County Council - Special Meeting

All right.

I'd like to call this meeting Langster County Council to order. I ask that the clerk note for the record that a quorum of council is present. that public's notice of the meeting, including the meeting agenda, has been posted, the required length of time in the lobby, the county administration building, and on the county website, and that the news media was notified of the meeting time in place. I welcome you to your county council meeting. I would ask that you take a moment to turn off or place on vibrate any cell phones. Thank you for not wearing any hats or caps in the county council chambers. and please be considerate of others in the room by refraining from conversations during the meeting. I ask that you please stand and join council for the pledge of allegiance followed by the invocation giving this afternoon by council member Charlene McGriff.

I aliance to the flag 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. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, as we come to this meeting and to this meeting today, please provide us with the guidance and knowledge and allow us to uh be open for whatever information we receive. Also, just thank you for such a beautiful day and I ask you these prayers in your name. Amen.

Amen. Do we have a motion to approve the agenda? So moved.

Have a motion from Miss Mcgrib. Do we have a second? Second from Mr. Harper. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. It's unanimous. We have one citizen's comments. We now come to citizens comments. Please bear in mind that this is not a period of dialogue with council or a question and answer period. This is your opportunity to address council with your concerns. I ask that you address your remarks to council as a body and not to any individual council member. Please speak into the microphone. State your name and address for the record. And you will have up to three minutes to address council. Your time will not start until you have provided your name and address. Miss Libby Sweat Lambert.

Good afternoon. Libby Sweat Lambert, Lancaster County. Um, anything. When I started coming to council meetings, it was because there was a possibility of 1,400 homes in front of me. And I still have concerns about the possibility of that many homes in front of me. But my concern now is more about being a mama and a grandmama and being a good neighbor. I have tremendous concerns about issues that you're going to be discussing today. I have tremendous concerns about fire and safety, EMS, law enforcement. More and more houses are approved and we're not keeping up with the number of employees needed to adequately provide. And in two meetings ago, I talked about the number potential number of people who had came in based on the number of houses that had been approved since January 2021. And that's not even taking in all the people that are going to be coming in shopping at all these places you want to allow to come in. We are looking at huge numbers of people being added to systems that are not prepared to provide services. So I hope none of you are ever in the position that I described two meetings ago when I talked about what it was like to be on the floor with my son. I hope none of you are ever in that position. And I hope none of you ever have to join that club that I told you

about, too. I know one of you have that and it's heartbreaking. But you are the people that have the ability to make sure that every resident of this county is safe. You are the people who make the decisions about how many more folks can come in while we're not prepared. I don't envy you your jobs, but I hope that you're going to make decisions that are best for the entire county. I started out for one reason, but I'm here for a very different reason now. I hope my son did not die and it be over. I hope that I'm talking about diabetes. I'm hoping I'm talking about making sure we have mer emergency services available. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, we're going to move on to item 6A. We have a special presentation from Dr. April Williams about memory and cafe program.

Thank you, chair, members of council, and also county admin. It's an honor to be here to speak to you today. really excited about the programming that we have. I wanted to introduce our outreach librarian and she's going to briefly tell you about amazing programming that we have going on. So, Maggie um was hired last year because council uh awarded us or granted us a new position for the library. We're very grateful for it. Allowed us to meet this growing need in our community for an outreach librarian. Maggie's from Newport News, Virginia, and she 20 years she was worked in education. She was a classroom teacher and a preschool director. She moved to Indianland in 2019 and worked retail until we were blessed to able to get her into the library. She worked at Delell Webb Library um September 2024 and she started 2025 as our outreach librarian. And I wanted to introduce her to let her tell you about the amazing programs that she has going on at Library. Maggie,

thank you. Uh my name is Maggie Vincled and as Dr. Dr. Williams said, I've been in this position as outreach librarian for just about six months. Uh, thanks to the council generously providing this position to the library. I know Dr. Williams has been wanting an outreach librarian for a number of years. Um, the I've been able to create this memory cafe program with Dr. Williams blessing and uh you have a couple of pieces of paper that we gave to you there. One is the flyer for the program, but the other is this fact sheet that came from the University of South Carolina from the School of Public Health. And these are facts and figures that are specific to Lancaster County. So you can see that these numbers come from 2022, which was the most recent year that they had full data. And the increase of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in the county has grown by 220% since um the year 2000. A memory cafe is a place for people who are living with memory loss and their care partners to come to eno enjoyable activities. It's not designed to be a medical program. It's not a place that is a support group. It's really for the people who are living with dementia to be able to come and continue to be the people that they are. Um to be able to do activities that they enjoy, to talk to other people. Social isolation is a risk factor for dementia, but it's also a consequence. And when people get diagnosed with dementia, they often um become recluse and they stay home. And so, we're trying to offer an opportunity for them to get out of the house to spend time and fellowship with other people to reminisce about things that were important to them in their lives. So, this program we just started, I had the first ones in the month of February. I'm doing it twice a month. once at the Dell web library, once at the Lancaster main library. Uh I was very surprised

and happy that seven people came to the one at the Lancaster Library. Two people came to the Dell web, but I had my second meeting at Dell Webb yesterday and four people came. So, I think that as the word gets out more, I'm grateful to uh the county marketing department did a video that they put out on on public channels and as we're advertising this more, I think that it can fill a real need in the county. Thank you.

There any questions? Thank you.

Oh. And and I have to be honest with you and tell you that I also don't have the answers. What I can tell you is that um I mean there there is a growth of the 55 and up population, but if you look at the map that's there, you can see that kind of the middle of the county has a lot of the the cases. And what I find really interesting is over on the right hand side where it says African-Americans in this county are 81% more likely than people in other counties in the state to be diagnosed. diet is a big part of it. Uh exercise is a part, sleep hygiene. There are many many risk factors. Um, I've been working with Melissa Dalton who works with the South Carolina County um, South Carolina Department on Aging. So, I will speak with her and see if she has any more information regarding that statistic. That's just something that stuck out to me that um, because to be honest with you, the people who came to my memory cafe were all white. There were no African-Americans. And I'd like to see if there's a way that we can reach out and reach that population in the county. She's very positive and supportive and and feels that the memory cafe is sort of a missing piece to what's available here in Lancaster County because so many people um well first of all a lot of people have symptoms before they get diagnosed and then it's an average of three to four years from the time somebody starts exhibiting symptoms until they get a diagnosis and there's a lot of embarrassment and stigma and so um offering a place where they feel safe that they can come is a first step before maybe they need additional care

or something that is more like um a longer program, a four or five hour day. I got a comment. Um also um glad to see this program. Thank you. I think it's much needed. I worked with this population uh u from years back and and this is a program that we have we tried to get within our own little pocket. But I see where you start at 10:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. How long does the program last? It's about an hour. About an hour. About an hour. Yes. So, do the family drop the member off, they drive, or what? No, ma'am. It is designed for the person who's living with memory loss and their care partner to come together.

Come together. Okay. Yes. It's is it is not um a respbit program. There are respbit programs that are available in Lancaster County. I know that Magnolia Memory Care has one that they do. Um, I've also been in contact with her a little bit. Uh, I had a meeting with Melissa Dalton and also um, Miss Mcgriff from the Lancaster County Council on Aging. Um, we all got together for a working lunch.

And the best outreach in the African-American community is the church. Hey, right now you get into the churches or the conferences. Uh, and you I'm sure you will make contact there and you will pro I'm sure be able to pull in some African-Americans. I have um I have reached out to a number of churches across the county um to advertise this and also um we're trying to start a homebound delivery service for library books to be delivered to people who can't make it to the library because of disability. And so that was one of the places that I've gone and I and I know that um Susan Bills who runs Magnolia Memory Care, she talked about uh working with the African-American churches in the county also.

Okay. And we have a program that meets in our church once a week for a couple hours and allows the caregivers to come in and drop their loved ones off and then they're, you know, stimulated with games and music and activities and stuff. So, it gives them a couple hours. Um, yes, that's why um I said the memory care is sort of like that first step in between where somebody maybe is just looking for starting with programming before they would go to something that would be a longer day. Is there any other questions? Thank you'all so much for sharing this with us. It's pretty It's very exciting.

Okay, we're going to go on to item 7 a update on the detention center and Mr. Catage. Okay. Okay. Here we go. Afternoon, members of council. Thank you again for allowing me to come and uh share with you all a quick update on our detention center project. Things are going very well. Um as you know the majority of our building is concrete tilt panels. We 95% of those panels are up and installed. The others are laid on the ground but we left them out so we have access for our steel sail delivery that will come once the building's dried in. Uh we've continued our connections with beams for our roof system in area A. If you remember from previous uh reports, we've divided the building into four quadrants uh A, B, C, and D. Uh and we're progressing in that way. Uh area D, we have just completed our roof decking. Um area B is where our masons are currently working. And area C, um we're putting our holore slabs on for our second floor system. Uh our mechanical and electrical plumbing subs are following right behind and along with the masons uh to to get inwall rough ends and and our holy core rough ends done. Site grading continues. Uh if you ride by now you'll see uh the main entrance. We've we've begun work in that area to get our main entrance uh in. Next month we'll continue with masonry walls in area C. Uh and then areas A and B will follow behind with additional structural steel for uh roof decking. uh we're approximately 50% complete. There are two enabling projects that are happening simultaneously with this project. One is a water line extension. If you'll remember, there's only a 6-in water line down Highway 9. Uh and our building requires the use of a 12-in water line. So, um we have um almost completed that project where we grabbed a 12-in line at the intersection of Highway 521 and Highway 9 and brought it

down all the way past uh our detention center property. Um we've just got some testing and things to do. All that work will be wrapped up uh May the 1st. I know you guys have been working on the easements for that over the last month or so. Uh the second enabling project is a road widening project in front of the detention center property. Uh that will allow us to have a turning lane there for access into the detention center. Uh that has been awarded to King Asphalt. Uh we'll start pre-construction meetings there in the next couple of weeks, but we'll hold off till about midappril on that work to allow the water line extension work to complete because they're happening in the same area. Just a couple of quick photos um to give you an idea of what things look like on site. Um I'll just kind of snap through these and let me get one of them. So there you So, you got Highway Nine. See if this points does not to a TV. Highway 9ine at the top of the screen. Um, and you see our detention center sitting. The uh pad to the left, far left of the photo is a evidence storage facility. It's also under construction.

Chad. Yes, ma'am. Question. I'm gonna stand up and point out what I Okay. That's the entrance there, right? Yes. Fine. the the entrance is uh that cleared uh red mud spot all the way up to Highway 9 is where we're coming out. Yes, ma'am. Okay. These buildings here, what will happen to them? Will they be will they stay there? They stay there. They're not owned by the county. They're all privately owned. On the left side, there's a industrial building and on the on the on the right side, there's two or three homes there. Right. Yeah, I know. I've gone up that way and looked and I'm like It's not very attractive. I'll put it like that.

I understand. We'll have a extensive landscape package that kind of cleans our area up and and does some additional screening. Uh we got a beautiful uh entrance planned uh and some signage. So, it'll it'll it'll be very nice uh from what the county's done here in this location. But I agree there's some unique properties around us. Yeah, it is. and and chair, we we did we ever look at purchasing some of those old houses and buildings to tear them down? Purchased several houses in there, didn't they? Yeah, we purchased a few uh that were for sale.

Yeah, the original property owner that we bought the 68 acres from. Some of that acreage was two or three residential properties that we I think we tore down three. Actually, we tore down five properties. Yeah. So this is a four four additional um parcels, but most of what's left is commercial. Yes. Okay.

