[00:00:22]
>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD MORNING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 13TH, 2024 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING.
[Call to Order: Invocation- Pastor, Doug Morley, Greater Impact Church of Greensboro, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR DOUG MORLEY OF GREATER IMPACT CHURCH OF GREENSBORO, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GOOD MORNING, PASTOR.>> THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU COULD COME UP TO THE MIC.
>> SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF COMING AND PRAYING, AND I APPRECIATE THE SEAL ON THE BACK THERE WITHIN GOD WE TRUST ON THE BACK.
I'D LIKE TO READ A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE BEFORE I PRAY.
IT'S FROM PSALM 8, IT SAYS, "LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH.
WHEN I CONSIDER YOUR HEAVENS AND THE WORK OF YOUR FINGERS, THE MOON AND THE STARS WHICH YOU HAVE SET IN PLACE, WHAT IS MANKIND THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF THEM.
HUMAN BEINGS, THAT YOU CARE FOR THEM.
YOU MADE THEM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS AND CROWNED THEM WITH GLORY AND HONOR.
YOU MADE THEM RULERS OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS AND PUT EVERYTHING UNDER THEIR FEET; ALL FLOCKS AND HERDS AND THE ANIMALS OF THE WILD, THE BIRDS IN THE SKY, AND THE FISH IN THE SEA, ALL THAT SWIM THE PATHS OF THE SEA.
LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH." WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS FATHER TO ENTER INTO YOUR PRESENCE TODAY AND ACKNOWLEDGE LORD, YOUR AUTHORITY OVER ALL CREATION.
WE'RE THANKFUL, LORD, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US TO BE IN AUTHORITY OVER A PORTION OF YOUR CREATION.
WE PRAY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, AS YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM AUTHORITY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND AS YOU HAVE CALLED THEM TO SERVE FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
FATHER, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM YOUR GRACE AND STRENGTH, WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS THEY CARRY A HEAVY BURDEN.
LORD, HELP THEM TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE PRESENT, EVEN IN THIS PLACE, AS THEY DEAL WITH THE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE, EVEN TODAY.
LORD, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE NOW.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO CONTINUE TO SEEK AFTER YOU AND TO LIVE FOR YOU AND TO LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH, AND MIND AND TO LOVE OTHERS AS OURSELVES.
FOR WE'VE PRAYED IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.
AS HE MENTIONED, WE DID GET OUR NEW SEAL UP THIS WEEK.
THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY THE MEETING STARTED LATE.
COMMISSIONER BARTZ AND I WERE HANGING IT UP THERE ON THE WALL.
THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING MAINTENANCE STAFF DID A GOOD JOB GETTING THAT HOME THIS WEEK.
[President’s Closed Session Report Out]
DURING THE FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024 COMMISSIONER MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER AUTHORITY 303-5B SECTION 1 TO DISCUSS THE TERMS AND AGREEMENT OF A POTENTIAL CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEE.ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONERS BREEDING, BARTZ AND PORTER, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, STEWART BARROLL, MARY BERNSKI, DANIEL FOX, AND JENNIFER RODLEY.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL HEAR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT?
[Public Comment]
NONE BEING SEEN, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS, DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND BRIAN NORTH, COUNTY ROAD SUPERINTENDENT TO DISCUSS[County Roads Superintendent Discussion of Paving County Roads]
THE PAVING OF SOME COUNTY ROADS. GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN.>> BRIAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ARPA FUNDING THAT YOU THREE GENTLEMEN HAD ALLOCATED TO PAVING OF SOME SELECT DIRT ROADS.
BRIAN'S BEEN WORKING WITH LANE ENGINEERING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE STEPS AND WE'RE TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE A LITTLE GUIDANCE ON HOW WE WOULD LIKE THE ROADS SIZE AND ALL THE KINDS OF SPECIFICATIONS.
BRIAN DEFINITELY HAS EXPERTISE ON [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE WANT TO GO BACK TO THE WAY WE DID 15, 20 YEARS AGO.
THREE FOOT CLEAR IN WHICH THE WAY WE HAVE, I HAVE A 22 FOOT HARDSHIP SURFACE AND FOUR FOOT SOLDERS.
IF THERE'S ANY DRAINAGE WITHIN THAT, WE MAINTAIN IT.
[00:05:03]
IF NOT THAT NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED.WE HAVE TO WORK FURTHER. THE PROPERTY WAS GETTING MORE RIGHT AWAY, LET'S DO THAT.
IS THAT THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO?
>> MOST OF THE RIGHT AWAYS ARE 30 FOOT WIDE.
WE'VE GOT 30 FEET TO WORK WITHIN.
IDEALLY, YOU WOULD HAVE A 24 FOOT WIDE, BUT WITH ONLY A 30 FOOT RIGHT AWAY, A LOT OF OUR ROADS ARE 22.
>> WE WOULD HAVE A 24 FOOT BOX OF BACKGROUND GROUND, EXCUSE ME, AND CRUSHER RUN AND ON 22 FOOT SURFACE, SO IT GIVES YOU EDGE OF THE ROAD, YOU HAVE SOME GOOD SOLID BASE TO SIT ON IT.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE EDGE OF IT NEXT TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> THERE WAS A FEW WHEN WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I KNOW WE DID IVANS AND GANEYS WHARF, A SHORT PART OF GANEYS WHARF AND WE JUST PUT EIGHT INCHES OF BANK RUN.
I THINK THE COUNTY SPEC AT THAT TIME WAS WE REPLACED ALL THE CROSS PIPES AND THEN WE PUT EIGHT INCHES OF BANK RUN.
>> WHICH I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY NEED TO PUT AN EVEN EIGHT INCHES ON.
SOME AREAS MAY ONLY NEED FOUR, SOME MAY NEED EIGHT.
BUT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO DO IT UNIT PRICE WITH AN ESTIMATED UNIT, RIDE THE ROAD AND LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OKAY, THIS SECTION WE CAN PROBABLY GET BY WITH FOUR INCHES.
YOU MAY NEED A FOOT IN ANOTHER LOCATION, BUT ON AVERAGE.
THEN THAT WAY IT'S A FAIR DEAL FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CONTRACTOR BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY PAY PER YARD, PUT IN PLACE AND THEN COMPACT IT AND THEN GIVEN A ALTERNATE TO MAYBE COME BACK AND DO A REGRADE IF IT NEEDED TO BE REGRADED BEFORE THE TON SHIP CREW CAME BACK OR CAME IN TO ACTUALLY APPLY THE TON SHIP.
I MEAN, IN A PERFECT WORLD YOU WOULD PUT THE MATERIAL ON, GRADE IT, AND THEN TON SHIP IT.
BUT THESE MAY NOT END AT A TIME PERIOD WHERE OUR TON SHIP CONTRACTOR IS AVAILABLE OR THE WEATHER WOULD ALLOW IT, IF IT'S NOT WARM ENOUGH OR TOO HOT.
BUT I WOULDN'T GET INTO HAVING LANE DO A WHOLE LOT OF SURVEYING AND A WHOLE LOT OF ENGINEERING AND ALL THAT STUFF.
THE ONES I REMEMBER, WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT DONE.
NOW, LATER ON, I THINK IT WAS ED MILLER'S COMPANY THAT DID PINETOWN ROAD.
THAT WAS AFTER THE ROADS THAT WE DID.
I THINK THAT ONE, THEY JUST PUT BANK RUN ON.
THERE WAS NO CRUSHER RUN AND THEN KIBLER BROTHERS DID THE LAST ONE.
WAS IT KIBLER BROTHER? NO, THAT WAS JOYNER OR WAS IT KIBLER ROAD?
>> PRESTON DID SKELETON CREEK ROAD.
>> I THOUGHT THE LAST ONE WE DID WAS OUTSIDE OF DENTON HERE ON THE NORTH SIDE.
WAS IT THE DIRT PART OF KIBLER OR PART OF?
>> NO BAKER WE JUST [OVERLAPPING]
I THINK THAT WAS THE LAST ROAD THAT'S BEEN CONVERTED.
>> THAT ONE, WE CHANGED THE SPEC TO ADD TWO INCHES OF CRUSHER RUN.
>> ON TOP. YES. THAT'S WHEN THE SPEC CHANGED FOR ALL THE ROADS IN THE COUNTY SUBDIVISIONS AND THEN THE BUILDING.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO DO THE CRUSHER RUN.
I THINK THAT'S JUST GOING TO ADD MORE COST.
GANEYS AND IVANS HAVE HELD UP FINE.
>> THE IDEA THEN JUST OFF MY NOTES, 24 FOOT BASE BANK AND RUN VARIABLE ON LOCATION AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SHOOT FOR A 22 FOOT TRAVEL LANE?
>> SO BASED OFF THE LIST WE HAD PROVIDED I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, THE REQUEST WAS TO TAKE THE TWO HIGH PRIORITY ROADS.
>> WOLF ROAD AND BECK ROAD DID YOU?
>> WOLF AND BECK ROAD [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WAS SMALLER [INAUDIBLE].
>> TROUGH LINE WAS ON THERE AND I FORGOT THE OTHER ONE.
>> THE IDEA WILL WORK THROUGH THE FIRST TWO LIKE SAY BECK AND WOLF AND THEN YOU GUYS, CREWS, ALL OF US CAN INSPECT IT.
MAKE SURE THIS IS THE WAY WE WANT TO GO WITH THE OTHER EIGHT OR SO WE THINK WE CAN GET OUT OF THE FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE.
>> WELL, I WOULD JUST TELL LANE ENGINEERING NOT TO GO CRAZY WITH TOPOGRAPHY AND DESIGN.
PROBABLY WE NEED TO LAY THE RIGHT AWAY OUT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT CENTERED IN THE RIGHT AWAY.
>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LITTLE RESEARCH INVOLVED GOING TO MARK THE CENTER LINE ROADWAY. WE'LL HAVE THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY DO THAT BUT I WOULDN'T HAVE THEM DOING A LOT OF TOPOGRAPHY AND GRADES.
[00:10:08]
>> WE DIDN'T DO THAT LAST TIME. [OVERLAPPING]
WHEN WE DID THAT PART OF BAKER, I KNOW THE SPEC GOT CHANGED TO INCLUDE CRUSHER RUN, WHICH ADDED ANOTHER LAYER OF EXPENSE BECAUSE YOU HAD TO FINE GRADE THE DIRT AND THEN YOU HAD TO PUT TWO INCHES OF CRUSHER RUN ON IT AND FINE GRADE THAT.
SO YOU WERE FINE GRADING MULTIPLE TIMES THE STONE WAS MORE EXPENSIVE, AND I DIDN'T THINK TWO INCHES WAS THICK ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT THE TIME, BUT I WASN'T IN A POSITION TO MAKE ANY CHANGES AT THAT POINT.
HOW ABOUT CROSS PLATES? WOULD WE LOOK AT THOSE INTERNALLY OR WOULD WE GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THEM IN A LOT OF CASES?
>> WELL, IT WAS PART OF THE THEIR ESTIMATE PROCESS THAT THEY WOULD MARKET RIGHT ON PLAN WHERE THESE CROSS PLATES ARE.
ORIGINAL THOUGHT WAS TO LET THE CONTRACTOR DO ALL THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE, WOLFER DOES HAVE A RATHER LARGE PIPE ON ONE LOCATION AND THERE'S ONLY I THINK TWO OR THREE OTHER CROSS PLATES AND THEN BACK BIRDS ONLY GOT A FEW SMALL CROSS PLATES.
WHATEVER DIRECTION I THINK WE COULD DO.
WE WERE JUST PLAYING ON EVERYTHING BEING DONE BY THE CONTRACTOR.
>> WE PROVIDE THE PIPE WHILE IT'S STILL YOUNG.
>> CONTRACTOR ON CALL [OVERLAPPING].
>> UNLESS FOR SOME REASON THEY'VE BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED.
BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THEY'RE INSPECTED, TO MAKE SURE NOBODY HAS DRILLED THROUGH THEM, TRENCH THROUGH THEM.
>> FIRST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN.
>> I KNOW THE ONE WE REPLACED ON GANEYS WHARF HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED WITH A TELEPHONE.
IT HAD I THINK, A 200 OR 300 PAIR OF TELEPHONE TRANSFER THROUGH IT.
>> TELL ME WHY WE'RE GOING BACK AGAIN.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE MINUTES OR THE PRIORITY LIST FROM BEFORE.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I THINK IT WAS DUE TO TRAFFIC AND CROSSOVER BETWEEN, I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON THAT, 404 AND THE OTHER END.
>> IS IT A HIGH MAINTENANCE ROAD?
>> REALLY NO MORE THAN ANY OTHER DIRT ROAD WE HAVE.
[OVERLAPPING] WE WON'T KNOW UNLESS IN THE FARMING SEASONS.
>> [INAUDIBLE] FOR A POULTRY COMPANY. POULTRY COMPANIES USE THAT ROUTE, PROBABLY 75% OF THE TRAFFIC IS POULTRY COMPANIES.
>> DOES IT CUT FROM ROUTE 16 OVER TO [INAUDIBLE] HIGHWAY?
>> CORRECT. I THINK TRAFFIC WAS THE BIG CAUSE.
I CAN CERTAINLY PULL THE LIST THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.
I SAY WE, I THINK IT WAS BRIAN AND RYAN AT THE TIME, AND WE CAN RE-SHARE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE I'M JUST WONDERING HOW MANY HOUSES ARE ALREADY IN THAT.
>> IF I RECALL, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO ROADS THAT HAD THE MOST HOUSES, THE MOST TRAFFIC AND SCHOOL BUS TRAFFIC.
