Oct 01, 2024 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:00:24]

GOOD MORNING.

WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.

THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND TOM FISHER OF ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH OF DENTON, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE.

GOOD MORNING. REVEREND, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

LET US LOOK TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

MOST GRACIOUS GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BEGINNING EACH MEETING WITH PRAYER.

LET THEM KNOW THAT WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT, WE IN THE CLERGY ARE PRAYING FOR THEM AS THEY FACE THE CHALLENGES AND THE COMPLEX COMPLICATIONS AND COMPLEXITIES OF THE THINGS THAT GO ON AROUND THEM. LET THEM ALSO ENJOY THE CELEBRATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY ALSO AND WHEN THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE WIND IS GOING TO BLOW, OR WHAT DIRECTION BUSINESS

[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. Tom Fisher, Abrams Memorial Church of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

WHICH IS YOUR PLAN, GOD.

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

SO BLESS THEM.

PROTECT THEM, COVER THEM WITH YOUR BLESSINGS AND LET THEM DO WELL IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

CAROLINE COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT AND IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

REVEREND, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN AND DOING THE INVOCATIONS FOR US SO MANY TIMES.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THE PRAYERS ARE WELL RECEIVED HERE.

SO THANK YOU.

WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET.

YEAH. OKAY.

WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD?

[Public Comment]

WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS A PROCLAMATION FOR SEPTEMBER AS PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH.

[Proclamation- October as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month]

OH, YES. SORRY. SET ME UP.

I THINK IT IS OCTOBER, ISN'T IT? I THINK I'VE BEEN ASSIGNED THIS ONE.

THIS ONE? OKAY. YOU GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

MR. [INAUDIBLE].

WELL, WELCOME. THANK YOU.

SO I'LL READ.

I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION, IF THAT'S OKAY AND THEN WE'LL GET A PICTURE AND GO FROM THERE.

WHEREAS THE LOSS OF A PREGNANCY OR AN INFANT IS A HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY THAT AFFECTS COUNTLESS FAMILIES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

WITH AS MANY AS 1 IN 4 PREGNANCIES ENDING IN MISCARRIAGE AND APPROXIMATELY 3.3 THOUSAND 400 INFANTS LOST TO SIDS IN THE US EACH YEAR AND WHEREAS THE EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF SUCH A LOSS IS PROFOUND AND OFTEN GOES UNSPOKEN, WITH MANY FAMILIES ENDURING THEIR GRIEF IN SILENCE. AND WHEREAS PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH, FIRST PROCLAIMED NATIONALLY BY PRESIDENT REAGAN IN 1988, IS OBSERVED IN OCTOBER TO HONOR THE MEMORIES OF THESE PRECIOUS LIVES LOST AND TO OFFER SUPPORT, UNDERSTANDING AND COMFORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SUCH A DEVASTATING LOSS AND WHEREAS THIS MONTH SERVES AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE CAUSES OF PREGNANCY AND INFANT INFANT LOSS, TO PROMOTE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF THESE TRAGEDIES AND TO ENCOURAGE OPEN CONVERSATIONS THAT BREAK THE SILENCE SURROUNDING THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT AND WHEREAS IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO EXTEND OUR HEARTS, OUR HANDS AND OUR RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PAIN OF PREGNANCY OR INFANT LOSS, ENSURING THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THEIR LOSS IS ACKNOWLEDGED AND REMEMBERED AND WHEREAS, BY OBSERVING PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH, WE JOIN TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT GRIEVING FAMILIES, TO FOSTER HEALING, AND TO WORK TOWARD A FUTURE WHERE FEWER FAMILIES EXPERIENCE THIS HEARTACHE GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS IN THIS GREAT SEAL OF CAROLINE COUNTY. THIS FIRST DAY OF OCTOBER, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 2024.

SIGNED BY TRAVIS BREEDING, PRESIDENT.

LARRY PORTER. VICE PRESIDENT.

[00:05:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

YOU PROBABLY ARE NOT AWARE.

LAUREN AND I LOST A CHILD TO A TOPIC PREGNANCY BACK IN 2020 AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU TALK ABOUT AND PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IT HAPPENS TO. AND THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS IT AND HAVE PEOPLE COME OUT ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BIG THING.

SO AWARENESS IS THE FIRST STEP.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO I THINK IT TOUCHES MORE FAMILIES THAN WE KNOW IT DOES.

YEAH, MY WIFE ACTUALLY WENT INTO LABOR EARLY WITH OUR OLDEST SON AND THEN HE SPENT SIX WEEKS IN THE NICU.

SO IT IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT AND VERY DIFFICULT, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK UP HERE.

SURE.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD FOX HERE, BUT HE'S UPSTAIRS SLEEPING.

DON'T WANT TO WAKE HIM UP NOW.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, WE DO HAVE A NINE MONTH OLD NOW.

YOU GOT IT. OKAY.

OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR BISHOP WAYMAN, AFRICAN OR AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL AME CHURCH, AND DEBBIE BENNETT.

FROM THE LIBRARIES HERE AND WE HAVE BISHOP WAYMAN PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIR.

SO WE'RE MISSING ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE THAT SHE HAD TO COME FROM ACROSS THE BRIDGE.

SO I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO GO WITHOUT HER, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'LL INCLUDE OUR NAME.

DO YOU WANT TO WAIT OR CAN WE WAIT AND JUST SEE IF IT'S DAWN WAYMAN.

WHO'S. SURE.

YEAH. I MEAN, WE CAN WAIT.

PUSH THIS ITEM BACK UNTIL EVERYONE GETS HERE.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

WE'LL MAKE YOU SIT THROUGH THIS MEETING.

OKAY. WELL, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES AND ITEMS OF CONCERN.

[Discussion of Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Initiatives and Items of Concern]

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THOSE? SO WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE REQUEST FOR AN EVENT VENUE LICENSE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

CAROLINE COUNTY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES FOR ON SITE CONSUMPTION AT LOCATIONS LIKE RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS, BUT CURRENTLY DOES NOT PERMIT EVENT VENUES TO SERVE ALCOHOL.

RECENTLY, EVENT VENUE OWNERS.

FOR COW BARN EVENTS AND CASTLE HALL, 1781, HAD MET WITH THE.

I'M ASSUMING THE LIQUOR BOARD SAYS BOARD HERE, OKAY WITH THE LIQUOR BOARD TO DISCUSS CREATING A NEW LICENSE THAT WOULD ALLOW SUCH VENUES TO OFFER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.

THE BOARD OF THE LIQUOR BOARD SUPPORTS THIS INITIATIVE, WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE EVENT VENUES WITH MORE OPTIONS TO ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS.

THE PROPOSED REGULATION WOULD LIMIT EVENTS TO 40 PER YEAR, WITH THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF EVENTS HOSTED.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES.

IS THERE ANY CONCERNS, QUESTIONS OR ISSUES WITH PURSUING THAT INITIATIVE? I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

OKAY. SO I ASSUME THAT THE I READ MORNING, [INAUDIBLE]. I READ THROUGH THIS, BUT, I MEAN, I ASSUME THAT THERE WILL STILL BE THE SAME CONTROLS ON THE AREAS THAT THIS CAN BE HAD AND NUMBERS AND WHO WILL BE.

[00:10:01]

WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT COME IN THAT COMES IN TO APPLY.

SO THEY WOULD BE AT THE EVENT AND THEY WOULD THEY EXPLAIN AND THEY HAVE THE PREMISE.

BUT DO WE HAVE AT THE EVENT ITSELF, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY THERE WHO MAKES SURE THAT THEY IT SHOULD BE THE LICENSE HOLDERS SHOULD BE AT EACH EVENT.

I THINK HE MEANS ENFORCEMENT.

YEAH. WE HAVE AN ENFORCER.

YES, WE HAVE AN INSPECTOR THAT RANDOMLY CHECKS AND RANDOMLY CHECKS.

HE'S EVERYWHERE.

YEAH, HE IS EVERYWHERE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN HE'S GOING TO POP UP EVERYWHERE.

I'VE SEEN HIM EVERYWHERE.

I MEAN, HE JUST. I MEAN, THE THING OF IT IS, HE POPS UP OUT OF NOWHERE, LIKE.

MAN, WHERE'D YOU COME FROM? YES. SNEAKS UP ON YOU I THINK HE JUST WANTS YOU TO TELL CRYSTAL THAT I SEEN HIM.

MAKE SURE HE'S DOING HIS JOB.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I GUESS I AM NOT OPPOSED TO THIS, BUT I GUESS MY CONCERN WOULD BE DRIVING AND TRAFFIC LEAVING THESE VENUES, YOU KNOW? BUT I'M OKAY, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OKAY. THANKS.

I THINK THAT'S IT FOR.

THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE BILL SUGGESTION WE HAVE IS PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING WHICH IT WOULD BE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE REGARDING FUNDING.

OUR AIM WOULD BE TO ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY OVER FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND ALREADY ACQUIRED, RATHER THAN FOR PURCHASING ADDITIONAL LAND. WE ALSO SEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE GUIDELINES ALLOW FOR GREATER LOCAL AUTONOMY ACROSS ALL COUNTIES TO ENSURE A POSITIVE VOTE. SO THIS BILL REQUEST HAS ACTUALLY BEEN PUT IN FOR CONSIDERATION IN DENR'S? WHAT DO THEY REFER TO THAT, AS THEIR YEARLY DEPARTMENT LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE? YES, THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS.

SO THE BEST WAY TO GET THIS PASSED IS ACTUALLY TO HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WRITE IT INTO THEIR YEARLY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE, WHICH TO DATE, THEY HAVE DONE.

I THINK IT'S BEEN SENT UP TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT IS OKAY WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND IF THAT COMES BACK AND MAKES IT THROUGH HIS REVIEW, IT SHOULD BE ON TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN AND MAKE THIS A LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE.

BUT IF FOR SOME REASON IT DOES GET STRIPPED OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT BILL, WE NEED TO BE READY TO TRY TO GET IT PUSHED THROUGH ON OUR OWN.

I THINK IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE MACRO INITIATIVES AS WELL.

SO I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH SUPPORT BEHIND THIS THAT IT WILL PROBABLY PASS.

WELL, LET'S MAKE SURE.

LET'S NOT TAKE IT OFF OF OURS UNTIL WE MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR, WE SHOULD KNOW IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IF IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH TO SUBMISSION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. SO AND WE HAVE A MEIKO INITIATIVES MEETING.

I DON'T KNOW WHEN SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, SO.

OKAY. IT'S NARROWING DOWN TO LIKE 40 TO 4.

BUT I THINK THIS ONE IS STILL ON THERE.

BUT I KNOW QUEEN ANNE COUNTY WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AS WELL.

YEAH. SO. OKAY.

DID ANYONE DID EITHER ONE OF YOU GENTLEMEN HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD OR BRING UP AS POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE BILLS? INITIATIVES? NO.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE LATEST 480 AND IN ORIGINALLY, IS THAT ONE OF THE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS OF CONCERN THAT I HAVE ON THERE.

YEAH. I CAN GO DOWN TO THAT.

I WAS YEAH, I WAS GOING TO MOVE ON TO DO THE BOND BILLS NEXT.

RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH.

SO YOU GUYS ARE GOOD WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE BOND BILLS.

