Jun 05, 2025 Hardeeville City Council Meeting

[I. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

[II. CALL TO ORDER]

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IT'S

[00:35:21]

[00:35:21]

[00:35:21]

[00:35:21]

[00:35:22]

[00:35:22]

[00:35:23]

EVERYBODY

[III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

GOOD AFTERNOON

[IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.

UH, WE STARTED OUR MEETING ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY AT FOUR O'CLOCK.

SO WE HAVE ALREADY HAD OUR INVOCATION, OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

WE HAVE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AND APPROVED THE AGENDA.

NOW, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, UH, THEN WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

NOW WE HAVE TO DO IS COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.

SO I'D LIKE A MOTION TO RETURN TO THE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MOTION TO RETURN

[A. DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS INCIDENT TO PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AND PROPOSED SALE OR PURCHASE OF PROPERTY, THE RECEIPT OF LEGAL ADVICE WHERE 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 THE AGENCY OF A CLAIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH S.C. CODE OF LAW 30-4-70(A)(2).]

WE HAVE A MOTION.

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

OKAY.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WHEN WE APPROVED THE AGENDA, WE CHANGED ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PUBLIC COMMENTS TO, UM, ITEM NUMBER SIX AND MOVED UP.

ITEM NUMBER SIX A THROUGH E.

SO WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AFTER PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS.

SO THE FIRST PUBLIC PRESENTATION IS THE INTRODUCTION OF MASTER FIREFIGHTER.

OH.

UH, WHY DO WE KEEP HIRING PEOPLE WHOSE NAMES I CAN'T PRONOUNCE.

.

UH, ROBERT IS ALL GONE.

NOT THAT IT'S HARD.

THAT'S FINDING THE NAME.

I CAN'T PRONOUNCE.

I, SO I'M GONNA LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU.

.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

COME TO YOU AGAIN ON ONE OF THE GOOD DAYS AND BRING YOU A

[A. INTRODUCTION OF MASTER FIREFIGHTER-ROBERT DEFLUMERI]

HIS NAME IS ROBERT LUMIE.

CLOSE ENOUGH.

I, I'M NOT PERFECT EITHER.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

UM, BUT HE DOES HAVE A 15 YEARS IN EMS, UH, MOSTLY UP IN MASSACHUSETTS.

UM, AND HE MOVED DOWN HERE AND HE WORKED AT, UH, CHATHAM COUNTY EMS FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

HE LEFT THERE AS A CAPTAIN AND CAME TO US, UH, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

BEEN A GREAT ADDITION.

AND WITH THAT, I'LL LET, UH, MR. DEMI TELL HIM ABOUT WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

UM, WE MOVE DOWN HERE IN JUNE OF 2023 AT MY FAMILY.

OKAY.

I WANT YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE.

OH, MY FAMILY AND I RELOCATED DOWN TO BLUFFTON IN JUNE OF 2023 FOR, UH, BETTER WEATHER, CHEAPER PROPERTY VALUES.

BE CLOSER TO MY PARENTS.

SO I STARTED OVER AT CHATHAM.

IT WAS A QUICK PLACE TO GET HIRED, AND THEN I WAS LOOKING FOR A PLACE WITH MORE VISION AND A FUTURE.

AND THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ME OVER TO HARVILLE.

AND HAPPY TO BE HERE.

GREAT, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WELCOME.

WELCOME.

SO THE, WE CONSIDER OURSELVES A FAMILY HERE.

SO CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THE DETAILS YOU HAVE KIDS, YOU DO WHERE YOUR PARENTS LIVE, WHATEVER YOU WANNA SHARE, DON'T FEEL OBLIGATED.

, UH, MARRIED WITH THREE KIDS.

THEY'RE FOUR, 14, AND 15.

UH, MY OLDEST TWO ARE ADOPTED.

THEY'RE MY WIFE'S CHILDREN FROM A DIFFERENT MARRIAGE.

WE MOVED DOWN HERE WITH THEM.

UH, MY PARENTS RETIRED DOWN TO HILTON HOOD AND AS SOON AS WE STARTED BUILDING IN BLUFFTON, THEY DECIDED TO MOVE INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO THEY BOUGHT A HOUSE DOWN THE STREET FROM US.

OH, WOW.

WHICH HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

BUILT IN.

SO SOMEBODY TO WATCH THE KIDS.

YEP.

RIGHT.

.

A HUNDRED FOOT WALK.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

HOW OLD ARE YOUR CHILDREN? UH, FOUR 14 AND 15.

14 AND 15.

REMEMBER THAT WELL? MM-HMM .

.

EVERY DAY IS IN GOOD LUCK.

BOYS, GIRLS.

UH, OLDEST IS A BOY.

YOUNGER.

TWO OR GIRLS.

.

.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, UH, WELCOME TO HARDY V.

WE WISH YOU MANY YEARS OF HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS WITH, UH, THE FIRE, UH, THE FIRE DIVISION.

THEY, IT'S BEEN, THEY'RE A GREAT GROUP.

SO WELCOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PART OF MASSACHUSETTS, DID YOU LIVE IN I WAS JUST NORTH OF BOSTON.

A TOWN CALLED STONEHAM.

YES.

OKAY.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

WELCOME HERE.

PLEASE DON'T GET OFFENDED IF I FORGET YOUR LAST NAME.

.

.

NEXT WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT OF RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER, UH, MS. PATRICIA MILLER.

UH, MR. GUBER? YES.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

MS. MILLER, IF YOU COULD COME UP SO .

YES.

UM, SO WE ARE EXCITED TO, UH, NOMINATE MS. MILLER FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE CITY'S, UH, RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION.

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AND WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE JOINED

[1. PATRICIA MILLER]

SO VERY ACTIVE, UH, IN RECREATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND NOW GONNA HOPEFULLY HELP GUIDE US IN SOME RECREATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

VERY EXCITED.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

UH, MS. MILLER, IF YOU WANT TO SHARE, LIKE I SAID, THAT WE ARE A FAMILY HERE AND IF YOU WANNA SHARE YOUR FAMILY BACKGROUND WITH US, AND, UH, WE'RE ALL EARS.

I'M AN UNOFFICIALLY RETIRED.

I KNOW GOING ON MY 50TH YEAR BEING NURSE, I'M CELEBRATING 50 YEARS.

