1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:09,280 Okay, it's now 5:30. I'd like to call the uh 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:13,040 March 9th Calvin County Council meeting to order. 3 00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:17,840 Why don't you give us the invocation? >> Let us pray. 4 00:00:15,759 --> 00:00:22,800 Dear Lord, please grant us wisdom to move with the best path forward and may 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:25,600 we make good decisions for the county. Bless all the people that live here and 6 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:30,400 work here. Amen. >> Amen. Amen. 7 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:33,520 They have approval. Motion for approval of the agenda. 8 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:37,280 » So move second. >> Probably move in. Second. Any further 9 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:41,800 discussion on that? All in favor? I >> I likewise the eyes have it. 10 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:50,239 » Any public comment? Look public comments. Uh motion for approval of the 11 00:00:46,879 --> 00:00:52,399 minutes February 26, 2026 regular meeting. 12 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:54,160 » Someone move. >> Second. 13 00:00:52,879 --> 00:00:57,520 » Publicly moved and second. Any corrections or additions? All in favor? 14 00:00:56,399 --> 00:01:01,359 I. I >> likewise the eyes have it. Under the 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:05,760 appointments, we have the board of zoning appeals reappointments. 16 00:01:04,479 --> 00:01:08,400 Somebody need to talk about that a little bit. Y'all just y'all see the 17 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,680 names they >> Yes, sir. So, this is this is just 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:15,760 reappoints for the board of zoning appeals. We do have one vacancy for 19 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:20,479 district one that needs to be filled. This is a board that doesn't meet quite 20 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:25,600 as often as something like the planning commission. Um but it it does serve an 21 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:29,680 important function. We actually potentially have a request for a 22 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,920 variance coming up in the next month or two, but this is just reappoints for the 23 00:01:32,079 --> 00:01:35,920 existing members. >> Richard, I think that's your 24 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:37,360 appointment. >> Can I ask a question? 25 00:01:36,799 --> 00:01:40,880 » Yes, sir. >> Who was my appointment before? Richard, 26 00:01:39,119 --> 00:01:43,360 do you want to Who was on it? Do we have any idea? 27 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,479 » We'll have to get that back to you. >> Thank you. 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:51,680 » Well, we'll wait on you for that appointment, which 29 00:01:48,799 --> 00:01:55,600 Okay. Under appearances, we have Miss Ashley Kelly, director of board of 30 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,759 registration and elections update. Mr. >> Chairman, can we go ahead and reappoint 31 00:01:56,880 --> 00:02:00,000 the other ones in the meeting? >> Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. 32 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,840 » Excuse me, >> Mr. Chairman. I move to reappoint the 33 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:06,240 board that are on there. >> Second. 34 00:02:04,399 --> 00:02:10,160 » Properly move and second that we appoint the four board members 35 00:02:08,640 --> 00:02:13,599 and these these are reoccurring appointments, Richard. They've already 36 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:16,959 Yeah. Do we reappoint these um individuals to the uh board of zoning 37 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:19,680 and appeals? >> That's what I'm thinking about. 38 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:20,800 » Motion to second. All in favor. Did I have a second? 39 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,680 » Second. >> All. 40 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:29,599 » Any further discussion? All in favor? I >> I likewise. Eyes have it. 41 00:02:28,239 --> 00:02:30,800 » Okay. So, Richard, we'll wait on you to get that one. 42 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:35,040 » There you fine. >> Yeah. Under appearances, we have Miss 43 00:02:33,519 --> 00:02:40,840 Ashley Keller, director of voter registration and elections update and 44 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,840 information. 45 00:02:43,599 --> 00:02:51,360 » Good evening, council. I'm Ashley Keller and I serve as your voter registration 46 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:56,920 and election director. I'm here to provide information regarding the 2026 47 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,920 election cycle. 48 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:06,640 Candidate filing for our partisans office off offices will begin March 16th 49 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:12,720 at noon and will close March the 30th at noon. These offices include county 50 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:17,360 council districts three, four, and five. Our nonpartisan candidate filing will 51 00:03:14,959 --> 00:03:22,560 take place August 1st through the 15th for school boards districts two and 52 00:03:19,519 --> 00:03:28,080 five. Petition filing must be submitted on or before July 15th and this applies 53 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:33,120 to the soil and water district and any other races without party affiliation. 