SO REQUEST FOR BOND BILLS HAVE BEEN THE TOWN OF DENTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

BOND UPGRADES.

THE DENTON WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IS CONSIDERED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO BE A MAJOR TREATMENT PLANT, AND WAS UPGRADED TO ENHANCE NUTRIENT REMOVAL OR TECHNOLOGY IN 2011.

THE PLANT MEETS AND USUALLY EXCEEDS THE PERFORMANCE LIMITATIONS DETAILED IN THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM, WHICH IS

[00:15:10]

HOWEVER, STAFF ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT SLUDGE DRYING SYSTEM SINCE ITS NEARLY TO THE END OF ITS USABLE LIFE EXPECTANCY. FOR THIS REASON, AN UPGRADE IS NEEDED.

THE TOWN COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING STUDY TO DETERMINE WHAT THE BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR AN UPGRADE WAS.

THE RECOMMENDATION.

ALTERNATIVE WILL COST 8 MILLION PLUS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE TOWN APPLIED TWICE FOR MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FUNDING TO UPGRADE THE SLUDGE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO DATE, AND HAS NOT QUALIFIED FOR A GRANT OR LOAN.

WITH LITTLE TO NO EXPLANATION, STAFF HAS CONTACTED THE COMPTROLLER COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE FOR HELP, WHICH THEY ARE DOING.

THE TOWN WOULD APPRECIATE THE COUNTY SUPPORT IN THIS ENDEAVOR.

SO I BELIEVE WHAT THIS, IS A PRESS SYSTEM TO DRY THE SLUDGE FASTER. RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT GOES INTO REED BEDS AND IT JUST NATURALLY DRIES THROUGH SUNLIGHT EVAPORATION AND I THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO MECHANICALLY DRY THE SLUDGE SO THEY CAN DISPOSE OF IT REGULARLY.

THIS SLUDGE HAS ALL OF THE SLUDGE FROM ALL OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, IS HAULED TO THE MID SHORE REGIONAL LANDFILL IN RIDGELY AND DISPOSED OF IN THE LANDFILL SO IT DOESN'T GET SPREAD ON ANY FIELDS OR DISPOSED OF IN ANY OTHER WAY OTHER THAN THAT, AS FAR AS I KNOW.

SO IS THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THAT BOND BILL? REQUEST SUPPORT OF THAT.

GOOD. OKAY.

NEXT UP, SHARP ROAD PARK EXPANSION BOND FOR A PLAYGROUND.

THE TOWN HAS PLANNED TO BUILD A COMMUNITY PARK AT THE SHARP ROAD PARK.

IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE A PAVED PARKING AREA, LARGE PLAYGROUND, OUTDOOR EXERCISE PAVILION, DOG PARK, AND FLAG COURT.

THE COST OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS IS ESTIMATED AT 1 MILLION PLUS.

SOME FUNDING HAS BEEN SECURED THROUGH DNR AND AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION FOR FUNDING HAS BEEN SUBMITTED.

SO THIS IS THE PART OF THE PARK WHEN YOU COME IN THE ENTRANCE HEADED TOWARDS THE BASKETBALL COURT.

THEY WANT TO PUT A NEW AMERICAN OR VETERAN THEMED PLAYGROUND TO THE LEFT, AND THEN IMPROVE THE PARKING LOT AND PAVE THE ROAD INTO THE PARK, WHICH WILL ALSO SERVE AS ACCESS AND PARKING FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE COUNTY IS PLANNING ON DOING. AT THE BACK OF THE PARK WITH THE BASEBALL FIELD CONSTRUCTION.

SO ANY ISSUES WITH THIS ONE? GOOD. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. ON TO ITEMS OF CONCERN, RENEWAL OF HIGHWAY USER REVENUE.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, LOCAL HIGHWAY USER REVENUE WAS TAKEN FROM THE TOWN OF DENTON AND USED IN OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE STATE.

SINCE THAT TIME, THE TOWN HAS STRUGGLED TO RESURFACE STREETS IN A TIMELY MANNER TO KEEP EXCESSIVE WEAR AT BAY.

HAVING THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR OUR LOCAL MUNICIPALITY WOULD ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP OUR STREETS SAFE AND SMOOTH, NOT LITTERED WITH POTHOLES WHICH CAUSE DAMAGE TO RESIDENTS AND VISITOR VEHICLES.

SO I'M ASSUMING THAT REQUEST CAME FROM THE TOWN, AND WE SHARE IN THAT.

SO WHAT? THEY'RE JUST ASKING US TO BRING THIS UP TO THE DELEGATION.

OKAY. WHICH WE WILL DO ON OUR OWN BEHALF AS WELL EVERY YEAR.

YEAH. NEXT ITEM WAS STATE HIGHWAY.

REQUEST TO BUILD GAY STREET SHAW HIGHWAY INTERSECTION IN COURT WITH COORDINATED TRAFFIC LIGHT.

SO COMMERCE DRIVE IS THE PROPOSED ROAD THAT WILL GO FROM THE LIGHT AT WALMART TO THE INTERSECTION OF FRANKLIN AND GAY STREET, WHERE THE BLINKING LIGHT IS.

COMMERCE DRIVE HAS BEEN IN THE PLANNING STAGE PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR TEN YEARS.

THIS IS A ROAD THAT WILL CONNECT GAY STREET TO LEGION ROAD AT THE WALMART INTERSECTION.

THE TOWN SECURED APPROVALS TO THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO BUILD A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION ON 404 AT GAY STREET.

FRANKLIN STREET, WHERE THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DELAYED DUE TO PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED OUT.

HOWEVER, THE TOWN CONTINUES TO SUPPORT PRIVATE EFFORTS TO GET THE ROAD BUILT.

DURING THIS TIME, THE TOWN DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT THE SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION AND WOULD APPRECIATE THE COUNTY'S SUPPORT WITH MDOT AS WELL.

[00:20:01]

I ACTUALLY ATTENDED A TOWN BUSINESS MEETING, I GUESS, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH BOB ZIMMER, OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.

JUST TO HEAR WHERE THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE DEVELOPER IS MOVING FORWARD WITH ALL THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FULLY CONSTRUCT, COMMERCE, DRIVE AND INSTALL THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. WHAT THE DEVELOPERS ARE SAYING IS THAT THE COST OF THE ROUTE 404 IMPROVEMENTS CREATE A TOO LARGE OF A INVESTMENT ON THEIR PART TO MAKE THE PROJECT VIABLE.

I HAVE LOOKED AT IT.

WHAT MDOT IS REQUESTING IS A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL OUT ON 404, WHICH? THE COST OF WHICH IS ESTIMATED AROUND $1 MILLION.

AND THEN THEY ALSO ARE REQUIRING THE ACCELERATION LANE WHEN YOU COME OUT BY DUNKIN DONUTS.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S AN ACCELERATION LANE ON THE 404.

THAT ACCELERATION LANE WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE NEW PROPOSED INTERSECTION OF COMMERCE DRIVE AND THEN YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE AN ACCELERATION LANE LEAVING COMMERCE DRIVE THAT WOULD GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WHERE THE OVERPASS OVER MARKET STREET EXTENDED IS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS 404 GOES UPHILL AND IT'S A REALLY LARGE EMBANKMENT.

SO IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO CONSTRUCT THAT ADDITIONAL ACCELERATION LANE.

YOU BASICALLY ADDING ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC.

BUT THE GRADE DROPS OFF SO STEEP BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING UPHILL TO THE BRIDGE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND THEN ALSO ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, SO WOULD BE ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE OF 404.

THERE CURRENTLY IS A DECELERATION LANE TO THE LEFT TO MAKE A U-TURN AT THE BLINKING LIGHT.

THAT DECELERATION LANE WOULD HAVE TO BE EXTENDED TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL STACKING OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO TURN INTO THAT LIGHT.

SO THERE'S A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENT THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE TO 404.

IT'S PROBABLY ANOTHER MILLION BUCKS.

SO BEFORE THEY EVEN STRIKE A TAP ON BUILDING THE ROAD COMMERCE DRIVE ITSELF.

YOU'VE GOT $1 MILLION IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND YOU'VE GOT $1 MILLION WORTH OF ROUTE 404 WIDENING AND IN VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, TO SEE THIS PROJECT THROUGH, I THINK WHAT THE TOWN IS ASKING FOR IS JUST SUPPORT FROM US AND POSSIBLY ANY GRANT APPLICATIONS AND SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT IN GENERAL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR GUYS THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I'M FINE WITH IT. I MEAN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GET THAT LATE, YOU KNOW THAT ALL DONE THERE.

I MEAN, COMMERCIAL TAX BASE THAT A GREAT IS, YOU KNOW.

YEAH. INCENTIVE.

I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM SUPPORTING IT.

I JUST I THINK THE CONCERN THERE HAS BEEN THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS IN A SHORT DISTANCE.

YOU'VE GOT TO LIGHT IT.

NOW, A LIGHTED GAY LEGION AND THEN, YOU KNOW, GOING OUT OF TOWN RIVER.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO JAM UP.

I MEAN, ANYBODY EVERYBODY KNOWS HERE WITH BEACH TRAFFIC.

LOOKS LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE ALL GOING TO STACK UP, BUT THAT'S BUT, YOU KNOW, LOOK, IT'S THEY CAN APPLY FOR WHAT THEY WANT.

BUT LOOKING AT THE STATE'S FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS, I'M GOING TO BE SURPRISED IF THE STATE DOESN'T SAY THIS IS A DEVELOPER COST.

RIGHT. IF YOU WANT TO DEVELOP SOMETHING, YOU PAY THE BILL.

SO IT USED TO BE A RIGHT RIGHT TURN AND RIGHT TURN OUT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING.

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM SUPPORTING THE REQUEST OR I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PUTTING ANY COUNTY MONEY IN THIS RIGHT FROM THE START.

SO YEAH, I AGREE.

I MEAN, YEAH, IF THEY WANT TO GO TO THE PROCESS, THAT'S.

YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT ITEM OF CONCERN WE HAVE IS A LIGHT AT MARYLAND 480 AND CENTRAL AVENUE FOR THE TOWN OF RIDGELEY.

ORIGINALLY RIDGELY'S ANNUAL REQUEST FOR A LIGHT AT THEIR BUSIEST INTERSECTION, SO I GUESS THIS IS A REOCCURRING THING.

HOW LONG HAS THIS ONE BEEN? LONG AS I'VE BEEN.

OKAY AND I DON'T DISAGREE THAT IT'S NEEDED, BUT STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION HAS A CERTAIN PROCESS THAT THEY GO THROUGH WITH WHAT THEY CALL WARRANTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS, THERE HAS TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS THAT OCCUR BEFORE THEY'LL THINK ABOUT PUTTING A LIGHT SOMEWHERE.

SO BUT THERE IS ONE NEED THERE.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

OKAY AND THE LAST ITEM IS THE TOWN OF PRESTON IS REQUESTING A RAIL BANK FOR THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE AREA IN ORDER TO CREATE A BIKEWAY AND WALKWAY TRAIL CONNECTING TO NEIGHBORING DORCHESTER COUNTY.

[00:25:06]

OR DISCUSS IT DURING THE MDOT PORTION OF OUR UPCOMING MEETING.