SOMEHOW THAT GOT PUT ON [INAUDIBLE].
>> I THINK BECAUSE IT WAS TRAFFIC.
>> I THINK THE LENGTH TRAFFIC, IT WAS I THINK ONE OF THE SHORTER ONES THAT THE TEST PILOT FOR THE FIRST ONE OR TWO WAS IDENTIFIED, BUT WE'RE STILL IN THE, LIKE I SAY, PRE-PHASE OF THIS.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS WE CAN'T RE-LOOK AT THAT.
I CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THE LIST THAT WE HAD CIRCULATED OUT TO THE GROUP AND IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER OR ONE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PRIORITY OVER THAT FOR THE FIRST ONE.
BECAUSE I THINK THE LIST THAT WAS SHARED DID HAVE LENGTH, NUMBER OF HOMES.
THEY HAD TALKED TO THE SCHOOL ABOUT BUS TRAFFIC AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> TRUNKLINE WAS ON IT. TRUNKLINE WAS THE LONGEST [OVERLAPPING].
>> TRUNKLINE WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST.
>> WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO THE TEST.
>> I THINK WE WANTED TO GET ONE OR TWO UNDER OUR BELTS BEFORE WE DOVE INTO THE BIG ONE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY GROWING PAINS WITH DOING ONE.
WELL, I THINK AS FAR AS DIRECTION OF HOW WE WANT TO DO THIS, IT MAKES SENSE. WE HAVE OUR NOTES.
>> IF YOU CAN FIND A SHORTER ONE, BRIAN. YOU GOT THE LIST?
>> [OVERLAPPING] LET'S GO ON AND DO IT NOW.
>> JONES CORNER RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD, IT'S SHORT. IT'S GOT [OVERLAPPING] FIVE HOUSES.
>> JONES CORNER'S 0.21 MILES LONG, THREE HOMES. I'LL WALK THIS UP.
>> I HAD DONE A CALCULATION BY DENSITY.
>> GOT TIME THIS MORNING, WE MIGHT JUST WANT TO, LIKE I SAID, WORK THIS OUT AND GET ONE.
>> WELL, I THINK DEFINITELY WOLF HAD THE HIGHEST DENSITY,
[00:15:01]
MOST NUMBER OF HOUSES.AND YOU SAY IT'S GOT AT LEAST ONE BIG [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT FOLLOWS THE LUG MILL POND [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL, THAT MAY SLOW IT UP THROUGH THE PERMIT PROCESS TO REPLACE IT OR IS IT NOT THAT?
>> I'LL NOT BE DOING CON REPLACEMENT, WE WON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT.
I STILL THINK THAT WE SHOULD GO AFTER ROSEN'S SETTING CONTROL APPROVAL WITH THESE JUST TO COVER OURSELVES.
>> WE CAN ASK, NO HARM IN ASKING.
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE A BIG DEAL TO DO [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY CHANGING ANYTHING EITHER.
IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN US PUTTING DIRT ON THE ROAD.
>> WE JUST HAVE TO OPEN UP TO TAKE SOME LITTLE WATER.
>> [NOISE] WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE] MONEY?
>> I WANT TO SAY IT WAS 1.25, ABOUT 1 1/4 MILLION WAS REALLOCATED FROM OTHER PROJECTS TO DO THIS.
>> I THINK WE PROBABLY CAN DO FOUR ROADS ROUGHLY, GIVE OR TAKE.
>> TRAVIS, I'LL GO WITH YOU ON THE CONSTRUCTION PARK BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK AND RE-LOOK AT THESE ROADS.
BECAUSE IF WE DO A ROAD THAT HAS ONE HOUSE ON IT, [LAUGHTER] PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I MEAN, IF WE WANT TO DO A TEST ROAD, LET'S DO ONE THAT'S GOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> MITCHELL MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME.
SO IT'S IT'S ONLY A HALF A MILE AND IT HAS SEVEN HOUSES.
>> AND I DON'T DISAGREE, THE PROBLEM WITH MITCHELL IS THAT WE HAD PEOPLE IN HERE WHO CAME TO A MEETING, DO YOU RECALL? ABOUT PEOPLE CUTTING OVER FROM 404 TO HIGNETT ROAD AS A SHORTCUT AND THEY WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TRAFFIC.
>> WE WERE GOING TO SEND THEM A LETTER.
>> BRIAN'S GOT THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY.
>> BRIAN HAS WHERE THEY HAD MAILED THE 10 PROPERTY OWNERS LETTERS.
IT LOOKS LIKE FOUR HAD RESPONDED WITH YES, TAR-AND-CHIP, TWO HAD RESPONDED THAT THEY DID NOT WANT IT TAR AND CHIPPED, AND THEN FOUR ELECTED NOT TO RESPOND.
AND LOOKS LIKE LETTERS WERE MAILED OUT ON OCTOBER 27TH.
>> AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER GOT OUR, STATE HIGHWAY WAS GOING TO PUT SOME SIGNAGE THERE, REMEMBER, ABOUT [OVERLAPPING] NO CUTTING THROUGH OR SOMETHING, BUT WE HAD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER BEING IN A DIRT ROAD WHERE THEY HAD CARS UP IN THEIR FRONT YARDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE BECAUSE PEOPLE, DURING THE SUMMER WHEN IT BACKED UP, WERE JUST CUTTING.
AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A GOOGLE MAP THING THAT SHOWED IT AS A CUT.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY WAYS DOES THAT QUITE A BIT.
>> SO IF WE SURFACE THAT, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE A RACETRACK.
>> IF WE SURFACE THAT, YOU COULD ALSO CIRCLE BACK TO SHA AND ASK THEM TO PUT THOSE SIGNS UP PRIOR TO STARTING THAT PROJECT.
>> YOU CAN PUT SIGNS UP ALL YOU WANT BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO, I DON'T PAY ATTENTION.
>> SO WHAT DID YOU SAY? IT'S FOUR WOULD LIKE IT TAR CHIPPED, TWO DO NOT AND FOUR DID NOT RESPOND.
>> WELL, THIS IS WHAT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE.
WE WERE SETTLED ON WOLF, WE'RE DEFINITELY DOING WOLF ROAD.
MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO EITHER DO MITCHELL ROAD OR JONES CORNER ROAD, WHICH JONES CORNER IS THAT LITTLE SHORT PIECE IN FRONT OF NEIL FARMS, GOES AROUND BEHIND CONCORD CHURCH.
IT'S ONLY TWO-TENTHS OF A MILE.
>> WHAT'S THE ROAD WE HAVE WHERE THE TELEPHONE POLES GO DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD?
>> IT'S THAT'S A PRIVATE ROAD [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE DON'T WANT TO ANY PARTS TO DO WITH THAT ONE. [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO SOMEBODY WHY WE PICKED THE ROADS WE DID, THAT'S ALL.
>> BASED OFF OF DENSITY. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I THINK HAVING LANE GO THROUGH THIS AND STUFF THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO PICK TO AND TRY TO GET THE BEST BANG FOR BUCK. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WORK THROUGH THE KINKS WITH THEM AS WELL.
>> I LIKE LANE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GO CRAZY ON THE DESIGN.
[00:20:02]
[LAUGHTER]>> AND I THINK THE ONLY APPROVALS WE'RE GOING TO NEED IS THE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL.
SO AS LONG AS WE GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF, WE SHOULD BE COVERED.
>> THERE WAS ONE OF THEM THOUGH, STAFFORD ROAD UP TO MARYDALE, BUT IT'S NOT ON HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UP THERE, THE GREATER TRAVEL ALL THE WAY UP THERE JUST USE THAT ROAD. PEOPLE DON'T THAT ROAD.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO SUBDIVISION OFF BECAUSE IT'S TAR-AND-CHIP.
>> BUT IT'S LONG. IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE LIST.
>> IT'S ONLY ABOUT A HALF MILE.
>> IT'S PROBABLY SEVEN PAST MAYBE.
>> IT IS A LITTLE FURTHER FOR THE GREATER ONE.
THE NEXT CLOSEST ROAD IS [INAUDIBLE] ROAD.
THAT'S STILL ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE MILES AWAY AND GOODEN ROAD [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT I HATE TO DO ONE, TWO UP NORTH.
I'M PROBABLY WITH JONES CORNER OR MITCHELL, ONE OF THEM TWO.
>> LIKE I SAID, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HIT MORE THAN JUST THESE TWO.
>> THIS IS THE TESTS THAT START.
>> DO WE WANT TO DO JONES CORNER AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE FURTHER RESPONSE OUT OF THE ONES ON MITCHELL JUST SO WE CAN KEEP THIS GOING? AND IF MITCHELL IS CHOSEN, WE CAN MAKE IT.
>> JONES CORNER HAS GOT TO BE A PAIN TO DO WITH A GREATER TWO BECAUSE AS SOON AS YOU START MAKING A PASS, YOU'RE DONE AT THE OTHER END.
SO THEN YOU GOT TO DEAL WITH TIME BACK INTO [INAUDIBLE].
>> WELL, THAT'S THE OTHER THING. BECAUSE AS WE DO THOSE, THEN IT'S GOING TO ENABLE US TO WORK ON THE REMAINING DIRT ROADS, SO I GUESS I WOULD TAKE THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE'LL WORK ON THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WORK ON OR LOOK AT THE LIST, AND IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER DIRT ROADS THAT COME TO MIND, SEND BRIAN AND I AN EMAIL.
>> I THINK WE AGREE BASED IT ON DENSITY.
AND THEN DISTANCE AWAY SO WE'RE RUNNING THE GREATER ALL THE WAY TO MARYDALE OR TEMPLE BELLE.
>> YES, WE CAN WORK ON THAT AS WELL.
>> WOLF AND JONES CORNER. FOR LATER ON, WE'LL START WORKING ON THAT AND IF WE GET ANY FOLLOW UP OR PROGRESS, WE'LL CIRCULATE AN EMAIL WITH THE GROUP TO KEEP YOU GUYS IN THE LOOP AND YOU GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED BRIAN?
>> YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON RIVER ROAD JUST REAL QUICK?
>> YOU GUYS ARE WORKING ON THE SALESFORCE?
>> YES. SO WE ARE WORKING TO PROCURE THE PRECAST FORMS FOR RIVER ROAD.
SO I'VE SIGNED THE REQUEST FORM, THERE WILL BE A PO HOPEFULLY ON NEXT TUESDAY'S AGENDA.
FOR YEAR 3 SIGNATURE, IT'S ABOUT 122,000 FOR THE PRECAST CONCRETE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BRIAN.
THE PLAN NOW IS TO HAVE THAT SPECIFIED TO BE DROPPED OFF AT A COUNTY LOCATION AND THEN THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT ON SITE DURING CONSTRUCTION.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET A DIRECT SHIP TO THE SITE IF THE CONTRACTOR IS READY AT THAT POINT.
>> THAT GET IT OUT TO BID AND YEAH.
>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BOTH.
IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE NICE TO HAVE IT DIRECT SHIPPED ON SITE WHEN THEY'RE WORKING AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING IT AT ALL.
>> BUT I THINK WE'RE PLANNING FOR BOTH IN THE BID JUST IN CASE WE HAVE TO FALL BACK ON HAVING IT PUT ON COUNTY SITE AND HAD THAT WORKED OUT.
>> SO FAR IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING'S MOVING ALONG WITH THAT.
YOU'VE TAKEN THAT SMITHFIELD WRONG.
DIFFERENT. WHAT I SIGNED THE OTHER DAY.
>> ABOUT GILPIN'S POINT WHERE WE HAD ON THERE.
>> THEY'RE PLAYING WITH THE TIDES.
THE PIPES BEEN DELIVERED. THEY'RE READY TO GO.
JUST EVERY TIME THEY GET DOWN, THE TIDE IS EITHER COMING IN OR GOING OUT.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO WORK. THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO, WHEN THE TIDE GETS TO THE POINT THEY CAN DO TO DO THE WORK.
>> THE TIDES HAVE BEEN CRAZY FOR THE WINTER TIME.
I MEAN, TYPICALLY THEY'RE PRETTY LOW THIS TIME OF YEAR AND THEY JUST SEEM TO BE HIGH.
>> ON THAT, BRIAN'S WORKING ON LIGHTING SCHOOL.
>> THEY'RE WORKING ONLINE SCHOOL.
YEAH. THEY GET REVIEWED BY LEGAL, I GUESS NOW.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HOLD A PRETTY BIG MILLION CONTRACTOR WAS ON SLATE.
[00:25:01]
>> THAT TRY TO GET THAT ONE GOING. WE HAVE PIPE BEING DELIVERED THURSDAY AND TUESDAY NEXT WEEK WE HAVE ENOUGH TO DO THOSE JOBS.
>> THEN IS YOUR AND SOME OTHERS BE COMING BEYOND THEM AS AN ACTUAL BID?
>> WHAT DID WE DECIDE TO PUT IN? IS IT CMP OR?
>> WE CAN ACTUALLY USE PLASTIC THAT ISSUE IF WE WANT TO.
WE DON'T HAVE PLASTIC FOR THAT, WE DO HAVE CMP FOR THAT.
>> OKAY. IT'S FINE TO DO THEM ALL CORRUGATED METAL.
I MEAN, THERE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE USED. IT'S WORKED FINE.
>> THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
WE HAVE A PROCESS NOW FOR GETTING THESE OUT QUICKLY.
IF WE HAVE ANY FURTHER PIPE ISSUES.
