Sep 26, 2023 County Commissioners Meeting

[00:00:02]

OUR HOLY FATHER AND GOD OF ALL COMFORT.

[1. Commissioners Meeting Convenes]

WITH LEADERS THAT HELP TO GOVERN AND GUIDE US THROUGH OUR COUNTY.

MAY ALL CONVERSATION BE CORDIAL AND CARING AND ENDEARING.

GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS AND HOW TO CHOOSE OUR WORDS.

THE LORD WAS ACCOMPLISHED WOULD BE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COUNTY.

THE APPRECIATION OF OUR LEADERSHIP.

BLESS AND EMPOWER TODAY.

WE ASK IN YOUR HOLY AND MOST PRECIOUS NAME.

AMEN.

.

THANK YOU, PASTOR.

THANK YOU. OKAY, WE NOW COME TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THIS MORNING?

[2.Public Comment]

I'M HAVING FOR A GOOD WHILE ABOUT THE SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE COUNTY, AND PARTICULARLY ON OUR COUNTY ROADS.

THERE'S SEVERAL ISSUES THAT I KNOW YOU CANNOT ADDRESS BECAUSE IT KIND OF FALLS OUT OF YOUR JURISDICTION.

AND BUT ONE OF THEM IS SAYING THAT A LOT OF THESE CONTRACTORS COME IN AND THEY CREATE HAZARDS ON THE ROAD, BUT THEY DON'T PUT ANY SIGNS UP. THE ONES THAT PUT SIGNS UP A LOT OF TIMES JUST DON'T THEY PUT THE SIGN UP, BUT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THERE'S LOTS OF WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

I KNOW PEOPLE ARE SHORT HANDED AND MOST OF IT IS WITH CONTRACTORS THAT THE COUNTY ENGAGES TO DO THE WORK.

SPEEDING ON THESE BACK ROADS IS TERRIBLE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT COMES UNDER THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THEY ARE JAMMED, TOO.

BUT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK INTO THESE SUBCONTRACTORS THAT ARE WORKING ON OUR HIGHWAYS BECAUSE I ALMOST DAILY, IF YOU RIDE OUT THROUGH THE COUNTY WHERE THE WORK'S GOING ON, YOU SEE HAZARDS THAT ARE VERY EVIDENT AND NOBODY'S TAKING CARE OF THEM.

I'VE TALKED TO RON AND I'VE TALKED TO HIM YESTERDAY AND TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE LABOR PROBLEM, BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY PROBLEM I WAS HAVING FOR A WHILE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BAKER. I DID RIDE THROUGH THERE YESTERDAY.

THE AREA YOU HAD CALLED ME ABOUT AS WELL.

AND I THINK THEY HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WARNING SIGNAGE UP.

I THINK THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE FLAGMAN NOT BEING OUT AT THEIR POSTS.

SO, RYAN, THE ONLY THING IS IF YOU CAN TALK TO OUR STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, WHILE THEY'RE OUT INSPECTING, JUST ASK THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FLAGGERS ARE OUT AND ACTUALLY DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

I THINK THE SIGNAGE WAS GOOD YESTERDAY.

I JUST THINK IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE FLAGGERS.

AND IF OUR INSPECTORS NEED TO BE MORE VOCAL WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY STAFFING THE FLAGGING OPERATIONS, WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

SO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WITH PUBLIC COMMENT? NOPE. OKAY.

I'LL HAVE THE DATE HERE.

BUT AT OUR LAST COMMISSIONER MEETING.

WHEN WAS THAT? SEPTEMBER.

OR WAS THIS ACTUALLY ON WEDNESDAY WE HAD THIS CLOSED SESSION.

OKAY. SO LAST WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH, THE COMMISSIONERS MET TO DISCUSS THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES FOR HIRING AND APPOINTING

[3.Presidents Report Out]

THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE REORGANIZATION OF SPECIFIC COUNTY DEPARTMENTS.

SO THAT WAS HELD AT A CLOSED SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.

OKAY. NEXT ON THE AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE DR.

DEREK SIMMONS, SUPERINTENDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MR. BILL MANGOLD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. THEY HAVE A PRESENTATION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

SO. YES. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.

MR. MENGEL WILL BE DOING THE PRESENTATION.

WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH WE DO EACH YEAR.

IT IS AS WE KNOW IT TODAY INCLUDES INFORMATION AROUND SOME PROJECTS WE TALKED ABOUT LAST YEAR WITH COMMISSIONERS, ESPECIALLY AT OUR JANUARY MEETING.

WE HAD THE JOINT MEETING AND AS I SAID, IT'S AS WE KNOW IT NOW BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LONG TERM CAPITAL NEEDS AFTER THIS MEETING.

[00:05:06]

SO IT'S AS WE KNOW IT AS OF TODAY WHERE WE'RE LOOKING.

SO I'LL PASS THE BILL AT THIS POINT AND HAVE HIM GO THROUGH IT.

GREAT. BILL, CAN YOU GRAB THAT, MIKE, JUST GET IT CLOSE.

I'M NOT SURE HOW SENSITIVE THEY ARE, BUT MAKE SURE THE LIGHTS ON THERE FOR THE ONLINE.

[4. Board of Education CIP]

SO, IT SHOULD FEEL LIKE IT'S TOO CLOSE.

YEAH, IT WAS. IT WAS OKAY.

YEAH. IT'S A LITTLE BIT STUCK.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO HIT MY FACE ON THIS THINGS HERE.

BUT THE MEETING DR.

SIMMONS IS REFERRING TO DANNY FOX, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND I HAVE A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS SOME CAPITAL UPCOMING CAPITAL NEEDS WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. SO.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE VERY GOOD. THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FIRST FOR SUPPORTING US WITH OUR INITIATIVES THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR WITH ESPECIALLY THIS SUMMER WITH THE ROOF PROJECTS THAT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AS WELL AS THE PHASE ONE PROJECT AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

THOSE ROOFS ARE JUST ABOUT, I'M GOING TO SAY, 99% DONE.

THERE'S JUST A FEW LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY ARE FINISHING UP, SOME MINOR FLASHING, SOME MINOR METAL WORK.

BUT THOSE PROJECTS ARE PRETTY MUCH DONE.

PHASE TWO WILL BEGIN AT THE HIGH SCHOOL NEXT SUMMER.

AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M GOING TO DIVE INTO HERE WITH THIS.

SO, WHENEVER I TALK ABOUT CCPS CONSTRUCTION, THE MANTRA COMES LIKE, WELL, WE'RE IN THE ROOFING BUSINESS AND FY 25 IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST YEAR OR TWO.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT PHASE TWO OF NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL'S ROOF REPLACEMENT.

LAST YEAR, AS YOU REMEMBER, THAT WAS A BUILT TO LEARN FUNDED.

SO, IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY SHOW UP ON THE CIP, BUT I DID PRESENT IT AS SUCH BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOCAL MATCH THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT.

SO, THIS YEAR IT DOES SHOW UP ON THE CIP, WHICH I BELIEVE IS PAGE ONE AND TWO OF YOUR PACKETS.

I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED IF YOUR PACKETS ARE OUT OF ORDER.

I'M REFERRING TO PAGE THREE, WHICH LOOKS LIKE THIS.

OKAY. OKAY.

SO, I'LL BE REFERRING TO THAT.

SO, THE COST FOR NORTH CAROLINE FOR THIS ROOF REPLACEMENT, THIS PHASE TWO IS GOING TO BE $2,717,716.

