City Council - Regular Meeting

Good afternoon. It is 4:00 on November 3rd, 2025 and I officially open this meeting of the Kawi City Council. I'm so happy that all of you are here. Uh Councilwoman Beth H has agreed to meet us in an invitation and pledge of allegiance. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with humble hearts, grateful for the privilege of serving our community. As we gather to conduct the business of the city, we ask for your guidance, wisdom, and unity. Lord, we ask we thank you for the opportunity to serve our community. As we meet tonight, as our citizens prepare prepare to vote tomorrow, guide our thoughts and actions with wisdom, fairness, and grace. May this election reflect the values of respect, cooperation, and care for one another. Bless this council and all who are are present present tonight. That our work tonight may bring honor to you and benefit those we serve. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Amen. Justice of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Miss H. Follow the agenda as outlined. Is there a motion relevant to the consent agenda? I make a motion that we approve the consent agenda. Thank you. Is there a second? I'll second the motion. We will properly second the motion to approve the consent agenda. All in favor, please indicate such for the show of your hand. Mot motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much. Um moving forward to item

uh four, we will have a presentation of October 2025 longevity awards. Uh and I will leave it to generate to name to identify and give the the term of service for these employees. Mr. 2001 city program recognized the milestones and longevity of our city employees and everybody here. Um the first is Tyres is hired in 2020 as a as a senior master police officer in 2022 was promoted to the police court role. She also worked with the city from 2005 until 2019. Oh, next. Robbie was hired in 2020 as a police officer trainee, was promoted to police officer patrol in 2021. in 2023 was promoted to senior master senior police officer and in 2023 was promoted to senior master police officer. 5 years. In 2020, Michael was hired as a police officer, was promoted in 2021 to senior master police officer, celebrating 5 years. THANKS.

[applause]

UH, NEXT IS BILLY STAPLES. Billy was a mechanic in 2020 and in 2025 was promoted to construction inspector supervisor utilities driver.

[clears throat]

Josh. Okay. 25 years 20 year 2000 is working as assistant recreation director and athletics. Heat. Heat. all of those who are being honored this afternoon. Thank you so much for your service and we'll see you again in 5 years. YouTube. Thank you. Item B is a discussion of a request to reszone approximately 35100 acres of property located at 1328 Cottage Lane and 1636 Church Street from City of Conway low to medium density residential district to the city of Conway highway commercial district. Miss Huts. Yes. Um, good evening. Um, this is a request to reszone two parcels on the corner of Church Street and Cottage Lane. Uh, both of these parcels, they're currently zoned low medium density residential or R1. And one of the parcels is where a title loan business have been located for several years. The other is a vacant parcel with the exception of a billboard. The future land use map identifies the properties as highway commercial and the requested zoning is highway commercial for purposes of commercial development and

planning commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on this request at their November 6th meeting this Thursday. Their recommendation will be boarded with first reading. With that, I'll be happy to answer any questions you have. Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor. I was just going to move that we uh it's no vote. No vote. I'm getting ahead of myself.

Anyone else? Any questions or comments? Mr. H, I think we're satisfied with that. Move forward, please, with item uh 5A, first reading of ordinance ZA 20260120 A to annex approximately 18100s of an acre of property located at 642 Leisure Lane. This request is a result of a name change to a city utility account due to the property owner passing away. The personal representative of the deceased is registering a utility account in their name. There have been seven other properties on Lisa Lane within the Pine Valley Estate subdivision that have been annexed over the past several years. The first on Lisa Lane occurring in 2012 and the most recent in January of this year. This particular property is contiguous through the rear adjoining property only owned by US Fish and Wildlife and not through adjacent properties in the subdivision. The precedent for annexing properties within Pine Valley estates was set back in 2012. However, a majority of the lots on Lisa Lane contain manufactured homes and when annexed are annexed in as legal non-conforming structures and uses with limitations on replacement. Further, adjacent lots appear to only have tonnage on a dirt road that's no longer being maintained by the county. So, should those properties come up for annexation at some point in the future, the city would end up with another situation where if annexed, no permits could be issued for construction without one, the road being improved to city standards and two being dedicated to the city with the unlikelihood of that happening with the remainder of the roads and the development being countymaintained. you'd be talking about a 50 foot or 75 ft stretch [clears throat] would be in the city. Additionally, sanitation vehicles will have a difficult time maneuvering in and

