Council meeting for august 18th, 2026. We call it on time to end on
time and we start at the way we do all of our meetings with an invocation tonight by
mr anderson followed by the pledge of allegiance led by doctor dukes.
I can get everyone in. Please stand.
gracious heavenly father, thank you for the opportunity to come together tonight to work on the
people's business. The father we ask for blessings that we, um we just don't
deserve the father. We ask for blessings on our public safety, our all of our
people that work for the county to try to serve the citizens. The father I ask for wisdom for
the council. I ask for patience for the councilman from the people.
all these things are asking your holy name amen. Amen.
to the flag I pledge allegiance. To the flag.
united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god,
indivisible liberty and justice for all. Thank you.
please be seated. Moving right along. We have public input before we
get started. We have a lot of people signed up today.
we want to hear from everybody that signed up. I'm sure y'all want to hear him
too. He is a big crowd here. Um, just a few reminders.
this is a professional venue. Uh, we want to hear from you. Uh, this is not a place for us
to be going. And who are you calling names of things I s it's just like
you would if you were stating your case or whatever. Your case is my rule.
it's five minutes. We have this nice clock system here.
I can help you with that, sir. Thank you. Pardon?
okay. Thank you. I'll do the best I can.
um, I guess that works two ways . Okay.
thank you. I guess it works two ways we want to hear y'all.
and I didn't know y'all wanted to hear us. Okay, good.
so this clock system will keep us on track. It's only, uh, by rule, we got
30 minutes to do this whole thing and by rule everybody gets five minutes.
so green is go go go yellow is you got one minute left and red is your time is up.
now if you're in the middle of a sentence finish your sentence by all means once upon
a and then stop. We want to hear what happened but don't turn the page and
start into another chapter okay I've seen it all. I've seen everything that y'all
can do tonight and I just want to keep everybody on track because we got a lot of stuff
to cover. So we'll start out with jennifer elvis on mobile vets.
hi I'm. Making sure everybody can hear me.
yes perfect. Hi my name is jennifer elvis and I thank you guys for having
me today I recently started a rescue called by the beach animal rescue.
I've been in rescue for about eight years. The reason why I started rescue
is because of the purpose of helping dogs in the community to find safe and
responsible loving homes. When I started this rescue I knew there would be some
challenges. I knew there would be veterinary bills, foster homes,
needed food supplies and countless hours of work. What I did not fully understand
was just how many people would turn to one small rescue because they have nowhere else
to go. Since putting my phone number and my address on my website
and facebook page, I have had countless people come to my house with dogs they want to
ensure surrender not to mention as I'm at work I've had people come and bring the ring
doorbell and at my desk as an office manager of a medical office have to tell people that
I cannot take the dog. I am not a brick and mortar it is my home and I put that to
take donations so that people could leave things so I could get the rescue started.
because of all this we have a huge problem. The problem is that people
cannot afford to spay and neuter their dogs. They cannot afford to spay and
neuter which also extends to an expected litters they call because they no longer can
afford the pet because the dog has behavior problems and unfortunately some people just
want someone else for the responsibility and they no longer want their dog.
first we need to have more access to affordable spay and neuter.
one of the biggest problems I see people generally cannot afford to fix their animals if
we want fewer unwanted puppies and fewer dogs returning to our shelters, we need an affordable
solution that can actually use. I would like to see the county work towards bringing a spay
and neuter excuse me spay and neuter mobile clinic to homes that cannot afford to spay
neuter dogs and maybe we could do it on a based on an income or maybe a highly discounted
rate instead of waiting for someone to surrender six puppies we should be helping
the person prevent the unwanted next litter prevention is less expensive less heartbreaking
than dealing with the consequences. Second, we need stronger
consequences for irresponsible breeding. Backyard breeders are
contributing to the number of unwanted dogs in the community.
people are breeding dogs without considering whether there are enough responsible
homes available for these puppies. Then the puppies end up being
surrendered, dumped, abandoned or turned over to shelters and rescues.
I believe we need to look at stronger uh, fines enforcement for irresponsible repeat
backyard breeders. Third, a banning a dog does not make the problem disappear.
it simply transfers the responsibility to someone else. It transfers it to the shelters
. It transfers the rescues in the taxpayers.
