Thank you. you The April 17th, 2025, regular meeting of the Florence County Council will now come to order. At this time, I would like to ask Secretary Chaplin Mouffert to provide the invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance led by Vice-Tarren Yover. Let us pray, O Living God, help us to hear your holy word with open hearts so that we We may truly understand and understand that we may believe and believe that we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience, seeking Your honor and glory in all that we do through Christ our Lord, amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Good morning. On behalf of Florence County Council, I'd like to welcome everyone here in attendance today as well as those watching online. The first order of business on the agenda is the approval of the minutes. Council is requested to approve the minutes of the March March 20, the 2025 regular meeting of the County Council. So that's motion. We've got a motion. Motion to second any discussion, additions or corrections? Hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? As have it. Next item of agenda is public hearings. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of the ordinancesances for the public hearings Anyone who wishes to speak to counsel concerning the items for the public hearings please sign up with mr. Cottle if you've not already done so Ornus number 68-2020-25 a ordinance Arthur has in the enlargement of the joint County industrial park between Florence County, South Carolina And Williamsburg County South Carolina other matters Other matters relate there too. Ornus, number 69, dash 20, 24, 25. Ornus, Arthurizing, pursuant to Title 12, chapter 44 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended. The execution and delivery of a fee and lieu of adbalarm tax agreement bond between Florence County, South Carolina and teen governor solar LLC and certain affiliates to provide for a fee and lieu of at-belong tax and sent to them certain special source revenue credits and authorizing other related matters. Orton is number 70, that's 2024, 25. A Orton is authorizing the application of surplus proceeds of the original principal amount 14 million general obligation funds, series 2025, a Florence County to defray the cost of other capital projects of Florence County including renovations of and improvements to the Florence County complex. The purchase of real property by Florence County for County purposes and improvements to the Florence Regional Airport. Ornus number 71 dash 2024 25th and Ornith's authorizing the purchase of certain real property from the City of Johnsonville, South Carolina, comprising a city hall building of the City of Johnsonville, South Carolina. And the sale of such building to the Florence County Schools District 5, South Carolina. And an installment purchase agreement between Florence County, South Carolina, and Florence County School District 5, South Carolina. Other matters relating there too. Thank you Madam Clerk. I declare the public hearings are now open and we'll come back to them later on in the meeting. The next item on our agenda is Appearances. Council respectfully request that all comments be limited to three minutes and are germane to the subject matter. Please come up to the podium when your name is called. Our first speaker is the foster care Collagen Clause. Mr. Colgregs, if you'll please come forward. Thank you guys so much. Nicole Greg, foster care clothing closet. Just wanted to come in and give you guys an update from the last time that we spoke and you guys graciously utilized infrastructure funding to help upfit our new building. We are moved in on the path these around for y'all to, but just the floors there and how well everything looks. We were able to have literally no downtime at all get our new space up for it. Utilize volunteers to help transition everything over into the new space while operating in the prior space still just last week we did 18 distributions for kids and foster care so thank you thank you thank you so flooring it's phenomenal in there our AC unit did go out over the winter and so those dollars that you guys had allocated was perfect. We were able to get that replaced and stay again, operational straight through. The new space allows for us to be able to offer shopping experiences for these kids that are in foster care that might rather pick out items that they're getting to wear versus just be handed something. So they're able to come in, find items that fit their personality that they like, that they're getting to wear versus just be handed something to they're able to come in find items that fit their personality that they like that they're comfortable in when they're entering a new school or whatever that may be. We've been able to grow our fostering bright future. We're doing story times for kids that are zero to four. We have recognized what a much better outcome they have when they're read to in an early age. So we're bringing them in offering incentives for the families to bring them in. Just little little things but it's getting them in for story time. And we're growing our fostering a leaders program. So I talked to you guys last time about the girl that we helped to get into college. She utilized this PDR TA and partnering with Florence Darlington Tech. Everything was in place already for her to be able to go to school free. She just didn't have the resources to get the paperwork she needed done and getting that from the state. So we were able to help push that through. She's about to go through finals. She has tremendous grades. And because she was working to obtain a certification straight through, she's just started a job that will pay her $34,000, which is over double what she's been making each year for the last couple of years. So utilizing volunteers, utilizing us, sociology, and turn at FMU, we've been able to really maximize the funds that you guys provided. So thank you so much and we ask that you continue to support kids in Florence County. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is from the PD Coalition, Miss Denon Mitchell, if you'll please come forward. Miss Denon Mitchell is the Sexual Assault Program Director. And she requests to speak just before Council to about Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sorry. OK. Thank you. My name's Denise Mitchell. As she said, I work with PD Coalition. Although my title is Sexual Assault Program Director, I'm an advocate, just like everyone at our organization. This month, as per every year since 2001, is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we're about halfway through. This year, we tried to shift some of our focus with our theme. It is together we act united, we change. We are trying to collaborate more with community organizations to really affect change not just on the back end after an assault has occurred. But on the beginning side to sexual assault is 100% preventable. We just have to work together to get that messaging across. So we are shifting a little bit towards more of a prevention focus to really talk to youth, talk to everybody, parents, churches, everywhere that we can get in to really talk to them about changing the way they look at sexual assault. We want to change the language and shift the language from victim blaming to accountability. And we also want potential victims which could be anyone to be aware of what they can do to lessen their risk of being assaulted. We are about halfway through. Most of our activities have been private. We do have a fundraiser that one of our board members is throwing for us at the end of the month. It's self-defense class. It's on the 26th, and they're partnering with flow fitness and jujitsu. So if any was interested in getting any type of self-defense, you're more than welcome to join that fundraiser. But we also do self-defense classes through RAID systems, which is rape aggression defense, long class it's nine hours, but it is very useful and very empowering.. So thank you. Thank you so much. Our last speakers are a group. Each will have three minutes but please try to refrain from speaking on the same subject. Next group is Terri Village Neighborhood Association. The following individuals of the Terri Village Neighborhood Association request to appear appear before council to ask for the support of council to revitalize Tara Village by addressing the issues outlined in the 2020 Tara Village revitalization report. We'll start with Miss, is it Marley Jackson? Good morning. Good morning. You're fine. Thank you very much, guys talk. Thank you. As you said, I'm the only Jackson from the Toronto Association. I'm a president director. And we were here in 2018, 2017, and we got to get any to ask that you. And I did send a copy of the report of the matter. I did send a copy of the report of the matter. As he said, I'm Mary Jackson from the Charter of the Research Association, President Director, and we were here in 2018, 2017, and we've got to get him to ask that you. And I did send a copy of the report of, um, I've got it right here. Yes. Trying to get you all to understand what we're going through a little bit, and also to be a picture of things that are wrong in terrible rules that need to be corrected. We, like I said, we came in 2018 to Stanley Court Council and goes be declared a neighborhood of three vibranization. We have extremely bad flooding. The drains are reverted in the 2020 capital five sales tax referendum. So we have to wait until that time for things to be done. In the meantime, things have gotten worse. And, um, the tariff is, you might know, it's about 60 years old now. And, um, there are lots of problems. Lots of problems in the younger businesses. There are lots of young people that live in tariff those now, but we do need the issues addressed in the report to be taken care