County Council - Regular Meeting

No, these days there is no telling where she is. And I don't know where Bill is. Turn this off. Uh thank you all for coming uh joining

us on this afternoon's uh council committees meeting. I'm Joe Boy and I'm current chairman of Charleston County Council and I represent district 8. And at this time I'd like to ask each of our council members and key staff to introduce themselves starting with Mr. Moody. District 7, District 6, South House, District 1. Kristen Salsbury, Clerk of Council. Larry Gabrowski, District 2. Chaddyy Prior, District 5. Rob Worman, District Three. Natalie Ham, County Attorney. Thank you'all. Uh, at this time, I'll be turning over the meeting to Mr. Prior for our planning and public works committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Welcome to our planning and public works committee meeting where all members of council participates. We have two items on the agenda. The first is approval of the minutes. Approve item one. Move and seconded. Any deletion, discussion or addition hearing. None. All in favor signify by saying I. I. All oppose. Eyes have it. Item number two A is uh amendments to the Charleston County zoning and land development regulation. Commission recommendation. Second. Move in second. Any discussion? Dr. Moody.

I just want to thank staff and um and our planning commission folks. This has been an issue with the proliferation of short term rentals uh that's coming up. So, um you know, just allowing our folks, our constituents to be more involved in the process, more transparent. Um they can know when renewals are coming up, they can weigh in. And so, I just I think this is all moving in the right direction. So, I would encourage staff, too, as they continue to see things. Don't, you know, don't wait for me to put a bug in your ear. Bring it bring it to us and let us know what what needs to be tweaked. So, thank you'all for your work. Thank you, Mr. Prior. All right. Thank you there, Mr. Moody. That concludes our planning and public works. Vote for it. You didn't vote. I'm sorry. I'm ahead of them myself.

All in favor signify by saying I. I. All oppose. Your eyes have it. Now, that concludes our planning and party committee meeting. Mr. Chair, back to you. Thank you, Mr. Prior. Uh, at this time, I'll call our finance committee uh to order. Uh, all members or members of the finance committee and I serve as chair. Uh, item number one, approval of minutes. Move for approval. All in favor say I. I. The eyes have it. Uh, item two, uh, 2 A and 2 B. Move for approval A and B. Second. All those in favor say I.

All right. Opposed. Eyes have it. All right. Uh, item three, uh, is the Highway 41 corridor improvements of the imminent domain. I'm going to ask Mr. Alec Ozak to make a brief presentation, uh, to council. Okay. This one. Yeah. Okay.

Bless you. Bless you. Just keep what you got over there. Just kidding.

All right. Thank you. So, Alex Ozakia, capital programs man for Charleston County Public Works. Uh before I get started into our rightway update this this evening for Highway 41. Um just want to make mention, I'm sure several saw the article in the post and courier which was maybe perhaps a little misleading talking about how we're going out there and taking 172 properties through eminent domain. That's not the case. One, we're not taking any properties. We're offering fair market value compensation for any property we need to acquire out there as part of the Highway 41 project. Second of all, we've made great strides to eliminate any rideway acquisitions through the Philips settlement community and we are only having to acquire temporary construction easements to tie in driveways and front yards and are not making any permanent rideway acquisitions uh through that community. Uh so let me just get started with here a couple facts too as well. Uh so overall in the highway 41 project we've got 172 different tracks that are being impacted by the project. The county is going to need to acquire fee simple rideway from anywhere about 95 to 100 tracks. We're still fine-tuning the rideway process and trying to eliminate those acquisitions where we can and convert those to temporary construction easements. Um and then we are going to acquire temporary construction easements on about a 100 tracks. Uh now you don't have to be a math wiz here to see those numbers don't really add up to 172. Uh the problem with that is we actually have some overlapping on these acquisitions. So we'll have some properties where we're actually acquiring both rightway and temporary construction easement and then other properties that are just solely right away and then solely temporary construction ements. So that's where some of that crossover happens there. Uh to date so far we've made 109 offers uh to property owners. Uh we've reached agreement with 24 of those owners. Uh so far we've identified 32 heirs properties that are going to require condemnation due to the inability of our rideaway agent uh to either locate or identify all the heirs to those properties. Uh the county will need to acquire fee simple rightway from three of those heirs properties. And we're acquiring

