[00:03:48]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 10, 2024, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER.
THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND BUDDY DUNN OF FAITH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH IN PRESTON, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE INTUITIVENESS THAT YOU'VE PUT WITHIN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY AND EVEN INTO THE DAY WHERE WE TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER THESE MEN HAVE CHOSEN AND THEIR HELPERS HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THE WORK THAT WILL MAKE LIVES BETTER FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO KEEP THE ROADS UP AND ALL THE DECISIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE.
[Call to Order: Invocation – Rev. Buddy Dunn, Faith Fellowship Church of Preston, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]
WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING THEM THE WISDOM AND HOW TO DO IT, HOW TO USE THE FINANCES IN A WAY THAT WILL BE MOST BENEFICIAL TO THE COUNTY.WE THANK YOU FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO DO THIS.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT THAT HAS GIVEN US THE WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND.
WE DO PRAY FATHER THAT WE WILL BECOME A MORE GODLY NATION THAN WE EVER HAVE BEEN.
[00:05:04]
WE PUT IT ON OUR MONEY, WE PUT IT ON THE WALLS, AND GOD WE TRUST, AND SO MANY TIMES WE TRUST TO OUR OWN COGNITIVE POWERS, BUT WE CANNOT GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU.I PRAY FATHER THAT YOU WILL SPEAK TO US AND SLOWLY ON OUR BED AND STILLS IN THE NIGHT, GIVING US THE INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO BE THE LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TO BE THE ONES THAT WILL MAKE LIFE BETTER HERE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DURING THE NOVEMBER 26 MEETING OF THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO CONDUCT EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS, ALLOWED UNDER MARYLAND PUBLIC OPEN MEETINGS ACT SECTION 3-305 B1, THE CLOSED SESSION WAS ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONERS, KATHLEEN FREEMAN,
[President’s Report Out]
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, DANIEL FOX DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, PIO JENNIFER RILEY, MARK SHERIDAN, AND ROBIN EATON.WE'LL NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? NONE BEING SEEN, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM,[Caroline County Sheriff's Office HVAC Discussion]
WHICH IS THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HVAC DISCUSSION.WE GOT DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOX AND CAPTAIN RJ. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. THIS MORNING, WE WANTED TO BRING TO YOU AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HVAC AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVING AT THE OFFICE.
AS YOU'RE AWARE, AND PROBABLY RT CAN SPEAK A LITTLE BETTER TO THIS, THEY'VE HAD SOME ISSUES AND DESIGN ISSUES WITH THE BACKSIDE OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, HEATING AND COOLING, SPECIFICALLY THE CELLS.
THROUGH THAT, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR FIXES AND REPAIRS.
WE HAD A MEETING WITH GIP ASSOCIATES TO GO OVER WHAT COULD BE DONE.
GIP HAS PROVIDED A PROPOSAL FOR THEM, AS WELL AS AN ENGINEER TO DO, ESSENTIALLY, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, BIDDING OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION TO WHAT THEY SAY, FIX AND IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.
THE PROPOSAL COMES IN AT $80,700.
THAT, AGAIN, WOULD ONLY COVER DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND BIDDING OF THE FIX.
I THINK IN SOME OF THE PRIOR ANALYSIS THAT THEY'VE DONE, WE IMAGINE THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE ANYWHERE 405, $600,000 CORRECTION.
I KNOW THIS IS NOT A BUDGETED CAPITAL ITEM OR ANYTHING THAT REALLY WAS ON THE RADAR FOR SOMETHING TO BE ADDRESSED.
BEFORE WE TOOK ANY STEPS FURTHER, WE WANTED TO OBVIOUSLY BRING IT TO THE BOARD AND ALLOW YOU GUYS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS TO US.
ROBIN EATON WAS ALSO IN THE MEETING WITH GIP IF HE HAD ANY QUESTIONS A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC TO THE ISSUES.
>> CAPTAIN HELMER, WHAT HAS THE TEMPERATURE BEEN BACK THERE REALLY IT ONLY GETS COLD WHEN, SORRY MY MIC WAS OFF, WHEN WE HAVE REALLY COLD NIGHTS, RIGHT?
>> YES. IN THE PROCESSING AREA, SPECIFICALLY ON THE ADULT BOOKING SIDE OR WHERE THE ADULT DETENTION CELLS ARE.
IF THE AIR EXCHANGE IS ON, WHICH, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, BRINGS THE FRESH AIR OUT TO EXCHANGE WITH THE DRUG AND NARCOTICS ROOM.
BECAUSE OF THE BLOCK WALLS, IT SIGNIFICANTLY LOWERS THE TEMPERATURE ON THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THE MOTOR FOR THE AIR EXCHANGE IS GOING BAD, SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN USING IT.
THEN AS OF THIS MORNING, IT WAS A THREE DEGREE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS SET ON AND WHAT THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE IS.
IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. IT JUST CAN'T KEEP UP.
[00:10:04]
NOW, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WAS ON THE COLD DAYS.PUBLIC WORKS WOULD COME OUT AND SHUT THAT AIR EXCHANGE OFF JUST BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT COLDER THAN WHAT IT NEEDED TO BE.
WE HAD TO PUT ARRESTEES IN THERE.
A LOT OF THE TIMES WE'LL TRY TO KEEP THEM IN THE PROCESS AREA, OR WE WOULD PUT THEM IN ON THE JUVENILE SIDE.
BUT IF WE HAVE A JUVENILE, THEN OFTENLY BY LAW, WE CAN'T HAVE THEM IN THE SAME ROOM OR WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND OF THEM.
REALLY, THAT'S THE EXTENT OF IT.
JUST LIKE I SAID, I CHECKED BEFORE I CAME OVER AND AGAIN, IT WAS IT WAS THREE DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS ACTUALLY SET AT THE ACTUAL TEMPERATURE IS.
IT WAS IN THE HIGH 30S THIS MORNING, AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN RUNNING THE AIR EXCHANGE.
I THINK TALKING TO GIP, THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WAS BECAUSE IT'S A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM AND NOT A HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM.
THAT WAS THAT'S WHAT THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS.
>> WE'VE ALREADY HAD A STUDY THAT HAS DONE.
NOW THEY WANT $80,000 TO DO WHAT?
>> THE 80,000 AGAIN, IN THEIR WORDS, WOULD BE THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN, DESIGN DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, FITTING IN NEGOTIATION, AND THEN CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION OF THE WORK THAT WOULD GO ON.
>> WELL, IF WE KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WHY DON'T WE HAVE PLENTY OF LOCAL HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTY? WHY DON'T WE JUST GET A HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY TO COME IN AND GIVE US A BID TO FIX IT?
>> I KNOW AND ME AND MR. FOX SPOKE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU GUYS GOT IT.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BIT MUCH BECAUSE OF WHAT'S BEEN TRANSPIRING WITH THE LAST WELL.
LET ME FOR OUR FORM ADMINISTRATION, A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.
WE KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
WE KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE A HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND NOT A HEAT PUMP SYSTEM.
THE BUILDING IS ONLY 4-YEARS-OLD, ALMOST 5-YEARS-OLD.
IT'S BEEN ENGINEERED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BIT MUCH, BUT I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER BY ANYTHING.
>> WELL, I'M NOT EITHER. I WISH I WAS.
BUT TO ME, IF WE CAN SIT HERE AND YOU CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, FIX IT.
LET'S JUST FIX IT. WE DON'T NEED TO STUDY.
>> THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM GIT THAT'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND ABOUT THIS ISSUE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.
HE STOOD BY AND SAID IT NEEDS TO BE A HEAT EXCHANGE SYSTEM AND NOT A HEAT PUMP.
>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE'RE LEANING TOWARDS AND DEFINITELY HAVE THE SAME OPINION WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THIS.
I WAS HONESTLY A LITTLE BLOWN AWAY THAT IT WAS THIS MUCH OF A COST OR PROPOSAL FOR THE SERVICE, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE PRIOR RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE HAD AND WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
WE WANTED TO RUN THIS BY THE BOARD AND SEE IF YOU GUYS AGREED WITH THAT THOUGHT OF REALLY JUST GOING DIRECTLY WITH A LOCAL HTC COMPANY AND GETTING IT PRICED OUT THROUGH THAT RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THIS.
>> THIS IS JUST THE PHASE, LIKE THE DESIGN PLAN AND ALL THAT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE AN IDEA WHAT IT WOULD COST A BALLPARK?
>> WITH WHAT GIT WAS SAYING IN OUR MOST RECENT MEETING, WHICH WAS LAST MONTH.