I would like to see the county consider a stronger enforcement and penalties for those who
abandon the animals or allow their dogs to run at large. There should be meaningful
consequences for people who knowingly dump animals to the public or leave the animals in
a situation where they suffer. Protect the public. Finally, I want to talk about
the shelters and rescues. Our local shelter and rescue organizations are doing
everything they can, but we cannot rescue our way out of an overpopulation problem.
I want to be able to help the shelters myself, but I cannot even go to a shelter to help
because people are coming to my door and calling my phone to take their own dogs.
I want to be able to take dogs from the shelter that need placement but again I can't
because people are surrendering their dogs. This is not about blaming
people it's about creating better resources, better education and better
accountability. I am asking the council to consider regular mobile spay
and neuter clinics offering free and income based services ,meaningful penalties for
animal abandonment and repeated dog at large violations. I started by the beach animal
rescue because I believe every dog deserves a chance. But the answer cannot simply be
asking rescues and shelters to take more dogs. We have to stop the cycle if we
can prevent unwanted litters, hold irresponsible owners accountable, make veterinary
care accessible and give a legitimate resources to the point of abandonment.
we can reduce the number of dogs entering shelters in the first place.
this means fewer dogs suffering less pressure on our shelters, less pressure on our rescues
and most importantly a safer and more responsible community for both people and animals.
I'm asking you to work with us and again and by the beach animal rescue jennifer elvis
thank you. Thank you for coming out.
>> okay I remind everybody this is public input. We want to hear from the
public. It's not where we going back and forth and in negotiating
and. All right let's go forward uh charles hooks on flock cameras.
can you hear me? Yes, sir. Good evening.
chairman. Members of county council. My name is charles hooks.
I'm a lifelong resident of orange county. I'm here tonight because I have
serious questions about orry county's use of flock safety automated license plate reader
cameras. I want to be clear I am not opposed to law enforcement
using technology to catch criminals if these cameras help locate stolen vehicles, find
dangerous suspects or protect our deputies and citizens, that's a legitimate public
safety purpose. My concern is oversight and accountability.
these cameras can collect information about vehicles traveling throughout our
community. That makes it extremely important that citizens know
who can search that information ,why they can search it and who makes sure the system isn't
being misused. I previously emailed members of this council asking
questions about flock cameras, but I didn't receive even even one reply.
so tonight I'm asking these questions publicly and asking that they be answered publicly
who independently audits searches conducted through ori county's flock systems is
every search recorded along with the identity of the person conducting that and the reason
for the search who reviews these records for improper searches which outside agencies
have access to ori county's flock system and the data how long is the vehicle information
retained and if someone searches for a citizen's vehicle?
I'll bear with me one second without a legitimate law enforcement reason who
discovers it and what happens to that person? Most importantly is the agency
using this surveillance system essentially responsible for policing itself or is there
meaningful independent oversight? This isn't about being
anti-police it's about a very simple principle if government has the ability to track the
movements of the citizens, citizens have the right to know who is watching the watchers.
I am asking this council to provide the public with the policies governor camera access
,data sharing and retention as well as information about audits and safeguards against
misuse. I'm also asking council can to center regular public report
and showing how this system is being used and whether any improper searches have been
discovered. Public safety in confrontation constitutional privacy do not
have to be enemies. We can protect both. Thank you for your time and
again I'm charles hooks, lifelong resident of orange county and appreciate your
time. Mr hooks, thank you for coming out.
I want to let you know something that mr hardy is going to take this up at our
very next, uh, public safety meeting. These are great questions and
it's a great thing you won't find a bigger supporter of, uh ,search and seizure and
protection than this council here. And we're looking out for
everybody in horry county. We'll take it up at our next that right, mr hardy?
right. That'll be in october.