Um so this is highway 9 looking at the site. Of course, this is a drone view. You really don't have that perspective from Highway 9 because there's some large elevation change and and that will stay. So uh the detention center will really be screened from from Highway 9. You see the sheriff's office in the far bottom right corner. Just give you there. I'm pressing the button. Here we go. Uh so real quick, you know, we're $90 million project. Our construction cost to date, and this includes retainage, is just under 38 million. Soft cost, which includes land, uh architectural fees and all those types of things, we're about 5.8 million there. So, total spent to date is just over uh 43.7 uh million and tracking again about 50.22% complete.

Looking good. Uh datewise, uh we look to have the building dried in uh in May. By the end of May, uh substantial completion is still tagged for December, end of the year. We'll begin some owner training at that point and by the end of January, we'll be able to turn it over uh for operation. I I know that there is some council would love a updated tour at some point in time.

Absolutely. Uh, what I'd like to do is get us dried in. We're probably at about as most dangerous as we can be right now out there. Let me get it dried in and we'll have a couple of sales that we've already got teed up to come in to do some test fit. I'd love to do it at that point. So, that may be May, early to miday, but we'll definitely line that up for sure. Needs to warm up more for Councilman McGri. Got that right. Any questions?

There any questions? I'm just glad to see that we're on budget. You know, that would be my usual question. Are we on budget? And I see we're at 51% at, you know, right at half almost, but got a little wiggle room over there, but not much. So, I'm glad to see that. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, sir. I'm I'm training them badly. Chad Chad, would you briefly fill counsel in because some of those were not here when we started about the discussions we had because we have the guaranteed maximum price. Correct.

Correct. So all the uproar in the world in the last couple of weeks, not our problem,

right? We've uh the construction management delivery process is probably one of the best construction delivery processes that are out there and available to us now. So early on even that uh we bring a construction manager in uh even before we were finishing programming uh and begin developing budgets with them. So at the end of schematic design so there's three phases schematic design development and then construction drawings. At the end of schematic design we're able to develop a for all practical purposes and a a control estimate that becomes similarly our preliminary GMP. Uh, but we use that estimate as a control to control design from that point forward to make sure we still fall within that budget, which is why you see the contracts, I think you were copied on some emails last week about all these amendments. So, what happens is we don't actually go to contract until we're complete with the CDs and and the hard dollars or subs are bought out and all that kind of stuff. So, that's why we're up to amendment four and we'll have an amendment five coming out next week. But, we're just locking in those things. Uh the guaranteed maximum is still the control estimate maximum. Um it's just lacking in the details up until then. Yeah. Any other questions? Thank you very much.

Okay. We're going to go on item 7B, discussion of EMT response for countywide response by Langster County Fire Rescue. Mr. Kato and Mr. Nicholson. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen and Mr. Chairman. So, I have been involved in in Lanster County Merge Services since 1990. I remember the days when 521 was a two-lane road through Indian Land, um, which was nothing more than trees. And as a young child, I hated to drive to Pineville and Charlotte because it was so boring. But we would go to Pineville to the one stoplight. There was an Exxon station set there on the left and my dad's uncle ran that. Fast forward to today. You would not be bored driving up 521. So, what we're going to discuss today is a plan that has grown over the last, we'll say, four years. Um, we would like to introduce, and I say we, this is a combination of Indianland Consolidated Fire District, Lancaster County Fire and Rescue, and Lancaster County EMS. This is what we would call a team effort. Um, this is we're going to call it two departments because we're going to go with the fire rescue including Indian land. So, when I talk about fire rescue, this does include Indian land. Um, it does not take away anything that is currently offered in Lancaster County to the citizens. It only adds to it. What we would like to do is currently combine the EMS and the fire emergency medical response to add the EMT level to any firemen, paid or volunteer, inside the

county. I have not approached the city yet because I would like to see how this is going to go with the county. Then we could also approach the city to see if they're interested. What we'd like to do is sign anou between the Lancaster County EMS medical director, Lancaster County Fire and Rescue to provide this EMT level coverage. This is from the north end of the county to the south end of the county, from the east of the county to the west. This would cover every citizen at a very minimal cost. EMS will provide all the training, all the oversight and then rolled down to the e to the fire service to provide them educators to continue the education process. All the supplies would be bought through EMS, regulated through EMS, and given out as needed. The only thing that it will require from the county to provide is I'm going to need one additional employee which I have asked for in this year's budget and this is to monitor all the additional certifications that we would add. I've asked for a little bit of more money in my medical supply budget and my medical control said he would add all these and he didn't put a number on it for an additional $5,000. And people think $5,000. where we're paying right now $15,000 for two docs. This would take it to 20,000. Most counties our size in the state of South Carolina are paying between4 and $50,000 for one medical control physician. So, we're getting a bargain. It's because we got good relationships. So, what we're coming to you today, and I don't know, I think Mr. Willis sent this um information out. If you don't, I have a copy for every one of you. and one for the record. This is a three-page brochure or memo that basically describes the way this program will will will kind of unfold. This will

give the citizens immediate response from a firefighter who is an EMT as they arrive on the scene and they no longer have to wait to the ambulance. The reason they have to wait to the ambulance currently is because of the DPH regulations because we are two separate departments. If we were one department, like if we were Lancaster County Public Safety responding as fire and EMS, we wouldn't have to have theou. But currently, we do not have that. So, at this point, we sign theou. Billy Lloyd EMT in Traville responds to a house down the road from there. The ambulance is 15 minutes away. he can begin treating that patient 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 5 minutes, 2 minutes, whatever it is before the ambulance gets there. The same thing for firefighters in Kershaw. The same thing for firefighters in Indian land. Nobody would be required to do this. Any firefighter who chooses to do this, they can voluntarily do it. If they want to maintain the current first responder program, that will also be maintained. Do you have any questions at this time? There

any questions of Mr. Kato? I got a comment. Go ahead. I I really think this is a great idea. Is is kicking the first responder program up a big notch to uh have EMTs that that can go ahead and start before ambulance gets there. Uh that so I really really like this program and it it it's lifesaving stuff here and I'm telling you like I say especially out in the rural areas that might take the ambulance a little bit longer to get there or something you know treatment can be started. So that's that's very good.

So nobody is beating our doors down to come to work for the fire service or EMS. So we already have a large group of employees who's willing to do this. Why don't we double up? Those employees who want to be dual certified, so to speak, can do it. This is a very minimal cost and will help down the road some of these situations that you guys have been faced with the last couple months about public safety response. This will only enhance the public safety response. In a true deemed emergency, an MCI, a school shooting, a tornado, a flood, firefighters that are off duty can go to an ambulance station and drive an ambulance. So, we immediately have another group of of employees who can man more ambulances. So, if we have another school bus wreck on I77, if a plane crashes, god forbid, going into Charlotte Douglas or our local airport, we got a whole new group of certified medical professionals that can help handle those situations and we have had multiple meetings with the Indian Land and Lancaster and Rescue and all three of us are on the same page that this is something we would like to provide the citizens.

Go ahead, Mr. Harper. Uh, you know, we know none of us invent the wheel. It was already invented. Is anywhere else in South Carolina going to this model? because I can see long-term this being a possible solution of shortage of firefighters and EMTs and all because it seems to me that you you you know where you where we got to have say for every hundred firefighters at EMS with a model like this it seems that could possibly be acted at 90 or 90% you know with your dual train or something is is possibly saving personnel. Is that a poss do you see where I'm coming from?

Yes. Yes sir. If if we work together I think we could come up with a plan like this and to answer your first question this was originated in Lexon County South Carolina this year. So DPH has authorized the use of theou and I've talked to John Jonathan Jones who is the director of DPH who helped write theou Lexington County EMS Lexon County Fire had theou that allows them to do this. Now now there are other counties in the state of South Carolina that's like 440 different fire services in the state of South Carolina and 270 something EMS services. There are several that are one department. Colatin County comes to mind. Ory County comes to mind. Um there's a couple more that just leave my head right now, but those are situations that would take a little more time to work through, but what I initially said we could do, we could start this in a matter of, you know, weeks. Well, we know we got to, you know, we've been kicking this down the road and our volunteers keep getting older and less of them and there's got to be a new model and I'm glad to see y'all working together to to to come up with a possible solution because, you know, I'm I'm on social media like everybody else and they were complaining in Kershaw County about response times around the lake being 30 40 minutes on the Kershaw, I mean on the Camden side. And uh

to take this a step further, Greg and I both, as he you know, he he runs dual hats. That's why he's so tall. He we stretch him out. Um we've talked about this using it as a recruiting tool for both our departments. Um currently there's no other department in our vicinity, Chester, Kershaw, uh York County, Union County, that would run something like this. So, we go back to your second statement. You could hire one person and pay them more to be a firefighter paramedic or firefighter EMT where they would do dual roles. Um, and that is a great recruitment tool. Now you're getting into Charlotte Fire, Greenville Fire, Spartanberg Fire, uh, your larger metropolis places.

Yeah, that would have been make it harder for other counties around you to compete. you'll be able to have a very competitive and and it is cheaper to pay one person for two jobs versus two people for separate jobs. I just want to thank y'all for coming up with that. It's a win-win for the county. I mean, it's something that I think we should definitely move forward with. Okay. Uh Clay, you said it's going to decrease the response time. Talk about

it will it will decrease the response time for a medical professional to be on the scene. For example, in Indian Land now, numerous days of the week, um the three trucks we have there are on calls. So, Union County may be responding or a truck from the city of Lancaster or York County. His guys and gals get on the scene and they can only operate at the first responder and we talked about this uh three months or so ago in a council meeting. This would wipe all that away. So when his engine or his squad gets on the scene, they can be treating the patient as an EMT at that time. And there's a separate set of skills they can do. And in my package, I actually have the cost for that. And I'll give you this before I leave. Uh for each EMT bag, not the person, it would cost EMS about an additional $23 to add the extra medicines and the extra tools that they would be able to have over what they already do. And we're not talking about one bag per person. And this would be one bag per apparatus as deemed by the fire service wherever they want to put that. So if they wanted 10 trucks, 10 times 200 is pretty simple math.

I noticed in the information that was sent the training will be done by your department EMS. Yes ma'am. You mentioned something about if they go to outside training they would have to pay. So, so to clarify that is if we are going to teach the class here in Lancaster at no cost to any firefighter. If they don't want to take it through us and they want to go to Charlotte or Pedmont or York or whatever, the county would not pay for that and they would be responsible for the testing cost and the cost of the class.

Now, once they got once they got the certification, we would welcome them in with open arms. But we're just saying that with all the access to funds that I have through the EMS association and the state and the apprenticeship program, we can teach the class and it will not cost the county anything. It'll be in fact, we just had a couple firefighters went through our last what we call a hybrid EMT class. Um, they paid for it up front and as soon as they passed, I was able to get them the cost of the class back.

One more question. If we if we go this route, uh we are close to building EMS stations in VMWAC, hopefully in T Springs. Would those stations be enlarged for potential down the road use? It's kind of a joint station. I guess that's a discussion we could really have moving forward. At this time they're only part of the discussion.

The the one on Vanwack is design is going to be designed to have two EMS crews in it just like the other station up in Indian land where you could have two ambulances working out at the same station. And the one in Heath Springs will be also that way. The one in Heath Springs actually has more obviously more um acreage than the one at Vanw. Um I guess anything is up for discussion. Um, and I won't speak for the fire service, but that would be something he can Yeah, I think I think we'd be sight constrained up in on one on Vanwack because what the building we've got going on there is just barely fitting. So,

on the fire side, obviously, I've spoken I was out at Kershaw today speaking to them. They have about four or five already. It's EMTs out there. Uh, very interested in it. uh our county fire rescue building uh poll dimmed the other day and it has nine that are either wanting to take the EMT program or have already the certifications which they're the ones that go out all over the county. Um obviously we I think we have 34 EMTs already in Indianland. So it's um we have them on all three shifts. So, utilize that. Uh, and it's just going to get more and more as as they uh as the calls increase and as y'all speak about fire stations uh in locations. Um, you know, for us, we'd love to like place, we'd love to see like a 5% increase if they do take their EMT because they're in a dual role. uh we'd like to see that, you know, implemented also uh whether it's this budget, next budget, but at least give them a little incentive and obviously the incentive would drive people to take that class, too. So, um you know, that's a win for us and and EMS.

