>> ON ORDER. ON AIR [LAUGHTER].
[00:00:06]
I HOPE THE REST OF THE MEETING GOES BETTER THAN THAT INTRODUCTION.WE WILL START THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND INVOCATION BY MRS. GUZMAN.
>> ETERNAL FATHER, IN THE SHARED SPACES OF GOVERNANCE,
[I. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
WE HUMBLY GATHER, SEEKING YOUR DIVINE WISDOM.GUIDE US O LORD AS WE DELIBERATE OVER THE ISSUES OF OUR CITY.
ELIMINATE OUR JUDGMENTS AND PLANS WITH YOUR INSIGHTS.
MAY WE STEWARD THIS CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY DILIGENTLY AND CREATE A BEACON CITY FOR ALL.
WITH HOPEFUL HEARTS, WE SEEK YOUR GRACE FOR BETTER JUDGMENT.
MAY YOU BE REFLECTED AND GLORIFIED FIRST AND FOREMOST. AMEN.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED.
I AM NOT FUNCTIONING REAL WELL RIGHT NOW. EXCUSE ME.
PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR 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. GOOD THING THERE'S A LIGHT TURNOUT TODAY.
I'LL NOW CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
THIS IS A CITY OF HARDEEVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING,
[II. CALL TO ORDER]
25 MAIN STREET IN HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2025 AT 4:00 PM.WE NOW HAVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON.
[III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS, INCIDENT TO PROPOSED CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAW 30-4-7082, LAND ACQUISITION IN MAIN STREET AREA, AND B, DISCUSSION OF EMPLOYMENT, APPOINTMENT, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION, DEMOTION, DISCIPLINE OR RELEASE OF AN EMPLOYEE, A STUDENT, OR A PERSON REGULATED BY A PUBLIC BODY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAW 30-4-7081 PERSONNEL MATTER CITY ATTORNEY PERFORMANCE REVIEW.
COUNCIL MAY TAKE ACTION IN OPEN SESSION ON MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
[IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND START THE PULLING SESSION PROMPTLY AT 5:00 PM. THANK YOU.
[00:05:41]
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY. ARE WE ON THE AIR? OKAY, I SEE THE SIGN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON.
WE HAVE ALREADY OPENED OUR MEETING, AND SO WE'VE HAD THE INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, AND WE HAVE HAD OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
NOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS RETURN TO THE REGULAR MEETING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO RETURN TO REGULAR MEETING.
>> I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, MAYOR.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> WE ARE NOW BACK IN REGULAR SESSION.
MS. SIDNEY, DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP?
[V. PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT)]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PRESENTATION, INTRODUCTION OF REVENUE SPECIALIST, SAMANTHA LONGACRE.
[VI. PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS]
>> JOHN, WHY DON'T YOU DO THE HONORS?
>> OH, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE PLANNING ON GOING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
>> ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO, SAMANTHA LONGACRE,
[A. INTRODUCTION OF REVENUE SPECIALIST-SAMANTHA LONGACRE]
SHE GOES BY SAM JOINED US.SHE CAME TO US VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY ON STAFF.
SHE JUMPED RIGHT IN. SHE HIT THE FLOOR RUNNING.
ALL OF THOSE CLICHES ARE TRUE.
SHE WANTED TO DO ABOUT TWO OR THREE MAYBE FOUR MINUTES OF HER BACKGROUND IN HER HISTORY [LAUGHTER].
>> SHE HAD A SCRIPT, BUT SHE'S BEEN STUDYING IT ALL THAT. I THINK SHE'S GOING TO WIN IT.
HAPPY TO BE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE.
I MOVED TO THE HARDEEVILLE LUFTON AREA A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.
MY HUSBAND AND I ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> TERRIFIC. WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
>> ORIGINALLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, AND THEN WE MOVED TO FLORIDA FOR JUST UNDER TWO YEARS AND NOW WE CAME BACK TO, WELL, WE CAME TO SOUTH CAROLINA, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW I'M A HALF BACK.
>> THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER, A LITTLE TOWN CALLED OXFORD.
>> SOUTHEASTERN. DOWN WHERE DELAWARE, MARYLAND.
>> I WAS BORN AND MY EARLY LIFE FROM PHILADELPHIA SO THAT'S WHY I ASKED.
BUT I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT TOWN.
>> GREAT. WELL, COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR SAM.
>> WELCOME. NEXT, WE HAVE THE PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 21ST,
[VII. PRESENTATION & APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
2025, REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? DOES APPROVAL OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 21ST?
>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM AUGUST 21ST, 2025.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
[A. AUGUST 21, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING]
SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.>> ALL BUSINESS, THIS IS SECOND MEETING.
>> AS A POINT OF ORDER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A REQUEST FROM COUNCIL TO RECEIVE UPDATE ON SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THE STATUS OF VARIOUS ROAD PROJECTS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF NOW WOULD BE BEFORE WE STARTED OLD BUSINESS, A NEW BUSINESS OR IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE THAT LAYER.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IN YOUR COMMENTS.
>> GOT IT. PERFECT. THANK YOU.
>> THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE ATTENDANCE.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE AND
[VIII. OLD BUSINESS]
ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATED ON SUCH PROPERTY AND WHAT WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY.[A. SECOND READING OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN REAL ESTATE AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE LOCATED ON SUCH PROPERTY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO GRANT SUCH PROPERTY RIGHTS TO BEAUFORT-JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY (BJWSA) NECESSARY FOR THE EXIT 8 WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (2025-08-21A)]
THIS IS PROPERTY RIGHTS WITH BUFORD, JASPER, WOODARD AND SEWARD NECESSARY FOR EXEDATE.[00:10:01]
THIS IS SECOND READING.>> YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
THIS ITEM, ONCE APPROVED, WOULD ALLOW THE TRANSFER OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY TO BUFORD, JASPER, WOODARD, AND SEWARD AUTHORITY, SPECIFICALLY, FOR THE PURPOSES OF INSTALLING A SEWER LIFT STATION AS PART OF THE EXIT 8 SEWER PROJECT.
AGAIN, IN ORDER TO TRANSFER PROPERTY, WE HAVE TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE, AND IN ORDER TO PURCHASE PROPERTY, WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE.
>> WE DID PASS THIS FIRST READING AT OUR LAST MEETING.
LET'S START WITH PUBLIC HEARING.
DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS TRANSFER? YOU'RE DISTRACTING ME.
NOBODY FROM THE PUBLIC, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU GO FIRST, MS. GUZMAN.
[PUBLIC HEARING]
I FULLY UNDERSTAND IT AND THEY ASKED QUESTIONS LAST TIME.
WE CAN GO RIGHT TO A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-08-21A.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE SECOND READING ORDINANCE 2025-08-21A.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL OR TO THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS.
>> ALL OPPOSED. THAT ORDINANCE IS NOW OFFICIAL.
[IX. NEW BUSINESS]
WHICH IS FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE TO AMEND SECTION 2-41, EMERGENCY POWERS OF COUNCIL OF THE HARDEEVILLE CODE ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO DECLARE A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHOUT PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVAL SUBJECT TO TITLE LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE.THIS IS ORDINANCE 2025-09-04 A,
[A. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE SOUTH CAROLINA TO AMEND SECTION 2-41, “EMERGENCY POWERS OF COUNCIL”, OF THE HARDEEVILLE CODE OF ORDINANCES TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO DECLARE A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHOUT PRIOR COUNCIL APPROVAL, SUBJECT TO TIME LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO. (2025-09-04A)]
MR. GRUBER, PLEASE?>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS A STAFF-GENERATED ORDINANCE CHANGE, AND REALLY THE PURPOSE OF IT IS IN LOOKING EXISTING LANGUAGE, THAT LANGUAGE WAS CREATED IN AT LEAST AS LATE AS 1983.
