[0:00] and ask Mr. Rogers if he would to open
our meeting with a prayer.
[0:06] » God, we thank you for the opportunity to
assemble once again to do the business
[0:09] of the county. Guide our minds and help
us to remember to be inspired by all
[0:14] those who came before us who work so
hard to build Mary and Johnny up. Give
[0:17] us the wisdom and to continue to do the
same. These are things we ask in son
[0:22] Jesus's name. Amen. Amen.
[0:27] Chairman Tenny is going to be a little
bit late.
[0:30] He had something else come up and he'll
be here shortly.
[0:36] Freedom of information announcement in
accordance with the South Carolina code
[0:40] of laws 1976
as amended. The Marian Star Mother's
[0:44] Enterprise has been notified the date,
time, place, and agenda of this meeting.
[0:52] Item four, approval of minutes from
August 11th.
[0:55] » So moved.
>> Second.
[0:57] » Motion second. Any discussion? All in
favor? Motion signify by saying I.
[1:02] » I.
>> Oppose. Likewise. The eyes have it.
[1:07] Resolutions.
[1:10] » By way of anything new, we have
>> ordinances.
[1:15] » Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of
council. Uh the first item, third
[1:19] reading of ordinance 2026-12.
We need to hold on that until um the the
[1:25] company disclosed that public hearing
for September the 8th. So we'll do that
[1:28] one then. The remainings are all three
first readings. So just to remind you
[1:33] and those in attendance, we don't need
to take action. Simply reading the title
[1:36] is sufficient. First reading of
ordinance 2026-15, an ordinance to
[1:41] establish user fees for facilities,
businesses, industries, corporations, or
[1:45] persons within Marian County who
manufacture, transport, store, produce,
[1:50] process, or otherwise use hazardous
substances in reportable quantities as
[1:55] defined by section 311 and 312 of the
emergency planning and community right
[2:00] to know act
and [clears throat] in title three of
[2:03] the super fund amendments and
reauthorization act and to remove other
[2:07] to approve other matters related there
too. Item C, first reading of ordinance
[2:13] 2026-16,
an ordinance to approve a ground lease
[2:17] amendment between Marian County and
Midtrans Corporation on real property
[2:21] located within the Maring County Airport
to prove to approve a hanger lease
[2:25] amendment between Marian County and Medr
Corporation for a hanger located within
[2:30] the Maring County Airport to authorize
Maring County Airport Director to sign
[2:34] such amendments or to ratify his prior
execution of the same, set forth a
[2:38] process for future releasing of airport
property and hangers that is more
[2:42] streamlined without the necessity of
adopting a new ordinance each and every
[2:45] time a hanger or ground lease area turns
over so long as both the airport
[2:50] director and the county administrator
authorize the same and to move to
[2:54] approve other matters related there too.
Item D, first reading of ordinance
[2:59] 2026-17,
an ordinance to approve an amendment to
[3:02] the Maring County noise
ordinance to establish certain
[3:06] regulations and requirements for the
discharge of fireworks in Marian County
[3:10] and approve to approve other matters
related there too. That's all I have.
[3:15] » Thank you, Mr. Attorney.
>> Committee reports,
[3:22] Miss Davis.
>> Um, no. um report that as chairman.
[3:29] » All right. Committee number two has no
report at this time.
[3:34] Legal update.
>> I don't have anything in the section,
[3:36] sir.
>> All right. Mr. Jimmy Ford and Sheriff
[3:39] Ryan Wallace inspection report.
[3:49] Members of the council by
just wanted to come and give you a
[3:56] eight on our annual space on the board
is required at a minimum standards
[4:01] for council
on respect which was conducted by the
[4:06] South Carolina Department of Corrections
as you recall the minimum standard for
[4:12] local teaching facility South Carolina
and
[4:17] moving forward in the
director Jimmy Floyd he's here and give
[4:24] you an update on our expectation reports
and some concern for
[4:33] thank you for this opportunity council.
We have the inspection report before you
[4:38] now
I'm not presenting a new process. on
[4:42] presenting the problem that we've been
identified by the department of director
[4:47] respect fire off the South Carolina
association of counties and the
[4:50] nationally recognized consultants hired
by the county the different problems
[4:55] reach
you need to take action and not delay
[5:00] further first let me go with the good
news
[5:05] before discussing the deficiencies and
not
[5:09] think it's important to recognize how
much progress County has made over the
[5:13] past seven years. In January of 2019
that inspection reported, there were 47
[5:21] identified deficiencies that the
detention fund
[5:25] involves corrections and another 39
deficiencies identified by state fire
[5:30] marsh.
As of 2024, that number had been reduced
[5:36] to nine. You bought the correction
deficiency and four remaining bad fire
[5:42] marsh deficiency. Add up the 2026
report. There are no more fire market
[5:47] deficiency and only four remaining
department of correction deficiency.
