Dec 12, 2023 County Commissioners Meeting

[00:04:15]

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 12TH, 2023 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING. UM, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR DARTANYON HINES OF THE ETERNAL LIFE MINISTRIES CHURCH OF DENTON. AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD RISE. GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS MORNING'S RISE, FOR NEW MERCIES YOU'VE GIVEN FOR EVERY MIRACLE MANIFESTED, GREAT OR SMALL, WE PRAISE YOU. WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO ASSEMBLE HERE THIS MORNING AND WE PRAY FOR YOUR CONTINUED GUIDANCE DEAR GOD. WE THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU'VE BLESSED AND KEPT THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU REMAIN WITH THEM DEAR GOD, AS THEY LEAD THE COUNTY, WE GIVE YOU ALL PRAISE AND GLORY AND HONOR. IN JESUS 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, THANK YOU PASTOR. THE COMMISSIONERS MET DURING THEIR DECEMBER 5TH COMMISSIONER MEETING UNDER THE FOLLOWING, UM, TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL FOR A BUSINESS OR INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION TO LOCATE OR EXPAND UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE. STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B, SECTION FOUR, AND TO CONDUCT DEPARTMENTAL EVALUATIONS UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B, SECTION ONE. ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING, PORTER AND BARTZ. UH KATHELEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, STEWART BARROLL, MARY BERNOFSKY, DEBBIE BOWDEN, JENNIFER REIBLY, AND MARK SHERIDAN.

[1. Call to Order: Invocation- Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

[2. Closed Session Report Out]

[00:06:34]

[3. Public Comment]

[4. Discussion Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Moratorium]

[00:10:22]

NO. SO. SO IF I CAN ONCE AGAIN, IT HAS. AND I'M PROBABLY SUPPOSED TO SAY MY NAME. JAMES LEWIS, ORIGINALLY MARYLAND. ANYWAY, IT THESE PRODUCTS HAVE TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE CHEMIST, WHICH THEY ARE. THEY HAVE TO FILE. THEY HAVE TO BE APPLIED BASED ON A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN. BUT THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THIS STORAGE ISSUE. SO THERE ARE STATE REGS TO ADDRESS HOW ALL THE REST OF THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. IT'S JUST THE THE STORAGE ISSUE OF THIS PRODUCT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORING FARMERS TO THESE OLD DAIRY FARMS WERE USED TO SMELLING DAIRY MANURE. AND THAT WAS FINE. THEY DON'T WANT TO SMELL INDUSTRIAL WASTE. THEY'RE OKAY SMELL AND DAIRY MANURE, BUT DON'T WANT TO SMELL INDUSTRIAL WASTE. SO THEY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN IS COVERED IN THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN. YES. AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION AS FAR AS THE APPLICATION GOES AND THEY ARE REGISTERED. BACK TO YOUR QUESTION OF IS THERE AN ANALYSIS SOMEWHERE THE PRODUCTS ARE REGISTERED WITH THE STATE CHEMIST OFFICE THROUGH MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SO IF YOU WANT TO SEE AN ANALYSIS BREAKDOWNS, THE STATE CHEMIST CAN PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THESE PRODUCTS, THAT'S WITH THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE LAND APPLIED. IF IT'S SOMETHING I MEAN, I GUESS INDUSTRIAL WASTE COULD BE ACID FROM SOMEPLACE OR SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO DEFINE AS MORE TOXIC, NOT JUST GIVING OFF AN ODOR, BUT ONCE AGAIN, THAT SHOULD THAT SHOULD BE LABELED THROUGH THE STATE CHEMIST OFFICE AND STUDIED AT THE STATE CHEMIST OFFICE ALSO.

IS THERE ANY, UH, JIM, IS THERE ANY VALUE TO APPLYING THIS PRODUCT TO THE LAND? IS THERE ANY. YEAH. IT HAS, IT HAS NUTRIENT. YEAH. YES. THERE'S A VALUE AND THERE'S A VALUE TO FARMERS. THAT'S WHY FARMERS WANT TO USE IT. AND THERE'S A, THERE'S I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY FARMERS IN THE COUNTY. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHETHER IT'S PROBABLY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AG THAT KEEPS TRACK OF WHAT NUTRIENTS ARE APPLIED, WHERE THEY'RE MAINLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POUNDS OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, NOT WHERE THE SOURCE WAS, BUT THEY CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU HOW MANY FARMS ARE ACTUALLY USING IT. BUT I'D GUESS THAT THERE'S PROBABLY 40 OR 50 FARMS THAT ARE USING THE PRODUCT. AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO, THE NEIGHBORS DON'T SEEM TO COMPLAIN AS MUCH ABOUT THE APPLICATION BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE A COUPLE DAY SMELL. THE STATE OF MARYLAND REQUIRES IT TO BE INCORPORATED BY THE END OF THE DAY, JUST LIKE BIOSOLIDS. SO THE PRODUCT DOES HAVE TO BE INCORPORATED OR INJECTED. SO EITHER INJECTED OR INCORPORATED SO IT'S COVERED. IT'S NOT ON THE SURFACE I THINK LIKE 95, 98% OF IT HAS TO BE INCORPORATED OR INJECTED. UM, SO IT'S BEING USED. IT'S BEING USED BASED ON THE NUTRIENT CONTENT. THE NUTRIENTS ARE NEEDED. YOU KNOW, IT'S EITHER THAT OR WE MINE PHOSPHORUS FROM THE SOIL SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND SHIP IT HERE.

