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WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DAN GEDMAN.
IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO THE MICROPHONES, SO EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU.
THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IT'S STILL ST. LUKE'S METHODIST.
>> YES. GLOBAL METHODIST OR ST. LUKE'S METHODIST, ARE STILL METHODIST.
YES, STILL METHODIST. LET US PRAY.
GRACIOUS GOD AND HOLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE JOY OF OUR GATHERING TOGETHER TODAY TO BE ABOUT YOUR PURPOSE AND YOUR WORK.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIFTS AND THE GRACES OF ALL THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, OH, LORD, WHO WILL HELP DELIBERATE AND MAKE DECISIONS ON THE BEST BEHALF OF OUR COUNTY.
OH, LORD, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT ALL THINGS WILL BE DONE IN PERFECT ACCORDANCE TO YOUR WILL.
THIS WE PRAY IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND GEDMAN. ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONSULT WITH STAFF AND LEGAL COUNSEL.
THE ATTENDEES WERE COMMISSIONER BREEDING, COMMISSIONER BARTZ, COMMISSIONER PORTER, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DANIEL FOX, JENNIFER REIBLY, STEWART BARROLL, MARY BERNESKI, AND KIM RAEDER.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? SIR?
>> YES, SIR. GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN, BRAD SEARS, TOWN COMMISSIONER RIDGELEY.
AT LEAST IN MY BRIEF TENURE IN GOVERNMENT, I FOUND THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REJOICING, FOR CELEBRATION ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
[LAUGHTER] I COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO DO JUST THAT.
TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS IN PASSING THE RECENT DAF/FPR LEGISLATION.
I HAVE A LETTER HERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ AND TO PRESENT TO YOU FOLLOWING THE READING OF THAT LETTER.
SPECIFICALLY, DATED SEPTEMBER 24TH, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024, TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, COUNTY COURTHOUSE 109 MARKET STREET, ROOM 123, DENTON, MARYLAND, 21629.
GENTLEMEN, ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO LIVE, VISIT, WORK, ATTEND SCHOOL AND PLAY IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY.
WE THE UNDERSIGNED, EXTEND OUR SINCERE THANKS TO YOU, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND THE COUNTY STAFF FOR YOUR MANY MONTHS OF HARD, DILIGENT WORK TO CRAFT, NEGOTIATE, AND PASS THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024-005, ENTITLED NEW CHAPTER 128,
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FOOD PROCESSING RESIDUALS STORAGE PERMIT.TOGETHER WITH THE DAF/FPR MORATORIA PRECEDING PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION, YOU HAVE DONE INVALUABLE SERVICE.
NOT JUST TO THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY, BUT TO THE WHOLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
IT IS NOT INCONCEIVABLE TO US THAT YOUR EFFORTS WILL INSPIRE AND SERVE AS A TEMPLATE FOR OTHER MARYLAND COUNTIES SEEKING TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES OF THE THREATS TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING POSED BY UNCONTROLLED STORAGE OF THIS MATERIAL.
SINCERELY, THE COMMISSIONER OF RIDGELEY, SIGNED JOHN BUCKLE, PRESIDENT, JOHN HURLEY, COMMISSIONER AND BRAD SEARS COMMISSIONER.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M TRIPPING OVER MYSELF HERE.
[LAUGHTER] I GUESS I CAN WALK OVER.
>> EITHER WAY, COME AROUND THIS WAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> NOW, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT DOWN IN DENTON TO SIT IN THE DENTIST'S CHAIR.
>> [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IS THERE ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING?
>> IF WE COMMENT, WE SHOULD COMMENT NOW VERSUS THE TOPIC ON THE DISCUSSION ON DIRT ROADS.
>> IT WOULD EITHER BE NOW OR AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
THERE IS A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AT THE END AFTER.
IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO THAT DISCUSSION OR WHETHER YOU WOULD GO AHEAD.
>> ANYONE ELSE? NO OTHER COMMENT.
THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH, 100TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.
IS ANYONE HERE? MA'AM, YOU WANT TO COME UP? CERTAINLY.
>> [LAUGHTER] WELL, IF YOU WANT TO SIT RIGHT THERE, I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION.
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION HERE FROM CAROLINE COUNTY MARYLAND.
IN HONOR OF ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH, PREVIOUSLY KINGS APOSTLE CHURCH OF GOD, LOCATED AT 300 NORTH FOURTH STREET, DENTON, CELEBRATING 100 YEARS.
WHEREAS ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH, INC, FORMERLY KINGS APOSTLE CHURCH OF GOD INC, IS COMMEMORATING ITS 100TH CHURCH ANNIVERSARY ON OCTOBER 19TH, 2024, WITH OUR COMMUNITY, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CONGREGATION TO EMBRACE THE PAST, LIVE IN THE PRESENT AND TRUSTING JESUS FOR THE FUTURE.
WHEREAS IN 1924, GOD SENT A TRAILBLAZER AND COURAGEOUS LEADER, FOUNDER, MOTHER CARRIE VIRGINIA GURRY TO DENTON, MARYLAND TO ESTABLISH A CHURCH IN DENTON, MARYLAND, KINGS APOSTLE HOLY TEMPLE, HOLINESS CHURCH OF GOD.
RENAMED ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH INC.
WHEREAS ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 300 NORTH FOURTH STREET, DENTON, MARYLAND, WHERE ELDER THOMAS H. FISHER SR. IS CURRENTLY PASTOR, AND HAS LED THE CONGREGATION FOR 18 YEARS.
PREVIOUS PASTORS INCLUDE ELDER STEPHEN YOUNG, ELDER EDWARD CAMPBELL, BISHOP SAMUEL MURRAY AND BISHOP ESTHER A. MURRAY.
WHEREAS IN LATER YEARS, WITH EVERY NEW PASTOR THAT CAME THROUGH ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH, KINGS APOSTLE.
GOD GAVE EACH ONE A VISION TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD IMPROVE AND ENRICH THE CHURCH FAMILY.
WHEREAS ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH, KINGS APOSTLE, HAS UNDERGONE MANY TRANSFORMATION OVER THE PAST HUNDRED YEARS, GOD HAS CONTINUED TO BLESS THIS CHURCH AND ITS CONGREGATION TO BE A SHINING LIGHT AND A GOODLY PRESENCE IN DENTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
SIGNED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY ON SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2024, J. TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT, LARRY C. PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT AND FRANKLIN BARTZ, THIRD COMMISSIONER.
THAT'S QUITE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.
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>> THANK YOU. ALL I CAN SAY TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
>> WITHOUT HIM, WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
>> WELL, I KNEW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE, AND CERTAINLY, HER HUSBAND, TOM, IS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CLASSMATE OF MINE, A GOOD MAN.
WE'VE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME TOGETHER AND KNOW HIM WELL AND HE DOES A GREAT JOB AS DO YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING A CONSTANT SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY FOR ALL YOU DO.
YOU AND REVEREND FISHER HAVE ALWAYS STEPPED UP IN THE COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE YOU WAS MY KINDERGARTEN.
>> YOU WERE A KINDERGARTEN, IN GREENSBURG BACK IN 1979, 1980, ROUGHLY.
>> BUT NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEING THERE FOR EVERYONE AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS.
I KNOW REVEREND FISHER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE GOES BY, REVEREND OR PASTOR, ELDER.
BUT HE COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT ALL THESE YEARS WITHOUT YOU, SO THAT'S A TESTAMENT TO GOD AND YOUR MARRIAGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 53 YEARS, A LONG TIME. [LAUGHTER]
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT AS WELL.
>> NEXT UP, WE HAVE DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR AND ROBIN EATON, DIRECTOR OF DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. IS LESLIE HERE? LESLIE GRUNDEN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING CODES, AND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING CODES WITH A DISCUSSION OF DIRT ROADS.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.
>> WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE WITH SOME, I WANT TO SAY, DIRT ROAD ANALYSIS AND REVIEW THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ACROSS THE COUNTY AND REALLY SOME TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED THAT WE'RE USING THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
THAT WAY YOU GUYS CAN OBVIOUSLY HAVE YOUR INPUT AND REVIEW OF THOSE TOOLS.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAD SHARED AN EMAIL WITH THE BOARD ESSENTIALLY LISTING OUT ALL THE DIRT ROADS IN EXCEL FORMAT AND TAKING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DATA POINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN GATHERING ABOUT THE DIRT ROADS.
WHETHER IT'S JUST GENERAL CONDITION, LENGTH, HOMES ON THE ROAD, WHICH WOULD THEN TRANSLATE TO HOMES PER MILE CONDITION, PROXIMITY TO DIFFERENT RESOURCES, WHETHER THEY'RE SCHOOLS.
WE SAW INPUT FROM LOCAL BOARD OF ED.
ALSO HISTORICAL DATA THAT ROBIN HAS HAD THROUGH HIS SHOP, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
REALLY, WITH ALL OF THAT, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO START LAYING THAT OUT.
I GUESS WE'LL START WITH THE TOOL THAT MEGAN HAS UP HERE THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE AND THAT WE HAVE UP ON THE BOARD.
WHICH IS REALLY IMPLEMENTING WHAT WE'RE LEARNING AND GATHERING INTO A GIS FORMAT SO YOU CAN VISUALIZE AND START SEEING WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AND HOW THIS CAN INCORPORATE INTO FUTURE GRANT APPLICATIONS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE COUNTY HERE, AND AS MEGAN GOES THROUGH, WE'VE DEVELOPED LAYERS THAT THEN START SHOWING AREAS THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHEN IT COMES TO DIRT ROADS.
I GUESS THE FIRST CHECK THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH IS JUST CHECKING REALLY THE UNPAVED ROAD.
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BY SELECTING THAT, YOU'LL SEE ON THE MAP IN THAT YELLOWISH ORANGE, EVERY UNPAVED ROAD THAT IS A COUNTY ROAD.>> EIGHTY MILES APPROXIMATELY OF UNPAVED ROADS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] EIGHTY, I THINK IT'S 77 PRECISELY.
>> THEN WITH THAT, AS I MENTIONED, SOME OF THESE DATA POINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN GATHERING, WE CAN START LAYERING THOSE ON.
WE HAVE AREAS THAT CONSTANTLY FLOOD.
THEN WE HAVE AREAS THAT ARE CONSIDERED WASHOUT AREAS WHERE THERE'S MOVING WATER THAT'S DETERIORATING THE ROADS.
AS MEGAN GOES THROUGH, SHE CAN START LAYERING THIS ON AND WE CAN START TO SEE WHAT ROADS ARE HAVING PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED.
>> WITH THAT, YOU HAVE THE PURPLE AND THE GREEN THAT ARE SHOWING FLOOD AREAS AND WASHOUT AREAS.
>> YOU REALLY START TO SEE AREAS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE SHOWING THESE TYPES OF ISSUES.
THE BIG REASON, WHY ARE WE SHOWING THIS TO YOU TODAY? WELL, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH LESLIE'S OFFICE TO PARTNER WITH ENVISION CHOPTANK AND AMANDA POLLACK, WHO IS AN ENGINEER WITH ENVISION CHOPTANK, TO START APPLYING, ACTUALLY, FOR A PROTECT GRANT THROUGH THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT THIS PROTECT GRANT OUTLINES IS REALLY RESILIENCY TO THE TRANSPORTATION ROUTES THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED, HENCE, DIRT ROADS.
THIS COULD INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION THAT RESILIENCE TO NATURAL HAZARDS, SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, SEA LEVEL RISE, FLOODING, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF PLANNING, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THESE AREAS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO DO IS TAKE A NEW LOOK AT DIRT ROADS AS A WHOLE, TRY TO PUT AS MUCH INFORMATION TOGETHER, AND START TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN LOOK FOR FUNDING TO START UPGRADING AND POSSIBLY PAVING CERTAIN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WITH THE SPREADSHEET THAT WE'VE OUTLINED, IF YOU DON'T MIND PULLING THE SPREADSHEET, WE CAN REALLY START TO SCORE AND PUT METRICS TOGETHER WITH AREAS THAT, I'M GOING TO SAY BODE WELL WITH DIFFERENT GRANT APPLICATIONS.