Now, the drugs that um these trucks would be carrying, would they be subject to the temperature changes and all that kind of stuff?

Yes, sir. And Chief Nicholson and I have kind of already talked about that. Um we have we would have a plan in place. We already have talked about a plan in place for that. Yes, sir. Um but you think if they have if there's approximately 45 EMTs right now in the fire service and we are allotted 137 positions, add that together and we take the medical coverage in this county from 137 to almost 200 people by you just saying yes, we can do it and approving it. and and the drugs to make sure we're clear, it would be on apparatus. Okay? So, it wouldn't be the volunteer taking a bag home and having the drugs in there. It would be on apparatus. So, they'd be assigned to the apparatus. The person that he's asking for would oversee that. And uh make sure because I mean we have they have to account for all that. And uh but there again as we grow and we uh hopefully talk about the McDonald green and future stations in the county uh those apparatus will be able to carry them would cover the county.

Mr. Neil, uh Mr. chairman. A lot of times we are accused of being shortsighted and not looking at uh down the road and this is definitely uh an opportunity to reshape our EMS and our fire. it will I think will actually work and work for a long time in the response times you know which of course response times is number one you know if with when they're going up we're not doing our job they need to be going down uh so I

we we would just like this to the beginning uh you know there's been some some discussions in the past and we won't bring up the past about a divide in the county but this is your public safety department and the citizens public safety department coming together to show you guys we can work together we are going to work together for the b benefit of the citizens and to save taxpayer money that's what this is initiative to show you guys I got I got a couple more things um chief does the fire commission do they support this

we are in the beginning stages. We we I did speak about it at the fire commission last week and told them it was coming uh that we was looking at this option and uh they seem very receptive but uh we wanted to get your feel before we throw it out there to all the all the departments out there. Obviously you going to have some firemen it's like I got in to be a firefighter and and that's fine. Uh it's no different than his people if they want to ride an ambulance instead of a fire truck. We understand that. But the ones that are interested and already have the the, you know, certifications, uh, it's it to me it's a win-win. It's like we talked today, it's it we're here for them, not us. And them being the citizens.

I think Andy before, if you could kind of carry on to the council's question. Um, my understanding is the firefighters will have an option. If they want to stay just pure firefighter, that's fine. If they want to stay first responder, that's fine. they want to go EMT or paramedic, that's fine. It's up it's up to the individual firefighter.

Yes, it will be in the in the rest of the county. Um in Indian land just for us, it's going to be a mandatory as firefighters. If this goes through, it'll be a mandatory for them to take class. Obviously, we'll absorb all the costs, but it'll be mandatory. Um and there again the county fire service um when I asked there 90% of the hands went up that they was very interested and some of them already have certification. I know Mr. Lloyd he's a he's a he's a paramedic if I'm not mistaken old time

he's old yeah he's he's been a paramedic a long time u and there's another resource that that we can use. So, uh, yeah, but if they want to stay first responder, they can stay at that level and assist EMTs if they don't want to do it at all. Um, you know, when you get into the career side or the paid staff, uh, we don't have an option on running calls. So, we we require them all to be a first responder because they're going to be on that scene regardless if they want to go, the trucks going. Uh, but in the volunteer setting, yes, they would absolutely have the option of just being a firefighter if that's what they'd wish. at at in your operation or at the Indian land consolidated, do you have a EMT that typically rolling on every truck that you send out?

Yes, sir. And I know you have a couple of paramedics as well. We do. Well, we had a couple. One of them just left us, so went to another department. Uh but we do have one and I think they're every truck has at least one EMT in there. again uh it will be a requirement for them on the firefighter side will be a requirement if this goes through. Is there any additional question? One last thing while we here could you kind of update us on McDonald green kind of what's um going on with it?

That would be a really good question. I'd love to ask y'all what is going on with the McDonald green. Uh we are ready to push the trigger and u but we haven't really got many updates on where we're at. We are waiting. We have money set aside to uph do some upfitting in the house for the staff, but we was kind of told we was on hold for a little while. So, uh, we'd we'd love to move forward to tomorrow if we could. So, I if I could get an update would be great. Go ahead, Mr. Willis.

Um, if I could, u I've been working with Clint, who's chair of the fire commission, also chief at McDonald Green, um, to revise Got it. um a draft agreement.

We don't just put this politely. Some some of the information that Clint had had with former staff never made it back to the attorney to look at potentially revising the agreement. We're working on that now. So, we've got got to have that going. Um one of the things going be talking to y'all at the next council meeting. I understand it's been talked about for a while is looking at that capital um I guess district for for lack of a better term. Um we got to buy some fire trucks and we've got to get cracking. That's it's not going to happen overnight because I understand that you know first council's got to approve the capital district at that point. I've got to go to the four municipalities get their buy in or opt out whichever. So, there's going to be some work that's got to be done, but we are moving forward on it.

Thank you. Have any other? Yeah, I got I I've got a couple of things. Um, at least on McDonald's Green, I think I've been pretty clear about where I stand. We just got to figure out how to fund it long term. We we funded it for six months operational wise, which is fine, but we got to figure out how we're going to fund it moving forward after that. That's that's where I am. Um, but going back to to this, um, makes a lot of sense to me, but I do want to make sure that I'm clear about how this is gonna I think I understand how that works in Indian land. Got paid staff. Is this So, is this volunteer network as well? I mean, it's not just county staff. This is volunteer firefighter network as well.

This is any firefighter who is in the Lanster County Fire and Rescue, whether they're in Indian, Kershaw, Belltown, Flat Creek, whatever. if they pass and become an EMT in South Carolina, they can operate as an EMT anywhere in Lancaster County. So if they're driving from Flat Creek to go to Pineville to with their wife and they come up on something or hear a call and they go, they can be an EMT in Flat Creek. If they get a fire a medical call that night, they can respond as an EMT in Flat Creek or Kershaw. This there is no district for the EMT unless the fire service decides they want to put that. But for EM for EMS, once you're an EMT, you're an EMT in the entire Lancaster County, 550 square miles. Okay?

And it would count for the volunteers. We said they would not be able to take the drugs home in their baggage, still have other equipment in their personal bags that they could start uh, you know, service before. And just so I'm clear, for for a paid firefighter, their their incentive is that they get an additional certification and a and a increase in salary for having more more more. Right. So obviously at some point we just need to I'm on that makes a ton of sense to me. Pay pay seven people like 10 people and that that's that's all day long. That's that's that's very that's that's how you do it.

So Mr. If you hire an EMT with Fringe in Lancaster County, ballpark $85,000. If you got a volunteer firefighter that's willing to be an EMT and you give him a $5,000 stipen, you just save $75,000 of taxpayer money. And I I would be interested going down that path. That makes sense. Um, weird question, but it doesn't We can't flip it the other way, too. An EMS can't put out a fire, right?

Yes. Yes, we we could if they meet the same standards that Lester County Fire and Rescue would do if we had someone who worked for EMS who who was wanted to be a firefighter. I do not have a problem with them doing that, but that is a a step. I think Mr. Harper was going down that road a little bit earlier um that we would discuss further.

Okay. Um, I mean, and just just a general comment. I mean, it speaking specifically about India. Well, I'm assuming this would help throughout the county, the the medical facilities that are going to be opening up in the near future. Um, and Induland should help with response times for EMS and cut down when when somebody takes a ride um because you're not going to have to go as far. Is that a fair statement?

Yes, sir. So, if we go back to last year's budget, you guys gave me extra staff to put an extra 12-hour truck on, which I did. We have seen a 15 second decrease in our response time in the Indian area. Call volume has gone up, response time has gone down. With the new medical facilities coming, um, and hopefully more staff this year, I think we can get that down even further. Okay. And we talked the joint teams at EMS and fire on the same SUV. Can you talk about that? I mean, what is that working? Is this go away? Like how help me understand how that plays into this.

So before he starts, do you want you want me to go? Okay. So it has worked really well from a patient standpoint of getting the truck there. It has been a managerial nightmare. Okay.

Um because we do different trainings than they do. So in the discussion of this and in our budget proposals to Mr. Willis and both of us have already done done ours. We are going to propose I am proposing a new scheduling um incentive for EMS. Me take those three people back and put them in the rotation of the truck. He's asking for three more people give or take whatever. I can't remember the numbers, but he will he will staff the truck that would do all the lift assist. In other words, it would not be an EMT from EMS. he now has an EMT and the fire service can do the same thing and he or his battalion chiefs will now manage that person instead of

we have one supervisor for half the truck and one supervisor for the other half the truck. It has created a few we'll call them bumps in the road. Nothing we haven't worked through. Um in theory it is a great idea.

The concept is sound but the the you got to you know who's who's going to be in the truck. We proved it would work and we proved it was a benefit to the citizens. We want to take it another step further. He has agreed as Indian Land Fire to manage all those lift assist with his squad which would have an EMT and a person on it. So they're getting the same service, same medical care. It's just all under the fire service umbrella slash medical response. And my people would go back to haul them to the hospital. Okay. I mean, I'd love to not I'd love to see is this reducing that big truck going out.

Yes, absolutely. Because to me, that is a huge deal. It is. Especially with fuel cost right now. It's absolutely and just the wear and tear. Yeah. On apparatus. Now, when um when our staff, you know, a lot of times we have to shut it down because we we said up front that this truck would not be a priority as in staffing. We have to staff the big red trucks because they're the only ones that carry water. And so we do that. Uh a lot of times Clay has to pull theirs just because they're out of people for ambulances. And so what we try to do is when they pull we try to backfill our squad to do what we're talking about doing in the future u to go ahead and cover it because they're again

right. So it's basically that truck's not all the way not staffed all the time and it is a value. So you want to get it on the road all the time. Yes. But you got to get to a point to do that. So the staff and I'll be talking to y'all on April the 1st. Just remember that point. Okay. April Fool's got us. Very important that we uh have that staff to keep that truck going because I mean there again one of those big million-dollar tower trucks sitting on the side sitting at a house doing a lift assist. They can't until it's done if we have a fire. So all right

there again 2 miles to the gallon versus 25 miles to the gallon is a huge difference on those trucks. So we definitely want to keep the concept going but like he said managing the people like my battalions I have staff at EMS unit and then when they come to ours they so it it's concept is good but managing it is a nightmare. And Mr. If I'm just going to give you a ballpark estimate, we're averaging about 45 calls a month on that truck. Um the previous county administrator did not believe we were running that many. Well, he had active 911 to his phone and found out how many times that call went out and then he believed us. Yes.

We're not stretching it when we say and there there could be more time. There's times that it probably runs anywhere from eight to 10 calls a day. Yeah. It's one of our busiest trucks and u you know and that and there again it's not just doing lift assist. It's also doing the service calls when people call with their smoke detectors out or they need the batteries changed. All the above that truck goes and and you know I mean it that makes a ton of sense to me. Take pressure off the big red trucks and be mobile.

