[3:51] All right. God bless you all again and good afternoon. Thank you. Thank you all

[3:56] so much for uh being with us this afternoon at our regularly scheduled

[4:01] county council meeting. Um if you would please uh bow your heads as we um go to

[4:07] the Lord in prayer. Most gracious and everlasting father, Lord God, we come

[4:12] before you with bowed heads and humbled hearts, Lord, first to tell you thank

[4:15] you. Lord God, thank you for the many blessings that you bestowed upon each

[4:18] and every one of us. Lord God, we ask you for your continued blessings

[4:23] upon Williamsburg County and all of its residents. Lord God, we continue to lift

[4:27] up the members of council and their families as well as our elected

[4:31] officials and their families, our department heads and all of our

[4:33] employees. Lord, Father God, again, we ask you for your continued blessings

[4:37] upon uh this county. We invite the presence of your Holy Spirit into this

[4:42] meeting tonight as we attempt to handle uh the business of the people of

[4:46] Williamsburg County. Again, Lord God, we thank you. It's in the mighty and

[4:50] matchless name of your son, Jesus, we pray. Let every heart say, "Amen." Amen.

[4:56] And amen. All right. Um

[5:01] Okay. Um, I've got a request to amend uh the agenda. We need to correct the

[5:08] resolution number from two from 2026-004 to resolution number 2026-00005

[5:19] 005, excuse me. Uh, is there a motion to amend the agenda?

[5:25] » So, we have a motion to amend. Is there a second?

[5:28] » Second. >> It's been moved and properly seconded.

[5:30] Are ready for questions? All those in favor, please indicate by

[5:34] saying I. >> I.

[5:35] » Any opposed? >> Let the record Please let the record

[5:39] reflect that the motion to amend the agenda has been carried has been

[5:45] carried. All right. Minutes. Uh minutes. Approval of minutes. Public hearing and

[5:50] regular and regular council meeting from Tuesday, August 18th,

[5:55] 2026. All right. Is there a motion to approve

[5:59] the minutes from the meeting on Tuesday, August 18th, 2026 with the necessary

[6:06] corrections? Is there a motion to approve?

[6:08] » So move. >> So we have a motion to approve. Is there

[6:11] a second? >> Second.

[6:12] » It's been moved and properly seconded or ready for questions. All those in favor,

[6:17] please indicate by saying I. >> I.

[6:19] » Any opposed? Or please let the record reflect that

[6:23] the motion has been carried. All right. Ordinances. Ordinances. First reading.

[6:27] There are no ordinances for first reading. There are no

[6:32] ordinances for first reading. Second reading of ordinance number 2026-10,

[6:39] an ordinance authorizing the county to purchase approximately 4 and a half

[6:42] acres more or less of real property known as the Staples Lake Boat Landing

[6:47] and the seller's interest and to County Line Road extending from the

[6:52] intersection of County Line Road and Muddy Creek Road to Staples Lake Boat

[6:56] Landing and the grant of an easement a pertinent for the seller's use of the

[7:01] road and an amendment the 2026 2027 budget ordinance for Williamsburg County

[7:07] to allow Williamsburg County to fund the purchase of the aforementioned property

[7:11] and to provide for other matters related there too. All right. Before I call for

[7:16] um vote on this, I want to bring the uh county attorney up and I want to um take

[7:21] an opportunity to explain um what we're doing. Not so much for the benefit of

[7:29] the members of council because I know that you all have been um been fully

[7:34] made fully aware of it, but I want to make sure that the that the community

[7:38] understands exactly what we're doing. This particular uh boat landing has been

[7:44] uh involved in a long-term lease by Williamsburg County for a number of

[7:49] years. Uh a a new owner uh has uh purchased the property and when he

[7:55] purchased the property, he also purchased the lease as well. um he

[8:01] approached us um about um purchasing the boat landing so it

[8:09] could remain a public boat landing uh for people to continue to use. And what

[8:15] he has um asked us to do is to reimburse him basically

[8:25] per acre what he paid for the large track of property to in uh to include

[8:32] the boat landing. It's and and I'm not sure is it okay if I go ahead and give

[8:38] the dollar amount? >> Yes.

[8:39] » It's $20,000 for riverfront property. Um, and I think

[8:46] it's what about four or so acres. >> The the boat landing itself is two and a

[8:51] half acres, but um the reference to the four acres includes the access road that

[8:59] um includes the roaded. So that's where the total acreage comes from. But the

[9:04] boat landing itself is two and a half acres. Um, this also would

[9:10] this would also clarify and um establish the the boundary lines around the boat

[9:17] landing that have somewhat gotten a little bit out of sorts over the years.

[9:21] The boat landing was in in a different area and then it was moved to where it

[9:27] currently is. When I don't know. Um, but the county does have a lease agreement

[9:32] with the prior owner. According to that lease agreement, the lease could be

[9:37] cancelled by either party upon 30 days notice to the other. And um

[9:46] in order to keep the boat landing open, this was um

[9:50] why the discussions we we began discussions with the current owner of

[9:55] the boat landing. The funding for the purchase will come from

[10:01] $10,000 from recreational programs, $5,000 from contractual services, and

[10:08] $5,000 from other operating expenses out of the supervisor's office. So, we um

[10:13] have the necessary funds within the the budget. We just need to move them.

[10:18] » Okay. And that's what this um ordinance does is

[10:22] » and so I want to be clear on this. This and I want to make sure that everyone

[10:26] understands what we're doing. Um this is 4 acres of property, two and a half of

[10:32] which is riverfront property with a boat landing. Okay. For $20,000.

[10:43] Correct. >> Correct.

[10:44] » Okay. And I'm sure

[10:48] and and we probably well >> I'm sure that the easement language is

[10:52] is what's causing some question. Um the easement language is

[10:58] um it attaches to the property to to the

[11:03] seller's property. So an easement allows him to continue to access his property

[11:08] to use his property without any sort of limitation. So it's not just an easement

[11:12] for access. It could be an easement to um you know install

[11:18] utilities should utilities come into that area. And I think that that's where

[11:22] some of the confusion comes from. There's no plan for that. It is um

[11:28] unfortunately I think lawyers cause some problems sometime for folks whenever

[11:31] they don't necessarily have problems. But that is the language for the

[11:37] easement itself is as easement a pertinent for whatever use for the

[11:42] sellers for the seller for the sellers's invitees meaning anybody that may come

[11:47] at the seller's request and for the installation of utilities should that be

[11:52] in the future but there's no discussion about any sort of development but I

[11:58] believe that that might be where some of the questions have come up about this is

[12:03] because the lawyers have created a problem where there's not a problem.

[12:06] » Sure. Um and and again um for the benefit of the members uh of the um

[12:12] community that are here with us and as well as the uh members of the community

[12:17] that are listening now and will be listening later. This is a um boat

[12:22] landing that Williamsburg County has had um a lease on for a significant number

[12:28] of years. Um, the only thing that we're doing is assuming ownership of it. We've

[12:35] been responsible for it all of these years. Um, I'm over 50 years old and

[12:42] I've always been familiar with this particular piece of property uh because

[12:47] it's uh in the area that I live in and um it's always been a public boat

[12:55] landing and what we're attempting to do and through the owner and the owner was

[12:59] generous enough to to even offer the county this because for what we're

[13:04] paying for the property, he certainly could have gotten a significantly

[13:09] uh amount larger than that, way more than that. Um for where the from where

[13:15] this property is located at and the fact that the property um has a boat landing.

[13:22] In fact, I was talking with someone earlier today about this and they seem

[13:26] to think that the um that we wouldn't even be able to buy the concrete for

[13:31] that boat landing for what we're paying for the boat landing. Okay. All right.

[13:36] Does any of the members of council have any questions or comments about this?

[13:41] All right. Thank you so much,

[13:46] Madam County Attorney. Thank you. All right. So, is there a motion to approve

[13:50] second reading of ordinance number 2026-10?

