[00:02:00]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 9TH, 2024 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY PASTOR BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP OF PRESTON, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.
REVEREND DUNN, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING.
>> HOPEFULLY, FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT ARE DILIGENT IN TAKING CARE OF THE THINGS OF THIS COUNTY, ALL THOSE THAT HELP THE COMMISSIONERS, AND GIVING THE INFORMATION THAT'S NECESSARY AND STANDING UP ON THE VARIOUS THINGS GOING ON AROUND THIS, IT TAKES A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS COUNTY RUN IN THE RIGHT WAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO BE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, NOT FOR THEIR OWN AGENDA OR THEIR OWN PRESTIGE, BUT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COUNTY.
IT'S HARD TO FIND PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE
[Call to Order: Invocation- Pastor, Buddy Dunn, Faith Fellowship of Preston, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
INTEREST OF OTHERS TODAY. WE THANK YOU HERE.WE THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY WORK TO GIVE THEM THE PROPER INFORMATION.
WE PRAY THAT THIS COUNTY WILL BE A COUNTY TRULY TRUST IN YOU AND NOT IN OUR OWN DEVICES.
WATCH OVER THIS MEETING TODAY AND BRING IT TO FRUIT IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
DURING THE APRIL 2ND, 2024 COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING OR
[President’s Closed Session Report: April 2, 2024]
AFTER THE COMMISSIONERS HELD THREE CLOSED SESSIONS, ONE TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE UNDER AUTHORITY.2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-35B, SECTION 7.
THE SECOND ONE TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE UNDER AUTHORITY.
2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-35 B, SECTION 7, AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE UNDER A AUTHORITY TO CONSULT WITH STAFF OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS ABOUT PENDING OR POTENTIAL LITIGATION UNDER MARYLAND CODE 2014, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-35B, SECTION 7 AND SECTION 8.
STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO FOLLOW UP ON SPECIFIC PERMITTING ISSUES AND NO FURTHER ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
[00:05:03]
THE ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONER BARTZ, BREEDING AND PORTER, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, STUART BARREL, CRYSTAL DADS, JENNIFER RIDLEY.MARY BERNANKE, KIM RADER, DONALD BAKER, RJ HELMER, PATRICK THOMAS, MIKE RUST, AND SLOAN FRANKLIN.
WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE
[Public Comment]
TO COMMENT DURING THIS OPENING PERIOD?>> IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND TOWN OF RESIDENCE.
>> GOOD MORNING. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN TO ONE OF THE MEETINGS. I THINK I'M CORRECT.
I AM MINISTER, SANDRA PITS, AND I LIVE AT 12064 SCHOOL STREET RIDGELY, MARYLAND.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE SOME COMPLAINTS AND I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HERE WITH ME FROM MY STREET.
I'M HERE WITH SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAVE MANY FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE LIVED A DAY SPRINGS OFF AND ON.
DAY SPRINGS USED TO BE A VERY NICE PLACE TO LIVE.
ABOUT FOUR WEEKS AGO I WAS THERE AND I WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED ON THE WAY MY PEOPLE ARE LIVING.
I LIVE A FEW STREET A FEW FEET DOWN THE STREET AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE FROM WHERE I LIVE AND WHERE DAY SPRINGS IS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE LIVING LIKE THAT.
I'VE BEEN ASKED MANY TIMES, DO I HAVE A HOOD?
>> I'M LIKE, NO, I DON'T HAVE A HOOD, I'M LIVING IN THE HOOD.
BUT AFTER GOING TO DAY SPRINGS THAT DAY, IT'S TOTALLY A HOOD.
IT IS DISGRACE THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THIS DAY 2024, THAT ACTUALLY LIVING LIKE THAT.
IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND OUT WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF DAY SPRINGS.
EVERYBODY WAS TURNING ME AWAY.
I TALKED TO THE MAN THAT'S IN CHARGE.
HE PUT THE BLAME ON THE TENANTS.
I PUT THE BLAME ON MANAGEMENT.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IF YOU HAVE ANIMALS, THEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE INSURANCE.
IF SOMEONE GETS THAT, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
THE PEOPLE ALSO CANNOT GO TO MANAGEMENT WITHOUT HAVING A HARD TIME.
I WENT THERE AND THEY HAVE THE SCREENS ARE ALL BLOWING OFF THE WINDOWS.
I'M NOT FOR SURE IF THE LADY THAT IS HERE, ONE OF THE NEW NEIGHBORS THAT MOVED TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THE TRASH FROM DAY SPRINGS IS BLOWING OVER TO HER.
SHE JUST MOVED HERE FROM VIRGINIA.
IT'S JUST A MESS A DAY SPRINGS, I MEAN, IT'S ACTUALLY A HOOD NOW.
WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
NOW, WHEN I TALKED TO MANAGEMENT IN MILFORD, SHE PUT THE BLAME ON BECAUSE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY POLICE OFFICERS, WE'RE COUNTY THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE HER UNDERSTAND.
I MEAN, THEY'RE COMING FROM DAY SPRINGS STRAIGHT THROUGH, NOT STOPPING AT STOP SIGNS TO PEOPLE THAT TO CHURCH ARE HAVING A PROBLEM ON SUNDAYS GETTING IN THEIR CARS.
I'M HAVING A PROBLEM COMING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
I'VE BEEN TO DAYS, I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE EVER SINCE 1985.
WHAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IS THIS IS THE WAY THAT THEY'RE LIVING, AND I HAVE PEOPLE JUST ON THE INSIDE, LET ME KNOW.
THIS IS DAY SPRINGS, THIS IS A LAUNDRY ROOM.
THIS WAS JUST TAKEN ON LAST WEDNESDAY WITH MANAGEMENT RIGHT THERE, FAR READY TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS DAY SPRINGS, THIS IS THE TRASH.
BUT I HAVE SOME PICTURES ON MY PHONE THAT'S WORSE, MATTRESSES LAYING IT ALL OUT ON THE DUMPSTERS, LAUNDRY ROOM, THIS IS A DAY SPRINGS LAST WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY, AND I HAVE OTHER PICTURES THAT ARE EVEN WORSE, THE HOMES THAT SOME OF THE APARTMENTS, IF I SHOWED YOU THE PICTURES, YOU PROBABLY WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT, THEY'RE A MESS.
I JUST GOT A CALL TODAY TELLING ME THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING THERE IS LIVING IN THESE APARTMENTS THAT ARE BAD.
THEY'RE SECTION 8 AND THEY'RE JUST LETTING THEM STAY.
[00:10:04]
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE PICTURES, I CAN SHOW YOU. THEY'RE UNBELIEVABLE.YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE NEVADA SHOULD EVEN BE LIVING IN THOSE HOMES.
WE WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO. BUT I MEAN, I'VE STRETCHED OUT.
I'VE EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TALKING TO THE NEWSPAPER BECAUSE IT'S A DISGRACE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN OF MY PEOPLE TALK.
>> WELL, I THINK, IF IT'S THE SAME THING, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SHERIFF BAKER ACTUALLY BROUGHT THIS STAR ATTENTION TO HIS CREDIT.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I GUESS.
>> I THINK IT'S A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW, TIME FLIES.
WE KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WE HAVE STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, SO WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD, BY ALL MEANS BUT WE DO KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
>> SO YOU KNOW HOW THE PEOPLE LIVE IN THERE?
>> WE WERE GIVEN INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN IN ANY OF THE UNITS AND REPORTED TO US WHAT THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNITS THEMSELVES.
>> I DID TALK TO SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE LAST WEEK.
>> I DID DRIVE THROUGH THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MA'AM, JUST ON MY OWN ACCORD JUST RIDING AROUND, JUST LOOKING AT THINGS.
I WAS KIND OF TAKEN BACK AND UPSET OF WHAT I NOTICED AS WELL.
BUT TO ADD TO COMMISSIONER BREE, WE ARE LOOKING INTO THIS WITH SHERIFF BAKER AND LOOKING INTO THE MATTER SO IT'S NOT OFF OUR RADAR.
>> I WILL TELL YOU THAT MY COMPANY, WE'VE SOLD OUR BUSINESS, BUT MY COMPANY BUILT ORIGINAL MEADOWS, THE ELDERLY PROPERTY THERE SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH DAYSPRING.
YOU MENTIONED PRIOR TO THIS TIME, I THINK THE MANAGER THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED MR. DADDS.
>> I KNOW MR. DADDS USED TO GO OUT EVERY MORNING AND PICK UP TRASH.
SO THE NAME OF THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THEM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED OR NOT.
>> WE ASKED FOR A MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO, I BELIEVE, AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK DATES AND GET BACK TO US.
I CHECKED YESTERDAY AND I'M AWARE YOU SPOKE TO CINDY WATTS IN OUR OFFICE AND SHE LET ME KNOW.
I CHECKED YESTERDAY, I HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM AND I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO THEM AGAIN.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND EXPRESSING YOUR CONCERN AND WE ARE ON IT AND WORKING ON IT, SO THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ALSO.
I'M FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE.
I LIVE IN THE SAME AREA AND I HAVE SOMETHING SLIGHTLY A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND I KNOW MR. PORTER HAS BEEN OUT THERE THE WATER AREA.
I DON'T MIND LIVING IN THE WATERFRONT IF I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE WATER.
YOU CAN'T EVEN USE YOUR YARDS.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE HAVE A HEAVY RAIN.
MR. PORTER HAD BEEN OUT THERE TO SEE SOME OF IT. IT'S RIDICULOUS.
THIS YOUNG LADY HERE, I THINK SHE GOT STUCK WITH THREE TIMES IN THE YARD THIS WEEK.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE OUT THERE, THE COUNTY HAVE CAME OUT THERE COUNTY HIGHWAY.
BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY ADDRESSING THE REAL PROBLEM.
I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE COSTLY, BUT THEY THEY ARE WHITEWASHING IT.
THEY DIGGING A DITCH OUT, CLEAN THE DITCH UP BUT ALL THAT IS, IS GIVE YOU A BIGGER GLASS TO HOLD THE WATER BECAUSE IT'S NOT DRAIN ANYWHERE AT ALL.
BUT THEY STILL WANT US TO PAY OUR TAXES.
WHY I'M PAYING WATER PROPERTY TAXES? I DON'T HAVE A FISH OR ANYTHING IN MY WATER BECAUSE IT'S EVERYTHING, YOU GO OVER RIGHT NOW AND IT'S TERRIBLE.
I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE, LIKE I SAID, TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND I JUST THINK THAT WAS JUST TRYING TO SATISFY OUR APPETITE, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME.
I TOLD THEM ALL THEY WAS DOING WAS JUST TO GIVE ME A BIGGER GLASS TO PUT MORE WATER IN BECAUSE IT WASN'T RUNNING NOWHERE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T REDIRECT IT DOWN TO NEAR THE GREENERY WHERE THE BIG DITCH LINE IS.
I LIVE RIGHT ON THE CORNER IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.
THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I HAVE
[00:15:01]
BECAUSE ONE OF MY GRANDKIDS WHO WAS IN MY BACKYARD FELL, FACE FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS SO MUCH WATER.IT'S RIDICULOUS AND SHE'S ONLY 2 YEARS OLD.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS BECAUSE THEY, OH, WE'LL COME OUT AND DO THIS.
THEY THINK THEY'RE MAKING US HAPPY.
BUT JUST SEE IF WE STOP PAYING OUR PROPERTY TAXES, LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENED THEN.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO GO THAT FAR AND LIKE [INAUDIBLE] SAY OUR NEXT STEP IS BRINGING NEWS PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TIRED OF PEOPLE TELLING US THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND LIKE, OKAY, THEY'LL DIE OFF AND SOMEBODY ELSE WILL COME ON THAT ANOTHER 20 YEARS BEFORE WE HEAR IT AGAIN, BUT WE STOP PAYING OUR PROPERTY TAXES Y'ALL BE OUT THERE NEXT WEEK.
THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST COMPLAINTS.
REALLY BIG, BECAUSE IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> THAT IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE IN THE COUNTY WHERE WE HAVE DRAINAGE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITH PERIODS OF SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL LIKE WE'VE HAD THIS SPRING SO THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH SOME PUBLIC WORKS CHANGES RIGHT NOW, SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT A LOT OF IT RELIES ON DRAINAGE EASEMENTS.
ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAINTAINING THOSE EASEMENTS, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE ACCESS.
IN SOME CASES, IT MAY BE A JOINT ISSUE BETWEEN US, SOIL CONSERVATION OR US AND THE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION SO WE WILL TRY TO GET OUT THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF YOUR ISSUES.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF RUNOFF FROM THE TOWN.
IT'S REALLY TERRIBLE IN FRONT OF THE TOWN.
ONE OTHER I NOTICED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ON NON TOWN ROAD YOU HAVE A PRIVATE OWNER OUT THERE DIGGING HIS OWN DITCH AND IF YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU TELL IT'S A MESS, WHAT HE'S DONE.
>> BACK IN CAROLYN DRIVE, WE HAVE FLOODING ISSUES BACK IN THERE WHERE IT'S NOT DRAINING PROPERLY.
A LOT OF IT ARE THESE DRAINAGE EASEMENTS THAT ARE GROWING UP IN TREES AND THE WATER CAN'T FLOW THROUGH ANYMORE.
BUT THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE AND LOOK AT SO WE WILL ADD YOURS TO THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND VOICING YOUR CONCERNS.
>> I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO SAY.
WHEN THE COUNTY GUYS DO COME OUT, THEY STOP AT SCHOOL STREET.
THEY DON'T COME ANY FURTHER AROUND CHICKEN BRIDGE ROAD SO THAT AREA NEVER GETS CLEANED.
>> BUT THEY HAVE NEVER AND EVEN THAT END OF THE ROAD HAS NOT BEEN BLACKED OUT WHEREAS FROM LINCOLN STREET ON TO SCHOOL STREET IT HAS.
>> OKAY. WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS TODD MAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, JOE ZIMMERMAN, CPA CONSULTANT FOR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
WE HAVE ALSO WITH US JIM MORAN, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSION PRESIDENT.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE LONG DRIVE OVER.
[Midshore II Landfill Workshop]
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT READING COMMISSIONER PORTER AND COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE MID-SHORE LANDFILL AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION WE WANT TO GO THROUGH WITH SOME BACKGROUND MATERIALS.
BUT AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF MID-SHORE 2, WHICH IS CURRENTLY IN CAROLINE COUNTY, IN THE TOWN OF RIDGELY.
