[00:01:39]
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND GREGORY BLAXLAND OF IN GOD WE TRUST OF DENTON.
AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SO, REVEREND, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.
FATHER GOD, WE COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
LORD GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR BLESSING US TO SEE A DAY, A BRAND NEW DAY, LORD GOD.
LORD GOD, WE COME AND WE PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, POLICE CHIEF JUDGES AND ALL WHO SERVE OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
GOD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD STRENGTHEN THEM WITH WISDOM AND GRACE FOR THE HEAVY BURDENS THEY CARRY.
MAY THEY MANAGE THEIR TEAMS AND THEIR PROJECTS WITH LOVE.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev Gregory Blackston, “In God We Trust” of Denton; Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
KEEP THEIR HEARTS PURE AND THEIR EYES TURN TOWARDS YOUR FACE AS THEY WORK IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE CALLED TO SERVE.AND GOD, I ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS EVERY FAMILY THAT'S REPRESENTED HERE TODAY.
AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ON OCTOBER 8TH, 2024, THE COMMISSIONERS CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION UNDER AUTHORITY.
[President’s Report Out]
2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT THREE THREE, OH FIVE, B ONE AND SEVEN TO DISCUSS A PERSONNEL MATTER AND CONSULT WITH COUNSEL. PRESENT WERE THE COMMISSIONERS STEWART BARROLL, COUNTY ATTORNEY MARY BERNACKI, PARALEGAL KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR JENNIFER REIBLY PIO CRYSTAL DADDS, PLANNING DIRECTOR.MARK GABLER, OUTSIDE COUNCIL, AND MARK SHERIDAN, DDS DIRECTOR.
WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING?
[Public Comment]
OKAY, NONE BEING SEEN.[Proclamation—Economic Development Week in Caroline County]
DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS A PROCLAMATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING BOB.
GOOD MORNING KENDALL. GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING US.
ALL RIGHT CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND PROCLAMATION MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK, OCTOBER 20TH 1ST TO OCTOBER 25TH, 2024. WHEREAS THE THE COUNTY OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE COUNTY OF CAROLINE, MARYLAND, ACKNOWLEDGES THE IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FOSTERING A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY, ENSURING THE PROSPERITY OF BUSINESSES, AND ENRICHING THE LIVES OF ALL RESIDENTS, WORKERS, AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTY.
[00:05:04]
AND WHEREAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN PROMOTING A DEPENDABLE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE, ENHANCING COMMERCE, SUPPORTING COLLABORATION AMONG BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF AN EVER EVOLVING ECONOMY. AND WHEREAS CAROLINE COUNTY REFLECTS A LEGACY OF ROYAL TRADITIONS WHILE EMBRACING EMERGING CAPABILITIES IN COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND AGRICULTURE THROUGH STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES, FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO FLOURISH.AND WHEREAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTES TO AN IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE BY BOLSTERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE WAGES, ENABLING BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT CREATE INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
AND WHEREAS, MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS AND WORKERS WHO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CONTRIBUTE TO CAROLINE COUNTY'S DYNAMIC BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 21ST THROUGH 25TH, 2024 AS MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEEK AND INVITE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES AND WORKERS WHO BRING PROSPERITY TO EVERY CORNER OF OUR RURAL COUNTY, AND TO CELEBRATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY AND COLLECTIVE WELL-BEING.
SIGN AT THE CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, DENTON, MARYLAND, ITS 15TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2024.
JAY TRAVIS, BREEDING, PRESIDENT.
AND MYSELF AND FRANK BARTZ, THE THIRD COMMISSIONER.
THAT WAS A LOT TO READ THERE, BOB.
THAT WAS. BUT I THINK WE HIT ALL POINTS.
AND YOU DID. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
WE ARE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY NEXT WEEK TO VISIT LOCAL BUSINESSES, LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESSES AND JUST GET A FEEL FOR HOW THEY'RE DOING. IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE COULD DO FOR HELP GET THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON RUNNING BUSINESSES IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
THANKS A LOT TO KENDALL TEAGUE FOR PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER.
WE'VE GOT SOME VISITS SCHEDULED.
WE BASICALLY JUST BLASTED THE WORD OUT.
HEY, WHO WOULD LIKE US TO COME SEE THEM? AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE IN THE NORTH COUNTY.
YOU ALL ARE INVITED TO JOIN US.
AND WE MIGHT EVEN SCHEDULE A COUPLE LAST MINUTE VISITS IN THERE, TOO.
STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SOME FOLKS.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING PICTURES, PUTTING IT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT ONLY GETTING THE PERSPECTIVE OF THESE BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS, BUT HIGHLIGHTING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND HOPEFULLY BRING THEM SOME MORE BUSINESS TOO.
WILL THEY BE ON OUR CALENDAR? I MEAN, OKAY, YOU'LL KNOW BY SENDING.
SHE CAN LET US KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE.
I'M USUALLY ON THE END. OF THE COUNTER.
THANK YOU. HOW? ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS? OH I CAN. OKAY.
[Daniel Fox, Deputy County Administrator]
[First Quarter Budget Report Fiscal Year 2025]
MORNING, DANIEL. GOOD MORNING.GOOD MORNING. I BELIEVE IN YOUR BRIEFING PACKETS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF OUR BUDGET PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2025.
SO ESSENTIALLY WE'RE A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH THE YEAR.
[00:10:07]
EXPECTATIONS AND ONES THAT MAY BE A LITTLE OUT OF LINE, AND THEN LOOK INTO REASONS WHY THEY ARE AT THIS POINT.SO WHEN WE START WITH THE REPORT, WE HAVE OUR REVENUE LISTED FIRST.
SO YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE PROPERTY TAXES WHICH IS REALLY OUR BIGGEST DRIVER OF REVENUE.
WHEN WE LOOK, WE SEE ABOUT A 60% COLLECTION RATE AT THIS TIME.
THAT'S FAIRLY TYPICAL WITH THIS TIME OF YEAR.
A LOT OF THE PRIMARY RESIDENTS PAY IN TWO PIECES END OF SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER.
IF IT'S NOT A PRIMARY, THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY ALL UPFRONT FRONT BY SEPTEMBER.
SO WE TYPICALLY SEE ABOVE THE 50% COLLECTION AT THIS TIME.
NEXT IN LINE WE HAVE INCOME TAX.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE ONE SMALL PAYMENT FOR $185,000 FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
AGAIN, REALLY TYPICAL FOR THE TIMING OF THIS YEAR AS WE GET INTO CALENDAR YEAR 2025, IS WHEN WE REALLY START TAKING IN THE LARGER PAYMENTS OF LET'S SAY 4 OR $5 MILLION AT A TIME.
A LOT OF THE OTHER ACCOUNTS, AS WE START GOING THROUGH LOCAL TAXES SUCH AS MOBILE HOME RECORDATION HIGHWAY USER, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM AROUND THE 25%, BUT DUE TO THE DELAY IN RECEIVING PAYMENT AND CLOSING THE QUARTER ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, SOMETIMES THEY LAG. I WILL POINT OUT RECREATION.
WE'RE SEEING A HIGHER THAN EXPECTED TRACK.
WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF PROPERTY TRANSFERS.
I NEVER WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT, BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
SO AT CERTAIN POINTS IN TIME, ESPECIALLY LIKE LIQUOR LICENSE, YOU SEE, WE ONLY HAVE A 6% COLLECTION.
THAT'S NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY.
WHEN THOSE ALL COME DUE, WE'LL ESSENTIALLY HIT THAT HUNDRED PERCENT.
REALLY KIND OF LUMP ALL OF THE GRANTS INTO ONE GENERAL THEME.
SO WE HAVE FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, AND THEN OTHER GRANTS OTHER THAN, I'M GOING TO SAY, THE ENTITLEMENT GRANTS, SUCH AS DISPARITY OR THE TEACHER RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT. THE OTHERS HAVE TO BE BILLED.
SO WE CLOSE THE FIRST QUARTER, THEN WE BILL IT, AND WE TYPICALLY WAIT 30 DAYS TO GET REIMBURSED.
SO THE TIME THAT WE CLOSE THIS REPORT ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY GRANT REIMBURSEMENT OR PAYMENTS, AGAIN, VERY TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. AS WE GO ON, WE HAVE CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.
THAT LINE CONSISTS OF, LET'S SAY, INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENTS SETTLEMENTS.
AND THEN ONCE WE PROCURE THE NEW VEHICLE OR SPEND THAT MONEY DOWN, IT SHOULD DROP TO ZERO.
SO WE'VE HAD A COUPLE INSTANCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT HAVE REALLY INCREASED THAT LINE, BUT IT SHOULD GO BACK DOWN TO ZERO WHEN WE SPEND IT OUT ON MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST LINE ITEMS ON THERE, WE HAVE INTEREST.
SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK, WE'RE PROJECTED TO TAKE IN ABOUT $2.4 MILLION IN INTEREST.
SO THE $413,000, YOU SEE IS TWO MONTHS OF INTEREST HOVERING RIGHT AROUND $200,000, WHICH AGAIN, IS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE 2.4 WE'RE BUDGETING TO TAKE IN.
PROBABLY THE LAST THING ON REVENUE THERE.
IF YOU LOOK, WE HAVE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE SHOWING UNDER THAT FIVE 60 ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR $143,000.
IT'S NOT A EVERY YEAR OCCURRENCE OR SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HAPPENED IN MANY YEARS.
SO AGAIN, A LINE ITEM THAT WAS REALLY NOT BUDGETED, BUT WE ARE SHOWING THAT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
[00:15:01]
BEFORE I GO ON TO EXPENSES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUE OR ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE CLARIFICATION ON? OKAY. HEARING NONE.REALLY. WITH EXPENSES WE LOOK FOR THE 25% MARK.
AND DEPARTMENTS, IF WE SEE ANYTHING THAT'S OVER 25, WE REALLY LOOK INTO IT.
SOME LINE ITEMS THAT YOU'LL NOTICE SPECIFICALLY AUTO INSURANCE.
SO WE'LL SCROLL THROUGH PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS.
I THINK OTHER THAN ONE ARE REALLY IN THE MID 20S, 24, 21 STAYING WELL WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
WHEN WE GET TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION, YOU'LL SEE WE'RE AT 48% OF THAT JUST REPRESENTS WE'VE PAID THEM TWO QUARTERS OF THEIR ALLOCATION.
SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND THAT 4,850%.
CONTINUING TO LOOK THROUGH DEPARTMENTS, WE CAN STOP AT THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE SHOW THAT RIGHT NOW AT 29%, THE HR BUDGET IN GENERAL IS A SMALLER BUDGET IN THE GENERAL FUND. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE LINE ITEM THAT WE'VE EXPENDED ALL $40,000 THAT WAS BUDGETED.
THAT'S A LINE ITEM THAT'S PAID AT THE FRONT OF THE YEAR.
THAT REALLY THROWS THE SMALLER DEPARTMENT OVER THAT 25% MARK.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY WELL IN LINE.
HOW ABOUT MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE EXPENSE? WITH MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE DEPARTMENT.
WITH THAT SHERRY AND AIR CONFERENCE TIMED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO I IMAGINE THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR THERE WILL BE VERY LITTLE TO NO MILEAGE IN CONFERENCE.