[5:54] Over [clears throat] the past several
years, Mar County has replaced the
[5:57] facility roof, refurbished showers and
bathrooms, deflazed plumbing fixtures
[6:02] and valves, repaired emergency lighting
systems, created a medical examination
[6:08] wash area,
replaced 10 aging HVAC units,
[6:14] remodeled four cell medical observation,
suicide war cells, installed a body
[6:20] scanner,
[6:24] refurbish central control refurbished
the booking area, created a secure
[6:28] public demog and we made it.
[clears throat]
[6:33] We've installed approximately 40
additional security cameras. Now
[6:38] we've been building off locker room and
breaking areas. We've expanded our
[6:42] storage capacity. We did three perfect
administrative space and we construct
[6:47] building in preparations for the
detention center expansion.
[6:52] These investments significantly improve
the operations security and
[6:55] functionality through the detention
center. The council deserve recognition
[6:59] and support in supporting all of those
improvements.
[7:07] The problem today is no longer a
maintenance problem. The June 2026 South
[7:12] Carolina
corrections inspection reports
[7:16] identified four remaining deficit. The
number of staffing of personnel
[7:23] classifications of the plan and
classification review and initial plan
[7:28] need fundamentally different from the
deficiency we have addressed in past.
[7:33] They're not wood problems. They're not
plumbing problem. They're not HVAC
[7:37] problem. They're not maintenance
problems. They are capacity problem.
[7:42] Classification staffing and facility
design issues. No amount of renovation
[7:48] will solve these problem.
What SCDC told us
[7:55] it specifically states that the facility
cannot meet proper classification and
[8:00] separation requirements because of the
design and size of the facility. The
[8:05] portfolio notice for staffing shortages
contributed directly to the facility's
[8:10] inability to maintain compliance with
these standards.
[8:14] The inspectors also acknowledge that man
county is pursuing an expansion to
[8:18] alleviate earth crowding to bring
facility in full compliance with mining
[8:21] jail standard.
In other words, the state is telling us
[8:26] exactly what the consultants hired in
2024 has already. The issue is no longer
[8:32] a maintenance and repair issue. The
issue is that we have outgrown the
[8:37] facility.
[8:40] Overcrowding has reached critical level.
Mary County Detention Center was built
[8:45] at 98 the maximum rate of capacity of 96
million.
[8:51] Anything you look at from the killing
professionals will tell you that a jail
[8:57] experience is overcrowding and
overpopulation anytime you feel more
[9:01] than 85% of your maximum available beds
because you're no longer able to satisfy
[9:06] separated inmate in Mar County with our
maximum 9 bed rated inmate capacity that
[9:12] would relate to 80 inmate before we dims
in January of 2026. six. Our average
[9:22] daily population has exceeded 120
inmates.
[9:26] That's 40 over our occupational
capacity. We have had up to right at 150
[9:34] inmates
and had to place emergency orders for
[9:38] mattresses in recent weeks because we
did not have enough mattresses with 125
[9:43] mattresses to keep people from sleeping
on the floor. Think about that for a
[9:48] minute. We have up to 150 inmates in a
facility that should not have over 82.
[9:55] That is almost double what it should
have held.
[10:01] That's no longer an occasional spike.
These numbers have run fairly
[10:05] consistently because of that data.
Average daily population has been close
[10:09] to 120 since January of this year.
CDL who we paid as national experts to
[10:17] conduct a need assessment two years ago
identified the problem.
[10:21] Their findings were clear. They
concluded the facility only has three as
[10:27] constructed housing unit
modern detention facility require
[10:32] significantly more housing unit to be
able to properly classify separate. They
[10:38] identified that the jail becomes
functioning full
[10:42] at approximately 80 to 82 inmates.
Additional housing and separation space
[10:48] is necessary for safe and compliant
operations.
[10:53] Perhaps most importantly, CDL concluded
that the Marian County should plan for
[10:58] adding approximately 120 additional beds
to meet housing requirements.
[11:04] Today our average daily population is
already pushing the limits of the
[11:10] numbers that CGO proposed two years ago.
The future need identified in 2024 is
[11:18] our new current reality.
Classification is a safety issue. When
[11:24] people hear the word classification, it
may sound administrative, but it is not.
[11:28] Classification is one of the most
important safety functions that takes
[11:32] place inside of an extension facility.
Classification determines how inmates
[11:37] are separated based upon their file
violent behavior, their charges, mental
[11:42] health concerns, medical needs,
disciplinary status, sentence versus
[11:49] pre-trial status,
and other vulnerability factor.
[11:54] CGL determined that the current facility
lacked sufficient housing area to
[11:59] properly manage those population.
As a result, staff is forced to make
[12:03] housing compromises simply to keep the
facility operating.
[12:08] The more overcrowded the facility
become, the more difficult these
[12:11] decisions become.
Mental health needs have changed
[12:15] dramatically in the last several years.
One of the most significant findings of
[12:20] the CBO assessment was the growing
mental health needed inmate population
[12:27] medical providers estimate that 70 to
80% of our current inmates require some
[12:32] level of mental health following the
county to be commended in this area
[12:36] because we've gone from telea health
mental health to having a full-time
[12:41] mental health counselor two days a week
through a contract with the department
[12:45] of mental health. But the facility was
never designed nor built to handle that
[12:51] level of need. Currently we have to use
booking sales frequently to house mental
[12:56] health inmates because we do not have
proper sales to booking. We have to use
[13:01] them to house suicide or because we do
not have proper sales for cooking.
