[0:18] Please stand for our invitation.
[0:25] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[0:28] United States of America and to the
[0:31] republic for which it stands, one nation
[0:34] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:38] justice for all.
[0:39] >> Thank you,
[0:41] Holy Father. Thank you for your
[0:43] blessings upon us, for our community and
[0:46] the goodness and encouragement that
[0:47] flows from them. for our council and
[0:50] staff in their time, work, and patience.
[0:53] You give us comfort when we suffer
[0:55] grief. You strengthen us when we are
[0:57] under stress. And you instill hope in us
[1:00] when all seems hopeless. Help us in our
[1:03] work to honor and serve you. Your grace
[1:05] and mercy are everlasting. In his name
[1:07] we pray. Amen.
[1:08] >> Amen.
[1:11] >> Thank
[1:13] All right.
[1:15] We have a hearty agenda this evening.
[1:17] So, we're going to start with item
[1:19] number one, a presentation of the
[1:22] official affiliate certificate by Joseph
[1:25] Barry with Palmata Pride/Keep South
[1:27] Carolina beautiful, Joseph Berry. Yay.
[1:32] >> Thank you. Thank you.
[1:34] Uh, thank you, town council and mayor.
[1:37] Uh, my name is Joseph Ary. I work for
[1:39] Palmeta Pride. We're a statewide
[1:40] nonprofit that deals with litter
[1:41] throughout South Carolina. Um, part of
[1:43] my role is I get to oversee the Keep
[1:45] South Carolina Beautiful network. And
[1:47] that is a network of over 38 different
[1:49] affiliates of Keep America Beautiful.
[1:51] Um, and I'm excited today to say that we
[1:53] have officially launched Keep Fort Mill
[1:55] Beautiful.
[1:56] >> Yay.
[2:01] » I I'll give you a little bit of
[2:03] background of what that means and what
[2:04] that means for your town, but I'll um
[2:06] also give you a little bit of um doing
[2:08] on this group that y'all have. Um, but
[2:11] what a keep America Beautiful affiliate
[2:13] does is they are focused around
[2:14] beautifification of your town, um, waste
[2:16] reduction within your town and
[2:18] addressing litter to end it in your
[2:19] town. Um, all of those things, um, this
[2:21] group is more than willing and excited
[2:23] to do, and they're prepared to do it.
[2:25] They spent the last year come up with an
[2:27] amazing board, amazing plan, and amazing
[2:29] action items to make sure that they
[2:31] address these issues in your town. And
[2:33] I'm excited about the work they're going
[2:34] to do. Um, kind of give youall some um,
[2:37] information. They're joining a network
[2:39] of over like I said 38 different
[2:41] affiliates but they have um over 700
[2:44] affiliates throughout the nation. We
[2:46] were today we were talking doing some
[2:47] strategic planning with them and um as
[2:50] we were they were like I'd love to do
[2:51] this idea. I was like well actually this
[2:53] affiliate over here does this and this
[2:54] town um or actually y'all should check
[2:56] out this state. They do this awesome job
[2:58] with that. So, they've joined an
[2:59] affiliate network of over 700 affiliates
[3:01] and 38 within South Carolina to make
[3:02] sure that they're well equipped and
[3:04] they're um well uh I I'll leave it
[3:07] equipped um to make sure that they're
[3:09] addressed on these issues. Um they as a
[3:12] keep America Beautiful, they've had over
[3:14] 2.7 million volunteers. Um just in South
[3:16] Carolina alone, we had almost 31,000
[3:18] volunteers this past year. Um that
[3:21] address litter throughout South
[3:23] Carolina. Keep America Beautiful
[3:26] beautified over nine 94,000 public
[3:29] spaces last year and I'm excited for the
[3:31] work they're going to do in Fort the
[3:32] town of Fort Mill this year to add to
[3:34] that. Uh 52 million pounds of litter,
[3:37] recycling, and debris were removed. 1.2
[3:39] of those were just in South Carolina
[3:41] alone that we were able to track. Um so
[3:43] that's a lot of trash that we're taking
[3:44] up off the roadways and waterways. Um
[3:46] and this crew is they're excited.
[3:48] They're already they're talking about
[3:49] not even ways to address it without
[3:50] before it even hits the street and we're
[3:52] excited about that. Um
[3:56] 189 plants or thousand plants and trees
[3:59] were planted last year through Keep
[4:00] America Beautiful. Um hey Pimea Pride
[4:03] offers a tree grant to um our affiliates
[4:06] and our network partners. Um and they're
[4:09] already talking about how they're going
[4:10] to apply for it next year to get those
[4:12] trees on the ground to make sure they're
[4:14] addressing with it. Keep America
[4:15] beautiful offers a nice uh re-tree
[4:18] program that helps address disaster
[4:19] areas. Um, and then the one stat that I know uh town council always likes to
[4:25] hear um is the money stat. Uh and
[4:28] there's nearly $3 million of cost
[4:31] avoidance last year in South Carolina
[4:34] alone um through our network of
[4:35] volunteers and our partners with our
[4:37] affiliate network. That was money that
[4:39] you didn't have to spend on your your
[4:42] tipping fees or your crews to pick up
[4:44] trash or your maintenance fees. um
[4:46] volunteers and affiliates like keep Fort
[4:49] Mill are able to engage those volunteers
[4:51] to make sure that that work gets done on
[4:53] behalf of the communities that they love
[4:54] and respect. Um and I'm excited for the
[4:56] work that they're going to continue to
[4:58] do. Um this past year they've worked
[5:00] tirelessly. I've talked with Mina uh
[5:03] almost weekly at times. Um but she's
[5:06] been great to work with. They're uh we
[5:08] did a little bit of strategic planning
[5:09] allude to earlier. I'm talking about,
[5:11] you know, what are some of the goals and
[5:12] stuff and I I was telling them a lot of
[5:13] our affiliates, they get to this point
[5:15] and that's this is the finish line. They
[5:16] finally hit their affiliation and
[5:17] they're excited for it. Um, and they kind of have to figure out what to
[5:21] do next. This crew was already talking
[5:23] about what they're doing next and and
[5:25] I'll let them talk about it next because
[5:26] I think that's part of their
[5:27] presentation. So, I want to step on
[5:28] their toes, but I do want to say that
[5:29] I'm excited for the work they're going
[5:31] to do. Um, and that the work that
[5:33] they're going to be able to produce in
[5:34] y'all's town. Um, and so I want to say
[5:36] today is their affiliate birthday. So,
[5:38] happy birthday to them. Um, every year
[5:40] they get to celebrate the day today as
[5:42] their birthday of their affiliate. And
[5:43] so, we're excited for the work they're
[5:44] going to do and the support that y'all
[5:46] continue to give them um will only
[5:48] increase the support they're able to
[5:49] give your community. So, thank y'all so
[5:51] much for allowing me to come here and
[5:52] speak on their behalf um and the amazing
[5:55] work they're going to continue to
[5:56] support through y'all. Thank you.
[5:58] >> Incredible. Incredible.
[6:03] » I also come bearing gifts. So, um, this
[6:06] is the official certificate certifying
[6:08] them as a Keep America Beautiful
[6:09] affiliate. Um, it'll be presented to
[6:11] them today, um, for them to hang or
[6:13] display wherever they feel feel the
[6:15] need, but I'm excited for the work
[6:16] they're going to do. Um, and as y'all
[6:18] continue to grow this network, uh, thank
[6:20] y'all for everything y'all do.
[6:22] >> Amazing.
[6:23] >> Thank you.
[6:27] >> All right, Miss Mina, I think you're up
[6:29] next to, uh, do a recap for 2026.
[6:34] you're all coming up.
[6:35] >> I love it. I love it.
[6:37] >> Yeah, this is this is uh the most of our
[6:41] committee, but we're just missing one
[6:42] person today. So, we're excited to speak
[6:45] to y'all. And I I will go ahead and say
[6:47] I just realized as we were going over it
[6:49] downstairs, I think the version of our
[6:52] presentation that we submitted has like
[6:54] a a slide missing and a slide out of
[6:56] order. Thank you, Canva, to PowerPoint.
[6:58] So, that was my fault for not catching
[7:00] that. So, you'll see a little shuffle,
[7:01] but
[7:02] >> it's all good.
[7:03] >> We got
[7:03] >> It's all good.
[7:04] >> All right, I'll let
[7:06] >> I'll take it away. Hello,
[7:10] >> madam mayor and members of the town
[7:12] council. Uh, my name is Eva Dean and I
[7:15] am the chair of this board. And, um,
[7:19] when I think about who we are, and I
[7:22] know that you have all been waiting
[7:24] probably a year to see the faces. Um we
[7:27] are I describe us as um plant lovers,
[7:32] anti-litter enthusiast,
[7:35] non-certified
[7:37] environmental science um educators but
[7:41] mostly dreamers of a greener and cleaner
[7:44] Fort Mill.
[7:46] And as such we um you want to advance?
[7:52] I'm ready. As such, um I feel like we
[7:55] embody the pillars of Keep America
[7:58] Beautiful, which is our parent um
[8:01] nonprofit organization very well. Um
[8:04] particularly the four of them, litter
[8:06] prevention and reduction, recycling and
[8:09] waste reduction, um neighborhood
[8:12] rejuvenation and beautifification of
[8:14] open spaces. And now um by the way, this
[8:18] is a recruitment also event. So, if you
[8:20] would like to or send somebody to us, we
[8:23] will take them. And like we're going to
[8:25] say, we have those really neat shirts to
[8:27] give. So, I'm going to let Tyler take
[8:29] over.
[8:32] >> Good evening. My name is Tyler Silvers.
[8:34] I'm serving as the uh vice chair of our
[8:37] board this year. Uh when we came
[8:40] together as as a committee, uh one of
[8:42] the first things that we did was
[8:43] establish our foundation together. And
[8:45] that came in in the form of three
[8:46] different aspects. It was our mission,
[8:48] our vision, and our purpose. Uh you'll
[8:51] notice on the screen here that all of
[8:52] these are centered around the people of
[8:54] our of our town, our broader community.
[8:57] Uh our mission is to empower the
[9:00] citizens of Fort Mill to take action. Uh
[9:02] lead change and build a cleaner, greener
[9:05] tomorrow. Our vision or our our picture
[9:08] of future success is that Fort Mill will
[9:11] become cleaner, greener, and uh have a
[9:14] culture that's more environmentally
[9:16] responsible.
[9:17] And our purpose or what we're charged
[9:19] with as a committee is to provide uh pro
[9:23] programming and planning
[9:25] that teaches the citizens of our town uh
[9:28] how to accomplish this vision this
[9:30] vision and this mission. I keep going
[9:33] next slide.
[9:35] Soon after we established that
[9:36] foundation we started focusing on well
[9:38] what are we what are our action items?
[9:40] What are what are our focus areas? And
[9:42] these we like we like to call them call
[9:44] them the pillars. Uh so we've
[9:46] established our foundation and now we're
[9:48] going to set these pillars on top and
[9:49] these pillars will symbolically
[9:51] represent what the community is going to
[9:53] see the the product of what our
[9:55] committee is is producing. Um our
[9:58] pillars are litter awareness and
[10:00] prevention, natural resource education
[10:03] and conservation and restoration and
[10:05] beautifification. And you'll notice
[10:07] aspects of all three of these pillars
[10:08] throughout our entire presentation this
[10:10] evening.
[10:13] » This one got a little janky. So bear
[10:15] with my my numbers. It was right when I
[10:17] sent it though, I swear. Um, so this is
[10:19] just our path to affiliation, just sort
[10:21] of how uh we got to where we are now. I
[10:23] think y'all probably recall you uh we
[10:26] had a resolution back um in 2024 to get
[10:30] the the ball rolling and then y'all just
[10:33] recently uh added us into the ordinance
[10:35] because Casey realized we we needed to be codified a little bit better. Um
[10:39] but we've been working on this uh as a
[10:41] staff person, I've been working on this
[10:42] since 2023. And um while Joseph's still
[10:45] in the room, I think um I want to say
[10:47] that Palmetto Pride has been a fabulous
[10:49] partner uh to us. Even before we started
[10:52] on the path to affiliation, you know, we
[10:54] have our water goat because of them. We
[10:56] have our environmental sculpture over at
[10:57] Harris Street Park because of the the
[10:59] program from Palmetto Pride. We were
[11:01] able to have the Marionette Theater come
[11:03] up and do their litter trashes everyone
[11:05] um program for for local children
[11:08] because of Palmetto Pride. So they've
[11:09] been a fabulous um partner to us. All
[11:13] right.
[11:15] Stay there. Hello. I am Josie Vanell and
[11:17] I'm a board member and
[11:20] the litter survey we did in January 2026
[11:24] for the town was in all four wards and
[11:28] it was um a randomized survey. So we got
[11:31] to drive through different neighborhoods
[11:34] um 55 and a mile an hour sections to 25
[11:38] m an hour sections. And the scale from
[11:41] one would be maybe one piece of litter
[11:44] that might have flown out of someone's
[11:46] mailbox, all the way to four, which is
[11:48] an illegal dump site. And
[11:51] it the average was a 1.8 of the 15 sites
[11:55] that we were able to view, which is
[11:58] really good, but it still gave us where
[12:01] we want to be better. So when we go back
[12:03] next year, the areas we've already
[12:05] noted, we've scheduled cleanups. We want
[12:07] to be at a one and keep it at a one for
[12:10] to keep our town so beautiful.
[12:16] » All right. Hi, Mayor Gwen. Hello,
[12:19] council. Uh I'm going to tell you guys a
[12:21] little bit about what we have done so
[12:22] far in 2025 and in 2026. So, so far we
[12:26] have planted two pollinator gardens, one
[12:28] at Steel Streak Park, one at Harris
[12:31] Street Park, and we've kept up with
[12:32] them. So, that's the mulching, the weed
[12:34] pulling, the watering. We have worked
[12:36] with Cub Scout Pack 832 to organize an
[12:40] event where the scouts received their
[12:42] environmental and sustainability badge.
[12:45] For America Recycles Day, we organized
[12:47] an educational event at Steel Street
[12:49] Park and we educated on recycling and we
[12:52] passed out um recycling magnets that
[12:55] show what can and cannot go into our
[12:57] recycling bins to kind of help our
[12:59] community members know, yeah, this is
[13:00] recyclable, this is not. And then most
[13:03] dear and dear to my heart are the litter
[13:05] pickups that we did. So we had the big
[13:08] litter sweep. That's probably the one
[13:10] that you guys notice in the spring where
[13:11] there's little people groups sprinkled
[13:13] across Fort Mill. We had about seven,
[13:16] eight, nine starting points across Fort
[13:19] Mill. We had roughly 150 volunteers on
[13:22] one day and we picked up litter all
[13:24] across Fort Mill.
[13:26] >> We had the Berry Sweet litter pickup. It
[13:30] was the day after the strawberry
[13:31] festival and we all came. We picked up
[13:34] around Walter Elijah Park and we picked
[13:36] up around downtown Fort Mill. After the
[13:38] festival, you know, people had fun, they
[13:39] enjoyed, but we want to, you know, bring
[13:40] Fort Mill back to its beauty. So that
[13:43] was the Berry Sweet litter pickup and
[13:44] we'll keep that going in the future. And
[13:46] then we had the Santa suite pickup which
[13:49] was the day after the Christmas parade,
[13:52] >> excuse me, immediately after the
[13:54] Christmas parade. Uh and we had a groups
[13:56] pick up around downtown Fort Mill, you
[13:58] know, as everyone left from the
[14:00] Christmas parade. So overall, we picked
[14:03] up 889 pounds of litter across Fort
[14:06] Mill. We had 174 volunteers and our
[14:11] events reached almost 1,700 people in
[14:14] Fort Mill.