WHAT MEGAN HAS SWITCHED OVER TO IS ACTUALLY THE DIRT ROAD LIST THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO.
THE SHEET THAT YOU SEE NOW IS ESSENTIALLY THE RAW DATA, WHICH AGAIN, IS EVERY ROAD AND SOME OF THE STATISTICAL INFORMATION WE'VE BEEN GATHERING.
THEN IF YOU DON'T MIND TAB OVER TO WHERE WE ARE NOW STARTING TO WORK WITH THE ENGINEER TO ESSENTIALLY SCORE CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT WILL SCORE BETTER FOR A GRANT APPLICATION.
THROUGH THAT, YOU CAN SEE OBVIOUSLY DIFFERENT FLOOD PLAINS AND DIFFERENT AREAS WAY BETTER AND ALIGN MORE WITH THE PROTECT GRANT.
YOU'LL HAVE A SCORE FOR HOMES PER MILE, FLOOD PLAIN POINTS.
YOU HAVE FLOOD AND WASH AREAS, WETLANDS POINTS.
WE'VE ASSIGNED POINTS TO AREAS THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS CONSTANTLY HAD ISSUES WITH.
OBVIOUSLY, SOME ROADS REQUIRE MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHERS.
AS I HAD MENTIONED BEFORE, WE'VE SPOKE TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF ED ABOUT PRIORITY ROUTES THAT THEY HAVE THAT IMPACT BUSES AND ACCESS TO SCHOOL.
THEN THAT LAST ONE IN COLUMN U THERE, IS DES.
WE WENT BACK AND SPOKE WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES ABOUT CALLS FOR SERVICES ON THE ROADS, AND HOW OFTEN THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY DRIVE THAT ROAD AND GO THROUGH THE DIRT SECTION.
>> THANK YOU. ON THE DES, EMS PRIORITY LIST THERE?
>> IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON WHY YOU HAVE 18,19 CALLS? EVERYBODY ELSE IS PRETTY CONSISTENT UNDER 10, BUT YOU HAVE A HANDFUL THAT ARE ALMOST 15 AND ABOVE.
IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT? IS THERE SOMEBODY CALLING ALL THE TIME?
>> MORE HOUSES ALONG THAT ROUTE.
>> WITH MY EXPERIENCE THAT I KNOW WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES, I WOULD TAKE IT'S PROBABLY A HABITUAL CALLER ON A LOT OF THEM WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO MAY BE SEEN I MEAN ONCE A WEEK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WITH THE MOST HOUSES, AND IT WAS IT ONLY FALLS WITH A WITH A THREE -ALL.
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>> YEAH. WITH A THREE-CALL THERE. YEAH.
>> THE DIRT ROAD SECTION OF [INAUDIBLE] ROAD ONLY HAS THREE [INAUDIBLE] ON IT.
>> SOMEBODY WITH CHRONIC ISSUES.
>> AGAIN, WE'VE TRIED TO TAKE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT POINTS OF INTEREST AND PUT IT INTO SOME TYPE OF LOGICAL SCORING SYSTEM.
THAT WAY, WE CAN TAKE THIS AND START PURSUING SPECIFICALLY THIS PROTECT GRANT, BUT ALSO ANY OTHER GRANT FUNDING THAT MAY COME AVAILABLE.
>> FOR THE PROTECT GRANT, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HAVING THE COUNTY BETWEEN ROADS AND DANNY AND YOU COMMISSIONERS IDENTIFY COUNTY PRIORITIES FIRST.
THOSE ARE OUR NUMBER ONE HIGHEST SCORING.
THEN WE LOCATE THOSE ON THE MAP AND THEN LAYER IN THE PRIORITY AREAS THAT ARE ENVIRONMENTAL OR RESILIENCE EFFORTS, AREAS OF PERSISTENT POVERTY AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND ALL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES TO SEE WHERE THEY INTERCEPT.
THE STARTING POINT IS THE COUNTY'S PRIORITIES, AND THEN WE SIMPLY LOOK AT THOSE OTHER LOCATIONS.
BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE HIT THEIR GOALS IN THESE OTHER AREAS IN AN AREA WHERE WE WANT TO DO ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, THAT JUST BRINGS US HIGHER UP ON THE PRIORITY RANK FOR FUNDING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY CATEGORY TO SEE WHERE THEY INTERSECT WITH OUR PRIORITY AREAS SO THAT WE'VE GOT THE IDEA OF WHERE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THE STRONGEST IN RANK FOR FUNDING WILL BE.
>> WHERE DOES THE PROTECT GRANT COME FROM?
>> DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
>> LAST YEAR, THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY CAME OUT IN SEPTEMBER.
THIS YEAR, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COME OUT IN NOVEMBER.
THERE'S USUALLY ABOUT A MONTH TO A MONTH AND A HALF FROM THE RELEASE OF THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEADLINE FOR THE GRANT.
WE'RE BIG BELIEVERS IN WELL-BEGUN IS HALF DONE SO WE STARTED GATHERING THIS MONTHS AGO BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION SO THAT WHEN THAT NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY IS RELEASED, WE'RE READY TO TAKE THE APPLICATION.
WE HAVE LAST YEAR'S AND IT PROBABLY WILL BE VERY SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S.
WE'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THE NARRATIVE AND THE DATA, AND I THINK THIS LAST BIT IS FOR YOU ALL TO CHIME IN WITH YOUR RANKING AND YOUR PRIORITY AREAS PRIORITY.
THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT GRANT PROGRAMS WITHIN THE PROTECT GRANT PROGRAM, PLANNING, AND THEN PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN CONSTRUCTION.
THE TWO PLANNING-ORIENTED GRANTS, WHICH INCLUDE DESIGN ALSO INCLUDE COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS.
YOU CAN GET FUNDING TO DO THOSE, AND THOSE ARE ENORMOUS, AND YOU NEED THEM WHEN YOU APPLY FOR CONSTRUCTION TO DO A SCENARIO ANALYSIS OF COSTS FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS, INCLUDING DO NOTHING.
YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO SHOW A COST FOR THAT.
WHICH IS OUT OF MY DEPTH, COMPLETELY OUT OF MY DEPTH.
THESE GRANTS WILL PAY FOR THAT LEVEL OF PLANNING, COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, WHICH THEN YOU HAVE FOR ANY GRANT PROGRAM, STATE OR FEDERAL THAT YOU WANT TO APPLY FOR.
IT ALSO COVERS A COST FOR PRELIMINARY DESIGN, PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, AND THE FINAL DESIGN.
>> WITH THAT, WE ENVISION THIS BEING A TWO-PART OR LIKE A TWO-YEAR PROCESS.
THE FIRST APPLICATION THAT WE WOULD SUBMIT WOULD REALLY BE FOR ALL OF THOSE ITEMS LESLIE JUST COVERED, DESIGN.
>> YES. THEN ONCE WE HAVE THAT PACKET COMPLETE, WE COULD TAKE THAT BACK TO PROTECT, THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND APPLY FOR CONSTRUCTION OR ANY OTHER FUNDER THAT WE COULD PAIR THAT INFORMATION UP TO TO APPLY FOR CONSTRUCTION.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO MENTION BEFORE WE GET TOO DEEP INTO THIS THAT WE SKIPPED OVER.
WITH PROTECT, THIS IS NOT JUST DIRT ROADS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE PAVED ROAD SECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS.
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE VERY AWARE OF SOME OF THEM GILPIN POINT BEING ONE, BLAZE ROAD, NOBLE ROAD ACTUALLY HAS THREE INDIVIDUAL SPOTS HERE THAT WE FEEL, HAVE A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF CHECKING A LOT OF THE BOXES THROUGH THE PROTECT AND RECEIVING FUNDING TO DO SOME TYPE OF DESIGN AND ANALYSIS TO HOPEFULLY BUILD UP THAT ROAD BASE
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AND MITIGATE SOME OF THE REOCCURRING FLOODING THAT WE'VE HAD HAPPEN IN A LOT OF THOSE SECTIONS.TO LESLIE'S POINT, WE REALLY WANTED TO GET THIS IN FRONT OF YOU, PROVIDE YOU GUYS WITH THIS INFORMATION.
WHEN WE LEAVE HERE TODAY, WE'LL SEND YOU A LINK ACTUALLY TO THE GIS MAP SO YOU CAN GO THROUGH, PLAY, LAYER WITH IT.
AGAIN, WE'LL RESHARE THAT EXCEL SPREADSHEET.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, YOU CAN COME BACK TO US.
WE CAN TRY TO ARTICULATE TO OUR BEST ABILITY SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE GRANT AND AGAIN, HOPEFULLY, BE PREPARED TO PUT TOGETHER AN APPLICATION HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.
>> LESLIE, I KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER, BUT HOW MUCH FUNDING COULD BE AVAILABLE HERE?
>> THE MINIMUM FOR THE FOR THE TWO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHICH IS PLANNING GRANT AND RESILIENCE IMPROVEMENT GRANT, THE MINIMUM YOU CAN APPLY FOR IN THE PLANNING GRANT IS 100,000.
THEN THE MINIMUM FOR THE RESILIENCE GRANT, WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY INCLUDE SOME CONSTRUCTION, THE MINIMUM AMOUNT IS HALF A MILLION.
>> YOU'RE JUST SAYING THE MINIMUM. THERE'S NO CAP.
>> I WOULD IMAGINE WHEN YOU GET UP AROUND 20 MILLION, THEY PROBABLY START ASKING YOU QUESTIONS.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THEY FUNDED IT TO THE TUNE OF $848,000,000 LAST YEAR AS A WHOLE.
>> MEGAN, CAN YOU SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM SO WE CAN SEE WHAT THE LOWEST SCORE IS? IT GETS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ONE.
>> ON THE SURFACE ROAD, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOBLE ROAD, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE HICKMAN SIDE ON NOBLE, OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE LOCATIONS THAT PPW IDENTIFIED ON NOBLE ROAD.
>> UP ON THE MAP NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE THE AREAS THAT HAVE HAD THE CONSISTENT FLOODING OR WAY AROUND BLOOMER AND NOBLE THERE, SO THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THEN TWO SPOTS NORTH WHERE I'M NOT SURE IF THOSE ARE PDAS THAT RUN THROUGH THERE.
>> ON THE MAP, THEY'RE THE MAGENTA AND THEY'RE THE SIX ROAD AREAS OF GREATEST CONCERN.
THAT INCLUDES GILPIN POINT, THE THREE LOCATIONS ON NOBLE ROAD, BLAZE ROAD, AND THE FEDERALSBURG HIGHWAY.
O THE OTHER THING IS IF YOU ALL DON'T SEE AN AREA THAT YOU KNOW IS A REPEAT PROBLEM AREA, WE'D LIKE THAT INFO AS WELL.
IF YOU DON'T SEE AN AREA ON THERE THAT YOU FEEL NEEDS ATTENTION, LET US KNOW.
>> LESLIE, THE MINIMUM IS A HALF A MILLION?
>> FOR THE ONE THAT INCLUDES SOME CONSTRUCTION, THE ONE THAT'S ALL PLANNING, WHICH IS COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS, ASSESSMENT OF CONDITIONS, PRELIMINARY DESIGN, AND DESIGN.
>>OKAY. BUT THAT'S JUST PLANNING, STUDIES, THAT KIND OF STUFF, NO ACTUAL SHOVELS IN THE GROUND?
>> THE OTHER TWO INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION IN SOME FORM.