>> HE WAS THINKING SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK ABOUT 325. GIVE OR TAKE? [OVERLAPPING]
>> LOOK MY RECOMMENDATION HERE WOULD BE TURN THE HEAT EXCHANGER OFF AND WE'LL REPLACE IT WHEN THE THING TEARS UP IN 15 YEARS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE 300 AND SOME THOUSAND DOLLAR IN ELECTRICITY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
JUST SHUT THE THING OFF SO IT WORKS AND ROLL WITH IT.
YOU BRING IN SOMEBODY LOCAL AND SEE IF THEY CAN PATCH THE THING UP AND PUT SOME SUPPLEMENTAL HEAT IN THERE FOR A REASONABLE COST LIKE A MINI SPLIT OR SOMETHING.
BUT OTHERWISE, I THINK I'D JUST RUN IT WITH THE SYSTEM OFF AND ROLL ON WITH IT.
WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF NAMES THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT.
>> WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH A LOT OF THE LUCILLE LC COMPANIES WORK TO THIS ROOM. I WAS THINKING RECENTLY.
>> MY THOUGHT WAS THE BOARD OF ED HAS A COUPLE OF GOOD GUYS THAT I THINK IF WE CALL TALL DOM, DR. SIMMONS AND SEE IF WE COULD GET THEM TO LOOK AT IT.
[00:15:02]
>> SHOW THEM THE REPORT THAT GABE'S ALREADY DONE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF WE KNOW WHAT IT IS, LET'S FIX IT.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY STUDYING SOMETHING.
>> BUT IF THAT RECIRCULATOR IS SHUT OFF, IT DOESN'T GET THAT COLD IN THERE.
>> IT WAS IN THE LOW 70S THIS MORNING.
>> BUT IT WASN'T FREEZING COLD LAST NIGHT LIKE SOME OF THE NIGHTS WE'VE HAD EITHER.
>> I KNOW THE SHERIFF TOOK A COUPLE OF PICTURES, BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T NOTHING DRASTIC LIKE IT WOULD BE WITH THAT HEAT EXCHANGE OR THAT AIR EXCHANGE.
>> WHAT WE'RE SEEING, YOU'VE GOT TO REPLACE HVAC SYSTEMS EVERY 20, 25 YEARS.
IF WE CAN GET SOMEBODY TO PUT SOME AUXILIARY AND AUXILIARY SYSTEM IN THERE TO HELP OUT ON THE REALLY COLD DAYS FOR A REASONABLE COST, THEN WE GO AHEAD AND DO IT.
>> OR IF WE GET SOMEBODY OUT THERE, I THINK THEY CAN DO IT WITHIN REASON.
I SAY GO AHEAD AND GET IT DONE THE RIGHT WAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> PRICE IT OUT AND THEN BRING IT BACK AND WE'LL TAKE TAKE IT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS COUNTY ATTORNEY STEWART BARROLL WITH A DISCUSSION OF THE UPCOMING STATE LEGISLATION AND LOCAL ORDINANCE.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE
[Discussion of Upcoming State Legislation & Local Ordinance]
SOME SOLAR LEGISLATION THAT'S PUT THROUGH IN THIS SESSION.WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT MORE THIS WEEK, I HOPE AT [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT 2:30 OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, COUNTY ATTORNEYS FOR KENT, CAROLINE, AND WORCESTER, PRESENTING ON SOLAR AND WIND ISSUES.
IT'S HOSTED BY SENATOR FELDMAN OF THE ENERGY COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE, WHICH WILL BE AN OPEN AND FRANK DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNTY'S POINT OF VIEW OF WHAT IT'S LIKE DEALING WITH THE SOLAR APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY.
WORCESTER COUNTY HAS ITS OWN ISSUES WITH THE WIND ENERGY, THE WIND FARM THEY'RE PLANNING TO PUT OFF OCEAN CITY.
THEY'RE IN LITIGATION RIGHT NOW IN FEDERAL COURT.
WORCESTER COUNTY, OCEAN CITY, A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, THE FISHERMEN, HAVE ALL SUED IN FEDERAL COURT TO OVERTURN, THE FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE WIND FARMS. ALSO, CURRENTLY, LOCALLY, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S CANNABIS REFORM ACT OF 2023, WHICH LEGALIZED MARIJUANA FOR ADULT USE.
THERE'S A 9% SALES TAX ON CANNABIS SALES; 35% OF THOSE PROCEEDS ARE ALLOCATED TO THE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND AT THE STATE LEVEL.
EACH COUNTY IS TO CREATE ITS OWN EQUIVALENT OF THAT TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE STATE FUND.
OUR PORTION OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN THE STATE FUND IS 0.838%, LESS THAN 1%.
THE '24 COLLECTION FOR US WAS 367,496,078.
WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS REQUIRED IS FOR EACH COUNTY TO SET UP A FUND, BASICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THAT BILL RIGHT NOW, TO COLLECT THOSE MONIES AND TO THEN DISPERSE THEM TO BENEFIT LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, TO FUND COMMUNITY BASED INITIATIVES THAT SERVE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS AS DEFINED IN THE STATUTE AS HAVING ABOVE THE MEAN FOR CANNABIS ARRESTS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
SOME CALCULATION THAT THE STATE HAS DONE, AND THAT'S TO THE EXTENT THAT A JURISDICTION HAD A HIGHER NUMBER OF ITS PEOPLE ARRESTED, OR A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF ITS PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR MARIJUANA, THAT MORE MONEY SHOULD GO TO THOSE COMMUNITIES TO REPAIR, IF YOU WILL, AS THEY CALL IT, THE DAMAGE DONE BY HAVING PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR CANNABIS.
YOU'RE ALSO ALLOWED, OUT OF THAT FUND, TO PAY ANY RELATED ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.
>> LET ME JUST ASK A QUESTION.
TO REPAIR PEOPLE WHO WERE ARRESTED FOR BREAKING THE LAW AT THE TIME.
[00:20:06]
>> THE LAST ONE WE CHECKED, THE COUNTY, HAVE WE GOT AN ANSWER, DANNY, ON OUR QUESTION THAT WE ASKED BECAUSE WE WERE NOT INCLUDED.
THERE WERE JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED.
>> HAVE WE GOT AN ANSWER FROM THAT?
>> NO. I HAD SENT A FOLLOW UP EMAIL AFTER WE HAD ESSENTIALLY HAD THIS DISCUSSION PRIOR, MAYBE A MONTH AND A HALF AGO.
JUST TO SUMMARIZE FOR THE PUBLIC, CAROLINE COUNTY IS ONE OF, I BELIEVE, THREE OR FOUR COUNTIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY BY STATE STATUTE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS.
I HAD REACHED OUT WITH A LONG EMAIL TO THEIR DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUALITY, ASKING FOR GUIDANCE WITH THIS, AND SPECIFICALLY CALLING OUT SOME VERY GENERAL IDEAS THAT A LOT OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE USING.
THAT EMAIL WENT UNANSWERED FOR PROBABLY OVER A MONTH AND A HALF.
FINALLY, I GOT A FOLLOW UP SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR REPORTING.
ALSO IN THE STATUTE, IT ORIGINALLY HAD STATED THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW UP WITH A REPORT BY DECEMBER 1ST OF HOW WE WERE SPENDING THIS MONEY.
ESSENTIALLY THE EMAIL THAT I GOT BACK WAS NO RESPONSE ON ANY OF THE PRIOR STUFF.
JUST, MORE GUIDANCE WILL BE COMING ABOUT YOUR REPORTING.
>> AS WE SIT HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MONEY CAN BE SPENT IN THE COUNTY.
>> I CANNOT, WITH A HONEST HEART, SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE ANY GUIDANCE.
>> THEY'VE PASSED A LAW, AND THEY'VE DESIGNATED AREAS FOR MOST COUNTIES, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DESIGNATED ANY AREA FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> I THINK KENT WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ARRESTS.
>> GARRETT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ANOTHER ONE.
I THINK IT WAS MORE OF THE LOCAL POPULATION RULE WITH THEM.
>> MY QUESTION, INTRODUCING THIS LEGISLATION, IS IT A LITTLE PREMATURE TO DO THAT, DO YOU THINK? IF WE CAN'T GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM [LAUGHTER] AND WE'RE ALREADY PAST THE REPORTING DATE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REPORTING ON SPENDING MONEY THAT THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US WHERE IT CAN BE SPENT.
>> I FELT YOU DID GET A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE.
>> IN A PHONE CALL, THE GUIDANCE WAS YOU GUYS CAN CERTAINLY INTERPRET IT HOW YOU WANT [LAUGHTER] IN SELF IDENTIFIED DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS.
MY QUESTION WAS, WE GET TO THIS REPORTING PERIOD, WHAT'S TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER US.