[14:14] >> It's amazing.
[14:16] >> All right, I'm going to turn it to
[14:17] >> That's worthy.
[14:20] >> Hi. Um, so my name is Danielle Holmes.
[14:23] Um, it's kind of hard to follow
[14:24] Michelle, but um, I will. Um, we plan in
[14:27] the future to do everything that
[14:29] Michelle just said. Um, we'll plan on
[14:31] doing those again next year. Um, we also
[14:33] are planning on partnering with the
[14:35] Clemson Extension for a Fort Mill
[14:37] Bradford pear bounty.
[14:39] >> Um, Bradford pears are not native to the
[14:42] US. Um, and they have been widely
[14:44] planted everywhere.
[14:46] >> Although they look very pretty, they can
[14:48] become very stinky.
[14:49] >> They are stinky.
[14:50] >> And as many of us know, when storms
[14:51] happen, the branches fall um and it
[14:54] becomes um a huge mess. So, we are
[14:56] looking to partner with the Clemson
[14:58] Extension. Um the program is where they
[15:00] can bring up to five um Bradford pairs
[15:03] and then they are given in exchange an
[15:05] equal number of free healthy native
[15:07] young replacements on a one-on-one
[15:09] replacement. Um we'd also like to
[15:12] continue and expand our cleanup events
[15:14] and our educational events. We want to
[15:15] increase more awareness within the
[15:17] community. Um also based on the
[15:20] pollinator gardens that we've already
[15:21] started, we would love to continue some
[15:23] more um kind of increase that reach.
[15:27] Another thing, and I really think this
[15:29] is an attainable goal, and I wore my bee
[15:31] um earrings tonight just to show you
[15:33] that this is an attainable goal. Um we
[15:35] would like to become a B city. Um our
[15:38] local we there are local affiliates in
[15:40] Colombia, in Greenwood and Florence and
[15:43] South Carolina, and close by in Gastonia
[15:45] and Belmont and Charlotte are all B
[15:47] city. So we would love to become a B
[15:49] city. Um it it only has a couple things
[15:52] that we would need to do. We would need
[15:54] to reduce the use of pesticides. We
[15:55] would need to incorporate a pollinator
[15:57] conscious practice into our city
[15:59] policies and plans. Um, we would host
[16:01] pollinator awareness events and we would
[16:04] create and enhance pollinator habitats
[16:06] in public and private areas. So, we
[16:09] really think that these are doable and
[16:11] we hope that you all will come on board
[16:13] with us um in the future to do those
[16:15] things.
[16:17] >> Join us.
[16:20] >> All right. Hello everybody. My name is
[16:22] Dan. I'm uh the newest member of the
[16:24] keep fort mill beautiful committee. Uh
[16:26] started back in I believe it was April.
[16:29] Uh and to go continue on with what she
[16:31] was just describing uh some of our
[16:33] long-term goals here uh we're really
[16:36] looking to build the momentum that the
[16:38] committee has already created and one of
[16:39] our bigger goals uh would be working
[16:42] with the town uh to get the Tree City
[16:44] USA designation as well as the B city.
[16:47] That one is a little bit more in-depth,
[16:49] a little bit more involved, requires a
[16:50] lot more resources and a lot more
[16:52] involvement from uh other other groups
[16:55] outside of us. Um, but it feels like it
[16:59] would be a great recognition of Fort
[17:00] Mill's commitment to urban trees and
[17:02] green spaces. Uh in addition to that, we
[17:04] would also want to continue working with
[17:06] the police department on opportunities
[17:08] to reduce litter uh while also looking
[17:10] for new mural and beautifification spots
[17:13] uh such as sculptures and and other
[17:15] beautiful things that uh that just make
[17:18] the town a lot nicer. Uh and finally,
[17:20] we'd really like to get more young
[17:21] people involved. Uh and I'd say that
[17:24] goes for everything that we do. Um they
[17:25] already do a great job at it, but um
[17:28] would love to continue uh with that with
[17:31] uh creating a be uh sorry a beautiful
[17:33] keep form beautiful youth council
[17:35] possibly and the ultimate goal is to
[17:38] make beautifification something that the
[17:40] whole community feels invested in and a
[17:42] part of. So
[17:45] >> all right so um we just wanted y'all to
[17:48] get a snapshot of what we we've been up
[17:50] to this past year and what we will be
[17:52] doing in the years to come. Uh just know
[17:55] that you are invited to come to any of
[17:57] our uh Saturday service cleanups that
[18:00] will be happening. They start back up in
[18:01] September. And if you come, I will give
[18:04] you a t-shirt. I will. Um you don't get
[18:07] one until you come pick up trash, but
[18:08] then we'll get you a shirt. Uh and then
[18:11] also the litter sweep. Uh like Michelle
[18:13] mentioned, litter sweep's a big one for
[18:14] us in April. And I would really love to
[18:16] see y'all out there in your wards
[18:18] leading um groups with us. We have a
[18:21] great turnout and it would be fabulous
[18:23] to have y'all involved. So, thank you.
[18:26] Any questions that y'all have?
[18:28] >> So, incredible. I This just fulfills so
[18:31] many of our discussions and our dreams
[18:34] to bring this forward to our community.
[18:36] So, you're making it happen. That is
[18:39] just near and dear. Uh just absolutely
[18:43] priceless to us that you have started
[18:45] this. And yes, we will pitch in. I know
[18:49] Chris
[18:49] >> I have a whole list of things to follow
[18:51] up just exactly what you
[18:52] >> and I think Chris and Ben have assisted
[18:54] with the economic and Allen the economic
[18:57] development group has on our Saturdays
[19:00] that we pick up. It's just really sad
[19:02] that it has to be done. Um I I really
[19:05] wish I had a ruler for every hand that
[19:08] goes out a window. Um but it is an
[19:12] amazing gift to Fort Mill. So, thank you
[19:15] for what you're doing and I do dearly
[19:17] hope that we'll all participate with
[19:19] you, council.
[19:20] >> Yeah. So, I I have a whole list of great
[19:22] and all of them have smiley faces by
[19:24] them, but the the tree grant I think
[19:26] it's great. Uh uh you'll realize this
[19:28] counsel is very tree friendly.
[19:32] >> Uh and staff will they probably hear
[19:35] more than they want to about it. the uh
[19:37] thank y'all so much for the education uh
[19:40] on what is recyclable and is not because
[19:42] I try to wash all the stuff out do it
[19:44] then I see I ride by the neighborhood
[19:46] and there's somebody's got old tires and
[19:49] garden hoses and they just undo what
[19:53] everybody else is trying to do um and
[19:56] also on uh education for well I'd say
[20:00] kids but also adults I don't know where
[20:02] they ever got the idea it's okay to
[20:04] throw trash out some can and I'm
[20:07] surprised that number is not higher than
[20:08] 1.8 because there are certain areas that
[20:11] I you can spend 10 minutes in one ditch.
[20:14] >> That's that's exactly right. We had to
[20:15] get a randomized sample. So I I'll give
[20:18] Gavin did us um some word maps with
[20:21] randomized road sections and so yeah
[20:23] there are a couple like driving through
[20:25] Massie and like yeah there's here. Um we
[20:27] didn't get to go down like brickyard.
[20:29] >> Yeah, there's other areas
[20:31] is terrible. Yeah. And and I actually I
[20:34] just got back from a a trip to Ireland
[20:36] and I was talking to the mayor. They
[20:38] actually have a community pride thing
[20:39] because they're a little different
[20:41] organization, but they have these little
[20:43] small rural towns and you see people out
[20:45] there working at the entrance of their
[20:46] towns. And the guy was telling us they
[20:48] have this by pro not by province, what
[20:50] do they call those? Uh
[20:53] >> they're like uh not states uh uh
[20:56] counties. They call them counties over
[20:58] there and they have county awards for
[21:00] that. So, it's it's to get people
[21:02] involved and it's all about pride for
[21:04] their communities. And I was like, it
[21:06] was a great I came back and called the
[21:07] mayor right up. I said, "Oh, we got to
[21:09] do this. It's the greatest thing ever."
[21:10] And she goes, "Let's do this." You know,
[21:12] so so everything y'all doing, there's a
[21:14] lot of passion up here about it. So,
[21:16] thank you. And uh look forward to seeing
[21:19] uh what happens by this time next year.
[21:22] >> Yeah.
[21:23] >> A long list. We'll have a long list of
[21:25] accomplishments.
[21:26] >> Give a shout out to the Colonel's Club
[21:27] as well. Being part of the greenway, we
[21:30] uh adopted the section between all down
[21:33] Old Nation Road, the whole length of
[21:34] that from the dairy barn all the way to
[21:37] the walking parks four times a year.
[21:39] >> Y'all picked up 14 bags this weekend.
[21:41] >> I know.
[21:42] >> I saw
[21:44] the
[21:46] picked up.
[21:47] >> You guys mentioned the cleanup the day
[21:49] of the Christmas parade and it kind of
[21:50] had had a flashback to the candy cane
[21:53] wrappers everywhere. So, we do the same
[21:55] thing. had pockets were overflowing with
[21:57] candy cane rappers. So, you know, those
[21:59] are but thank you guys for doing that.
[22:00] Thank you for all that you do. Like I
[22:01] said, the passion that this group has is something else and it's contagious,
[22:05] too. So, thank you guys.
[22:06] >> Incredible. Just incredible.
[22:09] >> And I hope the education piece will
[22:10] continue. We've got so many corporations
[22:13] within the area that I think it's a
[22:15] great time to reach out to them to make
[22:17] sure they see this nice award that we
[22:19] now have and how can they partner with
[22:21] us because I know even the company I
[22:23] work for, we've got sustainability goals
[22:26] and projects that we do and so we get
[22:28] volunteer hours and get paid to
[22:30] volunteer. So you can count on me for
[22:31] that. I will say um you know it was
[22:34] mentioned about Massie. Massie I live in
[22:36] the community and we do four cleanups a
[22:38] year. I think three or four and it is
[22:40] amazing how many people and how much
[22:42] that they the pride that they take all
[22:44] ages to clean it up. So, um I hope those
[22:48] go into your numbers of how much stuff
[22:49] but almost as prideful as I am with
[22:52] that. The fact that we have a strawberry
[22:53] queen wearing Birkenstocks really makes
[22:55] me feel good. So, um you're speaking my
[22:58] love language for sure now. Um I did
[23:02] want to um ask I know Gordon, you and I
[23:04] talked the other day about the civic
[23:06] camp. Um, and this is a great thing that
[23:08] we could add to that civic camp if we
[23:10] did it for the youth. So, just want to
[23:12] make sure that didn't get lost. As well
[23:13] as the comment about making sure the
[23:16] chemicals that we're using within an
[23:18] organization are sustainable, they are
[23:21] um healthy for the environment, making
[23:23] sure as we look with our budget that
[23:25] we're putting out there that we're
[23:27] making the community better um and not
[23:29] killing the pollinators. So, um yes,
[23:32] central everywhere you can to help with
[23:34] the I love the plants. They do great
[23:36] here. And get rid of the Bradfords. I'll
[23:38] wear that t-shirt all day.
[23:40] >> You can't tell we're interested, can
[23:42] you?
[23:43] >> I'm really excited about the Bradford
[23:44] Fairy
[23:46] um that we'll get more details on
[23:48] registration for that because uh public
[23:50] will be able to register um and and
[23:53] claim those trees and we will be giving
[23:55] those away uh next next April. So, April
[23:58] 2027. And the rain barrel sale is is
[24:01] next spring as well. So, rain barrels
[24:03] will be happening. So, we've got all
[24:04] kinds of good stuff going.
[24:05] >> Yeah. Miss M, I do have a question. Um,
[24:07] with the cleanup, the second Saturday
[24:09] clean up. Are you you guys going to do
[24:10] it through the farmers market like you
[24:12] used to in the past?
[24:13] >> We are doing a sign up genius and we uh
[24:15] I'm trying to rebrand it as Saturday
[24:17] service because we do move them around a
[24:19] little bit like the Christmas parade
[24:20] one. Um, so we're trying to drop the
[24:23] second just because it gets confusing
[24:24] for people. But we um have that sign up
[24:27] out there right now so people can sign
[24:29] up. We usually have between 40 and 50
[24:31] volunteers each time. We do allow people
[24:34] if they don't want to clean up on the
[24:35] section we're doing, they want to get a
[24:37] bag and, you know, gloves and vests from
[24:40] us, they can do that and then go do
[24:42] their own area, sort of like they did at
[24:44] the farmers market. Um, but yeah, we we
[24:46] do them September through June, take a
[24:49] break July and August, and I do creek
[24:52] cleanups during that time. And of
[24:53] course, Danielle is my partner in crime
[24:55] on all of those. We kind of flip-flop
[24:57] who's got which month, um, who's leading
[25:00] those. So
[25:01] >> because it just it felt like the through
[25:03] the farmers market there was a kind of a
[25:05] sense of purpose going there getting the
[25:07] bags getting supplies you know picking
[25:08] out a section and everything. So
[25:10] >> and we look at at having um some se you
[25:13] know some put together bags available at
[25:15] the farmers market tent for people who
[25:17] want to do that for sure.
[25:19] >> Awesome.
[25:19] >> I've got I'm doing inventory right now
[25:21] y'all. got tons of
[25:24] >> well and also I didn't mention it but
[25:26] the river cleanup after Hela came
[25:28] through um it was horrible everywhere
[25:30] and and that wasn't somebody throwing
[25:32] out something as much as it just what
[25:34] mother nature did to our area and as
[25:37] much as we're kayaking on the lower half
[25:39] past um Riverwalk area all of it got
[25:42] past there are people's tubes that you
[25:44] know got cut along the way thank you for
[25:46] what y'all been doing in the waterways
[25:48] and keeping them clean I mean if there
[25:49] is one little benefit benefit of being
[25:51] in a drought. It makes it easier to
[25:54] clean up some. So, thank you. Yeah.
[25:56] Thank you to everybody who took
[25:58] advantage of that time and cleaned up
[26:00] our waterways.
[26:01] >> We're going to be doing the river suite
[26:02] in Sugar Creek the first Saturday in
[26:04] October, October 3rd. Registration is
[26:07] open for that as well if anybody wants
[26:08] to come out. It's a great uh workout
[26:10] because it's cardio. We're digging tires
[26:13] out of the Sugar Creek. Um we usually
[26:15] will get between 50 and 100 tires out of
[26:18] the creek in two hours. And then after
[26:20] you dig them out, you have to get them
[26:23] out and it's a 25 foot embankment. So
[26:26] leg day, arm day, full cardio.
[26:30] » Amazing.
[26:31] >> Totally amazing. Thank you so much.
[26:35] >> So much appreciate you.
[26:36] >> Congratulations.
[26:38] >> Chris Sardelli, did you want to get a
[26:40] picture of them with the Please, if you
[26:43] guys would.
[26:43] >> Yes.
[26:44] >> Where do you want us?
[26:45] >> Up here.
[26:48] >> Please.