THE STATE MATCH WILL BE $2,554,653.

THE LOCAL MATCH WOULD BE $163,063.

IF YOU RECALL, THAT'S A MUCH LOWER DIFFERENT NUMBER THAN LAST YEAR THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU.

THE REASON BEING IS THAT THE STATE AND THE IAC HAVE REALLOCATED THE FUNDING PERCENTAGE.

SO, WE WERE ALWAYS AT A.

WELL, RECENTLY WE WERE AT AN 8,812%, WHICH MEANT THAT THE STATE PAID 88% AND THEN THE LOCAL MATCH WOULD BE 12%.

WE ARE NOW AT A 94.6%, SO WE'RE GETTING TWICE AS MUCH BANG FOR OUR MONEY AT HALF THE PRICE BASICALLY.

SO, THE 66% IS WHAT MAKES UP THAT $163,000.

THERE'S ALSO A SECOND ROOF THAT IS NOT IN THE CIP DOCUMENT THAT YOU SEE.

HOWEVER, IT IS REFERENCED ON PAGE THREE, AND IT IS THE PRESTON ELEMENTARY PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT.

AND THE REASON WHY IT IS NOT CIP ELIGIBLE IS BECAUSE THE ROOF IS NOT OLD ENOUGH FOR TO QUALIFY FOR CIP FUNDING.

IT'S GOING TO QUALIFY THROUGH THE IAC, THROUGH HEALTHY SCHOOLS FACILITIES FUND.

AND SO, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY SHOW UP IN THE CIP REQUEST.

WHEN I SUBMIT THIS TO THE STATE, I WILL BE TAKING LINE TWO OUT OF THIS DOCUMENT ON PAGE THREE THAT YOU SEE BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT APPROVE IT THROUGH THE CIP.

THAT COST FOR THAT ROOF IS GOING TO BE $1.4 MILLION.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PERCENTAGE.

THIS THIS FUND IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHERE IT GOES BACK TO 2020, WHERE IT USED TO BE AN 81, 29%.

AND THEN I KNOW WE WENT TO THE 8812 AND THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW WITH IAC'S ADJUSTMENT RIGHT NOW WITH MAKING THIS A 94.6, IF THAT CARRIES OVER, I'M GOING TO PLAN ON 94.6 GOING FORWARD WITH THIS ROOF PROJECT.

SO THAT WOULD MAKE THE LOCAL MATCH $84,000 FOR THE FOR THE PRESTON ELEMENTARY ROOF.

I ALSO HAVE OTHER FIGURES.

IF IT'S AN 8812 OR IT'S AN 8129, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THAT, I CAN GET THOSE FIGURES TO YOU AS WELL.

I'M HOPING TO HEAR BACK LATER TODAY AS TO WHAT THAT TRUE PERCENTAGE WILL BE.

SO THEN THE FINAL FUNDING REQUEST, LETTERS OF COUNTY SUPPORT THAT I'D BE ASKING FOR IS FOR $163,000 FOR NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL'S PHASE TWO ROOF AND $84,000 FOR PRESTON ELEMENTARY'S PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR A TOTAL OF $247,000 WOULD BE THE REQUEST FOR GOING FORWARD FOR FY 25. I DO WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION REAL QUICKLY TO PAGE THREE.

SO THERE'S ABOUT EIGHT LINES THERE THAT WE HAVE FILLED IN.

LINES ONE AND TWO AND THREE ARE PRETTY MUCH CHISELED IN STONE.

THESE PROJECTS ARE ON THE BOOKS ARE HAPPENING OR WILL BE HAPPENING AS WE GO ALONG.

THE NEXT TWO YEARS, LINES FOUR AND FIVE ARE LOCKMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND DENT ELEMENTARIES.

[00:10:03]

THESE ARE REALLY DEPENDENT UPON THESE FUTURE DISCUSSIONS THAT THE COUNTY IS HAVING WITH THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT OUR LONG TERM RANGE LOOKS LIKE WITH THESE BUILDING INVENTORY POSSIBILITIES.

BECAUSE IF YOU SEE LINES SIX, SEVEN AND EIGHT, THOSE ARE LISTED THREE SCHOOLS DENTON ELEMENTARY, LOCKMAN, MIDDLE AND FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE AS TO SORT OF WHAT SCHOOL WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON IN THE SHORT TERM.

AND IT WILL BE A RENOVATION.

WILL IT BE AN ADDITION OR WILL IT BE A REBUILD? AND THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE STARTING TO HAVE RIGHT NOW.

A COUPLE OF YEARS IN ADVANCE BEFORE THE ACTUAL DEEMED YEAR THAT WE'D HAVE LOCAL PLANNING CONVERSATION, JUST TRYING TO JUST TRYING TO FIGURE WHERE EVERYTHING WHERE THE PIECES ARE GOING TO FIT AND MAPPING OUT THE FUTURE OF THOSE.

SO ONCE ONE OF THOSE THREE BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS ARE IDENTIFIED AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, THAT WILL DICTATE WHAT LINES PROJECTS COME, FOUR AND FIVE WILL GET THE ROOF AND WHAT DOESN'T GET THE ROOF.

OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T WANT TO PUT A ROOF ON AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER, BUILD A SCHOOL AND.

FIRST OF ALL, STATE WON'T FUND THAT ROOFING PART OF IT.

THAT'LL BE ALL ON US. SO, WE'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE AGE OF THOSE ROOFS TO KIND OF COINCIDE WITH THE BUILDING'S RENOVATIONS OR TURNOVERS.

SO THAT IS ABOUT IT.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ONE QUESTION MAY BE FOR DANNY FOX.

SO WE DID NOT FUND THE SECOND PHASE OF THE ROOF REPLACEMENT AT NORTH CAROLINA WITH THE BOND FUNDING.

OKAY. WE ONLY PUT IT TOWARDS WHAT'S BEING COMPLETED NOW.

OKAY, PRESTON.

SO, WHEN WAS PRESTON RENOVATED? PRESTON 2016.

YES, I THINK IT WAS FINISHED IN 16.

OKAY. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS WHERE THAT PART OF THE ROOF WASN'T OLD ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR FUNDING.

SO, WE LEFT IT. SO, WE MAXIMIZE THE DOLLAR THAT WE HAD TO RENOVATE THE REST OF THE BUILDING.

AND THEN IT'S ALSO WHY COLONEL MIDDLE WAS SLATED NEXT YEAR FOR A ROOF REPLACEMENT.

THE ROOF WASN'T OLD ENOUGH WHEN THAT RENOVATION PROJECT WAS DONE, AND WE'VE DONE A PARTIAL WITH COLONEL HIGH AS WELL SINCE IT'S BEEN RENOVATED BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE FUNDING MECHANISMS FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

OKAY. HELLO.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG THE CURRENT MATCH LEVEL WILL STAY IN PLACE? I HAVE IN WRITING THAT WILL LAST FOR TWO YEARS.

FY 25. FY 26.

BEYOND THAT, WE DO NOT KNOW YET.

YEAH, THEY'LL REBALANCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

SO I'M HAPPY WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE HEAVY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS RIGHT NOW WITH THE STATE GIVING TAKING A BULK OF THE LOAD.

YEAH, IT'S A VERY CONDUCIVE FOR US.

BUT YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TWO YEARS.

DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT HOW THEY COME UP WITH THAT? I DON'T KNOW.

NO. THE ONLY PIECES I'VE HEARD IT IS CONNECTED TO WEALTH IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, BUT.

OKAY. OUT OF SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT.

