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WELCOME TO THE AUGUST 6TH, 2024 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
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THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH IN PRESTON.AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.
WE THANK YOU FOR BEING THE FATHER OF US ALL, GIVING US THE SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING THAT'S NEEDED FOR US TO SUCCEED IN THIS LIFE AND PREPARE FOR THE ONE TO COME.
THE MEETING TODAY WE ARE PRAYING FATHER WILL BE DONE WITH RESPECT AND REVERENCE FOR THE OTHERS THAT ARE HERE THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW FOR US.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THESE JOBS, BECAUSE YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO SIT ON THE BOARD AND YOU GIVE THEM THE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING NEEDED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND THAT WE, AS THOSE WHO ARE UNDER IT, ACTUALLY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THIS COUNTY.
BUT WE PAY HONOR AND TRIBUTE TO THEM AND RESPECT THEM FOR THE TIME THEY INVESTED IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY OTHERS. CRAZY YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO HERE TODAY AND OTHERS.
EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF YOUR PRESENCE.
PEACE WITH GOD AMONGST US TODAY IN JESUS NAME.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ON AUGUST ACTUALLY, THE COMMISSIONERS HELD A CLOSED SESSION DURING THEIR JULY 23RD, 2024 MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE. TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT.
EVALUATION OF APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS OVER WHOM THIS PUBLIC BODY HAS JURISDICTION.
ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS UNDER AUTHORITY.
STATE GOVERNMENT THROUGH 3-305B, SECTION ONE STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO PROVIDE A PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION.
NO FURTHER ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
ATTENDEES INCLUDED COMMISSIONERS BREEDING PORTER AND BARTZ.
ADMINISTRATOR FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR MARK SHERIDAN, MS CHIEF CJ MARVEL DIVISION CHIEF STEVE HURLOCK, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT CINDY WATTS.
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS MORNING IS CRYSTAL DADDS, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND CODES, WITH THE DECOMMISSIONING PLANS FOR SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS. GOOD MORNING CRYSTAL.
GOOD MORNING MATT. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, I EMAILED THE COMMISSIONERS ASKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE FOR SOMETHING OUR DEPARTMENT IS GRAPPLING WITH, WHICH IS DECOMMISSIONING FUNDING FOR THE SOLAR PROJECTS. CURRENTLY, OUR REGULATIONS STATE THAT THEY MUST SECURE COSTS OF DECOMMISSIONING BY A BOND, LETTER OF CREDIT, CASH, WHATEVER IS DEEMED SATISFACTORY TO THE COUNTY AND THAT HAS TO BE APPROVED TO THE COUNTY PRIOR TO US ISSUING ANY BUILDING PERMITS.
WE'RE AT THE POINT WE HAVE ANOTHER SOLAR PROJECT THAT IS CLOSE TO BEING PERMITTED, AND THEY HAVE PROVIDED SALVAGE VALUES TO HELP REDUCE THE COST OF THAT BOND.
PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT LARGER SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE PENDING, WE HAD THREE OTHER SMALLER, I WOULD SAY LESS THAN TEN ACRE PROJECTS OF SOLAR WHERE ONE DID NOT PROVIDE ANY SALVAGE VALUES.
THEY PROVIDED THE FULL DECOMMISSIONING BOND.
WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT DID PROVIDE THEM BUT DIDN'T UTILIZE THEM.
AND THEN THE THIRD ONE THEY GOT A PERMIT, PROVIDED SALVAGE VALUES.
WE ALLOWED IT, BUT THEY NEVER CONSTRUCTED IT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT.
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I'LL GIVE YOU A COPY OF THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH, THEY PROVIDED FOR 198,000 IS THE COST TO DECOMMISSION THE PROJECT.AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE RECYCLE AND SALVAGE VALUES ARE 178,000, LEAVING A BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000 TO DECOMMISSION THAT PROJECT IN THE HOPES THAT IF WE EVER HAVE TO ACT ON THAT, WE WOULD THERE WOULD BE A MARKET FOR SALVAGING THESE PANELS.
ALL OF THIS IS KIND OF A GUESS.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO SALVAGE THEM TO? SO MATT HAS REVIEWED OVER SOME OF THESE PLANS AND DID SOME RESEARCH.
SO I THINK HE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH WHAT THEY'RE WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THAT INFORMATION FROM.
CORRECT. SO ACROSS MULTIPLE PROJECTS THEY USE MULTIPLE VENDORS.
THE LARGEST ONE IS IN NEW JERSEY, LARGEST ONE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE RECYCLE SOLAR TENDS TO BE THE ONE THAT PEOPLE USE.
THEY SOLVE THEM. THEY HAVE THE LARGEST AVENUE FOR ACTUALLY YOUR SITE COMPANY.
SO ESSENTIALLY, THE MARKET IS KIND OF DRIVING ITSELF TOWARDS REASSESSING THESE VALUES EVERY FIVE YEARS, WHETHER IT'S AT A CPCN LEVEL SIZED PROJECT OR SOME OF THESE SMALLER ONES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, 1015 ACRES IN SIZE, IT SEEMS TO BE THE CASE WHERE THEY WANT TO USE THESE VALUES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO A VENDOR THAT'S ESSENTIALLY SAYING, LOOK, WE CAN LOCK THIS VALUE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHICH FIVE YEARS IS A BUSINESS GRANT SCHEME OF THINGS.
IT'S KIND OF A LONG TIME TO LOTS OF MONEY IN A LITTLE PLACE.
SO, YOU KNOW, TO A POINT IT IS A TRUSTWORTHY SOURCE.
SO WE HAVE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS WHERE AGAIN? THIS IS NOT EVEN GIVEN A SALVAGE VALUES.
THEY HAVEN'T EVEN SAID, LOOK, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO COST TO DECOMMISSION.
WE DON'T WANT TO CARE WHAT SALVAGE VALUE IS.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.
YOU'VE GOT OTHERS THAT SAY, OKAY, WELL THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.
HERE'S WHAT WE CAN GET OUT OF THE SALVAGE VALUE, BUT WE'RE STILL GOING TO JUST GIVE YOU THE FULL BOTTOM OUT AND NOT HAVE MULTIPLE OTHER PROJECTS, WHETHER CPCN LEVELS OR, YOU KNOW, JUST AT OUR LEVEL UNDER TWO MEGAWATTS THAT ARE TWO PROJECTS RIGHT NOW.
THE ONE THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU IS REQUESTING SALVAGE VALUES AT A 50%.
VASTLY DIFFERENT NUMBERS, BOTH FOR DECOMMISSIONING COSTS.
YOU KNOW, SO YOU'VE GOT THESE PROJECTS THAT HAVE VALUES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, $1,015 MILLION DEEP MR. PROJECT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO LARGE IN SIZE.
I'VE KIND OF GONE THROUGH AND JUST KIND OF ESTIMATED BETWEEN THESE SIX PRODUCTS AND TWO THAT WE'VE HAD CONSTRUCTED THE TWO THAT ARE TWO MEGAWATTS OR LESS, AND THEN THE TWO THAT ARE AT CPCN LEVEL, AND THE AVERAGE VALUE BETWEEN THOSE SIX PROJECTS IS ABOUT $15,600 PER ACRE.
SO IT'S WHETHER IT'S A DECOMMISSIONING COST OR A SALVAGE VALUE, THEY'RE ALL PRETTY DRASTIC.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE BEST OPTION IS TO SAY, LOOK, DON'T INCLUDE A SALVAGE VALUE, JUST REQUIRE THE FULL BOND AMOUNT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE VALUE OF THE SAME SIZE PROJECT $11,000 AN ACRE OR $36,000 AN ACRE, THERE'S ONLY SEVEN ACRE DIFFERENCE IN THESE PROJECTS.
THERE'S NOT THAT MANY MORE MODULES OF COST TO TAKE THESE THINGS OUT.
THE RACKING SYSTEMS. SO IT'S VASTLY DIFFERENT JUST IN THAT ASPECT.
YOU HAVE 50%, SO YOU'VE GOT A SALVAGE VALUE.
ESSENTIALLY, THAT'S 90% OF THE VALUE THAT THEY SAY IT COSTS TO DECOMMISSION AND TAKE 50% OF THAT.
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I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE REASONABLE.BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE STILL RELYING ON THE THIRD PARTY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT.
AGAIN, WE'VE HAD TWO CONSTRUCTED.
WE HAVEN'T OFFSET THE VALUES, THE SALVAGE VALUES IN THOSE PONDS.
YOU GUYS MIND USING THE MICROPHONE? SO, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE JUST KIND OF LOOKING ON SOME GUIDANCE FROM THIS BOARD.
THE MARKET SEEMS TO DRIVE THAT WAY.
BOTH AT THE CPCN LEVEL, WHICH AGAIN, CHERRYWOOD HAD THEIRS APPROVED.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER BREEDING HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THAT ASPECT OF, YOU KNOW, $15 MILLION DECOMMISSIONING COST AND AN APPROVAL OF A $5 MILLION BOND. YOU KNOW, A THIRD OF THE COST IS KIND OF CRAZY TO A POINT.
AND AGAIN, STILL RELYING ON THIRD PARTY THAT'S WILLING TO PAY THAT VALUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH HER THIS MORNING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROJECT OF THAT SIZE.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN LET THAT THING FAIL FOR THE COST THAT THEY HAVE JUST TO BUILD IT.
YOU KNOW, THE SMALLER PROJECTS, I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE AT RISK.
I THINK IT'S IT'D BE HARD PRESSED FOR THOSE TO FAIL, BUT THOSE SMALLER ONES, I JUST DON'T KNOW.
BUT AGAIN, WE'VE ONLY HAD TWO CONSTRUCTED AND THE OLDEST ONE IS ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD.
SO AND THAT'S ONLY SEVEN ACRES IN SIZE.
SO, IT'S, WELL, THERE'S A THERE'S A COUPLE FACTORS THAT I CONSIDER HERE.
ONE IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS AND THE STATE IS SUBSIDIZING THESE OPERATIONS, THESE PANEL INSTALLATIONS AND OPERATIONS TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT A CHANGE IN POLITICAL PARTY COULD SWING, YOU KNOW, THOSE SUBSIDIES AND CALLS, YOU KNOW, TURBULENCE INSIDE THE SOLAR MARKET, WHICH COULD AFFECT PANEL VALUES? YOU HAVE TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGHS.
