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VERY LONG. I'M JUST GOING TO SIT IN THIS CORNER. RIGHT. LET'S CALL THIS MEETING TO ONE, AND
[*A portion of this clip is without video*]
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE'LL PASS IT OVER TO THE TEAM MEMBER. YES, SIR. LET ME OPEN US UP IN PRAYER. DEAR HEAVE FATHER, WE JUST THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. TO. OPPORTUNITY TO OPENLY DISCUSS ITEMS OF THE COMMUNITY. WE ASK YOU, LORD, THAT YOU WILL JUST BLESS THOSE WHO ARE COMING FORWARD TO DISCUSS ITEMS AND GIVE OUR COMMISSIONERS WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS THEY DIRECT THE DIRECT THE POLICIES OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE ASK YOU, LORD, THESE THINGS IN THE NAME. AMEN.[1. Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Presentation(Henry Jacobs)]
AMEN. ALRIGHT. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PRESENTATION FROM HENRY JACOBS, OUR RIVERKEEPER FOR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER KEEPERS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? G YEAH.JUST WANTED T A FEW QUICK MINUTES JUST TO SHARE AN UPDATE AND. IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS JACOBS. I'M THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVERKEEPER. I'VE.
I WAS A LAGRANGE COLLEGE HISTORY MAJOR AND GOT TO INTERN WITH THE ORGANIZATION. THEY HAD JUST OPENED UP AN OUTREACH OFFICE HERE ON THE SQUARE BACK IN 2013 OR SO, AND GOT LUCKY, GOT TO GET A FULL TIME JOB. AND SO OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS HAVE REALLY FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, WORKING HERE IN LAGRANGE. BUT ALSO I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW REALLY THE WHOLE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER FROM ATLANTA DOWNSTREAM, OUR ORGANIZATION JUST REAL QUICK. IT'S BEEN AROUND 31 YEARS, AND I'M REALLY KIND OF STARTED IN ATLANTA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WHERE YOU HAD IN THE 90S. IT WAS CHEAPER FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTA TO PAY FINES AND DUMP RAW SEWAGE INTO THE RIVER COMING DOWNSTREAM. SO RIVERKEEPER LED THE EFFORT WITH A LOT OF PARTNERS DOWNSTREAM, LAGRANGE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO APALACHICOLA TO HELP MAKE SURE THE CITY OF ATLANTA UPGRADED, INVESTED IN THEIR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO REALLY, OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RIVER QUALITY, THE HEALTH OF THE RIVER FLOWING DOWN FROM ATLANTA. I THINK SINCE THEN OUR ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN. WE'VE GOT 20 FULL TIME STAFF MEMBERS. WE HAVE OUR MAIN OFFICE IN ATLANTA, VERY FORTUNATE, GRATEFUL TO HAVE OUR SPACE AT THE OAK CONSERVATION CENTER. WE ALSO HAVE A SPACE UP IN THE HEADWATERS IN GAINESVILLE, AND WE NOW HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY. SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, 430 MILES OF RIVER. BUT I LIKE TO SAY WEST POINT LAKE IS REALLY THE HEART OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. AND SO I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS. FOR ONE, OUR FLOATING CLASSROOM THAT WE'VE OPERATED NOW FOR TEN YEARS ON WEST POINT LAKE, 40 FOOT BOAT. Y'ALL COME JOIN US IF YOU WANT TO OBSERVE A FIELD TRIP THIS FALL WITH A. WE SERVE ALL THE ALL THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS FROM TROUP COUNTY. THAT'S AN EFFORT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR SIX, SEVEN YEARS NOW TO GET EVERY SIXTH GRADE STUDENT OUT ON THE FLOATING CLASSROOM SO THAT EVERY KID WHO GROWS UP HERE IN TROUP COUNTY WILL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LAKE EXPERIENCE THE BOAT RIDE, JUST, YOU KNOW, A TWO, THREE HOUR BEING OUT ON THE LAKE. SHOW THEM THAT THEIR SOURCE OF WATER IS THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AND THE LAKE. SO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PROTECT IT? WE'VE HAD MORE THAN 30,000 KIDS OUT ON WEST POINT LAKE IN THOSE TEN YEARS, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF, SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND IT'S NOT JUST TROUP COUNTY SCHOOLS. WE'RE ALSO GETTING SCHOOLS TRAVELING FROM COLUMBUS UP AND THEN CARROLL COUNTY, NEWNAN-COWETA COUNTY. WE'RE GETTING HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS COMING IN TO ENJOY WEST POINT LAKE, AND THEY'RE SEEING PINEWOOD PARK. THEY'RE SEEING THE OAK CONSERVATION CENTER. AND SO I'M PROUD OF THAT. AND DEFINITELY, IF Y'ALL WANT TO COME JOIN US FOR AN OUTING THIS FALL, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ALONG. TWO OTHER THINGS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT ON WEST POINT LAKE. SINCE 2014, WE HAVE MONITORED ALGAE LEVELS. IT'S A GOOD INDICATOR OF OVERALL LAKE HEALTH. I'LL, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS THAT WE ALSO MONITOR FOR IN THE RIVER AND IN CREEKS AND STREAMS ARE TURBIDITY. SO MUD. WE ALSO MONITOR E.COLI LEVELS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT NO, YOU KNOW, BROKEN PIPES, FAILING SEPTIC TANKS, STUFF LIKE THAT ARE AFFECTING THE CREEKS. BUT FOR A LAKE, MONITORING THE ALGAE OR CHLOROPHYL A IS A GOOD INDICATOR. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE GEORGIA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION ALSO MONITORS ON THE LAKE. SO WE'RE BASICALLY DOING THE SAME THING YOU MONITOR FOR SEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, AND THEN YOU TAKE AVERAGE ALL THE SAMPLES FROM THOSE SEVEN MONTHS TO GIVE YOU
