[00:09:02]
[00:09:03]
WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 3RD CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING.THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DON REYNOLDS OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN DENTON.
AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO WE KNOW THAT YOU LOVE US INDIVIDUALLY.
LORD WE LOOK BACK, AND TODAY WE JUST WANT TO PAUSE AND REMEMBER ROGER LEIGHTON, WHO SERVED IN OUR COMMUNITY IN A VARIOUS WAYS, BUT ESPECIALLY AS A COMMISSION.
WE THANK YOU FOR HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BEING A BLESSING TO ESPECIALLY TO OUR COUNTY.
AS PASTOR DAVID, WE PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY TODAY, ESPECIALLY FAYE.
[00:10:01]
WE LOOK AROUND TODAY AND LOOKING AT THIS AGENDA, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNICATION THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE.WE ASK LORD, YOU TELL US IN JAMES, IF WE ASK FOR WISDOM, IT'S ONE THING, LORD, TO HAVE FACTS.
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
SO HELP THEM TO MAKE PRACTICAL APPLICATION.
THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED IN THE PRESENT.
AND ALSO LOOKING AHEAD, WE PRAY ALSO FOR THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE LORD.
THEY HAVE GREAT INFLUENCE OVER THIS WHOLE STATE OF MARYLAND.
[1. Meeting Convenes]
AND ONCE AGAIN SEEK YOUR OPINION, YOUR WHAT WOULD BE YOUR WILL FOR US AS CITIZENS.WE [INAUDIBLE] WE PRAY FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE BETTER.
THERE ISN'T A SINGLE ONE OF US, LORD, THAT COULD NOT BE BETTER.
SO WE WANT TO THANK YOU, LORD, FOR FREEDOM.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT SERVING.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I DO WANT TO LIFT UP OUR VETERANS.
I THANK YOU FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND LORD, WE ARE BELIEVING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HELP US.
AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
WE PRAY AND ASK THIS IN JESUS NAME.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, PASTOR. GOOD MORNING, GUYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR FILLING IN FOR US.
OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR AGENDA HERE.
SO I GUESS, HAS ANYBODY HEARD FROM DELEGATE GRACE? WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND DO THE DELEGATION OR WE WANT TO DO THE CONSENT AGENDA HERE.
HEY, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING WHETHER HE'S COMING IN OR NOT.
I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
CONSENT AGENDA. A COUPLE MORE MINUTES IF HE'S NOT HERE BY THEN.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THEN, FIRST WE'LL MOVE TO CONSENT AGENDA.
[5. Consent Agenda]
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? MR. BARTZ? MR. PORTER, I DON'T HAVE ANY.I WOULD MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO START.
OUR DISTRICT 36 AND 37 STATE LEGISLATORS ANNUAL MEETING TO DISCUSS OUR LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS AND
[4. Annual Meeting with Delegation]
DISCUSSION ITEMS OF CONCERN.SO COMMISSIONER PORTER, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
YOU HAVE OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKET THERE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR COMING THIS MORNING.
IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU IN THE COUNTY AND BE ABLE TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU.
SO I THINK YOU HAVE A PACKET THERE.
THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS ARE THE THE FIRST ONE IS SUPPORT FOR THE ESPP SO THAT PROVIDERS CAN RECEIVE A SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT BASED DESIGN TO ADDRESS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COST PER TRANSPORT VERSUS REIMBURSEMENT RATE.
WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF VMS BACK THERE IF WE GET INTO ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
IF SOMEONE IS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE, THE THE MEDICAID COST PAYS.
THE DIFFERENCE IN REIMBURSEMENT IS 14, SO $1,400.
SO IT'S 700. SO WE IT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR THE ACTUAL COST OF THE TRANSPORT AND AND THE MEDICAID PAYMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM.
MARK, CAN YOU HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH THIS?
[00:15:02]
YOU WANT TO COME UP? IT'S A KJ.WE PUT. YES. I MEAN, AS YOU GUYS ALL KNOW, WE DO NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE COUNTY.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT'S GOING TO BE A DISCUSSION TOPIC WITH MTA LATER ON ABOUT HELPING US FIND WAYS TO DIVERT OUR AMBULANCE CALLS OR AMBULANCE RUNS TO TRY TO KEEP THE UNITS IN COUNTY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND IF WE CAN GET HELP WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE PATIENTS WITH A RIDE HOME, WE COULD POTENTIALLY DIVERT 20 TO 30% OF OUR AMBULANCE RUNS TO CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH OR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A RIDE AWAY FOR THAT PATIENT TO GET BACK HOME.
BUT THIS IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP OUR AMBULANCE FLEET UP, BECAUSE WHEN COMMISSIONER PORTER CAME IN, IT WAS IT WAS REALLY IN BAD SHAPE. RIGHT. AND WELL, YOU KNOW, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT'S A CAROLINE COUNTY IS A LONG COUNTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT A TWO HOUR TURNAROUND TIME FOR US TO PICK UP A PATIENT, TRANSPORT THEM, GET THEM INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN EASTON, TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
SO OR DOVER OR DOVER OR SEAFORD.
BUT I THINK THAT THE THIS PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, REIMBURSES AT A HIGHER RATE SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP OUR REVENUE COMING IN SO THAT WE CAN BUY THE NEW AMBULANCES AND THE NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WE NEED.
KJ YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THIS OR? YOU PRETTY MUCH HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, SIR? YEAH, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US BECAUSE THE MAJORITY WE HAVE A LOT OF MEDICAID TRANSPORTS WITH OUR POPULATION HERE.
SO BEFORE WE WERE ONLY RECOUPING $100 OUT OF THOSE CALLS, THAT WAS A FLAT FEE THAT MEDICAID DECIDED.
NOW, IN THE LAST YEAR, THEY'VE UPPED THAT.
WHAT DOES? YOU KNOW HOW I HATE ACRONYMS? WHAT DOES ESPP STAND FOR? I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME THAT, AND I GET MIXED UP, TOO.
SO I PULLED IT UP ON MY PHONE.
THE EMERGENCY SERVICE TRANSPORTERS SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM.
IT'S A MOUTHFUL. [LAUGHTER] YEAH.
AND THAT IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM SPONSORED THROUGH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MIEMS. DR. DELBRIDGE FROM MIEMS WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THIS.
SO WE DID AND WE KEEP IT ALL IN HOUSE.
BUT WE KEEP IT IN HOUSE WITH STACY AND STACY AND WE GET TO KEEP ALL OF THE FUNDS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THEY CHARGE US A FEE FOR THE AUDIT. YEAH.
WHEN DOES IT EXPIRE? SO ORIGINALLY THEY HAD SET A TIMELINE OF FY 25, BUT IN SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT I'VE BEEN DOING, I DON'T REALLY SEE LIKE AN END DATE.
WHERE DO YOU APPLY? SO AFTER YOU WHERE DO YOU APPLY FOR THE FUNDING? DOES YOUR APPLICATION GO TO MIEMS? NO, IT GOES TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THROUGH A THIRD PARTY IT'S MYERS AND STAUFFER THAT MANAGE THE THE GRANT AND IT'S A PORTAL.
SO WE HAVE STACEY AND STACEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE PORTAL AND THEY HAVE TO UPLOAD.
THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION DANNY CAN SPEAK ON.
THE UPLOADS, THEY COME BACK, GO THROUGH ALL THE QUESTIONS WITH ALL WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR AN INCREASE.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO MAKE SURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM MAINTAINED AND SUPPORTED.
[00:20:06]
AWAY. WHAT IS THE TOTAL WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL BENEFIT, SAY, LAST YEAR? DO WE KNOW? WE DO.BUT THAT WAS A PARTIAL YEAR SCALE ALL THE WAY UP TO 600.
WE GOT $723,000 LAST YEAR, 723,000.
THAT'S WHAT THREE AMBULANCES NOWADAYS? YEAH. CLOSE.
YEAH. AND I MEAN, TO MR. BREEDING'S OTHER POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING STRONGLY AT SOME TRANSPORTATION CHANGES HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, IF WE CAN TRANSPORT SOMEONE TO OUR URGENT CARE CENTER OR TO CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH, THAT'S A LOT OF MILES THAT ARE TAKEN OFF OF OUR AMBULANCES AND A LOT OF TIME THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR PROVIDERS, YOU KNOW, TO ANSWER OTHER CALLS.
THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO THEY GET HOME? AND IF WE CAN, WE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A REAL BENEFIT TO US.
I DON'T BELIEVE DCT FITS THAT BILL.
BUT IT'S ONE THAT WE HAVE TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL CERTAINLY TO LOOK AT IT.
DELEGATE JACOBS. WELL, YOU GUYS ARE AWARE THAT FIRE AND EMS CAUCUS IN ANNAPOLIS, HAVE YOU TALKED WITH ANYBODY FROM THAT ORGANIZATION? WE HAVE NOT TO THIS POINT, BECAUSE I'M A MEMBER OF IT, AND I'D BE GLAD TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, USUALLY ON WELL, ALL KINDS OF LEGISLATION, SOME PEOPLE COME IN AND TESTIFY AND TO THE WHOLE GROUP TRYING TO GET A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE FIRE EMS CAUCUS.
AND IT'S USUALLY PRETTY IT'S VERY VALUABLE, I THINK, TO GET THAT ASSET.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'D BE GLAD TO TALK TO THEM AS A MEMBER OF IT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL SEE IF I CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH SOMEONE AND HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO YOU GUYS SO THAT WE CAN GET IT ON THEIR AGENDA BECAUSE THEY MEET EVERY FRIDAY.
AND THEN WE HAVE IT ON MONDAYS, THAT CAUCUS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PORTION OF IT.
SO I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE FY 25 AND THE.
I THINK THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE IS KIND OF MAKES US WONDER, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOW IMPORTANT THE PROGRAM IS AND HOW MUCH WE NEED TO HAVE IT CONTINUE. THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, WHEN YOU SAY WHEN YOU SAY SUPPORT.
SUPPORT NOT THROUGH INFLATION BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING'S IN PLACE HERE.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. HELP US MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR FEDERAL REPRESENTATION UNDERSTANDS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS, AND THEN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE CONTINUES TO HAVE THE REGULATORY AND THE GRANT WRITING STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO PASS THAT FUNDING THROUGH TO US.
RIGHT. YES. SO HAVE YOU BROUGHT THIS UP WITH MACO TO MAKE IT SOMETHING OF A PRIORITY FOR THEM? NO, I THINK WE WILL.
WE WANT TO PUT IT ON THE LIST.
ALL RIGHT. NUMBER TWO, WE GOT SOME LIQUOR CHANGES HERE.
SO NUMBER TWO, CRYSTAL, YOU MIGHT WANT TO COME UP.
WELL, CHANGES IN THE STATE LAW TO ALLOW FOR BARBERSHOPS AND AND SALON LICENSES TO
[00:25:04]
ALLOW FOR ON SITE SALES AND AND CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL.SO I GUESS WHEN YOU GET YOUR NAILS DONE, YOU CAN GET LIQUOR.
AND THIS PAST YEAR, WE'VE HAD INTEREST FROM SOME OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES ASKING TO GET A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR THEIR BARBERSHOP OR THEIR SALON.
AND CURRENTLY, THE ONLY CLASSES OF A LICENSE THAT'S AVAILABLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY ARE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR RETAIL STORES TO SELL FOR OFF PREMISE CONSUMPTION OUR RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, CLUBS, TAVERNS AND GOLF COURSES.
THERE'S NOTHING TO ACCOMMODATE A SALON.
AND THERE WAS RECENT LEGISLATION LAST YEAR PASSED FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, AND OUR LIQUOR BOARD DID DISCUSS THIS AND THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF CREATING THIS NEW CLASS OF LICENSE AND DID LIKE HOW IT WAS CRAFTED FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND THAT IT WAS LIMITED.
SO IF A PATRON IS COMING FOR A SALON SERVICE, THEY WOULD BE LIMITED TO ONE DRINK PER SERVICE AND THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED WITH THE PURCHASE OF THAT SERVICE. THIS WOULD NOT BE DRINK SOLD BY THE GLASS.
IT WOULD SIMPLY BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THAT THAT SERVICE THAT THEY WOULD RECEIVE.
AND THE BOARD THOUGHT THAT AN ANNUAL FEE OF $100 WOULD BE SUFFICIENT.
OUR BOARD DIDN'T FEEL THAT THAT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE A CUT OFF.
MOST OF OUR TOWNS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE CLOSED ANYWAY, BUT THEY FELT IF THERE WAS AN EVENING WHERE THAT MAYBE BRIDAL PARTY CARRIED OVER, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER HOUR, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO WANT TO LIMIT THAT.