SO THEY SENT IT IN AFTER WE HAD ALREADY DONE OUR LETTER.

BUT I TOLD THEM [INAUDIBLE].

OKAY. SO DOES THAT DOES THIS GO? I GUESS I'D WANT TO KNOW.

DOES THIS GO TO ANY FARMLAND? I MEAN, TO GET THE DORCHESTER COUNTY.

YEAH. WE'RE NOT DOING THE RAILS TO TRAILS.

YEAH. AND THAT'S I DON'T MIND SOMETHING IN TOWN THAT'S A NO GO.

YEAH. I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DOWN THERE ARE CATCHING A LOT OF GRIEF FOR SOME OF THAT RAIL TO TRAIL GOING THROUGH RURAL, VERY RURAL PARTS AND I THINK NEIGHBORING LANDOWNERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT VANDALISM, THEFT, TRASH, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO OKAY, SO CAN YOU REACH OUT TO THEM AND GET US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON.

YEAH. I MEAN, IF IT'S IN TOWN, I THINK WE'RE SUPPORTIVE OF IT, BUT CROSSING RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTY, I DON'T KNOW.

WE WANT TO GET INTO THAT OUTSIDE OF TOWN LIMITS.

PROBABLY IS A NO GO, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE YOU'RE GOOD FOR ME TO PUT A PACKET TOGETHER FOR, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR BIG MEETING IS THE 22ND.

YEAH. OKAY.

OCTOBER OF THIS MONTH? YES. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT COMES UP.

BUT I DID A CALL OUT TO ALL OF OUR ALLIED AGENCIES AND EVERYTHING, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT.

THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MENTION, AND WE DON'T HAVE A REQUEST FOR IT WOULD BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING.

I MEAN, THAT'S BEEN ON THE LIST FOR A LONG TIME AND AS WE KNOW, WE THEY'RE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STARTS AND STOPS, BUT I DON'T KNOW, FRANK.

HAVE YOU. THEY'RE STILL TALKING.

THEY WERE STILL TALKING ABOUT IT.

WELL OBVIOUSLY. YEAH.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR TEN YEARS.

YEAH. BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION TO GET IN THAT QUEUE AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THERE ONCE BEFORE AND FOR A LOT OF REASONS IT WAS PULLED OUT.

BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE BUILT AND I THINK WE COULD ADD THAT TO THE LIST.

WE, YOU KNOW, CHERIE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

HOW ABOUT HOW ABOUT THE DETENTION CENTER CONSTRUCTION? DO WE NEED TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THE MEETING GOES WITH ADMINISTRATORS? STUART AND I ARE MEETING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM QUEEN ANNE'S AND KENT COUNTY NEXT WEDNESDAY.

SO WILL THAT BE IT? WILL THAT BE AFTER OUR MEETING? WHEN IS OUR MEETING WITH.

TUESDAY THE 22ND. SO YEAH, WE'LL MEET WITH THEM BEFORE THAT MEETING.

SO WE MIGHT ADD THAT.

OKAY. SO THAT'S A POTENTIAL ADD THAT IS THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER FUNDING.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANYBODY ELSE GOT ANYTHING? SO THAT'LL BE DONE DURING OUR COMMISSIONER MEETING? YES. SO IT'LL BE HELD HOW WE TYPICALLY DO IT.

BUT IT'S I BELIEVE IT STARTS AT 10AM.

MDOT WILL COME IN AT 10AM.

SO WE CAN HOLD OUR NORMAL COMMISSION MEETING AT NINE.

IT'LL BE AT THE HAP'S BUILDING BECAUSE WE CAN LIVE STREAM IT AND WE HAVE A BIGGER CROWD AND THEN THE DELEGATION WILL COME IN AND WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT.

WELL, I KNOW FEDERALSBURG HIGHWAY REPAVING AND HARMONY ROAD REPAVING ARE GOING TO BE TWO ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP TO SHA.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST MAINTAINING WHAT WE'VE GOT.

WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN OURS.

OKAY AND THE ONE I NOTICED, THE ONE FROM THOMASVILLE TO MARYDEL, IS YOU PROBABLY SEE IT AND IT'S GETTING BAD AS WELL.

I MEAN, IT'S BAD.

RIGHT, AFTER. IF WE GET BAD SNOWSTORM THIS YEAR, THAT WOULD BE.

IT'LL BE SHOT, WITH THAT.

454, ROUTE. 454, YEAH.

SO WE NEED TO ADD THAT ONE TO THE LIST, THOUGH.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? IT'S ABOUT THREE MILES, TWO, THREE MILES.

TWO TOWNS. YEAH, PROBABLY THREE MILES.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL GO WITH THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

IS YOUR WHOLE GROUP HERE NOW? GOOD. OKAY, YOU GUYS, Y'ALL WANT TO COME FORWARD, AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO THE SPECIAL PRESENTATION FOR BISHOP WAYMAN.

[INAUDIBLE] SIT HERE, AND THEN WE'LL SIT HERE.

[00:30:05]

[Special Presentation -Bishop Waymen, African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) Church]

WHEREAS BORN A FREE MAN IN TUCKAHOE NECK, CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, SEPTEMBER 1821.

ALEXANDER WALKER WAYMAN WAS THE SEVENTH BISHOP OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND WHEREAS BISHOP WAYMAN JOINED THE AME CHURCH IN 1843, WAS ADMITTED INTO THE PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCE, AND WAS ELECTED SEVENTH BISHOP IN THE AME CHURCH IN 1864 AND WHEREAS BISHOP WAYMAN TRAVELED THOUSANDS OF MILES SERVING AME CONGREGATIONS OVER THE NEXT THREE DECADES, AND WHEREAS HE WAS AUTHOR OF MY RECOLLECTIONS OF AFRICAN ME MINISTRIES OR 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE AFRICAN METHODIST.

IN 1881 AND IN 1882, HE PUBLISHED THE CYCLOPEDIA OF AFRICAN METHODISM, WHICH CONTAINED ENTRIES FOR OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND PLACES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE DENOMINATION AND WHEREAS, BISHOP WAYMAN SERVED THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF A NEW CHURCH CALLED DEEP BRANCH AME CHURCH, LATER TO BE CALLED BELL'S CHAPEL.

ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 1874, AND WHEREAS BISHOP WAYMAN DIED DECEMBER 1ST, 1895, IN BALTIMORE, AND BISHOP WAYMAN STORY FITS INTO A LARGER STORY OF THE AME CHURCH AND FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHEREAS THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL PRESENT A PROGRAM ENTITLED BISHOP ALEXANDER WALKER WAYMAN FAITH, FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FROM TUCKAHOE TO THE WORLD ON OCTOBER 5TH, 2024 AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY, DENTON, MARYLAND, FROM 1 P.M.

TO 3 P.M.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE OCTOBER 5TH, 2024 TO BE BISHOP ALEXANDER WALKER WAYMAN DAY.

SO AND THAT'S SIGNED BY MYSELF LARRY PORTER, VICE PRESIDENT, FRANKLIN BARTZ COMMISSIONER.

SO HAD NO IDEA, HENRY, THAT YOUR FAMILY HAD BEEN AROUND CAROLINE COUNTY THAT LONG.

OH, YES, A LONG TIME.

YES. HAVE YOU TRACED IT BACK FURTHER THAN.

AS FAR AS YOU GO BACK? YEAH. WELL, THAT'S QUITE THE QUITE THE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

STICKING AROUND CAROLINE THAT LONG.

RIGHT. SO, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO ADD? JUST COME TO OUR EVENT ON SATURDAY.

IT'S DON'T WORRY ABOUT REGISTERING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE INTERNET'S COMING BACK.

JUST COME. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT.

ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY THIS SATURDAY.

YEAH. CAN YOU ADD THAT TO OUR CALENDAR? I'D LIKE TO JUST YOU KNOW, YOU CONTINUE TO SEE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS LEGACY LIVE ON HIS BELLS CHAPEL, STILL OUT THERE IN DEEP RANCH, AND IT'S STILL GOING TO THIS DAY.

I REMEMBER MISTER LEROY LAKE.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO IT'S JUST A GREAT HONOR TO GO BACK THAT FAR.

I MENTIONED TO YOU SATURDAY WHEN I WAS DOWN.

DEPRESSING TO THE NEW BEGINNINGS CELEBRATION AND THEY WERE JUST AMAZED, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE LEGACY HERE.

THIS IS THAT SAME GREAT CAROLINE COUNTY HISTORY THAT EXTENDS, YOU KNOW, EVEN OVER TO BALTIMORE.

SO THIS IS ALL THANK YOU AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN WAYMAN'S WHARF, WHICH IS A PART OF THE BELLS CHAPEL AREA.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THAT WAS, THIS A RELATIVE OF YOURS? YES. ACTUALLY, HIS BROTHER WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S GRANDFATHER.

OKAY. GOTCHA.

IT'S INTERESTING.

I LOVE TRACKING THAT STUFF BACK.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING, RIGHT, TO TRY TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT, BUT ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANK YOU, MISS, I MISS LEROY.

OH, YEAH. THAT'S THAT WAS A TERRIBLE LOSS TO ALL OF US.

HE WAS A GREAT MAN.

OH, YES. ALL RIGHT.

[00:35:01]

THAT'S FOR YOU. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, HENRY LEROY USED TO GET ME.

HE WOULD COME INTO BULLOCK'S.

HE'D HAVE A PITTSBURGH STEELER JACKET AND A YANKEE HAT ON AND HE WORE IT JUST FOR ME.

OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH.

THANK YOU.

THANK. OKAY.

NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNS COMMENTS ON ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[Consent Agenda]

WHAT IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

SO AFTER WE HAD SUBMITTED THE LOCAL ABATEMENT PLAN, THE STATE HAS FORMALLY ACCEPTED OUR SUBMITTED PLAN AND THIS IS A ONE PAGE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE MONEY THAT WE WILL BE RECEIVING FROM THAT PLAN.

SO THIS IS THE MONEY RELATED TO THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD WITH JUDGE PRICE AND ROBIN HALL ABOUT THE OPIOID MONEY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE RESTITUTION FUNDS.

SO. OKAY.

YEP. ALL RIGHT.

YOU GOT TO PUT MY SIGNATURE ON IT.

I BELIEVE SO, YES.

OKAY AND I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, WHEN WE'VE DONE THESE CLEANING CONTRACTS, WE'VE EVERYTHING'S GOING I MEAN, WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS OR ANYBODY IS OKAY WITH THE CLEANING SERVICES.

I DON'T KNOW IF ROBIN WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS OR I CAN TOO AS WELL.

SO CLEANING IS DEFINITELY NOT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A SORE SUBJECT AMONGST DEPARTMENTS.

EACH YEAR WE HAVE THE OPTION TO BID IT OUT.

I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS EXTENSION OR THIRD.

SO WE DO BID IT OUT ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS.

IT'S DEFINITELY GOING UP.

I THINK AT TIMES WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO EMPLOY 2 OR 3 STAFF MEMBERS OURSELVES AND PROVIDE THIS SERVICE INTERNALLY FIRST, CONTRACTING IT OUT. I THINK AT THE COST.

NOW IT'S STILL.

SAVINGS TO CONTRACT IT OUT.