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A, AN ANNUAL RESULT. SO THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE SEEN A SLOW BUT STEADY INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ALGAE IN WEST POINT LAKE. AND SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. JUST WANTED TO REALLY KIND OF MAKE SURE IT'S ON YOUR RADAR. AND THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE SEEN LEVELS THAT HAVE JUST EXCEEDED LIMITS SET BY THE STATE OF GEORGIA. AND SO I KNOW GEORGIA EPD, I THINK NEXT YEAR WILL BE. AND JAMES, YOU PROBABLY HELP ME OUT ON SOME OF THE TECHNICAL STUFF WITH THIS, BUT THEY'LL BE ADDING THEY EXPECT TO ADD WEST POINT LAKE TO A LIST TO THEN LOOK INTO WAYS TO BASICALLY WHAT ARE THE UPSTREAM SOURCES, SOURCES OF THOSE NUTRIENTS THAT ARE CAUSING ALGAE TO GROW MORE AND MORE IN THE LAKE. SO I COULD GO INTO MORE DETAILS IF Y'ALL HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK THE MAIN THING TO NOTE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, THE STATE OF GEORGIA IS GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO WAYS TO ADDRESS IT. AND I THINK RIVERKEEPER DEFINITELY IN SUPPORTS. WE'RE GOING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO MOVE AS QUICK AS THEY CAN. SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A VERY DRAWN OUT YEARS AND YEARS PROCESS. RIVERKEEPER WANTS TO SEE IT HAPPEN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT BASICALLY ALL THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANTS, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS UPSTREAM OF WEST POINT LAKE MAY HAVE TO STRENGTHEN THEIR THEIR BASICALLY THEIR PROCESS SO THAT THE WATER IS COMING OUT EVEN CLEANER. AND SO THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE LAKE. GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS TRASH CLEANUPS. WE CONTINUE LEADING VOLUNTEER CLEANUPS ON THE LAKE AS WELL AS UPSTREAM IN ATLANTA. SO FAR THIS YEAR, WE'VE PULLED AROUND 100,000 POUNDS OF TRASH OUT OF THE RIVER UPSTREAM OF WEST POINT LAKE. AND SO WE'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZED IN ATLANTA TO GET TRASH OUT OF THE CREEKS, IN THE PARKS THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE RIVER AND COME DOWN. SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THE CHATTAHOOCHEE TRASH FREE HERE ON THE LAKE, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO, WORKING WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, A LONG TERM EFFORT. WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD BIT OF TRASH IN OUR COVES THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND YEARS. AND SO HOW DO WE GET THAT OUT? BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PLASTIC BOTTLES, STUFF LIKE THAT, ARE JUST SITTING IN THE SUN AND THE WAVES BREAKING DOWN INTO SMALLER AND SMALLER PIECES. SO THIS JANUARY, WE PARTNERED WITH THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS. WE WENT OUT TO MAGEE BRIDGE PARK AND CLEANED OUT TWO COVES AND REMOVED ABOUT TWO TONS OF TRASH JUST FROM TWO LITTLE COVES. AND WHAT MADE IT POSSIBLE WAS GETTING IN THERE WITH SOME LOW IMPACT EQUIPMENT TO MOVE BIG TREE TRUNKS AND LIMBS. THAT UNDERNEATH WAS ALL THIS PLASTIC.AND SO DOING IT IN THE WINTER TIME IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE THE LAKE LEVELS ARE DOWN. SO YOU CAN ACCESS THESE COVES WHEN THEY'RE HIGH AND DRY, WHEN THE LAKE COMES UP DURING THE SUMMER, ALL THAT TRASH AND DEBRIS WILL START FLOATING AROUND, AND IT CREATES HAZARDS FOR BOATERS AS WELL AS JUST BEING UNSIGHTLY. SO SOMETHING I WANT RIVERKEEPER TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE. LIKE A LONG TERM, IT MAY LOOK LIKE A MAYBE A SEASONAL CREW, YOU KNOW, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, YOU KNOW, NOVEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY 9 TO 5. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A CREW OUT ON THE LAKE, GOING COVE BY COVE TO REMOVE THAT LEGACY TRASH. IN THE MEANTIME, RIVERKEEPER, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO COLLECT IT ALL BEFORE IT GETS DOWN DOWNSTREAM. SO DOING WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE THE LAKE TRASH FREE AS WELL AS THE RIVER. LAST THING I'LL JUST MENTION, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO LEASE OUR CLASSROOM SPACE AT THE OKFUSKEE CONSERVATION CENTER. SO REALLY, REALLY ENJOY GETTING TO GO OUT TO WORK AND SEE THE LAKE EVERY MORNING. AND ALSO JUST HAVING THOUSANDS OF KIDS COME COME INTO THAT CLASSROOM SPACE EVERY YEAR. SO I'LL FINISH THERE. BUT IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, YEAH, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT CLEANING THE SLOUGHS AND THINGS LIKE THATT IS IT LIKE A PLAN KIND OF WHERE YOU READ? YOU SEE THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD COME TO RIVERKEEPERS THAT WORKS KIND OF WITH THE CORPS TO HELP GET THE OKAY TO DO THAT IS I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THAT POINT. I. LOOK TO SEE WHAT EQUIPMENT.
