Feb 04, 2025 Caroline County Commissioners Meeting

[00:03:34]

OKAY. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 4TH, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING, WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DENZIL CHEEK.

[Call to Order: Invocation, Rev. Denzil Cheek, Pledge of Allegiance; Agenda Review]

SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE, REVEREND. LET'S PRAY.

LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY, YOUR LOVE, YOUR STRENGTH, AND YOUR HOPE THAT EACH OF US, IF WE ASK. YOU'RE THE ONLY HOPE FOR BEING FREED FROM THIS WHOLE EVIL WORLD THAT ARE NOW PRESENT AROUND US EVERYWHERE.

WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY, GIVING HONOR AND PRAISE TO YOU FOR ALL THINGS THAT WE CERTAINLY HAVE, HAVE HAVE A REASON TO SHOW YOU AS WORTHY. YOU'RE THE SOURCE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN ALL OF US, AND THE SOURCE OF ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE RECEIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GIFTS AND TALENTS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO EACH OF US, YOUR HUMAN CREATION.

AND WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND YOUR BLESSINGS ON THOSE WHO ARE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD TO KEEP US SAFE.

WATCH OVER OUR LOCAL POLICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

WE ASK YOU NOW FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER HERE THIS DAY, AND ASK THAT YOUR BLESSING WILL BE UPON ALL, EACH PERSON HAS TOGETHER HERE TO TO LISTEN OR TO SPEAK.

WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE AND DIRECT THIS MEETING SO THAT IT WILL BE FULL OF WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE AND PRODUCTIVITY AND CERTAINLY RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER.

[00:05:09]

LORD, HELP US TO KNOW WHAT IT REALLY MEANS WHEN WE SAY, IN GOD WE TRUST.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, WE ASK.

AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

REVEREND CHEEK, THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF THIS BUSY, BEAUTIFUL MORNING HERE FOR FEBRUARY TO COME IN AND DELIVER THE INVOCATION FOR US. THANK YOU. THE COMMISSIONERS MET IN CLOSED SESSION DURING THEIR JANUARY 28TH MEETING TO CONDUCT EMPLOYMENT EVALUATIONS AND TO CONSULT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION

[President’s Report Out]

THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY, OR KATHLEEN. YEAH, KATHLEEN FREEMAN, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR STEWART BARROLL, COUNTY ATTORNEY JENNIFER REIBLY PIO, AND CHARLES SCOTT, THE WARDEN. OKAY. NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

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

[Public Comment]

[Discussion of local Department of Assessment & Taxation]

MORNING, SIR. GOOD MORNING. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP.

WELL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS THAT THAT WE HAVE HERE.

COMMISSIONER PORTER, DID YOU WANT TO LEAD? YEAH.

KEITH, THANKS FOR COMING IN. SURE. AS YOU MAY KNOW PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS THAT THE SHIFT FROM TO THE COUNTY FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT, TAXATION IS GOING TO GO TO 90%.

IT USED TO BE 10 AND 50, NOW IT'S 90%. SO I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT, AND THAT'S NOT YOUR CALL, BUT I JUST THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS HERE ABOUT THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND I THINK THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IS WE I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHEN THINGS ARE ASSESSED WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR IT TO BE ASSESSED. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SPECULATION ABOUT THE SOLAR FACILITIES HERE.

SO I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT WHEN WOULD A UTILITY SCALE SOLAR OPERATION BE REASSESSED FROM AGRICULTURAL TO I ASSUME IT WOULD BE COMMERCIAL.

YES. SO WHAT WOULD THAT PROCESS BE? THAT HAPPENS ONCE A YEAR.

IT'S USUALLY FOR THE UPCOMING JULY. AND IT HAPPENS WHENEVER THERE'S A WHENEVER THE THE CHANGE ACTUALLY STARTS FROM AGRICULTURAL USE TO SOME OTHER USE.

SO WOULD IT BE WHEN THE WOULD IT BE WHEN THE FIRST SOLAR PANEL GOES ON THE GROUND? OR WOULD IT BE WHEN IT'S APPROVED OR? ONCE ONCE SOME TYPE OF ACTIVITY BEGINS AT THE SITE.

SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE OUT THERE PLANNING THE, THE, THE SOLAR PROJECT FROM GREENSBORO BASICALLY TO GOLDSBORO. THEY'RE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, HAVE BEEN OUT THERE PUTTING UP SILT FENCE AND STRIPPING TOPSOIL AND PLANTING TREES.

THAT ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE IN EFFECT RIGHT NOW.

IT WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR THE UPCOMING JULY. I THINK, IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY MADE THE CHANGE YET.

BUT WHETHER WE DO IT TODAY OR IN JUNE 30TH, IT'LL BE FOR THE UPCOMING JULY.

OKAY, SO AND HOW DO YOU GO, I GUESS, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BEING AWARE OF THAT?

[00:10:02]

WE ALSO GET COPIES OF DEEDS OR PLATS AND SURVEYS, WHICH MIGHT INDICATE A CHANGE OF USE.

SO OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING OF THAT SCALE YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY SOMEONE BUILDS A HOUSE IN, IN A MUNICIPALITY.

WHAT HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT HOUSE HAS BEEN BUILT? AGAIN, TYPICALLY, WE WOULD RELY ON THE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE US WITH A PERMIT.

BY LAW, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TO PROVIDE US WITH COPIES OF PERMITS OR BUILDING INFORMATION WHEN PERMITS ARE ISSUED.

ARE YOU GETTING THAT? NOT ALWAYS. SOME TOWNS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS AT PROVIDING THE INFORMATION.

THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT'S USUALLY VERY GOOD ABOUT PROVIDING PERMITS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME TOWNS THAT DON'T ALWAYS PROVIDE IT.

WELL, WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP HERE PRETTY SOON WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES.

SO COULD YOU GIVE UP, NOT PUBLICLY, BUT COULD YOU GIVE PROVIDE A LIST FOR US? SURE. WHAT TOWNS ARE NOT DOING WHAT THEY'RE WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING? THAT INFORMATION. THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION WHEN WE HAVE THAT THAT MEETING. SURE. I CAN PROVIDE THAT. SO WHAT WHAT I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT AND I GUESS I'M GOING TO GO NOW TO A COUPLE OF...

WHAT ARE YOUR WHAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING IN YOUR OFFICE, THE THE STATE WORK PROCESS.

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU HAVE WORKING FROM HOME? WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FIVE EMPLOYEES IN THE OFFICE, INCLUDING MYSELF.

EACH WEEK STAFF WILL TYPICALLY TELEWORK 2 OR 3 DAYS PER WEEK.

OKAY. SO, SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS, WHEN SOMEONE'S TELEWORKING AND SOMEONE CALLS FOR INFORMATION ON THEIR ASSESSMENT, DOES THAT PERSON DO THEY CALL THAT PERSONS I MEAN, HOW DO THEY? THEY CAN ALWAYS CALL THE MAIN LINE, AND ANYBODY THAT'S IN THE OFFICE CAN PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ASSESSMENTS OR ANSWER CERTAIN PARTICULAR QUESTIONS.

AND THEN IF THEY IF THEY HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT A ABOUT A PROPERTY.

WE CAN SEND A MESSAGE TO ONE OF THE ASSESSORS OR WHOEVER NEEDS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, AND THEY CAN RESPOND.

WELL, YOU, YOU AND I YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY EXPERIENCED THIS A LOT, PROBABLY NOT A LOT MORE THAN I DO ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR ASSESSMENT AND THEIR TAXES AND SO ON. BUT ANECDOTALLY, WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN OUR TAX OFFICE WHO SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO OUR TAX OFFICE BY THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S COMING THROUGH A VOICE MAIL.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A GENERAL VOICEMAIL THAT'S HEARD BECAUSE WE CALLED IT THE OTHER DAY, AND IT IS A LITTLE BIT AMBIGUOUS ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO.

SO I GUESS MY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL HERE TO SERVE THE TAXPAYERS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST DON'T. I WANT PEOPLE TO TO NOT BE MISLED ABOUT WHERE TO GO.

BECAUSE IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP IN OUR TAX OFFICE HERE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT ASSESSMENTS, AND THE FIRST THING THEY GET TOLD IS, WELL, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ASSESSMENTS THEY'RE MAD.

RIGHTLY SO, BECAUSE NUMBER ONE, THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, GOTTEN A VOICEMAIL TELLING THEM TO GO SOMEWHERE.

THEY'VE GOTTEN IN THEIR CAR, THEY'RE COMING OVER, COME OVER HERE.

THEN THEY GO IN HERE. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, WELL, WE DON'T YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE GOT TO DO TO STEER PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE BY HAVING THEM SENT TO THE WRONG PLACE.

RIGHT. YES. YEAH. WHEN YOU WHEN YOU CALL OUR MAIN LINE, IT DOES DOES HAVE A BIT IN THERE, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR TAX BILL TO CALL THE TAX OFFICE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN CERTAINLY TALK TO DANNY ABOUT THAT AND SEE HOW MANY HOW MANY CALLS THE TAX OFFICE IS GETTING.

GENERALLY, IF SOMEONE COMES INTO OUR OFFICE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THEIR TAX BILL, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP THEM.

BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T ANSWER, THEN THAT'S THE ONLY TIME WE WOULD REFER THEM OVER TO THE TAX OFFICE.

YEAH. I MEAN, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? I MEAN, IF SOMEONE COMES IN WITH A COPY OF THEIR TAX BILL AND THEY WANT TO KNOW,

[00:15:01]

BUT IF THEY HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL RATES AND WHY THEY'RE BEING TAXED AT THAT RATE OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE TAX OFFICE.

WE GENERALLY YOU KNOW, WE GENERALLY HEAR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I HEAR PEOPLE AND I'M SURE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS DO ABOUT WELL, MY TAXES HAVE GONE UP EVERY YEAR. WELL YOUR WELL YOUR ASSESSMENT HAS GONE UP.

BUT THE COUNTY PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS STAYED THE SAME FOR I THINK IT'S ALMOST EIGHT YEARS.

SO WE GOT THIS LITTLE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE CARD HERE THAT TELLS US WHERE WE RANK AS FAR AS THE STATE IS CONCERNED.

AND WE'RE BELOW THE MIDDLE AS FAR AS THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IS CONCERNED.

THAT'S WHAT WE CONTROL. SO BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS EVERY DAY AND WHO DON'T WHO DON'T REALLY, YOU KNOW, ALL THEY KNOW IS THAT WHEN THEY GET THEIR TAX BILL, IT'S MORE THAN IT WAS THE YEAR BEFORE. AND AND IT IS AND I KNOW TAXES I KNOW YOU DO ASSESSMENTS EVERY THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, CENTRAL PART AND SOUTHERN AND THE SOUTHERN END.

WHEN YOU'RE DOING ASSESSMENTS NOW, ARE YOU PHYSICALLY GOING TO LOOK AT THE PROPERTIES? NO, NOT ALL PROPERTIES. TYPICALLY WE TRY TO DO ONE THIRD OF THE THIRD THAT WE'RE ASSESSING EACH YEAR.

SO ROUGHLY ONE NINTH TO ONE TENTH OF OF EACH EACH YEAR.