WHICH ONE DO YOU FIND IN THE MOST PENDING AT THE MOMENT? DENTON ELEMENTARY LOCKER IN OR THIRD.

SURE, I WILL GLADLY AS OF RIGHT NOW.

AND CHRISTIAN BARTZ.

WE'VE NOT HAD A DEEP CONVERSATION AS WELL WITH MY BOARD MEMBERS AS TO WHICH ONE FOR A PRIORITY.

BUT IF I WERE ASKED TODAY, LOCKERMAN LOCKERMAN IS A PRETTY FULL BUILDING.

TRAFFIC INFLOW IS INFLOW AND OUTFLOW IS TERRIBLE.

TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE.

YEAH. AND IT'S IT'S AN AGED BUILDING THAT THE MINUTE WE GET INTO TRYING TO DO ANY RENOVATIONS OF EXISTING RESTROOM FACILITIES IN ORDER TO BRING THEM UP TO ADA COMPLIANCE 2023 STANDARDS, WE'RE GOING TO START LOSING A LOT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE AND FACILITIES TRYING TO FIND THAT SPACE WITHIN A BUILDING THAT'S ALREADY AT CAPACITY IS GOING TO BE PRETTY, PRETTY TOUGH. I WOULD HATE TO SEE IF PEOPLE STOP TAKING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL HOW MANY MORE BUSSES YOU'D HAVE TO PUT ON.

YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.

YEAH. SO, DR.

SIMMONS AND I, WE ALSO TOURED FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY FRIDAY EVENING.

AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME DOWN THERE.

NO PROBLEM. LOOK AT THAT.

BUT THE RESTROOM FACILITIES IN FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY ARE ALSO EXTREMELY DATED.

I THINK IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THEY WERE RENOVATED LAST IN THE 1950S.

I BET THE RESTROOMS PROBABLY DATE TO ABOUT THEN.

BUILDING HAD A PARTIAL RENOVATION AND THAT WAS FINISHED IN 2001.

LARGELY MOST OF THE WORK WAS DONE IN THE LATE 90S, BUT THE FUNDING DID NOT STRETCH FAR ENOUGH AT THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THE FACILITIES WITHIN THAT BUILDING.

THEY DID MOSTLY CLASSROOM SPACE, HVAC, THOSE THINGS.

I DO HAVE TO SAY THE REST OF THE BUILDING, I WAS I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE AGE OF THE FACILITY, HOW CLEAN IT WAS.

THE CAFETERIA WAS VERY NICE.

THEY HAVE A NICE MURAL PAINTED ON THE WALL THAT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, VERY.

[00:15:07]

THE KITCHEN AREA LOOKED LIKE IT WAS HAD NEW EQUIPMENT AND WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE, BUT THE BATHROOMS WERE VERY DATED AND THE HALLWAYS ARE VERY DATED.

AREAS OF THE HALLWAYS, I THINK, JUST KIND OF GOT A COAT OF PAINT PUT ON THEM.

AND THEY HAVE OLD TILE THAT CAN'T BE MATCHED WHEN THE TILE FALLS OFF OR BREAKS.

THEY'RE JUST SLAPPING ANYTHING CLOSE UP THERE OR TRYING TO PAINT OVER IT IN WHITE.

SO THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH FEDERALSBURG.

I THINK THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT THEY'VE BEEN PROVIDED THERE, BUT THAT SCHOOL COULD USE SOME TLC AS WELL IN CERTAIN AREAS. SO.

SO AT THIS POINT.

I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. WOULD I FALL UNDER THE BATHROOM? STUFF WOULDN'T FALL UNDER THE STATE FUNDING.

IT COULD. IT COULD, BUT IT'S LOWER.

IT'S THEY HAVE A PRIORITY LIST.

IT DOES FALL DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEY ARE NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE EITHER.

I THINK THE BATHROOMS WE WENT IN HAD A THRESHOLD ABOUT THAT TALL WHERE IT RAMPS UP.

SO. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANYTHING ELSE? NO. SO DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE TO APPROVE TO SEND A LETTER FOR APPROVAL ON THIS? IS THAT TYPICALLY HOW. I BELIEVE SO, YEAH.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE YEAR ONE OR THE FY 25 PROJECTS THAT YOU SUPPORT THE LOCAL ASK.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF THESE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REQUESTS.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL RIGHT. MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU.

OKAY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE DAVID CHRIS, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE TOWN OF RIDGELY WITH A TOWN OF RIDGELY WINTER FESTIVAL TO DISCUSS.

MORNING. THANKS FOR THANKS FOR HEARING US OUT HERE.

I HATE TO BRING UP CHRISTMAS ALREADY BECAUSE YOU KNOW HOW IT GOES.

BUT AS MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THE WINTER FEST.

IT WAS SOMEBODY'S IDEA.

I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION NAMES, BUT THEY'RE SITTING HERE WITH ME.

YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A VERY SMALL EVENT, 1000, 2000 PEOPLE MAYBE GOING OFF THE DRONE FOOTAGE.

[5, Town of Ridgley Winterfest]

GOING OFF OF THAT.

NOW WE'RE FIGURING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO IT BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.

BUT WE NEED HELP.

WE CAN'T DO IT BY OURSELVES.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE HAD LAST YEAR WAS WAS HELPING WITH BLOCKING THE ROADS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE VENDOR SETUP.

THAT WAS THE MOST CRUCIAL TIME, TRYING TO GET ALL THE VENDORS IN SET UP.

WE WERE BASICALLY CHASING OUR TAILS LAST YEAR.

WE WOULD BLOCK ONE SIDE, GO TO THE OTHER AND SOMEBODY OPENED IT UP FOR US.

SO, WE WERE KIND OF THINKING AND WE FIGURED WE'D COME HERE AND ASK IF WE COULD HAVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO HELP US BLOCK THE ROADS DURING CERTAIN PERIODS OF TIME.

IF THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS WOULD BE ABLE TO APPROVE AND ACCOMMODATE PAYING FOR IT, OR WE COULD PAY FOR IT JUST FOR A SAFETY STANDPOINT.

WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO DO THIS.

WE CAN'T STICK SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, FROM THE LIONS CLUB OR SCOUTS OR SOMETHING TO SIT THERE AND BLOCK A ROAD.

RIGHT. THAT'S THAT'S ONE BIG WORRY THAT WE HAVE.

AND JUST THROWING OUT SOME IDEAS.

IF WE COULD GET, YOU KNOW, 6 OR 7 GUYS THAT COULD COME OUT AND HELP US.

AND IF YOU GUYS DECIDE THAT YOU CAN COVER THE COST ON IT, WE WILL DEFINITELY PUT YOU UP AS ONE OF OUR BIG SPONSORS BECAUSE THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS TO HELP US KEEP THIS GOING FOR SURE.

WHAT TIMES ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT DAVID? WHEN IS THE EVENT? WE WOULD PROBABLY NEED THEM THERE PROBABLY RIGHT AROUND 12, 1230 THE DAY OF THE EVENT.

VENDOR SET UP IS 1230 TO 330 AND THEN THE EVENT STARTS AT FOUR.

ONCE ONCE THE EVENT STARTS AT FOUR, WE HAVE A PRETTY BIG POLICE PRESENCE THAT WOULD BE THERE WITH STATE POLICE CADETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT THAT BASICALLY ONCE EVERYTHING'S LOCKED DOWN, YOU CAN'T GET IN OR OUT ANYWAY.

IT'S JUST GETTING EVERYBODY SET UP AND ALL IS THE BIGGEST THING.