out given the fact that the roads are substandard, which is the reason for other annexation requests being denied that were proposed for other areas within this subdivision. At this time, staff recommends against annexation of the property for the affformentioned reasons, but I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have. Thank you so much. Um I move that we disapprove first reading of this ordinance. Second, uh are there questions or is there any discussion? There being none, all in favor of disallowing this annexation, please indicate such as showing your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you, Miss Hut. And moving forward uh to item C for reading an ordinance CA 2020260120B to annex approximately 15100s of an acre of property located at 182 Coil Run. Miss Huts, this property is within the Quail Creek subdivision and annexation is now being required due to a change in property ownership in accordance with restrictive covenants that were filed in 2010 as well as a condition of receiving city utilities. The property contains a single family dwelling and according to the application it is a rental home. Eight other properties within Quail Creek have been annexed into the city with the adjacent parcel annex in 2023 making this property contiguous. If first reading of this annexation is approved, planning commission will hold a public hearing on the resoning of the property at their December 11th meeting. Um staff does recommend approval of first reading of the ordinance to annex the property. Thank you, Miss H. Mr. White approve first reading. Thank you, sir. Is there a second, Mr.

I'll second Mr. White's motion, please. We have a properly seconded motion um to uh approve first reading of this ordinance. I just want to make a simple comment. Um Quail Creek Quill, that entire subdivision has been a huge uh donut hole like forever and ever. Amen. And we're now at lot number eight. Yes. Uh we're definitely making progress sitting in the center of all of it is us.

Uh anybody else have any comments? And if not, I'll call all in favor please indicate so with the showing of your hand. Yes. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Item six A is consideration of acceptance of a bid for Kingston Lake storm water outfall upgrades park view construction contract. Mr. House and how do you do? Good. How about you?

Good. [laughter] Uh, mayor and council, the city received grant funding to improve the Kingston Lake Stormwater outfall upgrades through the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program, which is administered by the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority and funded by federal, state, and local fiscal recovery funds through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Park View construction contract includes installing proposed stormwater infrastructure on Park View Road, Long Road and Grand Road, and concrete ditch maintenance on 16th Avenue outfall as called out in the plans provided by Bolton and Meek. The project consists of installing reinforced concrete pipe ranging in sizes from 18 in to 24 in along with the installation of concrete drainage box boxes to add to additional capacity and resiliency to the city stormwater system. The city advertised publicly to select a firm to construct the Kingston Lake stormwater alpha upgrades uh for the part view contract. proposal. Proposals were uh required to be submitted to the city no later than October 13th, 2025 with four uh firms submitting proposals. Staff recommended recommends the lowest possible bidder greenway contracting to construct the Kingston Lake stormwater alpha upgrades for the part B road construction contract.