WE DO GO OUT TO PROPERTIES THAT HAVE PERMITS, AND WE MAY GO OUT TO SALE PROPERTIES IF WE IF WE NEED TO PHYSICALLY INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPERTY. AND THEN IF THERE'S IF THERE'S ANOTHER AREA THAT WE WANT TO PHYSICALLY INSPECT, WE'LL THE ASSESSOR WILL GO OUT AND LOOK AT THAT AREA.

OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS HERE WAS THAT WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY WHO TALK ABOUT THE KIND OF THE LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS WHEN THEY CONTACT THE BALTIMORE OFFICE WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT PROCESSING OF CREDITS.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT. YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY AN ISSUE AND I'VE RAISED THE ISSUE.

AND THEY'RE SUPPOSEDLY THEY'RE THEY'RE WORKING ON IT.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME UPGRADES WITH COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND HOW THINGS OPERATE IN BALTIMORE.

THINGS HAVE IMPROVED FROM THE PAST, BUT THEY'VE STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO.

AND WE CONTINUE TO TO TRY TO PRESS. I TRY TO PRESS MY SUPERVISORS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR TO GET SOME SOME KIND OF RESOLVE WITH THAT. WELL, AGAIN, I MEAN, I OUR OUR PURPOSE AND OUR GOAL HERE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND TO SERVE THE TAXPAYERS TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO MAKE ANYBODY HAPPY ABOUT PAYING TAXES, BUT, I MEAN, WE SHOULD MAKE THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, AS, AS AS ACCURATE AS WE CAN.

AND IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU WOULD JUST CHECK TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT ON YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR, YOUR END, WHAT INFORMATION IS BEING OR WHERE THEY'RE BEING DIRECTED THAT THAT WOULD HELP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD, WE DON'T WANT TO MISGUIDE PEOPLE AND HAVE THEM GOING TO THE WRONG PLACE.

THAT REALLY WILL, YOU KNOW, ADD TO THE TO THE PROBLEM.

SO OKAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BARTZ.

YES. GOOD MORNING, MR. BOBBICK. GOOD MORNING.

FIVE EMPLOYEES. DO YOU NOW, DO YOU HAVE TO THE THE WORK FROM HOME THING FOR THE STATE? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO FILE, OR IS THAT SOMETHING? THAT'S A STATEWIDE POLICY BASED ON THE MOST RECENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BARGAINING AGREEMENT.

WE WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE EMPLOYEES TO TELEWORK AT LEAST TWO DAYS A WEEK, IF PRACTICABLE.

YOU HAVE TO. YES. OKAY. SO I MEAN, THERE'S GOING TO BE CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS IN THAT IF WE'VE GOT THINGS SCHEDULED IN THE OFFICE, THEY'LL HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE EACH DAY. BUT, BUT IF IT'S, IF IT'S FEASIBLE, THEY, THEY HAVE THEY MAY TELEWORK.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IN TODAY'S WORLD WHY WE CAN'T GO BACK TO I MEAN, WE'RE MAKING ALL OUR EMPLOYEES COME BACK.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THE STATE HASN'T DONE IT. AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOUR YOUR DEAL, I'M JUST SAYING.

BUT ANYTHING WE CAN DO IN THE OFFICE, WE CAN WE CAN DO FROM HOME.

WE'RE ALL ALL OF OUR AND WE CAN TAKE CALLS AT HOME. BUT WE'VE GOT LAPTOPS THAT HAVE ALL OUR PROGRAMS ON IT.

THE SAME LAPTOP THAT WE USE AT HOME, WE USE IN THE OFFICE FOR FOR ALL OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS. AS FAR AS THE MESSAGE GOES, YOU MEAN YOU THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT YOU TALK TO [INAUDIBLE] WHERE WE COULD CHANGE THE MESSAGE? LIKE SAYING, LIKE YOU KNOW, FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO TALK TO US, BUT IF THERE'S A RATE ISSUE YOU NEED TO TALK TO.

[00:20:03]

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION WHERE, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE CALL, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, ALL THEY HEAR IS CALL THIS OFFICE, AND THEY NEED TO BE LIKE, WELL, YOU NEED TO CALL STATE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO TRY TO CONTACT US OR FOR SOMETHING ELSE GO OVER THERE.

IN OTHER WORDS, ALL THEY KNOW IS, ALL THEY HEAR THAT NUMBER AND THEY WANT TO CALL THIS NUMBER AUTOMATICALLY. SO I CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. IF WE CAN CLEAR THAT UP.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMING IN TODAY, I APPRECIATE THAT.

SURE. YEAH. SO A COUPLE THINGS THAT I HAD WERE...

IS SO IS THERE A PROCESS? I I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO HAD A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT WHO HAD CONVERTED THEIR PROPERTY FROM AG USE TO SURFACE MINING.

THEY ACTUALLY HAD A SURFACE MINING LICENSE THERE, AND I GUESS IT SLIPPED FOR A YEAR OR TWO WHERE IT WASN'T PICKED UP ON AND I GUESS THROUGH THE EVERY THREE YEAR ASSESSMENT, IT WAS PICKED UP ON AND THEN AND THEY GOT REASSESSED AS A COMMERCIAL USE AS OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL AGRICULTURAL USE.

SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER SOMEHOW FOR LIKE VERIFICATION OF WHEN THOSE CHANGES ACTUALLY TAKE PLACE.

SO CAN CAN WE DO WE HAVE A COMMUNICATION BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY REASSESS SOMETHING.

IS THERE A NOTIFICATION THAT COMES TO US OR. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER THAN THE TAX ROLL.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY OTHER TYPE OF NOTICE THAT WE ACTUALLY SEND TO THE TAX OFFICE UNLESS THEY REQUEST SOME INFORMATION.

RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO I'D LIKE TO I DON'T KNOW, I KIND OF LIKE TO GET CREATIVE AND MAKE SURE SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE CHAINS OF USES FROM AGRICULTURE TO COMMERCIAL, WHETHER WE'RE SEEING WITH EITHER SURFACE MINING OR SOLAR.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT IN LIGHT OF THE FISCAL SITUATION OF THE STATE AND SOME OF THE PRESSURES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT ON THE COUNTY, THAT WE MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WE VERIFY THAT YOU'VE ACTUALLY YOUR DEPARTMENTS RECEIVED THE INFORMATION AND HAVE REASSESSED BECAUSE A YEAR OR TWO WORTH OF, YOU KNOW, TAXES. THAT KIND OF ASSESSMENT WE COULD BE TALKING 30 40,000 ON ONE PROPERTY.

DEFINITELY. AND I WILL SAY WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, COUNTY PLANNING AND CODES HAS SWITCHED TO SENDING US PAPER COPIES OVER TO ELECTRONIC SPREADSHEETS. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S I KNOW IN THE PAST WITH THE PAPER COPIES, THINGS DID GET MISSED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

OKAY. SO HOPEFULLY WITH THE SPREADSHEET, EVERYTHING WILL BE INCLUDED ON THERE.

OKAY. AND MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING INTERNALLY WE DO, MAYBE WE COULD SEND THE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER INFORMATION WE SEND TO THE TO SDAT TO FINANCE AND JUST HAVE A RUNNING LIST BEFORE WE SEND THE TAX BILLS TO MAKE SURE THAT ASSESSMENT.

NOW, IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT INTERNALLY, HOW FAR BEFORE JULY 1ST WOULD YOU NEED TO TO HAVE THAT FLAGGED IN ORDER FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT TO CORRECT THAT OR LOOK AT IT, REVIEW IT? PROBABLY JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO IN IN THE SEARCH FOR THE EXAMPLE OF SURFACE MINING, AS SOON AS THE PERMIT IS ISSUED, IT WOULD GET REASSESSED OR WHEN ACTUAL MOVING OF DIRT AND THAT KIND OF STUFF HAPPENS.

ONCE ONCE THE AGRICULTURAL USE CEASES AND THEY BEGIN MOVING GROUND OR WHATEVER.

RIGHT. BUT IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN ON JULY 4TH, IT WOULD WAIT AN ENTIRE YEAR TO COME BACK AROUND.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT, THOUGH, KEITH? I MEAN, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHEN THE DIRT STARTS GETTING MOVED? THAT'S IF WE HAVE A PERMIT, WE WOULD BE CHECKING IT EVERY SIX MONTHS.

OKAY. PHYSICALLY GOING TO. YES. ALL RIGHT, SO IF THERE'S A CASE UP TO GOLDSBORO, LIKE, THEY'RE MOVING DIRT NOW, LIKE THEY JUST STARTED LAST WEEK, SO, BUT THE PERMIT, CRYSTAL HOW LONG HAS THE PERMIT BEEN? IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW ABOUT IT NOW.

WE DON'T HAVE THE PERMIT YET, BUT JUST FROM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WE KNOW IT'S HAPPENING.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T MADE THAT CHANGE YET BECAUSE IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR JULY, SO.

GOT IT. NO. YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT. SO WE DON'T WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ACRES ARE INVOLVED YET.

SO WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND START.

YEAH I UNDERSTAND THAT MAKING CHANGES. SO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'VE RECENTLY HAD IS THE ASSESSMENT OF GRAIN STORAGE FACILITIES. SO THE COMMERCIAL GRAIN STORAGE FACILITIES ARE ASSESSED AT A COMMERCIAL RATE.

[00:25:08]

SO THEY'RE ASSESSED THE SAME WAY. YES. OKAY. YES.

ALL RIGHT. SO THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I MEAN, IF IT'S A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE VERY SIMILAR. THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT MIGHT BE USED BECAUSE IT'S A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AND FOR ACTUAL LAND VALUE.

BUT THE THE STRUCTURES THEMSELVES ARE TAXED THE SAME.

YES. GENERALLY YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAD A WE HAD A PERSON IN THE COUNTY THAT HAD A REGULAR GRAIN STORAGE TANK ON A FARM. NO OTHER NO DWELLINGS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S JUST A FARM GRAIN TANK AND STARTED TO COMMERCIALLY BUY AND SELL GRAIN YEARS, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AGO. SO I GUESS WHAT MY QUESTION IS, IS WOULD THERE BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MYSELF HAVING GREEN TANKS WHERE I'M ONLY STORING GRAIN PRODUCED ON MY FARM, AS OPPOSED TO COMMERCIALLY BUYING AND SELLING GRAIN IN THE ASSESSMENT OF EITHER OF THOSE? IT SHOULD BE PRETTY SIMILAR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SHOULDN'T BE MUCH OF A CHANGE. DO YOU HAVE ANY LEVERAGE TO COMPEL THE TOWNS TO PRODUCE THE LISTS THAT YOU NEED? NO, NO, THE LAW DOESN'T HAVE ANY ANY TYPE OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION.

YOU KNOW, I WE'VE CALLED THEM IN THE PAST AND LET THEM KNOW WE NEED THIS INFORMATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T GET IT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADD CERTAIN THINGS TO THE TAX ROLL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND WHEN DO YOU TYPICALLY REQUEST TO HAVE THAT BY? WELL WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IT ON A ROLLING BASIS.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T ACTUALLY CALL AND REQUEST EACH, EACH MONTH OR EVERY SIX MONTHS.