BUT I THINK AS THE AS TIME GOES ON, IT MAY BE A BIGGER DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ABOUT HOW WE CLEAN AND CONDUCT THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY HALF.

WELL, OKAY. SO THIS IS ABOUT CONTRACTORS.

SO ADD THE TWO TOGETHER.

THAT'S THE TOTAL WE SPEND ON CLEANING.

YES SIR. COUNTYWIDE.

YEP. OKAY AND THAT INCLUDES THE DAILY CLEANING THAT THEY COME IN EVERY EVENING, TAKE THE TRASH OUT AND THEN MONTHLY, QUARTERLY, YEARLY TASKS THAT THEY HAVE TO COMPLETE AND THAT INCLUDES THE COURTHOUSE.

THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS ALL COUNTY, ALL COUNTY BUILDINGS PLUS THOSE THAT WE LEASE OR RENT.

CORRECT? YEAH, THERE'S A WHOLE LIST TOO.

THE SUPPLIES ARE FIGURED INTO THIS AS WELL.

RIGHT OR SUPPLIES AND THAT KIND OF THING.

DO YOU RECALL OR.

YEAH. OKAY, SO THAT'S FIGURED IN.

OKAY. THIS IS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YEP.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU THINK WE'RE GOOD FOR ONE MORE YEAR? YES. WHEN WILL THIS BE DUE TO BE REBID AGAIN? YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE THE RIGHT NOW TO DO IT.

HONESTLY, PROBABLY NEXT YEAR IS WHEN WE'LL LOOK TO DO IT SINCE THIS IS HITTING THE THREE YEAR MARK.

[00:40:03]

SO IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS, I WOULD SUGGEST, WE DOCUMENT THOSE OVER THIS YEAR SO THAT WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, GO TO BID IT, IF WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS, WE LET PEOPLE KNOW. I NEVER LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, NOT RENEW CONTRACTS UNLESS PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE.

SO. THAT'S CORRECT AND WHENEVER THERE ARE ISSUES, WE TRY TO OBVIOUSLY RELAY THEM TO THE FACILITY SUPERINTENDENT, WHO IS KIND OF THE IN-BETWEEN BETWEEN THE CONTRACTOR. SO THERE SHOULD BE HISTORICAL TRACKING OF THOSE TYPE OF COMPLAINTS FROM DEPARTMENTS.

I KNOW WE TRY TO EMAIL EVERY TIME, SO THERE IS A RECORD CREATED OF THAT.

SO IS THIS A FIXED CONTRACT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME OR DOES THIS INCREASE EACH YEAR.

SO IT'S THIS YEAR I THINK IT'S 2.5% IS WHAT THE INCREASE.

SO THERE WAS IN THE CONTRACT CREATED THREE YEARS AGO.

THERE WAS NOT A BUILT IN ESCALATOR.

THE TWO CONTRACT VENDORS CAME BACK, I THINK, AT THE FIRST YEAR OF RENEWAL AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE A SMALL INCREASE AND IT HAS BEEN THE PATTERN OF GIVING THEM THE TWO AND A HALF, 2 TO 3% EACH YEAR ON TOP OF THAT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD CHANGE IF WE CONTINUE WITH THAT.

THAT'S NOT THERE SHOULD BE AN ESCALATOR PUT IN HERE SO WE KNOW WHAT OUR COSTS ARE.

YES, SIR. YEAH I AGREE.

SO ONE THING TO ADDRESS ONE OF COMMISSIONER PORTER'S CONCERNS.

SOMETIMES OR IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF INSTANCES WHERE THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BROUGHT UP ABOUT SOMETHING RELATED TO THE CLEANING CONTRACT AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED OR WHAT I DISCOVERED WAS THAT PART OF THAT WAS AN UNDERSTANDING OF PEOPLE IN THOSE BUILDINGS, THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT.

SO THERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A COMPLAINT THAT PAPER TOWELS WEREN'T BEING SUPPLIED TO THE KITCHEN AREA IN THE BUILDING, BUT THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE CLEANING CONTRACT.

SO THAT WASN'T RELATED. SO I THINK BEFORE WE REBID THIS, WE SHOULD GET SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT WHAT SHOULD GO IN THE PROPOSAL OR WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO BE PROVIDED FOR SERVICES THAT MIGHT ELIMINATE SOME OF THAT.

YEP. SO THIS HAS BEEN I MEAN, IT'S BEEN ONGOING EVERY YEAR AND I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD IN THE PAST.

I'VE HEARD SOME PROBLEMS. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

SO YEAH. BUT I THINK IT'S JUST IMPORTANT THAT IT BE CLEAR FOR BOTH SIDES AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY AND SO BUT AGAIN, UNLESS SOMEBODY KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, THEY AREN'T ABLE TO CORRECT IT.

SO. YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

OKAY. I THINK BOTH COMPANIES ARE YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BOTH RESPONSIVE TO, YOU KNOW, A PHONE CALL AND, YES, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH SO. YEAH AND IT'S SMALL THINGS THAT WE HEAR.

YEAH. IT'S NOTHING MAJOR.

GOTCHA. ALRIGHT.

IT WOULD BE.

HONESTLY, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FROM A SECURITY STANDPOINT AS WELL, TO GO BACK AND GO THROUGH HAVING OTHER PEOPLE COME IN.

I MEAN, WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS NOW WITH SECURITY STUFF.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUILDINGS, AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THEY SEND IN ARE.

YEP. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THAT? NOT IN THAT MANNER. NO, SIR.

THAT'S A KEY TO THIS.

I WOULD MOVE THAT. WE ACCEPT THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

SECOND. OKAY.

MOTION AND SECOND, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. OKAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.

INDEED. A FEW THINGS ON MY LIST.

WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON, BUT LAST WEEK THE COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND I DISCUSSED THE COMMISSIONER'S PRIORITY LIST THAT WAS CIRCULATED LAST WEEK, AND A MECHANISM TO START PROVIDING MORE ROUTINE UPDATES.

SO I HAVE A FEW UPDATES.

I SHOULD SAY I HAVE SOME UPDATES ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS. FIRST ITEM ON MY LIST THAT WE HAVEN'T ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IS DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.

[County Administrator’s Report]

I ATTENDED ON YOUR BEHALF, THE HANNAH HENRY WAY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING ON SATURDAY.

AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE SOME RESIDENTS WHO EXPRESSED CONCERNS REGARDING ISSUES IN THE APARTMENTS, SUCH AS BROKEN APPLIANCES, MOLD, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THEY TALKED ABOUT THE FLOODING ISSUE AND ACTUALLY HAD GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE COUNTY AND THE PLANNING AND CODES DEPARTMENT FOR ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE

[00:45:01]

SHERIFF BAKER WAS AT THE MEETING IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL, AND HE SPOKE.

I THINK THEY GAVE HIM 1 OR 2 MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ROLE IN THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THAT AREA.

SO THAT WAS TOUCHED ON AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, DANNY HAS CIRCULATED A DRAFT REQUEST FOR INTEREST TO BOTH STEWART AND I TO EXPLORE TRANSFERRING THE PROPERTY TO A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'LL HANDLE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY GOING FORWARD.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW AND MOVING ON RIVER ROAD.

THE LAST UPDATE I RECEIVED, AND ROBIN IS IN HERE, WAS THAT THE POTENTIAL OPENING OF RIVER ROAD WAS GOING TO BE OCTOBER 11TH.

OKAY. SO A LOT OF PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, AND I'M SURE WE'LL GET ANOTHER UPDATE ON THAT SOON.

BUT WELL, I GUESS THAT WAS ALSO WEATHER DEPENDENT.

SO WE'VE HAD SOME INTERESTING WEATHER.

SO WE ALSO ON THE LIST WAS THE MRDF FUNDING.

WE HAVE REQUESTED AN EXTENSION.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S LIKELY TO BE APPROVED.

BUT BOB IS WAITING FOR A CONCRETE ANSWER ON THAT SHARP ROAD PARK.

SCOTT GETCHELL AND I EXCHANGED SOME EMAILS, AND JAMIE AND I CONSULTED WITH MATT KOZINSKI, WHO'S OUR IN-HOUSE FOREST CONSERVATION EXPERT.

THERE'S A SMALL HICCUP OR SIGNIFICANT HICCUP WITH THE PROJECT IN THAT WE FOUND OUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS FOREST CONSERVATION, WHICH WE KNEW WE HAD TO.

WE KNEW MIGHT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT IT CAME WITH A PRICE TAG OF UPWARDS OF $22,000.

SO THE TOWN WAS ALSO, I THINK, TAKEN ABACK BY THAT NUMBER AND THEY'RE WORKING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION ON HOW THAT COST WILL BE MUCH MORE MINIMAL AND PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE LAW PREFERS THAT YOU PLANT ON SITE.

BUT IF YOU PLANT ON SITE TO ADDRESS FOREST CONSERVATION, THEN WE'RE TAKING UP FIELD SPACE THAT SOME ATHLETIC FIELDS, ATHLETIC FIELD SPACE.

SO WE LOOK LIKE WE'RE CRAZY.

DEFEATS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE PROJECT, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ATHLETIC FIELDS, BUT THE LAW IS FORCING US TO PLANT TREES ON THE ATHLETIC FIELDS THAT WE DO HAVE.

RIGHT. SO SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS ARE PAY A FEE IN LIEU OR PLANT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WATERSHED OR WITHIN THE TOWN OF DENTON AND WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT MAYBE USING SOME OF THE PLANTING AT NORTH COUNTY REGIONAL PARK TO HELP WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE EXPLORING THE OPTIONS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW BEST TO HANDLE THAT.

IT'S AMAZING. 22,000.

THAT'S ONE OF THAT'S THE TOP END OF THE OPTION PRICES.

YEAH. IT'S IT GOES TO SHOW YOU THAT GOVERNMENT NOT ONLY IMPOSES RIDICULOUS RULES ON THE CITIZENS, BUT IT IMPOSES RIDICULOUS RULES ON ITSELF AS WELL.

SO THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE STATE PASSING THESE KIND OF LAWS.

BUT ONE PROBLEM WITH THE STATE THE LAST THING I HAVE THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT AND JUST REAL BRIEFLY LAST NIGHT, THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS WAS GOING TO HEAR THE APPEAL OF THE VIOLATIONS BY HEARTLAND HOLDINGS.

ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS CALLED IN SHORTLY BEFORE THE MEETING AND HAD A LAST MINUTE CONFLICT, COULD NOT ATTEND THE MEETING.

SO AT THIS TIME THAT HEARING IS POSTPONED UNTIL OCTOBER 17TH 20.

I THOUGHT IT WAS 23RD. 23RD.

OH, SORRY. 23RD.

I TYPED IT WRONG. OCTOBER 23RD.

SO REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OKAY, ROBIN, DO YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE RIVER ROAD THING? COME ON. FORWARD. YOU'RE HERE.

TALK ABOUT.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE HOLDING ANY DATES.

NO. WELL, WE WON'T ASK ANY DATES.

WHAT'S THE LEONARD SKINNER SONG? DON'T ASK ME NO QUESTIONS.

I WON'T TELL YOU NO LIES. WHAT I DO KNOW AND MR. PORTER WAS THERE ON SITE YESTERDAY AS THEY LET ME KNOW WHEN HE SHOWS UP.