WE CAN'T MAKE ANY PROMISES OF THINGS.
>> IF THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE FOR 20 OTHER COUNTIES, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE MADE FOR US.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO BE BIG ON SELF INTERPRETING ANYTHING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MONEY.
>> SPECIFICALLY NOT SPENDING MONEY.
>> IF I MAY, THE BILL TRACKS THE LANGUAGE FROM THE STATUTE, WHICH IS VERY BROAD, AND IT'S NOT TYING YOUR HANDS TO ANYTHING THAT, DOWN THE ROAD, MAY BE LATER IDENTIFIED AS A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD INVEST SOME OF THIS MONEY.
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, EDUCATION AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SERVICES, THESE ARE THE IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED OUT THERE AMONGST THE OTHER COUNTIES, WHICH WE NEED TO HAVE THE FUNDS SET UP SO THAT DOWN THE ROAD, IF THEY DO GIVE US FURTHER GUIDANCE IN THIS NEXT SESSION, WE AT LEAST HAVE EVERYTHING UP AND RUNNING.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO THEORETICALLY HAVE THIS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND I WILL SUPPORT INTRODUCING THIS.
BUT MY CONCERN HERE IS THAT WE ALL KNOW WE ARE ALREADY RECEIVING A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS HERE ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THIS MONEY.
IF WE INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION AND IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE, WOULD IT BE JANUARY 7.
THAT'S THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ADOPTION.
IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION BY JANUARY 7, WHICH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHRISTMAS, AND HOLIDAY, THE NEXT POINT IS GOING TO BE,
[00:25:02]
YOU'VE GOT THIS LAW, WHY CAN'T YOU SPEND THE MONEY? MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE, IF WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER ON WHERE WE CAN SPEND THIS MONEY, WE DON'T SPEND A DIME UNTIL WE GET A SPECIFIC ANSWER FROM WHATEVER OFFICE THIS IS THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR.>> DURING THE PHONE CALL THAT COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] WAS ALLUDING TO, THEY ARE WELL AWARE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR CERTAIN COUNTIES, AND IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS WHAT THEY WERE WAITING ON.
>> IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED THROUGH THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE. AGAIN, I DON'T THINK BY JANUARY 7 WE'LL HAVE ANY MORE CLARITY THAN WE DO TODAY.
>> I DON'T THINK SO EITHER. I'M ASSUMING THAT THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING USED FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE SOME TYPE OF A STUDY OF ARRESTS THAT WERE MADE.
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK? TO DO A STUDY OF THE ARRESTS IN THE COUNTY TO SEE IF THERE'S A DISPROPORTIONATE AREA OF ARRESTS THAT WERE MADE.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WAS A TWO PART ANALYSIS.
YOU HAD THE STUDY WHICH IDENTIFIED THE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREAS, AND THEN THEY DID THAT STATEWIDE COMMUNITY SURVEY WHERE THEY STARTED ASKING, ESSENTIALLY, HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO BENEFIT THESE AREAS.
THEN THE STATE TOOK THAT GUIDANCE AND SAID, HEY COUNTIES, THESE ARE IDEAS, THESE ARE THINGS PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO SEE.
I THINK THAT MIRRORS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING FROM [INAUDIBLE]
>> I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE AREAS FOR THE MONEY TO BE SPENT.
I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LEERY JUST SAYING WE CAN SELF INTERPRET THIS.
IT'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ON WHERE, OR SPECIFICALLY HOW IT CAN BE SPENT, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT BEFORE WE START SPENDING MONEY, OR PUTTING PROGRAMS INTO EFFECT.
>> ONE THING THAT COULD BE DONE, THIS IS JUST AN IDEA, DANNY.
IF WE WERE TO IDENTIFY A PROJECT, OR A PLACE WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO INVEST THIS MONEY, TO DESCRIBE IT IN AN EMAIL TO THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY, AND THEN SAY THAT OUR INTENTION IS TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT IN 30 DAYS.
ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS, OR ARE YOU GOING TO IGNORE US?
>> THAT WAS THE EMAIL THAT I HAD SENT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO WITH PROBABLY, I'M GOING TO SAY FIVE OR SIX VERY GENERAL ITEMS THAT MIRRORED THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY HAD LAID OUT, AND THAT RECEIVED ZERO [INAUDIBLE]
>> FROM JULY 1, 2002 TO JANUARY 1, 2023.
THAT'S 20 YEARS. CAROLINE COUNTY, OUT OF A POPULATION OF AROUND 30,000 HAD 2,121 CHARGES IN THIS RELATION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE BASING THAT ON. IT'S 0.84%.
THE WHOLE STATE HAD 252,000 IN A 20 YEAR SPAN.
IF YOU DO THE MATH OVER 20 YEARS, AND I'M SAYING YOU'RE BETTER AT MATH THAN I AM.
[LAUGHTER] IF YOU TAKE 20 YEARS AND YOU TAKE 2,000 CHARGES OVER 20 YEARS, THAT'S WHAT? A HUNDRED A YEAR?
>> HOW WOULD YOU PINPOINT, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, EXACTLY WHERE.
THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND DIG UP OVER 20 YEAR TIME ON WHAT AREA GOT HIT THE MOST, OUT OF 30,000 PEOPLE.
THERE'S AN IDENTIFICATION GAP HERE ON WHAT COMMUNITIES WERE MOST IMPACTED.
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
>> WE HAVE SO FEW CHARGES THAT WE DON'T MEET THEIR FORMULA THRESHOLD TO IDENTIFY.
>> I THINK, WITHOUT BELABORING THIS,
[00:30:02]
MY POINT IS THAT WE CAN ENACT, WE CAN PUT THE LAW INTO PLACE.I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THE AREAS THAT OTHER COUNTIES HAVE TALKED ABOUT USING.
MAYBE WE CAN TALK TO SOME OF THOSE REPRESENTED COUNTIES DOWN THERE THIS WEEK, WHO WERE NOT ON THE LIST EITHER, AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION.
I AM JUST GOING TO BE REALLY LEERY TO START SPENDING MONEY AND THEN FIND OUT THAT WE SPENT IT IN AN AREA THAT WASN'T APPROVED, OR ON A PROGRAM THAT WASN'T APPROVED.
>> THE QUESTION IS, DOES IT TAKE A STATUTORY FIX, OR CAN IT BE DONE REGULATORY? THE GUIDANCE. DOES IT NEED TO BE A CHANGE IN THE LAW BY THE LEGISLATURE, OR CAN A REGULATOR PROVIDE THAT GUIDANCE BASED OFF THE INFORMATION IN THE CURRENT LAW?
>> I SUSPECT THEY CAN DO IT THROUGH A COMAR REG.
>> WE'RE JUST WAITING ON A REGULATOR? UNLESS THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR CLARIFICATION BEFORE.
BUT IT'S A NEW OFFICE. THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY IS NEW.
>> IT IS. BRAND NEW. I KNOW THE STAFF MEMBERS, WE WERE TALKING TO ALL, HAD SAT IN THOSE POSITIONS FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS.
THEY WERE ALSO WAITING FOR GUIDANCE.
>> I THINK THE DIRECTION IS WAIT UNTIL WE HAVE CLEAR GUIDANCE SO WE DON'T RISK ANY CLAWBACK PROVISION.
>> THE CANNABIS REFORM ACT ACTUALLY DEFINES THE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED AREA.
I THINK THEY'D HAVE TO MAKE A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE.
>> BECAUSE WE HAVE NO AREAS THAT WE CAN SPEND IT IN RIGHT NOW, STATUTORILY.
>> IT'S ZIP CODES WITH CANNABIS CHARGES EXCEEDING 150% OF THE 10 YEAR STATE MEAN BY COUNTY.
>> IF WE SPEND IT ANYWHERE INSIDE OF CAROLINE COUNTY, WE'D BE VIOLATING THE LAW.
>> EXCEPT THEY SENT US THE MONEY.
>> FROM THE FUND. THE STATE FUND.
>> IT SAYS COUNTIES THAT DID NOT EXCEED THE THRESHOLD ARE CAROLINE, GARRETT, KENT, AND QUEEN ANNE'S.
SORRY, I HAVE SOMEBODY ALREADY SAID THAT, BUT THOSE WERE READING THE SHEET.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHAT WAS THAT?
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO TALK TO?
>> CAROLINE, GARRETT, KENT, AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTIES.
>> WE'RE THE ONE THAT HAS TO ANSWER FOR IT, SO IF WE SPEND IT WRONG OR GET IT OUT WRONG, WE'RE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
THE PEOPLE THAT ATTENUATE SAY, WELL, WE CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN DO THAT.