THAT'S RIGHT. BUT WE LIKE TO HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, MONTHLY OR EVERY FEW MONTHS, JUST SO WE CAN KEEP OUR RECORDS UP TO DATE.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WHAT INFORMATION IS THAT? I'M SORRY.

NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITS IN THE MUNICIPALITIES.

OH, OKAY. APPARENTLY, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT DON'T PRODUCE IT.

I MEAN, WE'D BE HAPPY GETTING IT EVERY EVERY SIX MONTHS.

YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS IT'S WELL BEFORE JULY OR WELL BEFORE JANUARY.

RIGHT. ON A ROTATION IT GIVES YOU TIME. AND I MEAN, SOME OF THE SMALLER TOWNS, YOU KNOW, IT'S THEY MAY HAVE SO FEW PERMITS THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO CALL EVERY MONTH OR EVERY EVEN EVEN EVERY SIX MONTHS THEY DON'T THEY MAY NOT HAVE ANY PERMITS.

AND AND ONE TOWN, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME THEY GET A THEY, THEY HAVE A PERMIT ISSUED, THEY, THEY IMMEDIATELY FAX IT OVER TO US.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY YOU LIKE TO HAVE IT, RIGHT? YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S CERTAINLY ONE WAY TO DO IT.

YEAH. OKAY. DO YOU? DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT GET INVOLVED IN THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX SIDE OF THINGS AT ALL? NONE OF THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AS FAR AS ASSESSMENTS ON THE EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL GENERATION EQUIPMENT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. IT'S ALL HANDLED IN BALTIMORE. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION. SURE. KEITH, I WAS SURPRISED YOU SAID THAT THE PLANNING AND CODES DEPARTMENT SENT SPREADSHEETS OVER.

DO YOU GUYS LOG IN AND JUST DO A MONTHLY SEARCH ON THEIR APP TO JUST DOWNLOAD THE CHANGES OF USE, THE PERMITS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS? WE DO NOT LOG IN SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT PURPOSE TO GET ALL THE PERMITS, BUT THE, THE ASSESSORS WILL GO IN TO, TO LOOK AT PERMIT UPDATES TO SEE HOW FAR ALONG THE PROPERTY MAY BE.

AND BECAUSE IF YOU IF YOU I MEAN, IT'S NOT I GUESS YOU LOG IN, BUT YOU CAN SEARCH WITHOUT LOGGING IN, I THINK. BUT IF YOU GO ON THERE AND DO A SEARCH, I MEAN, YOU COULD SEE ANY CHANGES OF USE AS ON A LIVE UPDATED BASIS, NEW PERMITS AND ALL THOSE AND DOWNLOAD A. OKAY, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR US TO LOOK AT.

AND I MEAN IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO DO. YOU WOULD YOU COULD DO IT MONTHLY.

YOU COULD DO IT HOWEVER OFTEN YOU LIKE. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THAT ELIMINATES A STEP OF A SPREADSHEET BEING SENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, JUST A THOUGHT. OKAY. YEAH, WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS WHEN YOU. SO WHEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASSESSING A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, ARE YOU ONLY COMPARING TO OTHER PROPERTIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY OR ARE YOU.

YES. PRETTY MUCH JUST IN CAROLINE COUNTY. OKAY.

EVEN IF IT'S ON, EVEN IF IT'S A A HOME ON A QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY LINE, DO YOU SOMETIMES YOU CAN GO OVER INTO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND MAYBE COMPARE TO.

[00:30:04]

RIGHT. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW TEMPLE VILLAGE IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO TWO COUNTIES.

SO WE MAY CHECK IT TO SEE SALE PRICES ON THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY SIDE AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAROLINE.

OKAY. GOTCHA. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I THINK HAS COME UP IN THE PAST ARE SMALL LOTS OUT IN SOME OF OUR RURAL VILLAGES THAT ARE ON WELL AND SEPTIC THAT ACCORDING TO NEW MD REGULATIONS OR HEALTH DEPARTMENT REGS MAY NOT BE BUILDABLE. AND HOW THOSE LOTS ARE ASSESSED.

I KNOW IN THE PAST IT WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTUALLY GO AND HAVE PAY TO HAVE A PERC TEST DONE TO PROVE THAT THE LOT WAS NOT BUILDABLE.

IS THAT STILL THE CASE? YEAH. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SAY WHETHER A LOT IS BUILDABLE OR NOT, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN WE REALLY WANT TO INTERPRET.

WE LEAVE THAT UP TO PLANNING AND CODES OR MDE.

YEAH. SO IF A PROPERTY OWNER, YOU KNOW, GOES TO MDE, GOES TO PLANNING AND CODES AND PLANNING AND CODES, YOU KNOW, TELLS THEM IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. RIGHT.

AS LONG AS THEY HAVE A LETTER OR, OR SOME INFORMATION I CAN WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE A CHANGE ASSESSMENT DOWN.

RIGHT. HOW MANY APPEALS DO YOU DO YOU PROCESS.

DO YOU HAVE A ROUGH IDEA HOW MANY YOU ARE PROCESSING IN CAROLINE? PAST FEW YEARS, IT'S IT'S BEEN ROUGHLY 50, 50 PER REASSESSMENT.

OKAY. AND THAT'S DOWN CONSIDERABLY FROM FROM YEARS PAST WHEN IT WAS 100, 120.

DO YOU HAVE A ARE THERE ARE THEY NORMALLY UPHELD THE ASSESSMENTS? A VARIETY I GUESS. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY ABOUT ONE THIRD ARE PROBABLY CHANGED EACH YEAR.

ACTUALLY REDUCED. YEAH. OKAY. OUT OF THE 50. GOTCHA.

SO CAN YOU BREAK DOWN YOUR FLOWCHART WITH FIVE EMPLOYEES.

SO YOU HAVE YOU AS DIRECTOR AND THEN YOU HAVE THE ASSESSORS, AND THEN CAN YOU BREAK DOWN YOUR FIVE? SURE, SURE. YEAH, I'M THE SUPERVISOR. AND THEN WE WE HAVE A COMMERCIAL ASSESSOR WHO ALSO ACTS AS THE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR.

WE HAVE A RESIDENTIAL ASSESSOR. WE HAVE OFFICE SERVICES CLERK AND THEN AN OFFICE MANAGER.

AND THE THE COMMERCIAL ASSESSOR, OBVIOUSLY DOES COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND ALSO KIND OF SUPERVISES THE RESIDENTIAL ASSESSOR.

RESIDENTIAL ASSESSOR, THE SOLE FOCUS IS RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

THE OFFICE SERVICE CLERK AND THE OFFICE MANAGER KIND OF DEAL WITH WITH ANSWERING PHONE CALLS, DATA ENTRY OF RECORDS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

GOOD. THANKS. THANK YOU. WELL, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

I MEAN, THROUGH HISTORY YOU, YOUR PROFESSION IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT, RIGHT? BAD RAP SOMETIMES. YEAH. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS.

GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, IF I CAN. YEAH.

IF YOU COULD CHECK ON THAT MESSAGE AND WORK WITH DANNY ON THAT AND LET US KNOW WHO THE TOWNS ARE BECAUSE THAT AMAZES ME.

BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS US, IT AFFECTS THE TOWN.

SO YES, DEFINITELY. IT'S LOST TAX DOLLARS, RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, EMERGENCY SERVICES, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE MUNICIPALITIES. AND WE RELY ON ON THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THAT EFFORT.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TIMELY GETTING THEIR INFORMATION IN.

AND MAYBE IF THERE'S A WAY WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO TWIST ARMS A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE WE CAN APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO HELP THAT THAT MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS CRYSTAL DADDS, DIRECTOR CAROLINE COUNTY PLANNING

[Crystal Dadds, Director, Caroline County Planning & Codes Department]

[Discussion of Battery Energy Storage Moratorium]

GOOD MORNING CRYSTAL. MORNING. THANK YOU. SO I REQUESTED THIS TO BE ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE OUR CURRENT MORATORIUM IS DUE TO EXPIRE MARCH 31ST.

AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A FEW PHONE CALLS, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES AS THE SOLE USE OF THE PROPERTY NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SOLAR PANELS. SO THERE'S INTEREST OUT THERE, THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES TO PUT THAT ON.

SO I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS FELT ABOUT IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM, STARTING TO WORK ON DEVELOPING REGULATIONS? I THINK YOU SHOULD COME UP WITH SOME SOME TYPE OF

[00:35:10]

THAT'S IT. IT'S STILL UNDER MORATORIUM. THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

OKAY, UNTIL WE GET PREEMPTED, THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WELL, THERE THERE ARE SOME BILLS THAT THAT ARE BEING DROPPED, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T CARE, I'M GOING TO MY POSITION IS GOING TO BE WE EXTEND THIS MORATORIUM UNTIL WE GET TOLD THE TRUTH. YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF I'LL JUST BE, YOU KNOW, DIPLOMATIC AND CALL IT MISINFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I'M PREPARED TO KEEP IT ON FOR AS LONG AS WE HAVE TO.

AND IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PUT IT IN HERE, WE'LL JUST GO TO COURT.

I DON'T I DON'T CARE. I MEAN YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE SCENARIO ABOUT HOW THE STATE IS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS, AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THEM.

SO MY, MY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ME. I'M I'M I'M WILLING TO EXTEND IT INDEFINITELY.

ALL RIGHT. EXTENDED. OKAY. RESOLUTION. CAN YOU DRAFT UP THAT RESOLUTION? OKAY. WE'LL GET THAT ON THE AGENDA. AT LEAST, I THINK, AT LEAST UNTIL WE GET THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND SEE IF THEY ADDRESS ADDRESS THE ISSUE. YES, IT'S DEFINITELY THEIR TOPIC OF CONVERSATION.

YEAH. BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE. WE CAN DO IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

I CAN DO A ONE YEAR EXTENSION. NO, I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

SORRY. YES. OKAY. MOVING ON TO OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION UPDATE, COMMISSIONER PORTER.

[Legislative Session Update]

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS. AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THESE ARE DIFFICULT.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF, OF BILLS THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY TAKE A LOOK AT AND THE HOUSE BILL 487 AND SENATE BILL 484, UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. I MEAN, THIS HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF PLAY.

WE HAVE DRAFTED A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

AND IT IS JUST BASICALLY A BILL WHICH WOULD SAY THAT ANY, ANY PERSON COULD PITCH A TENT ANYWHERE, LIKE ON THE COURTHOUSE GREEN AND LIVE HERE, AND THERE WOULDN'T BE ANYTHING THAT WE COULD DO IF WE TRIED TO REMOVE THEM.

WE WOULD BE VIOLATING THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS AND WE WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A LAWSUIT.

I THINK IT'S A I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY AS, AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN OUR PHONE CALLS ABOUT THESE BILLS, IT'S KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE HOMELESS WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN ALL THE COUNTIES.

I MEAN, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SHELTERS HERE, AND I THINK THEY DO A GOOD JOB.

I THINK THEY WORK HARD. BUT THIS IS A BILL THAT SHOULD IN NO WAY PASS SHOULD, SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED, SO WE OPPOSE THAT. THE RESTRICTIVE HOUSING, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS I THINK LAST WEEK WITH THE WARDEN WAS HERE AT THAT POINT, RESTRICTING THE NUMBER NUMBER OF HOURS THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY BE LOCKED UP.

