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YEP. OKAY. GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE APRIL 1ST, 2025 CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING, WHICH IS NOW IN ORDER. THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR INVOCATION BY REVEREND DOUG MORLEY OF GREATER IMPACT CHURCH OF GREENSBORO, AND THAT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO IF EVERYONE COULD PLEASE RISE. PASTOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP TO THE TABLE. SO WE'LL GET YOUR VOICE.
THANK YOU. SCRIPTURE SAYS THE DESERT AND PARCHED LAND WILL BE GLAD.
THE WILDERNESS WILL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM LIKE THE CROCUS.
IT WILL BURST INTO BLOOM. IT WILL REJOICE GREATLY AND SHOUT FOR JOY.
THANK YOU FOR THE RAINS LAST NIGHT, LORD, WE NEEDED THEM.
WE JUST ASK LORD YOUR BLESSING UPON THIS DAY THAT YOU WOULD WATCH OVER AND KEEP EACH ONE.
WE PRAY A SPECIAL BLESSING UPON OUR COMMISSIONERS IN THIS MEETING TODAY.
WOULD YOU GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS AND DIRECT OUR PATHS, AND HELP US, LORD, TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ONE WHO GRANTS US WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES? AND NOW, LORD, WITH THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTH AND THE MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEARTS, BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, OUR LORD, OUR ROCK AND OUR REDEEMER.
WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
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AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.PASTOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU. OUR INVOCATION.
DURING THE MARCH 25TH COMMISSIONER MEETING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS APPLICANTS TO A COUNTY APPOINTED BOARD AND TO RECEIVE UPDATES REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS.
ARTICLE THREE, 305, B ONE AND SEVEN. THE ATTENDEES WERE THE COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATOR, FREEMAN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, FOX COUNTY ATTORNEY BARROLL PIO.
RIVALRY AND PLANNING AND CODES DIRECTOR.
OKAY, WE NOW HAVE OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THIS MORNING DURING OUR OPENING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD? RIGHT. NONE SEEN. MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS DANIEL FOX, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR MICHELLE AND I SEE JUDGE. I'LL JUST WAIT. I'M SORRY. OKAY. FOR PROBLEM SOLVING COURT AND ALSO STACY STEWART.
SO. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. I WANTED TO BRING A QUICK GRANT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY AND SEE IF SEEKING APPROVAL TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
SO THROUGH THE CIRCUIT COURT AND MICHELLE BETHKE'S PROBLEM SOLVING PROGRAM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HAS REACHED OUT TO THEM LOOKING TO PURSUE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY AND THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT A SECONDARY GRANT FOR THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BUDGET BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THIS GRANT WOULD DO, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF MICHELLE COULD KIND OF EXPLAIN WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO WITH THIS. SO OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WHERE THEY HAVE SURVEYED OUR PARTICIPANTS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, WHERE THEY WANTED TO OBTAIN FEEDBACK FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND WHO ALSO HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. THAT STARTED WITH OUR PROGRAM INITIALLY, BUT IT DID EXPAND STATEWIDE.
AND HERE RECENTLY THEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND INFORMED ME OF THIS NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY.
AND IN THE PURPOSE OF THIS FUNDING IS TO DECREASE MARYLAND STATE AND LOCAL INCARCERATED POPULATION THROUGH DIVERSION, DEFLECTION, SERVICE PROVISIONS AND RECIDIVISM REDUCTION RESOURCES.
THIS GRANT WOULD FURTHER SUPPORT OUR PROBLEM SOLVING COURT PROGRAM BY CONTINUING TO TREAT PARTICIPANTS WITH A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. REDUCE FIRST RESPONDERS TIME HANDLING CALLS FOR OVERDOSES AND REDUCING RECIDIVISM.
AND ULTIMATELY OVERALL BENEFIT THE WHOLE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BY ADDRESSING THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.
IT IMPLEMENTS WE WOULD IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE BASED CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN WIDELY STUDIED AND SUCCESSFUL IN TREATMENT OF A VARIETY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.
IT'S DESIGNED TO PROMOTE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGE THROUGH REINFORCEMENT INCENTIVES WHEN THE INCENTIVIZED BEHAVIOR OCCURS. WE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY REWARD THEM.
OBVIOUSLY, IF THAT BEHAVIOR WASN'T OBTAINED, THEY WOULD NOT BE REWARDED.
WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT THIS. AND IT WOULD BE FAIRLY SIMPLE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO STUDY, OUR DRUG TESTING. WE'RE ALREADY DOING THE DRUG TESTING, SO THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG TESTING.
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AND ONCE THAT'S VERIFIED THAT IT WOULD BE NEGATIVE OF ANY ILLICIT SUBSTANCE, THEN THEY WOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REWARDED WITH AN INCENTIVE, WHICH THEY USE A ELECTRONIC GIFT CARDS. AND THEY WOULD BE ONCE I CONFIRM IT, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WOULD DISPERSE THAT GIFT CARD DIRECTLY TO THE INDIVIDUAL. ALSO WITH THIS GRANT, IT WOULD SUPPORT PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. WE'RE LOOKING AT CONTRACTING THAT SERVICE OUT TO SUCH AS SANTEE OR GRAY STREET RECOVERY. THEY HAVE PEER SUPPORTS ALREADY ON STAFF AND HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE TO THOSE AGENCIES TO EXPLORE THOSE OPTIONS WITH THEM. THE PEER SUPPORTS WOULD FURTHER SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALS IN RECOVERY BY PROVIDING MENTORING AND ALSO DEMONSTRATING TO OUR PARTICIPANTS THAT RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE.SO THIS GRANT WOULD BE APPLIED TO THROUGH THE COUNTY.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND IS PARTNERING WITH, I BELIEVE, KENT COUNTY AND ANOTHER COUNTY DOING SIMILAR PROGRAMS. SO THEY ARE VERY IN TUNE IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD WITH THE PROGRAMMATIC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO INTO THE SAME PORTAL WE DO AND UPLOAD ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. SO STACY AND I MET WITH MICHELLE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND KIND OF TALKED THROUGH SOME OF OUR CONCERNS WITH HOW THAT RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD WORK FAIRLY SMOOTHLY WITH THEM ALREADY HAVING ACCESS AND KNOWING THE SYSTEMS. AND AGAIN, RUNNING THIS PROGRAM IN A NEIGHBORING COUNTY ALREADY.
OKAY. SO NO HEARTBURN WITH MANAGEMENT OF THE.
NO. NO NOT ON OUR SIDE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GENTLEMEN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WHEN YOU SAID REWARDED, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY REWARDED? SO WE WOULD. WELL, HOW DO YOU I MEAN, WHAT? SO WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING DRUG TESTING.
YEAH. AND ONCE THEY SUBMIT TO THE TESTING, WE WOULD VERIFY THOSE TESTING RESULTS.
AND THEY WOULD BE REWARDED WITH AN ELECTRONIC GIFT CARD IF THEIR TEST RESULTS WERE NEGATIVE.
NO ILLICIT SUBSTANCES IN THOSE SPECIMENS. YEAH.
MICHELLE, I'M LOOKING HERE AT THE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS FUND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING MONEY FOR THE CANNABIS RECOVERY ACT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE PROGRAMS AND WAYS TO SPEND IT.
ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT CAN ONLY BE FUNDED.
WOULD THIS FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY? I BELIEVE IT WOULD.
BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING WITH THAT POPULATION THAT IS MEANT TO BE A DIVERSION.
AND OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT PROGRAM AND THEY FACE BEING SENT HAVING A REVOCATION HEARING AND POSSIBLY SENT TO JAIL.
SO THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INCARCERATED YET OR HAVE THEY COULD HAVE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE DETAINED WHILE THEIR CHARGES ARE PENDING.
TO US, WHETHER IT, YOU KNOW, WE DO A BED TO BED TRANSFER FOR SERVICES, BUT SOME ARE INCARCERATED.
OKAY. THIS MAY BE ANOTHER SOURCE OF. SO HOW MANY SO FAR THIS YEAR HAVE ARE IN THE PROBLEM SOLVING COURT? WE HAVE NINE IN OUR PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. WE DID HAVE A MINOR SETBACK LAST YEAR.
MY CASE MANAGER RESIGNED ABRUPTLY, AND WE HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWING FOR THAT POSITION, AND WE'VE RECENTLY HIRED A CASE MANAGER THAT'S GOING TO BEGIN THE END OF THIS MONTH.
AND THIS IS THE PROGRAM WHERE YOU HAVE THE GRADUATIONS.
YES. AND. YEAH. AND I YEAH, THAT'S I MEAN. GOOD STORIES.
YEAH. GOOD STORIES. I'VE BEEN POINTING TO THOSE OVER THE YEARS.
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SO. SO ONCE SOMEBODY GRADUATES. RIGHT. SO DO YOU STILL DO THEY DO YOU STILL KEEP UP WITH THEM OR THEY STILL LIKE ARE THEY FOLLOWING UP WITH LIKE ON A YEARLY QUARTERLY BASIS.SO, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY JUST DON'T GRADUATE.
AND THEN YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, DISAPPEAR. I MEAN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR TEAM HAS TALKED ABOUT IMPLEMENTING FOLLOW UPS AND THAT IS RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY ME. I'M HANDLING ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF THE PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE CASE MANAGEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN VERY TIME CONSUMING. THESE ARE HIGH RISK, HIGH NEEDS INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED A LOT OF FOLLOW UP.
SO IT IS VERY CHALLENGING TO, TO GET EVERYTHING ACCOMPLISHED THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO.
BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO WITH FOLLOW UP WITH THE PARTICIPANTS AFTER GRADUATION, WHETHER IT BE SURVEYS. WE DO INVITE THE PARTICIPANTS BACK WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM TO GRADUATIONS. DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY OF THEM WHO SERVE AS MENTORS TO PEOPLE AND COME BACK AND USE THEIR EXPERIENCES TO HELP OTHERS? AT THIS TIME, NO, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT OUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO IMPLEMENT.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SET UP AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.
IF I MAY JUST ADD THAT THERE ARE SOME THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THAT FOR A LIVING NOW.
THEY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR SERVICE SPECIALIST CERTIFICATES, AND THEY'RE IN THAT FIELD NOW EITHER EMPLOYED BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR OTHER SOME PRIVATE ENTITY DOING THOSE THINGS, AND THEY DO CHECK IN WITH MICHELLE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN ALUMNI GROUP YET THAT'S LIKE DEDICATED ON PURPOSE FOR DOING THAT.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT MICHELLE SAID WE'D LIKE TO DO. YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE TO APPLY FOR AND PURSUE THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY? SO MOVED. SECOND. MOTION. AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. AYES HAVE IT.
GOOD LUCK. GOOD LUCK. HOPE YOU GET THE GRANT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. STACY AND DANNY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH MICHELLE.
THEY'RE ALWAYS SO EASY TO REACH AND THEN RESPONSIVE.
SO, YOU HAVE GREAT STAFF. THEY ARE BOTH MAJOR ASSETS TO THE COUNTY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING AGAIN. I'VE PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH THE UPDATED OR THE LATEST VERSIONS OF BOTH THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET.
BUT FOR NOW, WE'LL KIND OF DISCUSS THROUGH THOSE AND GIVE A GENERAL UPDATE OF WHERE STACY AND I THINK WE ARE, OR I THINK EVERYTHING IS IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WE'RE HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. YES.
THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. THANK YOU. CHRIS. I'LL PAUSE FOR A SECOND SINCE WE CAN GET ON NOW. WHICH ONE ARE YOU PLANNING ON STARTING WITH? OPERATING. OKAY. WHEN WAS THE ADVERTISEMENT DATE AGAIN? WHEN WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS FINALIZED.
IT'S NOT TODAY. NO, NO, WE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE 22ND OF APRIL WAS THE DATE THAT WE HAD TO.
I CAN PULL THAT UP. IT WAS THE EMAIL. THE BREAKDOWN WE MAY GET THERE TODAY, I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL SEE. BUT WE'RE STILL NOT YEAH I THINK OKAY.
SO IF YOU GENTLEMEN DON'T MIND, WE'LL START WITH OPERATING.
SINCE OUR LAST SIT DOWN AND CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD SOME, I'M GOING TO SAY, PROGRESS OR ADVANCEMENT OF THE STATE'S BUDGET A LITTLE MORE THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND HAS WHAT I WOULD SAY SOLIDIFIED SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WERE IN QUESTION.
I KNOW IN OUR CURRENT MODEL, WE HAD 50% OF, SAY, THE TEACHER RETIREMENT.
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THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF WHETHER THAT WAS GOING TO BE 100%.RIGHT NOW THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO HOLD AT 50.
THE SAME THING WITH STAT, WHETHER THAT WAS GOING TO BE A 90% COUNTY FUND THAT GO BACK TO 50, POSSIBLY GO TO 100. LOOKS LIKE THE CURRENT BILL THAT'S MOVING THROUGH PROCESS IS HOLDING THAT AT THE 90%.
SO ALL OF THOSE LITTLE NUANCES OF THE STATE BUDGET THAT WE WERE KIND OF WAITING ON TO SEE HOW THEY PLAY OUT HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN THE SYSTEM OR IN THE SHEETS THAT WE HAVE. AND REALLY, IT WAS THE NUMBERS THAT WE STARTED WITH.
THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH OF A CHANGE. SO AGAIN, JUST KIND OF CONFIRMING SOME OF THOSE IN THE SHEET.
WE. SO WE ALREADY COVER THE LOCAL SHARE. CORRECT.
TOTALLY. THIS THIS SHIFT IS 50% OF THE STATE'S SHARE OF THE TEACHER PENSION.
THE COUNTIES WERE PAYING THE BOARD OF EDITORS.
YES, SIR. AND TO YOUR POINT, THIS IS THE STATE'S SHARE THAT THEY HAD BEEN PAYING FOR SO MANY YEARS THAT THEY HAVE NOW DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP HALF OF IT. SO. OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THAT WAS AN INTERESTING WAY TO DESCRIBE THE SHIFT. IT IS. AND I GUESS I'LL MAKE A NOTE.
PROBABLY APRIL OF NEXT YEAR WILL BE SITTING HERE MORE THAN LIKELY LOOKING AT 100%.
IF I HAD TO FORESHADOW OR TAKE A BET, THAT WOULD BE MINE.
SO AGAIN, ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN UPDATED IN THE SHEET A COUPLE OF THE REVENUE NUMBERS JUST TO HIT ON THE REVENUE SIDE, I HAVE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CERTAIN FEES THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ONE BEING THE TOWN ADMIN FEE, THE OTHER BEING JONESTOWN. AND I APOLOGIZE, YOU DO NOT HAVE A DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE SHEET.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. IT'S REALLY JUST TWO LINE ITEMS THERE.
AGAIN, THE TOWN ADMIN GOING UP BASED OFF CHANGING THAT CAP TO 22 FIVE.
AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE EXPENSE SIDE, YOU'LL SEE OUR TRANSFER IN FROM JONESTOWN WATER SYSTEM HAS BEEN REDUCED BY THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THAT YEARLY WATER FEE. SO OKAY.
AGAIN, JUST SOME SMALL CHANGES, BUT THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT AND REFLECT.
HAVE CRYSTAL COME IN AND DISCUSS THE FEE SCHEDULE FOR OUR REVIEW TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE VERY WELL COULD BE FLOODED WITH SOLAR APPLICATIONS. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT WE'RE COVERING OUR REVIEW COSTS.
AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PLANNING AND CODES DOESN'T GET OVERLOADED WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS TO THE POINT WHERE RESIDENTS ARE SUFFERING LONGER PERMIT APPROVAL TIME, YOU KNOW, TIMES BECAUSE WE'RE TIED DOWN WITH THESE SOLAR.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE ENTITY LIKE SOME OF THE ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT WE'VE USED IN THE PAST TO DO THE REVIEWS ON THE LARGER PROJECTS FOR US.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FEE SCHEDULE IS HIGH ENOUGH TO COVER SENDING THOSE APPLICATIONS OUT FOR REVIEW, SO WE DON'T GET BOGGED DOWN WITH RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER THINGS.