WE USE NATURAL GAS TO MAKE NITROGEN AND SHIP IT HERE. SO YEAH, IT'S A GOOD USE OF THE NUTRIENT SOURCE. IT'S JUST WHETHER WE WANT TO BE THE ONES TO STORE THE PRODUCT AND DEAL WITH THE ODOR 365 DAYS A YEAR HERE. RIGHT. OKAY. THAT'S MY OPINION ON IT. SO TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SHIPPING THIS IN FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, STORING IT INDEFINITELY. THAT'S THAT'S THE INTENT UNTIL SUCH TIME THEY TAKE IT OUT TO APPLY IT TO THE LAND.

[00:15:39]

WELL, I'M NOT DOING THAT. UM, SO AND I THINK WICOMICO CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. WELL, MR. PORTER, I'D LOVE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. YOU KNOW, NOT RIGHT HERE, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE INDUSTRY, BUT I CAN GET YOU PEOPLE THAT WILL ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. WELL, I I'M NOT AN EXPERT EITHER, BUT I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THIS TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THIS MORATORIUM SO THAT WE CAN STUDY THIS AND WE CAN LOOK AT IT WITHOUT HAVING CONTINUALLY BROUGHT IN HERE. I'D LOVE TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. WELL, HAVE A DISCUSSION. YOU GOT YOU GOT THE FLOOR. I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME? HAVE YOU FOUND THAT IT IS A WIDESPREAD NUISANCE IN THIS COUNTY SO FAR? WELL, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THESE ARE, BUT I HAVE WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ODOR. AND I WILL SAY, MR. PORTER, THERE ARE BAD ACTORS ON THE SHORE. THAT'S. ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WE HAVE NOT WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT. HOWEVER, WE DON'T THINK THAT AS A RESULT, YOU SHOULD TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THIS PRODUCT FROM GOOD ACTORS AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE FINDING MORE AND MORE BAD ACTORS HERE COMING IN HERE RECENTLY. BUT SIR, AND RESPECTFULLY THOUGH, IF THERE ARE NO PLACE TO STORE THIS, IT MAKES IT EXTREMELY HARD FOR APPLICATION, RIGHT? I THINK MY CONCERNS ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE, WE'RE CONFLATING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES WITH COMMERCIAL PRACTICES. SO YOU HAVE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY PRODUCING A WASTE. THEY NEED THEY NEED A WAY TO DISPOSE OF OF THAT WASTE. UM SO THEY'RE COMPENSATING AGRICULTURAL, YOU KNOW, THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, FARMERS TO TAKE THE PRODUCT AND THEN APPLY IT TO THEIR LAND. SO THE THE CONFLICT BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ARE WE GETTING INTO MORE OF A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE HERE THAN AN AGRICULTURAL NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER TWO IS THE ABILITY FOR OUR ROADS TO HANDLE THE ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ASSOCIATED WITH HAULING LARGE VOLUMES OF THIS LIQUID, YOU KNOW, TO RURAL AREAS IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF CASES, THIN TOWNSHIP ROADS THAT WEREN'T DESIGNED TO HANDLE THAT KIND OF TRUCK TRAFFIC. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BRINGING THIS MATERIAL ON TO A FARM, YOU'RE STORING IT, AND THEN YOU'RE RELOADING IT. WHAT I'M HEARING AND TAKING IT TO OTHER FARMS. SO IT'S IT'S INCREASING. RIGHT. SO IT'S INCREASING THE WEIGHT AND TRAFFIC AND POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO, TO ROADS THAT FRANKLY, WE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH NOW. SO I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AS A BOARD TO TO LOOK INTO THOSE THINGS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT NEIGHBORS FROM THE SMELL, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MOST CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY THAT LIVE OUT IN THE RURAL AREAS ARE USED TO SMELLS ASSOCIATED WITH FARMING PRACTICES, WHETHER IT BE MANURE APPLICATION OR, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING ELSE.

[00:21:54]

OKAY. WHEN, WHEN AND CAN I WANT TO LIGHT A LITTLE BIT ON THIS BAD ACTING THING FOR WHAT I'VE BEEN UNDERSTAND AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED OVER TIME THIS IS COMING FROM MULTIPLE POULTRY PLANTS AND IT COMES TO ONE LOCATION. OKAY. THEN IT'S DISTRIBUTED FROM ONE LOCATION TO WHEREVER THEY CAN FIND A HOLDING TANK TO PUT IT. OKAY, SO THE LOCATION WHERE IT ENDS UP FROM MULTIPLE POULTRY PLANTS, THEY'RE OUT OF ROOM, OKAY. THEY CAN'T DISCHARGE IT ANYMORE. SO THEY HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO HOLD IT. SO IT'S UP TO THEM TO FIGURE OUT A PLACE TO BUILD A BIGGER HOLDING TANK THERE. OKAY. NOT NOT WHERE THEY CAN JUST PUT IT ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO. OKAY. SO IT'S UP TO THEM TO EXPAND THEIR HOLDING FACILITIES AND PROCESSING FACILITIES WHERE THEY ARE INSTEAD OF SENDING IT TO WHEREVER THEY CAN JUST FIND A ROOM AND JUST TO STICK IT TEMPORARILY. THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM. YEAH. AND TO BE HONEST, UM, I DON'T I DEAL WITH A MYRIAD OF ISSUES, AND THIS IS JUST A TINY PIECE OF IT, AND I HAVEN'T HAD TO LOOK AT IT SINCE, YOU KNOW, WICOMICO COUNTY. LIKE I SAID, I, I GOT THE AGENDA THIS MORNING, SO I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO WRITE A TESTIMONY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND I'M NOT I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DO A TESTIMONY JUST TO GIVE MY TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO GIVE MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

