* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. Introductory Remarks] [00:00:02] GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. HELLO. HELLO. IT'S SIX O'CLOCK AND I'D LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR, WHAT IS IT? MARCH. MARCH COUNCIL MEETING. UM, WE'RE GOING START OFF, UH, BY STANDING IN, UH, SAYING THE LORD'S PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY OUR P PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR FATHER, FATHER THROUGH OUR HEAVEN. HEAVEN. HOW THY NAME TH KINGDOM COME. THE I WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS HEAVEN GIVES THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND GIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE'VE GIVE THOSE TRESPASSES AGAINST US. LEAD US, NOT TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM TH THE KINGDOM POWER. GLORY. HONOR, I'LL BE I PANCE TO FLAG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [4. Approval of Agenda ] FIRST UP TONIGHT WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA. EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS RECEIVED THEIR PACKET AND HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK IT OVER. DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA, SO MOVE AS CHAIRMAN. SECOND. SECOND. COUNCIL, UH, MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. [5. Approval of Minutes ] NEXT UP, WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING. SO, BOARD CHAIRMAN, HAVE A MOTION. COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND. COUNCILMAN RODIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. AND THAT MOTION CARRIES TO [6. Service Awards Recognition – Leonard Lowery, HR Director ] NEXT UP WE HAVE SERVICE AWARD RECOGNITION WITH MR. LEONARD LOWRY, OUR HR DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIR, COUNCIL ADMINISTRATOR AND CITIZENS OF CLATON COUNTY. TONIGHT WE'RE GONNA BE RECOGNIZING SIX EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO CLATON COUNTY. THE FIRST EMPLOYEE, SERGEANT CHRISTIE HALE. SERGEANT HALE HAS FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE AND CURRENTLY WORKING WITH FIRE AND RESCUE. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THE NEXT EMPLOYEE TO BE RECOGNIZED, UH, IS, LEMME MAKE, MAKE SURE I SAY THIS CORRECTLY. SHAKAYLA BENNETT SHAKAYLA HAS 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WORKING WITH MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE AS THE TRAFFIC COURT ADMINISTRATOR. LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE PLEASE. NEXT WE HAVE MARVIN STENY. 10 YEARS OF SERVICE. MR. STENY IS A CUSTODIAN TWO IN THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT EMPLOYEE TO BE RECOGNIZED AS CAPTAIN, UH, RELL, JR. PLEASE GIVE CAPTAIN, UH, JUNIOR A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. NEXT, LIEUTENANT JOSEPH MCLEOD, FLEET MAINTENANCE WITH THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT. 20 YEARS OF SERVICE. ALL RIGHT, WITH 25 YEARS OF SERVICE SUPERVISOR MICHAEL BRAXTON, FLEET MAN, UH, FLEET MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR. [00:05:07] LONG TIME WE GOT TO HAVE 25 MORE. NOW , LET'S GIVE ALL OF THESE EMPLOYEES AROUND. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND WE WERE SIGNING THOSE THINGS THE OTHER DAY. WALT WAS LIKE, WE GOT SOME BIG ONES. AND I WAS LIKE, WOW. 25 YEARS. BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE. NEXT WE HAVE SPECIAL [7. Special Recognition Clarendon County Recreation Department Basketball Teams] SHOW RECOGNITION FROM THE CLATON COUNTY REC DEPARTMENT BASKETBALL TEAM. SORRY ABOUT MR. MR. CHAIRMAN. OH, NO PROBLEM, MR. CHAIRMAN. WE WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE OUR YOUTH BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS. THEIR SEASON JUST CONCLUDED. UM, ON THE LIST WE'VE GOT THE MANNING SMALL FRIED GRIZZLIES COACHED BY CARMINE GAMBLE. UH, THESE ARE OUR SEVEN TO 9-YEAR-OLD CO-ED TEAMS THAT WE HAVE DEMANDING SMALL FRIED GRIZZLIES IN ATTENDANCE. IF NOT, WE WANNA GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND RECOGNIZE THEM. ANYWAY, NEXT UP WE'VE GOT THE SUMMERTON MIGHT MIGHTY BOBCATS COACH KEVIN, GIST, GIST, GIST. UM, AND THIS IS A 10 TO 12 COED GROUP, SO IF WE CAN GET Y'ALL TO COME FORWARD, WE'LL GET YOUR PICTURE AND WE'LL GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. IS THAT, CONGRATULATIONS. AND NEXT UP WE'VE GOT THE TURVILLE MIKE BOYS, UM, TEAM BURGESS WITH COACH CHANEL BURGESS. UM, THIS IS NINE TO 12 YEAR OLDS AND WE ONLY GOT TWO INTENDANCE, BUT THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL WE GOT. AND I KNOW WE GIVE A LOT OF THANKS TO THE KIDS AND CONGRATULATIONS. BUT I WANNA THANK THE PARENTS AS WELL. UM, AS ONE WHO TRAVELED AROUND DOING NEW SPORTS, I CAN TELL YOU IT'S ALMOST ANOTHER JOB. SO, SO PARENTS, CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT. [8. Public Comments (Total of five (5) available speaking spots, three (3) minutes per speaker) You must sign in with the Clerk before the meeting begins. ] NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FIVE SPEAKING SPOTS, THREE MINUTES PER SPEAKER. AND FIRST UP WE HAVE MR. GEORGE FRYER. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME OUT TO SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY OLDEST BROTHER WHO WAS BORN ON THE 9TH OF MARCH, 1942 IN BLOOMVILLE FAMILY VALLEY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. SO TODAY WOULD'VE BEEN HIS BIRTHDAY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY GRANDFATHER, WHO'S A WORLD WAR I VETERAN, WHO ALSO WAS BORN IN COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA. NOW ON LAST MONDAY, I WAS UP AT THE STATE HOUSE AS WE WERE HONORING THE REVEREND JACKSON SENIOR AND HIS LEGACY TO SOUTH CAROLINA. AND AT THAT TIME I FOUND OUT THAT HIS OLDEST SON WAS ACTUALLY SOUTH CAROLINA NATIVE. SO YOU LEARN, YOU LIVE AND YOU LEARN. NOW, KENNETH FREON, WHO IS THE BROTHER OF WJ FREON, IS ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS WALL. ACTUALLY WALL [00:10:01] 14 PANELS 64. THAT IS THE RESULT OF CONFLICTS OF WALLS. AND I'M GONNA SAY CONFLICTS OF WARS BECAUSE WE ARE IN A CONFLICT RIGHT NOW. IT HAS NOT BEEN DECLARED A WAR BY CONGRESS BECAUSE ONLY CONGRESS CAN DECLARE WAR. AND CONGRESS DID NOT DECLARE VIETNAM BILL WAR. SO 50,227 OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS DIED IN A POLICE ACTION, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT THAT WAY. NOW, THE REVEREND WJ PRICE, HIS SEAT IS EMPTY. THAT'S MY COUSIN. AND UH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN ELECTION, AT LEAST A PRIMARY ON TOMORROW, UH, FOR HIS TO TRY TO FILL HIS SEAT. AND WE, WE, WE CANNOT VOTE IN THAT ELECTION. SO WE ARE WISHING WHOEVER THE FIRST CAN, BEST CANDIDATE WINS. NOW WJ AND OUR JUNIORS, THE YEAR THAT THE LAMAR RIOT HAPPENED IN 1970, ON MARCH THE THIRD, I LEFT WALKER GAMBLE. I WENT TO EAST CLAN FOR MY SENIOR YEAR. HE LEFT MANNING TRAINING SCHOOL AND WENT TO MANNING HIGH SCHOOL. SO WE ARE PRODUCTS OF THE FIRST, I WON'T SAY INTEGRATED, BUT DESEGREGATED CLASS IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS STATE REALLY. NOW TALKING ABOUT WARS AND RUMORS AWARDS, THERE WAS THE CIVIL WAR THAT STARTED IN, AT FORT SUMTER, CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DIED FOR FOOLISH CAUSE. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY TO MAINTAIN SLAVERY, WHATEVER SOMEBODY ELSE SAYS. NOW I HAVE A FEW OF MY FELLOW MILITARY, 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN OUT IN THE MILITARY FOR 51 YEARS, BUT THEY'RE STILL MY BROTHER AND SISTERS IN ARMS WHO, UM, WAS KILLED AND THERE'S CONFLICT. AND IT WAS A DIGNIFIED TRANSFER IS WHAT WE CALL IT. NOW, IN ORDER TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED TRANSFER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED PERSON ACTUALLY PRESENTING THAT TRANSFER. ALSO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE LESSON IN THE LIFE OF ALVIN GREEN, WHO PASSED ON MARCH THE THIRD. THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED MARCH THE THIRD. AND, UH, HE RAN FOR US SENATE IN 2010. HE WAS BURIED ON FRIDAY AND I WENT TO HIS GRAVE YESTERDAY TO GIVE HOMAGE TO HIM. PUBLIC CHARGE LAW ACTUALLY WAS PASSED ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 2020, SIGNING THE LAW BY DONALD TRUMP. WE THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. GEORGE. ANYBODY'S GOT ANY TIME MIGHT WANT TO GET WITH MR. GEORGE IF HE HANGS AROUND TILL IT'S OVER WITH, BECAUSE HE SHOWED ME ABOUT 75 PICTURES AT A FUNERAL HE WENT TO THE OTHER DAY IN, IN COLUMBIA. AND UH, HE HAD SOME PEOPLE IN THERE THAT MADE HIM LOOK PRETTY GOOD. HE DON'T, HE DON'T, YOU KNOW, HE DON'T, HE'S KINDA LIKE ME. HE DON'T LOOK REAL WELL, BUT HE HAS SOME PEOPLE IN THERE THAT MADE HIM LOOK PRETTY GOOD. BEAUTIFUL . NEXT UP WE HAVE MR. JOE AUGER. IT IS JUST SO FAMILIAR THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAR BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING A WAR IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE FOUR WHEELERS. I'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE TO TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT IT. AND I'M ANGRY AND I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING. IF IT OFFENDS ANYONE, I APOLOGIZE, BUT I'M ANGRY. BUT IF I DON'T GET NO HELP, IT SAYS MY NAME IS JOY. I'M HERE BECAUSE I CONTACTED THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARE SAFETY ASSOCIATION CONCERNING WHAT? I'M HERE BY THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. 1268 MCNAIR DRIVE, SUMMIT SOUTH CAROLINA. I'M REQUIRED BY LAW TO GET AN ADEQUATE REST WHEN I'M HOME. 'CAUSE BY THEM I NEED 10 HOURS OF REST BEFORE I LEAVE HOME BECAUSE THE DANGER OF FATIGUE, I CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE NOISE ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO HOMES THAT MAKES THE NOISE. ONLY THEM THAT COMPLAINS ABOUT IT. AS FOR THEM, THEY COULD RIDE AROUND IN THE YARD AS MUCH AS THEY WANT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH NOISE IT MAKE 'CAUSE IT'S THEIR YARD. YES, STILL WE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO PUT UP WITH IT. AS GOOD AS THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IS, I'M PROUD TO SAY I THANK GOD FOR THEM. 'CAUSE IT WASN'T FOR THEM. I'D PROBABLY BE IN JAIL NOW 'CAUSE OF THE FOUR WHEELERS AND DIRT BIKES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M GOING TO THE MAGISTRATE COURT NEXT MONDAY 'CAUSE ONE OF THEM TRIED TO RUN ME OVER. HE'S BEING CHARGED WITH ASSAULT AND BATTERY NOW BECAUSE Y'ALL WHO ARE SITTING ON THE TOWN COUNCIL ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT BY GIVING THEM MORE AUTHORITY TO CHARGE, ARREST AND CONFISCATE, ESCAPE THE RIDERS AND BIKES BY RIDING THE ORDINANCE, BANNING RECREATIONAL VEHICLES FROM BEING IN NEIGHBORHOODS. THERE ARE FOUR OF US DRIVERS LIVE THERE AND WE HAVE PAID ENOUGH TAXES FOR YOU ALL TO SIT THERE AND WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT WE [00:15:01] DESERVE. I DID NOT SPEND MY HARD ON MONEY NOT TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY MY HOME AT MY AGE IN PEACE. I WILL DO WHATEVER HAVE TO. AND THAT'S FACT NOT WARNING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ENOUGH. THERE IS NOT ONE PERSON WHO IS HERE TODAY THAT WOULD NOT DO THE SAME WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HOME AND FAMILY. IT MIGHT NOT BE, IT MIGHT NOT SEEM TO BE ANYTHING TO Y'ALL ON THE COUNCIL 'CAUSE YOU ARE NOT DEALING WITH IT. AND I KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. BUT DOES A PEN AND A PAPER COST TOO MUCH? OR MAYBE IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU BUT US WHO ARE DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION HAVE PAID ENOUGH MONEY, TAXES THAT THE PAPER AND PEN IS PAID FOR ALREADY. AND WE ARE THE REASON WHY WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. 'CAUSE OTHERWISE, WHAT IS OUR TAXES GOOD FOR PAYING FOR THE CHAIRS YOU SITTING WHILE WE COMPLAIN WITH NO HELP IN SIGHT. THANKS FOR A MAJOR GRAHAM AND THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOB BEING WELL DONE IN OUR BEHALF. 