SO BUT YEAH, WE'LL HAVE CRYSTAL COME IN AND TALK ABOUT IT AND SEE WHAT THE FEES ARE.
OR I MEAN, YEAH, I MEAN IF SHE JUST WANTS TO GET JUST SAY A SIMPLE ANSWER, YOU KNOW.
YES. WE'RE COVERING WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW.
SO YEAH. AND I KNOW IN WHAT THE REVIEW COSTS RIGHT NOW.
SO LAST YEAR OR THE, THE YEAR BEFORE, WE DID ADD IN SOME LANGUAGE ABOUT COVERING OUTSIDE REVIEW FEES AND PRETTY MUCH MAKING A DOLLAR PER DOLLAR MATCH. SO WE WENT OUT ON THAT. CRYSTAL AND I DID HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AND THEN RESUBMITTAL FEES BECAUSE SOLAR COMPANIES ARE TERRIBLE ABOUT REPEATED RESUBMISSIONS.
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LABELING THE PRE SITE PLAN REVIEW. AND KNOW, JESSE IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH STAFF ABOUT WHAT THAT REALLY ENTAILS BECAUSE THEY DROP IT OFF. AND RIGHT NOW THERE REALLY IS NO REQUIREMENT OF WHAT HAS TO BE INSIDE OF THAT.SO AND WE CAN'T CHARGE WE THERE'S NO REAL APPLICATION MADE TO US, RIGHT? WE'RE REVIEWING IT FOR FREE ESSENTIALLY, SO WE CAN COMMENT TO THE CPCN OR AT THE HEARING.
CORRECT. SO WE HAVE MADE A NOTE I SHOW IT NOW ON THE FEE SCHEDULE WANTING TO LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL.
WELL, IT'S EITHER IT'S EITHER WE NEED TO ADD A FEE FOR THAT, WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN AND IF WE CAN'T WE NEED TO BUILD THAT IN SOME, WE NEED TO INFLATE THE OTHER REVIEW NUMBERS SOMEHOW TO COVER THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE THAT WORK THAT WE CAN'T RECOVER THE FEE FOR. WE CAN WORK WITH CRYSTAL POST THE MEETING AND, AND I KNOW WE DID JUST ADDRESS THIS LAST YEAR, SO IT MAY BE WE MAY HAVE ALREADY COVERED IT. I KNOW, I KNOW, WE ADDED THE RESUBMISSION FEES LAST YEAR AND THEN WE ALSO INCREASED, I THINK BELIEVE BASED ON ACREAGE OR SIZE OF THE APPLICATIONS.
SO YES, IT'S IN THERE AS WELL. BUT WE'LL DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING MISSING AND THAT THOSE FEES ARE IN PROPORTION TO WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD BE FOR THE REVIEW. SO, YEP. OKAY.
SO AS FAR AS THE VERSIONS GO IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY, THESE ARE WHAT STACY AND I FEEL ARE THE MOST UP TO DATE, CURRENT AND ACCURATE BASED OFF THE INFORMATION WE JUST DISCUSSED.
AND THESE ARE REALLY LINE ITEMS THAT WE TABLED LOOKING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION THE LAST TIME OR WE HAVE I'M GOING TO SAY THREE DIFFERENT NUMBERS IN THOSE COLUMNS. SO TO OUR PRIOR COMMENT, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TODAY WE HAVE TO ABSOLUTELY COME DOWN TO ZERO.
SO AGAIN, IF THE APPETITE IS THERE, WE COULD ROLL THROUGH THEM FAIRLY QUICKLY, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND POSSIBLY KIND OF NARROW THOSE DOWN OR TABLE THEM CLOSER TO THE 22ND.
CAN I DO CONFIRM THE 22ND? THE 22ND IS THE DATE ALL RIGHT? YES, I'M SURE CINDY'S LISTENING. IF CINDY COULD ADD THAT TO OUR CALENDARS, TOO.
SO I HAVE THAT. I'VE GOT TWO MAIN DATES ROLLING AROUND IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.
I REMEMBER ANOTHER ONE, BUT ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S I GUESS LET'S GO THROUGH THEM.
DANNY. OKAY. WE CAN HIT ON THEM AGAIN REAL QUICK HERE AND SEE.
MAYBE. MAYBE WE COME TO A CONSENSUS. SO AND AGAIN, THIS IS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.
MORE THAN HAPPY TO JUMP AROUND. BUT LIKE I SAY ON THE FIRST PAGE, THE FIRST TWO HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE FIRE COMPANY ALLOCATION AND THEN AS WELL AS THE FIRE COMPANY REQUESTED PROPERTY TAX CREDIT.
SO I BELIEVE ON THE ALLOCATION, WE HAD 5%, SEVEN AND A HALF AND A 10% THERE.
ANY DISCUSSION THAT WANTS TO BE HAD ON THAT OR ANYTHING THAT WE COULD I'M FINE WITH GOING TO THE SEVEN AND A HALF IF COMMISSIONER BARTZ WANTS TO STAY AT THAT. WELL, I THINK THE CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO HAVE IS THE TAX CREDIT THING.
IF WE WANT TO, IF WE WANT TO DIVE INTO THAT THIS YEAR OR NOT.
OKAY. I THINK WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU KNOW, WITH THE $2 MILLION, DO WE DO WE APPROACH THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY NOW, YOU KNOW, AND WITH THE TAX CREDIT, WHEN IF THERE'S GOING TO BE IF THERE'S A WAY TO CAP IT, SAY, HEY, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LIMIT. IN OTHER WORDS, START OUT AT A CERTAIN NUMBER AND SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE CAN'T EXCEED THIS CAP, IS THERE? IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN DO THAT OR NO OR LEGISLATIVELY OR.
YES, LEGISLATIVELY. SO ANY PROPERTY TAX CREDIT THAT THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO APPROVE OR PUT THROUGH WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS AND BE ADOPTED INTO CODE.
AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, A CAP WOULD BE DETERMINED, ALL OF THE CRITERIA.
SO I BELIEVE IN THE BOOK THERE IS THE LANGUAGE FOR QUEEN ANNE'S AND HOW THEY DETERMINE.
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AND I BELIEVE THE REQUEST IS TO ALIGN. SO JUST TO REITERATE OR RECAP, IT WOULD BE THREE YEARS CONSECUTIVELY ACTIVE.SO ANYBODY THAT HAS MADE THEIR QUALIFYING POINTS FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW WOULD BE DICTATED IN THAT LEGISLATION, AND THEN THAT CAP WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE.
I THINK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE HAD AND HONESTLY, YESTERDAY I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH THE FIRE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, MATT, IS REALLY WHAT IS THE FISCAL IMPACT OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I KNOW WE HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY, AN EDUCATED BEST GUESS BASED OFF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTIVE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
BUT THE QUESTION WOULD BE, HOW MANY ARE HOMEOWNERS? HOW MANY ARE RENTERS? HOW MANY ARE HUSBAND AND WIFE THAT ARE RESIDING IN THE SAME HOUSE? SO I THINK SOME OF THAT STUFF WE WOULD WANT TO VET THROUGH AND MAKE SURE WE HAD ACCURATE NUMBERS TO PUT IN THE BUDGET, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO ADOPT A CAP, AND HOW THAT WOULD LOOK IS THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF LAW TO COME UP WITH.
WELL, DANNY, WALK THROUGH, WALK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
SO IT'S SO IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED ACTIVE, YOU HAVE TO ACHIEVE 50 POINTS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS 50 POINTS CORRECT. YOU GET ONE POINT FOR EVERY CALL.
AND AS YOU ATTEND THOSE DURING THE YEAR, YOU AMASS THOSE POINTS TILL YOU RECEIVE YOUR 50 POINTS.
RIGHT. THAT IS COMMUNICATED TO OUR OFFICE AT DES THROUGH KELLY.
AND SHE COMPILES THAT FOR LOSAP AS WELL. RIGHT NOW SO KELLY IS MAINTAINING AND KEEPING TRACK OF THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FIRE COMPANIES TO DETERMINE WHO'S ACTIVE FOR LOW SAP. AND AGAIN, I WOULD IMAGINE IF THIS WAS ADOPTED, THAT WOULD BE A SIMILAR PROCESS.
KIND OF GOING THE NEXT STEP. SO ONE PERSON AT EACH FIRE COMPANY VERIFIES THAT A PERSON ATTENDED A TRAINING, ATTENDED A FUNDRAISING EVENT, OR ATTENDED A CALL FOR SERVICE.
WHAT IS HER JOB? DOES SHE ONLY DO LOW SAP OR DOES SHE DO OTHER TASKS AT DES? NO. KELLY IS THE OFFICE MANAGER FOR DES. SO SHE OVERSEES ALL OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS FOR FOUR DEPARTMENTS.
SO IT'S DES ADMIN, EMS, CENTER, COMMUNICATIONS AS WELL AS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
YES. SHE RECEIVES THE DATA, RIGHT. SHE RECEIVES THE DATA.
SO. OKAY. SO THE. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S HOW THE POINTS ARE GENERATED.
WHAT DOES A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER HAVE TO DO.
AND THEN WHAT DOES KELLY HAVE TO DO. WALK US THROUGH THAT.
SO AGAIN, QUEEN ANNE'S HAS A FORM THAT YOU MUST FILL OUT.
AND IT'S CALLED A NEW PROPERTY TAX CREDIT APPLICATION.
SO IN THAT YOU MUST COMPLETE THE APPLICATION, PROVIDE A COPY OF YOUR DEED, A COPY OF THE STAT PRINTOUT, AND THEN TWO PROOFS OF RESIDENCY TO THAT ADDRESS.
AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT FUND ITEMS, WHETHER IT'S A CREDIT CARD STATEMENT, TAX BILL, MORTGAGE ACCOUNT STATEMENT THAT QUALIFIES TO ESSENTIALLY PROVE THAT YOU RESIDE AT THAT RESIDENCE. THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO WHAT I ASSUME IS THEIR FINANCE OR TAX OFFICE.
SO IN THIS MODEL WE WOULD GET THAT AND THEN WE WOULD VERIFY THAT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS CORRECT.
SHE WOULD SIGN THAT WOULD BE COMPILED INTO WHAT I ASSUME IS A MASTER LIST OF PEOPLE THAT APPLY MEET THE THREE YEARS, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO UPLOAD OR INPUT THAT INFORMATION INTO OUR TAX SOFTWARE TO REDUCE THEIR COUNTY LIABILITY BY WHATEVER THAT CREDIT WOULD. AND THE ESTIMATION IS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE FOR 117 PEOPLE, ROUGHLY. SO RIGHT NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM KELLY IS THERE'S ABOUT 175 PEOPLE, 75, THAT ARE ACCURATE IN THE THREE YEAR ACTIVE
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STATUS. HOW MANY OF THEM ARE PROPERTY OWNERS? WE DON'T KNOW HOMEOWNERS. AND I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S KIND OF COME UP THROUGH THIS IS COMING UP WITH THAT NUMBER.BUT AGAIN, I THINK THROUGH OUR GENERAL GUESS AND JUST OWNERSHIP VERSUS RENTAL NATIONAL AVERAGE, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ABOUT 130, 125 PEOPLE THAT WOULD QUALIFY.
SO YES, THAT PROCESS KIND OF OUTLINES THERE. WE WOULD UPLOAD IT INTO THEIR TAX BILL.
AND THEN WHEN EVERYBODY RECEIVED THEIR BILL JULY 1ST, THEY WOULD HAVE THAT REFLECTED AND SHOW THE REDUCTION ON THE COUNTY LIABILITY OF WHATEVER THAT AMOUNT WOULD BE. EACH YEAR FOLLOWING, THEY HAVE TO CONTINUE TO SUBMIT A RENEWAL.
SO AS LONG AS YOU STAY AT THAT RESIDENCE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE THE TWO ADDITIONAL PROOF OF RESIDENCY, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE AN APPLICATION. AND FOR THAT YEAR, WE'LL JUST CONTINUE TO CHECK WITH DES TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE STILL MAKING THE THREE YEARS ACTIVE. SO I PRESUME IF WE SET A CAP THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER STEP.
SO THE STEP WOULD BE YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY, TAKE THE CAP AND DIVIDE BY THAT TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH EACH PERSON GOT OFF. IF BEFORE YOU ISSUED THE CREDIT, BEFORE YOU SENT THE TAX BILL, IF THERE WAS AN ADOPTION OF AN OVERALL IN THIS CASE, LIKE A, SAY, $50,000, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT.
YEAH, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME CALCULATION.
I THINK IT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE CAP BE ASSIGNED TO ACTUALLY A DOLLAR VALUE PER RESIDENT, BUT THEN THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST US ON A YEARLY BASIS.
YOU WOULD HAVE A GENERAL. YES, YES. IT WOULD KIND OF BE LIKE LOW SAP.
I MEAN, LOW SAP. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO PASS AWAY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BECOME ELIGIBLE.
I MEAN, I THINK THE THING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, LOOK, SINCE I'M THE OUTLIER HERE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HERE'S WHAT MY THOUGHTS ARE. I THINK WHEN THIS WAS INITIALLY PRESENTED AND IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, I THINK INITIALLY, TO BE HONEST, ALL THREE OF US HAVE, OUR FIRST ANSWER WAS NO.
MY FIRST ANSWER WAS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD DO.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SURE IF THIS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
HONESTLY, THIS YEAR, I THINK WE'RE REALLY PUSHING PUSHING THE THE ENVELOPE.
WHAT I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO IS TO CONSIDER I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER IT.
I'M WILLING TO SIT DOWN, TALK ABOUT IT. BUT I'M JUST NOT SURE IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT THIS IF WE'VE GOT THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS, AND I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT FUTURE BOARDS, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE THIS PROCESS.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PERSON SELLS THE HOUSE? WHO NOTIFIES, WHO NOTIFIES YOU GUYS IF THERE'S A DIFFERENT OWNER OF THE OF THE PROPERTY DURING THE YEAR? I WILL SAY I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE LOW SAP PROCESS OF VERIFICATION. I THINK EACH YOU KNOW, EACH FIRE COMPANY HAS A LOW SAP COORDINATOR IN THAT FIRE COMPANY WHO TAKES IT VERY SERIOUSLY. AND, YOU KNOW, FRANK, I THINK COMMISSIONER BARTZ, YOU'RE ON THAT COMMITTEE NOW, YOU CAN TELL THOSE PEOPLE, TAKE THIS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GIVE PEOPLE MONEY.
QUITE THE CONTRARY. THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT ON WHO THEY GIVE MONEY TO.
AND I THINK THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THIS PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO PASS LEGISLATION. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.
YEAH, I MEAN, EVEN DO THAT IS GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT FOR ME AND I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF FOR THE TIME THAT I HAVE LEFT HERE AS A COMMISSIONER, I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE EXERCISE. I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE COMMITMENT TO MAKE, TO EVALUATE THE PROCESS. AND MY ANSWER HAS GONE FROM, NO, WE CAN'T DO THIS TO YES, I THINK WE CAN, BUT WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE DETAILS IN PLACE.
THAT'S WHERE I AM ON THIS. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW THE WORK IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE DONE.
[00:40:04]
THE PEOPLE WHO ASK FOR THE MONEY KIND OF DO A FISCAL NOTE WITH IT.AND I UNDERSTAND THE PREMISE. I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WANT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DETAILS ARE TO GET THERE.
BUT I AM COMMITTED TO LOOKING AT IT TO POSSIBLY IMPLEMENT IN IN THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR.
THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I AM ON THIS. AND I'M BACK AND FORTH.