temporary construction easements only from the other 29 tracks. And like I mentioned before, those temporary construction easements are mainly necessary to tie in driveways and grade a small portion of the front yard that ties in with our improvements. Uh overall, the estimated cost for our rideway acquisitions in total is about $1.5 million. Uh right now we currently have more than enough project budget to cover that acquisition cost. We've also set aside a little bit uh to cover, you know, additional costs associated with condemnations and settlements that may come from that. Uh so with that I'd be happy to answer any questions and I do have some additional slides that provide you know draw down to the details on the exact impacts the different heirs tracks through the Philips community if you'd like to see that information. Uh I'd be happy to show that otherwise I'm willing to answer any questions you may have.

Sure. Mr. Kapowski thank you for your hard work. Does any of these 172 different tracks include any track that impacts to Laurel Hill Park? Yes. How many tracks on that and how much? I believe in total there are three separate tracks uh that encompass the Lower Hill Parkway.

Well, I thank you for your hard work in getting this needed project underway. I remember Highway 41 during Yugo and having to meet my in-laws from Mullenville there and there was no traffic. It was almost a dirt road where you can go on the side of the road. And I I still worry about what'll happen because at some point there will be another hurricane and and everything. And uh I asked the chairman, is there a way I can improve all the the tracks for condemnation except the ones that go through the Laurel Hill Park? Uh I don't think so, sir. I think it's all one uh one resolution.

I appreciate the bringing this forward. I for one representing it's not I'm not in favor of going through the the park. So I could not vote for any eminent domain uh that involves a track from the Laurel Hill Park. But I mean no disrespect for the work you're doing in and the rest of moving forward. But that's my reasons. Thank you. I certainly understand. Thank you. Mr. Movie. Thank you Mr. Boy. Just curious on the three heirs properties. Um I think I know the answer but when they cannot find owners does that money it just is not paid to anybody or is it put in escrow? So that money is deposited with the clerk of court uh and does continue to earn interest until it is claimed you the heirs can file a petition with the court uh to make a claim to that money

but they've got to get it sorted out and then bring it to us to prove that they've justified it to claim the money or something like that. Again I'm not you know an attorney I'm not fully invested with the legal process exactly with the condemnations but my understanding is yes they have to petition the court. um they determine exact the court then determines exactly who are the heirs and what percentage of the uh compensation gets distributed to them. Mr. Moody um there are oftent times that we are aware of some of the heirs and the master in equity usually helps us sort out that process by bringing those folks in and having a the legal process which goes through there. It's very few times that we've not been able to identify the heirs and um most oftent times the heirs show up and claim the

Thank you. I was I was hopeful that there was not just it was going to be nothing which wouldn't be totally unfair. So if they've got a if the money sits there and they've got a chance to come get it, I I support that. Mr. Sass, um how long is it going to take to uh finish this portion of acquiring these properties, do you think? So, we are working hard with our rideaway agents uh to move forward this as quickly as we can. Right now, we're projecting wrapping up the rideaway process uh in June of this year. Great. Thank you. Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Ozak. Chair, I make a motion to adopt. Second. All right. Uh all those in favor say I. I. Opposed.

Eyes have it. All right. U moving on to item 4 A. Move for approval. Second. This is which one then? Project bark because I have Okay. I have a few questions. All right. Go ahead, Mr. Kowski. Brief. I you know I thank you again for your hard work and I had the the grid I wanted to do and I just asked do we know the name of the company involved in the location of the parent company? I I know the name of the uh the company involved and I I don't think they have a parent company. They they are the parent sir.