THEY'RE NOT THE ONES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE.
>> WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT, WE CERTAINLY CAN'T GO OFF A PHONE CALL. [LAUGHTER]
>> RIGHT, AND ANY TIME, WE TALK ABOUT MONEY LIKE THIS THAT HAS RESTRICTIONS TOO.
THE FIRST THING TO LOOK AT IS HOW YOU HAVE TO REPORT IT.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO REPORT ON? WHAT ARE THE QUANTIFIABLE CHECK MARKS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO? AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT, SO IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT WE WOULD EVEN HAVE TO TRACK IF WE WERE TO SPEND IT TO KNOW WHAT TO REPORT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
IF WE SPEND IT ANYWHERE, WE'RE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
>> I'M ALL ABOUT, GIVING IT, [LAUGHTER] SPENDING IT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE SPENT, NON-PROFITS IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE MOST IMPACTED, BUT UNTIL WE FIGURED THAT OUT [BACKGROUND]
>> TO ME, THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO GO BACK AND AMEND IT AND SAY, UNLESS YOUR JURISDICTION DOES NOT HAVE A ZIP CODE.
>> THAT'S SIMPLE TO BE [OVERLAPPING] AND THEN WE CAN SPEND IT.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW.
>> ALL RIGHT. I THINK THE OTHER THING YOU WANTED TO TOUCH ON, STEWART WAS AN UPDATE OF THE CANNABIS ZONING.
>> RIGHT. CRYSTAL, KATHLEEN, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A DRAFT BILL FOR YOU.
WE'RE DISCUSSING IT LITERALLY CURRENTLY EVEN YESTERDAY.
IT'S NOT QUITE READY TO BE SUBMITTED TO YOU, BUT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATUTE, WHICH BASICALLY, THE STATE STATUTE, THE INTENT IS TO BRING CANNABIS INTO ALMOST THE SAME WAY YOU LOOK AT TOBACCO CIGARETTES.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST DISPENSARIES OF IT OR GROWERS OF IT.
THERE'S VERY LITTLE YOU CAN DO.
THE STATE STATUTE PRESCRIBES DISTANCES FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS.
ALL OUR LOCAL LEGISLATION IS GOING TO DO IS COMPLY WITH WHAT WE'RE ORDERED TO DO BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WE CANNOT MAKE IT ANY MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE OUTLINES, AND WE HAVE THIS IN THE DRAFT OF WHERE THESE THINGS CAN BE LOCATED.
[00:35:04]
THEY GET LICENSED BY THE STATE AND YOU HAVE TO LET THEM COME IN WHERE PRETTY MUCH WHEREVER THEY WANT WITHIN A FEW LIMITS.CRYSTAL, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> NO. WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT WE'D ALLOW THE DISPENSARIES WHEREVER WE ALLOW RETAIL LIQUOR STORES.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THE STATE STATUTE, AND THAT IS IN OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, AND IT'S DEFINED BY LARGE SCALE AND SMALL SCALE.
WE'VE FOLLOWED IT AND APPLIED IT THE SAME AS WE DO OUR LIQUOR STORES AS FAR AS APPROVAL AND WHERE THE LOCATION COULD GO.
THEN THE GROWERS AND PROCESSORS, THERE IS A PART IN THE LEGISLATION IN THE STATE THAT SAYS AREAS THAT WERE ZONED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGRICULTURAL USE PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE STATE BILL, WOULD HAVE TO BE ALLOWED IN THOSE DISTRICTS, BUT CAROLINE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE LAND THAT IS ZONED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGRICULTURAL USE.
WE HAVE OUR R THAT ALLOWS FOR AGRICULTURAL USE AND OTHER USES.
IN THAT CASE, THE DISCUSSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION WAS TO PROPOSE IT IN THE I-2 DISTRICTS, THE GROWERS IN THE PROCESSORS, BY SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
>> WE CAN DO THAT RESTRICTED TO THE I.
>> IF WE FOLLOW WHAT THE STATE SAYS, ZONED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGRICULTURE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ZONED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGRICULTURE, AND THERE ARE JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE AGRICULTURAL ZONING DISTRICTS, AND WE DO NOT.
>> MY QUESTION WOULD BE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOCATED, I THINK, PRIMARILY IN TOWNS, RIGHT?
>> I WOULD THINK JUST BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING].
>> SHOULD WE COORDINATE WITH THE TOWNS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS WELL? BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE ZONING.
>> THEY'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW THOSE SAME GUIDELINES AS FAR AS SEPARATIONS FROM RELIGIOUS FACILITIES, DAYCARES, AND PUBLIC PARKS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF USES THEY CALL OUT THAT HAVE SEPARATION DISTANCES IN THERE.
>> DO WE KNOW HOW MANY? AM I CORRECT IN THAT THERE'S ONE LICENSE PER?
>> RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE ISSUED ONE DISPENSARY LICENSE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S IN FRELSBURG.
>> BUT IS THERE A RULE OF THUMB FOR HOW MANY LICENSES ARE GOING TO BE ISSUED FOR EACH COUNTY?
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD WHAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR.
I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BART SAID THEY OPENED UP LICENSING AGAIN STARTING IN NOVEMBER.
>> FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. I BELIEVE I LOOKED AT THAT ON THEIR WEBSITE.
I THINK IT WAS LIKE A MONTH'S TIME PERIOD TO FILE.
>> I THINK THIS YEAR, THEY ALLOWED THE GROWER TO RATE ONE.
>> YES, AND THAT'S IN A REGION.
THE DISPENSARIES ARE PER COUNTY, BUT THE GROWERS AND PROCESSES ARE PER REGION, SO WE'RE LUMPED IN WITH SEVERAL OTHER COUNTIES FOR THE REGION FOR HOW MANY BILLS ARE ASSIGNED.
>> ORIGINALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT CITING ALL THREE USES IN THE I-2 INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL CONVERSATION, AND THEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAME OUT LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHERE THEY PASSED THIS STATUTE THAT BASICALLY TOOK AWAY OUR ABILITY TO SAY IT WAS ONLY GOING TO GO IN I-2, AND THEY OPENED IT UP.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WE SQUASHED THAT BILL.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE US, OR WE HAD A SIMILAR CONVERSATION AS TO THE ONE WE'RE HAVING NOW ON WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS WANTED BEFORE IT WENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I THINK WE ACTUALLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THEN WE PUT IT ON HOLD WHEN THE NEWS CAME OUT THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS GOING TO POTENTIALLY PASS SOMETHING.
WE JUST STOPPED AND SAID, ALL RIGHT, LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOES.
THEY CAME BACK WITH YOU CAN'T TREAT IT ANYMORE ONEROUSLY, THAN YOU WOULD CITE A LIQUOR STORE.
THEN THEY ALSO CAME IN WITH ADDITIONAL MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SETBACKS.
MAXIMUM SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FROM WHAT WERE ITS SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES?
>> YES PARKS, THERE'S A COUPLE OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> LIKE PARKS, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES.
>> IT'S ONE-HALF MILE, AND THEN THERE ARE SOME SETBACKS FROM PROPERTY LINES.
>> OKAY, SO THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN GO FROM A SCHOOL, CHURCH, OR PARK IS HALF A MILE?
>> YES. I GUESS WHAT CRYSTAL AND WHAT STEWART ARE ASKING FOR,
[00:40:01]
IS WHAT WE WANT AND BASICALLY FOLLOW THE STATE LAW, RIGHT? DO WHAT THE STATE ALLOWS US TO DO?>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISPENSARIES RIGHT, CORRECT?
>> IT'S EVERYTHING. IT'S DISPENSARIES, PROCESSING.
>> DISPENSERS ARE GOING TO FALL IN TOWN.
>> THAT'S THE HOPE. WE DO HAVE COMMERCIAL ZONING IN THE COUNTY, SO THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE, BUT I WOULD THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CENTER THOSE BUSINESSES IN A TOWN LOCATION.
BUT THOSE ARE PRETTY CLEAR IN THE STATE BILL.
THAT WE TREAT THEM THE SAME AS WE DO OUR LIQUOR STORES.
THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS THE PROCESSORS AND THE GROWERS, WHERE THE STATE BILL SAID, YOU HAVE TO TREAT THEM THE SAME AS YOU WOULD A HEMP FARM IF IT'S IN AN AREA ZONED EXCLUSIVELY FOR AGRICULTURE.
THAT'S THE POSITION WE WERE GOING TO TAKE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AREAS ZONED EXCLUSIVELY, AND THAT WORD IS UNDERLINED IN THAT BILL FOR A REASON.