of. We thought that the Capitol Project sales tax would go into include that report was submitted to the county planning department, the commissioners, the Capitol Project commissioners. We were not given the opportunity to reserve it, but everybody had a copy. So what we'd like to do, they only included $150,000 for the revitalization of the drains. That's just a small problem. We have all throughout terrible, so many issues that you can tell. So we'd like for you to, we'd like to know what the council's intentions are in terms of revitalizing where I'm getting the equality of life and the folks who live there. The flooding's awful. And it's increasing and it's bringing the awful. The ponds, it's just not good. And so we'd like to have a thought in you about what your intentions are in terms of revitalization. We were told that we know that everything is possible. I've done the research to find out other areas like tariff village and the things that have been doing that have been done to bring them up to the quality of life that people live there. And so it's not an impossibility. We're not asking for the impossible what we're asking for. It is that the county keeps their Catholic Project sales tax and video now for three years since 2001 and we haven't had heard anything about what's going to happen. Do have the Davis and Floyd report that talked the engineering report that talked about the drains. We were included of $150,000 for the the drains, the equivalent of trains, but the mostly projects or the before is less out of the capital city of Sax funding. So we know that now there's no shortage of funding that funds are available and I've been tracking it because that makes sense. And we would like to know what the council thinks about the revitalization of characters. What are the intentions? The intent to avoid revitalizing, we did wait like we were told to, and we're now in anxious, and we understand that there are a lot of genders in characters, but the only religion that it was the characters' name association which came forward. They asked for help. Thank you so much for your time. You think I should give my five minutes up? Yes, ma'am. Oh. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Thank you so much. Miss Sellers. Miss Sellers here?age. Mr. P name is Bruce Fade. I'm a member of our welcome to address public safety. We have about four stop signs in terabills that nobody stops to. It's a straight run through shop. We got two signs that's a four way, two streets that's a four way stop sign. They run straight through that either way. And we have three, and that's just a two-stop sign, and they run straight through that. Okay? Candy Lane, which runs from plantation to tar drive, is used as a drag strip. That's about six blocks straight and they use that as a drag strip. There's a house on Tara Drive, 3311. Last month a young lady had somebody far raffle in her house. Now she come to my house and me about told me about it now She says she she had no idea who would do something like that to her They far the raffle entered the bullet went in her house One went through her house to the neighbor behind her and he was out in the yard that evening and he heard the brothers come through his hedges and that's on tarot drive and it's 3311 that's the house number so she moved. Now we have some holes at PeePat and Tara Drive at that intersection there. We got a bunch of holes there that's probably 12 inches deep, some of them. And that's where you turn in to PityPat off Tara Drive. Okay? Now that's been like that. I've been there 15 years and nothing has been done to that. And right now it's about to collapse. We have children, senior citizens, and our neighborhood. And we would appreciate any help that we can get, especially on these stop signs and the speed. And we just could get some patrol there every once in a while, the setup, and start giving out some citations if people get the message. But right now, it's dangerous. Night and day is dangerous. You can't out to the full-way stop sign, you got to stop and be kept and watch both ways because people just come right straight through. I thank you for your time. Yes, sir. Thank you, Bruce. Bruce, just to follow up on yours, to to the sheriff to, uh, see about patrols potentially in that in that area for you. And we'll also reach out to public works on the potholes for you. Okay. That's not a problem. Thank you. Yes, sir. Thank you all. I'm just sure Mr. Chairman. Go ahead. At your neighborhood association meetings. Do y'all invite to share for anybody to come? We've had one of the deaf community, we've had one of the deaf community. You know that, the association meetings, you invite who's like for stuff like this right here and they get a lot more personal relationship with you. How much time? Yeah, they're developing one-on-one bond with your neighborhood and help you. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Miss Maltry. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Hey, my name is Mrs. Multree. And I am a member of the Terrible Village neighborhood association. I am a home owner there for over 20 years. And I would like to discuss the flood issue that's in the neighborhood in the community, which is widespread. Terror drive is where I live and there is a ditch there, but there but there's no drains, no way for the water to go. So when it rains, it floods on Terror Drive, and it's like the whole block from Terror Drive to RIT court. The water's going around the dead end, in the coastsack there, excuse me, and it's getting worse. So, um, and it's starting to smell. I don't know why, where the orders coming from, but there's also a pond in the area. I don't know exactly the location of the pond, but with the flooding and the smell that's coming up, I don't know what, but to me the the drain, the ditch needs to be cleaned out. There needs to be a drain system. And also there's no sidewalks. You know, no weir for anyone to walk kids on the bus getting off the bus they have to go through the you know the neighbors yards to get to where they're going and I am I'm a registered voter and I pay taxes. And... And I am a registered voter and I pay taxes. And I feel the way I feel is like we're being overlooked. Now we've been communicating with the council with letters whatever from, from the president, Miss Jackson. And we haven't heard anything back from it. There's been about the latest, I would say, eight years with that communication going back and forth. And we haven't heard anything from it, or seen anything. So what I am accent, how can we get help and when can we get some help over there with this issue and where and I'm wondering why we're not getting help over there. It's been eight years, we're years today, we have been fighting to get help over there with the interest to the problems that's going on. I just wanna thank you for your time and have a blessed day. Thank you, Ms. Mulchley. Thank you. Now we have Miss Gaskins. Did we already have Miss Gaskins come forward? Yeah. Miss Maryley Jackson. Is it Jackson? Jackson. Jackson was the first one. Miss Gaskins. No? Maybe wrong on the agenda. Might be wrong, okay. Miss Amy Smith. Good morning. Good morning, Miss Smith. My name is. And I live at nine I live at 9.58 Clayton Court. Right next to that Shamrock Street House that's been burnt down for years. And I've been living on in my property for like 35 35 years and the proper has been an eye sore. And we were promised that it was going to be tear down on and put it about seven years ago. And I really don't feel safe in my home because there's a shed that's at that burnt down property and teenagers come in there. in my home because there's a shed that's at that burnt down property and teenagers come in there and like day and night and really I don't feel safe. I had to call the cops several of time. What was your address again? Mine is 958 Clayton Court. And it's an eye store for, you know, just to be passed by and live there. And not only me had to call the police staff, they have neighbors that have called also because like I said at nighttime, you know, I hear noises and stuff stuff and that probably was supposed to have been demolished like seven years ago and it's still there and the trees and grass and everything has really grown up and it's awful you know for the when I got to watch that when I live there got to watch it when I go out and come in. And that shouldn't be something needs to be done. And I was told that it was supposed to be like the modest like years ago. And I pray that we don't have to wait another year before we can do something with that property because it's an eye saw and like I said, I just don't feel safe in there where people come in and go on. I understood. Thank you so much, Ms. Smith. Thank you for listening. Mr. Yokem, could we not do some similar action with our county attorney like we did for the property on the corner of Old River Road and our Pampka Highway? Yes, sir. We can look into that. We can look into it. Thank you sir. Can we can we have it all set or somebody did it for these people or paid the property tax on it still but not living there? Can't we send them to demand those to clean it up and or as you were discussing? Or if they're not paid the property tax can't we claim it after so many years and then we can we can only effectively I think Thank you. Councilman Coddled, I mean to two issues now that we've been made aware of it, Sean and his co-s enforcement team can certainly go out and take a look at the property. But as far as payment of property taxes that's obviously handled by the county treasure and if people don't pay it it does get sold at the annual tax sale in early October. and if nobody buys it, you know, it's by state law, it's purchased by the Forfeited Lane Commission. does get sold at the annual tax sale in early