Well, we don't know the parent company. I mean, we don't know the name of the company now that in terms of we're voting on it in this instance. No, sir. Okay. And um again, I'd ask for the duration um and what are the incentives and the difference between the incentives and how many jobs because those are details I feel should be known. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Uh and so I appreciate that, Mr. Kowski. Following the the the yellow sheet, there is one correction on here. Um it is already in the ordinance for for Tuesday's vote if you all pass it. Um, so we are asking for a special source revenue credit agreement in the amount of not to exceed $4.5 million, not $4 million because there we're now anticipating some new capital investment that may potentially come up come available um um to this one. And then in relation to this, you all already passed the fee in loo several years ago for this um and so it will amount to uh uh $29 million in revenue over the next 17 years. Um um and then roughly 3.4 4 million given are coming to the to the county as well. And then just uh 160 jobs will be retained because of this. An additional 50 jobs will be created because of this. Those 50 jobs, we're anticipating $2.5 million in new payroll. And then of the 160 jobs that you will retain. It's roughly 9.2 million in payroll that's currently being collected on that site amongst those buildings. And then the last piece I would like like to share with you all is um based on um the taxes collected 5 years prior to the the the investment made several years ago by this company collected uh roughly $1,253. Um and then over a 5-year period and this will generate over $8 million in new tax revenue in a 5-year period which amounts to a 642,574% increase. What is the incentive then that we're giving up

right now? Sir, you're we're we're we're we're asking for a a a special source revenue credit not to exceed $4.5 million, sir. All right. Thank you for answering the questions. Yes, sir. Any further discussion, Mr. Mr. Chairman? So, so we did a fileo agreement in 2023, correct? Um that is correct, sir. And so they're ex they're they're expanding. Is the idea that they would expand this elsewhere or is the idea that they would move the entire operations elsewhere?

So, in the instance of a couple of them, there's that possibility of a couple of them moving. In the instance of this uh uh expansion that's getting ready to to be created, um we know that they are looking elsewhere in the region right now, sir. Okay. I just because it strikes me that if they moved the entire operation somewhere, then like they'd have clawbacks from that 2023 FO, would they not? And so in the instance of the fee in le of taxes agreements are there there is no clawbacks because they would just not get that fee anymore. So they would just not pay those taxes. Yes sir. And there was no SSRC in in 2023. That is correct. Yes sir. Okay. Mr. Moody. Um if I heard you right the popper to me is that we is that $1,253 over five years. So that's $250 a year we've collected on that property.

That is correct sir. And now we're going to collect just Charleston County $3.7 million per year on that property. No sir. That's over the five years. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Whatever. So, it's $700,000 a year. Yes, sir. If my math is right. So, we're getting 1250. We're getting two We're getting 250 a year now. We're going to get $750,000 a year going forward. And that's for all the taxing. I apologize, Mr. Moody. That's for all of the taxing entities. And and you've already we've already collected some of that. It's already into the third year of the fee. Looser. Point being that people come in here and go, "You're giving this away. You're giving that away." No, we're really not. Um, you know, what we're giving away is getting $1,200 a year or for 5 years and trading that up to $3.7 million a year. I'll take that. Yes, sir. Thank you.

This one more followup. Go ahead, Mr. B. Make it brief, but wouldn't that apply to any business that operates in Charleston County? If they invest money, we're going to get more, you know, business from them and they're going to employ more people, but they're not getting tax breaks. I mean, I understand,

you know, if you're saying you do, but and also I'd asked any company can leave at any time. So, the threat of a company leaving and getting them a tax break. And I just couldn't I can't vote for something that we're giving tax incentives to when we don't know the name of the company. And I this I respect what Mr. Moody said. It's a good thing to get more money, but that would be true for any company that pays the normal taxes without the incentive. Is that not true? to some extent. I mean, if they invest their money and pay the normal taxes, we'll reap the benefits. That is correct, sir. All right. Thank you. Anything further? All right. Um, all those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed? No.

Eyes have it. Uh, item 5A, uh, building inspections permit consolidation fee adjustment proposal. Approval. I have a second. Second. All right. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Eyes have it. We'll now move on to boards and commissions. Item 6A, uh, board of assessment appeals. Could we take one at a time? Can we? We are. And I'm I'm I want to do uh also, is there anyone here tonight uh that's an applicant for a position on the board of assessment appeals? Would you like to speak? Please, please come forward.

