County Council - Regular Meeting

Call to order the Economic Development Committee. I want to remind counsel that all Lexington County committees are being broadcast live on the Lexington County Spectrum channel thirteen zero two and Lexington County's website meeting portal. The committee meetings filmed today will be available for viewing anytime on demand at our county website. Committee members are reminded to speak loud and clear and after each motion, please confirm who made the motion and the second open floor for discussion and then call for the vote. We have two items, both require executive session.

Lynn, can we put these together?

Yes, sir.

Yes. Okay. Glenn's gonna get be gone for the first one, but come in to the second one.

Okay.

So we just need to not leave him in the hallway and go go tell him he's welcome to come So don't don't forget Glenn's what I'm saying.

Alright. 05:00. We will come and get

you inside. I'd like to make a motion that we go in executive session for two items. Discussion of proposed economic development project, contract negotiation SC code section 30 Dash four Dash 70 a two. And also discussion and possible vote on Lexington County Airport, CJ zero property acquisition, Council District one, contract negotiation SC code section thirty dash four dash seventy a two. And public works Tim Shepherd will be So that's my motion. Second. So we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All committee members raise hand. All opposed? Motion passes. So we'll be

How long?

Twenty minutes.

Twenty minutes. Okay.

Because you got that cleared again. I don't have any I got to order.

Economic development committee. We have, no no votes on item one. We do have a vote on item two.

Mister chair, I move

to approve the contract of sale for the purchase of Lot 41 of Lexington Farms, phase one for the Lexington County Airport at Pillion. So.

I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor, raise

a hand.

All opposed, sing. Motion passes. Economic development is adjourned finally. Thank you.

01:20 already.

Tim's out of here. There's my favorite two people on board. Yeah. Alright.

We're gonna move into the planning committee. Today, we have two items on the agenda. The first item on the agenda is discussion and possible vote of ordinance twenty five fourteen zoning map amendment number m twenty five zero one with the community development. Robbie Derrick.

Thank you members of council. The planning commission met till November 20 to review the map amendment request to change Allendale Drive from a local to an r l four residential local four road to a local four road. Planning Commission reviewed the request and made a recommendation to counsel to deny the proposed amendment application eight to zero. Planning Commission's comments are similar what you all heard at the public hearing, concerns about excessive traffic through a subdivision, additional noise, safety. One comment was made that if the road classification was changed, what means will we have to ensure that it was only used for an exit only for a great collegiate?

So that's our presentation, a report from Planning Commission, and next step would be council discussion and potential potential move forward either second reading or additional discussion on this.

I think for Grace Collegiate?

Yes. Tenth it's just before it out out.

But didn't the planning commission say no?

They said no, but I don't think they understand. They think it's gonna be a in and out.

Well, isn't there a possibility for that?

There is a possibility for that because during the planning commission meeting, they they didn't say there would only be an exit out.

So to

be exit only. We've they were to I don't know if they're Emergency.

We are all smart enough to know that people don't follow the rules and just because it's supposed to be an exit only into a neighborhood, doesn't mean it is.

It's supposed to be for emergency and out of sporting events. It's gonna be

used as a regular entrance.

But

they're supposed are you not doctor Newsome, is there going to be a gate?

No, sir.

There'll be

no gate there. Okay.

It's excellent. Get traffic out and also for emergency There will be a

gate there.

Yes, sir.

We can have him talking. Okay. Wait. Wait.

Wait. Wait. Wait. I'm out.

You can have him talk to him. You have to put him in Oh, we got it. Introducing and put him in there.

Been there. Or before. Been there.

Done this. Yeah. That's true.

You got

a point there. Daryl didn't start it this time either. No.

I didn't. But

I learned real

quick. Feel the the holiday season cheer in the air right now.

Oh, I tell

you what.

This This is brief.

Listen, guys.

Good to

see you guys.

Good to

see you. So please introduce yourself, please, sir.

Yeah. I'm doctor Bryant Newsom, principal of Great Collegiate Academy.

Alright. Welcome.

Thank you. Good to be here.

I appreciate it.

Alright. I think there's some questions that maybe

but we discussed the gate. Is there to be a gate?

Absolute. I thought you meant like a pay gate, like, paying to come in. Gate. Yeah. There's gonna be a gate. There's a gate there now. We install the gate now. There's no entrance any other time. There's not gonna be an entrance at any time during the school day. This is only exit only after athletic events.

Into a neighborhood.

Kind of a yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. Somewhat.