Thank you, sir. What is the will of the council? [snorts] Second, [snorts] we were properly seconded motion to approve uh the consideration of this bid, the acceptance of this bid. Is there any further discussion? Question. Yes, sir. Mr. White. Um there are no numbers to go with this as in which one was first, second, third, fourth as in the bids. Um so we could have that in the next one. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Anyone else? We'll call a vote. All in favor, please indicate such show your hand. Motion carries unanimous. Thank you so much. Uh item E is consideration of acceptance of a bid for Kingston Lakestorm water upgrades Rose Haven construction contract. So just off the previous contract, the city received grant funings uh for the Kingston I'm sorry. Yeah, the Kingston Lake storm more rightfall upgrades for the Rose Haven construction contract. Uh this project includes installing proposed storm water infrastructure in Rose Haven, Blue Bell Lane, Highway 71 North and Boundary Street, Pine Street concrete ditch repairs, more lane drainage repairs, Ridgewood Drive drainage improvements, and general ditch cleaning and maintenance as called out in the plans provided by Bolton and me. Again, the project assist of installing u various sizes of reinforced concrete pipe and catch basins. Um the city advertised again u with proposals required to be submitted no later than October 13, 2025 with three firms submitting proposals. Staff recommends the lowest responsible bidder Atlas Construction of SC to construct the Kingston Lake storm water outra for the road saving contract.

Thank you, sir. And thank you for telling me what RC RCP is. I've seen it several times before and and just pretended that I knew what it was. Thank you so much. Uh what shall we do with um this proposal to accept this bid? Move to approve this Lord's bill again. Mr. Con's motion. I'll second this motion. Probably seconded motion to approve uh the uh bid that came from this specific um organization. All in favor? I'm sorry. This help with the smell. Some of the smell that is on that side. Yes or no?

Probably not. It's more just drainage upgrades and not anything really sewer related. Anyone else? And is this Rose Haven by I'm sorry by Smith Jones? Yes, sir. Um I drove through the yesterday. I think it was in there's a lot of um parking spaces like on the left on the right hand side going down in there. Do you What's that for? Are they building homes there or something or town homes there on the uh furnish parcels on the way in? Yeah. Okay. Thank you.

Well, and now for a vote. All in favor, please indicate such for the show of your hand. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you so much. Item C is consideration of the 2026 city council meeting schedule. Mr. Henry, good afternoon. Um the proposed schedule before you is very similar to the ones we've done this year, year before, I believe year before that. Um we have three four months with only one meeting. That would be March, April, July, and December. And we have three months that have a Tuesday meeting to offset for a holiday that is on the Monday. Um if there's no if there's I mean there's no issues um this would require a vote to block it in for next year. I move that we approve the meeting schedule as is outlined. Mr. Jordan,

I will second your motion.

Thank you. We've got a promptly seconded motion to approve this schedule. Are there questions or comments or request that it be changed? There being none, all in favor, please indicate such for the show of your hand. And motion carries unanimously. Item eight is the city administrator's report. Mr. Emry, this morning, um, Chief Lee Henry informed me that he'll be retiring at the end of the year. He has served as our cities fire chief for the last 11 years and has been in the fire department for 32 years. I want to wish Um, we had a heck of an October. Um, if you recall recall, our goal for visitors for the month was 300,000. We we beat that. We have 456,900 people in in downtown to visit downtown Halloween. Not only we water, that's a nearly 50% increase over last year. Um, our peak day was Saturday, October 18th, and we saw 37,500 people. From what I can tell, that is the most people that have ever been in our downtown at any point that we can find any reported measure of.

Did you say October 18th?

October 18th. Um, we came close the next Saturday, which was the 25th. We had over 30,000 people on that day, too, but not quite as many. Um, we had three Saturdays this month with over 30,000 people, but none top the 18th. Halloween itself, we had 20,200 people visit the downtown. Um, again, I would have hazard bet that that is the the peak of that as well. On average, we had 14,800 people visit every single day of the month. The peak time of day for visits was 7:00 p.m. Um, I say that because a lot of our businesses are not open on Saturdays and are not open at 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. next year it would behoove them to be open when the people are here. Um some quick comparisons to last year. Last year our highest visit day was also Saturday. Saturday was the 19th. So again the trend there the middle of the month on the Saturday. That date which was the highest of the of the month was 20,700 people. So again 17,000 more this year than the peak last year. Last year we averaged 9,900 people per day. The same patterns existed. Saturdays were the biggest day of the of the of the month last year and 700 p.m. was the peak of each day last year as well. So the trend data is is pretty um pretty consistent. If you want to look back further in 2021, the year before we became Halloween South Carolina, our trend data is not as clear. The things were not as as as easy to to get a routine. The busiest day of that year in 2021 was Saturday of the 2nd. It was 13,200 people. There were no other obvious day of the week peaks. There were some Fridays, some Thursdays. It just didn't have have any consistency. The peak time of the day before we did Halloween was at noon. The average number of daily visitors was 5,800 people. We saw a total of 178,800 people in 2021. So to give you an idea, that's considerable growth since we started

