Nov 07, 2023 County Commissioners Meeting

[00:05:27]

GOOD. OKAY.

[00:05:29]

WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING.

THIS MORNING WE HAVE PASTOR KEN DANIEL FROM BETHLEHEM WESLEYAN CHURCH HERE TO DO OUR INVOCATION.

GOOD MORNING, PASTOR.

AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

[1. Call to Order: Invocation]

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THIS IS MY FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

SO, THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.

LET'S PRAY. FATHER, WE JUST COME BEFORE YOU IN THIS PLACE AND WE OFFER UP OUR THANKSGIVING TO YOU.

WE OFFER UP OUR PRAISE FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE THROUGH US.

LORD, AS WE'RE NEARING THIS TIME OF THANKSGIVING SEASON, WE JUST WANT TO START OFF BY OFFERING THIS.

THANKS FOR THE BLESSINGS.

LORD, YOU'VE LOVED US.

YOU'VE GIVEN US GRACE.

YOU'VE SHOWN US MERCY EVEN AT TIMES WHEN WE'VE NOT DESERVED IT.

AND SO, LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.

AND LORD, WE TAKE A MOMENT HERE THIS MORNING BEFORE WE BEGIN ANY BUSINESS TO JUST WELCOME YOU HERE AND ASK THAT YOU WOULD WORK THROUGH THIS TIME TOGETHER.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM.

WE PRAY FOR DISCERNMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE AND TO LEAD OUR COUNTY.

AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD NOT JUST ONLY GIVE THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT, BUT LORD, YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE COURAGE THEY NEED TO LEAD AS THEY OUGHT.

AND LORD, JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY, LORD, FOR THE DISCUSSIONS THAT TAKE PLACE, FOR THE DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE, FOR THE CONVERSATION THAT WILL HAPPEN. LORD, WE PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.

WE PRAY FOR YOUR GOODNESS TO RESIDE HERE.

AND LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD JUST FILL OUR HEARTS AND OUR MINDS IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT JUST HERE DOING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

WE'RE HERE, FATHER, TO SEEK YOUR WILL.

AND SO, LORD, MAY YOUR WILL BE KNOWN TO US, SO THAT THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE, THE FATHER THEY WILL BE FOR THE BEST OF THE COUNTY, FOR THE BEST OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT LORD, THAT THEY WILL ALSO BE PLEASING TO YOU.

AND SO, GOD, JUST WATCH OVER, GUIDE AND DIRECT IN ALL THINGS.

WE JUST LOVE YOU.

WE HONOR YOU, WE PRAISE YOU LORD TODAY MAY THERE BE UNITY IN THIS ROOM.

LORD, SET ASIDE ANY PERSONAL DIFFERENCES AND MAY WE COME TOGETHER IN THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

AND WE PRAY THIS IN HIS NAME.

AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

OKAY. THE COMMISSIONERS MET FOR AN EMERGENCY CLOSED SESSION ON OCTOBER 29TH,

[2,Closed Session Report Out]

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

IN ATTENDANCE WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING BARTZ AND PORTER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, AND COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL, AND ATTORNEY MIKE RUST.

BEFORE THE MEETING THIS MORNING, NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023, THE COMMISSIONERS MET TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL ISSUE.

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.

THE ATTENDEES THIS MORNING WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING, BARTZ AND PORTER.

COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, JENNIFER REIBLY, MARY BURZYNSKI, AND MIKE RUST.

SO. OKAY.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING? OKAY, I'M BEING SEEN.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY WITH A CAROLINE HUMANE SOCIETY BUDGET DISCUSSION.

AND WE HAVE MISS KATHY MOORE, MISS BONNIE JOHNSON AND JENNIFER.

[00:10:01]

[4.Caroline Humane Society Budget Discussion]

THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST OF WHICH IS THIS NEW MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.

IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT FOR US UNTIL 2025, AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN MOVED UP.

ALSO, WE LOST THE EXEMPTION FOR NONPROFITS.

THEY TOOK THAT AWAY FROM US AS WELL.

SO, WE HAVE 11 OF OUR 14 EMPLOYEES ARE CURRENTLY MINIMUM WAGE EARNERS AT 1325 AN HOUR.

THE OTHER FOUR MAKE BETWEEN 14 AND $15 AN HOUR.

AND WE'LL NEED TO BE INCREASED ONCE THE MINIMUM WAGE CHARGE GOES INTO EFFECT TO KEEP THE PAY DISTRIBUTION FAIR.

WE'RE ASKING THE COUNTY FOR EMERGENCY FUNDING OF $30,000, WHICH IS SIX MONTHS OF NECESSARY ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE PLUS THE EMPLOYMENT TAXES, IN ORDER TO MEET THE STATE MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE.

UNLIKE OTHER PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE NO LONGER FUNDRAISING, WE ARE FUNDRAISING MORE THAN WE'VE EVER FUNDRAISED IN OUR 23 YEARS OF EXISTENCE. WE'VE HAD TO PURCHASE BINGO FUNDRAISERS.

WE'VE HAD OUR BLUE JEAN FESTIVAL, WHICH WE HAVE EVERY YEAR IN THE SPRING.

THE TWO PERS BINGO HAS RAISED ABOUT $14,000 EACH.

THE BLUE JEAN FESTIVAL EARNED US ABOUT $20,000.

THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED A SLUMBER PARTY.

AND WE DID THIS LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL.

WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE ENTIRE DELMARVA PENINSULA THAT'S EVER DONE THIS.

IT'S A NATIONAL EVENT AND WE DID IT.

AND WE RAISED OVER $16,000, WHICH TOOK, WE HAD THREE WEEKS TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

AND MANY, MANY THANKS TO THE PEOPLE THAT DID THAT AND SLEPT IN KENNELS AND DID ALL THAT.

BUT IT WAS A VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD EVENT.

SO, THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE PLANNING TIME, AND WE EXPECT THAT WE'LL DO MUCH BETTER THIS YEAR WITH THAT THAN WE EVEN DID LAST YEAR.

SO THAT WAS A WONDERFUL THING.

WE'RE ALSO PLANNING A LEGACY GIVING EVENT FOR THE FALL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY AND IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES DO A BETTER JOB THAN WE DO OF LEGACY GIVING, SO WE'D REALLY LIKE TO BUILD THAT UP, AND WE'RE GOING TO START TRYING TO SET THAT UP IN ADVANCE.

WE DO OTHER RAFFLES.

DONOR, PLEASE.

THE DONOR PLEASE.

WE DO AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, SOMETIMES FOUR TIMES A YEAR.

AND THEY BRING IN MONEY AS WELL.

SO, WE ARE WE ARE TRYING VERY HARD TO SHARE THE BURDEN OF, OF THE ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH OUR DOORS.

THE OTHER THING THAT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED IS THE FENCING.

I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE FENCING WE HAVE.

WE HAVE ENGAGED THE TECH CENTER, AND THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT BUILDING THESE TWO OUTDOOR SHEDS FOR US.

AND I BROUGHT THIS PICTURE OF THE PERFECT.

IT'S CALLED THE PERFECT FENCE.

AND THE WAY IT WORKS IS, IT'S SORT OF MESH AND IT COMES UP ON THE SIDES LIKE THIS.

SO, IF A CAT WERE TO CRAWL UP AND WANT TO ESCAPE, IT JUST GENTLY BRINGS THEM BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND SO THEY CAN'T GET OUT.

WE ALSO WOULD PUT A CHAIN LINK BORDER AROUND THIS SO THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD GET TO THEM.

WE FIGURED OUT THE SPACE THE VO TECH HAS ALREADY DESIGNED.

THE KIDS ARE SO EXCITED AND ON BOARD ABOUT DOING BUILDING THIS FOR US.

AND SO, WE'RE VERY WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE.

ORIGINALLY, I THINK WE WERE GIVEN 20,000 UNDER THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

OUR FENCING COMES IN AT ABOUT 12 TO 13,000.

WE WERE HOPING TO USE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WERE THERE TO RUN ELECTRIC THERE.

SO, WE'RE READY TO GO.

WE HAVE A DONOR, A GRANT DONOR WHO HAS DONATED THE COST OF THE, OF THE SHEDS THEMSELVES FOR US.

SO, WE WERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SHARING WE'RE SHARING A LOT OF THE BURDENS.

ALSO, THE OTHER THE OTHER THING WE WANTED TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY WAS THAT THE MOA NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.

WE HAD FOR FIVE YEARS AND THEN THERE'S A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL.

BUT WE HAVE THERE ARE THINGS IN IT THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SIT DOWN WITH.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND YOU GUYS, OF COURSE, AND I DON'T I GUESS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED AS WELL, BECAUSE THE ACOS ARE UNDER THEM AND THAT INVOLVES SOME OF IT.

SO, WE JUST WANTED TO GET THAT ON THE ON THE BOOKS AND START TALKING ABOUT IT.

YEP. OKAY.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR US.

[00:15:01]

OKAY. YEAH, WE'LL TRY TO HAVE A LOT OF ANSWERS.

FIRST QUESTION, BACK WHEN THE BUDGET SEASON WAS YOU REQUESTED 27,500 FOR MINIMUM WAGE UPDATES.

DID THAT GO TOWARDS WAGES AT ALL? IT DID. OH YEAH.

YEP. YOU DIDN'T MAKE THEM IN 15.

THAT WAS THE EXPECTED INCREASE.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS WE EXPECTED THE INCREASE TO GO TO THE 1325 FOR THE FOR THE YEAR WE'RE IN.

BUT THEN INSTEAD OF GOING TO 1325 IT WENT UP TO $15.

AND WE WERE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT DIFFERENCE.

OKAY. AND THE NEXT QUESTION ABOUT WHEN WE DID THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR 20,000, I THINK YOU KIND OF MISREPRESENTED THE BARN CAT FENCING AREA.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT, THAT'S ABOUT A HALF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DIMENSIONS OF IT.

OFF 50 BY 150.

OKAY, OKAY.

WE DON'T THINK THAT'S KIND OF EXTREME FOR A BARN CAT.

WELL, WE'RE MANDATED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

HOW MANY SQUARE FEET PER CAT? THEY DECIDE THAT FOR US, WE DON'T GET TO DECIDE.

I MEAN, I'M JUST AS MUCH A CAT LOVER AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

I GOT FOUR ADOPTED CATS.

I MEAN, I LOVE CATS.

GOOD. WELL, I LOVE ANIMALS.

LET ME GIVE YOU A BUT, BARN CATS.

I WAS KIND OF A LITTLE BIT UNDER THE ILLUSION THAT WE WERE JUST GOING TO PUT A COUPLE OF HOUSES OUT THERE AND MAYBE HOUSE A FEW CATS.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO 100 CATS? POSSIBLY, NO.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? UNDER OUR CALCULATIONS FOR THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE DESIGNATED, THERE WILL BE ABOUT 20 CATS AT A TIME IN THERE.

BUT OF COURSE, WE'RE HOPING TO ADOPT THEM THROUGH.

SO, THE HOPE IS THAT THERE WILL BE MORE CATS THAT THAT CYCLE THROUGH THAT AREA.

BUT 20 CATS AT A TIME, GIVEN THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED, IS WHAT'S ALLOWED.

SO, HALF A BALL FIELD FOR 20 CATS AND TWO, THAT'S THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINE.

SO, YOU REALIZE, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S YOUR THING, BUT THE DEMAND THAT WHEN YOU BUILD THIS THING THAT IF YOU WANT TO BUILD THIS THING, DO YOU REALIZE THE IMPACT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON YOUR STAFF? WELL, IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON ANIMAL CONTROL.

HAVE WE THOUGHT THAT OUT? OH, YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CONSULTED WITH ANIMAL CONTROL OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ON THIS? WE'VE TALKED TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

WE'RE CURRENTLY TAKING THESE CATS IN.

YEAH. ALREADY YOU'RE MAXED OUT SPACE.

BUT THAT'S THE BARN CATS.

DO YOU REALLY THINK SOMEBODY IS GOING TO ADOPT A BARN CAT? WE DO, WE DO. WE GET THEM ADOPTED TO WHAT YOUR DEMAND IS GOING TO BE.

WE ALREADY HAVE A BARN CAT PROGRAM.

THIS IS JUST HOUSING THEM IN A MORE APPROPRIATE MANNER THAN WE ARE CURRENTLY.

WE HOUSE THEM IN CAGES, WHICH STRESSES THEM OUT.

THEY'RE NOT CAGED.

THEY'RE OUTDOOR ANIMALS.