IT DOES NOT REALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES OR PRACTICES FOR THINGS LIKE CELL PHONES, VIRTUAL MEETINGS, AND THE LIKE.
WHAT WE HAVE WRITTEN AND INTRODUCED AS PART OF THIS AMENDMENT REALLY IS NOT TO CHANGE OUR PRACTICES, BUT IT'S REALLY TO JUST REFLECT WHAT OUR CURRENT PRACTICES ARE.
WHAT THAT IS IS IT GIVES YOU, THE MAYOR, THE UNILATERAL AUTHORITY TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
I KNOW I'VE TALKED WITH YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND.
FOR SOME STORM EVENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME.
IF WE'RE DEALING WITH A HURRICANE, TYPICALLY THREE, FIVE EVEN SEVEN DAYS OUT, WE CAN HAVE AN IDEA THAT, HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NEED TO RESPOND TO, AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND START TAKING ACTIONS BEFORE THE EVENT OCCURS.
MY CONCERN IS THERE ARE SOME DISASTERS THAT COULD OCCUR.
A TORNADO IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF ONE, AND THEN A DERAILMENT COULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER ONE THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY TIME FOR, AND WE GO STRAIGHT FROM THE EVENT OCCURRING INTO RESPONSE AND RECOVERY MODE.
IN LOOKING AT WHAT THAT WOULD REALLY PLAY OUT, WE'VE CRAFTED THIS LANGUAGE TO SAY, THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY WITHOUT THE CONSULTATION OF COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY CAN ONLY LAST FOR A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS.
IF THERE IS NO ACTION TAKEN BY COUNCIL, THE STATE OF EMERGENCY WOULD EXPIRE AT THAT POINT, BUT DURING THAT SEVEN DAY PERIOD, WE WOULD CALL COUNCIL INTO A SPECIAL MEETING, POSSIBLY, VIRTUALLY, POSSIBLY IN PERSON, DEPENDING UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT AT THAT MEETING, YOU WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE BRIEFED ON THE NATURE OF THE DISASTER, WHAT OUR RESPONSE EFFORTS ARE REGARDING IT AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY AS A WHOLE COUNCIL TO VOTE TO EITHER EXTEND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY BEYOND THE SEVEN DAY PERIOD,
[00:15:01]
OR YOU COULD VOTE TO RESCIND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IMMEDIATELY IF YOU DIDN'T THINK THE CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANTED THAT DECLARATION.AGAIN, NOT TRYING TO REALLY CHANGE ANYTHING ALL THAT MUCH, BUT JUST TRYING TO UPDATE OUR LANGUAGE TO REFLECT WHAT WE BELIEVE OUR ACTUAL CURRENT PRACTICES WOULD BE IN RESPONDING TO A STORM EVENT.
>> JOSH, I THINK I POINTED OUT ALSO TO YOUR COUNCIL, IT IS WHEN AND THERE'S A CAVEAT IN HERE, IT IS UNSAFE OR IMPRACTICAL TO CONVENE A MEETING.
IF THAT'S A CAVEAT, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S TRAIN DERAILMENT OR A HURRICANES ABOUT TO DROP ON US, THAT WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO CONVENE A MEETING.
THAT MEANS BY CONTRAST, IF YOU HAVE TIME, IT HAS TO COME FOR COUNCIL VOTE.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE NOTIFIED.
MY GOAL AS THE ADMINISTRATOR IS, ONCE I KNOW OF A SITUATION IS TO NOTIFY YOU ALL, HEY, THIS IS GOING ON.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PHONE CALL FROM ME TO SAY, THIS IS THE ISSUE, THIS IS THE EXTENT OF THE RESPONSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THAT WAY YOU'RE AWARE OF IT SO THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT IT FROM US RATHER THAN READING ABOUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THE ISSUE BECOMES TRYING TO GET A QUORUM ESTABLISHED, GET A NOTICE PUBLISHED, AND THEN FACILITATE AN ACTUAL COUNCIL MEETING IN THAT SHORT TIME FRAME.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE IN THE LOOP, YOU WILL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ME DURING THAT TIME.
BUT WHAT WE NEED IS THE ABILITY FOR THE MAYOR TO TAKE ACTION JUST IMMEDIATELY DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE THAT GIVES US THE BEST OPPORTUNITY IN TRYING TO GET THOSE EXPENSES RECOVERED IF WE ARE ABLE TO SUBMIT TO EITHER THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THOSE EXPENSES.
>> WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
DOES ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE?
[PUBLIC HEARING]
SEEING NONE, I'LL ASK FOR COUNCIL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AND START WITH MR. CARROLL.>> NO, SIR. I HAD TALKED TO JOSH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT AND EXPRESSED A LITTLE SOMETHING TO YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT IT, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S WHY I POINTED OUT THAT PARAGRAPH WHEN I HAD THAT CONVERSATION, MR. WHITE?
>> MY QUESTION HAS ALREADY BEEN ANSWERED.
WE HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT AND COUNCIL COMMENTS.
I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2025-09-04 A.
>> MISS MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE FIRST READING ORDER 202-05-0904A.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A 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 OPPOSED. SECOND READING WILL BE IN TWO WEEKS.
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, THE MZVO, SECTION 7.2.
[B. FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE (MZDO) SECTION 7.2.F NOTICE FOR APPLICATIONS (2025-09-04B)]
THIS IS 2025-09-O4B.I WILL POINT OUT THAT WE DID DISCUSS THIS IN A WORKSHOP ALREADY, BUT MR. GRUBER, ANY FURTHER INFORMATION THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?
>> YES, SIR. COMING OUT OF THAT WORKSHOP, COUNCIL TO ASK FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, WE HAVE MADE THE LANGUAGE SO THAT THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT BOTH CERTIFIED MAIL AND REGULAR MAIL NOTICES WILL GO OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
THAT WAY, IF THEY'RE UNWILLING TO SIGN FOR THE CERTIFIED NOTICE, THEY WOULD STILL RECEIVE IT OTHERWISE IN THE MAIL AS JUST A GENERAL PIECE OF MAIL.
WE'VE ALSO THEN INCLUDED SOME LANGUAGE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE RADIUS THAT THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.
FOR A SITUATION WHERE IT'S A VERY LARGE PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT MAY NOT HAVE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO IT, WE'VE PUT LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT STAFF WILL DETERMINE WHAT NOTICES NEED TO GO OUT TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS, ARE NOTIFIED.
WE'RE BASICALLY COVERING OURSELVES BOTH WAY.
[00:20:02]
IT'S EITHER GOING TO BE A 500-FOOT RADIUS OR, AS REQUIRED BY STAFF, BASED UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR INTENT OF PROVIDING THAT NOTICE TO ADJOINING LANDOWNERS.BUT THOSE WERE THE TWO THINGS THAT WERE COMING OUT OF THE WORKSHOP THAT WE'VE MADE SURE TO INCORPORATE IN THE FIRST DRAFT.
>> NOW, ASK THE PUBLIC, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS,
[PUBLIC HEARING]
PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME.SAYING NONE, WE'LL GO TO COUNCIL AND MS. GUZMAN.
I HAD SOME QUESTIONS WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND HE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING AND I'M SATISFIED WITH THAT, SO NO MORE QUESTIONS.
>> MY SUGGESTION, JOSHUA, WOULD BE THAT IN THESE KINDS OF COMMUNICATIONS, WE GO TO THE MAXIMUM.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MINIMUM COMMUNICATION PLAN HERE, WE HAVE THE MAXIMUM BECAUSE PEOPLE DESERVE THAT.
IF WE DON'T DO THAT, I THINK IT MAKES US LOOK FOOLISH WHEN ISSUE DOES COME UP.
I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF OVERDOING IT IN A SENSE RATHER THAN UNDOING IT.
>> YES, SIR. I WILL TELL YOU I'M VERY MUCH OF THAT SAME OPINION.