It's not your board. I'm sorry. Okay. All right. Um, chairman, sir. I'm I'm going to nominate the Reverend Dr. Herb bed. I think you worked with him for a while at the sheriff's office. I sure did. Just one of the finest gentlemen you ever want to meet. We played, you know, enemy of basketball a lot. And um he was just a great guy and now he's downtown at I think it's Salem Baptist Church or whatever. Jerusalem Baptist Church and you talk can sing, that guy can sing. So I'm I'm going to go with Dr. Barry with him for four years. Yeah. I figured you'll remember him. All right. Any other nominations? Mr. Sumar. Sumar. Sum. Okay. Nomination.

All right. Any further uh nominations? I move that they be closed. All in favor say I. I. Eyes have it. Okay. Um moving on to Hang on. I have Excuse me. I'm sorry. Yes, sir. So I'll call the role and everyone can vote for one person. Mr. Darby is absent. Mrs. Honeyut Ser. Mr. Kabowski. Mr. Sumner. Mr. Middleton. Beard. Mr. Moody. Sumner. Mr. Prior. Beard. Mr. Sass. Sumar. Mr. Worman. Beard. Mr. Boyin.

Uh, beard. Okay, that's a tie. I move that we send this to full counsel. Okay. Okay. Without a recommendation. All right. Um 6B business license and user fee appeals board. Anyone here in the audience uh this applying for that board? Okay. No one. All right. Uh nominations. Mr. Chairman, I nominate Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmer. Yes, sir. Okay. Uh any other nominations? Anyone want to move to close nominations? Second. All right. All in favor say I.

I. Okay, madam clerk. So it's just Mr. Okay. All right. All right. Moving on to 6C construction board of adjustment and appeals. Um any nominations? Mr. I'm going to nominate Brook Ninus. Second. Thank you. You don't have to say it with the sale. Any other move that the nominations be closed? Okay. All right. All in favor say I. I. Eyes have it. All right. Moving on to 6D community development advisory board. Yes, sir. Now, Mr. Bias is out if he wants to speak. Yeah. All right. Mr. Bias. Is anyone else uh here for that board tonight?

Okay. Come on. Please come forward. Mr. Bias. Good afternoon, council. Um, my name is Samuel Bayas. Uh, I'm a resident at 1912 Boxwood A in Union Heights. Um, I currently work as a senior advancement officer at Try United Way and I was interested in the board really to get more involved and get a better understanding and helping um the the growth in Charleston County. Uh I have a bank a banking background worked for JP Morgan Chase for about three years and just thankful for the consideration of my application and thank you for your time.

Thank you for u stepping up. Uh anyone else? Okay. Um any other I would nominate Mr. Bayas. Okay. The nomination be closed under said name. All in favor say I. I. I. All right. That Okay. Moving to 6B E. Excuse me. E. Thank you. Um, County Parks and Recreation. Mr. Chair, I'd like to nominate Mr. Rosenthal. Noah Rosenthal. Okay. Uh, any other E?

Mr. Bas, right? Noah Rosenthal. people here. Yeah. Sorry. Sorry, I got ahead of myself. All right. If you're here, uh, would you please raise your hands and then y'all can get in the line and then take turns coming up to the podium, please?

Hello. Um, I'm Stephanie Burgart. I submit an application for the um, County Parks and Recreation Commission. I'm uh I work for the Nature Conservancy as our global contracting manager. Um I also have a background in environmental education um and environmental studies and I'm interested in joining the commission to uh be more involved with our community. Um I live on John's Island. I'm a big advocate for the park system. My husband works for the park system and I just really want to uh help make the parks better and more community integrated and kind of support how I can. Okay. Good evening. My name is Gilbert Bradam. I've been a lifelong resident of Charleston. I've also worked over 30 years at the Medical University Wellness Center uh all phases of recreation there. I've been in commercial real estate uh since the mid 90s. I've worked for Michael Scarbar, Judge Michael Scarbar as courtappointed receiver, taking over assets. Operations are the same. uh this uh aspect. I've provided uh land for parks and wreck. I've done uh schoolboard uh properties, a lot of different things. Uh very familiar with uh parks and wreck and uh this would be up my alley. I've been doing things for a long time. Uh Citadel uh started back in 2017. Sumakum laadi graduate uh political science free law with legal uh then intelligence and security studies masters followed by leadership masters and now masters in education uh leadership uh so little masters as well finishing those up doing some study

