1 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,160 Me, we'll come to order. If y'all would please rise for the invocation. 2 00:00:08,940 --> 00:00:13,500 The Lord's Prayer. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 3 00:00:13,890 --> 00:00:18,630 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 4 00:00:18,690 --> 00:00:23,880 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive 5 00:00:23,970 --> 00:00:29,445 those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from 6 00:00:29,610 --> 00:00:34,245 evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. 7 00:00:35,190 --> 00:00:40,350 Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of 8 00:00:40,380 --> 00:00:44,430 America, and to the republic for which it stands. 9 00:00:44,550 --> 00:00:50,160 One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 10 00:00:50,580 --> 00:00:53,190 Thanks. Please be seated. Thank you all for being here this evening. 11 00:00:53,551 --> 00:00:55,095 Yes, sir, you've got a mic. You want to bring it up? 12 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:00,090 Mayor, if we may, I'd like a motion to amend the agenda to 13 00:01:01,290 --> 00:01:06,000 have an executive session concerning the multi-track. 14 00:01:06,750 --> 00:01:07,440 So moved. 15 00:01:07,500 --> 00:01:09,480 All right, that's a motion and a second. Any other discussion? 16 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,390 Did you want to go any more than that? 17 00:01:12,450 --> 00:01:12,840 No, I don't. 18 00:01:12,870 --> 00:01:14,880 That's fine. Yes, sir. That's a motion and a second. Thank you. 19 00:01:15,165 --> 00:01:16,620 All in favor of that motion, say aye. 20 00:01:16,755 --> 00:01:16,755 Aye. 21 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,821 Aye. Opposed, the noes have it. Our first item on the agenda would be a draft 22 00:01:20,940 --> 00:01:25,500 Downtown Master Plan RFQ presentation. Mr. Rucker, yes, sir. 23 00:01:26,910 --> 00:01:32,610 Thank you, Mayor, Council. We have yes RFQ on board 24 00:01:32,670 --> 00:01:32,970 there. 25 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:39,720 So let's walk through this, and we'll tell you what we changed, what we added, 26 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:40,320 what's different, 27 00:01:41,790 --> 00:01:44,010 and then we'll elicit your responses. 28 00:01:45,630 --> 00:01:51,060 We will hopefully, at the end, have an RFQ that you're happy with, that we could 29 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,880 move forward for announcement to 30 00:01:56,670 --> 00:01:58,801 provide feedback from consultants. Right? 31 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,205 First off, we're going to change a couple of things on that front page, just to 32 00:02:05,250 --> 00:02:10,560 kind of help you be... We're going to bump the deadline response Friday, October 33 00:02:10,650 --> 00:02:14,400 16th. We thought just to give a little bit more time. It says the 2nd right now. 34 00:02:14,460 --> 00:02:15,840 Thought give it a little bit more time. 35 00:02:17,250 --> 00:02:21,930 Okay, so that's the one thing. We're going to add a website link on as well to bid 36 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:27,766 so that folks can see it, find the link immediately, and then see the 37 00:02:27,780 --> 00:02:29,190 RFQ. Okay. So, 38 00:02:31,050 --> 00:02:37,020 I'm just going to go through this, and you stop me at any point in time, but I'll 39 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:38,760 just roll through and tell you what we did here. 40 00:02:38,910 --> 00:02:44,490 So we've incorporated the vision throughout the 41 00:02:44,610 --> 00:02:50,520 RFQ, as expressed from comments that we've received all through 42 00:02:50,550 --> 00:02:55,230 this process, really starting at the March MASC Busbee Tree, 43 00:02:56,641 --> 00:03:02,010 last week's workshop especially, and then the comp plan that I think is already in 44 00:03:02,070 --> 00:03:06,630 there, and that's especially noticeable in the historic downtown district. 45 00:03:08,851 --> 00:03:13,740 Sorry, let me back up a minute. We expanded the planning areas to include the 46 00:03:13,799 --> 00:03:17,580 Jasper County Courthouse and surrounding neighborhood, town hall, where we are 47 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,830 tonight. We elongated the segment along Green Street 48 00:03:23,490 --> 00:03:28,260 and extended out Ramseur Road, right to Bee's Creek, that additional portion where 49 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:29,880 it transitions from Main Street. 50 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,140 We also added right here, a market guide. 51 00:03:37,710 --> 00:03:43,531 So that was provided to the town by Retail Strategies, and it's got some 52 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:47,895 good information, demographics, and market information data that's in there. 53 00:03:48,090 --> 00:03:50,250 We wanted to include that. 54 00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:55,020 We took the three distinct planning areas. 55 00:03:55,201 --> 00:03:57,270 Remember, it's the historic 56 00:03:58,620 --> 00:04:04,291 downtown, Jacobs Smart Boulevard, and Exit 21, and we tailored those with 57 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,020 anticipated services and deliverables. 58 00:04:07,110 --> 00:04:10,020 So as you work through this, it's more refined. 59 00:04:11,250 --> 00:04:16,260 We also added a three-phased project schedule to the scope of work 60 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,620 for each separate planning area. So we envision historic downtown 61 00:04:22,740 --> 00:04:28,574 first, a three-phase process, as well as Jacobs 62 00:04:28,574 --> 00:04:34,440 Smart, and then finally Exit 21. The idea would be let's emphasize the focus 63 00:04:34,620 --> 00:04:38,880 for downtown first, then we'll move out to Jacobs Smart, and then we'll go finally 64 00:04:38,910 --> 00:04:39,210 out to 65 00:04:41,010 --> 00:04:46,785 Exit 21. The phasing, phase one is this assessment of the 66 00:04:46,830 --> 00:04:51,570 data, a SWOT, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, to sort of accumulate 67 00:04:51,660 --> 00:04:54,900 all that information with the future consultant. 68 00:04:55,890 --> 00:05:01,110 Phase two is then gathering that and creating a plan to achieve the goals that 69 00:05:01,140 --> 00:05:04,440 we're trying to get to. That's phase two. 70 00:05:04,515 --> 00:05:08,010 And then finally, phase three would be to adopt and implement. 71 00:05:08,070 --> 00:05:12,930 So the idea is, again, for each of these districts, there's a phased approach, and 72 00:05:12,990 --> 00:05:16,770 we're communicating with council, or we're communicating with the public. 73 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:22,470 We're in a robust public engagement, and that's being 74 00:05:22,890 --> 00:05:24,870 workshopped with you all, and it's been shared. 75 00:05:24,930 --> 00:05:30,841 And when we get to a final okay, that's the phase three. One, two, three. Right? 76 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:40,815 We have enhanced, if it wasn't clearly articulated, it is now, 77 00:05:40,980 --> 00:05:44,850 about a robust community engagement request. 78 00:05:44,910 --> 00:05:46,770 So we want to make sure we're including the merchants 79 00:05:49,350 --> 00:05:52,800 in all the areas. Not just downtown, all the areas. 80 00:05:52,830 --> 00:05:55,275 And the investors, like Richmond Development Group, for example. 81 00:05:55,290 --> 00:06:00,810 We want those folks providing input along the way. 82 00:06:00,841 --> 00:06:04,455 And we also are emphasizing immediate actions. 83 00:06:04,531 --> 00:06:10,110 What can we do immediately in kind of day one, short term, and then more long-term 84 00:06:10,140 --> 00:06:15,390 visions in those deliverables. Okay? So we start with the historic downtown. 