IF YOU ADOPT WHAT IS PRESENTED BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'VE DONE A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF OTHER JURISDICTIONS, PARTICULARLY AROUND LOWCOUNTRY, BUT EVEN ACROSS THE STATE, ALMOST I DON'T WANT TO GUARANTEE IT, BUT I WOULD PUT MONEY ON IT.
BUT IF WE ADOPT WHAT WAS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, WE WILL HAVE SOME OF THE MOST STRINGENT NOTICE STANDARDS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
>> WE'RE AT THE FRONT OF THE LINE. GOOD.
>> NO QUESTIONS. I ALSO TALKED TO JOSHUA ABOUT THIS.
ONE, I THINK WE SHOULD REVIEW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROTOCOLS IN TERMS OF PUBLIC NOTICES, WHAT WE DO AND WHAT CAN WE DO MORE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
ALSO, I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NIXLE.
GOING ALONG WITH THAT, I'M NOT SURE WE'VE RECENTLY HAD ANY CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO NIXLE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GREAT, BUT LET'S NOT STOP THERE.
I GUESS IT GOES BACK TO WHAT MR. WHITE SAID, LET'S OVERDO IT INSTEAD OF UNDERDO IT.
IF WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET OUT MORE NOTICES, AND NIXLE CERTAINLY, I THINK, IS A WONDERFUL WAY, IF PEOPLE WILL JUST SIGN UP.
BUT WE COULD ALSO, IF WE HAD A CAMPAIGN, DO YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLIC HEARINGS? YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT SOME? SIGN UP FOR NIXLE.
>> YES, SIR. I THINK WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BOTH.
THE ORDINANCE THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING REALLY OUTLINES WHAT THE APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE IN TERMS OF NOTICE.
WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND NIXLE, THOSE ARE BOTH THINGS THAT WE CONTROL.
THOSE ARE REALLY MORE STAFF ACTIONS THAN THEY ARE APPLICANT ONES, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY INCORPORATE THAT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL.
>> THAT'S WHY I SAID, LET'S CHECK OUR PROTOCOLS, AND IF WE'RE NOT USING THEM FOR THIS, PERHAPS LET'S ANALYZE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
WE'VE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE'VE HAD COUNCIL COMMENT.
I AM NOW GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES, AND THIS IS 202509-04B.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ON FIRST READING ORDINANCE NO.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A 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.
>> SECOND READING IN TWO WEEKS.
NOW, THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF EXCESS WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY CREDITS FROM THE CITY TO BEAUFORT-JASPER YMCA.
[C. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF EXCESS WATER AND SEWER CAPACITY CREDITS FROM THE CITY TO BEAUFORT-JASPER YMCA (2025-09-04C)]
THIS IS RESOLUTION 2025-09-04C, MR. GRUBER, PLEASE.>> YES, SIR. IF YOU RECALL THAT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WE WORKED WITH BEAUFORT-JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
[00:25:01]
TO UPDATE THEIR CAPACITY CREDIT PROGRAM.AS PART OF THAT UPDATE, GOING FORWARD, THE CITY'S GOING TO RECEIVE AN ALLOCATION OF $200,000 PER YEAR IN CAPACITY CREDITS THAT WE CAN USE FOR EITHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS OR OTHER QUALIFYING USES.
HOWEVER, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE STILL HAVE WHAT I'M REFERRING TO AS EXCESS CREDITS.
IN THE CITY WHO HAD OWNED THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, WHEN THAT SYSTEM WAS SOLD TO YOU, BEAUFORT-JASPER WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY, WE RECEIVED AN ALLOCATED AMOUNT OF CAPACITY CREDITS THAT ARE STILL ACTIVE AND ON THE BOOKS.
THEY'RE REFLECTED IN TERMS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS PER DAY IN WATER OR WASTEWATER CAPACITY, BUT THAT CAN BE CONVERTED TO A PRESENT-DAY VALUE OF ABOUT $340,000.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN ASKED BY BEAUFORT JASPER TO SPEND DOWN THOSE CREDITS AS POSSIBLE, KNOWING THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO THIS NEW PROGRAM, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION.
WE DID AN EXAMINATION OF ALL THE CITY'S CURRENT NEEDS, AS WELL AS OUR UPCOMING NEEDS FOR OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WE'VE USED THOSE CAPACITY CREDITS TO SATISFY THEM, BUT WE STILL HAVE A POT OF CREDITS, THAT WE DON'T OTHERWISE HAVE AN INTENDED USE FOR.
AND SO WE WERE APPROACHED BY THE BEAUFORT-JASPER YMCA AS PART OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW FACILITY IN EAST ARGENT, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $90,000 IN CAPACITY FEES IN ORDER TO TAP INTO THE NEW SYSTEM FOR THAT FACILITY.
IF YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF IT, THIS REQUEST WOULD ALLOW US TO TRANSFER OR DONATE THE EQUIVALENT OF $90,000 IN OUR EXISTING CAPACITY CREDITS FOR THE YMCA TO USE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
>> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC, IF THE PUBLIC HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RESOLUTION.
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
SAYING NONE, LET'S START OUR QUESTIONING WITH MR. CARROLL.>> WELL, AFTER THAT, I GUESS YOU SAY THAT PAYMENT OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY TO YMCA.
>> IT DOES NOT. OUR CURRENT BALANCE OF THESE HISTORICAL CREDITS HAS A VALUE OF ABOUT 340,000?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE STILL HAVE ABOUT $250,000 TO CONTINUE TO SPEND NOW.
>> THEY'VE EXPRESSED THAT THEY WOULD PREFER FOR US TO EXTINGUISH SO THAT WE CAN TAKE THEM OFF THE BOOKS, BUT IT'S BEEN CARRIED OVER FOR SOME TIME.
WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT ON THE CLOCK TO USE THEM.
BUT AS OPPORTUNITIES ARISE, THEY WOULD LIKE US TO USE THESE.
>> MR. MAYOR. I HAD TALKED TO SOME.
YOU REALLY HAVE TO ON THE SURFACE, QUESTION IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT JOSH EXPLAINED IT, AND I SEE THE OVERALL OUTCOME, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION.
>> I THINK THIS FITS WITH OUR LONG-TERM VIEW OF EXPANDING THAT AND THE WHY AND ALL THAT.
I THINK IT FITS RIGHT IN THERE, AND IT'S A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.
>> I DO AGREE WITH MY TWO FELLOW COUNCILMEN.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO A GREAT ENTITY, AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP THEM OUT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYONE IN JASPER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> THE SUPPORT OF THE YMCA SINCE THE LAND WAS DONATED TO THEM, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR CITY AND TO OUR RESIDENTS.
ANYWAY, WE CAN HELP THEM, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE AT SLOCO, THEY GAVE A PRESENTATION.
THEY STILL HAVE SOME MONEY TO RAISE TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS, AND THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP THAT CAUSE.
ALSO IN THAT PRESENTATION, THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE HAS REALLY BEEN A GOOD CONTRIBUTOR, AND I COMMEND THE CITY FOR THAT.
BUT I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION BASED ON THAT PRESENTATION, AND THIS IS A QUESTION TO THE WHY.
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE YES OR NO VOTE.
BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'VE GIVEN CREDITS, PERHAPS BLUFFTON HAS SOME ACCESS, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM IT AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF BUFORD COUNTY WOULD HAVE ANY CREDITS, BUT IF THERE ARE OTHER CREDITS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT COULD HELP WITH THIS,
[00:30:04]
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH ASKING THEM.>> SURE. I WILL TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD LEGACY CREDITS BECAUSE OURS CAME FROM SELLING WATER SKEWER SYSTEM THAT WE HAD, BUT THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE NEW CAPACITY CREDIT PROGRAM GOING FORWARD, AND SO THEY'LL HAVE AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION THAT THEY COULD USE TOWARD THIS AS WELL.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT THAT OUT THERE.
