[00:02:57]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER 26, 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DOUG MORLEY OF GREATER IMPACT CHURCH OF GREENSBORO, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, SO IF EVERYONE CAN PLEASE RISE. PASTOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TODAY.
I WANT TO READ A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE BEFORE I PRAY.
SAYS, "GOD WHO MADE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING AND IT IS THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH AND DOES NOT LIVE IN TEMPLES BUILT BY HUMAN HANDS.
HE IS NOT SERVED BY HUMAN HANDS AS IF HE NEEDED ANYTHING.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. Doug Morley, Greater Impact Church of Greensboro, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
RATHER, HE, HIMSELF GIVES EVERYONE LIFE AND BREATH AND EVERYTHING ELSE.FROM ONE MAN, HE MADE ALL THE NATIONS THAT THEY SHOULD INHABIT THE WHOLE EARTH AND HE MARKED OUT THEIR APPOINTED TIMES IN HISTORY AND THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR LAND.
GOD DID THIS SO THAT THEY WOULD SEEK HIM AND PERHAPS REACH OUT FOR HIM AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE'S NOT FAR FROM ANY ONE OF US.
FOR IN HIM, WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING, AS SOME OF YOUR OWN HEARTS HAVE SAID, 'WE ARE HIS OFFSPRING.'" LET'S PRAY. FATHER GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE IN THIS PLACE.
THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMUNITY, LORD, THIS LAND OF PLEASANT LIVING, LORD.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HELP US TO LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR PURPOSES AND YOUR PLANS FOR OUR LIVES.
WE'RE THANKFUL LORD THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED FOR LIFE AND FOR LIVING.
AT THIS TIME OF THANKSGIVING, WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE LORD THAT EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT.
COMES FROM YOUR HAND. WE THANK YOU, LORD FOR THE GIFT OF RAIN TODAY.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF A HARVEST, LORD.
WE PRAY FOR OUR FARMERS AND ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER AND KEEP THEM.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR FREEDOMS, LORD, AND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FREE AND BE ABLE TO WORSHIP YOU AS WE WISH AND ABLE TO SHARE OUR VIEWS AND OUR OPINIONS WITHOUT RETRIBUTION.
[00:05:01]
FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.WE ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON THEM TODAY, WATCH OVER AND KEEP EACH ONE.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, LORD, AS THEY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THE BUSINESS OF THIS COMMUNITY, WE PRAY THAT YOU GRANT THEM WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN ALL THAT IS SAID AND DONE AND HELP THEM LORD TO ACCOMPLISH THE BUSINESS THAT IS AT HAND TODAY.
FATHER, WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THANKS THAT IN YOU, WE LIVE AND BREATHE AND HAVE OUR BEING.
WE PRAY IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND MORLEY, FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE AND COMING IN AND DOING ANY INVOCATION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE CLERGY MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEER TO COME IN AND DO THOSE INVOCATIONS. THANK YOU.
DURING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING ON NOVEMBER 19, THE BOARD CONVENED IN CLOSED SESSION TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE FROM COUNSEL, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED UNDER 2014,
[President’s Report Out]
MARYLAND CODE, STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305(B)(7).THE COMMISSIONERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE STATUS OF ONGOING LITIGATION AND NO FURTHER ACTIONS WERE TAKEN.
ATTENDEES INCLUDED THE COMMISSIONERS, COUNTY ATTORNEY, BERYL, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, DANIEL FOX, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, JENNIFER RIDLEY, AND OFFICE OF LAW STAFF, MARY BERNESKI AND KIM RADER.
ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT COMMISSIONER PORTER IS JOINING US BY PHONE THIS MORNING, SO HE IS ONLINE, EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT HERE IN PERSON, AND WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? NONE SEEN.WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS BILL MENGEL,
[Bill Mengel, Director of Operations, Caroline Board of Education]
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION,[Approval of Revised Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan]
WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE REVISED FISCAL YEAR 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. MORNING, BILL.>> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. PORTER, EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T SEE YOU. I KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR BILL ALL RIGHT?
>> GOOD MORNING. I COME TO YOU SEEKING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE REVISED FY26 CIP.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I WAS HERE JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT LETTER OF SUPPORT THEN.
SINCE THEN, SOME THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
THE REVISION IS MORE DRIVEN BY THE NEW SCHOOL BUILD, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME LANGUAGE AND TERMINOLOGY THAT HAVE CHANGED THAT I JUST WANT TO UPDATE THE COMMISSIONERS ON, AS WELL AS SOME FINANCIALS.
BUT FIRST, BEFORE I GET INTO IT, I DO WANT TO CHANGE OUR NUMBER ONE LINE PRIORITY, WHICH IS THE DENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HVAC SYSTEM.
WE'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY RECENT CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS, AND WE REALIZED THAT THE 400,000 THAT WE REQUESTED WAS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A LITTLE ON THE LOW SIDE, SO I BUMPED IT UP TO 500,000.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO WORK HARD TO TRY AND KEEP THAT DOWN AROUND 400,000, BUT SOME OF THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ARE COMING IN A LITTLE LOW.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO PUT DOWN THE BID AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE BIDS ALL BRING OUT TO FRUITION WITH THAT PROJECT.
BEYOND THAT, WE GET INTO WHAT'S DRIVEN BY THE NEW BILL THAT'S COMING.
GO BACK IN TIME FROM LET'S SAY AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WHEN I WAS HERE, WE WERE IN THAT TALKING PHASE OF WHAT THE BUILD WOULD BE, IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEN SINCE THEN, WE'VE TRANSITIONED INTO THE PLANNING PHASE.
ONE THING I'M LEARNING ABOUT BUILDING THE SCHOOL IS THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS ENDEAVOR, IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO BUILD ONE APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS, BUT THINGS CHANGED VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE EARLY OCTOBER WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE IAC AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT MY SUBMITTED CIP ORIGINAL, AND THEY SAID, "YOU PUT IN FOR A NEW FEASIBILITY STUDY AND NEW SPECS, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT'S CALLED.
IT'S CALLED EARLY PLANNING AND DESIGN." I'M GOING TO GO INTO WHAT THOSE ENTAIL A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FINANCIALS BECAUSE I KNOW THE FINANCIALS APPEAR TO BE OVERWHELMING, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS IN THOSE FINANCIALS.
WHAT IS THE EARLY PLANNING DESIGN? I'M WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT CALLED EDUCATION FACILITIES PLANNING, LLC.
I'M GOING TO CALL EFP FOR SHORT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE, DR. DAVID LEVER IS A PREVIOUS IAC DIRECTOR, TWO DIRECTORS AGO, AND HE HAS RETIRED THEN AND HE IS NOW STILL VERY INVOLVED IN THE WHOLE SCHOOL BUILD PROCESS, THE CMP PROCESS, THE FMP PROCESS,
[00:10:01]
THE CIP PROCESS FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.HE HAS A VERY GOOD COMPANY THAT I'M WORKING WITH.
HE WILL DO THE EDSPEX FORCE, WHICH WILL BE $65,000.
HE WILL ALSO WORK TO PUT THE SOLICITATIONS OUT FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING FIRMS AT ABOUT 4,000 A PIECE.
I'M STILL GOING TO FOLLOW STATE REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND OUR LOCAL PROCEDURES THAT WE DEAL WITH AND GET THREE BIDS, THREE QUOTES.
WE'LL BE GETTING THREE SOLICITATIONS AT MINIMUM, SO I'M ESTIMATING $12,000 FOR THAT EXPENDITURE.
ONCE THE ASPECTS ARE COMPLETED, WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THIS WILL TAKE ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS, BUT IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT $90,000.
I GOT THAT NUMBER FROM DR. LEAH WAS JUST FINISHING UP THE KENT COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO WITH THEIR FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT CAME AT $86,000.
I'M JUST ROUNDING UP A LITTLE BIT AND I'M THINKING PRICE IT'S GOING TO GO UP A LITTLE BIT, SO GIVE OR TAKE RATE IN A $90,000 RANGE.
THEN THE EFP COULD POSSIBLY BE INVOLVED IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CIP PER THE BUILD.
AS YOU SEE, I'VE GIVEN EVERYTHING.
LINE ITEM IN THE PAST, IT IS WHAT IT WAS, A NEW ROOF AT A SCHOOL.
NOW AS WE GET INTO THE BUILDS, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IAC IS GOING TO WANT TO SEE SOME MORE DETAIL IN THOSE BUCKETS.
FOR ME TO JUST SAY THAT THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILD IN YEAR 1 IS GOING TO BE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SEE THAT DETAILED OUT A LITTLE BIT AS TO WHAT'S ALL IN THAT BUCKET.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, I WOULD BE ASKING THEIR COMPANY TO HELP ME OUT WITH THAT PROCESS AS WELL.
THE EFMP WILL ALSO REVIEW THE DESIGN, AND THEY WILL ALSO REVIEW THE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS BY THE A&E FIRM FOR $12,000, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SCHEMATIC DESIGNS, THAT WOULD INCLUDE DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION DOCS, THE BID SOLICITATION PROCESS, AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER A&E DOCUMENTS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN.
WHEN I CAME TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER WITH BOTH FEASIBILITY AND EDSPEX, I WAS LOOKING AT $100,000 A PIECE, SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT IN LINE WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAILS OF WHAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE.
NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVISED, THE REVISED IS INDICATING THAT IT'S GOING TO COST $2.7 MILLION FOR FY26.
IAC IS A VERY DETAILED, VERY COMPLICATED ORGANIZATION, AND SO I'M LEARNING THESE LITTLE NUGGETS AS I GO.
I LEARNED THAT THE CAROLINE COUNTY IS ALLOTTED $ 2.75 MILLION MINIMUM EACH YEAR FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN OVER THAT AMOUNT WITH SOME OF THE ROOT PROJECTS.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS 8-12 MONTH PROCESS TO GET APPROVED BY MAY AS TO WHAT PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE OVER THE ALLOTMENT, WHAT PROJECTS ARE JUST NOT GOING TO APPROVE WITH THAT.
WE'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY AND FORTUNATE THAT A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN OVER 2.75 HAVE BEEN FULLY FUNDED.
THAT BEING SAID, THEY SAID, PUT INTO 2.75 FOR YOUR EARLY PLANNING AND DESIGN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO YEARS TO SPEND IT.
WHATEVER YOU DON'T USE, ROLLS INTO THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE SCHOOL BUILD, AND IT ROLLS INTO THE YEAR FOLLOWING AFTER THAT.
THESE EXPENDITURES WILL EVENTUALLY ROLL INTO THE COST OF THE BUILD AS WELL, WHICH I THINK WILL LESSEN THE BLOW ON US WITH WHAT THAT WILL BE.
THE OTHER THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS OPTION, THEY EXPLAINED, IS IT GIVES ME FLEXIBILITY.
LET'S SAY GOD FORBID, ANOTHER CHILLER GOES OUT NEXT YEAR AT ANOTHER BUILDING.
I CAN PULL THIS MONEY RIGHT AWAY AND USE IT TO FILL THE FORMS UP THAT I CAN USE THAT FUNDING RIGHT AWAY TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION.
I DON'T HAVE TO WAIT A YEAR TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AGAIN, SO THERE'S SOME FLEXIBILITY BUILT INTO THOSE NUMBERS.
LET'S GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES OR WHAT THIS WHOLE THING IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S REALLY DRIVEN, I SAID, WITH THE NEW SCHOOL BUILD.
THE NEW SCHOOL BUILD IS GOING TO BE $86 MILLION.
THAT'S A PRELIMINARY DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT WE'RE COMING UP WITH.
THE PRELIMINARY SPLIT IS GOING TO BE AN 89-11 SPLIT, SO 89% WOULD COME FROM THE STATE, 11% WOULD COME FROM THE LOCAL.
THE STATE WOULD BE PAYING APPROXIMATELY $76 MILLION, AND THE COUNTY WOULD BE PAYING APPROXIMATELY $9.5-10 MILLION.
IAC IS LOOKING AT BUILDING THIS SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE FOOTPRINT THAT WE HAVE AT LOCKMAN, 126,000 SQUARE FEET FOR 900 STUDENTS.
THE STATE-RATED CAPACITY FOR THAT BUILDING IS 945 STUDENTS.
I AM AWARE AND SO IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT THERE ARE SOME COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PLANNED IN AROUND DENTON AND POINTS NORTH AND CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE SOME STUDENTS MOVING IN THAT WILL IMPACT OUR POPULATIONS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS TO DO A BUILD SUCH AS THIS, AND THEN HAVE IT BE AT 100% OCCUPANCY WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE FIGHT OR THE NEGOTIATION DEPENDING ON HOW YOU WANT TO SAY IT WITH THE IAC IS GOING TO BE, HOW DO WE GET MORE SQUARE FOOTAGE BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS.
I KNOW THERE'S TALK OF TOWN JUST RECENTLY.
THERE'S TWO DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE DEFINITELY OUTLINED TO HAPPEN AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BRING KIDS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT WE ARE EXPECTING MORE KIDS TO IMPACT DENTON AREA SCHOOLS.
[00:15:02]
GREENSBORO COMES DOWN AND FEEDS LOCKERMAN ELEMENTARY, AS WELL AS ARGYLE.WE'RE LOOKING TO TRY AND EXPAND THAT.
I'M HOPING THE STATE CAN PICK THAT UP.
IF THEY DON'T, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEN SOMETIME THAT I WOULD COME BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THIS WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY YOUR DECISION BECAUSE THIS WOULD BE PRETTY MUCH YOUR EXPENSE.
THE EXTRA ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE FEEL MAY BE NEEDED, HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO PUT INTO IT? THAT'S A CONVERSATION FOR THE WAY DOWN THE ROAD, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.
>> ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE WOULD BE 100% COUNTY?
>> THE DRIVER OF THIS IS THAT THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT IS IS REALLY JUMPING SO IN FY 23, IT WAS $358 PER SQUARE FOOT THIS YEAR, IT'S 416, AND THEY'RE ANTICIPATING THAT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE 3.5-4% EACH YEAR ANNUALLY.