WE HAVE INFORMATION FROM MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS TO EVALUATE THE FUTURE LIFE AT MID-SHORE 2 AND WE HAVE CONCLUDED, OR THEY HAVE CONCLUDED, THAT PERMITTED CAPACITY IS AVAILABLE AS WE ALL KNOW.
AT MID-SHORE 2, IT COULD EASILY PROVIDE SERVICE AT THAT VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE REGION THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2042.
IN RETURN FOR EXTENDING THAT LIFE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED THAT A HOST FEE WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED BACK TO CAROLINE COUNTY AS A RESULT OF EXTENDING THE LANDFILL BEYOND THE 20 YEAR TERM THAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS THROUGH 2030.
WE ARE ENGAGED WITH MES CURRENTLY TO PERMIT AND GET MID-SHORE 3 READY SO IT CAN BE READY IN 2031.
[00:20:02]
THAT IS AN ONGOING EFFORT THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER GOING FORWARD.I'LL JUST GO INTO THE SLIDE SHOW NOW IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU GUYS.
>> ALL RIGHT. FIRST SLIDE IS REALLY OUR OBJECTIVE, REALLY FOR THE PROPOSAL HERE.
WE WANTED TO EVALUATE THE MID-SHORE 2 FINANCIALLY DO A CASH FLOW MODEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE THE LANDFILL AS A BUSINESS.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, PAY DEBT SERVICE OBVIOUSLY FUND THE CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE OF A VARIETY OF FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDES MID-SHORE 1, THE OLD EASTERN LANDFILL, THE HOBBS ROAD FACILITY, AND EVENTUALLY THE MID-SHORE 2 SITE WHEN IT COMES TO THE END OF ITS LIFE.
WE ALSO NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE COULD MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT CASH RESERVES TO COVER ANY CONTINGENCIES, REGULATORY CHANGES INTO THE FUTURE AND MINIMIZING ANY RISKS TO AVOID ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS FROM THE COUNTIES TO SUPPLEMENT THE OVERALL ENTERPRISE ACCOUNT AND BUSINESS ACCOUNT OF THE LANDFILL PARTNERSHIP.
SOME HISTORY. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND WATCHING, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THE NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS CAME INTO PLAY BACK IN THE LATE '80S WHERE WE HAD TO ALL BUILD A SUBTITLE D LANDFILL THAT WAS RATIFIED.
ALL OF OUR OLD DUMPS, WE ALL HAD THOSE ON OUR COUNTIES.
WE HAD TO CLOSE THOSE QUICKLY VIA CONSENT ORDER, AND THEN WE WERE ALL FACED WITH BUILDING A SUBTITLE D LANDFILL OF OUR OWN.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE TO OWN AND OPERATE AND WE NEEDED LARGER FACILITIES TO REALLY MEET THE ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
THE POLICY CONCERN BACK IN THOSE DAYS, AND I WAS JUST A YOUNG ENGINEER AT DPW, WAS THAT THERE WAS A LANDFILL SHORTAGE SPACE IN THE NORTHEAST REGION, AND WE DID NOT WANT TO BE HERE ON THE MID SHORE, AN IMPORTER OF GARBAGE FROM NEW YORK CITY, NEW JERSEY.
WE WERE RIGHT FOR THAT BECAUSE OF ALL OF OUR WIDE OPEN AGRICULTURAL LAND.
THERE WAS A REAL CONCERN POLITICALLY AND THE POLICY WISE.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE THE DUMPING GROUND FOR OUT OF STATE GARBAGE.
AT THAT TIME, TALBOT, CAROLINE, AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY ENGAGED WITH MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.
KENT COUNTY, AS WE KNOW, JOINED THE GROUP A FEW YEARS LATER.
IN 1988, THE MID-SHORE PARTNERSHIP WAS FORMED SO THAT WE ALL COULD TAKE A TURN ON HOSTING A LANDFILL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
SORRY, YOUR HEAD ONE, TO MANY.
THERE WE GO. THE FRAMEWORK WAS DEVELOPED IN 1988 FOR THE MID-SHORE PARTNERSHIP.
EACH COUNTY WAS GOING TO TAKE THEIR TURN TO HOST THAT LANDFILL.
WE HAD AN 80 YEAR SOLUTION WHICH IS UNHEARD OF FOR MOST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
WE HAVE A NICE LONG TERM SOLUTION TO TAKE CARE OF OUR WASTE AND OUR RECYCLING EFFORTS.
THE MES AGREEMENT AND OBLIGATIONS WITH THE COUNTIES, VERY CHALLENGING FOR THEM, VERY SIMPLE FOR US.
ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS PERMIT AND CONSTRUCT A REGIONAL LANDFILL, OPERATE THAT LANDFILL AS A BUSINESS, AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND SO THAT IT WAS SELF SUSTAINING.
THEN CLOSE IT, MONITOR IT AS REQUIRED BY THE NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
OWN THE LANDFILL SO THAT THERE'S FOREVER COMPLIANCE WHICH WE CAN ALL ENJOY, AND THEN JUST REPEAT THAT CYCLE EVERY 20 YEARS.
I THINK WE'VE ALL DISCOVERED IF THERE'S ANY SHORTCOMINGS IN THE AGREEMENT, IT'S THE 20 YEAR CLOCK.
IT'S AN ARTIFICIAL CONSTRAINT WHEN THE LANDFILL WOULD GO FROM ONE COUNTY TO THE NEXT.
THAT'S REALLY OUR REASON THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING THIS EXTENSION HERE TODAY.
AS WE KNOW, MID-SHORE 1 WAS IN TALBOT COUNTY IN 1991.
MID-SHORE 2 THEN WAS OPENED IN CAROLINE COUNTY IN 2011.
WE'RE NEXT ON THE LIST, MID-SHORE 3, QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, WE'RE TO BE OPENED IN 2031, AND THEN OUR FRIENDS IN KENT COUNTY GET TO FOLLOW ALL OF US SOMETIME AROUND 2050.
THE LANDFILL PERMITTING PROCESS TAKES ABOUT 7-10 YEARS AND WE ARE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS CURRENTLY.
WE'RE COMPLETED WITH PHASE 1 AND WE'RE NOW ENTERING INTO PHASE 2, WHICH IS WHERE WE NEED TO SPEND.
MES NEEDS TO SPEND SOME RELATIVELY SERIOUS MONEY, ABOUT A HALF A MILLION BUCKS TO DO THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL COMPONENTS OF THE PROJECT, AND WE DO KNOW THE CAPACITY REMAINS AT MID-SHORE 2 POTENTIALLY.
THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES, SHOULD THE COUNTIES CONSIDER THIS EXTENSION TO FULLY UTILIZE MID-SHORE 2? WE BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES.
WHY IS THAT A GOOD CHOICE? WELL, ENVIRONMENTALLY IT MAKES SENSE, BUT IT ALSO MAXIMIZES THE VALUE OF THAT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ALL ENJOY.
IT PROVIDES OBVIOUSLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOST FEE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
[00:25:05]
IT AVOIDS THE COST OF OPENING ANOTHER TRANSFER OPERATION LIKE TALBOT COUNTY HAS TO MOVE THEIR MATERIALS FROM MID-SHORE 1 TO MID-SHORE 2.IT PROVIDES SOME ECONOMIC STABILITY FOR BUSINESSES IN RIDGELY THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE WORKERS.
AT MID-SHORE 2, THAT DEFERS THE LIABILITY TO CONSTRUCT MID-SHORE 3 FOR ANOTHER 12 YEARS AND EXTENDS THE DURATION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP FROM 80 YEARS TO MAYBE CLOSE TO 92 OR MAYBE OVER 100.
IT DOES FOR TALBOT COUNTY, MAINTAIN A SHORTER HAUL ROUTE FOR THEM, ABOUT 20 MILES ROUND TRIP PER TRUCK, WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT 100,000 BUCKS A YEAR THEY COULD SAVE BY THIS EXTENSION.
MES DID PROFFER A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND MID-SHORE 2 WITH THE HOST FEE OPTION ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT SINCE THAT POINT IN TIME.
OBVIOUSLY, ALL FOUR COUNTIES NEED TO AGREE IF WE'RE GOING TO MODIFY THIS AGREEMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL TO DATE FOR OVER 30 YEARS.
IT DOESN'T RELIEVE QUEEN ANNE'S OR KENT FROM TAKING OUR TERM, AND WE ARE MORE ENGAGED IN MOVING THAT FORWARD NOW.
WE'RE HERE TODAY TO ANALYZE THIS FROM OUR FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE ENLISTED JOE ZIMMERMAN HERE WHO WAS A FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE WITH QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
HE WAS OUR FINANCIAL OFFICER, BUDGET AND FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, THEN HE WORKED OVER AT MES AND HE WAS THEIR CFO FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
HE'S GOT VERY UNIQUE BACKGROUND IN HISTORY WITH THE WHOLE THING WHEN THIS STARTED BACK IN THE 1990S AND THEN THROUGH THE OPENING OBVIOUSLY OF MID-SHORE 2 HERE IN RIDGELY.
THEN JOE WENT ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS IN MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AT PARKS AND PLANNING BUT HE'S UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HELP US WITH THIS EXERCISE AND I THINK HE'S DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
HE'S WORKED WITH MYSELF, MY COLLEAGUES, MY FELLOW ADMINISTRATORS IN THE MID-SHORE, AND FULL COOPERATION WITH MARYLAND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.
JOE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR ALL OF THIS, PARTICULARLY MES.
AT THIS POINT, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIS PROPOSAL, HIS WORK, HIS OPTIONS, AND THEN WE CAN OPEN UP FOR ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF YOU HAVE. JOE.
>> WELL, THAT'S VERY FLATTERING. THANK YOU.
>> THIS WAS AN INTERESTING PUZZLE TO WORK ON AND FOR A DEJA VU THING, I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS ROOM WAS ABOUT 2006, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LANDFILL TIPPING FEES IN FRONT OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
THIS IS NOT AN UNFAMILIAR SUBJECT TO ME.
AS TODD SAID, I WAS AROUND WHEN THE FIRST ONE OPENED, WHEN THIS ONE WAS BEING CONSTRUCTED, AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO A LANDFILL THAT AFFECT THE FINANCES AND THAT'S WHY I ASK SO MANY QUESTIONS.
I'VE FOUND THAT IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING WORKS, I REALLY CAN'T MAKE ANY SENSE OF THE FINANCES AT ALL.
I THINK I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD WORKING UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE LANDFILL OPERATES AND WHAT AFFECTS ITS NUMBERS.
A LOT OF THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT.
I HOPE YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS IN HERE WHICH TEND TO I FIND, I LOVE THAT STUFF, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU DON'T LIKE IT.
WE'RE TRYING TO SUMMARIZE ALL THAT, PUT A LITTLE PICTORIAL FORM FOR YOU TODAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS IN LOOKING AT THE TIPPING FEE THAT WE LOOKED AT.
WHAT WAS PROPOSED, DIDN'T INCLUDE ANY EFFECTS OF INFLATION OVER TIME, THAT'S CONCERNING.
COSTS HAVE RISEN AND WE EXPECT THEM TO RISE IN BOTH CLOSURE, OPERATIONS.
PERSONNEL NOW COST MORE MONEY THAN THEY DID A FEW YEARS AGO.
I THINK YOU'RE FEELING THAT SAME PRESSURE AS EVERY OTHER EMPLOYER.
WHEN I WAS STILL AT PARK AND PLANNING, WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING ACCOUNTANTS.
POLICE OFFICERS ARE HARD TO HIRE.
THAT DOESN'T CHANGE. WE EXPECT THESE THINGS TO COST MORE OVER TIME.
WE HAD TO BUILD THAT INTO THE REPORT AND THERE'S A LOT ABOUT THE ASSUMPTIONS AND WHAT'S IN THERE THAT ARE IN THERE.
AS TODD SAID, THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT.
WE HAD A LOT OF INPUT FROM MES, A LOT OF INPUT FROM THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS.
THIS WASN'T ME GOING OFF IN A CORNER AND COMING UP WITH THESE NUMBERS. IT HELPED.
AN OVERARCHING REALITY THAT I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS IS A BUSINESS AND IT HAS TO OPERATE LIKE A BUSINESS.
IT'S SUBJECT TO COMPETITIVE PRESSURES FROM OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
IT'S NOT LIKE A PUBLIC UTILITY, WHICH GOVERNMENTS OFTEN OPERATE IN A BUSINESS LIKE FASHION.
BUT THOSE CUSTOMERS REALLY CAN'T JUST CHANGE THEIR SUPPLIER FOR WATER OR SEWER AT WILL.
THEY CAN PHYSICALLY MOVE THEIR RESIDENTS, BUT THEY CAN'T SIMPLY DISCONNECT AND SAY, I'M GOING TO CONNECT SOMETHING ELSE.
THIS IS A BUSINESS AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER TO LOOK AT IT IN THAT CONTEXT.
MID-SHORE IS CURRENTLY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AREA LANDFILLS IN TERMS OF ITS TIPPING FEES,
[00:30:03]
AND THAT'S TRUE EVEN THOUGH A PORTION OF THE TIPPING FEE IS USED TO FUND THE RECYCLING EFFORTS ON THE MID-SHORE AREA.THE FIRST STEP IN PERFORMING THE ANALYSIS WAS TO DETERMINE WHAT WERE REASONABLE FACTORS THAT WILL AFFECT THE CASH FLOWS GOING FORWARD.
INVESTMENT EARNINGS, WHICH WE ARE SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MEANINGFUL WAYS IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM DANNY FOX.
THAT NOW WE CAN SUDDENLY GET A RETURN ON OUR MONEY, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, AND THAT WILL HELP FUND THE LANDFILL GOING FORWARD.
ALL OF THIS IS OUT OF YOUR CONTROL SO WE MAKE ESSENTIALS.
ONE THING THAT'S UNDER YOUR CONTROL IS THE TIPPING FEE, SUBJECT TO COMPETITIVE PRESSURES.
AFTER A QUICK DETERMINATION, WELL IT WASN'T THAT QUICK, BUT FIRST STEP WAS CAN THE TIPPING FEE BE HELD CONSTANT OVER THE REMAINING PROJECT LIFE OF THIS LANDFILL, 2042? THE ANSWER WAS NO. THAT'S JUST USING REASONABLE ECONOMIC FACTORS.
THE QUESTION THEN BECAME, LOOKING AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF A HOST FEE, WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO THE TIPPING FEE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT TWO MAJOR OBJECTIVES ARE MET? YOU FUND THE CLOSURE AND POST CLOSURE FUNDS AND YOU MAINTAIN A REASONABLE OPERATING RESERVE.