[26:51] All right.
[26:51] >> All right.
[26:52] >> Will you guys stand up? So, we're not.
[26:54] >> So, where are you going to put the uh
[26:56] the the thing there?
[27:00] >> You're good.
[27:01] >> Wherever I'm allowed.
[27:03] >> Anywhere you want.
[27:05] >> Thank you.
[27:06] >> Thank y'all. Congratulations. Good work.
[27:08] Great work.
[27:12] » Well, that's a great way to get started.
[27:16] All right. Uh, now we have a
[27:18] presentation of parks and wreck proposed
[27:20] budget for the fiscal year 2627.
[27:24] Our very own Brown Simpson. Welcome,
[27:26] Brown.
[27:27] >> Brown.
[27:28] >> Good evening, everybody.
[27:29] >> Good evening,
[27:29] >> Mayor, members of council. Thank you for
[27:31] this opportunity for us to be here
[27:33] tonight to present uh our kind of a
[27:36] snapshot of our 2026 budget and talk a
[27:39] little bit about next year's budget also
[27:41] too. I think you got a handout
[27:43] >> uh that was given out. Chris, you gonna
[27:46] sign it for me as we go forward. Thank
[27:49] you. Uh, as we look at this year's this
[27:53] past year's budget, our annual budget
[27:55] was 2,587,470.85
[28:00] and expenses to date 2,18,9
[28:05] excuse me, 2,189225
[28:09] has been stent. It's been spent that's
[28:10] almost 82.1%
[28:13] of our budget. We do have 13 full-time
[28:16] employees um and about 15 to 20
[28:19] part-time employees in all aspects of of
[28:21] things that we do. I do want to point
[28:24] out recognize two of our employees
[28:25] tonight. Two of our superintendents in
[28:28] our divisions. First of all, our parks
[28:30] superintendent Lee Louney is here and
[28:33] also our recreation superintendent Bob
[28:35] Houston. I know some of y'all have met
[28:37] Bob, some of you have not. He's been
[28:39] with us since um January. moved all the
[28:42] way from from the Pacific Northwest and
[28:44] has done a great job for us hit the
[28:46] ground running. So, we're glad to have
[28:48] Bob on our team and of course Lee's been
[28:50] with us here with the town for about
[28:52] >> 17 years.
[28:53] >> Uh, one of the budget notes is we did
[28:56] move $42,500
[28:58] uh back in the fall of last year after
[29:00] we approved this from contract to
[29:02] services to salaries regular to affect
[29:05] the hiring of a tennis manager. We hired
[29:07] Brevin McKini. I think some of y'all
[29:09] know Brevin. His dad Billy was our
[29:10] longtime contracted tennis employee. And
[29:13] we also hired part-time tennis
[29:15] instructors for the tennis program.
[29:17] Every instructor that we have now in our
[29:19] tennis program is a part-time employee
[29:22] of the town of Fort Mill, which is a
[29:24] good thing because we've done background
[29:26] checks on all those folks and they've
[29:28] really hit the ground running. Some of
[29:30] our key accomplishments fiscal year
[29:32] 2526.
[29:33] Uh the big one of the biggest ones I
[29:35] think the biggest one is we completed
[29:36] the parks and recreation master plan. We
[29:39] hired like I said Bob and uh Brevin our
[29:42] 800 all-star football team won the SCPA
[29:45] Scap State Championship. You recognized
[29:47] those kids at the uh at our last meeting
[29:51] here. Our all-star baseball posted it
[29:54] best district tournament finish in more
[29:56] than seven years. Our ozone team
[29:58] finished second the district and our AAA
[30:01] team finished third the district. Ozone
[30:03] is 11 12. AAA is 9 and 10 year olds.
[30:06] Some of our parks and facility
[30:08] improvements that we've done, of course,
[30:11] Walter Elijah Park, which I call the
[30:13] jewel of our park system. Uh we finished
[30:16] a concrete sidewalk all the way around
[30:17] the entire park. We've got new safety
[30:19] cameras and lighting is installed in
[30:22] that park. Steel Street Park, uh we
[30:24] built a new indoor picnic shelter and
[30:27] added picnic tables there. Banks
[30:29] Athletic Park. Our batting cages are to
[30:32] be concreted by the end of August. We
[30:33] actually got those finished today and
[30:36] that is something that we're excited
[30:37] about. Uh so that we should open those
[30:40] up hopefully by the end of the week.
[30:41] We're going to let that concrete settle
[30:42] and make sure it's good. So that'll help
[30:45] with uh warming up the teams whether
[30:47] they want to hit some or and we're
[30:50] excited about that. Millstone Park, of
[30:52] course, we added the new uh port and
[30:54] play safety surfacing also there. And
[30:57] then a new outdoor picnic shelter and
[31:00] tables. I give get to give credit on
[31:02] something with Millstone. It's probably
[31:04] been a couple years ago Lee mentioned to
[31:06] me, he said, "You know what would be
[31:07] nice up here is we had a shelter at the
[31:09] top of Milstone Park where people could
[31:11] eat lunch and enjoy downtown Fort Mill."
[31:14] So Lee, you've been wanting that credit.
[31:16] So I had to give Lee that credit
[31:17] tonight.
[31:19] >> It does. It really does. It's really
[31:21] added to that part. Harris Street Park.
[31:23] Y'all know we added a new picnic picnic
[31:25] shelter in gazebo. Also too, one of the
[31:28] things we did was a couple years ago we
[31:31] had a massive rainstorm. If y'all
[31:33] remember on a Friday night where we had
[31:35] to shut the interstate down the turf at
[31:37] Fort Mill High School buckled, but it
[31:39] did recede back down when we had that
[31:41] massive rainstorm that we kind of didn't
[31:44] doing do anything to that field. So, we
[31:46] were able to repair the fencing back
[31:48] earlier this fiscal year. And also we
[31:50] just add a side to the infield because
[31:52] we want to be able to use that field for
[31:54] practice space for flag football or for
[31:56] youth soccer and because we have the
[31:58] lighting on there. And then probably the
[32:00] other thing that's excited too is the of
[32:02] course the community center. The
[32:04] construction is uh right on schedule and
[32:07] we're hoping to open that in early uh
[32:10] early winter. Uh we actually rode by
[32:12] there today. We have a meeting every two
[32:14] weeks. We got a meeting this Thursday.
[32:15] So, being able to go in that facility
[32:17] and see what's being done, it's going to
[32:19] really make Fort Mill proud and
[32:22] especially for those that went to school
[32:24] there many years ago. Uh, our spring
[32:27] sports participation is next. Um, we can
[32:31] look at our numbers if this was spring
[32:33] baseball. We were down a little bit
[32:35] there. Flag football down a little bit
[32:37] there. Soccer numbers have gone down
[32:40] there. Softball increased. and
[32:43] volleyball in the spring was down from
[32:45] 279 to 260. Uh softball did increase.
[32:49] Our fall participation numbers when you
[32:51] look at baseball from last year was down
[32:55] uh some flag football just down about
[32:58] five folks. Soccer down a little bit,
[33:01] softball increased and volleyball
[33:04] has exploded. Our our volleyball program
[33:08] has taken off. The biggest thing we got
[33:10] to look at next is what can we do for
[33:11] boys because our girls program has taken
[33:14] off big time and we're very very proud
[33:17] of that increase about 19.8%.
[33:22] » Before you turn the page
[33:24] >> Yes ma'am.
[33:24] >> Do we believe that any of the decrease
[33:27] in participation is related to the
[33:29] county not providing us with the funding
[33:32] that they historically had for our
[33:35] programs?
[33:35] >> Yes, ma'am. And then the complication of
[33:37] a county resident that actually has a
[33:39] Fort Mill address trying to get the
[33:42] money, the stipen that they had offered
[33:44] to participate in our programs.
[33:46] >> Yes, ma'am. We think that's a lot to do
[33:47] with that. And I was going to address
[33:48] that a little bit later on on some
[33:50] future slides on it, but that's okay.
[33:51] That's a great question. It is. We truly
[33:54] do believe what's happened with some of
[33:56] those and I and I'll touch on it right
[33:58] now.
[33:58] >> Thank you.
[33:59] >> Our winter basketball, we had 806 kids
[34:02] this past year participate. The year
[34:04] before that we had 1,3
[34:07] and let me hit on that right there. When
[34:08] we we started winter basketball
[34:11] registrations on October the 1st, 2025
[34:13] we registered for about a month. That is
[34:16] also the time that we introduced civic
[34:18] wreck which was our new software
[34:20] program. And civic wreck has been a big
[34:23] plus for us. And one of the things that
[34:25] we've been able to do with that also too
[34:27] is we've been able to tie into our GIS.
[34:30] So we know if if a participant whether
[34:33] they sign up for you sports or they sign
[34:35] up let's say for sh picnic shelter or
[34:38] they sign up for to play tennis they
[34:41] want to reserve a tennis court
[34:43] everything goes to civic wreck and we're
[34:45] able to identify whether that
[34:47] participant
[34:49] lives in the municipal town limits of
[34:51] Fort Mill or they live in an
[34:53] unincorporated area of of of Fort Mill
[34:56] or another unincorporated area of the
[34:58] county or out of eight. We got a lot of
[35:01] questions about this when we started
[35:03] this back in the winter because we were
[35:05] able to activate that GIS and we would
[35:07] have people call us and say, "Well, we
[35:09] live we have a Fort Mill address." And
[35:12] we would say, "Yes, ma'am, you do. You
[35:13] have a Fort Mill address, but you don't
[35:15] live in the municipal town limits of
[35:18] Fort Mill where you pay taxes actually
[35:20] to the town of Fort Mill." So, that was
[35:22] a great question, mayor, and we kind of
[35:24] as we've gone through that and I think
[35:26] we we've gotten better with that. We've
[35:28] been able to educate people over the
[35:30] last 10 months on why they had to pay
[35:32] that extra $70 fee. Tennis lessons were
[35:36] down a little bit this past year from
[35:38] 5.85 to 4.89. Our pickle ball lessons uh
[35:42] were down a good bit. We cut last year
[35:44] with pickle ball when Billy was on
[35:46] staff. We were just able to throw some tennis some pickle ball lessons in
[35:50] because he had a great interest in that.
[35:52] We're still teaching them, but they're
[35:54] down some. One of the biggest pluses we
[35:56] had this past summer was we had 44 slow
[36:00] pit softball teams. That's the most
[36:02] we've ever had. Now, we did switch it up
[36:04] some. We still had the men's church, we
[36:06] had a co-ed, and then we had more of an
[36:07] industrial league, but it was a big
[36:09] plus. We actually got city of Rock Hill
[36:12] called us and we know how'd y'all do
[36:13] that? Why is your numbers up? And we
[36:16] were able to tell them what we did. We
[36:17] changed it the format around with that.
[36:20] Uh we did have we talked about pickle
[36:23] ball. We did have a new indoor pickle
[36:25] ball facility that that opened here in
[36:26] the town limits and they took a good bit
[36:29] of those bit of those folks
[36:31] >> and the heat had a lot to do with tennis
[36:33] lessons. Billy Billy and I talked about
[36:36] that.
[36:37] >> The heat's been brutal this summer as we
[36:38] all know.
[36:39] >> Our summer camp participation,
[36:42] uh, our tennis camp, we were down some
[36:44] in that from 243 to 180. Pickle ball
[36:47] camp, you can see that one during the
[36:49] summer. Kids on the ball camp uh was
[36:52] down a little bit. Soccer camp down. Our
[36:55] baseball camp was down a little bit.
[36:56] Basketball camp was up. Instructional
[36:59] basketball league was down. Our
[37:01] volleyball camp went from zero
[37:02] participants to 75. I give Bob credit
[37:05] with that. He was able to build a
[37:07] rapport with one of the local high
[37:09] schools, Kataba Ridge, and their coach.
[37:11] And that was something that we were able
[37:12] to add new. And it's been been a huge
[37:15] plus. Let me mention this. kids on the
[37:17] ball camp, soccer camp, baseball camp,
[37:19] basketball camp, all those are done by
[37:22] individuals. It's it's a contract
[37:24] service. So, we give them a percentage
[37:26] and we get a percentage of that revenue.
[37:29] Um, we do have competition here. And if
[37:32] the next slide, when you look at soccer,
[37:35] flag football, baseball, softball,
[37:38] volleyball,
[37:40] um, one of the things we have is some
[37:41] other organizations that are also
[37:43] offering sporting activities too. uh
[37:46] Fort Mill United Soccer, Charlotte
[37:48] Independent Soccer, I9 Sports, uh
[37:51] Victory Sports Outreach, and of course
[37:53] the Baxter YMCA. Uh which uh we do have
[37:56] some local travel ball organizations
[37:58] also doing baseball and softball, flag
[38:01] football. You've got the endzone sports
[38:04] and some of the other ones I just
[38:05] mentioned there. And of course, the
[38:07] pickle ball, we just mentioned that the
[38:08] new indoor facility uh right above us
[38:11] here at 160 and 21.
[38:15] Um, mayor, you you mentioned of course
[38:18] about the the funding. Uh, York County
[38:20] fund for you sports, tennis, and camps
[38:22] was eliminated for fiscal year 2526.
[38:25] In prior years, that funding allowed the
[38:26] town to charge one uniform registration
[38:29] fee regardless of where you lived at.
[38:31] Now, we did charge an out ofstate fee,
[38:33] an extra fee then, but if you live
[38:35] anywhere in York County, you paid one
[38:37] fee, and that was pretty much the rule
[38:39] across the board for all municipalities.
[38:41] it was
[38:42] >> because we had that recreation
[38:43] coalition.
[38:45] Um the non-resident fee implementation,
[38:48] you can see that what I just mentioned
[38:49] earlier about our loss of funding from
[38:51] the county. Uh the funding change. York
[38:54] County funding was discontinued, not
[38:56] included in fiscal year 2526.
[38:58] town council. Uh you guys as a body last
[39:02] year approved a non resident fee of 70 bucks for those folks living outside
[39:07] of Fort Mill municipal limits and
[39:09] applied to you sports tennis lessons and
[39:11] camp and that fee did mirror what
[39:14] Rockill and TK also did. Uh also I
[39:18] mentioned about uh we started civic
[39:21] wreck back on October the 1st, 2025. And
[39:24] I will say this, like I said before,
[39:26] over the past 10 months, staff has
[39:28] worked to clarify the difference between
[39:30] a Fort Milling address and residing
[39:32] within the town limits. The public
[39:34] understanding has steadily improved with
[39:37] that. So that is that is good news
[39:39] there.
[39:40] Want to talk a little bit about the
[39:42] proposed fee adjustments for fiscal year
[39:45] 2027.
[39:47] And I'll just go through each one
[39:48] individually. If you need to ask me a
[39:50] question to stop, we we can do that.
[39:53] Baseball AAA ages 9 and 10 is currently
[39:56] $95 for those that live in the municipal
[39:59] town limits. We're proposing increase
[40:01] that to $110. Uh that is to help with
[40:06] cost of umpires have increased and
[40:08] uniform costs have also increased. TK
[40:11] charges $110 currently for that.
[40:14] >> So how does Rockill get away with 65?
[40:17] That's a great question and I think
[40:18] that's because they have a heck of a
[40:20] sports tourism program that some of
[40:24] those costs.
[40:24] >> So it's the Walmart principle. They buy
[40:26] in bulk so they get lower cost.
