[00:02:13] >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE JULY 23RD 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T SEE REVEREND HINES HERE THIS MORNING FOR OUR INVOCATIONS. [Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. D. L. Hines, Eternal Life Ministries of Denton, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Reivew.] WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ON TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> DURING THE JULY 9TH 2024, [President’s Report Out] CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 2014 MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE 3-305(B), SECTION 1. THE ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONERS BARTZ AND PORTER, KATHELEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, STATE'S ATTORNEY SLOANE FRANKLIN, AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JENNIFER REIBLEY. WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? NONE BEING SEEN, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, [Public Comment] WHICH IS MR. BRUCE BEREANO AND MR. STEVE WISE, [Discussion of Upcoming Legislative Initiatives] CAROLINE COUNTY LOBBYISTS, WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES. GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU FOR RIDING OVER TO THE SHORE THIS MORNING. >> IT WAS A PLEASURE. >> I THINK WE HAVE ALL AGREED ON A FEW OR WELL, ONE PARTICULAR ITEM I KNOW OF, WHICH IS A REQUEST TO CHANGE STATE LEGISLATION REGARDING THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK THAT THE ACQUISITION FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED BY THE STATE FOR PROPERTY PURCHASE FOR PARKS BE FREED UP AND ALLOW COUNTIES, PARTICULARLY US, TO USE THAT ACQUISITION MONEY FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, IMPROVEMENT TO EXISTING PROPERTIES THAT WE ALREADY OWN. WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT OUR STATE ALLOCATION IS REDUCED OR LESS THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY IN THE COUNTY [00:05:04] THAT WE ALREADY OWN THROUGH PROGRAM OPEN SPACE AND BY OTHER MEANS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT MONEY FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDING, BALL FIELDS, PLAYGROUNDS, OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THAT FUNDS. I DID REACH OUT TO DYLAN BYLER IN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, LEFT HIM A MESSAGE. HE DID TRY TO CALL ME BACK, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL NECESSARY FOR ME TO IF YOU FEEL IT'S NECESSARY. >> STEVEN, I KNOW HIM VERY WELL. >> WE USED TO BE WITH SENATOR ELFRITH. >> YEAH. >> HE'S NOW THE LOBBYIST THERE. HE'S A VERY FINE YOUNG MAN, AND WE CAN TALK TO HIM. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF WE HAD THE SUPPORT OR AT LEAST NEUTRALITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN THIS LEGISLATION, BUT WE CAN REPORT BACK TO YOU AND AFTER WE TALK TO HIM. IT MAKES SENSE, IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE THIS MONEY, YOU DON'T WANT TO PURCHASE MORE LAND, YOU JUST WANT TO IMPROVE THE LAND YOU HAVE. >> WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY THAT IS UNIMPROVED. WE DON'T REALLY WANT TO TAKE MORE PROPERTY OFF THE TAX ROLLS AND HAVE MORE PROPERTY TO MAINTAIN OR ALLOW TO GROW FALLOW WHEN THERE'S MONEY SITTING THERE FOR ACQUISITION, WE COULD USE FOR IMPROVEMENT. >> BUT COMMISSIONER, DO YOU KNOW OR MAYBE COMMISSIONER PORTER MIGHT IF THAT HAS BEEN BROACHED WITH THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES. >> YEAH. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT? >> YEAH. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AS ONE OF THE POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES, AND WE HAD A LIST OF ABOUT 40 AT OUR LAST MACO MEETING AND IT IS STILL ON THE LIST. IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF 20 THAT ARE LEFT, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE POPULAR. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS SOME SUPPORT. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, COMMISSIONER WILSON FROM QUEEN ANNE COUNTY WAS ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF KEEPING THAT ON THE LIST AS WELL. IT IS A POTENTIAL LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE WHEN THE LIST GETS NARROWED DOWN TO FOUR. >> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US. IF IT HYPOTHETICALLY WENT IN AS A LOCAL BILL TO KNOW IN ADVANCE, SO OTHER COUNTY IS GOING TO TRY AND GET ON OR, JUST SO WE KNOW THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT AS STEVE SAID, IF THAT HAD MACO'S SUPPORT, THAT WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL. >> I'M SORRY. NO, GO. >> MS. BEECHEY R, DIRECTOR OF RECREATIONAL PARK, SHE HAD SOMETHING TO ADD TO THIS TO MAKE IT MORE BROAD. >> I THINK FIRST OF ALL, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, WE'RE SITTING ON A LITTLE OVER $450,000 OF ACQUISITION FUNDS CURRENTLY, BUT THERE ARE OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT WOULD LIKE THE LATITUDE IN REVERSE. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CAN'T ACQUIRE ENOUGH LAND. UNLIKE CAROLINE COUNTY, THEY MAY BE A LITTLE MORE LAND POOR, UNLIKE US, AND SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY WITHIN OUR ANNUAL PLAN, I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS FROM SOME OF MY PEERS ARE THE FACT THAT WE OPEN THIS UP AND IT BECOMES A POCKET OF CASH FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. BUT AS LONG AS IT WOULD STAY WITHIN YOUR ANNUAL PLAN, AND EACH JURISDICTION WOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT EITHER IN PROCURING NEW LAND AND OR DEVELOPMENT, AS LONG AS IT WAS IN THAT ANNUAL PLAN, I THINK WOULD BE A LOT MORE PALATABLE TO MY PEERS ALTOGETHER. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, WE CAN ASK YOU MORE QUESTIONS OFFLINE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SEPARATE POT NOW FOR IMPROVEMENTS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOU UP FOR THAT. WE CAN DIG INTO IT A LITTLE BIT AND IF COMMISSIONER PORTER CAN LET US KNOW ONCE MACO MAKES A DECISION, THAT MIGHT INFLUENCE WHAT THE BILL LOOKS LIKE. >> I THINK WHETHER OR NOT IT MAKES THE FINAL FOUR, COMMISSIONER PORTER, THEY TRIED TO CUT IT DOWN TO FOUR INITIATIVES, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> IT MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE THE FINAL FOUR, BUT I THINK FROM WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER'S TOLD ME THAT THERE'S CONSENSUS THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT MOST COUNTIES AGREE WITH, IF NOT ALL. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, WILL IT RISE TO THAT FINAL FOUR CUT? >> EVEN IF IT DOESN'T, WE CAN WORK WITH SOME OF THE OTHER COUNTIES TO PUT IT IN ANYWAY, AND MAYBE MACO JUST WRITES A LETTER OF SUPPORT. [00:10:01] >> IF IT DOESN'T MAKE IT. >> BUT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SORRY. >> IF WE WANTED IT TO BE A LOCAL BILL, THAT'S FINE. AGAIN, I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER COUNTIES WANT TO DO, BUT I AGREE. COMMISSIONER, PRESIDENT BREDAN IS CORRECT. WE SHOULDN'T KEEP STOCKPILING LAND WHILE WE'VE GOT PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO FINISH AND COMPLETE. BUT IF IT NEEDS TO BE A LOCAL BILL, THAT'S FINE. I THINK THERE WILL BE SUPPORT FROM MACO FOR IT. >> WHO WOULD WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS? WOULD DNR WRITE IT? >> I WANTED TO ASK YOU, PORTER. STEVE AND I CAN WRITE IT. IF WE GET FAVORABLE RESPONSES FROM DNR, WE WOULD WORK WITH DYLAN. THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. BUT IT'D ALSO BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE THE INPUT OF YOUR LOCAL FOLKS SO THAT THE LANGUAGE IS CORRECT. I'M NOT TRYING TO GET BUREAUCRATIC, BUT MAYBE TO ALLAY SOME FEARS OR CONCERNS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STEPS IN THE MECHANISM IS TODAY, BUT MAYBE BEFORE THE MONEY WAS USED FOR THE OTHER PURPOSES, YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY DNR OR AT LEAST NOT TO GET BUREAUCRATIC OR HOLD IT UP. >> I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO WANT CHECKS. >> THERE'S A CHECK AND BALANCE BUT NOT A HOLD UP SO THAT YOU THEN CAN GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. BUT WE CAN DRAFT THAT UP WORKING WITH THE INTERESTED PARTIES. >> THERE WAS SOME QUESTION EARLY ON IF IT NEEDED A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE, BUT I DON'T KNOW DID WE GET RESOLUTION TO THAT? DOES IT? >> DOMINIC HAS REACHED OUT AS WELL. I'M LOOKING FOR SMALL DIMENSION. BUT IT DOES GET PASSED BY LEGISLATION ANNUALLY. ONE WOULD MAKE THAT PRESUMPTION. >> MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FOR ACQUISITION. >> THERE'S OTHER 100% PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDS. IF YOU'VE MET YOUR YOUR PER CAPITA OF ACRES PER RESIDENT, YOU GET 75% FOR DEVELOPMENT, 25% FOR PLANNING AND ACQUISITION. IF YOU HAVE NOT MET THAT THRESHOLD, IT'S 50-50. BUT OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE IT'S A REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX, DNR IS VERY HEAVY HANDED WITH WANTING YOU TO ACQUIRE MORE PROPERTY. EARLY AND OFTEN, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SIGNATURE. >> I WONDER WHY. >> EXACTLY. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A SIGNATURE AND EVERY EMAIL THAT WE GET FROM OUR REP IS, WHEN ARE YOU BUYING? NOT TODAY? IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU USED CAR SALESMAN APPROACH TO IT, BUT UNDERSTANDABLY, BECAUSE IT IS REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAX THAT FUNDS THIS. >> WE'LL HAVE A LEGISLATIVE MEETING WITH OUR DELEGATION SOON. I THINK WE COULD CERTAINLY ASK ONE OF THEM TO SPONSOR THIS AS WELL, >> I WOULD THINK HERSCHEL AND GREIS WOULD BE, BUT IT COULD BE ALL OF DELEGATION GREIS FOR NON APPROPRIATION, VERY WELL RESPECTED SENATOR HERSCHEL AS WELL. >> I THINK THAT'S THE MAJOR ONE. FROM LAST YEAR, WE DID HAVE THE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM ISSUE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY UPDATE ON THAT? THANK YOU, JAMIE. >> I THINK THE NEXT STEP ON THAT WAS THE FIRE CODE ADOPTION, WHICH WE CAN CHECK INTO BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME WHEN THE FIRE MARSHAL TOLD US THAT THAT WOULD BE ADVANCED TO YOU. BUT WE CAN CHECK IT ON THAT. >> LARRY, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THAT ANY? THE BATTERY. >> YEAH. I AM COMPLETELY CONFUSED AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. I THINK IT'S JUST BEEN A RUN AROUND. HONESTLY, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND SEE, TRY TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE. BUT I DID HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION ABOUT AN INITIATIVE, AND I KNOW AS USUAL, IT'S GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL INITIATIVE UNDER WITH THE MACO LIST THAT DEALS WITH THE BLUEPRINT. I THINK THAT WE HAVE GOT TO AT SOME POINT ADDRESS THE BLUEPRINT. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR US. I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE FOR OTHER COUNTIES, BUT I DON'T SPEAK FOR THEM, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK WE CAN CONTINUE GOING AHEAD WITH THIS AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO [00:15:02] BE A HEAVY LIFT AND PROBABLY GOING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL FOR STEVE, YOU, AND BRUCE. BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST KEEP HIDING OUR HEADS IN SAND ON THIS THING. HOW HOW WE APPROACH IT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE A CONVERSATION. >> WELL, COMMISSIONER, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT LAST SESSION AND CONTINUALLY BALTIMORE CITY AND PRINCE GEORGE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS AS WELL, WHICH IS A NEW DYNAMIC. USUALLY IT'S BEEN THE RURAL OR THE SMALLER COUNTIES, BUT HERE YOU HAVE TWO MAJOR COUNTIES. I THINK THAT REALLY ADDS SOME FLAVOR AND REALLY RAISE IT TO A LARGER DEGREE IN THAT REGARD. [OVERLAPPING] >> I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK FOR MACO OR GO INTO IT, BUT IT DID REMAIN ON THE LIST WITH SOME MERGING, BUT I JUST THINK WE HAVE GOT TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE JUST CAN'T KEEP IGNORING. WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS JUST A BLUEPRINT, I ASSUME THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS MEETING THAT THEY DID GO AHEAD AND CUT THE INITIAL. >> YES, THEY DID. >> THEY CUT [INAUDIBLE] >> WE WERE 11 DAYS INTO THE BUDGET AND WE'RE CUTTING ALREADY, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE, SO WE HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT IT. >> RESPECTFULLY, I'M NOT GUARANTEEING, BUT I ANTICIPATE FROM JUST CONVERSATIONS THAT AFTER THE NEXT ESTIMATES COME OUT, THERE WELL MAY BE ADDITIONAL CUTS THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BRING TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS FROM THAT STANDPOINT. >> ARE THEY ACTUALLY CUTS OR IS IT REALLOCATION TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE BUDGET? >> THEY THEY'RE CUTS AT LEAST THAT FIRST ROUND. >> OKAY. >> THEY'RE NOT RE-ALLOCATIONS, THEY'RE NOT AT ALL. >> I THOUGHT I HAD READ THAT IT WAS SHIFTING THE FUNDS TO COVER HEALTH CARE COSTS OR SOMETHING. >> WELL, IN THAT SENSE, YOU'RE RIGHT. IN OTHER WORDS, THOSE COSTS HAVE MUSHROOMED SO MUCH THAT BY CUTTING IT, THE MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THOSE INCREASES AND WHAT HAVE YOU. OKAY. >> TO THAT EXTENT YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT SHIFTING IT TO ANOTHER PROGRAM, IT WAS SAID THAT PRIMARILY THE HEALTHCARE COSTS AND OTHER HUMAN EXPENSES OF JUST MUSHROOMED SO MUCH THAT THEY HAD TO DO IT. >> TO SHIFT. OKAY. >> JUST VERY QUICKLY, GOING BACK TO WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID, STEVEN, I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL. WHEN WE LAST SPOKE TO HIM, HE ASSURED US IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE PROPOSED REGS. WE'LL REPORT BACK TO YOU AND IF NOT THEN MAYBE FURTHER ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN ON OUR PART. >> I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A MORATORIUM ON BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, IS IT THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR? I BELIEVE DECEMBER. >> I BELIEVE SO. >> OKAY. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT SO WE CAN FINALLY PUT THAT MORATORIUM TO BED. >> RESPECTFULLY, HE ASSURED US, BUT WE'LL CLARIFY THAT. >> WELL, WITH BRUCE, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, HE ASSURED US THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE NFP REGULATIONS WERE GOING TO BE REVISED, TOO, AND THEY THEY DIDN'T DO IT. >> I'M ON YOUR SIDE. >> THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS, THERE WAS A VERY INTERESTING PRESENTATION DONE BY MICHAEL SANDERSON AND DOMINIC WICHO TO THE WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE SOLAR ENERGY OR RENEWABLE ENERGY INITIATIVES THAT THEY PROJECT WILL COME THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR. I THINK IT WAS THE WAY THEY DESCRIBED IT, LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST OF LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, IT WAS JUST HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE, AND NO ONE REALLY COALESCED BEHIND ONE PARTICULAR BILL. THEIR PERCEPTION IS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL GET A CONSENSUS AND JOIN FORCES ON A FEW PARTICULAR PIECES OF LEGISLATION, POTENTIALLY THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I UNDERSTAND THE TIDE IS MOVING TO RENEWABLE S IN GREEN ENERGY. I THINK A MAJOR LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE, AND I KNOW STEVE AND I SPOKE A LOT ABOUT IT LAST SESSION WAS KEEPING OUR ABILITY TO TAX [00:20:01] THE POWER ENERGY EQUIPMENT AND ALLOWING US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE LEVERAGE IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS FOR PILOTS AND OTHER REVENUE STREAMS AROUND GREEN ENERGY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PROTECT THAT. I KNOW WE GOT THROUGH LAST SESSION. BUT HOW CLOSE WAS IT? WAS IT PRETTY CLOSE TO. >> WELL, THE BILL THAT HAD THAT PROVISION IN THERE WAS LIKE A $7,500 I THINK. >> I THINK IT WAS 2,500 WAS THE CAP, $2,500 PER MEGAWATT. >> MIGHT HAVE BEEN. ANYWAY, WHATEVER THE NUMBER WAS, THAT BILL LANGUISHED FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEN, FRANKLY, THANKS TO DOMINIC'S HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT OUT AND THAT WAS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL CONTROVERSIAL PIECES OF IT. I THINK YOUR POINT IS RIGHT, THERE WERE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, AND I THINK THE WEIGHT OF ALL OF THOSE RESULTED IN LIKE A LOT OF TIMES YOU GET TO THE END IT SAYS IT'S JUST TOO MUCH TO CLEAN UP. I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO WEAVE THAT INTO A TWO TO THREE PROPOSALS IN THE COMING YEAR AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT PIECE IS BACK IN THERE OR NOT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT WE'RE AWARE THAT'S THE KEY CONCERN FOR THE COUNTY. >> I JUST THOUGHT OF THIS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO COMPLICATE MATTERS. PARTICULARLY IN THE SMALLER COUNTIES WHERE A LOT OF THE LAND, POTENTIALLY THAT WOULD BE USED AS SOLAR AS FARM LAND. I DO NOT KNOW, BUT AS BEFORE AND IF NOT, MAYBE IT WOULD BE GOOD IN THE FUTURE TO INVOLVE THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, WHO WE HAVE NICE RELATIONSHIPS WITH. HE'S VERY HELPFUL ON THE DEPTH PROGRAM, WHICH STEVE WILL GO INTO SHORTLY. BUT IN OTHER WORDS, JUST UNDERSTANDING THE BALANCE OF THINGS AND JUST A THOUGHT. >> I KNOW IN CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH HIM, IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S MINDFUL OF THE IMPACTS TO AGRICULTURE. I THINK HE IS A PROPONENT FOR PUSHING IT TOWARDS ROOFTOP AND PARKING LOTS, LIKE PRE DEVELOPED PROPERTIES AS OPPOSED TO EATING UP PRIME FARMLAND. BUT THAT'S ONE PERSON IN THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET WITH MULTIPLE OTHER ENTITIES PUSHING FOR RENEWABLE AT ALL COSTS AND I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO REACH THE GOALS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PUT FORWARD IS AGRICULTURE. UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK IT'S JUST IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I IN MACO'S PRESENTATION TO WORCESTER COUNTY, THEY TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF COUNTY ABILITY TO INFLUENCE SOLAR HAS ALREADY BEEN PREEMPTED IN MANY CASES. WE'RE WONDERING HOW MUCH OF AUTHORITY DO WE HAVE AS FAR AS A RECENT DISCUSSION INTERNALLY HAS BEEN AROUND DECOMMISSIONING. WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED THAT IF THERE IS A TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS OR 25 YEARS, NEW ENERGY SOURCES, FUSION POWER OR SOMETHING ELSE COMES ALONG AND MAKES SOLAR OBSOLETE. IS THE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OR WHAT IS IT? I CAN'T REMEMBER THE ACRONYM CPNC [OVERLAPPING]. ARE THEY REQUIRING ENOUGH OF A DECOMMISSIONING BOND TO COVER THE COSTS? WHAT WE'VE RECENTLY BEEN TALKING ABOUT INTERNALLY IS USING SALVAGE VALUE OF THE PANELS TO REDUCE THE DECOMMISSIONING BOND. WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A SALVAGE MARKET FOR THE PANELS? NUMBERS, WE HERE ARE DECOMMISSIONING WITHOUT SALVAGE ON A 5-600 ACRE ARRAY COULD BE AS MUCH AS $15 MILLION. WITH SALVAGE, THEY'RE TRYING TO KNOCK IT DOWN TO A $5 MILLION BOND, THAT'S A SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE. THE LAST THING WE WANT IS TO HAVE ABANDONED SOLAR ARRAYS ON FARM LAND IN THE FUTURE, JUST SITTING THERE, UNUSED BECAUSE IT'S OBSOLETE, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO REMOVE THESE THINGS. THERE AGAIN, THE PUSH FOR GREEN ENERGY. >> COMMISSION, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO ON ABANDONED WIND FARMS.COM, I KNOW IT SOME OF THAT AND IT IS INCREDIBLE THE ABANDONED WIND FARMS THAT ARE JUST THERE AND TO YOUR POINT, IT'S THE SAME IN THAT REGARD, SO IT'S A VERY VALID POINT. >> I THINK THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO NOT ALLOW SALVAGE VALUE TO BE FACTORED INTO THE DECOMMISSIONING, [00:25:04] BUT IF THAT'S ALREADY OCCUPIED BY THE STATE, ARE WE PREEMPTED? >> IT'S NOT, THERE'S NO STATUTE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. >> OKAY. >> SOME STATES HAVE STATUTES PROHIBITING SALVAGE VALUE FROM BEING DEDUCTED FROM THE DECOMMISSIONING BOND. THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT FORBIDS IT. THERE IS PRECEDENT, BUT IT'S A MINORITY PRECEDENT SO FAR. OTHER STATES HAVE JUST LEFT IT ALONE, SOME STATES HAVE SAID THEY CAN DO IT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SALVAGE VALUE IS THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE OPERATOR ONE WILL BE IN EXISTENCE, TWO STILL OWNS IT. THREE, WHEN THEY START THESE PROJECTS, I THINK THEY'RE GIVING FINANCING STATEMENTS, WHICH ARE LIKE MORTGAGES ON THE EQUIPMENT TO THE CREDITOR TO SECURE THE REPAYMENT OF THE INITIAL START UP CAPITAL. AS A RESULT, THE OWNERSHIP IS ALL UP IN THE AIR THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THE SALVAGE VALUE IS EVER GOING TO COME TO CAROLINE COUNTY. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO A BANKRUPTCY COURT SOMEWHERE OR TO SOME FLORIDA HEADQUARTERS WHO IS GOING TO SAY, WELL, WE'VE GOT BETTER USE FOR THIS MONEY THAN DECOMMISSIONING IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND THEY CAN'T TOUCH US. THE WHOLE THING IS SMOKE AND MIRRORS TO ME. >> I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD BE WRONG. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CURRENTLY IS ANY STATUTES IN MARYLAND DRESSING THIS AREA. >> ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. >> I DON'T RECALL ANYONE EVEN IN ANNAPOLIS TALKING ABOUT IT. THAT JUST, MAYBE THEY HAVE, BUT I NOT AWARE OF IT. >> BY THE WAY, JUST YESTERDAY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE REQUEST BY THE CHERRWOOD DEVELOPMENT TO REDUCE, IT WAS $15 MILLION, AND THEN THEY SAID, WELL, WITH THE SALVAGE VALUE, IT SHOULD BE ONLY 5 MILLION AND THAT'S WHAT THE COMMISSION APPROVED. THEY'VE JUST PUT IN A REQUEST TO REDUCE IT TO 3 MILLION. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO OPPOSE THAT. >> INSIDE OF SOLAR, THOSE ARE TWO MAJOR INITIATIVES, IF WE CAN SOMEHOW PROTECT THE COUNTY'S ABILITY FOR TAXING AND ALSO HAVING SOME SAY IN DECOMMISSIONING. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> ALSO TO ADD TO THAT, CRYSTAL PLANNING ZONING DIRECTOR COME UP. WE ONLY HAVE 400 ACRES LEFT. A LITTLE OVER 400 ACRES LEFT IN OUR CODE BECAUSE WE ALLOW FOR 2000 ACRES, SO WE ONLY HAVE 400 ACRES LEFT FOR ALLOTTED FOR SOLAR. >> REALLY? IN THE COUNTY? >> THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. >> WE HAVE A 2000 ACRE CAP IN CODE. >> WE DON'T WANT TO STATE THE PREEMINENT AND SAY, WELL, YOU CAN'T SAY OVER 2000. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DON'T WANT TO COME IN AND SAY, HEY, YOU GOT TO HAVE OVER MORE THAN 2000 ACRES, WE WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY HOW MANY ACRES ARE ALLOWED IN CAROLINE COUNTY, NOT THE STATE DICTATE WHAT THEY WANT US TO HAVE. >> I UNDERSTOOD 400,000 LEFT. >> 400 ACRES. >> IF EVERYTHING THAT IS IN OUR PERMITTING PROCESS RIGHT NOW COMES TO FRUITION WE'LL HAVE 400 ACRES. >> STEVE AND I HAVE SEEN IT, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE AS WELL. PARTICULARLY THE SOLAR ISSUE OVER THE PAST YEARS. I'VE NOT SEEN PREVIOUSLY IN ANNAPOLIS, SUCH A MAJOR INTRUSION IN THE TRADITIONAL BASIC AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. I'M NOT SURE I MAKE A SPEECH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK MACOS GOT TO GET MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE IN A BROAD BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT IT'S A MUCH BROADER FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE AND SAY THE STATE DID TRY TO SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO USE MORE OF YOUR LAND OR WHO'S RUNNING THE COUNTY? IS THE STATE RUNNING IN THE COUNTY OR IS A COUNTY RUNNING THE COUNTY? >> I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT THE SENSE I'M GETTING FROM MACO THAT THEY FEEL THAT THE TIDE IS RUNNING TOO HARD IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STATE TAKING OVER THIS PARTICULAR. THEY'RE TRYING TO PICK ISSUES AND SECTIONS THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN WIN ON AND ACTUALLY PRESERVE SOME COUNTY AUTONOMY, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME MORE AUTHORITY OVER SIGHTING, SETBACKS, DECOMMISSIONING, TAXING, ALL OF THOSE ISSUES. I THINK WE MAY HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH MACO AND TRY TO COALESCE AROUND A FEW TOPICS AND DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TRY TO PRESERVE THOSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNTY TO KEEP AS MUCH CONTROL AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S NOT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION. >> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR DANNY, IF I MAY. DANNY, WHEN FARM LAND, WHICH IS TAXED AT A VERY ADVANTAGEOUS RATE IS CONVERTED TO USE BY SOLAR FACILITIES, [00:30:02] DOES IT LOSE THAT TAX? >> IT DOES. THEY RECEIVE A PREFERENTIAL VALUE FOR BEING CONSIDERED AGRICULTURAL. WHEN IT LOSES AND GOES TO SOLAR OR WHETHER IT BE MINING OPERATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THE STATE REASSESSES AND ASSIGNS IT A LOT HIGHER VALUE THAT THEN COMES DOWN TO OUR OFFICE. WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN SEEN SOME OF THOSE ACTUALLY COME THROUGH HERE RECENTLY IN SOLAR, MINING AGAIN, BE THE NUMBER ONE SO YES. >> DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY GO AFTER THAT AS WELL. >> I ASSESSED AT A MAXIMUM AROUND $500 AN ACRE, SO WHEN IT GETS CONVERTED TO SOLAR, I GUESS, CURRENTLY IT GETS REASSESSED TO REAL MARKET VALUE, 6,7 $8,000 AN ACRE COMMERCIAL VALUE. WE SEE A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS BASED OFF THAT REASSESSMENT. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY COME AFTER THAT AS WELL THROUGH THE LEGISLATION SO WE JUST HAVE TO. >> YOU NEED TO REDUCE THAT ASSESSMENT? >> YES. POTENTIALLY. I I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S ON ANYONE'S RADAR TO DO OR NOT, BUT I GUESS WE'LL GET AN IDEA CLOSER TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN WE SEE WHAT BILLS ARE INTRODUCED. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES? >> I DID NOT. I THINK ON THIS TOPIC, IT'S ALL PART OF THE SCAM BUT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PARKS, WHEN WE GET TO THAT 400 ACRES ONE IT'S GONE AND WE BETTER GET OUR SWORDS OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO COME AFTER THAT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON THAT. I AGREE WITH MR. VARIANO, WHO'S RUNNING THE COUNTY IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO ABDICATE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY TO THE STATE AND WE ALL MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME, GO ON VACATION AGAIN. >> I'M NOT PREPARED TO DO THAT. >> MR. BARTZ. >> NO INITIATIVE, BUT I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS PERSONALLY ON THE DAF BILL. WE HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THAT ALL WENT DOWN. MAYBE A FEW NEGATIVES, BUT OVERALL WAS WAY MORE POSITIVE SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT AND, WORKING ON THAT BILL WITH BOTH SIDES OF EVERYBODY. THANK YOU ON THAT. >> THANK YOU AND I WAS JUST GOING TO MENTION ON THAT POINT. IF THERE'S ANYTHING WITH IMPLEMENTATION OR ANY OF THE PREEMPTION, LET US KNOW. >> OKAY. >> BECAUSE I REALIZE THAT, THAT'S IN THE EARLY STAGES OF BEING IMPLEMENTED RIGHT NOW, BUT IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT AT LEAST THE FRAMEWORK IS GOOD. >> YEAH. I WILL SAY THIS COMMISSIONER, THE TESTIMONY OF AND I WAS IN THE HEARING ROOMS, TO THE TESTIMONY OF SOME OF THE RESIDENTS FROM CAROLINE COUNTY WAS VERY MOVING. >> YEAH. >> IT WAS IT WAS RATIONAL, I THINK IT REALLY BROUGHT A LOT OF FLAVOR TO THE REALITIES OF THE WHOLE MATTER AND I KNOW STEVE WORKED VERY VERY CLOSELY AND ACTIVELY ON IT, BUT AS HE SAID, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THE IMPLEMENTATION THAT CAROLINE COUNTY IS SATISFIED SO LET US KNOW IF THERE'S ANY, THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WAS VERY MUCH ON OUR SIDE AND VERY SUPPORTIVE, I THINK YOU I'D BE SURPRISED IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS, BUT IT MAY BE. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, BRUCE AND STEVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M SORRY, I COULDN'T BE THERE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON, BUT I THINK OUR FIRST YEAR WAS A SUCCESS AND CERTAINLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU GOING FORWARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> LIKEWISE. THANK YOU. >> JUST ONE QUICK AND ANY BOND INITIATIVES OR ANY CAPITAL INITIATIVES, IF THERE ANY DO DEVELOP LET US KNOW BECAUSE IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO GET THOSE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER THE LATEST FROM THAT OF COURSE, YOU HAVE EXCELLENT REPRESENTATION WITH DELEGATE CHRIST IN THAT REGARD, BUT IF THERE ARE ANY, WE ARE TICKLE PINK TO BE WITH YOU FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. >> WE DID, IT'S PARK CONSTRUCTION. THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WOULD BE SOMETHING AROUND SHARP ROAD PARK IMPROVEMENTS THERE. WE RECENTLY ACQUIRED EIGHT ACRES FROM THE TOWN OF DENTON OF PROGRAM OPEN SPACE LAND OUTSIDE OF DENTON HERE. WE WANT TO RELOCATE A LARGE BASEBALL FIELD FROM ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT WE OWN RIGHT NOW TO THAT PARK BEHIND FOOD LINE IS ACTUALLY WHERE IT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF DENTON [00:35:02] HERE AND BUILD A SOFTBALL FIELD AND DO A REALLY NICE LIGHTED COMPLEX. WE DON'T HAVE LIGHTED ATHLETIC FIELDS IN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STADIUMS, SO WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A NICE LIGHTED FACILITY THERE, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD QUALIFY. >> WELL, A QUESTION ON THAT TIME BACK TO THE EARLIER DISCUSSION ON PROGRAM OPEN SPACE. IF THE LEGISLATION, ASSUMING LEGISLATION IS NEEDED, WERE PASSED TO ALLOW YOU TO USE THE ACQUISITION FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS, WOULD THAT, I'M TRYING TO BUILD AN ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF THE BILL. AN EXAMPLE MIGHT BE THAT WE WOULD NOT NEED A BOND BILL IF THOSE MONIES COULD BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. >> YEP. THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE USE INITIALLY HERE, WE'RE SEARCHING FOR FUNDS TO DO PARK IMPROVEMENTS, WE STRUGGLE WITH ROADS, SCHOOLS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS THAT THE COUNTY HAS, SO PARKS IS NOT A NECESSITY. BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE WOULD LIKE TO DELIVER BETTER PARK FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS, AND THIS WILL GIVE US THAT FLEXIBILITY. WELL, STEVE POINT IS EXCELLENT ANSWERS ON THE OPEN SPACE THING, SO WE WILL KNOW. >> HOPEFULLY OTHER COUNTIES WILL JUMP ON BOARD WITH THE FLEXIBILITY WHERE THEY NEED PROPERTY IS MORE EXPENSIVE IN THEIR COUNTIES. THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACQUISITION, SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE THE IMPROVEMENT FUNDS FOR ACQUISITION. JUST FLEXIBILITY IN THESE TOUGH BUDGETARY ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO FACE, MORE FLEXIBILITY INSIDE THE COUNTY TO DELIVER BETTER SERVICES FOR OUR RESIDENTS THROUGH THAT FLEXIBILITY IS ALWAYS BETTER. DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU GUYS. >> SEE YOU, MAKO. >> THANKS. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? [Legislative Session: Second Reading & Public Hearing] >> MOTION MOVE. >> OKAY. >> SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. WE ARE NOW IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY STEVE BARREL. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. WE ARE HERE FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-004, WHICH IS CHAPTER 175, OUR ZONING CHAPTER ADDING SECTION 175 ARTICLE 26, WHICH DEALS WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURE. THIS WAS INTRODUCED BACK ON JULY 9, THIS IS THE SECOND READING IN THE PUBLIC HEARING. PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT. THE NOTICE READS AS FOLLOWS, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-004, AN EMERGENCY ACT TO CREATE ARTICLE 26 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURE OF CHAPTER 175 ZONING OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, TO PROVIDE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES FOR DISABLED PERSONS UNDER THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, PROVIDING FOR INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON TUESDAY JULY 23, 2024, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M IN ROOM 106 OF THE CIRCUIT COURT HOUSE LOCATED AT 19 MARKET STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629, TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING, EMAIL, THE ADDRESS IS GIVEN, OR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET ROOM 123 DENTON, MARYLAND 21629, PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY, NEEDING REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY, SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT 4:10 4790 660. JEN, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? >> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY AND NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TODAY. >> THIS PROPOSED BILL WAS REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JUNE 12 OF THIS YEAR, AND THE COMMISSIONERS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION INDICATING THEIR APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL WITH ONE AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS TO INCLUDE THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES REQUIREMENTS FOUND IN THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR RECOVERY RESIDENCES, STANDARDS FOR GROUP HOME APPLICANTS TO BE SET FORTH IN A NEW SUBSECTION 175-238 PAREN 12, CLOS PEN, WHICH I DID. THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE BILL. THE BILL AT THIS POINT WOULD BE READ A THIRD TIME ON AUGUST THE 20TH AND BEING AN EMERGENCY BILL, [00:40:04] ASSUMING IT IS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE REASON IT'S SUGGESTED TO BE AN EMERGENCY BILL IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHEN SOMEBODY WITH A DISABILITY MAY COME IN, REQUESTING SOME RELAXATION OF OUR CURRENT ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW A STRUCTURE OR AN APPLIANCE OF SOME SORT TO BE CONSTRUCTED, FOR EXAMPLE, A WHEELCHAIR RAMP, WHERE IT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE PROHIBITED, THAT SORT OF THING. THIS WILL BRING CAROLINE COUNTY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH BOTH THOSE FEDERAL LAWS THAT ARE MENTIONED AND IS DEFINITELY BEST PRACTICES TO HAVE. >> OKAY. DO I NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? >> YES. >> OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOTION MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> OKAY. AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THIS LEGISLATION? NONE BEING SEEN, HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENT. HERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> MOTION MOVED. >> SECOND. >> MOTION IS SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL FOR ENACTMENT ON AUGUST 20TH, CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> MOTION TO CLOSE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. >> MOTION MOVE. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.. >> AYES HAVE IT. YOU CLOSED LEGISLATIVE SESSION. ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS DR. CLIFFORD COPPERSMITH, KAREN SMITH, AND DR, DAVID HARPER WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE FOR A DISCUSSION OF CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE'S PROPOSED QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING. GOOD MORNING. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> GOOD MORNING. >> I HAVE TWO OBJECTIVES THIS MORNING. [Discussion of Chesapeake College’s Proposed Queen Anne’s Tech Building] ONE IS TO BASICALLY UPDATE YOU ON A REVISED PROPOSAL FOR THIS FACILITY, WHICH WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE STATE PROCESS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE OTHER IS TO REQUEST A NEW LETTER OF INTENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE ENTERING ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE CYCLE AND WHICH WE'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE TAKING THIS FORWARD AGAIN FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE STATE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. PLEASE REPORT THAT UNDER THE REVISIONS, THIS WILL COME IN AT A LOWER COST THAN THE LAST TIME WE'VE DISCUSSED AND I'LL KAREN UPDATE YOU ON THE SPECIFICS OF THAT. BUT THE REASONS WHY THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT IN ONE OF THE PROGRAMS, MARINE TECHNOLOGY IN PARTICULAR, EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM IS GROWING, YOU DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA BY THE STATE TO FUND THAT PORTION OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SPACE. THAT'S THE MARINE PROGRAM, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO RESIDE IN THE MANUFACTURING TRADE CENTER, WHICH IS ALSO ANOTHER CHANGE. UNDER THE ORIGINAL PLAN, WE WERE GOING TO TAKE THAT BUILDING OUT OF FUNCTION AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITY, PROBABLY USE IT FOR STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE AND THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES. BUT THAT WILL ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND BECAUSE CURRENTLY WELDING IS IN THAT BUILDING AS IS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AND THOSE PROGRAMS BY DEFINITION WILL BE HOUSED IN THE NEW FACILITY, SHOULD WE BE ABLE TO BUILD IT. THAT BEING SAID, I'M JOINED TODAY BY KAREN SMITH, WHO'S OUR CFO AND OUR FACILITIES ADMINISTRATOR, AND DAVID HARPER, WHO'S OVER OUR ACADEMIC AND WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, TO PROVIDE SOME DETAILS IN THE PRESENTATION, WHICH WE DO HAVE A POWERPOINT FOR YOU. KAREN'S GOING TO GO OVER THE SPECIFICS OF THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, WHICH HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH YOU AND THEN DAVID'S GOING TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS OF THE PROJECTS, AND ALSO SHOW YOU SOME ACTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY OF LABS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS, WHICH PROVIDE A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE FACILITIES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO DAVID, I THINK, WHO'S GOING TO GO OVER THE GENERAL ASPECTS OF PROGRAMS. KAREN'S GOING TO HIT THE FINANCIAL PIECE, AND THEN DAVID WILL COME BACK WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE VISION WE HAVE FOR THE FACILITY. >> THANKS, SENATOR COPPER SMITH AND THANKS COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR TIME. FOR THIS FIRST SLIDE, WE WANT TO DO IT RIGHT, WHICH FOR US MEANS A LOCAL FOCUS FOR THE PROGRAMS. FOR BUSINESSES, WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH CAROLINE COUNTY BUSINESSES AND ALL OF OUR COUNTIES THAT WE SERVE. WE HAVE THEM OVER TO THE COLLEGE AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR FOR A MEAL, IT CAN BE 150 PEOPLE AT A TIME. THEY INTERACT WITH OUR FACULTY, AND WE DO IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH CCTC. PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND THE OTHER CAREER TECH HEAD CENTERS IN OUR REGION BECAUSE OUR BUSINESS LEADERS ARE TOO BUSY TO HAVE TO MEET FOR CCTC AND CHESAPEAKE, AND DCTC AND SO FORTH SO WE ALL CONVERGE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THEY CAN LOOK AT OUR LABS, [00:45:03] OUR CURRICULUM, MEET OUR FACULTY, WHO ARE TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING AND THE EQUIPMENT THEY'RE USING LEADS TO LOCAL EXPERIENCES AND JOBS. THE OTHER THING WE THINK TO DO IT RIGHT, FOR THE COUNTY, IT MEANS EXPANSION OF CAPACITY. YOU HAVE A GREAT FACILITY IN CCTC, AS DORCHESTER DOES IN DCTC, BUT WE WANT TO COMPLEMENT THAT. WE WANT TO OFFER SOME CAPACITY BUILDING FOR THINGS THAT THEY CAN'T DO THERE, AND SO THAT WHEN STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM CCTC, THEY CAN COME TO US AND TAKE THE NEXT LEVEL CERTIFICATIONS. WE CAN ALSO SERVE ADULTS AND INCUMBENT WORKERS AND EXPAND THAT WAY AND EVEN WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE 45% GOALS OF GRADUATES COMING OUT OF KELLING COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH CERTIFICATIONS, WE CAN OFFER THINGS THEY CAN'T AND SO THAT WAY GETS TO THAT 45 QUICKER. THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK FOR US IS COLLEGE IS EXPENSIVE. CERTIFICATIONS ARE RELATIVELY QUICK TO EARN, AND THEY LEAD DIRECT TO LOCAL JOBS FOR THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING WELDING AND FABRICATION AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES, THE THINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR THIS FACILITY AND THEN ONE MORE SLIDE, AND I'LL BE OUT OF YOUR HAIR HERE. THE GOAL IS TO KEEP PEOPLE LOCAL, I GREW UP THINKING YOU HAD TO GO ACROSS THE BRIDGE FOR OPPORTUNITY. WE WANT THIS TO BE AN INSPIRING SPACE WHERE NOT JUST THE STUDENTS GET EXCITED ABOUT THE TECH JOBS THAT REALLY ARE TRADE JOBS NOW, THEY'RE TECHNOLOGY JOBS IN MANY WAYS, BUT THEIR PARENTS TOO. THEY'LL BE LEARNING IN THE SPACES THAT THEY'LL SEE IN THE WORKPLACE AND GET EXCITED AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE WAY THAT OUR HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS CURRENTLY DO. WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON TO THE CURRICULUM THAT THEY HAD SEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY CAN GO BEYOND THAT LEVEL. THE OTHER THING THAT THIS IS FOR IS THE SPACE IS FLEXIBLE, AND IT GIVES US AGILITY TO RESPOND TO CHANGING INDUSTRY NEEDS. IN TERMS OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE CURRICULUM BECAUSE OUR CREDIT CURRICULUM IS SLOW TO CHANGE PAINFULLY SOMETIMES. HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM CAN BE THE SAME WAY, BUT WITH A FACILITY LIKE THIS, WE CAN KEEP PACE. THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SLIDE IS ABOUT THE CHANGE IN THE PROJECT. THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM STATEMENT HAD A GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE OF 89,000 SQUARE FEET. PHASE 1 OF THIS NEW APPROACH IS ABOUT 63,000 GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE. PHASE 1 ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME THICK SPACE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE FLEXIBLE SPACE. IDENTIFIED RIGHT NOW IN THE FIXED SPACE IS OUR AGRICULTURE PROGRAM, ELECTRICAL AND WELDING, AND FABRICATION. THE CHART SHOWS THE APPROVED SPACE THAT THE STATE HAS APPROVED FOR THOSE PROGRAMS IN THIS PHASE 1 APPROACH. THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME PROJECTED GROWTH FOR SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IN THERE, ESPECIALLY LIKE WELDING, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S PROJECTED GROWTH. IN THE FLEXIBLE SPACES, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT WITH SOME ACTUAL PHOTOS IN A LITTLE BIT, COULD BE HVAC, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION TRADES, CARPENTRY AND MASONRY. THEN WE HAVE OTHER SPACES, THE CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND THE STUDENT RESOURCES, LOUNGE, LOCKERS, AND VENDING, AND SOME OFFICE SPACE. THAT'S WHAT MAKES UP PHASE 1. PHASE 1 WOULD INCLUDE THE DESIGN OF THIS PART OF THE PROJECT, THE SITE WORK, THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT, UTILITIES, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT, AND THEN AT THE END, THE DEMOLITION OF THE CURRENT QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING. IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE ENTRANCE AND EXIT ROADS TO THE NEW BUILDING FROM ROUTE 662, AND SOME LOADING AREAS AND A SMALL PARKING LOT. YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE. THE COST. THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT IS 14,109,560. IF JUST FOR HIS COMPARISON, THE LOCAL MATCH PRIOR WAS ALMOST $20 MILLION. CAROLINE COUNTY SHARE, WHICH IS AT THE 19.3% IS ABOUT $2.7 MILLION. IN THE FIRST YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR '26, WOULD BE THE DESIGN PORTION WOULD BE $183,000. THAT'S HOW THE COSTS THAT ARE ESTIMATED. WE WORK THROUGH THE MHEC PROJECTIONS ON HOW TO COME UP WITH THE COSTS. THERE IS A INFLATION FACTOR BUILT INTO THIS. THE STATE ALLOWS US 3.5% INFLATION FACTOR THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS COST ESTIMATE. THEN YOU CAN SWITCH TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND DR. HARPER WILL TAKE IT FROM THERE. >> SURE. IF YOU CAN SCROLL SLOWLY THROUGH A COUPLE OF THESE, AND JUST TWO THINGS WE LEARNED. [00:50:01] WE WENT TO SEE PENN COLLEGE IN PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS STATE OF THE ART FOR THIS KIND OF EDUCATION, AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT TOLD US THERE WAS IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, THEY'VE REALLY LEARNED BUILD A BIG BOX WITH A THICK CONCRETE PAD AND AS MUCH ELECTRICITY AS YOU CAN PUMP TO IT. THINK OF LIKE AS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BECAUSE WHAT THAT DOES IS GIVE YOU AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT YOUR MONEY IS WELL SPENT BECAUSE IT LASTS OVER THE LONG TERM AND CAN BE USED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE REGION. THE OTHER THING THAT IT ALLOWS, AS YOU SEE, IS THAT THE LEARNING SPACES, WHERE YOU'RE INSTRUCTING AND LECTURING ARE RIGHT WITH THE LAB. THEY ARE THE LAB. FOR MY DAD, FOR MY BROTHER, FOR MY WIFE, MY WHOLE FAMILY, NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, WHO WOULD BE BORED IN THE ENGLISH CLASSES I USED TO TEACH, THIS ENGAGES PEOPLE FULLY IN WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING, AND IT DOES IT IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S JUST LIKE WHAT THEY'LL ENCOUNTER IN THE WORKSPACES THAT THEY'RE PREPARING FOR. IT'S THE BEST INVESTMENT WE THINK WE CAN MAKE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, AFTER THE PRESENTATION. I'LL JUST FINISH OFF BY JUST FIRST OF ALL, THANKING THE COUNTY FOR IT'S CONTINUED AND LONG LASTING SUPPORT FOR THE COLLEGE. VERY PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR MOST RECENT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS FOR FALL ARE VERY PROMISING, WE'RE SHOWING AN INCREASE OF ROUGHLY 3% AT THIS POINT, WHICH IS GETTING US BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE OUR PRE-PANDEMIC. BUT THIS FACILITY IS MUCH NEEDED. THIS IS OUR FIRST HEARING WITH OUR FIVE COUNTIES BEGINNING TODAY. WE HAVE A TAB ON THE AGENDA THIS AFTERNOON AND WE WILL BE PROCEEDING FROM THERE, AND WE DO APPRECIATE THE PASTOR'S REPORT FOR THIS PROJECT AND HOPING THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT AS WE HAVE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE PLANNING WITH MHEC AND THAT'S THE MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION AND THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH, THEY'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS WILL GET FUNDED THIS TIME AROUND, AND THE OTHER POSITIVE THING IS THAT BEFORE THIS PROJECT, THE STATE DID NOT ENTERTAIN SUPPORTING NON-CREDIT PROGRAMS WITH STATE MONIES. THIS IS A CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENED BECAUSE WE'RE JUST AT THE FRONT END OF WHERE MANY INSTITUTIONS ARE GOING WHICH ARE EXPANDING THE AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL AND SKILL TRADES TECHNOLOGY INSTRUCTION HAS BECOME SO IMPORTANT, WHICH IS NOW, I'M HAPPY TO REPORT A NATIONAL TREND. WE'VE ALL I'VE BEEN HEARING FOR YEARS, THE CRISIS AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SKILLED LABOR IN CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER AREAS OF THE WHAT I'D CALL A HARD TECHNOLOGY ECONOMY, AND THIS IS REALLY WHERE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED. WE SEE IT LOCALLY, WE SEE IT REGIONALLY, AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, STUDENTS ARE REALLY STARTING TO SEE THE ATTRACTION OF WORKING IN SKILLED AREAS WHERE THE SALARIES ARE HIGH, WHERE THE QUALITY OF WORK IS HIGH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SECURITY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T OUTSOURCE THESE ACTIVITIES. THAT'S OUR PRESENTATION THIS MORNING. MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONER BARTZ. >> DR. COPPER SMITH. THANKS FOR COMING TODAY. DO YOU FEEL COMPETENT WITH THE STATE APPROVAL THIS TIME AROUND GOING FORWARD? >> WELL, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE AGENCIES THAT WE WORKED WITH IN TERMS OF THIS NEW PROPOSAL ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT, AND THEY'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC. NOW, WE'RE SUBJECT TO ALL THESE MACROECONOMIC REALITIES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORRYING ABOUT AS EARLY AS THIS MORNING OF COURSE HERE. BUT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT IF FUNDING IS THERE AT THE STATE LEVEL, THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE APPROVED. IT'S ALREADY AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF PRIORITY FOR THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND WE'RE LIKE NUMBER? >> SIX. >> SIX LAST YEAR. >> YEAH. I THOUGHT YOU GOT SHORT SIGHTED A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR. MY OPINION. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF FINANCIAL ISSUES AT STAKE LAST YEAR WITH THE STATE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND I THINK THAT HAD MORE TO DO WITH THE PROJECT NOT GETTING APPROVED LAST YEAR THAN ANYTHING ELSE. BUT CERTAINLY OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY COLLEGES HAVE PUT THIS ON A HIGH PRIORITY IN TERMS OF THEIR LIST, AND OBVIOUSLY, I THINK OUR STATE AGENCIES ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROPOSAL AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS. >> THE MARINE PROJECT WITH THE MARINE MECHANIC, WHY DIDN'T THAT MEET THE STATE CRITERIA NO MORE? >> IT'S ABOUT THE SPACE THEY'RE REQUESTING FOR THE ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAMS. ALLOWING IT TO STAY IN THE MTC FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND THEN HOPEFULLY PUTTING IT IN PHASE 2 WOULD ALLOW TIME FOR THEM TO INCREASE THEIR ENROLLMENTS IN THE COMING MONTHS. > OKAY. >> BUT THE PROGRAM ITSELF REQUIRES A LOT OF SPACE. >> RIGHT. YOUR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE DOWN ON THAT? >> IT'S NOT DOWN. IT'S JUST NOT TO THE LEVEL THAT THIS. [OVERLAPPING] >> PER SQUARE FOOT THAT THEY [OVERLAPPING]. >> GOT YOU. >> BECAUSE THEIR SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUEST WAS ALMOST THE WHOLE SIZE OF THE MTC. >> BUT WE ARE STILL GROWING IT EVEN NOW. IT'S STILL GROWING, AND IF WE CAN GET THIS, IT MOVES STUFF OUT OF THE WAY FOR MORE GROWTH WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. >> IT'S ALL GOOD TRAPS. >> COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? [00:55:01] >> YEAH. CAN YOU GO THROUGH THE CAROLINE SHARE AGAIN, BEGINNING IN I GUESS IT WOULD BE FY 26. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE EXACT OBLIGATION IS FOR CAROLINE? >> SURE. >> THE DESIGN PORTION, WHICH WOULD BE IN FISCAL YEAR 26 IS $183,844? THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD COME ABOUT IN FISCAL YEAR 27. THAT IS 2,298,051, AND THE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT WOULD BE THE LAST PART OF THE PROJECT IN FISCAL YEAR 28, AND THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $241,250. THE TOTAL IS $2.7 MILLION. >> HOW WOULD THEY BE STRUCTURED? THEY WOULD BE BILLED TO US AS OUR SHARE AND BE PAID IN A LUMP SUM? >> YES. THAT'S HOW WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST. IT'S BILLED AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT FISCAL YEAR. BEFORE WE CAN GET REIMBURSED FROM THE STATE, WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT THE LOCAL MATCH HAS BEEN PAID. >> WHAT IS YOUR TIME FRAME AS FAR AS HAVING TO HAVE AN ANSWER ON THIS? >> WE HAVE TO SUBMIT THE REVISED PROGRAM INFORMATION TO THE STATE IN AUGUST. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE IT COMPLETED BY AUGUST 15. BUT A HARD DEADLINE IS AUGUST 30TH FOR THE STATE SUBMISSION TO UNPACK. >> COMMISSIONER PORTER, WE DO HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE LETTER ON OUR ACTION AGENDA, WHICH WE'LL MOVE ON TO NEXT AFTER THEIR PRESENTATION. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE AUGUST 15TH? >> YES. >> OKAY. >> YES, THE SIXTH. >> WE HAVE A MEETING AUGUST 6. IT'S ON OUR AGENDA TO VOTE ON TODAY OR WE CAN PUSH IT TO AUGUST 6. >> WELL, CERTAINLY IT'S A SIGNIFICANT OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTY, NOT ONLY IN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT IN TWO FUTURE YEARS, THE LARGEST BEING FY '27, I THINK WE HAVE TO AT LEAST HAVE SOME I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK IN DETAIL WITH WITH OUR FINANCE TEAM TO FIND OUT WHERE WE THINK THIS MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM. I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT PRESENTATION AND OBLIGATIONS OR COMMITMENTS FROM THE OTHER MEMBER COUNTIES. DO YOU HAVE THOSE AT THIS POINT? >> WE DO NOT. OBVIOUSLY, WE ALL KNOW DORCHESTER DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PROJECT. THEY'VE MADE THAT QUITE CLEAR. I'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH THEM SINCE WE'VE HAD THE NEW PROPOSAL DESIGNATED, ALTHOUGH WE'VE COMMUNICATED THE MATERIALS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR POSSESSION. DORCHESTER THAT'S A QUESTION, OF COURSE, THAT CONTINUES. BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE OTHER THREE COUNTIES ARE STILL VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. BUT OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN US THEIR LETTERS OF INTENT YET. WE DO ANTICIPATE GETTING THOSE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AS WE'RE DOING WITH CAROLINA. >> I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, YOUR CONFIDENCE AND WHAT IS THE STATE SHARE OF THIS? >> STATE SHARE 5% OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION WITH A 25% TO THE WILCO MATCH. >> WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? >> FORTY TWO MILLION FROM THE STATE. >> FORTY TWO MILLION. >> 328,680. >> I WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE SLIDES. THE STATE SHARE IS 42 MILLION. I'M SORRY. >> YEAH. THE STATE SHARE IS $42,328,000. THE LOCAL FUNDING IS 14,109,000 AND THE TOTAL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT IS $56,438,000. >> I THINK I UNDERSTOOD YOU TO SAY THAT YOU'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE STATE WILL COME UP WITH THAT 42 MILLION? >> COMMISSIONER PORTER, WHAT WE'RE BEING TOLD BY OUR AGENCIES THAT THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND THEY BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE FUNDED. NOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE'RE SUBJECT TO WHATEVER THE MAJOR MACRO LEVEL BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS WILL BE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. BUT AT THIS POINT, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL BE FUNDED BY THE STATE IN THE COMING YEAR. BUT OBVIOUSLY, NO ANSWERS UNTIL WE GET TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THOSE FUNDS ARE ACTUALLY AWARDED. [01:00:02] >> ALONG THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE TOTAL CAPITAL REQUEST WAS BY ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES LAST YEAR, AND HOW MUCH OF THAT THEY ACTUALLY FUNDED, MADE IT INTO THE STATE BUDGET? >> I COULDN'T RECALL THAT. [LAUGHTER] I STILL CAN GET THAT TO YOU. OBVIOUSLY, OUR PROJECT WAS NOT FUNDED. I THINK HEYER SOUND GOT THEY GOT A TOKEN AMOUNT TO GET STARTED WITH A PROJECT THAT THEY HAD. BUT I BELIEVE THE REST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THE LIST DID GET FUNDED. >> I FEEL LIKE THEY WERE FINISHING OUT PRE EXISTING. >> WE WERE NUMBER 6 FOR THE MOST NOTES BUT THOSE TWO WERE ALREADY IN PROCESS. >> RIGHT. >> WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY FOLLOW UP THOSE DETAILS. >> I HAVE IT SOMEWHERE IN AN EMAIL, BUT IT'D TAKE ME FOREVER TO FIND IT NOT SURE. >> [OVERLAPPING] THE STATE HAD LAST YEAR. THERE WAS STILL A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT THIS IS DID THEY MAKE PRETTY DRASTIC CUTS AS FAR AS CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE? I KNOW THEY WENT AFTER OPERATING BUDGETS PRETTY HEAVILY. >> WE WERE FORTUNATE ABOUT HALF OF THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK TOWARDS THAT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN GETTING THAT RECOVERY. >> THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS. MR. BREEDING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. PORTER. THE ONLY ONE I HAD WAS SO KAREN, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE DEMO OF THE QUEEN ANNE BUILDING WAS INCLUDED, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THE MARINE TECHNOLOGIES IN THAT BUILDING OR? >> MARINE TRADES IS IN THE MANUFACTURING TRAINING CENTER. IT'S DIFFERENT BUILDING IT'S ACROSS THE STREET. WHEN THE NEW BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED AT PHASE 1, THEN THE QUEEN ANNE EVERYTHING WOULD BE MOVED OUT IF NEEDED AND DEMOLISHED. >> MARINE TRADE IS IN A DIFFERENT BUILDING? >> YEAH. >> HAVE YOU SPOKE TO THE DELEGATE EASTERN SHORE DELEGATE SENATOR HERSCHEL AND CHRIS? >> I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO SEND THEM AN UPDATE TODAY. WE STARTED WITH OUR COUNTIES TODAY IN TERMS OF THESE BRIEFINGS, AND I'LL BE PROVIDING THEM THE SAME INFORMATION I'VE PROVIDED THE COUNTY AND INDICATE AT THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE AT THIS PROCESS. >> OKAY. >> DANNY, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING? >> YES. BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTION QUESTIONS, SO THIS OUTWEIGHS PHASE 1, AND THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE BRAIN TRADES COMING LATER IN PHASE 2. IS THERE AN ESTIMATED YEAR AND THEN PROJECTED ALSO WHAT PHASE 2 WOULD HAVE BEEN? >> THERE IS NOT AT THIS TIME. >> WE WOULD ANTICIPATE PHASE 2 EVENTUALLY COMING DOWN THE PIPELINE, AND IT WOULD BE TO PASS AS WELL, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. BUT AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T HAVE A SCHEDULE OR CALENDAR, BUT WOULD REALLY BE DEPENDENT ON TWO THINGS. ONE IS ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAM, AND TWO IS THE WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY OF OUR COUNTIES TO SUPPORT THAT IN THE SECOND PHASE. >> COMMISSIONER PORTER, DID YOU CATCH DANNY'S QUESTION THERE? >> I DID. >> THANK YOU. >> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OVER AND PRESENTING. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, GUYS. >> THANK YOU. >> ONTO OUR ACTION AGENDA. [Action Agenda] WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE ACTION AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM IS A LETTER OF INTENT FOR CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE FOR THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING. WHAT IS THE CONSENSUS ON THAT RIGHT NOW? DO WE WANT TO VOTE ON THAT AT THIS TIME? DO YOU WANT TO HAVE TWO WEEKS TO ASK A FEW MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE APPROVE THE LETTER OF INTENT? >> I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER WITH DANNY AND THEN KATHLEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL. >> MR. PORTER, ANY OBJECTION? >> YES. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICULARLY SINCE THE FUNDING REQUEST FOR THIS IS GOING TO GO INTO A FISCAL YEAR THAT I THINK IF MY CALCULATIONS ARE CORRECT WILL BE BEYOND THIS TERM. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME TIME TO DISCUSS WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING TO COME FROM CONVERSATION WITH DANNY AND KATHLEEN. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE A CONVERSATION. I AM SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUR SHARE OF IT. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TABLE THE LETTER OF INTENT ACTION AGENDA ITEM TO OUR AUGUST 6TH MEETING. [01:05:02] >> SEVENTH. >> I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BE THE HEARING FOR THE STAFF RESOLUTION TOO, SO THERE MAY BE A LONG DAY. I SECOND. >> WE'RE GETTING USED TO THOSE, COMMISSIONER PORTER. [LAUGHTER]. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> YOU'VE HAD A SHORT ONE. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> THE AYES HAVE IT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE RENEWAL OF THE BANK-RUN CONTRACT FOR BREEDING EXCAVATING INC. I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF AND STEP OUT OF THE ROOM FOR THIS AND TURN IT OVER TO COMMISSIONER BARTZ. >> GOOD MORNING. [NOISE] NEXT ITEM ON THE ACTION AGENDA IS RENEWAL OF THE BANK-RUN CONTRACT WITH BREEDING EXCAVATING INCORPORATED. LARRY, HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GO OVER THAT? >> I DID. UNLESS YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER BARTZ, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT. >> I SECOND THAT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE OF THE RENEWAL OF THE BANK-RUN CONTRACT WITH BREEDING EXCAVATING INCORPORATED. >> AYE. >> AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE CAROLINE COUNTY 2024 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LETTER. AS YOU KNOW, LARRY, THAT WAS DUE IN APRIL, SO WE MISSED THE DEADLINE ON THAT, BUT WE STILL HAVE IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT IT I BELIEVE AT MACO. >> NO, I'LL SUBMIT IT TODAY. >> SHE'S GOING TO SUBMIT IT TODAY, BUT IT WAS PAST THE DEADLINE. IT WAS DUE IN APRIL. DID EVERYTHING LOOK OKAY ON THAT, LARRY? [NOISE] >> YES, IT DID. IT LOOKED OKAY TO ME. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT MY ONLY QUESTION AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE DO AT OUR MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY AT MACO WOULD BE TO PUSH FOR A MORE DEFINITIVE DATE ON THE OIL CITY LAKE. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. >> WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A SPECIFIC DATE. THINGS ARE GETTING BAD THERE, AND I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT SOME NEBULOUS DATE IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED TO TIE THAT DOWN SO THAT WE CAN LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. >> I CAN GO OVER IT REAL QUICK. WE'VE GOT PRIORITY A IS IMPROVEMENTS TO MARYLAND 404 AND 328 RIVER ROAD. THAT'S THE TURNING LANES THERE. PRIORITY B IS 404 WIDENING ALL THE WAY TO MARYLAND 16 EAST. >> THE OTHER WAS THE SIGNS DIRECTING PEOPLE BACK TO 404. >> YEAH, MANOR'S BEACH TRAFFIC. PRIORITY D IS NO RETURN TO 404 AT MITCHELL ON THE NEGATIVE ROAD. PRIORITY E IS FINALIZE THE PAVING OF ROUTE 16. COMPLETE THAT. THE OIL CITY LAKE WAS THE OTHER ONE. THAT WAS IT. >> WE'VE GOT TO KNOW A BETTER DATE ON THE OIL CITY. >> SORRY. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CAROLINE COUNTY 2024 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LETTER? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> THE AYES HAVE IT. >> REAL QUICK UPDATE ON THAT AS WELL. I DID GET AN EMAIL WITH NOTIFICATION THAT THE STATE IS BIDDING THE GEOMETRIC IMPROVEMENTS FOR RIVER ROAD AND 404. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE PLANS YET, OPENED THE EMAIL TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THAT ENTAILS. WAS THAT AN ITEM? >> YES. >> WAS THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT RIVER ROAD AND 404? I THINK THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AT LEAST I DID RECEIVE A BID INVITE NOTIFICATION FROM THE STATE. I THINK IT'S MOVING ALONG. MAYBE AT OUR MEETING WITH STATE HIGHWAY, WE CAN GET THEM TO MAYBE PRESENT US, SHOW US WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON ACTUALLY DOING THERE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY'RE ADDING LEFT TURN LANES BOTH COMING FROM EASTON AND COMING FROM NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. DOING A GOOD JOB. DO YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING? >> I'M GOOD. [LAUGHTER] I DON'T NEED IT. [LAUGHTER] I'M FINE. I DO A LOT OF LISTENING. [LAUGHTER] >> NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. [Consent Agenda] IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ON ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER PORTER. [01:10:10] >> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. NO, I DON'T. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BARTZ? >> NO, I DON'T. >> DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> SO MOVED. >> SO MOVED. >> I'LL SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. ROLLING ON THROUGH HERE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. [County Administrator’s Report] >> I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON. DANIEL, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP HERE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME INPUT ON SOME OF THE ITEMS ALSO. COMMISSIONER PORTER BROUGHT UP PRIOR TO THE MEETING OR MAYBE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, DAYSPRING APARTMENTS, AND THE MEETING WITH DHCD AND MILFORD HOUSING YESTERDAY. WE DID MEET WITH JOE PULVER FROM DHCD AND DISCUSSED SOME OF THE ISSUES AND NEEDS AT DAYSPRING AND THE POSSIBLE, I GUESS, TRANSFER OR SALE OF THE PROPERTY TO EITHER MILFORD HOUSING OR ANOTHER ENTITY THAT IS APPROPRIATELY QUALIFIED TO MANAGE THAT HOUSING AND OWN THAT. >> I'M HAVING TROUBLE HEARING KATHLEEN. I'M SORRY. >> SORRY, I'M NOT BEING VERY LOUD. I HAVEN'T SAID A WHOLE LOT YET, BUT WE MET WITH DHCD AND MILFORD HOUSING YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY VIA AN RFP PROCESS TO AN APPROPRIATE NONPROFIT ENTITY. DHCD SEEMS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. HOWEVER, I DID HEAR HIM SAY A COUPLE OF TIMES IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT MIGHT STILL HAVE TO HAVE A MINORITY SHARE. HE WASN'T SURE ABOUT THAT. WE DIDN'T ASK HIM MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT I DID HEAR HIM SAY THAT. THE MILFORD HOUSING DID DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES AND NEEDS AT DAYSPRING, INCLUDING THE NEED AFTER A PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR REHAB OF CERTAIN PARTS OF DAYSPRING. THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME DISCUSSING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS HISTORY AND MILFORD HOUSING. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. DHCD REMAINS SUPPORTIVE. ALSO, ON THE DAYSPRING APARTMENTS, WE DID RECEIVE THE WATER QUALITY TEST RESULTS EARLIER THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK. I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK. >> FRIDAY. >> FRIDAY. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS OR CONTAMINANTS DETECTED BY THE ENVIRO CORP, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. COMMISSIONER PORTER, YOU BROUGHT UP DAYSPRING EARLIER. DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING? STEWART AND DANNY ATTENDED ALSO. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD. >> NO. SORRY, I MISSED THAT. I REALLY WANTED TO BE THERE. I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT I JUST HAVE A FEELING HERE THAT THE COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE A HEAVY LIST. EVEN IF WE COULD GET CONTROLLING OWNERSHIP INTO A NONPROFIT ENTITY AND MOVE TOWARD RENOVATION, THAT WOULD BE I THINK THE BEST SCENARIO. THE BEST SCENARIO WOULD BE FOR THE COUNTY TO NOT HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP. IT'S INTERESTING. THANK YOU FOR GOING TO THE MEETING. SORRY, I COULDN'T BE THERE, BUT WERE THERE PLANS? WHAT WERE THE NEXT PLANS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS? [NOISE] >> DHCD AS WELL AS MILFORD HOUSING ARE BOTH LOOKING INTO OTHER EXAMPLES. I BELIEVE THE CITY OF SALISBURY MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH A SIMILAR TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OR IS IT ALLEGHENY OR ANOTHER WESTERN SHORE COUNTY? >> ALLEGHENY DID IT WRONG. WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO THAT. [LAUGHTER] >> THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THAT MODEL THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS ALREADY JUMPED THROUGH THE HOOPS WITH, AND THEN WE WOULD [NOISE] TAKE THAT REVISED AND IMPLEMENT IT TO FIT CAROLINE COUNTY AND THEN GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS INSTEAD OF REWRITING THAT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. WE'RE WAITING FOR CORRESPONDENCE ON THAT INFORMATION. I JUST WANT TO ADD TO KATHLEEN'S POINT. THE BIGGEST GOAL WITH THIS IS SO A NONPROFIT COULD TAKE MAJORITY OWNERSHIP AND HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDS AND CREDITS TO REHAB AND DO SOME NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE FACILITIES. [01:15:07] UNFORTUNATELY, STAYING UNDER COUNTY MAJORITY OWNERSHIP IS WE DO NOT HAVE REALLY THE ABILITY TO GO AFTER THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND CREDITS, WHERE A NONPROFIT THAT FOCUSES SOLELY ON THAT WOULD HAVE THE TIME AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO GO THROUGH. WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO RELAY THAT TO THE STATE, DHCD, AND THEY SEEM VERY COOPERATIVE AND WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND IMPROVING THE LOCATION. >> WELL, IT'S EASIER FOR DHCD TO DEAL WITH A PROFESSIONAL WHO'S USED TO GOING THROUGH THESE APPLICATION PROCESSES, WHICH WE ARE NOT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO TEACH US HOW TO DO IT FOR ONE PROJECT AND THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MORE WORK AND US. >> WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE. [LAUGHTER] >> WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE REASON IT NEEDS TO BE A NONPROFIT IS THAT A FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION [NOISE] WOULD BE TAKING ON THIS DEBT. THERE WOULD BE AN ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, WHOEVER GETS IT. FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE, AND IT'S BASICALLY MALPRACTICE FOR US TO EVEN PUT OUR FINGERS ON IT. IT'S GOT TO BE A NONPROFIT BECAUSE IT'S PERPETUAL THAT THE DEBT NEVER GETS REPAID IF YOU KEEP IT AT THIS USE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >> IF IT TRANSFERS TO A NONPROFIT, WOULD IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR PROPERTY DISPOSAL PROCESS? >> THAT IS ONE OF THE TOPICS AND DISCUSSION. I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS HAVE DONE. I THINK OFF THE CUFF, WE WERE ASSUMING WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT. WE KEEP REFERRING TO IT AS AN RFP. THERE REALLY IS NO EXCHANGE OF MONEY THAT'S MENTIONED. IT'S REALLY AN ASSUMPTION OF THE PERPETUAL DEBT. I BELIEVE WE CAN MANAGE IN OUR CURRENT POLICY AND CODE TO CHECK OUR BOXES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH OUR DISPOSAL BUT ALSO STAY IN THE LINE WITH WHAT DHCD IS TO SAY. >> I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS. NUMBER 1, I THINK AS FAR AS THE DEBT IS CONCERNED, MOST OF THE PROPERTIES OF THESE TYPES OF PROPERTIES ARE OWNED IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS AND THE DEBT IS NORMALLY AMORTIZED. >> A NUMBER OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE WERE INVOLVED IN WERE 1% FOR 50 YEARS. SO THE DEBT CAN BE SERVICED. BUT CERTAINLY, THE PREFERENCE WOULD BE TO A NONPROFIT AND I THINK THAT THE SECOND POINT WOULD BE THAT WE CONSECUTIVELY WITH LOOKING AT TRANSFERRING OWNERSHIP, WE SHOULD DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO BE LOOKING SIMULTANEOUSLY AT THE AVAILABILITY OF RENOVATION FUNDING BECAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND TIMELINES ON THESE TYPES OF FUNDING. IF YOU MISS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR TO APPLY FOR IT AGAIN. I THINK WE'VE GOT TO REALLY BE DOING A LOT OF THINGS AT ONE TIME HERE AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO APPLY, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE. BUT I THINK WE GOT TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING HERE AND NOT LET UP, SO THAT'S MY POSITION HERE. >> AGREE. >> YESTERDAY, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX AND I ALSO MET WITH THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF, AS WELL AS MARK AND KJ REGARDING THE NEW BUILDING. THE GREENSBORO FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO CONSTRUCT AND HOUSING OUR EMS STAFF IN THAT BUILDING. WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT SOME PRELIMINARY PLANS, WHICH I THINK DANNY HAS A COPY OF. WE DON'T HAVE A COST ESTIMATE YET THEY'RE STILL FINALIZING THEIR PLANS. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN RIDGLEY AND IN RIDGLEY, I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $250,000, SO ADD SOME TO THAT [LAUGHTER] SINCE IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS. THAT JUST AN UPDATE ON THAT PROCESS. >> I'M SORRY, KATHLEEN, WHAT DID YOU SAY THE CONSTRUCTION WAS IN RIDGLEY? >> I HAD 250,000 IN RIDGLEY. [01:20:01] IT'LL OBVIOUSLY BE MORE. >> THREE HUNDRED PLUS, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. >> THE FOOTPRINT IS AN EXACT COPY OF THE LAYOUT AT RIDGLEY THEY ESSENTIALLY TOOK THE SAME BAY, LOUNGE, SLEEPING QUARTERS, AND COPY IT RIGHT ON TO THE EDGE OF THE BUILDING FOR GREENSBORO. WE DON'T IMAGINE TOO MUCH CHANGE, BUT [OVERLAPPING] OBVIOUSLY, EIGHT, NINE YEARS LATER, ALL OF THAT GOING ON. >> THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO MENTION, I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY STATED IT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE COULD STATE IT ENOUGH SINCE THERE'S BEEN SOME IN THE PAPER IT WAS PRINTED WRONG. OUR NEXT MEETING IS ON AUGUST 6 AT THE HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING. THAT IS ALSO THE DATE FOR THE FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS PUBLIC HEARING. >> IT WAS PRINTED ACCURATELY IN THE LEGISLATIVE PART, I THINK THE LAST REPORTER CONNOR MATHEW, JUST MADE A WRONG. >> IN THE ARTICLE. >> IN THE ARTICLE NOT IN THE ACTUAL [OVERLAPPING] ADVERTISEMENT. >> IT IS NOT AUGUST 9 AND IT IS NOT TODAY. IT IS AUGUST 6, AND THEN THE ENTIRE COMMISSIONER'S MEETING WILL BE AT THE HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING THE NEXT MEETING. ANYTHING ELSE? >> I JUST HAD TWO QUICK THINGS. WE HAD TALKED PRIOR ABOUT THE ORIGINALLY TECH PARK AND CONTRACTING WITH AN ENGINEER TO DO SOME ONSITE TESTING THAT'S ACTUALLY ONGOING TODAY. THEY'RE MEETING AT 10:30 TO START DOING SOME OF THE ONSITE TESTING IN COOPERATION WITH THE TOWN, SO I IMAGINE EVENTUALLY WE'LL BE GETTING A FULL REPORT POSED TO THAT. JUST GOING TO READ OUT BECAUSE YOU WILL SEE THIS ON PROBABLY THE NEXT MEETING ON THE SIXTH. WE ARE SELECTED CONTRACTOR THAT WAS DOING THE PIPE REPLACEMENT ON ISSUE ROAD HAD ESSENTIALLY BEEN AWARDED TO DO PIPE 1 AND PIPE 2, WHICH WE'RE LABELING ON ISSUE ROAD. PIPE 1 BEEN WORKED ON DEPLETED AND THEN PIPE 2 THEY STARTED TO DIG UP AND WORK THROUGH. THE PIPE IS DETERIORATING WORSE THAN INITIALLY ESTIMATED SO WE'RE HAVING A CONTRACTOR WHILE WE'RE THERE AND INSIDE THE PROJECT PRICE OUT A FULL CHANGE TO REPLACE THAT PIPE. WE'RE ESTIMATE IS GOING TO BE AROUND $60,000 AND CHANGE FOR THAT, SO THAT WILL BE COMING TO YOU AS A CHANGE ORDER ON THE NEXT AGENDA FOR THAT PROJECT. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS WITH THAT. WE CERTAINLY HAVE PUBLIC WORKS COME IN AND SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. >> WHERE WILL THEY COME FROM? CONTINGENCY? >> WE HAVE BEEN SLOWLY PAYING A LOT OF THESE PIPE PROJECTS OUT OF, [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD TAKE IT CONTINUALLY OUT OF [INAUDIBLE] FUND MONEY FOR THE PROJECTS. >> COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD. COMMISSIONER BARTZ, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? [County Commissioners Open Discussion Period] >> SURE. SATURDAY, I ATTENDED IT'S CALLED NAP DAY. IT WAS UP THERE BEHIND FU LINE AT THE BASKETBALL COURTS, YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR MENTOR TREY WARNER EVERY YEAR PUTS ON AN EVENT FOR THIS YEAR, HE HAD OVER 100 YOUNG ATHLETES, PUTS ON A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR ALL DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS. DOES IT THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS AND EVERYTHING, BUT I GAVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTFELT APPRECIATION AWARD FOR THAT FOR ALL HIS HARD WORK THAT HE DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY. NEXT UP, I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A LIST HERE. THAT'S NOT USUAL FOR ME, BUT THAT'S WHAT I DO. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT GOVERNOR WES MOORE'S BUDGET CUTS, I WAS TALKING TO SCOTT WARNER FROM MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND THE ROYAL MARYLAND COUNCIL GOT HIT PRETTY HARD, TOTAL OF $2.5 MILLION. LOCALLY, D MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL LOSE ABOUT $750,000 IN COMPETITIVE GRANTS. THE WHOLE SHORE REALLY GOT IMPACTED HERE DUE GRANTS TO THE THREE COUNSELS. I KNOW ROBIN SHE GOT HIT BY $286,000. IT JUST SCARES ME IN THE COMING YEARS, WHAT'S GOING TO BE HIT NEXT AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I TALKED TO SHERIFF BAKER ON SATURDAY AND I TALKED TO DR. DEREK SIMMONS YESTERDAY. OBVIOUSLY, FOR RIVER ROSE IS NOT GOING TO BE FIXED BY SCHOOL. WE DON'T NEED ANY FATALITIES ERROR. I TALKED ABOUT OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS DID YOU HAVE SOME TYPE OF DEPUTY PRESENCE THERE. DOCTOR SIMMONS SAYS THEY'VE BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR THAT. THEY'LL BE INITIATING COMMUNICATION [01:25:04] TO HAVE EVERYTHING READY BEFORE FALL SPORTS STARTS, AUGUST 13. IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S RADAR ABOUT THE SAFETY OF FOUR FORD RIVER ROAD, STUDENTS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE THAT AWARE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY'S ON BOARD FOR THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A GROUP MEETING AND GET EVERYBODY TOGETHER ON THE SAME PAGE. DANNY, WHILE WE'RE THERE, RIVER ROAD AND COMMISSIONER PORTER, I THINK WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND BID THAT OUT TO GET IT PAVED. ONCE THE CULVERT IS DONE, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GET IT PAVED. I THINK WE NEED TO START NOW BIDDING IT OUT, AND GETTING IT DONE THE PROCESS. >> WE CAN WORK TO UNDERSTAND WHERE TO START AND STOP WITH THAT WHERE. [OVERLAPPING] >> I THINK MY OPINION IT NEEDS TO GO FOR WELL, WHEREVER THE STATE STOPS AT RIVER ROAD, THERE RIGHT AWAY, THEY GO ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL AVENUE WHERE WE HAD DONE BEFORE. >> JUST PAST CENTRAL. >> YEAH. >> THEN I KNOW WE HAVE SOME ISSUES POTENTIALLY WITH THE STORM DRAIN PIPE THAT RUNS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL DOWN TO THE CREEK DOWN THE RIVER ROAD. I THINK WE NEED TO HOLD OFF ON THAT AREA UNTIL WE GET THAT [OVERLAPPING]. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY COME UP A MILEAGE AND ESTIMATE, GET A NUMBER PUT TOGETHER. >> GO AHEAD AND BID IT, SO IT'S DONE. [OVERLAPPING] YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PIGGYBACK OFF THE LAST FULL-WIDTH PAVING THAT WE JUST DID, IF THAT HELPS. I DON'T I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT IF THE PRICING IS IN LINE. >> THE LAST THING I HAVE WHILE YOU'RE HERE, DANNY. GRASS CUTTING, I KNOW COMMISSIONER PORTER GOT CONTACTED ABOUT SOME GRASS-CUTTING ISSUES, TREE TRIMMING. I THINK IF WE NEED TO AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH THE TREE TRIMMING LAST TIME, COMMISSIONER PORTER AT THE LAST MEETING, IF WE NEED TO GET HELP, MA'AM, WE NEED TO DO IT. JUST GET IT DONE. I MEAN, TO GET A SUBCONTRACTOR IN HERE. >> YES. ON ALL OF THAT. >> I MEAN, JUST TO GET CAUGHT UP. I MEAN, I THINK ONCE WE'RE CAUGHT UP, I THINK IT'S JUST BEEN SO FAR BEHIND, ESPECIALLY THE TREE TRIMENT OVER THE YEARS. IS JUST SO FAR BEHIND. I THINK IF WE JUST GET CAUGHT UP, I THINK THEN WE CAN MAINTAIN AND THE GRASS-CUTTING AS WELL. >> I WILL SAY IN DISCUSSION WITH ROBIN AND BRIAN ABOUT THE TREE TRIMMING PROBABLY OVER A WEEK OR SO AGO. THAT WE'RE GOING WITH A NEW INITIATIVE TO CANOPY WITH REALLY GIVING THEM THE FULL LIST AND PIECEMEALING NOW AND TO YOUR POINT, IT'S ONLY ONE COMPANY, THEY CAN ONLY REALLY BE IN ONE OR TWO PLACES AT A TIME. >> I THINK WE NEED MULTIPLE COMPANIES IN MY OPINION. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT. I KNOW GRASS TRIMMING OBVIOUSLY IS A BIG ONE NOW AND ONE THAT WE SEEM TO BE GETTING A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE. >> I MEAN, I KNOW THE MOWERS ARE OUT. [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE OUTRUNNING IT, BUT IT'S JUST. >> A LOT OF THE MOWERS THAT WE'VE JUST RECEIVED ARE THE NEUTER STYLES. THEY PUT THEM TO THE TEST THAT ARE OUT AS YOU KNOW. >> FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IT'S DONE A FAIRLY GOOD JOB. I MEAN, THE GRASS. [NOISE]. >> BUT NO, I WILL CERTAINLY TOUCH BASE WITH THEM AND SURE THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN BE DOING, ESPECIALLY WITH MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN SET ASIDE FOR PROJECTS LIKE THAT. [INAUDIBLE] KEEP GOING. >> THAT WAY IT'S SHIFTED FROM FLOOD CALLS TO GRASS CALLS. >> [INAUDIBLE] CALLS THE GRASS CALLS. ON THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE PUBLIC WORKS TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT HOLSINGER HOLLY, CENTRAL RIVER, ALL OF THOSE ROADS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THOSE ROADS. LET'S MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE GRASS CUT, TREES TRIMMED BACK. TRAFFIC SIGNAGE IS UP, GOOD. DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING GROWING ON IT. DOESN'T HAVE ANY ALGAE ON IT. DOESN'T HAVE ANY VINES GROWING ON IT. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL OPENING AND THE POTENTIAL TRAFFIC DETOURS ASSOCIATED WITH RIVER ROAD. >> AUGUST 13 IS WHEN FALLS SPORTS STARTS. THAT'S WHEN THE PRACTICES START. THAT'S THE FIRST LITTLE DATE THERE. ALL THE KIDS WILL BE GOING, SOME OF THE KIDS, I MEAN, NOT ALL BUT SOME. THE SOONER THAN LATER. >> I THINK ROB RETURNS. I BELIEVE SO. WE'LL GET THIS ON THE LIST OF SIT DOWN DEFEND HIS TEAM AND MAKE SURE [INAUDIBLE]. >> THAT'S ALL GUYS. >> COMMISSIONER PORTER? >> I'M JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND SAY THAT WE'RE BEING MUCH TOO REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE. [01:30:01] I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT TO GET AHEAD OF THIS STUFF. I'LL TAKE ALL THE CALLS FROM PEOPLE, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT WE CANNOT WAIT FOR THESE GRASS INTERSECTION PROBLEM THINGS TO REACH A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE CITIZENS TAKING PICTURES OF THEM AND CALLING US. WE'VE GOT TO GET ON TOP OF IT, AND THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PLAN THAT'S DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES BEFORE THEY REACH A CRISIS POINT. NORTH COUNTY PARK. IF JAMIE IS STILL THERE, WE RECEIVED, WE RECEIVED NEWS ABOUT SOMETHING ABOUT FUNDING. I'M JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS, AND IF I CAN HAVE JUST A BRIEF TIMELINE ON WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAD FROM THE FUNDING NOTIFICATION ON JULY 12. >> THE NOTIFICATION WE RECEIVED ON JULY 12 WAS THAT THE STATE WAS NOW ALLOWED TO SUBMIT TO THE FEDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.3 MILLION. ALL OF THE HOOPS THAT WE JUMPED TO WERE IN ORDER FOR THE STATE TO BE ALLOWED TO OFFICIALLY APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS. THAT PARTICULAR PIECE WILL BE 4-6 WEEKS FROM THAT DATE FOR A NOTICE FOR US TO PROCEED. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE PROCEEDING FROM 60% TO 100% DRAWINGS. COMMISSIONER BREEDING AND I WORK THROUGH A COUPLE OF GOOD HICCUPS FOR US FROM STATE HIGHWAY. GETTING SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHAT WE CAN DESIGN THERE IN TERMS OF A CELL, D CELL, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY. APPRECIATE PRESIDENT BREEDING'S SUPPORT ON THAT. >> YOU'RE ON TO PUSH IT ALONG, GET IT. [OVERLAPPING] >> [LAUGHTER] INDEED TO OUR ADVANTAGE AND NOT TO A MORE EXPENSIVE DESIGN. THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING TOWARDS TO THE 100% DRAWINGS, WAITING FOR SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO ON THE SEWER CONNECTION, BUT I FULLY ANTICIPATE NOW THAT WE ARE IN THAT PORTAL TO BE ABLE TO BREAK GROUND LATE FALL, EARLY WINTER, AS ORIGINALLY PROJECTED BASED ON THAT FUNDING. >> WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. COMMISSIONER PORTER. [LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU, JAMIE. I WANT TO GO BACK FOR A SECOND TO THE GREENSBORO EMS SPACE. THE 250,000 ESTIMATES, AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE MORE THAN THAT, BUT IS THAT INCLUDING FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT? BECAUSE THE SPACE THAT WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW WILL BE ABANDONED, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S THE PLAN. THE PLAN WOULD BE TO TRANSFER THE EQUIPMENT AND FURNITURE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CURRENT SPACE TO THE NEW SPACE, DANNY, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? >> MARK AND CATE ARE BOTH HERE AND THEY'RE NODDING THEIR HEAD, YES. I IMAGINE [OVERLAPPING] THEY'RE BE. I IMAGINE MOST OF IT WILL GO AND MAYBE SOME SMALL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE AND FIT THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE OR WILL HAVE TO THE NEW LOCATION, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YES, ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WILL GO. >> WE WILL USE WHAT WE CAN FROM THE OUTSIDE. >> YES. >> I SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT ARE WE PAYING ARE WE LEASING THE SPACE THAT WE'RE USING IN GREENSBORO RIGHT NOW? >> GREENSBORO IS THE ONLY ONE THAT EVER SEES ANY LEASE NOW. >> [BACKGROUND] KJ JUST SAID WE JUST PAY THE UTILITIES ON THE CURRENTS. THERE WON'T BE ANY OFFSET FOR EXPENSES. >> NOT REALLY. >> WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME, AS FAR AS WHEN DOES GREENSBORO THINK THEY'LL HAVE THIS BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND AND COMPLETED OR WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO NEED THE MONEY FROM US? I GUESS THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> THEY'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A THREE YEAR TURNAROUND UNTIL THIS IS CONSTRUCTED, IMAGINE WILL MERIT, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH. ORIGINALLY, WE WERE PAYING AS WE PAID I THINK IT WAS AROUND 50 OR 60% UP FRONT AND THEN HAD ACTUAL BILLINGS THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. I WOULD SAY ANYWHERE FROM 2.5-3 YEARS, WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO EXPEND THIS MONEY. >> WHERE'S A NEW FACILITY GOING OUT AT THE COMMUNITY? >> [BACKGROUND] YES. [01:35:03] >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS POINT. THANKS FOR ACCOMMODATING ME HERE TODAY. I APPRECIATE. >> NO, ABSOLUTELY. THANKS FOR CALLING IN. JUST TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ON THE NORTH COUNTY PARK PROJECT. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION BECAUSE IT IS A UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE'RE ASKING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE STATE REQUIRED US TO DO FOR THE NEW ENTRANCE BY ADDING THE EXCEL AND DCL LANE FOR SAFETY. THE STATE ACTUALLY DID NOT REQUIRE US TO DO THAT, BUT WE DECIDED AS A BOARD THAT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT FOR US TO DO SO. IT WAS JUST BASICALLY CLARIFICATION. I WAS THE MIDDLE PERSON BETWEEN OUR ENGINEER AND STATE HIGHWAY REPRESENTATIVES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE. THE INFORMATION THAT WAS BEING CONVEYED FROM THE STATE WAS MAKING IT TO THE ENGINEER, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE SITUATION, WHERE WE WERE GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO IT SOUNDS THE STATE IS BEING REASONABLE, WHAT THEY'VE REQUESTED US TO DO. WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT FOR A REASONABLE COST. THAT WAS MY GOAL AND BEING INVOLVED WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID IT WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE COUNTY. >> THANK YOU DOING THAT. YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THAT TYPE OF THING IS CERTAINLY SUPERSEDES, I THINK MINE, CERTAINLY. I KNOW IT'S UNUSUAL FOR US TO GO BEYOND WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT THE ULTIMATE GOAL THERE IS SAFETY. THE LAST THING I THINK WE WANT IS TO YOU KNOW, DO A MINIMUM THERE AND THEN HAVE SOMEONE END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. I THINK IT'S A RIGHT DECISION AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE THERE, COMMISSIONER? >> NO. THANK YOU. JAMIE'S DOING A GOOD JOB PUSHING. SHE'S PUSHING THEM ALONG. I KNOW SHE'S ON REGULAR CALLS WITH THEM NOW TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON THE DESIGN AND MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS. WE CAN GET THIS GET THIS PROJECT LONG OVERDUE STARTED. >> THANK YOU. >> THE OTHER THING I HAD, WE DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL ABOUT HARMONY ROAD BEING DELAYED DUE TO FOUNDATION ISSUES. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS STATE HIGHWAY WAS GOING TO REACH OUT TO THE CAROLINE DORCHESTER FAIR BOARD, AS WELL AS LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE CLOSURE. I DID GET A LITTLE INSIDE INFORMATION, AND EVEN THOUGH THE EMAIL SAYS THEY PROJECT A CLOSURE TO GO INTO SEPTEMBER, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE DONE BY LATE AUGUST, HOPEFULLY, IF EVERYTHING STAYS RIGHT NOW. I THINK THE DATE WAS AUGUST 12TH, I AM OPTIMISTIC IT WILL BE DONE BY THE END OF AUGUST IS THE LATEST INFORMATION THAT I HAVE, EVEN THOUGH THE STATE SUGGESTED IT COULD BE PASSED LABOR DAY. I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE ABOUT DOING SOME PATCHING TO BEACH AND BRANCH, CLARK, DETOUR, AND HIGNET ROADS, SOLDER PATCHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON OTHER COUNTY ROADS. THE INCREASED TRAFFIC CERTAINLY HAD AN EFFECT ON THE COUNTY ROADS. IT NEVER HURTS TO ASK. MAYBE WE CAN ASK STATE HIGHWAY TO HELP US OUT WITH SOME PATCHING DUE TO THE DETOURED TRAFFIC ONTO OUR COUNTY ROADS. I KNOW THE STOP SIGN HAS BEEN KNOCKED DOWN MULTIPLE TIMES AT THE END OF CLARK ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION OF CLARK AND BEACH AND BRANCH. IF NOTHING ELSE, WE'VE INCURRED SOME COST IN FIXING THAT STOP SIGN, AT LEAST THREE TIMES I'VE SEEN IT DOWN. THAT'S FROM TRUCK TRAFFIC. I ASSUME USING THAT ROAD AS OPPOSED TO THE POSTED DETOUR SET UP BY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. HOPEFULLY THAT ONE WILL OPEN. NOTICE I'VE BEEN TOLD BECAUSE I TRY TO AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THAT WE'VE BEEN CATCHING A LITTLE GRIEF ABOUT THE RIVER ROAD CLOSURE. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO OPEN A ROAD FOR A WEEK OR TWO AFTER YOU HAVE BASICALLY EDUCATED THE PUBLIC AS TO ITS CLOSURE TO OPEN IT AND THEN HAVE TO START THAT PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. IF WE DO RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, I SUGGEST FROM A PUBLIC INFORMATION STANDPOINT, WE JUST SAY, LOOK, EVERYTHING DOESN'T FALL INTO PLACE PERFECTLY. [01:40:02] I THINK ACTUALLY WE'RE STILL WAITING ON A COMCAST WIRE TO BE RELOCATED. HOPEFULLY, IT'LL HAPPEN BY FRIDAY IS WHAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO ACTIVITY HAPPENING THERE, WE ARE WAITING ON A UTILITY PROVIDER TO MOVE A WIRE BEFORE WE CAN START CONSTRUCTION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS CRANES AND THE SHEETS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ON MONDAY MORNING, ASSUMING THAT THE WIRE GETS MOVED BY FRIDAY. IT IS FALLING TO PLACE AS BEST WE CAN, EVEN THOUGH THE PUBLIC MAY RIDE BY AND SEE, NOTHING HAPPENING THERE. EVERYTHING DOESN'T FALL INTO LINE PERFECTLY. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR US TO OPEN A ROAD FOR A WEEK OR TWO, [NOISE] AND THEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EDUCATING EVERYONE ON ITS CLOSURE AGAIN. THESE THINGS ARE PAINFUL. THEY CAUSE INCONVENIENCES, BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST HERE AND WE NEED TO JUST CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO GET THAT WORD OUT, I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL. WHAT ELSE DID I HAVE? THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE IS TO COMMISSIONER PORTER'S POINT ABOUT THE REACTIVE NATURE OF PUBLIC WORKS RIGHT NOW. TO THAT VEIN, WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE DIRT ROAD SITUATION MOVING INTO THE WINTER MONTHS. I KNOW WE HAD THE ROLLER ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, WHICH IS A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT GIVE PUBLIC WORKS THE ABILITY TO COMPACT THE SOIL AND DO A BETTER JOB IN MAINTAINING OF THE DIRT ROADS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. WE ARE PLAYING CATCH UP WITH MOWING AND TREE TRIMMING RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T FORGET THAT WE ALSO, THIS IS THE TIME FRAME WHERE WE NEED TO BE DOING THE DIRT ROAD, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENTS WHILE THE WEATHER IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO SO. WE CAN'T GET IN A SITUATION WHERE IT'S JANUARY, FEBRUARY, RAIN, SNOW, COLD TEMPERATURES WHERE YOU DON'T GET EVAPORATION, AND THE DIRT ROADS DETERIORATE. WE GOT TO FIX THEM NOW IN PREPARATION FOR THE WINTER. I UNDERSTAND WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON, BUT I THINK THAT POINT NEEDS TO BE MADE VERY CLEAR TO PUBLIC WORKS. IF THAT MEANS WE'VE GOT A SUBCONTRACT SOME OF THE MOWING TO FREE THE CREWS UP TO DO THE DIRT, WHATEVER THE PLAN IS, WE JUST NEED A PLAN, AND WE GOT TO GET AFTER IT. WE DON'T HAVE OUR PHONES BLOWING UP ALL WINTER LONG ABOUT DIRT ROAD ISSUES LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR. THAT'S MY SOAPBOX SPEECH FOR TODAY. WHAT OTHER, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS? ANY UPDATE ON DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD? NO. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> I BELIEVE WE REACHED OUT TO THE TOWN, RECEIVED SOME COMMENTS. THEY WERE BACK TO THE ENGINEER. I CAN CERTAINLY PAINT TODAY AND HE HAS NOT [INAUDIBLE]. >> WORKING THROUGH THAT. CHOP TANK MARINA, ANY MOVEMENT FROM GEORGE ON THE ENGINEER ON DESIGN? >> HE DID NOT. HE WAS GOING ON VACATION SET. HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THEM EITHER. HE FIGHTING WITH HIS CONTRACTORS OVER DESIGNS. HE HAVE A NEW SET THIS WEEK. >> KEEP US POSTED ON THAT. I'M I'M HEARING A LOT OF CONCERN FROM SOME RESIDENTS DOWN THERE ABOUT THE TWO PIERS OUT IN THE CENTER AND HAVING ENOUGH SPACE TO MOVE THE BOATS IN AND OUT. IS THAT PART OF THE REDESIGN? IT'S TOO TIGHT. GOOD. KEEP US. >> THEY'RE MOBILIZING ON THE DRESSES SIDE OF THE STREET. >> GOOD. FINALLY GOT ALL THAT STREET. GOOD DEAL. >> [INAUDIBLE] CORNER ROAD. >> YES. WE MET WITH LANE ENGINEERING ABOUT WOLF AND JONES CORNER. JONES CORNER, OBVIOUSLY BEING A LOT SHORTER THIRD SECTION, SEEMS TO BE TO THE POINT OF GOING TO BID. WOLF ROAD HAD SOME ISSUES WITH BOTTOM NECKS DOWN AT CERTAIN POINTS AND TRYING TO ACTUALLY GET TO OUR FULL 0.2 FOOT WIDTH. WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DAN. HE WAS GOING TO REVISE SOME PLANS, DO SOME UPDATES AND CHANGE THE LANGUAGE ON WHAT OUR POTENTIAL RFP WOULD LOOK LIKE. I ENVISION ANY DAY NOW TO HAVE THAT RESPONSE BACK FROM HIM, SO WE OUTFIT AS WELL. WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT AND LESSON IN THE ROOM NOW AS WELL. WE'VE DONE A FIRST OF WHAT WE HOPE ARE MANY HOLISTIC LOOKS AT DIRT ROADS WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNTY. [01:45:07] WHEN WE HAD THE ARBO MONEY AVAILABLE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND THE STACK CAME TO THE BOARD TO LOOK AT DIRT ROADS. YOU PICKED THE FIRST TWO, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO IN DEPTH ANALYSIS OF WHICH ROADS SHOULD BE DONE. THEN, THANKFULLY, THANKS TO LESLIE AND VISION CHOP TANK, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO START PURSUING ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR PAVING AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE TRANSIT ISSUES FOR THESE ROADS WE'VE BEEN MEETING ABOUT EVERY TWO OR THREE WEEKS NOW AND WORKING ON THIS REALLY LARGE MASTER SPREADSHEET AND PRIORITIZING PRETTY MUCH ANY LITTLE THING THAT WE CAN THINK OF OR THAT GRAN TOURS ARE LOOKING AT AS WELL. REALLY TRYING TO PUSH ON THE DIRT ROADS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY IF WE USE OTHER PEOPLE'S FUNDING TO GET THEM PAID OR AT LEAST BUILD UP CORRECTLY. GOOD DEAL. YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE? NO. MR. PORTER, STILL GOOD? >> I'M GOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DAN. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? [Public Comment] YOU'RE GOOD? WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR THE DISCUSSION OF [Closed Session: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee(s) Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)] THE APPOINTMENT EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B SECTION 1. >> SO MOVE. >> SECOND. >> SECOND. MOTION IN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER PORTER. >> AYE. >> MR. PORTER. AYE. >> COMMISSION BREEDING. AYE. AS UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A SHORT RECESS HERE, LARRY. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.