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ARE WE ALL, YOU ALL SET DOWN THERE? WE ALL SET? WHERE'S THE MARGARITA? HMM.
YOU BETTER KEEP THAT MICROPHONE OFF, Y'ALL.
UM, YOU'RE, YOU HAVE SPECIAL DISPENSATION.
WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY OFF TO A GOOD START.
WE, I SEE WE HAVE SOME DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, INCLUDING TWO, UH, COUNTY COUNCILMEN, UH, MR. KEMP, MR. ROW.
AND WE HAVE THE, THE LOVELY AND YOUTHFUL DR.
DOLORES YOUNG FROM AGAPE JOINING US.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, COMING TO GOOD AFTERNOON.
UM, WE'RE GONNA START THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY COUNCILMAN JUNK.
CAROL, LET US PRAY YOU, LORD, AS WE STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY, WE WANT TO ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY, MANY BLESSINGS.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE ALL THE BLESSINGS.
EVEN THOUGH SOME TIMES WERE HARD DURING THE 2024 YEAR, LORD, YOU STILL END UP BLESSING US IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND NOW WE ASK YOU, LORD, TO BLESS US IN THE COMING YEAR, THAT WE'LL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR THE CITIZENS OF HARVILLE AND JASPER COUNTY.
I PLEDGE LEAD DISCIPLINE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WIDGET STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT IN AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE AROUND THE WORLD PROTECTING OUR WAY OF LIFE.
I WILL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS IS A CITY OF HARDY, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN PUBLIC HEARING, 2 0 5 MAIN STREET, HARDY VILLAGE, SOUTH CAROLINA, JANUARY 2ND, 2025 AT 5:00 PM OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE MAYOR.
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CAN WE HAVE THE JUDGE, MRS. WILLIAMS? WE COME TO THE PODIUM AGAIN.ALRIGHT, JUDGE, YOU CAN HOLD THAT.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND FOR ME.
LET ME GET YOU TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND FOR ME AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I 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 THE STATE, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICE OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
AND THAT I WILL, AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, AND PRESERVE AND PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD, AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HARDY, AS THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF HARVILLE, I WILL EQUALLY, I WILL EQUALLY, FAIRLY, FAIRLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
AND IMPARTIALLY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND SKILL AND SKILL.
EXERCISE THE TRUST, EXERCISE, THE TRUST REPOSED IN ME, REPOSED IN ME, AND WILL USE MY BEST AND WILL USE MY BEST ENDEAVOR TO PRESERVE ENDEAVOR, TO PRESERVE THE PEACE, THE PEACE, AND CARRY INTO EFFECT AND CARRY INTO EFFECT ACCORDING TO THE LAW.
ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH, THE PURPOSES OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED, I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT LONG.
IF YOU DON'T FIND IT, I'D LIKE TO JUST SHARE A FEW WORDS.
UM, ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK ON THIS FIVE OLD, IT WAS JUNE 2ND, 2016, WHEN I WAS FIRST SWORN IN AS MAYOR IN THE CITY OF PARTY.
THAT'S 103 MONTHS EXACTLY, ALMOST TO THE HOUR.
AND, AND I MUST SAY IT, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAST IT'S GOING.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
UH, SO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF HARDY BILL FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THOSE OUT THERE WHO ENCOURAGE ME TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND THE MANY WHO THANKED ME AFTERWARDS FOR, FOR DOING SO.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANNA
SHE FAR MORE THAN ME HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE CITY OF HARVILLE.
AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE MANY HOURS THAT SHE SACRIFICED HER RE RETIREMENT FOR AS I SPENT THOSE HOURS OUTSIDE HER HOME, BUT ALSO THE MANY HOURS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTALLY ABSENT WHEN I'M INSIDE THE HOME.
UM, AFTER THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, I, I PUBLISHED 10 GOALS FOR MY NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND I'M GOING TO SUGGEST 'EM TO THE CITY COUNCIL AT OUR RETREAT AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
ONE OF THE UNDERLYING THEMES OF MANY OF THOSE GOALS IS TO WISELY PLAN OUR CITY GOING FORWARD.