>> WOULD THAT BE PROJECT SPECIFIC, THE HALF 1 MILLION MINIMUM, WOULD THAT HAVE TO BE ONE DIRT ROAD OR COULD THAT BE MULTIPLE?
>> WE'RE SUBMITTING FOR MULTIPLE AS ONE GIANT PROJECT.
>> OKAY. WE HAVE 68 DIRT ROADS IN THE COUNTY.
ROBIN, DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? 68 ON THE LIST? THAT'S 77 MILES, SO THAT'S A HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SOMETHING LANE MILES.
THAT'S ONE DIRECTION, 77 MILES.
>> THE RIGHT COLUMN TELLS YOU ROADS [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT ADDS UP TO THE TOTAL DIRT ROADS AGAIN.
>> THAT SHOULD BE A COPY [INAUDIBLE].
>> TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT, I JUST HAD A CONFERENCE LAST WEEK AND SO IF WE START TO IDENTIFY THOSE ONES THAT WILL FALL INTO THE GRANTS,
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WE'LL TAKE THOSE OUT IN-HOUSE AND IT COULD BE CAPITAL BUDGET AS WE WORK THROUGH SOME THINGS.WE'LL START TO GRANT SOME OF THESE ROADS ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THAT LIST.
AFTER SPEAKING WITH OUR CAR AND CHIP CONTRACTOR, I GOT A PHONE NUMBER AND A CONTACT FOR A PROJECT MANAGER IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHERE THEY'RE REDOING THEIR DIRT ROADS, AND I'M GOING TO GO MAKE THAT CONTACT AND PROBABLY VISIT AND CHECK OUT THESE ROADS AND THE PROCESS THAT THEY'RE USING.
TALKING TO THE CONTRACTOR, FILL IT JUST LIKE WE DID ON LENS ROAD, FILL IT, GRADE IT UP, PACK IT DOWN WITH THEIR NEW ROLLER, AND THEN THEY COME IN AND SHOOT IT WITH WATER AND PUT THREE LAYERS OF TAR AND CHIP ON THAT.
WHILE ALL OF THIS IS GOING THROUGH, I COULD BUDGET CAPITALLY TO START HITTING THOSE ONES THAT WON'T FALL UNDER ANY OF THESE GRANTS.
>> I THINK ALSO, THE FISH PASSAGE STUFF TO SOME OF THESE AREAS IS ANOTHER LAYER AND IDENTIFY SOME OF THESE AREAS AND AT THE STRUCTURE YESTERDAY, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF STRUCTURES THAT CAN BE PUT AT THESE AREAS AS WELL THROUGH GRANT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] ON STREAM CROSSINGS.
WHEN WE SAY ROADS, WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS OF ROADS.
WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE COSTS OF THAT IMPROVEMENT AS WELL AS THE ROAD ITSELF.
>> WE'LL BE ATTACKING THIS FROM A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ANGLES.
>> WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON JONES CORNER AND WOLF ROAD.
THOSE TWO ROADS WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE ARPA FUNDING.
JONES CORNER IS ACTUALLY OUT TO BID NOW.
WOLF ROAD, WE ARE ENCOUNTERING SOME A LITTLE BIT OF STRUGGLE WITH THAT ROAD.
IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WOLF ROAD, IT REALLY WRAPS AROUND MILL POND, WHICH CREATES SOME ISSUES IN ITSELF WHEN IT COMES TO JUST PINCH POINTS IN THE ROAD THAT ARE NATURALLY THERE NOW, AS WELL AS THE GRADE FROM SOME OF THE SIDES OF MEGAN'S GOING UP ON WOLF THERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT REALLY COMES CLOSE TO THE POND THERE, AND THERE ARE SOME STEEPER BANKS, SO TRYING TO ENGINEER AND GET A FULL 22 FOOT LANE OF TRAFFIC IS IS TOUGH.
BRIAN HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE LANE ENGINEERING.
>> AS WELL AS A CULVERT THAT'S WOULD NEED A PERMIT TO EXTEND IT TO GET TO THOSE 22 FEET.
THE MAX WE CAN GET IN THAT CULVERT LOCATION IS AT 13 RIGHT NOW.
>> WE WANTED TO BRING THIS ONE UP A LITTLE BIT TODAY IN PARTICULAR.
AGAIN, WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE IN THE ARPA FUNDING TO START DOING SOME OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS LIKE ROBIN WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH SHOOTING THE TAR AND CHIP AND PREPPING OURSELVES, ROADS LIKE JONES CORNER.
WE'RE REALLY WONDERING WHETHER WOLF ROAD NOW KNOWING ALL THE DEVILS IN THE DETAIL WITH IT, WHETHER WE SHOULD DEFER IT BACK TO MORE OF A PROTECT GRANT APPLICATION INSTEAD OF TAKING A CHUNK OUT OF IT NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN CONTINUE WORKING AT IT WITH LANE ENGINEERING, JUST KNOW THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BE AS EASY AS SOME OF THE OTHER SMALLER SECTIONS AND ROADS THAT ARE ALREADY 22 FOOT WIDE, DON'T HAVE CULVERT ISSUES, DON'T HAVE CREATING ISSUES.
AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD, IF THERE WAS.
>> WHAT'S THE MINIMUM WIDTH OF THE REST OF THE ROAD OTHER THAN WHERE THE CULVERT IS, THE EXISTING CULVERT. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?
>> IN THE DESIGN ON LOOKING AT THE PLANS, THERE'S VARIABLE WIDTHS ANYWHERE FROM 20 DOWN TO THE 13 BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM WHERE IT DROPS DOWN TO ABOUT 14, THEN COMES BACK TO 16 AND 18.
>> THAT ROAD SHOW WINDY AND CURVY.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF LARGE TREES.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME UTILITY RELOCATES THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN AS WELL WITH THAT.
>> BUT YOU'VE ALREADY INVESTED A LOT OF TIME IN ENGINEERING AND ALL THAT ALREADY RIGHT?
>> TO A DEGREE, YES. THE ENGINEER AS WELL AS BRIAN HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AND GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THE TYPES OF ITEMS.
>> WHAT'S THE RIGHT OF WAY THAT WE OWN? IS IT ALL A STANDARD WIDTH? IS IT 30 FEET?
>> SPEAKING OF BRIAN, TRADITIONALLY, IDEALLY, THEY'RE ALL 30 FEET.
>> SOMETIMES THEN THAT ROADS 20 SOME AND IS IT CENTER OF THAT 30 FEET, OR IS IT TO ONE SIDE OF THAT 30 FEET AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO IT'S WITHOUT SURVEYS OF EVERY ROAD, DEFINITELY THE OTHER ROAD SITS IN THAT RIGHT AWAY.
[00:35:01]
>> ARE THE NARROW AREAS SHORT ENOUGH WHERE WE COULD JUST PUT SIGNAGE OF THAT JUST SAYS ONE LANE ROAD THROUGH THIS SECTION?
>> IT'S ALWAYS AN OPTION NARROW CROSSING AHEAD. ALWAYS AN OPTION.
>> I THINK SPECIFICALLY, LIKE THE CULVERT THAT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AREA, AND THEN IF IF WE'RE ACCEPTING AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET 18,19 THROUGH MOST OF IT AND THEY HAVE OTHERS, THEN WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE AWARE AND HAVE THAT INPUT WITH THIS.
>> MY THOUGHT IS YOU'VE ALREADY INVESTED SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY IN THIS ROOM THAT YOU HATE THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> MY MY SUGGESTION WILL BE PRESSED FORWARD, BUT THAT'S JUST MY SENTIMENT.
>> WHAT WE CAN DO IS THERE ARE, SAY, THE DESIGN PLANS WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE SOME OF THIS OPENS UP, IS NARROWED DOWN.
WE OBVIOUSLY CAN SHARE IT WITH THE BOARD, LET YOU GUYS HAVE A FINAL LOOK AT IT AND IF YOU'RE FINE WITH CONTINUING AT THAT, WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LANE ENGINEERING AND BRIAN DOING THAT.
>> IS THE PLANS IN MY OFFICE OR I THINK WE HAVE THEM DIGITALLY?
>> I THINK I HAVE THEM DIGITALLY.
>> WHAT IS OUR PROCESS HERE FOR NOTIFYING PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THOSE ROADS BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SAY WE DON'T WANT TO TARGET.
>> DANNY AND I ARE BOTH FULLY AWARE OF THAT WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE SCENE [OVERLAPPING]WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS RECENTLY THAT THEY HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DIRT ROAD, BUT IN THE END, THEY DON'T WANT THE DIRT ROAD TARGET.[OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, AND IN SOME CASES IF THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE PREFER, WE CAN LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE, WHICH WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNPAVED ROAD, AND THAT MAY BE ONE WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT NECESSARILY CHANGING THE SURFACE.
>> I THINK WITH THIS AS TO YOUR POINT, COMMUNICATION IS KEY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HOMEOWNER.
I WOULD THINK BEFORE WE DIVE INTO CLOSING AND PAVING AND GOING THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S A DOOR TO DOOR TO THE FIVE OR 10 PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON THE ROAD OR A SIMPLE MAILER THAT GETS DROPPED OFF TO THEM, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT GETS INCLUDED AS WELL.
>> I LIVE IN THE DIRT ROAD I DON'T WANT MINE PAVED.[LAUGHTER]
>> ONE OF THE ASSESSMENTS MAY BE TO LOOK AT SHORT OF A HARD SURFACE.
IS THERE A BETTER AGGREGATE THAT CAN HOLD THE SURFACE BETTER THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN USING IS A BETTER DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE FORM OF DITCHES OR SWALES, WHAT'S NEEDED SO THAT THERE'S NOT SO MUCH DAMAGE FROM RAIN.
THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT IN THE PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN ASPECT, IS WHAT CHOICES DO WE HAVE.
>> FOR ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT TAX, I JUST LIKE LIVING ON DIRT ROAD.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS THE PROCESS AND THERE ARE SECTIONS THAT ARE THEY STILL VIABLE? DO THEY NEED TO BE CLOSED THROUGH? THAT'S ALWAYS ANOTHER CONSIDERATION.
>> OR A PORTION BECAUSE IT FALLS BETWEEN TWO INTERSECTIONS MAY LOOK BETTER TO HAVE IMPROVEMENTS FOR SOME OTHER HELP.
>> WE TALK ABOUT TRUNK LINE, THE LENGTH OF TRUCK LINE, CAN WE BREAK IT DOWN INTO PROJECT SECTORS BASED ON NUMBER OF HOUSES, THOSE WHO WANT IT FROM ONE INTERSECTION TO ANOTHER INTERSECTION? A FIVE MILE DIRT ROAD, I THINK CLOSE.
>> I TALKED TO THE BUS DRIVER THERE ON THE HANDLES TRUNK LINE AND HE WAS SAYING THE SCHOOL WAS ALWAYS COMPLAINING THAT HE'S LATE.
THE KIDS AREN'T GETTING THERE ON TIME BECAUSE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE WASHBOARD IN THAT GOES OUT HE CAN ONLY GO CERTAIN MILE AN HOUR THERE AND IT'S LIKE THE FATHER'S FROM GREENSBURG, SO HE CONTINUOUS.
>> THAT IS A PERSON I'VE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THAT LIVES ON THAT ROAD IS ADAM IF THEY DON'T WANT TO TARNSHIP.
>> I GET IT. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT.
GREENSBURG SCHOOL, I GUESS, THEY WERE REALLY UP ARMED BECAUSE HE WAS IT'S IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, HE'S BEEN CONTINUOUSLY LATE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF SPEED HE CAN ONLY GO.
>> DANNY, IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE STATE ASSESSOR EVEN CONSIDERS WHETHER IT'S TARNSHIP OR DIRT, THEY JUST STRICTLY LOOK AT SALE OF HOMES?