WE HAD TWO CONFERENCES AND A CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER AND ACTUALLY ANOTHER ONE IN OCTOBER.
SO THAT'S GOING TO EXTEND OUT.
ERIC DIER WE'RE AWARE OF THAT.
GOING PAST THAT WE HAVE GENERAL SERVICES.
IF YOU LOOK THROUGH GENERAL SERVICE WE'RE AT ABOUT 87% SPENT.
BUT THE NATURE OF GENERAL SERVICE IS REALLY OUR CATCHALL INSURANCE PROPERTY CASUALTY LIABILITY.
I'LL KEEP SCANNING THROUGH HERE.
21 1728 THE NEXT DEPARTMENT THAT'S A LITTLE OVER THE 25 IS COMMUNICATIONS.
THEY HAVE ABOUT 60% SPENT ON MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS.
AND IN NATURE, THAT IS THEIR LARGEST ITEM.
SO THAT'S TYPICAL FASHION FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.
TO HAVE THAT UP FRONT COST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
THEY'LL LEVEL BACK OUT AND SHOULD HIT BELOW THE HUNDRED PERCENT.
ALL OF THEIR ADMIN CENTRAL SHOP SOLID WASTE, ALL WITHIN THE 25%.
SOME WELL UNDER I'LL REALLY SKIP DOWN TO.
I'M GOING TO JUMP TO 310, WHICH IS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THEN 320, WHICH IS SOCIAL SERVICES.
AS YOU START LOOKING THROUGH THOSE LINE ITEMS, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THEM ARE AT 50%.
THAT'S DUE TO TIMING OF US GETTING GIVING THEM THEIR QUARTERLY ALLOCATIONS.
SO THEY'VE RECEIVED TWO QUARTERS, WHICH HITS THEM RIGHT AT THAT 50% MARK.
WE GO THROUGH RECREATION AND PARKS, 2,223%, WELL WITHIN THE 25.
AND THEN BACK TO THE LAST PAGE WHERE WE'RE SEEING LIBRARY EXTENSION SERVICE, MITCHELL REGIONAL COUNCIL ALL HITTING AT THE EXACTLY 50% MARK FOR TWO QUARTERS OF ALLOCATION. AND THAT REALLY KIND OF PUTS US TO THE, THE VERY END WHERE WE'RE HITTING DEBT.
THAT'S JUST ON TIMING OF EACH BOND ISSUANCE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TOO MANY BOND PAYMENTS UPFRONT IN THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH SHOWS THE LOW SPEND.
BUT THE LONG AND SHORT REVENUE RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ABOUT 32%.
COLLECTION AND EXPENSES WERE ABOUT 21% EXPENDED.
[00:20:04]
IS THIS PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU'VE SEEN EACH YEAR? VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE SEE EACH YEAR FOR OUR FIRST QUARTER.ARE THERE ANY DEPARTMENTS OR LINE ITEMS THAT I COULD SPEAK TO OR ANSWER? NO, I DON'T HAVE ANY. THANK YOU.
[Discussion of the Regional Detention Center]
WEEK AT 8 A.M.IN CHESTERTOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, THAT WAS AN EARLY MORNING.
SO I TAKE ONE AND PASS THAT DOWN.
DANNY, DO YOU WANT TO COME UP TO.
SO STEWART AND I WENT TO KENT COUNTY TO MEET WITH THE COUNTY.
OUR COUNTERPARTS IN QUEEN ANNE'S AND KENT COUNTY.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN STUCK ON AND STUCK ON IN THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, AND WE'VE BEEN CIRCULATING DRAFTS AND DECIDING THE BEST WAY TO MOVE FORWARD IS WHETHER OR NOT WE PROCEED WITH AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS DRAFTED AND PRESENTED, WHICH YOU HAVE THERE VERSUS AN AUTHORITY FOR THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
BUT OF COURSE, THE LAWS IN VIRGINIA ARE QUITE A BIT DIFFERENT.
THAT'S A STATE FUNDED FACILITY.
I GUESS THE PARTNERS WEREN'T SURE IF THAT MODEL WAS GOING TO WORK FOR US OR NOT.
ONE, THEY FELT THAT THEY COULD ACCOMPLISH ALL OF OUR GOALS WITH AN AGREEMENT.
BUT OF COURSE, THAT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE PROCESS.
AND I THINK THE REASON AND RATIONALE BEHIND THAT WAS FOR LIABILITY.
SO WHILE MANY THINGS MANAGEMENT OF THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER LIABILITY, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH MY NOTES.
SO THERE WERE WE'D ALL LOOKED THROUGH THE AGREEMENT RULES.
STEWART SPOKE ABOUT THE LIABILITY, PARTICULARLY FOR THE COUNTY.
AND I THINK THE CONSENSUS FROM THE OTHER, THE OTHER COUNTIES WAS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE GO WITH AN AUTHORITY OR AN AGREEMENT, EVERY COUNTY IS STILL GOING TO HAVE SOME LIABILITY, WHETHER IT'S FOR LAWSUITS, FINANCIAL, WHATEVER.
I MEAN, WOULD YOU SAY I'M CHARACTERIZING THAT? IT'S ACTUALLY I WOULD MY OPINION IS THAT THE THREE COUNTIES ESCAPED LIABILITY WHEN THE AUTHORITY IS SET UP AND IT'S RUNNING THE FACILITY, JUST LIKE IN VIRGINIA, THOSE COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT ARE PART OF THOSE AUTHORITIES OR SEND THEIR MONEY IN EVERY QUARTER OR WHATEVER, THEY DON'T GET SUED EVERY TIME AN INMATE FILES A CLAIM AGAINST, IT'S ALWAYS AGAINST THE AUTHORITY AND OR THE AUTHORITY'S WARD, WHO'S JUST SORT OF A TITLE.
HE'S JUST HE OR SHE IS JUST LUMPED IN THERE WITH THE LAWSUIT.
THAT WE EVENTUALLY LOOK AT THE AUTHORITY MODEL.
AND I ASKED THE GROUP WHETHER THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO INSERT A PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT ETCHED IN STONE, BUT THAT THE PARTIES WILL, IN GOOD FAITH, EXAMINE AND POSSIBLY NEGOTIATE THE CREATION OF AN AUTHORITY TO TAKE THE PLACE OF THIS INITIAL AGREEMENT. AND I DIDN'T HEAR A WHOLE LOT OF PUSHBACK, DID YOU, ON THAT? I DON'T REMEMBER THEM PUSHING.
NO. THEY AGREED. NO, THEY AGREED TO DO THAT.
YEAH. SO STEWART, IF IF THE AUTHORITY IS MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTIES.
[00:25:07]
CORRECT? WELL, THE BOARD WOULD BE.SO WHAT WHAT WHAT FINANCIAL ABILITY DOES THE AUTHORITY HAVE TO TO SETTLE OR OR PARTICIPATE IN LAWSUITS? IT WOULD BE A STANDALONE PUBLIC ENTITY, WHICH IS A DEFINED TERM IN THE STATE LAW, WHICH WOULD ALLOW IT TO PARTICIPATE IN POOLED INSURANCE, SUCH AS LEGIT.
SO THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE A STANDALONE MEMBER OF LEGIT, JUST LIKE EACH COUNTY IS.
AND JUST AS IT HAS BEEN THE EXAMPLE IN VIRGINIA THE INDIVIDUAL JURISDICTIONS DO NOT.
THEY'RE NOT PARTIES TO THE SUITS.
THE AUTHORITY HAS THE INSURANCE HAS THE MONEY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE SUING A STOCKHOLDER FOR SOMETHING A CORPORATION DOES.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT, IS THERE? SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY, IS THAT MEMBER LIABLE AS A MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY? IT IT IS NOT AS A MATTER OF LAW.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEBODY WON'T THROW SOMEBODY IN.
AS A DEFENDANT, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE INCLUDED AS DEFENDANTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
WELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE MEMBER OF THE AUTHORITY WHO REPRESENTS US.
NO. ARE WE GOING TO BE? NO. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO SAY TO SOMEBODY IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE CAROLINE COUNTY'S AUTHORITY MEMBER, YOU'RE YOU COULD BE SUED.
SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PAY SOMEWHERE.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE THAT THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FOR EXAMPLE, LEGIT AND LEGIT WOULD REPRESENT THEM UP TO A CERTAIN POINT, LIKE THEY DO ANY OF US, ANY OF US WHO WOULD MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE LEDGETT SAYS WE'RE GOING.
WE'LL PAY THIS MUCH TO SETTLE THIS.
OR IF WE LOSE, WE'LL PAY THIS MUCH.
WHO PAYS UP? AND IF THERE'S A IF THERE'S A REMAINDER TO BE PAID, WHO PAYS THAT? THE AUTHORITY. THAT'S A HOPEFULLY A HYPOTHETICAL THAT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THEORETICALLY SOMEONE COULD ARGUE THAT THE MEMBERS HAVE.
YES, WE MAY HAVE TO WRITE A CHECK, BUT THAT IS PURELY THEORETICAL IN REAL LIFE.
IT WON'T HAPPEN IN A CASE LIKE THIS, AT LEAST IN MY OPINION.
SO THAT WAS THAT WAS SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD IN THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP.
SO AT LEAST UNLESS OR UNTIL THAT CHANGES, IF THERE WERE ANY KIND OF LAWSUIT, IT WOULD GO TO THE GYM NO MATTER WHAT. SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT GAVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORT.
DEFINITELY. I THINK WE WOULD PREFER THE AUTHORITY.
AND WE'RE ALL REALLY NEEDING THIS PROJECT CAN STAND ON THIS.
I THINK THEY'RE THEY'RE FINE WITH IT.
SO I KNOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT THE WAY WE HAVE.
SO THEY'RE FINE WITH THE AGREEMENT, ALTHOUGH I'M GOING TO GET INTO SOME OTHER CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP, BECAUSE THEY DEFINITELY SHARED SOME OF OUR SAME CONCERNS ABOUT, AND SO DID QUEEN ANNE'S, TO SOME EXTENT ABOUT SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE AGREEMENT AND SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE'RE UNDER TIME CONSTRAINTS.
OKAY. SO ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE DISCUSSED VERY SIMILAR TO THE LIABILITY.
BUT THIS WOULD BE MORE OF A FINANCIAL LIABILITY.
SO IF THERE WERE ANY KIND OF A CONTRACT DISPUTE OR YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS WOULD GO THROUGH QUEEN.
YEAH. QUEEN ANNE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
IF WE GO WITH THE AGREEMENT MODEL.
SO I THINK BOTH KENT AND CAROLINE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF FELT.
[00:30:04]
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY DOES ALL OF THE PROCUREMENT? WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.BUT WE HAD NO SAY IN OR KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROJECT GOING FORWARD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO THAT'S A CHANGE THAT EVERYBODY AGREED WOULD NEED TO BE MADE TO THE AGREEMENT OR SOME LANGUAGE THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDED, THAT ANYTHING THAT GOES OUT FOR PROCUREMENT OR GOES OUT, GOES OUT TO BID, WOULD GO TO THE BOARD THAT'S DESIGNATED IN THE AGREEMENT.
