[00:01:22]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 8, 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DENZEL CHERY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN OF CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN MINISTRIES, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE. REVEREND CHERY.
>> BEFORE I PRAY, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR.
IT'S GREAT TO LIVE IN CAROLINE COUNTY NOW BLESSED.
I HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN PRAYER WOULD REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE LOST EVERYTHING THEY OWN IN THIS WORLD AND REALIZING THAT ONLY GOD CAN HELP TO DELIVER THEM TO THE HOPE THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE FLORIDA IS GOING TO GET IT AGAIN.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev Denzil Cheek, Church of the Brethren Ministries; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
WE CERTAINLY NEED TO KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS.PRECIOUS LORD, YOU GIVE MERCY, LOVE, GRACE, AND HOPE TO EACH OF US IF WE ASK.
YOU'RE THE ONLY HOPE FOR BEING FREE FROM THE EVILS THAT ARE NOW PRESENT IN OUR COUNTRY.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY GIVING HONOR AND PRAISE TO YOU FOR YOU ARE CERTAINLY WORTHY OF IT.
YOU'RE THE SOURCE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN ALL OF US AND THE SOURCE OF ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE RECEIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO EACH OF US YOUR HUMAN CREATION.
WE ASK YOU FOR PROTECTION AND BLESSING FOR THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY, ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND FOR OUR LOCAL POLICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER HERE THIS DAY, AND WE ASK THAT YOUR BLESSINGS BE UPON THIS MEETING AND THAT EVERY PERSON GATHERED HERE TO LISTEN OR TO SPEAK ASK THAT YOU HELP TO GUIDE AND DIRECT THIS MEETING SO THAT IT WILL BE FULL OF WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND CERTAINLY RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR GUIDING THE COMMISSIONERS TO ACCOMPLISH EACH ITEM OF BUSINESS THAT IS SCHEDULED BEFORE THEM THIS DAY, AND ALSO IN THE FUTURE.
LORD PROTECT THEM, GUIDE THEM AND HELP THEM TO REACH THE GOALS FOR THE GOOD OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
LORD, HELP US KNOW WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO SAY IN GOD, WE TRUST, AND WE KNOW WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, AND WE ASK IT ALL IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.
>> REVEREND CHERY, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR TUESDAY MORNING TO COME IN AND DO OUR INVOCATION REPORT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO STAY, BUT [INAUDIBLE]
[President’s Report Out]
THE COMMISSIONER SOUGHT A CLOSED SESSION TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL UNDER AUTHORITY, 2014, MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305 B, SECTION 7.STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO FOLLOW UP AND REPORT BACK ON EACH ISSUE AT A LATER DATE.
THE ATTENDEES INCLUDED COMMISSIONERS BARTS, PORTER, AND BREEDING, COUNTY ATTORNEY SO BERYL, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR KATHLEEN FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, PIO, JENNIFER RIBY, AND PAB ADMINISTRATOR KIM RIDER.
[00:05:04]
>> WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? NOT BEING SEEN.WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS SHERRIE BRADEN,
[Sherry Bratton, Director, Office of Human Resources]
DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE COUNTY HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS. MORNING, SHERRY.[Discussion of County Health Insurance Options]
>> MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX COME UP WITH YOU OR?
>> WELL, I JUST HAD SOME LAST MINUTE RATES YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A COPY AND YOU HAVE A COPY AS WELL.
WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
THIS PROBABLY WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO GET AN UPDATED QUOTE FROM AN OUTSIDE VENDOR FROM THE STATE SINCE WE'VE MOVED TO THE STATE IN 2015.
AVERY HALL WAS ABLE TO QUOTE FOR US A BLUE CHOICE PLAN AND A BLUE CHOICE ADVANTAGE PLAN.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
THIS WOULD BE A PLAN IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT RETIREE HEALTH CARE.
THIS WOULD BE AN OPTION IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE A SWITCH TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT.
IF WE WERE TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE, WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO OUR OWN ACA REPORTING AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO COST.
I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH PICON THIS AFTERNOON TO TRY TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON THAT.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AS WELL.
OR WHAT THE NETWORK UNDER BLUE CHOICE WOULD BE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES ALSO.
BUT THE RATES ARE VERY FAVORABLE.
WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDED THAT TO YOU.
AT THE BOTTOM, YOU WOULD SEE THE COMPARISON OF SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTED INFORMATION AS FAR AS CO PAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> WELL, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE?
WE JUST GOT THE STATE'S RATES TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY LAST WEEK.
THESE RATES WERE UPDATED YESTERDAY FOR A JANUARY DATE.
THE STATE WOULD WANT A DECISION BY TODAY IF WE WERE TO DECIDE TO MOVE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN TELL US THAT.
>> DID THEY GET YOU THE INFORMATION?
>> THE STATE GAVE ME THE INFORMATION ON TUESDAY FOR THE RATES.
>> IF WE WERE TO MAKE A CHANGE, YES, SIR.
I DON'T RECOMMEND WE MAKE A DECISION ON THIS THIS YEAR.
BUT IF WE'RE LOOKING AT RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE, WE WANTED TO SHOW THIS TO YOU, GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY IF YOU WANTED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS FURTHER IF YOU'RE AMENABLE TO IT FOR NEXT IN A YEAR.
>> OR YOU THERE FOR JULY TO SEE IF WE COULD GET QUOTE IN JULY, WHAT WOULD BE OUR BUDGET TIME FRAME AS WELL.
>> I WOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD FIT INTO THIS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS OF JANUARY 1, STATE RETIREE PRESCRIPTION COST IS GOING AWAY?
>> THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE SLIMY DEALS THAT WAS DONE WHEN O'MALLEY WAS GOVERNOR, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
HE PASSED REGULATIONS WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR THAT THE STATE RETIREMENT PRESCRIPTION COSTS WOULD CEASE 15 YEARS AFTER HE LEFT OFFICE.
THAT'S THE KIND THEY DID THEY PULL.
