City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. It's 4:00 on Monday, September 15th. That means that it is municipal money here in the city of Conway. Uh we're going to begin uh this afternoon with our invocation as pledge of allegiance. Uh council member Justin Jordan going to lead us in that rise. Let us pray. God, I thank you for another beautiful day and the opportunity we have to gather here this afternoon to conduct the business of the city of Conway. I pray that you would give us the courage and the knowledge to make the best decisions possible for this amazing place we're so blessed to call home. And as we all leave here this afternoon, I pray that you keep a hand of safety upon each and every one of us. Lord, lead guide and direct us in all that we do. In your name I pray. Amen. Amen. Yeah. Heat. Thank you, Mr. My is out this afternoon. She's getting a little cold, so let's remember her uh throughout this uh this meeting and into the week. All right. Um got the consent agenda items listed there. Mr. What may approcept the agenda motion second Mr. Jordan hand first second Mr. motion. All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by raising your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. All

right, we're going to move on to special presentations and a recognition of volunteers. [Music] Are you here? Okay. Um, we put out a call to get us some volunteers a couple weeks ago and we have been blown away by how many people we had. Um we are up to 146 volunteers and every Tuesday and Thursday um they sign up for a day and and we've had as many as 50 to 60. Um it's been a lot of fun meeting everybody. Everybody is a lot of the people are new to the area. So a lot of them are just kind of feeling their way around. But it's been fun to watch them form friendships and pickle ball partners and you know um aerobics. I mean, they just they it's been a lot of fun to watch and they've been so very very um helpful. Very helpful. We're going to meet again tomorrow and um they're they're always excited and can't wait to see what we're going to do next. So, it's been a lot of fun, but we just want to acknowledge them and ask that they stand up and um and say thank you formally. I think I have a few here. I don't have I don't have all 140 of them here today, but anyway. Many of them don't even live here. So, it's it's been a lot of fun. A lot of them live at the beach. Some of them live by state. They just passing through and sticking around for a while. So, it looks like some of them have their owners, too.

You guys tell me it's just really friendship. Heat. Heat. 146. When you first started this initiative earlier this fall, late summer, you were under the impression that far fewer signs. very exciting. And then that week that the next day and probably says sign up and I realized that we had issue with our program and we actually had over 100. including including someone who was just dying to be here.

All right. Well, thank you for all your hard work starting to show off here. We're certainly grateful. We're going to move on to presentation of the month for September. This is going to be for public safety. Kevin with Cop City Police Department to recognize our employee month for September is going to be Sergeant J. That's what he does for our community. He goes above and beyond every day with his shift. His physical fitness or getting out with kids in the community. um playing ball. I mean all kind of things that changed us um just but ever since he's been offer and he's definitely off. So All right, our presentation of the hero microphone.

that way. Got this Nikki Goldman coming up. And this is the key. So in 2021, the city of Conway introduced the HE hero award to recognize employees of the city who display exceptional courage, awareness or quick thinking to come to the aid of someone or something in a time of crisis. In other words, this award is to recognize our heroes. The presentation of this award is rare. I can't remember the last time it's been a while since we've given it. It is rare. So, it gives me great pleasure to award it today to two more heroes who work here for this great city of color. In late July, a person called the office of our municipal court. She had been the victim of a violent crime crime and had some questions. As fate would have it, our clerk of court, Nikki Goen, was the person who answered the call. While the call started as a typical interaction, her attendance attendance made her realize that something else was going on. She talked the caller into allowing our victim advocate Mickey Richardson to talk to her as well. Mr. Richardson talked to her for 2 hours. I won't make the details of all that call public, but I will say quite simply and in no uncertain terms that over the course of those two hours, these two employees saved the caller's life. By the end of the call, first responders from another jurisdiction were able to locate the caller and give her the help that she needed. Many people would have

simply gone about the normal business of this call without thinking more deeply about the needs of the person on the other end of the line. But on that day, a person's life was saved because that person called the city of Conway with a question. It is our sincere honor to give this award today to both Nikki Gman and Nikki Richardson. Congratulations and thank you all. That's really special. And uh Thank you for what you did, not just to help that person, but as a reminder to all of us that sometimes just taking a few minutes to go out of your time can make all the difference in the world, as it obviously did in this case. All right, we're going to move on to first read item 58. First street ordinance CA2025-10-068 to resone approximately 39 plus or minus acres of property located 5206 Columbia Street county residential no homes allowed SF 10 district of the city of low medium density residential one district upon annexation of the city is huers

yes um the applicants requesting annexation and zoning of this property due to the property being sold and the requirement of current owners to connect to city utilities. Adjacent properties were annexed in May and August of 2024, making this property contiguous. Several other properties within the College Park subdivision have been annexed over the years, and the requested zoning upon annexation is low to medium density residential district or R1. First reading of the ordinance to annex the subject property was approved at the August 18th council meeting. And a first reading of this ordinance to zone the property R1 is approved. Final reading of the ordinance to both annex the property and the ordinance to zone the property R1 upon annexation will be scheduled for the October 6th council meeting. Planning Commission held a public hearing on the request to zone the property R1 upon annexation at their September 4th meeting and recommended approval and staff also recommends approval.

All right. Thank you very much for that. Uh any questions? I'd like to make a motion. Make a motion that we um approve this first reading. All right. So there's a motion. M I'll second our motion, sir.