October. And if nobody buys it, you know, it's by state law, it's purchased by the Forfeited Land Commission. And then we can go through looking at the title process on that property. OK, well, I think this makes it easy to be taken. It looked into, like you said. But, you know, when I grew up, I went to, I grew up in that area because I grew up on the farm. I thought Terabillian's killed the same world because there were a bunch of girls lived there. And I knew you the streets and I had some French police force that lived there too. But I think that thing was designed with no ditches in the community. It had all underground drains. Maybe they need to be looked at and cleaned out. Now, I don't know who owns those roads. I don't know where the county of state roads, but whoever's responsible for them, if they're not repairing them, we need to be done. If it's the state roads, you know, you can go to the SCD or T website and Mr. Spray and you can tell you more about that. But I actually did the first one this week, but they already acknowledged that they don't check into it. You know, they have to look at it if it's an issue. But that was a really upstanding neighborhood. It's got several issues. You got lower enforcement needs being involved with the speeding and with the with the trash and then public works with the drainage essentially and maybe SCD or T with roads as well. So I mean these pictures were horrible. Councilman Coddell, if I may just refer to the drainage. The members of the Neighborhood Association that have addressed Council referred to the money that was included in the third capital project sales tax. The engineering firm is looking at that councilman mone for a few months ago added some funding with that because they the $150,000 was not sufficient. So they are currently developing engineering drawings and we should have those in the next couple two, three months and we can move forward on trying to assist with some of the drainage. But like you said, the way that neighborhood was designed, some of the houses back up to each other and so there's no public property between the yards to provide any drainage there. So we're gonna have to just look to see what we can do to improve the existing public drainage. Yeah, I think it was all underground. There's no ditches, just a curb, no sidewalk. But yeah, and for their education, I could tell you now, it takes a whole lot longer to get things done because you can't get people so busy contractors and such to get things done. I mean, Capital Product Sales Tax 1 and 2, I believe we got them done long before we ever collected all the tax because people were hungry for work and the prices were much more competitive. Now it's just the other way around you have to almost I mean submit a bid for Million dollar property or two million dollar project. There may be two bids on it Be it a real high because people are so busy. They don't have time to do it I mean it's just be a good time to be in that business. I think so. Thank you, Miss Carl. One question. Sure. Properties that are abandoned allow to grow up if we have to demolish the homes. Can we not add that to the tax for that property? Yes, I believe we can, but we'd have to look at each property in isolation. Okay. And would it be prudent for us to see who owns the property? Because there's four clothes that could be a financial institution that doesn't want to have bad press, and they might be willing to do that. Yes, sir. All right, Mr. Becker. Okay, I understood. Well, on behalf of County Council, we thank each and every one of you for taking your time to come for us today. To share its updates with the foster care clothing closet organization organization the awareness of sexual assault from the PD coalition and all of the concerns brought forth by the terror Village neighborhood association. Rest here you are heard. Our next item on the agenda is Committee Reports. First Committee is administration and finance we have no report public services and county planning, councilman Cottle. No report. Okay. Justice and public safety councilman springs. Yes, sir. Other last month meeting we did hold a Justice and both said to committee meeting to receive updates on the EMS staffing and planning or I'm sorry. of staffing and. Studded is being done as well as updates on the fire study which is continues to linger. We're waiting on that final report as well. We also talked about the the hiring of a fire chief which I think is underway right now would intend to hopefully have someone hired by July 1st. And then we reviewed the unified fire districts budget requests for the year and that was voted out and is now included as part of the budget for next year. All right. Thank you, Councilman Sparrow. It's Education Recreation Health and Wairfare Council in Yover. Never. Thanks, sir. Agriculture forstumilitary affairs and intergovernmental relations. We had a city county conference committee meeting on April 10th. And at Bercht's Mill, we discussed many topics from water to street lighting to potential project downtown downtown in the City of Lawrence as well as a motion was made and it approved to make those meetings quarterly. The first and third month or first and third quarter will fall to the county and the second and fourth quarter will fall to the city of Florence to host those meetings. And that's all from that report. The next item of business resolution proclamations, we have one proclamation and one resolution of recognition. Madam Clerk, please publish the proclamation in its entirety and with Deputy Deputy Administrator Mitch Fulmour come down to the front. And Vice Chairman Yarbrough, please join him to present the proclamation. A proclamation to proclaim the week of April 13th through 19th, 2025, as National Public Safety and Telecommunications Week. Whereas emergencies can occur at any time that require police, fire, or emergency medical services. And whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt response. When an emergency occurs, the prompt response of police officers, fire fires and paramedics is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas the safety of our police officers, emergency medical services and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone the 911 communications center. And whereas the public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens, contact our citizens have with emergency services. And whereas public safety telecommunications caters are the single vital link for our police officers and firefighters by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them information, and ensuring their safety. And whereas public safety telecommunications of Florence County, central dispatch have contributed substantially to apprehension of criminal suppression of fires and treatments of patients. And whereas each dispatcher has exhibited compassion, understanding, and professionals in the past year while performing his or her job. Now therefore, we, the governor body of Florence County, the Florence County Council, do here by proclaim April 13th, through the 19th, 2025, as National Public Safety Telecommunications Cater's Week in Florence County under the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our county and citizen safe. Thank you, Madam Clerk, to have a motion. Second motion a second in a discussion. Here none. All is favor please say aye. Any opposed? I just have it. I tell you a lot of times there we have a lot of great damage in March County. And I think a lot of people just simply don't know. We don't get the word out enough to tell them. And you know, our office here, our emergency department, our telecommunications have a state of the art first class office. They really do. They win state awards. They win national awards. We get recognition for Florence County all over the United States. We're represented well. And a lot of times times because they're not in the public, they're not in the roadway, you don't realize they're theirs and you don't realize what a good job they do. They average about 16,000 calls a month. So if you wanna understand what that sort of light sit sit down in your planner and say, uh, Florida County Emergency 911, how can I help you? Say that 16,000 times. I got about 10 in that just. But these people, they hear some of the worst things Florida County has to offer. They also hear some of the best things. A lot, I've been on the fire service for 16 years. When I show up sometimes, when a loved one passes away, when there's a bad wreck, most of the time it goes, okay, somebody's on scene, I appreciate you so much. That first responder was there just on a telephone or on a radio or some other form of communication. Our dispatch office broadly and is openly pushing forward to the next steps and state of the art technology and y'all creating it by wrong. Just as much as every time we have an incident there's a camera there. Eventually, that's gonna make this way into the 911 center. They will not only hear the bad situation, they'll also see the bad situation. And me personally as a fireman, you know, many times I pass by the actual incident, the dispatcher goes, you need to turn around and go back to your past. They are there to help us and they're a part of our team. I know there's a lot of opinions sometimes that they simply just answer the phone. I know that some people don't understand exactly what they do but they are a very vital part of our first respond. They are a true first respondent. They're the first ones to hear the incident, the first one to send that help to that incident. And a lot of times I think they're just overlooked because they're not out in the pump. But they do. The importance can be this month we had 90 shootings. That's three a day. We had 50 over those. That's two of that. There's 500 and something calls that they average taking