NOW THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WHO'VE HAD PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE, ARE GOING TO LOSE IT.
THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
>> ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAID, I'M GOING TO STAY WITH THE STATE SO I CAN, BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS ARE NOW LOSING THOSE BENEFITS, AND NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
>> THEY ACTUALLY HAVE CHANGED AIR CURRENT EMPLOYEES PRESCRIPTION PROVIDER FOR NEXT YEAR.
IT'S A COMPANY HONESTLY, I LOOKED IT UP YESTERDAY BUT I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAME.
IT'S SOMEBODY I'VE NEVER HEARD OF.
THERE'S THIS PLAN AND RETIRED.
FOR US PERSONALLY, BARBARA FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY.
WE HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A PHONE CALL WITH SOMEONE TO TELL US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO COVER.
[00:10:02]
ALL THESE YEARS, THE PEOPLE DID THAT JOB.I KNOW PEOPLE WHO SAID I STAYED BECAUSE OF THE BENEFIT.
NOW THEY REALIZE THAT THIS WAS DONE 15 YEARS AGO.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO THEY PASSED THIS THING TO BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025.
>> I DID GO BACK AND LOOK. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE RETIREES PRE 65 ON OUR HRA PLAN, AND THERE'S CURRENTLY PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE MORE THAT COULD COME BACK AT ANY TIME AND REQUEST THAT REIMBURSEMENT.
THAT IS WE STILL HAVE THAT OPTION FOR OUR RETIREES PRE 65.
IT'S JUST WHEN WE GET LATER, WE DID HAVE A 7% INCREASE UNDER THE STATE, SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT MOVING FORWARD.
>> WITH THE PRE 65 CURIO, WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY.
WE PROVIDE, AGAIN, THE $550 AND HRA SUPPLEMENT A MONTH OUT OF THE ONES THAT ARE TAKING IT, ARE THEY ABLE TO FIND HEALTH INSURANCE THAT COVERED UNDER THE 550?
>> YES. RIGHT AT 550 OR VERY CLOSE TO THAT AMOUNT.
WE HAD A COUPLE THAT I KNOW, REACHED OUT TO ME JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THAT UP THEIR PLAN BASICALLY, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T COVERING WHAT THEY WANTED IT TO.
BUT AGAIN, WHEN THEY OPTED, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IN A PLAN AT THE 550 BECAUSE WE DID INCREASE THAT IN JULY FROM 500-550.
>> THE THOUGHT THIS THEN WOULD BE A RETIREE PRE 65 WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO STAY ON OUR INSURANCE PLAN AT THE COST THAT IS [OVERLAPPING] WHATEVER WE DETERMINED IS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD.
THOSE TYPES OF DECISIONS OF SPLITS AND PERCENTAGES WOULD NEED TO BE DECIDED AS WE GATHER THIS INFORMATION AND TRY TO BUILD IT INTO, I THINK WHAT ADMINISTRATION IS RECOMMENDING A JULY 1 START.
>> BUT AGAIN, THE DENTAL AND VISION, WOULD THAT BE LIKE ANOTHER PLAN WE WOULD GET FOR PEOPLE?
>> ALREADY CURRENTLY HAVE A SEPARATE DENTAL VISION PLAN NOW OUTSIDE OF THE STATE.
UNDER THE STATE LAST YEAR IN JANUARY, THEY REQUIRED THAT WE OPENED IT UP TO ALL OF THEIR PLANS.
WE NOW HAVE FIVE HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES CAN CHOOSE FROM.
THEN THERE'S THREE DENTAL PLANS OF THE STATE, ONE OUTSIDE THAT THE COUNTY HAS SEPARATED OUT FOR.
THEN TERM LIFE INSURANCE AND AD&D UNDER THE STATE THAT THEY CAN CHOOSE OUTSIDE OF MUTUAL AS WELL.
THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLANS THAT WE OPENED UP, AND WE DO HAVE PEOPLE IN UNDER THE STATE.
>> WHAT'S THE EMPLOYEE CONSENSUS ON THIS? HAVE YOU HEARD ANY?
>> WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND IT TO THEM BECAUSE IT JUST CAME DOWN SO QUICKLY.
>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS INVOLVING THE EAB, INVOLVING THE THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FITS THEIR NEEDS.
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN TALKING TO SHERRY WITH PROVIDERS AND NETWORK OUT OF NETWORK.
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT PROBABLY WANTED TO BE CHECKED BY THE EMPLOYEES AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR CURRENT PROVIDERS ARE STILL MEETING OR ABLE TO TAKE INSURANCE UNDER THIS PLAN.
>> BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME AS YOU SAID SINCE WE'VE BEEN WITH THE STATE THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD AN OUTSIDE PROVIDER PROVIDE A FIGURE THAT IS NOT GOING TO KNOCK YOU OUT OF YOUR CHAIR PRICING.
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS WE'VE HEARD FROM EMPLOYEES OVER THE TIME IS HEALTH INSURANCE PRE 65.
I THINK SOME PEOPLE DO FORGET ABOUT THAT.
>> I THINK WHAT WE HAD DONE BEFORE WHEN WE HAD HEALTH INSURANCE UNDER ESMAC BEFORE WE WENT TO THE STATE, WE REQUIRED THAT THE RETIREE STAY ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND PAY THAT DIFFERENCE IN COST IF THEY CHOSE NOT TO STAY ON WHEN THEY RETIRED.
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME BACK.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE CHANGED.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T STAY ON NOW, WE ALLOW THEM TO COME BACK AT DIFFERENT STAGES.
IT'S STILL AN UN LOAN FOR THAT FUND.
I DID GO BACK AND LOOK. AGAIN, WE HAD BEEN WITH THE STATE SINCE I WROTE THAT DOWN.
JANUARY OF 2006, 15, I BELIEVE IS WHEN WE WENT TO THE STATE.
ACTUALLY, JULY, 2015. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN HOLDING ERROR EMPLOYEES HARMLESS AS FAR AS RATES SINCE JANUARY OF 2016.
>> THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY CALLS PASSED ALONG PINPOINTS?
>> NO, SIR. THAT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN OUR BUDGET.
IF YOU WISH TO DO THAT AGAIN FOR JANUARY DATE,
[00:15:04]
WE CAN LEAVE THOSE RATES THE SAME.>> DOES THIS HAVE ANY IMPLICATION ON OPEB OR ANY OF THE OTHER FUNDS SWITCHING OVER TO THIS?
IF YOU FOR EXAMPLE, LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL UNDER BLUE CHOICE OR BLUE CHOICE ADVANTAGE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A $900 COST OR ESSENTIALLY 1,014.
RIGHT NOW, OUR HIGHEST OUT OF POCKET IS 550.
DEPENDING ON HOW WE SPLIT THAT, IF THE COUNTY IS COVERING 75, 80%, WHATEVER THE PORTION MAY BE, YOUR POTENTIAL BURDEN ON THE OPEB WOULD INCREASE.
>> WHAT'S OPEB FUNDED AT RIGHT NOW ROUGHLY?
>> THAT'S WHERE THE 550 COMES OUT OF CURRENTLY.
THIS WOULD INCREASE THE OBLIGATION TO OPEB.
>> IF THAT CHOICE WAS MADE, THERE WOULD BE AN ANALYSIS DONE BY HOLTON THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY READJUST.
>> BUT IT WOULD BE A NET DECREASE ON OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT'S LESS.
FRONT END BETTER BACK END, WE'RE PUTTING MORE STRESS ON OPEB, BUT IT'S ALREADY OVERFUNDED.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT. YOU'LL RUN NUMBERS ON THAT, IMPLICATIONS TO OPEB BEFORE WE MAKE THIS DECISION.
>> THE RULE HAVE TO BE SOME INPUT BY THE BOARD OF HOW THEY WANT TO SPLIT THAT.
I THINK YESTERDAY, SHERRY AND I WERE TALKING, THE GENERAL FUND SAY, RELIEF, IF WE WERE TO SWITCH OVER THIS, AND KEEP THE SAME SPLITS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY.
DIFFERENCE IN, YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL COST FOR THAT PLAN, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO MAKE THAT SPLIT.
>> I GUESS SINCE WE WANTED TO TABLE THIS UNTIL JULY, I CAN REACH BACK OUT TO AVERY HALL TO SEE IF WE CAN GET I DON'T KNOW IF THE NUMBERS WILL STAY THE SAME, BUT WE WILL DEFINITELY WORK WITH THEM TO SEE WHERE THAT IS.
I NEED TO HAVE DIRECTION ON OUR OPEN ENROLLMENT THROUGH THE STATE? DO YOU WISH TO LEAVE THE EMPLOYEE'S CONTRIBUTIONS CURRENTLY THE SAME AS THEY HAVE BEEN SINCE JANUARY OF '16?
>> THERE'S ENOUGH IN BUDGETED TO DO THAT.
BUDGET INCLUDED AN INCREASE IN THAT TO OFFSET THE COST, SO THE EMPLOYEE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYMORE.
BUDGETED ENOUGH TO COVER THAT INCREASE IN COST. LEAVE IT THE SAME.
>> IS THE BOARD OKAY WITH STAFF STARTING TO WORK WITH EAB AND THE OBVIOUSLY, EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY TO START DISTRIBUTING THIS INFORMATION AND STARTING TO SEE WHETHER THE PLANS ALIGN OR HAVE A FAVORABLE FEEL?
>> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A LIQUOR BOARD LEGISLATIVE REQUEST.
WHO IS COVERING THAT ONE? CRYSTAL BATH. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. CURRENTLY THE LIQUOR BOARD OFFERS MULTI EVENT LICENSES FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
WE HAD THE CULINARY CENTER APPROACH US BECAUSE THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STORE THEIR ALCOHOL IN BETWEEN EVENTS.
CURRENTLY, IT STATES ONLY FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAN STORE IN BETWEEN EVENTS SO IT'D BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEY DO HAVE A ROOM WHERE THEY KEEP IT SEPARATED IN BETWEEN EVENTS LOCKED UP, AND THEY WOULD KEEP INVENTORY IN BETWEEN WE WOULD JUST CHANGE THE REGULATION TO SAY ALL MULTI EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS COULD STORE THEIR ALCOHOL.
>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OTHER MULTI EVENT?
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S JUST THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE CULINARY CENTER.
>> THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE ONLY ABILITY TO GET ONE DAY LICENSES WAS YOU HAD TO GET A LICENSE FOR EACH ONE DAY AND YOU WERE LIMITED TO 12 A YEAR AND OUR FIRE COMPANIES WERE STRUGGLING BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR REVENUE GENERATORS WAS TO HAVE ALL RENTALS,
[00:20:03]
AND THEY HAD TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH 12 EVENTS WE WERE GOING TO UTILIZE ONE OF OUR ONE DAY LICENSES FOR SO WE HAD A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO ALLOW MULTI EVENT LICENSES WHERE THEY COULD GET THEM IN GROUPS OF 1-10, 10-20, ALL THE WAY UP TO 40, AND THEY WOULD JUST COME IN ONCE A YEAR, ONE APPLICATION, ONE FEE, AND THEY WOULD BE ALLOTTED UP TO 40 EVENTS FOR THAT YEAR.THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE RULE WHEN YOU GET A ONE DAY LICENSE IS, YOU PURCHASE YOUR ALCOHOL WHEN YOUR EVENTS OVER, YOU DISPOSE OF IT AND IT'S NOT COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO BUY THE ALCOHOL AND HAVE TO DISPOSE OF IT EACH TIME.
IN 2014, WE HAD A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE TO ALLOW THE FIRE COMPANIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND AT THAT TIME, THAT WAS THE ONLY NON PROFITS WE HAD UTILIZING MULTI EVENTS BECAUSE YOU'RE RESTRICTED TO HOLD IT AT THAT LOCATION.