OKAY. SO WE WOULD PRETTY MUCH NEED THEM FROM 12 TO 4 ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT.

THIS IS DECEMBER 9TH.

DECEMBER 9TH? YES, SIR.

YEAH. AND THE BRAIN DATES TO 16.

SO SPECIFICALLY YOU WOULD NEED MANPOWER TO HELP WITH WITH TRAFFIC, CORRECT?

[00:20:05]

I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE CONES, EVERYTHING THERE.

WE JUST NEED THE PERSON TO BE THERE BECAUSE, AGAIN, LAST YEAR WE WOULD BLOCK THE ROAD OFF, LEAVE TO GO GET ANOTHER ONE, COME BACK.

AND SOMEBODY OPENED IT UP AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS CHAOS.

SOMEBODY WOULD GET OUT AND MOVE THE BARRICADE.

AND NOW WE ARE WE'RE I THINK WE HAVE 6 OR 7 SPOTS LEFT FOR VENDORS.

SO WE'RE AT 80 SOME VENDORS RIGHT NOW, 15 FOOD TRUCKS.

SO IT'S IT'S ALREADY DOUBLED FROM LAST YEAR.

AND WE MOVED SOME OF OUR STUFF FOR THE KIDS.

MR. SALISBURY HAS AN ACRE LOT RIGHT AT THE END SO ALL THE KID AMUSEMENTS IT'S GOING TO BE AN ACRE OF KID AMUSEMENTS JUST FOR THEM.

SO IT'S I HAVE A FEELING IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN LAST YEAR, SO.

WELL, FOR ME, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOING THIS.

I MEAN, THEY'LL WORK A LOT HARDER THAN THAN WE WILL.

BUT I MEAN, THESE EVENTS, WHEN WE WHEN THEY'RE DONE BY THE TOWN SUMMERFEST IS AN EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY WORKS REALLY HARD AND I THINK IT BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE COUNTY AND YOU GUYS WORK VERY HARD TO TO PULL THIS OFF.

I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOING THIS.

NOW, I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE YOU COORDINATE IT WITH RYAN.

OKAY. YEAH. MARK.

GOOD. MARK, DO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? I'M SORRY. YEAH. SO I'M GOING TO GET HIM HOOKED UP WITH DOUG.

YEAH. MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EVENT THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH WITH, LIKE, OUR COMMAND TRAILER AND STUFF.

YEAH. SO I'LL GET HIM HOOKED UP WITH MR. JONES AND WE'LL WORK WITH HIM ON THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SIDE, SO.

OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.

I KNOW, DAVID, I DON'T HAVE.

I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT EITHER.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD EVENT. IT'S BRINGING A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THE COUNTY, SO IT HELPS THE TOWN ORIGINALLY OUT.

BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE PUBLIC WORKS IS, I MEAN, LIKE PROBABLY YOU GUYS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH ROAD MAINTENANCE AND THAT KIND OF STUFF AS WELL.

SO WE'LL WE'LL INCLUDE RYAN, MAYBE WE CAN GET SOME HELP FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WE CAN WE CAN GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE DIFFERENT WAYS SO FAR, POLICE AS WELL.

YEAH, WE CAN ASSIST WITH EVENTS LIKE THIS.

SO. EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL CERTAINLY HELP YOU OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN.

SO, WE'LL HELP EVERY WAY WE CAN.

YEAH. THE ONLY OTHER REQUEST WE HAD, AND I MEAN, THIS MIGHT BE FOR RYAN AS WELL, IS IF YOU GUYS HAD ANY DIGITAL SIGNS OR TOWER LIGHTS THAT WE COULD USE THE DAY OF THE EVENT TO BECAUSE WE HAVE DESIGNATED PARKING AREAS THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE.

SO. OKAY, PERFECT.

OKAY. BARRICADES WE HAVE WE'RE GOOD ON BARRICADES.

THOUSANDS OF THOSE THINGS.

WELL, COMMISSIONER BARTZ ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT UP, I THINK, LAST MEETING OR A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT GETTING A FEW MORE MESSAGE BOARDS AS WELL. SO, BUT WE HAVE ONE LIGHT TOWER AND ONE MESSAGE BOARD.

SO, I THINK I CAN GET ANOTHER MESSAGE BOARD FROM BRAMBLE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE ANGLES I'M WORKING JUST SO PEOPLE WILL SLOW DOWN COMING IN TOWN AND KIND OF DESIGNATE THEM TO GO TO THE PARKING AREA.

SO THE STATE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT SOME ON THE STATE ROAD AREA FOR YOU IF WE NEED ONE, RIGHT.

LIKE WHERE THE OLD CARBON GRAIN WAS TO KIND OF FUNNEL THEM DOWN.

IF YOU REACH OUT TO THE STATE ON THAT, I THINK MIGHT BE THE EASIEST WAY THERE IS REACH OUT TO THE DELEGATION.

OKAY. AND THEY CAN PROBABLY GET THAT DONE FOR YOU.

PERFECT. JEFF RICE.

OKAY. ARE YOU ARE YOU HAVING ANY ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS REGULARLY OR ANYTHING THAT THAT THEY COULD ATTEND? AND WE CAN SET ONE UP.

WE'RE STILL I DON'T EVEN WANT TO SAY INTO FINE TUNING, WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE IT DOWN TO A SCIENCE OF WHAT AND HOW WE WANT IT TO WORK.

LEARNING A LOT OF LESSONS FROM LAST YEAR AND SPREADING SOME THINGS OUT.

SO WE AGAIN, WE NEED PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP SOLVE THIS, BUT WE WILL SET SOMETHING UP PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE.

AND YES, WE WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SOUNDS GOOD.

SO, ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, JUST COORDINATE WITH RYAN.

I'M SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO GET AHOLD OF HIM.

YES, SIR. SO. ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU THERE. THANK YOU. THANKS, DAVE.

WHILE YOU'RE HERE, DID THE HUMANE SOCIETY GET ALL FIXED UP OUT THERE? I HAVE NO IDEA. THEY'VE NEVER CALLED THE SETUP THEY GET NOW.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD THE PLUMBER JUST DO IT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THEY SOMETIMES THEY DO THAT STUFF.

OKAY, OUR SIDE'S DONE ANYWAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YEP. ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WE HAVE DANIEL FOX, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE WITH A [INAUDIBLE] ROAD SOLAR PROJECT DISCUSSION.

SO. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.

GOOD MORNING. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU HAD TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEXAMP PRESENT A HOBBS SOLAR PROPOSAL THAT THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER TO PUT ESSENTIALLY A SOLAR PROJECT OVER TOP OF THE HOBBS LANDFILL.

[00:25:04]

AND THE BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY WOULD BE WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY SEE A 10% SAVINGS ON OUR DELMARVA POWER BILLS.

ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT, THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO A LEASE PAYMENT TO US ANNUALLY OF $1000 OR $1050 AN ACRE, WHICH WOULD COME TO $15,750 ANNUALLY.

AND THEN ESSENTIALLY THE LAST BENEFIT WE WOULD SEE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILLING BASED OFF OF A CURRENT PROJECT WE HAVE IN COUNTY.

THE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE OF ABOUT 90,000 A YEAR DOES SEEM PRETTY ON PAR WITH WHAT WE COULD SEE FOR SOMETHING OF THIS SIZE.

SO, I WANTED TO BRING THIS BACK TO YOU.

