Feb 06, 2024 County Commissioners Meeting

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GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.

THIS MORNING, WE HAVE PASTOR KEN CLENDANIEL OF WESLEYAN CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO, IF EVERYONE COULD RISE.

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

GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT. SO LET'S PRAY.

OUR FATHER, WHO LIVES IN HEAVEN AND YET RESIDES WITH US.

FATHER, I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE WITH US TODAY.

LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU, OFFERING OUR THANKSGIVING AND OUR PRAISE.

LORD, ALL GLORY GOES TO YOU.

AND WE'RE JUST THANKFUL FOR ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US BREATH IN OUR LUNGS.

AND SO MAY WE USE THIS DAY TO TO OFFER YOU PRAISE, TO OFFER YOU THANKS, LORD, TO SHOW YOU THE GRATITUDE THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND TO SERVE YOU ONCE MORE.

AND SO TODAY, FATHER, WE PRAY FOR BLESSINGS UPON OUR WORLD, UPON OUR NATION.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR THOSE LEADERS THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE.

LORD, YOU TELL US IN YOUR WORD THAT YOU APPOINT LEADERSHIP THAT LORD, NO ONE RISES TO LEADERSHIP WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

AND SO TODAY, LORD, AS WE'RE TOLD IN SCRIPTURE TO DO, WE PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP.

WE PRAY FOR OUR WORLD LEADERS.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR OUR NATIONAL LEADERS.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR OUR STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT.

LORD, THAT YOU GIVE THEM A HEART THAT WOULD WOULD MAKE DECISIONS THAT IS BASED UPON YOUR PRECEPTS, UPON YOUR WORD, UPON YOUR GUIDANCE.

AND FATHER, TODAY WE ESPECIALLY LIFT UP AND PRAY FOR OUR LOCAL LEADERSHIP, LORD, FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOR OUR LOCAL NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP, LORD, FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY.

AND TODAY WE SPECIFICALLY LIFT UP OUR COMMISSIONERS.

LORD, WOULD YOU GRANT THEM WISDOM? WOULD YOU GRANT THEM COURAGE? WOULD YOU GIVE THEM THE DISCERNMENT THAT THEY NEED AS THEY LOOK AT, AS THEY LISTEN TO, AS THEY WRESTLE WITH THE THINGS THAT THAT ARE ON THE DOCKET FOR TODAY, THAT, LORD, YOU WOULD JUST HELP THEM, FATHER, TO GIVE THEM THE WISDOM THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT WOULD BRING GLORY TO YOU AND

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AND SO, LORD, AGAIN, WE THANK YOU.

WE HONOR YOU AND WE PRAISE YOU.

YOU ARE A GREAT GOD AND WE JUST WANT TO SERVE YOU.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE OBEDIENT TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN ONCE AGAIN CONTINUE TO BLESS US.

AND WE ASK AND PRAY THIS IN YOUR NAME.

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 PASTOR.

OKAY. THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION DURING THE JANUARY 23RD, 2023, 2024 MEETING.

SET ME UP, JEN, TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION AND AND PENDING COUNTY LEGISLATION.

NO ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.

THE ATTENDEES WERE THE THREE COMMISSIONERS, ATTORNEY MARK GABLER, COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL, STATES ATTORNEY SLOAN FRANKLIN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, PLANNING CODES AND DIRECTOR KRYSTAL DADS PIO, JENNIFER REIBLY, AND PARALEGAL MARY BERNACKI.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME WE WILL HEAR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING HERE?

[Public Comment]

YES, I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING.

TODAY. GO AHEAD AND SIT.

YES, MA'AM. YEP.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS MORNING.

MY NAME IS MEGAN CAMPBELL.

I'M A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.

I LIVE IN HENDERSON, BUT IN AN AREA KNOWN AS BRIDGETOWN.

AND THIS TOPIC ACTUALLY IS ON YOUR AGENDA FOR A LITTLE LATER THIS MORNING.

UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CONFLICT AT THAT TIME, SO HERE I AM.

IT'S AND I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THE DART FACILITIES.

OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S A PRETTY SORE SUBJECT, I THINK, FOR A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW.

JUST A FEW POINTS I'D LIKE TO HAVE ON RECORD.

THE IMPACTS OF THE DAF FACILITIES ON OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AREAS SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT.

ANOTHER THING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT, OUR CHILDREN ARE ON THESE ROADS.

IT'S NOT THE FACILITIES THEMSELVES, IT'S THE VILLAGE.

AND, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, EVEN MY CHILDREN'S BUS DRIVER HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IT.

THEY DRIVE BY THE WHERE THE FACILITIES WOULD BE AND ARE CURRENTLY AND, YOU KNOW, THEY WORRY ABOUT THE SMELL AND THE IMPACTS ON HEALTH.

I'M REQUESTING, MY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND OTHER RESIDENTS WHO COULDN'T ATTEND WITH ME TODAY.

THAT YOU CAN, CONTINUE THE MORATORIUM INDEFINITELY, SUSPENDING THE USE OF THOSE STRUCTURES ON PINER AND RIVER ROADS FOR DAF PROCESSING.

THIS WOULD BE IN LINE WITH OTHER NEIGHBOR COUNTIES NEIGHBORING COUNTIES LIKE WICOMICO HAVE DONE.

I ALSO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HERE, I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU FURTHER CONSIDER, STRICT REGULATIONS AGAINST DAF PROCESSING SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT OUT OF STATE SLUDGE PROCESSING IN OUR COUNTY.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAKE REGULATIONS THAT WILL NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR LOCAL FARMERS.

I'M, YOU KNOW, LONG TIED TO AGRICULTURE.

I OWN HORSES HERE, TOO.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T PASS REGULATIONS THAT WILL IMPACT OUR OUR FARMERS, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO KEEP PREVENT THIS FROM COMING TO MARYLAND AND COMING FROM CAROLINE COUNTY TO CAROLINE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE? I JUST WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH.

YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS RICK AND KATHY SCHWAB WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY WITH A DISCUSSION OF CAROLINE COUNTY'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE GREEN EVENT.

SO, YEAH.

[Discussion of Caroline County 250th Anniversary & “We Are All About the Green” Event]

I GUESS WE GOT THEM AS FAR APART AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT ARRANGEMENT CAME FROM, BUT THAT WAS ABOUT AS FAR APART AS WE GET.

SO YOU WANT TO TALK FIRST? ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE SENT YOU AN INVITE.

I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T COME IN PERSON BEFORE, BUT WE DID SEND YOU ONE IN THE MAIL.

AND THAT WE, ARE HAVING AN EVENT ON THE 15TH OF MARCH AT THE MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE.

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BUT THE FIRST THING WE DID, IF YOU SEE THE EMBLEM ON OUR STATE, IT SAYS 1773.

AND I ALWAYS WONDER, WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING 250TH? AND IT'S REALLY WAS LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S THIS ALL CAME ABOUT REALLY WHEN WE WERE ACTUALLY AT THE GRAVE MARKING THE DAR DID DON RICHARDSON AT GILBERT POINT.

AND THEN WE STARTED TO THINK OUT THAT, FOR 25 YEARS, CHUCK WALSH HAS, HAS DONE AND RUN EVERYTHING AND, AND WE WANT TO SIT THERE AND LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORIC SOCIETY IS, IS MOVING FORWARD.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME MORE EVENTS.

BUT THAT BROUGHT INTO MIND, THAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE 250TH? AND THE WAY MARCH 15TH CAME IN, I ALLUDED TO IT IN THE LETTER, IS THAT COLONEL RICHARDSON ACTUALLY WAS THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DORCHESTER COUNTY BACK THEN, AND THAT'S WHEN THEY WENT AND COMMISSIONED OR PETITIONED TO CREATE THE COUNTY FOR POLITICAL REASONS WE DON'T WANT TO GO INTO.

BUT WHATEVER. IT'S, AND THE FIRST COURT THAT WAS ACTUALLY HELD, THOUGH, WAS ON THE 15TH.

AND WE THOUGHT, WELL, THAT RATHER THAN, SAY, 250 AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THAT ACTION, WHICH IS REALLY THE FIRST OFFICIAL ACTION FOR THE COUNTY, AND THAT BROUGHT IN.

SO EVERYTHING IS TIED IN WITH JOCK, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THAT THAT ALSO BROUGHT IN THAT ALL STARTED WHEN JOCK WAS TALKING WITH JOE SMITH AT HARRY'S.

AND HARRY SAYS HE'S DIGGING AROUND IN HIS WITH HIS BACKHOE AND HE FOUND COINS AND, JOHN TOLD HIM TO CEASE AND DESIST.

AND THEN THEY WENT TO WASHINGTON COLLEGE AND GOT THEIR ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG BECAUSE THAT WAS THE THE LOCATION, BASICALLY THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT, REALLY? DENTON. DIDN'T EVEN EXIST UNTIL, YOU KNOW, OCTOBER 18TH, 1781.

OFFICIALLY. SO WHERE WAS THE COUNTY SEAT FROM 1773 74 TO THEN? AND EXCEPT FOR A SHORT TIME WHERE IT WAS IN BRIDGEVILLE OR IN BRIDGETOWN, THAT, IT USUALLY WAS AT MELVILLE'S WHARF. SO, SO WE REACHED OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL DOING THE ARCHEOLOGICAL DIG THAT THAT JOB PAID FOR, OR AT LEAST INITIATED, THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS.

AND SHE IS GOING TO COME DOWN AND DO A PROGRAM AND BRING SOME OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN FINDING IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO WE REACHED OUT, WE FOUND OUT THAT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNTY WASN'T DOING ANYTHING FOR THE 250TH THAT THAT WEEKEND.

AND WE HAD A ONE MEMBER WHO HAD A BRIGHT IDEA.

THEN WHY DON'T WE TIE IN SAINT PATRICK'S DAY'S WEEKEND? YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, I WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

I DIDN'T SAY NO FAST ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, NOW WE HAVE A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO TRY TO SIT THERE AND AND PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

SO. SO THE WEEKEND WE ARE ABOUT THE GREEN ISN'T REALLY ABOUT THE 250.

THE TWO 50TH IS THAT FRIDAY NIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHY WE WOULD INVITE YOU TO ATTEND AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A PROCLAMATION WHETHER YOU WANT TO GIVE IT THAT NIGHT OR YOU WANT TO DO IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU COULD DO IT ON THE GREEN AND HAVE YOUR OWN EVENT.

THAT'S UP TO YOU. YOU KNOW, IT'S WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT OUR EVENT.

AND, SO WE WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING.

WE, WE GOT CAROLINE'S INVOLVED AND THE PUB INVOLVED BECAUSE THEY KIND OF BOOKEND MARKET STREET.

YOU KNOW, AND SOMEBODY CAME UP WITH THE IDEA WE ARE ALL ABOUT THE GREEN AND IT'S TAKEN OFF FROM THERE.

SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO FILL IN EVENTS.

WE WE DIDN'T GET PERMISSION YESTERDAY.

OFFICIALLY HEARD WORD THAT WE HAVE, ROAD CLOSURE PERMISSION SO THAT THE STREETS WILL BE CLOSED FROM SECOND STREET TO FIFTH STREET, MARKET AND THIRD STREET WILL BE BLOCKED OFF.

ALSO, FOURTH STREET WILL BE LEFT OPEN.

SO WE HAVE SOME EVENTS, PLAN.

WE'RE TRYING TO FILL IT OUT. IN FACT, AT 11:00 THIS MORNING, WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING OF OUR COMMITTEE.

BUT, WELL, THE EVENT'S ONLY GOING TO BE FOR FOUR HOURS FROM 12 TO 4, SO.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN NOT COMPARED TO SUMMERFEST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S THE FIRST SAINT PATTY'S DAY WEEKEND.

IF IT CAN CONTINUE, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE TOWN TO LET WHOEVER'S GOING TO CONTINUE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

BUT WE JUST WANTED TO START SOMETHING AND ADD TO IT BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING HERE.

SO FUN THINGS ALSO.

AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO A TRICYCLE RACE YOU CAN COME ON DOWN.

WE DON'T CARE. YES, WE DON'T JUDGE.

YES ANYBODY CAN.

WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING TO TRY SOME RACES.

WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE RUNNING THE CORNHOLE.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO OPEN ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO IT.

THEY CAN THE CHAMBER IS IS DOING A SCAVENGER HUNT.

THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE $10 FOR ADULT, $5 FOR FOR KIDS.

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IT'S GOING TO BE FREE. ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO IT CAN REGISTER.

AND ONE OF THE BANKS, BANKS IS GOING TO RUN THE CORNHOLE.

I THINK IT'LL BE. IT'S A FAMILY EVENT.

AND OF COURSE, ON SUNDAY, BRIAN WILL HAVE HIS USUAL.

I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT GREEN EGGS AND HAM, BUT IT COULD BE, I DON'T KNOW, I WILL JUST VISIT THE DAY BEFORE, BUT IT SHOULD BE A FUN EVENT AND IT WILL BRING PEOPLE.

WE'VE BEEN ADVERTISING THE HECK OUT OF IT.

SO YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHO WE BRING IN.

AND THEY SAY THAT IT'S A GOOD EVENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FAMILIES.

I MEAN, I MEAN, THEY NEED ANYTHING.

I MEAN, IT WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR IT'S LIKE LIKE WHAT NUMBER WILL YOU BE IN THE TRICYCLE RACE.

YEAH. THERE WAS SOME, SOME ONE OF THE IDEA THAT MAYBE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AGAINST THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TEAMS, THAT'S, THAT'S TO BE WORKED OUT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE FOR PRIDE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I GUESS.

SO PEOPLE HAVE FUN.

SO. SO THE FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WAS HELD MARCH 15TH.

IT WAS THE COURT WASN'T REALLY OKAY, COMMISSIONERS.

THAT'S WHEN THEY HELD COURT.

COURT. OKAY.

BUT THERE WERE, I THINK NINE COMMISSIONERS.

I GUESS WHAT YOU DO, YOU CREATE A COUNTY AND YOU APPOINT NINE PEOPLE AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO, TO MEET.

RIGHT? SO, SO YOU MEET AT A BAR OR TAVERN OR SOMETHING FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE BUT TAVERNS WERE, YOU KNOW, QUITE A MEETING, QUITE A FEW MEETING PLACES WHERE WE WERE UP IN BOSTON, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, SO ON, ON THEIR, ON THEIR LITTLE RUN THERE, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR TOURISM THERE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF BARS ON THERE WHERE PEOPLE MET BACK THEN.

SO, SO I ACTUALLY VISITED THE EXCAVATION SITE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OUT AT SMITH LANDING ROAD RIGHT AT THE END OF SMITH LANDING ROAD.

LANDING ROAD. YEAH, YEAH.

SO JOE JOE SMITH WAS AT OUR CHRISTMAS PARTY ON JANUARY 27TH BECAUSE THE FIRST ONE GOT POSTPONED AND HE SAYS, JESUS, HE WAS REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE HE SAYS, I'LL BE THERE AT NIGHT.

AND HIS WIFE PULLED HIM ASIDE.

HE SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN MYRTLE BEACH.

SO, SO, SO HE MAY BE THERE.

HE DID SAY, HE SAYS, WE'LL SEE.

BUT BUT HE'S HE HE WAS EXCITED ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE HE'S HIS HIS PROBLEM.

HE FOUND THE COINS.

IT'S, AND, HE IS THE START AND ALL WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE DIG BRINGS UP.

WE HAVE A BUILDING IN GREENSBORO, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY TAKE THINGS TO CLEAN AND EVERYTHING.

AND THEY DO ALSO HAVE, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR THEY HAD, THE PUBLIC COULD COME OUT AND HELP AND DO SOME OF THIS CLEANING AND, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO TOUCH THAT, EVEN IF IT'S A MILLION YEAR OLD ROCK.

THEY WERE BRINGING IT OFF AND THE STUDENTS WERE VERY EXCITED.

I MEAN, THEY WERE LIKE LITTLE KIDS, YOU KNOW.

OH, LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK WHAT I FOUND. SO IT'S JUST TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE, IT'S AN IMPORTANT FIND.

IT PUTS US, I WANT TO SAY A LITTLE MORE ON THE MAP WITH, ANTIQUITIES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT IT'S.

I THINK IT'S EXCITING, ESPECIALLY FOR SCHOOL KIDS.