>> THAT ARE ON OUR RADAR. WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT OUT.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO USE ARPA FUNDS TO PAY FOR THOSE?
>> YEAH. WELL, WE EARMARKED THE ARPA.
WE DID REALLY ROAD IMPROVEMENT AS THE CATEGORY.
MY OPINION, IF WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY NOW FOR NEEDS THAT ARE COUNTY GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICE, WE CAN CERTAINLY EXPEND THE ARPA MONEY, AND THEN AS WE CONTINUE TO SPEND THAT DOWN AND LOOK AT DOING THE TARSHIP ON THE DIRT ROADS, WE'LL JUST REALLOCATE THE MONEY THAT WAS FOR PIPES AND BRIDGES THAT WE HAD SET ASIDE OF COUNTY MONEY TOWARDS THIS.
STILL USING THE SAME DOLLAR FIGURE.
IT'S JUST INTERNALLY WHERE WE'RE SPENDING DOWN FIRST ON TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT FEDERAL SPENDING.
>> OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
>> MOVE. WE GO TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. IN LEGISLATIVE SESS AND WE HAVE THE FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-003 CHAPTER 175,
[Legislative Session:]
ZONING SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS, SO COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL.>> THIS IS AN ACT TO REPEAL SUBSECTIONS AB1 AND B3A AND B OF SECTION 175-46 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND TO REENACT THE SAME WITH AMENDMENTS CHANGING THE SITING REQUIREMENTS TO NOT ALLOW COMMERCIAL SOLAR TO BE CITED ON CERTAIN AREAS OF PARCELS WHERE TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS KNOWN AS TDR'S HAVE BEEN LIFTED.
ADDING ADDITIONAL SCREENING DESIGN STANDARDS TO BE REVIEWED BY A LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
CHANGING THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE SETBACKS FROM ROAD RIGHT OF WAYS AND PROVIDING FOR A REDUCTION IN THE REQUIRED SETBACK FROM ANY ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER VIA A SETBACK MODIFICATION AGREEMENT.
THIS IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING THE SITING AND DESIGN STANDARD REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN THE R RURAL DISTRICT.
CRYSTAL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO ADD ON THAT?
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>> WE HAD BROUGHT THIS LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO YOU BACK AT YOUR OCTOBER 17 MEETING AND AT THAT TIME, YOU HAD RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE REDUCTION IN THE SETBACK.
SO THIS WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES.
AND THE OUTCOME OF THAT WAS THAT THE WELL, LET ME CIRCLE BACK SINCE THIS BILLS COMING BACK AGAIN.
THE TWO ITEMS THAT WERE NOT CHANGED WERE THE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS, AND IN THOSE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU BACK IN OCTOBER, WERE THAT ANY PROPOSED SCREENING BUFFERS WOULD BE REVIEWED BY A LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT SELECTED BY THE COUNTY AT THE APPLICANT'S EXPENSE.
WE ALSO ADDED FIRMS AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS OF VEGETATION, ALONG WITH THAT AS PART OF THE SCREENING REQUIREMENTS.
THE OTHER ITEM THAT WAS NOT CHANGED WAS THE ADDITION OF PARCELS WHERE TRANSFERABLE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS WERE LIFTED, YOU COULD NOT PLACE SOLAR ON THAT PORTION OF ACREAGE THAT WAS USED FOR THE TDR TRANSFERS.
THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WERE TO THE SETBACK SECTION, WHICH WAS WE ADDED A 200 FOOT SETBACK FROM ROAD RIGHT AWAYS.
THEN ALSO UNDER THE SETBACK MODIFICATION SECTION, WE DID ADJUST THAT PREVIOUSLY.
[00:30:01]
IT ONLY ALLOWED ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS OF RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PARCELS THE ABILITY TO GRANT A SETBACK MODIFICATION.WE REMOVED THAT AND ANY PARCEL COULD ASK FOR A SETBACK MODIFICATION.
THOSE WERE THE CHANGES THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? OKAY, THANK YOU, CRYSTAL.
>> COMMISSIONERS, THE NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE IN THE SUNDAY STAR DEMOCRAT, FEBRUARY 18.
THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE 20 FEBRUARY THIRD READING, MARCH 12, ANTICIPATED EFFECTIVE DATE APRIL 26.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-001, AUTHORIZATION OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED FROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND REFUNDING BOND OF 2019. THAT'S QUITE A TITLE.
>> IT IS. THIS IS THE THIRD READING, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ENACTMENT [NOISE] OF THIS ACT, AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING BILL NUMBER 2019-3 FOR THE PURPOSE OF, IN EFFECT, AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND TO USE AND APPLY A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS, THE $34,210,000 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY CONSOLIDATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND REFUNDING BONDS OF 2019 TO THE COSTS OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PROJECTS IDENTIFIED HERE IN THIS FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT, PRESTON ELEMENTARY ROOF REPLACEMENT, AND FREDERIC CENTER HVAC.
THIS IS A REALLOCATION OF THE BOND PROCEEDS.
SINCE WE ARE NOT PURSUING THE RENOVATION OF THE DETENTION CENTER, WE'RE USING THESE FUNDS ON THESE THREE PROPOSED SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENTS AND THE HVAC, WHICH IS IN THE FREDERICK CENTER.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ENACT THIS.
>> THIS BILL, IF IT SEEMS LIKE DEJA VU.
WE'VE ALREADY PASSED IT ONCE, BUT WE HAD TO GO BACK AND RE ADVERTISE TO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOND COUNSEL.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE, IT HAS GONE THROUGH OUR PROCESS.
BUT I THINK WE WERE OFF A COUPLE DAYS ON AN ADVERTISEMENT OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, AND WE HAVE TO REHASH THIS OUT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, COMMENTS ON THIS BILL BEFORE WE VOTE ON ENACTMENT?
>> I HAVE A MOTION TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-001 AND A SECOND.
>> UNANIMOUS, THE AYES HAVE IT.
NEXT BILL IS LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-002, CHAPTER 175, ZONING STREAMS AND STREAM BUFFERS. MR. BERYL.
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS, THE STREAMS AND STREAM BUFFERS SECTION OF 175-40 OF CHAPTER 175, ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVISING STREAM BUFFER REQUIREMENTS FOR PERENNIAL AND INTERMITTENT STREAMS BY REPEALING AND REPLACING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR STREAMS AND STREAM BUFFERS IN SECTION 175-40 OF CHAPTER 175-ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND.
FIRST READING OF THIS BILL WAS JANUARY 16.
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SUNDAY STAR DEMOCRAT, JANUARY 21.
THE SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING WAS JANUARY 23.
THIS IS THE THIRD READING TODAY.
IF IT PASSES TODAY, THE ANTICIPATED EFFECTIVE DATE WILL BE MARCH THE 29TH.
I DON'T KNOW IF CRYSTAL HAS ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY SHE'D LIKE TO MAKE AT THIS TIME?
>> OKAY. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT CAME IN A WHILE BACK OPPOSING MAYBE IT WAS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, BUT THERE WAS AN OPPOSITION.
>> YEAH. IT OPPOSED THE REDUCTION BUT SUPPORTED THE INCREASE.
WE ARE INCREASING ONE BUFFER TO MATCH STATE [OVERLAPPING].
THE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS IN SUPPORT OF THAT CHANGE, BUT IN OPPOSITION TO THE REDUCTION FROM 100-50.
[00:35:01]
BUT WE DISCUSSED THAT LAST TIME.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ONE? NO.
>> I MADE A MOTION WE APPROVE LESLIE, THE BILL 2024-002, CHAPTER 175.
>> UNANIMOUS, THE AYES HAVE IT.
THAT BILL WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART BECAUSE MY POLL BUILDING IS LOCATED WHERE IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT 100 FOOT SETBACK, SO [LAUGHTER] THAT WAS ONE OF MY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.
IT TOOK ME A YEAR AND A MONTH, A COUPLE OF MONTHS [LAUGHTER] TO GET IT DONE OVER HERE.
>> I MOVE WE GO OUT OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> MOTION AND SECOND TO GO OUT OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[2024 State Legislative Session Update]
TO COMMISSIONER PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR A PUBLIC INFORMATION, OH, AND JENNIFER RODLEY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WITH A 2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE. HAVING FUN YET?>> I'M NOT SURE HOW GOOD A JOB I'M DOING HERE WITH THESE BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I THINK THIS PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT SO CONFUSING THAT NO ONE'S EVER GOING TO KNOW WHAT BILLS ARE BEING DISCUSSED HERE.
I THINK WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, I HOPE, AND [NOISE] SO WE'VE, JEN AND I, HAVE BEEN MEETING ON THURSDAYS.
WELL, MONDAY NIGHTS ARE THE RURAL COUNTY COALITION, WEDNESDAY IS THE MAKO LEGISLATIVE ZOOM CALL.
THURSDAY IS THE [LAUGHTER] CALL THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR LOBBYISTS AND I AM JUST TRYING HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF THIS.
I THINK THE RURAL COUNTY BILLS, THE HEARINGS ARE MOSTLY SET ON THESE BILLS FOR THE 22ND AND 23RD, AND THE 28TH AND 29TH.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ANYBODY'S SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE TO GO OVER AND TESTIFY ON THESE.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE BILLS THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY VERY STRONGLY SEND LETTERS OF OPPOSITION TO, BUT THE HEARINGS APPARENTLY ARE SO FULL THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN GET IN.
LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR RURAL COUNTY CALL.
THERE WERE SOME BILLS HERE THAT WE REVIEWED THAT IF I CAN FIND MY LIST.
THERE WERE SOME BILLS HERE THAT WERE DISCUSSED THAT THE RURAL COUNTY COALITION PEOPLE WERE STRONGLY RECOMMENDING THAT WE OPPOSE.
WERE YOU ON THAT CALL [OVERLAPPING]?
>> ONE OF THEM WAS HOUSE BILL 1407, WHICH IS THE COUNTY TIER 1 RENEWABLE SOURCES GENERATING SYSTEMS AND GENERATION PROHIBITING COUNTIES FROM ESTABLISHING ZONING LAWS AND OTHER REGULATIONS THAT RESTRICT OR PROHIBIT THE CONSTRUCTION FOR OPERATION OF TIER 1 RENEWABLE SOURCE GENERATING SYSTEMS. THIS APPARENTLY LOOKS LIKE A BILL THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO COMPLETELY TAKE AWAY ANY LOCAL AUTONOMY.
THEY JUST TRYING TO DETERMINE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALWAYS FELT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO COME IN AND SAY, WE DON'T CARE WHERE YOU WANT SOLAR FIELDS, HERE'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THEM.
HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING INFORMATION? DO YOU KNOW, HAS THE PLANNING AND CODES OFFICE BEEN GETTING COPIES OF THESE BILLS?
>> WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE MODEL ORDINANCE 1, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY UPDATES ON THAT, WHERE THEY ARE WITH THE MODEL ORDINANCE.
>> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT, THIS WAS AN INTERESTING BILL BECAUSE IT'S COMING FROM A RURAL COUNTY LEGISLATOR, BUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> CHARLES COUNTY, AND APPARENTLY THIS DELEGATE, IT WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHY IT WAS COMING FROM A RURAL COUNTY.
[00:40:04]
BUT I THINK THE HEARING ON THIS IS THE 29TH AT 01:00.MAKO IS GOING TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS BILL.
>> DO WE NEED TO BE SENDING LETTERS?
>> I KNOW IN YEARS PAST, WE SEND LETTERS.
>> WE NEED TO DEVELOP LETTERS, AND I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY ALSO DIRECT OUR LOBBYISTS TO TESTIFY IN OPPOSITION.
THEY CAN TESTIFY A REASON THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> I MEAN, I THINK THAT THEY MAY BE MORE EFFECTIVE TESTIFYING IN PERSON BECAUSE THEY'RE THERE, THEY KNOW THE PROCESS.
THE SECOND ONE IS HOUSE BILL 1449, SENATE BILL 1045, [NOISE] APPLYING TO CHARTER COUNTIES IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE OR CERTAIN PROVISIONS.
MAKO IS GOING TO OPPOSE THIS, BUT WE'RE NOT A CHARTER COUNTY,.
>> SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND A LOT MORE OR SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS ONE.
LET ME SEE, HOUSE BILL 1167, SENATE BILL 1090, IS APPARENTLY ESTABLISHING THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM.
THIS IS APPARENTLY IS GOING TO PUT IN ALL KINDS OF BELLS AND SECURITY.
THIS IS BEING STRONGLY OPPOSED BY ACTUALLY EDUCATION BOARDS AND REQUIRING THE GOVERNOR TO INCLUDE AN ANNUAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 OF 4.5 MILLION DOLLARS.
THIS IS NOT A BILL THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, AND DON'T EVEN KNOW IF ANYBODY KNOWS HOW TO DO ANY OF THIS.
HOUSE BILL 1147 IS, LET ME FIND THIS ONE.
THIS IS ONE WHERE IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE PARKS AND RECREATION.
LET ME SEE. FOUND IT. WE SHOULD CONSULT WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION ON THIS ONE.
I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THE RUBBER MATERIAL THAT WE PUT IN PLAYGROUNDS GOING BACK TO TEST IT AND DETERMINE WHETHER IT ALL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, SPANNING P FILES, AND FROM BEING ON PLAYGROUND.
>> BEING UTILIZED AS PLAYGROUND SURFACE MATERIAL.
>> BUT I THINK IT IT BANNED MORE THAN JUST P FILES.
THERE WERE OTHER CHEMICALS I THOUGHT.