AND THEN THERE'S A THIRD PERSON FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY TO MAKE IT SEVEN.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO THE THEY JUST DESIGNATE SOMEONE A DESIGNATED KIMLEY-HORN.
SO THAT'S GOOD FOR BOTH SIDES.
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY HAVE THE THIRD REPRESENTATIVE.
BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT BOTH KENT AND CAROLINE FEELS IT'S PUTTING US AT RISK, THEN WE HAVE THE FOUR VOTES VERSUS THREE VOTES FOR THE TWO PARTNER COUNTIES. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED TO CHANGE IN THE AGREEMENT.
THERE'S SOME LANGUAGE IN THE AGREEMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARTNERSHIP.
SO WE DID TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
THERE'S NO TIMELINE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
AND CLEARLY, IF A PARTNER WANTED TO WITHDRAW, I MEAN, WE WE CAN'T.
THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE.
NOBODY'S GOING TO BUILD A JAIL IN 30 DAYS OR A DETENTION CENTER IN 30 DAYS.
SO WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? AND PARTICULARLY IF QUEEN ANNE COUNTY DECIDED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE AGREEMENT AS THE HOST AND CONTROLLER OF THE FACILITY? SO WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THAT IN THE AGREEMENT.
ALSO WE DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT ABOUT EMPLOYEES AND HOW THAT TRANSITION WOULD WORK.
THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT I THINK PARTICULARLY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, NOT SO MUCH.
OUR PENSION IS DIFFERENT THAN THE PENSION THAT QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND KENT COUNTY ARE ON.
SO IF WE HAVE A 20 YEAR EMPLOYEE, HOW DOES THAT TRANSITION LOOK? DO WE KEEP THEM IN OUR PENSION? YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE CUTOFF IF IT'S A TEN YEAR EMPLOYEE? DO THEY MOVE TO THE STATE PENSION AND WE BUY THEM OUT? WILL THE STATE LET US DO THAT? CAN THEY GET CREDITED YEARS OF SERVICE? SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES AS WE LOOK AT A TRANSITION TO THEIR SYSTEM.
SO THEY'RE THEY'RE PART OF THE STATE PENSION AND CAUSE SO THAT'S ACTUALLY A VERY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
SO TOWARDS THAT END WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW MANY, HOW MUCH STAFF EACH JURISDICTION CURRENTLY HAS VERSUS HOW MUCH STAFF THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER WOULD NEED.
I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER FOR THAT YET.
JUST HOW MANY, YOU KNOW, RANK YEARS OF SERVICE.
QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY EXPRESSED THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE APPROACHING RETIREMENT.
SO IF THE NUMBER IS SIMILAR, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THROWING OUT A NUMBER THAT MEANS NOTHING.
BUT IF IT'S GOING TO BE 100 EMPLOYEES AND THERE'S 95 CURRENT STAFF, THEN THAT'LL WORK.
IF WE NEED 100 EMPLOYEES AND THE TWO JURISDICTIONS HAVE 150 STAFF, THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE JURISDICTIONS WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY HANGING OUT THERE WITHOUT A JOB WHEN WE EMERGE.
CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT? MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHAT THEY ENVISION IS THAT EVERYBODY WHO WORKS AT THE AT THE REGIONAL FACILITY, CHARLES WOULD BE AN EMPLOYEE OF CAROLINE COUNTY. I'M SORRY, OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT CONTINUATION OF THEIR PENSION BENEFIT.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD PLAY OUT.
CORRECT THAT. THAT'S AN ISSUE.
ANOTHER ISSUE I HAD WAS THAT THE OVERSIGHT BOARD APPOINTS THE WARDEN, SO IT ADVERTISES IT INTERVIEWS, AND IT DECIDES TO HIRE THIS PERSON AS THE WARDEN OF THE REGIONAL FACILITY.
WELL, SINCE EVERYONE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, THIS WARDEN, WHO GOT APPOINTED BY THE
[00:35:04]
OVERSIGHT BOARD, IS NOW AN EMPLOYEE OF THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.BUT AT SOME POINT, IT MIGHT WELL BE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS DECIDE THEY DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON ANYMORE, AND THEY DON'T WANT HIM TO BE A QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY EMPLOYEE. YET THE OVERSIGHT BOARD LOVES HIM OR HER.
WHO WINS? THAT HASN'T BEEN THOUGHT ABOUT.
SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE OTHER ISSUE IS KENT AND CAROLINE WILL BE SOMEWHAT IN THE POSITION OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BOUGHT A TIMESHARE WHERE YOU HAVE BOUGHT AN INTEREST.
YOU'RE JUST BEING TOLD, HERE'S YOUR SHARE.
YOUR OVERSIGHT BOARD DOES HAVE SOME SAY IN THIS, WE HOPE.
BUT AS KATHLEEN SAID, THIS IS UNDER THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY PROCUREMENT SYSTEM TO GO OUT AND PROCURE, YOU KNOW, THE CONTRACTS, WHETHER IT'S MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPING, FOOD SUPPLY, WHATEVER IT IS, MEDICAL THE OVERSIGHT BOARD, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN MAKES SUGGESTIONS TO THE WARDEN, BUT THE WARDEN, NOTHING GETS DONE UNLESS THE WARDEN APPROVES IT.
SO, I MEAN, THOSE ARE JUST THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
SO WILL APPLICATIONS FOR FOR JOBS.
AND WHEN DOES THIS PUT IN PLACE, APPLICATIONS FOR JOBS FOR OFFICERS AND OTHER STAFF WOULD BE PROCESSED, WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO AND PROCESSED THROUGH QUEEN ANNE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES.
ONCE THE FACILITY IS UP AND RUNNING, I THINK THAT'S THAT'S HOW IT WOULD WORK.
SO APPARENTLY, THE QUEEN ANNE'S AND KENT COUNTY SHARE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WHO ANSWERS TO A BOARD, AND THEY HAVE A MODEL FOR HOW THEY'VE SET THAT UP, BECAUSE THAT OBVIOUSLY, EVEN IF YOU'RE THE WARDEN OF THAT FACILITY, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD BE TRICKY TO NAVIGATE.
THERE'S ALSO LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT THAT STEWART ALLUDED TO THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CAN MAKE DECISIONS, BUT THE WARDEN HAS TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, SO THAT LANGUAGE WOULD ALSO BE CHANGED SO THAT THE THE OVERSIGHT BOARD IS TRULY THE, YOU KNOW, THE FINAL SAY IN WHAT HAPPENS IN THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
BUT ALL THOSE THINGS DEFINITELY NEED TO BE AMENDED IN THIS AGREEMENT.
SO WE ARE NOW ASKED TO GO THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT AND, YOU KNOW, USING TRACK CHANGES, MAKE EDITS.
STEWART AND I ARE GOING TO DO THAT.
YOU HAVE IT ELECTRONICALLY FROM BACK IN THE DAY, BUT I CAN RE FORWARD THAT ALSO.
TO TAKE A PEEK AT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE HAVEN'T MENTIONED.
SO YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A PRETTY TIGHT TURNAROUND.
I THEY ASKED FOR IT THIS WEEK, WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE, I DON'T THINK.
BUT I TOLD THEM I COULD GET IT TO THEM MAYBE EARLY NEXT WEEK.
SO MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT THE FINAL VERSION NEXT TUESDAY, OUR FINAL RECOMMENDED EDITS NEXT TUESDAY IN OUR MEETING, AND THEN FORWARD THEM ON IF WE'RE OKAY WITH PURSUING THE AGREEMENT.
BUT I KNOW THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.
BUT I THINK IF WE IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FUNDING WISE GETTING LOGISTICALLY IF WE DELAY ON PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
SO I HAVE A KIND OF A GENERAL QUESTION HERE, THE DESIGN OF THE FACILITY, I MIGHT BE GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF, BUT IF WE IF WE'RE ASKING FOR FUNDING, WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD.
THE POPULATIONS FOR THESE FACILITIES ARE DOWN, I GUESS DUE TO SENTENCING GUIDELINES AND CHANGES.
WHO IS GOING TO? I MEAN, WE ALREADY KNOW WE'RE IN A SITUATION WITH GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE IT'S ALREADY FULL.
[00:40:02]
HOW IS THAT DESIGNED? AND THE NUMBER OF OF CELLS AND WHO IS MAKING WHO ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AND WHAT INFORMATION ARE THEY USING TO PROJECT WHAT THEY NEED TO BUILD? SO WARDEN SCOTT AND DEPUTY WARDEN DIXON HAVE BEEN, I THINK, PRETTY HEAVILY INVOLVED, IF NOT REALLY LEADING THE CHARGE WITH SOME OF THOSE DOCUMENTS. SO I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT.SO WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL MEETINGS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING EVERY OTHER WEEK.
SO ALMOST EVERY TWO WEEKS WE'VE SKIPPED A COUPLE.
BECAUSE THEY CANCELED THE MEETINGS.
BUT AT THIS POINT THEY'VE DECIDED TO BUILD A 338 BED FACILITY.
THEY THEY FINALLY GAVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE DESIGN IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT.
OUR LAST. WE HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW.
LAST TWO WEEKS AGO THURSDAY, WE SET IN AND WE WENT OVER.
THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW EXACTLY THE WAY THE FACILITY WAS DESIGNED.
SO MYSELF AND MY DEPUTY, WE RECOMMENDED A LOT OF CHANGES BECAUSE THE INDIVIDUALS BUILDING THE FACILITY DON'T SEEM THEY DON'T HAVE.
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST MIGHT BE THE FIRST FACILITY THEY BUILT.
KENT COUNTY HAS NOBODY BECAUSE THEY GOT RID OF THE WARDEN.
THEY HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SITTING IN WHO THEY DON'T WANT TO BE REWARDING.
SO IT'S WELL, THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT THEM TO BE THE WARDEN.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY.
AND YOU HAVE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY'S WARDEN.
WHO IS THERE? PUT IT THAT WAY. BUT WE'VE GIVEN AS FAR AS THE SETUP, SECURITY ISSUES, CONTROL, LOADING DOCKS, THE DIRECTION AND THE AND THE POSITION OF THE FACILITY.
HOW OPERATIONS NEED TO BE RUN.
THE SIZE OF THE HOUSING UNITS, THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
WE'VE PRETTY MUCH DONE EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS A WHILE AGO.
THEY BROUGHT IN A COUPLE GUYS.
I SPOKE TO COMMISSIONER BREEDING.
THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A CLUE.
WE HELPED OUT A LOT WITH THAT.
NOW, I THINK THEY'RE OUT OF THE PICTURE.
SO THEY DID EMAIL OUT THE PROPOSED THE FINAL PROPOSAL FOR THE PART TWO.
SO THE THE INITIAL PART IS SUPPOSED TO BE SUBMITTED BY MARCH 1ST, WHICH MEANS IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY.
SO YOU SUBMIT IT, THEY LOOK AT IT.
ANY ISSUES THEY HAVE, THEY SEND IT BACK.
BUT THE PART ONE IS DONE NOW, RIGHT? EVERYTHING'S DONE NOW. WE WERE SHOOTING PART ONE AND PART TWO.
WE WERE SHOOTING FOR MARCH 1ST OF OF THIS YEAR AND WE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
YEAH, WE DIDN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.