A LOT OF OUR LIONS CLUB, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY GO DIFFERENT AREAS SO THEY NEVER WOULD APPLY FOR A MULTI EVENT BECAUSE YOU ARE RESTRICTED TO THAT ONE LOCATION SO THE FIRE COMPANIES WERE GIVEN THAT EXCEPTION TO STORE ALCOHOL.
THEY HAD TO HAVE A SECURE LOCATION, KEEP RECORDS, COULDN'T SELL IN BETWEEN EVENTS.
NOW THE CULINARY CENTER IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE UTILIZED THE MULTI EVENT LICENSE AND HAVE FOUND IT'S PROBLEMATIC FOR THEM TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO SELL FOR THIS EVENT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET RID OF IT AFTERWARDS SO WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THAT UP TO ALL MULTI EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS.
BUT CURRENTLY, IT'S JUST THE FIRE COMPANIES THAT GET THAT AND THE CULINARY CENTER.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER MULTI EVENT LICENSE HOLDERS.
ATKINS ARBORETUM GETS A NUMBER OF LICENSES AND THEY USUALLY HOLD THEM AT THEIR LOCATION SO IT IS POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE THEY MAY SEEK GETTING A MULTI EVENT INSTEAD OF THE INDIVIDUAL ONE DAYS.
>> IT WAS ALSO AT ONE POINT, IF YOU OPENED THE BOBBLE, YOU COULDN'T USE IT, YOU HAVE TO DUMP [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP THAT INVOLVES.
>> YES. IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2020, WE DID A ZONING CHANGE TO ALLOW RULE SPECIAL EVENT VENUES.
WE HAVE A SET OF CRITERIA IN OUR ZONING REGULATIONS THAT ADDRESSES PARKING, HOURS OF OPERATION, DUST CONTROL, ALL OF THOSE THINGS UNDER THE EVENT VENUE.
THE LIQUOR BOARD IS ASKING TO CREATE A LICENSE TYPE FOR THOSE EVENT VENUES TO BE ABLE TO HOLD A LICENSE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IN THERE IS YOU HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY TO GET THAT SO NOT JUST ANYONE COULD COME IN AND GET A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR AN EVENT VENUE.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A FACILITY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY ZONING TO BE AN EVENT VENUE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT CRITERIA.
>> THIS CHANGE WOULD NOT AFFECT THAT CHANGE?
>> NO WE WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROVISIONS FOR THEM THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR THE MULTI EVENTS.
WHEN YOU STORE IT, YOU HAVE TO KEEP INVENTORY, IT HAS TO BE IN A LOCKED LOCATION AND KEEP RECORDS.
THIS MIGHT BE A RECORD. CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM
[Liquor Board Legislative Request]
[Consent Agenda]
VOTING ON THE AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION APPLICATION ISSUE.>> WELL, LET'S PULL OUT THE CLOSED SESSION, ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, COMMENTS ON THE CLOSED SESSION MEETING MINUTES.
NOW I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CLOSED SESSIONS MINUTES.
>> MOTION, SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER RECUSES HIMSELF FROM THE AG LAND PRESERVATION APPLICATION.
MR. BARKS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> THIS WILL BE THE ONE TO BE AWARDED THE LAND PRESERVATION?
>> THAT'S THE LIST THAT THEY WOULD PICK FROM TO GIVE OFFERS FOR THIS CYCLE.
>> THEY WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE STATE.
>> THEN THE STATE WILL MAKE OFFERS ON.
[00:25:03]
>> THEY'LL RANK AND MAKE OFFERS ON A FEW OF THEM, TWO OR THREE.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE ALREADY RANKED SO DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MONEY EACH COUNTY HAS.
>> YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVED THE MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL LAND PRESERVATION APPLICATION.
>> I'LL SECOND. MOTION, SECOND.
>> AYES HAVE. COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
I HAVE A SHORT LIST OF THINGS, AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX HAS SOMETHING ALSO.
RUNNING DOWN THE LIST, DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.
WE TALKED ABOUT DOING INSPECTIONS ON SITE SO WE HAVE A DATE THAT ALL THOSE INSPECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THAT'S OCTOBER 23.
FIRST DATE OUR INSPECTION AGENCY WILL BE CONDUCTING THOSE INSPECTIONS.
I HAD A MEETING LAST WEEK WITH MS. HANNAH FREEMAN FROM BRIDGE AND SANDRA PITTS.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE A DATE YET, BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT THE INSPECTIONS AMONGST OTHER THINGS.
MOSTLY, WE FOCUSED ON THE INSPECTIONS.
THEY WILL BE PUTTING THE WORD OUT THAT THAT'S HAPPENING TO RESIDENTS AS WELL AS I UNDERSTAND A LETTER IS COMING FROM, I'M DRAWING A BLANK ON HER NAME.
BUT LETTERS COMING FROM MANAGEMENT COMPANY, PAMA, RIGHT.
LETTING ALL THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
TOMORROW STEWART AND I ARE MEETING WITH THE OTHER COUNTY ATTORNEYS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER SO THAT MEETING IS HAPPENING TOMORROW MORNING.
THEN TOMORROW AFTERNOON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR WHOLE DAY TOGETHER.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON, WE'RE MEETING WITH JONAH REGARDING THE NORTH COUNTY LIBRARY LEASE.
LET'S SEE, TWO MORE ITEMS. SHARP ROAD PARK.
WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THE FOREST CONSERVATION ISSUE.
WE'RE EXPLORING WHAT MIGHT BE THE BEST POSSIBILITY AS A COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN OF DENTON LIMITS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONVERT TO A FOREST CONSERVATION BANK.
IT'S TOTALLY WOODED OFF OF FRANKLIN STREET SO WE MAY BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT AS A FOREST CONSERVATION BANK, AND THEN THIS WOULD TAKE UP I THINK JAMIE SAID 1.5 ACRES OR SO OF THAT PROPERTY.
