[00:02:11]
>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2023 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE REVEREND BUDDY DUNN IN TO DO OUR INVOCATION, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GOOD MORNING SIR.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF COMING TO YOU TO SEEK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO, AND ESPECIALLY THESE HERE THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS.
THE ONLY CREDIT YOU WILL GIVE THEM, THE SPIRIT OF UNDERSTANDING AND NOT THE SPIRIT OF CONFUSION.
THAT THOSE THAT WORK WITH THEM WILL BE DILIGENT AND THEY'RE SEEKING THE INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR THEM TO MAKE THE PROPER DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.
WE SEND IT TO YOU FOR THESE THAT ARE WILLING TO INVEST THEIR TIME IN THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY AND THE RESIDENTS OF IT.
[1. Commissioners Meeting Convenes]
WE THANK YOU FOR THE HELP, THE OFFICE STAFF AND THOSE HERE THAT ARE DILIGENT IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO AND VERY EFFICIENT IN IT, AND ALL THE ONES THAT PREPARE THE MESSAGES, THE ACCOUNTS.FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK ENABLED BY YOU IF THAT WISDOM TO DO IT.
WE DO PRAY TODAY THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE DONE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND NOT HER OWN, IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AND AMEN.
>>REVEREND DUNN'S A REGULAR IN OUR INVOCATION AND THAT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
FAITH, FELLOWSHIP, PRESTON, GO VISIT HIM THERE.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING? YES BAKER. HOW ARE YOU, SIR?
>> I'M GOOD THIS MORNING. JIM BAKER.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT, I KNOW A LOT OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION.
I KNOW THEY'RE SURE TO HELP, BUT THERE'S A LACK OF SIGNING AND WARNING SIGNS, AND ONE-THIRD NOW THERE ARE SOME.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FATAL ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE DAYS WOULD JUST, NOT ONLY OUR OWN WORKERS IN THE COUNTY, BUT WITH THE CONTRACTORS YOU HAVE COMING OUT HERE AND THEY BLOCK ALL FOR ROAD AT NIGHT.
[00:05:01]
I SAY THERE'S A FLAG MAN AHEAD AND SOMEBODY IS SITTING THERE IN A TRUCK HOLDING A FLAG.[2. Public Comment]
IF HE HAPPENS TO SEE THE CAR IN TIME HE GETS OUT.I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE NOTICE AS WELL AS I DO.
I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND AND HIGHWAY SAFETY, AND THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY CONCERNED.
BECAUSE IT'S PREVALENT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON ALMOST EVERY ROAD, NOT ONLY ROAD CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS, BUT DRIVEWAYS, PEOPLE PACK IN DRIVEWAYS WITH A PRIVATE PEOPLE DOING AND THEY BLOCK THE ROAD, AND IT'S HAZARDOUS.
PARTICULARLY SINCE EVERYBODY SPEEDS AND ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SHORTAGE OF PERSONNEL, AND A LOT OF EXTRA DUTIES PEOPLE HAVE TO DO NOWADAYS.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD TAKE A LOPING INTO.
WELL, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAN PROBABLY PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPHASIS IN IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL BRING THAT UP TO HIM.
ANYONE ELSE, ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? WE WILL MOVE ON.
WE'RE GOING TO SKIP OVER OUR FIRST ITEM UNTIL WE HEAR FROM MR. HUNT WITH [INAUDIBLE].
LET'S GO TO JACK MARTELL, MANAGER, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND GREG WERNER, MANAGER, NEXAMP SOLAR INC FOR A HOBBS SOLAR PROJECT PROPOSAL.
[5.Hobbs Solar Project Proposal]
GENTLEMEN, GOOD MORNING.>> THANKS FOR HAVING US. APPRECIATE IT. MORNING, GUYS. MY NAME IS JACK MARTELL.
I'M A MANAGER OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITH NEXAMPS SOLAR.
WE ARE ACTUALLY A BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS BASED SOLAR DEVELOPER.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE BUILDING SOLAR PROJECTS IN A PROGRAM KNOWN AS AGGREGATE NET ENERGY METERING.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A PROGRAM THAT ENABLES LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO REALIZE THE BENEFITS OF LARGER SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLAR PROJECTS THAT ARE BUILT OFF SITE OF COUNTY FACILITIES AND ARE ABLE TO DELIVER GUARANTEED UTILITY COST SAVINGS BACK TO THE COUNTY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR HAD BEEN WORKING WITH THE FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS ON A PROJECT AT THE HOBBES [INAUDIBLE] LANDFILL HERE IN DENTON.
IT'S A PROJECT THAT AND I KNOW WE HAD SHARED SOME SLIDES AND WE'VE SPOKEN WITH NANCY FOX IN THE PAST THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW.
BUT WE'RE ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT A PROJECT THAT WOULD COVER ABOUT 15 ACRES ON THAT HOBBES CAPPED LANDFILL AND WOULD DELIVER SAVINGS BOTH TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS CASE.
THE PROJECT IN THIS CASE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY ITSELF, WOULD BE SCHEDULED TO DELIVER ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR IN GUARANTEED UTILITY COST SAVINGS, AND WOULD ALSO BE SCHEDULED TO DELIVER ABOUT $15,000 A YEAR IN LAND LEASE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY FOR THAT PARCEL.
THE OTHER MAIN BENEFIT OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S BUILT IN THE COUNTY, IT WOULD DELIVER SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAXES BACK TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
IN THIS CASE, $90,000 IN YEAR 1 OF UTILITY PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEN ABOUT $1.2 MILLION OVER THAT 20-YEAR TERM OF THE PROJECT LIFE.
THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THEM WITH THAT LINES UP WITH THE POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN THIS CASE.
IN THIS CASE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL YEAR WHEN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT, ABOUT $120,000, NEARLY $2 MILLION OVER THAT POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT LIFETIME.
JUST TO BRING YOU GUYS UP TO SPEED TO DATE ON THE STEPS THAT WE'VE TAKEN.
WE HAVE HAD A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT REVIEWED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL.
OUR LANGUAGE HAS BEEN AGREED UPON BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.
AT THIS POINT, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THAT AGREEMENT READY FOR EXECUTION TO BRING BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
WE ALSO HAVE HAD THE BOTH LAND LEASES REVIEWED BY COUNTY ATTORNEY'S JOB BARREL.
BOTH OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY READY FOR EXECUTION AS WELL.
THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE LAND LEASES ON HOBBES ROAD BECAUSE IT'S A NUANCE OF THEY AGGREGATE NET METERING PROGRAM.
BUT ONE LAND LEASE HAS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROJECT, AND ONE HAS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE COUNTY PROJECT.
THEY JUST HAVE SEPARATE POINTS OF INTERCONNECTION, BUT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE SAME PROJECT.
[00:10:03]
AS MENTIONED, THAT THE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE A PART OF THIS.THEY HAD ACTUALLY EXECUTED A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH NEXT I WANT TO TAKE THE POWER FROM THAT SEPARATE PROJECTS.
THAT'S ABOUT A 1.5 MEGAWATT PROJECT THAT WOULD BE BUILT, AGAIN PARALLEL TO THE COUNTY PROJECT.
THEN WE HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS TO DELMARVA POWER ON BEHALF OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOLS, BOTH OF WHICH WERE EXECUTED BY THOSE PARTIES.
THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AN AGREEMENT THAT GETS US IN A QUEUE WITH DELMARVA POWER TO HAVE THESE PROJECTS CONNECTED.
SHOULD THEY COME TO FRUITION, THEY AREN'T BINDING BY ANY MEANS, BUT THEY AT LEAST GET US A HEAD START ON THE INTERCONNECTION PROCESS WITH THE UTILITIES.
THAT ESSENTIALLY IS SOME BACKGROUND ON OUR EFFORTS TO DATE.
WE ARE HOPING AT THIS POINT, GIVEN THE STEPS THAT WE'VE TAKEN, THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE TO FINALIZE THE NEGOTIATION STAGE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
OBVIOUSLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE WITH REGARD TO NEXT STEPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> A PORTION OF THE SOLAR FIELD THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL DIRECTLY BE PURCHASING THE POWER FROM AT A REDUCED RATE FROM WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY PAYING.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO INCUR THOSE SAVINGS?
>> THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS MORE ENERGY DEMANDS SO THEY CAN PURCHASE MORE OF THE POWER THAN WE THAN CAN?
>> THAT'S WHY THEY'RE RECEIVING MORE OF THE SAVINGS.
>> THE MAIN THING, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT AND I THINK IT MAKES SENSE.
THE MAIN CONCERNS THAT I HAVE ARE IN RELATION TO PLACING IT ON THE LANDFILL.
HAVE YOU GENTLEMEN AS NEXAMP DONE A PROJECT LIKE THAT BEFORE ON CAP LANDFILL?
>> YES, WE HAVE WE'VE DONE SEVERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I'M A PROJECT DEVELOPER WITH WITH NEXAMP BEEN DEVELOPING PROJECTS IN MARYLAND FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES, WE HAVE DONE OTHER PROJECTS, NOT IN MARYLAND SPECIFICALLY.
IT'S A NEW MARK THAT THIS NEW CATEGORY OF PROJECTS FOR US IN MARYLAND.
BUT WE'VE DONE THEM IN MASSACHUSETTS, ILLINOIS, AND I THINK A COUPLE OF OTHER STATES AS WELL.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH A LOCAL CIVIL ENGINEER THAT WILL BE GUIDING US THAT IS LOCAL TO MARYLAND, MOST LIKELY BOWLER ENGINEERING.
THEY HAVE EXPERTISE IN THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT PROCEDURES THAT ARE REQUIRED AND ALL THE ENGINEERING THAT'S REQUIRED TO PUT SOLAR ON A LANDFILL.
I CAN PERHAPS ANTICIPATE WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY RESTS ON TOP OF THE CAP ON CONCRETE BLOCKS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE.
>> THAT'S POTENTIALLY CONCRETE BALLAST?
>> HOW ABOUT POWER CONNECTION CABLES? HOW WILL THOSE BE WRONG? BECAUSE TYPICALLY THERE TRENCHED IN, SO THERE WON'T BE ANY TRENCHING.
IT'LL BE ON CONDUIT AND MOUNTED ON THE POSTS OR BALLAST?
>> YES. EXACTLY. IT'LL ADHERE TO ALL THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS.
THIS IS NOT BEING ABLE TO PENETRATE OR TRENCH CONDUIT ON LANDFILL.
THIS IS TRUE OF EVERY LANDFILL.
THE POWER LINES WILL ENTER THE SITE OVERHEAD.
ONCE THEY REACH THE POINT OF INTERCONNECTION, THEY'LL DROP DOWN A CONDUIT ON THE SIDE OF A POLE.
THERE WILL BE TO BE HONEST, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW IT WILL CROSS DRIVEWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT MIGHT BE [NOISE] A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRENCHING OUTSIDE OF THE CAP TO CROSS THE ACCESS ROAD.
BUT ALL THOSE THINGS WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDING TO NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE.
>> HAVE YOU GUYS OBTAINED ANY OF THE CAP DOCUMENTS ENGINEERING FROM WHEN THE CAP WAS ACTUALLY INSTALLED, THE LINER AMOUNT OF SOIL, ALL THAT?
>> NOT YET. WE'VE RECEIVED SOME PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTIONS AND INFORMATION.
IT APPEARS THAT IT'S [NOISE] FULLY CAPS AND READY FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO UNDERTAKE IS TO RECEIVE AND COLLECT THOSE DOCUMENTS FROM THE COUNTY, HAVE OUR CIVIL ENGINEER AND LEGAL TEAM REVIEW THOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE LANDFILL IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD AFTER THAT.
>> IN ANY AGREEMENT THAT WE SIGNED NOW,
[00:15:03]
IF WE WERE TO FIND OUT THAT IT WASN'T PERMISSIBLE, I DON'T SEE WHY IT WOULDN'T BE, BUT I MEAN, IS THERE A EXIT FROM THE CONTRACT SHOULD WE FIND?>> VEGETATIVE GROWTH ON THE HILL RIGHT NOW, I WAS JUST IN THERE A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THERE IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE REALLY NEED TO KNOW IT NOW.
WHERE WE'VE GOT SOME PRETTY LARGE GROWTH HAVE YOU VISITED THE SITE, LOOKED AT HOW WILL THAT GROWTH BE MANAGED? WHERE YOU PLAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE HILL THAT DOESN'T GROW AS MUCH.
HOW WILL THEY BE TRIMMED, CUT, MAINTAINED?
>> WE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MOWING IT.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE NEEDING TO PLANTS ANYTHING NEW BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DISTURBING THE SOIL IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY STAFF TO REVIEW THE SITE PLAN.
SOME COUNTIES DO HAVE REQUIREMENTS AROUND THE SEED MIX THAT GETS PUT DOWN AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.
WE'LL TYPICALLY FOR MOST MARYLAND SITES, WE CUT BETWEEN DEPENDING ON THE RAINFALL, BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX TIMES PER YEAR.
WE'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
>> THE COUNTY ITSELF MAY LIKELY GOING TO HAVE ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING OBLIGATIONS AND SO THAT THE COUNTY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE SITE AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO ENTER FOR THOSE PURPOSES AS WELL.
>> NO HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ON THE HILL.
>> ARE WE COVERED IF THERE IS DAMAGE? IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, THE PROPER INSURANCE WILL BE THERE TO REPAIR SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN?
>> YES. NEXT, SAM CARRIES FULL LIABILITY, COMPREHENSIVE LIABILITY INSURANCE ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LEASE AGREEMENTS, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CAN WEIGH ON THIS, BUT ESSENTIALLY, DAMAGE THAT'S CAUSED BY NEXAMP IT'S NEXAMP'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR AND VICE VERSA.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE COUNTIES IS COUNTIES RESPONSIBILITY.
>> WHAT DO WE REQUIRE ON IT TWO MILLION OR ON A THE LIABILITY?
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE CARRY ANYWAYS.
IT'S EITHER ONE OR TWO MILLION.
BUT WE CAN CARRY AS BASICALLY AS MUCH AS THE COUNTY REQUIRES.
>> HOW ABOUT A CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECTED SCHEDULE YOU COULD GET TO US?
>> YES. IT'LL BE A SAMPLE GENERIC SCHEDULE AT THIS POINT SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE FULL ENGINEERING DRAWINGS AND EVERYTHING DONE.
OUR TYPICAL TIME-FRAME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, LIKE THE ON-SITE WORK WHEN THERE'RE TRUCKS ON SAY IS ABOUT 270 DAYS, SO ABOUT NINE MONTHS.
BUT THERE WILL BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE FRONT-ENDS TO CONDUCT ALL OF THE DUE DILIGENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING PERMITTING ALL THAT.
THEN DEPENDING ON DELMARVA POWER'S SCHEDULE, THERE'LL BE A FEW MONTHS ON THE BACK-ENDS WHILE THERE'S FINALIZING THE INTERCONNECTION AND WAITING FOR THE COMMISSIONING AND TESTING AND ALL THAT.
IN TOTAL, I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 18 MONTHS ON THE FRONT ENDS CONSERVATIVELY AND THEN MAYBE THREE MONTHS ON THE BACK-END, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL OF ABOUT TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS UNTIL THE FINAL COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
>> WHAT PROVISIONS DO WE HAVE IN THE CONTRACT TO ENSURE MAINTENANCE AND THAT TYPE OF THING, MOVING, SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN AND GUYS ONLY MOD IT ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS? [LAUGHTER].
>> ANY MATERIAL BREACH OF THE CONTRACT, NORMALLY YOU JUST SEND A LETTER.
THOSE GUYS ARE NOT DOING SOMETHING JUST TO DO IT.
[INAUDIBLE] WHAT WOULD BE A LOT BETTER WAY, AND IF THEY DON'T FIX IT EVENTUALLY, THE TEST IS WHETHER OR NOT A JUDGE AGREES THERE IS A MATERIAL BREACH OF CONTRACT AND WHILST THE CONTRACTUAL REMEDIES [INAUDIBLE]
[00:20:07]
THAT'S ALL COVERED. DOWNSIDE OF THAT.
>> THAT IS COVERED IN THE LEASE AGREEMENTS.
IT'S ROUGHLY A YEAR LONG PROCESS.
NEXAM TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.
IT HAS TO DECOMMISSION AND RETURN THE SITE TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION BASICALLY.
>> WHICH PANELS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
>> GOOD QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
GIVE ME ONE SECOND, I CAN LOOK THAT UP HERE.
>> MY SECOND QUESTION IS AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT YOUR ANSWER BETTER BE.
[LAUGHTER] NO BATTERY STORAGE INVOLVED WITH THIS [INAUDIBLE]?
>> YES. WE'VE GOTTEN THAT MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS 3,475 PANELS AND THE OTHER IS 1,700 PANELS.
>> WILL THERE BE ANY LOCAL CONTRACTORS USED?
>> WE WILL GO THROUGH A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS ONCE WE HAVE THE FINAL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS COMPLETE, AND LOCAL CONTRACTORS, THE EARTH WORK CONTRACTOR IN PARTICULAR IS TYPICALLY A LOCAL CONTRACTOR.
THE RACKING CONTRACTOR IS USUALLY NOT A LOCAL CONTRACTOR, SO IT'LL BE A COMBINATION.
THERE ARE SEVERAL VENDORS WHO WILL BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
>> WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE LOCAL.
>> THAT'S A BENEFIT TO US AS WELL.