[13:54] So, we have a motion to approve. Is there a second?

[13:56] » Second. >> It's been moved and properly seconded

[13:58] and are ready for questions. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I.

[14:02] I. >> Any opposed? I

[14:06] Okay, let's Can we get that by? You got it. Okay. All right. Very good. Thank

[14:10] you so much. All right. Motion has been carried. All right. Um, second reading

[14:16] of ordinance number 2026-09, an ordinance to establish height and

[14:22] land use limitations for airport operational safety and airport

[14:26] compatible land use within the vicinity of the Williamsburg Regional Airport and

[14:30] providing for the administration enforcement and amendment thereof. Um,

[14:36] Madame County Attorney, let me get you one more time. Um, this is okay. And I

[14:42] want to explain this to the community. I think council has a a

[14:47] fairly good understanding of it. Williamsburg County does not, and I

[14:52] repeat, does not have countywide zoning. We do not have countywide zoning. Um we

[15:00] because we don't have countywide zoning a lot of times whenever we're do dealing

[15:04] with things uh as it relates to land use management we have to create ordinances.

[15:10] Um if you all recall maybe about two years ago or so we did a um ordinance um

[15:16] dealing with solar farms. Well we did that ordinance because again as I as I

[15:21] stated earlier we do not have countywide zoning. when it was brought up um years

[15:28] ago um there was such an uproar by the county by by um citizens within the

[15:34] county um that particular administration and council at that time

[15:41] decided not to do it. um well and so it's never been done. And so again, as

[15:47] it relates to land use management issues, when we have these kinds of

[15:51] things that come up, we have to do ordinances because we do not have

[15:56] countywide zoning. Um as it relates to this particular ordinance, uh we get

[16:02] funding uh from the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission as well as the um

[16:09] FFA FAA um federal ad Aviation Administration

[16:15] and

[16:18] we we get funding from again from FAA which is a Federal Administration,

[16:26] Federal Aviation Administration. I'll get it right in a minute. All right. Um

[16:30] they have required us um to do what's called an airport overlay ordinance.

[16:37] Again, we have to do ordinances because we don't have countywide zoning. And we

[16:42] had to do this airport overlay ordinance um to be able to continue to get funding

[16:49] to do upgrades to our airport and to our um the landing strip out there at the

[16:56] airport. Madam County attorney, is anything I

[17:00] left out on that? >> You you did great. And state law also

[17:04] requires us to have this in place. So this brings us in in current with state

[17:09] and federal regulations and state law. >> All right. Very good.

[17:13] » And it the land use ordinance that um is

[17:18] proposed will ensure that the

[17:24] air safety that it the area around the airport is safe for aircraft operations.

[17:33] ensures aviation safety including approach, landing, takeoff and

[17:37] departure. Um so that's this is basically for safe operations of the

[17:43] airport and um

[17:47] is basically a height and density restrictions for areas within 14,000 ft

[17:54] of the airport. >> Very good. Uh do any of the members of

[17:58] council have any questions for myself or attorney Shore?

[18:03] All right. Is there a motion to approve second reading of ordinance number

[18:06] 2026-09?

[18:12] » So, we have a motion to approve. Is there a second?

[18:16] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[18:22] » So, it's been moved and properly seconded. Are ready for questions?

[18:25] » Mr. Supervisor. >> Yes. Before you call for a vote, I just

[18:29] want to say that I'm going to abstain from voting on this particular issue

[18:33] tonight. Not because I'm for against it. I don't want anybody to read more into

[18:37] it than what I'm doing. Um, you recall at the last meeting, um, I made a motion

[18:42] to table it, but I was voted down, which is perfectly fine, but I wanted to meet

[18:46] with Mr. Hope, the engineer, to make sure I had a clear understanding because

[18:50] this literally affects the constituents only in my district. So before I commit

[18:54] one way or the other, I have some questions. I spoke with him this

[18:58] morning. He and I are going to meet either later. He actually volunteered to

[19:02] meet with me today and I couldn't do it. But we're going to meet either later in

[19:05] the week or the first of next week. And hopefully I'll have some clarification.

[19:07] But I'm going to abstain, but I want my colleagues and the audience and the

[19:11] members listening not to read any more into it than other than I just need some

[19:15] clarification on some questions that I have and that's it.

[19:17] » Okay. >> Sure. And and I also want and I'm glad

[19:20] you um brought that up. I also want to make sure that members of council know

[19:24] and the public as well, we're going to um be placing that map on the county's

[19:30] website. Thank you. >> So, for residents, if they want to go

[19:32] and take a look at the map, um they certainly can in the ordinance. Um if it

[19:37] has not been um um has not been posted, we'll get it posted. Okay. All right.

[19:45] Any anyone else? All right. Is there a motion to approve?

[19:50] Second reading of ordinance number 2026-09.

[19:56] » You already did that. >> All right. All right. Call for vote. How

[19:59] many in favor? All in favor? >> I.

[20:05] » All right. Any any opposed? Or please let the record reflect that

[20:10] the motion to for second reading of ordinance number 2026-09

[20:16] has been passed. All right. Third reading. There are no ordinances for

[20:20] third reading tonight. There are no ordinances for third reading tonight.

[20:26] All right. Resolutions.

[20:31] All right. Resolution number 2026-005. Thank you. A resolution temporarily

[20:38] suspending the franchise requirements contained in ordinance

[20:44] 2000-02 as amended by ordinance 2005-00002.

[20:52] Do we need to I know we um madame county attorney I know we spoke a little

[20:59] earlier today about this particular um resolution.

[21:03] Um, >> are we still safe to go ahead and

[21:06] suspend this while we get all of the details worked out of that ordinance?

[21:10] » Yes. >> Okay. Um, so I want to let me remind

[21:16] council of what we're doing and also inform the public for the benefit of

[21:21] those who may have not um been aware of this. We it was brought to our attention

[21:29] um maybe about a month ago that um individuals who have been patients in

[21:38] local hospitals um especially those patients who um needed um

[21:46] services at the um what's the at the dialysis center.

[21:52] They were being told that um the private transportation company here

[22:00] in Williamsburg County, which is not a affiliated Williamsburg County, um was

[22:05] not able to take their loved ones to um dialysis. Well, as a result of that, um

[22:13] those case managers have been uh referring those patients, which are

[22:18] Williamsburg County residents, to nursing homes in the area. And when it

[22:24] was brought to our attention, we began to work on it um to try to get this uh

[22:29] resolved. Um several years ago, uh we had a

[22:35] significant number of transport companies, medical transport companies

[22:40] in Williamsburg County and past governments, past administration,

[22:48] um decided that they would have each one of those um transport companies to pay

[22:55] what's called a franchise fee in order for them to do business uh within

[23:00] Williamsburg County. Um right now we only have one company who has paid the

[23:08] franchise fee and that company um is has lost uh some personnel and is not able

[23:16] to provide that service at the level um that they uh were able to do it in the

[23:23] past. And so whenever these um social workers uh at the hospitals call to try

[23:31] to make the arrangements uh for their patients um they call that they've been

[23:39] calling this company and the company has been telling them that they would not be

[23:44] able to do those transports. And so what we as a council and we've discussed this

[23:52] uh have decided to do is to uh lift that franchise fee um and allow other

[24:00] transport companies to come into Williamsburg County so our residents

[24:04] will not have to do this. Um if you know of anyone that that's happened to,

[24:11] please tell them to reach out to me. I would love to sit down and have a

[24:13] conversation with them because it doesn't make sense for us to for these

[24:18] people to have to be transported to a nursing home um to receive um dialysis

[24:26] treatments when they could actually just be transferred to their homes with their

[24:30] families and have a reputable transport company to pick them up and transport

[24:36] them to their dialysis appointments. Um, do any of the members of council have

[24:41] any questions about that? >> Just for clarity, it's not normal

[24:45] transport. It's scratcher transport. Just to be

[24:49] » Yes. >> Just to be clear, because some people

[24:51] might think it's regular transport, but it's actually the scratcher transport.