>> RIGHT. THE GROWERS, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU CAN JUST GROW OUT AND GROW THIS IN A FARM, TRADITIONALLY, LIKE YOU WOULD CORN OR SOYBEANS.
WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS ON A GROWER? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE ARE STATE RESTRICTIONS IN THEIR LICENSING SCHEME THAT REQUIRE FENCING, SURVEILLANCE, AND SECURITY, AND THERE IS A LIMITATION ON THE SIZE OF THE FACILITY.
I THINK THE GREATEST SIZE IN THERE THAT WE FOUND WAS AROUND SEVEN ACRES BECAUSE THEY HAVE MICRO AND STANDARD GROWERS AND PROCESSORS.
BUT THE STANDARD, WHICH IS THE LARGEST CAPS OUT AT AROUND SEVEN ACRES IN SIZE.
THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ARE THAT IT WOULD TAKE AWAY FROM THE RURAL SETTING BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T LOOK THE SAME AS A GREENHOUSE OPERATION, A TRADITIONAL GREENHOUSE OPERATION THAT'S GROWING PLANTS BECAUSE OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE STATE HAS IMPOSED WITH THE FENCING, LIGHTING, SECURITY, AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS THAT COME ALONG WITH IT.
>> THERE'S ONE UP IN KING COUNTY.
I PASSED IT THE OTHER WEEK, AND IT'S JUST GREENHOUSES AND A CHAIN LINK FENCE AROUND IT. SAYS BASICALLY [OVERLAPPING].
>> I MEAN, IT WAS NOTHING, THE ONLY REASON THAT I'D DO IT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE FANS ON WHEN I WENT BY IT.
BUT YOU WOULDN'T EVEN NOTICE [OVERLAPPING].
>> ALL RIGHT. I GUESS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
>> INTRODUCTION. WE HAVE TO GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> I MOVE WE GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[Legislative Session: First Reading & Introduction]
>> OKAY. MOTION TO SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> COMMISSIONERS, WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU IS A PROPOSED BILL 2024-008 AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 62, NEW SECTION 6210, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, THIS IS TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE STATUTE AS CAROLINE COUNTY WILL BE RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE STATE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND.
A SUMMARY OF THIS BILL IS, THAT THIS IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPLYING WITH SECTION 1-322 OF THE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND CANNABIS ARTICLE BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 6210 OF CHAPTER 62 COMPTROLLER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES OF THE CODE OF PUBLIC LOCAL LAWS OF CAROLINE COUNTY, ESTABLISHING THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND AS A NON LAPSING SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING FUNDS FROM THE STATE COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND, ESTABLISHING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH MONEY DEPOSITED INTO THE CCC RRF MAY BE USED AND MAKING THIS ACT AN EMERGENCY BILL.
IT IS BEING INTRODUCED TODAY, 10 DECEMBER, AND THE FIRST READING HAS JUST TAKEN PLACE.
THE NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE STAR DEMOCRAT ON THE 14TH, AND THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE SECOND READING WILL BE ON THE 17TH OF DECEMBER.
IF WE PROCEED WITH IT, THE THIRD READING WILL BE ON JANUARY 7TH, AND THE POTENTIAL TO AMEND IT OR ENACT IT AT THAT TIME.
AS AN EMERGENCY BILL, IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE ON THE DATE OF ENACTMENT.
I BELIEVE WE'VE ALREADY HAD A GREAT DEAL OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS BILL, SO IT WOULD BE UP TO YOU AS TO WHETHER YOU WISH TO
[00:45:02]
PROCEED WITH THE REST OF THE READINGS AND POSSIBLE ENACTMENT.>> WHEN WE GET BETTER GUIDELINES HERE, STEWART, WE CAN ADD TO THIS LEGISLATIVE BILL.
>> IT MAY BE THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO ACTUALLY AMEND THIS BECAUSE UNLESS THEY CHANGE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PURPOSES THAT THE COUNTIES CAN USE IN THE STATUTE, OUR ORDINANCE TRACKS THE EXISTING LANGUAGE, WHICH DESCRIBES THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH YOU CAN SPEND THE MONEY.
UNLESS THEY CHANGE THE STATUTORY DEFINITION, AND SIMPLY GIVE US REGULATIONS.
THEY GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE THAT'S NOT IN A STATUTE THAT WE'D BE FINE WITHOUT HAVING TO AMEND THIS AGAIN.
IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW THE STATE DOES IT.
ARE THEY GOING TO TWEAK THE STATUTE, WHICH MAKES US TWEAK OURS, OR ARE THEY JUST SIMPLY GOING TO ISSUE REGULATIONS THAT GIVE US MORE GUIDANCE? IF IT'S JUST REGULATIONS THAT GIVE US MORE GUIDANCE, I THINK DANNY WOULD AGREE.
WE'RE ABLE TO JUST FOLLOW THOSE.
>> OKAY. BASICALLY, THIS IS JUST SAYING THAT WE'RE ESTABLISHING THE FUND, IT CAN'T BE USED FOR ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR ANYTHING EXISTING PRIOR TO JULY 1, 2023 PROGRAMS.
>> OKAY. THEN THE REST IS WHATEVER THE GUIDELINES STATE.
>> I WOULD MOVE THAT WE INTRODUCED LEGISLATIVE BILL 2024-008, AN EMERGENCY BILL ENTITLED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 62, NEW SECTION 62-10, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AND REPAIR FUND.
IF I MAY, AMEND THE MOTION JUST TO ADD THAT WE DESIRE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SCHEDULE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE BILL SCHEDULE. AS PROPOSED?
>> OKAY. MOTION, SECOND, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> DANNY, MAYBE WE CAN TAKE ONE MORE AT LEAST ANOTHER SHOT AT REACHING OUT TO THE CONTACT PEOPLE AND TELL THEM THAT WE'VE INTRODUCED THE BILL, AND WE NEED TO HAVE GUIDANCE.
>> YES, SIR. I'LL CERTAINLY DO THAT.
>> SPECIFICALLY ASK THEM, IF ARE THEY PURSUING A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE OR DO THEY PLAN TO ADDRESS IT IN A REGULATORY MANNER, SO THAT'LL HELP US.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO CLOSE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> MOTION SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYES, HAVE IT. ONTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? GENTLEMEN.>> MR. BURKS, YOU GOT ANYTHING?
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE HOBBS SOLAR PROJECT.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF SCUTTLE ABOUT SOLAR AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
BUT THIS IN PARTICULAR, IS GOING TO AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.
IT'S LITERALLY USELESS, LAND IS USELESS FOR ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE TO GO WITH THIS BECAUSE IT'S NEVER GOING TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
WHY NOT CAPITALIZE AND TRY TO GET A BIT OF REVENUE BACK FOR IT.
WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY AGRICULTURAL LAND, IT IT'S THERE, AND IT WOULD GO AGAINST OUR CAP THAT WE HAVE SET FORWARD.
ACTUALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT DEPOSIT, WE'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND.
>> NATIONALLY, THIS IS ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES.
ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION FOLKS IS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING ON HOBBS.
IT'S EXACTLY DESIGNED AS YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER, TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND.
>> FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC AND ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE, HOBBS IS A CLOSED COUNTY LANDFILL.
IT IS A CLOSED AND CURRENTLY MONITORED LANDFILL AND THE ONLY ONE IN THE COUNTY THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE SOLAR ADDED ON TOP OF IT.
THAT IS WHAT THE HOBBS SOLAR PROJECT IS.
[00:50:02]
IT IS PLACING SOLAR PANELS ON THE CLOSED HOBBS ROAD LANDFILL.>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA TO CLARIFY, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY. GO AHEAD.
>> THE LETTER REGARDING DAYSPRING APARTMENTS, THERE WAS ONE EDIT TO THAT LETTER COMPARED TO WHAT WAS E MAILED TO YOU.
IN THE LETTER, WE STATED THAT WE HAD RECEIVED FUNDING FOR DORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
WE PROBABLY RECEIVED THE MONEY.
WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE MONEY. THAT WAS JUST A MINOR EDIT TO THE LETTER.
>> IF I COULD ALSO JUST BRING THE COMMISSIONERS UP TO DATE BRIEFLY, THE COUNTY HAS FILED A PETITION FOR INTERVENTION BEFORE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON THE CHABERTON SOLAR APPLICATION FOR A CPCN.
A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW JUDGE ISSUED AN ORDER STATING DESPITE SHORTCOMINGS THAT WE HAD POINTED OUT TO THEM, THAT THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, DESPITE THE FACT IT DOESN'T HAVE INPUT FROM THE COUNTY AND HAS SET A PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE VIRTUALLY ON JANUARY THE SEVENTH AT 10:00 A.M.
