[00:01:35]
UNFORTUNATELY, COMMISSIONER BARTZ IS UNDER THE WEATHER THIS MORNING, SO HE CAN'T BE HERE.
BUT I WILL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. Paul Twinning, Regional Day of Prayor Coordinator, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review.]
AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.
OH. GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE BOW BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING AND CALL ON YOUR NAME.
LORD, THIS MORNING MY MIND IS TAKEN UP WITH THE THOUGHTS OF WHAT DAVID SAID AND PSALM CHAPTER EIGHT, WHEN HE LOOKED UP AND SAW YOUR CREATION AND THE BEAUTY OF THE SKY ABOVE HIM, THE GRANDEUR OF THAT HE SAID, OH LORD, OUR LORD, HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH.
AND WE KNOW, LORD, THAT THAT YOU HAVE CREATED EVERYTHING THAT OUR EYES SEE AROUND US, AND OUR FINITE MINDS CANNOT COMPREHEND THE INFINITE GREATNESS OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OF YOU.
AND YOU KNOW THE VERY NUMBER OF HAIRS ON OUR HEAD.
AND, LORD, THAT THAT'S HARD FOR US TO IMAGINE.
WE CAN'T HARDLY REMEMBER THE NAMES OF OUR OWN CHILDREN AND FAMILY.
LORD, YOU KNOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF STARS.
AND LORD, WE, IT IS TO YOU THAT WE COME THIS MORNING ASKING FOR WISDOM FOR THESE MEN AS THEY SEEK TO DECIDE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY WHAT IS BEST.
AND WE ASK, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM THAT THEY NEED.
WE ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERED PRAYER AND RESPECT TO SUMMERFEST, THAT IT WAS CARRIED OUT IN A PEACEABLE MANNER, AND THAT YOU EVEN HELD THE RAIN BACK LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO HAVE THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY.
AND LORD, IT'S JUST A SMALL THING, BUT WE PRAISE AND THANK YOU.
WHEN SO MANY MUNICIPAL AREAS IN OUR COUNTRY HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY FLOODS AND STORMS, THAT YOU HAVE SPARED THIS GREENE COUNTY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, ASK FOR YOUR HELP HERE THIS MORNING.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, WE PRAY.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, REVEREND DELANEY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT THE OPENING? ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS JIM JOHNSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CHESAPEAKE PUBLIC
[00:05:06]
PUBLISHING, WITH A PROCLAMATION FOR THE 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE STAR DEMOCRAT.[Jim Johnson, Executive Director, Chesapeake Publishing]
SO GOOD MORNING.DO YOU WANT ME TO READ IT? WILL YOU COME UP AND COME UP TO THE TABLE? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING.
SO WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE.
THE STAR DEMOCRAT CELEBRATES 225 YEARS, WHEREAS THE STAR DEMOCRAT WAS FOUNDED ON AUGUST 21ST, 1799. WHEREAS THE NEWSPAPER WAS FOUNDED AS A REPUBLICAN STAR, A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRACY.
WHEREAS THE STAR DEMOCRAT HAS SEEN OUR NATION STRIVE AND THRIVE THROUGH 46 PRESIDENTS AND NUMEROUS WARS, IT'S A OFFICES TWICE DESTROYED BY FIRES AND ONCE WRECKED BY A MOB OF VANDALS.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZE THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON ITS 225TH ANNIVERSARY AND CELEBRATES ITS HISTORY OF PRESS FREEDOM AND JOURNALISTIC EXCELLENCE.
SIGNED AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DENTON, MARYLAND, THIS 20TH DAY OF AUGUST 2024, SIGNED BY J. TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT.
LARRY C PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT.
AND N FRANKLIN BARTZ, THE THIRD COMMISSIONER.
ABSOLUTELY. WE WANT TO THANK YOU.
GET A PICTURE UP HERE WITH THE.
PERFECT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE PRESS? YEAH. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, MR. JOHNSON, OR. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS.
THIS HONOR. AND REALIZE THAT OUR NEWSPAPER CONTINUES ON.
AND IT'S NOT JUST A NEWSPAPER THAT'S STAFFED BY PEOPLE.
DORCHESTER COUNTY AND TALBOT COUNTY.
YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE SERVICE YOU'RE PROVIDING TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND YOU KNOW, GIVING US A FAIR SHAKE.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO. CONGRATULATIONS.
SO DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX I GUESS ROBIN EATON, OUR PUBLIC WORKS
[Discussion of River Road and Traffic Detour for School Year]
DIRECTOR AND CAPTAIN HELMER, OUR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE.SO WE WERE ALL ON A ZOOM CALL YESTERDAY FINALIZING AND GOING OVER THE, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL PLAN.
AS REGARDS TO THE OPENING OF SCHOOL AUGUST 28TH, WHICH IS WHAT NEXT THURSDAY, NEXT WEDNESDAY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. AND THE EFFECTS ON THE TRAFFIC DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF RIVER ROAD FOR THE MUCH-NEEDED CULVERT PIPE REPLACEMENT THERE. SO I GUESS DANNY, DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER SOMETHING? YEP. SO AS COMMISSIONER BREEDING WAS ALLUDING TO, THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS AUGUST 28TH.
SO THE GROUP SITTING HERE, AS WELL AS STATE HIGHWAY AND CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE MET A FEW TIMES TO DISCUSS WHAT WE FEEL IS THE BEST MANNER TO GET THE STUDENTS AND BUSSES IN AND OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
[00:10:03]
SO THE PLAN IS DURING THE RELEASE OF THE BUSSES AND THE CHILDREN.HOLLY ROAD BETWEEN CENTRAL AVENUE AND 404 WILL BE SHUT DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY HALF AN HOUR OR 40 MINUTES, AND TRAFFIC WILL BE DIRECTED NORTH UP CENTRAL AVENUE, UP TO 480, IN RIDGELEY TO ACCESS 404 FROM 480 USING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT.
THERE WILL BE PEOPLE ON SITE THERE.
LOOKING AT THE LIGHT THAT'S BEING REPROGRAMED TO TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON 480.
SO THAT REALLY COMES INTO PLAY AT THAT HOLLY ROAD AND CENTRAL AVENUE WITH CARS THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT FOR THAT HALF HOUR OR SO DURING THE RELEASE OF SCHOOL. OBVIOUSLY WITH ANY GOOD PLAN WE'RE LOOKING TO KIND OF BUILD ON THIS.
I KNOW WE HAVE PLANS TO HAVE IT POSTED IN THE CAROLINE REVIEW AS WELL.
SO ANY OTHER INPUT OR THOUGHTS ON THAT EITHER TWO OF YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE? SO THIS MORNING I DID STOP OUT THE COMCAST IS ON SITE UPGRADING THEIR SYSTEM.
THEY'RE GOING TO THEY PLAN TO ADJUST THEIR HOURS PROBABLY FROM 9 TO 2 DURING THIS.
SO THEY'RE WORKING WITH US AS WELL.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A TREE CREW ON SITE ON THE DETOUR AREA TODAY.
THEY WERE THERE LAST WEEK, SO THEY'RE THERE THE REST OF THIS WEEK.
TO CLEAN UP SOME TREES TO MAKE IT SAFER AS WELL.
BUT LIKE I SAID, WE'LL BE STAFFING ALL THOSE INTERSECTIONS.
CENTRAL AND 480 WILL BE COVERED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PUBLIC WORKS.
HOLLEY AND HOLSINGER WILL BE COVERED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND PUBLIC WORKS.
AND THEN AFTER YESTERDAY'S MEETING, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC WORKS WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE AT CENTRAL AND HENRY JUST TO MONITOR THAT YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE SEE THE FIRST FEW DAYS.
AND THEN HOLSINGER AND CENTRAL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GOING TO MONITOR IT AND SEE HOW THAT GOES.
AND WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE NEED, AS NEEDED.
YEAH. AND I THINK JUST ONE IMPORTANT THING WITH THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC THE DETOURS AND THE CLOSURE OF HOLLEY WILL ONLY BE DURING THE TIME OF DISMISSAL.
SO THIS IS GOING TO BE 30, 40 MINUTES FOR THE MONTH.
AND THIS IS THE SAFEST WAY THAT THE GROUP HAS DETERMINED.
AND THAT DECISION WAS MADE IN CONSULTATION WITH SHA AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION NOT TO HAVE THAT VOLUME OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO USE THE J-TURNS ON 404, ESPECIALLY DURING THE BUSY LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
SO WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT THIS AS WE MOVE THROUGH.
SHAH IS ALSO SUPPOSED TO HAVE PEOPLE AT A PERSON, AT LEAST AT THE INTERSECTION OF 480 AND 404 TO MONITOR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THEY HAVE OR ARE GOING TO REPROGRAM THE LIGHT TO STOP TRAFFIC ON 404 DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, MORE FREQUENTLY TO ALLOW STUDENTS AND FACULTY LEAVING THE SCHOOL TO ACCESS 404 AND NOT HAVE A LARGE BACKUP THERE.
YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MESSAGING I BROUGHT THIS UP YESTERDAY THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO ENTICE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN TO GO NORTH TO GREENSBORO ON 480 TO AVOID THIS.
[00:15:07]
IT'LL HELP WITH THESE TRAFFIC ISSUES.AND THIS IS THE PLAN WE'VE CAME UP WITH.
SO DO WE KNOW? I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY FOOTBALL GAMES? ONE THERE'S ONE FRIDAY NIGHT HOME GAME THAT WAS DISCUSSED ABOUT, AND IRONICALLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THE TRAFFIC OR THE VISITING TEAM IS ACTUALLY NORTH COMING THIS WAY.
YES. SO WE KIND OF LUCKED OUT WITH THAT.
WELL, I YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THERE'S I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, FACEBOOK CHATTER ABOUT THIS, ABOUT WHY WE PICKED THIS TIME AND SO ON.
I WOULD JUST POINT OUT THAT OVER THE YEARS THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.
THE ROAD, THIS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF FLOODING.
WE WERE GOING TO LOSE THE WHOLE ROAD.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THERE WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THIS.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SITUATIONS THERE WHERE WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO'VE TRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH.
THEY'VE HAD TO BE, YOU KNOW, GOTTEN OUT OF THERE AND IT'S TIME TO DO IT.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL WE'LL TAKE THE HEAT.