85 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:21,240 In the historic downtown, I'll just go through what we're expecting in terms of 86 00:06:21,390 --> 00:06:25,800 actionable items or deliverables. It's the same. 87 00:06:26,790 --> 00:06:30,180 So we want to create or modify existing ordinances. Right? 88 00:06:30,270 --> 00:06:34,380 So we talked about architectural regulations. We want to hit that. 89 00:06:34,410 --> 00:06:38,370 Which produce the town's preferred architectural styles. 90 00:06:38,701 --> 00:06:42,990 We're going to talk about signage, storefront window regulations. 91 00:06:43,050 --> 00:06:48,300 What can we do there? Historic protections for residential and historic commercial 92 00:06:48,390 --> 00:06:54,180 buildings. Town used to have an overlay, it was the Craftsman bungalow 93 00:06:54,270 --> 00:06:58,829 overlay. Right. Which helped with historic architectural 94 00:07:00,390 --> 00:07:03,600 revitalization. We can talk about bringing something like that back. 95 00:07:05,190 --> 00:07:07,831 We want to explore Main Street South Carolina program. Right? 96 00:07:07,860 --> 00:07:12,930 We talked about this program. How can we leverage that and those resources? 97 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,710 We want to review our zoning standards, particularly T4 and T5. 98 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:18,061 Can we make some improvements? 99 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:20,701 We want to 100 00:07:21,930 --> 00:07:27,300 elicit or receive recommendations of how the town can better accommodate 101 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,690 redevelopment and infill for private investors. 102 00:07:32,940 --> 00:07:38,190 We want to do immediate steps. What can we do immediately to beautify the historic 103 00:07:38,250 --> 00:07:39,120 downtown area? 104 00:07:41,220 --> 00:07:45,841 We would like to evaluate what buildings, maybe the entire historic core, that 105 00:07:45,901 --> 00:07:49,620 could be added to a national register of historic places. Right? 106 00:07:49,651 --> 00:07:54,780 We just want some input on that. And with all three of these, we want to consider 107 00:07:55,410 --> 00:07:58,800 what the town can provide in the public realm to enhance the private side 108 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:00,750 revitalization. What can the town do? 109 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,341 What can we control on the public side to help drive reinvestment? 110 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:09,600 So that's historic downtown. Jacobs Smart Boulevard. 111 00:08:09,930 --> 00:08:13,800 We want to re-envision a Jacobs Smart Boulevard. Right? 112 00:08:13,860 --> 00:08:19,591 And again, the keyword is re-envision, as it were to function as more of a walkable 113 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:24,420 Main Street-type destination. Unique turn lanes at major intersections, just 114 00:08:24,510 --> 00:08:28,770 re-envisioning how that roadway might look. 115 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:29,670 Now, that's going to take a 116 00:08:31,230 --> 00:08:35,010 lot of work. Right? If we envision something that's different in that roadway, we 117 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:40,561 know SCDOT owns it. That can be a heavy lift, but we're at least painting the 118 00:08:40,651 --> 00:08:43,140 vision, right, of where we're trying to achieve 119 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:45,360 as we move forward. 120 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:49,605 And it'd be like with a consultant, from a 121 00:08:49,830 --> 00:08:55,215 consultant. Again, review the zoning 122 00:08:55,290 --> 00:09:01,050 ordinances for T4, as well as any pending and enacted ordinances on related issues 123 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:05,340 like architecture, signage. We want to optimize them for that corridor. 124 00:09:06,270 --> 00:09:10,350 We'd like to identify opportunities to enhance the street grid, improve 125 00:09:10,410 --> 00:09:13,410 walkability, connectivity, beautification 126 00:09:16,176 --> 00:09:21,456 We want to identify these sort of store sites or buildings that might serve as 127 00:09:21,516 --> 00:09:23,916 catalysts, so we can build off them. 128 00:09:23,946 --> 00:09:28,326 And in the end, what can we do in the public realm to enhance revitalization? 129 00:09:28,566 --> 00:09:29,916 So finally, Exit 21. 130 00:09:31,866 --> 00:09:37,206 What would East Main Street look like redesigned as, again, a more 131 00:09:37,266 --> 00:09:42,921 walkable Main Street type vibrant gateway, because it is a gateway, that 132 00:09:42,936 --> 00:09:47,646 prioritizes transformative placemaking and public amenities? 133 00:09:48,036 --> 00:09:49,176 So how can 134 00:09:50,706 --> 00:09:53,916 we reorganize those areas as it redevelops? 135 00:09:54,786 --> 00:09:55,116 We want to 136 00:09:56,466 --> 00:09:58,566 connect the dots. What's working out there? 137 00:09:58,656 --> 00:10:03,216 How do we bring that in, like Route 2 Memorial Park, Blue Heron Nature Trail. 138 00:10:03,906 --> 00:10:07,986 We want to talk about dog parks. We want to bring all of that into the mix of what 139 00:10:08,016 --> 00:10:10,265 we're trying to achieve in this corridor. 140 00:10:11,466 --> 00:10:12,786 Review the zoning standards. 141 00:10:14,346 --> 00:10:15,606 We want to look at 142 00:10:18,007 --> 00:10:23,316 addressing non-conforming auto-oriented uses of the corridor, and recommendations 143 00:10:23,376 --> 00:10:28,716 on how we should address that or future possibilities of revitalization. 144 00:10:28,851 --> 00:10:33,576 Again, what can the town do in the public realm to help this whole effort? 145 00:10:35,166 --> 00:10:39,861 What we're looking for from a consultant. A firm to come in and do this. 146 00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:44,660 Somebody who's demonstrated experience preparing downtown master plans, form-based 147 00:10:44,736 --> 00:10:49,686 code amendments, overlay districts, historic downtown design standards, projects 148 00:10:49,716 --> 00:10:54,561 involving traditional architecture and new urbanism, and implementation strategies 149 00:10:54,576 --> 00:11:00,005 for small towns like us. Bringing that kind of experience to the table. 150 00:11:01,146 --> 00:11:04,731 We want to make sure that firms recognize and understand that they're going to need 151 00:11:04,746 --> 00:11:10,056 to present to you all their qualifications and their approach prior to the final 152 00:11:10,146 --> 00:11:16,027 selection. So that's boiled down from this document 153 00:11:16,086 --> 00:11:16,656 into 154 00:11:18,246 --> 00:11:19,446 what I just gave you. 155 00:11:22,446 --> 00:11:27,396 Did we miss anything? Are we hitting the right spot? 156 00:11:31,236 --> 00:11:32,436 Are we close or not? 157 00:11:33,757 --> 00:11:36,426 Yeah, I think you've got the right vision here. 158 00:11:37,746 --> 00:11:41,586 We've got a plan. At least it feels like, hey, we're going to start here and work 159 00:11:41,616 --> 00:11:43,986 through the steps, and then we'll go on down. 160 00:11:44,046 --> 00:11:49,446 And is this all going to line as far as the timeline with when 161 00:11:49,507 --> 00:11:52,836 the Exit 21 is actually completed? 162 00:11:53,406 --> 00:11:55,416 I'm just curious how that's all going, because 163 00:11:56,676 --> 00:12:02,406 if we go and revitalize the 21, and say they haven't came through yet to do the 164 00:12:02,466 --> 00:12:05,346 construction. I just didn't want to be on top of everybody while we're trying to 165 00:12:05,376 --> 00:12:06,906 get it done as well. 166 00:12:07,326 --> 00:12:09,126 Right. That's a good question. Yeah. 167 00:12:09,606 --> 00:12:15,277 Right now, DOT estimates that they're going to put that out for bid 168 00:12:15,966 --> 00:12:21,936 about this time in 2028. So that leave you at an adequate time. 169 00:12:22,716 --> 00:12:23,376 Not only that, 170 00:12:25,236 --> 00:12:29,856 in terms of wayfaring signage and what we want to do, we still have the final say 171 00:12:30,066 --> 00:12:33,966 in terms of what DOT does for Exit 21. 