[40:29] >> Well, we we we buy in bulk, too. And we try to we try to get the best quality
[40:35] uniform we can, but also
[40:37] >> fast improvement.
[40:38] >> We bid we bid it out also too. So we try
[40:41] and look at look at all that. But I
[40:43] think one of the things Rockill has done
[40:44] with that is like I said the sports
[40:47] tourism they bring in a lot of lot of
[40:49] funding on that.
[40:50] >> Baseball ozone is also the same and then
[40:54] Dixie Boys we're encouraging to move
[40:56] that up to 125. You can see the
[40:58] breakdown there. Let me say this about
[41:01] our our fees right here. Since we
[41:04] started running the youports when Leroy
[41:06] got out of the business in 2010, that
[41:08] was our first year running that. We have
[41:11] not increased the fees in our youth
[41:14] sports at all. So we've held that cost
[41:18] for the last 16 years. And of course
[41:20] also too the price of uniforms have gone
[41:23] up. The price of officials have gone up.
[41:26] So that has that has increased pickle
[41:29] ball and tennis daily fees. Currently we
[41:32] charge $2 if you live outside of the
[41:35] municipal limits of the town of Fort
[41:37] Mill. I'm en encouraging us to move that
[41:40] up to $5. I think that that adds value
[41:44] to our to our courts, to our facilities,
[41:47] and it kind of makes people realize
[41:50] there is there is a cost of that. We
[41:52] will be opening the community center. I
[41:54] am uh suggesting that we don't charge
[41:56] our residents anything, but for a
[41:58] non-resident to come in just to play
[42:01] basketball, I'm I'm I'm asking you that
[42:03] we look at a $7 fee on that. To me that
[42:07] also provides value and also from a
[42:11] standpoint of appreciating and valuing
[42:14] that that money that the town residents
[42:16] have put toward that toward that fee
[42:18] toward that facility. Um one day
[42:21] preseason skill clinic uh which we're
[42:24] looking at doing some of those this
[42:25] upcoming year. Uh $50 preseason clinic
[42:29] listed for sports and residents will pay
[42:31] additional $70. Fort Mill Knights select
[42:35] baseball team. That's something new and that's my next slide and I will I
[42:38] will talk about that. We're a $225 fee
[42:41] for that which will cover uh two jerseys
[42:44] for that program and a hat. Wbridge Park
[42:47] Rental $50 is $50 an hour right now and
[42:51] $250 for the entire day for a field. I'm
[42:55] encouraging you to raise that up to $60
[42:58] an hour and 300 a day for the field. And
[43:01] um also looking at doubling that for
[43:04] non-residents that don't hold residents
[43:07] inside of Fort Mill Community Center
[43:09] gym. We know we're going to be uh asked
[43:12] to use that facility. Also a $60 an hour
[43:15] and a $300 a day for those that live in town limits. Uh proposed non-resident
[43:21] rate would be $120 an hour and $600 a
[43:24] day. the community center rooms, which
[43:26] are going to have two of those. Uh we're
[43:29] asking you to look at proposing and
[43:31] approving $30 an hour for those that
[43:33] live inside the town limits that they
[43:35] want to use that. And then if you're
[43:37] non-resident, let's say somebody want to
[43:39] rent some for a birthday party, it would
[43:40] be $60 an hour. We would double that.
[43:43] >> That is a small amount compared to other
[43:46] rentals. I have worked to get rentals
[43:49] for my garden club and looked all all
[43:52] across town at available space. That's a
[43:56] very very reasonable amount.
[44:00] >> And then the rest of our youth sports,
[44:01] basketball, flag, football, volleyball,
[44:03] soccer, we're looking to ask you to bump
[44:05] that up $5, $80 for non-competitive and
[44:09] $100 for competitive. And the
[44:10] non-residents will continue to pay an
[44:13] additional $70. Ran before you flip over
[44:16] uh because I know the community center
[44:18] rooms as the mayor mentioned it's going
[44:19] to be very there's a lot of interest in
[44:21] that. So if when you mentioned birthday
[44:23] parties I think a cleanup so is there
[44:25] going to be a cleanup fee now like I
[44:27] know there's a lot of adult groups that
[44:30] need a place to meet and that's one of
[44:31] the reasons we moved aggressively on
[44:33] this project. But you know birthday
[44:35] parties that's all we don't want to
[44:36] leave birthday cake all over the floor
[44:38] and so how you going to deal with that?
[44:40] >> We did not include that in it but
[44:42] something we might need to look at.
[44:43] >> Yeah. You might want to bake that in.
[44:46] >> That's absolutely necessary.
[44:48] >> And we can and we can do that.
[44:49] >> Go to Chuck-E-Cheese and spend an hour
[44:50] and you'll have all different
[44:52] perspectives.
[44:53] >> We can do that.
[44:54] >> Brown, while we're on that too on the
[44:56] community center, um, as we're looking
[44:58] at charging $7 for somebody, are we
[45:00] going to have an administrative support
[45:02] at the door as people are walking in to
[45:04] support? And does that mirror what we're
[45:06] doing at the YMCA as well?
[45:09] what they're doing at the Y right now. I
[45:11] think it's a $10 fee if if they allow
[45:15] somebody, a non-member, to come in and
[45:16] like shoot basketball for a day.
[45:18] >> Okay.
[45:19] >> Um
[45:20] I'm not sure. I think it's around $10 is
[45:23] what they what they
[45:24] >> ought to look at mirroring whatever
[45:25] they're doing given that, you know, the
[45:27] town owns both facilities. So, um we
[45:30] ought to consider that, please.
[45:32] >> Okay. We can we we'll look at that and
[45:34] get back with y'all on that.
[45:35] >> Okay. Thank you.
[45:36] >> Thank you. I know it's primarily going
[45:37] to be on the weekends at the community
[45:39] center. We got a lot of questions about
[45:40] that. But is the rate going to be the
[45:43] same like seven days a week or will it
[45:46] be different more on the weekends or
[45:48] >> It would be the same seven days a week.
[45:50] Yes, sir.
[45:51] >> It would be.
[45:51] >> And you list the Dixie Boys league. Um
[45:54] do we have a Dixie Girls league?
[45:56] >> We don't, but we have a um 15 and under
[46:00] softball
[46:01] uh that we do offer. We've had one or
[46:04] two teams in that that's played and they
[46:07] usually play with some of the other
[46:08] municipalities like Rock Hill, TK,
[46:10] Clover, York. Okay.
[46:12] >> So,
[46:12] >> but the baseball team we do allow girls
[46:14] to play as co-ed. Correct. So, can we
[46:16] take boys off of that name?
[46:18] >> Yeah, we will. That's just officially
[46:21] the name of
[46:22] >> after having the girl play. I understand
[46:25] the semantics.
[46:27] >> We can we can look at that. Change that.
[46:29] >> Thank you.
[46:30] >> Y'all have any other questions about
[46:31] proposed fees? We can look at everything
[46:33] that y'all said to us, especially about
[46:34] the deposit and everything for like a
[46:36] birthday party.
[46:38] >> Yeah. Some of the um other information
[46:40] you went through a lot and I was trying
[46:41] to take notes but didn't want to
[46:43] interrupt you. Um with the flag football
[46:46] side of things, are we doing now that
[46:48] they've added girls flag football at the
[46:50] high school level? Are our programs
[46:53] mirroring that? So is what age flag
[46:55] football? Is it co-ed, boys, girls? How
[46:58] does that look? It's we're still using
[47:01] that model NFL flag football. So, the
[47:03] kids get the rep replica jerseys. They
[47:06] love it. It comes with the replica
[47:07] jerseys of a team. It also comes with
[47:09] the flags. It comes with footballs.
[47:11] >> Uh we are co-ed in that. Right now, we
[47:14] don't have a separate girls league or
[47:16] separate boys league. It's co-ed right
[47:17] now. But,
[47:18] >> and what ages?
[47:19] >> 6U, 8U, 10U, and 13U.
[47:23] >> Correct.
[47:23] >> Okay. So, that will cover um I I would
[47:25] like for us to consider a middle school
[47:27] age to do um until the middle schools
[47:31] actually get a team knowing that we're
[47:33] doing it in high school now. Yes, ma'am.
[47:34] >> And maybe middle school has
[47:35] >> I think middle school's got it already
[47:38] at the and the middle school girls. I
[47:40] think I'm correct on this play in the
[47:42] spring.
[47:43] >> Okay. I think too we would have to
[47:45] consider the fields because we use the
[47:47] fields at the schools and those are not
[47:49] free. Uh we pay a sizable amount of
[47:52] money to the Fort Mill School District
[47:54] to rent their fields, which is
[47:55] reasonable. We would too, but I can tell
[47:58] you right now it's difficult because
[48:00] having grandkids in many of the programs
[48:03] you've just talked about, times get
[48:05] changed, fields get pushed because of
[48:07] school practice. It It's not an easy
[48:10] situation.
[48:11] >> I will I will say to address you on
[48:13] that, Mayor, last spring was a disaster.
[48:18] this spring.
[48:19] >> I didn't say it.
[48:20] >> I know. This spring was a lot better.
[48:22] >> A lot better. And and I'm going to give
[48:24] Bob credit for that because he's built a
[48:25] great rapport with that contact, the new
[48:28] contact at the Fort Mill School
[48:30] District. And we want to thank I know
[48:32] this is being recorded. We want to thank
[48:33] the Fort Mill School District for
[48:35] allowing us their facilities. We
[48:37] couldn't do a lot of what we do without
[48:39] >> Absolutely.
[48:40] >> that partnership that we have. So, we're very appreciative of that.
[48:43] >> Absolutely. I I mean no harm to the
[48:46] school district. I'm just saying it's
[48:47] not without cost
[48:49] >> for us to be able to operate these
[48:51] programs. So when we want and I don't
[48:54] disagree with you at all, Lisa, we need
[48:55] to offer fairly across the board, but to
[48:58] increase the programs, we have to
[49:00] increase the field usage. And Brownie,
[49:03] you and I both know from the travel
[49:05] leagues, they're looking, they're
[49:07] begging for field use. And and I do
[49:11] think we have to take a long hard look
[49:13] at this,
[49:13] >> right? When it comes to the decline in
[49:16] numbers, I also think that what has come
[49:18] into play is the school district's
[49:20] calendar changing. So, you know, we have
[49:23] now squashed down to eight weeks in the
[49:25] summer.
[49:25] >> Eight weeks.
[49:26] >> So, vacations are very tight. It's hard
[49:28] to get as many camps in as they the
[49:31] parents probably would like to do. So,
[49:33] it's probably worth Well, yeah. School
[49:35] camps, YMCA camps, you know, vacations,
[49:38] there's not enough weeks to cover it
[49:40] all.
[49:40] >> That's that's a great point. and and
[49:42] even with our leagues and everything
[49:44] because you have that intercession week
[49:47] the first week of October now
[49:49] >> you have three days off at Thanksgiving
[49:52] you have two weeks off at Christmas we
[49:54] got another week off in February and
[49:56] then we got another week off in April so
[49:58] we try to you know once we once we
[50:01] finish our summer camps we go right into
[50:03] the fall sports and we're wide open for
[50:05] another 44 weeks during the year just
[50:09] trying to get everything in to finish up
[50:11] before Memorial Morial Day.
[50:12] >> So, it is a tight schedule, but I give
[50:14] our staff a lot of credit. They do a
[50:16] good job of of managing that and getting
[50:18] all that done.
[50:19] >> Well, and I know we've seen some camps
[50:21] be successful on those off weeks during
[50:24] the school year. So, you know, maybe
[50:26] that's a way to shift an indoor camp
[50:28] that doesn't have to be outside to still
[50:30] get the play.
[50:31] >> You just brought up a great point that
[50:33] we've been working on and I'm glad you
[50:35] mentioned that with our tennis program.
[50:37] Brevin has done a good job. And one of
[50:40] the things we're looking at is offering
[50:42] a camp during that intercession weeks.
[50:46] We're also looking at and at at offering
[50:48] a camp between Christmas and New Year's.
[50:52] Um we're going to start a little bit
[50:54] later in the day like a half day camp.
[50:56] Instead of nine, we're going to do 10
[50:57] because it might be a little bit cooler
[50:58] out there. That's some things that we're
[51:00] looking and talking. How do we get how
[51:03] do we think out the box? How do we get
[51:04] more creative as to help with those
[51:06] things?
[51:07] >> Now that corporate world's gone back to
[51:08] so many businesses having um work from
[51:11] home doesn't work anymore. Uh look at
[51:13] maybe a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
[51:15] where the core hours the parents are
[51:17] going into the office might be
[51:19] successful too. So just a thought.
[51:21] >> Thank you for that. All right. Fort Mill
[51:24] nights initiative. This is something
[51:25] that that we've talked about as a staff
[51:27] and something we want to introduce you guys to. It would be select
[51:31] baseball. It's not travel. Stop wreck.
[51:34] It's what we call select in between. And
[51:36] this is modeled on TK select program
[51:39] which has run successfully now for over
[51:41] 10 years across six age divisions 8U 9U
[51:45] 10U 11U 12U 13U. It bridges the gap
[51:48] between traditional recreation and
[51:50] travel baseball keeping skilled players
[51:52] registered for fall and spring seasons.
[51:55] Still have volunteer coaches for select
[51:57] teams. Continue coaching at the
[51:59] recreation level. We still have those
[52:01] guys coaching uh for us, keeping both
[52:04] players and coaches in the recck league.
[52:07] Select players are required to play
[52:09] recreation baseball in the spring while
[52:11] in the select program. This strengthen
[52:14] strengthens the talent pool for
[52:15] recreation all-star selection at the
[52:18] district and state competition.
[52:21] Bill's positivity positive visibility
[52:24] for Fort Mill through branded uniforms
[52:26] and teamed identity and adds program
[52:28] revenue per participant.
[52:30] This is one of the key things. Our
[52:32] department retains direct control of
[52:34] select teams and coaches. Our recreation
[52:36] coordinator who has a passion for
[52:39] baseball will oversee the program
[52:42] alongside the volunteer coaches that uh
[52:45] we would select for that. And we um I
[52:50] always said this, some of the best ideas
[52:53] you get, you get from other programs or
[52:56] other entities that do something good.
[52:59] And we feel like this has been a good
[53:01] program. Ever since we've been talking
[53:03] about this, actually last week, Rock
[53:06] Hill also reached out to us and said,
[53:07] "We know y'all are interested in
[53:09] possibly starting a select team. We're
[53:11] interested in that also, too." So, I
[53:14] just wanted to to bring that bring that
[53:17] to you. We feel like this would be a
[53:19] great proposal for for our program and
[53:22] especially from a competition standpoint
[53:25] to keeping those good kids with us if we
[53:28] can a couple more years. I'll give you
[53:30] this example and I'm not taking anything
[53:31] away from this. When we won the coach
[53:34] pitch Dixie World Series, it was Dixie
[53:38] still then. It wasn't dime at that time
[53:40] a couple years ago. A lot of those kids
[53:43] that came back from that seven and eight
[53:45] year old team did not come back play
[53:47] with Seymour. They moved on to travel
[53:49] ball and that's okay. That's their
[53:52] option to do that. I'm not taking
[53:53] anything away from travel ball at all.