in a day. If I get 25 phone calls on my telephone I'm usually like man I just said I've been on phone all day. They get nothing done but these are the people that are true key roads of Lawrence County and that I think that have been over been overlooked sometimes and I wish we could do more and more to push them out. And there are state laws to bring more recognition, more help, more things for them to be able to do their job. And they're pushing in to stay out for right now. I'm out of state legislators, so I can't tell you where it is I apologize. But I truly, I know Council is for the first responder. I'm proud of the Councilman I served with. I'm proud of what they've done, the tools they've given me off. But I sincerely appreciate it to everyone who helped and the job that you did. Because without y'all, people would be in bad news. And it would be hard to do that. And y'all are true be in bad news and you are true Madam clerk, please publish the resolution of recognition and its entirety would mr. Frick Please come into the front of the dances and councilman Cotto, would you please join him to present the resolution? A resolution to recognize bear Frick for his end. I'm not a public speaker, I can tell if you're an indoor panel director. I'm a legal member. Somebody's not saying like that. Let me make a resolution, probably can be a way to be thankful to him. I know what you say. A resolution to recognize Bear Freak for his endless service of maintaining and promoting Florence County Lynch's River. Whereas the Florence County Lynch's River has been a place of natural beauty, recreation, and community enjoyment for many years, providing for a haven for visitors of all ages. And whereas Barry Frick, born in Cal or South Carolina, mayor to Marie and blessed with two children, Jane Heather, Barry Frick through his tireless dedication, commitment and hard work has played a vital role and maintaining preserve and enhance the beauty and safety of Lawrence County Litches River for the benefit of the community. And whereas Barry Frick has demonstrated exceptional responsibility and passion for buying essential services, including cleaning, maintaining and sharing that it remains a clean, welcoming and safe environment for all who visit. And whereas Bayer Freak has also promoted the river's natural beauty, helping raise awareness about its importance and inspiring others to take pride in their local environment and has taught generations to kayak. And whereas through his outstanding efforts, Bare Freaking has helped improve the river's overall appearance, functionality, and sustainability, leaving a lasting positive impact on the community and future generations. And whereas Bare Freaking's unwavering service and devotion to the river combined with his professionalism, teamwork and kindness have earned him the respect and admiration of the entire Florence County community. He's a diamond in the rough world. Now therefore be it resolved that the Florence County Council does hereby express his deepest gratitude and appreciation to Barefrix for his numerous years of dedicated service and his commitment to the stewardship and enhancement of Florence County, Litches River. I make a budget. Motion. Thank you. And a second. Any suggestions? You're in all of the favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I have it. You all, let me tell you, when I think that Witches River, the first thing that comes in my mind is bear fruit.. I mean, how many men do you know, or how many people do you know that are so dedicated to the river, they have a tattoo on their arm of their business. And he had a before tattooed for even cool, even when he worked at McCall Farms. The river was his life and the life of the river is buried. But I think that would say. We just appreciate how much your dedication and eBay, Coyote, I could do before it was ever cooked. I mean, he promoted it, he lived it, his family does, he still does, and we're proud that we need more people like buried if we would have situation the tariff is we have, we would have situation on calls of road even that we have. It would be a clean, better, more inviting environment. And I just want to thank you, Barry, it's not a great relationship to thank you. Well deserved, and we need more services like Barry. So with, with me, it's been great, it's been living a dream, my family stood behind me. It's been amazing to watch what the council had done in the last 10 years. The new landing at 378, or Bartales, Denny's landing. We, if I appreciate it, it's made it much easier. This week or over in the last week, I had an 88 year old lady on the River, an 80 this year. I've had a five year old. It's for everybody. It's just a great place to be, nowhere in my head. And I certainly appreciate the Council of Orange, the big and visitor center having been great. And it's been a dream. Well, I'm going to have them support it with me. You know, Lake St. Rivers on the South Carolina City River. And so I've been on it with Mary's group, and you go by Cypress trees that were there with General Marion, they're fighting British. So it's real historic and it's real, it's all natural and man is not under put, you know, like I said, everybody in the river, I know this one will move because man has been there. So they have to go there. But Barry's done so much to have cleaned up the river, make it better. And we have a lot of landings and they need to be used. And river rances are also a way to do a tour that someone comes up to here with the finiland for us. That really could be a really nice, it could be a paddle and barbecue you Key, you want you to say this is just a great thing. You've never done that. I'm not my whole family to do it. I've done it. More than one time. Believe it or not, they have kayaks that you think about. I don't know what it is. There's nice, he's there for safety and just beautiful, that's what things to do. Again, thank you for all you've done. Thank you. Happy to have you. Thank you. You're going to have to have a good picture. Bring little one in. Tell him we got candy bars up as well. Clark Fantöm. Don't we get getting worse up with Will? I'm going to get worse up with Will. Is that a good one? Are you going to get worse up with Will? I'm going to get worse up with Will. I'm going to get worse up with Will. Are you going to get worse up with Will? Are you going to get worse up with Will? Are you going to get worse up with Will? Are you going to get worse up with Will? Are you going to get worse up with Will? Thank you. There are three resolutions on the agenda. Council is asked to defer a resolution number 36-2024-25. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of the resolution number 43-2024-25. Resolution number 43-2024-25. A resolution designated the month of April a sexual assault awareness month. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion is second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman, while you're presenting the resolution, sexual assault is a widespread and devastating crime that affects millions of individuals of all genders, ages, races, and backgrounds in communities across the nation. Florence County has statistically had a high rate per capita sexual assault reported and had the highest rate per capita in the recent report provided by SLED in 2023 at 8.69 per 10,000 people. Lawrence County has seen an increase in reports of sexual violence to law enforcement between 2022 and 2023 per sled reports. Raising awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault and the importance of prevention is crucial in combating the societal issue and creating safer environments for all. Designating the month of April for awareness encourages individuals, communities, and organizations to come together to advocate for those impacted by sexual assault, foster understanding, and promote support systems for survivors of sexual violence. Thank you, Mr. Yoke. All in favor of this, aye? Any votes? Aye. Thank you so much for what you do for our community. And I just need to just know that we've got your back in the case. Thank you so much for what you do for our community and just know that we've got you back. Thank you so much. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of resolution number 44-2024 slash 25. Resolution number 44-2024-25. And resolution designated specific individual projects to be funded from CPST3, excess pursuant to Section 202 of Orton at 16, 2023-24. Thank you, do have an emotional move. And a second. Second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman, Florence County adopted ordinance 16, 2023, 24, November 16, 2023, Section 2.02 of ordinance 16, 2023, 24 is for the designation of specific projects and within the project category set forth in Section 2.01A through G. Council shall buy a resolution from time to time, designate the specific individual projects to be funded from CPST3 excess funds. This resolution approves three new projects totaling $261,941, where there is a slight increase to one project. This resolution also decreases one road project where bids came in lower than estimated for a cost savings of $164,015. Thank you, Mr. U of the many further discussion. Hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I as have it. Mr. Cotto, was anyone signed up to speak for the public hearings? No, sir. Madam Clerk, have you received any written comments with regard to the items listed on the public hearings? No, sir. I declare the public hearings are closed. The next part of the agenda is ordinances in position. There are four ordinances in position. There are four ordinances on the agenda for third reading. Council has been asked to defer the reading of ordinance number 35-2024-25. Madam Clerk, please. Please, Chair. If I may. Sure. The project related to ordinance 35 is not going to occur. So economic development