HARDY BILL IS NO LONGER THE CITY OF POTENTIAL.
HARDY BILL IS NOW REALIZING ITS DESTINY.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF HAVE TO DEVELOP A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT WE WANT IN OUR CITY AND WHERE WE WANT IT.
WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH OUR INVESTORS AND OUR LANDOWNERS TO AGREE ON A CLEAR PATH FORWARD, TO DEVELOP A VIBRANT CITY, A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE, AND A ROADWAY SYSTEM THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR
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THE FUTURE TRAFFIC OF OUR CITY IS MY HOPE THAT I WILL BECOME A BETTER MAYOR IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THAN I'VE BEEN LIKE ALL OF US MERE MORTALS, I'VE DONE SOME GOOD, SOME THINGS MEDIOCRE, AND SOME THINGS PROBABLY NOT SO GOOD.UM, BUT BY RECOGNIZING MY MISTAKES, BY WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND OUR COUNCIL IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER, AND BY LISTENING TO MY COWORKERS AND TO YOU THE PUBLIC, I HOPE TO MAKE THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE BEST YEARS YET.
AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE STARSHIP PARTY BILL SO WE EVEN GREATER THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
RECALL, RECALL, KNOW
UM, NEXT, THE NEXT PERSON WE CAN RIDICULE AND COME UP WITH THE NEXT OATH OF OFFICE IS MR. JOHN CARROLL, WHO BY THE WAY, WAS ALSO SWORN IN ON JUNE 2ND, 2016.
SO HE HAS SERVED EVERY MINUTE WITH ME THAT I HAVE BEEN MAYOR.
HE HAS BEEN MY, MY, UH, COUNCILMAN IN.
HE'S THE LONGEST ONE, UH, SITTING UP HERE.
HE'S BEEN TANTO TO THE LONE RANGER.
I'M NOT SURE WHO'S TANTO AND WHO'S THE LONE RANGER?
YES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND FOR ME AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED, THAT I'M DULY QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO THE OFFICE, TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
AND THAT I WILL, AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, AND PRESERVE AND PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD, AS COUNCILMAN OF THE CITY OF HARDY, AS COUNCILMAN OF THE CITY OF HARDY, I WILL EQUALLY, I WILL EQUALLY, FAIRLY, FAIRLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
AND IMPARTIALLY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND SKILL AND SKILL.
THE TRUST REPOSE IN ME, REPOSE IN ME, AND WILL USE MY BEST ENDEAVOR.
AND WILL USE MY BEST ENDEAVOR TO PRESERVE THE PEACE, TO PRESERVE THE PEACE AND CARRY INTO EFFECT AND CARRY INTO EFFECT ACCORDING TO THE LAW.
THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH, THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED, I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
WE TALKING ABOUT HIS, UH, MENTAL ABSENCE, BUT
UM, LIKE I SAY, HARRY SAID THAT, UM, HE AND I HAD COME ON AND WISHED WE DID, UM, JUNE 2ND OF, UM, 2016.
UM, BEAR HELPED ME OUT A LOT, WENT AROUND WITH ME, INTRODUCED ME TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND HE ALSO, IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS A HARD TIME FOR ME.
I THINK I LOST MY BROTHER MY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.
SO, BUT THE MAYOR TOOK UP TIME AND, UH, IT WAS KIND OF A TOUGH TIME, BUT IT WORKED OUT GOOD.
AND WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR, FOR THIS WHOLE TIME.
AND I WAS TALKING TO MY WIFE AND GOT THINKING THIS WOULD BE 42 YEARS OF SERVICE THAT OUR FAMILY HAS DONE FOR THE CITY OF HARVILLE.
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AS MAGISTRATE, UM, TWO YEARS.UM, MY FATHER WAS MAYOR TWO YEARS AS MY GRANDFATHER WAS MAYOR, AND SHERRY DID FOUR YEARS ON COUNCIL.
AND I DID THIS, I'VE DONE EIGHT.
SO IF YOU ADD THAT UP, THAT'S 42 YEARS THAT OUR FAMILY IS DEDICATED TO HARVILLE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, I GUESS MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT MY DAD WAS A DOCTOR HERE FOR 40 YEARS.