AND QUEEN ANNE'S ALSO HAD A ONE TIME FEE IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE.
AND WE DID NOT FEEL THAT WAS NECESSARY.
JUST AN FYI, IT'S ALWAYS EASIER TO OBEY THE LAW.
EXACTLY. IT'S EASY JUST TO AMEND YOU TO THAT I GET THE TIME AT THE TIME IS NOT RELEVANT.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO JUST CONSIDER PUTTING A CLOSING TIME ON IT.
AS FAR AS THE FEES, I THINK THAT'S REALLY UP TO YOU.
BUT THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF SOMEBODY'S ALREADY DOING IT.
AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THAT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT VENUES.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. OKAY.
AND CRYSTAL, YOU WILL STAY THERE FOR THE REQUEST TO ALLOW LIQUOR TASTINGS.
OKAY. SECOND ONE IS PRETTY SIMPLE.
WE'VE ALLOWED BEER AND WINE TASTINGS.
AND THAT RIGHT NOW LIMITED TO JUST BEER AND WINE.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME LOCAL BUSINESSES ASK WHY CAN'T WE SAMPLE LIQUOR AS WELL? SO WE WOULD SIMPLY JUST LIKE THE REQUEST TO ADD THE SPIRITS TO THAT.
AND WE'VE PROPOSED AN AMOUNT, A CONSUMPTION AMOUNT WHICH IS NO MORE THAN A HALF OUNCE FROM EACH OFFERING OF LIQUOR, WITH A TOTAL OF 2.5OZ FROM ALL OFFERINGS IN A DAY.
WE DON'T PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE FEE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY $50 FOR THE EVENT.
THERE'S NO NEED TO INCREASE THE FEE FOR THE ADDITIONAL SAMPLING.
BEER IS AT THREE OUNCES FOR EACH OFFERING OF BEER AND EIGHT TOTAL FOR THE DAY, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE TO CHANGE THAT TO NINE SO THAT IF YOU'RE DOING A FLIGHT YOU COULD DO THREE THREE OUNCE FLIGHTS OF BEER INSTEAD OF TWO THREES AND A TWO.
SO THEY FELT THAT CHANGING THAT TO NINE MADE IT MADE IT EASIER.
ANY QUESTIONS? WE SEE THESE BILLS ALL THE TIME, AS LONG AS THERE'S LOCAL SUPPORT.
I THINK WE'RE ALL ON BOARD WITH THESE REQUESTS.
SO IS THIS CONFORMING TO ANOTHER JURISDICTION, ANOTHER COUNTY?
[00:30:03]
THERE IS A TOTAL OF 14 OTHER JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE THAT OFFER FOR ALL THREE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR SAMPLING.OKAY. YOUR NEXT PAGE IS THE LOCAL FUNDING AND LEGISLATIVE BOND INITIATIVES.
THIS INVOLVES THE CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR RURAL MARYLAND PROSPERITY INVESTMENT FUND.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THOUGH. [INAUDIBLE] SO I THINK THIS THE REGIONAL MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCILS ARE REQUESTING, IT LOOKS LIKE $9 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING.
WE WOULD JUST SUPPORT THIS AS WELL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LAST ONE THAT THE GOVERNOR HOGAN GAVE FOR WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT MONEY.
THEY PLAY A MAJOR PART IN THERE.
SO WE JUST ENCOURAGE CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THESE FOR THE FUNDING OF THIS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO THE LAST DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? I THINK WE ALL PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
THE LAST ISSUE IS ONE THAT DELEGATE GRACE SENT SOME TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT WAS THE GAS TAX ALTERNATIVE.
AND IT'S NOT ON HERE, BUT I FIGURED WE WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS THIS TODAY.
DELEGATE GRACE, YOU GOT YOU WANT TO START? YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK FOR ANY OF THE RURAL COUNTIES, IF WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER DOING A MILEAGE TAX AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE PRETTY SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THAT, I THINK IT'S GOING TO WELL, WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT RURAL RESIDENTS BECAUSE WE TRAVEL MORE AND IT'S ALSO GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY HURT THE RESIDENTS WHO TRAVEL IN OTHER STATES, WHETHER IT'S DELAWARE, PENNSYLVANIA, WEST VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WORK IN DELAWARE, YOU'RE GOING TO FILL YOUR CAR IN DELAWARE, YOU'RE PAYING DELAWARE TAXES TO HELP SUPPORT THE ROADS IN DELAWARE, WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO PAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE PROBLEM IS, IF THEY'RE DOING A MILEAGE TAX IN MARYLAND, YOU'RE DOUBLE PAYING.
SO YOU'RE BASICALLY PAYING FOR SERVICES THAT YOU'RE NOT USING UNTIL YOU GET BACK INTO MARYLAND.
SO THAT'S NOT A FAIR WAY TO AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CAPTURE, YOU KNOW, A USE TAX FOR EVS.
I THINK THAT THE ANSWER A BETTER ANSWER WOULD BE A TITLING TAX.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT ONE TIME CHARGE IS BETTER THAN A MILEAGE TAX, TO BE QUITE HONEST.
EACH DAY WE FIND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON THIS GREEN ENERGY AGENDA, WHETHER IT'S DANGERS TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS OR.
YOU KNOW THIS THE REDUCTION IN HIGHWAY USER FUNDS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY CUT IT, I THINK IT WENT FROM 4 MILLION TO 400,000.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN AGENDA THAT I BELIEVE PUSHES, YOU KNOW, AGENDA OVER SAFETY AND COMMON SENSE.
BUT. SO YOU THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S LEANING TOWARD A MILEAGE?
[00:35:01]
WELL, AT LEAST WHAT WE'RE HEARING, I DON'T KNOW.DELEGATE JACOBS IS MORE YOU KNOW, IT'S HIS COMMITTEE.
AND THERE IS A SPECIAL STUDY GROUP, I THINK, RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THEY'VE MADE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS YET.
RIGHT. SENATOR HERSHEY, UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT HERE TODAY.
WHEN I SPOKE WITH MY CHAIRMAN A FEW WEEKS AGO, HE AND I THINK HE'S THE ONE WHO [INAUDIBLE].
HE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT WAS GOING TO BE A TITLING OR TAX TO SPEAK ON EVS.
WE WERE TALKING MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT EVS, ABOUT IT WOULD BE FOR EVERY I THINK TWO YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE WHEN THEY DO THE TITLING AND TAG RENEWAL.
HE INDICATED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WAS A FAIR ASSESSMENT.
I'M SURE THEY'RE DISCUSSING THIS MILEAGE TAX, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU ALL OF US REPRESENTING RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE WILL BE FIGHTING THAT ONE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO DRIVE AND GET A LOAF OF BREAD OVER HERE FOR SURE.
SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS MILEAGE.
AND THAT WOULD CERTAINLY GO AGAINST THE GRAIN SINCE WE'RE FUNDING A LOT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OUT OF THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND.
THEY WOULDN'T BE PAYING. AND I DO KNOW THAT THE DISCUSSION OF I THINK IS THE TERM, BUT ANYHOW, THEY DON'T PAY ANY FEES.
FAREBOX RECOVERY. FAREBOX RECOVERY.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BASICALLY ABANDONED THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
WHEN WE WERE RATCHETING UP TO A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE.
AND THAT'S GOT TO BE PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PEOPLE ARE GOING AROUND THE TOLLS TOO THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE JUST HOPPING OVER THE GATES AND JUST HOPPING ON THESE TRAINS [INAUDIBLE]. WELL, LOOK, YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT DCT WE HAD TO APPROVE.
AND THEY GET THEY TAKE IN $5,000 IN FAREBOX.
WELL, THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUSH REALLY, IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SUBWAYS, ETCETERA, ON THE SHORE AND IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, MASS TRANSIT.
IT COSTS THEM 36,000 TO RUN IT AND THEY TAKE IN 2000.
AND WHAT ABOUT WHAT ABOUT COMMUTERS? WHAT'S HOW MUCH DO COMMUTERS HAVE TO PAY? THEY DON'T GET SUBSIDIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
YEAH. THEY PAY THEIR CAR PAYMENTS.
THEY PAY THEIR INSURANCE. THEY PAY THEIR GAS.
YEAH. AND BUT, YOU KNOW, THESE ROUTES WERE RUN TO, YOU KNOW, LIKE CORDOVA TO THE CHICKEN PROCESSING FACILITY THAT WAS THERE THAT'S CLOSED NOW.
SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE ROUTES, IT'S JUST NOT WORKING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT WORKING.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GO TO SOME TYPE OF MOBILITY ON DEMAND, UBER, LYFT TYPE SYSTEM.
IT DOESN'T WORK HERE, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR.
WHAT, 15 YEARS? 20 YEARS. SO AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO CUT DOWN THE MILES THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON AMBULANCES.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR UNITS GET UP TO 55,000 MILES A YEAR, PUT ON AN AMBULANCE.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN CUT THAT DOWN.
WE CAN GET AN EXTRA COUPLE OF YEARS OUT OF THESE AMBULANCES THAT NOW COST US $370,000 TO $400,000, THAT THAT'S GOING TO HELP US, YOU KNOW, OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR FROM A TRANSPORTATION MASS TRANSIT STANDPOINT.
A FIXED ROUTE SYSTEM IS GREAT, BUT IT ISN'T IF NO ONE RIDES, IF NO ONE IS ON THE BUS.
YOU CAN SIT THERE AND CLICK RIGHT.
AND BUT I MEAN BUT WE DON'T IF YOUR BUS GOES FROM HERE TO THERE, BUT THERE'S NOBODY ON IT, YOU'RE NOT REALLY ACCOMPLISHING A LOT EXCEPT COMING IN HERE AND ASKING US FOR MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR.
[00:40:01]
SO. SO I GUESS I WANT TO GO BACK.SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT ON AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE WHEN SOMEONE BUYS IT, THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE TITLE, THAT THEY THE FEE THAT THEY PAY? YOU JUST CHARGE YOUR TAX ON THE FRONT END.
THAT'S ALL. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD SUGGEST THEY DO.
INSTEAD OF A MILEAGE TAX, THERE WOULD BE A FEE.
LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING.
WELL, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU HAVE TO CHARGE? $200 A YEAR? I DON'T KNOW. SOME NUMBER LIKE THAT WAS QUOTED.
I MEAN, THEY HAVEN'T ZEROED IN ON THE NUMBER ON THE EXACT AMOUNT.
BUT WHEN YOU RENEW YOUR TAGS EVERY TWO YEARS, THERE WOULD BE A FEE.
THAT'S ONE METHOD OF MDOT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
IS THAT GOING TO TRANSLATE TO US, THOUGH? I MEAN, HOW MUCH OF THAT ARE WE GOING TO GET? BECAUSE HERE'S I MEAN, HERE'S THE OTHER THING WE'VE GOT.
WE'VE GOT FOUR BRIDGES IN THE COUNTY THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IN OPERATION.
WE'VE GOT THREE THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE DELEGATE GRACE WAS A COMMISSIONER.
SO, YOU KNOW, SO SO THERE'S SEVEN BRIDGES.
THERE'S PROBABLY SEVEN, $8 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO.
DON'T LOSE YOUR ENERGY BEFORE THE NEXT.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE AT. WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR IS THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE FOR TRANSIT BECAUSE THEY KEEP GOING BACK TO TRANSIT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS A BATTLE I MEAN, WE'VE HAD FOR THE LAST DECADE OR LONGER, YOU KNOW, AND I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND YOU THINK THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN A SUBURBAN AND URBAN AREAS.
I MEAN, TRANSIT DOES WORK THERE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY WORK FOR US.
AND I GET IT NOW, WE ALSO HAVE BEEN ARGUING AGAINST FAREBOX.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SHOULD PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND SOMEHOW THEY MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT IF THEY PAY ZERO FOR TRANSIT, THAT IS A FAIR SHARE THAT THE REST OF US SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEY THINK THAT'S FAIR, WHICH I'VE YET TO HEAR A GOOD ARGUMENT TO, TO REALLY EXPLAIN THAT.
BUT THAT'S THAT WE'LL CONTINUE THAT ARGUMENT AGAIN THROUGH THIS NEXT SESSION.
THEY WILL JUST BE HEAVILY, MORE HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED.
AND WE ARE NOT WEALTHY COUNTIES.
WE'RE NOT SITTING OUT HERE FLUSH.
BUT THE PEOPLE, THE RATEPAYERS AND THE POOREST OF THE POOR GET HAMMERED ON THESE THINGS.
WE DON'T WANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT IT DOES TO THE POOR OUT HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. IT'S REALLY A TRICKLE DOWN THING THAT WE REALLY GOT TO BE AWARE OF.