>> I THINK AS WE SAW AT SLOCO, THEY HAVE A LAUNDRY LIST OF NAMING YOU KNOW POSSIBILITIES.
YOU KNOW SO MUCH A ROOM NAME FOR IT FOR YOU.
MAYBE THAT'S ONE WAY TO MAKE THAT CONTRIBUTION.
>> I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. I THINK YOU DO.
>> LET'S NOW HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE, OR MAKE ANY CHANGES.
THIS IS RESOLUTION 2025-09-O4C.
>> DO ANYBODY LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?
>> MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
YOU ACCEPT THE NUMBER OF MAYOR.
2025. I GOT DISTRACTED, SORRY.
>> THAT'S JOSH'S FAULT 2025-08201A.
>> I SAW HIM TALKING YOU WERE THINKING.
>> FORM OF ORDER. HE SAID I DON'T KNOW IF IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, BUT HE USED THE WRONG.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC.
SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS ON FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED. ANOTHER RESOLUTION
[D. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, DESCRIBING THE HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO BE EFFECTED THEREBY, THE PROJECTED TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN, THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AND THE AMOUNT OF SUCH COSTS TO BE DERIVED FROM ASSESSMENTS, BONDS, AND OTHER FUNDS; SETTING FORTH THE PROPOSED BASIS AND RATES OF ASSESSMENTS TO BE IMPOSED WITHIN THE]
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HARDEEVILLE, DESCRIBING THE HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST ARGENT MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND THE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST.THIS IS TWO OH 25-09-04D, MR. GRUBER, PLEASE.
>> YES, SIR. WE HELD A WORKSHOP LAST WEEK, AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, A MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IS ESSENTIALLY USING THE CITY'S ABILITY TO ISSUE TAX-EXEMPT BONDS TO PAY FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AS PART OF A COMMUNITY OR SUBDIVISION.
IN THIS CASE, IT'S WITHIN THE HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST AREA.
AS AN INITIAL ACTION IN STARTING TO FORM THE MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IS ADOPTING A RESOLUTION, IDENTIFYING AND DESCRIBING THE DISTRICT ITSELF, AS WELL AS THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DONE USING THE PROCEEDS OF THOSE BONDS.
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY, THERE'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL OTHER ITEMS FOR THIS THAT BEHIND IT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE OF ORDINANCES TO ACTUALLY BORROW THE MONEY.
BUT REALLY, THIS JUST STARTS THIS PROCESS.
IT DOES NOT BIND THE CITY TO ULTIMATELY COMPLETING IT.
BUT IT DOES INDICATE THAT WE ARE GOING DOWN THE ROAD OF FORMING A MUNICIPAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE PURPOSES OF FACILITATING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE HILTON HEAD LAKES WEST AREA.
WE'VE GOT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HERE, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE COVERED DURING OUR WORKSHOP, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYBODY MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. LET'S OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC.
DOES ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
LET'S GO TO THE COUNCIL.MS. GUZMAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PER SE, BUT MY CONCERN AT THE WORKSHOP WAS HOW THE POTENTIAL BUYERS WERE GOING TO BE INFORMED THAT PART OF THIS COST WAS GOING TO BE TACKED ON TO THEIR MORTGAGE.
I WAS JUST I JUST WANT TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THEY ARE INFORMED RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE TACKED ON TO THEIR MORTGAGE.
THAT'S WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST.
>> YES, MA'AM. IN RESPONSE TO THAT, AND I'LL PROBABLY TURN IT OVER HERE TO
[00:35:02]
PRE GIVE YOU A BETTER EXPLANATION, BUT IN RESPONSE TO THAT, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS INCORPORATED LANGUAGE THAT IS GOING TO MANDATORILY REQUIRE AT LEAST THE INITIAL DEVELOPER TO ENSURE THAT NOTICE IS PROVIDED TO ANY POTENTIAL PURCHASER OF A PROPERTY.NOW, ONCE IT'S BEEN INITIALLY SOLD TO SOMEBODY, ANY SUBSEQUENT TRANSFERS WOULDN'T BE COVERED BY THAT REQUIREMENT, BUT AT LEAST ANY INITIAL SALES OR TRANSFER OF PROPERTY FROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM WOULD HAVE THAT AFFIRMATIVE OBLIGATION IN THE DOCUMENTS.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS IF THERE IS A RESALE OF THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY, HOW WILL THAT NEW OWNER BE AWARE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL COST TACKED ON TO THEIR MORTGAGE? HOW WILL THEY FIND OUT?
>> IT'S ACTUALLY IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT, SO IT'S BILLED ANNUALLY ON THEIR TAX BILL.
IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE ON THE MORTGAGE.
I THINK BECAUSE IN THIS INSTANCE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE TWO BONDS ISSUED.
ONE OF THEM WILL BE PAID OFF ON THAT INITIAL SALE.
TECHNICALLY, YOU'D SAY THAT WOULD BE PART OF THEIR PURCHASE PRICE.
BUT THE SECOND BOND WILL BE SPACED OUT THROUGHOUT.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING 30 YEARS.
IT WILL BE A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ANNULAR BILL WITH YOUR ANNUAL TAX BILL.
ONE OF THE PARTS WE'RE WORKING ON DRAFTING THAT LANGUAGE PURSUANT TO THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD AT THE WORKSHOP THAT WILL REQUIRE THE DEVELOPER TO PUT THIS IN A RECORDED CONDITION COVENANT.
THAT WAY, IT WILL RUN WITH THAT LAND WHEN IT IS TRANSFERRED.
>> THEN AN ADDITIONAL STEP, THE CITY IS UTILIZING ECAP AS AN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DISTRICT, AT LEAST THAT'S ANTICIPATED, YOU WILL AUTHORIZE YOUR ADMINISTRATOR WILL BE LATER IN THIS PROCESS THROUGH SOME ADDITIONAL ORDINANCES WHICH ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.
THEY HAVE A DISCLOSURE PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO DO OR PROPOSE TO DO FOR THE CITY, WHICH WILL INCLUDE INFORMATION THAT'S ONLINE, WHERE YOU CAN GO PUT IN YOUR PROPERTY TEXT NUMBER, AND THEN WHAT THAT SPECIAL ASSESSMENT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THAT PARTICULAR PARCEL.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF LARGER PARCELS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE SUBDIVIDED.
>> WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BELT AND SUSPENDERS THIS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT GETTING NOTICE TO PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE.
IT'S A REQUIREMENT IN OUR DOCUMENTS, IT'S GOING TO BE RECORDED IN THE CHAIN OF TITLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
THEN AS THE SELLER THEMSELVES, AS PART OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURE.
IF THEY HAVE NOT SATISFIED THAT FULL ASSESSMENT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO DISCLOSE IT AS WELL.
THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH A PROSPECTIVE WOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS IMPACT.
>> AFTER 30 YEARS THAT JUST FALLS UP TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> EITHER AFTER 30 YEARS, OR THEY COULD GO AHEAD AND PREPAY IT.
IF THEY HEAD AND PAY THE ENTIRE ASSESSMENT, THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR THEM TO FRONT LOAD THAT.
AS PART OF THE SALE, THAT COULD BE NEGOTIATED INTO IT, THAT THEY WOULDN'T ANY SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY.
>> JOSH, WHAT YOU DESCRIBED HAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.
IT'S EASY FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE, THOUGH THERE'S ALL THESE DOUBLE-CHECKS AND TRIPLE-CHECKS.
I JUST THINK IF WE'RE ON TOP OF THIS AND HAVE IT GO SMOOTHLY, THAT'S A LOT BETTER THAN LEARNING WHAT WE DID WRONG, SO IT WENT WRONG.
I THINK THAT NEEDS SOME ATTENTION REGIONALLY AND WITH THE PROFESSIONALS, ETC.