WE ALL AGREED THAT WAS ABOUT $4 MILLION BECAUSE YOU CAN GET DISRUPTIONS IN YOUR FLOWS FROM THE ECONOMY, FROM WEATHER, FROM ALL THINGS.
YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL, YOU HAVE SOME CASH IN THE BANK.
ALL OF THAT LEADS INTO PRETTY BRIEF COMMENTS ON THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES.
WE LOOKED AT THREE OPTIONS, HOST TO $2, GROWING TO $4 AFTER 2031, WHEN THE CURRENT DEBT ON THE LANDFILL IS PAID OFF.
THE REASON IT IS STEPPED UP IS THAT THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL CASH FLOW AT THAT TIME.
YOU'LL TAKE ON SOME NEW DEBT TO BUILD CAPACITY TO GET YOU TO 2042, BUT THAT DEBT SERVICE WILL BE LESS THAN THE EXISTING.
THERE'S SOME CASH FLOW IN THERE. WE CAN STEP THAT UP.
WE LOOKED AT THE $2 AND $4 DOLLAR PROPOSAL THAT CAME FROM MES.
WE LOOKED AT $3 AND $5 DOLLAR, AND WE LOOKED AT FOUR AND SIX AS THE BROAD SPECTRUM.
WHAT WE FOUND WAS, AND THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH, AND ONE OF MY CONSTANT QUESTIONS BACK TO PEOPLE LOOK AT THIS, IS WHAT DID I MISS? WE THINK WE'VE GOT ALL THE FACTORS INVOLVED HERE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
BUT AT THE TWO AND FOUR LEVEL IS SHOWN ON SLIDES 11 AND 12, AND YOU SEE THE FACTORS WE'VE USED HERE, AND THEY'RE STATED IN THE REPORT AS WELL.
WE THINK THAT ABOUT A 1.15% TIPPING FEE INCREASE EACH YEAR WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FUND THE HOST FEE, FUND THE CLOSURE.
IT WOULD BE A LINE THAT GOES WAY OUT THE TOP, ENDS UP AT ABOUT $30 ODD MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY TO PHYSICALLY CONSTRUCT THE CLOSURE CAP AND HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE MONITORING GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE WON'T BE ANY MORE CASH FLOW IN.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ENOUGH CASH SITTING THERE FOR IT TO FLOW OUT OVER 30 YEARS.
>> THAT'S ALL THREE FACILITIES, CORRECT? MID-SHORE 1, HOBBS AND MID-SHORE 2.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL THREE AND THE INTERESTING THING THAT I FOUND IN MY ANALYSIS, AND THIS GETS PROBABLY MORE IN DETAIL, AND YOU WANT TO KNOW.
YOU NEED TO BREAK THAT CLOSURE FUND IN THREE PIECES.
MID-SHORE 1, WHICH IS DEPLETING BECAUSE IT'S IN POST CLOSURE NOW, HOBBS, WHICH IS DEPLETING BECAUSE IT'S IN POST CLOSURE AND MID-SHORE 2, WHICH IS GROWING BECAUSE YOU NEED TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY TO DO THE POST CLOSURE DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER IT'S 2031 OR 2042.
THAT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO GET STRAIGHT IN MY HEAD BECAUSE WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THEM, YES, WE ONLY HAVE ONE.
BUT IN SLIDES 11 AND 12, WE SEE THE CURVE.
WE HAVE EXCESS CASH ABOVE OUR STATED DESIRED RESERVE.
IN THE NEAR YEARS, WE DIP BELOW IT BRIEFLY IN 2031, '32.
THE SAME CURVE IS TRUE FOR ALL THREE SCENARIOS.
THAT IS NOT A TERRIBLE CONCERN AS THERE IS THE CLOSURE FUND, WHICH IS A LOT OF CASH IN IT.
DEPENDING ON HOW WE INVEST, IT CAN BUFFER OFF SOME OF THESE MINOR DISRUPTIONS.
THEN WE CLOSE OUT AT THE END OF THE BOUT $4 MILLION AT THE END, WHICH IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE TIPPING FEES, AS SHOWN ON SLIDE 12, GROWING TO ABOUT $84 FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN 2042.
LOOKING AT THE OTHER LANDFILLS IN THE AREA, WE DON'T THINK THAT WOULD PUT YOU IN A NONCOMPETITIVE PLACE AND THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO PAY.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMPETITIVE SO THE TRASH DOESN'T PICK UP AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SLIDES 13 AND 14 ARE THE SAME INFORMATION FOR THE THREE AND FIVE OPTION, WOULD REQUIRE A GROWTH AND TIPPING FEE OF ABOUT 1.35% AND YOU'D END UP WITH A TIPPING FEE OF ABOUT $87 AT THE END, WE THINK.
>> I'M SORRY. WHAT'S THE HISTORICAL INCREASE IN TIPPING FEE PERCENTAGE?
[00:35:01]
YOU'VE JUST GIVE ME A BEAUTIFUL SEGUE TO, I THINK SLIDE 14.
>> 1.42 IS THE AVERAGE, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
IT MAY BE FLAT FOR 3-4 TO 5 YEARS AND THEN IT DON'T.
>> WE'LL SEE THAT IN THE PICTURE OF A MINUTE.
BUT THE FOUR AND SIX OPTION WOULD REQUIRE ABOUT A 1.5% INCREASE IN TIPPING FEES.
YOU'D END UP ABOUT $89 WHICH GETS US TO SLIDE 17.
YOU JUST GIVE ME A NICE SEGUE ON.
SINCE 2011, AND THE ORIGINAL TIPPING FEE WAS $28 IF I REMEMBER RIGHT BACK AND I FOUND THIS.
WHEN I LEFT QUEEN ANNE'S, AND WHEN I LEFT MES, I TOOK A COPY OF MY FILES WITH ME ELECTRONICALLY.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF HISTORY AND I WAS PULLING THINGS OUT AND MES WAS LIKE, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? I'VE STILL GOT THEM.
WHEN I USED TO GIVE UPDATES TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS IN THE 2005-2010, I'VE STILL GOT SOME OF THOSE SCHEDULES.
BUT STARTED OUT $28 AND THAT WAS AN ISSUE.
I REMEMBER COLONEL PACK COMING AROUND FEBRUARY, REMEMBERS WHEN HE WAS HEAD OF MES, SAYING WE NEEDED MORE MONEY AND THAT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE '93, '94 RANGE 98.
THEN WHEN I GOT TO MES, WE FOUND THAT THE LANDFILL WAS NOT ADEQUATELY FUNDING ITS CLOSURE FEES, WHICH BROUGHT ME HERE IN 2006 TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO FIND CLOSURE.
BUT FROM THE LAST 15 YEARS, IT'S AVERAGED ABOUT 1.42%.
WE THINK THESE ARE ACHIEVABLE OPTIONS.
IT'S REALLY THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH RISK THE COUNTIES WANT TO TAKE ON IN TERMS OF THEIR COMPETITIVE POSTURE.
OBVIOUSLY, IF ANY OF THESE FACTORS CHANGE IN A MATERIAL WAY, IT COULD BE IN YOUR FAVOR, IT COULD BE AGAINST YOU.
IT COULD ALLOW YOU TO MITIGATE YOUR TIP OF FEE INCREASES OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TIP FEE INCREASES.
THE FUTURE IS NOT TO BE KNOWN AT THIS POINT.
WE'VE DONE OUR BEST JOB TO PROJECT IT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS. WITH THAT TODD.
>> I'LL JUST SAY RELATIVE TO THE TIP FEE INCREASE, WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
FOR MANY YEARS AGO, PROBABLY 20 YEARS AGO NOW, WE PUT AN ESCALATOR ON OUR WATER AND SEWER RATES FOR OUR WATER AND SEWER CUSTOMERS WHERE IT GOES UP AUTOMATICALLY EVERY YEAR BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE UNLESS OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, OUR SANITARY COMMISSION SAYS DON'T DO IT.
THAT'S BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE FOR US.
THE DECISION IS, EITHER THEY'RE GOING UP UNLESS WE SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO UP.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER GOOD PLACE FOR THAT TIP FEE ADJUSTMENT OR AN INFLATION FACTOR.
WE COULD VOTE ON IT EVERY YEAR, ONCE A YEAR.
IF GARBAGE VOLUMES GO UP, YOU MAY NOT NEED A TIP FEE INCREASE.
BUT IF THEY'RE FLAT OR RELATIVELY STABLE, THE INCREASE WOULD BE THERE FOR EACH YEAR TO PROVIDE THESE CASH FLOW BALANCES FOR THE LANDFILL.
I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE AS AN EXAMPLE THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR US AND FOR OUR WATER AND SEWER CUSTOMERS.
IT COULD BE APPLICABLE HERE FOR OUR REGIONAL LANDFILL.
THEN I GUESS THE ONLY LAST SLIDE HERE IS JUST NEXT STEPS.
WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND WE'RE THANKFUL, GREAT, TO BE HERE AND WE WANT TO TRY TO MOVE THIS ALONG SO WE CAN DECIDE IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE MID-SHORE 3 PERMITTING PHASE AND PHASE 2.
WE DO HAVE A JOINT MEETING AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE COMING UP NEXT WEEK.
ALL FIVE COUNTIES WILL BE THERE.
WE THOUGHT PERHAPS WE COULD HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FOUR BOARDS ON THE LANDFILL SCENARIO HERE.
I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO KATHLEEN AND THE ADMINISTRATOR HERE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS BOARD WANTS TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON A PROPOSAL AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WOULD BE SCHEDULED, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU ON.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
COMMISSIONER, DO NOT HAVE ANY REMARKS?
>> IT'S WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE.
I KNOW IT'S A HEAVY LIFT FOR CAROLINE COUNTY TO KEEP IT HERE, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MINIMIZE THAT BY POTENTIALLY THE THREE, FIVE AT $11 MILLION AND HOPING THAT WOULD HELP YOU OUT.
LANDS AT A PREMIUM, LANDFILLS ARE AT A PREMIUM, SO IF THERE'S SPACE, AND I'VE MENTIONED IT IN OUR MEETING WITH TALBOT COUNTY.
IF THERE'S SPACE LEFT IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, THEN IT'S GOING TO STAY OPEN.
WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THAT, AND IF THIS POOLS US WITH AN EXTRA 30 YEARS OF LIFE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE COMING INTO THIS 80 YEAR DEAL.
THEN THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, AND IT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE EASTERN SHORE.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.
COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING?.
>> I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT I WILL HAVE TO MAKE BECAUSE THERE WERE PROMISES THAT WERE MADE.
[00:40:05]
I'M SURE IF YOU WERE AROUND, THE PEOPLE AT THE TIME WERE TOLD THIS IS GOING TO BE GONE IN 2030.2030 SOUNDED LIKE A LONG TIME AWAY AT THAT POINT.
I SPOKE LAST NIGHT AT A ROAD TAN DINNER AND EXPLAINED THIS AND I DID NOT GET A VERY WARM AND FUZZY RESPONSE FROM THEM ABOUT KEEPING THIS HERE.
IT DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH TO DO I THINK WITH THE COMMITMENT THAT HAD BEEN MADE ON TIME, I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH MES OPERATION.
TRASH ON THE ROADS, THE CONDITION OF ROADS, WHERE TRASH IS BEING BROUGHT IN.
ONE OF THE ROADS THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO THE LANDFILL, I GOT TOLD LAST NIGHT WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE COUNTY. IT IS.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME THAT WHEN THE LOCAL NEWS PEOPLE DID A STORY ON THIS LAST WEEK, THEY WENT TO TALBOT COUNTY TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, SAT DOWN AT A MEETING AND SAID, ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TALBOT WOULD EVER AGREE TO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENED BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, BUT THIS IS, FOR ME, IS GOING TO HAVE TO INVOLVE THE WAY THAT I HAVE TRIED TO APPROACH THIS WITH PEOPLE IS TO SAY FOR YEARS WHAT I'VE HEARD IS YOU HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE INTO THE COUNTY WITHOUT RAISING PROPERTY TAXES.
WELL, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THE PRIOR PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAD, WE WE HAD PEOPLE WHO SAID, WE'LL WAIT AND SEE IF THE FINANCIAL TRADE-OFF HERE IS GOING TO BE WORTH IT.
WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS TO TELL ANYBODY AT THAT POINT, SO WE WILL NOW.
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE AT THAT TIME VERY MUCH AGAINST RETAINING THIS WAS A FORMER COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. CAULEY, WHO I THINK YOU CERTAINLY MIGHT BE FAMILIAR WITH.
HE I THINK CERTAINLY KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THIS, AND HE WAS AT THAT MEETING LAST NIGHT.
HE WASN'T AS ADAMANT LAST NIGHT, BUT HE STILL HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CONCERNS, BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO ENTER TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MAGICALLY TRASH IS NOT GOING TO BE BLOWING OUT OF PEOPLE'S TRUCKS AND CARS ALL OVER YOUR YARD.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE ROADS BEING TORN UP.
FOR ME, ANYTHING THAT WE DO IS GOING TO HAVE TO INVOLVE MES STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND FULFILLING WHAT I THINK THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.
IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE FOR ME, ROADS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FITS INTO THIS EQUATION.
WE TRY VERY HARD TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC, LISTEN TO WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A HARD SELL AND SO I'LL CERTAINLY KEEP AN OPEN MIND.
BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME THAT IT'S NEVER WHAT YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO BE.
IT'S WASN'T, YOU'RE GOING TO EXTEND IT BEYOND THE LIFE OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE TOLD IT WAS.
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW, AND HERE ARE THE PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING WITH THE CURRENT OPERATION, WHETHER IT'S EXTENDED OR NOT, AND THOSE HAVE GOT TO BE ADDRESSED.
I MADE MY FAIR SHARE OF CALLS TO THEM AND SAY, YOU GUYS GOT TRUCKS COMING IN ON ROADS THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE COMING IN, YOU GOT TRASH ON THE ROAD.
OH, YEAH, WE'LL BE RIGHT THERE.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER JOB DONE IF WE CONSIDER THIS. THAT'S IT.
THE CONSTITUENTS THAT I'VE SPOKE WITH IS THE ROAD ISSUES, THE TRASH ISSUES.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR WHAT, GOING ON A YEAR NOW ABOUT ABOUT THIS LANDFILL AND MES HASN'T DONE ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUES THAT WE CONSTANTLY BROUGHT IT UP,
[00:45:03]
HEY, WE WANT TO EXTEND THE LANDFILL.BUT YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR OWN INITIATIVE TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TALKED ABOUT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THAT.