Yes. Um, going back to this proposal that we were talking about just I mean just to I'm always gonna try to ask this question. What what what would make this not work? What what is what is the downside of doing this? That was the question I was waiting to ask. You say you're telling us we can't do it. Say what? You telling us we can't do it. We we are public safety. We're used to adapt and overcome. We you

It makes it things a little bit more complicated, right? No. So, you're taking a concept that EMS already does. Everything that that is needed to make this happen, we already do for the 137 employees that work for EMS. All we're going to do is add more people and expand our training department. So, to make it it easy for the fire department, they will not have to come do their inservice training at EMS unless they choose to. We're going to train people at Indianland Fire that can teach them the inservice. So while his people are on shift, they're getting the training they need to maintain their EMT certification. We want to do the same thing for Lancaster County Fire and Rescue at EOC. They can do it there. The only time they have to come to one of our in services, they have to be check do their skills check off at a certified training facility. And our EMS headquarters is a certified training facility. So that's once a year that they would need to come. We can we can roll everything else out to them. We're taking it to them, not them coming to us.

Okay. One of the issues with us was we was having to send trucks to headquarters. Uh either pay them overtime while they're off or send a truck down there, which takes them out of service in our area. So there again, that's keeps trucks on the road because if they're doing inservice and they get a call, then they just go on the call and come back and finish the in service. So the only way this will not work if we don't support it. That's That is 100% correct. You tell us you want it to happen and without a shadow of a doubt, 100% chief and I'll make it happen. And if it goes ary, you will also tell us. Y'all I will tell you and I'll eat my words and say it did not work, ma'am. Or I'll retire.

So So that is So there what I'm hearing is you all aren't seeing a risk associated with this right now. I don't see how we can see a risk when we're providing the citizens a better level of coverage. I think it's a win. It's a win for the citizens, a win for the taxpayers, a win for them, the the firefighters, a win for the EMS. Um, and again, already doing it. We're already running the calls. It's just That's exactly right. Why? If they're already there, give them more skills and let them do what they can do. And this puts Lancaster County, we always like to say we lead the pack. Well, this would be leading the pack above Chester. Yep.

Rock Hill. So, how long will it take you take you and Greg to get folks certified and program? I got people certified now. All I need you to do is is you guys to give us permission. He and I work out with our medical control to stand in orders, get the get the supplies out, and 30 days we could have this up and running.

That's not that is that Let me rephrase that back. That doesn't include the extra person that I need to maintain the certification, but that could wait till the budget process because our national registry certifications are based on a U March to March. So, they would have until March to get if they were on the end of their cycle. So, if we hired the person on July 1, we would have time to catch up the paperwork. Mr. Chairman, go ahead. Mr. Do do we have to create any kind of new ordinances or I don't know that would it we might want to do a resolution. I don't know if it requires an ordinance. I'd leave that up to the administrator.

It it should not. This is this is all governed by the Department of Public Health. So we we have to fall under the state regulations. I think a resolution of council supporting this um particularly so that I can wave it in front of you at first, second, and third reading of the budget for the EMS and fire department.

So, so Mr. Chairman, there is a resolution that was passed in 2009 that says Lancaster County EMS and it specifically states that our department is the only authorized provider of emergency EMT. It says intermediate, but it's now advanced and paramedic in this county. By us signing theou and them operating under us, it's completely compliant. As far as I'm concerned, and I I think I've talked to Jenny about this, we would be good to go without anything unless you guys felt that you needed to do that. Okay.

I mean, I would just say for our paid staff, I just would like to understand because what what that bump would be. I mean, what what would that impact be? Because that would be your ongoing I I think I'm I'm on board. I I think that's something you have to figure into your your budget presentations. It would absolutely be a sliding scale because we don't know how many would as they get the certification there. Again, we're trying to drive people to get Right. Right. Right. I'm I'm sliding the scale. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I'm just thinking like per person, what what what does that mean? And then

I was you give us at least a million dollars. I don't cover it. Well, we always cut your yours by like three, four, so that'd be 250. So, we can absolutely get the fire side what it would cost us 5% increase or whatever yall come up with on the percentage side. We can absolutely get you that number. what it would be today and what we project it would be Mr. Willis and any cost that EMS was going to incur for this is included in my budget already.

So I just want to congratulate you all and thank you all for the innovation and the thought that you have put into this plan. And it is clear that it is well thought out, that you all have collaborated, you've communicated with each other, you've thought through the repercussions, you've thought through the risks and tried to come up with something that supports our community, supports our taxpayers, and supports the county as a whole. So, it was such a tough discussion, Greg lost his hair.

Yeah, it was awful. But, and I I will I will say 90% he's the one that went out and researched this after we presented to you know, medical controllers and all that. He went out and researched and found this and presented it and I was like, this is it gets us where we wanted to be and it's stays under one umbrella. So, absolutely.

Have any other comments or discussion? I want to thank both of y'all for getting together and making this happen. you know, like we the chief just discussed, you know, we we bounced this around a few months ago and it didn't have much traction, but y'all put the wheels on it and we need to make sure it runs. Um, our we can't we can't offer anything less than what our citizens need and our citizens need this and we need to make it happen. Now, chair, how will we move forward uh because we can't vote today? I don't think we need any votes today. We just going to move forward.

Poor sheriff. I sat me about my mic. Uh we'll move forward as um Clay and Chief have indicated. Um we're going to need to do a memorand understanding that complies with the state department of public health standards. So that you have, you know, that in place and bring a resolution council to give their official blessing to the program. Okay. Thank y'all both very much. Thank you. And thank you. While we're here, did y'all have any other questions on the McDonald green? I know you asked me and I didn't really have a lot of answers for it. Uh and the and the trucks. I'll be glad to I think a lot of the answers to McDonald green sits up here.

Yes, sir. that we've got to make it happen. So, I think y'all are prepared to to do whatever we make happen.

And and the trucks, I can't say enough of our maintenance manager is here and he can tell you that it is uh we're in a critical need for the trucks like yesterday. Um you know, we have looked and we've figured out a way to get them here in a 28 29 month range versus a 47 month range. Um, and I thank Mr. Lloyd for that. He got through and looked at and talked to Pierce and and some of the other builders and we uh we are able to get them in that. Uh, we just need y'all to pull the trigger on it and uh hopefully that'll happen really soon and uh if you need anything from us, data information, we'll be glad to give it to you.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we're going to go move on to item uh 7D, discussions of infrastructure and public services for the Haven Development Project. Mr. Oh, I'm sorry. I got I got D sitting over here and already moved C to the side. So, that's that's okay. Thank you. You're checked off now, so you're ready to present.

All right. Well, thank you all. Um, first I want to say there's probably about 75 elements of this strategic plan. Um, not in your packet, but what I did um, in going through this and looking at the data was just pulled maybe some of the areas that maybe were not as successful. There are areas that we have been successful. And so at a subsequent um, at a subsequent meeting, I want to be able to bring you um, spreadsheets, data, and but for these purposes, I'm just going to kind of go through it. Um so these are our core values of the strategic plan and then these are our strategic themes and as um our team was putting together the retreat as you can see um we did discuss public safety infrastructure quality development um resource optimization and um high performance. So this is our vision and our mission and the strategic plan and in the interest of time I'm not going to read those but um wanted to just walk through public safety just a little bit. So objective PS1 public safety one meet the demands of the growth of the county without negatively impacting the quality of public uh safety service. That's a big one. And while we may not necessarily be perfect, council um and I think working with um administration and with our public safety professionals has really done a lot um over the last five years or even more to actually address um our growing needs. So I just wanted to just throw that out there. I mean, we're working u right now um through the construction of additional EMS stations through capital penny sales tax um creative I mean um yeah capital sales tax um creative fire and EMS staffing with the lift um service and then uh uh dedicating additional personnel um the public safety vehicles and apparatus um

an increased health services at the detention center um the support of a new corner's office um as well as enhancement to 911 and fire infrastructure equipment um through ARPA. There were a lot of things that we did u with ARPA. So um and in the budget again, additional public safety staffing and then freeing up public safety staffing and supporting EMS uh during the FY26 budget. Um further um adopt uh PS3.3. This is one where I believe that we're below target on this. Um I think the fire service has done well I'll start with adopt a fire service growth management plan with a specific path forward to meet the dual demands of growth and quality services by December 31st 2025. This is something that we've worked on. Um but to be honest I just wanted to put this out here because I do believe that we are a little bit below target by having an overall um growth plan. So, um, our model reflects the county's diverse geography and development patterns. In the northern panhandle, obviously, the higher population density has supported a career-based or paid service model, while our southern portion um, which is equally as good, continues to rely on a volunteer-led system supported by um, the fire commission um, and our staff down here as well as 14 career fire service and dedicated community members. The volunteers.

Hey, Stephanie, just real quick. Yes. How are we coming up with the metrics? Um there are I have I have like um this is based on the time as well as different elements. So the next time I present this which probably needs to be half the cow, I need to show you the metrics that was actually set by the consultant. Okay. And how to come up and then how when you click it, it gives that percentage.

Yes. Yes. Now, some of it's not perfect. It's some of it may be how I'm putting it in, but I do want to actually refine it. And unfortunately, and I will say this, this is a lot. And one of the things I do believe that I can do a better job of, I need to get out to all of the department directors and be more engaged. And that's my plan this year since it will be able to be a major focus. But um going back to this um uh again this is a success. We have implemented a hybrid model if you want to look at it like that. So that is a success. Um, we need to look at where our future growth corridors are and where it makes sense to maybe um place maybe some regional stations. Um, enhanced volunteer recruitment and retention strategies um and uh regionalizing training and equip equipment support. But I think more importantly, I do believe that we need to work with our planning and development services group to align fire service planning and and land use planning. I think that would actually be very very helpful instead of it just being siloed. Um and um create a fire service growth. This is actually an objective in the plan. Create a fire service growth management working group including career volunteer and blended representatives. So we know that we have our 19 member fire commission that's doing a great job that's working throughout uh the county even with the municipalities and volunteers. So, county council, fire, and EMS directors um to meet this objective. During the FY26 budget process, council adopted a plan for additional staffing that optimized infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. So the next strategic focus infrastructure as you know this year during the retreat um we talked a lot about infrastructure and the project

manager spoke but um so um this is again is a very hefty goal objective um uh infrastructure point two meet the demand of growth of the county without negatively impacting the quality of service. Lancaster County Council has been working toward intent in intentionality in meeting the demands of growth without negatively impacting the quality of services. The scale of growth in our county has been rapid. Everybody says that. But looking at US census data from 2014 to 2024, our population grew by 33.7%. And that's the US census data. Moreover, from 2023 to 2024, we added nearly um 3,000 new residents. Um, in 2024, the council updated its 24 comprehensive or consolidated land use plan and is working on the execution and adoption of of an updated unifying development ordinance. And the council has issued a moratorum on new residential development uh primarily in the panhandle area. Um, and steps are underway in procurement um to begin an impact fee study area plan. Um, land use discipline. I do think that um there's been lots of discussion that you've had about the concentration of development and and um concentration of development in corridors um the preservation of rural areas as well as the encouragement of mixed use nodes in and around um uh the center city of Lancaster um and unc uncontrolled sprawl as council has expressed is the fastest way to degrade our services. And so also um we need to actually integrate these discussions in with economic development so that as we are looking at our balance residential growth uh commercial tax base and employment centers these were discussions that we had at the retreat

um and then um infrastructure um um 2.1 prepare and present um one comprehensive roadway funding study um to analyze all known funding sources by June 30th of 2025. This objective was met and I think it's important to realize that council can change some of these actual objectives, you know, as we move forward, but this one was met. Um the county achieved this through the efforts of um public services division director Jeff Kato, administration um and proposed um the reconstituted run road funding plan in preparation for the November 2025th ballot. um it may not have passed, but there were there was uh an objective to to that we did meet the goal of at least putting it out there, putting the roads out there and working with the CTC. Additionally, um as you all know, the county submitted a 50 million a nearly $50 million application to the South Car Carolina Infrastructure Bank that would assist uh with improvements on Highway 521. Um, another example of an associated activity outlined in the strategic plan is the development of a datadriven infrastructure prioritiz prioritization plan uh to identify and map service le levels. Um, Mr. Kato um has been working on that and so we do actually have um the roads being um GISD and there is a consultant that has been working to help document and monitor u service levels. Um this one we are below target um and infrastructure um uh point three establish and facilitate a comprehensive countywide infrastructure partnership working group to closely plan prioritize and produce countywide results. So the strategic priority to to establish a comprehensive countywide infrastructure