SO WE'LL SEE IF SHE HAS ANOTHER PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

SHE GOT ANOTHER GRANT FOR ANOTHER TWO ACRES I.

TWO MILES, TWO MILE RADIUS AROUND THAT WHOLE AREA.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S GOING TO GO IN THE WATER OR WHEREVER, BUT YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT DOWN THERE ON THE WATER.

SO WE REALLY HAVEN'T TALKED THAT MUCH ABOUT IT.

BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH INDIAN ARTIFACTS.

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO ASK HER.

WE'LL HAVE TO ALL FIND OUT AT THAT FRIDAY MEETING.

SO WE'RE EXCITED. YEAH.

AND WHAT WE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN USING WHAT WAS THE GREENSBORO MUSEUM OVER THERE BEHIND WHERE HARRY'S USED TO BE, OFF OF MAIN STREET THERE. AND WE STILL HAVE ROOM AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, OUR PERMISSION TO COME BACK IN AND USE IT AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S EASY RATHER THAN COMMUTE FROM WASHINGTON COLLEGE.

IT'S IT'S IT'S ONLY LIKE A TEN MINUTE DRIVE TO SMITH LANDING ROAD.

SO IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.

YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE, YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS EVENT.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW EXCEPT FOR THAT EVENT.

SO I PLAN ON BEING THERE.

AND HOPEFULLY THAT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO FOLD ANYTHING IN OR I'LL LET OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GUYS HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY DOING THE PROCLAMATION OR ANYTHING.

WE STILL HAVE TWO SEPARATE COMMITTEES AND AN INTERNAL COUNTY ONE.

AND WE'RE WORKING ON, COLLABORATING.

SO I BELIEVE THE 15TH, WE WOULD DO A PROCLAMATION PROBABLY DURING THE MEETING, AND THEN SOMEONE COULD PRESENT IT AT THE EVENT AT THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

OKAY. WE'RE STILL PLANNING ON DOING A MAJOR THING COUNTY RELATED IN THE FALL.

YEAH. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL THE TOWNS TO GET THAT DONE IN THE PAST, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU ALL HAVE HAD LARGE ANNIVERSARIES LIKE THAT, I THINK ONE OF THEM TOOK AN ENTIRE YEAR AND EACH TOWN DID THEIR OWN THING.

WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT ANNIVERSARIES.

I MEAN, IT WAS AWESOME.

AND IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE.

IF OTHER TOWNS WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING, MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE MENTIONED ALSO.

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WE HAVE INVITED, THE COMMISSIONERS FROM THE OTHER CITIES, YOU KNOW, TOWNS, YOU KNOW, PRESTON AND FEDERALSBURG AND ACTUALLY AND RIDGELEY AND GREENSBORO.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THEM HAVE RESPONDED ALREADY, WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE THAT NIGHT ALSO, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T KEEP INVITING TOO MANY PEOPLE FOR FREE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE SOME EXPENSES.

WE HAVE TO PAY. SO, YEAH.

WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

SO OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS LARRY, FOR US.

WE DIDN'T SEE YOU IN OUR CHRISTMAS MEETING.

WOULD YOU PLEASE GIVE THAT TO YOUR WIFE AND BRING BACK MEMORIES? OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YES. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TO GO TO.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS. EXCUSE US.

PARDON US. IT'S HER LETTER TO SANTA IN 1950.

OH MY GOSH. OH.

HAVE YOU READ IT IN 1960? FEEL FREE TO READ IT. NO, I DON'T WANT TO.

I DON'T WANT TO. NO. OKAY.

OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS, CAROLINE COUNTY DECLARATION OF LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG.

THE THE INCORPORATED AREA OF THE TOWN OF FEDERALSBURG.

SO, WEEKEND BEFORE LAST, THEY HAD A AN OUTAGE IN THEIR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.

AND I THINK PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE ENTIRE TOWN, WAS OUT WITHOUT WATER FOR OVER 24 HOURS.

SO IN ORDER TO FREE UP SOME STATE RESOURCES, I ISSUED A DECLARATION OF A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE TOWN. HARFORD COUNTY WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO LOAN US A 500 GALLON WATER BUFFALO TO HELP PROVIDE WATER TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN.

[Caroline County Declaration of Local State of Emergency-Town of Federalsburg]

SO WE OPTED TO JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HARFORD COUNTY'S DONATION, WHICH THEY ACTUALLY HAD STAFF BRING THE WATER BUFFALO TO THE COUNTY.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND WITH THAT EQUIPMENT MUCH, MUCH QUICKER.

THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED, I BELIEVE IT WAS DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY.

SO WE LIFTED THE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY ON TWO TUESDAY, I THINK, OR LATE MONDAY, SOMETIME IN THERE AS SOON AS THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED.

SO, THOSE WERE RESOLUTIONS 2024, DASH 001 AND RESOLUTION 2020 4-002.

SO IF YOU GUYS WANT TO MAKE A MOTION, JUST SAYING THAT YOU AGREED WITH THOSE RESOLUTIONS AND SO MOVED OKAY,

[• Resolution #2024-001, Declaration of Local State of Emergency-Town of Federalsburg Water Supply]

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE OKAY.

SO THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT.

AND OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS MR.

[Caroline County Police Accountability Annual Report]

JOHN, I BELIEVE THIS IS IS THIS THE FIRST ONE EVER? SECOND ONE. SECOND ONE.

FIRST, ONE OF THE THREE OF US WAS VERY BRIEF.

THE FIRST ONE WAS. DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE REPORT? WE DO. OKAY.

WONDERFUL. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH US THIS MORNING REGARDING THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD ANNUAL REPORT.

JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, THE MARYLAND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT WAS PASSED JULY 1ST OF 2022, WHERE EACH COUNTY WAS REQUIRED TO CREATE THREE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARDS.

THE FIRST ONE BEING THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 2022, AND THEIR ROLE IS TO RECEIVE POLICE COMPLAINTS, RECOMMEND POLICY CHANGES AND IDENTIFY ANY TRENDS.

THE SECOND BOARD IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE, AND THEIR ROLE IS TO LOOK OVER AND REVIEW COMPLETED COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS AND RECOMMEND DISCIPLINE, IF THEY DECIDE TO ADMINISTRATIVELY CHARGE OR IF THEY DECIDE NOT TO ADMINISTRATIVELY CHARGE.

IF THEY DO ADMINISTRATIVELY CHARGE, THEY USE THE STATEWIDE POLICE DISCIPLINARY MATRIX TO, DECIDE WHAT KIND OF DISCIPLINE WOULD BE NECESSARY BASED ON THE COMPLAINT THAT WAS MADE.

THERE ARE FIVE BOARD, FIVE BOARD MEMBERS ON THE ACC, AND THEY WERE APPOINTED AND TRAINED LAST APRIL.

[00:25:06]

AND THE LAST TRIAL BOARD, THE LAST BOARD IS THE TRIAL BOARD, AND THAT IS MADE UP OF THE RETIRED JUDGE, A CITIZEN AND A POLICE OFFICER OF THE SAME RANK.

WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE GONE TO THE TRIAL BOARD YET.

BUT WE DO HAVE A RETIRED CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE WHO HAS BEEN TRAINED THIS PAST JANUARY.

AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY IS LEADING THE WAY FOR OTHER COUNTIES ON THE EASTERN SHORE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO US REGARDING USING JUDGE WISE, IF THEY NEED A JUDGE FOR A TRIAL BOARD.

AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CHAIRPERSON, JOHN BARTLETT.

GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

MR. PRESIDENT, MY NAME IS JOHN BARTLETT AND I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGING COMMITTEE.

ON BEHALF OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF BOTH COMMITTEES OR LIKE YOU, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND ALSO, GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR, FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR LEGAL DECISIONS WHEN NEEDED.

OUR REPORTS IN WRITING, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, THERE IS ONE POINT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THEY HAD OVER 26,000, CONTACTS WITH CITIZENS IN THE LAST YEAR.

OF THOSE 26,000, THEY GENERATED FIVE COMPLAINTS.

EXCUSE ME? SIX COMPLAINTS OF ONE.

FIVE OF THOSE SIX WERE EXONERATED, MEANING UNFOUNDED.

AND ONE WAS A VERY MINOR INFRACTION, WHICH LED TO A WRITTEN REPRIMAND.

AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUME WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY THAT JUST CALLS FOR SERVICE, THAT'S NOT POLICE CONTACTS ON THE STREET AND TALK TO. AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES.

THE REPORTS AND WRITING, LIKE WE SAID, I WANT TO THANK KIMBERLY, AND ALSO, MARY FOR THE GUIDANCE AND, THE ATTORNEYS THAT WE HAVE WORKING WITH US.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO ANSWER THEM TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT, MR. PORTER, MY, I THINK MY CONCERN IN THIS IN THE BEGINNING WAS AND I KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT, MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAD POLICE DEPARTMENTS, HAVING THEIR OWN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARDS.

RIGHT. SO WITHOUT ME GOING LOOKING THROUGH THIS ANY FURTHER THAN I HAVE ALREADY, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DID WE HAVE WITHIN MUNICIPALITIES? WE HAD A TOTAL OF 15 COMPLAINTS.

I BELIEVE WE HAD.

WE HAVE ONE THAT'S STILL PENDING OUT OF DENTON, WHICH MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF BECAUSE 6 MILLION PEOPLE REVIEWED IT ON YOUTUBE.

WE HAVE THAT CASE.

WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, 5 OR 6 THERE.

WE HAD NONE FROM RIDGELY AND NONE FROM GREENSBORO, ONE FROM FEDERALSBURG, WHICH WAS BROUGHT TO US.

WHICH WAS ALSO EXONERATED.

SO VERY SMALL.

DENTON IS, I GUESS THE BIGGEST, MOST CONTACTS THAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE A FEW FOR THEM.

I THINK THREE.

AND I'M SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF RIGHT NOW WITH SELF-GENERATED, BY THEIR OFFICE, WHERE THE LIEUTENANT HAS REVIEWED BODY FILMS, ON A REGULAR BASIS AND FOUND INFRACTIONS, INVESTIGATED IT, AND SENT IT TO THE ACC.

SO THE VOLUME OF OF COMPLAINTS, REALLY, TO ME, DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S WARRANTED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TOWN TO HAVE THEIR OWN.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, WENT TO ANNAPOLIS HAD FAILED AT ANNAPOLIS.

I GET IT WITH SOME AGENCIES LIKE GREENBELT AND HYATTSVILLE, SOME HUGE MUNICIPALITIES.

BUT I DON'T HEAR I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S KIND OF THEY ALL WORK ENTWINED TOGETHER.

EVERYBODY BACKS EACH OTHER UP.

SO, IT'S PRETTY.

I THINK IT'S RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

OKAY. IT JUST MAKES SENSE THAT WITH, YOU KNOW, I WOULD GUESS IF YOU WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF CONTACTS IN YOUR MUNICIPALITIES BECAUSE THE POPULATION IS DENSER, I'M SURE THERE ARE.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU SAY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAD HOW MANY, 20 OVER 26,000, I THINK IT WAS 26,200 AND SOME I CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER.

I DO HAVE IT IN THE REPORT.

IT'S IN THERE. I WOULD TELL YOU HONESTLY, THAT WAS A LAST MINUTE THOUGHT THAT WE HAD AS A COMMITTEE TO PUT THAT IN, TO KIND OF SHOW THE PUBLIC WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND WE JUST DIDN'T DO RIDGELY AND WE JUST DIDN'T DO THE OTHER DENTON.

SO NEXT YEAR'S REPORT WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE THAT IN THERE, OF ALL CONTACTS AND, BELIEVE THE REQUEST FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OR THAT WE PUT THE FINANCIAL MATTERS IN THE IN THE REPORT ALSO.

OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME YOU SPEND.

I MEAN, AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK.

IT WAS A BILL THAT I THINK WE ALL KIND OF TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT.

BUT YES, SIR, IF IT'S IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SERVING A PURPOSE, THEN WE'LL MAKE IT WORK.

[00:30:04]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

THANKS, GUYS. THANK YOU SIR.

THANK THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, AND TO THE BOARD FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME TO TO DO THIS, FULFILL THIS OBLIGATION THAT WAS PUT DOWN ON US, YOU KNOW, BY THE STATE, YOU KNOW, GOOD JOB.

AND, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S AN HONOR.

YEAH. THANK YOU. OVER.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP WE HAVE KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE RIVER ROAD CULVERT

[Discussion of River Road Bridge]

IT'S ALL YOU, DANNY.

SOUNDS GOOD. GOOD MORNING.

COMMISSIONERS. COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE RIVER ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LANE ENGINEERING TO CONFIGURE THAT PROJECT AND PRETTY MUCH PUT AN ESTIMATE AND TIMELINE TOGETHER.

WE'RE STARTING TO APPROACH A CRUCIAL PART OF THE PROJECT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT PRE-PURCHASING SOME OF THE CRUCIAL PARTS OF THE BRIDGE. WITH THAT, WE ODDLY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY DES AS WELL ABOUT POSSIBLE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY CAPTURE FOR THIS PROJECT, THROUGH THE STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING THAT I BELIEVE, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICE HAD REACHED OUT TO THEM ABOUT.

SO REALLY, THE CONVERSATION FOR TODAY IS, WHETHER WE WOULD LIKE TO SEEK THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND MDM THE DRAWBACK TO GOING THAT ROUTE.

THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND WE WOULD NOT KNOW THE FUNDING, OR AWARD OF THAT TILL PROBABLY SEPTEMBER, WHICH WOULD PUSH BACK THE BRIDGE PROJECT FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

SO IF WE WERE TO EXPEND OUR ALREADY BUDGETED FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ON THE PROJECT NOW, WE WOULD LOOK TO DO CONSTRUCTION.

HOPEFULLY THIS SUMMER AND TRY TO TIME IT OUT WHERE SCHOOL WAS MOSTLY NOT IN SESSION.

BUT IF WE WERE TO PURSUE A GRANT OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE STATE AND DES, WE WOULD PUSH THIS PROJECT BACK ANOTHER YEAR AND WE WOULD LOOK MORE ON THE LINES OF 2025. AGAIN, GRANT FUNDING IS NOT GUARANTEED.

BUT THROUGH DISCUSSION WITH DES, WE FEEL WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT IS HITS A LOT OF THE MARKS THAT THE GRANTERS ARE LOOKING FOR.

AGAIN, I JUST THINK THE BIG QUESTION IS, DO WE BITE THE BULLET NOW AND REPLACE THE BRIDGE WITH THE MONEY WE ALREADY HAVE SET ASIDE ON THE TIMELINE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED? OR DO WE TAKE A CHANCE AND HOPE TO GET A GRANT TO FUND A PORTION OF THIS PROJECT? SO. ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, COMMISSIONER BARTZ? I THINK WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE BEEN HAVING AT THE TIME, I THINK THIS ONE COULD POSSIBLY FALL INTO THAT.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, BEING SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HAPPENING AT ANY MOMENT.

CORRECT. SO TAKING A CHANCE ON A GRANT, I, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO, BITE THE BULLET AND DO IT AT THIS TIME.

YEAH. I THINK WAITING ON THE GRANT, THE PEOPLE ON THAT ROUTE, AND, THEY'VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT DONE.

THE COUNTY'S WAITED LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT DONE.

SO I THINK PUSHING IT BACK ANOTHER YEAR IS UNACCEPTABLE AS FAR AS THE CITIZENS AND THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE TRAVELING THAT ROUTE ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, CERTAINLY.

AND I WILL SAY, THE BUDGET THAT THE BOARD HAD SET ASIDE FOR THE PROJECT WAS ABOUT 1.6 MILLION.

WHEN LANE PUT TOGETHER SOME PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES, I THINK THEY WERE GUESSING AROUND 800,000, IF I'M REMEMBERING CORRECTLY.

SO THE PROJECT IS REALLY UNDER WHAT THE INITIAL BUDGET WAS.

I KIND OF SHARE IN YOUR SENTIMENT OR SENTIMENT, COMMISSIONER BARTZ WITH THE GRANT.

IF WE DON'T GET THE GRANT, THEN IT'S JUST PUSHING IT DOWN.

WE'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ROADS AND WASH AWAY, SO I THINK HE'S GOING TO BUY THIS IN THE BUD IF WE WAIT ANOTHER YEAR FOR THE GRANT.