IT'S JUST, WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.
ENVIRONMENTALLY, I UNDERSTAND THE POINT OF IT EXTENDING THE LANDFILL THAT'S BENEFICIAL AND NOT DISTURBING LAND VALUE AND ALL THAT.
QUEEN ANNE AND KING COUNTY ARE ULTIMATELY THEY WOULD BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY NEVER HAD PROLONG THE LANDFILL EVEN MORE FOR THEIR CITIZENS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE BURDENED WITH IT.
IT ALL COMES BACK TO, AGAIN, THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
WE HAVE TO GET THEM INVOLVED WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT.
SOME OF THEM, WHEN WE HAD THE FIRST MEETING, THEY WERE LIKE, WE'LL SEE WHAT WE GET.
I AGREE WITH MR. PORTER ON THAT.
BUT IN THE LONG RUN, THE MORE I HEAR ABOUT IT, THE MES HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT HAVE TALKED ABOUT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME.
LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, MR. MAYOR.
>> WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING MONEY BACK FOR POST CLOSURE ISSUE FOR THE POST CLOSURE, WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THAT MONEY? JUST PUT IN AN ACCOUNT, IT JUST SITS THERE?
>> WE ASSUME IT COULD BE YIELDING ABOUT BETWEEN 4.5 TO 5% DEPENDING ON WHICH FUND IT IS.
I DIDN'T MONKEY WITH THOSE ESTIMATES.
BUT IT IS INVESTED AND I'VE TALKED TO MES AND SAID, YOU GUYS NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVE.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WORD WITH PUBLIC FUNDS.
BUT YOU NEED TO BE ATTENTIVE TO HOW YOU CAN INVEST AT LONGER TERMS BECAUSE THESE MONIES WON'T BE NEEDED FOR, AT A MINIMUM 7-19 YEARS, SO FOR POST CLOSURE AND THEN IT'S GOING TO FLOW OUT OVER 30 YEARS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO STICK WITH THE NORMAL SHORT TERM INVESTING FOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.
>> THEY DON'T TOUCH THE FUNDS AT ALL.
>> NO. THIS ANALYSIS I DID, AND I DIDN'T SAY THIS AT THE BEGINNING, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE IS FOCUSED ON CASH.
WE LEAVE ALL THE ACCOUNTING EASE OUT OF IT.
SO TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDABLE, HOW MUCH CASH DO YOU HAVE TODAY? HOW MUCH CASH YOU'RE GOING TO GET, HOW MUCH CASH YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND ON OPERATIONS POST CLOSURE BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY IN POST CLOSURE FOR TWO SITES.
HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED AT THE END AND DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR CLOSURE? DO WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR RESERVE? AND THAT'S ALL ADDRESSED IN THE REPORT, BUT IT'S CASH, SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH AT THE END OF THE LIFE OF LANDFILL.
HAVE TO, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND A LARGE AMOUNT BUILDING THE COVER AND YOU NEED A CHUNK SITTING THERE, AS THEY SAY, TO FUND THE POST CLOSURE.
BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME, THE NEXT MATURE THREE HAS TO FUND ITSELF.
YOU CAN'T TAKE MONEY FROM MATURE THREE BACK TO MATURE TWO, WE WANT TO AVOID THAT. LET'S SAY IT THAT WAY.
WHEN THIS WAS FIRST PRESENTED TO US, I THINK I PRETTY CLEARLY SAID TO MES THAT I TOTALLY AGREE WITH CONTINUING TO KEEP THE LANDFILL HERE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
WE'RE NOT OPENING UP ANOTHER SPOT.
ECONOMICALLY, IT MAKES SENSE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PUT IN PLACE THERE FROM SCALE HOUSE, MAINTENANCE BUILDING, ROAD IMPROVEMENT TO RIVER ROAD INITIALLY DONE BACK IN 2010, ALL THE OTHER ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS PART OF THE OPERATION OF THE LANDFILL.
BUT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RETAINED ANY OF THE SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EXTENSION OF THE LANDFILL HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
IT'S OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE GOING TO BE BURDENED WITH THE TRASH BLOWING AND THE TRUCK TRAFFIC AND THE OTHER IMPACTS FOR HAVING LANDFILL SMELL AT TIMES HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO ME BY CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVE AROUND THE FACILITY.
CERTAIN DAYS, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY, BUT WITH CERTAIN WEATHER CONDITIONS THERE ARE SMELLS.
THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE IMPACTED BY HAVING THE FACILITY HERE.
I DON'T THINK IT HAS HAD A REALLY LARGE ADVERSE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES, BUT I DO THINK DAY TO DAY LIFE FROM TIME TO TIME, I THINK IT DOES AFFECT THEM.
SO THAT'S WHERE THIS ALL STARTED.
I KNOW THAT'S A DIFFICULT TASK BECAUSE YOU HAVE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH, IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY WHAT THAT SAVINGS IS.
I THINK INITIALLY, THERE WAS A PFM REPORT THAT WE RECEIVED AND I WENT THROUGH AND STARTED MESSING WITH THE NUMBERS IN THERE.
I THINK I QUANTIFIED THAT IN A VACUUM BECAUSE THAT'S HOW THE PFM REPORTS WERE PUT TOGETHER.
THERE WERE NO CHANGES IN ANYTHING.
IT WAS JUST RUNNING THROUGH JUST
[00:50:02]
CONSIDERING DEBT IS THAT CORRECT, BORROWING MONEY BASICALLY?>> PRETTY MUCH. THEY DIDN'T IMPLY ANY ECONOMIC FACTORS, WHICH IS MY FIRST TEST WAS IF YOU APPLY ECONOMIC FACTORS TO THEIR ASSUMPTIONS, WHAT HAPPENS? YOU WOULD END UP WITH ABOUT 60% OF YOUR CLOSURE FUND NOT FUNDED.
SO YOU'D HAVE NEGATIVE CASH VERSUS YOUR NEEDS.
A VERY QUICKLY THAT WAS APPARENT THAT IT WOULDN'T WORK.
>> IT WOULDN'T WORK. WE RAN THAT AND IN THAT VACUUM, IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE THE SAVINGS WAS AROUND 13 MILLION.
I THINK DAN AND I, WE RAN THROUGH, AND THAT WAS THE BEST INFORMATION THAT WE HAD AT THE TIME.
I THINK TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY'S CREDIT, THEY HAD A RESOURCE THAT THEY KNEW AND USE.
THEY REACHED OUT TO YOU TO DO A MORE IN DEPTH DIVE INTO THIS.
A FEW THINGS THAT REALLY CONCERNS ME ARE THE FINANCIAL AUDITS PROVIDED BY MES INDICATE DEPRECIATION AS AN EXPENSE.
IS THAT A WAY OF SAYING THE PRINCIPAL ON THE DEBT THAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW OR IS THERE MORE?
>> THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WENT WITH A CASH FOCUS AS OPPOSED TO THE ACCOUNTING EASE FOCUS.
THERE'S TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT AS TO HOW YOU ADDRESS.
DEPRECIATION IS JUST THE ALLOCATION OF COST OF AN ASSET OVER ITS USEFUL LIFE.
WITH A LANDFILL CELL, WHAT IS ITS USEFUL LIFE? WHAT IS IT? YOU MEASURE THAT IN ITS CAPACITY AND CAPACITY USED. THAT'S CALLED DEPLETION.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT DO DEPRECIATION.
BECAUSE IN DEPLETION, IF YOU CAN PUT 100,000 TONS IN THERE AND YOU PUT 10,000 IN, YOU RECOGNIZE 10,000 COST AGAINST THAT REVENUE.
THAT TELLS YOU WHETHER YOU'RE FUNDING OR NOT.
WITH DEPRECIATION, YOU'RE SAYING IT'S OVER TIME AND YOUR TIME MAY BE LONGER OR SHORTER AND YOU DON'T GET AS GOOD A MATCH.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU START DEALING WITH THE ACCOUNTING EASE CONCEPTS OF DEPRECIATION, DEPLETION, AMORTIZATION, AND ALL THAT, YOU CAN LOSE FOCUS OF THE NUMBERS, AND IN THIS LANDFILL OR THIS OPERATION, WHAT MATTERS IS DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO OPERATE IT? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH CASH TO CLOSE IT AND DO YOUR POST-CLOSURE?
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT LIKE I DON'T, BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE WITH ME IN THIS DISCUSSION IS WHAT ARE THE TRUE SAVINGS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO CAPTURE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
I UNDERSTAND THE CASH FLOW THINGS, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE THE DEPRECIATION IS GOING BECAUSE LIKE IN MY BUSINESS, IT DEPRECIATES FOR LESS VALUE IN THE EQUIPMENT.
MES IS NOT PAYING TAXES, SO WHERE IS THIS $722,000-2.2 MILLION A YEAR.
IT WAS 2.2 MILLION, THEY DEPRECIATED IN 2023, IF THAT'S NOT PRINCIPLE ON THE DEBT.
>> WHERE IS IT GOING? IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE PRINCIPLE ON THE DEBT.
>> IT DOES GET YOU ABOUT THE SAME PLACE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU BORROW THE MONEY.
>> YOU HAVE A 20-YEAR PAYBACK AND YOU'VE GOT A 20-YEAR AMORTIZATION ON SOME OF THESE COSTS LIKE THE MAINTENANCE, BUILDING THE SCALE HOUSES.
YOU BORROWED THE MONEY, YOU'RE PAYING IT DOWN.
THE DEPRECIATION IS THE ACCOUNTING COST BECAUSE THE PRINCIPLE ON DEBT IS NOT AN ACCOUNTING COST.
IT'S UP ON THE BALANCE SHEET AND ALL THAT.
FROM A CASH PERSPECTIVE, IT'S CASH OUT THE DOOR EITHER WAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> IF IT'S GOING OUT THE DOOR THEN THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING ON.
>> YOU DON'T WRITE A CHECK FOR DEPRECIATION.
YOU WRITE A CHECK FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE EQUIPMENT.
YOU BUY A TRUCK FOR 50,000, IT'S 50,000 OUT THE DOOR.
>> JUST WRAPPING MY HEAD AROUND THEN DEPRECIATING SOMETHING, IT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT OR DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME.
BUT IF IT'S THE PRINCIPLE IN THE DEBT, THEN I UNDERSTAND THIS IS PAYING BACK THE LOAN.
>> PRETTY MUCH. I DIDN'T MATCH THEM UP BUT.
>> CLOSE. THE CLOSURE, POST-CLOSURE COSTS FROM 2019-2022 RANGED ONE MILLION TO 1.5 MILLION.
IN 2023, WHEN WE START TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS, IT SPIKES TO 3.6 MILLION.
NEVER SEEN A NUMBER THAT LARGE IN THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THE LANDFILL.
MES HAS NEVER BEEN ACCRUING THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING, HAS NEVER BEEN ABOVE 1.6 MILLION.
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THAT SPIKE? DID THEY PROVIDE YOU ANY INFORMATION ON WHY THAT OCCURRED?
>> I LOOKED AT THAT. THERE WERE REGULATORY CHANGES AND THEY REDID THEIR ESTIMATES.
THEY DON'T REDO THE ESTIMATE EVERY YEAR.
THEY DO IT EVERY SEVERAL YEARS, AND AS A RESULT OF COST PRESSURES, REGULATORY CHANGES, AND THEY WERE COMPARING TO A CLOSURE THAT WAS DONE, I BELIEVE, OVER IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.
IT WAS WAS TRYING TO GET THE WINDAGE OF THIS.
THEY FOUND THAT THEIR CLOSURE ESTIMATE WAS TOO LOW.
[00:55:03]
WHAT HAPPENS THEN IS THE ADJUSTMENT YOU GOT TO SAY, OKAY, I'VE GOT AN ESTIMATE OF X, I'VE GOT 40% USAGE OF THE LANDFILL.BUT THE NUMBER'S BIGGER, SO YOU GOT TO ADJUST FOR THAT IN ONE YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE, BUT THAT'S HOW THAT WORKS AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SENSITIVE TO THAT CLOSURE COST ESTIMATE. HOW GOOD IS IT? WE FOUND IT WAS LOW ON MID-SHORE 1.
MID-SHORE 1 WHEN WE CAME TO THE END OF THAT, WE BELIEVE WE HAD CLOSURE FUNDED, AND WHEN THEY ACTUALLY GOT OUT THERE AND BID THAT JOB AND CONSTRUCTED IT, THEY HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO STAY WITHIN THE FUNDS THEY HAD AVAILABLE AND THAT WAS THAT WAS SOMEWHAT DISTURBING.
>> DO THEY HAVE A BUDGETED NUMBER FOR 2024?
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET. I DIDN'T LOOK AT THAT.
>> YEAH. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THEY SUPPLIED THAT OR NOT.
>> I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT '24 BUDGET.
I DID '24 PROJECTION BASED ON THE ESTIMATE AND THE ANTICIPATED USAGE.
IN THE CASH FLOW I DID PROJECT WHAT CLOSURE AND POST-CLOSURE WOULD BE FOR THE YEAR.
>> NO, THAT'S OKAY. THAT SPIKE, IT OVERDOUBLED.
>> ALL THAT DOES FROM A CASH PERSPECTIVE IS IT IS MORE ALLOCATED IN THE BUCKET FOR CLOSURE, POST-CLOSURE, AND LESS ALLOCATED IN THE BUCKET OF AVAILABLE OPERATION.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE YOUR CASH AT ALL?
>> WHERE YOU WORRY IS DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR CASH NEEDS DOWN THE ROAD AND HOW DOES THAT DRIVE YOUR TIPPING FEE?
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M GETTING AT HERE TOO.
IF WE'RE HARFORD COUNTY OPERATION, MES IS FEELING THOSE PRESSURES, EVERY OTHER LANDFILL AROUND THE STATE AND IN DELAWARE AND EVERYWHERE ELSE SHOULD BE FEELING THOSE SAME PRESSURES.
THE ONLY WAY TO RECOUP THAT IS WITH AN INCREASE IN TIPPING FEE OR CUT OPERATING COSTS SOMEWHERE.
YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE FLOW OF TRASH, SO YOU EITHER GOT TO COVER THAT WITH A SPIKE IN YOUR TIPPING FEE, OR YOU'VE GOT TO CUT YOUR OPERATING COSTS, OR YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT MORE PEOPLE TO BRING TRASH AND FILL IT UP.
BUT WHEN IT'S FULL, IT'S FULL.