'CAUSE IT LOOK LIKE AIN'T NOTHING HELP BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE AIN'T NO HELP COMING FROM UP HERE, ANY MAN FOR THIS. THANK YOU SIR. COULD YOU, COULD YOU, COULD YOU HANG AROUND TO THE END OF THE MEETING? LEMME SPEAK TO YOU. OKAY. IF YOU DON'T MIND. I JUST WANNA FIND OUT WHERE YOU'RE AT. THE PROBLEM IS AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIX IT. YEAH, HANG, HANG OUT. WE'LL, WE'LL TALK NEXT. WE HAVE MS. CARROLL SUMMERS. THANK YOU FOR THIS MINUTE IN TIME. MAYBE YOU, MAYBE SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT GEORGE SUMMERS AND I HAVE WORKED ON THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HISTORY IN CLARENDON COUNTY FOR OVER 25 YEARS WITH THE SWAMP FOX MURALS ACROSS CLARENDON FROM TURVILLE TO SUMMERTON AND THE MURALS THAT ARE AROUND IN THIS ROOM, WERE AN OUTGROWTH OF OUR OUTDOOR MURALS ON BUILDINGS. AND THIS YEAR WE'LL HAVE THE 24TH FRANCIS MARION SYMPOSIUM THAT BRINGS PEOPLE FROM OVER 12 STATES AND OVER 50 TOWNS ACROSS SOUTH CAROLINA TO CLARENDON COUNTY. ALL SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTIES ARE INVOLVED IN EVENTS OF THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION THIS YEAR. AND OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS, GOVERNOR MCMASTER CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS ACROSS OUR STATE. CLARENDON HAS SIX SITES, AND THAT'S OUT OF 36 SITES IN THE WHOLE STATE ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA BATTLEGROUND PRESERVATION TRUST WEBSITE AND APP, THE SOUTH CAROLINA LIBERTY TRAIL. THIS IS ADVERTISED WORLDWIDE AND OUR COUNTY IS CALLED, IS PART OF THIS AREA CALLED THE SPRINGS OF RESOLVE. AND THAT INCLUDES THE GREAT SAVANNAH HALFWAY SWAMP OX SWAMP TEAR COAT FORT WATSON AND THE WABU SWAMP. AND THIS IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE CLARENDON COUNTY'S VAST HISTORY. I INVITE YOU TO VISIT THE CLARENDON ARCHIVES, WHICH HOLDS THIS HISTORY AND THE MILITARY HISTORY. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT FROM WORLD WAR II, VIETNAM AND MUCH MORE. IT ALSO HOLDS GENEALOGY AND ANCESTRY. IT HOLDS THE HISTORY OF THE RAILROADS, LAND, PLATS, YEARBOOKS, CEMETERIES. THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN DONATED AND THEY'RE BOUGHT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND THE DAR, THE GARDEN CLUBS, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND SO MUCH MORE THAT REPRESENT CLARENDON COUNTY. DO VISIT THE ARCHIVES AT NORTH BROOKS IN MANNING AND REALIZE THE VAST HISTORY OF CLARENDON COUNTY THAT'S HELD THERE. CAROL SUMMERS CLARENDON ARCHIVES BOARD MEMBER FOR OVER 25 YEARS. THANK YOU MS. CARROLL. WE HAVE ONE MORE PERSON SIGNED UP TONIGHT AND THAT IS MS. ANGELA REED. GOOD EVENING. AND THAT'S ANGEL REE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK, ANGEL. OKAY. UM, HAVE TWO ISSUES THAT I OBSERVED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS TODAY. FIRST, UM, I NOTICED IT APPEARED THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO REINTRODUCE THE PENNY TAX. AND I WANNA POINT OUT THAT NOT LONG AGO THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS, UM, REALLY CAMPAIGNED AGAINST AS MUCH NEEDED FUNDING FOR OUR COUNTY. UM, AND NOT TOO LONG AGO WE HAD PEOPLE [00:20:01] IN THIS VERY ROOM HOLDING UP SIGNS, CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I SUPPORTED IT THEN AND I SUPPORT IT NOW. I HOPE THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO GIVE THE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS WE NEED, UM, FOR THE CRITICAL NEEDS WE NEED IN CLARINET COUNTY. UM, AND IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, BUT TO AT LEAST, UM, MAKE SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYEES THAT IS RUNNING THIS COUNTY, UM, ARE PAID A LIVING WAGE. SECONDLY, I WANTED TO ADDRESS A CONCERN THAT I HAD ABOUT, UM, HOW CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NOW DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT FORMER INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR WAS REFERENCED AT THE LAST MEETING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO SAY SOMETHING TODAY. WHEN DISCUSSING THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS SECURED FOR CRITICAL COUNTY UPGRADES, SHE WAS REFERRED TO AS THE STAFF THAT WAS HERE BEFORE ME. UM, WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR NOT, THAT WORDING MINIMIZES THE WORK OF SOMEONE WHO STEPPED UP NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE DURING THE PIVOTAL PERIODS AND DELIVERED MAJOR BENEFITS TO THIS COUNTY. AND FOR CLARIFICATION, I AM SPEAKING ABOUT CHARMAINE ANDERSON, WHO IS OUR CURRENT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR. THAT COMMENT DIDN'T SET WELL TO ME THAT DAY OF THE MEETING, AND I HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO RAISE THIS CONCERN TODAY, AT TODAY'S MEETING WELL BEFORE LEARNING THAT SHE HAS SINCE BEEN SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR OUR NEIGHBORING TOWN OF SANTEE. I JUST WANNA SAY THAT CHARMAINE IS SORRY. THIS IS REALLY BOTHERING A LOYAL DAUGHTER OF CLARINET COUNTY. SHE HAS STOOD 10 TOES DOWN FOR UPLIFTING THIS COMMUNITY AND WAYS THAT TRULY MATTERED THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE. HER LIFETIME IN SERVICE BEGAN AS A CHILD IN CHURCH. SHE CONTINUED THROUGH HER YEARS OF SCHOOL, EXTENDED THAT INTO INVOLVEMENT IN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN HER COLLEGE YEARS, AND EVENTUALLY CIRCLED BACK HERE TO CLA COUNTY BACK HOME WHERE SHE SERVED IN VARIOUS ROLES THROUGHOUT HER CAREER. HER CAPABILITIES SURPASSES THAT THOSE OF MANY OF US, AND WE WERE TRULY BLESSED. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE HER HERE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT SANTI WILL TRULY THRIVE UNDER HER LEADERSHIP. NOW WE CAN DISAGREE ON POLITICS, BUT WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF PROFESSIONALISM. AND BASIC, BASIC RESPECT, ACKNOWLEDGING PEOPLE BY NAME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR EFFORTS BRING SIGNIFICANT FUNDING AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR COMMUNITY, HELPS BUILD TRUST AND COMMITMENT AND COMMU CONTINUITY IN LEADERSHIP. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT COUNSEL AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATOR TO RECOGNIZE CHARMAN ANDERSON CONTRIBUTIONS OPENLY AND ACCURATELY GIVEN CREDIT WHERE SHE CREDIT IS DUE. THAT WAY IT STRENGTHENS OUR COMMUNITY AND SETS THE RIGHTS HOME FOR MOVING FORWARD. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU MS. ANGEL. NEXT [9. Presentations – Request for Hospitality Fund Support ] UP WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL DIFFERENT REQUESTS FOR HOSPITALITY FARMS AND, UH, WE HAVE MS. MELISSA STEVENS IS REQUESTING $6,000 TO SUPPORT THE 2026 JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY FESTIVAL AT HAR HAVEN. IN, UH, WE HAVE MR. JOHNNY WILSON REQUESTING 7,500 TO SUPPORT THE 2026 JUNETEENTH FREEDOM FESTIVAL AND BUSINESS EXPO SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 20TH, 2026. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CLATON COUNTY BRANCH OF NAACP REQUESTING $10,200 TO EIGHT IN VARIOUS MARKETING INITIATIVES FOR BRIGGS VERSUS ELLIOT PRAYING FESTIVAL, WHICH IS HELD ON MAY 15TH, 16TH AND 17TH IN THE TOWN OF SUMMERTON. MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE YOU ADDRESS THOSE, THOSE NEEDS, UM, I, I'M NOT SURE IT'S A PRODUCT OF THE HOSPITALITY TAX ORDINANCE THAT WE BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'VE KIND OF GOTTEN A FLOOD OF REQUESTS. SOME WILL BE PENDING ON, ON FUTURE AGENDAS. UM, SOME ACTUALLY ARE FROM OUTTA COUNTY, UM, ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SENDING IN. UM, BUT I WANNA MAKE COUNCIL AWARE THESE ARE NOT UNLIMITED FUNDS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A FINITE AMOUNT OF HOSPITALITY TAX FUNDS, UM, PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME, THE BULK OF WHICH IS ACTUALLY DEDICATED TO GO TO PAYING OFF DEBT SERVICE FROM BORROWS THAT [00:25:01] THE COUNTY TOOK, TOOK OUT IN THE PAST. SO WE DO HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT, UM, AND HOPEFULLY THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS WILL NOT OVERWHELM OUR ABILITY TO FUND THEM, BUT WE DO HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN ANY ISSUE WITH ANY OF THESE REQUESTS TONIGHT FROM THAT STANDPOINT. SO PLEASE DON'T, DON'T READ ANYTHING INTO THAT. BUT IF THE TREND CONTINUES WITH THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE GETTING IN, WE MAY HAVE TO PUT SOME SOME POLICIES IN PLACE TO, TO PUT SOME GUIDANCE ON, ON THE REQUEST THAT WE RECEIVED. BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE OKAY. BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE YOU AWARE THAT MAY BE A, A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. ANYBODY, SORRY TO INTERRUPT. CAN I MAKE A MOTION? YEAH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION IF THIS DO WITH Y'ALL. BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, WE GIVE 'EM $5,000 LAST YEAR AND YEAH, THAT WAS TO A, THAT WAS TO A DIFFERENT GROUP THAT THE GROUP THAT, BUT FOR JUNETEENTH YES. FOR, YES. FOR, FOR A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. IT WAS $5,000 LAST YEAR, INCREASED IT BY $1,000 TO 6,000. SPLIT IT BETWEEN THEM. UNLESS THEY COME UP WITH, IF THEY CAN GET WITH 'EM AND WITH ADMINISTRATION OR SOMETHING, THEY CAN COMBINE SOMETHING. BUT IF NOT, SPLIT 6,000 BETWEEN I I KNOW WHERE HAR I KNOW WHERE HAR HAVEN IS. UM, JOHNNY, YOU BACK THERE? I'M, I'M HERE. WHERE, WHERE, WHERE YOU GONNA HAVE YOURS? WELL, I'M HAVING IT AT THE, UH, AT THE, UM, HISTORICAL, UH, AMERICAN LEGION CARD OF SULLIVAN FIELD. RIGHT HERE, WHERE THE OLD HEAD START IS. THIS IS OUR EIGHTH YEAR DOING THIS. WE BRING IN MORE THAN $7,000 WHEN WE DO AN EVENT. THIS IS OUR EIGHTH YEAR DOING THIS. LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE TO PARK, SO WE HAD TO CANCEL IT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PARK. SO WE ARE, UH, PARTNERING WITH THE, UH, AMERICAN LEGION. POST NUMBER 2 0 4 IS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY. WE ARE COMBINING THOSE TWO THINGS AND IT WILL BE HELD ON THAT FIELD. THAT'S WHERE THE OLD HEAD START IS. AND THAT'S WHERE THE OLD, UH, FAIRGROUND USED TO BE. SO WE'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING BACK THERE THIS YEAR AS A HISTORICAL THING. IT'S ACTUALLY A THREE DAY EVENT, BUT THIS, WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS FOR ONE DAY, BUT WE DO WORKSHOPS AND EVERYTHING STARTING ON THE 18TH WEEK ON THAT. THIS, WE ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET THE FAIR TO COME BACK. THE NOSTALGIA. WE'RE TRYING TO GET 'EM TO COME BACK AND THEN DO THE, THE BIG PRESENTATION THERE ON THAT FIELD. OKAY. SO YOUR, YOUR MOTION TO INCLUDE THE TWO GROUPS GETTING TOGETHER? WELL, WELL, ONE GROUP DROPPED OUT AND I THINK WE GOT, WHAT IS IT? TWO NEW GROUPS? YES. YES. THE THE GROUP THAT WAS FUNDED LAST YEAR, UM, WAS AN EVENT IN NEWS ISLAND, IF I, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. AND SHE HAS ELECTED NOT TO DO THE EVENT THIS YEAR. SHE'S GONNA TRANSFORM AND, AND DO A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EVENT, BUT IT WON'T BE A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION. UM, THE OTHER GROUP, UM, IS THEIR, THEIR EVENT IS BEING HELD IN ALKA, WHICH I THINK IS ONLY ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM MR. WILSON'S GROUP. AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE WOULD BE FUNDING TWO COMPETING GROUPS SPLITTING OFF FROM EACH OTHER. AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK TO 'EM ABOUT COMBINING FORCES FOR THE RECORD, WE TRIED, WE TRIED TO, WE TRIED TO WORK. YOU'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT. SHE REACHED, SOMEONE REACHED OUT TO ME. UH, BUT THE, THE KEY TO THAT IS IN RESPECT FOR THE AMERICAN LEGION AND IT SAID IT FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, WE HAD TO STAY PUT WHERE WE WERE. UH, AND WE, WE TRIED TO WORK THAT OUT. WE REALLY DID. SO I, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFLICT WITH HOWEVER YOU ALL DECIDE, UH, BUT IT WON'T, IT WON'T BE THAT AGAIN. IT WON'T BE A CONFLICT AGAIN. UH, EVEN IF WE HAVE TO BACK OUT OF IT, THEY WON'T BE. BUT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, ASKING BECAUSE IS NECESSARY. WE'RE PEOPLE FROM FLORIDA, FROM CHARLESTON, FROM FROM, I MADE A MOTION TO UP AT $1,000, MR. BILLY, AND THEN SPLIT BETWEEN 'EM IF THEY COULDN'T ENFORCE. OKAY. WILL I SECOND THAT MOTION? OKAY. I I HAVE A MOTION THAT TO UP WHAT THEY GOT, WHAT WE APPROPRIATED LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS 5,000 UP TO $6,000. I'M, I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS 5,000. I MADE A, A MOTION IT WAS $6,000. GIVE HIM $6,000 TO SPLIT IT. OKAY. I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN COKER TO GIVE $6,000 SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION THAT I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN FOR REGISTER. ALL IN FAVOR. A A [00:30:01] ALL OPPOSED. ALRIGHT, THAT