I mean, it's

It's back into the corner.

There's two entrance ways into that neighborhood. Is that right? Did I remember that right or no?

Go that way or that way.

Connects, Robbie. Is that

It's like right in the corner. You

can go left or you can go right. Correct?

The only other comes out. There are different directions you can go. I believe that is.

So when when we say it's one way in, one way out, that's not actually The school has

two other access points currently. Both of them are off of is it the Norristown?

We had Norristown. Yes.

What is it? Norristown. Norristown.

They have one of the main access points that was permitted when the school was originally built in twenty eleven ish and another secondary access which was permitted probably in the last two years off in Norfolk.

Is that on the map? Can we see that on the map or is that a different slide?

I go to GIS map field. Seen that. I

think that may be some of the confusion with the planning commission too. From what It was. I heard. They didn't they didn't understand it.

I think they need to go back to the planning commission, Glenn. If if there's confusion with the the planning commission, we got a eight zero vote.

I agree with that.

There's a

eight zero vote. There's something we're missing or something they're missing.

Robbie, is there if you put the road up and there's problems, do we have the ability to shut it back down? The the method to quote unquote shut it down, if if council were to change the street classification and there was an issue, council can always go back and revise that street classification to disallow that use again, which will go through the same process as any other map or text amendment. Three readings, public hearing, and planning commission.

Can you

show this on the map where the connection will be?

Well, then take it back to the planning commission and explain that to him

and let's plug on it. I was gonna make sure.

I think I'm sorry.

I don't know that. I just I remember thinking I had a corner right now.

We're talking to

you, hon.

Talking to Glenn.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So you think going back to the planning commission be the right thing. Todd, your committee. Two access points currently for the school here and here, and this access or mercy access point would be here.

Load it up. Alright. So you if you connected right there across that right away to that point, bring the map down, please.

This way?

Yes. Alright. So you can go where the cursor's going or you can go another direction. Is that right?

Where

is the gate?

The gate would be on

the community. The gate's

right there.

Right here.

So there's

a straight shot going to right here.

That's right. Go

Yes. Subdivision? Everything.

Yeah. And it'd be one to the right too, Daryl. Doesn't that road follow around and get you to

the right?

Van hours down. That one. Parallel to the school.

What is this?

Access going to

the right.

You can see multiples.

Is that

this access here?

That's right. Yeah. Go up there. Come down. Bring the

Probably in there. Gas lines in that.

Gas lines down.

Are you talking about

right here?

Right there beside that road behind him? Yeah. Fingers.

Out here.

Yeah. Gas. Come down here.

Right here is

where it's at. Right?

Yeah. Right here

where it's Can

you go there and there?

It's gas line Side Road.

Can you

go that way? They won't see time in this road. Yeah.

You could. That's what I'm saying. That's why they're looking for two. Show them that you can go

here and you can

go there.

Yes. You got a

bunch. Once you go to Allendale, you can go to Allendale. You can go some of these side streets. You can take it all the way up to Jessamine, Old Orangeburg, and they're still gonna have access points through the school to access the Norrisdale.

Suggestion.

Let's send it back to the planning commission with full description of everything that's gonna happen, the gate, one way, and, go back to them.

Well, also, he made a good suggestion too that might make might that people might because this is in such a this road is in such bad shape.

Mhmm. Resurface it.

Offer something to the community.

Collegiate wants to pave this and put a sidewalk in there as well. It might be more acceptable to the planning commission and to the people that live in that neighborhood as opposed to what they're looking at right now. But as it is right now, that's not a good idea.

Well, let me ask one other question too while you're here. From a public safety perspective, how you how you getting in there now? If you if you were to have a a parent or grandparent have a medical exam or you have a participant in the baseball or football have to require, amnesty treatment or anything like that. What's the access?

Right now, the only access is in the long road that we just showed going in.

Road is full and all the parking's full. They gotta maneuver and get around all of that parking.

Yeah. That's the problem we have right now. We had the same issue we had at JV football game. Game started when the visiting team broke their leg. Okay. And we had to back all the traffic out and it took an extra about twenty minutes for ambulance to get through there because there's no way to get in there. They couldn't come any other way.

Because of the parking on where the the road access is to the athletic facilities. Right?

Correct. Because if we can't make our road another question from planning committee when my representative was there was make our road bigger so we can do both ways. Well, we have a gas line on one side, wetland's on the other side. So we have no way to make our road bigger so that's when it was suggested from the engineers to access out of the way that we're proposing today.

