE'S ARROGANT, HE'S STUCK WITH IT. HE, THIS IS HIS, THIS IS HIS BUSINESS RIGHT HERE. HE MADE THIS, HE MADE DEBATE HE GOT A LION. NOW HE WANTS US TO BAIL HIM OUT OF A BAD PURCHASE, BUT THAT'S, THIS IS ON HIM. AND AS LONG AS HE COMING BACK AND FORTH, WE COME BACK AND FORTH. BUT SOMEBODY HAVE TO STOP THIS AT SOME POINT. SOMEBODY, THIS CAN'T KEEP GOING ON AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HAVE A MEETING. LIKE BEFORE I LEAVE HERE TONIGHT, I GUARANTEE YOU I'LL HAVE A DATE FOR THE NEXT MEETING. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? THE LAST THREE MEETINGS I CAME TO BEFORE I LEFT HERE, I ALREADY HAD A, WE JUST HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK. HOW CAN HE KEEP GETTING ON TOP OF THE AGENDA LIKE THAT? AIN'T, AIN'T NO, NO OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS BEING HANDLED? NONE? SO JUST GIVE ME MY NEXT MEETING DATE AND LET'S GET THIS EIGHT TO THREE VOTED THE WAY SO I CAN GO HOME. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON MY DAY, ON MY DAY OF STAYING THIS EVENING. I PROBABLY MISSED A NICE BUCK THIS EVENING, BUT I'M HERE FOR THE DURATION AND I'M QUITE SURE HE FEELS THE SAME WAY. THANK YOU. MARIE GIBB, AND THEN PAULA GHISLAINE IS AFTER MARIE. HELLO, MARIE. GOOD EVENING. YEAH. MADAM CAP CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, MY NAME IS MARIE GIBBS, A LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF ST. HELENA'S ISLAND WHO'VE EARNED A PHD IN EDUCATION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING REGARDING THE PRO- PROPOSAL TO REZONE 502 ACRES FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTIVE OVERLAY DISTRICT. I URGE YOU TO DENY THIS REQUEST. I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD THE SAME REASON FOR DENIAL REPEATEDLY. IT IS SAID, IF YOU SAY IT ENOUGH, IT'S BELIEVED. THE CULTURAL PROTECTIVE OVERLAY DISTRICT WAS ESTABLISHED TO RECOGNIZE, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT THE UNIQUE CULTURAL HERITAGE, HISTORICAL LANDSCAPE, AND LONG-STANDING GULLAH COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE BEAVER COUNTY UNLIKE ANY OTHER PLACE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. ONCE LAND IS REZONED FROM THOSE PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROCEEDS, THOSE CULTURAL RESOURCES CANNOT BE RESTORED. THE DECISION YOU MAKE THIS EVENING WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR GENERATIONS. LIVING ON ST. HELENA'S ISLAND IS A GIFT WI - MANY WISH THEY HAD. OWNING LAND AND, OWNING AND LIVING ON SHARED 60 ACRES OF LAND, YOU HEAR CRICKETS, FROG CROAKING, OWLS HOODING, AND WHIPPER WILLINGS, WHIPPER WILLOWS BRINGING YOU MESSAGES. THE LANDSCAPE AT SUNSET IS MAGNIFICENT. HEARING THOSE MOTIVATING GULLAH STORIES AND PRAYERS, IT'S IN YOUR HEAD IS IN OUR MINDS. PEOPLE KNOWING PEOPLE, QUIET AND PEACE [03:15:01] AND WORDS OF WISDOM. IF SOMEONE GIVES YOU SOMETHING, YOU EXPECT, YOU EXPECT SOMETHING. EVEN THOUGH I OWN AND LIVE ON A SHARED 60 ACRES OF LAND, I CANNOT BUILD WHAT I WANT BECAUSE OF THE T2 RULE ZONE. I MUST OBEY AND FOLLOW THE RULE, THE RULES. AT OUR OCTOBER 5TH MEETING WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBER ASKED THE ATTORNEY LAWYER FOR DEVELOPER, DEVELOPER, "IS THE CPO LAW?" HIS ANSWER WAS, "WITH CONFIDENCE, YES." IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY SHOULD THERE BE EXCEPTION TO THE RULES? THIS REQUEST IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT ZONING OUT 502 ACRES OF LAND. THIS WILL ALLOW THE DEVELOPER HIS GOLF COURSE, RESORT, AND GETTY COMMUNITY. WE, THE GULLAH PEOPLE LIVING ON ST. HELMERS ISLAND ARE HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE AND WE TIRED OF BEING ASSAULTED BY THE DEVELOPER AND THE LAWYER. WE DON'T HAVE PEANUTS BRAINS. WE SEE EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING. RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE RELIED ON THESE PROTECTION FOR 27 YEARS AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S VISION FOR BALANCED GROWTH. CHANGING THE RULES WHEN DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE INCREASES UNDERMINE PUBLIC TRUST AND WEAKEN THE PURPOSE OF THE OVERLAY DISTRICT. WHAT PRESIDENT WOULD YOU SET FORWARD FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PRO- PROPOSALS? I RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE AGAINST REZONING 502 ACRES FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTIVE OVERLAY, OVERLAY DISTRICT AND REAFFRA - AFFIRM THE COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING ITS CULTURAL HERITAGE AND COMMUNITY CHARACTER. THIS LAND WAS PURCHASED AS IT IS, T2 RU- RURAL. IF I BUY A CAR, YOU SAID AS IS. I'M STUCK WITH IT. IN THE WORDS OF DR. KING, TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO RIGHT. DO WHAT IS RIGHT. AND I THANK YOU AND DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. PAULA GALANE AND THEN JESSE WHITE, PLEASE. HELLO, PAULA. HI. MY NAME IS PAULA GALANEY AND I AM A HOMEOWNER AND LANDOWNER IN DE LAMO. EXCUSE ME. I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR LETTING US ALL SPEAK TONIGHT. I KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING TIRED BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN HERE SINCE THREE O'CLOCK AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF THINGS. UM, FIRST OF ALL, THE DEVELOPER COMES INTO TOWN, MAKES FRIENDS WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS NO LONGER WITH US, KIND OF A SIGN. SECONDLY, HE KNEW ABOUT THE CPO WHEN HE BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, BUT HE THOUGHT HE COULD COME SWEEPING IN HERE WITH ALL HIS MONEY AND TAKE IT FROM US. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE COUNCIL THAT PROBABLY HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN ON PINE ISLAND, SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GAUGE WHAT THEY'RE, UH, BASING THEIR INFORMATION ON. IF IT'S NOT JUST MONEY, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. UM, THEN HE FOUND FOUR PEOPLE THAT WERE HIS MOUTHPIECES THAT DIDN'T EVEN LIVE ON ST. HELENA. SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT. THEN THERE WERE THE GREEN SHIRTS, THE GREEN SHIRTS THAT HE GAVE OUT AT A MEETING THAT LASTED UNTIL TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. I DON'T SEE ANY GREEN SHIRTS, JUST SAYING. UM, LET'S SEE. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AT AT LEAST TWO MEETINGS TO SUPPORT THE CPO. WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO'S BACKING HIM, WHERE HE'S GETTING HIS MONEY. UM, NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT HE'S SAYING THAT HE WILL GIVE THE COUNTY $3,474,963 TO ALLOW HIM TO BUILD ON HIS PROPERTY. AND HIS LEGAL, AND HE WILL PAY THE $343,619 THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID, THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY PAID. HE'S HAD LAWSUIT AFTER LAWSUIT AFTER LAWSUIT. I'D BE SURPRISED THAT HE THINKS THAT THIS COUNTY CAN BE BOUGHT. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE HE'S PLAYING, PAYING TO PLAY, WHICH IS REALLY PRETTY MUCH SOUNDING MORE LIKE A BRIBE. NOT THAT WE LIKE TO HEAR THAT. [03:20:01] HE HAS LIED, MANIPULATED, AND BEEN USING BULLYING TACTICS. ONE, LAST WEEK HE ATTACKED YORK, DR. ROBERT ADAMS, AND TONIGHT HE'S GOING AFTER ROB MERCHANT, OR AT LEAST HIS ATTORNEY IS. PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPO ONCE AGAIN. THIS SHOULD BE ABOUT LOVE, COMPASSION, AND EMPATHY FOR ALL. THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON ST. HELENA, INCLUDING MYSELF, WE LOVE IT OUT THERE. IT'S QUIET. IT'S PEACEFUL. THERE'S VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER, UNLESS IT'S ON A SUNDAY OR RUSH HOUR. BUT I CAN HEAR ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS. I HAVE RACCOONS AND SQUIRRELS AND POSSUMS AND OCCASIONALLY CATS AND DOGS THAT COME THROUGH MY YARD. AND RECENTLY, I HAD 19 RED CARDINALS IN MY YARD. WE HAVE PAINTED BUNTINGS EVERY YEAR. YOU START TEARING DOWN ALL THE TREES, WHICH I ALSO SEE ON A DAILY BASIS COMING OUT OF PINE ISLAND AND FORCE ALL OF THE ANIMALS OFF OF THE ISLAND BY BUILDING $10 MILLION HOUSES IN A GOLF COURSE. THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANYTHING LEFT. SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPO LIKE YOU ALL HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, AND DON'T LET THE MONEY SWAY YOU. THANK YOU. JESSE WHITE. AFTER JESSE, WE WILL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK. WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR THREE AND A HALF HOURS. JESSE, GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. JESSE WHITE WITH SCALP ON BEHALF OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE SEA ISLAND COALITION, WHO IS A PARTY IN THE ACT OF PINE ISLAND LITIGATION AND UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT DUE TO A PRIOR COMMITMENT. AS YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS NOTHING NEW. IT'S THE SAME REQUEST THAT'S BEEN REJECTED REPEATEDLY, JUST NOW HITTING A NEW LOW BY RESORTING TO PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ATTACKS, WHICH WE CAN ONLY ASSUME THESE TACTICS ARE INTENDED TO DISTRACT FROM THE CORE ISSUE. PINE ISLAND, LLC CONTINUES TO SEEK AN EXCLUSIVE GOLF RESORT ON ST. HELENA, A USE THAT'S EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY THE CPO. REACHING THE SAME CONCLUSION MULTIPLE TIMES ON THE SAME REQUEST FOR THE SAME PROPERTY IS CONSISTENTLY APPLYING THE LAWS AS DESIGNED. IT IS NOT A CONSPIRACY AND IT IS NOT A PREDETERMINED OUTCOME. SINCE ADOPTION IN 1999, AND IT REINFORCED WITH EVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SINCE THE CPO HAS PROHIBITED GOLF COURSES, GATED COMMUNITIES, AND RESORT DEVELOPMENTS ON ST. HELENA ISLAND. PINE ISLAND LLC KNEW THESE RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. IT ALSO KNEW THE COMMUNITY HAD REJECTED EFFORTS TO WEAKEN THE CPO, AND THAT COUNCIL HAD DIRECTED THE CPO COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH COUNTY LEGAL AND STAKEHOLDERS TO CLARIFY AND REINFORCE THE PROTECTIONS THAT WERE ALREADY THERE, NOT TO DISMANTLE THEM. THE TIMELINE HERE MATTERS. THE DEVELOPERS ENTERED A 2021 PURCHASE CONTRACT FOR A GOLF COURSE AND RELATED LO- LODGING, AND THEY FIRST SOUGHT REMOVAL FROM THE CPO IN NOVEMBER OF 2022. 40 RESIDENTS SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO THE FORMER ADMINISTRATOR'S WEAKENING AMENDMENTS TO THE CPO IN 2023, MAKING THEIR WISHES UNMISTAKABLY CLEAR THAT NO GATED GOLF RESORTS WERE WANTED ON ST. HELENA. SUBSEQUENTLY TO THOSE ITEMS, THE DEVELOPERS NEGOTIATED A LOW- LOWER PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY, CLOSED ON THAT PROPERTY WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTING PROTECTIONS AND THE COUNTY'S INTENT TO STRENGTHEN THEM. SIMPLY PUT, THE DEVELOPERS DON'T LIKE THE RULES AND ARE NOW USING MONEY, THREATS AND LITIGATION PRACT - PRESSURE TO AVOID THE RULES THAT EVERY OTHER PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO ABIDE BY. AS MR. DUKES CORRECTLY NOTED, REZONING INTRODUCES USES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY PERMITTED. HERE, THOSE USES ARE GOLF COURSES, RESORTS, AND GATED COMMUNITIES. THE VERY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS THE CPO WAS CREATED TO PREVENT. THE PROPERTY'S UNDERLYING T2 RURAL ZONING IS NOT CHANGING. THE SOLE REQUESTED CHANGE IS TO REMOVE THE CPO PROTECTIONS. THAT'S WHAT THE STAFF ANALYZED IN THEIR REPORT AND THAT'S THE PROPER THING TO ANALYZE. GRANTING THIS EXCEPTION WOULD ESTABLISH A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT THAT WEALTHY DEVELOPERS CAN PURCHASE PROPERTY KNOWING THE RULES, CHALLENGE THOSE RULES, AND ULTIMATELY SECURE SPECIAL TREATMENT THAT'S UNAVAILABLE TO EVERYONE ELSE. WORSE, SETTLING LITIGATION BY GRANTING PROHIBITED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS INVITES EVERY OTHER PROPERTY OWNER TO USE THE SAME STRATEGY FOR THE RULES THEY DON'T LIKE. [03:25:02] YOU'VE HEARD THE ST. HELENA COMMUNITY'S MESSAGE REPEATEDLY OVER THE PAST THREE PLUS YEARS, AND THE ANSWER HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY NO. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE CPO, COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE RECORD, THE GREAT DEFERENCE THAT COURTS GIVE TO LOCAL LAND USE DECISIONS AND THE COUNTY'S SUCCESS THUS FAR IN DEFENDING THESE PROTECTIONS, WE URGE YOU NOT TO NEGOTIATE AWAY THROUGH A SETTLEMENT WHAT THE DEVELOPERS COULD NOT OBTAIN UNDER THE LAW. FINALLY, I WANNA CORRECT ONE PARTICULARLY TROUBLING MISREPRESENTATION. THE NEARLY 500 PAGE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY DOCUMENTS THE NUMEROUS DIRECT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RESORT STYLE DEVELOPMENT, RI- RISING PROPERTY TAXES, THE LOSS OF HISTORY AND CULTURE, AND DISPLACEMENT OF GULLAH GEECHEE RESIDENTS. THIS COUNCIL'S REINFORCING AMENDMENTS TO THE CPO ARE FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE STUDY'S FINDING. I HAVE A COPY HERE THAT I AM PROVIDING TO YOU ALL, UM, WITH TABS, UM, TO ALL OF THE FINDINGS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE CPO AS IT EX - AS ADOPTED, AND I DID THAT SO YOU WOULD HAVE EASE OF REFERENCE TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOUR, YOUR DECISION SHOULD BE... YOU SHOULD STAND BEHIND YOUR DECISION AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPHOLD DECADES OF COMMUNITY PLANNING TONIGHT AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE CPO WHILE ALSO SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT ITS PROTECTIONS APPLY EQUALLY TO EVERYONE. WE RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO DENY THE PROPOSED REZONING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK. UM, I HAVE 20 MORE PEOPLE ON THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE STILL HAVE BUSINESS TO CONDUCT AFTER THAT. FIVE MINUTE BREAK, PLEASE. ESTEEN ATKINS IS NEXT. LET'S GO, PEOPLE. AFTER ERNESTINE IS LIZ SANTAGATE. SHE SAID NO ON THE BASIS OF - PEOPLE TAKE YOUR SEATS OR GO OUTSIDE TO TALK, PLEASE. WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO GO. AND I'M GONNA REMIND EVERYBODY, IT'S A FIVE MINUTE LIMIT AND PLEASE, NO NASTY COMMENTS ABOUT ANYONE. IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT ANYONE THAT WAY. SO ERNESTINE, YOU'RE GONNA BE NEXT. OH, BY THE WAY, IS, IF ANYONE SIGNED UP, FOLKS IN THE BACK, FOLKS IN THE BACK, IF YOU WOULD GO STEP OUTSIDE, IT'S VERY RUDE FOR YOU TO STOP THIS WHOLE PROCEEDING. IF WE'VE ALREADY COVERED WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SAY WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU COULD JUST SAY PASS. ALL RIGHT? YOU CAN ALWAYS DO THAT. ERNESTINE ATKINS AND LIZ SANTAGATE. I HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT. ALL RIGHT, ERNESTINE, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, HON. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ERNESTINE ATKINS, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT JUST TO EXPRESS A FEW THOUGHTS WHERE EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE ME HAVE ALREADY SAID, BUT I'M GONNA SAY A FEW THINGS THAT I NEED TO SAY. EARLY IN THE EARLY, UM, 90S, I WAS GRACIOUS TO BE A PART OF THAT, UH, PENN SCHOOL FOR PRESERVATION CLASS. I WAS ONE OF THE STUDENTS IN THAT CLASS WHO PLANNED FOR THE CPO AT THAT TIME. I WAS VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE. IT TOOK A WHOLE LOT OF TIME. IT TOOK US ALMOST FIVE YEARS TO GET THAT TOGETHER. HOWEVER, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT THAT WAS A PLAN, IT'S A DOCUMENT, AND IT'S A LAW IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE WORKED HARD TO HELP PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF ST. HELEN ISLAND AND SOME ALSO IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT WE CREATED THAT LAW BECAUSE WE FELT THAT MOVEMENT WAS BECOMING SO FAST, LOOKING AT HILTON HEAD TO SEE HOW HILTON HEAD JUST SWEPT IN SO FAST THAT WE KNEW THAT THE NEXT LITTLE ISLAND WAS GONNA BE ST. HELENA. YEAH. SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO PUT A STOP TO ALL THIS MESS. NOW, IT'S SAD TO SAY THAT, UM, THE CPO, UM, WAS THOUGHT OF TO... BY, BY THE DEVELOPER TO SEPARATE THAT CPO FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTY, THE REST OF THE ISLAND. NO, WE WILL NOT DO THAT. WE ARE NOT IN AGREEANCE OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT IS NOT EVEN FEASIBLE TO DO THAT WITH ALL THE WORK THAT WE HAVE PUT IN. I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO COME HERE JUST THINK THAT WE ARE NOT SMART ENOUGH TO HANDLE OURSELF, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. WE ARE VINYAS, WE'RE NOT COME HERES, AND WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING, SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, DON'T TAKE US FOR GRANTED. MONEY CAN'T BUY EVERYTHING. YOU CAN SPEND IT FOR ANYTHING. BUT IT CAN'T [03:30:01] BUY EVERYTHING AND IT CAN'T BUY LOVE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PEOPLE TOGETHER ON ST. HELENA AND IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. WE HAVE COME THUS FAR. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US AND COUNTY COUNCIL. I GREET YOU WITH ALL MY HEART. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE HAVE TRUST IN YOU AND WE WANT YOU TO BE REAL RESILIENT TO LISTEN TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING. IF YOU DON'T LIVE ON ST. HELENA, YOU MAY NOT FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT WE FEEL BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIVE THERE. BUT WE LOVE OUR ST. HELENA. WE LOVE IT, LOVE IT VERY MUCH AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE DESTROYED NOW. SECONDLY, IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMING INTO BEAUFORT, THAT MEANS LATER ON DOWN, IT MIGHT BE 15, 20 YEARS, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR, FOR THE ROAD, UM, TO BE WIDENED. A LOT OF PEOPLE GONNA BE DISPLAYED HAVING TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR HOMES BECAUSE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE ROAD TO WIDEN THE ROAD. WE DO NOT WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN. I HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT LONG YEARS AGO WITH THE WIDEN OF HIGHWAY 21 AND WE DO NOT WANT THAT UNLESS THEY'RE GONNA BUILD A BRIDGE FROM KUSAW ON THE BACK END. SO PLEASE LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS TONIGHT, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SAID, AND WE TRUST IN YOU THAT YOU WILL, UM, NOT VOTE TO SEPARATE THE CPO TO GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. ATKINS. LIZ SANTAGATI, HOPE I SAID THAT RIGHT. WAS I CLOSE? OKAY, GO. AND THEN MICHAEL RIVERS WILL BE NEXT. GO AHEAD LIZ. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF COUNTY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS LIZ AKINS SANUGATI. I'M A RESIDENT OF ST. HELENA. I LIVE ON LADIES ISLAND, BUT I AM A PROPERTY OWNER ON ST. HELENA. FIRST, I WANNA COMMEND YOU ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR. A LOT OF TIMES, UH, WE DON'T GET TO SAY THANK YOU TO COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF ST. HELENA. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE OWNER OF THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY BOUGHT IT KNOWING WHAT IT WAS ZONED. THAT WAS NOT NEW. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A ISSUE OR A LACK OF RESPECT FOR COUNCIL AND OBVIOUSLY THOUGHT THAT COUNCIL COULD BE BOUGHT. AND THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BOUGHT, BUT THEY'RE NOT HERE TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. BUT THERE, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE ISLAND THAT HAD BEEN BOUGHT. I AM NOT ALWAYS IN AGREEMENT WITH COUNCIL. I TELL YOU WHEN I THINK YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG AND I'LL TELL YOU WHEN YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT. I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF MOVEMENT ON THESE ISLANDS. I'VE WATCHED SUN CITY WHEN THEY TOLD US THAT THEY NEEDED TO BUILD SUN CITY BECAUSE OF THE JOBS IT WAS GONNA CREATE. AND AT THAT TIME I SAID THE JOBS THAT SUN CITY CREATES WILL NOT DO A WHOLE LOT FOR THE PEOPLE ON, IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY'RE LOW PAYING JOBS. WHAT WE NEED IN THIS COMMUNITY IS HIGH PAYING JOBS. WHAT THIS ISLAND WILL DO IS CREATE A BUNCH OF LOW PAYING JOBS THAT'S NOT GONNA BENEFIT ANYBODY. WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO GO TO SCHOOL. WE DON'T WANT THEM NECESSARILY WORKING ON A GOLF COURSE. WE LIVE OUT OF THE WATER. GOLF COURSES RUIN THE WATER. WE DO NOT WANT OUR FOOD RUINED. AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING. SO I AM SO GLAD TONIGHT THAT COUNTY COUNCIL IS NOT FOR SALE. I BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS CANNOT BE BOUGHT. AND SO I COMMEND YOU AGAIN ON THAT. WE ARE THE LOW COUNTRY AND THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO THE COUNCIL, I SPOKE ABOUT BEING LOW COUNTRY. THAT MEANS THE LAND IS LOW. THE WATER TABLE IS HIGH. YOU CANNOT DO THE KIND OF BUILDING IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT YOU DO IN OTHER PLACES BECAUSE OF THAT. WE DON'T WANNA BE LIKE FLORIDA OR TEXAS. AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND SOUTH CAROLINA NOW ON THE WATERWAY WHERE HOUSES ARE BEING WASHED AWAY BY THE OCEAN, THAT IS COMING [03:35:01] TO THIS AREA. THE WATER TABLE IS HIGH. WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE WHO LIVED HERE FOR GENERATIONS DID NOT BUILD A LOT. WE HIRE PEOPLE WHO COME FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE TO TELL US HOW TO BUILD IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT YOU DON'T ASK THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WHO WALK THESE LANDS EVERY DAY, WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS COMMUNITY. I CAN SEE MY PROPERTY ON HIGHWAY 21 AS THEY BUILD ON, ON CAT ISLAND. IT PUSHES THE WATER SOMEPLACE ELSE. EVERY GRAIN OF SAND THAT WE MOVE, IT MOVES SOMETHING ELSE. IT SHIFTS. WE CAN PUT AS MUCH SAND ON THE BEACH ON HILTON HEAD, ON, ON ST. HELEN AS YOU WANT. IT'S NOT GONNA HELP ANY BECAUSE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE WASHED AWAY. THIS IS GOD'S LAND. HE HAS DONE IT THE WAY HE WANTS TO DO IT. LET'S NOT DESTROY WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU. MICHAEL RIVERS, THEN ELAINE SCOTT, PLEASE. AND AGAIN, IF YOU WANNA PASS, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND SAY PASS. HELLO MR. RIVERS. GOOD. HELLO COUNCIL. UM, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE INTERESTING AND LISTENING TO WHAT HAVE BEEN SAID AS WELL AS WHAT'S TRYING TO BE DONE. AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHO SAID IT, BUT SOMEONE SAID, UH, WHAT A TROUBLE WHERE WE WEAVE WHEN AT FIRST WE TRIED TO DECEIVE. AND I'VE BEEN LISTENING AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DEFUSKY AND, UM, REALLY IT'S CALLED THE FIRST KEY, THAT'S WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM. AND, UH, HOW DEFUSKEY HAS TURNED INTO WHAT IT IS, BUT YES, YET STILL EVERYBODY'S SAYING TO US THAT ST. HELENA WILL NOT BECOME A DEFUSKY OR SOME OTHER PLACE ON, IN OUR COUNTY. UM, BUT I JUST WANT US TO THINK QUICKLY ABOUT THE LEAST OF THESE, THE LEAST OF THESE. AND I KNOW WE, UH, WE DO NOT HAVE DEEP POCKETS, UH, BUT WE DO HAVE DEEP ROOTS. AND YOU LOVE THE OAK TREES IN THIS AREA, BUT NONE OF THE OAK TREES CAN GROW WITHOUT DEEP ROOTS. AND THAT'S WHAT THE GULLAH GEECHEE PEOPLE... WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THAT TERM, UM, BECAUSE IT'S BECOME MORE, UM, COMMERCIALIZED, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, BACK IN THE '60S AND '70S, UM, IF YOU CALL ANY ONE OF US GULLAH GEECHEE, THAT WOULD CREATE A SITUATION. UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, TIME CHANGES IN THAT EVENT. UH, BUT THE THING IS, THE LEAST OF THESE, UM, DO OUR VOICE EVEN MATTER? DOES OUR VOICE EVEN MATTER? UM, I THINK SOMEONE SAID EARLIER TONIGHT ABOUT BEING SEEN, HEARD, AND APPRECIATED. WELL, WITH THAT COMES RESPECTED. UM, YOU, YOU KEEP CHANGING THE RULES OF THE GAME. LET ME SAY IT A DIFFERENT WAY. UM, WHEN SOMEONE KEEPS TRYING TO MANIPULATE THE RULES TO SUIT THEIR BENEFIT OR THEIR SATISFACTION, UM, THAT'S ALMOST LIKE WHAT WE CALL ON THE STREET, SOMEBODY TRYING TO PLAY YOU. AND, AND RIGHT NOW, UM, SHOULD MR. ELVIO BE ABLE TO ENJOY HIS PROPERTY? MOST DEFINITELY. BUT THERE SHOULD BE SOME PARAMETERS AND THERE SHOULD BE, UH, SOME GUIDELINES AND THOSE WERE, UM, OUTLINED BEFORE HE BROUGHT IT, BEFORE HE BOUGHT IT. UM, JUST REMEMBER, UM, IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. UM, AND I THINK HOME RULE. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOME RULE. WELL, IF YOU'RE FROM ST. HELENA OR IF YOU'RE FROM THAT AREA OR PEOPLE WHO ARE SYMPATHETIC TO THE PEOPLE FROM ST. HELENA, DO THEIR VOICE REALLY MATTER? DO THEIR VOICE REALLY MATTER? AND THAT'S THE QUESTION I THINK THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TONIGHT, UM, BECAUSE YOU'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY, UM, THROUGH THE COURTS, THROUGH THE PEOPLE, THROUGH THE CITIZENS, UH, WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY DO NOT WANT. AND EACH ONE OF YOU, UH, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT AREA YOU REPRESENT, YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. AND WHEN THE PEOPLE SPEAK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE VOTING TIME, AND, AND I KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SPOKE. SO LET'S LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AND, AND DO WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED YOU TO DO, UM, AND THAT'S TO UPHOLD THE CPO, UM, THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CHANGE SOMETHING AND STILL SAY YOU'RE FOR IT AND BE AGAINST IT AT THE [03:40:01] SAME TIME. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN DO THAT IS THE FLUNG THE FISH. AND, AND DON'T BE FLUNG THE FISHES. JUST MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO BE, UM, CONSISTENT, UM, THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERATE ABOUT THE LEAST OF THESE BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR VOICE AND WE ARE DEPENDING ON YOU TO HEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING, LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE SAYING, RESPECT WHAT WE ARE SAYING, AND ULTIMATELY REALLY DO WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO. UM, I DON'T WANNA... I'M ALMOST FINISHED, SO... BUT JUST REMEMBER THAT. THE FUSKY, ONCE UPON A TIME, WHAT IT, WHAT IT WAS AND WHAT IT IS NOW. AND ST. HELENA I BELIEVE IS THE LARGEST ISLAND, UH, BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE, UH, FLORIDA AND JACKSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. IMAGINE THE LARGEST ISLAND, UH, ONE MISTAKE, A CHEMICAL, UH, CATASTROPHE, SOMETHING GOES INTO THE OCEAN. OOPS, WE'RE SORRY. YOU CAN'T BRING ST. HELENA BACK FROM BEING SORRY. THANKS. THANK YOU. ELAINE SCOTT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. SOME OF YOU KNOW ME AND SOME OF YOU DON'T, BUT I WANNA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNTY. MY NAME IS ELAINE SCOTT. I LIVE AT 181 FRIT POINT ROAD, ST. HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE STANDING WITH ME IN SPIRIT, THE ISLAND ELDERS WITH WHOM I MET AND WORKED FOR THREE DECADES. THEY WERE ALL CULTURAL PRESERVATIONISTS. THEY LED US AND THEY EMPOWERED US. I AM THEIR WITNESS. I SPEAK FOR THEM. JOE SHERMAN. SLEE FELIX. JOE STEVENS. LULA HOLMES. PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THE BACKGROUND NOISE. THANK YOU. ROBERT MIDDLETON, GLORIA POTTS, DICK SAXON, LEN MOCK, ELSIE MOLLISON, LUCA GRACIE REDDICK, AND MARY MACK. THEY ARE STANDING WITH ME HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE IN 1993, I TOOK THIS BOOK TO THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THEY TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE WORLD THAT WAS IN THIS BOOK AND THEY SAID, "GO BACK TO YOUR ISLAND WITH A MANDATE TO SAVE IT, TO PRESERVE IT, AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO DOCUMENT THE CULTURE OF ST. HELENA." AND WE HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE, I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, WE'VE ALL SAID IT. WE WENT TO HILTON HEAD IN 1993. WE SAW THAT OVERDEVELOPMENT WAS LIKE CULTURAL EXTINCTION. WE SAW IT, WE STUDIED IT, AND WE ORGANIZED TOGETHER TO WRITE STRICT CULTURAL PROTECTIONS INTO LAW. THIS IS 1995, 93. OUR COMPREHEN - WHEN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS BEGAN IN BEAUFORT, I WAS THE DELEGATE FROM ST. HELENA ISLAND. THEY WANNA KNOW HOW THE CPO GOT STARTED? I TOOK OUR INTERESTS AND OUR COMMITMENTS TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECOGNITION IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS HOW THE CPO WAS INTEGRATED AND INCORPORATED IN OUR PLANNING. AS CULTURAL PRESERVATIONISTS, OUR FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE DIVERSITY AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR MULTICULTURAL WAY OF LIFE. WE STROVE TO PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE. WE CARE SO MUCH BECAUSE THIS IS WHO WE ARE. CULTURES THAT HAVE NOT SURVIVED ARE IN MUSEUMS. WE ARE A LIVING MUSEUM ON ST. HELENA ISLAND. [03:45:01] ONCE AGAIN, THE CPO IS EMERGING TO GIVE VALIDITY AND PROTECTION TO THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OF ST. HELENA ISLAND THAT ARE OFTEN INVISIBLE, ESPECIALLY TO DEVELOPERS. NATIONALLY, WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THREATS TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION. OUR ST. HELENA COMMUNITY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR WAY OF LIFE AND THE LAWS WHICH WE USE TO PRESERVE IT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. JEFFREY CARWOOD. I'M SORRY, I CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT IT SAYS. JEFFREY? JEFFREY CARWOOD? ALL RIGHT, BENJAMIN GLOVER. OH. OH, SEE IF HE'S IN THERE? OKAY. BENJAMIN GLOVER WILL BE NEXT AFTER JEFFREY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO? OKAY, MR. GLOVER, YOU'RE UP. GOOD EVENING AGAIN, COUNCIL, UH, MADAM CHAIR. UM, I STOOD BEFORE YOU SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE MS. MS. ERNESTINE THAT JUST SPOKE. THERE ARE VERY FEW OF US STILL AROUND WHO ARE PART OF THAT ORIGINAL COMMITTEE THAT ESTABLISHED THE ORDINANCES THAT, THAT'S NOW THE CPO, THE ZONING ORDINANCES THAT INCORPORATED PINE ISLAND. WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING. WE, WE SAW THE FUTURE. DIDN'T WANNA BE A HILTON HEAD, DID NOT WANNA BECOME JAMES OR JOHNS ISLAND. I STOOD BEFORE YOU A FEW MONTHS AGO AND I STARTED OFF BY SAYING I HOPE THAT MY WORDS HOLD WEIGHT. TONIGHT, I LIKE TO SAY MORE SO I HOPE THAT YOUR WORDS HOLD WEIGHT TONIGHT, THAT IT MEANS SOMETHING. LIKE I SAID, I'M ONE OF THE ORIGINAL DRAFTERS 30 YEARS AGO, I FOUND OUT, IT'S ACTUALLY 27. FOLLOWING ALONG THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND WEEKS, FOUND OUT THAT THIS MATTER HAS BEEN TAKEN UP TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND THEY UPHELD NOT YOUR RULING, YOUR LAW. THESE ARE LEGALITIES. THEY UPHELD YOUR LAW. THEY UPHELD YOUR RULING, NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, BUT WHAT HAPPENED 30 YEARS AGO. WE ESTABLISHED LAW. IT'S NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUALS HERE, BUT IT WAS THIS COMMITTEE. THEY CHARGED US WITH A TASK. SEE, WE DIDN'T COME TO YOU, YOU CAME TO US. ST. HELENA HAD THEIR, THEIR COMMITTEE I WAS A PART OF. LADIES ISLAND HAD THEIRS. ST. HELENA DID WHAT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ST. HELENA, AND MANY PEOPLE CAME TO VOICE. WE SPOKE TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY SPOKE TO US. SOME PEOPLE ARE HERE. I, I REMEMBER MS. CARRIE MAJORS COMING THROUGH. WE OPENED THE DOORS. WE, WE LISTENED TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE ACTED ACCORDINGLY. THE COMMUNITY SPOKE THEN AND THE COMMUNITY IS SPEAKING NOW. YOU CHARGED US WITH A TASK. WE FULFILLED THAT TASK, HANDED IT BACK TO YOU, AND YOU ESTABLISHED RULING DOCUMENTED LAW. NOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS MANY DECADES AGO, WE FULFILLED OUR TASK. AND I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND... AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF LE- LEGAL MANEUVERS THAT CAN BE HAD, BUT I'M HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE, NOT THIS TIME FOR MY WORDS TO HOLD WEIGHT, BUT THAT YOUR WORDS HOLD WEIGHT. YOU HAVE THE LAW THAT'S BACKING YOU. THAT'S WHY THE SUPREME COURT OF SOUTH CAROLINA DID WHAT THEY DID AND SAID WHAT THEY SAID AND RULED HOW THEY... DON'T FALL FOR THESE TACTICS. DON'T FALL FOR THE THREATS. [03:50:04] UPHOLD THE CPO, UPHOLD THE RULING THAT WAS ESTABLISHED 30 YEARS AGO AS A PROTECTION. WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING. I WISH I HAD THOUGH ABOUT IT. I COULD, I HAVE EVERY DOCUMENT STILL IN STORAGE. THE MAPS WE, WE... PINE ISLAND WAS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT. PINE ISLAND WAS AN INTENT CONSIDERATION AS A PROTECTION TO THE... WE SAT. SHE'S NOT HERE TODAY, BUT, UM, QUEEN QUET - MARQUETTE WAS THE CHAIRWOMAN. WE DISCUSSED WITH INTENT TO PULL IN THE BARRIER ISLANDS FOR PROTECTION. WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING. WE ESTABLISHED THE PRESIDENT. DON'T CHANGE IT. UPHOLD IT. THAT'S YOUR DUTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GLOVER. BELINDA JONES AND SHELLY YUHAS. HELLO, MS. JONES. HELLO. AFTER - GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. ALMOST GOOD MORNING. I'LL STILL BE HERE. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND SHARE THEM WITH YOU THIS EVENING. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS AN INFORMED TAXPAYER AND A RESIDENT OF ST. HELENA ISLAND, AND I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY AND MY FIRM OPPOSITION TO REMOVING MORE THAN 500 ACRES OF PINE ISLAND FROM ITS PROTECTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE CLEAR THAT I DO RECOGNIZE THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RIGHTS TO PETITION THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR CHANGES TO PERMITTED PROPERTY USES. THAT IS A PART OF THE PUBLIC PROCESS, BUT THE RIGHT TO MAKE A REQUEST DOES NOT CREATE AN OBLIGATION FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE IT. AND JUST AS THE DEVELOPER HAS THE RIGHT TO BRING THEIR, HIS OR REQUEST BEFORE YOU, I AND ALONG WITH RESIDENTS OF ST. HELENA ISLAND WHO ARE TAXPAYERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPPOSE IT. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT, TO DEFEND OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO CONTINUE DOING SO THE VE - THE VERY... AND, AND TO CONTINUE TO DO SO EVERY TIME A REQUEST IS MADE FOR THE PROPERTY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CPO. OUR VOICES DO NOT BECOME LESS IMPORTANT BECAUSE A DEVELOPER CONTINUES TO ASK. THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY FOR ST. HELENA ISLAND WAS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR ST. HELENA. IT WAS NOT CREATED FOR ANY OTHER ISLAND. DE LAMO HAD THE RIGHT TO MAKE THE, THE OVERLAY REFLECT ITS OWN CHARACTERISTICS, BUT OUR ISLAND HAS MADE A V - A CHOICE AND WE STAND BY IT. REMOVING THESE ACRES FROM THE CPO MAKE IT, MAKE A WAY FOR A PROPO - TO MAKE A WAY FOR A PROPOSED GOLF RESORT AND ASSOCIATED DEVELOPMENT WOULD UNDERMINE THE PURPOSE AND INTEGRITY OF THE ENTIRE OVERLAY. IT WOULD GIVE ONE PROPERTY AN EXCEPTION WHILE OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS WHO LIVE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CPO REMAIN SUBJECT TO THE PROTECTIONS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM. IF THE CPO CAN BE DISMANTLED ONE EXCEPTION AT A TIME, WHAT MEAN IT WILL, MEANING WILL IT HAVE FOR THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE TRUSTED THESE PROTECTIONS AND FOR GENERATIONS WHO WILL INHERIT THIS LAND IN THE FUTURE, LIKE MY FIVE CHILDREN? WE STAND, I STAND WITH KNOWLEDGE OF MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PURCHASED THE LAND THAT WE PRESENTLY LIVE ON DURING THE TIME OF THE LAND SALES, AF - DURING THE TIME THAT, UH, THE, UH, THE LAND SALES WERE BEING HELD ON ST. HELENA IN 1863. WE HAVE, WE ARE LIVING ON PROPERTY THAT WAS OWNED BY, PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY MR. POMPI KOKSUM, WHO WAS A SERVICE MEMBER IN THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS, WHO SERVED ON COUNCIL WITH, ALONG WITH HASTINGS GANTT AND ROBERT SMALLS TO PROTECT LAND OWNERS ON SOUTH CAROLINA. SO I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT STAND TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FIGHT FOR THE CONTINUED OWNERSHIP OF LAND AND THE, UH, PROTECTIONS THAT THEY WOULD DESIRED. [03:55:01] AND I STAND TODAY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM TO, UM, THAT THEY ARE STILL NEEDED AND WE STILL REQUEST THIS PRESENT COUNCIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MANY LANDS LIKE OUR LAND NEEDS YOU TO STAND ALONG WITH US AND PROVIDE THE SUPPORT WE ARE NEEDED. WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO RESPONSIBLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. WE SUPPORT BUSINESSES AND TOURISM THAT RESPECT THE LAND, THE PEOPLE, AND THE CHARACTER OF ST. HELENA, BUT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD COMPLIMENT OUR COMMUNITY, NOT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE IT. PLEASE CONTINUE TO STAND WITH US, COUNCIL. STAND WITH THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE CPO. PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND PROTECT OUR CULTURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SHELLY YUHAS, THEN TIM JOY. HELLO, SHELLY. GOOD EVENING. THIS WON'T TAKE LONG. MY NAME IS SHELLY GAY YUHAS, AND I'M A RESIDENT IN MR. YORK GLOVERS DISTRICT, DISTRICT NUMBER THREE. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF SPEAKING. I LIKE GOOD HARD EVIDENCE AND, UM, RECENTLY I PULLED UP A BIT OF EVIDENCE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF GOLF COURSES. LET ME SHARE. IN THE MAY 2025 ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL OF AMER- AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THERE WERE FINDINGS PUBLISHED THERE THAT SAID THAT ANYONE LIVING WITHIN ONE MILE OF A GOLF COURSE HAD 126% INCREASE ODDS OF DEVELOPING PARKINSON'S DISEASE. THE GREATEST RISK WAS LIVING WITHIN ONE TO THREE MILES OF A GOLF COURSE. SHARED GROUNDWATER ALSO BROUGHT RISK OF CONTAM- CONTAMINATION. WE CAN SURMISE THAT THE ST. HELENA SOUND WOULD ALSO BE AFFECTED IF THERE WAS A GOLF COURSE BUILT THERE. CURRENTLY, ST. HELENA SOUND IS SOME OF THE CLEANEST WATERS ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD. MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW THAT. SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE. THE CPO AND THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ARE DESIGNED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT, PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, NOT JUST FOR US, NOT JUST FOR THOSE HERE IN THIS ROOM, BUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. TIM JOY AND THEN ANNE CLARK. HELLO, MR. JOY. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE AND YOUR PATIENCE AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THAT IT'S DEMANDING. WHAT I THOUGHT, I AM A RESIDENT OF, UH, LADIES ISLAND SINCE 2007. I COME HERE. I COME HERE BECAUSE I SAW HOW SPECIAL IT REALLY IS. I WAS LIVING IN A SPECIAL PLACE, MAINE. IT MATTERS WHERE YOU ARE. I THOUGH I'D TAKE A LOOK AT WHY I SHOULD NOT SUPPORT THE CPO. WHY SHOULD I NOT SUPPORT THE CPO? WHY SHOULD YOU NOT SUPPORT IT? YOU AND EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY, EVERY OFFICIAL BODY THAT PROPOSALS HAVE COME BEFORE. WELL, I WOULD OPPOSE IT, BUT FOR THE FACT THAT PERHAPS ALL THESE BODIES JUST DIDN'T REALLY HAVE THE FACTS, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TRUTH, PERHAPS THE STAFF, PER STAFF, PERHAPS THE STAFF MISLED THEM. SO MAYBE IF I HAD KNOWN THAT, MAYBE I WOULD AGREE WITH THE APPLICANT IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN THAT THE STAFF WAS NOT FAIR, IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN THAT WE WERE SINGLING THE APPLICANT OUT FOR UNFAIR TREATMENT, UNFAIR TREATMENT, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT WE WERE IN A INTERFERING WITH [04:00:01] THE APPLICANT'S RIGHTS. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT I WAS BEING MANIPULATED BY NONPROFIT GROUPS THAT WERE PROMOTING SOMETHING FOR THEIR GAIN AND MISLEADING AND MANIPULATING THE WHOLE POPULATION OF ST. HELENA ISLAND. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE SO BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY, AND THAT I NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TELL ME WHAT WAS GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY. IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THAT I WOULD BE CALLED A RACIST IN A FEDERAL COURT BECAUSE I WAS SUPPORTING A RACE-BASED CULTURAL PROTECTION, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN, IF ONLY YOU HAD KNOWN. WELL, IF THOSE ARE THE ONLY REASONS TO SUPPORT THE APPLICANT, THEN THERE IS NO REASON, NO REASON TO DO IT. WE ARE LOOKING HERE AT TWO WORLDVIEWS. CULTURE IS NOT ABOUT CODE, THOUGH CODE IS IMPORTANT TO PROTECT IT. CULTURE IS NOT ABOUT THE ECONOMICS, THOUGH ECONOMICS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. I COULD SELL OUT... I COULD SAY THE PROMISES HAVE BEEN MADE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROTECTING THE CULTURE. BUT WHAT IS THE CULTURE? THE CULTURE IS HOW YOU LIVE. THE CULTURE IS WHAT IS HOME? WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE THERE? WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BELONG AND BE HOME? AND WE HAVE A RIGHT, WE COULD BE WRONG. WE CAN MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES, BUT LET'S MAKE OUR OWN MISTAKES. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PRY, TO PROTECT THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE US FEEL AT HOME, THAT LET US BELONG, FEEL PEACEFUL, FEEL LOVED AND LOVE OTHERS. PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANNE CLARK AND THEN ALEX BULLOCK. HELLO, MS. CLARK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ANNE CLARK AND I LIVE IN OKOTEE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME. I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT GOLF COURSES OR DOCKS OR EVEN REZONING. YOU'VE ALL HEARD ALL OF THAT MANY TIMES OVER. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT. THIS IS ABOUT POWER. I DON'T MEAN THE POWER IN THIS ROOM. YOURS WAS GIVEN TO YOU ON LOAN BY THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED YOU, AND IT COMES WITH AN OBLIGATION. I MEAN THE OTHER KIND, THE POWER THAT COMES FROM MONEY AND THAT BELIEVES RULES ARE WRITTEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE. ST. HELENA'S PROTECTIONS WERE NOT WRITTEN BY ACCIDENT. THEY WERE WRITTEN BY FAMILIES WHO HAVE HELD THIS LAND FOR GENERATIONS. PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SOMEONE WITH MORE MONEY DECIDES YOUR HOME WOULD MAKE A NICE PLAYGROUND FOR SOMEONE ELSE. THOSE RULES ARE NOT AN OBSTACLE. THEY ARE A PROMISE. AND THIS COUNTY KEPT THAT PROMISE. YOU SAID NO. NOW WE SEE WHAT POWER DOES WHEN IT HEARS THE WORD NO. IT DOESN'T ACCEPT IT. IT REPHRASES THE QUESTION. IT COMES BACK WITH A NEW APPLICATION, A NEW LAWYER, A NEW LAWSUIT. IT ASKS AGAIN AND AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE THE ANSWER HAS CHANGED, BUT BECAUSE IT'S BETTING YOU'LL GET TIRED BEFORE IT DOES. WHEN THAT DOESN'T WORK, IT TELLS A NEW STORY. IT SAYS IT IS THE VICTIM. IT SAYS IT WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY AND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THE LAW ARE THE ONES WHO BROKE IT. THAT'S [04:05:01] THE OLDEST MOVE THERE IS. WHEN YOU CAN'T WIN UNDER THE RULES, YOU CONVINCE EVERYONE THE RULES ARE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THE PEOPLE DEFENDING THEM ARE UNREASONABLE, EMOTIONAL OR STANDING IN THE WAY OF PROGRESS. THAT HAS A NAME AND IT'S CALLED GASLIGHTING. AND THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT IT SAW. WE SAW THE PROCESS WORK. WE ATTENDED THE HEARINGS, HEARD THE TESTIMONY AND THE VOTES HOUR AFTER HOUR OF THIS BODY'S TIME. WE HEARD THE ANSWER GIVEN CLEARLY. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING NOW IS AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE THAT ANSWER DISAPPEAR THROUGH PERSISTENCE AND PRESSURE. SO HERE IS WHAT I ASK YOU TO REMEMBER. THE QUESTION IN FRONT OF YOU ISN'T REALLY ABOUT A GOLF COURSE. IT'S WHETHER THE LAW IN BEAUFORT COUNTY MEANS THE SAME THING FOR SOMEONE WITH A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR PLAN AS IT DOES FOR A FAMILY WITH FIVE ACRES AND A DEED THEIR GRANDMOTHER SIGNED. IF AN ANSWER CAN BE WORN DOWN, IT WAS NEVER A RULE. IT WAS ONLY A PRICE. PLEASE HOLD THE LINE AND UPHOLD THE CPO. A PROMISE KEPT ONLY UNTIL SOMEONE POWERFUL OBJECTS IS NO PROMISE AT ALL. THANK YOU. ALEX BULLOCK AND THEN EMMANUEL ALSTON. ALEX? HELLO. MY NAME IS ALEX BULLOCK AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT IN FAVOR OF UPHOLDING THE APPLICATION OF THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY FOR PINE ALLEN AS IT CURRENTLY PROTECTS THIS UNIQUE, FRAGILE AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE ST. HELENA COMMUNITY. MORE BROADLY, IT PROTECTS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE'S SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL HERITAGE. THIS IS A FOCUS ON CULTURE. THIS IS A RESPECTFUL QUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DENY THE DEVELOPER'S ATTEMPT TO END RUN AROUND THE CPO. BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, I'M A NATIVE OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND HAVE PROUDLY LIVED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY FOR SIX YEARS. I WAS REARED IN SUMTER COUNTY, WENT TO COLLEGE IN GREENVILLE LAW SCHOOL IN COLUMBIA AND AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR. THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO PROTECTING THE SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITY IN UPHOLDING THE CPO. YOUR CONSISTENCY THROUGH AN OPEN PROCESS IN DENYING THE DEVELOPER'S REQUEST TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CPO REFLECTS YOUR APPRECIATION OF ITS IMPORTANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY. THE CPO WAS AND REMAINED A PRODUCT OF THOUGHTFUL AND TRANSPARENT PROCESS, WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF GOOD LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AS MANY SPEAKERS HAVE NOTED, THE DEVELOPER KNEW ABOUT THESE RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT BOUGHT THE PROPERTY. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE DEVELOPER HAS ASKED YOU TO SUBSTITUTE HIS JUDGMENT ON WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR CULTURAL PROTECTION IN BEAUFORT COUNTY TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CONSIDER THAT ISSUE AT ALL FOR YOUR JUDGMENT. SUCH AN APPROACH IS DEEPLY FLAWED AND DISMISSIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE COUNTY, AND OF THIS COUNCIL. AS MR. BROWN STATED IN HIS PREVIOUS COMMENTS, THE CPO IS OF THE PEOPLE. THE CURRENT VERSION IS AN END RESULT OF INPUT IN A PUBLIC MEETING BY A CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE ADOPTED IN MULTIPLE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN AN OPEN FORUM. THE CPA WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A TRANSPARENT, FAIR, AND OPEN PROCESS RESPECTING THE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY VALUES. THE DEVELOPER'S REPETITIVE EFFORTS BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND IN LITIGATION HAVE IGNORED THESE FACTS. THE DEVELOPER CLAIMS PREDETERMINED OUTCOMES, DISPARATE RULE CHANGES HAVE BEEN UNFAIR, AND THESE CLAIMS ARE BASELESS. WHERE I COME FROM, AND I'M SURE WHERE YOU COME FROM, THE OLD ADAGE THAT IF IT LOOKS LIKE A DUCK AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK STILL HOLDS TRUE. THERE'S STILL A GATED GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY LURKING OUT THERE. VAGUE COMMENTS WITH NO SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS PROVIDE NO PROOF OF INTENT OR NO COMFORT, NOR CAN PROMISES OF THE END OF LITIGATION. THE DEVELOPER'S OFFER DOES NOT MENTION THE GULLAH GEECHEE COMMUNITY OR THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ITS CULTURE. THE SETTLEMENT OFFER IS ANOTHER EFFORT BY THE DEVELOPER TO PERFORM AN END RUN AROUND THE CULTURAL INTEREST [04:10:01] AND PROTECTION THAT IS THE BASIS OF THE CPO. IN LOOKING AT THE ARGUMENTS RAISED BEFORE THIS COUNCIL AND IN THE VARIOUS LAWSUITS, IS IT CLEAR THAT THE CPO PASSES ANY LEVEL OF SCRUTINY THAT WOULD BE APPLIED? THERE'S NO TAKING OF RIGHTS. THERE'S NO LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. THERE IS NO UNFAIR PROCESS. THE CPO COULD NOT BE CLEARER. GOLF COURSES, GATED COMMUNITIES AND RESORTS ARE PROHIBITED. IT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 1999, LONG BEFORE THE DEVELOPER BOUGHT PINE ISLAND WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS. IN CLOSING AND WITH RESPECT, PLEASE IGNORE THE VARIOUS RED HEADINGS, RED HERRINGS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED TO YOU REGARDING THE CPO, FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF YOUR STAFF, YOUR PLANNING COMMISSION, AND YOUR PAST VOTES AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY AND DENY THE DEVELOPER'S REQUEST TO REMOVE PINE ISLAND FROM THE CPO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. BULLOCK. EMMANUEL ALSTON, THEN GRANT MCCLURE. HELLO. GOOD EVENING. I KNOW IT'S A LONG EVENING AND I PLAN TO BE VERY BRIEF. UH, MY NAME IS DR. EMMANUEL ALSTON AND I AM A FOURTH GENERATION DESCENDANT OF THE GULLAH GEECHEE PEOPLE. I AND MY FAMILY LIVE IN THE TOMFORD COMMUNITY, WHICH IS AT THE EPICENTER OF THE PINE ISLAND DEVELOPMENT. A LOT HAS BEEN SAID THIS EVENING AND I DON'T WANNA REPEAT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID THIS, THIS EVENING AND OVER THE YEARS, BUT ONE THING I WANT TO JUST MENTION, A DEVELOPER TALKED ABOUT HAVING MONEY TO... PROVIDING MONEY TO, FOR A HOUSING TRUST, WHICH MEANS BASICALLY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, RENTAL PROPERTY AND NOT OWNERSHIP. AT THE CENTER OF THIS DISCUSSION, FROM MY OPINION AND DISCUSSIONS OF MY FAMILY, LAND OWNERSHIP, AFFORDABILITY AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH REMAIN AT THE CENTER OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE US TONIGHT. OWNING LAND IS KEY TO OUR FINANCIAL SURVIVAL. HISTORY TEACHES US THAT ONCE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT BEGINS TO ENCROACH UPON RURAL COMMUNITIES, FLOODGATES WILL OPEN AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WILL ENSUE. THE BEAUTY, CHARM, AND SERENITY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY THAT GENERATIONS HAVE PRESERVED WILL BE LOST FOREVER. WE DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR TO SEE THE RESULTS OF S - OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL AND ITS IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO LEFT... EXCUSE ME, URBAN SPRAWL AND THE IMPACT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THOSE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD ARE TYPICALLY, TYPICALLY THOSE OF AFRICAN DESCENT. MANY OF US, WHETHER WE ARE COME HERE OR BEEN HERE, LOVE THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY ST. HELENA HAS TO OFFER, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS LAND AVAILABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME WITHOUT DESTROYING A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE IN THE PROCESS. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO DESERVE A MEANINGFUL VOICE IN DETERMINING WHAT THAT COMMUNITY WILL LOOK LIKE. I URGE YOU TO UPHOLD THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY AND PRESERVE ST. HELEN ISLAND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, DR. ALSTON. GRANT MCCLURE AND THEN GEORGE ROBINSON. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND FOR, UM, YOUR PAST VOTES TO UPHOLD THE CPO. UM, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I'M WITH THE, THE COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE. I'M THE SOUTH COAST OFFICE DIRECTOR. UM, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SOME POINTS, UM, ABOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT ON THIS SPECIFIC REZONING REQUEST OVER WHAT'S BEEN ABOUT A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, UM, WHERE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES THIS APPLICATION HAS, HAS COME FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL. UM, AND IT, IT HAS BEEN IMPLIED THAT WE ARE IN FACT THE ONES PROLONGING THIS FIGHT AND WANTING IT TO GO ON LONGER AND LONGER, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. UM, IT'S ACTUALLY THE DEVELOPERS THAT CONTINUE [04:15:01] TO FILE LAWSUITS, THE DEVELOPERS THAT CONTINUE TO REFILE APPLICATION AFTER APPLICATION AND MAKE US GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE RIGAMAROLE ALL OVER AGAIN. UM, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE ST. HELENA ISLAND COMMUNITY. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE ON ST. HELENA GOING BACK TO THE PENN SCHOOL FOR PRESERVATION, UM, WHICH REALLY LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CPO. UM, WE ARE HERE BECAUSE, UM, I KNOW FOR MYSELF ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. I WAS VERY LUCKY. UM, I, UH, AFTER SCHOOL EVERY DAY WOULD GO FISH IN COLONIAL LAKE. I'D GO OUT ON JON BOATS WITH MY FRIENDS. SO I, I DO THIS WORK NOT BECAUSE IT'S A GET RICH QUICK SCHEME, BUT BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND I CARE ABOUT THE PLACE. AND IN SOME WAYS, I WANNA THANK THE DEVELOPERS FOR BRINGING ME CLOSER TO PEOPLE THAT I PROBABLY WOULD'VE NEVER MET IF IT WEREN'T FOR THIS, THIS, UM, THIS ISSUE COMING FORWARD. UM, BUT, UH, AGAIN, THIS WORK IS DEEPLY PERSONAL. UM, WE ADVOCATE BECAUSE IF WE SAY NOTHING AND DO NOTHING, DEVELOPMENT WILL STEAMROLL OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, IT WILL STEAMROLL OUR COMMUNITIES, AND FOR WHAT? IN THE NAME OF THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR. AND IT'S THE DEVELOPERS THAT STAND TO PROFIT FROM ALL THIS EXPLOITATION. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA LEAVE YOU WITH A QUOTE. UM, THIS, I THINK, SPEAKS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVOCACY, UM, AND, UH, IT'S, UH, IF YOU ARE NEUTRAL IN A SITUATION OF INJUSTICE, YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSOR. AND SO THAT IS WHY WE SPEAK UP. THAT IS WHY WE SHOW UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THIS COUNCIL AND, UH, URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE CPO FOR ST. HELEN ISLAND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCCLURE. GEORGE ROBINSON, THEN FELICE LAMARCA. MR. ROBINSON. HEY, GOODNESS. YEAH. YEAH. MADAM CHAIR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, EVERYONE SAID JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY. UM, AND I'M GONNA SAY HISTORY IS THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE OF ITSELF. SO WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, IN 1962, CHARLES FRAZIER CAME TO HILTON HEAD, AND HIS WORDS, HE JUST WANTED TO BUILD A GOLF COURSE FOR HIM AND HIS, UH, FRIENDS TO PLAY, UH, GOLF. BUT LATER ON WHEN YOU READ HIS, UH, WRITINGS, HIS PLAN WAS TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SCOPE OR TRAJECTORY OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND. SO HE SAID ONE THING, BUT HE HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN, UH, FOR EVERYONE. UM, I WAS BORN ON ST. HELENA. I WAS RAISED BY MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS BORN IN 1892, AND I, UM, LIVE ON THE PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN IN MY FAMILY FOR OVER A CENTURY, SO I KNOW ABOUT ST. HELENA VALE AND PINE ISLAND AND THOSE OTHER ISLANDS THAT SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT. I'M ASKING YOU TO UPHOLD THE CPO. WHEN WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO HILTON HEAD, EVERYONE GOT INTO MOTION BECAUSE WE CAN SEE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD. SO THAT'S WHEN THE, UH, CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY CAME IN PLACE, AND WE NEED TO UPHOLD THAT BECAUSE IF THAT GOES AWAY, WHAT GOES NEXT? WHAT GOES NEXT? WE CAN GET RID OF THE ZONING BOARD. WE CAN GET RID OF EVERYTHING. ALL THAT CAN GO. SO WE NEED TO UPHOLD THAT. WE CAN'T DO IT FOR ONE OR DO IT FOR SOME AND NOT DO IT FOR OTHERS. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS OR HOW MANY TIMES WE GOTTA COME UP HERE FOR THE SAME THING EVERY TIME. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS, UH, WORKING IN THE MILITARY IN THE HOSPITAL AT THE EMT CALLMAN, AND WHEN I WAS WORKING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MILITARY OF... ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE AND A SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER, IF SOMEONE FORCES THEMSELF ON SOMEONE, YOU KNOW WHAT WE CALL THAT, AND WE CALL IT RAPE. AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, I FEEL, IN MY OPINION, A RAPING OF A CULTURE, [04:20:02] A RAPING OF A WAY OF LIFE, AND A RAPING OF THE HISTORY - PLEASE DON'T USE THAT WORD. I'M SORRY. YEAH, PLEASE DON'T. THAT, THAT'S WHAT I... THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED. YEAH. PLEASE DON'T. OKAY. WELL - THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. YES, MA'AM. I MEAN, I'M SORRY. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED WHEN I WAS IN. I'M SORRY. IT'S OKAY. OKAY. SO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO UPHOLD THE CPO. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. FELICE LAMARCA THEN... EXCUSE ME, JAMES GRANT. HELLO, MS. LAMARCA, AGAIN. ARE WE STILL AWAKE? THE LAW IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT LVO KNEW THE RULES WHEN HE BOUGHT. SO LET'S HAVE FULL DISCLOSURE. HE CLOSED IN FEBRUARY 14TH, 2023. YOU, COUNSEL, AMENDED IT TO REMOVE GOLF FROM THE CPO MAY 8TH, 2023. THAT WAS AFTER HE CLOSED ON THE PROPERTY. YOU KNOW THAT IS ALL DOCUMENTED. I AM NOT LYING. ARE YOU GOING TO BE FAIR AND TO WHO? OR IS THAT WHOM? WHO? SOMEONE SAID HE MADE A BAD PURCHASE. NO, HE DID NOT. IF HE DEVELOPS PINE ISLAND TO HIS BY RIGHT, HE'S GONNA MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. AND GUESS WHAT? THE URBANIZATION AND GENTRIFICATION OF THE, THE CPO DOES NOT WANT WILL BECOME A REALITY. YOU WILL HAVE PEOPLE AND TRAFFIC, BUT NO GOLF. PROPERTY VALUES WILL NOT BE INCREASED. HOW DO I KNOW THAT? I'M ASKED FOR MY OPINION OF VALUE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY IN MY BUSINESS. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, DOES DATA ISLAND, DOES FRIP ISLAND, DOES HARBOR ISLAND AFFECT THE PROPERTY VALUES OF DE LAMO OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON ST. HELENA? THE ANSWER IS NO. CHECK IT OUT. DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE, BUY THE PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE, WHAT IS GOOD FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY? WE THE PEOPLE ARE YOUR TAXPAYERS. EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE IS WITH TAXPAYER MONEY. PINE ISLAND DEVELOPMENT WILL BRING MUCH NEEDED TAX MONEY TO ST. HELENA TO ACCOMPLISH THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE FROM ST. HELENA COME IN HERE EVERY COUNCIL MEETING AND ASK YOU FOR. WELL, GUESS WHAT? NO DEVELOPMENT MEANS NO PUBLIC FACILITIES BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TAX MONEY. YOU CAN'T EXPECT THE REST OF BEAUFORT COUNTY TO PAY FOR WHAT ST. HELENA WANTS, BUT WON'T ALLOW A MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH. CHANGE IS ALWAYS CERTAIN. YOU CAN BE A PART OF POSITIVE CHANGE OR NOT. THE CHOICE IS YOURS. THANK YOU, MS. AMERICA. WE'RE COMING TO THE LAST FIVE PEOPLE, JAMES GRANT, THEN ROB HENDRICKS. COME ON DOWN. PLEASE DON'T DO THAT. THAT'S JUST RUDE. WHAT? PUTTING THE SIGN IN HER FACE AS SHE WALKS BY. THAT'S JUST RUDE. IT'S ON CAMERA. IT'S ON CAMERA. IT... DOING THAT, YES. PLEASE DON'T DO THAT. THAT'S JUST RUDE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MR. GRANT, YOUR TURN. GOOD EVENING, DISTINGUISHED COUNSEL. I'VE BEEN TO - WILL YOU PULL THE MIC UP? I'M SORRY. SURE. IT'S, IT'S NOT HIM. YEAH, YOU'RE TALL. TESTING, ONE, TWO, THREE. IS THAT GOOD? THERE YOU GO. THERE WE GO. UH, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COUNTY. SORRY, I JUST NEED TO TALK LOUDER THEN. I'M A SOFT SPOKEN GUY. I'M A BIG GUY, BUT I TALK SOFT. ALMOST. UM, IN MY 25 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE ON FIVE CONTINENTS, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS. I MYSELF HAD MADE MANY INVESTMENTS. I'VE MADE MILLIONS AND I HAVE LOST MILLIONS. AND I'VE LEARNED A FEW THINGS ALONG THE WAY. [04:25:01] I MAY NOT BE THE SAME IN AGE AS EVERYONE ELSE ON THE COUNCIL, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IS THAT WHEN I MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION, THERE'S THE FIRST STEP IS TO DO MY RESEARCH, TO DO MY DUE DILIGENCE. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE GOING TO OPEN A LEMONADE STAND IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE OR YOU'RE GOING TO PURCHASE A PROPERTY WORTH $15 MILLION. YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH. ON A WEEKLY BASIS, I DEAL WITH CONTRACTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR OVER $100 MILLION, EASILY. IT'S LIKE PENNIES TO ME. I DO MY RESEARCH. AND IN STEP ONE, IF I AM GOING TO BUY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, I DO MY RESEARCH WITH THE SELLER. IT IS NOT UNDER THE OBLIGATION FOR THE SELLER TO DISCLOSE EVERYTHING. IT IS THE OBLIGATION FOR THE BUYER TO DO THEIR RESEARCH. THE SELLER HAS NO PART OF IT. THE BUYER HAS ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT IS THE DUE DILIGENCE? IF I'M GOING TO BUY PROPERTY AND I HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN, WITHIN MY BUSINESS PLAN, I HAVE ITEMS THAT I NEED TO INCORPORATE. IF THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO TO BUILD A HOUSING COMMUNITY WITH X, Y, AND Z, AND I AM BUYING PROPERTY, CAN I DO THAT? THAT'S MY DUE DILIGENCE. WELL, HOW DO I DO THAT? IT'S NOT UP TO GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM THE SELLER, BUT IT CAN BE MY RESEARCH WITH THE COUNTY OR REPRESENTATIVE BOARDS OR ZONING MAPS OR WHATEVER INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE. THAT IS WHAT I MUST DO. AND EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS, FROM A SMALL BUSINESS TO A LARGE BUSINESS, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MONEY DOWN ON YOUR BUSINESS PLAN, YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MAGIC WORD OF RISK. RISK DOES NOT GUARANTEE. RISK IS A MAYBE. WHAT WAS THE RISK? IF I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY AND THESE LAWS WERE ALREADY ESTABLISHED AND I DECIDED TO GO FORWARD WITH THE SAME PLAN, THAT IS MY RIGHT. I, AS A BUSINESS PERSON, THAT IS MY RIGHT TO DO IT, BUT I MUST ASSUME THE RISK. AND BY ASSUMING THAT RISK DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WILL ALWAYS GO MY WAY. I CAN SAY IN 25 YEARS, LIKE I SAID, I'VE LOST MONEY. I HAD A GREAT IDEA THAT I THOUGHT THAT I CAN MAKE MONEY AND, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S BUSINESS. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. YOU MAKE MONEY, YOU LOSE MONEY. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, DID YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RISK? THE RISK SHOULD NOT BE PAID BY THE PEOPLE ON ST. HELENA. THE RISK SHOULD NOT BE PAID BY TAKING UP THE COUNCIL'S TIME. YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF IMPORTANT MEASURES TO DO ON YOUR TIME, A LOT. BUT IF I KNEW THE RISK COMING INTO IT AND I EVALUATED IT, THEN I SHOULD ACCEPT THE RESULT. PURELY SIMPLE. THE LAW IS THE LAW. AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, IT'S ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE. RESPECT THE LAW AND ACCEPT THE RISK. I, I'M, AS A BUSINESS PERSON, I'M SHOCKED. I FEEL, I DO FEEL, I WANT NO ONE TO BE UNSUCCESSFUL, BUT ALSO I FEEL THAT HE SHOULD HAVE... AND I, EXCUSE ME FOR USING THE WORD HE. I FEEL THAT THEY, WHOEVER THE ENTITY IS. THANK YOU, MR. GRAHAM. THANK YOU. SORRY. ROB HENDRICKS, THEN DIANE FERRELLI, MAYBE. MR. HENDRICKS, WELCOME. THANK YOU. I WANNA APPRECIATE, UH, SAY APPRECIATION FOR BEING ABLE TO SPEAK AT ALL. UH, I'M A, UH, RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS, UH, AND IN THE PAST I'VE COME UP AND SPOKEN AND SUPPORTED THE CPO. IN A RECENT ELECTION, [04:30:01] COMMUNITY DETERMINATION AND SELF-DETERMINATION WAS AN ISSUE. UH, DATA CENTERS WITH MORE THAN THIS, AN ISSUE ABOUT ELECTRICITY AND WATER. IT WAS A GROWING ANGER THAT INTERESTS THAT WERE NOT A PART OF THE COMMUNITY WERE DICTATING HOW COMMUNITIES EVOLVED. THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF PEOPLE COMING IN THAT HAVE NO STAKE IN THE COMMUNITY AND RADICALLY CHANGING THOSE COMMUNITIES. YOUR WORK TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THE CPO, I'M, I'M JUST HERE TO TRY TO SAY IS SUPPORTED BY A GROWING NATIONAL ATTITUDE THAT IN FACT, WE AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE IN CONTROL AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO DO THEIR BUSINESS. AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL I WANNA SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HENDRICKS. DIANE FERRELLI AND THEN INEZ MILLER. HELLO, MS. FARELLI. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? IT'S FARRELLY. DIANE FARRELLY. THANK YOU. YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO READ THAT. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. I GET IT ALL THE TIME. UM, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND COUNCIL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I HAVE BEEN SO MOVED BY THE PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS TONIGHT AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD SOMETHING UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TO OFFER. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE APPEALS PROCESS AND HOW IT RELATES TO THE REQUEST FOR A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT. AS HAS MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, I TOO HAVE ATTENDED ALMOST EVERY BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING REQUESTS TO REMOVE PINE ISLAND FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY. I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROOM, THE ADJOINING ROOM, THE HALLWAY, THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR, AND EVEN OUT ON THE LAWN. AS STATED SO MANY TIMES TONIGHT, THE INVESTORS KNEW THERE WAS A CPO WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. ACCORDING TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES 7.3.70. C.5 APPEALS, APPEALS SHALL NOT CONSIDER NEW OR ALTERED PLANS EXCEPT THAT INFORMATION SUBMITTED BUT NOT DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED IN RENDERING A DECISION SHALL BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE ORIGINAL EVIDENCE. I'M GONNA READ THAT AGAIN. APPEALS SHALL NOT CONSIDER NEW OR ALTERED PLANS EXCEPT THAT INFORMATION SUBMITTED BUT NOT DISCUSSED OR CONSIDERED IN RENDERING A DECISION SHALL BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE ORIGINAL EVIDENCE. ALL POSSIBLE INFORMATION ALREADY SUBMITTED HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. COMING BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ONCE MORE IN THE FORM OF A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT REQUEST WITHOUT A PLANNED USE DEVELOPMENT BY ADMISSION OF THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE IS JUST ANOTHER PLOY TO SUBVERT THE INTENT OF THE CPO. IT IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WHICH SPECIFICALLY UPHOLDS THE CPO. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN. THE COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THE TAXPAYERS OF BEAUFORT COUNTY HAVE ALREADY SPENT TOO MUCH MONEY ON LAWSUITS, TOO MUCH PERSONAL TIME ON ENGAGEMENT OF THE SAME ISSUES AND TOO MUCH OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS' TIME THAT COULD BE BETTER SERVED ON THE TRUE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY. BY ADMISSION OF THE APPLICANT HIMSELF, THE COUNTY HAS NOT YET RECEIVED FULL LEGAL ADVICE AND YET HE STILL WANTS THE COUNTY TO VOTE YES. WHY? BECAUSE HE MIGHT LITIGATE AGAIN MORE THREATS AND FEAR MONGERING. WHAT LIMITATIONS CAN BE PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS APPEAL, ZONING MAP REQUESTS AND OTHERS LIKE IT TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD YET AGAIN? WHY IS THERE NOT SOME PROVISION IN THE ORDINANCES THAT ONCE VOTED DOWN TWO OR THREE TIMES, THE SAME PROPERTY CANNOT COME UP FOR RECONSIDERATION AGAIN FOR MAYBE A FIVE YEAR PERIOD OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THERE MUST BE SOME POINT OF WHICH NO IS NO. PLEASE UPHOLD THE BOUNDARIES AND INTENT OF THE CPO AND PUT THIS REQUEST TO REST. PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU. INEZ MILLER AND THEN OUR LAST PERSON IS NATHAN COLLINDER. DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? I CAN'T REALLY READ IT. HELLO INEZ. COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I KNOW SEE ME. I'M A PROUD GULLAH GEECHEE AND I REPRESENT THE GULLAHS ON ST. HELENA ISLAND. PLEASE, PLEASE, I BEG HONOR. PLEASE OBSERVE, UH, UPHOLD THE CPO, THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY. LET'S USE THE RIGHT NAME, CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY. NO CARVE OUTS, NO DATA CENTERS, [04:35:01] NONE OF THAT STUFF BECAUSE THAT'S COMING NEXT. THE ELDERS IN MY COMMUNITY ARE TELLING ME, "I THOUGH WE FINISHED WITH THAT THING." Y'ALL HAVE TO GO BACK THERE AGAIN AND I HAVE TO SAY YES EVERY TIME. WE GOING THROUGH IN FRONT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS. PLEASE RESPECT THE ANCESTORS WHO CAME BEFORE YOU AND ASKED FOR THIS CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY TO BE TAKEN CONSIDERATION OF OR FOR IT TO BE LOWER. WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE LIKE HILTON HEAD. YOU KNOW WHAT HILTON HEAD HAVE NOW? THEY HAVE CARDS AND AREAS THAT SAY STONY COMMUNITY. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT FOR US? FOR ST. HELENA TO JUST BE A CERTAIN SECTION OF GULLAH PEOPLE? IN 1861, 1862, ELLEN MURRAY, LAURA TOWN AND CHARLOTTE FORTON WHO WAS ON, OF COLOR, HELPED TO EDUCATE THE PEOPLE ON ST. HELENA. 10,000 SLAVES, INFORMALLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE WERE LEFT WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF COTTON. WE TELL THAT STORY TO PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THEY WANTED US TO REMAIN ON LAND, BE PROSPEROUS PEOPLE IN A CASH BASED WORLD. WE WANT TO DO THAT NOW AS WELL. DON'T RUN ME OFF, WE LAYING, PLEASE. GENTRIFICATION WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE THOSE PEOPLE AIN'T DAY FROM YOU. PLEASE, I'M A PROUD GULLAH GEECHEE. PLEASE UPHOLD THE CPO AND I THANK YOU AGAIN. THIS IS IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT TO US AND I MUST SPEAK ON IT. UPHOLD IT. THANK YOU MS. MILLER. NATHAN COLLINDER, DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? WHERE'S NATHAN? OH, HE GAVE UP? DO YOU WANNA SEE, IS HE IN THE OTHER ROOM? HANG ON. HE'S MY LAST ONE. WHAT? SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP. YEAH. NO, I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT. WE CAME THIS FAR. OKAY. BEFORE I CLOSE PUBLIC S - PUBLIC HEARING, DOES ANYONE THAT DIDN'T SIGN UP WANT TO SPEAK? PLEASE SAY NO. OH, ALL RIGHT. COME ON UP. AND GIVE ME YOUR NAME WHEN YOU GET UP HERE, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMAN. LADIES, MY NAME IS BYRON ROBINSON. I'M FROM ST. HELENA ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA. I'M A ARMORY VETERAN. AND MY CONCERN OF THIS TODAY IS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU GO TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE AND COME IN THE DOOR, YOU WIPE YOUR FEET ON THE RUG. THAT'S RESPECT. NOW, THESE MEETINGS BEEN GOING ON AND ON AND ON AND ON. IT'S THE SAME THING BEING PUSHED ACROSS THE, THE BENCH AND NOBODY'S SAYING NO. AND THEN WHEN DOES IT FINISH? BECAUSE IT'S REPEATEDLY, REPEATEDLY, REPEATEDLY BEING REPETITIVE. SECONDLY, WHAT DOES IT DO? IT POSES A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I GOT A PET SALAMANDER. IN THE WILD, AT HOME, GOT A HOLE IN THE TREE. WHENEVER I'M OUT DOING LAWN WORK, HE COMES OUT TO SIT IN THE TREE AND WATCH ME. I EVEN GO OVER THERE AND TALK TO THEM. THEY DON'T RUN AWAY. SO AGAIN, I USED TO WORK ON, UM, GOLF COURSES TOO. I WORK IN THE LAWN, LAWN MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY AND EVERYTHING. CHEMICALS, THEY GONNA KILL YOU. YOU TOUCH, UM, UH, WHAT IS IT? UM, THE WEED KILLER. ROUNDUP. ROUNDUP. SO IF IT, IF IT'S GONNA CAUSE, UM, LUNG CANCER, UM, BRAIN DISORDERS, IT'S GONNA DO THE SAME THING TO THE FISH, THE CRAB, SHRIMP. UM, IT AIN'T GONNA BE NOTHING THERE. YOU GONNA HAVE TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE TO GET SEAFOOD. THERE'S SO MANY FAMILIES THAT MAKE A LIVING OUT THERE ON THE WATER, THEY'LL BE, REALLY BE UPSET BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO FEED THEIR FAMILY, SEND THE KIDS TO SCHOOL OR COLLEGE OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE AND PUT SOMETHING UP FOR THE RAINY DAY BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE. THAT'S ALL WE COME FROM, WORKING IN THE RIVER. THIRDLY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY JUST RESERVES A LEVEL OF RESPECT. YOU KNOW, A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I CAME TO ANOTHER MEETING, WE WERE CALLED THE PEANUT GALLERY. NOW MR. ROBINSON CAME UP AND HE WAS JUST EXPRESSING HIMSELF. HE USED THE WORD RAPE AND HAD THE SAME PERSON THAT SAID PEANUT GALLERY BACK HERE RAISING HIS HAND UP BECAUSE HE WANTED THAT PERSON NOT SAY THAT. PEOPLE EXPRESS THEMSELVES. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY'LL BE HEARD. AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE FAIR. BUT AT THIS POINT NOW, THE LAW IS THE LAW. AIN'T NO FAVORITISM. NO MEAN NO. SO WHEN DO WE GET A NO AND WHEN DOES THESE MEETING END? IS THERE A STATUTE OF LIMITATION? IS THERE A CUTOFF? WHAT WE GOT? NO ANSWER? [04:40:01] IT'S, THIS IS FOR YOU TO COMMENT, NOT US. YEAH. BUT I APPRECIATE Y'ALL, YOUR KINDNESS, YOUR THANKFULNESS. IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME BEHIND THIS AND I KNOW JUST LIKE US, Y'ALL WANT IT TO BE OVER TOO. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD EVENING AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. THANK YOU, MR. ROBINSON. ANYONE ELSE? I TRIED TO ASK. OKAY. OH, WAIT, ONE MORE, MR. FROPIANO. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. DON'T WORRY. UH, CHAIRWOMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, UH, FIRST OFF, MY NAME IS MICHAEL ANDERSON. I APOLOGIZE I WAS NOT ON THE SIGNUP LIST. I DID NOT COME HERE TONIGHT INTENDING TO SPEAK, BUT AS I SAT AMONG THESE PEOPLE, LISTENING TO THEIR VOICES AND WITNESSING THEIR DETERMINATION, I REALIZE THAT SOME MOMENTS DEMAND MORE THAN OUR PRESENCE, THEY DEMAND WE STAND. AND SO I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION, WHAT IS A COMMUNITY, IF NOT ITS PEOPLE? A COMMUNITY IS NOT MERELY A COLLECTION OF ROADS, BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY LINES. IT IS SOMETHING FAR GREATER. IT IS THE SWEAT OF THOSE WHO WORK THE LAND BEFORE US. IT IS THE PRAYERS OF GENERATIONS THAT CRIED OUT FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IT IS THE ANCIENT OAKS THAT HAVE STOOD WATCH OVER OUR HOMES FOR CENTURIES. IT IS THE GRAVES OF OUR ANCESTORS AND THE HOPES OF OUR CHILDREN. IT IS A SACRED INHERITANCE PASSED FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT WITH AN UNSPOKEN PROMISE THAT WE SHALL LEAVE IT BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT. AND NOWHERE IN BEAUFORT COUNTY IS THAT INHERITANCE MORE PRECIOUS THAN ON ST. HELENA ISLAND. THIS ISLAND IS NOT SIMPLY LAND TO BE BOUGHT AND SOLD. IT IS THE LIVING TESTAMENT OF A PEOPLE, A HISTORY AND A CULTURE THAT HAVE ENDURED HARDSHIPS FAR GREATER THAN ANYTHING BEFORE US TONIGHT. AND I ASK YOU, BY WHAT RIGHT DOES ANYONE PRESUME THAT SUCH AN INHERITANCE IS THEIRS TO DIMINISH? THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, THEY HAVE PLEADED, THEY HAVE ORGANIZED, THEY HAVE STOOD BEFORE THEIR GOVERNMENT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, ASKING ONLY THAT THE PLACE THAT THEY CALL HOME BE PROTECTED AND STILL THEY MUST FIGHT. WELL, LET US BE THERE, LET US, EXCUSE ME, LET THERE BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING. IF ANYONE BELIEVES THAT WE SOUTHERNERS HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO STAND FOR OUR HOMES, OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE LAND WE LOVE, THEY HAVE MISTAKEN OUR COURTESY FOR WEAKNESS AND OUR PATIENCE FOR SURRENDER AND OUR SILENCE FOR CONSENT. THEY HAVE GRAVELY MISJUDGED US BECAUSE WE ARE NOT MERELY THE INHABITANTS OF THIS PLACE. WE ARE ITS STEWARDS AND WE OWE A DUTY NOT ONLY TO THE LIVING, BUT TO THE, TO THE GENERATIONS WHO COME BEFORE US AND YET UNBORN. THERE ARE THINGS WORTH MORE THAN PROFIT. THERE ARE PLACES WORTH MORE THAN DEVELOPMENT AND THERE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT NO AMOUNT OF MONEY SHOULD EVER PERSUADE US TO ABANDON. TONIGHT I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO REMEMBER WHOM YOU SERVE, STAND WITH THESE PEOPLE, HONOR THEIR HERITAGE, DEFEND THE PROTECTIONS THEY FOUGHT TO ESTABLISH, AND REMEMBER THAT WHEN ORDINARY PEOPLE RISE TOGETHER IN DEFENSE OF WHAT THEY LOVE, THEY ARE CAPABLE OF EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. I'LL LEAVE YOU ONE LAST THING WITH THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF THOMAS BABBINGTON MCCAULEY. THEN OUTSPAKE BRAVE HORATIUS, THE CAPTAIN OF THE GATE, TO EVERY MAN UPON THIS EARTH, DEATH COMETH SOONETH OR LATE, AND HOW CAN MAN DIE BETTER THAN FACING FEARFUL ODDS FOR THE ASHES OF HIS FATHERS AND THE TEMPLE OF HIS GODS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. ANDERSON. MR. MR. TROPIANO. NOPE, I'M GONNA CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING NOW. WE'VE HAD 30 PEOPLE. THANK YOU COUNCIL AND THANK YOU VICE CHAIR TABERNICK. UM, JUST TO WRAP UP QUICKLY, UH, THE DECISION ON THIS MATTER IS TO BE MADE IN CONTEXT AND RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY GIVEN ALL THE TESTIMONY WE'VE HEARD, IT, UH, IT'S BEING TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. THE, THIS IS NOT A SINGULAR ISSUE AS IT RELATES TO A, A ZONING CHANGE. THIS IS A, A VOTE TO BE TAKEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MEETING THAT YOU STARTED IN THAT ROOM AND DID NOT COMPLETE. YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU VALUE OR THE COUNTY VALUES CULTURAL PROTECTION OR WHO IS RIGHT OR WRONG ABOUT A ZONING ORDINANCE. YOU'RE, YOU'RE BEING ASKED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BROADER DISCUSSION OF LITIGATION AND SETTLEMENT AND ZONING CHANGES, WHICH ARE ALL TETHERED, WHETHER THE BEAUFORT COUNTY TAXPAYER SHOULD CARRY OPEN-ENDED, UNINSURED, UNCAPPED EXPOSURE IN LIGHT OF OBVIOUS AND OPEN RISKS. THAT'S NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION IN MY OPINION. IT'S A FIDUCIARY ONE. IT'S A FIDUCIARY ONE THAT I'VE HEARD EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL EXPOUND UPON TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME [04:45:01] IN EVERY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE 30 PEOPLE AT FIVE MINUTES A CLIP. I GET THAT IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFICULT, WE RETURN TO OUR PRINCIPLES. I'VE HANDED THESE OUT TO YOU NOW THREE TIMES. THEY'RE VERY CLEAR AND OBTAINING THE BEST OUTCOME AT THE MINIMAL COST, PROMPTLY DISPOSING OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY, KEEPING THE FUNDS SAFE. THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT REQUIRE A PROCESS TO DETERMINE IF IT IS APPROPRIATE DECISION IN THE CONTEXT OF A BROADER ISSUE. THAT ISSUE IS, AGAIN, LITIGATION, SETTLEMENT PROPOSALS, AND ZONING CHANGES ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THAT IS WHILE DIFFICULT TO, TO CONTEXTUALIZE HERE STANDING AT A MIC, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN ELECTED TO DO. THAT INCLUDES CONSULTATION WITH YOUR LEGAL ADVISORS AND THAT, AGAIN, THAT PROCESS HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED. UM, I WOULD URGE THIS COUNCIL TO RECEIVE THAT LEGAL ADVICE AND TAKE WHATEVER STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THIS DECISION IS MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL TAXPAYERS. AND TO BE HONEST, THE, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES THAT, THAT EXTEND FAR BEYOND THESE WALLS, FAR BEYOND THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT TO EVERY ONE OF THE 200,000 CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU ALL SERVE. AND WHILE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT, UM, I BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD GET THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME AND MAKE THE APPROPRIATE DECISION WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS HEARD THAT THAT'S THE BIGGEST FLAW IN THIS PROCESS. AND AS I SEE IT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PUTTING, WE ARE INVALIDATING THE WORK WE HAVE DONE THUS FAR IN TERMS OF POTENTIALLY ARRIVING AT A RESOLUTION BY INSERTING A FLAWED PROCESS, IN MY OPINION, POTENTIALLY DELIBERATELY INSTEAD OF DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. HALBERT, MR. HALBERT, COULD YOU COME UP HERE A SECOND, PLEASE? ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING IT TO MAKE SURE GUYS' LIFE EASIER? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LEGAL. OKAY. WE'RE NOT. O- OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CUNNINGHAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ASKED THE QUESTION. OKAY. SO WE'VE HEARD THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I'LL MAKE COMMENTS IN - I HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS, BUT WE'RE GONNA TABLE THIS, AREN'T WE? DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO. WE'RE GONNA TABLE THIS. YEAH. FIRST THING JUST TO ANSWER A COUPLE QUESTIONS. UM, YOU GUYS ASKING WHY IS IT GONNA KEEP COMING BACK, KEEP COMING BACK, KEEP COMING BACK? EVERY SINGLE YEAR AFTER 365 DAYS, IT CAN COME BACK BY LAW. IT'S LEGAL. THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP THAT AS SOUTH CAROLINA LAW, 12 MONTHS. SO ANY, ANY PROPERTY OWNER CAN DO THAT FOR ANY PROPERTY THEY OWN. YOU GUYS COULD DO IT FOR ANY PROPERTY THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE OR IN ANY COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS A LAW IN SOUTH CAROLINA. UM, WITH THAT SAID, I WILL ADDRESS A COUPLE THINGS AND THEN I GUESS WE'LL DISCUSS SOME OTHER OPTIONS. BUT ONE, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID THAT THIS IS A LAW, ABIDE BY THE LAW. ALL LAWS ARE LIVING AND BREATHING. THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUALLY CHANGE AND ADAPT LAWS AS COMMUNITIES AND AREAS GROW. THAT IS THE TRUTH. YOU CAN AGREE OR DISAGREE, BUT IT'S BEEN THAT WAY. I'VE ALWAYS USED UNIONS AS AN EXAMPLE. WHEN UNIONS WERE FIRST CREATED, YOU NEEDED THEM AND NEEDED TO BE DONE. WE NEEDED WORK ENVIRONMENTS. WE NEEDED CHILD LABOR LAWS, SO ON, SO ON, SO ON. THAT'S NOT THE SAME MISSION BEING COMPLETED BY UNIONS NOW. SAME CONCEPT. SO THIS IS A PROCESS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS CREATED ON. THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT. THAT'S THE WAY YOU RUN GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS. SO AS FOR A COUPLE THINGS, I HAVE, AND MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND, THAT'S WHY I'VE BEEN UPFRONT ABOUT THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, NOT AGAINST THE CPO. I JUST DON'T THINK THE CPO IS ACCOMPLISHING THE GOAL THAT IT ORIGINALLY SET OUT TO DO. AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, SINCE THE CPO HAS DONE, GONE INTO PLACE, IT HAS HAD THE REVERSE EFFECT. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION. IF YOU LOOK AT IT, I'VE BEEN UP HERE DOING THIS IN THE PAST THREE [04:50:01] YEARS, BUT IT GETS MENTIONED EVERY SINGLE TIME WE'RE UP HERE. IF YOU GO LOOK AT THE, UM, CENSUS BASED ON RACE, IT HAS COMPLETELY FLIPPED FROM THE MAJORITIES BEING AFRICAN AMERICANS OR BLACKS TO NOW IT BEING WHITES. THAT IS A FACT. YOU CANNOT CHANGE THAT.THAT IS DONE BY THE CENSUS. THE CPO HAS HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT ON S - OPPOSITE EFFECT ON ST. HELEN THAT IT ORIGINALLY SET OUT TO DO. I THINK THE CPO IS A GREAT IDEA. I THINK THAT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON, AND THAT'S REALLY THE FOCUS WE SHOULD BE HAVING HERE. UM, YOU TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION OF A GOLF COURSE COMES. IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT 160 HOMES AT A MILLION AND A HALF TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS A POP ISN'T GOING TO CREATE THAT SAME, SAME TYPE OF PRECEDENT, I'M SORRY, IT IS. AND THAT IS BY RIGHT WHAT THAT LAND CAN DO. I'M NOT SAYING I AGREE WITH IT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT I WANT. I'M JUST GIVING FACTS OF THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO ANSWER WHEN WE'RE UP HERE. WE HAVE A LAWSUIT, THREE LAWSUITS. I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'D BE MORE NO MATTER WHAT DECISION'S MADE. UM, THIS ONE STANDS SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 TO 30 MILLION DOLLARS WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, BECAUSE THIS LAWSUIT WILL NOT BE OVER FOR ANOTHER FOUR TO FIVE TO SIX YEARS. THAT IS ANOTHER FACT. SO WHEN YOU WOULD SAY THIS IS NOT GONNA BE DRUG OUT, THIS WILL BE IN COURTS LONG BEFORE WE'RE ON COUNCIL. UM, UH, AGAIN, A LOT OF PEOPLE MENTION THE IDEA OF THIS BEING RACE OR NOT RACE. THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT THE LAWSUIT IS RIGHT NOW. SO PEOPLE THAT SAY THIS IS NOT BASED ON RACE, BUT SIT HERE IN A COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBER AND TALK ABOUT RACE, YOU'RE LITERALLY ADDING CONTENT TO THAT LAWSUIT FOR THE DEVELOPER BY TALKING ABOUT RACE. I HATE TO TELL YOU, BUT YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON A PUBLIC RECORD WHEN A DEVELOPER IS SAYING THAT THE CPO WAS CREATED ON RACE AND PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING IT IN COURT SAYING IT'S NOT, BUT THEN YOU SIT HERE AND SAY IT'S ABOUT RACE AND WE NEED TO PROTECT THESE PEOPLE. YOU, YOU COME INTO THAT SAME ARGUMENT. IT'S JUST ME PERSONALLY. BUT WITH THAT SAID, UM, COUNTY'S LOST MONEY. YOU GUYS HAVE LOST MONEY. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE MONEY ARE SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL LOSERS EXCEPT ONE GROUP. UM, BUT I DO AGREE WE HAVE AN ISSUE. OUR ISSUE IS WE HAD A CAUCUS THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE FULL LEGAL ADVICE AND COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF DECISION OR WHETHER IT'S YAY, NAY, NO, CONTINUE MOVING ON, LET THIS THING PLAY OUT. THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONCLUDED YET. SO I ACTUALLY MAKE THE MOST, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS VOTE UNTIL EITHER THE END OF CAUCUS, AND WE CAN RECONVENE OR TO THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, WHICHEVER YOU GUYS PREFER, BUT WE, BUT WE CANNOT MAKE A DECISION UNTIL WE HEAR THAT INFORMATION. THAT'S WHY WE HAD A THREE HOUR CAUCUS AND IT WAS THE LAST ITEM ON THE CAUCUS AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE THE LONGEST. SO THIS IS WHY I HAVE ISSUES AS WELL. WE DIDN'T GET TO RECEIVE THE FULL INFORMATION. NOBODY UP HERE CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY RECEIVED ALL THE INFORMATION BEFORE WE VOTE TONIGHT. SO I WILL PUT THAT MOTION ON THE FLOOR. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM MR. CUNNINGHAM. I'LL SECOND THAT TO TABLE. WHAT'S THE MOTION? THE MOTION IS TO POSTPONE THE VOTE ON THIS UNTIL AFTER WE COME OUT OF CAUCUS. AFTER ALL THIS BUSINESS IS DONE FIRST. YES. I'M FINISHING OUR AGENDA, YES. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. MS. BROWN SECONDED IT. OH, MS. BROWN SECONDED? I SECOND IT, YES. ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENT FROM THE REST OF COUNCIL? OH, THE QUESTION. OKAY. USUALLY MR. DAWSON DOES THAT. ALL RIGHT. DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MS. BROCK. COUNCILMEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? YES. YES. COUNCIL MEMBER REEDS? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER PASSIMIT? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLEN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, NO. COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? NO. VICE CHAIR TABERNICK? YES. CHAIR HOWARD? NO. THE MOTION FAILS FOR YES, SIX, NO. SO NOW WE TAKE A VO - A VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF US. THANK YOU. THAT MEANS WE'RE GONNA TAKE A VOTE ON ORDINANCE WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON. YEAH. THAT WOULD BE CORRECT. WELL, I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY. PARDON ME? I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY. OH, OKAY. UM, ALL OF COUNCIL RECEIVED A LETTER TODAY FROM PEOPLE OUT ON ST. HELENA, AND I'M GONNA READ IT BECAUSE THEY ASKED THAT I READ THIS. "SINCE YOU ARE HAVING A MEETING LATER TODAY, THE LETTER ATTACHED IS SENT BY EMAIL IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT PRIOR TO THE MEETING. "OKAY. IT SAYS," DEAR COUNCIL, AS PROPERTY OWNERS ON ST. HELENA ISLAND... "UH, I'M GONNA LEAVE A FEW THINGS OUT, SO I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HERE. ONGOING CONCERNS REGARDING DEVELOPMENT OF THE 437 ACRES AT PINE ISLAND. [04:55:01] WE DELAYED MAKING A DECISION IN FAVOR OR OPPOSING THE DEVELOPMENT UNTIL WE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THE REQUEST TO CHANGE ZONING AND REMOVE THE CPO DESTINATION. WHAT WE CURRENTLY SEE ON ST. HELENA ISLAND IS RURAL AREA WITH DETER- DETER- DETERIORATING PROPERTIES AND LITTLE GROWTH. WE CHOSE OUR HOME BECAUSE OF THE UNDEVELOPED WATERFRONT IN MARSH. WHILE WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO REMAIN LARGELY UNDEVELOPED AND CONTINUE TO HONOR THE HISTORY OF THE LAND AND THE CULTURE, WE MUST ALSO PRESERVE IT AND NEED REVENUES LARGELY GENERATED FROM SALES AND USE OR HOSPITALITY TAXES. THROUGH THE PINE ISLAND PROPERTY CURRENTLY IS ZONED APPROPRIATELY FOR A SUBDIVISION, WE PERSONALLY FEEL THAT THE REQUEST TO REMOVE THE PROPERTY FROM THE CPO FROM ANOTHER TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IS A POSITIVE MOVE. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE GOLF COMMUNITY BRINGS OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT ADDING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC OR WEAR AND TEAR ON CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE. IN CONTRAST, THE ADDITION OF 140 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BRINGS ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC, ADDITIONAL COASTAL WATER INTRUSION, ADDITIONAL REMOVAL OF TREES, ENDANGERS WILDLIFE, AND ADDS ADDITIONAL NEEDS FOR EDUCATIONAL AND REC - RETAIL FACILITIES THAT WE DO NOT HAVE. THESE 140 NEW FAMILIES WILL HAVE A, A NEW, A HOME, BUT NOWHERE NEAR FOR WORK OR SHOPPING. IF THE NEW HOMEOWNERS HAVE CHILDREN, IT WILL BEGIN TO STRAIN THE EDUCATION RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE NEARBY. THERE WAS A PRIOR SUGGESTION BY THE LLC TO INCLUDE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, COMMUNITY CENTER, OR SOME SORT OF PUBLIC ACCESS BUILDING OR BUILDINGS WITHIN THE GOLF CLUB DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS A BENEFIT OF ALL ST. HELENA ISLAND BECAUSE IT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTU - O- OPTIONS, EXCUSE ME, AS WELL AS NEARLY LEISURE ACTIVITIES FOR CURRENT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITHOUT DISRUPTING AN EX- EXISTING GULLAH KEECHEE COMMUNITY OR HISTORIC SITE. COUNCIL COULD APPROVE REMOVAL OF THE CPO DESTINATION REQUIRING THAT THE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE REMAINING DEVELOPMENT. DURING THE 10 YEARS WE OWNED... OKAY. UH, OKAY THEN. THEN IT GOES ON, THE NEXT PAGE GOES ON. BEING IN FAVOR OF THE REMOVAL OF THE PINE ISLAND ACREAGE OF THE CPO ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT IS UNPOPULAR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEAK OUT, SPEAK OUT IN FAVOR OF IT, FEAR OF RETALIATION. WHEN WE ATTENDED THE MEETING IN OCTOBER, WE WERE AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT BECAUSE OF THE ANGER EXPRESSED BY THOSE AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALSO IMAGINE MORE RESIDENTS WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THIS DEVELOPMENT IF THEY UNDERSTOOD THE BENEFITS THAT CONTROLLED DEVELOPMENT PROVIDES. ST. HELENA NEEDS SOME SOURCES FOR EMPLOYMENT. THEY DON'T REQUIRE A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THE ELDERLY AND THOSE WITHOUT RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MAKING THE LONG COMMUTE. IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD - I'M SORRY, I SHOULD NOT BE HEARING TALK THERE. IF YOU NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE, PLEASE STEP OUTSIDE. OKAY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD. IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD FIND, AND THIS IS NOT FOR ME, THIS IS SOME PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON ST. HELENA, AND THEY ASKED THIS TO BE READ TODAY, SO I'M READING IT. UM, IF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COULD FIND EMPLOYMENT ON ST. HELENA ISLAND, THEY MAY NOT NEED FOOD BANKS, FOOD STAMPS, OR WELFARE CHECKS. I PERSONALLY DRIVE ONE INDIVIDUAL TO PLACES ON A REGULAR BASIS. SHE'S WILLING TO WORK, BUT ONLY WORK WHERE SHE CAN RIDE HER BIKE SINCE THERE'S NO DAILY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - MADAM CHAIR. MADAM CHAIR. NO, YOU WANT ME TO STOP? WE ALL RECEIVED THAT LETTER. AND THERE'S NO NEED FOR US TO READ IT PUBLICLY. THAT, THAT WAS SENT TO US. OKAY. NOW, WE WILL STOP, STOP THE LETTER. WELL, SHE ASKED ME TO READ IT, SO OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S OKAY. OKAY. SO I - ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE COMMENT ON THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF US? ONE QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MR. JACK. NO, NO, NO. MADAM CHAIR - YES. SOMEBODY HAS THE - OH. MAKER HAS TO READ THE REASONS. I HAVE IT. I'M SORRY. LOGAN HAS IT, THAT'S CORRECT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR THE REZONING OF THE 502 ACRES FROM T2R WITH THE CPO TO T2R FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. IT IS NOT IN CONFLICT WITH THE COM- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE, [05:00:01] IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED. IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGED CONDITIONS. IT IS THE APPROPRIATE ZONE FOR THE LAND. IT WOULD NOT ADVERSELY IMPACT NEARBY LAND. IT WILL RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. IT WILL NOT RESULT IN ADVERSE IMPACTS ON NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. IT WILL RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT ADEQUATELY SERVED BY PUBLIC FACILITIES. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SECOND THAT? COUNCILMAN DAWSON WOULD SECOND IT. EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE VOTE. A YES VOTE IS TO TAKE - IT'S TO APPROVE. TO APPROVE MOVING OUT OF THE CPO. CORRECT. IT'S TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT'D BE THE FIRST OF THREE READINGS IF IT PASSES, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WE HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED ALL OF OUR LEGAL INFORMATION. SO BY TURNING THIS DOWN, YOU'RE ADMITTING YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THIS, NO MATTER WHAT THAT IMPACT IS. OKAY. THE ORDINANCE IN FRONT OF US IS TO AMEND THE ZONING MAP OF 502 ACRES LOCATED ON DE LAMA ROAD IN ST. HELENVILLE FOR, FOR, FOR REMOVAL FROM THE CULTURAL PROTECTION OVERLAY DISTRICT. I HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM, UM, COUNCILMAN DAWSON'S THE ONE THAT SECONDED, CORRECT? MM-HMM. OKAY. YES, HE DID. DID HE? OKAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MS. BROCK, ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM? YES. COUNCILMAN DAWSON? NO. COUNCILMEMBER REEDS? YES. COUNCILMEMBER PASSIMENT? NO. COUNCILMEMBER MCGOWAN? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, NO. COUNCIL MEMBER GLOVER? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? YES. VICE CHAIR TABERNICK? NO. NO. CHAIR HOWARD? NO. THE MOTION FAILS. 3S7 NO. ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON. WE STILL HAVE AGENDA TO GO. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO LEAVE, PLEASE, I'LL TAKE ONE MINUTE. CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE AND OUR CODE OF ORDINANCE. IT DOES NOT ADDRESS A DEMONSTRATED NEED. IT IS NOT REQUIRED BY CHANGE CONDITIONS. IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH EXISTING AND PROPOSED USE OF LAND SURROUNDING THIS LAND. IT WOULD ADV - IT WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT NEARBY LAND. IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN LOGICAL AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS. IT WOULD RESULT IN AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, ENVIRONMENT, AND IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT IS ADEQUATELY SERVED BY PUBLIC FACILITIES. SECOND A MOTION, MADAM CHAIRMAN. OKAY, SO READ THE MOTION SO EVERYBODY HEARS IT ONE MORE TIME. GO. SO THE MOTION IS TO DENY THE ZONE, REZONING REQUEST. ALL RIGHT. EVERYBODY CLEAR? YEAH. IF I DEBATE THESE AGAIN, AM I GONNA NEED TO ANSWER OR JUST A STARE? GOT IT. JUST MAKING SURE. YEAH. FIGURED. OKAY. GONNA BE CRAZY IF WE HAD TO BACK IT UP. ROLL CO - DO YOU WANNA ASK A QUESTION, MR. CUNNINGHAM? NO, I JUST FIGURED WE WOULD BACK UP WHILE WE'RE DOING IT, BUT I FIGURED AFTER THE FIRST ONE WE DID THIS WHEN WE DIDN'T DO IT. WE WEREN'T GOING TO ON THIS ONE EITHER. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A QUESTION FOR LEGAL SINCE WE HAD IT. UH, WE TURNED DOWN THE OTHER ONE WITH APPROVAL TO APPROVE IT, BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL US TO DO THAT ONE. SO WHY IS THIS ONE ANY DIFFERENT THAT YOU HAD TO APPROACH THE BENCH TO HAVE COME UP HERE AND TELL HER THAT SHE NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE DENY IT, BUT YOU DIDN'T DO THAT EARLIER FOR THE OTHER? THE PREFERRED ACTION IS TO HAVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CONCLUDING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER RATHER THAN JUST HAVING TO FAIL ON A VOTE. THIS ONE HERE, I EXPECT THAT WE WILL BE IN LITIGATION, SO I'D LIKE TO REMOVE THAT FROM, UH - THAT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION OF WHY WE DIDN'T DO IT FOR THE OTHER ONE. IF WE HAD THAT SAME INFORMATION FOR THE OTHER ONE AND WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT FOR THE OTHER ITEM EARLIER TODAY? OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE MESSED UP AGAIN. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. RIDICULOUS. UM, DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE. WE'RE NOT GONNA DISCUSS THIS ANY FURTHER. DO A ROLL CALL. OH. IT'S THE MOTION MR. PASSMAN MADE. YES TO DENY. NO, NOT TO DENY. TO NOT DENY. YOU'RE GONNA WANNA VOTE YES, LARRY. IT'S THE OPPOSITE. NO, HE'S GONNA WAIT NO. GO AHEAD MS. BROCK. LET'S KEEP ROLLING. IT'S 10, 11:17. I GOT Y'ALL. DON'T WORRY. COUNCILMEMBER PASSIMENT. YES. COUNCILMEMBER GLOVER? YES. COUNCILMEMBER REEDS? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER MCALLEN? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON? MARK LAWSON, YES. COUNCIL MEMBER DAWSON? YES. COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? NO. COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN? NO. VICE CHAIR TAVERNICK? YES. YES. CHAIR HOWARD. YES. THE MOTION TO DENY PASSES 7-3. THANK YOU MUCH. ALL RIGHT. NOW MAY I GO ON WITHOUT FURTHER ADO? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING [14.c. 2026/57: An Ordinance to Amend Ordinance 2026/16 authorizing the County Administrator to execute the necessary documents to convey a parcel of real property TMS No. R100 033 00A 021B 000 to the Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry for development of workforce/affordable housing and other matters related thereto.] ON TO 2026 / 57 ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE 2026 [05:05:01] / 16, AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS TO CONVEY A PARCEL OF REAL PROPERTY, I'M NOT GONNA READ THE NUMBER, TO THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE LOW COUNTRY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND OTHER MATTERS, AND THIS WENT TO NATURAL RESOURCE AND PASSED. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. THANK YOU, MS. HOWARD. A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. REEDS. UM, UH, PEOPLE FOR HABITAT COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. THEY CALLED ME AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION FOR MR. KIDD? NO. ALL RIGHT. THIS IS SIMPLY CORRECTING SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. KIDD. ALL IN FAVOR OF PASSING THIS ORDINANCE? OKAY, THANK YOU. THAT WAS EASY. OKAY. [14.d. 2026/58: An Ordinance recommending approval of the 2% State Accommodations Awards as presented by the State Atax Committee.] UM, 2026 / 58 IS AN ORDINANCE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE 2% STATE ACCOMMODATIONS AWARDS AS PRESENTED BY THE STATE A TAX COMMITTEE. THE VOTE AT FINANCE WAS NINE ZERO. UH, MOTION, PLEASE. SO MOVED. THANK YOU, MR. MCKELLEN. I'LL SECOND IT. AND MR. LAWSON SECONDS IT. UM, UH, WE WENT THROUGH THIS AT FINANCE. MR. MILBURN, IF YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING, OTHERWISE, ALL THE DOCUMENTATION'S IN THE PACKET. REMEMBER KEN GROW TALKED TO US. ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION? OH, YOU DON'T WIN THE AWARD TONIGHT FOR THE MOST TIMES AT THE PODIUM. I'M NOT THERE YET. HE'S NEW. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE STATE ACCOMMODATIONS AWARDS. PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. NOW [14.e. 2026/59: An Ordinance Amending the FY2027 Budget for Carryover Purchase Orders for Parks and Recreation Impact fees for BRACE project.] I HAVE TO GO HERE. 2026 / 59. SLASH 59. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 50, SORRY, FISCAL YEAR. 2027 BUDGET FOR CARRYOVER PURCHASE ORDERS FOR PARKS AND RECREATION IMPACT FEES FOR BRACE PROJECT. THE VOTE AT FINANCE WAS 9-0. AND JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY, BRACE STANDS FOR BUCKWALTER RECREATION ATHLETIC COMPLEX EXPANSION. MOTION. SO MOVED. WAS IT MR. MCELLAN? YEP. OKAY. SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MR. PASSERMAN, SECOND. UH, ANY QUESTION FOR MR. MILBURN? WE'VE, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH GONE THROUGH THIS ONE TOO. QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR. RAISE YOUR HAND, PLEASE. THANK YOU, MR. MILBURN, YOU'RE OFF THE HOOK ON THAT ONE TOO. UM, THE LAST [14.f. 2026/60: An Ordinance to Repeal, Replace and Add Additional Policies to the Beaufort County Code of Ordinances Chapter 2, Article VII, Division 4 (Beaufort County Purchasing Ordinance).] ONE IS AN ORD - 2026-60, AN ORDINANCE TO REPEAL, REPLACE AND ADD ADDITIONAL POLICIES TO THE BEAUFORT COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER TWO, ARTICLE SEVEN, DIVISION FOUR, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH PURCHASING ORDINANCE. THE VOTE AT FINANCE WAS NINE-ZERO. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. MS. HOWARD MAKES THE MOTION. SECOND. I'M SORRY, DIDN'T HEAR WHAT? SECOND. MR. MCELLAN SECONDS IT. UM, THIS IS WHAT WAS ON OUR DESK TODAY. YEAH. ANY QUESTION OR COMMENT? DO, DO YOU WANNA SPEAK TO IT, MR. MILBURN? UM, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THIS IS JUST AMENDMENT TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, TIGHTENING UP SOME LANGUAGE. IT IS ONLY THE FIRST READING, SO IF YOU GO BACK AND DIGEST IT AND HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS, WE'LL HAVE TWO OTHER READINGS. UM, OUR PROCUREMENT PERSON WAS GONNA BE HERE THIS EVENING, BUT HAD A PERSONAL EMERGENCY. UM, SO I WAS DOING THIS ONE TOO. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. MILBURN? I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CONSOLIDATE, UM, THE RESOLUTION. WE DIDN'T VOTE ON THIS. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? NO. ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS ONE. LARRY'S READY TO GO. OKAY. MR. DAWSON. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. NOW YOU GO. ALL RIGHT. I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO... WHAT'S THAT? COUNCIL MEMBER REEDS, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND. DID YOU VOTE YES? YES. OKAY. YEAH, THANK YOU. UM, [Items 15.a - 15.f.] TO CONSOLIDATE THE RESOLUTIONS AT, ON THE AGENDA 15A, B, C, D, E, AND F INTO ONE GROUP. CAN WE DO THAT? YEAH. LEGALLY? YEP. BY ROBERT'S RULES? OKAY. I DON'T... I NEED A MOTION FROM SOMEBODY TO DO THAT. SO MOVED. I SECOND. LARRY? A SECOND WAS BY... I DID. MR. GLOVER. TO CONSOLIDATE ALL THESE RESOLUTION. YES. OKAY. I NEED ONE MOTION. OKAY. CAN I MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE? YES. I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FIRST ONE. I'M RIGHT HERE TO REMOVE IT FROM IT. OH, OKAY. UM, THAT'S THE ONE YOU ALL PUT DOWN THE LAST TIME, AND SO IF IT'S NOT TO WHAT WE WANT, YOU NEED TO DO IT AGAIN. GO AHEAD, MR. COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND IT TO POSTPONE A TO THE NEXT COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING SO WE HAVE LENGTH OF TIME TO ACTUALLY DISCUSS IT INSTEAD OF JUST RUSHING THROUGH IT TODAY. I WOULD SECOND THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND, UM, TO TAKE A OFF UNTIL THE DECEMBER MEETING. OKAY. AND, UH, WE HAVE A SECOND TO THAT. WE HAVE - I DID. I... WE DID? ALL IN FAVOR OF TAKING THAT ONE OFF, SIGNIFY BY. [05:10:01] SIG - IT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO - JUST TO CLARIFY, WHEN YOU SAY TAKE OFF, YOU MEAN POSTPONED TO. I USED THE WRONG WORD. WE'RE POSTPONING IT TILL DECEMBER. DECEMBER MEETING. SO NOW WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS B, C, D, E, AND F TO VOTE ON. SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF THOSE AND THOSE ALL PASS. I WAS GONNA VOTE NOW. NOW WE RECESS FROM, WE RECESSED FROM CAUCUS. WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN THIS MEETING. SO I NEED TO... WE'RE GONNA ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING. I WAS GONNA VOTE NO ONE. AND WE ARE IN * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.