[13:07] The same goes for medical observation
inmates and inmates that must be placed
[13:11] in protective test. That is the
violation of the stat
[13:16] booking sale meant for temporary
housing.
[13:19] When booking sales are used for
long-term housing, there are no longer
[13:23] available for their intended purpose.
This creates additional operational
[13:27] challenges throughout the entire
facility. The Mate population today
[13:32] looks much different than it would have
been built. The facility design was
[13:37] never intended for these changes.
Staffing itself is the same overall.
[13:44] 2026 Department of Corrections
inspection cited staffing deficiency
[13:48] that it had everyone since I had been
together.
[13:52] The national standard
that staffing assessment conducted by by
[13:57] the associated county previously
concluded has concluded every time it
[14:01] has been conducted. Marian County needs
approximately 11 additional employees to
[14:06] adequately staff and operate the
detention center.
[14:11] The inspection by SEDDC concluded the
site.
[14:15] However, staffing alone was not
solution. Even if every
[14:20] one of those positions were given to the
detention center more and they were
[14:25] filled,
the detention center would still be
[14:28] overcrowded.
We'd still not be able to classify and
[14:32] separate. We would still not have the
space we need to properly and safely
[14:37] have a thin maker.
We will still face the same major
[14:41] operational challenge. Staffing and
expansion must be addressed together.
[14:46] One cannot solve the other.
I mentioned the proven camp issue only
[14:52] because if you look at the final page of
the inspection report, that is the email
[14:57] that was sent to me by the director of
the division of compliance and
[15:02] inspection from the department of
corrections. Why it was sent to me? I do
[15:06] not know perhaps because I am the person
of the state association and on the
[15:11] state of fans committee but the
improvement camp does not fall under a
[15:15] million share it fall directly under the
county administrator and county council
[15:22] but before discussing expansion council
must understand the proven camp and the
[15:27] detention center are no longer separate
station ever since 2019 when the county
[15:33] first hired Mosley architects We look at
expanding the jail and closing. The plan
[15:38] has been follow the prison camp and
incorporate service inmates and state
[15:43] inmates and be
county paid for architecture plans doing
[15:50] that.
>> The county has repeatedly presented that
[15:53] same plan. The department of correcting
tried to make it through the upgrades
[15:59] and improve improvements in preparation
for doing that.
[16:05] Department of Correction based on that
email is now asking for answers.
[16:16] What is the risk
in failing to act
[16:22] in program with an extremely valuable
workforce that will be extremely hard to
[16:27] replace?
[16:31] Doing nothing do not maintain the status
quo any longer. Doing nothing at this
[16:38] point will change the status quo. The
cost of delay also continues to grow.
[16:46] We have already completed much of the
work that's necessary to prepare for the
[16:50] expansion bill. We've conducted
professional needs assessment. We've
[16:54] hired nationally recognized detention
consultants. We've developed expansion
[16:59] concepts. We've previously play paid for
architectural planning and design. I
[17:05] will say that thankfully we did not move
forward plans because those plans would
[17:11] not have solved the problems that we're
looking at.
[17:16] [clears throat]
We have constructed a support building
[17:20] that have expanded laundry and expanded
inmate property all in preparations for
[17:26] an expansion to the detention center.
The project that we designed and bid out
[17:32] in 2020 will be cancelled and
unfortunately since that time
[17:37] construction cost increased
dramatically.
[17:40] County could have in 2019
satisfied these needs for approximately
[17:47] $12.5 million.
The estimate to satisfy the needs now is
[17:52] approximately $25 million.
Every year that we delay, construction
[17:59] costs are only increasing. In 2024, when
CPL first did our needed assessment, the
[18:05] average construction cost for a square
foot in rated construction was around
[18:10] $500. Two years later, it is now $600 a
square foot. It is not going to become
[18:18] any cheaper.
[18:22] When you look at it like that, the
expansion will never again be any
[18:25] cheaper than what it is today.
The county already has the answer. For
[18:32] years, Marian County has studied this
issue. We paid experienced professionals
[18:36] to tell us what is needed. Every major
review, every inspection comes to the
[18:41] same conclusions. South Carolina
Department of Corrections have
[18:44] identified the deficiencies. The South
Carolina Association of Counties
[18:49] conducted staffing assessments and
identified the deficiencies.
[18:54] CBL management group identified the
facility deficiency, the population
[18:59] need, the future space deployments, and
the expansion options that would best
[19:03] fit N County's ability to staff and fund
department. Corrections have repeatedly
[19:10] discussed through county department
and irrigation to operation. There are
[19:15] going to be family detention facility.
At this point there are no unansured
[19:20] weather. Support building is completed.
The studies have been completed. The
[19:25] inspections are completed every year.
The planning is complete. We know what
[19:31] need to be done.