UM, I HAVE TWO BIG KIDS, 39 AND 42, AND TWO BRAND NEW GRAND BABIES AND A HUSBAND.

AND WE ARE GOLFERS.

IN FACT, WE PLAYED THIS MORNING AND I JUST, I I THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT.

I ENJOY ALL MY ACTIVITIES AND ALL MY SPORTS IN MARGARITAVILLE.

I'M A VERY BUSY LADY AND I TAKE AS MANY EXERCISE CLASSES AND AS THEY OFFER.

SO IN FACT, UH, STEVE'S WIFE, MELANIE AND I TAKE CLASSES TOGETHER.

SO WE SIT IN THE BACK AND CHIT CHAT.

GREAT.

SHE'S A HUMAN DYNAMO WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS.

SOMETIME ALONG YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO EXPLAIN JOSH WHAT FIN'S BALL IS.

THAT WAS A NEW ONE FOR ME.

FIN'S BALL IS WIFFLE BALL.

OKAY.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED IT, WE, THERE WAS WHAT, EIGHT TEAMS? YEAH.

AND STEVE WAS OUR UMPIRE, ANNOUNCER, AND SCOREKEEPER IN THE BACK FIELD IN FRONT OF THE BATHROOM.

WE'VE TURNED, GONE INTO NOW TO OVER 1000 TEAM OF 1000 MEMBERS THAT PLAY ON SUNDAYS.

WE HAVE 46 TEAMS. WE PLAY GAMES NINE 30 IN THE MORNING.

AND MY LAST GAME STARTS AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING.

AND WE PLAY FOUR GAMES ON WEDNESDAYS.

WE HAVE TO CALL IT FINS BALL BECAUSE THE WHIFFLE BALL COMPANY SLAPPED US ON THE WRIST BECAUSE OF THE TRADEMARK.

SO IT'S FINS BALL.

AND NOW WE HAVE FIN WE HAVE REGULAR FIELDS, THEY WANNA GET LIGHTS, BUT WE CAN'T HAVE LIGHTS, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

WE HAVE TO HAVE, UH, WE HAVE LINE JUDGES, WE HAVE UMPIRES.

ALL OUR UMPIRES ARE VETS.

THEY DO GET PAID, BUT ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY GET PAID, THEY NEVER RECEIVE.

THEY DONATE IT BACK ALL TO THE VETERANS ASSOCIATION.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHICH ONE IT IS.

UM, ONE OF OUR GENTLEMEN TAKES CARE OF ALL THAT.

WE, UH, ALSO AT OUR FINS BALL GAMES, WE HAVE A CONCESSION STAND WITH FOOD, AND THAT'S OUR CANINE COMPANIONS.

ALL THE MONEY GOES THAT GOES TO CANINE COMPANIONS FOR DOGS FOR OUR VETERANS.

SO I'M INVOLVED IN ALL THAT.

SO MM-HMM .

SEE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT A DYNAMO.

WELCOME.

WELCOME.

WELL, I'M, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAVE SOME SPARE TIME AND, UH, AND YOU'RE DEVOTING IT TO US.

SO, COUNCIL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MS. MILLER? WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME.

THANK YOU EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR, UH, JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE, UM, LET'S SEE, PRESENTATION OF MAYOR.

POINT OF ORDER.

I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO DO THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT FOR MS. MILLER.

OH, I'M SORRY.

OKAY.

WE NEED A MOTION TO, UH, APPOINT PATRICIA MILLER TO THE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPOINT PATRICIA MILLER TO THE RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO MOVED.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

OFFICIALLY, NOW .

THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION OF TOURISM WEEK AND WE RECOGNIZE, UH, EVENTS AND MARKETING MANAGER HALEY LANGLEY.

HI HALEY.

HELLO.

THANKS FOR THE FLYER, BY

[C. PRESENTATION OF TOURISM WEEK-HALEIGH LANGLEY]

ABSOLUTELY.

UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK.

UM, IT'S THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY.

UM, IT'S CELEBRATED NATIONALLY, UM, BY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT CITIES.

AND, UM, SO I'M HERE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DID FOR THAT AND THE IMPACT THAT TOURISM HAS ON OUR CITY.

DID THIS LAST TIME, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE IT IS AGAIN.

THERE, THERE WE GO.

UM, SO WE VISITED, WE VISITED THE WELCOME CENTER ON MAY 8TH.

WE WERE THERE FOR SIX HOURS.

UM, AND DURING THAT TIME SLOT WE SAW 1500 OF THE DAYS, OVER 4,000 TOTAL VISITORS, UM, THAT

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UM, OUR WELCOME CENTER IS ACTUALLY THE BUSIEST IN THE STATE, WHICH IS AWESOME.

UM, IT WAS JUST BUILT A FEW YEARS AGO.

THERE'S A FEW PICTURES.

UH, IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT THE INSIDE IS WHITE AND BRIGHT BECAUSE OUR SIGNATURE ELECTRIC BLUE AND LIME GREEN STANDS OUT.

SO, UM, JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW BUSY THE WELCOME CENTER IS, HERE'S A FEW, UM, YEAR OVER YEAR COMPARISONS FROM 2023 AND 2024.

UM, SO IN 2023, WE HAD ABOUT 518,000 VISITORS.

IN 2024, THAT DIPPED SLIGHTLY TO JUST UNDER 500,000, BUT WE STILL HAD FOUR TIMES MORE TRAFFIC THAN FORT MILL, WHICH IS THE SECOND, SECOND BUSIEST CENTER.

I'M GETTING ALL JACKED UP, SORRY.

IT'S THE SECOND BUSIEST WELCOME CENTER IN THE STATE.

UM, AND THIS IS A YEAR TO DATE COMPARISON FOR 2024 AND 2025.

UM, AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, HARDY VILLAGE HAS SEEN ABOUT, UM, 183,000 VISITORS THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ALREADY AT NEARLY 185,000, UM, SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF PACE THAT PUTS US BACK ON TRACK TO EXCEED 2020 THREE'S TOTALS.

THIS IS JUST A QUICK LITTLE RECAP OF OUR INTERACTIONS WHEN WE WERE AT THE WELCOME CENTER LAST MONTH.