SO THEY USE TWO CREWS YESTERDAY TO BACKFILL ON EITHER SIDE WITH BANK RUN.

SO THE BRAKE TEST DID COME UP.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BACKFILL YESTERDAY.

THEY WERE ABLE TO BACKFILL YESTERDAY.

BOTH CREWS, BOTH SIDES TAMPED IT ALL DOWN.

THIS MORNING THEY WERE SETTING UP RIPRAP UP AGAINST THE WING WALLS AND MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK, THEY WILL START PULLING THE SHEETING.

WHICH COULD TAKE CLOSE TO A WEEK.

YEAH. ALL DEPENDS ON HOW IT GOES.

ALL DEPENDS. YEAH.

THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE TWO FOOT BUILD UP WAS STONE AND THEN PAVEMENT.

SO AND ARE THEY STILL CONSIDERING JUST BASE PAVING FOR RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE 404 LIGHT THAT THE STATE HIGHWAY IS GOING TO DO AND PAVE IT

[00:50:10]

UNTIL THE TIME BEING THAT THEY FINISH UP 404 WITH THE LEFT TURN LANES, WHICH AT THAT POINT THEY'LL DO TOP COAT FROM 404 ALL THE WAY TO CENTRAL AVENUE.

SO YOU. BUT BY THE END OF THE MONTH BEFORE THE PLANT CLOSES.

ALL RIGHT. SO, YEAH, YOU WENT OUT LAST FRIDAY FOR THE HOME FOOTBALL GAME.

DID YOU GO OUT? YES, I DID GO ON SITE.

THE CROWD WASN'T VERY LARGE, SO KIND OF THING THAT HAPPENS MAYBE WHEN YOU'RE NOT WINNING.

SO WE DIDN'T NEED TO ASSIST, BUT, I MEAN, WE'RE STILL GEARED UP TO IT, SO YOU DIDN'T NEED TO INTERVENE FRIDAY NIGHT.

OKAY. WITH TRAFFIC IF THIS IS HOMECOMING.

SO THE PLAN IS WE'RE ESCORTING FLOATS.

YOU'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FLOATS TO USE RIVER ROAD.

ONLY THE FLOATS? YES. OKAY.

THAT'S CONFIRMED THIS MORNING.

THAT'S THEIR MAIN FOCUS FOR BRAMBLE.

THEY'RE GETTING THAT SO WE CAN AT LEAST DRIVE THE FLOATS FOR THAT AND PUT BARRELS UP FOR SAFETY, MOVE ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE WAY.

I'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OPENING UP THE ROAD CLOSED SIGNS AND PUT THEM BACK.

SO WE'LL GET THE FLOATS THROUGH THE SRO.

WE'LL HAVE ESCORT THE FRONT.

I'LL BE IN THE BACK WITH LIGHTS, SO WE'LL GET THEM THROUGH AND THEN AFTER THE GAME, PREPARED TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AT CENTRAL AND HOLLY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND DOING THAT AND KEEPING AN EYE ON EVERYTHING.

SO WE'LL GET THERE.

YEP. THANK YOU.

MUCH NEEDED PROJECT NEEDED TO BE DONE.

SO [INAUDIBLE] BE SAFER THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.

I CAN TAKE A WHILE, BUT IT'LL BE SAFER.

YEP. OKAY.

DID YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THE ADMINISTRATORS? I JUST WANT TO MOVE IN. OKAY.

SO YOU'RE GOOD. WE'LL GO TO COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

OPEN DISCUSSION. PERIOD.

MR. BARTZ. DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? SATURDAY WAS A BUSY DAY IN CAROLINE.

WE HAD I ATTENDED A NEW BEGINNING CHURCH BANQUET FOR THE SENIOR MEMBERSHIP DOWN IN PRESTON.

IT WAS A FULL HOUSE DOWN THERE AT THE FIRE HALL.

I GOT TO SIT WITH MR. LOVELACE'S TABLE FOR A WHILE.

SO THAT WAS GOOD.

IT WAS WELL RECEIVED.

THEIR PROCLAMATIONS WAS THEY LOVED EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID FOR THEM.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

SO IT WAS A BUSY DAY.

EVERYTHING WAS SEEMED PRETTY ACTIVE AND CAROLINE AND I DIDN'T HEAR MUCH FROM THE CONSTITUENTS ABOUT ANYTHING. NO CONCERNS OR ANYTHING THAT I WAS MADE AWARE OF WHILE I WAS OUT AND ABOUT.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT.

OKAY, MR. PORTER? YEAH.

I WANTED TO ON FRIDAY.

WE HAD A ZOOM CALL WITH EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, SPECIFICALLY CHRISTINA STANLEY AND PAM FERGUSON AND THAT WAS FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL FROM PAM, WHO IS THE REGIONAL MANAGER, TO UPDATE US ON SOME THINGS.

I'M JUST GOING TO REAL QUICK GO THROUGH.

CAMERAS ARE BEING INSTALLED.

THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THIS WAS FRIDAY, SO TODAY IS TUESDAY, SO IT SHOULD BE SOON.

THEY'RE WORKING ON AN ENHANCED EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

LAUNDRY KEEP.

THE LAUNDRY ROOM HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SOURCE OF HANGING OUT PLACES.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO DO KEY FOBS FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TENANT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

THE REGIONAL MANAGER HAS BEEN MEETING INDIVIDUALLY WITH TENANTS TO DISCUSS CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF THOSE TENANTS.

THOSE MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE AND AT THE END, WE KIND OF ASK THEM TO COME UP WITH A RENOVATION PLAN SO THAT IF WE MOVE FORWARD, IF WE DO COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH MONEY THAT THEY'LL KNOW KIND OF WHERE TO HEAD.

LATER ON THAT NIGHT, I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY.

I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM CHUCK COOK FROM DHCD, WHO I THINK I SENT THIS TO.

EVERYONE ADVISED THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS GIVEN THEM AN OPINION THAT THE PROPERTY CAN BE CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED

[00:55:01]

BUT I SPECIFICALLY ASKED IF CONTROLLING INTEREST OF THE PROPERTY COULD BE TRANSFERRED AND HE SAID YES, SO WE CAN MOVE ON.

I THINK WE WOULD BE SAFE IN, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD TO IDENTIFY A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT TO MOVE THIS PROPERTY TOO AND THEN HOPEFULLY MOVE FORWARD WITH WITH THAT, NONPROFIT SEEKING FUNDS FOR RENOVATION.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A LEGAL PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

BUT I THINK WE ARE WE GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN ANSWER NOW THAN WE DID BEFORE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE CAN DO A LOT, HE SAID.

AND I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THIS.

THE LAW SAYS THAT THE COUNTY, BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF FINANCING THAT WAS INVOLVED 30 SOME YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY HAS TO RETAIN SOME MEASURE OF OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY.

SO I THINK THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN FINALLY ANSWERED.

SO I THINK YOU KNOW, WE MOVE ON, YOU KNOW, FROM THERE, I THINK.

DANNY, YOU FOLLOWED UP WITH THE DHCD ON THEIR INSPECTION, AND I THINK THEY'RE WAITING FOR SOME FORMS TO BE FILLED.

BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THE PHYSICAL STUFF HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? YES. SO ALL OF THE PHYSICAL UPDATES OR RESPONSES THAT WERE NECESSARY HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

THEY'RE REFERRING TO THE CIVIL WAR FORM, WHICH AGAIN, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW THE ACRONYM, BUT ESSENTIALLY EVERY TENANT HAS TO SIGN THIS FORM AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE TO GET THE TENANTS TO SIGN THE FORMS. SO THEY SHOULD BE WORKING ON THAT AND ONCE THAT'S COMPLETE, I WOULD IMAGINE THE COMPLIANCE REVIEW WILL BE COMPLETED AND FINISHED.

SO WHAT FORM IS THAT FOR? INSPECTION OF THE APARTMENTS.

NO, IT'S I MY GUESS I DON'T KNOW, BUT I GUESS IT'S SOME TYPE OF A CERTIFICATION VACATION OF SOME KIND AT EACH TENANT, JUST SIGNS THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEIR TENANCY.

OKAY, IT'S A DOCUMENT THAT THEY SIGN.

OKAY. YES. HAS DHCD DONE ANY INSPECTION OF THE UNITS? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DID ON SITE INSPECTION OF A HANDFUL OF UNITS WHEN THEY CAME, I BELIEVE, BACK IN JULY.

WAS IT 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO? IT WAS PART OF A MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND I DON'T KNOW, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT UNITS THEY LOOKED AT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY SELECTED THOSE UNITS.

NORMALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY COME IN AND THEY DO A RANDOM SELECTION OF UNITS TO LOOK AT THAT INSPECTION.

I THINK, WE SAW A COPY OF THAT THEY FOUND LIKE GFI CIRCUITS THAT WERE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THOSE WERE THE BUT THE PROJECT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY RATING. YEAH.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY A PHYSICAL INSPECTION, BUT AN INSPECTION OF THE FILES AS WELL.

SO THAT'S HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THIS FORM THAT NEEDED TO BE FILLED.

OR I'M SORRY, SIGNED, BUT IT'S LIKE MOST STATE AGENCIES, THEY'RE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE PAPERWORK THAN.

YEAH AND USUALLY THESE ARE CERTIFICATIONS OF SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW, THE TENANT JUST SIGNED AND BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I RAN INTO CHUCK AT THE TOLLS EVENT.

YEAH. THAT WAS THE NIGHT THAT HE CALLED ME BECAUSE WE HAD A SPIRITED CONVERSATION ABOUT WHY WE WEREN'T HEARING ANYTHING.

SHE COULD CALL FRANK AND I, AND WE COULD HAVE ALL GOT HIM AND PUSHED HIM INTO A CORNER GANG UP ON HIM.

BUT, I MEAN, BUT CHUCK HAS BEEN RESPECTED.

CHUCK HAS WORKED ON THIS.

HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND I THINK IT TOOK US IT TOOK HIM SOME TIME TO GET THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANSWER AS WELL.

RIGHT. SO I WILL JUST MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAD SENT A EMAIL TO MR. FREEMAN, NOT KATHLEEN, BUT HANNAH FREEMAN ON THE 21ST, TELLING HER I WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT MEETING BECAUSE OF A PRIOR COMMITMENT.

THEY CAN PUT A CHAIR WITH MY NAME ON IT IF THEY WANT TO.

BUT I MEAN, I HAVE THINGS, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I TRIED TO ATTEND EVERYTHING I CAN, BUT THERE ARE THERE IS LIFE OUTSIDE OF THIS AS WELL AND SO BUT I THINK YOU KNOW, WE, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME WORK TO DO TO DECIDE HOW WE CAN GET THIS PROPERTY INTO A POSITION WHERE AN ENTITY CAN GO AFTER SOME RENOVATION MONEY.

[01:00:03]

ONE MORE THING.

CUT. I GOT A PHONE CALL OR A TEXT MESSAGE FROM KEN FENDER ABOUT THE OIL CITY LIGHT, AND I NOTICED THEY'VE GOT SIGNS UP THERE NOW WITH COVERED THAT I THINK IT PROBABLY I CAN'T READ THROUGH THE COVERING, BUT I THINK IT PROBABLY SAYS NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE DONE SOON.