SO WE'VE DONE A LOT FOR THE CITY OF HARVILLE, AND I LOVE THE CITY OF HARVILLE.
AND THAT'S THE MAIN REASON I RAN ONE MORE TIME TO, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, THE CITY'S GOT A LOT COMING, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
AND I'D LIKE TO BE ONE OF THE PILOT TO GUIDE THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE THE OATH OF OFFICE BY THE CURRENT MAYOR, PRO TEM.
I DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED, THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION, ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE, OF THIS STATE, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES, TO EXERCISE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, OF THE OFFICE, TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
AND THAT I WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, DISCHARGE THE DUTIES THEREOF, AND PRESERVE AND PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFEND AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE.
SO HELP ME GOD, AS COUNCILMAN OF THE CITY OF HARVILLE, AS COUNCILMAN OF THE CITY OF HARVILLE, I WILL EQUALLY, I WILL EQUALLY, FAIRLY, FAIRLY AND IMPARTIALLY.
AND IMPARTIALLY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES AND SKILL AND SKILLS.
EXERCISE THE TRUST, EXERCISE THE TRUST REPOSED IN ME, REPOSED IN ME, AND WILL USE MY BEST ENDEAVOR.
AND WILL USE MY BEST ENDEAVOR TO PRESERVE, TO PRESERVE THE PEACE, THE PEACE, AND CARRY INTO EFFECT AND CARRY INTO EFFECT ACCORDING TO THE LAW.
ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH, THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH I HAVE BEEN ELECTED, I HAVE BEEN ELECTED.
I THINK, UH, HARRY AND UH, JOHN HAVE SAID IT ALL IN TERMS OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUT I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AGAIN.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME EXCITING THINGS AHEAD.
I THINK THE, UH, CITY HAS GROWN AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS AHEAD IN TERMS OF GROWTH.
WE HAVE WONDERFUL STAFF TO WORK WITH US.
AND SO I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE AND, UH, ALONG WITH NOTRE DAME AND
I CHECK PO THREE THREE, THANK YOU.
NEXT, UM, AS PER OUR ORDINANCE, WE NEED TO, UH, THE COUNCIL ELECT THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND WE NEED NOW TO, UH, ELECT THE NEXT MAYOR PRO TEM.
SO, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO, UH, NOMINATE, UM, A CANDIDATE FROM THE COUNCIL FOR TO BE MAYOR PRO TEM? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE COUNCIL FOR OUR NEXT MAYOR PRO TEMPT TO BE MISS VAL.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND THE MOTION.
WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL? NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
I I WON'T BE HERE AT THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH, SO YOU'LL GET TO USE THIS.
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OF MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES PURSUANT TO THE ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION TWO DASH 81 OF THE HARDY CODE OF ORDINANCES.UH, THAT ELECTION IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FOUR, UH, SECTION TWO DASH 1 36, THE HARDY V CODE OF ORDINANCES.
UM, MR. GRUBER, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM? YES, SIR.
UH, AS INDICATED IN THE AGENDA ITEM, THE LANGUAGE WITHIN THE CITY'S CODE SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES THAT AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, A LAWYER OF GOOD AND REPU REPUTABLE STANDING MUST BE IDENTIFIED AS THE MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY.
SO LONG AS THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, AND THEY SHALL HOLD THAT OFFICE AT THE PLEASURE OF COUNSEL.
THEREFORE, IF, UH, COUNSEL IS WILLING, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE A MOTION TO IDENTIFY AND APPOINT MS. PINA MAINS AS THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD TO COINCIDE WITH THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS AS STATED IN THE, UH, UH, CITY CODE SECTION.
UM, I'D LIKE A MOTION FROM COUNSEL, UH, TO, UM, MAKE A, UH, TO APPOINT, UH, MS. SAPRINA MAINS TO, UH, CONTINUE AS OUR CITY ATTORNEY.
I'D LIKE TO, I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UM, APPOINT MISS, UM, SPRING MAINES TO A TWO YEAR TERM AS I'M A CITY ATTORNEY.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? WE CALL FOR VOICE.
THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU BROUGHT YOUR DAUGHTER HERE, SO HOW CAN YOU REFUSE YOU
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FULFILL THE DUTIES, THAT I WILL FULFILL THE DUTIES OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, OF THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF HARVILLE, FOR THE CITY OF HARVILLE.
AND UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
UM, IF I, MAY I RETURN TO THE SEAT AND HAVE JUST A FEW? YOU MAY.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE JOURNEY THAT THE CITY OF HARVILLE HAS, HAS BEEN ON, AND, AND TO CONTINUE ON THAT JOURNEY.
UM, I HAVE ALSO PERSONALLY, UM, HARDY HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF MY LIFE.
I I TOOK ON THE ROLE OF A MOTHER AS BEING A CITY ATTORNEY.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY BECAUSE WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, THIS WORK WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
BUT THANK YOU YOU AGAIN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU.
UM, MRS. GUZMAN, UH, I'VE NEGLECTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SAY ANYTHING UPON YOUR ELECTION.
SO YOU, YOU HAVE THE MIC IF YOU'D LIKE.
UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL, UM, FOR, UM, THEIR TRUST.
AND I EMBRACE THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
I KNOW I WILL HAVE YOUR SUPPORT AND ALSO THE SUPPORT OF THE STAFF IN THIS CITY, UM, TO DO THIS MAYOR PRO TEM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST PLACED IN ME.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS ONE OF THE DUTIES OF MAYOR PRO TEM, SHOULD AN ASSASSIN COME IN, YOU ARE TO THROW YOURSELF
IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE, RIGHT? WE GET A LEGAL OPINION.
[00:25:01]
OF THE AGENDA.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA FOR THIS, THIS AFTERNOON? MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS? MS. CINDY, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP? YES.
OKAY, THEN WE WILL GO INTO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.
WE HAVE, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 12TH, 2024.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER THE 12TH.
MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO, WE APPROVE THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL? SEEING NONE? I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS.
WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS, NEW BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025.
UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THIS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 2025? NOBODY WANTS A MEETING IN 2025.
I MAKE A MOTION THERE THAT WE, I GUESS, APPROVE THE MINUTES.
MEETING MINUTES FOR MEETINGS FOR 2025.
WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE THE MANAGER'S REPORT.
THE ONLY THING I WAS GONNA ADD TONIGHT, IN ADDITION TO THE UPCOMING EVENTS, WE'VE GOT A WORKSHOP LISTED ON JANUARY 9TH.
UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JANUARY 8TH.
UM, THERE'S ONLY ONE ITEM IDENTIFIED FOR THAT AGENDA, SO IT'S NOT GONNA BE TERRIBLY LONG, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LISTED IN THE, UH, SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT ON JANUARY 8TH AT I BELIEVE, 4:00 PM UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING HERE IN, UH, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WE'RE GONNA START THE YEAR ALPHABETICAL ORDER.
MR. CARROLL, WE'LL START OUT RIGHT, HUH? YEAH,
UH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING MUCH TO SAY EXCEPT THAT I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD, UM, ENJOYABLE HOLIDAYS AND, UM, WE HAD SOME GREAT CITY EVENTS AND I TRIED TO ATTEND MOST OF THEM, AND EVERYTHING'S DONE REALLY GOOD.
SO, UM, APPRECIATE ALL THE LOT OF WORK THAT, UH, HUNTER CITY MANAGER'S DONE AND, AND ALL OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HP'S CHRISTMAS PARTY, AND I WAS BOWLED OVER TO HEAR OF SOME OF THE STORIES THAT WERE SHARED, UH, TO TAKE SOME REALLY BAD ACTORS OFF OUR STREETS.
AND, AND I WAS JUST STUNNED THAT THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WERE ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR SMALL CITY.
SO KUDOS, UM, CHIEF WOODWARD TO, UH, TO YOU, UM, AND YOUR STAFF, ALL THE YOUNG LADIES AND THE GENTLEMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE OWE THEM A LOT, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND, UH, WE HAD THE LOW COUNTRY FOOD PANTRY GIVEAWAY, WHICH WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.