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE STOP BY, UM, ALL AGES, SOME FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS, AND WE HAD SOME REALLY GREAT BRANDED SWAG TO GIVE TO EVERYONE.

UM, WHAT'S CRAZY IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME TO THIS WELCOME CENTER, THEY DON'T TYPICALLY KNOW THAT THEY'RE IN HARDY BUILD BECAUSE THE SIGN JUST SAYS, WELCOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

UM, SO THIS PRESENTS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY, UM, FOR US TO INTRODUCE OUR CITY AND SHARE THAT FIRST MOMENT OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY THAT MAKES THE LOW COUNTRY SO MEMORABLE.

UM, AND WHILE THE SWAG THAT WE GIVE OUT IS COOL, LOOKING IN OUR LIME AND BLUE, UM, IT IS PURPOSEFUL.

WE LIKE TO GIVE PEOPLE THINGS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE BACK HOME AND USE AND THEY DON'T JUST GET THROWN AWAY.

UM, SO WE GAVE OUT THINGS LIKE PET GEAR, UH, BEACH TOTE BAGS, GOLF BALLS.

UM, THE GOLF BALLS IN THE PET GEAR WERE HOT COMMODITY.

THOSE WENT PRETTY FAST.

UM, SO WHEN PEOPLE TAKE THOSE BACK HOME, UM, THEY CAN LOOK AT THAT, USE IT, AND THEY CONNECT IT BACK TO THAT MOMENT.

UM, WHEN THEY MET US AND WE SHARED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR CITY, AND THIS IS THE VISITOR'S GUIDE TRIFOLD THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.

IT'S IN DRAFT MODE, UM, OR WE'RE HOPING TO FINALIZE IT SOON AND HAVE IT OUT AT THE WELCOME CENTER.

UM, SO UP HERE WE'VE GOT SOME PLACES WHERE, UM, PEOPLE CAN EAT AND SHOP.

UM, THOSE TOP THREE ARE THE PRT TEAMS FAVORITES, SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND THOSE.

UM, AND THEN RIGHT BELOW THAT IS A QR CODE THAT TAKES THEM DIRECTLY TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

THEY GET A QUICK GLANCE AT THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.

UM, AND THEN WE JUST HIGHLIGHT OVER HERE A FEW OF OUR OUTDOOR SPACES.

UM, MILLSTONE LANDING.

WE ACTUALLY POSTED A VIDEO ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY.

IT WENT VERY BIG.

UM, A LOT OF LOCALS DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT MILLSTONE LANDING, SO THAT WAS A COOL ONE.

UM, HALEY, DO YOU REMEMBER THE NUMBERS FROM THAT ONE? 'CAUSE THEY ARE IMPRESSIVE.

UM, THE LAST TIME I GOT, WE WERE AT A HUNDRED LIKES AROUND 200 SHARES, AND I THINK 180,000 VIEWS.

SO, AND ONLY 3% OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERACTING WITH THAT VIDEO WERE OUR FOLLOWERS.

SO THAT WAS GETTING PUSHED OUT VERY WIDE BEYOND HARDY V.

UM, IT'S, YEAH, I MEAN IT IN MARGARITAVILLE'S WEBSITE'S, 88 HITS AND BEFORE I CAME HERE TODAY MM-HMM .

THEY SHARED IT YESTERDAY.

OH, REALLY? SO, AND MOST OF 'EM DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD THAT PART.

YEAH.

SO IT'S GREAT.

YEAH, IT WAS, IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING.

YEAH, IT'S AWESOME.

AND SOCIAL MEDIA'S ANOTHER WAY THAT WE LIKE TO OBVIOUSLY PUSH OUT THESE SPACES AND SHOW HOW THEY CAN BE USED.

UM, WE SENT TONS OF PEOPLE OVER TO THE DOG PARK THAT WERE AT THE WELCOME CENTER.

SO MANY PEOPLE CAME THROUGH THAT WERE TRAVELING WITH PETS, AND YOU CAN'T LET YOUR DOG OFF LEASH AT THE WELCOME CENTER.

SO SUPER CONVENIENT THAT WE COULD SEND THEM RIGHT UP THE ROAD, UM, RIGHT BACK HERE TO OUR DOG PARK.

UM, AND THEN OVER HERE WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW DAY TRIPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM HARDY V.

SO WE HIT ON HILTON

[00:50:01]

THAT'S JUST 15 MINUTES AWAY.

UM, IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE DETAILS, THEY CAN JUST GO TO THIS QR CODE IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT.

AND THAT TAKES THEM TO THE LOW COUNTRY VISITORS GUIDE.

SO THEY'VE GOT A FEW MORE DETAILS THERE.

UM, IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO EXPLORE OUTSIDE OF THOSE THREE PLACES.

UM, AND AS WE ALL KNOW, HARDY V IS RAPIDLY GROWING.

UM, AND FROM 2020 TO 2024, OUR POPULATION GREW BY 85% MAKING US THE FASTEST GROWING MUNICIPALITY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

UM, AND JASPER COUNTY IS NOW RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR HOUSE AND GROWTH.

AND THAT'S THANKS IN PART TO TRAVELERS DISCOVERING HARDY V UM, RETIREES CHOOSING TO STAY HERE AND FAMILIES RELOCATING AND PLANNING THEIR ROOTS.

UM, WE'RE ALSO SEEING INVESTMENT IN THE CITY PROVIDING NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND JOBS FOR THE GROWING POPULATION.

UM, SO OVERALL TOURISM DOES GO BACK INTO ALL OF THIS.

IT HELPS DRIVE VISIBILITY, AND THE VISIBILITY IS WHAT DRIVES THE GROWTH.

UH, HARDY V'S.

LOCATION RIGHT OFF I 95 MAKES IT A PERFECT HOME BASE FOR LOW COUNTRY TRAVEL.

UM, WE'RE JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM SAVANNAH AND HILTON HEAD AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PASS THROUGH HERE EACH DAY, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO THESE PLACES OR PEOPLE TRAVELING ALL THE WAY FROM UP THE COAST DOWN TO FLORIDA AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

UM, AND ALL THOSE SMALL STOPS, WHETHER IT'S GRABBING LUNCH, FILLING UP, OR STAYING OVERNIGHT, BRING DOLLARS INTO OUR CITY.