[24:56] » Yes. Yes, sir. That's correct. That's correct.

[25:01] Anyone else? All right. Is there a motion to approve

[25:06] resolution 2026-00005?

[25:10] » Is a move. >> So I have a motion to approve. Is there

[25:13] a second? >> Second.

[25:14] » It's been moved and properly seconded or ready for questions. All those in favor,

[25:18] please indicate by saying I. >> Any opposed? All right. Please let the

[25:22] record reflect that resolution number 2026-005

[25:27] has been approved. Has been approved. Thank you all so much. Proclamation.

[25:31] Proclamation number 2026-02, an honorary proclamation that

[25:36] Williamsburg County Adult Education Program desires to initiate on behalf of

[25:40] National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week that will be held from

[25:45] September 13th through September 19th, 2026. Is there a motion to approve

[25:52] proclamation number 2026-02? >> So move been So it's been a motion to

[25:59] approve. Is there a second? It's been moved and properly seconded

[26:02] and are ready for questions. All those in favor, please indicate by

[26:06] saying I. I. >> Any opposed? Or please let the record

[26:10] reflect that the proclamation number 2026-02

[26:15] has been approved. Has been approved. All right. Appearances. We have Mr.

[26:22] Steve [clears throat] Blake.

[26:25] Excuse me. There you go. I think I overdid it on Sunday and uh my

[26:31] voice is kind of worn out. Um we have Mr. Steve

[26:36] Blake who is a our internal auditor. Um Mr. Blake um and his associate Mr.

[26:46] Mike Wall-E have been working with our uh finance team to help us try to get

[26:55] our books uh cleaned up and get things um taken care of as it relates to our

[27:01] financial policies and all of those good things. I wanted to

[27:07] get them, they come here maybe once every six weeks and they're here on site

[27:12] and then the remainder of their work is done uh remotely. But I wanted to give

[27:17] um them an opportunity uh to meet with the members of council one on- one um

[27:24] without any without myself being present or uh anyone from the finance team so

[27:30] they can have a one-on-one conversation uh with Mr. Blake and Mr. Wall-E. Um, I

[27:37] also wanted them to come and give the public a an update on the progress um

[27:44] that they have been making or that we have been making as a team. Um, we

[27:50] certainly want to um to thank those folks that are within our finance um

[27:55] team, the members of our finance team who've done an amazing job on trying to

[28:00] move um move the ball down the field. Um, it has not been the easiest thing uh

[28:07] for us to do. Um, but um, they certainly have been committed to this work and

[28:12] have done a a good job up to this point. Um, Mr. Blake

[28:18] um, and he's probably going to be upset with me for me telling you guys this,

[28:22] but Mr. Blake is probably um, we're very fortunate to have him with us. Um he's

[28:29] probably one of the most renowned um CPAs as it relates to government

[28:34] accounting uh in South Carolina. Um in fact, he teaches um government uh

[28:41] accounting um to folks that are going into government finance. Um he is

[28:48] regularly called by the state auditor's office and the state treasurer's office

[28:53] um to come in and do audits for them. um he uh has a significant amount of

[29:00] experience and we we are certainly again very fortunate to have him. He certainly

[29:05] has been a tremendous help um to myself, to our finance director and to the

[29:10] remainder of the finance team. So at this time I'm going to ask Mr. Blake and

[29:14] Mr. Wally to please come forward and um and give us an update of of where we are

[29:21] and what's going on and allow the members of council that did not have an

[29:27] opportunity to speak with them privately today um to ask you know whatever

[29:33] questions that you want to ask them. Mr. Blake,

[29:41] » thank you for those accolades, Mr. Washington. I appreciate that.

[29:45] » Well deserved. >> Um,

[29:49] where I'd like to start is a little bit of history in terms of how

[29:57] you got to the point that you're at.

[30:02] Most of you may have been here. Some of you definitely were here. Some of you

[30:08] have no idea. back around oh 2021 fiscal year which started July

[30:18] of 2020 [clears throat] and we all remember what was going on

[30:21] then with COVID. the county made a decision to

[30:28] change software systems.

[30:33] And many of you may not know that the software system you chose

[30:40] was a software system developed by a German company

[30:47] or industry and you were their first

[30:52] American governmental client in the world.

[30:57] So that's quite an accomplishment to be the first, but it's never really good to

[31:02] be the first. Uh there was quite a lot of discussion

[31:08] in the implementation process. In retrospect, probably very wisely,

[31:16] uh the treasurer's auditor's assessor's office decided not to implement.

[31:24] uh the tax bills were getting out just fine with the old software.

[31:29] So your revenue stream was not jeopardized by the implementation of a

[31:35] new software as far as real estate taxes go. However,

[31:41] about fiscal year 2022, your financial statement audit process was dramatically

[31:47] impacted. You received an adverse opinion on that

[31:52] audit. Not a nice place to be in the audit

[31:57] world. Financial institutions, bond raiders,

[32:02] that sort of people do not appreciate adverse opinions.

[32:07] The county has been fighting that uphill battle to get their reputation back

[32:13] since fiscal year 2022. We're probably Mike and myself probably

[32:19] the third or fourth group of consultants that have worked with you over the last

[32:25] four years to help you get your reputation back.

[32:33] what he and I found when we arrived based on the work of some of our

[32:39] predecessors and the very very detailed and hard work that your finance staff

[32:44] had put into this process is that that software conversion was part of the

[32:53] start of a major major group of problems that just converged all at the same

[32:59] time. One of those things was a lot of

[33:03] employee turnover immediately after that software

[33:08] conversion. And that employee turnover was a result

[33:14] of retirements, a result of people who were no longer

[33:19] willing to work on the software conversion. They had done their time as

[33:23] they put it and left. and a result of certain election losses that changed out

[33:29] a few positions in county government. And so the initial core group that was

[33:36] there in 2020 2021 that was responsible for implementing

[33:43] that system by the end of 2022 was gone. You were left with three employees in

[33:53] the finance office that were able to keep the payroll going,

[33:59] keep the bills, lights on, electric bill being paid, and they were able to

[34:05] continue functioning on a day-to-day basis with absolutely no idea of how

[34:11] that software implementation was supposed to go.

[34:16] For long about that same time, a subpoena was received, an investigation

[34:22] was started, and time beyond payroll

[34:27] and accounts payable bills was monopolized

[34:34] cooperating with the investigation. very little time to spend on the 2023

[34:42] audit process and regaining the 2022 adverse opinion

[34:50] that stretched out that investigation cooperation stretched out for over a

[34:56] year and a half in terms of being monopolized in an FBI and a sled

[35:01] investigation.

[35:05] At that point, other things began to snowball. You had an external payroll

[35:11] service company. Journal entries had to be made into this new software.

[35:19] And so that process had to be developed from scratch to get that done.

[35:26] your transit fund. Because of late audits now and adverse

[35:32] opinions, the federal government no longer wanted to fund transit with

[35:38] federal dollars. So something had to be done very quickly

[35:43] to solve that problem to regain federal funding because the

[35:49] county at that point was getting behind on their audits and the state was

[35:54] withholding money and with the feds withholding money, the county was having

[35:58] to supplement the transit fund to keep the transit system going.

[36:04] A solution to that was developed which required several months to implement

[36:09] which involved moving the transit fund out on its own.

[36:14] Your auditor was able to audit that portion because it's now a separate set

[36:19] of books and the audits were caught up and

[36:23] federal funding was restored to transit. That required several months to get that

[36:29] implemented. So now we're back to

[36:33] about 2024 25. Let's get back to 2022 and 23's audit.

[36:40] We've solved these problems and they were all in and of themselves major

[36:45] issues. They just happened to hit at exactly the same time. again leaving

[36:52] three people basically in the finance office who have no idea about the

[36:58] implementation in 2020 2021 2022. They weren't there for that.