>> NOW THEY INDICATED LAST NIGHT THAT THEY HAD REACHED OUT TO A LOT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND HAD RECEIVED INPUT BACK.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE CONTACTED OURS OR NOT, BUT WE MAY WANT TO CHECK WITH JAMIE.
[OVERLAPPING] YEAH, LET ME SEE.
THE HOUSE BILL 468, SENATE BILL 532, THE COMMISSION TO ADVANCE LITHIUM BATTERY SAFETY.
THERE ARE HEARINGS SET FOR THAT IN THE HOUSE ON 229, AND IN THE SENATE ON 222.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN THE CATALYST FOR THAT ONE, SO WE BETTER BE INVOLVED IN THAT.
[00:45:03]
AS FAR AS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE 219.I THINK BRUCE AND STEVE, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY ON THAT ONE.
HOUSE BILL 991, THAT'S THE INDUSTRIAL SLUDGE PERMIT THROUGH DELEGATE LOVE.
I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER BILL THAT'S BEEN INTRODUCED.
DELEGATE RACE HAS INTRODUCED ONE STEWART. YOU'VE REVIEWED THAT ONE?
>> I INDICATED LAST NIGHT IN THE MEETING THAT I FELT I PREFERRED DELEGATE RACE BILL OVER THIS ONE.
BUT MACOS, BOTH OF THEM, A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO, I THINK HONESTLY WITH WHO INTRODUCES THEM, WHETHER WHAT RELATIONSHIP THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BATTERY STORAGE AND SOLAR ARRAY TRAINING GRANT.
THAT HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR 221.
PROGRAM OPEN SPACE, THIS IS ONE I THINK THAT WE REALLY GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON.
THIS IS WHERE THEY CAN REQUIRE US TO USE OUR PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FOR SOLAR ARRAY.
YOU'RE TAKING PROGRAM OPEN SPACE LAND AWAY AND TELLING US THAT WE HAVE TO USE IT FOR SOLAR DISPLAYS.
THEN SENATE BILL 783, THIS IS THE NET ENERGY METERING, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND CONTROL WHAT WE CAN CHARGE FROM OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.
WE WANT TO OPPOSE THIS VERY FAST.
>> IS THAT HAVEN'T GOT ANY TRACTION?
>> I THINK ALL THE SOLAR BILLS DO.
>> BUT REMEMBER THE TEXT IN THE BOTTOM OF THAT ONE.
>> IT DOES [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE STILL WANT TO HAVE THAT ABILITY MOVING FORWARD.
>> THIS IS THE ONE WHERE THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO GET AN AMENDMENT FOR $2,500 FLOOR.
WELL, PER MEGAWATT, WHAT THE BILL NOW SAYS IS THAT THE MOST YOU COULD CHARGE WOULD BE 2,500.
IF THEY WANT TO MAKE IT SO THAT THE FLOOR CAN BE 2,500.
>> YEAH, WE ARE OKAY WITH THAT, BUT WE NEED TO SEND A LETTER AGAIN IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ONE, AND WE NEED TO SPELL OUT WHY OUR RECENT PILOT AS A REASON.
>> THERE IS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT HOUSE BILL 992 DEALING WITH WELL AND SEPTIC PERMITS.
THIS IS A BILL THAT, FOR SOME REASON, THEY WANT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO SUBMIT VERY DETAILED INFORMATION TO THEM ON THE NUMBERS OF WELL AND SEPTIC PERMITS AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
I THINK WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE.
ROBIN, YOU WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THIS SEAT BELT BILL ON SCHOOL BUSES DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GOING ANYWHERE, BUT WE WOULD OPPOSE THAT.
THE LEAD BASED AMMUNITION BILL PHASING THAT OUT.
>> WE OPPOSE THAT, AND I REACHED OUT TO KAYLEE AND KAYLEE SENT US SOME TALKING POINTS BECAUSE SHE'S WORKING ON THAT IN HER CURRENT CAPACITY AS WELL, SO WE FORWARDED THAT ON TO OUR LOBBYIST.
VERY GOOD TALKING POINTS THAT SHE CAME UP WITH.
>> WE GOT A LETTER OF OPPOSITION FOR THAT ONE.
>> YEAH. I THINK THE OTHER THING WE SHOULD SEND A LETTER WHICH I THINK WE'VE ALREADY HAD ONE DRAFTED FOR THE CUTS IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT ONE.
ONE PERSON THAT YOU TALK TO THINKS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT RESTORED THROUGH THE BERTHA.
THE OTHER ONE IS, THE OTHER PEOPLE SAY NO, IT'S GOING TO BE GOING.
THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION ON THIS BILL IS THAT THEY JUST REBASED THE FORMULA, THAT THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY PAID MORE MONEY.
[00:50:02]
I WON'T SAY THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO, BUT THEY PAID MORE MONEY ACCORDING TO THEM, SO THIS ISN'T REALLY A CUT, THIS IS JUST GOING BACK WHICH IS, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.I THINK ALL I KNOW IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE GETTING ONE YEAR AND CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE IS GETTING 10% LESS, THAT'S A CUT.
YOU CAN RE BASE IT OR FREAK BASE IT OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, IT'S A CUT.
AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT IF THIS HAPPENS, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME LOOKING FOR THE MONEY, SO IT'S RIDICULOUS.
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES WERE, THE ENROLLMENT IN THOSE COLLEGES, IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES EXPLODED DURING COVID.
IT IS OUR BASE THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE'VE NOW SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME DEVELOPING TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT COLLEGE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEW TRADE BUILDING.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT FOUR YEAR COLLEGES ARE NOT GETTING ANY CUTS.
THEY'RE ONLY CUTTING COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I THINK WE SHOULD OPPOSE THIS AS STRONGLY AS WE CAN.
OTHER THAN THAT, AS THESE BILLS CONTINUE, WE WILL STILL TRACK THEM.
I THINK THE DEADLINE FOR INTRODUCING BILLS WAS LAST WEEK.
ALTHOUGH THERE'S SOME KIND OF A THING WHERE APPARENTLY ONE OF THE PARTIES CAN CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE BILLS WHILE THE OTHER ONE CAN'T. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S A TIME CONSUMING EXPERIENCE.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO REVIEW THESE, JEN.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO KEEP TRACK OF THESE THINGS, BUT I THINK WE'RE REACHING A POINT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START DOING A LOT OF LETTERS [NOISE] AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH BRUCE AND STEVE ABOUT THEIR TESTIMONY.
THEY'RE PREPARED TO TESTIFY ON WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, WE JUST GOT TO GIVE THEM THE DIRECTION AND GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE THEM WITH AS MUCH BACKGROUND AS WE CAN.
ANYTHING TO DO WITH SOLAR THAT TAKES AWAY OUR AUTONOMY, ANYTHING TO DO WITH SOLAR THAT REDUCES OUR ABILITY TO GENERATE REVENUE, WE SHOULD OPPOSE IT AS STRONGLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
[NOISE] ANYTHING THAT TAKES AWAY OUR PARKS AND RECREATION SPACE, WE SHOULD OPPOSE.
I THINK ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO SUPPORT THE CONTROL AND MONITORING AND TRAINING FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES, WE SHOULD SUPPORT.
A LOT OF THE OTHER BILLS ARE SUBTRACTION MODIFICATION THINGS.
I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING FOR MONEY AND A LOT OF FEES GOING UP, A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT THOSE ARE THE THREE AREAS I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REALLY CONCENTRATE ON.
>> I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH DIRECTOR OF RECREATION AND PARKS, JAMIE PITCY, ABOUT THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING.
I THINK OUR PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING IS GOING TO SEE A SIZABLE REDUCTION AND I THINK THAT'S DUE TO STATE COLLECTIONS.
I THINK IT'S FUNDED THROUGH TRANSFER TAX AND I THINK THE STATE TRANSFER TAX IS DOWN SO THAT'S LEADING TO THE REDUCTION IN THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE PART OF MONEY.
I KNOW IT'S TOO LATE TO DO IT THIS YEAR, BUT WE SHOULD PROBABLY MAYBE START SPREADING THE WORD A LITTLE BIT AND SEEING IF THERE IS ANY APPETITE TO DO THIS.
BUT IDEA I HAD WAS THAT 25% OF THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE FOR PROGRAM OPEN SPACE IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND 75% IS USED FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WELL, WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF PROPERTY, WE NEED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TOO.
MY THOUGHT WAS TO START ASKING LEGISLATORS AND THROWING THE IDEA OUT THERE THAT WE FREE UP THAT MORE FLEXIBILITY INSIDE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE TO ALLOW US TO USE ALL THE MONEY FOR PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT.
IF YOU'VE MET YOUR PROPERTY PURCHASING GOALS,
[00:55:03]
WHICH WE HAVE, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD IS, IS THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED THE ACREAGE OF PROPERTY THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE, BUT THEY'RE STILL DOING THE 25, 75 SPLIT.WE WANT TO GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE OWN THE ENTIRE COUNTY FOR PARKS.
WE'VE GOT ALL THIS PROPERTY, BUT WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDS SO ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO CUT, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE IF YOU'RE GOING TO CUT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE, AT LEAST GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY TO USE THOSE REMAINING FUNDS HOW WE WANT.
I THINK IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT THIS SESSION, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO START KICKING THAT AROUND [NOISE] AND GETTING IT OUT THERE.
THE ONE THAT I HAD A LOT OF HEARTBURN WITH WAS HOUSE BILL 805, SENATE BILL 537, WHICH IS CANNABIS LICENSING LOCATION RESTRICTIONS.
IT ALTERS THE DISTANCE RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO A LICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARY PROHIBITING A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, WHICH IS US FROM ESTABLISHING CERTAIN ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARIES AND CERTAIN LICENSED CANNABIS GROWERS THAT ARE MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN ZONING REQUIREMENTS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH.
GOVERNING CERTAIN HEMP FARMS AND CLARIFYING THE AUTHORITY OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO ALTER CERTAIN DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.
BASICALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING IS ANYWHERE THAT WE ALLOWED HEMP TO BE GROW PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH, 2023, WE HAVE TO ALLOW CANNABIS GROWERS TO BE CITED ON.
THOSE CANNABIS FACILITIES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LICENSES ISSUED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY LICENSES CAROLINE'S GETTING YET.
COULD BE ONE, COULD BE 10, WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DO KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LICENSED.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 100 OF THEM POP UP EVERYWHERE, BUT STILL, WE WILL HAVE NO ABILITY TO REGULATE WHERE THEY GO OR DIRECT WHERE THEY GO.
THIS BILL IS TAKING AWAY A LOT OF LOCAL CONTROL OVER SIGHTING OF THESE FACILITIES.
WHAT'S THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF THEM? CRYSTAL FIVE ACRES? SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> SEVEN ACRES. THEY HAVE TO BE SECURED SO WE'LL HAVE THESE FENCED IN BARBED WIRE CAMERA SEVEN ACRE COMPLEXES THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, SIGHTING, SCREENING, LIGHTING, ANY OF THAT STUFF.
COULD BE DISCRIMINATELY THROWN WHEREVER IN THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE ALLOWED HEMP TO BE GROWN ANYWHERE [NOISE] SO I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUE WITH THAT.
THEN THIS BILL ALSO SAYS THAT CANNABIS DISPENSARIES YOU HAVE TO TREAT THEM THE SAME AS YOU DID A LIQUOR STORE PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH, 2023.
[NOISE] ANYWHERE YOU ALLOW LIQUOR STORE, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW A CANNABIS DISPENSARY.
IT'S TAKING AWAY LOCAL CONTROL.
>> THE LATEST AMENDMENTS FROM MAKO WERE PROPOSING GREATER SETBACKS FROM THE CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS.
THEY ORIGINALLY WERE SET AT 500 AND 1,000 AND NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT 1,000 AND 2,000.
THE PORTION ABOUT THE DISPENSARIES THAT WE WOULD ALLOW THEM WHERE WE WOULD ALLOW LIQUOR STORES, BUT IN ADDITION, WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO REGULATE THOSE.
THEY DID ADD THAT BUT NOTHING TO THE GROWING WAS PROPOSED TO BE CHANGED.
>> I'M GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE OPPOSE THIS.
YOU GUYS HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT? WE SHOULD BE SENDING A LETTER IN OPPOSITION?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S TAKEN AWAY LOCAL CONTROL.
>> I THINK ANYTHING THAT TAKES AWAY LOCAL CONTROL, WE SHOULD.
>> THAT'S HOUSE BILL 0805, SENATE BILL 0537.
>> WAIT, REPEAT THOSE NUMBERS.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN YOUR COUNTY? I ONLY KNOW ONE PERSON GROWING HEMP ANYWAY.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD ANYBODY GROWING.
>> IT MIGHT BE ON DELAWARE LINE [INAUDIBLE]. I DID.
>> BUT WE ALLOWED IT TO BE GROWN ANYWHERE.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda:]
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, CHANGES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MADE, ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.[01:00:02]
>> MOTION AND SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> UNANIMOUS, THE AYES HAVE IT.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> I JUST HAVE ONE THING I WANT TO BRING UP, JUST AS AN FYI REALLY.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CAMERAS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY ON SHARP ROAD.
YESTERDAY, I DID SEND A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE CITING THE ROADS MANUAL, THE LANGUAGE THAT WE HAVE IN THERE AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS UNTIL MARCH 12 TO REMOVE THOSE CAMERAS.
WE'LL SEND THEM A CITATION AND THEN WE CAN START THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THEM FOR THEM.