AND WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON IT BECAUSE IN ANNAPOLIS WE'RE REAL GOOD WITH ADDRESSING THOSE THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED ON ONE THING, BUT WE'RE KILLING THEM ON OTHERS AND WE CONVENIENTLY USE THAT. AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO FOCUS ON WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE GUYS.
I'M NORMALLY A PRETTY CALM PERSON.
SO BEFORE I TAKE THAT LITTLE BLIP IN THE SCREEN AND LIKE REALLY GET UPSET ABOUT IT, I WOULD HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE ARGUMENT WHERE A POLITICIAN IN THIS DAY AND AGE WITH RECESSION COMING, WITH INFLATION IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SHOW UP IN ANNAPOLIS AND TRY TO EVEN TRY TO PASS A BILL THAT'S GOING TO THROW A TAX ON.
AND WE'RE INSIDE OF 12 MONTHS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION.
AND I'M JUST HEARING ABOUT TAX INCREASES.
IT WILL NOT BE LIKE BUDGETS IN YEARS PAST, AND I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SORT THIS OUT AND MAKE IT STRUCTURALLY BALANCED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THEY DO IT WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE TAXES AND SOME FEES.
JEFF, YOU KNOW, DELEGATE GRACE, SINCERITY AND SAYING HERE'S A BILL AND HERE'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING IS COMING DOWN THE LINE, BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. [INAUDIBLE] FINANCES. AND YOU ARE RIGHT TO HAVE SOME CONCERN AND YOU WOULD EXPECT EVERY PERSON SITTING AT THE TABLE TO REPRESENT CAROLINE COUNTY TO PUSH BACK AND PUSH BACK HARD WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING TAXES THAT AFFECT US AND THE RURAL PART OF THE STATE.
ON TOP OF THAT, THE INDIGNITY.
[00:45:08]
SO THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK SOMETHING ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING AND TAXES ALSO.
I MEAN, RIGHT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH.
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, IN THE MARKETPLACE AND I DON'T THINK ARE QUANTIFIED PROPERLY AT ALL.
SO I'VE HEARD INFLATION RATES OF 6% AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THE OVERALL COST OF LIVING IS WAY, WAY, WAY UP IN OTHER COSTS OF LIFE THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE INDICATORS.
SO PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RAISING THIS AND ADJUSTING THAT OR IMPLEMENTING SOME NEW REGIME THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL SITUATION, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION REALLY HASN'T COME HOME TO ROOST.
WHAT AM I CORRECT IN? WHAT IS THE YEAR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO THAT IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY SWITCHED TO IS IT 2035? WELL, IT'S ONLY SO TO BE CLEAR, THAT BILL IS REAL AND THEY PASSED IT.
AND IT'S YOU CAN'T SELL CARS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AFTER A DATE CERTAIN.
BUT IT DOESN'T STOP CHRIS ADAMS FROM GOING TO DELAWARE OR VIRGINIA.
TRUST THAT I WILL GO TO ANOTHER STATE.
AND WHILE THEY'RE MAKING A POLITICAL POINT.
ARE THE DEALERS WHO ARE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS IN THAT ENVIRONMENT? WELL I THINK, FRANKLY, ARE STRUGGLING TRYING TO SELL EV VEHICLES AS WE SPEAK.
NOW, THAT MIGHT CHANGE IN 10 OR 20 YEARS, BUT THAT BILL IS ASPIRATIONAL BUT REAL.
AND BUT IT DOESN'T STOP ME FROM DRIVING A GAS POWERED CAR.
SO WHENEVER CALIFORNIA CHANGES THEIR EMISSION STANDARDS, THE CARS ARE GOING TO CHANGE AUTOMATICALLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GO IN FRONT OF THE FOLKS AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS THE GREAT IDEAS THAT WE HAVE AND WE WANT TO PASS IT.
SO IT'S JUST EASIER TO GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER CALIFORNIA DOES.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEN YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO ALL THIS HAS TO BE FIGURED OUT.
I MEAN, TEN YEARS IS LIKE TEN MINUTES WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY AND BILLS, RIGHT? I MEAN, SO ALL OF THIS HAS GOT TO BE FIGURED OUT.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE CONSUMER WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.
SO MANY MOVING PARTS RIGHT NOW THAT I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN DO IT NOW.
IT'S A MESS. AND I DON'T WANT TO DERAIL THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT YOU BROUGHT A GREAT POINT LIKE 2035, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET TO 2035? AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO BE ON THIS BRIEFING TODAY.
SO GUESS WHO FEELS SICK FOR ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT THE STATE IS FORCING, YOU KNOW, SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE CALL ME, WHY DO I NEED TO PUT A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IN MY NEW HOUSE? IT'S FREESTANDING.
I'M ON THREE ACRES, FIVE ACRES, 100 ACRES.
I'M NOT GOING TO HURT A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY IF I DON'T WANT TO PUT A SPRINKLER IN, WHY ISN'T IT MY CHOICE? BUT YOU KNOW, STATE LAW.
SO WHILE WE APPRECIATE THAT, SO THAT IT HAS PASSED AND IT IS IN IN EFFECT, OCTOBER 1ST.
BUT REFORESTATION, SEDIMENT EROSION CONTROL THINGS THAT I YOU KNOW, THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PONDS ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE DRIVING BUILDING COST UP AS WELL. AND THESE ARE ALL STATE REGULATIONS THAT YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE IT COST PROHIBITIVE FOR PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THINGS.
SO YOU HAVE TO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THERE, YOU KNOW.
WHAT? WHEN IS THE IN THE BUILDING CODE.
ARE WE REQUIRING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS IN THE BUILDINGS NOW? STARTING ON THE FIRST.
THE NEW CONSTRUCTION STARTING OCTOBER 1ST.
YES, YOU GOT TO PUT ONE OF THOSE IN TO CHARGE WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE OR NOT.
[00:50:03]
YEAH, YOU GOT TO RUN.NOW IT'S THEY'VE TRIED 3 OR 4 YEARS IN A ROW TO MANDATE IT.
AND THIS PAST YEAR THEY GOT IT EASED IN TO WHERE NEW CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE REQUIRED.
SO WHAT ABOUT LIKE AN APARTMENT COMPLEX? A LOT OF FAMILIES WHERE IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT.
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN SINGLE FAMILIES, WHERE SINGLE FAMILIES WHERE YOU GET IT MULTIFAMILY.
AND IF ONE CATCHES ON FIRE, YOU JUST LET IT BURN AND BURN THE WHOLE PLACE DOWN, RIGHT? OUR FAMILY AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND ELECTRIC CHARGERS FOR CARS.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE A GARAGE, YOU DON'T NEED.
MY HEART RATE MONITOR JUST WENT UP.
[LAUGHTER] MOST OF THIS INFORMATION YOU CAN.
THIS IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE SENATOR MAKES A GOOD POINT.
LET ME JUST SAY ONE OTHER THING ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BUILDING CODE PROBLEM THAT CAME THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENTAL IS THAT YOU GOT TO START LOOKING AT YOUR FLOODPLAIN MAPS AND THAT BILL, THE WAY IT WAS DRAFTED, THIS WAS LIKE, I'LL TELL YOU, A LOCAL COMPANY THAT REPRESENTS GAS COMPANIES THAT GET BUILT ARE SAYING THAT THAT FLOODPLAIN AND HOW THEY'RE CHANGING WHERE YOU CAN AND CAN'T DEVELOP.
I'M TALKING ABOUT EVEN TALKING ABOUT TURNING GROUND.
IS ALMOST ELIMINATED ON THE ENTIRETY OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
BECAUSE THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE IS UNDER A CERTAIN FLOOD PLAIN THAT THEY CALL OUT IN LEGISLATION.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SORT IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FIX IT OR IF THEY'RE PROMULGATING REGULATIONS THAT JOHNNY, YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
I'D BE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT THEIR FLOODPLAIN IS.
I MEAN, AS YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING A LARGE BUILDING.
YOU BUILD IT CLOSE TO A FLOOD PLAIN OR IN A FLOOD PLAIN.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE HEARING ME SAY THAT.
WELL, THE PEOPLE WE HEAR FROM DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
ALL THEY KNOW IS SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY IS TELLING THEM, NO, THEY CAN'T DO IT.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE FOR US AS WELL.
SO THE OTHER THE OTHER BIG THING THAT I HAD WAS, YOU KNOW, THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE VOTE THAT WE JUST HAD. MY YOU KNOW, MY STANCE WAS NO, BUT I GOT OUTVOTED ON THAT ONE.
AND IT WAS A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WAS MY REASONING.
I THINK IT WAS A GOOD IS A GOOD PROJECT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING TO FIX THEM.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAST THREE.
WE HAVE SCHOOLS THAT DATE CONSTRUCTION DATES BACK TO THE 50S AND 60S AS WELL.
SO I JUST FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO TRY TO KEEP THAT MONEY HERE, NOT TO, YOU KNOW, BE THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT OR THE OUTLIER THAT'S SAYING NO TOWARDS A GOOD PROJECT.
IT'S JUST THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH HERE.
YOU KNOW, THE HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION COMING UP, WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKED FOR ANYTHING.
BUT YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
I WILL SAY THAT WE DID FIND OUT THAT OUR SCHOOL SPLIT IS 94% STATE FUNDED, 6% COUNTY.
SO WE ARE IN A WINDOW AND THAT'S IF THE BUILDINGS ARE OVER 40 YEARS OLD.
SO YOU MAY SEE AND US START TO WORK ON REPLACING SOME OF OUR OLDER SCHOOLS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT FUNDING FORMULA, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OTHER COUNTY IN THE TWO DISTRICTS COMES ANYTHING CLOSE TO A SPLIT LIKE THAT.
[00:55:02]
AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE SOME MEETINGS ON TRYING TO MAKE THAT MORE EQUITABLE FOR YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY ANY OF THAT EVER HAPPENED.WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL THAT WAS PUT IN THAT WAS MADE TO MAKE ANY VOTE ON A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT TO BE A SUPERMAJORITY TO BE HAVE TO BE FOUR OUT OF FIVE COUNTIES INSTEAD OF THREE OUT OF FIVE THAT DIED WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY I THINK WE WERE I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK WE MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONLY COUNTY SUPPORTING THAT, BUT THAT DID NOT PASS.
SO IT'S STILL THE THREE OUT OF FIVE.
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS AND I MEAN, LOOK, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS FROM OTHER COUNTIES.
I MEAN, MY POSITION ON THIS WAS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, THE AN EASTERN SHORE PROJECT WAS RATED NUMBER TWO ON THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST I FELT IT WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THE TRADES THAT WE HEAR PEOPLE ASK ABOUT ALL THE TIME. I KNOW DELEGATE GRACE, YOU KNOW, YOU.
WAS IT. HOW LONG AGO WAS THE ECONOMIC SUMMIT HELD AT THE COLLEGE? REMEMBER ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO? THREE YEARS AGO. AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT THE TIMING WAS RIGHT.
WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES COMING UP.
BUT I THINK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'VE BUDGETED AND THE WAY WE'VE HANDLED MONEY, I THINK WE ARE IN A POSITION TO DO THIS WHERE WE WEREN'T IN A POSITION TO DO THE BUILDING THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DELEGATE HARRIS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT IT AND WE VOTED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
I WOULD THINK A LOT HAS CHANGED.
DON'T FORGET, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE NOW THROWING TONS OF STUDENTS INTO THAT PROGRAM OVER THERE.
AND THE DYNAMICS OF COLLEGES LIKE THAT LITTLE COLLEGES CHANGED.
AND I CAN ACTUALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
BUT ALL OF THE ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ACROSS THE STATE, THEY'RE GIVEN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION WHERE THEY BASICALLY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FORMULA, HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
AND THAT'S HOW THEY DIVVY OUT THAT FUNDING.
BUT OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN SPENDING ADDITIONAL MONEY, SUPPLEMENTAL MONEY IN THE MISCELLANEOUS SECTION OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS ON CERTAIN CAMPUSES.
WE CAN MAKE A VERY STRONG CASE THAT THIS IS A UNIQUE PROJECT FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
THE BIGGEST REASON IS THE BLUEPRINT.
WE HAVE AN ENTIRE PILLAR FOR CTE, AND DR.
AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.
AND THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.
AND SO OUR PLAN IS TO GET ERIC LUEDTKE, WHO IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ALONG WITH SECRETARY GRADY.
WHEN WE MET WITH HER LAST WEEK, OUR DISTRICT MET WITH HER, TALKED ABOUT OUR CAPITAL REQUESTS.