I see.

So for emergency purposes is the reason why we started this process.

That one is on the right of

that road.

Let me ask

you this question.

I mean, just we we can take it back to planning. I don't object to that at all but if they hear, they're gonna give us a recommendation no different than recommendation we've got now. I think what we're hearing is that you got a public safety matter. You got exit only and you got a controlled access that I think publicly the the principal of the school Overall. Is telling us publicly and and if it's a requirement of the road that it can only gain access through athletic events. I mean, look, I'm I'm indifferent. We can go back to playing commission if want to, but again, it's just gonna come right back to us in a recommendation form.

What happens as the school grows because Gray is growing and y'all are doing a great job over there. As the school grows and they need this access just for school function daily, you're

gonna be

our in

and out.

Our growth is at Ermo. All our growth is at Ermo. There's no more growth here. There's no more buildings going there. There's no more we can't get any larger there. All of our growth is at our Ermo campus. There's no more growth here. There's no more space here. We're spaced out. We cannot go anywhere else. There's not a car else coming in our building. I'm doing enrollment right now. All those kids, new kids wanna come to great or old one Irma. There's no other option.

But you do understand with respect. I mean, you do understand that that's a neighborhood where people reside and children play, and and it's a home and a community. And those people don't want traffic even if it's just after a football game at night or whatever sports event you have just running through their neighborhood. I mean, you do recognize that if you lived on that street, you wouldn't want that either.

Well, I mean, the same issue when they were gonna build our stadium back there. The same people came and had objections because it was all woods back there, and there was a lot of things happening back there. Once we built our stadium and we built access for the community to use it, they walk. Now they're like, thank you for building it because now it cuts out a lot of tomfoolery. I think some of the same people are coming now saying the same thing, but they don't understand what we've been saying from the very beginning since I've been there for ten years. We're a community builder. We're not trying to detract. They said bad things about our stadium coming, but now they're like, well, we see all the things you did for us. Like, we don't let any music go after 10:00. We put a lot of provisions in place to make that place a lot cleaner than what it was before.

Same thing with this access road. It's not gonna be any impactful to them 10:00 at night for road for cars to go out left or right. They're gonna be out of there in fifteen, twenty minutes out here to recognize them. But to our current families that have kids that play on those fields, that we can't get an ambulance back there or a fire truck back there, that's detrimental. And I don't think they see that.

No doubt about it.

But I

think detrimental.

They also said these same things years ago before we had a stadium back there.

So, Robbie, is there any way they could do a wetlands delineation to expand their current driveway?

That's what I was just asking. Has anybody even looked at a wetlands wetlands? I mean, it it didn't look like it's like a bunch of wetlands, number one. Number two

You got you got gas line on one side. You got wetlands. They have a consulting engineer who who proposed plans for us to initially review when they met with our office and with other works. Right. If that's something that council wishes to look at, then then they will have to go back to their their consulting engineer to do due diligence on that.

Is this something that is this something that that you and I and somebody go ahead and put a visual on ourselves and look at. Would you mind doing that? Sir, I hear I understand your frustration.

Put that road near

that I can read it all over your face.

I I mean, it's really tough down there.

And welcome to politics.

For two years, so I understand.

For ten years.

Oh, sure. Understand.

No. This is what's happened. Nothing. That's right. It's called politics, but we have to be consider the people that we affect. Sure.

So I

hope you understand that. So option b Okay. Is let's look at something a little more reasonable

That would be great.

And let's look at the maybe some of the wetlands to allow a wider in and out. I think that might be your best option at this point. That's the first opinion.

The cost for that is gonna

be instrumental. But the cost of us having to repay that move.

We're paying for that. No.

That subdivision? No. We're paying

for the exit out around 200,000 For subdivision?

The subdivision. The subdivision we're responsible for. Sure. Yes, sir.

One moment. Wanna take what I just heard. So if we can improve that road from the exit exit only out to the subdivision, that would maybe improve the whole

And put a sidewalk in.

And put a sidewalk on.

So people can walk. Think if you offered a neighbor something, it'd be

a little

easier to swallow.

But I think that that would go a long way towards our safety concerns, number one. That's number one. And number two, showing some respect to the people that live on that road and have lived on that road since before the football field got there.

Yeah. Even if we

even if and I'm I'm in agreement with that. But even if we can go and and look at a cost factor or the ability to construct, I if mean, we're dealing with the if it's truly a wetland, you're dealing with a core.