54 00:03:30,879 --> 00:03:40,720 Our statewide primaries will be held June 9th. Early voting for the primary 55 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:47,599 will take place May 26 through May 29th and June 1st through June 5th from 8:30 56 00:03:44,159 --> 00:03:51,360 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. We will be closed on the weekends and 57 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:57,519 holidays. Our runoff will be held June 23rd with early voting on June 17th and 58 00:03:54,799 --> 00:04:01,439 18th. The statewide general election will be held November 3rd. Early voting 59 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:07,120 for the general election will run October 19th through October 31st, 60 00:04:04,319 --> 00:04:14,159 Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Offices on the ballot will 61 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:19,600 include governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, 62 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:24,880 state treasurer, controller general, state superintendent of education, 63 00:04:21,759 --> 00:04:30,639 commission of agriculture, US senate, US house district 6, and state house 64 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:34,880 district 93. For each election, we will operate three early voting center. The 65 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:39,120 calum county economic development center will serve as our central location. 66 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:43,520 AMD will service the upper part of the county. St. John Recreational Center 67 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:49,680 will serve the lower part of the county, but voters can utilize any of the voting 68 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:54,720 precincts during early voting. We also have a precinct location change for fall 69 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:59,360 branch. The new polling location will now be the Calhoun Reserve, formerly 70 00:04:57,040 --> 00:05:02,479 known as the Ponderosa. In an effort to increase voter 71 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:06,880 participation, my office and the council on aging 72 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:12,000 offers a program called request arrive where voters can call, text, or email, 73 00:05:09,280 --> 00:05:17,360 and will arrange transportation to and from the nearest early voting location. 74 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:22,080 Additionally, voters can now request absentee ballots during this election 75 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:27,919 cycle. And I will also like to remind everyone that any voter who will be 18 76 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:31,600 years old by November 3rd is eligible and can register to vote in this 77 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:36,000 election cycle. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact 78 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:39,759 my office. Thank you for your time and the work you do in servicing the 79 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,360 citizens of Khung County. Thanks. >> Thank you. 80 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:45,759 » Thank you. >> Thank you. Anybody had any question for 81 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:51,759 Ashley? Thank you, Ashley. 82 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:57,479 Uh, now we have U Brad Little John, finance director, updates and 83 00:05:53,199 --> 00:05:57,479 information. Mr. Little John, 84 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,680 » first off, >> council, thank you for your time. Uh, my 85 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:06,240 name is Brad Little John. I've been serving as your director of finance 86 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:08,720 since September. Uh, briefly run you through my background and then we can 87 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:12,560 talk about a little highlight, some highlights that we have already since 88 00:06:10,319 --> 00:06:16,240 I've been on board. Um, I'm originally from Gaffne, South Carolina. uh 89 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:20,240 graduated with the University of South Carolina in 2006. My first job out of 90 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:26,560 school was actually working for the Lieutenant Governor's office. So I was a 91 00:06:23,039 --> 00:06:30,880 um a senior financial accountant there. Uh moved to Atlanta. Uh started working 92 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:37,199 for the Georgia Institute of Technology as an accountant there. Uh switched over 93 00:06:33,919 --> 00:06:41,919 to the public industry. uh worked for healthcare IT for around seven eight 94 00:06:39,039 --> 00:06:47,280 years before moving over to uh private equity for about six or five years five 95 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:51,120 or six years. Uh from there I moved to the uh state of Georgia working for the 96 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:55,759 department of revenue as a consultant for them before coming on board to 97 00:06:52,639 --> 00:06:59,280 account. Um I did my like I said I did my undergrad at the University of South 98 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:03,680 Carolina, my masters at Georgia State University and uh happy to be here 99 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:06,960 working for you all and uh it's been a pleasure and uh just to give a couple 100 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:12,080 highlights we've recently finished our 24 audit. We're in the process of 101 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:16,800 finishing our budget 25 audit and also in the process of preparing our 27 102 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:21,199 budget which I'm sure you all are aware of. So like you thank you for your time 103 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,560 and I appreciate it. >> Thank you. 104 00:07:21,759 --> 00:07:24,639 » Thank you. >> Glad to have you board. Anybody have any 105 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:30,520 questions? >> I'm just glad to have you aboard. 