SHE ACTUALLY WANTS TO COME TO EASTERN SHORE.
AND WE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, WE SEND KIDS TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE ALREADY FOR A DUAL ENROLLMENT.
THIS IS AN EASY ARGUMENT, I THINK.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH THE EASTERN SHORE DELEGATION.
AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR.
SO WE THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET $100 MILLION OF STATE MONEY THEY NEED TO FINISH THAT PROJECT.
AND THEN BENEDICTINE'S ANOTHER PRIORITY FOR US.
WE'RE [INAUDIBLE] MONEY, OBVIOUSLY.
LAST YEAR WE COULDN'T UP IN GOLDSBORO.
AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD TO WHERE THE PARK IS BY THE FIREHOUSE.
AND IN HILLSBORO, THEY WANT TO RENOVATE THE BANK BUILDING THERE.
THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP THE FACADE AND BUILD SOMETHING BEHIND IT.
[01:00:01]
BUT THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR CAPITAL PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO BE.AND WE JUST I JUST MADE SURE THAT WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON OUR RURAL DEVELOPMENT MONEY AS WELL.
SO I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE YOU KNOW, WE'VE KIND OF BEAT THE BLUEPRINT TO DEATH.
AND I MEAN, BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE CONCERNS, I THINK IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH OTHER COUNTIES ABOUT THIS PROJECT, IT'S THE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT COST.
BUT IT'S THE YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE MYSTERY OUT THERE ABOUT IT.
AND IF IF THERE'S A WAY THAT THIS CAN COUNT TOWARD OUR BLUEPRINT COST, THEN I THINK THAT .
AND WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IS THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY WILL PAY FOR THE REST OF THE COST.
TALBOT WILL DEFINITELY BENEFIT.
QUEEN ANNE'S AND KENT WILL ALSO BENEFIT.
BUT KENT, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE IN WORSE FINANCIAL SITUATION THAN CAROLINE IS NOW.
AND THEY REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO SHELL OUT ANY MORE MONEY FOR THESE SORTS OF PROJECTS.
SO AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO TIE IT INTO THE BLUEPRINT.
WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE DIDN'T, YOU ALL PASSED THIS THING, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS, YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO DO JUST THAT.
AND I THINK THEY I THINK THEY'LL DO IT.
SOMETIMES IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE IN A ROOM.
JUST THROW A DART AND HOPE FOR THE BEST, YOU KNOW? THAT'S TO THE SAME EXTENT THE STATE DOES THE SAME THING.
AND WE JUST DID THAT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
AND SO THEY WERE JUST OFF BY JUST A SMALL MARGIN, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GREAT NEWS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO DO A REVENUE WRITE DOWN NOW.
SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
HOPEFULLY THE ECONOMY IN MARYLAND CONTINUES TO DO WELL.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE.
WE LIVE SO CLOSE TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WE'RE SORT OF INSULATED FROM A LOT OF OTHER STUFF.
SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO OFFSET THAT LOCAL SHARE, WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND I'M GOING TO NEED HELP FROM THESE GUYS, TOO.
AND OUR DELEGATION AND I KNOW KENT DORCHESTER.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE COULD DO IT.
I MEAN, COMMISSIONER PORTER, DON'T SAY THAT PUBLICLY.
DON'T WRITE THAT DOWN OR WHATEVER.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S MY ARGUMENT WITH THE WHOLE THING WAS YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD BRIDGES, BRIDGES, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THESE OTHER THINGS, TOO, THAT ARE LOOMING AND IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT THOSE.
THE STACK OF STUFF I WENT THROUGH LAST WEEKEND THAT SAYS I'M LIKE, OH, THAT ONE NEEDS TO REPLACED, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH FOUR BRIDGES THAT THE STATE IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE REPLACE RIGHT NOW, NOT TO MENTION THAT THREE THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
SO, YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS KIND OF GET OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO ANY ASSISTANT SHAKE THE MONEY TREE FOR US.
WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PONY UP TO LOCALLY.
YES. OR KENT, FOR THAT MATTER.
BECAUSE IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE I GOT TO PAY BUT OTHER COUNTIES DON'T.
YEAH. WELL, DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU SEE PRESSING? YEAH. I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY MENTION THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION THIS YEAR DEALING WITH LITHIUM ION BATTERIES.
I THOUGHT WE MADE GREAT CASE LAST YEAR AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN TOO GOOD.
AND THEN I THINK SOME OF IT'S GOING TO GET STOLEN AND INTRODUCED BY OTHER DELEGATES.
BUT. WE? THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RECYCLING FOR LITHIUM ION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
SO WASTE MANAGEMENT IS REALLY PRESSING HARD FOR LEGISLATION BECAUSE.
THEY HAVE ESTIMATED FIVE FIRES A WEEK IN THEIR SYSTEM OF SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING.
[01:05:10]
AND THAT'S JUST NOT CAR BATTERIES.THIS IS LIKE ANY KIND OF BATTERY.
AND THEY'RE BEGGING FOR LEGISLATION.
SO. WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET IT GO.
IS THERE SOME FORM OF THAT WILL COME BACK AGAIN? BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG EMPHASIS THIS YEAR ON LITHIUM ION, WHERE WE HAVEN'T HAD IT AT ALL.
WE GOT PULLED LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE REGULATORY AGENCY RIGHT.
THE BILLS THAT WERE PUT IN NEVER GOT VOTED ON.
I MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE ON THE SECOND ONE.
I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THIS THE SEED FUNDING IS WHAT THEY DIDN'T LIKE WAS TAKING MONEY OUT OF THAT SEED FUND TO FUND THE TRAINING. TAKE THE AMENDMENTS OR THE CORRECTIONS I HAVE MADE ON THE BILL RIGHT AT THE END.
WE WERE JUST RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND I THINK THAT WE CAN TAKE THAT SAME BILL NOW IN THE FORM THAT IT ENDED AND PUT IT BACK IN, TWEAK JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS AND HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING THAT PASSED.
WELL, IT WAS OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL WHO CAME TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS THAT THE REVISION OF THE NFPA FIRE CODE, WHICH WOULD HAVE INCLUDED BATTERY STORAGE, WAS NOT AT THAT TIME SUPPORTED BY THE STATE POLICE.
DON'T. I MEAN, THE QUESTION OBVIOUSLY, IS WHAT DOES THE STATE POLICE HAVE TO DO WITH IT? AND THE ANSWER TO THAT WAS THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE FALLS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE STATE POLICE.
SO MY I THINK THAT MY UNDERSTANDING NOW IS THAT THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING.
IS IT NFPA 855? MARK OR CRYSTAL? I MEAN THAT THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVISING THAT TO INCLUDE BATTERY STORAGE AND AND THAT TYPE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS FUNDING FOR TRAINING OF TRAINING THAT THAT BILL, THE TRAINING BILL I THINK IS GOING TO MAY GET SOME LEGS BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE A LOT OF TIMES THEY, LIKE OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE TO TAKE THAT LEGISLATION.
HE'S GONE NOW. SO WE GOT A NEW CHAIRMAN AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WE HAVE ONE WE HAVE A LITHIUM ION BATTERY STORAGE UNIT IN THE COUNTY NOW AND WE HAVE HAD APPLICANTS THAT WANT TO INCLUDE THEM IN FUTURE LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK ALL THAT VERY LEGITIMATE AND IT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION LAST YEAR.
WHEN MANAGEMENT IS REQUESTING LEGISLATION TO DEAL WITH LITHIUM ION, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME ATTENTION WHICH SHOULD ALERT YOU TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE MOVING ALL THIS EVERYTHING SO FAST OF ALL ELECTRIC AND WE'RE NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEMS. AND ALL THIS WILL DO IS INCREASE COSTS.
NOW KEEP THAT IN MIND. SO WHEN YOU GO BUY A BATTERY AND I WAS WITH A GUY THE OTHER DAY WHO HAD A BATTERY THAT FELL IN THE WATER AND IT WAS ON HIS ON HIS BENCH WORK BENCH AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE A FEW DAYS LATER.
AND HE'S SITTING THERE. HE SAID, I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING.
WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
WE'RE JUST SITTING DOWN TACKING THIS ON.
IT'S SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED OF.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SAVE THE THE PLANET.
WE'RE SAVING THE PLANET BECAUSE WE'RE I COULD GO FOR A DAY, A DAY AND A HALF.
THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NO, WE GOT ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
I THINK THEY GET IT FROM STAGE.
[2. Annual Presentation of Consolidated Transportation Program]
[3. Recess]
[01:16:55]
OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.[01:16:57]
THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO CAROLINE COUNTY HERE.WE HAVE THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION, MR. PAUL WIEDEFELD, AND HIS TEAM.
SO CAME CAME DOWN TO CAROLINE TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON STATE HIGHWAY PROJECTS.
SO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
DO I NEED TO TURN THIS ON? IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK IT'S ON. THEY GOT IT.
OKAY, GREAT. SORRY AGAIN, PAUL WIEDEFELD, SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE.
SO THAT STARTS JULY 1ST FOR THE STATE.
SO I HAVE BROUGHT WITH ME A NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS FROM THE TEAM, FROM STATE HIGHWAY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR MATT BAKER, YOU KNOW, WILL PINES, I THINK HE RAN THE TOLL AUTHORITY RECENTLY START YOU AT MEDCO.
SO AND I KNOW HE'S DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE HE'S FROM [INAUDIBLE], SO HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND ALSO WITH NO NEED FOR INTRODUCTION. BUT KENNY, OUR DISTRICT ENGINEER HERE, WHO DOES A FANTASTIC JOB FROM THE MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, HEAD OF PLANNING PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, MELISSA WILLIAMS IS HERE.
FROM THE MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, LOCAL TRANSIT SUPPORT DIRECTOR TRAVIS JOHNSON IS HERE.
FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION, CHRISSY NIZER, AND FROM THE MARYLAND AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, REGIONAL AVIATION ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ASHISH SOLANKI. SO FIRST I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP.
IT WAS NICE TO SEE EVERYONE AT MAYCO.
I DID WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME THINGS THERE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO THAT.
AND REGARDING THE STATE HIGHWAYS INTERSECTION, IMPROVEMENTS AT MARYLAND 404 AND SURE HIGHWAY AND MARYLAND 320 RIVER ROAD, STATE HIGHWAY CONTINUES TO BUILD ON PREVIOUS UPGRADES AT THIS INTERSECTION.
SO THANK YOU, KENNY, FOR JUMPING RIGHT ON THAT.
AND ALSO WE'RE WORKING TO LOOK AT SEVERAL OTHER OPTIONS TO TO ASSIST THE TOWN AND TO TAP INTO MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS, THE TOWN SO THEY CAN ACCESS SOME GRANT MONIES THERE.
JUST VERY QUICKLY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE PRIORITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING, IF I COULD. SO FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE COMMITTED TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP AND TRANSPARENCY.
BUT THE REALITY IS WE NEED TO DO THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
[01:20:06]
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MDOT WILL WILL BUILD AND MAINTAIN A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT PROVIDES NOT JUST PHYSICAL MOBILITY, BUT ECONOMIC MOBILITY TO ALL MARYLANDERS AND ALL COMMUNITIES. WE MADE SOME PROGRESS IN THE SHORT TIME WE'VE BEEN IN THAT.WE'VE BEEN AT THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES.
AND NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OBVIOUSLY IS ALWAYS SAFETY AND A LOT OF WORK DONE BY THE STATE HIGHWAY.
AND WHAT CHRISSY NIZER DOES AT MVA, WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE VISION ZERO, WHICH IS ELIMINATE FATALITIES ON HIGHWAYS BY 2030, UNFORTUNATELY. AND MAYBE CHRISSY MAY TALK ABOUT THIS IN A BIT, THE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOING THE RIGHT WAY RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'VE GOT TO WE'VE GOT TO REINFORCE TO BASICALLY SLOW DOWN, PAY ATTENTION.
DON'T DON'T DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
IF YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING THE NUMBERS, A SERIOUS, SERIOUS ISSUE.
I HAVE A CHALLENGE, MY TEAM, THOUGH, TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE REGULATIONS, SOME OF THE POLICIES, SOME OF THE DESIGN THINGS THAT WE HAVE HISTORICALLY DONE AND TO RETHINK SOME OF THOSE. AND WE'VE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT OUR COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM THAT HASN'T BEEN REVIEWED IN ROUGHLY TEN YEARS, OVER A DECADE.
THE NUMBER THE SECOND PRIORITY IS TO PRESERVE THE SYSTEM WE HAVE.
OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK MUST ALSO COMPETE ECONOMICALLY ON A REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL LEVEL.