All right. We have a properly uh seconded motion. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raising your hand. And that motion carries unanimously. We move on to item 5, letter B. First reading of ordinance ZA2025-10-06 to reszone approximately 10.68 68 plus acres of property located at the intersection of highway 548 and highway 54501 county commercial forest agricultural district to the city of Conway highway commercial district upon access annexation into the city of res.

Yes. Uh the applicants are intending to develop the property commercially and because city utilities are going to be needing needed the they are required to request annexation. The city's future land use map also identifies the property as highway commercial and the requested zoning is also highway commercial. Um first reading of the ordinance to annex was given at the August 18th council meeting. And if first reading of this ordinance to zone the property highway commercial upon annexation is approved, final reading of both the ordinance to annex the property and zone the property highway commercial will be considered at the October 6th council meeting. Planning commission held the public hearing at their September 4th meeting and recommended approval of the request to zone the property highway commercial upon annexation and staff also recommends approval. Okay. Any questions? Mr. White, was that a hand?

I would, but I use someone else if they would like. I move that we approve this first reading, please. All right. We have a a motion. Do we have a second? Miss Helms. Well, it's on Miss Helms first. I

Okay, we have a properly seconded motion. Is there any discussion on settlements? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raise your hand. Motion carries unless you may approach. May I ask a question please? Sure. Not related to this but on our documents there is some information that has been redacted. Does the city the the community see those redactions as well? the community. What we've done because of the amount of fraud that has apparently taken place is um you know we do keep the unredacted versions in the office but a lot what we've realized is that there are some companies that are setting up uh emails and then are able to access email addresses, private home addresses and things like that of the people who apply. So in an effort to cut down on those, we are redacting them for public input. Um but if they do have a desire to come in and view those documents, they they are available.

Thank you. Just wanted to make that clarification. Yes.

Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Moving on to item C, first reading of ordinance CA2025-10-06 C. Amen. Article one, preamble. Article three, zoning districts. Article six, design standards. Article 13, administrative agencies and functions. Article 14, rules and procedures of the city of county unified development ordinance, also known as our UDO, regarding requirements for annexation amendments to the city's official zoning map, amendments related to city boards and procedures and revisions to language in those articles of the UDO for clarity and consistency.

Yes. So, this amendment is part of a larger cleanup amendment um that includes all of these articles of the UDO. And that initiative began in uh early 2024. And as I'm sure you've noticed, there have been some changes in the process for annexation and zoning. And that annexation is occurring separately from the zoning change. Annexation of property is a legislative function and amendments to the official zoning map require review and recommendation uh by planning commission prior to annexation and the requested zoning becoming final. In cases where annexation is either requested or required, planning commission will only consider the proposed zoning after council has approved first reading of an ordinance to annex the property and thereafter once planning commission has held the public hearing and made a recommendation on the proposed zoning. The ordinance to reszone the property will be forwarded for first reading and subsequently if approved both ordinance to annex and zone the property will be forwarded to for final reading on the next available council agenda. This process will be outlined in article 13 of the UDO and these changes codify flexibility while ensuring that zoning decisions are always consistent with state requirements for planning commission review and public input. Also proposed is a name change to article one which is currently called preamble to general provisions which will include several items not currently within our UDO. They will apply to the entire UDO such as a proposed intent statement, applicability, transition rules, vested rights, fees and exemptions from those fees, limitations of liability, which are all common inclusions in any zoning ordinance or unified development ordinance. Remaining amendments to other articles include cleanup items that staff has been working on for several months. Um, all of these amendments seek to clarify terms, ensure consistency across the UDO, update procedural

standards, correct inconsistencies, and modernize for readability, and streamline the process for annexation and zoning map amendments. Planning Commission held the public hearing on the amendments at their September 4th meeting and recommended approval and staff also recommends approval. All right. So, Bulldown, this is just housekeeping. Yes, sir. There you go. Any questions, council? Just a comment. Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. Um, we spent a lot of money to have this UDO um done years passed. Um, is this cleanup going to be the last time we have to go back in and clean up stuff?

Well, there are um, back in 2024 a budget retreat, that was one of the initiatives that staff had proposed. Um, so we have been slowly but surely going through because when you amend one section or one part of the UDO, you have to make sure that there's no other section in that UDO that is going to be affected. You want to make sure that it all is consistent with each other. And sometimes that leads to other amendments. So when we have an opportunity, especially when something comes along that maybe new guidance from MASC because these things change over time, requirements change over time. So it was just an opportunity as part of a cleanup that we were already working on to make some of these other necessary changes as well.

And I thank you very much. Just wanted to ask that question. Thank you. All right, sir. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Is there a motion to accept the Mr. B? Make a motion to approve first reading.

All right. Motion on the floor. Is there a second? This house. All right. Any further discussion on this issue? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raising your hand. And that motion two carries unanimously. Thank you. All right. Moving on to item D. First reading of ordinance CA2025-16-06D to amend article 4 use of tables in article 5 specific use regulations of the city of Conway development ordinance regarding requirements for non-commercial keeping of livestock or foul and related accessory uses and structures in the forest agricultural zoning district.