Right.

Okay. That's Charleston and they're really speedy people. Yeah. So I I guess what I'm saying is from a cost perspective, it it it could be either or or about the same. But it but again, we can't discount the the public safety estimate.

Not just kind of public safety.

I just wanna make sure we we're not gonna lose sight of the public safety I'm

not discounting that whatsoever.

You're saying. There are some considerations and growth does happen and, you know, things show up around all where we live and maybe it wasn't that way five years ago or

ten years.

Too that some schools, am I am I wrong in that some schools do have ambulances on-site when those games are going on? Is that something they pay for?

Gotta get out of there. To get out.

The big

football tight. If you you improve that road, you're gonna push it over towards those other 20 houses too. What? You see the roads parallel.

The road on the map. The other road where the entrance is.

Yes. That's where the gas line is.

Yeah. It's a glass line. That I'm gonna zoom in. So here's the main school. Here's an original access point to the school. Here's our secondary access to this road, which Where is the gas? The road that goes down to this right here. And a couple of things to look at too just from a zoning perspective. The zoning district requires certain buffering restrictions. So when they developed this site, what what,

five, six years ago? Five, six years ago is when

there was no

a tight fit for them to make this work. They had to do a significant amount of screening and some vegetation requirements. If you look at the map too, this is their detention pond, so they're limited to what areas they can go right here with the detention. I think this is their band practice field, parking area in their new that's gymnasium?

Yes. Okay. And the wetlands is where, Robin?

I think the wetlands is approximately in this area right here. Okay.

And where is that gate in comparison to the wetlands?

On the Right.

This would be the the access point they're they're proposing tying here. Right there. Right there. It is. And lander. Straight up.

I know. Right here is the guy.

Yeah. And go straight no. No. Go straight down to the dirt part. That's where the connectivity is gonna be. Come down.

Alright. And right there is the wetland. Layer. Yes. Alright.

Boundary of them.

Alright. This is not exact this is close.

Okay. Alright. Alright.

So how many feet you say you need?

From the gate point to back down? Well, you're probably gonna connect straight down.

What's what's on the right side of the baseball field or the sports field?

You've got a transmission line too. You've got, I think, a trans over a transmission and gas.

Yeah.

You got two over overhead and underground utilities across. Hell. In your numbers on So

they can't go straight?

In their Carolina waterline No.

They're just they're just surrounded by neighborhoods. That's all.

Publications. There's a

pump station over there somewhere in

there somewhere. Sorta.

Sewer pump station is right in there too. See that little tiny square with the with the dot in it? That's the pump station right there. Right there. Yeah.

Yeah.

So you can't get the

I mean, really, the only way to get to it is just like they proposed.

And we've been looking at

this for two years trying

to figure

it out. So

What's that? Yeah. I said we're right widen the road with wetlands right there on that on the current road to go back there.

Got the buffers on that subdivision.

Then you're gonna violate your own screening requirements all around with those houses. There's a ton of vegetation that's been planted there in a fence too or no? Yeah. In a fence too.

Yeah. Not I haven't set back.

The school's currently using that one road right now. So they've gotten they've they're using that road. Right. And so instead of widening the road that they're already using with buffers or do shrinking those buffers a little bit, now we're asking them to come through the other side of the neighborhood. So both sides of that neighborhood now.

Well, they're accessing the neighborhood right now. It's just it's just border inside.

It's just I was out there a couple weeks ago, and it is it is tough with the one way direction in and out. I mean, it with with the track and that was not a heavily populated game. Just I went to a football game out there. And I mean, I I think it would be worth a a a trip out there as councilman Hudson said. What? Let's take a

look at it

to see what we could.

A lot of people do not park down by the stadium. They park up here by the gym. So there you've got people walking this way

Oh, no.

And people are coming in and out. You got cars coming in and out and people walking. There's really no shoulder access.

And no sidewalk.

And no sidewalk. Well, that's

not gonna change even if you put that

roof in.

That's not gonna change either.

Way to get out. You would push them out. Go out one way

and come in the other. That would be the

way you push some out to keep from going down.

I would say look at some wetlands delineation to to what

Well, not a reference. Emergency exit to dump out after a game.

Tim, chairman, take over.

I'm a how about me, you,

and Daryl go out there

and walk the land, take a look at it?

Okay.

And let's hold the vote and then look at some options.

Based on eight o vote, you're gonna have

Okay. I'm good.