THEN WE WOULD HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO US FOR FUTURE USE, ALSO.
I'M STILL GOING THROUGH THE DEED TO CONFIRM THAT WE CAN DO THAT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY EASEMENTS ON IT.
HOPEFULLY, THAT'LL BE AN EASY SOLUTION.
REGARDING THE SOLAR BILL, IF WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT AND I PLANNED TO DO SO, THE COMPROMISE BILL AT THE STATE, WE WOULD NEED TO DO THAT BY THE 11TH.
COMMISSIONER PORTER AND I SAT IN ON THE SOLAR, I CALL IT A WEBINAR.
WE OFFERED SOME COMMENTS ON THAT AND I KNEW STEWART SAT IN ON THAT MEETING ALSO PROBABLY HAS A LIST OF COMMENTS FOR THEM.
THEN I KNOW AS WE'RE WORKING ON OUR OWN SOLAR ORDINANCE, WE JUST HAD A CONVERSATION YESTERDAY ABOUT IF THIS COMPROMISE BILL GOES THROUGH, HOW WE WOULD WEAVE ANY CHANGES INTO OUR OWN ORDINANCE SO WE THINK ABOUT THAT.
BUT AT THE MINIMUM, WE'LL SUBMIT SOME BASIC COMMENTS BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SAID SO FAR.
DANNY, YOU HAD SOMETHING ALSO.
>> CURRENTLY, WE ARE APPROACHING THE END OF OUR FARM LEASE FOR THE GDSELEY TECH PARK, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOWS THE HAMAN FARM.
THE CONTRACT GIVES US THE OPTION TO RENEW AND PUT BACK OUT TO BID, OBVIOUSLY, WITH SOME OF THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS GOING ON ABOUT THE TECH PARK AND THE INTENT TO HOPEFULLY SELL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS UP AND SEE IF THERE WAS A DESIRE TO ENTER INTO ONE MORE YEAR OF A LEASE, NOT LEASE IT.
HOW DOES THE BOARD WANT TO LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY FOR THE NEXT CYCLE.
THE LEASE ENDS AND THE CALENDAR YEAR SO WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE LEASING IT FROM JANUARY 1 OF 25.
>> MR. BARKS YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS THAN I DO.
DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO SHORTEN THE LEASE PERIOD, GO THROUGH LIKE THE MIDDLE, THE FIRST GROWING SEASON OR JUST IN CASE?
[00:30:03]
>> HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN THE LEASE?
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND WE DON'T GO MORE THAN A YEAR, BUT CAN WE GO SHORTER IN A YEAR? DOES IT MAKE SENSE OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO EXTEND IT FROM DECEMBER TO DECEMBER?
>> WELL, IT REALLY SHOULD BE JULY 1 TO JULY 30.
IT'S GOING TO GO UP SO I'D SAY DECEMBER TO.
>> WELL, NO, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO GROW.
IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM A FULL SEAT, SO IT'D HAVE TO BE DECEMBER TO DECEMBER. JUST A ONE YEAR.
>> THAT'S EASY ENOUGH FOR WORK WITH THE OFFICE LAW TO GET A NEW LEASE GOING AND WORK THROUGH THAT.
>> SHOULD WE GET A BUYOUT NUMBER? IF ANYBODY, OF COURSE, IF WE SELL IT, NOBODY'S GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITHIN A YEAR.
>> WE'LL BE LUCKY IF IT'S SOLD BY NEXT DESCENDER OR ANYTHING.
>> WELL, I THINK WE'RE WAITING.
LAST I HEARD WE'RE WAITING ON AN UPDATE, WE'RE WAITING FROM.
>> EDA. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY'VE RECEIVED OUR LETTER YET.
>> WHEN YOU DO A LEASE, HOW MANY YEARS YOU DO, THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS?
>> A LOT OF TIMES, I BELIEVE THE LAST COUPLE OF ONES WE'VE BEEN DOING ARE THREE YEARS.
>> I WOULD DO DECEMBER TO DECEMBER WITH AN OPTION OF A SECOND.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, DEPENDING ON SALE.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CONTRACT.
I THINK THIS ONE AND LIKE THE ONES BEFORE WE WERE PUTTING ON A THREE YEAR LEASE, AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE AN OPTION TO DO A FOURTH OR A FIFTH.
I THINK THIS IS THE OPTION TO DO THE FOURTH, I BELIEVE THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE ISSUE YOU HAVE IS IF YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO GET IT FOR A YEAR, YOU'RE KNOCKED ON THE GROUND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO INVEST IN THE GROUND, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHATEVER'S ERROR IS THERE.
>> WE WORKED THROUGH ONE YEAR.
>> YOU GO FOR A YEAR AND YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO THE SOLAR ORDINANCE.
I DID GO BACK AND WATCHED THE VIDEO OF THE MEETING.
WHAT ARE THE WINS? IT WAS REFERRED TO MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THIS WAS A SOFT LANDING SO WHAT IS SOFTENING THIS LANDING? BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE'RE LOSING EVERYTHING.
WE'RE GETTING A 50 FOOT SETBACK? BIG BULL PUT IT RIGHT ON THE ROAD I DON'T CARE.
>> I THINK THEY CONSIDER A WIN THE DEVELOPERS OBLIGATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION.
>> WELL, I WANT TO SAY THAT [OVERLAPPING] WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO US, I'M PRETTY SURE UNLESS I MISSED IT, THE INSINUATION THAT I GOT WAS THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MANDATORY CONTRIBUTION TO AG LAND PRESERVATION FOR EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WAS TAKEN OUT OF AG AND PUT INTO SOLAR.
WATCHING THAT MEETING, IT LOOKED TO ME THAT A SOLAR DEVELOPER ONLY HAD TO CONTRIBUTE TO AG LAND PRESERVATION IF IT WAS IN ONE OF OUR EASEMENT AREAS.
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS A DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
>> NO. IT'S GOT TO BE IN AN EASEMENT.