AND HONESTLY, I DON'T LIKE TO BE BACK AND FORTH ON THINGS.
THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW BUT I DO THINK I DO HAVE CONFIDENCE.
I DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE KEEPING THESE RECORDS.
I THINK KELLY DOES A INCREDIBLE JOB, AND I THINK THAT THE LOW SAP COORDINATORS WITHIN THOSE COMPANIES, AGAIN, I WILL TELL YOU, THEY DO A VERY THEY'RE VERY CONSCIENTIOUS ON WHAT THEY DO.
AND THEY GIVE IT A LOT OF TIME. THEY GIVE A LOT OF TIME, YOU KNOW, TO MAKING SURE THAT THESE RECORDS ARE, ARE CORRECT. BECAUSE YOU KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE SIGNED UNDER THE PENALTY OF LAW.
SO IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE MAKES A REPRESENTATION THAT THIS PERSON HAS ACHIEVED THESE NUMBER OF POINTS AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR LOW SAP, THEY'RE SIGNING THAT DOCUMENT, AND THEIR NAME IS ON THERE.
AND IF THERE WERE SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO COME BACK FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND OR ANYWHERE ELSE AND SAY, SHOW US THEY GOTTA BE ABLE TO DO IT. AND I CAN TELL YOU OVER THE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN A I'M GOING TO SAY THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE I KNOW WHO I BELIEVE HAVE REACHED THE LOW SAP LEVEL, BUT THE DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT THERE, MYSELF INCLUDED, BUT THE DOCUMENTATION WAS NOT THERE.
AND THE LOW SAP AWARD WAS NOT MADE, AND IT WAS NOT MADE TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE WERE UPSET AND MAD AND WANTED TO ARGUE AND FIGHT. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO SIGN OFF ON THOSE PAPERS DID NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION THAT ALLOWED THEM TO DO IT, AND I WAS ONE THAT HAD TO MAKE THAT DECISION AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF A FIRE COMPANY, WHERE IN MY HEART I KIND OF KNEW THAT. I THINK THE PERSON, YOU KNOW, MADE THE MADE THE GRADE, BUT I COULDN'T DOCUMENT IT BECAUSE I WAS NOT INVOLVED DURING THAT WHOLE PERIOD OF TIME AS A PRESIDENT.
AND I HAD TO LOOK THE PERSON IN THE FACE AND SAY, NO.
AND IT'S HARD, BUT I TELL YOU, IT IS TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I DO.
I DO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE RECORDS WILL BE KEPT CORRECTLY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION WILL BE THERE AND IT WILL BE CORRECT.
BUT I THINK, WELL, WE COULD POTENTIALLY BE TALKING I THINK I THINK WE SHOULD GO BACK AND EXPLAIN FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC THAT WHAT THIS IS THIS WAS THIS WAS ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED FIVE, SIX YEARS AGO.
YEAH. BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. SO PRIOR TO 2019 OR 2020, A COUNTY COULD NOT EVEN DO THIS.
CORRECT MY UNDERSTANDING. YES. OKAY, SO PASS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
AND WHAT DOES WHAT DID THAT BILL SAY? SO IT LIKE VERY OTHER SIMILAR ONES COMING OUT NOW CARVE OUT CERTAIN CLASSES OF INDIVIDUALS OR JOBS THAT THE COUNTY CAN OFFER CREDITS ON THE COUNTY'S BEHALF.
SO AGAIN IT DOESN'T REDUCE THE STATE OR THE TOWN'S TAX LIABILITY.
IT'S THE COUNTY THAT WOULD BE GIVING UP. SO AGAIN, YOU HAVE AND HOW MUCH IS THE MAXIMUM 2500.
RIGHT. A LOT OF THE COUNTIES ARE ALIGNING 25.
I'D HAVE TO CONFIRM WHETHER THE 2500 CAP IS ACTUALLY IN THE STATE LEGISLATION, OR IF THAT'S JUST A NUMBER, JUST A GENERAL RIGHT NUMBER ASSUMED BY SOME OF THE.
AND WHO CAN IT BE EXTENDED TO? ANY FIRST RESPONDER, PAID OR UNPAID.
OTHER DISABLED WORKERS THROUGH FOP SENIOR CREDITS ASKING FOR MORE.
[00:45:09]
OFFER THESE TYPES OF CREDITS. AND THIS IS WHERE THE SLIPPERY SLOPE GETS IN IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, HEY, WHERE DOES IT WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO DEFINITELY KIND OF. YES.AND WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. YOU KNOW, WHEN IS IT NOT BEING DISRESPECTFUL ANYWAY.
BUT WHEN'S ENOUGH ENOUGH? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU KEEP GIVING, GIVING, GIVING, YOU KNOW THAT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A SOCIALIST SOCIETY.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LEFT TO PAY YOUR BILLS WITH.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA FIND THAT HAPPY MEDIUM IF THERE IS ONE.
YOU KNOW? SO. AND THAT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, I DRAW SKEPTICISM ON THIS TO AN EXTENT, YOU KNOW, BUT I'M LOOKING. BUT, YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WHERE HEY, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO THIS.
IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE THAT VOLUNTEER MR. BREEDING CAN ALLUDE TO IT.
AND COMMISSIONER PORTER OVER THE YEARS, SAME PEOPLE TO SHOW UP, TO DO THE BALL FIELDS.
THEY DO THE REFEREEING AND THE 4H ACTIVITIES.
4H ACTIVITIES, THEY'RE THE SAME ONES THAT COME OVER AND OVER AND OVER UNTIL THEY GET BURNT OUT.
WELL, I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THE OTHER POSSIBILITY HERE IS THAT YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, INADVERTENTLY YOU MIGHT CAUSE SOME FRICTION WITHIN.
I MEAN, IF I'M A YOUNG GUY AND I'M RENTING A HOUSE AND I GO IN AND SAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU'RE GETTING A TAX CREDIT BECAUSE YOU OWN, I'M NOT GETTING ANYTHING.
I'M NOT GETTING ANY KIND OF BENEFIT FROM THIS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS THESE CONSEQUENCES.
AND, AND AGAIN, I'LL JUST SAY THAT IN THE BEGINNING, WHEN THIS WAS PROPOSED I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I JUST LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, NAH. THEN I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THAT THE CASE, YOU KNOW, I'M WILLING AND I THINK I AM STILL WILLING TO CERTAINLY TO CONSIDER THIS FOR ME RIGHT NOW, IT'S A TIMING PROBLEM IN THIS BUDGET YEAR AS FAR AS THE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMPANY, I'M GOING TO HOLD FAST TO MY 10%. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD GO DOWN ON THAT, BUT I'M WILLING TO SAY ON THIS ISSUE, I'M WILLING TO SAY WE WORK HARD, YOU KNOW, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EVERYTHING PULLED TOGETHER WITH A DRAFT.
AND NOBODY LIKES TO HEAR NEXT YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY.
AND I'M GOING TO HAVE SOME GUYS THAT ARE GOING TO SAY, OH, YOU'RE JUST PUSHING IT OFF. I'M NOT REALLY, BUT I DON'T I THINK THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN DOING THIS YOU KNOW, WOULD BE, WOULD BE DOING IT BADLY AND NOT HAVING ALL THE, THE DETAILS TIED UP AND HAVING, YOU KNOW, LOOPHOLES WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE ARGUING, SAYING, WELL, HOW COME I DIDN'T GET IT? HE GOT IT. I DON'T I DON'T WANT THAT. THIS IS LOW SAP IS A VERY, VERY WELL RUN PROGRAM. IT'S A WELL RUN PROGRAM BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES NOT ONLY TO FIGHTING FIRES AND SAVING LIVES AND PROTECTING PROPERTY.
IT'S DEDICATED PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME.
IT'S A WELL RUN PROGRAM BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS WHO KEEP TRACK OF IT.
AND KELLY. SO LET'S MAKE THIS THE SAME AS THAT.
THAT'S MY GOAL HERE. WELL, I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS HELPED WITH RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN OTHER COUNTIES WHERE IT HAS STARTED.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME DATA. YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REAL MONEY HERE.
IF YOU TAKE 135 PEOPLE TIMES $2,500, WE'RE REDUCING OUR REVENUE BY $337,000.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 50.
LET'S FACE IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN EVERY YEAR UNTIL IT GETS TO 2500.
SO, THE NUMBER IS $337,000 IN REDUCTION IN REVENUE THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES BASED ON THOSE NUMBERS.
[00:50:03]
I'D LIKE TO SEE ASSURANCES THAT THE POINT SYSTEM.I HAVE FAITH IN THOSE PEOPLE TOO. BUT TO YOUR POINT, IF SOMEBODY SCREWED UP THE RECORD KEEPING TO PREVENT PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY EARNED THEIR POINTS FROM GETTING, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THERE'S NOT SOME FUDGING THE OTHER WAY HAPPENING FROM TIME TO TIME? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ONE FIRE COMPANY IN THE NORTH END THAT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION BY ANOTHER STATE FOR MISMANAGEMENT, RIGHT? SO, I MEAN, I, I KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE AND I DO TRUST THEM, BUT WHEN WE'RE THROWING AROUND $337,000, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A DOUBLE VERIFICATION SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. SO, SOME TYPE OF CHECK.
SO, I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THE PROGRAM AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER. YOU KNOW, I STILL, YOU KNOW, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PITTING PEOPLE AGAINST EACH OTHER. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CITIZENS IN IN THIS STATE AND IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, WHERE WE CARVE OUT THINGS FOR, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS.
I WOULD, YOU KNOW, TO THAT POINT ALSO LIKE TO SEE INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE MONEY SPECIFICALLY IS USED FOR IN EACH FIRE COMPANY.
HOW MUCH OF IT IS BANKED. BECAUSE I THINK SOME OF IT PROBABLY GOES INTO THE BANK ACCOUNT.
FOR MAYBE FUTURE CAPITAL PURCHASES, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE IN RESERVES.
I THINK I THINK IT'S TO THE POINT NOW, AND IT'S PROBABLY WELL PAST THE POINT THAT WE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTING FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT GOES THERE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS BEING SPENT PROPERLY.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU KNOW THESE THE FIRE COMPANIES AGREE TO THAT.
I'M FINE WITH 10% THIS YEAR. AND I WOULD JUST I WOULD JUST SAY TO THAT POINT COMMISSIONER BREEDING THE REAL DISCREPANCY AND THE REAL PROBLEMS WITH RECORD KEEPING IN MOST OF THE COMPANIES, I WON'T SAY ALL, BUT IN MOST OF THE COMPANIES HAD TO DO WITH THE TRANSITION.
LOSAP WAS INTRODUCED IN 1986. IN FACT, ONE OF THE ONE OF THE FOUNDING PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THAT LEGISLATION OR NOT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION IS STILL HERE. RONNIE FARMS. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE THERE WERE PEOPLE STILL ALIVE WHO, YOU KNOW, WERE SERVING THE FIRE COMPANIES IN THE 1950S AND 60S. THE PROBLEM WAS, HOW DID YOU GIVE THOSE PEOPLE CREDIT FOR BEING IN THE FIRE COMPANY FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE LOSAP WAS EVEN INTRODUCED? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. AND SO YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE EARLY, EARLY PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S EVER BEEN RESOLVED, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THERE OBVIOUSLY WERE NO RECORDS KEPT BEFORE LOSAP BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY REASON TO KEEP THEM.
YOU SHOWED UP, RIGHT? THE WHISTLE BLEW. YOU SHOWED UP.
I MEAN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, RECORD KEEPING AND THE FIRE COMPANIES TODAY AND WHAT IT WAS EVEN IN 1980 IS NIGHT AND DAY. I MEAN, IT IS NIGHT AND DAY. I MEAN YOU KNOW, AND I JOINED IN 81.
SO, I MEAN I CAN TELL YOU THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT.
BUT THAT WAS WHERE THE DISCREPANCY CAME. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO HAD, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESS HIM, BUDDY SIMPSON WAS IN THE FIRE COMPANY FOR 60 SOME YEARS.
OKAY. WELL, WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THAT? AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS CAME. BUT I'M FULLY CONFIDENT NOW IN THE RECORD KEEPING AND THE, YOU KNOW, MANAGEMENT OF THAT FUND IN THE FIRE COMPANIES TODAY.
THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S WATCHING, KNOWS THEY MIGHT NOT BE SAYING ANYTHING, BUT THEY'RE WATCHING IN THAT FIREHOUSE WHAT'S GOING ON? AND THEY'RE GOING TO CALL THEM OUT IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, HAPPEN.
ONE DON'T WANT ONE'S NOT GOING TO LET THE OTHER ONE GET SOMETHING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET. SO BUT THEY DO TAKE IT SERIOUS, AND FROM I CAN ATTEST TO THAT. SO, I CAN DO, I'M GOOD WITH THE 10% AS WELL.
[00:55:07]
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO START THE CONVERSATION, NOT, I MEAN, LIKE, NEXT MONTH OR, YOU KNOW, LIKE, I WANT TO SAY TOMORROW, BUT YOU CAN'T DO TOMORROW. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. BUT THEN, WITHIN REASON. WELL, AND I THINK BASED OFF THE WHOLE CONVERSATION, REALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE RESEARCH FOR THE PROGRAM, THE PROCESS, THE LEGISLATION THAT NEEDS TO GO WITH IT ALL NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT.I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY I MEAN, ASSURE THAT WE'LL WORK WITH THE FIRE COMPANIES AND THE MEMBERS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH THIS INFORMATION, OUTLINE A PROCESS. LUCKILY FOR US, I MEAN, WE DO HAVE A NEIGHBORING COUNTY THAT ALREADY HAS IT ADOPTED HAS A PROCESS.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE THEIR POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR THIS.
I WOULDN'T AGREE TO THAT, I CAN TELL YOU. BUT.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE. WELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WOULD BE.
NOT HAVE THIS SOMETHING. LET'S. WHEN WE START BUDGET DISCUSSIONS NEXT YEAR.
I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR IT TO REVIEW.
I'D LIKE THERE TO BE A NUMBER AND IT'S GOING TO NEED TO INVOLVE.
AND IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A WORKGROUP SET UP OR REPRESENTATIVES FROM FIRE COMPANIES TO SIT DOWN.
LET'S BE READY. BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HEAR NEXT YEAR.
OH, WE REALLY FORGOT ABOUT IT. WE DIDN'T DO IT.
I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. AND I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO BE READY.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE TIME AND INFORMATION TODAY.
KELLY, IF YOU TELL HER TODAY, SHE'S GOING TO START ON IT TOMORROW. SHE WILL. YEAH.
WE NEED WE NEED TO KNOW. THAT'S THE OTHER THING WE NEED.
I JUST LET ME LIKE. BECAUSE I THINK I'M THE OUTLIER HERE NOW.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT THESE GUYS DOING, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THIS RABBIT HOLE.
MY POSITION HASN'T CHANGED THERE. AND I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF NUMBER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH ALL THESE BUDGET SHIFTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS A RECURRING COST THAT WILL BE PUT ON FUTURE BOARDS WHERE WE'RE REDUCING OUR REVENUE STREAM. THAT'S WHERE MY HEARTBURN IS.
IF IT'S 50,000 IS THE NUMBER YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 135 PEOPLE.
THAT'S 370 BUCKS. IS THAT IS THAT REALLY GOING TO HELP WITH RETENTION FOR THE STAFF TIME? BECAUSE I THINK THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO KNOW IS WE NEED A REPORT ON HOW MUCH TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE YOUR OFFICE AND DES TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM AS WELL. SO IS THE JUICE WORTH THE SQUEEZE FOR 50,000, YOU KNOW, OR NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TAKE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM. YES, IT'S GOING TO BE SOME TIME. AND I AGAIN, I KNOW MARK IS NOT HERE TODAY TO TALK ON BEHALF OF KELLY, BUT SHE IS. THEY WORK HER HARD. I MEAN THAT THIS LOW SAP PROGRAM IS A LOT OF HER TIME, AND IT TAKES A, A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM HER NORMAL EVERYDAY DES JOB.