[37:05] Now we're back focused on where do we start to implement that? They hired some

[37:11] consultants. They got frustrated and left. Consultants round two got

[37:17] frustrated and left. And I guess you started scraping the bottom of the

[37:22] barrel and called me. [laughter] I came over and I decided at least since

[37:27] February of 26. I have no desire at this point to leave.

[37:33] But Mike and I, and Mike was really a godsend and I know there were people

[37:38] praying and without God's intervention, you may still be in some serious trouble

[37:44] because I am no SAP expert. I really am not. Uh, and I didn't know how I I was

[37:51] going to help you with that. I literally was praying about that. And

[37:59] my friend, I've known Mike for 30 years. He came up to me one day and he said,

[38:03] "Hey, uh, you know, I'm kind of between jobs right now. I'm looking for some

[38:07] other stuff to do. You got anything you'd like me to help you with?" I said,

[38:12] "Not unless you're an SAP expert." And lo and behold, Mike said, "I just

[38:18] happen to have 13 years experience working with SAP." So God sent that guy

[38:24] into my life and consequently into yours to help solve this SAP problem. So

[38:29] together since when Mike about March, April, we have been working together to

[38:37] solve the SAP implementation issue to go back and figure out in fiscal year

[38:45] 2023, what happened,

[38:49] how that can be audited because the overriding concern here again is that

[38:54] adverse opinion from 2022 as a result of that poorly implement implemented uh

[39:01] software conversion. We've got to get that reputation back

[39:06] for the county. We've got to get a clean opinion. You can't borrow money. You

[39:10] can't get grants with a bad opinion, much less late audits.

[39:16] So, we've got to get a group of financial data together for 2023 that is

[39:24] auditable, that you can get a clean opinion on, and start for audit with

[39:29] that data. We are working on that. We are having

[39:34] weekly meetings, Zoom meetings with your external

[39:38] auditor. Every week we're making progress. We're sharing that with the

[39:42] external auditor and we're asking that external auditor

[39:47] to pass muster or not with what we found. The auditor has been very good to

[39:52] work with. they would put their opinion on this or

[39:57] no, we need you to tweak it a little bit here. We're having weekly meetings like

[40:02] that and we're going to get that data to them as soon as we can to get that 2023

[40:09] 2024 audit done. Right now, we are estimating. It's purely an estimate and

[40:15] things change literally every day. as we turn over one rock and find another

[40:21] problem. Tomorrow we may turn over a rock. And what I'm saying tonight is

[40:25] completely irrelevant. But right now, our opinion is based on

[40:30] the rocks we've turned over so far that we believe we can get 2024 audit with a

[40:36] clean opinion out by the end of this calendar year, January 27 at the latest.

[40:44] That's our current deadline based on the rocks we've turned over at this moment.

[40:50] If that is successful, if we don't find any more problems related to 23 and 24,

[40:58] then we hope to get the next step would be 25's audit. We hope to get it done by

[41:05] no later than June of 207. And we hope to start and finish June of 26's audit

[41:13] roughly that same time frame because you can do two audits at one time. And once

[41:19] we get 23 squared away to where 24's opinion can be clean, it will be easier

[41:26] for the auditor to do 25 and 26 at the same time because he's got clean records

[41:32] to start with in both years. That's the plan as it is currently.

[41:38] Again, that could change literally tomorrow if

[41:42] we run into a roadblock that we weren't aware of in the SAP system. We've looked

[41:47] at a lot of the data. That's what I've used Mike for. He has been able to comb

[41:52] that data. We've been able to trace things much quicker as a result of his

[41:57] involvement. It has sped up tremendously with Mike's involvement and the SAP

[42:02] information becoming more discernable to me because quite frankly it was not

[42:10] governmental accounting at its best. Very confusing the way it was put in

[42:15] there. Very hard to get information out of. Mike has sped that process up a lot.

[42:22] But he's only been involved since about March, April of this year. So, we've

[42:27] really only been able to make that significant progress after April of this

[42:32] year. We think we've got the animal by the tail, but I don't want

[42:39] it to turn around and bite us. So, I'm giving you a lot of caveats

[42:43] understanding that literally tomorrow we could turn over another rock and it and

[42:47] it changed. But our our goal if we can get 25 and 26 simultaneously under

[42:54] audit, if 26 is done by July of 27, the state deadline for 26

[43:02] is July of 27, you will be timely by that point in time. You will be caught

[43:08] up everything timely. I don't expect the opinions to be any

[43:16] worse than the best opinion you can get. I think the data is there. I think the

[43:21] support for the auditor is there. He will not have a problem opining on 2425

[43:27] and 26. So with that being said, that's where

[43:33] we're at as of 6:44 this evening. Any questions that you have, I'd be glad to

[43:40] answer. Mike can give you all the detail you'd like on the SAP system that I

[43:45] could never give you. So, if you got an SAP question, we'll bring Mike up here.

[43:50] But any questions that you have based on what I've said at this point.

[43:55] » Um, we just thank you for not turning tail and running from us. Um,

[44:02] » maybe I'm not that smart, huh? >> May not be. Uh but we do appreciate your

[44:08] your hard work and uh just being straight forward with us and telling us

[44:13] you know where we are and how we got here.

[44:16] » And so I guess my question is as you said we'll be able to do our audit

[44:21] simultaneously. Um

[44:25] we talked earlier today about that process of getting us from

[44:31] uh the the SAP and all of that stuff and the different systems

[44:36] tell us how you're able to help us as the consultant that we're using to make

[44:42] sure that we don't kind of fall into this.

[44:46] » Well, that is a good question because that involves how do we not go back?

[44:53] » How do we keep going forward? One of the things your finance office realized

[44:58] early on once they got a grasp of how bad SAP was is we need to get away from

[45:04] SAP as fast as possible. Uh and I believe it was about a year ago, so 26

[45:11] fiscal year, they bought a software package that

[45:16] integrates with the one the treasurer is using now. It's called Springbrook. So

[45:23] the package for Six is a new package. Again,

[45:29] what do we spend our time on? We got to do payroll. We got to keep the lights

[45:33] on. We don't have investigations anymore. We got audits we got to fix.

[45:38] Oh, and by the way, now we're implementing another software system.

[45:42] So, the hours in the day become a matter of priority.

[45:47] It's payroll week. I'm not going to work on the new system being implemented.

[45:51] It's accounts payable check time. I'm not going to work on the audit or the

[45:56] new software system being implemented. Okay, I got time today. What's my

[46:01] priority? The old audits or the new software system? Old audits are the

[46:06] priority right now because we can't get financing. We can't go to the bank

[46:10] without financial statements. So, that's the top priority this week.

[46:16] Having said that, part of this uh Mr. Wilson is it part of this discussion to

[46:23] answer your question is we are along the for the ride with those same priorities.

[46:29] We're focusing our consultant time in the immediate future on getting the

[46:35] audit deadlines met. We have as we are working in those years

[46:42] made copious notes regarding what needs to be fixed in the new software system

[46:48] because it didn't get fully implemented either.

[46:52] It's better than what you had but it's not been fully implemented and we know

[46:58] the places it needs to be tweaked to make that happen.

[47:08] We're going to get the audits, the immediate audits up to date, get the

[47:12] good opinions on them, get 25 and 26 as step phase two. Then we're going to get

[47:19] the new software implementation tweaked and have it running. Well, that's going

[47:26] to be probably after June of 2027 before we get to that point.

[47:32] But that is part of the overall plan and strategy from the supervisor's office

[47:38] and the finance office at this point is get our financial reputation back and

[47:44] then let's put it back on track for the future to get this new software system

[47:50] implemented and get the bugs worked out of it. So that's currently the timetable

[47:55] and the priorities. audits first, financial reputation back, and then

[48:00] tweak the new system and get it hitting on all eight cylinders.