>> YES, SIR. YOU MAKE AN EXCELLENT POINT THAT WE HAVE AN EXISTING MID IN THE EAST ARGENT AREA.
A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH HELD HEAD LEGS WEST.
I'LL TELL YOU, THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHERS, THAT ARE LIKELY TO COME BEHIND THEM, ASKING FOR THEIR OWN SEPARATE MIDS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR.
BUT WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN ALREADY IN THE EAST ARGENT AREA, WE'RE MODELING A LOT OF THESE THINGS AFTER THAT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S WORKING WELL.
>> JOSH, IF SOMEBODY HAD THAT HOUSE OR WHAT AND THEY SOLD IT, NONE OF THAT WOULD BE IN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE CLOSING ATTORNEY?
>> IT WOULD. WHEN YOU GO TO LIST YOUR HOME, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT A RESIDENTIAL CLOSE HAS THERE EVER BEEN LEAD PAINT ASBESTOS? AS IT [OVERLAPPING], SO YOU GOT TO IDENTIFY IF THERE'S ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS ON THE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY THAT.
>> SEE THAT WOULD BE A TIME OF A SECOND.
THAT'S THAT, AND IT'S IN THE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS.
SO IF YOU'RE MOVING INTO AN HOA REGULATED COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE NOT REVIEWING THE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THAT COMMUNITY, YOU ARE ASKING FOR A WORLD OF PURPOSE? ABSOLUTELY. IT'S GOING TO BE LISTED THERE AS WELL.
[00:40:01]
THEN AGAIN, ANY TITLE SEARCH THAT THEY WOULD CHECK, IT'S GOING TO BE RECORDED IN THE CHAIN OF TITLE.THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOTIFIED.
>> YOU JUST ASKED MY QUESTION.
BECAUSE HAVING BEEN THROUGH A NUMBER OF REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, THERE'S ATTORNEY REVIEW AND ALL THAT STUFF IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE, OTHERWISE, IT'S BUYER BEWARE, RIGHT?
>> THAT'S IT. NOW, ADMITTEDLY, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO CLOSING RECENTLY, YOU GET HANDED A SACK OF DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ABOUT THIS.
IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO READ THEM, YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE NOTIFIED ABOUT.
>> THAT'S IT. SINCE COUNCILMAN CARROLL'S TOTALING QUESTION.
LET'S HAVE A MOTION THEN TO APPROVE, DISAPPROVE OR MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE.
EXCUSE ME. THIS IS A RESOLUTION OF 2025-09-04 D.
>> MR. MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ON FIRST RATING RESOLUTION NUMBER 2025-09-04 D.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL OR THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR OUR VOICE VOTE ON THIS ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE, SAY AYE.
NEXT, WE HAVE CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS ON SALT TO SHARE IN THE COST OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES.
[E. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FROM SALT TO SHARE IN COST OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES]
MR. GRUBER, PLEASE?>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, STAFF HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOUTH ATLANTIC LOGISTICS TERMINAL OR SALT.
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, WE'VE EXPRESSED OUR DESIRE THAT RIGHT NOW POWER THAT NEEDS TO GO TO THEIR LOCATION IS LOCATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF HIGHWAY 17.
WE'VE EXPRESSED A VERY STRONG DESIRE TO SEE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS COME ACROSS HIGHWAY 17 BEING UNDERGROUNDED, RATHER THAN PUTTING ADDITIONAL POLES AND AERIAL LINES IN THE AIR.
IN TALKING WITH KAY BROWN, WHO'S HERE ON BEHALF OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THEY RECEIVED SOME INITIAL ESTIMATES ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO JUST RUN THE POWER OVERHEAD, AND IT WAS JUST SHY OF ABOUT $600,000.
WELL, IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF IT WERE TO BE UNDERGROUND, IT ADDS A LITTLE BIT, I THINK, ABOUT $516,000 IN ADDITIONAL EXPENSES TO THE PROJECT.
IN SPEAKING WITH THEM, WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE USE OF SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT FEES THAT THEY ARE PAYING AS PART OF THIS PROJECT.
I BELIEVE CUMULATIVELY THAT NUMBERS WOULD BE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT $3.2 MILLION.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED FOR THE USE OF THOSE FUNDS IN THAT AREA, GIVEN THAT HIGHWAY 17 IS ALREADY TWO LANE IN BOTH WAYS.
WE THINK THAT THIS IS A VERY APPROPRIATE USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO HELP ENSURE ONE THAT WE MAINTAIN THE AIR FREE OF OBSTRUCTIONS, BECAUSE IT LOOKS BETTER FROM AN ASCETIC STANDPOINT AND PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ALLOWS US TO START BECOMING A LITTLE BIT MORE RESILIENT AS A COMMUNITY.
THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE SOME STORM EVENT, TYPICALLY COMMUNITIES WITH LINES THAT ARE UNDERGROUND CAN RECOVER FASTER THAN COMMUNITIES WHOSE LINES ARE ALL ABOVE GROUND.
STAFF IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS REQUEST, BUT GIVEN THE DOLLAR VALUES THAT ARE INVOLVED, WE WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOU TO OBTAIN YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS.
>> MISS GRUBER, BEFORE I TURN IT OVER, WOULD YOU PLEASE REMIND THE COUNSEL OF PREVIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS BY S FROM THEIR DEVELOPMENT FEES?
>> THIS ONE, I THINK YOU'VE MADE TWO PAYMENTS.
IT'S A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION AT THIS POINT.
>> JUST TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN AN UPFRONT CONTRIBUTION OF $2 MILLION FOR OUR USE OF DEVELOPMENT FEES.
>> AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE USED ANY SALTS DEVELOPMENT.
>> THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN SOME RECOUPING OF DEVELOPMENT FEES.
>> YES, SIR. IF YOU WOULD, WE'LL USE THESE FANCY NEW MONITORS.
IF YOU CAN SCROLL DOWN, I ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE A COUPLE OF PHOTOGRAPHS JUST HELPING TO IDENTIFY.
[00:45:02]
THIS FIRST PHOTO THAT YOU SEE, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THEIR ENTRANCES, AND YOU CAN SEE THE EXISTING CONDITIONS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THROUGH THIS AREA.YOU DON'T SEE ANY OF THE POWER LINES CROSSING OVERHEAD.
WHEREAS, SOME OF THE LATER PHOTOS THAT YOU'LL SEE THAT ARE FURTHER ON DOWN THIS CORRIDOR.
THEY DO SHOW OVERHEAD LINES IN PLACE.
THIS IS THE SECOND ENTRANCE, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS THEIR THIRD ENTRANCE, AND POWER TO THIS LOCATION IS GOING TO NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO ALL THREE ENTRANCES HENCE THE SIGNIFICANT COST.
THEN IF YOU KEEP GOING DOWN, YOU CAN SEE, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE OTHER LINES THAT DO CROSS.
AGAIN, IT MAY SEEM SOMEWHAT OF A MINOR ISSUE.
BUT I'M A HUGE PROPONENT OF TRYING UNDERGROUND LINES THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BECAUSE I THINK IT PROVIDES, AGAIN, MULTIPLE BENEFITS IF WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> MR. CARROLL, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS?
>> NO, SIR, I HAD NONE. AGAIN, WE HAD NONE.
I HAD TALKED TO JOSH ABOUT THIS AND IF THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, NOT TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
>> AS MULTIPLE BENEFITS, IF WE DON'T DO IT, IT CREATES MULTIPLE PROBLEMS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO AVOID THAT, I THINK, IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.
>> I THINK IT ALSO HELPS US TO CREATE AN EXPECTATION THAT FUTURE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE GOING TO COME IN, WE'RE GOING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE AS PART OF ANY DEVELOPMENT.
>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BECAUSE WE HAVE BAD STONES AND YOU HAVE A POWER LINE GO DOWN, SO THAT'S AN ENTIRE GRID THAT LOSES POWER.