has asked that we move to oppose that ordinance so we can remove it from the agenda. OK. So instead of deferring it, go ahead and. Yes. OK. We need a motion to oppose. All right. do we have a motion to oppose ordinance 35-2024-25 motion in a second any discussion hearing none all is in favor of the motion to oppose please say aye aye any opposed aye as have it madam clerk please publish a title of ordinance number 65-2024-25 ordinance number 65 dash 2024 25 at ordinance to change the future land use designation from Farrahville development district to suburban district and to change the zoning designation from RU1 rural community to R2 single family residential For the property located off of wildwood drive, Queen B. South Carolina as shown on Florence County tax map number 0-0175 block 0-1 parcel 152 and other management way there too. Do I have a motion? No more? In a second? Second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all is a favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of ordinance number 66-2024-25. Orders number 66-2024-25. In order to change the zoning designation for the property in group 5 of the East Highway 76 Gateway Study from unzoned to CMU commercial mixed use district, furthermore the requirements of Florence County Code of Ortones Board of Boardings, chapter 30, Zionist Articles an District Regulations Division 7, corridor overlays district. Shall apply to all properties include in this amendment that lay within 500 feet of the corridor. Any parcel that stands beyond 500 feet from the corridor shall be wholly covered by the overlay district if the outer area is 20% or less of the total parcel size. This measurement shall be taken from the rose edge or curb and stem land works. This amendment shall apply to the following property as they reflect on the tax map as 90117-08009 and other managed relate their to Thank you Madam Clerk to have a motion And a second Any discussion Hearing none all of the favor please say aye aye any opposed I just have it madam clerk please publish the title of ordinance number 67-2024-25 ordinance number 67-2024-25 an ordinance to my ordinance specified pursuant to section 14-340-3 of the South Carolina Code are the rise purposes to which excess proceeds of the capital project sales tax approved by the Electric to Florence County, South Carolina, South Carolina on November 5, 2013, maybe apply and other matters really there too. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Do I have motions to move motion? Second, in discussion. Hearing none, all of the favor, please say aye. Any opposed? I have it. There are six ordinances on the agenda for second reading. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of ordinance number 60, dash 2024 slash 25. Ordnance number 60, dash 2024, 25. And ordinance to change the future land use designation from variable development district two to urban development district for property located off of East Palm, that was street Florence, South Carolina, as shown on Florence County Tax Map number. 0-0307-Block-01-Parsal-012, and other matters related there too. Thank you, Madam Clerk, do we have a motion? Mr. Chair, yep. At request of the developer, I make a motion to oppose. Okay, there's been a motion to oppose. Is there a second? Second. Okay, all those in favor of the motion to oppose, please see aye. Aye. Any opposed? Yes, Mr. Schoepel, I'd to oppose. Please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I'd like to abstain due to potential conflict of interest. Okay. I understood and noted the eyes have it. All right, so that that ordinance has been opposed. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of ordinance number 63-2024-25. Ordinance number 63-202425. An Ornister Chains Design Design Designation designation for property of tax map number 00307 block 01 parcel 01-01-2 located off of East Palmeado Street, Florence, South Carolina. From unzoned to R4 multifamily residential limited district and a portion of the property to be three general commercial district and other managed relate there to. Okay, do I have a motion? Again, same place of property, motion to oppose. Okay. We got a motion to oppose. Is there a second? Second. There's a motion in a second. Any discussion? Here none. All is in favor of the motion to oppose. Ordinance 63. Please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Yep. Any opposed? I have. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of ordinance number 68-2024-25. Ordnance number 68-2024-25. A ordinance authorizing the largement of the Joint County Industrial Park between Florence County, South Carolina, Williamsburg County, South Carolina, and other matters related to. I have N, a second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman. Pursuant to Article 8, Section 13 of the South Carolina Constitution, in Title IV, Section 1, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, Florence County is authorized to jointly develop multi-county parks with counties having contiguous borders with the county. End of the county's discretion include property within the boundaries of such multi-county parks. Under the Multicounty Industrial Park Act, the county has created a multi-county park with Williamsburg County. Ten Governor Solar LLC has obtained certain land and Florence County and is presently recruiting for a project. An agreement dated December 1, 1998 was approved for a joint county industrial business park between Florence County and Windsberg County and the county desires to expand the boundaries of the park and amend the agreement to include the project. Thank you, Mr. York. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I just have it. Madam Clerk, please, please, please, please, please, title of ordinance number 69-2024-25. Number 169-2020-2024-25. At Ordinance, Arthur Rasmussen went to title 12, chapter 44 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina in 1976 as amended. The execution and delivery of fee and lieu of abelarm tax agreement by between Florence County, South Carolina and teen governor, solar LLC and certain affiliates to provide for fee and lieu of abelarm tax tax tax incentives and certain special source revenue credits and authorizing other related matters. Thank you Madam Clerk. Do I have a motion? No second. Second. Motion to second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman. This ordinance is a companion to the previous one. The previous one dealt with the Multicounting Duster Park. This actually deals with the fee and lieu of tax agreement. So therefore pursuant to the FILO Act in order to induce investment in the county on February 20th, 2025, County Council adopted an inducement resolution, which was resolution 38, 24, 25, in which it identified certain proposed investments by 10 Governor Solar LLC. The company has represented that the project will involve an investment of approximately $122,000,000,000, but not less than $2.5 million in the county, all with the investment period. The reason for the $2.5 is that's the statutory minimum for a fee and lieu of tax agreement. The county has determined on the basis of the information supplied to it by the company that the project would be a project as such term is defined in the fee of in lieu of tax act and that the project would serve the purposes of the act. Thank you, Mr. York. Many questions. Here none. All those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed? I just have it. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of ordinance number 70 as 2024 slash 25. Ornus number 70 dash 2024 25. It ordinance, Arthurizing the application of surplus proceeds of the original principal amount 14 million general obligation funds series 2025 a Florence County to defray the cost of other capital projects of Florence County, including renovations of an improvements to the Florence County complex. The purchase of real property by Florence County for county purposes and improvements to the Florence Regional Airport. Thank you Madam Clerk to have motion to move. Second motion the second in discussion. Yes, Mr. Chairman just to inform Council in the public. As you remember and as the clerk has read we issued two bonds a few months ago. This one refers to the $14 million bond which will be used to build an evidence building for the Sheriff's Office as well as an EMS station on the east side of town. In consultation with the architect that's designing both projects, the county may save a few million dollars on this bond. So therefore we've asked the county bond council to draft this ordinance which would allow us to use the excess proceeds for these purposes. Thank you Mr. Jeff. I'm in a further discussion. Here and done all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I say Madam Clerk please post tile ordinance number 71 on24 slash 25. Ordinance number 71 dash 2024 25. Ordinance, Arthur, as any purchase of certain real property from the city of Johnsonville, South Carolina, comprising the city hall building of the city of Florida, a city of Johnsonville, South Carolina and the cell of such building to Florence County School District 5, South Carolina. Under installment purchase agreement between Florence County, South Carolina and Florence County School District 5, South Carolina. Other matters related there too. Thank you, Madam Clerk, do I have a motion? Make a motion. Second. Motion in a second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman, just to inform Council and the public. The City of Johnsonville has a desire to sell their City Hall building and the school district number five in Johnsonville is in need of the building. However, in discussion with our bond council who also serves as bond council for both the school district and the city, the school district doesn't have a mechanism to issue debt. they're going to use the revenue from their share of the battery plant, fee and lieu of tax that council passed that revenue sharing ordinance on a couple of months ago. However, that revenue has not started coming in yet. So the county is going to buy the building from city hall, from the city and lease it to the school district. And we will pay ourselves back as that revenue from the battery plant comes in and at such time as we're paid back then we will turn the building over to the school district. Thank you Mr. Eukman. Any further discussion? For public identification what are we paying for the building and we charge an interest rate and what's the effect of interest rate back on the back charge if we charge, good question, Councilman Caldwell. We're paying a million and a half dollars for the building. The interest rate has not been finally determined yet, especially given the wide fluctuation and rates we've seen over the past 30 to 60 days. All right, you got, you got to range three percent, six percent and what that. We're still in discussion with that. Yes. All right. Any other discussions? Very none. All of the favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye, is that it? There are five ordinances on the agenda for introduction. Madam Clerk, please publish the title of the ordinance. Ordinance number 72-2024-25. 