>> MINE WAS THE LIFESPAN, 20 YEARS, BUT THE DECOMMISSIONING AFTER THAT, YOU WILL RECYCLE ALL THAT, TAKE THAT DOWN.
>> YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE OPTION TO RENEW A CONTRACT TO REPLACE THE PANEL, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WE'VE COME TO THAT, RIGHT?
>> CORRECT. IT'S A 20-YEAR BASED TERM ON THE LEASE, AND NEXAM CAN EXTEND FOR AN ADDITIONAL, I THINK UP TO 20 YEARS AFTER THAT AS WELL.
THE PROJECTS WHENEVER THE LEASE IS ENDED, THE SYSTEM WILL BE DECOMMISSIONED.
THE SALVAGE VALUE OF THE EQUIPMENT AND RECYCLING, IN OTHER WORDS, IS QUITE SIGNIFICANT AT THAT POINT, AND THAT WILL BE USED TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE DECOMMISSIONING PROCESS.
>> SO YOU WILL RECYCLE THESE PANELS?
>> CORRECT. THE MAIN VALUE IS IN THE STEEL AND THE COPPER THAT GOES INTO THE WIRING AND THE RACKING.
THE PANELS THEMSELVES WILL BE RECYCLED AS WELL TO THE EXTENT THE ALUMINUM FRAME CAN BE RECYCLED.
THEIR COMPONENTS HAVE AT THE KIN AND THEIR COMPONENTS THAT CAN'T BE.
BUT YES, WHATEVER PART CAN BE RECYCLED, WE DEFINITELY WILL.
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL IN THE LEASE AGREEMENT, THERE WAS A RETAINER FEE THAT STARTS AS A 500 A MONTH UNTIL CONSTRUCTION.
THAT INCENTIVIZES NEXAM TO GET THE FACILITY UP AND RUNNING FASTER?
>> THAT'S INCENTIVE FOR YOUR COMPANY TO GET GET THE SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED AND IN OPERATION.
THE OTHER BIG THING IS JUST MAINTENANCE, JUST CONCERN ON MAINTENANCE, NOT DISTURBING THAT CAP BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED ANY OTHER DISTRACTIONS.
WE DON'T WANT THE CAT DISTURBED, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T, WHICH YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET IT GROW UP IN TREES AND ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT WOULD SHADE THE PANELS.
>> I THINK THERE WAS MONITORING I THINK MES IS DOING MONITORING FORCE OUT THERE, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY GAS BURNING SYSTEM, FLAME.
>> ONE TIME WE TALKED ABOUT LIKE AN ETERNAL FLAME OUT THERE WHERE THE THING WOULD BURN.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE BUT IT'S NOT ALL THE TIME.
>> WHERE DO YOU HAVE A FACILITY ON THE LANDFILL?
>> WE HAVE ONE IN URBANA, ILLINOIS, THE STAR URBANA PROJECTS,
[00:25:02]
AND ANOTHER IN A TOWN IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT ARE FLANKING THE NAME OF.ANYWAYS WE CAN GET YOU THOSE DESCRIPTIONS OF THOSE PROJECTS.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE SUSAN REYNOLDS, DIRECTOR OF CAROLINE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL
[6. Discussion of Transportation in Caroline County]
FOR A DISCUSSION OF TRANSPORTATION IN CAROLINE COUNTY. GOOD MORNING, SUSAN.>> MY REASON FOR BEING HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE THE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, STARTS OUR PLANNING PROCESSES FOR FY25 WILL START IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
LAST YEAR, OUR BOARD CHAIR WAS THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HE KEPT US INFORMED ON THE TRANSPORTATION SITUATION WITH THE COUNTY.
UNDER HIS DIRECTION, THE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL WENT AHEAD AND FUNDED A MOBILITY ON DEMAND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY WITH DCT.
I HAVE SOME DATA FOR YOU ON HOW THAT TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM HAS WORKED OUT.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE STARTED IN JANUARY LAST YEAR, IT ENDED UP NOT GETTING STARTED UNTIL MARCH.
THAT WAS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD.
IF I MAY APPROACH, I CAN CERTAINLY GIVE YOU THAT DATA.
>> IT WAS THROUGH WHO'S FAULT?
>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DATA IS SHOWING THAT IN THE MONTHS OF MARCH, APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE, WE ONLY HAD 48 RIDERS IN GREENSBORO AND ONLY 15 AND FREDERICKSBURG.
I DID COLLECT DATA FROM DCT JUST RECENTLY AND IN JULY THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD SO FAR NINE RIDERS IN GREENSBORO AND 35 IN FREDERICKSBURG.
IN AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE HAD IN GREENSBORO 56 RIDERS AND IN FREDERICKSBURG, 28.
THAT'S A TOTAL OF 128 SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE FUNDED THIS PROJECT LAST YEAR AT 145,000.
WE WORKED WITH DCT ON THAT BUDGET.
THIS YEAR WE ARE FUNDING THE PROJECT IN A 12-MONTH PROJECT AT 195,000.
I DID INQUIRE ABOUT RIDERS, IT IS THE SAME RIDERS MOST OF THE TIME.
WE'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF NEW RIDERS, IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? ARE THOSE PEOPLE OR THOSE TRIPS?
>> THOSE NUMBERS THAT I JUST GAVE YOU ARE PEOPLE.
YES. IF YOU'D LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES TABLE, YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF ROUND TRIPS IN THOSE FOUR MONTHS WAS 75.5.
AND THAT HALF COMES FROM SOMEBODY THAT GETS TRANSPORTED TO A POINT BUT THEN DOESN'T GET TRANSPORTED BACK, THEY MAY HAVE OTHER TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S WHERE THE HALF COMES IN.
>> I WAS JUST TOLD THAT THIS WAS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, IS THIS FOR ALL AGE GROUPS?
>> YES. UNFORTUNATELY, THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD WITH STATE FUNDING CANNOT FUND ADULTS.
IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TRANSPORTATION.
>> THERE'S STILL SIGNIFICANT FUNDING.
>> IT IS. WHEN I START THE PLANNING SESSIONS WITH THE BOARD, I WONDERED IF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING TO GO IN FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN FY25?
[00:30:07]
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS IS FEASIBLE FOR US, I REALLY DON'T.WE HAVE SO MANY PRIORITY NEEDS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED FOR FAMILIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE STATES MODEL IS TO END POVERTY.
YES, TRANSPORTATION CAN HELP TO END POVERTY, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY MORE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON.
I'M SENDING BACK $26,000 FROM GCT TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND OF MONEY THAT THEY DID NOT SPEND, BUT WE'RE PAYING FOR THEM TO SIT AND WAIT FOR A CALL AND THAT'S JUST WE COULD BE SPENDING THAT MONEY IN OTHER WAYS.
>> I'LL JUST SIT AND WAIT FOR HER PHONE SO IT CONFUSES THEM TO SIT AND WAIT FOR HER PHONE.
>> WAIT FOR DISPATCH TO GIVE THEM A CALL, YES.
WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTY WITH NO TRANSPORTATION.
THE FORMER COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS OUR LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD SO WE KNEW THAT THE CONTRACT WITH DCT WOULD BE ENDING WITH THE COUNTY.
IF I HAVE AN IDEA OF WHERE THE COUNTY IS GOING NEXT YEAR, THAT WAY I CAN GIVE THE BOARD A FOCUS.
>> WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MONEY IS AVAILABLE TO SET UP A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
IT'S JUST BEEN DELEGATED TO DCT.
WE HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RENEW WITH DCT, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN PROVIDED WITH GOOD INFORMATION THAT LAYS OUT THE EFFECTS OF US DOING AWAY WITH MASS TRANSIT IN CAROLINE.
DO YOU HAVE A FEELING? HOW WILL THESE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION THROUGH THIS PROGRAM GET WHERE THEY NEED TO GO? WHERE ARE THEY GOING? ARE THEY GOING FROM FEDERALSBURG TO EASTERN MAINLY?
OUR PROGRAM IS ONLY WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THE DESIGNATED ROUTE THAT THE COUNTY FUNDS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOES TO EASTERN OR OUT OF CAROLINE.
OURS IS ONLY IN THE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG AND GREENSBOROUGH.
THOSE WERE THE TWO HIGHEST POVERTY NEEDS FOR TRANSPORTATION.
>> THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING INTO WALMART AND THEN NORTH TO SCHOOL, BACK-AND-FORTH TO SCHOOL FOR CONFERENCES WITH TEACHERS, THAT TYPE OF STUFF?
>> THAT TYPE OF THING, FOOD PANTRIES, A LOT OF FOOD PANTRY, TRANSPORTATION.
IN MY OPINION, A MOBILITY ON-DEMAND REALLY DOESN'T WORK IN CAROLINE.
IF I LOOKED AT THESE NUMBERS AND YOU HAD 48 GREENSBOROUGH RIDERS, I COULD ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT'S THE SAME FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE RIDING AND DCT IS PRETTY MUCH.
>> THESE ARE RIDES. THESE ARE NOT ACTUAL PEOPLE BEING SERVICED, IT'S ONLY ABOUT FIVE RESIDENTS.
>> YEAH. BUT IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO DETERMINE IF IT'S THE EXACT SAME RIDERS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE A RIDER DOESN'T GIVE THEIR NAME, BUT THERE'S 48 RIDERS.
I WOULD SAY MAYBE 5-10 OF THOSE ARE EXACTLY THE SAME PEOPLE.
THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER WAYS THAT THE BOARD CAN PROVIDE THINGS UNDER TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAD SUGGESTED LAST YEAR AND WE CAN HELP WITH KIDS OR ADULTS GETTING DRIVER'S LICENSE, WE CAN HELP WITH CAR REPAIRS.
ALL OF THESE WOULD FALL UNDER THAT TRANSPORTATION.
>> IN YOUR OPINION IS THAT THE MONEY WILL BE MUCH BETTER SPENT IN THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AS OPPOSED TO SUBSIDIZING EITHER MASS TRANSIT OR MOBILITY ON DEMAND?
>> YES. I KNOW THAT WE NEED SOME TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK A MOBILITY ON DEMAND MODEL IS THE ONE THAT WORKS.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE MASS TRANSIT MODELS AND FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM?
>> WE HAVE A SURVEY THAT GOES OUT, IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO OUT.
WE'RE NOT COLLECTING MONEY FROM DCT, BUT WE HAVE A SURVEY THAT WE DEVELOPED THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE RIDERS WHEN THEY ENTER THE BUS AND WHEN THEY GET OFF THE BUS THEY HAND IT BACK.
[00:35:05]
WE HAVEN'T COLLECTED MANY OF THOSE, BUT ALMOST ALL OF THEM.IF YOU'LL LOOK AT I THINK IT'S PAGE 2 OR 3, YOU WILL SEE THAT ONLY ONE RIDER THAT COMPLETED THE SURVEY REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD ACCESS TO OTHER TRANSPORTATION.
WHETHER IT WOULD BE A FRIEND OR A DESIGNATED ROUTE OR WHATEVER, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.
ONE RIDER SKIPPED OVER THE SURVEY QUESTION, SO 12 ON THE RIDERS COMPLETING THE SURVEYS REPORTED THEY WOULD HAVE HAD NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR DESTINATION IF THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM.
NO RIDERS REPORTED THEY WERE UNABLE TO USE THE DESIGNATED ROUTE AND WHAT WE ALSO DID WAS WE WOULD HAVE THE MOBILITY ON DEMAND AVAILABLE SAY IF A RIDER LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE GREENSBOROUGH TOWN LIMITS WHERE THE DESIGNATED ROUTE WAS, THEY COULD TRANSPORT THEM FROM THEIR HOME TO THE DESIGNATED ROUTE AND THEN PICK THEM UP WHEN THE BUS RETURNED.
>> BUT NOBODY WAS EVEN USING THAT?
>> NO. WE DON'T HAVE A VERY BIG BUDGET AT THE [INAUDIBLE] BAY.
I THINK THAT OUR MONEY WOULD BE BETTER SPENT IN OTHER PRIORITY AREAS THAN TRANSPORTATION.
>> WELL, THE STATE IT'S IRONIC BECAUSE IT WAS RIVETING READING REALLY GOING THROUGH THE DCT TRANSPORTATION PLAN, BUT IT'S QUITE TO DOCUMENT.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK EVEN IN THAT DOCUMENTED, IT DISCLOSED THAT DCT WAS NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM RIDERSHIP REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN THE EVENT OF THAT.
I THINK THAT MAY BE PART OF THE REASON WHY THE STATE WAS REDUCING CERTAIN PURCHASES THAT THEY WERE REQUESTING BECAUSE IT'S NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM RIDERSHIP.
>> I THINK WE'D BE MUCH BETTER OFF TO GO BACK TO A TAXI SERVICE.
>> YOU SAID THERE WAS NO TRAINING PROVIDED FOR THIS.
WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING WOULD REQUIRE THE AGENDA DONE?
>> THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO CPR TRAINING, THAT TYPE OF TRAINING FOR THEIR DRIVERS.
>> SHOULD ANYONE DID ANY OF THAT?
>> WELL, THEIR DRIVERS HAD ALREADY BEEN TRAINED, SO THERE WAS NO TRAINING DONE IN THAT TIME PERIOD.
AND THEIR NEXT REPORT IS NOT DUE UNTIL NEXT MONTH AND WE GET QUARTERLY REPORTS FROM THEM, WHICH SOMETIMES ARE DIFFICULT TO GET BUT WE DO GET THOSE.
>> SUSAN, WHERE WOULD YOU REDIRECT THIS MONEY TO? WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS? DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN MIND THAT YOU WOULD DO?
>> THAT WOULD ALL COME OUT OF OUR PLANNING SESSIONS WEEK AND WHAT WE DO AS A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND WE COLLECT THE DATA ON ALL STATE CHILD WELL-BEING UNRESOLVED AREAS, AND THEN WE LOOK AT WHAT AREAS ARE THE PRIORITY NEEDS, AND THEN THE BOARD DECIDES BASED ON THAT WHAT THEY WANT TO FUND IN THAT YEAR.
I DO KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, OUR FUNDING IS ENDING FOR THAT THROUGH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY THIS COMING YEAR, AS WE CANNOT LET OUR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS GO AWAY.
WE FUNDED THOSE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 21 YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN FUNDING THE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM UP UNTIL LAST YEAR FOR THOSE 21 YEARS.
>> BECAUSE OF THE BOARD OF ED HAD THE FUNDING.
[OVERLAPPING] I THINK COMMISSIONER PORTER, YOU WERE CONCERNED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE PASSED ON TO US AT SOME POINT.
>> THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER A HIGH PRIORITY NEED, AND WE DISCUSSED THAT LAST YEAR DURING OUR PLANNING SESSIONS WHEN DR. SIMMONS SAID WE CAN ONLY FUND THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
WE KNEW THAT THIS WAS GOING TO COME BACK AS A PRIORITY.
>> DO YOU WORK WITH THE LIBRARIES FOR PROGRAMS AND THE LIBRARY FACILITIES?
>> WE DO NOT. IN THE PAST, WE FUNDED THE STARTUP OF MY FAMILY NEEDS.
RIGHT NOW, THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT WHERE THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD HAS BECOME A CATCH-ALL FOR PASS THROUGH GRANTS AND THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT WORK THE CATCH STORK HAS CONTRACTED WITH US TO DO.
WE HAVE SEVERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH AND ONE OF THOSE IS TO REFURBISH THE MY FAMILY NEEDS..
[00:40:04]
I THINK IT'S MY FAMILY NEEDS [INAUDIBLE], WHICH IS A RESOURCE DIRECTORY SO WE HAVE THAT COMING UP THROUGH THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD.[OVERLAPPING] BUT AS FAR AS OTHER PROGRAMS, NO.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE FUNDING TWO MENTORING PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALSO FUNDING NON-BILLABLE HOURS FOR THE SCHOOL-BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WHICH NOW THROUGH THE CONSORTIUM AND THE HUB AND SPOKES MODEL, WE WILL NOT HAVE TO FUND THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE THAT CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH THE SPOKES.
TRYING TO THINK WHAT ELSE WE'RE FUNDING.
TEEN COURT. TEEN COURT IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WE FUND.
TEEN COURT WOULD BE A VERY HARD PROGRAM TO LET GO.
IT IS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM [NOISE].
IN CAROLINE WE'VE BEEN FUNDING THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WITH A PROGRAM THAT WOULD AFFECT TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL, THE BOARD COULD CHOOSE TO SAY, LET'S TAKE $30,000 AND FUND A PROGRAM FOR LIKE USE THAT CANNOT AFFORD DRIVER'S END TO GET DRIVER'S END.
A FAMILY THAT HAS A CAR THAT'S BROKEN DOWN, NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.
THEY CAN'T GET TO WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR.
WE COULD PAY TO HAVE THAT TRANSMISSION REPAIRED OR REPLACED.
THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS IN TRANSPORTATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN DONE INSTEAD OF A MOBILITY ON DEMAND.
BUT WE DID THIS BECAUSE OF SOME [OVERLAPPING] EXPERIMENT.
YES, OUR CHAIR BASICALLY WANTED TO SEE IF THIS WOULD WORK.
IN MY OPINION, IT DID NOT WORK FOR US, FOR OUR FUNDING.
WE CAN'T HAVE OUR DOLLARS JUST SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR A CALL.
>> I'D SAY YOUR ASSESSMENT IS PRETTY ACCURATE.