I MAY BE LEAVING TEMPORARILY THE MEETING AS MR. HAMMOCK AND I WILL BE REPRESENTING THE COUNTY IN THAT MATTER.
>> THAT'S THE JANUARY 7TH MEETING?
>> THE ONLY THING I SAW ON THE MEETING CALENDAR, I THINK JANUARY THE 28TH WAS SHADED AS IF WE HAD A MEETING THAT DAY, BUT I THINK IT'S THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TUESDAY IN JANUARY.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE A MEETING JUST NEED TO CHANGE THE SHADING ON THAT.
I THINK IT IS LABELED AS NO MEETING.
>> YOU'RE OKAY WITH NOT MEETING THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS RIGHT NOW?
>> WE'VE GOT NO MEETING OR DO WE WANT SHADE DAY?
>> AS IF WE ARE. DO WE WANT TO MEET THAT DAY OR DO WE WANT TO?
>> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY THE 42. THERE'S NO 52.
>> WE'LL ACTUALLY MEET THAT DAY?
>> IT EDIT TEXT ON THAT ONE TO SAY THAT WE WILL MEET ON JANUARY 28TH.
THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH THE BOARD OF ED JANUARY 21ST, THERE'S NO WAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT OUR LOCAL SHARE NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.
>> THAT MEETING, LIKE MANY OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND MEETINGS WITH THE BOARD OF ED IS A STATUTORY REQUIRED TO MEET WITH THEM>
>> WELL, SHOULDN'T IT STATUTE SAY THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE A NUMBER TO GIVE US BY THEN INSTEAD OF.
>> I'LL BE HAPPY IF WE HAVE A FINAL NUMBER BY THE MIDDLE OF MAY.
I THINK THE PRECEDENCE OF THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF TIMING WITH US HAS BEEN HORRIBLE, HONESTLY.
>> WHEN DO WE HAVE TO MEET DOES THE MEETING HAS TO TAKE PLACE IN JANUARY?
>> THERE'S NO POINT IN MEETING.
>> THIS IS AGAIN, NOT THAT PRIOR PRACTICE HAS TO DICTATE WHAT WE DO NOW, BUT THEY HAVE ALWAYS PICKED ROUGHLY THAT THIRD WEEK.
>> THEN WE WANT HAVE A FORMULA FIGURED OUT BY.
>> IT'S NEEDS TO BE MOVED BACK. I'M NOT.
IT NEEDS TO BE WHEN THEY ACTUALLY THINK THEY'LL HAVE A NUMBER.
>> I AGREE. [LAUGHTER] WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN TABLE THE BUDGET CALENDAR WITH THAT ONE ADJUSTMENT.
JEN AND I CAN CERTAINLY WORK WITH DR. SIMMONS AND RACHEL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DATE THAT WE NEED TO MEET, BUT MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC TO WHEN THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE AVAILABLE, AND THEN I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH BRINGING THAT BACK PROBABLY NEXT TUESDAY WITH WHATEVER THE CHANGE NEEDS TO BE.
>> WHERE DOES THAT SHAKE OUT IN OUR PROCESS? WHEN IS OUR BUDGET ROUND TABLE?
[00:55:07]
>> SO THAT'S WHEN IT'S REALLY PRESENTED TO US.
ALL THE BUDGET REQUESTS ARE PRESENTED TO US ON THAT DATE, FEBRUARY 25TH.
>> YOU GUYS TYPICALLY GET IT, LIKE THE WEEK PRIOR TO THAT, AND WE'LL DO A RUNDOWN.
YOU'LL HAVE YOUR WEEK TO LOOK THROUGH IT.
PROPERTY QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO HAVE FOR THE ROUND TABLE, SO NORMALLY MID FEBRUARY.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S WHEN IT SHOULD BE.
SOMETIME AROUND WHENEVER THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR ENROLLMENT NUMBERS TOGETHER AND WHATEVER OUR LOCAL SHARE IS GOING TO BE.
THAT'S THAT'S WHEN IT SHOULD BE.
I DON'T WANT TO MEET JUST TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOUR NUMBER IS GOING TO BE.
>> WE LOVE MEETINGS. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT ONE ADJUSTMENT, LET'S MOVE IT TO SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, I GUESS, EARLY MARCH.
HOW DO WE WANT TO MAKE THIS MOTION? JUST WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE AMENDED BUDGET, CALENDAR?
>> THEN I DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
>> MOVE ONE DATE TO AMEND THE BUDGET CALENDAR AND FOR THE BOARD OF ED MEETING TO ADJUST THAT WHEN WE'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A BETTER IDEA OR A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING A FIRMER NUMBER FROM THE BOARD OF HEAD.
>> THESE DATES WILL ALL BE PUT ON SCHEDULE.
>> COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT.
[County Administrator’s Report]
>> LET'S SEE. I HAVE A FEW ITEMS FROM YOUR PRIORITY LIST, WHICH I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO WORK ON UPDATING MAYBE TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR.
THE FIRST ITEM CAME UP WITH THE LAST MEETING REGARDING RIVER ROAD AND PAVING.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAVE UNTIL THE WEATHER WARMS UP, AND WE ARE SECOND ON THE LIST FOR PAVING WHEN THAT HAPPENS, BUT IN THE INTERIM, I GUESS, THIS WEEK, WE'RE MEETING WITH GUARD RAILS, DPS MEETING WITH GUARD RAILS, ETC, TO START THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE GUARD RAILS INSTALLED.
REGARDING DAY SPRING, AS AT THE LAST COMMISSIONER MEETING, I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK WHERE WE ARE AT IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY IS AT THIS STAGE OF NEEDING TO HAVE AN APPRAISAL DONE.
I WANT TO BRING THAT UP AS A DISCUSSION, IF THERE'S AGREEMENT THAT THAT WOULD BE OUR LOGICAL NEXT STEPS.
I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LISTING IT TO SALE FOR QUALIFIED NONPROFIT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT LISTING IT TO SALE FOR JUST COMMERCIAL SALE.
BUT I THINK THE FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO HAVE THE APPRAISAL DONE.
>> IF THE BOARD AGREES WE TAKE STEPS TO DO THAT.
GREAT. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT, DANNY? AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT BEFORE.
>> WE CAN CORRECT IT TO THE FIRST STEP.
>> LET'S SEE. REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.
I KNOW WE STILL ARE PLANNING TO DISCUSS THIS AT WINTER MAKO.
I PLAN TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE OTHER COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AT WINTER MAKO TO SEE WHAT THE STATUS OF THE AGREEMENT IS WHETHER WE'RE GOING WELL, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT.
BUT I KNOW COMMISSIONER BEDING YOU WENT ON A TOUR, SO I DON'T KNOW.
YOU'LL PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT IN YOUR COMMENTS.
THAT, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE.
I KNOW I HAVE A NOTE ABOUT SHARP BROOD AND THE TITLE COMPANY.
DID WE HAVE A CLOSING DATE OR HAS ANYBODY THAT WE DO HAVE?
>> NO. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT ABOUT CLOSING YET.
>> I HAVE THAT AS PENDING, SO I GUESS WE'RE WAITING FOR THE TITLE COMPANY.
THOSE ARE THE FEW ITEMS I HAD TO UPDATE YOU ON.
>> DANNY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT? THERE WAS A PLAT THAT WAS DROPPED OFF AT THE TITLE COMPANY, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT YOU HEARD?
>> I KNOW I TALKED TO MARY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, AND I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CONFUSION WITH THE TITLE COMPANY AND WHERE THINGS, BUT NEEDED TO GO.
[01:00:04]
>> THERE HAS TO BE A PLAT RECORDED SUBDIVISION PLAT.
I CALLED THE SURVEYOR AND SPOKE WITH HIM PERSONALLY LAST WEEK.
ASKED HIM, BASICALLY SINCE HE DRAFTED THE PLATE, WHERE IS IT? WHAT HAS HAPPENED? AND HE SAID, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT RIGHT NOW.
I'LL HAVE TO INVESTIGATE AND GET BACK TO YOU.
IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS, FIVE DAYS, WHATEVER.
I SPOKE TO THE MAN PERSONALLY.
>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PLAN IS?
>> IN THE PHONE CONVERSATION ANYWAY, HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SOMETHING'S BEEN GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES WHERE THEY HAVE FIGURED IT OUT, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO,.
>> DROP IT OFF AT THE TITLE COMPANY?
>> BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE SIGNED.
>> YES. THAT'S AND I'VE NEVER SEEN IT.
I KNOW WHERE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OF LOSS OF WHETHER IT REALLY MADE IT HERE TO BE RECORDED OR WE'RE STILL TRYING SOME.
