[00:02:09] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. [BACKGROUND] WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY MRS. VALERIE GUZMAN. PLEASE RISE. [NOISE] >> FATHER GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL BLESS THIS MEETING. HELP US HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION THAT WILL BROADEN OUR PERSPECTIVES. HELP US TO TAKE THE VARIOUS IDEAS PRESENTED AND THINK OF WAYS TO GROW THEM OUT. IF WE DO DISAGREE, LET IT BE ON CONTENT AND NOT PERSONALITY CONFLICTS OR POWER PLAYS. HELP US TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTES, GRACEFULLY, BE PROBLEM SOLVERS, AND HAVE GREAT TEAM SPIRIT. WE ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN. >> AMEN. [NOISE] >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. NORMALLY, I HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN. BUT TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO DIVERT FROM THAT AND HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR MR. SAM JOHNSON, WHICH IS REVEREND JOHNSON'S HUSBAND, REVEREND JOHNSON OF ST. STEPHEN'S. ST. STEPHEN'S BEEN A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE JOHNSON FAMILY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [NOISE] >> THIS IS THE SAME JOHNSON [INAUDIBLE] >> YEAH. HE'S BEEN SUFFERING FROM PANCREATIC CANCER. [OVERLAPPING] HE HAD PANCREATIC CANCER. NOW, LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS ADOPTION OF TODAY'S AGENDA. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA TODAY? >> MOTION WE APPROVE THE AGENDA. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> NEXT, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION AND NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSE CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND PROPOSED SALE OR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY. THE RECEDE OF LEGAL ADVICE OR LEGAL ADVICE RELATES TO A PENDING, THREATENED, OR POTENTIAL CLAIM OR OTHER MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, SETTLEMENT OF LEGAL CLAIMS, OR THE POSITION OF THE PUBLIC AGENCY IN OTHER ADVERSARY SITUATIONS INVOLVING THE ASSERTION AGAINST [00:05:01] THE AGENCY OF A CLAIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAW 30-4-70A2. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING A LEGAL OPINION, AND WE WILL BE DISCUSSING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROSPECT. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION? >> A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. [OVERLAPPING] >> WE ARE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. WE WILL BE BACK PROMPTLY AT FIVE O'CLOCK. [00:59:02] >> I SEE, WE HAVE A NICE CROWD WITH US TODAY. WELCOME. [00:59:07] >> WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION. [00:59:12] I NEED A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. [00:59:18] >> MAKE A MOTION, WE RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION. [00:59:22] >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. [00:59:24] >> SECOND. [00:59:25] >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. [00:59:27] ANY COMMENTS? [00:59:29] ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE AYE. [00:59:31] >> AYE. >> WE'RE UP TO NUMBER FIVE ON OUR AGENDA. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO JUST JOINED US. WE HAD ALREADY OPENED OUR MEETING AT 4:00 AND THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. WE'RE UP TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. SIGNED UP. >> NO MAYOR. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COURT. >> WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE ELECTION APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 4, [01:00:01] SECTION 281 OF THE HARDEEVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES. THIS IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE PURSUANT TO THAT SAME ARTICLE SECTION 2146. MR. CZYMBOR. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON/GOOD EVENING. THE MUNICIPAL CODE ALLOWS THE COUNSEL TO APPOINT THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE FOR UP TO A FOUR YEAR TERM. MISS JUDGE NANCY GUTIERREZ, TERM IS COMING DUE. WE'RE RECOMMENDING THE COUNSEL APPOINT MISS JUDGE FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. >> DO WE NEED A VOTE HERE, MIKE? >> YES, YOU DO. >> OKAY. >> THEN THE OATH OF OFFICE, I'M ASSUMING, MR. MAYOR? >> YES. MR. CARROLL IS GOING TO DO THE OATH FOR US FOR NANCY. ASSUMING YOU GET ENOUGH VOTES. >> I HOPE SO. >> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? MR. CARROLL. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REAPPOINT JUDGE NANCY GUTIERREZ AS MUNICIPAL COURT, JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ON FAVOR. PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. ARE YOU VOTING FOR BOTH? CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNSEL. I DID WRITE A LITTLE SOMETHING. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED ONCE AGAIN AS THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. THIS IS MY FOURTH TERM. I REMEMBER IN 2011 IN OUR SMALL COURTROOM, JUDGE CARROLL, AT THE TIME, HE SWORE ME IN, AND ONCE AGAIN, WE CONTINUE THE TRADITION. I EXPRESS MY SINCERE THANKS TO ALL AND ONCE AGAIN, TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT THIS COURT CONTINUES TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY, EFFECTIVELY, UPHOLDING JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL. OF COURSE, I CAN'T DO IT ALONE. I DO HAVE MY STAFF WITH ME, WHICH I APPRECIATE. I'M COMING IN. AND OF COURSE, THE SUPPORT OF MY FAMILY, AS YOU FINALLY GET TO MEET ALL OF THEM. I HAVE MY MOTHER BACK THERE, MY HUSBAND, MY CHILDREN, MY SISTERS. AND I ALSO HAVE MY PASTORS HERE WITH ME, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT TO ME. BUT LASTLY, I WANT TO THANK MR. CZYMBOR. >> AND YOU, MAYOR, WE CAME IN WITH A SMALL COURT AND RIGHT NOW IS THE BEST THING EVER, AND PEOPLE, UNTIL THIS DAY, CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT HOW GREAT IT IS. I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DECISIONS THAT I HAVE MADE THAT YOU HAVE SUPPORTED. I ALSO THANK MS. GUZMAN AND MR. MEERSMAN THAT YOU TOOK THE CONFIDENCE AND COME IN AND TALK TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW THE COMMUNITY AND I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND I CONTINUE TO BE HERE AS MUCH AS YOU ALLOW ME TO. I CAN'T LEAVE, LASTLY, BUT NOT