AND IT'S ALSO STRESSES OUT THE CATS THAT THE TRADITIONAL ADOPTABLE CATS THAT WOULD GO INTO HOMES.

THIS IS JUST MORE APPROPRIATELY HOUSING THEM.

NOT TO MENTION THE STRESS ON THE STAFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE HANDLED EVERY DAY, TAKEN IN AND OUT OF THE CRATE.

YOU HAVE THE STAFF TO HANDLE THIS.

WELL, YES, THE BARN CATS WILL ACTUALLY, I THINK, DECREASE THE LEVEL OF BURDEN ON OUR STAFF BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE CENTRAL FEEDING AREAS, CENTRAL WATER AREAS.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THE CRATE EVERY DAY.

YOU DON'T. IT'S NOT THAT'S NOT WHAT A BARN CAT PROGRAM DOES.

YOU GOT THEY GO IN THE AREA WHERE THEY USED TO.

THEY HAVE THEY'LL BE LITTER BOXES LIKE THEY WOULD IF THEY WERE IF THEY WERE OUTSIDE CATS.

THEY'LL ALSO BE A SAND, AN AREA WITH SAND WHERE THEY CAN ALSO GO, WHICH IS PROBABLY MORE LIKE WHAT THEY'LL DO OUTSIDE.

AND THE OTHER THE OTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR IS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE BUILDING, THEY LOSE THEIR HEAVY TOPCOAT, AND WHEN THEY GO TO A BARN CAT SETTING, THEY NEED THEIR HEAVY TOPCOAT.

SO, IT PUTS THEM THROUGH AN UNNECESSARY CYCLE THAT THAT THEY REALLY SHOULDN'T GO THROUGH.

I MEAN, I MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE HARSH HERE, BUT I MEAN, WHEN I GO TO THE I'VE BEEN OUT THERE SEVERAL TIMES, OKAY? AND NOTHING PULLS MY STRINGS MORE THAN SEEING THESE CATS IN THIS PLACE.

SO, I MEAN, I BELIEVE ME, I FEEL IT, BUT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNTY IS GOING TO REGRET HAVING THIS, THIS BARN CAT AND THIS FENCING AREA, FOR ONE, I BELIEVE WHEN THE PUBLIC GENERAL PUBLIC FINDS OUT.

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS.

I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE EVEN OVERBURDENED WITH WHAT YOU GOT NOW, FOR ONE, BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE DROPPING CATS OFF.

I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT I FEEL AND WHAT I'VE SEEN POSTED ON.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE INQUIRING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I TAKE CATS THERE? HOW DO I TAKE CASTOR? HOW DO I TAKE CATS THERE? WELL, SO IF PEOPLE FIND OUT, WELL, THEY HAVE A FENCED IN AREA FOR BARN CATS.

[00:20:03]

WE STARTED LAST JULY.

WE'VE DONE OVER 800 CATS IN THIS COUNTY.

AND WHAT WE'VE WHAT WE'VE STOPPED DOING IS TAKING IN FERAL CATS.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH EVERYBODY THAT CALLS US IS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE OVERRUN WITH KITTENS, AND WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE PART OF OUR TRAP, NEUTER AND RETURN PROGRAM AS OPPOSED TO BRINGING THEM IN TO HAVE THEM EITHER EUTHANIZED OR TRY TO HANDLE THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT ACCLIMATED TO BEING HANDLED.

AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS WE'RE HAVING WE ACTUALLY HAD A DECREASE OF 200 CATS IN OUR ORIGINAL SPRING CAT FLOURISH THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR, AND WE THINK THAT'S DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NUMBER TO THE TO THE TNR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IN EFFECT.

AND I THINK AS LONG AS WE CONTINUE DOING THAT, WHAT WE THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HAPPEN IN OTHER PLACES IS AS PEOPLE LEARN TO HAVE THEIR CATS NEUTERED AND RETURNED, THE FERAL COLONIES DIE OFF THE FARMERS.

THERE'S A HUGE BENEFIT TO FARMERS TO HAVING CATS ON THEIR PROPERTY.

IT KEEPS THE RODENT POPULATION DOWN AND ALL THAT.

AND I THINK THAT THE FARMERS WILL EMBRACE HAVING CATS THAT THEY CAN TOUCH, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN HANDLED AND AREN'T FERAL, FERAL, THEY'RE TOUCHABLE OUTDOOR CATS AS OPPOSED TO THE FERALS, WHICH NOBODY CAN TOUCH.

WE'VE STARTED PROCESSING IN IN THE TOWN OF DENTON, WE'VE DONE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG, WE'VE DONE MULTIPLE FARMS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE WERE WE GOT A GRANT FOR $86,000, $86,000 TOWARD THE TNR.

WE HAVE SPENT EVERY PENNY OF IT TO TRAP, NEUTER AND RETURN ALL THESE ANIMALS.

WE ARE NOT GETTING THAT GRANT THIS YEAR.

SO, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED REACHING OUT TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO TRY TO GET ADDITIONAL GRANT FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THIS TNR PROGRAM GOING, BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY WAY. I MEAN, EUTHANIZATION DOES NOT SOLVE THE OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM WITH CATS.

IT JUST DOESN'T. THEY'VE PROVEN IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

YOU CAN EUTHANIZE AND EUTHANIZE AND EUTHANIZE.

IT'S NEVER GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THE TNR PROGRAM DOES SOLVE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE FERAL COLONY DIES OFF NATURALLY, AND THEN YOU'RE NOT HAVING THE CATS COME.

MORE AND MORE CATS BEING BORN EVERY YEAR TO THE COLONY.

YEAH, I'M NOT A FAN OF EUTHANIZATION MYSELF.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BUT WE AREN'T IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, I'D SAY YES.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO, OF COURSE, BUT YEAH, I'M JUST NOT A, I'M NOT A FAN FOR THIS.

SO, THE INTAKE PROCESS WILL BE THE SAME AND OUR CAPACITY WILL BE THE SAME.

IT'S SIMPLY A WAY TO HOUSE THE CATS THAT WE'RE INTAKING ALREADY IN A MORE APPROPRIATE SETTING.

IT'S WE'RE NOT USING THIS TO INCREASE OUR INTAKE OR INCREASE OUR CAPACITY AT ALL.

IT'S JUST A MORE APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR THESE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE ALREADY TAKING IN.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? HOW MANY CATS ARE BEING BROUGHT IN NOW? AVERAGE DAILY? YEAH. ANNUALLY OR DAILY? I MEAN, SOME KIND OF NUMBER I CAN WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.

IT DEPENDS ON THE WEEKLY.

HOW MANY? JAKE, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY WE'RE BRINGING IN, LIEUTENANT? YEAH, YEAH. LET'S GO AT A YEARLY TOTAL.

HOW MANY IS THE ANIMAL CONTROL? IF I WOULD HAVE, I COULD HAVE BROUGHT.

I CAN ACTUALLY GET YOU THE NUMBERS.

OKAY. WEEKLY. THE ANIMAL CONTROL BRINGS IN.

BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT PEOPLE BRING IN JUST TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY.

DON'T GO THROUGH ANIMAL DROP OFF LIKE KITTENS.

THEY'LL GET A BOX OF KITTENS, AND THEY'LL DELIVER KITTENS.

SO, YOU GOT, YOU KNOW, TEN CATS AT ONE TIME DELIVERED TO THEM.

I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE.

WHERE'S THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS? AS THE PET OWNERS? AS THE CAT OWNERS? I MEAN, WHY? I WISH THAT PEOPLE WERE RESPONSIBLE.

WE REALLY DO.

I MEAN, HOW MANY TIMES WE GET PHONE CALLS THAT SOMEBODY HAS MOVED OUT AND THEY LEFT THEIR ANIMALS BEHIND? WHETHER IT'S DOGS, CATS, RABBITS, ANY NUMBER OF THINGS.

AND WE WENT THROUGH THIS WHOLE THING A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE SOMEBODY MOVED OUT AND THEY LEFT.

YEAH, THEY LEFT 20 SNAKES.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, I REALLY, I RESPECT WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

IT'S GOT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE NEGLECT AND THE.

THE INHUMANITY, YOU KNOW, OF PEOPLE AND.

YOU KNOW, THE FUNDRAISING, THE TIME, THE EFFORT THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION PUTS INTO IT.

I REALLY COMMEND THAT.

[00:25:01]

AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF A LOT OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION NEEDS, ROAD CONSTRUCTION NEEDS, NEEDS AND OTHER VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTY CAPITAL NEEDS.

SO, IT'S WHAT I'M STRUGGLING WITH IS, IS WHERE DO WE STOP? WHERE DO WE START? WHERE DO WE STOP? I MEAN, WHAT WE DID.

MY JUSTIFICATION FOR THE INCREASE IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR WAS WE GAVE YOU THE MAXIMUM THAT WE GAVE EVERY OTHER ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY IS HOW WE SETTLED ON THE NUMBER.

I THINK IT WAS AROUND 9%, A 9% BUDGET INCREASE THE YEAR PRIOR.

YOU RECEIVED A 12% INCREASE IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT, THERE WAS A 5% INCREASE.

SO, I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY RESPONSIBLE WITH THE HARD-EARNED MONEY THAT WE CONFISCATE FROM OUR CITIZENRY AND WHERE IT GOES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I MEAN, WE I JUST I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING ANY MORE RIGHT NOW.

WE COULD GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY TO TAKE THE CAPITAL ALLOCATIONS THAT WE MADE, AND YOU CAN USE THOSE HOWEVER YOU SEE FIT.

I'M FINE WITH DOING THAT IF YOU WANT TO USE THAT TO OFFSET.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE OTHER THAT'S WHERE GUYS ARE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT CAPITAL ALLOCATION AND USE IT TO AUGMENT WAGES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER NECESSARY, I WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE INCREASES THAT WE GIVE OUT TO NOT ONLY OUR OWN DEPARTMENTS, BUT OUR ALLIED AGENCIES EVERY YEAR.

SO, THAT'S WHERE YOU MOVE FORWARD, LARRY.

YEAH, YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS.

I THINK THE IMPACT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE AND MORE, AND IT'S JUST THE TAXPAYER BURDEN JUST CAN ONLY STAND SO MUCH.

AND LIKE I SAID, I CANNOT REGRET THIS MONTH.

I'M A CAT LOVER, I LOVE CATS, BUT I JUST I THINK WE'RE BITING OFF MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW FOR YOUR STAFF OR ONE ANIMAL CONTROL FOR THE OTHER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO EAT.

TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO EAT THE BURDEN ON IT FOR ANIMAL CONTROL MAINTENANCE DOWN THE ROAD YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YEAH. WELL, I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR PREVIOUS QUESTION, MR. BREEDING WAS IT'S ABOUT A THOUSAND CATS OR 1200 CATS A YEAR THAT ARE COMING THROUGH OUR FACILITY RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE HANDLING BETWEEN 16 AND 1800 ANIMALS ANNUALLY.

DOGS, CATS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

RABBITS, SNAKES, YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.

HOW MANY TOTAL? 18 BETWEEN 16 AND 1800.

SO, THE VAST MAJORITY ARE CATS.

YEAH. AND IT'S THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE PROBLEM OF CATS IN THIS COUNTY PARTICULARLY THAT DON'T GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WE FELT.

THIS TNR PROGRAM WAS CRITICAL, AND WE WERE SO GRATEFUL TO GET THE GRANT TO, TO DO TO SPEARHEAD WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

AND WE'VE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE ACTUALLY GOT AN AWARD FROM FROM SOME BIG BEST FRIENDS ORGANIZATION.

THEY GAVE US AN AWARD FOR THE MOST IMPROVED LIVE RELEASE RATE, MOST, MOST IMPROVED TNR STATS.

SO WE ACTUALLY WERE I THINK WE WE DID BETTER THAN WE EVEN THOUGHT WE WERE.

I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HUMANE SOCIETY, AND I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY ALREADY DO THIS TO SOME EXTENT BETWEEN THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, PR, OUR, OUR PUBLIC RELATIONS, MAYBE EVEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON REALLY GET OUT THERE, GET YOUR ANIMAL SPAYED AND NEUTERED.

AND IF WE CAN, I THINK IF WE COULD EVEN COVER IF WE COULD COME UP WITH A WAY TO COVER THE COST, YOU KNOW, TO JUST HAVING PEOPLE COME IN AND SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR CATS, GET THEM ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT EASIER AND GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST HAS BECOME SO PROHIBITIVE THROUGH PRIVATE VETERINARIANS THAT OUR MAIN GOAL, OUR MAIN GOAL AT THE WE JUST HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN MEETING ALL DAY SUNDAY.