YEAH. YEP.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE OTHER ROAD PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE COUNTY CURRENTLY.

WE COULD CERTAINLY, TAKE THAT MONEY AND TRY TO PUT IT TOWARDS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

IT WOULD NOT BE FOREGONE, WE WOULD STILL SEEK OTHER PROJECTS IN THAT, SO.

RIGHT. YEP. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? YEAH, I, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT SCHEDULING.

YES. IT WOULD BE I.

I'M REALLY NEED TO SEE THE SCHEDULE.

[00:35:03]

BUT THAT IS A REAL CONCERN FOR ME.

YES. DURING THIS MOST RECENT, YOU KNOW, FLOOD EVENT THAT WE HAD DID WE HAVE WAS THAT ROAD SHUT DOWN? I DON'T THINK IT WAS. RIGHT.

YEAH. IT WAS. WE ACTUALLY HAD A STRANDED VEHICLE.

OH WE DID. YEAH. YEAH.

I THINK THEY HAD TO RESCUE AND WE HAD TO DO WHAT WE DO.

7 OR $8000 WORTH OF EMERGENCY.

PATCHING, PAVING, PATCHING THE LARGER FLOODS WE HAD COME THROUGH.

IT'S BEEN 3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO.

WE HAD THE ROAD SHUT DOWN, HAD THE INCIDENT WHERE THE ROAD HAD ACTUALLY STARTED TO DETERIORATE THERE, AND WE HAD TO PAY A CONTRACTOR TO COME IN AND APPLY SOME HOTMIX OVER THAT.

SO THEN SCHEDULING FOR ME IS THE BIGGEST BIG HEART ISSUE BECAUSE, I MEAN, OUR PHONES ARE GOING TO LIGHT UP.

DEFINITELY. SO SO I THINK WITH THIS, IF WE HAVE KIND OF THE OPINION OF GOING AFTER THE PROJECT AND DOING IT CURRENTLY WITH THE BUDGETED MONEY, WE'LL WORK WITH LANE, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUSLY, THE BOE TO START TO COME UP WITH A PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF WHEN THEY WILL START RECEIVING SOME OF THE CONCRETE PIECES, AND THEN WE CAN OBVIOUSLY SHARE AND PUBLISH THAT SCHEDULE AND TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS CAN BE THROUGH THE THROUGH THE FACEBOOK AND ANY OTHER MEANS.

BUT, IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A BIG ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT JUST BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF IT.

I THINK THE THOUGHT IS TO ORDER THE BOX CULVERT.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY REPLACING, I THINK THERE'S TWO, 2 OR 3 PIPES THERE THAT WE'RE REPLACING WITH A ARCH OR A BOX CULVERT.

LIVE BOTTOM STRUCTURE.

YEP. AND THE THOUGHT IS TO GO AHEAD AND ORDER THE BOX CULVERT DIRECTLY FROM THE VENDOR AND HAVE THE COUNTY PROCURE THAT AS THAT WITHIN YOUR PROCUREMENT OF ABILITY, OR DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THAT OFFICIALLY APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF THAT? SO YOU WILL HAVE TO APPROVE THE FINAL PURCHASE OF IT.

ONCE I LEAVE HERE TODAY, I'LL HAVE OUR PURCHASING COORDINATOR WORK WITH LANE TO START PUTTING TOGETHER THE OFFICIAL RFP TO HAVE THAT PUT OUT.

BUT THE FINAL SIGNATURE AND WHAT WOULD BE A SOLE SOURCE? I THINK IT'S A SOLE SOURCE VENDOR.

IF IT CAN BE SOLE SOURCED, THAT WILL MAKE IT A LOT.

I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO HERE.

IT'S ONE MANUFACTURER.

YEP. THEN WE WILL RECOMMEND AND SIGN OFF THAT IT COME TO YOU UNDER A SOLE SOURCE.

BUT ULTIMATELY WE COME TO YOU GUYS.

WHAT IS OUR ESTIMATED TIME FRAME ON ON THIS.

DO WE KNOW I MEAN FOR CONSTRUCTION UNTIL WE GET PEOPLE BACK ON THE ROAD.

I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT ONE.

I WOULD GUESS THAT IT'S PROBABLY 2 TO 3 MONTHS.

BUT I THINK THE PLAN IS TO ORDER THE STRUCTURE, HAVE IT BEING DELIVERED WHILE WE GO THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS FOR THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION. WHEN THE BOX CULVERT SHOWS UP, WE'LL HAVE A CONTRACTOR IN PLACE AND THEY CAN COORDINATE DELIVERY OF THE STRUCTURE AND INSTALLATION.

SO THE HOPE IS TO DO IT THIS SUMMER WHILE WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT OF SESSION.

YES I THINK IS THE TARGET CORRECT.

THE LAST CONVERSATION WAS TRY THIS TO GET IT IN THIS SUMMER.

SO EVERYTHING TIMED OUT WITH A RIVAL CONTRACTOR BEING SELECTED.

SO THE BULK OF THE WORK WOULD BE OVER THE SUMMER, WITH A POSSIBILITY THAT IT MIGHT RUN INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IF WE ALLOW THE BIDDER TO ORDER THE STRUCTURE, IT'LL TAKE TOO LONG TO HAVE IT MADE.

SO WE'LL BE IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IF WE DO IT.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE KIND OF GOT TO DO IT IN AN UNTRADITIONAL MANNER, WHERE WE PURCHASE THE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE MATERIAL.

YES. AND THEN, HAVE A CONTRACTOR, ALL OF THE WETLAND, ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING DONE.

AND EVERYBODY, SOME NOBODY'S GOING TO SHOW UP AND FIND SOMETHING THAT WE GO, OKAY.

CORRECT. YEAH. THAT'S I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROJECT FOR I, I FEEL LIKE AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE AT THE COUNTY, IT'S BEEN A CONVERSATION.

SO A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THE LANE OF GETTING ALL THOSE BOXES CHECKED.

SO, THROUGH THEM, THE CONVERSATION IS ALL OF THAT'S BEEN COMPLIED WITH AND WE'RE READY FOR THIS NEXT STEP.

SO ALL RIGHT, WELL, PUSH LANE ENGINEERING TO GET THE, DOCUMENTS OUT AND PUBLIC WORKS.

LET'S GET IT OUT TO BID AND, GET US A PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE STRUCTURE.

CERTAINLY. SO WE CAN GET THAT ON THE WAY.

AND AS SOON AS WE HAVE A PROPOSED SCHEDULE OR ANY PROGRESS IS MADE ON THIS, I'LL BE SURE TO SEND OUT AN EMAIL AND KEEP YOU GUYS IN THE LOOP, AS WELL AS KEEPING, DOCTOR SIMMONS OR ANYBODY ELSE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT.

[00:40:02]

HOPEFULLY. I MEAN, IF IF IT DRAGS INTO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD, BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE IT ALL DONE 100%, AT LEAST, AT LEAST TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN GET OVER IT.

RIGHT? I MEAN, EVERYTHING MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETELY FINISHED, BUT AT LEAST WE CAN GET SOME TYPE OF PAVING.

MAYBE WE COULD JUST PAVE IT, YOU KNOW, FINISH PAVEMENT AFTER SCHOOL.

WE HAVE A DINNER MEETING WITH THEM COMING UP SOON.

YES. WHERE? WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT TOO, SIR.

YEP. SO I'LL WORK ON THAT WITH, NICOLE AND WE'LL GET THIS MOVED FORWARD.

SO. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU. THEN WE'RE GOING TO DANIEL FOX AGAIN, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, FOR A DISCUSSION OF A BID PROTEST REVIEW. SO STACY'S HERE.

I HAVE STACY WITH ME.

SO, WE REALLY WANTED TO JUST BRING UP THE BID PROTEST.

SO THE COUNTY, CODE, AS WELL AS THE PURCHASING MANUAL, OUTLINES HOW WE HANDLE BID PROTESTS.

WE HAD A BID THAT WAS ISSUED FOR A LARGE PLANNING OF NORTH COUNTY PARKS, WHERE WE RECEIVED ONE FORMAL BID PROTEST.

OUTLINED IN THE CODE IS THE PROCESS THAT WE MUST REVIEW THAT WHERE THE DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING PROVIDES A FORMAL REVIEW, OF THE PROTEST AND THE BID, AND THEN MAKES A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF ESSENTIALLY A CONTRACTOR FOR THAT.

AS THE BOARD, YOU GUYS HAVE THE FINAL SAY AND RIGHT TO TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION OR GO A ALTERNATE ROUTE OF THAT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAD ANY.

IF NOT, THE RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR POA 2024 350 SO, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER IT.

SO I READ I READ THROUGH THIS.

YES, SIR. GIVE ME THE GREENSBORO VERSION.

TELL ME. TELL ME THE SHORT VERSION HERE.

OF WHAT? WHAT WENT ON.

YEAH. SO CERTAINLY, WE HAD A LARGE PLANNING OF MULTIPLE TREES AND SHRUBBERY, I THINK, INTO THE HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF PLANTS OUT TO NORTH COUNTY PARK.

WE PUT THIS OUT TO BID WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A CIVIL ENGINEER THAT WE USE FOR A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS.

[• Discussion of Bid Protest Review: Bid CCDRP-2024-02, Distinctive Landscaping &]

AND THROUGH THAT COUNTY STAFF, ALONG WITH THE CIVIL ENGINEER, DID THE REVIEW OF BIDS.

THEY TOOK THE COUPLE, THE LOWEST BIDDERS AND REVIEWED THEM FOR NOT JUST PRICE, BUT REFERENCE ABILITY TO DO THE PLANNING, ABILITY TO DO THE WATERING.

AND TOOK ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND MADE THE RECOMMENDATION TO GO WITH THE COMPANY THAT IS RECOMMENDED TODAY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

THE COMPANY THAT HAD THE LOWEST BID WAS THE ONE THAT PROVIDED THE BID PROTEST.

BUT THROUGH FINDINGS THROUGH THE ENGINEER AND OURSELF, THE COMPANY HAS HAD A FEW LEGAL ISSUES, HAS HAD A COUPLE BAD REFERENCES WITH OTHER CLIENTS THAT THEY'VE HAD AND ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH, LEGAL ISSUES WITH AND WE OPTED NOT TO GO WITH THEM DUE TO THAT.

SO, SO BASED ON PRIOR PERFORMANCE AND OTHER JOBS, THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE TO NOT GO WITH THEIR BID.

YES. OKAY. AND AGAIN, THAT WAS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ENGINEER AS WELL AS MY FORMAL REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTS AS WELL.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER BARTZ? NO. OKAY.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD THEN.

THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS TO US.

YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.

DANNY, DO YOU WANT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AWARD OF THE BID OR.

IT'S IN THE CONSENT AGENDA? CONSENT? SO IF YOU WANT TO DO IT INDIVIDUALLY, WE COULD.

OR BULK IT IN THE CONSENT.

EITHER WAY IS FINE WITH ME.

WOULD YOU BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH A SEPARATE MOTION? YES. OKAY.

THEN I WOULD MOVE. WE CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, TO ACCEPT THE THE BID AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. ALL OPPOSED? THANK YOU. AYES HAVE IT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO NEXT ON THE LIST, WE HAVE OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 SECOND QUARTER BUDGET UPDATE.

[• Fiscal Year 2024 2nd Quarter Budget Update]

SO I'M GOING TO TAKE A QUICK RUN THROUGH THE REVENUE, AND THEN I'LL HAVE STACY GO THROUGH THE EXPENSES, AND WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FROM THERE.

SO, LOOKING AT REVENUE, AND DO YOU GUYS HAVE A COPY OF THE FULL REPORT THAT YOU CAN LOOK.

[00:45:04]

SO AS WE TAKE A LOOK THROUGH SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS THAT MAKE UP PROPERTY TAXES, THE NUMBER THAT WE HONE IN ON IS THE 92% COLLECTION RATE FOR THE COUNTY.

THAT'S FAIRLY TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

WE ARE PAST THE END OF DECEMBER DUE DATE FOR PROPERTY TAXES, BUT THERE ALWAYS IS THAT KIND OF SMALL PERCENTAGE AT THE END THAT WILL START MAILING DELINQUENT NOTICES AND GOING THROUGH THE TAX SALE PROCESS, THAT WILL COLLECT HERE THROUGH THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

UTILITIES, WE HAVE JUST OVER 2 MILLION COLLECTED ON UTILITY TAX, WHICH IS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

WE ARE UNDER BUDGET ON THAT, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE BILLS THAT WILL BE GOING OUT OR CURRENTLY OUTSTANDING THAT WE'RE WAITING ON COLLECTION.

UNLIKE PROPERTY TAXES, WHERE WE RECEIVE THE INFORMATION TO BUILD JULY 1ST, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX INFORMATION COMES THROUGH THE WHOLE YEAR.

SO THERE IS OR ARE A COUPLE BILLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN SENT OR A COUPLE THAT ARE, OUTSTANDING AT THIS TIME.

BUT WE SHOULD HIT OUR MARK ON THAT.

AND THAT IS THAT'S SUBSTATIONS, SOLAR ARRAYS.

YES. THE BULK OF IT IS, HONESTLY, ELECTRIC COMPANY SUBSTATIONS, ANY EQUIPMENT THAT THEY OWN.

BUT AS WE HAVE SOME OF THE SMALLER SOLAR PROJECTS COMING UP IN THE COUNTY, THAT DOES MAKE UP A PORTION OF THIS AS WELL.

KEEP US POSTED ON THE SOLAR.

YES. CERTAINLY WILL.

YEAH. SO NEXT, LINE ITEM, WE HAVE INCOME TAX.

INCOME TAX KIND OF EBBS AND FLOWS FOR COLLECTIONS IN THE STATE PAYOUTS.

SO RIGHT NOW WE SEE THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 7.6 MILLION, WHICH IS 38%.

THAT IS NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

OFF THE CUFF YOU WOULD THINK, OH, WE NEED TO BE AT 50% HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR.

BUT THE BULK OF OUR INCOME TAX ACTUALLY COMES THROUGH THE SUMMER WHEN THE STATE DISTRIBUTES IT THROUGH JUNE, JULY AND ACTUALLY AUGUST THAT WE TAKE BACK.

SO RIGHT ON LINE WITH LAST YEAR AND PRIOR YEARS.

NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

SCROLL ON DOWN.

I'LL POINT OUT RECORDATION TAX.

SO WE ARE ACTUALLY ABOVE BUDGET ON RECORDATION.

THIS IS MONEY THAT'S COLLECTED ON TRANSFER OF PROPERTY WHEN IT IS SOLD THROUGH OUR OFFICE.

THIS NUMBER WE HAD TRIMMED DOWN ON BUDGET EXPECTING THAT THE HOUSING MARKET WOULD SLOW DOWN.

WE HAD CLIMBING INTEREST RATES UP INTO KIND OF FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, 8% NUMBERS.

AND TO OUR SURPRISE, PROPERTIES ARE CONTINUING TO SELL AND CONTINUING TO COLLECT ON IT.

I THINK EVERY YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE ALWAYS SAID THERE'S NO WAY THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO HIT LIKE IT DID LAST YEAR, BUT PROPERTY KEEPS SELLING AND PEOPLE ARE STILL TAKING OUT, HOME EQUITY LINES AND ANY OTHER TYPE OF BORROWING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY.

SO, KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE THAT NUMBER CONTINUE TO OUTPACE THE BUDGET.

HONESTLY, GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE OTHER LINES WHEN IT COMES TO PERMITS, GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, WE'RE HITTING THE MARK ON A LOT OF THOSE.

IF YOU LOOK KIND OF DOWN AT STATE GRANTS, WE HAVE A COUPLE LINE ITEMS THAT ARE ZERO FOR ACTUAL, WE BILL A LOT OF THOSE QUARTERLY, AND THEY HAVE.

BEEN BUILD. WE BUILD THE SECOND QUARTER.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAYMENT ON IT.

THE STATE AT TIMES TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO PAY THOSE BILLS.

WILL BE WHOLE WITH THEM BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR COMES.

BUT, DON'T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU SEE A COUPLE OF THOSE ZEROS ON THERE.

WE'VE DONE OUR PART. WE'RE JUST KIND OF WAITING FOR THE STATE TO PAY.

