City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Love to welcome everybody to our regular city council meeting Monday, November 17, 2025. If everyone would please stand for the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. To the flag of the stands, indivisible, liberty, justice for all. Okay. Yeah. All right. We got a few few proclamations to hand out this evening. So, I will be doing it down there at the Okay. Still need to get some WD40 for this thing. All right. Well, once again, Fort Mill High School has done their thing and we've got some champions. I tell you, we just keep keep breeding champions at Fort Mill High School. I tell you, it's awesome. Okay, so this is a proclamation recognizing the Fort Mill High School Yellow Jackets as the 2025 York County Girls Flag Football Champions. Way to go. All right.

Whereas on Monday, October 20th, 2025, the Fort Mill High School Yellow Jackets made history by winning the first ever York County Girls Flag Football Championship, defeating Northwestern High School 27 to 12 in the title game and averaging their only regular season loss. Whereas this inaugural season featured six pioneering programs, Fort Mill, Northwestern, South Point, Rock Hill, Kataba Ridge, and Nation's Ford, whose student athletes showcased remarkable skill, sportsmanship, and teamwork while laying the foundation for the future of girls flag football in York County. Whereas the Fort Mill Yellow Jackets entered the championship as the number one seed, advancing past Rock Hill in the semifinals and delivering a dominant defensive and offensive performance in the final to secure a two-possession victory in an undefeated postseason run. And whereas this championship marks a milestone moment for girls athletics, providing a platform for growth, competition, and community pride, while inspiring future generations of student athletes to pursue excellence both on and off the field. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the city council of the city of Tig hereby recognizes and congratulates the Fort Mill High School Yellow Jacket Girls Flag Football Team for their historic victory as the 2025 York County Girls Flag Football Champions and commends all participating schools, coaches, and athletes for their role in launching a new era of girls sports in our community. Y'all come on up. I'm going

Speech. Speech. Speech. [Applause] push it all the way out of the way. Okay, hang on. All right. Okay. Okay, thanks guys. Appreciate you. You guys don't want to stay for the rest of it.

It just gets better from here. I'm telling you.

Just drop the papers in my box. I'll sign it off for your government class. All right. Okay, we've got another proclamation tonight since Tim was not able to be with us the other time. So, this is a proclamation for Arbor Day 2025. Whereas, the city of TUK is celebrating 34 years as a Tree City USA, which recognizes the value of trees to our community and has adopted the act of celebrating the first Friday in December as Arbor Day. Whereas properly maintained trees not only contribute to the aesthetic appeal of our community, but also increase our property values, beautify our neighborhoods, and enhance the overall quality of life in our city by filtering storm water and reducing air pollution. And whereas it is the purpose of this proclamation on this day throughout the state of South Carolina to encourage planting trees in a celebration of Arbor Day. Now therefore, we the city council of the city of Tukay do hereby proclaim Friday, December 5th, 2025 as Arbor Day in the city of Tig. We encourage all residents to join us for the Arbor Day ceremony which will be held at the Tig Glennon Center at 2 PM. During the ceremony, the city will plant a southern magnolia tree in recognition of Sue Galasi and her outstanding contributions to the city, the Lions Club, the community, and the residents of TK. Okay. All right. You want to take my picture with that? I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Okay, got enough of those.

All right. Um, we'll pass it to Mr. Thunderberg. Please, if you would, sir, the city manager report.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Uh, from our development services department, the Grove is continuing construction on retaining walls at this time. uh staff and the COG uh which is the Kataba Council of Governments are working in conjunction with the uh comp plan steering committee to finalize recommendations and we expect a draft document in the next several weeks. Uh the code enforcement module uh for our evolved permitting uh platform is now live. Uh like to congratulate Ben Buchanan um who is our storm water manager. He's also our environmental uh guy. Uh he uh has earned his post construction BMP certification through Clemson extension. Uh and on a somewhat sad note, our permit clerk, Tara, has taken a new opportunity to advance her career and will be leaving us soon. Um we are actively seeking to fill that position and we just ask for everyone to be a little bit patient with us uh uh through the permitting process as we go through the end of this year. Um, as you've probably seen uh several places on social media, the fire department has received an appropriation through the USDA totaling $534,000 to go towards the new ladder truck uh which was uh this appropriation was sponsored by Senator Lindsey Graham and we want to give him a uh a sincere thank you u to him and his office uh for that appropriation. Uh we're anticipating that that funding coming in in early uh 2026. Um in parks recreation, uh our fall recreation sports season will officially wrap up at the end of this week. Uh special thanks to our programming staff and our volunteer coaches for another successful season. Um and believe it or not, we'll be back at it soon for uh spring of 2026 as registration will begin December 1st, so right around the corner. Um, as recreation sports conclude, park maintenance staff has started offseason projects. They have started renovation work at Diamond Head Park by fixing

existing equipment, installing irrigation and updating landscaping. Uh, staff has repainted the disc golf cages uh down at Lookout Park. Uh, and the department plans to renovate the tea boxes this winter for our disc golf enthusiast. Uh we anticipate completing smaller scale renovations at other pock pocket parks and installing uh new batting cages at Runny Park and completing another section of repurposed turf at Kataba Park uh in the baseball softball complex. Big thank you to everyone who participated in our spooktacular week events. uh we've begun transitioning to the most wonderful time of the year and uh and we'll kick that off with the uh city tree lighting and the arrival of Santa Claus on December 4th at 6 p.m. right up here like we always do. So looking forward to that event right around the corner. Um starting November 27th through December 15th, the young and young at heart can stop by uh city hall to drop off their letters to Santa. uh look for the mailbox next to the North Pole outside of city hall or Santa's mailbox inside the lobby. So, uh get your letters written and uh get those dropped off. Uh and our public works department, our maintenance team has completed several projects including Christmas lights along TK Drive, getting the Christmas tree up at the Glennon Center and pruning trees in areas uh of Lakeshore. The department is currently up to date on all pothole repairs and has completed an up-to-date list of all private and public streets within the city totaling 27 private streets and 211 public streets. Lastly, the department has submitted uh well, not lastly, but the department has submitted the uh C fund request for the next funding cycle uh to York County. So, that that has been submitted. Um, and just an update, our uh technician is scheduled to be on site tomorrow uh hopefully make uh to be able to make repairs to one of the Leafac trucks uh to get it operational. Uh the other Leafac truck is still waiting on parts

to come in so that we can get it operational. Uh we have been notified by Signature Waste uh that some areas have been putting leaves in their trash carts. They don't really necessarily have a problem with that, but if you're going to do so, please bag them. uh putting loose leaves in those carts, as you can probably imagine, quite creates a little bit of a mess uh when they go to dump the carts uh into the uh into their loaders. So, um our crews are still running all areas picking up bagged items. If you prefer to leave your bags at the curb, our crews will be getting them. Uh and last but not least, our police department. The department has compiled their monthly crime stats for October with 451 calls for service, 36 incident reports, 2735 property checks, 522 traffic stops, four parking citations, seven vehicle collisions, 15 custodial arrests, five DUI arrest, uh, and an average response time of 3 minutes and 20 seconds, uh, along with hosting, uh, five community events. Um uh and exciting news on December 5th, the police department will be hosting uh crafts and cocoa with the Grinch. Stop by the police department between 5 and 8:00 p.m. Take a festive photo with the Grinch and make your own Christmas crafts. Uh there will be warm cocoa and snacks for everyone to enjoy. Also, on December 5th, the annual Lighten Up the Holiday self-guided tour kicks off. Uh sign up to have your house included as a featured stop on this year's store map. Those who'd like to participate can visit the city website or Facebook page to register your home. And the department was awarded a traffic enforcement grant uh through the state totaling $29,737. And this came from the department of public safety. And this will further the department's initiatives uh to creating a safer community through traffic related enforcement and community education campaigns. So that concludes my report for this evening.

Thank you, Mr. City Manager. That will bring us to cover our committee commission reports. And if we could please have Mr. Nick Coffin for our planning commission. Oh, Nick's here.

Good evening tonight. Uh so planning commission met on Monday, November the 3. Uh the commission welcomed Mr. George Weightman. He it was his first meeting as a newly appointed member of the commission and uh staff presented an overview of an annexation and reszoning request at 1557 Hubert Graham Way um which is currently under construction. It's located right off Vineyard Road directly beside River Falls adjacent to a property that was formerly uh resone and annexed a few months ago. Um the request is driven by the property's owner intent to establish a driveway connection to Hubert Graham Way instead of the sole connection to Vineyard Road. The commissioners asked several clarifying questions regarding that, but it was simply a discussion kind of letting them know um you know giving them opportunity to you know see what was what was coming up uh early next year. I would um would be my guess for a public hearing uh to move along with with that. That's all that I have. Thank you, Nick.

For our EDC, uh like to call Theo.

You want to do it? Okay, never mind. Theo, we got Caramel to do it.