106 00:07:27,039 --> 00:07:30,520 » Okay. Thank you. 107 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:38,400 » Moving along. Richie down to you. >> Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And 108 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:42,400 kind of tag it on to for what Brad said and it is nice to have a finance 109 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:46,960 director uh here uh working through the budget. Uh we're preparing everything 110 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:50,960 started actually budget meetings uh this week with individual departments and uh 111 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:56,319 we'll be compiling all that information with the finance office and getting that 112 00:07:52,720 --> 00:08:01,120 ready for for your budget retrieve. Um I I am hopeful we're hopeful with with 113 00:07:58,879 --> 00:08:05,599 finance staff this year that we will have the audit completed by the 114 00:08:03,039 --> 00:08:09,360 extension deadline of March 31st which be the first time in a number of years 115 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:14,800 that we've been able to get there. Uh we've implemented a lot of financial 116 00:08:11,599 --> 00:08:18,879 policies and procedures and with with Brad and his staff's help we're going to 117 00:08:17,199 --> 00:08:22,560 get the rest of those wrapped up and hopefully we're going to be in much 118 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:29,039 better shape going forward. uh also along audits. You may remember 119 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:34,399 probably year and a half ago now when we started talking about the transitions in 120 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:39,519 the fire service uh working through that uh I guess January of of last year we 121 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:46,160 talked about having independent single audits of all of the fire department and 122 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:50,000 so next council meeting on the 23rd of March Steve Blake will be here. He's the 123 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:53,760 gentleman that's been helping us with our internal audits. He's the one that 124 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:58,320 was providing the the review of all of the fire 125 00:08:55,839 --> 00:09:04,320 department's audits. Uh he's going to come on the 23rd and present that 126 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:12,560 information to council. Um, one caveat to that, uh, you've got on your your 127 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:17,040 desk there, uh, some attorney, um, correspondence, but then behind that, 128 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:20,720 you've got the forms that were sent to all of the fire departments, uh, 129 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,360 requesting the information that Mr. Blake needed to perform his audit 130 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:29,920 procedures. We have received all of those and all of those are completed and 131 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:34,959 those will be presented to you at the next council meeting minus the old San 132 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:39,279 Run fire department. Uh we have not been able to get that information yet. We 133 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:42,480 were advised by representatives there that communications with them needed to 134 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:47,600 be through their attorney. So our attorney is doing so. Um I do not know 135 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:52,800 the time frame on that as far as getting that information. It is required to be 136 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:58,080 provided to us. They received government funds. So they are are required to 137 00:09:54,720 --> 00:10:01,760 provide that information as soon as our attorney can either get that or whatever 138 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:06,399 the next steps need to be get that information and Steve will come back and 139 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:11,120 wrap that up. What I did not want to do is with our upcoming audit findings and 140 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:15,200 going into the budget season I didn't want to delay him coming to give you all 141 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:18,640 of it whenever we were able to finish that up. So you're going to get the 142 00:10:17,040 --> 00:10:23,680 existing all the ones that are already done. They'll come do that. he'll make 143 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:28,880 that presentation, uh, talk about, uh, things that need to be improved, things 144 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:32,079 that, you know, were good, weren't good, etc., just like a normal audit would be. 145 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:37,680 And so, he'll be making that presentation on the 23rd. Um, as far as 146 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:41,680 getting the other one done, I I don't have an answer on that until we can get 147 00:10:39,839 --> 00:10:46,480 some more communication from their attorney and uh, see what needs to be 148 00:10:44,079 --> 00:10:50,320 taken on the next steps there. Um, 149 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:54,399 that's it for the the audit, fire department audits. That's it for that 150 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:57,440 piece. Uh, what I do want, we've got, you know, we're getting into spring. 151 00:10:55,680 --> 00:11:01,440 We've got a lot going on. One of the things I wanted to talk about was some 152 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:07,360 of the upcoming events. Uh, we've got quite a few um both for fun events and 153 00:11:04,959 --> 00:11:12,399 some not so much fun. We've got the city run spring cleaning coming up in March 154 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:15,839 14th. This is the second year um that we've done that. Hopefully there won't 155 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:20,480 be rain this year on that event. Hopefully it'll be nice and sunny. Um, 156 00:11:18,560 --> 00:11:26,160 one of the not quite so fun things, March 17th, uh, date is coming up 157 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:30,480 quickly. Um, that's when property taxes go to the delinquent tax office and a 158 00:11:27,839 --> 00:11:35,519 penalty is added. So March the 17th is is kind of a key date on that. Uh, next 159 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:41,360 on April the 9th, we've got our countywide litter pickup schedule. uh we 160 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:47,519 invite and and ask everybody