[53:55] That's not it. What we're looking at
[53:57] with this program is just trying to
[53:59] bridge a gap in between from wreck ball
[54:03] to travel ball and have something kind
[54:04] of a middle just to let people we've had
[54:07] parents, coaches kind of come to us and
[54:09] say, "Tica Kay's done this good. Can
[54:12] y'all look at possibly possibly doing
[54:13] this?" So, we're we're bringing that to
[54:16] you and I'll be glad to answer any
[54:17] questions for you on that. Lisa,
[54:19] >> I was going to say you you knew I was
[54:20] going to fight you on this one and and
[54:22] it's for many reasons. Um, number one, I understand about playing at that high
[54:28] level. As you know, my son's team and
[54:30] two other teams made it to um, Little
[54:32] League World Series representing the
[54:34] state of South Carolina. So, um, in
[54:37] addition to the Dixie team, we had,
[54:38] we've had some outstanding baseball
[54:40] programs, but when I look about our
[54:42] comprehensive plan and what the
[54:44] community has asked for more of with our
[54:47] recreation program, it hasn't been an in
[54:49] between select team for baseball. it has
[54:53] been more adult programs, more youth,
[54:56] um, young adult programs that we can
[54:58] have. It's for senior citizens. There's
[55:00] a lot of other programs that we really
[55:03] need to consider outside of just the
[55:06] youth side of things. Um, I don't see us
[55:09] as competing with the travel ball teams.
[55:11] I don't see us competing with the YMCA
[55:14] or Victory Sports. I think each one of
[55:16] them brings their own value proposition
[55:19] to what they're why the parents are
[55:21] choosing those organizations. What I do
[55:23] see is a lot of input from our community
[55:26] really wanting to have more activities
[55:29] for older adults in different
[55:30] demographics than what we are
[55:32] considering. So, I feel like with, as
[55:35] Gwen was mentioning, the field usage
[55:37] that we have and our decreasing numbers,
[55:40] right now, to me, it's not a time to get
[55:42] into travel unless we're willing to do
[55:44] it for multiple sports, not just one
[55:47] sport, one activity. Um, so I I am not
[55:51] in favor of this at this time at all. As
[55:54] you know, when I ran 13 years ago, it
[55:56] was because of my passion for our parks
[55:58] and recck program and for the youth
[56:00] sports in the community. back to the YM,
[56:03] what was it? FM ya, Fort Mill Youth
[56:05] Athletic Association that tried to save
[56:07] parks. Um, I I just would like for us to
[56:10] consider some other means of growing our
[56:13] programs besides this.
[56:15] >> Now, can I can I add something to that?
[56:16] >> Absolutely.
[56:17] >> Um, while I do not disagree on the the
[56:21] different programs for more than just
[56:23] the youth, I will disagree with you on
[56:25] that that program right there. I think
[56:27] that's a great idea. my son just came
[56:29] through it and while he he wasn't the
[56:31] one to be part of the travel team um but
[56:34] seeing just kind of the the poaching of talent from the local to you being
[56:40] pulled out of our wreck league and going
[56:42] to other other leagues and travel ball
[56:44] and everything else. I think this is a
[56:45] great initiative to try to keep those
[56:47] kids in our program and like I said and
[56:50] kind of create that year after year uh
[56:52] with it. So, I I I personally think this
[56:54] is a good idea. And not again, not to
[56:55] take away anything from senior
[56:58] activities or anything else, but to keep
[57:00] our kids here, I think that's I think
[57:02] it's a great idea.
[57:03] >> I I'm in the middle. Um because I see
[57:05] value in having, you know, I used to
[57:09] play softball for springs when I worked
[57:11] in this building when it was Springs and
[57:14] we played all the Lancaster teams. We
[57:16] played everyone. We travel a little bit
[57:18] to Lancaster, whatever. It was a lot of
[57:20] fun. We loved it. But to Lisa's point
[57:23] and Allen's point, my point is we have
[57:27] to have some division because it is also
[57:30] not right. I have been to many ball
[57:33] games in the last two years to have a
[57:36] wreck mentality and a wreck team that we
[57:39] have travel teams using it for practice
[57:42] because they join the team. That is a
[57:44] whole lot of not fun for a bunch of
[57:47] little kids that are not traveling on
[57:49] the weekends and not getting individual
[57:52] skill sets and they're knocking them out
[57:54] of the park. I'm scared for the health
[57:55] of the kids in field because those kids
[57:58] are really playing at a different level.
[58:01] So, I I think it's something we need to
[58:03] discuss. I'm not marking it off, but I I
[58:07] do think we have a lot of opportunities.
[58:11] To Lisa's point, I agree. We have been
[58:13] asked about walking trails, which
[58:15] Penelopey's working on. I have witnessed
[58:19] rugby matches on the fields at the
[58:21] complex and lacrosse, you know,
[58:24] >> cricket, I saw adults playing cricket at
[58:28] the complex. So, I I do think that
[58:32] there's a need for us to embrace, you
[58:34] know, there are a lot of taxpayers that
[58:36] don't have little kids and and we do owe
[58:38] them, too. So, I I I think these are
[58:41] great conversations.
[58:43] So, let's let's try to see how we can
[58:46] find some middle ground to do what's
[58:48] right.
[58:49] >> And I will say this, one of the things
[58:50] with the community center that we're
[58:52] going to look at is concentrating on
[58:54] senior program and doing things there,
[58:56] whether it's pickle ball, whether it's
[58:57] bingo classes, I mean, you name it. It's
[58:59] all kind of things that we can do for
[59:01] seniors. And that's one thing that we're
[59:02] going to look at as we open up that
[59:04] facility to do more for for seniors. We
[59:07] even talked about in house when we have
[59:09] meetings about looking at possibly doing
[59:11] uh an adult men's basketball program or
[59:13] adult women's basketball program or
[59:15] adult volleyball program. That's some of
[59:16] the things that we're that we're looking
[59:18] at.
[59:18] >> I want to play the volleyball thing.
[59:19] >> Yeah, I was going to say there were
[59:20] pickup soccer leagues at one time where
[59:22] you know Sunday afternoons the field was
[59:24] an open league. You know, again, I just
[59:27] feel like seniors and I'm getting closer
[59:30] to that little bracket there aren't
[59:31] necessarily playing bingo all the time.
[59:33] You know, some of us want to do a little
[59:35] bit more active lifestyle and still like
[59:37] the competition. Yeah. Give me flag
[59:40] football game. I'm I'm all in.
[59:43] >> All right. I'm going to move on to the
[59:44] next slide. Wbridge Park project.
[59:47] >> We uh budgeted this year $475,000.
[59:51] One of the ideas we had was the
[59:52] playground adjacent to field one was
[59:55] built more than 20 years ago when the
[59:56] park only had one baseball and softball
[59:59] field. That was the first first field we
[1:00:00] had there. And we built that one too
[1:00:03] because we had a lot of homes going up
[1:00:04] out in that area too during that time
[1:00:07] frame. The budget covers a completely
[1:00:09] new play structure, new swings and port
[1:00:11] in place safety surfacing. A matching
[1:00:14] grant opportunity from game time has
[1:00:17] been been identified in the last two
[1:00:19] weeks and could significantly lower the
[1:00:21] town's cost and we do believe that we've
[1:00:24] got a good chance at getting that. So
[1:00:26] just want to give you a heads up on
[1:00:28] that. Also, I know we purchased more
[1:00:31] property out there about the possibility
[1:00:33] of a disc golf course. Uh, one of the
[1:00:36] land that was was was purchased. Of
[1:00:39] course, y'all know that the headquarters
[1:00:41] for disc golf is right across as they
[1:00:43] like to say,
[1:00:44] >> right across the river in Rock Hill over
[1:00:46] off Red River Road on Commerce Drive. We
[1:00:49] feel like that we can build a disc golf
[1:00:52] course out there. Partnering with this
[1:00:54] group, it's f fits well into currently
[1:00:56] underutilized areas of the park. A sport
[1:00:58] that everyone can play regardless of
[1:01:00] age, ability, or gender. A 9-hole course
[1:01:02] is schedule friendly and easy to try.
[1:01:05] Local players are frequently willing to
[1:01:07] help with the course maintenance and
[1:01:08] upkeep. It's easy to learn with lasting
[1:01:11] recreation and fitness value, and
[1:01:13] sponsorship opportunities can be
[1:01:15] explored with Ace Place is the name of
[1:01:17] the organization now, and other
[1:01:19] corporate partners to help fund this
[1:01:22] project. So, we're excited about that.
[1:01:24] So,
[1:01:25] >> y'all have any questions about the
[1:01:26] possible grants?
[1:01:28] >> No.
[1:01:28] That's awesome. And thank you to the
[1:01:31] Cunningham family. I know they're Fort
[1:01:33] Mill, so I am proud of what they are
[1:01:36] doing for the community um across the
[1:01:38] nation, honestly. Um the port place at
[1:01:42] Field One, it's not 20 years old, is it?
[1:01:44] >> It's it's approaching 20 years. Yes,
[1:01:46] ma'am.
[1:01:46] >> Wow. It feels like it's been done since
[1:01:48] I was on council. Okay. Um, and Gordon
[1:01:51] and I have had some ideas, you and I can
[1:01:53] talk offline, too, about um, as we look
[1:01:55] at making it a safer park and more
[1:01:57] usable. You know, I've expressed a lot
[1:01:59] of concern up at field two and three at
[1:02:02] the turnaround area that we have up
[1:02:04] there. I'd like us to consider instead
[1:02:07] of having that separate playground down
[1:02:09] at field one, potentially putting making
[1:02:11] a larger playground up at between those
[1:02:14] two, we've already got the asphalt area,
[1:02:17] so it makes it real easy to add to it. I
[1:02:20] feel like I'm not an engineer, but um
[1:02:22] and then possibly making where the field
[1:02:25] one playground is make that batten
[1:02:28] cages, make that a picnic shelter or
[1:02:30] something for that field to be able to
[1:02:32] use. Um
[1:02:32] >> you know, we have a batten cage there.
[1:02:34] Okay,
[1:02:34] >> just left of field one back up toward
[1:02:36] field three. So, we have that in place.
[1:02:39] >> One of the things we would have to look
[1:02:41] at to see if that if we add on to that
[1:02:44] playground between fields two and three
[1:02:46] if we have enough room there.
[1:02:47] >> Yeah.
[1:02:48] >> To make put that in there. That would be
[1:02:50] something that we would have to explore
[1:02:51] because we know we have the room
[1:02:52] currently where the one is now.
[1:02:54] >> Yeah. I I'd love to be involved and know
[1:02:57] a little bit more before we actually
[1:02:58] spend the money and apply for the grant.
[1:03:00] But I do think it's great and I do hope
[1:03:02] we will continue to get a lot of sun
[1:03:05] shade while we're there. I know that's
[1:03:06] been one of our projects with all of the
[1:03:08] playground equipments.
[1:03:10] >> That is one thing that we looked at with
[1:03:11] this with the possible play structure is
[1:03:13] adding shading on that play structure
[1:03:15] >> needed. I'd also believe on both of
[1:03:19] these initiatives that we have some
[1:03:21] businesses coming nearby that might
[1:03:24] would like to do some sponsorships. Um I I think we should probably
[1:03:30] talk to Mr. Pettit or Gordon about
[1:03:33] reaching out and seeing if they'd like
[1:03:35] to have a banner um for I don't know
[1:03:37] picnic area or whatever we decide it's
[1:03:41] collocation is prime
[1:03:44] >> for that kind of recognition and we'll
[1:03:46] have a walkway over that way. So um I
[1:03:49] think too on the disc golf course don't
[1:03:51] forget that Winthrop holds the
[1:03:53] international disc golf championship
[1:03:55] once a year. It's incredibly well
[1:03:58] attended. Um, so since we're going to
[1:04:00] have Winthre next door, I think there's
[1:04:02] some partnershiping that we might
[1:04:06] try to benefit from. Um, just saying
[1:04:10] >> that's a great idea. It is. And we're
[1:04:12] And actually, I'm going to give Bob
[1:04:13] credit on something. We're working Bob's
[1:04:15] reached out to Winthre with the athletic
[1:04:17] department and we've actually got a
[1:04:20] volleyball night at the Winthrop
[1:04:21] Coliseum September the 19th. Bob, am I
[1:04:23] correct on that? Oh,
[1:04:25] >> September 19th, all our volleyball teams
[1:04:27] are going to get in free and parents can
[1:04:28] get in for $5. That's a Saturday night.
[1:04:31] >> Awesome.
[1:04:31] >> So, put that on your calendar.
[1:04:34] >> We'll we'll send you more information on
[1:04:35] that.
[1:04:36] >> Well, and as we're talking about camps,
[1:04:37] can we get a disc golf camp so I can
[1:04:39] learn how to throw a Frisbee, please?
[1:04:41] >> We can look at that.
[1:04:42] >> Thank you. I'll take that.
[1:04:43] >> Be a great opportunity for a healthcare
[1:04:45] company. I really
[1:04:48] >> going forward strategic uh some focus
[1:04:50] areas that we've got uh we want to focus
[1:04:52] on community and customer experience and
[1:04:55] uh I won't go through all of that but
[1:04:57] y'all can read that are our of course
[1:04:58] our athletics recreation standard
[1:05:00] evaluate the program structure coaching
[1:05:02] standards officiating scheduling field
[1:05:05] allocation sportsmanship parent
[1:05:07] communication competitive balance and
[1:05:09] the overall participant participant
[1:05:11] experience partnership and community
[1:05:13] relationships y'all would ment Mention
[1:05:15] that define roles of schools, YMCA,
[1:05:18] athletic associations, nonprofits,
[1:05:20] private providers, sponsors, and
[1:05:22] volunteers. Identify where partnerships
[1:05:24] can expand services without
[1:05:25] unnecessarily duplicating programs,
[1:05:28] performance, and measurement
[1:05:29] accountability. Uh we want to build a a
[1:05:32] parts direct manageable scorecard of 8
[1:05:34] to 12 meaningful KPIs such as
[1:05:36] participation program fill rates,
[1:05:39] customer satisfaction, complaint
[1:05:40] resolution, cost per participant, cost
[1:05:43] recovery, and the registration and
[1:05:45] facility experience. I will say since
[1:05:48] we've gone to civic wreck, it has been a
[1:05:50] lot better than the former software that
[1:05:54] we had, especially for instead of eight
[1:05:57] or nine clicks to register, it's three
[1:05:59] to register now. So, we're we've been
[1:06:01] very pleased with Civic Recre programs
[1:06:03] and services. Eva, evaluate the current
[1:06:06] portfolio of youth and adult athletics,
[1:06:08] recreation programs, camps, special
[1:06:10] events, and rentals. Determine what
[1:06:12] should be expanded, modified,
[1:06:13] discontinued, or added based on
[1:06:15] participation, demand cost, community
[1:06:18] benefit, organizational capacity, and
[1:06:20] staffing. Evaluate staffing levels,
[1:06:23] organizational structures, seasonal
[1:06:25] staffing, training, succession planning,
[1:06:27] workload, technology, internal process.
[1:06:29] confirmed the department is organized to
[1:06:31] deliver the level of service expected as
[1:06:33] the community grows and of course
[1:06:35] financial sustainability and cost
[1:06:37] recovery. Uh you can look at that uh
[1:06:40] principle for fees, subsidies,
[1:06:41] scholarships, sponsorships, rental
[1:06:43] tournaments. The goal is not to maximize
[1:06:45] revenue but to be intentional about
[1:06:47] which services are subsidized and why.