I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE A SCIENCE FICTION FREAK OR SOMETHING, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE FIGURE OUT FUSION POWER OR, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WITHIN THE LIFESPAN OF THESE PANELS, THEY MAY BECOME OBSOLETE, YOU KNOW, VERY QUICKLY AND DRIVE THE SALVAGE VALUE DOWN. I'M ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE CREDITORS INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS, AND THE CREDITORS ARE GOING TO BE FIRST IN LINE TO COLLECT THE SALVAGE VALUE SHOULD THE PANELS FAIL.
SO THAT MONEY, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THAT SALVAGE VALUE WOULD ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO BE CAPTURED BY THE COUNTY OR THE STATE TO PERFORM THE CLEANUP OF THE PANELS, SHOULD THEY BE SHUT DOWN.
SO YOU KNOW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT SOME OTHER STATES AND POSSIBLY EVEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON THEIR LANDS, YOU KNOW, DO NOT ALLOW SALVAGE VALUE TO BE FACTORED IN.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT THE COUNTY FROM HAVING ABANDONED SOLAR PANELS, EITHER SMALL ARRAYS OR LARGE ARRAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
SO, I MEAN, MY OPINION IS THAT WE SHOULD REQUEST THE FULL VALUE OF THE DECOMMISSIONING WITH NO SALVAGE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FOR THE BOND AMOUNT.
I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN EVEN WAIT FIVE YEARS TO REASSESS ANYTHING.
AND PLUS TWO, WITH THE WAY TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING SO FAST, IT'S.
SO, I AGREE, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE FULL BOND VALUE.
DO WE EVEN HAVE OR ARE THERE EVEN ANY RECORDS OF ANY THAT HAVE BEEN DECOMMISSIONED? WE REALLY HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT.
THE TECHNOLOGY HAS JUST BEEN SO NEW.
I MEAN, I MEAN, MOST OF THESE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO LAST FOR YEARS.
SO THE BOND IS THE BEST DEAL FOR THE COUNTY.
I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING ANY BIG FAVORS HERE FOR THE SOLAR COMPANIES.
IN FACT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN STRONGLY I'VE SPOKEN MANY, MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS ABOUT USING UP AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR SOLAR PANELS.
AND WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO OUR LIMIT.
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RIGHT. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.CLOSE. SO HOW MUCH? 400. OKAY, WELL, IN A WAY, WE'RE PROTECTING THE PROPERTY OWNER, TOO.
BECAUSE IF IT'S ABANDONED, THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT.
HOW DOES THE COUNTY AT THAT POINT TAX IT NOW? DOES IT COME OUT OF THE COMMERCIAL? SO WHEN THEY GET DECOMMISSIONED AND THE PANELS ARE LEFT THERE, DOES THEY COME OUT OF A COMMERCIAL ASSESSMENT AND GO BACK INTO AN AGRICULTURAL ASSESSMENT WHERE WE GO BACK TO COLLECTING THE REDUCED ASSESSMENT VALUE AND PROPERTY TAXES.
YOU KNOW, DO WE LEAVE? IS IT NOW A WORTHLESS PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT A LANDOWNER HAS? THEY CAN'T FARM IT. THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO REMOVE THE PANELS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF IT BECOMES AN EYESORE AND AN ISSUE, WHAT'S A FUTURE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS GOING TO SEIZE THE PROPERTY FROM THE LANDOWNER AND USE THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY TO CLEAN THE PANELS UP.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY STRANGE DYNAMIC HERE THAT WE'RE ASSESSING.
AND TO ME, THE CLEANEST WAY TO HANDLE IT IS TO REQUIRE A BOND FOR THE FULL AMOUNT.
AND THAT BOND CAN BE CALLED, SHOULD THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT AND LEAVE IT, WHO'S GOING TO BUY IT? IF IT'S, IF THEY GOT TO CLEAN ALL THE PANELS, CLEAN ALL THE PANELS UP.
YEAH. I MEAN, IT MAY BE A SITUATION WHERE THE DISPOSAL OF THE PANELS IT COSTS WOULD COST YOU MORE THAN THE PROPERTY WOULD BE WORTH ONCE IT'S CLEANED UP. SO THE OTHER OPTION WE TALKED ABOUT IN LOOKING AT THE CHART YOU HAVE THE ITEMS IN GREEN ARE WHAT THEY'VE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, RECYCLABLE.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE RECYCLABLE.
BUT THAT DEPENDS ON STEEL PRICES AND IT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT.
THE PANELS ARE WHAT'S DRIVING THE MOST OF THAT COST.
IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE STEEL MARKET.
AND THAT'S YOU KNOW, THAT'S A THAT'S A VOLATILE BOND.
DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THIS OR JUST DIRECTION? I THINK AT THIS STAGE, JUST DIRECTION.
OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024005 FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUAL.
SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED SECOND.
A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON JULY THE 9TH AND THE FIRST READING.
AND THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE BILL, 2024-005, WHICH IS A NEW CHAPTER.
128 FOOD PROCESSING RECEIVABLES STORAGE PERMIT.
IN SUMMARY, THIS IS AN ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS STORAGE PERMIT, PROHIBITING A PERSON FROM STORING FOOD, PROCESSING RESIDUALS AND CAROLINE COUNTY UNLESS THE PERSON OBTAINS A PERMIT.
CREATING STANDARDS FOR STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
ESTABLISHING THE FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS ADMINISTRATION FUND AS A SPECIAL NON LAPSING FUND, APPLYING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW REGARDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND PARTICIPATION TO FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
GENERALLY RELATING TO FOOD PROCESSING.
NEW CHAPTER 128 FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUAL STORAGE PERMIT A NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE HELD TODAY, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT AND READS AS FOLLOWS.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-005 AND ACT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUAL STORAGE PERMIT, LIMITING A PERSON FROM STORING FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS IN CAROLINE COUNTY UNLESS THE PERSON OBTAINS A PERMIT.
CREATING STANDARDS FOR STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
ESTABLISHING THE FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS ADMINISTRATION FUNDED THE SPECIAL NONMATCHING FUND DEFINING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW REGARDING PUBLIC NOTICE AND PARTICIPATION THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RESIDUAL STORAGE PERMITS, REQUIRING AN APPLICANT TO AUTHORIZE A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER AND INSPECT ANY SITE FOR FOOD PROCESSING.
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RESIDUALS ARE STORED, PROVIDING FOR CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, GENERALLY RELATING TO FOOD PROCESSING, RESIDUAL STORAGE, PERMITS TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN. EMERGENCY BILL BY ADDING TO THE CODE OF THE LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.NEW CHAPTER 128.2 PROCESSING RESIDUAL STORAGE PERMIT.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON THE ABOVE ITEM ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 6TH, BEGINNING AT 9:15 A.M.
IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE HOUSE BUILDING.
TO SUBMIT COMMENTS IN WRITING EMAIL ADDRESSES GIVEN, VISIT THE WEB ADDRESSES GIVEN FOR MAIL TO 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123 MARYLAND 21629.
PERSONS WITH A DISABILITY NEED REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY.
SHOULD CONTACT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE AT (410) 479-0660.
AND WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC COMMENT.
WHICH HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS? YES. SO, STEWART, DOES THAT PUBLIC COMMENT NEED TO BE READ INTO THE RECORD OR. WE DON'T HAVE ALL DAY TO DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE PUBLIC RECORD.
THEY CAN BE OBTAINED BY ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO RECEIVE THEM.
OKAY. THEY'VE COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT QUARTERS WITH ALL KINDS OF COMMENTS, SOME WANTING MORE STRINGENT RESTRICTIONS ON THE STORAGE AND SOME REQUESTING THAT THE RESTRICTIONS BE LIGHTENED UP.
OKAY. WE'LL SAY THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BILL THAT WAS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE DOES HAVE SOME CHANGES INCORPORATED BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE ON PAGE SIX.
SECTION FOUR DOWN HERE, WE ADDED IT A PERSON THAT STORES UPPERS MAY NOT DO THE FOLLOWING.
SO WE ADDED TO NUMBER FOUR WHICH ALREADY SAID MIX FEATURES WITH SPECIAL HANDLING WASTE WE ADDED OR ANIMAL MANURE SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE MIXED.
AND THEN ALSO ON PAGE TEN WE REMOVED HOLD ON.
THIS MAY NOT BE IN THESE AGENDA IN THIS.
YEAH, WE'LL HAVE TO CLEAN THAT NUMBERING UP, BUT WE REMOVED THE SECONDARY CONTAINMENT STRUCTURES.
AND THEN ON PAGE 15, WE REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ADDED THAT A DOCUMENT DISCLOSING THE NUMBERS OF ACRES TO THE NEAREST 10TH OF AN ACRE THAT THE FEES WILL BE APPLIED TO, INCLUDING THE MAXIMUM RATE OF APPLICATION IN GALLONS PER ACRE ALLOWED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND, INCLUDE THE MAXIMUM RATE OF APPLICATION IN GALLONS PER ACRE, ATTAINABLE IN ONE APPLICATION BY THE PROPOSED EQUIPMENT SLASH MEANS AND METHODS.
SO THOSE ARE THE CHANGES THAT WERE INCORPORATED INTO THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BILL.
THAT THAT WAS ADVERTISED ON OUR AGENDA.
SO YOU GUYS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE VOTE TO OPEN THE NO PUBLIC? I'M PREPARED TO HEAR WHAT I'M GOOD PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY.
OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? SO MOVED. SECOND.
AYE. SO AT THIS TIME DO WE HAVE A BOOK SIGNED UP OR SIGN UP BOOK WITH NAMES? WE CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
PLEASE TRY TO KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.
THERE WILL BE A TIMER, I BELIEVE, OVER HERE.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTED TOWARDS THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OTHER ITEMS HERE TODAY.
SO SPECIFIC TESTIMONY TO THE SUPPORT OR
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OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL WILL BE THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT ENTERTAINED AT THIS TIME.PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS CIVIL AND DIRECTED TO ME THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE MR. BRAD SEARS, RIDGELY TOWN COMMISSIONER.
MR. SEARS, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING.
MR. PRESIDENT, MR. VICE PRESIDENT, MR. COMMISSIONER GOOD MORNING.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF RIDGELY TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-02, ENTITLED NEW CHAPTER 128 FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
STORAGE PERMIT THE LEGISLATIVE BILL.