IF WE GET SHOVELS IN THE GROUND IN FY 28, AND WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE IN FOR FY 30 SCHOOL YEAR, THAT COULD BE AT OR NORTH OF $490 PER SQUARE FOOT SO THAT'S THE DRIVER OF WHY THESE BUILDINGS ARE ARE AS EXPENSIVE AS WHAT WE'RE GETTING THE [INAUDIBLE] NUMBERS ON.
WE'RE LOOKING AT STILL SHOVELS IN THE GROUND, FY 28 MOVE IN FY 30.
THIS IS AGAIN, STRICTLY A PLACEHOLDER, BUT I HAVE MOVED THE RELOCATABLE GES DOWN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
THE TREND IS THAT THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE GROWTH UP THERE, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT RAPIDLY GROWING LIKE IT HAS BEEN LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SO WE'RE HOPING IT DOES SORT OF LEVEL OFF A LITTLE BIT, AND WE CAN GO WITH WHAT WE GOT FOR A WHILE TILL TRENDS CHANGE WITH THAT OPTION SO I'VE DROPPED OUT DOWN A FEW YEARS.
OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S REALLY THE CHANGES WITH THE REVISION, AND ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO, LOOKS GOOD TO ME THOUGH.
>> AT WHAT POINT IN THIS DISCUSSION WILL LOCATION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL COME UP? DOES THAT HAPPEN VERY EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS?
THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE ESPC PROCESS RIGHT NOW, DETERMINE THE CLASSROOMS, WHAT'S NEEDED EDUCATION CURRICULUM, ALL THAT.
AS SOON AS THEY GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF, THEY GO RIGHT THROUGH THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL DETERMINE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
DO WE ADD ON TO WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW? DO WE DO IT SAY AT THIS CASE, THERE'S A TRACK BEHIND THAT BUILDING, IS THAT A PIECE OF PROPERTY LARGE ENOUGH TO MAYBE DO A SMALLER FOOTPRINT, A DIFFERENT TYPE BUILD? IF NOT, THEN THEY'LL BE LOOKING ELSEWHERE, OR SOME OTHER PLACES.
WE HAVE EXPRESSED SOME LOCATIONS YOU HAVE EXPRESSED TO THE BOARD.
THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THAT SO THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THOSE AND ACTUALLY DOING SITE REVIEWS AND ALL THAT.
THAT'S ALL DURING THE FEASIBILITY STUDY SO THAT COULD HAPPEN AS SOON AS, 6-12 MONTHS FROM NOW.
>> I THINK THE COMMUNITY FOR HISTORIC SIDE OF IT, I THINK YOU WOULD MEET A LOT OF KICKBACK IF YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUILD BEHIND THERE, THEN THAT MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEMOLITION THE CURRENT SCHOOL.
>> I THINK YOU WOULD GET A LOT OF RESISTANCE IN THAT SENSE.
>> JUST FROM DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD AND.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THAT [OVERLAPPING].
ABSOLUTELY. YES. WE'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALSO WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
>> WHO DOES THE DECISION ON SITING ACTUALLY FALL TO? WHO GETS TO MAKE THAT CALL ON WHETHER IT'S A NEW BUILD, IF IT'S A RENOVATION ADDITION AND THE LOCATION?
>> THE RECOMMENDATION IS GOING TO COME FROM THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THEN WE WILL TAKE IT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE BOARD WILL DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO YOU GUYS TO GIVE US BLESSING ONE WAY OR OTHER AND GO FROM THERE.
GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY ON THE PORTABLE CLASSROOMS, IS THE SCHOOL OVERCAPACITY RIGHT NOW? WHAT'S YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
>> AT 100% CAPACITY RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU'RE OKAY CURRENTLY, BUT IF THERE'S [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF THERE'S A SUDDEN INFLUX THAT WE DON'T SEE COMING.
>> YOU SAY THE NUMBERS HAVE FLAT LINED RECENTLY?
>> THEY'RE GOING TO START TO FLATLINE A LITTLE BIT.
I SAY FLAT LINE JUST NOT RISE AT THE FAST RATE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN LAST FEW YEARS.
COMMISSIONER PORTER, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION FOR DANNY.
DANNY, DO YOU HAVE A GENERAL IDEA WHAT'S IN THE IMPACT FEE ACCOUNT FOR THE SCHOOL?
>> YES, SIR. THE LAST TIME WE HAD PULLED AND LOOKED AT THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS HOVERING RIGHT AROUND 1.3 MILLION IN THE IMPACT FUND.
[00:20:04]
I THINK WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THIS IS YES, THAT ACCOUNT WOULD BE A PERFECT USE OR A START OF THE LOCAL SHARE.>> IMPACT FEE FOR ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS AROUND DENTON, THERE WOULD BE AN IMPACT FEE COLLECTED BY THE TOWN, AND THERE WOULD ALSO BE ONE COLLECTED BY THE COUNTY, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. THE TOWN COLLECTS THE COUNTY PORTION AND THEN PASSES IT DOWN TO THE COUNTY AND IT IS $5,000 PER UNIT SO ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THAT IMPACT FEE.
>> THAT MONEY THAT MONEY IT'S EARMARKED SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, EDUCATION RELATED PROJECT.
>> CORRECT. I BELIEVE THE VERBIAGE USED IN THE CODE IS PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REVISED FISCAL YEAR 2026 CIP BUDGET?
KEEP US IN THE LOOP ON THE STUDY BECAUSE IF WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR 11% OF THIS, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE INPUT INTO IS IT A RENOVATION, ADDITION NEW LOCATION, ALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
>> PLEASE KEEP US IN IN THE LOOP.
>> OUR NEXT ITEM HERE IS A DISCUSSION OF COURTHOUSE SECURITY UPDATES.
[Discussion of Courthouse Security Updates]
I BELIEVE WE HAVE JUDGE PRICE HERE. MORNING.I ACTUALLY BROUGHT SOME COPIES OF THIS WITH ME, SO MAYBE I COULD PASS THOSE AROUND.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S A COPY OF THE MOU AS WELL AS PROPOSALS.
THE COURT IS HERE THIS MORNING, AND I APPRECIATE IT ON YOUR AGENDA.
THE COURT IS HERE SEEKING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND YOUR PERMISSION TO ASK FOR THIS GRANT.
AOC ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS HAS A SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT RECENTLY IN TERMS OF STUDYING, COURTHOUSE SECURITY ACROSS THE STATE, AND THEY PRODUCED A BIG REPORT ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS SPECIFIC TO CAROLINE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
WE HAVE A SECURITY TEAM THAT'S MADE UP OF NOT ONLY CHAMBER STAFF, MYSELF, AND LOGAN, THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, BUT ALSO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IS THERE, AS WELL AS IT CHRIS IS THERE AND DPW IS ALSO OCCASIONALLY AT THE TABLE.
ALSO INCLUDES [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE REGISTER OF WILLS AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DEPUTIES ON THE TEAM.
ALTOGETHER, WE REVIEWED THIS AND EVERY YEAR, THE COURT AT THE STATE LEVEL PUTS OUT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR SECURITY FUNDING, WHICH IS LISTED IN PRIORITIES TIER 1, 2, AND 3.
AFTER OUR SECURITY TEAM MET, WE DECIDED TO APPLY FOR THIS TO GET 16 BALLISTIC WINDOWS, WHICH WOULD COVER THE COMMISSIONER'S MEETING ROOM TWO FRONT, TWO SIDE.
THE LAW LIBRARY WHERE THE ORPHANS COURT MEETS ONE FRONT AND THE CLERKS, WHICH IS A FRONT, THE TAX OFFICE, FOREFRONT, AND ONE SIDE, AND THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOREFRONT AND ONE BALLISTIC DOOR, WHICH WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT FOR THE MAIN COURTHOUSE DOOR.
THAT OLD DOOR WOULD BE SAVED IN THE EVENT WE NO LONGER NEED IT IN THE BUILDING AND OLD HISTORIC DOOR COULD BE REINSTALLED.
THIS IS A REIMBURSABLE BASE GRANT, SO THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD HOPEFULLY AGREE TO FRONT THE MONEY AND THEN BE REIMBURSED FOR THAT BY THE STATE.
WE'RE NOT GUARANTEED THAT WE'D BE PICKED FOR THIS BUT WE'RE GOING TO SUBMIT IT AND THEN SEE IF IF OUR COURTHOUSE IS SELECTED FOR THESE IMPROVEMENTS, AND IF THEY ARE THEN WE WOULD KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD HAPPEN.
I THINK CHRIS RICE WITH IT AND DEPUTY MANO HELPED A LOT IN GETTING TOGETHER.
IT WAS DIFFICULT FINDING ANYONE TO DO THE DOOR AND WHEN WE FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY IT'S THE SOLE SOURCE AND THAT'S BEEN VETTED THROUGH STACEY AND DANNY, I BELIEVE, WITH LOGAN'S HELP AND MAYBE EVEN MISS FREEMAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION OR NOT, BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND SOMEONE.
[00:25:03]
WHAT YOU SEE THERE IS A BANK COPY OF WHAT THE MOU WOULD LOOK LIKE.EXHIBIT A WOULD BE FILLED IN WITH WHAT OUR REQUEST IS.
YOU SEE A LIST OF THE PROPOSALS AND IT TOTALS I THINK IT WAS $116,525.
THAT'S JUST FOR THE THE BULLETPROOF BARRIERS.
THERE'S A CAMERA SYSTEM THAT'S $2,199 FOR A TOTAL OF $118,724.
IF SELECTED, IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE COURT AT THE STATE LEVEL, BUT IT WOULD BE ON A REIMBURSABLE BASIS.
COMMISSIONER BARTS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED? MR. PORTER, DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING?
>> YES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH HISTORICAL PEOPLE.
I'M ASSUMING THAT THE TREATMENT FOR THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CHANGE THE APPEARANCE OF THE WINDOWS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT, AND I ANTICIPATED THAT CONCERN, COMMISSIONER PORTER.
I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF THE TOWNS HISTORIC COMMISSION, I THINK THEY CALL IT.
THIS COULD BE APPROVED BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF SECURITY AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL.
I'VE ALREADY RUN THAT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMISSION AND ON THE BASIS THAT WE WOULD SAVE THE OLD HISTORIC DOOR THAT COULD BE REINSTALLED IF THE SECURE DOOR WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY.
IT COULD BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL, THE ONLY HICCUP WITH THAT IS AN APPROVAL OF THAT NATURE WOULD LAST JUST SIX MONTHS AND AND THE JOB WOULD HAVE TO GET DONE, SO WE'D HAVE TO HAVE EVERYTHING LINED UP.
>> ARE THERE ANY PHOTOS OF THE DOOR THAT'S PROPOSED?
>> NOT THAT I'VE SEEN, BUT I COULD TRY TO GET SOME.
>> BECAUSE MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF IT AND SEE HOW IT LOOKS AND SEE IF THERE'S
>> YEAH. WELL, JEN SHARED SHARED WITH US AN ATTACHMENT I GUESS AS A METAL PACKAGE FOR THE DOOR IN OUR BRIEFING.
>> I GUESS I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT YET.
>> THAT DOOR TO ME LOOKS LIKE A DOOR GOING INTO DOLLAR GENERAL.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE DOOR, THAT'S JUST WHAT CAME IN THE QUOTES.
>> OKAY. AS A SUBMITTAL IN THE QUOTE.
>> WE HAVE LOOKED INTO SOME DOORS THAT I DON'T KNOW THEY MIGHT COST MORE, BUT WOULD SERVE THE AESTHETIC FUNCTION, BUT ALSO THE SECURITY THEY NEED.
>> IT'S JUST BASICALLY A GENERIC LOOKING DOOR.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS, JUDGE PRICE, WHO DID YOU SPEAK WITH ON THE HISTORIC SOCIETY?
>> DID SHE RUN IT BEFORE HER BOARD OR WAS THAT JUST HER OPINION?
>> I I DON'T KNOW IF SHE SPOKE WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BUT SHE SAID THAT SHE HAS LICENSE TO DO ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND THAT'S NOT GIVEN.
OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT APPROVAL BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IF YOU ALL AGREED TO SERVE IT IN THIS BASIS, THEN I WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT UP FRONT.
>> THE DOOR IS IT JUST A GLASS OR IS IT REALLY BALLISTIC?
>> WELL, I WASN'T IN THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING THE DOOR.
I JUST KNEW THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOT A BALLISTIC FILM ON THE GLASS, BUT IT'S ALSO A STEEL DOOR, SO IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THROUGH.
[00:30:06]
>> WHAT'S THE DEADLINE FOR HAVING TO HAVE THIS LETTER?
>> I BELIEVE DECEMBER 3RD IS A DEADLINE FOR US TO SUBMIT.
>> I WOULD SAY THE WINDOWS IS PROBABLY OF MORE IMPORTANCE THAN THE DOOR.
>> IS THAT REALLY A MAJOR NECESSITY, THE DOOR?
>> WELL, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT SECURITY REVIEW THAT WAS CONDUCTED BY THE STATE WHEN THEY THEY WENT TO EVERY SINGLE COURTHOUSE.
THEY SAID IT'S ONE OF OUR WEAKNESSES.
I WOULD PROBABLY SAY THE BACK DOOR WILL BRING A WEAKNESS INTO FRONT DOOR.
>> WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES WITH REGARD TO THE BACK DOOR.
WE'RE GETTING READY TO IN TERMS OF ACCESS.
>> THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE CORRECTING INTERNALLY.
>> ON THE FRONT DOOR, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORK HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE, SO I'M COMING AT THIS HAVING BEEN ONLY IN THE PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS, BUT I JUST DID A QUICK SEARCH.
THERE ARE SOME COMPANIES, AND MAYBE WE'VE ALREADY EXPLORED THIS OPTION, THAT HAVE BULLET, BALLISTIC RESISTANT DOORS THAT THEY CAN DO HISTORIC REPLICATIONS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK INTO.
THE COMPANY I'M LOOKING AT IS CALLED SAFEWOOD DESIGNS.