BUT I WANT TO COMMEND THE GROUP THAT HAS WORKED ON THIS TRAFFIC PATTERN.
SUNDAY, SUNDAY AFTERNOONS OR SOMETHING IS NEVER A GOOD TIME TO HAVE A MEETING.
BUT THAT'S SUNDAY AFTERNOON THAT YOU GOT TO DO IT.
AND SO THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT OUR STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY AND WITH KEN FENDER, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A VERY, VERY GOOD PARTNER WITH US.
I WILL MENTION WE'LL TALK LATER ON ABOUT THE MACO THING, BUT I WILL MENTION THAT THE TURN LANE AT RIVER ROAD AND 404, WHERE THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL HAS BEEN THE LEFT HAND TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
THAT TURN LANE IS STILL IN THE IN PROGRESS AND WILL BE DONE.
AND I'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER ON.
BUT WHEN THIS IS ALL DONE, IT'LL, IT'LL BE, I THINK A LOT SAFER ROAD.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK BACK AT THIS AND SAY, YEAH, IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, PAIN.
BUT I THINK IT'LL BE BETTER THAN, CERTAINLY THAN IT WAS.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TO WORK ON THIS AND BE PROACTIVE.
CAPTAIN HELMER IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD TALK TO EASTON BARRACKS AND SEE IF MAYBE STATE POLICE COULD HELP US OUT AND HAVE AN OFFICER IN THE 480 404 VICINITY, OR IF WE COULD HAVE SOMEONE THERE JUST TO MONITOR THAT AS WELL.
OKAY. BUT AGAIN, I MEAN MYSELF.
SO IF THEY GET TIED UP, I MEAN, WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY THERE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
BUT YEAH, I'LL REACH OUT TO YOU.
I'M JUST THINKING ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND, PEOPLE RUNNING, POTENTIALLY RUNNING THAT RED LIGHT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE HAVING FREQUENT STOPS THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY GET A LITTLE FRUSTRATED. THAT'S THE LIGHT AT TUCKAHOE SPORTSMAN.
YOU STRETCH YOUR DEPARTMENT THIN WITH ALL THESE OFFICERS AT THESE INTERSECTIONS.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN WE PUT IT OUT.
YEAH. I MEAN, THAT INTERSECTION WOULD BE ONE OF CONCERN.
DO IS THERE ANY NEED DO YOU THINK THERE'S ANY NEED TO TRY TO GET ANY MORE MESSAGE BOARDS FROM SHA AND PUT ANYTHING UP, OR ARE THERE PLANS FOR THAT? I KNOW WE DISCUSSED THAT IN A PREVIOUS MEETING.
WITH THIS NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THAT.
IF WE WERE USING THE J-TURNS, I THINK THE THOUGHT WAS IF WE WERE GOING TO USE THE J-TURN TO HAVE SIGNS THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, INCREASED VOLUMES OF TRAFFIC DURING THIS PERIOD, BUT NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO FOR A DAY LATE, MAYBE IT'S NOT.
[00:20:01]
BUT AND ALL OF OUR BOARDS ARE ALL OF OUR BOARDS ARE NOW.YEAH. I'LL MAKE A CALL AND SEE.
I COULD SEE ONE POSSIBLY COMING INTO CAROLINE COUNTY.
YEAH. THEY'RE COMING IN OVER THE TUCKAHOE.
RIGHT. EXPECT DELAYS, HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AHEAD AT LIGHT OR SOMETHING.
AND SHE MAY NOT FEEL THAT THAT'S NECESSARY, BUT MAYBE WE CAN ASK THEM ABOUT THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.
MAYBE I'LL GET TO RIDE AROUND WITH THE SHERIFF A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
OKAY. OKAY, ON TO OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
ARE WE GOOD TIMING HERE? SURE, SURE. WE'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, SO, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO. MOVED. OKAY.
I'LL SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
AYES HAVE IT. SO, OVER TO COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL.
[Legislative Session: Third Reading & Potential Enactment]
[• Legislative Bill #2024-004, Reasonable Accommodation Procedure]
WHICH IS CHAPTER 175, ZONING SECTION 175, ARTICLE 26, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURE.THIS BILL WAS INTRODUCED ON JULY THE 9TH WITH A FIRST READING.
THIS IS A FAIR READING OF THIS ACT IS THIS IS 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 INCLUSION IN THE CODE AND MAKING THIS BILL AN EMERGENCY ACT.
JUST AS A REFRESHER, THIS BILL WAS SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE IS BEST PRACTICES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE IN PLACE IN THE EVENT OF EITHER RECOVERY, HOUSING PROJECTS, APPLYING TO HAVE SOME SPECIAL EXCEPTIONS FOR THEIR FACILITY, OR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO MAY BE IN A CRITICAL AREAS.
SO THIS ALLOWS THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT.
THIS IS TO BE USER FRIENDLY AND TO HELP FOLKS THAT MAY NEED IT.
THE ACCOMMODATIONS WILL LAST ONLY SO LONG AS THE ACCOMMODATION IS NEEDED.
THERE'S AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND THE PERMIT HAS TO BE RENEWED.
SO THERE'S CHECKS AND BALANCES.
IT'S NOT AN UNLIMITED CARTE BLANCHE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT BECAUSE OF A TEMPORARY SITUATION.
IT WOULDN'T TRANSFER WITH THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER POTENTIAL OWNER.
THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S WHAT THE LEGISLATION SAYS.
OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF ENACTMENT OF THESE, IF IT WOULD BE BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL BOARD.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ENACTING THIS ONE.
I'M THINKING MORE ABOUT THE NEXT ONE.
BUT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS ONE TODAY.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WAITING TILL WE'D BE WAITING ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
WHEN DO WE GO BACK TO THE REGULAR? WE GO BACK TO SEPTEMBER TO THE REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE.
WE CAN ENACT THIS TODAY BY A VOTE.
OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TODAY TO ENACT LEGISLATIVE BILL 2020 4-004. OKAY.
[00:25:03]
I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ENACTING LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024004.
OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT BILL.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER YOU WANTED TO HOLD THIS ONE? I GUESS AT SOME POINT I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT WILL FALL INTO THIS PROCESS, BUT I THINK IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO
[• Legislative Bill #2024-005, Food Processing Residual]
FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULD, TO REVIEW THE REVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT TO THIS ONE.I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
YES, I KNOW WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE POULTRY REPRESENTATIVE, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONING THOSE.
SO AT WHATEVER PROCESS, WHATEVER TIME IN THIS PROCESS, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO DO THAT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT ON THE RECORD.
OKAY. DO THAT FIRST OR BEFORE WE INTRODUCE OR BEFORE, I WOULD SAY THAT WE COULD HAVE A MOTION TO JUST HOLD THIS THIRD READING AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL BOARD PRESENT, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.
OKAY, HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALL BE BACK IN RECOVERED AT THAT POINT.
YEAH, I DID RECEIVE I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP.
I DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM MR. GLENN DOWLING FROM DENALI.
BUT HE HAD TWO ITEMS. SO, I MEAN, I'LL JUST THROW THESE TWO ITEMS OUT NOW KNOWING THAT WE'RE POSTPONING FOR TWO WEEKS.
THE FIRST WAS THERE WAS A REQUEST TO CONSIDER CAKE STORAGE SEPARATELY FROM THE LIQUID STORAGE.
AND I GUESS THIS WAS IN A LETTER THAT THEY SENT TO THE COMMISSION IN ADVANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO HE WAS AGAIN ASKING FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY REGARDING SOLID CAKE STORAGE.
AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM HAD TO DO WITH GRANDFATHERING.
SAME REQUEST TO BE GRANDFATHERED, BUT.
GRANDFATHERING IS OFF THE TABLE.
RIGHT. SO THEY CAN KEEP SENDING EMAILS ALL THEY WANT.
WE'RE NOT GRANDFATHERED, I'M NOT.
SO WAS THERE I'M WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS AT THE I CAN READ THROUGH THE MATERIALS.
BUT WAS THERE A DISCUSSION ABOUT CAKE STORAGE OR.
I DON'T REMEMBER ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
NO, I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
OKAY. BUT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING.
GRANDFATHERING IS NOT ON THE TABLE FOR ME.
I WISH THAT THERE WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, DO IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW A WAY THAT WE CAN WHATEVER ORDINANCE WE PASS HAS TO, HAS TO BE APPLIED EVENLY TO EVERYONE. AND WE'RE NOT IN THE BUSINESS UP HERE OF PICKING AND CHOOSING WHO WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE ORDINANCES AGAINST.
SO THAT'S NOT ON THE TABLE FOR ME AS WELL.
SO FPR CAKE STORAGE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LAGOON PIT OR TANK STORAGE.
WELL, I MEAN FOR ME CAKE STORAGE WILL BE COVERED AND SEALED AS WELL.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTS.
THE REGULATIONS I GUESS THERE WOULDN'T NEED TO, YOU WOULDN'T NEED LEAK DETECTION FOR A MORE SOLID MATERIAL, BECAUSE WE STILL DO HAVE PROVISIONS FOR LEAK DETECTION IN THE ORDINANCE.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY CHANGE.
SO WE COULD SAY WE COULD ADD THAT LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FOR CAKE STORAGE.
OR WE COULD JUST MAYBE A STAFF.
I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, SO I, I DON'T KNOW.
AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S PROBABLY IN A MORE SOLID, SOLID STATE.
WELL THEN HOW DO YOU. BUT WOULD IT MELT AND FALL? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW. YEAH.
[00:30:02]
WELL I'LL DO SOME DIGGING.YOU HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROBABLY LIQUID IN THE MATERIAL.
AT SOME POINT BEFORE YOU APPLY IT, IT'S GOT TO BE ALTERED.
THIS IS A, YOU KNOW, INTERESTING TIME TO INTRODUCE THIS.
WELL, APPARENTLY THIS WAS IN THEIR ORIGINAL LETTER, SO I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CAKE STORAGE? NO. DO DID YOU WANT TO REVIEW THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE? SO DO YOU HAVE A IDEA OF WHAT I KNOW? WE REMOVED SECONDARY CONTAINMENT.
THE SECONDARY CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS.