The only major step remaining is to move
[19:36] forward with the design and construction
of the expansion.
[19:40] What happens if we don't and we continue
to wait? The risk continues to increase
[19:46] the operational risk goes up and we
certainly face more of the problem. The
[19:51] security risk and potential hindrance to
the staff look we face greater inmate
[19:58] management chaffing
risk. We are already seeing that an
[20:04] increased turnover, burnout and
retention problem.
[20:08] The financial risk, higher future
construction costs,
[20:15] compliance risk with continued
department of correction.
[20:20] The legal division increased
exponentiation involving overcrowding
[20:25] safety classification limiting medical
care of consignment mental health
[20:30] services and staffing should only revive
and we continue to increase. In
[20:37] conclusion, Chairman Kenny and members
of the council for nearly a decade,
[20:40] Marian County has worked diligently to
improve the detention center. We have
[20:44] fixed all the deficiencies that could be
fixed. We have renovated the facility to
[20:49] the extent that we can do so. We have
modernized operations.
[20:53] We have increased technology to improve
those operation. We have hired experts.
[20:58] We've conducted studies. We have
developed plans. We have built
[21:03] supporting infrastructure. We are
prepared for the next step. The question
[21:08] before us today is no longer what should
we do.
[21:13] The experts have already answered that
question after many times. The real
[21:17] question is how much longer can we
afford to wait before coming up with a
[21:21] plan taking action but every major
assessment every inspection every study
[21:27] and every population trend points to the
same conclusion. We must move forward
[21:31] through planning building expansion.
Cost of action is significant but the
[21:37] cost of continued delay will be far
greater. Thank you. this opportunity to
[21:43] make this presentation to you and the
sheriff and I will welcome you in
[21:48] whatever way we can move forward and
continue to resolve these
[21:57] question
I thank you Mr. Florida,
[22:03] Jimmy, you know, I respect you to the
utmost or where in the world are Mar
[22:07] County going to get 12 million or 25
million. That's the problem. I listen, I
[22:13] love you and I shift, but I'm tired of
hearing about it. We either going to do
[22:16] something or do what we going to do.
Dave, we ain't got the money. We didn't
[22:20] give the county employees every bit of
raise.
[22:24] I'm sorry.
>> I understand. I
[22:27] » I' never been to jail, but I want to go
to jail. people over there somewhere.
[22:31] They was on Tanya Brown had all of it.
He was everybody say I'm sorry and I'm
[22:37] not disrespecting you and Sheriff but
you tell us if you tell us where we get
[22:41] the money we'll do it. I I imagine we
do.
[22:44] » Then the only thing I can say to that is
we met I met with y'all in January.
[22:50] » You did?
>> And we proposed the plan then that would
[22:53] come over the money and no action was
taken on that plan.
[22:57] » Well, in 2019 I was not on this council.
Okay, that's the only thing I can say in
[23:02] regard to that.
>> Well, like I say, you didn't get a
[23:06] raise. The sheriff didn't get a raise.
Child, nobody got a raise.
[23:09] » Understood.
>> Thank you, Mr. Chair.
[23:13] » I mean, the only other thing I would say
in the box and
[23:17] it's going to cost the county.
>> I understand. And I'm a taxpayer.
[23:22] » The only question is how are we going to
talk?
[23:28] Well, that's re we have to ask David
[23:35] question Mr. F.
>> Thank you.
[23:39] » Thank you, Sheriff.
[23:43] Minister update.
[23:46] » Thank you, Chairman, council. I'm going
to keep it short. I just want to let you
[23:52] know that um we have one more position
to fill in EMS
[23:57] and that'll be the first time that we've
had a fully staffed department in over
[24:00] 10 years. Um that's a significant
accomplishment and I'd like to public
[24:04] publicly recognize Jamie Sawyer for the
outstanding work he has done. Jamie's
[24:09] provided strong and steady leadership
and I am extremely proud of the progress
[24:14] he and his team have made. Uh and
second,
[24:19] uh Charles Taylor and myself will be
going to uh Columbia on September 10th.
[24:25] And uh we will be going up against uh
Buford Jasper for the uh Barrett Larore
[24:32] Memorial Regional Cooperation Award.
Very excited about that with his uh take
[24:38] flight program and um really looking
forward to uh being on that trophy. So
[24:45] that's all I got. Thank you.
[24:50] » Mr. Chairman, if if I could, Senator
Williams,
[24:55] » one that we went to Washington to see
Clber, Lindsey Graham,
[25:03] all our representatives,
senators,
[25:09] » in an effort to try to get some money.
Would you would you talk to that for a
[25:14] second?
>> Yes, sir. We did uh
[25:20] Detroit
[25:27] and Tim Hawk County administrator.
That's time we went to Har. We met up
[25:32] with our congressional delegation
um trying to seek some funds funds.
[25:38] » We also went again too. He
>> went twice. That's right.