Um the EDC Economic Development Commission met on October 27th. Um they discussed the opportunity to um implement the welcome wagon for all new businesses and they will be working with existing businesses to create a welcome basket of sorts uh with some discount vouchers, some marketing materials um to introduce them to other local businesses and also uh will uh benefit from having some business spotlights in local media to get them started with um with their grand openings. Um, there will be a business connect meeting quarter 1. Uh, it's scheduled for February February of 2026. That seems like such a weird date. February of 2026. Uh, there's more details to come soon. And, um, that was it.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. Pro.

That'll bring us to our storm water and environmental committee. Heather Jones, if you would, please. Stormwater met this past Monday, the 10th of November. Uh we had a quorum. We continued our discussion regarding the adopted drain program. We had some really good information brought um with sort of some different options on how it's been implemented in other places uh with both national and local levels. So that is something that the group is continuing to research and have some discussions with for what would be the best fit for our city in terms of what we would like to see. Uh we also had a discussion of we have uh a vacancy currently from a member submitted their resignation from the committee in October and then also a discussion for I will be submitting my resignation from the committee after our December meeting. Um so just preparing for the transition for a new chair to be selected in January and then uh making sure that those roles are submitted for uh applications to be accepted along with the members that we'll be turning over in the next year cycle. So that was it for us. Thank you.

Thank you. That would bring it to me for our steering committee. Um we first of all I'd like to thank everybody that that is on the steering committee. Um there have been some late night discussions and uh it's it's been a a work in progress throughout it all and I appreciate everybody appreciate you being there uh and and giving your guidance and expertise. Uh Heather, thank you for being there as well. Um and everybody else that that has been on that committee with us um just outstanding job. So, we discussed um our park and wreck um you know, kind of the agenda as far as what we would like to see uh with our park and wreck programs going forward and our our facilities going forward. Uh we've nailed down a lot of good uh ideas. Thank you for to the public for providing a lot of your ideas. Uh a lot of that got incorporated into the the um the comprehensive plan. Uh and we worked on putting the the final touches on everything and we should have the finished product out soon. So, uh, just be looking for that to be coming out and, um, it's just a it's a fantastic, uh, 25-year comprehensive plan. A lot of thought, a lot of time, uh, a lot of preparation has gone into it. Uh, so we just look forward to, uh, putting that product out and it being such an outstanding product. So, uh, thank you again for everybody that that did everything on that committee. Uh, and that was about it. So, we'll cover public comments. First up, uh, Kyle Hancock.

Hey, how you doing? I'm Kyle Hancock, and thank you for having me and allowing me to speak. I live in Rock Hill. I've been kayak fishing the Kataba River for about the last 10 years. Uh, there's a big trash problem at the Fort Mill Dam. Um, I've spoken to, uh, Mr. Thunderberg about it through email and over phone throughout the years, provided pictures. Um, Tig Parks and Wreck does pick up the trail and six feet to the left and right of the trail. Um, the big problem is about halfway down the trail there's a power line with a lot of rocks, rip wrap, retaining rocks. Uh, that's Duke Energy property. So, TK is not required to pick it up and it's also danger. I've been told. So, that's the most frequented area. People have a path where they've moved rocks and it's very easy to access. They leave all of their trash in the rocks. Uh the water comes up, there goes all the trash. This has been happening for about seven or eight years that I know of now. Um they leave every bit of of this that they bring like I said um because it's TK can't do it because it's not their property. Too dangerous. I pretty much do it by myself. Um, so I'm just asking for something to please be worked out between the city and Tigga K or uh Duke Energy to get that done. My next point is about uh discarded inflatables. Every year um hundreds and thousands of people, not hundreds of thousands, but hundreds and thousands of people go out there and float. Um their floats get popped on the rocks. They get left. These floats take an estimated 1,000 years to um to break down which they turn then turn into microplastics which animals ingest and killing them. I'm again out there by myself picking this up. I have no help. No one from the city goes. No county um there's a thing called Kataba Rivereper that meets once a year. Volunteers go out there and

clean once a year. Doesn't do it. I've talked to um DNR. I've talked to TK. I've talked to Rock Hill. I've talked to police and I'm just asking for some help to please take care of our uh I feel like it's our greatest natural resource that we have in the area and we take it for granted. Um the Kataba River, the lake, I think that's why many people come here and I'm just asking for help to um please help me pick it up. I could go out there right now and fill up several bags of trash um as we right now. There's lots of it out there. I went to the dam on the tour Saturday just to specifically talk about this. They recommended I come here and um I checked it out just to see how it looked. It looked terrible and um yep, that's I have lots of videos and um pictures. Um you can look up Carolina Bass Hunter. I have a playlist entitled float trash and it's just nothing but float trash at the river. And that's pretty much all I have.

Thank you, sir. Thank you,

Trish Schneider. Good evening. I'm Ters Snyder, 1898 Larksburg Way. I just wanted to let council know that uh this past Saturday I held our annual um Toys for Tots tournament and thanks to you all for adding the courts. We were able to have our highest amount yet. We had 70 participants and we filled an easy probably five overflowing boxes of toys for tots. So, I just wanted to thank you all for letting that happen and allowing us to have those courts so that we could provide that for our community. Thank you.

Thank you, Trac. And thanks to the pickle ball folks for all those toys for the kids. That's going to be great. Absolutely. Okay. Mary Aker.

Hi guys. Sorry I'm recovering from but foot surgery so still limping around a little bit. Um good evening council. Um oh Mary I um Machai Extension. Um I'm here to address my concerns regarding uh the deer management uh issue going on right now. Uh with uh my first question basically being uh what happened? Um like I said, I live on Machai Drive and over the past year I've seen uh dramatically fewer deer to the point where it feels like they have practically vanished. And for many of us that brings mixed feelings. Um our scenery, our green spaces and wildlife are a big part of what makes TK special. It's part of why I moved here and so many of people moved here. Um, we all understand why the population has dropped. Last year's sterilization project, last year's culling, of course, natural attrition. What does confuse me and doesn't make much sense is why the city suddenly stepped away from the sterilization program and why communication around deer management this year has become basically crickets. Last year, the city publicly committed to a multi-year science-based sterilization planned plan. We were told it was the long-term solution that this year, without explanation, sterilization was quietly abandoned. Many residents only recently learned the city's plan to rely almost entirely on Cullen. Again, information about wildlife management shouldn't come through rumors on social media or seldom notices. The lack of transparency once again has been frustrating. The July spotlight survey showed a drop from about a thousand deer to 432. Then the September survey listed a range of 169 to 513 deer. A range so wide it's hard to know what to make of it was basically confusing. But which whichever number you guys use, it's still roughly half of last year's count. So I have to ask, how do we justify calling again at these levels, not just financially, but ethically and emotionally, it takes a toll on people when they know a sharpshooter is back in their neighborhood, even when we're told not to worry. Experts have been clear if

sterilization stops before reaching about 90% coverage, the population rebounds. Long-term stability comes from reducing reproduction. I strongly urge you guys to reconsider calling this year. In closing, we have a new council member, Heather Jones, joining, and a new member and a new mayor, Carmen, stepping into leadership. I truly want a positive collaborative relationship with both. My hope and I believe the community's hope is that this next chapter brings more transparency, more consistent communication, and a return to the long-term evidence-based plan on city promised. This is an opportunity for a reset and for rebuilding trust. And within the last few seconds I have um Mayor Gray, thank you for your service uh and your time uh these past four years. And Scott Shirley, same for you. Um thank you.

Thank you, Mary. Okay, so the pen must have gone out on this one. Um all I've got is an L. Maybe Laura Bettney Lane ring a bell. No. Okay, moving on. Alicia from Otto.

Good evening. Uh my name is Alicia Formato, uh 255030 Riley Lane. Uh last year, TIGA K was successful in performing the largest sterilization program for white-tailed deer manage whitetailed deer management in world history. 200 female deer spayed. This is wildly important because sustainable population decline happens through breaking the cycle of reproduction, not simply killing individuals. However, as Dr. Dina Colola has taught us, approximately 90% of the herd needs to be treated in order to create population reduction year after year. We are not done. Recent spotlight surveys from folkland management performed earlier in the season and using old transexs and by white buffalo later in the season and including transexs from the far end of the peninsula demonstrate that the highest concentration of untagged deer is on the far end of the peninsula where David Henderson cannot shoot because the houses are too close together and the topography makes it unsafe. Left untreated, these deer in the Point Clear, Marcesus, Anchorage neighborhoods will breed, causing an immediate rebound effect in our community. Left untreated, this program will be a huge waste of the $268,000 of taxpayer dollars invested. I understand that the great success of last year's 200 deer sterilized and 160 deer killed makes you feel that you can proceed with the cheaper option, calling. However, this tool is simply not possible in the area where it is needed and abandoning the sterilization program for even one year will cause us to slide backwards in terms of our goal of population reduction. I spoke with Dr. Dina Colola for an hour on Friday. He is adamant that the deer on the far end of the peninsula need to be treated with sterilization and he is skeptical about how successful this year's calling efforts will be, but he is hopeful for new leadership next year.