DEBRIS, BURN IT AND THEN COLLECT THE TRASH OR. I THINK THIS WINTER COMING UP, WE WANT TO TRY IT AGAIN RIGHT NOW, JUST FOCUSED ON SOME OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEER PARKS WHERE IT'S EASY TO GET
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PERMISSION. THE CORPS WANTS TO SEE THOSE PARKS CLEANED. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AFTER ANOTHER WINTER, MAYBE WE'LL KIND OF HAVE IT DIALED IN AND THEN. RIGHT, COULD START GOING TO. YEAH, FOLKS WHO WHO HAVE THEIR OWN COVE, I KNOW. YEAH. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO NEED THAT THAT SPECIAL PERMIT FROM THE CORPS. SO YEAH, I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS AREN'T JUST GOING OUT ON THEIR OWN, RIGHT. WITH, YOU KNOW, SKID STEERS RUNNING AROUND ON THE SHORES. YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA DO IT. RIGHT. SO, RIVERKEEPER. YEAH. WORKING WITH THE CORPS. HOPE TO DIAL IT IN OVER THE NEXT YEAR. AND HOPEFULLY, MAYBE I COULD COME BACK LATER, EITHER LATER THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR. GIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT. THAT EFFORT. ALRIGHT. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME IN YOUR IN YOUR JOB AS A RIVERKEEPER? MAN, I SHOULD I SHOULD HAVE MY CANNED RESPONSE FOR THAT ONE RIGHT THERE. YEAH. JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE THE LAKE AND THE RIVER AND KNOW IF YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER, LITTLE THINGS YOU CAN DO LIKE PUTTING, MAKING SURE TRASH ISN'T GETTING IN. OH, BUT EDUCATION, GETTING KIDS OUT.YEAH, THAT NEXT GENERATION OF RIVERKEEPERS. SO THINKING AHEAD, WHAT ABOUT THE FLIP SIDE? I MEAN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS YOUR NUMBER ONE SUCCESS? OH, I MEAN, RIGHT, 30, 31 YEARS OF WORKING AND WE'VE REMOVED ABOUT 3 MILLION POUNDS OF TRASH THAT HASN'T ENDED UP IN WEST POINT LAKE. I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE ME. YEAH, SALLY STARTED RIVERKEEPER. SO THAT AND GETTING KIDS OUT ON THE FLOATING CLASSROOM, THOSE ARE TWO GOOD THINGS. I REALLY LIKE WATCHING THAT THE LEVELS, YOU KNOW, TO. SO IT DIDN'T GET INTO A WORSE SITUATION, YOU KNOW, TOTHAT. OUS CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. SO WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT WEST POINT LAKE AND THE RIVER ARE TO TROUP COUNTY. SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE A HOME HERE CENTER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ZACH STEELE, TO DISCUSS THE TROUP COUNTY DOT PROGRAM. GOOD
[2. Troup County Dive Team Program Update(Zac Steele)]
MORNING. AS YOU ALL ARE ALL AWARE. RESPOND TO A TRAGIC DROWNING ACCIDENT. WE JUST DECIDED TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AS WELL AS DISCUSS SOME EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND FOLLOWING UP. AND I KIND OF TIE THESE IN TOGETHER, IF THAT'S OKAY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE MEANTIME OF ADDING THIS TO THE AGENDA AND GETTING TO THIS MOMENT, WE'VE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL DROWNINGS IN TROUP COUNTY FOR A TOTAL OF THREE. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT EACH INCIDENT AND HOW OUR DIVE TEAMS BENEFITED FROM THAT. BUT THE PREVIOUS COMMISSION APPROVED JUST PURCHASE SOME EQUIPMENT FOR A DIVE TEAM AND SEND 12 STUDENTS TO SCHOOL. WE'VE SINCE SINCE SINCE SENT NINE STUDENTS TO DIVE SCHOOL AND HAVE THREE SPOTS REMAINING THAT WE INTEND TO SEND TO COLUMBUS TO SCHOOL THIS FALL TO FULFILL THOSE REMAINING SPOTS. BUT I WANT TO TIP MY CAP TO THOSE GUYS. THEY'VE DONE PHENOMENAL JOB AND DONE NOTHING BUT WORK AND BEEN RIGHT ON TOP OF THE SPOT. FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COMING IN OFF DUTY, THE GUYS ON DUTY CALLING, JUST TRYING TO GET TO THERE QUICKLY AND I'LL KIND OF GIVE SOME TIMELINES AND DEPTHS AND THINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. BUT IN REFERENCE TO THE SHAEFER HEARD DROWNING THE EVENING FOLLOWING THE BUSINESS MEETING, WE HAD A 22 YEAR OLD MALE WHO WAS 54 YARDS OFF THE BANK. OUR DIVE TEAM WAS IN THE WATER ABOUT 55 MINUTES. WE THINK, GIVE OR TAKE. WE HAD SOME WEATHER DELAYS BECAUSE OF LIGHTNING AND ALL THAT. SO SOME OF THAT'S A LITTLE TOUCH AND GO. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THAT MALE DROWN IN 5.9FT OF WATER. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND HIM ON SATURDAY NIGHT, JULY THE 5TH, THAT HORACE KING AND WE HAD A 21 YEAR OLD MALE WE THINK WAS ABOUT 12 TO 15FT OFF THE DOCK. WE OUR DIVE TEAM WAS IN THE WATER FOR EIGHT MINUTES, AND IT WAS MARKED WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SONAR ON OUR BOAT, AND THEY RECOVERED HIM IN 19FT OF WATER. AND HE WAS 21 YEARS OLD. THIS SUNDAY AT MAGEE ACCESS, WE HAD A 32 YEAR OLD MALE, AND WE HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE AFTER ACTION AND MARKED THE COORDINATES TO GET THIS, BUT WE BELIEVE HE WAS ABOUT ROUGHLY 60 YARDS OFF THE BANK. OUR DIVE TEAM WAS IN THE WATER FOR 49 MINUTES, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD 12 MINUTES OF DIVE TIME UNDERNEATH THE WATER, AND THEY RECOVERED HIM IN 22FT OF WATER. SO THE AND THE DIVE TEAM TO TROUP COUNTY HAS BEEN QUITE THE ASSET. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER THESE VICTIMS AND PROVIDE CLOSURE TO FAMILY QUICKER THAN WE CAN GET A RESOURCE FROM OUT OF TOWN. SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT ON THIS. IT'S OBVIOUSLY THREE TRAGIC INCIDENTS WITHIN A THREE WEEK PERIOD, BUT US BEING ABLE TO GET THESE RESOURCES ON SCENE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, I THINK IS A VITAL ASSET TO TROUP[00:15:02]
COUNTY, AND I CERTAINLY CAN. BEFORE I SHIFT GEARS, I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE IN REFERENCE TO THOSE THREE INCIDENTS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE DIVE TEAM, YOU SAID IT'MEMBERS A SEAO DO. TO I THEY'VE GOTTA HAVE THREE, FOUR AND THEY, THEY STAGGER AND Y. STRAPPED BEL AS ONE TENDING ROPE ON THAT. SO THEY CAN'T OPERATE WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR. BUT THE ONE GOOD THING WE HAVE WITH THAT, WHILE WE'RE WE'RE STILL B WE KNO HAVE TO ADD MORE IN THE FUTURE, IS THESE GUYS ARE TRAINED BY THE EXACT. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO OUTWEIGH OUR RESOURCES QUICK ENOUGH. WE'RE GOING TO CALL COLUMBUS AND HAVE THEM SEND THEIR TEAM UP, JUST LIKE WE DID LEADING UP TO THIS. THAT WAY THEY'RE ALL TRAINED THE EXACT SAME WAY. SO WHEN THEY GO TO OPERATE AND INTEGRATE TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE SAME RESOURCES. GOTCHA. SO AND THEY'VE AGREED TO DO THAT WHILE WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING, JUST LIKE THEY ALWAYS AGREED TO COME WHEN WE MADE THAT RESOURCE REQUEST, WE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. AND WE APPRECIATE COLUMBUS OUR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND WE GOT SOME STATS FROM THE ARMY CORPS ENGINEER TO JUST. AND SO EVERYBODY'S FAMILIAR 2022. WE HAD THREE DROWNINGS, 2023. WE HAD TWO 2024, WE HAD FOUR, AND WE'VE HAD THREE THIS YEAR ALL WITHIN THREE WEEKS. THE ONE COMMONALITY BETWEEN THE 12 OF THESE IS LIFE JACKETS WERE NEVER USED IN ANY OF THESE. SO THAT AND I BELIEVE THERE'S ONE THAT THAT HAS A QUESTION MARK ON IT FROM 2024. THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO FELL OFF A BASS BOAT WITH A LIFE JACKET ON, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT TO BE A MEDICAL RELATED EMERGENCY THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE HE HIT THE WATER. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE'VE HAD A SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE ACTUALLY USING A LIFE JACKET. SO ONE THING WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE THROUGH THIS IS WEAR LIFE JACKETS, EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS. AND YOU KNOW, THE THESE PEOPLE, THE, THE VICTIMS FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN WITH THEM OR FRIENDS HAVE ALL SAID, WELL, THEY KNEW HOW TO SWIM. THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY'RE REALLY GOOD SWIMMERS. BUT THIS GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT EVEN WHAT PEOPLE CONSIDER GOOD SWIMMERS AND EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS BECOME TIRED AND BECOME DISORIENTED. AND THEY ACTUALLY FILMED A VIDEO DURING SOME TRAINING EXERCISES YESTERDAY AT HIGHLAND MARINA. ONCE YOU GET TO ABOUT THE 6 OR 7 FOOT MARK, I BELIEVE CAPTAIN EVANS, IT GOES FROM LITTLE AMBIENT LIGHT DOWN TO PITCH BLACK DARK THAT QUICK SO YOU GET DISORIENTED. YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY IS UP OR DOWN ABOUT THE SIX SEVEN FOOT MARK. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE UP OR DOWN. SO A LOT OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU GET IN DISTRESS. YOU GET TIRED AND PANICKING.THAT AND THE OTHER UNFORTUNATE PART IS ALL THREE OF THESE HAVE BEEN VIDEOED. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO USE THAT TO LOCATE THE AREAS FOR SEARCH IN THAT AS WELL. SO I WILL POINT OUT AGAIN, WE TALKED YESTERDAY A LITTLE BIT WITH OUR STAFF MEETING. BUT YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO HAVY NEED IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS A LAKE. YOU KNOW, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT COMING FORWARD, Y'ALL, LATER ON AGAIN WITH THE TRAGIC INCIDENT HAPPENED IN TEXAS. OBVIOUSLY SOUTH OF THE DAM, WE HAVE THE RIVER AND MAYBE SOME SWIFT WATER RESCUE TRAINING AS WELL TO GO ALONG WITH OUR DIVE TEAM. SO CERTAINLY A NEED. I'M CERTAINLY GLAD THAT THE COMMISSION INVESTED IN THIS.
IT'S BEEN WELL UTILIZED, WELL NEEDED. AND AGAIN, I CERTAINLY APPLAUD OUR DIVE TEAM AND LEADERSHIP. IT'S BEEN IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL TO WATCH THEM IN ACTION. ONE THING ABOUT IT TOO IS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THESE GUYS GOING TO SCHOOL FROM THIS PAST CLASS. THEY FINISHED IN FEBRUAR, STARTED LATE WINTER LAST YEAR. N OUR POOL FACIL HERE AT AS WELL.E HAVE THESE RESCUE DIVER CERTIFICATIONS. IF WE BRING THEM IN AND GET THEM REMEDIATED TO THAT, WE'LL ADD THEM TO OUR TEAM. IT'S NOT LIKE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR SPECIFIC DIVE SCHOOL. WE WOULD CERTAINLY CONSULT WITH THE COLUMBUS DIVE GROUP, WHICH IS DANIEL MACON AND ROLAND SANDOVAL, THAT DO ALL OUR TEACHING FOR US. MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MESHING WITH IT AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CAPABILITIES ARE. BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD AT ANY POINT, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE OR THREE SPOTS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED FOR DIVE AS WELL. AND THEN ONCE WE GET THAT FILLED, I THINK PROBABLY REQUESTING SOME SPOTS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN FULFILL THAT. YOU KNOW, THE GOAL WOULD BE PROBABLY 5 TO 6 PEOPLE PER SHIFT. THAT WAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT, AND YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS HAVING TO DEPEND ON PEOPLE THAT ARE OFF DUTY, BECAUSE YOU ALL WELL KNOW THAT IT'S HARD TO GET COMMITMENTS FROM PEOPLE OFF DUTY, YOU KNOW. SO BUT I APPLAUD WHAT THEY'VE DONE. WE HAVE WE'RE GETTING FLOODED BY PEOPLE OFF DUTY FLYING IN THERE BEFORE WE ARE A LOT OF TIMES. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE COMING STRAIGHT FORWARD, BUT THEY'RE VERY EAGER AND EXCITED.