>> THE ISSUE I HAVE, IF YOU IF YOU TAKE THE DOOR OUT AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO SAVE IT AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT BACK, IT GETS STUCK IN A CORNER SOMEWHERE.
TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW, WHERE DID THIS DOOR COME FROM? NOBODY'S GOING TO REMEMBER WHERE THE DOOR COME FROM. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.
>> BUT I THINK IT'S AESTHETICS, ALSO, OF THE COURTHOUSE EVERY DAY.
COMING IN AND OUT, JUST THE AESTHETICS OF HOW THE COURTHOUSE LOOKS.
>> I'M SAYING, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE DOOR OUT AND PUT IT UP SOMEWHERE, IT GETS LOST IN TIME.
NOBODY AT ALL, WHERE DID THAT DOOR COME FROM? IT'D BE FORGOT ABOUT AND NOBODY EVER KNOW, AND THEN IT WOULD JUST BE THE SAME PLAIN DOOR AS IT GOES.
BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT ABOUT, THERE'S GOT TO BE A COMPANY OUT THERE THAT CAN DO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FINDING THEM.
IF YOU HAVE TO PAY EXTRA TO GET IT DONE, I'M ALL FOR THAT.
>> I CAN APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERNS. I REALLY DO.
I HATE TO TAKE SOME HISTORIC STRUCTURE AND ALTER IT IN A PERMANENT MANNER, AND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT IT GETTING LOST.
>> IT WAS DEPUTY MANNING THAT WAS TRYING TO FIND THE DOOR PEOPLE, AND I THINK HE WOULD HAVE MORE INSIGHT AS TO HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS, BUT I CAN TRACK DOWN THAT ONE.
>> IN TODAY'S WORLD, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY OUT THERE THAT DOES IT.
I GUESS IT'S JUST REALLY FUN THAT DOES THAT.
>> I WOULD AGREE TO SUBMIT THE LETTER FOR THE WINDOWS.
I WON'T AT THE DOOR AT THIS POINT.
>> THE WINDOWS, I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT THEY CAN PUT THESE WINDOWS.
THE NEW WINDOW WOULD GO BEHIND THIS? IT DOESN'T LOOK TO ME LIKE THEY'RE REPLACEMENTS OF WHAT'S EXISTING HERE, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL.
THESE APPEAR TO BE THICKER WINDOWS WITH LOCKS.
>> THE WINDOWS, THIS IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM DEPUTY MANNO OUT FRONT WHO WAS WORKING WITH THE VENDOR, IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME MODEL THAT THEY HAVE CURRENTLY PROTECTING THE DEPUTIES OUT THERE.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT DESIGN OR HOW THAT LOOKS IN THE WINDOW, THAT ONE IS OUT THERE NOW THAT EVERYBODY COULD LOOK AT.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S A FRAME THAT GOES ON THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, AND THEN IT HAS A PHYSICAL LOCK AND KEY THAT YOU COULD ESSENTIALLY OPEN THAT INTERIOR BALLISTIC WINDOW.
I THINK FROM THE EXTERIOR, YOU REALLY DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S SET BEHIND THE WINDOW FRAME, BUT FROM THE INTERIOR, YOU WOULD SEE THE METAL FRAME.
>> THESE WINDOWS WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT.
THEY WOULD HAVE FROM THE INSIDE.
[00:35:02]
>> FROM SITTING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW, YES, YOU WOULD DEFINITELY NOTICE THE FRAME AROUND THEM.
EXTERIOR, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T, JUST BECAUSE THE WAY IT SITS BEHIND, BUT I DON'T THINK SITTING WHERE THESE GENTLEMEN ARE TODAY, YOU'D BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS OR ANYTHING.
>> IS THERE ANY WAY ANY OF THESE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS COULD HAPPEN LIKE UPSTAIRS WITH ACCESS TO JUST THE COURT ROOM, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH CHANGING THE FRONT DOOR?
>> WELL, I THINK THE FRONT DOOR AND WHERE THE DEPUTIES SIT, IT'S THE MAIN ENTRANCE.
IF SOMEONE WERE TO ORCHESTRATE SOMETHING, IT WOULD BE THERE THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN INITIALLY.
>> THEN ALSO, I KNOW THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME WINDOWS THAT I HAVE, BUT I'VE HAD SEVERAL DEATH THREATS ALREADY, TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IN JAIL FOR THOSE THREATS.
BUT I DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THE STATE'S ATTORNEY ALSO RECEIVES THOSE THREATS.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH LARRY ON THIS ONE.
CAN WE GO BACK AND DO SOME MORE RESEARCH ON THE DOOR IF WE CAN?
>> WELL, MAYBE PUBLIC WORKS, OUR FACILITIES CAN GET INVOLVED AND TRY TO HELP YOU OUT WITH GETTING PRICES OR TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN DO IT.
>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WON'T SUPPORT IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF THE DOOR, BUT I'M NOT WITH WHAT THE DESIGN THAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR.
IT'S GOT TO COMPLY MORE WITH THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING.
>> MORE OF A GUARANTEE THAT IF IT'S THE HISTORIC VALUE OF IT.
>> PERHAPS WE COULD JUST LEAVE THAT FUNDING IN THE GRANT, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK INTO DOOR ALTERNATIVES, AND THEN IF WE DECIDE TO GO THAT WAY, WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING FOR THE EXISTING DOOR, WHETHER IT'S MAYBE WE RE-PURPOSE IT SOMEWHERE OR WE HAVE IT A DISPLAY OR SOMETHING SO IT DOESN'T GET LOST, IF WE DO END UP REPLACING IT.
>> LEAVE IT IN THE REQUEST OR TAKE IT OUT OF THE REQUEST AND TRY NEXT YEAR.
>> NO, I WAS THINKING LEAVE IT IN WHILE WE EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF WE TOTALLY COME UP WITH ANOTHER QUOTE OR ANOTHER VENDOR TO INSTALL THIS DOOR.
>> I THINK THE ONLY HICCUP WE'D HAVE THERE IS IF IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE, AND IT WOULDN'T BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE COURT, THEN COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH [INAUDIBLE].
>> I COULDN'T SEE IT BEING THE DOUBLE OF WHAT THE CURRENT DOOR IS.
>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURED DOOR, SO IT COULD BE A LOT MORE TO COME UP WITH SOME CUSTOM HISTORIC.
>> PROBABLY A LOT MORE CRAFTSMANSHIP INVOLVED IN THAT.
>> THAN JUST A MASS MANUFACTURED DOOR LIKE THIS ONE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M CRAZY ABOUT PUTTING THOSE LOCK AND WINDOWS IN THE MEETING ROOM HERE AND HAVING THOSE FRAMES.
I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE, BUT THIS FRAME WOULD STICK OUT.
I'VE GOT THE SUBMITTAL PULLED UP HERE, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SHOWING ME, [OVERLAPPING] THE BACK GLAZE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT INCORPORATES INTO WHAT WE HAVE IN HERE.
>> DOESN'T IT SIT WITHIN THE WINDOW FRAME, OR DOES IT SIT ON THE OUTSIDE OF WINDOW FRAME?
>> MY RECOLLECTION IS IT DOES PROTRUDE OUT PAST.
>> IT'S FUNNY, I HAVE THEM IN MY OFFICE, BUT I OVERLOOK THEM NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR SO LONG.
>> YOU WANT TO RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES AND YOU CAN WALK DOWN HERE AND LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE GOT? LET'S TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS.
[00:46:38]
I WILL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER.[00:46:42]
WE WALKED DOWN THE HALL AND LOOKED AT THE WINDOW.COMMISSIONER PORTER, THE WINDOW, THEY CAN GET THEM IN WHITE, AND I THINK IT WOULD BLEND IN AND PROBABLY BE UNNOTICEABLE IN THE COMMISSIONER MEETING ROOM.
I THINK I'M FINE WITH THE WINDOWS IF WE CAN GET THEM IN WHITE-FRAMED.
BUT THE DOOR, I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ON THAT AND TRY TO FIND SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE HISTORICAL IN NATURE.
>> THE ONLY THING IS IF WE CAN MAKE THAT AN INTERIOR DOOR.
>> LIKE A FISH BOWL TYPE FOYER?
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER A LITTLE FOYER PASS THROUGH AND THEN MAKE THAT THE BULLET PROOF DOOR.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH MONEY IN THIS APPLICATION TO DO THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE COURTS WOULD COVER THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS ON THE INTERIOR.
>> IF WE CAN'T FIND ANYTHING, IF THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, I'D BE OKAY WITH PAYING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> I GUESS THE ANSWER TO CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE IS, SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMETHING ELSE FIRST, AND THEN WE GO BACK TO, IF WE HAVE TO DO IT ON THE INSIDE IF WE CAN, THEN WE HAVE TO PAY A LITTLE BIT A LITTLE DIFFERENCE THERE TO SEE WHAT IT IS.
>> ARE WE LEAVING THE DOOR IN THE APPLICATION AND MODIFYING THE APPLICATION TO HAVE NINE TOTAL WHITE FRAMES AND THE BALANCE REGULAR FOR UPSTAIRS? I THINK IT'S NINE TOTAL WITH THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING AND THAT SIDE HERE SO THAT NO ONE CAN SEE IT, REALLY.
>> AS LONG AS THERE ARE WHITE FRAMES DOWN HERE, I WOULD APPROVE THAT.
I WOULD SAY ON THE DOOR, IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO HAVE A COMPLETE APPLICATION REGARDING THE FRONT DOOR, MAYBE WE PUSH THAT OFF UNTIL NEXT YEAR, BUT I THINK THERE'S REALLY NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A QUOTE ON THAT FRONT DOOR PROBABLY BY DECEMBER 3RD.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY OR THE FISHBOWL AREA.
>> YOU DON'T MEET AGAIN BEFORE THE THIRD, DO YOU?
>> NO, WE HAVE A CLOSED SESSION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THE 3RD, BUT THAT'S IT.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE HERE, SO IF WE NEEDED TO MAKE IT A MEETING, WE COULD THAT.
>> WE'VE GOT AN OPEN SESSION TECHNICALLY ANYWAY AND THEN CLOSE.
>> WE COULD ADD IT TO THE THIRD AGENDA IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING, BUT IF THAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION, MAYBE IT'S LATER WHEN WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME.
IF WE HAVE MORE TIME, MAYBE WE CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND EITHER INVESTIGATE WHAT THE CHEAPER OPTION WOULD BE, THE DOOR OR A FOYER TYPE BARRICADE.
>> I HAVE CALLED AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S DROPPED DEADLINE HERE.
[00:50:03]
>> WELL, AT LEAST MAYBE WE CAN GET THE WINDOWS KNOCKED OUT.
ANY SENSE OF WHETHER THEY FROWN ON MAKING APPLICATIONS BACK TO BACK YEARS?
>> THERE'S A LOT THEY'RE COVERING ADDITIONALLY, I THINK EVERY YEAR.
THEY HAD SOME FOR PARKING, WHICH IS AN ONGOING, A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TODAY, BUT THAT'S NEVER BEEN COVERED BEFORE.
RIGHT. I ADDED IT LAST YEAR, I THINK, AND SO THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR.
I THINK THEY'RE INCLUDING THINGS THAT WERE POINTED OUT IN THE SURVEYS THAT THEY DID.
>> I CAN'T IMAGINE, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS POSSIBILITY THEY WON'T DO IT.
>> WELL, LET'S INVESTIGATE THOSE.
IF THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE, THERE'S NO REASON TO COME BACK DECEMBER 3RD.
I WOULD APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR THE BULLET PROOF WINDOWS TODAY.
IF WE NEED TO MEET ON THE 3RD TO APPROVE THE FRONT DOOR, CAN WE CAN DO THAT.
>> THAT WOULD BE AS MODIFIED FOR THE NINE WEIGHT WINDOWS DOWNSTAIRS?
>> CORRECT. WELL, YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE WINDOWS AND THE DOOR, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE ON HOLD, RIGHT?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE WINDOWS FOR THE FOR THE COURTHOUSE SECURITY.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. SORRY TO BE DIFFICULT, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DOOR [OVERLAPPING]
>> I USED TO REPRESENT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT SO I UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANT OF ALL BUILDINGS.
>> I KNOW WE'VE BEEN RAISING THE FRONT DOOR ISSUE FOR MONTHS NOW.
I WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE WITH THERE AND THEY WERE, HOLD ON.
WE'VE GOT THE JUDGE IS WORKING ON A SECURITY IMPROVEMENT, SO WE NEED TO INCORPORATE THAT IN, SO WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE WITH THE FRONT DOOR MAYBE WE CAN ADDRESS IT.
THE SIMPLEST THING TO ME, I THINK, WOULD BE FIND OF BALLISTIC DECORATIVE DOOR TO PUT IT IN THERE THAT MEETS THE PERIOD OF THE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.
>> WHAT DESIGN IS GOING TO BE GETTING IN CALL?
>> I'M ON. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE SOME GOOD OPTIONS ON THERE.
>> DO WE NEED TO GET KEVIN? KEVIN IS OUR BUILDING GUY.
>> DOES THIS BREAKDOWN THE WINDOW VERSUS DOOR COST?
>> DO YOU SEE THE PROPOSALS DON'T HAVE IT DOWN THERE? THE TOTAL COST, DO YOU SEE THE ONE FROM ARC SYSTEMS? IT'S 2,199.
>> THE WINDOW AND DOORS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS ONE LUMP SUM.
I WAS JUST CURIOUS UNLESS IT'S OVER HERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY BREAK THAT DOWN, BUT IT'S AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THAT.
>> AS I WAS LOOKING AT THAT SAFEWOOD SITE, IT SAID, EXPECT TO PAY $10,000 OR SO FOR A WOOD ARCHITECTURAL NICE DOORS.
THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING WHAT THEIR ESTIMATE WAS.
>> IT DIDN'T BREAK OUT THE COSTS.
>> TOTALLY FOR WINDOWS AND DOORS.
>> NO. I THINK IT'S 116, FOR THREE BALLISTIC.
>> YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A NUMBER CLOSE ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE.
>> IF IT'S WITHIN A COUPLE OF THOUSAND.