abroad so experience over time uh and I can make this happen I can do this and I've got the time to do Sir, could you say your name again? Gilbert Bradom Gil. Thank you. Thank you.

I'm Kate Everingham and have lived in the Charleston area for 27 years. In spite of my accent, I am a citizen and proud to be one. I'm um I worked until 2020 which was the reason for being here and since then as a good Jew I followed tunam which really means to make the land the people healthy and I've done that by volunteering both for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Friends of Charleston public library TEDex I work in elections I have been the manager of the Mount Pleasant early voting ing site for several years now. My everything in me is about giving and helping people fulfill their own potential. I don't have the academic qualifications specific to this job that these colleagues appear to have. But what I do have is the touch of the common man. Somebody who enjoys the park system, volunteers for it, and has a servant heart. Thank you.

Good evening, chair, members of council, and county staff. My name is Noah Rosenol, and I'm excited to be here um as an applicant for the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission. I am excited to not only be with you tonight and reflect on the individuals who've already expressed the interest and desire to serve alongside you all, for the members and residents of uh Charleston County. Uh for me uh my desire and uh goal to serve in this commission is rooted in a a life and career public service. Uh reflecting on that, I've worn many uniforms uh serving the members of this community. Um everything from a firefighter uniform for the city of Charleston fire service. Um a flight nurse uniform for Medicare Air serving the residents and citizens of Charleston and South Carolina and beyond and currently as a nurse for the medical university of South Carolina. Um throughout those interactions with individuals during their worst day, I recognize one common theme, the quality of life and health and the impact that those recreational facilities have. Um that is for the reason that I want to serve alongside you all and build upon that foundation that's already established and continue the great things that the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission are doing today, tomorrow, and in the future. Thank you for your time.

Sure. All right. So, Miss Honeyut, you had a nomination, Miss Ren. Okay. Uh, yes, sir. I'm going to nominate Gil Brown. Okay. And chairman. Yes, sir. I'm going to nominate Stephanie Burgent. Okay. Burkart. Birkart. I'm sorry. Any other nominations? Motion nominations. We close. Second. All in favor say I. I. I. Eyes have it. So, I'll call Sorry. I'll call the role and everyone will vote for one person either Mr. Bradom, Miss Burgart or Mr. Rosenthal.

Mr. Dar Mrs. Honeyut Mr. Kabowski Mr. Moody Bradom Mr. Prior Mr. Sassom Mr. Warman Bart Mr. Middleton Rosenthal and Mr. Boyin uh Rosenthal. Okay. So we have a tie between Bradom and Rosenthal. All right. Okay.

Yep. That's fine. We'll move both of them forward for

Tuesday. All right. All right. Um, next is the uh 6F disabilities and special needs boards. Is anybody here for that? If y'all please come up to the podium. Hello everyone. Um, my name is Lacricia Mitchell and I would like to introduce myself. I have a bachelor degree in sociology and a master degree in human services. I have worked for the disability board for over 20 years helping individuals and families. Um just giving back to the community and also um having a positive impact with the overall health and show I just want the community to understand that the individuals are people and we should treat them as um individuals. Um, and also show the community about the positive impact that they bring to the community just to let the community know that they do desire and want to work in the community and feel special just like everyone else.

I have a question, ma'am. Did you say you work for the disabilities board? Um, yes, ma'am. Um, unfortunately, you would not be qualified for this um seat if you work for the disabilities board. It would be a conflict of interest. Okay. All righty. Thank you. Your name? Lucricia Mitchell. Thank you for applying Miss Mitchell. Oh, on her application.