Yes sir. As the city's footprint starts extending to the more rural areas of the county, there are several properties where the future land use map designates these properties as forest agriculture. Many of them exceedingly even 100 acres in size. Staff did a random sampling of 30 of these properties, most of which are not currently in the city limits, but are within our utility service area. Um they range from 2 acres to 277 acres in size. All shown as forest agriculture on the city's future land use map and the average size being 52 acres. So the intent of forest agriculture is to establish and preserve areas for agricultural or passive recreation. And currently our ordinance allows for non-commercial keeping of livestock in the rural agriculture and forest agriculture districts but limits it to one such animal for every 2 acres. One of the key amendments being recommended is that the accessory structures related to livestock or fowl like barns, chicken coops or f fencing be permitted even when there's not a house on the property but only when the lot is at least 5 acres in size. And aside from the amendment to the FA district also proposes to include the rural residential district which requires a minimum lot size of 1 acre as one of the districts in which non-commercial keeping of livestock or foul is permitted subject to the same conditions. Other changes include relocation of some of the provisions within the ordinance already in effect so that the requirements for non-commercial keeping of livestock or foul is clear and consistent throughout the ordinance. The proposed changes within this ordinance seek to strike a balance between supporting agricultural traditions while ensuring compatibility with residential areas containing larger tracks of land either already in the city or those which will eventually be in the city through annexation. Planning

commission held the required public hearing on the amendments at their September 4th meeting and recommended approval. One of the questions posed by planning commission was why the 5 acres was proposed. The 5acre minimum ensures that the property has appropriate space to support animals without creating potential conflicts with adjacent properties that may be primarily residential. The 5acre minimum also creates a clear distinction between suburban scale residential lots and parcels that are truly agricultural or rural in nature. 5 acres is large enough to avoid conflicts and small enough to remain accessible and consistent with regional practice. Um staff also recommends approval of the amendments, but I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Yes, Mark. If a person doesn't have 5 acres of land, but they have some of these animals on their property, what would they have to do with the animals?

Well, they can still have um these animals even if it's not forest agriculture, but they would have it would be a secondary or accessory use. So they would have to have it basically their house would be there and if it's 4 acres for example the rule would be that they could have two cows or two horses cuz you can only have one for two acres and then the rule for chickens is you can only have one for every one acre. So there would still be a limitation and that number is already in effect. So they could still do it. Um the only difference being that in forest agriculture they would not have to have a house on the property. They could have like a farm building or a barn stables or something like that on the 5 acres um without a principal dwelling.

Thank you. Good question, Mr. Dw. Any other questions? Is is this in response to I know we had a conversation earlier with a with a citizen who had it was more than 5 acres but not a tremendous amount of property but it just made sense because it was either William we're going to put you know our two or three horses out there or I'm going to sell it to Lenor Dr. Horton and they're going to stick tricoms on it and anytime we do something like this I think it's just a good thing. Uh, and so I appreciate staff taking the initiative to work through this and and make that change. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Any other questions? And uh, is there a motion? Mr. Jordan, move that we approve first reading. Is there a second? This house.

Okay. Any any other discussion before I call for the vote? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raise. And that motion carries unanimously. Thank you. All right. Moving on to letter E. First reading of ordinance CA2025-11-038 to annex approximately 2.15 plus or acres of property located at 1001 Cruel Street. The applicant is requesting annexation into the city and upon annexation, the requested zoning is professional. The property is within the city's utility service area, so any changes to the property, such as it being sold or a change from residential to commercial, would require annexation be requested. The property is currently zoned Ory County General Residential. The city's future land use map identifies the property as low density residential. However, properties on either side of it and one on the opposite side of Krill Street are zoned professional. At this time, staff is unaware of any proposed plans for the subject property. There is currently a residential home on the property. If first reading of annexation is approved, planning commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the request um for the professional district and make a recommendation at their October 2nd meeting. Uh the property is considered a donut hole in the city limits and therefore staff does recommend approval.

Thank you ma'am. Mr. White move that we approve fresh reading. Have a motion to approve. Is there a second house? I have a motion a second. Any questions or comments here? I'll just pipe in. Um just to be clear with the designation of professional as opposed to uh commercial uh really locks out the potential for a lot of your late night weekend type activities that would otherwise interfere with surrounding residential property. Correct.

Yes. The professional district is meant to be a transitional zone between your more intense commercial and your and your residential districts. Um there are some things that it would still allow um fire police station, a library, accounting firms. You're going to see more of your a serviceoriented or your professional offices is something that would be um permitted there. But it would allow like a cafe or a restaurant, coffee shop, things like that, but not like a gas station or you know things or nothing that would bring late night um activities.

Thank you so much. All right, we have a properly seconded motion. No other questions. All those in favor signify by raise your hand, please. And that motion carries unanimously. Thank you. All right, one more of these, y'all. Then we're moving on. Okay. First reading ordinance 2025-10-06E. approving approving the execution of a quick quick property in the Panro subdivision. Specifically, the parcels identified I'm going to read these out as pin numbers 368-15- 03- 033 and 368-15- 03-0035. What's up? Well, thank you. Um, this is actually a problem that goes back a couple decades, but it was just brought to light with the sale of a home. Um, the Peanim Grove subdivision, can you show the other map, June, real quickly, was developed in 2005 and as part of that phase 1 in 2005, you can see uh they had proposed a little stub out called Pean Way, which is highlighted in pink. Uh, and that was shown in part of phase one. Well, in 2008 when they came back for phase 2, they realized and the reason they did that intentionally in initially was they thought they'd be developing behind it as part of phase 2. Uh come to find out that was really wet area. They couldn't develop behind it. So what they ended up doing the second map now June they combined it and made it another another lot. Uh the problem is that between those two, after they created the stubout, um but before they changed the lots, they deeded that

little stub out to the city. Um so it was city-owned, uh which created a cloud on the title. Somehow houses got built two decades ago. This has been sold, they've been sold several times, but it just came to light with a recent title search. And so with that, a quick claim deed from the city would clear that title. So, I've got that before you today um in ordinance form for first reading. Staff doesn't have any issues with it. It was approved as part of a phase 2 plat almost 20 years ago. We've approved homes since then. Uh it wouldn't make sense to have a stub out, but you can see now we go straight into a lake. So, thank you, Miss.

