[00:00:08] >> EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS BEAUTIFUL SPRING MORNING. IT'S NOT MORNING, IT'S AFTERNOON [BACKGROUND] SOMEWHERE IT'S MORNING. ANYWAY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE WILL START THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION. PLEASE RISE. [I. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >> DEAR GOD, AS WE GATHER FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING, WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM. MAY YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE OUR DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS, ENSURING THAT WE SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY. OPEN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO NEW IDEAS AND HELP US WORK WITH INTEGRITY. IN GOD'S NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN AMEN. >> >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR OUR SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR OUR FREEDOM, AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE AROUND THE WORLD, PROTECTING OUR WAY OF LIFE. THANK YOU. I'LL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. [II. CALL TO ORDER] THIS IS A CITY OF HARDEEVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING, 205 MAIN STREET, HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, MAY 1ST, 2025 AT 5:00 PM IN THE AFTERNOON. I'LL FIRST ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF TODAY'S AGENDA. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, [III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA] OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO TODAY'S AGENDA. >> SO MOVED. >> 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. >> NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. MS. CINTHY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP? [V. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)] >> YES, SIR. >> THEN WE GO RIGHT INTO PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, AND WE START WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER BREANNA JONES. [A. INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER-BRIANNA JONES] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WILLIAMS. MS. GUZMAN, COUNCIL-MEMBER WHITE, COUNCIL-MEMBER CARROLL. MR. GRUBER. IT'S MY PLEASURE THIS AFTERNOON TO ANNOUNCE MS. BREANNA JONES AS THE HARDEEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER. BRIANNA COMES TO US FROM FLORIDA AGRICULTURE AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY, WHERE SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN JOURNALISM WITH A MINOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. SHE'S CURRENTLY COMPLETING HER MASTERS, AND I THINK YOU'RE DONE ACTUALLY. >> I AM. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> HER BACKGROUND INCLUDES JOURNALISM, PUBLIC SERVICE COMMUNICATION. SHE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND LATER AS A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER FROM CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. SHE HAS ALREADY STARTED WITH US AND HAS TAKEN OFF AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE HER. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MS. JONES. PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME. PLEASE SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I THINK HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB BUT I'LL DO IT AGAIN. GREETINGS, I AM BREANNA JONES. I AM FROM TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, WHERE I WENT TO FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY AND EARNED MY DEGREE IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM WITH THE MINOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE. I AM CURRENTLY COMPLETING MY MASTER'S DEGREE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FROM SAVANNAH STATE UNIVERSITY. I WORKED AT CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS THE ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WHERE I MOVED UP TO BE THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, AND I AM NOW HERE. I'M SO THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO WORK WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> YES. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. THIS IS A FAMILY AFFAIR HERE. TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. >> OF COURSE, ALL OF MY FAMILY LIVES IN FLORIDA, AND I'M THE ONLY CHILD, SO I'M LOVED ALL THE WAY. >> HOW DID THEY LET YOU GO? >> THEY VISIT EVERY MONTH AND STAY FOR A WEEK. >> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR BREANNA? >> JUST WELCOME. I'VE SEEN HER IN ACTION, AND I JUST LOVE IT. >> THANK YOU. >> TO SAY [INAUDIBLE] HIT THE GROUND RUNNING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. >> UNDERSTATEMENT, ABSOLUTELY. >> SPRINTING. >> SPRINTING. YES. WE'RE SO PROUD TO HAVE YOU ON DECK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ACTUALLY SEE YOU BECAUSE I MET YOU THE OTHER NIGHT, AND YOU DID A GOOD JOB THEN. >> WELL, WELCOME AND BEST WISHES. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE INTRODUCTION OF MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN, BRANDON BLACKSHEAR. [B. INTRODUCTION OF MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN-BRANDON BLACKSHEAR] [00:05:06] >> LET'S GO. COME ON, YOU GOT THIS [LAUGHTER] >> COME ON, BRANDON. IT'S YOUR TURN ON THE HOT SEAT. >> THIS IS BRANDON BLACKSHEAR. HE STARTED LAST WEEK. HE'S MAINTENANCE. HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE. >> WE MAKE EVERYBODY GO THROUGH THIS TORTURE, BRANDON, SO DON'T FEEL BAD. >> YEAH, I'M BRANDON BLACKSHEAR, A NATIVE HERE. READY FOR HARDEEVILLE HIGH. THAT'S IT. >> DID YOU GRADUATED FROM HARDEEVILLE HIGH? >> YES, SIR. >> RECENTLY? >> 2011. OH. >> 2011? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU JUST GRADUATED LAST YEAR? I HAVEN'T LOOKED THAT YOUNG IN A COUPLE OF DECADES. COUPLE OF CENTURIES. WELL, WELCOME. >> WELCOME. >> PLEASE SHARE ANY FAMILY INFORMATION YOU FEEL APPROPRIATE. >> MY FAMILY, I GOT SOME STAY IN LEESVILLE AND SOME IN SAVANNAH. >> MARVIN AND LEROY, ARE YOU RELATED TO THEM? >> YES, SIR. >> MARVIN AND LEROY TALKED MORE THAN THAT [LAUGHTER] EXCUSE ME, MR. MARIN, WHAT RELATIONSHIP IS MARVIN AND LEROY? >> COUSIN. >> GOOD TO HAVE YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WELCOME, BRANDON. WE'LL GET YOU OFF THE HOT SEAT. WE'LL LET YOU GO. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK. NEXT, WE HAVE THE JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS GROWTH UPDATE AND REQUESTS FOR SATELLITE OFFICE. MS. JEANINE BOSTICK, PLEASE JOIN US AT THE PODIUM. >> I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS A COPY OF WHAT EVERYONE HAS, MR. CARROLL. [C. JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS GROWTH UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR SATELLITE OFFICE] >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> YOU TOO [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO ASK MY BOARD, MS. DOPSON, MS. STEVENSON, MR. BOND, AND MY ASSISTANT AVA TO COME STAND BEHIND ME BECAUSE I DON'T DO THIS BY MYSELF. >> YOU NEED SUPPORT, HUH? >> YES. BASICALLY, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT HARDEEVILLE IS GROWING BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT ALREADY. HOWEVER, WE NEED TO LET YOU KNOW THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE HAVE A SATELLITE OFFICE SET UP HERE TO ACCOMMODATE THE VOTERS ON THE SOUTH END OF JASPER COUNTY. IT IS A BIG TO-DO ISSUE. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE BEGGING FOR FACILITIES WHEN IT COMES TO EARLY VOTING. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE CHURCHES, AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE, AND THE LIBRARY, UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT BIG ENOUGH. EARLY VOTING PEOPLE COMING OUT BY MASS, WANTING TO VOTE, AND THEN YOU GOT LINES, TWO HOURS, THREE HOURS, AND THEY'RE GETTING UPSET BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH. HAVING A PROPER SIZED FACILITY TO ACCOMMODATE THIS ALONG WITH ENOUGH EQUIPMENT WILL BE A BIG TO-DO, AND WE'RE HOPING TO DO THIS REAL SOON. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PROBABLY DOING A NEW BUILDING FOR CITY HALL SOMEWHERE, SO THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE WILL BE PRETTY GOOD. THE SOONER Y'ALL CAN GET OUT, THE SOONER WE CAN GET IN. BUT THOSE NUMBERS UP THERE, WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU HOW FAST GROWTH IS GROWING IN HARDEEVILLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST SPREADSHEET THAT I GAVE YOU AND COMPARE IT TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION TOTAL THAT I JUST DID THIS WEEK, YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THE PRECINCTS HAVE ALREADY INCREASED BY 10, 15 OR 20 MORE VOTERS. JUST TODAY, AVA PUT IN NEW VOTERS WAS OVER HOW MANY? >> THIRTY. >> OVER 30. WE'RE CONSTANTLY GETTING NEW REGISTRATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND WE'RE AVERAGING PER MONTH OVER 150. AGAIN, YOU KNOW THE GROWTH IS COMING, AND I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE KNOW IT'S COMING. JEANINE IS GOING TO BE EXITING IN TWO YEARS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO CARE ABOUT THE GROWTH NO MORE. I'M GOING TO JUST GO VOTE. BUT ANYWAY, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT DONE, AND I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE IT'S MY TIME TO EXIT AS RETIRING. I'VE BEEN WITH THE STATE NOW TO BE 30 YEARS THIS YEAR. TWO MORE YEARS TO GIVE ME 32 YEARS. I LOVE WHAT I DO. I LOVE MY JOB, BUT I ALSO LOVE TO TRAVEL. IT'S MY TIME. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? >> WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US IS FOR A SATELLITE OFFICE AND A PLACE TO VOTE? >> WE'RE HOPING THAT IT CAN BE ONE PLACE. SATELLITE WILL ALSO ACCOMMODATE EARLY VOTING, [00:10:03] AND WE NEED TO HAVE SPACE TO PUT THE EQUIPMENT IN EARLY VOTING, SO WE'RE NOT TRANSPORTING FROM [INAUDIBLE] TO HARDEEVILLE EVERY TIME THERE'S AN ELECTION. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SECOND OFFICE READY FOR EARLY VOTING BY HAVING THE EQUIPMENT ON SITE. WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S VERY ACCOMMODATING. IF WE HAD TO SAY SQUARE FOOTAGE-WISE FOR A BUILDING, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, MR. BOND? >> THIS BUILDING WOULD DO. >> PERFECT. I'M TELLING YOU, IT'D BE PERFECT [LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO DO, BUT FIRST THING I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOU AGREE WITH THAT WE DO NEED A SATELLITE OFFICE DOWN HERE AS FAST AS THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING AT US, EVEN WHERE I LIVE, AND I KNOW THAT VALARIE PROBABLY KNOWS THE NUMBERS AS WELL AS I DO, THERE'S A TOTAL FOR HARDEEVILLE 3, AND THAT'S WHERE HARDEEVILLE 3 RIGHT NOW. HOWEVER, BETWEEN [INAUDIBLE] AND [INAUDIBLE] STILL BUILDING, AND DREAM FINDERS, THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER 800 PLUS HOMES IN OUR, I CALL IT OUR BOULEVARD AREA, AND THE PRECINCT THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THE SMALL LITTLE PRECINCT IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT FOR SURE. THE ONE THOUGHT THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE PRESENTED TO YOU IN THE PAST OR NOT, BUT LIKE [INAUDIBLE], THEY'RE COMING IN AND THEIR HOMES ARE GOING TO BE 55 AND OLDER. WITH THE PLANNING PEOPLE AND YOU PROBABLY TALKED WITH THEM, IS ANYBODY ASKING THEM AT ALL WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN AMENITY CENTER THAT COULD BE USED FOR A VOTING PLACE, AT LEAST WHEN VOTING TAKES PLACE? >> THERE IS AN AMENITY CENTER. I DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS OF IT. SORRY. THERE IS AN AMENITY CENTER, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT [INAUDIBLE] WOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO THE DETAIL OF, IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR VOTING. >> DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WE COULD SPEAK TO? >> THAT'D BE GOOD IF WE COULD GET THOSE CONTACTS, BECAUSE WE HAVE RAN INTO SOME CONFLICT IN ONE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTERS WE'RE USING THEIR LAKE CLUB, AND WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF RED TAPE WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO RESERVE THAT CLUBHOUSE FOR VOTING, BUT YET YOU'RE USING THAT ADVERTISEMENT THAT YOU CAN VOTE IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO SELL HOUSES. RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A SIGNED CONTRACT FOR THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WE HAVE IN TWO WEEKS FROM THIS PARTICULAR LAKE CLUB, WHICH SHOULDN'T BE GOING ON, BUT IT'S A HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION ISSUE, THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE SIGNS, WHICH WE DON'T PUT UP CAMPAIGN SIGNS, WE JUST PUT UP VOTE HERE, LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. YOU CURBSIDE VOTING, NO CAMPAIGNING MATERIAL. WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE SCENARIO, AND SO IT'S LIKE A LITTLE TUG OF WAR. IF I FIGURE THESE NEW DEVELOPERS COME IN AND REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE THAT, YES, WE NEED TO USE YOUR AMENITY CENTER AS A PRECINCT FOR CONVENIENCE FOR THOSE VOTERS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTERS CAN GET IN AND GET OUT WITHOUT AN ISSUE. SUN CITY ALMOST HAVE 4,000 VOTERS, AND STATE LAW SAY YOU NEED TO SPLIT THESE PRECINCTS AT 1,500. SPLIT THEM AND PUT THEM WHERE? WHERE AM I GOING TO SPLIT AND PUT THEM? THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT. WITH EARLY VOTING AND HAVING A SIZE BUILDING TO ACCOMMODATE THE VOTERS, WE CAN PRESS AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT. GO VOTE EARLY. ON ELECTION DAY, YOU WON'T HAVE 400 PEOPLE WAITING IN THE LINE. SUN CITY GETS ABOUT 15 VOTING MACHINES IN THERE. YOU'RE VOTING 14 AT ONE TIME, BUT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, YOU GOT AMENDMENTS, YOU GOT A BALLOT, ABOUT FOUR PAGES LONG. OUR SMALL LITTLE CITY ELECTIONS, THEY'RE FINE, BUT BIG STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS, THEY'RE IMPORTANT, TOO, SO WE NEED TO BE ACCOMMODATING TO OUR VOTERS, SO WE DON'T GET THOSE CALLS FROM ANGRY PARTY CHAIRPERSON SAYING, WHY WE GOT TO WAIT TWO HOURS? WHY ARE WE GOT TO WAIT THREE HOURS? I'M HEARING THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE ALREADY VOTED BACK HOME PLAYING PICKER BALL [LAUGHTER] >> THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. >> IF YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT MARGARITAVILLE, WHAT REALLY BROUGHT THIS ABOUT WAS LAST DISCUSSION, WE HAD A BOARD MEMBER DISCUSSION, AND WE NOTICED THAT MARGARITAVILLE HAS REALLY ONLY BEEN THERE ABOUT THREE YEARS, 3.5 YEARS BUILDING, AND ALREADY THEY ARE ABOUT 100 AWAY FROM BEATING SUN CITY, AND SO THAT'S JUST GROWING SO FAST, AND I JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS NEXT ONE, AND THEY ADDED ANOTHER 27? >> ALMOST 30. >> ALMOST 30 VOTERS. THEY KEEP ON ADDING MORE AND MORE, AND RIGHT NOW THEY THE LAKE HOUSE, IT'S GOOD SIZE BUILDING, BUT HOW MUCH MORE ARE THEY GOING TO BE BUILDING? I WOULD IMAGINE YOU PEOPLE PROBABLY KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING MORE HOMES CLOSER TOWARDS 46 IN THAT DIRECTION. [00:15:04] THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN HARDEEVILLE. THIS LITTLE SLEEPY TOWN WHEN I MOVED DOWN HERE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY. IT'S SO UNBELIEVABLE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, THERE'S NO QUESTION. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT. >> I THINK YOU PROBABLY ALL KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY IN, THE ONLY WAY OUT IS 278, AND THAT IS REALLY BEGUN TO BE A HEADACHE, I WOULD IMAGINE FOR ALL OF YOU TOO. >> DOES ANYONE FROM COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> HOW CLOSE IS RIVERTON POINTE BECOMING ITS OWN PRECINCT? >> WE HAVEN'T SPOKEN WITH ANYONE IN RIVERTON POINTE. WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE TYPE OF CONTACTS TO DO THAT. >> I THINK THAT WILL BE A WHILE. >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY [OVERLAPPING] >> THEY'RE OKATIE 2, RIVERTON POINTE, AND THAT WHOLE EAST ARGENT SECTION, INCLUDING THE NEW HOMES AT SUN CITY. WHAT PRECINCT ARE THEY UNDER? >> I BELIEVE WHAT'S ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF ARGENT IS GOING TO GO INTO THE LAKE CLUB BECAUSE THE RIGHT SIDE IS ALREADY IN THE LAKE CLUB. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING, INTO THE LAKE CLUB. THEY'RE NOT GOING OVER INTO OKATIE 2. IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THAT LINE CUT. >> I THINK SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN SENT TO SNAKE ROAD. >> SNAKE ROAD OR OKATIE 2? [OVERLAPPING] >> THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. >> PROBABLY OKATIE 2. >> THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION [OVERLAPPING] >> THERE AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH. >> THE BAPTIST CHURCH. >> IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHERE THAT LINE IS CUT AT. SOME IS GOING IN THERE AND SOME IS GOING TO GO OVER INTO THE LAKE HOUSE. >> THERE'S NO QUESTION, AND BELIEVE ME, WE KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE HOW MANY HOMES ARE BEING ENTITLED. LAST YEAR, WE WERE ALMOST 1,400 NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME PERMITS, AND THAT'S BEEN GOING UP EVERY YEAR. IF YOU LOOK AT, I DID THE ROUGH MATH, HARDEEVILLE IS A VAST MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS IN JASPER COUNTY. WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED. I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I WISH I DID, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING. NUMBER 1, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED VOTING PRECINCTS. CORRECT? IN ALL THESE NEW AND GROWING AREAS, YOU NEED PERHAPS BIGGER VOTING PRECINCTS THAN YOU HAVE TODAY. THAT'S NUMBER 1. NUMBER 2, YOU ALSO ARE LOOKING FOR A SATELLITE OFFICE HERE IN HARDEEVILLE WHERE YOU HAVE VOTER REGISTRATION, YOU KEEP THE MACHINES, EARLY VOTING, ETC. THOSE TWO THINGS ARE REALLY URGENT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS [OVERLAPPING] >> THE SATELLITE OFFICE IS MORE URGENT THAN THE PRECINCTS BECAUSE SATELLITE, THEY CAN COME IN AND VOTE, AND WE CAN BUILD THAT PRECINCT ONCE THE BUILDINGS GET UP. >> UNFORTUNATELY, AS YOU KNOW, THIS BUILDING, WE'RE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS, AND WE HAVE THE OLD CITY HALL DOWN THE STREET IS COMING DOWN. WE'VE HAD TO CLOSE THAT DOWN BECAUSE THE RATS HAVE TAKEN OVER. THAT HAS TO COME DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING THERE. BUT AT THIS POINT, NEW BUILDINGS AROUND HERE DON'T MAGICALLY APPEAR. THEY TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. WE'RE A COUPLE YEARS AWAY, AND WE'RE EVEN FURTHER HERE, SO DON'T GET LUST AFTER THIS BUILDING TOO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STAY HERE FOR A WHILE. BUT THIS IS GREAT, I THINK LETTING US KNOW WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. WE'LL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS. I CAN'T SAY I HAVE ANY RIGHT NOW. MAYBE SOMEBODY SMARTER THAN ME UP HERE WILL COME UP WITH AN IDEA. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALERTING US TO THE NEED. >> THANK YOU AGAIN. WE JUST WANT TO WORK TOGETHER UNTIL IT'S DONE TOGETHER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME IN THIS MATTER. HOPEFULLY WE GET IT DONE SOON. >> MS. BOSTICK, I HAVE [00:20:01] FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE THAT RETIREMENT PLANS CAN CHANGE AT THE LAST MINUTE. DON'T GIVE UP ON US THOSE TWO YEARS YET. DON'T ANNOUNCE TOO EARLY. I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY. >> I'LL BE AROUND, TRUST ME. YES, SIR. >> ALSO, THANK YOU FOR WELL RUN ELECTIONS [OVERLAPPING] >> THANK YOU, MR. WHITE. >> WE HEAR SO MANY AREAS THAT HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS. WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT HARDEEVILLE. JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR STAFF THAT TOOK A LOT OF TRAINING AND HARD WORK AND FOCUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. ON THAT NOTE, I DID FORGET TO INVOICE YOU FOR NOVEMBER ELECTION, SO IT'S COMING [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NICE COMMENT, MR. WHITE. I'M GLAD YOU ADDED THAT. >> GOT ANOTHER MEETING, SO I HAVE TO LEAVE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT, WE HAVE THE SUMMARY OF THE 2025 REQUESTS FOR [D. SUMMARY OF 2025 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SUBMISSIONS] QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SUBMISSIONS. MR. GRUBER, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE OF SOME PROCESSES THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH RECENTLY AS STAFF TO IDENTIFY PREFERRED VENDORS FOR SMALL PURCHASE PURPOSES. I'VE ASKED JODIE TO PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE OF SLIDES JUST TO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND THEN WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT THAT MEANS GOING FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MR. MAYOR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF YOU WITH AN RFQ PROCESS, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A REFRESH JUST SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND IT. THEN OF COURSE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. OUR INDEFINITE DELIVERY, INDEFINITE QUANTITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, WE POSTED TWO SEPARATE RFQS. THE FIRST RFQ WAS ASKING FOR DESIGN PROFESSIONALS TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR FIRM QUALIFICATIONS. THEN THE SECOND RFQ WAS FOR OUR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS, GENERAL CONTRACTORS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PERFORM THE BUILDS. BOTH OF THESE ARE TO PROVIDE US WITH ON CALL SERVICES FOR, LIKE MR. GRUBER SAID, UNDER $25,000. WE PUT TOGETHER A SELECTION COMMITTEE AND A SCORE SHEET. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR PANEL, WE CAME UP WITH SOME PRETTY GOOD QUESTIONS ON HOW WE WENT THROUGH THE PACKETS TO DECIDE IF, IN FACT, THEY WERE PRE-QUALIFIED. A LOT OF IT CAME DOWN TO THEIR EXPERIENCE, THEIR IDENTIFICATION, AND PERSONNEL SIZE, WHERE THEIR LOCATION IS, THEIR PORTFOLIO THAT SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE MUNICIPAL WORK ELSEWHERE, OR IF THEY'VE DONE WORK FOR THE CITY, AND THEN A LOT OF SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE, WHETHER THAT IS ON THE DESIGN SIDE OR THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE. THE SCORE SHEETS WERE VERY SIMILAR, BUT THERE WERE A FEW VARIANCES THERE. OUR RFQ HISTORY. IN 2017, WE HAD 11 SUBMISSIONS. IN 2022, MY FIRST YEAR HERE, WE HAD NINE SUBMISSIONS. THEN IN 2023, WE HAD 12 SUBMISSIONS. BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW POPULAR WE'RE GETTING BECAUSE IN 2025, WE'VE RECEIVED 20 DESIGN FIRMS AND 11 GENERAL CONTRACTORS. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT. I WANT TO SHOW YOU OUR LIST FROM 2017, 2022, AND 2023. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE FOLKS ON THE LIST, THEY HAD TO HAVE SUBMITTED WITHIN FIVE YEARS. ANYONE WHO SUBMITTED IN 2022 OR 2023 STAYED ON THE LIST. THESE FOLKS WERE REQUIRED TO RESUBMIT GIVEN THAT THERE COULD BE PERSONNEL CHANGES, PORTFOLIO CHANGES THAT WE NEEDED TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THEIR RECENT PROJECTS, THAT THING. THE 2025 FIRMS AND CONTRACTORS THAT SUBMITTED ARE LISTED HERE. AGAIN, IT'S 20 DESIGN PROFESSIONALS AND 11 CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS THAT WE'VE PRE-QUALIFIED. WE WERE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF DISQUALIFYING ANYONE. IF THEY HAD A GOOD PACKAGE OF INFORMATION, AND IN FACT, MOST OF THEM HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE, THEN OF COURSE, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE THEM ON OUR PRE-QUALIFICATION LIST. ANY QUESTIONS? >> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR. I JUST WANT TO SAY I TRUST HER JUDGMENT. SHE'S DONE A GOOD JOB. GO WITH WHAT SHE RECOMMENDS AND SATISFIED WITH. >> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. >> SHE MADE A VERY THOROUGH PROCESS. >> WELL, ALTHOUGH I WAS GRATEFUL FOR 31 SUBMISSIONS, IT DID TAKE US UPWARDS OF 16 HOURS TO GO THROUGH THESE PACKETS [LAUGHTER] YES, IT WAS THOROUGH. [00:25:03] FOR SURE. ANYTHING ELSE? >> WELL, THANK YOU. VALARIE, ANYTHING? >> NO, SIR. [E. BUILDING SAFETY MONTH PROCLAMATION] >> NEXT, WE HAVE BUILDING SAFETY MONTH PROCLAMATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR WILLIAMS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CHRIS YATES. I'M YOUR DEPUTY BUILDING OFFICIAL. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION AND SUPPORT FOR BUILDING SAFETY. I HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO READ, IF YOU'D ALLOW ME. >> PLEASE. >> YES, SIR. WHEREAS THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, JASPER COUNTY, STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS COMMITTED TO RECOGNIZING THAT OUR GROWTH AND STRENGTH DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY AND ESSENTIAL ROLES OF OUR HOMES, BUILDINGS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLAY BOTH IN EVERYDAY LIFE AND WHEN DISASTROUS STRIKE, AND WHEREAS OUR CONFIDENCE AND THE RESILIENCE OF THESE BUILDINGS THAT MAKE UP OUR COMMUNITY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE DEVOTION OF VIGILANT GUARDIANS, BUILDING SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION OFFICIALS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, BUILDERS, TRADES PEOPLE, DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, LABORERS, PLUMBERS, AND OTHERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WHO WORK YEAR ROUND TO ENSURE THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, AND WHEREAS THESE GUARDIANS ARE DEDICATED MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL, A NONPROFIT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER LOCAL, STATE, TERRITORIAL, TRIBAL, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT THE HIGHEST QUALITY CODES TO PROTECT US IN THESE BUILDINGS WHERE WE LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY, AND WHEREAS THESE MODERN BUILDING CODES INCLUDE SAFEGUARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM HAZARDS, SUCH AS HURRICANES, SNOWSTORMS, TORNADOES, WILDLAND FIRES, FLOODS, AND EARTHQUAKES, AND WHEREAS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH IS SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL TO REMIND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE CRITICAL ROLE OF OUR COMMUNITIES, LARGELY UNKNOWN PROTECTORS OF PUBLIC SAFETY ARE LOCAL CODE OFFICIALS WHO ASSURE US OF SAFE, SUSTAINABLE, AND AFFORDABLE BUILDINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR PROSPERITY. WHEREAS GAME ON, THE THEME FOR BUILDING SAFETY MONTH 2025, ENCOURAGES ALL TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT BUILDING SAFETY ON A PERSONAL, LOCAL, AND GLOBAL SCALE, AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR, THE OBSERVANCE OF BUILDING SAFETY MONTH, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER THE COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE BUILDING SAFETY, RESILIENCE, AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENT AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO ALL OF US BY OUR LOCAL AND STATE BUILDING DEPARTMENTS, FIRE PREVENTION BUREAUS, AND FEDERAL AGENCIES IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY. NOW, THEREFORE, MAYOR HARRY WILLIAMS OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2025 AS BUILDING SAFETY MONTH. ACCORDINGLY, HE ENCOURAGES OUR CITIZEN TO JOIN US AS WE PARTICIPATE IN THE BUILDING SAFETY MONTH ACTIVITIES. AGAIN, THANK YOU. I APPLAUD YOU GUYS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT WITH BUILDING SAFETY IN THE MONTH OF MAY. >> THANK YOU, CHRIS, AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THAT READING OFF MY SHOULDERS. I ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT. >> THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL. >> AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL TO PLEASE ENDORSE THIS PROCLAMATION. >> SO MOVED. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU WOULD LIKE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY. >> YES, SIR, IF I MAY [LAUGHTER] >> COUNCIL, PLEASE JOIN US UP FRONT [BACKGROUND] >> CHRIS, NEXT TO THE MAYOR. HOLD IT. FACE ME. EVERYONE, JUST LOOK IN MY DIRECTION. I'LL TAKE A COUPLE. 1, 02, 3. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, CHRIS [00:30:20] [BACKGROUND] YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY AND WATCH THE REST OF ME [LAUGHTER] >> HE CAN GO HOME AND HAVE DINNER. >> NEXT, WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE APRIL 17, [VII. PRESENTATION & APPROVAL OF MINUTES] 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES OF APRIL 17TH. >> WE WEREN'T HERE, MAYOR. I GUESS BO NEEDS TO. BOTH WEREN'T HERE, REMEMBER? >> APRIL 17TH? >> IT WAS LAST MONTH. >> IT WAS YOU, VAL AND STEVE. >> WELL, THAT'S RIGHT. THEN IT'S UP TO YOU AND I KID. >> RIGHT IN. >> YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? I'LL SECOND. OR SHOULD I MAKE THE MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVED THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF APRIL 17. DO I HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. ON FAVOR OF VAL? >> SAY AYE. >> SAY AYE. >> AYE. [LAUGHTER] >> IT PASSES TWO NOTHING. [LAUGHTER] NEXT, WE HAVE OLD BUSINESS. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL TO LIMITED INDUSTRIAL USE FOR PARCEL 011 LOCATED AT DEERFIELD ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 19.43 ACRES. THIS IS SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-04-17A. MR. GRUBER, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS ITEM APPEARED BEFORE YOU AT THE APRIL 17TH MEETING. [A. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO CONSIDER A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT FROM MULTI- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (MFR) DISTRICT] IT IS A REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM MULTIFAMILY TO LIMITED INDUSTRIAL. AT THIS POINT, THERE'S BEEN NO RECOMMENDED ALTERATIONS, ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE, AND THE CITY HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY FORM OF PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THIS MATTER. >> THANK YOU. LET'S START THE QUESTIONING SINCE TO MY LEFT WAS NOT HERE AND DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AT THE FIRST READING TO QUESTION. I'LL START WITH MR. CARROLL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? WE DID HAVE A WORKSHOP ON IT AND THEN WE HAD THE FIRST READING ON APRIL 17. >> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. I DID HAVE SOME BUT I ASKED THEM AT THAT WORKSHOP. >> I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I REMINDED YOU, YOU WERE HERE FOR THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> MR. WHITE? >> WORKSHOP EDUCATED. NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. >> VAL? >> I'M JUST CONCERNED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT FENCE GOING AROUND THE PROPERTY. THAT WAS MY BIGGEST ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S WITHIN A FAMILY KIDS IN THE AREA THERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SECTION WAS GOING TO BE FENCED OFF TO KEEP THE KIDS FROM ENTERING THE PROPERTY, AND THEN CLIMBING ON THE EQUIPMENT, FALLING OFF, GETTING HURT, THAT THING. THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE I HAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> JUST TO REITERATE WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING REAL QUICKLY. I DID VISIT THE SITE AT SIX O'CLOCK ONE MORNING TO CHECK THE EARLY MORNING. >> YOU WERE AWAKE? [LAUGHTER] >> I WAS WIDE AWAKE. I WAS UP AT LEAST FOR 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THAT. I WENT OUT WITH THE DECIBEL READER, AND I CAME AWAY SATISFIED THAT WE WILL NOT BE DISTURBING THE NEIGHBORS. OF COURSE, WE WENT OVER THE FENCE THING AND THE NATURAL BUFFERS THAT WILL BE AROUND THAT SO AT LEAST TO PROVIDE THE SCREENING FROM THE HOMES THAT ARE ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT. I CAME AWAY SATISFIED AT THE LAST MEETING AND CONTINUE TO BE SO. AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAKE A COMMENT. [00:35:06] I UNDERSTAND THAT WE DID NOTIFY THE NEIGHBORS ON EITHER SIDE, AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS FROM THEM EITHER. >> MAYOR, BEFORE WE PROCEED, I THINK THERE WAS AN ERROR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 17TH MEETING BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE. I HAD TO GO CHECK SOME DATES BECAUSE I WAS PUTTING MY DOG DOWN THAT DAY. IT WAS STEVE, YOURSELF AND BO. WHO WAS AT THE MEETING, JOHN AND I WERE NOT HERE. IF THAT WAS EASTER WEEKEND THE 17TH, I THINK I WASN'T HERE. >> NO. >> MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY. I REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE YOU ALL GOT THE BUDGET BOOKS AND MS. GUZMAN AND MR. CARROLL WERE NOT HERE. ONLY THE THREE OF YOU. >> WE HAVE TO REDO THAT. >> WE'LL HAVE THAT TO BE MAY 14TH AGENDA AND WE'LL HAVE A DIFFERENT [INAUDIBLE] >> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR NOTICING. I FORGOT WHO WAS HERE. I DID REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE ONLY THREE OF US, BUT I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO THE THREE WERE. >> BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS HERE. >> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> NOW, I LOST MY SPOT [LAUGHTER] WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'VE HAD THE COUNCIL QUESTIONS. I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-04-17A. >> SO MOVE. >> 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 [OVERLAPPING] >> CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD LUCK AND STAY QUIET OUT THERE [LAUGHTER] >> WE WILL. >> NEXT, WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA. CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DISPOSE OF THE SURPLUS PROPERTY. THIS IS RESOLUTION ONE VOTE, 2025-05-01A, MR. GRUBER, PLEASE. > THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT CODE ALLOWS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF SUPPLIES, EQUIPMENT, AND VEHICLES THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH REMAINING USEFUL LIFE TO THE CITY'S OPERATIONS TO BE IDENTIFIED AS SURPLUS. THEN WE'RE AUTHORIZED UPON YOUR APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SELLING THOSE TYPICALLY THROUGH AN AUCTION TYPE FORMAT TO GENERATE SOME VALUE FOR THOSE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT. THERE'S AN EXHIBIT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE RESOLUTION THIS EVENING THAT OUTLINED WHICH VEHICLES AND WHICH PIECES OF EQUIPMENT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SURPLUS. WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> WE ARE GOING TO GO ON PAUSE FOR A MOMENT. LET'S MAKE SURE MR. GRUBER RETURNS. >> BUT WE HAVE STAFF WITHIN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRYING TO UPKEEP OUR FLEET. [A. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO DISPOSE OF SURPLUS PROPERTY] THEY'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLES, THE AMOUNT OF REPAIRS THAT THE VEHICLES ARE REQUIRING. AT A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME, WE REACH A THRESHOLD WHERE IT'S NO LONGER WORTH INVESTING IN THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLES AND SO THAT'S TYPICALLY WHEN THEY'RE DESIGNATED FOR SURPLUS. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? >> THAT'S EXACTLY THE CASE WITH THE VEHICLES AND WITH THE TRACTOR. >> ONCE THEY BECOME SURPLUS, CAN PEOPLE BID ON THEM? >> YES. THIS IS THE LIST HERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GLASS SHOWCASES, [00:40:05] WE ARE NOT SURPLUSSING THOSE. BUT THE REST OF THESE ITEMS, IT'S AN ONLINE AUCTION, AND THAT LINK WILL BE AVAILABLE, AND ANYBODY CAN BID ON THEM. >> THAT'S GOOD. >> I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S AN AUCTION, SO THERE'S NO INSIDE OR BUYERS OUT THERE BIDDING AND THE BEST BIDDER WINS. >> YES, I PLAN TO PUT THAT LINK ON OUR WEBSITE. I WAS GOING TO TALK TO IT ABOUT THAT. WE'LL DO THAT. >> TO THE EXTENT ANY OF THEM ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES OR SPECIALTY VEHICLES, TYPICALLY, WE'LL REMOVE ANY BADGING, DECALS, SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT. WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THAT STUFF OUT OF THERE. TO THE EXTENT THAT IT CAN BE REUSED, WE'LL REUSE THAT WITHIN OTHER VEHICLES, BUT WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT'S ULTIMATELY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY INDICIA OF OFFICIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES. >> MS. GUZMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> NO, SIR, HE JUST ANSWERED IT [LAUGHTER] CARS AND THE EQUIPMENT ON BOARD THE VEHICLES. >> MR. WHITE, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> I WANTED TO GET ONE FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] >> THAT YOU CAN BUY SEPARATELY ON SURPLUS. >> A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORS I WANT TO CATCH IT ON THEM. THAT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET A VEHICLE THAT'S REACHED A THRESHOLD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE MAYBE A SECOND VEHICLE FOR THE FAMILY OR WHATEVER. THAT'S GOOD. >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS. SINCE WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, I THINK I'LL GO AHEAD WITH THE VOTE. THIS ISN'T TERRIBLY COMPLICATED. FIRST OF ALL, I'M SORRY. I'LL OPEN THIS UP TO THE PUBLIC. WOULD ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT OR ASK A QUESTION? YES, MA'AM. PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS JAQUELINE SCOTT, [PUBLIC COMMENT] AND YOU SAID MY ADDRESS 277 NELSON'S COURT HARDEEVILLE. MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WILL THIS TAKE PLACE, THE AUCTION? >> MS. VINCENT? >> IT COULD BE AS EARLY AS TOMORROW, ASSUMING EVERYTHING GETS APPROVED TONIGHT. THE AUCTIONEER IS READY. HE'S TAKEN PHOTOS, TAGGED EVERYTHING. HE'S READY [OVERLAPPING] >> IT'S NOT GOVDEALS. WHAT'S THAT? >> IT IS GOVDEALS. >> NO, IT'S GOVDEALS?. IT'LL BE ON A WEBSITE. >> GOV WORLD. >> GOV WORLD? GOV WORLD, I'M SORRY. >> THERE WE GO. >> IT'S AN ONLINE AUCTION. >> ON THE GOV WORLD? >> BUT THE LINK WILL BE ON OUR WEBSITE. >> WE WILL PUT IT UP ON OUR WEBSITE. >> YOU CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE AND THERE'LL BE A LINK THAT YOU CAN GO INTO THEIR WEBSITE. >> IT'S NOT JUST OUR VEHICLES ON THAT SITE. IT'S OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. THERE'S A LOT THERE. >> THANK YOU. YOU HELPED MY NEPHEW. [LAUGHTER] >> GREAT. ANYONE ELSE FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO RESOLUTION 2025-05-01A. >> SO MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> 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, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> GO, SELL THEM. NEXT, WE HAVE RECEIPT OF ATAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS TO APPROPRIATE STATE ACCOMMODATION TAX RECEIPTS PURSUANT TO SECTION 6-4-10 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS. [1. JASPER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE] WE HAVE JASPER COUNTY, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE FESTIVAL ON MAIN, MR. BOYLE. >> YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE HAD OUR QUARTERLY ATAX MEETING ON APRIL 8TH. WE HAD TWO GROUPS COME BEFORE US TO TRUST FUNDING FIRST WAS HARDEEVILLE'S REC CENTER. THEY REQUESTED FUNDING FOR ADVERTISING FOR THE REC CENTER, FOR THE DOG PARK. THAT'S THE BILLBOARDS THAT YOU SEE. THEN ALSO THE REC CARDS FOR THE DIFFERENT HOTELS. THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM ONE OR THE OTHER. JEN AND LOGAN COULDN'T BE HERE. BUT MR. GRUBER AND I, I'M SURE, BETWEEN THE TWO OF US CAN GET ANY QUESTIONS TAKEN CARE OF. [00:45:03] >> NOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THESE. THERE'S THE PARKS AND REC. THERE'S THE FESTIVAL ON MAIN, THERE'S BILLBOARDS, ETC. >> MR. MAYOR, THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THE FIRST ONE WAS JUST FOR REC CENTER. THAT WAS THE $11,000. SECOND PIECE IS MS. [INAUDIBLE] AND THE SABERS. >> YOU WANT TO TAKE THEM SEPARATELY, I SEE. >> YES. I FIGURED THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DISCUSS EACH OF THEM SEPARATELY. OR YOU WANT THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME? >> NO. WELL, I WAS GOING TO OPEN UP THE QUESTIONS FOR EVERYTHING, BUT LET'S DO IT THIS WAY. MS. GUZMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE $11,000 FOR THE FESTIVAL ON MAIN? >> NO, SIR. I THINK IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AND HAVE SO MUCH OF FUN SEEING THE FAMILIES AND KIDS OUT THERE. I THINK IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT. >> MR. WHITE? >> I AGREE WITH WHAT VAL SAID WITH EXPLANATION MARKS. >> CARROLL? >> YES, SIR, I AGREE IF IT'S MONEY VERY WELL SPENT. >> I HAVE NO QUESTIONS ON THE FESTIVAL ON MAINE. IT WAS A TERRIFIC EVENT FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE. NEXT, WE HAVE THE JASPER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REQUEST AND THE TOTAL OF $134,000. SHOULD WE INVITE UP MS. MALFORS? >> CERTAINLY HAPPY TO HAVE HER COME UP. SHE SAID SHE WAS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER, BUT I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT BOTH OF THESE REQUESTS INDIVIDUALLY WERE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY WITH NO DISCUSSION AT THE A TAX MEETING. >> THANK YOU. >> MAKE SURE YOU GET A JOKE OUT OF IT. [LAUGHTER] >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. WELL, WE'LL START THE QUESTIONING. FOR COUNSEL'S REVIEW, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL, AS WE SAW IN THE PACKET, THERE'S BILLBOARDS. THERE'S THE RADIO ADVERTISING, ETC. I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM ALL. THEN THERE'S THE VISITOR CENTER, WHICH I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT LET ME START WITH MR. CARROLL. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS WITH ANY OF THESE REQUESTS? >> NO, SIR. KENDALL DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE A FLOAT THIS YEAR. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT NEXT TIME, CHRISTMAS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A FLOAT. >> IT WAS THERE. THAT'S JUST A LITTLE LATE, AND IT STILL RAN IN THE PARADE. [LAUGHTER] >> YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT ANYWAY, NO KENDALL AND IN THE CHAMBER DO A REALLY GOOD, MAYOR. I DON'T HAVE ANY I KENDALL, I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD ASK FOR SOMETHING THAT SHE DIDN'T REALLY NEED. NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. WHITE. >> NO QUESTIONS. I AGREE WITH WHAT JOHN SAID. >> THANK YOU. >> MRS. GUZMAN. >> I DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT $5 JOKE, SO I CAN'T SAY ANYTHING. >> I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT. >> I HAVE NO QUESTION, SIR. >> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND I SPOKE WITH MR. GRUBER BEFOREHAND, AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU THROUGH A GRILLING IN PUBLIC, BUT WE HAVE A $50,000 REQUEST FOR THE SATELLITE OFFICE/VISITOR CENTER, WHICH IS BEHIND THE FAIRFIELD INN. I'M NOT SURE ANYBODY KNOWS IT'S THERE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT ACCOMPLISHES. RATHER THAN PUT YOU THROUGH A GRILLING, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNSEL THAT IT'S $50,000 TO RENT THE SPACE BEHIND THE FAIRFIELD INN, WHICH IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. I TALKED TO JOSH EARLIER IN THE WEEK, AND I THINK WHAT I'D LIKE THE COUNSEL TO DO IS ASK KENDALL TO GIVE US SOME ANALYSIS OF WHO GOES THROUGH THERE. HOW OFTEN IS IT USED? WHAT'S ACCOMPLISHED OUT OF THERE? IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR AN OFFICE THAT'S NOT OPEN AND I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY KNOWS IT'S THERE. I'D LIKE SOME FURTHER ANALYSIS BEFORE I PASS JUDGMENT ON $50,000. [00:50:05] I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU THROUGH IT IN PUBLIC. >> I DON'T MIND EXPLAINING A LITTLE BIT HERE. >> WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH. AGAIN, I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. >> WELL, I DON'T MIND, AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE IN THE CITY HALL. >> YES. >> RATS MOVED IN. WE HAD TO MOVE OUT. IT WAS THE DESIRE OF HARDEEVILLE THAT WE REMAIN IN HARDEEVILLE. I WOULD SAY THAT WE LOVE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HARDEEVILLE, AND WE DO WANT TO REMAIN A PRESENCE AND BECOME AN EVEN BIGGER PRESENCE. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT WE FIND A TEMPORARY LOCATION, WHICH WE DID. IT IS IN THE BACK OF THE FAIRFIELD INN, AND IT DOES HAVE ITS OWN SEPARATE ENTRANCE. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT THE IDEAL, IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY. INITIALLY, SIX MONTHS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. A YEAR GOES BY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. WE'RE IN OUR SECOND YEAR. AS FAR AS IT NOT BEING OPEN, YOU HAPPENED TO CATCH US ON THE YOUNG LADY THAT WE HAVE IN THE OFFICE THERE HAD MAJOR SURGERY AND SHE'S BEEN OUT FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. I'VE BEEN PULLING IN THE SLACK. IT'S BEEN HIT AND MISS. I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT. IF YOU WENT BY AND THERE WAS NO ONE THERE, THAT IS WHY. I APOLOGIZE PROFUSELY FOR THAT. THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD SAY IS THAT WE COULD PUT OUT MORE SIGNS AND GET MORE EXPOSURE. WE DO NOT HAVE AS MUCH TRAFFIC AS WE DID ON MAIN STREET. WE HAD BETTER TRAFFIC ON MAIN STREET, WE DID. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CALLS INTO THAT OFFICE. I WOULD SAY THAT EVEN IF WE'RE NOT IN THERE, WE HAVE THE PHONE WITH US AT ALL TIMES. WE ARE ABLE TO FEND THOSE CALLS NONSTOP. WE'RE ALL IN GROWTH PAINS. I KNOW YOU SAY THAT BUILDINGS DON'T APPEAR BY MAGIC. WE KNOW THAT. WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER, AND WE'RE OPEN TO OTHER SUGGESTIONS BECAUSE I DO REALIZE IT IS NOT THE IDEAL LOCATION. WE WILL TRY TO REMEDY THAT WITH MORE SIGNAGE AND BETTER EXPOSURE, AND A LITTLE MORE PROMOTING AND ADVERTISING WITH THAT, AS WELL AS HAVING THE CITY DO THAT FOR US AS WELL, IF INQUIRIES COME IN HERE, YOU POINT THEM TO US. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS. WE'RE GROWING LIKE CRAZY, JUST LIKE WE ALL ARE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING EVEN MORE OF A PRESENCE HERE. WE GOT OUR BOARD WORKSHOP IN JUNE. WE'RE GOING TO BE ELECTING NEW CHAIR, NEW VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU GUYS WILL REALLY BE PLEASED WITH ALL OF THAT. OTHER THAN THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. AS FAR AS TRAFFIC IN THERE, WE DON'T GET A LOT. WE GET SOME. WE DO, BUT I WILL BE HONEST, IT'S NOT A LOT, BUT WE DO GET A LOT OF PHONE CALLS. >> COULD THOSE PHONE CALLS BE ROUTED AND ANSWERED IN VIGILANT? >> THEY COULD BE, BUT I HATE TO NOT FINISH WHAT WE STARTED, BECAUSE I HOPE THAT THE PLAN IS TO STILL HAVE US HERE IN HARDEEVILLE. I KNOW JOSH AND I TALKED ABOUT IT, AND YOU GUYS HAVE SOME PLANS. WE COULD DO THAT. BUT I WOULD PREFER TO TRY TO GET A LITTLE MORE ADVERTISING, A LITTLE MORE EXPOSURE, A MORE OF WHERE WE ARE BEFORE WE PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THAT BECAUSE I DO HAVE A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE THERE. LIKE I SAID, SHE'S BEEN OUT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE SHE HAD SOME MEDICAL ISSUES. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT OTHER THAN THAT. I WOULD HAVE TO PROBABLY LET THAT PERSON GO AND START ALL OVER AGAIN IF WE LET THE OFFICE GO. WE'D HAVE TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. I WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT AGAIN, I'M TOTALLY AT Y'ALL'S DISPOSAL, SO IT'S UP TO YOU GUYS. >> IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE. IT'S A COST-BENEFIT IN NOW. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $50,000 A YEAR. THAT'S GETTING VERY LITTLE ATTENTION FOR ALL THE NUMBER OF REASONS. OBVIOUSLY, THE LOCATION IS NOT IDEAL, BUT IT'S OVER $4,000 A MONTH. COULD THAT MONEY BE SPENT ELSEWHERE, MORE PRODUCTIVELY? [00:55:01] I KNOW THERE ISN'T, BUT IS THERE A OFFICE THAT'S MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE MAJOR WHERE PEOPLE WOULD NOTICE THAT IT'S THERE AND UTILIZE IT, WOULD STOP BY MAIN STREET, AS YOU SAID, IT WAS IT'S BETWEEN TWO MAJOR I-95 EXITS. THIS IS BY EXIT 8, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER IT'S THERE, AND I GO BY THERE ALL THE TIME. I DON'T KNOW HOW ANYBODY WOULD KNOW IT'S EVEN THERE. >> WELL, PERHAPS SOME SIGNAGE WOULD HELP WITH THAT. I WILL SAY THAT YES, IT IS $4,000 A MONTH, APPROXIMATELY, BREAK THAT DOWN. IT'S THE 2,000 IN RENT, AND THEN AND THEN THERE'S 25,000 THAT IS A PORTION OF THAT PERSON'S PAY. THE CHAMBER PAYS HALF OF IT. >> THE RENT'S 2,000 A MONTH. >> YES. >> I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO THE VOTE OF THE COUNCIL. I'M VERY UNEASY ABOUT. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> HAVING A PRESENCE IN HARDEEVILLE, I ALWAYS PUSH FOR IT. >> WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING AN EVEN BIGGER PRESENCE ONCE WE CAN GET A SITUATION. AGAIN, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPORARY, AND IT JUST HASN'T. >> THAT TEMPORARY IS GOING TO BE THERE. EITHER WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE PRODUCTIVE, OR MAYBE THE TEMPORARY SOLUTION IS TO CLOSE IT DOWN FOR A WHILE. AGAIN, USE THE EMPLOYEE SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> YOU COULD, EXCEPT THAT I COULDN'T KEEP HER WITHOUT THE FUNDING. >> WELL, YOU KEEP THE SALARY. >> YOU'RE SAYING KEEP THAT PORTION OF IT AND NOT THE RENT PORTION. >> LISTEN, THE COUNCIL OFFICE ACROSS THE HALLWAY IS BEING UNDERUTILIZED. MAYBE THAT'S A TEMPORARY SOLUTION. IT'S CERTAINLY A LOT MORE ACCESSIBLE, AND WE WOULDN'T CHARGE YOU 2,000 A MONTH. THREE. IT'S A BIG OFFICE. [LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT SOLUTION THAN THE BACK OF THAT FAIRFIELD INN. >> EVEN IF IT WAS JUST, LIKE YOU SAID, AN OFFICE SOMEWHERE, EVEN AN OFFICE HERE. >> RIGHT ACROSS THE AISLE. >> AS JOSH SAID, IF THAT WOULD WORK. [OVERLAPPING] >> WE COULD FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE ENTRANCE ACCESSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW. >> WE COULD CERTAINLY WORK THROUGH THAT. ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, HERE WOULD BE MY QUESTION IS, COULD WE PUT SIGNAGE OUT THERE, NUMBER 1, AND COULD WE SET OUR EMPLOYEE UP IN THERE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, 09:00-5:00 WITH A COMPUTER, HER TELEPHONE, AND THAT THING? THAT'S REALLY ALL SHE WOULD NEED, BUT WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? >> A PROBLEM, JOSH. [OVERLAPPING] >> IT SHOULD BE UTILIZED. IT'S 2,000 A MONTH. >> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. I DO. >> IT'S NOT JUST THE 2,000. IF IT WAS BEING UTILIZED, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BUT I HEAR IT WOULD HAVE A LOT MORE EXPOSURE. WE COULD EVEN PUT A SIGN DOWN ON WHITE ADY BOULEVARD, MAYBE IN THAT VISITOR CENTER AT 2:05 MAIN STREET. >> BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAG IT AS A WELCOME CENTER VISITED CENTER IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO USE THE TAX FUNDS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, IF WE DIDN'T, IT WOULDN'T QUALIFY. >> I UNDERSTAND. IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL THAT WE TABLE THE $2,000 A MONTH UNTIL JOSH AND KENDALL SEE IF THEY CAN WORK OUT. >> SURE. >> IF WE CAN SAVE $24,000 AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, WHATEVER IT IS I THINK THAT WOULD BE MONEY BETTER SPENT. >> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT. I AGREE IT'S NOT THAT GREAT ADDITION. >> I'LL WORK IN THE HALLWAY. >> PARDON ME? >> I'LL WORK IN THE HALLWAY INSTEAD. [LAUGHTER] >> I'LL BRING MUFFINS >> THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL IS TO JUST HOLD OFF THE 2,000 A MONTH SEGMENT UNTIL JOSH AND YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS AND WHAT YOUR NEEDS WOULD BE IN ORDER FOR THAT TO QUALIFY. DO YOU HAVE A LEASE ENDING DATE THAT YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH A DECISION? >> THEY DIDN'T REQUIRE US BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY, AND THEY WERE ALLOWING US TO GO. [01:00:01] >> IT'S MONTH TO MONTH. IF IT WAS A MONTH FROM NOW OR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, IT WOULD BE OKAY. >> WE'RE GOOD THERE UNTIL JULY 1ST. WE'VE GOT MAY AND JUNE THERE. WE HAVE UNTIL JULY 1ST TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER SOLUTION BECAUSE THESE FUNDS ARE FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, NONE OF THESE FUNDS WOULD START UNTIL JULY 1ST. >> COUNSEL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? [BACKGROUND] JOHN, DO YOU SEEM TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ADD? >> WELL, JUST WHATEVER MISS WRAPS UP. I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT THE NEW MATH WOULD BE WITH THE STAFF. >> TELL US WHAT THE NEW MATH IS. >> NO. I'M GOOD. UNLESS YOU GUYS HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR ME. >> IF WE JUST TABLE THE 2,000 A MONTH FOR THE FAIRFIELD INN. WHAT WOULD THE NEW MATH BE, JOHN? >> WE WOULD THEN BE ASKING FOR THE HARDEEVILLE PARKS, RECREATION, AND TOURISM TEAM. WE'D BE ASKING FOR $11,000, AND WE WOULD REDUCE THE JASPER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AS 134 TO 94 TO 110 TO 94. BIG DIFFERENCE. >> COUNSEL, WHEN WE COME TO A MOTION, IF YOU AGREE THAT WHATEVER WAY YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE MOTION, PLEASE TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT. BUT BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO OFFER THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS. SEEING NONE, I'D LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES, TOO. THIS IS THE APPROVAL OF ATAX COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT UPON MR. BOWLES' RECOMMENDATION AND KENDALL'S REQUEST THAT WE APPROVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION, 11,000 JASS MC COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, $110,294. >> 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. >> AYE. THANK YOU, KENDALL, FOR WORKING WITH US HERE, AND I TRUST YOU AND JOSH WILL COME UP WITH [OVERLAPPING] ALL THE DETAILS. >> WE WILL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. [X. MANAGER’S REPORT] NEXT, WE HAVE THE MANAGER'S REPORT. [BACKGROUND] >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'VE GOT THREE ITEMS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE CITY WAS NOTIFIED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATING AGENCY THAT THEY WERE RE-EVALUATING OUR CURRENT FINANCIAL POSITIONS, OUR PRACTICES, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT ANALYSIS, THEY HAVE UPGRADED THE CITY'S BOND RATING. THE BOND RATING IS ESSENTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO YOUR CREDIT SCORE, AND SO FOR OUR PURPOSES, WE WERE AT AN A1, AND WE'VE NOW BEEN UPGRADED TO AN AA3. THAT PLACES US THREE POSITIONS BELOW THE HIGHEST RATING POSSIBLE, WHICH IS AAA. FOR US, THE NEXT GOAL WOULD BE TO GET AA2, AA1, AND THEN AAA. REALLY, A LOT OF KUDOS TO JOHN, HIS TEAM, ALL THE STAFF HERE AT THE CITY, AND KUDOS TO YOU ALL, BECAUSE THIS IS A REFLECTION OF YOUR GOOD SOLID FINANCIAL PRACTICES AND A REFLECTION THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY EXTERNAL ENTITIES SUCH AS MOODY'S. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. I ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT NEIL PARSONS HAS RECEIVED HIS ICMA CREDENTIALED MANAGER CERTIFICATION, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT AREN'T AWARE, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY SAYING NOT ONLY DOES NEIL POSSESS THE REQUISITE EDUCATIONAL AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES, BUT HE IS ALSO COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE HIGHEST ETHICAL STANDARDS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGERS CAN BE HELD TO, AND AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROFESSIONAL. ABOUT 10% OF ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT MANAGERS NATIONWIDE HAVE THAT DESIGNATION, AND SO IT'S A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT AND REFLECTS VERY HIGHLY UPON NEIL AND HIS GREAT EFFORTS HERE AT THE CITY. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS, NEIL. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THEN LASTLY, THE CITY WAS ABLE TO SPONSOR A CONTROLLED BURN OF THE FORMER INTERN HOUSE. [01:05:03] I KNOW THE MAYOR WAS ABLE TO COME OUT, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER FOLKS WERE ABLE TO COME WATCH THIS, BUT OUR REALLY TALENTED COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAD, I THINK, NO LESS THAN THREE DRONES UP IN THE AIR, HAD CAMERAS PLACED EVERYWHERE, HAD BODY CAMERA FEED. THEY'VE TAKEN ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND PUT A REALLY DYNAMIC VIDEO TOGETHER FOR YOU THAT WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU. >> TAKE IT AWAY. >> YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND TURN THE SPEAKERS UP AGAIN. >> THAT'S THE FIRE. YOU GET A LOT OF MOISTURE. >> BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU. >> IT'S DARK. SMOKE IS THICK. IT STICKS TO EVERYTHING. VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. WHENEVER WE ACTUALLY FLOW WATER, YOU BEGIN TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE. YOU GET A LOT OF MOISTURE, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF STEAM, SMOKE. REALLY, YOU JUST CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. [MUSIC] >> REALLY, YOU JUST CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. >> WE HAVE AN ACQUIRED STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY USING FOR LIVE FIRE TRAINING, AS WELL AS PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THIS STRUCTURE THAT THE CITY OWNS. WE WERE ABLE TO USE IT FOR LIVE FIRE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT WE RARELY GET TO DO. NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE HARDEEVILLE FIRE HERE, YOU HAVE JASPER COUNTY. YOU HAVE RIDGELAND, YOU HAVE BURTON, YOU HAVE FRIPP ISLAND, SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES COMING OUT TO GET SOME OF THIS TRAINING AS WELL. >> SODA CITY TRAINING IS A COMPANY WE STARTED IN 2015. WE SPECIALIZE IN THIRD-PARTY FIREFIGHTING AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING. WE FOCUS HIGHLY AND MAINLY ON [INAUDIBLE] HARD TO REPLICATE REAL FIRES IN THE TRAINING BUILDINGS IN THE TRAINING ASPECT OF IT, AND SO BY TAKING REAL STRUCTURES AND BEING ABLE TO USE THE STRUCTURE OF IT AND BURNING LIKE WE HAVE TODAY, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO REPLICATE IT THAN A REAL INCIDENT, AND THAT GIVES, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER GUYS THAT WAS CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR RANKS FROM THE LOWER END TO THE HIGHER END. IT GIVES THEM A LOT OF REAL-TIME EXPERIENCE UNDER A CONTROLLED AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO SHOW THEM REALLY WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE THESE FIRES. [OVERLAPPING] >> THE GOAL WAS FIRE SUPPRESSION AND VENTILATION. WE ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS. SEVENTEEN PERSONNEL, I BELIEVE, ROTATE THROUGH FIRE SUPPRESSION, WHICH MEANS ACTUALLY TAKE THE WATER FROM THE ENGINE, THROUGH THE BUILDING, AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL MEMBERS COMPLETE VERTICAL VENTILATION, WHERE THEY GO TO THE ROOF. THEY ACTUALLY CUT OPEN THE ROOF TO LET SMOKE OUT. TWO TACTICS THAT WE TRAINED ON THE DAY WERE SUPPRESSION AND VENTILATION. [OVERLAPPING] YOU CAN'T GET BETTER TRAINING THAN THE REAL THING. THEY DON'T KNOW THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S BURNING WITH REAL WOOD AND A LITTLE BIT OF UNPREDICTABILITY, KEEPING THINGS FRESH AND ALLOWING THE GUYS TO REALLY GO IN AND GET THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK. WE HAD COMPLETE SUPPORT FROM THE FIRE CHIEF. WE HAD SUPPORT FROM MS. JODIE, THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS AREA. WE HAD SUPPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER. WITHOUT THEIR SUPPORT, WE CAN'T