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>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH THIS MEETING WILL BE OUR FY26 BUDGET WORKSHOP AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.
THIS MORNING, I BELIEVE WE HAVE REVEREND DUNN HERE WHO IS WILLING TO DO OUR INVOCATION, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITED WITHOUT YOU.
WE CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOU.
THAT'S WHY WE ASKED FOR YOUR INITIATIVE TO BE PUT INTO EACH AND EVERY ONE THE JOB OF THIS COUNTY AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
THE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON TODAY WILL BE THOSE WITH INTUITIVENESS THAT YOU'VE GIVEN EACH ONE.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE JOBS.
WE THINK ABOUT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE TO DO AND MANY THINGS THEY HAVE TO PUT UP WITH.
TRUST TO SPIRITUAL [NOISE] UNDERSTANDING, DIRECT EVERY THOUGHT, THE IMPULSE OF THE HEART INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WHICH WE NEED TO GO IN JESUS CHRIST.
>> THANK YOU, REV. DUNN. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS WHAT MY THIRD TIME THROUGH.
IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THIS JOB, I THINK, IS THIS PHASE OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, OUR CYCLE.
THERE'S A LOT OF SCRUTINY, A LOT OF NOS THAT ARE TOLD TO PEOPLE OR REDUCTIONS IN REQUESTS.
IT'S HARD FOR US TO DO THAT, IT WEARS ON ME BECAUSE IN A PERFECT WORLD, YOU WANT TO DELIVER ON EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S REQUESTING.
I BELIEVE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST THAT I'VE HAD TO GO THROUGH YET.
BUT I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THE STAFF HAS DONE IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
WITH THAT, WE'LL JUMP RIGHT INTO THE PRESENTATIONS, STARTING OFF WITH OUR FIRST DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE. WHO'S HANDLING THAT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE WANT TO DO FRANK BARTZ FIRST.
>> YOU CAN GO FIRST. THAT'S FINE.
>> GREAT. [OVERLAPPING] GET THE SHERIFF UP HERE.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT TO GO TESTIFY.
>> THEY GOT HIM ON THE SECOND LIST.
>> THEY SENT AN EMAIL SAYING YOU CAN TALK FIRST.
>> I KNOW. WE LIKE I DIDN'T SPEND TWO HOURS WITH THEM LAST NIGHT.
>> IT WAS THREE I COUNTED [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M JUST GOING TO POINT OUT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS IN OUR BUDGET.
THE REQUEST THEREFORE FLAT IS GOING TO BE $58,183.
TECHNICAL SPORT IS GOING TO HOPEFULLY INCREASE BY $7,594.
THAT IS BASICALLY FOR SOFTWARE SYSTEMS THAT WE CURRENTLY USE AS FAR AS OUR REPORT WRITING SOFTWARE,
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BODY CAMERAS, NCIC RAPIDS WEBSITE.CALL PHONES. ON THAT LINE ITEM, WE HAVE MERGED WITH MOVEMENT DATA TERMINALS.
THAT ALSO INCLUDES OUR CELL PHONES.
THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $6,000 DUE TO THE CALLS THAT ARE INCREASING.
CONTRACTUAL SERVICES IS ACTUALLY DECREASING BY 64,000.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN A CIVILIAN POSITION AND HAD TO MAKE FOR CIVIL PROCESS.
OVERTIME INCREASE, WE WERE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $18,503.
THIS IS TO KEEP UP WITH INCREASE IN WAGES.
MR. FOX ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $17,705.
ALL THESE MONIES ARE REIMBURSABLE.
THIS IS WHAT WE CHARGE TOWNS AND OTHER ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR SERVICES FOR DEPUTIES FOR SECURITY, LIKE A BASKETBALL GAMES, SCHOOL FUNCTIONS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO THAT.
HOWEVER, THAT MONEY IS BUDGETED AT OVER $100,000, BUT THAT IS MORE FOR AN ACCOUNTING.
MOST OF THAT MONEY IS REIMBURSED TO THE COUNTY AND ACTUALLY, I THINK WE ENHANCED THAT MONEY SOMEWHERE ABOUT THE $90,000 TOTAL BUDGET OF LAST YEAR.
>> THE SHERIFF AND I SAT DOWN AND TOOK A LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY IS BEING TAKEN IN FOR THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND ARE REALLY ALIGNING FOR IN AND OUT, SHOWING THE REVENUE INCREASED AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL SPEND JUST DUE TO THE HOURS AND TIME THAT'S BEING PUT INTO THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES.
>> WE ARE ASKING FOR A PAY SCALE READJUSTMENT.
WHEN I TOOK OVER THE PATH THERE WAS REALLY RHYME OR REASON WITH OUR PAY SCALE AS FAR AS STEPS AND THE GRADES.
WE CAME UP WITH A REALIGNMENT OF THAT PAY SCALE, SO IT MAKES BETTER SENSE.
THAT INCREASE WILL BE $26,006 TO READJUST THAT TO GET TO WHERE IT MAKES A LITTLE MORE SENSE.
AGAIN, WITHOUT THE REIMBURSABLE OVERTIME OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICES TAKEN OUT, THAT'S A INCREASE OF $58,183. MY MAN.
>> I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE LOWER NUMBER.
THE SHERIFF, HE HAD SOME OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT WERE REDUCED AS FAR AS OPERATING GOES WITH DIFFERENT INSURANCES AND THINGS THAT ARE BASED OFF JUST ACTUAL SPEND.
WHEN STACEY AND I SAT DOWN AND TOOK IN THE INS AND OUTS, IT DROPPED TO ABOUT 44,000.
REALLY, IT COULD BE SUMMARIZED WITH THE PAY SCALE BEING ABOUT HALF OF IT AND THEN THE OTHER REALIGNMENTS TO WHAT SHERIFF BAKER HAS SPOKEN TO.
>> WHAT'S THE BIG JUMP IN THE TELEPHONE LANDLINE?
>> A LOT OF THAT IS REALLY JUST BASED OFF ACTUAL.
WELL, WE GOT TO LOOKING AT, YOU HAVE THE MOBILE DATA COMMUNICATIONS AND THE TELEPHONES.
YOU GO TO MDTS, WHICH 15,000 AND THE CONTRACT FOR THE REGULAR TELEPHONES.
WE'RE COMBINING BOTH OF THOSE LINE ITEMS INTO ONE.
THERE WERE SOME ACCOUNTING ISSUES THAT STACEY'S HAVING AN ISSUE WITH, I THINK I CORRECT.
>> YES. THEY WERE BEING SPLIT OUT.
>> WE'RE COMBINING THAT LINE ITEM, AND THEN THERE IS AN INCREASE, WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $6,000.
IT'S NOT REALLY GOING UP FROM 7,000 THAT HIGH.
IT'S THE MDTS AND WITH WHICH IS 15,000 CURRENTLY, AND THEN THE 7,000 CURRENTLY FOR THE TELEPHONE.
IT'S REALLY AN INCREASE OF 6,000.
>> A LOT OF THAT REALLY IS JUST ON ACTUAL USE AND WHAT THE LINES ARE COSTING US AND BEING BILLED CURRENTLY AT.
>> I KNOW WE'RE COMING UP ON A NEW MOTOROLA SCAM CONTRACT HERE.
WHERE DOES THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FIT INTO THAT? DO WE PROVIDE RADIOS FOR THEM?
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH MOTOROLA SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH MOTOROLA ARE THE RADIOS AND THE BODY CAMERAS, WE HAVE A COMBINED CONTRACT WITH THAT.
I WILL REFER TO CAPTAIN HELMER WHO TAKES CARE OF OF THOSE CONTRACTS WITH MOTOROLA.
>> YES. I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE RADIO REPLACEMENTS IN THE COMING YEARS, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE DO HAVE A MULTITUDE OF RADIOS, PROBABLY AND DEPARTMENT OF MERGER SERVICES PROBABLY DO THE NUMBER BETTER THAN I DO.
IT'S IN EXCESS OF 50 RADIOS THAT WE HAVE.
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EVERY SWORN DEPUTY HAS ONE TO INCLUDE THE SHERIFF AND I ALONG WITH THE BASE STATIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO THE WALLS AND THE NEW OFFICES, SUCH AS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, PATROL ROOM, THE DUTY OFFICER AND THE SOUTH OR PROCESSING AREA.WE DO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.
>> THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE IN CAR RADIOS AS WELL.
ALMOST ALL MARKED UNITS HAVE EXCEPT FOR SCHOOL RESOURCES.
WE HAVE ABOUT 25 IN CAR RADIOS AS WELL.
>> YOU SAY THAT INCLUDES BODY CAMERAS AS WELL?
>> WE'RE ON A SEPARATE CONTRACT WITH THE MOTOROLA FOR OUR IN CAR CAMERAS AND BODY CAMERAS.
THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON WHAT THE RADIO REPLACEMENT FOR.
>> MOTOROLA JUST OWNS WATCHGUARD DOWN THERE. THEY BOUGHT THEM OUT.
ALL OF OUR BODY CAMERAS, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, HAVE BEEN BOUGHT ON GRANTS.
IT HASN'T COME OUT ANY COUNTY FUNDS SOLVING STATE OF OUR FEDERAL STATE GRANTS.
>> WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT RADIOS LATER ON.
BUT WE'VE DONE A GOOD AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE PAST ON STEPS AND PAY SCALES, ARE WE WHERE WE NEED TO BE FROM A STRUCTURAL STAT.
WE'RE TO A POINT NOW WHERE ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH STEPS, BECAUSE WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT IN PRIOR YEARS.
>> YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER, AS FAR AS THAT GOES, AND IF I'VE TOLD ALL THREE OF YOU MY BIGGEST INVESTMENT IS IN PEOPLE, AND KEEPING THE PEOPLE AND RETAINING THE PEOPLE AND HIRING THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS OF MOST OF MY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS COME INTO IS KEEPING AND MAINTAINING GOOD PEOPLE.
ANYTHING IN MY BUDGET AGAIN IS THIS AID AND RETENTION, AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUBMITTING THE BUDGET THAT I'M SUBMITTING NOW.
EVERYTHING IN MY BUDGET IS NEEDS AND NOT MANY ONCE.
AS WELL AS I TALKED TO COMMISSIONER BREEDING ABOUT THE VEHICLE, THAT'S EVEN UP FOR GRABS ANY VEHICLES WE WANT TO KEEP GOOD PEOPLE AND SO ON, SO FORTH AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S WHY I'VE ASKED FOR THIS READJUSTMENT OF THE PAY SCALE BECAUSE AS DANNY AND I SAT DOWN WITH THAT PAY SCALE, IT JUST MAKES NO SENSE, WHATSOEVER.
I THINK THAT CAPTAIN HENNING HAD DONE THAT TO GET IT THROUGH WHAT IT NEEDED TO GET THROUGH AT THE TIME.
IT WAS A NECESSITY AHEAD TIME.
>> JUST TO SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN SHERRY AND I STARTED GOING THROUGH AND WORKING ON ACTUALLY MORE SPECIFICALLY SHERRY THE PAYROLL BUDGETS AND TRYING TO TRACK THE EMPLOYEES RECEIVING THE STEP IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN LOOKING AT THAT DID NOT ALIGN OR REALLY HAVE ANY, I DON'T SAY, JUSTIFICATION OR EASY TO FOLLOW THOUGHT PROCESS.
YOU MAY HAVE ONE STEP BEING A 4% INCREASE, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE BEING 1.2 AND THE NEXT BEING 3.7, OR MOST OF THE TIME IN THE STEPS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAS A LOGICAL 2, 02, 2, 1.5, 1.5.
IT MAKES IT REALLY WEIRD IN RELATION TO HOW THOSE EMPLOYEES MOVE.
WE SAT DOWN AS A TEAM WENT THROUGH AND TRIED TO MAKE IT AS LEVEL AND ONE CONSCIOUS THOUGHT ACROSS.
TO DO THAT, THERE ARE SOME SMALL UP AND DOWNS THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED, AND THAT REALLY IS WHAT EQUATES TO THE 22 OR 20 SOME THOUSAND THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
IT'S NOT THAT IT'S AN INCREASE OR WE'RE TRYING TO BUMP THE PAY UP ON THE BACK END OR THE FRONT END.
IT'S REALLY JUST SMOOTHING OUT THE INCREASES ACROSS, SO IT'S NOT DIPS AND DIVES.
>> I KNOW IN THE PAST, WHEN WE FIRST WENT BACK TO THIS, WE WERE WEIGHTING IT TOWARD THE SENIOR OFFICERS, WHICH PUT THE GUYS WHO WERE JUST COMING IN OR WHO HAD JUST STARTED FROM A RECRUITING STANDPOINT, IT MADE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT, BUT WE'RE WE'RE EVENING THAT OUT NOW, WHICH WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS, AS YOU RECALL, IN THE PAST, BUT.
>> SHERIFF, ONE MORE QUESTION.
THE BUDGET, AS YOU'VE SUBMITTED IT RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY INCORPORATES COVERAGE FOR FOR EXAMPLE, TOWNS THAT DO NOT HAVE ACTIVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THERE SHOULD A TOWN DECIDE TO GO BACK AND REINSTITUTE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE WOULD BE ADJUSTMENTS [OVERLAPPING]
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THERE'S ACTUAL SEPARATE BUDGET FOR RIDGELY.
THAT WOULD ACTUALLY COME OUT IF THEY DECIDED TO.
ONE THING THAT I SHOULD SAY HERE IN MEETING IS ONE OF THE INCREASES TO OUR OVERTIME BUDGET HAS BEEN SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE TOWN OF GREENSVILLE.
WE'VE BEEN HAND A LOT OF CALLS WITH THEM HAVING ONE POLICE OFFICER IN THE TOWN OF GREENSVILLE, THAT'S BEEN A BIG INCREASE TO OUR. GOD BLESS YOU.
>> I KNOW THEY JUST HIRED ANOTHER ONE.
>> I DON'T WANT TO COMMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T GET INTO WHAT TOWNS ARE DOING, BUT I THINK AT SOME POINT, FROM A STAFFING STANDPOINT, WE'RE GOING TO EITHER HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR NOT.
>> WE'VE BEEN HANDLING ALL THE SERIOUS CRIMES IN THE TOWN OF GREENSBORO.
AS SEVERAL PRESS RELEASES THAT WE PUT OUT HERE RECENTLY, WE'VE CLOSED A LOT OF BIG CASES IN GREENSBORO.
THE LAST INDIVIDUAL WE ARRESTED FOR THE SHOOTING IN SAVE A LOT, WE WERE DOING SURVEILLANCE IN BALTIMORE CITY BECAUSE HE WAS IN BALTIMORE CITY, IN A REHAB UP THERE.
WE WERE ALSO DOING SURVEILLANCE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH MY CID UNIT, AS WELL AS THE MARSHAL SERVICE, TOOK HIM DOWN [INAUDIBLE] YESTERDAY MORNING, AND THEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT [INAUDIBLE]
>> YOU DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. ALL DEDICATION GOES TO THE MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM, AND THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT THAT ACTUALLY DID ALL THAT HARD WORK.
BUT WE HAVE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY HELP OUT GREENSBORO, ORIGINALLY, AND THE OTHER TOWNS IN THE COUNTY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT THAT IS EATING UP A LITTLE BIT OF THE BUDGET [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> YOU'VE ANSWERED MOST OF THE QUESTIONS FROM MR. PORTER THAT I HAD, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.
WHENEVER I CALL YOU, YOU HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME, OR YOU'LL HAVE IT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER ANIMAL PATROL NEXT, RIGHT?
>> I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THAT.
I'VE WORKED WITH HIM ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND I THINK THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, AND HANDLED THE TRANSITION WELL, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD FIT.
>> I'M ACTUALLY PLEASED ON HOW THAT HAS TURNED OUT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ATTORNEY NOW TO REVAMP SOME OF THE COUNTY ORDINANCES AND JUST REVAMP SOME OF THE FORMS THAT THEY ARE USING.
DELAWARE ACTUALLY HAS A VERY GOOD PROCESS FOR ANIMAL CONTROL THAT WE LOOKED AT AND TOOK SOME OF THEIR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FROM.
THEY ALL HAVE BODY WORN CAMERAS.
THEY'RE ASKING ME TO KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT.
THEY'RE LETTING DISPATCH KNOW.
I THINK THAT'S WORKING OUT REALLY WELL WITH COMMUNICATIONS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT FAIRLY WELL, AND I'M PLEASED WITH IT.
>> CAN WE JUMP ON CAPITAL REAL QUICK?
>> I THINK MR. FOX HAD SENT OVER THE SPREADSHEET THAT WE HAD RECEIVED FROM TALBOT.
IT'S AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET FOR FLEET MANAGEMENT.
AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW WE ARE REQUESTING $361,540.
THAT ENCOMPASSES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, CAPITAL BUDGET, ALONG WITH THE ANIMAL CONTROL CAPITAL BUDGET.
THE ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED, THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, IS FOR ONE CANINE VEHICLE.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAD TWO DOGS THAT WE RETIRED IN THE SHERIFF'S TENURE DUE TO AGE AND WELLNESS.
HE HAS MADE IT HIS PRIORITY TO REINVEST IN THE CANINE UNIT.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT TWO SINGLE PURPOSE NARCOTICS DOGS WITH FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WILL BE FORFEITED ON THE DRUG TASK FORCE.
WITH THAT, WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE TWO CANINE VEHICLES.
ONE IS BEING USED PRESENTLY, WHICH THAT DOG WILL BE RETIRING HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SO THAT VEHICLE WILL BE REALLOCATED.
THEN WE HAVE A SPARE, BUT WE WILL NEED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CANINE VEHICLE SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A SPARE.
ON THE TWO OTHER PATROL VEHICLES THAT WILL GO RIGHT TO THE PATROL DIVISION.
AS ON THE SPREADSHEET YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE ONE VEHICLE THAT ONE OF THE PATROL VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACING IS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH IS THE THIRD OF FORD EXPLORERS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH.
THE FIRST TWO HAD A LITTLE BIT HIGHER MILEAGE,
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WHICH WE WENT AHEAD AND DECOMMISSIONED AFTER TALKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS.AFTER THIS VEHICLE, WHICH IT ONLY HAS 108,000 MILES, PUBLIC WORKS IN THE BEGINNING DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FINANCIALLY REASONABLE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I'VE TALKED TO GARY, HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS, NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT IN HOUSE, SO IT SAVES US ON THE LABOR COST OF ORDINANCE.
HE'S GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PUT A TRANSMISSION IN THERE.
THE ANIMAL PATROL VEHICLE, AS YOU SEE ON THE SPREADSHEET, THAT'S JUST SHOT 150,000 MILES, AND THOSE OFFICERS TRAVEL FROM ONE END OF THE COUNTY TO ANOTHER, SO THAT MILEAGE WILL INCREASE OVER THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT TO BE REPLACED.
THAT WILL BRING THAT ENTIRE FLEET OF ANIMAL PATROL VEHICLES UP TO ALL NEW VEHICLES, AND WON'T NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN ANIMAL PATROL.
IF YOU TAKE OUT THAT ONE VEHICLE, WHICH, AGAIN, THE SHERIFF HAS SAID, IF YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO CUT THAT VEHICLE, IT WOULD BE FINE.
IT WOULD DROP DOWN TO $263,540, JUST A DECREASE OF $98,800.
UNFORTUNATELY, VEHICLE PRICES HAVE GONE UP.
RIGHT NOW A PATROL VEHICLE IS JUST SHY OF $100,000 TO OUTFIT AND PURCHASE.
THEN ON THAT SPREADSHEET I SENT OVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE COLOR TABS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT IS PROJECTED IN THE FUTURE UP TO FISCAL YEAR 2032.
AGAIN, IF ANYBODY WISHES TO SEND THIS SPREADSHEET TO ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT HAS A FLEET, IT AUTOMATICALLY TURNS RED AT 125,000.
THAT'S JUST AN INDICATION OF IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING AT REPLACEMENT, AND REALLY ALL WE DO IS UPDATE THE MILEAGE MONTHLY SO IT GIVES US THE AVERAGE PER YEAR, SO WE CAN GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHICH VEHICLES WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE COMING YEARS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AS FAR AS IT REGARDS CAPITAL.
>> ON YOUR SPREADSHEET HERE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT REPLACING.
>> THE VEHICLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION?
>> YES, SIR. PUBLIC WORKS, I TALKED TO THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET A TRANSMISSION.
AGAIN, THEY CAN DO THAT IN HOUSE NOW IF THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.
AGAIN, IT'S SAVING US FOR HAVING TO OUTSOURCE THAT WITH LABOR COST.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER BARTZ, GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK I MEANT DID THEY PRICE THE TRANSMISSION?
>> THEY DID. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A REMANUFACTURING.
HE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXACT QUOTE, BUT HE WAS THINKING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 2-2500 JUST FOR THE TRANSMISSION.
>> THAT'S REASONABLE. I WAS LAUGHING.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU USED A FORD FOCUS FOR. [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT WAS KEVIN BRUMMEL'S VEHICLE.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PROCESSED.
>> I FIGURED AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT FOR A SECOND, THEN I PUT IT TOGETHER. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> ONE QUESTION. ANIMAL PATROL, IS THAT PART OF THE PAY RAISE?
>> DANNY AND I HAVE WORKED THROUGH THAT.
THAT IS GOING TO BE IN THE COUNTY [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE WORKED TO CLASSIFY THEM ON THE NEW PAY SCALE AND [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU, SHERIFF. YOU'RE TESTIFYING ON DELEGATE HORNBERGER.
>> IF YOU SEE HIM, THANK HIM FOR THAT.
>> I ABSOLUTELY WILL. I TALKED TO JEFF LAST NIGHT ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
>> NOW WE'LL GO TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE.
>> THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, WE DO SEE AN INCREASE IN THERE, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE A SLIGHT REORGANIZATION WHERE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY POSITION IS ADDED TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE EXPENSES.
THEN WE REMOVED THE PAB EXPENSES FROM THE BUDGET, WHICH WAS $25,000 PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN COVERED BY THE GRANT, AND WE EXPECT IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE COVERED BY THE GRANT.
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FOR THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE THERE'S NOT MUCH OF A BUDGET WIDE CHANGE.>> HIT A LITTLE BIT ON COUNTY WIDE, AND THEN DIVE INTO FINANCE.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST REQUESTS YOU'LL SEE IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, AND SOMETHING THAT KATHLEEN AND I, AND HR AS WELL HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON, IS IMPLEMENTING AND OUTLINING A COUNTY PAY PLAN OR STEP PLAN.