I WOULD PLAN ON MOVING TO SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT'S MY OPINION.
>> ALL THREE OF YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE INVITED TO OUR PLANNING SESSIONS AS WE DID LAST YEAR, AND HOPE YOU CAN ATTEND.
>> IT'LL BE RECOVERED BY THE STATE.
>> WHEN THEY'RE IN HERE EVERY YEAR BEGGING FOR MORE MONEY FROM US.
THEN YOU GAVE MONEY BACK THAT WAS TARGETED FOR.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SEND BACK TO THE STATE.
>> YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS 21 YEARS, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS.
THIS IS MY 13TH YEAR AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE CONSTANTLY DEBATED BACK-AND-FORTH HERE ABOUT DCT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ON THE BUILDING OUT THERE.
WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THAT.
WE DON'T EVEN KNOW. WE CAN'T EVEN GET THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO TELL US WHO OWNS THE BUILDING.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT TELL SOME OF OUR SHARES IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S OUR [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHEN WE DECIDE TO DO, WE'LL FIND OUT.
>> YOU'LL FIND OUT REAL QUICK.
>> SUSAN, DOES THIS DOES THIS INFORMATION INCLUDE [OVERLAPPING] ANY TYPE OF HANDICAPPED TRANSPORTATION? I KNOW MEDICAL ADULT DAYCARE FORM CORRECT.
GETS PEOPLE TO THE DAYCARE ON THEIR BUSES?
>> YES. THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON IT WHETHER THESE ARE HANDICAPPED RIDERS OR THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED FOR HANDICAPPED TRANSPORT?
>> I DO KNOW WE DID TRANSPORT ONE HANDICAP RIDER.
THE BUSES ARE HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE.
I KNOW WE DID HAVE ONE RIDER BECAUSE IT CAME THROUGH OUR LOCAL CARE TEAM.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR HARDEST. THE HARDEST THING IS A TRANSPORTATION FOR UPPER SHORE AGING.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HANDLES THEIRS THROUGH AND DIE WITH THEIR BOSSES.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ABOUT UTILIZING THEIR BUSES TO HELP TRANSPORT THE UPPER SHORE AGING.
I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY TO DO THIS.
IF WE DO HAVE A VOID WITH DCT.
[00:45:02]
IF WE DO DECIDE NOT TO PRINT IT.BUT THAT DATE IS COMING UP, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GIVE SIX MONTHS NOTICE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THEM.
>> I UNDERSTOOD IT WAS THE END OF DECEMBER.
THAT'S WHY I WAS INQUIRING AS TO IF YOU HAD ANOTHER PLAN.
LIKE I SAID, THAT CAME FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR.
I HATE TO JUST NOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE LOOK IS IRRITATED AS I AM BY THIS.
WE CAN'T PULL THE WHEELS OUT FROM UNDER PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING SOME ALTERNATIVES TO GIVE.
I DON T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT THAT POINT, BUT I'M NOT REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT.
BUT FOR ME, THE DCT EXPERIMENT'S OVER FOR ME.
WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS.
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE I'VE HAD COME TO ME AND SAY, THEY'RE RIDING AROUND HERE WITH NOBODY ON THE BUS.
>> WE'RE PAYING FOR IT. [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S WHAT HURTS US.
>> WHEN YOU HAVE FIXED ROUTES THAT NOBODY RIDES, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE MAYBE CHANGE THE ROUTE OR TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED, THIS IS NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE DIDN'T NEED TO TRANSPORTATION.
>> I THINK WE'D BE BETTER OFF WITH AN UBER SYSTEM.
>> WELL, WE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING.
I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE IF WE'RE GOING TO NOT DO THIS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR 80,000.
I'M READY TO YANK IT BACK NOW.
I WOULDN'T FIND THAT NEXT YEAR.
BUT WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING.
>> MY MAIN THING WAS JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS-UP ON PROBABLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE HEADING IN FY 25.
>> YOU ANTICIPATE THAT YOUR PILLARS ARE GOING TO CHANGE, BUT YOU HAVE TO FALL UNDER.
>> GOT ANY IDEA WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE?
>> NO. EVERYTHING IS SO UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL.
>> YOU'RE DEALING WITH A NEW [OVERLAPPING] ADMINISTRATION.
>> WE HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT GFCPYVS AND I'M GOING TO CALL THAT JUST GOCCP FOR SHORT BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
BUT WE DO HAVE A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THAT WE HAVE NOT MET YET.
WE HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY A LACK OF LEADERSHIP WITH A CHILDREN'S CABINET AND WITH GOCCP IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
WE ARE WORKING VERY HEAVILY WITH OUR LEGISLATORS RIGHT NOW THROUGH OUR LNB ASSOCIATION TO GET AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO RECREATE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN AND PULL US OUT OF G0CCP.
WE BELONG BACK IN OUR OWN OFFICE, SO TO SPEAK.
>> WELL, AND THAT CHANGE WAS MADE WHEN?
>> YES. WHEN ARLENE LEV RETIRED, THEY TOOK GOC AND JUST GET AWAY WITH IT AND PUT IT BACK IN UNDER GOCCP.
>> TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THE PILLARS ARE THE CONCEPTS OR THE AREAS WHERE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SPEND MONEY.
>> YES. IT'S A CHILD WELL-BEING RESORT AREAS.
>> DO YOU STILL HAVE THE CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE THAT, THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE MONEY CAN BE SPENT.
>> WE HAVE A DELEGATION MEETING COMING UP ON OCTOBER 3RD, JEN, THAT CORRECT? THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME IF YOU COULD MAYBE COMMUNICATE WITH JEN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE TELLING THEM WHAT OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS ARE GOING TO BE.
>> RECREATE GOCE AND I AGREE WITH YOU 1,000% ON THAT BECAUSE I WAS ON THAT ON YOUR BOARD AND WE HAD SEVERAL INTERESTING MEETINGS WITH THE FORMER [OVERLAPPING].
BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE THING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY ADD AND IF IT'S OCTOBER 3RD, IT'S OUR MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROADSHOW.
IT'LL BE AT THE HOPS BUILDING.
[00:50:02]
>> IF YOU HAVE ANY [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU HAVE IT, BECAUSE THAT WE MAY NEED TO CALL ON THEM TO.
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL LEGISLATORS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WILLING TO SUBMIT A BILL AND GET THIS DONE.
>> DEFINITELY I LIVE CLOSE TO YES.
>> WHO ARE YOU DEALING WITH PRIMARILY?
>> PRIMARILY WITH THE SENATOR.
>> YES AND HE IS TEACHING SENATOR MOUNTS ALL ABOUT LN BAYES HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE, BUT HE GETS IT.
HE SAID, WE HAVE GOT TO GET THIS DONE.
>> HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONTACT WITH SENATOR HERSHEY?
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ALEX, WHO WAS JUST IN THE ROOM WITH THE GENTLEMAN THAT TESTIFIED BEFORE ME.
ALEX IS WORKING WITH THE ASSOCIATION AND SHE IS OUR LIAISON BETWEEN US AND THE LEGISLATORS.
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET THIS DONE.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHEN GOVERNOR MOORE CAMPAIGNED.
THIS WAS ONE OF HIS BIG THINGS WAS TO RECREATE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN.
IT'S JUST GOT PUT ON THE BACK-BURNER.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW AND HE IS STILL SAYING YES, THAT IS STILL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE INTENDS TO DO, BUT IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING FAST ENOUGH.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING TO GO THROUGH OUR LEGISLATION.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD GET OMEGA INVOLVED INTO.
>> OMEGA IS INVOLVED. THEY ARE.
WE HAVE OMEGA WRAP THAT SITS ON OUR ASSOCIATION AND IT'S BRIANA.
>> SHE'S WORKING VERY STRONGLY TO GET IT DONE AS WELL.
BUT WE HAVE A WHOLE NEW CHILDREN'S CABINET AS WELL.
THE CHILDREN'S CABINET HASN'T EVEN MET SINCE MARCH.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE A LAME DUCK SITTING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
>> HOPING TO SEE YOU ALL AT OUR PLANNING SESSIONS.
>> I HAVEN'T SCHEDULED THEM YET.
I HAVE A BOARD MEETING NEXT WEEK.
>> BUT YOU HAVE OUR EMAILS [OVERLAPPING] YOU CAN SEND US.
>> YES. I WILL DEFINITELY SEND THAT OUT.
>> ARE WE READY TO SEND THE LETTER TO DCT OR [LAUGHTER] AM I OUT ON AN ISLAND HERE? [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU'RE NOT OUT ON AN ISLAND [INAUDIBLE]
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.
LET'S TALK TO ROBIN AND SEE WHAT THEY CAN HANDLE.
IF THEY CAN HELP. PROBABLY GETTING A PHONE CALL FROM DCT LATER TODAY. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN ONE SO FAR OVER THIS.
>> NEXT UP. MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND STEVE HURLOCK, COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION CHIEF FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE 2472 WORK SCHEDULE PROPOSAL.
[7. Communications Division 24/72 Work Schedule Proposal]
THINK I SEE A FEW OTHER.MR. BOUTCHYARD, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? [LAUGHTER].
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING? [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> GOOD MORNING. MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM THAT'S HERE TODAY.
DIVISION CHIEF HURLOCK WHO RUNS THE 911 CENTER.
MR. BOUTCHYARD, WHO'S ONE OF OUR LIEUTENANTS, AND JULIE HOLLAND, WHO IS ONE OF OUR 911 SPECIALIST WHO WORKS IN THE CENTER, WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE DATA COLLECTION THAT YOU RECEIVED PRIOR TO TODAY.
THIS WAS A CONCEPT THAT DREW CONVERSATIONS WITH THE EMPLOYEES.
AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE AN OFFICE AT 911, SO I WORK OUT THERE IN THE CENTER.
I'M AN INTEGRAL PART OF MOST OF THE SHIFTS. WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS.
WE TALK ABOUT THINGS FROM WORK TO WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
SO THIS WAS A DISCUSSION THAT THEY BROUGHT TO ME AND I ASKED THEM TO PUT A PROPOSAL TOGETHER THAT WE WOULD HAVE PRESENTED TO YOU.
THE CONCEPT OF 2472 IS OBVIOUSLY IF YOU COULD JUST BE OPEN-MINDED TO OUR PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE 1970S, IS REALLY PREVALENT AND PROBABLY IN THE MIDWEST AND THE WESTERN STATES AND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
[00:55:02]
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY HAS DONE THIS FOR 20 YEARS.THIS IS A SCHEDULE THAT'S WORKED FOR THEM.
VERY SELDOM DO THEY HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER EMPLOYEES.
WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND JUST RECENTLY SWITCHED TO THIS SCHEDULE IN JULY AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP, IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THEY HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE ISSUES OR PROBLEMS WITH CALL-OUTS OR PROBLEMS WITH COVERAGE.
AND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, WHICH IS A VERY BUSY 911 CENTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAY BRIDGE DEPLOYS THE SAME CONCEPT.
THERE IS SOME CONVERSATIONS THAT TALL WOOD IS BUILDING A NEW 911 CENTER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE'D BE ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS THAT THEY MAY CONSIDER GOING TO THE SAME SHIFT SCHEDULE.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN VOTED ON OR I THINK BY THE COMMISSION OR THE ACCOUNTING PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS SOME CONVERSATION.
JULIE ACTUALLY SPEARHEADED SOME THINGS FOR US.
SHE SENT OUT A SURVEY TO ALL EMPLOYEES, 100% PARTICIPATION FROM THE EMPLOYEES.
EVERYONE VOICED THEIR OPINION ON WHAT SHIFT THEY WANTED TO WORK AND THEY ALSO CREATED A LIST OF BENEFITS THAT THEY FELT THAT WOULD HELP THEM WITH THEIR WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO TRY TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF UNSCHEDULED CALL-OUTS.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE SHIFTS THAT WE WORK NOW IS FOUR-ON-FOUR-OFF.
I WORKED THOSE FOR ABOUT 23 YEARS AS A PARAMEDIC IN SUSSEX COUNTY.
IT'S A PRETTY GRUELING SHIFT ON YOU FOR A FAMILY.
NOW THESE DISPATCHERS AREN'T SUBJECT TO LATE CALL, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IN SUSSEX COUNTY I WORKED 7:00-7:00.
SO IF YOU GOT A LATE CALL, YOU MAY NOT SEE YOUR FAMILY THAT NIGHT ON A DAY SHIFT, AND THEN YOU TURN AROUND AND YOU'RE [INAUDIBLE] WORK TWO NIGHT SHIFTS.
SO NOW, FOR FOUR DAYS, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
AS OUR MENTAL HEALTH STUFF IS COMING INTO THE FOREFRONT WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
THIS IS HUGE TO HAVE THAT DOWNTIME AWAY FROM WORK.
JUST RECENTLY, MY WIFE STILL WORKS AS A PARAMEDIC IN SUSSEX COUNTY AND SHE JUST RECENTLY WORKED THIS WEEKEND FOR THE HOLIDAY AND SHE WORKED THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.
IT WAS FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND MONDAY NIGHT.
HERE I HAVE A THREE-DAY WEEKEND FROM THE COUNTY AND WE DON'T GET TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.
WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A MORE TEAM CONCEPT WITH OUR EMS AND I ACTUALLY HAVE MY EMS TEAM HERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] AFTER THIS.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO TRY TO INCORPORATE IS SOME OF OUR DISPATCHERS ARE EMS CERTIFIED, SO THEY WOULD BE NOW ELIGIBLE TO COME TO TRAINING WITH US.
WE'VE ALSO INSTITUTED HIGH FIDELITY TRAINING.
SO THEY CAN BE PART OF THAT AS A TEAM CONCEPT BECAUSE REMEMBER WHEN SOMEONE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND CALLS 911, THE FIRST RESPONDER THEY TALK TO IS OUR DISPATCHER.
THEY COLLECT THE INFORMATION, THEY SEND THE RESOURCE, AND THEN WE TRANSPORT THE PATIENTS TO THE HOSPITAL AND THIS TURNED OVER, SO IT'S A COMPLETE CALL.
SO THROUGH OUR QA PROCESS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING BY TAKING THE CALL AND SENDING THE RESOURCES? AND THEN ARE WE PROVIDING THE ADEQUATE CARE AND TRANSPORTATION? WE'RE LOOKING TO OBVIOUSLY RECRUIT AND RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE FULLY STAFFED.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT SINCE MY COMING HERE IN TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD A TREMENDOUS TURNOVER IN 911.
SOME OF THAT WE BELIEVE IS PROBABLY SELECTION PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S TOUGH TO SELECT THE RIGHT PERSON.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT EVERY TIME SOMEONE WALKS IN THE DOOR AND WE GET A TURNOVER, IT COSTS THE COUNTY ABOUT $35,000.
SO THAT'S TO ME IS A LOT OF MONEY TO SEE US TRYING TO ONBOARD SOMEONE AND THEY DON'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WHEN I MET WITH DANNY, WHAT I TOLD HIM GENERALLY WHY PEOPLE LEAVE 911 CENTER IN CAROLINE IS EITHER BENEFITS SOMEWHERE ELSE, PAY OR SCHEDULE.
WE'VE PRETTY MUCH FIXED THE BENEFITS.
OUR PENSION IS COMPARABLE WITH [INAUDIBLE].
SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THEY WOULD WORK THE SAME NUMBER OF HOURS AS THEY DO NOW PER YEAR.
ONLY GOOD WORK, EIGHT DAYS A MONTH OR ABOUT 96 A YEAR.
THEY WOULD END UP WITH TWO WEEKENDS OFF A MONTH.
REMEMBER WITH THE FOUR-ON-FOUR-OFF.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THAT IS FOR FIVE STRAIGHT WEEKENDS, THEY'RE WORKING EITHER PART OF OR ALL OF THE WEEKENDS.
THAT'S NO TIME FOR FAMILY, NO TIME FOR KIDS BASEBALL AND LITTLE LEAGUE SOCCER GAMES, THOSE THINGS.
[01:00:04]
IT TAKES THEM AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY.THEY END UP BURNING LEAVE TIME TO DO THOSE THINGS.
DAYCARE IS ANOTHER ISSUE WITH SOME OF OUR DISPATCHERS HAVING LITTLE ONES.
WITH TODAY'S ECONOMY, THERE'S NO MORE SOMEONE CAN STAY HOME.
EVERYBODY IS WORKING ONE OR TWO JOBS JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
SO DAYCARE BECOMES A HUGE ISSUE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE FOR THAT DAYCARE.
THE EMPLOYEES, THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A BREAK BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT THEM IN THE COMM CENTER FOR 24 STRAIGHT HOURS.
SO WE WOULD ROTATE THROUGH A BREAK WHERE THEY WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE CENTER.
WE'D JUST BE AWAY FROM TAKING PHONE CALLS, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THAT.
THEN THAT'S ALSO CALLED VOLUME DEPENDENT.
I MEAN, IF WE HAVE A BIG INCIDENT, WE HAVE A POLICE CHASE OR WE HAVE A BIG FIRE OR SOMETHING THAT GOES ON IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE NEED THAT DISPATCHER, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK OUT.
SPEAKING TO WICOMICO, THAT HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE THEY INSTITUTED THIS IN JULY AND THEY'RE PROBABLY TWICE AS BUSY AS US.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE THIS HAPPEN AND WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS, BOTH STEVE AND TORI WORKED AT QUEEN ANNE'S, SO THEY CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN CALLED BACK INTO THE CENTER.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT CREATING THAT TEAM ENVIRONMENT WITH EMS, OUR MOTTO IS ONE TEAM ONE MISSION.