partnership working group is currently below target um as a single formalized group has not yet been established. However, elements of this effort are occurring through existing processes. For example, the the CTC provides a structured form for prioritizing road projects throughout the county and county council department directors and the finance department collaborate through the CTC program and capital planning discussions to address infrastructure needs. While these uh efforts support coordination in specific areas, uh one of the areas that we're lacking in is a fully integrated countywide infrastructure um group. Um and staff will continue to evaluate opportunities to better align our efforts to support long-term infrastructure planning. Um that includes roads, but also our vertical construction. Um I just wanted to show you this was one where we did we were on target where it was develop and present one utility infrastructure water sewer gap analysis. This was done by economic development looking at uh where we have existing infrastructure. So this one another big one um quality development uh objective QD 1.1 prepare and present a comprehensive financial model to estimate the the next financial impact growth patterns throughout the county by sub community areas by June 30th of 2025. Now, the reason why this is says it's we're on target is because in the um um consolidated plan, we do have um everything um laid out by sub areas that piece to address the economic uh patterns, you know, has not been done. We still need to create a financial impact model um to analyze uh the financial growth patterns and what that what that means. Um and then objective QD2.1 prepare, prioritize, and present a list of recommendations within

the county's comprehensive land use plan. So the com the comprehensive land use plan was um met during the third quarter of 2024. Um and you all passed that. So this is one where I will definitely need your assistance. So this is QD3 consider the adoption and implementation of a revised unified development ordinance. U planning and development staff continue to work diligently alongside the county's UDO consultant as well as our ad the council ad hoc uh committee to advance this effort and have had several meetings um um and productive meetings to review ordinances um discuss key consideration and help uh guide the process. um in speaking um with Miss Williams um she's saying that she believes that we're um almost at the point where um the committee is doing some cleanup and then we may be going to the community for input. So I just need to work with our development staff to just make sure that we're on track with that. But um but also the um the implementation of the moratorum to to help you all get t give you all time. And I've been working with our um u marketing and communications department to look at ways to actually educate people because it has to be an ongoing effort. We talked about this during um the retreat that we have to actually provide folks with information so that they don't have unrealistic expectations of how this time is being used by council as well as the staff. QD4 um um land use growth management and development decisions and sound data and scenario planning. Um this is a work in progress. However, I do believe that one of the highlights of our county, and a lot of counties don't do this, is the TRC or technical review committee, which provides a comprehensive review of all

depart uh development, whether commercial or residential, and includes the Lancaster County Water and Sewer District, storm water, zoning, planning and development, fire marshall, uh building inspections. Um I know that at one time the school system had been invited um as well as public safety and so um hoping to work with the team to actually implement that because I know that a lot of the developments you all want to know how is this going to impact uh public safety um and even engaging economic development. So um being but I do think that this is um a wonderful group and having gone through it with a lot of our other our internal projects I can tell you they don't take it easy even on even on the on our staff the project management staff they're asking the tough questions resource uh optimization um object objective um.1 optimize sources of nonpropy tax funding to advance the priorities of the county. So the associated activity um uh council is actively advancing resource optimization um to ensure that the county tax dollars are spent effectively. So one of the ways is the grant management um the council approved a dedicated grant management position in the FY26 budget. Um in fact today um she was working through a nonprofit committee um to today that will be coming towards you u forward u with recommendations on um $100,000 that was in the budget for nonprofits. But um that that helps us in being able to manage the grants well and obtaining um other grants and then just bringing that under one umbrella so that we know that we're meeting all of the the guidelines that we have for our various and sunundry um grants. Um then also looking at resource optimization um the council implementing or or starting the process for a countywide audit of

our purchase card expenditures. Um and then also the transparency initiative including finance communication information technology um that are leading an initiative to make financial data, county infrastructure updates, strategic priorities, and other key information readily accessible via the county's website. Stephanie, yes. Could we at some future time get some statistics on how that's, you know, how many hits we're getting for that and you what's being viewed and things like that? Yes sir. All right. Thank you.

Okay. And then um high performance complete a comprehensive review of workforce approach to ident identify opportunities to enhance um recruitment and retention. So um um we're um there is now um an RFP that's been developed for an employee class and compensation study. that's in procurement to ensure that employee jobs are accurately classified and that our county is competitive and compliant. And the RFP um has been developed and is with um a procurement u for an employee uh satisfaction survey that I know that council has said that they want um to design. It's designed to gauge. We haven't um we will bring back the questions but we are um it's the RFP is there. it's being designed, but we'll bring back the questions because you all may have um may want to actually have some input in the questions that are asked employees. Um but it's going to be designed to show how employees feel about the workplace management and overall job experience. And um it will help measure engagement and morale. And of course, we have our employee of the quarter um the employee engagement committee and the public safety committee. And so the next steps uh in the coming months um a key initiative that I will have is meeting with all our directors. I do have um I do speak with just about you know all of the public safety entities but really need to tie them more um directly to the strategic plan and help refine objectives track our progress and address areas in need of improvement and further support. Um this will assist administration and the in council to ensure that we are in alignment. So, do you have any questions for me?

Any questions for Miss Snowden? I have some comments. Go ahead, Miss McGriff. Um, and you I guess you you noted it in your next step and questions that we really do need to update the strategic plan. We do. And when are we scheduled to do that? Well, it was it's a fiveyear it's a five-year plan, but I do think that the next review it and I guess I mean review it and look look at it, right? I notice we got some uh things that are below target right

and the working groups which I think uh is very necessary along with the financial model that we're looking at to fund infrastructure and things like that. I think we need to look at that annually and um um if it's not working we need to come up with uh another plan.

Well, I I think that the plan is very good. It's just a matter of tapping into the talent and the staffing because the strategic plan itself could easily just be a full-time job um or at least take up the majority of someone's time. And so thinking about how on top of the other responsibilities that folks have how to actually have a working committee that could look at that. Those are the things that I really need to be paying attention

really be good because it as you can update a strategic plan monthly or you know just when you need to because it's so critical and it answers exactly as to what we're doing and how we're doing it. So um you know I would love to see us uh look at it on a yearly basis or however to to keep it updated. Yes ma'am. There any other questions? Thank you, Miss Snowden. All right. Thank you very much. Now, we're going to move on to item 7D, discussion of infrastructure and public services for the Haven Development Project. Miss Williams.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will openly admit that I really don't know what you want from me on this discussion. Um, since it was primarily related to public services, I did um ask Mr. Kato and Chief Nicholson's to stay. Um, hopefully that they can be more intentional in some of those questions that you have for them.

Mr. Chairman, go ahead, Mr. Um certainly not getting into all the infrastructure, but I know council did have about public safety. Um and provided some background information. So again, if you can tell us exactly, you know, what you're looking for, we'll be able to provide that. Excuse me. Um I guess I'd start off with some of the population data. As you know, I sent the email out recently by Chester, in addition to stealing our deputies, is now stealing our medics. Um, and a lot of that goes back to population. They're able to sink their money into additional benefits because if you look at the 2020 census to 2024 census estimate, Chester County grew by a whopping 23 people during four years or 5.75 people a year. Lancaster County grew by 15,640 people during the same time period or 10.71 people per day. So, you know, we are playing catchup on that. Uh, just for information, the um fire rescue um got the some of this information from Chief Nicholson. Very much appreciate him giving that to us. If you're looking at a fire station, construction and furnishings, estimated 9,000, presuming you're looking at something that people are going to live in. If you're looking at

How about let's what's build it if it's 9,000? 9 million. 9 million, Steve. Excuse me. I apologize. 9 million. I wish we could do it for 9,000. That's to be determined.

Well Well, like I said, that's that's assuming you're looking at a station with, you know, people living in it. um and all that. So, you know, that that as you mentioned, it depends on exactly what station you're looking. If we're looking at a station that's simply just going to store some fire trucks, we can do it much cheaper. Um fire apparatus, looking at about a million, 320,000. personnel cost. If you did three captains, three engineers, the three captains, 350 uh,000, 277,000 for the three engineers, turnout gear for six people, about 45,000. So, I'm not going to read it, but you've got the information here. A lot of it's going to be exactly what are we looking for? Because one subdivision is not triggering all this. It's it is a combination. also had uh information from EMS. One thing I would note there you're going to see in the budget is not necessarily adding a whole lot of EMS stations. One thing we've got to look at because we are losing good people, you know, to other other loces. We're one of the few folks that run 24 on 48 off. pretty much everybody else has transitioned at a 24 on 72 off. So, we're going to have to look at that if we're going to stop the bleeding. Otherwise, we're just going to be a training ground for Chester Pedmont Medic medic and Charlotte, all that. Um, but I have the information there for you. One thing that didn't come up during the conversation, but I went ahead and got you the information. What's it going to cost to add deputies? So you you have that information and again it be based on call volume not necessarily you know new subdivision but our 911 telecommunicator

miss wanted to just basically kind of hear some raw data and again to April's point if if council wants to know what are we looking at um as far as you EMS for the coming year it's it's going to be adding medics so that we can transition our busiest stations to 2472. But Clay does have an innovative plan that he's looking at 12-hour medics with QRVS, high high volume, high intensity times so that you can go ahead and get somebody on scene. Now, that as you heard with Indian Land Fire, that's kind of covered there, but the rest of the county, we've got to look at that. So, you know, we will have that. Um, the sheriff's department will be big emphasis obviously this year is going to be detention center. We've got to have correctional officers. We also have some folks that are coming off grant. Um, we're not at a point of call volume. We're going to look at adding telecommunicators, but in the coming years, we're going to have to look at that. So, you know, again, if if council can tell us kind of what we're looking for, try to gather that information, but in talking with the department directors, at least on the public safety side, um haven't heard any plans to go to, you know, career firefighters other than McDonald Green. They are looking at another station there. There's definitely a need if we've got one on the south end, one somewhere, you know, perhaps the LAR station if it gets built because that gives you some north end coverage as well and both would be well positioned. They could go east to Buford if they needed to. Um, but that's that's going to be a multi-year

project. We're not going to solve that this coming year. Mr. agri.

Um, I guess what I'm looking for, I'm I'm not looking to put a band-aid anywhere and I know we are so far behind. What I would like to see, and it this may be a dream, Clay and Greg, but what I want to see is what it will take to make where do we need EMS stations? Where do we need fire station? How many staff people will we need? How many supplies even for law enforcement? a compreh a comprehensive plan of where we are and where we need to be and how much it's going to cost. That way, I think we can do it in phases of the priorities or whatever, but uh I need a whole comprehensive look at the whole county. You you got something, Clay? I'm uh

I just wanted clarification. So with the construction of new um facilities, are you looking at collocation colllocating in

whatever will whatever will work as far as collocations whether it's that way or not. I know we've got plans for Van White. We got plans for Heath Springs. Where do we where else do we need? We got edgewater sitting down there that's going to be in need of something. Uh, and I know these developers are giving us land, but we need money to build these fire stations. Are they going to give us the money to build them? That would be great. And then we got to spend the money in three years. What we going to do? Borrow and pay as we go. I don't know. But I like you guys know what is needed. I'd like to hear what you think will bring us to a complete safe county and it may be a dream.