Yes. Council, any questions for her comments? Hearing not. Is there a motion? Do we fresh approve fresh reading? Excuse me. Mr. Thank you. Got a motion on the floor. Is there a second?

Thank you, ma'am. Okay. Any other further discussion or comments? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raising your hand. And that too carries. Thank you all. All right. Moving down to consideration item number 6A. Consideration of a resolution of commitment to provide a local match for MC grant. So yes, uh the city is proposing to apply for the big idea grant uh which is designed to fund bold, creative, and forwardthinking ideas. As you know, council has identified the need for a splash pad to be located at Smith Jones Park and staff thinks that this is a good match for that grant as does council. Um, but as part of that application, MASC requires that council pass a resolution committing to the required match of $5,000. Uh, and if it is approved tonight, we will apply before the September deadline. And just to be clear, MC stands for the Middle School Association of South Carolina. I saw Mr. the white sand. He looks like he's got something he wants to say. I want us to get it done. Is that a motion? I move that we approve this. Okay, I got a motion. Is it Mr. I will second Mr. Motion? All right, we've got a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion, questions, comments? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by raise hand as well. Thank you. Thank you. consideration of public work. Uh sidewalk repairs improvements. The contract for sidewalk repairs

improvements expired on September the 12th, 2025. City of Congress sent out bid requests for the bid openings was August the 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. Four bids were received with Gail Works LLC being the low bidder overall and we recommend that we move on with that. Recommend we go with that. All right. Any questions for him? Yes, sir. Do you have a listing of um sidewalks that are going to be repaired with this? We have we do have a small list and we're adding to it every day.

Is I got a question. Is that something that you all identify or is that something that if the neighborhood identifies, hey, we need a sidewalk. We want to get on the list. You go out there, you identify as a hightra area. This would make sense to have a sidewalk. Walk me through that process. But we have inspectors now too that actually go out and inspect sidewalks trying to get them before the residents have to. But we also have residents that call in into neighborhoods and downtown that'll call in and say, "Hey, look, you know, you might want to come check this sidewalk for trip hazard." And we'll go out and we'll mark it and get it ready to be replaced. Usually, as part of the budget retreat process, we identify the sidewalks that are the new sidewalks to be included as well.

Fantastic. Fantastic. All right. Any other questions? Motion. I move that we approve first reading. Thank you, Mr. Approve this. I'd like to second the motion. All right, we have a motion, a second. Any other discussion before we move the vote? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying. All right, that passes unanimously. Thank you, sir. All right, so we are moving on to public. We have three folks that signed up to speak in advance. Um they are Jimmy Hammond Hammond and Alison Hudson. We're going to start with Mr. Hammond. Um welcome sir. If you'll say if you'll say your name after my name is Jimmy Ham 1550 Churchill Drive in Conway. Um I feel like I'm a sharks tank right here trying to make a presentation to y'all to get y'all to buy into this situation I'm in. And I got Mr. Wonderful behind the mic today and maybe he'll help me. And I requesting when y'all do public input that I would hear something back when y'all have y'all's council input of your any any of the meeting. I would like to introduce I was told that just me coming up here it wasn't enough. So I've invited several retirees that are affected in this situation. And I like to introduce y'all to Mr. Randall Graham right here. He is a fine outstanding individual. He had 26 years in the police department and he was police

chief three different times because y'all needed him. CDA Conway needed him. I'd like to introduce y'all to Mr. Tim Chapman sitting right beside him. Mr. Tim Chapman has been with the police department for 30 years with the city of Conway. He could have retired at 25, but he stayed on at 30 because it was a wonderful organization to work for. I got over here Mr. Eddie Scott. Mr. Eddie Scott, I'm glad to see that you're out of the hospital to come to join us today. Mr. Eddie Scott was with the police department for 28 years and uh you brought a lot of individuals along through the through the years, young people, trained them, told them it was a good thing to be with the city of the police department. Now, I'm going to leave the best for last, Miss Jane Matthew. Mr. Jane Matthew, glad to see that she's doing a lot better. She fell to the floor and broke her legs. She had no cash on anymore. Ribs. Broke her ribs. I'll get it straight. I was looking at her legs while ago, but she's been in there for 33 years. 33 years sitting behind that gavvel up there or in that office over there and said, "Yes, you owe me $185 for going 4 miles over speed limit." Yes. Yes, you do. Or let me send you to training. maybe send you to somewhere another to get you some training. But I'm here and I would like for y'all to take the time to look in cuz these are individuals that's going is suffering from this and haven't heard anything back from y'all. It's been 106 days now. The staff over here, the people over here that I've talked to, they said they can't do anything. Cannot do anything. I've talked to them several times. They said, "I've got to come to council." Council's the one who made the decision. So, I'm here council 106 days and you won't talk. And you got people up there