AND OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INCREASE THE INCOME COMING TO US, INCREASE OUR GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVE TO DO WHAT WE DO AND TO TRY TO GET MORE AND MORE ANIMALS SPAYED OR NEUTERED.

[00:30:03]

THEY'RE ALL OVERBURDENED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPEFUL TO COLLABORATE WITH VETERINARIANS AND TO TRY TO KEEP THE COST FOR OUR RESIDENTS AT A MINIMUM. AND THEY DON'T ONLY JUST GET SPAYED OR NEUTERED, THEY GET EAR TIPS SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN FIXED.

THEY GET A RABIES VACCINE SO THAT WE PREVENT THE SPREAD OF RABIES IN THE COUNTY.

THEY ALSO GET THEY GIVE THEM A 90-DAY CYCLE FLEA AND TICK THING SO THAT THEY KILL OFF THE FLEA CYCLE BECAUSE THEY, THEY KEEP HATCHING AND HATCHING AND HATCHING.

SO, IF YOU DO IT A 90-DAY SERVICE, THEN IT WORKS MUCH BETTER, RIGHT? WE ALSO CLEAN THEIR EARS FOR EAR MITES.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT JUST SPAY NEUTER THERE.

THERE ARE A LOT GOES INTO IT.

AND WE'VE GOT THAT MOBILE VAN BEHIND THE SHELTER, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO UTILIZE IT.

AND THAT'S OUR MAIN GOAL, IS TO GET SOMEBODY IN THERE, BECAUSE THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND ON VETERINARIANS A YEAR IS ASTONISHING.

IT'S ASTONISHING. IT'S OVER 200,000.

SO, WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE NONPROFIT STATUS LAWS? FOR THE WHAT? LOSS OF NONPROFIT STATUS? WE DIDN'T LOSE OUR NONPROFIT STATUS.

THE STATE TOOK IT AWAY.

TOOK IT AWAY AS AN EXEMPTION.

WE USED TO HAVE AN EXEMPTION FOR MINIMUM WAGE.

IF YOU WERE A SMALL NONPROFIT, YOU COULD THEY WERE PHASING IN AT $15 AT A SLOWER RATE THAN THEY WERE PHASING IN.

WHEN DID WHEN DID YOU WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU LOST THAT EXEMPTION, THAT ALL NONPROFITS LOST IT ALL? WHEN DID YOU FIND THAT OUT? WHEN DID WE FIND THAT OUT? A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

COUPLE MONTHS AGO? YEAH.

WHEN? IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WHEN THEY GAVE THE FINAL PROBABLY IN JUNE WHEN THEY FINALLY THE STATE GAVE US THAT THESE ARE THE LAWS WE'VE PASSED.

UP UNTIL THEN, WE WRONGLY THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD STILL, AS WE ALWAYS HAD AS A SMALL EMPLOYER NONPROFIT, BE ABLE TO PHASE IN, RIGHT, A LITTLE SLOWER THAN RIGHT TO THE 15. AND THEY JUST WENT, YEAH, THEY NOT ONLY DID THEY TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US, BUT THEY MOVED UP OUR SCHEDULE.

SO WELL, I MEAN, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THAT INTO LAW IN APRIL OF 23.

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT IT IN APRIL OF 23? NO, THAT THEY TOOK AWAY THE, YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD TAKEN IT AWAY WHEN HE SIGNED THE BILL.

I'VE [INAUDIBLE].

I DIDN'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW.

SHERIFF. SHERIFF.

I WOULD JUST SAY ONE.

THE MOU IS IN THE ATTORNEY'S HANDS.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.

I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE 280 SOME CASH RIGHT NOW.

YES. 280.

YEAH. SO, I WILL SAY THAT OUT OF CONTROL, THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE HAVE IS CATS IN THE COUNTY.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS DOING SOMETHING WITH THE CATS.

I DON'T KNOW THE INS AND OUTS.

AND I CAN LET LIEUTENANT ANDREW, HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB AS FAR AS TAKING OVER IN CONTROL.

BUT WE ARE TRYING TO GET A GRASP ON ANIMAL CONTROL, TRYING TO USE THE BEST COUNTY TAX DOLLARS AND RESOURCES AND OVERTIME AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BUT CATS ARE A BIG ISSUE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANIMAL CONTROL IS TO EUTHANIZE MORE AND HOUSE LESS.

NOW, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON CATS, SO I WILL LEAVE THAT WITH LIEUTENANT ANDREW AS FAR AS THAT GOES.

IT'S THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THERE ARE FERAL CAT COLONIES AROUND CAROLINE COUNTY, LIKE YOU SAID, IN FEDERALSBURG AND ELSEWHERE.

WHEN YOU START BRINGING IN FERAL CATS FROM OTHER COLONIES, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TWO TOMCATS MEET UP? THEY FIGHT. SO, WHEN YOU'RE PULLING STRAY CATS FROM ALL THESE COLONIES AND YOU'RE HOUSING THEM ALL TOGETHER, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH HOUSING THEM TOGETHER.

CATS ARE CRAZY.

I MEAN, IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE BREEDING. THEY BREED LIKE RABBITS.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE KITTENS EVERYWHERE, AND PEOPLE LOVE CATS.

AND, I MEAN, I GOT MY OWN CATS DOWN SHOPPING.

I MEAN, IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS.

THE TRAP AND RELEASE PROGRAM IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM.

THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS OF FIXING THESE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.

DELAWARE HAS JUST MADE CATS CONSIDERED WILDLIFE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE DONE BECAUSE ALL THESE FERAL CATS, THEY HAVE, AND THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES AND THEY ACTUALLY CHANGED THEIR RULES AND SAID, WELL, GUESS WHAT? CATS ARE NOW CONSIDERED WILDLIFE HERE IN DELAWARE.

THEY GOT A LOT OF CATS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD CATS THAT NEED TO BE ADOPTED.

WHY ADOPT A FERAL WILD ANIMAL?

[00:35:03]

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR FERAL.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR A BARN CAT PROGRAM TO BE A FERAL CAT PROGRAM.

FERALS WE ARE NO LONGER BRINGING INTO THE SHELTER.

WE ARE. IT IS. YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE ARE PUTTING THEM.

WE ARE. WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GET THEM TRAPPED, NEUTERED AND RETURNED.

THAT IS OUR MAIN GOAL.

SO, WE ARE WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF BRINGING THE CATS, FERAL CATS INTO THIS BARN CAT PROGRAM.

THE ONLY THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THAT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE CATS THAT ARE THEY'RE NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL FERAL.

THEY CAN BE TOUCHED.

THEY THEY'RE FEARFUL.

MOSTLY THEY'RE FEARFUL.

IF WE CAN GET THEM SPAYED NEUTERED AND ADOPT THEM OUT.

RIGHT OVER HERE IN DOUBLE HILLS ESTATES, WE ADOPTED TWO BARN CATS OVER THERE.

THOSE TWO CATS RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR 12 YEARS.

THEY'RE THE HAPPIEST, TWO FRIENDLIEST CATS YOU'VE EVER MET IN YOUR LIFE.

BUT IT'S THE WAY THAT THEY WERE TREATED, THE WAY THEY.

I MEAN, HER BARN IS NICER THAN MOST MOST PEOPLE'S HOUSES, SO.

I MEAN, AND WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT, LOTS OF FARMS LIKE THAT, THAT WANT GOOD CATS THAT ARE GOOD MOUSERS, AND THEY REALLY WILL DO THE JOB BUT AREN'T FERAL TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO ATTACK ANY HUMAN THAT GETS NEAR THEM.

SO, THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS BARN CAT PROGRAM, IS TO TAKE THOSE CATS THAT CAN'T FUNCTION IN A SMALL CAGE IN A BUILDING, PUT THEM OUTDOORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY WANT TO BE IN.

IT'LL LESSEN THE BURDEN ON OUR STAFF TO HAVE TO CLEAN THEIR CAGES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'LL LESSEN THE BURDEN OF OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION TO JUST BE ABLE WON'T TAKE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND CARE THAT WE WOULD TAKE ON THE CATS THAT WERE INSIDE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HEATED.

WE CAN PUT, YOU KNOW, HAY AND STRAW AND ALL THAT OUT THERE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE RUNNING WATER OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, THOSE THINGS DON'T HAVE TO HAPPEN IN ORDER FOR THIS PROGRAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO, IT ACTUALLY TAKES LESS TIME, LESS TIME TO CLEAN THAT SPACE THAN IT WOULD TO CLEAN 20 CAGES.

AND I WOULD SAY WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE ON FERAL CATS.

FERAL CATS DON'T BELONG IN THE SHELTER.

THEY DON'T. THEY'RE TNR. THEY'RE PUT BACK OUT IN WILDLIFE WHERE FERAL CATS AND THEY AND THE COLONY WILL DIE OFF.

YES, THE COLONY WILL DIE OFF.

CORRECT. AND YOU KNOW, AND TNR IS THE WAY TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF YOU JUST IF YOU TRAP AND EUTHANIZE, THEN THEY'LL THE ONES THAT DIDN'T GET TRAPPED WILL CONTINUE TO BREED.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A FOOD SOURCE, THE CAPACITY WILL BE THERE.

BUT IF YOU GET THOSE CATS STERILE CATS HOLDING THEIR SPOTS, THE COLONY WILL DIE OFF.

SO, TNR IS THE WAY TO REDUCE THE CAT POPULATION.

WE'RE NOT TRYING. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT TAKING FERAL CATS IN ANYMORE.

WE ARE NOT. THESE ARE CATS.

THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE A DEMAND FOR.

WE ADOPT OUT BARN CATS, SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO PROPERLY HOUSE THEM SO THAT THEY'RE ACCLIMATED TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THAT WE'RE ADOPTING THEM OUT INTO.

SO, AS YOU TAKE CATS OUT INTO BARN CAT PROGRAM, YOU DON'T THINK THE VOID TO BE FILLED INSIDE WITH MORE CATS THAT THAT THAT WILL BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR DIRECTOR TO NOT DO THAT.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON IS WE HAVE REALLY EXPANDED OUR FOSTER PROGRAM.

SO, WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE FOSTERING FOR US, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEIGHT OF KITTEN SEASON.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER, THEY ARE WE HAVE JUST LITTERS AND LITTERS GOING OUT TO PRIVATE HOMES WHERE THEY'RE FOSTERING, SO THAT AT ONE POINT THIS SUMMER WE HAD 500 CATS UNDER OUR CARE, BUT NOT IN THE SHELTER.

WE HAD 300 OR SO OUT IN FOSTERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND 200 AND SOME IN THE SHELTER.

SO, WE'VE REALLY EXPANDED THAT PROGRAM AS WELL TO TRY AND HELP THE OVERPOPULATION OF THE DOMESTIC CATS.

BUT IT WILL BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT EXPAND OUR CAPACITY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE JUST CAN'T.

WE DO INTENTION TO NOT DO THAT.

OKAY. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE. I'M JUST ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE TAKE THE CAPITAL MONEY THAT BE ALLOWED FOR THIS AND PUT TOWARDS YOUR WAGES AT THIS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THE CAPITAL MONEY ALLOCATED IN THE 2020.

I MAKE A MOTION THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE.

YES. AND IF YOU CAN SECOND.

A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. AND IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH A PROGRAM WHERE COMMISSIONER PORTER COME UP, YOU KNOW ABOUT, EDUCATE MORE ABOUT AND WE CAN.

[00:40:08]

YOU WERE GETTING THAT THERE.

WELL, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP PURSUE GRANTS, YOU KNOW, FOR THAT WAS MY LAST EDUCATION GRANTS.

WHAT IS YOUR? I WAS WONDERING, SAYING THAT YOU HAVE A GRANT THAT PUTS YOU UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF EUTHANIZATION ON CATS.

YOU RECEIVED A GRANT.

IT WAS THROUGH BEST FRIENDS, AND IT WAS TO INITIATE THE TNR PROGRAM.

AND SO, WE WERE WE WERE GIVEN THE $86,000 THAT WE COULD USE FOR TNR, FOR COST OF FUNDING FOR THE ANIMALS.

THEY BOUGHT US SOME CAGES.

WE BOUGHT WE BOUGHT SOME CAGES WITH THAT MONEY.

YEAH. I THINK 15 OF THE CATS, THE TRAPPING CAGES AND THE REST OF THE MONEY WAS USED STRICTLY FOR, FOR THE VETERINARIANS TO GET THEM.