UM, THOSE TOURISM DOLLARS REALLY DO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT IN IMPROVING OUR PARKS AND REC SPACES, FUNDING, SIGNAGE, SAFETY, AND, UH, SUPPORTING OUR EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.

SO IN 2026, WE PLAN TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING.

THAT INCLUDES, WE WANNA KEEP IN, UH, DISTRIBUTING OUR BRANDED MERCH.

THAT'S A BIG THING, UM, FOR US, AND PEOPLE LOVE IT.

PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TAGGING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, WITH THEIR TOTE BAGS AND GOLF BALLS AND ALL OF THAT.

UM, WE WANT TO LAUNCH A TRAVELING HARDY V CAMPAIGN WHERE YOU USE THE HASHTAG AND THAT CAN BE YOU POSTING WITH, YOU KNOW, USING YOUR COLLAPSIBLE DOG WATER BOWL OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AROUND, UH, HARDY V IF YOU'RE FISHING AT MILLSTONE, WHATEVER THAT IS, UH, FOR A CHANCE TO BE FEATURED ON OUR PAGES.

AND THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, LETS US KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE UP TO.

UM, AND WE WANNA DISTRIBUTE THOSE VISITORS GUIDES, UM, THAT I JUST SHOWED.

WE WANNA GET THOSE PRINTED AND HAVE THOSE AT THE WELCOME CENTER, BUT WE ALSO WANNA HAVE THOSE AT SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES WHERE IT MAKES SENSE, WHETHER THAT'S GAS STATIONS OR HOTELS.

UM, SO OVERALL TOURISM DRIVES MORE THAN JUST VISITS.

IT DRIVES GROWTH, PRIDE, AND VISIBILITY.

UM, AND WE'RE NOT JUST WELCOMING PEOPLE TO HARDY V WE'RE BUILDING A FUTURE THAT THEY WANNA BE A PART OF.

UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR RECAP FOR TOURISM WEEK.

UM, WE'VE GOT BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA TRY TO STAY AT THE WELCOME CENTER A LITTLE LONGER, AND WE WILL DEFINITELY BE ORDERING ADDITIONAL SWAG FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO, UM, AND BY THE WAY, WE DO HAVE OUR FOURTH OFF MAIN EVENT COMING UP JUNE 28TH, UH, 6:00 PM TO 9:00 PM GOT FIREWORKS, BOUNCE HOUSES, FACE PAINTING, AND OVER 15 FOOD TRUCKS.

SO HOPE TO SEE YOU GUYS OUT THERE AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, HAILEY.

UM, ANY COUNSEL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? GREAT JOB.

THAT'S, THAT'S AWESOME.

THAT'S A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.

YEP.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR, YOUR BROCHURES THAT YOU PUT OUT LIKE THAT, IT'D BE NICE IF YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE EVENTS LIKE FESTIVAL ON MAINE AND, UH, FIREWORKS, THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT, THAT ARE, WE ARE, THEY'RE ANNUAL EVENTS.

WE'VE BEEN DOING 'EM ALL ALONG.

YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS TOURISM, IT MAY BRING PEOPLE FROM A HUNDRED MILES AWAY WHO WILL COME JUST FOR THAT EVENT AND SPEND THE NIGHT OR, YOU KNOW, SPEND A FEW DAYS HERE.

IT'D BE GREAT TO ABSOLUTELY ADD THOSE ONTO THOSE BROCHURES.

THESE ARE THINGS, BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

GOOD NOTES TO TAKE DOWN.

GREAT.

ANYONE ELSE? GREAT JOB.

IMPRESSED.

THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ARE WE GONNA BE READY BACK THERE FOR FOURTH ON MAIN? LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO DO AND THE RAIN ISN'T HELPING.

YEAH.

WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK ON, UH, REPOSITIONING SOME THINGS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK AROUND SOME FENCING, BUT YEP.

IT'LL STILL GO FORWARD.

WE'RE ON OUR FOURTH VARIATION OF OUR MAP, BUT WE'RE MAKING IT WORK.

UM, SO YEAH, IT'LL BE GREAT.

IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT TIGHT, BUT EVERYTHING WILL BE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, SO IT'LL BE A FUN TIME.

GOOD.

WELL, LET'S HOPE IT DOESN'T RAIN TOO MUCH MORE.

WE CAN GET THAT FINISHED BACK THERE.

I KNOW.

I HOPE IT SPARES US.

[00:55:01]

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, HALEY.

THANK YOU GUYS.

UH, NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION FOR THE POLICE ACADEMY, UH, CORPORAL JOEY GI

[D. PRESENTATION FOR POLICE ACADEMY-JOEY GINN]

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

EVENING.

UH, AS WE'RE AWARE, WE JUST FINISHED OUR SECOND ANNUAL CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.

UH, EVERYTHING WAS GREAT, UH, HAD A WONDERFUL CLASS AND, UH, WE DECIDED WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SOMEONE WITH A CERTIFICATE, CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.

UH, IT MEANT A LOT TO ME, AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE CLASS REALLY ENJOYED IT.

I GOT A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS, UH, FROM THIS PRESENTATION THAT WAS GIVEN TO US DURING OUR CLASS.

AND, UH, SERGEANT DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO READ THE CERTIFICATE FOR US.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IS PRESENTED TO JOHN M. CARROLL FOR SHARING YOUR INVALUABLE KNOWLEDGE AS A GUEST SPEAKER DURING THE 2025 HARDY CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY HOSTED BY THE ART POLICE DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 29TH, 2025.

YOUR EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR 2025 GRADUATES PRESENTED THIS FIFTH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.

CORPORAL JOEY GIN AND CHIEF OF POLICE, SAM WOODWARD.

WOW.

AWESOME.

JOHN LIKES TO TALK AND CAN WATCH ON SPEECHLESS? WE HAVE, UM, CAN WE HAVE, UH, COUNCILMAN CARROLL COME OUT AND GET A PICTURE WITH YOU TOO? SO THAT'D BE NICE.

WE HAVE, UH, DANIEL, WE TAKE A PICTURE.

DO YOU WANT ME TO YEAH, WE'LL DO IT RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON SPOT.

YEAH.

THANK YOU, MAN.

KEEP CHANGING.