I'll go with you.

Let's do that.

We can I'll schedule something with you guys. We'll be out there. And

Sure.

The contractor to live in?

You you okay with doctor Absolutely. Yes, as well.

He'll be available. Absolutely. And Ross Pro. I'm all ears. Love that. Okay.

Thank you. Yes, sir. Of course. And then we'll bring it back to the January. Do well, did did you want it

to back. Whenever.

You just let let us

to the planning commission though with new

information. Once we

Let's look at it, and then we may have stuff to present to them. I don't know. Needs to go back to planning.

It's somebody's decision. They're not We can make the decision. Weighing on anything different than we already done right here today.

Yeah. We can make some.

Commission just recommend anybody. Yep.

Yeah. And when you set it up, think as long as it's not seven in the morning.

I ain't going with you.

Do have a temperature requirement?

Too cold for me.

Do have a temperature requirement? We're gonna go next week. Let's move on, y'all.

Next week, we'll wait for a sit here.

I want

that service too. Appreciate it very much. Absolutely. Okay. Y'all do the same. Take care.

We'll go

Monday sometime. Thank you.

Have taken on that. And the next item up for discussion is possible to vote on ordinance twenty five twenty zoning map amendment number m twenty five zero two. First reading by title only with community development, Walt Pearson, zoning administrator.

We jump in at this is another map amendment request. This is for tax map numbers thirty six thirty three zero three zero three five, 36960500 3, 369605005. This is near Garden Valley Lane. Current zoning classification is r one, which is low density residential, posed as RD restrictive development. Current property owner is Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission.

And the reason for request, the current r one zoning classification does not allow for the proposed transit habitation activity or the campground that the Irmochafer Recreation Commission is looking to establish as well as other activities that the Irmochafer Recreation Commission may propose in the near future. So the Irmochafer Recreation Commission has proposed this map amendment request for future recreational type events. There is a sketch plan on the screen for you. We do have some representatives from Irma Chapin Recreation Commission here if you have any specific questions. As with all map amendments, requires three readings and a public hearing and planning commission. If council pursues with approval of first reading, the next step will be a public hearing most likely in January.

So they've met with most of the community residents that live in that area. They've had several meetings with them because that was one of the requirements I asked for back when this first started. It is down near the water. It is I asked them about safety precautions. There will be people on-site twenty four seven. Are Where

is that actually?

Down Down the old remember the old Gardendale Racquet Club?

Yeah.

You remember the amendment we had about sixteen years ago with the gentleman who resold the Gardendale Racquet Racquet Club to the kids camp? I think you were on council at that time. Yeah.

You don't remember. Just the group assembly?

Yes. Group assembly. Yeah.

Yeah. Didn't

It's property right around that area in that vicinity.

Wait minute.

Is that near Pine that's near is that near Pine Valley?

Pine Glen. So further down. Further down.

And this in that general area near the river?

Yep. Near the river.

Right on the right.

Yeah. I remember that. You're right. Memory.

That's exactly right. So there'll be people on I I asked several questions. There'll be people on-site twenty four seven. You can only stay if you're a paid guest because I obviously had concerns about homelessness that is floating around in that area. Think if I remember correctly, there there is a limited number of time that you can stay there. And then even if you pay, there's a limited amount of time that you can stay there. But it sounds like they've asked all the questions and put an awful lot of work with us and met with the community stakeholders out there, and everybody seems to to be on board with it. So

You're good with it?

I am.

I'm good with it. That's good with it. I'll make a motion to approve.

Okay. Motion to approve by Charlie.

Second by Clifford.

Second by Clifford Fisher.

All in favor? This report out of first reading, the first meeting in January. So

those are all actually campsites there. Right? Yes. Like

tent.

They're not permanent sites.

It's it's it's primitive camping.

Right? Which is why I would say no. They you can't have RV out there.

Oh, you can't okay.

Incidentally, the the the buffer the buffering

restrictions will be met as Okay.

It's only short term.

I see.

Like, so many days. Yeah.

Alright.

That is all for the planning committee.

I have one can I make one suggestion?

K.

Since you're familiar with the property on, previously, when we set the meeting, could you have Yeah. Since he's already familiar with that?

I'd be glad to. I've made quite a few visits over to your I'd

to see him while

I was looking at the some

of of

the Alright.

Thank you, gentlemen. Call to order health and human services. First item is approval to accept supplemental Homeland Security Midlands Regional Medical Assistant team, REMAT Grant Award, chief Megan Hallman.