BUT FRANKLY, WE NEED TO INVEST AT A LEVEL GREATER THAN WE'VE BEEN CURRENTLY INVESTING.
AS YOU KNOW, OUR KEY TRANSPORTATION, OUR KEY FUNDING SOURCE IS THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS, JUST LIKE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BOTH IN TERMS OF INFLATION AND ALL THE COSTS THERE THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH IN HISTORIC NUMBERS.
BUT ALSO WE HAVE WE WERE RELYING ON COVID DOLLARS FOR A LOT OF OUR OPERATING COSTS.
THEY HAVE DRIED UP. WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH REDUCED FUNDING FROM THE MOTOR FUEL TAX AS CARS BECOME MORE BASICALLY MUCH MORE, THEY GET MANY MORE MILES TO THE GALLON, WHICH IS A GREAT THING.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE TRUST FUND, ALMOST 23% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM THE MOTOR FUEL TAX.
BUT YOU NEED STATE DOLLARS TO PULL THOSE DOWN.
SO ALL OF THAT IS EVIDENT IN THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR 2429 CTP THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU TODAY.
IT ROUGHLY TOTALS $21.2 BILLION, BUT WE HAVE A SHORTFALL OF OVER $2 BILLION IN THAT PROGRAM.
IT STARTS IN FISCAL YEAR 25 WITH $100 MILLION SHORTFALL AND PROGRESSES EACH YEAR AFTER THAT.
I'VE TAKEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT APPROACH IN THIS.
YOU KNOW, COMMITMENT TO PARTNERSHIP AND TRANSPARENCY.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH OBVIOUSLY LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND DELEGATES IN ANNAPOLIS, THE SENATORS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD TO MEET ALL THE GOALS THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO ACHIEVE. SO THAT IS THE DISCUSSION THAT WE WILL BE HAVING, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE FUTURE.
THAT COMMITTEE STARTED TO MEET IN AUGUST TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
A DRAFT REPORT IS DUE JANUARY 1ST OF 24 AND A FINAL THE YEAR AFTER.
SO THAT IS MORE TO COME, OBVIOUSLY ON THAT.
SO THAT IS FROM A FROM A HIGH LEVEL.
I'D LIKE TO TURN IT NOW OVER TO THE DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
I'LL START WITH STATE HIGHWAY WITH MATT.
THANK YOU, PAUL. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M MATT BAKER, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AT THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION.
AND IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS YEAR.
[01:25:02]
SHA IS CONTINUING TO ADVANCE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT CONNECT MARYLANDERS TO JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.THAT MEANS REIMAGINING HOW OUR HIGHWAY NETWORK SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE PUTTING A GREATER FOCUS ON SAFETY STATEWIDE.
ONE LIFE LOST IS ONE TOO MANY.
SO WE ARE FOCUSING ON ASSET WORK ZONE AND VULNERABLE USER SAFETY.
THIS SPRING, SHA RELEASED MARYLAND'S FIRST PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
WE ARE PROGRAMING NEARLY $100 MILLION TO DELIVER PROJECTS, WORKING WITH THE NEW ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION TEAM AT OUR HEADQUARTERS OFFICE AS WELL AS OUR DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. WE ALSO ARE TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT ORGANIZATIONAL EFFICIENCY, FOCUSING ON PROJECT DELIVERY, PERMIT APPROVALS AND PROCUREMENT TIMELINES.
TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS WHILE MAINTAINING ETHICS AND DOING GOOD BUSINESS.
WE REALIZE THAT THERE ARE CHALLENGES AHEAD.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN OUR GOALS HAVE CHANGED.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, MOBILITY AND A STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, AND WE HAVE TO BE POISED TO LEVERAGE EVERY AVAILABLE FEDERAL DOLLAR TO DELIVER AS MUCH AS WE CAN, INCLUDING PURSUING FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THOSE PRESENT THEMSELVES.
WE WILL ALSO CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU TO DELIVER LOCAL PROJECTS.
PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IS KEY TO ALL OF OUR SUCCESSES.
NOW LET'S HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF SHA'S PROJECTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.
THE PEL STUDY IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED NEXT SPRING, AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PLANNING ON AN IN-PERSON OPEN HOUSE MEETING LATER THIS FALL, SO PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND AS SECRETARY WIEDEFELD MENTIONED HERE IN DENTON, NEAR NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, EARLY NEXT YEAR, WE'LL ADVERTISE A $1 MILLION CONTRACT TO COMPLETE GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS ALONG MARYLAND 404 THERE AT MARYLAND.
328 RIVER ROAD, ADDING TURN LANES FOR SAFER TRAFFIC FLOW.
SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS INTERSECTION, AS I THINK YOU ALL KNOW ALREADY HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND WE CHANGED THE SIGNAL PHASING FROM CONCURRENT TO SPLIT PHASING TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE CONFLICTING MOVEMENTS.
THESE SMALLER IMPROVEMENTS CERTAINLY HAVE HELPED REDUCE INTERSECTION CONFLICTS AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW, ESPECIALLY DURING THOSE PEAK SCHOOL HOURS WHEN YOU HAVE TRAFFIC HEADING TO AND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL THERE.
AND I'D LIKE NOW TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE AT THE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, MELISSA WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MATT. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MELISSA WILLIAMS. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AT THE MARYLAND TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY, FINANCED SOLELY BY TOLL REVENUE.
TIER TWO, NEPA, NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT IS FUNDED BY MTA'S TOLL REVENUE.
THIS STUDY IS ANALYZING ALTERNATIVES FOR PROVIDING ADEQUATE CAPACITY AND ACCESS TO IMPROVE TRAVEL, RELIABILITY, MOBILITY AND SAFETY ACROSS THE BAY, AS WELL AS ALONG THE 5301 CORRIDOR.
OUR PUBLIC OBJECTIVE AND I'M SORRY OUR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OBJECTIVE IS TO ESTABLISH A FAIR AND EQUITABLE STUDY PROCESS THAT LEADS US TO EQUITABLE PROJECT OUTCOMES. THIS FEDERAL TIER TWO NEPA STUDY IS FOCUSING ON THE SELECTED CORRIDOR, WHICH IS CORRIDOR SEVEN THAT WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH TIER ONE OF THE STUDY. CORRIDOR SEVEN IS TWO MILES WIDE AND RUNS 22 MILES ALONG THE ALONG 5301 FROM THE SEVERN RIVER BRIDGE TO THE 5301 SPLIT.
[01:30:09]
MEETING, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PUBLIC MEETINGS THIS SEPTEMBER.TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS NEXT FALL.
NEXT SEPTEMBER, WE PLAN TO SHARE ALTERNATIVES FOR IMPROVEMENTS WITH THE PUBLIC, FOLLOWED BY NTA'S RECOMMENDED PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE IN 2025 AND THE WITH THE ANTICIPATED CONCLUSION OF THE STUDY IN THE WINTER OF 2026 2027.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE TRAVIS JOHNSTON FROM MTA.
THANK YOU, MELISSA, AND GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF LOCAL TRANSIT SUPPORT AT THE MARYLAND TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION.
PUBLIC TRANSIT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL MOBILITY, ADDRESSING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND NEEDED REDUCTIONS IN CARBON EMISSIONS, AS WELL AS REDUCING CONGESTION AND PROMOTING SAFER AND HEALTHIER STREETS FOR OUR ENTIRE REGION.
MTA MAKES A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT IN CAROLINE COUNTY BY PROVIDING NEARLY $1.2 MILLION IN OPERATING AND CAPITAL GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL TRANSIT OPERATIONS PROVIDED BY DELMARVA COMMUNITY TRANSIT OR DCT.
THIS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH KENT AND TALBOT COUNTIES.
OF THE 1.1 MILLION, MORE THAN 870,000 IS FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET AND MORE THAN 250,000 IS FOR THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES FUNDING FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND TWO NEW SMALL BUSSES.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT BEGINNING NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FISCAL 25 FUNDING WILL BE ADJUSTED SO THAT ALLOCATION DISTRIBUTIONS ARE MORE EQUITABLE AND RESPONSIVE TO CHANGES IN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.
INVESTMENT IN TRANSIT SERVICE.
LASTLY, I'D LIKE TO CLOSE MY REMARKS WITH NOTING THAT MTA IS PLEASED TO AWARD NEARLY $123,000 IN STATEWIDE TRANSIT INNOVATION GRANT FUNDING, ALSO TO DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE TO INSTALL A PROPANE FILLING STATION FOR FUTURE PROPANE POWERED VEHICLES, ENABLING DCS TO TRANSITION TO A LOWER EMISSION FLEET.
I'D NOW LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHRISSY NIZER WITH MVA.
THANK YOU, TRAVIS. AND IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING.
EXCUSE ME. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF WHAT WE DO AT MVA FOR MANY YEARS, BUT WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF A GREAT IT MODERNIZATION THAT HAS ENABLED US TO BE EVEN MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE IN DELIVERING CUSTOMER SERVICE.
SO GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN YOU NEED TO BRING THAT BOOK OR LUNCH.
IF YOU'RE COMING TO AN MVA BRANCH OFFICE.
IN FACT, NEARBY EASTON BRANCH HAD AN UNDER FOUR MINUTE WAIT TIME LAST YEAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.
CUSTOMERS CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
THEY'RE AVAILABLE WITHIN ONE DAY, AND OFTEN WE HAVE SAME DAY AVAILABILITY.
IN FACT, YOU CAN SCHEDULE IT JUST AN HOUR OUT NOW.
SO IF YOU FORGET ABOUT ANYTHING TO DO SOMETHING AT THE LAST MINUTE.
BUT WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING FOR THE NEXT DECADE.
WE KNOW CUSTOMERS WANT MORE CONVENIENCE FOR THEIR TRANSACTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR ONLINE TRANSACTIONS WITH OUR MVA ACCOUNT.
I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET ONE.
LAST YEAR, 75% OF OUR CUSTOMERS ACTUALLY COMPLETED THEIR TRANSACTIONS OUTSIDE OF THAT TRADITIONAL BRANCH OFFICE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP AND PUT EVERYTHING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS WITH A MY MVA ACCOUNT.
WE KNOW THOSE ID CARDS ARE SO CRITICAL TO GETTING PEOPLE READJUSTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
[01:35:03]
ADDITIONALLY, AS THE SECRETARY MENTIONED, OUR GOAL REALLY IS ZERO FATALITIES ON OUR ROADWAYS AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.WE HAVE NOT BEEN AS A STATE AT THAT LEVEL SINCE 2007.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR RESULTS.
SO LAST YEAR WE LOST SIX PEOPLE AND THIS YEAR SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN 11 FATALITIES.
AND SO WE KNOW EACH ONE OF THOSE ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S PEOPLE AND LOVED ONES THAT ARE LOST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT AS THE SECRETARY MENTIONED, IT'S THE SAME CAUSES.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING NEW THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT THERE.
IT REALLY IS THAT SPEED AND IMPAIRMENT AND LACK OF WEARING SEATBELTS AND DISTRACTIONS.
SO WE'RE REALLY EMPHASIZING ALL OF THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN CHANGE, THEIR BEHAVIORAL CHANGES IN ADDITION TO OBVIOUSLY WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES ARE LOOKING AT FROM AN INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT. ONE THING I'D JUST LIKE TO EMPHASIZE A LITTLE BIT IS CAROLINE COUNTY DOES HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST SEATBELT RATES IN IN THE STATE.
STATEWIDE, WE'RE OVER 90%, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY 88% HERE.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'D BE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON TO GET THE WORD OUT ON THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT MESSAGE TO HELP DRIVE DOWN THE NUMBERS.
SO HAPPY TO PARTNER THERE AS WELL.
ALSO, MANY JURISDICTIONS HAVE NOW DEVELOPED THEIR OWN LOCAL STRATEGIC HIGHWAY SAFETY PLAN.
ONE OF THE TOOLS WE'VE MADE AVAILABLE IS A CRASH DASHBOARD, AND YOU CAN DRILL DOWN BY JURISDICTION AND ROAD TYPE AND EVEN TIME OF THE DAY, AND THAT IS AVAILABLE AT OUR WEBSITE [INAUDIBLE] MD.GOV.
AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THAT.
AND IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL DATA POINTS, HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH THAT AS WELL.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I JUST HAVE TO WRAP UP BY THANKING OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES AT THE MBA.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ASHISH FROM MAA.
THANKS, CHRISSY. COMMISSIONERS, GOOD MORNING.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN THIS MORNING.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY HELLO TO OUR DELEGATION.