AND ALSO WE BACKED OFF THE REQUIREMENT TO DISCLOSE TO US THEIR SOIL NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN IN LIEU OF A. WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE A SIGNED AFFIDAVIT WITH THE ACREAGE AND THE AMOUNTS THAT CAN BE APPLIED IN LIEU OF THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS REALLY THE ONLY REALLY REASON THAT WE WANTED TO SEE THE PLAN WAS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T BEING OVERBUILT FOR NEEDS BEYOND THAT OF THE PARCEL OR THE AGRICULTURE OPERATION OF THE APPLICANT, THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO BECOME A COMMERCIAL STORAGE FACILITY.
YEAH, I GUESS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS AND I'VE READ THIS THING SO MANY TIMES, I CAN'T YOU KNOW, IT'S STARTING TO ALL KIND OF WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THERE ARE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS IN THIS ORDINANCE WHEN IT COMES TO DWELLINGS.
THERE I DO NOT SEE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO MUNICIPALITIES.
I MEAN, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO CONSIDER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD SET THAT DISTANCE, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD CONCERNS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GENERATED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CONCERN WAS THE POTENTIAL LOCATION OF A STORAGE FACILITY NEAR THE TOWN OF RIDGELAND.
WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE SETBACK OR DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FROM MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES? IT COULD.
SO IF YOU DRAFT THE ORDINANCE SO THAT IT SIMPLY STARTS COUNTING THE DISTANCE FROM THE BOUNDARY LINE, YOU MAY HAVE A WHAT MIGHT BE AN UNNECESSARILY EXTENSIVE SETBACK IN REALITY TO THE NEAREST OCCUPIED DWELLING OR SCHOOL. WE HAVE FARMLAND INSIDE MUNICIPALITIES, CERTAINLY, BUT I WOULD GUESS THAT IF WE HAD AN APPLICANT WHO WANTED TO LOCATE A DAF STORAGE AREA IN A MUNICIPALITY INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES OF A MUNICIPALITY, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, HEAR ABOUT THAT.
I JUST THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT.
I MEAN, I DON'T I DON'T REALLY KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT FOR EXAMPLE WHICH WASN'T WHICH WOULDN'T INCLUDE THIS IF WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A FOOD PROCESSING FACILITY IN A MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS A LAGOON OR HAS A YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS FULLY ADDRESSED IN THIS OR IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO REALLY TALK ABOUT.
BUT AS I SAID, THIS THING IS GOING TO EVOLVE.
THIS THING IS IN THE FINAL FORM.
IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, REVISED.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE REVISING IT ADEQUATELY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUNICIPALITIES.
OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT NOTIFICATION DO WE GIVE MUNICIPALITIES, FOR EXAMPLE? I MEAN, WE GET NOTIFIED, RIGHT? IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT IT IN THE COUNTY.
[00:35:04]
I WOULD CERTAINLY FEEL WE'RE OBLIGATED TO HAVE HIM TO GIVE INPUT, TO SEEK INPUT AND GIVE NOTIFICATION TO THAT MUNICIPALITY, WHICH IS A GREAT CONCEPT, AND I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE IT IN HERE, OKAY, THAT WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND CODES RECEIVES AN APPLICATION FOR A STORAGE PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY A NUMBER OF FOLKS, AND I BELIEVE IT INCLUDES THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF A MUNICIPALITY.PUBLIC NOTICE WITHIN TEN DAYS THEY'RE PUBLISHING A NOTICE OF THE APPLICATION AND IT WOULD BE THE STAR DEMOCRAT MAILING A COPY TO THE HEALTH OFFICER, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND THE CHAIR OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, AND ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE OF A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION WITHIN TWO MILES OF WHERE THE FBRS WILL BE STORED AND POST A NOTICE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO, THE BASIC CHANGE IN THIS FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT, WHICH I THINK BOTH OF THEM MAKE SENSE, IS THE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND THE SECONDARY STORAGE.
THAT'S THE SECONDARY CONTAINMENT.
SECONDARY CONTAINER. SO, THE THOSE ARE THE TWO BASIC CHANGES.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR PURPOSE WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, TO DELVE INTO THE SECRET MYSTERIOUS NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS. IT WAS TO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL STORED, YOU KNOW, WE WEREN'T STORING 100,000 GALLONS FOR SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO HAVE A THOUSAND GALLONS OF STORAGE.
SO I THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT HAS ADDRESSED, I THINK, SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.
NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT AGAIN, I KNOW THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
SO I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO EXTEND THIS AND WORK ON IT SOME MORE.
OKAY. OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
AND I GUESS THAT WILL CONCLUDE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO CLOSE.
I WOULD MOVE, WE CLOSED LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
OKAY. WE'LL SECOND A MOTION AND SECOND.
OKAY ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING WITH.
I DON'T, I JUST I'M NOT SURE THAT I HAVE A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING HERE.
I READ THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGIONAL VETERANS TREATMENT COURT.
[Consent Agenda]
ARE THEY SAYING THAT THERE WOULD BE A COURT SET UP HERE.NO, I THINK IT'S QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, BUT IT WOULD COVER.
IT COVERS LIKE THE FIVE COUNTIES.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THIS, BUT I JUST WAS INTERESTED TO FIND OUT SOME MORE.
I CAN SEND YOU ADDITIONAL DETAIL INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO.
SO IS THIS FOR VETERANS TREATMENT? I JUST I THINK I THINK IF THERE'S AN OFFENSE, A VETERAN COMMITS AN OFFENSE, IT'S A, IT'S A ANOTHER COURT.
HEARING OR VENUE TO HEAR THE COMPLAINT AGAINST THAT PERSON.
IS THAT IS THAT WHAT IT IS? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PURPOSE OF A VETERANS COURT IS WHERE A VETERAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIME.
THAT WAS PROBABLY WHILE THE VETERAN WAS SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER ESPECIALLY, OR PTSD OR SOMETHING IN THE VETERAN'S BACKGROUND, THAT THIS COURT IS A SPECIALIZED COURT THAT RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEMS THAT THE VETERAN MAY HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT LED TO THE CRIMINAL ACT.
AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A LINKAGE TO THE SUPPORT STAFF AT THE VA.
I USED TO WE DIDN'T HAVE VETERANS COURTS WHEN I WAS DOING CRIMINAL DEFENSE WORK A FEW YEARS BACK.
[00:40:05]
THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY INVOLVED UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND IT GIVES THE VETERAN A CHANCE.IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD.
IT IS A HERE'S WHAT THE PLAN IS.
AND IF YOU FAIL, IF YOU DROP OUT, IF YOU QUIT, WHATEVER.
AND THESE REPORTS ARE GIVEN BACK TO THE JUDGE.
AND SO IT'S NOT IN THE REGULAR COURT DOCKET.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
SO ONCE A ONCE A PERSON IS CHARGED, I GUESS, SHERIFF, CAN I, CAN I JUST ASK WHEN A PERSON IS CHARGED.
SO I GUESS STEWART WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT DURING THE.
THIS WON'T CHARGE, THIS WON'T CHANGE THE CHARGING PROCESS OR THE DELIBERATION PROCESS, BUT IT WOULD COME INTO EFFECT WHEN THE SENTENCING IS THAT WOULD BE A MITIGATING FACTOR.
I HAVEN'T READ EXACTLY WHAT THE BYLAWS OF THIS ONE ARE, BUT USUALLY IT REQUIRES A PLEA OF GUILTY TO THE OFFENSE, AND THE COURT IS GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS OFFENDER IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN THEY WOULD.
HOW CAN I PUT IT YOUR AVERAGE CRIMINAL? YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S MORE LIKE TEEN COURT WHERE THERE IS ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING.
THE COURT IS THE JUDGES HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND COURT STAFF HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO HELP VETERANS WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PTSD, YOU KNOW, OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS A RESULT OF BEING, YOU KNOW, DEPLOYED OR BEING IN THE MILITARY.
SO WE JUST DEALT WITH A VETERAN THE OTHER NIGHT, PRESTON, WHO HAD PTSD AS WELL.
SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST ANOTHER AVENUE TO ASSIST PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES NOT RELATED TO THE NORM.
SO WILL THIS BE A, I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME COURT SYSTEM.
AND, JUDGE, THERE WON'T BE A SPECIAL JUDGE.
THIS WILL BE HELD. THERE COULD BE.
YES, THERE COULD BE SPECIALLY TRAINED JUDGES IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE REGIONAL COURTS.
AND I IMAGINE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE JUDGES WHO ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED, WHO KNOW, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY KNOW WHAT? YOU KNOW THE VA CAN DO FOR THEM SPECIFICALLY, PROBABLY SPECIFIC PROBATION AGENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED, YOU KNOW, TO DEAL WITH THE VA AND TO GET THE PROPER ASSISTANCE THAT VETERANS NEED.
OKAY. I WOULD LIKE SOME MORE INFORMATION ON IT, BUT I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME.
I JUST I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE PROCESS OF HOW HOW THIS WORKS, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE AND GIVE PEOPLE SOME FALSE HOPE AND THEN HAVE IT.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD PEOPLE HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S IN PLACE AND READY TO GO.
SO. WELL, I THINK THIS IS THERE'S JUST NOW SETTING IT UP.
THIS IS THIS IS JUST A LETTER OF SUPPORT.
THE FIRST CONTRACT IS THE ADDITIONAL PAVING IN? IT'S IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RIVER ROAD CULVERT PIPE PROJECT.
THE BOX CULVERT. SO THIS INCLUDES PAVING ALL THE WAY FROM CENTRAL TO THE STATE RIGHT OF WAY.
OKAY. SO THAT'S JUST AN ADDITION TO, TO TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL PAVING.
COUPLE OF TRUCKS I SEE FROM EJ BURTON.
ARE THESE REPLACING VEHICLES WE'VE ALREADY SOLD OR DO YOU KNOW VEHICLES THAT WERE APPROVED AS PART OF THE BUDGET? BUDGET? OKAY. THE TWO SHOP VEHICLES AND THOSE TWO TRUCKS ARE SITTING ON THE LOT AT EJ BURTON.
EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE SURPLUS, WE'VE GOT REPLACEMENTS FOR ALREADY.