Thank you, member of the council. EMS is requesting your approval to accept the supplemental Homeland Security Midlands Regional Medical Assistance Team grant award. The total award is in the amount of 35,000. This is a no match grant, and the funds will be used to update the current shelters and assist with required annual training, and this is our request.

I accept.

Okay. So no discussion. I've got a motion. I wanna say congratulations.

Thank you, sir.

First meeting as a chief. There you go. Welcome.

You didn't give her a hard time.

I'll accept that.

You didn't give her

a hard

time like you did Tim. Tim just was

in the mood. So we have a motion by councilwoman Carrie and a second by Hudson. Right? Councilman Hudson. Any questions, comments? All in favor? All opposed? Motion passes. Thank you.

Congratulations, chief.

Thank you.

Chief. Next, Lexington County State Veterans Home Project update, veteran affairs director Ed Lundin. Mister Ed.

Ed.

Okay.

Assistant, was gonna give you an additional item, that we didn't send over. It's a brochure in reference to the Sumter VA State Nursing Home. So I'm pleased to be with you today. I don't have anything as complicated as what y'all been talking about. I'm back there listening, so I'll just get started, take any questions that you might have, and I'll have to use my cheaters here. Cause I see most of us in here are pretty old anyway. So I fit right in.

Blasphemy.

Yeah. So some of you were alive when Michelin came to Lexington County. That was

table was alive when Michelin came to.

That was a huge economic moon for this county. Would you not agree? As is Amazon and Nephron.

Oh, look at that industry. So

that being said, the VA State Nursing Home proposed for Lexington County the biggest thing that ever happened to Lexington County veterans in the history of this county to include the opening of my office in the nineteen thirties. So what you need to know about this is that we've known about these all along because we talk to veterans and their families about this type of establishment. As you can see, that's the state VA websites where all the stuff originates. They fall under the South Carolina division or Department of Veterans Affairs now because of breakup of DHEC. Previously, they fell under the Department of Mental Health.

So now they fall under the state VA, and so they become more aggressive at let's get more veterans home in South Carolina. So I'm gonna describe for you that process, if you will, overview and what it means and how it works. Okay. The next slide. So there presently, there's six in South Carolina. The brochure you were just handed is the one in Sumter that opened in May, and yours truly has toured that facility. And as you can see, that's it right there in this slide, and that's what the Lexington County one is gonna look almost like that. You should probably be asking, why am I being recorded?

Hell, yeah.

Oh. Yeah. Okay.

Ah, baby. Hill.

Lexington County getting one of these nursing homes. You can thank former senator Katrina Shealy. I don't know how she did it. I don't know what happened. I'm not here to report all that. I'm here to report to you what it can do for our county and what it does for veterans and their families. So I toured this facility, back in, when they had their grand opening or whatever you call it, ribbon cutting, don't know what they call it. And I went and I got a tour, and if counsel and delegation would like to make a tour of this building, I'd be happy to lay that on for you, but I need to know if you'd like to do it. I promise you it'll be something that you've probably never seen. You'll come away from this a different person.

I would like to do it.

Okay. And so, we'll we'll my staff and I'll be working with y'all on on scheduling that with the administrator. But what you need to know is, as I toured this facility, I continually noted in the living pods that there were a large framed items outside of these typical living areas, and it had a veteran info on it. And so when I got to the end of the tour, I asked the administrator there what is the significance of all these plaques and all these different things, And she said they're all Sumter County veterans.

And

so became emotional when she said that because Lexington County, I know, is gonna have one like that, and it'll be Lexington County veterans that'll be throughout. That's pretty pretty prideful moment for me. So on the emotional part, that that really set with me as I rode back home or back to the station on County 9 because y'all paid for me to go there. Mileage. Put that on record.

So South Carolina's veteran population continues to increase. We're told the county has a little over 400 thou state that has a little over 400,000 veterans. But see, Lexington County's veteran population continues to increase. Where people are moving from Jersey, you know, Massachusetts and all them, and then Michigan and all and Texas and all that, they're moving here. I call it the great southern migration. Alright? They're moving to South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia.

They're moving to Chapin.

Yeah. They are. South Carolina

has six of these, and this would be the seventh, a divine number. And I cannot tell you what it does for a veteran's family. So a veteran that's service connected, 70% or above, those of you who probably don't know what that means, but it's okay. That veteran pays nothing to stay in a facility like this. The federal government covers the cost. If a veteran is 60% and below service connected, then it's self pay, and if a veteran is not receiving anything monetary from the VA, then it's self pay. So that's roughly you're back to back. Who who's playing with this?