right now that's running for office and y'all saying going to be saying in your cards and publicity going out that I've talked to people open. Come talk to me. I want to speak to you. Yes, I'm I'm friendly and all that, but none of y'all have talked. None of you. Right down the street from me. You and I grew up somewhat together. Not really, but I'm a lot older than you. We live right down the street from us. Thank you. But uh for keeping on, I did like my wife to come today. I did not know my daughter was coming. So, thanks. We welcome you. If you do, this is a procedural record. address and do not remind Mr. H, but I will remind everybody we do not personel and I do and I do have the or county credit also. So this is how I sound. All right, I'm ham 155 con. All right, good afternoon. This is out of my box for me to do this. I am speaking for my husband and for the other retirees that cannot speak or voice their opinion because they live out in the county and they're not allowed to speak but they put in 30 plus years for the city. We all are on a fixed income. this week. Everyone of us, including myself, is on a fixed income. Somebody, everybody in here will be on a fixed income sooner or later. I feel like there's been a major breakdown in communications.

It really has. An old wise man told me, "There are three sides to a story." And it's not Facebook or social media. It's my side, your side or the truth. We need these men and wonderful lady need the opportunity to voice what is happening to their insurance. Why 17 years later you act upon this? Yes, it was voted on 2008. They had already been put in 20 plus years. They were already nested in the city. I know. I lived it. But there's still no communications. This is the great group. But never and you know never is hard work. You can hardly say never. But they were never told that their insurance would be cut now. Never. up to this day until we got that certified letter in June and I received it from the mailman. I said, "Oh boy, what's this about?" Not even dreaming it was about then it all went, "Oh boy, we've got to figure out our budget again." And I know Mr. Randall, Mr. Tim, and Miss J and Mr. Scott, they've had to do the same thing. They had to dig deep again. No communications in today terms. Y'all ghosted them. You've left them hanging. So please, please consider talking to them. Their side, your side, and the truth. It needs to be. Thank you.

Super excited. I got it. Um, my name is Alison Hudson and I live at 4049 Ridgewood Conway 29526. Um, so I'm here and speak just for a few minutes. Um, kind of I've been briefed about the situation, but I don't know all the details. Um, so just hear me out. Good evening. Uh, my name is Alison Hudson, the daughter of Jimmy and Lyn Hammond and a proud Conway native. I want to share a memory with you. Picture a little girl, 7 years old, curled up in their bed at night. Suddenly, you hear footsteps running down the hallway and it's their dad running, putting on his ear after a call comes over the radio. That's what they did back then. Firefighters laid everything on the line with heart, soul, and sacrifice. That little girl lay there praying that her father would come home safe. Proud that he prayed that he was proud that he was on the way to save someone's home, maybe even someone's life by putting in his own risk. That little girl was me. That firefighter is my dad. This was our life. He missed holidays, birthdays, spent many weekends away. I was nights that we would wonder if we were going to see him again. And my family is not unique. So many families live the same reality because their loved ones gave their best year serving this city. Did they do they they did it without complaint? They did it on modest pay and they trusted. We trusted you that the benefits they earned would be there for their retirement. Now with their health and insurance being amended, the promise feels broken. The men and women who served this city for many years are now being forced to make choices.

No retirement made between medical care, prescriptions, and basic needs. Council members, Holly is not in a recession. In fact, the city's budget has grown by millions in the past 3 years. Come and honor it retirees in the time of prosperity. What message does that send to those who serve today? What does that say about our values? My father in the hardest times. I'm asking you now, please stand by him and every sacrifice so much for this city. Don't turn your backs on them now. And I'll leave you with this. If you can't honor the men and women who built this city, then you're not just breaking a promise, you're breaking your trust. Thanks. I'll say now most of you may know, but this is not a time for dialogue back and forth uh between. It's just not. Uh but with that I'll say this uh prior to this meeting uh we have set in motion uh a meeting so that this council and this staff can learn more about what happened in 2008. I think part of the frustration is that none of us here in 2008 I don't think any of our staff positions and they are in those positions back in 2008. So when it comes to not getting back to you or not communicating, it's a lack of understanding and that's something that we've got to understand for ourselves first. So I would ask you and urge you please be patient. We do care. I can assure you that. Thank you. But we only have Thank you. Thank you. I sincerely

all right. Um that is the uh conclusion of today's public input. Uh we hear from Mr. Administrator Mr. White that we close public. Okay. Yeah. There's a motion to close public. What is there? This house.