THERE'S ALSO CAMERAS ON THERE, IS IT THERE A TOTAL COST FOR THE CAMERAS 2,199 AND WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THAT.
I REALLY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT WHAT YOU CAN'T GET IN HERE.
>> WELL, THE CAMERAS, WE'RE FINE.
>> WE'RE FINE WITH THE CAMERAS.
>> THE ONLY CONCERN WE HAVE IS THE AESTHETICS REALLY.
>> DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THE CAMERAS?
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GRANT APPLICATION.
>> GRANT APPLICATION FOR SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADE.
>> MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY I.
>> IF I CAN FIND SOMETHING, I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW BEFORE THE 3RD.
>> I WOULD SAY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DOOR AND VOTE ON IT, PROBABLY, SOME TYPE OF SUBMISSION BEFORE WE DO IT.
>> SOUNDS GOOD? THANK YOU, JUDGE.
[2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan]
WE HAVE MARK SHERIDAN, DIRECTOR, AND DOUG JONES FROM THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES WITH A 2024 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.MARK, YOU'RE DROPPING 550-PAGE DOCUMENTS ON ME.
>> THERE'LL BE A TEST ON PAGE 422.
>> I'VE READ MAYBE 40 OF THEM.
[00:55:03]
>> I FIGURED [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO GET ON THE AGENDA.
THIS IS A REQUIREMENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVERY FIVE YEARS THAT WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR RESILIENCY AND HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN.
IT HAS TO BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FORMS THE FOUNDATION OF CAROLINE COUNTIES AND ITS MUNICIPALITIES.
THIS WAS A JOINT EFFORT WITH ALL OUR MUNICIPALITIES, THE 10 MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN WAS DEVELOPED USING A COMMITTEE, WHICH CONSISTED OF ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES, VARIOUS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS, PLANNING AND CODES, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, SO IT WAS REPRESENTED BY THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
APPROVED, THIS ALLOWS US TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS, SPECIFICALLY, OUR HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM, FLOOD MITIGATION, ANY RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, SO OUR BRICK GRANTS.
WITHOUT THIS, WE COULDN'T APPLY FOR THOSE GRANTS.
I PRESENT TO YOU THE 500 AND SOME ODD PAGES OF THE NEW HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN FOR ADOPTION.
THE OFFICIAL RESOLUTION OF ADOPTION BY THE COUNTY MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY FEMA AND THAT WILL RESULT IN AN APPROVAL LETTER SENT TO THE COUNTY THEN WE WILL HAVE THE 10 MUNICIPALITIES ALL ADOPTED, SO EVERYBODY WILL ADOPT THE PLAN.
IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
THE DOCUMENT, BASICALLY IS A BOILER PLATE STANDARD PLAN REQUIRED BY EVERY COUNTY, EVERY MUNICIPALITY IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S A PLAN THAT JUST LOOKS AT ALL OUR PLAN VULNERABLE AREAS AND WHAT OUR PROJECTS COULD BE THROUGH THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
SOME OF THE PROJECTS, I THINK, IN THE 2019 VERSION WEREN'T ACCOMPLISHED WITH COVID AND SOME OTHER THINGS, SO SOME OF THOSE GOT PUSHED FORWARD IN THIS NEW PLAN FOR NEW MUNICIPALITIES.
>> THE COST OF THIS PLAN UPDATE IS TOTALLY FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED?
>>NO LOCAL DOLLARS WENT INTO THIS?
>> NO, OUR CONTRIBUTION WAS BASICALLY IN TIME, I THINK SOME HOURS. IT'S ALL GRANT FUNDING.
>> I SEE WE ADD ADDED A COUPLE I GUESS, THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SECTION AFTER COVID WAS ADDED THAT WAS NOT IN THE PREVIOUS PLAN.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS THE MAJOR ADDITION?
>> THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE MAJOR.
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ANYTHING IN THE '19 PLAN, OBVIOUSLY.
>> OBVIOUSLY, OUR MAJOR RISK FACTORS HERE WOULD BE HURRICANE, FLOODING, STORM DAMAGE, HURRICANE RELATED OR A LARGE SNOW FALL EVENT.
NO REAL MAJOR CHANGES TO EITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO?
>> THE CLIMATE IS GETTING WARMER, SO SNOWSTORMS.
>> WE'VE HAD MILDER SUMMERS AND MILDER WINTERS.
>> I SEE YOU PUT POWER OUTAGES AS SOMEWHAT CONCERNED, TOO CONCERNED.
ON THAT ON ONE BASIS, WAS THIS?
>> SO THEY LOOK AT TRUE STORMS, WE WOULD HAVE MAJOR POWER OUTAGES.
HOW WOULD WE DEAL WITH THOSE? WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED? HOW WE WOULD MITIGATE THOSE? HOW WE WORK WITH THE POWER COMPANIES, THE OTHER ENTITIES IN THE COUNTY?
>> I'D SAY ONE THING THAT'S CHANGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS WIND.
THAT WE HAVE MORE WIND THAN WE'VE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW. TWENTY YEARS AGO, YOU DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE BAY BRIDGE BEING SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF WIND.
NOW IT'S SHUT DOWN EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE OF THE WIND.
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED OR UPDATED HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
[01:00:01]
>> NEXT UP, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND SHERRY BRATTON, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES,
[Katheleen Freeman, County Administrator & Sherry Bratton, Director, Human Resources]
WITH A DISCUSSION RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024-032,[Discussion of Resolution #2024-032, Amendment to Caroline County Personnel Rules and Regulations, Employee Grievance Procedures]
AMENDMENT TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. WHO'S GOT IT?>> WE HAVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND MYSELF, HAVE WORKED ON THIS PART OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
IT'S CAME TO OUR ATTENTION, AND IT HAS BEEN ON OUR RADAR, THAT WE'VE HAD A VERY HARD TIME FILLING THE REVIEW PANEL PROCEDURES FOR THIS.
WE DON'T GET MEMBERS TO WANT TO SIGN UP TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE NOT HAD A GRIEVANCE PROBABLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, SO IT'S NOT BEEN AN ISSUE, BUT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE HOW THE PANEL MAKEUP IS.
CURRENTLY, IT SAYS WE NEED TO HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS, AND THAT IS INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE OUTSIDE PUBLIC.
THAT'S BEEN AIR ISSUE IS GETTING THE PUBLIC TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT BECAUSE WE DO THESE GRIEVANCE HEARINGS DURING A NORMAL WORK DAY.
YOU'RE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO TAKE OFF WORK, AT LEAST A HALF A DAY, POSSIBLY MORE, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THEY LAST,, SO THAT'S BEEN A DILEMMA AND GETTING THAT AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE FIND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AIR PERSONNEL RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
A RECOMMENDATION IS CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS ON THE PANEL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE, LEAVING THAT AT TWO AND COMING DOWN AND HAVING AN EMPLOYEE VISOR BOARD MEMBER, WHICH IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AS WELL.
THEN MAKING THE THIRD MEMBER THAT WOULD BE ON THAT PANEL, A RANDOM BLIND DRAW SELECTION OF AIR CURRENT DIRECTORS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
THAT WOULD BE EXCLUDING SEVERAL OF THE DIRECTORS MYSELF.
THE DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, WOULD BE EXCLUDED.
THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE A GRIEVANCE IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE HAVE A EFFECTIVE PANEL TO REVIEW THAT FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, KATHLEEN?
>> NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT.
>> GOOD. COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> BRIEF ME HERE ON WHAT THE POWER OF THE COMMISSION IS.
WHAT WHAT DO THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO?
>> THE GRIEVANCE REVIEW PANEL ACTUALLY REVIEWS THE GRIEVANCE.
WHAT THEY DETERMINE THE GRIEVANCE BRINGS THEIR INFORMATION TO THE PANEL.
WHAT THEY REVIEW IS WHETHER THE COUNTY DID OR DID NOT FOLLOW THEIR PROCESS.
IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE DECISION OF WHAT HAPPENED AS FAR AS THE DISCIPLINE OR THE TERMINATION OF THE EMPLOYEE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT IF THEY DECIDED THAT THE COUNTY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE PROCESS, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
>> THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AS THE INDIVIDUAL TO REVIEW THAT DECISION.
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER, IF SOMEBODY FILES A GRIEVANCE AND WHEN THEY GET THROUGH THE GRIEVANCE PANEL, THE GRIEVANCE PANEL RENDERS AN ADVISORY OPINION AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEN THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THEN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR ENACT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
IT ULTIMATELY COMES DOWN TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION AFTER THE GRIEVANCE REVIEW PANEL HAS REVIEWED EVERYTHING AND DONE A REPORT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THIS DOESN'T HELP US TODAY BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO HAVE THIS LANGUAGE CHANGED FAIRLY EXPEDITIOUSLY, BUT SHERRY AND I ARE ALSO WORKING ON A REWRITE OF THE ENTIRE PERSONAL RULES AND REGULATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S MANY CONFLICTS OR THINGS THAT AREN'T CLEAR.
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT IS SOMETHING THAT WE PROBABLY ULTIMATELY SHOULD ADD INTO THE GRIEVANCE SECTION.
HOW DOES THAT LOOK IF THE COUNTY DIDN'T FOLLOW THE RIGHT PROCEDURES, WHAT'S THE OUTCOME? RIGHT NOW, THE CODE DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT OR THE REGS DON'T ADDRESS THAT.
>> IS THERE ANY REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE?
>> I'VE NOT HEARD OF ANY REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE ONE.
[01:05:09]
>> I DIDN'T HEAR THE ANSWER. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION AS WELL.
>> NOT THAT ANYONE IS AWARE OF.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, SO ULTIMATELY, THE DECISION COULD BE FINAL? CORRECT.
>> WELL, I THINK I'M SATISFIED WITH PASSING THIS RESOLUTION, AND THEN MAYBE WHEN COMMISSIONER PORTER IS BACK, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IN PERSON WHETHER OR NOT WE EVEN NEED TO HAVE THE PROCEDURE AT ALL.
>> ULTIMATELY, THE ADMINISTRATOR HAS FINAL SAY ANYWAY.
SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF GOING THROUGH THIS EXERCISE OR HAVING THIS PROCEDURE IF IT'S ULTIMATELY UP TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
>> STEWART WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING, LARRY. GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> I WASN'T HERE WHEN THIS WAS CREATED, BUT MY GUESS IS THAT IT COMES FROM A DESIRE TO GRANT THE EMPLOYEES A DUE PROCESS THAT THERE IS AT LEAST SOME BASIC REVIEW.
IT MIGHT BE A ONE STEP REVIEW, BUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE FINAL WORD BEING FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR. IT'S A PERCEPTION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S EVER BEEN AN OVERTURNED EMPLOYMENT DECISION OR TERMINATION AND NO ONE HAS EVER MENTIONED ONE TO ME.
IT'S ALMOST AN UNNECESSARY APPENDAGE UNLESS IT'S JUST FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF EMPLOYEES FEELING THAT THEY'VE GOT SOMEBODY TO REVIEW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.
>> THE WAY IT'S WORDED NOW, EVEN IF THEY GO THROUGH THAT REVIEW, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR HAS THE FINAL AUTHORITY REGARDLESS.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE TYPE OF DISCIPLINE.
>> IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND IT'S GOING TO END UP IN THE SAME PLACE ANYWAY, AND THAT'S WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
IF WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PEOPLE TO BE ON THIS, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE SHOULD HAVE IT, BUT I'M FINE WITH REVISING THIS, BUT UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I'M GOING TO BE LEANING TOWARD DOING AWAY WITH THIS.
I THINK WE REVISE IT TODAY, AND THEN TAKE A LITTLE DEEPER LOOK INTO IF IT IS REQUIRED.
I TOTALLY TRUST OUR DIRECTORS AND OUR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR TO BE JUDICIOUS AND FAIR.
WHY SUBJECT OURSELVES TO ANOTHER PROCESS AND DISTRACTION IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE EXTENT TO DISCIPLINE AND REMOVE SOMEONE AND THE LENGTH OF TIME AND RESOURCES THAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY DO THOSE THINGS, WHY WOULD WE ADD MORE BURDEN ON STAFF. DO YOU WANT TO [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 2024-032.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU, SHERRY. THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH TO CROSS ALL THIS OUT TOO TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAVE EFFECTS SO NOT REFERRED TO IN OTHER AREAS.
SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE REDOING THOSE WRITES.
NEXT, WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE SESSION SCHEDULED.
[Legislative Session: Public Hearing]
DO I HEAR A MOTION TO GO INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION?>> THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR A CDBG GRANT APPLICATION FOR MARTIN'S HOUSE & BARN,
[• CDBG Grant Application – Martin’s House & Barn Enhancing Essential Case Management Services for High-Needs Families in a Year-Round Shelter]
ENHANCING ESSENTIAL CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR HIGH-NEEDS FAMILIES IN A YEAR-ROUND SHELTER.WHO WANTS TO GIVE THE BACKGROUND ON THIS?
[01:10:02]
>> GOOD MORNING. WE CAN PROVIDE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE GRANT APPLICATION IS AND WHY WE'RE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, AND THEN CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE IN REGARDS TO THIS.
TO SET THE TABLE, THIS IS A BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION THAT REALLY FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL TIMING OF BLOCK GRANTS.
SECRETARY DAY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO DEBORAH AND THE COUNTY ABOUT SOME SPECIAL FUNDING THEY HAD SET ASIDE AND RECOGNIZED MARTIN'S HOUSE & BARN AS A LOCATION THAT PROVIDES SERVICES THAT ALIGNED WITH THIS GRANT THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE FUNDING FOR.
WE SAT DOWN AS A GROUP, DHCD, DEBORAH, MYSELF, STACY, AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
DEBORAH AS WELL WITH STACY, HAVE PUT TOGETHER THE APPLICATION YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY THAT ESSENTIALLY OUTLINES TWO POSITIONS, ONE BEING A CASE MANAGER AND THE SECOND BEING A PART TIME GRANT MANAGER.