VETERINARIANS. SO THAT'S THE? YOU SPENT ALL THAT MONEY WILL BE COMPLETELY DEPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.

THEN WE HAVE WE'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES OF GRANT FUNDING FOR TNR, SPECIFICALLY THROUGH CORPORATE PURINA KITTY LITTER COMPANIES.

YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE VOTERS, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SOME VACCINATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO THEM TO HELP US WITH THIS.

WE'RE LOOKING TO PETCO, PETSMART, YOU KNOW, EVERY ANIMAL RELATED I MEAN, LITERALLY, I HAD A PAPER THIS LONG ON SUNDAY AFTER THE THING OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WERE CONTACTING FOR GRANT MONEY.

AND HOW MANY ANIMALS WERE YOU ABLE TO TREAT WITH THAT? 86,000 ROUGHLY? DO YOU KNOW, WE DID 800, ABOUT 800 ANIMALS AND DID I HEAR CORRECTLY? YOU YOU SAID THAT YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN A REDUCTION IN ABOUT 200.

THERE WERE 200 LESS CATS.

IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST SPRING, WHICH WE CONSIDER KITTEN SEASON, AT THE BEGINNING OF KITTEN SEASON, THERE WAS A REDUCTION OF 200, THE FIRST MONTH OF KITTEN SEASON THAT CAME THROUGH OUR DOORS.

SO THAT, THAT'S HUGE.

YEAH, I THINK WE'RE CLOSER TO 300 NOW AS WE GET THROUGH OUR KITTEN SEASON, AND OUR SEASON IS STARTING TO COME TO AN END.

I THINK WE'RE CLOSER TO 300 NOW.

GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN.

SORRY WE COULDN'T DO MORE, BUT IT'S A TOUGH JOB.

WE KNOW. YEAH.

AND APPRECIATE YOU UNDERSTANDING THAT.

HOW'S YOUR PARKING LOT LOOK? PARKING LOT LOOKS GOOD.

LOOKS REALLY GOOD. REALLY NICE.

YEAH. NO, IT LOOKS GOOD.

THE VOLUNTEERS.

IT LOOKS VERY NICE OUT THERE.

WE HAD A VOLUNTEER DAY.

WHAT WAS IT? TWO WEEKS AGO? YEAH. VOLUNTEER DAY.

A LOT OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CAME IN AND HELPED US CLEANED UP.

I MEAN, WEEDED AND DID FLOWERBEDS AND PAINTED.

PAINTED OUTSIDE PAINTED DOORS, DID ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

AND IT REALLY LOOKS GOOD.

YOU KNOW, IT REALLY DOES. AND EVERY TIME WE REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP US, MOST OF THE TIME WE GET REALLY GOOD RESPONSE.

OUR PLEA, OUR END OF YEAR PLEA IS GETTING READY TO GO OUT, WHICH IS ALWAYS OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME.

SO, WE'RE HOPEFUL FOR SOME GOOD NUMBERS ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT. WELL GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

OKAY. YEAH.

SO. WE'RE GOING TO SKIP OVER THE NEW.

YES. OKAY.

OKAY. OKAY.

NEXT UP WE HAVE DANNY FOX.

DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WITH A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE 2024 HEALTH INSURANCE RATES.

WE'LL HAVE AMY HERBERT, OUR COORDINATOR, AND HR, JOIN ME TO GO OVER THIS.

SO. HELLO. SO, WE'RE STILL NOT SEEING A REDUCTION IN HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT WHAT OBAMACARE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

[5.Discussion of 2024 Health Insurance Rates]

I BELIEVE SHERRY HAD NOTED IT WAS 6 TO 7% WAS THE ESTIMATED INCREASE FROM THE STATE.

SO, WE BUDGET FOR SOME INCREASE THROUGH THE YEAR THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

ESSENTIALLY, THE LONG AND SHORT OF THIS IS SHERRY HAS ESSENTIALLY NOTED THAT THE INCREASE THAT WE BUDGETED IS ESSENTIALLY APPROPRIATE OR COVERS WHAT THE STATE INCREASE IS GOING TO BE.

[00:45:02]

OKAY. BUT I THINK THE QUICK DOWN AND DIRTY IS THE BUDGET FOR 24 WILL COVER THE INCREASE WE ARE GETTING PROJECTED FROM THE STATE.

I KNOW SHERRY'S PROVIDED SOME BREAKDOWNS OF WHAT THE PERCENTAGES ARE BETWEEN EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYER, SINGLE, SINGLE OR MARRIED WITH CHILD, STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, IF YOU WANTED THAT INFORMATION, WE CAN CERTAINLY READ IT OFF.

BUT THE DISCUSSION TODAY IS WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO DO FOR 24? GENERALLY, THE INCREASE HAS BEEN 3%, BUT AFTER COVID WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, BUT WE WEREN'T SURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH.

THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE LARGEST ONES WE'VE RECEIVED.

IT WAS 5% FOR THE HEALTH AND FOR THE PRESCRIPTION IT WAS 10% INCREASE.

WOW. DANNY, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAVE PASSED ANY INCREASE ON TO THE EMPLOYEES.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS, SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH THE COUNTY, WHICH WILL BE SEVEN YEARS, WE'VE NEVER PASSED AN INCREASE.

THE COUNTY'S ALWAYS ABSORBED IT.

ALWAYS ABSORBED IT? YES.

OKAY. I BELIEVE IT'S EIGHT YEARS.

EIGHT YEARS? OKAY. AND THAT INCREASE IS NORMALLY 3% TO 3%.

OKAY. AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'VE BEEN ABLE THIS YEAR TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET OF THAT 6 TO 7% INCREASE, THE COST FOR EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE IS DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT BETWEEN SINGLE, SINGLE OR MARRIED MARY WITH CHILD.

WHEN WE BUDGET FOR VACANT POSITIONS, WE TYPICALLY BUDGET FOR MIDDLE GROUND.

YES. AND THEN PEOPLE COME ON AND THEY TAKE SINGLE AND THEN WE HAVE SAVINGS THERE.

SO, OR WE HAVE SOME ON THEIR SPOUSE'S POLICY, NOT ON THE COUNTY POLICY.

VERY MUCH SO. EXACTLY.

SO THAT THIS YEAR HAS SAVED US TREMENDOUSLY AND HAS MADE IT ESSENTIALLY AFFORDABLE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET TO COVER.

SO. OKAY.

WELL, I'M FINE WITH COVERING THE INCREASE, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

YEAH, I AM TOO, AND I.

WHAT IS OUR POLICY? I KNOW AT SOME POINT SOME YEARS AGO WE HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE DO IF SOMEONE IS ON THEIR SPOUSE'S POLICY, DO WE? AT ONE POINT WE WERE REIMBURSING THEM.

WE WERE. SO, WE CURRENTLY DO NOT OFFER THAT THEY HAD STOPPED THAT.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN GRANDFATHERED IN.

BUT AS PEOPLE RETIRE, THAT'S DWINDLING TO ONLY A COUPLE AND RETIREE MEDICAL SUPPLEMENT WERE, I MEAN, WE'RE INCLUDING THAT RECOMMENDING WE COVER THAT AS WELL.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.

YES, THE RETIREE MEDICAL HAS SEEN A 5%.

AND THEN BASED ON ENROLLMENT, THE BUDGET WILL COVER THE INCREASE THAT WE WOULD SEE THERE AS WELL.

IT'S AT JUST ABOVE 290 PER RETIRE.

IT'S ABOUT HOW MUCH TO 90 PER MONTH OKAY.

I THINK IF ANYTHING, I AM AS MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE RETIREE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE USUALLY ON A MORE OF A FIXED INCOME SITUATION, AND I SEE THEM A LOT MORE THAN I DO ANYBODY ELSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT THEY APPRECIATE YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS EXPRESS THAT.

FRANK, I'M FINE WITH THEM.

I'M FINE FOR COVERING IT.

THE DOMESTIC PARTNER PART OF THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE, YOU KNOW, DO WE ANTICIPATE HAVE WE HAD ANY INTEREST IN THAT? I'VE HAD ONE PERSON ASK.

AND I BELIEVE IF THE RATES, IF THEY HAVE TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT.

SO, KIND OF TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS.

OH. I'M SORRY. NO, NO. YOU'RE FINE.

I JUST MAKE SURE.

SO, IF WE'RE OKAY WITH COVERING OUR CURRENT PERCENTAGES AND ENROLLMENT WITH THE INCREASE, THAT'S FINE.

WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

THE SECOND PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS WITH THE CHANGE AND WHAT THE STATE IS REQUIRING US TO OFFER, EFFECTIVE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO OFFER DOMESTIC PARTNERS HEALTH INSURANCE AS WELL.

IT IS UP TO THE COUNTY WHETHER WE WANT TO BRING THEM IN ON THE SAME PERCENTAGE THAT WE DO NOW, OR WHETHER WE WANT TO ESSENTIALLY MAKE THEM PAY IT ALL OUT OF POCKET. SO THAT'S.

TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER BARTZ A DECISION THAT WILL HAVE TO BE MADE.

[00:50:01]

THEY HAVE TO GET A BASICALLY SELF-ATTEST TO DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP FOR OVER 12 MONTHS, PROVIDE TWO SETS OF DOCUMENTATION.

SO, IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE.

AND THEY CAN'T JUST WILLY NILLY JUST CHANGE AND GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

THEY HAVE TO BE LIKE 12 MONTHS AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE IT'S GOING TO PUT A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN ON HR TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION.

WELL, YES. YES, YES.

SO, I THINK THE THOUGHT RIGHT NOW IS WE REALLY DID NOT BUDGET FOR THIS TYPE OF CHANGE.

WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO, FOR THE TIME BEING, IF IT WAS HELD AT, WE WOULD HAVE TO OFFER IT, BUT THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO BE BROUGHT ON.

THE INSURANCE, I THINK, IS THE LOGICAL SENSE BETWEEN HR AND I OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND AFTER TAXES AND DONE AFTER TAXES.

SO, THERE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BREAKDOWN ON HOW THAT LOOKS PRE VERSUS POST TAX, DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY OFFER FOR THE MARRIED COUPLE OR CHILD.

OKAY. DOES THE LAW SAY.

AS FAR AS WHAT'S CONSIDERED DOMESTIC OR WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, WE HAVE TO OFFER IT.

WE JUST HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THE LAW REQUIRES US TO OFFER IT.

I'M NOT 100% SURE I'D HAVE TO PULL.

IT DOESN'T SAY THAT WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE AS WELL.

CORRECT. IT DOES NOT SAY WE HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE.

AND YET NOT YET.

JUST WAIT UNTIL IT DOES.

YEAH. NOT KNOWING WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, I'M MORE SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST, BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE BURDEN ON HR BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE TAKEN INTO IT, THAT'S THAT MUCH MORE PAPERWORK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GATHER, VERIFY.

RIGHT NOW, THEY ALREADY HAVE TO PROVIDE BIRTH CERTIFICATES FOR DEPENDENTS OR FOR DOCUMENTS AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES.

SO, IF YOU HAVE A MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE, BUT PROVING THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU LIVE TOGETHER FOR 12 MONTHS.

YEAH. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LEASE TOGETHER AND A LEASE TOGETHER OR ANOTHER DOCUMENT AND SO FORTH.

ON THE MARYLAND HEALTH WEBSITE, THEY HAVE A DOCUMENT ABOUT DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS IN MARYLAND, SAYS MARYLAND HAS MADE DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS AVAILABLE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MARRIAGE.

AND THEN IT GIVES SOME CRITERIA 18 YEARS OF AGE NOT RELATED BY BLOOD, BLOOD OR MARRIAGE WITHIN FOUR DEGREES.

AGREED TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP OF MUTUAL INTERDEPENDENCE.

SO, COUPLES WHO WISH TO BECOME DOMESTIC PARTNERS MUST PROVIDE TWO PIECES OF DOCUMENTATION.

EVIDENCE OF THEIR BOND. EXAMPLES MAY INCLUDE PROOF OF JOINT LIABILITY FOR A MORTGAGE, LEASE OR LOAN, A JOINT CHECKING ACCOUNT, A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY WHERE THE PARTNER IS BENEFICIARY, OR A RELATIONSHIP OR COHABITATION CONTRACT.

SO, THE COHABITATION CONTRACT, YES YOU DO.

MANY OF THOSE ACTUALLY.

DID THEY HAVE.

MORE AND MORE FOLKS ARE GETTING MARRIED.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF IT.