MOTION CARRIES. NOW ON CLA COUNTY BRANCH NAACP REQUESTING $10,200 TO AID IN VARIOUS INITIATIVES WITH BRIGGS VERSUS ELLIOT SPRING FESTIVAL. MR. CHAIRMAN, I, UH, I REALIZED THAT WE GETTING A LOT MORE REQUESTS FOR JUNETEENTH ACTIVITY, OTHER ACTIVITIES, ANY KIND. FOR SOME, IT SEEMED LIKE A LOT OF GROUPS, UH, ORGANIZATIONS JUST FINDING OUT THAT THIS MONEY ARE AVAILABLE AND WE BEING OVERWHELMED WITH A LOT OF REQUESTS. UH, I SERVER CALL THAT. WE'VE GOT SOME REQUESTS THAT IN THE MAKING HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO US YET, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE REQUESTED. AND, UH, THIS NWCP UH, EVENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. I USUALLY ATTEND EVERY YET. AND THIS STEADY GROWING, UH, I THINK LAST YEAR WE GAVE THEM $8,500. SO MY RECOMMENDATION, AND I'M GONNA PUT IT IN THE FORM OF EMOTION THAT WE GRANT THEM 9,500, BUT IT'LL BE SHORT OF THE 10,200. BUT WE GOT SO MANY REQUESTS, I WANT TAKE A LOOK AT IT TO WHERE WE COULD GIVE EVERYBODY SOMETHING. SO I'M CUTTING BACK $800 FROM THE NAACP FROM THEIR REQUEST, BUT WE GIVE THEM A THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN WE GIVE 'EM LAST YEAR. SO MY MOTION WILL BE TO GRANT THEM $9,500 THIS YEAR. SECOND. OKAY. I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON FOR $9,500 AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COKER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? AND MOTION CARRIES. MR. CHAIRMAN, BEFORE WE GET OFF THAT SUBJECT, UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, HOSPITALITY MONEY THAT IS GIVEN TO THESE GROUPS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA HOLD ONTO. WE WANNA PUT IT TO USE, BUT THE SUBMISSION BY AN ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO INCLUDE DETAILS ON THE AMOUNT OF ANTICIPATED VISITORS THAT WE'RE GETTING. PARTICULARLY IF YOU GOT A HISTORY LIKE MR. WILSON'S GROUP, UM, HE DID A FANTASTIC JOB IN HIS SUBMISSION, UM, TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY'RE GONNA BRING FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT WILL BE SPENDING MONEY IN CLARENDON COUNTY, WHETHER IT BE ON HOTEL ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, GAS STATIONS, SHOPPING AT OUR LOCAL STORES, WHATEVER. THAT'S HOW WE WANNA PUT THAT MONEY TO USE. AND I'M JUST SAYING THIS, SO THE GENERAL PUBLIC HERE IS, IT'S NOT FOR A FESTIVAL THAT JUST CENTERS ON LOCAL FOLKS. IT'S HOSPITALITY MONEY THAT SHOULD BE DERIVED TO GENERATE TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED EXPENDITURES INTO OUR COUNTY. SO IF THERE IS A GROUP OUT THERE THAT'S JUST DOING SOMETHING FOR THE LOCALS THAT MAY NOT APPLY TO HOSPITALITY MONEY, BUT EVENTS SUCH AS MR. WILSON'S AND THE, UM, THE BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION EVENT, THOSE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE FROM, WELL OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY INTO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THEY EXPERIENCE WHAT WE KNOW AS PLANTON COUNTY, UM, AND THEN GENERATE SOME ADDITIONAL HOSPITALITY FUNDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS, TAX FUNDS. SO, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, OKAY, NEXT [10. Presentations – County Flag ] UP, UH, SOME OF YOU WERE HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK WHENEVER THIS YOUNG MAN, MR. J SCOTT DESIGNED A COUNTY FLAG FOR US. AND WE OPENED THAT UP, UM, FOR ONE MONTH TO SEE IF ANYONE WANTED TO, UM, DESIGN AN ALTERNATE FLAG AND NO ONE DID. UM, THEN WE, UH, WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE FLAG AND WE MADE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM CHANGE ON IT. AND HE'S BACK TONIGHT. AND, UM, I'M GONNA GIVE HIM A FEW MINUTES TO, UH, SHOW US WHAT HE'S GOT AND, UM, I GUESS WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT. YES, SIR. THIS IS THE, UH, CLEARING COUNTY FLAG THAT DESIGNED BASED ON THE CHANGES THAT THE BOARD WANTED TO MAKE. AND IT IS DOUBLE-SIDED AND IT IS READY TO GO TO BE FLOWN. UM, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS A VOTE OR APPROVAL FOR IT AND WHERE THE NEXT STEPS ARE. ANYBODY GOT ANY QUESTIONS? WE, WE DID OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? I'M SORRY. WE WE DID OPEN IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE FLAGS A WHILE BACK. YEAH. YES. COUNCILMAN COKER REOPENED IT FOR 30 DAYS AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL RESPONSES. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT [00:35:01] THE FLAG. YEP. MR. CHAIRMAN, I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ACCEPT THE CURRENT OFFERING AT, OR THE CURRENT DESIGN AS THE OFFICIAL FLAG OF CLARINET COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UM, MOVING FORWARD. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN COPE. SECOND. GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. MR. J SCOTT, IF YOU WILL, SOMETIME IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, GET WITH ADMINISTRATOR ACKERMAN AND HE WILL, UH, HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT, WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS. YES SIR. CONGRATULATIONS. BOARD APPOINTMENTS [11. Board Appointments – Development Board ] FOR THE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AUTHORIZATION TO REAPPOINT LISA JUSTICE TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM ON THE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. DO I HAVE A MOTION REAPPOINT MS. JUSTICE TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM? SO MOVED. SECOND. I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? NEXT UP I HAVE AUTHORIZATION TO APPOINT MR. CHRIS DURANT REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE AND NELSON WALKER AS AN AT LARGE MEMBER TO THE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE DO THIS. I MAKE SECOND. WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COKER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED? NEXT UP AUTHORIZATION TO REAPPOINT ROBERT BOYKIN REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE TO THE DEVELOPMENT BOARD CHAIRMAN, I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN COKER. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU ON YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS. [12. Ordinance 2026-01 ] NEXT UP I HAVE A ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH ONE CONSIDERATION OF THIRD AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH ONE IN ORDINANCE OF COUNTY COUNCIL OF PLAN COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA TO AMEND THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL ZONING MAP DESIGNATION FOR TAX MAP PARCEL 3 4 7 DASH ZERO ZERO DASH ZERO TWO DASH ZERO ONE DASH ZERO ZERO FROM AGRICULTURE ONE TO RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? WE GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED. AND THAT MOTION, CARRIE. NEXT I HAVE [13. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-02 ] A PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH TWO, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REINSTATING ORDINANCES ESTABLISHED ESTABLISHING A 1% LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX ON THE SALES OF PREPARED MEALS AND BEVERAGES SOLD IN CLA COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERE TO THIS. UM, I WILL BE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. OKAY. IF NO ONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, I'LL BE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME AND WE'LL BE MOVING ON. NEXT WE HAVE ORDINANCE 2026 [14. Ordinance 2026-02 ] DASH OH TWO, CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH TWO AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE AND REINSTATING ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING A 1% LOCAL HOSPITALITY TAX ON THE SALES OF PREPARED MEALS AND BEVERAGES SOLD IN CLATON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERE TOO. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOTION? I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED. AND MOTION CABBAGE. NEXT WE HAVE ANOTHER [15. Public Hearing – Ordinance 2026-03 ] PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH THREE AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLA COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OF TO AUTHORIZE AND IMPLEMENT A FLEXIBLE DESIGN DISTRICT ZONING DESIGNATION. I'LL BE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON THAT. WE WILL BE CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT AND WE'LL BE MOVING ON [16. Ordinance 2026-03 ] TO ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH THREE ON CONSIDERATION OF THE SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE 2026 DASH OH THREE AND ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CLA COUNTY UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO AUTHORIZE AND IMPLEMENT A FLEXIBLE DESIGN [00:40:01] DISTRICT ZONING DESIGNATION. I HAVE MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHON. SECOND. SECOND FROM, I MEAN I'M MOTION WITH COUNCILMAN R. SECOND WITH COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. ALL IN FAVOR A. ALL OPPOSED. AND THE MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE [17. Finance Report – Nelson Gibbons, Deputy Chief Finance Director ] OUR FINANCIAL REPORT FROM OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL DIRECTOR, MR. NELSON GIBBONS. I NELSON. YOU LOOKING GOOD, ? THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNSEL SHOULD BE BACK WITH Y'ALL AND HAVE ANOTHER MONTH UNDER WRAP TOGETHER. SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE UPDATES FOR YOU ON THE, UH, AT OUR FINANCES DEPARTMENT. UH, FIRST OF ALL HAVE BUDGET PACKETS ALL WENT OUT. SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS. WE GOT ALL THOSE BACK, UH, IN ACCORDING TO TIME AND WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH SOME INTERVIEWS WITH OUR, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS THIS WEEK. SO WE ARE ON SCHEDULE FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR FISCAL YEAR 27TH. OKAY. UH, FOR OUR FINANCIAL REPORT LAST MONTH, I DIDN'T HAVE REVENUES FOR YOU. UH, JUST BASED ON THE TIME OF THE LAST MONTH'S MEETING. SAME THING THIS MONTH. UH, JUST DUE TO THE, UH, THE TIMING OF THIS MONTH'S MEETING, I DON'T HAVE FEBRUARY'S, BUT THE JANUARY REVENUES THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST MONTH, I'VE GOT 'EM FOR YOU THIS EVENING. SO I'M GONNA REPORT ON THE JANUARY REVENUES AND THE FEBRUARY EXPENDITURES. OKAY. UH, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY THROUGH, UH, PERIOD EIGHT, WHICH IS GONNA BE 67% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. BUT FOR THE JANUARY REVENUES, THAT'S 58%. ALRIGHT. SO GENERAL FUND FIRST, UH, GENERAL FUND, UH, YEAR TO DATE REVENUES EXCLUDING GRANTS WAS 19.6 MILLION. AND THAT IS A FAVORABLE 61%. SO THAT WAS 61% THROUGH 58% OF OUR OUR FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. UH, SO THE FEBRUARY EXPENDITURES FOR THE GENERAL FUND, UH, THOSE WERE 19.6 MILLION. AGAIN, THAT IS A FAVORABLE 61% THROUGH 67% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR. OKAY. 61% OF OUR EXPENSES THROUGH 67% OF OUR YEAR. UH, ON OUR FIRE RESCUE, UH, THE JANUARY REVENUES 6.9 MILLION. THAT IS A FAVORABLE 72% OF THEIR BUDGET AS WELL AS THEIR FEBRUARY EXPENDITURES. EXCLUDING THE GRANTS WAS 5.7 MILLION, 60% OF THEIR BUDGET. SO AGAIN, VERY FAVORABLE FOR THE FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT. UH, OUR WATER AND SEWER, I'LL BE QUICK WITH IT. OUR GROSS REVENUES OR OUR GROSS OPERATING REVENUES WERE JUST OVER A MILLION. THEY WERE 1,073,000. OUR OPERATING EXPENSES WERE 585,000 FOR, UH, ADJUSTED OPERATING REVENUES OF 487,000. OKAY. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OUR NON-OPERATING REVENUES AND EXPENSES, THAT'S DEPRECIATION AND BOND INTEREST AND, UH, INTEREST INCOME AS WELL. THEY HAD AN ADJUSTMENT BEYOND THAT OF 480,000 GIVING US A TOTAL NET INCOME FOR OUR UTILITIES OF $6,650 FOR OUR C FUNDS. THE FUNDS THAT WERE AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY, ALMOST 9 MILLION, IT WAS, UH, 8.9 MILLION. OUR FEBRUARY EXPENSES WERE JUST OVER 20,000. SO THAT LEFT US WITH A CASH BALANCE OF 8,952,000. OKAY. SO OF THAT 8,000,952, WE'VE GOT CURRENT COMMITMENTS JUST OVER 4.2 MILLION AND WE DO NOT HAVE 4.7 COMMITTED AT THIS TIME. UNCOMMITTED. OKAY. AND, UH, JUST KEEP IN MIND, I KNOW WE DISCUSSED IT THE LAST TWO COUNCIL MEETINGS, BUT, UH, WE MUST SPEND BY JUNE 30TH, 880,000 OF, UH, OUR C FUNDS ON OUR STATE STATE ROADWAYS, WHICH I DO BELIEVE WE'VE GOT A PLAN, UH, FOR THAT. SO, UH, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR THIS EVENING. ANY QUESTIONS TOLD YOU, I'LL BE QUICK WITH IT. THANK Y'ALL. THANK YOU MR. NELSON. NEXT IS [18. Administrator’s Report –Walt Ackerman, County Administrator ] OUR ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT WITH MR. WAL. YES, SIR. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. UM, OUR ACTUALLY NEWLY APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, MR. NELSON GIBBONS, UM, APPOINTED OUT MS. TAMMY RODSKY, RETIRED AS OF FRIDAY, AND NELSON WAS PROMOTED TODAY TO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. UM, HE WAS IN THE SECOND CHAIR TRAINING TO TAKE OVER FOR HER ONCE SHE LEFT, SO WE MADE THAT APPOINTMENT. UM, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO NELSON. UM, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA TRIAL BY FIRE HIM THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. UM, HE MENTIONED THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS WAS ALREADY KICKED OFF. IT ACTUALLY KICKED OFF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. WE HAD A PLANNING RETREAT, UM, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND ME, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SOME OTHER STAFF, UH, ATTENDED THAT TRAINING. IT WAS A TWO DAY TRAINING. UM, I THINK A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION WAS SHARED. HOPEFULLY SOME FOLKS LEARNED QUITE A BIT. SAW A FEW THINGS THAT THEY [00:45:01] MAYBE NEVER THOUGHT OF BEFORE, UM, AS TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS. SO ALL THOSE THINGS ARE WELL UNDERWAY. UM, EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE JUST ENTERED INTO AN MOU WITH MORRIS COLLEGE TO, UH, DEVELOP. THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A, UH, INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY, UM, OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, I'M SORRY. AND THEY WILL BE PARTNERING WITH OUR DETENTION CENTER. AND THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO WORK OVER UP UNDER OUR DETENTION CENTER FOLKS, LEARNING HOW THAT SIDE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS WORKS SO THEY CAN TAKE THOSE SKILLS AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, UM, DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR ACADEMIC MODEL. UM, WE MET WITH ON FEBRUARY 20TH AND I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. UM, AND THIS GOES BACK INTO, UM, WE HAD A REQUEST FOR THE BRIGGS ELLIOT OR BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, UH, EVENT THAT'S SCHEDULED LATER ON IN MAY. UM, ON FEBRUARY 20TH, WE MET WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOLKS, AND AGAIN, I SAY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOLKS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GONNA ESTABLISH A NATIONAL PARK SITE IN SUMMERTON TO COMMEMORATE THE, UM, BRIGGS ELLIOTT CONTRIBUTION TO THE BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION DECISION, WHICH REALLY PAVED THE WAY TO DESEGREGATION AND, AND A LOT OF OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS, UM, MILESTONES THAT HAVE BEEN MET. SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO HAVE A NATIONAL PARK SITE IN CLARENDON COUNTY. UM, IT'S GONNA BE A, A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO TOURISM, UM, HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND A WHOLE OTHER HOST OF, OF ATTRIBUTES THAT ARE GOING ALONG WITH THAT. SO THAT WILL BE A LONG TIME COMING. UM, THAT WILL NOT BE A QUICK PROCESS. UM, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THEY DON'T MOVE AS QUICKLY AS SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. SO IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT AT LEAST WE KNOW IT'S A DONE DEAL. IT'S ON THE HORIZON. UM, AND WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THAT IN THE COMING YEARS THAT THAT'S GOING. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE A LITTLE SIGN STRUCK UP ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. NO SIR. THERE ACTUALLY ACTUAL, THERE, THERE WILL BE. AND, AND WELL DON'T THINK PARK LIKE YELLOWSTONE OR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, UM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PURCHASE, I GUESS IS A LOOSE WORD, BEST WORD FOR IT. THEY'RE GOING TO ATTAIN THE OLD SCHOOL, UM, OVER IN SUMMERTON WHERE THAT THE STUDENTS WERE AT WHEN THAT CASE ORIGINATED, REFURBISHED THAT SITE. UM, HAVE PART OF IT AS STILL FUNCTIONING FOR THE COMMUNITY. BUT THE OTHER PART WILL BE THE HISTORICAL SITE WITH ALL KIND OF INFORMATION, INTERPRETATIONS, CLASSES, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT GO ALONG. UM, THE EXCITING PART IS THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE ONE OF FIVE SITES IN WHAT THEY'RE DEEMING. AND IT'S A NEW THING. IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. IT'S A NATIONAL PARK TRAIL. SO IN THE BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION CASE, THERE WERE FIVE CASES TOTAL BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS JUST ONE. THE BRIGGS VERSUS ELLIOT CASE WAS ANOTHER. AND THERE WERE THREE OTHER CASES THAT WERE COMBINED TOGETHER. SO ALL FIVE OF THOSE SCHOOL SITES ACROSS THE SOUTH OR THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. UM, I THINK IT'S VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA. IT'LL BE US ONE IN GEORGIA. AND THEN I THINK ONE, WAS IT MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA? UM, SO THERE'LL BE FIVE SITES TOTAL AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GO AND VISIT THE ENTIRE TRAIL TO GET THE ENTIRE, THE FULL PICTURE OF THE RAMIFICATIONS OF, OF THAT, THAT PARTICULAR DECISION AND THAT EVENT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS WHO, UM, VISIT NATIONAL PARKS JUST TO VISIT NATIONAL PARKS. UM, 'CAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT ALL OF THEM. AND THEN THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ENJOY THAT HISTORICAL ASPECT AND GETTING THE FULL PICTURE FROM HISTORY. UM, ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS FOR CLARENDON COUNTY IS IF YOU'RE ON THAT TRAIL OF THE FIVE SITES, BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE THE ONE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND VISIT OURS, YOU'RE TIRED AND YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO STAY IN CLARENDON COUNTY. UM, SO THAT'S GONNA BRING SOME ADDITIONAL TOURISM JUST FROM THAT FRONT. UM, SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT. BUT AGAIN, IT WILL BE SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. UM, IN THE REPORT THAT I INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, STUFF THAT'S GOING ON. UM, WE'RE MAKING GREAT STRIDES ON ON MANY OF THESE PROJECTS. UM, SOME ARE REALLY JUST GETTING UNDERWAY. UM, SOME ARE VERY NEAR COMPLETION. UM, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. UM, BEFORE I LEAVE OR CLOSE OUT MY REPORT, I DO WANT TO ADDRESS A, A COMMENT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER. UM, MS. ANGEL GOT UP AND SHE WAS A LITTLE UPSET [00:50:01] ABOUT MY COMMENT FROM THE LAST MEETING WHERE SHE FELT LIKE I DIDN'T GIVE FULL CREDIT TO CHARMAINE AND HER CONTRIBUTIONS. UM, I USED STAFF TO ENCOMPASS EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS FROM OUR ENGINEERING FOLKS TO OUR WATER AND SEWER FOLKS, TO OUR GRANTS FOLKS AND TO CHARMAINE. UM, UP UNDER HER LEADERSHIP. WE DID RECEIVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY, BUT ONE SIGN OF A GOOD LEADER IS TO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR STAFF'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS, EVEN IF YOU PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN IT. SO I WAS NOT SLIDING CHARMAINE IN ANY WAY. SHE TOOK A MAJOR ROLE IN THAT PROCESS, BUT ALSO WANTED TO GIVE CREDIT TO EVERYBODY ELSE THAT DID THEIR PART AS WELL. SO IT WAS NOT A SLIGHT, PLEASE DON'T TAKE IT THAT WAY IF YOU DID. UM, BUT I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. WELL, NEXT UP I GUESS [19. Chairman’s Report – Jay Johnson, Chairman of County Council ] IS ME. UM, I REALLY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT BUT I, UH, I THINK IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP A COUPLE TIMES TONIGHT OR STILL THIS AFTERNOON. UH, ABOUT, ABOUT THIS VACANT SEAT TO MY LEFT. UM, TOMORROW IS VOTING DAY IN DISTRICT TWO. UM, I URGE YOU TO GET OUT AND VOTE. I MEAN, I, I ALWAYS SAID BEFORE I EVEN RAN FOR OFFICE, IF YOU DON'T VOTE, I DON'T WANNA HEAR YOU COMPLAINING 'CAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO COMPLAIN IF YOU DON'T VOTE, DON'T CARE WHO YOU VOTE FOR. BUT GET OUT, GET OUT AND VOTE. I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S, THAT'S WHY OUR GUYS ARE OVER THERE FIGHTING RIGHT NOW WHERE WE CAN BE FREE AND WE CAN VOTE. UM, THAT'S KIND OF ALL I GOT. I, I DO WANT TO YIELD THE REST OF THIS TIME FOR, FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES FOR, FOR MS. CHARMAINE. UM, SH SHE'S GOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I, I'M GONNA LET HER, YOU CAN STAND UP IF YOU WANT. . I GUESS I WILL. CHAIRMAN JOHNSON, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, ADMINISTRATOR ACKERMAN AND THE CITIZENS OF CLEARY COUNTY. WELL, I GUESS THE CAT IS OUT THE BAG. , I COULD SAY THAT. UM, THIS WILL BE MY LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UH, TONIGHT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST SAY ON THIS DAY AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK DAVID EP FOR TAKING A CHANCE ON ME AND SEEING ME, UM, WITH LOOKING AT MY QUALIFICATIONS, MY EXPERIENCE, AND THE DEGREES I THINK THE COUNCIL FOR BEING TRAILBLAZERS IN HIRING ME AS THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO HOLD THIS POSITION. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS, ONE WHO ACTUALLY WALKED BY THIS BUILDING EVERY DAY TO DO DOMESTIC WORK, WOULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED THAT HER GRANDDAUGHTER WOULD HOLD THE SECOND HIGHEST POSITION IN THE COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FORMER ADMINISTRATOR FOR ALLOWING AND SET IN AN AGENDA WHERE WE ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE THROUGH A FEDERAL APPROPRIATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR STAFF. QUADRI BILL AND CONGRESSMAN CLYBURN AND SENATOR GRAHAM'S OFFICE ARE THROUGH NACO, WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION NOW KNOW WHERE CLEARING COUNTY IS AND WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER. AND TO HAVE A WILLS CLINIC SPECIFICALLY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, THE FIRST IN THE STATE WITH THE CENTER OF S PROPERTY. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME TO SIT UNDER YOU. FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS, I HAVE GOTTEN SEVERAL NUGGETS THAT I WILL TAKE WITH ME ON MY NEXT JOURNEY. TWO BITS, AMAZING STAFF WHO SERVES DILIGENTLY AND WITH INTENTION EVERY DAY I'VE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE CRIED BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE AND OTHERS OF WHICH WE CELEBRATED THE THINGS THAT WE ACCOMPLISH AS A GOAL AND MOVE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL. YOU'LL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO ME AND TO THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE. WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH AND WE HAVE SHARED THESE EXPERIENCES TOGETHER. CLAIN IS TRULY [00:55:01] A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE WELL AND GROW SMART. YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST YEARS AND COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE BEEN BOTH INSPIRING AND EMOTIONAL. WHILE I MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO LEAD, I PRAY I WON'T BE LAST FOR THAT CEILING HAS NOW BEEN BROKEN. AND IN THE END, WHEN YOU DO WHAT'S GOOD AND YOU DO WHAT'S RIGHT, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. PSALMS 27 13 SAYS, I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING. THANK YOU. CLEAR COUNTY. MS. CHARMAINE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND, AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR NEW ENDEAVORS. YOU KNOW WHERE WE AT. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, I'LL STILL ANSWER YOU, . AND WE ALL LEFT. WITH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL TAKE A MOTION. WE ADJOURN. MAKE A, I GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN RICHARDSON. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN RODIN. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THANK Y'ALL. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.