doing Halloween. The economic impact of October 2025 will not be seen for a few more weeks. that information lags a little bit when we get the the hospitality fee numbers in. Um, anecdotally, we've heard from both Crafty Rooster and Shanties had their best months ever. Both restaurants ran out of food several times during the month. Um, the same for Hitch, the same for River City Cafe. In fact, in midmon, we had to bring in more food trucks to address the the concern from people visiting that they couldn't get a table at restaurants and they couldn't get food when they got tables. um those food trucks that we brought in to report their best days as well um for their careers. We had a ton of help this year, not just from our amazing city team, but also an army of volunteers. HTTC sponsor our movie series and is going to do so again for Christmas. Barb, the Barbinian company approached us and asked if they could build a Halloween display and we said sure. They did. So did Ortho SC. Orc built a spooky spider surgeon on the on the roof. um our haunted house um region productions came and said, "Can we put a haunted house in?" We said, "Yes, absolutely." Crazy sister Marina, our real pirate ship, our nonprofit partners, our stores, our restaurants, everybody stepped up their game, including SP just outside of downtown with the now famous Blue Jangles. Uh we want to thank every one of them for all they did to make this month what it was, and we hope that our partners had even have as much fun as we did. One thing we did though is we created a little bit of an issue for ourselves. You all know that we do have Christmas big in Conway, but we set the bar so high with Halloween that now the same people who came to see Halloween are expecting us to do so again with with Christmas. At some point we're going to reach the maximum height of that bar for Christmas, but it won't be this year. Um, so make sure that December 4th is on your calendar. That's the that's the official kickoff of Christmas in the city of Conway. That is a Christmas tree

lighting. And as Councilman Jordan put out on his Facebook feed about a month ago, make your travel plans now, uh, Main Street will be closed at at least 300 p.m. that day. Um, and that is a Thursday. So, make your changes. Now, moving on from the holidays, um, this Friday at 400 p.m. is the Coastal Carolina University Homecoming parade downtown. It's following a similar route to the high school parade. It will be at 400 p.m. on Friday. It will go through downtown. It also will cause some traffic issues. Um, but we have transportation for you in the parade. So, make sure you meet at Marina Drive about 3:45 if you want to ride in the homecoming parade. Um, and that fairly concludes my report. I do have one more thing unless there are questions for me. If there are any, I'm happy to answer. I have a a quick request, sir. I'm so impressed with um a business who is not in the downtown who would ordinarily uh not go to the extent that downtown merchants would and that would be of course blue jingles. I want us to do something for them. Um let's talk about what that might be. Absolutely. We need to we need to let them know how much we appreciate I don't know how much liberty I have to talk about it but I know that they're doing something special for Christmas too. and they did last year. It was beautiful at at Christmas, but they're the only non-down entity that takes things to that extent. And I heard about it everywhere I went. If there's any other questions, I'd like to yield the remaining amount of my time to Tammy Clark, Captain Tanny Clark.