[48:04] » And and I want to add on to what Mr. Blake said, Councilman Wilson. Um the

[48:10] supervisor's office switched over um to the new system last fiscal year. Um and

[48:18] the treasurer's office has switched over this year. Now, the new system is the

[48:26] newer version of what the treasurer's office had been on the entire time. Um,

[48:33] that the new version, that company bought out um the company that owned the

[48:41] software that the treasurer's office has now. So, it's the same company. Um, so

[48:46] now >> helps because they should talk to each

[48:48] other. >> That's correct. But as of now, everyone

[48:54] is on the same system, but we still got to get through those last couple of

[49:00] years that are in the SAP system. And that's as he indicated earlier so

[49:05] eloquently >> that that's the priority right now.

[49:08] » Again, thank you and um we just look forward to whatever we can do to assist

[49:14] you all in um helping us through this difficult time. Um And it has been

[49:20] difficult. >> You got a lot of barbecue around here.

[49:24] » A lot of >> Mr. Washington's already invited me to a

[49:27] couple of them for sure. >> You know, we'll keep you around if

[49:32] you're still around. So, we can get this stuff.

[49:34] » Yeah. Nothing scared me off yet. Nothing I haven't done at least once before. But

[49:39] it you've you've got a long uphill climb. I'll just say the hole that

[49:45] you're in is very deep. >> It's very deep.

[49:49] And and it's never good to be in a position of having an adverse audit

[49:53] opinion. That's just not good. >> Question is, is there anything that we

[49:58] should be doing to assist or to help speed this up or we are basically where

[50:04] we at? >> My thoughts there, not necessarily

[50:09] suggestions. Every bit of this process is a function

[50:14] of time and money. So the priorities

[50:20] are within those constraints, time and money. If you had a printing press in

[50:25] your basement and money was not an object, hire eight more people exactly

[50:30] like me and we'll come in here and we'll get you caught up tomorrow. But that

[50:35] isn't going to be cheap. So we're working within those constraints of time

[50:41] and money.

[50:45] I'd also like to um mention the fact and recognize the fact that uh our um

[50:52] treasurer, Miss Pearl Brown, is here. Uh Miss Brown, is there anything you'd like

[50:57] to add to what Mr. Blake has said >> and they have, by the way, been very

[51:04] helpful and done a yman's job helping us in answering all our questions and

[51:10] providing backup data to fill in the pieces of the puzzle. Miss Pearl, if

[51:15] you'd like to come up.

[51:19] » Mr. Supervisor, while uh Yes. Yes, sir. Miss Brown approaches. I'd just like to

[51:23] say we had a uh Councilman Wilson and myself met with Mr. Blake and Mr. Wall-E

[51:28] today and I certainly thank you for y'all's time. It was very informative

[51:32] and very enlightening and it was nice to hear not the good news but it was nice

[51:37] to hear what exactly and be able to understand what was going on. So we

[51:40] appreciate y'all's time. Look forward to working with y'all in the future.

[51:43] » Thank you so much. And and before Miss Brown

[51:46] » Smith is >> before Miss Miss Brown comes up, I

[51:48] wanted um to to share not only with the council but for the members of the

[51:55] public. I thought it was important um for council

[52:02] as the governing body of this county to have the opportunity um to meet with

[52:08] these individuals without me being there and without any member of our finance

[52:13] team being there. Um because I didn't want um the members of council to think

[52:19] that we were trying to influence whatever responses

[52:24] that Mr. Wallally and Mr. Blake gave to the members of council and I wanted the

[52:28] members of council to be able to feel free to ask whatever questions um that

[52:34] they wanted to ask uh without us being there. We wanted to make sure that this

[52:38] was um as transparent a process um as possible. But then I also wanted them to

[52:45] come uh tonight and publicly um share uh with the community as a whole the

[52:52] challenges that we have been trying to work through uh in order to to move the

[52:57] county forward and get the county uh where it needs to be. Um so again, thank

[53:03] you all. Miss Brown.

[53:08] » Yes, ma'am. prepared to say anything but I didn't want to miss this opportunity.

[53:12] I want to say a special thanks to Mr. Blake and his sorry I missed your name

[53:19] while we met with you. That's my age. I couldn't remember your name but um this

[53:26] has been really eyeopening for me. I didn't expect when

[53:31] I came back into the county that I would find some of what I found. Uh but I want

[53:37] to say to council members whether and to the public whether you know it or not

[53:43] that finance department up there is doing everything they can in their power

[53:48] to get these books in order. I want to say a special thanks to Miss Kimber

[53:53] Cooper in her absent and to deputy treasure will because without the the

[53:58] records in the treasur's office I don't know they could not do it.

[54:03] » That's right. So, we're going to I want that to go on record. The the treasures

[54:07] office records as far as I can see and we have found they are fine. And I want

[54:12] to give kudos to these three ladies back here. I want you to stand from the

[54:17] finance department. They visit my office, our office quite often looking

[54:21] for records. They are the hardest working women around here and they're

[54:26] working hard to get this done. So don't think that the county personnel is not

[54:32] trying to get us past this because they are. Everyone is working together or in

[54:37] the I was here 28 years. I was gone for 14 and I came back. This is the closest

[54:45] in my experience working with this county that these two officers have

[54:49] worked together closer to get the work done. And I'm proud to be a part of it.

[54:54] I didn't plan this for my retirement, but I thank God that I am here and able

[54:59] to do something to help the county. Thank you,

[55:03] » Mr. Brown. >> Before you go, I want to

[55:06] » um and and I've told you before um in our private conversations and I want to

[55:13] share with you publicly um how much um I appreciate you you coming back. Um I

[55:20] know Mr. Joe is still a little upset with me about that, but um you know, he

[55:26] and I going we we'll work through that. It won't be the first time he and I ever

[55:29] fell out and but we always get back together. But I I do want to let you

[55:33] know how much I appreciate um you coming back and your leadership and your

[55:37] willingness to come back and serve Williamsburg County. Um you've always

[55:40] been an asset um to this community and you you still are. When I received the

[55:45] call from the governor, my answer was, "If I can come back and do something to

[55:50] help my county, I will come." Thank you all for the opportunity.

[55:54] » I told him to please call you. [laughter]

[55:59] » Thank you so much again, Miss Brown. Yes, sir.

[56:02] » Uh, treasures. I'm telling you, it's been a joy to work with your folks. They

[56:08] have been hard at work and they have been, like she said, very cooperative.

[56:13] The information that's available has been free flowing. It's just been

[56:18] multiple hay stacks and multiple needles trying to find out where it's at in the

[56:22] system and make it presentable for an auditor to say yes, I will bless that.

[56:28] That's been the entire problem getting it in a shape where an auditor can say

[56:33] that's good. So, at this point, what I'm going to do if I can remember is I've

[56:40] got some business cards. I'm gonna give them to you tomorrow.

[56:43] » You can hand one out to It's got my cell phone on it. You got a question, it'll

[56:48] ring right here in my pocket. All right. So, he'll have business cards with my

[56:53] cell phone number on it. Feel free to call me with any questions.

[56:57] » All right. >> Thank you guys so much. Thank you.

[57:00] Anyone else with any other questions? >> Uh just want to say thank you from uh

[57:04] the the conversation we had earlier today and your transparency of where

[57:08] we're at. Um, so like uh Councilman Mcnite said, anything we can do and and

[57:13] your transparency of giving us your cell phone number and things like that so uh

[57:18] we can just keep the communication over open.

[57:23] » All right.

[57:28] All right. Thank you all so much. All right. We now have an appearance by Miss

[57:34] Lindseay Johnson of Pivot Energy and Mr. Eddie McCutchen is a county resident.

[57:41] That's a presentation regarding a potential solar project.

[57:49] » Hey, M. Johnson, >> I've got a short presentation for you.

[57:52] So, I'm just going to get that pulled up.

[58:00] » Can you see that on your screens?