172 00:12:34,086 --> 00:12:39,846 So no, that's a great point, but I think the way everything aligns is probably 173 00:12:40,027 --> 00:12:45,426 we're not going to get until farther 2029, so we really have to address those 174 00:12:45,486 --> 00:12:49,507 questions in terms of what kind of signage you want. 175 00:12:52,026 --> 00:12:55,236 Well, and I think it's one of those things that we have the plan in place, but we 176 00:12:55,296 --> 00:12:59,046 may not put up the signs until we know that 95 has come through. 177 00:12:59,421 --> 00:12:59,421 Right. 178 00:12:59,736 --> 00:13:02,736 But we can go ahead and get the plan in place and work on both sides of the 179 00:13:02,767 --> 00:13:04,746 interstate in the meantime. 180 00:13:05,257 --> 00:13:08,556 And I believe starting with Main Street also, that's the right call. 181 00:13:08,796 --> 00:13:13,896 I think we go to Main Street, we'll start right at our front door, right at home 182 00:13:13,956 --> 00:13:16,416 base and work out from there. I think that's a great idea. 183 00:13:17,691 --> 00:13:18,336 Yes, sir. 184 00:13:21,846 --> 00:13:24,366 To me, this is more of a visionary thing. 185 00:13:24,996 --> 00:13:26,496 I don't see 186 00:13:28,686 --> 00:13:34,657 actually implementation or some beginnings of this program, but it's going 187 00:13:34,686 --> 00:13:38,916 to take years to do this. So, I don't see what... 188 00:13:39,936 --> 00:13:40,176 Oh. 189 00:13:40,657 --> 00:13:43,477 Did you all consider 190 00:13:44,706 --> 00:13:45,336 timing, or 191 00:13:47,017 --> 00:13:49,206 you put any estimates, or is that something you want the... 192 00:13:50,886 --> 00:13:54,186 And there's all kind of factors that are going to impact that. 193 00:13:54,246 --> 00:13:57,921 There's going to be the economic factor, there's going to be so many things that 194 00:13:57,936 --> 00:14:00,186 are going to impact how fast this might happen. 195 00:14:00,246 --> 00:14:05,856 It's more creating a vision of what this council wants to see happen. 196 00:14:06,126 --> 00:14:06,546 It is. 197 00:14:06,606 --> 00:14:11,810 And then starting down a path that accomplishes those goals. 198 00:14:13,026 --> 00:14:14,886 Right. Yes, ma'am? 199 00:14:15,157 --> 00:14:20,947 No, I'm hoping that this group is going to give us a roadmap or a timeline 200 00:14:21,066 --> 00:14:23,767 of, "I would focus on this. I would do this. Here's your order. 201 00:14:23,886 --> 00:14:28,536 Here's your roadmap." And then it's up to us to make that happen. 202 00:14:29,526 --> 00:14:30,517 Yes, sir. 203 00:14:32,767 --> 00:14:37,116 But along with that, and I think what's interesting here is that there's a lot of 204 00:14:37,146 --> 00:14:38,796 the smart code that's going to have to be 205 00:14:40,026 --> 00:14:40,686 modified 206 00:14:42,157 --> 00:14:46,175 to implement this plan or incorporate. 207 00:14:47,496 --> 00:14:47,977 Oh, yeah. 208 00:14:50,526 --> 00:14:50,886 Yes. 209 00:14:52,566 --> 00:14:54,336 Can you do one more? The 210 00:14:56,767 --> 00:15:01,986 good thing is a lot of smart code is there already, and really it's underutilized. 211 00:15:03,727 --> 00:15:09,426 There could be more that the smart code allows. 212 00:15:09,517 --> 00:15:15,186 It needs to be tweaked, yes. And I'm hopeful and anticipating 213 00:15:15,486 --> 00:15:19,236 suggestions on how to strengthen it, but I think we're coming 214 00:15:21,336 --> 00:15:24,907 from a good base already. No doubt it's got to be revised. 215 00:15:24,936 --> 00:15:28,026 There's got to be some revision. 216 00:15:28,356 --> 00:15:29,977 Hang on, hang on. You want to say more? 217 00:15:30,036 --> 00:15:30,727 Go ahead. 218 00:15:31,326 --> 00:15:31,941 Yeah, actually, 219 00:15:33,157 --> 00:15:37,026 it's kind of buried in the fine print, but if you look at the core deliverables, 220 00:15:39,216 --> 00:15:44,585 recommended projects with priorities, in other words, how we want to phase things. 221 00:15:45,876 --> 00:15:49,716 An ordinance code audit, which I think is important so you could find 222 00:15:49,836 --> 00:15:51,786 inconsistencies in the smart code. 223 00:15:51,907 --> 00:15:54,786 I know you and I have talked about that for quite some time. 224 00:15:55,626 --> 00:16:01,311 Ordinance-ready overlay smart code language, so it would be teed up and ready for 225 00:16:01,356 --> 00:16:06,096 the council to adopt, if that's the direction they want to go. 226 00:16:06,697 --> 00:16:09,907 You can also take examples of what others have done. 227 00:16:09,966 --> 00:16:10,806 If you look at-- 228 00:16:12,517 --> 00:16:17,286 I'm just going to use what they had that downtown master plan, and 229 00:16:18,727 --> 00:16:23,376 thanks to the doctors and I think with the demographics and the number of people 230 00:16:23,436 --> 00:16:27,666 moving to our area, I could see it going pretty quickly. 231 00:16:29,526 --> 00:16:35,166 I know the Municipal Association has a program for downtown 232 00:16:35,227 --> 00:16:40,926 revitalization. And obviously they've engaged with firms or 233 00:16:41,286 --> 00:16:45,486 businesses that do this type of work. How are we going to advertise? 234 00:16:46,176 --> 00:16:51,486 Are we just going to put it on our website and ask for proposals, or how are we 235 00:16:51,517 --> 00:16:52,236 going to approach... 236 00:16:54,486 --> 00:16:56,376 Sometimes there's no need to reinvent the wheel. 237 00:16:56,466 --> 00:17:00,907 If we've got people that have done this for other like communities, perhaps they're 238 00:17:00,936 --> 00:17:05,856 a good fit for us. And I just don't want to miss somebody that might be good for 239 00:17:05,947 --> 00:17:07,206 us. 240 00:17:07,296 --> 00:17:13,102 South Carolina business opportunities will be putting it out to some professional 241 00:17:13,206 --> 00:17:17,856 planning organizations. So we're going to cast a wide net on it. 242 00:17:18,636 --> 00:17:23,316 I think firms are pretty hungry for this type of work because this is really 243 00:17:24,636 --> 00:17:26,586 interesting stuff, generally speaking. 244 00:17:26,736 --> 00:17:31,056 So we anticipate we're going to have a pretty big... 245 00:17:32,496 --> 00:17:38,136 And one last question. Did we fund any monies in our current year budget for this 246 00:17:38,197 --> 00:17:38,346 money? 247 00:17:38,376 --> 00:17:39,065 We sure did. 248 00:17:39,276 --> 00:17:42,156 Okay. I'm not going to ask you what that is, but okay. 249 00:17:42,246 --> 00:17:44,016 Yeah, I don't want to give that away just yet. 250 00:17:44,031 --> 00:17:44,031 Okay. 251 00:17:44,046 --> 00:17:48,666 But just remember that when we go through the selection process, you all will have 252 00:17:48,697 --> 00:17:51,726 the opportunity to negotiate directly with the firm. 253 00:17:52,176 --> 00:17:53,616 Obviously, staff will help 254 00:17:56,226 --> 00:17:59,315 make that process manageable, but we want to make sure. 255 00:18:00,546 --> 00:18:06,187 It's the old saying, do we have a champagne taste on a beer 256 00:18:06,246 --> 00:18:09,606 budget? We want to make sure we get the best bang for our buck. 257 00:18:11,197 --> 00:18:11,526 Sure. 258 00:18:14,856 --> 00:18:20,421 Is that everything? Or well, curious, do you all want staff to take the lead on the 259 00:18:20,556 --> 00:18:21,066 scoring? 260 00:18:22,188 --> 00:18:27,589 ... um, to get those consultants before you to then make their pitch? 261 00:18:27,768 --> 00:18:32,598 Or do you want to be more part of that process from the beginning? 262 00:18:32,688 --> 00:18:34,008 How do you want to handle that? 263 00:18:34,068 --> 00:18:34,548 Mm-hmm. 264 00:18:34,848 --> 00:18:38,598 I mean, I have no idea how many proposals we're going to get, but assuming you do 265 00:18:38,659 --> 00:18:43,488 get a hefty amount, I would say if you could bring the top three to council with 266 00:18:43,548 --> 00:18:47,058 your scores and explain why you scored them the way that you did, and then we have 267 00:18:47,089 --> 00:18:48,618 time to review them, that would be helpful. 