THIS ALLOWS THE EMS LIEUTENANT AND THE COMM LIEUTENANT TO WORK THE SAME EXACT SHIFTS, SO NOW THE DISPATCHER BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE EMS TEAM.
IT MAKES A BETTER COLLABORATION OF TEAMWORK.
OBVIOUSLY WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
SAME NUMBER HOUR OF MORE DAYS OFF ALLOWS MORE TIME FOR THEM TO SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILY OR HOBBIES THAT GETS THEM OUT OF THE 911, THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THINGS THAT GO BAD.
WE'RE HOPING FOR LESS EMPLOYEE CALL-OUTS.
I KNOW JULIE SENT OUT A SURVEY TO SOME OF THE CENTERS THAT DO 24 HOURS SHIFTS.
QUEEN ANNE'S VERY SELDOM DO THEY HAVE CALL-OUTS.
THEIR RETENTION HAS INCREASED.
THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER AND THE RECRUITMENT.
IF THEY GENERALLY ADVERTISE FOR A POSITION, IT'S FILLED PRETTY QUICKLY.
LOTS OF TIMES THEY END UP SNAGGING A DISPATCHER FROM A NEIGHBORING COUNTY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS I VIEW THIS AND I CAN TELL YOU I WOULD NOT BE SITTING HERE IN FRONT OF YOU IF YOU KNOW ME.
I WOULDN'T SIT HERE AND TALK TO YOU TODAY IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE DONE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS DIFFERENT AND CHANGE IS ALWAYS TOUGH.
BUT I BELIEVE WITH OUR PENSION, WITH THE ATMOSPHERE ON OUR CENTER RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT TO WORK FOR CAROLINE COUNTY AND I THINK THAT THIS INSTEAD OF US ALWAYS CATCHING UP AND FOLLOWING EVERYBODY ELSE, THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY.
WHEN WE'RE COMPETING CONSTANTLY LIKE EMS IS IN THIS AREA, WE COMPETE IN, LIKE I CALL TRI-COUNTY AREA, WE'RE ALWAYS COMPETING WITH TALBOT AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY FOR EMPLOYEES.
I TALKED TO THREE DISPATCHERS FROM SUSSEX COUNTY THIS MORNING, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING THROUGH A SURVEY OF CHANGING SHIFTS OVER THERE.
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING.
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY THEY'RE GOING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE INTO THE INDUSTRY. THANK YOU.
SOME OF THE CHANGES OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING LONGER DAYS, 24 HOURS. IT SOUNDS ODD.
BUT STEVE CAN ALLUDE AND SO CONTRARY AND JULIE, IF YOU NEED HER TO SPEAK ON THE DISPATCHERS BEHALF, A LOT OF OUR DISPATCHERS ARE WORKING 18-HOUR SHIFTS NOW ANYWAY.
ONE WITH 404 OFF, THERE ARE SOME SHIFTS THAT THERE'S ONLY ONE SHIFT TO COVER.
IF NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE OR THOSE FOUR PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK, WE HAVE TO HOLD SOMEONE TO MAINTAIN A MINIMUM STAFFING SO THEY WORK IN 18 HOURS ANYWAY.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WITH THE 24-HOUR SHIFTS THAT ALWAYS YOU ALWAYS HAVE TWO SHIFTS AVAILABLE TO PULL FROM WHEN YOU HAVE A VACANCY.
HOPEFULLY, YOU HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO COVER THOSE VACANCIES.
OBVIOUSLY, THEIR TIME USAGE WOULD BE IN 24-HOUR BLOCKS POTENTIALLY NOW, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY DO NOW.
BUT IF THEY CALL OUT FOR THE ENTIRE TOUR ANYWAY, THEY'RE OUT 48 HOURS.
IF THEY CALL OFF THE DAY SHIFTS THROUGHOUT 24 ANYWAY.
WHEN I TALK WITH DANNY IS A VERY SMALL INCREASE IN SALARIES.
[01:05:01]
IT'S ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CONSISTENT PAYS WITH A 48-HOUR WEEKS.THAT IF YOU LOOK AT A FORUM FOR ALL SCHEDULE, YOU HAVE 26 WEEKS WHERE YOU HAVE 48 HOURS AND 26 WEEK WHERE YOU HAVE 36 HOURS.
NOW THE BAD PART ABOUT IT, I SAID, I WORKED WITH FOR 2023 YEARS.
WHEN YOU GET THOSE BACK-TO-BACK 72-HOUR PAYCHECKS, IT'S TOUGH TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY.
IT REALLY IS. THIS GIVES THEM THEY'RE NOT REALLY GETTING A LOT MORE PAY.
I THINK DANNY HAD THE BREAKDOWN AND I THINK IT'S IN YOUR PACKET OVERALL FOR WHAT IT WOULD BE INCREASED WIDE FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE STAFF.
BUT IT DOES GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MORE MANAGEABLE BUDGET AT HOME.
QUESTIONS AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU PROBABLY WOULD THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, I'M GOING TO PROBABLY DEFER TO STEVE AND CHORE TO DISCUSS COMMUNICATIONS, SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AS FAR AS CALL VOLUME OR STAFF, I THINK THEY WOULD BE A BETTER PERSON TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> IN YOUR SURVEY WAS 100%, 100% FILLED OUT.
>> THERE WAS FOUR DIFFERENT OPTIONS, FOUR DIFFERENT SCHEDULE LIKE 8 HOURS, 12 HOURS, 24 HOURS.
THEN WE'RE DOING TWO DAYS SHIFTS TO NIGHT SHIFTS AND THEN FOUR OFF, THERE'S ANOTHER SCHEDULE CALLED PITTMAN, IT'S 2:00 TO 3:00 AND THERE WAS OPTIONS, EVERYBODY WAS 100% ON THE 24-HOUR OPTIONS.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT QUEEN ANNE'S HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH IT.
I SAID, I HONESTLY, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD TRUST ME THAT I WOULD NOT BE SITTING THERE IF I DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD BE DONE.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER AND IF I GO TO BAT FOR MY TEAM, BUT I'M ONLY GOING TO DO IT IF I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
>> THIS IS THE CERTAINLY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS ONLY ON THIS.
WELL, I GET LOST IN ALL THE SHIFTS AND [LAUGHTER], AND THIS ALL IN AND THAT ALL.
ALL I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTY.
I OFTEN SAY THAT I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE JOB YOU GUYS DO. PEOPLE DO.
YOU KNOW IT'S ALWAYS WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT FIRE DEPARTMENTS, I ALWAYS SAY YOU IMAGINE YOU'RE SITTING THERE AND YOU GET THIS CALL AND EVERYTHING'S CALM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE.
THAT'S WHAT YOU DEAL WITH EVERY HOUR, EVERY DAY.
I WILL TAKE YOUR RECOMMENDATION IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS THE BEST THING TO DO, WE'VE GOT SOME SNAGS TO WORK OUT, PROBABLY THE REST AREA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WE'VE JUST BEEN WORKED THROUGH.
>> IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE BEST THING.
IF YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BETTER SERVE YOUR EMPLOYEES, AND IF YOU THINK THIS IS NOT GOING TO RESULT IN ANY LACK OF SERVICE WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD BE RECOMMENDING, AND IF YOU DID, THEN I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AND I'M FINE.
>> MARK STATED EARLIER, THE BIGGEST THING IS WE LOSE PEOPLE TO THESE OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE DOING THIS.
I KNOW YOU SAID NUMEROUS TIMES YOU DON'T LIKE TO BE A TRAINING GROUND.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE A TRAINING.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO BE A TRAINING EITHER.
>> WE'RE FULLY STAFFED, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
>> THERE'S PEOPLE THERE WAS OTHER COUNTIES WITH A LITTLE BIT HIGHER SALARY.
IF IT'S ONLY A DOLLAR MORE PEOPLE STILL SEE THAT DOLLAR AS BEING MORE OR THE SCHEDULE.
THEY'VE GOT A 24-HOUR SCHEDULE.
WE HAVE LOST PEOPLE FOR THAT REASON, BUT LUCKILY, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME BACK AFTER WORKING THERE.
>> WELL, I JUST I THINK IT'S OUR OBLIGATION REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT I ALWAYS TELL THE STORY ABOUT WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE 100 YEARS AGO, THE FIRST PLACE I WENT WAS YOUR 911 AREA UNDER THE JAIL AND THAT'S WHEN I SAY, YEAH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A FACILITY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE SAFE TO WORK IN.
I THINK WE DID, I THINK IT'S A GOOD FACILITY.
WHATEVER ADJUSTMENTS WE HAVE TO MAKE, I THINK WE MAKE THEM.
IF THIS IS WHAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO, THANK YOU FOR PULLING THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.
IS THAT [INAUDIBLE] AND AGAIN, EVERY PERSON THAT,
[01:10:05]
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE UNTIL YOU NEED IT, HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND WHEN YOU PICK UP THAT PHONE AND YOU DIAL YOU YOU THANK YOU, LORD, THAT SOMEBODY IS THERE TO RESPOND AND SOMEBODY IS THERE TO ANSWER.THAT FOLLOWS ON TO THE EMTS AND PARAMEDICS AS WELL, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IT WHEN YOU SEE THAT AMBULANCE PULLING YOUR YARD, YOU KNOW HELPS ON THE WAY AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET A RELIEF.
>> WHAT MODIFICATIONS ARE WE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE TO THE BUILDING?
>> NOT A WHOLE LOT. WE HAVE TWO ROOMS. I ACTUALLY, I HAVE AN OFFICE AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I LOVE SPENDING TIME OVER THERE BECAUSE IT GIVES ME THAT INTERACTION WITH THE EMPLOYEES AMNESTY BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW MY DREAM AS IF WE WERE ALL ON BUILDING THIS REAL SIMPLE BUTTON [LAUGHTER] MAYBE WE WILL GET THERE SOMEDAY.
AT LEAST IF I'M NOT HERE, I HOPE YOU GET THERE.
BUT IT JUST MAKES IT EASIER BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES WHERE THINGS THAT AFFECT EMS AND COMMUNICATIONS THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE WERE ALL [INAUDIBLE].
I CAN GIVE OUT MY OFFICE AT THAT IT NEEDS BUT WE HAVE A ROOM ACROSS FROM STEPHEN'S OFFICE THAT WE JUST NEED TO LOGISTICALLY MOVE SOME THINGS AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE ROOM ACCOMMODATE.
>> WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT LARGE CAPITAL EXPENSES.
>> THAT'S ALL ABOUT THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
>> NO. WITHIN OUR CENTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN TO MEET WHERE JEREMY WAS IN THAT OFFICE AREA.
>> I THINK ACROSS THERE THAT ROOM IS FOR SERVER?
>> ELECTION STORAGE AND ALL THAT.
>> IT'D BE COLD [LAUGHTER] REALLY COLD, THERE IS POLAR BEARS THAT LIVE IN THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT I MEAN, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY MINIMAL EXPENSE AT THIS POINT.
I MEAN, IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE, AND HAD THEY THOUGHT OF ENVELOPES, CAROLINE COUNTY DIDN'T DO THIS EITHER.
I COME FROM SALES GUY AND THEY HAVE A HUGE 911 CENTER AND THEY NEVER PUT ANYWHERE FOR ANYBODY TO REST AND THEY PROBABLY ARE MORE VULNERABLE FOR STORMS THAN CAROLINE, AND THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY HAD TO HOLD IT JUST BATCHES I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THAT.
>> IS THAT AT A GEORGETOWN AIRPORT?
>> I CAN TELL YOU AT THE TIME WE WERE DOING THAT ON 911 SIDE AND WE JUST WANTED TO GET PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] WE JUST WANTED TO GET THEM SOMEWHERE THAT WAS DRY AND SAFE.
>> THAT WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST [OVERLAPPING].
>> ANYBODY'S GO SLEEP. BUT I THINK, WE DID DISCUSS, IN CASE YOU ASK, WHEN WOULD WE IMPLEMENT THIS? STEVE TOOK A LOOK AHEAD IN THE SCHEDULE.
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK STAFF WANTS TO DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT TO DO WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMMUNISTS MAKE SOMEBODY THAT HAD CHRISTMAS OFF NOW, I'M SORRY, NOW YOU HAVE TO WORK.
IT'S LIKE THAT WOULD BE PRETTY.
>> PRO 24 HOURS AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY?
>> I THINK WE'VE TALKED TO STAFF WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, AND MAYBE WE DON'T MAKE THE CHANGE UNTIL JANUARY. I DON'T KNOW.
WE CAN DO IT AS SOON AS NOVEMBER'S HE ACTUALLY LIVED THROUGH TO SCHEDULE THE UP-TO-DATE, AND IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE CONFLICT ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE SOME LEAD TIME AROUND CHRISTMAS, BUT IT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK.
>> IT MAY BENEFIT. THEY MAY NOT USE AS MANY THINGS RIGHT NOW [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A DETAILED FIGURE THAT OUT.
>> THAT'S A DETAIL THAT YOU GUYS [OVERLAPPING].
I DON'T THINK IT WARRANTS A VOTE, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BRINGING IT BEFORE US AND GIVEN US THE INPUT INSTEAD OF JUST CHANGING IT.
>> NO. IT'S LIKE I TOLD DANNY, IT'S YEAH, IT'S AN OPERATIONAL ISSUE, BUT I FEEL THAT I WANT TO HAVE AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION [OVERLAPPING] WHERE YOU'RE I'M GOING TO NEED YOUR SUPPORT FOR OTHER THING.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITHOUT YOU.
>> YOU CAN'T [LAUGHTER] GIVE US ENOUGH INFORMATION.
BECAUSE YOU TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON, AND WE'LL DECIDE WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO.
>> THE MONETARY DIFFERENCE TO BRING IT IN.
>> THAT'S DANNY. GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU IN THE BACK.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO.
I MEAN, IT'S A CAN'T TELL PEOPLE ENOUGH WHEN YOU NEED THEM, WHEN YOU NEED YOU.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU I DON'T I REALLY DON'T HEAR.
NOT EVERYBODY'S HAPPY EVER HAPPY ABOUT EVERYTHING.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT I THINK WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE STAFF.
WOULD APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU GUYS ARE STAFF IS EVERYTHING YOU [OVERLAPPING].
[01:15:04]
>> TAUGHT ME LOTS AROUND HERE.
>>YEP. I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD RECENTLY, WE HAD AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING IN AND WORK IN HERE FULL TIMES. SHE WAS ON THE FENCE.
SHE ACTUALLY WORKED IN ANNA RONDO. SHE DOESN'T DENTIN.
WE HAD HIRED HER PART-TIME, AND SHE WAS ON THE FENCE ABOUT COMING HERE FULL-TIME. WE HAD A VACANCY.
SHE WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE CENTER.
SO SHE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE CENTER, AND THE STAFF THAT SHE WORKED WITH THAT NIGHT SHE JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT AND SHE TOOK TO END UP TAKING THE POSITION.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING FOR US.
>> GOOD. STEVE, THE PHONE SYSTEM STATISTICS SHE GAVE US HERE, IT SAYS AVERAGE CALL DURATION.
WHAT UNITS IS THAT? IS THAT SECONDS, OR THAT'S NOT MINUTES?
>> THE DECIMAL POINTS IN THE WRONG SPOT IF ITS MINUTES [LAUGHTER].
>> I'LL SAY IT'S PRIVATE SECTOR.
>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S SECONDS IF IT'S.
>> YEAH. IT'S USUALLY ABOUT A MINUTE.
>> OKAY. YEAH, [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> KJ OUR TIMES ARE GOING UP OR DOWN WHEN WE'RE TAKING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.
I TRIED TO FOLLOW HIM GOING DOWN GOOD.
>> TAKING ABOUT 10 MINUTES SOON WE ARE GETTING OUT OF THERE, AND THEN WE HAVE THE WHICH IS THAT'S THAT WE'VE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME.
SOURCE IMPLEMENTED A NEW ER DIRECTOR.
SHE REALLY CONSCIENTIOUS OF THAT, AND THAT'S ON THE TOP.
SHE'S BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH US.
>> ESPECIALLY US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THOSE BACK INTO COW.
>> I DON'T HAVE TO JUMP ON ANYBODY [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE LESS PEOPLE I HAVE TO ARGUE WITH THE BETTER FOR ME SO OKAY.
>> THE OTHER STAT THING WHILE YOU'RE HERE REAL QUICK, STEVE, THERE 241 CALLS IN MAY AT 06:00 OH NO THAT'S 06:00 AT NIGHT.
FOR SOME REASON IT MAY. IT'S 06:00.
THAT'S OUR HIGHEST CALL VOLUME, 241 CALLS.
YOU'RE TALKING 241 LIKE AS BUSY AS YOU GUYS GET INTO 911 CENTER IS ABOUT EIGHT CALLS AND A 30-MINUTE PERIOD.
I THINK THAT'S HOW IT WORKED OUT. DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?
>> AS SLOW AS YOU GET IS SEPTEMBER AT 04:00.
>> YEAH. IT MUST BE 04:00 A.M. YEAH.
4:00 AM 11 CALLS IN SEPTEMBER AT THE 04:00 A.M. TO 430 BUCKS, SO THAT'S 0.36 CALLS AND THE 30-DAY PERIOD SO, ANYWHERE FROM.
>> I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, STEVEN, I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK.