SO CONTINUING TO SCROLL THROUGH, WE'LL KIND OF DROP DOWN TO CHARGES FOR SERVICES.

A LOT OF THESE SERVICES ARE SEASONAL IN NATURE.

SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE MOSQUITO OR JOHNSON GRASS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT MOSQUITO, WE'VE ONLY COLLECTED ABOUT 6% ON, THE BULK OF THE MOSQUITO SPRAYING AND COLLECTION FOR BILLING HAS NOT OCCURRED YET.

SAME THING WHEN WE GO TO JOHNSON GRASS.

WE'VE ACTUALLY OUTPACED WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR THAT PROGRAM.

COLLECTION AND BILLING HAPPENS A LOT EARLIER IN OUR FISCAL YEAR.

SO REALLY LOOKING THROUGH THAT LINE BY LINE, STACEY AND I TRY TO COMPARE THAT TO PRIOR YEAR AND TIMING OF THE SEASONAL NATURE OF IT.

AND TO THIS POINT, NOTHING REALLY STICKS OUT OR GIVES US ANY, AREA OF CONCERN.

GOING DOWN, WE HAVE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.

THE ONE NUMBER THAT JUMPS OUT ON FROM THE PAGE IN THERE IS OUR INTEREST.

SO IF YOU LOOK, WE'VE COLLECTED ABOUT 1.2 MILLION IN INTEREST, WHICH IS JUST SHY OF OUR BUDGET AT NUMBER FOR THE YEAR.

[00:50:06]

ONE OF THE INITIATIVES OUR OFFICE HAS TAKEN IS REALLY WORKING WITH A LOT OF THE LOCAL BANKS AND AGENCIES THAT OFFER PROGRAMS FOR INTEREST AND TRYING TO FIND OUR BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK WITH OUR SAVINGS AND MOVING SOME OF THOSE FUNDS AROUND TO COLLECT THE BEST INTEREST THAT WE CAN.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY OUTPACE THE BUDGETED NUMBER ON THERE AND LOOK TO DO THE DO THAT THROUGH THIS WHOLE YEAR.

AS FAR AS THE REST OF THE NUMBERS UNDER MISCELLANEOUS AND TRANSFERS.

NOTHING REALLY STICKS OUT.

WE'RE RIGHT ON PACE WITH A LOT OF THE TRANSFERS AS FAR AS BLS AND OPEB GO.

SOME OF THE OTHERS, LIKE THE SMALL RECREATION PROGRAM TRANSFER WE DO AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SO I THINK WITH THAT, THAT COVERS A LOT OF THE, THE REVENUE LINE ITEMS THAT WE'VE REVIEWED.

IF THERE ARE ANY LINE ITEMS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO LOOK AT OR SPEAK ON, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO, BUT IF NOT, I'LL HAVE STACY JUMP INTO EXPENSES AND WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT AS WELL.

GIVE HER EXPENSES. YEAH, EXACTLY.

I HEARD THE HARD PART, BUT NOW THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING VERY GOOD.

THEY'RE MAKING US LOOK GOOD RIGHT NOW.

YEAH. SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO INTO EXPENSES OR.

GOOD. OKAY. SAME THING.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH LINE BY LINE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S A LOT OF ON HERE.

MOST OF THE DEPARTMENTS HAVE STAYED WITHIN BUDGET, IF NOT A LITTLE BELOW OR RIGHT AROUND WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT THE SECOND QUARTER.

SO THE FIRST DEPARTMENT WE KIND OF HIT THAT SLIGHTLY OVER IS WALL.

AS WE KNOW, WE'RE BIG ON LEGAL SERVICES RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT COMES OUT OF THEIR BUDGET.

SO THAT'S PUT THEM SLIGHTLY OVER, THROUGH TO THE SECOND QUARTER RIGHT NOW.

IT IS.

THEY HAD A LOT OF UPFRONT PURCHASES WITH HARDWARE TERM PURCHASE ALL IN ONE BIG BOX TO GET A BETTER DEAL.

THAT HAPPENED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

WE USE IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SLIGHTLY ABOVE.

THE FIRST ONE I HAD CIRCLED WAS GENERAL SERVICES.

I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT IS BECAUSE THAT INCLUDES INSURANCE THAT GETS PAID CORRECT.

ONE TIME, ONE TIME, ONE TIME SHOP OKAY.

CORRECT. AND I WILL SPEAK ON INSURANCE.

YOU'LL SEE. WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER OUR BUDGET, WE'VE WORKED WITH BUDGET AND SOME OF THE OTHER INSURANCE PROVIDERS WE HAVE, AND WE'RE PROJECTING ANYWHERE FROM A FIVE TO EVEN 10% INCREASE ON SOME OF OUR INSURANCE LINE ITEMS. SO AS WE GET INTO THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, YOU'LL SEE THE THE OTHER END OF THAT FOR THE BUDGET AND NUMBERS KIND OF GOING UP FROM HERE.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER SEEN A DROP IN INSURANCE.

IT'S ALWAYS, WELL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO.

NO, NO. AS LONG AS WE, YOU KNOW, LIKE WORKMAN'S COMP, I MEAN, AS LONG AS WE GOT ONE COMPANY TO DEAL WITH IN THE WHOLE STATE OF MARYLAND.

YEAH. DROP IN THAT EITHER.

AND IT'S INTERESTING IN GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THESE, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATIVE BILL I MEAN EVERY OTHER ONE IS INCREASING WORKMAN'S COMP.

SO YOU KNOW IT'S IT'S CRAZY.

IT IS FOR SURE.

AFTER IT WE HAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND WE PAID OFF SOME VEHICLES THERE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BUDGET IS SLIGHTLY OVER BECAUSE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LEASES.

YEAH. AND I WILL SAY AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE PAID OFF A BULK OF OUR ENTERPRISE LEASES.

THE WAY WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT IS THROUGH THEIR VEHICLE LEASE LINE THAT SHOWS UP ON EACH DEPARTMENT.

SO FOR THE SHERIFF'S INSTANCE, WE DID NOT BUDGET TO PAY THOSE VEHICLES OFF, BUT THROUGH CERTAIN OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED TO GO FORWARD AND PAY THAT OFF. SO THAT REALLY SKEWS HIS LINE, AT THE BOTTOM.

SO, SAME THING FOR THE JAIL AS WELL.

THERE'S MORE VEHICLES THAT WE, PAID OFF THERE AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SUPPLIES INCREASE WITH THOSE DEPENDING ON IF THEY HAVE TO BUY AND PURCHASE FOR THEIR NEEDS AS WELL.

SO THAT KIND OF FLOWS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL.

AND CONTROL LOOKS GOOD.

EMS SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS AND EMS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS, AND IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING WITH INSURANCE.

THEY DO AN UPFRONT PURCHASE OF THOSE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.

SO IT KIND OF SKEWS THEIR NUMBERS A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.

AND THEN PUBLIC WORKS ADMIN ON PAGE 12 AS AN EMPLOYEE THERE.

SO THAT'S SCREWED THEIR NUMBERS UP A LITTLE BIT AS FAR AS THEIR SALARY.

HERE AS WELL. ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS FROM THERE ON OUT LOOK PRETTY GOOD TO US.

SO HAVE ANY CONCERNS THERE? AND IN THE END, RIGHT NOW FOR THE SECOND QUARTER, WE ARE ACTUALLY 15.4 MILLION TO THE GOOD RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST EXPENSES,

[00:55:06]

AND I WILL SPEAK TO KIND OF WHERE WE'RE FINISHING THIS QUARTER AT.

SO THE THE NATURE OF TAX COLLECTION AS A COUNTY AND THE WAY WE EXPEND THE BULK OF OUR COLLECTION, AS WE SAID, IS OCCURS IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF THE YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT OUT OF NATURE FOR US TO HAVE THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT SURPLUS, BUT THIS, OVERAGE ON REVENUE COMPARED TO EXPENSES AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, JANUARY TO JUNE, WE'LL START SPENDING MORE THAN WE'RE COLLECTING.

AND BY THE TIME WE GET TO JUNE, WE SHOULD KIND OF MEET AND ZERO OUT AT THAT TIME.

BUT, LIKE STACY WAS SAYING, WE TRY TO TAKE A LOOK THROUGH THIS, QUITE REGULARLY.

WE MEET WITH DEPARTMENTS.

DEPARTMENTS BRING THINGS UP TO US THAT THEY SEE, AND WE TRY TO STAY ON TOP OF ANYTHING THAT MAY BE OUT OF LINE OR OUT OF TOUCH.

AND SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN, AND WE HAVE TO MOVE EXPENSES AROUND TO MORE APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTS AND DO SOME, DEEP DIVING.

BUT SO FAR THIS YEAR IS LOOKING RIGHT ON PACE WITH EXPECT IT.

SO. DANNY, SPEAKING OF WHILE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY, UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE BLUEPRINT COST OR DISPARITY? GRANT? I'LL HIT ON DISPARITY FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO INTO BLUEPRINT.

SO, JUST FOR THE THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TODAY, THE DISPARITY FORMULA, IS CALCULATED EACH YEAR BASED ON A FORMULA COMPARING, WEALTH PER CAPITA FOR EACH COUNTY.

AND THE GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO ESSENTIALLY CATCH UP THE POORER COUNTIES TO 75% OF THE STATE AVERAGE.

LAST YEAR, CAROLINE COUNTY RECEIVED JUST OVER $4.7 MILLION.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 25 HAS US GOING DOWN ABOUT 615,000.

WITH THAT, I HAD REACHED OUT TO MAKO ASKING IF THEY HAD HEARD ANY RUMBLINGS OR THINGS BEING BROUGHT UP ABOUT DISPARITY.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT ARE DISPARITY, COUNTIES LIKE US BRINGING UP THE THE LOSS AND FUNDING FOR FY 25 PGS GETTING HIT WITH LIKE $30 MILLION. YEAH. DECREASE.

AT THIS TIME, THERE HAS BEEN NO FORMAL SUBMISSION TO, LET'S SAY, HOLD COUNTIES HARMLESS TO AN AMOUNT THAT THEY RECEIVED LAST YEAR.

BUT IT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION ITEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FORMAL ABOUT A BILL COMING THROUGH.

I HAVEN'T I HAVEN'T EITHER.

AND AND I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN, YOU KNOW, THEY I DON'T THINK THEY REALLY WORRY ABOUT US.

BUT WHEN WE START HITTING THE BIG COUNTIES, THAT'S WHEN THE, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEMS START ARISING.

CERTAINLY I THINK I THINK THE OTHER ONE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY COLLEGES GOT, GOT HIT, A LOT.

YEAH. WHICH MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME.

I MEAN, AFTER COVID, OUR, OUR ENROLLMENT IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES INCREASED.

YES. AND, I KNOW CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE IS ABOUT TO GET ABOUT A 10% CUT.

YES. THERE IS THERE IS SOME HOPE, I THINK, THAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO CORRECT SOME OF THAT IN THE BUFFER.

BUT YES, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THROUGH CONVERSATION, THE COLLEGES BEING CUT THROUGH THERE, I THINK IT'S CADE FORMULA THAT FUNDS THEM, THEY'RE SAYING WAS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE OF DOING A RECALCULATION OR A RELOOK AT THAT.

SO, I'M KIND OF HEARING THE SAME THING YOU ARE.

THERE'S HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE A CORRECTION PASSED LATER ON IN THE BUDGET WHEN YOU GO BACK AND RECALCULATE A FORMULA AND YOU'RE NOT SURE WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE GOING TO BE WHEN YOU RECALCULATE THAT FORMULA, THEN IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE SOMEBODY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.

SO YEAH, SO DEFINITELY SEEMS I MEAN, I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A BIG PUSH GOING ON WITH THAT BLUEPRINT.

YEAH. AND WITH BLUEPRINT AGAIN FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR ANYBODY THAT WOULD BE LISTENING HERE TODAY.

EACH YEAR THE COUNTY RECEIVES ESSENTIALLY A REQUIRED MANDATE FOR LOCAL FUNDING TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF ED, LAST YEAR, AS A COUNTY OR THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN, WE WERE 16,081,000 TO USE ROUND NUMBER.

TYPICALLY THROUGH THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, WE'RE USED TO SEEING THREE, $400,000 INCREASES TO THAT LINE ITEM.

[01:00:01]

THIS YEAR THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT, WE'VE RECEIVED OUR.

PRELIMINARY NUMBERS, AND WE'RE LOOKING ABOUT A $1.8 MILLION INCREASE ON THAT LINE ITEM.

SO WE HAVE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF ED, ABOUT THAT NUMBER AND MAKING SURE THE DATA THAT IS USED IN THAT CALCULATION, IS CORRECT.

BUT AS WE SPEAK, THAT IS THE NUMBER I HAVE TODAY, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME BELIEVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE.

SO AND YOU HAD THAT TO THE 600,000 CUT IN DISPARITY.

YEAH. WELL, BETWEEN THE TWO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $2.4 MILLION, HIT COMPARED TO THE YEAR WE'RE IN.

SO TEN CENT PROPERTY INCREASE.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT IT JUST IS WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO COVER THAT.

YES, SIR. YEAH.

THE BLUEPRINTS WORK. WELL, IT'S IT'S BEEN A REALLY WISE DECISION HERE.

SO KIND OF ON THAT, STACY AND I ARE WORKING THROUGH BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

THE BUDGET SUBMISSIONS WERE DUE TO US YESTERDAY, SO WE'RE TAKING THE THE PILES AND PILES OF INFORMATION AND SPREADSHEETS AND STARTING TO SIFT THROUGH THEM AND PUT TOGETHER YOUR BIG THREE INCH BUDGET BOOKS.

SO WE'RE HOPING IN TWO WEEKS WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, PRESENTING EVERYBODY'S REQUEST AND WHERE WE BELIEVE THE REVENUE ESTIMATES WILL BE FOR THE YEAR.

BUT THAT PROBABLY WILL TAKE THE BULK OF OUR TIME FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS TO GO THROUGH AND, AND GET READY.

SO AND JUST TO CLARIFY, I DIDN'T SAY WE WERE GOING TO RAISE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

NO, DON'T PUT THAT IN THE PAPER, PLEASE.

WHAT I SAID WAS THAT THAT THAT AMOUNT EQUALS IF, IF, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE A 10% NOW OR TEN CENT, TEN CENT PROPERTY TAX RATE, THAT WOULD TAKE US TO A DOLLAR EIGHT. YEAH, THAT WOULD TAKE US TO THE HIGHEST ON THE SHORE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT AND THAT IS WITHOUT PAVING A ROAD THAT IS WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING, IT'S SIMPLY WHAT WE'RE BEING MANDATED TO PAY EXTRA FOR EDUCATION BEYOND WHAT WE'VE BEEN PAYING EVERY YEAR.

YES. AND, AND GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO LOBBY.

I'M GOING TO PUSH HARD FOR A HOLD HARMLESS ON THE DISPARITY.

GRANT. I THINK THE STATE HAS DONE THAT IN THE PAST.

YES. I THINK PG IS DEFINITELY GOING TO PUSH FOR A HOLD HARMLESS FOR $30 MILLION, BUT 600,000 TO US IS APPROACHING 10% OF OUR BUDGET. RIGHT? SO I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S A PRETTY MASSIVE CUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ADD IN THAT OUR MANDATED EDUCATION INCREASE IS 1.8 MILLION.

SO I MEAN, FOR EVERYONE, THAT'S THAT'S A NET 2.4 MILLION CHANGE IN POSITION.

SO I KNEW WE HAD COMMISSIONER BARTZ AND I HAD A PRETTY EASY BUDGET OUR FIRST TIME THROUGH.

AND I HAD MY SUSPICIONS THAT THAT WOULDN'T ALWAYS BE THE CASE.

AND HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER, AND WE HAVE A NET CHANGE IN 2.4 MILLION.

SO AND THAT'S WITHOUT INCREASING ANY COST IN-HOUSE IN THE COUNTY.

THOSE ARE JUST REDUCTIONS IN MANDATED INCREASES OUTSIDE OF OUR AUTHORITY.

SO THE BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

AND THERE'S NO INFORMATION THAT ANYBODY HAS SHOWN ME WITH ALL OF THIS EXTRA, WITH ALL THIS MONEY BEING SPENT, THAT WE'VE SEEN ANY INCREASE IN TEST SCORES, WE'VE SEEN ANY INCREASE IN EDUCATION RESULTS, NOTHING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, IT HITS RURAL COUNTIES. SO.