>> LET US KNOW WHO THE SURVEYOR IS.
>> I'M IN THE MOVE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL TODAY.
>> WELL, HAS IT ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE TOWN? BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO FINISH THEIR REVIEW PROCESS BEFORE IT MIGHT NOT BE THE SURVEYOR.
>> SURVEYOR ALL KNOW WHERE IT IS.
>> CORRECT. IF IT WAS STILL SITTING IN THE TOWN.
>> INTERESTING. I HAD A FLAG ON THAT.
>> NO. IT'S NOT AT THE TITLE COMPANY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS DROPPED OFF AT THE TITLE COMPANY.
THAT IS WHAT I HEARD THAT THE PLAT MADE ITS WAY SOMEHOW. I DON'T KNOW.
>> I FEEL BETTER THAT I WAS CONFUSED THAT.
>> I THINK I'VE HEARD, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT PLACES VERSION. I'M RELUCTANT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
>> KALE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
SOUNDS LIKE A CONFERENCE CALL.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.
>> COMMISSIONER, YOU MAY GO FIRST.
>> LET ME FOR THE RECORD, EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE NEWS ABOUT RIVER ROAD.
[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]
THEREBY KNOWS KNOWS THAT.PLEASE NOTE WHAT I WAS TOLD AND I AM DISAPPOINTED.
BECAUSE WHEN I'M TOLD SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AS I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, THAT'S WHAT I TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASK ME.
IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING, DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.
I HAD A CONFERENCE CALL YESTERDAY WITH DELEGATE HUTCHISON, THE DEVELOPERS OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING, AND BRUCE BARIANO, AND STEVE WISE.
THE BUILDING THE LEASE HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED.
IT HAS GONE TO THE VARIOUS AGENCIES THAT NEED TO APPROVE IT, AND IT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
BUT WE DON'T AT THIS POINT, THERE'S I DON'T KNOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
I'M SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH BRUCE DOWN THURSDAY AT 1:00 TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL HANDS ON DECK HERE TRYING TO GET THIS THING APPROVED.
>> THE BUILDING NEEDS TO BE BUILT, AND THE DEVELOPER IS READY TO GO.
I THINK HE'S DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB IN PULLING HIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON AT THIS POINT.
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT OF RHETORIC DOWN IN CAMBRIDGE ABOUT STATE BUDGETS AND PROGRAMS, BUT I WILL JUST SAY THAT THE PROJECTION IS THAT THE STATE WILL HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT OF $6 BILLION BY 2030.
I'M NOT REALLY HOLDING OUT MANY HOPES AT ALL
[01:05:01]
IN ANY MAJOR CAPITAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING DONE, AND I THINK THE BIGGEST DRIVER OF THIS IS THE BLUEPRINT.I'M GOING TO BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHEN SOMEBODY'S GOING TO STAND UP AND FINALLY ADMIT THAT THIS IS A BAD PROGRAM, AND WE'LL SEE WHO'S GOT THE NERVE TO DO THAT.
I'M GOING TO MENTION IT A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE NEXT THREE DAYS, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO LISTEN TO ME.
BUT THE PROJECTION IS 6 BILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BY 2030.
THE ONLY OTHER THING, HAVE WE RESOLVED THE RAMP AT OLD DENTON THAT WE GOT THE CALL ABOUT? ROBIN, DO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS THING DOWN THERE?
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND RE EVALUATE BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
IF WE TAKE OUT THE NEW ONE THEN IT'S GOT TO BE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT AN ENGINEER IS GOING TO DESIGN THAT IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
>> IS THE ONE THAT'S THERE STRUCTURALLY SOUND?
>> WHY ARE WE REMOVING IT? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I CAN GET AN OPTION BUT WE CAN KEEP IT.
>> I RODE DOWN AND LOOKED AT IT.
IT'S NARROW COMPARED TO THE ONE AT PRESTON AND THE ONE AT MELVILLE UP IN GOLDSBORO.
WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE, YOU'RE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE EDGE.
THERE'S NO REAL GUARD RAIL ON EITHER SIDE OF IT, AND THE SURFACE IS STARTING TO DETERIORATE, LIKE WHEN CONCRETE, THE SURFACE STARTS TO POP OFF.
THERE'S A FEW AREAS. IN ASSOCIATION WITH CLEANING UP THE THE HOMEOWNER DROP OFF SITE, I THINK WE WANTED TO REMOVE IT AND JUST HAVE EVERYTHING BE NEW.
IS IT NECESSARY TO DO IT RIGHT NOW? NO, I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW, BUT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE FENCE, DO SOME OF THE OTHER WORK AROUND THERE.
>> THE FENCE IS COMPLETED. IT WAS DONE LAST WEEK.
FENCE IS COMPLETED, THE BUILDING IS STILL A GO.
WE'VE GOT THAT LINED UP WITH THE CHOPTANK ELECTRIC TO CUT THE POWER OFF, OUR ELECTRICIAN TO UNHOOK EVERYTHING FROM THE OLD BUILDING, PUT THE NEW BUILDING IN PLACE, ELECTRIC HOOKED UP, POWER BACK TO IT FROM CHOPTANK ELECTRIC.
THOSE FEW THINGS CAN STILL GO ON.
IT'S THE CONCRETE, WE'RE PUTTING NEW PADS UNDER THE CONTAINERS.
>> WE HAD A PHONE CALL FROM A CITIZEN, IS THIS AN MES ISSUE THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO THEM ABOUT?
>> WHEN WE SPOKE TO THE GENTLEMAN WHO'S THERE PRIMARILY, INITIALLY, MONTHS AGO, HE SAID THAT IT WAS VERY RARE ANYONE PULLED UP ON THE RAMP, SO THAT'S WHY WE WENT IN THIS DIRECTION.
>> BUT THEN AS SOON AS SOMEBODY IN THE PUBLIC FINDS OUT ABOUT IT, WE GET A CALL.
>> OUR INITIAL PLAN WAS TO DO AWAY WITH THE RAMP ALTOGETHER AS IT SITS, CONCRETE PAD ALL UNDERNEATH COMPLETELY NEW AND THEN A WOODEN DECK WITH RAMP END STEPS BETWEEN THE DUMPSTERS SO THAT YOU COULD PULL YOUR VEHICLE UP THERE AND EITHER WALK UP.
WHICHEVER WAY, YOU WON'T NEED IT TO THE RAMP.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CARDBOARD DUMPSTER PRIMARILY, SO THE STUFF IS NOT HEAVY.
>> SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN DENTON. YOU HAVE A RAMP THAT YOU CAN WALK UP AND THROW YOUR CARDBOARD?
>> THAT WAS THEIR THOUGHT. THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
>> WELL, IF IT'S BEING USED, WE NEED IT TO BE SAFE, SO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
>> THAT'S WHY I SAY I WANT TO PULL BACK BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT, IT'S GOT TO HAVE GUARD RAILS.
THE ONES THAT'S THERE IS WHAT IT IS, BUT IF WE CHANGE THAT, THERE'S A LOT THAT WE HAVE TO DO AND KNOW.
>> IT SOUNDS A LOT. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE LOGICAL LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY IS JUST TO PUT GUARD RAILS UP?
>> WE COULD TRY TO REHAB THE ONE THAT'S THERE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE WIDER, TRY TO PUT IT IN SOME GUARD RAILS.
BESIDES THAT, LIKE I SAY, IF WE TAKE THAT ONE OUT, ANYTHING THAT WOULD NEED TO GO IN WOULD HAVE TO BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND, THE WALLS COULD BLOW OUT.
NO CONCRETE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO WANT TO DO IT WITHOUT THAT, THEN LIABILITY COULD BE BACK ON THEM.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE PERSON WHO CALLED WAS AWARE THAT IF THIS ONE GETS REMOVED,
[01:10:03]
THERE WAS GOING TO BE A WOODEN ONE PUT BACK.BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHEN YOU HAD YOUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM, WHAT HE INDICATED TO ME WAS THEY NEEDED A RAMP THERE.
>> I DID SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT MAKING IT STEPS IN A WOODEN ONE, AND HE SAID, WELL, PEOPLE BACK UP ON IT.
MY CONVERSATION, I SAID, WELL, WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM MES IS THAT NOBODY ACTUALLY DRIVES UP ON THE RAMP, AND HE SAID, I WAS THERE SATURDAY AND THERE WAS A LADY UP ON THE RAMP.
SATURDAY, SO IT IS BEING USED. I DON'T KNOW.
>> IN MY OPINION, TOO, IF YOU IF YOU PULL UP ON THAT RAMP, TO EVEN GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRETTY TIGHT.
>> IT IS NARROW COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO.
BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO PICK UP LOADED CARDBOARD, WHO WANTS TO TOTE IT UP AND DOWN STEPS? HOW SAFE IS THAT? YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO BACK UP.
WE'VE GOT THEM AT THE OTHER LOCATIONS.
>> ACTUALLY, I'M ABLE TO STEP BACK AND GO DOWN AND TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS BECAUSE THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THE CURRENT GATE WIDTH AND THE MANEUVERABILITY OF OUR ROLL OFF TRUCK COULD BE TIGHT IF WE START MOVING THOSE DUMPSTERS WIDER.
>> HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE SET ASIDE FOR THAT, DANNY? DO YOU REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?
>> ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY COMES TO MIND.
>> TWO PIECES TO IT, THERE'S 180, AND THAT WAS FOR ALL THREE, WHICH AT PRESTON ONLY NEEDED A BUILDING.
BUT THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER 15,000 THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO THE BUILDING.
THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED AFTER THE FACT.
TRULY, THERE'S 195,000 TO REHAB ALL THREE.
OBVIOUSLY, MELVILLE, WE'RE HOLDING OFF ON UNTIL WE OWN IT, BUT PRESTON REALLY JUST NEEDS IT SHARED AND THAT'S SITTING WAITING FOR US TO TAKE DELIVERY ON SIMILAR THING, UNHOOK THE ELECTRIC, PUTTING THE ELECTRIC IN.
THAT ONE WOULD BE A PRETTY EASY ONE.
>> IT WAS WORTH 13,000, WHAT THE CHECK SAID.
>> I'LL TAKE A STEP BACK AND WE'LL TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS.
WE'LL TAKE THE TRUCK DOWN THERE, SEE WHAT MANEUVERABILITY WE CAN GET AND SEE WHAT THAT TRUE WIDTH IS WE CAN GET AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
LIKE YOU SAID, IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE'VE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT, AND AND SAFE.
IT'S JUST BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE WERE GIVEN, THAT WE THOUGHT THIS WAS THE BEST DIRECTION TO GO WITH IT, AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY AND A LITTLE BIT OF ADDITIONAL MONEY.
IN ONE OF THE WAYS, WE COULD SAVE MONEY AS ORIGINALLY, THE CONTRACTOR WAS TAKING THE OLD RAMP OUT, WE COULD SEND OUR CREW DOWN THERE TO TAKE THE OLD RAMP OUT.
>> THE RECYCLED DUMPSTERS ARE THE TALLER DUMPSTERS.
THEY'RE NOT A STANDARD 30-YARD, THEY'RE 50 OR 40-YARD DUMPSTERS, SO THEY'VE GOT THE TALL SIDES ON SO YOU NEED A RAMP.
>> IF THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO MAKE IT WORK, YOU JUST HAVE TO COME BACK AND LET US KNOW. COMMISSIONER BARTZ?
>> DANNY, DAYSPRING APARTMENTS.
I WAS TALKING TO SHERIFF BAKER, HE SAID THAT THEY'RE NOT LINKED INTO THE SECURITY CAMERAS YET.
>> CAN WE LOOK INTO THAT, MAKE A CALL.
WHOEVER INSTALLED IT, DID THEY SAY THEY WOULD HOOK IT INTO THEM?
>> THE SECURITY CAM HAS BEEN DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW?
>> THEY'RE STILL NOT HOOKED INTO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD.
>> ARE THEY JUST BEING RECORDED THEN?
>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT THEY STILL SHOULD BE.
WE WERE TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE DIRECT ACCESS. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> YESTERDAY, I DID TAKE A TOUR OF THE DETENTION CENTER HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND THEN ALSO I DID GO OVER TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND TOURED THE DETENTION CENTER THERE.
THERE WERE THREE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND THERE.
THEY WERE GOING UP TO KENT COUNTY TO TO THE KENT COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.
IT SEEMED LIKE THEY UNDERSTOOD THE NEED FOR OUR FACILITY TO BE REPLACED, AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY, WHEN I LEFT.
[01:15:09]
BEFORE THE SECRETARY WAS GOING TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR OUR PROJECT, THEY WANTED TO PUT EYES ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE THREE FACILITIES.THEY SEEMED OPTIMISTIC BUT SKEPTICAL WITH THE STATE'S FINANCIAL PICTURE THAT IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN THE 50% STATE MATCH, BUT THAT IT WAS PRETTY EVIDENT THAT AT LEAST WE NEEDED A NEW FACILITY, AND IT LOOKED LIKE QUEEN ANNE DID AS WELL.
WE'LL SEE HOW THOSE DISCUSSIONS PROGRESS.
THEY GAVE US SOME POINTERS, THINGS THAT WE COULD PUT IN OUR APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT.
WHAT IS IT AT THE STATE LEVEL? DANNY, DO YOU KNOW? DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT TO USE THE SELLING POINTS TO TRY TO CONVINCE THEM THAT IT IS A PRIORITY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE BEAM COUNTERS, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CASE TO THEM.
THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE STATE REPRESENTATIVES WAS HELPFUL.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE MOVING ALONG AND MAYBE SEE THIS TO FRUITION.
WE DIDN'T DISCUSS THE OPERATIONAL DETAILS.
WE'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO THE NEXT FEW DAYS AT [INAUDIBLE] TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE STRUCTURE THE NEW REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER MANAGEMENT.
ALSO, WE HAD THAT SPOKE TO KIM CRATEVIL ABOUT THE NORTH COUNTY PARK PROJECT.
WE ARE WAITING ON A FONSI FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FONSI STANDS FOR, BUT IT'S SOME TYPE OF DOCUMENT FROM SOMEONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR.
>> FUNDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT.
>> FUNDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, THAT SOMEONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAS TO SIGN OFF ON.
WE DID RECEIVE NOTICE BACK IN OCTOBER, VERBAL NOTICE, THAT THERE WAS NO FUNDING OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, BUT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE ACTUAL OFFICIAL DOCUMENT YET TWO MONTHS LATER.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS AN AWARD FOR 1.3 MILLION OF FEDERAL MONEY.
THE CONCERN IS THAT WITH THE CHANGING ADMINISTRATION, A LOT OF THINGS END UP GETTING GROUND TO A HALT AND NO REAL ADVANCEMENT IN THE CHANGE IN PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO GET IT SIGNED OFF BEFORE JANUARY 20 WHEN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION COMES IN.
MISS CRATEVIL IS WORKING ON THAT FOR US THROUGH SENATOR CARDIN'S OFFICE TO TRY TO GET THAT DONE.
THAT IS THE LAST MAJOR HURDLE THAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH BEFORE WE CAN START TO SPEND THE MONEY AND ACTUALLY START BUILDING NORTH COUNTY PARK.
I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE SOME PLAN REVIEW STUFF TO GO OVER YET TO MAKE SURE WE FINALIZE ALL THE PLANS AND GET THAT DONE.
THEN THERE'S ALSO, I BELIEVE A HICCUP WITH THE SHARED USE AGREEMENT FOR THE ROAD GOING INTO THE PROPERTY.
I BELIEVE THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO WOULD LIKE FOR US TO SPEAK TO THE GREENSBORO VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE SHARED USE AGREEMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT DIRECTOR BLEACH'S GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU LATER TODAY ON THAT AND THEN WE CAN GET THAT MOVING.
ALSO, I HAD A CALL WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES LAST WEEK.
IT DOES APPEAR THAT OUR REQUEST FOR PROGRAM OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION FUNDS TO BE USED AS DEVELOPMENT FUNDS TO DO PARK IMPROVEMENTS AS OPPOSED TO PURCHASING ADDITIONAL PARK PROPERTY, WE CAN USE THOSE FUNDS TO COMPLETE PARK IMPROVEMENTS, IS GOING TO MAKE IT INTO THE DNR BILL.
HOPEFULLY, WE'RE ON ON THE RIGHT PATH TO GET THAT DONE.
[01:20:05]
I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL I HAD.YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE? YOU'RE GOOD? WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
[Public Comment]
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? NO? WITH THAT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT,[Closed Sessions: Discussion of Appointment, Employment, or Assignment of County Employee, and to Consult with Counsel to Obtain Legal Advice, Authority: 2014 Md. Code, State Government 3-305 (b) (1) &(7)]
EMPLOYMENT OR ASSIGNMENT OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE UNDER AUTHORITY 2014 MARYLAND CODE STATE GOVERNMENT 3-305 B1 AND 7.>> MOTION AND SECOND. NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE HERE. COMMISSIONER PORTER?
>> COMMISSIONER BREEDING, AYE.
>> FIVE-MINUTE RECESS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.