WE WOULD WE'VE DRAFTED A LETTER OF OPPOSITION TO THAT, TO THIS BILL.

YEAH. IT'S JUST AN UNTENABLE BILL WHEN IT COMES TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO IF THEY'RE NOT HOUSED.

SO, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S KIND OF A, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T THINK IT I DON'T THINK IT WILL WORK.

HOUSE BILL 292 AND I'M SORRY, SENATE BILL 292, HOUSE BILL 635, THE SECONDARY ENFORCEMENT ACT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE MOTOR VEHICLES. THE SHERIFF TALKED ABOUT THAT ONE LAST WEEK.

LETTER OF OPPOSITION FOR THAT ONE. IT WOULD IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO YOU KNOW,

[00:40:06]

LET ME SEE. JEN, COULD YOU LOOK UP? I DIDN'T WRITE THESE.

HOUSE BILL 760, COULD YOU LOOK THAT UP REAL QUICK? AND THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT LAST NIGHT. WHILE SHE'S DOING.

AND ALSO HOUSE BILL 827. HOUSE BILL 717, THE DNR BILL, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO FINISH PROJECTS TO, YOU KNOW, TO SPEND THE MONEY TO FINISH PROJECTS, WAS INTRODUCED LAST NIGHT.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT THAT BILL.

SO HOUSE BILL 760 IS COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES APPROVAL OF PROJECTS DENIED BY THE MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST.

YEAH, THAT'S A BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED BY DELEGATE [INAUDIBLE], WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT IF A PROJECT WAS TURNED DOWN OR DENIED TO MOVE FORWARD BY THE MARYLAND HISTORIC TRUST, IT WOULD GIVE THE COUNTIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERRIDE THAT IN THEIR, IN THEIR, IN THEIR COUNTY, BECAUSE WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

I THINK THIS CAME AS A RESULT OF A WEST DENTON, WEST DENTON WHERE THEY FOUND A PIECE OF WOOD.

THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT IT WAS FROM. AND, YOU KNOW, BUT THE COUNTY I MEAN, SPEAKERS]. 827 HOUSE BILL. 827 I WAS TRYING TO MAKE NOTES AS WE WENT, BUT. THAT'S SOLAR ENERGY CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR GROUND MOUNTED SOLAR AND SMALL SOLAR [INAUDIBLE].

YEAH. TODAY OR YESTERDAY WHAT WE LEARNED LAST NIGHT, THERE WAS A MASSIVE SOLAR BILL THAT WAS INTRODUCED YESTERDAY. NOBODY KNOWS WHAT IT SAYS, BUT IT IS APPARENTLY, FROM WHAT WE GATHER, THE GOING TO BE THE OVERRIDING BILL FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT IN THIS SESSION THAT IS, THAT IS GOING TO ADDRESS SOLAR.

SO EVERYBODY'S KIND OF SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT WAITING TO SEE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO SAY.

DID YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE A BILL NUMBER YET? NO, I DID NOT GET THE BILL NUMBER.

THE DNR BILL. WHICH ONES THAT? THAT'S HOUSE. IS THAT 7 17, RIGHT? YEAH. NOW THAT BILL, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY AMEND THAT TO MAKE IT RETROACTIVE.

RIGHT NOW, THE WAY IT WAS DRAFTED, IT WAS ONLY FOR FUTURE ALLOCATIONS.

WE WANT ACCESS TO THE ACQUISITION FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, SO WE HAVE TO KEEP EYES ON THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE AMENDMENT IS ACTUALLY PROPOSED. AND IF IT'S NOT, DID THEY SAY, WHAT COMMITTEE DO YOU KNOW WHAT COMMITTEE THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO? IF NOT ENT, OKAY. WELL, FOR THE DNR BILL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT COMMITTEE THAT WOULD BE.

I ASKED LAST NIGHT, AND THEY THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WOULD EITHER BE.

YEAH, ENT OR APPROPRIATION. SO I THINK WE WE SHOULD PROBABLY FIND OUT WHAT COMMITTEE IT'S IN AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT AMENDMENT IS ACTUALLY PROPOSED.

IF NOT WE'VE GOT TO FIND A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO PROPOSE IT FOR US, SO.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WAS GOING TO COME FROM THE SECRETARY OF DNR, RIGHT? WHEN HE SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE BILL, RIGHT WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED.

MAYBE WE CAN GO BACK AND FIND THE TESTIMONY LIKE THE INTRODUCTION NORMALLY THAT'S RECORDED RIGHT AND PUT ON YOUTUBE.

I BELIEVE SO. ALL RIGHT. MAYBE I CAN GO BACK AND FIND IT.

OKAY. SENATE BILL 478 WAS A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL APPROVAL FOR SOLAR GENERATING STATIONS. WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT.

AND HOUSE BILL 657 WAS THE PUBLIC SERVICE REQUIREMENT TO EXAMINE BASICALLY PROJECTS.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A IT WAS PART OF THIS GENERAL BILL.

SO A LOT OF BILLS ABOUT TRANSMISSION LINES. I THINK THOSE ARE GEARED PRIMARILY FOR THE WESTERN SHORE COUNTIES. I KNOW, AGAIN, FREDERICK COUNTY IS GOING THROUGH A BIG BATTLE ON THE PIEDMONT TRANSMISSION PROJECT.

SO JUST JUST AS A GENERAL. OH. AND LET ME SEE ONE BILL THAT I THINK WE WANT TO ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT AND POSSIBLY TESTIFY ON WOULD BE HOUSE BILL 885, SENATE BILL 625, WHICH WAS INTRODUCED BY DELEGATE HORNBERGER.

[00:45:08]

THAT'S ONE I THINK WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PRESENT A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR.

YEAH. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR IT'S GOING TO GO, BUT AND THERE WERE ALSO A COUPLE OF OTHER BILLS IN THERE ABOUT SETTING UP AN ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CHARGING COMMISSION.

I KNOW WE NO ON ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. NO.

SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE PULLED I PULLED TOGETHER HERE ON THE SO FAR THE FY 26 BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNOR. WE'LL LEARN PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE TOMORROW ABOUT WHEN WHEN HE DOES HIS STATE OF THE STATE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SO FAR IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A $3.1 MILLION HIT TO CAROLINE COUNTY SO FAR. AND THAT IS A TOTAL REDUCTION OF LOCAL SPENDING OF ABOUT $283 MILLION AND SHIFTING OF STATE TO LOCAL COST SHIFTS OF $143 MILLION. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS REALLY WE'RE IN A BAD TIME.

AND I THINK THE PROBLEM AND I THINK THE THING THAT IS REALLY OUT HERE SCARING EVERYBODY IS, YOU KNOW, RECENT RECENTLY I THINK A SUPREME COURT DECISION YESTERDAY ON THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES, WHICH I'M NO LAWYER, I WISH I WAS, BUT I THINK THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED WAS THAT THE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON THIS, OR THERE WOULD BE NO DEFINITION OF OCCURRENCES.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT 3,500 CASES, AND THE MAXIMUM SETTLEMENT ON THIS PER OCCURRENCE WOULD BE $890,000. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND THOSE ARE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A BILL THAT THE STATE TAXPAYERS HAVE TO PAY AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.

SO WE'LL SEE. WE'LL SEE HOW THAT COMES ABOUT.

AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SCARY PART HERE ABOUT THE WE KNEW ABOUT THE TEACHER PENSION SHIFT, BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE PENSION SHIFTS, WHICH I THINK IS JUST A, YOU KNOW, THE FAVORITE TERM I HEAR EVERY, EVERY NIGHT IS CAMEL ONE, YOU KNOW, NOSE UNDER THE TENT.

BECAUSE I THINK AS THESE THINGS KEEP GETTING SHIFTED AND AND WHAT REALLY IRRITATES ME IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION, THOSE ARE LISTED AS STATE CUTS. THEY'RE NOT CUTS, THEY'RE NOT REDUCTIONS.

THEY'RE SHIFTS TO COUNTIES IS WHAT IT IS. SO THEY SHOULD NOT BE LISTED AS BUDGET CUTS.

THEY SHOULD BE LISTED AS SHIFTING THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COUNTIES.

AND I THINK AS TIME GOES ON, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THE OF THE SHIFTS FOR THE AGENCIES THAT ARE DETERMINED TO BE STATE AGENCIES LIKE SDAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE REGISTER OF WILLS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTED, THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE SHIFTED TO THE COUNTIES AND THEY'RE NOT CUTS. SO WE HAVE A MEETING SCHEDULED TOMORROW TO GO OVER ALL THE BILLS. I'LL HAVE A BETTER, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF THESE.

BUT, I MEAN, IT'S PROBABLY THE MEETING MIGHT BE SHORT CUT A LITTLE BIT BY THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE CUT BY MUCH BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY TOMORROW. BUT AND THEN WE WILL REVIEW THESE WITH OUR WITH BRUCE BURIANO AND STEVE WISE ON THURSDAY ALL OVER AGAIN TO GO THROUGH THE ONES THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO BE APPLICABLE TO US.

SO BUSY BUSY TIME. A LOT OF LOT OF BILLS. LOT OF LOT OF NUMBERS.

YEAH.

YEAH. DOES IT SAY WHO WHO WAS DROPPED BY?

[00:50:12]

BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE THAT, THAT IS APPARENTLY GOING TO BE THE OVERRIDING SOLAR BILL.

ONE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION LAST NIGHT WAS SENATE BILL 215, WHICH I THINK I TALKED TO CRYSTAL ABOUT THIS ONE, WHICH IS A CANNABIS ON SITE CANNABIS CONSUMPTION LICENSE.

IT DOESN'T APPLY TO SMOKING, BUT APPARENTLY THEY CAN ISSUE LICENSES.

THE THE BILL WOULD GIVE THE MARYLAND CANNABIS ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU WANT TO, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

I READ IT YESTERDAY. THE ABILITY TO ISSUE LICENSES FOR ON SITE CONSUMPTION OTHER THAN SMOKING WITHOUT ANY APPROVAL FROM THE COUNTIES, WITHOUT ANY COUNTY INPUT.

IT'S JUST A LICENSE. IS THAT THE WAY YOU... THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT THE BILL HAD TWO, TWO PARTS TO IT.

ONE WAS FOR THE ON SITE CONSUMPTION PERMIT, WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL BILL LANGUAGE.

WHEN THEY ADOPTED IT, THEY SAID THE FIRST ROUND OF CANNABIS LICENSING, THEY WOULD NOT BE ISSUING ANY ON SITE CONSUMPTION LICENSES THE FIRST YEAR.

THEY ARE GOING TO START ISSUING THOSE. AND THEY MADE SOME CHANGES TO IT, TO THE FIRST PART SAID THAT YOU HAD TO SELL AT LEAST 50% BAKED GOODS IN ADDITION TO YOUR CANNABIS PRODUCTS AT A SITE THAT WOULD GET AN ON SITE CONSUMPTION LICENSES.

THEY ADDED TO THE BILL THIS YEAR THE ABILITY FOR ANY FOOD SERVICE FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN ON SITE CONSUMPTION LICENSE.