AND THEY HAVE HAD TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
AGAIN, JUST AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY AND SOMEBODY I CAN RELATE TO.
RIGHT. HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY. SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING WE NEED TO LOOK AT.
PROBABLY FIRST IS GET US A REPORT ON HOW MUCH ADDITIONAL TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
DES AND WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE FIRE COMPANIES AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE NUMBER.
DO YOU GUYS REALLY THINK THIS IS THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY TO IMPROVE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT, OR SHOULD WE LOOK AT A DIFFERENT AVENUE? THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. WELL, AND I'LL SAY ONE MORE THING.
I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE BUDGET IN FUTURE YEARS, AS THE COMMISSIONERS MOVE FORWARD ON A BUDGET, THIS IS GOING TO FALL INTO ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES WHERE IT MAY HAVE TO BE ADJUSTABLE ACCORDING TO REVENUE AVAILABILITY AS WELL.
AND I'LL MENTION THE OTHER THING IS TAX DIFFERENTIAL TO ME.
WE'RE, YOU KNOW I KNOW WE AREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT EITHER.
[01:00:07]
SO, I MEAN, AS THE BUDGET BECOMES TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND TIGHTER, AND THERE'S NO REASON TO ME, FOR ME TO BELIEVE AFTER THIS DEBACLE THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR, THAT IT'S GOING TO GET ANY BETTER, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER. AND WE'RE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS, YOU KNOW, FLUID SITUATION THAT WE'VE HAD WHERE WE CAN GIVE THIS AND GIVE THAT. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.WE'LL REMOVE IT AND THEN WE'LL GIVE THE FULL 10% ALLOCATION TO THE FIRE COMPANIES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YEP. THANK YOU. BARELY.
TAKE THAT IN AND MAKE SURE WE'RE THERE. SO WHAT I'VE STARTED TO DO, IF YOU LOOK ON THE ONLINE, THERE'S A PROPOSED WHICH AGAIN IS JUST IF THERE'S 2 OR 3 YES VOTES TO THAT, WE CAN START COMPILING THOSE TOGETHER.
SO, I CAN'T SEE THAT. SORRY. DOCTOR BRANSON IS HAVING MY HOPEFULLY MY NEW GLASSES WILL BE HERE SOON.
YEAH, WE GOT IT. CAN YOU SEE IT ON THE SCREEN HERE? OH, I CAN BARELY SEE IT.
I JUST ZOOMED IN A LITTLE MORE, AND THERE WE ARE.
HIT SOME COLUMNS DOWN. SO AGAIN, WE'LL REALLY FOCUS KIND OF ON THAT COLUMN.
I PROPOSE NOW THAT THERE'S LIKE I SAY, A CONSENSUS AND I'LL UPDATE BASED OFF THAT.
SO WE'RE GOOD ON THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SCROLL THROUGH.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE WHAT WE CONSIDER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
AND IN THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTAIN AGENCIES AND SERVICES AND SOME REALLY GREAT POINTS AND BUDGET AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE. SO THE TWO AT THE TOP THAT I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED ARE UPPER SHORE AGING AS WELL AS DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SO UPPER SHORE, I BELIEVED AT THE LAST MEETING THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT 5% OVER THE REQUEST BROUGHT THEM TO THE 35314 I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER BARTZ HAS HAD SOME FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH UPPER SHORE AGING AT THEIR MEETINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN. YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T COVER THE FOOD FOR THE COST, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT LIVED HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY FOR ALL THESE YEARS AND, YOU KNOW, BEEN HERE AND THEY CAN'T EVEN GET A GOOD MEAL ONCE A DAY? YOU KNOW, IT'S WHERE I'M AT. YOU KNOW. SO. WELL, I AGREE, AND I THINK TRADITIONALLY, I THINK WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST IS WE'VE PRETTY MUCH SUPPLEMENTED THIS, YOU KNOW, THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM TO, TO HELP.
I. AGAIN, I MEAN, THEY, I MEAN THEY GET THIS ONE MEAL A DAY.
THIS PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON THEY TALK TO ALL DAY LONG IS THAT ONE PERSON THAT DROPS A MEAL OFF.
I MEAN, I KNOW. WE KIND OF FROWN ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE WE'RE CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW INVESTING IN. AND DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, COMMISSIONER BREEDING, BUT WE'RE BUILDING SUBSTANTIAL BALL FIELDS, YOU KNOW, IN NORTH COUNTY JUST IN HERE. I MEAN, THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GIVE TO SENIORS THAT NEED A GOOD, BALANCED MEAL ONCE, AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. THAT'S WHERE I AM.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO THE BALL FIELDS. I MEAN, I'M COMMITTED TO ALL THAT, BUT I JUST FEEL THIS IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR ADULTS THAT LIVED HERE THEIR WHOLE LIFE. AND THEN THEY SEE US, YOU KNOW, THEY SEE US DOING OTHER THINGS.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I AM. I GUESS THE THING THAT I THAT I REALLY AM NOT COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, THERE IS, THERE ARE SO MANY. I MEAN, I HEAR ABOUT OUR FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMS AND I HEAR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS AND WE'RE FEEDING KIDS. IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT THERE ISN'T SOME WAY THAT SOME OF THESE, THESE PROGRAMS CAN'T BE CONSOLIDATED.
I MEAN, THERE'S NEVER ANY KIND OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THAT.
[01:05:05]
AND, I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY PROGRAMS THERE ARE AND, AND MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON FOOD SECURITY IN THIS COUNTY. BUT THIS PROGRAM, MEALS FOR WHEELS ALWAYS FOR SOME REASON, SEEMS TO BE COMING UP WITH A DEFICIT.I MEAN, IF I THINK IT'S LIKE WE'RE ALL PULLING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS AND THIS MONEY GOES HERE AND THIS MONEY GOES HERE, BUT IF IT WERE SOMEHOW COORDINATED AND CONSOLIDATED, I THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH.
BUT I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, THEY CAN'T GET TO THE I MEAN, THEY CAN'T DRIVE, THEY DON'T GET TO THE FOOD PANTRIES OR, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST NEED, YOU KNOW, HER, HER DIRECTOR.
I MEAN, HE WAS HE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE HE HAD TO FILL IN ONE DAY DELIVERING MEALS.
YOU KNOW, JUST HE HAD NO CLUE WHERE AND CAROLINE COUNTY THAT THESE PLACES EVEN EXISTED.
ANYONE WHO HAS DONE THE THANKSGIVING RIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT IS THAT? NEIGHBORS UNITED. NEIGHBORS UNITED.
ANYONE WHO HAS DELIVERED THOSE MEALS, YOU'LL GO TO PLACES THAT I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
SO THEY'RE THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT.
SO I GUESS, TO GET BACK TO IT, WHAT IS THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE, THAT THEY WANTED 5% FOR.
BUT WE DIDN'T GO WITH THAT. SO WE GAVE THEM FIVE.
THEY WANTED 20%. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE COLA, COLA, THE COLA THEY WENT FOR, FOR THE EMPLOYEES.
OKAY. THEY'RE ASKING FOR A 3% COLA FOR THE EMPLOYEES WHICH IS ABOUT $21,000 OF THEIR ASK.
AND THEN THE OTHER HALF, EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS THE LARGER INCREASE OF 45,007 TEN IS BACK TO THE COST OF FOOD AND THE NEW CONTRACTS THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO ENGAGE WITH TO PROVIDE THE MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE AND THE DIFFERENT CONGREGATE.
SO THEY ASKED FOR 20% INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
THAT'S CORRECT. YES. AND WE GAVE RIGHT NOW THIS 350 IS 5%.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 5%. THE NUMBERS I GAVE YOU AS FAR AS WHAT THEY GOT CUT THIS YEAR.
YES. CAN YOU GO OVER THAT FOR THEM? BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
YEAH. I APOLOGIZE, I LEFT IT ON MY DESK, BUT I'LL GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
BUT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE DOCUMENT PROVIDED WITH THE STATE, THEY ARE CUTTING FY 25 AS WELL AS 26 IS FUNDING FOR, I'M GOING TO SAY, THEIR NORMAL JUST ENTITLEMENT FOR AGENCIES FOR AGING AGENCIES.
A LOT OF THE COUNTIES WERE CUT DOWN TO A FLAT $160,000, RIGHT? NOT. NOT AS THE FLOOR OF WHAT THEY COULD GO TO.
UNIQUELY UPPER STORY REPRESENTING THREE COUNTIES YOU WOULD THINK WOULD BE 160 TIMES THREE, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UNDER THAT LEVEL.
BUT I THINK THEY ENDED UP GETTING WHAT, 420 OR 410 INSTEAD.
SO, IT'S ANOTHER COST TO THE STATE IS SHIFTING OVER TO NUMBERS.
THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO FUND YOU.
SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO ASK THE COUNTIES FOR MONEY. SO NOW IT'S ANOTHER SHIFT.
YEAH. FOR THAT THEY'RE THROWING TRYING TO GET THE COUNTIES TO PICK UP THE TAB.
BUT THIS THIS FOOD IS MORE THAN JUST THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.
THIS IS FOOD THAT THEY PROVIDE DURING PROGRAMING.
CORRECT. IT IS ALL FOOD PROVIDED IN THE SENIOR CENTERS.
YES, SIR. YES. AGAIN. SO WHAT? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE'VE GOT IN OUR BUDGET? BECAUSE WE ALL THREE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT AND WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR? YEAH. SO THEY ASKED FOR THE [INAUDIBLE] IS THE DIFFERENCE.
SO THEY. SO, IF YOU DO THE 3% COLA INSTEAD OF LIKE THE 4%, YOU SAID, RIGHT.
THE THREE THE EMPLOYEE WAGE INCREASES WAS 21 224.
CORRECT. AND THAT'S THE 3% COLA THAT THEY WOULD THAT THEY WERE REQUESTING.
SO WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING THERE BECAUSE THAT WOULD GET THEIR BUDGET TO 358,000 BASICALLY.
I'M. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO COVER THOSE MEALS.
[01:10:01]
DO YOU WANT THE FULL 4 OR 3.I MEAN, FOR THE MEALS. I MEAN I WOULD LIKE TO COVER THAT.
SO THAT WOULD PUT IS THAT WOULD PUT YOU AT TO 4 OR 3.
YEAH. IF IT WAS JUST THE MEALS YOU WOULD BE THERE WITH ME.
WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE COLA. IF WE GIVE THEM THE MONEY, WE CAN'T DICTATE HOW THEY SPEND IT.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE COLA CORRECT.
WOULD BE ABOUT 3, 2, 550. SO AT THE 350. WHAT IS THAT? WHAT ARE WE GIVING THEM NOW? ABOVE. LAST YEAR.
INCREASE OF 13 FOR 74. WHAT PERCENTAGE IS THAT? EARLIER. IT'S TEN. RIGHT? NO. THAT'S FIVE.
NO, I BELIEVE IT WAS FIVE. I'M NOT GOOD WITH NUMBERS. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO RATTLE SOME NUMBERS.
I CAN'T. IT WAS FIVE. I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION.
WE WERE DOING FIVE ACROSS THE BOARD THAT SAYS.
WHAT WOULD OUR NEW NUMBER BE? FIVE. WHAT WOULD.
SO WHAT WOULD OUR NEW NUMBER BE WITH? JUST COVERING THE FOOD WITH JUST IF YOU ONLY SAID COVER THE FOOD, WHICH WAS THE IS THE 45,007 TEN INCREASE, YOU WOULD BE.
382 550. WHICH AGAIN IS ABOUT 21 224 SHORT OF THEIR OVERALL. ASK HOW MUCH 21,002 24 OH THAT'S THE AND THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.
RIGHT. AND THAT 45, 710 IS FOOD FOR JUST CAROLINE COUNTY.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S OUR PORTION OF THE CONTRACT AT INCREASE. YES, I'M INCREASE.
THAT MUST BE A LOT OF PEOPLE $45,000 JUST IN THE INCREASE.
YEAH. REMEMBER THEY LOST THE FUNDING. THEY LOST THE FUNDING FOR THIS YEAR.
AND THEN SOMEBODY PAID SOMEBODY DONATED TO COVER THIS YEAR'S FOR THE FY 25.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ASKING FOR NEXT YEAR TO COVER THAT AMOUNT.
AND THEY GOT BOTH OF THOSE INCREASES FROM KENT AND TALBOT.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS, YES. I'M OKAY WITH COVERING THE FOOD COMPANY.
SO DO WE GIVE THEM A COLA AT ALL OR. NO. SO IF YOU GAVE THEM 2.5%, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? THE COLA THEY'RE ASKING FOR WHAT? THREE. YEAH.
THREE. SO? SO IF YOU GIVE THEM TWO. SO JUST SAY IF YOU GAVE THEM A 2% COLA, THEY'RE GOING TO DO TWO.
SO, LET'S DO SOME QUICK MATH. SO YOU GIVE THEM ABOUT 14 135.
SO AGAIN IT'S A DIFFERENCE OF ABOUT $7,000 FOR THIS NUMBER.
SO I'M GOOD WITH THE FOOD IF BUT THE COLA. THAT'S UP TO YOU, TOO.
I'M GOOD WITH THE COLA. BUT IT'S ONE OF YOU. HAS TO YOU KNOW, THE 2% COLA.
I'LL BE I'LL BE OKAY WITH THE FOOD IN 2%. FOR WHAT FOOD AND 2%.
2%. SO AGAIN, THAT PUTS IT AT 396 685 FOR THAT NUMBER. I THINK COMMISSIONER BARTZ, THAT WAS A YES WITH THAT AS WELL FOR YOU.
FOR THE TWO 2% JUST. I'M AT 5%. I WOULD STAY THERE. BUT IF YOU GUYS WERE THAT CLOSE, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO TO THE FULL DISTANCE? IT'S ABOUT. THERE YOU GO. I'M JUST SAYING. I MEAN, WE CAN DO IT.
[01:15:04]
I MEAN, WE GOT DCT NEXT. SO, YOU'RE UP ON THE DCT, SO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.YEAH. YOU'RE ON DECK FOR TCT. SO. SO HOW FAR ARE WE FROM THE $7,000.
YEAH, I'M. YEAH, I'M WITH COMMISSIONER PORTER.
YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT I MEAN YOU'RE THERE. YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO WITH IT.
COMMISSIONER PORTER ARE YOU. YEAH. OKAY. COMING FROM THE ONE OUTLIER.
THE ONE THE ONE HARD, HARD GUY HERE, HEAR. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING IS YOU GOT TO SEE MY POINT HERE, WHERE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE SENIORS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THEY'RE NOT I MEAN, THEY OPERATE UPPER AGING.
USUALLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THEY'RE IN THE RED.
I'M KIND OF IT'S NOT IT'S NOT MISMANAGEMENT AT ALL.
AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S NOT WITH ALL THE STATE AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THAT THERE ISN'T SOME OVERLAP HERE.
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S NOT PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTY.
RIGHT. YEAH. YOU KNOW. YEAH. BUT ANYWAY, YEAH, BUT IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO HAVE.
I GUESS THEY DO A LOT OF BILLING PEOPLE FOR MEDICAID OR MEDICARE, AND THEY GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT.
AND I THINK IF SOME PEOPLE DON'T DO IT FAST ENOUGH.
THEY CAN'T PAY FOR THEIR SALARY PLUS OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS.
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GAIN SOME OF THEIR INCOME IS THROUGH THAT.
YEAH, THROUGH MEDICAID AND THEN MEDICAID OR MEDICARE BILLING.
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. 0650. AND THEY DO APPLY FOR WHAT'S THE CAROLINA FOUNDATION? YES. THEY EVERY YEAR THEY DO APPLY FOR THAT AND USUALLY GET SOME TYPE OF SUPPLEMENT FROM THEM AS WELL.