5th.ithes number 13-2018-19. And to provide for the creation of the county fire chief. Ornithes number 73-2024-25. And Ornithes to ratify physical year 25 budget and grant council actions previously authorized by council and other managers related there too. Ornithes number dashed 2024 25. In order to provide the provide for the issuance and sale of noted seating $4,950,000 general obligation funds in one or more series of Florence County, South Carolina. To prescribe to prescribe the purposes for which the proceeds of said but said bonds shall be at spend it to provide for the payment of said bonds and other matters relating there to. Orders number 75, 2024, 25 by title only and ordinance are authorizing the execution and delivery of a fee agreement by between Florence County, South Carolina and Project Huckleberry providing for a payment of fee and lieu of taxes and other matters relate there to. Orders number zero 01-2526. Ones to provide for the labor of taxes and Florence County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025 and end June 30, 2026 to provide for the appropriation there to provide for revenues for the payment thereof and to provide for other matters related there too. Thank you Madam Head. Let me put Clerk. Okay. I declare the ordinance is introduced. My head hurts. The next item on the agenda is appointments to boards and commission. Um. Councilor. This year, this means time to ask for the ordinance. The number has sent me to placed in the Justin Hogan said the committee to tour As long as there's no objections Okay That may that means ordinance 72 will move to the justice the public safety committee Appointments to boards and commissions economic development partnership board councils requested to approve the appointment of Raleigh trip ward the third to serve on the Florence County economic development partnership board Representing district to with the appropriate expiration term. Do I have a motion? Any discussion Hearing none all is favor please say aye? Aye, is that it? PD Community Action Partnership Board. Council is requested to approve the appointment of Beverly Alford to serve on the PD Community Action Partnership Board representing seat one with the appropriate expiration term. Do I have a motion? So moved. Should I get it? Motion to the second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all is in favor, please say aye. Aye say aye any opposed The eyes have it are there any additional appointments? Hearing none the next item on our agenda is reports to council mr. Yokeham Please bring any items that you have on the agenda to our attention for consideration at this time Thank you Chairman, and I'll refer to the department head notes from our great team of department heads, including the council agenda packet, and summarize a few of those comments. From Shannon Munoz, a capital project sales tax three, district one, the contract for miles red, joy, graslin, and Donald Rose were approved in February. Construction is scheduled to start in May. In District 2, all the District 2, CPST 3 projects complete. District 3 bid 4, 2425 for Brook Green Neighborhood Resurfacing, which includes Brook Green Drive, Whittier Circle, New Hope Drive, Toband Drive, White Avenue, McNeil Drive, Adair Drive, and Gibbs Avenue is under construction and should be completed in May. District District 4, the Grote Road is complete pending punch list items. Bid 63, 23, 24 consists of Bob White Trail, Fesant Road, Whipper Will Road, Coil Lane and Old Middle Road is complete. Discus Lane is also complete. The deer road, Waterline Extension, Bid 25, 24, 25 will be presented at Council for approval later in this meeting. Bids have actually coming under budget. District five, Davis and Floyd is developing the future bid package for dirt to pave roads. District six, the remaining two roads are being planned for future bid. District seven, Dorado, East Rico, East Suena, East here, I heard, North Ives, Marlow, South Third, South Fairview, South Robinson, Charlotte, South Ballard, McFarlane Oak, Walnut, Clyde, East Evans, Jarrett Day, and Divine streets were included in bid 40, 2425, and approved on the March 20th Council meeting. Construction is estimated to begin late spring. The Oakland sidewalk project and engineering service study is underway by Davidson Floyd. District 8 projects are being scheduled for future delivery. The contract was issued for Briggs, Scriven and Indian Roads. Construction is anticipated to begin by the end of April. Davis and Floyd received SCDOT encroachment permits for the paving of this project. In District 9, Davis and Floyd is developing a future bid package for road resurfacing. According to CPSG3 engineer Todd Warren, 207 of 289 road district projects have been completed. CPSG3A, in district one North Floyd and Hagen, were bid in January approved in February. And construction is estimated to begin late spring once the contractor completes some open Florence County projects. In district two, Franklin and Merritt Drive, bid in January, approved in February, and construction is also estimated to begin once the contractor completes some projects. District 4, Sparks Road will begin in the spring, and will be packaged with Timonsville, resurfacing projects with CPST3. District 5, East Grume, and Fowler Road will bid in the near future. District 7, Terri Village, drainage improvements are being reviewed by engineers. McMillan Road will start in late spring. ECS to drive scope may be reduced since piping and a portion of paving has occurred. The engineers are currently clarifying the new scope. East Shannon, Doa Lane, and parking is out for bid. District 8, a PO has been issued for a chameleon and congary that was approved in September and construction will begin once the current contract is complete. Montclair Way, SCDOT will require a signal. Therefore, alliances creating the design and will submit to SCDOT for their approval. Municipal Proposies for Johnsonville, Coward and Pamplico are currently being reimbursed as invoices are received. In parks and recreation, various projects underway. From our engineering department, engineering team took part in a meeting with the designers and builders of a proposed shopping plaza, which will include one of the worst kept secrets in Florence, which is a public store and a parker's kitchen store. Public work staff, if you've driven out East 7, 76, they've removed the old Dupont sign and moved it to storage at industrial park East at the request of economic development. And then public work staff is coordinated with the Darlham Moore Foundation, Lake City Police and SEDOT to determine a temporary truck route plan to be implemented during the Art Fields Festival in Lake City. They've actually had to install over 80 different signage to make trucks aware not to drive down Main Street during Art Fields. From Christie Birch and EMD, the communication divisions, along with Motorola and mobile communications, this division visited each fire department throughout March. They flashed the existing APX portable radios, programmed the new APX radios, reprogrammed the existing APX radios. They actually programmed and reprogrammed and touched approximately 930 radios during the month of March. Some good news from Sean Bashir in the Plainly Department regarding a flat's project. And Sean actually texted me this morning regarding the Highway 327 and 995 interchange, SEDOT and the Federal Highway Administration approved the contract on April 3rd. And a copy was delivered in Molloy for review and we hope to have a signed contract maybe as soon as later today so that'll be exciting to get that project finally going from Chipsnow and our IT department as you're aware we're converting to a new domain name going away from Florence CO.org to Florence County SC.gov that migration has begun and they're rolling it out as department users have time and they've already completed 14 departments from Nathan Dosty in our recreation department Dewitz-Bluf landing sea wall. We actually closed the landing on April 7th and the project started April 8th. Nathan sent me some pictures when we closed it. On the 7th, we put up a gate and somebody decided to drive through the gate before the project ever started. And then finally from recreation, the Lions Park multi-purpose building is nearing completion and we hope to have it completed by the end of the month and plans are underway to have an event with council and with community people in that area as well as members of the doctors Bruce and Lee Foundation who funded the vast