WHAT I DID READ IN THERE IS THAT ALLOWED THE COUNTIES TO PROHIBIT THE ISSUANCE OF AN ON SITE CONSUMPTION LICENSE.

THE OTHER PART OF THAT BILL WAS FOR CANNABIS EVENTS, IN WHICH THE STATE WOULD ISSUE ANY PERMIT OR LICENSE FOR SOMEONE TO HOLD A CANNABIS EVENT.

AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF THINGS IN THERE ABOUT WHAT THEY COULD AND COULDN'T DO. LIKE IT HAD TO BE AN OVER 21 EVENT.

YOU COULDN'T COMBINE AND HAVE ALCOHOL AT THE EVENT.

IT CAN ONLY BE CANNABIS. BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THERE THAT GAVE LOCAL AUTHORITY ANY ABILITY TO APPROVE OR RESTRICT A CANNABIS EVENT. SO? SO WOULD WE HAVE TO? LIKE WHEN WE HAVE AN EVENT WHERE ALCOHOL IS SERVED, WE HAVE TO HAVE AN INSPECTOR.

WOULD THAT BE WOULD WE HAVE TO PROVIDE. THE COUNTY ZONING DOESN'T HAVE ANY PROVISIONS TO ADDRESS EVENTS OUTSIDE OF THE RECENT TEXT AMENDMENT WE MADE IN 2020 TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT RURAL SPECIAL EVENT VENUE THAT WOULD BE A PERMANENT FACILITY FOR SOMEONE TO HOST AN EVENT.

BUT JUST A THERE'S SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO USE A, A FARM FIELD AND HOLD AN EVENT.

WE HAVE NO SPECIFIC REGULATIONS TO SAY YOU CAN DO THAT OR CAN'T DO THAT.

BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO IF THEY WANTED TO SELL AS A FUNDRAISER.

IF THEY WANTED TO SELL ALCOHOL, THEY'D HAVE TO COME IN AND GET A LICENSE FOR THAT EVENT. WE COULDN'T PREVENT THEM FROM DOING IT, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE INVOLVED IN THE ALCOHOL PORTION. RIGHT. AND OUR INSPECTOR THEN KNOWS ABOUT IT.

YES. SO I GUESS THE FEAR WITH THIS, THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT ANY COUNTY KNOWLEDGE.

RIGHT. AND THE INSPECTIONS WOULD RELY ON THE STATE, THE ATCC, TO DO THE INSPECTIONS OF THAT EVENT.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT LIKE UP ON MARKET STREET, THERE'S A THERE'S AN AREA THAT IS DESIGNATED WHERE YOU CAN DRINK AND THERE HAS TO BE AN INSPECTOR. YES. THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD BE SERVING OR SELLING THE ALCOHOL WOULD HAVE TO GET A TEMPORARY ONE DAY LIQUOR LICENSE TO DO THAT.

AND WHO PROVIDES THAT, INSPECTOR? WE DO. WE DO.

SO MY I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE. WELL, THE INSPECTOR WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE.

NO, THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO COME. RIGHT. THEY JUST MAY DROP IN AND DO A RANDOM INSPECTION.

NOW THAT YOU DO, THE LICENSE HOLDER WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE TIPS TRAINED ON SITE TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, SELL AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THERE.

BUT THE INSPECTOR WOULD BE A, YOU KNOW, IF THE COUNTY ELECTED TO SEND THE PERSON OUT THERE IF THEY WANTED TO STOP IN.

YEAH. SO WE JUST DO RANDOM CHECKS ON EVENTS. WE DON'T DO ALL OF THEM.

BUT IN THIS CASE, WE WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SOMEBODY COULD JUST HAVE A PARTY AND WE DIDN'T KNOW.

[00:55:04]

SO DO YOU WANT TO DRAFT A LETTER OF OPPOSITION OR SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS WITH LOCAL CONTROL? THE HEARING IS THE 18TH. SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? I MEAN, I'M LIKE, DO WE REALLY WANT TO BE ISSUING ANOTHER LICENSE? BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

BUT I ALSO FEEL THE NEED FOR THE COUNTY TO BE NOTIFIED.

WE'VE HAD THAT ISSUE WITH THE ATC YEARS AGO, BECAUSE THEY ISSUED DIFFERENT EVENT LICENSES FOR WINERIES AND BREWERIES TO HOLD EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE, BUT THE COUNTY'S LIQUOR BOARD WOULD HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE EVENTS, AND WE WOULD HEAR ABOUT IT GO BY THERE, QUESTION, THE PERSON, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, I HAVE A LICENSE FROM THE STATE.

AND IT WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT'S FINE, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE ISSUING LICENSES, OUR COUNTY. SO WE'RE AWARE OF IT AND WE KNOW IT'S PROPERLY LICENSED.

SO THEY DID CHANGE WHEN THEY MOVED THE ALCOHOL ENFORCEMENT OUT OF THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE INTO THE ATCC.

THAT WE GET A MONTHLY LIST NOW OF ALL EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ACROSS THE STATE THAT THEY'VE ISSUED LICENSES FOR THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE A LOCAL LICENSE, BUT THE SAME COULD HAPPEN WITH CANNABIS BECAUSE IT'S UNDER THAT SAME ATCC LEVEL.

MAYBE WE SUGGEST AN AMENDMENT TO FOR COUNTY NOTIFICATION THE SAME AS THEY DO WITH THE ALCOHOL.

YEAH. 20 YEARS FROM NOW WE'LL BE LOOKING AT CANNABIS LIKE WE DO WINERY, LIKE WINE AND ALCOHOL.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? EVENTS, YOU KNOW, POP UP EVENTS AND ALL THAT.

SO YOUR MOM'S JUST, YOU KNOW. I'M WAITING FOR THE ENFORCEMENT TO SHIFT TO THE COUNTY.

THE CANNABIS PORTION.

FOR DIRECTION FROM THE OFFICE OF SOCIAL EQUITY AS WELL.

CORRECT DAN. YES, SIR. OKAY. AND IF YOU'RE OKAY I'LL GET WITH JEN BUT I'D LIKE TO WORKSHOP THE CANNABIS ZONING REGULATIONS NEXT WEEK IF YOU'D LIKE TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. ALL RIGHT.

HOUSE BILL 717 IS THE DNR BILL. AND I HAVE ALL MY NOTES THAT YOU WANTED TO ATTEND THE HEARING ON FEBRUARY 12TH. IS THAT WHEN THEIR HEARING IS? YES. OKAY. AND THE AMENDMENT WOULD BE RETROACTIVE TO ALLOW USE OF.

YEAH. AS LONG AS THAT, AS LONG AS THE AMENDMENT GETS PUT IN.

WELL, I GUESS WE NEED TO TESTIFY PROBABLY EITHER WAY ON THAT ONE, BUT OR HAVE STEVE AND BRUCE DO IT.

JUST HAVE THEM DO IT. NOBODY WANTS TO SEE ME OVER THERE STUTTERING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD.

AND WE DID HAVE A LOCAL BILL DROP YESTERDAY. THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE, MULTIPLE EVENT LICENSES.

OKAY. IT WAS ON YOUR SHEET, BUT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD.

OKAY, MOVING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[Consent Agenda]

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THOSE TO HER TODAY.

YEP. CORRECT. AND I DON'T WHAT IS ROBIN, DO YOU KNOW OR DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE MID-SHORE REGIONAL LANDFILL AGREEMENT? SO THIS THIS PERTAINS WHAT I READ PERTAINS TO MID-SHORE ONE OVER IN EASTON.

SO WHAT WHAT IS? WELL IT APPEARS AND WE'RE GETTING A FEW OF THESE, LIKE WE'RE GETTING ONE FROM THE AG DEPARTMENT ABOUT I THINK MOSQUITO SPRAY INTO, LIKE, SOMEONE IS GOING THROUGH AND AUDITING AND GOING BACK AND FINDING AGREEMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SIGNED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND IT BASICALLY I MEAN, IT'S AN AGREEMENT, JUST THAT WE'RE A REGULAR HAULER TO THE FACILITY.

WHAT OUR INSURANCES ARE, WHAT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.

AND OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEWED IT. IT'S NO BIG NOTHING CRAZY IN IT.

IT'S JUST IT PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN SIGNED FOR 4 OR 5 YEARS, IS WHAT I'M TOLD.

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GO BACK AND GET THINGS SIGNED THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SIGNED FOR A WHILE.

BUT WE DON'T HAUL ANYTHING IN TO MID-SHORE ONE.

NO, NOT MID-SHORE THAT COULD BE A IT SHOULD BE PROBABLY MID-SHORE TWO.

[01:00:02]

SO NO ONE CAUGHT THAT BUT YOU, I GUESS. SO MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CORRECTED BECAUSE THIS WAS THE CURRENT LANDFILL IS WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. RIGHT? OH IT IS. OKAY. YES. YEAH, WE'RE WE'RE CARRYING STUFF IN FROM THE HODOS.

YEAH. AND I MEAN IT'S WE REALLY DON'T HAUL ANYTHING TO IN THE EAST.

AND THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH. I T SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD SAY ONE AND TWO, RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S THEIR INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENTS FOR EACH OF THE FACILITIES.

I KNOW TALBOT COUNTY PROBABLY HAULS INTO ONE, AND THE MUNICIPALITIES IN TALBOT COUNTY PROBABLY HAUL INTO ONE.

AND THEN IT'S TRANSFERRED TO TWO TO MID-SHORE TWO HERE IN RIDGELY.

I DID QUESTION IT LIKE WHY, YOU KNOW, WHERE IS THIS COMING FROM? WHY IS THIS? AND LIKE I SAID, THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS GETS SIGNED.

IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED IN 4 OR 5 YEARS. WE SEND IT OVER TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.

HE LOOKED AT IT. THEY ACTUALLY MADE A PHONE CALL.

AND IT'S JUST A STANDARD THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE INSURED.

WE'RE HAULING THE RIGHT THINGS IN THERE AND WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. BUT LIKE I SAID, I.

I DIDN'T EVEN CATCH THAT IT SAID MID-SHORE ONE LOCATED IN EASTON, MARYLAND.

WHEN? SO IF YOU WANT TO REMOVE IT AND VERIFY THAT INFORMATION THAT IT IS SPECIFIC TO THAT ONE, OR IF IT SHOULD HAVE SAID TWO. THE APPENDICES, THERE'S ANY APPENDICES, THERE'S REFERENCES TO BOTH ONE AND TWO.

YEAH. YEAH, I THINK IT WAS AN UPDATE TO BE ABLE TO HAUL INTO ANY OF THEM AND SPECIFICALLY FOR US, THE TWO. BUT. WELL, FIRST PARAGRAPH I GUESS. WELL, CLEARLY.

SO IT CALLS OUT ON PAGE THREE OF TEN, HAULER MAY UTILIZE ONLY THE FOLLOWING ROADS TO DELIVER WASTE TO THE LANDFILL AND NO OTHERS. US ROUTE 50, ROUTE 309 CORDOVA ROAD, ROUTE 328 DENTON ROAD, ROUTE 331 DOVER ROAD, DOVER NECK ROAD, BARKERS LANDING ROAD.