I'LL BE OUT THE BUILDING IF YOU KEEP THIS.

HE'S GOOD AT THAT.

YOU SHOULD SEEN DAY ALREADY.

ALL RIGHT.

Y'ALL GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

AWESOME.

WELL DONE.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

THANK YOU JOHN.

AND WE HAVE ONE MORE QUICK ORDER OF BUSINESS.

UH, THIS PERSON MADE IT POSSIBLE LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, BUT CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION IS PRESENTED TO JUDGE NANCY.

WE ARE UNWAVERING SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND DIRECTION BEHIND THE SCENES DURING THE 2025 CI HARVILLE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY HOSTED BY HARVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOUR EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION HAVE MADE AN IMPACT ON OUR 2025 GRADUATES.

PRESENTED US FIFTH DAY OF JUNE, 2025.

SURPRISE.

OKAY.

I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, , AND THEN GET THIS, HE WAS TOLD HE HAD TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.

.

WHAT THE, THIS IS A SURPRISE.

UM, I DO IT BECAUSE I LOVE HELPING.

THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE THING.

AND EXCUSE ME, I'M VERY EMOTIONAL THESE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I WILL SUPPORT ANY WAY I CAN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WELL, YES, SIR, YOU DID.

HOW DID YOU PRINT THIS? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

WONDERFUL.

WROTE I WAS GONNA GET, HE'S SOMETHING ELSE, MAN.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU ON CAMERA.

OH GOSH.

.

THANK, RIGHT.

WE NEED AN OFFICIAL, LIKE WHITE SCREEN SOMEPLACE WHERE THE PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN.

YEAH, YEAH.

OR GO STAND IN FRONT OF THE FLAGS OR SOMETHING.

OH, YEAH.

THANK YOU.

SERGEANT CORPORAL, THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

OH, THANK YOU.

I HEARD.

NEXT WE HAVE PLAQUE PRESENTATIONS FOR PREVIOUS WINNERS OF HEARTBEAT OF HARDY V,

[01:00:01]

[E. PLAQUE PRESENTATIONS FOR PREVIOUS WINNERS OF HEARTBEAT OF HARDEEVILLE-STEVE AND KATHY TALBOT 2022, SISTER MARY FRANCES AND JOHN SKISTIMAS 2023, AND BETH WILLIAMS 2024]

I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO COUNCILMAN STEVE.

MAYOR SMITH.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, HEARTBEAT.

HARDY V AWARDS WAS INITIATED BACK, I BELIEVE, IN 2021.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CAROLYN CASTLE IS, UH, IN CHARGE OF THAT AT THE TIME.

AND WHEN I CAME ONTO THE COUNCIL, I THINK IT, THE RESPONSIBILITY SOMEHOW GOT TRANSFERRED TO ME.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT IT'S, IT'S QUITE AN HONOR TO, TO BE PART OF THAT.

UM, TO GO BACKWARDS A LITTLE BIT, IN 2021, RICK PATEL WAS OUR FIRST AWARD WINNER.

RICK HAS FORMED A, HAD FORMED A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION THAT HAS HELPED ALL OF THE CITY OF HARDY V 2022.

STEVE AND KATHY TALBOTT.

THEY HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN, UH, THE REESE ACROSS AMERICA, WHICH HAS REALLY MADE HARDY VA PLACE TO BE PROUD OF.

2023.

SISTER MARY FRANCIS AND THE MI MERCY MISSION, HELPING, UH, SERVE THE UNDERSERVED OF OUR COMMUNITY, HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPACT.

JOHN SCHUSS, HE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

JOHN INITIATED A GROUP, UH, OUT OF MARGARITAVILLE TO START PICKING UP, UH, THE TRASH ALONG 2 78, WHICH HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ALONG THERE.

2024, BETH WILLIAMS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE I COULD START, WHERE I COULD END, BUT TRUNK OR TREAT, UH, TORNADO HELP WITH THE TORNADO.

UM, THE SENIOR LUNCHBOX, THE FILL THE BUS, THE SANTA TOY BOX, SHE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ALL OF THOSE.

AND ALL OF THESE FOLKS HAVE SHOWN WHAT HARDY V IS ABOUT.

THIS IS WHERE THE HEARTBEAT COMES IN.

THIS, THEY HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SHOW WHAT THE, THE COMMUNITY, TO SHOW THE AREA WHAT HARDY V IS.

AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THEM THAT WHAT THEY'VE DONE, UH, THIS HAS BEEN SHEPHERDED BY, UH, UH, CAROLYN CASTLE, CINDY WILLIAMS. CINDY OLIVER HAS BEEN PART OF IT.

PEG HARVEY HAS BEEN PART OF THIS, THIS, THEY HAVE ALL BEEN INSTRUMENTAL.

I JUST SIT AT THE END OF IT AND KIND OF LOOK CUTE.

HAVE TO DO, YEAH, LOOK CUTE.

THAT'S WHAT I DO.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

OKAY.

BUT THE, THESE AWARDS ARE JUST HARDY V'S.

WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU.

UM, I HAVE THE AWARDS I'VE COME DOWN AND I'LL DO THAT.

COUNSEL, COULD YOU PLEASE JOIN US OUT FRONT AND ALL THE AWARD WINNERS, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

COUNSEL, I'M GONNA LET YOU GO AHEAD AND BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

OKAY, JOHN.

OKAY.

LET'S SEE HOW WE WANNA START THIS.

SO I'LL START THIS IN, UH, JOHN SCHUSS IS BEING ACCEPTED BY PEG HARVEY.

TURN THIS AROUND.

BETH WILLIAMS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL HUSBAND TOO.

, THAT'S DEBATABLE.

YES.

IF YOU WOULD ALL STAND TOGETHER, IT'D BE A GREAT PICTURE.

YEAH.

WE'RE JUST GONNA DO KIND OF AN ARC HERE.

UH, MR. , WE, YOU KIND OF AT THE CENTER, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY SPRAWL FOR THIS WIFE.

I'VE GOT ONE FOR YOU AS WELL.

OKAY.

STAND.

YES.

LET'S STAND BY YOUR WIFE.

READY? THESE TWO.

OH BOY.

THE THORN BETWEEN TWO ROW.