When you say we've got to speed send the money in three years, what are you referring? I'm talking about impact fees. Impact fees. You only have to you have to spend the impact fees once you commit to a plan. That's what I'm collect fees, but once you commit to building it, you got three years. Three years. But will it pay for that? Will that impact fee pay for it? Unless we bond it and we pay the bond with it. I don't know whether we can do that or not. No. Mr. Chairman, um, go ahead, Mr. Harper.

Uh, before we get too far into this, this is a just supposed to be a limited discussion on the the Haven and I've got some ideas. It might be crazy, but I would I at this point I mean that's what we're discussing, not the countywide.

Yeah. And and Steve Weapon, I understand that, but in order to do this one, it's so many others that that need to be done. So, we need to also understand what it's going to take for New Haven for the Haven development project and also what it's going to take for Edgewater and what it's going to take for we going to put all our resources here and eliminate Vanwack and Heath Springs and Edgewater. I want to see a full picture and I know we can't solve it today, but we really need to talk about it.

I comp I completely agree with that. I it it is a holistic view of what is required to put the county in the space where it needs to be and the questions when I was thinking through this and what my expectations were. First question, do we have the infrastructure, roads, EMS, fire, police to serve the current population appropriately? The answer is clearly no. Number two, what services, facilities do we then need? And then number three, how can we make that happen? that those are the simple three tiers that I think we're and then to Miss McGri's point, how can we tar that or phase it so that we're planning appropriately with the growth that we're looking at so that we're not putting ourselves in the same situation that we've put our ourselves already.

I can I can give you on the fire side. I can give you the 40,000 view quick. uh the McDonald green the uh other station that we're looking at uh you know right now we have six people assigned or or you know trying to put six people in there that's two people per shift uh we need to match what we have at Inuland at four people per shift on a truck um and quick math on that is about $1.3 million just for salaries and benefits that's not counting the one and a at $1.3 million for a truck, the $910 million for a station, equipment, and all that. Very expensive when you get into the fire service. Uh we have a plan out there for the McDonald Green, the next station, and another station, and then that covers the four quadrants with Indie Land and the other three. Well, I mean, I I think I think we're probably further along. I think as a county going down that path to me, it's it's more of a question. How are we funding it and how far are we going with it? I mean, that's the question that council needs to answer because I get the I mean, and what does that transition look like? Um, you know, it's, you know, Indianland has, you know, they they've got the density to support what you're talking about, but there's areas of the county does that that needs to go down. Maybe it's more like the Van Wike model where you're transitioning from the volunteer network to a full-time fighter. What does that look like? To me, the question is, how are we going to pay specific? I think we can figure out capital. How are we paying for operations in the southern part of the county related to fire? That is the the million-dollar question or maybe million three or whatever whatever you say.

Million or whatever. Mr. Mel, you had Yeah, I've got some perspectives on this here. Uh um Shallow Z is the primary uh fire department for this area of Haven Development. uh building a fire department within another fire department district is detrimental to that department. And y'all know what I'm talking about in the fire service.

Uh so a and its volunteers, you know, when when you're not just a fire department, but all the volunteers, it's still there. Uh we don't need to lose volunteer firefighters. I think we got what 240 something around there, Greg something now. Uh, we don't need to lose those. I know it's phasing out and stuff, but but we got to keep these people. We can't be doing stuff just jumping into stuff. We got to look at the whole picture. What What's our volunteers going to think of this? What are we going to make them mad and they're going to quit and go home? Let Let me tell you, the county don't have enough money to replace 240 volunteer firefighters. I'm telling you. So, we better find out a plan to make this work with our B.

That's what I'm saying. It has to be a transition.

Wait a minute. That's right. Okay. Uh, Shallow Zion is working on a three-year plan and a five-year plan. They already about got it in place. So, they they ahead of the game on on on this haven thing right here. Now, uh they they want a fire fee district so they can hire full-time firefighters. Uh they have a nice station uh that that can sleep people. Uh it's well equipped, strong volunteer department. Uh we don't need to build another station. We need to support our departments with a with a fire feed district. If that's that what they're asking for. I know Indian has it. uh I if that's what they want to do in their district, I think we should support them on it and give them continued equipment and trucks that they need. And we do need more full-time firefighters. We have 14 now. Is that right, Greg? Uh we we need to add to this every year. We need to have more that that go out and support these volunteer fire departments. If you get Buford get a call or or Belltown get a call or whoever, you got these full-time people that's heading that way, you know, uh sometimes they get the trucks and sometime they just go straight to the scene. But but it's support for our volunteer fire departments that we can keep it going and continue with our volunteers. Um this area uh this any structure fire in this Haven district here uh is a three alarm fire that's going to be Shallow Z Riverside and Vanwack uh and also our 14 or our paid firefight who was on duty. Uh paid fire staff would head that way also. uh any additional aid needed is by

discretion of the chief. Uh it were if he needs more stations call for more people or the city's available. We've always had good workings with the city. We've this county departments go in help them and they get something big and need help and they come to us when we have a church fire or a large fire and stuff. So the city is available. Uh it ain't just like we don't have backup people. Um but we we need to listen to our fire departments and our fire commission for guidance, guys. The these people out here, they know what we need and they know what uh is good for this county. So I I have I'm open ears. I have other fire departments in my district. Shallow Zion is in my district and there's some others that's interested in fire districts to so they can get uh some paid firemen to stay at their station during the day or or night or round or whatever they have. So that's my perspective on this. I've been in involved with a fire service. I'm in my 49th year. So uh I I know what it takes to make it work and uh I've been a chief. Uh so I I there a lot of here that we uh moving parts that we got to come together with and try to make it work and and uh make our county great fire. It already is a great fire service in our county. I'd put our county fire services any in the state. I promise you volunteer fire departments and stuff that we cover. Great. Thank y'all for what y'all do.

That's what I'm asking Greg to tell us. You know what Ma Bill and Marcel said, what do you need support? Will these stations accommodate the growth in New Haven and Rosland and the other two developments coming? Can your fire station fire department cover that? And if not, what is it that you need to make it happen? Greg, hold on. I think it's unfair for us to be sitting here throwing questions today. We need to make a list of those questions and have give them time to respond in a a meaningful manner.

And that's what I'm asking. I'm not asking him to answer today. Those are the questions that I want him to answer. Billy gave us Billy is in it. He's been in it 49 years. A lot of us have not been in it at all. So, we're looking to to Greg to tell us in the next few times that we meet on this to tell us what he needs so we can determine how much it's going to cost. The same thing with Clay. Yes.

Just to the volunteers, a lot of them asked for the districts to match any lands and u they was they was told that they had to hold that they wasn't going to do any more districts for a while. So, that's why they haven't already moved forward. uh on getting the separate districts districts for some of the areas uh that that foreseen the the growth coming. So

I mean the the question is remains the same is is how are you going to pay for it, right? I mean and I'm going to give you my perspective and I've said this consistently. Induland and the citizens in Indand and Vanlike already pay for fire in their respective areas. They are also paying for fire in the southern part of the county and we need to come up with a way fee district however we're going to do this in the southern part of the county but it is not fair for Indian land to pay in Van it's not fair for the citizens in in Van W and in in in my district to go we're paying for Van Wik and we're also paying for the 14 others in in Lancaster and McDonald's green and Kershaw in the city of Lancaster We have to figure this out because we it's it's a financial decision. Once we figure it out up here from a district perspective, the rest of the stuff I feel like they're going to be able to take care of and they know what to do. But we have to make a decision on council on what we're going to do with fire operation in the southern part of the county.

Mr. Chairman, go ahead. Mr. Harper,

can we have a discussion on what we come here to discuss, which is the Haven Development Project? I've I've got some ideas. They might be crazy. Uh you can shoot me down, but that's uh uh first of all, I want to thank the the committee that negotiated uh development fees. It looks like uh what is that? 900 houses. That's approximately $15,000 a house. Uh we know the the big needs up there for Miss Libby Lambert in response time is number one is going to be EMS. Uh schools Lanster High School has plenty of room. You're getting uh you're getting charter schools built. Uh you're talking about revenue. This has come from the treasur's office. Uh the county last year uh the tax levy we know we had reassessment. The county's ordinary revenue went up about $3.5 million. The school debt revenue went from 32 million to 41 million. They got an additional 9 million there. their ordinary operational taxable income went up from 87574 to $112 million, which you got a residential exemption that went from 56 million to 68 million. They get that money back from the state. The state says they give it all back. That's not our concern. But the the school district on those two items went from 31336 to 42 235 and 32,330 346 to 41207.

So I feel they they they are have sufficient funding in these impact fees for this area for the school. I to to make the needs in this part of the county are fire and EMS and public safety. Would it be possible to, you know, we got a standard of, hey, this is $14,000 impact fees. Could some of those be re reallocated to build the fire and the EMS stations? because you only, you know, you you get those impact fees, but you're also when you build a new house, we have a he hefty fund balance. And you know where that fund balance come from over the last 10 years? It comes from building permits. We had the discussion a couple of years ago uh uh people were complaining about the county uh doing building permits in He Springs and Kershaw and the the I think the building department you can look it up somewhere it cost about $800 to administer a building permit on a house and these these fees will be between $3 to $6,000. So there's an extra three or $4,000 impact fee there. and and then you're you're you know y'all can gripe about the growth all you want but you look back over 10 years our millillage on our operating is less than it was 10 years ago we got issues and we got but this is this is a th this is funding that we have never had in the past And if you set the standard, it's going to cost $15,000

uh or whatever per lot, you're going to cut some growth cuz you're going to have a lot less projects. But this is a project that, you know, Lancaster needs. And I'll reiterate that our our young professionals, our hospital staff, and anybody else, they are not moving to the Langster area in this is a development that I believe will pay for itself. So I mean that's M. That's all I'm saying.

I'm going to speak one thing. One other thing concerning Steve with those numbers, Steve, can you put something together? I asked that come from the treasures. Okay. And give us give us how we can pay how we can pay for what do you have? That's that's for professionals. Yeah. Yeah. Tell us how much it would cost to build. And this could be an opportunity to build a EMS station where it could down the road hold fire, you know, if if if Shiloh Union wanted to go. I don't know. That's that's that that's above my pay grade.

And I'm going to pose the same question to to uh Clay. What will it take to cover these the new development staffwise, funding wise, and things like that? That's all I'm asking. So, so if we're going to do that, we later, we need to look at the whole county.

I agree. And I live these numbers every day. So, I can tell you where we need stations and I can tell you why. Um, I need a station on 521. Um, the busiest station in Lancaster County says behind Pizza Hut. It is a one truck, one bay. I got two people that work there. It is hardly ever at the station. And that is the one truck that will support all this new growth that y'all are just talking about. The next closest truck to support that sits on the other side of the new detention center or on the other side of Highway 75. An extremely long response time.

We need to build a station on 521 for EMS and we need to put multiple stations in there. and develop. They do. If if we were to build a st a two we don't two crew station there. How would that impact your response time for the area that you're talking about right now?