[25:43] » And Joel. That's right. last time but
she not too long ago long ago. So it's
[25:49] not like we haven't been trying to
address this issue and we're very much
[25:55] aware of what we're facing there in
terms of uh not being in compliance with
[26:01] SC
department of correction
[26:06] and I thank uh Mr. turn around the mayor
of the board of work and where we going
[26:12] to get the funding from we just don't
have the funding that's why we're
[26:17] seeking some outside support both on the
federal and state level we secure some
[26:24] funds on the state level about two and a
half million dollars
[26:29] a few years ago to have address some of
those vacancies that come signed at the
[26:36] detention center
>> and als also um kind of make the
[26:41] difference a little bit when Mr. explor
you know they came to council was
[26:46] composed of and we and we didn't we did
we have nothing that was a public safety
[26:56] uh pen sales tax and unfortunately the
citizens of this county do not support
[27:04] um that
sales tax
[27:10] and Um
uh to be honest, I think um we we
[27:18] probably we all of us probably could do
a better job in educating public and to
[27:26] uh the importance of this these funds
and what it will actually do address
[27:35] needs out there. We I was astounded to
hear the numbers that their average
[27:43] day population
120 that is that is mind.
[27:50] We all know crime is up everywhere and
the turn will set it right. You know
[27:56] it's not like Mary County is the only
one that's experiencing this problem.
[27:59] It's all over the state. Of course that
help us to solve our problem. make us
[28:05] feel better. But it it's a problem
anyway. And and and that's what I like
[28:10] to um say to the citizens of this
county. You know, that's a classic
[28:16] example of another unfunded mandate by
the state,
[28:21] » right?
>> That we have to provide this service to
[28:24] the citizens of the county. And you know
where we going to get it from? You know,
[28:30] we don't have industry.
uh you know benefit falls on tax paying
[28:35] the property own people already
complaining about their taxes and how
[28:40] high they are and just be able to assess
that you know how that goes
[28:46] probably [clears throat] going to go up
and until we get some industry in here
[28:51] that's not going to change unfortunately
but that is an unfunded mandate by the
[28:55] state government and we have those same
unfunded mandates by the federal
[29:00] government that you have to provide
those services and when we don't have
[29:05] industry when we don't have that place
we got to raise your property taxes and
[29:09] you don't like that but remember when we
raise your taxes we raise our taxes we
[29:15] pay taxes and that's the last thing we
want to do that's why we didn't do it
[29:18] this year thank God we were fortunate
enough not to have to raise property
[29:23] taxes this year but if you want to hear
what is going on $25 million tax uh
[29:30] price tag
to address our detention center
[29:33] deficiencies out there and as much as
our family puts our entire county budget
[29:39] 26 million
you process that we got to come up with
[29:44] a plan I think one one way of addressing
that I think and it's about as fair as
[29:51] you can get to do the public sales tax
one uh sales tax you know and everybody
[29:58] gets to pay you don't spend you don't
pay. More you spend, the more you pay.
[30:03] And they tourist people coming into this
county um spend the money they get to
[30:08] pay as well. 30% of that would come from
people outside of this county. So that
[30:14] would make more sense. Um probably
addressing that situation out there than
[30:21] any other that I can think of. There's
no way you can ever raise the taxes in
[30:27] this county to generate $25.
uh you know address that issue out there
[30:32] and we need those inmates. They're part
of our workforce because if you know if
[30:37] the state comes in and said, "Hey, we we
will no longer allow these state inmates
[30:42] to be here in America
fill those slots." That means we're
[30:46] going to have to hire people or we have
to cut services.
[30:50] Can't have it both ways. But that's kind
of where we are. That's a conversation
[30:55] that we can have um at a later time.
Thank you, sir.
[31:02] » Thanks, sir.
[31:07] Hey,
>> say you in the airport director going to
[31:09] Columbia.
>> Yes, sir.
[31:10] » Please drop him off at Bull Street. Come
on back without him.
[31:13] » I got his room.
>> Okay. [laughter]
[31:19] » All right. Requesting comments from
members of council.
[31:24] » Mr. [clears throat] Rogers. I want to
begin by acknowledging Senator Williams
[31:29] uh and Representative Atinson who uh
this week was able to secure some
[31:34] significant funding um for their
respective districts but particularly
[31:39] Marian County. Uh, I know there was
initially $300 million in community
[31:44] project funding uh, and that was cut
from the uh, state budget, but I think
[31:49] it's about 150
for the Senate and 220 for the house.
[31:56] » Yes. And so we were able to they were
able to secure some great projects that
[31:59] are much needed. I know my district is
very pleased. Um, and you kept the
[32:04] promise that you made to the people at
the Saffold Center almost two years ago
[32:09] with that. And also, Representative
Atinson working, he and I worked
[32:13] together with uh then Chief uh Wyman
Watson uh to make sure we get a water
[32:19] facility down in the Woodbury area. Um
there's over 10,000 acres of land, but
[32:24] no source to get water when there's a
fire. Um, so I would just want to thank
[32:27] both of them for the work that they've
done this particular session to make
[32:32] sure under challenging circumstances
that we were able to still get some
[32:36] resources. Uh, I just want to mention
that I saw that um, the city of Marion
[32:42] has moved forward with installing flock
campers and uh, I guess as a question
[32:47] for the sheriff. Just want to make sure
that's not going to be used for
[32:51] ticketing or uh rather at speed or
taking pictures of people who might have
[32:56] a phone in their hands as it's been
happening in other locations where
[33:00] people are just getting tickets in the
mail. Um because of this service that
[33:06] they provide. Um I'm not against flock.