THEY WERE DOING TRAINING YESTERDAY. THEY'RE DOING TRAINING TODAY. THEY'RE DOING TRAINING TOMORROW. THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH DNR ON SOME TRAINING COMING UP FRIDAY AS
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WELL. AND THEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND AUSTIN THOMPSON'S HERE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM. THEY'RE ACTUALLY ADDING TECHNOLOGY TO THEIR BOAT THAT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE MORE DOWN SCAN SONAR. THE MORE BOATS THAT WE HAVE SCANNING THESE AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN THE COVE AT MAGEE ON SUNDAY, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IT WENT INTO 22FT OF WATER, YOU SAW A LOT OF CONTOUR CHANGES IN THE BOTTOM VERY QUICKLY. IT GOES FROM 3FT TO 12FT DOWN TO EVEN 32FT. I BELIEVE AT SOME POINT BACK UP TO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A ROCKY BOTTOM ALL OVER. BUT WHEN YOU'RE HAVING TO SEARCH FOR THOSE VICTIMS, THE MORE TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU CAN HAVE ON TOP OF THEM WOULD ALLOW MARCUM.AND SO WE CAN DRIVE OVER THEM, WE CAN THROW A BUOY AND MARK, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEND OUR DIVE TEAMS TO. AND THEY'LL DO SEARCHES RIGHT AROUND THOSE AREAS. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MARKED QUICKLY BECAUSE IT SHOWS UP ON THE SONAR IS A BIG MARK THAT'S OUT OF PLACE. WE MARKED IT DOWN. TEAM GOES DOWN THERE AND COME BACK. HEY, THIS IS JUST A 55 GALLON DRUM. WE MARKED THAT ONE OFF. WE MOVED THE MARKERS AND WE START RESCANNING. SO THE MORE TECHNOLOGY THE BETTER. BUT SO THEY'RE UPDATING THEIRS AS WELL. THAT'LL GIVE US MORE RESOURCES TO THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE WATER. BUT THE OVERALL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN DNR, THE CORPS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ALL OF TROUP COUNTY AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN IMPROVED DRASTICALLY SINCE WE REALLY STARTED WORKING ON THIS. YOU. ALL RIGHT? THE NEXT. NEXT
[3. Discuss Fire Department Dive Equipment Purchase(Zac Steele)]
THING. YES, SIR. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE NEXT PORTION IS A REQU OF SOME EQUIPMENT, HONESTLY. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE RESOURCES THAT THE COUNTY IS COMMITTING TOWARD TOWARD TOWARD PROVIDING WATER SAFETY. TWO THINGS ON HERE. AND I ALSO WANT TO PUBLICLY HIGHLIGHT SOME SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM TYLER KNIGHT AT THE COMPANY. HE ACTUALLY IS A DEMO REP FOR THEIR COMPANY. IT'S THE UNDERWATER HANDHELD SONAR, AND WE CALLED HIM ON THE DROWNING AT SCHAEFER AND SAID, HEY, CAN YOU COME OUT HERE AND HELP US? HE ACTUALLY LIVES IN HOGANSVILLE AND HE'S NOT EVEN A SALESMAN. HE'S JUST THE DEMO GUY. SO WE CALLED HIM AND HE WAS LIKE, SURE, ABSOLUTELY. HE CAME OUT THERE AND THE TECHNOLOGY WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST TO PURCHASE HER. THE AQUA ACTUALLY HELPED LOCATE THAT VICTIM ON JULY THE 1ST. HE ACTUALLY HAD JUST GOT PICKED UP ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BOAT THIS PAST SUNDAY TO COME OUT AND HELP US AGAIN, BUT WE LOCATED RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME WE GOT HIM, PICKED HIM UP. SO I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK HIM FOR SUPPORTING TROUP COUNTY AND ALL OF US COMING OUT IN THAT AND NEVER SAYS NO. I, I THINK EVERY TIME CAPTAIN EVANS CALLS HIM OUT, IT'S 30 MINUTES OR LESS. HE'S LIKE, HEY, I'M ON THE WAY. SO AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE'VE ACTUALLY DEMOED THIT OF IT AS WELL. YOU KNOW, RECOVER THESE THINGS AND VICTIMS. EXCUSE ME. AND SO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR IS PURCHASE OF THE AQUA LOT HANDHELD SONAR DEVICE FOR $5,995 FROM FIRELINE. WE GOT THREE QUOTES. THEY ALL CAME BACK IDENTICAL, AND WE PURCHASED A LOT OF OUR EQUIPMENT THROUGH FIRELINE. SO WE HAVE THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AS WELL AS THERE'S SOME THINGS WE'VE NOTICED OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS THAT THESE DIVE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE REQUESTED, INCLUDING A GENERATOR, LIGHTS FOR THEIR TRAILER, KNIVES, DIVE LIGHTS, BUOYS, SPARE CYLINDERS FOR TANKS. AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME OF THE DIVE SUITS THAT WE PURCHASED FROM THE WETSUITS WEAR OUT FROM ALL THE TRAINING THEY DID THROUGH SCHOOL, ALL THE TRAINING THEY'RE CONTINUING TO DO, AND THEN THROUGH THE THREE RESPONSES, ESPECIALLY IN THE KNEES AND ELBOWS AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T BUY, THE SUITS THAT WERE REINFORCED. SO WE WERE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL $10,000 FROM THE SPLOSS TO PURCHASE THIS NEEDED EQUIPMENT FOR THEM. WHAT THEY'LL DO WITH THESE WHEN