THIS WAY, WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT IF IT'S UNDERGROUND.
THE ONLY THING I WAS READING ABOUT VARYING LINES ON THE GROUND, DO THEY LOSE SOME CAPACITY?
>> I'VE BEEN A PART OF A NUMBER OF SESSIONS. I DON'T RECALL ANY.
>> THEY DON'T LOSE ANY STRENGTH.
WHEN I'VE SEEN THE HIGH VOLTAGE LINES.
I KNOW IF YOU WANT TO UNDERGROUND THOSE, SOMETIMES YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT IN A COOLING SYSTEM TO KEEP THEM OVERHEATING.
BUT I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THEM LOSING ANY LATENCY BEING UNDERGROUND AS COMPARED TO OVER.
>> BECAUSE I REMEMBER READING SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T RECALL.
I THINK IT'S A SMART IDEA TO PUT THEM IN THE GROUND.
IT'S ALSO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AS WELL.
I GUESS SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T PUT ON THE GROUND I GUESS.
WHICH IS A SHAME, BECAUSE IT WAS THE NICE EVERYTHING. EVENTUALLY, CAN BE ON.
>> IT'S A GOOD POINT. WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS CONVERSATION, BUT DOMINION WHO RUNS THE POWER IN THIS AREA, WILL ALLOW OTHER UTILITIES TO CO-LOCATE IN THE UNDERGROUNDING THAT THEY DO.
SPARK, WHO I BELIEVE IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING FIBER TO THE AREA.
BASICALLY, THERE'S COORDINATION THERE THAT WHEN THEY OPEN UP A TRENCH, THEY'D BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH MULTIPLE UTILITY COMPANIES GETTING LINES UNDERGROUND.
>> WELL, I THINK I AGREE WITH YOU THAT ANYTIME THEY CAN GO UNDERGROUND, I SHOULD.
THAT'S LAST CENTURY'S TECHNOLOGY, AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE.
ALSO, TO ME, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IMPACT FEES, DEVELOPMENT FEES, WHATEVER WAY YOU WANT TO CALL.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD USE OF THE MONEY.
I CERTAINLY HAVE NO OBJECTION TO IT.
NOW, I SEE THIS IS CONSIDERATION.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM COUNSEL? A VOTE?
>> YES, SIR. BECAUSE OF THE DOLLAR VALUE INVOLVED, IT'S BEYOND MY AUTHORITY TO APPROPRIATE THOSE FUNDS, BUT YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROPRIATE, I BELIEVE IT'S $516,000 IN REIMBURSEMENT FROM US.
>> THAT EXACT AMOUNT. [INAUDIBLE]
>> IS THIS A CONSIDERED A RESOLUTION OR JUST A VOTE?
I WAS GOING TO SAY I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A FORMAL RESOLUTION FOR YOU THIS EVENING, BUT A VOICE VOTE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO GIVE US AUTHORIZATION.
IN TALKING WITH THE STAFF ATTORNEY, I THINK WHAT WE WOULD LOOK TO DO IS PROBABLY PUT TOGETHER SOME JUST VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD MOU THAT TALKS ABOUT, THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM REIMBURSEMENT AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE WORK IS DONE APPROPRIATE.
>> LET'S GIVE THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THIS.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? SEEING NONE.
LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, IS THAT THE RIGHT WORD?
>> YES, SIR. MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE UTILIZATION OF 500 AND
[00:50:06]
$16,000 TO BURY THE UTILITIES FOR THE SALT COMPLEX.>> I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION, MR. MAYOR.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL OR THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE, I'LL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS.
ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE, SAY AYE.
>> NOW, WE HAVE A MOTION COMING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
THAT MOTION IS TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING
[F. MATTERS ARISING FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THE CITY MANAGER TO PROCEED WITH LAND ACQUISITION SHOULD THE ADDRESS?>> 901 JENKINS AVENUE, SUBJECT TO THE RECEIPT OF AN APPRAISAL THAT SUPPORTS THE PURCHASE PRICE OUTLINED IN THE PURCHASE SALE AGREEMENT.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND TO THIS MOTION?
>> WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS BY COUNSEL? MR. CARROLL? NO, SO WE SO ON THIS EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> I HAVE NO ADDITIONAL, SO I WILL CALL FOR A VOICE VOTE ON THIS ON FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PROCEED.
MR. GRUBER, LET'S NOW HAVE YOUR REPORT?
>> YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MATT DAVIS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER TO THE PODIUM, TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON A NUMBER OF
[X. MANAGER’S REPORT]
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND THE CITY.>> BEFORE I START ON THE ON THE TRANSPORTATION, I DID WANT TO EXPOUND A LITTLE BIT ON YOUR PREVIOUS AGENDA ITEM.
THE FIRST PAYMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM SALT, WE ACTUALLY USED THOSE FUNDS TO PAY FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS TOWER DOWN 17.
>> IF YOU RECALL, ORIGINALLY, THAT DEAL WAS WE WERE GOING TO SPLIT THAT COST WITH JASPER COUNTY, AND THEY HAD MADE THEIR PAYMENT TO US, SO WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO REFUND THEM THEIR MONEY, SO WE ALREADY USED SOME OF THEM, BUT FOR A VERY GOOD PURPOSE.
>> THAT WAS FOR SOMETHING, SO I REMEMBER.
>> MAYOR, YOU HAD ORIGINALLY IT WAS ABOUT 3.1 MILLION WAS THE CONTRIBUTION, AND YOU HAVE APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION LEFT.
THERE ARE AMPLE FUNDS TO TOWARDS THIS.
>> I KNOW JUST THE QUESTION HAD BEEN ASKED.
>> QUITE FRANKLY, TO RECOGNIZE THEM AGAIN THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THIS, AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG BENEFIT TO OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS.
AS FAR AS THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE MANY GOING ON IN THE CITY IN VARIOUS PHASES.
I'LL JUST GO DOWN THE LIST IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
IF WE HAVE THE LEFT TERM PROJECT ON US 278 AT LATITUDE, MARGARET DEVILLE AND HILTON HEAD LAKES, THAT PROJECT IS UNDERWAY.
PROBABLY AFTER THIS WEEK, ALL THE WORK NOW WILL BE START HAPPENING AT NIGHTTIME.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT THAT HAS NOT IMPACTED TRAFFIC TO THIS POINT.
AGAIN, WORK'S GOING TO MOVE THE NIGHTTIME, SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION SHOULD BE DONE IN MARCH.
AS WE AWARDED THE CONTRACT AT ARGENT A SHORTCUT JASPER STATION INTERSECTION.
THAT'S ABOUT A NINE MONTH COMPLETION PERIOD WITH SOME INCENTIVES IN THERE IF THEY COMPLETE IT IN NINE MONTHS OR LESS.
JUST FOR EVERYONE'S CLARIFICATION, THIS IS A TWO PRONGED PROJECT.
THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, THE NEW LANES, TURNING LANES, ETC AT THE INTERSECTION.
THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, SCDOT WILL COME IN AND INSTALL THE ACTUAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT THEY WERE COORDINATED.
SCDOT ATTENDED OUR PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING.
THAT'S ALL TEED UP AND READY TO GO, ONCE THE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, THE OTHER PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE DONE.
WE ALSO HAD PERFORMED A SIGNAL WARRANT ANALYSIS ON ARGENT AND AT SUN CITY THERE WHERE THE NEW OVERPASS IS.
STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT AND THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY, THAT WARRANT ANALYSIS WITH SCDOT.
WE'LL REPORT BACK ON THAT, WE KNOW MORE.
>> ALSO, I HAD CONFIRMATION JUST YESTERDAY FROM SCDOT THAT THE PROJECT TO INSTALL A SIGNAL AND LENGTHEN THE TURN LANE AT US 278 AND ARGENT BOULEVARD WILL BE BID OUT THIS MONTH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR TIME FRAME IS AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT IS BEING BID THIS MONTH.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT TWO YEARS OVERDUE. WE'RE EXCITED. ABOUT THIS.