268 00:18:48,768 --> 00:18:50,899 Yes. All right. That's a good plan. 269 00:18:51,498 --> 00:18:54,108 We should set up your finalists, 270 00:18:55,578 --> 00:18:58,848 and maybe have them come and meet with this directive council. 271 00:18:58,909 --> 00:19:02,477 I'm sure they would, so that would be interesting. 272 00:19:03,558 --> 00:19:03,947 Yes, sir. 273 00:19:04,008 --> 00:19:08,178 And just keeping in mind, too, the enthusiasm that the original development group 274 00:19:08,208 --> 00:19:11,928 had the last meeting when they-- or the workshop when they came in. 275 00:19:11,988 --> 00:19:17,448 Let's try to keep them in mind because you may see it from different angles, inside 276 00:19:17,478 --> 00:19:20,718 looking out, outside looking in. They're just totally different ideas that may 277 00:19:20,778 --> 00:19:22,758 work, so I say let's use all resources. 278 00:19:22,788 --> 00:19:24,589 I have to run that by the desk, yeah. 279 00:19:24,708 --> 00:19:26,448 Right. We need to keep them in mind. 280 00:19:29,268 --> 00:19:34,848 I would say, I've just seen some suites today, and I was talking with 281 00:19:35,448 --> 00:19:41,208 Christian Gesen, Councilman Gesen, so we're definitely communicating. 282 00:19:41,358 --> 00:19:43,248 We'll definitely bring them to the table. 283 00:19:46,428 --> 00:19:49,998 If there's nothing else for them, I think then thank you very much. 284 00:19:50,328 --> 00:19:51,438 Thank you very much. 285 00:19:51,498 --> 00:19:52,159 Thank you. 286 00:19:54,589 --> 00:19:57,498 Next item will be our public comment time. Happy to hear from anyone. 287 00:19:59,808 --> 00:20:03,378 There's no public comments, then I will move to a reading and approval of August 288 00:20:03,498 --> 00:20:05,089 20th meeting, and I'll make that motion. 289 00:20:05,328 --> 00:20:05,988 Second. 290 00:20:06,018 --> 00:20:07,159 All in favor say aye. 291 00:20:07,383 --> 00:20:07,383 Aye. 292 00:20:07,428 --> 00:20:10,923 Opposed, no ayes, have it. Our next item would be item number two, a resolution of 293 00:20:10,968 --> 00:20:15,933 the original town council approving surplus of a 2017 Caterpillar mini excavator 294 00:20:16,788 --> 00:20:22,278 and purchase of a 2026 295 00:20:22,339 --> 00:20:24,723 Caterpillar mini excavator for the water department. Yes, Mr. Hammond? 296 00:20:24,723 --> 00:20:28,159 Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Your ATEX committee met 297 00:20:30,858 --> 00:20:36,738 a week prior. They gave their recommendations to your council. 298 00:20:37,368 --> 00:20:42,123 I did distribute that to the council a week ago, so you had time to consider those 299 00:20:42,168 --> 00:20:47,418 recommendations. We had considerably less money to distribute this 300 00:20:47,478 --> 00:20:51,497 year. I think we all know why. I'm not going to get into that. 301 00:20:51,528 --> 00:20:56,839 But on a positive note, we did have some funds that were not expended that come 302 00:20:56,958 --> 00:21:02,628 back. So the total to distribute is a little higher, 303 00:21:03,288 --> 00:21:08,418 roughly $20,000, $21,600 higher. 304 00:21:08,659 --> 00:21:14,568 So the total to distribute this year is $45,635 just 305 00:21:14,598 --> 00:21:16,248 for that. 306 00:21:17,538 --> 00:21:23,388 We asked applicants Friends County Hill, Gopher Hill, Keep Jasper Beautiful, the 307 00:21:23,418 --> 00:21:29,178 Morris Center, Operation Patriots, FOT, and you 308 00:21:29,268 --> 00:21:34,428 have the appropriate recommendations corresponding with the appropriate 309 00:21:34,488 --> 00:21:36,948 recommendation for each. 310 00:21:40,038 --> 00:21:40,698 With that, I'll 311 00:21:42,558 --> 00:21:44,628 yield the floor to any questions you may have. 312 00:21:46,128 --> 00:21:50,628 Were there any other requests aside from these? These were the only requests? 313 00:21:51,903 --> 00:21:56,659 Then I make a motion we approve the disbursements of the ATEX money 314 00:21:56,808 --> 00:22:00,678 as prescribed in this ordinance. 315 00:22:01,159 --> 00:22:03,978 I'll second the motion. Any other discussion? 316 00:22:05,568 --> 00:22:07,068 All in favor of that motion say aye. 317 00:22:07,399 --> 00:22:07,413 Aye. 318 00:22:07,458 --> 00:22:11,552 Aye. Opposed, no ayes, have it. Our next item would be number two, a resolution of 319 00:22:11,598 --> 00:22:17,268 the original town council approving surplus of a 2017 Caterpillar mini 320 00:22:17,388 --> 00:22:23,149 excavator and purchase of a 2026 Caterpillar mini excavator for the 321 00:22:23,208 --> 00:22:25,562 water department. Yes, Mr. Hammond. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 322 00:22:25,638 --> 00:22:26,899 Now, unfortunately, 323 00:22:28,698 --> 00:22:28,848 the 324 00:22:30,108 --> 00:22:33,798 mini excavator which we acquired, we keep out said he 325 00:22:36,018 --> 00:22:41,839 wrote in the essence of repair of parts exceeds 326 00:22:41,853 --> 00:22:46,399 the value of the machine. Given that in our 327 00:22:47,568 --> 00:22:53,013 replacement policy, we are recommending to move forward to purchase a 328 00:22:53,149 --> 00:22:54,108 2026, 329 00:22:55,728 --> 00:22:59,118 in accordance with state contract pricing, $58,000. 330 00:22:59,178 --> 00:23:04,548 Our goal is to surplus the mini ex and still have some value for parts and 331 00:23:04,578 --> 00:23:05,238 whatnot. 332 00:23:06,498 --> 00:23:11,868 But given the importance of that machine, when we have to work in a tight spot, 333 00:23:13,909 --> 00:23:18,348 it's very important for the water department to have the excavator. 334 00:23:20,298 --> 00:23:24,738 Matt, then I motion that we approve of two or five... 335 00:23:27,198 --> 00:23:28,278 How do I add that number in? 336 00:23:28,293 --> 00:23:31,938 $58,406.60. 337 00:23:32,418 --> 00:23:37,278 For the purchase of the used Caterpillar mini excavator? 338 00:23:38,028 --> 00:23:38,388 Second. 339 00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:41,628 That's a motion and a second. Any other discussion? Yes, sir. 340 00:23:41,718 --> 00:23:44,628 And if I understand, it comes from the enterprise fund, not the general fund, 341 00:23:44,718 --> 00:23:44,763 right? 342 00:23:44,808 --> 00:23:46,517 Correct. This is enterprise fund. 343 00:23:47,178 --> 00:23:51,348 We do have what I call rain day budget money. 344 00:23:51,468 --> 00:23:55,578 This is just one of those unfortunate things. We had a couple this month. 345 00:23:55,909 --> 00:24:00,948 I don't know why, but the next item on the agenda is another example. 346 00:24:00,978 --> 00:24:01,248 But, 347 00:24:02,778 --> 00:24:08,568 we'll put the surplus, whatever we get out of the surplus, will go back as 348 00:24:08,628 --> 00:24:09,409 disbursements. 349 00:24:09,858 --> 00:24:11,089 Any more direct questions? 350 00:24:13,368 --> 00:24:16,098 That's a motion and a second. All in favor of that motion say aye. 351 00:24:16,323 --> 00:24:16,323 Aye. 352 00:24:16,339 --> 00:24:20,089 Opposed, no ayes, have it. Number three, then a quote from Professional Pump and 353 00:24:20,118 --> 00:24:24,123 Well Incorporated for an effluent pump at the Jimmy Mixon Wastewater Treatment 354 00:24:24,198 --> 00:24:29,748 Plant. Yes, sir. As you would begin, one of the pumps for the effluent pump 355 00:24:29,778 --> 00:24:35,464 station has failed, and then it can probably be funded on 356 00:24:35,478 --> 00:24:41,238 Cecil, but our understanding from our supplier is that pump, that particular pump 357 00:24:41,253 --> 00:24:46,698 model, is no longer made. So in previous cases, what we've done is we've rebuilt 358 00:24:46,757 --> 00:24:49,698 those pumps, but we can no longer get parts. 359 00:24:49,893 --> 00:24:52,937 So unfortunately, we have to purchase a new pump. 360 00:24:54,078 --> 00:24:57,768 That quote came in at $18,750. 361 00:25:00,918 --> 00:25:06,798 I make a motion that we approve the pump purchase for $18,750. 