THE FUNDING WOULD COVER FULL TIME SALARY FOR THE CASE MANAGER AS WELL AS BENEFITS, AND THEN PART TIME SALARY FOR THE GRANT MANAGER.
DEBORAH AS FAR AS THE POSITION AND WHAT THEY WOULD BE OFFERING TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE HERE, BUT MARTIN'S HOUSE & BARN SERVES AS A SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING MID-SHORE REGION, WHERE A LOW-BARRIER, TRAUMA-INFORMED, HARM REDUCTION SHELTER, PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING EMERGENCY HOUSING, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO EMPOWER FAMILIES ON THEIR PATH TO STABILITY.
IN 2023, WE HAD 10,000 BED NIGHTS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED AND DISTRIBUTED OVER 10 TONS OF FOOD EACH MONTH.
WE'RE HOPING TO HELP FAMILIES REBUILD THEIR LIVES AND SEEK STABILITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING OVER THE LAST YEAR SPECIFICALLY IS REALLY A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HIGH-NEEDS MENTAL HEALTH FAMILIES THAT WE'RE HAVING.
WE'RE JUST SEEING FAMILIES COME ACTUALLY NOT ONLY HIGH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, BUT ALSO COGNITIVE SITUATIONS, COGNITIVE ISSUES, AND ALSO PHYSICAL STRUGGLES.
IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SECRETARY DAY AND THE COC, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, YOU WERE THERE COMMISSIONER BREEDING, WE JUST REALLY THINK THAT A DEDICATED, QUALIFIED, SOMEONE WITH A SOCIAL WORK BACKGROUND WOULD PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT TO OUR FAMILIES, AND THEN HOPEFULLY A GRANT MANAGER TO HELP US FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE.
>> OUTSIDE OF THAT, THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE SOME PROJECT ADMINISTRATION TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $16,000 TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF THE GRANT.
MARTIN'S HOUSE & BARN WOULD BE A SUB-RECIPIENT OF THE GRANT, SO IT IS A PASS THROUGH THROUGH THE COUNTY TO THEM.
IN TYPICAL FASHION, IF THIS IS AWARDED AND GONE THROUGH, WE WILL HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT WITH MARTIN'S HOUSE & BARN THAT WOULD PUT IN OUR TYPICAL LANGUAGE OF PROTECTION AS FAR AS GRANTS AND REIMBURSEMENT IF THERE WAS ANY FUTURE DEFAULT.
>> HOW MANY YEARS IS THIS FOR?
>> IS YOUR BASIS TO COVER PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND WITH PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE? FOR YOUR CASE MANAGER, WHAT'S GOING TO BE THEIR MAIN PURPOSE WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO HANDLE? HOMELESSNESS OR THEY ARE GOING TO DO SEXUAL ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?
WHEN THEY COME INTO OUR SHELTER, OUR GOAL IS HOUSING TO GET THEM REHOUSED IN WHATEVER WAY POSSIBLE.
OFTEN IT'S JUST THE LINKING TO SERVICES.
IT'S JUST THAT WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH SUCH HIGH NEEDS, WE REALLY WANT SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP MANAGE THAT.
OFTEN PEOPLE COME AND THEY'RE FEARFUL OF GETTING ACCESS TO SERVICES OR JUST THE DAY TO DAY CHAOS THAT CAN INVOLVE.
WE DON'T ASK OUR CLIENTS TO LEAVE DURING THE DAY.
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE ALL OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE CHILDREN.
WE'RE TRYING TO FOSTER AN ATMOSPHERE OF STABILITY.
HAVING SOMEBODY ON SITE THAT CAN HELP US DEAL WITH DE-ESCALATION AND HELPING REALLY TO MOVE OUR CLIENTS TOWARDS THE SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE TOO.
[01:15:06]
IT'S COORDINATION OF SERVICES, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO BE PROVIDING SERVICES ON SITE.>> DO YOU DEAL WITH FAMILIES OR JUST WOMEN WITH CHILDREN?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE BULK OF OUR FAMILIES ARE SINGLE WOMEN WITH CHILDREN, BUT WE ACCEPT FAMILIES WITH MEN AS WELL.
>> [INAUDIBLE], ARE YOU GUYS INVOLVED WITH ST. MARTIN'S?
>> NOT IN TERMS OF CASE MANAGEMENT, IN TERMS OF REFERRAL SITUATION AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> NO. THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. GOT YOU.
>> THE HOPE IS THAT HAVING A SOCIAL WORKER WILL HELP US TO INCREASE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND CHOPTANK, AND WE ARE DOING SOME OF THOSE THINGS NOW.
>> GOT YOU. I LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE 24/7.
>> YOUR RESIDENTS ARE FROM ALL OVER?
>> WE ACCEPT FAMILIES FROM BASICALLY ANYWHERE IN THE MID-SHORE, BUT I WILL SAY THAT AS I MENTIONED, I THINK IN OUR APPLICATIONS FOR SOME OF THE FUNDING WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE BUDGET, THEY'RE PRIMARILY CAROLINE COUNTY AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE.
>> DANNY, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH TIME AND REPORTING THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TO DO IT? WHAT ARE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS?
>> THEY HAVE TO REPORT SEMI-ANNUALLY OR IN ESSENCE, WE DO.
STACY TYPICALLY WILL WORK WITH ANY OF THE SUB-RECIPIENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, BUT EVERY SIX MONTHS TO START GETTING THE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTS TOGETHER.
THE APPLICATION ITSELF IS A LITTLE BIT OF WORK AND JOB AND SCHEDULING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND STUFF.
REALLY, WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT $16,000 AS PROJECT ADMIN, THAT'S SOLELY JUST STACY AND MY TIME TO COMPLY.
>> IT CAN BE VERY INTENSIVE AT TIMES AND THEN WE COULD GO TWO MONTHS AND HAVE NO COMMUNICATIONS JUST BECAUSE IT'S A NORMAL PROCESS.
>> I SEE 85 HOURS OF YOUR TIME AND 135 HOURS OF STACY'S TIME.
>> THEN THE EXPENSES FOR THE HEARING ADVERTISING?
>> YES. WE INCLUDED THAT AS WELL.
>> COMMISSION PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?
>> I SHOULD KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS, BUT I'M A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW MANY SHELTER BEDS DO YOU DO THEY HAVE?
>> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 10 BEDROOMS AVAILABLE.
THE NUMBER OF BEDS WITHIN THE BEDROOMS CAN VARY.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON FAMILY SIZE.
>> SO YOU HAVE 10 UNITS AVAILABLE THERE?
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT EIGHT AND GETTING READY TO ACCEPT TWO MORE PROBABLY THE WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING. SO WE ARE FULL.
>> THEY ARE LOCATED IN WHAT WE CALL MARTIN'S HOUSE.
IT'S ACROSS THE PARKING LOT FROM THE BARN.
IT WAS THE SHELTER THAT WAS BUILT IN 1993.
>> WE HAVE HIS HOPE MINISTRIES.
I CAN'T REMEMBER IF AARON'S PLACE HAS SHELTERS AS WELL.
>> THEY JUST DO FOOD. HOW DOES THIS COINCIDE WITH HIS HOPE MINISTRIES? DO YOU COORDINATE YOUR ACTIVITIES WITH THEM OR WHAT IS YOUR?
>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR STEPHANIE.
STEPHANIE AND I ARE COLLEAGUES.
WE BOTH ARE PART OF THE MID-SHORE CONTINUUM OF CARE WHICH IS THE MANAGEMENT AGENCY THAT RECEIVES SOME FUNDING FROM DHCD THROUGH THE HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS PROGRAM.
WE ARE BOTH RECIPIENTS OF FUNDING FOR THAT.
HIS HOPE MINISTRIES IS NOT A YEAR-ROUND SHELTER.
I BELIEVE THEY DO NOT HAVE AS MANY FAMILY ROOMS. THEY HAVE TWO OR THREE FAMILY ROOMS, I THINK, AND THEN THEY ALSO ACCEPT SINGLES.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE LARGER MID-SHORE COC.
[01:20:06]
WE MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE AS A FAMILY SHELTER BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE STRUCTURE IS BUILT.WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL BEDROOMS. IF WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THAT HAVE CHILDREN, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A PRIVATE BEDROOM.
CHILDREN CANNOT BE IN CONGREGATE SHELTER LIKE DORMITORY STYLE ROOMS. WE TAKE FAMILIES.
WE ARE IN SOME DISCUSSION AGAIN WITH THE BROADER MID-SHORE TO SEE WHETHER WE WOULD ACCEPT SOME SINGLE WOMEN IF THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING FAMILIES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY CASE WORKERS NOW THAT WORK FOR YOU?
>> I HAVE A DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.
SHE HAS A SOCIAL WORK BACKGROUND AND SHE'S DOING SOME OF IT NOW, BUT IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE AS IT IS FOR HER TO DO BOTH JOBS.
SHE WOULD MANAGE THE CASE WORKER.
THEN WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME LOWER LEVEL CASE MANAGEMENT, BUT I'D LIKE TO UP THAT TO SOMEONE WITH A SOCIAL WORK BACKGROUND.
THAT'S WHY I'M LOOKING FOR THE INCREASED FUNDING AND THE GRANT MANAGER.
>> I GUESS MY GENERAL QUESTION WOULD BE ARE YOUR SERVICES THE SAME AS HIS HOPE MINISTRIES OR IN ADDITION TO?
>> BOTH. HIS HOPE, AGAIN, IS ONLY OPEN IN COLD WEATHER, SO THEY'RE ONLY OPEN FROM SEPTEMBER UNTIL APRIL.
THEN ALSO THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF FAMILIES.
I THINK THEY CAN TAKE LIKE I SAID, ONE OR TWO FAMILIES, DEPENDING ON SIZE.
>> I THINK THE EASY WAY TO SUM IT UP IS SHE'S 24/7, 365, AND HIS HOPE PAYMENT IS ONLY FROM NIGHTTIME, IN THE EVENING TO THE MORNING, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LEAVE.
THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY A SHELTER AND THEY'RE ONLY FOUR OR SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
>> BUT WE DO PARTNER VERY CLOSELY WITH HIS HOPE.
THEY ALSO RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FOR YOUTH.
OFTEN THERE UNITS ARE SINGLES, BUT SOMETIMES THEY ALSO HAVE YOUTH FAMILIES, AND SO WE'LL HOUSE THEM AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR STAFF.
>> SO YOU GUYS PARTNER [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE DO PARTNER VERY CLOSELY, YES.
>> AND THERE'S NO COUNTY MONEY GOING TO THIS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY BEING COMPENSATED FOR STAFF TIME. YES, SIR.
>> I'M NOT POSITIVE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINAL GRANT PAPERWORK.
BUT IN THE PAST, WHEN YOU HAVE APPLIED FOR A GRANT, BASICALLY, AS THE SPONSORING MUNICIPALITY OR THE SPONSORING JURISDICTION, YOU ARE ON THE HOOK FOR CLAW BACK TO PAY IT BACK.
I JUST BRING THAT UP BECAUSE THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN THIS POSITION, WE REQUIRED THE ENTITY TO LOOK INTO A PERFORMANCE BOND THAT WOULD PROTECT THE COUNTY IN THE EVENT THERE WAS EVER ANY DEFAULT DECLARED BY THE STATE OR THE FEDS SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE US BACK THE MONEY.
I JUST BRING THAT UP AS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD AT LEAST BE AWARE OF WHEN YOU MAKE THIS DECISION.
>> BASED OFF PRIOR DIRECTION AND CONVERSATIONS ON PERFORMANCE BOND, WE HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION ALREADY.
WHEN WE STARTED TO GO DOWN THAT PATH, WE PUT THAT ON HOLD WAITING TO ACTUALLY RECEIVE AN AWARD AND DETERMINE WHAT THE AMOUNT WOULD ACTUALLY BE.
>> TO ADD THAT INTO THE MINUTE, OF COURSE.
>> YES. I THINK AS FAR AS DEBORAH'S OFFICE GOES AND MINE, WE ARE BOTH ANTICIPATING THAT TO BE A STIPULATION OF THE SUB-RECIPIENT AGREEMENT AND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
>> DHCD REACHED OUT TO US DIRECTLY TO SET US UP AS THE PASSER.
>> THIS IS A REQUEST FROM SECRETARY DAY HIMSELF OR?
>> THIS WAS, I'M GOING TO SAY, STEMMING FROM THE VISIT THAT HE HAD IN TOUR WHERE THEY VISITED MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN AND ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE THEIR OPERATION.
>> ALSO, AS CDBG GRANTS GO, I KNOW THEY'RE OFTEN FOR CAPITAL THINGS, BUT THIS IS A REIMBURSABLE GRANT,
[01:25:01]
SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK.WE'RE NOT GETTING THE MONEY UP FRONT.
I THINK THE CHANCE OF DEFAULT IS A LOT LESS, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY IN ORDER TO REQUEST IT.
IT PUTS A BIGGER BURDEN ON US.
>> MARTIN'S HOUSE IS FRONTING THE MONEY, NOT THE COUNTY IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
>> THEY'LL FRONT THE MONEY. WE'LL MAKE THE REQUEST ON THEIR BEHALF.
THEN YOU WAIT SOMETIMES 2-3 MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE MONEY BACK AND THEN PASS IT DOWN TO THE ORGANIZATION.
>> THIS ISN'T NOT A CAPITAL PROJECT.
>> WELL, I'LL DEFER TO STAFF ON THE BOND IF YOU THINK IT'S REQUIRED OR NOT, IF THERE'S BASICALLY NO CHANCE OF US GETTING HUNG OUT THERE IF REPORTING IS NOT DONE PROPERLY.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PASS THE MONEY DOWN TO US UNLESS ALL THE REPORTING IS INCORRECTLY TO THEIR SATISFACTION.
>> YOU'RE 100% RIGHT, IN THAT THEY WILL NOT REIMBURSE UNLESS ALL OF THE DETAILS ARE THERE AND INFORMATION.
TO DEBORAH'S POINT, IT IS PROBABLY THE LEAST LIKELY SCENARIO OF US DEFAULTING OR HAVING ANY ISSUES.