OKAY. SO, THEY DO GO THROUGH PURSUE OTHER. YEAH.
YEAH. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY. NO, NO. YOU'RE GOOD.
THANKS. SO AGAIN, NEXT ON THE LIST, WE HAVE DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE.
I BELIEVE I HAD PROVIDED A EMAIL FROM ANDY HOLLIS, DIRECTOR OF DELMARVA COMMUNITY SERVICE, OUTLINING SOME. I'LL CALL THEM BREAK POINTS IN THEIR BUDGET AND EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FUND.
AT WHAT LEVEL? DEPENDING ON THE ALLOCATION. SO IN THAT EMAIL AS WELL, THERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF THE CURRENT ROUTES THAT ARE RUNNING THROUGH CAROLINE COUNTY AND THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF TRIPS OR SAY, CITIZENS THAT ARE TAKING TRIPS ON THOSE BUSSES.
SO AGAIN, THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR BOOK OR PROVIDED IN FRONT OF YOU THERE.
THE PLACEHOLDER THAT THE THREE COMMISSIONERS HAVE PLACED RIGHT NOW IS THE 95,000.
LOOKS LIKE AGAIN, FROM ANDY'S EMAIL, HE HAS 90,000 AS KIND OF BEING THE LOWEST NUMBER 111 AND THEN THE FULL 157 475. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN DEPTH WITH? SO IF WE SO IF WE GO TO 90,000, WE ARE. GOING TO END UP CUTTING THREE OF THE FIVE ROUTES. IF WE GO TO 111,000. WE'RE CUTTING TWO OF THE FIVE AND WE GOT TO GO ALL THE WAY TO 157 TO KEEP ALL FIVE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M, WHERE I'M AT IS, IS JUST THE 90,000.
AND I THINK WITH THESE BUDGET SHIFTS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE EXPERIENCING YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN FUND ALL FIVE ROUTES.
CORRECT. SO WE'RE SAYING GIVE ME THOSE NUMBERS AGAIN.
I'M SORRY. YES, SIR. SO AT AGAIN, AT 90,000 WE WOULD MAINTAIN THE TWO BUSIEST ROUTES AND CUT THE THREE SLOWER AT 111 DENTON EASTERN ROUTE AND THE DENTON EASTERN PRESTON FEDERALSBURG DENTON ROUTE, BUT THE DENTON, RIDGELEY, GREENSBORO WOULD BE OUT. THAT'S A MOBILITY ON DEMAND.
[01:20:05]
YOU KNOW, RIGHT. EVERYTHING THAT WE ADD RIGHT NOW IS COMING OUT OF ROAD MAINTENANCE.THAT'S THE WAY TO LOOK AT. YEAH. THAT'S THE, OR AN ADJUSTMENT ON THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BILL.
YEAH. SOME FORM OF CAPITAL TRANSFER IN BETWEEN.
SO WE'RE ABOUT 67,000 DIFFERENCE; RIGHT? BUT BETWEEN THE 90 AND THE 157.
YES. WHAT'S THE LEAST BUSIEST ROUTE? IT FORMATTED IT.
REALLY? YEAH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MOBILITY ON DEMAND ROUTE.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO. YEAH. THE LEAST BUSIEST.
THE EASTERN DENTON. SO IT LOOKS, I DON'T KNOW THE WAY THE COLUMNS PRINTED HERE.
IT'S HARD TO SAY. SO THE DENTON EASTERN ROUTE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE 300 OR 3357 RIDERS, AN AVERAGE OF 13 PER DAY. THE EASTERN DENTON 5P ROUTE HAS 101 RIDERS ANNUALLY, BUT IT'S GOT AN ASTERISK NEXT TO IT.
POSSIBLE ANOMALY BEING. 06A HAS 2000 RIDERS, 7.8 RIDERS A DAY. 6P HAS 2040 OR 430 RIDERS, NINE AN AVERAGE OF 9.35 A DAY, AND THEN THE MOBILITY ON DEMAND HAS AN AVERAGE OF FIVE A DAY.
WHAT IT GIVES US TRIPS. I WANT TO KNOW RIDERS.
THAT'S WHY. I MEAN, WE HAVE TRIPS WITH. NO, WE HAVE BUSSES WITH NOBODY ON THEM.
AVERAGE. SO, THE AVERAGE. THAT MUST BE RIDERS, THOUGH.
IT'S GOT TO BE RIDERS. MY UNDERSTANDING IS A TRIP IS A RIDE.
SO, IF I RIDE FROM EASTON, IF I RIDE BACK FROM EASTON, THAT'S ANOTHER TRIP.
MAYBE THE SAME RIDER, BUT I'VE DONE TWO TRIPS.
TWO TRIPS. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO LIKE THE 5P LEAST INTO DENTON, THEY'RE SAYING DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A PERSON A DAY AT .39.
SO. THERE'S DENTON TO EASTON AND EASTON THE DENTON.
WE'RE REALLY SHOOTING IN THE DARK ON THIS THING WITHOUT KNOWING IT.
YEAH. COULD WE, COULD WE KIND OF PUT THIS? COULD WE KIND OF ASK ANDY TO COME IN? CERTAINLY. AND TALK TO US ABOUT, I MEAN, BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION, I MEAN, IF HE'S IF HE'S WELL, HE'S GOT TO BE AVAILABLE. IF HE WANTS THE MONEY, HE NEEDS TO COME IN.
BUT I MEAN, THAT'S EASY ENOUGH. I JUST THINK IT'S I THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION WE'VE GOT TO HAVE BECAUSE HONESTLY, I CAN'T FIGURE THIS OUT. I DON'T YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S TOTALLY FINE.
WE COULD LEAVE THIS HERE AS A NUMBER AND YEAH, YOU KNOW, HAVE HIM COME IN.
WE HAVE THREE WEEKS OR SO BEFORE WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
AND I THINK IT'S WELL WORTH HAVING ANDY COME IN AND TALK THROUGH ALL THIS PROCESS.
OKAY. OKAY. SO I'LL LEAVE THAT ONE THERE. I BELIEVE LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT CAME UP ABOUT BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS OF THE EASTERN SHORE.
AGAIN, I KNOW WE HAD TWO COMMISSIONERS SHOWING 5000.
IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGH SOME UPDATED POLICY CHANGES THEY HAVE NOW LEARNED THAT THE HUMAN SERVICE COUNCIL IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO FUND BIG BROTHER AND BIG SISTER AT $24,000 A YEAR.
SO I THINK THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT DUPLICATION OF FUNDING THERE.
SO, I JUST HAD THAT ONE HIGHLIGHTED BECAUSE IT WAS A DISCUSSION PRIOR.
IF WE WANT TO LEAVE IT CERTAINLY UNHIGHLIGHTED AND MOVE ON.
[01:25:08]
SO, I WOULD SAY MARTIN'S HOUSE. I WOULD LEAVE THE 5000.OKAY. HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL NOT FUNDING FOR 25.
HIS HOPE MINISTRY IS NOT FUNDING THE FIVE. OKAY, AARONS, PLEASE STAY AT FIVE.
5000? YEAH. CASA. STAY AT FIVE. YOU SAY I WOULD SAY ELIMINATE THE BIG BROTHER.
BIG SISTER. OKAY. MIDSHORE FAMILY VIOLENCE. THAT'S PAID FOR BY THE MILLION.
YES. YEAH. THE LEAVE POSITIVE STRIDERS. I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
AND LEAVE MEN FOR CHANGE AT FIVE. OKAY, THOSE ARE MY REVISED NUMBERS.
I THINK, AGAIN, LOOKING ACROSS FOR THE CONSENSUS THAT WE DID, WE DECIDED JUST TO LEAVE A PLACEHOLDER FOR DCT AT 95 FOR RIGHT NOW UNTIL ANDY AND ASK ANDY TO COME IN AND GIVE US A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.
SO, WHAT ARE YOUR? YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL SERVICES, THINGS LIKE LARRY JUST WENT THROUGH.
SO, COMMISSIONER PORTER JUST UPDATED, AND WE TRIMMED OFF THE ONES THAT HE HAD DONE THERE.
SO WE'RE, ME AND HIM DIFFERENT AT SO ONE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, LIKE, SAY, MARTIN'S HOUSE.
OKAY. SORRY. YEP. YEAH. 5000 FOR AARON'S PLACE.
OKAY. I ELIMINATED THE BIG BROTHERS. BIG SISTERS.
OKAY. AND I KEPT 5000 FOR POSITIVE STRIDERS AND FOR 5000 FOR MEN.
FOR CHANGE. OKAY. SO, I'M NONE FOR MARTIN'S HOUSE.
CORRECT. HE WAS SERVICE COUNCIL. I'M FIVE FOR THAT.
AARON'S PLACE. CASA. ALSO, I LET BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS AND MEN FOR CHANGE.
OKAY. YEAH. WE'RE CLOSER. YEAH. WE'RE CLOSER.
LET'S SAY THERE'S. YEAH, I DON'T I DON'T COUPLE THAT ARE CONSENSUS.
THAT'S. TOTALLY FINE. WERE YOU AT THAT SAME. OH I HAD TO 5000 FOR POSITIVE STRIDERS.
OKAY. CONTINUING ON, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS THERE.
WE REALLY START GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SHEET, WHICH I'VE SHOWN IS THE CAPITAL ALLOCATION.
SO. I WILL SAY, KNOWING THAT WE DON'T HAVE DCT FIGURED OUT AND THERE ARE LIKE, SAY A QUESTION THERE, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO EXACTLY DETERMINE WHAT THAT NUMBER WILL NEED TO BE TO, TO GO BACK AND FORTH AGAIN, LOOKING AT EACH INDIVIDUAL COLUMN WITH THE FIRE COMPANY HAVING THE 10% INCREASE AND ADJUSTING FOR UPPER SHORE AGING WE AGAIN, ARE KIND OF GOING DOWN A LITTLE MORE, DIPPING INTO THAT CAPITAL NUMBER. SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON.
WHAT HOW AM I SPENDING MORE? BECAUSE I HAVE MORE IN THE ROAD BUDGET.
YES. YOUR CAPITAL TRANSFER INITIALLY WAS LARGER, CORRECT? SO. SO ARE WE GOING TO CAPITAL NEXT OR WILL WE CAN? I THINK FOR ME, THE EASIEST THING TO DO NOW THAT WE HAVE, I'M GOING TO SAY A CONSENSUS OTHER THAN GETTING DCT FIGURED OUT IS REALLY THIS KIND OF GOES AWAY. ANYTHING THAT IS 2 TO 3 VOTE AGREED UPON STAYS IN THE PROPOSED.
AND THEN THE NUMBER THAT GOES THERE IS JUST THE REMAINING FIGURE THAT'S LEFT.
SO REALLY I'M GOING TO COPY THIS OVER HERE. WE'LL GO TO CAPITAL.
AND THEN THAT AGAIN IS THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO SHOW IS OUR CAPITAL ALLOCATION.
[01:30:09]
SO RIGHT NOW, THE VERSION THAT WE'RE SHOWING WITH CAPITAL THAT I'M UPDATING NOW HAS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION REMAINING, WHICH AGAIN, WAS THE CATCH. ALL THAT WOULD THEN GO INTO THE HOT MIX OVERLAY.SO TO. TO BALANCE THAT WOULD COME UP.
SHOULD GO RIGHT IN THERE AND AT THE CURRENT VERSION. YOU ARE BALANCED TO ZERO.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID AGAIN THE HOT MIX OVERLAY IS FUNDED AT $1.4 MILLION.
WE WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE, LIKE, SAY, WHERE THAT KIND OF GIVE AND TAKE IS BETWEEN THE TWO SHEETS.
YEAH, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN DO. I'M NOT SAYING YOU TAKE IT ALL, BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST I THOUGHT THAT'S WHERE WE WERE ON THAT.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND WATCH THE MINUTES.
ANYBODY REMEMBER THAT OR KNOW MY NOTES? I HAD, WHEN WE FIRST VOTED ON IT, THE FIRST TIME WE WERE GOING TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE FUND BALANCE. FUND BALANCE. THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE IT WAS DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUDGET.
I MEAN, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEASON YEAR. AND WE VOTED YES.
YEAH, I MEAN, I'M JUST LOOKING. IF I DON'T THINK IT'S FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S A WISE.
TO BUDGET A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT FOR THAT IN THIS YEAR.
I'M NOT SURE I'M NOT SURE THAT IT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT I WOULD SAY WE BUDGET THE ENTIRE AMOUNT IF WE DO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE DID. NOW, CORRECT ME IF I'M BECAUSE THIS IS ON MY PHONE.
NO. GO AHEAD. CALCULATOR. YEP. IF WE DID TWO YEARS OF THE THREE IN THIS YEAR, WE WOULD BE 1,000,008.
MY NUMBER THAT I HAVE HERE, THE FY 27, THE TWO YEARS AT LEAST.
THE. SO THEY HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PHASES OVER THREE YEARS IN THEIR PRESENTATION.
SO THE FIRST YEAR FY 26 WE WOULD NEED 183,000.
AND THEN YEAR TWO IS JUST SHY OF $2.3 MILLION.
BUT THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS 2.7 IF YOU WANTED TO DO TWO THIRDS OF IT.
SO IF YOU SAID LET'S DO, LET'S LOOK AT THIRDS.
YES, YOU WOULD BE ABOUT 907,000 FOR THREE YEARS.
AND THEN THAT WOULD LEAVE NINE, ABOUT 900,000 FOR NEXT YEAR.
OR USE THIS AS YOUR BALANCING NUMBER, BECAUSE I HATE TO TAKE IT OUT OF HOT MIX.
I DO USE THIS AS YOUR BALANCING NUMBER AND THEN JUST COVER THE REST OF IT IN NEXT YEAR.
YEAH, I MEAN THAT'S WHAT I SAID A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. TAKE NUMBERS, NOT DO ALL CHESAPEAKE.
YEAH. OKAY. SO, I WAS MY SUGGESTION, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT COUPLE WEEKS AGO IS, IS PUT IT IN THIS BUDGET AND LIKE AND THEN DO LIKE COMMISSIONER PORTER SAID USE IT NOW USE IT AS YOUR BALANCE NUMBER.
YEAH. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT. HONESTLY.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE. I MEAN, REASONABLY CLOSE IN, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE BUDGET.
THIS IS YOUR BALANCE. YOU CARRY OVER WHAT THE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE.
WE'LL CERTAINLY HAVE ENOUGH IN THERE FOR OUR FOR THE ENGINEERING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
I WOULD NOT SUGGEST LEAVING A BIG BALANCE IN THE THIRD YEAR OR YOU KNOW.
RIGHT. BUT USE THIS AS YOUR, AS YOUR BALANCE NUMBER AND KEEP YOUR HOT MIX NUMBER THE SAME.
I MEAN, I AGREE WITH BREEDING WITH THE SCHOOL, THE TENNIS CENTER.
[01:35:01]
I MEAN, THE SCHOOL SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEING FAST TRACKED PRETTY QUICK. SO, I MEAN, YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO TOUCH ANY FUND BALANCE AT ALL, YOU KNOW? SO JUST TO TALK THAT THROUGH REAL QUICK.I'M DOING SOME NUMBERS. SO IF YOU WANTED TO MAKE HOT MIX WHOLE WITH THE 2 MILLION REQUEST, THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING, YOU WOULD FUND THAT $2,138,000.
AND THAT WOULD BRING THE HOT MIX BACK UP TO THE 2 MILLION AS WE SIT TODAY.
AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO ESSENTIALLY COME UP WITH $584,000.
AND THAT'S YOUR TWO YEARS, CORRECT? OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS BEFORE THE END.
THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT'S OWED ON THAT LAST YEAR AS FAR AS TIMING GOES.