362 00:25:07,548 --> 00:25:10,008 I'll second that motion. Any other discussion? 363 00:25:10,159 --> 00:25:12,183 58. What's the total? 364 00:25:12,183 --> 00:25:12,633 $18,750. 365 00:25:14,418 --> 00:25:17,868 Perfect. Okay. I'll show from the enterprise fund. 366 00:25:17,988 --> 00:25:19,578 Enterprise fund. 367 00:25:19,638 --> 00:25:20,147 Yes, sir. 368 00:25:20,208 --> 00:25:20,628 I'm done. 369 00:25:24,618 --> 00:25:27,828 When something goes down like that, how critical is it to the operation of the 370 00:25:28,008 --> 00:25:28,518 facility? 371 00:25:30,498 --> 00:25:33,738 That's our pumps that run the go to Newark. 372 00:25:34,518 --> 00:25:35,718 So if one of them goes down- 373 00:25:36,468 --> 00:25:38,508 And the other one goes out, I guess there's enough water out there 374 00:25:38,718 --> 00:25:39,904 ... There would be. 375 00:25:40,428 --> 00:25:44,568 I guess I'll find some afterthought of this when you first sent us an email. 376 00:25:44,688 --> 00:25:44,928 Right. 377 00:25:45,258 --> 00:25:47,808 Do we need to be waiting on something like this sometime? 378 00:25:47,988 --> 00:25:53,073 Or does that compromise your ability to deliver what needs to be delivered? 379 00:25:53,133 --> 00:25:56,029 Oh, the water can still go. It's just the two pumps that does the re- 380 00:25:56,419 --> 00:25:58,068 Or it takes longer to get it out there? 381 00:25:58,788 --> 00:26:01,068 Yeah. But it'll still work. It just- 382 00:26:02,748 --> 00:26:04,098 So it didn't shut you down entirely. 383 00:26:04,173 --> 00:26:08,988 No, no. But from a redundancy standpoint, typically, if one has gone down, 384 00:26:10,158 --> 00:26:15,558 we're usually able to pull it out, have it rewired, new 385 00:26:15,618 --> 00:26:18,378 brushes, and so on, so forth. Unfortunately- 386 00:26:19,248 --> 00:26:19,294 Of course they do 387 00:26:19,294 --> 00:26:20,779 ... it'll stop possibly longer. 388 00:26:21,964 --> 00:26:23,029 All right. That's all. 389 00:26:25,038 --> 00:26:26,718 All in favor of that motion say aye. 390 00:26:26,733 --> 00:26:26,733 Aye. 391 00:26:26,899 --> 00:26:32,493 Aye. Opposed, no ayes, have it. Administrator Gordon. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 392 00:26:32,493 --> 00:26:38,133 Quite interesting stats. A couple of new things that came up this week I wanted to 393 00:26:38,208 --> 00:26:43,848 run by the board. The SMERC, that's our municipal insurance research 394 00:26:43,938 --> 00:26:44,253 fund, 395 00:26:45,589 --> 00:26:49,368 has a grant out there for cybersecurity. 396 00:26:49,938 --> 00:26:53,733 And so we applied for that grant. What it means is, 397 00:26:55,399 --> 00:27:01,248 SMERC will pay 100% of the cost of third party, in 398 00:27:01,279 --> 00:27:06,993 this case BC3, come in, perform an audit, a cybersecurity audit, 399 00:27:07,279 --> 00:27:12,708 and help us implement whatever we need to do to get up to speed. 400 00:27:13,458 --> 00:27:18,649 So that's really a beautiful program. So I sent that off today. 401 00:27:18,663 --> 00:27:21,408 I hope that we'll have some word on that soon. 402 00:27:22,339 --> 00:27:24,468 The waterline grant application, 403 00:27:25,758 --> 00:27:29,928 I did forward that information to the council, but effectively, Commerce came back, 404 00:27:30,003 --> 00:27:35,029 said we have to perform a study, survey, if you will, an income-based survey. 405 00:27:36,678 --> 00:27:41,658 We've had, that's up on Facebook. It's up on the town's website. 406 00:27:41,748 --> 00:27:47,208 We encourage everyone who has experienced issues 407 00:27:47,268 --> 00:27:52,968 perhaps with ground water in the past, we would ask 408 00:27:53,058 --> 00:27:57,408 everyone to complete the survey. There's a QR code. 409 00:27:57,498 --> 00:28:00,858 It'll take you at most 10 minutes of your day. 410 00:28:01,548 --> 00:28:06,768 It would greatly help the town secure funding for this project. 411 00:28:06,889 --> 00:28:12,858 Additionally, next Wednesday we'll be out going door to door doing the survey 412 00:28:13,098 --> 00:28:17,748 with the cost, and hopefully we'll have everything wrapped up this week. 413 00:28:17,868 --> 00:28:23,718 We'll have enough feedback to be able to go back to Commerce and say, "Yes, 414 00:28:23,839 --> 00:28:25,908 we qualify for this grant." 415 00:28:26,688 --> 00:28:30,858 Are we going to advertise that maybe on Facebook, see if we can get some people to 416 00:28:30,919 --> 00:28:31,368 hit on it? 417 00:28:31,413 --> 00:28:31,413 Yeah. 418 00:28:31,458 --> 00:28:31,669 Okay. 419 00:28:31,758 --> 00:28:32,149 It's out. 420 00:28:32,448 --> 00:28:32,839 Perfect. 421 00:28:33,228 --> 00:28:33,843 And we've gotten, 422 00:28:35,208 --> 00:28:37,848 at least this morning, a couple hundred hits already. 423 00:28:37,968 --> 00:28:38,178 Nice. 424 00:28:38,853 --> 00:28:44,748 So, yeah. Seems to be working, and I know it's been a discussion topic 425 00:28:44,808 --> 00:28:49,458 for some. But again, we should have enough responses 426 00:28:50,868 --> 00:28:54,558 to meet the Commerce threshold. So- 427 00:28:54,589 --> 00:28:55,413 Let me interrupt you one second. 428 00:28:55,413 --> 00:28:56,073 You want to ride up on the other? 429 00:28:56,149 --> 00:28:59,808 I'm just going to say that'd be something I honestly think we should share every 430 00:28:59,928 --> 00:29:00,063 day- 431 00:29:00,258 --> 00:29:00,362 Oh, yeah 432 00:29:00,362 --> 00:29:03,093 ... until we get the numbers that we need to get this grant- 433 00:29:03,378 --> 00:29:03,544 Yeah 434 00:29:03,544 --> 00:29:04,938 ... and the responses on the survey. 435 00:29:05,058 --> 00:29:07,788 Yeah. We will, for sure. 436 00:29:10,128 --> 00:29:14,598 So that's good news. The federal appropriation's still pending. 437 00:29:14,839 --> 00:29:20,673 I did not get any response yet from the RAM staff, 438 00:29:20,899 --> 00:29:23,328 so I'll just keep trying on that. 439 00:29:25,458 --> 00:29:30,169 The Quala building, long story short, they were supposed to be wrapped up this 440 00:29:30,228 --> 00:29:31,024 week. They are 441 00:29:32,268 --> 00:29:37,368 not. So what we have now are the remains of the main building, 442 00:29:38,538 --> 00:29:44,389 and a metal warehouse, which is in the back of the building, which must be taken 443 00:29:44,448 --> 00:29:50,058 down. A building official has given him 90 days to take everything down. 444 00:29:50,103 --> 00:29:54,498 It really was my hope to have everything down in time for Gilbert Hill. 445 00:29:54,589 --> 00:29:57,108 That's probably not going to happen, unfortunately. 446 00:29:57,198 --> 00:30:02,868 But the demolition, to be clear, is required to have everything off that 447 00:30:02,958 --> 00:30:08,268 foundation, the slab. So no junk vehicles, no piles of debris, 448 00:30:09,139 --> 00:30:14,327 no structures, everything has to go. So we'll be close and we'll monitor that. 449 00:30:17,268 --> 00:30:21,063 Next week we have our kickoff meeting for the USDA grant. 450 00:30:21,063 --> 00:30:26,779 We finally got a green light, so we'll be signing contracts on the 451 00:30:26,839 --> 00:30:32,643 10th. USDA will be here, hopefully to get 452 00:30:33,018 --> 00:30:33,693 everything taken care of. 453 00:30:35,268 --> 00:30:40,113 The latest drought update, I know everybody's been getting a lot of rain lately, 454 00:30:40,158 --> 00:30:45,649 and that's a good thing. But DNR says we're still in a severe drought 455 00:30:45,798 --> 00:30:46,368 status. 456 00:30:47,988 --> 00:30:53,899 It has been suggested maybe we could get the splash pad going this weekend. 457 00:30:54,738 --> 00:30:55,339 Okay, let's see what- 458 00:30:55,488 --> 00:30:58,728 Special favor of that, we can get that turned on. 459 00:30:58,758 --> 00:31:01,578 How much water do we actually use down there? 