>> MARTIN'S HOUSE AND BARN HAS MADE HUGE STRIDES IN TERMS OF OUR REPORTING ABILITY.
WE HAVE AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTANT THAT COMES IN WEEKLY, AND WE RUN ALL OF OUR BOOKS THROUGH QUICKBOOKS, AND I THINK DANNY CAN VOUCH THAT OUR REPORTING HAS IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY SINCE 2013.
>> YES, FROM THE DAYS OF GOING OUT AND DOING IN-PERSON AUDITS WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE.
THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, SO WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT.
WITH THIS, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I THINK FULL PROCESS.
>> YES. I WILL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THIS HEARING THEN.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NONE SEEN. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION?
>> HEARING MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE GRANT APPLICATION?
>> HEARING MOTION AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONERS, I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT.
WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME VISIT IF YOU HAVE NOT.
>> NEXT UP, DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WITH A REQUEST FOR SPENDING OF THE HEALTH RESERVE ACCOUNT FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, ROBIN CAHILL.
[Request for Spending of Health Reserve Account- Caroline County Health Department]
CONGRATULATIONS.>> YES, I'M HIGHTAILING IT ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> GOOD MORNING AGAIN. WE'LL TRY TO BRIEF THROUGH THIS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE.
ROBIN AND I SIT BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT A REQUEST THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS MAKING IN ACCESSING FUNDING FROM THE HEALTH RESERVE ACCOUNT.
I'LL GIVE A REALLY QUICK BACKGROUND OF THE HEALTH RESERVE ACCOUNT, AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC REQUESTS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS MAKING.
BACK FROM MY RESEARCH, 2013 TIME, CAROLINE COUNTY WAS THE RECIPIENT OF ABOUT 250,000 FROM WHAT I'M BEING TOLD WAS THE SALE OF THE OLD CAROLINE NURSING HOME.
WE HAD A VERY SMALL SHARE OF THE AGENCY IN SALE.
THAT MONEY WAS RECEIVED BY THE COUNTY, SET ASIDE INTO WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE HEALTH RESERVE ACCOUNT, WITH STIPULATIONS THAT THE MONEY IN THAT ACCOUNT BE USED FOR HEALTH ACTIVITIES.
TO ROBIN, MYSELF, AND A LOT OF THE, LET'S SAY, PAST EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY RESEARCH, THERE REALLY IS NO RESOLUTION OR LEGISLATION REQUIRING THAT.
THIS HAS REALLY BEEN, I WANT TO SAY WORD OF MOUTH ALMOST.
I THINK THE NEXT STEP FOR US IS I WAS GOING TO LOOK FOR A RECORDING OR ANYTHING OF THE SALE TO SEE IF THAT WAS STIPULATED IN IT.
BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE IN THIS.
AT THIS TIME, THE ACCOUNT HAS A BALANCE OF ABOUT $112,000 IN IT, AGAIN, TO BE USED FOR HEALTH RESOURCES AND EXPENSES.
ROBIN'S AGENCY HAS COME FORWARD AND HAS SUBMITTED A REQUEST TO USE THE MONEY TO ENGAGE WITH A COMPANY KNOWN AS TETRA TECH.
THE COUNTY IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH TETRA TECH.
THEY WERE ONE OF OUR SUPPORTING AGENCIES DURING THE [INAUDIBLE]
[01:30:01]
PANDEMIC AND PROVIDED A LOT OF SUPPORT TO DIFFERENT AGENCIES IN THE COUNTY.BRAHMAN, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL YOUR THUNDER.
DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER THE REQUEST?
>> YES. WELL, SPEAKING OF TETRA TECH, JUST A BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING WITH US FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ON ESTABLISHING SOME POLICY AND PROCEDURE, CATALOGING, CREATION, THINGS LIKE THAT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE TOWARDS OUR PUBLIC HEALTH ACCREDITATION.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE LAST PHASE OF THAT CREATION.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS A ONE TIME COST FOR POLICY AND PROCEDURE CREATION FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
A GROUP OF US CAME TO YOU, MYSELF, DIRECTOR SHERIDAN, KJ, THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING, CHRIS HARTZ AS PART OF THE BLS COMMITTEE CAME FORWARD LAST YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME MAYBE DECEMBER IN RELATION TO A GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE WERE SUBMITTING FOR HEALTH EQUITY RESOURCE.
WE WERE NOT AWARDED THAT FUNDING.
BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH HERE ON A SMALLER SCALE.
WE'VE REVIEWED THE BUDGET THAT WE HAD SUBMITTED WITH THAT GRANT APPLICATION.
WE'VE PARED IT DOWN QUITE A BIT.
WE'VE MET A FEW TIMES SINCE THE GRANT APPLICATION WAS DENIED, AND WHAT WE THINK WE'RE ABLE TO DO IS TO APPLY IN JULY FOR SOME LOCAL FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT THIS AND THEN BUILDING OUR STAFF THAT'S NEEDED FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH INTO OUR CURRENT PROGRAMMING.
IN OUR ORIGINAL APPLICATION, WE HAD REQUESTED FOR AN ACTUAL VEHICLE SOLELY DEDICATED TO MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS A MOBILE WELLNESS VAN THAT WE'VE JUST RECENTLY DONE SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO. I SHOULDN'T SAY IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'VE UPGRADED, PUT AN EXAM TABLE IN, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH ON THE SMALL SCALE THAT WE THINK THAT WE CAN START ON.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS, AS OPPOSED TO US CREATING OUR COMMITTEE OF INDIVIDUALS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, IS THE CREATION OF THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES.
IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF IT, AS WELL AS THE AGREEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE.
I'VE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION FROM QUEEN ANNE COUNTY WHO HAS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH UP AND RUNNING, GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM THEM.
I AM MEETING WITH AN COSELL AND SHORE REGIONAL NEXT WEEK TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ON HOW WE CAN PARTNER AND POSSIBLY SOME FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
LOOKING AT THE HEALTHCARE RESERVE FUND, I THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD UTILIZATION OF THAT MONEY, BECAUSE IT'S A ONE-TIME ASK.
WE CURRENTLY, AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE'VE LOOKED, WE CAN'T FIND ANY FUNDING TO PUSH IT TOWARDS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
WE THINK THAT SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STAFF DOING MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH, THAT PROGRAMMING WORKS WITH THAT ASPECT OF IT, WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE PORTION OF IT, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT STABILIZED.
IT ALSO IS A SIGN THAT WE'RE SERIOUS AND WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO OUR FUNDERS ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE RECEIVED FROM TETRA TECH IS FOR A TOTAL OF $39,005, AND IT MOVES RIGHT THROUGH.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S A SIX-MONTH PROCESS.
THEY'VE GIVEN A DETAILED SCHEDULE.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM BEFORE.
THEY ARE VERY DETAILED IN ALL OF THE DELIVERABLES.
I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THEM IN DELIVERABLES.
THEY DO THE THINGS. THIS IS WHAT THEY DO.
THEY DO A GREAT JOB ON WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
THE PRICING IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT WE'VE PAID FOR OUR PREVIOUS POLICY AND PROCEDURE CREATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO ASK TODAY.
I BELIEVE I HAD MENTIONED ALREADY, THE FUND IS ABOUT $112,000 AND ACCRUES INTEREST EACH MONTH.
IT'S DEFINITELY, OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, COME DOWN IN FUNDING SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS BEEN FUNDING ITS COMMITTED SHARE TO THE LOCAL DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE COUNCIL,
[01:35:06]
WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE LDAAC.IT'S $28,000 A YEAR THAT'S BEEN COMING OUT OF THIS FUND TO COVER THAT.
ROBIN AND I ACTUALLY HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, AND REALLY THE LDAACS OR THAT CONTRIBUTION WAS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND BEFORE.
I BELIEVE RIGHT AROUND 2020/ 2021, THE ADMINISTRATION THEN DECIDED TO CHANGE THAT.
I THINK IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS REQUEST, WE WOULD PROBABLY ALSO WANT TO LOOK INTO REMOVING THAT $20,000 REOCCURRING EXPENSE OUT OF THAT FUND AND SHIFTING IT EITHER BACK TO A GENERAL FUND EXPENSE OR POSSIBLY THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY.
THOSE ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT ON THE BACKGROUND JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT IN A BOAT WHERE WE'RE ZEROING OUT THIS ACCOUNT IN 2-3 YEARS.
AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
IF IT CAME UP AGAIN IN BUDGET TIME, YOU WOULD HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THAT WAS OCCURRING.
>> I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE IT START TO COME OUT OF EITHER OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY OR THE CANNABIS TAX MONEY.
>> I THINK WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THAT IS A PERFECT FIT FOR THE USERS OF THE LDAAC AND WHAT'S STIPULATED IN THE OPIOID.
>> IT FITS, AND WE'VE GOT THE MONEY NOW, SO MOVE IT AND START PULLING IT OUT OF THERE.
COMMISSIONER PORTER, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ROBIN, I THINK THIS IS A VERY MODEST INVESTMENT TO GET STARTED FOR THE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
>> I HATE PAYING FOR STUDIES, BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT WE GOT TO DO.
>> I THINK ROBIN WOULD AGREE SHE HATES STUDIES TOO.
>> BUT IT'S BUILDING POLICY AND PROCEDURE.
>> BUT THIS IS POLICY AND PROCEDURE DEVELOPMENT.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND WILL BE UTILIZED FOR AS LONG AS MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH IS AVAILABLE HERE.
>> WHO WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO USE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH?
>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT IN OUR INITIAL PROPOSAL, WE HAVE NOT DEVIATED FROM THAT.
DES, THEY ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY CITIZENS THAT COULD UTILIZE OR COULD BENEFIT FROM MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH, MEANING REPEAT CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY IDENTIFIED AS SOME CASE MANAGEMENT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF THEIR MEDICAL CONDITION.
WE COULD SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY CONTINUE TO GO TO THE ER OR CALL 911 FOR SITUATIONS THAT ARE CLEARLY FROM DIABETES NOT BEING MANAGED CORRECTLY.
THAT IS THE PRIME CANDIDATE FOR SOMEONE.
THIS WOULD BE REFERRAL FROM DES AND MAYBE SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO PARTICIPATE IN MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
THE PREMISE IS THAT YES, WE'RE UTILIZING MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH INSTEAD OF THE AMBULANCE TO TAKE THEM TO THE ER.
WE'RE DOING THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, TRYING TO CASE MANAGE THEM INTO BEHAVIORS THAT ELIMINATE THAT, AS WELL AS CONNECTING THEM WITH PRIMARY CARE AND CONNECTING THEM WITH RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR THEM TO MAKE THAT CALL.
>> HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AFTER THIS DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD NEED TO GET THIS ACTUALLY UP AND RUNNING? THIS BUILDS YOUR POLICY PROCEDURE, THOSE THINGS.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ADDITIONAL STAFF DOWN THE ROAD POTENTIALLY?
>> YES. WE'VE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
INITIALLY, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT FULL-TIME INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED TO THIS.
WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS ABOUT THE REDUCTION FROM OUR ORIGINAL GRANT SUBMISSION IN TERMS OF SALARIES, BECAUSE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE CAN HAVE A COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE THAT'S ASSIGNED TO THAT, BUT THEY'RE DOING OTHER THINGS THE THREE OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK.
THEY'RE BUILT INTO PROGRAMMING FOR, LET'S SAY, HIV SURVEILLANCE OR CANCER SCREENING.
THEN TWO DAYS A WEEK, THEY'RE DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH DOING THEIR SCHEDULING, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THAT OUT, AS WELL AS KJ AND MARK.
OUR ORIGINAL GRANT APPLICATION REQUEST WAS 2.7 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS, AND THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR BEING 589,000, A LITTLE OVER THAT.
I THINK A REDUCTION OF THAT ANYWHERE FROM 120-170.
>> STILL THE STAFFING SITUATION, WE REALLY NEED TO WORK THAT OUT BECAUSE OUR GRANT APPLICATION, WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR A FULL TIME COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSE.
[01:40:03]
WE WERE ACCOUNTING FOR A FULL TIME CHOW, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER.ALSO A COORDINATOR, WHICH WE THINK THAT WE CAN COMBINE THE COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH WORKER AND THE COORDINATOR IN ONE POSITION.
AGAIN, THAT THEY WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THAT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THEIR TIME DURING THE WEEK, BUT NOT FOR FULL TIME SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT.
I'M GOING TO SAY, AND JUST THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PORTION OF IT, I HAVE 469 RIGHT THERE, THAT'S NOT ALL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
I THINK ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO AND THREE WHEN WE LOOK AT IT ALTOGETHER AND THAT'S EQUIPMENT, NOT A VEHICLE SITUATION.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT OUR LOCAL REQUEST WOULD BE FOR APPROXIMATELY $100,000 SUSTAINABLE EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING TO SHORE REGIONAL NEXT WEEK.
>> IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO CRAWL STAFF BETWEEN CURRENT DES STAFF?
>> THERE IS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
>> YEAH. WE'RE LOOKING AT REDUCING A LOT OF THAT.
AGAIN, THE EQUIPMENT PIECE OF IT, WE'RE NOT GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT EVERY YEAR.
INITIALLY, WE GO TWO OR THREE YEARS, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO REINVEST, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S HARD TO GAUGE IT AT THIS VERY MOMENT WITHOUT KNOWING THIS FROM SALARY DEMAND SITUATION.
>> I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTY SO YOU'RE MAKING A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT HERE TO SAVE YOUR RESOURCES WHEN YOU DO NEED THEM. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
>> I WAS SUPPORT BEFORE WITH IT.
>> WELL, AND JUST ALSO TO KNOW TALBOT COUNTY GOT AWARDED TO GRANT, BUT WE DIDN'T. [LAUGHTER]
>> THEY ALREADY HAVE A HOSPITAL.
>> WE ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING THIS WORK.
MYSELF, OUR DIRECTOR OF NURSING, K. J.
MARK, CHRISSY WE KNOW THAT THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN HERE.
WE KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO, WE'VE PROVEN OURSELVES TO BE CAPABLE OF DOING THESE TYPES OF THINGS, AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> WELL, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE USE OF THE, I WROTE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE.