Furthermore, when I reached out to Dr. Charles Ruth at the SEDDNR with my concern that the sterilization program was not continuing this year. He wrote back and I quote, "You are correct. It would be a mistake to take the foot off the gas now. I forwarded this email to each of you to see for yourselves. Please follow the advice of wildlife experts. Please fulfill the commitment you made to a multi-year fertility control project. May please make good on the $260,000 investment. Please communicate with the public. Please give our community something to be proud of. As you know, many other communities and lead leaders are watching. And for any members of the public who are watching tonight, please check out wildabout deer.com for links to primary resources and science on non-lethal methods. Thank you.

Thank you, Alicia.

Gosh, machunis. Gus Patunis, Cingmingway, and TK. Um, first I want to say congratulations to you, Carmen. That was a good campaign and I think the voters rewarded you and saw that. Um, congratulations to you too, Tom and to Heather. Uh, Chris, thank you for your service for the last four years, and it was an honor and privilege to spend two years of it up there with you. So, we appreciate what you've done. Um, I know this is not question and answer. So, when I'm done, if somebody can tell me, and you can reach out to me later, you all have my number, where and to whom do I go for an answer to my questions because I've not gotten any in years and years. Um when all the runoff started into the lake um from Trinity Towns, well sorry the old runoff from Walmart I was told we weren't MS4. So we had no enforcement power and is up to DAX. So then when we did Trinity Towns we were MS4 when it happened. They came out and they looked and they saw and they said, "Yeah, things have happened, but don't really know who to blame here. And it's the creek and it's the pond that Miller built and it's this and it's that." So, when they cleared the ground for the grove, which I'm wholeheartly in favor of, the SWPP was woefully inadequate. And unfortunately, when all that dirt and trees and debris were sitting up there, we had a very significant rain event. Uh, it went right through the super silk fence that was built to contain it. Um, all that mud and dirt went through the fence. It was down there at the creek that flows directly under Stone Crest into Lake Wy into the cove at my home. Um, and it was below the retention pond that has devices to stop that. And then I sent

all of you pictures of the mounds of dirt of trees and debris floating in the middle of my cove. It obviously came from the site. We're MS4. Why aren't we doing anything? Only thing that I ever got back from the city was they fixed the storm. They fixed the storm water prevention. They fixed the silk fence. Fine. You have to remediate. Okay. All of that debris flowed right down to the dam and went over the dam, through the dam, what wherever it disperses to. The dirt doesn't. It settles in the cove. When it settles in the cove, it ruins the property values of everybody there. and it's not good for our lake. And the only answer I get is, well, we made them fix the silt fence. What about remediation? That's that's the answer I'm looking for. Not asking for one right now, but I really would love somebody to get back with me on that. Okay. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, guys. And that would conclude our public comments. Okay. Then bring us to our approval of minutes. Do I have a motion? Mr. Mayor, members of council, I'd like to approve the minutes as they're written. I second. Have a motion in a second. Do we have any further discussion? Seeing none, I'll call the answer. All in favor say I. I I motion passes unanimously.

Moving on to new business. Uh this is consideration of the second reading of an ordinance 607, an ordinance to adopt the latest standardized business license class schedule in the accordance with the state standardization act. Every odd year, each municipality levying a business license tax must adopt by ordinance the latest standardized business license class schedule as recommended by the Municipal Association of South Carolina. This ordinance is to comply with those requirements. Do I have a motion?

Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of council, a motion to approve the second reading of ordinance 607, an ordinance to adopt the latest standardiz standardized business license class schedule in accordance with the state standardization act. Second. I have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion? All right. All in favor say I.

I. Motion passes unanimously and that will bring us to a consideration of awarding the bid for the TK Golf Club pavilion renovation in accordance with the city's procurement code. Bids were solicited for this project. This item is before council to consider awarding that bid. Do I have a motion?

Uh Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of council, I'd like to make a motion to award the bid for the TK Golf Club Pavilion renovation to Carolina Construction and Investments LLC in an amount not to exceed $810,000 and authorize a city manager to execute all necessary documents contingent upon the review and approval of the city attorney. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion in a and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Um, I appreciate the fact that golf has the ability to cash fund this project, this project in its entirety and it's not coming out of the city funds.

Is the amount being um proposed different than the bid amounts for a specific reason? I believe it's the bid amount plus the um the deck the deck combined. You got your base bid plus the addendum of the uh the deck on it. going with addendum two instead of addendum one. So, I I got a couple questions. Um in this uh I've looked through the plans and done a lot of digging. Um what's the purpose of moving the bathrooms? We just redid those bathrooms last year and I you know

we did them we you are correct. we uh red the golf course redid those from an aesthetic standpoint. Really, it's just because of the addition of um the the walk-in coolers and things of that nature is uh that that facility is going to have to be self-sufficient. Whereas right now, you've got one operator in the restaurant who's also the operator of the pavilion. They're able to store things and their coolers inside the restaurant and take them out as they need. Um and it's you've got plumbing in that wall, so it's just relocating uh and just keeping that plumbing matched up. Um and both of them will get a will obviously get a a facelift as part of this. But that's really the crux of the reason why uh is to make that room to so that the um the portion known as the turnhouse uh can be self-sufficient uh and stand stand on its own as uh Pinnacle, our golf management company will be operating that facility.

How much of that plumbing is actually broke out in the line item four on the bid tab? I know we got $111,000 in plumbing. Um I know I know we got to put in a new line that attaches the ball washer to the the uh storm drain. So there's you know you're you're laying six inch line there. So there's a cost of that open trench and that kind of thing.

Uh you have to give me one second to find the exact dollar amount on plumbing. through the bid tab. Um, thermal wash doors, windows, um, it looks to be a I can I can get you exact number, but it may be under um, specialties or mechanical. Mechanical is obviously a big one, and generally that's your HVAC uh, which is about 172,000. um your specialty items is about $4,86. So they're really just capping off what you've got. Um so if I'm if I'm standing in the pavilion looking at the back of the turnhouse, the restroom to the left,

which I believe is the men's room, is going to move uh and tie in with plumbing on the right hand side, which is the women's area. Uh so you get a cap off on on the lefthand side and just uh connect on the right hand side. And that walk-in cooler has to have a drain, too, right? Uh, I don't know that the walk-in cooler has to or not. I sorry, I am not an expert on on those big walk-in coolers. I don't know that it has a floor drain. Uh, but obviously there will be floor drains for for cleanup purposes like you would in in any standard kitchen type area. Okay. Um, and then I noticed that we had about 110,000 for electrical. Is that including the HVAC? No. Sure. You've got 172,000 on on your mechanical and 90,000 on your electrical.

Okay. But I mean which which one includes the HVAC? Your mechanical generally your HVAC. Um in that the plan proposes to relocate the um service disconnect boxes and the all of the electrical feeders. Um I'm just wondering why we need to move those service disconnect boxes and the feeders.

Um not sure, but that is a question that we can ask the architect that did the plans. I know the plans have gone through preliminary review with our building official. uh some up uh minor updates um information had to be made um nothing as far as the actual plans go um so I can have a conversation with the building official and the architect uh to see if that is absolutely necessary um or where we can value engineer some things and we'll value engineer as we go through the project on the finishes and things like that uh to where we're making sure that we're staying at or under the budget uh that has been uh presented to council tonight. Yeah, I think it'd be important for us to try to value engineer as much as we can in this because, you know, with the equipment that we have now, I understand we're going to have to pull more wire. We're going to have to add more circuitry. That can be done by a sub panel. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water in this. We can we can do it with a sub panel and you can add as many sub panels as the as the the amperage will take for the meters. Uh so with that we wouldn't have to pull new home run cable and without having to pull new home run cable. You're you'll have a substantial less amount of money redoing all the wiring and everything else that we've got if we don't move those panels. So, I would really like to see the engineer kind of put his pencil to paper again on that and try not to move those electrical panels because you're looking at at 150 or so if we're moving those electrical panels that we can cut out and tap on to the existing holes.

Your total amount uh in in your base bid for electrical is 90. Yeah, but you're adding you also got to add in your HVAC and everything into that too for the electric. He's got that as a separate line item at 172. Well, still um and with the HVAC, do we have the tonnage on that? Do we know what kind of I do not have it with me. Okay. Uh I don't have it with me right now. No, sir. Okay. All right. But obviously, we are doubling the enclosed space. So, what what's there now just for the turn shack or the turnhouse uh obviously would not be enough. Would not be adequate.