ALRIGHT, EVERYONE, UH, THIS IS THE MAYOR'S PHONE, AND THEN I'LL GRAB MINE AFTER.

SO THERE WE GO.

I'M SURE I'LL SEE THAT ON FACEBOOK IN A LITTLE BIT.

.

AND THEN HERE'S FOR OURS.

ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

NOW THIS IS AN OFFER YOU CAN REFUSE, BUT WE'LL START AND, UH, GO BY YEAR AND OFFER YOU THE MICROPHONE IF YOU WISH.

SO RICK'S NOT HERE 2022.

NO, GO AHEAD.

I DON'T WANT TO, THE S HE SAID WE CAN, IF YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING, DON'T , YOU'RE ALLOWED TO CRY.

SO GO AHEAD.

YOU, YOU'RE GONNA CHALLENGE ME.

THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UH, WHEN KATHY AND I STARTED REACH ACROSS AMERICA, HARVILLE, IT WASN'T FOR THE RECOGNITION, IT WAS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR LOCAL VETS WHO HAVE PASSED BEFORE

[01:05:01]

AND, UM, THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM, FROM THE CITY, FROM THE COUNCIL AND ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS, UH, HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS.

UM, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT, WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, KATHY.

2023.

WE HAVE, UH, SISTER MARY AND, UH, PEG JOHN.

PEG IS FOR JOHN.

I'M ACCEPTING THE AWARD FOR JOHN AND FINS UP, CLEANS UP.

I WAS PART OF THE PROCESS AND, UH, WE ENJOYED GOING OUT EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AND WE FOUND SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS, .

SO I APPRECIATE THE AWARD AND I'LL MAKE SURE JOHN GETS IT.

THANK YOU.

PKE SISTER, MARY FRANCIS, THANK YOU FOR THE AWARD.

THAT'S VERY NICE.

UM, LIKE YOU, MERCY MISSION CATHOLIC CHARITIES IS A FAMILY.

AND SO, UM, IT'S NOT ME.

I ALWAYS SAY I JUST ORCHESTRATE.

UM, IT'S THE VOLUNTEERS THAT DO ALL THE WORK AND ARE THE FRONTLINE WORKERS.

AND, UM, WE, WE LOVE HARDY VI WAS SITTING THERE WITH, UM, WHEN HALEY WAS PRESENTING, AND, UM, I CAME TO HARDY V NEVER HAVING BEEN, NEVER EVEN HEARD OF HARDY V.

UM, ABOUT SIX AND A HALF YEARS AGO.

AND I WAS COMING TO, TO SEE, UM, IF IT WAS A FIT, OKAY.

AND, UM, WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR PROVINCIAL TO COME IN.

AND SO WE WENT DOWN, IT WAS ABOUT NOONTIME, AND WE WENT DOWN TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND WE WENT IN AND THE LADY THAT WAS THERE WAS VERY NICE.

AND WE SAID, WHAT'S IN HARDY V? AND SHE SAID, NOTHING .

AND SHE SAID, BUT WAIT.

SHE SAID, 20 MILES AND 20 MINUTES.

YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING YOU WANT IN HARDY VI SEE, SAW TODAY, WHAT A BIG DIFFERENCE IN FIVE YEARS.

IT'S JUST MAGNIFICENT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN HARDY V.

AND I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE A PART OF IT AND HOPE FOR A GOOD WHILE.

.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SISTER.

AND 2024.

SO I ALWAYS SAY, NO, I DON'T WANNA TALK, BUT TO NOW, I WILL.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS AWARD.

UM, BASICALLY WHAT I DO REALLY AFFECTS THE CHILDREN, THE MOSTLY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HARDY.

AND, UH, THAT JUST KEEPS ME GOING.

AND, UM, I DON'T LOOK FOR RECOGNITION.

SO THIS IS REALLY, REALLY NICE.

I'M SORT OF, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES KIND OF PERSON DOING ALL THAT.

BUT, UM, SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS TO, TO EVERYONE.

UM, THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL AWARD FOR VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE.

AND IT, IT'S, IT, IT, IT MAKES HARDY V PROUD AND IT MAKES US A, A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

NOW, ALL OF YOU, YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS RIVETING MEETING.

BUT, UM, IF, IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO LEAVE, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND.

WE, WE ALL UNDERSTAND HERE.

YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT ON VIDEO WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE FALLING ASLEEP AT NIGHT.

UM, BUT, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY AS WELL.

NEXT WE HAVE, UM, PUBLIC COMMENTS.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP, MS. CINDY? NO SIR.

NO.

OKAY.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 14TH, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

[VII. PRESENTATION & APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

WE APPROVE THAT.

I'LL SECOND WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

THE MINUTES ARE APPROVED.

NEXT WE HAVE OLD BUSINESS.

THIS IS SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL

[VIII. OLD BUSINESS]

[01:10:01]

THIS IS,

[A. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH AN ANNUAL BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026; TO SET THE MILLAGE RATE; TO ESTABLISH A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND AUTHORIZE A MERIT INCREASE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES (2025-05-14A)]

UM, MR. GRUBER, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

WITH THE BUDGET, I FIGURED IT'S ALWAYS EASIER JUST TO COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO YOU FROM THE, UH, THE PODIUM.

UM, SO WE'RE HERE FOR SECOND READING, AND I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT, UM, THE ONLY CHANGES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS EVENING FROM WHAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU AT FIRST READING AND WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAD BEFORE, THAT ARE REALLY TAKING THE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US AT FIRST READING, PRIMARILY WITH REGARDS TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR CERTAIN CAPITAL PROJECTS.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU THIS EVENING IS SOME REWORK NUMBERS, NUMBERS THAT DON'T ULTIMATELY CHANGE THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO, THE COST OF THOSE PROJECTS, OR REALLY TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE BOTTOM LINE NUMBERS OF OUR BUDGET.

BUT RATHER THAN LOOKING AT PAYING FOR SOME OF THE PROJECTS OUT OF OUR GENERAL FUND OR FROM OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE FOR THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT INVOLVE REAL PROPERTY, WE'RE PROPOSING TO BORROW THOSE COSTS OVER A 20 YEAR PERIOD.

THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THE PAYMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS SPREAD OUT TO ALL THE ADDITIONAL AND NEW RESIDENTS WHO ARE GONNA BE COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY OVER THAT TIMEFRAME.

AND SO WE'VE PREPARED A, A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY TONIGHT.

I'M GONNA ASK JOHN TO COME UP AND KIND OF WALK THROUGH IT, I THINK, WEREN'T WE? WAS THAT THE PLAN? I DID NOT KNOW I HAD A RULE, BUT OKAY.

THAT'S FINE.

NOPE, I CAN, THERE WE GO.

WELL, UM, I WAS GONNA SAY YOU'VE DONE IT A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE NOW, SO THAT'S FINE JOB.

THAT'S RIGHT.

DANIEL, DO YOU HAVE THAT? I WASN'T PROVIDED ANYTHING FOR THE SEGMENT.

OH, IT WAS OKAY.

UM, WE'LL JUST WALK YOU THROUGH SOMETHING ON THE WEBSITE.

I CAN PULL.

YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS, HUH? YEAH, IT WAS, IT WAS WITH THE PACKET.

SO, OKAY.

SO, UM, OUR CHANGES WERE, AS, AS MR. GRUER JUST SAID, WERE, UM, HANDFUL OF THINGS.

AND I'M JUST READING FROM NOTES.

I'M, I'M SORRY, I'M NOT AS PREPARED AS I WISH I WAS.

UM, FIRST THING WE SAID WAS, UM, WE HAD THE OFFICE SPACE RENTAL FOR THE, UH, BUILDING, BUILDING SAFETY DEPARTMENT.

WE KNOW WE NEEDED TO PUT THEM IN SOME WORKABLE USABLE SPACE.

WE DID THAT.

THAT WAS $80,000 IN FIRST YEAR RENT, AND THEN A CHANGE OF $16,000 TO THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND.

THAT WAS SOME, THAT'S A CHANGE THAT YOU HAD SEEN BEFORE, BUT I'M WALKING THROUGH ALL THE CHANGES SINCE WE ORIGINALLY DID THE BUDGET.

THE NEXT THING WE TALKED ABOUT WAS TAKING THE FUNDING FOR THE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT ON A FIVE YEAR LEASE OR A FIVE YEAR NOTE.

AND WE WERE JUST GONNA PAY PAY FOR THOSE AS WE GO, AS WE RECEIVE 'EM.

THAT WAS, UH, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT A NUMBER COUNCIL, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL HAD INDICATED THEN GOING THE OTHER WAY.

WE HAD, UM, THERE'S A, WE HAD $1.9 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET FOR MEMORIAL PARK.

WE'VE NOT MADE THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAD HOPED FOR IN THIS.

SO AT THIS POINT, THAT'S GOING TO MOVE TO FISCAL 26.

SO RATHER THAN DO A BORROWING FOR WHAT WE HAD PLANNED TO DO IN LATE IN 25 THIS LATE IN THE GAME, WE'VE JUST ADDING THAT TO WHAT WE PLAN TO BORROW FOR 26.

THESE ARE ALL, IT'S A 20 YEAR NOTE, AND IT'S GONNA HAVE THAT $1.9 MILLION FOR MEMORIAL PARK.

IT'S GONNA HAVE $688,000 FOR 1 0 2 MAIN STREET, WHICH WILL BECOME OUR SIDS BUILDING, UH, 3,451,000 IN CHANGE FOR THE FIRE STATION 82, REBUILD THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER FOR 253,000 AND CHANGE $255,000 FOR, UH, REWORKING THE DRIVE LANE AT FIRE STATION 83, AND THEN $500,000 FOR THE PARKING LOT AT PUBLIC WORKS.

AND THOSE ARE ALL PROJECTS THAT WE WOULD DO.

UH, WE COMBINE THEM ALL INTO ONE BORROWING, HAVE ONE SET OF LAWYER FEES AND, AND, UM, AND, AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN WE WOULD JUST BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE PROJECTS WITH THOSE FUNDS.

WE'RE ESTIMATING BASED ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR FINANCIAL ANALYST, 5%, UH, RATE OF BORROWING.

AND AGAIN, AS MR. GRUBER SAID, THAT'S GONNA BE OVER 20 YEARS.

AND THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT IS THE VALUE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE FIRE STATION.

YEAH, THE FIRE STATION 83 DRIVE LANE

[01:15:01]

WE HAVE SINCE, UM, THROUGH OUR CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH BEAUFORT, JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, THEY LOANED US SOME OF THEIR FIBER OPTIC CAMERA EQUIPMENT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO RUN A LINE THROUGH THAT PIPE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THAT SETTLING.

AND THE RESULTS OF THAT WERE MUCH MORE FAVORABLE THAN WE HAD HOPED THAT THEY MIGHT BE.

SO THERE ARE STILL NEEDED REPAIRS THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THAT NUMBER IS GONNA BE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN WHAT WE'RE BUDGETING.

SO, JUST OUT OF FULL TRANSPARENCY, WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S THE MOST RECENT INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED LAST WEEK.

SO UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE ARE THE, EXCUSE ME, UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE ARE THE CHANGES BETWEEN FIRST READING AND SECOND READING.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

OKAY.

LET'S OPEN IT UP, UH, TO MY RIGHT WITH MR. MESMAN.

UM, THE ADDED 1.9 MILLION FOR MEMORIAL PARK AS PROJECT IS DELAYED IN FISCAL 25.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT? YES, SIR.

UM, SO IN YOUR CURRENTLY ADOPTED CIP BUDGET WAS AN ANTICIPATION THAT WE WOULD BORROW $1.9 MILLION TOWARDS THAT PROJECT.

WE HAVE NOT YET BORROWED THAT MONEY.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO PUT TOGETHER THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PRESENT IT TO YOU THIS EVENING, UM, AS PART OF YOUR AGENDA TONIGHT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AWARDING THAT CONTRACT.

SO RATHER THAN BORROWING THE MONEY BEFORE JULY 1ST, WE'RE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS CARRY THAT MONEY OVER INTO THE FY 26 BUDGET AND WE'LL BORROW THE 1.9 THAT WE ANTICIPATED BORROWING THIS YEAR AS PART OF THAT LARGER BORROWING IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

OKAY.