I OFFER THIS TESTIMONY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND CHILDREN WHO LIVE, WORK, ATTEND SCHOOL, AND PLAY WITHIN THE RIDGELY TOWN LIMITS, AS WELL AS FOR ALL WHO LIVE WITHIN THE RIDGELY AREA.
AS FORMER COMMISSIONER ANTHONY CASEY, MY PREDECESSOR, TESTIFIED AT THE JANUARY PUBLIC MEETING.
THE TOWN OF RIDGELY VIEWS THE STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS FEES WITH EXTREME CONCERN.
WE HAVE THIS CONCERN BECAUSE THE IMPROPER STORAGE OF FOODS POSES WELL DOCUMENTED THREATS TO HUMAN LIFE, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.
THREE INTERCONNECTED COMPANIES HEARTLAND HOLDINGS, WAKEFIELD HOLDINGS AND MARYLAND AG'S VENTURES, OWN A COMBINED 1500 ACRES OF LAND SURROUNDING RIDGELY.
AND WHILE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT EVIDENCE OF ILLEGAL FPR DUMPING, THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY VIEWS THE COMPANY'S FUTURE WITH CONCERN.
THESE CONCERNS ASIDE, THOUGH, THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY GENERALLY REGARDS THE RECENT IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSE BILL 991 AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT BECAUSE THE HOUSE BILL REGARDS OR USES THE NRC'S WASTE STORAGE FACILITY, NUMBER 3313 CONSERVATION PRACTICES AS THE STANDARD FOR DETERMINING ACCEPTABILITY OF FBR CONTAINERS, WHICH INCLUDES OPEN TOP CONTAINERS WHICH DO NOTHING TO LIMIT THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THOSE.
THOSE STRUCTURES, THE ODORS, THE EXPOSURE TO VECTORS AND AIRBORNE BACTERIA AND VIRUSES.
THEREFORE, KEEPING THIS VERY BRIEF.
THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY DOES EXPRESS ITS SINCERE THANKS TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE STAFF OF CAROLINE COUNTY FOR YOUR COURAGE AND YOUR PERSISTENCE IN DEALING WITH THIS VITAL MATTER.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY AS WELL.
OKAY, NEXT UP WE HAVE VICKY GARNETT.
I'M SORRY. I DID SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN LIEU OF THE VOTE TESTIMONY.
OKAY, BUT I DO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
PRACTICALLY WITH CONSTRUCTION.
YEAH. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR UNWAVERING DETERMINATION TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR TOWNS.
THANK YOU. THEN WE HAVE JOYCE AND WAYNE BELL.
OKAY. HOLLY PORTER, DELMARVA CHICKEN ASSOCIATION.
MORNING. I ALWAYS GET THIS MOLD HERE.
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GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT.COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS HOLLY PORTER.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DELMARVA CHICKEN ASSOCIATION AND CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING I DID SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS AND HOPEFULLY THOSE WILL BE REVIEWED, BUT I DID WANT TO JUST POINT OUT A COUPLE KEY POINTS HERE FOR THE VERBAL TESTIMONY.
NUMBER ONE, I REALLY AND TRULY WOULD LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER SOME WAY OF GRANDFATHERING IN THE FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN UTILIZING AND STORING FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUAL FOR YEARS WITHOUT THE COMPLAINTS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
FARMERS ALREADY HAVE ANOTHER ENOUGH ISSUES TO DEAL WITH PRESSURES, WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMY, INFLATION, DEVELOPMENT, SOLAR LOTS OF THINGS THAT CONCERN FARMING.
THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO THE FACT THAT WE, THE COUNTY, ACCEPTS THE INCONVENIENCES AND DISCOMFORTS OF BEING ABLE AND BEING AN AGRICULTURAL COUNTY. WHEN WE HAVE THIS TERM IN THE BILLS, IT REALLY DOES CONCERN ME ABOUT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CONSIDERATIONS OR CONCERNS OF VECTORS AND ODORS AROUND CHICKEN FARMS, DAIRY FARMS, ANY OTHER FARMS, FOR THAT MATTER.
NUMBER THREE, AGAIN, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS THE ABILITY WITHIN THE ZONING USE CODE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AND COME UP WITH SOME VERY REASONABLE WAYS OF LOOKING AT STORAGE, LOOKING AT BUFFERS, LOOKING AT SETBACKS, LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS A PUBLIC WORK SESSION.
WE BRING IN SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO TALK ABOUT AND GIVE FACTUAL INFORMATION, NOT THINGS FROM A NEWSLETTER OR A BLOG WHICH ARE INACCURATE, BUT FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT FEARS ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE NOT.
FEARS ARE FROM FOOD PROCESSING.
SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE BEFORE A THIRD READING WE CONSIDER A PUBLIC WORKSHOP.
AND AGAIN, DCA WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP SUGGEST SOME FOLKS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER SOME ANSWERS.
OKAY. NEXT UP WE HAVE ALAN AND MEGAN DUNCAN.
GREAT. FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS MATT PLUTA.
FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR HARD WORK GETTING TO THIS POINT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES THAT YOU PUT INTO IT.
SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT DUE DILIGENCE AND PUTTING FORWARD A SOLID PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
AND I DON'T DOUBT THAT TO BE TRUE.
I THINK THAT HAS BEEN TRUE, BUT SOMETHING'S CHANGED RECENTLY.
CLEARLY. OTHERWISE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS LEVEL.
YOU KNOW, AND WHAT I SEE HAS CHANGED IS THAT THESE COMPANIES THAT ARE GENERATING THIS MATERIAL IS DISPROPORTIONATELY SENDING THIS TO COMMUNITIES AND AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE THE REGULATIONS TO BRING ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS IT OR TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING USED SAFELY.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES TODAY.
YOU KNOW, WE LEARNED THAT THE STATE OF MARYLAND WAS A FOCUS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STATE REGULATIONS.
EVEN MORE SO, CAROLINE COUNTY WAS THE FURTHER FOCUS BECAUSE WE LACK REGULATIONS HERE.
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QUALITY, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT REALLY THE TWO MAJOR CONCERNS OF THIS MATERIAL.AND THE FIRST COMES TO THE OVERAPPLICATION THAT COMMONLY OCCURS WHEN USING THIS.
DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT A LOT OF NUTRIENTS IN IT.
IT JUST MEANS THE FORM THAT THE NUTRIENTS ARE IN ARE NOT REALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PLANTS.
AND THEN IN THAT SITUATION YOU HAVE THE NUTRIENTS AND OTHER FORMS THAT ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUNNING OFF DURING RAIN EVENTS THAT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND REPORT THAT CAME OUT LAST YEAR THAT I MENTIONED POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS A STARK DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE THE NUMERICAL VALUES THAT THE FARMERS WERE REPORTING IN, THE DAFF MATERIAL THEY WERE USING, AND THEN THE VALUES THAT THE STATE CHEMIST WAS REPORTING.
AND SO WHAT THAT SPEAKS TO IS THE CO-MINGLING HERE.
THAT WAS VERY EVIDENT IN THAT REPORT THROUGH THAT DATA.
THE OTHER PIECE IS REALLY THE STORAGE TANKS AND THE FAILURES THAT WE'VE SEEN.
WE HAD A LAGOON THAT WAS INTENTIONALLY DRAINED FOR THE PURPOSE OF, OF STORING DAFF MATERIAL.
SO WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS.
AND THANK YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, FOR CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE VERY SERIOUSLY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MATT., NEXT, ALAN GERARD, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
I'M THE ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION HERE IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S LEGISLATION.
YOU'VE LOOKED AROUND THE STATE.
YOU'VE NOTED THAT THERE ARE STORAGE REGULATIONS THAT HAVE NEWLY BEEN ADOPTED, AND WICOMICO COUNTY AND CARROLL COUNTY AND TALBOT COUNTY, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS THAT THAT COUNTY IS GRAPPLING WITH.
THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN PASSING LEGISLATION LIKE THIS, SO WE JUST APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT ON THAT.
YOU KNOW, CLEARLY THIS LOCAL LEGISLATION IS A BOOKEND TO THE STATE PERMITTING REGULATIONS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ADOPTED AS A RESULT OF STATUTE THAT PASSED THIS PAST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SO WE JUST APPRECIATE THE BOOKENDS OF THE STATE POLICY AND WHAT THIS LOCAL WORK DOES HERE.
THIS ROOM WAS OVERFLOWING WITH PEOPLE OUT INTO THE HALLWAY EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN.
THIS IS MY 23RD YEAR AT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION.
AND TO SEE THE PEOPLE COME OUT AND SAY, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AND HAVE THEIR ELECTED LEADERS IN GOVERNMENT SAY, WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK, WE'RE GOING TO BE RESPONDING TO WHAT YOU SAY IS A COMMUNITY NEED, AND TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND DO THE RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING, AND COME UP WITH A RESOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO WORK AND TO RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
IT'S JUST, FRANKLY, QUITE REFRESHING.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT INTO THIS.
SO WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR EFFORT THERE.
SO JUST IN CLOSING, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS BILL REALLY SHOULD ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.
IT SHOULD ADDRESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND IT SHOULD ADDRESS THE WATER QUALITY CONCERNS.
YOU KNOW THAT WERE NOT FOR THIS STORAGE BILL WOULD BE AT RISK.
SO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.
LAST PERSON WE HAVE SIGNED UP IS MIKE WOODWARD.
[00:45:03]
I'M APPROXIMATELY 400 YARDS FROM THE TANK ITSELF, AND I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS TANK.IT'S ILLEGAL TO START WITH BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN PERMITTED.
AND HE'S USING IT, AND HE'S STORING EVERY DAY IN IT.
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH FLIES.
THE ODOR IS ATROCIOUS AT TIMES.
THE FLIES ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
WE WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH OUR HORSES.
SO THE VET CHECKED THEM OUT AND THE FLIES WERE ACTUALLY LAYING LARVAE INSIDE THEIR EYES.
I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TO HELP US OUT AND ALL THE STAFF, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF TIME THAT GOES INTO THAT, AND IT'S JUST WE WISH IT WAS HAPPENING FASTER, BUT WELL, WE'RE GETTING THERE.
IT TAKES TIME TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
RIGHT. SO BUT WE DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
IT'S JUST IT'S A PUBLIC NUISANCE IS WHAT IT IS.
AND I SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT.
IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD THAT IT'S NOT TOXIC.
I'VE HEARD THAT IT IS TOXIC AND.