Good evening, council members. My name is Britney Potter. I uh am a um born and raised in South Carolina here in Charleston. Um I currently work with the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, uh Office of Mental Health. Before that, I work with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Um, during my time in the field, I have noticed uh there are some needs um such as crisis resources as well as um uh crisis resources as well as outpatient needs. Um and I just want you all to know that uh I do have a heart of service and they are um some things that are falling through the cracks um with our vulnerable uh communities. Um, so I I'm looking to fill those cracks. Um, so it's a pleasure to be here with you all and if selected, I'm looking forward to uh contribute uh to the board of disabilities. Thank you all.

Thank you. All right. Uh, nominations. Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. I want to nominate um she said her name is Miss Britney Porter. Potter. Potter. Yes. I'm going to nominate Miss Potter. Okay. cuz she showed up. We got two. Yeah, we got have two. I was going to nominate Kon. Raven. Kenya Raven. Raven. Yes. Raven. I'm sorry. Thought my R was we got two. Yes, sir. Cheryl Walsh.

Cheryl Walsh. Wash. Wash. I'm sorry. Okay. All right. Be closed. Second. Say I. I. All right. Eyes have it. Um, I'll call the role and everyone can vote for two um of the nominees. Um, Mrs. Honeyut. Potter. Well, Miss Mr. Darby's here now, but Potter Raven, Mr. Kabowski. Um, Potter Raven. Mr. Middleton. Potter. His name is Wash. Wash. Yes, sir. Um, Mr. Moody, Raven and Potter,

Mr. Prior, Potter Wash, Mr. Sass, Potter Raven, Mr. Worman, Potter Wash, Mr. Derby, Potter Wash, Mr. Boyin Potter or Raven. Okay. The two nominees are Potter and Raven. Raven. Moving on to 6G St. John's Fire District Kia seat. Um nomination. Oh, sorry. Is anyone here for that? Yes, sir. Please come forward. Thank you.

Good evening. You have another expert, I'm afraid. My name is Larry Wallahan. uh 406 no egret John's Island. Um I'm here for the position applying for the position because I like to serve the community. I currently prepare tax spend a day a week preparing tax returns on a voluntary basis for low-income people. I serve on the finance committee of Kor Island um communities association. Um I als I have I'm a chartered accountant which is a CPA equivalent. uh so I can bring some finance basic finance skills to the organization. I'm also a member of the comm community emergency response team. I've been a member for eight years and been trained and I've actually worked with the fire service. Um I'll end it there unless you have any questions.

Thank you. All right, Mr. Chair. Yes, sir. I'm going to nominate Mr. hand. That's okay since he was the only one showed up. Sure. Okay. Showed up. Any I'll put Mr. Wman in for Okay. All right. So, very close names. Okay. All right. So, I'll Okay. So, I'll call the role and you can vote for one either Mr. Wman or Mr. Woolahan. Mr. Darby. What is Can you tell us your name again? Wallah.

Yes, Mr. Willham. Okay. Mrs. Honeyut. Uh, I'm going to go with Mr. Wallahan. Mr. Kabowski. And Mr. Wham. He came and spoke. Yes, sir. Mr. Middleton. Wan. Mr. Moody. Wman. Mr. Prior Wallahan Mr. Sass Wahan Mr. Worman Wallahan Mr. Boyin Wallahan okay the nominee is Mr. Wallahan,

can I just say something real quickly? The last couple years, this has been an embarrassment of riches with the volunteers in our community that have been coming out for these boards and commissions. You know, five or six years ago, we were having trouble and we're we're very blessed right now. So, I thank everybody for putting in their applications and those especially that came out to speak tonight. We've it's an embarrassment of riches the last couple years. So, we're very fortunate. I'm sorry to take up time. No, absolutely concur, Mr. Moody. All right. Well, this time we are ajourned. Mr. Time. Just in time, sir. You doing all right, sir? Good. How are you? Good to see you. Always good to see you. Yes, sir.