[1:06:51] And of course we're going to ground all
[1:06:53] this in evidence and uh I think the park
[1:06:55] and recreation master plan will help
[1:06:57] with that. the SWAT analysis and survey
[1:07:00] feedback from participants, families,
[1:07:02] coaches, and our partners. And we do
[1:07:06] have a lot of uh current businesses that
[1:07:09] sponsor at a certain level for us and I know this is being recorded. I
[1:07:13] want to thank all those that have been
[1:07:15] with us over the years. We couldn't do a
[1:07:18] lot of things we do without them.
[1:07:20] >> Moving into a strategic planning
[1:07:22] process. Um, of course I said our
[1:07:25] department looks forward to its next
[1:07:27] chapter. Staff are moving forward in
[1:07:29] strategic planning process once again
[1:07:31] grounding the parks and recreation
[1:07:32] master plan or third of SWAT analysis
[1:07:35] and extensive survey feedback gathered
[1:07:36] through participants, families and
[1:07:38] coaches. And if you'll look over on the
[1:07:40] right, how the process will be executed,
[1:07:42] evaluate the seven focus areas.
[1:07:46] Gather evidence, build the scorecard,
[1:07:49] and present the adoption.
[1:07:52] And I started by saying this and I'll
[1:07:55] end by saying this. I've been here
[1:07:57] almost 23 years now. And when I came, I
[1:08:00] was the only employee that we had in the
[1:08:02] department. And things really changed in
[1:08:06] 2010 when we took on the workload of all
[1:08:08] the programming and everything. And I've
[1:08:10] been with uh worked with different
[1:08:12] mayors. I've worked with different
[1:08:13] council members. But one thing's always
[1:08:15] been significant. We have had the
[1:08:18] support of this council. And we cannot
[1:08:21] thank each and every one of you so much.
[1:08:24] And we we're thankful for what you do
[1:08:26] for us and our department. And we look
[1:08:28] forward to continue to working with you
[1:08:30] with all of you. and we're working with
[1:08:32] this community to better what we offer.
[1:08:35] So, I'll be glad to answer any
[1:08:36] questions.
[1:08:38] >> I don't have a question. Um, but I do
[1:08:40] have a comment. This is a very nice
[1:08:43] presentation. Uh, we've received some
[1:08:46] data recently that has been helpful as
[1:08:49] we consider where our money needs to be
[1:08:51] spent and how can we maximize the use of
[1:08:54] it. And yes, I do want to thank all
[1:08:57] those that sponsor and I want to thank
[1:08:59] the volunteers. We have some amazing
[1:09:02] I've been to so many ball games that
[1:09:04] went so pleasantly. There were no
[1:09:08] fighting, no arguments. It was, you
[1:09:11] know, our coaches are quality coaches.
[1:09:14] They're there for the kids and they want
[1:09:16] to make it a a great experience and a
[1:09:18] safe experience for those kids. So,
[1:09:20] whatever we're doing to help them and
[1:09:22] prepare them, it's working. And I I
[1:09:26] can't thank our volunteers enough and
[1:09:28] our sponsors enough for what they do.
[1:09:29] And you guys, it's it's a good thing.
[1:09:32] >> Ron, how are we doing getting coaches?
[1:09:35] Um, how are volunteers looking? Do you
[1:09:37] have a waiting list? I hope
[1:09:40] >> we we have folks that's been with us
[1:09:43] year after year, but then also too
[1:09:44] depends on the number of teams that we
[1:09:46] have. we have to sometimes call parents
[1:09:49] and ask we need help. Okay?
[1:09:50] >> You know, so we we do do that. Uh the
[1:09:53] volunteer opportunity is always there.
[1:09:56] Uh we do do a thorough background check
[1:09:58] once a year on all of our volunteers. We
[1:10:01] run it through our our security system
[1:10:03] that we have. So, uh just like every
[1:10:06] other organization out, it's it's hard
[1:10:09] to get good quality people, but we do
[1:10:12] have good quality people, volunteers
[1:10:13] here in Fort Mill. Yes, we do. We are
[1:10:15] appreciative and we want to say thank
[1:10:17] you. We can't say thank you enough.
[1:10:19] >> I I remember while I was doing baseball
[1:10:21] and soccer, it was some of the most
[1:10:23] gratifying um work that I've ever done
[1:10:26] and even though it didn't pay a dime, it
[1:10:28] was a lot of fun and a lot of those kids
[1:10:30] we still have relationships with. Um I
[1:10:33] did want to ask you about the financial
[1:10:35] aid. I know we're talking about raising
[1:10:37] the fees that we have, but can you also
[1:10:39] talk a little bit about what we offer
[1:10:41] for those in need?
[1:10:42] >> Yes, ma'am. If if we have I've always
[1:10:45] been a true true believer and I it goes
[1:10:47] back to the value and if we have folks
[1:10:50] that are you know have a tough time they
[1:10:52] might have five kids if they will come
[1:10:55] to us and sit down with us we will help
[1:10:57] them. Now I do think it's important that
[1:10:59] you pay something because it goes back
[1:11:02] you value what you pay for. So we we
[1:11:05] have had folks that's called us and said
[1:11:07] you know I'm going through a tough time
[1:11:09] right now and I I'll say to them you'll
[1:11:12] come in and sit down and talk to me
[1:11:13] we'll be glad and look and see what we
[1:11:15] can do to help you out. So we have done
[1:11:17] that.
[1:11:18] >> Okay. So they just need to reach out to
[1:11:20] you or um
[1:11:21] >> me or Bob. Okay.
[1:11:23] >> So yes ma'am.
[1:11:24] >> Thank you.
[1:11:26] >> Any further questions?
[1:11:28] Thank you for the diligence in the
[1:11:31] presentation. very beneficial and the
[1:11:34] hard work. Thank you all. We appreciate
[1:11:36] it.
[1:11:36] >> Thank you all.
[1:11:37] >> Appreciate it.
[1:11:37] >> Thanks, Brown. Appreciate you.
[1:11:39] >> All right. Item number two. We're going
[1:11:41] to move into a public hearing as duly
[1:11:43] published in the Afro said newspaper
[1:11:45] Rock Hill, the Herald, and affidavit
[1:11:47] number IPL363651.
[1:11:51] Item A, we're going to open a public
[1:11:54] hearing. Second public hearing to enter
[1:11:56] into a fourth amendment to the
[1:11:58] development agreement with Charlotte
[1:12:00] Meckllinmberg Hospital Authority. Let
[1:12:02] the public meeting be opened.
[1:12:08] » Good evening.
[1:12:08] >> Hi. How are you,
[1:12:10] >> Council? I'm Ben Johnson. I have an
[1:12:12] office in Rock Hill. I'm here tonight on
[1:12:14] behalf of the Charlotte Meckllinburgg
[1:12:16] Hospital Authority. Our project team is
[1:12:18] back on I guess that's the bride side of
[1:12:21] the of the room. Um
[1:12:23] >> it's all the good guys, right?
[1:12:25] >> The um a thumbnail. We covered this last
[1:12:27] time. Um we uh are requesting that you
[1:12:31] give second reading tonight to um our
[1:12:34] request to annex two parcels that the um
[1:12:37] hospital authority has has one it it has
[1:12:41] owned all along since 2008 and it was
[1:12:44] left out by survey um just a
[1:12:48] miscalculation and then 10.9 acres that
[1:12:51] were recently acquired from the Scott
[1:12:54] family. We ask that these parcels be
[1:12:56] included under the existing mixeduse
[1:12:58] plan, that it be zoned mixed use and
[1:13:01] included under the existing mixeduse
[1:13:03] plan already in effect for the 83 acres
[1:13:06] that Atrium already owns uh and has
[1:13:09] owned on Sutton Road. Uh this is without
[1:13:12] increasing any of the entitlements,
[1:13:15] without increasing any of the density.
[1:13:17] Um, and then we would also request and
[1:13:20] as part of the proposal is that we
[1:13:22] update the term of the agreement and set
[1:13:24] a new development schedule because these
[1:13:26] we're we're ready to begin. Uh, the
[1:13:29] request is limited to the atrium
[1:13:31] property out on the site. Uh and then
[1:13:34] finally, as I covered last time, we've
[1:13:36] made a commitment to the town and to the
[1:13:38] Carolina Thread Trail to build
[1:13:40] connectors uh from the hospital site and
[1:13:43] to provide parking uh down to the trail
[1:13:45] and down to the connector to the trail.
[1:13:47] So, thank you. Be glad to answer any
[1:13:49] questions.
[1:13:50] >> All right.
[1:13:52] >> Thank you.
[1:13:53] Ben.
[1:13:56] No further
[1:13:58] interesting comments. We'll close this
[1:14:00] public hearing.
[1:14:03] Okay. Now we will entertain a public
[1:14:07] hearing for ordinance amending the town
[1:14:09] zoning code as it relates to election
[1:14:11] signs. This is item B. Chris Pettit.
[1:14:15] Open the public hearing.
[1:14:18] This sounds so funny.
[1:14:20] Go ahead.
[1:14:21] >> Thank you, mayor. Um this is um uh a
[1:14:24] change from in the timing where the
[1:14:27] signs are allowed to be out from 60 days
[1:14:30] prior to the election to 30 days prior.
[1:14:33] It also increases the size of those
[1:14:35] signs from six square feet the allowable
[1:14:37] size from 6 to 8 square feet. Uh there
[1:14:39] have been no updates since first reading
[1:14:41] approval.
[1:14:43] >> Any questions for Mr. Pettit?
[1:14:46] >> No.
[1:14:47] >> All right. Um, any further interest in
[1:14:51] speaking? None heard. Public hearing is
[1:14:54] closed for item B.
[1:14:57] All right.
[1:14:59] Council members, you have received the
[1:15:01] July 27th council meeting minutes,
[1:15:04] August 10th council workshop minutes,
[1:15:07] and the August 17th council budget
[1:15:10] workshop minutes. Do we have any
[1:15:12] changes, deletions, or additions?
[1:15:17] I need a motion.
[1:15:17] >> I make a motion to approve minutes or A,
[1:15:21] B, and C as submitted.
[1:15:24] >> I have a motion.
[1:15:25] >> Second.
[1:15:26] >> I have a second. All those in favor,
[1:15:27] please say I. I. Thank you.
[1:15:31] >> All right. Public comments. Pursuant to
[1:15:32] section 2-46 of the code of ordinances
[1:15:35] for the town of Fort Mill, any citizen
[1:15:37] of the town may appear before council
[1:15:39] for the purpose of providing public
[1:15:41] comments on any municipal matter except
[1:15:44] for personnel matters. Those who wish to
[1:15:47] speak must sign in outside of council
[1:15:48] chambers prior to the start of the
[1:15:50] meeting. Citizens will be given three
[1:15:52] minutes each to speak. Casey, we have
[1:15:55] none. All right. Thank you. Old
[1:15:57] business. Item A, consideration of the
[1:15:59] second reading of Ordinance 20
[1:16:02] 26-32,
[1:16:04] an ordinance annexing York County tax
[1:16:06] map number 66100000030
[1:16:11] and 65800 0106
[1:16:14] containing approximately 10.986
[1:16:18] acres and to reszone from general
[1:16:20] commercial to mixed use. Penelope
[1:16:23] Caragunas.
[1:16:25] Hi.
[1:16:25] >> Hi. Good evening, mayor and council. Um,
[1:16:28] this is second readin. Um, this is for
[1:16:30] the annexation. It's el eligible.
[1:16:33] There's no changes from the first
[1:16:34] readin. Perfect.
[1:16:36] >> That's just uh some additional thoughts.
[1:16:38] I read down through this again today.
[1:16:40] The MXU that it came in under in the
[1:16:43] original agreements, I think it was in '
[1:16:44] 08.
[1:16:46] >> Have any of the ordinances changed in
[1:16:50] that many years? the the MXU have has
[1:16:53] that ordinance changed
[1:16:55] at all? Have we?
[1:16:56] >> Gosh, that that's before my time because
[1:16:58] I I got here in 19. Um, however, always
[1:17:02] keep in mind, you know, it's locked with
[1:17:04] because it has a development agreement
[1:17:06] so that it's entitled um what the code
[1:17:09] was at that time. So again, this
[1:17:12] annexation doesn't change anything about
[1:17:15] the MXU. is just basically to provide
[1:17:18] them a little bit more room um from a
[1:17:20] design flexibility and they're very
[1:17:22] small portions of um like 10 acres.
[1:17:26] >> Just think about it. Are we still
[1:17:27] looking at something from 18 years ago?
[1:17:29] That was my thought was
[1:17:30] >> it is um Mr. Hudgens. I mean again when
[1:17:32] you have these big development
[1:17:34] agreements and mixeduse projects, you do
[1:17:37] lock in um given the developer security
[1:17:40] but also council security of what was
[1:17:42] approved back then. And there are times
[1:17:45] that we have done amendments, but again,
[1:17:47] you do an amendment with the um
[1:17:50] agreement between the council and um the
[1:17:54] developers, but for this one right now,
[1:17:56] it's the annexation. Later on, the mayor
[1:17:58] will talk about the amendment of the
[1:18:01] development agreement, but but right now
[1:18:03] for this annexation, they're eligible.
[1:18:06] And even though Penelopey wasn't here
[1:18:09] then, Penelope abides by the regulation
[1:18:12] to the to the minute detail. I'm very
[1:18:16] familiar and it is a good faith process
[1:18:18] that we go about working with those that
[1:18:21] wish to build and develop and enter into
[1:18:24] an agreement with the town. So, I thank
[1:18:26] you for your diligence. You might not
[1:18:29] have been here 18 years ago, but we're
[1:18:31] really happy you are now.
[1:18:32] >> Well, thank you.
[1:18:34] And just to clarify, so we're right now
[1:18:36] it's just the uh annexing of the two
[1:18:40] pieces of property. Yes, sir. The little
[1:18:41] small together. That's 9 10.98.
[1:18:46] >> Okay.
[1:18:46] >> Yes. And there's been no public input uh
[1:18:50] since the first reading. We've not heard
[1:18:52] from anybody.
[1:18:53] >> I have not received any.
[1:18:54] >> Okay. Perfect.
[1:18:56] >> All right.
[1:18:56] >> That being said, I'd like to make a
[1:18:58] motion that we approve old business item
[1:19:01] A.
[1:19:03] >> I have a motion. Do I have a second?
[1:19:05] >> A second.
[1:19:06] >> I have a motion and a second. All those
[1:19:07] in favor, please say I. I.
[1:19:09] >> All oppose. Thank you.
[1:19:11] >> Thank you.
[1:19:11] >> Then we have old business B. You might
[1:19:13] as well take a seat there, Penelopey.
[1:19:15] You're going to be here a while. Okay.
[1:19:16] >> Consideration of the second reading of
[1:19:18] ordinance 2026-33,
[1:19:20] an ordinance authorizing the town to
[1:19:22] enter into a fourth amendment to the
[1:19:24] development agreement with Charlotte
[1:19:25] Meckllinburgg Hospital Authority.