SO BUT NOW I'VE SEEN ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS, THE PART ONE AND PART TWO.
OKAY. THAT USUALLY IS DUE BY THE END OF JUNE.
YOU WANT TO HAVE IT DONE BY MID MID-JUNE.
SO IT'S FINISHED BY THE END OF JUNE AND EVERYTHING'S SUBMITTED.
AND THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE BASICALLY THE STUDIES THAT THE INFORMATION THAT IS USED TO DETERMINE THAT WE NEED TO JUSTIFY A 338 BED FACILITY.
IT'S A STUDY. IS THAT THE JUSTIFICATION.
AND THEN THE PART TWO IS PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE DESIGN, THE BASIC DESIGN.
AND ONCE THAT'S SUBMITTED AND APPROVED AND THAT'S WHEN YOU START.
SO NOW FOR BID AND FOR ACTUAL DESIGN.
YES. IT'S SO THE PART TWO IS JUST A FLOOR PLAN DESIGN.
YES. THE OUTSIDE OF FACILITY AND SQUARE FOOTAGE LAYOUT.
OKAY. SO, CHARLES, WHAT IS OUR TOTAL? I MEAN, DO YOU KNOW ROUGHLY WHAT OUR TOTAL INMATE POPULATION IS RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE THREE COUNTIES RIGHT NOW? OH, BETWEEN THE THREE COUNTIES, IT'S.
I CAN ONLY GIVE AN APPROXIMATE NUMBER BECAUSE IT CHANGES EVERY DAY.
SO WE'RE BETWEEN THE THREE COUNTIES.
100. THIS FACILITY IS GOING TO BE BUILT FOR THREE TIMES THAT, THREE TIMES THE CURRENT FACILITY.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? SO YEAH BECAUSE THEY'RE HOUSING RESTRICTIONS RIGHT.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF OFFENDERS HAVE TO BE HOUSED DIFFERENTLY.
[00:45:01]
YOU CAN'T HAVE 150 BED FACILITY HOLD 120 PEOPLE.I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE BEDS ARE MEDICAL ISOLATION IN THE INTAKE AREA.
YOU YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A FACILITY THAT'S FULL.
YOU HAVE YOUR AREA THAT'S FOR DISCIPLINARY, WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL ONLY HOLD A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE A LARGE INCIDENT, YOU HAVE TO BE CAPABLE OF HOLDING, YOU KNOW, THREE TIMES THAT.
SO THE WAY THAT THE WAY THIS IS SET UP, THE WAY THIS IS SET UP, IT'S SUPPOSED TO HOLD WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO NEED UNTIL 2043.
AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, BUT BECAUSE OF LEGISLATION THAT JGTRRA EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SOME THINGS WORK, SOME THINGS DON'T.
THE COURT SYSTEM IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SLOW RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A LOT THAT SHOULD BE TWEAKED.
THE SITUATION WITH THE JUVENILES, IT'S WAY OUT OF HAND EVERYWHERE.
WELL, I KNOW FROM LIKE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS BALTIMORE, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, ANNE ARUNDEL DC, EVEN PROBABLY IN WICOMICO.
THE SITUATION WITH THE JUVENILES AND THE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH IS OUT OF HAND.
YOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND MDH WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HOUSING THESE PEOPLE WHEN WE GET A COURT ORDER FOR A MENTAL EVAL FOR A PERSON TO GO TO A MENTAL FACILITY.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LEAVE IN TEN DAYS.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE A PERSON FOR 150.
THERE'S A CONSTANTLY 200, AROUND 200 PEOPLE ON A WAITING LIST TO GO TO MDH FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. BUT AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE LAST 20 YEARS, THEY'VE SHUT SO MANY FACILITIES DOWN AND AND CUT OUT SO MANY BEDS. THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THESE FOLKS TO GO.
AND THEY ENDED UP PILING UP IN THE JAIL.
NOW WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE WHO HAVE SOME TYPE OF ISSUE OR IN SOME TYPE OF CRISIS THAT NEED HELP.
THEY'RE TRYING TO KIND OF PUSH IT OFF TO CORRECTIONS, PERIOD, WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A SERIES OF WING WHERE THAT STAFF JUST FOR THAT. THERE'S THE OUT OF SIGHT AND SOUND.
IF WE GET JUVENILES, THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SEE OR HEAR ADULTS.
FEMALES SUPPOSED TO BE NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE MALES.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU END UP WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF BEDS AND THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T BE HOUSED TOGETHER.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO AREAS FOR EACH CLASSIFICATION MINIMUM, MEDIUM AND MAXIMUM.
YOU HAVE A WEEKENDER UNIT BECAUSE WEEKEND IS ONLY COME IN TWO DAYS A WEEK, AND IT'S MORE LIKELY THAT CONTRABAND END UP IN THAT AREA AND YOU KNOW WHERE TO CONCENTRATE YOUR SEARCHES AND YOUR INVESTIGATIONS.
OR YOU CAN TRACK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE FINDING CONTRABAND OR YOU GIVE THEM URINALYSIS TEST, YOU CAN KIND OF TRACK AND FIGURE OUT HOW IT GOT TO THE FACILITY, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU MAY HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING THERE AND MAY NOT BE WHETHER THEY'RE IN DIETARY, MEDICAL OR IN UNIFORM.
THAT MAY BE INTRODUCING CONTRABAND.
SO WE HAVE TO DO ALL THIS, BE ABLE TO DO A PROPER INVESTIGATION BY FOLLOWING, YOU KNOW, THE TRAIL.
I JUST I JUST WANT TO I MEAN, I'M, I'M CONCERNED THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, WHEN WE SAY THAT THE PEOPLE DOING THIS ARE NOT I MEAN, I, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT LOOKING AT THIS, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND SAYING, MAN, WE SHOULD HAVE BUILT MORE BEDS.
WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
I KNOW, I KNOW, THAT'S A DIFFICULT THING, BUT JUST THIS IS A ONE TIME SHOT.
THERE'S THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.
SO JUST LIKE MY PREVIOUS FACILITY, IT'S SET UP FOR AUDITIONS.
SO THAT IS SET UP FOR AN ADDITION ONTO THE FACILITY.
[00:50:04]
BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY AND ACREAGE THEY HAVE AND THE LOCATION, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO ADD ON.SO. IT CAN BE DOUBLED IF THEY NEED TO.
OKAY. THERE IS A LOT THOUGH THAT HAS TO BE HASHED OUT.
SPEAKING TO SOME OF WHAT WARDEN SCOTT HAS TALKED ABOUT, EVEN THE STAFFING LEVELS, IS THAT EVEN AS SIMPLE AS AND I THREW A NUMBER OUT, THAT'S MEANINGLESS.
I'M JUST USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE.
BUT 100 STAFF, IT'S 100 STAFF.
SO WHEN WE WHEN WE ALL LOOK AT OUR STAFFING LEVELS AND OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T WE CAN'T SAY HOW MANY STAFF ARE GOING TO NEED JUST BASED ON 360 BEDS, OR ARE YOU OR SCOTT, OR ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE.
I KNOW YOU SAID YOU HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS AS FAR AS LAYOUT SUGGESTED CHANGES.
THE PREMISE OF THE LAYOUT OF THE BUILDING.
DO YOU AGREE WITH WHAT THEY'VE PROPOSED SO FAR? THERE'S DIFFERENT MODELS FOR DETENTION CENTERS, RIGHT? WE'VE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES, AND THEY'VE AGREED THEY'VE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO YOUR COMMENTS.
ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, THEY DEPEND.
SO FROM THE BEGINNING, THEY'VE DEPENDED ON CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE GIVE THEM PRETTY MUCH A LOT OF FEEDBACK, A LOT OF I MEAN, EVERYTHING.
YOU KNOW, CONSULTANT WHEN I RETIRE, I THINK I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDFATHER, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE GYM SO I CAN KEEP UP WITH IT, YOU KNOW.
BUT BUT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RECEPTIVE TO THE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
BEEN INVOLVED. YOU'VE BEEN GOING TO BUILD A DETENTION CENTER SINCE YOU CAME HERE, RIGHT? YEAH. HOW LONG? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE? FIVE AND A HALF. FIVE AND A HALF YEARS NOW.
SO I CAME IN MAY AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT IN JULY, SO IT WILL BE THERE.
THEY'RE MAKING PROVISIONS FOR ADDITIONS.
AND THEY THEY'VE AGREED WITH EVERYTHING.
IT'S NOTHING. THEY SAID NO, WE DON'T.
HOW ABOUT TRANSPORTATION? HAS THERE BEEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? I DON'T THINK IT'S NOT REALLY ADDRESSED IN THIS PROPOSED AGREEMENT.
AND WE DID TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, ALTHOUGH WE TRIED TO FOCUS OUR MEETING STRICTLY ON HASHING OUT THE AGREEMENT VERSUS THE AUTHORITY BECAUSE WE'VE EXPRESSED THAT WE DON'T AS CAROLINE COUNTY, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT MORE FUNDING INTO THIS UNTIL WE'RE COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE READY TO GO FORWARD AT THAT BASELINE LEVEL.
AND THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT.
YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE COMPLICATED.
SO. I DON'T KNOW HOW I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WILL WORK.
OKAY. WELL I DON'T I DON'T DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DO.
I DON'T SEE TRANSPORTATION BEING A SERIOUS.
I DON'T SEE IT BEING A REALLY SERIOUS ISSUE.
RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BUT FIGURE EVERYBODY HAS A TRANSPORT UNIT.
WHEN YOU COMBINE IT, YOU'LL PROBABLY END UP WITH ABOUT SEVEN EIGHT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL PROBABLY NEED ABOUT PROBABLY ABOUT 15.
YOU KNOW. BUT THAT'LL JUST KIND OF LIKE THE NUMBER YOU PUT OUT 100.
THAT'S ABOUT PROBABLY CLOSE TO WHERE STAFFING WILL BE.
UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WHERE IT LOOKS AT ME.
[00:55:05]
KENT COUNTY HAS ALREADY PUT A FREEZE ON HIRING.SO THEY'RE ALREADY AT THE POINT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEIR NUMBERS STAYING ABOUT THE 20S, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET IT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY CAN FARM OUT EVERY INMATE TO QUEEN ANNE'S OR CECIL COUNTY UNTIL THE FACILITIES BUILT.
THAT'S THE WAY IT LOOKS TO ME.
AND JUST DO TRANSPORTATION AND INTAKE.
AND THE PEOPLE WOULD BE THERE NO LONGER THAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EIGHT HOURS.
AND THEN THEY WOULD TRANSPORT THEM TO EITHER CECIL COUNTY OR QUEEN ANNE'S.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THAT, BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON, BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING HARD TO PHASE OUT OR CUT BACK ON THEIR MEDICAL AND THEIR DIETARY.
SO DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE WISE FOR US TO REQUEST THAT IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT TRANSPORTATION BE INCORPORATED.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU KNOW THAT IT NEEDS TO BE LAID OUT IN THIS AGREEMENT, THAT IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT EACH COUNTY IS GOING TO DO ITS OWN TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION. YOU AND I HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IN THE PAST.
IT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION, RIGHT? IT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY THE EITHER AUTHORITY OR THE ENTITY THAT IS OPERATING THE DETENTION CENTER.