AND ONE OF THE CRAZY PARTS ABOUT IT IS WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO INTO A BUDGET SEASON, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR NUMBER IS, THE LARGEST EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY.

WE WON'T KNOW OFFICIALLY WHAT THAT NUMBER IS UNTIL WE'RE ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.

YEAH. SO THEY SHARED THE PRELIMINARY, BUT YOU'RE 100% CORRECT.

THE CONVERSATION IS PROBABLY END OF APRIL, EARLY MAY.

WE WOULD HAVE OUR FINAL AND WE'LL HAVE OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING.

YOU KNOW, BY THEN, I MEAN, IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO GET CHARGED, BUT WHEN THEY CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO CHARGE YOU, THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

AND, EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH THIS, EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO BEG AND PLEAD TO LET TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND.

YEAH, THAT'S I DON'T I'M JUST.

AND AT $1.8 MILLION INCREASE, I MEAN THAT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE BIGGEST WE'VE SEEN AS A COUNTY 1.8 BEYOND WHAT WE SPENT.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GOING FROM 16 MILLION TO 17.8.

YES. SO IN A $65 MILLION BUDGET.

[01:05:03]

YES. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? LARRY SAID IT ALL SAID TOO MUCH.

BUT, IT'S EVERY YEAR I WOULD THIS IS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I EVERY YEAR WE WE END UP IN THE SAME SPOT.

YEAH. I THINK DISPARITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HOT ONE.

EACH YEAR IT CHANGES.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE'VE WELL I ASKED ABOUT THE DISPARITY.

GRANT AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ANYONE.

WAS IT ALLEGHENY COUNTY? I THINK IT WAS ALLEGHENY.

SO APPARENTLY ALLEGHENY IS ALSO A DISPARITY GRANT RECIPIENT.

AND THEY HAD A THE STORY I GOT, THEY HAD A LOTTERY WINNER LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WON LIKE $700 MILLION OR SOMETHING.

AND THAT DROVE THEIR INCOME REVENUE UP THAT IT SKEWED THE FORMULA SO THAT CAROLINE GOT MORE.

SO NOW THAT FORMULA, THAT PERSON WHO WON THE LOTTERY HAS NOW COME OUT OF THE FORMULA.

SO WE GO BACK.

I MEAN IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU COULD TELL US THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU LET US KNOW.

WELL, SOMEBODY'S WINNING THE LOTTERY AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY SKEWS THE FORMULA.

YOU KNOW. YEAH. AFFECTS WHAT WE SEE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TRUE STUFF, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT BALTIMORE CITY'S NUMBER, IT'S THE EXACT SAME AS LAST YEAR.

OH, THEY WERE HELD. SO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.

YEAH. YEAH. SO I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT'S FORMULA DRIVEN.

YEAH. IT'S FORMULA DRIVEN.

THAT'S THE FIRST THING EVERYBODY I ASK ABOUT IT TELLS ME OH THAT'S FORMULA DRIVEN.

THAT'S NOT WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF THAT.

LIKE OKAY WELL I DON'T FEEL LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY GOT THAT MUCH RICHER THAN THE REST OF THE STATE IN ONE YEAR.

BUT MAYBE WE'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.

MAYBE SOMEBODY HIT THE LOTTERY AND DIDN'T TELL US OR SOMETHING.

BUT YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T HONESTLY I AND HONESTLY, WE'VE I KNOW MYSELF WE GET THE FORMULA COUNTY BY COUNTY EACH YEAR AND KIND OF THE TWO NUMBERS THAT WE LOOK FOR.

WHAT'S THAT 75% AVERAGE THAT THE STATE GETS MARKED AT.

AND THEN WHAT'S OUR PER CAPITA.

AND YOU GET A PER CAPITA GRANT FOR THAT DIFFERENCE.

SO TO BRING YOU WITHIN 75% OF THE STATE AVERAGE.

YEAH. SO WHEN WE WE LOOK TO THIS YEAR, I MEAN WE HAVE THE STATE COME IN A LITTLE TIGHTER, WE HAVE US COMING A LITTLE TIGHTER.

AND YOU YOU'RE TRIMMING OFF BOTH SIDES AND IT IT CUTS US OFF AND CUTS US DOWN.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY MEANS A LOT TO A COUNTY LIKE US WITH THAT.

I THINK SOME OF IT HONESTLY, I THINK SOME OF IT HAD TO DO AND I GOT I HATE TO SAY I THINK IT WAS COVID BECAUSE I THINK WE DIDN'T HAVE THE CAROLINE COUNTY DIDN'T HAVE THE SERVICE RELATED JOBS.

WE DON'T HAVE HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS.

I MEAN, EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH COPE AND GO FORWARD.

AND I THINK WE DIDN'T I THINK WE WEREN'T IMPACTED FROM AN FROM AN INCOME STANDPOINT.

THIS IS JUST MY MY THEORY.

BUT I THINK WE WE PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, DID NOT WERE NOT AFFECTED NEGATIVELY BY BY IT FROM AN INCOME STANDPOINT AS MUCH AS OTHER COUNTIES AS OTHERS.

THAT'S WHAT I, WHAT I THINK IS THE CASE, BUT CERTAINLY FAR BE IT FROM ME TO PRETEND I KNOW ANYTHING.

SO, BUT I IT IS JUST THE WHOLE THE WHOLE PROCESS IS JUST RIDICULOUS TO ME.

I MEAN, WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU, DANNY AND STACY, FOR GETTING, YOU KNOW, STARTING ON THE BUDGET.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD THIS STAFF MORATORIUM ISSUE GOING ON, AND WE'RE ALSO YOU GUYS IN FINANCE ARE EXTREMELY BUSY RIGHT NOW COMPILING BUDGET INFORMATION.

SO WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS.

AND THANK YOU FOR WORKING BOTH SIDES OF THAT FOR US.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR WORKING WITH US THROUGH ALL THIS.

YEAH. YOU YOU HAVE YOUR PRELIMINARY BUDGET REQUESTS IN.

YES, WE HAVE I WHEN WILL YOU BE SENDING ALL OF OUR HAIR ON FIRE WITH THAT? A LITTLE. REALLY HOPING THIS WEEK WE CAN START NAILING DOWN EVERYTHING.

THE BIG NUMBER THAT I'LL BE PROBABLY RECEIVING NEXT WEEK IS CONSTANT YIELD TO FIGURE OUT THE PROPERTY TAX NUMBER.

AND OBVIOUSLY, AS WE KIND OF MENTIONED, THAT'S OUR BIGGEST DRIVER OF REVENUE.

SO ONCE I HAVE THAT, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE KIND OF WHERE WE STAND FOR THE FOR THE START.

OKAY. YEP.

SO HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK. ALL RIGHT.

YEP. PERFECT.

GOOD. SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU GENTLEMEN.

LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING MY BOOK.

I'M DONE. ENOUGH READING.

I NEED TO READ ALL THAT.

YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE FIVE HERE BEFORE WE GO IN? YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS AND WE'LL COME.

[01:16:19]

[2024 Legislative Session Update]

[01:16:21]

AND THAT'LL BE COMMISSIONER PORTER AND JEN REIBLY.

YEAH. BUSY, BUSY TIME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WHAT THE NUMBER OF BILLS ARE THAT HAVE BEEN DROPPED SO FAR, BUT IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

SO WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING, THE INFORMATION.

WE HAVE AT LEAST TWO CALLS A WEEK THAT WE, THAT WE GO THROUGH BILLS.

A COUPLE OF THE ONES THAT I NOTED HERE.

AGAIN, I THOUGHT WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE CUT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT, YOU KNOW, REWORKED THROUGH THE BFA.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT OR NOT, BUT IF NOT, YOU KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME HERE. SO, THE, THERE'S ALSO A HOUSE BILL, 468 SENATE BILL 532, THAT IS THE COMMISSION TO ADVANCE LITHIUM ION BATTERY SAFETY, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR BIG, INITIATIVES HERE TO TO GET THAT DONE.

AS IT RELATES TO THE SOLAR FIELDS, SOLAR PROJECTS.

THERE IS, TESTIMONY ON THAT IN THE SENATE ON THE 22ND AND, IN THE HOUSE ON THE 29TH.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO DO JUST WRITTEN TESTIMONY OR IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GO OVER, I DON'T KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THAT.

AND, DO WE HAVE TESTIMONY DATES FOR THE LIQUOR, OUR LOCAL LIQUOR BILL? THOSE ARE THOSE ARE JUST LOCAL BILLS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY.

I THINK OUR I THINK BRUCE AND STEVE MAY BE ABLE TO TESTIFY ON THOSE FOR US.

SO. ANOTHER ANOTHER BILL WAS, FOCUSING A BILL INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ELFRETH ABOUT, RESTRICTING COLLECTION ON SOLAR SYSTEMS. DANNY, I THINK WE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT ONE.

MOTOR VEHICLES, SCHOOL BUS, SEATBELTS.

AND THIS IS ONE THAT'S REALLY KIND OF INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD INITIALLY SAY, WELL, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN AS FAR AS SAFETY, BUT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK AND TALKING TO OUR, OUR TRANSPORTATION PERSON, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPENSES AND A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THIS BILL.

AND HE, GARRETT SCHOLL IS THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY TRANSPORTATION GUY FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AND HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB PUTTING TOGETHER BULLET POINTS, I THINK.

MAKO, I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, BUT WE MAY OPPOSE THIS BILL.

IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE BILL.

AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS WITH THAT.

I'M GOING TO OPPOSE IT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

SO, THE BILLS, JEN, DID YOU HAVE ANY ANY OTHERS HERE? I MEAN, I THINK I THINK THE ONE THAT WE'RE ALL PROBABLY INTERESTED IN.

AND I SEE MISTER GERARD HERE IS THE, BILL THAT RECENTLY JUST GOT DROPPED.

I THINK IT WAS DROPPED THE OTHER NIGHT BY, DELEGATE LOVE REGARDING, SLUDGE.

[01:20:05]

WE HAD A TELEPHONE CONFERENCE ABOUT THAT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

I HAVE, I HAVE PROVIDED THAT BILL TO MAKO, TO KEVIN CONNOLLY AND AND AND FOR THEM TO REVIEW.

I JUST THINK THAT THE THING ABOUT IT IS, AND MAYBE I'M HOPING MAYBE YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS, BUT I THINK AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO SAY THAT OUR POSITION ON THIS IS WHEN IT COMES TO STORAGE.

MY POSITION IS THAT WE NEED TO CONTROL STORAGE HERE.

SITING, I THINK SITING I MEAN, THE PERMIT I THINK IN IN THE LEGISLATION IT CALLS OUT, THERE IS A PROVISION FOR PERMITTING OF, OF SITING AND STORAGE, BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PERMITTING PROCESS DOESN'T PREEMPT ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO LOCALLY.

AS FAR AS, AS WHERE THESE STORAGE FACILITIES COULD BE LOCATED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE DOES ANY INSPECTION OR, YOU KNOW, TO TO VERIFY THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE TANK, TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO LEAK.

IT'S UP TO A CERTAIN STANDARD.

I THINK THE STATE SHOULD HAVE ALL THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT SITING WE WANT TO WE WANT TO KEEP CONTROL OVER.

YEAH. AND AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS SOME MORE WHEN WE GET TO THESE MORATORIUMS. BUT, REGULATING APPLICATION, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN IT CAN BE AND I'M TALKING ABOUT DAFF WHEN IT CAN BE APPLIED, HOW, HOW LONG IT HAS TO BE DISTANT, YOU KNOW, AND INJECTION INTO THE GROUND.

ALL OF THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER THE CONTROL AND AUTHORITY OF THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE MONITORED AND APPROVED THROUGH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. FINE.

WITH ALL THAT. IF IF THE DECISION WAS MADE TO BAN IT, YOU WOULDN'T HURT MY FEELINGS AT ALL.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THAT.

BUT I MEAN, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE PREEMPTED, WHEN IT COMES TO SITING OF THE FACILITIES.

BECAUSE WHEN THESE MORATORIUMS GET INTRODUCED, THEN OUR WORK IS GOING TO REALLY START ON DRAFTING TEXT LANGUAGE, YOU KNOW, SETTING, SETTING FORTH REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS OF WHERE THEY CAN GO.

AND I THINK I'M CORRECT IN STEWART I DEFER TO YOU.

BUT I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE SAY, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST BAN THEM, WHY DON'T YOU JUST NOT ALLOW STORAGE? I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, MY ARMCHAIR LAWYERING STUFF WOULD TELL ME THAT AS LONG AS IT IS AN APPROVED SOIL AMENDMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST BAN THE STORAGE OF IT.

THAT'S THAT'S A QUESTION THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

BUT I MEAN, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE PREEMPTION PART WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE WOULD COME BACK AND SAY, WELL, IT IS A IT IS AN APPROVED SOIL AMENDMENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO ALLOW STORAGE OF IT.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE ARE AT THIS POINT.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK DONE.

AND THESE THESE MORATORIUMS WILL TAKE US TO NOVEMBER 1ST.

AND THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME AWAY, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT WHEN YOU START WORKING ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY AND WHAT YOUR LANGUAGE IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BEFORE YOU PUT IT INTO, INTO PLACE.

SO, HAS THERE BEEN A CO FILE, HAS THERE BEEN A CROSS FILE ON THIS BILL? YEAH. THE BILL NUMBERS ARE HOUSE BILL 991 AND SENATE BILL 1074.

WHO'S SPONSORING IN THE SENATE SENATOR REID.

FREDERICK CARROLL COUNTY AREA.

OKAY. WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL DEFINITELY BE INTERESTED IN.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY.

AND, I THINK BEYOND THAT, I DON'T THERE, THERE ARE SOME OTHERS THAT WE'RE REVIEWING AT THIS POINT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SUBTRACTION, MODIFICATION BILLS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.

BUT, THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THE ONES I THINK THAT WE BASICALLY I HAD A COUPLE FROM LAST NIGHT, WHICH WAS HOUSE BILL 0783, WHICH IN THIS SYNOPSIS THAT WE RECEIVED ON THE MAKO CALL WAS IT'S IT'S ESSENTIALLY NO PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX CAN BE CHARGED ON ROOF MOUNT, SOLAR AND ON GROUND MOUNT UTILITY GRADE SOLAR. THE MAXIMUM FEE OR MAXIMUM TAX THAT A COUNTY CAN IMPOSE IS $2,500 PER MEGAWATT.

[01:25:08]

SO I WAS CURIOUS ON THAT TO, TO GET BACK TO, TO MAKO BEFORE THEY TAKE A POSITION ON THAT ONE.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE WAS HOUSE BILL 0805, SENATE BILL 0537, WHICH, BASICALLY SAID THAT ANY CANNABIS, RETAIL FACILITY HAD TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER THAT THE COUNTY AS FAR AS CITING THAT THE COUNTY TREATED A LIQUOR STORE, LIQUOR STORE REGULATION, IT COULDN'T BE ANY MORE STRICT.

AND ALSO, THE ONE THAT REALLY KIND OF GOT MY EARS PERKED UP WAS THAT YOU HAVE TO ALLOW THE GROW FACILITIES ANYWHERE THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED HEMP TO BE GROWN.

SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOSE GROW FACILITIES, CHRIS WILL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BECAUSE YOU'RE THE EXPERT ON THIS, BUT IT'S CAPPED AT TEN ACRES AND THEY HAVE TO BE AROUND TEN ACRES AND THEY HAVE TO BE FENCED IN.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE SECURITY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE LITTLE TEN ACRE COMPOUNDS.

AND THIS IS THE POINT THAT I BROUGHT UP ON THE MAKO CALL LAST NIGHT, WHICH COMMISSIONER PORTER WAS OUT AT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

SO, SO I FILLED IN FOR HIM.

I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES THEM, BECAUSE IT IS MONOTONOUS EVERY WEEK TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO ALL THIS DIFFERENT TIMES.

YEAH, BUT YOU KNOW, THE CITING, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THESE THINGS JUST SCATTERED OUT AROUND THE COUNTY EVERYWHERE, THESE LITTLE COMPOUNDS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANY SITING BECAUSE WE ALLOWED HEMP TO BE GROWN EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT KIND OF CONCERN ME, THAT BROUGHT UP A LOT OF CONCERN.