I understand how it can be very useful.
[33:11] Um, but I just want to make sure that we
have some kind of or you have some kind
[33:15] of plan in place to make sure there's no
abuses that we've also seen in other
[33:20] areas um that have employed these flock
cameras.
[33:26] » Uh yeah. Yes, sir. The uh city of Mar
they've had a flock cameras for a couple
[33:31] years. Those cameras have been up. I
would say uh
[33:37] the flock hammers
are probably on the technology side best
[33:42] prime fighting tool we currently have
the use in the flock cameras that needs
[33:49] to be addressed or the inquiries into
them personal reasons whatever the case
[33:55] I would hope that that's not do away
with all or there needs to be a policy
[34:02] guidelines when Somebody mess it up,
they go into do it for personal use.
[34:06] Firearm charges. That's what being done
across the state. Some sheriffs up
[34:13] friend Hobart Lewis up in Greenville.
You know, he's had some issues with fire
[34:17] char whatever the case may be, but they
are great uh tool to use. when the EMS
[34:26] Phoenician for was killed
left here went to New Mexico where it
[34:32] can track him the whole time versus with
these fly they'll kill you off license
[34:37] to my knowledge they're not used for
speed catch a speeders are too easy to
[34:42] catch worry about a camera I mean you
can go anywhere I mean using cell phone
[34:47] they're not used for you know they're
license tag and where folks are going at
[34:53] pace missing later recent county called
said we see where she come in county
[35:00] they never let we got to looking about
the time she was uh the man had dementia
[35:07] and he's parked out at the uh um the
comfort in
[35:13] great tool great tool not just crime but
missing people they are a great tool to
[35:19] use we don't have currently any county
any city does, but uh we we uh ask them
[35:26] a lot, you know, check this for crime
fighting burgers. There needs to be
[35:29] policy. We my folks at the National
Academy look at that, you know, what can
[35:34] we do to solve this problem this,
you know, to do an inquiry case number
[35:40] or CAD number needs to be attached to so
people just not randomly check that have
[35:45] a criminal case number or a CAD number
through dispatch. That's just one way uh
[35:50] to look, but it does need to be
addressed for misuse. Um hold those
[35:53] people accountable, but let's not get
rid of a tool that is so important. But
[35:57] it could be my family member, your
family member, anybody.
[36:01] » Well, I don't want to get I don't want
to get rid of it. I just want to make
[36:03] sure it's not used to ticket people as
it has in some locations might have a
[36:08] cell phone in their hand when they pass
by
[36:11] » or they going over the speed limit.
>> It's not monitor 24/7, is it?
[36:15] » No.
>> Right.
[36:18] You have to have a tag, somebody's tag
run against in this traffic and that
[36:23] rear that vehicle tag.
>> But the question I have for you,
[36:26] sheriff, just like if another sheriff
from upstate call you that came through
[36:31] our county suspect, you then contact the
chief of police. Your deputies have no
[36:37] asset.
>> Yeah, we have to have unless somebody
[36:39] allows us access.
>> But do you have access? Do you and your
[36:43] deputy have?
>> I don't know. We may one or two may have
[36:46] access. I think we may call Marion and
have them. I I would have to check. I'm
[36:49] not
>> physical.
[36:51] » It's kind of like D and D access you
know inquires there but there has to be
[36:57] uh you know we don't want to get rid of
I that's a great cool it's not it's not
[37:03] check you know how it is catchers I mean
you know you know just anywhere you
[37:08] don't have to have a camera but it's
captain tag.
[37:14] Thank you. I suggest shar we put a toll
on 501 going to the beach. We be jail
[37:21] that's out of his
>> jing.
[37:24] Huh?
>> That is not his wheelhouse.
[37:26] » Well, we need to get a wheelhouse right
now. They sure mean
[37:31] » I got you. Yeah.
[37:35] » Carolina Falls. That'd be a good one. Um
I have two more things uh for the
[37:41] administrator. Um, no. We're very far in
the hurricane season. I brought this up
[37:46] two years ago. I'd like for the county
to start securing some locations so we
[37:51] can have some hurricane shelters and to
enter into some agreements. Um, we have
[37:56] a huge population of people that live in
mobile homes in this county. Um, and I
[38:02] know it was uh discussed about making
sure there was some kind of formal
[38:05] agreement in place at least with some of
the schools to be able to use those
[38:09] facilities if we have to move people or
people are displaced. Um, but we never
[38:14] follow through with that.