DEPENDS ON WHO YOU WHAT ARTICLES YOU READ.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE ODOR THAT.
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT SHOULDN'T BE, BECAUSE IT'S JUST IT'S ALMOST DEFECATING.
YOU CAN'T STAND OUTSIDE WHEN THE WIND'S BLOWING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU JUST CAN'T STAY OUTSIDE AND HOT LIKE IT IS, TOO.
IT'S NOT HELPING THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THAT.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING FOR US, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY? ALL MY LIFE. 65 YEARS.
AND HOW MUCH OF YOUR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN OF THAT TIME? HAVE YOU SPENT AROUND FARMS OR FARMING? ALL MY LIFE, OKAY.
ALL MY LIFE. SO IT'S NOT SOMEBODY MOVED FROM THE CITY.
IT'S NOT SOMEBODY NOT FAMILIAR WITH FARMING.
AND TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, I WORK AROUND COWS AND I WORK AROUND COW MANURE.
AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THIS.
WELL, IT HASN'T BEEN DISTURBED SINCE LAST SPRING.
AND IT'S STILL STINKS BAD, RIGHT.
AND THE FLIES ARE STILL JUST AS BAD.
HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU IN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY? EXCUSE ME? HOW MANY YEARS WERE YOU IN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY? YOU GREW POULTRY, RIGHT? 15 YEARS. 15 YEARS? YES. YEAH.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE.
THANK YOU. MIKE. OPEN IT UP TO.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. DO NOT SEE ANYONE ELSE.
DO WE WANT TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND THEN COMMENT? THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.
I WOULD MOVE, WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF CONVERSATION HERE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY PROBLEMS. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS ARISEN, I'VE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS.
THE PROBLEM IS THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PROBLEM.
GRANDFATHERING IN UNFORTUNATELY WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE GRANDFATHERING IN WHAT MISS PORTER REFERRED TO AS THE BAD ACTOR.
IN MY YEARS, AND I'M NOT A LAWYER, I WISH I WAS.
[00:50:06]
NOT ALL THE PEOPLE.SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS CREATING A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW AND HAS BEEN CREATING A PROBLEM TO ME, THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, WE SPENT AS FAR AS THE RIGHT TO FARM ISSUE.
WHEN THE SENATE TESTIMONY WAS DONE ON THE ON THIS BILL IN ANNAPOLIS, THE THREE OF US TESTIFIED, I THINK WE WAITED NINE HOURS TO TESTIFY FOR THREE MINUTES.
WE WERE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT RIGHT TO FARM IS AN ISSUE.
I'M LOOKING AT A LETTER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT WE GOT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYING THAT STORAGE OF THIS MATERIAL DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RIGHT TO FARM ACT.
SO WE ARE NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN APPLICATION.
WE'RE NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THIS IS TOXIC OR NOT.
THAT'S UP TO THE STATE CHEMIST.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE BRING BEFORE US.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE DATE WAS, BUT WHATEVER TUESDAY IT WAS THAT MRS. WOODWARD CAME IN.
I WAS AT YOUR FARM THAT DAY, THAT AFTERNOON, BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE FOR MYSELF WHAT THE SITUATION WAS AND, YOU KNOW, I SAW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S NOT. I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE, HONESTLY, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED THIS, AND I'VE GONE I'M AROUND IN THIS COUNTY A LOT, AND I'VE TAKEN MY WHIPPING FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID TO ME, YOU'RE COMING, YOU'RE HURTING ME.
I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, CREATE AN IMPOSITION ON PEOPLE.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PICK AND CHOOSE WHO YOU APPLY LAWS TO.
SO, I AM FINE, WE HAVE REVISED IT ALREADY.
I AM FINE WITH TALKING AND LISTENING TO LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT REVISING IT AS WELL.
NONE OF THESE BILLS EVER END UP IN THE SAME FORM.
THEY START OUT IN THEIR REVISED AS TIME GOES ON.
BUT YOU KNOW, I WE MAY END UP BEING SUED IF WE ARE.
WE ARE. I MEAN, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DO THIS, BUT WE OUR INTENTION HERE IS TO NOT HURT THE FARMING INDUSTRY, BUT IT IS TO ADDRESS CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US BY OUR CITIZENS.
AND IT'S A IT'S A TOUGH NEEDLE TO THREAD, AND IT'S TAKEN SOME TIME AND A LOT OF WORK BY OUR STAFF, BY OUR STAFF WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO THIS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT UNTIL WE GET IT IN A VERSION THAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT ONE.
I KNOW CARROLL COUNTY HAS DONE THINGS.
I KNOW WORCESTER COUNTY HAS DONE THINGS.
I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR ADDRESSING CONCERNS IN THIS COUNTY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL COMING OUT TODAY.
AND WE WILL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. YEAH. THANK YOU, LARRY.
YES. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AS WELL FOR COMING OUT.
IT'S JUST A COUPLE OF NOTES THAT I MADE.
AS FAR AS THE GRANDFATHERING IN WE PUT THAT IN THE ON THE TABLE A WHILE BACK TO LET THE FARMERS THAT WERE USING IT FOR THE SPRAYING FINISH OUT THEIR PLANTING SEASON. GRANDFATHERING WAS NEVER ON THE TABLE FOR ME BECAUSE, AS COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID, IF YOU LET ONE, YOU GOT TO LET ALL AND A GOVERNANCE PERSPECTIVE. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'LL WORK.
I THINK MDE WAS TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF IT, BUT THROUGH CERTAIN EFFORTS IT WAS PUT BACK INTO MDA.
SO POULTRY FARMERS FALL UNDER MDE AS FAR AS THEIR POULTRY HOUSING, THEIR POULTRY COMPOST THEIR
[00:55:01]
FARM RUNOFF.I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, BUT IT SHOULD BE UNDER MD.
THERE ARE FARMERS THAT ARE USING THIS RESPONSIBLY.
SO THAT'S GRANDFATHERING IN IS NOT FOR ME.
I THINK WE GOT A BILL HERE THAT ADDRESSES THE CITIZENS' CONCERNS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID.
THERE IS ONE FARMER THAT ONE FARM THAT MR. BREEDING VISITED NEVER HAD THIS APPLIED AT ALL.
AND THERE WAS BLACK FLIES EVERYWHERE THE NEXT DAY.
SO I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID TO IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE IT.
SO I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS BILL A LITTLE BIT MORE TALK TO PEOPLE.
I'VE TALKED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, THE CHEMIST.
I'VE TALKED TO HER I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT THAT KNOW THIS PRODUCT.
NOT JUST BY WHAT YOU KNOW, THIS ONE SAYS THIS, THIS ONE SAYS THAT.
BUT I THINK, I THINK THE STORAGE ASPECT OF IT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT BALLGAME.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO, YOU KNOW, AS A SOIL AMENDMENT.
AND THAT'S NOT OUR FORTE HERE.
SO I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS AND THEIR THOUGHTS HERE.
SO THANK YOU. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP, ONE MORE THING YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOTHING THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SOMEONE WHO IS UTILIZING THIS MATERIAL CURRENTLY FROM APPLYING TO STORE THIS MATERIAL UNDER THIS BILL.
WE ARE NOT BANNING THIS IS NOT BANNING STORAGE OF FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS.
IF SOMEONE IS USING THIS AND FEELS STRONGLY ABOUT WANTING TO USE IT AS A SOIL AMENDMENT AND WANTS TO STORE IT, THEY CAN CERTAINLY COME IN AND APPLY ONCE THESE REGULATIONS ARE SET. SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN PUSHED HERE, YOU KNOW, IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE RECENT PAST HERE TO BAN IT.
WE CAN'T, WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BAN IT.
WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PLACE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON THE STORAGE OF THIS MATERIAL.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S MADE THIS DIFFICULT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE END UP WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, LONG THING HERE THAT WE'VE HAD TO COME UP WITH.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT OKAY.
SO FOR ME IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY HOLLY HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AT ADVOCATING FOR THE CHICKEN INDUSTRY, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE ECONOMY OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE EASTERN SHORE.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AS A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE THINKER TO IMPLEMENT A BILL, YOU KNOW, ADDING THIS MUCH REGULATION TO COUNTY ORDINANCES AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOME EVIDENT THAT NOBODY APPROACHED THE COUNTY HOWEVER MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THESE MANURE STORAGE STRUCTURES GOT CONVERTED TO A DIFFERENT USE, TOTALLY DIFFERENT USE, THEY WERE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED TO STORE MATERIAL THAT WAS GENERATED ON THE FARM FROM THE RAISING OF LIVESTOCK.
THAT'S WHAT THEY THAT'S WHAT ALL THESE STRUCTURES WERE DESIGNED FOR.
THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE OPEN REGULATION THAT WE HAVE REGARDING AGRICULTURE.
REPURPOSE THEM AND STARTED TO STORE WHAT I CONSIDER AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE.
WHETHER IT'S A FOOD WASTE, IT'S AN INDUSTRIAL FOOD WASTE, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
I BELIEVE IT'S IN A RAW STATE AND IT'S ACTIVELY DECOMPOSING.
[01:00:04]
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE FLIES AND THE ODOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT.SO, YOU KNOW, TO ME, IT'S I'M THROUGH ALL OF MY RESEARCH, I HAVE BECOME MORE SOLIDIFIED IN THE THINKING THAT THIS PRODUCT IS A IS A HAZARD TO THE HEALTH THROUGH IF NOT THROUGH PHYSICAL HEALTH CONCERNS, THE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE TO ENDURE THE SMELL AND THE FLIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PRODUCT.
THERE IS A LEGITIMATE HEALTH CONCERN WITH THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT FOR ME.
THE INCREASED BURDEN ON PUBLIC WORKS TO FIX THESE ROADS.
WE'VE SPENT OVER $1 MILLION CURRENTLY ON TWO ROADS WHERE PFAS HAVE BEEN USED ON FIELDS.
NOW IT'S IN A SECLUDED PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND THEN MAYBE THAT'S WHY WE DON'T GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM THAT PARTICULAR OPERATION.
I AM CONVINCED BY HEAVIER TRUCK TRAFFIC USING THE ROADS AT HIGHER VOLUMES.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, STEP INTO A TERRITORY HERE THAT I THINK PREVIOUS COMMISSIONERS HAVE NOT DONE.
I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SLIPPERY SLOPE ARGUMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT A LOT LONGER THAN ME.