WE START TO REPLACE THEIR WETSUITS AS WELL, IS WHAT THEY'RE USING NOW CURRENTLY BECOME THEIR TRAINING ONLY SUITS, AND WE'LL HAVE THE SUITS THAT WE BUY WITH THE REINFORCED ELBOWS AND KNEES FOR THEIR THEIR WORKING AREAS THAT WILL BE USED ONLY FOR THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITUATIONS THAT WE GET INTO. WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS IS IT IS A DRY SUIT NEEDED IN THIS AS WELL? I BELIEVE SO, AND THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT'S COME UP YET.BUT CERTAINLY WE'LL WE'LL WORK WITH THEM AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED. I WOULD SAY THAT THEY WOULD NEED THAT AS COLD AS IT GETS. AND JUST FOR DISCUSSION ON IT, IF THE WATER TEMPERATURE, SURFACE TEMPERATURE WAS 89, 90 DEGREES, I BELIEVE WHERE WE RECOVERED THIS VICTIM ON SUNDAY AT 22FT ROUGHLY WOULD HAVE BEEN 70 SOMETHING DEGREES. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DEGREE MARK ON THAT, BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU TO THE DEEPER YOU GET, THE COLDER IT GETS. SO WE RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE HAVE A FISHERMAN FALL OFF A BOAT. YOU KNOW, THE CRAPPIE AND THE BASS FISHERMEN ARE OUT THERE YEAR ROUND. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO ASSIST THEM AS WELL, NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY SUMMERTIME LAKE CROWD THAT WE SEE. ANY QUESTIONS? I WAS JUST CURIOUS ON ONE THING YOU SAID. I
[00:25:06]
KNEW THA FIRST DROWNING, IT WAS A LOT OF BAD WEATHER. THE CRITERIA YOU HAVE TO WAIT, YOU KNOW, TO WHAT'S USED FOR THAT RECOVERY. TH QUESTION, BECAUSE WE KIND OF GOT INTO THE SAME QUESTION OF BECAUSE WE'RE WATCHING THE WE WE. MR. CALLAWAY? UTILIZE DURING THIS? NEED TO GO, HEY,LY SOM THIS IS WHERE WE SAY. I'M GOING TO PUT THEM IN THE WATER AND WE ALLOW THEM TO MAKE THAT. IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO PUT THEM IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. BUT THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT WE WERE OPERATING ON WITH THE SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT. AND THEN PART OF THE COUNTY WAS UNDER SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AT THE SAME TIME. OBVIOUSLY, ACTUALLY, WHEN WE LEFT HERE THAT NIGHT, WE WENT INTO TWO HOUSES THAT WERE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING AND THEN TO THAT. SO AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THE BOATS DEPLOYED TO THAT AREA AS WELL. CREATED A LOT OF DELAY BECAUSE WE WERE AT SHAFFER HEARD THE BOATS ARE IN HIGHLAND MARINA, AND THERE WAS A STORM THAT WAS COMING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE THAT THE CREWS COULDN'T GET THROUGH. BUT I ALSO WANT TO COMMENT TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASES WAS THE DIVING, THE HAVING THE RESOURCES FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STAGED AT HIGHLAND MARINA HAS BEEN A HUGE ASSET TO BOTH GROUPS. TO BE ABLE TO GO GET ON THAT AND TAKE OFF. AND JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, THAT HIGHLAND MARINA GIVES US THOSE SLIPS AT HALF THE COST TO MAKE SURE THOSE PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. AND I WILL SAY THIS AGAIN, SHERIFF WOODRUFF. AND THEN I THINK KEITH WAS STILL WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE REACHED OUT TO HIM WHEN THERE WAS A NEED. THEY HAD TWO BOATS AND THEY ACTUALLY GAVE US THEIR WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE RESOURCE TO US. WE CERTAINLY. FOR SPECIFICALLY DIVING JUST BECAU, THE OR CAROLF THAT WE HAVE CERTAINLY LIMITS THE NUMBER. BOAT. IT'S MORE MORE EFFICIENT BOAT AND SO HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE WATER EASIER WOULD CERTAINLY HELP. AND SO THAT IS AGAIN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. BUT AGAIN, JUST WANTING TO KIND OF LET YOU GUYS MARINATE ON THAT, ASK QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT. AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE OUR GUYS AS THEY'RE OUT OPERATING ON WEST POINT LAKE. YEAH. AND JUST FOR KIND OF TAG ON TO THAT THAT CAROLINA SKIFF WE'RE WITH A 75 D NEW MOTOR WE PUT ON. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WE'RE WE'RE VERY THRILLED WITH IT. BUT WHEN YOU START TRYING TO RECOVER VICTIMS AS WEL OPERATE WITH 2 OR 3 DIVE PEOPLE, IT IS SMALL IN THAT CAPACITY. SO IN THE FUTURE. IT'S A GREAT ASSET TO US. BUT AS WE BUILD THIS DIVE TEAM, HAULING EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, IT'S NOT BUILT FOR THAT. I KNOW IT WAS USED. IN PINE RIVER, LIKE DURING FIREWORKS AND YES, SIR. PND STUFF. IT WAS GOOD. LAKE ON THE WEEKENDS AND CERTAINLY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, ZACH. YES, SIR. I WOULD LIKE ANY. THE BILL RESOLUTION. GOODMD[4. Discuss Brunch Bill Resolution(Andrew Harper)]