NOW, I THINK THEY'VE ONLY ISSUED THE ONLY ISSUE.

SO MANY GROW PERMITS PER COUNTY.

SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE WOULD HAVE A DOZEN OF THEM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD 2 OR 3 PERMITS ISSUED IN CAROLINE COUNTY, YOU COULD HAVE 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT FACILITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE IF THEY DEEM THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE STATE FINDS THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM MORE GROW FACILITIES, THEN WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE MORE MOVING FORWARD.

SO THE DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT ON THE MAKO CALL WAS THAT SOME STATES HAVE FOUND THAT THEY'VE ISSUED TOO MANY GROW PERMITS, AND THEY FLOODED THE MARKET.

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL THEM BACK.

SO I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST ANY TIME THAT THE COUNTY LOSES CONTROL OVER, YOU KNOW SOMETHING, I FIND IT VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THE BEST REPRESENTATION IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, BECAUSE WE'RE THE WE'RE THE CLOSEST TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

WE KNOW WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT AND AS MUCH AUTHORITY AS CAN REASONABLY BE LEFT TO THE COMMISSION OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE LEFT THERE.

BUT SO THOSE WERE TWO BILLS THAT I THINK GOING BACK TO THE SOLAR, I THINK THIS IS KIND OF WHERE I WAS AFRAID THIS WAS HEADED.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SET CONTROLS IN THIS COUNTY ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ACRES THAT CAN BE PUT INTO SOLAR.

NOW THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND KIND OF TRY TO RESTRICT US ON WHAT WE CAN RECOUP FROM IT.

WELL, THE FEAR WAS THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ALLOW TAXATION, LOCAL BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, TAXATION AT ALL.

MY. EVERYONE I THINK, PROBABLY UNDERSTANDS WHERE I AM WITH THIS GREEN AGENDA, BUT I'M SICK AND TIRED OF PEOPLE TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT PUTTING SOLAR PANELS IS AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.

IT'S NOT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS.

COVERED IN SOLAR PANELS, AND NO ONE'S GOING TO CONVINCE ME THAT WHEN YOU PULL THOSE SOLAR PANELS OFF, THAT YOU GOT GROUND THERE, THAT JUST TURNS MAGICALLY BACK INTO AGRICULTURE.

PEOPLE PUT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR EVERY YEAR INTO THE GROUND TO KEEP THE GROUND SO THAT YOU CAN GROW CROPS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN YET, AND I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN A SITUATION WHERE SOLAR PANELS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD TO SEE WHAT THE LAND IS LIKE.

YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE WHEN THEY WHEN THEY'RE TAKEN DOWN, NOT COUNTING THE FACT THAT NOBODY KNOWS AT THIS POINT WHAT TO DO WITH THEM, WHERE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM. SO, IT'S THIS IS JUST A IT'S AN AGENDA THAT'S BEING PUSHED.

IT'S THE SAME REASON THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO, ADAMANT ABOUT THE LITHIUM BATTERY STORAGE AND THE DANGERS AND HAZARDS THAT IT PRESENTS THAT, THAT THESE FACILITIES PRESENT TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

[01:30:05]

BUT WE'RE THESE THINGS HAVE GOT TO BE CONSIDERED.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE WORRY ABOUT LIGHTLY.

SO WE WORRY ABOUT RUNOFF AND WE WORRY ABOUT EFFECTS ON THE BAY.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THE EFFECTS OF THIS AGENDA IS GOING TO HAVE ON OUR AGRICULTURAL LAND, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MORE OF IT.

AND THE LITHIUM ION BATTERIES, IT'S NOT JUST THE FIREFIGHTERS.

I MEAN, IF ONE OF THESE THINGS CATCHES ON FIRE, THE RECOMMENDATION RIGHT NOW IS TO LET IT BURN OUT.

WELL, IT EMITS TOXIC FUMES THE ENTIRE TIME IT'S BURNING, WHICH COULD BE FOR DAYS.

AND THESE THINGS COULD BE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF SOLAR ARRAYS, YOU KNOW, SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS IT COULD HAVE ON NEIGHBORS.

I MEAN, YOU COULD BE EVACUATED FROM YOUR HOME AND TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T RETURN TO YOUR HOME.

AND WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHEN, WHEN THE FIRE IS GOING TO BURN OUT, WHEN YOU COULD GO BACK.

IS IT GOING TO BE SAFE TO RETURN? YOU KNOW, ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO THERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE THE STATE IS LAGGING BEHIND IN REGULATING, INDUSTRIES.

AND THIS LITHIUM ION BATTERY STORES, AS IT PERTAINS TO SOLAR OR RENEWABLE ENERGIES IS ONE OF THOSE.

SO AND SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW, THEY, THEY, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THERE TO BE ANY NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS ON SOLAR ENERGY. THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

THIS WAS KIND OF THE PRE DAF.

THIS WAS THE THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL.

WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, NO ONE ELSE HAD HEARD ABOUT IT.

NOBODY ELSE REALLY CARED ABOUT IT.

BUT WHEN WE REALLY STARTED LOOKING INTO IT AND SEEING WHAT THE DANGERS WERE, WE STARTED RAISING THIS ISSUE.

AND IN THE BEGINNING, NO ONE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

NO ONE. NO. YOU KNOW, I WENT AND TESTIFIED IN A HEARING TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR TRAINING OF FIRST RESPONDERS, NEVER GOT OUT OF COMMITTEE, WOULDN'T LET IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THE WORD SOLAR WAS IN THE NAME OF THE BILL.

OKAY. I MEAN, SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET ON THE BACK BURNER.

WE HAVE GOT TO STAY ON TOP OF THIS.

IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK AT RIGHT NOW.

WE WE DO NOT PERMIT SOLAR BATTERY STORAGE ON IN SOLAR, FIELDS, BUT WE HAVE ONE THAT SLIPPED THROUGH DOWN IN RELIANCE PRIOR TO US KNOWING ABOUT IT YEARS AGO.

BUT YOU KNOW, BUT THERE IS A MORATORIUM ON LITHIUM ION BATTERY STORAGE RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTY AS WELL.

WE HAD A VERY INTERESTING HEARING WHERE WHERE, OUR ATTORNEY WAS VERY ADAMANT WITH THE SOLAR PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROJECT, AND THEY WERE GIVING US THIS FOR NOW LANGUAGE.

AND WE'RE LIKE, NOT FOR NOW.

IT'S THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN THERE.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW LONG WE'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, SAIL THAT SHIP.

BUT I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A IT'S A BIG CONCERN.

AND YOU KNOW, SO AS A, YOU KNOW, I'M LIFE MEMBER OF THE FIRE COMPANY, I MEAN, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE PUT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN DANGER A LOT OF ALL THE TIME.

BUT TO PUT THEM IN THIS TYPE OF DANGER WHERE IT'S UNKNOWN, IT'S VERY CONCERNING, BUT I THINK IT'S PICKING UP STEAM NOW, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE BEING HELD AND SOME BILLS THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED WHERE THEY'LL GO.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU, I DON'T KNOW.

MORE TO THE AGENDA.

OR IS IT JUST SO, THAT'S THE THOSE ARE THE BILLS IN ADDITION TO THE ONES.

THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN FOR ME LAST NIGHT WHILE I WAS.

YEAH. OVER TO WITH THE SHERIFF AND, SO BUT THEY'RE THEY'RE STILL COMING.

I MEAN, THERE'S A I THINK THERE'S ESTIMATING 2000 BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED.

SO YOU KNOW, SO, SO SORRY.

WE'LL JUST OFF LINE TALK ABOUT THERE'S GOING TO BE AT THE HEARINGS.

YEAH. JUST THE LOBBYISTS.

WE NEED A REPRESENTATIVE.

YEAH I IT'S HARD TO GO, YOU KNOW.

YEAH I MEAN IT'S TO GO OVER ALL DAY AND BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES IS.

NO, THAT'S THAT'S THE PROCESS.

BUT SO I THINK THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT AS FAR AS BILLS.

THANK YOU, JEN, FOR I GUESS WE'LL BE ON THE CALL TOMORROW.

NO THURSDAY.

BUT THERE IS A CALL TOMORROW.

YEAH. I MIGHT BE THERE IN PERSON.

I MIGHT STICK MY HEAD INTO THE MAKO BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE IS TOMORROW, SO I'LL BE OVER THERE FOR THAT.

AND I'VE GOT A CRITICAL AREAS MEETING IN ANNAPOLIS SO I WON'T BE AT STATE.

[01:35:01]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVE SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE AYE AYE.

ALL OPPOSED. AYES HAVE IT.

SO NOW WE WILL HAVE A FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION.

STEWART. DO YOU WANT TO.

[Legislative Session: First Reading and Introduction]

BEFORE WE DO THAT, I'D LIKE TO DO A LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING AND TAKE RESOLUTION 2020 4-003.

SLIGHTLY OUT OF ORDER FROM THE AGENDA.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION I'M SUBMITTING TO YOU TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM THAT WE ENACTED BY RESOLUTION 2023, DASH 005, TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND CERTAIN USE OF LAND OR STRUCTURES FOR STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING, RESIDUAL AND OR DAF RESIDUALS IN CAROLINE COUNTY FOR A PERIOD ORIGINALLY OF 60 DAYS.

THIS RESOLUTION WILL EXTEND AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS THE MORATORIUM.

AND THAT WILL ALSO GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE DAF MORATORIUM ON THE SAME TRACK AS THE OTHER MORATORIUM, WHICH WE ARE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING THIS MORNING.

SO WHAT I WOULD ASK FOR IS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, ADOPTING RESOLUTION 2020 4-003, WHICH WILL EXTEND THE EXISTING MORATORIUM FOR AN ADDITIONAL 60 DAYS UNTIL APRIL 17TH OF 2024.

OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE EXTENSION OF OR THE PASSING OF THIS RESOLUTION? WHAT IS THAT? ENDING DATE AGAIN, APRIL 17TH, 2024.

OKAY, I WILL MAKE THAT MOTION.

SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO, NO. SO SO WE'RE EXTENDING THAT THERE WILL BE NO DEF RESIDUAL STORAGE IN THE COUNTY THROUGH APRIL 17TH 17TH 2024.

YES, SIR. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO PASS RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024003.

SO GO AHEAD AND HAVE A VOTE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE AYE.

ALL OPPOSED.

THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT WE ARE INTRODUCING RESOLUTION 2020 4-004. THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN USE OF LAND OR STRUCTURES FOR STORAGE OF BIOSOLIDS IN

[• Resolution #2024-004, Temporary Biosolid Moratorium]

PENDING CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF SUCH LEGISLATION AS THE COMMISSIONERS MAY CONSIDER ADVISABLE TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.

THIS PARTICULAR RESOLUTION, WHICH WILL PROHIBIT THE STORAGE OF BIOSOLIDS IN CAROLINE COUNTY UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2024, CAN CONTAINS DEFINITIONS WHICH ARE LIFTED FROM THE COMAR REGULATIONS WHICH ALREADY EXIST, WHICH DEFINE BIOSOLIDS AS TREATED SEWAGE SLUDGE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS FOR CLASS A OR B SEWAGE SLUDGE. BIOSOLIDS DOES NOT MEAN GRIT, AND SCREENINGS COLLECTED AT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OR ASH GENERATED BY THE INCINERATION OF SEWAGE SLUDGE.

CLASS A SEWAGE SLUDGE MEANS TREATED SEWAGE SLUDGE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS DEFINED IN 40 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS SECTION 503.32. A CLASS B SEWAGE SLUDGE MEANS TREATED SEWAGE SLUDGE THAT MEETS THE STANDARDS DEFINED IN 40 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS SECTION 503.32 B.

THIS, RESOLUTION AND THE OTHERS AND I WILL GO INTO THE TIME FRAME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ADVERTISING AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION OF THESE ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY CALLING FOR ANY KIND OF A VOTE.

THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS RESOLUTION.

AND THERE WILL BE A SECOND READING AND A PUBLIC HEARING IN THE FUTURE.

STEWART, I THOUGHT ON THIS ONE THAT I HAD THIS MORNING.

IT'S CRAZY HOW SOME OF THE STUFF POPS IN MY HEAD, BUT DO WE NEED TO MAKE AN EXCEPTION FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND THE LANDFILLS IN THE COUNTY ON THIS? I THINK WE SHOULD.

[01:40:03]

WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. THAT CAN STILL BE DONE.

CORRECT. YES. THIS IS JUST AN INTRODUCTION.

YEP. I THINK WE SHOULD JUST HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, AN EXCEPTION FOR MAYBE ANY, MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS OR LANDFILLS LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY.

AGREED. OKAY.

THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I HAD ON THAT ONE.

SO. YES, THAT MIGHT BE COVERED IN NUMBER ONE UNDER MORE ESTABLISHED.

OKAY, WHICH WOULD SAY THAT MORATORIUM WOULD NOT INCLUDE THOSE PERMITTED BY ME.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

CRYSTAL. THAT WAS THE CHANGE WE ADDED WHICH WE THOUGHT WOULD COVER THAT.

OKAY. GOOD CATCH.

AS LONG AS THAT'S ADDRESSED.

I DIDN'T WANT TO I DIDN'T WANT ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO BE IN VIOLATION OF OUR MORATORIUM.

SO THAT'S WHY DAVID'S SITTING BACK THERE.

NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION 2020 4-005.

THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM IN CAROLINE COUNTY ON CERTAIN USE OF LAND OR STRUCTURES PREVIOUSLY PERMITTED FOR THE DISCHARGE OR STORAGE OF VEGETABLE

[• Resolution #2024-005, Temporary Vegetable Processing Moratorium]

THIS MORATORIUM IS ON THE USE OF LAND OR STRUCTURES PREVIOUSLY PERMITTED FOR THE DISCHARGE OR STORAGE OF THE VEGETABLE PROCESSING WASTE, WASTEWATER, VEGETABLE PLANT RESIDUALS, RESIDUE, NON-CONTACT COOLING WATER, AND BOILER BLOWDOWN FOR THE STORAGE OF ANY MATERIAL OR SUBSTANCE NOT GENERATED ON THE LOT.

LOT IS DEFINED IN SECTION 170 5-8B OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.

THERE ARE DEFINITIONS IN THIS RESOLUTION AS WELL, WHICH I WILL NOT BORE EVERYONE WITH.

THIS HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE AND TO THE PRESS.

THIS MORATORIUM WILL STAY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2024.

THE NEXT RESOLUTION BEING INTRODUCED TODAY AND FIRST READING IS RESOLUTION 2020 4-006.

[• Resolution #2024-006, Temporary Livestock Manure Pit Moratorium]

IN CAROLINE COUNTY, UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024.

AND ALSO ON THE USE OF LAND OR STRUCTURES TO STORE LIVESTOCK MANURE, WHICH IS GENERATED AT ANOTHER LOCATION UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024.

THERE ARE DEFINITIONS IN THE RESOLUTION FOR LIVESTOCK MANURE.

LIVESTOCK MANURE MEANS MANURE GENERATED FROM FARM ANIMALS OTHER THAN BROILER CHICKENS RAISED UNDER CONTRACT FOR A COMMERCIAL POULTRY PRODUCER.

STRUCTURE. STRUCTURE MEANS ANYTHING CONSTRUCTED OR ERECTED, WHICH REQUIRES LOCATION ON OR IN THE GROUND, OR ATTACHMENT TO SOMETHING HAVING A LOCATION ON OR IN THE GROUND BY WAY OF EXAMPLE AND NOT LIMITATION.

LAGOONS, PRIVATE OR COMMERCIAL PIPELINES, IN-GROUND SWIMMING POOLS AND RELATED APPARATUS.

UNDERGROUND VAULTS FOR STORAGE OR SAFETY, PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR SYSTEMS AND SIMILAR ITEMS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TERM STRUCTURE.

SO I GOT I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

SO. MANURE THAT IS GENERATED ON THE SITE IS PERMITTED FOR STORAGE AND APPLICATION.

WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY SAYING HERE IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO UNDER THIS MORATORIUM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT TO BE TRANSPORTED IN.

CORRECT. OKAY.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, RESOLUTION 2020 4-007 IS INTRODUCED.