So that truck spends most of its time in Indian land right now that pulls from the city of Lancaster. I need three trucks at all time in the city of Lancaster. We don't need to continually um pull away from the citizens of Lancaster. We need to support the citizens of Lancaster just like we do in India land. That truck with two people in it will then be able to support that area. And the two trucks would just be for that area pretty much because they'll be on the calls all time. We also need in our capital plan uh for the 2728 I think it is. Um I'm asking for a multi-response station in the city. That would that would add two more trucks in the city. we would replace um the highway 9 station and put two trucks in the city. That gets me back to three trucks in the city, two trucks above that, plus now we're going to add Van Wik and O Bells. We're going to have four trucks up there. So that's where we're getting. And then to further expand, we need to put one out on 200 because it is blowing up. If I if I do the percentages based on call volume increases for last year, the highest percentage based on call volume is in the Belltown area. You would not believe that. That is not based on numbers. That is a just percentage. That place is is taken off. And for us to get there from Maaw Wayne Road, it is 20 to 25 minutes. So if you have a true medical emergency, I'm sorry. We'll get there as quick as we can. I I don't want to take anything away from Mr. Meller because he's chair of this committee, but the the development agreement committee, one of the focuses that we have had is that we're trying to work out a template for all future developments. And I think we've gotten pretty much down the road with LAR development and and LAR being willing to kick in additional stuff above and

beyond what we were even asking for. That that concerns me. Um, Mr. care. They they've offered that money upfront, but they know that that clause is in there that they will be paying whatever results from the impact fee. So, there's a very good chance that because of that clause, it will never be paid unless we take that clause out. Well, I mean, we can negotiate that, but um you know, that's that's where we we have to get the document in writing. Should we repeat? I don't I don't understand. There's a clause in the the current development agreement that we would need to address because in the development the intention was to match impact fees with the development agreement. Okay.

So that we weren't just pulling numbers out of the air. We're using actual factual data, right? Um, so it made sense when we were using Indyland's impact fees a out of this in this area. When WAR increased their offering, that clause still remains. So we would need to think as a council how we would want to proceed because currently that development agreement reads that whatever impact fees are in that area that is what that per rooftop fee is. So, if we negotiated in this development agreement to match induland or go $3,000 an hour on fire, whatever, and we, you know, six months from now, we we we put impact fees in that area, the current status of that development agreement, that clause would kick in and it would be whatever that would be in that area for impact fees. Well, well, they they have made an offer to the county and we need to document that offer and that would supersede whatever is in the current development agreement. We need to update that.

No, that's that's the way the clause is in the development agreement. What I'm saying is that yeah, we would have to take that clause out if they're offering that higher amount to be able to to hold them to that. Um, another concern is the the land donation that they are offering for the fire and EMS station is not in this development agreement. It's not even their property. Um, it's on the commercial side that's proposed that is waiting for this development agreement to come through. So, there's nothing in this development agreement that can hold them to that at this time. And again, all of that needs to to be revisited because they have volunteered it. We need to to document it. Uh we have had a history in the past of not documenting things and then not getting what we've asked, what we've been told we were going to get. We need to cross all of our eyes and dot all I mean cross all of our tees and dot all of our eyes.

Yes, sir. And that's why I wanted to bring those two items up of concern. Um I think for my presentation just to be ready I would like to if it's okay ask um our our guys a question. So just to clarify this development and that's specifically what we're supposed to be talking about today because we're meeting um if this was approved in April the first meeting in April and they started the development they have a 10-year term of 900 houses for this one development. Is the emergency services ready during that time period to provide services with a the best quality that you have to these groups? No.

And and why I would also like to to uh assess the impact fee. The impact fee does EMS little to nothing. For example, during my budget process after three years of collections, I have $50,000. So, yeah. And that that that's just a side sidebar that that that need that if we want to discuss about impacts fees helping EMS it does little little to nothing for me but

so and that leads perfectly into the question that I was going to ask so or the statement so impact fees in Fort Mill are much higher. So, I think that's the first thing that we need to look at is to see what are the true costs and what can we absorb because even though those impact fees are in Fort Mill, they're applied these builders then allocate the costs all across their territory. So, homeowners in this county are paying for those impact fees because home prices are going to balance themselves out. So, we need to look at what the impact fees need to be to appropriately cover the expenses and the costs for the facilities that we need to build and that we need to ensure are covered by these developments that are coming in. Second question or comment that I had was if we have maximum services and all your services are already being used up in Indian land and there is another incident in Indian land, it comes from other areas of the county. Correct.

That's correct. So, we can't operate in a silo and say this is going to serve the Haven and it's going to be for the Haven. We can't. We have to take into account the entire county and ensure that all the services in the county are appropriate because if there's an incident, it's maxed out somewhere else, it's going to be pulling from other areas. And to your point, Mr. Ko, the ones that are having the most impact are going to be impacted even more. Third comment was I think Stephanie already has a five-year plan that we've developed for capital costs and kind of the timing of where things would be. So

so and I think that would be a great place to start I think is where you were going and saying where are we and then how do we cover the cost to what you're saying how do we pay for information we just need to make a decision on on capital and to to spend it

we have the information I think primarily for fire we don't have it for EMS and all those stations. We don't have the schools. We don't have the roads. We don't have all the other pieces that we're talking about. So, I think if we did look at an overall plan that included all of those, and I I think your point about looking at where the resources are and where we're putting them, reallocating some of those impact fees, I think that makes a whole lot of sense for right now. Like, if if that's not a need that's going to impact that area right now, maybe that is something that we start shifting. We put more towards EMS, more towards fire. Is it possible? You can't shift outside the impact fee area.

No, no, no. He's saying on the development agreement on the development agreement. Yes. of uh of there's something about a clause in there uh that if they're lower somewhere else, but can you put change that to that that the impact fee will be the amount that X amount? Yes, I think that's what they're talking about that we have to fix. And then you could move it around and that that's what I'm suggesting. Y I I think for the the Haven we're using the wrong terminology. We don't have an impact fee for the H. Not an impact fee. We've got a rooftop fee that they have a develop fee that they have agreed to pay.

Yeah. So and and we've got a formula that has been developed of where to distribute that. If we want to change the formula, then we should we probably can be able to go in and change the formula. And I think the reason why the impact fees are coming up is because they're tied to whatever the costs are for what would be the impact fees. So I think that's where if we to Miss Williams' point, if we carve out that language, then it gives us exactly what you're talking about and it ties us to these fees. Is that correct?

Yes. We use the the current impact fee numbers as a guidance to offer the developers even though they're not subject to them. that's that's a rooftop fee for development purposes instead of an impact fee, but we used the number because that's the only data that we had to kind of calculate. Um because of the current RFP and the potential of doing the the countywide impact fee study, the discussion during the ad hoc meeting was that if we sign up for these higher higher levels and then if you do implement impact fees here and they're a a smaller value, a higher value, whatever, then it could adjust at that time. However, that could be it could be detrimental in in this situation because they're offering these higher amounts knowing that once the stud is done that they could be paying a much smaller amount. So, we either we they've offered this, they volunteered it. So, so my my non-legal um opinion would be just to remove that um clause from this agreement.

Well, and and they that's what they've agreed to do. I mean, I I don't think they'll has suggested that this was taking the place of that. So, um, right. I think that takes care of that. I think the other thing that we need to develop is is, uh, looking at public safety. When we build a house, how much does it cost for public safety for that house? I mean, we don't have that number. We pulled them out of the air and stuff like that, but we don't know that true number. I mean, that's the whole point of the impact fee study. which is probably eight years old now.

So, I mean, we're we the new one, the new one,

the new one. I mean, we're we're going through the process of an impact fee study that's supposed to capture that. I mean I mean we're going around the the to me we're we're going down the right path and going back to what we're discussing here and why we deferred or postponed the second reading of the haven is figuring out what are we going to do in this area if we're committed to growth in this area and if if council is going to approve growth in this area around the Haven around Roseand um and in that surrounding area. Did we solve anything today about that area which was the reason why we deferred the the reading? So, that's what I'm trying to figure out like what what are we going to actually what did we actually what are we actually going to do in this area? Not just the Haven. It's not just 900 homes. It's it's 1,800 homes with Roseanne. It's it's the next development, too. I mean, we know there's going to be other ones coming through here. So what are what are we going to do with with this? Are we going to accept the land or are we not going to accept the land? What what are we doing?

I mean, Mr. Kato has already said that if he had a two crew EMS station sitting there on 521 where we're talking about it gives him the opportunity to back feed both Indian Land and Lancaster. If I am I paraphrasing correctly? That that is correct. two trucks staff there will support that area based on our average calls and it's also would be able to support the city of Lancaster and if need be back fill Angel in if if poss if we needed it that at that time in one of those critical situations under the current scenario or while we're adding the 900 plus the

so I'm I'm looking at about one truck for 10,000 residents so we already got one truck and you're getting ready to add about another 10,000 residents is where that second truck come comes from. So that's two trucks. Now skipping ahead to April the 1st. Um I have done a call volume study for the entire county. I've broken every fire district down the the peak call hours and we run a two 12-hour windows. So we are looking at up staffing trucks for 12 hours during those call volumes and staggering them through the county and then when everybody should be asleep we drop it back down. It's the same model that Medic and Charlotte uses, Greenville uses, Orie County uses. So you have a peak call volume time and you have a non peak call volume time and we stagger those trucks to make sure that during those peak call we have a minimum number of trucks. Saves the taxpayer money because I'm not paying people to sleep. Mr. Chairman, Mr. uh

is it possible for the that infrastructure committee to meet again with the developer and discuss the possibility of shifting some of those fees around and and taking out those clauses or whatever that

I think that would be a reasonable suggest a reasonable point. Uh and also to your point, you know, we don't have an infrastructure development. We've got a a development agreement committee. Maybe we need to look at an infrastructure committee to help sort of talk about some of these things out. We're not going to address that today, but that's something we need to probably look at. Are we saying but I mean going back to the haven again I mean they're giving the Lar's saying they're giving land for an EMS and fire. Are we saying we're not going to use that that for fire or what are what are we saying?

R said they would give land for EMS fire stations. They don't have to be built at the same time.

I I get it. What I'm trying to get to is how I mean if we're saying that we're going to accept this in the and I if I'm LAR I'm asking to put something a development agreement that holds the county accountable for building those those things in a certain time frame. But what I'm saying is how are we going to build those those those buildings because I don't want to sit there and accept land and sitting here whatever day it is and say we're not we're going to say we're going to build it but we haven't designated anything to build it. We're going to say we're going to use the the rooftop fees but you know I I want to see something concrete from us that says here's where it's coming from. This is what we're doing on this pe piece of property and this is this is the timeline that we're doing it. So we don't have a situation where we got station three on Harrisburg Road that's been sitting out there and it's is not built. We have to put stuff together. And another thing is I can't support anything building something here without addressing station three on Harrisburg Road. We got to take care of the infrastructure needs in in the the the growth areas that we've already committed to. I I think we have the financial means to take care of that.

I agree. The seven of us up here have to allocate this financial 100%. We're not going to be allocated. How are we going to do that? River.

So that's three. We need funding costs. We need Well, they have $2 million set aside for that. We've already And that one has a time frame. That one has a deadline. Yes. And so it's coming. It's very close. So you got that station, you've got our station, you got this station, that station. Mr. Chair, I know we can't do it today, but can we at some point decide with whatever the needs are, how much it's going to take to fund it? and with the Haven with the EMS at the Haven uh Vanwack Heath Springs break it down on what it's going to cost how how much it's going to cost for us to fund.

We can absolutely do that and I think we can and we also have to remember capital I'm not worried about capital as much as I am operating. We also have to remember that, you know, if if you prove this development tomorrow, it's going to be a year and a half before they even start selling houses and it's going to be another nine years after that before they they Well, we still got to have a plan. Not something that we've got to do tomorrow. That's how long it's going to take us to build it, too. I mean, we we have the EMS I mean, when our gave land for the EMS station at three times, we need a plan. We we haven't built that yet, right? I mean, we have That's because it was funded.

I know. I I understand, but I'm just saying. Um and and the again Harrisburg Road, I mean, we've got the land. We have not funded it. We've we've been talking about funding it for how long on this council? We have not funded that station. So just specifically for the Haven for you all to have a good datadriven decisions, would it be helpful for staff to get together and look at and talk to the sheriff, get with these gentlemen and say, "What is it going to take for us to actually staff this and respond in the short term, midterm, and long term?" I mean, I'm just trying to figure out how we help you.