YOU COULD RUN OUR NORMAL ONE CENTER WITH TWO PEOPLE AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT ALL YOU NEED IS ONE MAJOR FIRES, ONE MAJOR.
SOMEBODY ELSE'S PICKED UP THE PHONE, CALLING 911.
NOW SOMEBODY CALLS 911, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> YOU GOT PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. THAT'S WHY [OVERLAPPING].
I HADN'T DONE SOME VERY [LAUGHTER] REACTIVE JOB.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
IT'S WHERE WE'RE WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO CALL.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THE MAY AT 6:00 SHIFT [LAUGHTER]
>> BECAUSE OF MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND? YEAH. RIGHT. TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH THE AREA THAT EVERYBODY HAS CELL PHONES ARE THERE.
THEY SEE THE LEAST LITTLE THING ON FOR THEY'RE CALLED GONE.
>> THAT COULD BE PART OF IT TOO.
BUT NO, THAT'S A BIG AGE, PEOPLE EATING TOO MUCH.
THAT'S JUST CALLS COMING INTO THIS.
I KNOW IT'S NOT CALLED BEING MADE OUT, CALLING OUT TO ALLIED AGENCIES OR OTHER COUNTIES FOR A BACKUP MINUTE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I'M GOING TO READ THIS CLOSEOUT STATEMENT.
I FORGOT AT THE BEGINNING [LAUGHTER] REAL QUICK.
SO PRESIDENTS REPORT OUT STATEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 5TH,
[3. President’s Report]
THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, AND ASSIGNMENT OF SPECIFIC COUNTY EMPLOYEES.NO FURTHER ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
IT'S MY FAULT. I ALWAYS FORGET TO DO THAT.
[01:20:01]
>> SWITCH GEARS. TO MY [OVERLAPPING].
>> OKAY. I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHO AT ALL WAS.
>> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
[8. Discussion of Ambulance Purchase]
>> I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE YOU AN OPENING STATEMENT AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO HER.
[LAUGHTER] WE MET WITH DANNY, WE'RE COMING IN FRONT OF YOU, KJ IS GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS AND SOME OPTIONS.
I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF I SEE AN END TO THIS RIDICULOUS INDUSTRY WITH FIRE APPARATUS AND AMBULANCES.
MY OWN DEPARTMENT LAST NIGHT DIDN'T BUY A TRUCK TWO YEARS AGO AND IT WAS 736,000 AND THEY BOUGHT IT LAST NIGHT FOR 1.1 MILLION.
NOT REALLY SURE WHY THEY DID THAT WHEN THEY COULD HAVE BOUGHT IT FOR $350,000 CHEAPER TWO YEARS AGO, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BLAME IS. I REALLY DON'T.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU SINCE WE CAME TO YOU WITH OUR LAST AMBULANCES, THE TWO THAT WE BOUGHT, THAT SAME AMBULANCE HAS GONE UP $8,000 ON THE CHASSIS SIDE AND ANOTHER 23,000 ON THE BOX CONVERGING PER UNIT.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO LET KJ PITCH [LAUGHTER] HER PLOY TO LOCK IN THIS PRICE, MAYBE FOR THE NEXT TWO ANYWAY.
IF YOU DO GET YOUR LEGISLATIVE PERSON, YOU'RE LOBBYISTS ON BOARD, IF ONE OF THE THINGS THEY COULD HELP CAROLINE WITH IS THIS SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PLAN THAT WILL RUN OUT AND 25 ISSUED FOR US, THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT'S PAID FOR OUR AMBULANCES.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THAT, IS IT ACTUALLY PAYS US FOR THE CALLS WHERE WE DON'T GET PAID, WHAT WE SHOULD GET PAID FOR MEDICAID.
>> IT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT MEDICAID PAYS, AND IT'S HUGE FOR THIS COUNTY.
THE FIRST YEAR WAS 427,000 AND LAST YEAR WAS 700,000.
>> EXPLAIN THAT TO ME [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHO THEY PAID THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE BILLING IS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] MEDICAID TRANSPORTS PAY US A FLAT FEE.
THE STATE THIS YEAR, IT WENT UP TO $150.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH WE BILL, MEDICAID GIVES YOU $150.
WELL, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PLAN TAKES THOSE RUNS AND PAYS YOU THE DIFFERENCE.
IF THE CALL IS $1,000, THEY SUBTRACT THAT WE GOT THIS 150 AND THEN WE GET THE BALANCE, AND THEN THEY GIVE US THAT MONEY BACK.
>> COULD YOU GET THAT INFORMATION TO JEN SO THAT WE CAN [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE JUST OPENED UP LEGISLATION.
>> WE WERE GETTING READY TO START THE PORTAL NOW FOR 24 GRANT.
DANNY, HE HAS ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
>> BUT I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK A LOT IF YOU GET YOUR LOBBYISTS THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT NAME.
>> NAMES IS REALLY TRYING TO PUSH THAT DR. DELL DRIDGE THAT'S BEEN HIS THING.
THERE ARE BILLS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THROUGH THAT JUST ARE STAGNANT.
>> THIS IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THOUGH, THIS IS AN ACTIVE STATE.
>> FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT RUNS TO PUBLIC.
>> SAYING HERE WE ALREADY TOLD YOU, CONGRESSMAN HARRIS AND YES, AND SENATOR PATTON.
>> IT REALLY HELPS WITH OUR OPERATIONS.
I CAN TELL YOU MY OWN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY IN DELAWARE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND WE'RE PROBABLY LOSING $600,000 ON AMAZON AND LAUREL.
>> THE FIRST YEAR ONLY FIVE COUNTIES, I THINK.
>> WE WERE ONE OF THEM. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PEOPLE THAT TOOK UP THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS AND WE DID.
>> IT'S AN EXTENSIVE APPLICATION.
IS THAT A LOT OF WORK COMPLETED BY STACY AND IT DEFINITELY HAS BEEN WORTH IT THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND I THINK ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES NOW ARE SEEING US A JUMPING ON IT.
>> WHO DOES IT GO TO? DEPARTMENTAL HOMELAND, SECURITY?
>> HOMELAND AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
>> IT GOES TO THE MDH AND THEN THEY DEAL WITH THE FEDS?
>> BUT I THINK THE GRANT RUNS OUT IN 25 LAST YEAR THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FUNDING IT.
>> WRAP UP THE CONVERSATION WITH WHAT KJ IS ABOUT TO GO INTO.
THE MONEY THAT COMES IN GETS SET ASIDE TO THE BLS BOND THAT SUPPORTS THE BLS/ALS OPERATION.
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE BLS HAS COMMITTED ESSENTIALLY THAT FUNDING TO PURCHASE AN AMBULANCE EACH YEAR.
[01:25:06]
WE'VE BEEN ON A SCHEDULE OF PROCURING ONE A YEAR TO KEEP UP WITH MILEAGE AND JUST REALLY HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REPLACEMENT.>> BUT WE HAD A YEAR WHERE WE DIDN'T GET ANY AND WE JUST DID TWO LAST YEAR.
>> HAVE YOU RECEIVED THOSE YET?
>> NO. PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO WEEKS.
>> YES. THEY ARE EARLY ACTUALLY, THEY WEREN'T SLATED TO BE HERE UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER AND WE'LL HAVE THEM BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
>> THEN THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON ORDER AFTER THAT.
>> MAYBE. [OVERLAPPING] LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE HAD AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT COME UP AND WE THINK WE NEED TO TALK TO YOU ALL ABOUT THIS AND MAYBE CHANGE GEARS A LITTLE BIT.
A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE CAME, WE HAD ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO PURCHASE A CHASSIS THROUGH FRED FREDRICK, A DODGE FOR 78,000 AND SOME CHANGE.
>> THAT'S THE ONE I WAS THINKING ABOUT. THE OTHER ONE.
>> TWO WEEKS AGO, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM LESS DAIRY FROM PRESTON FORD WHO MANAGES THEIR FLEET.
THEY WERE SHIPPED AN AMBULANCE PRATT PACKAGE CHASSIS THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE SITTING ON THEIR LOT IN PRESTON RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAVE OFFERED US FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR 73,000, WHICH IS $5,000 CHEAPER THAN WHAT WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THE THE DODGE CHASSIS.
BY REARRANGING AND SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE BIT, IF WE FLOOD SHED, IF SOMETHING CHANGED, THEY CAN GET RID OF THIS CHASSIS BECAUSE AMBULANCE CHASSIS ARE OF HIGH COMMODITY.
IF WE DID THAT BY CHANGING GEARS AND PURCHASING THIS, I CAN SEND THIS TO HORTON WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH AND WE WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE AN AMBULANCE IN THE ACTUAL YEAR THAT WE SHOULD BE BUDGETED AND PAYING FOR IT.
ON THE HEELS OF THAT, HE HAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WILL BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH THAT ALSO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE.
I CALLED DANNY AND I WAS LIKE, LOOK, WE COULD POTENTIALLY BUY A SECOND CHASSIS FOR FY25, SEND IT TO HORTON.
THEY'LL START PRODUCTION IN FEBRUARY AND THEN IN JULY OF FY25, WE CAN ACTUALLY TAKE POSSESSION OF ANOTHER AMBULANCE IN THE YEAR THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT IN.
>> TYPICALLY WE DO NOT PROCURE ITEMS PRIOR TO THE YEAR THAT THEY WILL BE RECEIVED OR SPENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT GENERAL FUND ALLOCATION.
AS GENTLEMEN, NOTE, THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS FUNDED MOSTLY BY THE GENERAL FUND.
THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WITH THIS IS THAT THE BLS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN COMMITTING THE FUNDING FOR THESE AMBULANCES.
AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ESPP MONEY THAT'S REALLY BEEN FUNDING THE PURCHASE.
IN MY OPINION, I ASKED KJ TO REACH OUT TO THE BLS COMMITTEE, THEY AVERT A LETTER OF SUPPORT, PRETTY MUCH COMMITTING THAT PENDING THE ESPP APPLICATION AND THE MONEY COMING THROUGH, THEY WILL COMMIT THE FUNDING IN 25 AND THEN TO PURCHASE ANOTHER AMBULANCE.
WE'VE CAUGHT UP AND PRESENTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE NOT ONE BUT TWO CHASSIS AT A LOWER PRICE.
RECEIVE ONE IN 24, RECEIVE ONE IN 25 AND THEN THE REAL KICKER IS LOCKING IN THE PRICE WITH HORTON FOR THE ONE IN 25.
[NOISE] EVEN THOUGH THAT ONE WOULD NOT BE BUILT AND DELIVERED TILL OUR FISCAL YEAR 25, THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE US THE CONTRACT AT PRICE [OVERLAPPING] OF FY24.
WE'RE EXPECTING WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS FAR AS INCREASES, THAT COULD GO UP FROM ANYWHERE $23,000-25,000.
>> IT'S ALL CAME TOGETHER AND WE WERE LIKE WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATION.
THE FACT THAT THEY'RE WILLING, THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL BECAUSE OF THE PRICING.
BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO LOCK IN TWO AMBULANCES AT FY24 PRICING BECAUSE WE'RE COMMITTING TO GIVING THEM ANOTHER AMBULANCE IN FY25.
I THINK IT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL THE SAVINGS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY SAVE.
WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD COME AND HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS.
>> WHAT UNIT WAS THIS REPLACING NOT ONE UNIT WOMAN NEXT ONE BE REPLACING?
>> FOR FY24 WE'LL REPLACE EITHER 976 OR 978, WHICH IS EITHER ORIGINALLY FOR GREENSBORO.
THOSE ARE THE NEXT TWO UNITS THAT WILL BE [OVERLAPPING].
[01:30:03]
>> THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS HAVING SO MANY NEW ONES AT ONE TIME [OVERLAPPING].
SHAKEN OUT THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT GET HOW LONG ARE WE KEEPING THESE UNITS?
>> [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE KEPT THEM LONGER THAN THEY PROBABLY SHOULD BE BECAUSE WHEN I LOOKED AT THE MILEAGE THE OTHER DAY, WE HAVE FOUR THAT ARE EITHER AT OR OVER 200,000 MILES.
WE HAVE ONE THAT IS CREEPING UP ON 100,000 AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE GOT LAST YEAR.
THEN WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE LIKE MID-130S.
>> THE GOOD THING IS WE CAN ROTATE THOSE TWO SLOWER STATIONS TO HELP WITH THE MILES AS WELL.
>> WELL, WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT AND WE DON'T REALLY HAVE SLOWER STATIONS ANYMORE.
>> WE REALLY NEED TO GET WHERE WE HAVE AN ANIMAL HAS COME IN EVERY YEAR.
I THINK THAT WOULD KEEP US, THE FLEET AS CURRENT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE TIMES HE COULD TELL YOU IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WHERE WE'VE HAD NO RESERVE UNITS BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF SERVICE, WERE BEARS.
>> BOTH OF MY RESERVE UNITS NOW THAT ARE SLATED TO LEAVE WHEN THESE TWO NEW UNITS GET HERE, WE'VE BEEN BAND-AIDING THEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THEM, KNOWING THAT IN TWO WEEKS THEY'RE GOING TO BE DONE.
>> YES. THEY'LL BE FORDS AND NOT DODGES.
AT THAT POINT, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME WHAT THE WRITING ON THE BOX LAYOUT IS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE THE SAME.
I DON'T WANT SOMEONE IN ONE AMBULANCE ONE DAY THAT'S LAID OUT DIFFERENT SO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BOXES.
THEY DON'T CARE WHAT THEY GET IN AND DRIVE.
>> THESE WOULD BE REPLACING TWO AMBULANCES THAT HAVE OVER 200,000 MILES.
>> WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TWO WITH OVER 200,000.
>> HOW MANY MILES A YEAR ARE WE PUTTING ON THEM?
>> A HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES A YEAR.
>> WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL.
ADP IS NICE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
>> ARE WE GOOD? THIS IS JUST AN OFF THE TOPIC QUESTION HERE A LITTLE BIT.
BUT ARE WE DOING MORE TRANSPORTS IN CALI OR LESS?
>> WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 9% OF OUR TRANSPORTS PER YEAR ARE STAYING WITHIN COUNTIES AND THE ADP MODEL, BUT THE HANG-UP IS TRANSPORTATION.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST HANG-UP THAT WE HAVE IS IF THEY DON'T HAVE A RIDE, WE CAN'T TAKE THEM TO CHOPTANK OR URGENT CARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET HOME.
>> SO HOW MANY MORE IN COUNTY TRANSPORTS IF WE HAD A TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
HOW MANY MORE COULD WE GET THERE?
>> I JUST WAS READING THAT LAST NIGHT IN THE NIH.
THERE'S ABOUT 63% OF OUR CALL VOLUME IS BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, BLS.
PROBABLY ABOUT 30% OF THOSE COULD BE MANAGED BY EITHER A MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH OR AN URGENT CARE OR GETTING SOMEBODY TO A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT.
>> WE WOULD BE SAVING MILES ON OUR AMBULANCES AND WE WOULD BE SAVING TIME ON OUR PEOPLE IF WE HAD SOME SOMETHING TO BRING THEM HOME.
>> WE'RE WORKING WITH URGENT CARE TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
AS THEIR SERVICES EVOLVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IF THE PEOPLE CAN'T GET HOME, IT'S POINTLESS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO BE LIKE I WANT TO GO TO THE ER, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE SERVICE, THEY LIKE THE FACT THAT WE CAN GET THEM INTO THE DOCTOR, BUT THEY CAN'T GET HOME.
>> I REMEMBER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH AT SOME POINT IN TIME IS THIS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE FOR THE COUNTY.
TETRA TECH IS FINISHING THAT UP.
YOU HEARD THE LADY SPEAK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION.
ALL THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO FOLD IN TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT READING THE DOCUMENT, WHAT THEY'VE COME UP WITH, IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE POINT-OF-CARE HELP TO OUR CITIZENS INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, I'M NOT SURE THIS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE WILL WORK FOR OUR COUNTY.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO INVEST
[01:35:03]
IN WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WITH CHOPTANK AND THEN THOSE PLAYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING SOMEONE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR POINT-OF-CARE TESTS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE OR A PRESCRIPTION THAT WE COULD HAVE PRESCRIBED.WE HAVE OUR MEETING ON THE 27TH WITH TETRA TECH.
THEY PUT THE DRAFT DOCUMENT OUT AND IT'S ACTUALLY VERY INTERESTING.
>> MYSELF, TALBOT COUNTY, AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SHORE REGIONAL AND DR. ANTHONY [INAUDIBLE].
THEY'RE WORKING TO TRY TO GET SOME TELEHEALTH TO ALLEVIATE WITH THE ED TRANSPORTS AS WELL.
I FILLED OUT THE SURVEY THE OTHER DAY.
THEN IF WE GET ON LOCATION AND IT'S NOT A CRITICAL CARE CALL, BUT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE MANAGED, THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ER DOCS THAT WILL BE DEDICATED IN THE EDS THAT WE CAN CALL, THEY CAN DIAL UP ON THE PAD.
WE MAY STAY ON SCENE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT THE PATIENT WILL GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED AND GET APPOINTMENTS BASED OFF OF THAT, AND THEN WE WILL JUST LEAVE THEM AT THEIR HOME.
THAT'S ALSO A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT THERE'S SOME CONNECTIVITY ISSUES BECAUSE OF INTERNET IN PLACES.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK OUT ALL THE LOGISTICS AND PROBLEMS. ONCE WE GET THAT FINALIZED, I'LL BE COMING BACK TO SHARE THOSE DETAILS WITH YOU AS WELL.