460 00:31:01,938 --> 00:31:04,548 We do not have a meter there, so I actually don't know. 461 00:31:04,968 --> 00:31:09,198 So the water that goes in is not recirculated through a pump system, it's all fresh 462 00:31:09,228 --> 00:31:09,753 water coming in? 463 00:31:09,768 --> 00:31:10,038 Yes. 464 00:31:10,698 --> 00:31:16,488 I just hate to see us go through the entire season, and especially this weekend, 465 00:31:17,988 --> 00:31:22,188 and not... If a motion is appropriate, Mr. 466 00:31:22,218 --> 00:31:23,839 Mayor, I would make a motion that we 467 00:31:25,128 --> 00:31:27,678 crank open the splash pad this weekend. 468 00:31:27,889 --> 00:31:28,218 Second. 469 00:31:28,279 --> 00:31:33,589 All right. That's a motion and a second. Any other discussion about the splash pad? 470 00:31:34,968 --> 00:31:36,378 I want to vote on that motion, say aye. 471 00:31:36,423 --> 00:31:36,423 Aye. 472 00:31:36,468 --> 00:31:37,623 Opposed, the ayes have it. 473 00:31:37,683 --> 00:31:41,103 And if we're going to do that, again, let's post it on Facebook with a picture of 474 00:31:41,118 --> 00:31:43,878 the splash pad. Labor Day celebration. 475 00:31:43,998 --> 00:31:46,938 We have the splash pad at least for a weekend, a long weekend. 476 00:31:47,298 --> 00:31:49,518 Right. Yeah, we'll have it for sure. 477 00:31:50,268 --> 00:31:51,768 Youth Council, so 478 00:31:53,508 --> 00:31:56,839 the application deadline was the 479 00:31:57,169 --> 00:32:03,123 31st. We unfortunately got applicants from four of 480 00:32:03,169 --> 00:32:04,938 the five schools. We were hoping to get... 481 00:32:05,103 --> 00:32:10,038 We still have not got any applicants from Jasper County High. 482 00:32:10,428 --> 00:32:12,139 We do have five applicants. 483 00:32:13,608 --> 00:32:15,919 We had a late applicant on the 31st. 484 00:32:16,428 --> 00:32:16,669 But 485 00:32:18,378 --> 00:32:22,353 looking at their applications, and I know some of these kids, 486 00:32:24,048 --> 00:32:26,358 I think they're all going to be fantastic. 487 00:32:26,448 --> 00:32:31,728 So I think what we'd like to do is see if we can't move forward with those five to 488 00:32:31,818 --> 00:32:36,873 apply. And I think what we need to do next is figure out what the 489 00:32:36,948 --> 00:32:42,558 bylaws of the youth council will be, what projects we'd like to get them 490 00:32:42,618 --> 00:32:43,503 involved with, 491 00:32:44,928 --> 00:32:50,238 figure out dates for the coming weeks so we can have our first inaugural meeting. 492 00:32:50,478 --> 00:32:56,014 Yes, sir. I contacted Highway International, if I could attend their first youth 493 00:32:56,029 --> 00:32:57,498 council. They've been doing this for a few years. 494 00:32:57,873 --> 00:33:03,618 And just for comparison purposes to see how they operate during an actual 495 00:33:03,649 --> 00:33:07,848 meeting, the subject matter and that type of thing. And Harris said that'd be fine. 496 00:33:07,938 --> 00:33:13,128 So if anybody would like to go, I've got a date, I'll let you know. 497 00:33:13,998 --> 00:33:15,678 Just send that to us please. 498 00:33:15,798 --> 00:33:21,198 Yeah. But after that, I was really impressed with what some of these had written. 499 00:33:23,419 --> 00:33:29,298 Some of the things that they wrote were, one wrote, "I would bring effective 500 00:33:29,389 --> 00:33:32,178 collaboration and communication skills. 501 00:33:32,718 --> 00:33:38,058 I practice integrity in everything I do, provide logical problem-solving 502 00:33:38,149 --> 00:33:43,818 skills." Oh, that's Paul. So that's just one example of the type of things 503 00:33:44,268 --> 00:33:48,302 this group will bring. So I'm really encouraged by this, 504 00:33:50,029 --> 00:33:51,738 and I'm actually pretty voicing. 505 00:33:51,798 --> 00:33:56,568 I haven't only, I'm discouraged. School system is not that disciplined yet. 506 00:33:56,928 --> 00:33:58,248 Well, they're working on it. 507 00:33:58,339 --> 00:33:58,428 Oh. 508 00:33:58,818 --> 00:34:03,498 Yeah. I actually reached out to somebody out there. It's my neighbor. 509 00:34:03,558 --> 00:34:07,053 She works out there. And so she got back with me today. 510 00:34:07,053 --> 00:34:09,228 I think their biggest thing is transportation. 511 00:34:09,348 --> 00:34:14,807 She said, "Well, you got transportation provided?" And I said that, "No, I didn't 512 00:34:14,839 --> 00:34:19,008 think so." And they wanted to know if they couldn't make it, could we do a Zoom? 513 00:34:19,069 --> 00:34:24,169 But I said, "I wouldn't think that would be possible." But she's working on it, so 514 00:34:24,258 --> 00:34:28,173 they might be a little late, but they're working on it. 515 00:34:28,428 --> 00:34:29,718 Do you mind if I could add more to that? 516 00:34:30,078 --> 00:34:30,589 I remember, 517 00:34:32,208 --> 00:34:35,839 believe it or not, as far back as it was when I was in high school, we did this. 518 00:34:36,348 --> 00:34:41,508 Not only did we have council members, but we had department heads of each of the... 519 00:34:42,949 --> 00:34:47,388 So somebody would be associated with planning, utilities, 520 00:34:47,419 --> 00:34:53,029 police department, fire department, they kind of shadowed those folks, those 521 00:34:55,038 --> 00:34:56,508 department heads. So I 522 00:34:57,798 --> 00:35:03,108 guess what I'm saying is maybe not this year, but if it's successful and we have an 523 00:35:03,138 --> 00:35:07,638 overabundance of applicants, maybe we can expand the program to do something like 524 00:35:07,699 --> 00:35:07,968 that. 525 00:35:09,288 --> 00:35:15,168 Based upon this program, hopefully we can have maybe a future summer 526 00:35:15,228 --> 00:35:16,308 internship program, 527 00:35:17,538 --> 00:35:21,408 so we can expose some of these students to actual workings in government. 528 00:35:21,468 --> 00:35:25,938 So that was my hope. I don't think we're there yet. 529 00:35:26,988 --> 00:35:31,488 Space is an issue, honestly. But yeah. 530 00:35:32,268 --> 00:35:34,458 We were envisioning we could have 531 00:35:35,988 --> 00:35:41,313 projects for these kids in various departments, and then we can give them some of 532 00:35:41,358 --> 00:35:45,888 the everyday things that we have to go through and say, "Hey, how would you 533 00:35:46,578 --> 00:35:51,753 handle this? How would you budget for this?" So on and so forth. 534 00:35:51,858 --> 00:35:51,904 So 535 00:35:53,478 --> 00:35:55,128 a lot of possibilities there. 536 00:35:55,758 --> 00:35:56,057 Yeah. 537 00:35:57,468 --> 00:36:01,128 It's going to be interesting. I think you're going to be trying to get that done. 538 00:36:01,279 --> 00:36:02,478 Yeah, for sure. 539 00:36:04,008 --> 00:36:09,438 Let's see. Ridgeland Elementary, yes, we did get the grant application in with 540 00:36:09,498 --> 00:36:13,908 SHPO, for the, it's called a stabilization grant. 541 00:36:14,598 --> 00:36:17,868 I want to thank Graham for your work on that. 542 00:36:18,678 --> 00:36:22,068 I could not have done it, honestly, without your help. 543 00:36:24,168 --> 00:36:28,038 I'm breaking more environments these days, so thank you. 544 00:36:28,848 --> 00:36:32,658 Fox Chase, I know from email traffic, 545 00:36:33,888 --> 00:36:39,288 that here's those last units that finally have been recorded. So that's good news. 546 00:36:39,618 --> 00:36:45,378 Yeah, let me, I'll tell you that. When you say in here, you mentioned, "I 547 00:36:45,468 --> 00:36:48,228 am," you say in here, and I quote, I think this is what you said in your email. 548 00:36:49,998 --> 00:36:55,263 "I am told they have been recorded at the registered deeds office." With all the 549 00:36:55,338 --> 00:37:00,018 time that we've put in this, I thought for sure you could verify that. 550 00:37:00,558 --> 00:37:04,638 It's easily verifiable, as you know, we all know. 551 00:37:05,238 --> 00:37:07,458 And, then when you sent me back 552 00:37:08,928 --> 00:37:13,983 the first email, you sent a link that said, in effect, "Here, look for it 553 00:37:14,029 --> 00:37:14,508 yourself." 554 00:37:16,578 --> 00:37:21,258 I was kind of shocked by that. And to your credit, I'm very familiar. 555 00:37:21,348 --> 00:37:24,288 I look at documents on the registered deeds office quite often. 