HAVE YOU EVER DONE, YOU KNOW, DOING WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG? WE WE'RE HERE.
I MEAN, I'M HERE TO CALL BALLS AND STRIKES.
SO THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.
AND YOU KNOW, I'M CONFIDENT IN THIS LEGISLATION.
THOUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS LONG AND TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT, IT CAN BE FURTHER AMENDED IF WE NEED TO GO FURTHER OR IF OUR REGULATIONS HAVE GONE TOO FAR.
IF IT'S PROVEN THAT THAT THEY'VE GONE TOO FAR.
SO, GUYS DO WE WANT TO VOTE ON IMPLEMENTING THESE AMENDMENTS? IS EVERYONE GOOD WITH THESE AMENDMENTS? AND WE'LL DO A VOTE ON THAT NOW.
SO, ARE YOU GOOD? I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD.
OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENTS TO THE THIRD READING.
YOU MIGHT MAKE A FORMAL MOTION, OKAY, TO APPROVE THE AMENDED VERSION OF THE BILL.
WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE WITH THE ORDINANCE, WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED TODAY.
MOTION TO SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE.
THE AYES HAVE IT. UNANIMOUSLY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.
IT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES, A LOT OF OTHER PRESSING CONCERNS AROUND THE COUNTY DRAINAGE ISSUES, AND, AND YOU KNOW, MAINTENANCE ISSUES, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION WITH RIVER ROAD, WE, YOU KNOW, BUDGET ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND THIS THIS HAS REALLY YOU KNOW, BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT HERE FOR A WHILE.
WE WORK THROUGH ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND IT'S BEEN QUITE THE DISTRACTION, BUT.
SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION ARE SOWN WHEN WE DEMAND OUR RIGHTS AND NEGLECT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
OKAY. SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
MOVE. WE CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AYE. AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX WITH THE MS DISCUSSION.
[01:05:02]
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.IN HOPES THAT WE WILL BRING FORWARD AND DO A FULL STEP PLAN ACROSS THE BOARD AT THE COUNTY AND 2026, I DON'T KNOW, I SAID THAT WE'RE STILL IN A MEETING.
WOULD THIS FIRST STEP LEVERAGE THE INCREASE MOVING INTO 2026 WITH IMPLEMENTING A STEP PLAN.
RIGHT NOW, THE CURRENT ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS WOULD BE AROUND $50,600.
SO ESSENTIALLY TODAY WE ARE ASKING TO IMPLEMENT THIS FIRST STEP IN THE CHANGE WITH THE EXPECTATION AGAIN THAT WE'LL BE COMING BACK IN 2026 WITH ACROSS THE BOARD COUNTY STEP PLAN.
ALL RIGHT. SO DO WE NEED A MOTION TO.
YES, SIR. IF WE COULD SEEK A MOTION ON THAT COMMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THE PROBLEM THAT WE RUN INTO IN THIS SITUATION IS THAT WE'RE VERY BASICALLY IN A BIDDING WAR WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR PERSONNEL.
AND CAROLINE COUNTY, WHILE WE ALL LOVE IT, IS ONE OF THE POORER COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT IS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO OF THE RICHEST COUNTIES.
SO WHEN YOU GET INTO A BIDDING WAR WITH COUNTIES THAT CAN PRETTY MUCH WRITE A CHECK FOR WHAT THEY WANT, WHATEVER THEY WANT, IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO YOU KNOW, TO ENACT POLICIES AND PAY REGULATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU COMPETITIVE.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.
I KNOW WE HAVE ALL TALKED INDIVIDUALLY TO SOME OF THE PERSONNEL I THINK WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS STAFF OF PARAMEDICS AND EMTS AND 911 DISPATCHERS.
WHEN YOU CALL THEM, THAT'S WHEN THEY BETTER SHOW UP.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY DO SHOW UP AND THAT'S WHEN THEY PERFORM.
SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS THESE ARE CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE WHEN YOU STRIKE A BUDGET, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THAT BUDGET IS FLUID AND THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE IN A 71 MILLION.
IS THAT WHAT, $71 MILLION BUDGET? THIS IS A PRETTY SMALL ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT'S STILL A LOT OF MONEY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SO WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET, WE LITERALLY GET DOWN TO $10 THAT WE TALK ABOUT.
SO I, I WOULD SUPPORT THIS, THIS INCREASE.
WE HAVE NOT ADJUSTED THE RATE OF COVERAGE ON HEALTH INSURANCE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
CORRECT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WE WANT TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN TO OUR TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, TO OUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO DO THAT BASED ON.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT FIGURE.
I'M SORRY, IS THAT THE FIGURE DISCUSSED TODAY IS JUST THE BLS AND DISPATCHERS.
[01:10:01]
WELL VERSED IN THEIR JOB.SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS JUST A RIGHT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO CORRECT THIS.
WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE AMENDED PAY SCALE FOR MS TO BETTER HELP US COMPETE WITH SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND RETAINING OUR PERSONNEL.
ON TO OUR ACTION AGENDA ITEM DISCUSSION, WHICH IS THE LETTER OF.
OF INTENT FOR CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
GUYS, WHO WANTS TO GO? ANYBODY WANT TO GO? FIRST DISCUSSION OF THIS? OKAY.
GO AHEAD. THIS, I GUESS SOME BACKGROUND.
AND CORRECT ME, PLEASE, IF I'M WRONG, I GOT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON THAT I GOT IN MY HEAD, BUT THIS IS TO BUILD A NEW BUILDING ON THE CAMPUS.
THAT WOULD BE THE QUEEN ANNE BUILDING.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT WOULD BE A BUILDING FOR TRADE FOR TRAINING AS FAR AS TRADES, MAYBE.
CAN YOU COME UP AND FILL US IN A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT JUST SPECIFICALLY WHAT TRADES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? GOOD MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONERS.
THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING AS IT'S PROPOSED NOW IN THIS REVISION, IT WOULD INCLUDE THE ELECTRICAL PROGRAM, THE WELDING, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, HVAC, AGRICULTURE AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES, CARPENTRY AND MASONRY WITH SOME FIXED SPACE FOR CERTAIN PROGRAMS LIKE WELDING AND AGRICULTURE, AND THEN VERY LARGE OPEN SPACE THAT CAN BE USED FOR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND CAN BE CHANGED AS THE NEED CHANGES, AS WE MOVE ALONG.
SO THAT'S THE NEW THE NEW BUILDING PROPOSAL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. I WASN'T I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT TRADES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
SO THANK YOU. SO THE COST TO THIS TO THE COUNTY.
SO CAROLINE COUNTY SHARE ENDS UP TOTALING $2,723,145.
THIS IS SPREAD ACROSS THREE FISCAL YEARS.
THAT WE WOULD SEE OVER 26, 27, AND 28.
YES. THAT'S CORRECT. SECOND YEAR IS TWO JUST SHY OF 2.3 AS A ROUND NUMBER.
AND THAT'S THE BULK OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE TOTALS LIKE 2.7.
YES, SIR. OKAY, SO OVER THE YEARS, WE, WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ADDITIONAL BUILDINGS, WHICH I GUESS THE LAST ONE WAS THE HPAC BUILDING.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND WHICH I ACTUALLY VOTED AGAINST PROVIDING FUNDING FOR AND I THINK THAT OVER THE, YOU KNOW, AS I TALKED TO PEOPLE, AS I TALK TO BUSINESS PEOPLE, AS I TALK TO CONTRACTORS WHAT I HEAR FROM THEM IS THE LACK OF SKILLED TECHNICAL PEOPLE TO WORK ON TO WORK IN THE TRADES. AND I'VE MADE THE COMMENT A NUMBER OF TIMES, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO ALL MY FRIENDS THAT ARE LAWYERS, YOU CAN FIND A LAWYER A LOT BETTER, A LOT EASIER THAN YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY TO FIX YOUR AIR CONDITIONING OR YOUR CAR.
SO I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS AND I HAVE SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS MYSELF WITH WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD. I MEAN, WE WEREN'T EVEN 11 DAYS INTO THIS STATE BUDGET FISCAL YEAR THAT THE
[01:15:03]
GOVERNOR CUT $150 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET.AND I ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, I DON'T LIKE PUTTING BURDENS ON FUTURE BOARDS.
BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF HYPOCRITICAL OF ME IF I WENT AROUND ALL THESE YEARS TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR TRADES AND THE NEED FOR SKILLED EMPLOYEES, AND THEN SAY NO TO THIS, SO I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, OF THIS REQUEST.
I KNOW DANNY'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE THE ONE AND, YOU KNOW, TO FIND THE MONEY.
YES. INSERT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE FUNDING CUTS REALLY CONCERN ME.
TALKING TO OUR FINANCIAL THE RECENT TREND AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HOME PURCHASING POSSIBLY INTEREST, YOU KNOW, LOSING INTEREST JUST THE OVERALL INCOME THAT THE COUNTY COULD BE POTENTIALLY LOSING IN THE UPCOMING YEARS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THE EASTERN SHORE.
I'M ON ONE COMMITTEE MR. REGIONAL COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT HIT WITH $2.5 MILLION CUT THAT'S PULLED OUT OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND THAT'S DONE TO GRANTS.
SO IT REALLY DOES CONCERN ME THAT I'M SCARED TO WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE.
YOU KNOW, IN RECENT, YOU KNOW, LIGHTS OF TALK OF RECESSION.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DEBBIE DOWNER.
I'M JUST TRYING TO PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE AND JUST LOOK AHEAD.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THIS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AS I STATED BEFORE, WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS LAST YEAR, I THINK IT'S A GOOD PROJECT AND IT'S COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY.
OUR DETENTION CENTER IS GROSSLY OVER AGED.
TO PUT IT NICELY WE NEED A NEW DETENTION CENTER.
THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
SO I THINK RIGHT NOW MY VOTE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE NO ON SENDING THIS LETTER OF INTENT.
SO I HOPE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE KENT COMES THROUGH AND WE'RE ON THE HOOK ANYWAY FOR IT.
BECAUSE IF IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE FIVE COUNTIES, WE'RE ON THE HOOK IF IT GETS FUNDED.
SO, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO BE A NO HERE, SO.
SORRY. CAN I SAY ONE MORE? YEAH. SO SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE WAY THIS THE WAY THE VOTING WORKS HERE AMONG THE COUNTIES.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS ONE OF FIVE COUNTIES THAT SUPPORT THE COLLEGE.