[• Resolution #2024-007, Temporary DAF Moratorium]

THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING, RESIDUAL AND OR DAFF RESIDUAL IN CAROLINE COUNTY UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST, 2024, PENDING CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF SUCH LEGISLATION AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CONSIDER ADVISABLE TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE.

[01:45:03]

NOW THESE RESOLUTIONS ARE ALL ON THE SAME TRACK AS FAR AS TIMING.

AND STEWART. DO YOU MIND GIVING A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHY THE PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE AS LONG AS IT IS, AND WE JUST CAN'T THROW A MORATORIUM ON AND IMMEDIATELY WE ARE, FOLLOWING A PROCEDURE THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARTICLE WITH RESPECT TO HAVING TWO READINGS AND A PUBLIC HEARING ON SOMETHING INVOLVING LAND USE.

AND WE ARE FOLLOWING THIS PROCEDURE.

THE INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING IS TODAY, THE FEBRUARY EXCUSE ME, FEBRUARY 6TH, 2020 FOR THE ADVERTISEMENT IN THE SUNDAY STAR DEMOCRAT WILL BE FEBRUARY THE 11TH AND FEBRUARY THE 18TH.

THESE PROPOSED MORATORIA ARE ALSO BEING REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH AT THE 6 P.M. MEETING FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO MAKE ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF ENACTING THESE MORATORIA.

FOLLOWING THAT, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH AT 11:30 A.M.

THIS WILL BE HELD IN THE PABST BUILDING, WHICH IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD.

AT THIS POINT, ANY MORATORIA THAT IS ENACTED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, IF IT IS ENACTED ON FEBRUARY 27TH, WILL BE EFFECTIVE MARCH THE 8TH OF 2024 AND WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST.

SO THE TIMELINE, AS FAR AS DAF IS CONCERNED, THE RESOLUTION THAT WE THAT WE JUST PASSED AS FAR AS EXTENSION WILL TAKE THAT THROUGH APRIL 17TH OF 2024.

AND AFTER ALL OF THE ADVERTISING AND DISCUSSION, THE NEW DAF MORATORIUM EXTENDING IT TO NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2024 WILL BE IS PROPOSED TO BE EFFECTIVE MARCH 8TH.

YES, SIR. OKAY. SO WE'RE THERE'S NOT A GAP THERE.

CORRECT. THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

OKAY. SO I'VE SEEN SOME DISCUSSION ONLINE ABOUT LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, AND I THINK SOME CITIZENS HAVE KIND OF MISUNDERSTOOD THE MEANING OF THAT WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE MADE THAT STATEMENT, I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK I PROBABLY DID IN THE, PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HELD BACK ON THE 23RD.

IS THAT RIGHT? SO TO TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE MORE, THE COMMISSIONERS SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD FOR THE COUNTY.

SO WE HAVE THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS JUST LIKE THE PRESIDENT OR THE GOVERNOR OR, YOU KNOW, MAYOR.

AND WE ALSO SERVE AS THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.

SO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THAT I WAS REFERRING TO IS THIS ONE THAT WE JUST LAID OUT THE TIME FRAME, COUNTY ATTORNEY, MR. BARROLL JUST LAID OUT THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS STANDS UP.

SHOULD WE BE CHALLENGED IN COURT SO GRACIOUSLY? STEWART HAS DONE A GREAT JOB DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO HOW CAN WE HOW IS IS THE PROPER WHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION SO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BEST CASE TO DEFEND IT, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD.

SO THAT IS THE REASON IT IS PAINSTAKINGLY SLOW FOR ALL OF US.

BELIEVE. BELIEVE ME, WE ALL ARE LIKE, WHY? WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG? BUT THERE ARE REASONS.

THERE ARE PROTECTIONS, BUILT IN TO THE STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES US TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

IT GIVES TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT OUR INTENT IS.

SO THAT THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALL JUST AS FRUSTRATED AS MANY OF THE CITIZENS WITH WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THIS IS TAKING AND THE DISTRACTION THAT IT IS CREATING FROM ALL OF THE OTHER DUTIES THAT WE HAVE TO PERFORM, BUT WE'RE HERE TO DO IT, WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO IT.

[01:50:04]

IT WILL BE DURING THE DAY.

WE SCHEDULE IT.

IS IT THE DAY AFTER A THERE'S IT'S A SCHEDULED COMMISSIONER MEETING DAY ROUNDTABLE.

SO WE WILL HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING IN THE MORNING WHERE ALL OF OUR ALLIED AGENCIES WILL COME IN AND ALL OF OUR INTERNAL AGENCIES WILL COME IN AND AND GIVE US THEIR, THEIR ASKS FOR THEIR BUDGETS, ESSENTIALLY MAKE THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND THEIR PITCHES TO US AS TO WHY THEY NEED WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.

AND THEN WE WILL, HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE BRIEF, AND NOT AS LONG AS THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE DO, WELCOME EVERYONE'S COMMENTS AND WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE TO ENACT ON THAT DAY.

AND IF THEY SHOULD PASS, IT IS TEN DAYS UNTIL ENACTMENT.

RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT MEETING IS AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

CORRECT. IT WILL BE AT HAP'S.

YEAH. SO, OUR BUDGET HEARING IS THERE AND THEN ALSO ALLOWS MORE SPACE FOR, RESIDENTS TO COME IN AND TESTIFY IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO, WE WOULD ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, SHOW SHOW OF FORCE SHOW PEOPLE THERE IS ALWAYS GREAT.

BUT THE LESS COMMENT, THE SHORTER THE DAY.

AND WE CAN WE CAN GET THROUGH AND MOVE ON TO THE REST OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTY.

SO, WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN A IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

IT SEEMS KIND OF REDUNDANT TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS THAT A STRUCTURE DESIGNED AND PERMITTED FOR SOMETHING CAN ONLY HAVE WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED AND PERMITTED FOR PUT IN IT.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE TO DO THAT AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL.

YEAH. WE'LL TAKE TAKE THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO, TO DO RESEARCH.

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH MDA.

YOU KNOW, OTHER THING WAS, YOU KNOW, SOME RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED AS TO WHY WE ARE RESEARCHING.

WELL, SOME OF THE RESEARCH IS AROUND WHAT STATE AGENCY REGULATES DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS INDUSTRY.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OCCUPYING A SPACE THAT'S ALREADY OCCUPIED BY A STATE AGENCY, OR WE WILL BE PREEMPTED.

AND AND WE WILL, YOU KNOW, THEORETICALLY GET INTO A LEGAL, ARGUMENT AND SPEND COUNTY MONEY ON ADJUDICATING WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE PREEMPTED OR WE'RE NOT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO DO THIS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE AND A PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC CONVENIENCE, RESPONSIBLE MANNER.

SO, YEAH, I THINK, THE I THINK IT'S IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE FOLLOW THE ATTORNEY'S PLAN HERE.

MY GUESS IS THIS WILL BE CHALLENGED.

WE WILL BE CHALLENGED ON THIS.

I HOPE NOT, BUT MY MY MY GUT TELLS ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP, YOU KNOW, IN LITIGATION.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE DON'T GIVE SOMEONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE NEGATED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T ADVERTISE IT FOR THE CORRECT NUMBER OF DAYS OR YOU DIDN'T.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, TO FOLLOW, TO FOLLOW THAT PROCESS.

AND THIS IS AMAZING TO ME.

I MEAN, I, YOU YOU, AS I MENTIONED TO YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS.

ONE OF THE SECRETARIES.

YOU CAN'T PUT A BLOW UP POOL IN THE STATE WITHOUT SOMEBODY TELLING YOU HOW MANY FEET IT HAS TO BE FROM SOMEWHERE, BUT THIS FALLS THROUGH THE CRACK.

AND THAT NO GOVERNMENT AGENCY CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR STORAGE OF THIS MATERIAL.

AND, SO THAT'S THAT'S A NEW ONE.

BUT, WE WILL WE WILL BE WORKING PRETTY HARD BETWEEN NOW AND HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES TO IMPLEMENT LANGUAGE THAT WILL THAT WILL CONTROL THIS.

BUT AS I MENTIONED AT OUR AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I WANT TO MENTION IT AGAIN TODAY, CAROLINE COUNTY IS AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.

I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO LEAVE HERE THINKING THAT WITH ALL THESE MORATORIUMS AND ALL THESE THINGS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT YOU'RE WE'RE GOING TO WAVE SOME KIND OF MAGIC WAND AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO SMELL ANYTHING AGAIN.

WHEN IT'S WHEN IT'S PLANNING SEASON, YOU ARE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE, WE ARE GOING TO, YOU KNOW,

[01:55:09]

BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE NOISE AND ODORS AND TRAFFIC AND COMBINES.

THAT'S CAROLINE COUNTY.

I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND IT'S WHAT I, WHAT I WANT, AND I WILL NEVER VOTE OR NEVER DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THAT, THAT PART OF OUR COUNTY.

SO THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT WITH THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT WITH THE, MANY, MANY, PEOPLE WHO GROW CHICKENS ON THEIR FARMS. THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT WITH THEM, BUT IN MY OPINION, DELIVERING MATERIAL THAT'S GENERATED AT A POULTRY PROCESSING PLANT THAT IS NOT EVEN LOCATED IN THIS COUNTY, AND BRINGING IT HERE AS A WAY TO DUMP IT AND GET RID OF IT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TO ACCEPT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

IT'S TAKING TIME, I DO I LOOK AT THE FACEBOOK POSTS, I READ IT SOMETIMES AND SIT THERE AND THINK, OKAY, BUT, WE'RE NOT MAKING MONEY OFF OF THIS.

WE'RE NOT. NOBODY'S PAYING US TO TAKE YOU, BELIEVE ME.

BUT, IT'S IT IS A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH, AND IT'S AN ISSUE, FRANKLY, THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

I'M THINKING IT WAS LIKE THE LAST COMMISSIONER MEETING BEFORE CHRISTMAS, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY MR. AND MRS. WOODWARD, MIKE WOODWARD, THAT DAY, I THINK MAYBE COMMISSIONER BARTZ, I WAS STANDING IN THEIR YARD ABOUT TWO HOURS AFTER OUR MEETING THAT DAY TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

SO, THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN USED IN THIS COUNTY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BEEN DONE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S IT'S CROPPED UP.

SO WE WILL WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO ADDRESS IT AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO ADDRESS IT IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE.

TIMELIEST MANNER THAT WE CAN DO IT.

AND SOME, SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT'S BEING DONE, WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE ASCERTAINING WHAT THE MATERIAL ACTUALLY IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT DEF IS IT SOME OTHER BYPRODUCT THAT'S COMING AWAY FROM THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT CAN'T BE DISCHARGED? SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY THE, THE DETAILS AND THE FACTS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO COME BY AT TIMES.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT ANGLES AND TRYING TO REALLY GET A HANDLE ON WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

AND, THAT'S NATURALLY THE FIRST STEP IN FIGURING OUT HOW TO, EFFECTIVELY REGULATE AND HANDLE THE ISSUE IS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT INFORMATION HAS BEEN VERY FORTHCOMING SO FAR.

SO. BUT DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? WELL, I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU GUYS SAID.

YEAH, BUT BUT NO, I THINK WE GOT A GOOD PLAN HERE TO DO IT THE RIGHT LEGAL WAY, TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S COVERED, TRYING TO GET, BOTH SIDES OPINION HERE.

THIS IS NO WAY I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO FARM ACT.

WE'RE VIOLATING THIS.

I BELIEVE THIS IS A COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PROHIBIT HERE.

BUT I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND COMMISSIONER BREEDING FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.

AND, I THINK WE GOT A GOOD, SOLID PLAN HERE FOR THE TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND THEIR INTERESTS.

AND I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE SOME COLLABORATION HERE.

WE'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE I THINK WE'LL WE'LL BE DOING SOME WORK WITH THE POULTRY PROCESSING PLANTS BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE HANDLED.

IF IT'S GENERATED THERE, IT SHOULD BE HANDLED THERE.

AND I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL MAKE SOME PROGRESS.

BUT, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT.

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE IS VERY AWARE OF THIS SITUATION.

IN FACT, HE MENTIONED IT TO US BEFORE.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO MENTION IT TO HIM.

WE DIDN'T EVEN SAY HELLO.

HE SAID, MR. DAVIS, I SAID, OKAY, FINE.

BUT, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, ALAN'S, GROUP HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND NOT, NOT NOT TRYING TO TO HURT FARMING IN ANY WAY.

IN FACT, WE ENCOURAGE FARMING AND WE WE THIS IS OUR LIFE HERE.

SO, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ARE NOT AGAINST FARMING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. I MEAN, IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, TENSIONS GET A LITTLE HIGH SOMETIMES.

AND, YOU KNOW, FACEBOOK'S A WONDERFUL THING, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU PEOPLE JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT, I THINK THIS IS A TRACK WE'RE WE'RE ON, AND I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT ONE TO, TO PURSUE.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK A QUICK QUESTION.

SURE. YEAH. LIKE THOSE.

YEP. THE MASSES WHO DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND EVEN WHAT THE MORATORIUM SAYS.

[02:00:06]

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO PULL IT BACK UP, BUT IT SAYS UNDERSTAND THAT THE MORATORIUM WILL STILL ALLOW THE STORAGE OF GAS IN MOBILE CONTAINERS.

IF YOU SCROLL DOWN, NUMBER FIVE, THIS MORATORIUM SHALL NOT PROHIBIT STORAGE AT THE PROCESSING LOCATION LEGALLY CREATED.

SO THAT MEANS NOT HERE, RIGHT? THAT MEANS AT THE FARM OR AT THE PROCESSING PLANT WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM.

THAT MEANS ON THE FARM, ON THE FARM BEFORE IT GETS APPLIED, THEY THEY BRING IN MOBILE STORAGE TANKS, OKAY.

AND THEY STORE IT PRIOR TO APPLICATION.

OKAY. SO AS THEY'RE STEADILY APPLYING THE DAF, THEY HAVE THESE, BLADDER TANKS THAT THEY STORED IN ON SITE.

SO THAT WOULD STILL BE ALLOWED.

YES. HERE. YES.

BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS OKAY.

AND. I'M SORRY.

IT'S ALLOWED. IT'S ALLOWED.

YEAH. AND THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE.

THAT'S NOT NOT SOMETHING NEW.

THE APPLICATION IS REGULATED BY MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

SO WE'RE PREEMPTED.

WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

THEY'VE THEY'VE STIPULATED A TIME FRAME WHEN IT CAN BE PLACED IN THE MANNER, YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO BE INCORPORATED, EITHER TILLED, INJECTED, ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS. SO ANY ISSUE WITH APPLICATION, IF IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE INCORPORATED PROPERLY OR IF SOMEONE'S OVER APPLYING OR IT'S BEING SPRAYED ON ROADS OR IMPERVIOUS SURFACES, THE ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS NEED TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER THAT, AND THUS THEY HAVE PREEMPTED US.

SO, AND THEN ANY SPILL CONCERNS OUT OF A CONTAINMENT FACILITY, IS TO BE DIRECTED TOWARDS MD. THEY WOULD HANDLE THE SPILLS.

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, THE TANK PROVISION.

I THINK THAT'S THAT'S REFERRING TO WHILE ACTIVE SPREADING ON THE PROPERTY.

WE WE BASICALLY COPIED THAT PROVISION FROM WICOMICO COUNTY'S ORDINANCE.

SO IT IS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, WHICH IS A LEGAL TERM TO HELP PROTECT THE COUNTY THAT WE ARE GIVING THEM.

THE ABILITY TO STORE WHILE ACTIVE APPLICATION ON THE PROPERTY IS OCCURRING.

SO IT'S IT'S LIKE A TRANSFER FACILITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO USE WHILE THEY'RE ACTUALLY APPLYING IT.

BUT IT IS IN CLOSED CONTAINERS.

CORRECT. SO THERE SHOULDN'T SHOULDN'T BE ANY, SMELLS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO IT'S A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION THAT WE ARE DOING TO ALLOW TO ACCOMMODATE THE APPLICATION THROUGH MDA, YOU KNOW, AS REGULATED BY MDA.

AND THAT OCCURS, LIKE YOU SAID, IN WICOMICO COUNTY AND OTHER PLACES.

THAT'S A MODEL. THAT'S WICOMICO WAS THE ONLY OTHER COUNTY THAT'S ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE SO FAR.