556 00:37:25,098 --> 00:37:28,038 I certainly don't need you to send me a link to the registered deeds office 557 00:37:28,458 --> 00:37:32,898 website. I look up documents all the time, the assessor's office even more so. 558 00:37:32,958 --> 00:37:37,728 But, and then on your second email, you sent us a copy of the document which had 559 00:37:37,758 --> 00:37:41,238 the information to confirm that it has been in fact done. 560 00:37:42,288 --> 00:37:46,338 But I just thought that was a better way to do things than to just leave it at, 561 00:37:46,398 --> 00:37:52,248 quote, "I am told they have been recorded at the registered deeds office." Yes, 562 00:37:52,263 --> 00:37:52,458 sir. 563 00:37:52,608 --> 00:37:53,373 Thank you, sir. 564 00:37:53,449 --> 00:37:53,763 Yes, sir. 565 00:37:53,898 --> 00:37:54,437 All right. 566 00:37:56,058 --> 00:38:01,188 Still the highway water sewer project bids came in, yes, actually on the 1st. 567 00:38:02,658 --> 00:38:03,828 Now when we did this 568 00:38:05,478 --> 00:38:10,848 a year ago, the takeoff on the project cost was about 8.3 million. 569 00:38:12,348 --> 00:38:14,449 A lot of the grant money's dried up. 570 00:38:14,748 --> 00:38:19,998 Contractors are getting hungry, so the low bid came in at 4.2 million, which is 571 00:38:20,058 --> 00:38:20,628 amazing. 572 00:38:22,188 --> 00:38:28,083 So JR Horton is reviewing. We're also reviewing 573 00:38:28,098 --> 00:38:32,779 the bid, but we expect that to be in 574 00:38:32,988 --> 00:38:37,968 hopefully by mid-October. So you're going to see that project 575 00:38:38,688 --> 00:38:41,418 actually take off. So that's good news. 576 00:38:41,449 --> 00:38:44,628 Yes, sir. Is there anything else that's holding that up, or? 577 00:38:44,898 --> 00:38:50,478 There is one last permit, but we got a note, actually an email yesterday from them 578 00:38:50,568 --> 00:38:53,868 that it should be forward here next week or so. 579 00:38:53,988 --> 00:38:57,408 And the deadline is? Isn't there a deadline? 580 00:38:57,888 --> 00:38:58,428 Not really. 581 00:38:58,998 --> 00:38:59,853 Anybody up against a- 582 00:39:00,468 --> 00:39:02,958 No, there's no real hard deadlines here. 583 00:39:03,108 --> 00:39:09,048 Obviously we want to get all permits in hand by October, 584 00:39:09,408 --> 00:39:12,048 so I did say. So. 585 00:39:12,108 --> 00:39:13,818 Let me know when you're finished, ma'am. 586 00:39:13,878 --> 00:39:18,783 Can you give us an idea of what that will look like on that busy road as this 587 00:39:18,798 --> 00:39:20,029 project progresses? 588 00:39:22,188 --> 00:39:26,208 Obviously there could be lane closures at some point. 589 00:39:26,748 --> 00:39:31,848 But again, that's all part of what's being planned because DHEC obviously 590 00:39:31,878 --> 00:39:35,208 requires that you have a flagman 591 00:39:36,648 --> 00:39:42,558 if you have lane closures. Some of it will be done after hours to avoid 592 00:39:42,678 --> 00:39:45,348 morning commute, evening commute. 593 00:39:45,408 --> 00:39:46,368 School commutes, yeah. 594 00:39:46,398 --> 00:39:52,188 School commute, right. And a lot of it will actually, I've heard there'll be what 595 00:39:52,218 --> 00:39:56,268 we call underground boring, so there won't be any overhead cut. 596 00:39:56,388 --> 00:40:01,398 So a good example of that would be by the post office, everything will be 597 00:40:01,848 --> 00:40:02,808 underneath. 598 00:40:04,728 --> 00:40:05,298 Yes, sir. Thank you. 599 00:40:05,328 --> 00:40:05,688 Yes, sir. 600 00:40:07,128 --> 00:40:11,088 Let's see. I-95, we were up very late the other night. 601 00:40:11,779 --> 00:40:15,048 But we got our design package for all the utility. 602 00:40:15,468 --> 00:40:21,258 We had to get everything submitted, and we got it done at 11:45 on the 31st. 603 00:40:21,378 --> 00:40:21,798 So 604 00:40:23,298 --> 00:40:28,188 that package has been received, and that's certainly good news. 605 00:40:28,338 --> 00:40:30,258 So, that was the deadline, 606 00:40:31,728 --> 00:40:35,598 came down to the wire because we had some permitting issues. 607 00:40:37,338 --> 00:40:40,398 But anyway, I think we got that resolved. 608 00:40:41,449 --> 00:40:46,968 I've also opened discussions. We talked a lot about council chambers, technology, 609 00:40:47,088 --> 00:40:51,108 audiovisual, a lot of improvements that need to be made. 610 00:40:51,558 --> 00:40:57,154 VC3, which is probably one of the leading technology IT consultants 611 00:40:57,258 --> 00:40:59,958 for municipalities in South Carolina. 612 00:41:01,638 --> 00:41:06,438 Talked to them at municipal association meeting in Greenville, got their technical 613 00:41:06,558 --> 00:41:11,568 team involved. They're going to send a technician out here 614 00:41:12,648 --> 00:41:18,618 for next week. We'll do an inventory, and I hope to have a proposal in hand for 615 00:41:18,678 --> 00:41:19,368 the council 616 00:41:20,838 --> 00:41:26,688 certainly by October. So, we can get a lot of these technology improvements 617 00:41:26,748 --> 00:41:30,708 done here. So the idea would be everybody would have their own console. 618 00:41:30,798 --> 00:41:36,558 We'd have audiovisual, hopefully make some improvements to the sound system 619 00:41:36,708 --> 00:41:41,928 and maybe even give us the opportunity to do our own building. Nothing against you. 620 00:41:42,798 --> 00:41:42,813 Yeah. 621 00:41:42,828 --> 00:41:43,023 But 622 00:41:46,098 --> 00:41:48,618 I think that's the direction we probably need to go. 623 00:41:48,648 --> 00:41:53,838 And I do think it's very important, and I've mentioned it before, with our lawyer 624 00:41:53,853 --> 00:41:59,763 out of town, to have the ability to, in my opinion, we don't need to have him 625 00:41:59,779 --> 00:42:01,998 here in person. But if we could have- 626 00:42:02,088 --> 00:42:06,048 Yeah. Bring him right in on Microsoft Teams. 627 00:42:06,063 --> 00:42:06,063 Teams. 628 00:42:06,199 --> 00:42:07,263 And, yeah. 629 00:42:08,508 --> 00:42:08,748 Yeah. 630 00:42:09,168 --> 00:42:14,328 And I would like to take this out of the wall here and have two monitors on the 631 00:42:14,358 --> 00:42:19,279 sides of the flag. So the public, who's there, who's watching at home, this is just 632 00:42:19,308 --> 00:42:20,658 an awkward setup. 633 00:42:20,988 --> 00:42:24,468 Absolutely, yeah. That's kind of the idea, actually. 634 00:42:24,588 --> 00:42:29,838 So we'd probably have a more modern, higher definition television. 635 00:42:30,093 --> 00:42:33,978 Yes, sir. I think we'll need to redesign this desk area. 636 00:42:34,023 --> 00:42:37,443 And then for those of us that are vertically challenged, if you put a screen in 637 00:42:37,458 --> 00:42:41,148 front of me, I don't get... They might see the top of my head, and like. 638 00:42:42,348 --> 00:42:45,378 If May involves some changes here- 639 00:42:46,608 --> 00:42:47,868 This would be right. 640 00:42:48,168 --> 00:42:52,188 Yeah. That's a great point. So we'll have to see. 641 00:42:52,279 --> 00:42:54,738 Obviously, we don't want screens blocking. 642 00:42:55,908 --> 00:42:59,568 So we'll have to do that. 643 00:42:59,898 --> 00:43:02,538 I've brought my laptop here before as well. 644 00:43:02,658 --> 00:43:05,688 I think as long as you have a 14, 15-inch screen, you're fine. 645 00:43:06,078 --> 00:43:08,868 As you're not asking for a 20-inch screen in front of you, so. 646 00:43:10,279 --> 00:43:14,417 So, Commissioner. As I understand it, though, 647 00:43:15,048 --> 00:43:19,938 that laptop will always be subject to a FOIA 648 00:43:20,718 --> 00:43:23,898 request if Adam comes up, am I correct? 649 00:43:24,678 --> 00:43:26,298 It is. Now, it's not going to be a laptop. 650 00:43:26,328 --> 00:43:29,883 Yeah, I'm not asking for a laptop. I'm just saying size-wise, a monitor of that 651 00:43:29,958 --> 00:43:30,798 size. 652 00:43:31,053 --> 00:43:31,128 Okay. So 653 00:43:33,078 --> 00:43:38,688 actually what we'll be doing is moving to an electronic 654 00:43:38,748 --> 00:43:43,308 packet, which you'll have on your screen. You can take notes, et cetera. 