AND RIGHT, WE'RE NOT FOR THE MOST PART.
I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME THINGS ON THERE THAT ARE JUST.
YEAH. SO TRYING TO CLEAN UP SOME THINGS AROUND THE YARD.
OKAY. FOR THE CURTIS ANDREWS SALE, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK.
[00:45:02]
THAT ONE.RIGHT. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
ROB. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[County Administrator’s Report]
OKAY, I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION.COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
A SMALL LIST OF THINGS THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP TODAY.
AND I KNOW THAT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANNY FOX HAS SOME THINGS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT AS WELL.
SO ONE SINCE I WASN'T AT THE LAST COMMISSIONERS MEETING, I JUST WANTED.
SO THAT'S ALL GOOD NEWS FOR US.
THE AND THEY'RE ALSO SUPPOSED TO PAVE COUPLE ROADS OUT THERE.
THEY WE TALKED ABOUT THE PAVEMENT OF THE ROAD ALSO THAT WAS AGREED TO IN THE AGREEMENT.
AND THEY WILL BE WORKING ON THAT AS WELL.
CAN WE SPECIFY WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR THE RECORDS.
SO, IT'S HOLLY ROAD FROM 480 TO OR.
NO, I'M SORRY, RIVER ROAD FROM 480 TO HOLLY AND THEN HOLLY FROM RIVER TO THE BORROW SITE.
AND I THINK WE SAID WITHIN A YEAR OF SIGNING THE AGREEMENT.
SO THEY'VE GOT UNTIL EARLY NEXT YEAR OR, WELL, SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.
SO AND THEY DID PROVIDE US WITH THEIR APPROXIMATE TIMELINE.
I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.
AND THE AGREEMENT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY SO EVERYONE KNOWS THE LAND.
WE'RE NOT EXPANDING THE LANDFILL.
THIS AGREEMENT WAS NOT AN EXPANSION INCREASE IN SIZE.
ALL IT WAS WAS TO TAKE THE EXISTING PERMITTED LANDFILL TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.
NOW HOW MUCH? IT JUST DID NOT MAKE SENSE TO US TO CLOSE IT.
WITH ALL THE EXPENSE THAT GOES INTO BUILDING THESE FACILITIES, MONITORING THEM AFTER THEY'VE BEEN CLOSED TO CLOSE THIS LANDFILL BEFORE IT WAS FULL.
SO, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A DEAL.
WE'RE FILLING IT TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.
ONCE IT IS CLOSED, IT COULD NOT BE REOPENED.
SO WE'RE JUST MAXIMIZING THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
AND WE ARE YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT BY FILLING UP A PERMITTED PREEXISTING FACILITY TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.
THAT'S ALL THIS PROJECT DOES, ALL THIS AGREEMENT DOES.
AND IN RETURN FOR DOING THAT, CAROLINE COUNTY GETS TO KEEP THE SAVINGS FOR OUR INCONVENIENCE.
SO AND THE ROAD IN FRONT OF WHERE OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO ARE IMPACTED WILL BE IMPROVED.
SO THE SECOND ITEM IS THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER THAT I WANTED TO MENTION.
THERE WAS A JOINT LETTER SIGNED BY THE THREE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND SENT TO THE STATE REQUESTING THE CAPITAL FUNDING COMMITMENT AND ACCELERATED STATE MATCHING FUNDS.
I DID SPEAK TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TODD MONN AT MACO AND DISCUSSED THE AGREEMENT VERSUS THE AUTHORITY AND THE AND OUR DESIRE TO HAVE A SMALL MEETING ABOUT THAT.
PROBABLY THIS WEEK AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING SCHEDULED.
BECAUSE THE CHECKS ARE STARTING TO BE REQUESTED, WE'VE ALREADY SENT ONE CHECK FOR SOME OF THE DESIGN WORK OR THE, YOU KNOW, THE PRELIMINARY WORK, AND THERE'S A LARGER CHECK THAT WILL BE REQUESTED SOON.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AFFIRMATION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO PROCEED BEFORE WE INVEST TOO MUCH MORE FINANCIALLY IN THE PROJECT. SO WE DID RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM THE STATE.
AND IT WAS A GENERIC RESPONSE.
SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REQUEST FOR ACCELERATED MATCHING FUNDS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT RIVER ROAD.
SOMETHING I WANTED TO BRING UP.
AND FRANK'S NOT HERE TODAY, SO THIS MIGHT BE A BROADER DISCUSSION DOWN THE ROAD.
[00:50:04]
BUT I BELIEVE I'VE TALKED TO ALL THREE OF YOU ABOUT THIS.AND I THINK COMMISSIONER PORTER WAS GOING TO BRING THIS UP AT SOME POINT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT.
THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS, INCLUDING PROTECTION OF THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES FOR DOING THAT.
I CAN THINK OF A FEW INSTANCES WHERE IT WOULD BE PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR PLANNING CODES, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DOING CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SHE'S BEEN IN SOME SITUATIONS BEFORE WHERE SHE'S ACTUALLY BEEN THREATENED ON SITE.
AND USUALLY WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AFTER THAT HAPPENS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS ON OUR MINDS IS IF THAT IF SOMETHING WORSE WERE TO HAPPEN, WOULD WE EVEN KNOW WHERE SHE WAS? SO THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD REASONS TO DO THAT.
SO WE'LL BRING BACK TO YOU SOME NUMBERS AND FIGURES ON THAT.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER DOING.
SO THE OTHER TWO, TWO ITEMS THAT I HAD THAT I THINK DANNY'S GOING TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT SOME MORE.
WE HAD A SITUATION WITH OUR OWN FACILITY WHERE THE ROOF IS HAVING SOME MAJOR LEAKS AND THOSE LEAKS ARE THREATENING THE ELECTRONICS AT THE JAIL, PARTICULARLY THE ELECTRONICS THAT CONTROL EVERYTHING AT THE JAIL.
SO WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY REPAIR HAPPENING, AND I'M GOING TO LET DANNY TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.
ALL RIGHT. SO JUST TO EXPAND ON THAT, SO EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING, WARDEN SCOTT HAD REACHED OUT TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE STORMS THAT HAD OCCURRED OVER THE WEEKEND AND LATER LAST WEEK.
AND ESSENTIALLY, THE FLAT ROOF AREAS OF THE JAIL ARE STARTING TO HAVE PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL LEAKS WITH THEM, AND IT ALL SEEMS TO BE RUNNING TO AN AREA OVER TOP OF THEIR MAIN CONTROL ROOM AND CONTROL PANEL.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE MADE SHOOTS OUT OF ESSENTIALLY SOUNDS LIKE GARBAGE BAGS TO TRY TO DIRECT THE WATER AWAY FROM THE CONTROL PANELS. OBVIOUSLY, WE CANNOT OPERATE A FACILITY LIKE THAT.
AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE ABOUT TO START ON DCT BUILDING AS WELL.
COME OUT. THEY'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR ROOF.
THEY HAVE PROPOSED A LIST OF WORK TO CORRECT AND MITIGATE THIS ISSUE COMES IN ABOUT $67,000 TO DO THIS.
TYPICAL FASHION FOR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
WE WOULD GO TO BID YOU'RE LOOKING AT, LIKE A MONTH TURNAROUND TIME.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK THE JAIL HAS A MONTH IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION TO DO THAT.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS MOVING AND HAVE THIS SIGNED.
SINCE THIS WAS BROUGHT UP YESTERDAY, WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ADD IT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT WANTED TO BRING THIS TO YOU AND SEE IF YOU GUYS WERE IN FAVOR OF HAVING DYNAMIC COME OUT AND DO THIS WORK IMMEDIATELY.
THE MONEY FOR THIS FORTUNATELY, IS NOT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
I KNOW WE ARE STILL SPENDING DOWN SOME OF THE ARPA FUNDING ON SOME OF THE DIRT ROAD PAVING.
SO WE'RE NOT REALLY TAKING A HIT ON THE GENERAL FUND THAT SOMETHING WAS UNBUDGETED.
SO ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS ON THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON? COMMISSIONER PORTER.
AND THE SECOND THING THAT I HAD IS THE DAYSPRING'S CAMERA UPGRADE.
YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM CHRISTINA AT STANLEY AT EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REVIEWING THE TOWN'S PROPOSED UPGRADE TO THE CAMERA SYSTEM. SO THEY HAVE THE COUNTY'S SIGN OFF ON THAT.
SO THAT IS ALL SIGNED OFF AND A GO.
AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT NEXT WEEK.
THE TOWN WILL BE OUT THERE STARTING THOSE UPGRADES TO THE CAMERAS.
SO. AND THAT NONE THAT THOSE ITEMS DO NOT COME
[00:55:06]
BEFORE US FOR APPROVAL.THEY DO NOT. SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S BACKGROUND AS WELL WHEN THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL COSTS OR UPGRADES TO THE APARTMENTS, THEY TYPICALLY REACH OUT TO MYSELF OR THE FINANCE OFFICE FOR.
GO AHEAD. THIS IS TYPICAL FASHION THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
WE ACTUALLY HAD AN IN-PERSON MEETING PROBABLY TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN THE CAMERAS WERE BROUGHT UP.
SO THAT THEY'VE HAD THE SIGN OFF FROM THE COUNTY ON THAT PRIOR.
YEAH. DOES THAT UPGRADE INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE CAMERAS IN THE NINE ONE CENTER AND DO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE? FORTUNATELY, I DO NOT KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE QUOTE.
IT WAS DOLLAR PER DOLLAR, THE QUOTE THAT YOU HAD PROVIDED OVER TO US WAS THAT INVOLVED IN THAT ONE THAT YOU WOULD LOOK THAT YOU RECALL? I'LL REACH OUT TO [INAUDIBLE] OKAY. YEAH. IT'S BEEN IN THE DISCUSSION TO DEFINITELY DO THAT.
HOWEVER, AND COMMISSIONER PORTER MAY KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, I DO NOT.
IN TALKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE SENIOR CENTER AND LOOKING FOR ANY KIND OF AN AGREEMENT, COMMISSIONER PORTER, ARE YOU ARE YOU AWARE IF WE EVER HAVE AGREEMENTS, IF WE HAVE HAD AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE AGENCIES IN YOUR TENURE ABOUT LEASING THE SPACE OR THE USE OR A USE OF SPACE AGREEMENT IN THE HOPS BUILDING.