Um, the second question I have, um, I've
[38:21] been noticing how much, uh, uh, homes
have been being built on Highway 378 and
[38:29] Conway coming towards us. I mean, it's
right now at the caution light. Um, and
[38:34] it's coming our way. So, I know we we
made an effort to discuss the issue of
[38:39] of impact fees in our comprehensive
plan. Um, but I think need to go ahead
[38:43] and start moving forward looking at what
we need to do. Um, because if you look
[38:48] at some of the property that's that that
that's owned on Highway 370 through
[38:53] Marian County, there's some large tracks
of land that's owned by uh people who
[38:57] could develop it very quickly. Um, and
obviously in other parts of the county.
[39:02] Um, but I think we need to go ahead and
get started on that conversation. Um,
[39:07] and I my question for uh I don't know if
you can answer this, Mr. Attorney. Um,
[39:12] do you know when the fees from Project
Bonfire will start crewing? When they'll
[39:18] come in, that for next year or
>> it's it's based off of when they go into
[39:23] use.
>> It's the I believe it's the fiscal year
[39:26] following when they put it into use.
>> So, are they building something new? Are
[39:30] they going inside?
>> I I am not sure. uh because it was none
[39:34] of that's really discussed in the
ordinance part of it.
[39:38] » But so the inuse factor is really more
of a do type of activity.
[39:43] » Uh whenever they apply for that to go
into use is when that kicks in.
[39:47] » Okay.
Um thank you for that. Uh just another
[39:52] comment for Senator Williams. The uh the
signs are up now down at the landing
[39:58] brick necking look great. Um, I think
everyone who goes down there to fish in
[40:03] the boat, they are really excited about
having a a nice location to go to and
[40:09] get on the river. Um, so thanks uh DNR
and those folks for that. Uh, and just
[40:14] to comment about what Senator Williams
was saying, and it might be a little
[40:18] political, but um, this year in 2026,
Congressman Clyburn secured $50 million
[40:25] in federal funding for his district. So,
we're looking at these big projects. We
[40:30] need help and we need help from people
who represent us on the federal level
[40:34] and they're the ones that ask for this
help because the monies are there if
[40:38] they're willing to go and get it. But in
order for a representative to be able to
[40:44] get that kind of funding, they have to
have a partner in the US Senate who's
[40:48] also willing to get earmarks. And if
you're not willing to get eararks, the
[40:52] state will not get funds. That's just a
matter of fact. The great work that the
[40:58] monies that Mr. Cly burn secure for his
district which we're no longer a part
[41:01] of. He was able to do that in
partnership with uh Senator Lindsey
[41:05] Graham. Um so that's important because
we're all paying federal taxes, but if
[41:11] we're not fighting to bring portions of
that money back, other states are going
[41:14] to get them. So if you look at what
Florida or New York State, um excuse not
[41:19] Florida, New York State, California, um
other states who actively try to get
[41:24] federal eararks, they're getting in huge
portions of money. That's why Alabama is
[41:28] booming. Uh Huntsville, Alabama is
booming because of federal earmarks have
[41:33] turned that little town into a bustling
city with federal projects. So that's
[41:38] where I think we're going to have to
focus our attention. We don't have the
[41:42] money locally. The population does not
seem interested in trying to pass a
[41:47] penny sales tax. We're going to have to
aggressively pursue our legislators on a
[41:52] federal level to get us some funding
assistance because it's available and
[41:58] it's possible. And if you look at these
projects that Mr. Clyburn has just for
[42:02] 2026, you can see very easily how you
could fit a project like this into a
[42:08] funding request um at the federal level.
Thank you.
[42:16] No comments, Chris.
>> Oh,
[42:20] » and I think that's what our senator saw
when he arranged his meeting
[42:25] » in Washington DC.
>> We probably need to do that again.
[42:31] » Yeah, it's going to have to be after the
election. They're done now.
[42:35] » Um but January, really January,
February, so we get the request by the
[42:41] time they go to the appropriation
meetings, March, April. Go ahead.
[42:48] » I have a question for um maybe the
attorney and county [clears throat]
[42:53] administrator. These old homes that we
have throughout the county. I got
[42:57] several phone calls throughout my
district. The tax lean that the
[43:02] commission that we have, you know what
I'm talking about?
[43:05] The forfeited tax land.
>> Yeah. Forfeit land commission. I got
[43:10] some homes in my district and they was
asking for years
[43:16] to, you know, get the proper paperwork
and I keep telling them we working on
[43:20] working now. They getting frustrated. So
that's why I'm opening. They feel like
[43:23] we're not doing nothing. I'm not doing
nothing. So that's why I'm asking you
[43:26] now since can we address that and where
we at and why we're not getting no
[43:32] paperwork done.
>> Okay. And I and I want to ask one thing
[43:35] just because of the beginning of the way
you started to make sure I I'm aware of
[43:39] exactly what we need to do. You've got a
a mobile home if it's sitting on the
[43:45] property and tax separately from the
land. That's a different process than if
[43:51] it's the land. So do you know
>> these are these are these are homes and
[43:55] um city of Marion in my district. I know
there's two of them. Okay.
[43:58] » I'm getting calls.