>> FROM AN ASSESSMENT STANDPOINT, THERE IS NO TAX IMPLICATION TO SURFACING A ROAD.
FOR ME, IT IS ABOUT STAFF'S ABILITY TO KEEP UP WITH MAINTENANCE AND WHAT WE SPEND.
ARE WE SPENDING MORE MONEY PER MILE ON A DIRT ROAD THAN WE ARE ON A TARNSHIP ROAD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND SCRAPE IT MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO PUT DIRT OR SOME TYPE OF MATERIAL ON IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
[00:40:03]
IT'S STRICTLY A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR ME AND FROM MY STANDPOINT, THE PRIORITIES I WOULD HAVE WOULD BE THE FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE CENTRAL SHOP BECAUSE YOU GOT TO DRIVE A GREATER OR RUN A CREW ALL THE WAY OUT THERE.WE SHOULD BE SCRAPING THESE ROADS PROBABLY MONTHLY, AND I DOUBT THAT HAPPENS.
>> WHICH AS YOU KNOW, THE SUMMER BEING SO DRY, IS PROHIBITED THAT BECAUSE YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME MOISTURE IN THE DIRT IN ORDER TO WORK IT RIGHT AND YOU.
>> EXACTLY. TO WHAT LESLIE WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, THE PROBLEM IS A LOT OF THE DIRT ROADS HAVE BECOME THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM THE TRAVELINGS CONVEY THE WATER.
UNTIL YOU GET THE WATER OFF THE SURFACE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES IN THE WINTERTIME, AND THE ROADS HAVE GOTTEN NARROWER AND NARROWER OVER THE DECADES, AS GRASS HAS GROWN IN OR VEGETATION HAS GROWN IN ON THE SHOULDERS, THE WIND ROWS AND MATERIAL ON BOTH SIDES HAVE GOTTEN LARGER.
THE SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO GO ALONG AND TAKE THE GREATER BLADE AND CUT A LEAD WHEREVER THERE'S A DITCH TO GET THE WATER OFF THE SURFACE OF THE ROAD AND THE ROAD SURFACE CONVEYS THE WATER TO THAT POINT.
THEN WE HEAR A LOT, AT LEAST I DO, FROM FARMERS WHO DRIVE ALONG AND THEY'VE GOT DUAL TIRES HUNG OUT ON THE SHOULDER, AND THEY HIT ONE OF THOSE SPOTS AND THROW THEM OUT OF THE CAB.
BUT PRIORITY WISE, FOR ME, WOULD BE DISTANCE FROM CENTRAL SHOP, BECAUSE WE'RE SENDING CREWS EXTREMELY LONG TRAVEL DISTANCES TO GET OUT AND MAINTAIN THESE ROADS.
IT IS HOUSES PER MILE, BECAUSE THE MORE TRAFFIC THAT'S ON THE ROAD, THE MORE OFTEN WE NEED TO GO OUT AND SCRAPE IT AND THE MORE LIKELY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET CALLS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT.
>> ON ONE OF YOUR SPREADSHEETS, DANNY, THERE WAS A COST ANALYSIS ON HOW MUCH IT COST THE COUNTY EACH YEAR TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS.
>> GENERALLY SPEAKING, THAT IS WHAT.
>> HERE IT IS, ESTIMATED YEARLY COST.
>> THAT'S WHAT ROBIN'S SHOP PUT TOGETHER AS AN OVERALL COST, AND THEN WE DIVIDED IT INTO.
>> PUT THAT LIKE THE MOST EXPENSIVE DOWN REAL QUICK?
>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY GOING TO CORRELATE WITH THE DISTANCE AND TIME THAT WE'RE SPEND.
AGAIN,[OVERLAPPING] TRUNK LINE KEEP SHOWING UP AT THE TOP IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST SECTION.
IT'S ONE OF THE FUREST FROM CENTRAL OF THE COUNTY.
AGAIN, WE CAN DEFINITELY ADD IN A LAYER DISTANCE FROM CENTRAL SHOP, BREAK THAT INTO SOME TYPE OF.
>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE PLOT THAT EASILY AND PUT THAT IN AS ANOTHER RANKING CATEGORY.
>> BUT AGAIN, WE'LL MAKE SURE WHEN WE LEAVE HERE TODAY, YOU GUYS HAVE THE GIS SYSTEM.
>> WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN 10 GRAND ON TRUNK LINE.
>> IF YOU GUYS HAVE ROADS THAT COME TO MIND OR SAY, FLOOD POINTS THAT YOU KNOW, IN YOUR MIND ARE CREATING ISSUES ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE CAN INCORPORATE THOSE TYPES OF NOTES AND THINGS INTO THIS SPREADSHEET.
>> THE ONLY OTHER ONES I KNOW OF ARE THOSE PIPES ARE AGING DOWN AT CHOP TANK.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF SPOTS AT CHOP TANK WHERE.
>> FISH PASSAGE COULD BE A PART OF THAT.
THOSE ARE EXPENSES THE PIPE REPLACEMENTS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, WHICH WE'VE HAD A RASH OF THEM HERE RECENTLY, SO GETTING AHEAD OF THOSE FAILING CORRUGATED METAL PIPES WOULD BE A BIG ADVANTAGE AS WELL.
>> YEAH. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PRIORITY FISH PASSAGE AREAS ALREADY IDENTIFIED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN THE COUNTY.
THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE OVERLAY TO SHOW UP ON THE PRIORITY LEVEL IN TERMS OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S FEDERAL GOAL AS WELL ON FISH PASSAGE
>> WE LIKELIHOOD OF RECEIVING MONEY FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS ARE VERY HIGH.
>> EVERYTHING THAT LIFTS US UP IS WHAT WE'RE GOING.
>> THE DIRT ROAD CONVERSION, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT OF WAYS THAT WE'RE IN SOME CASES NOT RIGHT FULLY[BACKGROUND] ESTABLISHED.
GOOD WAY OF PUTTING IT.[LAUGHTER] ACCESSING THIS GRANT MONEY, WHAT IMPLICATIONS DOES THAT HAVE TO STORM WATER MANAGEMENT AND WORKING, IN MANY CASES, IF WE'VE ONLY GOT A 30 FOOT RIGHT AWAY, THERE'S NOT EVEN ENOUGH ROOM TO PUT DITCHES, MUCH LESS ANY WATER QUALITY TYPE IMPROVEMENT.
>> IN SOME CASES, IT'LL BE LIMITED, AND THIS IS WHERE THE COST TO DO THOSE ANALYSIS OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE ON THE ROAD SURFACE,
[00:45:02]
GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF ROOM TO WORK IN AND THEN WHAT DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS EVEN POSSIBLE HERE.THAT'S WHERE THE COST OF PLANNING AND PRE DESIGN COME IN WITH A GOOD ENGINEERING FIRM WHO KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS.
OUR GOAL IS THAT WE HAVE CHOICES, I HOPE WE HAVE CHOICES.
IN SOME CASES, THERE MAY ONLY BE ONE CHOICE IN SOME SEGMENTS, BUT WE'LL GET THOSE TOGETHER, AND THEN YOU ALL WILL REVIEW THAT IN THE FORM OF A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT.
>> IS THERE A WATER QUALITY REQUIREMENT IN THIS OR IT COULD IT JUST BE STRAIGHT CONVERSION OF THESE ROADS FROM TARD SHIP TO DIRT ROAD THIS IS SEEN?
>> HONESTLY, THAT WOULD BE A WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE THE DIRT ROAD SURFACES ARE [OVERLAPPING] ESSENTIALLY SEDIMENT DUMPING IN THE DITCHES, DUMPING INTO THE RIVER, AND THE SEDIMENT IS LOADED WITH NUTRIENTS, EVEN JUST SURFACING THE ROAD IS AN IMPROVEMENT.
>> WHICH I THINK IS THE BASIS OF THESE GRANTS IS TO.
>> RESURFACING IS BIG AND THE FURTHER NORTH YOU GO, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS STARTING TO HAPPEN UP IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIRT ROADS.
WELL, IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THERE'S A LOT OF UNPAVED ROADS.
THAT IS A RECOGNIZED PRIORITY IS TO GET THOSE IF NOT FULLY PAVED, THEN TO IMPROVE WHATEVER THE SURFACE AGGREGATE IS SO THAT IT HEARS AND ISN'T WASHING OFF REPEATEDLY AND THAT YOU'VE GOT A ROBUST DRAINAGE SYSTEM TO HELP PREVENT THE CAUSE OF THAT WASH OFF FROM HAPPENING.
>> BUT THOSE ARE STRONG BENEFITS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN WATER QUALITY.
>> AGAIN, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I'LL ASK AT CAROLINE COUNTY WHEN WE GO.
>> CAROLINE COUNTY HAS SOME ADVANTAGES.
THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE STONE QUARRIES.
THE STONE QUARRIES MAKES I'M CURIOUS WHAT THEY PUT ON THERE.
THAT IT'S PROBABLY A GAB PROBABLY GRADED AGGREGATE BASE OR CR SIX [BACKGROUND] I DON'T KNOW.
LIKE I SAID, THEIR PROXIMITY TO BASICALLY WEST OF THE I95 CORRIDOR IS WHERE YOU RUN INTO YOUR QUARRIES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE STONE THEY BUILT THE I 95 CORRIDOR ON GEOLOGICAL STONE OR GRANITE GEOLOGY, AS OPPOSED TO THE SAND AND CLAY THAT IS MORE EAST OF THAT CORRIDOR, SO YES.
>> THAT IN THE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS, THAT'S WHERE THAT'LL SHAKE OUT, THE COST TO TRUCK SOMETHING FROM ELSEWHERE TO HERE, TO DRIVE YOU TOWARDS PAVING AS OPPOSED TO AN ALTERNATE AGGREGATE SURFACE, SO ALL OF THAT WILL DETERMINE.
BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT MAINTENANCE, THE COST, THE TIME, THE STAFF, THE QUALIFIED OPERATORS.
ROBIN KNOWS ALL THESE ISSUES AND THEN IN THE WINTERTIME, ONCE YOU LOSE THEM, IF YOU HAVE A BAD WINTER, ONCE THEY START TO GO, FREEZE AND THAW AND MOISTURE AND NO SUNLIGHT, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO WITH THEM UNTIL SUMMER SPRING.
ONCE YOU START TO LOSE THAT SURFACE, WE'VE TRIED TO CHOKE IT OUT WITH WASH GRAVEL IN PAST YEARS, IT JUST MAKES IT SO ROUGH THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN HARDLY GET UP AND DOWN THE ROADS DUMPING ROUND WASH GRAVEL.
THE WASH GRAVEL MOVES TERRIBLY, IT'S HARD TO KEEP IT UP ON THE ROAD SURFACE.
THE TIRES PUSH IT OFF THE SHOULDERS BECAUSE IT'S ROUND.
WELL, WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO LOOK AT HERE AND DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> I WILL MENTION WHY WE STILL HAVE SOME SET ASIDE ARPA FUNDING AS YOU GUYS REVIEW THIS AFTER WE SENT IT OUT, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT STRIKES YOU AS LIKE A JONES CORNER WOLF THAT YOU WANT TO START IMMEDIATELY AFTER WITH THAT REMAINING FUNDING, PLEASE IDENTIFY ONE OR TWO OF THOSE AS WELL AND WE COULD START THOSE IN-HOUSE NOW.
>> ROBIN, WHEN YOU GO OUT, IF YOU GO OUT AND CHECK OUT THE END OF FOY AND HOBBS, I GOT SOMEBODY CAUGHT ME IN THE PARKING LOT WALKING IN HERE, THERE'S A TREE LEANING OVER MILA STREET AS WELL SOMEWHERE.
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, STAFF WENT OUT THIS MORNING.
>> YEAH. I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM THE TOWN OF DENTON AT ABOUT 8:00.
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHO CAUGHT ME OUT IN THE PARKING LOT.