SO IT DOESN'T REFERENCE ANY OF THE ROADS IN CAROLINE? YEAH. SO MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS. AND IT SAYS THE RECEIVING HOURS IS 8 TO 12, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

RIGHT. THIS MUST BE SITE SPECIFIC AND THEN. SEE AND THEN THERE'S GUIDELINES ON MID SHORE TWO FEE SCHEDULE MID-SHORE. YEAH.

I DON'T THINK WE MEANS WE CAN'T HAUL IN THERE TOMORROW IF IT'S NOT SIGNED, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT HASN'T BEEN SIGNED IN SEVERAL YEARS.

WELL I'M FINE. I'M FINE WITH APPROVING IT AS IS IF IT PERTAINS TO TO MID SHORE ONE BECAUSE WE IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT US AT ALL ANYWAY BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T HAUL ANYTHING IN THERE. SO IF IF IT IN FACT DOES PERTAIN TO MID SHORE ONE, I SAY WE LEAVE IT ON THERE.

IF IT DOESN'T. I WOULD SAY WE'D HAVE TO BRING IT BACK.

SO OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

JAMIE, THE LAST ITEM ON THERE, THE $100,000 FOR THE OLD PBRP.

NO. IT'S 20. SORRY. IT'S OKAY. IT'S 25. OKAY.

THE 100 IS IS THE STACKING. SO THAT ONCE WE DO GO AND DO THE LP PBFP, WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THERE BECAUSE IT'S EVERY FIVE YEARS.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S JUST ALLOCATING OUT OF THIS OUT OF THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR THE.

OKAY. GOTCHA. AND IF I COULD I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WHILE YOU HAVE THAT APPLICATION FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] LANE, I'M GOING TO HOLD THAT. OKAY. UNTIL WE HAVE A SIGNED FONSI.

OKAY. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO IS COMMIT TO DOING THAT WORK, HAVE THAT GO THROUGH THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, DON'T GET ASSIGNED FONSI AND CAN'T DO WORK.

AND WE'VE COMMITTED THAT 100 AND ALMOST $150,000 THAT WE CAN'T SPEND ON THAT.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS IN LINE, RIGHT? WE'RE STILL JUST WAITING ON THE FED.

CORRECT. AND NOW, WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BEING ASKED TO HAVE A BUNCH OF LAYOFFS, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT.

NOBODY CAN ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING BACK FROM SENATOR VAN HOLLEN'S OFFICE.

[01:05:03]

WE GOT THE JOINT USE AGREEMENT LETTER FROM DNR.

THEY'RE JUST WORKING OUT. THE DNR AND NSHA HAVE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH LANGUAGE CHANGES AND THEN ONCE THAT IS THAT MEETS WITH DNR SATISFACTION, THEN I WILL SUBMIT IT TO STEWART FOR HIS REVIEW.

OKAY. DO YOU WANT US TO REMOVE THIS THEN. NO, I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU SIGN IT AND WE'LL HOLD IT AND SUBMIT IT.

AND SHOULD THE FONSI COME OVER, THEN THAT'LL BE READY TO GO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IF THAT'S IF THAT MEETS WITH YOUR APPROVAL.

YEAH. OKAY. I'M FINE. YES. ALL RIGHT. GOOD. YOU GOT ANYTHING? GOOD. OKAY. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT. I HAVE TWO THINGS TO UPDATE YOU ON THIS MORNING.

[County Administrator’s Report]

I MEAN, THE CABINETS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. HOLES IN THE WALLS.

I MEAN SO MAJOR RENOVATIONS ARE NEEDED FOR SOME OF THE UNITS WHERE EVICTIONS TOOK PLACE.

SO THE OUTCOME OF THAT CONVERSATION WAS THAT WE WOULD OR THEY WOULD REHAB FIVE OF THE UNITS.

FOUR IN DAYSPRING ONE, AND ONE IN DAYSPRING TWO.

AND THEN WE WOULD ALSO USE SOME OF THE DOLLARS IN THE FUND TO WORK ON SOME OF THE INHABITED UNITS THAT NEED MINOR REPAIRS AND UPGRADES.

THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN INHABITED THE LONGEST WHERE RENT HAS BEEN PAID, AND MAYBE THEY NEED A NEW APPLIANCE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO I BELIEVE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT CAME TO ABOUT $125,000 FOR THE FIVE UNITS, DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AFTER THE EVICTIONS. AND THEN MOVING ON. I'D RATHER NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE MEET WITH SECRETARY DAVE IF WE'RE GOING TO SELL THEM.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO RENOVATE IT NOW? OR TRANSFER? I THINK IT MAKES SENSE TO TRY TO GET SOME OF THESE UNITS BACK ONLINE AND GET RENT COLLECTED FROM THEM WHOEVER ENDS UP OWNING THE UNITS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE COLLECTING RENT. SO AND I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY SHOW THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING HERE, YOU KNOW, REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING. RIGHT. I MEAN, THE MONEY IS IN THE ACCOUNT TO RENOVATE THE UNITS.

SO I DON'T KNOW, MY MY OPINION IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET SOME OF THESE, SOME OF THIS WORK DONE AND GET THESE UNITS BACK ONLINE.

I AGREE WITH THAT. ALL RIGHT. WELL, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I THINK WE SHOULD NOT SPEND ANYTHING ON THEM AND TRY TO GET RID OF GET OUT OF IT AND USE EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN TO MAKE OURSELVES WHOLE IF WE GET SHORTED.

BUT THAT'S FINE IF YOU GUYS WANT. WELL, THE FUND IS THERE TO.

THE FUND IS GOING TO TRANSFER OVER TO NEW OWNERSHIP ANYWAY.

WELL YEAH. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE CLARIFICATION ON ALL OF THAT YET.

I MEAN, IF WE SELL IT OUTRIGHT, THAT FUND MAY NOT GO IF IT GOES TO MARKET.

MARKET RATE HOUSING. BUT I DON'T KNOW. WELL, I MEAN, YOU GOTTA LOOK AT THE POINT WHERE IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BUY SOMETHING, HE'S LIKE, WELL, YOU GOT THESE HAVE BEEN TRASHED AND IT'S GOING TO HINDER VALUE.

RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO HINDER VALUE IF THEY'RE NOT FIXED.

SO HE'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO THROW A LOW BALL IN THERE.

I'D JUST SAY I'D JUST SAY TO SPEND THE MONEY TO RENOVATE THEM AND THEN HAVE THAT, I DON'T THINK, AND THEN HAVE THAT PERSON TOTALLY CHANGE UP AND IT'D BE WASTED BECAUSE IT'S EITHER NOT RENOVATED TO THEIR STANDARD OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WELL, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING TO THE POINT OF FIXING DRYWALL. I MEAN, THIS IS JUST BASIC. NO.

THEY'RE TALKING. THEY'RE TALKING TOTAL NEW KITCHENS, RIGHT? ON THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN GUTTED. SOME OF THE CABINETS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

YEAH, I'M NOT TALKING. ALSO, APPARENTLY SMOKE DETECTORS ARE GONE AFTER THE.

THAT'S JUST. YEAH. WELL, THEY JUST PEOPLE AS THEY, AS THEY WERE EVICTED IN CERTAIN UNITS ANYWAY.

[01:10:07]

I CAN TELL YOU THAT AS FAR AS THE RESERVE MONEY, EVERY TRANSACTION I'VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AND EVERY ONE I'VE EVER KNOWN TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT MONEY BELONGS TO THAT PROPERTY, AND IT DOES NOT. IN OTHER WORDS, WE COULDN'T WE COULDN'T TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OF THAT PROPERTY AND KEEP THE $300,000 IN OUR FOR US.

I MEAN, IT GOES WITH THAT PROPERTY AND IT IS TRANSFERRED WITH THAT PROPERTY, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD BE USED TOWARD RENOVATION.

SO, I MEAN, BUT THAT'S IF IT WOULD STAY IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING OF SOME FORM, RIGHT? NOT I MEAN, THE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO PAY THE LOAN BACK IF IT COULD BE USED TO PAY THE ACTUAL TO GO TOWARDS PAYING THE LOAN BACK.

THAT'S WHAT MY ARGUMENT IS. WE I WOULD RATHER NOT SPEND IT AND KEEP IT IN RESERVE IN CASE WE HAD THE CAPABILITY OF APPLYING IT TOWARDS PAYING DHCD BACK THE LOAN BACK. THAT'S ALL. I'M THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

AND THEN I ALSO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU BUILD, WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE, YOU WOULD GO IN AND RENOVATE IT TO YOUR LIKING SOMETIMES, NOT NECESSARILY TO THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S LIKING.

SO I JUST WOULD HATE I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT ENDS UP.

MAYBE IT ENDS UP, YOU KNOW, STAYING. HOPEFULLY IT STAYS IN IN SOME FORM OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BUT IF IT DOESN'T, I'M JUST SAYING IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE TO BE SITTING ON THAT MONEY SHOULD WE HAVE A SHORTFALL WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE GET FOR IT SO WE CAN PAY THE LOAN BACK.

BUT THAT'S THAT'S JUST WHAT I'M SAYING. WE'RE MEETING WE'RE MEETING WITH SECRETARY DAY NEXT WEEK.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST WAIT AT LEAST UNTIL THEN.

I DON'T I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT IN THERE TODAY DOING WORK.

I THINK THEY, THEY HAD PROPOSALS FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS.

I DON'T THINK WORK IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED TO BE STARTED CERTAINLY BEFORE NEXT WEEK. RIGHT.

SO I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE ASKING FOR OUR APPROVAL TO SPEND IT DOWN THOUGH, RIGHT. THEY HAVE TO COME TO US. THEY CAN'T JUST UNILATERALLY DO IT.

SO YEAH, I MEAN, AND THEY'RE ACTIVELY LIKE LIKE COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID, THEY HAVE PROPOSALS, BUT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS. SO AFTER WE MEET WITH SECRETARY DAY, I'M SURE IF WE WANT TO PUT A HALT ON THAT.

I MEAN, I DON'T SEE WHERE FIXING DRYWALL AND DOING SMOKE DETECTORS IS REALLY GOING TO HINDER SOMEBODY REDOING A HOUSE TO THEIR TO THEIR STANDARDS.

NO I DON'T. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE KITCHENS, THE CABINETS AND ALL.

YEAH, I DON'T WANT THEM BUYING CABINETS. I MEAN, I KIND OF AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I MEAN, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DRYWALL, THE SMOKE DETECTORS, YOUR BASIC STUFF THAT. YEAH.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT. YEAH, YEAH, I'M FINE WITH THAT. I MEAN, IF THEY WANT TO PATCH UP DRYWALL AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

BUT YEAH, I'M SURE THE PAINT, THE PAINT IS PRETTY STANDARD.

I MEAN, I'M SURE THEY PAINTED THE THING THE SAME, YOU KNOW.

I THINK I'M JUST GOING TO SPECULATE HERE THAT I THINK THAT THE CHANCES OF US WORKING OUT AN ARRANGEMENT WITH DHCD WHERE THEY'RE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WE WILL WE WILL WAIVE THESE, YOU KNOW, THESE REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE IN PLACE AT THE TIME WITH UNDER THE RENTAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT.