>> IT'S THIS MONTH OR NOVEMBER?
>> NO, IT'S THIS MONTH. THERE WAS A DOCUMENT WE WERE LOOKING AT,
[00:55:02]
AND IT WAS NOT VERY CLEAR, BUT THAT ACTUALLY MEANT THAT IT WAS MOVED UP TO SEPTEMBER FROM NOVEMBER. I GOT THAT DIRECTLY.>> NO. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS NOVEMBER.
SEMANTICS HERE. OKAY, I GOT IT.
>> BUT I HAD THAT DIRECTLY FROM THE DISTRICT ENGINEER AS OF YESTERDAY.
THAT PROJECT IS BEING LET THIS MONTH.
THE EAST ARGENT PARKWAY, THE LOOP ROAD THROUGH THE EAST ARGENT TRACT, THE ROUGH QUOTE FOR THAT INCOMPLETE ROADWAY SHOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT ROAD SOMETIME IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THE RAIN CERTAINLY HAS DONE A NUMBER ON THEM OUT THERE THIS SUMMER, BUT THEY ARE MAKING PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, YOU MAY RECALL THERE'S A CONNECTION FROM JASPER STATION ROAD TO THE EAST ARGENT PARKWAY.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THROUGH THE RETREAT PROJECT.
PROBABLY, THAT CONNECTION WILL TAKE PLACE SOMETIME IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS OR SO.
THE LAST AND FINAL SECTION OF THE RETREAT IS IN OUR SRC REVIEW RIGHT NOW WITH OUR PLANNING STAFF.
THAT'S WHERE THAT CONNECTION WILL BE MADE, SO THAT'S MOVING ALONG AS WELL.
THEN, FINALLY, AS YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED $8 MILLION FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND D.R.
HORTON TO IMPROVE THE INTERSECTION AT US 278 AND JOHN SMITH ROAD.
THAT WORK IS ALREADY UNDERWAY TO DESIGN THAT NEW INTERSECTION.
DESIGN AND PERMITTING, WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT PROBABLY SOMEWHERE 12 AND 18 MONTHS TO GET THAT AND THEN BE ABLE TO PUT IT OUT TO BID FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S SEVEN PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING ALONG, NOT AS FAST AS ANY OF US WOULD LIKE, BUT THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD.
>> MATT, THAT 12 TO 18 MONTHS AT JOHN SMITH ROAD?
[OVERLAPPING] I THINK THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS AT THAT INTERSECTION LAST WEEK.
>> DOES THAT 18 MONTHS INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF A LIGHT OR JUST THE TURNING?
>> THAT'S JUST THE DESIGN AND THE PERMITTING.
>> DESIGN AND PERMITTING, SO IT'S NO CONSTRUCTION?
>> IT'S 12 TO 18 MONTHS FOR DESIGN AND PERMITTING?
>> THEN I WOULD SAY ADD THREE TO FOUR MONTHS ON TO THE END OF THAT FOR PUTTING A BID PACKAGE TOGETHER, AND THEN PROBABLY ANOTHER EIGHT TO 10 MONTHS FOR ACTUAL RELEASE.
>> WE ARE A MONTH TO SIX WEEKS INTO THAT FRAME ANYWAY.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT, SO IT'S A LITTLE SHORTER THAN THAT.
>> IT'S HAPPENING. AGAIN, NOT AS FAST AS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE, BUT IT'S HAPPENING.
>> MS. GUZMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> IF I MIGHT SUGGEST, BECAUSE I GET QUESTIONS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THIS.
COULD WE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY MONTH, MAYBE ONCE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS, HAVE THIS FIVE-MINUTE REPORT?
>> MAYOR, JUST SO YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON WITH THE NEW GIS STAFF MEMBER THAT WE HAVE ON THE BOARD IS CONNECTING OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PUBLIC DASHBOARD THAT IF YOU WANT TO CHECK ON STATUS OF ANY PROJECT, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO IN THERE AND CLICK ON AND SEE WHAT THE LATEST ACTIVITIES ARE, SEE PHOTOS OF THE PROJECT, AND THEN UNDERSTAND THAT TIMELINE, BECAUSE COMMUNICATING THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO US.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE, JOSH?
>> LET'S GO ALPHABETICALLY AND START WITH MR. CARROLL.
>> YES, MR. MAYOR. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
[XI. COUNCIL ISSUES AND CONCERNS]
I'VE SHARED IT WITH JOSH AND MAYOR.BUT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WITH ANNEXATIONS AND PARTICULARLY BUFFERS.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE SOME ISSUES, AND I'VE TRIED TO ANSWER THEM.
WHERE I COULDN'T ANSWER IT, I SENT IT TO JOSH, AND I TELL YOU WHAT HE'S REALLY BEEN GOOD.
HE'S EITHER CALLED THEM ON THE PHONE OR MET WITH THEM.
IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE HAPPY SOMETIMES WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY HAS A CONCERN OR WANTS TO HELP YOU, IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME FOR YOU TO CALL ME BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T CALL, LET ME KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, SO YOU HAVE TO CALL ME.
ALSO, WE MET LAST WEEK, LAST THURSDAY, MS. [INAUDIBLE] WITH [INAUDIBLE].
I WAS VOTED IN AS CHAIRMAN AGAIN,
[01:00:02]
WHICH IS A HUGE HONOR.AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN TWO OF US FROM HARDEEVILLE IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.
LIKE I SAID, I'M REAL GLAD BECAUSE THE CITY, SEVERAL TIMES WITH NEIL'S HELP HAVE GOTTEN A PIECE OF PIPE THAT HARDEEVILLE CITIZENS DID NOT HAVE TO PAY WITH THE TAX DOLLARS.
THE JAIL, I HAVE GOTTEN SOME CALLS.
I HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE TALK TO ME IN PERSON.
AT FIRST, THEY WERE VERY, VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY SORTED TWO-BY-FOUR BRACES AND A LADDER, AND THEN PULLING THE WEEDS AND VEGETATION DOWN, THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN, BUT THE WHOLE JAIL IS NOT GOING TO BE TORN DOWN.
THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAW THIS WEEK HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD.
THEY'VE, LIKE I SAID, TAKEN THE VEGETATION DOWN.
YOU'LL SEE BRACES ALL AROUND IT.
IT IS GOING TO BE PRESERVED BECAUSE THAT IS THE WHOLE LANDMARK IN HARDEEVILLE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC DID UNDERSTAND THAT.
SPEAKING OF PUBLIC, VERY IMPORTANT.
MR. HARPER'S BIRTHDAY WAS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, AND HE'S BEEN HERE ALL HIS LIFE IN HARDEEVILLE. HE'S 98.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HARPER.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HARPER.
>> HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK IT, BUT HE'S DEFINITELY AN ICON FOR THIS TOWN, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. THAT'S IT, MR. MAYOR.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. MS. GUZMAN?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY.
>> YOU HAVE NOTHING TO SAY? GRACIOUS. GET INTO SOME WAR.
>> MR. WHITE, CAN YOU FOLLOW THAT?
>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE. ONE THING THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, LIKE MANY PEOPLE, WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, LIKE MINNESOTA AND OTHER PLACES, WITH SOME OF THIS VIOLENCE AND THESE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THESE SHOOTERS.
SAM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW, THAT SOMEONE LIKE YOU IS ON TOP OF THAT, BUT I THINK SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FROM A REGIONAL POINT OF VIEW.
IF GOD FORBIDS, SOMETHING TERRIBLE LIKE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT SOUNDED TO ME THIS WASN'T DONE ON THE FLY.
THEY HAD A LOT OF PLANS IN PLACE FOR THESE TERRIBLE THINGS THAT WERE MORE REGIONAL.