>> all right thank you sir. >> go out.
and next. We have three people that signed up for one of the
ordinances that are here tonight. Um, normally public input is
for the people that haven't had an otherwise an opportunity to be heard.
uh, this ordinance has had three public hearings already. Um, but y'all are here and you
signed up, so we want to hear from you. Um, when this thing comes up
tonight for vote, there'll be debate and there'll be discussion on it like it
normally is. What? Since you're here, let's hear
from you. Uh, there was an email sent out earlier uh, answered all the
questions that we got. We got like 80 emails. I think they were all about the
same email but we got them we read them, we heard we responded.
so we've sent an email out to y'all hopefully y'all got that and read that too.
so we'll start off with um and curse on ordinance 73 dash 2026.
thank you for hearing from us and thank you very much for that email today.
and thank you, assistant administrator gilbert for sending it out on your behalf.
um, it did clarify quite a bit for us and that was wonderful. Um, not having the flyover in
the current project plan is great news for us. Um understanding the scope and
the flow of traffic um was very important in that email as well.
so we really appreciate that and we do have some concerns still remaining.
um, one of the concerns mentioned in the email about noise um that that there would
be no need for sound barriers because of there not being a flyover.
we still think there will be tremendous noise impact to surfside beach club.
um, and I'm sorry if I didn't say that's where we were from, but I knew you knew that since
you sent us the email. Um, but it will still impact surfside beach club 17 bypass
already gives us tremendous amount of noise and that increased traffic flow will
certainly impact the homes along that that corridor. Um, the concerns we also have
that brought us here were the maps and the public information about this ordinance that have
been available on any websites that we could find. Um, the maps clearly are
showing an impact to several homes in our community that may not be uh, depicted accurately
,but it clearly looks like the road is going right through our homes.
although your email did say it would not be impacting the east side of the bypass.
so if that's the case we're very happy to hear that. But again the noise we still
think will be an issue um infrastructure concerns I think everybody has these concerns.
we know there's a lot of uh new police, new uh fire, new medical all being uh brought
into play and that's great but I think that's managing the current um, population now and
not the future population that all of this um this ordinance and the associated building
will will bring to us. So we're really concerned about that as well.
um flooding we talked and I know your email addressed environmental impacts and how
the um all of the state county federal rules would be followed and I'm sure that's the case
but we're very concerned about it. All of our water drains under
17 bypass to the west um everything out of surfside beach club all of our retention
ponds go out to the west. So any backup, any additional water or impact from the flow
of that water will impact us and flood our community. Um, so we really are concerned
about that um, and building in that area where it's already um a wetland in some areas you're
taking up a lot of that space um, and the volume of water that would normally flow out.
um. So I do think that those are our major concerns.
you did address most of them in the email and I think that saved a lot of unnecessary
comments tonight. So that was wonderful. I think going forward.
we would. Really love. Accurate information posted um
things that that really depict what the project plan is um understanding changes of the
scope of work moving forward so that we know what really does impact us or not.
I mean we know future and the future flow of of traffic is very important.
you know, I think 31 extension is a great, great idea as long as it's managed properly and um
and the traffic light in the in the uh traffic flow is managed appropriately and I I think
you've addressed it and if that is accurate and if that's the way the scope continues um that
that's fine but we do have those other concerns that I think are very important and if
I missed anything I'm sure my my fellow homeowners that are up next we'll we'll let you
know. Thank you for. Coming out.
>> we appreciate you so much. Thanks for having us.
>> all right. That was morse hartman. He's going to pick up where she
left off I guess. Good evening. My name is marsh hartman.
um, I'm a surfside beach resident. Um, we I have some concerns as
well. Um, like when was this traffic study done?
um, because it's getting worse and worse by the day. Um, today just getting out on
17 bypass it's almost impossible to go from light to light.
how is this going to impact the future of that traffic pattern ?
um, is anybody done an accident survey? There are accidents basically
deadly in that area in that corridor. And you know, it's another
concern. Um, you know, 17 bypass is really the only north-south
route um, in the whole area and we use that, you know, to get from north to south, which has
been, you know, a problem on a consistent basis. Um, you know, traffic
congestion has been crazy. Um, and if we create more lights on 17 bypass, how is
that going to impact the traffic flow? Um, I'd like to get some sort
of answers, um, on the traffic environment and and economic survey studies current um
because basically to my understanding the density survey was established almost
30 years ago and the email that I received today um, has anybody done it in the last ten
years in the last five years? Um, because I'm sure that the the uh the density has changed
quite since 30 years ago. Um so that's that's another question that I have.
um, are there any renderings of what this is going to look like because at one point we
thought there was going to be a flyover. Now today at 203 we got an
email saying that that wasn't going to happen. Is there anything that we can
see that can show us um that that has change and will change?
um, is this current plan final ? Can it change will there be a
flyover if if deemed necessary ? We don't know that we've really
been left in the dark on this whole project. Um and you know when will this
construction start? Is there any etas? Uh, and on the second question
when will it end? How long will this project take to complete?