And we're looking to reuse some of the equipment, everything that we've already got in the current pro shop. Correct. your your finishes as far as the the cabinetry, mill work stuff, including the countertop, uh is we are working with the golf course to where that's going to get taken loose. Uh we'll temporarily store it and then it will be reinstalled by the contractor. Okay. And Charlie, I know we spoke briefly earlier uh as far as the when this project happens just for the public's information as far as the uh temporary pro shop plan if we if we have to I'm a big big fan of not having to move things twice. Uh but if if we have to relocate pro shop temporarily until we can get them moved in to the new location, uh we would be relocating them uh to the uh tennis shack um right over here by the tennis courts. Um we we had Pinnacle price out modular units and you're looking at anywhere between seven and 10 grand a month for a modular unit and that doesn't include getting it hooked up to electricity and things of that nature. So, we would be, it's not an ideal situation, but uh we would be looking to to relocate them for potentially a month, month and a half into the tennis shack if we have to. A lot of it's just going to depend on timing.

Charlie, for anyone that doesn't understand what it is that we're doing or why we're doing, can you just do a very quick brief recap of of how why it started and where it's going and what's going to change?

Absolutely. So, um the the pro shop which is next door to the bar and inside the the main clubhouse is going to move out to what is considered the pavilion area. So, you've got one structure out by the backdrop which is the pavilion and turn house. The pavilion would be the open air portion um where different gatherings and events have happened over the years. uh the pro shop is going to move into that area uh which will give them much more uh direct access and u be able to view the practice area, the cart staging area and be able to service the golf. That'll allow the uh our new um food and beverage contractor as they come in to renovate uh the bar area to expand out into the pro shop area. So, uh a lot of lot of moving parts for sure. Um but you know through our through our discussions over the past year um it was determined both by city council staff and and our golf folks that having them out there was going to help them better service uh our golf community. Um and being able to expand the bar would obviously help uh in the in our food and beverage. So they'll have two very distinct areas. You're not looking at any shared areas once this begins. um having conversations with our current tenant um you know who who has a shared space on the pavilion with golf and has an exclusive license on the turnhouse and you know they're moving and the transitioning it's it's a lot of different moving parts that we're trying to trying to line up as best we can um to keep um service disruption to an absolute minimum. Is there going to be a place where um residents can see renderings of what this is going to look like so that they can get a visual

uh of the pavilion? Uh yes, we can get those up on the website. That'd be great. Thank you. Sure. Do you have any further discussion? Okay. Well, I'll put the put it through the question. All in favor say I. I.

Motion passes unanimously. Moving on. This is a consideration of approving resolution 2025-02, a resolution authorizing the purchase of fleet vehicles and equipment to aid in city operations. The resolution is necessary to move forward with the purchase of two vehicles for TECUD, one service vehicle for fire, two maintenance vehicles for public works, two dump trucks for storm water, one dump truck, and two mowers for park and recreation, and three patrol cars for the police department. These items were discussed at the council budget workshops. Do I have a motion?

Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of council, a motion to approve resolution 2025-02, a resolution authorizing the purchase of fleet vehicles and equipment to aid in city operations through First Citizens in the amount not to exceed $890,000 at an interest rate of 3.6% and authorize the city manager to execute all necessary documents. Do I have a second? I'll second. Do we have any further discussion? Charlie, can you remind us what the plan is for paying this off? We had talked about this.

So, there's there is no fiscal impact for the 2526 fiscal year. The first payment would not be until January of 2027 uh because it's set up as one payment in a rears. It it is over a four-year term. Um as as was discussed during our uh during our budget workshops uh as we discuss this um as we prepare and plan for the 2627 fiscal year which will be this spring now instead of uh this coming summer um council at that particular time can vote to uh with the budget to just pay it off uh because there is no prepayment penalties or we can pay um pay it's basically a flat fee I would say um each year over the next four years starting with 26 27 fiscal year, but it'll be up to council at that that particular time as we go through those budget workshops. Um it as the mayor mentioned as he was introducing the item, you've got multiple funds that are involved in this. Uh so Bob will portion that out uh as the notes uh come due whether it's in one or or uh in part um to to apply those those expenses those expenses to those specific funds. So TCUD will be paying for the TCUD trucks and so on and so forth. So um regardless of where we pay pay it all off in 2627 or if council elects to uh to just follow those terms.

Charlie, I know we had spoken about the dump trucks. Mhm. Um and possibly doing a combination of a service truck with a dump bed. Mhm. Is that what we're still doing or we just That's what we're still doing. Okay. Yeah. All right. It it'll come with the the under the bed boxes and and things like that for tools and and and that kind of thing as as we had discussed previously. Okay. Yeah. Just more utilitarian use of the trucks. Your your TCO trucks are not dump trucks. They're going to have the maintenance beds on them. Um but uh as we do with uh all of our our dump beds that we have, uh we we get them with the uh the service boxes underneath for small tools and and things of that nature.

Okay. Just want to make sure we're using it a utilitarian vehicles because we've got a lot of roles to fill. A lot of roles. I do. Our guys do a great job in and switching gears and do it quite often. So, just want to make sure they've got the gear they need to do. So, yes, sir. And quickly going back to what Charlie mentioned about the paying the potential loan off. I know we had a discussion at the budget workshop and I was obviously a proponent of cash funding this because we had I think it was $2 million, right? Yes, sir. Um but because of the change in fiscal year, we decided to take this loan. Um however, the interest rates uh have been coming down. Do we know what the state interest rate is now for our reserve fund where that money is? Cuz

we're at uh 4.45. Okay. So, it's getting close um to the 3.6. So, I just I know it's going to be a different council. Um but I'm still a proponent of trying to cash fund that with that money we'll have instead of sitting on it. Unless of course interest rates get a lot better. Yes, we can make money. And that's and that's one thing we're going to look at with the firetruck whenever we're able to do so. You heard me mention there is no prep prepayment penalty on what you're what you're considering tonight on the firetruck. We can't touch that one until 2027. Uh and that is at a higher interest rate. I think that one's at 4.4. Um but we'll look to refinance that into a lower interest rate now that interest rates are coming down. Um

yes, on the on the ladder truck. Yes, sir. Well, if we get the half million dollars, it'll be a much well the half million threequarters of of the cost of that truck. So, um but we can't pay it off before 2027 based on the the terms of that note. Um so, we can look uh once that comes time to whether we're how much we're prepaying off or uh if we're refinancing it um at a at a hopefully a significantly lower interest rate than what it came in at. Thank you. Yes. Uh couple things if I may. Uh for those taking notes, the vehicle appropriation TCUD was mentioned. That's TK utility department if you're taking notes on that.

And u also uh Tom, I'm I've always been with you on cash funding when we can and only reason that I'm agreeing to these terms is because we don't have to make a payment for over a year and we're still making money. we're still making interest income on the investments that we have that's greater than the interest rate of this loan. Um, but I I 100% agree with you. We we should watch that. If that drops and we're underwater, we should probably consider a different option. Bob looks at it on a monthly basis on what our and and and comes straight to my office and reports it every every time. I just get a kick out how excited Bob gets about it. Yes. It's great.

No, it's good. He's doing a good job with it. Okay. Any further discussion? All right. I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes unanimously. Okay. Got a bit of new business. Uh, this is a consideration of accepting all the streets within Win Haven into the city's street inventory. Oops. No, it just went to like really really small. Yeah. I did that, too. Oh, Lord. It's because of the plats that are attachments on that. That's why I did that.

Thanks, Tom. You're always there for me. Okay, hang on. Let me get down a little bit more. We don't have a summary. Okay, where are we? Okay. Okay. The developer of Win Haven subdivision has requested that the city accept ownership and maintenance of all the streets, right ofway, and related infrastructure within Win Haven. City staff have inspected the streets and associated improvements and confirm that they meet all of the city standards for acceptance. Additionally, the city attorney has reviewed and approved the submitted title and lean affidavit. Do I have a motion?

Mayor and members of council, I'd like to make a motion to accept all streets and related infrastructure within the Windhaven subdivision into the city street inventory. Have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Have a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Charlie, who's been um t taking care of and maintaining those streets up to this point? Uh the developer is responsible for it until they turn it over to the city. So that's typically something that happens with new developments. Everything's built out.

It's been quite some time since um something a matter like this has been before uh council. Probably the first time with this council. Um but yeah, so once a city or once a street hits um and Nick, please correct me if I'm wrong. I think it's 90% buildout. They can petition the city to take on the roads. Um and the way that works is they they'll they'll submit to Nick. Nick uh loops in uh our operations director um who then coordinates with our engineers. They walk with the developer uh inspect the street, the sidewalks, curb and gutter uh and any related infrastructure uh storm drains, that kind of thing. Um and then develop a punch list from there. Uh once the developer has completed that punch list, we go back out, inspect it again, make sure everything on the list was taken care of and there's no new deficiencies. Uh which is where we're at now. uh and then we bring it to council for official adoption into our inventory and at that point it becomes our road. So uh with Windhaven uh they basically I think they asked for this about probably six eight months ago. Uh they began this process. Um so really depends on the developer and their timing but Windhaven is uh built out with the exception of the commercial piece that's right up front uh which shouldn't affect uh the the roads that that we're looking at. Charlie, how's that material tested? Are we core drilling the the uh street or we doing nuke nuke gauges?