AGAIN, IT'S. AND IF WE'RE IN THE GENERAL IN THE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET RIGHT NOW WE'RE WITHIN 60,000, RIGHT. I MEAN, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE DCT LINE ITEM WERE WITHIN 60.
I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE CLOSE. IT'S ABOUT WHOLE RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS THE OPERATING GOES, BECAUSE WE'VE PUT IN THAT PROPOSED AND CLEANED UP TO THE REDUCTION IN CAPITAL THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE. AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY JUST MY OPINION MORE THAN ANYTHING.
AND I'M NOT UPSET EITHER WAY. I'M AFRAID THAT NEXT YEAR WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ABILITY TO TRY TO FIND $600,000.
MORE INCOME TAX IS GOING TO FLAT. WE'RE UP TO HOLE ON THAT.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY A MILLION OF THAT'S GOING TO GO TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND RAISES.
SO JUST ON BLUEPRINT AND EMPLOYEE NORMAL STEPS AND RAISE, WE'VE ATE UP ALL NEW REVENUE NEXT YEAR.
THAT DOESN'T LEAVE ANYTHING FOR FIRE COMPANY DOESN'T LEAVE A SINGLE INCREASE TO TEACHER PENSION.
OTHER TEACHER ANYTHING. AGAIN, I AM VERY MUCH A FIRM BELIEVER.
IF WE HAVE THE MONEY TODAY AND WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO TO, IT'S GOING TO IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER. NO, NO, NO. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES.
THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING BLUEPRINT AND THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSING MEDICAID OR MEDICARE.
IT'S ALMOST GUARANTEED. YEAH. YEAH. SO AGAIN, STATE ROADS ARE BAD.
YEAH. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BROKE BY DROPPING THIS DOWN AND FUNDING THE HOT MIX.
AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. BUT KNOW THAT IF WE GET IN A TIGHT SPOT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EAT THAT DIFFERENCE OUT OF FUND BALANCE OR GIVE AND TAKE OUT OF SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A LUXURY OR THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR.
AND DOING THIS FLUID BACK AND FORTH WAS YOUR INTENTION TO KEEP THE ENTIRE POT MIX ACCOUNT? NO, I MEAN, I WAS I WAS TAKING IT OUT OF HOT MESS.
I MEAN, ROBIN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK.
IS THERE DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE $600,000 EFFECT REDUCTION IN HOT MIX ASPHALT PAVING.
WHAT THAT WOULD HAVE LIKE, DO YOU HAVE ROADS IN MIND THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CUT BECAUSE OF THAT REDUCTION? I KNOW THAT'S PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT. THERE'S A LOT OF ROADS AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT.
WHICH ARE WE LOOKING AT? ARE WE LOOKING AT FULL WEDGE AND LEVEL OVERLAYS OF ANY MAJOR STRETCHES OF ROAD, LIKE WE DID ON WHITES LANE OR WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? WE JUST DID KNIFEBOX. HOW ABOUT HOW ABOUT THE ROAD COMING OUT OF HOBBS? THAT ONE'S PRETTY ROUGH, RIGHT? YES, YES, THAT'S ONE IN PARTICULAR.
HOLLY COULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR A WEDGE AND LEVEL.
WE'VE HAD THAT EVALUATION. I MEAN, I 600,000 GETS US ABOUT A MILE OF ROAD.
DOES THAT SOUND? WE DID IT WITH WHITES LANE. WE FIGURED WHAT IT WAS.
YEAH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS FROM TYPICALLY ASPHALT DOES NOT GET CHEAPER.
[01:40:08]
LIQUID ASPHALT IS A BYPRODUCT OR MADE FROM PETROLEUM.SO WHEN GAS PRICES COME DOWN. LIQUID ASPHALT PRICES COME DOWN.
AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN YOUR PAVING NUMBERS.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING LOWER. I MEAN TYPICALLY BUILDING MATERIALS DON'T GET CHEAPER, BUT THIS IS ONE COMMODITY OR BUILDING MATERIAL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY GET CHEAPER.
YOU KNOW, THE STONE AND YOUR OTHER INPUTS ALWAYS GO UP, LABOR COSTS GO UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, IT'S A ROLL OF THE DICE.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE COULD TAKE IT OUT OF THE COLLEGE, GET SOME PAVING KNOCKED OUT. NOW THE OTHER THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE WITH PAVING. DOING $2 MILLION WORTH OF PAVING NOW IS NO DIFFERENT THAN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS IN VEHICLES.
IF WE GO OUT AND WE BOUGHT 15 NEW VEHICLES THIS YEAR, WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR IN 7 TO 8 YEARS, HAVING TO BUY 15 NEW VEHICLES ALL AT ONE TIME AGAIN.
SO WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO PAVING OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
SO ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR IN A 15 TO 18 YEAR WINDOW THEN THAT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS IS GOING TO HAVE MILES AND MILES OF ROAD FALLING APART BECAUSE WE WE DID IT ALL, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE TRY TO PACE IT OUT AND THROTTLE IT, YOU KNOW, AND DO A LITTLE BIT EACH YEAR? I MEAN, WE'RE CATCHING UP NOW RIGHT FROM.
YEAH. I MEAN SOME OF THESE NOT FULLY FUNDING WHAT WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE BEEN DOING.
BUT I MEAN RIGHT. YEAH. I MEAN TO THAT POINT, YES, YOU'RE BUILDING CYCLES WHERE INCREASES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE AND INCREMENTS WHERE YOU KNOW, SPREADING IT OUT. AND I WORK WITH WHATEVER I HAVE AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND WE HAVE ROADS THAT ARE WE HAVE THEM GRADED BASED ON, YOU KNOW. AND WITHOUT THINGS CHANGING.
A NEW BUSINESS OPENING UP ON THAT ROAD WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENT.
I MEAN, WE DON'T CONTROL, YOU KNOW, LIMITED CONTROL OVER SOME OF THAT.
AND THAT COULD CHANGE THE PRIORITY LEVELS OF SOME ROADS.
BUT, I MEAN, WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY. YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN.
I THINK THE TOWN OF DENTON IS GOING TO BE COMING TO US AND ASKING US FOR HELP WITH FOYE ROAD, TOO, BECAUSE HALF OF FOYE THE LEFT SIDE OF FOYE IS COUNTY.
THE RIGHT SIDE OF FOYE IS THE TOWN OF DENTON, AND THAT ROAD IS FALLING APART IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF ONE COUNTY BUSINESS THAT'S OUT THERE. IT'S REALLY INTERNALLY, WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION OF HAVING A SIT DOWN WITH THE TOWN OF DENTON AND DETERMINING A ROAD, A TRUCK ROUTE IN THAT AREA. SO THAT THAT'S THE ROAD WE REALLY BUILD UP AND, YOU KNOW, IT WILL LAST.
AND THE OTHERS, YOU KNOW. GET THEM TO PAR FOR VEHICLES.
BUT THAT'S A TOWN. IT'S A TOWN ROAD, I THINK.
I KNOW, I KNOW. I MEAN TOWN ALL THE WAY TO HOBBS.
OR IS THAT HOBBS OR. YES. THAT'S MARKET STREET EXTENDED THAT PART.
I GUESS IT'S HOBBS. YEAH. YEAH. SO, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW.
YES. BOYS IMPACTED. HOBBS. IMPACTED. WE HAVE.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE WORST ROAD IN THE WHOLE SENATE ROAD.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE ANDERSON TOWN. I MEAN, THOSE THREE ROADS AND PROBABLY OF ALL OF THEM SENTENCED, THE ONE THAT CAN PROBABLY BE USED RIGHT NOW AND WAS AT ONE TIME BUILT UP FOR TRUCKS AND IS PROBABLY USED THE LEAST BY THE TRUCKS.
LEGION. LEGION GETS A LOT OF. YEAH, FEEDS IT.
DANNY, ANOTHER QUESTION JUST POPPED INTO MY MIND.
THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SUBJECT ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
YOU DO HAVE THE LANDFILL MONEY BUILT IN THERE? YES. THE PAYMENT. SO THAT SHOULD REALLY PROBABLY GO TOWARDS HOLLY ROAD BECAUSE THOSE RESIDENTS OUT THERE WERE IMPACTED BY THE EXTENSION OF THAT.
THE YES. THE OTHER THING WAS ANY SOLAR, LIKE ALL THAT SOLAR AT THE NORTH END, IS THAT BUILT INTO YOUR REVENUE ESTIMATES OR TO A DEGREE. SO AS THEY CHANGE USE AS THAT REASSESSES THEM PUTS THEM AT A HIGHER VALUE.
AND THAT SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE REVENUE OR ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR PROPERTY TAX COLLECTION.
DO YOU KNOW THAT FOR SURE? SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE SPOT CHECKED FROM OUR INITIAL LIST TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY ASSESSING THEM AT HAVE BEEN ALL CHANGED TO THE $10,000 THAT'S ALREADY BUILT IN. SO THAT THAT'S HOW ABOUT THE PILOT THOUGH? YOU DON'T HAVE THAT? I DO NOT HAVE THE PILOT IN THERE.
OKAY. BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE OF THE PILOT STARTS COLLECTION ONCE THEY ARE UP AND BEEN GENERATING.
SO NOT ENVISIONING THAT HAPPENING IN THE COMING MONTHS, JUST BASED ON THEIR BILL SCHEDULE WOULD.
BUT WE GOT TO BE CAREFUL. I MEAN, WE, THE THREE OF US, HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE WAY WE SPEND NOT ONLY THE LANDFILL MONEY, BUT ALSO THE PILOT MONEY, BECAUSE BOTH OF THOSE ARE GOING TO GO AWAY.
[01:45:02]
SO, IF WE BAKE THEM INTO THE OPERATING BUDGET.I THINK. WELL, IT'S NOT ONE TIME. IT'S 20 YEAR SOMETHING THAT HAS A CLIFF OR A SUNSET'S OUT.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE PAVING FROM THE LANDFILL? THEY JUST TOLD US THE OTHER DAY AT THE ADMINISTRATOR'S CALL WITH MAYOR.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE IT TO BID. THEY HAVE A LOCAL COMPANY PICKED AND THEY'RE LOOKING TO START.
WAS IT JUNE OR JULY? DID THEY? JUNE OR JULY? I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO END UP CLOSE TO COMING.
TOGETHER WITH OUR RIVER ROAD PROJECT I WOULD SAY BASED ON THE CONTRACTOR THAT'S.
SAME CONTRACTOR. YES. YES, THE SAME CONTRACTOR.
SO YEAH, HOPEFULLY JUNE OR JULY. THE SAME CONTRACTOR.
YEAH. OKAY. SO, THERE'LL BE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF ROAD WORK BEING DONE IN.
I MEAN, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO THE POINT ABOUT THE PAVING NUMBER.
WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON PAVING ALREADY.
YES. AND BUT AGAIN SORRY. NO, I MEAN THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CAPITAL SITTING.
AND I'M TRYING TO GET THROUGH THAT AND JUSTIFY THAT.
SO THAT WE JUST ROLL INTO THIS NEW BUDGET. I'M.
I THINK DANNY AND I ARE LIKE, WE JUST DON'T LIKE CAPITAL MONEY.
JUST SITTING THERE AND NOT USING IT. BUT I'M FINE EITHER WAY.
IF YOU GUYS WANT TO, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO BALANCE IT OUT OF THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, I, WHAT I WOULD DO IS I WOULD SAY WE WOULD JUST PULL THE REST OUT OF FUND BALANCE THEN AND JUST MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND DO IT THIS YEAR.
AND THEN IT'S BEHIND US. CORRECT. AND IF I HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY OR WE JUST LEAVE IT THE WAY WE'VE GOT IT AND IT'S COMING OUT OF ASPHALT PAVING, I'M REALLY INDIFFERENT. IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME EITHER WAY.
AGAIN, IF IT WAS MY CHOICE ALONE, I'LL GIVE YOU MY RECOMMENDATION.
SO I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A HAPPY MEDIUM SOMEWHERE HERE TO MEET WHERE WE CAN PULL BACK A LITTLE FROM THE COLLEGE, BEEF UP A LITTLE MORE OF THE PAVING, BUT THEN KNOW AND COMMIT THAT ANY OVERAGE THAT WE FINISHED THIS YEAR AT, INSTEAD OF ROLLING IT INTO FUND BALANCE, WE WOULD CAP OFF OR FINISH THE ALLOCATION TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
SO FAR WHATEVER WE FINISH THIS YEAR WITH, I WILL DO A TRANSFER INTO CAPITAL OF THAT AMOUNT, START THE BALANCE FOR CHESAPEAKE, HAVE THE MONEY SET ASIDE, AND THAT WOULD MAKE IT WHOLE.
THAT WAY WE'RE NOT PUTTING MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE AND THEN TAKE IT OUT THE NEXT YEAR.
OKAY. WE CAN DO THAT. WELL, WE TELL ROBIN IF HE CAN HIT, IF YOU CANNOT SPEND IT ALL AND ROLL IT IN, WE COULD ROLL IT BACK INTO THE COLLEGE TO IF IT MAKES SENSE, WE'LL GIVE YOU MORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, LIKE, DON'T JUST USE IT TO DO A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, QUARTER MILE STRETCH SOMEWHERE.
IF IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO FIX THE WHOLE ROAD, JUST ROLL IT BACK OVER SO WE CAN USE IT FOR THE COLLEGE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE SUGGESTION AGAIN, I THINK THAT GETS US BETTER IN THE HOT MIX, BUT AGAIN, DOESN'T HAVE US TRYING TO FIND $600,000 BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.
IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO FIGURE EXACTLY HOW MUCH.
LIKE IF WE WANT TO DO ANDERSON TOWN AND HOLLY AND MAYBE ONE OTHER ROAD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S UNTIL HE ACTUALLY GETS OUT THERE AND RUNS THE NUMBERS.
YOU CAN PUT THOSE IN THE NUMBERS SOMEHOW HERE.
WHAT ARE WE AT RIGHT NOW? WE'RE UP 1.4 MILLION OF A 2 MILLION ASK.
ALL RIGHT. ONE SEVEN. YEAH. THAT WORKS. OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD. I'M GOOD WITH THAT. YEAH, I CAN MAKE THAT.
OKAY. IT'LL BE A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF ROAD WORK GOING.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF WORK. YEAH.
YES. YEAH. AND WILL KIND OF DOING IT NOW. WELL, WE'LL CLEAN THAT UP TO.
MAKE IT A ZERO OUT NUMBER. SO, WE'RE SURE AT THIS POINT THAT THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE BUILDING IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T, THEN WE'RE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE THAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE.
[01:50:04]
YES. YEAH. I THINK MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S STILL IN THE BUDGET AS ONE OF THE HIGHER PRIORITY COLLEGES.I THINK IT WAS NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST. AND JUST FROM GENERAL CONVERSATIONS, I THINK IT DOES HAVE TO VOTE FOR THREE COUNTY SUPPORT TO PUSH THAT THROUGH. SO WITH THAT, I AGAIN SHOW CAPITAL REALLY BEING BALANCED OUT AS WELL AS WAS OPERATING WITH THE IDEA THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH DCT WOULD KIND OF BE THE.
GIVE AND TAKE TO REBALANCE OFF OF THE COLLEGE NUMBER.
SO, ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS OR LINE ITEMS THAT WE WANT TO DISCUSS OR HIT TODAY TO TRY TO GO OVER OR HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT STATE UNTIL WE GET ANDY IN HERE TO ANSWER SOME OF THOSE? WELL, THE OTHER THING IS TO WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES AS TO BECAUSE IF SOME OF THOSE COME OFF, THAT COULD GO INTO A HOT MESS PAVING TOO. SO I STILL HAVE GOT TO DO THAT.
I HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET. OKAY. SO. BUT ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. YOU GUYS GOT ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. I DON'T THINK SO.