All right. Any discussion hearing? All those in favor? Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Good afternoon. Some things that are coming up in the near future. The first mayor's youth advisory meeting of the year is this Thursday with nine new members joining the youth council uh and four returns. There'll be 13 total on this year's uh youth advisory committee. The high school homecoming parade is this Friday. Starts roughly at 4:00 as you know. So, if you can be there no later than 3:45 in the fire truck, uh it'll be at the old tennis center, uh where we typically line up. Uh and this year, we have ordered more of the footballs to throw out, so we should have plenty for the entire round. I would caution you though, if you throw them all at the beginning of the parade, it doesn't matter how many we get, they'll still all be gone. Um Superstars competition is September 27th at 3:30. It's at the Mac Auditorium in the county museum on Main Street. This annual event showcases some of the best local talent in Conway. It's completely free and public to enjoy and we encourage everyone to be able to attend that as well. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This this Saturday, I'm sorry, Saturday the 27th at 3:30 at the Mac Auditorium at the county museum, the old school. Uh if you haven't seen it yet, the holiday alley is amazing. Uh we're going to have a hard time making it spooky for Halloween, but we're going to give it a good try. When you leave here tonight, I'm not sure where you are parked, but make sure you change your pathway home. Just be able to walk down it and see what's going on there. Uh if you're there, there's staff out there working. Please give them a big thank you for working on it. It's uh it really is a really it came together better than we expected. It's just amazing. Uh we will schedule a special theme coming for Holiday Alley very shortly, which is a segway into our Halloween prep work, which is underway. You've probably seen

some of the Halloween decorations going out. The candy lights and the trees are being replaced this week with new ones. Um, and the pumpkins are going out very soon. So, if you get questions, pumpkins will be out soon. The rest of downtown is already buzzing uh with people items being placed and then tweaked to get them right. We have 2 weeks to put a bow on it and have it ready by October 1st, which is our first big event on Halloween. It's called the big blue. Um, last year it was called the costume march. We gave it a good name. This year it's the new beginning. Um it will begin at the same location as last year across the street this time at 4th in Kingston and at the town green with a concert Halloween calendar daily. We expect to hit 300 events for the month before we kick off the month. Um I'm going to highlight just a couple 300 otherwise we'd be here for a long time. Um first we added two new exciting events all month. Crazy Sisters Halloween Pride Pirate Adventure will operate pirate ship rides on the walk and motor beach productions will operate a haunted house style maze at the old tennis center. Mostly both of these events will run all month. It allows us to add some amazing events without having to staff them privately operated businesses. We also partnered with a few other groups to sponsor props or events. Georgetown Technical College is sponsoring our Halloween movie series at the terrace this year every Friday night in October, plus two sensory friendly movies at the sports and fitness center. All are sponsored by HGTC. The barn company that builds barniums is building a Halloween themed barinium filled with fun on lower street is getting on the spirit. They're building a huge spider on the riverwalk that you can walk under. All those things will be up in the near future. Um, again, it's a way for us to bring in partners that add to what we do without having to add to the expense and the staffing that we do. Halloween hustle, public safety day, the labor craft fair,

and the first appearance of the mar take place on October 4th. There's a lot more that day as the highlights on the 10th and 11th. We bring back the smoke on the water barbecue festival. The car club is having a car show fest and fall chiropractic. The fall fest by county family outreach is a lady park and county museum is having those stories on that weekend the 17th and this weekend kicks off on the 16th with our skeleton disco at Kingston Park. There's also ghost walk week from downtown Live and the Republic's performing youth performing arts festivals downtown as well. Uh pretty much everything that can go on is going on in October. It's going to be absolutely crazy. Um and I think everyone's going to agree it's going to be a pretty magical year. There's already people everywhere. Um tonight we have reports from Judge Fing and from Jeff. First before we come up, I wanted to share that for the second year of row has made HGTV's top 40 most charming downtowns in America list. Um, so congratulations to you guys for this pretty awesome achievement. It's um, you know, I think we should be on that list, but no one ever expects to go on two years in a row. So, thank you guys. And if there's any questions for me, I will turn it over to to Kayla first. I have a question at all. I was asked Friday night the man had quit playing at 10 and they said it was a noise that's Yeah, sure. I think I think it's 9 actually, not 10. Um, we could we could definitely look at amending that and perhaps just for downtown if that makes the most sense. Um, we can bring that back at future council meeting.

If it's okay, we workshop it maybe first and then bring back an end. Any other questions? Yes.

I just have one look, but um the walkways out to the town green. We we added the nice brick walkway just um I was afraid of people coming through there. They do not see pedestrians crossing at night or during the daytime. As a matter of fact, I don't know if we could put um you know, I don't even know if they see sandwich time sign road, but I do um I do think we have a lot more traffic watching and people are so excited they're not paying attention. They're walking right out of traffic. Also thought maybe put like a pencil light that just do something to flare the stops to kind of slow down. Let us brainstorm on that. It might be that we can just close the alley for the evenings when it gets dark.

Oh no. Not for pedestrian traffic. You mean second or second? Second Avenue. Okay. I got you. There's so much going on. It's a good it's a good idea. Let's let us try to brainstorm something. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Any other questions?

Absolutely. Thank you.

Good evening. How are y'all today? Fine.

Just wonderful. Right. It's a pleasure to work for the city of Conway. I just want to let you know. Thank you. Um, our municipal court has been busy as always. Um, just recently at the end of July, we hired a ministerial recorder named Jessica Daniels and, uh, she's doing a wonderful job. Just last week, she completed a 3-day intensive training in Colombia. U, but she'll actually do it for her twoe training uh, coming up in March where she'll take her test afterwards. Um, and we have one position open for judicial assistant that we plan to fill in November. I didn't want to be training two at one time for different positions and and not give them what they needed or deserved as training. Um, and the last thing that I have is for debt set off this year. We took a record amount. Uh, we were seeking $475,000 and that would have been from years 2021, 2022, and 2023. and we received a total of around $50,000 which is great cuz last year we only received 5,000 but it just depends on who files taxes. Um but that's all I have. Do y'all have any questions?