majority of the cost of that project. Next moving on to reports to Council, the month of financial reports are provided to Council for this fiscal year through February 28th as an item for the record and we appreciate Ashley Davidson and her team in there work with that.. Next item, Council's asked to approve an agreement between Florence County, South Carolina and UPF litigators LLC and Wallace Jordan Attorney at Law to serve in the best entrances of resident citizens and visitors and to authorize the County Administrator to execute documents upon review of the County Attorney. Need a motion Need a motion? Go ahead. I have a motion. So I'm moving. In a second. Any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman. Florence County, South Carolina, is a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the state of South Carolina. Large chemical and food corporations have been addicting children for decades using techniques pioneered by tobacco companies. These chemical compounds have led to innumerable, avoidable health problems for the employee citizens and residents of the county and harm the social and economic welfare of the county. The county council has determined that it's in the best interest of the resident citizens and visitors to retain attorneys for the purpose of seeking recovery on behalf of Florence County as determined by County Council and Councils believed these people believed to be responsible for improperly manufacturing, marketing, and or distributing ultra-processed foods. The County Council has determined that its use of outside council is cost-effective in the public interest and necessary to pursue claims against the defendants as there does not exist sufficient and appropriate legal and financial resources within the county attorney's office to handle the matter and the time and labor required may necessitate the use of outside counsel. County Councils determined that the attorneys have the combination of skill, experience, resources and competency necessary to represent the county. Thank you, Mr. Yokeham. All those of you better, please see I. All right. Need a pose. resources and competency necessary to represent the county. Thank you, Mr. Yokeham. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye, sir, Mr. Yokeham. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman. Next on the agenda, council's request to approve the annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. With us this morning is Grant Davis, partner with firm Maldon and Jenkins who performed this audit and grants here and will make a presentation so I'll turn the podium over to Grant for his presentation and when he is complete we will ask Council to accept the audit as presented. Well thank you for having me, Mr. Chair and members of the council to go over the county's fiscal year 2024 audit and the ultimate document that you have seen. I assume at this point, but again, my name's Grant Davis. I'm a partner with the firm, Maul Nendiken, about Columbia, South Carolina. And we've ultimately issued two documents to you all in conjunction with our audit once One is a very big thick one. You know, the annual financial report. The other one is a document we call our auditors discussion analysis document and just briefly the purpose of that document is to memorialize some things and communications that we have got to say that you all are at the conclusion of our audit. I'll go through some of those here today. There's certainly nothing controversial in there. This as a firm. And then lastly, there's a look at new accounting standards and the potential impact that they will have to the county as they require to be implemented over the next couple of years. But as a part of that, we have a lot of financial and financial issues that we have to be able to do. And we have a lot of financial issues that we have to be able to do. And then lastly, there's a look at new accounting standards and the potential impact that they will have to the county as they require to be implemented over the next couple of years. But as a part of that, you'll note that there are three reports of ours in the annual financial report itself. And the first one is our report on the county's financial statements, our auditor's opinion. It's an unmodified opinion, which is not glamorous language, but it's really the only acceptable result in a financial statement audit. So again an unmodified or clean opinion on the county's financial statements as a whole. Just after that the second of the three reports is a report on internal controls and compliance with laws, regulations, grant agreements, playports, play on. That report is not designed to offer an, but provide what we call negative assurance, which is to say if we identify any instances of noncompliance or any internal control deficiencies, as a part of planning and conducting our audit and accordors for government auditing standards, we're required to report that to you all. And I'm happy to say that we did not identify any instances of noncompliance or internal control deficiencies. So also a clean report. The third and final report is a report that does provide an opinion. It's another compliance report and it's what we call a federal single audit report. So anytime you ultimately receive and spend and access of $750,000 in a given fiscal year of federally sourced money at triggers the compliance audit we perform such an audit on the coronavirus state local fiscal recovery funds program or the ARPA program is probably what you're most familiar with and we again issued an unmodified or clean opinion as to compliance with the federal requirements associated with that program. A few of those required communications that I wanted to mention here and again, those are all written in this auditors discussion analysis document, but those are the most important, at least in my view, are things like this that we are independent with respect to the county, which are required by our professional standards. We didn't have any disagreements with management and conducting the audit. We didn't encounter any significant difficulties in conducting the audit which are all actually very positive things. The financial statements themselves include a variety of estimates. We've evaluated those estimates from both the quantitative and qualitative perspective and agree with management's estimates, ultimately, in issuing our reports. The footnote disclosures are consistent, they're clear, which are both requirements, and they go, seem like if you look at this, they seem to go on forever, it's just page after page after page after page of all these disclosures, but in any event, they are required, and again, consistent and clear. Beyond that, I think just a few brief things I'll note about fiscal year 24 from a financial perspective. The General Fund had an increase in its fund balance of about just under $4 million from 2023 to 2024 up to about $35 million. If we look at your expenditures in the General Fund alone for the year, that fund balance is about $35 million represents about five months of fund balance. So basically what we're saying is that June 30, 24, if you didn't take in another dollar, you could operate for about five months at the same level as during fiscal year 24, which I think is a pretty healthy place to be. Again, that's just my opinion. And I could go into why that is if you're interested, but I'll leave that up to you all. But beyond that, I think this was the fourth consecutive year that General Fund has had an increase in its fund balance. 2020 had a decrease, which is understandable and line up the COVID year. But again, the fourth year, the general fund really, really looking stronger in terms of fund balance as compared to its expenditures. There's a chart in our auditors discussion analysis document that tracks expenditures on one line of fund balance on the other. And those are moving closer together, which is again a healthy place to be that's indicative of more of months of fund balance on hand. So anyway, just some brief analysis there. I think the audit ultimately went great as evidence by our reports and we don't have any formal recommendations for improvement otherwise. I'd be happy to answer any questions if you have any. Mr. Chair, what happened, man? Yeah, great audit. Thank you. Use your question is because I want Florence County to be the best in the state. the state is not the best in the nation How do we compare if other counties in the state of South Carolina or if our financial position based on your audit? It seems like coming out of the COVID period. I mean that was You know actually a strange period and then we've been awash with all this federal money that's come from a variety of sources, most specifically the Treasury program, the ARPA program that has hidden a lot, I think, in terms of you're basically sitting on a bunch of cash, not just for the county, but you know, all the governments really are sitting on a bunch of cash or have been and they've had to spin that down every time and that has in, at least in view is hidden a lot of a lot of things for some government. So in terms of comparison, I think, you know, when I talk about months of fund balance, I think that that five months, that's pretty typical, pretty average. And I think what you would have to answer when I say that's very difficult to compare former at county to another county from the perspective that you all may want to do things differently. You may have a different idea about how much fund balance is necessary to have. And so from that perspective, again, I think it's pretty normal. I think it'd be up to you all to decide is it another or is it too much too much? Is it just right? And of course adapt policies and I think you already do have a fun balance policy from that financial perspective. County has a good bit of