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK BACK [INAUDIBLE].
BUT ARE THERE ANY OCCASIONS WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEONE TO THE ER AND THEY COME BACK WITH YOU?
HOW DO THEY GET HOME? [LAUGHTER] YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING?
>> I DO. THEY USED TO DO VOUCHERS.
I THINK THEY DO HAVE SOME TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, BUT THEY DON'T HAND THEM OUT AS FREELY AS THEY ONCE DID BECAUSE THAT WAS A COST TO THEM AS WELL.
THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL SEE PEOPLE JUST CHILLING IN THE WAITING ROOMS BECAUSE THEY'RE WAITING FOR BOSS OR SOMETHING.
>> WHAT DID YOU SAY THAT PERCENTAGE WAS? SIXTY THREE PERCENT?
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY DON'T NEED CARE.
>> THEY CAN HAVE A FRACTURE OR A SPRAIN AND YOU NEED X-RAYS, THINGS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IN THE FIELD.
>> BUT THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO, LIKE KJ SAID, THAT WE COULD PROBABLY.
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL 37% CAN BE DIVERTED TO LOOK AT IN COUNTY?
>> IF WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT COULD GO AND PICK SOMEONE UP FROM THE URGENT CARE CENTER ONCE THEY'VE BEEN TREATED, AND GET THEM HOME.
>> THAT'S OUR BIGGEST HURDLE WITH THE ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE NEED DO THAT THAT AND TRANSPORT TO UPPER SHORE AGING.
>> IN THE OTHER ULTIMATE SITUATION, AND STEVE COULD TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU GO TO SOME OF THE COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCES, THERE ARE 911 CENTERS OR EMERGENCY SERVICES CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO YOU CALL 911 AND THEY SCREEN IT RIGHT THERE.
THIS IS NOT WORTHY OF AN AMBULANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE OR TRANSPORTATION OR WHATEVER YOU NEED.
>> THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS PLAN ALSO OUTLINES IS POTENTIALLY WE CAN DO SOME UPGRADING OR 911 CENTER.
>> SOME CENTERS HAVE NURSES OR DOCTORS RIGHT THERE.
>> THAT'S A LOT LIABILITY, I WOULD THINK.
>> YEARS AGO, YOU WOULD HAVE SOMEONE HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WAY TO GO, THEY'D CALL AN AMBULANCE.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING THOUGH THAT WE COULD.
>> EXPLAIN TO ME THE FUNDING ON THE SECOND AMBULANCE THEN, DANNY, WHERE YOU'RE ASKED WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF FUND BALANCE, GENERAL FUND, AND THEN BE REIMBURSED.
THEY HAVE ENOUGH IN THE ACCOUNT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I FEEL COMFORTABLE AS LONG AS THE BOARD FOR THE BLS COMMITTEE IS COMMITTING THAT TO START THAT PROCESS.
THEN MORE THAN LIKELY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO CUT THE FUNDS FOR THE BOX REALLY TILL 2025 ANYWAY.
SO IT'S REALLY JUST PAYING FOR THE CHASSIS.
>> THEY WOULD JUST GO OUT THERE AND SIT AND WE WOULD SCHEDULE THE BUILD TO NOT BE DONE UNTIL AFTER FY25, JULY 1.
THAT WAY, IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE PAID IN THE RIGHT BUDGET YEAR AND IT WOULD COME IN FY25.
>> THE 24 ONE IS JUST CHANGING OR WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] THE 14 BUT THE 25.
[01:40:06]
>> WE'RE WAITING ON THE DODGE SASSY ANYWAY.
>> ORIGINALLY WHEN WE DID THIS, WHEN WE HAD THE FORD, THE PRICE IT WAS STILL A $5,000 DIFFERENCE, BUT THE TIMEFRAME TO PROCURE BOTH OF THEM WERE THE SAME.
SO WE THOUGHT WE WERE PAYING THE SAME.
BUT NOW THAT THIS HAS CHANGED BECAUSE ACTUALLY THERE'S ONE FITTING AND PRECEDENT THAT I CAN GO PICK UP TOMORROW.
>> THE ONLY THING AGAIN IS THAT WARRANTY ISSUE ON THE SECOND UNIT IF WE GOT IT.
WE WOULD GET IT AND YOU WOULD SAY WE WOULD LET IT SIT UNTIL FY25 BEFORE HORTON WOULD START TO BUILD?
>> NO. IT TAKES ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS TO BUILD THEM ANYWAY.
>> SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE UNIT WOULD BE SITTING? IT'S THE SAME TIMEFRAME.
>> IT WILL BE GETTING WORK DONE, IT JUST PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE DELIVERED TO MORE OF THE JULY.
>> WOULD BE ACTUALLY BE AFTER JULY 2, THE SECOND UNIT.
>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE IT'S CUTTING INTO A WARRANTY PERIOD WHERE THEY'RE JUST SITTING SOMEWHERE ON THE LOT?
>> SURE, BECAUSE IT SHOULD GO ON THE STREET AS SOON AS IT IS DONE AND IT'S NOT SITTING THERE OR WOULD BE WAITING.
>> THEY'RE NORMALLY 100,000 MILE WARRANTIES WHICH WE PUT ON IN A YEAR ANYWAY.
>> WELL, THIS ONE IS A THREE-YEAR 36,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER.
>> WE WILL DO THAT IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS, RIGHT?
>> I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY UPDATES ON THE NEW HOSPITAL.
>> OKAY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE STILL IN THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT WAS ACCELERATING AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING IT AGAIN.
WHAT'S YOUR ESTIMATE AS FAR IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IN A NEW LOCATION OUT ON 50?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE TERRIBLE TO GET TO FOR US.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CROSS HIGHWAYS, A ROUTE IS GOING TO CHANGE.
>> I MEAN, WHERE IT IS IN EASTERN NAILS HARD ENOUGH.
>> THAT'S ONE THING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT FROM THE BEGINNING IS REALLY BEEN.
>> ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS THAT I WAS ON WITH SOME OF THE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP, I ASKED THAT QUESTION.
I ALSO ASKED THEM, I SAID, YOU'RE BUILDING A SMALLER EMERGENCY ROOM.
WE'VE GOT ALL THESE FOLKS AND YOU'RE THE HUB AND YOU'RE DOWNSIZING.
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THAT'S GOING TO HELP US.
>> WELL, I THINK THE ANSWER THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON THAT IS THAT THE WHOLE CONCEPT FOR BUILDING THE NEW FACILITY IS THAT YOU DON'T TAKE PEOPLE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, YOU DO TELEHEALTH IN COUNTY.
THAT'S THE WHOLE CONCEPT BEHIND THIS.
YOU DON'T STAY IN HOSPITALS WHEN YOU'RE SICK [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUILDING THEMSELVES RIGHT OUT OF THE BUSINESS?
>> THEY ARE. I MEAN, THOSE QUESTIONS WERE DISCUSSED ANIMATEDLY [LAUGHTER].
ABOUT WHY THE NEW FACILITY WAS GOING TO BE SMALLER WITH LESS BEDS.
THAT WAS THE ANSWER THAT WAS GIVEN.
WE'RE BUILDING A REGIONAL FACILITY, BUT THE ADVANCES IN MEDICINE AND THE ADVANCES IN HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE PATIENTS IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT, SO WE DON'T NEED AS LARGE. WE'LL SEE.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK WELL.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE [OVERLAPPING] TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
I MEAN, I WOULD SAY THAT WHAT SHOULD BE A REAL PRIORITY FOR US.
I MEAN, THE URGENT CARE CENTER, EXCEPT FOR HOW YOU GET INTO ANATOMY.
DON'T EVEN GO THERE AND START THERE.
BUT I THINK THAT WE ALSO HAVE THE PAVILION THAT CAN PROVIDE X-RAY SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.
HAVE WE RESOLVED? I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT WHETHER THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED WITH PEOPLE HAVING BLOOD DRAWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT AT THE PAVILION?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING SINCE THE INITIAL THAT THEY WEREN'T DOING IT ANYMORE.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S CHANGED.
>> NO, [OVERLAPPING] I THINK THAT IF YOU'RE GOING THERE AS A SHORE PATIENT, I THINK YOU CAN STILL GET STUFF DONE IN A PATIENT.
>> IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN INSURANCE YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE LAB QUARTERS TO DO IT.
>> BUT IF YOU'RE A CHILD AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PATIENT, YOU CAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU GO IN THERE AND TAKE YOUR TABS.
>> [LAUGHTER] I WAS GOING TO SAY. I GOT I GOT MY ORDER.
IF I GOT TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER AND I CAN'T DRINK COFFEE BEFORE I GO.
[01:45:03]
[LAUGHTER]>> WE HAVE TO PROVE THE BLS EXPENDITURE FOR THE SECOND AMBULANCE.
THE FIRST ONE THE SWITCH, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
BUT WE DO NEED TO VOTE TO [OVERLAPPING] MOTION TO PURCHASE THE SECOND AMBULANCE TO HEAR THAT MOTION.
>> KEEP THEM EVERYONE'S IS RUNNING.
>> WE'RE TRYING. THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE CALL VOLUME IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF FOUR, DO THEM IN THE ROOM.
>> MESSING UP OUR DAD'S PICTURES.
>> GENTLEMEN, GOOD. DO YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING? DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK.
>> LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS. GETTING BACK TO ORDER.
[01:53:49]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH IS THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2023-002.DID I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WE'RE HERE FOR THE THIRD MEETING DELIBERATION AND POTENTIAL AMENDMENT AND/OR ENACTMENT OF [NOISE] LEGISLATIVE BILL
[9. Legislative Session: Third Reading & Potential Enactment]
2023-002 WHICH IS AN AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FOR THE PROCEEDS OF THE CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IN REFUNDING BONDS OF 2019.PROBABLY THIS YEAR WAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE ARE NOT USING THE PROCEEDS WITH 2019 BOND ISSUANCE FOR THE DONATION OF THE DETENTION CENTER.
AND AS A RESULT, THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE DIRECTED US TO REALLOCATE THE FUNDING OF THE PROJECT TO THREE PROPOSED SUITABLE REPLACEMENTS AND REPLACEMENT OF HFAQ LOCATED IN THE FEDERAL CENTER.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED THIS BILL BACK ON AUGUST 15TH,
[01:55:02]
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED AND STARTED DEMOCRAT OF AUGUST 20TH WE HAD A SECOND MEETING IN PUBLIC, IN OUR LAST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 5TH, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.TODAY WE JUST SIMPLY HAVE A THIRD MEETING AND WILL ASSIGN WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE BILL.
THIS IS A BILL FOR THE PURPOSE OF, IN FACT, AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND FOR USE, AND APPLY A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE $34,210,000 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND REFUND THE DEPARTMENT OF 2019 THROUGH THE COST OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROJECTS IDENTIFIED HEARING AS THE FEDERAL BYRD ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT, PRESTON ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, AND FREDERICK CENTER OF EACH PATH SPECIFYING HOW UNSPANNED PROCEEDINGS OF 2019 BONDS SHALL BE APPLIED, SUBJECTS FOR FURTHER RE-ALLOCATION IS PROVIDED HERE IN, PROVIDING THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL ADOPT THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION BEFORE APPLYING 2019 BOND PROCEEDS TO ANY SUCH ADDITIONAL PROJECTS.
PROVIDING THESE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL SHALL BE LIBERALLY CONSTRUED, PROVIDING THAT THIS TITLE IS DEEMED A FAIR SUMMARY OF THIS BILL.
EVERYTHING YOU GENERALLY INTRODUCE AN APPLICATION OF THE APPROACHES OF THE 2019 BONDS.
>> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE ENACTMENT OF THIS, WHAT IS IT? THE LEGISLATIVE BILL?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S SOMETHING.
>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2023-002 AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FROM THE PROCEEDS OF THE CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IN REFUNDING BONDS OF 2019.
>> MOTION IN SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THAT'S IT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> CONSENT AGENDA. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[10.Consent Agenda:]
MR. BURKE'S YOU GET ANYTHING?>> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> WE HAVE NEXT UP A AN ACTION ITEM FOR A CONTRACT TO MAVEN AND SMITH LLC FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE REDESIGN.
DEBBIE, YOU WANT TO COME UP? SURE.
>> THEY MIGHT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION OR ANY DISCUSSION ON THE WEBSITE REDESIGN.
>> YEAH, WHAT Y-BAR, WE REDESIGNED THE WEBSITE?
>> IT'S OUR PUBLIC-FACING MARKETING WEBSITE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT FOR EVERYTHING, SO IT'S MORE THAN JUST INFORMATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A WAY THAT ALL COUNTY AND TOWN ADVERTISE THEIR PLACE AS SOMEPLACE TO DO BUSINESS OR TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS.
THE WEBSITE NEEDS TO BE REFRESHED, IT'S BEEN THE SAME FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
A LOT OF IT WILL STAY THE SAME, THE STRUCTURE WILL STAY THE SAME, BUT IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO START HIGHLIGHTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE AROUND NOW, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE HAS, AND JUST AGAIN, FROM A MARKETING PERSPECTIVE, PUTTING IT OUT THERE THAT CAROLINE COUNTY, THIS IS WHAT CAROLINE COUNTY LOOKS LIKE, NOW IN 2023, 2024?
>> WHERE'S THE FUNDING FOR THIS? WHERE WERE YOU?
>> THIS WAS AN APPROVED USE WITH THE RURAL MARYLAND MONEY, THE RURAL MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND UNDER THE BUSINESS CAPACITY PROJECT.
>> I LOOKED AT THE WEBSITE YET, SO YOU'RE NOT JUST
[02:00:02]
REDESIGNING IT AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LIKE UPDATE IT AND YOU CLEANED UP A LITTLE BIT, IS THAT WHAT YOU?>> THE NAVIGATION AND WILL CHANGE A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUND THAT PEOPLE COULDN'T FIND SOME THINGS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR NOW, SINCE WE'VE BEEN USING THE SITE MORE, SO SOME OF THE HEADINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE, SOME OF THE WAYS THAT PEOPLE GET TWO PAGES WITHIN THE SITE ARE GOING TO BE UPDATED.
>> DO YOU PUT THIS OUT FOR BIDS?
>> REQUEST FOR QUOTE, BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD BE UNDER $40,000, SO OUR PROCUREMENT RULES ALLOW FOR A REQUEST FOR QUOTE, SO HE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE, WE GOT 32 RESPONSES AND ARE ABLE TO, THROUGH PROCESS OF ELIMINATION, GET RID OF A LOT OF THOSE SOMEWHERE LATE, SOMEWHERE JUST TOO EXPENSIVE.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE QUOTE WAS SIMPLICITY AND COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEAM, AND SOME OF THEM WERE SO COMPLICATED, THEY WERE REBUILDING FROM SCRATCH, LIKE MAKING CODE, SO WE CAME TO ABOUT 10 OF THEM THAT WE LOOKED AT A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSELY USING CRITERIA, SO WE WENT THROUGH THE RFP SCORING PROCESS, EVEN THOUGH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WERE SPENDING WAS JUST FOR A QUOTE.
>> STEWART, DID YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL OR?
>> WELL, THERE WERE A COUPLE DEBBIE WHEN I REVIEWED THIS GOING WAY OUT THE DOOR LATER THIS MONTH, AND THIS WAS I DIDN'T SEE HOW THERE WERE WAYS FOR ANYONE TO REALLY JUDGE HOW HER WORK WAS BEING DONE, WAS IT BEING DONE TO WHOSE STANDARDS? I DON'T KNOW WHO REPLACEMENT WAS GOING TO BE? THE ATTACHMENT A WHICH IS THE SCOPE OF WORK IS BASICALLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY AND WHAT IT DOES, AND WE'RE ALL THEIR PERSONNEL, AND THE COST PROPOSAL WAS $18,860 WITH ADDITIONAL WORKED ON AN HOURLY RATE AND A 50% DEPOSIT IS DUE UPON SIGNING CONTRACTS, SO I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH SIGNING IT AS APPROVED FOR THOSE REASONS.
OBVIOUSLY, I'VE MET FOUND OUT THAT YOU'RE STAYING ONTO DECEMBER 26TH, BUT THAT WOULD STILL ONLY BE PERHAPS FOUR MONTHS OF YOUR GUIDANCE UNLESS YOU WERE THEN BROUGHT ON A CONTRACTUAL BASIS DURING THE AFTERNOON.
I JUST WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
>> WHAT'S THE ESTIMATE AND IT MAY BE AND TRIED TO LOOK THROUGH THE SAME.
>> IT SAYS DEVELOPMENT STARTED IN FEBRUARY AND THAT'S WHAT MY CONCERN, WE MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECTOR, FEBRUARY, WITH DELIVERY IN APRIL, I THINK.
IT'S BEEN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS SINCE THE CURRENT SITE WAS UPDATED?
>> WHAT DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TRAFFIC WE GET ON THE SITE? DOES IT KEEP NUMBERS?
>> IT DOES WE DO GET GOOGLE ANALYTICS, AND ALSO THROUGH THE SOFTWARE WORDPRESS.
I'M SORRY, I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
>> OKAY. DID MAVEN AND SMITH DESIGN THAT SITE?
>> NO, IT WAS A DIFFERENT. WHAT ELSE DO YOU KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT RENEWAL COST IS? I KNOW ON THIS ONE IT SAYS IT'S APPROXIMATELY 600.