WE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF FOOD TO GIVE OUT.
SO I WOULD CON, I WOULD CONSIDER THAT, UH, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE WERE ABLE TO REACH.
SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR, UH, WE'LL INCREASE THAT NUMBER.
SO, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY AND ALL THE VERY BEST TO THE CITY OF HARVILLE.
I, I CAN CALL HER, CALL YOU HER HONOR IS, UM, NO, YOU, NO.
HOW WAS IT? HUSBAND DOES
OH, TELL, DON'T SAY IT IN PUBLIC.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I TALKED THAT, BUT
UM, I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON, SPENT TIME WITH FAMILY LOVED ONES.
HARDY V WHEN I MOVED HERE, OH, GOSH, SIX YEARS AGO NOW, UM, HARDY V WAS SEEN AT THAT TIME, IS SEEN AS A WIDE SPOT ON THE ROAD GAS STATION STOP ON THE INTERSTATE.
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OUR POPULATION, AND SINCE 2017, WE HAVE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY WITH OUR DEVELOPMENTS, AND WE'RE GROWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF THAT HARDY V HAS IS PROBABLY A MODEL OF WHAT OTHER CITIES SHOULD, UH, STRIVE FOR.
WE KEEP WORKING TO A GOAL, AND THAT GOAL IS OUT THERE, AND WE'RE WORKING EVERY DAY TOWARDS IT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS TO GET TO THAT GOAL, BUT WITHOUT THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE, EVERY, EVERY, EVERYBODY FROM THE GUYS AT PUBLIC WORKS MOWING GRASS TO OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE A HUNDRED PERCENT HARDY V AND IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD.
UM, THE PEOPLE THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH THROUGH CITY STAFF, THE FOLKS SITTING UP HERE AT THE DS, UM, I COULDN'T BE PROUDER, AND I'M SUCH, I'M SO GLAD TO BE PART OF IT.
BUT STARSHIP HARDY V WE'RE GONNA GROW AND THERE'S NO STOPPING US NOW.
I, UH, HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT SOUTH CAROLINA IS THE FASTEST GROWING STATE, AND HARDY V REFLECTS THAT FAST GROWTH.
AND, UH, AND I THINK IT'S BEEN GROWTH THAT'S BEEN WELL MANAGED AND A LOT OF PARTICIPATION AND, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING HARD AND HAVE TO SAY THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, 2025.
AND I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS AHEAD OF US ON THE JOURNEY WE'RE ON.
SO THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT'S MADE THAT POSSIBLE, AND IT'S, FOR ME, BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO SERVE.
UH, JUST A COUPLE QUICK, UH, THANK YOUS AND, UM, RECOGNITION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, ON THE 14TH, UM, REEFS ACROSS AMERICA, WE HAD A GREAT CEREMONY, AND I THINK WE, UH, LAID OVER 250 REEFS AT 260 SOME AT SIX CEMETERIES THROUGHOUT, UH, HARDY V AND LOWER JASPER COUNTY.
UM, THANKS AGAIN TO THAT WHOLE COMMITTEE AND LED BY, UH, THE TALBOT, STEVE AND KATHY.
UM, THEY DO, THEY'VE DONE A BETTER JOB EVERY, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT FOR HARDY V AND JASPER COUNTY.
UH, BEFORE I ATTENDED THAT, I DID GO TO, UH, USCB, UH, TO HAVE A BRUNCH IN HONOR OF THEIR GRADUATION FOR THEIR FALL TERM.
AND IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY HAD A SEPARATE GRADUATION FOR THOSE WHO GRADUATED IN DECEMBER, AS OPPOSED TO MAKING THEM WAIT UNTIL THE, UH, MAY COMMENCEMENT SERVICES.
AND AS A RESULT, THEY HAD A HUGE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FALL GRADUATES ATTEND THEIR GRADUATION.
SO, UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS A VERY POSITIVE THING.
UM, I ECHO WHAT, UH, VAL SAID ABOUT THE FOOD PANTRY, AND SHE COOKS A MEAN HOT DOG, I MUST SAY.
UM, IT WAS, AND I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR DOING WHAT THEY DID.