GET THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN. IT'S A CITY BUILDING. IT'S GETTING DEMOLISHED ON MONDAY, THEY ALLOWED OUR GUYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET BETTER, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. >> REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE GUYS TO GET SOME GREAT ON-HANDS TRAINING. WE ACTUALLY HAD FIVE DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS HERE TO GET TRAINING FOR THEIR STAFF, AND SO AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR A NUMBER OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS, AND A GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I MYSELF LEARNED A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IF YOU SEE SMOKE COMING OUT OF A BUILDING, IT MEANS THAT THAT STRUCTURE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN ON FIRE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BECAUSE WE SAW WHERE THEY WOULD LIGHT THE FIRE, IT WOULD CATCH THE ENTIRE ROOM ABLAZE, AND YOU DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING EXTERNALLY. IF YOU COME ACROSS THE PROPERTY AND YOU'RE SEEING SMOKE COME OUT, KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN GOING FOR A WHILE. THEN THE SECOND THING IS, WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO DUCK IN A FIRE, THAT IS NO JOKE. THEY WERE SHOWING TEMPERATURE READINGS, THAT AT A SIX-FOOT ELEVATION, THEY WERE GETTING TEMPERATURES OF 1,200 DEGREES, AND AT A TWO-FOOT ELEVATION, THEY WERE GETTING TEMPERATURES OF 200 DEGREES. A THOUSAND DEGREES OF DIFFERENCE IN FOUR FEET OF ELEVATION CHANGE. AGAIN, JUST SOME REALLY INTERESTING STUFF THAT CAME OUT OF THAT, AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED IN HELPING TO SUPPORT IT. >> GREAT VIDEO. >> WOW. GREAT VIDEO. TERRIFIC. DANIEL, ANOTHER FINE PERFORMANCE. >> TEAM EFFORT. >> LET'S GO ALPHABETICALLY AND START WITH MR. CARROLL. >> YES, SIR, MAYOR. JUST A FEW THINGS. THE COUNCIL WENT, AND I'M SURE, BO, YOU OR SOMEBODY MENTIONED, WE HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH BLUFFTON AND HARDEEVILLE, AND I THOUGHT THAT WENT VERY WELL. I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS FROM BLUFFTON, [01:10:01] AND I THINK THEY LEARNED A LOT FROM US, AND GOT TO FIND OUT THAT THE MAYOR OF BLUFFTON AND I USED TO PLAY TOGETHER. WE GREW UP TOGETHER. WE CAUGHT UP ON A FEW THINGS. THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, AND I'M LIKE THE MAYOR SAYS, I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP DOING THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT'S ALL COMMUNITY. LCOG, I WENT TO THE LOWCOUNTRY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS' MEETING, AND I HAD BEEN NOMINATED TO BE ON THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE THIS YEAR. NOMINATED FOR THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE. I WILL BE HELPING CHOOSE OFFICE FOR THIS YEAR FOR LCOG. SAM AND JOEY, AND ALL GAVE ME THE HONOR OF SPEAKING AT THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY THIS WEEK, AND I REALLY ENJOYED THAT, AND I APPRECIATED JOEY AND CHIEF HAVING THAT MUCH CONFIDENCE IN ME. IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AND HAD SOME GREAT QUESTIONS AND PARTICIPATION. I GUESS LAST AND NOT LEAST, I SEE THE HART MOTEL WENT DOWN ON 17 ACROSS FROM THE BANK. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE IT'S BEEN A MOTEL. IT WAS A LITTLE STRIP MALL AND WHATEVER, BUT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, IT WAS HART MOTEL. >> MITCHELL SQUARE. [OVERLAPPING] >> IT USED TO BE HART MOTEL. ANYWAY, IT'S SAD TO SEE IT GO DOWN, BUT I KNOW IT NEEDED TO, BUT I HAD A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES OF IT. I KNEW ALL THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED THAT MOTEL GROWING UP, BUT WHAT THEY SAY, I GUESS, PROGRESS. BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL, MR. MAYOR. >> THANK YOU. MS. GUZMAN. >> ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. COME DOWN, GOOD BOYS. >> GERMS. [LAUGHTER] >> GO HOME. >> MR. WHITE. >> I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WITH ALL THOSE MEETINGS TO JOHN AND WATCH JOHN IN ACTION AND SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND I FOUND THEM TO BE VERY EXCITING. AS FAR AS THIS TRAINING WE DID WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WE JUST WATCHED, THE THING THAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE TO ME WAS ALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS BEING TOGETHER AND BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND THAT WORKING TOGETHER, THAT BIGGER PICTURE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS TERRIFIC. JOHN, WE GOT YOUR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF YOU THIS PAST WEEK. VERY IMPRESSIVE. >> JUST A FEW ITEMS. FIRST OF ALL, I HAD ALSO DOWN THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON JOINT MEETING. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST WE'VE EVER HAD, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT AT LEAST ON A SEMIANNUAL BASIS AND START TO FIND WAYS TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER. I WANT TO THANK LYN BOYLES AND OUR REC DEPARTMENT, AND EVERYONE WHO ORGANIZED AND TOOK PART IN EARTH DAY. WE HAD A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS COME OUT. THAT'S AN ANNUAL EVENT. GOD KNOWS WE NEED A LOT OF LITTER PICK UP. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED. WE WENT TO THE CULINARY INSTITUTE, STAYED AT THE COLLEGE LUNCHEON. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR NAVONT FOR THIS PARTICULAR AREA. THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING. NAVONT HAS BIG PLANS FOR OUR AREA, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED DESPERATELY, ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE FACILITIES. ROYAL LIVE OAKS HAD A ART EXHIBIT SALE. THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL, ALL THE KIDS DID DIFFERENT ART THINGS. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALENT OF THINGS, AND I WENT IN AND BOUGHT SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE OFFICE THAT, WELL, I'LL LEAVE IT FOR THE NEW VISITOR CENTER, IF YOU LIKE. BUT MY CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. THE KIDS DID A WONDERFUL JOB. LAST FRIDAY, I THINK IT WAS, I WENT INTO SAVANNAH AND FILMED THAT LITTLE IN OUR COMMUNITY CLIP ON WTOC. DANIEL AND JAMES PUT THAT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. IF YOU WANT TO SIT THROUGH FIVE MINUTES OF HEARING ME TALK ABOUT HARDEEVILLE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO CHECK THAT OUT. THEN WE HAD THE OTHER NIGHT A MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF PINE ARBOR AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SOUTHERN SKY, [01:15:04] AND THAT WAS A GOOD INTERCHANGE BETWEEN THE RESIDENTS AND THAT PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU, MR. GRUBER, FOR GETTING THAT TOGETHER. THAT WAS, I THINK, A VERY POSITIVE THING. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING. YES, SIR. >> CAN I ADD SOMETHING? >> SURE. >> ONCE YOU FINISH. >> I'M DONE. SHORT TONIGHT. >> I MEANT TO ADD, WELL, NUMBER 1, THANKS TO JOSH AND MAYOR FOR MEETING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF PINE ARBOR. JOSH WENT OVERBOARD, MAKING SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS GOT NOT NOTIFIED BY EMAIL, A PHONE CALL. THEY GOT A LETTER. I CAN'T TELL YOU, SOME OF THEM WEREN'T NECESSARILY HAPPY OVER THE SUBJECT, BUT THEY WERE VERY PLEASED ABOUT BEING NOTIFIED, AND THEN YOU AND HARRY TALKING TO THEM AND ALL, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT SINCE I DO LIVE ON PINE ARBOR ROAD. FINALLY, I WANTED TO SAY I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THAT WE HAD LOST A GOOD CITIZEN OF HARDEEVILLE, MS. JEAN MATTER. I CAN'T TELL YOU THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT SHE DID OVER THE 50 PLUS YEARS THAT SHE LIVED IN THIS AREA. I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU. BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, VOLUNTEERED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHATEVER, AND ANYWAY, SHE PASSED AWAY, SHE WAS 96. THAT WAS EMILY MATTER'S HUSBAND'S GRANDMOTHER. ANYWAY. I THINK EMILY AND DANIEL WERE REAL CLOSE TO MS. MATTER. BUT ANYWAY, I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER BECAUSE SHE WAS A FINE PERSON. >> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT, MR. CARROLL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM ANYONE? IF NOT, I'D LIKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> MOVE. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. ON FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.