IT'S A DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNT IF IT'S INSIDE THE TWO MILE CORRIDOR OUT, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE WITHIN ONE OF OUR PRIORITY FUNDING AREAS SO IF IT'S JUST SOME RANDOM SPOT OUT IN THE COUNTY THAT'S BEING FARMED THAT'S NOT INSIDE OF ONE OF OUR PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREAS, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT A SOLAR DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO AG LAND PRESERVATION.
>> I'M NOT SURE AG LAND PRESERVATION MEANS ANYTHING ANYMORE WHEN IT COMES TO SOLAR. \.
>> I THINK THERE IS NO WIN IN THIS FOR US.
>> THERE IS NO WIN. WHAT YOU HEAR IS THESE RIDICULOUS COMMENTS LIKE, THE PLANE IS CRASHING AND WE'RE ONLY GOING TO TRY TO GET OUT WITH A FEW BROKEN BONES.
I'M FRANKLY TIRED OF HEARING THAT STUPID RHETORIC ALL THE TIME.
I THINK AS THIS THING UNRAVELS, AND WHEN IS OUR DELEGATION HERE? IS IT NEXT WEEK?
>> 22ND. I'M GOING TO HOLD A LOT OF THIS FOR THEM.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS THIS UNRAVELS,
[00:35:04]
I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND IS THAT THIS IS A DONE DEAL.IT'S BEEN A DONE DEAL FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
ALL OF THIS, MANEUVERING AROUND HERE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT DRAFTING ORDINANCES AND NEGOTIATIONS, IT'S NOT TRUE THIS DEAL IS DONE.
BASED ON THE PHONE CALLS WE'VE GOT FROM FARMERS, AND I JUST THINK THAT WHAT EVENTUALLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO ACTIVATE THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY ON THIS.
IT IS INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE IS NOT COMMENTING ON THIS.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT THE FARM BUREAUS ARE NOT COMMENTING ON THIS.
I THINK WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE IS IT'S GOING TO TAKE UNTIL WE REACH A POINT THAT I THINK IS COMING AND NO ONE HAS REALLY DISPUTED THIS AT THIS POINT DIRECTLY TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO START TAKING LAND FROM FARMERS AS PART OF A PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT.
>> WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I THINK MAYBE PEOPLE WILL WAKE UP.
UNTIL THEN, NOBODY'S PAYING ATTENTION.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THAT RIDICULOUS MEETING.
I REACHED OUT TO OUR LOCAL FARM BUREAU YESTERDAY.
THEY REALLY HAVEN'T TAKEN A POSITION.
HONESTLY, THE STATE OF MARYLAND FARM BUREAU IS TELLING THE LOCAL FARM BUREAU, WELL, WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.
THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN AND COVER HUNDREDS OF ACRES OF PRIME FARMLAND IN THIS COUNTY WITH SOLAR PANELS.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S ALL BEEN SET UP SO THAT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, THE REGULATORY SYSTEMS, THAT WE'VE BEEN PREEMPTED.
I THINK THE CHOICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE IS HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIGHT AND HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO FIGHT? BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ALL NOW, THE DECK IS STACKED.
I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM OUR LEGISLATORS WHEN THEY COME IN HERE.
I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR FROM THEM, WHAT THEIR POSITIONS ARE ON THIS.
I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO IT CAN GO LOOK THEM UP.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THIS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ALL HAVE HISTORY AND BACKGROUNDS IN BASICALLY SOLAR ENERGY.
THE OTHER COMMON DENOMINATOR IS, GUESS WHAT? NONE OF THEM LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE EASTERN SHORE.
THIS IS A COMMISSION THAT WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND MY OPINION UNTIL SOMEBODY CAN CONVINCE ME DIFFERENT IS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING OVER HERE SAYING, WE'LL JUST PUT IT ALL OVER THERE.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO COVER UP FARMLAND IN CAROLINE COUNTY BECAUSE IT'S FLAT AND THE SUN SHINES, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT OVER THERE, AND LET'S FORGET ABOUT IT.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO ME THAT AFTER HOW MANY YEARS HAVE STEWART, HAVE WE BEEN DEALING WITH BATTERY STORAGE, FOUR, OR FIVE YEARS?
>> FOUR. BATTERY STORAGE IS NOT ADDRESSED IN THIS DRAFT BILL.
WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION, IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED.
WE'RE STILL NOT TALKING ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE.
THE GUY THAT I TESTIFIED BEFORE, WHO WHEN WE REQUESTED OUR BILL TO BE PUT INTO LEGISLATION ABOUT PROVIDING TRAINING FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS WHO ARE AT RISK BECAUSE OF THIS BATTERY STORAGE ISSUE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT BOARD WHO REFUSED TO LET THAT OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE TO EVEN BE VOTED ON IS NOW ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> HE'S ONE OF THE ONES WHO VOTED AGAINST KING COUNTY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
>> EXACTLY. HE'S THE ONE OF THE FOUR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS ON THIS.
IF YOU WANT SOMEBODY WANTS TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.
GOOD LUCK BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
>> WELL, TO ME, IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED ISSUE.
UNDERSTANDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND THE CPCN PROCESS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND, AND I ADMIT THAT I DON'T HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
I DON'T THINK. BUT WHAT I DO UNDERSTAND OR WHAT I THINK IS TRUE, IS THAT CURRENT STATE LAW REQUIRES A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OR THE
[00:40:05]
CPCN JUDGE TO CONSIDER VERY SERIOUSLY, THE CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LOCAL PLANNING COMMISSION.I THINK THIS DRAFT BILL IS A PLOY TO TAKE AWAY THAT PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENT.
IT'S BASICALLY GOING TO STEP IN AND SAY, PLANNING COMMISSION, THESE ARE THE MINIMUMS THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO IMPOSE.
IT BASICALLY REMOVES ANY PLANNING COMMISSION INPUT OR IT GREATLY REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF INPUT THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN PROVIDE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION OR THE CPC AND JUDGE.