THE PAT RICK PATEL FOUNDATION FOR, UH, TAKING CARE OF THE HOT DOGS FOR US, AND HE, RICK WAS THERE AS WELL.
AND THE YOUTH COUNCIL GAVE OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 250 TOY ITEMS, UM, ON TOP OF THE 250 HAMS BOXES OF FOOD.
UH, ALL THE HOT DOGS AND WATER THAT WE WERE GIVEN OUT WAS A GREAT EVENT.
AND I, I HAVE TO THANK THE LOW COUNTRY COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR, UH, DOING TWO FOOD GIVEAWAYS, BOTH AT THANKSGIVING AND FOR CHRISTMAS.
UM, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE, UH, MS. RHONDA CRADLE AND, UH, ON HER RETIREMENT.
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I MET, UH, WHEN I CAME TO HARDY BILL HAD NO IDEA I NEEDED GGPS TO GET HERE.
AND, UM, RHONDA SAT ME DOWN AND GAVE ME QUITE A LESSON.
UM, AND SHE'S BEEN A FRIEND EVER SINCE.
AND SHE DESERVES THE RETIREMENT THAT SHE'S EARNED.
SHE'S DONE A LOT FOR THE CITY OF HARDY BILL AND, UH, AS A VICTIM'S ADVOCATE.
UH, SHE HAS HELPED MANY, MANY PEOPLE.
UM, THE, I ALSO ATTENDED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT DINNERS.
AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE, UM, I SUGGEST, UH, MR. GRUBER, UH, WE TALKED THAT AT THE FI TO, UM, INVITE THOSE HONOREES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT, TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND TELL ABOUT THE EXPLOITS OF OUR OFFICERS.
UM, I, AS MS. MS. GUZMAN SAID, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD THAT WERE DONE AND OUR POLICE
[00:35:01]
OFFICERS WERE HONORED, AND, AND I'M SURE WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL HONOREES OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.SO IF WE COULD ARRANGE THAT AT SOME FUTURE MEETING THAT HAD, DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE AGENDA, UH, INVITE THE, THE CHIEFS IN TO, UH, PRESENT THOSE HONOREES.
UM, AND OTHER THAN THAT, I JUST, UH, WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING US WORK AS A GREAT TEAM AND ACCOMPLISHING MANY THINGS.
AND, UH, THERE IS A VERY SPECIAL WOMAN IN THE AUDIENCE WHO JUST RAISED HER HAND.
AND IF THE COUNCIL DOESN'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO INVITE HER UP TO SPEAK.
TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCILMAN, PLEASE, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM THAT WAY WE'LL GET YOU ON, ON FILM AND IF YOU SAY ANYTHING YOU CAN'T DENY.
OKAY,
I GOT A MICROPHONE, I THINK IN MY VOICE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCILMAN, I WANT TO GIVE A KUDO OUT TO YOU GUYS.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT WHEN I CAME IN THIS AREA IN 81, UM, MANY FOLKS DID NOT KNOW WHERE HARDY WAS.
UH, THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE JAPER COUNTY BECAUSE I ATTEND MANY AND MANY MEETINGS.
AND WHEN WE SAY WE ARE FROM JAPER COUNTY, THEY'LL SAY, WHERE IS JAPER COUNTY? SO WE HAD TO MAKE A SIGNIF A SIGNATURE NOTICE THAT JASPER COUNTY IS ON THE SOUTH END.
HARDY V IS ON THE SOUTH END OF JASPER COUNTY.
SO I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF HARDY HERE IN JASPER COUNTY.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOING A FINE JOB, AND MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU AND PRAY THAT YOU ALL WILL HAVE A GOOD AND A BLESSED 2025.
AND AS WE WILL ALL KNOW, AS WE DRIVE ON THREE 15 OR WHAT USED TO BE THREE 15, WE'LL BE DRIVING ON DR.
DOLORES YOUNG HIGHWAY AND WELL EARNED THAT TU THAT TU YOU CONTROL THE LITTER DOWN THERE,
AND THAT WAS A WONDERFUL NOTE TO END ON.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN? WE HAVE A MOTION.