[58:06] While we're letting it load, again, my name is Lindsay Johnston. I'm a

[58:10] developer with Pivot Energy. We're a United Statesbased clean energy company,

[58:14] and I'm working on our South Carolina portfolio. I'm local to the state. So, I

[58:19] appreciate y'all giving me the opportunity to speak to you tonight. The

[58:22] project I'm talking about is SCCL0043. Um, so just a little bit about Pivot

[58:29] Energy. We like I said are a national uh leader in smallcale distributed

[58:33] generation solar. Um we have built four gigawatts across the state or are in the

[58:40] process of building those. Um we're headquartered in Denver, Colorado. And

[58:44] we are the long-term owner and operator of all of our sites. So for the full

[58:49] life cycle of the project, it stays with us. We're not a Devon flip if you're

[58:53] familiar with that. We are also a certified BCORE committed to being

[58:57] sustainable uh long-term partners with the communities that we work in. So, a

[59:02] little bit about the project specifically. And if can you all see the

[59:04] site plan on your screens? >> No.

[59:08] Wait, give us one second. Okay. >> Having some technical difficulties here.

[59:47] Well, while we're wait while we're waiting, my name is Eddie McCutchen and

[59:51] um the farm in project in in in the project we're trying to build. I built I

[59:56] bought this farm in 83, a young farmer. I'm a fourth generation farmer,

[1:00:01] Williamsburg County farmer. My parents have struggled to make their farms ago

[1:00:06] and I've struggled to make mine a go and I've done well and then some days I've

[1:00:09] done poorly because of commodity prices and such things that economy um I've had

[1:00:16] to go out and outsource um government jobs. I worked for the forester for

[1:00:21] eight years and I worked for the US Army for six years. I served in D of Storm.

[1:00:27] It's always been a struggle to make the farm to make the farm payments and the

[1:00:31] taxes paid on this farm because it's such a small farm. I don't have to tell

[1:00:34] you that small farmers have struggled and some have lost and they've lost

[1:00:38] their they lost their [clears throat] farm and I'm trying to do this project.

[1:00:42] It came to me and it's available to generate some revenue for me and my

[1:00:49] family so my family can keep this and my grandchildren will have something that I

[1:00:52] can leave today. That's what I want. Um, it's going to generate some clean

[1:00:58] energy, some green energy that's not going to hurt anybody, and it's going to

[1:01:02] have sheep underneath the bottom of it, and we're going to plant some kind of a

[1:01:06] vegetation. I'm planning on raising the sheep myself because I'm going to

[1:01:11] maintain the farm. I'm going to keep the farm. It's going to be a lease, and it's

[1:01:14] going to be 30 years where it can generate uh power for the for the for

[1:01:20] the power grid. And you know, I don't have to tell you, the power grid is

[1:01:22] struggling everywhere in this whole United States that's struggling. And the

[1:01:26] green energy is one of the ways we're going to have to go. And also, the

[1:01:30] reason that we're doing this is so I can keep my little farm and I don't have to

[1:01:34] lose it because so many other farms have gone by the wayside. And I don't want to

[1:01:36] see that because my grandmama would really be upset and my great granddaddy

[1:01:40] would really, really be upset. So, we're trying to make this project where it's

[1:01:44] lucrative where I can continue to pay and it will also generate more tax

[1:01:49] dollars for this little t little county that I was born and raised in, graduated

[1:01:53] here, and I think the world of I fought across the water for my little county as

[1:01:58] much as I fought for United States Army. So, I asked for your consideration in

[1:02:03] this project and help help us to to get this project started and give us the

[1:02:08] authorization that we can build something that's going to be good for

[1:02:11] everybody. It's not going to be anywhere close to anyone's home. It's on off

[1:02:16] road. It's half the project will be where nobody can't see it unless you

[1:02:20] flying from an airplane because it's only got one little access road to and

[1:02:24] from from both sides and it's all wooded around most of it except for one little

[1:02:28] roadront. But no one lives there and no one's planned to live there because of a

[1:02:32] big power line that comes in on that corner of the farm. So that farm is not

[1:02:37] going to hurt anybody. It's not going to be an eyesore. I mean, it's going to

[1:02:40] it's going to do what it needs and it's going to help the county with the power

[1:02:44] and the tax revenue and any other kind of revenue that it can do. And I ask for

[1:02:49] your consideration in that. I'm a little bit saddened to find out that

[1:02:55] » [clears throat] >> um one of my council members uh when the

[1:02:58] when the project came available and I looked at the project and I said, "Well,

[1:03:03] I need a contract." They sent me the contract. I got the contract and I sent

[1:03:07] it to Sam and asked Sam, I said, "Sam, could you look over the project for me

[1:03:12] and look over this contract? Make sure there's something that's good because I

[1:03:15] didn't know. I'm not a lawyer. I'm a farmer and I'm a little and and I just

[1:03:20] didn't know." And his exact words were to me was, "If I had it, I would put a

[1:03:25] sale farm, a solar farm on it because of the fact that it's something it's a

[1:03:28] small farm. It's out of the way. Nobody's going to be upset about it."

[1:03:32] But recently, I've understood from him that he's against it. And I'm kind of a

[1:03:36] little saddened about that because I don't think it's going to hurt anybody.

[1:03:40] And I'm not I'm not asking for anything except acceptance for something that's

[1:03:45] going to be positive. And I'm gonna let Miss Lindsay go ahead and explain to

[1:03:48] y'all if y'all can see it now. >> Still can't see.

[1:03:51] » Still can't see. >> I will say it was working when I got

[1:03:55] here. Um, so sorry about that y'all, but I um I can at least just walk you

[1:04:00] through it and then I'm happy to email you some copies of the site plan if

[1:04:04] you'd like to see it. Um, this is going to be 37 and a half acres. Um, like

[1:04:10] Eddie indicated, it will stay in agricultural use. We do this on all of

[1:04:14] our projects. There will be sheep, local pollinator friendly species planted on

[1:04:19] site. Um, it's going to be a 5.9 megawatt AC solar facility with a 4.8

[1:04:25] megawatt battery. The power will be sold to Duke Energy and it's going to

[1:04:29] generate enough power for Duke to power about 1,200 local homes in Williamsburg

[1:04:34] County. Um we will have an 8 foot um wildlife permeable fence so that we

[1:04:40] minimize our environmental impact and per development ordinances will be a 100

[1:04:45] foot setback from adjacent properties 300 from any adjacent residences. Um and

[1:04:50] I'm sorry that I know y'all can't see the screen but with the proposed fianl

[1:04:55] revenue that we are asking for it would generate about $2 million for

[1:04:58] Williamsburg County over the life cycle of the project. So over the 30 years,

[1:05:03] that's $2 million to the county. And then we also do a $5,000 per megawatt

[1:05:08] community donation. So for the size of this project, that would be around

[1:05:12] $39,000 that we would donate to local um non-government offices in the community

[1:05:19] to help benefit Williamsburg. So I'll keep it there. I'm happy to provide a

[1:05:24] copy of the presentation. I've got just some info on Pivot and I'll leave you on

[1:05:27] my business card as well if you have any questions specifically about the

[1:05:30] project. Um but yeah, thank you so much for your

[1:05:34] » one one question that I have. >> Um have you reviewed um the county's

[1:05:40] solar farm solar farm ordinance? >> Yes, sir. The project has been designed

[1:05:44] and the site plan that all jaw has been designed in compliance with the

[1:05:48] Williamsburg County ordinance. >> Okay.

[1:05:50] any member of council with any questions or concerns for Miss either Miss Johnson

[1:05:55] or Mr. McCachi?