I DON'T SEE THE SOFT LANDING HERE.
I THINK I'VE SPOKEN TO A FEW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES, AND I THINK WE NEED TO START NOW SPREADING THE WORD AND TRYING TO BUILD A CONSENSUS POSITION TO OPPOSE THIS BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN IT YET.
IS THERE A DEADLINE? THEY COULD HOLD ON TO THIS THING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE AND DROP IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DROP TRIBES, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
WHEN THAT FIRST SOLAR PANEL GOES IN THE GROUND UP THERE BETWEEN GREENSBURG AND GOLDBERG, IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IT? PEOPLE DON'T KNOW. PEOPLE RIDE BY THAT LAND AND THEY SEE STAKES IN THE GROUND.
BUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE STAKES ARE IN THE GROUND IS A SOLAR PANEL.
THAT'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR IT.
THE RESPONSE WE'RE GOING TO GET IS YOU GUYS ALLOWED THEM TO DO THIS.
YOU GUYS ALLOWED THEM TO PUT SOLAR PANELS THERE.
WHY DIDN'T YOU GUYS DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT? WE'RE GOING TO BE SITTING UP HERE LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.
ALL DRESSED UP WITH NO PLACE TO GO, SAYING, WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN PREEMPTED.
THE PREEMPTION PROCESS STARTED A LONG TIME AGO.
>> BUT THIS IS THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION WILL PREEMPT TALBY COUNTY'S RECENT BILL.
TALBY COUNTY PASSED A POINT SYSTEM.
>> WHAT THE ADVANTAGE OF TALBOTS SYSTEM IS AND THE ONE THAT I'M THROWING OUT THERE AS WELL? IS IT THAT YOU'RE SHOWING YOU'RE WILLING TO ENGAGE IN SOLAR FACILITIES?
>> OUR FLAT CAP IS PROBABLY, I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE THAT CHANGE THAT COMPLETELY.
YOUR ABILITY TO HAVE ANY SAY IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, IF THERE'S A PROJECT THAT COMES ALONG THAT THE COUNTY WISHES TO OPPOSE.
YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE THAT HAS CRITERIA FOR WHERE SOLAR IS BETTER LOCATED, PERHAPS EVEN ZONES.
YOUR VOICE WILL CARRY MORE WEIGHT TO THE JUDGE WHO'S DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO GRANT THE APPLICATION.
IF YOU HAVE SHOWN A WILLINGNESS I HATE TO SAY YOUR FAIR SHARE, BUT YOU'VE BEEN WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THE JOINT ENTERPRISE WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE NEED FOR THIS INDUSTRIAL-SCALE SOLAR FACILITY IN YOUR COUNTY.
IF YOU HAVE A NO, NO WAY, NOWHERE, THEY'RE GOING TO GO THEN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU'RE NOT BEING REASONABLE.
>> YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION MEANS NOTHING TO US BECAUSE YOU'RE OPPOSED TO ALL OF THEM ANYWHERE IN YOUR COUNTY.
WE HAVE GOT TO ENGAGE IN AND KATHY AND I HAVE ABOUT WAYS TO DO THAT.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCEED IN KEEPING SOLAR OUT OF THIS COUNTY, BUT THERE MAY BE A WAY TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY ABOUT WHERE THINGS GO.
>> BUT STEWART, I'M GOING TO GO BACK FOR A SECOND AND SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THE POSITION OF SAYING WE DON'T WANT SOLAR IN THIS COUNTY.
WE WORKED VERY HARD SOME YEARS AGO TO ESTABLISH AN ORDINANCE WHICH ALLOWS 02,000 ACRES OF OUR FARMLAND TO BE COVERED WITH SOLAR PANELS.
WE REQUESTED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN DEVELOPING THAT.
THAT TELLS ME THAT THIS PLAN WAS GOING TO BE IN PLACE ALL ALONG.
WE'RE NOT SAYING THERE CAN'T BE ANY SOLAR PANELS, 02,000 ACRES IS A LOT OF ACRES IN THIS COUNTY.
SAYING WHETHER WE GOT TO GO BACK, IT'S LIKE SAYING DO YOU WANT TO BE SHOT OR STABBED? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME.
[00:45:02]
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT. IT IS COMING.THAT LAND UP THERE, I'M TELLING YOU WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY AND SEE THOSE SOLAR PANELS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAD.
>> FOUR MILES OF SOLAR PANELS, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN THIS ROOM OR THEY'RE GOING TO SEE US IN THE GROCERY STORE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE AND SAY, WHY DID YOU GUYS ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT 2,000 ACRES OF LAND THAT WE'VE ALLOWED.
TO ME, WE HAVE NOT DUG OUR HEELS IN AND SAID, WE'RE NOT ALLOWING SOLAR PANELS.
WE HAVE. WE WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY.
I THINK WE WERE ONE OF THE ONLY COUNTIES AT THE TIME WHO WAS WORKING ON THAT AND CAME UP WITH THAT ORDINANCE.
YOU WERE VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING WITH THAT.
WE HAD THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COME DOWN HERE.
WE HAD A MEETING AT THE HAPS BUILDING.
WE HAD TESTIMONY FROM EVERYONE.
ALL WE WANTED TO KNOW FROM THEM AT THE TIME WAS, HERE'S WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.
WE WANT TO KNOW IF YOU, AS THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THINK THIS IS REASONABLE, AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON AND WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT, AND THEN YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK AND PREEMPT LATER ON, AND THEY WOULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO COME BACK AND PREEMPT IT LATER ON.
THAT WAS THE DEAL. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TAKEN AN UNREASONABLE POSITION AT ALL, TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK 2,000 ACRES IS AN UNREASONABLE POSITION.
CRYSTAL, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS TWO-MILE RADIUS OF HOW MANY ACRES, IS IT 40? HOW MANY ACRES DOES THAT INVOLVE?
>> FORTY-FOUR. WE GO FROM 2,000 TO 44,000 ACRES.