OKAY. THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. MAKE GOOD PROGRESS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU.
WE'LL RECIRCULATE THIS OUT ONCE WE CLEAN IT UP AND GET A VERSION.
CORRECT? YEAH. AND WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THAT DONE BY THE 22ND.
SO YOU CAN ADVERTISE. WELL, TELL ANDY IF HE WANTS HIS MONEY, HE CAN COME IN.
YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STACY. THANK YOU.
YEP. THANK YOU. BYE. OKAY. CONSENT AGENDA. QUESTIONS? CONCERNS, COMMENTS ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I DO, I DON'T. OKAY. NO, NO. OKAY. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR MARCH. I'M SORRY FOR APRIL 1ST, 2025.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT. WE HAVE THREE ACTION AGENDA ITEMS. FIRST ONE IS A PURCHASE ORDER FOR THE RESTROOMS AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT OR DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE? COMMISSIONER PORTER. NO I DON'T. IT'S SOMETHING WE COMMITTED TO DO.
SO. YEAH. SO JUST FOR ORDER OF OPERATIONS AND PROCESS, I WANT TO MAKE ONE STATEMENT ON THESE PROJECTS. I'M SORRY, PULLING UP A SHEET, AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT'S ON THE RECORD AND HAS VERBAL APPROVAL.
SO IF THE BOARD RECALLS LAST YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE THE COMMISSIONERS VOTED TO SET ASIDE $100,000 TO START THIS PROJECT FOR THE TWO BATHROOM FACILITIES. SO, ROBIN HAS REALLY BEEN PULLING ON THAT RIGHT NOW AND HAS ACQUIRED THE TWO QUOTES FROM MIDLAND, AS WELL AS KIND OF LINED UP OR GENERALLY FIGURED OUT WHAT TYPE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES NEED TO BE RUN TO THE BUILDINGS TO SUPPORT THEIR OPERATIONS. SO THAT BEING SAID, YOU CAN SEE THE 228 PLUS THE 121 GETS US THREE 4350 PLUS SOME OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT WE MAY NEED TO HOOK THE FACILITIES UP IS WELL ABOVE THE $100,000 THAT WAS INITIALLY SET ASIDE TO FUND THE BATHROOMS. SO, WHEN ROBIN AND I GOT OR WHEN ROBIN GOT THESE FIGURES, THE PLAN, THE PLAN FOR THE 100,000 WAS JUST TO PUT ENOUGH ASIDE FOR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN TO GET IT READY, TO GO OUT TO BID. SO IT WASN'T INTENDED TO FUND 100%, RIGHT? YES. SO, WITH THAT, I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOARD OF ED ABOUT TWO PROJECTS THAT THEY REQUESTED CAPITAL FUNDING IN FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT WE'RE IN. BOTH OF THOSE WERE ROOF REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH AND PRESTON ELEMENTARY.
DURING THAT DISCUSSION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THEY TOOK THE REMAINING BOND MONEY THAT WE HAD AND CLOSED OUT AT THE END OF LAST CALENDAR YEAR, AROUND NOVEMBER, AND ASSIGNED THAT MONEY TO THESE TWO PROJECTS.
SO, I HAVE BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT $276,000 THAT WAS ALLOCATED, THAT IS, TO THE BOARD OF ED AS BEING UNUSED. SO, WHEN THIS PROJECT CAME UP, WE HAD THE OPTION OF TABLING IT AND WAITING TO PUT IT IN FY 26 BUDGET REQUEST OR TODAY THE BOARD COULD VOTE TO USE THE BOARD OF ED ALLOCATED ROOF MONEY AND REASSIGN IT TO THE BATHROOMS,
[01:55:04]
ESSENTIALLY COVERING THE BUDGET FOR THEM. AND I KNOW THAT'S A SO IN AND OUT THE BOND WAS THAT LEGAL BECAUSE THE BOND HAD TO BE TIED TO CERTAIN PROJECTS.CORRECT. AND WENT THROUGH A VERY LENGTHY OKAY A VERY LENGTHY.
OKAY. SO WHEN WE HAD TO REALLOCATE THE BOND TO THE ROOF PROJECTS, THERE WAS A VERY LONG LEGAL PROCESS THAT WE HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO DO THAT BOND HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT, SETTLED. EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE HAD TO DO TO LEGALLY COMPLY WITH THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
OKAY. THE PROCESS THAT I DON'T WANT TO SAY GOT OVERLOOKED OR DIDN'T REALIZE WAS IT WAS ESSENTIALLY THEY ALSO REQUESTED CAPITAL FUNDING FROM US AS WELL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY FUNDED THROUGH THE BOND THAT WE REALLOCATED TO THE BOND.
CORRECT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YES. SO, SO IN A IN A NUTSHELL, TERMS THAT THIS THAT MONEY AND THIS WILL DO THIS THESE BATHROOMS. WELL, IT'LL BUY THEM.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO GRINDER. THE NEXT ITEM WOULD BE THE GRINDER PITS AND PUMPS.
RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY CLOSE. I KIND OF GRAB THIS FROM BILL.
MINGLE. HE THOUGHT WE WERE KIND OF HANDLING IT.
COMMISSIONER BREEDING HAD KEVIN SHEERAN FROM DMS WORKING ON IT.
I MET WITH PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF AS WELL AS KEVIN SHEERAN ON BOTH SITES.
THERE'S A COUPLE KEY ASPECTS OF THIS IS THE GRINDER PUMPS.
IT'S BORING TO GET A WATER TAP, ELECTRIC TO THE BUILDING AND THE SEWER AWAY FROM THE BUILDING.
SO I'M KIND OF KIND OF MANAGE THE PROJECTS INSTEAD OF HAVING A GENERAL CONTRACTOR HANDLE ALL THIS.
THEN THERE'S A 16 WEEK LEAD TIME ON THESE. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GET THEM ON THIS AGENDA TODAY, BECAUSE THAT PUTS IT INTO AUGUST. JULY. I'LL BE GEARED UP TO HAVE THE CONTRACTOR PUT IN THE PITS, THE PUMPS FOR EVERYTHING TO THE LOCATIONS THEY NEED TO BE BORED TO.
SO, WHEN THAT BUILDING IS SET IN PLACE, IT'S A FEW MINOR HOOKUPS, AND IT'S WORKING.
SO, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THE BATHROOMS. IT'S KEY TO GET THE PEO.
WE'VE ALREADY SET THEM UP AS A VENDOR AND A SYSTEM.
AND YOU GUYS APPROVE THESE, AND WE'LL SEND THEM OVER THE POE THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
EVERYTHING IS HIDDEN BEHIND WALLS. IT'S THE ELECTRIC PANELS THERE.
IT'S. HOW MANY ARE WE TALKING? I MEAN, HOW MANY RESTROOMS? SO, THE COLONEL FACILITY WILL HAVE TWO TOILETS IN ONE ROOM, FEMALE AND TWO IN THE MALE.
AND NORTH CAROLINA'S IS FOUR AND FOUR, SO. HOPEFULLY THAT'S ENOUGH.
I MEAN, THERE'S LINES THERE, TOO, FOR IF THERE'S A BIG GAME.
SO BUT HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE YOU KNOW THIS THIS MOVE.
IT'S DEFINITELY AN UPGRADE FROM WHAT'S THERE NOW. UPGRADE.
PROBABLY AN ADDITIONAL MAYBE 50 TO 70,000 FOR LIKE EACH ONE OF THEM.
OR YOU'RE THINKING, I THINK I THINK THE BIG TICKET IS ACTUALLY PURCHASING OF THE GRINDER RIGHT.
AND YOU KNOW THAT PUMP FAILS AND THERE'S NO BACKUP.
AND SOMEONE'S GOT TO BE CALLED AND SOMEONE'S.
YEAH, JUST PUT DUPLEXES IN DUPLEXES IN THAT WAY.
YEAH. WOULD THE PLAN BE TO MAYBE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN EMERGENCY COUPLE PORT-A-TOILETS THERE OR.
NO. SHOULDN'T NEED IT WITH THE DUPLEXES. WITH THE DUPLEXES.
BUT IF YOU HAD A SINGLE, HONESTLY, MOST OF THE COST IS IN THAT SECOND PUMP PURCHASE.
BECAUSE EXCAVATING TO PUT THE PIT IN AND THE PIT SIZE ISN'T THAT MUCH BIGGER, THAT MUCH MORE COSTLY.
[02:00:05]
IT'S THE COST OF THE SECOND PUMP. IS THE INCREASE, RIGHT, FOR, YOU KNOW, TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH KNOWING THOSE THINGS THAT'S GOING TO KICK ON IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM. WHICH ONES ARE PRETTY GOOD PUMPS? YEAH, THEY'RE. YEAH, THEY'RE THE WAY TO GO. WHAT WHERE WOULD THE BALANCE TO ACTUALLY DO THE INSTALL COME FROM? CONTINGENCY. PART OF THE QUESTION WHETHER YOU JUST WANT TO PRE-APPROVE ANY OVERAGE FOR THAT INSTALL TO COME OUT OF CAPITAL CONTINGENCY THAT WE STILL HAVE SITTING THERE.WHAT ARE YOU GOING. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I MEAN, WE NEED TO HAVE THE NUMBER.
FOR THE ENGINEERING PIECE. YEAH. SHOULDN'T NEED ANYWHERE CLOSE TO IT.
BUT SO, WE'LL OKAY. WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP TRACK OF THIS AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES.
THE ONLY I'M GOING TO REACH OUT TO J.R. SMITH FOR THE BORING NUMBER I WAS WAITING FOR.
KEVIN SHEERAN'S GETTING SOMETHING BACK. A LITTLE BIT OF EXACT LOCATIONS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A ONE INCH LINE GOING TO THE CONCESSION STAND AT COLONEL.
OKAY. IDEALLY YOU WOULD WANT IT TO. IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH, RIGHT? I THINK DENTON IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THEIRS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RUN UPGRADED TO A TWO INCH ALREADY.
OKAY. THE DAY WE WENT OUT TO CHECK THAT ONE OUT, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST BEEN INSTALLED RECENTLY.
OKAY. SO, YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO TAP OFF THAT ONE INCH AND HAVE IT NOT BE ISSUES.
RIGHT? SO, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ADDITIONAL ONE.
SO, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M AT IS REACHING OUT TO GENERAL SMITH FOR YOU.
GOTCHA. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE PURCHASE ORDER 20250499 FOR NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOLS. RESTROOMS. STADIUM.
RESTROOMS. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY. AND I ALSO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE PURCHASE ORDER 20250501 FOR THE STADIUM RESTROOMS AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SO MOVED. OKAY. MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. AYES HAVE IT. LAST AGENDA ITEM IS A FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL HOUSING BOND ALLOCATION FORM. DANNY, DO YOU WANT TO RUN? I HAVE THE PAPER.
OKAY, LET ME JUST GRAB THAT. YEAH. THANKS, ROBIN.
YEP. SO, DANNY FOX, SHARE TODAY.
THANK YOU. AND STACEY AND STACEY. THAT'S RIGHT.
BEFORE YOU ON THE ACTION ITEM IS THE ANNUAL HOUSING BOND ALLOCATION FORM OR LETTER.
SO THIS TIME EACH YEAR, THE STATE REACHES OUT AND NOTIFIES EVERY COUNTY ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEIR ALLOCATION OF TAX EXEMPT BOND AUTHORITY IS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
SO WE SIMPLY TURN THAT AUTHORITY OR REASSIGN THE ALLOCATION TO THE STATE, AND THE STATE CAN ASSIGN AND USE THAT LIMIT FOR THEIR PROGRAMS. LIKE I SAY, IT'S I THINK THERE'S IN THE PAST SOMETIMES CONFUSION ABOUT THE MONEY.
IT'S NOT DIRECT AID OR DIRECT FUNDING THAT WE'RE GIVING UP OR TURNING BACK.
IT'S REALLY THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE TAX EXEMPT BONDS.
SO AGAIN, IF IT'S A PROGRAM OR SOMETHING WE WOULD WANT TO DO, WE WOULD GO INTO DEBT TO DO THAT.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN THE APPETITE OR THE AUTHORITY OR SORRY, THE DEPARTMENT INTERNALLY TO TAKE ON THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. SO WE HAVE ALWAYS SIGNED THE STATE FORM AND TURN IT BACK OVER TO THE STATE TO DO SO.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO. ALL RIGHT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SIGNED FORM? SEND THAT BACK. SO MOVED. OKAY. SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THE AYES HAVE IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU TODAY. OKAY, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH.
YEAH. DANNY'S DONE HIS JOB. CHRIS, DON'T RUN AWAY.
[02:05:05]
I'VE GOT THIS MESSAGE BACK UP HERE AGAIN. SORRY.HE WAS WORRIED THERE FOR A SECOND, WASN'T HE? COUNTY COMMISSIONER, OPEN DISCUSSION. PERIOD. COMMISSIONER BARTZ, YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? JUST WHAT'S THE STATUS ON WOLF ROAD? AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO JONES CORNER HERE.
WHAT, A COUPLE OF MONTHS? WELL, YEAH. AND HOPEFULLY SOONER.
YEAH, WOLF, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT. YEAH.
WELL, AND IT'S ON MY BOARD IN MY OFFICE. THEY'RE IN FINAL DESIGN, BASICALLY.
OKAY. BRIAN'S BEEN WORKING WITH TIM GLASS ON SITE, AND A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON KIND OF WHERE TO PUSH SOME WATER OR CREATE A DITCH IN SOME CASES AND SOME TREES. SO, IT'S STILL ON TRACK? YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. THEY'RE MOVING ALONG. SURVEY CREWS HAVE BEEN OUT, GOT ELEVATIONS AND SO THEY'RE KIND OF IN FINAL DESIGN.
I GOT YOU. TRUNK LINE. IS IT STILL? YEP. THAT'S ALL PART OF IT.
OKAY. ON BOTH SIDES. RIGHT. YEP. OKAY. YEP. YEAH.
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. HAVE YOU HAD ANY CONCERN FROM ANY OF THE RESIDENTS ON JONES CORNER WITH ANY OF THE WORK? I MEAN, THEY ALL KNOW IT'S GETTING READY TO BE DONE.
I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. AND THEY'RE HAPPY TO BE TO TAKE THE TREE LINE ALONG.
THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP DUST DOWN, YOU KNOW, AND WE PUT THAT OUT.
WE PUT THE FENCE OUT AND THERE'S SOME TREES. WE JUST REPLACED THE ONE PIPE LAST WEEK.
YEAH. SO, IT'S READY TO GO. AND SO THEY'RE HAPPY ARE VERY HAPPY.
OKAY. OKAY. SO I GUESS WE'LL BE STARTING GRASS OR WE ALREADY STARTED OR NEXT WEEK OR SO.
MONDAY. YES. MONDAY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
YEAH. OKAY. WHILE YOU'RE RIGHT THERE, TIRE AMNESTY DAY.
I HAD A CALL ABOUT THAT. SO IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT THERE IS NONE.
THERE ISN'T ANY SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME, OKAY? NOT ANY SCHEDULED. OKAY. THERE'S A HAZARDOUS WASTE ONE IN QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY FOR.
TRY THE TRI COUNTY AREA. THIS ONE. OKAY. NOTHING ON TIRES YET.
OKAY. NO. UNSCHEDULED. I DID GET A CALL. THERE ARE.
YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE SOME GUYS CHECK OUT JONES CORNER.
THE TAR AND CHIP PART. THERE WAS A COUPLE HOLES STARTING ON THE SHOULDER THERE.
AND AMERICAN CORNER AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE CANNOT STAY ON THE ROAD ON THOSE TWO ROADS, BUT THEY GET OFF THE ROAD AND YOU GET MAJOR HOLES IN THE SHOULDER.
AND IF SOMEBODY JUST VEERS OFF THE LEAST LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, STEWART'S PROBABLY THE ONE.