IT JUST, THE, THE CONCERN, AS LONG AS THE PROJECT ISN'T CONTINUED TO BE DELAYED, NO, SIR.

THAT'S, IT'S ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT AND WE WILL HOPEFULLY MOVE IT FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE.

MS. UZMA, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SIR.

UM, MR. WHITE MAKES SENSE.

ALL THE ACTIONS AND, UH, GOOD JOB, JOHN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS MR. CARROLL.

A COUPLE.

UM, JOSH, I KNOW WE HAD PUT SOME MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR 1 0 2 MAIN YES, SIR.

ORIGINALLY, SO WE ARE NOT USING THAT FOR THAT.

IS THAT, SO ALL THAT WE ARE DOING IS, IF YOU COMPARE THE TWO SCHEDULES, WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND WHAT HAD BEEN THE SCHEDULE AT FIRST? READING THE SCHEDULE AT FIRST READING INDICATED THAT THE, I THINK IT'S $688,000 THEREABOUTS, 4 1 0 2 MAIN STREET.

PREVIOUSLY WE WERE LOOKING AT PULLING THAT FROM OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE.

NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT FINANCING THAT BECAUSE IT'S REAL PROPERTY.

OKAY.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY CHANGE.

THE NUMBERS ARE STILL THE SAME, THE PROJECTS ARE STILL THE SAME.

IT'S JUST THE SOURCE OF FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE PROJECTS.

AND WHAT DID YOU SAY YOU THOUGHT A LOT OF THIS WAS GONNA BE PAID BACK BY? SO THIS WILL BE A 20 YEAR NOTE.

SO, AND BY AND, AND PAYING, I MEAN, WHO'S GOING, YOU SAID LIKE $2, THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SO IN TERMS OF, YOU MEAN THE ACTUAL DEBT SERVICE ON IT? YEAH.

WHO, HOW WILL THAT HELP US? BY DOING THIS? YES, SIR.

FOR THE PUBLIC.

YEP.

YOU AND I TALK.

YEP.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO KEEP, UH, MORE MONEY IN OUR ACCOUNTS CURRENTLY WITHIN OUR RESERVES OR CONTINGENCY ACCOUNTS.

AND SO THAT ALLOWS US THEN GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAY COME UP.

AND IT ALLOWS US TO TAKE THAT DOLLAR VALUE AND FINANCE IT OVER A LARGER PERIOD OF TIME.

SO AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, THE NEW RESIDENTS THAT ARE COMING TO COME HERE WILL HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME AND PAYING FOR THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SO THE DEBT SERVICE ON THOSE PROJECTS, I THINK THE SCHEDULE LOOKED SOMEWHERE AROUND $300,000, UM, A YEAR OVER THAT 20 YEAR PERIOD.

AND SO THEN THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS MORE IN OUR, UM, GENERAL FUND THAN WHAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE.

A LOT OF TIMES WE PAY OFF IT EARLY TOO.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

AND THERE'D BE NO PENALTY IF WE DO THAT? UH, TYPICALLY NOT, NOT WITH THE FINANCING THAT WE'RE, WE HAVE, WE HAVE NOT STRUCTURED ANY TO WHERE THERE WOULD BE A PENALTY.

PREPAYMENT PENALTY.

YEAH.

SOMETIMES WITH TAX EXEMPT MUNICIPAL BONDS, YOU MAY HAVE AN EARLY CALL DATE.

IT DEPENDS, UH, WITH WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO THIS TIME AROUND, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY RESTRICTIONS.

WE, IF AT, AT ANY POINT IN TIME IN THE FUTURE INTEREST RATES COME DOWN, WE COULD ALWAYS REFINANCE THE DEBT OR IF WE WANTED TO PAY IT OFF EARLY, BECAUSE COLLECTIONS HAVE COME IN, WE COULD LOOK AT DOING THAT.

IT'S ABOUT 5%, UM, 5% IS WHAT WE'RE ESTIMATING.

AGAIN, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE ACTUALLY LOCK IT IN, BUT THAT'S THE QUOTE THAT WE GOT BACK FROM THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

THANKS, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

UH, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT, UH, LET ME ASK IT.

THE, WE HAVE ON PAGE THREE OF WHAT WE WERE GIVEN DEBT SERVICE OF 2 MILLION 6 0 6.

UM, NOW SOME OF THAT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SOME OF THAT COMES OUT OF OUR ATEX FUNDING.

LIKE FOR INSTANCE, WE USE ATEX TO PAY OFF THE LOAN OF REC, THE REC CENTER.

SO 2.6 DOESN'T COME OUTTA GENERAL FUND ENTIRELY.

[01:20:02]

YEAH.

UM, YOU'RE TALKING, YOU'RE REFERENCING A PAGE THREE.

YEAH.

JOHN, IN YOUR PAGE? YES.

THAT TWO POINTS, THAT 2.6 IS, UM, THERE'S ANOTHER SCHEDULE THAT'S BEEN IN THE BUDGET AND SHOULD BE IN THE PACKAGE.

IT'S THIS AND THAT TELLS YOU WHAT THAT 2.6 MILLION IS.

AND MR. MAYOR, UM, WE HAVE THE, WE HAVE, OKAY.

SO THAT'S IN THE OTHER ONE.

YEAH.

WELL, YEAH, THERE'S, UM, SOME TAX EXEMPT BONDS.

OF COURSE THERE'S THE STUFF, THE STUFF FOR THE RECREATION CENTER, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS WHERE THE SOURCE OF FUNDING IS, UM, UH, A TAX AND H TAX.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY.

THAT'S, I, I KNEW IT.

I JUST DIDN'T, I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM IT.

THAT'S IT.

AND, AND FOR FOLKS THAT WANNA GO DIG INTO IT, THERE'S A SCHEDULE IN THERE THAT BREAKS THAT ALL OUT.

AND SOME OF IT'S ALSO, UH, DA FEES AS WELL, COMING OUTTA DA FEES.

DA FEES AS WELL.

AND, AND THAT'S IN THAT OTHER SHEET.

MM-HMM .

YEAH.

NOW THAT YOU MENTIONED IT, AND I'LL MAKE SURE, APPARENTLY THIS GOT CROSSED.

I'LL MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL GET THIS.

WELL, WE HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT SHEETS AT DIFFERENT TIMES.