[1:05:58] » I just I just wish you luck. I I hate to hear about um

[1:06:04] you know the disappointment, but you know it's just a time where people I

[1:06:10] don't know why they would be against solar farm but hey I wish you the best

[1:06:14] of luck and and hope that it comes through for you. We definitely need more

[1:06:20] We need to keep the farms. We need to keep the farms in the family because if

[1:06:24] the family takes care of it, then some foreign country or some big company

[1:06:29] doesn't own it. And I don't have to tell you these small farms have gone by the

[1:06:33] wayside because they can't maintain because they can't compete and they've

[1:06:37] got and I had the same problem. That's why I had to seek the forestry and

[1:06:41] that's why I had to go back to work bus. I worked for bus shop eight years. I

[1:06:45] went and started smoking fuel and then worked my way all the way up. So I've

[1:06:48] done all these things for the county in the county because I love this county. I

[1:06:52] was born here, raised here and I just hope that you can understand that this

[1:06:56] thing needs to go forward for the power grid if nothing else and for the taxes.

[1:07:00] These taxpayers are struggling. I mean, they're struggling and every year y'all

[1:07:04] have to maintain a a government and you have to have money coming in to do that

[1:07:10] and people just, you know, we don't want to lose anybody else in this county.

[1:07:13] We're losing people. So, this thing may help. I mean, we, you know, it's not

[1:07:17] going to hurt anybody. It's going, it's going to be, it's going to be

[1:07:20] productive, and that's the good thing about it. It's not going to hurt

[1:07:23] anybody, and it's productive. So, I thank you for your consideration, and I

[1:07:26] thank you for your time. I know we all want to go home.

[1:07:29] » One last thing, if you would just please I'm sorry, someone else.

[1:07:34] » Uh, my question, uh, you said you'll be selling this uh, energy of this power to

[1:07:38] Duke. >> Yes, sir.

[1:07:39] » Uh, would Duke turn around and these, 1200 homes or residents, would they get

[1:07:44] a break on their bill? Would it save the resident any money or just Duke?

[1:07:48] » So, it's it's really up to Duke what the energy that they generate and what they

[1:07:54] sell it for. However, solar is the most affordable, cost-effective option for

[1:07:58] energy in the United States [clears throat] right now. So, ideally,

[1:08:01] if Duke is buying it from us for cheaper, then they can turn around and

[1:08:05] give those benefits to the community.

[1:08:10] » Your your PowerPoint just came up. Well, if if we have time, I'm happy to at

[1:08:14] least show you all the site plan. >> Yeah. Where is it located?

[1:08:24] » Yeah. If

[1:08:29] » Okay. Um, yeah, if you could go over it really, really quickly. Um,

[1:08:40] » can you all see my screen now?

[1:08:54] So, as you can see, this is the we're going to be using about a 37 acre

[1:08:59] footprint. It's kind of split up into two sections. So, those two blue

[1:09:03] sections, and this is a preliminary site design, so it is subject to shift a

[1:09:06] little bit, but it will be contained within this footprint you see here. Um,

[1:09:11] the battery facilities are the kind of boxes that I'm sorry I can't point up

[1:09:15] here, but um, I could show youall where that line is. They'll be internal to the

[1:09:20] project footprint.

[1:09:35] Yeah, I remember.

[1:09:44] » Okay. So, this is a way to go back. There's nothing like you say there's

[1:09:50] nothing over here on this side.

[1:10:02] I think it's a good proud.

[1:10:09] » There we go. Now we're on the screen. >> That purple or that pink is power line

[1:10:15] going across the corner. That's why we can't do anything. That's

[1:10:21] why that back field there is considered.

[1:10:27] You can't see that. I've seen these projects and they do not

[1:10:31] look bad from the road. They're just panels. You've seen you all you've all

[1:10:34] seen. and they're going to be maintained as farm land because they're going to

[1:10:40] drive steel poles in the ground and put the panels on and then when the time

[1:10:45] comes from the project to revert back to farmland they can just pull them up and

[1:10:50] pull up the wire and it's back to farmland. It's not cemented everywhere

[1:10:53] that's going to obstruct the ability for that farm to go back to a farm again.

[1:10:58] But right now with the way the economy is and the way the prices of of input

[1:11:02] cost for the farm, I don't know how the world take it. I really don't. And a lot

[1:11:06] of them aren't. And we're going to we're going to see them struggle. But this

[1:11:10] way, this farm can maintain. And I thank y'all. I know y'all want to go home.

[1:11:14] » Thank y'all so much. Thank you. >> Please. And I'll make copies and make

[1:11:19] sure that uh the members of council get it and um we'll forward a copy of the um

[1:11:27] PowerPoint presentation. Thank you all so much. Please give your parents my

[1:11:31] regards. Tell them I said hello. All right. At this time, um, uh, Miss Helen

[1:11:37] Wilson, uh, is going to appear before us. Comments concerning the St. Lawrence

[1:11:42] Community Center pool. Miss Wilson.

[1:11:53] » Good afternoon, everyone. >> Good afternoon.

[1:11:56] » Hey, good afternoon. Sorry. >> Okay. My name is Helen Wilson and uh,

[1:12:01] this is my this is Mayan Seabbrook, which is my nephew. He is uh first vice

[1:12:07] second vice I'm sorry, vice president here at um at the St. Lawrence Community

[1:12:13] Center. What we are here for, if I think I have a package and I think we

[1:12:17] distributed over to you in your seat. Our concern is this community pool. As

[1:12:25] you know that money was allocated for the pool and what we are trying to do is

[1:12:29] we're trying to de we're trying to get this pool ready for not just only the

[1:12:33] community there in Salters but the community for Williamsburg County

[1:12:43] name is Jermaine Cbrook. >> Good evening.

[1:12:46] » Hope everyone is well. um this pool. Pretty sure I see some members up there

[1:12:52] um had enjoy the pool like how I did when I was coming up and we need to uh

[1:13:00] project on fund it so the next generation can enjoy it as well. Um

[1:13:07] currently I live in Charleston. I come way from Charleston to come fight for my

[1:13:11] community for the pool. not not not just for our my community but communities all

[1:13:17] over and we can do this. We can make this happen. Winsbury is strong. I

[1:13:21] believe in you guys. And what I do what I did is that I did a

[1:13:26] research and before I go into the research, we do have representatives

[1:13:29] from our community that are with us today um that is concerned as well as my

[1:13:36] as and myself is concerned with this pool. As you see on your handout that I

[1:13:40] hand out to you, I place 10 ways that the community pool can impact the

[1:13:46] community financially and positively. Not just only the community there in in

[1:13:52] Salters, but the community in Williamsburg County. One of the ways is

[1:13:57] that a a community pool can generate economic benefits while also improving

[1:14:02] public health, safety and social cohesence, creating a win-win for

[1:14:08] residents and the local economics. The first thing that it can create jobs

[1:14:15] and when I say create jobs, it can bring in lifeguards, other things like

[1:14:20] maintenance or whatever else they are at the community pool. Number two, it

[1:14:24] revenue. It the revenue generates for the community. You can have membership

[1:14:29] uh concession sales. All these things will help the pool rental. Whenever

[1:14:35] someone want to rent the pool at uh or the place, they also can rent the pool

[1:14:39] as well. All this brings in revenue not just only for the community but also for

[1:14:44] Williamsburg County. Number three, improve public health reduced long-term

[1:14:49] cost. As you know, there's a YMC there in Georgetown County. And what the YMC

[1:14:54] does, it looks at the person's health and the regular swimming and water-based

[1:14:59] exercise. It would lower the risk of chronic illness like heart disease. And

[1:15:05] a lot of people here in Williamsburg um county around the surrounding area have

[1:15:09] problems with their heart. Also, diabetes. It will reduce health care

[1:15:15] costs for individ individuals in the community. And there is a lot of people

[1:15:21] that is suffering with these chronic disease and the pool itself will will um

[1:15:27] impact those people. Number four, it says youth development and reduce social

[1:15:33] problems. As you know, there's a lot of problems around Greensburg County and

[1:15:37] this pool really can impact them. what it is that you can build uh discipline,

[1:15:43] teamwork and confidence which reduce juvenile delinquents and associate

[1:15:48] social service costs. The water

[1:15:54] as you know I can't even swim. I tried one time whenever that pool was first

[1:15:59] built and I was not successful. I would be dropped in some water now. I guess I

[1:16:05] would drown. But you can have classes there, education, swimming lessons for

[1:16:11] people that need to learn how to swim, especially our children. Uh there's no

[1:16:16] pool in the school. Maybe can access the school uh as well as the the community.