[1:19:27] >> Yes, ma'am. So, this is an amendment,
[1:19:29] the fourth amendment that this project
[1:19:31] has had over the time period that it
[1:19:34] first got approved. Um, and it's
[1:19:35] basically we're adding the properties
[1:19:38] that we're going to were annexed
[1:19:40] successfively just free just a couple
[1:19:42] seconds ago. So, we add those parcels to
[1:19:45] this development agreement. It's also
[1:19:47] updating the actual development
[1:19:49] agreement schedule and also adding the
[1:19:52] part where they're their commitment for
[1:19:55] the Carolina Thread Trail by utilizing
[1:19:58] the future hospital property and working
[1:20:00] with Carolina Thread Trail to connect
[1:20:02] with the trail and provide the the free
[1:20:04] public parking.
[1:20:08] » Tremendous um benefit for the town.
[1:20:11] Thank you uh for the effort on that. It
[1:20:14] really matters to all ages and uh
[1:20:16] certainly upholds a healthy opportunity,
[1:20:19] doesn't it?
[1:20:21] >> And you know, it's very close to my
[1:20:22] heart. So, I know it is. So, to be able
[1:20:25] to have a company like Atrium and I do
[1:20:28] hope other people that want to do
[1:20:30] business in Fort Mill look for the
[1:20:33] future by giving us opportunities
[1:20:35] because it does take a lot of money and
[1:20:37] effort to build these trails. So, it's
[1:20:39] very great that we are having this
[1:20:40] partnership with Atrium Health.
[1:20:43] >> Not just on that, but we certainly are
[1:20:45] open armed welcoming you to Fort Mill.
[1:20:48] We appreciate uh your investment in our
[1:20:51] community.
[1:20:52] >> And after spending um an hour of my
[1:20:55] morning having a work meeting, hiking a
[1:20:57] trail with somebody else that we said,
[1:20:58] "We're not going to sit and have lunch
[1:21:00] today. We're going hiking and we're
[1:21:01] going to have a conversation." I would
[1:21:03] like to make a motion to approve all
[1:21:05] business item B.
[1:21:07] >> I have a motion. Do I have a second?
[1:21:08] >> I'll second.
[1:21:09] >> I have a motion and a second. All those
[1:21:10] in favor, please say I. I. All those
[1:21:13] opposed. Thank you.
[1:21:14] >> All right. Thank you.
[1:21:15] >> All righty. Thanks, Penelope.
[1:21:17] >> All right. We have uh item C,
[1:21:20] consideration of the second reading of
[1:21:21] an ordinance 2026-34,
[1:21:24] an ordinance to amend the town's zoning
[1:21:26] code as it relates to election signs.
[1:21:28] Chris Pettit.
[1:21:30] >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, no updates. Happy
[1:21:32] to answer any questions.
[1:21:33] >> Okay. Any questions for Chris? No
[1:21:36] updates. I need a motion.
[1:21:40] >> I'll make a motion to approve uh old
[1:21:43] business item uh C regarding the
[1:21:47] amending zoning code for election signs.
[1:21:49] >> Thank you.
[1:21:50] >> Second.
[1:21:51] >> I have a motion and a second. All those
[1:21:53] in favor, please say I. I.
[1:21:55] >> All those opposed. Thank you. Item D,
[1:21:58] consideration of the second reading of
[1:21:59] ordinance 2026-35,
[1:22:02] an ordinance amending the fiscal year
[1:22:04] 2526 budget with amendment 2609 for
[1:22:08] Academy Street. Eric Davis.
[1:22:10] >> Thank you, Mayor Council. This is the
[1:22:11] second reading of budget amendment
[1:22:13] 26-09,
[1:22:14] which appropriates a total of $4,120,000
[1:22:19] for water and sewer improvements on
[1:22:21] Academy Street. Uh just a reminder that
[1:22:23] the town did apply for and receive a
[1:22:25] grant from the Rural Infrastructure
[1:22:27] Authority or RAIA uh in the amount of
[1:22:30] $1,320,000.
[1:22:32] The remaining funds will come from the
[1:22:34] town's water and sewer cash reserves,
[1:22:35] which is $2.8 million. Uh there are no
[1:22:38] changes from the first reading.
[1:22:41] >> Any questions for Eric? No changes from
[1:22:43] the first reading.
[1:22:44] >> Eric, it was a little hard to hear you.
[1:22:46] How much did you say that grant was that
[1:22:48] we received?
[1:22:48] >> The grant's 1.3 million.
[1:22:50] >> 1.3. Awesome. Thank you.
[1:22:53] >> I need a motion.
[1:22:55] >> I'll make a motion to approve old
[1:22:57] business item D.
[1:23:00] >> Have a motion. Do I have a second?
[1:23:01] >> I'll second.
[1:23:02] >> Have a motion and a second. All those in
[1:23:04] favor, please say I. I. All those
[1:23:06] opposed. Thank you. And we're going to
[1:23:08] move into new business. Uh, new business
[1:23:11] a consideration of a resolution 2026-36,
[1:23:16] a resolution to accept the streets
[1:23:18] within Ardan Mill into the town street
[1:23:20] maintenance system. Chris Pettit.
[1:23:22] >> Thank you, mayor. Um, the developer has
[1:23:24] completed construction within the Ardan
[1:23:26] Mill subdivision. All the inspections
[1:23:27] have been approved by town staff. We do
[1:23:30] have bonds and landscape maintenance
[1:23:32] agreements in hand. Uh, therefore, they
[1:23:34] are requesting uh acceptance of the
[1:23:36] streets. Happy to answer any questions
[1:23:37] you may have.
[1:23:40] Okay.
[1:23:40] >> A one-year bond or something with that.
[1:23:42] The first year
[1:23:42] >> there's a one-year warranty period in
[1:23:44] which we're holding a bond on that.
[1:23:46] >> Okay.
[1:23:46] >> Can we do that with everyone moving
[1:23:48] forward? Right.
[1:23:49] >> That That's correct. This is our st
[1:23:51] everything is following our standard
[1:23:52] policy here.
[1:23:54] >> Warranty, etc.
[1:23:56] >> My biggest concern with this one as
[1:23:58] opposed to other ones we've had is the
[1:24:00] Ardan Mills 2 project that is still
[1:24:02] looming out. Have we had any changes or
[1:24:04] updates after it was voted down by this
[1:24:07] council
[1:24:07] >> there? As of today, there have been no
[1:24:10] updates from the county as far as
[1:24:11] anything being officially submitted to
[1:24:13] them. Um ultimately,
[1:24:16] um if they were to come back through
[1:24:17] council, that's a council decision, but
[1:24:19] uh as of today, nothing's been submitted
[1:24:21] to the county.
[1:24:23] So, I still have the concern that when
[1:24:25] we approve this, if we approve this, if
[1:24:28] it passes, that um we're going to have
[1:24:30] additional these roads weren't designed
[1:24:33] for those additional homes to be using
[1:24:35] as a pass through and traveling on. So,
[1:24:38] we're going to be covering the cost of
[1:24:40] the additional use as a town. Um would
[1:24:44] they be paved any differently? And do we
[1:24:47] have any legal leg to stand on given
[1:24:49] that they've met our requirements? So, I believe what you're referring to is
[1:24:53] the the road stub out that that
[1:24:55] basically stubs out to the north. Um,
[1:24:59] I don't know immediately off the exact
[1:25:02] top of my head whether that road um goes
[1:25:06] all the way to the property line or
[1:25:08] generally to the property line. So,
[1:25:09] there may be some discretion uh of of
[1:25:12] staff and council as to whether um a
[1:25:15] connection is made. there would need to
[1:25:16] be an encroachment permit uh by which
[1:25:19] they would should anyone develop that
[1:25:22] property to the north uh get a permit to
[1:25:24] touch our roads. Um so there is some
[1:25:27] authority there. Um,
[1:25:29] but
[1:25:31] certainly understand your point of if a
[1:25:32] connection is made, it would be county
[1:25:35] folks coming potentially coming through
[1:25:37] the the town's road system
[1:25:39] >> and they certainly would not pay
[1:25:41] anything to do,
[1:25:42] >> right? We'd barely have any way of
[1:25:44] recognizing who was who, but uh it is a
[1:25:48] an interesting quandry since there has
[1:25:50] been interest expressed publicly and a
[1:25:53] process that they went through. Um
[1:25:57] I don't know Barry do we
[1:26:00] >> they met all the requirements
[1:26:01] >> they've met all the requirements that's
[1:26:02] kind of what I was trying to get to that
[1:26:04] >> the only concern I would have be and
[1:26:07] thought where you were going to go is
[1:26:08] there's any damage due by construction
[1:26:10] equipment who would be responsible for
[1:26:11] that
[1:26:13] >> beyond the same in any neighborhood
[1:26:15] right
[1:26:15] >> yeah beyond the one-year warranty period
[1:26:17] I mean certainly it's it's hours to
[1:26:18] maintain um we we we know when someone's
[1:26:23] installing a pool and uh by chance the
[1:26:26] sidewalk panels get busted during that
[1:26:28] process, we we know who to go to. Um if another subdivision is being um built
[1:26:34] behind here, you would have no idea who
[1:26:36] to go to or how to prove it wasn't um
[1:26:39] you know, a delivery truck for somebody
[1:26:41] getting a new refrigerator. So it it
[1:26:43] would be an impossible task for us to to
[1:26:45] place the blame on somebody given given
[1:26:48] the context of what council's talking
[1:26:50] about.
[1:26:51] But with us, if we own the road, does
[1:26:54] that give us a voice at the table when
[1:26:56] Ardan Mills 2 were to come?
[1:26:59] >> Yes, there would be an encroachment
[1:27:01] permit request
[1:27:03] um coming to the town for any connection
[1:27:07] to be made.
[1:27:08] >> Okay.
[1:27:09] >> Um
[1:27:11] as a public rightway, I don't know
[1:27:13] really what
[1:27:15] authority we would have to say no in
[1:27:18] that situation. Um, but a request would
[1:27:21] be made and and we would have typically
[1:27:24] in that scenario you would be talking
[1:27:25] about how the connection is made from a
[1:27:29] construction design standpoint, not
[1:27:31] necessarily a pass through construction
[1:27:34] traffic, that sort of thing.
[1:27:35] >> Okay. Is that something that um staff
[1:27:38] would be able to notify us of as it
[1:27:41] moves forward? C
[1:27:42] >> certainly is something if anything were
[1:27:44] to happen uh any in the property to the
[1:27:47] north, we can certainly notify you, sir.
[1:27:49] I will say that from coming from a
[1:27:51] neighborhood who was not in the town
[1:27:53] obviously it was not built to code uh
[1:27:55] it's not say fair for lack of a better
[1:27:58] word to hold the residents of that
[1:28:00] neighborhood met all requirements and
[1:28:02] done everything for us not to accept the
[1:28:04] roads
[1:28:05] >> uh because it's not going to get any
[1:28:07] better um if if there's no if Barry has
[1:28:11] no concerns with any incumbrances put on
[1:28:14] it by future development and I think
[1:28:17] it's our duty to take those roads into
[1:28:19] the town. It's not for the homeowners to
[1:28:21] be responsible for all if they've put
[1:28:23] the bond and they've already met all
[1:28:26] requirements.
[1:28:29] » Further comments
[1:28:32] hearing none. I need a motion.
[1:28:33] >> Make a motion to approve item 6A.
[1:28:38] >> I have a motion.
[1:28:39] >> I'll second.
[1:28:40] >> Have a second. I have a motion and a
[1:28:42] second. All those in favor of approving
[1:28:44] item 6A say I.
[1:28:47] >> I. All those opposed. Thank you. All
[1:28:49] right. New business item B,
[1:28:51] consideration of the appointment of
[1:28:53] committee members to the accommodations
[1:28:56] tax committee. Gordon Bernett.
[1:28:58] >> Thank you, mayor. Uh, this I this item
[1:29:00] is being presented to full council or
[1:29:02] for full council consideration due to
[1:29:04] the timing of the ATAX grant application
[1:29:06] process and the need to review
[1:29:08] applications and return a recommendation
[1:29:10] within the required time frame. Three
[1:29:13] applications were received which
[1:29:14] correspond to the three vacancies that
[1:29:16] currently exist on the ATAX committee.
[1:29:18] Um given the limited applicant pool and
[1:29:21] the need for a full committee before
[1:29:22] review can begin, timely consideration
[1:29:25] will keep the process on schedule. This
[1:29:27] will allow the committee to meet, review
[1:29:29] the applications, and bring its grant
[1:29:31] award recommendations back to council by
[1:29:33] October 12th. Um, so I say all that to
[1:29:35] say we are asking for consideration to
[1:29:37] appoint Adam Smith from Poppyc Kitchen,
[1:29:40] Nick Confory from Humble Cup Coffee
[1:29:42] Company, and Melinda Foster from True by
[1:29:45] Hilton Fort Mill to two-year terms
[1:29:47] expiring March 31st, 2028.
[1:29:50] >> Excellent.
[1:29:52] >> I need a motion.
[1:29:54] >> I'll make a motion to approve business
[1:29:56] item 6B, the motion to appoint Nick
[1:29:58] Confory, Adam Smith, and Melinda Foster
[1:30:00] with their terms to expire March 31st,
[1:30:02] 2028. I'll second.
[1:30:05] >> I have a motion and a second. All those
[1:30:06] in favor, please say, "I."
[1:30:08] >> I. Thank you.
[1:30:10] >> All right. Item C, consideration of
[1:30:12] setting the millage rate for the fiscal
[1:30:14] year 2627.
[1:30:15] Eric Davis.
[1:30:17] >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, it's that time of
[1:30:19] year again. Uh, due to the variation in
[1:30:21] fiscal year calendars, York County
[1:30:23] requires a notification of the proposed
[1:30:25] millage rate from the town of Fort Mill
[1:30:27] prior to August 30th of each year. Uh to
[1:30:31] date the council has held multiple
[1:30:32] meetings where the proposed operations
[1:30:34] and capital needs were discussed for the
[1:30:36] coming fiscal year. Uh based upon the
[1:30:38] information provided by staff, the
[1:30:40] priorities indicated by council and the
[1:30:42] expected revenues and expenditures for
[1:30:44] the coming year. Uh the required millage
[1:30:46] rate would be 87.0
[1:30:49] mills per $1,000 of assessed value. Uh
[1:30:53] we'll be going through the budget
[1:30:54] adoption process at both meetings in
[1:30:56] September, but due to the uh calendar um
[1:31:01] uh issues, we have to give York County
[1:31:03] notice before August 30th. Happy to
[1:31:06] answer any questions that you may have.
[1:31:08] >> I think I've asked this previous, but
[1:31:10] I'm going to ask again. What
[1:31:12] flexibility, if any, do we have to start
[1:31:15] our process much earlier so that we're
[1:31:18] not attempting to set a millage rate
[1:31:20] increase on a budget we've only had one
[1:31:22] meeting on.
[1:31:26] >> I mean, we in the time that I've been
[1:31:28] here, we we we keep moving the time up.
[1:31:31] So, the issue is not what we're doing at
[1:31:33] the beginning of the process. It's it's the fact that um it's it's the back
[1:31:40] end here as far as uh trying to get
[1:31:44] everything adopted. We have to give
[1:31:46] everything to to the county um really a
[1:31:49] month before the end of our year. So um
[1:31:54] I mean we've had meetings in July and
[1:31:56] earlier this month. So I don't know what
[1:31:58] else we can do.