So, we go by um is we do not I do not believe we're doing core samples anymore um uh in the actual roads, but we are getting asphalt tickets and things like that. Our engineers verifying that they do meet the SEDOT mixtures uh as they're going in. we do uh through the road construction process uh our staff does a proof roll on the subgrade which is for those that aren't aren't aware is the dirt uh and make sure that it's got the proper compaction. If it doesn't, the developer has to dig it out and uh redo those areas. Then we do a proof roll uh which is basically walking and inspecting behind a loaded weighted truck both on the subbase and on the uh stone base. Uh typically it's a it's a big massive water tanker making sure that the stone base is stable, it doesn't sink, doesn't spread, and then from that point they put on their base course uh of asphalt which is what you see for the majority of the development before they come in and put the surface course on.

Okay. So we're just taking tickets and we're we collect the the asphalt tickets. Okay. So we're not running like a nuclear gauge or anything like that to check it. Okay. just asking just you know from my knowledge this includes the storm water also that Yes ma'am and we require them to camera those uh the pipes and everything to make sure because they're obviously underground uh to make sure that they're they're grouded up properly and things like that uh looking um visually inspecting the street drains throughout the development they put what's called uh sediment sacks or silt sacks in those drains uh make sure that all those get pulled out um yeah and that it's free of obstructions and things of that nature And we haven't had any major issues with storm water in that neighborhood. No, ma'am.

With all the rain water. No ma'am.

Every now and again you'll get some flooding um during the construction process um but it that's because your your u your asphalt's not uh all the way up to the uh to the carb line. Uh so you can get uh some standing water and things like that in there. But once once that final lift is on, uh just like um most other streets in in the newer areas of town, we we typically don't have issues. Uh and when we do, um you we go back and address that with the developer. Do we have any further discussion? All right. I would call the call the question. All in favor say I. I. Motion passes unanimously. Okay. It's consideration of amending the agreement with Carolina football with Carolina Football Club uh doing business as Charlotte Independence. Uh this is a proposed amendment to the current recreation soccer agreement with Charlotte Independence to require the charging of the non-resident recreation fee previously adopted by council. Do I have a motion?

Mr. Mayor, members of the council, I'd like to make a motion to approve the amended agreement with Carolina Football Club doing business as Charlotte Independence and authorize the city manager to execute all necessary documents. Second. Do you have any further discussion?

Could we get clarification of exactly what's changing just so that everybody knows please? The only thing that's changed in the agreement, uh, so when council considered the, uh, the non-resident fees back this summer, uh, Charlotte Independents had already begun their registration process. Uh, so basically this is us because they do have to charge the fees that are dictated by the city. Their registration period uh, is is about to commence similar to ours. So this is just making sure that they are uh, as they go forward collecting the non-resident fee as uh, as approved by city council. So, anybody that is participating in soccer uh here with us that doesn't that is not a city resident will have that $70 per registrant uh fee added to it just like we had in flag football, girls softball, uh baseball, and that kind of thing. That's the only thing that's changing.

Okay. Okay. Any further discussion? All right. And I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I.

Motion passes unanimously. It did it again. Yeah. Janet, are you messing with me with this thing? Jeez Louise. Okay. This consideration of approving resolution 2025-03, a resolution authorizing the city manager to declare and dispose of surplus property as it relates to the fire department service truck. Thanks, Tom. Oh, you're always there to help. That's what I love about you. Under South Carolina Code 5-7-40, municipalities have the authority to own and dispose of personal property, real re real property, and equipment. The city is requesting that the 1994 F800 service truck from the fire department be declared as surplus equipment as it has long surpassed its end of life service. This resolution is to authorize and proceed with the sale of that surplus property.

I don't know as long as it's been here until you can. I think we just need to concrete it in and leave it.

So, and and I will uh if council uh if council's okay. So, the reason we brought this one before you tonight, we don't typically do this. State code um where uh the mayor just mentioned says we may do this via resolution. You don't have to. Typically, whenever we're getting rid of surplus vehicles, equipment, we're not getting a lot of money off of those things. Um, Chief Hasty has uh gotten some preliminary quotes, if you will. This one could bring upwards of 15 to $20,000. That's why we're doing a resolution and bringing it to y'all for consideration. Whereas with a standard maintenance truck, usually we're only getting about $200 or $3,000 whenever we we surplus those. Uh with this one, if approved tonight, uh we'll have it listed on a couple of different uh websites. If it doesn't sell there, then we'll put it in the uh auction with City of Rock Hill as we've done in the past. Doesn't cost us anything there. Um and and sell it, assuming that it is declared surplus tonight.

I think we'll be saving a lot of money just on Rotella oil, right? She leaks a wee bit. We haven't done a motion yet. Yeah, I need a motion. Mr. Mayor, members of council, a motion to approve resolution 2025-03, a resolution to authorize the city manager to declare and dispose of surplus property as it relates to the fire department service truck and also authorize the city manager/h his design to execute all necessary documents. Have a

motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Way back when when I was a firefighter in Pitman, New Jersey, we took a rig like this and made a comic rig out of it for parades. It was a lot of fun. But we're going to get $15,000 out of it. That might not be a wise use of it. Is there a plan for a 15 to 20,000 dollars that we might make? Maybe it'll it'll be shown in sale fixed assets on the revenue side of the budget once it's sold. Uh is there a plan for it? It's just part of it. It'll just be revenue and general fund. Um, if there's something that council like to allocate it towards, by all means, y'all can have that discussion at a future council meeting.

I just was curious if something was already thought of. Might be a couple days worth of payments on the ladder truck. You know, I know I know Chief Hasty can always put that money to good use with training apparatus and he's good with making a stretch in a buck. He sure is. Absolutely. All right. Do we have any further discussion? No. All right. All in favor say I. I. I.

Motion passes unanimously. It's just messing with me tonight. It's just loving to do it, too. It's great. Okay, here we go. It's coming into view. All right. Okay. This consideration of approving an encroachment agreement for 2061 Marcatious Drive. Uh the owner of 2061 Marces Drive is requesting to encroach upon the green belt area. Their request is to construct a fenced area as depicted in the agreement. Do I have a motion?

A motion to approve the encroachment agreement for 2061 Mullikai Drive and authorize the city manager to execute that agreement. Have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. I have a motion and a second. Do we have any further discussion? Okay. All in favor say I. I. I. The motion passes unanimously. Yeah, we got our questions answered last month on that one.

Okay. Excuse me. consideration of approving an agreement with Low Country Wildlife Specialist LLC as a part of a wildlife management program. As discussed during our budget workshop, council elected to move forward with the wildlife management program to call 80 deer. If approved, this agreement would authorize Low Country Wildlife Specialist LLC to conduct that service. Do I have a motion? Mr. Mr. Mayor, members of council like to make a motion to approve the agreement with Low Country Wildlife Specialist LLC in an amount not to exceed $44,000 and authorize the city manager to execute all necessary documents as part of the wildlife management program. I have a motion to have a second.

Second. Have a motion and a second. Do we have further discussion? Yes. If if if it pleases council, uh Joey's put together a couple slides uh to to talk through with you uh as part of your discussion. Thank you. Please, if you would, Mr. Ble. Very pleased.

Happy to be happy to be back talking deer again. So, the first slide that I have for y'all is a uh overview of our recent deer spotlight surveys. All this information is on the website, but it's just numbers. We can provide some context to them. So the first survey you'll see is before we did any type of wildlife management program. And you see the estimated deer population of u of 10 or 1,12 and the 1.5 is how many acres you have per deer. So for reference of that you see 1.5 then 3.7. When SCDNR completed our last survey, they said that communities typically would like to see it around uh 15 acres per deer as part of it. So, we're still kind of behind that number if that's what we're striving for. So, the next survey that you have is July 22nd and 23rd of this past year, and you see uh dramatic reduction in that deer population number. So, uh, I know when we had these numbers during our budget workshop, obviously there were some concerns doing it this early. Typically, it's done late August, early September. But, as uh, you know, as as an opportunity to give y'all data points to help with the budget conversations, that's the reason why we conduct in that date. that was done uh through folk land management uh that did the uh mo the uh 20 24 one as well. So uh with council's direction, we did perform that that next survey with White Buffalo helping lead that charge with city staff assisting and you'll see a little bit of differentiation. I'll kind of explain some of those. So the first