WHEN ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS HERE TODAY TALK ABOUT THEIR BUDGET, AND YOU LOOK AT THE LINE ITEMS, THAT VERSION, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LAY OUT IS, SAY, STEP 1, OR THE FIRST YEAR OF A COUNTY PAY AND STEP PLAN.
JUST LIKE SHERIFF BAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT THE MODEL THAT THEY HAD OUTLINED FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE COUNTY, IN THE PAST YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE NEVER HAD A STEP PLAN.
IT WAS REALLY JUST A PAY SCALE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION AND QUESTIONING THAT'S COME OVER THE YEARS FOR DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS SUPERVISORS ON HOW THAT WORKS.
RECOGNIZING THAT AND TRYING TO SOLVE AND MAKE SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE LOGICAL, IN THE BOOK YOU'LL HAVE THE STEP PLAN OUTLINED, AND WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING IS A 2.5% COLA FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AND THEN ONE STEP INTO THAT PLAN.
THAT'S REPRESENTED IN EACH DEPARTMENT FOR EACH ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, OR IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THAT WORKS FOR EMPLOYEES IN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, WE'LL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND TALK THAT THROUGH.
BUT JUST AS AN OVERALL DESCRIPTION, THAT'S WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET.
FOR OFFICE OF FINANCE, REALLY NOT MUCH OF A CHANGE.
MYSELF AND STAFF SAT DOWN THIS YEAR, WALKED THROUGH THE BUDGET AND FOUND SOME LINE ITEMS THAT WE COULD REDUCE DOWN BASED OFF ACTUAL SPENDS.
THEN, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE CONTRACTED INCREASES FOR BOTH OUR DATA SERVICES, WHICH IS OUR NEW WORLD FINANCE SOFTWARE, AND AS WELL AS OUR AUDITING CONTRACT FOR OUR YEARLY AUDIT, SO A VERY SMALL INCREASE OVERALL OF ABOUT $2,500, AND REALLY ALL OF THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASES IN DATA SERVICES IN OUR AUDIT.
>> I DO. DANNY, CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN FOR PEOPLE WATCHING, A STEP.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE 2.5% COLA BUT FOR THE STEP JUST ELABORATE ON THAT.
>> THE CURRENT STEP PLAN OUTLINES 25 STEPS.
OUR RETIREMENT HERE AT THE COUNTY IS 25 YEARS, SO IDEALLY, THAT'S LAID OUT FOR 25 YEARS OR 25 STEPS TO RETIREMENT.
AS A NEW EMPLOYEE, YOU WOULD COME ON AND AT THE BASE LEVEL START AT STEP 1.
IF YOU WERE A STEP 1 EMPLOYEE MAKING A SALARY OF $50,000 OR WHEREVER THAT FELL IN GRADE, THIS YEAR, YOU WOULD LOOK TO GET A 2.5% COLA, SO THE WHOLE SCALE AND STEP INCREASES 2.5, AND THEN YOU WOULD GO FROM STEP 1 TO STEP 2.
THAT SCENARIO, STEP 1 AND STEP 2 IS A 2% INCREASE, SO THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD RECEIVE THE 2.5 PLUS THE 2 FOR A TOTAL OF 4.5%.
JUST LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE STEP PLAN, AND REALLY MOST OF THE ONE ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY, THE STEPS START SCALING DOWN AS YOU GET DEEPER INTO THE YEAR.
OUR CURRENTLY SHOWS 2% STEPS FROM 1-10, AND I BELIEVE 10 - 20 AT 1.5, AND THEN 20 - 25 DROPS DOWN TO 1%.
AT THE MOST, SOMEBODY COULD RECEIVE 4.5, AND ON THE LEAST IT WOULD BE 3.5.
IT BRINGS THE HIGHER PAY THAT DOESN'T GET OUT OF PERSPECTIVE.
>> CORRECT, AND IT HAS A CAP AND A THEORY IF SOMEBODY WERE TO STAY THE 25 YEARS AND MAX OUT AT STEP 25, YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ANY COLA, BUT YOU WOULD BE OUT OF ADDITIONAL STEPS TO RECEIVE.
>> I WANT TO ADD ONE IMPORTANT NOTE.
I DON'T THINK HE SAID THAT THE STEP INCREASES ARE CONTINGENT ON AN ACCEPTABLE EVALUATION.
>> THERE ARE MERIT INCREASES THAT ARE BASED ON PERFORMANCE.
>> I'D LIKE TO STRESS THAT THEY SHOULD BE, AND IT SHOULD BE USED AS A TOOL BY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM TO HOLD YOUR EMPLOYEES ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.
YOU WILL HAVE MY BACKING ON THAT.
[00:30:08]
>> MOVING ON TO OFFICE OF LAW. DANNY.
>> OFFICE OF LAW WITH THE RESTRUCTURE.
ESSENTIALLY, STACY AND I SAT DOWN AND TOOK A BEST LOGICAL APPROACH FOR OFFICE OF LAW.
IT SHOWS FLAT IN THE SYSTEM, AND THAT IS REALLY THE REALIGNMENT OF STAFF IN THE OFFICE, AND THEN KEEPING THE SUPPORTING COST, WHETHER IT'S CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, OR MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE, ANY INSURANCE THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DEPARTMENT, AND LEAVING THEM FLAT FOR A TWO EMPLOYEE SHOP.
THERE MAY BE SOME CHANGES ONCE THAT GETS STAFF TO THE NEW MODEL AND WE SEE WHAT ACTUAL COSTS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT WE REALLY JUST BASED IT OFF THE CURRENT VERSION OF THE OFFICE OF LAW AND WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY SPENDING.
REALLY NO BOTTOM LINE CHANGE OTHER THAN THE STAFFING DOLLAR.
>> DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING?
>> SIMPLY THAT IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS WITH THE TRANSITION OF ME TO THE ADMINISTRATION, TO THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE BUDGET, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
>> MOVE ALONG. OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
I WAS LOOKING AT THEIR BUDGET FOR CAROLINE COUNTY FOR HR.
WE DID GO BACK THROUGH AND LOOK AT SEVERAL LINE ITEMS. THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE OVERALL, BUT WE DID REALIGN AS DIRECTOR FOX HAD SAID AS WELL, LOOKING AT WHAT OUR ACTUAL SPEND WAS.
ONE OF THE MAJOR INCREASES WAS OUR ACTUARIAL SERVICE LINE ITEM.
THAT COMES INTO THE ANNUAL REPORTS THAT WE DO, THE BENEFIT STATEMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES, ALL THE PENSION STATEMENTS WHEN PEOPLE RETIRE.
THAT LINE ITEM DEFINITELY DID INCREASE, AND WE JUST ALIGNED IT WITH WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BEING SPENT.
SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY.
WE DID INCREASE OUR PAYROLL SERVICES.
I MAY TALKED TO FINANCE AND WE SAW EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS AND DID A SMALL INCREASE BASED ON WHAT CURRENT SPIN WAS THIS YEAR.
THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE AS WELL.
BUILT INTO AIR HR SOFTWARE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR, THERE IS AN ANNUAL INCREASE OVER A THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD FOR THAT SOFTWARE AS WELL.
AS DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HAD SAID, WE WILL BE DOING THE PERFORM SYSTEM, AND THAT SYSTEM HAS JUST BEEN STARTED TO BEING IMPLEMENTED.
OUR FIRST START PROCESS INTO THAT WAS YESTERDAY, AND WE DO HOPE TO HAVE THAT COME FULLY IN PLACE.
TAKES ABOUT SIX, SEVEN WEEKS TO FULLY GET THAT SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING IS WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US.
WE'LL BE WORKING ON PUTTING ALL THOSE FORMS IN THERE, GETTING THAT ASSIGNED.
IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGNED TO SUPERVISORS ON ANNIVERSARY DATES FOR THEM TO DO AN EVALUATION.
WE'LL BE NOTED, AND THERE'LL BE A TASK LISTING THAT WE CAN SEE WHO IS LATE, WHO HASN'T DONE IT AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
THAT'S BASICALLY THE OVERALL WAS JUST REALIGNING EXPENSES.
WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE WILL BE DOING SOME CHANGES IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR FOR OUR BACKGROUND CHECKS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL, THAT LINE ITEM PROBABLY WILL GO DOWN SLIGHTLY.
ONCE WE REEVALUATE WHAT THAT COST IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE.
THEY'RE GOING TO ASSIST THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES ON FINGERPRINTING WHEN WE HAVE NEW EMPLOYEES COMING IN.
THAT COST WILL BE REDUCED WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AND WE'LL BE HAVING A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT FOR THAT PRIOR BEFORE THE FINAL BUDGET.
>> WHAT'S FALLS UNDER MAINTENANCE?
[OVERLAPPING] IT JUST WAS NOT RELABELED.
THAT IS WHERE A RECRUITMENT SOFTWARE, THE ONBOARD SOFTWARE, THE PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE AND THEN ALSO WE WILL HAVE AN EFORMS, WHERE ALL THE EMPLOYEES FORMS WILL BE IN THERE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
>> THE PAYROLL SOFTWARE IS TOTALLY SEPARATE FROM THE MAINTENANCE.
>> THE MAINTENANCE LINE IS REALLY THE NEO GOV, WHICH WAS A REQUEST OF ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR TO BRING ON BOARD TO, I DON'T WANT TO SAY CLEAN UP AND STREAMLINE A LOT OF THESE SERVICES THAT SHERRY IS DESCRIBING AND ONE SOFTWARE.
ONE THING I WILL MENTION IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL BUDGET HERE, ON THE SHEET, WE ACTUALLY BREAK OUT HR'S BUDGET INTO TWO LINE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A LARGE LINE ITEM THAT'S LABELED AS OPEB EXPENSES THAT GETS REIMBURSED DIRECTLY FROM THE OPEB FUND.
[00:35:03]
THESE ARE RETIREE BENEFITS FOR AS THE FUND WOULD SAY, OTHER POST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS THAT WE PAY FOR OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND, BUT THEN DURING THE YEAR REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM 100% FROM THE OPEB FUND.THAT NUMBER IS GOING UP, BUT WE REALLY DON'T SHOW IT AS AN ABOVE FLAT BECAUSE THE FUND IS REALLY BALANCING THAT OUT DOLLAR TO DOLLAR.
>> WE DO WITH THAT COST AT REQUEST ON A QUARTERLY BASIS FROM THE OPEB FUND TO PULL THAT BACK IN?
>> WHY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RETIREES, ARE THEY GETTING THE COLON TUBE AS WELL?
>> OUR RECOMMENDATION, AND AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE'VE MET OFFICIALLY AS THE PENSION AND OPEB BOARD IS THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND THE COLA FOR THE RETIREE, THE TWO AND A HALF?
>> WHAT ABOUT PRESCRIPTION PLAN FOR WHY WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SUBJECT?
>> THE PRESCRIPTION PLAN REIMBURSEMENT FOR OUR RETIREES IS CURRENTLY $100 A MONTH UP TO $100 A MONTH.
WE HAVE SOME RETIREES THAT DO HAVE SLIGHTLY PLANS THAT COST SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT.
WE HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT.
WE HAD SOME THIS YEAR THAT CAME IN, THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAVE AN INCREASE, HAD A REDUCTION OR DIDN'T HAVE ANY COST AT ALL.
THAT SUPPLEMENT RANGE INSURANCE? YES, SIR.
THEY PAY FOR IT AND WE REIMBURSE.
THE MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT WE HAVE THROUGH HARPER WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE MEDICAL PART.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ACTUARIAL SERVICES JUMP? THAT'S A $10,000 JUMP.
THAT'S PRETTY BIG. AS IS THAT OPEB AND PENSION?
ALL THE QUARTERLY REPORTS, ANNUAL REPORTS THAT ARE DONE FOR GASB COME OUT OF THAT LINE ITEM AS WELL.
AND THEN ACTUARIAL SERVICES, WE DO BENEFIT STATEMENTS FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ON A FISCAL ON A CALENDAR YEAR BASIS, SO THEY GET A BENEFIT STATEMENT FOR WHAT THEIR PENSION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
USUALLY, IT COMES OUT IN ABOUT OCTOBER.
AND THEN ANYONE THAT WERE TO RETIRE, WE ALSO HAVE TO DO A BENEFIT STATEMENT FOR THEM TO SEE WHAT THEIR BENEFIT IS, AND A PERSON THAT'S VESTED, IF THEY HAVE OVER FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE TO SEND OUT AND GET A CALCULATION AND EACH CALCULATION IS ABOUT $500, SO IT DOES GO UP.
>> SOME OF THAT JUST [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE PRINT THEM IN GOLD INK NOW? [LAUGHTER].
>> SOME OF THEM DEPEND ON THE YEAR AND HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE TO REQUEST CERTAIN SERVICES THAT ARE ONE OFF AND BRINGING THAT UP TO THE 45, FORTUNATELY, IS JUST BASED OFF HISTORICAL THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING IN THAT.
THE CONTRACTS DO HAVE AN ESCALATOR IN THEM, SO WE'RE SEEING THAT.
PLUS JUST THE AMOUNT OF TIMES WE'RE HAVING TO DO ONE OFF REQUESTS TO THEM [OVERLAPPING] ENTIRE RE CALCULATIONS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> I LOOKED AT WHERE WE WERE MID YEAR AND NOTED THAT WHEN WE DID THAT I CALLED STACY, ONE OF OUR MAIN COSTS WAS THE PENSION BENEFIT STATEMENTS FOR EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS ABOUT $20,000 AND IT HAS NOT BEEN CHARGED YET, SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN RECEIVED THAT AND THEY GAVE THOSE IN OCTOBER.
>> NOTHING SIGNIFICANT HERE IN TERMS OF CHANGES OUR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
WE HAD BUDGETED LAST YEAR 37,700 DUE TO THE VACANCIES IN OUR DEPARTMENT TO HELP WITH OUR LARGE SITE PLAN REVIEWS.
WE'VE BEEN COGNIZANT OF THAT $37,000, AND WE'VE ONLY HAD TO UTILIZE OUTSIDE SERVICES FOR TWO PROJECTS AND GAUGING THE ANTICIPATION, MOVING FORWARD AND NOW KNOWING AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT EACH PROJECT COSTS FOR OUTSIDE REVIEW, WE'VE REDUCED THAT LINE ITEM BY 17,000 THAT WOULD STILL LEAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR AT LEAST FOUR PROJECT REVIEWS IF WE HAVE TO UTILIZE IT, WE'RE ANTICIPATING TO BE FULLY STAFFED BY THIS UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.
SO AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF, THAT'S OUR HOPES TO BE FULLY STAFFED.
WE DID HAVE JUST A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE ADVERTISING BUDGET OF $250, THAT WE ONLY HAVE TO USE THAT ADVERTISING BUDGET ANYTIME THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MAY HAVE TO TABLE A DECISION, THE COUNTY IS COVERING THAT COST.
OTHERWISE, THE ADVERTISING COSTS ARE REIMBURSED BY THE APPLICANT.
BUT WITH ADVERTISING COSTS INCREASING, WE JUST SHOWED A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT BASED ON LAST YEAR'S EXPENDITURES.
AND THE OTHER LINE ITEM WOULD BE OUR PERMITTING SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE.
THERE IS AN INCREASE THERE OF $1,837, WHICH IS THE 2.7% INCREASE FOR OUR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND THE PURCHASE OF ONE ADDITIONAL USER FOR THE GIS ADMINISTRATOR AS PART OF THAT LICENSING.
[00:40:05]
>> HOPEFULLY, IF WE GET ANOTHER ATTORNEY A LEGAL FEES, MAYBE WE'LL NEED 40,000.
>> YEAH. WE TRY TO LOOK AT THOSE YEAR BY YEAR AND WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY SPENDING, AND HOPEFULLY RECOGNIZING SOME SAVINGS THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I HEAR THAT OUR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS ATTORNEY CORRECT AND THAT I DID NOT INCLUDE THE COST IN THE SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THEY WILL BE COVERING THOSE COSTS A PORTION OF OUR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE FOR THEIR USAGE AND THEIR NINE ADDITIONAL USERS THAT WILL BE BROUGHT ON BOARD FOR THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S NOT SHOWN IN OUR BUDGET.
THAT'LL BE SHOWN IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET.
AND THE LIQUOR LICENSING BUDGET IS NOT ON YOUR LIST, BUT I'LL GO AHEAD AND TOUCH ON THAT ONE. THERE'S NO CHANGES.
YOU HAVE THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE OF ANY ASK, SO TOTAL OVERALL, 2.67%.
NOW YOU CAN MOVE ALONG. [LAUGHTER]
>> LIQUOR LICENSING, AGAIN, THEIR BUDGET COVERS THE BOARD MEMBERS OF SALARY ARE PART TIME INSPECTOR AND A PORTION OF SALARY FOR ADMINISTRATION AND OFFICE OF LAW WHO IS CURRENTLY COVERING ANY LEGAL FOR THE LIQUOR BOARD.
I DID HAVE A SLIGHT $500 INCREASE TO MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE.
THE BOARD DOES HAVE AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS AND LIQUOR BOARDS ACROSS THE STATE ONCE A YEAR.
WE'D LIKE FOR ALL OF THEM TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND IN THE YEARS PAST, WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, SO THERE IS A $500 INCREASE THERE. NO OTHER CHANGES.
>> I DON'T THINK I RAN PERCENTAGE ON THAT ONE.
[LAUGHTER] ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. PUBLIC WORKS. ROBIN.
>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISIONERS.
>> IT'S MY FIRST GO AROUND WITH THIS, SO THERE'S LOTS TO TAKE IN AND SOME HISTORICAL DATA, I HAD ACCESS TO, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IN FRONT OF YOU, LIKE I SAID, ADMINISTRATION, WE REDUCED THE EXPENDITURES THERE BY BASICALLY HISTORICAL DATA FOR MINOR THINGS.
MY BIGGEST INCREASE IS IN THE CENTRAL SHOP, AND AS YOU'LL SEE, IT'S BASICALLY IN PARTS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, PARTS CONTINUE TO GO UP, WE'RE ALSO SERVICING MORE 5432 WOULD BE LIKE THE SCHOOL BOARD, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS SO WE ARE SERVICING THEM.
HAVE MORE OF THEIR EQUIPMENT BE BROUGHT INTO A SERVICING ROADS EQUIPMENT BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA AND AN ADDITIONAL $100 THERE SO $6,000 INCREASE IN SHOP PRIMARILY FOR PARTIES.
AGAIN, HISTORICAL DATA REDUCES THE SOLID WASTE EXPENDITURE.
SAME WITH THE JOHNSON GRASS AND MOSQUITO CONTROL, ROADS REDUCED BY $5,400 AND THE BUILDINGS 1,800 AS AUTO INSURANCE, I DON'T HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER.
BUT I SEE MOVING FORWARD, YOU KNOW, GOING TO NEXT YEARS, THERE MAY BE MORE THINGS THAT I CAN MANIPULATE AND SOME OF THE THINGS IS THAT SOME OF THE BIGGER EXPENDITURES AND THINGS HAVE BEEN USED, ARPA FUNDS HAVE BEEN USED.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A COMPLETE GAUGE ON SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES IN REALITY , SO [INAUDIBLE] CAPITAL.
>> YEAH. PUBLIC WORKS IN GENERAL HAS BEEN UNIQUE THIS YEAR TO WHAT ROBIN WAS SPEAKING OF WITH ARPA, WE'VE HAD MONEY THERE THAT'S BEEN ASSIGNED FOR DIRT ROADS AND SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE'VE REALLY BEEN ONE OFF INTO THAT FUND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT CAPITAL OR EVEN THE OPERATING HERE WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SEE A LOT OF THAT WITHOUT SPECIFICALLY DIVING INTO THAT ARPA FUND.
[00:45:01]
IF THERE'S A CONTINUED WANT TO CONTINUE TO PAVE OR LOOK AT SOME OF THE DIRT ROADS.WE'LL OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND MAYBE PUT A NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE WANT TO BUILD THAT INTO THE BUDGET.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH LEAVING IT IN THE ARPA AS WE SPEND OUT THE REMAINING FIT THERE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A ROADS TAB IN HERE.
>> IN THE BOOK PUBLIC WORKS, WE JUST LUMP THEM ALL IN [OVERLAPPING] ONE VIEW, SO ROADS, IN PARTICULAR, SHOULD BE ONE OF THE THE LATER SHEETS IN THAT NEW WORLD PRINTOUT.
>> BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE A COVER SHEET THAT HAS A BREAKDOWN OF THE CHANGES FOR ANY OF ROBINS EXCEPT FOR THE CENTRAL SHIFT.
>> CORRECT. WHEN STACY AND I STARTED CONSOLIDATING THEM DOWN AND DOING THE COVER, THEY WERE ALL A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS UNDER FLAT AND THEY'RE REALLY LONG, SO INSTEAD OF PRETTY FIVE PAGES OF UNDER, WE LEFT [INAUDIBLE].
>> ANY ANY QUESTIONS FOR ROBIN. MR. PARKS, YOU WANT?
>> NOT REALLY RELATED TO ROBIN WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARPA, HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE? IT'S ALL PRETTY WELL ACCOUNTED FOR?
>> YEAH. PER OUR FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE TO SHOW OR HAD TO SHOW ALL OF THE FUNDS CONSIDERED OBLIGATED OR SPENT BY THE END OF DECEMBER OF 2024.
SO OUR SUBMISSION SHOWS ALL OF THAT BEING ASSIGNED TO THE ROADS AND THE PAVING SO ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE NOW ON JONES CORNER, TRUNK LINE, WOLF, LOOKING AT STAFFORD IS REALLY EARMARKED FOR THAT FUND.
I THINK TO A DOLLAR, WE'RE PROBABLY ROUGHLY RIGHT AROUND SEVEN, $800,000 LEFT, BUT KNOWING WHAT THOSE WILL PROBABLY BID OUT AS, IT SHOULD TAKE UP ALL OF THAT.
THEN PROJECTS ARE FAIR ON SCHEDULE.
>> STARTS IN THE SPRING. SHOULD BE GOING OUT FORWARD.
>> WOLF AND THE OTHER TWO [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET BUT I JUST DID WANT TO COMMENT. THANK YOU, ROBIN.
I KNOW YOU JUMPED INTO THIS AND HAD A LOT OF CATCHING UP TO DO BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSIVENESS.