BUT, UM, BUT YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION AS, AS AND CONNECT YOU WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. WE'RE I CAN THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR COMMISSIONER. PORTER. COMMISSIONER BREEDING HERE, WE'RE VERY PRO AGRICULTURE. OUR MAIN STAPLE HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY IS AGRICULTURE, THE POULTRY, THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. CAROLINE COUNTY THRIVES ON THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. WE DO NOT WANT TO DETRIMENT THEM IN ANY OTHER WAY. I MEAN, BUT THIS IS FURTHER DOWN THE CHAIN IS WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. NOT NOT THE POULTRY INTEGRATORS, NOT [INAUDIBLE] POULTRY FARMERS. BY NO MEANS. RIGHT. OKAY. BUT THE POULTRY PROCESSORS ARE LOCAL TO THE SHORE ANYWAY. YES. YEAH. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S ALL WE JUST WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR CITIZENS AND, AND THAT WE'RE NOT PUTTING ANY UNDUE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS WITH, WITH HAVING TO KEEP UP THESE ROADS, UM, BECAUSE OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY TRANSPORT OF THIS MATERIAL, SO NEEDS TO BE SITED IN THE PROPER PLACE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE THOSE RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES AND ON OTHER ITEMS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT HERE. BUT WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR ANY CORRESPONDENCE. YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? OH YEAH. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

[00:25:44]

IT'S JUST. IT'S JUST HORRENDOUS. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T WALK OUTSIDE. UM, I WAS WORKING. I HAVE A SMALL SAWMILL, AND I WAS WORKING OUT BACK, UM, PROBABLY LAST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, AND THEY WERE TAKING THIS [INAUDIBLE] OUT, AND I WORKED BACK THERE ALL DAY, AND IT MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. THE ODOR WAS JUST TERRIBLE. UM, UM, IF THERE'S A WAY TO STORE IT SOME OTHER WAY, I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM OTHER THAN THAT OPEN PIT STORAGE IS JUST. AND, YOU KNOW, THE GUY BEHIND ME TESTIFIED A WHILE AGO THAT IT FORMS A CRUST OVER THE TOP. WELL, IT MAY DO THAT, BUT THE ODOR IS STILL THERE AND THE FLIES ARE STILL THERE. THEY NEVER GO AWAY. IT'S JUST ALL YEAR LONG JUST NOW, SINCE THE COLD AIR HAS COME IN AND THE FREEZING TEMPERATURES, IT'S HELPED THE FLIES. THE ODOR IS STILL THERE AND IT'S HORRENDOUS. YEAH. AND IT DEPENDS ON WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING. OKAY. BUT WE HAVE NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND US AND THEY'RE ALL COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. OR IF IT STIRRED UP, I MEAN, ONCE IT CROSSED OVER IT'S OKAY. IT'S A GREATER ODOR TO IT. YEAH, BUT IT NEVER GOES AWAY. THE ODOR IS STILL THERE. UM, I MEAN, ALL SUMMER LONG, IF YOU GET A, WE GET A SOUTHEAST WIND. AND YOU KNOW HOW OFTEN THIS WIND COMES OUT OF THE SOUTH IN THE SUMMERTIME? IT'S JUST HORRENDOUS.

YEAH. SO ALL RIGHT, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HEARING OUR CONCERNS. AND, UH, BUT LIKE I SAY, I'M I'M ALL FOR AGRICULTURE. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN IT ALL MY LIFE AND SOMEHOW AND BUT WE GOT I JUST THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SOME OTHER WAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MORNING. MORNING. MY NAME IS JOHN HAMMER. I FARM ABOUT 400 ACRES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS FACILITY, AND I'M REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE SMELL. I MEAN, I'M A FARMER, TOO, AND EVERYTHING. AND I GROW CHICKENS, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT WASTE. AND I KNOW THEY HAVE TO SPRAY IT AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, WHATEVER. BUT IT DON'T HAVE TO BE PARKED IN MY FRONT YARD 365 DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR. AND LIKE MR. WOODWARD SAID, THE SMELL IS TERRIBLE. I MEAN, WE WALK OUTSIDE SOME MORNINGS AND THEY'LL JUST SMACK YOU RIGHT IN THE FACE. MHM. AND WHY SHOULD I PAY TAXES ON SOMETHING LIKE YOU KNOW FOR THAT, YOU KNOW OUR COUNTY IS THE HIGHEST PROPERTY TAX IN THE STATE FOR WELL

[00:30:28]