that's about it. Thank you sir. Thank you for coming out and
thank you.
mr robert rossman. We'll close it up real.
good afternoon. It's about two hours before. Our community came to this
event. We received an updated flier. From uh.
david gura. With respect to uh. A change that was being made or
an idea that was about to be made. We live in surfside beach club.
holiday homes development. Is proposing a deal with myrtle beach farm company.
and burrows and. Chafe and its affiliate. To purchase some 760.
acres of dense forest and open land in the pine ridge truck if zoning changes and horry county
approves this arrangement for homes, development will break ground and to begin build in
about 2029. The project will be larger.
>> in mass. And population than the meridian complex.
the melbourne park. Complex and surfside beach complex combined.
in order for all this to happen, the dense forest and vegetation will be plowed under
triggering a severe threat to our ecosystem exposing high levels of stored carbon dioxide
,threatening water management from storm runoff and destroying our animal habitats
,studies show. That 2000 homes would generate an increase in population
of approximately 400 or 4000 800.
>> to. 5000 new residents not to include approximately 640 to
800 school age children. With that, there is a strong possibility that a new
elementary school will be needed. In addition, there would be a
need to hire and train 10 to 12 new police officers, increased myrtle beach fire and rescue
and purchase additional equipment to facilitate the needs.
now there was um my dialog included some information about a flyover but with respect to
this new change that was just emailed to us about four hours ago, apparently that flyover
arrangement has been derailed. I may be wrong. Let's hope so.
we are suffering from overgrowth in our community and um and the issue only gets
worse with with continued growth. So we're asking pretty much the
council to take a look at the new opportunities that developers are having and maybe
restrict some of the some of the new construction that might be going on.
we all came here from different parts of the united states to live in tranquility and peace
and we find right now that myrtle beach and the surfside area is rapidly being overgrown
with population. Thank you for the time and I appreciate you fellas doing the
due diligence that you were sworn to provide. Thank you.
thank you for coming us. That is everyone that signed up.
so we're going to close public input now this is normally the part of the meeting where
there's a stampede for the door. Everybody leaves and uh y'all
can stay you can leave whatever you want to do. I will tell you that this is
going to be voted on and debated on. And mr gilchrist may be called
to the podium to address a couple concerns. That's how we normally do
business but y'all can stay or leave if you're going to leave, I'm going to stop for a minute
because we won't be able to hear while y'all doing that okay.
all right so are we going to stay that's well that's great you're welcome.
we'll move on. Next up is the approval of the agenda contents.
well hold on.
mr gold. Yeah.
>> I just.
have a one over by welcome by. And they can stay or they. Don't like like an overpass
official. And.
>> I thought you get them over there. While all right.
bro? >> yep.
madam clerk. I thought you could. All right.
next up is the approval of the agenda contents. Is there a motion?
so move. >> thank you, mr howard.
thank you, mr anderson. All in favor say I. Uh that.
>> passes unanimously. Next up with the approval the minutes for the regular meeting
from july 14th of this year. So move that. Thank you.
all in favor? Aye passes. And next up is the consent
agenda. Is there a motion so.
>> moved. Second all in favor I. Uh and consent agenda passes
and this is going to be a very very good part of the meeting tonight we're going to
recognize the employees who have achieved over 30 years of service with.
>> all. Three county governments. We'll recognize mr renee hardy
. Hardwick.
>> who's going to tell us who they. Are and.
I already know who they are and it's two of really, really good ones.
yes, yes. Thank you, mr chairman. Council I love doing this.
it's one of my favorite things about my job. If I could ask lynn baker to
join me. I just was not happy about being here.
>> yeah I just I think she thought she was. Good at I can't tell she yeah,
she thought she was getting out of this. Is her.
but here we are. So just a little side note lynn was my dispatch partner 40
years ago and we worked together and we've remained friends and now but I'm very
proud of lynn and what she's accomplished. Um, I forgot my notes.
um. >> I'm just going to talk while
she's gone. All right, um, I apologize, uh, but I wrote in it because I
wanted to say some things about and you try to make me cry. No I'm not.
this is exactly how we dispatch together. Um, lynn is a very dedicated
and loyal employee and you'll hear me say that over and over again about public safety.
it is definitely a calling. And I asked the chief what was one thing he could tell me
about lynn. He said come. On to.