EVERY TON OF TRASH THAT GOES IN THERE SHOULD HAVE A CLOSURE FEE ATTACHED TO IT BECAUSE I KNOW THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ARRANGEMENT IS IN 20 YEARS, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SPACE YOU HAVE OPEN OR YOU DON'T HAVE OPEN.
IF WE AGREE TO KEEP IT UNTIL IT'S FULL, IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO CALCULATE EXACTLY WHAT THAT COST PER TON THAT WE NEED TO BE ACCRUING AWAY FOR POST-CLOSURE IS BECAUSE YOU THEORETICALLY KNOW HOW MANY TONS YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IN THERE BEFORE YOU CLOSE IT.
>> THE IDEA OF A DOLLAR PER TON WAS THE ORIGINAL IDEA AND WAS FOUND TO BE INSUFFICIENT.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD CAME OUT WITH THEIR STATEMENT 18 IN THE EARLY '90S, WE ALL HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK AND IT REALLY LOOKS AT THE AMOUNT OF USAGE YOU'VE GOT.
NOW THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU LOOKING AT THE THEORETICAL USAGE OR THE PRACTICAL CAPACITY?
>> A LOT OF DIRT GOES IN THE LANDFILL.
>> WHAT WE FOUND AT MID-SHORE 1, AND THIS SPEAKS TO YOUR POINT.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE LAST CELL FROM MID-SHORE 1, THE ENGINEERS WERE BUILDING A MUCH LARGER CELL THAN COULD BE UTILIZED IN THE CALENDAR MONTHS WE HAD LEFT.
>> WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THIS ONE AS WELL, I THINK THERE'S A CELL ON THE FENCE.
>> WELL, THERE MAY BE THERE MAY BE A CELL NEEDED TO BE RECONFIGURED, CONSTRUCTED OR NOT.
IT'S NOT IN THE SHORT FACTOR, IT'S IN THE LONGER FACTOR.
BUT WHAT WE FOUND IN MID-SHORE 1 WAS EVEN AFTER WE SCALED BACK THE SIZE OF THAT LAST CELL CONSTRUCTION, THERE WAS STILL CAPACITY BUILT THAT WOULD HAD TO BE WRITTEN OFF AT THE END AND AS MUCH AS WE TRIED AT MES AND I WAS PART OF THAT ARGUING TEAM BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE ENGINEERS AND THE REALISTS AS WE CALLED OURSELVES, WE DON'T WANT TO BUILD MORE OF THE ROOM, PAY TO BUILD MORE THAN WE NEED OR WE CAN USE AND THERE WAS STILL SOME LEFTOVER WHICH WE WERE NOT HAPPY ABOUT.
USE IT TO THE THEORETICAL CAPACITY, THE PERMITTED CAPACITY.
>> BUT AGAIN, IT'S TOUGH. I UNDERSTAND.
IN THE BUSINESS THAT I'M IN, THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES OUT THERE, I CAN APPRECIATE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO PROJECT A LOT OF THIS STUFF.
BUT THAT POST-CLOSURE NUMBER REALLY JUMPED OUT AT ME THAT IT SPIKED THAT MUCH IN A YEAR WHERE WE'RE GOING INTO THIS NEGOTIATION.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE ABILITY FOR THE CASH FLOW TO HANDLE A HOST FEE FOR CAROLINE.
THAT HAD A MASSIVE NEGATIVE IMPACT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT AN ADDITIONAL TWO MILLION DOLLARS GOING TO THE CLOSURE, POST-CLOSURE ESSENTIALLY.
>> YOU'VE GOT A LARGER NUMBER TO ACCRUE AGAINST OVER TIME.
[01:00:02]
THE LONGER LIFE LANDFILL, YOU'VE GOT MORE TIME TO ACCRUE WHICH ALLOWS FOR EXCESS CASH FLOWS TO HAPPEN, WHICH IS GOOD.IN THE SHORT-TERM, YOU WOULD FIND IT TO BE MORE OF A CHALLENGE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAD TO CONSTRUCT MORE CAPACITY.
>> THE NEW NUMBER IS AROUND 33 MILLION, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD I THINK ON YOUR FLOW CHARTS DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, IT'S AT 33.6 MILLION.
>> IF WE LOOK AT THE OPTION WHERE THERE'S NO INCREASES '24.
WE LOOK FOR THE CLOSURE FUND TO BE ABOUT 33 MILLION AT THE END.
>> I THINK ALL OF THEM WERE INCURRED.
>> THAT'S WITH AN INFLATION FACTOR.
IF IT COMES IN LESS THAN THAT, THAT'S YOUR ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THAT'S POTENTIALLY MONEY THAT CAN BE USED TO MITIGATE DEBT ON MID-SHORE 3, WHICH GIVES YOU MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW YOU SET YOUR TIPPING FEES FOR THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS BEYOND THAT.
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW IN YOUR REPORT IT SAYS THAT THEY HAVE 11.5 MILLION SET ASIDE IN THAT FUND RIGHT NOW.
SAID MES, JUNE 30, 2023, AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SHOWS THAT APPROXIMATELY 15.915 MILLION IN CASH ON HAND FOR MID-SHORE AGAINST AN ESTIMATED CLOSURE LIABILITY OF 11.568.
I'M ASSUMING THAT 11.568 IS WHAT THEY HAVE SAVED TO DATE.
>> YES. THAT'S THE MONEY THAT REPRESENTS THE PORTION OF THE EVENTUAL CLOSURE THAT'S BEEN UTILIZED TO DATE.
AGAIN, IF YOU'VE GOT A 20 MILLION OR $30 MILLION NUMBER AND YOU'VE ONLY USED 40% OF THE LANDFILL, YOU RECOGNIZE 40% OF THAT AS YOUR CLOSURE LIABILITY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE CLOSURE LIABILITY ACTUALLY HAS CASH BEHIND IT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO COMMUNICATE THERE.
YOU GOT 15.9 MILLION, 12 FOR A BIG ROUND NUMBER SET ASIDE FOR CLOSURE.
YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY. WHEN I GOT TO MES IN 2005, THAT WASN'T TRUE.
WE HAD A BIGGER LIABILITY THAN WE HAD CASH.
>> WELL, MY CONCERN IS 13 YEARS INTO THIS THING, THEY'VE GOT ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT THEY NEED SAVED.
>> THEY'VE ONLY USED ABOUT A THIRD OF THE LANDFILL CAPACITY, YOU SEE THAT, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH THAT THEORETICAL CAPACITY AS OPPOSED TO THE PRACTICAL., THEY HAVE ACCRUED AN ADDITIONAL COUPLE OF DOLLARS OR TWO MILLION DOLLARS OR SO.
THAT'S THERE. AGAIN, I DON'T SEE THE ISSUE WITH THE CLOSURE FUNDING UNDER ANY OF THESE.
NO, NOT BASED ON MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE STANDARDS.
>> NATURALLY, THE FOUR AND THE SIX ANALYSIS WOULD LOOK DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT IF WE WERE BACK AT 2022 CLOSURE COSTS COMPARED TO THE '23.
IT WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.
DID YOU GET A NUMBER FROM MES ON HOW MUCH SPACE WAS GOING TO BE LEFT, PROJECTED TONS, WHEN THE LANDFILL WAS CLOSED, I'M SORRY, IN 2030, WHEN OUR TIME IS UP IS AROUND 1.8 MILLION?
>> I DID NOT. AGAIN, THAT'S PERMITTED CAPACITY VERSUS CONSTRUCTED CAPACITY.
>> I TOOK I TOOK 145,000 TONS OVER 12 YEARS AND CAME UP 1.7 MILLION TONS OF SPACE LEFT.
>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE ESTIMATE BECAUSE THE IDEA IS TO USE THE PERMITTED CAPACITY SO YEAH, IT MAKES SENSE.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD I MEAN, IT'S PERMITTED.
IT'S THERE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE.
I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROADS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO BUILD THE NEW LANDFILL IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY?
THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE FOCUS OF THIS.
THAT WOULD BE A REAL QUESTION.
WHAT KIND OF DEBT AND DEBT SERVICE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON TO DO THAT AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE TIPPING FEE? BUT THAT WAS NOT PART OF THIS ENGAGEMENT.
>> OKAY. THAT BRINGS ME TO MY LAST QUESTION TO JUDGE WHERE WE ARE HERE IS, WHAT WOULD THE NET POSITION OF THE LANDFILL BE 2031, PAYING US THE HOST FEE COMPARED TO MOVING TO A NEW FACILITY IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY? IT'S MUCH BETTER AND MUCH HEALTHIER FOR IT TO REMAIN HERE PAYING US FOUR AND SIX THAN IT IS TO GO BUILD A NEW FACILITY IN ANOTHER COUNTY.
>> WHAT IS THE NET POSITION? WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE FOUR COUNTIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THE OPERATION OF
[01:05:02]
THE LANDFILL IF WE MOVE IT TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY IN 2031, AS OPPOSED TO KEEPING IT HERE IN 2031 EVEN WITH A HOST FEE?>> THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ANALYSIS.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE PEOPLE LOOKED AT AS PART OF THIS ENGAGEMENT.
>> I DON'T KNOW. MY FEELING IS THAT THE FOUR SIX IS FAIR.
I THINK IT WILL HAVE THE LANDFILL IN A BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION, HANDS DOWN, THAN IF WE TOOK NO HOST FEE AND MOVED IT TO QUEEN ANNE.
THAT'S JUST MY GUT FEELING ON IT.
BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THAT WAS LOOKED AT AT ALL.
>> OR EVEN AT THE 2031 WOULD STILL BE HYPOTHETICAL AT THAT POINT.
>> WELL, IN 2031 IS WHEN IT WOULD MOVE.
>> I KNOW, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAVINGS TO THE OVERALL SAVINGS FOR DOING THAT.
IT WOULD STILL BE A HYPOTHETICAL.
>> YEAH. WE START WITH AN ENGINEERING ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT THE LANDFILL.
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE CONSTRUCTION, THINGS CAN CHANGE.
FUEL COSTS, LABOR COST, MACHINE TIME.
>> I HAVE A NON-NUMBERS QUESTION AND I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO SPEAK FOR ANY OTHER COUNTIES.
BUT BEFORE WE GO TOO MUCH DEEPER INTO THIS AND LOSE SLEEP ABOUT THIS, IT'S GOT TO BE A UNANIMOUS DECISION.
DOES IT APPEAR TO YOU AT THIS POINT THAT ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES ARE ON BOARD WITH A POST FEE AND KEEPING IT HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY?
ALL THE COUNTIES ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT TO CONSIDER A HOST FEE FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE LANDFILL HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE HOST FEE GOING TO BE?
WE'VE MET WITH TALBOT COUNTY LAST WEEK.
THEY WERE A LITTLE LESS INFORMED THAN THIS BOARD, OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES WITH THIS WITH MBS AND WITH US OBVIOUSLY, BUT THEY'RE UP TO SPEED NOW WITH THE ENGAGEMENT, WITH THE OPTIONS, AND I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THEY SUPPORT A HOST FEE OPTION TO KEEP THE LANDFILL HERE, CAN AS WELL.
JIM CAN SPEAK FOR QUEEN ANNE'S THAN WE HAVE.
>> YOU'RE SAYING WE CAN CONTINUE TO LOSE SLEEP OVER THIS AND WORRY ABOUT IT?
>> YEAH. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET YOUR COLLEAGUES AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP DOWN AT THE COLLEGE NEXT THURSDAY.
>> WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT?
>> I THINK WE STARTED ON IT IN DECEMBER.
THIS PARTICULAR ENGAGEMENT, IT'S SURVEILLING AND INFORMATION GATHERING THROUGH JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.
>> PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SIX MONTHS LOW EARLIER.
>> THAT WASN'T YOUR FAULT. IN OTHER WORDS I'M SAYING I GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASKED YOU SIX MONTHS SOONER TO START ON IT BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR.
>> IT WAS AN INTERESTING PUZZLE TO WORK ON, REFRESH MEMORY ON A BUNCH OF THINGS AND SEE WHAT I COULD FISH OUT OF MY ARCHIVES AS YOU SAID. SEEMED FUN.
>> IT SOUND LIKE YOU THOROUGHLY ENJOYED [INAUDIBLE].
I STARTED MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER ABOUT TWO BLOCKS OVER ON FRANKLIN STREET IN 1979 AND THAT'S WHEN I MET CHARLIE CALLIE BECAUSE HE WORKED WITH CWM, HE'S A SEASONAL GUY WHEN I WAS THERE AND BEEN AROUND THE MID-SHORE EVER SINCE.
>> YEAH, WORKED FOR JOE QUINN AND HIS PARTNER, TOM TRICE, WHO JUST PASSED.
>> WHAT MY OPINION IS IT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR LIVES A LOT EASIER GOING INTO THAT PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING IT MAKES SENSE ENVIRONMENTALLY, IT MAKES SENSE ECONOMICALLY, AND RESIDENTS, CAROLINE COUNTY IS KEEPING THE SAVINGS FROM THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO USE IT TO IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE AROUND THE LANDFILL, EITHER BY PAVING THE ROADS.
I THINK WE SHOULD RETAIN CONTROL.
WE SHOULD TAKE THE MONEY, WE KEEP THE SAVINGS, WE'LL FIX THE ROADS, TAKE CARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT WAY WE HAVE CONTROL OVER IT.
WE'RE NOT TWISTING MES'S ARM TO DO ANYTHING.
IT JUST FOR US TO LOOK THE PUBLIC IN THE EYE AND SAY WE DIDN'T MISTREAT OUR NEIGHBORS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
[01:10:02]
OR YOUR BOARD, OR TALBOT IN A BAD SITUATION BECAUSE WE ALL GET TOGETHER AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, SO I DON'T WANT ROCKS THROWN AT ME AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE SITTING THERE, AND I DON'T WANT THAT REPUTATION, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST DEAL OR THE FAIR DEAL.I THINK IN EARLY ANALYSIS, I FELT LIKE IT WAS FOUR AND SIX AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING TO DATE THAT DISSUADED ME FROM THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE TRUE SAVINGS THAT THE GROUP WILL SEE FROM THE EXTENSION OF THIS LANDFILL.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT SHORT OF THE ENTIRE SAVINGS, BUT I THINK IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH AND A FAIR DEAL.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT AND WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL COST TO MES OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINUAL OPERATION INSIDE OF THE FOOTPRINT OF THE FACILITY BUT WE CAN BRING IT UP AND HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS APRIL 18TH AND AND SEE WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE LANDS.