THE CONTRACT/AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY LEGAL.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER BREEDING HAD A CHANCE TO REACH OUT TO TWO OF THE CURRENT PROJECTS THAT NEXAMP HAS ON TWO OTHER LANDFILLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BUT WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DIRECT TO MYSELF OR NEXAMP TO LOOK AT ESSENTIALLY EXECUTING A CONTRACT OR GOING INTO SOME NEXT STEP.

SO, I SPOKE TO A MUNICIPALITY IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT NEXAMP HAS A FACILITY AT, AND I SPOKE TO URBANA, ILLINOIS, WHERE NEXAMP HAS A FACILITY.

I REACHED OUT TO ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA FOR A REFERENCE FROM THEM, BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK AS OF YET.

THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE LEASE AGREEMENT WAS.

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DOWNSIZE THE LEASE AREA IF THEY CAN'T GET ENOUGH SOLAR COVERAGE OR I GUESS SKY TO WHERE IT'S WORTH PUTTING THE PANELS ON THAT AREA.

SO, WE COULD THEORETICALLY SEE A REDUCTION IN THE LEASE AMOUNT.

AND THE OTHER THING WAS IT STATES IN THE CONTRACT THAT THE TENANT OR THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER SHALL PROVIDE A NON-EXCLUSIVE EASEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 80,000FT² TO BE LOCATED AT A MUTUALLY ACCEPTED LOCATION OF THE PROPERTY FOR A TEMPORARY STORAGE STAGING AREA.

AND THEN ON THE MAP IT ONLY SHOWS A ONE ACRE STORING AND STAGING AREA ON EXHIBIT B, SO THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 43,000FT². SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE ACTUAL LAY DOWN AREA DEPICTED.

IT WAS ON PAGE 31 IS THE MAP THAT SHOWS THE LAY DOWN STAGING AREA.

BUT THE LEASE REFERS TO 80,000FT².

SO WE MAY WANT TO REDUCE THAT DOWN TO 43 FIVE 60 TO MAKE IT COME IN LINE WITH THE PROPOSED AREA SHOWN ON EXHIBIT B FOR THE ONE ACRE.

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A MAJOR A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT I THINK IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE CLEARED UP.

AND WHAT PAGE WAS THE STAGING ON? I APOLOGIZE. UH, SO REFERS TO THAT ON PAGE FIVE OF 33, SECTION SIX.

OKAY. AND.

THE OTHER PART, I CAN FIND IT HERE.

I SHOULD HAVE HIGHLIGHTED IT.

MM.

[00:30:11]

I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS WOULD NOT THIS WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN OUR SOLAR ACREAGE CAPACITY.

CORRECT. IT WOULD NOT.

IT'S EXEMPT FROM THAT.

THAT'S ONLY FOR COMMERCIAL.

AND THIS IS ON GOVERNMENT.

OKAY. AND SOMEWHERE OUR OUR COUNTIES, SOMEWHERE.

I'VE HEARD THAT COUNTIES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE PROJECTS, SOME SOME TYPE OF ACREAGE SET ASIDE FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

DO YOU KNOW, THROUGH CONVERSATION I THINK THERE'S BEEN LANGUAGE PROPOSED FOR FUTURE REQUIREMENTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND WHAT COUNTIES SHOULD GENERATE.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT IS AFFECTED.

OKAY. I AGREE.

I'M NOT AWARE.

BUT IT COULD BE THAT THE STATE IS DRAFTING ALL OF THESE LONG-TERM GOALS, AND THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME GOAL FOR X NUMBER OF ACRES AND TEN YEARS, OR I DON'T KNOW. AND I THINK IF MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECT, I THINK THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION AT THE TIME WAS THIS WAS A A GOOD STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

IF WE WERE ENVISIONING THAT REQUIREMENT COMING DOWN.

I DON'T THINK IT'S OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THAT THIS THAT WOULD, HAPPEN.

SO, WE MIGHT AS WELL GET A HEAD START ON THAT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK KATHLEEN AND I HAVE BOTH KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND HAD A CHANCE TO SIT WITH NEXAMP AND KIND OF HEAR THEIR PITCH. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I REALLY DON'T SEE TOO MUCH OF A DRAWBACK OR AN ISSUE WITH THE PROJECT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.

I MEAN, WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE LANDFILL THAT IS SITTING THERE ESSENTIALLY DOING NOTHING RIGHT WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME TYPE OF INCOME AND WORK TOWARDS WHAT WE ENVISION IS GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT DOWN THE ROAD.

RIGHT? WE'LL HAVE SOMEONE WHO WILL BE WHO WILL BE CONCERNED.

BUT IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING, SINCE WE HAVE A MOMENT, THAT NEXAMP HAD A COUPLE OF EDITS TO THE CONTRACT.

SO, STEWART WANTED TO LET US KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER REVISIONS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN.

OKAY. SO, HE'S STILL WORKING ON IT.

SO, WE CAN LOOK AT THESE REVISIONS THAT YOU'VE MENTIONED AND THOSE WITH THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

YEAH, THE OTHER ONE, I CAN'T FIND IT NOW, BUT I REMEMBER READING IT, IT ESSENTIALLY, I THINK IT GAVE A LITTLE DISCRETION TO NEXAMP, YOU KNOW, TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE LEASE.

OKAY. UM, WHICH I'D JUST LIKE A LITTLE CLARIFICATION ON HOW MUCH THEY COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE SIZE. IT'S DEPENDING ON THE SURVEY AT THE END OF CONSTRUCTION TO DETERMINE, I GUESS, HOW MUCH OF THE ACTUAL GROUND IS INCLUDED IN THE SOLAR ARRAY.

SO IF WE COULD JUST LOOK AT THAT.

OKAY. ACTUALLY, SINCE LEGAL STILL HAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT THEY'RE REVIEWING.

I HAVE NOTED THE TWO ITEMS WE'VE BROUGHT UP TODAY.

WE'LL GET TOGETHER WITH LEGAL, HAVE THEM REVIEW, REVISE WITH ESSENTIALLY EVERYBODY'S EDITS AND THEN ONCE THAT'S IN A GOOD PLACE, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU GUYS.

ON THE CONSENT OR AN ACTION AGENDA TO LET YOU HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION TO VOTE AND APPROVE OR VICE VERSA.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER? NO.

I MEAN, I'M NOT A SOLAR FAN, BUT IT'S BEING PUT IN AN AREA WHERE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING WILL EVER BE DONE THERE ANYWAY.

IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE LAND.

YES. THERE'S NO BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M OKAY.

OKAY. I DID ALSO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE ASPHALT IF YOU LOOK AT EXHIBIT B, YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE ASPHALT STRIP IN BETWEEN THE LAYDOWN AREA AND THE LEASE AREA.

OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO LET NEXAMP KNOW THAT THAT IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTING RANGE AND THAT. YOU KNOW, THEY THEY MAY HAVE TO COORDINATE ACTIVITY WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

[00:35:02]

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE SHOULD BREAK THAT INTO THIS LEASE AGREEMENT AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE SHOULD BRING UP AT.

YEAH. BEFORE IT'S RIGHT, BECAUSE IF THIS CONSTRUCTION DRAGS OUT A YEAR AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS THAT RANGE FOR TRAINING OR CERTIFICATION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT THERE WHERE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT MAY MAY MAYBE THEY CAN GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND USE A DIFFERENT RANGE WHILE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON.

BUT I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE SOME LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THAT SHOOTING RANGE.

VERY MUCH SO. SO, YEP.

OKAY. I HAVE ALL THREE NOTES.