AND YOU CAN JUST GO OUT AND SELL IT TO ANYBODY.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO SAY THEY MAY SAY, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU TO TRANSFER OWNERSHIP TO ANOTHER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM AS LOW INCOME UNITS.

I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW THESE UNITS TO BE TO BE GO INTO THE OPEN MARKET.

WELL, BY CONTRACT, THEY HAVE TO. RIGHT. THERE'S AN EXPIRATION.

RIGHT. SO BY CONTRACT, THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL US IT'S GOT TO STAY THAT WAY.

WE CAN SELL THEM, BUT WE'VE GOT TO PAY. AND IF WE DO SELL THEM, WE'VE GOT TO PAY IT BACK.

SO, I MEAN, ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WHEN WE MEET IS GOING TO BE, CAN THIS RESERVE FUND BE USED TO APPLY TOWARDS PAYING THE LOAN BACK.

AND YOU KNOW, IF NO THEN FINE BLOW IT ON THEM.

I DON'T CARE IF WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE GOT TO STAY WITH THEM, BUT I JUST I'M JUST THINK WE SHOULD KEEP EVERY OPTION OPEN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.

HAVE WE GOT THE ASSESSMENT BACK YET? NO. THEY HAD ASKED A COUPLE QUESTIONS TO EAST COAST ABOUT THE UNITS, AND WE'RE STILL WORKING TO DEVELOP THAT NUMBER.

I HAVE A NOTE HERE TO CHECK IN WITH THEM. THEY WERE THERE.

I MEAN, THE ASSESSMENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THERE TO DO IT, I THINK.

[01:15:01]

I THINK THE HEAT NEEDS TO STAY ON THE AIR CONDITIONING. THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP THAT ON IF THEY WANT TO PATCH UP DRYWALL AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

I DON'T I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, BUT I WOULDN'T GO SPEND $25,000 ON PUTTING A NEW KITCHEN IN A UNIT WHEN THE NEXT PROPERTY OWNER MAY WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, THEY MAY WANT TO GO WITH A HIGHER END KITCHEN, OR MAYBE THEY WANT TO GO WITH, YOU KNOW. SO SO DO WE. JUST SO I'M CLEAR, DO WE WANT TO GET BACK TO EAST COAST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND RELAY THAT MESSAGE TO THEM? I MEAN, ARE YOU ALL IN AGREEMENT? WORK ON THE DRYWALL. OBVIOUSLY, THE SMOKE DETECTORS NEED TO BE PUT BACK IN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THERE'S A FIRE IN THE VACANT UNIT FOR SOME REASON, NO SMOKE DETECTOR, WHICH PROBABLY ALREADY BEEN DONE.

I MEAN, I WOULD SUGGEST WE GET BACK TO HIM AND JUST SAY DO NOT ENGAGE.

DO NOT, DO NOT ENGAGE IN THE FULL RENOVATION UNTIL NEXT WEEK AND THEN BRING IT UP.

JUST PUT IT ON OUR AGENDA AS A DISCUSSION FOR AFTER THAT MEETING.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY.

NO, I DON'T THINK SO EITHER. BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TO SIGN CONTRACTS WITH A CONTRACTOR AND START THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN WE COME BACK AND. AND LOOK, HERE'S THE OTHER THING TOO.

THEY MAY NEED A FULL RENO. THE NEXT PERSON MAY COME IN, WE PATCH THEM UP AND IT MAY BE A GUT AND DO OVER, YOU KNOW, FROM THE START. THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TOO.

SO I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD JUST, YEAH, WAIT HERE.

I MEAN, IF THEY'VE GOT IF THEY'VE GOT A FEW UNITS, THEY WANT TO, I GUESS, GET BACK ON THE MARKET AND TRY TO GET RENTED OUT THAT THEY CAN DO THAT FOR TEN GRAND OR LESS, THEN GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

BUT THE MAJOR I WOULD SAY ANYTHING MAJOR, I DON'T.

YEAH. SO. OKAY, SO THE SECOND UPDATE I HAD FOR YOU IS REALLY A NON UPDATE.

I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE THING FROM OUR PARTNERS FOR THE REGIONAL DETENTION CENTER.

SO I DO NOT HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET YET I WILL CIRCLE BACK TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS FROM QUEEN ANNE AND KENT COUNTY THIS WEEK. BUT AS OF NOW, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

DANNY HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING. SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PUBLIC HEARING WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION.

DID WE OFFER TO HAVE DANNY GO OVER AND? WE DID.

OKAY. AND NOTHING? NO. YES. NO. MAYBE. CORRECT.

OKAY. WHEN WAS THAT? WHEN WAS THAT SENT. OFFER MADE? I BELIEVE KATHLEEN HAD SENT THE EMAIL A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO.

JUST OVER A WEEK [INAUDIBLE] SO. YEAH. PRIOR TO THE LAST, PRIOR TO LAST WEEK'S MEETING.

SO A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO.

HOW MANY UNITS DO WE HAVE VACANT AT DAYSPRING RIGHT NOW? SO THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE US WERE EVICTIONS IN PROCESS AND UNITS THAT HAVE NOT PAID RENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

AND APPARENTLY SOME OF THOSE UNITS THAT WENT THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS, SIGNED AGREEMENTS TO MAKE PAYMENT PLANS.

THOSE HAVE NOT ALL BEEN FOLLOWED THROUGH ON. SO IT'S ALMOST HALF.

IT WAS LIKE 20 OR 22 UNITS.

SO THESE WERE THE NUMBERS OFF THE THE FIRST PHONE CALL I COULD NOT ATTEND THE LAST ONE, BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WERE 11 THAT WERE SITTING VACANT.

THEY HAD 2 MORE THAT WERE UNDER EVICTION OR PROCESS.

THEY HAD 14 THAT THEY WERE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF EVICTION.

WHAT IS IN PROCESS? THEY HAVE ORDERS AND ORDERS.

YEAH. OKAY. TWO ARE PENDING COURT. THEY RECEIVED EXTENSIONS FROM THE COURT, AND THEN ONE ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO TRIAL.

SO 13 27 29 SO ABOUT THAT'S 30 OF THEM THERE THAT THEY HAD NOTED DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, SO. IT'S A, A LARGE PORTION OF PROPERTY. SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE ONES, I THINK A NUMBER OF THE ONES WHERE THE COURT HAD, THEY HAD SIGNED STIPULATIONS SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CATCH IT UP.

CORRECT. SOME OF THOSE HAVE NOT. SO I DON'T YEAH.

THE TOTAL NUMBER. RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY.

GOOD. YES. ALL RIGHT. COUNTY COMMISSIONER OPEN DISCUSSION PERIOD.

[County Commissioners Open Discussion Period]

[01:20:05]

WELL, THAT'S GOOD. MULTIPLE SPEAKERS] COMMISSIONER PORTER.

I JUST ONE ONE THING. YOU KNOW, WE WE CONTINUE TO DO, YOU KNOW, OUR MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE PUBLIC UP TO DATE ON THE SOLAR PROJECTS.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE QUESTION WE ANSWER LEADS TO MORE.

SO I, YOU KNOW, I REQUESTED THAT WE PUT TOGETHER MAYBE AN INFORMATIONAL POST ABOUT THE SOLAR ORDINANCE.

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE LEARNED TODAY AND HEAR ABOUT WHEN DOES IT BECOME TAXED AS COMMERCIAL? THOSE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED. AND I KNOW JEN AND COUNTY ATTORNEY PUT TOGETHER A, YOU KNOW, AN INFORMATIONAL POST, AND I THINK IT WAS IT WAS DONE VERY WELL.

I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE GOT TO REALLY WORK HARD HERE TO KEEP PEOPLE ADVISED AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY RAISE, MAYBE EVEN TRY TO ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO RAISE.

BUT I THINK THE MORE INFORMATION, THE MORE WE CAN EXPLAIN HOW WE ARRIVED AT WHERE WE ARE, I THINK THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GOING TO BE.

SO THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT TOGETHER. YOU SAID THERE WAS ONE TYPO IN IT.

I DIDN'T CATCH THAT. BUT BUT I THINK WE NEED TO POST THAT.

AND IF WE CAN GET SOME, MAYBE GET SOME HELP FROM OUR NEWS SOURCES AS WELL.

BECAUSE AS THIS AS THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS MOVES FORWARD, I THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO COME WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO ANSWER.

SO I HAD ON MY LIST OF FONZI, WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING.

YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. PROBABLY TALK TO CONGRESSMAN HARRIS NEXT.

IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A MATTER OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BEING AS A AS AN ORGANIZATION, BEING UP IN THE AIR WITH THEIR OWN, WITH ALL OF THEIR WORK, NOT JUST OUR FONZI.

WELL, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS BEEN UP IN THE AIR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR MUCH LONGER THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE DOING NOTHING. WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.

ALL THEY GOT TO DO IS SIGN THEIR NAME, AND AND FRANKLY, I I'M TELLING YOU, TELLING YOU, MAN, I AM REALLY REACHING MY END OF MY PATIENCE WITH THIS.

I MEAN, WE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST TIRED OF SITTING HERE ASKING QUESTIONS AND ASKING FOR INFORMATION.

WE HAVE TO ANSWER EVERYTHING THAT ANYBODY ASKS OF US.

BUT WHEN WE TURN AROUND AND WANT AN ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION, WE GOT TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THIS CRAP.

SO I'M TIRED OF IT. YOU KNOW.

STEWART, DO YOU HAVE ANY INSIGHT INTO THE THE JUDGE'S DECISION FRIDAY THAT YOU COULD SHARE WITH WITH THESE GUYS ON ON THE CAVERTON SOLAR? CRYSTAL MIGHT WANT TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, TOO.

MATT KOZINSKI WAS SORT OF THE POINT MAN FOR THE COUNTY WHEN THE APPLICANT INITIALLY LET THE COUNTY KNOW THAT THEY WERE. THIS IS SOLAR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEAH.

THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO A PROJECT IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

AND THEY WERE ADVISED THAT THE THE APPLICANT WAS ADVISED THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IT IN A DISTRICT WHERE WE PROHIBIT UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. AND THE APPLICANT, IN ITS APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SIMPLY INDICATED THAT IT HAD ADVISED THE COUNTY OR CONTACTED THE COUNTY AND THAT THE COUNTY HAD NOT RESPONDED. SO WHEN WE WERE SERVED WITH THE APPLICATION MR. HAMMACK, WHO IS HELPING US IN THIS MATTER WE PETITIONED TO INTERVENE.

THE COUNTY IS NOW A PARTY TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PROCEEDING, AND WE RAISED THE ISSUE IN OUR INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION AND RECOUNTED CHAPTER AND VERSE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT DID TAKE PLACE.

IT WAS MORE THAN WHAT THEY TOLD THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RELUCTANCE WAS FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE ADVISED ACCURATELY IN THEIR APPLICATION.

[01:25:01]

AND AT THAT POINT, THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW JUDGE HAD THE OPTION OF DECIDING THAT THE APPLICATION WAS NOT COMPLETE BECAUSE IT HAD NOT TOUCHED THE BASE OF GETTING INPUT FROM THE COUNTY TO, YOU KNOW, MERIT ON THE MERITS OF THE APPLICATION.