EVERY TIME WHEN I CALL, YOU HAVE AN ANSWER AND SO THANK YOU.
I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.
PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY CRITICAL OF ROADS AND SNOW AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DEAL WITH BUT I THINK ON THE WHOLE YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, SO THANK YOU.
>> WHERE'S YOUR STAFFING NOW? ARE YOU ALMOST THERE?
>> CURRENTLY, WE HAVE BASICALLY FOUR VACANCIES; TWO IN THE CENTRAL SHOP WHICH HAVE OFFERS AND ACCEPTED AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE BACKGROUND PROCESS, BOTH OF THOSE POSITIONS.
WE HAVE TWO OPENINGS FROM THE ROADS CREW.
WE HAVE ONE, I THINK SHEILA TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT.
>> WE HAVE ONE ACCEPTED AND SO WE BASICALLY HAVE ONE MORE WE NEED IN THE ROADS CREW.
>> BASICALLY, YOU WERE ALMOST FULL AT ONE TIME AND THEN YOU LOST A COUPLE IN THERE.
IT'S JUST A CONSTANT EBB AND FLOW.
>> I GET REALLY CLOSE, ONE OR TWO AND THE LOSE ONE OR TWO.
[LAUGHTER] THEN ONE IS GOING TO THE FIRE [INAUDIBLE] AND GOING TO FIRE ACADEMY.
>> BUT THEY AREN'T LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE ATMOSPHERE OR THE ENVIRONMENT, JUST OPPORTUNITIES THEY'VE WANTED FOR A WHILE SO TO SAY.
>> YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOME INTERNAL PROMOTIONS?
>> YES, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF INTERNAL PROMOTIONS TO SOUTH CREWS.
>> YOU'RE BACK TO TWO CREWS THEN.
WE HAVE A DIRT ROAD SPECIFIC CREW.
>> SOUND LIKE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
>> I DID GET A CALL LAST WEEK.
GENTLEMAN WANTED TO THANK PUBLIC WORKS FOR GETTING OUT AND DOING THE SNOW REMOVAL OF THE LAST SNOWSTORM.
HE SAID IT WAS THE FASTEST ROAD HAD EVER BEEN PLOWED AND BEEN OPENED UP.
>> FIRST STORM WAS A LET IT RIDE THE WAY IT'S BEEN AND SEE HOW THINGS GO AND THEN DAVE AND I AND THE CREW SAT DOWN AND TWEAKED SOME THINGS FOR THE LAST ONE BECAUSE EVERYTHING WORKED FOR US IN THE LAST ONE, REALLY HEAVY SNOW.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SEND GUYS OUT THAT WERE ABLE TO
[00:50:06]
DO AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING OF THEM AND THE CHANGES HELPED OUT WITH THAT TOO, THERE'S STILL MORE THINGS THAT CAN CHANGE.>> WE GOT TO DO CAPITAL. ARE WE DOING THE CAPITAL.
>> BEFORE WE DO THAT, TO JUMP BACK REALLY QUICK, I'M SORRY.
I MISSED THIS ON MY NOTES TO CRYSTAL ON THE LIQUOR LICENSING.
I BELIEVE I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT OUR REVENUE.
WE TAKEN ABOUT 60,000 IN FEES, DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT?
>> THAT WOULD BE YOUR ANNUAL PERMANENT LICENSE HOLDER FEES AND THEN ALL OF YOUR SPECIAL ONE DAY TEMPORARY LICENSE FEES AND ANY APPLICATION FEES THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSFERS OR NEW LICENSES.
>> WE'RE SUBSIDIZING THAT TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 39,000.
I'M WONDERING IF WE SHOULD REVISIT THOSE FEES AND SEE IS THERE ANY.
>> THAT WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
>> BECAUSE I NOTICED WHEN WE WENT OVER AND TESTIFIED LAST WEEK THAT A LOT OF COUNTIES JURISDICTIONS USED THOSE FEES TO COVER THE OPERATION OF THAT BOARD.
>> MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING NEXT LEGISLATIVE SIDE GOAL.
>> IT'S ALWAYS A TOUGH ONE TO GET THROUGH LEGISLATURE, BUT YES, THOSE FEES, WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER A VERY SMALL PORTION OF FEES, LIKE OUR APPLICATION FEES.
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED IN MANY YEARS.
THERE ARE A FEW FEES THAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER, WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT.
>> I WONDER HOW OUR FEES COMPARED TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
>> STATE LEVEL. IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT, BUT I NOTICED WHEN WE WERE IN ANNAPOLIS LAST WEEK TESTIFYING ON THAT LIQUOR BILL THAT A COUPLE OF JURISDICTIONS MENTIONED THAT THEY USED THE FEES TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE PROGRAM.
MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.
>> CRYSTAL AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH SOME INFORMATION ON SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO IN THIS YEAR.
>> SORRY TO JUMP BACK TO THAT BACK TO ROBIN, I'M SORRY.
>> IT SHOULDN'T BE TOUGH TO GET FEES THROUGH THEM.
THEY'RE GOOD AT PASSING FEES ALONG TO US.
[LAUGHTER] LET'S JUST USE THEIR MODEL, WHAT THEY DO. WE JUST DO IT.
>> CAPITAL. FIND ROAD SHEET HERE.
>> JUST IN GENERAL FOR CAPITAL.
PUBLIC WORKS IS A LITTLE UNIQUE.
THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS IN THE CAPITAL.
THE FIRST PART YOU'LL HAVE [NOISE] IS FACILITIES.
THE LEFT PART THAT HAS DEPARTMENT ASKED, ESSENTIALLY, WHO'S REQUESTING.
THERE ARE TWO ROADS REQUEST AND FACILITIES.
THE REST ARE COMING FROM THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT.
THEN YOU HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE AS THE SECOND BLOCK, WHICH IS MORE OF YOUR CAPITAL ROAD WORK, AND THEN THE THIRD ONE BEING EQUIPMENT.
THE EQUIPMENT, AGAIN, IS A CONSOLIDATION OF ROAD REQUEST AS WELL AS FACILITY EQUIPMENT REQUESTS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BREAKDOWN OF SHEETS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CAPITAL?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK WHAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO IS ROBIN ON SOME OF THESE, JUST MY OPINION I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO ASK, BUT WITH THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE CONFINED WITH, WE MAY HAVE TO IN SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS WELL, IS TO GO ONE, TWO, THREE, LIKE, HEY, WHERE ARE WE AT? NUMBER ONE, PRIORITY, TWO PRIORITY, THREE PRIORITY.
>> I'LL SAY ON THE THE FACILITY SIDE WITH OUR BUILDINGS, THERE SEEMED TO BE A DEVELOPED PATH FORWARD, FIVE YEAR OUTLAY, KIND OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE COUNTY.
THAT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT ON THE ROAD SIDE, THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING IN EQUIPMENT THAT I COULD FIND THAT WAS A PATH FORWARD WITH A FIVE YEAR PLAN.
WHAT I DID IN THIS FIRST YEAR, I BUILT THAT FIVE YEAR PLAN, BUT I I THREW THINGS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST PUSH BACK.
BUT IF I DON'T PUT IT IN FRONT OF YOU, THIS YEAR, MY FIRST YEAR AND THAT I THROW IT IN THERE NEXT YEAR SUDDENLY, YOU KNOW, IT CATCHES YOU OFF GUARD.
YOU GUYS TELL ME AND I'LL TELL YOU MY IMPORTANCE, YOU TELL ME WE CAN AFFORD, AND THEN I READJUST MY FIVE YEAR OUTLAY BASED ON THAT.
>> I SEE YOU DONE IT ON THE EQUIPMENT SIDE, THE PRIORITY.
>> YES AND ALL THE PRIORITY LEVELS ON THAT ON THE FACILITY SIDE.
>> JAMIE'S DONE IT TOO. I SEE IT ON THE SPREADSHEET.
>> ON FACILITY SIDE, IF YOU WANT US TO REALLY SIT DOWN AND DO THAT, WE CAN.
[INAUDIBLE] THE STREETS AND WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO KNOCKOUT I THINK THREE OF
[00:55:04]
THEM YOU CAN TAKE THEM UP TOP OF THIS ONE ALREADY THAT YOU DON'T SEE NOW.>> I KNOW THE MAIN SOCIETY, PAINT THE EXTERIOR OF THAT STORAGE BUILDING.
THAT'S DIFFERENT I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WE LOOKED AT PAINTING THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING LAST YEAR.
>> YEAH, BUT IT WAS [INAUDIBLE].
>> THIS IS PAINTING THE OUTSIDE OF STORAGE BUILDING.
WE'LL JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF THESE FACILITIES ITEMS. THANK YOU. RECREATION AND PARKS. JAMIE.
>> THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ON THE RECREATION SIDE, YOU DO SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE RELATED MOSTLY TO GOODS AND SERVICES AND CONTRACTED SERVICES HAVE GONE UP FOR US.
PURCHASING OF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES HAVE GONE UP FOR US.
I WOULD CONSIDER THAT A FAIRLY MODEST INCREASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID ADJUST SLIGHTLY WAS OUR OVERTIME TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH THE MOST RECENT YEARS OF [INAUDIBLE] AND NOW COMING INTO THE MERIT INCREASES.
ON THE PARK SIDE, SEE AN 8% INCREASE.
SOME OF THOSE ATTRIBUTING FACTORS WOULD BE THE COST OF CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
OUR MOWING CONTRACT HAS GONE UP BY 5% IN ADDITION TO THAT.
WE KNOW THAT FOR SURE, WE'LL BE MOWING SHARP ROAD PARK IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER NEXT YEAR AND THE COST OF THAT IS INCORPORATED INTO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
IN ADDITION, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE OUR REPAIRS TO AUTOMOTIVE, WHICH HAVE BECOME MORE IN LINE WITH OUR ACTUAL EXPENSES.
THEN ONE OF OUR REQUESTS FOR THIS YEAR IS A SLIGHT REORGANIZATION CONSISTENT WITH DPW WITH RESPECT TO HAVING PARKS HAVE AN ACTUAL WORKING ROUTINE LEAD TO LEAD THE CREWS WHEN THEY'RE ON JOB SITES, SO THAT MARKS FOCUS AS WE GO INTO THIS VERY CAPITAL HEAVY YEAR AND A HALF.
[INAUDIBLE] SETTING HIS RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS MANAGING THOSE PROJECTS AND HAVE A BOOKING BE ABLE TO MANAGE THOSE CREWS ON SITE.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE IN PARKS AND RECREATION.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR CHANGES OTHER THAN THE MOWING WHICH YOU ADDRESSED AND THE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE JUMPED UP.
>> HAVE YOU GOT THE MOWING CONTRACT BACK IN TIME? NO.
>> DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE?
>> DO I NEED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL?
>> DO I NEED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL?
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JAMIE ON THE OPERATION SIDE? ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I JUST THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN A HOLD OUR BREATH MODE HERE FOR REVENUE. WHAT THE STATE'S GOING TO DO?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY WE'LL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS WE NEED TO AND DO AS BEST WE CAN.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
>> JAMIE, YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH YOUR CAPITAL?
>> SURE. ON THE LIST IS A NEW ZERO TURN MOWER.
THE CURRENT NEWEST MOWER WE HAVE IS COMING INTO A SEVENTH YEAR OF OPERATION.
WE LOOK TO THEN FINALLY PUT TO REST A VERY OLD TORO AND THE STEINER.
THOSE TWO CAN BE SURPLUS AS WELL.
THEY HAVE SERVED US IN A CAPACITY, MOSTLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WHEN THEY DO RUN IS DOING MORE WHAT I CALL TRAIL CUTTING AND LESS REFINED MOWING.
WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE] ROOF REPAIR.
OBVIOUSLY, TWO YEARS AGO, WE DID THE FLAT ROOF, AND NOW THE EVE ROOFS ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF WEAR AND SOME LEAKING.
WE LOOK TO TRY TO HAVE THAT ROOF IN FULL REPAIR FOR MANY COMING YEARS.
[01:00:05]
WE HAVE A REQUEST FROM SOFTBALL TO UPGRADE THE FEDERALSBURG BALL FIELDS.I PUT THAT REQUEST IN FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER AND THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE MATCH AT $20,000.
ONE ITEM OF NOTE, THOUGH, WITH THE FEDERALSBURG MONEY AND THE POS MATCH, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS MAY COME IN THEN, IF WE ARE ALLOWED BY LEGISLATION TO BE ABLE TO SPEND PLANNING AND ACQUISITION DOLLARS IN TUNE OF $445,000, WE WOULD NEED THE 10% MATCH TO GO ALONG WITH THOSE.
WE MAY BE ABLE TO MANIPULATE THESE TWO FIGURES TO CORRELATE WITH THAT MATCH TO BE ABLE TO DO THOSE PROJECTS.
BUT WE CAN ALSO PUT THAT OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH OUT THE MATCH AS WELL.
THAT JUST AN ITEM OF CONSIDERATION.
AT BARE MINIMUM, WE'RE EXPECTING ABOUT $101,000 IN DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FROM PROGRAM OPEN SPACE.
THAT WOULD BE A $10,000 CONTRIBUTION.
>> THE LEFTOVER FROM THE PROGRAM OPEN SPACE MANAGING FUNDS AND THE FIELD RENOVATION FUND COULD BE USED TO UNLOCK THAT 400,000 IN PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDS IF THE BILL PASSES.
>> 4-H HAD SOME REQUESTS FOR US, THEY'D LIKE TO LOOK AT NEW WALL DIVIDERS IN THE MAIN BUILDING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZED WHEN WE HAD THE BIG POWER OUTAGE, AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO AND WE'VE VISITED THIS IN THE PAST MULTIPLE TIMES IS HAVING A BACKUP GENERATOR AT THE MAIN BUILDING AT A 4-H PARK FOR A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO GO, WHETHER IT'S HEATING OR COOLING, AN EMERGENCY SITE.
IT IS CURRENTLY THE REUNIFICATION CENTER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IF THERE WERE EVER A SITUATION WHERE THE SCHOOL NEEDED TO USE THAT FACILITY, BECAUSE OF A POWER OUTAGE OR SOMETHING SIMILAR, THE 4-H PARK WOULD NOT HAVE THAT CAPACITY.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO REVISIT THAT.
I THINK IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTY TO HAVE THAT FACILITY AS AN OPTION FOR EMERGENCY.
WE'VE ALSO REQUESTED NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS FOR THE FACILITY.
>> I THINK THE BILL THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOOKS PROMISING.
I KNOW COMMISSIONER BREEDING WENT OVER AND DID A LOT OF WORK ON THAT WITH DNR, SO I THINK HE DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT.
>> WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS IT'S IN THE PROBABLE CATEGORY.
ALSO, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL, I THINK I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION LAST WEEK, HARMONY PARK.
WE'VE HAD SOME INQUIRIES ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO THERE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE.
>>MARKET AND I HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS.
THERE'S NOT A LARGE FOOTPRINT THERE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE NICETIES.
PROBABLY NOT TO THE TUNE OF THE TOTAL REQUEST THAT WAS MADE, BUT WE CERTAINLY THINK WE CAN ADD SOME NICETIES TO THAT PARK.
>> I THINK THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT WAS THERE WAS A PRIVATE DONATION THAT WAS MADE THERE, AND WE CERTAINLY THANK ABSOLUTE MR. MULLER FOR THAT.
BUT I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY DO SOME THINGS TO HELP OUT THERE WITHIN OUR MEANS. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON, EMERGENCY SERVICES. MARK.
>> GOOD MORNING. I THINK IT IS THE FOURTH YEAR OF DRONES.
>> I'D JUST LIKE TO AN SERVICES TO DIVISION TEACHER HERE TODAY JUST BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY OUR MOST DIFFICULT BUDGET TO.
WE STARTED THIS PROCESS ABOUT OCTOBER BECAUSE I SAW THIS SNOWBALL IN EFFECT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE CUT FUNDS,
[01:05:01]
AND IT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY TIGHT ON THE COUNTY TO MAKE OPERATIONAL MEETS.WE PUT OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET TOGETHER, AND WE ACTUALLY MET WITH DANNY.
WE MEET WITH DANNY EVERY YEAR JUST TRY TO SEE A HISTORICAL DATA WHERE WE CAN SORT TRIM SOME STUFF.
WE DID WE WERE ABLE TO TRIM SOME STUFF OUT OF OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
NOT A LOT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO MATCH CRYSTAL, BUT PERCENTAGE.
BUT WE DID TAKE SOME STEPS FORWARD AND TRY TO GET SOME STUFF OUT OF THE BUDGET THAT YOU USED IN OTHER AREAS.
SO FOR OUR OPERATIONAL FOR THE THREE DIVISIONS, I'LL START WITH THE EMERGENCY SERVICE ADMINISTRATION OR REALLY NO CHANGES.
THE ONLY INCREASES WILL BE THE SALARIES AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND THOSE THINGS.
WE DID PUT A SMALL LINE ITEM IN THERE FOR UNIFORM.
THERE WAS NO UNIFORM BUDGET ADMINISTRATION.
COMMUNICATIONS HAS NO MAJOR CHANGES. AT ALL.
MERCI SERVICES. EMS HAS REALLY NO MAJOR CHANGES.
THE ONLY THING WE ASKED FOR WAS A SMALL LINE ITEM OF ABOUT $30,000, AND THAT WOULD BE FOR THE PROMOTION OF FOUR SERGEANTS.
EVEN THOUGH THAT NUMBER IS AN INCREASE IN THE SALARIES, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THAT THAT WILL DO FOR US IN MS. ONE, IT WILL REPLACE OUR CURRENT DUTY OFFICER PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A VOLUNTEER THEY WOULD FILL IN WHEN NEEDED.
PERSON-ASSIGNED SHIPS ON THE LIEUTENANT THAT CAN BACKFILL IN WHEN THEY'RE ALL, WHICH WOULD SAVE PAYING LIEUTENANTS OVERTIME AS OUT.
NOW WHEN A LIEUTENANT ON VACATION OR A HOLIDAY OR FOR SICK.
WE BACKFILL THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FERMENT SERVICE WE BACKFILL THAT WITH.
ALSO HELP WITH OUR PROCESSION PLAN, THREE OF MY UTENAN RETIRE.
IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, TWO LITTLE SMALL LIES WE HAD INCREASES FOR.
WE DID PUT A UNIFORM BUDGET IN BUDGET, AND THEN WE PUT A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY IN CONFERENCES AND SEMINAR WAS SECOND.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL NEED THAT, BUT WE DID PUT IT IN THERE.
MOST OF THE CLASSES THAT JOE WE ATTENDED TO THE FIRE WITH S A NEIL TICKET PROVIDED THE FIRE CAT FEDERAL ROAD.
BECAUSE HE WOULD JUST GO THERE AND BASICALLY WE JUST PAID FOR THE OTHER SOURCES ARE ACT AND THOSE THINGS, HE'LL NEED TO GET HIS CERTIFICATIONS IN EMERGENCY MAN.
I DON'T THINK LESS YOU HAVE SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT IN THE MS BUDGET WE LEFT TO REPAIRS AND FUEL AT 100,000 EACH AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE WITH GETTING SOME NEW VEHICLES OR REPAIR.
WE'LL GO DOWN AND DON'T KNOW ABOUT FUEL.
THAT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON THE ECONOMY.
SO WE DID KEEP THOSE NUMBERS THERE, BUT MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE CAN REVISIT TAKE IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR REPAIR FOR FLEET.
I WILL SAY THE HOLDER OF THE FLEET IS THE WORST OF REPAIRS.
SO THAT'S ALL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON MY OPERATIONAL.
>> SO STAFFING, WE ARE PULL ACTUALLY TWO OVER IN 91.
MAY BE JUNE HEARING AND EMS WERE DOWN ONE EMT POSITION AND WE'VE BEEN SNOW DOWN IN OUR INTERVIEWS FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS WE'VE HAD INTERVIEWS.
WE'VE HAD SNOWSTORM, SO WE HAD TO POSTPONE THOSE.
SO NO HOLDING THOSE THIS FRIDAY, SO WE SHOULD FILL THAT SPOT.
SO WE'RE GOING AS WELL AS SAPPING.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON OPERATING.
>> I THINK EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE-WISE COMPARISON OVER LAST YEAR WAS LOOKED GOOD TO ME, MARK.
I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING CLOSE TABS ON THAT AND KEEPING THAT AS A SMALL OF AN INCREASE.
THAT WAS THE LARGEST JUMP, AND I THINK THAT MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF DOUG, THE OTHER POSITION WE ADDED THERE LAST YEAR.
SO I THINK THAT WAS THE EFFECT, FOR THAT TRANSITION AND DOUG'S SECESSION PLAN THERE.
YOU WANT TO GO OVER YOUR CAPITAL STUFF?
[01:10:01]
>> SO THE ORIGINAL CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WE SUBMITTED HAD FOUR ITEMS IN IT HAD REPLACEMENT OF AN AMBULANCE, HAD CARDIAC MONITORS TO OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND THEN HAD TWO VEHICLE PURCHASES.
AFTER SITTING WITH MANY WE DECIDED TO PULL THE AMBULANCE THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD TWO AMBULANCES THAT THE CREWS ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT FLYING OUT TODAY TO INSPECT.
THAT SECOND AMBULANCE WOULD ACTUALLY FILL THE FY 26 AMBULANCE.
SO HE WOULD BE FINE WITHOUT THE AMBULANCE YEAR SO WELL BACK.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT WILL YOU TO REVISIT THAT NEXT YEAR.
>> THE BLS FUNDS SHOULD BE THERE TO DO IT NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
>> THE OTHER LET ME JUST TOUCH ON THE TWO VEHICLES AND WE TALK ABOUT CARDIAC MONITORS.
THE TWO-VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, ONE IS OUR 10-VEHICLE.
I THINK I HAVE A SPRAY HEAT SOMEWHERE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT'S LIKE A SHERIFFS VEHICLE, RESPONDS COUNTY-WIDE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE SUPERVISOR PERFECTLY RESPONDING ON SEVERAL HALLS THAT WE ADDED THEM TO HIGHER ACUITY CALLS.
SO THEY HAVE A SECOND SET OF HANDS.
THE OTHER THING THAT DOES IS IT KEEPS US FROM YOU HAVE TWO AMBULANT RESPONDED AND THEN TAKING TWO AMBULANCES OUT OF SERVICES TENANT CAN EITHER SUPPLEMENT SECOND AMBULANCE THAT THEY NEED THE SECOND PARAMEDICAL OF THE SECOND UNIT.