655 00:43:43,383 --> 00:43:46,458 If you want to bring hard copies, you certainly can. 656 00:43:46,518 --> 00:43:51,543 But I think that's the direction we'll probably be going, and then we'd be able to 657 00:43:51,558 --> 00:43:51,828 put, 658 00:43:53,118 --> 00:43:58,878 for example, all the council packet materials up on the screen as well, so 659 00:43:59,508 --> 00:44:03,529 all along. So that's really the direction I can tell. 660 00:44:05,598 --> 00:44:06,408 And that's all I have. 661 00:44:06,708 --> 00:44:10,188 Yes, sir. We'll move to Councilman Perkins. 662 00:44:10,488 --> 00:44:14,508 So the River Health Festival's in less than a month, or a month. 663 00:44:14,628 --> 00:44:18,738 I just want to make sure that we're getting everything ready around town. 664 00:44:18,978 --> 00:44:19,248 We're 665 00:44:20,568 --> 00:44:24,468 street sweeping. We've got flags up. We're wiping things down. 666 00:44:24,529 --> 00:44:28,008 We're cleaning things up. Everything is as pretty as it can be for the town of 667 00:44:28,068 --> 00:44:32,883 Ridgeland because we have many visitors, and that's been a source of contention for 668 00:44:32,958 --> 00:44:37,638 citizens in the past. So I just want to make sure that it's all hands on deck to 669 00:44:37,668 --> 00:44:41,358 help not only the committee, I know that they have a great loyal committee that 670 00:44:41,418 --> 00:44:46,279 helps with the festival, but the town should be willing in any way possible to help 671 00:44:46,308 --> 00:44:50,268 with facilitating this festival. It's just a great opportunity for our community. 672 00:44:50,868 --> 00:44:55,428 A lot of history. I just want to make sure that the festival committee feels very 673 00:44:55,458 --> 00:44:59,358 supported by the town, and that we do our best to put our best foot forward. 674 00:45:00,108 --> 00:45:00,363 That's all. 675 00:45:00,363 --> 00:45:00,378 That's all. 676 00:45:01,818 --> 00:45:02,779 Nothing to add, Mayor. 677 00:45:03,798 --> 00:45:07,324 Probably no support on those things, Patricia. When's that coming up? 678 00:45:07,368 --> 00:45:10,188 Yeah. They are running behind schedule. 679 00:45:11,328 --> 00:45:15,348 We talked first week of September, and obviously that hasn't happened. 680 00:45:16,518 --> 00:45:21,018 So I'll be reaching out to them tomorrow to kind of see where they are. 681 00:45:21,918 --> 00:45:24,663 Yeah. That gets a bit hard getting those comments from them. 682 00:45:24,708 --> 00:45:26,313 Yeah, we need to get those comments as clean- 683 00:45:26,418 --> 00:45:27,348 Regardless. 684 00:45:27,438 --> 00:45:32,898 Yeah, exactly. So, once that's done, we can really get into some of the other 685 00:45:32,988 --> 00:45:33,348 things. 686 00:45:35,118 --> 00:45:40,773 Mayor, on the Brown v. Board thing, it's been something I've been hounding you 687 00:45:40,818 --> 00:45:46,699 about. And I am excited about what you're doing now to kind of facilitate 688 00:45:46,758 --> 00:45:52,654 moving that issue forward. Like I said, it's hard for us to embrace growth when 689 00:45:52,699 --> 00:45:56,328 we got old infrastructure that we're not taking care of or haven't been able to 690 00:45:56,388 --> 00:46:00,468 afford to take care of for a variety of reasons. I'm glad we're doing that. 691 00:46:01,860 --> 00:46:05,851 In addition to the Facebook thing, I'm just trying to think of different ways we 692 00:46:05,910 --> 00:46:07,170 can get the word out. And I 693 00:46:09,390 --> 00:46:09,750 see the 694 00:46:11,221 --> 00:46:17,190 kids flyer tacked on the side of a light pole with a 695 00:46:17,221 --> 00:46:22,050 tag on it, with a phone number at MoMart. I mow your grass. 696 00:46:22,590 --> 00:46:27,000 Can we print something like that and maybe put them at Eat n' Sweep and Sheffield 697 00:46:27,060 --> 00:46:32,971 and places that some people... I'll do it. You said we had a QR code. 698 00:46:33,570 --> 00:46:34,170 It'll 699 00:46:35,491 --> 00:46:39,210 make it easy for them to get to the website, I guess, is what I'm talking about, 700 00:46:39,330 --> 00:46:40,290 leave on paper for everybody. 701 00:46:40,351 --> 00:46:40,560 Yeah. 702 00:46:41,790 --> 00:46:45,270 Right. Yes. We've got it up on Facebook right now. 703 00:46:47,160 --> 00:46:52,741 Our goal is also to move to some other platforms as well, supplement Facebook. 704 00:46:53,940 --> 00:46:58,471 I just don't have enough hours in the moment, but- 705 00:46:58,890 --> 00:46:59,745 When is the deadline? 706 00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:06,900 We would really like to get this wrapped up within the next two weeks. 707 00:47:07,230 --> 00:47:08,340 Let me interrupt you one second. 708 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:14,070 Just making a proposal as well. Something that maybe, with all this 709 00:47:14,101 --> 00:47:18,300 revitalization and all, and then the circumstance that you're portraying right now 710 00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:21,960 about trying to get the word out, why don't we look into getting some type of 711 00:47:22,050 --> 00:47:27,300 digital billboard for the town? Maybe have it out front here on Town Hall, or have 712 00:47:27,360 --> 00:47:32,130 it in a designated area, and let's try to look to build something like that. 713 00:47:32,221 --> 00:47:34,680 That way, we can post stuff like tonight. 714 00:47:34,741 --> 00:47:39,870 If we wanted to get the word out right now, we could blast it onto our own 715 00:47:39,930 --> 00:47:41,160 billboard, essentially. 716 00:47:42,750 --> 00:47:47,010 Events and stuff, just like Gopher Hill, just got to keep the town reminded, hey. 717 00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:50,129 There's so much we could utilize that for. 718 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:54,930 But I know this is not going to resolve right now in this moment, but I think we 719 00:47:54,960 --> 00:47:56,010 could look towards that. 720 00:47:57,300 --> 00:48:00,060 But anyway, to have something printed, if that's the way you'd fly it, that we 721 00:48:00,090 --> 00:48:02,221 could put a poster somewhere with something like that. 722 00:48:02,250 --> 00:48:07,140 It's simple, and it may get, what if we got 10, 15 more responses? 723 00:48:07,200 --> 00:48:11,730 That's 10 or 15 more that we didn't have, so I just want to make it easy for people 724 00:48:11,760 --> 00:48:12,450 to find it. 725 00:48:13,050 --> 00:48:13,140 Sure. 726 00:48:14,580 --> 00:48:16,920 And I've seen the apathy around here. 727 00:48:16,980 --> 00:48:20,760 I just don't want people to assume because the town's attention to tackle the 728 00:48:20,790 --> 00:48:23,745 problem that it's going to resolve itself just because we're talking about it. 729 00:48:23,790 --> 00:48:25,020 It's not. 730 00:48:25,140 --> 00:48:25,230 Right. 731 00:48:25,260 --> 00:48:29,355 Yeah. We've got to get serious about the implementation of this 732 00:48:31,710 --> 00:48:31,741 stuff. 733 00:48:31,755 --> 00:48:31,755 Right. 734 00:48:31,800 --> 00:48:32,430 Yes, sir. 735 00:48:32,971 --> 00:48:38,221 We have an executive session matter to take up on discussion and negotiations 736 00:48:38,310 --> 00:48:42,375 incident to proposed contractual arrangements, discussions of a proposed sale of 737 00:48:42,390 --> 00:48:45,810 parts of property, receipt of legal advice, settlement of legal claims, or 738 00:48:45,840 --> 00:48:50,520 discussion of the public agency's position in adversary situations, discussions 739 00:48:50,610 --> 00:48:54,960 about development of security personnel or devices, and that's per South Carolina 740 00:48:55,065 --> 00:49:01,050 Code of Law Section 30-4-70. And the specific matter to be discussed is the 741 00:49:01,110 --> 00:49:04,140 Moultrie Track, and I'll make a motion we go into executive session for that 742 00:49:04,200 --> 00:49:06,690 reason. All in favor of that motion say aye. 743 00:49:06,705 --> 00:49:06,960 Aye. 744 00:49:07,170 --> 00:49:08,190 Opposed, no. Those have it.