FULL SIZE TRACTOR TRAILERS THAT HAUL IT IN. RIGHT. OH, YEAH. AND STORED. AND THEN IT'S IT'S HAULED OUT BY TRACTOR TRAILER AS WELL. LIKE NOW THEY'RE HAULING IT OUT. NO. SOMETIMES. OR THE OTHER DAY THEY WERE HAULING OUT WITH A TANKER UH SPREADER TRACTOR. YEAH. WITH TRACTOR. UM, SOMETIMES THEY, HE DID LAST FALL THERE ON HIS ON THAT FARM THEY DRAGGED HOSED IT AND SUPPOSEDLY KNIFED IT, IN WHICH THEY GOT MORE ON TOP THAN THEY DID IN, LIKE, THEN. BUT YOU YOU DON'T SEE IT HAULED OUT BY 18 WHEELER [INAUDIBLE]. IT'S ALWAYS HAULED IN BY 18 WHEELERS. OKAY. BUT EVENTUALLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAUL IT OUT BY 18 WHEELERS. RIGHT. THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH FARM AROUND THE THAT FARM IS ONLY SO BIG. AND HE GOING TO PUT IT ON SO MANY TIMES A YEAR I MEAN RIGHT. AND THEY JUST YOU KNOW THEY'RE CONSTANTLY HAULING IN THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW AT LEAST YOU KNOW SIX SEVEN TRUCKS LOADS. YEAH. SO I MEAN HE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH WITH IT. AND PLUS HE'S GOT OTHER FARMS TOO, THAT HE'LL HAVE TO TRUCK IT TO RIGHT AND SPREAD IT ON AND STUFF. UM, SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE MAKING MONEY OFF OF IT. YEAH. THE SMELL. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. HAMMER. THANK YOU. YEAH. OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES, MA'AM. HI, I'M SUE ELLEN WOODWARD. I'M MIKE'S WIFE, AND I'M GLAD HE SPOKE FIRST BECAUSE IT DIDN'T LET ME FILL IN. UM, THE FLIES ABOUT THE FLIES. WE TOOK PICTURES AT THE END OF DECEMBER OF THE FLIES THAT WAS ON THE SCREENS. AND I BET IT WAS A THOUSAND FLIES. BUT I HAVE HORSES. SO THE SAME DAY I WENT TO THE HORSE BARN AND I SHOVELED MY STALLS OUT. I HAVE THREE NOT A FLY NOWHERE BECAUSE I USE FLY PREVENTATIVE FOR MY THREE HORSES FEED THROUGH AND WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO SPRAYERS, MISTERS IN THE RUN IN ANYTHING FOR FLIES NOT TO GET ON MY HORSES, BUT DURING THAT TIME I WOULD OPEN MY UTILITY DRAWER WHERE MY UTENSILS ARE FLIES IN MY UTILITY DRAWER, AND WHO WANTS TO WORK IN A KITCHEN ALL THE TIME ON THE COUNTER? YOU KNOW WE'RE KILLING FLIES. I HAD TO PUT A MISTER UP IN THE KITCHEN THAT I USE IN THE BARN. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? TO KEEP THE FLIES DOWN IN MY HOUSE, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO GO IN AND OUT OF THE DOORS. I GOT A LITTLE DOG WE LET OUT. IT'S HARD TO GET HIM IN AND OUT, YOU KNOW. SO ANYHOW, THAT'S ON THE FLIES. YOU CANNOT CONTROL THEM FLIES. FLIES COME FROM, UM, MAGGOTS. FLIES COME FROM MAGGOTS. THE BREAKDOWN OF MANURE ON A PROPERTY OR IT COMES FROM THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. IT GOES THROUGH THE CATTLE. THEY EAT THE GRASS. IT COMES FROM THE GROUND. IT GOES BACK TO THE GROUND. UM, UH, POULTRY BYPRODUCTS DOES NOT, UM, DEGRADE LIKE MANURE. UM, HE JUST LIKE, JUST LIKE JOHN SAID. I'VE GOT PICTURES OF HIM SPRAYING IT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TRACTOR RIGHT ON TOP OF THE GROUND. BUT HE'S GOT SO MUCH OVER THERE THAT HE'S STARTING TO TRUCK IT AROUND. BUT THE PROBLEM IS HE OWNS OR HAS INTEREST IN 3 OR 4, MAYBE MORE OF THE LARGEST FARMS IN THIS AREA. HE'S BOUGHT THEM UP LIKE THIS. HE'S GOT SOME BACKING, SO IT DON'T MATTER WHAT RULES HE NEEDS TO BREAK. HE'S BROKE THEM ALL, YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT LISTENED TO NOBODY AND HE AIN'T GOING TO LISTEN TO NOBODY. WE WENT OUT THERE THE OTHER DAY AND WE WERE TAKING OUR LITTLE SD CARDS OUT OF OUR DEER CAMERAS RIGHT AROUND THE EDGE OF OUR PROPERTY. UM, AND WE CROSSED OVER A LITTLE DITCH AROUND IT, LIKE, AND I'M LIKE, GOD, LOOK AT THE SHEEN ON THAT DITCH. I TOOK THE PICTURES, RIGHT? AND IT WAS BEFORE THE BIG RAIN WAS COMING IN SATURDAY NIGHT. I GUESS IT WAS COMING IN. SO IT WAS SATURDAY. SO WE HAD A LITTLE JAR THAT WE KEEP SD, UH, DRIVE IN THAT WE KEEP HOOKING TO THE PHONE TO GET OUR PICTURES OFF. AND WE TOOK THAT JAR AND WE TOOK A SAMPLE OUT OF THAT DITCH OF THAT SHEEN THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE WATER, AND WE CALLED ON SOME PLACES TO HAVE IT TESTED.