WE'LL TAKE IT BACK TO LEGAL AND DO SOME FURTHER REVIEW.

IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING THAT COMES TO THEM BEFORE THEN, PLEASE.

I'M NOT SURE THERE'S ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THEM TO GO.

YEAH. SO.

OKAY. THANK YOU, DANNY.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. YEP.

ALL RIGHT. ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CORRECTIONS OR.

THAT'S. OKAY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, LEGAL HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET THE ONE CONTRACT AGREEMENT DONE YET.

[6.Consent Agenda]

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S I JUST A GRANT THE WAY WE'RE FUNDING THE POSITION TYPE THING AS ALL IT IS.

SO. DID YOU DO? WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LETTER OF INTENT.

THAT'S AN ACTION ITEM.

OH, YEAH. I'M SORRY.

I LOOKED AT THE WRONG. SO WE'LL GET THAT ONE NEXT.

UM, SO, MR. BARTZ, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? NOT AT THIS TIME. OKAY.

I DON'T. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SECOND. OKAY.

EXCEPT FOR THE CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR CONTINGENT ON LEGAL APPROVAL ON THAT OF THE CONTRACT.

YES. OKAY.

MOTION. AND SECOND, WITH THAT CHANGE.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

AYES HAVE IT.

OKAY. SO, OUR NEXT ITEM HERE IS ON THE ACTION AGENDA IS THE LETTER OF INTENT FOR THE PROPOSED CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE QUEEN

[7. Action Agenda]

SO, BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS, IF WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION PERIOD, I GUESS I CAN GO AHEAD AND GO FIRST.

SO I REALLY THINK THAT THE PROJECT IS JUSTIFIED.

I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BENEFIT THE MID-SHORE COUNTIES.

BUT WHERE I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PROJECT JUST DOESN'T RANK HIGH ENOUGH ON MY PRIORITY LIST TO SEND A LETTER STATING THAT WE'RE THAT I'M COMMITTED TO FUNDING IT.

I THINK I COULD WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT SIMILAR TO WHAT DORCHESTER COUNTY DID, BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE WITH WITH OUR OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE THE DETENTION CENTER, WHICH IS ESTIMATED, IF WE HAD TO DO IT OURSELVES AND THE THREE COUNTY REGIONAL AGREEMENT FOR SOME REASON DIDN'T COME THROUGH, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT A 40 TO $45 MILLION BUILD AND THE COUNTY SHARE OF THAT WOULD BE 50%.

SO, WE COULD.

WORST CASE SCENARIO, BE LOOKING AT A $22.5 MILLION CAPITAL PROJECT TO BUILD A NEW DETENTION CENTER HERE.

LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL USING A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THE COLLEGE BUILDING.

IF A NEW LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WERE TO COST US $80 MILLION OR COST 80 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT THE COUNTY SHARE AT THIS NEW FUNDING FORMULA WOULD BE 4.8 MILLION AT THE 94 6% FORMULA THAT DR.

SIMMONS AND MR. MENGEL JUST LAID OUT.

FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AS I TOURED THE FACILITY FRIDAY.

IT NEEDS HEAVY BATHROOM RENOVATION.

[00:40:01]

SO THEY HAD TO TO PULL AWAY FROM THOSE RENOVATION PROJECTS.

LIKE I SAID, THE BATHROOMS ARE VERY DATED.

OLD TILE ARE NOT ADA ACCESSIBLE, OLD FIXTURES, PLUMBING FIXTURES.

IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THEY ARE OLD AND OUTDATED.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT WE'RE RENTING FACILITIES RIGHT NOW FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND HR, I THINK THOSE ARE CAPITAL PRIORITIES THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT MOVING THOSE TWO AGENCIES INTO ONE BUILDING OR NEAR OTHER COUNTY DEPARTMENTS SO THAT STAFF ISN'T SPENDING SO MUCH TIME RUNNING AROUND THE COUNTY TO DIFFERENT OR RUNNING AROUND DENTON TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

OUR 911 CENTER IS IN A QUESTIONABLE SPOT WHERE IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ACCESSED.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT PROBABLY SECURING THAT FACILITY SOMEWHERE ON ITS OWN.

WITH ANY GROWTH AROUND DENTON.

WE COULD ALSO THEORETICALLY BE LOOKING AT A DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT IN UPCOMING YEARS.

I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE PORTABLES THERE.

IF THE TOWN OF DENTON CONTINUES TO PURSUE GROWTH, WE COULD SEE AN ASK TO EXPAND DENTON ELEMENTARY OR BUILD A NEW DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE 70S.

SO, ALL OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT I JUST LISTED THERE COULD RUN US AS MUCH AS $38 MILLION ON THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTION SIDE.

SO, AND FOR EVERY MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE BORROW AT THE CURRENT INTEREST RATE OF 5%, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COUNTY WOULD PAY OVER THE LIFE OF THAT 20-YEAR BOND $600,000.

SO INTEREST RATES ARE EXTREMELY HIGH RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO BORROW ANY MORE MONEY THAN WE HAVE TO BECAUSE THAT'S MONEY, TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WILL LEAVE THE COUNTY AND GO TO BANKS OR INVESTORS.

SO EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, OUR UNALLOCATED FUNDS OR UNASSIGNED FUNDS ARE LARGER THAN THEY EVER HAVE EVER BEEN, I JUST REALLY THINK THAT THE TIME IS NOT RIGHT HERE TO DO THIS PROJECT FOR US.

WE ALREADY CONTRIBUTE 1.6 MILLION TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE EVERY YEAR FOR MAINTENANCE OR FOR OPERATING.

WE CONTRIBUTE ABOUT $100,000 FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS, AND WE'RE MAKING A $109,000 PAYMENT ON THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND ATHLETIC CENTER BUILDING THROUGH 2034.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT DRIVING OUR CONTRIBUTION TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, WELL OVER $2 MILLION IF WE VOTE TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE QUEEN ANNE BUILDING AND IF WE WERE TO PULL A BOND.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF ROAD MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF BUILDING MAINTENANCE NEEDS, AS I SPOKE ABOUT WHEN THIS WAS FIRST FLOATED TO US BY CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, FORCING ANOTHER COUNTY TO BORROW MONEY WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE IT, SPECIFICALLY DORCHESTER, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN DONE TO US IN THE PAST, I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S FAIR.

SO, MY TAKE ON THE PROJECT IS IT'S A GOOD PROJECT, BUT THE TIMING IS JUST WRONG.

AND I THINK WE HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES.

BUT SO MY VOTE WILL BE NO WHEN WE VOTE ON THIS.

YES. COMMISSIONER PORTER. WELL, I THINK MY VOTE WILL BE YES.

SO, I THINK THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT ARE CERTAINLY LEGITIMATE.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT RELOCATING THE 911 CENTER.

I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

IF WE'VE BUILT A NEW 911 CENTER AND I'M TOLD THAT IT'S STATE OF THE ART AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING THERE WE NEED, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO ME BEFORE WE BUILD A NEW ONE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

SO, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE ARE CERTAINLY VIABLE.

THEY CERTAINLY ARE.

POTENTIALLY. THEY'RE BUILDING NEW SCHOOLS.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THIS THE FUNDS TO BUILD THIS BUILDING ARE THERE NOW.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE THERE AGAIN AT AND AS I'VE SAID, WE ALWAYS SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THE EASTERN SHORE NEVER GETS ANYTHING.

FOR ONCE IN OUR LIFE, WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AND THIS MONEY IS AVAILABLE.