Thank you. here. Um, I'm sure you all heard I've also announced my retirement which is effective officially this Saturday. Um, I did prepare a little speech and Lord help me to make it through without shading here. [laughter] Um, good evening to mayor and council and um, fellow citizens. I stand before you tonight with deep gratitude and pride. After serving the city as a police officer for over 26 years, I will at least take a moment to express my sincere thanks to this council, to the leadership of our city, and to the community that fought to protect. All right. When I first put on this badge, I knew I was stepping into a role that demanded courage, compassion, and commitment. What I didn't know is how much the city would give back to me in return. Over the years, I've witnessed incredible acts of kindness, resilience, and unity. I've worked alongside some of the most dedicated public servants imaginable, and I've built relationships that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life. Sorry, [laughter] council. Thank you for your continued support to our department and your leadership in making the city a safer, stronger place. Your decisions have shaped the environment in which we serve, and I'm grateful for the trust you've placed in us. To the residents of the city, thank you for allowing me into your lives, for your cooperation, for your encouragement, and your belief in the work we do. It has been my privilege to serve you. As I look ahead in the next chapter, I do it with a full heart and deep appreciation for the journey ahead. The city has been more than just my workplace. It's been where I've built a life, pursued a mission, and embraced

the responsibility of a servant leadership. Thank you for 26 unforgettable years. [music] Thank you.

[clears throat]

We are um at night. Thank you, Mayor and Captain. That's that's hard to follow you, girl. [laughter] Thank you for your service. Thank you for what you've done to for this community and and we really appreciate you and love you a lot and we wish you best in your next journey. Um to the staff in the city of to the to the staff of the of the city of Halloween, I cannot thank you. I I don't even have the words to say thank you and how much and how exciting the past month has been. We all know that the planning is is year round, but what you did and how you did you maintained um you surpassed each and every day. Um I it just is remarkable and uh thank you so much. I just great words. Um, I just don't even have any I don't even know any better vocabulary words to tell you how much I appreciate it and thank you for what you did and I'm looking forward to how to uh this Christmas season coming. Uh, but as we turn, we also I'm looking forward to CCU homecoming this week. Also looking forward to election tomorrow. Um, everyone get out and vote. Make sure you remind your ma your neighbors that this is a city election and all city residents have have a duty to go and vote. uh and to represent what you know to represent our city. Um and good luck to all the candidates. Thank you, Mick, Mr. Jordan.

Thank you, Mayor. Uh congratulations, uh Kevin, uh and and congratulations, Lee. Um you know, thank you both for, you know, your years of service to the city. We certainly appreciate it. Um you know, and and following Miss Harvick, uh October has been incredible. um can't wait for uh you know Christmas Adam you know came home um so [laughter] yeah it's uh and thank you to all of our staff and and volunteers um it doesn't go unnoticed I mean the amount of work that's gone into this is is incredible um so and again like you said u tomorrow is an important day for the city um please get out exercise your right to vote um you know you've got four candidates that have thrown on their name and and hat into a um arena that's not always fun. Um and uh you know put a put a target on themselves. Um so please get out and uh and and and do your do your job tomorrow and um best of luck to everyone. So thank you mayor.

Thank you Mr. Mr.

Thank you mayor. Uh so most of you know I was a late uh adopter of the Halloween concept. Uh, I'll I'll confess I've been I've been run over one over rather and you know I I don't make very many promises anymore because I you just just don't. But one thing I said years and years ago when I got on this council was that I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong. I recognize that I'm wrong and and I was wrong. I was wrong big time. And I've praised all of you so many times and I'll continue to to push us outside of our comfort zone because that is in fact where we go. We don't grow a little happy comfortable environment when it's when it's scary and and have exempl I'm I'm so proud I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of that. But but but what I'm real proud of is two things that we sort of celebrate or at least discuss this evening is um you've got two two folks uh that in the next are going to be part ways with the city of um and one of them just said something because it's so true of who we are leadership leadership That is so critically important. This this job, you know, up here in the summer, most of the time it's easy. Uh sometimes it's really difficult. Sometimes it's even really difficult when you run a small business and you get in between upsetting one faction of people in the but when you remember that this is about servant leadership. This is about doing what you think is in the best interest of the people of your

community. then you know you're doing the right thing. Even if you disenfranchise yourself with a little bit of of of folks and that's okay because 12 mi that way there are 15 people [music] running for four seats 15 people running for four seats or four people running for three seats and I think that's a testament I come back in January I know it's not going to be perfect. Uh but I think we've got one heck of a group and you know I'm going to say this cuz I think this is important. We had three forums. We had the chamber for you guys did a great job. Thank you for tonight. I was the only comments that came out of those discussions for people that didn't really know us personally was, "Wow, look together." And I said, "Dang, we do. We do. We don't always agree. We certainly don't look the same. We don't think the same."