[00:36:24]

UM, AND I FOR ONE, I KNOW I SAID IN PLANNING AND ZONING THAT, UM, MY PROPERTY IS GOING TO BE WORTH NOTHING, AND I HAVE A NICE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE IT AND WE KEEP IT NICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND PROPERTY APPRAISALS HAS GONE UP. I DON'T THINK MINE IS. AND I'M, I'M 223M FROM THAT PIT, UM, 223. UM, IT'S NOT FAIR. I DIDN'T GET A CHOICE IN SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. NONE OF US DID. YEAH, BUT LONG TERM IT'S GOING TO BE DEVASTATING FOR A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IF THERE WAS ANY WAY I COULD SHUT HIM DOWN, I'D SHUT HIM DOWN. AND IF IT HAS TO BE THIS, THIS AVENUE TO START WITH, THEN, THEN SO BE IT. BUT CECIL COUNTY IS COMPLAINING, UM, THE SAME THING, BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT HE WAS APPLYING? YEAH, WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT IS. THAT'S BEEN APPLIED. YEAH. AND THE TRUCKS THAT'S COMING IN HERE IS MORE THAN, UM, THE 6 OR 7 A DAY. SOMETIMES IT'S TEN A DAY. I'M UP AND DOWN MY DRIVEWAY ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, I'M RIGHT THERE. SO I KNOW, AND I DON'T WORK AWAY FROM HOME. I KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, AND I KNOW WHAT HE DOES, AND HE. HE JUST RUNS THAT HE TAKES RIGHT NOW. HE'S TAKING THAT. HE'S STIRRING IT UP. WHATEVER HE'S LOADING ONTO THAT TANKER THAT YOU PULL BEHIND A TRACTOR AND HE'S RUNNING IT DOWN THE RACETRACK ROAD, AND HE'S DUMPING IT ON A FARM BACK THERE BECAUSE HE HAS A, UM, DOLLAR INTEREST OR HE OWNS IT OR THE HOLDING COMPANY THAT HE'S AFFILIATED WITH.

IT'S KIND OF ALL HIDDEN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IT'S HARD TO TRACE WHO'S REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS BACKING. YEAH, BUT HE'S TAKING IT RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER PINER ROAD. HE'S GOT ONE. HE'S GOT FOUR PITS THERE. I DON'T THINK HE'S GOING TO PUT MANURE THERE EVEN THOUGH HE'S GOT LIKE TEN COWS THERE. YEAH. YOU KNOW IT'S SO THAT'S I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I GOT TO SAY ABOUT IT. WELL IT'S GOING TO BE BAD FOR IN A LOT OF WAYS. THANK YOU. AND WE WILL WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE ALL THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE WORK ON THE REGULATIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. MR. LEWIS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, UM. WHAT, UH, OVERSIGHT IS PROVIDED AS FAR AS IF IT IS SPRAYED ON TOP? IF IT'S NOT[INAUDIBLE] THEN DOES IT NEED TO BE [INAUDIBLE] IN WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, OR CAN IT JUST BE APPLIED ON TOP? IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE INCORPORATED BY THE END OF THE DAY, JUST LIKE BIOSOLIDS ARE.

[00:40:26]

BUT THEY DO MDAS WHO WOULD ADDRESS THE NUTRIENT CONTENT PART OF IT. THE INCORPORATION AND IT NEEDING TO GO IN A COVER CROP IS GOING TO BE THE NEW FIGHT AND WHETHER MDA OR MDE IS GOING TO ADDRESS IT, ONE OF THE TWO OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT PART OF IT. SO THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHICH ONE'S GOING TO ENFORCE IT. SO THEY THEY I DON'T THINK THEY COMPLETELY WORKED OUT ALL THE DETAILS. AND UNLIKE BIOSOLIDS THAT THERE'S AN INSPECTOR ON SITE, IF NOT EVERY DAY, MOST EVERY DAY, THERE'S NOT AN INSPECTOR ON SITE IN THIS. SO IF THERE'S BIOSOLIDS BROUGHT TO THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE APPLIED, THERE'S A BIGGER PERMIT PROCESS AND MDE DOES HAVE SOMEBODY ON SITE, IF NOT EVERY DAY, PERIODICALLY THEY'RE CHECKING RECORDS. THEY'RE THERE MAKING SURE IT GOT INCORPORATED. THAT PROCESS HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR 30 YEARS. IT'S WORKED. THE COMPANIES KNOW. THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY KNOW THE PROCESS. THE INSPECTORS KNOW, THE COMPANIES KNOW THE PROCESS, AND IT'S BEEN WORKING. BUT THIS IS NOT IS NOT CONSIDERED A BIOSOLID. CORRECT. RIGHT. SO IT SHOULD BE. MDE IS NOT ADDRESSING IT LIKE A BIOSOLID. IT'S IT'S A SOIL AMENDMENT. IT'S A IT'S ADDRESSED IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY THEN THE REASON THAT THE INCORPORATION PART IS IN THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE ODOR. SO AS FAR AS NUTRIENTS, IT REALLY DOESN'T NEED TO BE HANDLED ANY DIFFERENT THAN MANURE.