survey is using old transexs. So transexs are basically areas that throughout the city that uh they're identified where deer could be located. So they're going through that. Historically since 2015, we've been using the same transexs and just as data data points, you want to use the same data points. White buffalo came in and made a suggestion to add data points that are listed below. You can see that we added point clear, marasis and anchorage and then extensions of existing transexs that we have as well. Machai wind jammer and lakes shore. So with that extension obviously you're covering more territory. You're going to see more deer. So you'll see an elevated rate on that. So white buffalo they'll provide a data point and then they'll do a range with it because obviously it's just an estimate with it. So through those conversations with Dr. Dola, one of the things that you're going to see is that he came back and said, "I don't think your deer population was over at a thousand." That was probably overstated. Realistically, you're probably looking at a starting point of around 650 to 700 deer, which is important because of the next slide that I'm going to show you. So, I have no ownership over this model. Uh, this is similar to the model that Dr. D. Nicola used for us when he uh put together the proposal for us last year. I kind of reverse engineered it uh to help give stata stat statistical data points on it. Some of the things that are similar with it, I use the same recruitment rate. One dough uh equals one fine for the following year. Um I use the same uh mortality rate of 20% that's carried throughout. Obviously, those are numbers that they're they're numbers. You know, when you get out in the wild, they they could be uh dramatically different. You just never

know once you until you get out there. The other change that was made too was it was factoring uh calling just female deer. And as we've experienced as we've started the calling process is that it's kind of falls in line with around the population. Uh around 20% of the deer that are cold are actually bucks as well. So that's that's uh accounted for. And then the last part in terms of the estimated population, I used his number of 700 as kind of the start date with uh where we began before the wildlife management program. And then that 140 to 560 breakdown of male to female is what we use from the data point of uh what we were seeing in the spotlight survey. And that's carried over with the number of tagged deer that's carried throughout because that's what we spot that what we carried in the um in the spotlight survey as well. So these are just data points to kind of share with the public to kind of you know it this is a very challenging situation. There's no right answer. It's difficult along the way. But um this is just information to inform y'all as part of your decision this evening. and I'd be happy to take any questions if you have any.

Awesome. Thank you.

Oh, could you?

So, our deer population has declined tremendously through the efforts of council over the last couple years. um first it started off with calling and then the next year we started off with sterilization of 200 um deer and then 160 that we had cold from that like a thousand deer that we had we have a significant decline and I haven't seen deer in my backyard I've seen five in the last year and it's been crazy we've talked about deer for so long we talked about doing the balanced of of sterilization and and culling um but at our at our budget workshop you know decided that we're just going to callull I didn't obviously didn't want coal at all cuz I still don't want to coal. Um but I would offer the suggestion of possibly um reconsidering sterilization of maybe 50 to 100 deer. I know it's expensive. It's exp. We we spent a ton of money on this last year, but why take our foot off the gas now? Might as well just continue with this and see what we can do. So that's what I would offer. um 50 at least to go along with what council wants to do with calling of the 80.

Thank you, Councilman. Um if I may, when uh I'll just kind of go back a little bit when we first started this process. Um I came in late to the game um on council. Dr. Charles Ruth from South Carolina DNR had been doing had been studying deer in Tig for probably 12 or 15 years prior to me coming on council. He was very very well aware of the population of deer and the changes and proliferation that had happened over the years of the city not taking action to manage the population. U when we took this challenge on it wasn't it wasn't a fun one or a popular one but it was one that we believed the city needed and the residents of the city were asking for. Um at that time that I began discussions with Dr. Ruth and we as council and city staff began getting serious about this discussion. Dr. Ruth had identified that typically in the wild um an appropriate um sustainable population of deer in the wild is somewhere between one deer for every 20 to 100 acres. Now I know that's a very broad range but that's what they stated. So if you can imagine one deer, let's do the median there and you know call it 60. One deer per 60 acres, that's pretty phenomenal. That would reduce the deer's population in the peninsula to about 50 about 50 deer. Now in suburban and urban areas, we know that number has to look different. It will always look different. There's not hunting. They're they're going to continue to proliferate, but there has to be a management pro process there. Uh Joey, I appreciate your number that u our experts have shared with us that one deer per 15 acres is more appropriate in an area like this. That would give us a total of 109 deer on the peninsula right now. if we were where the target number is that DNR and the other experts say we should have. Um I don't know that anyone

here I speaking for myself but from discussions with my fellow council members I don't think anybody's here has the goal to say let's get down to 100 deer. Um I don't know that that would would be appropriate or even possible. Um however if we still have 500 deer left on the peninsula we're still five times where we need to be with this population. Um the residents of the city have asked us as council members to take action because of sign significant property damage. Question came up and and it's an appropriate one on why did we not sterilize this year? Why are we only culling? We went through quite a study of the data and looked at a very aggressive spreadsheet that showed us what would happen if we sterilized and cult. And then years going forward if we only culled or only sterilized or did a combination of those. As council we made a decision to only callull this year or next year, first quarter, whenever that is before the March deadline because it was the most economical and quickest result to reduce the population. Sterilizing C certainly reduces the population, but that takes years for the public to recognize that for the population to die off for attrition, callulling accidents, however those deer die off, that would take years for us to see results on that. And our residents are asking for action more quickly than that. So, it's it's my uh opinion and it'll be my uh level of support to see us with another round of culling. And if that's only 80 this year and we have to wait until after the first year year to do it or whenever that happens it happens. But I agree with doing that because the expense is minimal and the impact is great. U we also expect to have a reduction of what that budget is because we do have somewhat of a commitment if I understand from the

Kataba Indian Nation to pay for some of the processing of that meat. I don't know if we have a commitment entirely for for the entirety of the 80 deer, but we will have a reduction in what we budgeted for that. So, um I hope that brings some some clarity for some on why we've made that decision. I don't expect everyone to agree with that, but I hope you'll respect that we've done our homework to get there.

I'd like to talk a little bit about the numbers as well. Um when we started this we were under the impression that we were working with over a thousand deer that we needed to manage and that was um not possible to do doing a single single type either just culling or just sterilization. Um not in a time frame that would make the impact that our that our residents needed to have and that we needed to have for a healthy um herd. What we're being told now is that the thousand was wrong and that it was closer to 700 that were um should have been the estimated number that we were starting from. That's a big difference. Um if we look at what we did last year with the 200 sterilized deer and the 160 that were cold, our number is 576 approximately. These these are not concrete numbers. These these are they're they're they're data points. 576 is what we're saying we have as the current deer population. If we were to sterilize 50 deer and we'd sterilize 50 deer only across the next four years, that would get us to 487 deer based on those numbers. And I'm using Dr. D Nola's chart that he used. um 487 deer is not what we would see as as the goal. I think that what we've talked about has been two to 300 deer as a goal for that could healthily be maintained within our city peninsula. If we take 80 deer and use and that's that's um 50 deer at at a cost of 75,000 a year across every year to get us to 487 deer.

My computer's going to die. Um if we do what we have proposed with 80 Yeah. And we don't do any sorry I'm gonna go through here real quick. And we don't do any type of sterilization going forward and it's 80 80 deer per year. That gets us to 200 I'm sorry to 183 deer by the end of that fourth year. and that is at a cost of $48,000 a year. Those are the numbers that I looked at. I looked at the fact that we we're starting off with 300 deer less and if we move across we c we can look at sterilizing which keeps the keeps a a higher number of deer in the community. We can look at a combination of both. But at the end of the day, if we're looking at being efficient and we're looking at the fiscal responsibility of this, the 80 culling every year going forward gets us to where we need to be in in four years versus the sterilizing even 50 a year at a half half of the expense that we're we're thinking about. We're we're not going to get there at the end of four years. I don't like the decision of this. I don't I don't there there's nothing in me that says that this this is a great way to do it, but it is the most efficient. We committed to doing a deer management plan that was looked at every single year based on counts. We are

starting off with 300 less deer than what we thought we had. And this gets us there with with managing it and managing the expense to get there. I'll just chime in real quickly. The uh um to Alicia's point, I I I'm very proud of what we did last year with the sterilization being the biggest ever, the first ever. Um and you know, the the plan was always to look at this yeartoyear u with these new numbers. Um, I think it makes sense to get that immediate reduction, but don't rule out sterilization in the future. I think once we get a manageable herd and we look at sterilization at that point, we can maintain that manageable herd of deer at the level that's right for the city where if we only go with sterilization, um, it's going to take probably 101 15 years to get us to a manageable level that we find that the residents find acceptable. So that's why this year I was in favor of callulling because of the fiscal um uh nature of it um and getting that immediate reduction. But again, I'm not opposed to looking at sterilization again in the future. I just don't think it's right at this moment. That's all I can.