I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE TO BE MANDATORY BECAUSE AND I THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION AS WELL, THAT WE ADD THAT THAT WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE AN AUTHORITY AND IT WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN SO MANY YEARS OF THE EXECUTION OF THIS.
YOU HAVE ALL THESE. THIS IS CAROLINE, THIS IS KENT, THIS IS QUEEN ANNE'S.
THAT IN ITSELF IS GOING TO CAUSE A PROBLEM.
AND BECAUSE I INITIALLY CAME FROM CAROLINE, I SHOULDN'T BE JUST TRANSPORTING CAROLINE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IN THE IN THE STATE SYSTEM, THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICERS DO AROUND.
WHEN I WAS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S, WE HAD THREE REGIONAL FACILITIES WE DID AROUND.
AND WE DID THAT LIKE TWICE A SHIFT TO AND ALSO DID COURT TRANSPORTATION.
SO THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE HERE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE JUST CAROLINE TRANSPORTING CAROLINE, BECAUSE EACH OF US GO TO EACH FACILITY IN EACH COUNTY AND EACH COURT ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, WE TRANSPORT INDIVIDUALS TO TALBOT, DORCHESTER, KENT, QUEEN ANNE'S.
SO WE DO HAVE THE OPTION RIGHT NOW OF SENDING SOMEBODY TO KENT OR SEND THEM TO QUEEN ANNE'S.
BUT ONCE WE BECOME ONE FACILITY, WE WON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER REASON YOU NEED THE ADDITIONAL BED SPACE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS SAFE AND SEPARATED AND ALL THAT'S BEEN FACTORED INTO THIS BED SPACE. OKAY.
I MEAN, DO YOU GUYS FEEL LIKE THAT'S A HANG UP IF WE IF WE REQUIRE AN AUTHORITY AS A PART? WELL, I THINK STUART'S ALREADY ASKED THEM TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER IT GOING FORWARD.
WE HAVE THE DRAFT STATE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSED CHANGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WOULDN'T ADOPT IT OR WHY THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT, BUT I THINK WHAT OUR BEST NEXT STEPS WOULD BE WOULD BE TO ADD ALL OF OUR COMMENTS TO THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THAT COMMENT, AND CIRCULATE THAT TO THE SMALL GROUP THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE IF NOT, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A PLAN B FOR OUR FOR OURSELVES HERE.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE MAKE THESE PROPOSED EDITS.
WE TALK ABOUT THEM NEXT TUESDAY AND THE COMMISSIONER'S MEETING.
AND THEN WE SEND ALL OF OUR ITEMS TO THE SMALL GROUP.
ALL RIGHT. SO I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHO WOULD THE AUTHORITY, THE AUTHORITY BE MADE UP OF LIKE TWO INDIVIDUALS FROM CAROLINE, TWO FROM
[01:00:01]
KENT. WHO WOULD? YOUR WOULD BE THE TWO INDIVIDUALS RIGHT NOW.THE WAY IT'S SET UP, IT WOULD BE A COUNTY COMMISSIONER AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
OKAY. AND THEN QUEEN ANNE'S GETS TO DESIGNATE A THIRD FROM WITHIN.
SO THEY MAY PICK AN ENGINEER OR ANOTHER, WHOEVER THEY.
RIGHT. A COMMUNITY MEMBER COULD BE A STAFF MEMBER, COULD BE ANYBODY.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE A THIRD DESIGNEE.
BUT THE TWO PARTNER COUNTIES WOULD STILL HAVE MORE WEIGH IN ON DECISIONS.
WE WOULD HAVE FOUR VOTES COMPARED TO THREE.
AND KENT, I THINK KENT IS MY PERCEPTION IS THAT KENT IS OKAY WITH GOING THE AGREEMENT ROUTE.
AND I THINK QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THEY HAD ANY HEARTBURN WITH THAT EITHER.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE IN THERE THAT TRANSPORTATION WILL BE HANDLED BY WHATEVER ENTITY IS OPERATING THE DETENTION CENTER, WHETHER IT BE AN AUTHORITY OR IT BE, I GUESS TECHNICALLY QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, RIGHT? YEAH. AND I THINK THAT'S A HOLISTIC MINDSET AND CHANGE OF THE THREE ENTITIES TO GET DOWN TO ONE THOUGHT.
SO JUST ONE THING I WANT TO MENTION A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KIND OF LIKE THE VIRGINIA ENTITY AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING OR WHAT THE GROUP IS LOOKING AT HERE. SO SPECIFICALLY WITH IT BEING HOUSED AT QUEEN ANNE'S.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE QUEEN ANNE'S FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
HR. QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY IT ALL THOSE THINGS WHERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AUTHORITY, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IN VIRGINIA THEY STAFF INTERNALLY SOME OF THAT. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AN ENTITY AND WE TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIALS OF IT, YOU HAVE WHERE THEY MAY CREATE A FUND BALANCE.
AND THEY HAVE WHERE IF THERE'S LITIGATION OR SOMETHING, THERE'S A FUN BALANCE TO PULL FROM.
AND IT'S NOT REALLY BUILT TO THREE PARTIES.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMEONE SET UP A WHOLE NEW FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BRING IN A NEW IT TEAM THAT'S GOING TO DO JUST THEM.
THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO EMPLOY IT.
SO THERE'S STILL SOME EXPOSURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
I THINK EITHER WAY TO TO STEWART'S POINT, I MEAN, IF IF IT COMES DOWN TO IT AND THERE HAS TO BE A CHECK WRITTEN FOR SOME MISTAKE OR SOME ISSUE, THE AUTHORITY DOESN'T HAVE A FUND BALANCE TO GO BACK AND GO, YEP, WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT OUT OF THE MILLION DOLLARS.
THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO THE THREE COUNTIES AND GO, HERE'S YOUR 33%.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP WITH IT.
I DON'T SEE ANY WAY AND I'M SURE, I'M SURE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY IS LOOKING THAT FROM THE AIR FINANCE AND THAT SIDE OF THINGS BECAUSE THEY WANT TO UP STAFF, I ASSUME, AND SOME OF THAT TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
DO WE NEED TO SAY SOMETHING IN HERE ABOUT I'M JUST LOOKING AT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT CAROLINE COUNTY APPLICANTS FOR THESE JOBS THAT THERE WERE THEY'RE LOOKED AT AS NOT QUEEN ANNE COUNTY PEOPLE THERE AGAIN, THAT OUR OUR CITIZENS AND OUR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS FOR JOBS ARE LOOKED AT EQUALLY AND FAIRLY.
AND I BROUGHT THAT UP AS WELL IN THE MEETING.
AND MY SPECIFIC QUESTION WAS HOW IS THAT PROCESS OF THE STAFFS FROM THE THREE COUNTIES COMING TOGETHER GOING TO WORK? IS IT A SCENARIO WHERE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY STAFF ARE ALREADY THERE AND CAROLINE AND KENT STAFF HAVE TO APPLY AND SEE WHERE THEY FIT IN? OR IS IT A SCENARIO WHERE WE LOOK AT THE COLLECTIVE STAFFS OF ALL THREE JURISDICTIONS, AND WE'RE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY AND PLACING STAFF IN THERE EQUALLY FROM EQUAL FOOTING, NOT OURS BEING THE SECOND ONES THAT COME IN FOR THE.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT FUTURE APPLICANTS.
SO YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE APPLIES AS A CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT FOR A JOB IN THIS FACILITY, BUT IT'S RUN THROUGH THE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY HR DEPARTMENT, THEY WOULD BE A QUEEN COUNTY EMPLOYEE.
SO THEY WOULD ALL BE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT.
WOULD THEY BE TREATED THE SAME AND NOT BE LIKE, I'LL DRIVE AN HOUR WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S TEN MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD? EXACTLY RIGHT. I THINK FROM THE I THINK FROM THAT STANDPOINT, THEY'RE FINE.
I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE THAT LUXURY BECAUSE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ARE HARD TO COME BY.
I THINK THEY'RE CURRENTLY STILL LOOKING FOR.
[01:05:02]
I MEAN, WE ALL ARE LOOKING FOR STAFFING, EXCEPT KENT COUNTY.THEY'RE WORKING SHORT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A HIRING FREEZE.
BUT I THINK EVERY FACILITY HAS INDIVIDUALS FROM OTHER COUNTIES, FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND DELAWARE. SO I DON'T I DON'T REALLY THINK THERE MAY BE.
WELL, THAT WOULD DEPEND ON WHO'S IN CHARGE, WHO'S RUNNING THE ORGANIZATION.
I THINK THEY'RE JUST LOOKING LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
THEY'RE JUST LOOKING FOR STAFF THAT WANT TO COME IN, DO THE JOB AND STAY A WHILE.
WARDEN, DO YOU HAVE A DRAFT OF THIS AGREEMENT AS WELL.
CAN WE SHARE THE, THE JUST THE RECENT.
I THINK WE SHOULD SHARE IT WITH THE WARDEN AND MAKE SURE HE GETS IT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE IT, BUT I'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT.
YEAH. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.
THAT JUST CAME. IT'S BEEN CIRCULATED.
IT'S BEEN ROAMING AROUND FOR A WHILE.
YEAH. I MEAN, I HAVE THE ONE YOU SENT ME THE LAST TIME.
IT'S PROBABLY THE SAME, I DON'T THINK.
OKAY. SO ANY COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE AS WELL.
AND AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THIS SO FAR.
I KNOW. SO I MEAN WITH ALL OF THIS, I JUST, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SAY WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE, ALL THE POTENTIAL NEGATIVES AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, THE GOAL IS STILL TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES IN ONE FACILITY, LOWER OUR COSTS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST IT'S A POSITIVE THING.
IT'S JUST THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS.
AND HOW DO WE MAKE IT WORK? RIGHT? I WAS ALSO THINKING THAT THE OVERSIGHT BOARD SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN ATTORNEY AND NOT RELY ON THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY ATTORNEY, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR LEGAL ADVICE.
NO OFFENSE TO THE QUEENS COUNTY ATTORNEY.
WELL, I MEAN, SURE, HE'S GOT HIS HANDS FULL ALREADY, SO WE DON'T I MEAN, WHAT'S THE CONSENSUS HERE? WE DON'T NEED TO REQUEST THAT AN AUTHORITY, THE PURSUIT OF AN AUTHORITY BE ADDED.
OR SHOULD WE? WE KATHLEEN AND I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD PUT THAT LANGUAGE IN.
AND WE DID NOT GET MAJOR PUSHBACK FOR THAT.
WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO SAY SHOULD THE STATE ALLOW OR IF YOU KNOW.
YES, BUT EVERYBODY WILL WORK IN GOOD FAITH TOWARDS THE CREATION OF AN AUTHORITY.
I MEAN, SHE AND I ARE GOING TO WORK THAT LANGUAGE, BUT DEFINITELY I THINK THAT SHOULD BE IN THERE.
WOULD BE ODD TO HAVE A BOARD DIRECTING AN AGENCY INSIDE OF A COUNTY GOVERNMENT TOTALLY INDEPENDENT OF THE ELECTED COMMISSIONERS OF THAT COUNTY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. IT WOULD BE STRANGE TERRITORY.