IT HELPS WITH OUR STAFFING, TOO, SO IT KEEPS RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE CAYO HOSPITAL.
THAT VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 62,000 AND BY THE TIME WE STARTED THE BUDGET YEAR WILL HAVE ABOUT 80,000 WE ANTICIPATE THAT TRUCK WILL BE ABOUT 125,000 BY THE END OF FY 26.
THEN THE OTHER VEHICLE IS AND THAT'S A 2023, LIKE I SAID, HIT A LOT OF MILES BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ON PAUL.
THEN THE EM CHIEF VEHICLE ORIGINALLY, DOUG HAD REACHED OUT TO MDM AND HE'S STILL WORKING ON A GRANT, AND I WOULD HIGHLY SUGGEST THAT IF WE KEEP THAT VEHICLE IN THE FOR A GRANT TO TRY TO SUPPLEMENT THAT FUNDING ON THAT VEHICLE.
THEY HAD SOME MONEY LEFT OVER.
IT WAS JUST GET FUNDING THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO ABOUT TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COST OF THAT VEHICLE.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT TRUCK CURRENTLY HAD 86,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WILL HAVE ABOUT 196,000 MILES AND ANTICIPATE ABOUT 120,000 MILES.
>> IS THAT THE DODGE ONE OF THESE THE DODGE?
>> NO. THAT'S A TIE. IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE EMS CHEESE VEHICLE THAT BRIAN EVEN HAD.
KJ TOOK THE VEHICLE AND NOW DOT.
THAT'S THE TWO VEHICLES THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT.
>> I WOULD I MEAN, THIS MAY BE CONTROVERSIAL.
BUT I THINK THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THIS GOES TO THE SHERIFF, TOO, AND I'M GOING TO FACTOR THIS IN.
I'M NOT GOING TO PICK ANY DEPARTMENT OUT HERE.
BUT I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE GETTING 180,000 BEFORE WE'RE GETTING RID OF THESE THINGS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPFIT COST AND ALL THE EXPENSES.
I THINK THE VEHICLES CAN DO IT.
>> THE SAD PART ABOUT THE VEHICLE?
>> I THINK WE'VE GOT A STRETCH IT AND WITH THE UPFIT IT DEVALUES THE VEHICLE BECAUSE YOU'RE DRILLING HOLES AND ESPECIALLY ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SIDE, NOT AS MUCH WITH EMS.
>> I KNOW WHEN WE DESIGNED OUR CURRENT SUTENT VEHICLE, WE DESIGNED IT TO HOPEFULLY LESS THE BODY CHANGES IN SOME OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH.
>> I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING A SPARE KEEPING A SPARE AROUND IN RETURN FOR RUNNING THESE VEHICLES, OUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER IF THERE ARE REPAIR COSTS AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE DOWN FROM TIME TO TIME HAVING A SPARE.
BUT FOR THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GET ON FORM WHEN WE SELL THEM, I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY BE TRYING TO RUN THEM OUT AT LEAST THE NEXT FEW YEARS THROUGH THESE POTENTIALLY DIFFICULT BUDGET TIME, TRY TO GET IT OUT TO 180,000 BEFORE WE'RE GETTING RID OF THEM ANYWAY.
>> WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL THIS MS LIEUTENANT AND DIVISION CHIEF, WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL THEY HAVE AS FAR AS.
>> THE LIEUTENANT HAS A FULL SET OF GEAR, THE CARDIAC MONITOR.
THEY HAVE YOU PRETTY MUCH A QUICK RESPONSE VEHICLE SO THEY CAN RENDER CARE BEFORE YOU KNOW IF WE'RE OUT OF AMBULANCES, WHICH HAPPENS A LOT.
THEN THEY CAN RENDER CARE RUN RESPONSE.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE HAVING USED TO BE WHEN THEY HAD THE C. SO IT'S UPDATED.
ALL THE DRUGS, ALL THE AC UNDER JUST CAN'T TRANSPORT OUT A VEHICLE,
[01:15:05]
DOUG CARRIES THE DRONES, HE CARRIES SOME OTHER ASSOCIATED EMERGENCY MANAGE EQUIPMENT FOR ANYTHING DISASTER.>> THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE DISPATCHED? COULD BE. WITH AIMLESS CALLS.
>> THE MEU TENANT VEHICLE WOULD BE.
VEHICLE IS USUALLY NOT WE DO RESPOND TO CALLS YOU ANYTHING WITH THE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL STILL MAJOR INCIDENTS WHERE WE HELP THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THE OTHER BIG ASK THIS YEAR IS CARDIAC MONITORS, AND THAT'S A SUBJECT OF MATTER THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, SO I JUST WANT TO TOUCH.
I GAVE YOU A PACKAGE TO LOOK AT.
I'M NOT GOING TO THE ENTIRE PACKET, BUT IT IS SOME LIGHT-TREATING MATERIAL.
CURRENTLY, OUR LIGHT PACK MONITORS FROM STRIKER, OUR 29.
TECHNOLOGY THAT MONITOR INTRODUCED IN 2009.
SO IT'S WORKING ON ABOUT 15-YEAR-OLD TECHNOLOGY.
WHEN WE TOOK OVER DS, THOSE CARDIAC MONITORS WERE AT A VERSION 1, WHICH BASICALLY MEANT THAT THE CARDIAC MONITOR FAILED.
THEY WOULDN'T SUPPORT SERVICING THAT THEY WOULDN'T REPORT REPAIR IT, BASICALLY BECOME A BRICK.
THERE WAS NO NEW CARDIAC MONITORS, NO NEW TECHNOLOGY.
SO WE OPTED THE ONLY OPTION WE HAD WAS TO SOFTWARE SAY ABOUT SOFTWARE VERSION TODAY.
TECHNOLOGY IS THE WORLD IS LIKE A CELL PHONE BY A CELL PHONE IN TWO YEARS, IT'S OUTDATED.
SO WE GOT THE DIVERSION FOR SOFTWARE AND THEY WILL SUPPORT THIS PROBABLY FOR ABOUT ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
WE'RE REPLACING THESE PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS EARLY.
BUT THE REASON THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW LOOKING FORWARD IN THE NEXT FOUR TO FIVE YEARS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT RADIO AND THAT'S PORTABLE RADIOS, THAT'S MOBILE RADIOS, AND THAT'S FOR SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT'S FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THAT FOR ANIMAL PATROL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND OUR RADIO CONSOLE IN THE DISPATCH CENTER.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BECOME A VERY HEFTY PLACE.
WE STARTED THAT LIFE CYCLE BUDGET.
>> THERE'S A CHIEF HURLOCK AND LIEUTENANT KUSHAL, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER AN ENTIRE INVENTORY, SO WE CAN MAKE A PRESENTATION TO YOU SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHO'S HAD WHAT RADIOS AND HOW MANY RADIOS, HOW MANY ARE ASSIGNED TO SHERIFF AND ALL THOSE SO WE CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN ON WHAT TO DO WITH RADIO NOW.
WE HAVE SOME TIME, BUT WE FEEL LIKE IF WE DO A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME, IT WON'T BE SUCH A BURDEN ON THE BUDGET AND I DON'T EXPECT THE STATE GOING TO GET IN BETTER SHAPE NEXT YEAR, UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES DRASTICALLY, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY WILL BE.
WE KNOW THAT THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS MIGHT BE TIGHT AGAIN.
THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO PUSH THE MONITORS FORWARD.
A COUPLE OF ADVANTAGES THAT THESE NEW MONITORS, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NEW TECHNOLOGY, PROBABLY THE MOST CLINICAL ADVANCED CLINIC MODEL YOU CAN GIVE A CLINICIAN TO WORK WITH.
THEY HAVE A NEW TECHNO AND SOME OF THIS HAS AGREED TALKING TO YOU, BUT IS 15D CAPABILITIES, WHICH MEANS RIGHT NOW, WE DO A 12D KG, WHICH WE PUT KG STICKERS ON THE FRONT OF YOU, THESE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO, THREE STICKERS WE CAN PUT ON THE BACK BECAUSE 15% OF THE PEOPLE WE BECOME IN CONTACT WITH, WE COULD MISDIAGNOSE IN THE HEART ATTACK UNLESS WE ACTUALLY TAKE 3D OFF THE FRONT, PUT THEM ON THE BACK.
THIS WILL AUTOMATICALLY EMPLOYS THAT.
IT COVERS THOSE, POSTERIOLATERAL MIS THAT YOU COULD MISS IN THE SCENARIOS NOW.
THE OTHER THING IT DOES IS IT HAS WHAT THEY CALL STJ INSIGHT, AND IT COMES UP ON THE SCREEN AS YOU DO THE 12D AND IT HELPS YOU WITH A DIAGNOSIS STANDPOINT FROM A CLINICIAN.
IT HELPS YOU RECOGNIZE WHEN THERE'S AN MI GOING ON, TAKE YOU TO A HOSPITAL WHERE YOU CAN BE TREATED FOR A HEART ATTACK.
ONE OF THE OTHER ADVANTAGES OF CARDIAC MONITOR IS THAT DURING OUR CPR EVENTS, THIS MONITOR FUNCTIONS MUCH LIKE OUR CR2 ADS.
HAVE AN ACCOUNT WHERE IT ACTUALLY LOOKS THROUGH YOU DOING CHEST COMPRESSIONS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? WELL, BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU COME OFF THE CHEST, YOU DECREASE THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.
THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS THROUGH THE CPR, IT CAN TELL YOU WHICH PRE CHARGES HAVE BEEN SHOCKED WHEN IT'S LIKE THE TWO MINUTES [NOISE] IS UP.
IT'S A HEFTY LIFT FOR THE COUNTY, I REALIZE THAT.
[01:20:04]
OUR PLAN IS THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO CRISSY BARK FROM THE [INAUDIBLE], THEY'RE WILLING TO COVER THIS.MOST OF THIS IS TO THE GAME OF SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM THAT WE THREW ON THERE FOR I THINK FOUR YEAR, WHICH HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
THAT ACTUALLY GIVES US FUNDING BACK FOR THE MEDICAID PATIENTS THAT WE TRAIN.
THAT HAS BEEN AVERAGE IN ABOUT BETWEEN $800,000-900,000 END [INAUDIBLE].
>> HOW MANY OF THESE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
THAT WOULD PUT ONE ON EVERY AMBULANCE PLUS TWO OF OUR RESPONSE VEHICLES.
PLUS THAT INCLUDES DEATH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY ALS VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE THAT WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY.
WE'VE HAD ACTUALLY [INAUDIBLE] MORE WILL TALK ABOUT DEATH AND FIRE AND THEY'RE GOING TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY OR NOT.
THE VEHICLES, WE CAN WORK THE VEHICLES.
IT'S NOT A STRAW LINE [INAUDIBLE]
>> COMMISSIONER PORTER, APPRECIATE THIS.
I'M UPSET WE CAN SEE STRIKER ON THERE, BUT NOW I SEE STRIKER MAKES HIS [OVERLAPPING]
>> STRIKER [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER. STRIKER MADE THE LIST.
>> YOU'LL BE BUYING SOME STUFF FROM STRIKER [LAUGHTER].
>> AGAIN, MARK, WE HAVE THESE NOW.
I MEAN, WE HAVE 2009 BUT THIS IS THE UPGRADED MODEL.
>> THIS IS THIS IS THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGY OF MONITOR.
IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL SEE THIS IS OUR OLD MONITOR, THIS IS THE NEW MONITOR, SO GIVE YOU A FLIT IN THERE COMPARISON.
I SAID, IT'S PROBABLY, HONESTLY CLINICALLY ADVANCED CARDIAC MONITOR ON OLD AND GROW FOR LEFT HAND SIDE HOW OLD I AM.
WHERE THE ACTUAL DEBTOR, MOST.
THEY HAVE A SCREEN ABOUT FOUR BY FOUR.
SO IT REALLY DOES TAKE US TO THE NETWORK.
>> SHOULD LAST US A LONG TIME.
>> WELL, WE GOT MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OUT OF THE LIFE PACK 15?
>> WELL, MOST OF THE TIME THEY SOFTWARE OR [OVERLAPPING] SUPPORTER? THIS MODEL DOES COME WITH SOME USB PORTS THAT MAY IN THE FUTURE ALLOW FOR VIDEO INNOVATION [INAUDIBLE]. THERE ARE SOME.
>> WHAT PERCENTAGE, THIS IS KIND OF OFF THE WALL QUESTION HERE, KJ MAY KNOW THE ANSWER.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF CALLS ARE CARDIAC RELATED, DO YOU THINK?
>> [INAUDIBLE] CARDIAC ARREST. I ACTUALLY WE SAY BUT THIS IS A GOOD WEEK.
>> I GAVE THAT UMBER [OVERLAPPING].
>> I CERTAINLY GET THE NUMBERS.
>> YOU CAN, BUT I GET SO MUCH I MEAN, INFORMATION, BUT I MEAN, IT'S [OVERLAPPING].
>> I MEAN, EVERY PATIENT THAT WE SAY [INAUDIBLE] PUT ON A CARDIAC.
>> I MEAN, THAT'S A STANDARD OF CARE.
>> THE STANDARD OF CARE PUT OUT.
>> THANK YOU, MARK. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
>> HI, EVERYBODY. THANKS FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
LAST YEAR, WHEN I WAS AT THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP, I HAD BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR A MONTH.
FELT A LITTLE BIT LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.
STILL FEEL LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.
IN THE COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE I PUT IN MY BUDGET REQUEST, I CONSIDERED SOME COMMUNICATIONS I HAD WITH COUNTY LEADERSHIP.
I GAVE YOU ALL THE LETTER THIS MORNING WITH SOME DETAILS ON THAT AND A SPREADSHEET, WHICH I'LL GET TO MY SECOND.
I DID SOME QUICK MATH THIS MORNING, AND HOPEFULLY IT'S CORRECT.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, MY BUDGET REQUEST THIS YEAR IS NOW 15% LESS OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
[01:25:04]
THERE ARE SOME INCREASES, BUT WHEN WE CONSIDER SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, THAT REALLY ACCOUNTS FOR THE LOWER SPENDING OVERALL.RENT IS GOING UP. THAT IS WHAT IT IS.
I'VE ASKED FOR A SLIGHT, VERY SMALL INCREASE IN OFFICE SUPPLIES, MOSTLY TO ACCOMMODATE INK CARTRIDGES, WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
BUT OVERALL, WHERE I AM ASKING FOR MORE FUNDS IS IN ASSOCIATION DUES MEMBERSHIP FEES.
FRANKLY, THIS YEAR, AS THEY HAVE COME TO MY ATTENTION, THE AMOUNT REPAYING IN ASSOCIATION DUES HAS BEEN EYE OPENING.
I PROVIDED A SPREADSHEET WITH WHAT THOSE DUES ARE.
I'M ASKING FOR AS TO ALIGN WITH THE ACTUAL TESTS.
THAT'S IT FOR ME. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANKS, BOB. LARRY, YOU GOT ANYTHING?
>> I DON'T WISE MOVE. WISE MOVING AND REDUCING.
>> EXCUSE ME. I APPRECIATE BOB TAKING THAT 15% OFF BECAUSE [LAUGHTER].
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR OUR OPERATING FOR THIS YEAR.
WE'RE ABOUT 14, 15% OVER FISCAL YEAR 25.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PRODUCTS THAT WE PURCHASED DURING THE COVID TIME FRAME THAT WE PURCHASED UP FRONT FOR FIVE YEARS.
THOSE PRODUCTS ARE NOW EXPIRING.
WE HAVE SOME ANNUAL CALLS THAT WILL BE COMING DUE FISCAL YEAR 26, LARGER TICKET ITEMS. WE ALSO DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR THE FLEET WIDE TPS.
THAT INCREASE IS INCLUDED ON THIS.
THOSE CALLS SO FAR THAT I'VE SEEN FOR THAT IS ANYWHERE 40-45 THOUSAND ANNUALLY.
THAT'S TO TRACK ANY ROAD WORKING VEHICLE.
THE LAST MAJOR INCREASE THAT WE HAVE IS OUR HARDWARE LINE ITEM COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 25.
THAT ITEM THAT LINE ITEM CAME IN SLIGHTLY LOWER, BUT DUE TO PENDING FEDERAL TARIFFS, WE WERE CONTACTED AND SAID TO ADJUST TO 25 TO 30% MORE.
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME THROUGH, BUT WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR THOSE HARDWARE ITEMS WE'RE GETTING IN ARE FROM THOSE AFFECTED COUNTRIES.
THERE'S ANYTHING HERE, I GUESS, ANY SILVER LOT WHEN OUR CAPITAL HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ZERO FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
I HAVE NO CAPITAL REQUESTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.
>> THE GPS TRACKING, THAT'S IN OUR MAINTENANCE LINE ON THEM? [OVERLAPPING].
>> WOULD THAT BE A RECURRING COST OR IS THAT A ONE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S ANNUAL COST? EVERYTHING I'M LOOKING AT ANYMORE IS GOING TO BE ANNUAL COST.
>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT THEN.
>> I MEAN, AS YOU'VE HEARD ALMOST EVERYBODY HERE TODAY, THESE ANNUAL COST, THEY AREN'T GOING TO STOP.
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU ON THAT AND THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT.
>> HOW ABOUT OUTLINE YEARS CAPITAL WISE, CHRIS, I KNOW WE ADDRESS YOUR TWO SERVERS THIS YEAR.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE TO MARK'S POINT, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER.
>> NO, IT'S NOT. OUR MAJOR COSTS FOR HARDWARE AND THAT THING, WE WENT THROUGH A REFRESH TWO YEARS AGO.
IT'D PROBABLY BE ANOTHER FIVE TO SIX YEARS BEFORE WE LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, MAJOR, 200 300,000 COSTS ON THAT THING.
THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER ITEMS, MAYBE 40 TO 50,000 [OVERLAPPING].
>> SERVERS, THAT KIND OF STUFF?
>> FIREWALLS IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE YEARS.
>>SHOULDN'T, I'M NOT GOING TO HOLD YOU TO THIS OR ANYTHING, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE ANYTHING MAJOR NEXT YEAR.
>> NOT THAT I'M SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW.
[01:30:05]
CORRECTIONS. YOU GOT A LOOP FILLING IT.>> GOOD MORNING. I'M FILLING FOR WARDEN SCOTT.
SMALL RAISES IN UNIFORMS, TELEPHONE AND POSTAGE, JUST COVERING THE COST OF ACTUAL COST.
ITS CURRENT UPDATED TELEPHONE COSTS DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL STAFF NUMBER WE HAVE IN PRE TRIAL NOW.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE, AS YOU KNOW, OLDER BUILDING, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE RISING COSTS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT FOOD SERVICE AND MEDICAL SERVICE.
THOSE ARE KIND OF CONTRACTS THAT THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE.
>> YEAH. I WARDEN SCOTT AND I SAT DOWN AND TALKED TO ALL THE PHONE ABOUT THOSE, AND THAT'S REALLY IN LINE TO WHAT THE CONTRACT INCREASES ARE COMING IN AT.
>> PROBABLY THE MAJOR LINE ITEM THAT WE HAVEN'T ASKED FOR IS A NEW INVESTIGATION SERGEANT.
THE PERSON IN THAT POSITION IS A DUAL RESPONSIBILITY PERSON DOING INVESTIGATIONS AND ALSO DEALING WITH PRETRIAL.
PRETRIAL IS UP FROM ABOUT 30 AVERAGING ABOUT 30 INMATES FROM LAST YEAR TO NOW AROUND 50.
THEN WITH OUR RECENT VACANCIES THAT WE'VE HAD, THIS INVESTIGATOR ALSO DOES THE BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR THEM.
SHE'S BEEN SPLIT A DOZEN DIFFERENT WAYS.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A HILL, I'M WILLING TO DIE. THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> BUT WHAT'S YOUR INMATE NUMBER RIGHT NOW?
>> I WANT TO SAY THIS MORNING IT WAS 33.
>> THEN HOW MANY ARE MONITORING? PROBABLY ANOTHER 33?
THEY'RE ACTUALLY INTERACTING WITH 80 SOME INDIVIDUALS?
>> WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT STAFF NUMBER?
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.
IS IT LIKE SIX OR 37, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THE PRETRIAL PERSON THAT WE ADDED ON LAST YEAR, I MEAN, THEIR CAPACITY OR.
>> I MEAN, FOR TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE OR?
>> NO. BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SUCH STAFFING SHORTAGES, THAT POSITION WHERE WE GOT THAT PERSON INTO PLACE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN FILLING IN FOR THE STAFF WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO AROUND THE JAIL DOWN, I THINK WE'RE DOWN 1.6.
STAFF MEMBERS INSIDE THE FACILITY, SO THAT WE'RE MOVING THAT PERSON INTO PLACE NOW.
>> NOW YOU SAID THAT THE NEW INVESTIGATIVE SERGEANT AND SOME OF THE PRETRIAL, TOO, AS WELL? THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING.
>> THEY DO DUAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
>> I THINK EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH CORRECTIONS RIGHT NOW OBVIOUSLY IS IN FLUX.
>> THEN LUKE, DO YOU WANT TO GO OVER YOUR CAPITAL? YOU HAVE TWO CAPITAL ITEMS HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE A TRANSPORT VAN AND CONTROL VAN.
>> TRANSPORT VAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE 2014.
WE HAD A TRUCK GOING DOWN THE HILL AND HIT IT AT ONE POINT.
IT HASN'T ACTED LIGHT RIGHT SINCE.
AS FAR AS THE CONTROL VAN GOES, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NO MATTER WHAT DIRECTION WE GO, WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A MECHANICAL SYSTEM IN PLACE AND THE MECHANICS AND IT IS BREAKING DOWN.
>> WHAT'S THE REPLACEMENT LOOK LIKE? WOULD ACTUALLY JUST BE A COMPUTER CONSOLE?
>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW ENOUGH AT THIS POINT.
>> PERSONALLY, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IS US LOOK AT SPENDING SOME MONEY AND FIXING UP THAT VAN, IF NECESSARY.
IT'S PARTS SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE, WHATEVER IT NEEDS.
I KNOW IT'S A 2014, BUT IT ONLY HAS 22,000 MILES ON IT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US MAYBE INVEST IN THAT VEHICLE AND GET A FEW MORE YEARS OUT OF IT, PERSONALLY.
[01:35:04]
BUT WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT ANYTHING ELSE? GOOD. THANKS, LUKE.[01:44:42]
>> JEN, YOU'RE READY TO [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I'LL CALL THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER AND WE WILL START WITH CIRCUIT COURT AND JUDGE PRICE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING. I'M WORKING ON TODAY.
>> YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR.
GOOD MORNING TO ADMINISTRATORS AND EVERYONE ELSE.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
[01:45:03]
I HAVE SUBMITTED PRETTY MUCH A FLAT BUDGET IN TERMS OF THE TYPICAL BUDGET REQUEST.THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT'S MOVED FROM MILEAGE AND CONFERENCE TO THE OTHER LINE ITEM, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE MOST OF THE TRAININGS ARE NOW HELD VIRTUALLY.
THEY'VE MADE A BIG CHANGE IN THAT.
I THINK COVID BROUGHT THAT ON AND THEY JUST CONTINUE THAT.
WE HAVE A SMALL $100 INCREASE IN OFFICE SUPPLIES.
EVERYTHING IS FLAT EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE LINE ITEM MOVING AND $100 IN OFFICE SUPPLIES BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL AND WE ALSO HAVE JUST SOME INCREASES IN THE OFFICE SUPPLIES.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR, THERE ARE NO SALARY REQUESTS FOR ANY OF THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES I'M REQUESTING THIS YEAR.
I HAVE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN THE REQUEST FOR A JUDICIAL ASSISTANT POSITION.
THAT WOULD BE A FULL TIME COUNTY EMPLOYEE WITH FULL BENEFITS.
SALARY RANGES FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND 65.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FRINGE IS ON THAT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE DISCUSSED LAST YEAR AND I'M WILLING TO DISCUSS IT AGAIN WITH YOU ALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ON MY EASY BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
>> IT'S A SMALL BUDGET COMPARED TO A LOT OF OTHERS.
WE ALL APPRECIATE, BY THE WAY, YOUR SUPPORT OF ALL THE COUNTY ATTORNEYS WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNTY FUNDING.
SORRY, FOR THE EMPLOYEES TO BE HERE, YOU GIVE OUT BONUSES AND THE [INAUDIBLE] GIVE US CASH.
>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> JUDGE, CAN YOU GIVE JUST A BRIEF DETAIL OF THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT POSITION, AGAIN, WHAT THAT PERSON WOULD DO?
>> SURE. IT'S AN IMPORTANT POSITION.
IT HAS A SMATTERING OF TYPES OF JOB DUTIES.
THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF, FOR EXAMPLE, ORGANIZING SEARCH WARRANT, RETURNS.
THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORDERS AND WARRANTS THAT ON PENDING [INAUDIBLE] DO TRACE SEARCH WARRANT, GPS, ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES. THEY COME IN.
THERE'S A PROCESS THAT SET OUT THE STATE BOARD HOW THEY HAVE TO BE HANDLED AND FILED AND MAINTAINED.
ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING BETWEEN 5-10 ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE AOC.
THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE UPDATED EVERY YEAR AND THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD HELP WITH THAT.
THEN ALSO ANSWERING PHONE CALLS AND SETTING MY SCHEDULE ON CALENDAR ON ONE, FOUR OR FIVE STATE WIDE LEVEL JUDICIAL COMMITTEES, ONE INVOLVING JUDICIAL SECURITY ANOTHER ONE INVOLVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOME OTHER COMMITTEES THAT COMPLEX LITIGATION COMMITTEE AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE ASKING ME TO GET INVOLVED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND I ALSO THINK THE INDIVIDUAL HAS SOME HR RELATED TASKS WHERE THEY CAN KEEP SOME OF THE THINGS MOVING BETWEEN YOUR HR TEAM AND WORK AND THERE'S OTHER LIKE JUST BOOK KEEPING DUTIES.
IT'S A SMATTERING OF DUTIES, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A VERY CONFIDENTIAL POSITION.
SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE AND HAVE TO UNDERSTAND CONFIDENTIALITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> YOU HAVE THOSE DUTIES ARE SPLIT UP NOW AMONG OTHER STAFF THAT YOU HAVE THERE NOW?
>> AND YOU? DO THEY HANDLE SCHEDULING FOR YOU AS WELL?
>> SCHEDULING. DO THEY HANDLE SCHEDULING AS WELL?
>> I DO THAT MYSELF AND THEN I JUST SEND A CALENDAR INVITE TO STAFF AND THEN THEY TRY TO BLOCK IT OFF FROM THE CALENDAR FROM THE COURT CALENDAR SO THAT LIKE TODAY, WE GOT A VISITING JUDGE TO COME IN.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE ACCEPTED THE OFFER TO GO FIRST, BUT I DID.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE VISITING JUDGES THAT CAME IN AND HANDLE THE CASE THIS MORNING AND WE CAN DO THAT IF I HAVE ENOUGH COORDINATION, BUT IT'S REALLY TOUGH WHEN WE'RE SETTING CASES IN THE COURTROOM AND THEN THE ASSIGNMENT CLERK CALLS PEOPLE TO TRY TO SET CASES.
IT'S THE MOVING [INAUDIBLE] ALL THE TIME.
WE WANT TO ACCOMMODATE EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL. COMMISSIONER BARTZ?
>> JUDGE, DID YOU WANT TO GO OVER YOUR CAPITAL? I'M NOT SURE THESE THE JUDGE'S CAPITAL REQUESTS OR THEY'RE OURS.
>> WELL, I DO HAVE SOME, BUT IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY OR COUNSEL WOULD STIPULATE THAT IT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS FOR IT, I WOULD ASK THAT IT BE ADDRESSED IN A CLOSED SESSION.
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY SET THAT UP.
>> THE PARKING LOT CONSTRUCTION, THAT WAS ONE.
I DON'T THINK THAT ONE, WELL, FROM A [INAUDIBLE].
MAKES SENSE. I WAS THINKING FROM AN EXPANSION STANDPOINT,
[01:50:01]
BUT OKAY. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.>> NEXT UP, WE HAD THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. MR. STATE'S ATTORNEY.
>> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING] FOR MY TIME.
I JUST WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF JUDGE PRICE.
I'VE BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR 26 YEARS AND I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE.
THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTY I'VE EVER BEEN TO THAT THE JUDGE DOES NOT HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.
I CLERKED FOR TWO JUDGES EARLY IN MY CAREER, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WAS A GODSEND TO THE JUDGE, TO THE STAFF.
THEY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY LEARNED EVERYTHING.
IN FACT, JUST ONE JUDGE I WORKED FOR, HIS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, I ALWAYS TOOK AND WENT TO HER ABOUT OPINIONS I WAS WRITING FOR THE JUDGE OR THINGS AND GOT HER FEEDBACK ON IT BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS HAD THE EXPERIENCE.
THEY ARE INVALUABLE, SO I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER THAT.
>> WHAT DO I WANT? ACTUALLY, CRIME IS A LITTLE BIT UP IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANY PERSONNEL THIS YEAR.
I KNOW THE FINANCIAL, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE STATE AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE TIGHT, AND I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THAT.
WHAT I HAVE DONE IS I HAVE INCREASED IT OTHER THAN MY SALARIES, MY OTHER BUDGET ITEMS BY $8,000.
ONE OF THOSE THINGS WAS THE CONFERENCES.
IT WAS INADEQUATE FOR THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT UNTIL I ACTUALLY STARTED SEEING EVERYTHING, GETTING EVERYTHING FROM THE FINANCE, AND THAT WENT UP 6,000.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXPENSES OF THAT IS THE MARYLAND STATES ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE THAT WE HAVE IN THE SUMMER, WHICH IS A TRAINING OPPORTUNITY FOR MOST OF MY STAFF, ATTORNEYS AS WELL AS MY SUPPORT STAFF.
I TRY TO TAKE THEM AND OFFER THEM THAT ABILITY TO GET THAT TRAINING.
THE OTHER TRAINING THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS MINISCULE, IT'S PUT ON BY THE MARYLAND STATES ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION, AND IT'S 150, $200 AT THAT.
THE OTHER ONE WAS THE EXTRADITION COSTS I INCREASED. I ASKED FOR THAT.
WE ARE FINDING A LOT MORE PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT AGREEING TO BE EXTRADITED BACK TO MARYLAND, SO WE HAVE TO DO GOVERNOR'S WARRANTS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE OR SHERIFF'S OFFICE GO OUT AND PICK THEM UP.
WE HAD ONE THAT HAD TO GO TO FLORIDA THIS YEAR TO PICK UP, AND THEY HAD TO TAKE FOUR DIFFERENT FLIGHTS TO GET TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY COULD PICK HER UP. THAT INCREASED.
THE YEAR BEFORE WE REALLY DIDN'T USE ANY OF THE EXTRADITION FOR THIS YEAR, OR I SHOULD SAY IN 2024, WE STARTED USING MORE OF THEM.
OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ONE DUPLICATING.
FOR SOME REASON, MY PEOPLE LIKE TO KILL TREES, AND I KEEP TELLING THEM, NO, STOP DOING THAT.
YOU DON'T NEED TO PRINT OUT EVERYTHING, BUT WE'RE A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT THAT'S MY BUDGET. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DO YOU HAVE?
>> MYSELF AND NINE OTHERS. I AM FULL STAFF.
>> YOU'RE FULLY STAFF HOUSE? THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG.
NEXT UP IS BOARD OF EDUCATION, DR. SIMMONS. MORNING.
>> COMMISSIONERS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT HAS BEEN, FOR MANY YEARS, ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES OF THE PRESENT BUDGET, AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING PLACED UPON YOU BY THE LACK OF INFORMATION RELATING TO THE [INAUDIBLE] IN THE STATE.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE WE SPOKE ON FEBRUARY 18TH AT OUR WORK SESSION REGARDING ANY RESOLUTION IN TERMS OF WHAT THE NUMBER IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
I'M NOT ANTICIPATING ONE UNTIL RIGHT ABOUT THE LAST DAY OF SESSION, WHAT THE LOCAL SHARE NUMBER IS.
OUR COMMITMENT CONTINUES TO BE TO OUR STAFF.
THE NUMBER 1 PRIORITY THIS YEAR, AS WE SHARED THEN AND CONTINUE TO SHARE, IS GOING TO BE THE NEGOTIATION OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF CONTRACT, WHICH THE WHOLE CONTRACT'S BEEN CLOSED SINCE 2012.
IT'S OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY TO GET THAT DONE RIGHT.
WE'RE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS AND IT'S GOING WELL.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH NEIGHBORING SCHOOL SYSTEMS AROUND US.
WE'RE RECRUITING THE BEST FOLKS WE CAN HERE TO SERVE OUR KIDS.
AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION, WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHARE IT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S COMING OUT OF ANNAPOLIS, WITH DANNY AS WELL IN TERMS OF ANY FUNDING SHIFTS THAT COULD HAPPEN.
WE FELT LIKE WE HAVE HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WOULD BE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OR BEST CASE. THINGS ALWAYS CHANGE.
I THINK, AGAIN, IT WON'T BE UNTIL SOME POINT IN APRIL OR EARLY MAY, BY WHICH WE KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER IS,
[01:55:01]
COMING OUT THERE, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT WITH CAPITAL.MOVING FORWARD WITH THE LOCKERMAN PROJECT.
IT'S A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM FULL FLEDGED MOVING INTO CONSTRUCTION, BUT THE COMMISSION [INAUDIBLE] TO MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING THAT ESTABLISHED AS WE WORK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS THIS SPRING TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER. WE APPRECIATE THIS SUPPORT.
>> I THINK THE WORST CASE SCENARIO KEEPS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS BUDGET.
WE WERE AT A FUNCTION LAST NIGHT, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA, AND I DON'T THINK THEY DO EITHER.
I MADE THE COMMENT THE OTHER NIGHT AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE, BUT I'LL MAKE IT AGAIN.
THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP IN THIS STATE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO IS WILLING TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT THE BLUEPRINT POLICY IS A MISTAKE.
THAT IT'S A MISTAKE. IT WAS BAD WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED, IT'S BAD NOW, AND IT WOULD BE BAD GOING FORWARD, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE ANYBODY'S WILLING TO STAND UP AND ADMIT THAT.
I DON'T KNOW FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BEFORE US TODAY AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE TO COME BEFORE US.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE GO AT THIS POINT.
I JUST DID SOME QUICK AT THE BACK OF THE PAPER MATH HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR MILLION PLUS IN ADDITIONAL COSTS THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 50% IS STATE EXPENSES AND COSTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHIFTED TO US, AND IT'S STILL GOING.
I ASKED YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE TEACHER PENSION, YOU SAID YOU HAD HEARD USUALLY WHERE YOU HEAR SOMETHING, IT'S THERE.
NOW I KNOW THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES HAS NOW MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO SHIFT 100% OF THE TEACHER PENSION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE.
WE'VE WALKED INTO THIS ROOM IN THE PAST AND SEEN 800 OR $900,000 REQUESTS ABOVE BUDGET.
THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT FOUR MILLION AND GROWING.
WE NEED TO GET SOME PEOPLE IN ANNAPOLIS WHO ARE READY TO STAND UP AND LEAD AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO HERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
>> COMMISSIONER BARTZ, ANYTHING?
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, DR. SIMMONS FOR WORKING ON, KEEPING DANNY IN THE LOOP AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE LOOP AND JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE EVEN THOUGH IT'S HARD.
>> THANK YOU. JUST TO REITERATE, OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES LIVE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE TAXPAYERS. THEY'RE HERE.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE TIGHT SPOT THAT THIS COUNTY IS IN.
IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE FOUR COUNTIES IN THE STATE [INAUDIBLE] GETTING MORE ATTENTION, BUT DORCHESTER IS IN A REAL ROUGH SPOT RIGHT NOW AS WELL AND WE'RE ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND THEM IN THE WAY LOCAL SHARE HAS BEEN ADDING UP.
I'M HOPING THAT'S ON OUR ROAD MAP, BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT SAYS THAT THAT'S NOT [NOISE] BUT THANK YOU.
>> WE'RE ONLY 25% OF YOUR BUDGET ACCOUNTING CONTRIBUTION?
>> YOU'RE LITTLE BIT LESS THAN 20.
>> NOT INCLUDING THE TEACHER PENSION SIDE OF THINGS. THAT'S JUST OPERATING.
[OVERLAPPING] THE LOCAL SHARE NUMBER THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, I BELIEVE IS AROUND 1.8 MILLION; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IS THAT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE POLLS AND COLLABORATIVE TIME THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED?
>> NO. THE 1.8 IS THE FULL COST THAT WAS FUNDED AS WRITTEN PRIOR TO ANYTHING BEING INTRODUCED DURING THE SESSION.
>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY REPORTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL? THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE SAVINGS STAY AT THE STATE LEVEL, DON'T COME DOWN TO THE COUNTY; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE REDUCTION, BECAUSE WE'RE A LOCAL SHARE AND WE'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE], THERE WOULD BE A COORDINATING REDUCTION OF THE LOCAL.
[02:00:03]
BECAUSE THERE IS A LOCAL SHARE PIECE THAT THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTES TO, SAY, THE FOUNDATION FOR COLLABORATE PLANNING.FOUNDATION IS ATTACHED TO, NOT TO GET LOST FROM THE SAUCE, BUT THAT PART OF THE FORMULA ADDS INTO THE OTHER PROMISED POPULATIONS SO IF THERE'S REDUCTIONS THERE, YOU'RE PAYING A PIECE OF THAT, SO IF THE WHOLE NUMBER GOES DOWN, YOU DO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A REDUCTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER ON IT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE BREAKDOWN BY LOCAL SHARE VERSUS STATE SHARE.
IF THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET CAME THROUGH AS WRITTEN, WE WOULD SEE A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 1.5 MILLION SO YOU GUYS WOULD BE A PORTION OF THAT.
>> WELL, THAT'S GOOD. SO IT'S NOT A FACTOR THEN. THANK YOU.
>> MOVING ON. HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ROBIN.
>> WORK PROPOSAL FOR FY26 IS BASED OFF OF FIGURES THAT WE HAVE FROM FY25 BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CONFIRMATION FOR FUNDING FROM STATE.
IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT IT WILL BE LEVEL FUNDED.
MY REQUEST TO THE COUNTY, WE ASKED AN INCREASE BY 2% FROM LAST YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 609,850.
THAT COVERS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CORE FUNDING ACTIVITIES.
IT COVERS ITEMS LIKE COMMUNAL [INAUDIBLE] PLANNING SERVICES, MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH SERVICES, WELLNESS PROMOTION SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ADULT HEALTH AND GERIATRIC SERVICES.
WE PRIMARILY UTILIZE OUR FUNDING FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE.
THE MAJORITY OF IT GOES TOWARDS OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR SALARIES.
WE DID INCREASE LAST YEAR THE PORTION THAT WE SPEND FOR MEDICAL ADULT DAYCARE.
WE WANT TO KEEP THAT REMAINING FOR FY26.
FOR ADMINISTRATION, WE INCLUDE OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTY SECURITY UNDER OUR ADMINISTRATION FEES.
THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLAR IN THERE FOR HD TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS A SYSTEM OR A PROCESS THAT WE SET UP TO ASSIST OUR NON-EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION CLIENTS WHO NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR OUR SERVICES BECAUSE THEY'VE MOVED UNDER WHAT THEY CALL QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY PROGRAM.
IT MEANS THEY'VE FALLEN OUT OF THAT ELIGIBILITY.
WE GENERALLY DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENED UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PUT A SAFETY NET THERE.
WE'VE DONE THAT THIS YEAR, FY24.
ABOUT MIDWAY, IT WAS ABOUT $315 ALTOGETHER SO WE DOUBLED THAT FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR OF FY25 AND FY26.
THE REQUEST TO THE COUNTY FOR THE LOCAL MATCH, IT'S ABOUT 6% OF OUR TOTAL BUDGETS.
OUR TOTAL BUDGET RANGES CLOSE TO $11 MILLION.
I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT ABOUT 36% OF THAT IS FEDERAL FUNDING.
AGAIN, WE HAVE NO INDICATION AT THIS TIME OF ANY CUTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE ARE SEEKING FOR MEDICAL DAYCARE.
I DID WANT TO LET YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO APPLY TO ONE OF OUR FOUNDATIONS FOR FUNDING TO ACTUALLY REPLACE ONE OF OUR BUSES.
WE HOPE THAT THAT WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN JULY.
WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST $100,000 FOR THAT SERVICE.
>> YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN INDICATION FROM THE STATE AT THIS POINT ABOUT ANY CUTS, BUT THERE ARE SOME BILL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING BILLS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT SO YOU DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> EXACTLY. THERE ARE CORE SERVICES THAT WE'RE LEGISLATED TO MAINTAIN IN TERMS OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SO KEEPING THAT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AS WE'RE PLANNING THINGS AND TALKING ABOUT CORE SERVICES.
I WILL REMIND YOU, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION MAYBE JULY LAST YEAR WHEN IT CAME OUT THAT THE CORE FUNDING THAT WAS COMING TO LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY WAS CUT IN JULY BY 10.4%.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I MADE YOU AWARE OF THAT SO THAT WHEN WE SAY LEVEL FUNDING,
[02:05:02]
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LEVEL FUNDING IN TERMS OF WHAT WE RECEIVED AFTER THOSE CUTS.>> I JUST THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, ROBIN.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.
LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND STRESS WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARE PROBABLY CLOSE TO PANDEMIC LEVELS IN TERMS OF THE UNKNOWN.
WE'RE JUST ALL STICKING TOGETHER AND LIFTING EACH OTHER UP.
WE ARE A VERY RESILIENT GROUP, SO WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. I'M CONFIDENT OF THAT.
>> LEVELS OF PANDEMIC STRESSOR APPEAR TOO.
>> WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> UPPER SHORE AGING IS NEXT. MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. WHILE I'M HEARING, WE'RE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING IN UP SHORE AGING THROUGH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING.
WE CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP.
WE'VE TRIED OUR BEST TO OPEN OUR BUDGET AS WELL.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF INCREASES.
JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT THE NEED IS INCREASING LAST YEAR, THAT ARE TWO SENIOR CENTERS HERE IN FEDERALSBURG.
WE HAD 613 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS RECEIVE 47,500 UNITS OF SERVICE.
SOME OF THAT WAS CONGREGATE AND HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
SOME OF THEM PARTICIPATED IN RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY, EXERCISE CLASSES.
VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THE NEED IS INCREASING, AND MY SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR, SHE RAN ME THE NUMBERS PULLED FROM THE DATABASE FOR THE FEDERAL PHYSICAL YEAR INSTEAD OF THE STATE.
FOR THIS YEAR, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 362 CLIENTS RECEIVING 20,074 UNITS OF SERVICE, BUT THAT'S FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS.
THAT PUTS US ON TARGET TO SERVE 869 SENIORS BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE NEED'S INCREASE, AND WE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS THE COST OF LIVING RISES AND THE OVER 60 POPULATION IS CONTINUING TO GRILL.
OF COURSE, THESE NUMBERS, THEY DON'T INCLUDE CAROLINE COUNTY SENIORS WHO ARE RECEIVING SERVICES FROM OTHER STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE ADMINISTER, LIKE SENIOR CARE, WHICH WE'RE ALSO WAITING ON A STATE BUDGET CUT ON THAT PROGRAM, MEDICAID WAIVER CLIENTS, GUARDIANSHIP, CAREGIVER SERVICES, THOSE WHO MAY BE RECEIVING SUBSIDIZED LIVING SUBSIDIES AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHO BENEFIT FROM THE SUPPORT OF [INAUDIBLE].
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A NUMBER OF DCT VOUCHERS TO ALLOW SENIORS THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT TO THE SENIOR CENTERS TO SOCIALIZE AND BENEFIT FROM THE PROGRAMS THERE.
THE BIG BUDGET INCREASE FOR US IS THE INCREASED FOOD COSTS. TO EXPLAIN THAT.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO REBID OUR FOOD CONTRACT EVERY 2-3 YEARS, AND OUR PAST CONTRACT EXPIRED AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2024.
PREVIOUSLY, ONE VENDOR SERVED CAROLINE'S KENT COUNTIES AND A DIFFERENT VENDOR SERVED TALBOT COUNTY.
I STARTED IN JULY, AND I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD BY MY DIRECTORS AND MY STAFF THAT THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD HERE AT CAROLINE AND KENT WAS MUCH LOWER THAN THE SENIORS IN TALBOT COUNTY RECEIVED.
I WAS RECOMMENDED BY EVERYONE THAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE THE VENDORS BECAUSE THE SENIORS DESERVED BETTER.