debt, bonded debt outstanding. If I recall, I don't remember the exact number I'll talk my head but it doesn't seem to have be any issue in terms of continuing to pay to service that debt. And I think that's been something that's been in practice for a long time. Of course, you all have a lot of projects going on with capital projects, sales tax, things, and that requires the issuance of debt and this. I think from a financial perspective, you're healthy. You're where you want to be. Now, I don't know, you know, beyond that, if there's somewhere that you want to get to or the council wants to get to then, you know, I think that has to be evaluated in light of, you know, property tax increases or changes like that. That's, you know, your main revenue in your general fund is property tax. So that's what's going to drive your largely your increases in fund balance every time. Well, thank you for that, I'm very conservative. I like a good fund balance because you never know when this economy could go backwards and we may have to rely on that. So I don't want to personally. I want to make sure that we in a financial situation that we can handle something like that. I've always been of the mindset that I think we need another month personally, but anyway, at least a half a year would be good for things to run a cycle, but that's the reason that's going to question. Yeah, and like I said, you think about your property taxes when those, I mean everybody's paying those is basically the right beginning of the calendar year. So to be a June, I would agree with you. And again, this is just my personal opinion, but to be able to be a gene 30th and have fun violence to get you all the way back around to that big cash flow item, because your expenditures are, I mean, if you take out capital items, those fluctuate, like, you know, often wildly from year to year. But if you look at just what it costs to operate your personnel, your other things, matter not, capital related. They're pretty flat months after months after months. You can expect the same. But if you look at just what it costs to operate, your personnel, your other things, that are not caper-related, they're pretty flat month after month after month. So you can expect the same expenditures to come along. But then you've got this one very, very large revenue source that comes in really at only one time a year. So to be able to get all the way back around to that from June to that time period, I think, very helped. And of course you can even see with the effects of the hurricane back in September on the a large part of the state and even beyond that, you know, there's hope that FEMA is going to come in and reimburse some of them if not all, I think at least 75% of that damage. But those governments are having to flake that. I mean, FEMA's, you know, torsely slowed with their reimbursement. So, I mean, Florence County, unfortunately, is not immune from hurricane disasters. And, of course, certainly any other things like that. So, I agree with you having that cushion there in the event that you do need to be able to float something like a natural disaster or an economic situation is a good, very healthy place to be. Yeah, I'm very concerned because I remember when I first got elected to the school board when I served on it, we had tax anticipation notes and I never want to see a candidate on getting that position because you paid somebody about interest just so you can float bond to pay your staff and that's not a good position to be in. Luckily within five years we had a $25 million surplus of that school district, but anyway. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you so much. How much is one more? How much does it take to run the county for one month? I can do some math real quick. Let's see. Probably general funds probably, but $7.5, $8 million. Yeah. Let's see., the general fund spent and $85.5 million dollars in 24. It's going right at $7 million bucks. So just, I'll just do it real quick, because I don't want to say something. My job is math, but I'm still not that good at it. So, little I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. after this meeting to Hope's office so you can pick them up there. Okay. I have a motion. No, no, no. Motion in a second. All's better, police say aye aye any opposed I happen mr. Yoke. All right. Thank you, mr. Davis appreciate it Thank you mr. Chairman next item councils requested approve the reclassification of a currently occupied legal records clerk 4 position grade 11 to an account management position grade 16 and a legal records clerk for position grade 11 to a filing management position grade 16 in the clerk of courts department. Thank you, Mr. Yorker. Do I have a motion? So motion and a second any discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman. This is a budget neutral request. The Clark Accords Department has significant savings from a livenation of a slot to accommodate this fiscal year. This would satisfy Yes, Mr. Chairman. This is a budget neutral request. The clerk's court's department has significant savings from a livenation of a slot to accommodate this fiscal year. This would satisfy the huge departmental need and family court reclassifying this position will bring leadership to our family court accounting clerks and to the filing clerks division to the high standards we expect. No additional funding will be required. These salary adjustments will be funded from the current year salary savings from the elimination of the slot. These changes are being made for additional work of the deputies of the positions. These employees bring leadership to the clerk court as they maintain the highest standards that we expect. Coming from their experience, significant salary savings from eliminations. From the will be resolved from the elimination of the slot position. We anticipated savings of just at $9,400,000, $9,400. Ashley Davidson and Tenei Reeves support the reclassification of the positions and salary adjustments. And the proposed changes budget neutral has been reviewed and repute by the finance director and human resources director. Thank you, Mr. Yoke, for any further discussion. Here you are. All those favourites, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I as have it. Mr. Yoke, yeah. I'd like to bring up something that we just previously discussed. I don't think I've ever voted. And maybe I have your crept since I've been on council. I don't think I've ever voted for audit presentation. I hadn't seen before council meeting. So I'd like to request that next time it's presented to council before we have the audit presentation, making just an annual re-to thing that we do that before, because we just voted on something we hadn't even looked at, not going to disagree with it, but I'd like to look at it before I. So noted. Thank you, Mr. Yokem. I'm Mr. Chairman of the final item in the course to council's request for council to award bid number 25, 24, 25 district four, deer road, water main extension project to be and be construction company of Sumter South Carolina in the in the amount of 1,549,483 dollars and 34 cents the primary bid amount of 1,501,871 dollars and 86 cents and the alternate one bid amount of 47,611 dollars and 48 sense to be funded from Skip Grant number A-23-C071 funds. Thank you, Mr. Yoke, to have a motion. Second. Motion is second. Any further discussion? Yes, Mr. Chairman. The bid was advertised in Skibo on February 17th. The bid opening was held on March 20th. 9 bids received, all of which were compliant. BNB construction company was the lowest bidder. Todd Warren, program manager of Dave's and Floyd recommends awarding the low bidder. Steve Allen also recommends awarding BNB construction and the bid expires on June 20th. Thank you, Mr. Yoke, any further discussion? Here you're not always a favorite, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye, is that it? Mr. York, does this conclude your report? Yes, Mr. Chairman, but I'd like to make one other note. Earlier in the meeting, we introduced Ordnance No. 1, 2526, which is the budget ordinance for next fiscal year. And Ashley Davis and her team have put together budget notebooks books that are in Hope Jones' office and would like you to pick one up as you leave the meeting. Thank you, Mr. Yevgen. The next item on the agenda is other business. Infrastructure on South Bluestone Drive, Council's requested to approve the expenditure of not to exceed $10,000 from Council District 4, Infrastructure, Allocation Funds to place 250 tons of NBC stone on South Blue Stone Drive. Do I have a motion? Motion to second any discussion? Hearing none, all of the favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Aye. Aye. Water tower. Councillors requested to approve the expenditure of NOTIC, see $10,000 from Council District 2 Infrastructure Allocation Funds for Maintenance and Upkeep of the Hyman Water Tank on Highway 51. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion in the second any further discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? As I have it, Downs Road in Timon'sville Highway. Council is requested to approve the expenditure of not take seed $2,700 from Council District 4 allocations. From the infrastructure fund. These funds were needed to replace the storm drain covert. That was collapsing at the intersection of Downs Road and Tim and Zill Highway. The covert repair was the necessary part of the road work. Do I have a motion? Motion. Second. Motion in a second. Any discussion? Hearing none, all of them in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? I have it. Miss Yohgum, is there anything that needs to come for council for executive session? No. Hearing that, Chair will accept emotion to adjourn. I have a motion to adjourn. in the second also favor of joining please say aye. Aye. Aye. We stand adjourned.