I am.

Shadow's doing it. So what you need to know about that is is that it's nursing home care, dementia home care. There's no fee raise. It's it's about $2,200 a month for a veteran to stay in a home like this, and they come in, and there's a home level or dementia level, it doesn't price doesn't go up as they move to the other side for that. That's bang for your buck there.

And, in civilian ones, you know, the price escalates as you move through different lines of care. As you can see, this place, I call it the, country club of assisted living, I'm sorry, nursing homes, because you can see all the amenities that it has. It not only have it doesn't always have just that stuff. It also has a coffee bar, biggest one I've ever seen, and coffees I never heard of, and a bathroom was pretty close. So a veteran can go in there and get his drink on with coffee, and maybe a mini bottle or two.

I I was looking at you when I said that. So I don't know what the VA knows about South Carolina. California has it's the largest veteran population at 1,800,000, and it has nine of these homes. Texas is number two in veteran population at 1,400,000. It has nine of these homes. Florida has 1,300,000 veterans. It has 10 of these homes. And South Carolina soon will have eight. There's one plan for Orangeburg County and one plan for Horry County. Our county is getting what's called replacement nursing home.

The one in Columbia is slated to be demolished, and therefore its replacement is gonna be in Lexington County. And so that's big, folks. I can't tell you how proud we are that. You also need to know that North Carolina, our neighbor to the north, has 700,000 veterans. They only have four of these facilities. Georgia has 600,000 veterans. They only have two of these facilities. So South Carolina must be prime pickings for as a BA state nursing home. And so what you need to know is what's the onus for Lexington County? No money whatsoever.

The federal government pays 65% of the building cost and the state government pays the other 35. It's estimated this facility that would be built in Lexington County would be about a $100,000,000. That's unofficial.

100

So, Todd Cullen, your uncle Killer could stay in a place like that. Remember when we talked previously? Yep. Yep. This would benefit a veteran like him. Okay. Also, if your mother was a veteran, Darryl, she would have benefited from a place like this. Know that. I'm sorry?

My daddy was.

Then you're I know that. Yes. He's buried in Florence National Cemetery.

That's correct.

And what do you what do you think the completion date is on these?

There ain't no completion date yet. Right now, we're looking at three to four years. They're waiting on the VA to come out with their new construction FY whatever

A budget. List. Right.

And we're we should be on that list. They're looking at three to four. It can be sooner, but the only onus for Lexington County is to provide the acreage that must be deeded to the VA in order for this to be a facility in our county.

So How much how much is it?

We're looking at the next slide please. Should be on that slide there.

$7.35?

$7.35.

Right. Oh, and by the way, the Sumter, VA nursing home is a 125,000 square feet. It cost 70,000,000 to build it and, it only houses a 104 veterans. Ours is gonna house between a 129 and a 132 private rooms. It'll be Lexington County will become a destination for veterans and their families. Not only that, folks, this kind of nursing home, Oakleaf is right down the road here. I see your mom was at wasn't it Lakeside? Is that right, ma'am? Cost between 4,500 and 5,000 a month for assisted living. Okay?

This don't do assisted living. But when you move to nursing home care, that price escalates to about 7,000 to $9,000 a month. And then when you move to the dementia care unit, you're talking 10,000 to $12,000 a month. VA state nursing homes, the cost never goes up. It's the same price for a nursing home care and dementia home care.

Private pay is affordable, but the veteran is 70% and above, like I said earlier, he or she is free. And so we assist veterans with claims to move into a facility like this to offset some of the cost. That's part of what we do. And then also, we help them file for a disability claim if they need that. That'll be a better way for them to, you know, get a free, room in its place, and it'll be among their own kind. That's very important for veterans, because our DNA is patriotism.

And let me ask you.

Yes, sir.

What's the time frame of we need to identify the site if this is to be built?

Well, less than three years. They they put three years when they briefed us in here, minister he was here that day. Roughly three years for that acreage. I understand Lexington County got plenty of land, that's what we've talking about, right, earlier? Roads, land. And so we can't miss the boat

on this.

We don't own all that land.

I know that.

But but there's lots of land.