that can participate in that to do so. You can 161 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:54,160 reach out to us um to get supplies, uh litter grabbers, um bags, vest, uh if 162 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:57,440 you community groups, church groups, anybody wants to get together and do 163 00:11:55,600 --> 00:12:01,440 that. They communicate that with us after they picked it up, we'll actually 164 00:11:58,959 --> 00:12:06,320 go collect the bags, uh get a total count and bring that together. We 165 00:12:04,079 --> 00:12:11,279 typically report that to Palmetto Pride. It helps us with applying for grants and 166 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:16,720 stuff as well as uh cleaning up sides of our roads. April the 10th uh be the 167 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:22,720 second year for the St. Matthews Town Gayla that the county also participates 168 00:12:19,279 --> 00:12:27,279 in be on April the 10th. Uh Purple Martin golf tournaments on April the 169 00:12:24,639 --> 00:12:32,880 14th. And then the Purple Martin Festival, April 17th and 18th, a Friday 170 00:12:30,079 --> 00:12:37,760 night and a Saturday along with the town dance on the n on the 17th, the night of 171 00:12:35,279 --> 00:12:41,680 the 17th. Uh there'll be bingo, town dance, food trucks, and everything like 172 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:47,200 that for the town. And then the uh parade and festival um parade starts at 173 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:55,760 10:00 a.m. on the 18th and then the festival is from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Uh 174 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:59,920 our um master of our ceremonies will Grand Marshall. Thank you. Uh for this 175 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:04,480 will be our Senator Zel will be the grand marshal for this year's parade and 176 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:09,040 festival. So we're excited about that. Looking forward to that. 177 00:13:06,959 --> 00:13:11,360 » And that is all I have. And any questions? 178 00:13:09,680 --> 00:13:16,240 » Okay. Anybody got anything? >> Yeah. M Mr. Chairman, could I ask if you 179 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:22,000 could get us an organizational chart of your administration with all the names? 180 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:26,720 » Yes. And also um I mean I know we've had some personnel changes and position 181 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:30,560 changes and all that kind of stuff and any additional duty assign you know so 182 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:33,519 that we know who we >> Yes sir. 183 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:36,320 » need to be dealing with. Uh I don't remember the last time we've had one. 184 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:40,000 Has it been a while or >> it's been a couple years? Yes sir. 185 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:45,519 » And I'm glad you mentioned that because um I do need to update that. I've I've 186 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:48,560 communicated it with all of you. um haven't really communicated it 187 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:54,800 throughout the rest of the organization yet, but we did make some some tweaks to 188 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:58,240 the organizational chart and we have since I've been here, we have not had a 189 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:02,000 deputy administrator since I've been in this position. Uh we are not going to 190 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:06,720 necessarily fill the deputy administrator position, but what we are 191 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:12,000 do is uh what we are doing is appointing two assistant administrators. Um and 192 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:16,160 that will be uh Shayla Jenkins and Brandy Robertson. So, I'll get that 193 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,560 organizational chart update and get to you before. 194 00:14:16,959 --> 00:14:21,760 » It just helps when you're out of the building and we know we need to and we 195 00:14:20,399 --> 00:14:23,120 need to know who to go to. >> Absolutely. 196 00:14:22,399 --> 00:14:24,880 » Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir. 197 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:29,440 » Okay. >> Any other councilman? 198 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:35,680 » No, sir. >> I I just would like to uh thank Mr. 199 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:40,320 Lawson uh for the job you did down there and protecting us. Sometime we needed 200 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:42,720 it. I I appreciate what all you've done. I understand this is going to be the 201 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,360 last. >> Yes, sir. Thank Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 202 00:14:44,399 --> 00:14:46,399 Thank all we are. >> Thank you. 203 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,320 » Thank you. >> Are you still going to be working for 204 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:50,639 the county or you just >> No, I'll be retired. 205 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:53,920 » Okay. >> 25 years. 206 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:58,240 » Yeah, we we would like I would like to make a presentation to you plaque or 207 00:14:56,639 --> 00:15:00,560 something. Thank you for your time. I wish you could come back at the next 208 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:04,639 council meeting >> and uh we'd like to present that to you. 209 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:10,079 » Appreciate the job that you did for >> Thank you, Deputy Lawson. 210 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:13,199 » Nobody have anything else? uh entertain a motion for adjournment. 211 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:17,600 » So move >> or a second move and second. Any further 212 00:15:15,519 --> 00:15:21,440 discussion? All in favor? I >> I was likewise the eyes have it. 213 00:15:20,079 --> 00:15:24,000 » Thank you everyone for coming. >> Thank you. Stay.