>> HEALTH RESERVE ACCOUNT TO FUND THIS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOBILE INTEGRATED HEALTH.
>> YOU LIKE 40 BETTER? [LAUGHTER]
>> MOTION SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TO SORRY, LORI.
>> JUST THIS MORNING, APPARENTLY.
>> NO, IT WAS 12:36 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
>> YEAH. BRIAN HAS BEEN HOLDING BACK ON HIS FACEBOOK POST.
>> TRAVIS, BEFORE WE GO, CAN I ASK DANNY ONE QUICK QUESTION?
>> BACK ON THE MARTIN'S BARN, THEY ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH BENEDICTINE, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. THEY ARE NO LONGER AFFILIATED OR IN ANY RELATION.
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THERE WASN'T ANY CONFLICT THERE.
TECHNICALLY AM STILL ON THE BENEDICTINE BOARD, ALTHOUGH I'VE ADVISED THEM THAT IT'S JUST TOO MUCH, AND I'M GOING TO COME OFF, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.
>> NO AFFILIATION. CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?
[Consent Agenda]
LESLIE IS HERE, LARRY, IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER ON THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE VISION CHAPTER 10 APPLICATION.>> I DO NOT HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> WELL, I GUESS YOU CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING UNLESS YOU GET THE GRANT, SO AM I.
[01:45:10]
>> IT READ LIKE IT WAS VERY LIKELY THAT WE WOULD, THOUGH.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WATERSHED IS A PRIORITY WATERSHED.
WE'LL BE INVITED TO PRESENT A FORMAL APPLICATION, BUT WE'VE ALREADY PITCHED THEM ALL OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE SO I THINK WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD SHOT.
>> HOW MANY PROJECTS DO YOU THINK YOU'LL HAVE? A LOT?
>> WELL, THE TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT POSSIBLE IS $20 MILLION IN FIVE YEARS.
I ALREADY HAVE A LIST THAT HAS 20 THINGS ON IT.
THIS IS FOR ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES, IT'S TALBOT AND CAROLINE, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TALBOT IT'S MOSTLY IN CAROLINE AND A LITTLE BIT OF DELAWARE THAT WE MAY REACH OUT TO BECAUSE THEY'RE AT THE HEAD OF THE WATERSHED [INAUDIBLE].
IT HELPS STREAMLINE FUNDING AND TIMELINES.
RIGHT NOW I'M CONSTRAINED AT WAITING FOR A GRANT TO RELEASE, APPLYING FOR IT, MONTHS OF REVIEW THEN YOU GET NOTIFIED AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE MY PROJECTS TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS.
THAT TAKES ALL OF THAT BURDEN OFF OF US AND IT OPENS UP A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS WHERE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET TO THAT WOULD BE STREAMLINED AND FOCUSED ON THIS WATERSHED FOR FIVE YEARS.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF GREAT POTENTIAL.
>> GOOD. THANK YOU. I'LL MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR NOVEMBER 26, 2024.
>> MOTION, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO UPDATE YOU ON AND DANNY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO UPDATE YOU ON, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAD SOME EXTRA ITEMS. BUT THE FIRST THING ON MY LIST IS AN UPDATE REGARDING DAY-SPRING APARTMENTS.
WE DID RECEIVE AN EMAIL FROM THE STATE WITH AN ACTUAL PAYOFF AMOUNT, WHICH I THINK WE MAYBE AREN'T TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH.
BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON DEVELOPING AN RFP FOR A QUALIFIED NONPROFIT OR A PRIVATE ENTITY, I THINK, TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY SO THAT'S ON THE PROPERTY SIDE.
REGARDING THE UNITS AND THE INSPECTIONS WE DID AND THE FAILURE TO PAY RENT CASES ON LAST FRIDAY, 11 OF THE 23, FAILURE TO PAY RENT CASES WERE HEARD, AND THE REMAINING ARE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 20TH.
OF THE 11 THAT WERE HEARD, SEVEN WERE DECIDED IN THE LANDLORD'S FAVOR AND THE REMAINING FOUR EITHER BROUGHT THEMSELVES UP TO DATE ON THEIR RENT OR AGREED TO A PAYMENT PLAN.
THAT PROCESS IS GOING FORWARD AND I THINK THE GUIDANCE WE GAVE EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IS AS THOSE UNITS BECOME VACANT, THEY NEED TO BE UPDATED, RENOVATED, AND THEN RE-RENTED, WHILE WE WORK THROUGH THE REMAINING ISSUES.
YOU CAN COME UP IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THE RP, THE THOUGHT IS, WE WILL ASK FOR PRICES FOR THE SALE FROM QUALIFIED NON PROFITS WHO WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP IT AND SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
THEN WE WOULD ALSO SOLICIT PRICING FROM JUST FAIR MARKET.
>> ANY FAIR MARKET OFFER THAT WE WOULD ENTERTAIN?
>> YES. WE PRESENT THE BEST OFFER TO DECD FROM BOTH CATEGORIES AND SAY, WE'RE OUT, 100% OUT OF OWNERSHIP, WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT?
>> YES. I THINK THE THOUGHT WOULD BE YOU CAN KEEP IT AS A NONPROFIT OPERATED IN THIS CAPACITY, 100% OWNERSHIP.
COUNTY ONES OUT OR WE CAN DO A FOR PROFIT SALE.
WE'LL PAY BACK WITH THE PROCEEDS, THE LOAN, AND WE'LL ALL WASH OUR HANDS AND MOVE FORWARD.
>> ONE POINT, I JUST WANT TO ADD TO KATHLEEN'S STATEMENT THERE.
WHEN I COMMUNICATED BACK ABOUT THE VACANT UNITS, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BRADING MADE THE REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS WOULD LIKE TO WALK THROUGH ONE OR TWO AS THEY UPDATED THEM.
THEY SAID ONCE THEY WERE AT THE POINT IN TIME THAT THEY WERE UPDATED AND READY TO PUT THOSE BACK ON MARKET OR SOME LISTING, THEY WOULD NOTIFY US AND THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR WALK THROUGH FROM ANY OF THE BOARD OR STAFF.
>> DO WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISAL DONE?
>> I THINK THAT IS ALL GOING TO BE PART OF OUR DISCUSSION AS A TEAM ON HOW THIS BEST LOOKS TO GO OUT IN AN RFP, WHETHER WE SHOULD PARTNER WITH SOME TYPE OF AGENT,
[01:50:02]
WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE AN APPRAISAL DONE.>> JUST HAVE IT DONE BEFOREHAND.
>> YEAH. IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROBABLY GIVE US A LOT OF BEARING AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE THINK THAT MARKET VALUE AND RETURN COULD BE.
>> BEFORE ANYTHING IS RENTED OUT, DO WE NEED TO HAVE FIRST STATE LOOK AT IT AGAIN? SHOULD WE DO THAT OR NO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD ESTABLISH A BASELINE BEFORE A TENANT MOVED IN.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, COMMISSIONER PORTER?
>> PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA.
AGAIN MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE THAT THE PROPERTIES REMAIN IN THE LOW INCOME ARENA WHEN THEY'RE TRANSFERRED.
I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT SECRETARY DAY DID NOT COME FOR THE VISIT.
WE CAN'T WAIT TILL SPRING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND DISCUSS THIS WITH US AND WE TAKE IT FROM HERE.
>> THE SECOND ITEM ON MY LIST IS THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
YESTERDAY, DANNY AND I HAD A MEETING WITH OTHER COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE REGARDING CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE'S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THAT ON YOUR LIST.
>> BUT WHILE WE WERE THERE, WE HAD A VERY BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH MICHELLE HELLER FROM KENT COUNTY REGARDING THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
SHE AND TODD MON HAVE TALKED AND HEARD OUR REQUEST TO HAVE A MEETING WITH AT LEAST ONE COMMISSIONER PRESENT TO TALK ABOUT THE DETENTION CENTER.
SO WE ALL AGREED WE WOULD SCHEDULE THAT DURING MAKE UP.
WE WILL BE HAVING A MEETING WITH THEM ON THAT.
THAT WAS THE EXTENT OF THAT CONVERSATION.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, I THINK LAST WEEK, WE GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF LAW OF RELOCATIONS AS IT RELATED TO THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.
GIVEN THAT WE HAD A PRICE THAT CAME IN SO HIGH, I THINK DANNY AND I ARE GOING TO GET TOGETHER AND REGROUP, FIGURE OUT WHAT AN APPROPRIATE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS AND WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT TO MAKE THAT PLACE LOOK GOOD FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM TO MOVE INTO IT.
>> I GUESS I WILL GO OUT AND MAKE COMMENT FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNAWARE OF WALT PALMER IS LOOKING TO SELL HIS LOCATION, WHICH IS TWO UNITS DOWN FROM THAT.
WALT WAS IN THE OFFICE, AND I BELIEVE HE HAS AN OFFER STANDING, BUT IF THAT WAS NOT TO COME TO FRUITION, HE SAID HE COULD SIT DOWN AND LET US KNOW WHAT THAT BUILDING MAY GO FOR IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO NOT RENOVATE A BUILDING YOU WERE LEASING AND POSSIBLY LOOK TO PURCHASE SOMETHING.
THAT MAY BE AN OPTION, NOT SAYING THAT'S THE BEST OPTION, BUT DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S OUT THERE THAT MAY COME AVAILABLE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I HAD, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUDGET.
>> YEAH. JUST GIVE A QUICK RUNDOWN OF A MEETING WE HAD YESTERDAY.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FREEMAN AND MYSELF TOOK THE TRIP OVER TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE YESTERDAY MORNING WITH THE OTHER COUNTIES TO DISCUSS CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUDGET.
THERE ARE REALLY TWO BIG TOPICS THAT WERE UP FOR DISCUSSION, THE FIRST BEING THE NEW QUEEN ANNE TECH BUILDING.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE BUDGETED FIGURES THAT THEY HAD RELAYED TO US, I BELIEVE, LAST SUMMER ARE STILL THE ACCURATE STANDING NUMBERS AS FAR AS SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THE COUNTY SHARE.
CAROLINE COUNTY SHARE SITS JUST NORTH OF ABOUT $2.7 MILLION FOR THAT BUILDING SO IN CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE'S EYE, THAT PROJECT IS STILL MOVING FORWARD.
THEY WILL BE SUBMITTING AND HAVING THAT REQUEST TO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S RANKED NUMBER 2, I BELIEVE, AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE APPLICATIONS OF PROJECTS SO THEY FEEL THERE'S A VERY GOOD LIKELIHOOD THAT THAT WILL BE FUNDED ON THE STATE LEVEL.
OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THE STATE'S CURRENT SITUATION AS BUDGET COMES FOR NEXT YEAR AND I'M OF THE OPINION, I'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN IT'S IN THE BUDGET THAT STRUCK.
>> THAT'S 2.7 TOTAL DESIGN THE ENTIRE THAT WAS ALL THREE YEARS?
>> THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE PILING UP THEN WE GOT 2.7 THERE,
[01:55:02]
SCHOOL BOARD IS TALKING.>> THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION FROM DORCHESTER COUNTY ABOUT THE BUILDING AND THEIR SHARE.
RIGHT NOW, DORCHESTER WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THEIR PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT.
>> AROUND 2.45 MILLION IS THEIR SHARE.
>> THEY'RE JUST UNDER US AS FAR AS SHARES GO.
>> THEY'RE THE ONLY COUNTY THAT VOTED AGAINST IT.
>> CORRECT. ONE OF THEIR COMMISSIONERS DID VOICE CONCERN THAT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE BUILDING TO DORCHESTER COUNTY AS WELL AS DORCHESTER ALREADY HOUSING A TECHNICAL CENTER, THEY FELT THEY WOULD RECEIVE ESSENTIALLY LITTLE TO NO USE FOR THEIR RESIDENTS OUT OF IT AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A REQUEST TO THE OTHER FOUR COUNTIES TO ESSENTIALLY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] AGAINST THE SECOND TIME.
>> YEAH. TO CHANGE POSSIBLY THE ALLOCATION OF HOW THIS BUILDING WOULD BE SPLIT AMONGST THE COUNTY, ESSENTIALLY LOWERING DORCHESTER COUNTY SHARE.
IT WAS A VERY SHORT CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAD BROUGHT THAT UP AND I THINK THE RESPONSE FROM CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE IS THE FIVE COUNTIES WILL NEED TO DISCUSS AND ENTERTAIN THAT IF THEY CHOOSE TO.
THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF IT AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CORRESPONDENCE SINCE YESTERDAY ON THIS SO I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE IN CASE ANYBODY WAS APPROACHED ABOUT THAT TOPIC.
>> OUTSIDE OF CAPITAL, THEY PRESENTED WHAT THEY WOULD BE REQUESTING FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 AND OPERATING.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO REQUEST A 5% INCREASE FROM THE COUNTIES.
RIGHT NOW, FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, WE WOULD HAVE THAT 5% INCREASE AS WELL AS OUR ENROLLMENT INCREASED SO WE WOULD LOOK AT ABOUT A 12.1% INCREASE ON OUR SHARE, WHICH LEADS TO ABOUT $213,861.
>> AGAIN, CAROLINE COUNTY SHARE.
SOME OF THE COUNTIES HAD REDUCED SHARES, SOME OF THEM HAD INCREASED SHARES DUE TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND HOW THAT FELL OUT FOR THE LAST CALENDAR YEAR OF ENROLLMENT.
THEY'RE FORECASTING THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO BE FLAT-FUNDING COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND THEY HAVE SEEN A SMALL INCREASE AS FAR AS ENROLLMENT REVENUE.
THEY'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT A 3% INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT REVENUE.
AGAIN, 5% FROM THE COUNTY, STATE FLAT, AND THEN CHARGES OR SERVICES THAT THEY'RE OFFERING THROUGH ENROLLMENT, THEY'RE BUDGETING ABOUT A 3% INCREASE.
THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED AS WE GET INTO THE JANUARY, FEBRUARY BUDGET SESSION, BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT THEY GAVE US YESTERDAY, AND I CAN CERTAINLY SHARE THOSE IN EMAIL FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
>> HOW COME STATE GETS THE FLAT FUND AND WE DON'T?