DOES ANYTHING COME TO MIND? YEAH, I'M SURE WE HAVE THEM SOMEWHERE, BUT I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY WOEFULLY OUTDATED AND THEY'RE PROBABLY IN A PAPER FORMAT.
LEASING SPACE TO LIKE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
YEAH. YEAH. BASICALLY THE SPACE AGREEMENT FOR WHAT WE WOULD DO.
WHAT THEIR RESPONSE, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.
UNLESS IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL LEASE WHEN THE BUILDING WAS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING FROM WHAT ACME IS, WHAT IT USED TO BE.
RIGHT. AND I'M SURE I WOULD GUESS THAT WHEN THAT WAS DONE, THERE WERE PROBABLY LEASES THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE THAT ARE JUST EITHER AUTOMATICALLY RENEWABLE OR RENEWABLE. YEAH.
SO, WE IN TALKING ABOUT THIS OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH OVER THERE.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO VISIT.
IT JUST CAME UP AS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT CAMERAS.
AND IS THERE A RULING DOCUMENT ON.
RIGHT AND WHAT'S PERMITTED, WHAT'S NOT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE I WOULDN'T SAY URGENT, BUT IT'S SORT OF ON THE LOW BURNER.
WE PAY FOR EVERYTHING, RIGHT? YES. SO INCLUDING UTILITIES.
100%. RIGHT. AND WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT.
WE RECEIVED NO MONETARY REIMBURSEMENT.
SO IT WON'T BE A LEASE. IT'LL BE A USE OF SPACE AGREEMENT, I THINK, JUST TO, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT ROBIN AND I DISCUSSED THAT WE THOUGHT THAT SHOULD BE IN AGREEMENT, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT, SO.
OKAY. I'M JUST TRYING TO LOOK BACK, SHERIFF, FOR THE EMAIL THAT YOU SENT WITH THE TALENT PROPOSAL.
I IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IT DID MENTION ACCESS FOR IN THERE, BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND IT, I JUST CAN'T.
YEAH, I'LL REACH OUT TO RYAN TODAY.
ALL RIGHT. COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
WELL, LAST WEEK WAS MACO WEEK.THERE WERE A CERTAINLY A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WERE HELD ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.
I'LL JUST TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THEM.
THE MACO PRIORITY INITIATIVES LIST WAS KIND OF NARROWED DOWN FROM 42.
WE GOT DOWN TO 20 AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OR RETAIN BLUEPRINT DISCUSSION IN THOSE INITIATIVES.
THERE WAS AN INTERESTING PROPOSAL THAT WAS BROUGHT UP FROM ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS ABOUT TAXING
[01:00:04]
AUTHORITY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT, WHICH IS KIND OF WHAT DELAWARE DOES.IN OTHER WORDS, GIVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TAXING AUTHORITY SO THAT THEY CAN TAX FURTHER WHAT THEY FEEL THEY NEED FROM A BUDGETARY STANDPOINT, AND THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU KNOW, SETTING THAT THAT TAX RATE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT. THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME SUPPORT, BUT THERE DIDN'T.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE MACO IS GOING TO STAND ON THAT.
THE GOVERNOR HAS MENTIONED, I THINK, IN HIS RECENT SPEECHES THAT THERE THE BLUEPRINT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, BUT HE HASN'T REALLY COME UP WITH ANY SPECIFIC ITEMS FOR ADJUSTMENT.
CAN YOU JUST BRIEFLY THE CHART THAT.
THE DOCUMENT THAT I HAD SHARED WITH THE COMMISSIONERS I'M GOING TO GO BACK IS A DLS REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, PUBLISHED IN JANUARY OF 2022, ESSENTIALLY AN IMPACT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND TRENDS THAT THEY'RE SEEING AS FAR AS REVENUE OUTLOOK AND WHETHER COUNTIES CAN AFFORD TO PAY BLUEPRINT.
SO THE SPREADSHEET THAT I HAD DIRECTED YOUR ATTENTION TO IS THE COUNTY SHARE.
THIS FORTUNATELY DID NOT HAVE THE STATE PORTION TO IT.
I'M SURE IN SOME REPORT WE CAN PULL THAT AS WELL.
SO I'VE KIND OF GIVEN A LITTLE BREAKDOWN, AND I CAN GIVE YOU GUYS A COPY OF THIS IF YOU WANT.
WE'LL TALK. I KNOW IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY OTHER COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP THE PERCEPTION, AT LEAST IN ONE COUNTY, THAT THE STATE WAS UNDERFUNDING WHAT THEIR OBLIGATION WAS THAT THEIR PROJECTIONS.
THEY ARE THEY'RE ENDING UP BELOW WHAT THEIR PROJECTIONS INDICATED THEY SHOULD BE.
AND, AND A LOT OF COUNTIES WERE SAYING THAT THE COUNTIES ARE CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN THE PROJECTIONS SAID THAT THE COUNTY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
SO IT'S DISPROPORTIONATELY SHIFTED THE STATES UNDER AND THE COUNTIES ARE OVER.
SO I'LL KIND OF DRAW ATTENTION TO 2025.
AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST CAVEAT THIS WAS A REPORT THAT CAME OUT IN 2022.
SO THINGS DEFINITELY HAVE CHANGED.
BUT AT THAT TIME THIS IS WHAT WE WERE BEING TOLD.
SO ESSENTIALLY, IF MOE WAS STILL IN EXISTENCE, OUR PRE BLUEPRINT PROJECTION WAS COMING IN ABOUT 16.9 MILLION OBLIGATED TO THE COUNTY. THE BLUEPRINT PROJECTION HAD US GOING TO ABOUT 17.5 MILLION.
AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT $600,000 MORE THAN WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE.
IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER BACK TO OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY FINISHED ABOUT 18.5 MILLION.
SO WE'RE ABOUT $1 MILLION HIGHER THAN WHAT THE PROJECTION WAS, AND ABOUT 1.6 OR SO MORE THAN WHAT THE MOE ESTIMATE.
SO TO COMMISSIONER PORTER'S POINT AND NOW THAT I HAVE THAT IN MY HEAD, IT'LL DEFINITELY BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE ACROSS THE COUNTIES, WHAT THE STATE SHARE IN COMPARISON TO THAT AND THAT PROJECTION WOULD LOOK AND WHETHER THERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS THE UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE PROJECTING LOWER THAN EXPECTED.
AND THE BURDEN IS, WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION BY ONE PARTICULAR COUNTY WAS THAT THEY HAD A CHART FROM 2019 WHICH WAS REFLECTING THAT THE STATE WAS NOT CONTRIBUTING THE AMOUNTS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
[01:05:02]
AND I JUST THINK IT, YOU KNOW, FROM A LAYMAN STANDPOINT, I KEEP SAYING WE KEEP SAYING THAT THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON THIS PATH OF, YOU KNOW, FUNNELING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF OUR COUNTY BUDGET AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BASIC SERVICES THAT EVERYBODY EXPECTS US TO PROVIDE. THAT'S, YOU KNOW, FIXING ROADS.
YOU KNOW PAYING, PAYING PEOPLE, PAYING EMERGENCY SERVICES PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW, DOING THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING.
AND THEN ALSO PICKING UP THIS ADDITIONAL COST.
AND I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WHAT ARE WE GETTING FOR THIS? I MEAN, ARE WE SEEING THIS TREMENDOUS SURGE IN TEST SCORES OR ARE WE SEEING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE ARE.
AND I JUST THINK THAT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE KIND OF A LONE VOICE OUT HERE, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS STAY AS AN INITIATIVE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE PRETENDING EVERYTHING'S OKAY ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A YOU KNOW, IT'S A SUBJECT THAT IS, YOU KNOW A VERY IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, PROJECT FOR THE LEADERSHIP.
I UNDERSTAND THAT BUT WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.
THE TAXPAYERS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY.
I KNOW YOU GOT TO PUT ALL THAT MONEY BLUEPRINT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, I WANT MY ROAD FIXED.
AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING HERE AND THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE TAXING THING FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IN NOT IN CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT IN A NUMBER OF COUNTIES, MY INFORMATION IS THAT BOARD OF EDUCATION'S ARE COMING IN AND SAYING, WE DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THE BLUEPRINT NUMBER IS. WE NEED $11 MILLION MORE THAN THAT.
AND IF WE DON'T GIVE IT TO US, THEN WE GOT TO START CUTTING PROGRAMS. WE GOT TO START CUTTING, CUTTING, YOU KNOW, ATHLETICS, WE GOT TO START DOING IT.
SO I THINK THE THEORY ON THAT IS TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, IF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO DEMAND THIS MONEY, THEN LET THEM DETERMINE AND LET THEM EXPLAIN TO THE TAXPAYERS WHAT THIS MONEY IS GOING FOR AND HOW IT'S BEING SPENT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA, HONESTLY.
YEAH. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NUMBERS THROWN AROUND.
I MEAN, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT WAS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PULLING BACK ON PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY DEEP, DARK SECRET HERE.
THAT 404 IS NOT GOING TO BE DULL TO DULL.
IT'S NOT GOING TO. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE NOW.
AND EACH YEAR THEY'RE DETAILING PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PULLED OFF THE TABLE DUE TO FUNDING.
AND SO I THINK THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR CUT $150 MILLION OUT OF THE BUDGET.
11 DAYS INTO THE BUDGET YEAR IS AN INDICATION OF WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
SO AS THOSE STATE CUTS ARE IMPLEMENTED, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY PLACE THEY GOT TO GO, COME GET THE MONEY IS HERE.
SO WHAT I KEEP BUCKLE UP AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
BUT IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE ROUGH TIME.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE BLUEPRINT TO ME IS I GUESS I WON'T.
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND THE, THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT WORK GOT CHANGED BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
COVID WAS ONE, BUT IT GOT CHANGED AS THINGS KEPT BEING ADDED TO IT.
[01:10:03]
PRE-K, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS JUST BECAME MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE.AND I DON'T THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE FOR THE COUNTY.
I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW ANYTHING, TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE STATE BUDGET.