[clears throat]

What a group. I just I just want to tell y'all that next to my wife and my two little boys, this has truly been the honor of my life and more so than my day job. More so than my day job. So, thank you for letting me be a part of this. Thank y'all for being my family and uh thank you for letting me [music] be a part of yours too. Thank you Mr. Mr. White.

They took all the good stuff. I just said digital everything that has been said and congratulation on the three of you the four of you rather three here and one. I hope she's looking and listening. Um to all of you good luck tomorrow. Um, and we are asking all our citizens first of all to vote cuz we have low turnout on votings lately and we need everybody to get out [snorts] the house and vote and bring somebody with you if necessary. And I thank you all for again putting yourselves in that position again. Um, two more years I'll be doing the same thing hopefully, Lord willing. But we want to thank all our citizens, thank our city staff um, for everything they've done. Also, you guys work your your um your hearts out. I want to say something else, but I let it stay at the heart. So, we we're looking good and we're doing good. And I just have one thing that I would love us to work on. And that's putting a wall like we have on 16th Avenue on 37 and race path um on that lot we have there so that we can have something say welcome to come on that side. That's big. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dwight. Miss Butler.

Thank you. Um again to [snorts] city staff, the city of Halloween was phenomenal. I can't wait to see the economic input that it's had for our businesses downtown. Um the foot traffic is amazing. Um we ended up having good problems with traffic. Um and I so I'm sure that's something that we'll we'll tweak next year. Um I do have two things that I just want to bring to attention really quick. Um I want to bring back the the sidewalk conditions. Um, I had a a young man um who lives within the city who has a son who is in a wheelchair and they are having trouble using our sidewalks and I want to make sure that we are paying attention to the conditions of our sidewalks. Um, I know last time I asked if they were ADA accessible um, and they are um, made so that they are accessible, but I want to know about the conditions of them to make sure that we are keeping them maintained and conditioned. um so that all of our citizens are able to use our sidewalk safely without any hazards or any um issues where they could fall and get hurt. Um and then the second thing um one of the forms that uh Councilman Goinch mentioned was we had one uh in the WildWing community and one of their concerns was speeding in their community. I just wanted to bring it up to see if there's anything that we can do um to help that community um because they want to feel safe in their neighborhood. They want to be, you know, feel safe to be able to walk down the street and not worry about a car speeding through their neighborhood. So, I don't know if there's anything we could do to try to help that community, but I definitely think it's something that we should look into. And that is all I have. Madame Mayor, thank you, Miss Ba. This sounds always hate to go first, but then I always hate to go last. So, y'all said about everything, but um I do want to congratulate Tammy and Leaf on your retirement and

good luck in your next chapter. Y'all both done really good things for Conway and we appreciate all your hard work. Also want to thank staff for just always giving 100%. um can't wait for h um Christmas, but I think that volunteers were huge this year and I hope they come out and help us every holiday season. So, if nothing helps, our [clears throat] pearl staff can catch a break. But, um I know it was I talked to a lot of people that were excited about being part of that and best did a real good job of that. And I appreciate the traffic. Y'all bobbed and weaved every week doing stuff on traffic stuff. So, I do appreciate y'all working on it weekly, not making it till next year to make it change. [snorts] Um, all I ask you to vote tomorrow. If you haven't voted, please vote. [snorts] It's important no matter who you vote for. And that's all I have.