I WANT TO START OFF CERTAINLY RECOGNIZING AVIATION'S FOCUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON SAFETY, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE A GREAT DEAL IN TERMS OF TRAVEL, TOURISM AND OF COURSE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NOT JUST FOR OUR INDIVIDUAL AIRPORTS, BUT OUR REGIONS AS WELL.
GOVERNOR MOORE HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE GREAT ASSETS WE HAVE IN MARYLAND AND TO ENSURE THIS GREAT ASSETS, WE'RE FOCUSED ON GROWING THE ECONOMY WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION ASSETS. OF THESE, THE PUBLIC USE AIRPORTS IS OUR FOCUS AND OF THE OF THE PUBLIC USE AIRPORTS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A ROUND NUMBERS, BWI IS ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE STATE $9 BILLION ANNUALLY AND THAT TRANSLATES TO ABOUT 15,000 JOBS OVERALL WITH ALL OF THE JOBS AT THE AIRPORT.
BUT IT ALSO ADDS TO THE ECONOMIC DEMAND.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM THE ECONOMIC PANDEMIC UP TO 90% OF THE PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.
SO THE TREND IS IN THE PROPER DIRECTION.
ONE OTHER MEASURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT METRIC WISE AT BWI MARSHALL IS OUR SEATS.
WE KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO TRAVEL.
WE KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO GO BUSINESS, COMMERCIAL TRAVEL, PLEASURE.
BUT ON THE DEMAND SIDE, AIRLINES ARE ADDING SEATS.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ADDED 4% MORE SEATS THAN THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.
SO THAT'S A MEASURE OF WHERE WE ARE IN OUR INDUSTRY, WHERE WE ARE IN THE COMMERCIAL DEMAND SIDE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT POSITIVE TRENDS GOING FORWARD.
ON THE CAPITAL SIDE. I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, CERTAINLY AT BWI MARSHALL, WE'RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO OUR PASSENGERS THAT PROVIDE NOT JUST SAFETY AND IMPROVEMENTS, BUT ALSO SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT OUR AWARD WINNING BATHROOM ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM.
AND I ADMITTEDLY, I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT, BUT AS THE REPRESENTATIVE, I'M HAPPY TO.
IT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BETTER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS GOES TO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
THE STATEWIDE AVIATION GRANT PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON THOSE 34 AIRPORTS.
WE FOCUS ON RUNWAYS, TAXIWAYS, APRON SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS TO THESE FACILITIES.
[01:40:08]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.AND NOW IT'S MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO SECRETARY.
THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION ON THE PROGRAM.
BE GLAD TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
OKAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
AS A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE KEN FENDER FAN CLUB.
I WANT TO I WANT TO THANK HIM VERY MUCH FOR HIS RESPONSIVENESS.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT TO HIS ATTENTION AND HIS RESPONSE WAS ON THE MONEY.
ONE WAS THE GOLDSBORO FIREHOUSE LIGHT.
WE RUN INTO A SITUATION THERE WHEN THERE IS A CALL AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TO TO BACK THE FIRE ENGINES BACK INTO THE FIREHOUSE, WE SOMETIMES HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO WAIT.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO SIGNAGE.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND I WILL RELAY THAT INFORMATION AND I'LL TAKE MY BEATING ON THAT ONE.
BUT IT'LL BE SIGNAGE AND NOT A LIGHT.
UM, THERE WAS ALSO SOME DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE RAILROAD BRIDGE.
I THINK THE DETERMINATION HAS BEEN THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO I'M NOT SURE WHO'S HERE OR WHO CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT WAS TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING LOCALLY TO DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS WERE ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK WHAT I REMEMBER IS THAT THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE TABLE.
THE REMOVAL OF THE TERM BRIDGE, RAILROAD BRIDGE.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY GREAT HUE AND CRY TO REMOVE IT.
SO. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE RIVER ROAD.
LIKE, I MEAN, EVEN THAT TIMING CHANGE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO US.
SO IT IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FOR US DURING FOOTBALL GAMES, YOU KNOW, AND ACCESS TO TO THAT.
SO WHATEVER YOU DO BEYOND THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW.
YOU KNOW, ICING ON THE CAKE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE IN THE BACK, MS..
YOU KNOW, YOU PEOPLE HAVE ALL KNOWN HER AND SHE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING ADVOCATE FOR THE DUALISATION OF 404 FOR THE REST OF THE WAY, WHICH WE ARE AS WELL.
AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANY PUBLIC MEETINGS YOU WILL HAVE AS FAR AS AN UPDATE.
MR. SECRETARY, WE MET THIS MORNING WITH OUR DELEGATION.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A TOPIC OF CONCERN.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD IS HOW IS THIS GOING TO BE ADDRESSED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLES? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A BLUE RIBBON PANEL THAT HAS BEEN APPOINTED, AND I BELIEVE SENATOR HERSHEY IS OUR.
CAN YOU CAN YOU UPDATE US AT ALL ON ON WHAT THE THOUGHTS ARE WITH THAT AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD? SURE. WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT A NATIONAL IF ALMOST AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE FLEET.
RIGHT. BECAUSE IT IMPACTS TRUCKS.
IT IMPACTS, YOU KNOW, PERSONAL VEHICLES.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT IDEAS OUT THERE.
THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, US DOT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE AS WELL BECAUSE IT IMPACTS THE FEDERAL POT AS WELL. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
BUT EVERYTHING FROM YOU MENTIONED YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE, SOME SORT OF MILEAGE FEE OF SOME SORT.
SO IT'S WAY TOO SOON FOR ANYONE TO COME UP WITH ANY YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PATH FORWARD, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE INVOLVED WITH, PARTICULARLY WITH THE NORTHEAST OF THE US, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF HOW THE PROXIMITY THAT WE HAVE TO OTHER STATES AND MAKING SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO EITHER DOESN'T EITHER TAKE A DISADVANTAGE,
[01:45:10]
WE PUT OURSELVES AT A DISADVANTAGE.SO IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT'S COMING AT US.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS YET.
NO ONE DOES, YOU KNOW, AS WE PLAY THROUGH THIS.
BUT WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORICALLY TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN FUNDED A LOT THROUGH THE MOTOR FUEL TAXES, BOTH AT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL, AND THAT IS MOVING AWAY. SO WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH SOME OTHER SOURCE OF REVENUES TO SUPPORT THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO I WOULDN'T PUT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON ANY ONE PARTICULAR SOLUTION YET.
I THINK IT'S WAY TOO EARLY TO DO THAT, BUT THAT IS ONE THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR CONCERN FOR US.
WE HAVE HOW MANY BRIDGES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED NOW.
AND I THINK SOMEONE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO US TO, TO START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY PURSUING SOME FEDERAL, MAYBE SOME IF THERE IS FEDERAL FUNDING AVAILABLE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, THESE BRIDGES ARE A MILLION, PROBABLY $1 MILLION OR BETTER A PIECE TO REPLACE AND THAT THAT WOULD JUST BE TOO LARGE OF A HIT ON ON OUR ON OUR.
RIGHT. UM, ONE MORE OR TWO MORE THINGS QUICKLY.
THE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FOR DCT.
WE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE USING THAT FORM OF TRANSPORTATION HERE.
IT'S NOT IT'S NOT ACCOMPLISHING WHAT WE NEED.
FIXED ROUTES THAT GO PLACES THAT NO ONE GOES AND WITH EMPTY BUSSES ARE NOT WORKING FOR US.
SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSIONS HERE ABOUT JUST FOR A QUICK EXAMPLE, THROUGH OUR AMBULANCE SYSTEM, IF WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSPORT A PERSON TO LOCALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE A HOSPITAL IN THIS COUNTY.
WE HAVE AN URGENT CARE CENTER.
WE HAVE A VERY A VERY GREAT CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEM.
SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO TRANSPORT A PATIENT TO ONE OF THOSE TWO IN COUNTY FACILITIES, WE CAN DO THAT.
IF WE HAVE A WAY TO TRANSPORT THAT PERSON HOME, WE CAN GET THEM THERE.
WE JUST WE GOT TO HAVE A WAY TO GET THEM HOME.
AND THAT WOULD SAVE US AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO MILEAGE ON OUR AMBULANCES AND TURNAROUND TIME FOR OUR EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.
AND WHEN YOU'RE TRANSPORTING SOMEONE TO EASTON OR SEAFORD OR TO DOVER TO ANOTHER STATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF MILES AND A LOT OF TIME TO LOAD THAT PERSON UP, TO TREAT THEM ON THE SCENE, TRANSPORT THEM, ADMIT THEM TO THAT FACILITY, TURN AROUND AND COME BACK.
SO WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN REDUCE MILEAGE ON OUR AMBULANCES AND OUR TURNAROUND TIME.
WE HAVE AN URGENT CARE CENTER.
WE DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL.
SO. THAT DOT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE WOOD FARM ISSUE, WE'RE MOVING TOWARD STATE RIGHT AWAY APPROVAL.
SO WE GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.
WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE AN APPROVED TIS BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SO AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE WE DON'T ISSUE LETTERS OF INTENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS ACCESS ITSELF IS GOING TO BE APPROVED.
IT'S JUST GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
CERTAIN CRITERIA HAS TO BE MADE OR HAS TO BE DRESSED.
BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF DUE PROCESS.
SO THE AXIS HAS ALREADY [INAUDIBLE] FOR IT, FOR WE RESTRICT ACCESS FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
[01:50:04]
A LOT OF FOR IS ACTUALLY LIMITED WHERE YOU CAN ACCESS.BUT AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH THAT.
SO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THE GIS BACK BY THE END OF OCTOBER, WHICH WILL.
IT'S IN THE WORKS. OKAY, VERY GOOD.
WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ON THIS ON THIS MOBILITY ISSUE.
I MEAN, MASS TRANSPORTATION IS GREAT IN SOME AREAS.
YEAH. AND SO IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE YOU KNOW, WITH THIS INFORMATION AND WITH THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO TRANSPORT THE PATIENTS IN AND COUNTY, THAT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS HELP TO US.
I'M GOING TO LET SOMEONE ELSE TALK ABOUT THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE AMBULANCE.
I THINK THAT MAY FALL UNDER THEM.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE RIVER ROAD LAKE THAT'S BEEN A REAL HELP.
THANK YOU, MR. BARTZ. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TODAY.
I APPRECIATE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU.
LAST TIME MR. KIM WAS HERE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING ON THE BETHLEHEM 578 BETHLEHEM HARMONY ROAD, MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.
I TRAVELED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, AND IT'S A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GETTING ON THAT.
UM. AS FAR AS DCT GOES, IS THAT THE 1.2 MILLION? IS THAT IS THAT OUT OF FEDERAL MONEY OR IS THAT ALL MARYLAND MONEY THAT'S GIVEN TO DCT? IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
SO IT'S TYPICALLY 8020 SPLIT ON THAT 80% FEDERAL 20.
SO WHEN YOU COME UP WITH THAT NUMBER, DOES DCT ASK YOU FOR THAT NUMBER OR ARE THEY JUST THAT'S THE NUMBER YOU GIVE THEM? OR HOW DOES THAT COME ABOUT, THAT 4.2 MILLION? SO ON THE OPERATING SIDE, THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN FLAT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
AND ONE OF MY REMARKS I WAS SPEAKING TO HOW AN FY 25 THAT SUB ALLOCATION PROCESS WILL CHANGE WHEN THE CAPITAL SIDE, IT'S DISCRETIONARY. SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THE COUNTY WOULD BE ASKING FOR YEAR TO YEAR.
OKAY. SO EVERY YEAR, ARE THEY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THEIR AUDIT NUMBERS OR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AS FAR AS WHERE THAT BOARD THEY SPEND THAT MONEY AND HOW IT GOES? ABSOLUTELY, YES.
SO WE GET IT IN, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS DIFFERENT FORMATS, BUT THROUGH A SINGLE AUDIT AS WELL AS QUARTERLY INVOICING WHERE WE'RE REVIEWING WHAT THEY'RE ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR.
SO YOU MENTIONED YOU WOULD WORK WITH US ON THE MOBILITY PROJECT.
NOW, WOULD YOU ALLOCATE MAYBE SOME OF THAT MONEY FROM THAT YOU GET DKT OR WOULD BE TOTALLY FUNDED ON A SEPARATE LEVEL? I THINK I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH ALL THE PLAYERS INVOLVED AND JUST SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE.
WAS THERE SOME FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COME THROUGH ON THAT TO GET THAT DONE EXPEDITED A LITTLE BIT FASTER? AS MISS FREEMAN WILL TELL YOU, THERE'S ONLY SIX MILES LEFT TO US, SIX MILES IN A LOT.
BUT I GUESS WHEN YOU PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE TO IT, IT IT'S EXTREMELY A LOT.