OKAY. RED LIGHT WOULD BE DONE SOON.

THAT'S A BIG WIN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, BECAUSE THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY BAD, YOU KNOW, PLACE.

[INAUDIBLE]. SO LAST THING IS, I NOTICED IN OUR EMS TRANSFER TIME REPORT THIS MORNING OR YESTERDAY.

IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS, SO I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO K.J.

ABOUT THAT AND FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

SO IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD A 20 MINUTE DELAY.

OKAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ON THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.

SO OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT.

ALL RIGHT. I MEAN, IF I CAN INTERRUPT REAL QUICK I LOOKED UP THE INSPECTIONS THAT WERE DONE FOR DAYSPRING, SINCE THAT'S COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES.

YEAH, THERE WERE ACTUALLY FOUR UNITS INSPECTED.

OKAY AND THE PROBLEMS NOTED, AS COMMISSIONER PORTER POINTED OUT, GFI NOT WORKING IN TWO UNITS.

IMPROPER CAULKING RANGE HOOD, LIGHT OUT DRAWERS OFF, VANITY DRAWERS OFF TRACK OR MISSING.

SO THAT'S.

YEAH. SEE WHAT I'M CONFUSED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IS THERE APPARENTLY ARE SOME UNITS THERE THAT HAVE BEEN RENOVATED AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE NOT THEY HAVE.

THE UNITS THAT ARE HAVE NOT BEEN RENOVATED ARE ONES THAT THEY ARE NOT OCCUPIED.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF DHCD ONLY WENT INTO THE RENOVATED UNITS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA.

I CAN JUST TELL YOU FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, I KNOW THAT ON PROPERTIES THAT WE MANAGE, THEY WOULD COME IN AND LITERALLY HAVE A RANDOM SELECTION.

THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU WHICH ONES THEY WERE GOING.

YOU DON'T GET TO PICK. RIGHT AND YOU DIDN'T TELL THEM WHICH ONES TO GO.

YOU DIDN'T PICK THAT. SO I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I MEAN, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY EVERY TENANT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INSPECTION AND THEN WHEN THEY DON'T GO IN THEIR UNIT, THEY'RE MAD AT US BECAUSE THEY MAD AT ME BECAUSE THEY CLEANED UP WELL.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THEY CANCELED DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS OR THEY STAYED HOME THAT DAY AND NOBODY CAME AND THEN THEY'RE MAD BECAUSE NOBODY CAME.

BUT THEY RANDOMLY PICKED THESE UNITS.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO TELL YOU WHICH ONES ARE GOING IN, SO.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WAS DONE.

HONESTLY I DON'T.

OKAY. YOU SAID A RANGE HOOD LIGHT? YEAH. YES, THAT'S A LIGHT BULB.

I DON'T SEE THAT ON.

YEAH. SO IN THE WAY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE REPORT UNDER THE ASSESSMENT, IT'LL SAY ACTION REQUIRED AND THEN IT GIVES A TIMELINE.

SO FOR LIKE A RANGEHOOD LIGHT OUT ACTION REQUIRED WAS 30 DAYS.

WELL IF THE TENANT DIDN'T REPORT IT WAS OUT.

YEAH. BUT I MEAN IT'S JUST A LIGHT BULB.

I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.

THAT'S JUST ACCOUNTABILITY AS A PERSON.

I SEE A GFI PLUG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

CORRECT. BUT A RANGE HOOD LIGHT, A LIGHT BULB IS ACCOUNTABILITY OF A PERSON JUST CHANGING A LIGHT BULB? YEP. RIGHT AND THERE'S I MEAN, THERE'S ONE HERE.

VANITY DOOR SLASH DOOR DAMAGED OR MISSING AND A KNOB IS MISSING.

THERE WAS ONE NOTED WHERE THE TUB AND SHOWER IMPROPERLY CAULKED.

MOLD PRESENT AND THAT ONE REQUIRED 24 HOUR ACTION.

SO, I MEAN, THAT WAS I WASN'T GOING TO GET INTO THIS, BUT I WILL MENTION AT THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO SPOKE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING ON SATURDAY THAT HER REFRIGERATOR SHELVES HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR TWO YEARS.

SHE ALLEGES THAT THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY HASN'T BEEN RESPONSIVE.

BUT THEN THERE'S.

BUT THEN I WAS ADVISED THAT RESIDENTS WON'T MEET WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY IS ASKING FOR ONE ON ONE MEETINGS.

I MEAN, SO IF YOU HAVE A BROKEN SHELF BUT YOU WON'T TELL THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, HOW CAN THEY RESPOND? RIGHT. SO ANYWAY, I'M ACTUALLY MEETING WITH MISS FREEMAN AND MINISTER PITTS WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT HONESTLY, I WILL TELL YOU FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, YOU SHOULD BE IN THOSE UNITS MORE OFTEN THAN EVERY TWO YEARS TO DO.

THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SHOULD BE INSPECTING THESE UNITS THEMSELVES.

YOU SHOULD BE IN THOSE UNITS, AND YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THEM SO THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY THOSE PROBLEMS THAT YOU'RE NOT BEING TOLD ABOUT.

[01:05:01]

IT IS IT'S BELIEVE ME, IT IS.

BUT I MEAN I AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAY, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TENANT PROBLEMS, BUT THE TENANTS WON'T TELL YOU WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, THAT'S A PROBLEM, RIGHT? I SPOKE WITH MR. FREEMAN SATURDAY AT THE BLOCK PARTY, AND I TOLD HER, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THINGS THE COUNTY NEEDS TO DO, AND WE OWN UP TO THAT.

BUT THERE ALSO HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY BY THE TENANTS AS WELL AND I STRESS THAT IMPORTANCE, YOU KNOW, TOO.

[INAUDIBLE]. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD. SO I HAD A FEW THINGS LAST WEEK.

I ATTENDED THE NORTH COUNTY WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY MEETING, WHICH IS I AM A BOARD MEMBER.

I AM OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT BOARD, AND WE DISCUSSED POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR OBTAINING SEWER ACCESS TO TEMPLEVILLE, MARYDEL AND HENDERSON.

THEY JUST WANT TO KEEP THE DOOR OPEN AND EXPLORE ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS UP THERE AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY AND WE DISCUSSED THOSE OPTIONS, AND WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD TAKE THEM BACK TO OUR RESPECTIVE BOARDS FOR CONSIDERATION.

NONE OF US WANTED TO MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT CONSULTATION OF THE TOWN COUNCILS OR THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

SO BASICALLY THE THREE OPTIONS, AND I THINK LESLIE CAN PROVIDE US WITH MORE DETAIL OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GENTLEMEN MAY HAVE.

THE THREE OPTIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED WERE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE CONNECTION TO THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT WOULD BE OPTION ONE.

OPTION TWO WOULD BE FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL TOWN TO HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY MORE SO END UP LOOKING LIKE HENDERSON HAVING A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THEN MARYDEL AND TEMPLEVILLE COMBINING TOGETHER TO HAVE A PLAN.

SO INSTEAD OF THREE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS, IT WOULD PROBABLY END UP WITH TWO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS OR OPTION THREE WOULD BE TO EXPLORE FUNDING FOR AN INDEPENDENT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UP AT THE NORTH END OF THE COUNTY THAT WOULD SERVICE HENDERSON, MARYDEL AND TEMPLEVILLE.

THAT SEEMED TO BE THE OPTION THAT GARNERED THE MOST SUPPORT.

THERE ARE THERE IS STILL SOME FUNDING APPLICATIONS THAT THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO HAS OUT THERE.

I THINK THEY'VE BEEN AWARDED ABOUT $5 MILLION.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER $5 MILLION, WHICH THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO HAS APPLIED FOR.

IF THAT COMES THROUGH THEN IT MAY BE, YOU KNOW, MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE RESIDENTS UP THERE TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE CONNECTION TO THE GREENSBORO SYSTEM.

IF THAT FUNDING FALLS THROUGH, THEY MAY WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT DOING THEIR OWN SYSTEM SOMEWHERE UP NORTH AND TYING INTO THAT INDEPENDENTLY OF GREENSBORO SYSTEM.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A DECISION ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

JUST WANTED TO GET THOSE OPTIONS OUT TO YOU GENTLEMEN TO CONSIDER DO SOME RESEARCH ON AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU LIE WITH US.

TALK TO BILL MENGEL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THIS MORNING.

HE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY WITH SMITH MIDLAND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND.

THEY ARE THE PRE-MANUFACTURED BUILDING MANUFACTURER FOR THE BATHROOM FACILITY THAT WAS JUST PUT OUT AT SHARP ROAD, AND WE'RE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR POTENTIAL OFFERINGS FOR BATHROOM FACILITIES AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH AND COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.

I'VE ALSO TALKED TO KEVIN SHEARON WITH DMS AND ASSOCIATES WHO DID.

HE DID EXPRESS INTEREST IN DOING THE ENGINEERING AND DESIGN WORK FOR US.

SO BILL WAS GOING TO GET SOME INFORMATION FROM SMITH MIDLAND AND SEND THAT OVER TO KEVIN SHEARON AT DMS SO THAT HE CAN GET US A DETAILED PROPOSAL TOGETHER ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO GET US THROUGH DESIGN AND BUILD ON THESE BATHROOMS. TOMORROW WE HAVE A SOLAR BRIEFING WITH MAKO.

I GET ONLINE AND UPDATE, AND I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE RECENT DELEGATION AGREEMENT THAT WAS

[01:10:05]

APPARENTLY, QUITE A FEW COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICERS HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE DRAFT DELEGATION AGREEMENT.

SO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THEM AND MAKO ABOUT POTENTIALLY SETTING UP A AFFILIATES, HEALTH OFFICERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS MEETING AFFILIATE MEETING TO GO OVER THOSE CONCERNS AND APPROACH MDE FROM A CONSOLIDATED UNIFIED FRONT AS OPPOSED TO EACH COUNTY INDIVIDUALLY.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WAITING ON THE HEALTH OFFICERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS AFFILIATES TO COMPILE THEIR LISTS OF CONCERNS WITH THE DOCUMENT.

ONCE WE HAVE THAT, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO SET UP A VIRTUAL MEETING, HOPEFULLY WITH AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COUNTY A, THE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR TO GO OVER THOSE CONCERNS AND BRING UP ANY OTHER CONCERNS.

AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN TAKE ALL OF THAT TO MDE AT ONE TIME AND TRY TO ADDRESS THIS THING FROM A UNIFIED FRONT.

SO THAT'S ALL I GOT RIGHT NOW.

SO TRAVIS, I'VE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT GOING BACK TO THE NORTH COUNTY THING.

YEAH. SO THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT OF EXTENDING SEWER TO HENDERSON, MARYDEL AND TEMPLEVILLE.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS THAT NOT SOMETHING THAT THE THEY IS IN THE WORKS ANYMORE OR WHAT? WHAT? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THAT CONCEPT.

THE CRUX OF THE MATTER OR THE CONCERN COMING FROM THE NORTH COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES NOW, IS THAT GREENSBORO HAS INCREASED THE MONTHLY SEWER CHARGE ON THE RESIDENTS OF GOLDSBORO FROM APPROXIMATELY $74 A MONTH FOR THE SEWER HOOKUP TO AND DON'T QUOTE ME ON THESE APPROXIMATELY.