A LITTLE BIT OF OUR REASSESSMENT ON OUR BLACKTOP, MAYBE ON SOME INSIDE CORNERS.
YEAH, THAT SEEMS TO BE AND I THINK A LOT OF IT IS TRAILERS.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF BUS TRAFFIC ON AMERICAN CORNER ROAD TO GOING TO THE COLONEL.
YEAH. THEY PULL OVER ONTO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSE HEAD ON COLLISIONS.
YEAH. THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE ON, THEY'RE TEARING UP YOUR SHOULDERS.
YEAH, BUT I HAVE NOTICED THEY'RE KIND OF COMING BACK AGAIN.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAD THERE. SO, COMMISSIONER, YOU GOT A CALL FROM GLEN PLUTCHIK AT SOME POINT? YEAH, BECAUSE HE CALLED ME WHEN I WAS AWAY, SO I GAVE HIM YOUR NUMBER.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER. OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU.
I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO TALK JUST A MINUTE HERE ABOUT.
THE LEGISLATURE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK THAT FROM THE BUDGET TO THE SOLAR BILLS TO THE TO EVERYTHING, THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST DAMAGING LEGISLATURE THAT HAS EVER BEEN AROUND TO THE COUNTIES.
THE VOTE THAT WAS TAKEN, I THINK, OR THE VOTE THAT WILL BE TAKEN TODAY, I BELIEVE, ABOUT THE SOLAR SITING THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT, TEXTING ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, EMAILING ABOUT.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO TO A 5% CAP OF THE PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA IN EACH COUNTY.
[02:10:08]
IT WAS INTERESTING THE OTHER DAY TO LISTEN TO THE DISCUSSION WHERE A COUPLE OF THE SENATORS ON THE COMMITTEE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP THE POINT THAT ACCORDING TO THE MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION, THEY NEED BETWEEN 20 AND 30,000 ACRES IN THE STATE TO REACH THEIR, YOU KNOW, ENERGY GOALS.IF THIS IF THIS BILL IS, IS APPROVED, AS IT IS, WE COULD BE LOOKING UP TO MORE THAN 8000 ACRES OF LAND IN THIS COUNTY THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE COVERED WITH SOLAR PANELS.
YOU KNOW, I, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT I'VE EVER WANTED TO SAY THAT WE WEREN'T GOING TO COMPLY.
BUT I'M VERY, VERY CLOSE TO SAYING THAT WHEN WE REACH OUR 2000 CAP, WE STOP PROCESSING SOLAR APPLICATIONS AND WE JUST FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS. TO SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THE SENATE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE, SIT THERE AND HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY THAT HE HE FEELS THAT HE'S REALLY WORKING WITH THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY COULD ACTUALLY HAVE 100% CONTROL.
SO IN HIS VIEW, THEY'RE GIVING UP 95% OF THEIR CONTROL.
THAT IS HOW RIDICULOUSLY ABSURD THESE PEOPLE ARE.
THERE IS STILL NO MENTION IN THIS IN THE BILL ABOUT BATTERY STORAGE SAFETY, EVEN THOUGH WHEN WE WENT TO TESTIFY, I WAS ASSURED BY DELEGATE SHAKARIAN THAT IT WAS ALL DONE.
IT WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF. SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST PURELY. A SITUATION WHERE I JUST THINK, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANY OF THEM SAY, THIS IS A LAND GRAB THAT IS GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT, WHICH IS A FAVORITE TERM NOW, THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. AND WE HAVE 173,000 ACRES ROUGHLY IN OUR PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA. THERE WAS EVEN DISCUSSION ABOUT BEING UNSURE ABOUT WHETHER THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COULD AUTHORIZE SOLAR ON AG PRESERVATION LAND.
THEY'RE SAYING NOW THAT IT WILL GO BACK TO THE INDIVIDUAL EASEMENTS.
WELL, IF YOU KNOW, SO THAT EVEN OPENS UP AG LAND THAT HAS BEEN PRESERVED.
AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS PAID MONEY TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT COULD POTENTIALLY, UNLESS THE EASEMENTS PROHIBITED, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR SOLAR.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ARE THEY'RE SAYING PAUSING.
I SAY NOT FUNDING AG PRESERVATION TO PRESERVE MORE AGRICULTURAL LAND.
SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SIT AND LOOK AT THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY NOT FUNDING PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND, BUT THEY'RE NOW OPENING UP THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES FOR AN UNELECTED BUREAUCRACY BOARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER LAND CAN BE USED IN CONTRADICTION OF COUNTY ZONING.
DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS IS GOING.
SO I DON'T KNOW. I WILL, YOU KNOW, I PLAN TO AND I'LL LET EVERYBODY KNOW NOW, BUT I WILL I WILL RESIGN FROM THE CRITICAL AREAS COMMISSION AND I'LL DO IT AT A AT A IN PERSON MEETING.
I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT BY EMAIL BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A PERSON, YOU KNOW, SIGN THEIR LIFE AWAY TO DIG A HOLE IN THE GROUND IF THEY'RE IN CRITICAL AREAS.
BUT THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SIT THERE AND BE SILENT ABOUT THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND THAT ARE GOING TO BE COVERED BY SOLAR PANELS, WHICH BASICALLY MAKES THAT, TO ME, AN IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO SIT THERE AND SAY NOTHING ABOUT THAT.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE. I WON'T BE ON THAT COMMISSION.
[02:15:02]
I CAN'T BE ON THAT COMMISSION, BUT I'LL LET THEM KNOW WHY AND I'LL DO IT IN PERSON.BUT THIS IS THIS IS I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY.
I MEAN, THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY DARK DAY. WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS WITH THIS BILL AND THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNTIES. YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, IF WE DON'T REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS THE AGENCY THAT DOES TO THAT DOES THE ENFORCEMENT FOR THE STATE REGULATIONS RIGHT THROUGH STORMWATER.
SO, IF WE REFUSE TO DO IT, WHO IS GOING TO DO IT? THE STATE DOESN'T HAVE AN ENTITY TO DO THE STORMWATER REVIEW, RIGHT? RIGHT. OR THE FOREST CONSERVATION REVIEW? RIGHT.
OR ALL THE OTHER THINGS. SO, YOU'RE FORCING A COUNTY.
IT'S JUST A VERY STRANGE DYNAMIC, RIGHT. SO, WHO DOES ALL OF THOSE REVIEWS IF WE REFUSE TO DO IT? YOU KNOW, I JUST I JUST THINK THAT. YOU KNOW, LOOK, I REALLY IN, IN FULL HONESTY, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE A FOOL BECAUSE IN GOOD FAITH, WE WORKED VERY HARD TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWED 2000 ACRES OF FARMLAND TO BE USED FOR SOLAR, AND WE DID IT IN GOOD FAITH. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF, IN RETROSPECT, TO REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING.
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF. SO THAT GOES, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE A DUMMY BECAUSE THINKING THAT, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS IN GOOD FAITH AND WE'RE GOING TO INVOLVE THE SOLAR COMPANIES.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO INVOLVE THE FARMERS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE HERE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.
I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER THERE'S EVER BEEN AN ORDINANCE THAT WE SPENT MAYBE THE DAF ORDINANCE WAS THE SAME, BUT WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND WORK TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE THOUGHT WAS REASONABLE, AND THAT HAS JUST NOW COMPLETELY BEEN THROWN OUT THE WINDOW.
AND WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO SAY NO AND NOT HAVE ANY, AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS MESS.
WE GOT UP HERE NOW GOING ON, WHERE EVERY TIME I DRIVE BY IT, I COULD LITERALLY STOP AND THROW UP.
SO I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS. I DON'T, BUT I KNOW I DON'T THINK THAT I OWE ANY CREDENCE TO THE, TO THIS LEGISLATION WHATSOEVER.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL FIND OUT. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU KNOW TO SAY.
AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DRAMATIC HERE. I'M JUST SAYING, WHEN YOU SIT THERE AND LISTEN TO THIS AND YOU DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO, YOU GO TO TESTIFY AND WAIT FOR HOURS TO SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES.
WHAT GOOD DID IT DO? I MEAN, THEY JUST NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.
AND IT'S ALL DONE. IT'S ALL DONE. IT'S A DONE DEAL.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY VOTES THEY HAVE. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY HOURS OF TESTIMONY THEY HAVE.
IT'S A DONE DEAL. IT'S BAKED IN THE PIE. AND AND EVERY STATE AGENCY IS COMPLICIT IN IT.
AND EVERY STATE AGENCY IS BOUGHT INTO THIS. AND WE JUST HAVE TO SIT OVER HERE AND ABSORB THE BLOW.
THAT'S ALL IT IS. SO, SORRY, BUT NO, THAT'S. I'M THE ONLY THING I HOPE IS LARRY, IS, YOU KNOW, IF A FARMER RIDES BY AND SEES THAT MONSTROSITY GOING ON IN GREENSBORO, I HOPE THAT DISCOURAGES THEM FROM SAYING, HEY, I DON'T WANT THAT DONE TO MY FARM. I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY HOPE YOU HAVE BECAUSE THEY OUT AND OUT LIED AND SAID THAT, OH YEAH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE FARM.
I MEAN, THEY JUST OUT AND OUT LIE. SO, I MEAN, THE ONLY THING I'M HOPING IS IT DISCOURAGES PEOPLE FROM EVEN CONSIDERING AND PUTTING THEIR FARM IN SOLAR PANELS AND I'M WITH YOU IF YOU WANT TO.
AT 2000 ACRES, I'M ALL FOR, YOU KNOW. HEY, JUST IGNORE IT AND DEAL WITH THE RAMIFICATIONS OF IT.
I'M FINE WITH THAT. I KNOW OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY DOESN'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT, BUT I'M FINE WITH IT.
BUT, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, FOR I'M THINKING. OKAY.
DON'T ASSUME. YEAH, YEAH. ANYTHING. BUT I MEAN, I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE SOMEONE SET UP
[02:20:07]
THERE WHO, YOU KNOW, TELLS PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WITH THEIR FARMS AFTER 25 YEARS WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE LIKE ME SITTING HERE TELLING CHRIS SOMETHING ABOUT AN IT PROGRAM.I MEAN, YOU GOT SOMEBODY SETTING UP THERE WHO MAKES THESE STUPID STATEMENTS ABOUT, OH, IN 25 YEARS, WHEN THEY TAKE THE SOLAR PANELS OFF, YOU JUST GO RIGHT AHEAD AND PLANT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT THIS.
THEY GOT A SOIL CEMENT RIG UP THERE. THEY'RE MIXING SOIL CEMENT INTO THE GROUND.
FOR SOME REASON, THEY GOT BULLDOZERS AS BIG AS THIS ROOM PUSHING DIRT.
IT'S NEVER GOING TO GROW THE SAME. OH, IT'S. MAN.
I'M DONE. I'M AMAZED. EVERY DAY THERE'S A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT POPPING UP OVER THERE AND YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU. WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THAT? I MEAN, IT'S JUST I GO OUT OF MY WAY TO NOT TRY TO DRIVE BY THERE.
I MEAN, I'M DONE. YEAH. SO, ALL RIGHT I AGREE VERY DISHEARTENING.
WE STILL SO IT'S PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. IT STILL HAS TO PASS THAT HOUSE COMMITTEE AND BOTH FLOORS, BOTH CHAMBERS. SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE THERE'S HOPE THAT WE COULD STILL BUT I THINK THAT THE 5% IS PROBABLY THE BEST WE'RE GOING TO GET. AND THAT'S A GOOD DEAL FOR US.
AND I WILL GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SENATOR GALLION.
WHO REALLY DID PUSH FOR. I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT COUNTY HE'S FROM, BUT.
HARTFORD. HARTFORD. HE MADE EXCELLENT POINTS ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES.
AND SENATOR HESTER, WHO MADE THE POINT THAT THEY COULD REACH THEIR GOAL BY USING STATE LAND AND NEVER USING ANY AGRICULTURAL LAND. AND THEN SHE TURNED AROUND AND VOTED FOR THE 5%.
SO, I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S, I DON'T KNOW.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT SESSION THUS FAR.
SO THE ONLY THING I HAD WAS I DID GET A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SURFACE OF ROUTE 16.
MARYLAND ROUTE 16, HARMONY ROAD. I DID TALK TO COUNTY FENDER ABOUT THAT.
I KNEW IT HAD TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND WILLISTON, BUT IT IS.
IT'S THE LITTLE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, JUST PAST WILLISTON.
SO BUT I TOLD HIM THAT THE REST OF IT FROM 404 WAS IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE AS WELL.
SO HE IS THINKING AFTER JULY 1ST, THAT ROAD IS HE SAID IT IS FEDERALLY ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO AFTER JULY 1ST, HE THINKS HE HAS ENOUGH STATE MONEY TO MATCH THE FEDERAL DOLLARS TO GET IT PAVED.
THE REST OF THE WAY, I JUST TEXT HIM. HE SAID THAT HE SENT US A PAVING LIST OF THE ROADS THAT WERE GOING TO GET PAVED, BUT I DON'T I CAN'T FIND IT IN MY EMAIL. YOU GUYS NEED A ONE LETTER DO.
IS IT? YOU HAD A SAMPLE LETTER IN THERE? YES.
OUR PRIORITY LETTER. BUT WHEN? IF HE SENDS ME THAT PAVING LIST, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GUYS ARE BOTH ON THAT AS WELL TO KNOW WHAT ROADS, BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD. I MEAN, MARY DEALT WITH THAT.
MARY. WE DO HAVE IT. OH IT IS. YEAH. WE PUSHED SNOW UP THERE.
HOW ABOUT THAT ROAD FROM MARIETTA TEMPLE HILL.
MARIETTA, TEMPLE HILL? YEAH. OH, MAN. IT'S. OH, IT'S ON THE LIST.
IT CAME LATE LAST WEEK, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS ADDRESSED TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
WE WEREN'T ON IT. I CAN'T FIND IT IN MY EMAIL.
SO, YOU DO HAVE IT? IT HAD THREE ROADS, LIKE START AND STOP.
SO, WHAT, THEY WERE PLANNING ON PAVING. OKAY.
I THINK IT WENT TO THE. I THOUGHT IT HAD THE COMMISSIONERS ADDRESS ON IT, BUT I'LL READ FORWARD IT.
IF NOT, THAT MIGHT BE GOOD TO GET THAT TO THE PRESS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY CAN GET THAT OUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT ROADS ARE PLANNED ON THE STATE'S PLANNING ON PAVING.
SO BUT YEAH, GET US THAT PLEASE. SO WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND WE CAN START ADVOCATING I MEAN, ME, WHAT I'M THINKING THAT WE DO FOR OUR PRIORITY LETTER IS TELL THEM, TAKE CARE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY GOT.
I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE ASKED FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON FOR US, IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL BEEN FOR STUFF, RIGHT? PRIORITY.
PRIORITY ONE LAST YEAR WAS COMPLETE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON MARYLAND 404 AND MARYLAND 328 RIVER ROAD.
PRIORITY B WAS WIDENING OF MARYLAND 404 TO 4 LANES FROM HARMONY ROAD TO MARYLAND 16 EAST.
[02:25:09]
SO THAT WOULD BE FROM HARMONY TO WHAT IS THAT GREENWOOD STORAGE WITH THE GREENWOOD ROAD.PAVING OF ROUTE 16, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT.
SO. WHAT ARE I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS TODAY.
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE BY THE MAY. MAY WE CAN ADD IT TO AN UPCOMING AGENDA JUST TO DISCUSS.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, LET'S DO THAT. IT'S GETTING LATE, BUT JUST START THINKING ABOUT THAT, OKAY? BECAUSE THAT'S COMING UP. SO. ALL RIGHT I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
SO ANY CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. NONE SEEN.
I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED.
SECOND. MOTION AND SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.