THEY JUST WANT TO REACH OUT TO THEM.

RIGHT? YEAH. WELL, I THINK MARRIAGE IS A GOOD THING.

SO, I SAY WE STICK WITH OUR CURRENT POLICY OF.

OFFER IT AS THE LAW PRESCRIBES, BUT WE'RE NOT PICKING UP ANY PORTION OF IT.

SO, THE CONSENSUS IS WE'LL COVER EMPLOYEE RETIREE AND THEN THE DOMESTIC WOULD BE OFFERED AT WHATEVER THE GOING RATE THE STATE OFFERS THAT AT.

I THINK WE FOLLOW THE LAW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

SO, YEAH.

OKAY. WE MIGHT MAKE A MOTION.

OH, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR THE 2020.

IT WOULD BE CALENDAR YEAR 2020 FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024.

AND THEN THAT DOMESTIC.

DO I HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT? THE DOMESTIC. THAT THE DOMESTIC PARTNER WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE INSURER, THE EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE BENEFITS? ALL RIGHT. MOTION.

SECOND. OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. YEP. THANK YOU, AMY, FOR COMING OVER.

OKAY, ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? WE HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR.

OH. BUDGET REPORT.

OH, I'M SORRY, DANNY, THAT'S FINE.

[00:55:03]

[6. Fiscal Year 2024 1st Quarter Budget Report]

MORNING, STACEY STEWART GRANT COORDINATOR WITH OFFICE OF FINANCE.

SO, THIS MORNING, WE'D LIKE TO GO OVER OUR FIRST QUARTER BUDGET REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

THIS IS SOMETHING STACEY AND I KIND OF GO THROUGH.

TRY TO MONTHLY QUARTERLY AND THEN BRIEF OUT TO YOU GUYS WITH ANYTHING THAT WE SEE THAT'S ABNORMAL, WE TRY TO INVESTIGATE ANYTHING THAT'S ABNORMAL.

DISCUSS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH A FEW COMMISSIONERS ALREADY ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT YOU GUYS SAW WHEN I SENT THIS OUT.

SO, STACEY AND I ARE GOING TO TAG TEAM THIS AND GO THROUGH IT.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH, PLEASE JUST STOP US AND WE'LL ANSWER IT TO OUR BEST ABILITY.

SO, I'LL START WITH REVENUE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MAKES UP ABOUT THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF THE REPORT.

AS FAR AS REVENUE GOES, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING PRETTY WELL IN LINE WITH WHAT WE SEE ON THE PAST YEARS, AND REALLY NOT TOO MUCH THAT'S OUT OF LINE.

A COUPLE OF LINE ITEMS I WANT TO BREAK OUT.

SO, PROPERTY TAXES, THAT'S RIGHT ONLINE.

YOU'LL SEE THE REAL PROPERTY IS AT ABOUT 64% WITH OUR COUNTY SENIOR TAX CREDIT ABOUT 100%.

A LOT OF THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFY FOR THE SENIOR TAX CREDIT ARE SOME OF THE FIRST TO PAY.

SO, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT 100% OF THEM HAVE REALLY PAID THEIR TAXES.

AND WE SEE THAT CREDIT GOING BACK OUT.

BUT WHAT IS THAT CREDIT? IT'S $100.

IT IS $100, $100, $100.

YEP. HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? $100. HAS IT STAYED THERE? THAT HAS BEEN ENACTED FOR A GOOD BIT.

I HAVE TO GO BACK AND PULL THE RESOLUTION TO SEE THE EXACT YEAR THAT WE PUT THAT IN.

I THINK WITH THE WITH THE INCREASE IN ASSESSMENTS, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION NEXT BUDGET YEAR ABOUT INCREASING THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, YEAH, JUST A POINT.

I'LL MAKE A NOTE ON THOSE TALKING POINT.

WE'LL GET INTO BUDGET TIME RIGHT IS THE ASSESSMENTS ARE GOING UP BUT OUR HAS STAYED FLAT SO CREDIT IS STAYED FLAT.

[INAUDIBLE] PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING UP AT ALL.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE HOTTER TOPICS PEOPLE BRING UP WHEN THEY COME INTO THE COUNTER AND WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE CREDIT AND WHEN THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR IT, HOW MUCH.

SO CERTAINLY, WE CAN PUT THAT IN.

BUT YEAH, AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAXES GO, WE'RE RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE AS FAR AS COLLECTIONS GO.

JUST TO NOTE UTILITIES, WE SEE WE'VE ONLY COLLECTED ABOUT $334.67.

THAT IS PERSONAL PROPERTY THAT'S BILLED OUT TO MOSTLY UTILITY COMPANIES.

WE TYPICALLY DO NOT HAVE THE ASSESSABLE BASE TO GENERATE THOSE BILLS AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR.

THEY STRAGGLE THROUGH THE MID PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO, IT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE OR NOT A BAD THING THAT WE'RE AT 0% ON THAT.

IT'S JUST MORE OF A TIMING ISSUE AS WE GO THROUGH INCOME TAX.

WHEN WE GOT MORE GENERATED THIS REPORT FOR THE END OF SEPTEMBER, WE ONLY HAD ONE SMALL DISTRIBUTION FOR INCOME TAX.

I KNOW YOU GUYS GET AN EMAIL FROM EITHER STACEY OR I WHEN WE GET THOSE.

SO, WE KIND OF TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE REGULAR BUT NOTHING OUT OF LINE THERE.

HONESTLY, I'M GOING TO SKIP THROUGH MOST OF THE OTHER GRANTS PERMITS.

DANNY, WHAT LINE ITEM? I'M SORRY, WAS THAT FEE THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

IT'S UNDER UTILITIES.

SO, THE SECOND LINE UNDER.

GOTCHA. OKAY. REAL.

YEP. SO THAT IS BACK UP ON ME.

THAT'S WHY I LOST IT. THAT IS LIKE THE SOLAR BILLING UTILITY DELMARVA CHOPTANK SUBSTATION.

EXACTLY. I SAID PERMITS, GRANTS.

THOSE TYPICALLY FLUCTUATE MORE ON TIMING OF WHEN THE PERMIT NEEDS TO BE RENEWED.

LICENSING NEEDS TO BE RENEWED GRANTS.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T BILL MOST OF THE GRANTS UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST QUARTER.

SO, IT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE TO SEE A LOT OF THE GRANTS HAVE $0 FOR REVENUE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE BILLING OR RECEIVED PAYMENT.

THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL ARE EXTREMELY SLOW IN PAYING A LOT OF THOSE, SO IN THE END WE WILL GET PAID.

BUT NO SURPRISE TO SEE IT AT ZERO, I'M GOING TO SKIP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE AND LOOK AT INTEREST. SO, IF YOU.

TAKE A LOOK. IT'S CONSIDERED 015604840.

AGAIN, UNDER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE FOR INTEREST.

YOU CAN SEE FOR OUR FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WE'RE AT $553,000 IN INTEREST.

THAT IS MORE THAN WE'VE RECEIVED IN JUST THREE MONTHS THEN A LOT OF THE PRIOR YEARS COMBINED.

[01:00:06]

BUT WE'RE STILL GETTING GREAT RATES FOR WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE SOMEWHAT HEALTHY FUND BALANCE.

WE ARE HOLDING A LOT OF RESTRICTED CASH.

ARPA RURAL MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.

SO, ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT KIND OF OUR OFFICE HAS TAKEN IS REALLY LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE LOCAL BANKS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONES WILL GIVE US THE BEST INTEREST RATES. AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO REALLY INVEST OR PUT IT INTO ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED REALLY NOT LIQUID.

SO, WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH SHORE, UNITED PROVIDENT, WHICH IS NOW CHANGED TO SUMMIT AND HAVE BEEN GETTING TREMENDOUS RATES.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS AND TRY TO ESSENTIALLY MAKE AS MUCH INTEREST ON THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE SITTING AS WE CAN.

SO, OUR GOAL IS TO ESSENTIALLY KEEP WORKING AT THAT.

WITH CURRENT NUMBERS, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BEAT OUR BUDGETED NUMBER SHOULD END UP AT 2.1.

RIGHT. SHOULD.

THAT'S OUR GOAL.

AS WE SKIP DOWN, YOU'LL SEE TRANSFERS IN AS ZERO FOR ALL OF THOSE.

I TYPICALLY DO THE TRANSFERS AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

ONCE WE HAVE A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT ALL OF THOSE COSTS WILL BE.

SO AGAIN, NO SURPRISE THAT THAT'S SITTING AT ZERO.

ALL IN ALL, REVENUE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 21.2 MILLION AS FAR AS THE QUARTER GOES, WHICH PUTS US AT ABOUT 32%.

THAT'S IN LINE OF BEING OVER THE 25, BUT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES BEING DUE AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER FOR MOST OF THE INDIVIDUALS.

ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUE BEFORE WE JUMP INTO EXPENSES? YOU DID MENTION THAT YOU'VE SEEN A SLOWING IN THE TRANSFER TAX.

YES. SO, WE COLLECT THE RECREATION TAX IN OUR OFFICE.

THE STATE COLLECTS TRANSFER ON OUR BEHALF THAT IS THEN REMITTED TO US.

EACH YEAR.

I BUDGET AND ESTIMATE THAT RECREATION AND TRANSFER IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HIGHER INTEREST RATES. YOU DON'T SEE THE PEOPLE REFINANCING.

YOU DON'T SEE PEOPLE SELLING PROPERTIES LIKE THEY USED TO, OR PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY PROPERTIES AT THE CURRENT RATES, SO WE SHOULD SEE A FALL OFF OF THAT.

IT WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF WE DO NOT HIT THAT BUDGETED NUMBER, BUT IN MY MIND IT'S ALMOST A GIVE AND TAKE.

THE INTEREST RATES ARE GOING UP, SO WE'RE GETTING THE HIGHER, HIGHER INTEREST, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOSING THE TRANSFER PROPERTIES IN THAT END.

SO, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME GIVE AND TAKE IN THAT COUNTY SEEING THAT OR YOU DON'T CHECK ON THAT.

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OF THE OTHER EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES, BUT IF I HAD TO TAKE A GOOD, EDUCATED GUESS, I WOULD PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE THAT THEY'RE SEEING THE SAME THING.

OKAY. YEP.

ALL RIGHT.

EXPENSES. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? YEAH. THAT'S FINE. OKAY.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.

OVERALL, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING WE ARE EVERY DEPARTMENT IS PRETTY MUCH WELL IN REASON FOR THE FIRST QUARTER BEING AT THE 25%.

SOME DEPARTMENTS MAY BE UNDER THE 25% BASED ON SOME CERTAIN THINGS HERE AND THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY KEY ONES THAT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON FIRST, AND THEN WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THERE.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD SOME QUESTIONS EARLIER IN THE WEEK, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT JUMPED OUT TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON FIRST, OR JUST WANT ME TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THEM? WE'RE LOOKING AT ANYTHING OVER 25% CORRECT.

YEAH. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE OVER 20.

SO, THAT IS OUR FIRST. YEAH.

THERE WAS A LITTLE SALARY THERE, A LITTLE PAY OUT THERE FOR JEREMY THAT CALLS THE COMMISSIONER'S BUDGET TO BE OVER.

JUST KIND OF GOING DOWN THERE AND ENOUGH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, 21% OVERALL, COUPLE OF LINE ITEMS THAT ARE SLIGHTLY OVER.

BUT WE'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM ABOUT THOSE ITEMS THERE AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.

THE PROBLEM-SOLVING FAMILY SERVICE GRANTS, THEY'RE ALL WITHIN LINE AND HAVE SUBMITTED FOR THEIR FIRST QUARTER REIMBURSEMENT.

SO THOSE WILL BE COMING IN TO COUNTERBALANCE THE FIRST QUARTER EXPENSES THERE.

SAME THING WITH CIRCUIT COURT, ORPHAN'S COURT, STATE ATTORNEY, NOTHING MAJOR THAT STANDS OUT THERE AS WELL.

OFFICE ALLOWS THE 22% WITHIN THE 25% AS WELL.

HR DEPARTMENT 20%.

[01:05:04]

WE PAY THAT QUARTERLY.

WE'VE PAID THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS ALREADY IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S OVER THE 25% THERE IN THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES PLANNING AND CODES, 22% AS WELL.

SO, THEY'RE WELL WITHIN IT. THE MAINTENANCE LINE IS AT 100% ALREADY, AND THAT'S A ONE-TIME PAYMENT FOR THE YEAR.