>> WE WILL NEED TO CITE THEM FIRST IF THEY'RE NOT DOWN OR CAN WE JUST REMOVE THEM ON THE 12TH AT THAT POINT?
>> THEN WE PROBABLY HAVE TO CITE THEM FIRST.
BUT WE'LL FOLLOW WHATEVER PROCESS IS IN THERE.
>> THE SHERIFF WANTS TO JUST TAKE THEM DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> HE TOLD ME WE HAD TO DO IT.
>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT AN EARLIER CONVERSATION WE HAD.
THEY ARE ONLY 3-4 FEET OFF THE ROAD.
>> THEY HAVE UNTIL MARCH 12TH, WE SENT CERTIFIED MAIL AND REGULAR MAIL.
THEN IF WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM, STEWART AND I, AND I THINK THE SHERIFF WILL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST NEXT STEP IS, MAYBE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THAT DEADLINE.
>> IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WANT THEM PULLED OUT ON MARCH 13TH.
>> IF THEY'RE NOT GONE ALREADY.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE THE FARMERS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING AROUND WITH PLANNERS AND THAT STUFF.
BOX IN DELAWARE, SO IT DID MAKE ME FEEL GOOD.
>> I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IT UP, THE DCT BUILDING AND LOBBY.
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR GETTING THAT TAKEN CARE OF, KATHLEEN.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? GOOD. COUNTY COMMISSIONER, URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD. YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> YEAH. I HAD A EMAIL THE OTHER DAY FROM CLAUDIA CUNNINGHAM FROM THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL ASKING IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO PROVIDE A LETTER OF SUPPORT REGARDING FUNDING CUTS AT THE BENEDICTINE SCHOOL.
WHEN I ASKED HER TO, SHE SAID SHE WOULD DRAFT A LETTER, SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE GOTTEN THAT OR NOT.
BUT I JUST RECOMMENDED THAT SHE SUBMIT A LETTER FOR US TO REVIEW.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO, MONEY CUT FROM THAT ORGANIZATION IS RIDICULOUS, ALONG WITH OTHER CUTS THAT I THINK ARE RIDICULOUS.
BUT SO WHEN WE GET THAT LETTER, WE CAN PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA AND GET IT BACK, GET IT SIGNED IF EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT WITH WHAT IT SAYS.
I HAD AN EMAIL YESTERDAY, I THINK, FROM HEATHER HARDING, WHO RUNS THE CLAC PROGRAM.
DON'T ASK ME WHAT ANY OF THESE ACRONYMS MEAN.
BUT SO INVOLVED WITH THE JUDY CENTER AND SHE APPARENTLY IS HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH GETTING SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS. I SUGGESTED SHE CONTACT YOU, JENN, AND GET ON AN AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN TALK TO HER ABOUT IT.
I'VE GONE TO A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
BUT IF WE CAN HAVE HER COME IN AND SHE CAN EXPLAIN TO US IN DETAIL WHAT IT IS SHE'S LOOKING FOR FROM US. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THE ONLY THING I HAD WAS I WANTED TO BRING UP DCT.
WE HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY CURRENTLY THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO EITHER RELOCATE OR OUT OF OUR RENTING SPACE CURRENTLY.
IT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME OF THE AREA THAT LEGAL IS IN CURRENTLY AND WE ARE RENTING SPACE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT REPURPOSING SOME OF THE DELMARVA COMMUNITY TRANSIT BUILDING OUT BY DOMINO'S PIZZA, GOOSE CREEK.
WE HAD DAVIS, BOWEN & FRIEDEL DO SOME SKETCHES AND I WANTED TO IN-MEETING DISCUSS MOVING FORWARD WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.
[01:05:07]
THE PROCEDURE WAS GOING TO BE THAT WE GOT THESE DRAWINGS PUT TOGETHER AND WE DECIDED WHETHER WE WANTED TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THIS APPROACH.IF WE DID, WE WERE GOING TO ATTACH THESE DRAWINGS TO A LETTER AND SEND THEM TO THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH PROVIDED SOME GRANT FUNDING TO PURCHASE THIS BUILDING I GUESS BACK A COUPLE OF DECADES AGO WHEN THE COUNTY PURCHASED IT, TO GET THEIR STAMP OF APPROVAL OR ASK THEM TO SPEAK OR FOREVER HOLD THEIR PEACE.
ESSENTIALLY, THESE DRAWINGS SHOW, SO CURRENTLY THIS IS AN OVERHEAD DOOR AND THIS IS AN OVERHEAD DOOR.
IT WAS BASICALLY TAKING THIS WHOLE AREA AND MAKING IT OFFICES AND THEN DCT WOULD CONTINUE TO USE THIS AS A GARAGE.
A COUPLE DIFFERENT ISSUES, NOISE, FUMES, AND OTHER NUISANCES ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING A MAINTENANCE SHOP RIGHT BEHIND YOUR OFFICES.
THEN ALSO CONFIDENTIALITY OF A COUPLE OF OFFICES WITH HAVING POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE CONVERSATIONS, SOUND, PEOPLE, PASSERS BY OTHERS ACTUALLY HEARING.
DO WE CONTINUE WITH THIS OR DO WE SCRAP THIS? I THINK A LITTLE MORE OF.
CURRENTLY, YOU'VE GOT AN OVERHEAD DOOR HERE, AN OVERHEAD DOOR HERE.
THIS WOULD BE OFFICE OF LAW HERE.
THIS WOULD BE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE HR HERE WOULD SHARE SPACE.
>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FRONT OF DCT?
>> DOES DCT NEED ALL THAT SPACE UP HERE?
>> THERE IT'S ON THE SCREEN TOO IF YOU NEED TO.
>> THAT'S JUST A [INAUDIBLE] ZOOMED IN A-1019 NOT AS.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FLOOR PLANS THAT THEY DID.
>> MY QUESTION IS DOES DCT NEED ALL THIS SPACE?
>> IN THE FRONT DANNY, DOES DCT NEED ALL THAT SPACE?
>> WE HAD DAVIS, BOWEN & FRIEDEL MEET WITH DCT ABOUT THE BUILDING.
I THINK THEIR STANDPOINT IS YES, THEY NEED SPACE AND HAVE THE SPACE THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY USING.
WHEN WE GOT INTO CONVERSATIONS WITH PEYTON ABOUT WHAT THE I'M GOING TO SAY, MOST COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF RENOVATING THAT BUILDING WOULD BE, WE KEPT KIND OF COMING BACK TO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MOVE DCT, RE-RENOVATE THAT WHOLE EXISTING PLACE THAT THEY HAD, IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO ESSENTIALLY JUST LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY WERE AT AND JUST CONSTRUCT INTO THE OPEN GARAGE AREA THAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE.
I THINK THE THOUGHT AT THE TIME WAS THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE LEAST INTRUSIVE TO THEIR OPERATION.
THE CONVERSATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION DIRECTLY IS THAT DCT SAYS THEY NEED THEY NEED THE SPACE.
>> OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THAT.
>> THERE ARE OTHER ARRANGEMENTS.
HERE'S ANOTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT THEY DID WHERE IT TAKES UP PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE ONE ON THE SCREEN, RIGHT?
>> YEAH, THAT'S THE ONE ON THE SCREEN.
>> THERE WERE THREE DIFFERENT CONCEPTS DONE.
>> I THINK THE FIRST CONCEPT WAS THE LEAST INTRUSIVE IT GOT ALL OF THEM.
>> CORRECT. THAT ESSENTIALLY TOOK AND MADE HR THE FRONT SECTION OF THE BUILDING WHERE IT HAD ITS OWN ENTRANCE AND SECRETARY, KIND OF LIKE IT HAS NOW.
THEN THEY WOULD BE SECTIONED OFF BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL TAKING THE BACK CORNER.
[01:10:04]
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL THE B SIDE OF THE BUILDING, CLOSER TO THE BACK CORNER, THERE IS AN EXTERIOR DOOR THAT WOULD BE USED FOR LEGAL SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO GO IN AND OUT OF HR EVERY DAY TO COME TO WORK.TO SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND CONVERSATIONS, WE'VE HAD WITH STEWART THERE IS A LOT OF COMMON AREA AND WALLS THAT ARE JOINED THAT REALLY AREN'T PROBABLY INDUCIVE TO LEGAL AND HR, PROBABLY OUR TWO MOST SENSITIVE DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO INTERACTIONS BEING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN THAT MANNER.
AGAIN, WE COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POSSIBLY RELAYING OUT SOME OF THE OFFICES.
BUT AT THE TIME, THIS WAS PROBABLY THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE, LEAST INTRUSIVE WAY TO GET THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS INTO THE BUILDING.
>> TRAVIS, IF WE REDID, TO JUMP AROUND I'M SORRY, THE PARKING LOT, WOULD YOU HAVE TO ADD A STORMWATER DRAINAGE?
>> THERE'D BE CONSIDERABLE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS WELL.
>> I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS DOESN'T FIT.
NO, IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH.
IT'S REPURPOSING SPACE THAT WE MAY NEED IN THE FUTURE FOR MAINTENANCE TAKING IT OUT OF MAINTENANCE.
>> DEPENDING ON WHAT TRANSPORTATION LOOKS LIKE 5, 10 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
>> MY THOUGHT WE CAN PURSUE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS ASHLEY INSURANCE ACROSS THE STREET IS MOVING OUT TO THE SHOPPING CENTER.
I THINK THEY'VE GOT A SIGN UP ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, SO THAT SPACE ACROSS THE STREET HERE IN THE LAW BUILDING IS GOING TO COME AVAILABLE.
WE COULD TALK TO THEM, DISCUSS WITH THEM WHAT KIND OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THEY HAVE AVAILABLE IF WE CAN MAKE THAT FIT AS A SHORT-TERM STOPGAP.
MY THOUGHT IS WE EITHER NEED TO CONSIDER BUILDING A BUILDING TO LOCATE THESE AGENCIES IN, OR WE CAN WAIT USE RENTAL SPACE AS A STOPGAP UNTIL THE DETENTION CENTER IS MOVED AND THEN MAYBE WE COULD RENOVATE PORTIONS OF THE ANDREW BUILDING TO PUT COUNTY OFFICES THERE.
>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS GOING TO WORK SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, LARRY?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK BECAUSE I THINK THEY DCT DOESN'T WANT, THEY DON'T WANT ANYTHING THERE.
I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A COST OF BATTLE WITH HOW MUCH NOISE THEY'RE MAKING AND I DON'T SEE IT WORKING.
I JUST THINK THAT THE ANSWER TO THIS THING IS DOWN THE ROAD.
IF WE END UP WITH A DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION SITUATION, WE TAKE THE WHOLE BUILDING.
THAT'S ALL. I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO.
I DON'T THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO PUT OUR OFFICERS IN A GARAGE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE ACTIVE, STUFF GOING IN.
I HATE THE THOUGHT OF RENTING SPACE.
I JUST DO AND I DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
>> WELL, WE'LL HAVE IT. I JUST THINK LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS FOR NOW.
>> WELL, WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING WITH LEGAL BECAUSE OUR TEAM NEEDS THAT SPACE.
>> THEY'RE CURRENTLY WILL EXPAND INTO THE FOURTH INDIVIDUAL USING A TRAINING ROOM THAT THEY HAVE NOW WITH ESSENTIALLY TWO DESKS PUT TOGETHER AS A PLACE FOR THAT FOURTH PERSON TO WORK.
I THINK LOOKING AT OPTIONS AND TRYING TO STAY WITHIN PROBABLY THE SAME COSTS THAT WE'RE SPENDING NOW WOULD MAKE SENSE, AT LEAST FOR A STOPGAP, TO TRY TO GET US A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN THE ROAD TO MAYBE A DIFFERENT, I SAY A DIFFERENT TIME WHERE WE MAY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD OR CONSTRUCT SOMETHING PERMANENT OR GRANT FUNDING TO DO SOMETHING.
IT'S JUST WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING A LITTLE, I'LL SAY SHORT TERM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS HOPEFULLY TO GET BY WITH TECHNOLOGY AND GETTING THEM OUT OF WHERE THEY'RE AT.
>> OUR OPTIONS ARE TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING BEHIND HAPS ON THE VACANT LOT THAT WE HAVE THERE.
OR WE CAN WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE DETENTION CENTER.
[01:15:05]
IF THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER COMES TO FRUITION OR WHATEVER HAPPENS THERE.AS YOU SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER, COMMISSION PORTER, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE NEW TECH BUILDING AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER THE STATE FUNDING IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED SO WE MAY HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE.
YOU KNOW IF THE STATE PULLS BACK THEIR PORTION OF THE NEW TECHNOLOGY BUILDING.
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE LEASING SPACE FOR HR.
>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IF YOU USED THE THEORY THAT WE USED SOME YEARS AGO, WE FIGURED OUT WHAT WE WERE PAYING AS FAR AS LEASE RATES, AND THEN WE CAME UP WITH A DEBT SERVICE FIGURE ON WHAT WE COULD SERVE WITH THAT DEBT, BECAUSE TO ME, IT'S ALWAYS BETTER FOR THE COUNTY TO OWN THE BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN.
YOU'RE OUT OF THE LEASE RATE INCREASING AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF STUFF, SO WHY ARE WE?
>> WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER SOME NUMBERS WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT DCT.
WE PROBABLY NEED TO UPDATE THE CURRENT RENT FIGURES FOR BOTH LOCATIONS.
I KNOW BOB'S LOOKING AT IT TO INCREASE, AND I IMAGINE HR IS LOOKING AT ONE AS WELL, WHETHER IT'S CALENDAR OR FISCAL YEAR.