All right questions.

Thank you. And we do report from Jeff who's coming around. I see. Good afternoon council. Um quick update from technology services department is uh we completed the dark fiber project which connected the 378 complex and the rec center back to public safety. Um, we upgraded that to uh a 10 database connection from a 50meg lease line which is like 1,000 times faster their communications back to the city. All the networking equipment at both locations have been upgraded to support that. Uh we have hit 400 cameras on the citywide camera network. It was a year ago uh when I reported that we hit 300. So we're growing that system at a rate of about 100 cameras a year. Uh expanded coverage includes the Riverwalk with over 20 cameras, the 378 complex, multiple downtown intersections, uh multiple UFO multi- camera units at city parks. Uh we also collaborated with Coastal Carolina University's production department uh and sharing specific cameras highlighting the downtown area where they can switch to on a live basis during their broadcast of the football and the baseball games to actually highlight uh uh the city of Conway. Uh some of these include City Hall, Scarboro Alley, Kingston Park, Teal Alley, Holiday Alley, and the new splash pad and more. Uh just an update on the water flow sensor, the water level sensor project. Uh that's currently in the SC DOT permit stage. Uh this project is to place five water level sensors uh at uh one at uh in the Wakamar River,

one at Kingston Lake, and three locations on Crabtree Swamp. We're going to use this data during storm events to actually monitor these areas on a live basis so we can actually make decisions in real time. Uh we've also collaborated with the southeast coastal ocean observe and regional association uh to share data with them so they can share it with uh other people and in return they will provide maintenance on these senses for us at no cost and that's all I have. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. Any questions for Jeff? I got a question. These cameras are these these are built in house, I understand.

Yes. Okay. These are all permanent built-in house. We have the portables that we build in house that we can move around depending on uh where police might need them. Uh but we're also installing a lot of in-house permanent cameras. all the downtown intersections, second in uh Laurel, third in Laurel, um in multiple other recess area, all have permanent cameras now. These are not portable. They're live 24/7. With the portable cameras, as I understand, if we have a a crops in a particular neighborhood, yes, folks checking the rails at night, we can we can put that apparatus.

We can deploy those on a moment's notice. Oh, we I mean a lot of times Detective Watson uh Watford will uh let Marcus or Louis know, hey, we had this happen last night. Can we get a camera over here? Cuz they're expecting something else to happen probably. We'll go put one up. So 300 last year, we're at 400 now. Yes. Well, let's just assume, we know this isn't the case, but let's just assume the city didn't grow. what would be a reasonable expectation for for cameras where we could have a pretty a pretty good blanket sort of like what beach does. I mean, I've just I've watched them talk about how they can literally watch somebody commit a crime and they can track that person. The police have budgeted 10 portable cameras per year and that's a ongoing budget. So, we build 10 new ones every year for them. So we're up to I think 47 now those portables. So those are growing uh 10 per year. Uh and we also uh just around town various location especially in the parks that's where we're expanding the most. Uh the difficult part with that is we're limited by wireless access because we don't have wires running to these locations. So we have to bounce wirelessly from water tower to water tower to the park. So, we can only put so many cameras on that system before it saturates the feed to the point that where the cameras are not working well. So, that's pretty much our limiting factor at this point. Um, as a city grows, it's just a matter of uh either more portable cameras or growing our wireless footprint to support the speeds to bring the feed back to our main servers. We've got six servers now controlling these things.

I would say probably I don't know a thousand cameras would be a nice footprint to have to cover a pretty large basis. We're almost halfway there. Wow. this whole downtown area and this whole scar bro alley uh um and the holiday alley and all these projects are expanding the cameras cuz we're adding them right along with these projects. Every earth gets one. We cover the alleys. We covered the Riverwalk expansion. We just added six more in Holiday Alley to cover all those areas including the parking lots. So it it's expanding rapidly. the new developments that are coming, if you would, or will they be getting cameras?

As far as uh subdivisions go, now Dale has uh worked out with some of them to if they want, they can fund one of these portable cameras in their subdivision or two. Uh I know Dale was working on that with some subdivisions. uh we'd be happy to provide them, but it's up to the HOA or the subdivisions uh to be able to help us with those cameras and not just buy them and put them in for them.

Jeff, I got one more question anywhere else. We're seeing more around town. Can you can you update us on that? Just take a moment.

No, I haven't. um as the uh the flock tag readers that is a grant that the police has been working on. Um I haven't been involved with that. So I don't know the details of uh the grant or where these are located. Uh that would be more of a question for Dale cuz I mean pretty much he has not involved us whatsoever with that project. They are valuable. And I know that as far as in the NCIC system, if one of these cameras picks up a plate that is in NCIC, meaning that it has it's been flagged as stolen uh or it's being, you know, uh uh possible abduction or something like that, it's automatically sent to the department and the officers in the cars get that notification within their P1. one application that this plate was picked up at this location. So, they know about it immediately. So, they are definitely beneficial. Thank you.

I was just going to say I think it's um you you and the city and the staff have done a tremendous job in getting these cameras and and working with our our our police and our safety forces to to ensure the safety of our citizens. And I think it's also that it is um it's not intrusive to the beauty of our city in our downtown.