>> I MENTIONED GARLAND TO YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT THE STOP SIGN.
>> YES. THAT WAS DISCUSSED THIS MORNING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU ALL FOR WORKING ON THIS.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PULL THIS UP AND SEE WHERE THESE PROBLEM ISSUES ARE.
>> IT GIVES US ALL A BASE TO START.
[00:50:02]
>> YEAH. THE PAVE ROADS WHERE THE PIPES WERE, WE HAVE POTENTIAL PIPE FAILURE, NOT ONLY FROM A COST STANDPOINT, BUT BECAUSE THE ROAD IS ALREADY THERE, I THINK THAT SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE AS FAR AS PUTTING BOX CULVERT OR REPLACING OLD STRUCTURES.
THEN THE CONVERSION OF THE DIRT ROAD SECONDARY TO THAT.
BECAUSE THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, THEY END UP SHUTTING THE ROAD DOWN FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
IF WE CAN GET AHEAD OF THEM AND GET THEM FIXED, I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT MAKES SENSE NOW.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU GUYS ARE ALL HERE FOR THE DIRT ROAD CONVERSATION.
I THINK YOU'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC LEFT.
INSTEAD OF MAKING YOU SIT THROUGH THE REST OF IT, IF YOU WANTED TO COMMENT NOW, I THINK THIS IS A SUITABLE TIME. DO YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD?
>> SURE. DO YOU WANT ALL OF US TO COME?
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE. WE GOT THREE SEATS HERE.
I DON'T WANT TO FREEZE YOU OUT OF HERE EITHER.
>> GOOD MORNING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS MARY HARDCASTLE, AND I LIVE ON TRUNK LINE ROAD.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS TO ME, ACTUALLY, TO SEE THIS DATA.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT WE'RE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE PAVING, WHICH I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THE WATER QUALITY ISSUE BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT PAVING WOULD BE AN ISSUE.
BUT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THAT SEDIMENT RUNOFF THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAS CHANGED MY MIND BECAUSE I REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THIS.
I HAD ALREADY DECIDED, AND I'M HERE WITH MY TWO NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE LIVED THERE AND DEALT WITH THIS ROAD MUCH LONGER THAN I HAVE, SO THEY ARE GOING TO SPEAK MUCH MORE ABOUT THE ACTUAL ISSUES, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REALLY ADVOCATE FOR REMAINING TOP PRIORITY, AND ALSO JUST HEARING THAT THERE MIGHT POSSIBLY STILL BE ARPA FUNDS THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO THIS TOP PRIORITY DIRT ROAD.
I WOULD ADVOCATE HIGHLY FOR THAT BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THAT SOME HAVE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP ABOUT FROM THE EDUCATION SIDE DEPARTMENT, BUT OUR RESIDENTS ARE JUST STRUGGLING WITH AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC AND DETERIORATION OF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE WATER.
WHEN IT'S DRY, THE DUST, I'LL LET THEM SPEAK TO THAT.
BUT THE DUST ISSUES ARE JUST BEYOND WHAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE DEALING WITH.
IT'S COMING OFF INTO OUR HOUSES THROUGH OUR WINDOW.
WE CAN'T KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN.
I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME LIVESTOCK.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, WHEN I'M OUT ON THE DIRT ROAD OR CLOSE TO THE ROAD MOWING OR DOING ANY KIND OF WORK, IT'S SUPER DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS MOVING AT SUCH HIGH SPEEDS.
IF YOU HAVE A DIRT ROAD AND THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TRAFFIC, I ALSO LIKE THE AMBIANCE OF A DIRT ROAD, BUT IT'S TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW FOR US TO DEAL WITH THAT AMOUNT OF DUST HIGH SPEEDS BECAUSE WE'RE TOO FAR OUT.
WE'RE IN AN UNDER-SERVED AREA.
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY TRAFFIC MONITORING AT ALL.
WE'VE REQUESTED THAT, AND THERE IS A 25 MILE AN HOUR POST, BUT NOBODY IS HONORING THAT.
THEY'RE COMING DOWN 50 MILES AN HOUR ON THAT ROAD AND THE DUST IS JUST FLYING OFF.
I WILL STOP THERE, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HEAR THAT THERE'S THIS POTENTIAL PROTECTIVE GRANT MONEY TO GO FOR AND THAT THE TIME FRAME MIGHT BE TWO YEARS TO GET THROUGH PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME IF WE'RE TOP PRIORITY.
>> YOU SAY YOU'RE SEEING AN INCREASED VOLUME OF TRAFFIC?
>> WELL, I SHOULD NOT SPEAK TO THAT.
MY NEIGHBORS SHOULD SPEAK TO THAT,
[00:55:02]
BECAUSE I'VE ONLY BEEN THERE 2.5 YEARS.BUT I'M SHOCKED BECAUSE JUST I WAS IMAGINING BECAUSE IT'S A DIRT ROAD, THERE WASN'T GOING TO BE THAT MUCH TRAFFIC, AND THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUTERS NOW.
A LOT OF US, AS MY NEIGHBOR WILL DESCRIBE, PEOPLE NOW HAVE WORKING FAMILIES, THEY HAVE MORE VEHICLES.
EVERYBODY'S GOT MORE AND MORE OF FEDEX, AMAZON, UPS.
IT'S JUST A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD NOW.
WHEREAS, I THINK, EVEN 10 YEARS AGO, IT WASN'T LIKE THAT.
BUT I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING, BECAUSE THEY CAN SPEAK TO THIS MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN.
THEY'VE LIVED THERE LONGER, AND AS I'VE SAID, EXPERIENCED IT IN THEM.
WE LIVE CLOSER TO THE ROAD, BUT DURING THE SUMMERTIME, IT'S LIKE LITTLE EGYPT SANDSTORMS GOING AROUND THERE.
IT IS EVERY TIME SOMEBODY GOES BY, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND LET THE DUST GO BY.
YOU CAN'T OPEN A WINDOW. MY BLACK ROOF ON MY GARAGE IS BROWN.
OUR CARS UNDERNEATH ARE NOTHING BUT RUST.
I'VE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES.
CARS DON'T COST $5,000 ANYMORE.
WHEN YOU GET UNDER THEM NOW AND THERE'S BRAKE SENSORS ALL MESSED UP AND THAT KIND OF CRAP, IT'S BIG MONEY.
YOU GOT TO HAVE A COMPUTER TO HOOK TO IT JUST TO FIX IT.
I PROBABLY TO TAKE CARE OF FOUR MILES OF FARM LANDS EVERY YEAR.
WE SPRAY THEM SAME AS YOU GUYS DO.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S YOU. BUT YOU GOT TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT.
THE DIRT IS SO DETERIORATED, IT'S NOTHING THERE ANYMORE.
IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT. IT'S JUST EVERYTHING'S WASHED THROUGH IT AND NOTHING'S LEFT BUT DUST.
>> EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THERE IS PRETTY MUCH FROM THAT.
>> IT GOES TO THE EXPENSE OF HAULING THE DIRT AND PUTTING NEW DIRT ON IT EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. IT'S JUST EXPENSIVE.
>> IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT STONE ON IT EVERY TIME YOU SCRAPE IT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU GOT TO DO IT, YOU GOT TO DO IT WHEN THE DIRT'S FRESH, SO THE STONE MATS IN IT SO DON'T WASH OFF THE SIDE.
WELL, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEY JUST WON'T.
A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE IS ONE OF THE HEADS OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY ROAD.
HE SAYS $25,000 A MILE TO PUT STONE DUST ON AFTER YOU GRADE IT AND PUT THE LAYERS OF TAR CHIP ON.
HE SAID THAT'S ABOUT WHAT REALISTICALLY THEY'RE PAYING TO DO A MILE.
IN REALISTIC TIMES, ALL THE TRUNK LINE ROUTE WOULD BE $100,000.
NOW, I THINK COUNTING ALL THE GRADING ON THE SIDES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT THAT'S REGULAR ROUTE UPKEEP TO.
TAXPAYER MONEY PAYS FOR SOME OF THAT TOO. WE LIVE THERE.
>> MR. BOYLES, WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS?
WE HAVE TWO PIECES OF PROPERTY THERE TOGETHER, ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND.
I GOT A OLD SHOW VEHICLES IN IT.
I CAN'T EVEN LEAVE THE GARAGE DOOR UP WHILE I MOW THE GRASS, BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY GOES BY, IT JUST FILLS THE WHOLE THING FULL OF DUST.
WE'RE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WIND.
>> THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD IS FINE.
YOU DON'T GET ALL THAT DUST OVER THERE, BUT WE GET HAMMERED BY IT BECAUSE PREVAILING WIND BLOWS RIGHT IN OUR FACE.
THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN, IS JUST I DON'T THINK WE ALL DESERVE WE PAY A LOT OF TAXES, AND I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST DO SOMETHING IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSES, EVEN IF IT'S PUT SOME STONE DOWN IN THE DIRT JUST A TOP DUST OR SOMETHING JUST FOR THAT STRETCH.
WE LIVE REAL CLOSE TO TAYLOR ROAD.
I PROBABLY PUT ABOUT 2,000 OR 3,000 EXTRA MILES ON MY VEHICLE A YEAR BECAUSE I DRIVE TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND KING COUNTY TO WORK ALL THE TIME, GOING AROUND THE DIRT ROAD SO I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN IT.
I GO ALL THE WAY AROUND TO GO TO MARYDEL, SO I DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE.
IF YOU GET UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLES AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING I'VE HAD TO REPLACE, IT'S EASIER TO GO AROUND. IT JUST IS.
>> BETWEEN TAYLOR AND HECHT IS THE WORST PART.
>> YEAH. WE GO DOWN TAYLOR AND GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE OTHER WAY TO GO SOMEPLACE.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT OTHER THAN IT'S JUST A DIRT ROAD HAS TURNED INTO A DIRT ROAD.
IT'S NOT A GRAVEL ROAD. IT'S A DIRT ROAD, AND IT'S NASTY ANYMORE.
>> ACTUALLY, I THINK THE DUST DOES GO ON THE OTHER SIDE TOO, BECAUSE THEY GET IT ON THERE, BETHANY.
>> WELL, I ALSO LIVE ON TRUNK LINE ROAD, AND I LIVE IN A STRETCH BETWEEN HECHT AND TAYLOR, 25400 TRUNK LINE ROAD.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH A WASHBOARD EVERY TIME IT RAINS.
IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE.
BUT THE ROAD IS DEFINITELY OUTDATED.
IT'S NOT 1950 NO MORE WHERE HUSBAND GOES TO WORK AND THE MAILMAN AND SCHOOL BUS.
THERE'S MULTIPLE VEHICLES UP AND DOWN THE ROAD ALL DAY LONG, LIKE SHE SAID, AMAZON, FEDEX, UPS.
[01:00:02]
EVERYBODY'S GOT GARBAGE PICKUPS.THREE OR FOUR CARS IN THE HOUSE NOW.
NOW THE GREEN TRUCKS ARE ALL RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.
THEY HAVE TO DO IT. THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.
GUYS COMING THROUGH WITH DUMP TRUCKS, AND THEN YOU GET ALL THE GUYS WITH COMBINES RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD, AND WE GOT TO PULL OFF INTO THE WOOD SOMEPLACE, SO SOMEONE CAN GET AROUND US, OR WE CAN GET AROUND THEM.
THE SCHOOLS GUYS, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY DROPPING IN MY DRIVEWAY, CAN YOU HELP US? I CAN'T DO MORE. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP.
JUST LIKE YOU JUST SAID, SCHOOLS COMPLAIN EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE CAN ONLY DRIVE THREE OR FOUR MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE OUR KINDERGARTEN KIDS ARE FALLING OUT OF SEATS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE SEAT BELTS IN THE BUS.