I CAN PULL THAT SHEET BACK UP CRUNCH THE NUMBERS TO SEE.
I THINK AT THE TIME WE WE'RE SPENDING ABOUT $35,000 A YEAR IN RENT NOT INCLUDING COMCAST UTILITIES FOR THOSE LOCATIONS THAT WERE ON TOP OF THAT.
>> DID YOU GROUP TOGETHER ABOUT THREE GRAND A MONTH?
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND COME UP WITH A BETTER PICTURE AS FAR AS COST.
>> WE NEED TO START THINKING STRATEGICALLY, AND THE STRATEGIC QUESTION IS, DO WE BUILD A NEW BUILDING BEHIND HAPS, [NOISE] WHICH WOULD THEN FREE US UP IF THE DETENTION CENTER DID MOVE TO TOTALLY LIQUIDATE THAT BUILDING AND DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT, OR DO WE WANT TO WAIT AND REPURPOSE THE DETENTION CENTER INTO OFFICES DOWN THE ROAD?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET INTO, I THINK.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE.
IF WE CAN GET HISTORIC GRANT FUNDING TO [OVERLAPPING] TO SOME OF THE RENOVATIONS.
REMODEL IS CHEAPER THAN BUILDING NEW BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY CODES AND YOU'VE GOT THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS.
NOW IN THAT CASE, THE OTHER THING IS IT WOULDN'T BE AN OCCUPIED REMODEL LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, RIGHT? AN OCCUPIED REMODEL OF A DETENTION CENTER IS ABOUT AS EXPENSIVE A WAY TO REMODEL AS YOU CAN.
IF YOU'VE GOT THEM TOTALLY OUT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SECURITY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
WORKING IN SMALL AREAS AND KEEPING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE HVAC AND PLOWING WORKING WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT, YOU JUST GO IN AND GUT IT AND REDO IT WITH GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE, OR WE JUST SAY, WE'RE GOING TO WASH OUR HANDS OF THAT AT THE END.
LET'S PURSUE BUILDING A NEW BUILDING SOMEWHERE SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION TODAY.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.
>> WHAT'S THE LATEST SPECULATION ON THE DETENTION CENTER?
MR. BERYL PUT TOGETHER SOME LEGISLATION FOR EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT SETTING UP.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DISCUSS WHAT THAT DOCUMENT DID BRIEFLY.
>> IT'S ENABLING LEGISLATION ALLOWING TWO OR MORE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS TO BAND TOGETHER AND CREATE A REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND CONSTITUTES THE AUTHORITY AS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC ENTITY, I SHOULD SAY, WHICH ALLOWS IT UNDER THE INSURANCE ARTICLE TO PARTNER WITH OTHER PUBLIC ENTITIES, TO HAVE GROUP INSURANCE AND HAVE THE ADVANTAGES OF THAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO, WE PARTICIPATED IN LEGIT.
THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO GET THE AUTHORITY TO BE A STANDALONE ENTITY THAT WOULD NOT INVOLVE EVERY TIME AN INMATE FILES A CLAIM FOR
[01:20:01]
SOMETHING TYING UP COUNTY STAFF IN THREE COUNTIES, ALL OF US BEING DEFENDANTS, ALL OF US ON NOTICE OF A TORT ACTION, ETC.WHEREAS THE VIRGINIA MODEL IS THE AUTHORITY IS THE ONLY DEFENDANT, AND THE COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT ARE PART OF THE AUTHORITY, THEY'RE NOT EVEN BOTHERED BY IT.
IT'S ALL INSURED AND IT'S A SEPARATE ENTITY.
YOU SUE THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THAT'S IT.
TO ME, IT'S SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING.
I'VE SENT IT OFF TO GORDON COOK, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY TWO WEEKS AGO, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY DISTRIBUTED OUT TO THE THREE COUNTIES THAT ARE PARTICIPANT ARE TRYING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IT WAS DISTRIBUTED YET, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN QUEEN ANNE'S, BUT YEAH, I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH EMAIL AS WELL JUST TO SEE IF THEY HAD A COMMENT OR HAD RECEIVED WHAT THE STEWART HAD SENT OUT TO THEM.
>> WHEN YOU DO THAT, ASK FOR AN UPDATE ON THE STUDY THAT WE'RE HAVING DONE.
ALL THREE COUNTIES ARE CURRENTLY HAVING A STUDY DONE, TO DO A SUBMISSION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.
>> YES, AND THAT'S FOR THE 50, 50 SPLITTING ASPECT.
>> TO ESSENTIALLY PROVE THE NEED THAT WE ALL HAVE IT.
I MEAN, I'M OPTIMISTIC IT'S MOVING, IT'S JUST MOVING SLOWLY.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT STUDY TO COME BACK TO.
I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A DEADLINE TO GET THAT TURNED INTO THE STATE, MARCH.
>> I WAS THINKING IT WAS MARCH.
MAYBE WE CAN TOUCH BASE WITH CHARLES TOO BECAUSE HE'S BEEN OUR POINT OF CONTACT ON THAT, ON THE TECHNICAL STUFF, SO HE MIGHT HAVE AN UPDATE AND MAYBE WE CAN GET HIM IN HERE.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS JUST TIED UP RIGHT NOW WITH HOLES.
I MEAN, NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.
>> BUT ANYWAY, I THINK IT'S MOVING.
I THINK IT JUST HAS SLOWED UP WITH SESSION. MAYBE IT WAS SESSION.
>> WE NEED TO PUT ON A PRETTY SOON AGENDA TO DISCUSS THE LOCATION OF THE GREENSBORO EMS BUILDING.
I MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT I HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY JIMMY HARVEY, I THINK IS THE CHIEF.
THEY ARE GOING TO BEGIN DESIGN FURTHER NEW FIREHOUSE AND HE WANTS TO KNOW IF WE WANT TO LOCATE THE EMS STATION IN THE FIREHOUSE AS OPPOSED TO WHERE IT IS NOW IN THE OLD FIREHOUSE.
>> HOW DID YOU DO IT WITH ORIGINALLY WHEN THAT ONE WAS BUILT?
>> IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WHEN THEY DID THEIR BUILDING, THEY DESIGNED A SPACE FOR THE ORIGINALLY EMS BUILDING.
>> THEN THE COUNTY PAID FOR THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING?
>> I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK.
>> I THINK THE AGREEMENT HAD WHERE THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY CONSTRUCTING THE WALL TO MAKE OUR BAY OUR SECTION, AND THEN WE WERE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE UPFIT AND BUILD OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR SQUARE FOOT.
>> BUT WE MAY WANT TO HAVE MARK AVAILABLE FOR THAT.
>> IT MAKES SENSE TO ME BECAUSE WE ARE CONSTANTLY DOING RENOVATIONS AND WORK ON THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S AN OLD BUILDING. I CAN TELL YOU.
>> YEAH, WE'VE DUMPED SOME MONEY INTO THAT BUILDING OVER THE YEARS.
>> IT MAKES SENSE TO ME UNLESS SOMEBODY CAN COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT SOLUTION, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME TO PUT IT IN A NEW BUILDING.
>> CAN WE GO BACK REAL QUICK TO THE OFFICE OF LAW AND HUMAN RESOURCES?
>> DID WE DECIDE TO LOOK AT THE OFFICE OF LAW OR THE LAW OFFICE ACROSS THE STREET?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK WE CAN, YOU GUYS, YOU TO SEE WHAT THE RUN IS.
>> WE CAN BRING THEM TOGETHER AND HAVE THEM AT LEAST CLOSE PROXIMITY.
>> WE CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT LET'S LOOK VERY STRONGLY AT THAT BUILDING BECAUSE I KNOW ONE TIME WE WERE OFFERED THAT BUILDING, WE TRACKED IT DOWN.
I THINK FOR A TEMPORARY, SO WE CAN PROBABLY DO THAT.
>> I THINK THE COST FIRST OF WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY RUNNING.
>> I THINK IT'S COMPARABLE. I THINK WE LOOKED AT IT AND THE COSTS, WERE GOING TO BE ABOUT THE SAME, AND WE COULD CONSOLIDATE EVERYBODY INTO POTENTIALLY ONE LOCATION CLOSER.
>> I THINK WALKING DISTANCE OF SOME OF THE MAJOR DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL.
>> WE'LL SET THAT UP AND LOOK AT THAT AND WE'LL COME BACK WITH THAT IF IT'S A VIABLE OPTION OR NOT.
AT THIS TIME, YOU GUYS GOOD? DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MR. BAKER?
[Public Comment]
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS WHEN BRIAN WAS HERE.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE COMMENTS I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL THAT, A ROSE.
[01:25:05]
>> EVERYBODY CAN HEAR ME, I THINK?
>> ANYWAY, A COUPLE OF THINGS CAME UP.
ONE WAS ABOUT THE ENGINEERING.
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON COUNTY ROADS, MOST OF THE COUNTY ROADS ARE OUT IN PRACTICALLY UNDEVELOPED AREAS.
I FULLY REALIZED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JURISDICTION, BETWEEN STATE ROADS, COUNTY ROADS, AND TOWN ROADS.
HOWEVER, I THINK THE COUNTY NEEDS TO TAKE A LONG LOOK AT REVAMPING THEIR POLICIES ON COUNTY ROADS.
NUMBER 1, SIGNS ARE NOT ANY GOOD UNLESS YOU ENFORCE THEM.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY SIGNS YOU PUT UP BECAUSE YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE SPEED LIMIT OR SOME INDIVIDUAL WANTS TO CHANGE THE SPEED LIMIT.
THERE ARE CERTAIN CONDITION THAT DICTATE WHAT SPEED LIMITS ARE SAFE ON THE ROAD.
SAFETY SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST CONCERN.
DENSITY ON THE ROAD HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, I'M SURE THAT THAT'S CONSIDERATION THERE.
ROAD YOU DISCUSSED, I REALIZE ARE EXPERIMENTAL TO TRY SOME NEW METHODS.
I THINK BRIAN NORTH SHOULD BE RECOMMENDED BY YOU ALL, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTY FOR A TREMENDOUS JOB HE'S DONE ON OUR ROAD OVER THE LAST MANY YEARS.
EVER SINCE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
BUT DESIGNING IS NOT A SOLUTION TO ROADS.
THE OTHER THING IS WHEN YOU GET A CONSULTANT TO COME IN AND DESIGN OR WHAT SO CALLED.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYBODY IS ANY BETTER THAN ANOTHER GROUP, BUT AGAIN, COMMON SENSE SHOULD PREVAIL OVER SOME OF THESE INDIANAPOLIS AND DAYTONA BANKING THAT YOU HAVE ON COUNTY ROADS.
YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU'RE NOT BUILDING COUNTY SPEEDWAYS, YOU'RE BUILDING ROADS FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP AND DOWN.
THERE ARE A LOT REALLY EXAMPLES OF IT.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE A BIT OVER AS MUCH AS I HAVE.
NOT THAT I REQUIRE FROM THAT, MUD ROAD, CLAY ROAD, STONE ROAD, PAVE ROADS.
ANYWAY, I JUST WAS GOING TO MAKE A FEW LITTLE COMMENTS WHILE HE WAS HERE, BUT HE FINISHED UP HIS LITTLE SPEECH.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU SHOULD CONSIDER.
>> WHEN YOU CONSIDER NEW ROAD BILLS OR ROAD CONSTRUCTION, [NOISE] CERTAINLY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE ROAD ARE IMPORTANT.
YOU DON'T SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THE ROAD WHERE THERE'S ONLY TWO HOUSES ON IT IN SIX OR EIGHT MILES.
THEN I GUESS THE LAST ONE IS THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AROUND THE COUNTY ARE THE BIGGEST MISHMASH REALLY SEEN OUT THERE IN ALL 50 STATES AND A LOT OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A MISHMASH OF SPEED LIMIT SIGNS.
OUR NEIGHBOR TO DELAWARE, THEY GOT A LOT OF FALLS, THEY GOT ABOUT THREE THINGS.
YOU GOT 50 MILE AN HOUR ON MOST COUNTRY ROADS THAT ARE NOT SPEEDWAYS.
THEY DROP TO A 35 MILE OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND A 25 INSIDE TOWN, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU TRY TO DO HERE.
BUT YOU CAN TAKE A TWO MILE SECTION OF ROAD OUT HERE AND FIND AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT, MAYBE FIVE DIFFERENT SPEED LIMITS ON THAT ONE LITTLE SECTION ROAD. NO NEED FOR IT.
IT'S A WASTE 100 BY ALL THESE SIGNS TO START WITH.
I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A FEW LITTLE COMMENTS WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE ROAD, BUT I HAVE IT ON FACE BECAUSE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WHAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPEN.
>> MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ALL'S TIME.
I THINK I'VE INTRODUCED MYSELF TO MOST OF YOU BEFORE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT FOR CAROLINE NORTH LITTLE LEAGUE AS WELL AS THE CAROLINE COUGARS RIGHT HERE IN RIDGELEY.
I'M COMING FOR BOTH OF THEM, BUT MAINLY JUST FOR GUIDANCE ON WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR THE FUTURE OF THE YOUTH WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
I WAS HOPING YOU GUYS CAN MAYBE JUST LIKE I SAID, MAYBE STEER US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION JUST TO GET US MOVING IN A MORE POSITIVE DIRECTION.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS FOR PROBABLY ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW.