MAKE SURE YOU PUT APPROXIMATE TO APPROXIMATELY $112 A MONTH AND THEY ONLY TOWN OF GREENSBORO ONLY GAVE THE TOWN OF GOLDSBORO THREE WEEKS NOTICE, I THINK, IN THE AGREEMENT.

THEY HAD 30 DAYS.

THEY HAD TO GIVE A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS NOTICE, WHICH I THINK THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO HAS DECIDED, YOU KNOW.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO ADHERE TO THAT.

SO THEY'VE EXTENDED THE IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD.

BUT, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

YOU'RE GOING FROM $74 A MONTH TO 112 AND I THINK THE CONCERN IS THAT THE WAY THE AGREEMENT IS DRAFTED, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, THE MUNICIPALITIES HAVE SOME QUESTIONING ABILITY, BUT THEY'RE REALLY AT THE MERCY OF THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT VOTERS.

SO THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO MANAGES AND RUNS THE FACILITY, BUT THEY REALLY HAVE NO, THEY'RE NOT VOTERS IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO.

SO THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OUTSIDE OF THE LITTLE BIT OF AUTHORITY THAT'S GIVEN TO THEM IN THE AGREEMENT.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERN THERE.

I DON'T THINK THAT.

THEY WOULD NECESSARILY TOTALLY WALK AWAY FROM IT.

BUT I THINK THIS RECENT RATE SPIKE HAS CAUSED SOME CONCERN.

WELL, I WOULD SAY I MEAN, WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IF WE CAN DISCUSS THIS.

I MEAN, I THINK.

THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT HERE WAS THAT GREENSBORO HAD A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEEDED A NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

GOLDSBORO WAS UNDER A CONSENT ORDER FOR FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEM.

SO THE WHOLE IDEA HERE WAS THAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF, YOU KNOW, KATHLEEN'S DEPARTMENT, LESLIE, I MEAN, THERE WERE FUNDS THAT WERE OBTAINED TO TO CONSTRUCT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN GREENSBORO.

ALL OF THAT WAS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, DONE IN THAT AGREEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN.

HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BUILT? I MEAN, IT'S BEEN FIVE, AT LEAST FIVE YEARS HAS THERE? DO WE? THE ONE THING THAT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO IS GETTING INVOLVED IN RATES THAT ARE BEING CHARGED FOR WATER AND SEWER BY TOWNS.

[01:15:01]

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE FIVE YEARS IN THE SEWER RATE.

THERE HAS BEEN IT STARTED AT LIKE $64.

SO I THINK I CERTAINLY AGREE THAT THE TOWNS, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADHERING TO ITS NOTIFICATION PERIOD.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THIS WAS A YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF MEETINGS AND A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO ESTABLISHING THIS AND THEN WHEN IT GOT TO GOLDSBORO AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SEEMED LIKE IT KIND OF EVERYBODY KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T FORGET ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT AGREEMENT AND I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IF THAT'S A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT TO THE TOWNS, TO MARYDEL AND HENDERSON OR NOT? I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T THINK YET BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SIGNED ON BOARD, BUT I DON'T I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

I DIDN'T SO INITIALLY THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT WITH ALL OF THE TOWNS, AND THEN GREENSBORO HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PREVIOUS WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY. SO IT MADE ECONOMIC SENSE AND TIME LIKE TIMING, SENSE TO HAVE THE NEW RESTART TREATMENT PLANT IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO AND MAKE THEM HAVE THE NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO AND CONNECT THE FOUR NORTHERN TOWNS.

AND AT THAT TIME, GREENSBORO AGREED AND WAS ON BOARD.

THERE WERE PUBLIC HEARINGS BECAUSE OF THE FUNDERS, THE FIRST PHASE WAS LIMITED ONLY TO GOLDSBORO BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER A CONSENT ORDER.

CORRECT AND SO WE CONNECTED GOLDSBORO TO THE GREENSBORO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT EVEN BY THE FUNDERS THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT THE OTHER NORTHERN TOWNS LATER AFTER THAT PLANT CAME ONLINE.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE AUTHORITY WAS GOLDSBORO DROPPED OUT OF THE AUTHORITY, AND IT'S JUST THE THREE NORTHERN TOWNS IN THE COUNTY THAT ARE PART OF THE AUTHORITY NOW AND EVEN BY THE FUNDERS THERE, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD GO MULTIPLE WAYS WITH HOW TO HANDLE SEWER FOR THOSE TOWNS GOING FORWARD.

ONE OPTION WOULD BE INCLUDING TO GREENSBORO, BUT OR CONNECTING TO GREENSBORO.

BUT EVEN THROUGH THE FUNDERS, THEY WERE LOOKING TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS AND PART OF THE SITUATION WAS HENDERSON HAD A WATER TOWER.

CORRECT. SO, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T AS CRUCIAL A SITUATION THERE AND BUT SINCE THEN, AT THE MEETING WE DISCUSSED THIS THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE HOLDING TANKS PUT IN AND APPARENTLY THERE'S SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT PEOPLE MAY BE BEING TOLD THAT PUT A HOLDING TANK IN.

YES, THEY'RE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM PUMPED, BUT IT'LL ONLY BE TEMPORARY BECAUSE SEWER IS EMINENT.

WELL, IT'S WE DON'T KNOW HOW SOON IT IS COMING.

SO THE FUNDING TO EXTEND SEWER BEYOND GOLDSBORO IS COMING FROM WHERE? AND CONGRESSMAN ANDY HARRIS GOT A CONGRESSIONAL SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW, 5 MILLION BUCKS.

AND WE'RE WAITING ON USDA GRANT, A USDA GRANT APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER FIVE.

BUT LOOK, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TIPTOE AROUND THIS.

WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH LAST MEETING ABOUT GREENSBORO BEING OVERPOPULATED.

BIG CONCERN FROM ME ON IF HOW MUCH OF THESE FAILING SEPTICS IN RECENT YEARS IS DUE TO OVERPOPULATION OF THE RESIDENCES THAT ARE UP THERE.

TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THE RESIDENCES BECAUSE OF ISSUES LIKE ARE GOING ON IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO AND OTHER PLACES.

I MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WAS A REPORT OUT I DIDN'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL IT UP, BUT THE IMPACTS ON OF IMMIGRATION, ON GOVERNMENT SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS LARGELY BEEN ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO EDUCATION AND OTHER SERVICES THAT HAVE TO BE PROVIDED.

I THINK THIS REPORT JUST CAME OUT.

I'VE HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO, BUT I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK IT UP YET.

BUT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IT AT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY WITH, YOU KNOW, THE OVER POPULATION THERE DUE TO IMMIGRATION.

I MEAN, IT'S PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IT'S HAPPENING AND THE CONCERN, YOU KNOW, AND I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE MEETING WAS WE EXTEND SEWER AND WATER UP THERE AND, YOU KNOW, DO WE OPEN UP FOR MORE DEVELOPMENT WHERE WE'RE OVERPOPULATING A SCHOOL THAT'S ALREADY OVERPOPULATED? AND I THINK THE ANSWER, MY ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE THAT EVEN WHEN THE SEWER WAS EXTENDED TO GOLDSBORO, THE ALLOCATION WAS RESTRICTED TO EXISTING.

[01:20:03]

YOU CAN HELP ME OUT WITH THIS, BUT IF I RECALL, THERE WERE RESTRICTIONS PUT ON ON ALLOCATION SO THAT SOMEONE IF A DEVELOPER CAME IN, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WANTED TO DEVELOP COUNCIL FARM AND PUT HOUSES, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT ALLOCATION.

IF THEY WANTED TO BE INCLUDED, THEN THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TO PUT THEIR OWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO PETITION TO BE INCLUDED.

SO EVEN IF THE LINE IS EXTENDED BEYOND GOLDSBORO TO ME AND I'M NOT A LAWYER HERE, BUT I MEAN.

TO ME, YOU COULD STILL RESTRICT THE ALLOCATION TO CONTROL HOW MANY PEOPLE HOOKED INTO THAT LINE.

BUT POTENTIALLY I KNOW THE TWO POINTS OF CONCERN WERE CAROLINE ACRES AND HENDERSON APPARENTLY HAS 50 ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT THEY COULD DROP IN THERE TOMORROW IF THEY HAD TO STORM WATER.

SO THE CONCERN IS, ARE THE SEWER SO THEY ARE LIMITED RIGHT NOW BY THEIR DISCHARGE PERMIT ISSUED THROUGH MDE FOR THEIR LITTLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE.

SAME WITH WHAT'S THE ONE UP IN MERRIDALE CEDARS.

WELL, YEAH WALKERS BUT IT'S CEDARS.

YEAH. BUT SAME WITH THAT ONE.

THEY ARE LIMITED BY THE NUMBER OF UNITS IN THERE, BY THE CAPACITY OF THE SEWER PLANT DISCHARGE PERMIT THAT THEY HAVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE CONTINUE THAT AND CEDARS CAN DROP ANOTHER 50 TRAILERS IN OR CAROLINE ACRES COULD DROP ANOTHER 50 TRAILERS IN, THAT'S POTENTIALLY ANOTHER 20 TO 50 STUDENTS IN GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY.

SO GOALS FOR WHEN THEY FIRST HOOKED UP.

THEN THEY HAVE A MORATORIUM FOR SOME OF THE YEARS BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COULD BE ADDED INTO THERE.

I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE I THE UNDERSTANDING THAT I KIND OF GET FROM LESLIE AND WE PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE LESLIE COME IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT THIS, PROBABLY NEED TO GET IT ON AN AGENDA BEFORE WE VOTE AND MAKE A DECISION HERE.

BUT THEY WANT USERS TO SPREAD THE COST OF THE SYSTEM OUT.

SO ACTUALLY THEY WANT MORE PEOPLE TO JUMP ON TO HOPEFULLY LOWER THOSE RATES SO THAT THE RATES AREN'T AS HIGH.

SO I IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME THOUGHT.

SO WHETHER YOU HOOK UP TO GREENSBORO OR WHETHER YOU PURSUE YOUR OWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN HENDERSON, MARYDEL, OR IN TEMPLEVILLE IS STILL AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU STILL HAVE ANOTHER WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND YOU STILL.

BUT WHAT DO WE I MEAN, WELL, MIKE, DO DO WE WANT TO AS A BOARD, TELL THE RESIDENTS OF HENDERSON, MARYDEL TEMPLEVILLE, THAT WE WANT YOU TO SIGN AWAY YOUR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE PLAN AND JUST SIGN ON TO GREENSBORO.

SO, I MEAN, I, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOSING THEIR AUTONOMY ONCE THEY GO ON TO THIS, ONCE THEY SIGN ON TO GREENSBORO SYSTEM, THEY ARE THE WAY THE AGREEMENT IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW BETWEEN GREENSBORO AND GOLDSBORO.

ON 30 DAYS NOTICE, THEIR RATE CAN BE AMENDED AND THEY HAVE NO SAY.

WELL, I THINK THE QUESTION SO DO WE WANT TO SELL THAT BILL OF GOODS TO HENDERSON? MARYDEL TEMPLE? I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK WE SELL THEM ANYTHING.