MORNING. ALL RIGHT. MODIFIED BACK IN 18. AND THE PROBLEM OF IT IS WITH THE BRUNCH BILL, THE TIMELINE DOESN'T GO ALONG WITH ANY OTHER ELECTION. THAT SPECIAR A MUNICIPAL BECAUSE OF THE TIMELINE. AND 45 DAY WINDOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE CITY OF LAGRANGE APPROACHED US LAST YEAR AND WANTED TO DO THE BRUNCH BILL TO THE QUESTION, AND IT WAS OUT OF THE OUT OF THE QUESTION, BECAUSE THE TIMELINE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE TWO SETS OF EQUIPMENTS, TWO DIFFERENT ELECTIONS, AND THAT WAS OUT OF THE QUESTION. SO AND THEN THEY LOOKED AT IT EARLIER THIS YEAR AND DID A MARCH ELECTION, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY THE COST TOTALLY BY THEMSELVES FOR THAT TO BE DONE. SO THEY'RE ADDING IT TO THEIR THEIR CITY ELECTION THIS YEAR. AND WHEN WE DID THE LIQUOR BY THE DRINK IN THE COUNTY UNINCORPORATED LAST YEAR, WE MIRRORED THE CITY'S REFERENDUM AND EVERYTHING. SO BASICALLY WHAT THIS IS DOING IS ALLOWING THE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE LIQUOR ON SUNDAYS TO GO FROM 1230 UNTIL 11 A.M, START SERVING SO THEY CAN GET THEIR MIMOSAS OR WHATEVER WITH THEIR BRUNCHES OR WHATEVER THEY SERVE. AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT IS, IS BACKING IT UP. AND FROM 1230 TO 11 A.M. BUT THE TIMELINE, IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DO IT NOW AND YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT UNTIL MARCH 2027, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO A SPECIAL ELECTION[00:30:05]
CALL AND PAY FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY TO BE OPEN EVERY ELECTION. SO THE REASON WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO ASK, DOES THE COMMISSIONER WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH IT FOR THE STAFF AND THE ATTORNEY TO WRITE A RESOLUTION TO BRING BACK BEFORE YOU IN AUGUST, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ALREADY DIRECTED THEIR STAFF TO DO A RESOLUTION, AND WE WOULD NEED TO MIRROR THAT SAME RESOLUTION IF WE WANTED TO DO IT, TO MAKE SURE IT'S COMPLIANCE WITH ON THE SAME ON THE BALLOT IS TOGETHER. SO IF YOU WANTED TO GO FORWARD WITH IT, YOU WOULD NEED TO VOTE TO THIS EVENING TO LET THE STAFF AND THE ATTORNEY TO DROP THE RESOLUTION AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU IN AUGUST TO VOTE ON, BECAUSE WE HAD THAT. WE HAVE A DEADLINE THAT'S PUSHING TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS YEAR.SO THAT DEADLINE IS RIGHT AFTER QUALIFYING. SO QUALIFYING IS THE 18TH THROUGH THE THAT WEEK OF THE 18TH THE NEXT WEEK, THAT WEEK WE WOULD VOTE ON IT. SO THAT WOULD GIVE IT TIME TO GET ON THE BALLOT, BECAUSE THE DEADLINE IS THE NEXT WEEK TO GET EVERYTHING TO THE STATE. SO WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THE 19TH IF Y'ALL CHOOSE TO DO IT FORWARD ANY. RESOLUTION, IT WOULD. THINK THE TENTATIVE TIMELINE WOULD BE AUGUST 12TH WAS. SO THAT WOULD MEAN THE COUNTY, IF IT CHOSE TO DO SO, COULD ADOPT THE RESOLUTION ON AUGUST 19TH. SOLD BE PLENTY OF TIME. SO Y'ALL WOULD VOTE TO. GET BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST 19TH. THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD IF YOU WANTED TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION TO MIRROR THE CITY'S BRUNCH BILL, I THINK WE TAKE THIS UP ON TONIGHT. YEAH. VOTE TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE. ONE MORE NOTE. TAKE SOME PRECINCT MANAGER. WE ONLY OPEN ONE PRECINCT THIS ELECTION. SO IF NOBODY'S VOTED IN THE DEMOCRATIC RUNOFF, YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO RIGHT OVER HERE TO FIRST METHODIST, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON BROAD STREET AND VOTE TODAY. WE'VE ONLY HAD TEN PEOPLE VOTE TODAY SO FAR, HAD 103 DURING EARLY VOTING FOR A WHOLE WEEK OF RUNOFF EARLY VOTING. SO WE'VE ONLY HAD TEN. SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION RUN OFF ON THE ON THE BALLOTOVEMBER.
SO ALL RIGHT. GOOD. WE HAVE REVEREND MCKINNEY ROCKY MOUNTAIN BAPTIST CHURCH WHO WILL
[5. Consideration of July 15, 2025 Business Meeting Agenda(Eric Mosley)]
BE HERE TO PROVIDE. CONSIDERATION OF THEL RESOLUTION. ITEM B WILL BE CONSIDERATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DIVE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE. AND ITEM C IS CONSIDERATION OF THE TROUP COUNTY FISCAL POLICY UNDER PUBLIC HEARING. WE HAVE THREE ITEMS. WE HAVE A BEER AND WINE LICENSE APPLICATION AT 7703 WEST POINT ROAD. THE FIRST READING OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE FIRST OF THREE MILLAGE RATE HEARINGS FOR TROUP COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. AND THAT IS ALL THAT IS ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA AT THIS POINT. ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS? FOR THE GENTLEMAN? MAKE A MOTION. A SECOND. ALL* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.