Thank you, council. I appreciate it. Uh well, as far as um I'm I'm for doing the the getting to the points A and B. quickest way to get there is a straight line. So with that, quickest way we can get there is to callull another 80 deer this year. Uh and to keep putting those numbers back in our quiver again for the next years. Um I want to get down to a manageable herd size. Uh I think that that um we look at it every year and we can adjust our approach as needed each year. Uh so if if we're looking at it next year and we've got 400, then we're getting an awful lot closer to where we want to be. Um I don't enjoy the uh this particular portion of council. Never have. Um but uh it's a it's something that we have to do nec it's it's a necessity that we have to do. Uh we got a lot of property damage u that that's been as a result of the deer. Um, and I appreciate council uh and Joey, I appreciate you um for being together with us. Um, ladies, I appreciate everything that you've done because it's been a it's been a combined effort and it's been a learning process for everybody. So, I appreciate everything that's that's gone into it. Uh, and yeah, everybody is looking at us. Um, so we want to make sure that we succeed in this and we want to make sure that we carry through uh and and see those numbers where they need to be. Now, I don't think that we want to be at 100. I don't think 100 is is good for for what we want. We want to be able to see our deer. We want to be able to appreciate them and and enjoy them. Uh so 100 to me is is way low. Uh so, are we going to get there in the next four years? Yes, we'll get there. Um do we need to do sterilization this year? No. I I'm I'm not a I'm not a proponent of doing

sterilization this year. Um I would rather do the culling. Let's do it. Do like we've been doing. Do the culling, get some more numbers, and make the best educated guess we can next year. So, in that uh I would call the question that there's no any further discussion. Just just one if I may.

What's that? Um just want to reiterate one challenge that um the folks that came in and did the sterilization last year, one big challenge that they had last year was there was a um there was an effort of overfeeding in the peninsula of the deer which created a significant health risk for the deer as they were um basically what they did was they spayed the deer just like you would a dog or cat. Um the deer were quite bloated from the excessive feeding that they had. Uh what they were being fed was corn, which is not a natural uh product for them. It bloats them. It's like steady diet of junk food. And uh they had a difficult time sewing a lot of those deer up and putting them back out in the wild. uh as a result of that um feeding uh intentionally feeding deer is um unlawful in the city of Tig and I would respectfully ask our residents to refrain from that um as it will have a significant impact on our ability to manage the herd and uh for those folks to be successful uh when they come uh hopefully next year.

Thank you. Thank you sir. Do we have any further discussion? Just one last thing. So, we started this with a lot of people in the community that were very adamant that they did not like the fact that there was deer in their yard eating all their vegetation, making their flowers and their plants and everything. They were just eating everything. Um, and we had multiple um complaints, right? Emails and calls and I mean you we got them all over the place over the last year since we since we worked on this. How many complaints have you guys received? Few. I

I haven't received any in regards to that. Very very very few. So, I just want that to be part of the consideration of what's going on. We were we were successful with what we did where we're at right now with our population of deer is is a good place I feel and I don't feel a reduction should be justified. But I do appreciate what you guys said, but I don't agree with it. If we if we stop now, I'm sure those emails will continue. But but I but I I respect your opinion very much. Thank you. And you've been very consistent with your opinion, too. Any further discussion? All right, I'll call the question. All in favor say I. I. I.

You got that, Casey? Okay. All right. And now we will cover council comments. You ready? All right. If you would please, sir. All right. Here we go. Um, well, I want to say thank you to the people that, you know, showed up this evening to to watch our council meeting. There's a whole bunch of young people in the in the crowd as well. So, thank you guys. It wasn't too long of a meeting, but where are you guys from?

Fort Oh, yes. Another another class coming in. I love it. Thank you. Well, welcome. I'm glad that you guys can make it. Um, for everybody watching online, thank you so much. Um, thank you for everybody on the city staff and all the department heads for doing what you guys do because you guys make this community amazing. Um, Veterans Day last week, Monday, or Tuesday, excuse me. Um, the TK Veterans Association held a service um or ceremony over at the memorial gardens, which was awesome for all the veterans out there. Um, and just everybody. So, I want to say thank you for uh Tom, Mr. Highle, for your service and that kind of stuff or veteran on on council. I want to say um congratulations to Fort Mill High School Yellow Jackets um their 2025 York County Girls Flag Football Championship. That's pretty that's pretty impressive for the first year and to be that dominant and do what they got to do. Um if um there's one person one council member's daughter has been up here twice in the last couple of months that is Mr. Eelip's daughter like she's she's pretty good. You put her on a team and stuff is is going so pretty. The rest of the girls are awesome and the coaching is awesome as well. But I just want to make sure I I point that out because that's some good stuff that way. We had a um let's see, we had an election recently and uh Councilman Heislip's been reelected. So, congratulations. We have um congratulations to Mayor Pro Tim Miller for being mayor of Tatk heading forward into uh um or January. And then congratulations to our newest council member, Heather Jones, back there in the corner. You're now you're going to be up here soon. So, congratulations. Okay. Uh let's see. There is a the fifth annual Howal Brunswick um Brunswick Stew Festival is coming up this Saturday the 22nd from 2:00 to 5:00. Um the proceeds go to the Lions Clubs, the Lions Club. So make sure you go try check that stuff out. The food is f phenomenal. So go off and get you some if you want. Um let's talk about recognition in the community. Always want to do that. Um there's some

people that I want to recognize. They took time away from their family this past week to go up to Wisconsin to uh check out our new ladder truck that the fire the fire department is getting and they went off and they trained on it and and checked everything out and just made sure they're really familiar on this um piece of equipment before it's delivered down to us next month. That is uh our chief Glenn Hasty, Captain Justin Daly, Lieutenant Ed Liberator, Lieutenant Anthony Knight, and Engineer Mike Dawster. So, thank you guys so so much for doing that night stuff. That's been fantastic. Fantastic. So, last thing, um, we got the lights going up TK Drive, which is fantastic. But hey, let's not forget what happens next week. Next week is Thanksgiving. So, it goes into the holiday season. Thanksgiving comes first. And let's really um remember community and what we really need to be thankful for. We're we're thankful like I'm thankful for council. I I don't agree with him a lot of times. I I don't but we can we can agree and or disagree but still be cordial with each other. And I ask that for for the community and all of our residents to do that and and just be thankful for what we have. One of the things that we we complain about are like first world problems where like our leaf truck isn't working. Come on. Like we are an amazing community with really just beautiful neighborhoods and beautiful people all around. So make sure that you're just thankful for that. And I just ask you to remember that when you go into Thanksgiving. So that's fine. Those are my comments.

Thank you, Councilman Carter. You are welcome. If you would please, sir. Councilman Heisman.

Thanks, Mayor. Um, first just to reiterate what Brian said. Thanks to everyone that's here. Uh, everyone watching at home or on YouTube later. Appreciate you taking the time to uh stay engaged and uh understand what what we're up to here. Of course, I got to give a shout out to the flag football team from Fort Mill. Um, as Brian said, my daughter Reagan's on that team, and I'd never watched a flag football game in my life, and the rules were a little different, so it took me a little while to understand what was going on other than pulling the flag, but, uh, it was awesome. Awesome seeing those young ladies out there. And then to win the the first, uh, county championships was was really cool. Um, couple runners here in the crowd. I see. I'm sure they'll they'll all be here soon enough with uh, with their teams, but just a quick shout out to the uh, boys and girls cross country teams with Fort Mill. uh both won the state championships on Saturday. Um the girls threetime defending champion, boys were repeat champion and so congratulations to all them all them high school team is stacked second right second place finisher and Connor you were fourth second fourth place finisher right here in the crowd getting their civic studio in. So congratulations both of you outstanding job. Um, also I uh I did see the picture of the firet truck. Uh, Chief ACY. It's a pretty truck. I don't know if you're going to want to use it. It's so pretty. But excited to get that. And I also, you know, Charlie mentioned it earlier. I want to give a shout out to uh, you know, Senator Graham for for getting that uh, money allocated to the city in in the um, in the CR budget there. So, uh, thank you to Senator Graham for that. I know we are very happy about that. Um, Brian mentioned House Stew event, so I won't uh reiterate that, but it's this Saturday, so get your orders in if you haven't. Um, Veterans Day was awesome. Uh, we also had a Veterans Day dinner uh at the TK Veterans Association put on. So, thank you to the staff and the Veterans Association for both those events. They were they were outstanding. Um, to all the staff, city looks awesome. Love the lights are up. Uh, parks are looking great. Uh, you're all

doing a wonderful job. Um, and I will close with uh congratulations to uh Carmen and Heather uh for your election victories. I look forward to serving four more years with both of you. Um, and also I want to give a a shout out to um Alice, John, Thomas, and Ron for being willing to uh to to run. It's um for anyone that's never run for office, it's not an easy thing to put your name on out there and and put your name on that ballot and then um go through campaign season because it and it, you know, campaigning in my opinion is the fun part because you're out talking to people, meeting people. Then when you win, you get up here and the government starts and that's where that's where, you know, the work starts. Um so look forward serving both you.