IT TAKES A THREE OUT OF FIVE VOTE FROM THE COUNTIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS FUNDING.
SO EVEN IF WE VOTE NO, IF THREE OF THE OTHER FIVE COUNTIES VOTE YES, WE PAY THE BILL.
SOME YEARS AGO, WHEN THE HPAC BUILDING.
YOU KNOW, WAS PROPOSED, WE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION SAYING THAT IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD FOR FOR ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT THAT I THINK WAS OVER, I THINK IT WAS $1 MILLION.
I CAN'T BE SURE OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT WE WANTED WE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SAY THAT IT HAD TO BE A SUPERMAJORITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOUR OUT OF FIVE COUNTIES WOULD HAVE TO VOTE FOR THAT.
THAT BILL WAS DEFEATED WITH LOBBYING FROM QUEEN ANNE AND DORCHESTER
[01:20:04]
COUNTY, WHO WHO BASICALLY FOUGHT US, SPENT MONEY TO FIGHT IT.SO WE'VE TRIED TO REVISE THIS A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A BILL.
I DESPITE ME SUPPORTING THIS PROJECT, I DON'T LIKE BEING PUT IN A POSITION OF ONE COUNTY SAYING, WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS, BUT THREE OTHER COUNTIES CAN SAY, WELL, WE DON'T CARE. YOU GOT TO DO IT ANYWAY.
BUT THAT'S THE WAY, THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OTHER COUNTIES, EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNTY HAS ITS OWN BUDGET RESTRICTIONS.
THEY HAVE THEIR OWN UP AND DOWN YEARS.
THEY HAVE SOME YEARS. THEY THINK THEY CAN DO IT, SOME YEARS THEY COULDN'T.
THIS IS A DECISION THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE AND EVERYBODY WILL UNDERSTAND IN HERE TODAY.
BUT I RESPECT THESE GUYS OPINIONS AND I RESPECT WHAT THEY SAY.
SO THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.
SO DESPITE EVERYBODY THINKING WE AGREE ON EVERYTHING, WE ALWAYS DON'T.
BUT WE DO IT AGREEABLY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SO BUT JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS FROM THE COUNTY.
WE MAY END UP DOING THIS ANYWAY.
IF THREE OTHER COUNTIES VOTE AND I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE THEY ARE, WE'LL SEE THEM IN A WEEK.
YEAH, BUT I HAVE RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM TALBOT.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONSIDER IT AT ANOTHER MEETING.
THEY WANTED TO TALK TO THEIR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
OKAY. THAT WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO THEM.
AND DORCHESTER IS A LITTLE LATER.
AND WE YOU KNOW, I ADMIRE THE PUSH TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES, I REALLY DO I JUST FOR US I STILL FEEL LIKE THE TIMING IS A LITTLE OFF.
I'D LIKE TO GET THROUGH A FEW MORE IMPROVEMENTS HERE AND SEE WHERE WE SHAKE OUT FINANCIALLY.
YEAH, AND I'LL SEE YOU ON THE SEE SOMEBODY DOWN THERE I THINK ON THE 23RD.
OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
WELL OFFICIALLY WHAT DO WE WANT? WE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO NOT SEND THE LETTER.
JUST YEAH, JUST ON THEIR TENT, YOU KNOW? I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO JUST.
GO AHEAD. MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LETTER.
YEAH. DO YOU WANT A SECOND? SECOND. THAT WE.
VOTE TO ALL IN FAVOR OF SENDING THE LETTER TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
OKAY. FOR THE RECORD, IT'S COMMISSIONER BREEDING.
MR. BARTZ. NO. MR. PORTER. YES.
SURE. TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS HERE.
[01:29:34]
YEAH.[01:33:54]
YES, SIR. OKAY WE'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER HERE AND MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER BARTZ? NO, I HAVEN'T SEEN. DON'T HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER PORTER BUYING MORE STRYKER STRETCHERS.
SO THIS IS PHASE TWO OF OUR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT PLAN THAT WE STARTED LAST YEAR, AS WE REALIZED THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS AGING OUT AND IT WASN'T BEING ABLE TO BE SERVICED ANYMORE.
SO LAST YEAR WE BOUGHT FOUR OF EACH.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR OUR CAPITAL PLAN SHOULD FINISH IT UP AND THAT SHOULD GIVE US ALL PORTER OKAY.
IS THAT RIVER ROAD OR WHAT? DANNY. YEAH.
SO, THE EXPERT EXCAVATING CULVERT PIPE REPLACEMENT IS A SECOND PIPE THAT IS LOCATED ON ESHER ROAD.
WE HAD HAD A CONTRACT WITH EXPERT TO DO SOME REPAIRS ON THE PIPE THAT WAS LOCATED DOWN THERE.
[01:35:07]
WHY? THEY WERE REPLACING ANOTHER PIPE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.AND IT'S BEEN DISCOVERED THAT IT ACTUALLY NEEDS A FULL REPLACEMENT.
SO THIS IS THE AMENDMENT TO ENCOMPASS THAT.
OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO. SO MOVED. SECOND.
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
UNANIMOUS. ON TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT, DANNY.
FOR THOSE AROUND DENTON AND SOUTH THOUGH THE IMPACT THAT THAT HAD.
SO AGAIN, LIKE THANK DES AND THEIR STAFF.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON RIVER ROAD.
SO STAFF HAS MET NOW TWICE WITH PARTNERING AGENCIES CONSIDERING THE BOARD OF ED, PUBLIC WORKS, SHERIFF'S OFFICE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO START DISCUSSING HOW THAT CLOSURE OF RIVER ROAD WILL IMPACT NORTH CAROLINE.
HI. SO WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH A UNIFIED MESSAGE THAT OUR STAFF AND OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WILL BE WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF ED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SHARING THE SAME MESSAGE ON HOW TRAFFIC WILL BE COORDINATED.
DURING THE, SAY, THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO AS THAT COMES OUT, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE UPDATING THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC WITH THAT MESSAGE.
SO I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS THE GENTLEMAN HAD ANYTHING FOR MYSELF OR KATHLEEN.
SO, IS IT ALL RIGHT IF I GO INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE THINKING? YES, IF YOU'D LIKE.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY UNANIMOUS ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE'RE GOING TO.
SO THE DISCUSSION YESTERDAY WAS IT YESTERDAY.
YESTERDAY MORNING. YES. SO I WAS IN ON THE MEETING.
WE HAD THE PRINCIPAL OF NORTH CAROLINA HIGH PRINCIPAL OF LOCKERMAN AND MULTIPLE OTHER BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVES ON THE ZOOM CALL, ALONG WITH STATE HIGHWAY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
WHO ELSE AM I MISSING? PUBLIC WORKS? PUBLIC WORKS. TO DISCUSS THIS, AND I THINK THE CONSENSUS WAS REACHED THAT WE WERE GOING TO CLOSE HOLLY ROAD TO THE LEFT TO PREVENT STUDENTS LEAVING SCHOOL FROM GOING DOWN HOLLY ROAD AFTER SCHOOL.
LET'S OUT. SO THE EFFORT IS GOING TO BE TO PUSH EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY ON THAT FIRST WEEKEND BECAUSE IT'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC PEOPLE COMING OUT ON THE HOLLY ROAD, HAVING TO YIELD ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ON 404, AND THEN USE THE J TERMS TO TURN AROUND INTO BUSY HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.
SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS I FLOATED THE IDEA AND STATE HIGHWAY REALLY CONFIRMED THAT THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER CLOSING HOLLY ROOD. SO I THINK THE CONSENSUS COMING OUT OF THAT MEETING WAS IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE HIGH SCHOOL LETS OUT ALL STUDENTS BUSSES, ALL TRAFFIC IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO RIDGELY TO 480 TURN LEFT AND EITHER USE THE LIGHTED QUEEN ANNE HILLSBORO.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD USE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT QUEEN ANNE, HILLSBORO 480.
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LONG BACKUP THERE.
SO WE REALLY DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GO THAT WAY.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY TO GO DOWN TO 480.
ANYONE GOING TO THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY, WE WOULD HOPE WOULD TURN RIGHT AND GO TO GREENSBORO.
NO, IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE INCONVENIENCE THERE.
HE GETS HIS LICENSE IN LIKE TWO WEEKS.
SO I'M IN THE SAME BOAT WITH ALL THE PARENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MITIGATE THOSE RISKS.
I MEAN, I'M GOING TO BE OUT THERE WITH EYES ON THE TRAFFIC TODAY.
[01:40:01]
JUST IN CASE.BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS, IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US. WE WOULD NOT BE COMPLETING THIS PROJECT NOW IF IT WAS NOT TOTALLY NECESSARY.
OKAY. THE ROAD RIVER ROAD PIPES HAVE STARTED TO FORM ANOTHER SINKHOLE.
WE SPENT ABOUT $10,000 WILL BE SEVEN AND 7 TO $10,000 LAST FALL.
THE SURFACE HAD STARTED TO COME OFF THE TOP.
SO WITH THE CONTINUING POTHOLES, WE WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER PORTER AND COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
WOULD SPEND THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, TO LIMP US ALONG ANOTHER YEAR.
IF WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW THAT THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER TO DO THAT.
BUT THOSE PIPES COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME AND WE COULD LOSE THAT ROAD.
AND IF WE LOST THAT ROAD AND WEREN'T GEARED UP TO REPLACE IT, IT COULD TAKE IT COULD TAKE US A YEAR OR, YOU KNOW, AT THE VERY LEAST MONTHS TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT ROAD PUT BACK TOGETHER AND PASSABLE AGAIN.
SO I KNOW IT'S A HUGE INCONVENIENCE.
MY FAMILY IS GOING TO BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT AS WELL.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO I MEAN, I DIDN'T I DIDN'T RUN FOR OFFICE TO SIT HERE AND MAKE EVERYBODY MAD, JUST, YOU KNOW, TICK OFF RESIDENTS THAT LIVE AROUND THIS CLOSURE.
IT'S JUST WITH ALL THE FACTORS AND DETAILS THAT GO INTO IT TIMES A YEAR THAT THE STATE WILL ALLOW US TO WORK IN, THE TIDAL WETLANDS ARE LIMITED.
SO ONCE THAT BALL STARTED ROLLING, ONCE THOSE WHEELS WERE MOVING, THERE WAS REALLY NO TURNING BACK.