>> So the houses as well. It's not just
[44:01] home.
>> Okay. But where we at with that? I know
[44:03] we talked about that several times and
talked about getting part-time help,
[44:07] helping you all about that and it fell
to the wayside. Where we at with that?
[44:10] » Yeah, the the most recent discussion
that that we all had was dealing with
[44:14] the website and and giving us that
ability to put those things out there
[44:19] pretty much on a weekly basis for sale
and have people to, you know, make bids.
[44:24] Other other than that, you have to
structure a sale similar to the tax
[44:28] sale. um that is very costly and very
timeconuming to put together. So having
[44:34] that ability to just throw them out
there as they get ready and people can
[44:38] bid uh and get them that is the most
efficient and direct way to handle that
[44:43] problem. And and I've been saying that
unfortunately way before you were even
[44:48] on council. So it it I I understand the
frustration coming from the
[44:53] constituents. I understand the
frustration coming from the council
[44:56] members because it's been frustrating me
uh since I started here in 2008. Um
[45:02] » so again, administrator, this where we
at with that?
[45:06] » We have a conversation several times
about that. So where we at with that?
[45:10] The website get online.
>> Yes, sir. We uh [clears throat]
[45:16] we uh we just posted the uh RFQ for the
uh for the website and so we're in a
[45:22] process of trying to get a whole brand
new website so that we could actually uh
[45:26] accommodate all of this all of these
issues. So, I'm not sure how long that
[45:31] process is going to take for in terms of
the uh website, but I do know that uh
[45:37] Chuck has been working on on getting a
lot of those deeds cleared up, and I'm
[45:41] pretty sure you've got the majority of
them taken care of.
[45:43] » Well, not majority of the forfeit land
commission that that's the regular tax
[45:47] sale deeds. Yes.
[45:51] » But again, I'm I'm getting phone calls
and they're frustrated and I am too
[45:55] because we've been talking about this
over two years now.
[45:57] I I think it would be good for the
forfeooted land commission to meet
[46:02] to have a meeting to assess where
they're at because if I understand it,
[46:06] the the statute says they're supposed to
meet uh once a month um with those four
[46:13] members, three members and the chair of
the county council if the council votes
[46:17] to add the chairman of county council. I
think that's where it needs to start.
[46:21] They need to have a meeting so you can
actually see what all those properties
[46:24] are at. And and I actually like the
process that the county of Florence,
[46:28] Florence County has where you can go to
their building and ask them for a copy
[46:32] of the forfeited land commission list.
Look up the property um on your phone
[46:38] and then make a bid right there. Now,
you got to be able to pay it. You can't
[46:42] just make some bid and not have the
money um and then go from there and just
[46:48] start
uh moving these properties,
[46:51] » right? And I just think
>> and that's actually what what this plan
[46:55] is supposed to be for. That's exactly
what and and I didn't my first read into
[47:00] it wasn't Florence counties, but I have
seen theirs. Um and and theirs is even a
[47:06] little bit more um liberal than what I
was even thinking because theirs you
[47:11] don't even have to do it on the website.
You just walk in the door and say, "Hey,
[47:15] I'll buy that one for, you know, $500."
and they agreed to do it and it's ready
[47:20] to go. You just buy it. That I have a
little bit of discomfort in that because
[47:25] there's you you get to a little bit of a
fairness issue when you didn't somebody
[47:30] else is going to say, "Well, I didn't
even know that property was available. I
[47:32] would have given $1,000 for it." So,
that's why I like the website mechanism
[47:37] a little bit better because it gives
time to post it. gives uh everybody, not
[47:41] just constituents, but everybody uh in
the public a chance to see that it's
[47:45] there and some time to to make a bid and
get the the the best that that we can
[47:49] get out of that process. I think that's
a much fairer process than just somebody
[47:54] walking in and saying, "I'll take that."
[48:01] » So, I I'm I'll be looking for update
next meeting, okay, on this. I need an
[48:06] update on this and before I can let my
constituents know where we at.
[48:11] » Okay. Thank you,
>> Mr. Flo and Chief. I want to I didn't
[48:18] want to disrespect y'all, but I just
want to let you know we trying, but we
[48:21] just don't have the money and you
understand. Maybe uh Senator can do
[48:26] that. Don't apologize y'all. I didn't
mean no, but I just trying to be true.
[48:31] Thank you, chair.
And I got
[48:36] Back to my question for you two. I got
one particular address I give y'all
[48:40] later that I need looked at. Sure.
>> In the city of Mar off of Gibson Street.
[48:45] Okay.
>> All right.
[48:47] » Give it to me now or do you
>> I have you don't have
[48:50] » I give it to
[48:57] » All right. Exeual
[49:00] matter matter personnel matter. Got a
motion. Got a second. Any discussion
[49:06] on the first white
[49:21] made a motion come out of session in
regular session.
[49:24] » So move second.
>> Got a motion. Got a second. Any
[49:27] discussion? All in favor say I. I.
>> Likewise I have it.
[49:33] Can I make a motion to adjourn
motion?
[49:42] 10.