WE RECEIVED THREE BIDS, AND ALL THREE WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE WERE CURRENTLY PAYING.
THE PREVIOUS CAROLINE AND KENT COUNTY VENDOR WAS THE LOWEST BID, AND THE TALBOT VENDOR WAS THE HIGHEST BID.
[02:10:03]
WE SELECTED THE MIDDLE BID, WHICH WAS EAT SPROUT IN EASTON.EAT SPROUT IS A LOCAL COMPANY THAT'S KNOWN FOR HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES.
THEY USE ORGANIC AND LOCALLY PRODUCED INGREDIENTS.
WE CHOSE THEM WITH THE INTENT OF PROVIDING BETTER QUALITY AND MORE NUTRITIOUS FOODS FOR THE SENIORS.
THAT'S WHY WE MADE THAT CHOICE.
LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED 3,604 CONGREGATE MEALS AT THE TWO CENTERS AT A COST OF $22,896 AND 23,400 HOME DELIVERED MEALS TO CAROLINE SENIORS AT A COST OF $161,226.
THE TOTAL COST FOR LAST YEAR WAS $181,121.
THEN THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE THAT SAME NUMBER OF MEALS, WHICH IS 27,040 MEALS JUST FOR CAROLINE COUNTY SENIORS, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $229,840.
THE DIFFERENCE IS AN INCREASE IN $45,718, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.
THAT INCREASE REPRESENTS 5,378 MEALS, AND THAT'S 103 MEALS PER WEEK.
IF WE DID NOT ADD THAT INCREASE INTO THE BUDGET, THEN WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF MEALS BY THAT AMOUNT.
THE OTHER INCREASE THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL ASK, IT'S NOT REFLECTED IN THE ACTUAL BUDGET, AND THAT IS A 3% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR THE EMPLOYEES WORKING IN CAROLINE, WORKING IN SUPPORT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
THE WAGE AND THE ASSOCIATED FRINGE FOR THAT INCREASE TOTALS $21,224.
AS WE ALL KNOW, IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES, EVERYONE IS STRUGGLING, OUR SENIORS ARE STRUGGLING AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL.
WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH INCENTIVE AS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE DOING THE GOOD WORK THAT MEAN A LOT FOR OUR SENIORS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [INAUDIBLE], WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOWEST BID IN THE MIDDLE BID FOR THE FOOD, THE DIFFERENCE?
>> FOR THE FOOD? BIDS CAME IN AND I THINK I DO HAVE THAT.
>> YOU DID TELL ME YESTERDAY, BUT I DIDN'T WRITE IT DOWN.
>> CORRECT. THE LOWEST BID FOR CONGREGATE MEALS WAS $6.79 AND FOR THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS, WHICH IS THE LARGER PORTION IS $7.69.
EAT SPROUT WAS 8.50 ACROSS THE BOARD, AND THEN THE HIGHEST BID, I BELIEVE, WAS $10.10 FOR THE CONGREGATE MEALS AND $10.70 FOR THE FOR THE HOME DELIVERED MEALS.
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE THREE BIDS WERE.
>> OVER THE YEARS, ONE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOCATIONS WE'VE MADE HAS BEEN TO THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, AND I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND REALLY NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE MEALS THAT ARE DELIVERED ARE DELIVERED IN A LOT OF CASES BY PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE DELIVERING TO.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT IS PLACED IN THIS COUNTY THROUGH OUR CULINARY SCHOOL, THROUGH WHAT WE CALL THE FOOD DESERT PROGRAMS. IS THERE A WAY TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM, OR HAVE YOU TRIED THAT TO WORK WITH THEM TO CUT DOWN OR CUT BACK ON THE COSTS OF THE MEALS OR PREPARATION OF THE MEALS OR THE COST OF THE FOOD?
I KNOW WE HAVE TO FOLLOW PRETTY STRICT GUIDELINES THROUGH DEPARTMENT OF AGING FOR THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM AND SERVICES AND WHATNOT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I PROBABLY CAN'T GIVE YOU A REAL SATISFACTORY ANSWER.
>> WELL, IF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGING IS GOING TO HAVE GUIDELINES, THEN THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH SOME MONEY.
I JUST THINK THAT THE SERVICE, AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE SENIOR CENTERS AS I AM WITH THE MEALS ON WHEELS, BUT IN PRIOR YEARS, I THINK ANDY IS BACK THERE,
[02:15:02]
WE'VE COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE GET SERVED BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S THE ONLY MEAL THEY GOT, AND THEY GOT TO GET IT, BUT I KNOW THAT BETH BREWSTER HAS WORKED VERY HARD IN THIS COUNTY AND THEY DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.MAYBE WE COULD COORDINATE SOMETHING HERE THAT WE COULD SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT.
THE OTHER PROGRAM IS THE ONE THAT MS. COLLEY WAS INVOLVED FARM PRODUCTS OR FARM FOODS OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY GREW FOOD IN BULK.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE COULD BE SOME WAY WE COULD MAYBE WORK TO GET THESE FOOD COSTS DOWN.
>> WE DO SEND OUT ADDITIONAL FOOD, ADDITIONAL MEALS THROUGH OTHER AGENCIES.
WE HAD ANOTHER GRANT SOURCE THAT WE SOMETIMES SEND OUT PRODUCE TO MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS.
I KNOW ONE PARTICULAR NONPROFIT HOME INSTEAD, CHRISTMAS TIME, THEY SENT OUT GIFTS, AND THEY CAME AND OUR DRIVERS DELIVERED THEM TO ALL THE MEALS ON WHEELS RECIPIENTS.
THEY DO GET ADDITIONAL FOOD AND MEALS ON TOP OF THE SIX MEALS THAT WE SEND OUT AS WELL THROUGH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
>> WELL, LET'S WORK. I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY TRY TO HELP COORDINATE THAT A LITTLE BIT WITH THOSE AGENCIES BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO IN COUNTY WOULD HELP.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT THE FOOD TO BE THE BEST WE CAN MAKE IT, BUT AGAIN, THE STATE WANTS TO TELL US, THEN GET SOMEBODY OVER THERE THAT CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND COME UP WITH SOME MONEY TO HELP WITH THIS BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN THIS COUNTY.
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR DELIVERERS FOR ME.
TELL THEM, WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
>> I WILL. I SHARED WITH COMMISSIONER BARTZ YESTERDAY THAT BACK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
THEY WERE SHORT ON DRIVERS HERE AND I DID ONE OF THE ROUTES AND DELIVERED DOWN AROUND HARMONY AND [INAUDIBLE] AND PRESTON, AND THAT AREA.
WELL, MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE SOME OF THESE FOLKS TWICE A WEEK WHEN A DRIVER SHOWS UP, THAT'S A BIT OF SOCIALIZATION FOR THEM.
>> THERE WERE A COUPLE OF TIMES, THE RECIPIENT, WHEN I CAME TO THE DOOR AND I WAS A STRANGE FACE, THEY SAID, WELL, WHERE IS SO AND SO? THEY WERE EXPECTING THEM.
>> IT ALSO PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF A CHECKUP ON THEM AS WELL AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE OKAY.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I ALWAYS REALLY REMEMBERED WAS MR. ASHI WHO DELIVERED, AND HE WAS DEDICATED TO THAT.
THEY'RE HUMAN INTEREST STORIES. LET'S WORK ON THAT.
LET'S WORK ON TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY HERE TO HELP.
I'M SURE BETH'S ALWAYS UP FOR A MEETING.
WE'LL GET HER LINED UP AND SEE IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
>> NEXT UP, WE GOT ANDY HOLLIS, [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY SERVICE.
>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. I THINK IT WAS EASIER TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU LAST YEAR FOR A [INAUDIBLE] THAN IT ACTUALLY IS FOR TRANSIT.
IT'S PROVEN TO BE A HEAVIER LIFT THAN I THOUGHT.
WE SUBMITTED TO YOU A BUDGET REQUEST OF $157,475.
THAT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO A COVERED DIFFERENT TRANSPORTATION GRANTS THROUGH MTA AND FEDERAL MONEY, 103,976 OF THAT IS FOR GRANT 5311, WHICH IS THE OPERATING GRANT, 46,966 IS FOR S STAFF, WHICH IS FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED TRANSPORTATION.
THEN WE HAD A SMALL REQUEST OF $6,533 FOR A MATCH ON CAPITAL.
[02:20:01]
I SPENT AN INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU-ALL BECAUSE I'VE SAT IN YOUR SEATS LITERALLY ON THE TALBOT SIDE, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO TRY TO PRIORITIZE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY, MR. PORTER, HEARING YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT BLUEPRINT AND ALL THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE.WE AT DCT, ARE OPERATING A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT OPERATE IN THE BLACK.
IT IS IN THE RED AND NEEDS TO BE SUBSIDIZED TO CONTINUE.
THE PEOPLE WE SERVE HAVE VERY LITTLE CHOICE ABOUT RIDING THE BUS.
VERY FEW PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE THE BUS IF THEY HAVE ANOTHER OPTION.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WAS DONE RECENTLY SHOWS THEY EITHER DON'T HAVE A CAR, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOMEBODY WITH A CAR, OR THEY'RE SENIORS WHO SIMPLY DON'T DRIVE ANYMORE.
WE'RE REALLY SERVING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE.
AT THE SAME TIME, I REALIZED COMPLETELY THAT WE ARE RUNNING BUSES THAT ARE FAR FROM FULL.
WE HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND WE HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE MOBILITY ON DEMAND FOR THE GREENSBORO, ORIGINALLY GOLDSBORO ROUTE, AS IN JANUARY CAME IN AND GOT YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT.
I EXPECT THAT WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT DOING MORE OF THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE DENTON AREA AND THE OTHER ROUTES WE'RE DOING.
HAVING SAID THAT, WE ALSO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION TO THE SENIOR CENTER, WE GET THE SENIORS TO AND FROM, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY THIS IS NECESSARILY THE BIGGEST RETURN ON YOUR BUCK.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SAID THAT PUBLICLY BEFORE.
I'M NOT REAL PROUD OF IT, BUT I AM PROUD OF WHAT WE DO.
IT'S SIMPLY IN YOUR LAPS, UNFORTUNATELY, TO DECIDE JUST HOW MUCH PRIORITY YOU ARE ABLE TO PUT FINANCIALLY ON THE SERVICES WE OFFER.
I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY MANAGER IN TALBOT, HAD IT WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, SHELLY HELLER UP IN KENT A FEW DAYS AGO.
I WOULD SUGGEST VERY RESPECTFULLY, YOU-ALL LOOK AT HOW THIS COST FOR TRANSPORTATION IS DIVIDED UP BETWEEN THREE PARTNER COUNTIES.
WITH NO DISRESPECT TO TALBOT, WHICH IS MY HOME COUNTY, THEY ARE BY FAR GIVEN THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF SERVICES, BUT EVERYBODY IS PAYING ONE THIRD.
YOU MAY WANT TO THINK FOR NEXT YEAR ABOUT WHETHER THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED AGAIN WITH YOUR PARTNERS? I'M NOT PART OF THAT, BUT I HAVE A HARD TIME MAKING THE SAME CASE FOR YOU THAT I MAKE FOR TALBOT IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE'RE HELPING.
THE ONLY OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS BASED ON OUR LAST CONVERSATION, WE HAVE MET WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HER ENTIRE MANAGEMENT STAFF.
WE ARE NOW OFFERING VOUCHERS FOR THEIR PATRONS THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED BY THEM YET, BUT IT IS IN PLACE.
WE MADE SURE THAT IT'S THERE AND AVAILABLE.
WE ALSO MET WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES AT YOUR REQUEST.
WE ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO PICK UP CLIENTS WHEN THEY NEED TO RIDE BACK HOME IN CAROLINE COUNTY IF IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORT.
WE STAND READY TO HELP IN BOTH OF THOSE REGARDS, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THE POSITION YOU'RE IN.
>> WELL, I THINK CERTAINLY WHATEVER CAPACITY YOU'VE COME BEFORE US, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN UPFRONT AND HONEST.
THIS GOES BACK TO WHEN WE COME TO TRANSPORTATION.
IT GOES BACK TO THE ONGOING DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
I MEAN, WE LOOK AT WHATEVER COLORS THEY ARE, PURPLE LINE OR GREEN LINE OR WHATEVER THEY ARE OVER THERE, THAT NONE OF US WILL EVER RIDE.
NONE OF US WILL EVER RIDE THOSE THINGS.
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GET PUMPED INTO THOSE THINGS, AND THEN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION OVER HERE, IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU GOT TO GO FIND SOMEBODY TO TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE. GOOD LUCK.
THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHAT I SAY ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
I THINK THAT WHILE WE'RE GETTING WHAT'S LEFT OVER, SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES AND COSTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND BE FAIR ABOUT IT. WHO THAT'S GOING TO BE?
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE CITIZENS WE SERVE ON THE SHORE ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE ONES THAT ARE USING THE PURPLE LINE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SEEN THESE THESE PROJECTS THAT EVERYBODY CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT WE NEED.
WE NEED SERVICES HERE AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY THAT.
I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR 15 YEARS.
NOBODY LISTENS. BUT I'LL KEEP SAYING IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBTS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
WE'VE HAD THE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE YEARS WITH DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT EMPTY BUSES AND WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO GO AND BACK,
[02:25:03]
AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING ON BUSES AND FROM DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS AND HAVING TO SIT AND WAIT.IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK, CERTAINLY.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY ON OUR SIDE TO WORK HARDER TO ADVOCATE FOR THE USE OF THE BUS SERVICES SO THAT MORE PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE OUT THERE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TDP AGAIN, MORE NUMBERS THAN I EXPECTED AREN'T EVEN AWARE OF THE SERVICE.
>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO, AND THE OTHER PART IS TRANSPARENCY WITH THE THREE OF YOU.
I'M REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT, AND WE SPENT, MR. FOX PROBABLY TOO MUCH FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS, AND I'M NOT 100% SECURE IN SOME OF THAT PREVIOUS NUMBERS, BUT I AM IN THIS ONE, AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT USING TRANSPORTATION TO SUPPORT OTHER SERVICES.
>> I'M COMFORTABLE TELLING YOU THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO REDUCE SERVICES, BUT I FULLY UNDERSTAND IF WE HAVE COMPETING INTERESTS AND WE CAN'T GET OUR WHOLE ASK.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION, BUT I RESPECT IT.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU. SINCE YOU TOOK THE POSITION YOU HAVE FOR NEW LEADERSHIP HERE, YOU'VE BEEN TRANSPARENT AND YOU'VE ANSWERED EVERY QUESTION WE'VE HAD, AND TRIED TO RESOLVE ANY ISSUES AND LOGISTIC PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN FACED PREVIOUSLY, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
I KNOW IT'S A NECESSITY THAT WE OPERATE THIS IN A RED.
TRANSPORTATION IS NEVER A MONEY MAKING VENUE ANYWAY.
IT'S HARD NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
THE ONLY THING SAVING GRACE YOU HAVE AT THE MOMENT IS YOUR FUEL COSTS ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
NOT SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO BE SOMEWHAT LOWER.
LIKE I SAID, I APPRECIATE YOUR TRANSPARENCY AND BEING UPFRONT AND JUST TRYING TO TACKLE ANY ISSUES THAT WE FORE SEE.
NOW, YOU'RE STILL PURSUING THE MOBILITY ON DEMAND.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'RE STILL PURSUING OR STILL IMPLEMENTING IT?
>> IT'S ON THE ONE ROUTE IN CAROLINE, AND IT'S ALSO OPERATING IN TALBOT, [INAUDIBLE].
>> NUMBERS ARE NOT INCREASING, TO BE PERFECTLY FRANK.
I'M NOT SURPRISED, WE PROBABLY NEED TO MARKET BETTER.
WORD NEEDS TO GET OUT, BUT DOGGONE, IT'S NOT TOO BAD WHEN THE TRANSPORTATION PULLS UP AT YOUR FRONT TO GET YOU.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO A BUS STOP, AND THEN YOU'RE DROPPED AT A TRANSIT TRANSFER LOCATION TO GO TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
>> HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN IN EFFECT.
>> JUST SINCE WE TALKED TO YOU LATE LAST YEAR, SO JANUARY.
I KNOW IT'S HARD ON EVERYBODY'S TALK RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH. WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING AND MEETING WITH US, I THINK TWICE, LIKE NOW WE MET.
BEING CANDID, IT GOES A LONG WAY.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
>> CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE. NEXT UP, DR. COPPER SMITH.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, I WISH TO THANK CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF ME AND THE COLLEGE OVER THE PAST YEAR.
THE COLLEGE IS IN GOOD SHAPE AS WE SPEAK.
WE ARE DOING GOOD WORK AND THE COLLEGE IS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR ITS PROGRESS.
RECENTLY, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA RANKED CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE NUMBER 2 IN THE STATE FOR HIGH GRADUATION AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER RATES JUST BEHIND HAGERSTOWN.
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND HAS DEVELOPED A REGIONAL SURVEY THAT MORE ACCURATELY DOCUMENTS THE WORK THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGES DO IN THE REGION, AND WE WERE ONE OF THE COLLEGES THAT PILOTED THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS PROJECT.
ENROLLMENT FOR SPRING IS VERY GOOD WITH THE BEST WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE SPRING OF 2017, AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF DUAL ENROLLMENT FROM OUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AS COMPARED TO OUR STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE PEERS.
FOR THE SPRING, ABOUT 37% OF OUR CREDIT ENROLLMENT ARE DUAL ENROLLED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM OUR FIVE SUPPORT COUNTIES.
I ALSO WISH TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TWO SIGNIFICANT ASKS THAT WE HAVE MADE OF OUR COUNTIES THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST IS A REQUESTED INCREASE IN OPERATIONAL FUNDING OF 5%.
THE OTHER IS SUPPORTING THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE PROPOSED QUEEN ANNE'S TECH SKILL TRADES TECHNOLOGY BUILDING.
WE ARE AWARE THAT SINCE WE MOVED THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL THROUGH OUR BOARD AND SENT IT TO THE COUNTIES FOR THE REVIEW THAT EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS HAVE COMPLICATED THE FISCAL PICTURE, BOTH AT THE COUNTY AND THE STATE LEVEL, AS MR. PORTER HAS SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED.
THAT HAS BEEN FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE CHANGES OCCURRING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT OBVIOUSLY IMPACT ALL OF US, AND TO SOME EXTENT, REMAIN A QUESTION MARK FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.
THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU REVIEW OUR REQUEST IN THE LIGHT OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT THAT THE COLLEGE IS, HAS, AND WILL BE PROVIDING TO THE REGION DURING
[02:30:01]
WHAT WILL BE CONTINUING CHALLENGING TIMES.WE ARE IMPROVING OUR WORKFORCE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE'VE ACQUIRED SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC GRANT INVESTMENT THAT ARE ALL MAKING A DIFFERENCE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF OUR COUNTIES THAT CAN PROVIDE IN ASSURING THAT WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR ABILITY TO BE THE ANCHOR ECONOMIC INSTITUTION THAT WE ARE FOR THE REGION.
WE ALSO PROVIDED OVER $600,000 IN DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS TO THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE FOUNDATION IN THE PAST YEAR.
FINALLY, ON THE BUILDING PROJECT, THE QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S CAPITAL LIST, AND IT WILL BE FUNDED, ASSUMING APPROVAL BY THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH THE DESIGN PHASE TO BEGIN AS EARLY AS OCTOBER 2025.
AT THIS POINT, THE EXACT EXTENT OF THE PROJECT IS STILL IN QUESTION AS WE WORK WITH MHAC, DBM, AND DGS TO FINALIZE WHAT IS CALLED A PROGRAM STATEMENT THAT JUSTIFIES THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE FACILITY IN LINE WITH OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTUAL AND FORECASTED ENROLLMENT.
THAT PROCESS IS ONGOING AND WE SHOULD BE APPROVED BY ALL OF THESE STATE AGENCIES BY MID SUMMER.
AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT AT THE VERY LEAST A FACILITY TWICE THE SIZE OF THE CURRENT QUEEN ANNE'S TECH BUILDING IS LIKELY.
THE QUESTION REMAINING IS WHETHER THE STATE WILL APPROVE WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED, WHICH WILL BE ANOTHER THIRD LARGER.
WE'RE WORKING ON OUR RESPONSE TO THESE AGENCIES ON 13 QUESTIONS REGARDING THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE HOUSED IN THE NEW BUILDING, AND THE RELATED ENROLLMENT, PRESENT AND FUTURE, AS WELL AS THE NATURE OF THE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES.
FOR EXAMPLE, UNLIKE THE HOWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROJECT, OUR WELDING PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES A METAL FABRICATION COMPONENT THAT REQUIRES MORE SPACE FOR ACCOMMODATION OF STUDENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND LARGE SCALE FABRICATION PROJECTS.
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, THE COUNTIES SHOULD ASSUME THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, AND AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE OUR FINAL APPROVALS AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, WE WILL NOTIFY THE COUNTIES.
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S MY REPORT.
I HAVE KAREN SMITH WITH ME, IF YOU HAVE ANY DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TODAY.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SINGING AT OUR ANNUAL MEETING, SO WE CAN, [OVERLAPPING].
>> WHO KNOWS WHAT THE WORLD'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN APRIL [LAUGHTER]?
>> A COURT, EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOOM AND GLOOM, BUT I TRIED TO.
>> I'M WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN MAY. I DON'T THINK APRIL.
THE QUEEN ANNE BUILDING, I'M TRYING TO GO THROUGH THE TOTAL CAPITAL COST ON THAT IS 56 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? 56 MILLION.
>> WHAT IS THE STATE AND LOCAL SHARE BREAKDOWN ON THAT?
>> THE STATES SHARE OF 75% OF THE OVERALL CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
THE LOCAL COUNTIES TAKE UP PROPORTIONATELY BETWEEN THE FIVE COUNTS.
>> IT'S STILL IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET?
>> IT'S STILL IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER AND PRESENTING.
>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE LIBRARY. GOOD MORNING.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. I'LL START WITH OPERATING, IF THAT'S GOOD WITH YOU ALL.
THE DOCUMENTS WE SENT OVER ELABORATE AS REQUESTED, A SMALL INCREASE THIS YEAR OF $41,112 FROM THE COUNTY FOR OUR OPERATING BUDGET, SO WE PROVIDE OUR STAFF WITH A SMALL COST OF LIVING INCREASE, 3%.