>> IT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] STATE'S CHOICE ON HOW THEY FUND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
AGAIN, IT'S THE COUNTY'S CHOICES AS WELL OF HOW THE BOARDS WOULD LIKE TO FUND.
>> BUT IF THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARDS VOTE FOR A 5% INCREASE, THEN WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR A 5% INCREASE, OR DO WE HAVE DISCRETION?
>> IN PAST MANNER, IT HAS BEEN MAJORITY VOTE.
>> WHAT PERCENTAGE OF ENROLLMENT IS CAROLINE MAKING UP THEN? OUR PERCENTAGE IS INCREASING, SO WE PROBABLY HAVE THE LARGEST.
DO WE HAVE THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE?
>> WE ARE SECOND. I'LL JUST READ THEM OFF REAL QUICK.
CAROLINE COUNTY IS MAKING UP 25.8%, DORCHESTER IS AT 17, KENT IS AT 7.3, QUEEN ANNE'S, BEING THE LARGEST, IS 28.8%, AND TALBOT IS AT 21%.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE AT 24.2%, WHERE THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO 25.8%.
>> WE'RE TAKING CARE OF 25.8% OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION?
>> WHICH COMES TO EXACTLY $1,983,413 IS OUR SHARE PER THE FORMULA.
>> JUST NUMBER-WISE, THAT'S 418 RESIDENTS FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT THAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAD ATTENDING OF THE TOTAL ATTENDEES, MAKES UP 1,619, SO THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE 25.8%.
[02:00:01]
AGAIN, I'LL SHARE THIS SPREADSHEET WITH YOU SO YOU GUYS HAVE THAT.>> BACK TO COMMISSIONER BARTZ'S QUESTION, THEY'RE JUST ASSUMING THE STATE IS GOING TO FLAT FUND.
I WOULD SAY THEY'RE HOPING THE STATE IS GOING TO FLAT FUND.
>> THEY'RE HOPING THE STATE FLAT FUNDS, YES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THE STATE WON'T CUT.
>> OR GIVE THEM MORE, BUT I DON'T SEE THE LATTER.
>> THANK YOU. COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
MR. BARTZ, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST?>> SURE. I WAS OUT GALIVANTING THE OTHER DAY, AND I NOTICED SOME OF THE TREE TRIMMING, ROBIN, WAS DOWN ANTHONY MILL AND CORKER ROAD 8D, WHOEVER WAS DOWN THERE DID A GREAT JOB.
I THINK IT LOOKS VERY WELL. I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANY RESIDENTS THERE, BUT I THOUGHT IT LOOKED VERY GOOD FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.
I WENT DOWN LYNCH ROAD THE OTHER DAY.
IT'S AFTER IT RAINED A LITTLE BIT.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A COUPLE OF SPOTS THAT ARE STARTING TO, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? WHAT'S YOUR PROPER CONSTRUCTION TERM? WHERE THEY'RE STARTING TO LOOSEN UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] A LITTLE BIT. [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN'T GET THE ROLLER DOWN THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S ONLY LIKE TWO SPOTS WHERE THE SUN REALLY DON'T GET IN THERE.
>> YEAH. I TALKED TO SCOTT WARNER FROM MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL, AND DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE DID SIGN OFF ON THE PORT OF MARYLAND DEVELOPMENT MONEY.
I GUESS HE PROBABLY TOLD YOU THAT.
>> I HAVE NOT RECEIVED OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION [OVERLAPPING]
>> HE SAID THEY SIGNED OFF ON IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] HE SAID THAT HE GOES THROUGH BOB DIRECTLY.
>> HE SAID HE SIGNED OFF ON IT SO WE'RE GOOD TO GO TILL NEXT YEAR.
[INAUDIBLE] ROBIN, AFTER THE RAIN, MAYBE SEND SOMEBODY DOWN TRUCK LINE AGAIN, AFTER THE RAIN, IF YOU COULD.
I GOT A COUPLE OF CALLS EVERY WEEKEND ABOUT THE SOLDER.
I THINK THE REALITY IS STARTING TO SET IN A LITTLE BIT THERE ON THE GREENSBORO, GOLDSBORO ROUTE.
IT'S STARTING TO SET IN, AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PAY ATTENTION.
BUT I TOLD THEM IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE FOR THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HEAD OFF WHAT WE CAN, BUT THAT'S BEEN A DONE DEAL AND JUST NEED TO IF WE NEED THEIR HELP.
LASTLY, THIS THURSDAY THANKSGIVING DAY AT ST. LUKES, THEY'RE HAVING THE NEIGHBORS UNITED TO SERVE DURING THE THANKSGIVING MEAL, IF YOU WANT TO HELP OUT WITH THAT. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ONGOING DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING THE NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING.
DELEGATE HUTCHINSON CALLED ME THIS WEEK.
I THINK I HAVE THIS CORRECT, THE DEVELOPER HAS NEGOTIATED THE LEASE RATE, BUT HE CANNOT GET A COMMITMENT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES.
I THINK DELEGATE HUTCHINSON WAS GOING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME TODAY TO TRY TO SET UP A CALL TO TRY TO PUSH THIS THING FORWARD.
I KNOW HE ASKED ME IF HE WOULD BE OKAY TO CONTACT BRUCE BARIATO.
I TOLD HIM IT WOULD, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CALL TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS THING MOVING BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER HAS MOST OF THE INFORMATION, DRAWINGS, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO GO FORWARD IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET A COMMITMENT ON THE LEASE RATE.
I'M TRYING TO POINT OUT HERE THAT THEY'RE ALREADY LEASING SPACE, AND THIS IS NOT NEW MONEY, THEY'RE JUST REALLOCATING IT TO A NEW BUILDING.
I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.
>> THANK YOU. THE ONLY THING I HAD WAS I'VE BEEN ON AN EMAIL CHAIN BETWEEN PARKS AND RECREATION, MDOT, AND DNR.
I THINK JAMIE IS FINALLY MAKING A LITTLE HEADWAY IN THE ENTRANCE TO NORTH COUNTY PARK.
PROBLEM, BUREAUCRATIC TIE-UP BETWEEN DNR AND MDOT.
[02:05:02]
I THINK THERE'S FINALLY SOME MOVEMENT HAPPENING THERE.DANNY, DO YOU HAVE ANY UPDATE ON DENTON INDUSTRIAL PARK THROUGH THE MID-SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL? I THINK I DID SEE AN EMAIL WHERE WE DID GET COMMENTS BACK FROM SOIL CONSERVATION, LOOKED TO ME LIKE LANE HAS MADE THE REVISIONS AND HAS RESENT IT OVER TO SOIL CONSERVATION?
>> YES. THAT IS WHAT I'M AWARE OF AS WELL.
WE'RE WAITING NOW FOR SOIL CONSERVATION TO ACCEPT THE REVISIONS THAT LANE HAS SUBMITTED.
HOPING FOR THAT ANY DAY, AND ONCE WE RECEIVE THAT, IT'LL BE GOING TO THE TOWN OF DENTON.
I THINK AS FAR AS MY OFFICE GOES, WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD ASAP.
>> ARE THOSE COMMENTS ENOUGH TO SEND IT TO THE TOWN OF DENTON NOW?
>> WERE THERE COMMENTS, MAYBE.
BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF THOSE COMMENTS RELATED TO ANYTHING IN THE TOWN OF DENTON MUNICIPAL LIMITS.
>> THEY WERE ALL TO LET'S SAY THE EXTERIOR SIDE AWAY FROM THE TOWN LIMITS NEAR THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS.
I CAN CERTAINLY TOUCH BASE WITH EITHER SCOTT OR PLANNING CODES AT THE TOWN AND SEE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO START LOOKING AT THEM OR AT LEAST ENTER THEM INTO THE PROCESS NOW.
>> SOUNDS GOOD. I'M SURE JAMIE'S PROBABLY LISTENING, IF SHE COULD SHOOT ALL THREE OF US AN EMAIL WITH UPDATE ON CHOPTANK MARINA.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE OF THE MONEY.
WE'VE GOT A GRANT EXTENSION THROUGH THE END OF NEXT YEAR, THE END OF DECEMBER.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE SAME BIND.
WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND GET THAT MONEY SPENT.
>> YOU PRETTY MUCH GOT A YEAR TO GET IT DONE.
>> I'M SURE JAMIE'S LISTENING BUT I CAN [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOVERNMENT TIME, THAT'S NOT [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> TRAVIS, I HAVE ONE MORE THING, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
>> I DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM THE LIBRARY ADMINISTRATOR, JONAH. I CAN'T FIGURE HIS LAST NAME.
JONAH, AND HE IS GOING TO SET UP A MEETING WITH A MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT THE LEASE RENEWAL.
I'LL LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHEN THAT'S SCHEDULED.
THE OTHER THING, I HAVEN'T BEEN HOME OBVIOUSLY, DO WE HAVE ANY UPDATE ON RIVER ROAD AS FAR AS THE FINAL PAVING AND GUARD RAILS?
>> I TALKED TO JOSH SMITHS THE OTHER DAY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE VERY TIGHT ON TIMELINE WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING THEIR PROJECT OUT ON 404 DONE BEFORE PLANTS CLOSE DOWN.
BUT HE WAS GOING TO KEEP ME IN THE LOOP AND UPDATE IT AS MUCH AS HE CAN, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THE BLACKTOP WILL BE IN THE SPRING.
WITH THAT SAID, YES, WE ARE MOVING ON THE GUARD RAIL.
THEY ARE COMING NEXT WEEK TO LAY IT OUT, GIVE US OUR PRICING BASED ON OUR CONTRACT, AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY, IF THEY CAN SEE FIT IN THEIR SCHEDULE, TRY TO GET THEM IN WHILE SCHOOL IS CLOSED FOR THE WINTER BREAK.
>> WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
>> I KNOW. THE LITTLE BIT OF WEATHER, I GUESS, HAS TIED THEM UP ON 404 A LITTLE BIT. I NOTICED YESTERDAY.
>> DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT WEATHER, IT NEEDS TO GET DONE.
>> WOULD YOU WANT ME TO HAVE THEM PAVE OUR PORTION REGARDLESS IF THEY'RE DONE IN THE STATE PROJECT? IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING?
>> I WANT THEM TO DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
>> WELL, IF THE TEMPERATURES ARE CONDUCIVE, WE GOT TO GET THE GUARD RAIL IN, AND THEN IF THE TEMPERATURES ARE TOO COLD, COMMISSIONER PORTER, WE MIGHT BE BETTER OFF TO WAIT.
IT WILL ALL DEPEND AT THAT POINT.
>> MY PRIORITY IS THE GUARD RAIL AND I WILL GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF BY THE END OF THE YEAR [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T WANT A BAD PAVING JOB DONE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO PAVE WHEN IT'S 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE.
>> WHEN DO THE PLANTS CLOSE, JANUARY?
>> TYPICALLY THEY'LL CLOSE PROBABLY AROUND CHRISTMAS AND NOT REOPEN UNTIL MIDDLE OF MARCH.
>> WELL, IF IT'S A BAD PAVING JOB, THEY'LL DO IT AGAIN AND THEY WON'T GET PAID, RIGHT?
[02:10:03]
WOULD GET THE GUARD RAIL IN AND THEN SEE WHAT THE TEMPERATURES, WHAT HAPPENS.IT'S PASSABLE, I WOULD SAY IT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SCHOOL WENT OUT TO PUT THE SURFACE ON, PROBABLY AT THAT POINT.
OF COURSE, THE STATE'S NOT GOING TO, I DON'T KNOW, IT WOULD ALL DEPEND.
>> AGAIN, I CAN SWING OUT THERE AND TALK TO JOSH AGAIN FIRST OF NEXT WEEK, SEE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
>> I GUESS THE IRRITATING THING TO ME ABOUT THIS IS IF THEY THOUGHT THAT THERE WASN'T A CHANCE TO GET IT DONE, I WISH THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SAID SO BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT WHEN I HAVE PEOPLE ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN THE FINAL PAVING IS GOING TO BE DONE, I GO BASED ON WHAT THE CONTRACTOR TELLS ME.
I WAS OUT THERE A LOT OF TIMES AND YOU GUYS WERE AS WELL.
IF THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IT DONE, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE JUST SAID WE'RE NOT SURE IF WE'RE GOING TO, BUT THAT'S THE IRRITATING PART TO ME.
I DON'T WANT BAD WORK DONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW. I'M DONE.
>> WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU, BELIEVE ME.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE DONE AS WELL, BUT MAYBE THE STATE HELD THEM UP ON THE START OF THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS.
HAVE THEY DONE ANYTHING OUT THERE YET?
>> THEY'RE JUST DOING THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY HAVE STARTED [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TWO CREWS OUT THERE ON EITHER SIDE OF 404, THEY'VE DUG BOTH DITCHES ON BOTH SIDES AND RIP-RAPPED THOSE, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON WIDENING THOSE TURN LANES.
>> I'M NOT 100% SURE WHAT THE STATE SPEC IS.
I THINK IT'S 40 DEGREES AND RISING ON BASE ASPHALT COURSES, AND I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE 50 DEGREES AND RISING TO DO THE SURFACE COURSES, THE FINAL LAYER.
THEY MAY GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE TEMPERATURES CONDUCIVE TO INSTALL THE SURFACE, SO THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY CHOICE.
BUT I AGREE WITH THE FRUSTRATION, BUT IT'S PASSABLE, IT'S DRIVABLE RIGHT NOW, AND IT COULD BE NICE TO GET IT DONE.
BUT ANYWAY, LET'S GET OUR GUARD RAIL DONE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT SURFACING IT IF WE WANT TO ASK THEM TO GO AHEAD AND DO IT OR WAIT UNTIL THE SPRING.
THAT'S ALL I HAD. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND HAVE OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? NONE SEEN.I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT,
[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee, Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1)]
OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEE UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305(B)(1).ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER PORTER.
>> COMMISSIONER BREEDING. AYE.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.