CORRECT. DO WE HAVE A POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT IN CAROLINE COUNTY? WE DON'T. RIGHT. SO IT'S BEING BROUGHT IN FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. OKAY. YOUR CHICKENS ARE BEING TAKEN TO, UH, YEAH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT IN THIS COUNTY. NO, BUT YOU HAVE CHICKEN HOUSES. I'M FULLY AWARE THAT WE HAVE CHICKEN HOUSES. BUT ARE THESE CHICKEN HOUSES BRINGING MATERIAL TO THESE PITS DIRECTLY? NO. NOT DIRECTLY, NO, BUT IT'S LIKE SAYING THAT SOMETHING WENT DOWN YOUR TOILET ISN'T GOING IN, YOU KNOW, TO THE TO THE TREATMENT FACILITY. MR. MIDDLETON, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD, HARD TASK AHEAD OF YOU FOR ME, BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT IRRITATES ME TO NO END. SO YOU BRING IN ALL THIS INFORMATION AND ALL THE PEOPLE YOU WANT, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUBJECT OUR CITIZENS TO THIS. OKAY, SIR, LIKE I SAID, I'M HERE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED. OKAY. OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENT? YOU GOT SOMETHING? GO AHEAD. UM, I THINK INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL, I THINK THERE'S MULTIPLE INDIVIDUALS HERE. UM, INSTEAD OF JUST CONCENTRATING ON ONE PERSON. UM, AS FAR AS HIM BUYING FARMS, UM, AND HAVING, I THINK AS LONG AS HE'S GOT THE MONEY, HE CAN BUY ANYTHING HE WANTS. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST FREE. THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS BASED ON, YOU KNOW I MEAN, IT'S THE LOCALS LIKE IT.

[00:45:41]

AND YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IS. I DON'T I DON'T REPRESENT THE THE WASTE COMPANIES. I'M HERE ONLY TO REPRESENT OR TO GIVE A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE CHICKEN INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. OH I KNOW, YEAH.

THAT'S NO GOOD. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING. OKAY. SO IT'S STILL DONE THROUGH AN INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL PROCESS THAT THAT IS THE END PRODUCT HERE. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT AS A WHOLE. IT'S A IT'S A DONE IT'S COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT. IT'S INDUSTRIAL WASTE. IT'S THE WASTE WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS DONE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LEFT WITH DAF, THE INDUSTRIAL POULTRY WASTE. RIGHT OKAY. THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GETTING AT HERE. YEAH.

[00:50:17]

IF NOTHING ELSE, WHAT WICOMICO DID, OKAY TO MAKE SURE IT INCLUDES ORGANIC BYPRODUCT MATERIAL CREATED AT AN ANIMAL PROCESSING FACILITY OR RENDERING FACILITY, INCLUDING MATERIAL COLLECTED BY MEANS OF A DISSOLVED AIR FLOTATION PROCESS. OKAY. NOW, ALL THIS RESOLUTION IS GOING TO DO IS HAVE A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS FOR APPROVAL AND CONSTRUCTION. WERE WE ISSUING PERMITS TO BEGIN WITH? WE DO REQUIRE PERMITS FOR STRUCTURES, SO A LAGOON WOULD NOT BE DEFINED IN OUR CODE AS A STRUCTURE. BUT A CONCRETE PIT IS DEFINED AS A STRUCTURE THAT WOULD REQUIRE A PERMIT. SO THE FACILITY THAT'S JUST BEEN DESCRIBED TO US BY THESE FOLKS, HAS BEEN CITED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PIT WITHOUT A PERMIT, SO THAT ENFORCEMENT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY. YES. THEY HAVE A STOP WORK ORDER FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PIT WITHOUT A PERMIT. OR STORAGE IN THE PIT? NOT FOR THE STORAGE, JUST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PIT ALONE.

THE DAIRY FACILITY IS NO LONGER IN OPERATION. SO THEY JUST GOT AN EMPTY PIT THERE. SO THIS COMPANY FINDS THESE THESE PITS THAT ARE EMPTY AND THEY CONTACT THE OWNER ABOUT STORING THIS, THAT. NOW IS THAT AND THIS IS ALL PART OF THE DISCUSSION OF YOUR MOTION, IS THAT CHANGE OF USE SOMETHING THAT TAKES IT OUT OF FARMING AND INTO ANOTHER COMMERCIAL STORAGE? YEAH, RIGHT. WE'VE MADE THE DETERMINATION THAT, AS MR. LEWIS HAD SAID, THAT THIS WAS WE WOULD DEFINE THAT USE AS A WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY, WHICH WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED IN ANYWHERE OTHER THAN AN INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT. OKAY. WHEN WAS THE STOP WORK ORDER SIGNED OR ISSUED? UH, NOT SURE EXACTLY, BUT IT WAS OVER THE SUMMER, I BELIEVE, AND IT WAS FOR MULTIPLE THINGS THAT HAD OCCURRED ON THE PROPERTY. AND WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE SO FAR? THEY HAVE ADDRESSED EVERYTHING BUT TWO ITEMS, WHICH ARE THE MILK TRUCK OPERATION AND THE PIT. SO THEY ARE EITHER IN THE PROCESS OR HAVE CORRECTED THE REST OF THE VIOLATIONS THAT WERE INCLUDED. HAS THERE BEEN A, UH, ANY CORRESPONDENCE OR ANY, UH, PLAN TO ADDRESS THESE? THE LAST CORRESPONDENCE FROM HIS LEGAL COUNSEL WAS THAT HE DISAGREED WITH OUR INTERPRETATION. THIS SHOCKS ME. SO WE NEED WE NEED TO AMEND THIS RESOLUTION. AND SO ITEM ONE NEEDS TO BE A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE OPEN AIR STORAGE OF DAF IN THE COUNTY. COMMISSIONER. SO, SO JUST, UM, MDA OR THE STATE ALREADY THEY CALL IT FOOD PROCESSING WASTE.