TEN THOUSAND OF THAT ADDITIONAL INCREASE, WILL ALSO GO INTO OUR FACILITIES' MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR BUDGET, WHICH CAN INCREASE AS PRIZES INCREASE.
AS YOU HERE FROM US EVERY YEAR, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST, AND IS ALWAYS OUR ACTUAL BIGGEST CHALLENGE, IS HIRING AND RETAINING EMPLOYEES.
IT'S GETTING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR US AS WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE LARGER LIBRARY SYSTEMS. [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY TYPICALLY OFFERS SALARIES THAT ARE CLEANED 25% ABOVE OURS, [INAUDIBLE].
SOMETIMES THEY ARE OFFERING 50-100% ABOVE WHAT WE OFFER FOR SOME POSITIONS.
WE LOSE PEOPLE ACROSS THE BRIDGE ALL THE TIME FOR HIGHER PAYING JOBS.
[INAUDIBLE] ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THAT WE'VE BECOME A FARM TEAM AS A LOT OF OUR AGENCIES HERE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THESE GREAT PEOPLE [INAUDIBLE].
THEN ONLY CHANCE WE HAVE TO KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE IS TO MAKE SURE OUR SALARIES ARE AS [INAUDIBLE] AS POSSIBLE.
CURRENTLY, 11 OUT OF OUR 19 STAFF HAVE WORKED AT THE LIBRARY FOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE LOST 12 PEOPLE LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVE HIRED SO FAR EIGHT.
WE STILL HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS TO FILL AND
[02:35:01]
WE HOPE TO HAVE THE FILLED BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.WE'RE TYPICALLY JUST FOLLOWING WHAT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER IS DOING IN TERMS OF STAFFING AND ASKING FOR COVID INCREASE.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR A [INAUDIBLE] INCREASE FOR ANYTHING THIS YEAR.
I WILL BEGIN WITH [INAUDIBLE] PROBABLY AT SOME POINT TO TALK ABOUT THAT STEP INCREASE.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE HAD BUILT INTO OUR POLICIES [INAUDIBLE] CONTACT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR OPERATING [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I WON'T GO INTO THE LEASING.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK WE'RE STILL IN PROGRESS ON THAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON. WE'RE WAITING.
>> I HEARD FROM ABBY THE DAY AFTER I [INAUDIBLE] REQUEST THAT EVERYTHING [INAUDIBLE] NEW.
SHE LET ME KNOW THAT SUPPOSEDLY SOMEONE HAS BEEN HIRED, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO START.
SHE EXPECTS THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE 3-6 MONTHS, IF NOT MORE, TO GET HER FEET WET WITH POSITION BEFORE THEY EVEN THINK ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS.
SHE WANTS TO RECONFIRM THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING A NEW LEASE THAT WORKS FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
I RECOMMITTED THE LIBRARY IS, AND FROM OUR DISCUSSIONS, IT SEEMS LIKE COMMISSIONERS ARE AS WELL.
BALL'S IN THEIR COURT. LET THEM KNOW.
REACH OUT AND WE'LL HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION.
BUT RIGHT NOW, OUR NEW 30-YEAR LEASE GOES INTO EFFECT APRIL 1ST.
WE'RE GOOD UNTIL THEY WANT TO HAVE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
>> QUESTIONS ON OPERATING ON [INAUDIBLE] AND CAPITAL.
FORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVEN'T REQUESTED CAPITAL MONEY FROM YOU GENTLEMEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
AS YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH A RENOVATION OF THE FIRST FLOOR IN LIBRARY BACK IN 2023.
THAT WAS A $1.4 MILLION PROJECT.
WE RECEIVED $900,000 IN THE STATE LIBRARY CAPITAL RENT FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT.
THE LIBRARY PAID FOR THE LOCAL MATCH, WHICH WAS 22% FOR ONE OF OUR RESERVE ACCOUNTS, THE JOHN HARGREAVES FUND.
WHILE WE WERE DOING THAT, WE DISCOVERED THAT WE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ELEVATOR AND THE SLATE ROOF AT THE LIBRARY.
WE TURNED IT IN INTO A PHASE 2 PART OF THE RENOVATION.
WE RECEIVED $467,000 IN STATEWIDE CAPITAL GRANT FUNDING FOR THAT SECOND PHASE, AND THE COMMISSIONERS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO PAY THE [INAUDIBLE] OF 132,000 TO REPLACE THOSE ROOF AND THE ELEVATOR.
LAST YEAR, WE INITIALLY ASKED FOR $310,000 TO REPAVE THE PARKING LOT.
PUBLIC WORKS WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR US, SO WE DID NOT HAVE TO ACTUALLY RECEIVE THAT MONEY, WHICH WE REALLY APPRECIATE, THE AFFORDABLE JOB.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO NOTE IS THAT WHILE WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY CAPITAL MONEY THIS YEAR, WE HAVE FLAT ROOFS ON THE CENTRAL LIBRARY THAT WILL BE 20 YEARS OLD IN 2028, AND WE ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH VARIOUS LEAK ISSUES.
WE'LL BE LOOKING TO APPLY FOR MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY CAPITAL GRANT IN FY '28 OR FY '29 TO REPLACE THESE FLAT ROOFS.
>> WELL, MY COMMENT TO THAT WOULD BE THAT THOSE FLAT ROOFS ARE OWNED BY MRDC.
>> FROM MY OLD LIBRARY BOARD MEMORIES, THE JOHN HARGREAVE'S FUND, THAT IS ONLY ALLOWED TO BE USED FOR EQUIPMENT, BOOKS.
>> EQUIPMENT, BOOKS, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO LIBRARY FACILITIES.
WE STILL HAVE [INAUDIBLE] PRETTY NICE JOB.
>> YOU DO. FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T REMEMBER JOHN HARGREAVE, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER HIM, HE WAS A TREMENDOUS BENEFACTOR TO THE LIBRARY.
>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THE LAST THING I'VE GOT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
EVERY YEAR WE REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSIONERS PROVIDE $6,000 FOR THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY FUND.
THIS TYPICALLY COST US ABOUT 30, $33,000 A YEAR TO MAINTAIN, IT'S MAINTAINED BY THE LIBRARY.
WE WILL BE RECEIVING THIS YEAR $8,000 FOR THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY FUND IN MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY AGENCY VIA THEIR YOUNG READERS MATCHING GRANTS PROGRAM,
[02:40:03]
WHICH IS NEW THIS YEAR.WE'LL BE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FROM THAT.
THE SCHOOLS ALWAYS PROVIDED A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, THEY DO DONATIONS FROM TEACHERS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHICH IS VERY HELPFUL.
IF YOU COULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE US WITH THAT ASK, WE WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL.
DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY CURRENTLY HAS OVER 1,200 ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE PROVIDED NEARLY 130,000 BOOKS TO THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> [OVERLAPPING] GOOD. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. WE APPRECIATE IT. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.
>> YOU TOO. NEXT, WE HAVE THE EXTENSION SERVICE. THEY'RE HERE.
LAST FOUR SHOULD BE EXTENSION SERVICE, HUMANE SOCIETY, SOIL CONSERVATION, AND THE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES.
IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO JUMP UP TO THE TABLE NOW THAT ARE IN THOSE GROUPS, THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM.
>> GOOD MORNING, GENTLEMEN. I'M DR. PAUL RICKERT WITH THE EXTENSION OFFICE HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OVER THE LAST 111 YEARS IS HOW LONG THAT WE HAVE EXISTED NOW.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S 111 YEARS IN CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT AS EXTENSION SERVICES ACROSS THE US, IT'S BEEN 111 YEARS AS OF THIS YEAR.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OUT AT THE 4-H CENTER.
THAT'S GOING TO SERVE BOTH THE YOUTH AND THOSE WHO UTILIZE THE PARK, AS WELL AS THE OFFICE VERY WELL.
I HAVE WITH ME TODAY OUR ADMIN, ANNA BYRD, WHO YOU HAVE MET BEFORE, AS WELL AS DR. TRAVIS FORD.
DR. TRAVIS FORD IS OUR NEW AGRICULTURAL AGENT.
I THOUGHT I'D BRING HIM HERE THIS MORNING TO JUST SAY HELLO.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEET AND GREET AT OUR OFFICE ON MARCH 6TH FROM 9:00-3:00 TO COME AND SAY HI.
THERE SHOOT BE A BUNCH OF FARMERS THERE THAT'LL BE TALKING WITH HIM, AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU-ALL AS WELL TO COME OUT AND YOU CAN GET TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHAT SOME OF HIS PASSIONS ARE, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE DOCUMENT THAT I PASSED OUT TO YOU.
ONTO OUR BUDGET, THIS YEAR'S ASK IS FOR $203,039.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE FIRST PAGE OUR BREAKDOWN BETWEEN COUNTY STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THERE'S ABOUT 18% ASK FROM THE COUNTY, 58% COMES FROM THE STATE, AND 24% COMES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT COVERS THE OFFICE OPERATIONS.
IT COVERS ALL THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
WE HAVE 10 PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES AROUND THE COMMUNITY.
THE CHANGES THIS YEAR, THE INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR IS $14,190, AND THE BREAKDOWN OF THOSE CHANGES IS $2,500 IS THE RENT INCREASE.
TRAVEL, WE ASKED TO INCREASE THAT BY $4,000.
JIMMY LEWIS HARDLY EVER TURNED IN ANY TRAVEL.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET BY WITH A LOT LESS TRAVEL BECAUSE JIMMY LEWIS NEVER TURNED IT IN.
I CAN'T EXPECT THAT OF A NEW STAFF MEMBER.
THEN THE OTHER REST OF THAT INCREASE IS SALARY INCREASES ON THE 10 FACULTY AND STAFF IN THE OFFICE, AND THAT'S $7,690.
IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME MANDATED INCREASES FOR OUR TWO STAFF MEMBERS THAT WORKED THERE BASED ON THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING THING THAT HAPPENED WITH THE UNIVERSITY, LIKE $700 THIS PAST JANUARY AND $700 NEXT JANUARY.
THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THAT. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I DON'T THINK I'VE GOT ANY.
ME AND COMMISSIONER BRADY HAD A CONVERSATION ON THE WAY BACK FROM ANNAPOLIS ONE DAY WE WENT UP THERE. WHAT?
>> YOU FORGOT? ANYWAY, WE HAD AN INQUIRY ABOUT A MASTER GARDENER.
APPARENTLY, CAROLINE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A MASTER GARDENER IN THEIR SERVICE.
I TALKED TO MS. JENNY RODE WHILE I WAS THERE IN ANNAPOLIS.
I'M JUST ASKING HYPOTHETICALLY.
WHAT WOULD THAT CONSIST OF FINANCIALLY TO HAVE THAT?
[02:45:02]
ARE WE SHARING ONE WITH OTHER COUNTIES RIGHT NOW?>> SAY, CAROLINE COUNTY WOULD HAVE PURSUED THAT.
HOW WOULD THAT WORK AND WHAT TYPE OF FINANCIAL BURDEN IT WOULD BE HERE?
>> I CAN GIVE YOU SOME REASONABLY ACCURATE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE JUST DID THIS IN KENT COUNTY.
KENT COUNTY AND CAROLINE COUNTY WERE THE ONLY TWO STATES COUNTIES IN THE STATE THAT DID NOT HAVE A MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM.
MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM COORDINATES VOLUNTEERS.
THEY GO THROUGH THE BACKGROUND CHECK JUST LIKE OUR 4-H VOLUNTEERS WOULD, AND THEY FORM A CADRE THAT GOES AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC.
YOU MAY FIND THEM AT THE FARMERS MARKETS.
YOU MAY FIND THEM DOING EVENTS AT THE LIBRARY THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THEY GIVE GENERAL EDUCATION, AND OCCASIONALLY, THEY DO COLLECTIVE PROJECTS.
YOU COULDN'T CALL THEM AND SAY, HEY, I GOT SOME PROBLEMS WITH WEEDS AT MY HOUSE, COULD YOU COME AND TAKE CARE OF MY WEEDS? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. THEY'RE EDUCATIONAL IN NATURE.
THEY WOULD COME OUT, THOUGH, POTENTIALLY AND SAY, YOU'VE GOT THIS AND THIS IS HOW YOU MIGHT WANT TO TREAT IT.
THEY MAY SHOW YOU WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO WITH ONE OR TWO EXAMPLES OR SOMETHING.
THEY ALSO DO THINGS LIKE INSTALL PUBLIC GARDENS ON OCCASION IF THERE'S THE FINANCING TO DO THAT.
IN KENT COUNTY, OVER THE LAST, SINCE LONG BEFORE I GOT HERE, I'D SAY,20 YEARS, IT HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED BY THE QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY HAD SOME WHO LIVED IN KENT COUNTY THAT WANTED TO PARTNER WITH THEM.
IT GREW INTO OUR QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY MASTER GARDENER COORDINATOR OVERSEEING ALSO ABOUT 18 MASTER GARDENERS WHO RESIDED IN KENT COUNTY.
THIS PAST YEAR, THEY SPLIT THAT OUT.
WE HAVE JUST HIRED LAST MONTH A PART-TIME STAFF MEMBER WHO'S A MASTER GARDENER COORDINATOR.
BASED ON THE SALARY AND ALL THE FRINGE, THAT IS ABOUT $28,000.
TYPICALLY, IT'S BEEN A FACULTY POSITION, BUT WITH SOME OF THE TIGHTENING OF THE BELTS AND THINGS THAT'S GOING ON, IT HAS STARTED TO TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS A STAFF MEMBER.
DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS STATE BUDGET, THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO IMPLEMENT ONE.
ANNA, TYPICALLY, IS THE ONE WHO ANSWERS PHONE CALLS IN THE OFFICE.
HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY CALLS ABOUT MASTER GARDENERS?
>> WELL, I WAS TRACKING IT FOR A WHILE JUST TO SEE WHAT WAS COMING IN, AND IT WAS NOT A LOT.
THERE WAS MAYBE SIX OR SEVEN CALLS OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD, A LITTLE NOTE PAD BY THE PHONE AND JOTTING DOWN ANYTHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD RELATE TO A MASTER GARDENER POSITION.
>> TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO IF A RESIDENT CALLS IN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A MASTER GARDENER TYPE QUESTION, SOMETIMES WE PASS THEM OFF TO THE AG AGENT DEPENDING ON THEIR SKILL SET.
OTHER TIMES WE'LL REFER THEM TO THE ASK A MASTER GARDENER WEB PAGE AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION, AND THEY USUALLY, WITHIN 24 HOURS, CAN GET A RESPONSE, THEY CAN UPLOAD PHOTOS AND DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEIR SITUATION IS.
OTHER TIMES, IF IT'S A MORE SPECIFIC NEED, WE COULD TRANSFER THEM OR GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION FOR ANOTHER ONE OF THE MASTER GARDENER COORDINATORS IN QUEEN ANNE'S OR IN DORCHESTER OR NOW IN KENT OR UP IN CECIL, IF WE HAD TO.
>> ANYBODY IN CAROLINE, IF THERE'S A CLASS OR SOMETHING, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO QUEEN ANNE'S OR DORCHESTER.
>> PARTICULARLY IF IT'S GOLDSBORO, I THINK THEY WENT TO DORCHESTER.
>> YEAH. WE DO REGIONAL TRAINING.
IT'S BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE IN HARFORD COUNTY WHERE EVERYBODY JUST COMES TO ONE LOCATION, JUST WITHIN THE SAME COUNTY.
SINCE WE'RE DRAWING FROM FIVE OR SIX COUNTIES A LOT OF TIMES FOR THE MASTER GARDENER BASIC TRAINING, IT'S 40 HOURS OF EDUCATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND OTHER SPECIALISTS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR FIRST YEAR. THEY DO THAT EDUCATION.
THEN THEY HAVE 40 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE THAT'S REQUIRED.
PART OF THAT IS A KIND OF A CULMINATION CAPSTONE PROJECT THAT THEY DO TOGETHER.
IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE OF PUBLIC BENEFIT.
I KNOW IN CECIL COUNTY ONE YEAR, THEY INSTALLED A RAIN GARDEN AT THE LOCAL LIBRARY.
IT'S THOSE SORTS OF PUBLIC GOODS THAT THEY DO FOR THE CAPSTONE PROJECT.
>> I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.
>> WELL, THANK YOU-ALL VERY MUCH. NICE TO MEET YOU.
>> GREAT FIRST NAME, BY THE WAY.
[02:50:07]
HUMANE SOCIETY.>> KATHY MOORE, TREASURER, BONNIE JOHNSON WITH CAROLINE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY.
WE ARE ASKING AN OPERATING INCREASE OF $67,000.
WE'RE HAVING, I'M SURE AS EVERY OTHER SMALL ORGANIZATION, A PROBLEM HIRING FULL-TIME PEOPLE.
WE USED TO HAVE LIKE NINE FULL-TIME PEOPLE AND MAYBE FOUR OR FIVE PART-TIME PEOPLE.
NOW, WE ONLY HAVE SIX FULL-TIME PEOPLE AND WE HAVE NINE PART-TIME.
THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, IF ANYTHING, MADE PEOPLE MORE UNHAPPY.
NOW THEY'RE MAKING $15 AN HOUR, THEY'RE UNHAPPIER THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY'RE MAKING [INAUDIBLE].
IT'S PSYCHOLOGICALLY, WHATEVER.
WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE FULL-TIME AND THAT WE WANT TO HIRE TO BE FULL-TIME MORE THAN MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEEM TO HIRE ANY ONE FULL-TIME MINIMUM WAGE.
DUNKIN DONUTS $20 AN HOUR ON THE SIGN OUT THERE, DOG STUFF OR DONUT SMELL. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WE DON'T HAVE ANY ADVANTAGES HERE.
THE ONLY ADVANTAGE WE HAVE IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE LOVE ANIMALS, THAT BELIEVE ME, THEY WOULDN'T BE WORKING THERE OTHERWISE BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY WORK.
IT REALLY IS NOT. YOU GET YELLED AT BY PEOPLE ALL THE TIME. IT'S TOUGH.
AS YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE, WE HAVE JUST HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I HAD TO DIG A HOLE IN OHIO TO FIND HER.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A YEAR.
WE'VE INTERVIEWED PROBABLY 50 PEOPLE.
LOCALLY, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYONE WHO HAD QUALIFICATIONS THAT WE NEEDED.
WE FOUND SOMEONE. I KEPT ASKING HER, YOU DO KNOW THIS IS IN DENTON, MARYLAND ON EASTERN SHORE? WE'RE SMALL IN THE WORLD.
SHE GOES, YEAH, I LOOKED IT UP.
I KNOW WHAT IT IS. SHE RENTED A HOUSE AND AND SHE IS STARTING FULL-TIME ON MONDAY.
SHE'S GOING TO BRING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
SHE'S HAS A DEGREE IN BEING A BEHAVIORAL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHICH WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
THAT WILL BE REALLY NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND EVALUATE OUR TROUBLESOME ANIMALS AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THEM OR IF WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
IT'S BEEN HARD FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST LOVE ANIMALS JUST TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE THESE SORT OF THING. WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
UNFORTUNATELY, IT ALSO COMES WITH A HIGHER PAY THAT WE'RE PAYING OUR CURRENT EXECUTIVE.
ALL TOLD, IT'S ABOUT $10,000 MORE A YEAR WITH FUND RAISING, WHICH WE'RE DOING NON STOP.
WE'RE HOPING BETWEEN THOSE THINGS TO GET ANOTHER $37,000 IN SALARIES, WAGES FROM THE COUNTY, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
I REALIZE, BELIEVE ME, HAVING DONE THE BUDGET FOR MANY YEARS WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE COUNTY, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE ALL COMING FROM, BUT I HAVE TO ASK BECAUSE THAT'S MY JOB.
VET BILLS, AS ANYONE WHO TAKES THEIR ANIMAL TO A VET, HAVE DOUBLED.
IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE WHAT IT COSTS TO SPAY AND NEUTER AN ANIMAL.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO SPAY AND NEUTER THEM.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'D SAY, WE JUST WON'T SPAY THEM ALL OR NEUTER THEM ALL.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHOICE. WE'RE ASKING FOR $30,000.
>> COVER SOME OF THAT INCREASE AND THAT'S AS A PROPER.
ALL OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE GET IS FOR PUBLIC ANIMALS.
IT IS NONE OF IT IS EVER FOR SHELTER ANIMALS.
WE HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET, AND IT'S CRAZY.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THE GRANTS ARE STRUCTURED THAT WAY, BUT THEY ARE.
THE OTHER PART OF OUR ASK IS CAPITAL REQUEST.
WE HAVE THE BUILDING IS 24-YEARS-OLD, FIVE, 25-YEARS-OLD NOW.
WE'VE OUTGROWN MANY ASPECTS OF IT, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN.
THE MAIN THING, WE HAVE TWO QUARANTINE KENNELS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE DESIGN WAS VERY POOR FROM THE BEGINNING, THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THOSE KENNELS EXCEPT ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT,
[02:55:04]
WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS FOR STAFF, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LARGE ANIMAL ON QUARANTINE.THE THE KENNELS WE HAVE IN THE LARGE DOG KENNEL ROOM HAVE THE TINE DOORS THAT YOU CAN GET THEM IN ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, GET IN CLEAN, DO WHATEVER, AND THEN LET THEM BACK IN.
BUT WITH THE QUARANTINE KENNELS, YOU CANNOT DO THAT.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TWO QUARANTINE KENNELS THAT ARE PRETTY MUCH USELESS AND COMBINE THAT WITH OUR EXISTING MED ROOM.
I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL BEEN IN THE BUILDING, BUT I'M SURE YOU DON'T HAVE IT COMMITTED TO MEMORY, BUT IT'S ONE IS RIGHT BEHIND THE OTHER.
WE COULD TAKE THOSE TWO QUARANTINE KENNELS, ADDED TO THE MED ROOM AND MAKE THE MED ROOM A MUCH MORE REASONABLE SIZE.
IT WOULD ALSO HAVE THEN A DOOR TO OUTSIDE THAT WE COULD BRING ANIMALS IN THAT WAY, IF NEED BE. THAT'S NUMBER 1.
NUMBER 2, IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE THOSE TWO QUARANTINE KENNELS, WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER PLACE FOR QUARANTINE ANIMALS.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE CONCRETE PADS IN THE BACK.