FROM [OVERLAPPING] BOWSER, IT'S ABOUT THE SAME AS WHAT OUR CURRENT.
>> I GUESS I'M FOLLOWING UP YOUR STORAGE QUESTION THAT I KNEW, ANDREW.
WHAT TYPE OF INPUT WOULD THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR HAVE IN THE DESIGN OF THE WEBSITE?
>> THE PLAN IS TO HAVE ALL CONTENT, WHICH INCLUDES VISUAL CONTENT, PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY, AND WRITTEN WORD.
WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE DONE EARLIER.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN OUR OFFICE WORKING WITH KENDALL TIG,
[02:05:03]
AND TARA HILL FORESEE AND CINDY TO DEVELOP THAT, AND HAND THAT OVER TO MAVIN AND SMITH AND THEN THAT EXPERTISE WOULD LAY IT OUT BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE IN THE SCOPE OF WORK AS FAR AS NAVIGATION.THEN IT'S A MATTER OF CHECKING THAT WORK, NOT CREATING SOMETHING NEW.
>> ONE THING I DO NOTICE ABOUT OUR CURRENT WEBSITE IS TRYING TO AVOID NO HOLES NO LONGER THERE AND TURN BRIDGE IS NO LONGER THERE.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED A COUPLE UPGRADES.
>> PART OF THE PROCESS ISN'T JUST CONTENT, BUT HOW TO MAKE IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEBSITE SO THAT WE CAN DO SOME CHANGES INTERNALLY, EASIER.
RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT COMPLICATED, IT'S CUMBERSOME TO GET A CHANGE MADE JUST BECAUSE OF HOW THE SITE HAS BEEN SET UP AND IS MAINTAINING ON ITS HOST SITE.
>> IT WOULD BE MORE USER-FRIENDLY?
>> IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, SO [NOISE] THE CONTENT PART AS FAR AS WHAT WOULD BE ALL THE WEBSITE WOULD BE DONE WHILE YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE HERE, CORRECT?
>> THEN PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE WITH THE WEBSITE TECHNICALLY WOULD BE DONE FROM THERE.
THEN THE FINAL PRODUCT WOULD BE PRESENTED FOR REVIEW BY WHOEVER'S GOING TO BE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT PERSON?
>> CORRECT OR IF THERE'S OTHER STAFF ELSEWHERE OR THAT'S GOING TO TAKE ON THAT ROLE.
THAT'S TRUE, THAT WAS ALL UP IN THE AIR, BUT MY IDEA WAS TO HAVE A PACKAGE EVEN BEFORE I PROPOSED TO EXTEND MY RESIGNATION DATE, IS TO HAVE A PACKAGE THAT PEOPLE COULD EASILY CHECK OFF.
I DON'T NEED TO CREATE THE CONTENT, I ALREADY HAVE THOSE FILES SO MY TIME IN THESE ENSUING WEEKS WAS GOING TO BE PUTTING TOGETHER A HERE'S A CHECK-OFF BOX TO BE ABLE TO SAY THIS WORK HAS BEEN DONE, THIS IS WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE USING THE EXPERTISE IN THE OFFICE, KENDALL NOT RELYING ON JENN, BUT ASKING FOR HER INPUT AS THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND USING OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY STAFF THAT HAVE EXPERTISE IN LOOKING AT WEBSITE AND HOW TO USE A WEBSITE APPROPRIATELY.
>> JUST TO EMPHASIZE I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SCOPE OF THE WORK IS NOT JUST THE CONTENT AND DESIGN REVAMPING, BUT THE SITE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, IS FIVE OR SIX YEARS OLD AT THIS POINT.
TECHNICALLY A LOT HAS CHANGED, MOBILE COMPATIBILITY, YOU THINK ABOUT TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN WEBSITES OVER SIX YEARS.
ADA COMPLIANCE, MAKING THIS WEBSITE ACCESSIBLE IS ANOTHER HUGE PART OF THE SCOPE OF WORK.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT IT ISN'T JUST MAKING IT PRETTIER [LAUGHTER] AND MAKING IT EASIER TO NAVIGATE.
THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL WORK WE NEED SOME HELP AS WELL.
>> THAT'S TECHNICAL WORK THAT ONCE IT'S DONE, WHOEVER'S IN THE COUNTY CHECKING THAT CAN SAY IT'S ADA COMPLIANT? YES, CHECK THAT OFF, IT'S MOBILE BY JUST CHECKING.
THAT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST THINGS ABOUT IT THIS TIME IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OFF, THAT HAS BEEN DONE, IS GOING TO BE DONE SO FROM A USER'S PERSPECTIVE.
THE ONEROUS OF HOW TO, IF THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE CAN REALLY BE DONE BY ANYONE.
DOUBLE-CHECKING THAT WE'RE MEETING THE GOAL COULD BE DONE WITH ANYONE.
>> I GUESS THE TWO QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE WOULD BE THEN THIS CAN'T BE REALLY JUST A REFRESHING, LIKE WE DON'T WANT BUSINESSES ON THERE WHO DON'T EXIST OR IN BUSINESS ANYMORE.
YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I KNOW ABOUT WEBSITE DESIGN.
I'M LUCKY I CAN TURN THE COMPUTER ON.
THE OTHER THING WOULD BE I GUESS I'M JUST QUESTIONING WHETHER HOW MUCH SENSE WOULD IT MAKE TO HAVE THE EVENTUAL EDC PERSON, WHOEVER THAT MAY BE, HAVE BEEN PUT TO THIS, IS IT.
THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS, I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO IT OR IT DOESN'T HAVE, I'M JUST WONDERING THE TIMING HERE, IS THE REAL QUESTION FOR ME.
I THINK PROBABLY FOR YOU GUYS AS WELL.
WELL, NUMBER ONE, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
[02:10:01]
THE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE USED TO PAY FOR THIS, IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON WHEN THERE IS ROOM TO BE EXPANDED?>> YOUR PROJECT TIMELINE AGAIN, IS GOING TO BE?
>> COMPLETION BY MAY OF NEXT YEAR I THINK IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'LL FALL WITHIN THAT TIMELINE BUT IF WE DELAY, IT'LL BE OUTSIDE THAT TIMELINE?
>> I THINK TO ANSWER THE FIRST CONCERN IS YES, AS ANGELA AND I HAVE BOTH SAID IN THIS [INAUDIBLE] WITH MAVEN SMITH.
IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE CONTENT, IT IS BUILDING THAT FRAMEWORK BEHIND THE CONTENT SO THAT WHEN THE NEXT DIRECTOR COMES ON BOARD, IT'S EASIER FOR THEM THAN TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES TO CONTENT.
>> INTERNALLY WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE A VENDOR DO IT?
>> IT'S CLEANER AND IT REFLECTS BETTER THAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS AN UP-TO-DATE WEBSITE AND MARKETING TO BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES.
>> I'M KIND OF CONCERNED ABOUT PUTTING THE BUSINESSES ON THERE BECAUSE THEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR OF, YOU [NOISE] LEFT ME OUT.
WHY DIDN'T I GET AN UPDATE [OVERLAPPING].
>>OR THEY CLOSED AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING, WE CAN'T TAKE IT DOWN.
>> ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING STRUCTURALLY IS WE'RE NOT INCLUDING SPECIFIC BUSINESSES ON THE CONTENT.
THERE'LL BE A BLOG AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE THERE NOW THAT HIGHLIGHT BUSINESSES AT THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
LIKE NEXT WEEK WHEN CHRISTOPHER INSURANCE IS HONORED, WE'LL PUT THAT AS A BLOG ON THERE AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEWS OUT, MORE REFRESHED INFORMATION.
>> THEN THAT DROPS DOWN OVER TIME.
IF YOU FEATURE BUSINESS THAT ISN'T AROUND IN TWO YEARS, THAT'S SO FAR DOWN THAT NOBODY IS SAYING IT.
>>IT'S NOT SET UP THE WAY IT IS NOW?
ALL THE HOURLY RATES ARE LAYED OUT THERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS CONTRACT CAN BE DONE ON AN HOURLY BASIS RATHER THAN LONG SOLVE OR 50% HAS TO BE PAID IN ADVANCE?
>> IT COULD BE, GENERALLY IT WORKS IN THE CLIENT'S [LAUGHTER] FAVOR TO DO IT AS A PROJECT RATE VERSUS HOURLY.
IF THE PAYMENT TERMS ARE AN ISSUE, WE'RE FLEXIBLE ON THAT, IF YOU'D RATHER BREAK IT UP INTO MORE PAYMENTS OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT'S FINE. OUR STANDARD IS 50% UP FRONT AND AT THE END, THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH MOST OF OUR CLIENTS, BUT WE'RE FLEXIBLE IN THAT AND WE'VE DONE OTHER THINGS WITH OTHER CLIENTS.
>> I KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME [LAUGHTER].
I'D FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WE BURNED UP QUARTERLY AND JUST DID IT IN QUARTERS THROUGH THE PROJECT AS OPPOSED TO 50% UP FRONT.
>> THOSE ARE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS.
>> MR. BURTON, ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONAL?
>> JUST POINT OUT, [NOISE] A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE PIE REQUEST FROM IS IT ALEXA WILLIAMS? SOMEBODY NAMED ALEXA WILLIAMS WANTING A COPY OF ALL OF THE VENDOR RESPONSES THAT CAME AS A RESULT OF THE RFQ, AND BARRY AND I ARE WORKING OUR WAY THROUGH IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DO NOT RELEASE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.
BUT JUST THOUGHT THE COMMISSION SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THAT.
JUST TO CLARIFY, [NOISE] COMMISSIONER BREED ARE YOU SUGGESTING THE INITIAL PAYMENT IS 25% DOWN AND THEN THE REST WILL BE BUILD OVER TIME IN QUARTERS? > YEAH. I WAS SUGGESTING QUARTERLY, MONTH OR TWO MAYBE AND GET A BILL FOR 25% AND THEN A MONTH OR TWO LATER, 25.
>> AND THE OVERALL AMOUNT IS AGREED?
>> WE WILL CERTAINLY COMPLY WITH HIS REQUEST, BUT IN YOUR OPINION, WE'VE COMPLIED WITH THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE?
>> WE HAD OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOP-NOTCH RESEARCHERS, CINDY WATTS,
[02:15:02]
LOOK INTO WHETHER OR NOT THIS PERSON WAS A COMPETITOR AND WE CAN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE.NOT TO SAY IT'S NOT, BUT CAN'T FIND AN EVIDENCE OF SUCH.
>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT WITH THE ADJUSTMENT IN THE BILLING SCHEDULE THAT'S PROPOSED BY PRESIDENT BREED.
>> AYE. ALL OPPOSED? I'LL ACCEPT..
>> WE'RE ON THAT PIA, CAN WE JUST GIVE A BREAKDOWN OF THE COST? START THERE.
>> IN RESPONSE TO PIA REQUEST, WE DON'T NEED TO CREATE A NEW DOCUMENT, THAT'S NOT WHAT THOSE OTHER TAX [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT SHE CAN'T REALLY, SO WHAT ARE YOU REDACTING EVERYTHING? [LAUGHTER].
>> ALL 33 OF THE THEM[OVERLAPPING]
>> TRY ALL THIS WAY, 30 OR 40 PAGES LONG.
>> IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE OF HOURS, WE MAY SEND A BILL, ANYTHING THAT'S SO HARD.
IF YOU WANT US TO DO THIS WORK, [INAUDIBLE] HOURS AT SUCH AND SUCH AN HOUR TO IT ON PROCEDURE THAT I MENTIONED PRODUCING THE DOCUMENTS.
>> I THINK THAT'D BE GOOD. [LAUGHTER] [NOISE]
>> OKAY, SO I HAVE SOME ONE ITEM.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[11.County Administrator’s Report]
>> WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY AT 02:00 P.M. WITH MES.
IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST TO REPEAT, SO THURSDAY WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP MEETING SCHEDULED WITH MES TO REVIEW THEIR SUBMITTED DOCUMENT THAT REVIEWS THE FOREIGN $6 MODEL.
IT STARTS AT 02:00 AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> I COULD GO LAST BECAUSE STEWART MIGHT COVER WHAT I HAVE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TALK AS MUCH.
[NOISE] BOTH STEWART AND I REGISTERED TO GO TO THE MACO, COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 11TH THROUGH THE 13TH.
WE WILL BE ATTENDING REPRESENTING THE COUNTY THERE.
FIVE OR SIX NEW HIRES IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, WHICH SOME OF IT COME BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL AND SOME SHERRY AND I APPROVED AT DPW AND DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
LAST WEEK, WE HAD THE FOUR ORDINANCES IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GONE THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
I'LL BE IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WHERE APPARENTLY THERE IS NO WI-FI OR CELL SERVICE.
BUT MY PLAN IS TO HAVE THOSE IN A LEGISLATIVE FORMAT DRAFT TO THE OFFICE OF LAW SO THEY CAN PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE IN FRONT OF YOU PROBABLY IN 2-3 WEEKS, I WOULD ESTIMATE.
YESTERDAY, COMMISSIONER PORTER AND I ATTENDED A CRITICAL AREA COMMISSION SUMMIT, 40 YEARS SUMMIT.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DISCUSS THERE WAS THE ISSUE OF THE GRANT FUNDING TO OUR COUNTY AND TO THE OTHER COUNTIES IN GENERAL. IT DID COME UP.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT CAME UP IN COMMISSIONER PORTER'S WORK GROUP, BUT IT CAME UP IN MINE, AND I THINK THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED IT IN SOME OF HER REMARKS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING PROVIDED TO THE COUNTIES.
WHETHER OR NOT ANYTHING WILL CHANGE, DON'T KNOW.
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE RELIANCE ROAD ENERGY STORAGE FACILITY IS CURRENTLY BEING REVIEWED.
ACTUALLY, MARK SHARED AND HE'S ALREADY REVIEWED IT.
I'M TAKING A LOOK AT IT AND WE WILL RESPOND TO THEM PROBABLY BEFORE THURSDAY.
UNLESS WE FINISHED THAT UP AND THEN MARK SENDS SOMETHING TO THEM MONDAY, SO WE STILL HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THEIR PLAN.
THEY WERE MINOR, BUT THERE WAS SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT ISAIAH [INAUDIBLE] FROM CONVERGENCE, SAID HE WOULD PROVIDE.
THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED YET.
SO WE'RE ASKING THEM FOR THAT.
THE LAST THING, JUST TO MENTION AS AN FYI, IS YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL BEEN ADDED OR YOU HAVE ALL BEEN ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CALENDAR, SO YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T LOGGED INTO THAT TO SEE IT ALREADY. THAT'S IT.
>> [NOISE] ON THE HUMBLE HOUSE.
[02:20:06]
[NOISE] APPLICATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT HOME.WE HAVE GREENSBORO, WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED A, IS IT A SEVEN-PAGE SMALL PRINTS THAT ARE FROM THE BERKELEY LAWYER REPRESENTING HUMBLE HOUSE, [NOISE] PROVIDING DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EXISTENCE [LAUGHTER] OF THE FEDERAL LAW.
I HAVEN'T WASTED MY TIME YET GOING THROUGH IT, BUT NONE OF WHAT I SAW SO FAR WAS UNFAMILIAR TO ME AND BETH CHAPLIN'S OFFICE IS PROCEEDING EXACTLY THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE PROCEEDING.
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THIS IS WHERE THE RECOVERY HOME IS PROPOSING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW SOME FIRE CODES OR PROCEDURES, CORRECT?
THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THERE TOO, THEY JUST THEY DON'T HAVE PERMITS FOR WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE, OR IT'S NOT CLEAR IF THEY'VE HAD PERMITS FOR WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
THEY'VE GOT SOME ISSUES WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEIR SEPTIC SYSTEM.
THERE'S ACTUALLY AN ASSORTMENT OF REASONS, BUT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REASON THAT TRIGGERED A LOT OF THE SCRUTINIZATION.
>> REMEMBER, WITH THESE THINGS, THE FAIR HOUSING ACT [NOISE] AND THE ADA SAY THAT YOU THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT TREAT THE RECOVERY HOUSE ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN AS IF IT WAS A NUCLEAR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
YOU CAN'T PUT THEM FOR ANY ADDITIONAL HOOPS.
[LAUGHTER] WHICH MEANS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF AN APPLICATION CAME IN AND HAVE SOME WORK DONE ON THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE, YOU COULD NOT SAY, WELL, I WANT TO FIRE CODE INSPECTION BY THE FIRE MARSHAL.
YOU COULDN'T PUT THEM THROUGH THAT HOOP.
IF YOU WEREN'T GOING TO PUT A FAMILY THROUGH IT, YOU CAN'T PUT THE RECOVERY HOUSE THROUGH IT.
THE PROBLEM THEY'VE GOT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE THEY HAD CHESTER TOWN, WHICH IS THERE'S AN INADVERTENT INSPECTION BY THE FIRE MARSHAL, WHO THEY'RE SUPPOSEDLY ONLY INSPECT THE FIRST FLOOR, THE FORMER DENTIST CLINIC OR WHATEVER IT WAS, AND THE PEOPLE THERE ADVISED HIM ABOUT THE UPSTAIRS AND HE DID AN INSPECTION OF THE UPSTAIRS AS WELL.
WE HAVE AN INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
NOTHING I SAW IN THE GLANCING OVER THE BERKELEY LAWYER'S LETTER ADDRESSES THE BELL HAVEN'T BEEN WRONG.