I THINK THAT'S THEIR DECISION.

I MEAN, DO THOSE TOWNS, WHAT DO THEY WANT TO DO? RIGHT. BECAUSE IF IF HENDERSON OR MARYDEL HAS A WAY THAT THEY THINK THEY CAN OBTAIN FINANCING AND PUT THEIR OWN SYSTEM IN, THAT'S FINE. RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO TELLING THESE TOWNS WHAT THEY WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

I MEAN, IT'S THEIR DECISION, HONESTLY, WHETHER THEY WANT TO CONTINUE INTO THIS GROUP.

I WAS NOT AWARE THAT GOLDSBORO HAD DROPPED OUT OF IT.

I MEAN, YOU MEAN GOLDSBORO IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE NORTH COUNTY SEWER ORGANIZATION? NO, BECAUSE THEY'RE TIED TO GREENSBORO NOW.

RIGHT. SO THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN CONNECTED.

THEY HAVE THEIR THING. SO THE REMAINING THREE TOWNS ARE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THERE'S COUNTY PROPERTIES AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY THE COUNTY IS A PARTNER AND WHATEVER THE OPTION IS, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING AND ANY OF THESE THREE OPTIONS.

OH, PLANNING CODES IS GOING TO DO THE GRANT APPLICATION WORK.

I MEAN IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO'S NAME.

BUT I THINK LESLIE GRUNDON AND PLANNING CODES HAS HAD A BIG HAND IN GETTING THAT DOCUMENTATION IN AND TURNED IN, AND IF THEY GO WITH INDIVIDUAL SYSTEMS, THEY'RE EVEN SMALLER THAN GREENSBORO.

FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO NEED EVEN MORE HELP FROM US.

SO IN ANY OF THESE THREE SCENARIOS, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

WELL, WE CAN HELP AND WE CAN FACILITATE GRANT, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S UP TO US TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD DO.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THOSE TOWNS AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY COME BACK AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE GREENSBORO SYSTEM, THAT'S

[01:25:06]

I MEAN, BUT BUT IF YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH, YOU KNOW, ENTERTAINING THAT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, WE STILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT.

I'LL ENTERTAIN WHATEVER.

BUT I MEAN, I THINK AND THE COUNTY STILL HAS A VOTE IN THE AUTHORITY.

SO YOU DO WELL, BUT I CAN ABSTAIN IF THEY DIRECT ME TO ABSTAIN.

JUST LET THE TOWNS DECIDE.

YEAH. I MEAN, EITHER WAY I LOOK, MY OPINION IS I'D PROBABLY BE A TIE VOTE ANYWAY BECAUSE IT'S THREE TOWNS AND THEN US.

RIGHT. SO IT'S FOUR VOTES.

SO IT'D BE REALLY EASY EITHER WAY.

I BELIEVE THAT THE REAL THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IS IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT OVERCROWDING AND PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THAT IS TO INITIATE SOME TYPE OF A CODE.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT ALL COMES DOWN TO.

I MEAN, IF WE REALLY WANT TO CONTROL THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN UNITS AND CROWDING INTO UNITS, OUR CONTROL WOULD BE TO ESTABLISH A HOUSING CODE THAT WOULD RESTRICT THAT.

UNTIL WE HAVE THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, AND I KNOW THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN TAUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME, BUT BUT I DON'T I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO IT.

YOU KNOW, GET INTO TELLING THE TOWN, NO, YOU CAN'T GO.

YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR YOUR OWN TREATMENT PLANT.

YOU GOT TO STAY IN GREENSBORO.

I THAT'S NOT.

WELL, THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT AT THE MEETING IT WAS DISCUSSED PEOPLE RUNNING PIPES INTO DITCHES FROM THEIR SEPTIC TANKS CURRENTLY FAILING SEPTICS WHERE IT'S RUNNING ON TOP OF THE GROUND.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS MADE IN SOME CASES, MADE PROPERTY OWNERS PUT IN HOLDING TANKS.

SO I THINK EACH TOWN, EACH MUNICIPALITY UP THERE HAS ISSUES.

WELL, AND WE HAVE CODE.

I MEAN, OUR CODE SAYS WE CANNOT HAVE MORE.

YOU CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN FOUR UNRELATED PEOPLE LIVING IN A HOUSE.

RIGHT. BUT IT DOES.

BUT I THINK HOW DO YOU ENFORCE IT? RIGHT AND WE'RE GETTING INTO SAYING WHAT A FAMILY AND A FAMILY.

AND THAT'S WHAT ALL THE MAYORS, ALL THE MAYORS SAID, YOU KNOW THAT THEY'VE HAD.

I, THE MAYOR, HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN BUSSES DROP LIKE LIKE COMMERCIAL TRAILWAY BUSSES SHOW UP AND DROP PEOPLE OFF IMMIGRANTS, TWO BUSLOADS AT A TIME.

THEY JUST DROP OFF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, I ASKED THEM TO GET ME DOCUMENTATION OR PICTURES OR ANYTHING, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY SPOKE THEY SPOKE ABOUT THAT AT THE MEETING IF AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT OVER OCCUPATION OF DWELLINGS AS WELL INSIDE THEIR MUNICIPALITIES AND THEY SAID THE EXACT SAME THING WE CAN'T PROVE.

I MEAN, HOW DO YOU PROVE, HOW DO YOU DEFINE A FAMILY UNIT AND TELL SOMEBODY WHO CAN LIVE IN THEIR HOUSE? AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'RE THERE TEMPORARILY OR JUST VISITING OR PERMANENT? IF WE GO BACK TO THE SEPTIC SYSTEM SITUATION, IF THOSE PROPERTIES HAVE FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO PUT IN HOLDING TANKS.

WHY ISN'T THAT BEING ADDRESSED BY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH? IT IS. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IS TELLING THEM TO PUT IN THE HOLDING TANK AND THEN TELLING THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO PUMP IT, WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE WHEN THEY GET COMPLAINTS OR ISSUES OR ARE NOTIFIED OF FAILING SEPTIC.

I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT PEOPLE DO IS JUST HOOK ON TO THE FIELD, DRAIN AND RUN IT INTO A DITCH SO THEY DON'T GO UNDER.

WHEN GOLDSBORO WAS PUT UNDER A CONSENT ORDER THAT WAS DONE THROUGH THE STATE AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT'S WHAT'S COMING.

SO IF YOU HAVE AN AREA THAT IS LIKE PLACED UNDER A CONSENT ORDER, LIKE THAT'S HOW JONESTOWN EVENTUALLY BECAME A PRIORITY FUNDING AREA.

GOT WATERED INTO THAT.

BUT AGAIN THESE ARE INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES AND I THINK IT'S THEIR REALLY THEIR CALL AND I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW, WE WILL HELP EVERY WAY WE CAN, LIKE WE ALWAYS HAVE.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT TO SAY, WELL, WE'RE TELLING YOU, YOU HAVE TO HOOK IN, YOU HAVE TO STAY WITH.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT ADDRESSES YOUR POINT THAT THE CHALLENGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE STATE POLICIES THAT ARE AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT ARE FOR A TO HAVE WASTEWATER TREATMENT A DISCHARGE POINT, THEY'RE NOT THERE'S NO NEW PERMITS FOR THAT.

SO YOU CAN ONLY USE AN EXISTING PERMIT.

[01:30:02]

THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN EXISTING POINT SOURCE, WHICH IS WHY WE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OPTIONS RELATING TO THAT OR ALSO WHY WE LOOKED AT CONNECTING TO GREENSBORO AND WHY GOLDSBORO. CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY HAD THEIR EXISTING PERMIT AND THEY COULD EXPAND ON THAT PERMIT.

BUT. IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

WELL, THEY CAN GET A SPRAY IRRIGATION PERMIT OR A SOME TYPE OF LEACH FIELD SYSTEM PERMIT.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. BUT YOU CAN'T GET A POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE PERMIT ANYMORE.

CORRECT. SO YOU WOULD NEED YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HOLD THE MATERIAL BEFORE YOU CAN SPRAY.

YOU EITHER GOT TO HOLD IT.

IF YOU GO WITH A SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM, YOU CAN ONLY SPRAY IRRIGATE DURING TIMES OF YEAR, WHETHER IT'S ACTIVE GROWTH AND VEGETATION.

SO YOU'RE LIMITED.

SO YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE ENOUGH RETENTION TO HOLD IT THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE GROWTH AND YOU GOT TO HAVE ENOUGH LAND TO SPRAY IRRIGATE IT ON.

SO IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY FIELD DRAIN SYSTEMS. I THINK IT'S ANOTHER OPTION, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

WELL, THE ODDS OF WHAT'S THE POPULATION OF HENDERSON HUNDRED, IF THAT MAYBE.

I MEAN, THE ODDS OF THEM KNOW THERE'S 100.

WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T.

CAROLINE AKERS ISN'T ANNEXED IN, BUT CAROLINE AKERS HAS 130 TRAILERS IN IT.

YEAH. SO.

BUT THAT'S NOT IN HENDERSON.

SO. YEAH, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE OVER 100.

BUT IF YOU ANNEXED IN THE TRAILER PARK, IT WOULD DOUBLE IT AT LEAST 158 AS OF 2022 FOR THE ANNEXED AREA.

YEAH. THAT'S REPORTED.

CORRECT. CAVEAT.

REPORTED POPULATION.

I WOULD SAY THAT MY OPINION OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WOULD BE FIND OUT WHAT THOSE TOWNS WANT TO DO AND THEN GO FROM THERE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

BUT THE RATES ARE GOING TO GO.

JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THE RATES ARE GOING TO INCREASE 30% TO THE TOWNSPEOPLE IN GREENSBORO AS WELL.

YES. RIGHT. I MEAN, SO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE TO THOSE TO THOSE PEOPLE AND TO GOLDSBORO.

YEAH, I DON'T THINK THE AGREEMENT.

I DON'T THINK ANY AGREEMENT, THEY CAN DISPROPORTIONATELY PUT IT ON THE TABLE.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO EQUALLY DISPERSE IT OVER.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, WELL, GOLDSBORO, YOU'RE PAYING DOUBLE WHAT WE ARE HERE.

OH, YEAH. NO,.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT WAY.

BUT AND LIKE I SAID, I MEAN, THEY MAY ALL DECIDE TO JOIN IN WITH GREENSBORO, BUT I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY JUST WANT TO EXPLORE ALL THEIR OPTIONS IS THE WAY IT WAS LEFT AND I THINK THEY SHOULD AND THEY SHOULD EXPLORE THEIR OPTIONS AND THEN I THINK COME BACK AND SAY WHAT THEIR PREFERENCE IS.

IF THEIR PREFERENCE IS THAT THEY DON'T CONNECT TO GREENSBORO, THEN I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO FIND OUT, WELL THEN HOW WHERE DO WE GO FROM THERE? YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[Public Comment]

[Closed Session: To Consult with Counsel Regarding Legal Advice:]

GENERAL PROVISION, ARTICLE 3-35B 1 TO DISCUSS.

OR ACTUALLY, LET ME SEE WHICH ONE I'M LOOKING FOR HERE.

SECTION SEVEN TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.

SO MOVED. SECOND, THAT MOTION AND SECOND.

[Meeting Adjourns]

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.