SO, I MEAN, IS THERE ANY FEDERAL FUNDING THAT COULD HELP SPEED THIS UP A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GET THE WHOLE SIX MILES DONE? THERE CERTAINLY ARE SOME FEDERAL PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT MIGHT BE TO OUR ADVANTAGE TO TO SEEK OUT.
I THINK RIGHT NOW THE KEY THING IS WE ARE USING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THIS INITIAL HEALTH STUDY, WHICH IS A REALLY GOOD FIRST STEP TO ESTABLISH WHAT ARE THOSE NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS, AND ALSO TO SOME DEGREE, STARTING TO JUST GET A GRIP ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, THE ECONOMIC ISSUES.
I ALWAYS THINK OF IT ALMOST AS LIKE WRITING THE ENCYCLOPEDIA ON THAT COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S REALLY DRIVING AND MOTIVATING THE NEED FOR A PROJECT POTENTIALLY. SO WE'RE WORKING RIGHT NOW THROUGH THAT PEL THAT WILL HELP INFORM.
OUR NEXT STEPS APPLY TO A MORE TRADITIONAL CORRIDOR STUDY OR A NEPA STUDY.
[01:55:01]
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD IT CALLED.THANK YOU. ONE LAST THING, MR. HUNTER. LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT ROUTE 16 BRIDGE AT WILLISTON.
IS THAT CORRECT? YOU SAID THEIR REPLACEMENTS.
YES, THAT'S THE ONE THAT I THINK ALL STRUCTURES IS LOOKING TO.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FIRM WITH THAT YET.
OKAY. I KNOW THAT'S IN THE WORKS.
YES. I THINK THE ISSUE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES IS THE DETOUR ISSUE.
GOTCHA. I KEPT LOOKING AT IT AND I STILL COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
YEAH, I STOPPED THERE SEVERAL TIMES AND STUDIED IT AND I WAS LIKE, MAN, JUST WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT.
IT'S A VERY LENGTHY DETOUR THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THAT.
SO WE'VE GOT A PLAN TO TO SET UP THE DETOUR.
HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A LITTLE LESS EFFECTIVE.
BY HELPING. YEAH, WE HAVE WE HAVE A, I THINK A DIRT ROAD IN.
WE HAVE 80 MILES OF DIRT ROAD HERE.
SO YOU'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD OVER HERE.
IT'S GOING TO AFFECT SO MANY PEOPLE.
SO THEY PROBABLY COULDN'T HANDLE THE HEAVY TRUCK TRAFFIC LOAD, YOU KNOW, OF THAT OF THAT DETOUR.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU KNOW, THE SOONER WE KNOW, THE BETTER WE CAN PREPARE PEOPLE.
AND I LIVE LIKE A MILE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BRIDGE, SO I'D BE AFFECTED.
BUT IT IS IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED.
WE, YOU KNOW, ALL JOKING ASIDE, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON THAT BRIDGE A FEW YEARS BACK WITH A GARBAGE TRUCK, RAN INTO A CAR COMING FROM PRESTON DIRECTION AND I THINK IT WAS DUE TO A ROUGH.
AND I THINK, KENNY, YOU GUYS HAVE ADDRESSED I THINK IT'S BEEN PAVED SINCE THEN.
IT'S MOVED UP. BUT THE BRIDGE IS IS AN ISSUE.
RIGHT. I'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER ROADS? I GUESS I GUESS WE'RE DONE FOR THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON YOUR RADAR TO BE REPAID OR RESURFACED? ROUTE 16, THERE IS SOME MORE THAT'S GOING TO BE PAID NEXT YEAR, ACTUALLY SPRING TIME THAT GOES FROM BARROLL 578 TO PINEWOOD ROAD, I THINK IT IS. SO THAT'S THE LAST SECTION WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
SO WE'VE DONE IT QUITE A BIT OF PAVING, BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST SECTION FOR.
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING THE ROADS.
YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY WELL RESPONSIVE, SO THANK YOU.
OKAY. WELL, THANK THANK YOU ALL FOR.
FOR COMING IN AND CONTINUING TO INVEST IN THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE EASTERN SHORE AND CAROLINE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, TO TO THE OVERALL ARCHING CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING ABOUT THE GAS TAX.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE MILEAGE TAX FOR US, I THINK WOULD BE DIFFICULT.
SO A LOT OF MILES ARE PUT ON VEHICLES IN DELAWARE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOP IN DELAWARE HERE WITH THE NEW SALES TAX.
SO OUR RESIDENTS DO PUT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MILES ON THEIR VEHICLES AND SPECIFICALLY DELAWARE.
SO TO THAT WAS GREAT TO HEAR YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE, YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE PERIPHERAL ISSUES LIKE THAT. SO TO MAKE THE CASE FOR 404, YOU KNOW, AS COMMISSIONER PORTER ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE DON'T HAVE AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER HERE. SO OUR EMS PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO TRANSPORT TO EITHER SEAFORD, DELAWARE OR DOVER, DELAWARE.
[02:00:02]
IT'S 28 MILES TO BAYHEALTH HOSPITAL IN DOVER.SO WE DO SPEND A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME OUTSIDE AND, AND MY CASE TOWARDS THE PRIORITIZATION OF 404 IS WE'RE SEEING INCREASED TRAFFIC PEOPLE USING BECAUSE THE HIGHWAY IS NICE.
YOU CAN YOU CAN COVER A LOT OF GROUND BETWEEN THE BAY BRIDGE AND THE BEACHES YOU BY UTILIZING 404.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET PAST DENTON IT BOTTLENECKS BACK DOWN.
WE'VE GOT A NICE WEATHER, YOU KNOW, SPAN HERE THE NEXT 3 OR 4 DAYS AND EVEN GOING HOME LAST NIGHT THERE WAS A BACKUP WHERE WHERE IT CONDENSED DOWN ON A MONDAY NIGHT AND THAT DOESN'T YOU KNOW DOESN'T NORMALLY HAPPEN NOW THESE ISSUES ARE YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY DELEGATE ARE SITTING BEHIND YOU.
HE'S THINKING, YOU DON'T HAVE ISSUES HERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE ON KENT ISLAND.
AND I KNOW, KENNY, YOU'VE BEEN ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, BUT THE SAFETY ASPECT IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE CASE THAT I WOULD USE TO PRIORITIZE THE DUALIZATION OF 404 SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE, YOU KNOW.
IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT, THEY'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO GET MEDEVACKED OUT BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE.
SO IT'S COSTING THE STATE MONEY ON MEDEVAC.
IT PUTS A SMALL RURAL EMS DEPARTMENT IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION WHEN THEY HAVE TO RESPOND TO THOSE HORRENDOUS ACCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, OUT OUT ON THE THE TWO LANE PORTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE MOVED THROUGH TO DELAWARE AND AND, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY SAFELY TO THEIR DESTINATION, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY FACTOR, THE DISTANCE FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES, I THINK IT SHOULD BE BIG PLAYERS IN IN THE PRIORITIZATION OF THE LAWS IN THAT PIECE.
SO WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION, I GUESS, MAURICE, I DON'T WANT TO TRY TO PRONOUNCE HIS LAST NAME.
THE STATE INSPECTORS HAVE DEEMED NEED TO BE REPLACED.
WE HAVE ONE THAT IS NOT ON THE LIST TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT'S NARROW, IT NARROWS DOWN.
AND I THINK STRUCTURALLY IT SOUND.
BUT IT WAS IT WAS BUILT AND I DON'T HAVE THE DATE.
I THINK IT WAS BUILT IN THE 50S AS WELL.
SO IT'S MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE OF OF THE NARROW PASSAGEWAY.
AND THEN WE HAVE THREE THAT WE'VE ABANDONED AND HAVE BEEN CLOSED FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE TO CLOSE ANY MORE OF THEM.
SO ANY ASSISTANCE THERE? OBVIOUSLY, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, I SEE, YOU KNOW, THE HIRING MESSAGE BOARDS THAT STATE HIGHWAY HAS, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH THE SAME THING.
WE'RE ALL COMPETING FOR THE SAME WORKFORCE.
THE COST OF MATERIAL, THE COST OF LABOR IS HIGHER AND REVENUES ARE DOWN.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THINGS WITH LIKE I SAID, WE'VE GOT 80 MILES OF DIRT ROAD.
WE RECENTLY I THINK WE HAD SOME ARPA MONEY LEFT OVER.
WASN'T THAT RIGHT? DANNY WELL, FOR CONVERSION OF SOME OF THE DIRT ROADS TO TORRANCE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO, TO WISELY USE WHAT ARPA MONEY WE HAVEN'T ALLOCATED YET TO TRY TO CONVERT SOME OF THOSE ADDITIONAL DIRT ROADS OVER BECAUSE THE MAINTENANCE WE DON'T HAVE THE LABOR FORCE OR THE GRADER OPERATORS TO MAINTAIN THEM ANYMORE LIKE WE USED TO HAVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, ANY ANY SUPPORT THERE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AND THEN THE LAST THING WAS WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER ALLUDED TO WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION.
I THINK WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CONSOLIDATED POINTS OF ORIGIN.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT POPULATION DENSITY.
I THINK WE HAVE ONE SMALL AREA IN DENTON WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE 2000 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE AREA IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DESTINATION POINTS.
[02:05:04]
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE A WALMART.WE, YOU KNOW, SOME CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH LOCATIONS FOR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS IN THE COUNTY.
SO MORE OF A MOBILITY ON DEMAND TYPE THING, YOU KNOW, WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS WELL.
WE'RE RUNNING THESE BUSSES AROUND WITH 1 OR 2 PEOPLE IN THEM.
POTENTIALLY HELPING US KEEP OUR AMBULANCES IN THE COUNTY BY DIVERTING SOME OF THAT FLOW.
WE CAN'T. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE CANNOT TRANSPORT TO OUR URGENT CARE OR OUR CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH UNLESS THE PATIENT HAS A RIDE BACK TO THEIR RESIDENCE FROM THAT LOCATION.
BUT WE CAN GO TO A HOSPITAL OUT OF COUNTY, SO IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
I MEAN, IT'S EASIER TO GET HOME FROM A LOCATION IN YOUR COUNTY THAN IT IS ALL THE WAY FROM EASTERN DOVER OR SEAFORD, ESPECIALLY CROSSING STATE LINES BECAUSE THERE ARE NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SHARED, YOU KNOW, SHARED ROUTES BETWEEN DELAWARE AND MARYLAND ANYWAY.
SO THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH.
BUT IF WE CAN PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF MOBILITY ON DEMAND SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN DIVERT THOSE PATIENTS TO LOCAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THEN PROVIDE THEM WITH A RIDE HOME, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREATLY BENEFICIAL TO TO THE COUNTY.
SO MY PLAN WAS TO GET A MEETING TOGETHER WITH A LOT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COUNTY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UPPER SHORE AGING, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY THAT UTILIZE OUR MASS TRANSIT AND TRY TO BRAINSTORM WITH THEM ON WHAT THEY THINK WOULD FIT AND WORK.
WE SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
SO EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE STATE, WE PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
IF I'M THROUGH DCTS, THAT WAS THAT WAS GREAT READING.
WELL, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE DOING WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS GETTING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER AND STARTING TO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFY WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND STRATEGIES TO, YOU KNOW, TO GET AROUND THAT.
SO THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE JUST APPROVED THIS ONE IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, BUT IT'S BEEN QUITE SOME TIME SINCE IT STARTED, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I THINK IT DID DATE BACK BECAUSE A LOT OF IT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE DATA WAS FROM THE PANDEMIC.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY ACCURATE EITHER WHAT THE DATA WAS.
BUT I MEAN, WE HAD SOME ROUTES THAT THE FAREBOX RECOVERY WAS 5.6%.
I THINK I SAW THE THE STATE METRICS IS 7 TO 15% IS ACCEPTABLE.
I THINK THE STATE METRICS FOR ACCEPTABLE IS 2.5.
SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE WERE WAY UNDER UTILIZING FOR WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT I SAW FOR RURAL TRANSPORTATION. SO I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT IT.
BUT BUT WE'VE GOT TO WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE FEAR IS IS HAVING SOMETHING ELSE IN PLACE WHILE THE VACUUM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO CREATE A VACUUM AND AND NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO FILL IT.
SURE. BUT SO WE'LL WE'LL BE IN TOUCH ON THOSE THINGS.
SO I THINK THAT COVERS EVERYTHING I HAD.
MR.. PORTER UNLESS THE DELEGATION HAS QUESTIONS.
PART OF IT, YOU'RE SEEING SOME PRETTY REGULAR.