LEAST. MR. CARROLL. THERE'S A LOT, AND HE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE JUDGE CARROLL TO ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND HERE WE GO FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. CHIEF, I DIDN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUDGE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOUR STAFF THAT IS HERE? >> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE MINISTER RECORDER AND CLERK OF COURT, MS. LISA PAGET. WE HAVE OUR OTHER CLERK OF COURT, MS. EMILY META. WE HAVE OUR BAILIFF NUMBER 1, MR. ISAAC GREGORY, AND OUR BAILIFF NUMBER 2, MR. DONALD CARROLL. >> THAT'S MY COUSIN. >> I KNEW THAT. >> TOP OF THE LINE, MAYOR. TOP OF THE LINE QUALITY. YES, THAT'S SESE'S [PHONETIC] COUSIN. WE GO WAY BACK FROM THE JAIL YEARS. THAT'S MY STAFF, AND AGAIN, [01:05:03] THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I'M READY. >> IT'S GOOD THAT WE'VE UPGRADED FROM THE PREVIOUS TOUCH. I TOLD YOU I'D GET YOU BACK. >> I LEARNED FROM THE BEST, THOUGH, WITH A LITTLE BIT OF IMPROVEMENT. >> I CAN SAY THAT SHE WAS TRAINED BY THE BEST. >> I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT. >> THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID. >> YES. >> BUT I'LL HAVE TO SAY I TRAINED HER, AND THEN AFTER I GOT HER HERE, AND IT CHANGED AND UPGRADED ALL THE SOFTWARE PACKAGES AND STUFF, SHE ENDED UP TRAINING ME. >> WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. WE HAVE TO SWEAR YOU IN. >> YES, SIR. >> NOT SWEAR AT YOU. SWEAR YOU IN. >> SWEAR ME IN. YES, SIR. >> WE GET SWORN AT UP HERE. >> NO, I HAVE PLENTY OF THOSE, SIR. >> I ALWAYS QUOTE SOMEONE WHO SAID, WE GET SWORN IN TO GET SWORN AT. >> [INAUDIBLE] I, NANCY GUTIERREZ. >> I, NANCY GUTIERREZ. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. >> THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED. >> THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED. >> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE. >> ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE. >> TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. >> TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE. >> TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN APPOINTED. >> TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN APPOINTED. >> AND THAT I WILL. >> AND THAT I WILL. >> TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. >> TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. >> DISCHARGE THOSE DUTIES. >> DISCHARGE THOSE DUTIES. >> AND WILL PRESERVE. >> AND WILL PRESERVE. >> PROTECT. >> PROTECT. >> AND DEFEND. >> AND DEFEND. >> THE CONSTITUTION. >> THE CONSTITUTION. >> OF THE STATE. >> OF THIS STATE. >> AND OF THE UNITED STATES. >> AND OF THE UNITED STATES. >> I PLEDGE TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY. >> I PLEDGE TO UPHOLD THE INTEGRITY. >> AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. >> AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY. >> I PLEDGE IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTIES. >> I PLEDGE IN THE DISCHARGE OF MY DUTIES. >> TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE. >> TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE. >> WHO ENTER THE COURT ROOM. >> TO ENTER THE COURTROOM. >> WITH CIVILITY. >> WITH CIVILITY. >> FAIRNESS. >> FAIRNESS. >> AND RESPECT. >> AND RESPECT. >> I PLEDGE TO LISTEN COURTEOUSLY. >> I PLEDGE TO LISTEN COURTEOUSLY. >> SIT IMPARTIALLY. >> SIT IMPARTIALLY. >> ACT PROMPTLY. >> ACT PROMPTLY. >> AND RULE AFTER CAREFUL. >> AND RULE AFTER CAREFUL. >> AND CONSIDERATE DELIBERATION. >> AND CONSIDERATE DELIBERATION. >> I PLEDGE TO SEEK JUSTICE. >> I PLEDGE TO SEEK JUSTICE. >> AND JUSTICE ALONE. >> AND JUSTICE ALONE. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> SO HELP ME GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY. >> NO I'M LEAVING. [LAUGHTER] I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> DID SHE TELL YOU SHE'S BUYING YOU ALL DINNER TODAY? >> THAT'S RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] >> SHE'S SUCH A SWEETHEART. IT'S WONDERFUL. >> NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, AND OUR FIRST ONE IS THE INTRODUCTION OF FIREFIGHTERS BRIAN NOWAK AND AARON LEMAS. HOPEFULLY, I SAID THOSE BOTH CORRECTLY. >>YES, SIR. >> YES, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO OF OUR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS HERE AT HARDEEVILLE FIRE. I WILL ALLOW THEM TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES TO YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? >> GOOD. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS AARON LEMAS AND I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TODAY. [01:10:03] I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THE VIBRANT AND DYNAMIC CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. HARDEEVILLE IS A CITY WITH A RICH HISTORY AND A PROMISING FUTURE. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTRIBUTING TO ITS GROWTH AND BEING A PART OF THE POSITIVE CHANGES THAT LIE AHEAD. WITH THE NEW FAMILY I AM A PART OF, I BELIEVE WE CAN ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS AND CONTINUE TO MAKE HARDEEVILLE A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, WORK, AND THRIVE. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME, AND I'M EAGER TO WORK IN THE AMAZING CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. THANK YOU, YOU GUYS AGAIN. >> GREAT. WELCOME. >> WELCOME. >> WELCOME TO HARDEEVILLE. >> COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT, YOUR FAMILY, WHERE YOU LIVE, ETC? >> I LIVE ACTUALLY IN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON. MY BROTHER WAS A FIREFIGHTER FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. I SAW THE PASSION HE HAD FOR THE CAREER. THAT PASSION WENT OFF ONTO ME. I LOVED JUST SEEING THE ENVIRONMENT HE WORKED IN. MY DAD WORKS IN HARDEEVILLE TOLD ME HOW MUCH OF A GREAT PLACE THIS IS TO WORK. I DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE, AND I'VE LOVED IT HERE EVER SINCE. THE CREW I'M WITH, THEY TAKE CARE OF ME. THEY TEACH ME SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY. I LIKE BEING HERE, BUT THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME. SORRY, I'M NOT THE BEST SPEAKER. >> NO. YOU DID TERRIFIC. >> YOU GOT THE SMART HALF OF YOUR FAMILY. HE HAS HIS FATHER OVER THERE. >> IS THAT YOUR WIFE AND BABY? >> NO. ACTUALLY I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND OF THREE YEARS. SHE'S ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL RIGHT NOW. SHE'S DOING MASSAGE THERAPY. SHE'LL BE DONE IN JULY AND THEN HOPEFULLY, OUR LIFE START JUST COMING TOGETHER, AND WE'RE IN THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. IT'S AWESOME. IT'S A GOOD FEELING. >> THAT'S GREAT. >> GOOD TO GET YOU KNOW. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU ALL? >> WELCOME BOY. >> HI. >> NAME IS BRIAN NOWAK. I'D LIKE TO THANK CHIEF KEMP FOR ALLOWING ME TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. I JOINED THE FIRE SERVICE IN 2016 IN THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO. I GOT TIRED OF ILLINOIS, MOVED DOWN HERE. I ACTUALLY WORKED FOR HILTON HEAD FOR A FEW YEARS BEFORE. MY WIFE AND I MOVED DOWN TO FLORIDA TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY. WITH US IS OUR LITTLE SIX MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. I'M EXCITED TO HELP WITH THE AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT HARDEEVILLE IMPLEMENTED. THAT'S ALL I'VE EVER KNOWN WAS FIRE AND EMS TOGETHER IN ONE DEPARTMENT. I'D LIKE TO BRING THE EXPERIENCE AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE HAD FROM THE PAST, FROM DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS, DIFFERENT EMS SYSTEMS, AND HELP BRING EVERYTHING TO THE FUTURE AND HELP OUT AS MUCH AS I CAN. >> GREAT, THANK YOU. I SAW YOUR DAUGHTER, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL. >> COME RIGHT NOW. >> COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS FROM MR. NOWAK? NOWAK, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? NOWAK. >> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] I LOVE THE LOW COUNTRY. WELCOME. IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD, YOUNG FRESH FACES. I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. >> GLAD TO BE HERE. >> GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION OF VICTIM'S WITNESS ADVOCATE, MISS GLORIA ADVAREZ KAISER. >> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM LIEUTENANT LEMA SO I'M AARON'S FATHER, BUT I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR HAVING US AND ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE THE NEW VICTIM'S ADVOCATE. HER NAME IS GLORIA ADVAREZ KAISER. SHE RESIDES IN BLUFFTON. SHE'S BEEN MARRIED TO HER HUSBAND EDSON FOR 20 YEARS. SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN, DIEGO AND SOPHIA. GLORIA HAS A BACHELOR IN MASTERED SCIENCE IN EDUCATION. GLORIA STARTED HER CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK, SPECIALIZING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND HAS WORKED DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY. GLORIA IS BILINGUAL, FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. GLORIA. WELCOME GLORIA. >> THANK YOU. I'M EXCITED. THANK YOU LIEUTENANT LEMA. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TO WORK WITH HARDEEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MORE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HARDEEVILLE COMMUNITY. >> GREAT. WELCOME. >> IT'S GREAT TO EXPAND HARDEEVILLE AND OFFER TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. HAVING A VICTIM'S WITNESS ADVOCATE IS A HUGE SET. YOU'LL HAVE YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU. [01:15:03] >> I AGREE. >> THANK YOU FOR WANTING TO COME TO WORK IN HARDEEVILLE. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN THAT LINE OF WORK, IT'S VERY MENTALLY TAXING, AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR TAKING IT ON. >> CAN BE, BUT IT IS A PASSION OF MINE, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. >> THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. MAKE SURE YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER GROWS UP BECAUSE WE'LL NEED ANOTHER LEMAS BY THAT TIME. NEXT, WE HAVE A CHECK PRESENTATION FROM THE BATTLE OF THE BADGES. MS. COMBS. >> BE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE ROOM. >> I PROBABLY DID THAT FOR AMBIANCE OR SOMETHING. I DON'T KNOW. FLARE,, DRAMA. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. >> LET THE GAMES BEGIN. >> NO NEED TO SAY ANYTHING. I THINK SAM LOOKS FORWARD TO THIS EVERY YEAR. AS YOU ALL KNOW, EVERY YEAR, WE DO THE BATTLE THE BADGES. I THINK WE'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE 2018, AND IT HAS BECOME A VERY BELOVED PROGRAM THAT THE CITY PUTS ON FOR ITS RESIDENTS AND EVERYONE ELSE. THIS YEAR, WE HAD QUITE A FEW FOLKS THAT DONATED SO BEFORE WE GET INTO ALL THE PRESENTATIONS AND ALL THAT STUFF, I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW WHO GAVE CONSIDERABLY TO THIS WONDERFUL CAUSE. MISS ROSE BROWN, LIEUTENANT CREON, LIEUTENANT MELNICK. IS THAT CORPORAL? CORPORAL TIBO. WHAT DOES THE MPO STAND FOR? I DON'T KNOW. MR. TORRES. MISS RHONDA CRADLE, WHO IS HERE TODAY AS WELL. FERGUSON AND FERGUSON LAW FIRM, MARSHER, AND BERGLN, PARKER LAW GROUP, LOW COUNTRY DIESEL, HARDEEVILLE COIN LAUNDRY, BENNETT LAW FIRM, CHICKEN LICKING, SALMON SHERRY WOODWARD, THE BANDON LAW GROUP, THE HARDEEVILLE BLUFFTON BARRACUDAS, [INAUDIBLE] ADVANCED EMERGENCY SERVICES, FIRE AND SAFETY, AND THE COASTAL STATES BANK. THE TOTAL RAISED WAS $8,380. >> THAT'S AWESOME. >> THAT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. BUT WE HAD A GOOD REASON TO AND I WILL GET EMOTIONAL, SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO YOU BECAUSE BECAUSE I CAN FEEL IT COMING ALREADY. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE OVER BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO GET UGLY, SO YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> YOU DIDN'T TELL ME HOW TO TALK. >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK. >> IT SAYS YOU. LORD HAVE MERCY. HERE WE GO. ADEN HAS BEEN WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND HE'S HAD A ROUGH TIME. I'M GLAD TO SEE HE'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT NOW. HE IS CANCER FREE. I DID GET TO ATTEND HIS BELL RINGING, AND THAT WAS SPECIAL. ADEN WE'RE PROUD, AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE, AND I HOPE YOU STAY. >> HOW'S YOUR KNEE, ADEN? >> I GOT 40 DEGREES. [INAUDIBLE]. >> HARDEEVILLE TAKES CARE OF ITS OWN. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> YEAH. THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. >> WELL, AGAIN, ADEN, ME AND THE CHIEF GOT TOGETHER AND DECIDED WE COULDN'T FIND NOTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO BETTER THAN TRY TO RAISE MONEY FOR YOU AND THE EXPENSES THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH, AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE CANCER FREE. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO CONTINUE DOING THIS AS LONG AS THE CITY MANAGER AND THE COUNCIL LETS US DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL FOR A WORTHY CAUSE. AGAIN, WE JOKE UP HERE ABOUT BEATING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH WE PUT A LICKING ON THEM THIS TIME PRETTY BAD. WE PUT ALL THEIR FIRES OUT FOR THEM, BUT ANYWAY. >> TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH TO DO IT? >> WELL HAD WE HAD TO GET THE RIGHT CREW. >> IT WAS THREE IN A ROW FIRST BEFORE YOU-ALL WON THE FIRST TIME. I'M JUST SAYING. >> WELL, WE JUST HAD TO SHOW YOU HOW IT IS. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. >> BUT ANYWAY, WE APPRECIATE IT. WE'RE GLAD WE COULD DO IT FOR YOU, AND AGAIN, WE'RE GLAD THAT YOUR CANCER-FREE. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> GREAT. [01:20:06] >> HANG TIGHT, ADEN. BEFORE WE DO THAT CHECK PRESENTATION, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION. KEEP SMILING. YOU'RE ON CAMERA. WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATION, AND EVERYONE KNOWS JEN GETS VERY EMOTIONAL, AND I THINK BOTH OF THESE CHIEFS LIKE TO, AS I LIKE TO CALL MY BROTHERS, THINK IT'S VERY FUNNY. IT'S NOT. MR. CZYMBOR [PHONETIC], IF YOU WILL PLEASE COME DOWN FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE. I'VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK A TIME OR TWO, WORKING IN AND AROUND DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES, AND VERY BLESSED TO HAVE WORKED WITH MR. CZYMBOR FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS. FEELS MORE LIKE 50. I'M JUST KIDDING, SIR. I'M JUST KIDDING. I'M VERY HONORED TO WORK FOR THE CITY. I'M VERY HONORED TO WORK WITH MY BROTHERS, AND ALL THE OTHER FOLKS THAT MAKE THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE. ON BEHALF OF THE CHIEFS AND THE BATTLE OF THE BADGES, WE HAVE A FEW SPECIAL THINGS FOR YOU. MR. C, YOU'VE BEEN MY ONLY CITY MANAGER. JUAN WAS THE FIRST ONE WHO APPOINTED ME INITIALLY AND THEN YOU MADE IT PERMANENT BASICALLY. I APPRECIATE IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. THIS IS FROM MYSELF, THE REST OF THE CITY, POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT'S JUST A SMALL SYMBOL OF OUR GRATITUDE TO YOU AND SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS GAME. >> YES, SIR, I JUST WANTED TO PRESENT YOU THIS FOR OUTSTANDING PLAY AND HELPING US GET TO THREE IN A ROW. THIS IS JUST A SMALL TOKEN OF YOUR DEDICATION TO THE WINNING TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. >> THANK YOU, SAM. >> WHO'S GOING TO TEACH FOR YOU NEXT YEAR NOW? >> WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, WE ARE GOING TO DO OUR CHECK PRESENTATION. COUNCIL, IF YOU WILL, IF YOU'LL COME DOWN SO WE CAN DO THE OFFICIAL. CAMP HAS THE REAL CHECK, WHICH WE KNOW IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO HELP ADEN AND HIS FAMILY. >> WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT HERE? >> YES. >> [BACKGROUND] SAY WINNING TEAM. >> WINNING TEAM, HARDEEVILLE POLICE. >> [OVERLAPPING] HPD. [LAUGHTER] >> WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. >> GOOD. [BACKGROUND] >> THAT'S IT. GO AHEAD. >> HAND THE 8,000 RECRUITERS. >> COME ON. >> COME ON. HURRY UP. [BACKGROUND] [NOISE] >> EM, DO YOU WANT TO HOLD OF TROPHY? [LAUGHTER] >> WE HAVE HIM FIRST [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU. >> YOUR TURN. >> IT'S YOUR TURN NOW. WE'RE DONE. >> YOU CAN LEAVE THAT. [NOISE] >> I'LL KEEP IT SHORT AND BRIEF, BUT I AM HONESTLY, TRULY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS FAMILY. IT'S WHAT I CALL IT HERE. EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE FAMILY. [01:25:03] I'VE BEEN WELCOMED WITH SUCH OPEN ARMS FROM EVERYBODY. THEY'VE TAKEN CARE OF ME FROM THE DAY I STARTED. CANCER SUCKS, BUT I HAD THESE GUYS BEHIND ME THE ENTIRE TIME. I FELT THE LOVE AND THE SUPPORT, AND IT REALLY HELPED ME GET THROUGH IT. ONCE AGAIN, I JUST CAN'T BE HONORED ENOUGH TO HAVE THESE GUYS BEHIND ME AND HAVE YOU GUYS SUPPORTING ME. IT'S TRULY A BLESSING TO BE HERE. I JUST THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR SUPPORT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MANY YEARS THAT I'LL BE HERE. >> AMEN. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> CHIEF. >> I GOT IT. >> DON'T FORGET THE TROPHY. [LAUGHTER] >> ARE YOU TAKING THAT HOME TO SLEEP WITH IT TODAY? >> I ALREADY HAVE. [LAUGHTER] >> WHAT ABOUT YOUR WIFE'S SAY? >> SHE DON'T MIND. [LAUGHTER] >> WHY DO I ASK? >> IT'S SO FUNNY. >> NEXT, WE HAVE PRESENTATION, APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE MAY 16TH, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE MAY HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES OF MAY 16TH. >> MAKE A MOTION, WE APPROVE THE MAY 16TH MINUTES. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. >> NOW WE GO INTO OLD BUSINESS. THIS IS SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024, '25 TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE, TO ESTABLISH A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. THIS IS SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2024-5-16B. I SEE MR. BOYLE HAS JOINED US. >> YES. AT YOUR LAST MEETING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, YOU APPROVED ON FIRST READING OUR BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25. AND WE ARE NOW ASKING FOR APPROVAL AT SECOND READING. >> LET'S START THE QUESTIONING WITH MR. MEERSMAN. >> I WASN'T PRESENT FOR THE FIRST READING OF THIS MEETING, BUT I WAS FOR THE WORKSHOPS, AND IN THIS WORKSHOP, WE HAD A STRAW VOTE. IT WAS THREE FOR THE REDUCTION AND THE BUDGET, AND TWO AGAINST, AND I WAS ONE OF THE ONES AGAINST. IN CONSIDERATION OF EVERYTHING THAT IS GOOD FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, I AGREE WITH THE REDUCTION OF THE MILLAGE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, BUT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS REGARDING THAT. WE REDUCED OUR MILLAGE LAST YEAR. I DID NOT HAVE ONE RESIDENT COME AND SAY, GREAT. THAT'S FIN, I LOVE YOU FOR DOING THAT. I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT AGAIN THIS TIME. BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE FUTURE, IF WE NEED TO RAISE THE MILLAGE AGAIN, I'M SURE WE WILL HEAR VERY VOCAL CITIZENRY THEN. WE HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET, AMONG OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE OUR WHITE HARDEE PROJECT. WE HAVE EXPANSION OF THIS BUILDING. WE HAVE THE MUNICIPAL HUB. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING, AND WE ANTICIPATE THE FUTURE GROWTH OF HARDEEVILLE TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE. I ONLY HOPE THAT THOSE GOALS ARE MET. I DON'T WANT TO BE BURDENING A FUTURE COUNCIL WITH THINGS THAT WE DO TODAY. BUT THAT BEING SAID, I DO APPROVE OF THE REDUCTION OF THE MILLAGE AND OF THIS BUDGET AS IT'S BEING PRESENTED. THAT'S IT. >> MRS. GUZMAN. >> I DON'T SUPPORT THE REDUCTION OF THE MILLAGE, ONE POINT IN THE MILLAGE RATE, AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY. I SUPPORT THE BUDGET THE WAY IT IS, BUT MINUS THE REDUCTION IN THE MILLAGE. I THINK TO TURN AROUND AND GIVE PEOPLE BACK $17 BACK IN THEIR REBATE CHECK, LIKE STEVE SAID, NOBODY COMES UP TO YOU AND THANKS YOU FOR THAT. BUT WITH THAT REDUCTION IN MILLAGE, DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE TO WAIT TWO-AND-A-HALF MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN HIRE SOMEBODY. WITH THAT REDUCTION IN MILLAGE RATE, YOU GUYS HAVE TO SCRAMBLE WITHIN THE BUDGET TO FIND [01:30:04] THE MONEY TO FINANCE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT'S IN THE BUDGET. NOT JUST THAT, IN SPITE OF REDUCING THE BUDGET AND YOU GUYS HAVING TO SCRAMBLE, ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN COUNCIL PAY. >> I DON'T SUPPORT THAT. ONLY BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH OF REWORKING HAVING TO BE DONE WITHIN THE BUDGET BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN THE MILLAGE RATE. I WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR NOT REDUCING THE MILLAGE AND USING THAT MONEY INSTEAD TO HAVE AN EXTRA POLICE OFFICER OR AN EXTRA FIREFIGHTER, OR MAYBE AN INCENTIVE TO ATTRACT FIREFIGHTERS OR POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE I KNOW BOTH CHIEFS ARE STRUGGLING TO HIRE PEOPLE. THEY'RE GOING TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS BECAUSE THEY GET PAID MORE, OR THEY HAVE BETTER INCENTIVES. BASED ON THAT, I'M STILL STICKING WITH MY ORIGINAL DECISION, AND I'M NOT SUPPORTING IN THE LOWERING OF THE MILLAGE RATE. THE BUDGET, PER SE, YES, BUT THE MILLAGE, NO. >> MR. CARROLL. >> MR. MAYOR, WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS, AND I'M NOT GOING INTO MORE DETAIL. >> I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. I'VE GIVEN MY REASONS AND MY REBUTTALS TO MR. SCHUTZMAN, AND AT THE WORKSHOPS AND LAST TIME, SO FOR ME TO REPEAT IT, I DON'T THINK IS PRODUCTIVE, SO I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS BUDGET. SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2024-5-16B. >> MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE ON SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2024-5-16B. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY THE COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC? >> JUST ONE THING TO REITERATE, IF THIS DOES NOT PASS TONIGHT, WE START FROM GROUND ZERO AGAIN, CORRECT? >> YES. >> AND OUR BUDGET YEAR STARTS JULY 1ST? >> YES. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> BECAUSE THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? >> CERTAINLY. MS. COUNCILMEMBER GUZMAN, HOW DO YOU VOTE? >> NO. >> COUNCILMEMBER MEERSMAN? >> YES. >> COUNCILMEMBER CARROLL. >> YES. >> MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> YES. BUDGET PASSES 3-1. NEXT, WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS. THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, TO AMEND THE CITY MASTERS FEE SCHEDULE. THIS IS 2024-6-6A. MR. JIM BOYLE, PLEASE. >> MR. BOYLE, PLEASE. >> YES. FROM TIME TO TIME, WE COME TO COUNCIL, STAFF COMES TO COUNCIL, ASKING THAT WE UPDATE AND AMEND. IF WE COULD GO TO THE SLIDES, PLEASE. OUR MASTER FEE SCHEDULE, WE HAVE REVIEWED THAT WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND WE ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ASK FOR CHANGES TO THREE OF THE DEPARTMENTS. VERY SIMPLY, WE'RE ASKING FOR BUILDING SAFETY, HE'S JUST MADE SOME EDITS AND MADE SOME CHANGES TO MAKE THEIR FEE SCHEDULE TO FLOW BETTER AND MAKE BETTER SENSE TO THE USERS. MS. COMBS, WITH THE EXPERIENCE SHE'S HAD, AS BUSY AS WE ARE OUT BACK AS WELL AS WITH ANOTHER YEAR'S EXPERIENCE UNDER HER BELT WITH THE RECREATION CENTER, SHE'S MADE SOME CHANGES THERE. THEN THE COMMUNICATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DIGITAL SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT , FROM TIME TO TIME, THEY'RE ASKED TO EITHER TAKE PICTURES OR VIDEOGRAPHY, [01:35:03] CERTAIN EVENTS THAT ARE NOT CITY OR EVEN ANCILLARY TO THE CITY, AND JAMES HAS SIMPLY ASKED FOR A MINIMUM FEE OF $333 SHOULD WE BE CALLED ON TO DO THAT AND THEY HAVE THE STAFF CAPACITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU HAD A MARKED-UP COPY WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED, AND THEN ANOTHER CLEAN COPY OF WHAT THIS WILL BE, PRESUMING THAT THIS IS APPROVED. IF THERE'S ANY IN-DEPTH QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING THAT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE REQUESTED, THOSE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE HERE. AGAIN, SHOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, MR. BOYLE. LET'S START WITH MR. CARROLL THIS TIME. >> I LOOKED OVER THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. MAYOR. I THINK I CAN SEE THE CHANGES AND WHATEVER. >> WE'VE GOT A COMMENT THAT IF EVERYBODY COULD SPEAK INTO THE SPEAKERS. THEY HEAR YOU FINE, MR. MAYOR, BUT NOBODY'S SPEAKING INTO THE MICROPHONE, THE AUDIO IS PRETTY WEAK ON THE TV STATION, AND ON THE LIVE FEED. IF EVERYBODY COULD SPEAK TO THE SPEAKERS, THAT'D BE GREAT. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU LOOKED AT ME, JAMES, DIDN'T YOU? >> I DID. [LAUGHTER] >> NO. >> HE ALWAYS LOOKS AT ME. >> OKAY. NOW WE CAN GO TO MS. GUZMAN. >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS, MR. BOYLE. >> MR. MEERSMAN? >> I TAKE IT THESE ARE PROBABLY ALL IN LINE WITH MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE AREA, OR MUNICIPALITIES OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SIZE? >> I DID NOT SPECIFICALLY ASK THAT QUESTION, BUT I'D BE STUNNED IF THAT WAS NOT TRUE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. I THINK WE HAVE TO RELY ON STAFF TO GUIDE US IN THIS, AND SO FROM WHAT I SEE, I DON'T THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE. WE HAVE A BUSINESS TO RUN, AND IT'S UP TO OUR STAFF TO RUN IT, SO I'M ALL IN. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY COMMENTS. >> SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2024-6-6A. >> MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE 2024-6-6A. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> NEXT, ALSO A FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SALE OF REAL ESTATE OWNED BY THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. THIS IS 2024-6-6B. MR. CZYMBOR, PLEASE. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR. SALE OF MUNICIPAL PROPERTY REQUIRES COUNCIL TO APPROVE BY ORDINANCE THE SALE OF PROPERTY. OVER MY NINE YEARS, I'VE BECOME QUITE A EXPERT, REAL ESTATE PERSON, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T RECEIVE ANY COMMISSION FOR ALL THE SALES I MAKE. [LAUGHTER] NO, THIS IS TOTALLY INGEST. BASICALLY, THIS IS A PARCEL THAT WE RECEIVED. I DIDN'T KNOW THIS. I GUESS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD SOMEHOW GOT THIS PROPERTY DONATED TO THE CITY FROM SCE&G MANY YEARS AGO. THE POLICE AND FIRE USED IT AS, WE'LL CALL IT A SO-CALLED TRAINING FACILITY. IT DID HAVE A STRUCTURE ON IT, AND WE DID PUT SOME MONEY IN AND THEY USE IT FOR OBSTACLE COURSE AND SOME TRAINING, BOTH OF THE DEPARTMENTS UNSOLICITED AND I'M GIVING A LITTLE MORE HISTORY THAN WHAT MAYBE THE COUNCIL WANTS TO KNOW. UNSOLICITED, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I RECEIVED A CALL ASKING IF THE CITY HAD ANY INTEREST IN SELLING THE PROPERTY. OBVIOUSLY, WE DID SOME DUE DILIGENCE, AND AS THE COUNCIL KNOWS OR RECALLS, THIS PROPERTY IS NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS. IT'S CLOSE TO THE CITY LIMITS, BUT IT'S NOT IN THE CITY LIMITS. WE DID SOME DUE DILIGENCE. WE TALKED TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT IT, HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH. WE DID RECEIVE A FINAL AGREED UPON PRICE FOR A PROPERTY THAT WE RECEIVED FOR A DONATION, ZERO VALUE. THE CITY IS GOING TO REAP $650,000 FOR THIS PROPERTY. HOPEFULLY WE CAN USE THOSE PROCEEDS TO BUILD A NEW, [01:40:01] HOPEFULLY A LITTLE BIT MORE STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING FACILITY FOR OUR POLICE AND FIRE FOLKS. WE'LL RECOMMEND COUNCIL APPROVE A FIRST READING THE SALE OF 4.53 ACRES. >> LET'S START WITH MR. MEERSMAN. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE CAN DISPOSE OF THE PROPERTY AT A NICE PROFIT. I TOO HOPE THAT THESE FUNDS CAN BE DEDICATED FOR A FUTURE TRAINING FACILITY. MR. CZYMBOR, HOW DO THESE FUNDS WHEN THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, WHERE DO THEY FALL WITHIN THE CITY'S FINANCIALS? >> WE WILL PUT THEM IN THE LAND ACQUISITION FUND, AND THE COUNCIL, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE PRETTY MUCH DEDICATED THAT FUND FOR LAND ACQUISITION, SALE. THE COUNCIL, YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY NOTE THAT THOSE FUNDS SHOULD BE USED FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING FACILITY. WE CAN DO THAT. THAT CAN BE PART OF THE RECORD, SIR. >> THEN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT INCLUDED IN THE RECORD THAT THE FUNDS FROM THIS BE ALLOCATED FOR A FUTURE TRAINING FACILITY FOR POLICE AND FIRE. >> IS THAT A MOTION, MAYOR? >> I DON'T THINK WE CAN MAKE A MOTION. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK THEY CAN DO THAT WITHOUT THE FULL COUNCIL'S. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE, I GUESS. >> I THINK THE LAND ACQUISITION FUND IS AN UNRESTRICTED FUND. IT'S LOGICAL THAT IT BE USED FOR LAND ACQUISITION REGARDLESS WHETHER IT'S FOR A TRAINING CENTER OR ANYTHING ELSE. >> YOU ALL SEE THAT WAS JUST MY POINT. I JUST WANTED TO [OVERLAPPING]. >> I AGREE WITH YOU. >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PART OF THE MOTION, AND THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT. MR. CZYMBOR [OVERLAPPING]. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, MR. MEERSMAN, IT'LL BE PART OF THE OFFICIAL RECORD, THE MINUTES. I'M NOT SURE WE WANT TO PUT THAT IN THE ORDINANCE, BECAUSE BASICALLY IT'S A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT. BUT WE CAN MAKE A NOTE. OBVIOUSLY, MR. BOYLE IS HERE, AND WE WILL MAKE A NOTE IN THE BUDGET. I KNOW BOTH CHIEFS WILL MAKE IT VERY WELL AWARE TO THE COUNCIL THAT THAT MONEY IS DEDICATED FOR A TRAINING FACILITY. [LAUGHTER] THEY WON'T LET YOU FORGET THAT. >> THEY'RE BOTH AGREEING ON SOMETHING. [LAUGHTER] >> NOT A SOFTBALL TRAINING FIELD. WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR THAT. >> YOU DON'T NEED TO, [INAUDIBLE] ANYWHERE. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. MS. GUZMAN. >> I HAVE NO QUESTION, SIR, BECAUSE STEVE ASKED THE QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE FUNDS, WHERE IT WILL BE SITTING UNTIL IT'S BEING USED. THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD. >> MR. CARROLL. >> NO, SIR, THE ONLY QUESTION IS CAN WE DO THAT IN THE MOTION, OR YOU'RE SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT IN THE MOTION? >> WELL, MR. CZYMBOR'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT IT'S IN THE MINUTES, AND WE DON'T NEED TO PUT IT IN THE MOTION BECAUSE IT'S AN UNRESTRICTED FUND, AND RATHER THAN RESTRICTED FOR SOME FUTURE NEED, PERSONALLY, I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT IN THAT FUND, WHICH IS UNRESTRICTED. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK I JUST SAID WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. THAT FUND WAS CREATED TO PUT SALE OF PROPERTY INTO IT SO THAT FUTURE PURCHASES COULD BE EVALUATED. I KNOW THE TWO CHIEFS, THEY'LL GO OUT AND SPEND IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIMETABLE ON A NEW TRAINING CENTER OR SOME SITE IN MIND? >> YES, SIR. WE ALREADY DID. >> YES? >> ARGENT BOULEVARD. >> OKAY. >> THREE HEADS BOBBING UP AND DOWN. YES. >> IF I INTERPRET THAT RIGHT, THEN YOU SHOULD BE COMING TO US TO USE THESE FUNDS BEFORE IT'S DEPLETED. >> WE'LL GO THROUGH IT NOW, SIR, YES TO GET EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, GET IT BACK TO Y'ALL ONCE WE GET ALL THE FINAL APPROVEMENT. OF COURSE, WE WAS WAITING ON THE LAND TO GET SOLD, TOO. >> WITH THAT ANSWER, I DON'T SEE ANY NEED TO OTHER THAN HAVING IT IN THE MINUTES THAT WE PREFER TO HAVE THIS USED TOWARDS A FUTURE TRAINING CENTER. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS? >> SEEING NONE. I'D LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2024-6-6B. >> MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024-6-6B ON FIRST READING. [01:45:04] >> WE HAVE A MOTION, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> MR. ZIMBLO AND MADAM CLERK, LET'S MAKE SURE MR. MUSEMAN'S REQUEST THAT THERE'LL BE A SPECIAL NOTATION ATTACHED TO THIS, THAT THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THESE FUNDS ARE TO USE IT FOR A TRAINING CENTER. >> YES SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION IN THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, APPROVING THE REPORT ON THE REASONABLE BASIS OF ASSESSMENTS, THE ASSESSMENT ROLE, INCLUDING THE RATE AND METHOD OF APPORTIONMENT OF ASSESSMENT AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO. THIS IS 2024-6-6C. MR. ZIMBLO DO WE HAVE ANY? >> MS. MAINES. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. THIS IS HOPEFULLY WHAT WILL BE ONE OF OUR FINAL APPROVALS BEFORE WE CAN REALLY INSTITUTE AND START SIGNING DOCUMENTS ON THE EXIT 3 PROJECT. WHAT THIS RESOLUTION DOES, IT JUST APPROVES THE METHOD OF CALCULATION OF ASSESSMENTS ON THOSE PARTIALS, IF THOSE ASSESSMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO REPAY LOAN FUNDS. IF YOU REMEMBER, THERE'S A THREE-LEGGED STOOL. ONE OF THEM IS A MID, AND SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A METHODOLOGY TO CALCULATE WHAT THOSE PAYMENTS ARE. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST LET ME KNOW. >> MR. CARROLL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER STEP LIKE SHE SAID IN THE STOOL. >> MRS. GUZMAN? >> NO QUESTIONS, SIR. >> MR. MUSEMAN. >> WE'RE SEEING THE FINISH LINE. NO QUESTIONS. >> JUST TO REITERATE, I'D LIKE MY ASHES SPREAD OVER EXIT 3, WHEN I DIE. >> ALONG EXIT 3. >> DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION? SEEING NONE, I'LL NEED A MOTION BY COUNSEL TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THIS RESOLUTION. >> MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-6-6C. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL OR THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> NOW WE GO ON TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT, MR. ZIMBLO PLEASE. >> TWO QUICK THINGS, SIR. AGAIN, THIS IS ONE TO THANK MS. ROBIN CONNER PAYNE, FOR HER TIME AS OUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK AND OUR CITY CLERK. IT'S BEEN A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU, WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. BEST WISHES ON YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THEN ALSO I THINK THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC IS AWARE THAT I DID APPOINT MS. CINDY OLIVER, AS THE INTERIM CITY CLERK. HOPEFULLY SHE'S GOING TO LIVE UP TO EVERYBODY'S EXPECTATIONS, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE. WELCOME, AND THANK YOU, ROBIN, FOR YOUR SERVICE. THE ONLY OTHER THING I DID MENTION TO THE COUNCIL. EXIT 3 AGAIN, THE MAYOR, MR. PARSONS AND I, WILL BE HEADING TO COLUMBIA ON TUESDAY, TO DEAL WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM DOT AND THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK BOARD. HOPEFULLY ONE OF OUR FINAL MEETINGS WITH THEM TO GET, AS MS. MAINE SAID, EXIT 3 WRAPPED UP. I WOULD ANTICIPATE IN THE NEXT HOPEFULLY FEW WEEKS WE CAN SIGN ALL THE DOCUMENTS. AGAIN, 14 YEAR PLUS CHAPTER, HOPEFULLY WE'RE CLOSING AND WE'LL ACTUALLY START SOME CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> LET'S GO IN REVERSE ALPHABETICAL ORDER AND START WITH MR. MUSEMAN. >> WELL, WE ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A BIT TONIGHT. WE HAVE SHOWN WHAT GOOD GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT WE DO AGREE IS WHAT WE ALL FEEL IS BEST FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. ROBIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE MISSED. IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I'VE ATTENDED A COUPLE OF FUNCTIONS REGARDING THE CITY. ONE OF THEM THAT WAS EXCEPTIONALLY ENJOYABLE WAS THE FOOD TRUCKS. I THINK THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT PROJECT. I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR. THAT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT. WE HAD THE DEDICATION OF THE ROAD IN THE COMMERCE PARK. EXCELLENT PROGRAM THERE. SAVANNAH LAKES, EXCELLENT FACILITY. [01:50:01] IT ALL RELATES BACK TO WHEN I CAME TO HARDEEVILLE. THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO HARDEEVILLE, WAS ABOUT 2008,2009, AND IT WASN'T MUCH. WE MOVED HERE IN 2019, AND THE GROWTH OF THIS CITY HAS BEEN AMAZING, AND IT'S BEEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS CITY THAT HAS ACCOMPLISHED ALL OF THAT. THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT YOU ALL ARE SITTING HERE, MR. ZIMBLO, THE COUNCIL. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT HAS SHOWN AND HAS MADE HARDEEVILLE WHAT IT IS TODAY. THERE'S NO STOPPING US FOLKS, AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. >> MRS. GUZMAN. >> I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ROBIN AGAIN. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO ME, PRINTING ALL THE STUFF THAT I NEEDED TO BE PRINTED. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK. MS. CINDY OLIVER, WELCOME ABOARD IN YOUR INTERIM POSITION. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WELL. THANK MR. BOYLE AND MR. ZIMBLO AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DID IN GETTING THE BUDGET PUT TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> MR. CARROLL. >> YES, SIR. BEFORE I START, I WOULD LIKE, MR. MAYOR, TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE. I FELT LIKE I WAS A LITTLE BIT NEGLIGENT LAST TIME WHEN I DOING COUNSEL MINUTES. BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME DEATHS AND TRAGEDIES WITH SOME PAST HARDEEVILLE FAMILIES, AND I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE THEM. FIRST OF ALL, THE WIDOW OF MR. JUJU HUDSON, PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO. ALL OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH JUJU AND THE BALL FIELDS BACK THERE. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT MAN DID OVER THE YEARS THAT HE BORN AND RAISED, AND WHAT ALL HE DID IN HARDEEVILLE, VOLUNTEERING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. ANYWAY, HIS WOULD HAVE PASSED, AND THAT'S A LOSS, AND I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HUDSON FAMILY. ALSO A REAL GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, RODNEY CANNON. HE WAS MAYOR HERE FOR MANY YEARS, AND WAS A VERY FORWARD-THINKING MAYOR AND DID A LOT FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. LIKE I SAID, HE'S STILL A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE, BUT HE LOST HIS GRANDSON IN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT, AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE CANNON FAMILY IN THIS TIME. HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, SO WE DO WANT TO REMEMBER THAT. ALSO WE HAD FORGOTTEN SOME OF US, BUT ANYWAY, THEY HAD A RETIREMENT PARTY FOR OUR VICTIMS WITNESS ADVOCATE, LONG TERM MS. CAROLYN MITCHELL. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S LISTENING OR NOT, BUT ANYWAY, CONGRATULATIONS TO HER RETIREMENT, AND IT WAS A NICE LITTLE CEREMONY THAT SAM BARBECUE WAS GOOD. ANYWAY, IT WAS A NICE LITTLE CEREMONY FOR HER, AND WE WISH HER THE BEST. >> ALSO, ELCOG MEETING ON THE 25TH OF THIS MONTH. LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, I'M GOING TO MISS ROBIN. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE THINGS SHE'S DONE FOR ME THAT I'VE ASKED FOR, AND SOME OF IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AND BEYOND, AND SHE'S ALWAYS DONE IT, AND SHE'LL POKE ME OR WHATEVER AND KEEP ME STRAIGHT OVER HERE, SO I'M GOING TO MISS HER, BUT CINDY AND I GO BACK A LONG WAY. CINDY KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE ME. ANYWAY, ROBIN, CONGRATULATIONS, AND HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT GOOD. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS, MOST OF EVERYBODY TOUCHED ON THEM. WE WILL BE GOING TO COLUMBIA. I'LL BE GOING ON MY KNEES ONE MORE TIME TO COLUMBIA AND BEGGING EVERYBODY UP THERE, SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL PUT AN END TO THIS. I DID GO TO THE SAVANNAH LAKES, AND I WAS GREATLY IMPRESSED WITH THAT FACILITY. I ALSO WENT TO, AND ACTUALLY, IT WAS IN BLUFFTON, BUT THERE WAS A DISABILITY CARAVAN THAT WAS BY THE PUBLIX AND STARBUCKS THERE OFF 170. AND THAT CARAVAN GOES AROUND THE COUNTRY RAISING AWARENESS FOR DISABILITY PERSONS AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THEM. AT THE SOLOKO MEETING, WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY JOEL TAYLOR, THE CEO OF HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL. BUT ALSO, WE HAD A PRESENTATION BY TYLER MANION. [01:55:05] YOU MAY KNOW HIM AS A ANCHOR ON SWTOC. HE'S INVOLVED WITH THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK, WHICH TAKES PLACE ON OCTOBER 26TH. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THIS CITY AND MY FELLOW COUNCIL PEOPLE, IF WE COULD GET A TEAM TOGETHER FOR THAT WALK AND GET T-SHIRTS. THEY HAVE TEAMS, AND WE COULD BE PART OF THIS, AND IT'S ALL TO RAISE MONEY FOR ALZHEIMER'S. I'LL SEND OUT SOME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO BE PART OF IT. I THINK IT WOULD BE FUN. IT TAKES PLACE IN OLDTOWN BLUFFTON, AND SO I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD IF WE'RE INVOLVED. I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE GRADUATES. I WENT TO ROYAL LIVE OAKS ACADEMY, GRADUATION LAST WEEK. I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE SALUTATORIAN WAS OUR CO MAYOR OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL, MISS ANASTASIA JOHNSON, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR GRADUATES OF 2024. ANOTHER SPONSORSHIP THAT I SENT OUT TODAY, AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T DO IT EARLIER, STARTED LAST YEAR, THIS YOUNG MAN, ALEX PERCIVAL, STARTED THIS TOURNAMENT WHICH IS HELD IN JULY. IT'S CALLED LEGENDS, AND IT FEATURES TEAMS ALL PART OF FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYERS FROM THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THEY HAVE A TOURNAMENT. THEY'RE ALL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, THEY PLAYED BALL IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND SOME PRETTY GOOD BASKETBALL. I THINK THE REC DEPARTMENT SAW IT. ALEX ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY IF WE WOULD BE A SPONSOR. I SENT THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE COUNCIL, AND I'LL FOLLOW UP TO SEE IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THAT. AS WE ALL KNOW, ST. STEPHEN'S AME HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. THEY'VE HELPED US WITH THINGS LIKE TESTING AND VACCINATIONS AND OTHER EVENTS. THEY'VE BEEN A GREAT PART OF THE HARDEEVILLE COMMUNITY. REVEREND VANESSA JOHNSON'S HUSBAND, WHO'S BEEN BATTLING PANCREATIC CANCER FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, DIED THE OTHER DAY. THE VIEWING IS I THINK, 06:00-08:00, TOMORROW NIGHT AT ST. STEPHEN'S, AND THE FUNERAL IS SATURDAY IN BLUFFTON. I WANT TO GIVE MY BEST TO THE JOHNSON FAMILY. I SPOKE TO JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL ON MONDAY. I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I WAS SPEAKING NOT FOR THE COUNCIL. BUT I CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THAT PROJECT ON 278. THAT PROJECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ANNEXED INTO THE CITY RIGHT FROM THE GET GO. NOW THIS IS THE SECOND CHANGE THAT THIS DEVELOPER HAS ASKED FOR. I DIDN'T SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE FIRST ONE, BUT NOW HE WANTS TO CHANGE FROM SMALL APARTMENTS TO SOME SINGLE FAMILY, AND GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE HE WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT DEVELOPMENT, AS I HAVE ALL ALONG, WILL CREATE A LOT OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOLISTICALLY DONE UNDER THE CITY'S GUIDANCE. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE SPOKEN OUT AND AGAINST THAT. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CAROLYN MITCHELL. I WAS AT HER RETIREMENT PARTY THE OTHER DAY, AND ROBIN, BEST WISHES. YOUR COMMUTE WILL BE A LOT SHORTER NOW, BUT YOU'VE GIVEN THE CITY GREAT SERVICE, AND ALWAYS KIND TO ME, AS WELL. GOOD LUCK. WE'LL MISS YOU, AND BEST WISHES. I THINK I GOT THROUGH THE LIST. I'D LIKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. [02:00:02] >> MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.