Thank you, Miss Helms. I left city hall on Friday afternoon to a monster that was um challenging enough when he sat still, but he rose about 4 feet into the air and made these noises. I come back on Monday to the sound of dashing through the snow and I'm like, "What happened? Did I miss like 6 weeks here?" But but that's how we that's how we work. Um we pulled uh Halloween in and we immediately start working on Christmas. Um I don't even know what to say about Halloween. It is, it has grown to be something so much [clears throat] bigger than I could have ever anticipated. Um, I'll never forget the day that our administrator, Adam Emer, said to us that we should be ashamed of our fall festival. I looked at him and thought to myself, who does he think he is? We're not ashamed. We have a perfectly good fall festival. Old little minds sometimes need to be uh eyes need to be opened. But uh it took a lot of hands, took a lot of hours, took a lot of heart to get all of that up, to keep it up, to uh protect it as best we could when there was an an impending storm. uh just the movement just the the sheer volume of people that were in this very tiny downtown was beyond beyond I think anybody's expectation. So the challenge um from our constituents has been uh most people are pretty good about accepting are doing Halloween to the extent that we do so long as we do at least as much at Christmas time. So um I

I just want to say to staff that uh that is our challenge and I know that I placed that in the hands of the right people. you have not only um been able to reach any bar that's been set, you set your own bars and they're always higher than what comes from this council and we appreciate it more than I can tell you to these two 25 year. Did I skip this? That's what we're doing. Excuse. [laughter]

I'm happy to tell you that I'm right and he's wrong.

At any rate, he he thought I had skipped something, but um so I really have lost my train of thought. Um but for anybody who wonders about Christmas and our adoration of all things Christmas, um just stick around a couple weeks. uh you'll begin to see it bloom and uh I believe that it will not only be to everyone's satisfaction, it will be to everyone's amazement because that's how we do what we do. Um I want to thank Chief Lee Hendrick and Assistant Chief, not Deputy Chief, what is it? Tammy Carter. What is your captain Tammy Carter for uh your servant leadership? I can't talk about it right now, but you've um you've done very well and we thank you. Uh one last comment. If I were a downtown merchant and if profits were important to me, no [clears throat] one would have to tell me twice about closing up at 5:00 and not opening up on Saturdays and at night. I would skip that 10:00 a.m. stuff. You know, there's nobody here then. I'd open at noon or 3:00 and I'd stay till 8 or 9 because money is being spent in our downtown. Every shop that does stay open has been so crowded with people I wouldn't even dare try to get inside. Um so for for upcoming merchants who will be a part of our downtown. Uh please keep that in mind. That is all I have. We have no uh executive session. We have no workshops this evening. This is um going to be one of the most brief

meetings we've had in ages. And I'll allow Mr. or Goldfedge to make his motion. Mayor, at this time I would move that we adjourn the meeting. Well, may I ask you to hold up just for one second?

I did want to say something about voting. I have been in this nation. I've been in this state. I've been in this city more years than I've been anywhere else. And what I've learned over my time is that all those things that happen through the federal government, I don't feel, I don't touch, I don't notice a difference day by day. But what happens in your city does in fact touch and make a difference to your everyday existence. how fast the firefighters show up, how fast the police show up, what the how what the traffic is like, what the everything, whether or not your garbage is picked up. Um, I've mentioned a couple of times that the only time I've gone to Europe, I was in Rome during a garbage strike and everything that I had planned and saved for to get to see that city. um to see it with those smells and with those piles of trash that were 20 feet tall ruined everything about that particular day. Um what happens in your city is important and for that reason I I beg all registered voters, it's too late to register now, but if you're registered and you have not voted, please show up tomorrow.

Go ahead. Please, Mr. With that, mayor, I move I move that we adjourn this meeting. Is there a second? Miss Ber, I second motion. Properly seconded motion to adjourn. All in favor say I. I.