I JUST TELL YOU FROM SITTING HERE, I'M NOT SURE I'M SMART ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT IT HERE, BUT, I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU SITTING HERE TRYING TO COME UP WITH THIS MONEY EACH YEAR IS GOING TO BECOME, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
I KNOW I'LL ADD, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GOT SICK AND WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
KATHLEEN AND I WERE IN ON SATURDAY MORNING.
IT THE DISCUSSIONS THERE WERE THAT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, NAMELY THE PRE-K EXPANSION IS SHOWING RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THEY'RE PICKING THESE KIDS UP EARLIER IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY ARE EDUCATING THEM AS OPPOSED TO PLAYING CATCH UP ON THE BACK END.
THE POINT WAS MADE THAT IF YOU START OFF AT A DISADVANTAGE, WE IN EDUCATION, THIS PARTICULAR PERSON WHO COMMENTED, I THINK WAS MAYBE A SUPERINTENDENT OR WORK FOR A BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ONE OF THE OTHER COUNTIES, BUT THAT THE EXPANSION OF PRE-K IS SHOWING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CHILDREN ENTERING INTO THE KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE AND ALL.
SO WHAT THAT THAT PERSON DID SAY IS, IS THAT THE SALARY THE 60, THE MINIMUM $60,000 STARTING SALARY IS NOT NECESSARILY SHOWING RETURN FOR THE INCREASED BURDEN, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL BURDEN ON GOVERNMENT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHERE THE DISCUSSION IS, BUT I CAN IMAGINE THE TEACHER'S UNION HAIR WILL CATCH ON FIRE WHEN THEY START TALKING ABOUT THAT, SO I CAN'T SEE IT GOING ANYWHERE. THERE WERE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS IN THE HALLWAYS AMONGST OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THE ANALYSIS, THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS THAT WAS DONE ON BLUEPRINT.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, ARE STARTING TO THINK THAT THERE WERE SOME DELIBERATE MISREPRESENTATIONS IN THE INITIAL FINANCIAL ANALYSIS THAT THEY DIDN'T FACTOR IN SALARY COMPRESSION.
SO I THINK THEY THEY DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE SALARY INFLATION OF THE MORE TENURED, MORE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT WAS DELIBERATE OR NOT, WHAT THE DISCUSSIONS IN THE HALLWAYS WERE, THEY WERE ASKED DID YOU FACTOR IN SALARY COMPRESSION? AND THE ANSWER WAS, YES, THEY DID.
BUT NOW IT'S BECOMING A LITTLE MORE EVIDENT THAT THE NUMBERS WERE OFF SOMEWHERE.
SO THERE'S SKEPTICISM AMONGST THE COUNTIES.
AND OVER THE YEARS, THE STATE HAS STRIPPED THAT OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
YOU DON'T GET TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE RUNNING.
THEY'VE STRIPPED ALL THAT AWAY, AND IT'S JUST BECOME A MANDATE.
ONE ADVANTAGE TO US STILL DOING IT.
BUT ONE ADVANTAGE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE TO DO IT IS WE ARE A LITTLE BIT OF A THROTTLE ON THOSE POTENTIAL TAX INCREASES.
I'M NOT GOING TO CUT ANYWHERE.
[01:15:01]
JUST RAISE TAXES.I MEAN, THERE'S NO THERE WON'T BE THE SKEPTICISM FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
WELL, DO YOU REALLY NEED THAT? YOU KNOW, AND DO I WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND FIGHT THAT FIGHT OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS? I DON'T RIGHT NOW, BUT.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THE IDEA IS AS YOU GO TO ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY I NEED THAT MONEY.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S THE THEORY BEHIND THIS.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT IN A SILO.
EDUCATION SPENDING WHERE WE CAN SAY, HEY, CAN WE GET BY WITH A FEW YEARS WITH A LITTLE LESS IN THIS DEPARTMENT OR THAT DEPARTMENT? I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHICH ONE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT OUR DEPARTMENT TO START, YOU KNOW, BLOWING UP HERE.
BUT I THINK PRE-K, THE PRE-K ISSUE IS, IS GOOD.
YOU KNOW. OH, YEAH. THEN THEY GO WITH CRAZY STORIES ABOUT WE'VE GOT HALF THE DAYCARES IN THIS COUNTY WE HAD BEFORE BECAUSE OF REGULATIONS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY WILLING TO TURN THEIR HOMES INTO SCHOOLS.
I MEAN, LOOK, I DON'T I HAVEN'T HAD LITTLE KIDS FOR A LONG TIME, THANKFULLY.
BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE DAYCARE PART OF JUST HAVING SOMEONE WATCH YOUR CHILD.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS AND AS YOU SAID, WE FACED THE COMPRESSION TOPIC HERE SOME YEARS AGO WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED A LIVING WAGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND OUT THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SET A LIVING WAGE AT THE AT THIS AMOUNT.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS? HE'S MAKING LESS THAN THAT ALREADY.
SO, I MEAN, ALL OF THAT, IF ALL THAT WASN'T CALCULATED AND BUILT IN, I DON'T KNOW.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT MIGHT BE THE REASON.
DADDY, WHEN DID WE FIND OUT OUR FINAL BLUEPRINT NUMBER? IT WAS AFTER WE HAD HAD OUR SECOND BUDGET HEARING.
SO, I MEAN, YES, I THINK I WENT THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT SETS OF NUMBERS FOR THIS.
AND I WANT TO SAY IT WAS END OR MID-MAY WHEN WE GOT THERE.
AND THIS IS BY FAR OUR LARGEST.
OH, IT'S IT'S THE BIGGEST EXPENSE, BIGGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET.
SO WHEN YOU START OFF WITH THIS NUMBER AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN.
OH NO, NO, NO, WAIT A MINUTE. THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT NUMBER.
THIS IS THE NUMBER. OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT'S NOT THE NUMBER. THIS IS THE NUMBER.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, IT'S A AND I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S THAT TO ME INDICATES THAT THERE'S SOME GUESSWORK GOING ON HERE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS AND, AND WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT WE ARE AND THE EFFECT THAT IT HAS ON OUR BUDGET.
WHAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ALWAYS HEAR FROM ME? WHAT'S OUR BLUEPRINT NUMBER? RIGHT. BECAUSE, LOOK, YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT OUR YEAH, YOU TELL ME WHAT OUR HOW MUCH SAINT MARTIN'S BARN IS GOING TO ASK US FOR.
SO TO WRAP UP, JUST, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, ANOTHER ITEM THAT STAYED IN THE INITIATIVES WAS THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE LEGISLATION ABOUT ALLOCATION FOR USING MONEY TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY AND GIVE SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY ON THE ABILITY TO USE THAT MONEY TO FINISH OR TO IMPLEMENT.
I THINK THERE'S SOME TRACTION FOR THAT.
I THINK THERE IS I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY WHO THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS A NONSTARTER.
WHEN DOES OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION? OCTOBER 22ND. OKAY.
I THINK THERE'S CONSENSUS ON THAT ONE.
THESE INITIATIVES, LOOK, WE'RE TRYING TO GET FROM 40 TO 4.
AND WE GOT ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP, I THINK, IN OCTOBER TO TRY TO GET DOWN TO THAT NUMBER.
I DON'T KNOW WHO PICKED THE MAGIC NUMBER OF FOUR, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE NUMBER IS.
BUT BUT I THINK IT WAS A GOOD SESSION.
I THINK YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DAF WAS DISCUSSED AT THE RURAL COUNTY BREAKFAST.
[01:20:02]
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.BUT AGAIN, I THINK IT WAS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS A GOOD, GOOD SESSION.
I DID YESTERDAY HAVE A EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH FREEMAN FROM THE GROUP THAT IS WORKING WITH DAYSPRING WITH THE DAYSPRING COMMUNITY.
HAD ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF DISCUSSION WITH HER.
VERY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD DISCUSSION.
ENJOY. ENJOY TALKING WITH HER.
WE KIND OF BEEN MISSING EACH OTHER WITH EMAILS.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND CHECK I, YOU KNOW, EMAIL ADDRESSES.
BUT SO WE GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSIONS THERE.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE GOOD.
SO I HAVE A FEW THINGS I HIT ON REAL QUICK.
THE ELR COMMITTEE IS HAVING A HEARING ON MDA'S EMERGENCY ACTIONS, AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH.
MOST LIKELY AT 9:30 OR 10 A.M..
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL ACCEPT WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND POSSIBLY ORAL TESTIMONY.
I THINK CAROLINE COUNTY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SUBMIT POTENTIALLY BOTH IF, IF ACCEPTED. BUT DOES ANYONE REMEMBER WHAT THAT ACRONYM IS? AELR? I DON'T KNOW.
A MINUTE. JAY JACOBS IS THE CHAIRMAN.
WELL, THERE'S TEN, THERE'S TEN SENATORS, TEN DELEGATES FROM THE STATE THAT REVIEW ALL PROPOSED REGULATIONS BEFORE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED BY STATE AGENCIES.
SO THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT IS.
THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW THE ADMINISTRATIVE, ENVIRONMENTAL LAND REGULATION.
I DON'T I KNOW THE E IS ENVIRONMENTAL.
I KNOW THAT. EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE.
RIGHT. I THINK DELEGATE JACOBS WAS CHAIRMAN.
THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW THE MDA'S PROPOSED EMERGENCY DEF FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUAL REGULATIONS.
SO THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE OR A HEARING FOR THAT.
I DON'T HAVE A TIME YET, BUT I DO KNOW IT'S THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH.
OKAY. SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE PREPARED TO TESTIFY OR SUBMIT TESTIMONY ON THAT. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE COUNTY STAFF DIRECTOR BEACHY ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SUMMER FEST.
AND ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR STAFF'S HARD WORK AND ALSO OUR PARTNERS AT THE TOWN OF DENTON FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND ALL THE VENDORS, ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT MADE SUMMER FEST A SUCCESS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU.
A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE MACO CONFERENCE TAKEAWAYS THAT I HAD ON TOP OF YOU KNOW, WHAT COMMISSIONER PORTER DISCUSSED ABOUT BLUEPRINT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO TOUCH ON THE BLUEPRINT FACTOR FOR US TO HAVE A, A REALLY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCIAL STATE OF THE COUNTY WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTION IS GOING TO BE.