[01:30:02]
I GOT TOO MANY KIDS OF MY OWN, SO I'M GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN A WHILE.IT LOOKS LIKE AND ONE THING THAT I'VE NOTICED IS IT SEEMS LIKE YOU SPORTS AROUND HERE COULD GET OVERLOOKED WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.
I KNOW YOU GUYS GOT YOUR HANDS FULL.
BUT AS MY POSITION, I'M HERE TO REPRESENT IT, SO THINGS DON'T GET OVERLOOKED IN RESOURCES FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
HOPEFULLY, I DON'T TAKE TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME AND I DON'T WASTE YOUR ALL'S TIME.
AS FAR AS WHAT WE WANT TO DO, A CAMBORNE, I UNDERSTAND IT'S TOWN PROPERTY.
WE HIT SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD WITH THEM AND I JUST BELIEVE, IT'S COUNTY BUT IT'S TOWN.
BUT I'D RATHER JUST START WITH YOU GUYS BEFORE I WORK DOWN TO THEM.
OBVIOUSLY WE DID TAKE A HIT WITH TRAVEL BALL AND OTHER PROGRAMS COMING UP, BUT EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD WAS THAT BASEBALL WAS LIFE IN THAT TOWN, IN THIS COUNTY.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EXPAND, BUT IT JUST ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE WE'RE HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD MAINLY WITH THE TOWN ORIGINALLY, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT WITH THEM.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I'M JUST STARTING WITH YOU GUYS AND WORKING OUR WAY OUT.
PAST MEMBERS, THEN PEOPLE TELL ME LIKE, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A COMPLEX OR SOMETHING GOING OUT IN GREENSBORO.
>> YEAH. WE'RE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS RIGHT NOW FOR A NORTH COUNTY REGIONAL PARK WHICH IS NEXT TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN GREENSBORO.
IT'S STILL IN DESIGN, SO IF YOU GIVE US SOME DIRECTION, SOME IDEA OF WHAT IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, I KNOW THAT WE DESPERATELY NEED A FOOTBALL FIELD THAT WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN THE COUNTY.
WE WERE PUSHING FOR THAT AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY, MULTI PURPOSE, BUT BASEBALL SOFTBALL FIELDS, I DON'T THINK WE HAD ANY OF THOSE IN THE PHASE 1, THE RECENT PHASE 1 CONCEPT DRAWING THAT I SAW, IT WAS ALL MULTIPURPOSE FIELDS, WHICH WE CAN STILL REVISIT THAT, WE CAN CHANGE THAT IF THE LITTLE LEAGUE FEELS LIKE THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE SOFTBALL BASEBALL FIELDS.
IN DENTON, WE'RE WORKING ON IMPROVEMENTS TO LICKERMAN FIELD, WE WANT TO MOVE IT TO SHARP ROAD.
IT'S MY OPINION THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH NEED FOR TWO FULL SIZE BASEBALL FIELDS IN THE COUNTY.
I THINK THE COUNTY CAN GET BY ONE, NICE, LIT, FULL-SIZED BASEBALL FIELD.
YEAH, JUNIOR LEAGUE, SENIOR LEAGUE, AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL, LIKE THAT SIZE FIELD.
I THINK ONE OF THOSE IS ENOUGH.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT LOCATED SOMEWHERE AROUND DENTON, CENTRALLY LOCATED FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY TO USE.
I KNOW FOOTBALL HAS BEEN LACKING.
SOUTH CAROLINA PLAYS ON THE SANDBURG FIELD DOWN IN FELLSBURG.
>> BORROWED PROPERTY OR PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT HAS GRACIOUSLY BEEN DONATED FOR USE.
ARE YOU STILL THERE, STILL EVERYBODY USE THAT?
>> THAT WAS MY MAIN CONCERN WITH FOOTBALL.
THAT WAS REALLY GOING TO BE MY ONLY TOPIC TO BRING UP WITH THEM, WAS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS TO US.
THE LIGHTS AND ALL WERE DONE BY LOCAL VOLUNTEERS BACK WHEN THEY WERE PUT IN AND THEN METAPHASE.
>> THEY CAME FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH? CORRECT. AND WERE MOVED OUT THERE.
>> I WANT TO SEE JR. SMITH INSTALLED EVERYTHING. I BELIEVE.
>> I THINK THE LIGHTS CAME FROM EITHER COLONEL OR NORTH CAROLINA WERE WHEN THEY RE-LIT THE HIGH SCHOOL FIELDS.
>> LIKE I SAID AND THEN LIKE ALL THE ELECTRIC AND EVERYTHING, THAT'S TIED IN THROUGH METAPHASE.
LIKE METAPHASE COVERS ALL OF THAT.
>> THEY COVER EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE GRASS CUT.
NOW I'LL HAVE TO GO OUT THERE, BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THEM, HEY, YOU MIGHT GO OUT THERE AND CUTTING THE GRASS, IT'S TOO TALL IN THE BALLFIELD WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY DOING SO MUCH FOR THE YOUTH.
IF I HAVE TO, I JUST GO OUT THERE AND KNOCK IT DOWN REAL QUICK FOR HOME GAMES, WHICH I DON'T MIND DOING.
BUT AT ANY TIME THEY COULD SAY, HEY, LOOK BECAUSE RUMORS WERE LAST YEAR THEY WERE CLOSING UP.
BUT I GOT TALKING TO THE I GUESS THE SUPERVISOR, HE SAID, WE'RE NOT CLOSING UP.
WE JUST GOT RID OF THE NIGHT SHIFT.
BUT THEY COULD COME OUT THERE AT ANY TIME AND SAY, HEY, LOOK.
[01:35:01]
>> GUYS YOU GOT TO STOP USING THE FIELD.
>> GUY'S GUYS STOP USING THE FIELD, WE'RE LEAVING, WE'RE ROLLING OUT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE AT A POSITION LIKE ME WITH ANY BOARD THAT'S ONE THING THAT BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL PARENTS LIKE, HEY, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO PLAY? I UNDERSTAND THEY USED TO PLAY BEHIND, IS IT THE HATCH BUILDING OR SOMETHING IN THE FIELD.
THEY USED TO USE LICKERMAN FIELD FOR THE LIGHTS TO PRACTICE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT BALLFIELD.
>> BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS THE FOOTBALL SIDE, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY IF THERE'S SOMETHING AT GREENSBORO THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR A FOOTBALL FIELD.
I KNOW WE GOT SOCCER AND LACROSSE USING THE SAME TYPES OF FIELD AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO PUSH FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SECURE FOR THE COUGARS IF POSSIBLE.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD THERE OR MYSELF CAN DO TO HELP WITH THAT, WE'RE ALL FOR IT BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, OUR NUMBERS HAVE GOT, WITH FOOTBALL, NOT BASEBALL SO MUCH, BUT WITH FOOTBALL WE SERVE THE WHOLE NORTH COUNTY, WE GOT DENTON, GREENSBORO.
>> EVERYBODY FROM DENTON NORTH.
>> YEAH. SO THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT COME THROUGH THERE AND THAT WOULD BE OUR MAIN CONCERN WITH FOOTBALL.
>> DO YOU NEED MORE SOFTBALL BASEBALL FIELDS AT THE NORTH END RIGHT NOW?
>> WITH BASEBALL, WE HAVE THE THREE MINOR-MAJOR FIELDS.
WE MEASURED OUT THE OTHER DAY FOR A JUNIOR FIELD JUST BECAUSE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A JUNIOR FIELD THERE AS WELL AS FOR FOREVER PURPOSES, IT'S JUST OUR NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS, THEY'RE NOT THE BEST AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE, THEY GO THROUGH DENT NOW.
I DON'T SEE A BIG ISSUE WITH, BUT WITH THE KIDS COMING UP, IT'D BE NICE IF CAROLINE HAD A JUNIOR TEAM AND THEN HAD JUST MORE COMPETITIVE AND IT WAS NOT LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I GOT THESE HERE.
I WAS HOPING YOU GUYS WOULDN'T MIND TAKING A LOOK AT THEM AND JUST SEEING IF THIS IS FAMILIAR WITH YOUR ARGUS RADAR.
>> BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THESE, BUT I FINALLY OBTAINED THEM.
THOSE ARE PLANS FOR THE COMPLEX THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO THERE AT CLAIBORNE.
LIKE I SAID, I KNOW THAT'S ALL TOWN PROPERTY, BUT IF YOU CAN SEE IN A PHASE 2, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, YOU GOT THREE FIELDS THAT CAN BE USED FOR SOCCER FOOTBALL EVENT.
YOU GOT ADDITIONAL SOFTBALL FIELD, YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL JUNIOR LEAGUE FIELD, YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL MINOR-MAJOR FIELD.
IT'S IT'S A HUGE COMPLEX, AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF.
>> WHAT GENERALLY? I PUT IT INTO A LOT OF DEAL.
>> WHAT GENERALLY IS YOUR ALL YOUR BLOCKS OR WHAT WITH THE TOWN.
>> WELL RIGHT NOW, LIKE THE PHASE 2 OF THAT IS ALL JUST, SO FROM WHAT WE WERE TOLD AND THE TOWN EVEN TOLD US WAS THAT CLAIBORNE WAS LEFT A LITTLE LEAGUE FOR 50 YEARS.
I THINK STARTED IN EARLY 2000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
A FAMILY, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS OF THE FAMILY LEFT TO THE TOWN, BUT THEY HAD TO BE, WE LEASE IT FROM THEM ON A YEARLY BASIS, BUT WE HAD IT FOR 50 YEARS.
WE ASKED ABOUT TRYING TO PUT LIGHTS UP OUT THERE FOR JUNIOR LEAGUE FIELD AND THEY SAID WE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S ZONED RESIDENTIAL.
NOT COMMERCIAL, BUT THERE'S A COMMERCIAL WEDDING VENUE RIGHT NEXT TO US.
WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND AND THE PHASE 2 IS AVAILABLE, RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST BEING FARMED, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO HUNTING LINES OUT THERE.
WHEN DID THAT OR WHO WAS IN CHARGE THAT MADE THE AGREEMENT TO, WELL, PHASE 2, THEY DON'T NEED IT.
WE CAN JUST FARM THIS OUT OR WHATNOT.
THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE TOWN OR TWO, BUT WE JUST NEED GUIDANCE ON HOW TO APPROACH IT.
IF THOSE PLANS, WAS THAT EVEN TALKED ABOUT BACK WHEN THAT WAS? IF YOU GUYS, IS THAT BRAND NEW NEWS TO YOU?
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S EVEN BEFORE ME.
>> [LAUGHTER] WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE APPROACHED THE TOWN?
>> THE LAST MEETING, WE DIDN'T APPROACH THEM ABOUT THIS, WE APPROACHED THEM JUST TRYING TO BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH
[01:40:02]
THEM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PLANS.BUT HOPEFULLY, I WANT TO DO, I WANT TO GET ALL OF OUR DUCKS IN A ROW BEFORE WE GO OFF THERE.
JUST SO. I WANT TO SHOOT FOR MAYBE THE APRIL MEETING.
I'LL GET WITH OUR THE BOARD MEMBERS JUST KIND OF GET WITH THEM WHAT WE WANT TO DO, TRY AND GET SOME MORE PAPERWORK IN OVERALL, SEE IF WE CAN GET WHO WAS IN CHARGE BETWEEN LITTLE LEAGUE IN THE TOWN TO MAKE THAT AGREEMENT THAT THEY DIDN'T NEED IT.
JUST TRYING TO GET MORE INFORMATION AS FAR AS THAT. THAT WAY WE.
>> WELL, MY GUESS IS, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY REAL IDEA, BUT MY GUESS IS, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND IS THAT IF THIS LAND WAS DONATED BY A FAMILY, AND THERE WERE SPECIFIC COVENANTS THAT WERE PUT ON THAT LAND ABOUT WHAT CAN GO THERE WHETHER IT CAN BE LIGHTED.
I DON'T RECALL WHO THE FAMILY WOULD BE, BUT I'M SURE THAT WHEN THERE IS LAND THAT IS DONATED AROUND THIS COUNTY WHERE PEOPLE ARE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT THERE.
IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THOSE COVENANTS, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'RE IN A PROBLEM WITH WHAT'S GOING TO, OKAY, NOW, YOU HAVEN'T DONE WHAT WE TOLD YOU YOU HAD TO DO.
>> HUNTING BLINDS, TILLING GROUND.
WE HAVE PROPERTY THAT WE ENTER INTO LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH FOR PEOPLE TO TILL.
I THINK YOU KNOW THAT, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE TOWN'S TRYING TO KEEP YOU FROM DOING ANYTHING, BUT I THINK THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION, AND IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE PROBABLY LISTENING TO THIS MEETING AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL IT TOGETHER ABOUT WHAT COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS GO WITH THAT LAND.
>> SECOND THING IS THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
>> I COACHED BASEBALL FOR YEARS AND SOCCER.
TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE PRESIDENT OF A LEAGUE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST THANKLESS.
>> ABSOLUTELY THANKLESS JOBS THAT THERE EVER WAS.
THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP AND DOWN.
>> IS NO PROBLEM, BUT I'LL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD BOARD, YOU'RE REALLY NOT DOING NONSENSE.
>> BUT WE DEAL WITH 33,000 PEOPLE, BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO ALL HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS AND ALL HAVE DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW THINGS NEED TO BE DONE.
THOSE BOARDS SHOULD BE COMMENDED, BUT YOU SHOULD ALSO AS WELL, FOR STEPPING UP AND BEING WILLING TO SAY, I'LL BE THE GUY THAT'S GOING TO TAKE HERO ON THAT.