AND THIS PROJECT IS THE SECOND RANKED PROJECT IN THE GOVERNOR'S CAPITAL BUDGET.

[00:45:05]

THE JOBS AND THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING ANTICIPATED FOR THIS PROJECT TO GO INTO THIS BUILDING ARE THE VERY TYPES OF JOBS THAT I HEAR PEOPLE TELLING ME, EMPLOYERS TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN'T FIND PEOPLE FOR.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT TRAINING PEOPLE HERE TO BE DOCTORS AND LAWYERS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO TO DOCTORS AND LAWYERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JOBS WHERE STUDENTS CAN LEARN A TRADE AND HOPEFULLY REMAIN IN THIS COUNTY AND MAKE A LIVING AND CONTRIBUTE TO CAROLINE COUNTY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SO I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR YOUR YOUR CONCERN.

I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS.

BUT I THINK THAT THE THE TIME FOR THIS IS WE HAVE TO GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY WHILE WE CAN.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WAS OPPOSED TO THE HPAC BUILDING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ALTHOUGH WE DID END UP HAVING TO DO IT BECAUSE OTHER COUNTIES VOTED TO REQUIRE US TO DO IT.

AT THAT POINT, WE WERE NOT IN THE FINANCIAL POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

I BELIEVE WE CAN HANDLE THIS NOW.

SO, MY VOTE WILL BE YES.

THANK YOU. YEAH. MR. BARTZ? YEAH. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CONCERN ME IS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE BLUEPRINT IS CONCERNED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER INTO ITS YEARS FOR OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SCARES ME IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE AT ON THAT.

THE DELEGATION HAD RESERVATIONS ON THIS.

JEFF GRACE WAS THE ONE THAT YOU KNOW, BUT THE REST OF THEM, THE DELEGATION DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THEY WERE ON BOARD DEPENDING ON HOSPITAL FROM DOCTOR BUILDING AND EASTON.

IT WAS BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION SATURDAY NIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE ASKED FOR FUNDING ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER PORTER SPOKE WITH MR. GAZELLE AND HE SAID THAT HE WASN'T AWARE OF THAT, THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

CAN YOU ELABORATE? NO, HE DIDN'T SAY HE WASN'T AWARE.

WOULD HE SAID WAS THAT THERE MAY COME A TIME IN THE FUTURE THAT THE HOSPITAL MAY SEEK CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE COUNTIES INVOLVED WITH THE HOSPITAL, BUT HE DID NOT HAVE A SCHEDULE ON THAT ON WHEN THAT WOULD BE.

HE UNDERSTOOD. HE UNDERSTOOD OUR CONCERN ABOUT THE OR OUR POSITION THAT WE WERE IN AS FAR AS DETERMINING WHETHER WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGE.

AND HE HIS COMMENT AT THIS TIME WAS THAT IT WAS FAIR TO DO THAT, AND HE DID NOT HAVE ANY CONCRETE EVIDENCE ON WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO COME AND ASK FOR A CONTRIBUTION OR IF THEY DID, HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE.

THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT, LARRY.

THE OTHER QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE DOING THE 1.6 NOW FOR OPERATING COSTS, WHEN THEY GET THIS BUILDING DONE, WHAT IS THE OPERATING COSTS GOING TO BE? IS IT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, $2 MILLION, $2.5 MILLION? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

WE'RE UNKNOWN. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE BLUEPRINT BEING AT A CERTAIN LEVEL NOW WITH THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT WHERE WE GO TO AND IF THE COLLEGE IS NEEDING, YOU KNOW, AN EXTRA, YOU KNOW, MILLION DOLLARS OR, YOU KNOW, THREE QUARTERS OF MILLION DOLLARS FOR THAT EXTRA BUILDING, WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US STRAPPED IS ONE OF MY MAJOR CONCERNS THERE.

SO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND AT THE TIME, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AT THE STATE RANKING.

WE NEVER GET ANYTHING ON THE EASTERN SHORE.

THAT IS THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR.

SO, I THINK AT THIS TIME, MY VOTE WOULD BE I THINK WE SUE FOR I SAY IT'S GOING TO BE A YES OR ME AS FAR AS.

BRINGING THE JOBS, YOU KNOW, THE SKILLED LABOR JOBS, YOU KNOW, THE CAROLINE COUNTY AND HELPING THE CONSTITUENTS ON THAT END OF IT.

SO, I THINK I'M A YES.

ALL RIGHT. I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FILL THE THING UP AND WE'RE GOING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE.

THESE TRADES OR TRADES THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE HISTORICALLY TAUGHT, AND NOW THE COLLEGES WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THEM AS WELL.

AND I JUST I DON'T AGREE WITH IT.

[00:50:01]

SO MOTION.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? YES.

I WOULD MOVE THAT WE EXECUTE THE LETTER OF INTENT TO FUND THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE QUEEN, THE CAROLINE COUNTY CHAIR OF THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE QUEEN IN BUILDING TRADE BUILDING.

SECOND MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? NO. BUT.

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE TIME TO CARE ACT INSURANCE COLLABORATIVE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE A LETTER.

THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.

DID ANYONE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS LETTER? SO THIS IS THIS IS ESSENTIALLY ENTERING THE COUNTY INTO AN INSURANCE COLLABORATIVE WITH THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION, MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES AND THE MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TIME TO CARE ACT INSURANCE COLLABORATIVE.

SO WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS WITH SHERRY BRATTON, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, LAST MEETING.

I THINK LEGAL LEGAL'S HAD TIME TO REVIEW THIS AND APPROVES IT.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? NO. NO. GOOD. I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

YEAH. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OVER HERE.

OKAY, I GUESS WE HAVE.

WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY AGENDA PAPER HERE? THERE IT IS. BURIED IN MY STACK OF PAPERS.

OKAY. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[8. County Administrator's Report]

KATHLEEN. NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

I THINK DANNY AND I ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGE.

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN ORGANIZATION MODE.

I WILL BE PHYSICALLY MOVING MY OFFICE UP TO THE COURTHOUSE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

WE STARTED MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS IN TERMS OF OUR PLANS GOING FORWARD.

WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE GETTING THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ON YOUR AGENDA FOR SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE CAN WORK TOWARDS THE EVALUATION TOPICS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED.

AND DANNY AND I ALSO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND MEETING WITH STAFF AND THE DIRECTORS AND OUR NEW CAPACITY. AND I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING QUITE A BIT ON THE TRANSITION OVER AT PLANNING AND CODES, TRYING TO PREPARE EVERYBODY FOR SOME CHANGE OVER THERE.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TOO EXCITING TO REPORT, BUT WE ARE IN ORGANIZATION MODE, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THIS NEW CAPACITY.

SO. YES.

YES. GOOD.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS, GUYS.

THANK YOU, DANNY. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

LOOK FORWARD TO THE CHALLENGES AHEAD.

ALL RIGHT. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION, PERIOD.

[00:55:02]

[9. Commissioners Open Discussion]

DID ANYBODY HAVE ANY. DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEYOND WHAT I REPORTED? THANK YOU, LARRY. YEAH. COMMISSIONER BARTZ AND I ARE OFF TO ANNAPOLIS THIS EVENING TO TESTIFY ON THE BOATING ACTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE PROPOSAL ON BOAT REDUCTION OF THE BOAT SPEED ON CHOPTANK FROM DENTON TO GREENSBORO.

SO WE WILL BE HEADED OVER THERE SOMEWHERE IN ANNAPOLIS TO TESTIFY ABOUT THAT.