SO IT'S HARD FOR US TO MAKE STRATEGIC DECISIONS IN OUR, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT OUTLINE YEARS.
WHAT CAPITAL PROJECTS CAN WE DO? CAN WE NOT DO YOU KNOW, CAN WE HIRE STAFF, CAN WE EXPAND DEPARTMENTS WHERE WE FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING BOTTLENECKED? ALL OF THIS IS HAS THIS CLOUD OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BLUEPRINT HANGING OVER TOP OF OUR HEADS WHILE WE'RE CONSIDERING THESE EXPENDITURES. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT MY TAKEAWAY IS I DON'T THINK ANYTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE UNTIL AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE ASKED REPEATEDLY LAST YEAR THE MANTRA WAS TO UPDATE THE REPORT SO WE KNEW WHAT KIND OF MONEY WE WERE LOOKING AT.
SO THEY'RE EITHER I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVEN'T GOT IT.
I'M NOT GOING TO SPECULATE ON THAT.
[01:25:01]
YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN SPECULATING, BUT THERE'S A REASON WHY WE HAVEN'T GOT UPDATED NUMBERS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OBLIGATION IS GOING TO BE. STATE HIGHWAY FUNDING MEETING WAS VERY CONCERNING, NOT ONLY FROM A STANDPOINT.YOU KNOW, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT IF YOU'RE ENTERING INTO A RECESSION AND YOUR TAX RECEIPTS ARE GOING TO BE DOWN, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE LARGE IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE FROM AN EXPANSION STANDPOINT.
BUT WE DO EXPECT THE STATE TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.
AND THE DISCUSSION ABOUT RESURFACING SOME ROADS WAS VERY CONCERNING TO ME.
IT I'VE GOT A LITTLE INFORMATION SINCE THEN.
THAT LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, WHICH IS FIVE COUNTIES, THE DISTRICT RECEIVED $24 MILLION FOR ROAD SURFACE RESURFACING, LINE STRIPING, GUARDRAIL MAINTENANCE, ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE TYPE PROJECTS.
SO IT WENT FROM 24 LAST YEAR TO 13.
NEXT YEAR IS PROJECTED TO GO TO SIX, AND A YEAR AFTER THAT IT'S PROJECTED TO GO TO THREE.
SO AND THESE ARE THESE ARE REPAVING ROADS.
STATE ROADS IN THE, IN THE COUNTY.
SO. THAT THAT WAS VERY CONCERNING.
YOU KNOW, AND IT COSTS ABOUT $800,000 TO MILL AND PAVE A MILE ROAD.
SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET MUCH DONE WITH $13 MILLION IN FIVE COUNTIES.
AND THERE REALLY DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY, ANY CONCRETE PLAN ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE REDUCTION OF HIGHWAY USER REVENUE WITH THE MANDATED SWITCH TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES DON'T PRODUCE ANY GAS TAX.
SO, I MEAN, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT KIND OF SIMILAR TO THE BLUEPRINT.
YOU GOT THIS IDEA UP HERE THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T, YOU KNOW.
SO OKAY. SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THERE? THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY REAL CONCRETE PLAN ON THAT.
NO. THERE WERE GOOD DISCUSSIONS THAT, THAT I HAD WITH OTHER COMMISSIONERS.
SO WE MAY HEAR SOME OF THIS ONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SET UP A MEETING AMONGST THE RURAL COUNTIES REGARDING SEPTIC SYSTEMS, ON SITE DISPOSAL PERMITS LIKE COMING UP WITH A UNITED MESSAGE, A UNITED REQUEST TO MDE AND IN TURN, OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE TO PROPERTY OWNERS.
EVERYONE A LOT OF OUR TIME IS SPENT DEALING WITH SEPTIC SYSTEM PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN'T GET PERMITS OR, YOU KNOW, IT JUST TAKES FOREVER.
AND PART OF THAT IT IS AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH MDE IMPLEMENTING THESE REGULATIONS.
SO I WOULD LIKE I THINK WE NEED TO GET TOGETHER.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN MAYBE GET TOGETHER ON AND YOU KNOW, BRAINSTORM AND GET A MESSAGE TOGETHER SO WE CAN GO TO THE SECRETARY OF MDE AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, HELP US OUT HERE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER COUNTIES NEIGHBORS OF OURS THAT ARE HAVING CONSIDERABLE ISSUES WITH THE ONSITE DISPOSAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS. SOLAR REGULATIONS.
I THINK THEY'RE COMING AFTER US.
THE STATE IS GOING TO COME AFTER US ON SOLAR AUTONOMY IN THE COUNTIES WE ARE NOT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE REDUCED CONTROL OVER SITING, TAXING SETBACKS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO I THINK THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WE ARE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY TO RETAIN AS MUCH LOCAL AUTONOMY WHEN IT COMES TO SOLAR AS WE CAN.
WHY? TAXING ABILITY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US.
AND ALSO DECOMMISSIONING TO PROTECT THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTY.
WHEN THESE WHEN THESE PROJECTS ARE NO LONGER VIABLE.
SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG THEME OF THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAD.
[01:30:03]
YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? I'M PROBABLY MISSING SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IT'S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS.AND SO WITH THAT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
[Public Comment]
MR. DEAN? CHARLES DEAN OF PRESTON, I FIRST WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY VOICE.IT HAPPENS EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS.
COMMISSIONER BARTZ SAYS IT'S BECAUSE I TALK TOO MUCH.
BUT HE'S NOT HERE, SO APPARENTLY I WON THAT DEBATE.
I AGAIN WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MY APPOINTMENT TO THE CAROLINE TWO 50TH COMMITTEE.
BEEN MULTIPLE SUCCESSES THIS YEAR.
I KNOW I EMAILED YOU ABOUT A TIMELINE THAT WAS ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE.
THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN RECORD TIME FOR GOVERNMENT, SO I THANK YOU.
BUT I DO WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MARYLAND TWO 50TH COMMISSION CURRENTLY MEETING AND THERE IS A USA TO 50TH MOVEMENT JUST STARTING TO GET UNDERWAY AS WELL.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE EITHER A MEETING OR A DIALOG TO REQUEST SOME SORT OF OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT TO CHAIR OUR EFFORTS IN THIS COUNTY, NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN TWO 50TH, BUT FOR THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL.
TWO 50TH THAT WILL BE ORGANIZED AND CELEBRATED THROUGH 2026.
AND IF YOU WANT TO COUNT THE POST DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ERA, WE COULD CONTINUE MARKETING THE HISTORY TOURISM OF THIS COUNTY, IF YOU WILL.
THE, YOU KNOW, THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, WHICH WAS 1783, OR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1787, OR THE ENACTMENT OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT IN 1789, WE COULD CONTINUE THIS INFINITELY WITH A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE COUNTY, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY LEADING THE WAY.
SO THAT'S MY TESTIMONY, MY REQUEST.
YOU HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION IF AND WHEN YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT.
THANK YOU. WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN? WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE MARYLAND 250.
IT'S A WOMAN WHO CURRENTLY LIVES IN TALBOT.
I BELIEVE HER NAME IS MICHELLE JOHNSON.
I'VE SAT IN ON A ZOOM MEETING.
YES. BUT IT'S BASICALLY A COALITION OF THE WILLING PEOPLE.
AND I AM GOING. THE TITLE OF MICHELLE.
I MEAN, WHAT WOULD THE TITLE BE? FOR HER? FOR A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, WHAT WOULD? THE CHAIR OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY-MARYLAND 250TH CELEBRATION? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
I'M FROM RIDGELY, MARYLAND, BORN AND RAISED IN THIS AREA.
I SERVED IN IRAQI FREEDOM FROM 2007 TO 2009.
REPRESENTED CAROLINE COUNTY, TALKED ABOUT HOME TO PEOPLE.
HOW IT'S A GREAT SAFE SPACE? THAT'S WHY I MOVED FROM PHILLY WHEN THE RIOTS STARTED.
I COME TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED TWO SATURDAYS AGO.
I'M VERY DISTRAUGHT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I CAME IN HERE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO AND SAID THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND NOW WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, THERE'S ANOTHER FLIER GOING AROUND ABOUT A PARTY FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
I'M SCARED SOMEBODY'S GOING TO GET KILLED THIS TIME AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER.
IT COULD EVEN BE ME, BECAUSE SOMETIMES I WAKE UP AT NIGHT, I HAVE PTSD, AND I LIKE TO WALK MY DOG.
I DO WALK DOWN TO SCHOOL STREET BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE WALKING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.
[01:35:04]
THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SAYS NO LOITERING CAMERAS THERE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ENFORCED.IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN TWO WEEKS, TO BE PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SATURDAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THEY WENT IN AND BROKE UP THAT PARTY? MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BACK THERE ARE FROM CAMBRIDGE AND THEY'RE MAKING THESE FLIERS.
SO THE FLIERS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY WHERE WHERE ARE THESE FLIERS BEING GENERATED FROM? I HAVE NO IDEA.
I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I HAVEN'T CAME ACROSS THE FLIER, BUT APPARENTLY THEY SEE THEM.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE BEING ADVERTISED AT.
SOMEONE IN CAMBRIDGE IS GENERATING A FLIER SAYING, COME TO THESE BLOCK PARTIES DOWN IN DADE SPRINGS.
THE LAST FUNCTION, MY INFORMATION IS THAT I'M PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THAT'S FINE.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THAT FUNCTION DID NOT LIVE AT DAYSPRING.
SO WHAT IS GENERATING PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH A TO DEVELOP A FLIER THAT IS INVITING PEOPLE FROM CAMBRIDGE TO COME TO DAYSPRING, WHERE, I MEAN, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON NO ENFORCEMENT? THEY KNOW NOBODY'S BACK THERE TO ENFORCE THE LAWS OR THE RULES OR THE REGULATION.
SPOT WITH A PARKING LOT AND SAY NO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT.
HE'S OUT MEDICALLY. HE'S GOING TO BE GONE FOR A WHILE.
THEY HAVEN'T EVEN PUT NOBODY BACK THERE TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY.
THEY WON'T SPEAK TO HANNAH HENRY BECAUSE THAT APARTMENT AFFECTS THAT ENTIRE COMMUNITY BACK THERE.