>> THAT'S NUMBER 1. BUT YEAH, THE FIELD SYSTEM, THE LITTLE LEAGUE SYSTEM, AND FOOTBALL SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTY, OVER THE YEARS WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THIS LOVE, HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH PARKS AND REC, AGAIN, ABOUT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO, HOW DO THEY CONTROL THESE FIELDS? WHO'S GOING TO MAINTAIN THEM? I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW AND HE WON'T SAY IT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT COMMISSIONER BREEDING HAS PROBABLY SPENT MORE TIME AND MONEY FIXING FIELDS IN THIS COUNTY THAN ANYBODY I KNOW, AND HE SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR IT.
GOING OUT THERE AND I'VE BEEN THERE, AND WHEN THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE GRADING THE DEBT LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD AND PUTTING DIRT ON IT, THE VOLUNTEERS THAT DO THAT WORK SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED AND THEY SHOULD BE COMMENDED, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO OUT HERE AND DO IT, BUT IT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM THEIR BUSINESS AND IT TAKES TIME AWAY FROM PROFIT THAT THEY'RE DONATING THINGS.
WE'RE ALL IN A VOLUNTEER OPERATION HERE.
I THINK HE SHOULD BE COMMENDED AS WELL.
BUT THE THOUGHT BEHIND THE NORTH COUNTY PARK FOR ME INITIALLY WAS IT WOULD BE A BALANCE BETWEEN SIPPS FIELD, WHERE WE HAVE A VERY, VERY WELL DESIGNED AND WELL RUN SOCCER OPERATION, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN THE NORTHERN END OF THE COUNTY AS WELL TO MATCH THAT.
>> IT HAS BEEN A MUCH LONGER PROCESS THAN I EVER HOPED IT WOULD BE, BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO THAT, YOU'RE DEALING WITH ACCESS ROADS TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE.
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A STATE HIGHWAY, YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOIL CONSERVATION,
[01:45:01]
YOU'RE DEALING WITH EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE WHEN YOU START MOVING DIRT AND ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN.>> BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
BUT I THINK THAT RIDGELEY HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN VERY, VERY MUCH ON THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING FACILITIES.
>> LIKE I SAID, THE CLAIBORNE, IT IS A NICE FACILITY, LIKE IT HAS MAJOR POTENTIAL.
LAST YEAR I GOT MY WORK TO DONATE DIRT FOR THE FIELDS, AND AS YOU WERE SAYING, LIKE I WAS OUT THERE, WE HAD A COUPLE OTHER VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE TO RECAP THE FIELDS BECAUSE THEY NEEDED IT.
JUST THE OVERALL FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM THAT, FROM PARENTS WAS IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE AND THAT LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO REALLY GET THIS PLACE.
>>YEAH. I CAME OUT TO YOUR PLAYOFFS, IT WAS YEAH JUST THE SCHEDULING OF THAT STUFF IS JUST INCREDIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYBODY ON TIME.
BUT I THINK WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP, CERTAINLY, TO KEEP THIS GOING.
THERE'S A VERY STRONG TRADITION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] LIKE YOU SAID, I DON'T PLAN ON GOING TO OUR TOWN MEETING AS AN ATTACK.
WE WANT LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT AND GUIDANCE FROM THEM AS WELL.
IF IT'S SOMETHING TO WHERE OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE MAKING A PROFIT OFF THAT OTHER LAND OR WHATNOT, BUT WE WOULD STILL WANT THE SAME THING.
WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL, WE'LL JUST DO EVERYTHING OURSELVES AND HOPEFULLY, WE'LL JUST TRY AND MAKE IT WORK TO WHERE IT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FRESH INFORMATION [INAUDIBLE] BASICALLY BRAND NEW ECONOMICS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
I WENT TO TOWN, ORIGINALLY COMMISSION MEETING LAST WEEK SIMPLY TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I WAS NOT THERE TO TALK BASEBALL, BUT DR. SIMMONS, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, WAS THERE.
HE WAS THERE SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT DIRT AND BASEBALL FIELDS FOR THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY.
>> WAS THAT A CERTAIN PROBLEM?
>> ALMOST CERTAINLY. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, I GUESS SOME PUDDLING ISSUE OUT BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD BASE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY IS PUTTING DIRT DOWN THERE, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW DEEP TO PUT IT, WHERE SOURCE IT, WHAT KIND OF DIRT TO USE, BUT THEY WERE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC [INAUDIBLE] GUY, CHRIS, [OVERLAPPING] AND HE SAID, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO PUT DIRT DOWN ON THAT FIELD.
COMMISSIONERS OR COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M SORRY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES.
>> SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF FRESH INFORMATION.
>> HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO OUR RECON PARKS DIRECTOR AT ALL?
>> SO IT'S NO LONGER SU SIMMONS [PHONETIC], CORRECT?
>> RIGHT. JAMIE BEACHY [PHONETIC].
>> NO, I HAVE NOT BECAUSE I JUST HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO REACH OUT TO HER, BUT THAT WAS ANOTHER THING.
PEOPLE ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THERE'S GRANTS THAT YOUTH PROGRAMS CAN APPLY FOR TO DO PROJECTS AND STUFF.
>> IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, I'LL MAKE SURE SHE GETS IT AND SHE CAN GIVE YOU A CALL.
>> GREAT. ABSOLUTELY. AND THEN WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU GUYS COULD SHED LIGHT ON? I KNOW I SPOKE WITH THE GRANTS OR WOULD THAT BE EVERYTHING THROUGH [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WOULD DEFINITELY TALK TO JAMIE.
>> I THINK FUNDING'S GOING TO BE HARD TO COME BY.
I WOULDN'T GET YOUR HOPES UP ON THAT ONE BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH SHARP ROAD YEARS AGO, WHERE IT WAS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED INTO BASEBALL FIELDS AND THE MONEY [INAUDIBLE] ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION, I THINK WAS SET UP AND THE MONEY, IT JUST NEVER CAME.
SO REALLY, THE BIG POT THAT WE HAVE, THE BIG RESOURCES THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE IS THE PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE MONEY THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, TRYING TO REALLOCATE SOME OF THAT ACQUISITION MONEY TO PROJECTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
I KNOW THAT WE OWN ENOUGH PROPERTY THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE.
WE ABSOLUTELY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND FROM KYLE BRINGMAN, PRESIDENT OF DENTON, AND I'M NOT SURE WHO THE PRESIDENT DOWN IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS NOW TO REALLY KNOW.
>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE. APPARENTLY HE ALREADY QUIT FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
>> I MADE IT TO VICE PRESIDENT AND I SAW ENOUGH THERE THAT I KNEW I DIDN'T WANT TO BECOME PRESIDENT.
>> BUT I CAN TELL YOU THOUGH, AS AN EXAMPLE, THE SHARP ROAD PROPERTY MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THAT PROPERTY WAS FIRST BROUGHT INTO TOWN, IT WAS TO BE HOUSING.
AND WHEN IT GOT CONVERTED TO BE AN ATHLETIC FACILITY, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE HOUSES THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THAT PROPERTY WERE VERY ADAMANT THAT IT COULDN'T BE LIGHTED.
[01:50:05]
THEY DID NOT WANT LIGHT SHINING IN THEIR WINDOW.THIS STUFF GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHEN THESE PROPERTIES COME INTO TOWN AND HOW THEY WERE ANNEXED AND WHAT COVENANTS.
SO I WOULD IMAGINE A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THAT MEETING AT RIDGELEY, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, OKAY, NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY.
THAT'S USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS, AND THESE THINGS GO BACK FOR YEARS.
BECAUSE THE SHARP ROAD PROPERTY WAS DONATED, I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT IN SAYING, BY THE BROWN BROTHERS.
SO WHEN THE SHOPPING CENTER GOT BUILT THERE WITH FOOD LINE AND EVERYTHING, BEFORE IT WAS EVER THERE, THAT GROUND WAS DONATED BY THEM AND BROUGHT INTO TOWN THROUGH ANNEXATION.
SO EVENTUALLY, OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS PROGRESSED FROM HOUSING AND THERE WERE VERY STRICT REQUIREMENTS ON THE NUMBER ON THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF HOUSES THAT HAD TO BE PUT IN THERE.
IT WAS REALLY VERY RESTRICTED.
SO AGAIN, I THINK THAT RIDGELEY, IF IT WAS DONATED BY SOMEONE, I'M GUESSING THERE ARE CONTINGENCIES AND RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE PUT ON.
>> WELL, WE'LL GET YOU IN TOUCH, BUT I THINK BASICALLY ANY PROGRAM, OPEN SPACE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO USE ON COUNTY PROPERTY SO WE HAVE CONTROL OVER IT, WE CAN MAINTAIN IT, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT COUNTY RESIDENTS.
WE DON'T GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE ONE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES IS SAYING, IT CAN'T BE USED ON THIS DAY, OR YOU CAN'T PUT LIGHTS ON IT.
THAT WAY WE HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEVELOPMENT OF IT, BUT WE'LL GET YOU IN CONTACT WITH JAMIE BEACHY, OUR DIRECTOR.
WE COULD SHOW YOU CONCEPT DRAWINGS FOR NORTH COUNTY PARK AND YOU COULD SAY, YEAH, THAT WORKS FOR US, OR WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN EXTRA BALL FIELD OR TWO, AND WE CAN TRY TO TRY TO DO THAT, ACCOMMODATE THAT IF WE CAN, SO CERTAINLY.
>> DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE A LAWYER FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?
>> [LAUGHTER] NO. YOU'RE NOT? [OVERLAPPING] ARE YOU VOLUNTEERING?
>> I DID A LOT OF THAT WHEN I WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE, BUT I'M INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, THE 50-YEAR GRANT OF RIGHTS OR WHATEVER.
I'D LOVE TO SEE DEEDS, WILLS, CONTRACTS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND THIS WILL RELATE BACK TO IF WE'RE EVER TRYING TO HELP WITH FUNDING.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW THE LEGAL LAND LAYS AND I WOULD BE REPRESENTING YOUR ORGANIZATION, BUT I WOULD BE ABLE TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS AND SEE WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAY.
WHO OWNS THE DIRT? DO YOU KNOW WHO OWNS THE DIRT RIGHT NOW?
>> THAT'LL BE GOOD. I WANT TO SAY THE FAMILY THAT LEFT IT TO US WAS MAYBE THE LAST NAME OF WHITE.
I'M JUST GOING OFF OF OLD TIMERS COMING TO ME AND JUST SAYING WHAT LITTLE LEAGUE USED TO BE AND THEN PRETTY MUCH HOW IT'S EVOLVED, BUT YEAH, I'LL DEFINITELY TRY AND GET ALL THAT HUNT DOWN AND APPRECIATE YOUR VOLUNTEERING.
>> WITH THE COMMISSIONERS' PERMISSION.
>> REAL QUICK. DO WE HAVE ANY TIMETABLES FOR THE GREENSBORO [OVERLAPPING].
>> GREENSBORO, I THINK, IT'S MOVING A LITTLE FASTER NOW.
I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO FINALIZING CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND STARTING.
ONE THING THAT HELD IT UP, WE APPLIED FOR SOME FEDERAL MONEY, AND WE HAD TO DO AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY AND A BUNCH OF OTHER STUFF AS A PART OF THAT GRANT APPLICATION.
SO THAT DRAGGED THE PROCESS OUT.
I THINK WE DID GET A WORD ON THAT IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
JAMIE'S NOT HERE, BUT WHEN YOU GET IN CONTACT WITH HER, SHE COULD GIVE YOU A FIRM TIMETABLE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE.
I THINK IT'S CLOSE. I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO START IT.
I THINK A LOT OF IT IS WAITING ON THE ENGINEERING FIRM TO GET THEIR WORK DONE SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GET IT OUT TO BID.
>> BUT IT IS A PRIORITY OF OURS, YOUTH ATHLETICS.
SUPPORT OF OUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S ONE THING, WHEN I CAME IN.
LET'S GET OUR PARKS AND REC SUPPORTING THE VOLUNTEERS.
WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION THAT'S WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO COACH AND MAINTAIN FIELDS AND DO THOSE.
LET'S BACK THEM UP AND GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
BECAUSE OVER YEARS PAST, I'VE BEEN THERE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BY YOURSELF.
YOU'RE ON COUNTY PROPERTY, BUT YOU'RE CUTTING THE GRASS, YOU'RE PUTTING DIRT ON THE INFIELDS, YOU'RE PAINTING DUG OUTS, YOU'RE DOING ALL THESE THINGS, AND YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BY YOURSELF.
>> IT PAYS OFF THOUGH WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE AND THE KIDS START PLAYING [OVERLAPPING].
>> AND THEY'RE SMILING AND HAVING FUN, IT MAKES IT WORTH IT.
>> COMPLAINING ABOUT BURNED HAMBURGERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT,
[01:55:02]
BUT LIKE I SAID, I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE GUIDANCE SO FAR YOU'RE GIVING US. THANK YOU FROM US.>> WE'LL BE IN TOUCH. THANKS FOR COMING IN.
>> YOU MUST WORK OUTSIDE. YOU GOT A RAIN DAY.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY I WORK SATURDAY.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY AN OVERTIME SO I CAN GET A DAY OFF.
>> I GOT YOU. [LAUGHTER] I FIGURED IT WAS EITHER THAT OR IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE, SO YOU HAD A DAY OFF.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT?
[Closed Session: To Discuss the Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of At-Will Position: Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]
NO. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, OR ASSIGNMENT OF AN AT WILL POSITION UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B SECTION 1.WE HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE HERE.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.