Yeah. Missed the boat on this year. Alright. And not only that. Uh-oh. You also need to know that until May, that there was a residency requirement of one year in South Carolina, and that's now been repealed, and there is no residency requirement to live here. This will attract veterans from other states also. So Lexington County will be a destination for veterans and their families because of a facility like this. That's the importance of it.

35 acres?

35. Roughly, yes. That's what we were told.

35 acres?

Yes.

Probably would like that to be in Brighton Park. Yes. Taping.

Yep. Yep. Yep.

It's a good opportunity.

So, well, I don't care where you put it, but I will tell you I'll tell you this.

Ed, how many veterans are in South Carolina and how many are in Lexington County?

Well, according to the VA, a little over 400,000 are in South Carolina.

And

then in Lexington County itself, just a shade over 24,000. The fifth largest veteran population county in South Carolina. Richland's number one, Greenville's two, Charleston's three, and Horry is four because we got all yankees moving to Horry County. No offense.

They got a lot moving to Chapin.

Yeah. They're coming to Chapin.

Dadgum Lake. So I know. But the crown jewel of Lexington County, we all agree, is Lake Murray. People come here. It's a destination. That's what we wanna make this the same thing for the same reasons for our veterans and their families. Not only that, this also is going to create careers. I forgot to say that the VA, federal VA staffs the entire thing and state VA, staffs it as well. So those careers are going to be here, not only, doctors and nurses, things like that, but also other ancillary services, laundry, you know, cooking, things like that. So it's going to employ well over 100 people.

The one in Columbia built in 1971, it cost more to maintain it than than really it's designed for well, it was built in '71. So In '71, I I think I was in grade school. I can't remember. Mister Ed. Yeah.

I was

at Fulmer.

If

you had some questions, we were running behind.

Go ahead.

Anybody have any questions for mister Ed?

Sounds like we need to find 27, 35 acres pretty quickly.

Yeah. Absolutely.

This way. Within thirty six months. Yeah.

Yeah. Is there

any on charter

This is just

There's no on charter hoe.

Okay. We wanted to bring it to you as as that said that we have met

with the record. Thank

you. Question for you real quick. Approximately, how many jobs would this provide?

Over a 100. Little over

a 100?

The one in Sumter employs about a 130. I would say this one, a 150 or so. That's just off the top of my head. It's not official.

And some of those are very skilled specific

They're not

the nurses.

They're not your high school jobs or your part time jobs. They are career jobs.

Those are the ancillary jobs I mentioned. You're gonna have dedicated nurses and or doctors that will work in this facility. They need houses.

So I'm all for it.

Also, eventually, it would anchor, I guess, restaurants, shopping, and whatnot down the road. I would assume so. But I would tell you, those of you who like Andy Griffith, I only wash the ones with Barney on it. Right? He's my favorite, but this is big. This is like when Barney got that big fingerprinting kit. You remember that? Hey. You got to tell Andy was big. This is big. That's what

this is. Oh, boy.

I can't tell

you how Alright. Appreciate it. Anybody else have any questions?

We're big time behind. Right.

Alright. Appreciate it, mister Dan. With us. Yes, sir. Thank you. Alright. We are adjourned. Alright, Beth. Joe. George.

Justice committee called into session. Lee's already at the table, and we are going to seek the approval to accept the state crisis intervention program grant award quickly, quick.

That is correct. The grant award is for $302,316. As a reminder, what we talked about in March, we will use the awarded funds to establish a two person crisis intervention team that will be especially trained.

Do we have a core?

I'm not might not.

Okay, go ahead. I'm sorry.

The award, we would ahead. Establish a two person crisis intervention team that would consist of a specially trained senior deputy who will partner with a mental health professional that we contract through the South Carolina Office of Mental Health, as they call it now. The program's goal is to assist people experiencing mental health distress in receiving appropriate services. Those can be immediate, those can be less immediate, long range services. This is a diversion plan.

The hope and the expectation is that we can experience a reduction in the number of mental health patients going to jail or presenting to the ER at LMC. The team will respond to already secured scenes to offer assessments, referrals and follow ups to ensure that individuals in crisis or otherwise in need of mental health services receive the services they need. There is no grant excuse me, is no match associated with the grant. It's renewable up to three years, at which point the sheriff's department would have to fully fund it. That concludes

the second.

Anybody else? All in favor?

Thank you.

Thanks. We're adjourned. Open.

We've got

got your stuff in your

face. Mhmm.

And we are welcoming. They

will be.

You're on public works?

Yes. I am.

You are?

How many do I have? No.

We don't have a quorum yet. You need Larry?