We're trying to camouflage them, so to say. I mean, if we have a black pole, we're putting up black cameras. Um we're we're not trying to look at businesses or any areas that would be intrusive. for example, we're mainly looking at uh an alleyway where somebody could trip and fall and get hurt or you know to protect the people like that and intersections because you get a lot of foyers for accidents and stuff like that.

I think it's a great excellent Thank you, sir. Thank you. Have a good evening. We are going to cancel [Music] this. It's so exciting everything that's happening. Everything everybody is doing. Um the crew 247 volunteers um everything is amazing and also about amazing and also on a different level [Music] Thank you very much. Mr. Thank you, sir. No, just to say thanks to all the staff that's that's been working on the the decoration for Halloween and the 140 plus volunteers. I travel all over North and South Carolina for work and the the number of people that have either been here before or inquiring about when everything's going to be ready is astonishing. Um so I can't wait to see the the record-breaking numbers that we're going to have during the month of October and and to anyone that was involved with the 9/11 tribute on Thursday. Um amazing job once again. So thank you.

Thank you Mr. Jordan. Mr. What to um we were discussing on Creor Street that the the road that's road the one of the judges that had problem was asking about how he can get that road paved and we hadn't answered that question yet. So we can try to at this point the only way for him to build a house would be for him to pay the expense of being paid for himself and bring me to city standards. Assuming I know who you're speaking of. He's been told many times.

Okay. And then secondly, Norton Street, which is where the father's place is, that road needs to be cleaned up a little bit and and also maybe even paved. Please. Is it is it dirt road now or is it just need it need resurfacing and wen if possible. Thank you. That's all

and I thank everybody for everything you're doing as well. Um real quick just want to mention that uh Conway High School is having their homecoming week. Um so uh just want to encourage everyone to support Conway High School um as they do their homecoming game on Friday night. I also want to recognize Melissa Jefferson Wooden who um was right there from Coastal Carolina University who is world champion for the 100 meters in track and field. So just to um want to appreciate our local athletes um as well as our high schoolers who are one day going to make us proud. So

thank you and like Miss Butler said homecoming weekend. I actually went to Waffle House on Friday night and got to eat dinner with your son and some of the football players. And I know they're they don't have a great season this year, but the the attitudes of the players and the respectfulness with the older people that were in there could be me. Um I enjoyed their company. So, I think that um this week should be a good week and I'm looking forward to the football game and I appreciate the landscaping which is doing really well. Thanks Jessica for getting us a good hire for that. Um Bradley's doing a great job. Um and I do appreciate all my volunteers. I hope they continue to help and go through the Christmas season with us. So, we'll need them for that, too. And I think that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am. I've just got a couple of things. Uh I too enjoy homecoming week. Um you know it I think homecoming weekly speaks to the character of our community and by that I mean this when I was in high school we I mean we live for homecoming week and and for a lot of reasons uh they all share off here. Um but they still they still treasure the same values you know some 25 plus years later. uh that we did, you know, back in the 90s when you could get away with so much more. uh except for that one time we accidentally egged the county police car which may have had something to do with them moving it to the school and not having people's houses anymore but but still it speaks to who we are as a community that we're able to come together um and coming together this week in the wake of last week uh regardless of which side you follow is important and I think it speaks to this group and how um we work together so so beautifully and how often we don't always agree, especially behind closed doors. We don't always agree, but you know, we respect each other and and that's a special thing. And we respect our staff and, you know, that's um I could go on and on and on. I I I will. Um I'm proud to be a part of this group. I'm proud of all of you. I'm proud of the dedication that it takes. And you know, we we thank our public safety a lot, as we should, but it's not just them. It's, you know, it's getting out on the sanitation truck at 3:00 in the morning when it's 36 and rain. It's it's doing all the things that that too often we take for granted. Um, let's just take a moment and be thankful. It's nice to see pumpkins in the trees and Halloween stuff. That's great. But it's also nice to know that you live in a

city where you've got so many different people working together to make things happen that that even I even I take for granted too often. Um and so with that I am done. Um we did have a workshop on the schedule but we're not going to have workshop tonight. However, we do have an executive session back here just a second that is for consideration for commissions. So, we're going to come back here to stay here. So if we miss you, if you get out of here, thank you. Have a good night. We appreciate all

That's a good question. That's the most widely misled to think that this cuz my mom or my daddy or my there has to be statues very clear has to be an economic comp. And if there's not state statute says you cannot say we're not on the air. Sorry. All right, we are back on the air as well.

I'm sorry. Yeah, we're back on. Welcome back everyone. Uh, in the matter of executive session, the uh appointment uh to boards and commissions is uh is there a motion? Mr. White, I move that we accept the same name for the um what is it? Mr. Krypton status board second. There's a second by Miss Helms. Is there any discussion? Hearing none, we'll vote on this. All those in favor, signify by raising your hand. That decision is unanimous. We'll congratulate Mr. Button. All right. Uh yes, sir.

Okay. Thank you. I move we go home. Well, let's come. We already did. No, we already did come out cuz we just voted. That's right. Um, all right. So, we got a motion to take it to the house. Second. We got a second to take it to the house. And any discussion hearing? None. Raan. Unanimous. Good night. It's a letter from Jimmy. Oh, Mr. J, will you make sure that knows we've adjourned? Oh,

yeah. Will you tell him to turn that off? Ah, see. When are we going to discuss this thing?