[00:56:09]

AT THAT POINT, THEY THEY'RE SUBJECT TO A CITATION AND ENFORCEMENT IN COURT AND COURT CAN NOT ONLY FIND THEM $500 A DAY, BUT CAN ALSO ISSUE AN INJUNCTIVE ORDER WHICH REQUIRES THE CESSATION, THE CEASE CEASING OF THE VIOLATION. SO THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE THE COURSE. SIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A DISCUSSION ITEM. SO. RIGHT OR YOU'RE NOT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER VOTE ON THIS. NO, THERE WILL BE A VOTE AND EMINENTLY HERE ON THIS RESOLUTION FOR A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM. OKAY. AND THEN FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WILL ENSUE ABOUT A PERMANENT FIX, WHICH I THINK THE THREE OF US ARE LEANING TOWARDS NO OUTDOOR OPEN AIR STORAGE. IT'LL IT'LL HAVE TO BE AN ENCLOSED, UM, TANK WILL BE THE ONLY WAY WE'LL ALLOW THE STORAGE AND IT'LL HAVE TO BE APPLIED. I'M SURE WE'LL MAKE SOME PROVISION SIMILAR TO WHAT WICOMICO DID, WHERE A TRANSFER STATION TEMPORARY TRANSFER STATION WILL BE ABLE TO BE SET UP, BUT NO OPEN AIR STORAGE WILL BE ALLOWED FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. I THINK IS WHAT WICOMICO IS. THERE'S 45 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. IS IT 45 DAYS? IT JUST MIGHT BE NICE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE LANGUAGE AT LEAST, AND MAYBE GET, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO YOU ON OUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE EXACT LEGAL LANGUAGE OF IT BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY PASS THAT. UM, UM, BUT A MORATORIUM JUST FOR A YEAR. YEAH, IT'S JUST IN WICOMICO COUNTY. WE WERE ABLE TO REVIEW THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT THEY USED.

UM, LIKE I SAID, I JUST AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE AGENDA WAS POSTED, BUT IT CAME ACROSS MY DESK THIS MORNING. YEAH, BUT, UH, WELL, WE HAVE. MR. MIDDLETON THIS IS I MEAN, YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. THIS IS THIS IS NOT THIS IS JUST THIS IS COMING FROM THE RENDERING FACILITY. IT'S NOT COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE INTEGRATORS. WELL, THEY THEY ARE A MEMBER. THE THE PROCESSING FACILITIES ARE MEMBERS OF OURS, TO BE CLEAR. YEAH. SO SO DO WE WANT TO AMEND THIS LANGUAGE AND BRING IT BACK NEXT WEEK, OR DO WE WANT TO AMEND IT NOW AND PASS A RESOLUTION. SO SO WHO DO YOU TAKE PRESIDENT. SO IF, IF, IF, IF THE RENDERING COMPANY IS A MEMBER THESE CITIZENS HERE ARE MEMBERS OKAY. SO WHERE DO YOU WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE. WELL SIR THAT'S I MEAN THAT'S A MATTER OF LIKE I SAID, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS USUALLY HANDLES THAT, THOSE KIND OF ISSUES WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT. I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU WERE DRAWING A LINE. WE REPRESENT THE POULTRY INDUSTRY AT LARGE ON THE SHORE. THAT'S THE BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT. WE HAVE WE REPRESENT GRAIN, YOU KNOW, GRAIN FARMERS, INTEGRATORS, PROCESSING COMPANIES. WE'RE REALLY A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT THAT WAY. ENFORCEMENT. I DO THINK IT WOULD BE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE THE LANGUAGE BEFORE BEFORE YOU TAKE IT TO A VOTE.

[01:01:09]

I THINK YOU WOULD CLEAN THE LANGUAGE UP FIRST AND THEN YOU WOULD APPROVE IT. THAT'S FINE. I MEAN, AND MY SUGGESTION IS BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INPUT HERE FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT SIDES. AND CRYSTAL AND I ARE STILL LINING UP ON WHAT WE THINK SHOULD BE IN THE MORATORIUM, THAT I REALLY DO THINK IT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING FOR A VOTE, AND THAT THAT WAY IT CAN BE FULLY AIRED AND DISCUSSED, AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROPOSED LANGUAGE CAN WEIGH IN IF THEY WANT TO. BUT I REALLY DO THINK THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH ISSUE THAT I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE ALL OUR I'S DOTTED AND T'S CROSSED GOING INTO THIS, BECAUSE YOU MAY VERY WELL HAVE IT HAVE IT CONTESTED RIGHT OFF THE BAT. SO LET'S LET'S STRAIGHTEN IT UP. WELL, WE HAVE ONE MORE MEETING. RIGHT. SO WELL, WE CAN DO CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THIS MEETING. WE CAN TO CLEAN THIS UP AND THEN WE'LL, WE'LL, UM, HAVE IT ON OUR AGENDA FOR PASSAGE NEXT TUESDAY. IT CAN BE POSTED IN ADVANCE. GOT ONE WEEK, MR. MIDDLETON. OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. UM. THANK YOU. THAT'LL CONCLUDE THE DISCUSSION HERE. SO THERE WILL BE A CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THIS MEETING TO DISCUSS, UH, LEGAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THIS MORATORIUM. UH, OKAY. NEXT UP, UH, KATHELEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, FOR DISCUSSION OF THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY FOR ROAD REPAIR PERMITS.