I'll say goodbye to you too next month. So, um, with that, everyone have a great Thanksgiving and we will see you in December. Thank you, Councilman Heis. Councilman Shirley, if you would please, sir. Yes, sir. Um, just, uh, I'll start with just a question for Charlie, if you will. Um, did you have an opportunity to look into the text message I sent about that leaf trunk contractor that said they're available? Uh, yeah, we had a conversation about it. the the folks that helped us last year basically a day or two into it, they're they said this is way too much for us and backed out. They're their equipment is just not sized for the volume that we have. But fair enough,

fingers crossed tomorrow is a is a positive day and uh we can get those operations resumed. But yeah, we did we did have that conversation. But uh just to reiterate, if folks if folks bag them and put them at the curb, they are getting picked up, right? Absolutely.

Okay. Excellent. Thank you for that. Um folks, uh tree lighting on December 4th. Come on out for that. That's always a great event. It's always a lot of fun. It's a really nice time for our community to come together around that Christmas tree. I love seeing the crowds there and the carols and just having a really good time of fellowship together. Um Trish, thank you for the event that you put on this weekend. Um, that was a great turnout and you and your team did a great job of collecting a tremendous amount of toys for uh kids that might not uh might not have a Christmas. So, thank you very much for putting that together. That was a lot of fun. Um, was glad to be a part of that. Was honored and I'm really thankful for to the city for putting those extra courts in to make it so easy for Trish to coordinate that while others could still play recreationally on the other courts. Uh, that went very very well. Um, thank you for everyone that took time to speak tonight and those of you that came out to participate in the meeting and um, whether you're a spectator or an active participant, thank you for your interest in the city and uh, and being the best part of TUK. Um, for the students that are here, thank you for being here. Hope it wasn't disappointing for you. You have something to go back to report on. The hard part's now you got to put the essay together and turn it in for a grade, I guess, right? U, thank you for being here. Leadership is u not always popular but it's a necessary part of our life. So I I hope you uh find yourself in a position like that sometime in the future. Uh last thing I'll say is eight and two fly eagles fly.

And uh just want to point out that Panthers won this weekend too. So hey it was a good miracles do happen.

Madame Mayor Pip, if you would please. Yeah, it's Christmas. It's a Christmas miracle. Um, I would also like to um say how amazing our Christmas lights are and thank you staff. I actually missed my turn today because I was busy looking at the lights as I was driving because it is just so pretty to to see them. Um, I want also wanted to recognize our police department. 3 minute 20 second response time. Um there is a reason why we're the safest city in South Carolina and that has a whole lot to do with it. Um obviously our PD has everything to do with it but the response time certainly helps. Um wanted to just say um we have a chat with council coming up this Wednesday the 19th from 5 to 6. If you would have want to have more time to talk to us directly, Tom and I will be hosting it. We're happy to answer any questions. Um, and please know that we there's no topic that's off sub uh no nothing that's off the table. We we're happy to answer if we can anything that you um want to bring to us. And it's a great opportunity because when you come to speak to us here, we we get to listen to you, but we don't get to answer questions back or be part of that conversation. When we have our chat with council, it is a two-way conversation. So, we we truly do mean it when we say come and talk to us and we'll answer your questions. Um, I am very proud to have um earned your vote this election season. I'm looking forward to to next year serving with um Brian with Tom. Congratulations on being elected again. And Heather, congratulations to you. I know that um we've got a lot of a lot of good things that are going to happen in the next years. And um I won't say goodbye to you

two either until next next meeting. Uh for the for you guys that are here from from Fort Mill and the the kids that just left that um that were recognized. Fort Mill makes champions. They just do. They do it every it seems like every month we're recognizing someone. Um parents make champions. So go home and thank your parent because there's a reason why you're here. Um, and they deserve a little gratitude for that. Um, and that's it. Happy Thanksgiving next next week, believe it or not. Um, I will get to miss all the fun stuff with the tree lighting. My husband's taking on taking me on vacation and um, but I'll be with you in spirit.

We'll miss you. I'll be warm. Very warm. Thank you, Madame Mayor Elect. That would bring it to me. Uh, first of all, congratulations, Tom, Carmen, Heather, congratulations. Thank you for putting your name in the hat and running and and um Tom wanting to do all this again and Carmen want to do it some more. I mean, hats off to you. God bless you.

Absolutely. So, I appreciate you doing that. U for our our young folks in the audience, thank you for hanging out with us. I hope that uh you have a newfound u appreciation for the boredom that takes over in the middle of of council chambers. Uh but we appreciate you being here. Uh if you guys need me to sign anything, I'll be happy to sign something for you when you get done here. But um you we are coming into the holiday season. Uh thank you to all of our staff for making the city look absolutely phenomenal. Um the uh Christmas tree is is almost complete from what I can see. So, uh, it's it's looking great. The lights are up. Uh, and, um, it's it's my favorite time of year coming into everything. Um, fire fire department, thank you, Chief, uh, you and your men for taking your time to go up there to to review a piece of equipment for us that's going to keep us safe. Um, I know that spending time away from the family is rough and uh, but I appreciate you guys and your willingness to do that. Thank you very much. Uh, for our PD, um, the response times are absolutely incredible. Thank you for all all the good work. Um, I know that that chief's not here, but uh but he can watch the the meeting. So, but I appreciate everything that uh that you guys are doing on PD. Uh we've got some really good stuff coming up. If you want to donate some time, we do have our um we we're not calling it Shop with a Cop anymore. Holiday with Heroes. Uh we're going to we're going to need folks to wrap some presents up uh for these families that uh that going that go shopping with our police officers. Uh we do that at station number one um every year. If you want to come grab a table, bring some wrapping paper with you. We'll have some pizza, have a good time, and it's for a great cause for needy families around the area. Uh and these these kids, it's it's a blessing every year. I get choked up even thinking about it. Um but these kids do they they just they've been through a whole lot and our police officers are such great folks to

uh take care of those those kids and families. Um Thanksgiving is right around the corner. So we have a lot to be thankful for in TUK. We are the safest city in the state of South Carolina. Um we don't have the problems that that the other cities do outside of here. We we do live in the TK bubble. Um and that is in part to our PD, our fire department, and our citizens that live here. We take care of each other. And at TK we always have. So this year, if you see somebody that's having a little trouble at the register, reach into your pocket, pull out some extra money, and maybe pay for their their groceries this year. Uh you know, we are blessed. Uh our neighbors, and we've got a lot of of neighbors that are uh a little older. They might not have the families coming in this year. They might not have, you know, their uh their family to come in, might be alone. Reach out to your neighbors. Invite them over to your house. break bread with them. If they don't have anybody there, it'll be very special to them that um then you reached out. Um nobody needs to be alone during the holidays. And especially in TUK, nobody needs to be alone in the holidays. We're better than that. So, let's do everything we can to reach out to our neighbors and know what they're doing for the holidays. And if they're going to be alone, if people are going to not be not be with family and think invite them to your house. Uh it's it's just it'll bless you. Um, and with with Thanksgiving coming, let's all just take a minute and and think of how thankful we are to live where we do and to be able to do what we do. We don't have to worry about walking down the street and being mugged. Our kids are going to come home at night. We don't have to worry about a lot of the things that that other urban areas have to worry about. So, let's be thankful for that and let's be good stewards of that and try to pay

it forward to our generations to come. Um, as council, it's our responsibility to to assume the leadership roles in this community. They're not decisions that that we like to make sometimes. Sometimes it's pretty easy to make the decisions like buying a firetruck. That's it's great. Um, but a lot of these decisions are not they're not easy decisions to make. And I wanted to uh to thank this council for making those hard decisions and previous council for making the hard decisions to keep the TK bubble intact and to keep us the city that we are. Uh it is through the strength and leadership of folks that we're standing on their shoulders now to where we've got TK that we've come to know. Um and we want to continue that. So, I I thank each and every person that that ran this year. Um, it is it to put your name out there and to assume that kind of role, it's uh it's tough and uh it it um working with everybody, it it's it's it's tough. Um but thank you for doing that because it does ensure that our way of life continues through the years. Um really excited to see the Grove coming on. That's that's a great thing. Uh, and I'm really excited to see the the Christmas season. So, make sure you come out for the tree lighting with us. That's always a a big time. Uh, and um I know Caroline's not here tonight, but she's going to have to find a place to put that big old button. [Laughter] Currently, it's stored in my garage. But nevertheless, I appreciate everybody coming out. Thank you for your time tonight. Thank you for listening to what I had to say and and our other fellow members of of council. So, I just wish uh God's blessing upon you this season and um just hope that everybody has a great holiday and enjoy yourself, enjoy your family, and just remember what's

important and I appreciate it. With that, uh we need a motion to go into executive session. Mr. Mayor, members of council like to make a motion to enter into executive session for legal advice as it relates to the city's communication policy. legal advice as it relates to the liquor license at the TK golf course and discussion of personnel matters as it relates to the city manager's annual review. Have a motion. Second. Have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. We are in executive session. Thank you folks. Have a great Thanksgiving.