SO YOU'RE GOING DOWN AND NEXT YOU KNOW, LITTLE KIDS LAYING ON THE FLOOR AND I GOT TO STOP THE BUS, SO YOU GET UP IN THE SEAT BECAUSE I'M BEING WATCHED ON THE CAMERA.
IF I DON'T DO THE BUS BRAKE, THEN I'M GOING TO GET FIRED FOR NOT DOING A BUS RIDE.
EVERY OTHER DAY, I GOT TO TAKE AND WASH THE BACK OF MY BUS OFF BECAUSE NOBODY CAN SEE MY TAIL LIGHTS.
I CAN'T SEE OUT MY BACK WINDOWS.
MY FOUR-WAY LIGHTS UP TOP THERE, I DON'T WANT TO GET REAR ENDED BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M IN TROUBLE BECAUSE I DON'T KEEP A BUS GOING.
THERE'S JUST MULTIPLE THINGS THERE.
OF COURSE, WE USED AS A DUMPING GROUND BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS ALL BACK ROAD AS A REFRIGERATOR.
WE CLEAN UP OUR ROAD. IF WE WAITED FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO CLEAN THE ROAD, IT WOULD NEVER BE CLEANED UP.
IT'S JUST CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH ALL THAT.
MY CAR, THE SENSOR COMES ON MY BRAKES, AND I TAKE IT TO THE GARAGE AND THE GUY SAYS, "WELL, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT EXCEPT THERE'S MUD BEHIND YOUR SENSORS." I GOT TO SPEND MONEY TO GET MY CAR FIXED.
HE JUST PULLS THE WHEEL OFF AND CHARGED ME $100 TO TAKE MUD OFF THE BACK OF THE SENSOR.
WE JUST NEED TO BE CAUGHT UP WITH THE TIMES.
EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD USED TO LIVE ON DIRT ROADS BACK IN WILD WEST DAYS.
WE NEED AT LEAST TO BE TREATED LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT'S MY CONCERN, JUST BEING TREATED LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE IN A NICE SAFE MANNER.
I'M ALL FOR, LIKE YOU JUST SAID, SOMEONE MENTIONED, LIKE BETWEEN TAYLOR AND HECHT ROAD, THAT'S A NICE STRAIGHT STRETCH IN THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THE 90% OF THE BAD ROAD IS FOR ALL THE RIPPLES.
IF THEY JUST CAME IN AND TAR CHIPPED THAT SECTION FOR A TEST SECTION, THAT'D BE GREAT FOR US.
AT LEAST WE COULD GET OUT ON EITHER END WITHOUT HAVING TO RUIN OUR VEHICLES, AND AT LEAST THE SCHOOL STARTED TO HAVE A HALF MILE WHERE HE CAN CATCH UP ON HIS BUS ROUTE AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
THERE AGAIN, THEY'RE FIGHTING ALL THE DUST AT THEIR HOUSE THERE.
YOU'LL BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THERE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, ALL YOU SEE IS A PILE OF DUST COMING 40 MILES AN HOUR AT YOU.
YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A FOUR-WHEELER, OR A CAR, A TRACTOR TRAIL, OR WHATEVER, SO I PULL OFF SIDE OF THE ROAD SO WHATEVER IS GOING BY ME WANTS TO GET BY ME, BECAUSE I VALUE MY VEHICLES.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY SEEING ABOUT THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING GOING ON.
>> WE HAVE BEEN PUSHING TO CONVERT MORE OF THESE OVER.
THE COUNTY HASN'T CONVERTED A DIRT ROAD SINCE PROBABLY THE EARLY 2000S.
COMMISSIONER PORTER WAS HERE, WAS IT COMMISSIONER? COMMISSIONER BARTZ AND I ARE NEW, JUST ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT COMMISSIONER PORTER COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO THIS BETTER THAN I.
BUT DURING THE O'MALLEY ADMINISTRATION, THE LAST RECESSION, THE STATE CAME IN AND BASICALLY RATED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY GAVE THE COUNTIES FOR HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE.
IT'S A STRANGE SITUATION HERE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHERE THE STATE THE COUNTY HAS NO TAX RAISING AUTHORITY FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION, GAS TAX, NONE OF THAT STUFF.
THE ONLY THING WE OPERATE ON IS BASICALLY PROPERTY TAXES AND A PORTION OF YOUR INCOME TAX.
THE HIGHWAY USER REVENUE OR ROAD MAINTENANCE REVENUE THAT WE GET IS TOTALLY COLLECTED BY THE STATE THROUGH VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND GAS TAXES.
DURING THE O'MALLEY ADMINISTRATION, THEY CAME IN AND BASICALLY HAD BUDGET SHORTFALLS, SO THEY RATED THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY GAVE TO THE COUNTY TO DO ROAD MAINTENANCE.
SINCE THEN, WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN IT BACK.
I THINK OUR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, THEY UPPED IT COUPLE OF PERCENTAGE POINTS.
IT WAS A TOKEN MINIMAL, AND DANNY SITTING IN THE BACK NODDING HIS HEAD.
IT WAS WHAT, 50,000 BUCKS OR SOMETHING, 100,000 BUCKS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO MUCH WITH AS MANY ROADS AS WE HAVE AROUND THE COUNTY WITH THAT KIND OF INCREASE.
[01:05:01]
PRIOR TO THAT, IT HAD STAYED FLAT.REALLY WHAT YOU SAW WAS TREES COMING IN, ROADS NOT GETTING TAR CHIPPED AND PAVED, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE REVENUE TO CONTINUE TO DO THE ROAD MAINTENANCE.
FINALLY, NOW WITH SOME OF THE ARPA MONEY AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WE'RE BACK IN A POSITION.
NATURALLY, NOW IF WE CAN PURSUE FEDERAL 100% FUNDING, IT'S NOT ANY COUNTY MONEY, IT'S ALL FEDERAL MONEY, IT TOTALLY MAKES SENSE TO DO A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS.
BUT ARE ANY OF YOU AWARE OF ANYBODY ON THE ROAD WHO MAY NOT WANT IT DONE?
>> WHY ELSE WOULD WE BRING IT UP TO YOU? MYSELF, PERSONALLY, I'VE SPOKE TO MULTIPLE RESIDENTS ON THE ROAD, AND I ONLY KNOW OF ONE PERSON THAT WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.
EVERYBODY ELSE WITH VERY FORWARD TO HAVING TRUNK LINE ROAD MAINTENANCE DONE TO IT.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD A FOUR-MILE STRETCH IN THERE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'D SAY 90% OF THE PEOPLE IN THERE WOULD SAY, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET IT?
>> ROBERT SMITH. I LIVE ON 25400 TRUNK LINE ROAD.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. VEHICLES ARE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED NOW THAN THEY USED TO BE WITH THE ABS SENSORS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
IT'S JUST ABOUT FUNDING, PRIORITIZATION, WHERE DOES IT MAKE THE MOST SENSE?
>> LIKE I SAID, THEY WANT TO DO THAT TEST STRIP IN THERE, WE'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY.
WE'D BE RIGHT THERE IN A SECOND.
>> TO FOLLOW UP WHAT COMMISSIONER BREEDING SAID, I CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2010.
THAT FIRST YEAR, WE WENT FROM ABOUT FOUR MILLION IN HIGHWAY USER TO 400,000. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.
EVERYBODY SAYS THAT'S OUR PROBLEM, AND IT IS OUR PROBLEM.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING YOUR POINT IS VERY WELL TAKEN.
YOU'RE CITIZENS, YOU'RE TAXPAYERS, AND YOU DESERVE THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN GIVE.
IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE NOT EVEN TO MENTION WHAT THE NEW PLAN IS GOING TO BE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT GAS TAX, THERE'S NO GAS TAX BEING GENERATED THERE.
>> WELL, THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THESE SCHOOL BUSES IN NOW.
[INAUDIBLE] COUNTY BRINGING THEM THIS YEAR, CAROLINE COUNTY BROUGHT 50 IN LAST YEAR.
BUT THE STRUGGLE THEY'RE HAVING WITH SCHOOL BUSES IS THEY CAN ONLY DO MORNING ROUTES BECAUSE IT TAKES EIGHT HOURS TO CHARGE THE BATTERY BACK UP.
SO NOW THEY GOT TO HAVE 50 SPARES TO COVER 50 BUSES AND THEN THEY GOT THE GENERATORS THAT ARE THE SIZE OF TRUCK TRAILERS RUNNING IN THE PARKING LOT CHARGING SCHOOL BUSES UP.
>> WELL, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONVERSATION [LAUGHTER] ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THESE.
MISS HARTS, WHAT IS YOUR ADDRESS, PLEASE?
>> 15. I'M ASKING BECAUSE I'M MUCH MORE OF A VISUAL GUY SO I WILL BE UP TO RIDE THROUGH, AND I JUST WANTED TO GET A RELATIVELY [OVERLAPPING]
>> OR BETWEEN TAYLOR. RIGHT SECTION.
>> I GO DOWN THERE ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.
I GREW UP THERE, I KNOW WHAT YOU DEALT WITH FOR I GREW UP ON MELVILLE ROAD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HAS JUST GOTTEN SOME DAMN DUSTY AROUND THERE AND EVERYTHING.
>> I GREW UP ON MELVILLE ROAD.
THAT WAS MY CHILDHOOD, THE AMBIENCE THING.
I GO DOWN THERE ONCE A MONTH FOR JUST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I TALKED TO SCOTTY, THE BUS DRIVER FROM TIME TO TIME.
I THINK PRIORITY WAS CONVERTING SOME OF THESE DIRT ROADS.
TRUCK LINE WAS ON THE LIST, I THINK, BUT IT WAS TOO LONG A STRETCH TO TEST IT.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE WENT WITH WOLF ROAD FIRST BECAUSE IT WAS SMALLER, SOMETHING WE WERE GOING TO UNDERTAKE.
BUT TRUCK LINES, IT'S TOP OF MY LIST.
>> [OVERLAPPING] A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THERE.
>> I KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING THROUGH.
>> IT USED TO BE A FEW CARS, NOW IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
>> NOW IT'S HUNTING SEASON SO EVERYBODY'S HUNTING DOWN THERE.
>> ONE PROBLEM I HAVE TOO IS ONCE THEY GRADE THE ROAD THEN ALL YOUR YOUNG GUYS COME OUT WITH ALL FORD AND SPINNING ALL CIRCLES.
>> WE LOSE THAT AS SOON AS WE GET.
>> THEY DID GREAT THE OTHER DAY AFTER IT RAINED.
>> THE COUNTY IS DOING A GREAT JOB.
>> WE WERE RUNNING GREATER THE OTHER DAY ON OUR ROAD.
[OVERLAPPING] HE ACTUALLY DID A GOOD JOB.
[LAUGHTER] SOMETIMES IT AIN'T SO GOOD BUT IT WAS THIS TIME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SOME COUNTY, IT'S JUST [OVERLAPPING] TIMES.
THAT'S ALL. IT'S NOT EVEN COLD.
>> HE DID A CUT THROUGH TO THE DITCH, WHICH WAS APPRECIATED.
[01:10:04]
>> WHEN I GET IT FLAT AND DAY THERE'S GOING TO BE RELAY SOMEWHERE.
>> YOU GOT TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING IN AND WE'LL KEEP AFTER IT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REST OF IT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING.
>> MOST OF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE COME IN, THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE FASTER.
>> YOU GOOD? DID YOU WANT TO GET A PICTURE WITH MR. FISHER OR?
>> CAN WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] MIGHT HAVE TOOK THE PROCLAMATION.
>> DID YOU WANT TO TALK WITH US OR GET A PICTURE OR SOMETHING?
[LAUGHTER] I JUST WANTED TO SEE WHO WANTS A STORY ABOUT THE CHURCH.
>> SORRY, WE MISSED YOU EARLIER.
>> WE GOOD? OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A DISCUSSION OF THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE.