SO, IT'S MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT'S ALREADY AT 100%.

GENERAL SERVICES.

WE PROJECT THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WE PAY OUT OUR INSURANCES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT'S WHY ALL THOSE ARE ALREADY EXPENDED FOR THE YEAR.

ONE THING THAT I WILL MENTION ON THAT, SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY LINE, WE HAD ABOUT 68% OR SORRY, $68,910 BUDGETED.

IT CAME IN ABOUT 93,000.

SO WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR INSURANCE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO TRY TO PROJECT WHAT WE THINK THE INCREASES WILL BE.

WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH THEM.

WE TAKE LAST YEAR'S NUMBER, PUT WHATEVER ESCALATION THEY PUT ON TOP OF IT AND BREAK THAT OUT TO GIVE US OUR ESSENTIALLY OUR BUDGETED NUMBER. THIS YEAR, IT CAME IN WELL ABOVE WHAT THE INITIAL GUESSTIMATE WAS.

WE'RE FINDING THAT A LOT WITH THE INSURANCE THROUGH WORKER'S COMP LEGIT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROVIDERS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH FOR INSURANCE.

IT'S JUST LIKE WE'RE SEEING WITH HEALTH.

IT'S CONSTANTLY, CONSTANTLY INCREASING.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER SEE IT GO DOWN IN OUR LIFETIME OR WE'LL EVER SEE HIM.

TELL US THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT THE WHAT THE COST WILL BE.

YEP, YEP.

AND A LOT OF THAT AS A WHOLE TOO IS EXPOSURE.

SO, THEY DO THREE FIVE YEAR LOOK BACK.

SO, AS WE HAVE INCIDENTS, WE HAVE ISSUES THAT JUST BUILD A CASE TO INCREASE THE RATES EVEN MORE AND MORE.

AND WE'RE BASICALLY LOCKED INTO ONE WORKMAN'S COMP.

YES. CORRECT.

WHICH IS RIDICULOUS.

IT IS. IT'S A MONOPOLY OF A PROVIDER FOR INSURANCE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

THEY CHARGE WHAT THEY WANT.

YEP. IS IT LEGIT? NO, NO. CHESAPEAKE EMPLOYERS INSURANCE? YEP. IT IS THE NEXT DEPARTMENT.

THEY ARE 12%.

THEY ARE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN WHAT THEY SHOULD BE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

PART OF THAT WAS SALARIES DUE TO HIRING A NEW POSITION.

BUT THEY WEREN'T HIRED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, JULY 1ST.

SO, YOU HAVE SOME GOOD JOB, CHRIS THOMAS.

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS AT 24%, SO SQUEAKED IN.

AS WELL AS THE SRO OFFICERS ARE ALL THERE WITHIN 2,021% AS WELL.

SO GOOD TO GO THERE.

THE JAIL IS ALSO WITHIN 20%.

AND WE DID DISCOVER POSTAGE LINE.

THERE WAS AT 264%.

SO THAT WAS A RED FLAG FOR US.

SO, I'VE CALLED OVER THERE AND IT WAS ACTUALLY CODED TO THE WRONG LINE ITEM.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE POSTAGE FOR COMMISSARY FOR THE INMATES.

SO, WE HAVE DONE I DID THE JOURNAL ENTRY THIS MORNING TO TRANSFER THAT OVER SO THAT NO LONGER IS SHOWING UP IN THE REGULAR BUDGET THERE.

SO, OKAY, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY WE DO THIS ON A MONTHLY TO QUARTERLY BASIS.

ANIMAL CONTROL IS ALSO WELL WITHIN REASON.

THEY'RE AT 17%.

ALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICES ADMINS WITHIN 21% COMMUNICATIONS IS SLIGHTLY OVER AT 30%.

SOME OF THEIR CONTRACTS ARE ONE TIME PURCHASE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AS WELL, SO SOME OF THEIR LINE ITEMS ARE OVER DUE TO IT BEING PAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR AS WELL. MS IS THE SAME WAY.

OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE WERE ONE-TIME PAYMENTS, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE AT ROUGHLY 100% ALREADY.

THEIR COMMUNICATION OVER TIME IS PRETTY HIGH RIGHT NOW.

SALARY IS DOWN, BUT OVER TIME IS UP 37% USED ALREADY.

YES. SO, THIS WAS A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH DIVISION CHIEF HURLOCK ABOUT OVERTIME.

HE ACTUALLY BROUGHT IT UP TO US BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED GOING THROUGH THESE.

SO, WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT ABNORMAL UP AND DOWNS AS FAR AS THE OVERTIME GOES WITH THE BUILDING SCHEDULES.

THEY DO RECEIVE WHAT'S CONSIDERED BUILT IN OVERTIME, SO THEY SHOULD HAVE SOME.

BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WAS BUDGETED.

SO, WE'RE HAVING SOME FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM AND HR TO START DIVING IN TO SEE WHY THIS IS OCCURRING.

SO, THERE SHOULD BE FOLLOW UP ON THAT ONCE WE GET SOME MORE INFORMATION FROM THEM.

WAS THAT THE SAME SCENARIO LAST YEAR? HAS ANYBODY LOOKED AT THAT TO COMPARE FIRST QUARTER LAST YEAR TO FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR?

[01:10:05]

I'M LIKE 99%.

IT'S THIS YEAR.

WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH BUDGETING THE BUILDING OVER TIME AND GUESSING WHAT'S GOING TO BE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.

I THINK THERE WERE SOME ONGOING PROJECTS THIS YEAR THAT HAVE ACQUIRED SOME ADDITIONAL OVERTIME.

WELL, I KNOW WE HAD THE 911 SHUTDOWNS MULTIPLE TIMES LAST.

THAT WAS LAST YEAR, RIGHT? WHEN WE HAD ALL THE 911 ISSUES, WAS THAT.

IT WAS LAST YEAR. WAS IT LAST YEAR? OKAY, YEAH.

BUT I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME ONE-OFF PROJECTS FOR LIKE THE FIRE COMPANIES, THE KNOX BOX PROJECTS, SOME DIFFERENT REPORTING SOFTWARE THAT HAVE THAT HAVE REQUIRED SOME ADDITIONAL HOURS THERE.

SO, RADIO REPROGRAMING.

RADIO REPROGRAMING. I'M HEARING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO TEASE OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ROOT OF THAT IS, BUT OKAY, I THINK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS THE NEXT ONE IS AT 17%.

SAME THING. WE HAD THE STAFFING CHANGE THERE WITH SAM GRANT LEAVING AND HIRING NEW STAFF THERE AND DIFFERENT PAY WAGES AND STUFF THERE.

SO THAT KIND OF AFFECTED THAT AREA THERE.

LIQUOR LICENSING 19% WITHIN THEIR PUBLIC WORKS, ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE SOLID WASTE JOHNSONGRASS THEY'RE ALL WITHIN THE 25%, OBVIOUSLY JOHNSONGRASS AND MOSQUITO CONTROL, THEY'RE BUSY THE FIRST QUARTER.

THAT'S THEIR BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR.

SO, REPAIRS, FUEL, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE HIGHER THE FIRST QUARTER AS OPPOSED TO SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS THERE.

ROADS IS AT 18%.

OBVIOUSLY, WE KNOW BEING UNDERSTAFFED AND HIRING STAFF AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, IT'S CAUSED THEM TO BE SLIGHTLY UNDER AS WELL.

AND THEY DID A BIG PURCHASE OF SOME MATERIAL EARLIER IN THE YEAR TOO.

SO THAT'S WHY THERE ARE 47%.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET THEM THROUGH MOST OF THE YEAR.

THE BIG ONE-TIME PURCHASE THERE.

THEN YOU HAVE RECREATION AND PARKS AND SAME THING.

THEY'RE BOTH AT 22% FOR BOTH SIDES.

EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT IS SLIGHTLY UP, BUT TIMING OF CONFERENCES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS THAT THEY ATTEND.

SO, OVERALL, WE LOOK AT THE LAST PAGE FOR OUR EXPENSES TOTAL AT 53 MILLION, SLIGHTLY OVER 53 MILLION FOR FIRST QUARTER.

SO THAT HAS TO THE GOOD ONE LINE OVER 12 MILLION.

OH SORRY. NO, YOU'RE GOOD.

THAT'S RIGHT. SORRY.

YOU'RE THE DIFFERENCE.

YEAH. SO, 12.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT A GOOD OF 8 MILLION RIGHT NOW WHICH AGAIN IS VERY TYPICAL THIS YEAR WITH HAVING THE INFLUX OF REVENUE.

SO, WE REALLY TRY TO MAKE SURE OUR EXPENSES ARE WITHIN THE LINE.

ANYTHING THAT SHOULD BE AT 100% FOR ONE TIME COST IS IN LINE.

I SAY STACEY'S BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB WITH FOLLOWING UP WITH THE DEPARTMENTS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THEY'RE OVER, AND A LOT OF TIMES IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A WRONG COUNT NUMBER SENT OVER.

WE DO A RECODE ON THAT.

SO, WE'VE COLLECTED 3,032% OF OUR PROJECTED REVENUE.

WE SPENT 19%.

YES, SIR. GOOD JOB.

GOOD JOB, DANIEL.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

SO, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU GUYS SEE ON THIS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO STACEY ON ANYTHING.

I MEAN, WE'RE IN THE SYSTEM EVERY DAY AND TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS TO MAKE SURE NOTHING IS GETTING TOO FAR OUT OF WHACK.

I GUESS GOOD JOB TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE IN LINE.

SHERIFF WOULD HAVE BEEN GONE IF HE'D BEEN OVER 25%.

HE'D BEEN OUT OF HERE.

NOW LOOK AT ME.

CAN YOU GET RID OF HIM? THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, STACEY.

THANK YOU. STACEY.

OKAY, HERE ARE THE PURCHASE ORDERS.

YOU CAN HAND THEM OFF EARLIER BECAUSE SINCE WE'RE DOWN AND WE'RE STILL MISSING ONE THE PASSENGER VAN, ALL THE INFO IS THERE.

YOU SEE THE PURCHASE ORDER.

OKAY. AND SHE'S.

OKAY, NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SORRY, I GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF THERE.

SO, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? CHAIR? ABOUT THE DURANGOS.

[7.Consent Agenda:]

HE WANTS THE.

DODGES. SO MOPAR.

[01:15:02]

MR. PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO PULL OFF? I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

YEAH. SO, EMS, WE I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THIS OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AND PLACE IT AS A DISCUSSION ITEM OR, I'M SORRY, ACTION AGENDA AS WELL AS THE DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS TRUCKS. I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME VENDORS HERE IN THE COUNTY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE SURPLUS THOSE VEHICLES.

I'M GOOD WITH THAT AS OPPOSED TO USING GOV DEALS.

SO, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE OTHER TWO? IF WE TAKE THOSE TWO ITEMS AND PLACE THEM ON THE CONSENT ACTION AGENDA.

I WOULD MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE AMENDATORY AGREEMENT BETWEEN MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND CAROLINE COUNTY AND RESOLUTION 2019-22 DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT.

SECOND.

MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ACTION AGENDA.

SO, EMS, WE HAVE A.

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CAROLINE COUNTY.

NOT MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.

IS THAT CONTRACT IN HERE? YES. SO, THIS IS AN AMENDED AGREEMENT BETWEEN MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE AND THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

AND ESSENTIALLY THIS IS TO OPERATE OUR RECYCLING PROGRAM.

I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COUNTY ATTORNEY BARROLL ABOUT THE TERMS, THE TERM OF THIS AGREEMENT.

CURRENTLY, WE ARE OPERATING WITHOUT AN AGREEMENT, AND APPARENTLY EMS NOTIFIED ALL OF THE OTHER PARTICIPATING COUNTIES THAT CAROLINE WAS JEOPARDIZING THEIR PROGRAM BY NOT HAVING AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE LIABILITY AS FAR AS LIABILITY, YES.

SO, IN LIGHT OF OUR RECENT INFORMATION REQUESTS.

FINANCIAL REQUESTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THIS TO THE REQUEST TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE TAKING FROM OUR TIPPING FEE AT THE LANDFILL AND USING TO OPERATE THE RECYCLING PROGRAM, AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE RECEIVING FOR THE SALES OF THE MATERIALS THAT THEY ARE RECYCLING.

TO GET A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING.

MY SUGGESTION WITH THIS IS TO AMEND THE TERM FOR TWO YEARS SO THAT THIS.

A MANDATORY AGREEMENT WOULD EXPIRE IN TWO YEARS, AND THAT WOULD GIVE US TIME TO DO THE RESEARCH AND MAKE A DECISION.