SO WE'VE JUST GOT TO BEAR DOWN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
AND YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY GET A GOOD MESSAGE OUT THERE AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER USING ALTERNATE ACCESS TO THE SCHOOL TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONCERNS.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? NOPE. THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
OKAY. LET'S GO TO THIS FIRST PORTER.
SO WE DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUR WHIPPING ON THIS ONE FULLY, FULLY PREPARED.
BUT, I MEAN, IT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
BELIEVE ME, WE WOULD NOT BE SPENDING THIS MONEY OR DOING THIS IF IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE DONE.
BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE YOU GOT TO KIND OF HOLD, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO HOLD YOUR HEAD AND SAY, IT'S GOT TO BE DONE, AND IT'LL BE INCONVENIENT FOR A MONTH, BUT LET ME JUMP IN AND ADD SOMETHING.
COMMISSIONER PORTER BROUGHT UP THE POINT.
NO GUARANTEE. YOU KNOW, WE CAN NEVER GUARANTEE A HURRICANE IS NOT GOING TO COME THROUGH OR SOME MAJOR RAIN EVENT, AND THE WATER WON'T CROSS THE ROAD, BUT THE ROAD IS BEING RAISED OF FOOT AND THE BOX CULVERT THAT WE'RE REPLACING, THE TWO CULVERT PIPES THAT ARE THERE NOW WILL BE MUCH LARGER.
SO RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'VE GOT LIKE TWO 24 INCH ROUND PIPES.
THIS BOX CULVERT STRUCTURE WILL BE 5 OR 6FT TALL AND 15 TO 18FT WIDE.
SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE THERE'S TWO TYPES OF FLOODING THAT OCCUR THERE.
THERE'S THE EXTREME HIGH TIDES, AND THEN THERE'S THE FLOODING.
WHEN YOU HAVE A UPSTREAM RAIN EVENT IN THE STREAM THAT DRAINS ACROSS THAT ROAD.
SO THE PIPES WERE UNDERSIZED AND COULDN'T HANDLE THE VOLUME OF WATER.
SO NATURALLY IT BACKS UP AND FLOWS OVER THE ROAD.
SO WE'RE ALSO FIXING THOSE ISSUES.
IF THE ROAD BLEW OUT, WE WOULD BE LIMITED TO PUT BACK WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
SO WE'D HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
WE'D SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PUTTING BACK SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WORKING CURRENTLY.
[01:45:02]
NO THAT'S FINE, I CAN'T RECALL BECAUSE I WAS AMAZED.ROBIN, DO YOU HOW MANY ACRES OF LAND THAT DRAINS? I MEAN, I WAS I WAS FLABBERGASTED WITH THE AMOUNT NUMBER OF ACRES THAT THAT THAT DRAINS.
WE WILL WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN TO GET IT DONE AS FAST AS WE CAN AND LIMIT THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME I'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN OUT OF TOWN.
JUST GOT BACK YESTERDAY, BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT ON I THINK IT WAS LAST THURSDAY.
THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WAS AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE TALENT AND SKILL THAT THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO CREATE MUSIC AND TO HAVE IT DONE RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW, WAS UNBELIEVABLE. SO WE ENJOYED IT.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD TO PULL THAT TOGETHER.
IT WAS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND VERY GOOD CROWD, I THINK.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS FULL, BUT IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING FULL.
SO THEY TRAVELED DOWN ON BUSSES AND REALLY DID A GREAT JOB.
CRITICAL AREAS MEETING COMMISSION IS KEEPING ME BUSY.
HAD A MEETING ON THE PHONE MONDAY FRIDAY ON THE WAY DOWN, AND I GOTTA BE IN ANNAPOLIS TOMORROW.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. BARTZ. I DID GET A CHANCE TO GO DOWN ZION ROAD YESTERDAY.
ZION ROAD ACTUALLY LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.
THE TREES LOOKED GOOD. EVERYTHING LOOKED WELL.
SO I DID GET UP THERE AND CHECK THAT OUT.
I HOPE THE CONSTITUENTS ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT WENT ON UP THERE WITH THE TREE TRIMMING BACK.
JUST WANT TO. I GUESS WE HAVE A TROPICAL STORM COMING IN.
I JUST WE I GUESS EVERYBODY'S PREPARED FOR THAT.
AND WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN THERE? SO I ATTENDED THE BETTER DECK TEAM FROM CITY CAR SHOW A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
IT WAS WELL ATTENDED, RUN INTO DELEGATE ARTS AND TODMAN FROM QUEEN ANNE COUNTY AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE OVER THERE WAS WELL ATTENDED.
WHAT'S THAT? SORRY. YEAH, YEAH, HE HAD HIS MOTORCYCLE GARB ON MOTORCYCLE GARB ON.
SO LOOK FORWARD TO THE FAIR STARTING TOMORROW.
SO EVERYBODY GET OUT AND SUPPORT THAT.
THAT'D BE GREAT. WE'LL BE DIPPING ICE CREAM, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, PROBABLY BUYING A CAKE.
AND YOU BUY A PIG OR A GOAT OR.
YEAH. SO, IF YOU WANT AN EXTRA SMALL SCOOP OF ICE CREAM, COME SEE US TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WE'RE GOING TO BE RATIONING ICE CREAM TOMORROW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S RAIN. IT'S RAIN OR SHINE.
YEAH. BOYS, GET YOUR CHECKBOOKS OUT BECAUSE YOU GOT TO BUY SOMETHING.
ROBIN, THANK YOU FOR GETTING OUT.
YOUR CREW WAS OUT DURING THE STORM.
YEAH. WELL ME, I THINK MYSELF, JAMIE AND KATHLEEN AND DANNY, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER ANNAPOLIS, MEET WITH THEM.
IS IT THURSDAY? MIGHT BE THURSDAY.
WE CAN FIX WHAT WE'VE GOT, BUILD WHAT WE'VE GOT.
I THINK DORMS ACTUALLY COMING FROM MAACO.
SO, BECAUSE THAT MEETING, THAT MEETING DOWN IN OCEAN CITY IS THE WEDNESDAY, FIRST WEDNESDAY OF MAKO.
WE'RE HOPING TO FIND OUT 330, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WE'RE HOPING TO FIND OUT IF DNR IS ON BOARD, IF DNR SUPPORTS IT.
SO AGAIN, WORKING THE RIVER ROAD ISSUE.
VERY SORRY ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT WE GOT WE GOT TO DO IT.
SO WE'VE BEEN SPENDING TIME ON THAT, DAPH AND APOLLO, OTHER STUFF AND LEGAL.
[01:50:01]
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.THANK YOU. DANNY WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT IRONS IN THE FIRE RIGHT NOW.
OKAY, I KNOW I'M FORGETTING SOMETHING, BUT NEXT WEEK, NEXT WEEK IS MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, RIGHT? SO WE'LL BE DOWN THERE.
WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
REVEREND DUNNE. I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK THE PROGRESS OF WILLISTON BRIDGE.
THE LAST I HEARD, THEY WERE SAYING THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, RIGHT? YES. SO THEY PROVIDED AN UPDATE SAYING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE EXTENDED A LITTLE FURTHER THAN INITIALLY ESTIMATED INTO SEPTEMBER.
I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT DATE THAT THEY GAVE IN THAT STATEMENT.
AND THEY FOUND THAT THE FOUNDATIONS WERE DETERIORATED AND ERODED.
ONCE THEY PULLED THE DECK OFF AND GOT IN THERE AND LOOKED AT IT.
SO THEY HAD TO UNDERPIN MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THEY HAD LIKE THESE FIBERGLASS MATTRESSES THAT THEY PUT UNDER, AND THEY FILLED THEM WITH CONCRETE TO FILL THE VOIDS UNDERNEATH THE FOUNDATION AND TO TRY TO PREVENT DETERIORATION AND EROSION.
SO THAT ADDED TIME TO THE SCHEDULE FIGURING THAT OUT.
BUT THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR I THINK, I THINK THEY'RE SAYING THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER, I, I'VE KIND OF GOT A CONTACT WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND THEY'RE THINKING IT MIGHT BE SOONER THAN THAT, BUT YEAH, THE EMAIL THAT I HAVE HERE STATES THAT THEY'RE PUSHING THE CLOSURE INTO SEPTEMBER WITH NO SPECIFIC DATE.
THE CONCRETE INTEGRATED INSPECTOR, DAVE AND I.
YEAH. WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MORE DETOURS.
YEAH, WELL, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT AFFECTS ME EVERY DAY BECAUSE I GO AROUND.
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR. IF YOU PLEASE COME, COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COUNCIL OF ARTS.
I LIKE TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO COMMISSIONERS AND COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WILL BE MY FIRST CAROLINE SUMMERFEST, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I'M NO STRANGER TO EVENT PRODUCTION AND THE EFFORT AND COORDINATION.
OR TO ALL THE SWEAT AND PLANNING YOUR RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN OF DENTON INVEST IN PRODUCING THIS FREE FAMILY ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FESTIVAL.
CCRA WILL BE ON SITE SERVING ICE CREAM, DIPPING, DIPPING ICE CREAM.
AND WE'LL BE SURE TO SAVE YOU A SCOOP.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.
WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO PROVIDING CONTINUAL SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY EVENT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SIR.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.
NICE TO MEET YOU. NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE AGENDA YET FOR THE CEREMONIES.
WHO DID I ASK THIS THE OTHER DAY? JAMIE. JAMIE.
WE RECEIVED SOMETHING IN OUR MAILBOX YESTERDAY.
COMMISSIONER, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF LOOKING AT IT.
I MEAN, USUALLY WE'RE ASKED TO DRESS UP.
I MEAN, I'VE BEEN A SUPERHERO ONE YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M DRESSING UP ANOTHER YEAR.
SO IF I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING, THAT REALLY SUITS ME, SO.
BUT IF I DO, I REALLY KIND OF NEED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP.
OKAY. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? PLEASE? AN INSTRUMENT ONE YEAR MARK.
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT. MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
HOWEVER, WE FELT IT WAS A NEED.
[01:55:03]
IT IS OUR GOAL AND IT WILL REMAIN OUR GOAL AS LONG AS I'M THE DIRECTOR, THAT WE WILL HIRE AND RETAIN THE BEST EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO CAROLINE COUNTY CITIZENS AND VISITORS. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.EVERYBODY COMES IN HERE IS ASKING FOR MONEY.