[1:16:21] It lowers drowning. Uh it save lives and reduce emergency response and hospital

[1:16:28] costs. Also in economic multipliers, the pool also can generate outside

[1:16:34] communities. What it is is that it can boost local businesses such as well it

[1:16:39] says restaurant shops, hotels or whatever these um this is these are just

[1:16:44] some of the things that the pool can do. It also um it gives a free access in

[1:16:50] fitness recreations for underserved population uh improve health outcome and

[1:16:55] reduce um a lot of wellness resource. Number eight event hosting and tourists.

[1:17:02] You can have people to come in and visit, you know, having swim meetings.

[1:17:06] You can have special activities um different things that can be located

[1:17:10] there at that pool at um also number nine is support and specialize the

[1:17:17] therapeutic program which is it says warm water pool can offer uh therapeutic

[1:17:22] for seniors, people with disabilities and also recovery injuries such as

[1:17:28] quality for lives and reduce reliance in expensive medical care. And lastly, it

[1:17:35] strengthen community bonds pool serve as a social hub where people of all ages,

[1:17:42] impact fostering trust, cooperation, and civic engagement, which can lead to more

[1:17:48] effective uh initiative, and reduce crimes. These

[1:17:52] are just some of the things that this pool can impact there in the uh in the

[1:17:56] community. And I don't think there is a pool in Williamsburg County that you

[1:18:01] know and we need this like the YMCA there in Georgetown. Williamsburg County

[1:18:06] need this as well. Not just only just to have the pool, but we need it for the

[1:18:10] community. And the this pool really will impact not just only like I said the

[1:18:14] community, but it will also impact the county. So you as the council members,

[1:18:20] supervisor, we are looking forward to you to please be on our side to bring

[1:18:27] this pool into reaction, into reality. And we're looking not just on it, I just

[1:18:32] I say for the Salters area, but King Street and Gleyville, everyone can

[1:18:40] impact on this pool. And so we today is here standing for your approval to help

[1:18:47] us get this pool.

[1:18:52] Thank you so much. Um do any of the members of council have any questions?

[1:18:56] » I just I just want to make a comment. We have met um several times, meet

[1:19:01] Councilman Nesmith, um Councilman Kes, the pool manufacturing company, and

[1:19:08] right now um we're just at a standstill on trying to make it feasible and to get

[1:19:15] the best use out of the pool. Um the pool is what 30 something years old, 40,

[1:19:21] close to 40 years old. >> It's over 40

[1:19:23] » and and we can't patch it. If we going to do it, we want to do it right. We

[1:19:26] don't want to invest none of the taxpayers money and

[1:19:31] half do it. Um, so we we are still in in communication with the the pool company

[1:19:38] and it's it's it's not dead. But you can see from the county we got a lot bigger

[1:19:42] fish to fry um right now and soon as we get those we we constantly working

[1:19:47] towards it. I promise you it won't fall on deaf ear.

[1:19:53] » Okay. >> Anyone else? Yes, sir. I I'll just like

[1:19:56] to say um again I think it's on record and to put it on record you know I'm I'm

[1:20:01] in all support of the pool like Councilman Mcnite said uh we sort of ran

[1:20:07] into some roadblocks uh but having uh SP pool specialist come out and look at uh

[1:20:13] revamping the the whole thing so it's not a patch job and investing the money

[1:20:17] the right way. Um and I see that uh former Councilman Miller is y'all

[1:20:22] president uh and St. Lawrence isn't in district three no

[1:20:27] more, but it was when he was councilman. So, I wish that uh we would have had

[1:20:32] that same type of attention and enthusiasm when uh we was first given

[1:20:36] the money to uh to get this to get this done. Uh because it's now me 21 months

[1:20:42] in and we still uh at the starting line with this. So, again, thank you all for

[1:20:48] coming out and and being supporters of your community.

[1:20:52] Uh, and I wish we could get this passes. >> Well, before I leave, I know that, you

[1:20:57] know, the money was designated for the pool and I also work for a federal

[1:21:02] government agency and I you do know that once money has been designated, you only

[1:21:08] have a short term to use it. So, that's why we are here today.

[1:21:17] We want to be able to enjoy this for our communities, not just only way soldiers,

[1:21:22] but for the entire Williamsburg County. Once the once money is here from the

[1:21:27] federal government, you only have certain you have a limited time. And

[1:21:30] once that time is up, the money is gone. So, I think we're at the very end of

[1:21:36] that. So, that's why we're here to really get this ongoing, you know. So

[1:21:42] don't send the money back. Let us use this pool to help our community, to help

[1:21:47] our disabled children, to help seniors, to help people in the community, not

[1:21:52] just on Salters, but King Street, all the surrounding areas. So please, please

[1:21:58] consider this. Let's not send it back. Thank you.

[1:22:03] » Thank Thank you so much.

[1:22:09] » All right, we have an executive session. um a short executive session. Um I want

[1:22:16] to thank all of the members. Uh I want to thank you all for your patience. I

[1:22:20] know we've this meeting lasted a little longer tonight than I normally than our

[1:22:25] meetings normally do, but as you could tell, we had a quite a bit of important

[1:22:30] business um that needed to be taken care of um tonight. Um, at this time, uh,

[1:22:37] we're going to go into executive session pursuant to section 30-4-70A1,

[1:22:44] discussion of a personnel matter concerning the Williamsburg County

[1:22:48] Supervisor's Office. Is there a motion to go into executive session?

[1:22:52] » So move. >> Is there a second?

[1:22:53] » Second. >> It's been moved and properly second or

[1:22:55] ready for questions. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I. I.

[1:22:59] » Any opposed? All right. We will be in executive session. Thank you all so

[1:23:04] much.

[1:30:41] All right. Thank you all so much for your patience. Is there a motion to come

[1:30:47] out of executive session? >> So moved.

[1:30:49] » So we have a motion to come out of executive session. Is there a second?

[1:30:52] » It's been moved and properly seconded or ready for questions. All those in favor,

[1:30:55] please indicate by saying I. >> I.

[1:30:57] » Any opposed? All we are out of executive session. No decisions have been made. It

[1:31:02] was just discussion. uh information purposes only. All right. Our next

[1:31:08] meeting will be Tuesday uh September the 22nd. Tuesday, September the 22nd. I

[1:31:16] believe we're going to have a public hearing that night as well. So, we'll

[1:31:19] begin at 5 uh 45. Um are there any other um issues for the benefit of council for

[1:31:28] for county government? Yes, sir. Uh we will have our um precinct meeting at the

[1:31:34] Bloomingville Community Center uh 8292 Third Good Marshall Highway on September

[1:31:42] 14th and in the Indian Town area at Barry Park on September 28th.

[1:31:49] » Okay. Thank you so much, Councilman Wilson. Anyone else? Anyone else? All

[1:31:54] right. There's no reports from the county supervisor's office. Uh with that

[1:31:58] being said, again we want to thank uh those of you all who were uh here in

[1:32:01] person tonight. We also thank those of you all who uh have been watching uh the

[1:32:07] meeting on our um Facebook page or either will be watching it later. Uh is

[1:32:13] there a motion to adjurnn? >> We have a motion to adjurnn. Is there a

[1:32:17] second? >> Second.

[1:32:19] » It's been moved and properly seconded. Are we ready for questions? All those in

[1:32:22] favor please indicate by saying I. >> I.

[1:32:24] » Any opposed? All right. We are adjourned. Thank you all so much. God

[1:32:29] bless you all. Safe travels home. Thank you.

Williamsburg County Council Meeting September 8, 2026

Transcript