SO IT WAS AN INADEQUATE FILING BY THE APPLICANT.

THE JUDGE DECIDED TO IT WAS SUFFICIENT. AND JUST IN A CURSORY QUICK DECISION, SAID NO PROBLEM, WE'LL PROCEED, HERE'S THE SCHEDULING, YOU KNOW, CALENDAR FOR THE THE MONTHS AHEAD, INCLUDING A PUBLIC HEARING OR TWO.

AND SO WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES. FOR A FOR A TYPICAL COMPLETE APPLICATION.

HOW MUCH INPUT WOULD THE COUNTY HAVE HAD AT THIS POINT? DOES ANYBODY REALLY KNOW? CRYSTAL MAY. I MEAN, WE WE WOULDN'T BE AT PRELIMINARY SITE PLAN REVIEW LEVEL YET, RIGHT. OR WOULD WE? THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THEY PRETTY MUCH SEND YOU AN EMAIL WITH A VERY CONCEPTUAL PLAN AND SAY, WE NEED A LETTER FROM YOU IN 90 DAYS TO SUBMIT WITH OUR CPC AN APPLICATION TO SAY THIS MEETS COUNTY REQUIREMENTS.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL WE NEED IN ORDER TO DO A REVIEW, AND IT'S IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM AN ADEQUATE RESPONSE TO SAY WHETHER THIS MEETS COUNTY REQUIREMENTS OR NOT. WE CAN'T JUST DO IT FROM A VERY LOW LEVEL CONCEPTUAL PLAN, AND THEN WE ALWAYS FIND OUT WHAT LITTLE BIT LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THEY GAVE US WHEN THEY ACTUALLY MAKE THAT FILING TO CPCN, IT'S NOT THE SAME.

THEY'VE EITHER CHANGED THINGS OR EXCLUDED THINGS IN WHAT THEY SENT US TO, WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR FINAL PACKAGE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF INTERNAL PROCESS FOR WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE GET THESE NOTIFICATIONS FROM SOLAR COMPANIES SAYING WE'RE SEEKING CPCN? HEY, COUNTY, WE NEED A LETTER IN 90 DAYS SAYING THIS IS OKAY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT FILING AN APPLICATION, THEY'RE NOT PAYING A REVIEW FEE. THEY'RE BASICALLY GETTING WHAT ANYBODY ELSE WOULD GET FOR FREE.

AND WITH LIMITED INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WE WOULD REQUIRE.

IF YOU WANT A LETTER FROM US, THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SUPPLY TO US IN ORDER FOR US TO DO IT RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK WE SHOULD DRAFT A LETTER TO ALL FUTURE APPLICATIONS JUST USE THE SAME LETTER THAT SAYS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION HERE FOR US TO MAKE A TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND SUBMIT THAT EVERY TIME.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING. WE'RE HAVING A WORKSHOP. YES.

YEAH. OURSELVES WITH MR. HAMMACK TO COME UP WITH THIS, THIS EXACT SCENARIO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, LIKE A TEMPLATE RESPONSE WHEN WE GET THESE THINGS IN THE FUTURE, AND POSSIBLY IMPOSING FEES SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING AND CODES FOLKS ARE HAVING TO GO DO THIS WORK FOR NOTHING.

WELL, LET'S LET'S CHARGE THEM. OKAY. AND IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING BY WHAT KOMAR SAYS, WHICH IS YOU PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH THIS AND GET A RESPONSE.

SO THEY DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING, FILE AN APPLICATION OR PROVIDE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WE NEED TO GET, GIVE THEM AN ACCURATE RESPONSE. SO I THINK WE'VE GOT TO ESTABLISH OUR PROCESS FOR WHEN WE GET THOSE, BECAUSE WE JUST GOT A SECOND ONE FOR NORTH OF GOLDSBORO FROM THE HALO SOLAR GROUP.

SO THIS THIS WAS HEARD BY A PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION JUDGE.

PUBLIC UTILITY LAW JUDGE. YES, SIR.

YES. WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BATTERY STORAGE WAS? YES. THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.

SURE THEY ARE. WELL, LOOK, I CAN TELL YOU, I MEAN, WE WE ARE, WE'RE WASTING TIME HERE. I MEAN, I MEAN, THESE THESE BILLS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HERE ARE ARE BEING INTRODUCED FOR ONE PURPOSE, AND THAT IS TO COMPLETELY OVERRIDE AND ELIMINATE COUNTY CONTROL OF, OF UTILITY SCALE SOLAR. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

SO I MEAN, WE WRITE ALL THE LETTERS WE WANT AND WE CAN CHARGE ALL THE FEES WE WANT, BUT ALL THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS COME BACK AND SAY, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT THERE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

I MEAN, WE CAN I MEAN, SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT SCHEDULING, HE HE'S TALKING ABOUT HEARINGS GOING FORWARD ON THIS OR HAS THIS DECISION BEEN MADE? SO WHO ARE THESE HEARINGS BE HELD BEFORE OR WHERE? JUDGE BURKE. CHRISTINE BURKE. YEAH. AND SHE'LL COME HERE AND ACTUALLY HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[01:30:01]

WE DO HAVE SOME DATES. WE HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS GOING TO BE VIRTUAL.

OKAY. AND WE HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO SIT AND WHETHER THE MAYOR IS GOING TO SIT WITH THE JUDGE. IT'S IT'S ALMOST A QUAINT SYMBOLIC THAT THE PUBLIC HEARING WOULD BE PRESIDED OVER BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY LAW JUDGE AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE COUNTY.

IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE YOU AND OF THE MUNICIPALITY.

SO THE THREE OF YOU THEORETICALLY WOULD BE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE ASSEMBLAGE AND CONDUCT THE PUBLIC HEARING TOGETHER JOINTLY.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DON'T DO IT, DON'T WANT TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE APPEARANCE THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE COOPERATING AND COLLABORATING WITH THE PROJECT BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING UP THERE WITH THE JUDGE THAT'S ABOUT TO, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, APPROVE IT. SO IT'S A DECISION TO BE MADE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

ALL RIGHT. SO REALLY THE RULING JUST WAS THAT THE APPLICATION WAS COMPLETE.

YES. EVEN THOUGH THE COUNTY DIDN'T RESPOND. WE RESPONDED TO SAY IT'S NOT IN THE PROPER ZONING DISTRICT PER OUR ZONING REGULATIONS. BUT THEY DIDN'T CARE.

THEY DIDN'T TELL THAT IN THEIR APPLICATION. THEY SIMPLY SAID THE COUNTY DID NOT RESPOND.

NO RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY. BUT DID WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THAT TO THEM? YES. AND THE JUDGE JUST RIGHT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE SUNDAY, COMMISSIONER PORTER AND I ATTENDED THE EAGLE SCOUT CEREMONY FOR HUNTER DURHAM.

IT WAS A VERY NICE EVENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO HUNTER AND HIS FAMILY.

AS WELL AS WALT PALMER, WHO IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN TURNING OUT EAGLE SCOUTS HERE RECENTLY. 84, 84 IN THE COUNTY, IN CAROLINE COUNTY.

YEAH. SINCE. SINCE THE INCEPTION, I GUESS, OF THE PROGRAM.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. ALSO, LAST TUESDAY EVENING DIRECTOR BEACHY AND I ATTENDED THE TOWN OF DENTON PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. THE COMMISSION TABLED OUR APPROVAL, PENDING CLARIFICATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE COMMISSION OR THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HAD THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A WAIVER FOR THE PROPOSED LIGHTING.

OUR ENGINEER ARGUED THAT THEY DID HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

THE TOWN'S I GUESS PLANNING CONSULTANT ARGUED THAT THEY DID NOT.

THEY TOOK IT TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR THE TOWN ATTORNEY.

I'M SORRY, NOT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND THE TOWN ATTORNEY SAID THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION DID HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

SO I BELIEVE WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK ON THE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH.

WE ALSO HAD TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHTING SCHEMATICS, I GUESS, WHICH WE'LL WE'LL HAVE THAT TOGETHER, TIM. YOU'VE GOT IT. YEAH. SO AS LONG AS TIM HAS THAT AND WE GET IT TURNED IN TO THEM, AND THEN WE WERE ALSO SUPPOSED TO GET LETTERS FROM THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNERS WHERE THE SPILL LIGHT SPILL WAS GOING TO OCCUR, BASICALLY JUST SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE.

I BELIEVE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT FROM CHOPTANK COMMUNITY HEALTH.

THE OTHER TWO PROPERTY OWNERS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT.

I DON'T KNOW, IS IT JUST ONE THE ONE VACANT LOT? SO NOT THE FOOD LINE. OKAY. SO DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO TRACK THAT PERSON? I WAS ACTUALLY I WAS TALKING TO DANNY. DANNY ABOUT THAT.

OKAY. BECAUSE I ASSUME THEY HAVE TO PAY TAXES, RIGHT? OKAY. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN WE CAN TRACK THAT PERSON DOWN AND TRY TO GET THE LETTER FROM THEM.

IF NOT, I DON'T KNOW. HOPEFULLY THEY. I MEAN, IT'S A VACANT COMMERCIAL LOT.

HOW MUCH LIGHT LIGHT SPILL IS REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THEM, SO? SO WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK HOPEFULLY NEXT MONTH FOR THAT.

I ATTENDED THE DISTRICT 37 LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION LAST NIGHT, TALKED TO ALL OF THE DISTRICT 37 REPRESENTATIVES, ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. TOUCHED ON THAT SENATE BILL 215 THAT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.

[01:35:04]

SO I BELIEVE WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO BIDDING THAT OUT.

IT LOOKED I DIDN'T I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

I BRIEFLY GLANCED OVER THEM. I DID SEE WHERE THEY HAD THE NOTE THAT THE CONTRACTOR WAS SUPPOSED TO GET ALL GET ALL THE PERMITS.

I THINK IT WAS ON THE SECOND OR THIRD PAGE, TOP RIGHT CORNER.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GETTING ALL THE PERMITS. YEAH.

SO I'M SURE THAT WAS THEY PUT THAT ON. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WOULD THERE BE CRYSTAL, WOULD THERE BE ANY LOCAL PERMITS THAT WOULD APPLY, LIKE A, THERE'S NOT REALLY A DEMOLITION PERMIT FOR PULLING THAT OUT.

SO YOU COULD PROBABLY TELL TIM HE COULD JUST TAKE TAKE THAT OFF.

THAT THAT NO LOCAL PERMITS WOULD BE REQUIRED AND IF ANY ARE RECREATION AND PARKS WILL OBTAIN THOSE.

SO BUT I JUST QUICKLY I'LL LOOK AT IT SOME MORE.

IF I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, I'LL EMAIL YOU. THERE WAS ONE QUESTION FROM HEIDI.

SO WHETHER THAT BOAT COULD GET IN AND OUT OF THAT CORNER.

OKAY. YEAH. SO BASICALLY, WE'RE REDOING THE CENTER PIER AND THEN MOST OF THE LARGE L-SHAPED PIER.

SO PRETTY DETAILED THERE. SO THAT LOOKED GOOD.

I GUESS THAT'S ALL. THAT'S ALL I HAD. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GO TO OUR CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

[Public Comment]

[Meeting Adjourns]

AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.