ISN'T THAT SOMETHING LIKE HAVING A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT KNOW? ALL THESE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BE.
BUT SO IS QUEEN ANNE'S ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AUTHORITY AS OPPOSED TO AN AGREEMENT, TIMING? OR ARE THEY IN PRINCIPLE? I GUESS IT IS BECAUSE ALL THE TIMING IS THEIR EMPLOYEES.
TIMING IS A BIG CONCERN, BUT I THINK YOU BUT THEY DON'T.
SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT DANNY BROUGHT UP ALSO.
AND THEN THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T WANT THE AUTHORITY TO HAVE ITS OWN FINANCE, ITS OWN HR, YOU KNOW, THEN WE'RE JUST ADDING MORE COSTS.
EVERY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY I'VE EVER WORKED IN HAS ITS OWN.
THE MONEY IS IN THE FACILITY, THE FINANCE, ALL THAT'S IN THE FACILITY.
SO WHAT DO THEY DO CURRENTLY AT QUEEN ANNE'S? LIKE WHEN A PERSON DEPOSITS, DEPOSITS, ITS MONEY THERE.
CORRECT. WHAT DO THEY DO IN QUEEN ANNE'S, THOUGH? ARE THEY DOING THE SAME THING? ALL OF THEIR FINANCES COME HERE.
WE DON'T KEEP ANY MONEY AT THE FACILITY.
AND THEN WHEN THEY GET OUT, THEIR MONEY COMES FROM YOU.
[01:10:04]
YEAH. YOU KNOW, AS MORE.THE MORE THAT I GET TO ME, THE AUTHORITY WOULD BE ALMOST AN INDEPENDENT OPERATION. I MEAN, CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE HAS THEIR OWN HR, HAS THEIR OWN FINANCE, HAS THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, AND THERE MAY EVEN BE A PROVISION WHERE THERE WOULD BE A START UP TO, YOU KNOW, TO FUND.
I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO BE THE AUTHORITY HAS TO BE ONE BOARD.
IT'S GOT TO BE OPERATING AS A BOARD THAT IS OPERATING THAT FACILITY.
I JUST DON'T I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S MY.
LONG TERM, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE AUTHORITY WOULD RECEIVE TITLE TO THE LAND FROM THE COUNTY, FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY SO THAT IT IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A TENANT OF QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
NOT NOT THAT I DON'T NOT THAT I DON'T LOVE MY FELLOW QUEEN AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, BUT I THINK FROM A I GUESS A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, IT WOULD I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY WOULD BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE SEATING THIS RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY AND TO AN AUTHORITY THAN THEY WOULD BE TO, YOU KNOW, APPEARING TO CEDE TO QUEEN AND COUNTY.
WHAT'S WHAT'S THE NEXT DEADLINE? THE NEXT DATE? WHAT IS THE WHAT'S THE HURRY FOR THE THIS AGREEMENT TO BE RESOLVED? IS IT PART. THE PART ONE.
PART TWO IS NOT DUE UNTIL MARCH 1ST.
THEY WON'T ACCEPT IT UNTIL MARCH 1ST.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY SHOULDN'T UNLESS THEY.
THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF CONNECTION WHERE THEY'RE SAYING, OKAY, GIVE IT ALL TO US NOW.
THE WAY I SEE IT, THIS PROCESS SHOULD NOT EVEN GO ON UP FOR THE STATE TO REVIEW UNTIL MARCH.
ONE IS OUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE.
SO OUR WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE MORE, UNLESS WE'RE SATISFIED THAT THE WITH THE TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE I THINK THE AGREEMENT VERSUS THE AUTHORITY IS JUST THE THAT'S THE BASELINE.
AND THEN IT'S ADDITIONAL DESIGN.
THEN IT'S MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DESIGN OF THE FACILITY.
OKAY. SO THAT HOLDS US UP AND THEN LOOKING FOR THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE.
I MEAN, I THINK, I THINK WE'VE JUST GOT TO HAVE THIS DONE BEFORE WE CAN PURSUE IT.
WELL. SO I AGAIN, I THINK THE THING TO DO NOW WORK ON EDITS TO THIS AGREEMENT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED HERE IN THE MEETING.
ALONG WITH WE WOULD, I THINK, SEND ATTACHED LETTER OF OUR CONCERNS OR OUR THOUGHTS WITH THAT.
AND THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER MEETING, I'M SURE, TO DISCUSS ALL OF THAT.
I THOUGHT THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COORDINATE THAT.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT IT'S NOT.
BUT THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT, A HUGE DEAL, SO.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NOPE. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL LOOK THIS OVER AND ADD OUR COMMENTS, AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY.
AND I DID FORWARD YOU THE ELECTRONIC VERSION AGAIN ALSO.
SO IT WILL BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR EMAIL IF YOU WANT TO OPEN IT ELECTRONICALLY.
[01:15:06]
YOU GUYS WANT TO TAKE A RECESS OR ARE YOU GOOD? KEEP MOVING. LET'S GO.NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
[Legislative Session: First Reading & Introduction:]
SO MOVED. SECOND.WE WILL MOVE INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY LEGISLATIVE BILL NUMBER 2024006.
COMMISSIONERS. SECTION 18 DASH THREE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
SO MR. BARROLL, DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THIS PROPOSED FIRST READING? SORRY. INTRODUCTION.
THIS IS A FIRST READING OF A PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE BILL.
THIS ACT IS UPDATING A SECTION OF OUR COUNTY LAW AS TO HOW MANY TIMES THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CAN MEET IN A MONTH. IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
IN OTHER WORDS, TO TO INTRODUCE AND MAKE LAWS AT THE THE CURRENT BILL HAS THE CURRENT LAW HAS US AT TWO TUESDAYS, THE SECOND AND THIRD TUESDAY'S OF EACH MONTH.
AND YOU MIGHT WONDER, WELL, WHY CAN'T EVERY DAY BE A LEGISLATIVE DAY? WHICH WOULD BE COMMON SENSE, ONE WOULD THINK.
BUT THERE'S A A STATE LEVEL LAW WHICH PROHIBITS US FROM MEETING MORE THAN 45 DAYS A YEAR WITHOUT GOING THROUGH INCREDIBLE HOOPS.
AND I THINK THE THEORY BEHIND THE NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE DAYS IS SO THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON ITS GUARD. EVERY TIME THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, NO MAN'S LIFE, LIBERTY OR PROPERTY ARE SAFE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION.
TO ME, I THINK THAT'S THE PREMISE OF THIS.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S A RESTRAINT.
HOWEVER WE ARE ALLOWED, WE CERTAINLY CAN ADD AN ADDITIONAL TUESDAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL DOES.
IT'LL MAKE OUR CALENDAR RING, WHICH IS WHAT WE DO FOR EVERY BILL MUCH EASIER.
AND A BRIEF READING OF THIS IS THAT IT IS AN ACT TO REPEAL SUBSECTION A OF SECTION 18 DASH THREE. LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS OF CHAPTER 18, COMMISSIONERS OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, MARYLAND, AND TO REENACT THE SAME WITH AMENDMENTS SPECIFYING THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY CONVENE IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH, AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL DAYS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DETERMINE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDING THE FOURTH TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH TO THE COUNTY'S LEGISLATIVE DAYS.
THIS IS BEING INTRODUCED TODAY ON OCTOBER 15TH.
WE WILL HAVE THE SECOND READING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING NEXT TUESDAY, THE 22ND, THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT WOULD BE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 12TH, DAY AFTER VETERANS DAY, AND THE ENACTMENT AD WOULD RUN THREE TIMES AFTER THAT.
THE EFFECTIVE DATE BEING AN EMERGENCY BILL WILL BE, IF IT'S PASSED NOVEMBER 12TH.
OKAY. ARE THE COMMISSIONERS IN AGREEMENT THAT WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH THE PROCESS THAT I'VE JUST OUTLINED? YES. YES.
YEAH. GREAT. WE HAVE A SECOND BILL, WHICH IS 2020 4-007. THIS PERTAINS TO OUR ZONING ORDINANCE.
WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL HOUSEKEEPING OF SEVERAL ITEMS THAT HAVE COME TO LIGHT THAT NEED SOME MODIFICATION FOR EFFICIENCY IN HOW PLANNING AND CODES CARRIES OUT ITS WORK.
THIS IS AN ACT TO REPEAL AND REENACT WITH AMENDMENTS.
SUBSECTION B OF SECTION 175, DASH 161, AND SUBSECTIONS B4 AND B6 OF SECTION 175.
[01:20:10]
PROVIDING THAT A PERSON MAY NOT APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.THE ISSUANCE OF A CITATION WHICH IS NOT BASED UPON A PRIOR DECISION, I'M SORRY, WHICH IS BASED UPON A PRIOR DECISION ORDER REQUIREMENT OR DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH WAS NOT APPEALED.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS ADDRESSES THE SITUATION WHERE A NOTICE OF VIOLATION HAS BEEN ISSUED.
NO APPEAL HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE NOTICE OF VIOLATION OR THE DECISION BY THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
SO SUBSEQUENTLY, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ISSUES A CITATION.
THEN THE PERSON APPEALS THE CITATION, BUT DID NOT APPEAL THE NOTICE OF THE VIOLATION.
SO IT DRAWS THE WHOLE PROCESS OUT.
IF YOU GET A NOTICE OF VIOLATION, YOU FILE YOUR APPEAL.
THEN YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE CITED OR CITED.
SO THAT IS ONE OF THE CHANGES.
WE THIS BILL ALSO IS REDUCING THE PERIOD FOR SUCH AN APPEAL TO BE FILED FROM 90 DAYS TO 30 DAYS, WHICH IS THE CONVENTIONAL TIME FOR AN APPEAL TO BE FILED FROM PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING IN AMERICAN LAW, AND PROVIDING THAT THE FILING OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT STAY ANY PROCEEDINGS IN FURTHERANCE OF THE DECISION OR ACTION APPEALED FROM.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE PUBLISHED THIS WEEKEND ON THE 19TH.
THE SECOND READING AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND.
THE THIRD READING WITH POTENTIAL TO AMEND OR ENACT WOULD BE TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH.
BOTH OF THESE BILLS, EMERGENCY BILLS.
CORRECT. SO ALL THE OTHER ADVERTISEMENTS, PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS, EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE SAME, JUST GOES INTO EFFECT UPON ENACTMENT. THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.
OKAY. THE REASON THAT THERE'S NORMALLY A 45 DAY PERIOD AFTER ENACTMENT IS TRANSITION.
WELL, ALSO THEORETICALLY THERE COULD BE A PETITION TO HAVE IT PLACED ON A REFERENDUM.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT 45 DAY PERIOD IS TO ALLOW.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? THIS BILL? OKAY.
MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I I I I, I HAVE IT.
[Consent Agenda]
BARROLL. OKAY.DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOW CLOSED.
MOVING ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? COMMISSIONER BARTZ, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? THESE BONDS ARE SATISFACTORY.
SO I HAVE MR. PORTER. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? THE TELE TELE EMERGENCY SERVICES AGREEMENT.
WHO HAS INFORMATION ON THAT? I MEAN, IS THIS JUST A.