WE'VE GOT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT ABOUT VIOLATIONS OF THE FIRE CODE.
ARE WE SUPPOSED TO JUST BURY THAT AND IGNORE THAT? WE COULD HAVE REQUIRED THAT INSPECTION, BUT WE GOT IT, AND THEY'RE, I THINK, ASKING US TO JUST IGNORE THE FIRE VIOLATIONS AND GO AHEAD AND GIVE A PERMIT.
MY BUDDIES WERE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
>> WELL, I AM THOROUGHLY CONFUSED ABOUT THE HOOPS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF YOU ARE A NUCLEAR FAMILY AND YOU BUY A HOUSE AND YOU DO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF RENOVATIONS TO THAT HOUSE, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE FIRE CODE AND YOU'RE REQUIRED TO, FOR EXAMPLE, INSTALL A SPRINKLER SYSTEM, AND THAT SPRINKLER SYSTEM HAS TO BE INSPECTED TO MAKE SURE IT COMPLIES.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT HOOP WE'RE ASKING THEM TO JUMP THROUGH THAT WE'RE NOT ASKING EVERYBODY ELSE TO JUMP THROUGH.
>> I'M SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE.
MY SON JUST WENT THROUGH THIS AND HE HAD TO INSTALL A SPRINKLER SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM HAD TO BE INSPECTED.
WE'RE NOT ASKING THESE PEOPLE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WE WOULD IF SOMEONE CAME IN AND BOUGHT THAT BUILDING AND RENOVATED IT AND MADE IT INTO APARTMENTS.
>> KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> THE OBVIOUS GOAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE.
AS I SAID BEFORE, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SOME CODE THAT SOMEONE THINKS THEY DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW, IF A TRAGEDY HAPPENS, THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE JUST AS INJURED AND
[02:25:04]
JUST AS DEAD AS THEY WOULD BE IF THEY HAD FOLLOWED THE CODE.I'M CONFUSED, BUT I WOULD SAY, FOR ME, YOU KEEP ON KEEPING ON, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.
I'M GOING TO RELY ON YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR EXPERTISE, AND I'LL KEEP GETTING LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD, WE'RE NOT, IN MY OPINION, ANYWAY TREATING THEM UNFAIRLY AT ALL.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FOLLOW THE RIGHT PROCEDURES AND THEY HAVE THE RIGHT PERMITS AND THE RIGHT THINGS IN PLACE.
IT DOESN'T EVEN MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING THERE.
THEY JUST NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PROPER PROCESSES.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD, MR. BARTZ [INAUDIBLE].
>> YEAH, I FORGOT TO BRING UP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SHOW ME THAT THEY HAD A BUILDING OUT FRONT.
I GOT TO WATER METERING AND I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HIM, BUT I THINK EVERYTHING SHOULD BE UP TO SNUFF THERE WHERE THEY CAN USE THAT BUILDING.
BEING COMMISSIONER, I'LL LET HIM TALK ABOUT IT.
COMMISSIONER PORTER MET WITH THE BOAT CLUB LAST WEEK IN REGARDS TO THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGE ON CHOPTANK RIVER CAR SHOW, WHAT WAS ACTUALLY A MUSIC FEST IN GREENSBURG, BUT IT TURNED INTO A CAR SHOW, IT WAS TOO MUCH RAINING, BUT IT WAS LOT OF CARS.
SEEMED LIKE A GOOD PARTICIPATION UNTIL IT STARTED RAINING THERE.
LAST TIME IT HAD SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD.
I THINK THEY'RE AS ALWAYS RUNNING BEHIND ON THE DEMOLITION AND GETTING EVERYTHING DONE FOR THE NEW BUILDING OUT THERE ON MARKET STREET.
THEY ARE MEETING EVERY OTHER WEEK NOW WITH THE ARCHITECTS AND EVERYBODY TO TRY TO GET IT GOING FAST, BUT I THINK THE HOLDUP RIGHT NOW IT'S A TON A BIT, I BELIEVE.
YOU SENT OUT AN EMAIL THE OTHER WEEK, STORED ABOUT A MACO HOUSING WORK GROUP.
>> I'LL TALK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER BREEDING, COMMISSIONER PORTER, AND I'LL TAKE PART IN THAT GROUP THERE.
I JUST NEED TO EMAIL THEM. THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> I'LL FOLLOW UP A LITTLE BIT ON THE CHOPTANK RIVER ISSUE.
TO BOIL THIS DOWN AS SIMPLY AS I CAN, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS RAISED BY A PERSON OR PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE RIVER ABOUT BOAT SPEED AND BOAT, I GUESS, PROBLEMS THAT HAS RESULTED IN THERE BEING A PROPOSAL THROUGH THE DNR WATERWAYS COMMITTEE, BOATING ACTION COMMITTEE TO REDUCE THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE RIVER FROM DENTON TO GREENSBURG TO SIX KNOTS, THE ENTIRE WAY.
THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY BROUGHT SOME CONCERN FROM PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE MEMBERS OF THE BOAT CLUB.
THERE IS A HEARING THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 26TH AT 05:30.
I THINK I'M GOING TO ATTEND AND SIGN UP TO SPEAK, AND WHILE I DON'T CONDONE AND I DON'T THINK WE CONDONE, IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, UNSAFE BOAT PRACTICES OR DISTURBING THE RIGHT OF SOMEBODY TO SETTLE ON THEIR DOC.
I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PUNISH EVERYONE AND I WOULD RATHER SEE THERE BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO THE WEIGHT ZONE THERE MAY BE BASED ON WIDTH OF THE RIVER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE SPEED ON THE RIVER FOR THE ENTIRE DISTANCE.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE COMPLAINANT IS ASKING EITHER.
I THINK THIS IS GONE BEYOND WHAT THE PERSON HAS ASKED FOR.
I'VE BEEN CONTACTED BY THE PERSON WHO COMPLAINED AND HEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE I STOOD AND I TOLD THEM THAT EXACT THING, THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT A SPEED LIMIT CHANGE FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH.
I WILL SUPPORT WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE IT SAFE AND TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE RIVER.
I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME REPRESENTATIVES OR
[02:30:04]
A REPRESENTATIVE AND PEOPLE ATTENDING FROM THE BOAT CLUB.I DON'T KNOW WHO SPECIFICALLY IS CREATING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF BOATS THAT GET PUT OVERBOARD AT KRAUSS PARK, THE PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW.
FRANKLY, PEOPLE, DELAWARE TAGS.
WE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO THIS IS.
BUT CERTAINLY IF SOMEONE IS DISRUPTING THE ABILITY OF
[12. County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE RIVER IF THEY'RE BEING DISRESPECTFUL, IF THEY'RE CREATING PROBLEM, THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH, AND IF THAT PERSON HAS INFORMATION ON THAT SPECIFIC PERSON, THEN I WOULD EXPECT THAT SHERIFF BAKER WOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND TAKE CARE OF THAT.THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH, I SENT AN EMAIL SUNDAY, I THINK, AND COPIED EVERYONE ON THAT.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THAT BUILDING.
THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH LIBRARY, ACCORDING TO THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR, HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN, I THINK, SHE SAID 26 HOURS SINCE JUNE BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT AND THE LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING.
LOOK, I WAS IN THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME.
IF YOU OWN A BUILDING, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WORKS WITHIN THAT BUILDING.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE LEASING THAT BUILDING TO CAN HAVE THEIR NORMAL OPERATIONS.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE LONG-TERM, LONGSTANDING ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH, AND FRANKLY, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
I JUST CHECKED, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE MRDC DIRECTOR.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS, BUT I HAVEN'T.
I THINK THAT WE ARE IN A POSITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE SHOULD START LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH, HONESTLY.
HATE TO SAY THAT. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO DEBBIE BENNETT AND ASKED HER TO PULL TOGETHER SOME INFORMATION ON MAYBE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT THEY NEED.
>> WHAT IS THE LEASE TERMS ON THAT CONTRACT?
>> ISN'T IT ABOUT THE FLIP OVER TO 30 YEARS [INAUDIBLE]?
>> WHAT WERE WE PAYING? WE WEREN'T PAYING THAT MUCH,1,500 BUCKS A MONTH.
>> THE LIBRARY BASE OF DIRECT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE INTERESTING THING ON THAT WAS THAT IN MOST SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, THERE WOULD BE SOME PAYMENT OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE WRITTEN INTO THE LEASE WHERE THERE WOULD BE MAINTENANCE REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE'S COMMON AREA THERE, THERE'S A LOBBY.
IN THIS CASE, THERE WAS A LUMP-SUM PAYMENT THAT WAS MADE WHEN THE LEASE WAS INITIATED, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THAT WAS BEFORE MY TIME, BUT THAT LUMP-SUM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TAKEN BY MRDC AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE, I GUESS, INVESTED OR SOMETHING.
BUT THERE IS NO PAYMENT THAT IS REQUIRED FROM THE COUNTY TOWARD MAINTENANCE OF THAT BUILDING.
ONE OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH THE BUILDING IS LEAKS IN THE ROOF AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, AND I COPIED DELEGATE GRACE ON MY EMAIL, WAS THAT DELEGATE GRACE HAD BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN SOME GRANT FUNDING FOR THEM TO ADDRESS THE ROOF ISSUES.
BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW, THE AIR CONDITIONING.
I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S LIKE AN AIR CONDITIONER LIKE YOU HAVE AT YOUR HOUSE, IT CAN BE FIXED.
I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR SURE, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS ISN'T A SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS.
WE KNOW WHAT THAT SYSTEM CALLS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE [INAUDIBLE].
>> CORRECT, WE ARE GETTING THROUGH RIGHT NOW WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.
ALL I DO KNOW IS WE CAN'T SHUT DOWN THAT LIBRARY WHEN IT GETS HOT.
WE LIVE HERE, THE WEATHER IS GOING TO CHANGE, IT'S GOING TO GET HOT.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THIS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF.
>> WAS THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH US OR WITH THE LIBRARY?
[02:35:03]
>> IT WAS WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY.
>> BUT THE LIBRARY PAYS AS PART OF THE LIBRARY OPERATION.
>> NOW, HOW ABOUT THE FEDERALS BANK BRANCH? THE LIBRARY ACTUALLY OWNS THAT, DYLAN?
>> I THINK WE OWN THE BUILDING, I THINK IT DRIVES ON THAT.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT, AGAIN, NOT LOOKING FOR A FIGHT.
WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO COME USE THE LIBRARY, AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE LIBRARY AND OUR ALTERNATIVE JUST CAN'T BE TO JUST CLOSE.
>> HAVE THEY HAD SOMEBODY COME OUT AND ASSESS THE HVAC UNIT TO EVEN PROVIDE A PROPOSAL?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.
JEN, DID YOU TELL ME THAT HE IS GOING TO BE ON OUR AGENDA?
>> YES, HE WILL BE ON FOR THE SEPTEMBER 26TH MEETING.
>> GOOD. THEN MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I DON'T KNOW. BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THE QUESTION ABOUT THE LEASE RENEWAL.
AGAIN, IF THIS CAN BE RESOLVED AND IF WE CAN CONTINUE, THAT WILL BE GREAT.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT THE LIBRARY HAS REACHED OUT AND ASKED FOR SOME HELP WITH OVER THE YEARS.
I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO GO ANYWHERE, BUT WE JUST CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THIS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> LATE LAST WEEK WE HEARD BACK FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE THAT THEY WERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR REALLOCATION OF THE FUND, THE RURAL MARYLAND AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND, OR THEY WERE OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY SUPPORT, BUT THEY WERE OKAY WITH REALLOCATION FROM THE DATA STORAGE CENTER BUILDING AND THE FARM TO FREEZER PROJECT, AND ALLOCATING THEM MONEY TOWARDS A CHOPTANK MARINA PROJECT AND THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK PROJECT.
I GUESS WE NEED A MOTION AND A VOTE TO ALLOCATE THAT 1.3 MILLION TO CHOPTANK MARINA, AND THEN THE 300,000 THAT WAS GOING TO GO TO MRDC FOR THE LIBRARY TO THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK PROJECT.
IT'LL BE 1.3 TO BOTH PROJECTS AND THE REASON WAS THAT THE COMMERCE DIDN'T REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE WAS ANY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VALUE IN FIXING THE ROOT OR THE HVAC AT THAT BUILDING.
THAT WAS THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT THERE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PUT 1.3 MILLION FROM THE RURAL MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND TO CHOPTANK MARINA AND 1.3 MILLION TO THE DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK PROJECT.
>> THAT'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHAT DEVELOPED LAST WEEK.
THE REASON FOR THE SENSE OF URGENCY WAS WE NEED JAMIE BEATTIE, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, NEEDS TO MAKE AN APPLICATION TO STATE DNR FOR MATCH MONEY, BECAUSE DNR WILL MATCH THAT 1.3 MILLION 100% WITH ANOTHER 1.3 FROM WATERWAY IMPROVEMENT TO GIVE US 2.6 MILLION TOTAL TO REDO CHOPTANK MARINA'S BALL KIDS AND PEERS, THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.
WE'RE ESSENTIALLY DOUBLING OUR MONEY, BUT THAT ADVOCATION HAS TO BE SUBMITTED BY SEPTEMBER 18TH.
ONCE WE SUBMIT THE APPLICATION, WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR THE MONEY, SO [LAUGHTER] WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THIS MONEY IN PLACE AS MATCH MONEY.
THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT. THE OTHER THING IS WE'VE RECEIVED A CONTRACT FROM MES FOR THE CONTINUATION I GUESS OF OUR RECYCLING AGREEMENT AND IT HAS SOME CHANGES IN THERE.
[02:40:04]
THEY WERE LOOKING TO GET THAT BACK, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US SOME TIME AND I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING HOW MUCH MONEY THIS PROGRAM COSTS AND WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM.I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS BEFORE WE SIGN THIS AND SEND IT BACK OVER TO HIM.
I WANT ANSWERS ON WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING, HOW MUCH THEY'RE PULLING OUT OF THE LANDFILL TO SUPPLEMENT IT? I THINK EVERYONE IS COSTING.
>> IF YOU HAVE THOSE QUESTIONS, WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THEM TO THEM AND ASK THEM TO SPEAK MAYBE THURSDAY ON THAT.
>> WE CAN BRING IT. I SUSPECT THURSDAY'S CONVERSATION IS GOING TO BE A PRETTY LENGTHY ONE TOO.
>> WE DID RECEIVE TO OUR LETTER, HAVE WE ACTUALLY SENT THE LETTER OR NO?
>> OKAY. WE WERE WAITING BECAUSE OF THIS.
BUT ESSENTIALLY OUR FOUR AND SIX, OUR FOUR DOLLAR A TON CONSIDERATION STARTING IMMEDIATELY, AND THEN SIX DOLLARS AFTER 2032.
THEY HAD SENT BACK A SCENARIO ANALYSIS FACTORING IN THAT PROPOSED HOST FEE.
I'M TRYING TO GET IT PULLED UP HERE.
IN THE ANALYSIS, IT STATES THAT ESSENTIALLY THERE IS ADEQUATE ABILITY TO COVER THE DEBT SERVICE [NOISE] WHILE PAYING US THE HOST FEE, BUT IT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH LESS OF A CUSHY FOR INCREASED EXPENSES.
I THINK OUR INTENTION WAS EVER TO BE PROVIDING A CUSHION.
IT WAS TO RETAIN AS MUCH AS ALL OF THE FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH THE SAVINGS OF KEEPING THE LANDFILL OPEN.
TO DATE, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN PROVIDED WITH THAT INFORMATION, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NEXUS OF OUR CALL ON THURSDAY.
HOW LONG WITH A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT THROUGH OUR INFORMATION GATHERING PROCESS, SPECIFICALLY A SETTLEMENT, AND WHY ISN'T MATURE ONE BEING KEPT YET?
>> WELL, I'M NOT A MATHEMATICAL GENIUS, BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO PAY US MORE MONEY, THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING TO HAVE LESS PRE-CUSHIONS SCENARIOS.
[LAUGHTER] I WENT TO FIFTH GRADE, MY MATH IS NOT GOOD.
>> WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN BRING THIS THING BACK AND HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE AND POTENTIALLY MOVE IT TO A PUBLIC HEARING TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAD. THAT WAS GOOD?
>> ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE CLOSE?
[13.Public Comment]
>> NOBODY ELSE, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING.
>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT GOES IN THE GATHERING OF INFORMATION THAT YOU GUYS SHOWED US.
ONCE YOU DO YOURSELF IN HOURS YOU SPEND IN DOING THIS QUESTION, STAN, AND ALL THEY DO TO ASSIST YOU IN HAVING THE INFORMATION WHEN YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION AND GOT THE ANSWER.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF EXTRA EFFORT AND IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> WITH THAT, WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE AND
[14. Closed Session]
ASSIGNMENT OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT AT 3-305 B1. WELL, THANK YOU ALL.[03:38:03]
TODAY'S CLOSED SESSION WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS MET TO DISCUSS THE ASSIGNMENT OF[15. Meeting Adjourns]
[03:38:10]
A CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE REASSIGNED TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.[03:38:17]
PERSONS ATTENDING THE CLOSED SESSION WERE KATHELEEN FREEMAN,[03:38:21]
DANNY FOX, STEWART BARROLL,[03:38:22]
JEN RADLEY, COMMISSIONER PORTER,[03:38:27]
COMMISSIONER BARTZ, AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING,[03:38:29]
CINDY WATTS AND MARY BERNESKI.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.