ACTUALLY, MISS RONALDS REACHED OUT TO ME OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT ONE OF US BEING APPOINTED TO THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND OR MAKE A MOTION THAT COMMISSIONER REED SERVE ON THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD.
>> I'M LAUGHING AT HIM. HE WAS QUICK ON THE DRAW THERE.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS SIDE?
>> THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION WAS.
>> I'M LAUGHING AT HIM BECAUSE HE WAS QUICK ON THE DRAW. HE WAS QUICK.
>> MOTION SECONDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE HAVE TWO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ONE IS CLOSED SESSION MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 17, 2024.
WE'RE GOING TO LABEL THAT AS A CLOSED SESSION NUMBER 1 AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THE MINUTES THAT KATHLEEN CIRCULATED FROM CLOSED SESSION NUMBER 2 ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2024.
WE WILL HAVE TWO CLOSED SESSION MINUTES.
THEN ALSO THERE'S A D TO FOREST CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADD THE CLOSED SESSION MINUTES NUMBER 2 TO THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2024.
>> AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
>> I'VE GOT A FEW THINGS, AND THEN THERE'S ONE THING THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE DANNY COME UP AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT BECAUSE HE'S MORE VERSE THAN I AM.
[LAUGHTER] BUT A FEW THINGS THAT I HAVE.
SOME QUESTIONS HAVE COME UP ABOUT THESE ITEMS SO I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A GENERAL UPDATE.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LAW OFFICE MOVE IS STILL, I GUESS, BEING PROCESSED, IS THE WAY I'LL PUT IT.
THE BID DOCUMENTS FOR THE OFFICE SPACE ACROSS THE STREET SHOULD BE FINISHED UP THIS WEEK.
ONCE THAT'S RELEASED, IT TAKES ABOUT FOUR WEEKS FOR US TO RECEIVE THE BIDS, AND THEN THE TIMING AFTER THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE BIDS OR IF THE PRICE IS APPROPRIATE, ALL THOSE FACTORS.
THAT ALSO, OF COURSE, WOULD BE DEPENDENT ON PERMITS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
ONCE WE RECEIVE THOSE BIDS, WE WILL SHARE THEM AND GO FROM THERE.
THE COHEN LAW GROUP IS HANDLING OUR CABLE FRANCHISE AGREEMENT.
THEY'VE REACHED OUT THIS WEEK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS, WHICH WOULD BE A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING EARLY ON THE PROCESS.
IT WILL HAPPEN JUST DURING ONE OF YOUR REGULAR COMMISSIONER MEETINGS.
WE HAVE SPEAKING POINTS FOR YOU, AND I'LL GET THAT SENT TO JEN SO WE CAN GET THAT SCHEDULED.
[01:15:01]
OCTOBER 2 THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND ATTORNEYS FROM THE COUNTIES PARTICIPATING HAVE A MEETING REGARDING THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.THE STATE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION SOMEWHAT ROUTINELY FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY REGARDING FUNDING COMMITMENTS.
WE WANT TO SEE, I THINK OUR AGREEMENT, JUST THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING ON THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A MEETING WITH A SMALLER GROUP MEETING BECAUSE THOSE OF YOU WHO WENT TO THE PREVIOUS MEETING BECAUSE THERE WERE, I THINK, ACTUALLY 30 PEOPLE IN A ROOM, AND IT WAS HARD TO GET THINGS DONE.
WE'LL MEET WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND COUNTY ATTORNEY FROM OUR PARTNER COUNTIES AND TRY TO COME TO SOME CONSENSUS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, BRING THAT BACK TO YOU, AND THEN IF EVERYBODY IS SATISFIED WITH THAT OUTCOME, I THINK THAT'LL HELP QUEEN ANNE COUNTY MOVE THE NEEDLE A LITTLE FASTER ON THE PROJECT, GET WITH THE STATE.
ALSO, COMMISSIONER PORTER BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER ON OCTOBER 9.
STEWART AND I ARE MEETING WITH JONAH AT THE LIBRARY REGARDING THE LIBRARY LEASE RENEWAL AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER PORTER MIGHT TRY TO ATTEND THAT IF HE'S ABLE TO AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE THAT MEETING SCHEDULED, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
THEN THE ONE THING I WANTED DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT WAS THE DOUBLE HILLS ROAD, INDUSTRIAL PARK, AND GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.
WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE DOUBLE HILLS INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD AND WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT AND SOME OF THE, I'M GOING TO SAY, ROAD BUMPS WE'RE RUNNING INTO AS FAR AS TIMING OF THAT PROJECT GOES.
WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH LANE ENGINEERING TO ESSENTIALLY PUT TOGETHER A BID PACKET AND ESSENTIALLY A FULL ENGINEERED PACKET TO GO TO BID.
WE ARE STILL WAITING ON A COUPLE PERMITS, ONE BEING SOIL CONSERVATION.
THE LAST I HAD TALKED TO TRISTA AT SOIL CONSERVATION, THEY HAD THE APPLICATION AND THEY WOULD LOOK TO REVIEW IT BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
I KNOW WE HAVE ONE THAT SHOULD BE OUT TO PLAN THE CODE FOR FORT CONSERVATION.
BUT AS FAR AS THE OTHERS, TIM'S ASSURING THAT THEY ARE IN PROCESS AND MOVING FORWARD.
WITH THAT, WE'RE LOOKING TO POSSIBLY ISSUE A BID.
BUT AS WE START TALKING ABOUT THE TIMELINE IT TAKES TO ISSUE A BID AND GO THROUGH AWARD, WE'RE REALLY THINKING THAT AN AWARD AND A NOTICE TO PROCEED WOULD PROBABLY TIME OUT ABOUT EARLIER MID NOVEMBER.
KNOWING THE SCALE OF THE PROJECT AND TALKING TO SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH PROJECTS LIKE THESE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS COULD BE POSSIBLY A THREE-MONTH PROJECT.
IF IT STARTED TO PROCEED IN NOVEMBER, THIS WOULD TIME OUT, REALLY.
YOU'RE GETTING INTO DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY, WHICH IS NOT ADVANTAGEOUS FOR BUILDING A ROAD WITH ASPHALT PLANTS BEING CLOSED.
WE RUN INTO THE PROBLEM THEN OF, WHAT DO WE DO? DO WE BID IT NOW AND ASK THE BIDDER TO HOLD THE BID TO MARCH, APRIL, WHICH IS TYPICALLY NOT NORMAL COURSE OF ACTION? WE TYPICALLY HAVE BIDDERS HOLD PRICES FOR 60 DAYS.
THE OTHER FOLD IN THIS IS THE MONEY, AS OF TODAY, TECHNICALLY HAS TO BE SPENT BY NOVEMBER OF 2024.
NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH TO EXTEND THAT FUNDING ONE YEAR TO, THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO DECEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.
I HEAR THROUGH THE RUMOR MILL THAT THAT IS MOVING FORWARD AND IS LOOKING FAVORABLE.
I THINK THE UPDATE OR QUESTION THAT I WANT TO POSE TO YOU GUYS, IF THAT IS THE CASE AND THE MONEY IS EXTENDED, ARE YOU GUYS FINE WITH JUST EXTENDING THAT BID PROCESS TO START, SAY, MID JANUARY, AND THEN HAVE THE PROCESS TAKE US INTO EARLY MARCH, NOTICE TO PROCEED HAPPEN AT THAT TIME, AND THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD HAPPEN REALLY THIS SPRING INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PUSH IT PARTIALLY THROUGH THIS WINTER.
>> WHEN DID THE ASPHALT PLANTS OPEN UP?
>> NORMALLY MID MARCH, LATE MARCH, MID AND LATE MARCH.
>> COULD YOU BID IT SO LATE? IT WOULD FALL LIKE THAT TIMELINE?
>> YES, SIR. THAT WOULD BE THE GOAL.
>> I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S A THREE-MONTH PROJECT.
>> THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS TO TURNED OUT TO BE.
>> IF MID MARCH, IF THEY STARTED IN DECEMBER BUT THAT'S NOT AN IDEA OF TIME TO.
>> BE DIGGING UP WET AND ALL THAT STUFF LIKE THAT.
[01:20:02]
I'M FINE WITH IT, I THINK.THE ONLY THING SCARES ME IS IF YOU DO IT NOW, BIT IT OUT AND YOU WAIT A LITTLE BIT, IT'S NOT DONE CORRECTLY.
>> WE DON'T HAVE DESIGN FINALIZED YET.
WE'RE WAITING ON SOIL CONSERVATION'S COMMENTS AND FORCE CONSERVATION.
I WOULDN'T TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, I'D GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO PUSH TO GET THE DESIGN DONE AND THEN I WOULD SAY, I'M FINE WITH BID EARLY NEXT YEAR AFTER THE HOLIDAYS AND SPRING START.
>> FEEL LIKE FIRST OF JANUARY BID OUT.
>> BECAUSE IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE US A MONTH AND A HALF TO GO THROUGH BID PROCESS, AWARD, GET IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS TO AWARD.
THEN IF THAT PRICE IS HELD FOR 60 DAYS, WE'RE WELL WITHIN THE TIME TO START BID MARCH ON THAT PROJECT.
>> NO, WE CAN DEFINITELY KEEP [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'RE EARLY. IT COULD START IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE THERE'S A SEWER COMPONENT THAT COULD BE DONE, SOME PREPARATION WORK.
EVEN IF IT WAS END OF FEBRUARY, NOTICE TO PROCEED, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SHOOT FOR.
>> IN THAT WAY, WE'RE WELL WITHIN THE WINDOW, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES.
IF YOU GET THE PLANS READY, AND IT'S READY TO GO TO BID, BID IT AND AND GO WITH IT.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET UP AGAINST END OF NEXT YEAR AND US BE WORRIED ABOUT USE IT OR LOSE IT MONEY.
>> YOU CAN TIME IT SO THEY'RE READY WHEN THE ASPHALT PLAN OPENS UP.
IT'D BE RIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
NO DELAY FROM OPENING AND THEN WE NEEDED THAT MATERIAL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU GET THE PLAN?
>> YEAH. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU STILL GO IN DECEMBER AND THEN I'D GIVE YOU A MONTH TO GET EVERYTHING IN JANUARY.
>> WHICH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
>> I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE GROUP WITH THE EMAIL ONCE THERE IS A CONFIRMATION OR A DENIAL OF THE EXTENSION OF THE FUNDS.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS SAME TYPE OF SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO CHOPTANK MARINE FUNDING THAT'S GOING WITH THAT AS WELL.
AS SOON AS BOB RECEIVES ANY FORMAL NOTIFICATION, WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH THE GROUP SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF THAT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
>> WE HAD A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT SOLAR LAST WEEK, AND JUST A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING BRIEFLY.
THE COUNTY COULD TAKE ON THE SOLAR THING, BUT THE COUNTY CAN'T DO IT BY ITSELF.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH EVERYBODY.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE CITIZENS, ANY ORGANIZATION.
WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE BECAUSE WE NEED ALL THE RESOURCES POSSIBLE.
THAT BEING SAID, WE HAD A TEXT OVER THE WEEKEND ABOUT A COUPLE OF SOLAR PROJECTS THAT WERE POPPING UP AND THAT THEY WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT WAS IN A HISTORICAL AREA.
>> I DID SPEAK TO HIM BY THE WAY.
>> TOUCH ON THAT. IT'S GOT TO COME FROM EVERYWHERE.
WE CAN'T DO THIS BY OURSELVES.
THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OUT THERE. THAT'S ALL GUYS.
>> WELL, I MADE A NOTE HERE THAT NEXT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, THERE'S A MECO BRIEFING LOOKS LIKE BY ZOOM ON SOLAR FOR THE DRAFT BILL.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE TRY TO LISTEN TO THAT OR PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
THERE'S A LINK THAT'S BEEN SENT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO COME IN AND DO IT TOGETHER, I JUST DON'T KNOW.