ENOUGH. I'LL NEVER AGREE TO THAT. I DON'T CARE.
>> WELL, IT'S AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. IT'S MORE THAN 44.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ACRES WE HAVE IN ACT, BUT THEORETICALLY, ONCE THIS PASSES, IT COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTY SO WE COULD.
>> BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT, I DON'T WANT TO BET ANYBODY, BUT THE PLAN IS THAT THAT TWO-MILE RADIUS IS SET UP SO THAT IT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED A PUBLIC UTILITY AREA, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT LAND WHETHER THE FARMER WANTS TO DO IT.
YOU JUST WAIT AND SEE, AND I'M TELLING YOU, I GOT NOTHING EXCEPT WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'VE GOT NOTHING TO PROVE, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET YOU. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
SORRY. BUT I'M JUST SAYING, I THINK ALL THE DRAFT ORDINANCES IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE COMPROMISES IN THE WORLD ARE NOT GOING TO WORK FOR US.
I WON'T SUPPORT THEM. I WON'T.
>> MY PLAN, I DO THINK WE SHOULD RESPOND IN SUDDEN COMMENTS.
MY THOUGHT WAS WE COMMENT EXACTLY HOW THIS DISCUSSION IS DONE, JUST SO THAT WE'RE ON THE RECORD, RATHER THAN NOT SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
IT'S NOT GOING TO MATTER. [LAUGHTER] BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING SO THAT WE DIDN'T JUST STAY SILENT ON THE ISSUE.
>> WELL, TO PUT IT NICELY, CERTAIN PEOPLE HAVE SET RENEWABLE ENERGY GOALS FOR THE STATE, AND THEY'RE NOT MEETING THE MILESTONES TO GET TO THOSE GOALS IN THE TIME FRAME THAT THEY HAVE SET, AND I THINK THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THERE.
THEY NEED US OUT OF THE WAY, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS.
IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO GET US OUT OF THE WAY.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD. MR. BARKS?
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
>> SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE BISHOP WYMAN EVENT WITH LARRY.
IT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED ON THAT.
LAST NIGHT, I ATTENDED BRIEFLY TOWN MEETING.
IT WAS WELL ATTENDED AS WELL, BUT IT JUST THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SEWER ISSUES, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET INTO MANY DETAIL ON THAT.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP IS, WOULD YOU GUYS BE A OBJECTION IF WE DONATE FUNDS TO EASTERN SHORE, PINK CARES? THEY'RE GETTING A STUFF TOGETHER TO SEND OUT TO THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HELENE.
I THINK THE TRUCKS OCTOBER 16TH, AND I GUESS,
[00:50:03]
MAKE A DONATION AS CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY AND COMMISSIONER.YOU GOT TO BE OPPOSED TO THAT?
>>I'M NOT OPPOSED TO IT. I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO DECIDE THE AMOUNT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
BUT CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE THEY NEED HELP.
QUESTION ABOUT THAT. IT'S DEVASTATING.
>> DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER YOU PROPOSE?
>> NO, 200 IS THAT WHAT THEY DO?
>> I DON'T REALLY HAVE A NUMBER.
>> MOTION TO DONATE $500 TO THE HURRICANE RELIEF.
>> MOTION SECOND ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT.
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER. [LAUGHTER] I WAS LOOKING.
CRYSTAL, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TOTAL ACRES OF FARMLAND WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY? LESLIE WAS GOING TO LOOK, I THINK, MAYBE.
>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT DATA.
COMMISSIONER PORTER HAD ASKED IF WE COULD POSSIBLY MAP THE TILLABLE ACRES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THAT TWO-MILE RADIUS AND THEN OUTSIDE OF IT.
MEGAN HAS DUG INTO THE STATE'S DATA, AND THERE IS SOME DATA THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PARSED OUT BY PARCEL OR IF IT'S JUST A NUMBER.
>> IT'S JUST A NUMBER. THEN WE DO KNOW THAT THAT'S ONLY CROPLAND.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE PASTURE LAND.
THE OTHER THING WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO TRIST AT SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT TO SAY, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD GIVE US JUST A PARCEL ID AND A NUMBER OF TILLABLE ACRES.
>> IT'S HARD TO GET. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY MAY HAVE A RECORD OF AND IF THEY DO, WE CAN APPLY THAT TO OUR MAP AND GET THAT MAPPED, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
BUT WE DO HAVE NUMBERS FROM THE 2022 AG CENSUS.
WE THINK THAT'S A 90% PARTICIPATION IN THAT AG CENSUS.
THOSE NUMBERS COULD BE PRETTY CLOSE.
BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ALL ARE IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY.
>> WHEN WE SET THE 2,000 ACRES, IT WAS A PERCENTAGE OF LAND.
I JUST CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT PERCENTAGE.
IT EXCLUDED LAND THAT WAS IN AG PRESERVATION AND SO ON.
>> BUT WE'RE WORKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN GET TOGETHER.
>> WELL, THE TWO SOLAR CORRIDORS LOOKED TO ME TO BE ABOUT 90,000 ACRES OF LAND.
THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS 200,000 ACRES SO 75,501 AND ABOUT 15,000 IN THE OTHER.
>> CORRIDOR. TWO MILES IS 50%.
>> BUT OF THAT THE QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH IS IN MUNICIPALITIES AND HOW MUCH IS FEST OR WETLAND? THEY COULDN'T BE USED FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT.
WE'LL THEN MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THE CLOSING PERIOD? ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE LETTER TO FARMERS? IS THAT READY YET?
>> [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD. WITH THAT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT,
[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee(s) & to Consult with Counsel to Obtain Legal Advice]
OR ASSIGNMENT OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE, AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE [LAUGHTER] UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305B, SECTIONS 1 AND 7.I HEAR A MOTION. SHOULD WE GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION?
>> MOTION SECOND. I'M SORRY, ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONERS BARTS.
>> COMMISSIONER BREEDING. AYE. COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.