[1:31:58] >> We had a meeting last week was our first
[1:32:00] formal meeting on the actual data within
[1:32:04] the budget. Right. I know we've talked
[1:32:06] about the budget a multitude of times,
[1:32:09] but as far as a process to do that, it it's not our it's not your fault.
[1:32:14] It's not my fault that the county has
[1:32:15] that date
[1:32:17] >> and our fiscal year, Carrie, is set
[1:32:19] there. Do we not have any opportunity to
[1:32:23] say we're going to do a different end
[1:32:25] date for our fiscal year?
[1:32:26] >> Yeah. So, mayor, if I may, um, staff has
[1:32:30] had conversations over the last several
[1:32:32] years about actually changing our fiscal
[1:32:34] year fiscal year
[1:32:35] >> to a more customary July one start date.
[1:32:39] >> Um, we could not do that this year
[1:32:41] because there's just too many moving
[1:32:43] parts switching from one finance
[1:32:45] software to another finance software. U,
[1:32:48] but that remains our goal.
[1:32:50] >> Um, so we hope to be on our new finance
[1:32:52] software
[1:32:54] >> probably in our second or third quarter.
[1:32:56] I don't want to overpromise and
[1:32:58] underdel. Um, but next year we will be
[1:33:01] on our new finance platform and at that
[1:33:03] point we will do everything we can.
[1:33:06] We'll probably have to pass maybe a six
[1:33:09] or eightmonth budget
[1:33:11] >> and and then pass another budget that
[1:33:13] would begin July 1 at some point. So we
[1:33:16] understand your frustration.
[1:33:18] >> I'm not mad. I'm not
[1:33:20] >> I understand. I'm not mad. I'm just
[1:33:22] asking.
[1:33:22] >> We share the sentiment. I'll put it that
[1:33:24] way. I I could see the stress and I
[1:33:27] understand it, but I I also know that
[1:33:29] it's up to us to vote that and and to
[1:33:32] vote that on one formal meeting. It's
[1:33:35] not your fault. Uh I'm just asking, is
[1:33:38] there a way we can make this work for
[1:33:40] you, for us, and for what the process
[1:33:43] needs to be?
[1:33:44] >> Ultimately, I I believe that that final
[1:33:46] resolution is really transitioning to a
[1:33:48] more standardized fiscal year.
[1:33:51] >> Thank you. Thank you. That makes me feel
[1:33:53] better.
[1:33:54] Yeah, and I want to commend staff. Every
[1:33:57] year our budget process does get better
[1:33:59] and the information gets even um more
[1:34:02] detailed. The metrics, y'all know my
[1:34:04] favorite word, metrics and details that
[1:34:06] we get helps us to make a much more
[1:34:08] educated decision and a much more
[1:34:10] knowledgeable decision based on what our
[1:34:12] staff is doing and the accomplishments
[1:34:14] that they're making. So, thank you to
[1:34:16] everyone who's been involved. the
[1:34:18] presentations that we have been
[1:34:19] receiving from the various department
[1:34:21] heads also is very informative for us.
[1:34:25] Um I I would like the mayor's mentioned
[1:34:28] like to have time to react before we
[1:34:30] have to make a decision on the
[1:34:32] millillage. Um because you know to
[1:34:34] Brown's presentation, we haven't dug
[1:34:37] into parks and wreck really hard on the
[1:34:39] numbers or our event stuff. you know,
[1:34:41] we've touched on it a little bit, but if
[1:34:42] we want to make a change, we don't know
[1:34:44] how that change impacts the budget
[1:34:46] without having to make an amendment to
[1:34:48] the budget. So, um I look forward to the
[1:34:50] day when we are all um have our
[1:34:53] questions answered and new ideas veged
[1:34:56] out and played out a little bit before
[1:34:58] we have to make a decision on the
[1:34:59] millillage. So,
[1:35:01] >> and I second the presentations this year
[1:35:05] have been phenomenal. the information
[1:35:07] collection has been much better in my
[1:35:11] opinion. Um process is getting there. I
[1:35:15] just needed to ask that question because
[1:35:18] I think it's very difficult. This is a
[1:35:20] recorded meeting and everyone that
[1:35:21] watches it afterward, you they're going
[1:35:23] to hear that we're going to vote on
[1:35:25] something that has to be done by an
[1:35:29] agenda and a process in the county, but
[1:35:32] yet we're not approving our own budget
[1:35:34] till a much later date. So, I just think
[1:35:36] that's a complicated process to describe
[1:35:40] to our constituents.
[1:35:42] >> So, uh anything we can do to better
[1:35:44] that? Yes.
[1:35:45] >> I just want to kind of follow up. the process has done been very good and
[1:35:48] we have had a lot we spent hours and hours on the budget so it's
[1:35:53] not like
[1:35:54] >> this year
[1:35:55] >> yeah uh
[1:35:57] >> really
[1:35:57] >> yes
[1:35:58] >> I don't
[1:36:00] >> sure
[1:36:01] >> should I mute
[1:36:02] >> no
[1:36:03] >> so I just want to say thank you for the
[1:36:05] time that we've put in on it it's not
[1:36:07] it's if you watch just this you'll feel
[1:36:09] like it's we're pushing this through
[1:36:10] we've spent a lot of effort into in the
[1:36:12] budget all of us have and I just want to
[1:36:14] acknowledge that it has gotten better
[1:36:16] and it's not just a snapshot. We've done
[1:36:19] a lot of work. The mayor's trying to get
[1:36:21] the two dates to match. I understand
[1:36:23] that, but it's a lot of work's been put
[1:36:25] into this budget and I want to thank
[1:36:26] everybody for it. Uh from staff all the
[1:36:29] way up. So, thank you.
[1:36:30] >> And I apologize for interrupting you
[1:36:32] when you said we. I assumed you meant
[1:36:34] council. I didn't understand you meant
[1:36:36] the collective. We And you're correct.
[1:36:39] Our collective we have spent tremendous
[1:36:42] a number of hours to get this through. I
[1:36:44] was only addressing an opportunity for
[1:36:47] us to have more than one formalized
[1:36:50] meeting before we make that decision on
[1:36:53] raising the millillage. That's all. So I
[1:36:56] guess what we need is to know what are
[1:36:59] we voting on
[1:37:02] » narrow
[1:37:03] >> narrowed down.
[1:37:05] >> Can you repeat it without going through
[1:37:07] the whole just I need a motion so I need
[1:37:11] somebody to make a motion.
[1:37:14] Right. So, the the motion would be to
[1:37:15] set the millage rate as as we've at
[1:37:18] least um the workshop and uh the
[1:37:21] meetings that council's had to date. Um
[1:37:23] with regards to our our CIP, uh we're
[1:37:26] looking at a millage rate of 87.0
[1:37:29] mills, up from the current mill rate of
[1:37:32] 83.0.
[1:37:34] Uh so that's an increase of 4.0 mills.
[1:37:37] The value of a mill is right at about
[1:37:39] $245,000.
[1:37:41] Um, so that'll be about a million
[1:37:44] dollars of additional revenue in that
[1:37:45] one line item. Um, if I need to go into
[1:37:48] more detail, I'm happy to do so. I don't
[1:37:49] know if that's what you're looking
[1:37:50] >> Do you happen to know what it means for
[1:37:52] a person with a $400,000 home?
[1:37:54] >> I can I can get all that.
[1:37:56] >> That probably be pretty good for the
[1:37:58] public's knowledge.
[1:37:59] >> Sure.
[1:38:01] >> I think to to what Mr. Wolf was saying
[1:38:03] also is there's been a tremendous amount
[1:38:05] of time not only with everybody with
[1:38:07] staff but as council maybe we would have
[1:38:10] liked ideally you could always keep
[1:38:12] raking it over but there has been for
[1:38:14] everyone to know there's been a lot of
[1:38:16] hours that are spent reading through
[1:38:18] this at home and and trying to to rake
[1:38:21] through it and see literally where
[1:38:23] everything is going. you know, that's
[1:38:24] our responsibility to go line item by
[1:38:27] line item and and make sure it's truly
[1:38:29] being vetted out as as best as possible.
[1:38:31] So when we do get together and meet and
[1:38:33] talk about it, that is, you know, we're
[1:38:35] able to have intelligent conversation
[1:38:36] based on the homework that's been done.
[1:38:38] So there is a lot of effort that gets
[1:38:40] put into that.
[1:38:42] And you know, any anytime that you
[1:38:44] propose raising taxes is something that
[1:38:46] needs to be taken seriously and it's not
[1:38:48] something that we should take very
[1:38:50] lightly. And and to Mr. Mr. Hoden's
[1:38:52] point, the the budget has been gone
[1:38:54] through, items have been cut. It was
[1:38:56] really kind of cut down to essentials,
[1:38:58] but with with a growing town and just
[1:39:01] that the things that we've been going
[1:39:02] through and the different projects,
[1:39:04] including, you know, the the room that
[1:39:05] we're sitting in here, all kind of
[1:39:07] factors into that. So, um, if there's
[1:39:09] not any other comment, I'll I'll make a
[1:39:11] motion to uh to set the millage rate at
[1:39:14] 87 mills and to direct staff to notify
[1:39:16] York County.
[1:39:20] I have a motion to approve item C. Do I
[1:39:24] have a second?
[1:39:25] >> I'll second.
[1:39:26] >> Have a motion and a second. All those in
[1:39:27] favor, please say I.
[1:39:29] >> I. All those opposed. Thank you very
[1:39:31] much.
[1:39:33] >> And as a followup real quick, when will
[1:39:34] we finalize the budget then?
[1:39:37] >> Uh you'll have two budget meetings or
[1:39:40] public hearings in September 14th and
[1:39:42] 28th.
[1:39:43] >> September 14th and 28th. Okay. Just
[1:39:45] making sure the public's aware. Thank
[1:39:47] you.
[1:39:49] All right. I think given that we have an
[1:39:51] executive session, even though item item
[1:39:53] seven is for council comments, we
[1:39:55] typically do that at the end. Um, we do
[1:39:59] have an executive session this evening.
[1:40:01] Item A, discussion of the sale or
[1:40:04] purchase of land. I need a motion to
[1:40:06] move into executive session.
[1:40:08] >> Motion to move into executive session.
[1:40:10] >> I'll second.
[1:40:10] >> Have a motion and a second. All those in
[1:40:12] favor, please say I. I. All those
[1:40:14] opposed. Thank you.
[1:40:21] All right. Um, I need a motion to return
[1:40:23] to to regular session.
[1:40:25] >> I'll make that motion, please.
[1:40:27] >> I'll second.
[1:40:27] >> I have a motion and a second. All those
[1:40:29] in favor, please say I. I. Please let
[1:40:31] the record reflect that no votes were
[1:40:33] taken inside of executive session.
[1:40:37] With that, Mr. Wolf, do you have
[1:40:38] anything for the good of the whole?
[1:40:40] >> No. A lot of good uh good stuff. the uh
[1:40:44] the the uh lead off thing of the the
[1:40:47] clean up the litter and all that was
[1:40:49] great. It's great the involvement, a lot
[1:40:50] of the energy going on with that. So, I
[1:40:52] think that's uh it touches a couple of
[1:40:55] the main topics that we've like to do.
[1:40:57] The trees
[1:40:59] uh you know, it's good stuff.
[1:41:02] >> Mr. Moody,
[1:41:04] >> um it was interesting approach the
[1:41:06] budget issue. I was really glad that we
[1:41:08] got all the presentations kind of see
[1:41:10] what goes into it even though I've been
[1:41:12] doing this about what 11 years now it's
[1:41:16] pretty a lot more seamless I felt like
[1:41:18] this year and any questions I I emailed
[1:41:21] I think you know and got back with us
[1:41:24] that went back with me on that. So
[1:41:26] anyway good presentation good meeting
[1:41:28] tonight and Mr. HS will say I'm I'm
[1:41:30] good.
[1:41:31] >> Okay Mr. Garrison
[1:41:33] >> mornings are getting a little cooler.
[1:41:35] Squirrels are starting to get nervous.
[1:41:37] Uh leaves are starting to fall. Just
[1:41:39] please, as the leaves fall, don't put
[1:41:41] them in the gutters. Don't put them in
[1:41:42] the drains. Don't put them on the roads.
[1:41:44] Please.
[1:41:45] >> I'll add to that. Don't put the leaves
[1:41:46] in the drains. Don't blow the grass in
[1:41:49] the street. You know, we we need to be
[1:41:51] respectful for everyone else using the
[1:41:54] same community. It it's not just get it
[1:41:57] off your property. And as far as all of
[1:42:00] the uh presentations tonight, I couldn't
[1:42:03] be happier to think that we have such a
[1:42:05] great group of people addressing uh the
[1:42:08] things that are important to all of us,
[1:42:09] the beauty of Fort Mill. Miss Cook.
[1:42:12] >> Yeah. So, um received several comments
[1:42:15] over the last few days about ebikes in
[1:42:17] the Massie neighborhood. I know it's
[1:42:18] something that our police department is
[1:42:21] continuing to look at, our staff, town
[1:42:23] manager is continuing to review.
[1:42:26] Ultimately, it comes down to just people
[1:42:29] being mindful of what's going on. I
[1:42:31] mean, I had a regular motorcycle pass in
[1:42:34] the I forget the split lane, I think
[1:42:36] it's what my husband called, in between
[1:42:37] cars right on the bypass flying through.
[1:42:40] People are going to do um not wise
[1:42:43] things out there and the police
[1:42:45] department can't enforce all of it. So,
[1:42:47] um I hope parents will make sure they're
[1:42:49] educating their kids on eBike safety and
[1:42:52] that they're um being mindful of stop
[1:42:54] signs just like I hope every motor
[1:42:56] vehicle will be mindful of stop signs.
[1:42:58] Um so that's one thing and just want to
[1:43:01] say congratulations on starting a new
[1:43:03] school year. All the kids are back in
[1:43:05] school and colleges and it's nice being
[1:43:07] an empty nest again. So
[1:43:10] >> Mr. Hudgins
[1:43:11] >> just uh excited about Thursday the
[1:43:14] groundbreaking for the new fire station.
[1:43:16] >> Amen.
[1:43:17] >> I think uh based on some solid
[1:43:19] information from the fire department and
[1:43:21] chief doing his due diligence uh as he
[1:43:24] always does and identifying the need for
[1:43:26] that on that side of town. Seeing that
[1:43:29] come along I think is going to be a very great thing for for that side of
[1:43:33] town and for the town in general.
[1:43:35] >> Thank you Gordon. I do have one request.
[1:43:38] I had a letter in my inbox from someone
[1:43:41] that had come to town hall expecting to
[1:43:44] vote here. Uh, tomorrow there is an
[1:43:46] election of which the town of Fort Mill
[1:43:48] does not run elections. That comes from
[1:43:51] the board of elections in York. But if
[1:43:54] you would please put on our all of our
[1:43:57] social media sites and make our customer
[1:44:00] service uh aware of if anyone should
[1:44:03] come to this building asking for
[1:44:05] directions how they might be of
[1:44:07] assistance. I appreciate that. Uh with
[1:44:11] that I'll entertain a motion for
[1:44:12] adjournment.
[1:44:13] >> I make a motion we adjourn.
[1:44:15] >> I'll second.
[1:44:15] >> I have a motion. Uh oh. You have
[1:44:17] something else? Okay. Uh motion and a
[1:44:19] second. All those in favor please say I.
[1:44:22] >> I. All those opposed. Thanks so much.