>> COMMISSIONER, CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION?
>> MR. ZIMMERMAN, THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DID ON THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME LAWYERS JOBS A LITTLE EASIER I THINK, BUT I'M LOOKING AHEAD TO THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BE SIGNED BY THE FOUR COUNTIES.
IT SEEMS TO ME YOU WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT MEMBER OF THAT TEAM TO DO THE DRAFTING TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING IN PRINT IS ACTUALLY THE WAY THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO WORK OUT.
THERE'S ALSO VARIABLES, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT MAYBE THE AGREEMENT'S GOT TO HAVE SOME ELASTICITY IN IT, IF YOU WILL, THE FLEXIBILITY SO THAT IF CERTAIN EVENTS OCCUR THEN WE GO BACK AND POSSIBLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO HOW THE GUTS OF THAT AGREEMENT WOULD LOOK FROM AN ACCOUNTANT'S POINT OF VIEW, AND ALSO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO WORK THOSE DETAILS OUT BEFORE YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU CAN JUST SAY, WELL, HERE'S THE MAJOR TERMS AND YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BUT THEN IT'S APPROVED, YOU VOTE FOR IT THEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE TRY TO WRITE THE AGREEMENT AND WE'RE NOT GETTING SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WORKED OUT, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING AND SAY, WELL, WE'VE CHANGED IT NOW, SO I'M LOOKING AHEAD TO THE END RESULT AND NOT LEAVING THAT TO THE LAST SECOND, LET'S START WORKING ON THE GUTS OF WHAT THIS AGREEMENT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO ASSIST I HAVE VERY CAREFULLY AVOIDED THE PRACTICE OF LAW ALL MY CAREER QUITE SUCCESSFULLY.
HAVING THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND QUEEN ANNE'S CUFF ME AROUND SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I GOT A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE LINE, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO HELP.
I THINK JIM AND I PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME AGO SOMEWHERE BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FEELING ALL THE QUESTIONS WE'LL SO SOON, HAVE SO MANY BUT [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONS EXPERIENCE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
>> LET'S TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK HERE.
[01:20:28]
WELCOME BACK. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM WHICH IS DANIEL FOX,[• FY 2025 Board of Education Funding]
[01:20:34]
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND STACY SEWER, GRANT COORDINATOR WITH A FISCAL YEAR 2025, BOARD OF EDUCATION FUNDING UPDATE.>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
THANKS FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE SOME UPDATED BUDGET INFORMATION THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING, AND GO THROUGH WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE PROCESS FOR OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
FIRSTLY, WE HAD SHARED THE UPDATED CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET WORKSHEETS IN EXCEL WITH THE BOARD, AS WELL AS THE PRINTED VERSIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY.
REALLY, THE LARGE CONVERSATION FOR TODAY IS GOING TO REVIEW SOME OF THE UPDATED BLUEPRINT NUMBERS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND WHERE WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THE BUDGET AND THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS, WHETHER IT WAS IN THIS ROOM OR WHETHER IT WAS OVER AT THE BOE WHEN WE MET A MONTH AND A HALF, OR MONTHS.
I'LL GO ABOUT WAITING ON, WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL OUR LATEST AND GREATEST BLUEPRINT FIGURE.
WITH THAT, I'LL GET RIGHT TO THE POINT.
ESSENTIALLY, THERE WAS A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET, WHICH WE'RE CALLING NUMBER 2, THAT WAS PASSED THAT CORRECTED SOME OF THE INCONSISTENCIES.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY ERRORS IN REPORTING, BUT ALIGNING TO THE MORE ACCURATE DATA WHEN IT COMES TO DIFFERENT COUNTY SHARES OF LOCAL VERSUS STATE ALLOCATION.
WITH THAT, YOU SHOULD HAVE A SHEET THAT HAS A GREEN HEADER WITH A YELLOW COLUMN ON THE SIDE THAT OUTLAYS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT LOCAL SHARE ADJUSTMENT IS FOR EACH COUNTY.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT IS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE TO INCREASE A TOTAL OF $554,400.
WITH THAT, WE HAD TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT EXPECTING THIS NUMBER TO COME THROUGH AND WHERE WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY PUT THAT IN AND WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WE WOULD MAKE.
WITH THAT, THE SHEET THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, STACY AND I HAVE CALCULATED THAT INTO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ALLOCATION AND THEN IN PRIOR CONVERSATIONS, THERE WAS THE DECISION TO MAKE, WE WOULD REDUCE CAPITAL ALLOCATION BY THAT AMOUNT TO CONTINUE WITH A BALANCED OR ZERO-DOLLAR BUDGET.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL ALLOCATION SHEET, WHICH IS THE OTHER LONG LEGAL PIECE, AND YOU SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM, WE'LL FLIP TO THE LAST PAGE, YOU'LL SEE WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT UNALLOCATED FUNDING OF ABOUT $1.6 MILLION OR SO, WE'RE NOW REDUCING THAT TO ABOUT $1.1 MILLION THAT WE WILL ALLOCATE INTO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BEFORE I GO ON TO THE NEXT PIECE OF THIS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT CHANGE OR ANYTHING WE CAN DISCUSS THROUGH THAT?
>> DR. SIMMONS, YOU WANT TO ADD? TELL US ALL THE GOOD PLACES THIS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS GOING TO GO.
>> SHORT OF IT, THERE WERE SOME INCONSISTENCIES IN THE FREER MEALS COUNT, NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR A LOT OF SYSTEMS. AS YOU CAN TELL IN THE SHEET, THE NUMBER THAT HAD BEEN ADJUSTED.
WE'RE HOPEFUL THERE WILL BE A NEW PROCESS NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE STATE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE PRIMARIES FUELS COUNTS AND THE ACCURACY FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
BEEN REPORTED BY DPM FOR THAT TO BE CLEANED UP, WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IT IS.
AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I'M HAPPY THEY GOT IT CORRECTED IT.
THAT WAS SERIOUSLY UNDER REPORTED.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN PUT ON THE ACCOUNTING MEASURES WITH BRINGING THAT UP, THE NOTIFICATION, BUT AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE SPORT, BUT THAT'S WHERE IT CAME FROM, SO HOPEFULLY THEY ADJUST THEIR PROCESSES.
>> WELL, MOST OF IT WILL GO TO SALARIES.
>> YEAH, IT FALLS IN COMPENSATORY EDUCATION SO IT GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO USE THAT TOWARDS SALARIES.
IT'S A RESTRICTED BUT THAT'S STILL AN UNRESTRICTED AREA BUDGET.
[01:25:03]
THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHER BLUEPRINT CATEGORIES THAT WE CANNOT USE FOR SALARY.CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY BEING ONE OF THEM.
WE CAN USE THE FUNDING WITHIN THAT TO HELP SUPPORT OUR STAFF, TO HELP US GET TOWARDS THE 60K IN UNDER TWO YEARS.
>> OUR INCREASE NOW IS 1.787 MILLION ABOVE FLAT.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE STATE INCREASE YOU'LL BE RECEIVING THIS YEAR AS NOW?
>> T'S SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,AND IF I INCLUDE THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FEES WHICH IS VERY RESTRICTED NUMBER IS GOING TO BE INFLATED.
BUT FOR WHAT I CAN USE WITH FLEXIBILITY, IT'S PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT THREE MILLION.
>> THE STATE IS CHIPPING IN QUITE A BIT MORE?
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY A BALL PART.
>> I'M GOING TO SPARE EVERYBODY.
>> THIS IS A REALLY OFF THE WALL, DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT INCREASE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE BLUEPRINT IF WE HAD TAKEN THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS?
>> IT IS PROBABLY ON THAT SHEET, SOMEWHERE IN THAT PACKAGE.
THAT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED WITH THE NEW SEALS AMOUNT.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WILL WE HAVE BEEN PAYING UNDER THE PRE-BLUEPRINT?
>> THE MSD TYPICALLY GIVES US THAT FULL MULTI-TAB SHEET THAT WOULD HAVE THAT FIGURE, THE ATTACHMENT THAT THEY'RE SHARING NOW IS JUST THE ONE PAGE ADJUSTMENT.
I IMAGINE THEY'LL BE RELEASING THAT FULL DOCUMENT, I WOULD ASSUME ANY DAY NOW IN TWO.
I WOULD SAY ONCE WE GET THAT, WE COULD SHARE THAT WITH YOU WITH THE UPDATED NUMBERS OF WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, THE GIFT TO KEEPS ON DOING.
>> DID YOU BY CHANCE, DO YOU REMEMBER THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION DOCUMENT? IT HAD PROJECTED IN REVENUE OR PROJECTED INCREASES ON EACH COUNTY.
WE'RE STILL BELOW WHAT THEY HAD PROJECTED.
>> I KNOW THEY PROJECTED US MOVING INTO LOCAL SHARE SOONER THAN WE DID.
THEY HAD GONE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR IF WE COMPARE.
>> WAY BELOW WHAT THAT PROJECTION WAS.
>> WITH THIS I'M GOING TO CALL CATCH UP OR ADJUSTMENT.
>> I'LL HAVE TO PULL THAT OUT.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON.
>> NEXT ON OUR LIST, IN THE NATURE OF BLUEPRINT, DR. SIMMONS HAD SHARED THAT HOUSE BILL 10802 SEEMED TO BE GROWING IN TRACTION.
HE HAD PASSED ON THIS MORNING THAT IT'S ACTUALLY LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO PASS STACY AND I PULLED IT UP. I THINK IT'S AT THE GOVERNORS.
>> SAID THE GOVERNOR WILL BE SIGNING.
IN FRONT OF YOU WE PRINTED THE FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE FOR THE HOUSE BILL FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT AWARE OF 10802.
THIS IS BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION FUNDING AND INDEPENDENT EVALUATION ALTERATIONS.
THE BILL REQUIRES EACH COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE $150,000 FOR SALARY AND BENEFITS OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATOR.
ESSENTIALLY, WE HAVE A LOCAL SHARE OF THIS POSITION.
ON THE LAST PAGE, THEY HAVE EXHIBIT ONE, WHERE THEY SHOW CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE STATE WOULD PICK UP $109,539 OF THIS.
THE LOCAL SHARE WOULD BE $40,461.
WE WILL HAVE ESSENTIALLY ANOTHER $40,461 ADJUSTMENT THAT WILL GO AS PART OF THIS ALLOCATION.
I THINK IT'S STACY AND I'S INTENT WHEN WE LEAVE TODAY TO OBVIOUSLY DOT ALL IS CROSS ALL TS.
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS INCORPORATED INTO THE MODEL THAT YOU GUYS HAVE WITH THE UPDATED SUPPLEMENTAL CIRCULATE AN UPDATED DOCUMENT BACK TO YOU GUYS.
>> WHAT REALLY JUMPS OUT AT ME ON THIS ONE IS THAT WE ARE THE LOWEST SHARE OF ANY JURISDICTION IN THE STATE.
YET AGAIN BY ANOTHER WELL, FORMULA, WHICH NOBODY, WE ARE THE POOREST JURISDICTION IN THE STATE ACCORDING TO THIS,
[01:30:04]
BUT OUR DISPARITY GRANT GOT CUT.>> DID YOU DO ECONOMICS? THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS JUST LET'S JUST PULL THINGS OUT OF THE BLUE HERE AND TRY TO ROPE DOPE PEOPLE SO THEY THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> IN OUR ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE I THINK WE'RE CONTRIBUTING.
WE'RE NOT THE POOREST ACCORDING TO THE ADJUSTED LOCAL SHARE FORMULA.
BUT WE ARE FOR WHATEVER FORMULA THAT THEY USED.
>> DATA THAT THEY PULLED FOR THIS.
>> THIS WAS SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER THIS MORNING.
>> I THINK WHEN STACY AND I LOOKED. I THINK IT WAS LIKE ZERO.
>> OUR DELEGATION CATERS FOR THIS AS WELL.
>> IT'S AN EXISTING POSITION THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE.
LAST YEAR LEGISLATION WENT THROUGH AS A ONE-YEAR FIX.
THE ISSUE WAS LAST YEAR THEY APPROVED IT FOR A ONE-YEAR FIX AND THEY WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE POSITION.
THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATION WAS TO KEEP THE FUNDING.
THEREFORE THAT WAS REQUIRED LAST YEAR.
>> WE'LL PASS MORE ONTO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
>> LAST YEAR WAS THE SPLIT TO RIGHT. THE SPLIT WAS.
>> BUT IT WAS IN OUR IT WAS THE FORMULA.
THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE SEEN IT ACTUALLY, I'VE NEVER SEEN IT BROKEN OUT LIKE THIS.
>> THE NUMBER THAT THEY PROVIDED THROUGH MSD.
>> WOULD CONTINUE TO BE BROKEN OUT?
>> OR IS THIS ANOTHER ONE YEAR PHASE?
>> I THINK NO. THIS IS A PERPETUITY WHILE DOING SO, I ASSUME IT WILL FALL INTO THE FORMULA FROM NOW ON.
>> BECAUSE OF THE ROLLER COSTAR, SO IT WAS NOT CHANGED AGAIN.
>> THIS WAS SUPPORTED BY OUR DELEGATION? WITH THIS, WE ARE AT OUR APRIL 9TH MEETING TODAY.
WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOME DIRECTION OR MOTION FROM THE BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TAX RATES.
THIS YEAR, THE STATE HAS DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSTANT YIELD.
IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR WE HAD TO GO THROUGH WITH A CONSTANT YIELD PUBLIC HEARING, WE HAD TO DO A FULL AD IN THE PAPER.
FORTUNATELY, THE LAW NOW REQUIRES NO AD IF YOU ARE HOLDING YOUR TAX RATE THE SAME.
AT THIS POINT, HAVE NOT HAD ANY CONVERSATION OR ANY INDICATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE ANY OF THE PROPERTY TAXES.
BUT IF THERE WAS ANY CONVERSATION OF THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO NOTIFY TODAY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ADS.
THIS DOES INCLUDE THE DIFFERENTIAL FOR THE TOWNS THAT DO RECEIVE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THE RATE THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY RECEIVING.
IF WE WANTED TO HOLD THEM HARMLESS AT THE SAME RATE AS LAST YEAR, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH WITH THE FULL CONSTANT YIELD AD OR WHAT THEY'RE REQUIRING US TO DO THIS YEAR.
ARE THERE ANY GUIDANCE QUESTIONS?
>> IF WE COULD JUMP BACK TO THE 40,000 JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION.
THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR, THE LOCAL SHARE IS THAT'S IN THIS NEW NUMBER ON THESE SHEETS, THE 16TH MAY AND,522.
THAT'S GOT TO BE A SUPPLEMENT.
THAT WILL HAVE WE'RE STILL FIGURING OUT WHERE TO PUT FIGURING OUT WHERE TO PUT THAT.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT MIX UP WITH THE NOTICES, MAKING SURE THAT BILL IS GONE THROUGH, THEY'LL BE A $10,000 ADJUSTMENT THERE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO NARROW DOWN, 40,000 BEFORE WE FINALIZE THAT, BUT OUR INTENT IS AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE GUIDANCE OR ANY DOCUMENTATION THAT EACH THING HAS BEEN PASSED OR HOW TO IMPLEMENT THAT, WE'LL SHARE THE ZERO OUT VERSION WITH THE BOARD?
>> YES. DISCUSSION ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATES?
>> WELL, ON THE DIFFERENTIAL RATE, I WOULD SAY THAT THE LOGICAL QUESTION WOULD BE ORIGINALLY YES.
>> NOW, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TOWN IS ENGAGED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE A DISCUSSION OF CONTINUING A CONTRACT AT SERVICE AT THE HOURS THAT THEY WERE PROVIDING THE CURRENT SITUATION AT ORIGINALLY, WHICH WAS 140 HOURS A WEEK.
[01:35:03]
MY UNDERSTANDING AND OPINION WOULD BE THEY WOULD BE TREATED JUST THE TOWN OF PRESTON WHO WAS CONTRACTING THE POLICE SERVICE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.IF THAT HOLDS TRUE, I THINK THEY, BY FORMULA, WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL.
THE TOUGH PART FOR THE BOARD AND OURSELVES IS HONESTLY, UNTIL A CONTRACT IS ACTUALLY SIGNED AND ENDORSED, THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BACK OUT OF THAT.
THERE'S NOTHING CERTAIN BUT THAT IS THE INDICATION WE ARE RECEIVING NOW IS THAT THEY WILL THEY ARE LOOKING TO CONTRACT THAT ALL OUT JUST FOR NUMBERS OF RIDGELY'S.
DIFFERENTIAL IS ABOUT A $66,000 REDUCTION IN PROPERTY TAXES, SO THAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER, IF THE BOARD CHOSE NOT TO DO A DIFFERENTIAL, WE WOULD RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
>> YEAH. I THINK I GAVE YOU GUYS MY LAST SHEET.
>> GREENS-BURGS ASSESSMENTS JUMPED 7.2%.
>> THAT IS THE INCREASE IN BASE AS ACCESSIBLE BASE OF WHAT WE CAN TEST, YES.
>> EITHER IMPROVEMENTS OR INCREASE IN.
>> YEAH, IT'S INCREASE IN ASSESSMENT, NEW GROWTH.
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE LARGEST ONE THAT WE THAT YOU SEE IN THAT LIST AND THAT FORMAT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOW, COMMISSIONER B, WAS THE CONSTANT YIELD AD THAT WE HAD TO DO PRIOR.
>> DON'T HAVE TO IF WE EVER CHANGE THIS YEAR.
>> WHEN DO WE HAVE TO TO ADVERTISE OR TO MAKE A DECISION ON ORIGINALLY?
>> IF WE WERE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE NUMBER THAT IS ON THAT SHEET, WE WOULD HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT IN A FULL CONSTANT YIELD AD, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO RUN THIS WEEKEND TO TIME OUT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> WE PROBABLY BETTER OFF LEAVE IT ALONE TO WHAT'S THAT THERE.
>> THAT'S WELL, ASSUMING THAT THEY CONTRACT FOR THE POLICE COVERAGE, THEY WOULD BE FULLY ENTITLED TO THE NUMBER THAT IS ON THE PAPER THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S THE THE HARD QUESTION.
>> WAIT A MINUTE. I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE THIS IS SHOWING A LET ME SEE THAT. $0.93.
>> THEY WOULD THEY WOULD CONTRACT FOR MORE COVERAGE THAN THE TOWN OF PRESTON.
I THINK PRESTON ONLY HAS LIKE 35, 30 HOURS A WEEK.
>> THEY THEY WOULD CONTRACT THAT HYPOTHETICALLY, 140 HOURS A WEEK, WHICH IS WHAT THEY WERE CLAIMING IN PRIOR YEARS THEY WERE PROVIDING.
>> IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS DIFFERENT [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL. YEAH.
>> BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COVERING THEM, THEY WOULD STILL BE ENTITLED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL?
>> CORRECT? BECAUSE THEY ARE FULLY COMPENSATING US FOR THAT COVERAGE.
>> THAT IS AGAIN, [LAUGHTER] YOU PAY TO GET [OVERLAPPING] TO GET A DIFFERENCE.
>> IT'S THE FULL OPTION OF THE BOARD TO DECIDE THE DIFFERENTIAL IS AN OPTION TO THE COUNTY.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO OFFER IT.
THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT THAT WE USED WITH PRESTON AND OTHERS THAT HAVE CONTRACTED IT IS IF THEY ARE COMPENSATING US BACK FOR THAT.
>> I GUESS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I WAS UNDER THE MISTAKEN THOUGHT THAT IF THEY DID NOT HAVE THIS WAS ONLY FOR FOR MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAD THEIR OWN MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> I'M TRYING TO THINK WHEN PRESTON CHANGED,
[01:40:02]
WHEN THAT CONVERSATION WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD INITIALLY THEN, BUT I THINK THE THOUGHT IS [OVERLAPPING] PROBABLY BEFORE HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COUNTY?I CAN'T REMEMBER THE TOWN EVER HAVING A POLICE STATION DEPART.
>> WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THE ONE SENT.
>> HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN DOCTORS?
>> PROBABLY 12, 15 YEARS, EVEN THAT LONG TIME I'VE BEEN HERE 15.
I REMEMBER WHEN THEY HAD A POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO SOMEWHERE IN THAT PROBABLY 15 THEN.
>> WOW. I THINK THAT THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT THEY'RE COLLECTING TAX TO PAY FOR THE POLICE SERVICE THAT WE ARE OFFERING.
IN THEORY, INSTEAD OF THEM PAYING THE OFFICERS DIRECTLY, THEY'RE JUST PASSING IT THROUGH TO US, STILL COLLECTING THE TAX FROM THEIR RESIDENCE, AND THAT'S WHY AT THE TIME THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT THEY WERE STILL ENTITLED TO THE DIFFERENTIAL.
THAT IS COMPLETELY ON THE TABLE IN YOUR WELLING.
>> CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE STILL IRONING ALL THOSE ISSUES OUT IN RIDGELY.
I THINK WE KEEP IT I'M OKAY KEEPING IT THE SAME FOR A YEAR, SEE WHERE THEY END UP?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP THE CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE, AND THE SAME IF WE COULD REPHRASE THAT, TO THE PROPOSED RATES AND THE PROPOSED YIELD.
>> THE PROPOSED I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP THE PROPOSED TAX RATES THE SAME AS FY 23.
>> MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> YES HAVE THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.
THAT IS ALL THAT STACY AND I HAD WILL WORK ON UPDATING THE DOCUMENTS, GETTING THEM CIRCULATED OUT TO YOU GUYS.
>> YOU IT JUST OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD BECAUSE I HAD THIS ASK FOR ME.
>> DO YOU RECALL THE LAST TIME THE PROPERTY TAX WAS INCREASED?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.
VICE PRESIDENT PORTER AND JENNIFER LIVELY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, WITH A 2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE.
>. SESSION IS OVER THANKFULLY.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST ONE TO REPORT OUT ON IS THE SLUDGE BILL, DAFT BILL, PASSED BOTH HOUSES, AND THE AMENDED VERSION IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAITING TO BE SIGNED.
I PRINTED IT OUT AND FORGOT IT, BUT IT'S THERE.
I THINK IT'S SURVIVED THE AMENDMENTS AND I THINK IN READING THROUGH IT, IT STILL IT GIVES THE COUNTY I THINK ADEQUATE PROTECTION ALONG WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET.
I THINK THE NEXT TASK WE HAVE NOW IS TO START OUR TEXT AMENDMENT WORK TO FOR STORAGE.
I THINK WE HAVE TILL NOVEMBER, BUT NOVEMBER WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THE SOLAR BILLS THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, I THINK WE PROBABLY SCRAPED BY ON THOSE WERE I THINK.
MARK DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON ELIMINATING SOME OF THOSE THE CAPS ON THE ON THE PILOT PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE SALES TAX ON SERVICES DID NOT SURVIVE, BUT IT WILL BE BACK.
OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK IT WAS PRETTY SUCCESSFUL.
WORKING WITH LOBBYIST I THINK WAS HELPFUL AND I THINK THEY DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON REPRESENTING US AND GETTING SOME THINGS.
GET A GUY OUR POSITIONS OUT THERE FOR DELEGATES.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR GOING OVER.
WE MADE A COUPLE OF TRIPS OVER TO TESTIFY FOR WHATEVER GOOD IT DID.
BUT I THINK THE SLUDGE BILL WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE, I THINK, OF HOW THESE ISSUES COME UP WHERE THEY COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, BUT NOW WE HAVE.
[01:45:01]
I THINK IT'S A BILL THAT WILL HOPEFULLY GIVE US SOME MORE CONTROL WHERE THE MATERIAL IS STORED, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.IT DOES ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION AND IT DOES ADDRESS APPLICATION THROUGH THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN WHICH WE WEREN'T INVOLVED OR WE WERE INTERESTED IN THAT ANYWAY.
[2024 State Legislative Session Update]
>> THANK YOU, LARRY. CAN WE GET MORE T-TIME IN NOW?
>> WELL, I'LL WORK ON AN END OF SESSION REPORT AS WELL THAT I'LL GET BACK TO PROBABLY NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I'M STILL WAITING FOR STUFF TO TRIPLE IN, BUT WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT THE DATE THAT THE GOVERNOR CAN VETO IS AT THE END OF MAY.
>> I THINK SO. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HE'LL VETO THIS.
WE MAY GET ASKED TO COME TO THE BILL SIGNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW. WELL, WE CAN SAY PUBLICLY THAT IT HAS BEEN SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.
[Consent Agenda:]
>> GOOD. ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> YEAH, I DO. WHY DO WE NEED TWO THERMAL IMAGING EQUIPMENT, ONE FOR ORIGINALLY? WHY DO WE NEED TWO? EACH TOWN GETS ONE.
THERMA IMAGING EQUIPMENT FOR TERRORISM.
THERE'S ONE FOR RIDGELY, IT'S A GREEN.
ONE FOR RIDGELY, AND ONE FOR GREENSBURG.
>> THAT'S THE LEFT GRANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
IT'S THROUGH HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS WORK THROUGH DES TO PROCURE AND GET REIMBURSED FOR A COUPLE OF ITEMS EACH YEAR.
YOU HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE EQUIPMENT OR WHAT'S DECIDED OF WHAT'S PROCURED FOR EACH GRANT?
>> I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S A WASTE OF TAXPAYER GRANT MONEY, JUST MY OPINION.
>> I THINK WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME DEEPER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
>> JUST BECAUSE IT'S A GRANT ON, WE'VE GOT TO APPLY FOR ME IN EACH TOWN GETS ONE.
>> I SAID THIS IS GOOD CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH DES HERE RECENTLY IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
EACH YEAR THE COUNTY APPLIES AND RECEIVES HOMELAND SECURITY MONEY AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BUCKETS, ONE BEING WHAT THEY CALL THIS LET MONEY, WHICH HAS TO GO FOR POLICE PROTECTION.
IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN, I'M GOING TO SAY THE DIRECTION OF DES OR GIVEN THE DES TO OFFER THIS FUNDING AND SHARES TO EACH OF THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS INTERNALLY ABOUT WHETHER THAT SHOULD BE RETAINED AND HELD IN HOUSE.
WE DO ALL THE REPORTING PASSED THROUGH.
OBVIOUSLY, THE BILLING THAT YOU'RE SEEING NOW.
IN THEORY, THIS MONEY IN THE FUTURE COULD BE WITHHELD AND USED FOR OUR LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE FULLY OR DES FOR THAT SAKE.
I KNOW THIS ONE HAPPENED IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THEY'RE DOING THE BILLING NOW.
BUT THIS IS A CONVERSATION AND A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO I THINK BOTH KATHLEEN AND I.
>> THEY'VE ALREADY BOUGHT THIS ONE.
>> THIS IS TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR A PURCHASE THEY ALREADY MADE MONTHS AGO.
>> WHY THEY NEEDED TWO, ONE FOR EACH TOWN.
>> I DON'T EITHER UNFORTUNATELY.
>> THAT IS THIS HOW WE END UP WITH TRAILERS THAT WE DON'T NEED.
>> I THINK AGAIN, WE COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT MOVING FORWARD FOR FY 25 AND ON ABOUT WHETHER WE WANTED TO RETAIN.
>> I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
>> TYPICALLY THIS GETS SIGNED AND APPROVED DES.
THE AGREEMENTS FOR THE HOMES, SECURIOUS OF ALL COME TO THE BOARD.
BUT THIS WOULD HAVE CAME FORWARD PROBABLY IN MAY OR JUNE OF LAST YEAR TO PREPARE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SOMETHING THAT I SAY, IT WAS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 10 MONTHS AGO THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON A CONSENT AGENDA FOR GRANT APPROVAL.
>> BUT THIS IS IN ORIGINALLY TOWN OF GREENSBURG.
THIS IS JUST MINIMAL STUFF BUT I'M JUST SAYING THOUGH,
[01:50:02]
YOU'RE FOUR MILES APART FROM ONE TOWN TO THE OTHER AND EACH ONE GETS A PAIR OF THERMA GOGGLES THAT COST $6,000.>> I THINK TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS A GREAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THESE FUNDS GET USED GOING FORWARD AND HOW WE ALLOCATE THEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, TO WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT WAS AGREED UPON.
>> ON SOMETHING ELSE YOU SAID?
>> YES. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED SOLELY TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR DECISION MAKING ON HOW THAT WAS FUN.
>> WELL, TYPICALLY IT'S BEEN SPLIT.
THIS HAS BEEN MUNICIPALITIES EVENLY ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT?
>> YES, SIR. THEY EACH GET ABOUT FIVE, SIX GRAND EACH YEAR.
>> NOW YOU GOT ORIGINALLY A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S NOT EVEN OVER THERE WORKING.
THEY GOT A $6,000 GOGGLE SITTING THERE. IT'S JUST SITTING THERE.