ABOUT DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE OR NOT? SO. ANY DISCUSSION? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

SO, WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND IT, SEND IT TO THEM AND SEE IF THEY'RE AGREEABLE TO THAT AMENDMENT.

CORRECT. YES.

SO FOR TWO YEARS.

SO RIGHT NOW, THE TERM OF EXTENSION SHALL BE FROM JULY 1ST, 2022, TO JUNE 30TH OF 2031.

SO, I WOULD AMEND THAT TO JUNE 30TH OF 2024.

IT'S 25.

I'M SORRY. I LOOKED AT 2022 AND ADDED TWO YEARS TO IT.

SO MOVED. OKAY.

MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

[01:20:08]

I THINK THAT WAS JOHNSON GRASS AND WEED CONTROLS VEHICLES.

I THINK WE LOOKED AT THAT GENERALLY OUR MOSQUITO AND JOHNSON GRASS.

OKAY. SO, THEY WERE BOTH PICKUPS.

ONE HAS 100,000 MILES AND I THINK THE OTHER ONE HAS 150,000 SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO, AS I'M FINE WITH THE SURPLUS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A LOCAL VENDOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURPLUS IT AS OPPOSED TO GOV DEALS.

SO, CAN WE? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH TAKING? I MEAN WHAT DO YOU THINK? WE COULD TAKE ONE TO TRACE AUCTIONS AND TAKE ONE TO CURTIS ANDREWS? I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT. AS LONG ANYTHING WE CAN DO LOCAL, WE TALK ABOUT USING LOCAL PEOPLE, RIGHT? WHY NOT? SO, WE HAVE TWO VENDORS.

I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.

WHAT'S UP? WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU TAKE THAT ACTION, IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR PURCHASING REGULATIONS.

OKAY. THERE IS SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE CODE ON DISPOSAL OF ASSETS.

SO, WE'LL JUST DO TO MAKE SURE THAT ALIGNS WITH THE CODE.

BUT THAT'S JUST A QUICK CHECK.

OKAY. SO, I WOULD SAY THE MOTION IT WOULD BE CONTINGENT AS LONG AS THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH THEIR REGULATIONS TO DO THAT.

RIGHT. OKAY.

I CAN'T SEE HOW JUST PICKING OF DEALS I MEAN; WE JUST PICK GOOD DEALS.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO THIS PROCESS HERE.

I THINK THE BULK OF THE LANGUAGE PUBLIC MEETING ADVERTISED WITH THE RESOLUTION.

SO, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY SAFE JUST FINE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THIS POINT ON THE AGENDA.

SO, WHEN YOU READ THAT IN, IT'S ACTUALLY 2023-22.

THE RESOLUTION WHICH IS PRINTED OUT ON THE RESOLUTION.

IF I CAN FIND IT IN MY STACK OF PAPERS HERE.

RESOLUTION FOR THE DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS.

OKAY.

SO, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SURPLUS THE TWO VEHICLES. ONE, AS LONG AS THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY SURPLUS POLICY, THAT ONE BE SURPLUS THROUGH TRACE AUCTIONS AND ONE THROUGH CURTIS ANDREWS AUCTION FACILITY AND AMERICAN CORNER.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

THE AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

AND THAT WAS IN REFERENCE I'M SORRY, JEN.

WHAT WAS THE 2023 THAT WAS IN REFERENCE TO RESOLUTION 2023-022. OKAY.

OUR NEXT ACTION AGENDA ITEM IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MID SHORE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER LETTER NOTICE OF INTENT.

SO, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE APPROVAL OF THAT LETTER? COMMISSIONER PORTER? I DON'T LOOK GOOD TO YOU. IT DOES.

COMMISSIONER BARTZ? I'M FINE. OKAY.

GO MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE CONSENT LETTER FOR THE MID-SHORE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

AYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[9.County Administrator’s Report]

AND I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR YOU.

THE FIRST ONE IS WE.

CRYSTAL DADDS THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CODES, AND I MET WITH STEVE HURLOCK AND TROY PLUTCHIK EARLIER THIS WEEK REGARDING KNOX BOX.

BOX BOXES. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THOSE.

BASICALLY, THEY ARE BOXES THAT ARE PUT ON THE OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS.

TYPICALLY, IT COULD BE ANY BUILDING, BUT TYPICALLY LIKE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING OR A PUBLIC BUILDING WITH KEYS IN THEM, SO THAT WHEN EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOW UP, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUILDING RATHER THAN BREAKING DOWN THE DOOR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[01:25:01]

THIS REQUIRED, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS OR OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS BEFORE, PERHAPS BEFORE GETTING AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT.

THE TOWNS ARE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION ALSO.

THE TOWN OF DENTON SCOTT GETCHELL WAS INVOLVED IN OUR MEETING, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE TOWNS COULDN'T.

REPRESENTATIVES COULDN'T MAKE IT, BUT THEY'RE PARTICIPATING AS WELL.

THERE'S. SO, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH SOME SIMILAR CODE LANGUAGE THAT'S USED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

SO, I'M JUST GIVING YOU A HEADS UP THAT'LL BE COMING BEFORE YOU.

THAT WOULD BE IT WOULD INVOLVE A CODE CHANGE.

IT WOULD BE AN EXTRA ITEM THAT WOULD BE THAT POSSIBLY COULD BE REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE COST WOULD BE, I THINK IT WAS AROUND 400 TO $800 DEPENDING ON THE BOX.

SO, IT'LL BE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO CONTEMPLATE WHEN THAT COMES UP.

I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT.

I'VE DEALT WITH THIS IN OTHER STATES.

IN OCEAN CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRE COMPANY REQUIRES YOU TO BUY THE KNOX BOX FROM THEM, AND THEY DO IT AS A FUNDRAISER. PROBLEM WITH THAT IS YOU CAN GET HELD UP IF THEY RUN OUT OF THEM.

SO, I DON'T WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THE COST.

AND I, IT'S TO ME, IT'S A COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

IF YOU DON'T WANT YOUR DOORS KICKED IN, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE MAKE SURE THAT THE OPTION IS GIVEN ON WHAT TYPE THEY ARE.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYBODY'S OCCUPANCY HELD UP BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET CORRECT THE BOX.

AND THESE THINGS ARE VERY SPECIFIC.

THERE ARE VERY SPECIFIC COMPANIES THAT MAKE THESE.

I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

IT MEANS THAT THE FIRE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY AROUND OTHER KEYS TO THESE WITH THEM.

SO, BUT I DON'T WANT TO I AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE SHOW UP AND SAY, WELL, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT I CAN'T GET THE NOX BOX RIGHT.

WE JUST GOT TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

SO, WOULD THIS BE REQUIRED OF BUSINESSES? THEY WOULD THAT AS PART OF THE ASK THAT THE COUNTY REQUIRED IS A PERMIT.

I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO.

DID WE HAVE SOMETHING TO BUDGET ABOUT KNOCK BOXES? YES. I'M NOT GOING TO REQUIRE ANOTHER FEE.

I WON'T VOTE TO REQUIRE ANOTHER FEE ON A BUSINESS OR A PERMIT.

I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE RISK OF GETTING THE DOOR BUSTED IN, THEN THAT'S THEIR PERSONAL CHOICE AS A BUSINESS.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO REQUIRE IT.

DO YOU RECALL WHAT WE DID? WE DID. SO, WE ARE SORRY THE BOARD FUNDED THAT.

I BELIEVE EACH COMPANY WOULD RECEIVE TWO NOX BOX, ESSENTIALLY THE MODULE THAT GOES INSIDE THE FIRE TRUCKS SO THAT STORES THE KEY FOR THE SUCCESS. SO THAT'S WHAT.

SO, THIS IS THE OFFSET OF THAT.

YES. SO, THIS WOULD BE THE PART THAT THE BUSINESS HAS I GOTCHA.

AKI WOULD BE ACCESSING.

ALL RIGHT, SO IT WILL.

THERE'S THE HEADS UP.

IT WILL BE AN ITEM THAT COMES UP AGAIN.

AND IT. YEAH.

MY CONCERN WOULD BE ALSO REQUIRING IT.

THERE COULD BE A WAY ALSO WHERE THE PLANNING AND CODES DEPARTMENT AND THE JURISDICTIONS INVOLVED BECAUSE SOME MUNICIPALITIES COULD REQUIRE IT ALSO, WHICH WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM US. YEAH. BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING WHERE THEY HAND OUT INFORMATION AND ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO DO IT AS WELL.

YEAH. I MEAN, THIS IS NORMALLY THIS IS FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, APARTMENT COMPLEX.

RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE FIRE COMPANIES NEED TO HAVE ACCESS TO, TO EACH INDIVIDUAL UNIT AND THEY CAN'T CARRY AROUND KEYS TO EVERYBODY'S UNIT AS WELL AS TO THE ELEVATOR INSIDE THERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT'S A DISCUSSION I COULD SEE.

I MEAN, I COULD SEE REQUIRING IT FOR RESIDENTIAL UNITS, SMALL DUPLEXES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IF WE SET A RESTRICTION ON HOW MANY A CAP ON HOW MANY UNITS OR A MINIMUM ON HOW MANY UNITS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE KNOCK BOX. BUT AS FAR AS GOING AROUND AND REQUIRING BUSINESSES TO HAVE THEM AS A AS A REQUIREMENT IN COUNTY CODE, I DON'T THINK I'M NOT GOING TO.

I GOT ONE IN MY BUILDING AND IT WAS ALL DONE THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE TOWN OR NOBODY COUNTY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

IT'S JUST VOLUNTEER, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT ONE ON AND THAT'S IT.

RIGHT. AND IT COULD BE IF WE DON'T WANT TO, IF THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR IT.

[01:30:05]

HEY, FYI, YOU COULD CONSIDER DOING THIS WITH A FIRE COMPANY.

SO ANYWAY THAT'LL THEY'RE THEY'RE SENDING US SOME LANGUAGE AND IT'LL BE LOOKED AT.

IT'LL BE A DISCUSSION ITEM TO ME.

MOST OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED ARE GOING TO BE IN MUNICIPALITIES ANYWAY.

RIGHT. AND WE CAN'T REALLY CONTROL IF THE MUNICIPALITIES DO IT.

BUT I THINK ALSO FROM AN INSURANCE STANDPOINT, IF I WERE GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN, I WOULD CONTACT THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SAY, CAN MY PREMIUM BE REFLECT THE FACT THAT I'VE PUT THESE ON HERE? BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO KICK DOORS IN AND BREAK WINDOWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO, YOU KNOW, TO RUN THE INSURANCE BILLS ON IT.

IT'S ALSO A MATTER OF SAFETY AS WELL FOR THE FOR PEOPLE, BUT IT'S A DISCUSSION WE CAN HAVE.

BUT IF THE MUNICIPALITIES DECIDE TO DO IT, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CATCH MOST OF THE BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES THAT WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ANYWAY.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS, SOME AREAS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, DANNY AND I HAD A, I GUESS, AN EMAIL EXCHANGE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COURT JUDGE PRICE ABOUT PARKING LOT SECURITY.

SO WE ARE REVISITING THE PLANS AND OPTIONS THAT WERE DRAWN UP WHEN I GUESS THAT WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

THERE IS GOING TO BE STATE FUNDING TO PAY FOR THAT PARKING LOT SECURITY, IT LOOKS LIKE, THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, STATE LEGISLATURE.

SO WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT ALSO.

AND THAT WILL PROBABLY BE SOMETHING THAT COMES BEFORE YOU AS WELL.

I THINK IF MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT PREVIOUSLY THE STATE ONLY COVERED THE SECURITY UPGRADES, THAT THEY WOULDN'T COVER RECONFIGURATION OF THE PARKING LOT AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

ARE THEY NOW TALKING ABOUT PICKING UP SOME OF THE CALLS FOR THE RECONFIGURATION? YES. WITH THE RECENT.

YEAH, OKAY.

THEY ARE THEY'VE FREED UP THAT MONEY LOOKING TO WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

EACH COUNTY NOW IS A DOLLAR FIGURE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE FROM THE COURTS ON THAT.

BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ASKING EACH COUNTY TO GIVE THEM A DOLLAR FIGURE.

AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO LOCATE FUNDING.

TO COVER UP. OKAY, GOOD.

I WOULD, I WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT THEN.

DO WE HAVE DO YOU HAVE CONCEPT DRAWINGS YOU COULD SEND US? YEAH, I CERTAINLY CAN. SO WE HAD DAVIS PHONE UPRIGHT.