I TRIED TO LOOK THROUGH IT, BUT THIS IS JUST CODIFYING THE TELEMEDICINE THING.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY MONEY FROM US OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
[01:25:11]
LET'S SEE.I BELIEVE WE HAD THIS PROGRAM IN PLACE LAST YEAR AND THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, YEAH, I THINK IT'S IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S CONTINUED.
BUT. THIS IS THE PROGRAM WHERE THEY PUT WHEN THEY RESPOND TO A EMERGENCY CALL, THEY CONNECT THE PATIENT WITH A DOCTOR OR CLINICIAN FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND THEY TRY TO TREAT THE PERSON IN HOME.
IT'S. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SIGN.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S A RENEWAL OF THE AGREEMENT FOR THIS YEAR.
I DON'T EVEN SEE A SIGNATURE PAGE.
I SEE WE HAVE A AN APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS FOR A TEMPORARY ALTERNATE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST FOR THE RECORD, SAY THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE BOARDS HAVE TO ATTEND.
AND IF WE HAVE PEOPLE ON THESE BOARDS WHO, ARE NOT GOING TO ATTEND HEARINGS REGULARLY, THEN WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE TIME CONSTRAINTS ON THESE, ON THESE CASES, AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE.
IF THEY IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, THEY NEED TO GET OFF AND WE NEED TO GET THEM OFF.
SO THAT'S MY COMMENT ABOUT THAT.
THE THAT'S THE ONLY SO THE COW BARN SOLAR DECOMMISSIONING IS FOR THE TOTAL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA THEN? SO MOVED. SECOND.
MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I, I I.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON. THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S TRADERS REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
SO THE ONE ITEM I WANTED TO BRING UP THIS WEEK IS THE LIBRARY LEASE FOR THE NORTH COUNTY BRANCH.AND ESSENTIALLY, I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE MODIFICATIONS NEEDED TO THE CURRENT LEASE AND LEASE RENEWAL AND THAT GOING FORWARD, RENT FREE IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION.
IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. OWENS HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE ARE STILL REPAIRS NEEDED.
I GUESS THE HUMIDITY IN THE BUILDING IS REALLY QUITE HIGH.
HE SAID UP TO 95%, WHICH IS NOT GREAT FOR THE BOOKS AND THE ELECTRONICS.
BUT THERE STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND THERE'S THIS, YOU KNOW, ISSUE OF NO FUNDING OR NO CLEAR FUNDING MECHANISM TO DO THE REPAIRS.
SO THE THOUGHT I THINK IS THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO PAY RENT AND SET UP SOME KIND OF AN AGREEMENT OR A LEASE AGREEMENT WHERE THAT RENT MONEY WOULD GO INTO A FUND TO COVER THE MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR THE BUILDING.
THE WAY WE'VE LEFT THIS IS JONAH.
AND THE LIBRARY WILL BE WORKING ON THE EDITS THAT SOME OF THE EDITS THAT WE DISCUSSED AND ANY EDITS THAT THEY WANT TO ADD TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO SEND THOSE EDITS TO STUART AND I, AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT AND FINE TUNE THE LEASE, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A MEETING WITH MR D'ARCY TO DISCUSS HOW TO PROCEED. SO CAN YOU DO THAT?
[01:30:04]
AND ONLY THAT.I THOUGHT PERHAPS A PORTION OF THE RENT.
RIGHT. BUT IT WOULD BE MORE SOME PERCENTAGE OF IT.
HOPEFULLY A LARGE PERCENTAGE GOES INTO THIS ESCROW ACCOUNT FOR MAINTENANCE.
YOU KNOW, WE DID TOUCH ON POSSIBLY RELOCATING THE LIBRARY AT SOME POINT DOWN THE ROAD.
AND I THINK OUR OUR CONSENSUS WAS RENEW THE LEASE FOR FIVE YEARS WHILE WE EXPLORE OPTIONS.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYWHERE FOR IT TO GO.
MY CONCERN WOULD BE I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ESTABLISHING A RENT STRUCTURE WHERE A PORTION OF THAT RENT WOULD BE DESIGNATED FOR REPAIRS ON THE LIBRARY PORTION OF THE BUILDING. RIGHT.
SO THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WAS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A LUMP.
AND I WASN'T THERE BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO, BUT I WASN'T THERE.
BUT I'VE READ THE LEASE ENOUGH TIMES TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LUMP SUM PAYMENT.
SO GOING FORWARD, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A PORTION OF THE RENT THAT IS GOING TO GO INTO A, I WOULD CALL IT A RESERVE FOR REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR REPAIR ACCOUNT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
THAT SHOULD BE THAT SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR SEPARATELY BY MRDC.
AND WE SHOULD KNOW WHERE THAT HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT AND WHERE IT'S GOING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEA OF THAT PORTION OF THE RENT BEING DEPOSITED INTO A BASICALLY A JOINT ESCROW ACCOUNT BETWEEN DANNY'S OFFICE, PERHAPS, AND AND MRDC SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS THE BANK ACCOUNT EVERY MONTH.
EVERYBODY CAN LOOK AT IT ANY TIME THEY WANT.
AND IT WOULD TAKE BOTH PARTIES AGREEING TO A DISBURSEMENT.
WELL, THAT'S SIMILAR TO THE WAY THE RESERVE ACCOUNT FOR DAYSPRING IS SET UP.
CORRECT. AND I JUST WANT TO STATE ONE THING.
SO THE LIBRARY, WE DO NOT HANDLE THEIR FINANCIALS.
RIGHT. SO IT MAY BE WHERE IT'S A JOINT ACCOUNT BETWEEN THE LIBRARY AND MDC AND NOT THE COUNTY.
SO I JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.
I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO DEFINITELY HAVE SIGHT ON THAT MONEY AND HAVE SOME TYPE OF LEDGER.
VERY EASY FOR THEM TO SET UP A RESTRICTED ACCOUNT WITH THAT, AND HAVE A PROCESS ESTABLISHED FOR PULLING AND NOTIFYING, LIKE DAYSPRING'S IN THE RESERVE, BECAUSE I DON'T I MEAN, MY CONCERN HERE IS WE WE CAN WE DO NOT WANT TO SET UP A SYSTEM WHERE MONEY FROM THE COUNTY OR FROM THE LIBRARY IS USED TO DO BUILDING, TO DO WORK ON PORTIONS OF A BUILDING THEY DON'T OWN.
CORRECT. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLETELY BENEFIT THE LIBRARY.
BUT IF IT COMES DOWN TO CARPET REPAIR OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON TO TO REPLACE CARPET IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IF IT'S A JOINT ACCOUNT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT WHO PAYS THE RENT? WE COMES OUT OF THE LIBRARY.
THE LIBRARY PAYS THAT OUT OF THEIR GENERAL FUND, CORRECT? YES. OKAY. HOW MUCH HOW MUCH OF THE LIBRARY'S GENERAL FUND ROUGHLY DOES THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTE? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I HONESTLY CAN'T REMEMBER THE SPLIT.
I COULD CERTAINLY LOOK IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES WHEN WE GET BACK TO WHAT IT IS.
I MEAN, I DON'T. DO YOU HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THE ESCROW ACCOUNT NAMING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS OPPOSED TO THE LIBRARY? NO, I DON'T I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE PERCEPTION TO BE THAT WE WERE HANDLING ALL OF THE LIBRARIES IN AND OUT OF THE LIBRARY WANTED TO SEE IT.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO REQUEST US TO.
[01:35:02]
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, AS I MEAN, ALL THE MONEY FLOWS DOWNHILL TO US.SO AS, AS, AS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE LIBRARY.
YEP. I WOULD CERTAINLY BE INTERESTED TO KNOW THAT THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT'S YOUR RESERVE? WHAT'S YOUR YOU KNOW, WHERE'S YOUR RESERVE AND HOW IS IT BEING USED IN IN ONE OF YOUR LOCATIONS? YEP. THAT'S SIMPLE.
AND I'M, I'M JUST SAYING THAT THE, THE ORIGINAL DRAFTERS OF THIS LEASE WERE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE DONE, AND I KNOW IT WAS DONE ON THE FLY. I KNOW, I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I KNOW I'VE HAD THE FORMER LIBRARY, NOT DEBBIE, BUT THE FORMER LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR TELLING ME THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A NEW LIBRARY BUILT IN OR IN IN GREENSBORO UNTIL HE READ THE PAPER.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S HOW QUICKLY THAT THING ALL KIND OF CAME ABOUT.
BUT IT WAS IT WAS THE WHAT THEY DID AT THE TIME.
SO I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET ANY MUCH PUSHBACK FROM MRDC ABOUT IT.
I JUST THINK IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR ABOUT THE HUMIDITY.
I THOUGHT WE HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEHUMIDIFIER PUT IN THAT LIBRARY.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE JUST PUT IT IN THE LIBRARY PART, OR DO WE NEED DO THEY PUT IT IN THE WHOLE BUILDING? THAT'S THAT'S A QUESTION FOR SOMEBODY.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GUYS THINK.
WOULD YOU RATHER THE LIBRARY HANDLE IT OR WOULD ALL THREE? THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH PUTTING ALL THREE.
BUT. AND I'M NOT SAYING WHICH, IT'S UP TO YOU.
ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THE COMMISSIONERS BE A VOICE ON THE PAYMENTS.
THE ADVANTAGE WOULD BE THAT YOU COULD BE MAKING YOUR RENT PAYMENTS DIRECTLY ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY, RATHER THAN FUNNELING IT THROUGH YOUR MILLION THREE OR WHATEVER.
SO THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL, THE LIBRARY.
WE HAVE A MANDATORY CONTRIBUTION SO THAT MONEY HAS TO HAVE THROUGH THEM.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM.
AND I THINK THAT THEY'RE THEY'RE COMPETENT TO DO THAT.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JUST THE LIBRARY, YOU KNOW, AND THEN BEING ON IT, I MEAN, I THAT WE CAN CERTAINLY REQUEST FROM THE LIBRARY A COPY OF THE STATEMENT.
WELL, THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY CONCERN THAT I EVER HAVE IS THE PRIORITIZATION OF WHAT GOT DONE.
I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S JUST.
YEAH. AND THEN WHO HAS THE WE HAVE HAD REQUESTS TO REPAVE, REPAVE THE PARKING LOT WHEN ALL IT NEEDED WAS TO BE SEAL COATED.
YOU KNOW, AND SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD I WOULD RATHER RETAIN CONTROL OF IT.
YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN, WE WOULD MAKE THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIBRARY.
THEY WOULD JUST LIKE WE NORMALLY DO.
SO ALL THREE ESSENTIALLY WOULD GET NOTIFICATION OF MONTHLY STATEMENTS, AND THEN A PROCESS WOULD HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED FOR REQUESTING SIGN OFF OF THE RECENT HISTORY IS THEY COME TO US TO TO FIX THE PROBLEMS WITH THE BUILDING.
YES. IT HAS BEEN TYPICAL FASHION THAT DURING THE CAPITAL BUDGET PROCESS, THEY COME AND ASK FOR EITHER FULL COST OR A SHARE TOWARDS A STATE APPLICATION OF FUNDING. OKAY.