BUT I THINK THAT I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BARTZ.
I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE FIGHTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT.
I HAVE A FEELING THAT THIS AFTERNOON WHEN WE HAVE THIS MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO GET TOLD THAT THIS IS THE BILL AND I WANT TO BE ON THE WINNING SIDE SOMETIME.
IT JUST LIKE WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE SIDE, DOES BUT AS I TALK TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, I GET MORE AND MORE FEEDBACK FROM THEM SAYING, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS COUNTY GET COVERED UP WITH SOLAR PANELS.
>> IT HAS SEEMED TO BE THE OVERWHELMING SENTIMENT OF EVERYBODY THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO.
[01:25:05]
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FARMERS WHO RESPECTFULLY, WHO OWN THE LAND, WHO SAY WE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WITH OUR LAND, WHAT WE WANT AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE OUR NEXT DAF FIGHT.
I THINK WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POINT ON THAT ONE WHERE I THINK WE'VE AT LEAST PASSED OUR ORDINANCE, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET PUSHBACK ON THAT.
BUT I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT ONE AND IT'S GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.
BECAUSE WE WILL HAVE NOT ONLY THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO PUSH THIS ON US.
BUT I'M NOT SURE, TO BE HONEST, COMMISSIONER BARTZ WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERYBODY IN THIS COUNTY THAT'S GOING TO AGREE WITH US, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT.
I HAD A GUY PUT ME DOWN THE OTHER DAY ABOUT IT, AND HE WAS VERY UPSET, AND I'M LIKE YOU KEEP HATING TO SAY IT'S OUT OF OUR CONTROL. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE.
>> WELL, THE ANSWER, WHAT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS GET THE RURAL COUNTY COALITION TOGETHER AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC, WHICH I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO HERE AND I'VE STARTED TO DO THAT, SAM, I'M SURE YOU HAVE.
WE HAVE TO TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE NEED YOU IN ANNAPOLIS TO TESTIFY AND SAY, LET OUR COMMISSIONERS RETAIN CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE UNIFIED MESSAGE HAS TO BE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT DOES YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS LONGER ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT DOES ANY GOOD OR NOT, BUT IF YOU FILL THE HEARING ROOM UP WITH PROPERTY OWNERS FROM CAROLINE COUNTY SAYING, DO NOT PREEMPT OUR COMMISSIONERS, LET THEM MAKE THESE DECISIONS ON SITING AND SETBACKS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.
DO NOT SELL YOUR SOL TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE OR NOT.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, I HATE TO SAY THIS, I JUST THINK IT'S BEEN BAKED IN THE CAKE HERE.
I THINK THE LEGISLATORS ARE COMPLETELY SOLD AND THEY'VE BOUGHT IN ON THIS CLIMATE CRISIS.
>> MAYBE SOMEBODY SHOULD DO DIVE INTO HOW MUCH FUNDING THEY'VE RECEIVED TO DO CAMPAIGNS FROM SOLAR INDUSTRY.
>> THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW.
I DO KNOW THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION THAT I TESTIFIED BEFORE LAST YEAR ABOUT THE FUNDING FOR TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IS NOW ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
HE WOULD NOT EVEN LET THAT BILL, WHICH WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FUNDING TO TRAIN OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
IT WASN'T TO KEEP SOLAR FROM HAPPENING OR ANYTHING, IT WAS TO TRAIN OUR FIREFIGHTERS, HE WOULD NOT LET THAT BILL OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE.
ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WOULD BE, HOW MANY SOLAR PANELS ARE GOING TO GO IN YOUR COUNTY THAT YOU REPRESENT? BUT I THINK UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONSENSUS OF OPINION IS, LET'S PUSH IT OVER HERE ON THE EASTERN SHORE WHERE WE GOT A BUNCH OF FARM LAND FLAT AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
I'M SORRY, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE FEELING IS.
I'M ALL FOR ORGANIZING PEOPLE, I'M ALL FOR FIGHTING THE FIGHT BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY IS WE ARE HEARING THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO COME AFTER ALL COUNTIES ABILITY TO INFLUENCE SETBACKS, CITING, BASICALLY ANY BASIC CONTROLS OVER SOLAR RAYS.
IT WOULD ALL BE ESSENTIALLY A STATE CHECKLIST OF CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET.
IF THEY MEET ALL THOSE CONDITIONS, COUNTY YOU'RE OUT OF THE PICTURE.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE INFLUENCE THROUGH OUR PLANNING COMMISSIONS, AND THEY ESSENTIALLY WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THAT AWAY AND IT WOULD JUST BE AT THE STATE'S DISCRETION.
>> WE SET A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF ACRES THAT COULD BE USED FOR SOLAR HOW MANY YEARS AGO? FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUBLIC INPUT,
[01:30:04]
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND WE CAME UP WITH I THOUGHT A RATIONAL NUMBER OF ACRES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF TILLABLE ACRES IN THIS COUNTY.WE EXCLUDED AG PRESERVATION LAND.
THAT WAS BEFORE DAF, THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST PARTICIPATION WE HAD ON AN ISSUE IN THIS COUNTY.
IT ISN'T LIKE WE'RE JUST ARBITRARILY PICKING A FIGHT.
AT THAT TIME, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT ORDINANCE, WE INVITED THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO COME TO A HEARING, WHICH THEY DID SEND REPRESENTATIVES AND OUR REQUEST AT THE TIME WAS, PLEASE REVIEW THIS ORDINANCE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING HERE.
LET US KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS REASONABLE, OR THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT GOING TO GET PREEMPTED DOWN THE ROAD, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO IT.
THAT TOLD ME THAT THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL.
THEY WERE GOING TO LET US PASS ANY ORDINANCE WE WANT, BUT THEY WERE JUST GOING TO SIMPLY COME BACK AND PREEMPT IT.
THAT WAS FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE NOW ARE WITHIN 400 ACRES OF OUR LIMIT, AND THIS IS WHERE THE THE BELL STARTS RINGING HERE FOR THE PLAY.
>> I'M CURIOUS WHAT THIS DOES TO THE OTHER COUNTIES APPROACHES TO DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
TALBOT COUNTY JUST RECENTLY PASSED AN ORDINANCE WHERE IT'S A POINT SYSTEM, IF IT SCORES OVER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS, IF A FARM SCORED OVER A CERTAIN POINT THRESHOLD, IT WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOLAR SIGHTING.
I'M ASSUMING IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS PREEMPTS THAT.
THAT IF IT CHECKED ALL THE BOXES THAT THE STATE REQUIRED, THEN THE POINT SYSTEM WOULDN'T MATTER.
I THINK ALL OF US COUNTIES THE RURAL COUNTIES NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND WE NEED TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN TO TESTIFY, AND IT DOES TWOFOLD.
IT SHOWS THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND MAKES THEM UNDERSTAND THAT HEY, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT COVERING THE EASTERN SHORE AND SOLAR PANELS OR RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.
THE OTHER THING THAT IT DOES IS IT SHOWS OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT WE ARE FIGHTING TO RETAIN CONTROL OF IT.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING TO GET MAD AT US INSTEAD OF US JUST SAYING LOOK, IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM US AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT.
IF THEY'RE THERE AND THEY WITNESS IT THAT'S THE PUBLIC SAYING, HEY OUR COMMISSIONERS WERE CORRECT, ARE TELLING YOU THE RIGHT THING, I WAS THERE.
THEY FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO RETAIN CONTROL OVER THIS ISSUE, AND THE STATE SAID, NO, WE KNOW BETTER THAN YOU.
>> WELL, I THINK THE OTHER POINT IS, EVEN THE PROVISIONS THAT WE PUT IN FOR THE 2000 ACRE LIMIT, WE HAVE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE MAD AT US ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING.
THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT THAT 2000 ACRE [OVERLAPPING] INCLUDING LAND NEAR THEM.
IF IT WASN'T NEAR THEM, THEY WOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT.
>> THE PEOPLE AT THE SOUTH END OF THE COUNTY DON'T CARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT AFFECTING THEIR [INAUDIBLE] OR THEIR FARMING.
ONE FARMER PARTICULARLY HAS BEEN HIT HARD UP NORTH.
>> BUT WHAT IT TELLS ME IS WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THIS DRAFT ORDINANCE, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON, THE STATE HAS PICKED A CORRIDOR OF LAND THAT IS IN PROXIMITY OF TRANSMISSION LINES.
TO ME, THEY'RE PICKING AND CHOOSING WHO CAN SELL THEIR LAND, THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF THIS THAT IRRITATES ME.
IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH OR UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE YOUR FARM THAT'S WITHIN A RADIUS OF A TRANSMISSION LINE, YOU'RE IN THE MONEY IF YOU DON'T THEN YOU'RE OUT OF THE MONEY.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE TO DO.
I DON'T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE PICKING WINNERS AND LOSERS HERE AND I WILL GUARANTEE YOU JUST AS SURE AS I'M SETTING HERE THAT IF THAT CORRIDOR IS ESTABLISHED, SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE, THERE IS GOING TO BE SOME PROVISION WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A CHOICE.
IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO AN EMINENT DOMAIN SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME ALONG AND SAY, YOUR LAND IS WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DISTANCE OF THIS TRANSMISSION LINE, WE'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR SOLAR.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST HERE FOR.
WE JUST CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN, LIKE I SAID, IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER FIGHT.
[01:35:05]
ANYBODY WANTS TO TELL ME THAT THAT'LL NEVER HAPPEN?>> GOOD. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK?
>> MR. FISHER, WHEN DOES YOUR SURVEY START ON YOUR, I'M SORRY.
>> ON YOUR ANNIVERSARY, WHAT TIMES YOUR SURVEY START?
>> ONE O'CLOCK. [OVERLAPPING] 100 ANNIVERSARY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IT AT ST. LUKES CHURCH.
NOW, LET ME GET YOU ON THE RECORD.
I DID NOT WANT IT TO BE GRANDIOSE.
I DID NOT WANT IT TO GO TO [INAUDIBLE].
I WANTED TO DO IT RIGHT IN THERE DENTON WHERE IT STARTED.
>> THE BLESSING OF ST. LUKE LETTING US USE THEIR FACILITY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SERVICE THERE WITH OUR BISHOP COMING DOWN TO SEE THE PROCLAMATION, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DINER RIGHT IN ST. LUKE'S DINING HALL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS A NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH.
>> WHAT IS THE DATE OF YOUR ANNIVERSARY?
NEXT WEEK, I'LL BE HERE WHEN THE COMMITTEE THAT IS DOING SOMETHING FOR BISHOP ALEXANDER WAYMAN WILL BE HAVING THEIR PRESENTATION.
THEN BELLS CHAPEL DOWN IN WE CALL IT [INAUDIBLE] THEY WILL CELEBRATING THEIR 150TH ANNIVERSARY.
THERE IS THREE CHURCHES IN THE AREA THAT ARE DOING SOMETHING BACK TO THAT.
WE'RE A NEW KID ON THE BLOCK AT [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
>> WILL YOU GET THE INFORMATION ON YOURS TO US [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU WANT US TO COME, OR ATTEND? ALL RIGHT. I'M GETTING CONFUSED.
>> NO NEED FOR A CLOSED SESSION, CORRECT?
>> SO WE'RE ADJOURNING THE MEETING NOW OR?
>> OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE LUNCH.
>> I THINK WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND THEN WOULD SPEAK ABOUT THIS IN PUBLIC MEETING. I'LL BE TAKING NOTES.
>> SO JUST ADJOURN NOW OR GO INTO RECESS?
>> I GUESS YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DECIDES THAT.
>> I'LL CALL THE MEETING IN RECESS THEN AND WE'LL PICK UP AT NOON. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.