SO YOU'RE BUYING IN LUNCH TIME, ARE YOU? IS THAT WHAT I HEARD YOU SAY? ARE YOU KIDDING? I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THANK. THEY'VE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO ALL OF OUR ISSUES, AT LEAST FROM OUR OFFICE.
[02:10:04]
SO I WOULD SORT OF SAY THANK YOU.WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR DAY ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY EVERYONE IS WELCOMING.
STOP WHETHER STOP AND HAVE LUNCH AT KOBE'S AND MRS. KOBE WILL TALK TO YOU ABOUT 404.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET ON THE SOMERSAULT? I HAVE NO IDEA.
[02:20:57]
THANKS AGAIN, GUYS.[02:21:01]
BY THE WAY, SORRY ABOUT THE FREEHAND.I HAVE TOO MUCH. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
[6. County Administrator Report]
OKAY. CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
YES. I JUST HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR YOU TODAY.
AND 1 OR 2 OF THEM, DANNY, MIGHT WANT TO ADD TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
BUT FIRST I WANT TO MENTION SHERIFF BAKER.
SO WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LAWS THAT WOULD BE IN PLACE, WHO WOULD BE ENFORCING WHETHER IT'S THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, WHAT THEIR ROLE IS VERSUS WHAT THE STATE ENFORCEMENT AGENCY'S ROLE IS.
FIRST READING. SO ACTUALLY, THAT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING.
THEY HAVE SUBMITTED ALL OF THEIR APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
THIS IS THE GRAIN TANKS AND THE DAIRY.
NOW, THE OTHER TWO ITEMS THAT I HAVE, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO NEED SOME HELP WITH DANNY.
DO YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE THESE TWO? YEAH. OKAY. UM, I'LL START WITH MS. SO TOMORROW AT 11:00, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED TEAMS MEETING WITH YOU AND ROY GEISER TO GO OVER THE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE SEEKING THROUGH MS AND HOW THEY CAN HELP US ACQUIRE THOSE.
YESTERDAY I WAS ABLE TO SHARE WITH ROY THE DOCUMENTS THAT PFM AND MS HAVE PROVIDED TO US.
AND THEN IN THE VERY END, A PROPOSAL ON COST.
THE SECOND THING WE HAVE ON WHO'S ON THAT? I'M SORRY, DANNY. WHO IS STEWART GOING TO BE ON THE TEAMS MEETING TOMORROW? TO BE HONEST, I DON'T REMEMBER IF WE INITIALLY PUT STEWART ON THERE, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY CHECK AND MAKE SURE HE IS ON THAT MEETING.
OKAY. JUST IF YOU FEEL IT'S NECESSARY, I.
YEAH, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE STEWART ON THERE IF HE IS FREE AT 11.
SO I'LL MAKE A NOTE NOW THEN TO SEND THAT I CAN DO IT OVER THERE.
OR THE MERRIER, THAT'S FOR SURE.
UM, THE LAST THING WE HAVE IS CURRENTLY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS A 2000.
LOOKS LIKE 17 2500 RAM PICKUP TRUCK THAT WAS BOUGHT FOR ANIMAL CONTROL WHEN ANIMAL CONTROL WAS ORIGINALLY OVER TO CORRECTIONS. THE TRUCK AND THE WAY THE BOXING LAYOUT IS HAS MADE IT PRETTY MUCH UNUSABLE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS 11,000 MILES ON IT.
AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS IT SITS AND DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
DSS HAS HAD SOME COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ABOUT THEIR NEED FOR THIS.
THEIR REQUEST IS TO ESSENTIALLY HAVE THE PICKUP TRUCK DESIGNATED AS THEIRS AND USED FOR ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DEEM NECESSARY.
[02:25:04]
THERE WOULD BE SOME UPFIT COST TO OUTFIT THE TRUCK RELABELED DIFFERENT BOX LAYOUT TO ASSIST WITH.I THINK THEY SAID DRONE ACTIVITY EQUIPMENT MOVING.
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED SHIP FUNDING TO DO THAT OUTFIT OF ABOUT $18,000.
SO IT WOULD NOT COST THE COUNTY ANY MONEY TO OUTFIT THAT TRUCK FOR THEIR OPERATION.
BUT WE WANTED TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD, MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT.
CURRENTLY, THEY DO NOT HAVE OBVIOUSLY THE SMALL BIT OF FUNDING FOR FUEL OR INSURANCE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE TRUCK, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD INTO 25 IF THE BOARD IS OKAY WITH LETTING THEM TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE.
RYAN IT'S A 2500, SO IT SHOULD IT'S AS HEAVY AS ANYTHING WE'RE MOVING THE TRAILERS WITH NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE MY TRUCK OR BRIAN SO IT CAN IT CAN HANDLE MOVING THE TRAILERS.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE IN. IT KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
YEAH. YOU WANT TO INTERVIEW EVERYBODY? THIS IS A LOT. OKAY, SO WHERE'S HE.
WHAT DO YOU SPEND ON ON. WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING ON $18,000 FOR AN UPDATE? I BELIEVE THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OUT THE BOX SYSTEM, AND I ACTUALLY THINK THEIR BOX SYSTEM IS ON.
SO IT WOULD BE A CAP AND A SLIDE OUT TRAY IS WHAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED IT AS.
AND I IMAGINE THIS WOULD BE LIKE RELETTERING OF IT.
LIGHTS JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY JUST TO OUTFIT A TRUCK.
I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH. TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU, IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO PAY FOR SOME OF THE TAHOES AND EXPLORER OUTFITS FOR JUST LIGHTS AND YOU ON THE SIDE.
SO IT IS COMING THROUGH THE STATE HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY RECEIVING.
BUT THE ANIMAL BODY IS CURRENTLY GOING ON.
OKAY. SO, OKAY, YOU DID MAKE THE DETERMINATION TO SELL.
IT'S FINE. I DON'T. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DOING IT.
WE'LL WE'LL WORK THROUGH THAT AND LET MARK KNOW THAT THEY CAN START MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
SO I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE HAD.
ANYBODY ELSE, STAFF WISE, HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANTED TO BRING UP? I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW I SPOKE TO TODD MOHN LAST WEEK ABOUT THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND HE IS VOTED ON THE DEAL.
OKAY. SO. DO WE HAVE IT RIGHT NOW? THEY HAVE THE TITLE. OKAY.
YOU WANT THE MONEY? I DID EXPLAIN THAT WE WERE EXPECTING 5050.
YEAH, HE SAID JUST GO, GO AND GO DEALS.
AND WHAT COMES OUT OF IT WILL COMES OUT OF IT.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
[7. County Commissioners Open Discussion]
HE WANTS TO GO FIRST.I HAD A GOOD DAY YESTERDAY WITH LARRY AFTER HE BORE ME OUT OF 18 ROUNDS OF GOLF.
IT FELT LIKE 18 ROUNDS, BUT IT WAS GOOD.
I HAD FUN FOR NOT PLAYING IT SO LONG.
AND THANK YOU, LARRY, FOR INVITING ME.
ARE YOU CHECKING ON THEM SIGNS THAT WE THE DISPLAY BOARDS? YES, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING BUSY.
I MEAN, ARE THEY AVAILABLE? I MEAN, ARE THEY AVAILABLE? YOU THINK THE LAST ONE TOOK OUT A MONTH? OKAY. I'M GUESSING ABOUT THAT SAME TIME FRAME.
YEAH, WE'RE USING ONE GENERIC.
17,000. I THINK I WAS ON GREG RUE LAST NIGHT.
I WAS TELLING YOU THIS MORNING.
I'D SAY IT'S PROBABLY A COUPLE COUPLE MILES, THE DIRT PORTION OF IT.
AND THAT BRIDGE IS ON ONE OF THE ONES ON THE LIST.
ONLY ONE PERSON LIVES ON. YEAH.
NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION.
HE WAS HE LIKED EVERYTHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE COUNTY.
BUT THAT ROAD IS I MEAN, THE TRASH.
[02:30:04]
HE SAID HE IS ALWAYS PICKING UP TRASH.HE'S DOWN BY THE BRIDGE, GUYS OUT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRUCKS OR WHATEVER, JUST DESTROYING THE ROAD.
I MEAN, THERE'S LIKE 3 OR 4 SPOTS THAT THEY JUST IT'S JUST A WATER HOLE THAT'S JUST THAT DEEP.
WHICH IS THAT NOWHERE AT THIS POINT.
YEAH. I MEAN IT'S, I MEAN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IF YOU DID IT RIGHT. THERE ARE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT ARE SPENT ON THAT.
ALTHOUGH NOT. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR.
I THINK THIS IS YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION BRIEFLY, I'M NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE IN TOWN, UNFORTUNATELY, TO ATTEND THE SERVICES FOR FOR ROGER LAYTON.
BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FOR THE RECORD HIS TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SERVICE.
WHEN I BECAME A COMMISSIONER, I SUCCEEDED.
I CAME IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROGER, AND HE WAS ALWAYS MORE THAN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND ADVICE AND WAS A VERY, VERY CLOSE FRIEND.
AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO THE COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT LOSSES HERE RECENTLY.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S TOUGH.
SO I WANT TO AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE BUNTING ON THE COURTHOUSE AND THE LOWERING OF THE FLAG.
HIS FAMILY HAS HIS WIFE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT AND WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE.
SO I HAD A DISCUSSION YESTERDAY MORNING WITH LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR DEBBIE BENNETT, AGAIN ABOUT THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH.
UH, MY MY SUGGESTION WAS THAT MAYBE IF IT'S OKAY WITH WITH YOU GENTLEMEN, I SIT DOWN WITH STEWART AND REVIEW THIS LEASE.
WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE FROM THE RDC.
IN FACT, DEBBIE, I THINK WAS VERY IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS SITUATION.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FOLLOWING THE MEETING THAT WE HAD, SHE REACHED OUT TO A CONTRACTOR.
HE CAME IN, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET 50% OF THE OF THE UNITS OPERATIONAL.
AND I THINK THAT'S A BILL DEBBIE HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR.
I AM NOT INTERESTED IN PAYING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDINGS WE DON'T OWN, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE FROM THE EMAIL THAT I SENT.
2 OR 3 WEEKS AGO FROM THE MRC DIRECTOR.
SO. I ADVISE DEBBIE YESTERDAY TO CONTACT JEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S REACHED OUT TO YOU ABOUT BEING ON AN AGENDA.
DEBBIE YES. BUT I SUGGESTED THAT SHE COME IN AND A COUPLE WHATEVER, WHOEVER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK WE'VE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE LEASE AND WHAT OUR ALTERNATIVES ARE.
MY ALTERNATIVE IS FOR MY OLD PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DAYS IS IF YOU OWN, FOR EXAMPLE, A RENTAL UNIT AND YOU DON'T PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES, THAT PERSON COULD PAY THEIR RENT INTO A SUPERVISED ACCOUNT AND KEEP PUTTING IT IN THERE UNTIL THE COMPLETION, UNTIL THE WORK IS IS COMPLETE.
[02:35:01]
YOU KNOW, WE WE WERE CURRENT WITH OUR LEASE.AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE CURRENT WITH, WITH THE LEASE.
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS GOING TO PAY OUT OF HER BUDGET FOR WORK TO BE DONE TO GET THE UNIT TO 50%.
SO WE'VE REACHED A POINT HERE WHERE I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
SO IF THAT'S OKAY WITH WITH YOU GUYS, I'LL WE'LL SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH WHAT OUR ALTERNATIVES ARE AND REPORT BACK AND MAYBE, YOU KNOW, DEBBIE CAN COME IN AND.
YOU KNOW, SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON IT.
SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO IGNORE IT, IT'LL GO AWAY.
I DON'T. I MEAN. OR WHAT IS OUR LEASE PAYMENT? TO THE LIBRARY? YEAH, I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE AREA OF ABOUT $1,500 A MONTH, I THINK.
AND THAT COVERS UTILITIES AND EVERYTHING.
WELL, WE ALSO ARE BILLED ON A FORMULA FOR COMMON AREAS, WHAT THEY CALL COMMON OPERATIONAL MAINTENANCE OR SOMETHING. AND THAT'S FOR THE LOBBY AND ANY OUTSIDE AREAS.
IT'S BASED ON SOME KIND OF FORMULA THAT THEIR ACCOUNTING PERSON HAS COME UP WITH.
AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE ARE COMPLETELY CURRENT ON EVERYTHING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BILLED.
AND. OH, IT'S JUST THE LACK OF RESPONSE.
ALL RIGHT. I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING.
GOOD. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE CLOSE?
[8. Public Comment]
ALL RIGHT. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE.[9. Meeting Adjourns]
ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.AYES HAVE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.