Kind of. My point is when you look at the haven, you can look at the haven, but the haven impacts the entire county because if services are being overwhelmed in one area, it's going to pull from the other. So, we can't just say it's for the haven. The haven is what is the impetus behind this, but we need to look at Harrisburg. We need to look at Van W. We need to look at um Edgewater, Riverchase, all all of those areas.

I agree. But at least because we know this vote is coming up, if we I mean I'm just trying to figure out how to actually get some manageable data that actually of if you all approved it and stuff started tomorrow, what would they need? What would the sheriff, what would police and what what are the three that you're talking about? Harrisburg Road,000 Okay.

So, we know we'll have we'll have three fire stations that we'll need to have EMS three. All right. It's like the Hunger Games out here. And Stephanie, if you go back to what you're saying right now, we need to know how we going to handle the Haven development and then from that we can have the overall discussions about the full entire county. So, and and again back to Mr. Graham's point, that's why we need to move up our impact fee studies because of that 10 or 15,000 homes down at Edgewater.

Mr. Chairman, go ahead, Mr. Speaking of Edgewater, you know, that agreement goes back to 1999 and we really, really, really need to research and see if there is any way possible the county can legally impose those fees and that's something that needs to be done. 2020 because they I have saw those same plans. They uh companies looking to take down 1,200 acres

there. There are ordinances available. I know we've talked about concurrency, but I mean if if we have to do something like that to stop development until we can do something down there because, you know, that's the most remote area, one of the most remote areas we've got in the county and we're talking about putting 15,000 houses out there. Yep. Your point, the operator.

If we're not willing,

if if we're not willing to put in if we're not willing to put in feed districts from a council perspective, then we need to rethink what we're talking about for growth because that that doesn't work. It's it does not work. If we're not going to do feed districts or figure something else on how to how to fund that throughout the county, it does it don't work. Well, and and again, we've been presented with a plan. We need to move on that plan.

138,000. And so I mean, if you look at those numbers, what I It's not it's not going to cover the cost operating cost. But you're it's not just a haven. It's Rosewood. It's Rosewood and it's going to be a high pressure growth area. It's a transition.

You can't just haven because then they're going to say, "Well, that's our fire station." So it's got to be a overall funding source that will capture all areas it's not just that area not just edge water it's going to be great but Mr. Chairman go ahead Mr. Sharper,

can can you have the legal staff and whoever to really dig into those Edgewater agreements and see if there are any loopholes or there is any possibility because that is

I think we've looked at that and because that development agreement is an executed contract and it specifically says that they would not be subject to any future fees that it would not be that simple to go and try to start implementing them. But kind of going back to the haven and I just kind of to summarize that and see if I understand the questions that we're having is in a perfect situation the fire station would be going vertical the same time the houses are and I don't think we have a plan in place to do that. So, so that's the question that So, so from the planning staff's department, they have a development agreement that we pretty we have some minor changes and it's good. The reasoning fits into the requirements of the resoning. It checks all the boxes. So, from our point of view, that's what we look at. We're not paid to have an opinion, but we are paid to have to look at it and to give you all the all the information. And and I think that's where the crux is with that. I have to kind of ask this body to help make that determination is as as our public safety has said if those houses go vertical starting in a year or two years and finished through their 10-year term, they are not at the capacity right now to serve that planning staff does not have concurrency requirements. We don't have the ability to necessarily look at those things. We look at our checklist. we check off the things that we we have the rights to look at and then we bring the other information to you. Um I if you need anything else from us I think we can give it but I I don't know what much more we can say that there needs it's the cart before the horse kind of do we do we allow the growth to get the funds to get it knowing that we're not able to to at this point

if I heard correctly there are three fire stations three EMS stations what's it going to take to operate those six facilities that's going to be question number one because that's what we're going to have to plan based off of schedule of when these developments are coming in and then figure out where we're going to pay to Mr. Graham's point the operational costs for those because those are ongoing. So, so one of the EMS stations is a replacement station. So, we would do away with the Pizza Hut station. We would move that that truck and crew there and then add an additional truck. So, it's it's moving basically. So, so we got h half of it already except the building and hopefully in this year's budget or next year's budget, we would get the staff to add the the additional truck.

But but that's what we're asking. So, if we know that these developments are going to start, assuming they get approved that they're going to start rolling out, what is the timing for that? And how quickly can we start doing that? And what are the operational costs going to be? Harrisburg is going to have to come in right now. We already know that's a need. So, let's start looking at what those operational costs going to be, how quickly that can get built, and then when that's going to hit our budget so that we can start planning for that. I think that's what we're asking.

Well, I mean, Harrisburg, I think, is a little bit different because if I and if I misstate this, hit me. But you're not as worried about the operation in Indian Harrisburg station. the the question the question is more about capital and for stage for for Harrisburg it's more about uh us uh council allocating capital for that and the the operation is fine because it's already in a fee district is taken care of the challenge is going to be the around the haven and that area and edgewater is going to be the problem with operational

but that's that's my point because we have to have those things consistent so if the plan is that we're doing away with the fee districts and the fire districts, then how are we going to pay for Indand because it why is Indand paying for their fire district? We're paying for all the service and everyone else is doing twice. So, oh yeah, I mean you it's we got to make sure it's consistent across the board. So, that's why I'm saying that how are we going to cover the operational costs regardless of where they're coming from right now going forward and how are we going to pay those capital costs? We know that we have reserves. we know we have some costs or some funds that we can tap into to cover those capital costs. It's the operating costs are going to be the ongoing costs that we need to cover.

The the thing we probably need to look at um and this is sort of a variation but maybe when as we look at fee districts maybe we need to incorporate fee district that covers EMS expenses in that area as well as the fire. I'm not sure we legally can do that because we bill for service. Okay,

that's that's a difference. Um and and also going back to the capital thing. Um when you build a station, you can make it a shared station. There you have shared utility, shared generator, shared roof. One side is fire, one side is EMS. That is one another way around the the capital of building two stations. So, hypothetically on this property at the Haven, if you built one station, you could put firet trucks in one side and ambulances on the other side is done all over the state. Um, Mr. Willis.

Um, Mr. Chairman, if I could, I think we've got some marching orders. The first thing we got to look at, and the topic actually on the agenda is the haven. It's it's it's not going to trigger all this, but we need to get you that information. Working with Clay and Greg, I I certainly think we can. You know, I'll be the first to tell you so much has changed in the last four years with the Indian Land Fire and all. So, I've I've got a lot of learning to do myself. Um, back to April's standpoint, you know, from strictly a planning perspective, we don't have concurrency. I mean, Senator Davis is pushing it hard in Columbia, but we just don't have it in South Carolina. So, we can get you that information to uh you know, Chief Nicholson's standpoint. I don't know what the numbers are, but you you're correct. Riverchase when it hits, they're supposed to give us the land. We have

last I saw two two and a half million that they owe us to help pay for a station. Uh there's no mention of staffing. It's just it be part of the Riverside Fire District at that point. But Edgewater, there's 20 acres that they're supposed to give us, you know, land in the town center, wherever the town center is. Um that thing just stalled forever in a day, but it has taken off over the last couple of years. Um, so we definitely need to look at that because we are contract, excuse me, contractually obligated. We got to put a fire station and an EMS station.

I I'm just going to reiterate, I know we're talking about the Haven, but the Haven does not operate in a silo. It impacts the entire county. So, we need to look at the entire operating cost for what's going to be required. No, I was just going to let you finish, but then I I think the the one consensus that I heard during the discussion was that we maybe need to go back to the ad hoc committee and have some discussions. So, if if that's what I'm understanding that kind of maybe takes a step to have those discussions elsewhere. I think it was I think we have a co a conversation on the development agreement but then I thought I heard also looking at probably an infrastructure committee or something like that

to kind of look at the whole thing because we're have we're going to have to address the capital costs we know but the operating costs are going to be the bigger the bigger thing and more challenging thing infrastructure and that's what I was going to ask Mr. Chairman, if you do from that, if you could um invite some members of public safety so we could sit at the table and and express the concerns and the needs. One thing too, obviously we got to the operating department. They're they are key to this,

but the other thing I need to involve the county attorney because y'all have been talking from what I understand for years on fire service areas and the capital acquisition area. If we're gonna move forward on that, I've got get up to speed and she's got to get y'all up to speed 100% on Okay, here's here's what y'all have been talking about. If you go down this road, that's fine. If you go another road, here's other options. Yep. All right.

I would just like to say one last thing. Um, I would like to thank you guys for allowing Steve to come back. It has been a wonderful last few months being able to move some stuff and get some stuff done that we really need to do in this county. So, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Willis. I wanted to say that publicly. That was a really hard decision to have to make, but Well, it really was a hard one for us to accept it, too. But we had to pull him. We had to pull him to They told me I was the most qualified former county administrator available. But when you figure that Jim, Carol, and Chap are dead, it qualified as breathing. Yes, I was.

He also told us that something about y'all's contract that we had to provide some about beans, but I don't know what he's talking about about that, you know. Okay. Uh, do you have any other comments? All right. Before we go to to section eight, I'm going to call for about a 10-minute recess because I can get you through that in about five minutes. Let's go. Let's get it done then. I go with that. I told Steve.

All right. Uh we're going to move on to item eight, non-consent agenda. Item 8A, first reading of ordinance number 2026-2023, an ordinance to approve a temporary construction and permanent easement grant to comport Communications upon real property owned by Langster County and located off of South Carolina Highway 9 bearing tax map parcel number 0068L-23.0 O and to authorize county officials to take such actions as are necessary to effectuate the grant of the easements and to effectuate the purposes of this ordinance. Do I have a motion to approve? Motion to approve.

Have a motion from Mr. Harper, a second from Mr. Louise, Mr. Willis.

Mr. Chairman, members of council, I'm just going to mention this one time because all of these are underground utilities. We've got to do them for the detention center. It's not like we've got a lot of choice in this matter. Um the first one is Comporium. Uh second one is Duke Energy. The third one is Lyster County Natural Gas Authority. I would note that the exhibits you see of page 75, 84, and 94 are less than ideal. But the problem is these are underground utilities. If they hit rock or something like that, they're going to have to vary. So we've got a very loose easement ordinance in front of you. I've already worked with Chad. He said once the the utilities are actually installed, he's going to go back and we'll have cleaned up exhibits showing exactly where those underground utilities are located so that in the future there is no question.

All right. Just the nature of the beast doing underground.

Is there any questions or comments? Hearing none, I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. It's unanimous. We're going to go to item 8B, first reading of ordinance number 2026-2024, an ordinance to approve a temporary construction and permanent easement grant to Duke Energy Carolina's LLC upon real property owned by Langster County and located off of South Carolina Highway 9 bearing tax parcel number 0068L-23.00 00 and to authorize county officials to take such actions as are necessary to effectuate the grant of the easements and to affectuate the purposes of this ordinance. Is that a zero or an O Sherry?

Is it zero F or O of F? Zero. It's zero. Okay. Zero F. All right. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved.

Have a motion from Mr. Louise. A second for Mr. Mostellar. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. It's unanimous. All right. 8 C. First reading of ordinance number 2026-2025. an ordinance to approve a temporary construction and permanent easement grant to Langster County Natural Gas Authority upon real property owned by Langster County and located off South Carolina Highway 9 bearing tax parcel number 0068-f-23.00 00 and to authorize county officials to take such actions as are necessary to effectuate the grant of the easements and to effectuate the purposes of this ordinance. Is there a motion?

So moved. Have a motion from Mr. Louise, a second from M. McGriff. All those in favor, please raise your right hand. It's unanimous. Mr. Chairman, thank you all for expediting this so we don't delay the decision. We have a motion to adjurnn. So moved. We stand adjourned.