>> he said that no matter what the task, if you tasked lynn with it she would get it done.
it didn't matter if it was under her responsibility day to day or not.
lynn cares about people. She cares about her colleagues and I'm very proud of her and
I'm very honored to be able to present this 40 years, uh, of recognition to you, lynn.
uh, lynn has a request and I guess after 40 years she certainly can make one.
we'd like her sister and her partner to come up here, please .
uh, picture. >> you're not going to be happy
either. >> we can't get.
>> we'll get there. You don't go.
>> your heels it right here. >> what's the point?
you mean you take the. Like, you turn it.
your little gift card to. >> her money?
yes we have. Anybody want to guess what little bow with that shoes for
sure. And if I could have liz orlando come up here please.
and marcus road will be with her. Because I'm not telling that
she got. This is live. .
liz spent 30 years of service with us. Liz works out of the jail.
liz is also low and dedicated. She is one of five girls. She comes from a law
enforcement family and I have to say this for her she's a big buffalo bills fan.
did I get it right? You know, um. Liz is very compassionate.
I have watched her take care of her colleagues when the worst times of their life and
there's nothing but love that pours out of her. And I'm very proud to serve
with liz as well. Every year.
>>
liz would like her family to join us to please indulge.
>> mr chair. Um, I.
congratulate.
duffy.
thank you sir. And good things are always happening in horry county.
I mean. Good things are always out in horry county.
more good news and horry county resolution are 89 2026 recognizing mr barry bobby, our
county administrator for being named one of gfa was outstanding professionals
of the years and a motion. All right we will recognize miss jamie norman.
oh there. See mr chairman. Stand up.
>> and each year the government finance. Officer association recognizes
finance professionals across the nation for their dedication to the finance profession,
their colleagues and the organizations they serve. There have only been three
individuals from south carolina to earn the designation of outstanding professional
of the year and this year one of those recipients is our county administrator, mr barry
bobby. His dedication to this organization, his commitment to
excellence and his genuine desire to serve the community make him especially deserving
of this recognition. I can't think of anyone who better exemplifies the
qualities of a public service professional. I know he does not like being
in the spotlight, but it is my pleasure to present him with this resolution recognizing him
for his outstanding achievement and his continued commitment to public service.
yeah. >> I would.
>> just. Like to say. That any.
recognition that. Is received. By our organization is a
reflection of the. Every individual within that organization.
it's a reflection of the leadership that we have at our council, our leadership team
and each and every employee. So I am grateful to be able to work with a team that excels
and strives to do their best each and every day. I admire them and I appreciate
them. Thank you sir.
>> congratulations. >> thank you very much.
hi. >> the ayes have it.
all right we'll move on to reading of ordinances. First up is third reading
reading for ordinance 65 dash 2026 amending chapter. 15 article six of the code of
ordinances of ori county as it pertains to development agreements.
is there a motion so moved? Second uh mister cam, do you have an amendment?
it's in the handout. Motion? Yes, sir.
motion to, uh, amend the current ordinance to include the amendments on the dias.
thank you sir. And the second. All right.
all in favor of the amendment say I I that passes unanimously back to the original motion as
amended. All in favor? Aye.
all right. Opposed? No.
I'm that passes unanimously. Next up is the third reading of ordinance 25 dash 2026
amending article eight, section 809 of the zoning ordinances pertaining to the highway 17
overlay. Is there a motion. To move?
okay. >> I have a motion and a
second. The proposed amendment is in the packet.
if somebody wants to make a motion for that. .
>> so movements. Chair thank you. We have a motion and a second.
all in favor of the amendment say I. All right the ayes have it back
to the original motion as amended. All in favor I I the ayes have
it. That passes. Next up is third reading
of ordinance 73 dash 2026 to approve the development agreement with pulte home for
the pine ridge residential tract to provide for a connection of carolina bays
parkway to highway 17 bypass and limit the allowed density on the tract.
is there a motion. And a second? I have a motion and a second.
there are proposed amendments contained in your packet. If there's a motion for those.
motion second. All right. All in favor of the proposed
amendments contained in the packet say I. Hi.
>> that passes there's also an a handout which is a proposed amendment.
is there a motion for the amendment that's contained in the handout?
so moved. Second.