L SIT DOWN WITH COURTS AT ONE TIME, AND THEY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.

SO I'LL FORWARD THAT TO THE GROUP AND LET YOU GUYS LOOK AT THIS.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

MR. PORTER, I HAVE.

[10.County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

JAMIE, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING ON THE SIGNS.

ABSOLUTELY. I RAN INTO COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN BRANDI JAMES DOWN IN FEDERALSBURG, AND SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT SIGNAGE ALONG THE WATERWAYS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.

AND I THINK SHE SENT A COUPLE OF PICTURES TO YOU.

AND I TOLD HER AT THE TIME, I KNOW WE PUT UP SOME RESCUE STATIONS ALONG THE WAY AS WELL.

SO THANKS FOR ABSOLUTELY GETTING ON THAT.

I FORWARDED AN EMAIL FROM SENATOR HERSHEY'S OFFICE TO EVERYBODY ABOUT THE DRAFT LIQUOR BILL, ABOUT THE ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE.

IF THAT LOOKS OKAY TO EVERYBODY, THEN I THINK WE CAN ASSIGN IT TO YOU AS WELL.

STEWART. RIGHT. AND I SENT IT ON TO CRYSTAL FOR HER EYES ON IT, AND SHE SAID, IT'S PERFECT.

AND SHE WILL RESPOND ON OUR BEHALF.

OKAY, GOOD GOOD, GOOD.

AND THE.

WHERE ARE WE WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, MOU? DO YOU HAVE OR DO YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR OFFICE? BECAUSE I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER TODAY.

SURE WE DO.

IT'S AT THE STATES.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR REVIEW.

OKAY, SO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE COMPLETED OUR REVIEW OF IT AND SENT IT BACK OVER TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

AND THE AG'S REVIEWING IT.

YOU SAID HUMANE SOCIETY, THOUGH NOT ANIMAL CONTROL.

NO, NO, NO, NO, WE YOU SHOULD HAVE THE HUMANE SOCIETY IN REVIEW.

THAT'S DONE. SO WE DON'T HAVE A BACKUP.

WELL, THEY MENTIONED THIS MORNING THAT THEY WERE WAITING.

THEY WERE STILL WAITING ON THAT.

IT DOES HAVE A SENSE OF YOU.

HE TOLD ME HE DOESN'T HAVE A BACK.

THE ONE THE ONE THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING IS THE MOU THAT'S AT THE AG'S OFFICE.

[01:35:03]

OKAY. JAMIE, BACK TO THE SIGNS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE? THE SIGNS. DO THEY ARE THEY AVAILABLE TO ORDER OR DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THEM PROBABLY GET THEM MADE SO THAT THEY MEET OUR SIGN STANDARDS INSTEAD OF BLANKET ORDERING THEM? YEAH. COULD YOU UNLESS THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE.

SO WELL LET'S ASSUME FIND THAT OUT FIRST.

IF THERE'S MONEY AVAILABLE AND OTHER PEOPLE WANT US TO USE A PARTICULAR SIGN, WE'LL MAKE SURE IT MEETS OUR STANDARDS AND THEN GO AHEAD AND GET THOSE.

AND COULD, COULD YOU MAYBE REACH OUT TO THE TOWNS AND ABSOLUTELY THAT ARE AVAILABLE OKAY.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE OKAY.

THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BARTZ ME, STEWART AND KIM MET WITH ELLIOT AND FRANCE ABOUT A $10,000 BILL THAT WAS BEEN FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. WHAT'S A YEAR AND A HALF? A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND AND LONG STORY SHORT, THERE WAS AN EMAIL THAT WAS SOMEHOW NOT IN STUART'S BOOK THAT REQUESTED ONE OF THE BILLS TO BE DONE, PERFORMED FOR PARTS, LABOR AND ALL THAT.

SO AND THEN WE AGREED TO PAY THAT, PLUS SOME ADDITIONAL MILEAGE FOR THE OTHERS.

SO INSTEAD OF 10,000, IT'S $3,500.

SO AS LONG AS TRAVIS AND LARRY ARE GOOD WITH THAT TO RECONCILE THIS BILL, WHO IS THIS TO? WHAT'S THAT? WHO IS IT TO LA FRANCE FOR GREAT ALL WORK WE HAD DONE, IT DATES BACK TO 2021 2022.

OKAY, SO IT WAS A TOTAL OF $10,000.

SO THE MISCOMMUNICATION.

BUT ONE OF THE BILLS, LIKE I SAID, WAS ASKED TO PERFORM A CERTAIN SERVICE ON A ON THE GREAT HALL. SO WE MET WITH THE OWNER AND THE SALES REP AND COME TO A CONCLUSION OF 3500 TO SETTLE THE DISCREPANCY.

SO OKAY OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEP.

AND THEN SUNDAY I WENT TO COLONEL RICHARD PLAQUE DEDICATION DOWN TO GILMAN POINT.

IT WAS VERY NICE DOWN THERE.

THE AREA DOWN THERE.

DO WE WE MAINTAIN THAT QUITE, QUITE A BIT OKAY.

IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED, PROBABLY 40 OR 50 PEOPLE.

IT WAS A NICE DAY AND IT WAS, IT WAS VERY NICE.

AND WAS THAT I THINK THAT'S IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

SO WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WAS THE ANNUAL AUDIT OF THE DETENTION CENTER.

I WANT TO COMMEND THE WARDEN AND THE STAFF THERE AT THE DETENTION CENTER FOR A FAVORABLE AUDIT.

THE ONLY THING THAT THEY GOT DINGED ON WAS SOME FIRE DRILL STUFF.

SO IT WAS VERY MINIMAL.

AND I'M SURE IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FIND SOMETHING.

SO IT WAS I THINK THEY'RE IN LINE POTENTIALLY FOR A POSSIBLE AWARD.

THEY THEY IN THE AUDIT SPOKE ABOUT HOW CLEAN THE FACILITY WAS EVEN FOR ITS AGE.

AND SO I WANTED TO GIVE HIM A PAT ON THE BACK FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, EVERYONE WAS WAS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

FOR THE MOST PART, OTHER THAN A FEW DEPARTMENTS, I WOULD STRESS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF CAPITAL NEEDS AS AS ALL DEPARTMENT HEADS KNOW, AND ANY MONEY THAT CAN BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY COFFERS AT THE END OF THE BUDGET YEAR WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE CITIZENS AND THE THREE OF US SITTING HERE. SO GOOD WORK FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

I DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL ABOUT SOME SECURITY CAMERAS THAT WERE PLACED ON IN OUR.

APPEAR TO BE IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY ON SIPES ROAD.

IT IS A PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER THAT HAD A STRUCTURE FIRE.

IT APPEARS THE HOUSE BURNED AND THERE IS A CAMPER AND A BARN BEHIND THE BURNED UP REMNANTS OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, AND IT APPEARS THAT TWO FIBERGLASS POLES, OR METAL POLES HAVE BEEN PLACED ABOUT THREE FEET OFF OF THE EDGE OF THE COUNTY TOWNSHIP.

[01:40:01]

YEAH, CLEARLY BETWEEN THE TOWNSHIP AND THE CENTER LINE OF THE DITCH.

SO THE CALL THAT I RECEIVED WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEM BEING IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY.

DO WE ALLOW JUST ANY OLD STRUCTURE TO BE PLACED IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY? IT'S INTERFERING WITH TRAFFIC SAFETY, CONCERN, FARM EQUIPMENT TRAVELING UP AND DOWN SIPES ROAD CAN'T GET BY WITH A VEHICLE COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY, AND THEY EVEN STRUGGLE TO GET BY WITH SOME OF THE WIDER EQUIPMENT.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEBODY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND DO A LITTLE RESEARCH AND TRY TO GET THOSE THINGS REMOVED.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED.

CAN'T MISS IT. YEAH, I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES.

OH, YEAH.

THIS IS A SECURITY CAMERAS.

SYKES ROAD. YEAH.

GO TURN LEFT AT THE PARK.

SYKES ROAD FIELDS GO DOWN.

PROBABLY. WHAT? TWO MILES ON THE LEFT.

SO IT'S ON THE SAME STREET? YES.

YOU CAN'T MISS THEM. I MEAN, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY ALL RIGHT OUT HERE.

THEN YOU'LL SEE THE FIRE WHERE THE FIRE.

AND YOU SEE THE CAMPER BEHIND THERE ON COUNTY PROPERTY.

OH, YEAH. WELL, SO TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, I KIND OF GOT THE SAME REACH OUT.

SO MR. BARROLL, WHO WAS ACTUALLY SITTING IN MY OFFICE AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, SO A CONVERSATION THAT REALLY HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO FOLLOW UP WITH HIM ON IS I REACHED OUT TO PLANNING AND CODES AND TALKED TO CRYSTAL.

AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE FROM PRIOR CONVERSATIONS, WHETHER WE OWN THE ROAD, WHETHER IT'S AN EASEMENT, THIS LOOKS LIKE IT IS A COUNTY OWNED ROAD WITH A 50 FOOT WIDTH.

CAN YOU SEND ME SOMETHING THAT CONFIRMS THAT I WILL HAVE WILL DO IT? SO SHE WAS LOOKING AT IT AND JUST COMMUNICATED THAT OVER THE PHONE TO ME.

SO I'LL HAVE HER ACTUALLY SEND A DOCUMENT.

SO I THINK WITH THAT AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE CODE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T HAVE IN THOSE AREAS, WE PROBABLY HAVE A REMEDY TO.

OKAY, YEAH, IT'S A PLAN, BUT I HAVE NOT RESEARCHED THE PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME.

THE GENTLEMAN THAT CALLED ME WAS JUST A NEIGHBORING RESIDENT DOWN THE ROAD.

I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY, THE INDIVIDUAL POST-FIRE HAS MOVED TO FRANKFURT, DELAWARE.

OKAY, SO THEY'RE NOT EVEN ON THE PROPERTY.

THE CAMERAS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN THERE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR OR BETTER, SO THEY'VE BEEN THERE.

THIS PARTICULAR PERSON HAD REACHED OUT TO PUBLIC WORKS IN THE SPRING AND TO NO AVAIL.

NO RESPONSE.

SO HENCE THE CALL TO TO ME.

YEAH. SO I MEAN IT.

THEY NEED TO BE MOVED. I THINK THERE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS.

SO I WOULD I THINK IF WE DETERMINE IT'S OUR PROPERTY, I'D GIVE THEM TWO WEEKS TO GET IT OFF.

AND THAT'S THAT'S ENOUGH TIME.

YOU GOT TWO WEEKS. GET IT OUT OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY.

IF IT'S OURS OR WE'RE REMOVING THEM AND IT'LL BE DEALT WITH EITHER THROUGH TAX SALE OR WHATEVER.

SO. GOT IT.

WE'LL DO GENTLEMEN.

GOOD WITH THAT. OKAY.

WE JUST CAN'T BE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO PUT THINGS UP IN THE RIGHT OF WAY.

IT'S SAFETY CONCERN DANGEROUS PRECEDENTS.

SO ESPECIALLY WITH THE FORUM EQUIPMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THAT ROAD.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE.

ANY ANY FURTHER COMMENT? GOOD, GOOD OKAY.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. IF I COULD JUST SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE NEW VEHICLE.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A THREE YEAR WAIT, AND IT'S BEEN A SISYPHEAN PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND THAT VEHICLE AND THAT IT HAPPENED TO SHOW UP THE DAY THAT I CALLED THE DEALER.

AND AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SEARCH.

SORRY YOU'RE NOT GETTING A MERCEDES, BUT.

HONESTLY, WHEN I FIRST CAME UP, THAT WAS A PROMISE.

AND NICOLE'S LIKE, THEY HAVE A MERCEDES.

AND I'M LIKE, THAT IS NOT GOING TO FLY.

BARTZ. YOU KNOW. I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE PORTER LIKE THE WONDER YOU CHARGE SO MUCH.

NO WONDER. SO THANK YOU.

OH, LOOK, IT'S NOT A FRED FLINTSTONE VEHICLE.

MOVE WITH YOUR FEET. YEAH, IT IS.

IT IS A SIGHT TO BEHOLD.

IT'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE VERY SOON FOR $5.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, WITH NO PUBLIC COMMENT, WE WILL.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES UNDER AUTHORITY.

[11.Closed Session]

[12.Meeting Adjourned]

[01:45:05]

STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

OKAY. MOTION SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE A PRINT OUT OF THE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.