A NINE YEAR OLD, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY MOM WHEN IT HAPPENED.
LIKE, RIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENED, WHEN IT HAPPENED TILL THE END.
AND SHE'S LIKE, THIS NINE YEAR OLD'S RUNNING DOWN THE STREET INTO HER YARD.
THEY REALLY FLY AND JUST CAN HIT THE WRONG PERSON OR GO THROUGH SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE NOBODY IN CAROLINE COUNTY GET KILLED.
AND I THINK WHAT HAPPENED I THINK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT KNEW ABOUT IT AND THEY WERE THERE.
I MEAN, THEY RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SCENE WHEN IT HAPPENED.
I MEAN, ARE THEY? LOITERING IS BREAKING IT.
IT SAYS, NO LOITERING, NO TRESPASSING.
COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH CAMERAS.
ARE THEY BREAKING THE LAW THERE? BUT MY QUESTION IS, ARE THERE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE APARTMENTS WHO ARE ALSO INVOLVED? THERE MAY BE A I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE I DON'T HANG OUT BY THERE.
RIGHT. SO SOMEONE SAYS I MEAN THAT'S OUR FRUSTRATION.
YEAH. SO IF SOMEONE SAYS, WELL, THEY'RE MY RIGHT.
THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HANGING OUTSIDE.
WELL, IT'D JUST BE A GROUP OF PEOPLE JUST OUT THERE.
I'M GLAD YOU GUYS RESPONDED, BUT IS THERE A WAY WE COULD FIND A POLICY? I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING SOMEWHERE WE HAVEN'T SEEN OR THAT CAN BE CREATED WHEN WE HAVE THESE PARTIES.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE KIND OF SHOCKED HOW FAST THEY RESPOND, BUT THEY KNEW ABOUT IT.
THEY WERE THERE MONITORING THE SITUATION.
BUT IF NOBODY'S BREAKING THE LAW, THEY CAN'T COME IN AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DISPERSE.
LET ME TELL YOU. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'M I SENT AN EMAIL, WHICH I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SHARING, THAT I RECOMMENDED THAT THE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THAT PROPERTY BE REVIEWED BY THE STATE'S ATTORNEY AND THAT THOSE POLICIES BE ADAPTED TO TRY AND PREVENT THIS.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE WHO SAY, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU TELLING ME? I CAN'T HAVE ANYBODY COME VISIT ME? WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT STANDING SO I CAN'T STAND IN THE PARKING LOT AND TALK TO SOMEBODY.
I MEAN, I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S NOT IT'S NOT AS EASY TO CONTROL AS A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK.
BECAUSE IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THOSE UNITS WHO ARE INVITING PEOPLE TO COME WITH GUNS, HANG AROUND. YEAH. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PULL UP THERE AND SAY, AND I'M NOT A POLICEMAN AND I WISH THEY HAD STAYED.
I WISH THEY DID. WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH WE WILL OFFLINE.
[01:40:04]
BUT I MEAN, BUT TO JUST SIMPLY PULL UP AND SAY, HEY, YOU GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
YEAH. AND I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE YEARS, 99% OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE CREATED ARE AT APARTMENT COMPLEXES ARE CREATED BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE THERE.
AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
AND WHO DO YOU HOLD ACCOUNTABLE? YOU HOLD THE TENANT ACCOUNTABLE.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST THE COUSIN? YOU DON'T GET, THE TENANT IS HELD RESPONSIBLE.
I WILL WORK, YOU KNOW, AS HARD AS I CAN TO SEE THAT THAT'S DONE.
BUT I WILL POINT OUT THAT AND THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION I HAVE WITH MS. FREEMAN YESTERDAY, WHO, BY THE WAY, IS VERY I ENJOY TALKING WITH HER.
I THINK SHE'S DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT I BELIEVE THAT AS MUCH AS DAYSPRING IS A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, THERE ARE COMMUNITY CONCERNS AND COMMUNITY ISSUES THAT ARE THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED THAT REALLY DON'T INVOLVE DAYSPRING.
THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS GOING TO BE RELUCTANT TO GO AND SAY, YOU KNOW, TO BE TO BE CONFRONTED WITH CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. SO THEY'RE GOING TO SAY WHEN THEY WALK INTO THE TO THE ROOM AND SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT DITCHES BEING CLEANED OUT THROUGHOUT THE, THROUGHOUT THE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY OUTSIDE OF DAYSPRING.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO TAKE ON.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO BE CONFRONTED WITH THAT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A SEPARATION OF DAYSPRING ISSUES AND COMMUNITY ISSUES.
UNDERSTOOD. THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
AND I UNDERSTAND FROM HER THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEETING ON THE 28TH SEPTEMBER.
AND SHE SAID WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT.
BUT I HAD A LONG CONVERSATION WITH HER YESTERDAY.
WE TALKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ISSUES.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TENANTS OWNING THE PROPERTY.
OKAY. AND IT'S A GROUP, IT'S A BOARD THAT IS APPOINTED.
THE TENANTS OWN THE PROPERTY, AND THERE'S A BOARD OF TENANTS THAT OPERATE THE PROPERTY.
THEY PICK THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, YOU KNOW, REPORTS TO THEM.
SO IT IS BEING DONE IN THIS COUNTY.
I THINK I CERTAINLY SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I DON'T WANT TO, BUT I'LL SPEAK FOR THEM.
I WOULD BE PERFECTLY HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING.
OUR PURPOSE IN THIS IS TO SEE THAT THIS THAT THIS PROPERTY IS.
LOOK, WE GOT ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS THERE.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE PROPERTY NEEDS TO BE RENOVATED.
THERE NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, A RENOVATION OF THAT PROPERTY TO ADDRESS PHYSICAL ISSUES THERE.
DO YOU KNOW THE HVAC SYSTEMS? YOU KNOW, THE TENANT THINGS ARE, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT I THINK THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WOULD BE TO SEE THE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROPERTY.
AND WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AS LATE AS THIS WEEK WHEN I SAW THE, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THAT ORGANIZATION AT MACO.
HOW DO WE GET THIS INTO THE HANDS OF AN OWNER WHO A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, SOME ORGANIZATION THAT IS WILLING TO GO IN AND FOCUS ON THAT PROPERTY? RIGHT. HOW DO WE DO THAT?
[01:45:02]
HOW CAN WE GET THAT DONE 30 SOME YEARS AGO.AND PART OF THAT OBLIGATION WAS THAT THE COUNTY HAD TO HAD TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP IN THAT OR THERE WAS A MORTGAGE.
THE MORTGAGE IS BEING DEFERRED FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT THAT THE COUNTY IS INVOLVED.
AND IF IT'S A GROUP OF TENANTS, IF IT'S ANOTHER NONPROFIT, IF IT'S A NONPROFIT THAT'S FORMED THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT ALL OF THESE PIECES HAVE TO FIT WHERE BECAUSE IF YOU WITH THE OPERATING EXPENSES THERE AND THE INCOME LIMITS THAT ARE THERE WITH NO RENT SUBSIDY TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
TO ADD A MORTGAGE, A DEBT SERVICE OF TWO.
DANNY'S AT 2.4 MILLION TO 2.8.
2.5. TO ADD TO ADD A MORTGAGE PAYMENT ON TOP OF THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO CASH FLOW. SO THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THERE.
WE WILL. AND I, I PLAN TO DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THE PEOPLE FOR BETTER HOUSING OPERATION.
IN FACT, I'LL TAKE A RIDE DOWN THERE, SEE HOW THAT GOT SET UP.
BUT THAT AS OF, I'M GOING TO SAY, FIVE YEARS AGO, I CAN'T SPEAK TODAY.
IT COULD HAVE CHANGED BETWEEN.
BUT THAT IS, IS OWNED BY AND OPERATED BY THE TENANTS ATTENDANT ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, WHO WERE APPOINTED, WHO WERE APPOINTED TO A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE'LL TALK. WE'LL TALK TO THE SHERIFF AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY ABOUT POTENTIAL WAYS TO.
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THAT. WE DON'T WANT THAT STUFF HAPPENING.
I WAS TOLD BY A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS IT'S GOING TO BE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.
SO I'M THINKING FRIDAY OR SATURDAY.
SO I GOT A LOT. SO IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ME SOMETHING, DO IT.
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD EMAIL IT? I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET A COPY.
I HEARD OF THE NEW FLIER, BUT THE PREVIOUS FLIER HEARD THE SHERIFF'S HAD IT AND OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN A FLIER AND I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED, HOW WAS THAT HAPPENING BACK THERE? WELL, WE'LL CHECK INTO IT TOO AND SEE WHAT INTEL THEY'VE GOT.
YEAH, AND THE LAST ONE WAS CIRCULATED ON INSTAGRAM.
YEAH. AND BECAUSE SOMEBODY SENT ME A SCREENSHOT.
THAT'S TOO MUCH. I ONLY DO FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.
BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME.
SOME OF US ARE THE FRIENDLIEST.
I KNOW YOUR POSITION IS NOT EASY AT ALL.
BUT THANK YOU FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? REVEREND. REVEREND DUNN.
WELL. NOBODY'S JOB THAT WORKS FOR THE COUNTY IS EASY FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND FORCES THAT AREN'T EVEN HERE NOW.
IF IT WAS EASY, I COULD DO IT.
AND I JUST THANK GOD DAILY FOR THE COMMISSIONERS AND OUR STAFF AND HOW THEY, GOD, HAS GIVEN THEM THE WISDOM AND THE UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TO DO IT AND HOW TO MAKE THINGS WORK.
AND THE INITIATIVE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
THANK YOU. YOUR JOB IS IMPORTANT TOO.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. DO WE WANT TO.
YEAH, I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IN CLOSED SESSION, IF WE COULD.
[Meeting Adjourns]
ALL RIGHT. SO, I WOULD SAY THAT I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO ON INTO CLOSED SESSION UNDER GENERAL PROVISION.[01:50:10]
DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE, DEMOTION, COMPENSATION, REMOVAL, RESIGNATION OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS OVER WHOM THIS PUBLIC BODY HAS JURISDICTION AND ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS, AND ALSO UNDER SECTION ZERO SEVEN, TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.OKAY. SO MOTION AND SECOND ROLL CALL VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OR COMMISSIONER PORTER.
AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.