OKAY. NO OTHER COUNTY THAT WE ARE AWARE OF HAS PASSED ANY REGULATIONS OR LAWS OR, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS US.

YEAH, I JUST YEAH. TELL THE COUNTY HOWEVER HAS HAD ISSUES.

YEAH. TRAP FOR THE FOSTER FARM LOCATED IN TRAP.

YEAH. THEY JUST HAVEN'T PASSED THE LEGISLATION.

WELL IN MY KNOWLEDGE IN TALBOT AND IN TALBOT COUNTY, THEY HANDLE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.

IN TALBOT COUNTY THERE IS AN AGRICULTURAL REVIEW BOARD, AND THAT BOARD, LISTENS TO AND AND ADJUDICATES ANY DISPUTES REGARDING AGRICULTURE.

THAT BOARD ORIGINALLY APPROVED THE STORAGE ON THAT.

AND THEN THE PERSON WHO FILED A SUIT WON THE WON THE SUIT.

AND NOW THE NOW THAT THAT DETERMINE IS BEING APPEALED.

SO BUT THEY HAVE A LITTLE I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS IF THAT WERE, IF, IF THIS WERE HAPPENING IN TALBOT, YOU WOULD GO BEFORE THE AGRICULTURAL BOARD, YOU WOULDN'T COME BEFORE US.

SO, AND THEY HAD TWO AGRICULTURAL RESOLUTION BOARD MEETINGS ON THAT SUBJECT.

YEAH. TALBOT COUNTY AND I, I, I'M, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY AWARE I MEAN, I WAS I'VE TALKED TO THAT PERSON AND IT WAS KIND OF A TECHNICALITY ON THE RIGHT TO FARM ISSUE.

I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY VERY, VERY COMPLICATED.

BUT, BUT I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THE STORAGE OF THIS DIRT WE POSTED, I THINK AT THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE GAVE THE CONTACT INFORMATION.

I THINK WE CAN GET IT AGAIN FOR THE PERSON THROUGH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS.

SO THAT IS THE PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE PERSON IS FOLLOWING THEIR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.

[02:05:04]

THAT'S THAT'S THE GUY THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

HAVE THAT CONTACT INFORMATION I CAN YEAH, WE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU TOO.

AND, AND, BUT, THE STORAGE PART OF THIS, IT CANNOT.

AND HELP ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, BUT IT CANNOT BE APPLIED, I THINK MARCH 1ST, THERE'S A PERIOD OF TIME.

MARCH, DECEMBER 15TH TO MARCH 1ST, DECEMBER 15TH TO MARCH 1ST.

SO IT HAS IF IT'S GOING TO BE STORED SOMEWHERE, THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE STORED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

SO AND THAT'S BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT IT ON FROZEN GROUND OR, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.

BUT SO WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN ALL OF THOSE GUIDELINES AS WELL.

BUT ANYTHING TO DO WITH PUTTING IT ON OR IN THE GROUND FALLS TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

I BELIEVE THAT PERSON'S NAME IS CALLAHAN.

YEAH. WELL HOWARD I THINK SO.

YEAH. SO WE'LL YEAH WE'LL AND THE REASON I RAISED THAT ONE I THINK SORT OF LIKE HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW MISINFORMATION BUT YOU KNOW MISINTERPRETATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LIKE WHY ARE THEY STILL BRINGING IT.

WHY IS AND THEY'RE STILL ALLOWED TO BRING IT.

THERE'S STILL. AND PART OF WHAT I ATTEMPTED TO TOUCH UPON EARLIER WAS THE EVEN THE TRANSPORT THROUGH HERE IS LESS THAN IDEAL.

LIKE IF IT IS, AFTER YOUR RESEARCH, POSSIBLE TO BE MORE STRICT ON NUMBER FIVE.

I THINK THERE IS SOME SUPPORT OF THAT.

AGAIN, RELATED TO DEATH, NOT TO MANURE SPREADING, NOT TO LIKE ANY OF OUR CLASSIC AGRICULTURAL PROCESSES, IN FARMING, BUT.

WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE MISINFORMATION.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, HOW COME THERE'S STILL ALLOWED TO BRING.

WELL, WE DON'T, BUT THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WRONG TECHNICALLY.

WELL, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT BRINGING ANYTHING.

THEY'RE FROM WHAT WE ARE TOLD.

WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH MDA.

IT IS COW MANURE FROM CECIL COUNTY, AND MDA HAS HAD SOMEONE INSPECT IT TO VERIFY THAT IT IS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO OUR KNOWLEDGE.

AND I'M SPEAKING, BUT I DON'T.

THE DAF HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TO THIS SINCE WE PUT THIS IN.

OKAY. IF I MIGHT FOLLOW RALF CAROLINE COUNTY, I THINK ONE KEY WORD THAT HAS NOT COME UP IN THIS CONVERSATION IS FERTILIZER.

RIGHT. NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS ARE ALL ABOUT FERTILIZING FIELDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

FARMERS AND PRODUCERS HAVE TO ESTABLISH A FIDUCIARY MANAGEMENT PLAN AND OPERATE WITHIN THAT PLAN.

SO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TEMPORARY STORAGE UNTIL IT GOES IN THE FIELD.

AND THEN MAYBE NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST HALF AGAIN.

I MEAN, IF ANYONE IS USING DAF, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

THE STORAGE IN THE FIELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN.

BUT WE CAN TALK WE CAN TALK OFFLINE.

SO WE'LL BUT BASICALLY THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE FOR THE ADDITIONAL MORATORIUMS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE THAT OTHER STUFF BEING BROUGHT IN IS NOT JUST AS BAD OR WORSE THAN THIS.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS HERE.

BUT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, DAF HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT IN.

OKAY. COULD BE POND WATER.

THIS THESE MORATORIUMS ARE A SIGN OF THE STRUGGLES THAT WE ARE HAVING TO ACTUALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS STUFF IS SCARY.

AND OUR ABILITY AND OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE LABORATORY TECHNICIANS AND THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TO SAMPLE THE MATERIAL AND TEST IT AND ACTUALLY PROVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE.

THAT'S THAT'S ALL AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO THESE ARE ENFORCEABLE MORATORIUMS FOR US THAT ARE REASONABLE.

AND THEY YOU KNOW, WE AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE.

SO. ALL RIGHT.

SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

SO MOVED. SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED.

THE EYES HAVE IT. OKAY.

WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? SECOND PAGE TO THIS.

I THINK WE GOT THAT.

AND YOU EXPECT ME TO SEE THAT SCREEN? OH. IT'S HERE.

WE'VE GOT IT ON A LITTLE SCREEN.

SORRY, JACK. SO WE HAVE, CLOSED SESSION, MEETING MINUTES.

WE HAVE ALL OF THE TESTIMONY FROM THE JANUARY 23RD DEATH HEARING.

[Consent Agenda:]

WE ALREADY PASSED THAT.

SO THAT WON'T APPLY.

YEAH. YEAH.

SO THAT'S OKAY. AND FISCAL YEAR 2025 NON RECURRING COST FORM.

AND THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION FOUNDATION LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS.

WE ALSO HAVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF THE PARCEL NEAR THE TOWN OF HILLSBORO TO WAIVE ANY COUNTY ZONING.

[02:10:05]

SECOND. ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

SURE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

[County Administrator’s Report]

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. ONE IS HOT OFF THE PRESS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, WE WERE SHARING A PAINT TRUCK WITH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.

THEY HAVE SOLD THE PAINT TRUCK FOR 30,500 AND WILL BE SENDING US A CHECK FOR 15 250.

SO THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

YESTERDAY, BRIAN NORTH ROAD SUPERINTENDENT AND I ATTENDED A VIRTUAL MEETING ABOUT THE PROGRESS ON WIDENING ROUTE 404.

SO THEY PRESENTED WITH US THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR PLANS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE YET, BUT THE NEXT PHASE WILL BE ABOUT TWO MILES BETWEEN HARMONY ROAD AND GREEN GREENWOOD ROAD.

SO THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT ENDS UP BEING IN THE BUDGET.

BUT THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ROUND OF PUBLIC HEARINGS OR I GUESS, PUBLIC MEETINGS, OUTREACH, IN THE SPRING.

SO, SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I JUST LEARNED ABOUT THIS WEEK.

TRAVIS AND I ARE GOING, WELL, NOT GOING ANYWHERE, BUT WE'RE ATTENDING A ZOOM MEETING ABOUT THE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER PROJECT.

THE CERTIFICATE OF NEED HAS BEEN APPROVED, AND, WILL GET ITS FINAL CERTIFICATION, I GUESS, SHORTLY.

AND THEN THE GOVERNOR HAS COMMITTED ABOUT $100 MILLION FROM THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT.

SO TOMORROW AFTERNOON, WE'LL HAVE A ZOOM CALL WITH THE THE OTHER COUNTIES, DORCHESTER, KENT AND QUEEN ANNE'S AND AN UPDATE FROM, EASTON AND THE HOSPITAL FOR THE HOSPITAL THAT'S PER YEAR.

IN OTHER WORDS, I WAS TOLD THAT, THAT IS HE'S $100 MILLION IS ALLOCATED, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY IT'S ONLY SO MUCH PER YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS GUARANTEED.

IT'S JUST. BUT. RIGHT.

IT'S AN INITIAL $100 MILLION BUT CORRECT OVER SO MANY YEARS.

SO THEY COULD IT COULD BE PULLED BACK.

BUT I THINK FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS.

I THINK THE ONLY THING THEY'RE WAITING FOR IS TO TRANSFER A BID PAPER.

OKAY. ON THE BIDS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM ONE LOCATION TO THE OTHER.

WE'LL GET A FULL UPDATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU AGAIN. OKAY.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

AND, MISTER COMMISSIONER PORTER, IF YOU COULD ELABORATE ON, CHAD DEAN.

MISTER CHAD DEAN, HE PRESENTED MISTER PORTER WITH A TIMELINE OF HISTORY, AND MISTER COMMISSIONER PORTER FORWARDED TO ME, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY GOOD.

CHAD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

AND, THAT ELABORATE TIMELINE WAS.

I WAS QUITE SUFFICIENT AND AMAZING.

BUT THANK YOU ON THAT.

AND, APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT.

OTHER THAN THAT, ME AND, COMMISSIONER PORTER ATTENDED TASTE OF MARYLAND AGRICULTURE LAST WEEK.

WE RUN INTO A FEW PEOPLE THAT WE, GOT TO MEET AND TALKED TO, AND IT WAS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE. WE DIDN'T STAY FOR THE WHOLE THING, BUT, WE DID GET TO MEET AND DISCUSS A FEW THINGS WITH CERTAIN PEOPLE.

THAT WAS A GOOD TIME. THAT'S IT FOR ME.

I LEFT OUT MY BIRTH DATE.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO NOT BE IN THAT TIMELINE, BUT IT'S JUST ME.

BUT, NO, I, THANK YOU.

THAT WAS GREAT. I MEAN, IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD.

I WAS I WAS INTERESTED TO KNOW COMMISSIONER, LEGATES.

HE DID HE SERVE SIX CONSECUTIVE TERMS? DID NOT. IT WAS OKAY.

STARTED IN THE 50S.

AND HE DID SOME OTHER THINGS.

OKAY. WHEN HE WAS ELECTED TO WAS 98.

OKAY. BUT HE SERVED SIX TOTAL TERMS. HE DID SERVE SIX TWO. SO YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE.

YEAH. WELL YEAH.

NO I'M I'M GOING TO SHUFFLE AWAY I THINK BUT THANK YOU.

THAT WAS GREAT. IT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD.

NOW, BILL'S JUST BEEN.

YEAH. IT'S BEEN IT'S JUST BEEN CRAZY.

I'LL BE I'LL BE AT A.

CRITICAL AREAS COMMISSION MEETING TOMORROW WHILE YOU'RE AT THE STATE OF THE STATE SO YOU CAN THINK ABOUT ME SITTING IN THERE, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO THAT.

BUT, BUT IT'S BEEN A IT'S BEEN A BUSY TIME AND IT'LL BE GETTING BUSIER AS THE TESTIMONY PART COMES AROUND.

BUT, I THINK WE GOT A GOOD HANDLE, DANNY.

YOU KNOW, YOUR DANNY'S DOING A GOOD JOB TRACKING THE TAX MODIFICATION BILLS, BUT, I MEAN, IT'S, THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME INTERESTING THINGS BEING INTRODUCED, AND, I SEE BETH.

[02:15:02]

WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THEM, AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION EASEMENT.

SO I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THAT.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST BEEN BUSY.

GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

WE DID.

THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS, KATHLEEN AND I HAD A MEETING WITH SCOTT GETCHELL FROM THE TOWN.

AND. DONNA.

WAS IT DONNA? DONNA. TODD. TODD.

FROM THE TOWN.

ABOUT THE DOUBLE HILLS PROPERTY ANNEXATION.

SO, BOB SOMMERHOFF AND STEWART BARROLL AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING, NEXT MONDAY, I THINK.

YEAH. TO DISCUSS DRAFTING ANY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN US AND THE TOWN.

AS FAR AS THE PROCESS, I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO LAY OUT IS, THAT THE TOWN AGREES TO ANNEX THE ENTIRE PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE DDS BUILDING.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RETAIN OR PLAN ON RETAINING THE 21 ACRES ON THAT SIDE OF THE PROPOSED SERVICE ROAD, AND THAT THE REST OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE MARKETED FOR INDUSTRIAL, SALE, SALE TO AN INDUSTRIAL END USER.

AND THAT THEY WILL AGREE.

WE'LL BUILD THE ROAD TO THE TOWN OF DENTON SPECIFICATIONS AND THAT EVENTUALLY THEY'LL AGREE TO TAKE OVER THE ROAD.

SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH THOSE DETAILS, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A MOU FOR US TO TO LOOK AT AND SOME UPCOMING MEETING.

SO JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU GUYS AWARE THAT THAT WAS GOING ON FOR THAT PROJECT.

AND I WILL BE AT THE STATE OF THE STATE TOMORROW.

AND OTHER THAN THAT, I'VE GOT ONE MORE THING.

GO AHEAD. SOMETHING FOR OUR CONSIDERATION.

I GOT A CALL FROM, JIMMY HARVEY.

I THINK HE WAS CHIEF OF GREENSBORO FIRE COMPANY.

THEY ARE, MOVING FORWARD WITH, DESIGN OF THEIR NEW FIREHOUSE.

AND HE WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT LOCATING OUR EMS, STATION IN THE NEW IN THE NEW FIREHOUSE, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN RIDGELEY.

WE CURRENTLY OCCUPY THE OLD FIREHOUSE RIGHT THERE ON MAIN STREET, WHICH I THINK WE'VE DONE SOME WORK ON IT, OFF AND ON.

BUT IF WE'RE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, THEN WHEN THEY START THEIR DESIGN OF THE FIREHOUSE, THEY'LL NEED TO INCORPORATE, YOU KNOW, THE EMS STATION.

I THINK IT'S WORKED VERY WELL IN RIDGELEY.

SO. AND WE ARE CONSTANTLY TALKING ABOUT UPGRADING THESE, THESE EMS STATIONS AND SPENDING MONEY ON THEM.

SO IF WE PUT THEM IN A NEW BUILDING, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.

ONCE WE, YOU KNOW, IRON OUT THE DETAILS.

BUT, BUT I DID I DID WANT TO BRING THAT UP.

IS THAT NEXT TO THE IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE THEY'RE DOING THE, THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

YEAH. OKAY.

YEAH. SO THEY'RE STARTING DESIGN.

SO IT MAKES SENSE THEY WOULD INCLUDE THAT THE CURRENT LOCATION, I THINK WE'VE OFF AND ON.

WE'VE SPENT MONEY PAINTING AND STUFF IN THERE BUT DON'T KNOW DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.

BUT SO WE'LL REACH OUT TO HIM AND, YOU KNOW, GET GET WITH THEM WHEN THEY START THEIR DESIGN PROCESS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HERE AT THE END OF THE MEETING.

[Public Comment]

[Closed Session: To Discuss the Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of At-Will Position]

2014 MARYLAND CODE.

STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B, SECTION ONE.

SO MOVED SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[Meeting Adjourned]

OKAY, THAT ONE'S UNANIMOUS.

ALL RIGHT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.