[5. Discussion of Declaration of Emergency for Road Repair Permits]

[01:06:06]

SO THAT IS THE MOTION. DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE, AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. SO WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE LOCAL CONTRACTORS. AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PRICES SO THAT WE CAN COMPARE AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO, UH, STAY TUNED. HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE IT OPEN BACK UP IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. SO WE ARE COMING UP ON THE HOLIDAYS. SO THERE MAY BE SOME CHALLENGES THAT THAT PRESENTS SO. ALL RIGHT. ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. UM, SO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE WANT TO MODIFY THE 2024 COMMISSIONER MEETING CALENDAR TO GO TO EVERY OTHER TUESDAY OFF FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST. SO WE ARE REMOVING JUNE 4TH, JUNE 18TH, JULY 2ND, JULY 16TH, AUGUST 13TH AND AUGUST 27TH FROM THE MEETING SCHEDULE. UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? I DON'T SEE ANY. NO. OKAY. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE AMENDED 2024 COMMISSIONERS MEETING CALENDAR TO REFLECT WHAT I JUST STATED. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION. AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? CAN I JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ON THIS?

[6. Consent Agenda:]

[7. County Administrator’s Report]

[01:10:01]

ALL RIGHT. DANNY. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. COUNTY COMMISSIONER URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD. [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK, WHEN WE LEFT MACO I COME ACROSS AN ACCIDENT THAT JUST HAPPENED ON GROVE ROAD AND ROUTE 16. AND, UH, I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY HOW I WAS. HOW EVERYBODY THE COMMUNITY JUST STOPPED. EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD JUST STOPPED, PULLED OVER, AND JUST THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ENTRAPPED IN A CAR, AND EVERYBODY JUST THE EMS EVERYBODY WAS JUST CHECKING ON EVERYBODY. IT WAS I MEAN, IT'S REASSURING THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT SOCIETY STILL, YOU KNOW, STILL GOOD AT HEART. SO THAT'S ALL I GOT, RIGHT, MR. PORTER? YEAH. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WEEK WE LOST A VERY GOOD PUBLIC SERVANT, RON STAFFORD. UH, RONNIE WAS A LONG TIME HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, UH, TOWN COMMISSIONER. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIG LOSS TO THIS COUNTY AND CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY. AND, UM, HE WAS IN ADDITION TO BEING A GREAT GUY, HE WAS A BIG SUPPORTER. HE I NEVER I NEVER SAW HIM THAT HE DIDN'T ENCOURAGE, YOU KNOW, HAVE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SAY, LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO. SO IT'S A BIG LOSS. UM MACO WAS, I THINK, SUCCESSFUL THIS YEAR IN THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF ISSUES WITH OTHER COUNTIES.

[8. County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

[01:15:03]

UH, THE STATE HAS HAD A HISTORY IN THE PAST OF WHEN THEY'RE SHORT ON REVENUES, PUSHING MORE AND MORE SERVICES DOWN FOR THE COUNTY TO FLIP THE BILL ON. AND THAT INCLUDES HIGHWAY USER REVENUE AS FAR AS MAINTAINING OUR ROADS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WAS STATED EARLIER IN THIS MEETING THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING TO TO KEEP UP WITH, UM, AND THEN ALSO THE BLUEPRINT EXPECTATIONS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FACING WITH, UH, THE BLUEPRINT, [INAUDIBLE] WHATEVER ELSE TITLE THEY WANT TO GIVE THAT LEGISLATION. UH, I THINK WE ALL AGREE THAT EDUCATION IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURES IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE OTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO MEET AS WELL, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, ROADS, UH, AND GENERAL OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT. SO THAT BALANCE, UH, WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO NAVIGATE THROUGH AND COME UP WITH IF WE GET A BIG BLUEPRINT OR [INAUDIBLE] HIT, UH, YOU KNOW, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, DANNY, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS YET AT THIS TIME. SO WE'RE ABOUT TO START OUR BUDGET PROCESS. AND ONE, THE BIGGEST TICKET ITEM, WHICH IS OUR BOARD OF ED CONTRIBUTION, IS UNKNOWN AT THIS POINT. SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR US TO BUDGET, UH, MOVING INTO NOT NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT IS GOING TO BE.

UM, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHWAY USER REVENUE. UM, YOU KNOW, SO BUILDING THAT INTO OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE DID IT LAST YEAR AND WE'LL WE'LL MOVE THROUGH. WE'VE GOT ONE BUDGET UNDER OUR BELTS. SO YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL GO AS SMOOTHLY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAD. UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END? MR. BAKER, I THANK YOU ALL DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THIS LAST YEAR AND I ENJOY YOUR MEETINGS, EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES I HAVE COMMENTS, SOMETIMES I DON'T. UH, YOU MENTIONED JANUARY 2ND, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RESUMES AND GET SOMEBODY I KNOW PUBLIC WORKS HAS A LOT OF DIVISIONS, BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT IS OUR HIGHWAYS AND OUR ROADS. AND WE NEED SOMEBODY THAT'S GOT A GOOD CIVIL ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND ALSO A PUBLIC SAFETY BACKGROUND. SO WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING APPLICATIONS, PLEASE KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND. I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER DUTIES FOR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BESIDES ROADS. THAT'S THE MAIN THING I'M CONSIDERING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER AND I LIKE A NICE ROAD. WE ALL DO. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. OKAY AT THIS TIME, UH, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ADJOURN. MOVE TO ADJOURN SECOND. OKAY. CLOSED SESSION. CLOSED SESSION. RIGHT. DO WE HAVE TO ADJOURN? YEAH. OKAY, WELL, MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION. I MOVE WE GO TO CLOSED SESSION SECOND. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.