>> WELL, OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAN USE THEM. I HEAR YOU.
>> I DON'T DISAGREE ONE BIT. NEXT.
>> THIS WHAT IRRITATE ME, JUST A LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS $6,000 HER,.
THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. THE LITTLE THINGS ADD UP TO THE BIG THING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THE BIGGER THINGS WE SEE BUT THE LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT IN A CORNER AND THAT'S HUGE.
WE ARE GOING TO END UP A SURPLUS EQUIPMENT.
>> QUESTION ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS.
>> WELL, DO WE WANT TO DISCUSS HOW WE HANDLE IT NEXT YEAR? HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE THE GRANT WILL BE COMING IN?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUY OR WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR.
>> BUT THEY'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THAT WHEN IT COMES IN.
>> WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ALL OF THAT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A FORMAL DISCUSSION WITH PRESENTATIONS LAST YEAR ABOUT, HEY, THEY WANT TO BUY THIS, THEY WANT TO BUY.
IT WAS JUST ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT SETTING UP A BOARD, HAVING MAYBE THE SHERIFF, DES, AND ONE OTHER PERSON SIT ON THE BOARD AND VET THE APPLICATIONS TO SEE WHAT WE WANTED TO FUND AND NOT FUND.
>> I THINK A GOOD WAY TO HANDLE IS CATHERINE AND I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH DES, GET TIMING LAID OUT, AND THEN WE CAN BRING EITHER MARK, THIS WOULD BE ALSO DOUG'S PURVIEW, SIT DOWN AND WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO DO THIS GOING FORWARD.
>> MAYBE WE JUST ENTERTAIN REQUESTS FROM ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND THEN WE DETERMINE WHICH ONE WE WANT TO FUND AS OPPOSED TO HAVING $6,000.
IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE DOLLAR STORE WITH $2.
>> LET'S FIND SOMETHING WORTH SIX GRAND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE GOT.
WE DON'T REALLY NEED IT, BUT WE GOT SIX GRAND.
>> MOST NORMAL PEOPLE GO WITH $2.
THE GOVERNMENT GOES WITH 6,000, 5,000 FOR THAT.
LIKE THE MILITARY, MR. BAKER, $10,000 FOR A TOLLING.
>> I'LL MAKE A NOTE AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH TPS AND GET A TIMELINE TOGETHER.
>> THANKS, DANNY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> INDEED. I KNOW HIS FACEBOOK OFFICIAL.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO WELCOME MR. ROBIN EATON AS OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
HE STARTED YESTERDAY. WE SPENT ALL DAY TOGETHER YESTERDAY WITH DANNY, MYSELF, AND ROBIN TALKING ABOUT SOME DPW ISSUES.
WE VISITED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS STAFF FOR BREAKFAST MEETING, ALSO MET WITH RECREATION AND PARKS AND PLANNING AND CODES JUST TO START THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO MOST INTENSIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DPW AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR WAY AROUND AND GET YOU INTRODUCED TO EVERYBODY.
I KNOW TODAY WE PLAN TO GO LOOK AT SOME ROAD SITES AFTER THIS MEETING, SO OUR TOUR WILL CONTINUE. LET'S SEE.
I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR EMPLOYEES ADVISORY BOARD.
MOST RECENT MEETING WAS I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, AND GETTING THEM REINVIGORATED AND REFOCUSED AND WORKING ON SOME ISSUES THAT I
[01:55:06]
THINK WILL BE MORE EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE FOR COUNTY INSTEAD OF NOT KNOWING WHAT THEIR ROLE IS.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE AGREED TO PICK UP, I'VE TALKED WITH THIS BOARD ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, AND YOU'RE AWARE THE EMPLOYEE SURVEY WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THE EMPLOYEE ADVISORY BOARD IS NOW GOING TO BE TASKED WITH DOING THAT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WHICH I THINK WILL BE GOOD.
IT GETS IT OUT OF ADMINISTRATION'S HANDS AND INTO THE EMPLOYEE'S HANDS.
SO THERE'S NO LINGERING WORRIES THAT IT'S BEING SKEWED SOMEHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE MADE A LOT OF GOOD CHANGES I THINK OUT OF THE LAST SURVEY.
HOPEFULLY, OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR WORKFORCE WILL SEE SOME VALUE IN THAT.
THEY'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND STARTING WORK ON THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME PENDING PERSONNEL RULES AND REG CHANGES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR GRIEVANCE PROCESS, OUR HARASSMENT COMPLAINT PROCESSES TO TRY TO CLEAN SOME THINGS UP AND MAKE THEM MORE EFFICIENT.
SHERRY, MYSELF, THE EAB, ARE WORKING ON THOSE.
THEN I WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE DAYSPRING APARTMENTS ISSUE.
ON MARCH 25TH, WE DID HEAR FROM THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY ABOUT SETTING UP A MEETING, AND WE HAVE REPLIED TO ASK THEM TO SUGGEST SOME DATES.
I HADN'T HEARD BACK FROM THEM.
BUT I DID EMAIL THEM THIS MORNING WHETHER THAT CONVERSATION WAS TAKING PLACE.
SHE HAS REPLIED WITH SOME DATES NEXT WEEK.
I'LL BE OUT OF TOWN, BUT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT DANNY AND WHOEVER WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE MEETINGS GO AHEAD, AND I THINK IT WILL BE COMMISSIONER PORTER, GET THAT BALL ROLLING NEXT WEEK.
I'M SURE THEY'LL BE MORE THAN ONE MEETING.
BUT IF YOU COULD, I GUESS, BOTH OF YOU REPLY ABOUT YOUR AVAILABILITY.
I THINK THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF DAYSPRING APARTMENTS FOR SURE, INCLUDING SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, THE TRASH.
>> WELL, IF WE CAN HANDLE THE TRASH PRETTY QUICKLY, LET'S TRY TO DO THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS IF WE CAN.
>> THEN THE INTERNAL REPAIRS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND LOOK AT.
THE OTHER ISSUE I WANTED TO BRING UP, A GENTLEMAN BROUGHT UP THE STORM WATER ISSUES AND I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BRING IT UP AS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT LESLIE GRUNDEN IN PLANNING CODES HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT COMMUNITY AND FUNDING THROUGH THE CENTER FOR WATERSHED PROTECTION AND OUR PRO BONO ENGINEERED THAT WE HAVE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IN OUR PARTNERSHIP ON ADDRESSING THE STORM WATER ISSUES.
THEY HAVE A MEETING TENTATIVELY PLANNED ALREADY PRIOR TO THIS MORNING TO GO OUT THERE.
LESLIE WILL BE WITH ME NEXT WEEK, SO THE WEEK AFTER THAT.
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT TURN SLOW SOMETIMES.
>> WE REACH OUT TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT CINDY, I KNOW AT LEAST MISS PITTS,.
>> LESLIE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HER.
SHE IS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH LESLIE.
THE SOLUTION WILL BE A GROUP EFFORT.
IT WILL LOOK SOMETHING LIKE A LOT OF THE REALLY GREAT WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN JONESTOWN, AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES I BELIEVE FOR THAT PROJECT, IT WILL BE I HOPE REALLY GOOD.
OTHER THAN THAT, I WILL BE OUT NEXT WEEK SO DANIEL WILL BE SITTING UP HERE FOR ME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. COUNTY COMMISSIONER URBAN DISCUSSION PERIOD. COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> THE ONLY THING I HAD WAS A FOLLOW-UP WITH DANIEL ON THE HUMANE SOCIETY.
REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT THAT?
>> THEN I KNOW I TALKED TO YOU THE OTHER DAY ABOUT THE GRAVEL AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LATEST ON THAT?
>> WE'LL TALK ON THE SHED REAL QUICK FIRST.
THEY'VE HAD I BELIEVE, THREE SEPARATE CONTRACTORS LOOK AT IT.
I BELIEVE KEVIN HAD SENT THOSE UP FOR APPROVAL.
I THINK I SIGNED THEM END OF LAST WEEK, AND HE SHOULD BE BACK IN THE OFFICE TODAY.
I KNOW HE WAS OUT, SO THAT SHOULD BE MOVING FORWARD AS FAR AS THE GRAVEL GOES.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER BREEDING HAD MET BRIAN NORTH OUT THERE AND THEY WERE DISCUSSING APPLICATION OF A CERTAIN STONE ON THE PARKING LOT, AND IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM BRIAN THAT THEY WERE LOOKING TO DO THAT THIS WEEK.
I CAN FOLLOW-UP IF WE WANT MORE OF A DAY OR TIME, BUT THIS SHOULD BE DONE ANY DAY.
>> JANE IS NOT HERE. THEY WERE MOWING NORTH COUNTY PARK.
[02:00:01]
THEY WERE MOWING IT. IS THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO THEIR SELVES REC AND PARK.>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT CONTRACT IS ABOUT IT'S COLD COUNTY QUESTION.
>> I KNOW WE JUST FINISHED THE BID AND THEY PUT A LOT OF ITEMS LIKE THAT AS ALTERNATES THAT YOU COULD BID ON, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THOSE CAME IN PRETTY HIGH.
THEY WERE CHOOSING TO DO THAT THEMSELVES THROUGH PART-TIME WORK. JAMIE IS PROBABLY LISTENING,.
>> IT WASN'T DPW DOING IT, IT WAS PARKING RECORD.
>> YES. IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ONE OF OUR PARKS WORKERS THAT WOULD BE DOING IF IT WAS IN-HOUSE.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY LAST WEEK.
I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO. SORRY, TRAVIS.
>> YOU'VE BEEN AROUND. YOU DID THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY THING.
>> THAT WAS A COUPLE OF DISCUSSION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU RUN THE PAPER.
>> I'M DOING A REALLY QUICK LOOK AT MY SCHEDULE AND AS FAR AS THE EAST COAST, THE ONLY DAY I HAVE WOULD BE MONDAY AFTERNOON, THE 15TH.
I'LL JUST TOUCH ON THAT FOR A MINUTE.
THE DIFFICULT THING IS GOING TO BE, IT ALL COMES DOWN OBVIOUSLY TO MANAGEMENT.
MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND I'M TELLING YOU, JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND MANAGERS AND MAINTENANCE PEOPLE.
I HAVE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME OVER IN THAT AREA OF RIDGELY MEETING WITH A GENTLEMAN NAMED MR. PERKINS, RANDY PERKINS.
WE DID GO OVER AND DO SOME DITCHING, BUT UNTIL WE ADDRESS SOME TYPE OF A PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE MUCH PROGRESS THERE.
I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I'VE WALKED AROUND THAT AREA AND I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THE PEOPLE WHEN THEY POINTED TO HOUSES.
I EVEN TOOK SOME PICTURES I THINK, AND SENT TO YOU.
WHEN YOU HAVE HOUSES THAT ARE JUST ABANDONED, THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPEN AND FURNITURE SPILLING OUT, IT'S A SHAME.
BUT THE MECHANISMS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS ARE NOT IN PLACE, UNFORTUNATELY.
WE DID SOME DITCHING, WE RESURFACED A ROAD OVER THERE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, BUT THE DAYSPRING SITUATION IS ONE THAT, I CAN TELL YOU, IS BEING FACED BY A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES, NOT ONLY IN THIS COUNTY BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHERE YOU HAVE TO STAY ON IT, YOU HAVE TO STAY INVOLVED, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MIX OF TYPES OF SUBSIDIES ARE IN THAT PROPERTY.
THE COUNTY SPENT SOME MONEY THERE WITH A NEW PLAYGROUND AND REDID THE RECREATION AREA, BUT IT'S JUST SIMPLY MANAGEMENT, THAT'S ALL.
WE'LL HAVE THIS DIFFICULT CONVERSATION, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT I THINK THE ANSWER'S GOING TO BE.
IT'S GOING TO BE, WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO FIND PEOPLE TO GO THERE AND TO HANDLE THIS BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, BELIEVE ME.
I'LL DO MY BEST BUT THAT'S THE ANSWER WE'RE GOING TO GET.
THE OTHER PART TO THAT IS OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY TO AN ENTITY AND THAT IS ANOTHER LONG-STANDING START AND STOP THING THAT WE SEEM TO GET TO A CERTAIN POINT AND THEN IT FALLS APART, SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO REALLY DEDICATE OURSELVES TO REALLY JUST RESEARCHING THIS,
[02:05:05]
FINDING OUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND GO FROM THERE BECAUSE THE OWNERSHIP RELATES TO THE MANAGEMENT.>> IS THERE AN ENTERPRISE FUND FOR THAT, DANNY?
>> IT'S NOT CONSIDERED AN ENTERPRISE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THEY HAVE A RESERVE ACCOUNT, BUT WE ARE FINANCIALLY HANDS-OFF FROM IT, SO I DON'T HOLD ANY FUNDING THAT'S STRICTLY HELD BY THE CONTRACTED FIRM.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE SITUATIONS IS MOST OF THE TIME, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE MORTGAGE GOES INTO A RESERVE ACCOUNT, RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT.
I THINK IT USED TO BE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THAT BEFORE THEY DID ANYTHING, IF THEY REPLACED A REFRIGERATOR, THEY HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM US FROM HERE AND THAT WAS NOT WORKING.
BUT IT'S A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAD MENTIONED TO ME LAST NIGHT, DO YOU KNOW IN YOUR TRAVELS, THAT WE HAD A MOWER STUCK SOMEWHERE ON RIVER ROAD.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUT WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE APPARENTLY, IT GOT STUCK AND DID ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE ALONG THERE SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU.
BUT MONDAY IN THE AFTERNOON IS THE ONLY TIME I'VE GOT.
>> I'M FREE AS WELL, SO I'LL RESPOND BACK.
>> IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ME IF WE MET HERE.
>> AND IF WE WANTED TO TAKE A RIDE IN THERE, DO THAT, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.
THAT'S ALL. I ATTENDED THE EAGLE SCOUTS CEREMONY ON SATURDAY AS USUAL.
WALT DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THOSE YOUNG MEN.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY WE'VE HAD, BUT MY GUESS IS WE'VE HAD MORE EAGLE SCOUTS COME OUT OF THIS COUNTY THAN ANYWHERE ELSE AND HE'S GOT A LOT MORE COMING.
THERE'S A LOT MORE OF THESE YOUNG MEN WORKING ON THEIR PROJECTS TO GET THEIR BADGES, BUT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE COMPLIMENT TO HIM AND THE WORK THAT'S DONE WITH THESE YOUNG MEN.
>> GOOD. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS CLOSING? DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN?[Meeting Adjourned]
>> MOTION SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. [LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.