AND I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I'VE GOT.

OKAY. BARTZ, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING AND COMMISSIONER PORTER, ATTENDED THE 200-ANNIVERSARY PARTY SATURDAY NIGHT.

IN LIGHT OF THE RAIN, THEY MADE THE BEST OF IT AND TRANSITIONED, AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE A NICE EVENING.

A COUPLE OF THINGS, RON.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND POSTING ABOUT THE LAUNCH SQUIGGLY LINES ON CENTRAL AVENUE, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP ON THAT ONE.

OKAY, RAY ARNIE PUT THEM THERE BACK IN THE 1990S.

YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN FADING FOR SO LONG, NOBODY KNEW HOW THEY WERE.

AND YOU TOLD ME.

EXPLAIN THIS A LITTLE BIT. SO MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S SO WHEN I WHEN I CAME TO TO THE COUNTY ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A TRANSITION ALSO IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHERE WE HAD SOME SROS COMING OVER AND SO ON AND SO ON.

AND RICO WANTED NEW SROS, WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL THERE.

AND HE CAME TO ME, AND HE SAID, RON, HE SAID, THERE'S NO LINES OUT HERE.

AND IT WAS ALL JUST FADED OUT.

SO, WE WENT BACK IN GOOGLE IMAGERY AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP HIM TO GET A LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN AND ROOM FOR THE BUSSES.

A WIDE ENOUGH LANE, STILL ENOUGH FOR THE BUSSES COME OFF RIVER ROAD.

SO WE WENT TO SOME GOOGLE IMAGERY AND WE TRIED TO FIGURE IT OUT AND WE FIGURED IT OUT.

SO ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WE PLANTED THESE LINES BACK THAT THAT RAY ARNIE PUT BACK IN THE 1990S.

WELL, COME TO TODAY, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, YOU YOU GAVE ME SOME FUNDING TO GO AHEAD AND PAVE CENTRAL AVENUE THAT WE DID.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF A VERY QUICK TRANSITION TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

BEFORE SCHOOL CAME INTO EFFECT, THE ROAD GOT PAVED, THE CENTER LINE GOT STRIPED, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.

BUT WE STILL NEED TO PUT THE MELONS ON THE SIDE OF SHOULDER WHILE SCHOOL WAS IN.

WELL, SO I USE MY OWN.

IT WAS ME THAT DID IT. YOU KNOW, IF ANYONE WANTS TO POINT FINGERS, IT'S ME.

I ELECTED NOT TO PUT THE WHITE LINES DOWN YET BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO TEAR THOSE WHITE LINES UP, YOU KNOW, IMMEDIATELY IF WE WENT AHEAD AND PUT THOSE MELONS DOWN ON BRAND NEW LINES.

SO FAST FORWARD TO TODAY.

THE ARROWS AND THE STOP BARS GETTING DONE THIS WEEK.

IT'S ALREADY SCHEDULED. IT'S ALREADY GOING TO BE DONE.

AND THEN THE WHITE LINES, AS SOON AS THEY COME BACK IN TO STRIPE, GARLAND ROAD AND EVERYTHING, THE WHITE LINES WILL GO BACK AND EVERYTHING'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IT HAS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

SO BUT WITHOUT THOSE WHITE LINES, IT IS SET PEOPLE IN A FIT.

WELL, EVERYBODY SOME EXCITEMENT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT. OH, MY GOD.

IT'S NOT THAT THE ROAD IS PAVED AND THEY CAN ACCELERATE A LOT FASTER THAN WHAT THEY WERE.

OH, YEAH. NOW WE NEED A SHERIFF OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SPEEDING.

SO. BUT I SAT THERE YESTERDAY WHEN SCHOOL LET OUT JUST TO SEE MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS. AND IT'S CLOCKWORK.

THEY ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY'RE GOING, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY USE BOTH TURN LANES LEFT AND RIGHT.

THE BUSSES CAN GET IN, THEY CAN STAGE.

EVERYTHING WORKS JUST AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

EVERYBODY STAYS TO THE RIGHT OF THE DOUBLE LINES.

YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S PERFECT.

IT'S JUST I MEAN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I DID SEE THAT. I DIDN'T I'M NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THE MEDIA.

I DON'T WANT. BUT ANYWAY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ELABORATING ON THAT AND EXPLAINING THAT.

AND WHILE YOU'RE HERE DIGGING THROUGH THAT COVERED ON THERE, WE ARE GOING TO PAVE OVER THAT.

WE ARE THIS WEEK.

WE'RE ALSO THERE'S ANOTHER CULVERT ABOUT 2/10 OF A MILE WEST OF THAT THAT WE'RE REPLACING THIS WEEK.

AND ONCE WE GET THAT ONE REPLACE, WE'RE DOING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT WAY WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY MOBILIZATION ON A CONTRACTOR TWICE.

I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF YOU ASK ME ABOUT THAT.

YES, MARK AND JAY AND YOU GUYS WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP THIS WEEKEND, KEEPING EVERYBODY IN THE LOOP.

I TALK TO YOU ON FRIDAY.

EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE GOT TO DANNY.

AND EVERYBODY WAS LIKE, YEAH, WE GOT A PLAN HERE.

AND JUST THANK YOU FOR KEEPING EVERYBODY ABREAST AND BEING ON TOP OF IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WE.

FOR THE WORST.

I MEAN, PLANNING FOR THE WORST, HOPE FOR THE BEST.

YOU KNOW, AND IT DIDN'T BE AS BAD AS WHAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

AND THAT WAS. YOU WENT FARTHER WEST, I GUESS.

YEAH. THANK YOU, GOD.

THANK YOU. THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT. THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS IS LEGAL HAS BEEN WORKING ON A DRAFT MOU BETWEEN THE TOWN

[01:00:08]

THE DRAFT DOES INCLUDE THAT WE AND I'M ASSUMING IT'LL BE BEFORE US PROBABLY AT THE NEXT COMMISSIONER MEETING.

BUT BEFORE WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, ARE YOU GUYS OKAY WITH US COVERING THE COSTS FOR THE SURVEYING AND CLOSING COSTS AND ALL THAT STUFF TO ACQUIRE THAT SEVEN AND A HALF ACRES FROM THE TOWN OF DENTON? BECAUSE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE MOU.

IT DOES SAY THAT WE'LL COVER THE CLOSING TITLE SEARCH, SURVEYING, ALL THAT STUFF, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE A MOU IN PLACE SO WE WEREN'T SPENDING MONEY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY FALL THROUGH AND WE NOT END UP WITH THE PROPERTY.

SO YEAH, SO WE'RE SO WE'RE ACQUIRING THE LAND FROM THE TOWN.

YES. OKAY.

BUT WE'RE COVERING JUST THE TRANSFER, THE ANY SURVEYING, RECORDATION TITLE SEARCH, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO NOW IT'LL HAVE TO COME BEFORE US IN THE NEXT MEETING TO APPROVE THE MOU, I'M SURE, BEFORE WE SEND IT TO THE TOWN FOR THEIR COMMENTS.

SO. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WERE GOOD, SO.

OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAD.

ALL RIGHT. UM.

I GUESS AT THIS POINT, IF EVERYBODY'S GOOD, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

OR ACTUALLY, LET'S HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

I ALWAYS FORGET THAT AT THE END.

SORRY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? NOPE. OKAY, SO AT THIS POINT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. CAN WE TAKE OFF? YEP. WE TAKE A BREAK.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.