THEN WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING MEAN IS THAT WE TAKE ONE OF THOSE CONCRETE PATHS, BUILD A SIMILAR KENNEL SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR INDOOR KENNELS, OUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR KENNELS, THE QUARANTINE THE AP DOORS, DO SOMETHING SIMILAR OUT THERE, BUT STRICTLY FOR QUARANTINE ANIMALS, SO THAT A, IF THERE'S ANY COMMUNICABLE DISEASE OR PROBLEM WITH THEM, IT'S NOT SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE SHELTER THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM.
IT WOULD HAVE ITS OWN SPLIT IN A SEPARATE UNIT THAT WOULD JUST HOUSE QUARANTINE ANIMALS OR IN CASES OF EXTREME OVERFLOW.
THEY ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO DO AT THE SHELTER.
WE ALSO ARE DEALING WITH, AND I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, WE'VE TRIED SO HARD FOR YEARS TO FIND A VETERINARIAN THAT WE COULD HIRE OR DEAL WITH ON PART TIME BASIS.
IN THE LAST MONTH, WE HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH A SEMI-RETIRED VETERINARIAN WHO MAY BE WILLING, PLEASE.
THAT WOULD BE AN ANSWER TO A WHOLE LOT OF ARREARS.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT EVEN PART TIME, A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK, BRING THAT PERSON INTO THE SHELTER, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ABLE TO TO REDUCE OUR COSTS, VETERINARY COSTS BY SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 25%, WHICH IS A HUGE NUMBER.
WE REALLY ARE WORKING HARD TOWARD THAT, WHICH BRINGS THE NEXT ISSUE, WHICH ISN'T ON THIS CAPITAL REQUEST.
THIS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
YOU WERE VERY GENEROUS TO US AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN GETTING US THE POD THAT WE NOW HAVE AS OUR CAT ADOPTION ROOM, WHICH HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS.
PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND TAKE THE CAT OUT AND HAVE IT IN THE ROOM WITH THEM, AND IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE, AND IT'S WONDERFUL.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET A VETERINARIAN, AND WE COULD HAVE A MEDICAL SUITE BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS DEPENDED ON THAT SURGICAL SUV OR AN RV.
I GUESS IT'S AN RV THAT WE HAVE IN THE BACK.
THAT HAS DETERIORATED IT IT'S IF WAS IN 1980 SOMETHING RV, AND IT HAS DETERIORATED WIRING, HAS DETERIORATED, AND SPACE IS DETERIORATED.
IT'S JUST NOT FUNCTIONAL OR COULD BE USED FOR MEDICAL ANY LONGER.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS MAYBE GET ANOTHER POD OR TRAIL CONSTRUCTION TRAILER OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE, OR TAKE THE EXISTING WAREHOUSE, WHICH IS UNDER UTILIZED AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN, IN MY OPINION, IT'S JUST USED FOR STORAGE AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID WE'VE GOT THIS HUGE, WONDERFUL BUILDING, AND WE'RE NOT USING IT TO ITS MAXIMUM CAPABILITIES.
TAKE PART OF THAT THE LOWER LEVEL PART OF THAT MAYBE AND FINISH IT OFF, BRING IN ELECTRIC HEAT, AIR CONDITIONING, LOWER THE CEILINGS, A MAYBE STORAGE ABOVE, BUT IT'S VERY TALL CEILING.
OR DO SOMETHING THERE. HOW LONG THAT LINE? THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE RIGHT NOW HAVE A COMMITTEE IN PLACE THAT'S DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE COST EFFECTIVENESS, WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN THE WORKS, THAT YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER TRAILER THAT YOU MAYBE COULD DONATE TO US OR DIRECT IT IN OUR DIRECTION,
[03:00:03]
WHICH WOULD ALSO BE GREAT BECAUSE THERE'S ENOUGH IF WE NEED.>> THE OTHER CAPITAL REQUEST IS TO BE TO OUR WEBSITE?
>> BASICALLY, SINCE I'VE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY, ALL PEOPLE FOR BOYFRIENDS, HUSBANDS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE JUST COME AND POKE THIS AND POKE THAT.
YOU CAN'T GET RID OF PRIOR YEARS, EVENTS ARE JUST ON THERE FOREVER.
>> PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD ARE THE HUNDRED YEARS.
>> GOOGLE I THINK IT'S GOOGLE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN WE COULDN'T PUT OUR FORMS TO DOWNLOAD FROM PEOPLE FROM ADOPTIONS OR FOSTERS.
WELL, YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT NO ONE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT.
I MEAN, WE HAD IT PEOPLE LOOKING.
IT'S JUST THEY FINALLY GOT THEM TO WORK, BUT IT'S BEEN, SAY, WELL, YOUR WEBSITE IS JUST NOT VERY FRIENDLY.
IT JUST ISN'T MADE TO, BE ABLE TO DO THESE THINGS AND ALL.
OBVIOUSLY, WE GET OTHER QUOTES WE GOT APPROVED.
BUT WE NEED TO REALLY REVAMP THAT SITE, AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO BETTER OUTREACH TO PEOPLE.
IT'S HARD TO PUT THIS RABIES IT COMING UP.
IT'S JUST HARD TO PUT THOSE THINGS ON THERE.
>> WE ENDED UP LETTING IT ON FACEBOOK. WE END UP.
>> HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS ON HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE YOU'RE MOVING THROUGH HOW MANY DOGS, HOW MANY CATS?
>> THIS YEAR. THIS IS A VERY GOOD PIECE OF NEWS.
WE'RE DOWN 300 CATS. OUR PREVIOUS YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN GOING TO FARMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND DOING TRAP NEUTER AND RELEASE BACK TO THE FARM PROGRAMS. WE'VE DONE WELL OVER 1,000 ANIMALS.
THAT'S RESULTING IN A DECREASE OF ANIMALS COMING TO US DURING KITTEN SEASON, NOT AS MANY BABIES.
>> GREAT NEWS. DOGS, UNFORTUNATELY, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE NUMBERS ARE UP.
STARTED DURING COVID, OUR ADOPTION RATES WERE HIGHER THAN THEY'VE BEEN IN YEARS.
THEN ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK AFTER COVID DECIDED, WELL, WE CAN'T STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF OUR ANIMALS ANYMORE, SO WE'RE GOING TO TURN THEM IN.
WE'RE FULL WITH DOGS AND HAVE BEEN FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
>> ROUGHLY HOW MANY DOGS YOU HAVE?
>> DO YOU KNOW MEAN HOW MANY DO WE HAVE THERE NOW?
NOW I BELIEVE WE'RE AT 38, 35-40.
BECAUSE WE HAVE 20 LARGE PANELS AND THEN WE HAVE THE POPPY ROAR.
>> THAT'S ABOUT THE MAXIMUM YOU CAN HOLD.
>> IT IS. I HAVE ABOUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE WELL, THERE WERE 80 CATS, BUT THEY WENT ON A DAY OF 20.
THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT 660 BETWEEN FOSTER'S PETCO AND THE SHELTER AND AND THE ADOPTION CENTER.
THE AVERAGE HAS GONE FROM ABOUT 1,800-16,800.
I THINK THIS YEAR, WE WERE AT 50.
>> FIFTEEN HUNDRED CATS? [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD FOSTER PROGRAM.
THAT WE'RE CONSTANTLY BUILDING THAT WITH FOSTER PARTNERS.
>> YES, I DO. ACTUALLY. YOU ONLY HAVE DOWN HERE FOR ONE CAPITAL REQUEST AND THAT'S THE PAINTED BUILDING.
WHAT'S YOUR NUMBERS ON THE OTHER THREE YOU'RE JUST.
>> I HAVE HERE IS PAINT EXTERIOR OF STORAGE BUILDING. CAPITAL REQUEST?
>> THAT WAS PRESENTED THROUGH PUBLIC.
>> DID THEY PRESENT YOU WITH YOUR CAPITAL?
>> I HAVE A PARAGRAPH. I DON'T HAVE ANY FIGURES OR NUMBERS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> NO, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. IT'S JUST A REQUEST.
[03:05:11]
THE MED ROOM TO ADD THAT NEW QUARANTINE FOR WE HAVE ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF 50,000.>> THAT'S THE BUDGET FOR OUR CAPITAL. YES.
>> FINANCIALLY WE WILL BE PROFESSING THAT PER INCREASE OFFSET RISING COSTS EVERYTHING BUSINESS HERE PASS DEALING WITH.
WE DISCUSS THAT OR EVERYTHING WANTS.
>> IT'S FINE TO GO AHEAD AND RUN THROUGH YOUR WHOLE ASK THAT IF YOU WANT.
>> WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO ESTABLISH A $20,000 TRAINING FUND FOR A COUNTY WIDE SPECIALIZED COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, LOOKING TO DO A HEAVY RESCUE CLASS, WHICH WOULD BE TRACTOR TRAILERS, LOG IN TRUCKS, BUSES, WHATEVER, OUT OF THE ORDINARY VEHICLE EXTRICATION.
THE OTHER THING IS PROPERTY TAX CREDIT, AGAIN, THE REELECT TO REQUEST LOOKING INTO THAT TO SEE MIDDLE GROUND OR COME UP WITH THE PLANT AND SUPPORT THE LOW GRAD OR LOST AGE TO BE DECREASED TO 55 FROM 60.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THESE GUYS? COMMISSIONER BARTZ? NO. COMMISSIONER REPORTER.
>> WHAT WOULD THE $20,000 TRAINING BE BE USED FOR?
>> THE DISCUSSION WAS TO HAVE A COUNTY WIDE TRAINING WEEKEND.
>> ONE WEEKEND FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
IT WOULD BE HEAVY RESCUE EXTRICATION MOST LIKELY WOULD BE A CLASSROOM ON FRIDAY NIGHT ALL DAY GRACTICAL SESSION SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, HAVE A TRAINING RECORD OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT, JERSEY WALLS, SET OF VARIOUS SITUATIONS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX THAT WE MAY ENCOUNTER.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAD ONE THAT OTHER YEAR, IT WAS $400 A PERSON, 300 OR $3,000 PER RENTAL FEE, CRANE FEE, AND ALL OF THAT INCLUDED TRAVEL FOR INSTRUCTORS, HOTEL, WHATNOT.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOOK INTO A PROPERTY TAX, CREDIT? WE HAVE A NUMBER HERE OF $320,000, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
>> I'LL SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A NUMBER THAT WE CAME UP WITH.
THE REQUEST SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY QUEEN ANNE'S AND DORCHESTER AND MIRROR THE PROGRAM THEY HAVE.
STACY WENT ON, PULLED BOTH OF THEIR PROGRAMS, AND THEN WE HAD A CONVERSATION WITH KELLY OUT THE DES TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A BALLPARK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD ACTUALLY QUALIFY.
BASED OFF THE NUMBERS AND MIRRORING WHAT QUEEN ANNE'S IS DOING, THAT WOULD BE THE $2,500 CREDIT FOR THE NUMBER THAT WE ESTIMATE PEOPLE WOULD QUALIFY.
>> THE REASON WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS PROPERTY TAX, YOU GUYS MET ME BEFORE AT THE LAST WHEN WE HAD THE COURTHOUSE [INAUDIBLE].
I WAS GIVEN THE TASK THIS YEAR TO RETENTION AND [INAUDIBLE] FOR CAROLINE COUNTY TO GET NEW VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE SEEN A DROP IN OUR VOLUNTEERISM IN THE COUNTY.
EVEN THOUGH WE DO GET LOSAP CREDITS FOR OUR INCOME TAX, IN THE ECONOMIC HARDENED TIMES IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO COME IN AND IT'S HARDER TO KEEP THEM TO STAY.
WE FEEL AS AN ASSOCIATION THAT
[03:10:03]
IF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVEN A PROPERTY TAX IF THEY QUALIFY TO GET IT, AND A STIPULATION, THEY'D MAKE THEIR OWN SEVEN POINTS FOR THREE YEARS TO GET THAT TAX CREDIT.WE COULD RETAIN PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE AND USE IT AS OUR RECRUITMENT TOOL TO GET NEW TALENT FOR THE EMS OF FIRE SERVICE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A HARD PUSH TO GET THIS, BUT THE END RESULT IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING NOW, DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS HERE.
NO ONE'S GOING TO BE A CAREER FIRE STATION IN HERE, AND THAT COST IS GOING TO BE ASTRONOMICALLY A LOT MORE THAN WHAT IT WOULD TO RETAIN AND RECRUIT THE NEW PEOPLE THAT WE NEED FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE EVERY DAY FOR THE CITIZENS, THE BUSINESSES IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> WELL, I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY SINCE 1981, AND I'VE HEARD EVERY YEAR SINCE 1981 THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN PEOPLE.
I THINK IN GOING THROUGH AND DOING SOME JUST BACK OF THE ENVELOPE CALCULATIONS HERE, I JUST WENT BACK TO 2019, WE'VE INCREASED THE AMOUNT THAT WE'VE GIVEN FIRE COMPANIES BY ABOUT $775,000.
IF THE 10% INCREASE IS INCORPORATED THIS YEAR THAT'S BEEN ASKED FOR, THAT WOULD PUT US TO ABOUT 2.2 MILLION.
THAT'S $0.07 ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
I WOULD NOT BE OPPOSED TO LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME TYPE OF A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY IN THE WORLD, IN THE BUDGET ATMOSPHERE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, WE CAN LOOK AT $2,500.
>> WE UNDERSTAND THAT. WE'RE JUST ASKING MAYBE FOR A POSSIBLE START HERE AT A STEP INCREASE.
>> WELL, I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE CAN ONLY GO BY WHAT NUMBERS WE'RE GIVEN.
IF THERE'S A FISCAL NOTE THAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS, THEN IN ORDER FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO KNOW WHAT NUMBER WE'RE LOOKING AT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COME UP WITH A NUMBER THAT YOU THINK IS REASONABLE.
YOU SAID THAT WAS BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GOT FROM KELLY?
>> THAT WOULD BE 128 MEMBERS, WHO YOU SAID WOULD MEET THEIR LOSAP POINTS PER YEAR WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE CREDIT?
>> THE NUMBER THAT KELLY HAD PROVIDED, I BELIEVE, WAS ABOUT A 175 WOULD MEET THAT REQUIREMENT AND THEN TAKING JUST A NATIONAL AVERAGE OF HOME OWNERSHIP VERSUS RENTAL.
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE OWN HOMES AND GET THE CREDIT, AS WE SAID.
FOR THE TIME I GOT REMAINING HERE, I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE AGAINST TAKING A LOOK AT IT TO GO FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO END UP BEING A BIG NUMBER.
>> THE PROPOSAL THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO DANNY WAS STARTING OUT AT 1,500, SO WE'D BE A 60% OF THAT 330 NUMBER.
>> YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] THE ONLY THING THEY DO IS $500.
THEY DON'T CONTRIBUTE TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS EITHER.
>> YOU GOT TO WATCH COMPARING US TO QUEEN ANNE AND TALBOT, WE'RE MORE IN LINE WITH DORCHESTER, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE THAN DORCHESTER.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD PROVIDE FUNDING.
DON'T GET ME WRONG. IN THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE AVERAGED.
WELL, THERE HAVE BEEN YEARS YOU GUYS,
[03:15:01]
YOU'VE REQUESTED 5%, 6%.I THINK IT'S AVERAGED ABOUT 8%.
I AM I'M A FIRE COMPANY GUY, HONESTLY.
I JUST THINK THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE ENTERING INTO A TIME AND YOU SEE THIS MORE THAN ANYBODY WHEN EVERY ORGANIZATION, EVERY VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION IS SEEING A REDUCTION IN PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME WHETHER IT'S LIONS CLUBS OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
THE COMMITMENT TO BEING A VOLUNTEER FIREMAN IS AN INCREDIBLE COMMITMENT, AND IT GETS HARDER ALL THE TIME.
BACK IN THE OLD DAYS WHEN YOU JUST HAD TO TAKE AN 80-HOUR FIRE COURSE, WHAT I DID WAS DONE.
NOW IT'S CONSTANT TRAINING AND CONSTANT RE-CERTIFICATIONS ON YOUR OWN DIME, REALLY, YOUR OWN DIME AND YOUR OWN TIME.
I THINK THAT LOOKING AT THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I THINK THAT COULD BE STUDIED AND COULD BE LOOKED AT, BUT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE INCREASE REQUEST.
I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY REASONABLE, BUT THESE OTHER THINGS, THEY BECOME EXPONENTIAL AS YOU GO BECAUSE ONCE YOU GIVE A PROPERTY TAX, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT BACK.
THE LOSAP, I WILL HAVE TO TELL YOU I'M NOT A FAN OF THE 55-YEAR-OLD. I'M NOT.
THE LOSAP FUNDING HAS INCREASED.
I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING HERE IN THE FUTURE AGAIN IS RADIOS.
WHAT IS OUR DEBT SERVICE ON RADIO? YOU GAVE IT TO ME.
>> WE HAVEN'T HAD A HARD NUMBER YET.
I KNOW MARK AND STEVE ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT, BUT TOTAL OUT OF POCKET FOR THE LAST ORDER, WHICH YOU CAN IMAGINE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE THIS YEAR OR THIS TIME, WAS ABOUT $4.3 MILLION, I BELIEVE.
>> THOSE RADIOS ARE PROVIDED TO ALL AGENTS, BUT ALSO, TO THE FIRE COMPANIES.
THOSE ARE NOT THE HIDDEN COSTS, BUT THOSE ARE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND WE CERTAINLY SHOULD PROVIDE THE RADIOS.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THOSE ARE COSTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATIONS AS WELL.
JUST FOR MY BENEFIT, HOW MANY ACTIVE MEMBERS, MATT, DO YOU HAVE PER COMPANY.
PHIL, HOW MAY YOU GOT? DO YOU KNOW?
>> COMPARED TO 10 YEARS AGO, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK?
>> WE'RE DOWN TO ABOUT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THE OTHER THING AFFECTING THIS IS I CAN RECALL WHEN BUSINESSES USED TO ALLOW THEIR PEOPLE TO TAKE OFF.
WHEN THE WHISTLE BLEW, ALL HANDS ON DECK NOW.
BUSINESSES ARE SAYING, IF YOU WANT TO BE A FIREFIGHTER, YOU GO OVER THERE SOMEWHERE AND GET PAID TO BE, BUT I PAY YOU TO WORK FOR ME.
ALL THESE THINGS ARE FIGURING INTO THIS.
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT.
PEOPLE ARE JUST FINDING OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH THEIR TIME.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HANG AROUND A COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN THEY'RE GONE.
>> NOT GOING TO DO IT. NOT GOING TO SEE SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE, OR HEAR SOMETHING THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR AND SAY, I'M DONE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE LITTLE THING ON THE PROPERTY TAX THING.
BACK FROM QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY INSTITUTED THEIRS THE FOLLOWING YEAR AFTER IT WAS IN PLACE, AND 23 NEW ACTIVE PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN ON THE ROSTER BUT HAD BEEN ACTIVE WITH THE DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING YEAR [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM. [INAUDIBLE]
[03:20:11]
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, GUYS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING IN.
>> THANKS FOR WAITING IT OUT TO THE LAST. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> CHRIS [PHONETIC], YOU GOT TO LISTEN TO ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR OVER 40 YEARS THIS YEAR AND [NOISE], BUT MY BIGGEST FEAR IS NOT HAVING SOMEBODY TO TAKE OVER ONCE I'M GONE.
THAT'S ALL WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS PREPARE OUR COMMUNITY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ASKED ME ABOUT IS WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ONCE THE SEASONED GUYS ARE GONE, BUT THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, GUYS. WELL, THAT'S ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE.
DID EITHER ONE OF YOU GUYS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING WE CLOSE OUT?
>> I THINK I'VE SAID ENOUGH. I KNOW EVERYBODY JUST GETS A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE, HONESTLY, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE LARRY DOWNER HERE, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN MY 15 YEARS, THIS IS THE SCAREDEST I'VE BEEN WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETS.
I THINK THE MORE YOU TALK TO PEOPLE THAT WE COMMUNICATE WITH AND INTERACT WITH FROM THE DELEGATION SIDE AND THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, EVERYBODY IS JUST STARING AT EVERYBODY.
OUR JOB IS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
IT WOULD JUST BE A LOT EASIER IF WE DO THE NUMBERS WE HAD TO WORK WITH.
I WAS JUST DOING A LITTLE BIT OF WORK HERE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OVER THE BUDGET ASK IS ABOUT 4.1 MILLION, 2.5 MILLION OF THAT IS DIRECT MANDATES THAT ARE PUSHED DOWN FROM THE STATE, WHETHER IT'S A BLUEPRINT ASSESSMENT OFFICE OR WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT DOESN'T COUNT THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE WITH CUTS THAT ARE COMING TO US, AND IT DOESN'T COUNT THE ADJUSTMENT IN, FOR EXAMPLE, INCOME TAX, BUT THAT'S OUR JOB, WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, AND WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE GET PAID ALL THIS MONEY TO DO.
>> YEAH. WE'LL GET THERE, BUT IT IS SCARY RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE STATE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ADOPTED.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ON TIME.
MATT, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE REGULATORY CHANGES BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THIS BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TESTIFYING ON IN THE JOINT HOUSE AND SENATE ON FRIDAY, SENATE BILL 931, AND IT IS GOING TO BASICALLY SHORTCUT COUNTY CONTROL OVER BATTERY STORAGE.
WE STARTED THIS HOW MANY YEARS AGO? 2017 TALKING ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE SUPPRESSION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING THROUGH YOUR WORK?
>> BECAUSE THERE WAS GOING TO BE A BILL INTRODUCED AND THEN THEY PULLED IT BACK AND THEN THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE WAS GOING TO ADDRESS IT FROM A NFPA 855 CHANGE.
WITH THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, THAT GOT YANKED, SO WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE IN 2017.
YOU KNOW NOTHING NEW FROM YOU FROM WHAT YOU'VE HEARD?
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I ENJOYED THE BUDGET SEASON, BUT LIKE I WAS CHATTING WITH COMMISSIONER BREEDING HERE EARLIER, I THINK THE HONEYMOON WAS OVER AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS.
IT HAD BEEN FAIRLY EASY, BUT I WAS TALKING TO MY WIFE LAST NIGHT.
I SHARED THE SAME CONCERN WITH LARRY.
I WAS TELLING HER, IT'S NOT GOOD, AND IT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY SCARY, BUT THANK YOU-ALL FOR SHARING YOUR CONCERNS AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, THE BEST WE CAN DO.
[03:25:02]
>> WITH THAT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.