BUT WE FELT THAT IT WAS A NECESSITY TO RETAIN THE GREAT EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE.
THANKS, MARK. THANK YOU. MARK.
SO IF YOU, YOU KNOW, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS BE WAITING FOR THAT AMBULANCE TO PULL IN YOUR YARD TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND THE SERVICE. AND I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE HAD TO DO IT A COUPLE OF A COUPLE OF TIMES.
I'M CONFIDENT, BEYOND CONFIDENT, THAT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY ARE GETTING TAKEN CARE OF.
ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, WE WILL DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT SERVICE COMING.
SO. ANYONE ELSE? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK LAST WEEK WE HAD A BIG TURNOUT.
LAST WEEK OVER 50 PEOPLE TURNED OUT, WITH THE HELP OF SCHOOL STREET, HAVING HENRY WAY AND ALL THE OTHER STREETS IN THAT AREA WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON THE WATER SITUATION.
SO THAT WAS A VERY BIG TURNOUT AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
CAN YOU PULL THAT MICROPHONE OVER? OH YEAH. AT LEAST WE'RE MOVING FORWARD SO WE KNOW SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
YEAH. ALSO, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D SAY ABOUT.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I PROMISE YOU IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT IT MIGHT BE A YEAR.
YEAH, BUT COMMUNICATE WE'RE COMMUNICATION THERE.
AND ALSO MANAGEMENT HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH US NEXT MONDAY AT TRINITY CHURCH.
AND I WAS TOLD TO INVITE ANYONE THAT WANTED TO COME OUT.
AND THE LAST THING IS WE'VE STILL BEEN TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE ABOUT THE SIGNS.
THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT SAID THEY DON'T WALK AROUND WITH SIGNS.
THE THING WITH THE SPEED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT SOMEBODY VANDALIZING IT.
SO THEY SAID THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO DO WE GO TO FIND OUT ABOUT GETTING SOME SIGNS ON SCHOOL STREET? WHAT SIGN DO YOU WANT? SPEEDING. I THINK WE'VE BEEN SENDING THE INFORMATION TO THEM.
WE HAVE SOME VERY BAD LANGUAGE, I BELIEVE.
AND SOME EMAILS THAT YOU'VE HAD.
YEAH, I'VE BEEN SENDING YOU. WE'VE BEEN SENDING YOU THE PICTURES.
YEAH. OF THE SPEEDING LATE AT NIGHT AND NON STOP AT THE STOP SIGNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
CORRECT. I THINK IT'S MORE JUST GENERAL.
PLEASE STOP AT THE STOP ENFORCEMENT OF SPEEDING DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS BACK AT DAY SPRINGS.
YEAH, YEAH. WE CAN TALK OFFLINE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
BEEN BACK MORE? I MEAN, REALLY, THE SPEED ENFORCEMENT IS UP TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I MEAN, WHEN I TALKED TO HIM, THEY HAD.
THEY HAVE SAID THEY CAME OUT A LOT MORE.
YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET A LOT OF SPEEDING.
WE HAVE SEEN THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN, WHAT WE DID.
BUT THE MAIN CONCERN IS WHEN NO ONE IS THERE.
THE SPEEDING FROM DAYSPRING STRAIGHT THROUGH.
SO WE JUST WANT TO KNOW IF WE CAN JUST GET SOME SIGNS.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED A SPEED BUMP, AND I SAID NO FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT.
ROBIN, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHT ON A SPEED BUMP? IF I MEAN, IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A PANDORA'S BOX, BECAUSE APPARENTLY, I MEAN, I'VE HAD TWO REQUESTS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THAT'S TALKING TO STAFF. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL OVER THE YEARS, AND THEN IT BECOMES AN EMERGENCY ISSUE.
THE SLOW DOWN RESPONSE, THE REMOVAL OF THE MEDICAL ISSUES.
[02:00:02]
SO, ONCE YOU PUT ONE IN.WHEN DID YOU SAY THE MEETING WAS WITH MANAGEMENT? MONDAY. MONDAY.
WHAT TIME? WE WILL USUALLY GET THERE AT SIX, SO IF THERE'S ANY CHANGES, I CAN LET YOU KNOW.
AND A DEAD TREE. AND SIGNS OF GOLD.
SO YOU DID PUT IT. SO IT'S AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.
I MEAN, EVEN IF IT WAS, LIKE SOMETHING FOR KIDS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, YEARS AGO, A YOUNG MAN STEPPED OUT IN THAT AREA AND WAS NOW CRIPPLED.
I'M SORRY. AND THAT WOULD BE AT THE CHURCH? YES. YES, SIR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER SOLUTIONS.
YOU KNOW, WHAT OTHER SOLUTIONS WE HAVE? I MEAN, WE COULD PUT UP WE COULD LOOK INTO GETTING A SIGN THAT DISPLAYS THE SPEED.
YOU'RE TRAVELING, I GUESS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THOSE ARE.
AND IF HOW LONG IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, WOULD THAT BECOME A NUISANCE TO SEE THAT LIGHT FLASHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE SIGNS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SAY THE SPEED.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY SIGNS AS FAR AS I HAVEN'T SPEED LIMIT OR WATCH FOR CHILDREN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THOSE SIGNS UP THERE ON UP IN THAT AREA.
OKAY. 45 MILE PER HOUR STOP SIGN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF SCHOOL STREET AND IN REACH.
OKAY, WELL, LET US KNOW, BUT I MEAN, IF YEAH, I'LL TRY TO GET THERE MONDAY.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE, BUT I'LL TRY.
SO I'M GOING TO LET THE SHERIFF KNOW ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AT THE MANAGEMENT MEETING AS WELL.
THANK YOU. THANKS. WE'LL LOOK INTO THE SIGNAGE OUT THERE A LITTLE BETTER.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO TALK DANNY.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO TALK WITH DHCD.
YES, SIR. ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY AS WELL.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? YES, SIR, MR. BROWN. PULL THAT MICROPHONE OVER TO YOU.
MORNING. MY NAME IS WILLIAM BROWN.
I'M CURRENTLY SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE LATIN SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED.
AND WE WERE JUST AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING AS OF JULY THE 27TH.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WAS DIRECTED TO ME WAS THE REFERENCE TO THE LATIN SCHOOL AND REFERENCE TO ITS FUTURE AS FAR AS MOVING FORWARD.
DIRECT OUR QUESTIONS TO THOSE COMMITTEES AND ALL THAT WOULD BE FORMED RUMORED INFORMATION.
WAS THAT SOMETHING LIKE FIVE YEARS? THERE WOULD BE A NEW SCHOOL.
AND YOU KNOW, THE QUESTIONS THAT WOULD BE GENERATED IN REFERENCE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN.
YEAH. THE I DON'T THINK THE STATE FROM THE LAST UPDATE I HAD, THE BOARD OF ED HAS NOT APPLIED TO THE STATE FOR THE FUNDING YET, SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED THE BALL MOVING AS FAR AS THE INITIAL STUDIES THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO JUSTIFY THE SCHOOL AND ALL THAT.
SO I WOULD SAY FIVE YEARS IS PROBABLY A REASONABLE TIME FRAME FOR 4 TO 5.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S PROBABLY A REASONABLE TIME FRAME.
AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T THOUGHTS I HAD INITIALLY WERE MAYBE YMCA.
YOU KNOW WE'RE LOOKING MAYBE WE COULD RENOVATE THE SCHOOL AND USE IT AS A YMCA.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE SENIOR CENTER IS HERE NOW, AND WE COULD USE THIS FOR OFFICE SPACE.
AND MAYBE WE COULD RELOCATE THE SENIOR CENTER THERE WITH THE YMCA.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE ADDITIONAL COUNTY OFFICES IF NEED BE.
[02:05:02]
THERE IS WHAT WE WERE THINKING.BUT ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOUR GROUP HAS? WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN THAT IF YOU WANT TO PASS THAT ALONG TO US.
IDEAS. IF YOU HAVE ANY HEARTBURN WITH ANY OF THOSE IDEAS THAT I JUST LAID OUT AND WHY, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER IDEAS YOU KNOW, WE WOULD CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN THAT.
AND, AND WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT OF, OF FIGURING OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE SCHOOL, I MEAN, I BELIEVE WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR GROUP'S INPUT.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN OUR GROUP THAT ARE PROFESSIONALS.
THEY'RE BASICALLY LOCATED IN OTHER AREAS.
SO THEY WRITE TO US WITH THEIR CONCERNS AND HAVING BEEN EDUCATED IN THIS AREA AND THEN THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD AND AT DISCRETION, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THE PORT OF WILMINGTON, I MEAN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, THE MANAGER THERE IS FROM THIS AREA.
AND SO WHAT THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AS FAR AS THEIR EDUCATION BACKGROUND THAT BEING VETERINARIANS AND LAWYERS AND MILITARY PERSONNEL AND ALL THESE TYPES OF THINGS, AND IT GENERATED FROM THIS AREA.
SO THEY LOOK BACK AT THEIR UPBRINGING AND SAY THAT NOT THAT YOU KNOW, LIKE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OR WHATEVER THEY ENDURED DURING THEIR CHILDHOOD.
NOWADAYS IT'S BEEN CLEANED UP AND THERE'S NO ACTIVITY IN THE TOWN.
THEY USED TO HAVE BOAT RACES DOWN HERE AND ALL THIS TYPE OF THING.
WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE NAME CHANGE AND ALL THIS TYPE OF THING.
YEAH. SO I'M A LIFELONG CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT.
AND MY CONCERN FOR THE COUNTY, AS I SAY, I'M PRESIDENT AND I DEAL WITH PEOPLE FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO, EVERYWHERE IN REFERENCE TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN A WORLD. YEAH. THE INITIAL PLANNING AS FAR AS A TIME FRAME WOULD PROBABLY INVOLVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
YEAH, IT'S, THEY'RE ALL UP TO THEM.
YOU GOT TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.
SO, I MEAN, THE INITIAL PLANNING, I WOULD SAY YOU WOULD REACH OUT TO DOCTOR SIMMONS.
BILL MENGEL IS THE WAS FACILITIES.
AND BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PASS THAT INFORMATION ALONG.
SO YOU GOT YOUR SIDEKICK WITH YOU BACK THERE TO MR. LOVELESS. DIFFERENT MISSION.
BUT THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? SAY AYE. AYE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CLOSED SESSION.
RIGHT? NOPE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.