YEAH. WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE AMOUNT? RENT AMOUNT. OH.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT JONAH WILL PUT IN HIS EDITS THAT HE'LL CIRCULATE FIRST.
[01:40:01]
SO. OKAY.DANNY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, I DO NOT. THANK YOU THOUGH.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER. OPEN DISCUSSION.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
PERIOD. WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. YOU GOOD? OKAY. THE ANTICIPATED SWITCHOVER ON THE LIGHTED OIL CITY IS THURSDAY.I KNOW THAT. I SEE THEY'VE GOT SOME SIGNS UP THEIR NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN.
KENNY? ANY CERTAINLY THANK KENNY FENDER FOR THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME COMMENTS ABOUT IT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SAFER INTERSECTION.
WILL THERE BE BACKUPS AND DELAYS? MAYBE, BUT I'D RATHER HAVE BACKUPS AND DELAYS RATHER THAN HAVE THE FIRE COMPANY RESPONDING OUT THERE TO A FATALITY.
I DID HAVE A I DID HAVE A BRIEF CONVERSATION LAST WEEK WITH COMMISSIONER WILSON, JACK WILSON AND QUEEN ANNE COUNTY ABOUT THE SOLAR DRAFT SOLAR BILL.
HE SAID THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH WITH THE SOME I GUESS THEY HAD THEIR LEGISLATION LEGISLATOR MEETING SOMETIME HERE RECENTLY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE POINTING OUT TO THOSE LEGISLATORS AND TO THE PEOPLE NEGOTIATING THE DRAFT BILL WAS THAT LIKE QUEEN ANNE COUNTY WE DID ESTABLISH WENT TO A GOOD AMOUNT OF WORK HEARINGS, PUBLIC INPUT ON ESTABLISHING A SOLAR ORDINANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN A2000 ACRE CAP ON SOLAR.
WE DIDN'T JUST ARBITRARILY SET UP HERE AND SAY, WE'RE NOT HAVING A SOLAR PANEL IN THIS COUNTY.
SO QUEEN ANNE, I THINK, DID THE SAME THING.
I THINK TALBOT DID SOME TYPE OF A POINT SYSTEM, I BELIEVE.
BUT HE SUGGESTED THAT WE WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.
AND I, I AGREE, I THINK WE SHOULD WE SHOULD KIND OF PULL RESOURCES HERE.
I HAVE PRETTY MUCH DONE TALKED ABOUT VERY LITTLE ELSE THAN THIS ISSUE WITH FARMERS AND FARM BUREAU. THE MEMBERS OF THE FARM BUREAU AND ITS FIGHT.
ONE PERSON THAT I TALKED TO WHO HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THIS, THEIR FIRST QUESTION TO ME WAS, WHERE DID $3,500 COME FROM? WHERE DID $5,500 FIGURE COME FROM? BECAUSE TO ME, IF IF WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO PRESERVE, TO UTILIZE MONEY, THAT'S GOING TO BE USED TO PRESERVE FARMLAND, IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY LEFT TO PRESERVE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN COMPETITION WITH THE SOLAR COMPANIES THAT ARE COMING IN AND MAKING OFFERS ON LAND.
DOES THAT MAKE DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I MEAN, LIKE LIKE MY FARM, OUR FARM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, WE GET THINGS IN THE MAIL.
I'M JUST USING THIS ARBITRARY FIGURE.
I MEAN, GUESS WHAT? I MEAN, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S GOING TO BE A CUMULATIVE EFFECT, BUT I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE FORCED TO DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GOING TO ACCUMULATE FAST ENOUGH FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER A REASONABLE PRESERVATION ACCOUNT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S EVEN GOING TO WORK.
ARE WE GOING TO ARE WE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SET UP OUR OWN AG PRESERVATION PROGRAM? AND WHO WHO ADMINISTERS THAT AND WHO DECIDES WHO GETS.
SEE, THIS IS WHY TO ME THIS IS A BAD IDEA.
WE HAVE A ZOOM MEETING TOMORROW ABOUT THE INITIATIVES, AND I'M SURE THIS IS GOING TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE WAY, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S JUST NOT.
[01:45:02]
BETWEEN THE SOLAR COMPANIES.WELL, WHAT THE HECK? I MEAN, SO I DON'T CARE WHAT THE SOLAR COMPANIES WANT TO PAY THE THIS IS ALL ONE SIDED TO ME THAT IT'S BEEN TRYING TO SATISFY THEM. WHAT ABOUT US? WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY? I'M NOT HERE TO PLEASE THE SOLAR COMPANIES.
THAT'S WHAT THE STATE'S DOING.
SO IT'S IT'LL BE DISCUSSED TOMORROW.
BUT WHERE DID THESE NUMBERS COME FROM? HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT A TWO MILE RADIUS? HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT 3500? HOW? YOU KNOW, HOW DID ALL THESE THINGS COME INTO PLACE? BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING.
WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE'RE BASICALLY BEING TOLD.
THIS IS WHAT YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE THE PLANE CRASHING.
AND WE ONLY HOPE TO GET OUT WITH A FEW BROKEN BONES ARGUMENT.
I DON'T BUY THAT. I'M NOT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT.
I, I'VE BEEN GETTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FEEDBACK.
AND, GENTLEMEN, I CAN TELL YOU THIS.
YEAH. BUILD ANOTHER ROOM ON HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE, WHY DID YOU GUYS LET THIS HAPPEN? WHY DID YOU GUYS LET THOSE SOLAR PANELS GET BUILT? THAT'S THE QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER.
YEAH. HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO OUR.
ARE WE STILL AT ABOUT 400 ACRES? YES. AND HOW MUCH? YOU'RE YOU'RE STILL GETTING, I ASSUME APPLICATIONS AND REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION? YES. WE GET A LOT OF INQUIRIES ABOUT PROPERTIES.
THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE PHONE CALLS.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR QUEUE RIGHT NOW? AS FAR AS APPLICATIONS THAT ARE THAT ARE IN YOUR YOUR LIST OF ONE OF APPLICATIONS THAT YOU'RE REVIEWING? DO THEY PUT US OVER THE 2000? NO. OKAY.
SO SO WE HAVE AN INSPECTION OF DAYSPRING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK, RIGHT? THE 23RD.
YES. AND THAT IS GOING TO BE EVERY UNIT.
YES. IN THE IN THE COMPLEX RIVER ROAD.
I DID GO OUT AND CHECK IT OUT YESTERDAY.
IT IS NOT OPEN YET, DESPITE SOME COMMENTS I SAW ON FACEBOOK, WHICH I GOT TO LAUGH AT.
WE ARE THINKING THEY'RE PULLING THE SHEETS RIGHT NOW AND AND WE'RE THINKING.
I'M COMFORTABLE SAYING END OF NEXT WEEK.
THE WALL THINGS. THE WIND SHUT IT DOWN YESTERDAY.
YEAH. PULLING THE SHEETS WITH THE WIND BLOWING LIKE, EARLY TODAY.
AND I THINK THEY GET TO A POINT.
IT'S WE'RE COMING PRETTY QUICK THIS MORNING.
AND IF THEY COME WHEN THEY GET TO THE POINT OF 5 OR 6 LEFT, THEY'LL PROBABLY STAY AND FINISH IT.
BETWEEN THE CRANE BOOM BEING UP IN THE IN THE AIR AND THE WIND BLOWING AS HARD AS IT WAS WITH THOSE SHEETS ACTING LIKE SAILS, ONCE THEY COME CLEAR OF THE GROUND, IT'S NOT VERY SAFE TO PULL. SO, YEAH, I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ON, YOU KNOW.
SO WE'RE WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT.
AND THEY WERE WORKING SATURDAY.
YEAH. I MEAN I STOPPED OUT THERE SATURDAY AND THEY WERE WORKING.
[01:50:03]
YEAH. YEAH.THEY'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THAT OFFICIAL DOCUMENT.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO SEND IT TO OUR LEGAL TEAM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE USING FOR THE DEVIL HILLS INDUSTRIAL PARK AND THE CHOPTANK MARINA PROJECT.
DEVIL HILLS INDUSTRIAL PARK IS STILL IN SOIL CONSERVATION FOR REVIEW.
DID WE LOOK INTO WHEN SOIL CONSERVATION ACTUALLY GOT THOSE PLANS OR NOT YET? THE EMAIL CHAIN THAT I HAD SHOWED MID LATE AUGUST.
WE DID GET APPROVAL FROM SOIL CONSERVATION THE SEDIMENT EROSION PLAN, APPROVAL TO LEVEL THE ADDITIONAL SPACE OUT AT SIPES ROAD TO ALLOW FOR MORE FIELDS THERE.
SO I THINK RECREATION AND PARKS IS WORKING ON THAT.
AND SEE, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF MOWING.
I SAW THE MOWERS WERE ACROSS FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
WE KNOCKED A LOT OF THOSE TREES DOWN, SO I'VE COME UP REAL QUICK.
AND WE WILL DO THAT ALL WINTER LONG.
EACH VARIETY MOWER, THE THE MOWERS ARE ALL DIFFERENT TYPES.
AND LIKE I SAID THAT STARTED LAST MONDAY.
OKAY. AND THAT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL WE WE'RE USING THE ESTABLISHED SNOW ROUTES TO TRACK THAT EACH TRACTOR HAS A SPREADSHEET IN IT OF THE ZONE THEY'RE WORKING IN FOR THAT TIME.
THEY HAND THOSE IN TO THE CREW LEADER SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHICH ROADS WE'RE ON, WHICH ONES WERE COMPLETED OR WORKING ON, AND THEY SAY, WE'LL DO THAT ALL WINTER LONG UNTIL WE GET EVERY SINGLE ROAD PUSHED BACK, TAKE THE EASEMENTS BACK AND GO INTO NEXT SPRING WITH A PLAN TO MOW.
AND THE FLAILS AT THAT POINT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE MOST OF IT.
YEAH. SO WE ALSO HAVE TWO TREE CREWS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTY, WITH EACH OF THEM HAVING CURRENTLY FIVE ROADS TO WORK ON.
SO. GOOD DEAL WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE RIGHT OF WAYS GETTING THEM BACK.
ROBIN. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS THE SHARP ROAD TRANSFER AND I THINK STEWART REVIEWED THE DEED OR THE TITLE SEARCH.
IS THAT IS THAT A BIG DEAL FIX SHOULDN'T BE.
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING THAT OVER.
AND THEN, KATHLEEN, YOU'RE CHECKING INTO FOREST CONSERVATION.
BUT OKAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU GUYS DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? GOOD. OKAY.
CAN YOU JUST A REMINDER WHERE THE MEETING IS HELD NEXT WEEK.
SO WELL, I'LL GO AHEAD AND DO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LIKE TO SPEAK?
[Public Comment]
AND I'M SEEING THERE JUST A REMINDER THAT NEXT TUESDAY'S COMMISSIONER MEETING WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 22ND AT 9 A.M., WILL BE HELD AT THE HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDING AT 403 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET HERE IN DENTON.ON OUR AGENDA IS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION GROUP AND THE DELEGATION. SO IT SHOULD BE A LIVELY DISCUSSION ABOUT SOLAR AND OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
SO I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[Meeting Adjourns]
SO MOVED. SECOND.OKAY. MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THE AYES HAVE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.