>> all in favor of that motion say I hi. Any opposed?
none that passes unanimously back to the original ordinance as amended twice.
all in favor I hi. The ayes have it. That passes.
next up is second reading of ordinance ten dash 2026 to amend the index map of the
official map ordinance for horry county adding the right of way for carolina bays
parkway from highway 707 to highway 17 bypass and associated interchange of the
aubrey county official index map. Is there a motion to move the
second? All right. We have a motion and a second.
there is a proposed amendment contained in your handout which replaces the proposed amendment
that was in the package. Is there a motion to approve that amendment.
so moved. Second.
>> all in favor of the amendment say I and. I ayes have it back to the
original ordinance as amended. All in favor I I yeah I have that.
moving right along with the second reading and public hearing for ordinance 74 and 75
2026 to amend the future land use map of the imagined 2040 comprehensive plan for pin
numbers 441050100959697 from suburban to mixed use and to also rezone from highway
commercial to multi residential. We need one motion for both
ordinance mr loftus. So moved. Second is.
all right these two are scheduled for public hearing. Is there anyone from the public
wish to be heard? Hearing none. Anyone from council wish to be
heard. Hearing none. All in favor say aye.
all right. That's one vote for both ordinances and passes
unanimously. Next is second reading and public hearing on the following
ordinances to approve the request to amend the official zoning maps.
first is ordinance 76 dash 2026 diamond shores agent for atm property group mr hardy motion.
second. >> anyone from the public wish
to be heard on this? Hearing none. All anyone from council.
hearing none. All in favor? I eyes have it.
next up is ordinance 77 dash 2026 cf. Smith property group.
agent for glc holdings. Doctor dukes. So moved.
second. >> anyone from the public
hearing? None. Anyone from council.
hearing none. All in favor I have it. Next up, ordinance 78 dash 2026
damon shores, agent for brandon tree. Andrew mr allen to move mister
. Second I have a motion and a second anyone from the public
hearing? None. Anyone from council?
hearing none. All in favor I. I eyes have it.
next up ordinance 79 dash 2026 damon shores agent for bud t trammell at all mr allen so
moved mr chairman anyone from the public hearing none anyone from council?
hearing none all in favor I I I have it. Next up is ordinance 80 dash
2026 damon shores agent for hd one mr. Mr rowley.
move mr. Jim. Thank you sir you have a
second? Anyone from the public hearing ?
none. Anyone from council? Hearing none.
all in favor I have it. Next up is ordinance 81 dash 2026 kingston engineering agent
for hunter brown. Mr allen so moved, mr chair. Second.
>> anyone from the public hearing? None.
anyone from council? Hearing none. All in favor I.
uh the ayes have that. Next up is old and new business and what we have on there is
the vote for the solid waste authority board of director appointed.
there's one position available. We were voting for it by ballot and the clerk has tabulated the
ballots and mr neves has won the election. And all dedications are next.
I will start. Off by. Bill grammer, a wonderful
person and an excellent lawyer for orry county. Um he will be missed.
mr allen. Yes, sir.
>> mr chairman edwards jr. Mr ronald richardson. James o'dell.
bud ter beeville. Miss elizabeth lib. Fry.
tillman. >> roger.
>> holding. Miss hazel. Hazel granger.
miss. Brenda hay night and miss wanda harrell.
thank you. Thank you sir mr morrow, mr.
>> uh brant baron calvert. Senior miss carol. A petroski.
mother of ed piotrowski. And steven. David sassy.
thank you sir doctor news. Former north myrtle beach. City councilman terry white.
mr crawford. Uh.
>> mr james r baxley who was, um a teacher at sarcastic high school, assistant principal at
myrtle beach and an assistant principal at carolina forest.
>> and a friend of mine at the high school. Mr hart thank you, jim list and
her. List and. Hearty thank you, sir.
mr anderson. Priscilla lucy sellers. Linda roddy henderson, mac.
owens junior. Miss leroy bo. Rainbow conway.
police officer eddie. Scott. ,patricia brown.
bassoon. >> thank you.
>> that's all right. Thank you sir. Next up or listing of the
upcoming meetings set forth in the agenda please pay attention our social media there because
from time to time they change. There is no executive session tonight.
the motion to adjourn. So moved. All right.
>> we are.