I JUST SHARED THAT AS AN OBSERVATION AND JUST TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT DOWN THE ROAD SOMETIME.
>> YES, SIR. WE'LL WORK ON A PRESENTATION FOR YOU, SIR.
>> I'M PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE UP MS. GUZMAN'S MINUTES.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO THE COUNSEL, MR. DOUG SMITH.
DOUG, IF YOU COULD PLEASE COME TO THE DAIS HERE.
MR. SMITH IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE WILL BE CONSTRUCTING A NEW EXIT 3.
HE HAS BEEN OUR ADVISOR IN COLOMBIA, AND WE HAD A MEETING WITH HIM AND SENATOR DAVIS AT LUNCH TODAY.
HE WANTED TO SEE HOW A REAL COUNCIL MEETING WAS HELD.
>> I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE HIM TO COUNSEL AND OFFER HIM THE CHANCE TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.
>> I SERVED IN POLITICS FOR 16 YEARS IN COLOMBIA.
TRUST ME, CHAIRING COMMITTEES, I WAS READY FOR THOSE ALWAYS TO BE DONE, SO I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE. LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS. FRANKLY, I FEEL LIKE I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY 60S ON THIS PROPERTY, AND THEN THIS PROJECT.
BUT IT'S A PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING, WHEN I WAS CALLED IN TO TRY TO HELP GET IT BACK ON TRACK WITH THE STATE INFRASTRUCTURE BANK.
BECAUSE I KNEW OF HARDEEVILLE, I'VE BEEN HERE, VERY INVOLVED WITH THE HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION AND THE TOURNAMENTS.
I KNOW EVERYTHING I CAN KNOW ABOUT THIS AREA, WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE HERE, AND WHAT COULD BE DONE IF WE MADE A COMMITMENT AND GOT IT STRAIGHTENED OUT.
ON MY WAY HOME, I CALLED MY WIFE.
I LIVE IN [INAUDIBLE]. I HAD A GOOD DRIVE.
I TOLD HER, I SAID, LOOK, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND MORE TIME THAN YOU CAN THINK ON THIS PROJECT.
[01:05:03]
SHE'S READY FOR ME TO BRING ON THE BACON.OBVIOUSLY, I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE RIVERPORT TEAM IS REALLY COMMITTED TO IT.
FRANKLY, WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, WHEN IT REALLY STARTED WAS 15 YEARS AGO.
I WASN'T INVOLVED THEN, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THEN I KNOW [INAUDIBLE] AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER GUYS WERE.
THEY THOUGHT THIS PROJECT WOULD CHANGE HARDEEVILLE.
BECAUSE OF ALL OF OUR EFFORTS, YOUR EFFORTS, AND PREVIOUS COUNSEL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE YOU AND OTHERS HAVE MADE THE COMMITMENT, I THINK WAY BACK, IT STARTED CHANGING.
WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT NOW.
I NOTICED THAT SO MANY CONSULTANTS HERE.
WE'VE ACTUALLY MET WITH THOSE GUYS BEFORE.
WE ALL HAVE ADJOINING PROPERTY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU WITHOUT HESITATION THAT OUR RIVERPORT TEAM IS COMMITTED TO THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
THE STAFF HAS BEEN HERE, SO I KNOW MOST OF THE STAFF, AT LEAST FROM WAY BACK.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU AND OTHERS, IT'S JUST A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.
IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO COME.
>> NOW I'M GOING TO TAKE UP MS. GUZMAN ONE LAST TIME.
ON THE 22ND, WE HAD THE TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX COMMITTEE, A REGULAR MEETING, AND JASPER COUNTY'S VOTING TO HIRE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, CONSULTING, ENGINEERING TEAM TO MANAGE THE PROJECTS ON THE REFERENDUM.
THIS IS THE SAME TEAM THAT'S GOING TO BE MANAGING THE WIDENING OF I-95.
THERE'S A LOT OF SYNERGIES THERE.
THAT TOOK PLACE ON TUESDAY NIGHT, THAT VOTE.
ON THE 25TH, THE JASPER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAD A SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS, AND I THINK THE NEW ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, SECRETARY WEAVER, WAS THERE.
EACH ONE OF THE PRINCIPALS, THE FOUR PRINCIPALS, CAME UP AND TOLD ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL.
LISTENING TO THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, I WAS VERY HOPEFUL, AND I WANT TO EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO ALL FOUR OF THE SCHOOLS IN JASPER COUNTY.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO WELL.
SOLOCO, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE RED CROSS, THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK, AND ONE OTHER.
WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THAT TEAM [INAUDIBLE] PARTY BILL FOR THE ALZHEIMER'S WALK ON LAST SATURDAY IN OCTOBER IS STILL TAKING CONTRIBUTIONS IN NEW MEMBERS.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, WE'RE ALMOST AT $2,000.
SO WE ARE BEATING TEAM BLUFFTON.
THAT'S GOING TO SAY, GIVE ME A FREE LUNCH, SO DON'T FORGET, ALL AT THE NEW [INAUDIBLE] WHICH I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER. THAT'S RIGHT.
I GAVE A SPEECH TO ONE OF THE SUN CITY NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE 27TH.
I LIKE THAT NEW FORMAT THAT WE STARTED AT MARGARITAVILLE, JUST OPENED IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
JOSH AND I HAD A ZOOM MEETING WITH SC HOUSING.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO TRY TO GET THE SCORING DONE DIFFERENTLY FOR RURAL AREAS LIKE JASPER COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN LOW-INCOME TAX CREDITS FROM THE STATE, NOT A SINGLE PROJECT IN JASPER COUNTY IN 17 YEARS.
[01:10:01]
JOSH AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SC HOUSING AND A COUPLE OF OTHER AGENCIES TO TRY TO GET THOSE RULES CHANGED.I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BURRITO EXPRESS THAT OPENED UP ON THE 29TH.
THIS IS THEIR SECOND LOCATION.
THEIR OTHER LOCATION IS BY EXIT 8.
VERY NICE PEOPLE, AND I'D LIKE TO WISH THEM ALL THE BEST.
I WAS AT THE JASPER COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING THE OTHER NIGHT.
I SPOKE PUBLICLY ABOUT THE CHILDCARE RESOLUTION THAT WE PASSED.
THEY HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, SO I WENT FORWARD AND TRIED TO CLEAR UP SOME, WHAT I THOUGHT WERE MISCONCEPTIONS.
YESTERDAY, JOSH AND I GAVE A TALK TO THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON THEIR MONTHLY POWER HOUR, AND WE GAVE THEM AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CITY, PARTICULARLY ALONG THE I-95 CORRIDOR.
LAST NIGHT, WE HAD OUR FIRST YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING OF THE YEAR.
LOOKED LIKE A NICE GROUP OF KIDS, AND I WANT TO THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT IN HELPING THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS CONDUCT THEIR BUSINESS.
THIS MORNING, I HAD A ZOOM MEETING WITH THE UNITED WAY.
UNITED WAY HAS BEEN CONDUCTING A STEERING COMMITTEE AND STUDYING CERTAIN NEEDS IN THE AREA.
I'VE ATTENDED, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS, MEETINGS SINCE MARCH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE FINALLY CONCENTRATING ON TWO AREAS, HOUSING AND EDUCATION.
ONCE THAT GETS MORE CLARIFIED, I'LL HAVE SOMEONE COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED FROM THE LOW COUNTRY FOUNDATION, AGAPE, LOWCOUNTRY FOUNDATION LEGAL VOLUNTEERS, THE UNITED WAY, THE BEAUFORT JASPER HOUSING TRUST.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AROUND THE AREA HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS.
HAVING SAID THAT, I'D LIKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN, MR. MAYOR.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ANY OBJECTIONS? NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE STAND.
[OVERLAPPING] GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR COMING. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HARPER.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.